PrintThe Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, Launching Soon in NYC
Rainbow sprinkles might mean something a little different on a soft serve cone from The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. Doug Quint, a New York-based bassoonist who just finished coursework for his musical arts doctorate at CUNY, is rolling out his playful new mobile dessert business as soon as his permit shows up (hopefully next week).
"Let's face it, ice cream trucks are kind of queer, and a middle-aged white man driving one is pretty suspect," Quint said. "That's not to say that I'm a rolling hotbed of perversion. Hardly the case. It's all in the name of silly." That means his Twitter updates (@biggayicecream—yes, he's another street vendor on Twitter) won't be limited to the truck's whereabouts, but also involve haikus and requests for good cha-cha music.
There are a few noticeable differences between him and Mister Softee. For starters, his concern for Proposition 8 in California, but also his topping selection. The BGICT will offer olive oil and sea salt, Nutella, bacon, and any suggestions from his clientele, who will earn freebies when they sport his apparel (the tank top is called the "husband beater").
Be on the lookout for the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck in the West Village during the day, near East Village and Chelsea bars and clubs at night, and maybe even some Brooklyn appearances. If you hear cha-cha music, the rainbow sprinkles shouldn't be far.
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22 Comments:
OMG. He needs to make a flavor called the Big Gay Al.
Adam Kuban at 11:38AM on 06/03/09
The ice cream trucks--or old conversion vans with the windows covered in ice cream stickers--look like they're driven by pedophiles. No fewer than 6 of them come through the neighborhood any given day. One in particular has a really annoying song constantly playing.
beth1 at 11:41AM on 06/03/09
Update from Doug: "I got through to the Dept. of Consumer Affairs, and the permit is in the mail. WOOT!" Woot, indeed.
Erin Zimmer at 11:44AM on 06/03/09
I'm loving this idea, best of luck Doug. I don't know if this is at all possible, but it would be great if this truck could somehow blast disco classics with the timbre of Ice Cream truck music.
JudgeFudge at 11:50AM on 06/03/09
I want to shop at the Big Gay Ice Cream truck!!!!
And I LOVE the Disco idea...or even Techno music would be good too!! You go Mary!!!
arm1970 at 11:56AM on 06/03/09
I find the idea of comparing a pedophile to a gay man pretty disgusting. Pretty much a step backwards.
cybele at 12:18PM on 06/03/09
@cybele, i was thinking the exact same thing. i was going to take the comment with a grain of salt and hope that's not what beth1 meant.
dmarina at 12:37PM on 06/03/09
@ Adam...i thought you were talking about Star Jones' ex-hubby. Thanks for the wiki link
_greenbean at 1:11PM on 06/03/09
Prop 8 has absolutely nothing to do with this conversation -- I never appreciate when Serious Eats tries to inject divisive politics (no matter the flavor) into food.
sbroadway at 2:18PM on 06/03/09
hehehe, this is hilarious.
@sbroadway
i never appreciate people who just need to lighten up.
foodinmouth at 2:35PM on 06/03/09
awesome idea just wish they had been around while i was in NYC
Edwardkimuk at 2:49PM on 06/03/09
@cybele--it was a joke, and only that. a simple statement about the ice cream trucks in my area. not a reflection in the BGICT, but merely referencing the quote from the owner of the truck: "Let's face it, ice cream trucks are kind of queer, and a middle-aged white man driving one is pretty suspect," Quint said. "That's not to say that I'm a rolling hotbed of perversion. Hardly the case. It's all in the name of silly." Cybele--it's all in the name of silly. Lighten up.
beth1 at 3:24PM on 06/03/09
hella TIGHT!!! The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck should do a cross country trip to San Francisco. I can't believe we don't have one here...we have so many Big Gays.
marchpane at 4:26PM on 06/03/09
I wish we had an ice cream truck that played some good cha-cha. We have one that comes through on my sleep-in days, blaring "Come All Ye Faithful" (oh yes, Christmas in June everyone!) and I'm pretty sure the children in my apartment complex avoid it like the plague.
ilikedginger at 4:28PM on 06/03/09
Ice cream trucks are not kinda queer. They are ice cream trucks. Um, the projection room is closed.
Tallula Hamburger at 4:38PM on 06/03/09
Actually, given the toppings he is going to use, I bet lots of straight people give their kids a Flintstones push pop and then run after the Gay Rainbow truck themselves, following a trail of sea salt and Nutella!
HeartofGlass at 7:00PM on 06/03/09
Bassoonists are AWESOME.
shoneyjoe at 7:17PM on 06/03/09
The Tactical Ice Cream Unit was around last summer. Of course, it's an idea worth repeating...
http://www.tacticalmagic.org/CTM/project%20pages/TICU.htm
guido at 12:22AM on 06/04/09
beth1 - thanks for the tip, but I stand my my statement ... I'm not saying that SE has anything to do with it, I can tell by those little curled deelies around the words that it was a quote by the guy who owns the truck. I'm just saying that I don't think that it's a good marketing tactic.
(I don't think pedophilia is silly. And I will say so. I don't care if this is a food blog.)
cybele at 1:06AM on 06/04/09
Not that there is anything wrong with a Big Gay Ice cream truck but if you staffed it with a clown that would be going a bit far !
jfitz at 4:55AM on 06/04/09
Whatevs, I am super excited about this.
Laurel E at 10:19PM on 06/04/09
reminds me of when I was a kid, I constructed this wooden box attached to a set of golf bag wheels (with the help of a friends dad), painted it bright colors, and using my mom's tupperwares inserted into the top, drug it behind my bicycle around the neighborhood, selling candy to kids while blasting home made "ice cream truck" music that I recorded on a piano and a boom box! The "CANDY CART" was born.
If you need some current gay ice cream music, re-done boom box style, for your truck, let me know! :)
DollyTrolly at 12:45PM on 06/05/09