The Best Ice Cream in Massachusetts | Eater Boston

"Say what you will about modern-day Friendly’s, a massive chain with nearly 400 locations around the East Coast, but the company’s importance to Massachusetts’ ice cream history can’t be ignored (and let’s be honest, the candy-bedecked sundaes are always a good choice.) The first location — then called Friendly — opened in Springfield way back in 1935. That location is long gone, but we’re picking another Springfield address for this map point in honor of that first one. From being on the forefront of take-home half-gallon packaging in the 1950s to massive supermarket distribution in the 1980s, it’s been a wild ride full of “happy ending” sundaes, Fribbles, and Wattamelon Rolls. Sample flavors: hunka chunka PB fudge, black raspberry, Vienna mocha chunk, nuts over caramel, rockin’ poppin’ cotton candy" - Rachel Leah Blumenthal