Get a scoop of ice cream, a milkshake or another delight at Oberweis Ice Cream Store. (Rich Miller / The Star)

Roc the Boxer dog likes to cool off with ice cream whenever he makes a face so pitiful his owner Mike Redman of Lebanon can't resist to give ice cream to him. The two were having ice cream at Ice Cream Paradice on Indiana 32 just West of Lebanon. (Photo by Maria Dunbar)

Try Handel's Spouse Like A House, loaded with peanut butter ripples and chocolate-covered pretzels. ( Frank Espich / The Star)

Jess Monroe,left, Matt Sparks and Erik Smith,right, enjoy a creamy snack at Mrs. Curl's ice cream shop Wednesday afternoon in Greenwood. (Matt Kryger / Indy Star)

It might have once mattered if you were lactose intolerant, vegan, dieting or especially picky, but there's no doubt anymore that everyone can find an ice cream to love. And remember when cookie dough was considered exotic? Now, almost anything can inspire a flavor -- just ask the Japanese, who've concocted flavors such as sweet potato, wasabi, garlic and squid.

We're not sure we really want the scoop on those. But, we did search around town for some of the most unusual -- yet tempting -- flavors to try this summer. Some of the names alone will freeze you in your tracks.

1. Rompope

Where to find it: Chris' Ice Cream, 1405 E. 86th St.

Cost: Junior, $2; small, $3; large, $4.

Description: This eggnoggy-type flavor has landed in the form of creamy store-made goodness in this Northside ice cream parlor. The name comes from Mexico's version of the Christmas drink.

"It's a popular flavor," owner Jaime Linaren said.

2. Spouse Like a House

Where to find it: Handel's, 8760 E. 1116th St., Fishers; and 2466 E. 146th St., Carmel.

Cost: Single scoop, $2.55.

Description: Keep eating this rich, decadent blend -- vanilla ice cream with peanut butter ripples, chocolate-covered, peanut-butter-filled pretzels -- and it's no wonder your spouse (or you) will end up looking like the broad side of a barn.

3. Original

Where to find it: Yogokiss, 4825 E. 96th St., Suite 300.

Cost: Small, $2.50 to $3.95; medium, $3.50 to $4.95; large, $4.50 to $5.95; extra large, $8 to $9.95.

Description: It's frozen yogurt, but not the kind you're used to. This is one part tanginess (think plain, store-bought yogurt), one part frozen creaminess, and a whole lot of good-for-you-ness. One 5-ounce serving -- the smallest size -- has more 150 than percent of the calcium you need in a day, said owner Young Chang.

4. Blue Goo

Where to find it: Mrs. Curl Ice Cream, 259 S. Meridian St., Greenwood.

Cost: Small, $1.50; medium, $1.73; large, $1.94.

Description: As the name implies, a strip of syrupy blue goo invades creamy vanilla soft-serve to create a sugary, cotton-candy flavor.

"It tastes like a mixture of cotton candy and bubble gum, and it's really popular with kids," said Kayla Saylor, manager of the old-time walk-up shop that's been serving customers for more than 50 years.

5. Caramel Soy

Where to find it: Yogokiss, 4825 E. 96th St., Suite 300.

Cost: Small, $2.50 to $3.95; medium, $3.50 to $4.95; large, $4.50 to $5.95; extra large, $8 to $9.95.

Description: This vegan frozen treat tastes like caramel, but offers the benefits of a soy-milk product. The caramel "hides the soy flavor, so it's a good pairing," owner Young Chang said.

6. Mango Pomegranate

Where to find it: Oberweis Ice Cream Store, 14641 U.S. 31, Carmel.

Cost: Single scoop, $2.49.

Description: One's native to the Middle East. The other hails from East Asia. Put these antioxidant-powerhouse fruits together, and you get a smooth, refreshing, immune-boosting blend.

7. Graham Central Station

Where to find it: Sundae's Ice Cream & Coffee Co., 9922 E. 79th St.

Cost: Single scoop, $2.57.

Description: Once you start eating this graham cracker-flavored ice cream with a graham-cracker swirl and honeycomb crisp toffee, don't be surprised if suddenly you feel compelled to forage for marshmallows, chocolate, a stick and a campfire.

8. Cinnamoo

Where to find it: Maggie Moo's, 9893 Michigan Road, Suite 110, Carmel; Greenwood Park Mall, 1251 U.S. 31 North, Greenwood; Circle Centre, 49 W. Maryland St.; Castleton Mall, 6020 E. 82nd St.; Keystone at the Crossing, 3449 E. 86th St..

Cost: Kid's size, $2.99; regular, $3.89; large, $4.69. Prices include one mix-in topping.

Description: The bovine-named version of cinnamon ice cream, this one gets an extra-creamy touch as Maggie Moo's employees mash it with your favorite topping.

Ice Cream events

Ice Cream Social on Monument Circle (sponsored by American Dairy Association of Indiana)

11.a.m. to 2.p.m. today, northwest quadrant, $3 for ice cream; proceeds go to Rupert's Kids. Info: www.indianadairycouncil.org.

Gluten-Free Ice Cream Social

2 to 3:30.p.m. Sunday, Whole Foods Market, 14598 Clay Terrace Blvd., Carmel. Free; includes ice cream samples and discussions about gluten-free living. Info: (317) 569-1517.

Snow and Ice Jamboree

Noon to 3.p.m. July 20, Monon Center Outdoor Aqua Park, 1195 Central Park Drive West, Carmel. Free admission; includes a middle-of-the-summer snowball fight and an ice cream social. Info: (317) 848-7275.

Temptation Ice Cream Social

3 to 6.p.m. July 26, Whole Foods Market, 14598 Clay Terrace Blvd., Carmel, and 1300 E. 86th St. Free; includes ice cream (regular and dairy-free) and toppings, smoothies and food demonstrations. Info: (317) 569-1517.

Some cool facts about a cold treat

There's a whole lot more to ice cream than a simple summer treat. To help you make the most of every lick, we offer the following cold, hard facts . . . Did you know?

• You can support the environment by eating ice cream: Many flavors come from fruits and nuts that depend on honeybee pollination. One ice cream company, Haeagen-Dazs, is trying to figure out why the bee population is declining. When you eat Haeagen-Dazs' "bee-dependent" ice cream (anything with fruit, nuts or honey) the company will donate money to research. Info: www.helpthehoneybees.com.

• Brain freeze is caused when something very cold touches the center of your palate, affecting nerves that control blood flow to your head. Fortunately, the headache lasts only about 30 seconds. To avoid the pain, eat ice cream slowly.

• Immigrants to Ellis Island were served vanilla ice cream as part of their welcome-to-America meal.

• One out of every five ice cream eaters shares his treat with his cat or dog.

• The five most popular flavors (in order) are vanilla, chocolate, butter pecan, strawberry and chocolate chip.

• The cone was invented by a New York City vendor in 1896 to stop customers from stealing his parfait glasses. It was popularized at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904.

• Max and Erma's Restaurants (with several Indianapolis locations) offers an all-you-can-eat ice cream sundae bar served from a bathtub. Price: $2.99 for adults; $2.59 for kids 12 and younger.

• In the 2006 movie "Borat," Sacha Baron Cohen travels across the country in an old ice cream van.

Find your flavor

Are you daring... creative... romantic?

No need for in-depth personality tests -- according to experts at Edy's Grand Ice Cream, you are what you eat -- and depending on your traits and preferences, there's an ice cream flavor with your name on it.

Don't believe it? Take this quiz and see if you're more of a butter pecan, coffee, chocolate chip, or not-so-plain vanilla type of person:

1) Your idea of a quiet night is:

a) Dinner for two at an Italian bistro.

b) A friendly game of "chicken."

c) Attending an outdoor concert with 100 of your closest friends.

d) Front-row seats at Wicked Women of Wrestling.

2) The best way to eat ice cream is:

a) Plain.

b) With hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry on top.

c) In a banana split (two spoons).

d) Deep fried.

3) Who would you most like to meet?

a) Bill Gates.

b) Miley Cyrus.

c) Angelina Jolie.

d) Billy Idol.

4) You are a season ticket-holder to:

a) The Indianapolis Symphony (classical series).

b) Your kids' soccer schedule.

c) The Indianapolis Colts.

d) Naptown Roller Derby.

5) Gas prices are up. You need a new ride:

a) Tandem bike.

b) Volvo wagon.

c) Hybrid.

d) Harley.

6) You learn the latest gossip:

a) At the water cooler.

b) At play group.

c) Text messages.

d) Off the bathroom stall.

7) You're looking for a change, so you:

a) Trim the mullet and mustache.

b) Join a parent-'n'-tot yoga class.

c) Take up skydiving.

d) Join the Peace Corps.

8) Your idea of "fast food" is:

a) Ice cream in a cone.

b) Dinner in the Crock-Pot.

c) Anything drive-through.

d) Ramen noodles.

Flavorology:

If you answered "a" to most of the questions: Your flavor is butter pecan. You are a conscientious worker, respectful, fiscally conservative and hold high standards for right and wrong. Your reputation is based on integrity.

If you answered "b" to most of the questions: Your flavor is coffee. You are lively, dramatic and flirtatious, thriving on the passion of the moment. Because you throw yourself into all that you do, you tend to be over-committed, starting new projects without finishing old ones.

If you answered "c" to most of the questions: Your flavor is chocolate chip. You tend to be competitive and accomplished; no victory is sweet without a little hard work. You are generous with your time and money and have a captivating personality in social situations.

If you answered "d" to most of the questions: Your flavor is vanilla. There is nothing plain about vanilla. You are colorful, a risk-taker who relies on intuition. Emotionally you are expressive and idealistic. You set high goals and push to exceed them.