Ample Hills Creamery opens next week

When your little ones start screaming for ice cream (we know they will!), forego your neighborhood Tasti-D-Lite in favor of a more personalized treat. Ample Hills Creamery, which opens next week, is the first city scoop shop to make its own ice cream from scratch—which means little ones can marvel at eggs being cracked, and milk and sugar being mixed, through the creamery's production-room window. Owner Brian Smith, a father of two and a former sci-fi writer, caters especially to the under-four-foot set with quirky flavors like chocolate malted, French toast (cinnamon-infused custard with chunks of French toast) and "Elvis impersonator" (peanut butter--banana ice cream with honey and candied bacon). While the kiddos wait for their cones to be scooped they can busy themselves with ice cream--themed books and toys in the shop's play space, or gawk at a one-of-a-kind stationary bike that, when pedaled, churns out the frosty dessert. Although the gizmo is off-limits to the public, tykes can take it for a spin during one of Ample Hills' ice cream--making birthday parties. Ample Hills Creamery, 623 Vanderbilt Ave at St. Marks Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (amplehills.com).