Wander Minnesota: Time For Ice Cream
Last week, I took at look at a summer bucket list, because, like it or not, summer is racing to its end. The State Fair opens in three weeks, and school isn't far behind. But there's still plenty of time to enjoy the best rites of summer: visiting an ice cream shop (or two, or three…).
Even if the weather has been unseasonably cool, ice cream is still a must for the summer. There are plenty of places to indulge around the Twin Cities. Some are open year-round, but others are only seasonal, so plan carefully. Here are a few to get you started.
Sebastian Joe's is a perennial favorite, and with good reason. They have locations in Uptown and Linden Hills. They also have Nicollet Avenue Pot Hole, my preferred flavor: Chocolate ice cream with fudge, truffles, Heath Bar and sea salt.
Over on Chicago Avenue, Pumphouse Creamery serves up a fine roster of flavors, mostly made with organic/fair-trade ingredients and berries from local farmers. Bonus: doggie ice cream, with the proceeds going to local animal shelters.
Crema Cafe in Minneapolis is a full-service café, but it's hard to argue with its Sonny's ice cream menu, made with milk from Minnesota cows and fresh berries.
St. Paul's Conny's Creamy Cone is only open for the warmer months, but it's hard to beat for the classic soft-serve ice-cream experience. It boasts a surprisingly large menu of flavors for a small shop that also serves burgers and hot dogs.
One of St. Paul's ice cream treasures just opened a location in Minneapolis too. Izzy's Ice Cream stays on top of the wired world by updating its website every 3 minutes during business hours, keeping customers informed of which flavors are available at that moment.
Grand Ole Creamery in Minneapolis and St. Paul, offers both standard flavors and an ever-changing menu of specialty flavors. Also: the St. Paul location offers New York-style pizza.
The Edina Creamery not only has an extensive rotating menu of flavors, but you can special-order your favorite (as long as you do so at least a week in advance), including its newest flavor: Durian ice cream.
The Lake Minnetonka community of Excelsior boasts not just one, but two great spots for a cold treat. Adele's Frozen Custard sells some seriously decadent frozen custard in a creative array of flavors (and they make great sundaes too). Not far from Adele's is Licks Unlimited, located conveniently across the street from the movie theater and just a block from the lake.
Speaking of outdoor dining that will be gone before we know it, there are tons of wonderful patios, decks, and rooftop dining options around the metro. But only one offers the opportunity to relax on the rooftop while being a spectator at a lawn bowling tournament: Brit's Pub.
What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
