A Place Where Art and Ice Cream Meet-Up in Old Saybrook, CT

Article and Photo by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com

For those who enjoy art galleries and ice cream, the James Gallery and Soda Fountain will leave you with fine "impressions."

The 1790 building (originally a general store) that houses the art gallery and the 1896 soda fountain combines to bring visitors a truly unique experience where it's OK to say, "I'll have some chocolate chip cookie dough with this watercolor painting of Old Saybrook."

The art work is high quality, indeed, as is the ice cream made by Buck's La Favorita Ice Cream Co. in Milford, CT. Using 14 percent butterfat, this is great-tasting, rich ice cream with our taste buds truly enjoying flavors like black raspberry, chocolate chip and pistachio. The ice cream parlor also features banana splits, sundaes, ice cream floats, milkshakes, malts and New York egg cream (chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer).

We haven't been yet, but we understand the ice cream parlor now features the Sugarplums Candy Shop "offering a variety of penny candy, chocolate's and other yummy treats," according to the James Gallery and Soda Fountain Web Page.
This will, no doubt, make the overall experience that much sweeter.

The black and white tile and soda fountain counter with seating lends a feeling of being back in time, and the outdoor seating area is always a delight at sunset in the warmer weather. Right next door is the Deacon Timothy Pratt House, a charming-looking 1746 center chimney colonial bed and breakfast that we hope to stay at soon -- as a means to connect to the nearby Connecticut coastline and with our innate love for ice cream and art!

The James Gallery and Soda Fountain , 2 Pennywise Ln., located at the Corner of Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT. Tel.: 860-395-1406