Philly Fridays

The Fourth is over, those tourists are gone, and your ‘hood is likely back to normal. It’s also SWELTERING outside.

You probably left last weekend’s holiday all-you-can-eat ice cream fest to the out-of-towners. Because, honestly, wouldn’t it be better to just buy a tub of ice cream at the corner store than risk a sweaty mob and getting gouged by souvenir flags to get the same thing for free?

Whether or not you partook last weekend, there’s no doubt about it that iced confections are the sweetest way to stay cool this summer. Here are our best recommendations to beat the heat:

Hit up Franklin Fountain: This is your best for supporting a small business and staying cool, if you’re hitting up any of the tourist attractions in Old City. The Berley family bought this historic Old City building. The bottom floor had once been occupied by an erotic cake and candy shop, but they decided to bring some old fashioned charm to the spot with their handmade ice cream and classy 1920s decor. It’s some of the best ice cream in Philly.

Find the City’s Best Water Ice: It seems like all Philadelphians have a favorite corner store water ice, or are on a first name basis with an ice cream truck driver who brings this slushy specialty to their door. I have a very strong recommendation if you live in Northeast Philly. Hit up Famous Italian Ices. The intersection of Emerald and Lehigh Streets may not be an obvious culinary destination, but I firmly believe this 44-year-old family-run business has the best water ice in the city. They have 48 different flavors, make it all fresh daily, and supply a good deal of the push carts and ice cream trucks in the city. For the entrepreneurial-minded, they also strongly encourage anyone to go into business with them, with push cart rental options and special bulk prices.

Combine Your Favorite Flavors at Bastille Day: Saturday is Bastille Day in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood. The celebration itself, with the working guillotine, tossing of TastyKakes off of Eastern State Penitentiary, and all the small business support, is great. Philly Flavors, however, is one of the best places to combine your favorite flavors in ice cream, water ice, and other cold treats. Treat yourself then get your face painted, scoop up some of the TastyKakes, and yell extra loud at Marie Antoinette.

Have a great, sweaty weekend. A lot of your local small business owners have splurged on air conditioning. Go take advantage of it (and actually buy a few things too).