Big Gay Ice Cream Guys of the East Village

Just before Christmas, I finally made a trek to the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop in the East Village on an unusually warm December night.  The store was started by the couple who drove the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck to fame over the past couple years, tweeting their locations around the city and developing a loyal following for their take on soft-serve ice cream.

At the store, I ordered a "Bea Arthur" cone, which is vanilla with dulce de leche swirled up the sides. Then the whole thing was rolled in crushed Nilla Wafers.  Wow.  It was delicious and the store was so friendly too; not only the help behind the counter (who gave me a sample of this crazy cinamonn/peanut butter spread called Biscoff) but the other customers too. I chatted with a nice young college student who told me she didn't know who Bea Arthur was so I schooled her on the unique genius of Bea, directing her to "Maude" and "Golden Girls" reruns via Netflix.

Anyway, the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop reopens today after a 2 week-long holiday hiatus. Here's a cute video I found about the store's owners/partners, courtesy of the NYTimes/NYU collaboration East Village Local.  What a sweet couple...and making such sweet treats! :)

Food Truck Rally At Govenor's Island

With Hurricane Earl making a trip to the beach not that appealing this weekend, there are some other unique holiday options here in the city.  If you're looking for something fun and unusual this Labor Day, I'd recommend a trip to Governor's Island for the Food Truck rally.  It's happening on Sunday only, from 12n to 5pm on Colonel's Row.


Yeah, I know....Food Truck's are oh-so -rendy these days and maybe you're getting a little sick of hearing about them.  But the point of Food Trucks is eating, not discussing.  So go eat something already!  [said in my best Jewish grandmother voice]  :)  There will be ice cream from Van Leuuwen, seafood from Red Hook Lobster Pound and slushies from Kelvin Natural Slush along with seven other trucks.  The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck was not listed on the program but who knows.....maybe he'll pull a surprise attack!