I feel like having a little fun today, Dear Readers. Let’s mix things up a little and start off with a clip.
That sums up my feelings. Let’s have summer all the time.
And ice cream.
On these hot, humid days, what could be more perfect, taste-wise, than a cone, a cup or a carton – depending on your wont- of ice cream?
Remember this guy?
That had to be my very first memory of eating ice cream. Why do I think that a Good Humor bar cost 10 cents when I was a kid?
This is what I liked.
When The Good Humor man didn’t make it to our neighborhood, my father took us here.
Cock Robin was between Oakton and Main in Skokie. And it had square scoops of ice cream. That always baffled me.
Closer to home- and with normal shaped cones- was Peacock’s in No Man’s Land in Wilmette.
They had great hot fudge there.
And then there was/is Homer’s in Wilmette.
I have already written about that magnificent emporium in depth. ICYMI, read all about it here.
And of course there was Dairy Queen.
Honesty compels me to admit that I never really loved the “ice cream” at DQ. The chocolate coating was ok but the vanilla stuff tasted like it was invented by Dow Chemical to me. I did love the little hamburgers, however, and my brother Kenny- who was addicted to the the burgers, Mr. Misty’s and just about everything else on the menu– would have no compunction about rifling my mother’s purse to feed his habit.
George Washington Cherry Tree Sidebar: I would ask Kenny how much money he’d take out of her purse. He’d always say “I didn’t want to take a dollar. So I took 6 quarters.” Not exactly a math whizz but he could ride his bike there in five minutes flat.
As a teenager I hung out at “Thirty-One.” The Baskin Robbins in Glencoe. Almost every summer night date ended up there.
Back in the day, a guy named Al used to run it. (Am I right here, Steve? He was a buddy of yours, as I recall.) And back then, for me it was ALL about the Jamoca Almond Fudge.
But I had to be careful. I had to show up at the Glencoe beach the next day swimsuit-ready.
These days it’s ALL about the coconut.
The old Swenson’s Ice Cream Parlor that lived in the basement of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas used to have the BEST Coconut ice cream cone ever.
But when the craving strikes now I head over to Windy City Sweets on Broadway to put it right.
Well, I think that’s enough for today. I’ve got an ice cream headache.
And this will be my last blog post until Sunday, July 31, Dear Readers. I am having my right eye cataract surgery and I need time to get back into focus. (The left one is doing great, btw.)
And if eating an ice cream cone makes you look like this, make mine a double.
Thanks, Ellen, with all the miserable news from all around the world, I (and presumably your readership) really needed that. I’ll eschew all the “you scream, I scream” jokes, but offer a new one … I used to think “DQ” stood for “disqualified.”
As for your upcoming second eye surgery, here’s the scoop: be sure to try
this crossword puzzle before getting under the knife, er, I mean facing the laser. Some day, you’ll thank me. Good luck!
Thanks for the scoop about the puzzle, George. I’ll do it next Sundae.
It was Al…Mint chocolate chip!
Thanks for confirming the “Al” thing, Gary! And I applaud your choice. It tasted like a Girl
Scout cookie.
Surprised that Buffalo’s on Irving Park and Pulaski escaped your cravings. Best hot fudge a kid from the Bronx ever tasted. Good luck with the other peeper. Can’t wait for
you to see the entire menu. Hugs
I’ve seen it often enough. I’ve never been. How about a hot fudge sundae with two spoons? Thanks, my friend.
When I was in 4th grade at F.W.Parker, Good Humor bars were 5 cents, 10 cents for a larger bar. The Good Humor van/truck would be on Webster at the East Field fence – bars would be tossed over after payment of a nickel or dime through the fence.
Herbie
An interesting city factoid. Thanks, Herbie. You always put me in a good humor.
Must represent South Shore! Where’s Bernie? Mitchell’s on 71st with the best chocolate chip ice cream and hot fudge…my fav. Now I get my fix at Buck’s in Woodside where you can meet your VC for lunch, get your $20,000,000 seed money and seal the deal with hot fudge.
Good luck with eye #2 Ellen.
(Thanks for “Here Comes Summer”. Major memories flooding in!)
As a matter of fact, Nancy, Bernie was in Eagle River with my brother, Kenny. So thanks for representing today. And thanks for your good wishes. 😎
OK, here I am.
Do you remember Melody Lane?
Dear Ellen:
Besides reading your column and now wanting a large scoop of vanilla with more hot fudge than Vanilla …… and also agreeing with you about Homer’s.
BUT I really mainly wrote to wish you good luck on Tuesday and I am sure that all eyes are now on you …
xo Joan
Rocky Road for me.
I remember the Good Humor truck & the Baskin & Robbins- today I love Kroger’s Private Selection Sorbet any flavor!!
Vala’s ice cream. They had a store in Old Town when I came to Chicago. I thought it was the best!
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Vala’s! I remember that. Good one, Doc. Thanks for that memory. A great ice cream. And thanks for the good wishes. 😎
Hey Ellen!! Hope all goes well with your eye! Not sure what year you are referring to re: 31 Flavors in Glencoe, but from when I moved to Glencoe in 1967 till at least 1978, it was owned and operated by Joe Knupp. Not sure if you and Gary are confusing the “Al” with “Big Als” next door.
Thanks, Martha. Nope, pretty sure the manager was a guy named Al. He didn’t own it but he was nice to all us kids.
Rosenbloom’s hot fudge sundae at 71st and Merrill is what placated me.
Wow! A new entry! That sounds very “South Side” to me, Richard. (Or Indiana.)
Ellen — Ice cream or not, I’ve always loved the Dairy Queen soft serve cone that was dipped in chocolate sauce. Years ago, all my teenage dates meant dinner at Steak ‘n Shake, followed by a movie or dessert at the Dairy Queen. Meal and dessert choices were pretty limited in my hometown, although the grocery stores in those years did care a nice treat called ice cream cake roll..
Good luck with your surgery, Ellen. Whatever your favorite ice cream, I guess the eyes have it.
I liked that dipped chocolate “hat,” Jack but…
Thanks Nancy for remembering the divine “Mitchells” on 71st…just walking in there and inhaling was a delight but oh…the best was that little glass pitcher filled with fudge that we poured over the ice cream ourselves. (Ellen, sending you my best for your surgery.)
Thanks seconding Mitchell’s, Jackie. Sounded great.