Ice Cream Outside, Before the Snow Flies

You can feel it, can’t you? Despite the gorgeous weekend, winter is coming. Time to take out the air conditioning units and bring out the jackets. And time to get to the lovely piazza at Crema Cafe, home of Sonny’s Ice Cream, before it closes for the season.

The piazza at Crema Cafe is one of the great patios in Minneapolis. Small, but mighty, it has a fountain, greenery, and beautiful metalwork by local artist Lisa Elias. Even though it faces Lyndale Avenue, it’s one of the most peaceful spots in the cities. Eating Sonny’s ice cream, which is hand-crafted in tiny batches with top-notch ingredients, is always a joy. Eating it on the piazza is almost a transcendent experience. Even my two little boys settle down to enjoy their cups or cones outside, giving me a precious five minutes of peace. When we’re done, we head across the street to the Painter Park playground, where they can work off a bit of the sugar while I bask in the waning autumn sun.

If you’d like to linger outside, go for dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday is date night, with half-price bottles of wine and free scoops of ice cream or sorbet along with the purchase of two entrees. Or check out their weekend brunch, on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which features local organic ingredients and espresso drinks made with Intelligentsia coffee.

Crema Cafe
3403 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.
cremacafeminneapolis.com

Fall Hours:
Wednesday 5 – 10:30 p.m.
Thursday 5 – 10:30 p.m.
Friday 5 – 11 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.