Dairy Bar Greatness and Handpainted Dixie Cup Masterpieces

Let’s start the year with a tiny bit of fun nostalgia. Like old dairy bars and that ’90s icon, the Solo Jazz cup.

Lafayette, Louisiana is home to a real Borden Ice Cream Shoppe — the last one. And it is everything.
Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Those floors. That ceiling.

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Those lights.

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

chocolate, choc swirl, choc chip, rocky road, walnut, vanilla, cherry vanilla, strawberry, praline, mint chip, butter pecan, cookies & cream…

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

All the ’90s college vibes with the Solo Jazz cup.

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette LA

One of my best friends has a restaurant and I told them it would be so terrific if they could carry Solo Jazz like our college days. They agreed and called their US Foods guy (this is what friends do. When you nerd out on a cup, they call somebody and make it happen). The US Foods guy came back with a huge carton of these cups below without saying anything…like this 😂😂😂 complete imposter Dart 20J16E J Cup in purple Impulse design, absolute atrocity, would pass for the perfection that is a Solo Jazz RP16P-00055 🤣🤣🤣 .

Dart Purple Cup

I just know my friend called the US Foods guy and it started something like “hey, I know you thought this was no big deal, and I know this sounds crazy, but…”

One day let’s get together and put on an exhibit of hand-lettered signs/images from dairy bars and hamburger/hot dog stands. I submit for your viewing pleasure the collection at the Tasty Dip of Heflin, Alabama:

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

And yes, of course my favorite:

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

which, haaaa, I think is the, or cousin to the Solo No. 77SE “Silhouette Design” from 1977

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

Real question: Is it possible to look at this picture of a grape snow cone and not sing Chattahoochee lyrics? 

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

Tasty Dip, Heflin AL

xoxo!