Mmmmmm....Ice cream.  Ouch, brainfreeze.  With a few weeks of (potentially) warm weather, here's my favorite way to check out neighborhoods.  Locally-owned shops carry the flavor of the community.  Hanging outside you see a cross-section of the city get a cup or a cone.

A Nostalgic Evocation:
On a warm summer evening, I walk over to the Penguin - a mom and pop Argentine gelato shop on Lawrence, between a dry cleaners and a Korean restaurant.  I mean mom and pop - mom is running the register, with baby in the stroller behind the counter.  Pop is scooping; the grandfather makes deliveries. Yes, deliveries.  His popeye forearms tell a lifetime of hand-cranking tubs of chocolate, grapefruit, or sambayon (wine).  The Penguin is gone, unfortunately - but there's plenty of tasty, unique frozen spots all over town.

On the subject of tours, sign up for the South Side History Bike Tour - email dhays@uchicago.edu to register.

The List
The parlors below are my favorites - and will take you all over town.  Warning: Space out your visits to avoid the potential for massive weight-gain and crippling brainfreeze.

• Istria Café - fabulous gelato at the 57th Street Metra Stop and in the Hyde Park Art Center. A great place to start your exploration.
• Margie's Candies - 1960 N. Western Avenue, Bucktown. Since the '20s, serving amazing soda fountain creations. Summer Links Internship Program has an annual trip profiled in UChiBlogo.
• Rainbow Cone - 9233 S. Western, Beverly - South side institution - Five colorful flavors in a waffle cone.