When the Kids Scream for Ice Cream...

Around the beginning of September, there are always a few days—or sometimes weeks—when even Culver City starts to feel the heat. When that time rolls around, every playdate seems to revolve around one thing: ice cream.  While I’ve usually got some otter pops stashed in the freezer—and the kids certainly enjoy making their own popsicles from scratch—when it comes to ice cream as the social event of the day, you’ve got to leave the house.

Therefore, in honor of the end of summer—but presumably not the end of the heat—I present my family’s top five ice cream destinations in Culver City:

1) : My husband has been coming here since he was a kid, but B&R never seems to go out of style. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I downed quarts of their Jamoca Almond Fudge. Nowadays, the kids order rainbow sherbet cones with sprinkles; I find it strange, they obviously find it delicious.

2) Foster’s Freeze: On our most recent visit, three-year-old Ashton knocked the top of his soft-serve onto the ground and it seemed like the tears would never end. Fortunately, I was able to give him a handful of change for the vending machines and he calmed down. Remember, Foster’s is a cash-only establishment, so always bring spare change, or at least singles.

3) : It’s like Coldstone Creamery, but you get to mash all the stuff together yourself. While the kids like to gorge themselves on multi-colored servings of yogurt topped by gummy bears and M&Ms, I’ve been working on the perfect combination of tropically flavored yogurts and fresh fruit. I’ve almost got it. I just need to do some more research.

4) Speaking of Cold Stone Creamery: While the kids love masterminding new combinations of flavors (strawberry mixed with Heath Bar crunch, anyone?) and I love the “sweet cream” mixed with raspberries, most parents I know don’t love the prices.  Still, every once in a while, it can’t hurt to splurge on a $5 ice cream.

5) Especially when there’s Guillermo. Recognizable by his oversized cowboy hat, I’d been buying “Drumsticks” and popsicles from him for years before I finally introduced myself. Now, I get an extra big smile every time we see each other. Guillermo’s ice creams may not be the “best,” but at a $1 apiece, they’re certainly the best deal in town. And, like my mother always said about her home cooking, they’re served with love. And brought to your doorstep.