Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Art of the Ice Cream Cone

I took Natalie with me yesterday when I went to the doctor to have some stictches removed from a spot on my back (benign, thank you, Lord!). We left Michaela Byrd home with Mimi because the afternoon is not pleasant if she misses naptime.

Natalie did so well at the doctor's office, that I told her I'd take her to Carl's.

Carl's is a local ice cream institution, and was even featured on a PBS documentary. Pairing the ice cream with the fun art deco/moderne style signage makes for a memorable afternoon. My family moved to the 'Burg in the early 80s, and I have fond summer memories thanks to Carl's.

As you can see, it's a walk-up place. On nice summer nights, the line wraps around the building, but it moves quickly. It's always worth the wait, and I always see at least one person I know. Today was no exception!


Don't you love the cone sign?


Lit up at night like a beacon of deliciousness!
(night photo from Flickr)

The menu is basic: chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry ice cream...but they offer shakes, floats, and sundaes. Prices are much different now than when I was a kid...isn't that the way of it.

Even Natalie didn't complain about standing in line. She knew what was coming!


The service, coming from local teens, is somewhat Soup Nazish. For those of you who are fellow Seinfeld fans, you'll remember this:





Like I said, the line moves quickly, mostly due to the ice cream Nazis inside and their lightning quick skills.

The machinery inside is real, 1940s Electro-Freeze! It was hard to get a good picture, but check out all that silver!

Know what you want when you get to the window! You'll see lots of eye rolling from the other patrons if you hem and haw.


I got a shake (chocolate, duh!) and Natalie begged for a vanilla cone. I tried to convince her that she wanted vanilla in a cup, but she insisted.

This is a small sugar cone!

We ran into my friend K and her two little boys. K committed the sacrilidge and picked up a pina colada (virgin!) smoothie from the coffee spot next door. Although she's been under so much stress with the sale of her house, I wouldn't have blamed her if she'd asked for a little shot of rum...

Her boys hopped around so much and so quickly that I couldn't get a good shot of them. Their quick movements helped their cones not to melt too quickly.

Natalie couldn't say the same thing.

The girl likes to savor her dessert...I've seen her take 15 minutes to eat one scoop of chocolate ice cream, and she scrapes every. last. spoonful.

The cone got the best of her.

I finally grabbed the cone and took care of the melty parts for her.

It's okay...I can sacrifice and take one for the team.

Any time.

post signature

10 comments:

  1. At least vanilla doesn't stain as much as chocolate or strawberry. Sounds like fun!

    BTW, my post for today is based on your suggestion. Thanks. :)

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  2. Visiting from SITS, looks like a great ice cream place! We don't have a lot of "institutions" in Central Florida, well unless you count Disney... :) Have a great Wednesday!

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  3. I had my one and only Carl's visit almost a year ago when my sil remarried. It is really good and it was well worth the wait. The line was really long the night we were there. Maybe Natalie will decide that she does want a cup instead of a cone the next time that you take her.

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  4. Visiting from SITS!

    Love ice cream and love the shop!

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  5. Looks good and Natalie is such a cutie pie!!

    Suzanne

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  6. I remember Carl's! I'm not sure when I went with you guys; it might have been J's wedding. It was awesome, we should probably go again when I'm up there in September!

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  7. CARL'S! CARL'S! CARL'S! Three cheers for CARL'S! Oh man, do I miss that place :)

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  8. Have mercy! I need icecream..hehe

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  9. Hi. Thanks for visiting my blog. Do you live in Williamsburg? I live in Stafford.
    We have an ice cream cone place just like this, we visit there often!
    Roxie
    www.jorabeels.blogspot.com

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  10. Nice! I always love reading (and writing) about ice cream.

    Visiting from SITS.

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