Every Saturday morning, my mom and her friends took their 50-cent allowance and walked to the Hollywood Theater on Hamilton Avenue. They spent one quarter on tickets to the 1:00 show, and then walked up the street to Graeter’s Ice Cream Shoppe where they spent the other quarter on White Tower Sundaes.
A Cincinnati original, Graeter’s still produces the most decadent ice cream around — think Haagen Daz and then add a little butter fat and chocolate chunks too big to fit on your spoon.
We capped any of our trips to Cincinnati with a visit to Graeter’s when I was growing up and, later, I introduced my own children to the magic of that special treat.
Yesterday, with the heat index soaring and the rest of the family off doing interesting things, I treated myself to a version of the White Tower Sundae. I didn’t have any Graeter’s Ice Cream on hand (though, through the wonder of the Internet we have enjoyed a pint or six from time to time), so I substituted cute little single serving containers I discovered on my necessary run for marshmallow fluff and chocolate jimmies.
I sat at my laptop and surfed a few sites while I spooned up my delicious treat, but it still felt old school. A White Tower Sundae will cost you $4.75 today and a matinee ticket even more.
But, the point is, you can still catch a Saturday matinee with your friends and follow it up with an ice cream sundae.
You’ll be glad you did.
