Anybody who drives on Washington Street south of Forest Hills knows the Puritan Ice Cream building - that sad looking brick building with the "Retail Store in Back" sign that never actually looks like it's open.

Rhea Becker reports that not only is it open, but it's 100 years old this year.

But, have any of you ever actually bought any of its three-gallon tubs of ice cream? Maybe that's why they're not better known.

The West Roxbury Bulletin reports that the new iScream Works (to replace the old Imagine That) will be selling Brigham's ice cream "in quarts, sundaes and cones." Seems one of the new owners is an advertising guy and one of his clients is, ta da, Brigham's. Opening could be by Memorial Day.

Centre Street used to have an actual Brigham's parlor, but it closed years ago, to be replaced by Yoo Hoo's, which itself shut down, to be replaced by Himalayan Bistro.

Centre Street in West Roxbury is getting TWO ice cream places, one next to where Tai Ho used to be and one where Imagine That soon won't be, the Transcript reports. However Sugar has backed off its plans to sell Emack & Bolio's ice cream.

Not even in the summer, let alone in March.

Speaking of ice cream: In an otherwise depressing story about how Centre Street in West Roxbury now has more vacant storefronts than funeral homes, the Bulletin reports the old L'Essence art gallery (burned out in last year's Tai Ho fire), will be replaced by an ice-cream joint. Centre hasn't had an ice-cream place since Yoo Hoo's and Friendly's closed back in 2005.

Brendan downs some newly legalized absinthe at Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square:

... In the end, I didn't see anything. No curious things, no monstrous things, and I didn't cut my ear off. But, to be honest, I wasn't expecting too much in terms of transcendental experience. If you can buy it in a bar, I really doubt its going to turn Commonwealth Avenue into a field of tulips. One thing I did feel was lucid – I definitely walked out of Eastern Standard relaxed, relatively clearheaded, and, paradoxically, pretty wobbly (absinthe can be 58+ proof). While I wasn't about to sit down and write a surrealist novel, the feeling was, on the whole, much more pleasant than anything my usual Guinness and Jack-and-Coke repertoire produces. ...

Rhea Becker tries some vegan ice cream at the soon-to-open Wheeler's on Mass. Ave. near Symphony:

... The flavors were intense, unlike any other ice cream I've ever tried. We tasted: champagne (like a sparkling New Year's party in your mouth), green tea (turning Japanese), pumpkin (sweet but not too sweet), peanut butter and banana (with gigantic, chewy hunks of peanut butter), and chocolate peppermint (just like Girl Scouts Thin Mints but more refreshing). I'm sold on it. ...

Because Dippin' Dots are now available at Shaw's.

After reading her epic account of a mutant cockroach in the women's room at work today, one might suspect the Missus will be in no hurry to try the crunchy ice cream at Toscanini's.

The Boston Business Journal scoops up the story.

Cambridge Police report that when an employee at Emack and Bolio's in Porter Square turned to get a cup of water for a guy on Monday afternoon, the guy reached into the cash box and took out $120. Police describe the suspect: "White, 5'10, medium build, light facial growth, black stocking cap, waist-length black leather coat, dirty light blue jeans and black shoes."

Earlier:
Newton ice-cream vending machine robbed.

Bostonist has the scoop on the Central Square landmark; looks like the owner's had a rocky road of late and now the only way you'll get any ice cream there is to jimmy open the lock slapped on the door by state revenooers (yes, I will stop now). Complete with dramatic photo.