Free eggnog frappes at iScream on Centre Street in West Roxbury on Saturday between noon and 3 p.m. Also, a chance to meet Santa and Tom Menino.

Shane Curcuru reports that Arlington is in the grips of an ice-cream shortage:

... The local Stop & Shop on Mass Av in Arlington has one of its two frozen food aisles unplugged and emptied. No ice cream nor frozen novelties were in evidence throughout the store. ... Stop and Shop also has planned for this contingency, and lists four other stores within a 5 mile radius of zip 02476; note however that time of day and traffic conditions may require you to plan for extra time and bring your own cooler and icepacks to ensure the proper temperature conditions of your purchases. ...

Karen Wise reports from the front lines of Newton's ice-cream wars: Coney Island Ice Cream Cafe serves up decent Oreo and mint chocolate chip ice cream, but its vanilla is decidedly lacking:

... It was the strangest thing. It was the right color, texture, temperature, everything — but there was absolutely no discernible vanilla flavor at all. Not an artificial flavor, mind you, but no flavor. ...

Boston Chomps tries it (at J.P. Licks, home of the weird flavors, of course), is pleasantly surprised.

Kinda weak, Hood.

Brigham's sells itself off; Hood to get ice cream lines, some Baltimore company you've never heard of to get the remaining Brigham's stores.

Around 7 p.m. tonight, the line outside the newly opened iScream Works on Centre Street in West Roxbury stretched to the end of Real Deal. Even at 9:30, there was still a line outside. You'd think Centre Street hadn't seen ice cream in years.

Oh, wait. It hadn't.

Inside, the store is kind of small, but cool, what with exposed brick and the original tin ceiling. All the ice cream is from Brigham's (even the frappe and ice-cream cups say "Brighams"). Considering the place only opened today, the line moved remarkably quickly.

IScream on Centre Street has taken down its Friday the 13th banner and put up its new sign.

Over in Roslindale, Washington Street is getting a new seafood takeout place - in the same general vicinity as Yucatan Mexican Grill and BBQ Town, but on the other side of the street:

David Ertischek reports the Local Scoop Ice Creamery opens next week next to Papa John's in the Roche Bros. plaza (basically, across from the Hallmark). No seats, though.

This is in addition to iScream Works on Centre Street which, as you can see above, opens Friday the 13th in June - where Imagine That used to be (note: Kidlet wants it noted she is not actually scared of either ice cream or Friday the 13th) - and Champs, which is slated to open next to where Tai Ho used to be.

Michael Femia asks because the East Boston HEH-LO ice-cream truck is back.