Diary of a Transplant: Hudson Wakes Up for Summer

  |  May 17, 2012

Coming home froma pizza dinner at Baba Louie’s in Hudson last Sunday night, I noticed a strange glow coming from lower Warren Street, just a little below the 3rd Street intersection. A neon-pinkish glow. From a glowing little storefront, with people milling about outside.

Could it be?

It’s only May 6. Last year they opened May 16, according to Megan, who charts the movements of this locally-made ice cream shop like a whaling captain watches the stars.

“Turn, turn!” I shrieked to New Farmer Husband. “Stop! Lick is open! Lick is open!”

Okay, maybe I wasn’t quite so emphatic, but it was definite cause for excitement.

Lick is an ice cream shop that, like all ice cream shops probably should be, is a seasonal endeavor. Fall comes, and they shut down. (Last year we were the very last customers of the season. Every flavor was sold out, except for two servings of vanilla. So we… chose vanilla.)

Spring comes, and they bring back their locally-made, inventively-flavored wares. (Sasparilla, anyone?) Our first year upstate, we were wandering around Hudson on a sunny May afternoon. Three times we heard people exclaiming, “Lick is open!” We followed the crowd and had our first taste of Lick.

It is now a seasonal rite of passage.

Are they expensive? Do you often have to wait in line? Are they sometimes out of Wicked Chocolate? Yes, yes, and not if you go on Wednesdays and Fridays, duh!

Late spring is here. The dark winter is over. The summer people will be here soon, with their black clothing and their gallery brochures.

Let us now celebrate with Raspberry Chip in a wafer cone, Wicked Chocolate in a waffle cone, Salted Carmel Pretzel Peanut in anything, and maybe a double scoop of Figs n Cream. Mango- and Strawberry-Smoothies come later, when it’s hot.

We love you, Lick!

Lick
253 Warren StreetHudson, New York (just below 3rd)
(Photo: Dan Goldberg)

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