Cool deals this weekend for National Ice Cream Day

Timing is everything. And Marie Mercado has good timing.

How do I know? Because Mercado had the good sense open her downtown location of The Greenery Creamery on National Ice Cream Day.

That was six years ago. Now there’s a second one in Sanford at Henry’s Depot. And Sampaguita, her Netflix-featured Filipino ice cream shop in Mills 50. And the denizens of Orlando’s Doctor Phillips ‘hood should get ready, because Mercado’s got a another cool concept on the way: Nola (instagram.com/nolasicecream).

The shop, which Mercado says will serve “American classics and some Asian influences,” will be located in the Dellagio Town Center and connected to Nabe, an all new wagyu shabu-shabu concept from Lewis Lin (Susuru, Juju), a sleek and coolly clandestine speakeasy-style joint dinner guests will access through the ice cream parlor.

Lin, Mercado and her longtime partner Mo Hassan will be adding YouTube influencers Khoa Nguyen and Keren Swan to the mix this time. Nola is named for their daughter, Magnolia, who Swan said “feels like a dream after having four boys….”

“There’s so much joy in this business,” says Mercado. “Ice cream is so much fun.”

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But don’t take her word for it. Head in to both locations of the Greenery Creamery on Friday, July 19, for a one-day Ice Cream Nachos collaboration with Instagrammer @cheatdayorl. Supplies will be limited, so go early.

Same goes for their Donutste milkshake collaboration on Saturday, July 20, courtesy of Christina Petsos of @somehowimnotfat.

And on National Ice Cream Day (July 21), enjoy BOGO ice cream scoops in both Greenery Creamery’s downtown and Sanford locations from noon to 4 p.m..

Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: [email protected].

Cool specials

Pay attention to avoid your own meltdown: dates vary on these Ice Cream Day deals!

Charlie’s Bakery and Creamery: (3213 Curry Ford Road in Orlando, 407-898-9561; charliesbakery.com) Sunday, July 21, $1.75 scoops from noon to 8 p.m. while supplies last (excludes pints, quarts and other ice cream products).

Crispy Cones: (2415 Curry Ford Road in Orlando, 407-724-4335; thecrispycones.com/orlando-fl) On Saturday, July 20, visitors to Crispy Cones in Orlando’s Curry Ford West neighborhood will enjoy $1 ice cream cups all day long.

Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream: (Multiple locations; kellyshomemadeicecream.com) On Sunday, July 21, all Kelly’s scoop shops will be offering 50% off ice cream from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excludes pints, quarts, cakes, merch and gift cards).

Sampaguita: (1233 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando, sampaguitausa.com) On Sunday, July 21, enjoy BOGO single scoops from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and BOGO soft cream (aka, soft serve) from 3 p.m. to close.