As the last days of summer fade into early fall, the Italian/Latino Ice stands of New York City make their last stand before they close for the winter. The abnormal weather this summer could not have helped business, but on this pleasant Sunday afternoon, people lined 108th Street of Corona, waiting for one of their finals tastes of the Italian Ice King of Corona's famous ices.

Young boys and girls push their scooters around the block, old men relax in the park playing bocce ball, and women sit or stand on the stoops of their buildings, as the young men in white clothes and paper hats scoop out flavorful and varied ices. For those reading this article who live in Manhattan, this is not the mumblings of an elderly man on the "B Train" nor is it a movie set nor is it the new IMAX experience at the Museum of Natural History called- "The Lost World of Queens- Life at the Bottom of the Ocean," this is real people, living in Queens in the year 2000. Many of these people work in Manhattan and return home to a world not seen by most in Manhattan anymore. Queens is different and many of the people of Queens do not strive for the Manhattan lifestyle. They like Queens.

The Queens Difference:

1. children, instead of adult yuppies and East Village hipsters, ride scooters;
   
2. a line of Latino and Italian men wearing all white uniforms does not immediately mark the beginning of a burlesque show;
   
3. the elderly people sitting in the parks are not usually homeless;
   
4. people know and talk to their neighbors;
   
5. people have children; and
   
6. when there is line, you cannot get to the front if you know the bouncer or dress exotically.

The best part of it all: the ices are fantastic. The ices contain chunks of the substance that gives the ice its name- i.e. the coconut ice has pieces of coconut and the mango ice has chucks of mango. One can choose from a multitude of flavors and can experiment with the mixing of flavors to create the perfect mix (my favorite is coconut-mango). You can take your mix around the block, and experience real Queens life. The real world of real people. Take a few minutes and sit under the "Christmas" lights in the park with the bocce ball pits. Let the ice drip over your hands and then lick it off; don't worry you are in Queens.

Pretty soon the cooler weather of fall will erase any traces of the Indian Summer, and your opportunity will be lost for about seven months. Bring a diary with you, and as you ride the "7 Train" back to 'the city,' write a story about your days of youth in Queens when you would ride a scooter to get an ice and sit in the park and watch the old men play bocce on Sunday afternoons. Your friends, neighbors (if you know them), and children (if you have them) will think your Norman Rockwell's freakin' grandchild.

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Rob Maitra is a eighth-grade teacher and a doctoral student at Teachers' College, Columbia University. He also writes a column entitled "Moonlight Maitra and the Four Food Groups" at pindeldyboz.com.