Any summer ice-cream joint that can inspire a song must be some good eatin'. Chicago sang "Take me back to Chicago, 'cause my life was so much simpler then/Street corners and Tastee Freeze," really capturing the nostalgia that surrounds this stuck-in-time soft-serve shack. Here, you can relive moments from your childhood, whether it's walking to the park for a cone or breakdancing to old-school Michael Jackson tunes.

Just as the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano each spring, so does the Tastee Freeze open again. Around mid-March, the Tastee Freeze removes the plywood from its window and neighborhood residents line up again to get their soft serve, chili dogs, burgers and fries. The cake batter-flavored milkshake has enthralled customers for decades, but there are also malts, banana splits, egg creams and sundaes in simple flavors like chocolate, vanilla and swirl. All of this bounty and at a price that won't break, or hardly even dent, your wallet. Don't arrive in a hurry, because you will wait in line. And don't expect to get a seat at one of the picnic benches in the summer; consider eating your cone on the stroll back home. But whatever you do, get there when you can. Tastee Freez closes up shop again sometime in October, too soon for most of its fans.

Centerstage Reviewer: Beth Dugan