When spring rolled around this past year, my beloved Ralph's never opened for the season. I was crushed. There is now an awfully unnecessary late night deli (which might officially be called "late night deli" or something equally banal) in the old Ralph's corner location. It only took one summer for the war of Graham street to be over and for Uncle Louie G's to push out my dear italian ice spot. Boo. Hiss.
I swear with you as my witness, never once did I purchase ice cream from Uncle Louie G's while Ralph's was in business, pumpkin ice cream or no. I was stayed loyal till the end.
Of course the upside of all of this is that I can now eat pumpkin ice cream whenever I want and today being the first day of fall, I did just that. Nevertheless, rest in peace sweet Ralph's. Gone but not soon forgotten.
Reading the two posts back to back nearly moved me to tears. Epic.
ReplyDeletei love ralphs too.. if you ever need it you could always find a way to union turnpike in queens and pick some up!!!
ReplyDeletehaving a cone of pumpkin ice cream right now would make a bad day considerably better. very good choice, i'm sure ralph would forgive...
ReplyDeletePumpkin is my favorite too! You should try Moorenko's Pumpkin the next time you are in Maryland. [http://www.moorenkosicecream.com] it is usually sold at My Organic Market but they do have a number for ice cream emergencies if you need it.
ReplyDeletemmm. that looks amazing. if you have a gelato place near you, try the pumpkin flavor. so incredibly delicious.
ReplyDeleteLoyal to the end! Poor Ralph. Alas you are freed to purchase the scrumptious pumpkin ice cream. Im partial to pumpkin lattes, wait for it every year. btw, Juniors used to have delicious coffee ice cream.
ReplyDelete...Good Night, those photos make my mouth water! :oP
ReplyDelete...Life is full of changes, some good - some not so good. Sounds like this one isn't so bad... :o)
...Enjoy!
...Blessin's...
yes! i do remember, something so sublime sounding as pumpkin ice cream tends to stick in one's head. anyway, hurrah for you and it!
ReplyDeleteMy mouth is watering. I had my first pumpkin spice ice cream cone of the season last weekend too. Was visiting Cincinnati and made a stop at Graeter's (http://www.graeters.com/).
ReplyDeleteAh gelato... international happiness !
ReplyDeleteAlthough I lament the loss of Ralph's on your behalf (I live in New Orleans and can't say I lament it on my own), I really, really loved this blog post. I'm trying desperately to be analytical about why I love it and have yet to come up with a super valid reason, but I just wanted to share that I love it. Love love love.
ReplyDeleteyou had me at pumpkin.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Ralph's just about three minutes away from our house - it's a favorite treat spot for us in the summertime. Sometimes we grab the ices and drive down to the docks and catch a breeze off the ocean, sometimes we sit at the little plastic tables with umbrellas and watch the other denizens of our town enjoying their ices too.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is lemon - ain't no purer joy than a real lemon Italian ice!
So happy to read of someone's passion for icecream.
ReplyDeleteI completely get it.
Good one!
I can't believe that fall's official already. I see pumpkin ice cream on a sugar cone in my near future too.
ReplyDeleteYou've got the most lovely photos all over your blog! It's kind of seriously ridiculous(ly awesome). Oh, pumpkin ice cream. And with little orange speckles of pumpkin-y goodness! Yum.
ReplyDeleteSo so happy that other folks appreciate pumpkin ice cream too. Seriously, it's the best.
ReplyDeleteyou were able to be faithful and have your pumpkin ice cream, too ... good work
ReplyDeletehi there! i love your blog (and design sponge lived in!) and i blogged about you today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theclassiccase.com/2010/09/love-story-love.html
xo
Pumpkin Ice cream? I never new such a thing existed? I'll have to for sure find some.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, i don't know where to find that in my town, but i HAVE to have some!!! looks so scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteJust had pumpkin ice cream over the weekend and it was amazing. I've never been to Uncle Louie G's, even though there is one pretty close to my house.
ReplyDeleteRalph's however, is a real haunt of mine. The original Ralph's (opened in 1928!) is also close to my home - I think your Ralph's post was the first one I read on your blog. I found it interesting that some of your family lived in Staten Island (your Dad, I think?) - I wonder if they ever frequented Ralph's?
Nooooooo!!! Not Ralph's! I am without words. Thank goodness it's autumn.
ReplyDeleteyou convinced me go back and read that previous post, I think it was that big scoop of ice-cream, so I went to read it and learned that water ice was suppose to be delicious. but now learned that Ralph is closed. ohh boo. hoo.
ReplyDelete