Kids play space + Blue Marble Ice Cream at 186 Underhill

Subject: Re: Expensive

RBG wrote: The kids who actually live in the neighborhood (the black kids) can't afford to pay almost $4.00 for a small scoop of ice cream.

So, do white, asian or hispanic kids not "actually live in the neighborhood"?

When I saw them this morning, my kids were living with me in my apartment a block away from the new ice cream shop. My kids' babysitter has spent her own money buying ice cream there, and she loves it. Oh, but she lives in Carnarsie, so I guess she's really not a part of the neighborhood either even though she (and her mother) works here five days a week and is black.

And further, are "the kids who actually live in the neighborhood (the black kids)" some of the same ones I see playing with $200 PSPs on the bus in the morning? Or, the ones I saw in Mt. Prospect Park this past weekend in the powered kid-sized Hummer? Or do these kids not qualify as residents either? If not, what are the exact requirements for a person (or business) to be an actual part of Prospect Heights? Is it race based (and what % of what race? shall we go back to qualifying mulattos and quadroons in a 19th century way?), based on how much time someone spends there or based on what someone cannot afford? I was never given the entry requirements when I moved here over four years ago.

Subject: Re: Expensive

sterling2000 wrote: Or, the ones I saw in Mt. Prospect Park this past weekend in the powered kid-sized Hummer?

Easy on the Hummer....that's the only zero-emission/plug-in SUV operating in this neighborhood. I wish there were more.

Oh please, not this again. No, Sterling- NOT the ones with PSP's, the ones (like next door to me) that play with sticks and ride on bicycles that are too small for them. You cannot say that there isn't a line- there is. Can we get off this shit like we're all equal?? We're not, not on this planet and not in this neighborhood.

I can't believe it took until page 2 for this thread to turn into a class/race/etc. argument.

Whatchuwant wrote: You cannot say that there isn't a line- there is.

I think that Sterling's point isn't that there is no line, I think that he's pointing out that the line isn't black and white... or chocolate and vanilla, as the case may be.

WhyFi wrote: [quote=Whatchuwant]You cannot say that there isn't a line- there is.

I think that Sterling's point isn't that there is no line, I think that he's pointing out that the line isn't black and white... or chocolate and vanilla, as the case may be.

Ok, fine. But when anyone says "black kid" around here they get slammed. Are there fancy black kids around here? I guess so, but they are not the majority. Are there fancy white kids? More than black kids, I suspect.

There are all kinds of stores, restaurants, businesses, etc. that I cannot afford. I just avoid them and go to the ones I can. I don't get upset about them, I move on.

If an ice cream parlor with a $4 ice cream cone is so incredibly upsetting to people as a symbol of some sort of cultural bugbear, then they should vote with their feet and just head to the nearest Mr. Softee truck.

Subject: ice cream

Sterling---I'm sure that you're smart enough to get my point. There are large numbers of kids in this neighborhood---let me be specific---the black kids who live in subsidized housing on St. Johns Place---the kids who live in the run down bldgs. on Washington ave---the kids who live in the the Section 8 buildings on Prospect Place---the kids who live in that building on the corner of St. Johns and Washington...-those BLACK kids---the kids who live in Tivoli Towers on Crown Street---those KIDS...not the toddlers ones being pushed around by nannies ...The nanny kids have parents can afford $4.00 scoops of ice cream. Many of the black kids (not all!) do not. It's pretty basic. In fact, I can count the number of black kids that I saw in that place last weekend on two hands. Why? Because the prices have made the ice cream inaccessible for many of the kids in the neighborhood...and to be fair, the majority of the kids that I see living around here are African-American. Many of them are being raised by single parents, grandparents, or working moms who barely make enough to make ends meet. That's who I'm talking about. If I'm balking at paying $4.00 for a scoop, certainly the mother who makes $6.75 an hour has taken notice too...And don't tell me the owner of the place is African-American. I know that already!

people....can't we just have a thread about ice cream?

BTW, Sterling. Do not get me started about you saying that your Nanny (excuse me, babysitter) is a part of the neighborhood. She's a part of this neighborhood while she's bathing, feeding, nurturing, teaching, disciplining, and dare I say---parenting---your kid(s.) She lives in Canarsie and you're making a fool of yourself for even believing that she considers herself a part of YOUR neighborhood or your family. She's there to make money and take care of your kids...plain and simple. If you think for one second those nannies believe they are part of your family (or in this case neighborhood), spend a an hour in a black hair salon on a Saturday morning and take a listen to what they really think about you and your fancy strollers..yeah, I said it! What point are you making by saying your nanny (babysitter, wet nurse, psuedo-mom, whatever) stopped to by a scoop of ice cream with her own money?I don't get it.

BrookFetish wrote: people....can't we just have a thread about ice cream?

Apparently not. *sigh*

Subject: ....

I'm sorry. I apologize. I let my emotions get the best of me. I happen to like the place...great ice cream. Good for the neighborhood. Let's talk about ice cream.

Ice cream is good. I had a chocolate shake. It was good. But expensive.

Blue Marble ice cream is excellent. I don't mind paying extra for a product that's artisan made. And Mr. Softee also hits the spot. Whatever.

WhyFi wrote: Ice cream is good. I had a chocolate shake. It was good. But expensive.

Thanks for the positive review. I, too, am happy that the shop is there, not only because I've noticed that it has already perked up that stretch of Underhill, but also because I love ice cream. And, I'm happy that it's not exactly cheap. This way, ice cream becomes an occasional treat for me and not an everyday habit. And whoever said that a Mr. Softee cone hits the spot was right! I take mine with cherry dip, please. But the last time that I bought one (in Midtown) it was $3! I would rather pay the extra $1 and get homemade ice cream.

So, the logical next question: which flavor do I try on my first visit?

BKChickie wrote: So, the logical next question: which flavor do I try on my first visit?

My universe of Blue Marble ice cream only includes two flavors at the moment - Tart Strawberry and Mint Chip. Both are excellent, but I think the Mint Chip wins by a narrow margin.

You can also taste before you buy (on biodegradable tasting spoons, or something..makes you feel like you are saving the planet, even though you aren't).

RBG wrote: What point are you making?

Turning every discussion in to one about race is boring.

Yaaaaaaaaawn.

haven't been inside yet, but it really has "perked up" underhill. even if i'm not a huge fan of strollers, anything that gets people wandering around outside talking to each other is a good thing.

Hexatron wrote: haven't been inside yet, but it really has "perked up" underhill. even if i'm not a huge fan of strollers, anything that gets people wandering around outside talking to each other is a good thing.

This.

Went yesterday and it was amazingly delicious. Rich, creamy, not too sweet. I had a scoop of the strawberry.

I had high hopes for the Old Brooklyn Parlor on Vanderbilt when it opened, but lately there has been a lot of ice crystals. Hopefully the new place will keep the quality up.

BKChickie wrote: And whoever said that a Mr. Softee cone hits the spot was right! I take mine with cherry dip, please. But the last time that I bought one (in Midtown) it was $3! I would rather pay the extra $1 and get homemade ice cream.

i would rather pay the extra buck and not get the f@*&%#!! pop goes the weasel parked outside my house spewing diesel and noise.

The wife and I went back to Blue Marble after the 3-minute downpour last night. We both had cones. Whoever suggested the Cool Mint Chip was on the money, although I was a little confused/disappointed at first - I went in looking for bright green, and had to scan the drums of ice cream twice before I realized that there was no food coloring, this after a brief "they must have run out!" let down. My wife had some kind of blackberry and cream concoction - also very good. The size of the scoops was more than reasonable and, factoring in quality, I would say that it was a reasonable value.

stopped by this evening. chocolate with mocha chips was rich and satisfying. blueberry/pomegranate was devoured by the gf with barely a chance for me to taste it.

the portions size (single scoop) was plenty of ice cream for me. price is a big high, but quality is excellent, so i think it balances out as a nice treat. (like joyce's baked goods, it won't be an everyday thing for me.)

happy to have them in the neighborhood -- my arteries are happy they're not on my block.