Moxley's Shuts Down in Towson; I'm Screaming

       Sadly, it turns out that 2008 is not the only thing getting kicked to the curb this January. Moxley's Ice Cream Parlor, the quintessential hometown, homemade, ice cream spot is on its way out this year. Opened in 1998 by Moxley, the yellow labrador retriever, and his "best friend," Tom, Moxley's fast became a household name in the North Baltimore/ Towson area, renowned for its charm and innovative flavors.

     The joint is pleasant and sunlit, featuring a full-service sundae/ scoop shop bar, complete with the tall stools, which provide endless entertainment for any kid, or perhaps the young at heart. Even though this shop opened its doors in the nineties, it had a distinctly classic, old America, feel. The ice cream is unmatched, in variety or quality, yet somehow, Moxley's was never too crowded. Not that there is such thing as a line too long for a scoop of Moxley's anyways. The charming storefront is enticing, and the ice cream doesn't fail to meet everybody's expectations.

     Disregarding the plethora of options, including monthly sundaes, floats, shakes, and smoothies, Moxley's flavor offerings alone cannot be beat. Almond Joy: Chocolate with coconut and almonds. The best banana ice cream you'll ever have. Banana chocolate chip. Blueberry with white chocolate chips. Butter Almond. Butter Pecan. Cardamon. Very Cherry Chunk, with two types of cherries. My favorite; Minty Mojo. Crushed Oreo, but with Mint! Triple Shot Espresso. Funky Monkey: Coconut with banana and chocolate chips. Another favorite, Ghost White Chip. Vanilla with white chocolate chips. Peppermint stick. Strawberry with white chocolate chips and fudge swirl. Pumpkin Pie. Coffee Mojo. Boring Chocolate Chip. Black Walnut. Butterscotch Vanilla. Candy Corn. Cantaloupe, Caramocha, Cherry Chocolate Chip. Vanilla with white, caramel & chocolate chips. Chocolate Covered Pretzel. Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Coffee Almond Chip. Death By Chocolate; with brownies and fudge swirl. Cinnamon, Coffee Irish Cream, Egg Nog. Dulce de Leche. Ginger, Green Tea, Ice Cream Sandwich. Every type of sorbet. Sherbet. Minty Chocolate Chip. Peach, Peanut Butter Ripple, Pistachio. Hungry? Yeah, I thought so. I don't eat or crave anything unhealthy anymore; with one exception. I can never pass up homemade ice cream, especially Moxley's. That would be like blasphemy, or sacrilege, or something. And the names themselves are pretty creative and alluring.

     But, sadly, it appears that like everything else, this hotspot has succumbed to the uniform, impersonal, and cheap power of the super-chain. No, WalMart has not bought up Moxley's, but Lee's Ice Cream has, and that's close enough. They already have a spot about 2 1/2 miles south, why take over a place that is full of mid-summer memories and sentimental value? Here, we must observe what Moxley's was, and pay homage to its short-lived greatness. In just a decade, Moxley's became a legend for the ages, as far as eateries go. I'll miss the nights I spent with my dad and my chocolate moustache; watching the fireflies, ice cream running down my arm, and catching every last dribble and drop with my tongue. The Kicker? I never got to tell Food Network about Moxley's, so they could come check it out.