There's a new water ice/soft serve shop on 52nd Street just up from Larchwood (at the corner of a small one-way street between Larchwood and Osage called Addison.) I think it's called 52nd Street Flavors. Our neighbors originally from S. Philly went yesterday and told us to go before the lines get out the door.

It's really good. I still miss La Naz's mango, but with the new operator of that space apparently not getting going, this is the best in the area. Cherry--a flavor I usually don't like was good--and the strawberry-lemon was good. They also have 21 flavors of soft-serve and a few cakes and maybe a few pretzels.

They did a good job of fixing up the interior--it's well painted and designed. No where to sit and they have the full 80s-style hardshell glass everywhere between you and the workers, but it's actually a pretty shop, despite that. And if not quite La Naz level in my book, it's a big step up from the Rita's and places like that.

I suspect most folks live a good bit east of 52nd Street--as do I--but there's a few places I like to go pick stuff up--especially the rotis at the Brown Sugar Bakery--and this will definitely be on the list.

Thanks for the tip, gpd.

I too am a fan of the Brown Sugar Bakery. Besides the sweet stuff, they have the best West Indian meat patties in the area and many veggie friends swear by their rotis.

I'll have to check it out sometime. It's been a long time since I've been on 52nd street. It's an interesting commercial corridor and I too think Brown Sugar is great.

I'm not a meat patty guy myself but my wife like you all thinks the ones at Brown Sugar are the tops.

After a long hiatus, 52nd Street Flavors at 52nd and Addison on Malcolm X Park is back open under new management and with much more ambitious offerings. In addition to a wide-array of interesting water-ice flavors (green tea!) they also have milkshakes and smoothies and a full 52 flavors of soft-serve (in honor of the street, of course)! So now, in addition to an some cool jazz Thursday night (7pm) with Denise King, you can get your frozen treat right across the street from the park as well. Should be a nice night.

__________________
www.malcolmxpark.org

I finally got a chance to check it out today. Great little spot!

The green tea water ice was fabulous! I got it as a gelati.

I was impressed by their selection: broad range of ice cream and water ice flavors that I must come back for before summers over, Turkey dogs for anti-beef people like me, home made ice cream sandwiches, shakes, etc. Hope they keep it up!

Does anybody have an idea what hours this place is open? I want to check it out but it's just far enough away from me that I'd hate to walk over there and find they were closed.

I know they're open until 9pm at least six days a week. I think Sunday they may pack it in a little early. I'll check and report back.

__________________
www.malcolmxpark.org

how would one review their water ice, and what are some of the unique flavors that they have? my favorite water ice in west philly would have to be Via Venetto, which they carry at Fiesta Pizza. unfortunately, while Via Venetto makes various flavors, Fiesta only currently carries lemon, sour apple, rainbow and mango. I like Fred's a lot too.

I stopped in the other day, and 52nd Street Flavors is keeping to a Noon-9pm schedule six days a week. See a photo of their colorful street furniture right here!

__________________
www.malcolmxpark.org