EL -- the Rita's chain has been around for 20 years or so, but started out as an "water ice" (Italian ice) stand. (See their website here.) Their ices are OK, but I haven't had one for awhile (even though there's one next to my regular grocery store), and I've never had their frozen custard (and, yes, that is what they mean by "custard").

Happiness can be purchased in a variety of locations around town. Bravo to Rita's for spanning the gorge between soft serve and happy endings.

So, money CAN buy happiness?

"Will that be a cup or a cone?"

(And I'm envisioning a cone of happiness, turned upside down and dipped in that chocolate sauce that hardens into a shell...)

Weird timing! I just ate there this afternoon with another Sun blogger, Nancy. It was my first time, but Nancy was a seasoned pro.

I had strawberry water ice with nilla wafers mixed in and chocolate custard on top. The custard was absolutely delicious and the water ice had more flavor than i expected. And all of it together was surprisingly good!

Only disappointment: It'd be nice if they had more than a bench for outdoor seating. We ended up eating in my car.

I love Rita's, but I have eating it in my car.

There's been one in Canton next to the Royal Farms for a while. Add in Kisslings and its happiness corner

maryann, if you take a small boy to Rita's, you can sit on the curb to eat.

Robt from TBRS - I don't think I've ever seen a cone from Rita's.

Compared to the frozen custard made by independent operators in the Midwest Rita's is sub par. Look for frozen custard in Chicago from a non chain and you will be much happier.

Ah…memories…I used to take my pre-school aged son to the Rexall Drug; we would buy ice cream cones and sit outside on the bench while we ate them.

(That’s where I taught him about gambling. I’d give him his allowance in nickels, then we would make 5¢ bets on what color the next car to come around the corner would be. His favorite color was purple. Do you know how few cars are purple? There were even fewer back in the day, when we did this. Ha Ha Ha.)

I first had Rita's when i went away to college in the middle of nowhere in PA. Oh the delicious wonders! Their cream ices (like mint choc chip and cookies and cream, and birthday cake) are good, but I LOOOOVE getting a nice fruity ice with a dollop of vanilla custard on top.

Watermelon is my fave, mango and peach combined a close second.

Eve - it was just an allusion, of sorts, to something EL wrote about soft serve ice cream. Sorry. I'll try to do better next time.

wow, Rita's!

there was one right on my way home on Forest Drive in Annapolis. Plus, there is one on the Kmart lot in Stevensville on the Shore. You can get there if you take the Romancoke exit off 50 just after you cross the Bay Bridge. After you exit, take a left at the light. You can't miss it.
It is a huge favorite of my co-workers who work at the main office. It closes in the winter though, as does the one on Forest Drive.

So on your next trip "downy ocean" stop there for a tasty treat. It will make the next three hours of dull driving worth it.

Elite: True.
I've had Midwest custard. Had Rita's. Not close ... well, not close enough. Rita's disappointed.

There's tons out in Baltimore County. They have been around for a long time and if I'm not mistaken, she's Bill Bateman's wife.

Def try the Misto shake.

And if you like the stuff, it's much less expensive to buy the custard and ice by the gallon and make your own at home.

EL - that Rita's is relatively new. I believe that "chain" ice is much like it's counter-part "chain" food. If you want a real treat, turn right onto Falls road, cross Northern Parkway, pass Whole Paycheck - and up on the right you'll find Tropi-Cool. Best ice in Baltimore. You have to try the birthday cake flavor.

Rita's is yuppie soft serve, with the price to match. It is ok, but, as folks have noted, nothing like the stuff I grew up on in the Midwest.

If anyone ever goes to St. Louis Ted Drewes is the ultimate frozen custard. Even my associates from Milwaukee agreed it is the best.

I am not a Rita's fan, only when they give out free ice on the first day of spring. If you want great frozen custard try The Meadows on Walther Blvd in the Food Lion shopping center in Perry Hall. I love the banana custard, it has pieces of real banana in it.

I skip the "custard" and go right for the ice and gelato at Pitango in Fells Point. Spicy Chocolate, mmmm...

Up here in Reisterstown we have "The Cow". Soft serve icecream (or custard maybe) andi italian ice. It's Valhalla for those hungering for that illusive taste of summer! I don't recall that they have Happiness on the menu though!

Carey, according to Wikipedia "Rita's was founded in 1984 by former Butler Muscleman Thomas McCreary with his mother's recipe for Italian ice." Maybe some of the local stores are owned by Ms. Bateman.

Real frozen custard is distinguished from icecream by the addition of eggs, just as in non-frozen custard.

Carey and RiE -- the following came from the company history blurb on their website: "The story of Rita's Water Ice dates back to the sweltering summer of 1984 when Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter, decided to open a small Italian Ice business to augment his income. Tumolo opened his first store in Bensalem, Pa. and named the business after his wife, Rita."

The revision history for the Wikipedia entry cited by RiE indicates that considerable tampering has been inflicted upon that entry over the past month or so.

obscure off topic question...this sign reminds me (somewhere in my foggy memory) of a piece of fiction where someone awakens or is somehow enlightened by a neon sign. For some reason I'm thinking it was either Pynchon or Tom Robbins. I also think the sign may have said "increase" but not sure. Any ideas from the readers out there???

Joyce, doesn't ring any bells. But I do remember a certain protagonist trying to out-run, out-drive the malaise in his car. Probably malaise induced by the neon signs and chains. It seems everywhere I go there is a Ritas.

BG, it was Walker Percy's protagonist in The Moviegoer who tried to out-drive the malaise.

Walker Percy also authored the intro to one of my very fav novels, A Confederacy of Dunces. Go Lucky Dogs!

Love love love Confederacy of Dunces. How is that not a movie? It seems perfect for a movie adaptation. I heard that the book was optioned years ago and never quite made it into production.

I read Confederacy of Dunces years ago - definitely worth a re-read. Could be that book where my reference is from. OMG, do you really want to see the Hollywood treatment of such a great book? I don't think there's been many (Gone with the wind?) that they've done justice to!

Some Ignatius (star of Confederacy of Dunces) on food:

"I think I shall have a macaroon or two. I have always found coconut to be good roughage."

"Canned good is a perversion. I suspect that it is ultimately very damaging to the soul."

"My digestion has been destroyed. I think that I am beginning to bloat!"

As a midwesterner, I still don't get the hype over 'snowballs' or 'sno-cones' in Maryland. I'll take an italian ice any day, or even better, custard. Rita's is the McDonald's of custard, but it cures the craving. I had their key lime italian ice recently, it was tasty

Leigh, as a lifelong Marylander, I don't get the snowball thing either. Even the much prized and adored "Hawaiian Snowballs". I'd rather have custard anyday too, or Italian ice or even plain old ice cream. Wish the Good Humor man still came around!

OMG, we agree on something--!

Confederacy of Dunces is one of my all-time favorite novels--a must re-read before any trip to New Orleans. But Joyce, I don't think the reference you are seeking came from that great novel--although I haven't read it recently, so I may be wrong here.

Who could possibly play Ignatius? I think Cuaron could direct it.