Patch Picks: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For...

It’s cool. It’s delicious. It’s ice cream! Calories? Think of it as a tub of air-conditioning. Here are a few local shops to check out. We recommend trying all of them (just so you can pick your own favorite). 

1. Mix it up. , 76 S La Grange Road, La Grange, 708-354-2600. Cold Stone’s web site claims you can create over 11 million flavor combinations with their mixings and fixings. That’s a lot of trips to the ice cream shop.
2. Vintage variety. , 25 South Ashland Avenue, La Grange, 708-352-4848. ‎Sorbets and sundaes rule in this family-owned business. Here you can thank the owner for making your ice cream treat, not just assembling it.
3. Oldies and goodies. Baskin-Robbins, 9400 Joliet Road, Hodgkins, 708-387-7108. Yes this is a chain store, but some folks swear by their familiar childhood favorites (peanut butter and chocolate, nuts, hot fudge). Even better, this store is open 24 hours a day for your emergency dairy fix. 
4. Happy cows, happy customers. , 929 Burlington Avenue, Western Springs, 708-784-0200. This brand offers tons of flavors, made with healthier, hormone-free cream. Dine-in, carry out, or have it delivered—there’s no excuse to miss your fix.
5. Burn it off before you eat it. Make your own with the Play & Freeze ice cream maker. Pour your favorite ingredients in this ball-shaped container, roll back and forth, then enjoy! Choose your favorite color for the outside, and flavors for the inside—in no time you’ll have a pint of homemade ice cream (Picks happens to know it actually works).