Since today, July 19, 2015, is National Ice Cream Day, celebrate the observance established in 1974 by President Ronald Reagan at a variety of popular ice cream stores right here in Naperville.
Downtown Naperville offers both independent and nationally-known stores that sell delicious ice cream and gelato (Italian ice cream) by the cone or cup.
[shareprints gallery_id=”44789″ gallery_type=”squares” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”small” image_padding=”2″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”false” lightbox_type=”slide” titles=”true” captions=”true” descriptions=”true” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]For starters, visitors will find ice cream along Jefferson Ave. at Naper Nuts & Sweets, Haagen Daz Ice Cream, Cold Stone Creamery and Gelati Italian Ice Cream Cafe.
Then mosey over to Van Buren where you’ll find Frost Gelato in the Main Street Promenade.
Circle back to Chicago Ave. and find Cookie Dough Creations.
Down near other shopping destinations in south Naperville, Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store is located at 2879 95th Street, Suite 155.
Editor’s Update / A Facebook reader wondered why Colonial Ice Cream in Naperville Plaza, Washington at Gartner, was left off the list. Since at first the list was dedicated only to downtown stops, the omission of Colonial simply was an oversight. Colonial’s Famous Kitchen Sink is big enough for the entire family to share. Two whole bananas (Minions will be happy.), two scoops of vanilla, two scoops of chocolate and two scoops of strawberry go into one large sundae that comes with a braggadocious bumper sticker.
Settlement Sundays through Aug. 30
In addition, over at Naperville Settlement, an outdoor 19th century village just steps from the heart of downtown and the Naperville Riverwalk, “Settlement Sundays” this week fall on National Ice Cream Day.
Each Sunday through Aug. 30, admission to the museum includes free sundaes made with frozen custard from Culver’s (509 Route 59 in Aurora) with do-it-yourself toppings. Visitors also will find hands-on family activities and tours of historic buildings in the good old summertime.
Ice cream is served from 2-3:30PM and limited to the first 250 guests. Admission is $12 adult, $10 senior (62+), $8 youth (4-12), Naperville residents and members are free.
For more info about all the happenings at Naper Settlement, visit www.napersettlement.org. Naper Settlement is located at 523 S. Webster Street.
Cock Robin nostalgia every day
Or if you just want to wear your delight for local ice cream nostalgia, stop by Anderson’s Two Doors East in downtown Naperville or Oswald’s Pharmacy in Naperville Plaza to purchase a commemorative Cock Robin t-shirt that boasts “One in a Million.”
The latest shipment and design of Cock Robin t-shirts also are available online in adult sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL and XXXL.
Thanks to encouragement by Rita Harvard (1929-2012), Positively Naperville offers the t-shirts printed by ColorBurst to help raise awareness for the fine enterprise run by Little Friends, Inc., in Naperville, IL, in support of programs for children and adults with autism and development disabilities.
One more thing… Considering today’s dew point and to avoid drips down your forearm, you’ll want to lick quickly!
And keep all these ice cream shops in mind as you remember the early beginnings of ice cream in Naperville that began with the independent enterprises of Prince Castles in 1931, followed by Cock Robin Ice Cream in the mid-1950s.
Folks who operate ice cream establishments welcome you to enjoy the cool, creamy treat at other times, too. These days, what used to be known as seasonal ice cream parlors are open throughout the year.
