Damn, it's toasty outside! I don't know about you but that shiny orb in the sky relentlessly bringing scorching hot temps leaves me only wanting to eat one thing right now - ice cream.

When I think of ice cream in Tacoma, there's one joint at the top of my list - Ice Cream Social. What was once a highly coveted, mobile creamy sweet treat at farmers markets and festivals, now has its own permanent storefront on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. After opening the door three weeks ago, the Ice Cream Social is the, er, hot treat in town.

I could recommend my go-to flavor chocolate, because ICS knows it well, as well as standards vanilla, strawberry, salted caramel, and cookies and cream. I say be adventurous. If Ice Cream Social's daily rotation of handcrafted flavors lands on Valhalla coffee, lavender coconut or dark chocolate, grab one. You won't be disappointed.

Really, you can't go wrong because ICS delivers heavenly bliss served up in a cone, including a daily dairy free option for you lactose intolerant types.

It's no secret their success lies in the details such as locally sourced dairy from Smith Brother's Farms, and partnerships with locals such as Valhalla Coffee.

Oh, ICS makes fresh waffle cones on site.

If neighbor The Red Hot is hogging all the car and bike slots, you can find ICS scoops at Maxwell's, Gateway to India, Hilltop Kitchen, Taste of Peru, Morso Wine Bar, Grassi's and the Proctor Farmers Market.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.327.1660