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The world of special forms cakes can be a funny business. They're pastries, yes, but they're also works of art sculpted from cake and icing over many hours. So it has to be with at least a tinge of sadness that the baker who creates these does so knowing they will soon be sliced up and eaten, their hard work disappearing over the course of minutes. Or so you would think. "I used to. I think it's so funny now," John Veloso, creator and host of the YouTube baking, cake decorating and costuming channel "Koalipops," says with a laugh. "I made Pennywise from 'It' and I take my (pastry) roller and I beat the crap out of it because I thought it was funny to kill a monster. I just think it's really interesting to create these things that look so real and you have to take a knife and it has to be done ... . Almost as soon as I finish making them, I cut into them and then I'm handing them out or I eat them, depending on what flavor cake it is." In each 3-15 minute video, Veloso – who goes by "JK Denim" on his YouTube channel – creates cakes, cupcakes and cookies inspired by what he loves, which is usually comic book, science fiction or fantasy characters. A self-taught baker and designer, the Pasadena, Calif., resident posts one to three videos a week, making confections such as a "Pirates of the Caribbean" skull cake, "Beauty and the Beast" cookies, Grace Helbig brownies and a Hulk cake from the 2017 theatrical film "Thor: Ragnarok," which he fashioned from a green mint chocolate cake. "Every time I make a cake that's a character, I automatically think about what I want to eat that week," Veloso says. "I mean, I knew he was green but I'm also a huge fan of mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I was like, 'OK, this kind of works and I'd love to eat this.' " And what he doesn't eat, he gives away, usually to his mother and her co-workers, but sometimes to total strangers. "I go down to downtown," he says, "and I just hand them out to homeless because it's just really hard to watch a whole bunch of really good cake go to waste." John Veloso What book are you currently reading? "I'm not currently reading a book. I tried to start '50 Shades of Grey' like two weeks ago but I wasn't really reading it for enjoyment. I kind of just wanted to see what was more terrible, the book or the movie. But I didn't finish either. I don't know. I'll probably get to it when I've got time but now is not the time (laughs)." What did you have for dinner last night? "I had vegetable egg rolls and this focaccia bread that I bought from Costco, which is really good." BY GEORGE DICKIE YouTube's 'Koalipops' immortalizes fantasy characters in cake Page 8 November 27 - December 3, 2017 8:00 p.m. GOLF Austra- lian Championship, Final Round. (N) SUNDAY 11:00 a.m. GOLF Hero World Challenge, Final Round. From Albany, New Providence, Baha- mas. (N) 1:00 p.m. WNDU 0 Hero World Challenge, Final Round. From Al- bany, New Providence, Bahamas. (N) 4:00 p.m. WNDU 0 2017 World Long Drive Championship. From WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thacker- ville, Okla. Hockey MONDAY 8:30 p.m. NBCSCH NHL Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago. (N) TUESDAY 8:00 p.m. NBCSN NHL Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators. From the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. (N Subject to Blackout) WEDNESDAY 7:30 p.m. NBCSN NHL Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins. From TD Garden in Boston. (N Subject to Blackout) THURSDAY 8:30 p.m. NBCSCH NHL Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago. (N) On or Off-Site Catering All Occasions Dine under the glow of gas lanterns Breakfast and Lunch Meals also available Open Tuesday through Saturday PICK UP y o u r c o p y a t : t h e h A R T Your source for arts, entertainment and culture news in Elkhart County Advertise Here! (574) 533-2151

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