(coldstonecreamery.com) – Ballston neighborhood, Arlington, Virginia

How I heard of this place: I first heard of Cold Stone through a friend years ago when we were visiting Seattle from Bellingham. I was blown away by the novelty of creating one’s own ice cream treat. Now, it seems like a birth-right, but with a bounty of new flavors, the novelty still exists.

Type of cuisine: “If it has anything to do with ice cream, it has everything to do with Cold Stone Creamery. From unique ice cream creations to smoothies, cakes and shakes – nobody serves up the ultimate indulgence like Cold Stone.  It starts with using the highest quality ingredients and ends with our signature process for preparing your custom creation on a frozen granite stone….Through almost 20 years of serving up the finest ice cream, cakes, smoothies and shakes, some things have certainly changed. And frankly, some things haven’t. Ever since we opened our first store back in 1988, we’ve been serving up what we refer to asCreations™. In other words, if you want it in your ice cream – you get it. By mixing nuts, fruits and candy into our smooth and creamy ice cream on a frozen granite stone (around here, we call it “the stone”) we’re actually more like ice cream artists. Over the years, we’ve stumbled on a few concoctions of our own that we call our Cold Stone Signature Creations. Ice cream for breakfast, a smoothie for lunch, and a sensible cake for dinner? – Who says you can’t eat this amazing ice cream for all three meals?”

Ambiance: Decorated in dark browns, blacks and deep shades of red, each Cold Stone Creamery resembles the one before it. Every Creamery I have visited has floor-to-ceiling windows along the front, included the glass door, which opens onto a rectangular shaped space. To the immediate left, patrons find the ice cream cake display and selections for purchase. Just beyond and ahead is the ice cream and mix-ins station, complete with granite slab. To the right, posters announcing new creations and limited-edition flavors, just ahead of the two or three small, black, wrought iron tables and accompanying chairs. Posters, menu and flavor selections are posted on the wall behind the crew members, to assist in making decisions, or simply look in the case ahead and make your own creation.

What I ordered: With our soon-to-expire Entertainment book coupons, Samyar, Chris and I enjoyed two Like-It sized creations for $5 (plus tax) and I enjoyed a kids size flavor and one mixin’ for free! Win. Win. Win. After tasting the new Oreo Cookie Filling ice cream, I selected that with a mixin of mini chocolate chips in a small, kids-sized cup. Chris went for the Vanilla Cake Batter ice cream with graham crackers, white chocolate chips and a drizzle of caramel sauce atop, while Samyar opted for the Oreo Cookie Filling ice cream with Oreo cookies and Kit Kat, before we strolled around the neighborhood, enjoying our uber-sweet, frozen treats.

On a return visit, Tuesday, September 27, 2011: Who can refuse freeish ice cream at Cold Stone (donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation)? Not us! Three of our friends, Chris and I made our way across the street to partake of the Sweet Cream Ice Cream with brownies, rainbow sprinkles and hot fudge! Four cups later (for one of us) and strolling through Ballston Common, it was time to return to our homes.

What I loved: I loved the Oreo Cookie Filling ice cream, new, creamy and sweet. I always enjoy the Cake Batter ice creams, regardless of flavor!

Why I loved it: I always love a deal, and with new flavors of Cold Stone ice cream popping up on each visit, I just can’t seem to get enough.

Cost: Average to high ($3.85 for the smallest cup of ice cream and one mix-in)