Strawberry hibiscus? Coffee cardamom? Yes, please.

Partners Brian Lowit and Melissa Quinley brought the uber-creamy Maine favorite to Mount Pleasant two summers ago. Find one of the best cookies and cream varieties in town, along with a White Russian flavor dubbed “the Dude” after the Big Lebowski.

And last Friday, Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream, known for such creative homemade concoctions as “New England Cornmeal Pudding,” donated all of the day’s revenue to Campaign Zero as well as The Marsha P. Johnson Institute. The institute works to protect the rights of Black transgender people. Explaining Mt. Desert Island’s involvement with the cause, co-owner Brian Lowit asserted unequivocally, “These issues are too important to not get involved.”

Recently, I visited Mount Desert Island Ice Cream for the first time. [It has] regular flavors, but when I have the chance to try some weird flavors, I’m always going to go for that. I got this Salmiakki flavor, which is a Nordic-style salty licorice ice cream. It turned my tongue a really gross green color and it grossed everybody else out, but I liked it.

Beloved DC post-punk band Jawbox has reunited and will play two shows at the 9:30 Club on June 28 and 29. And just as it did to commemorate Ex Hex‘s new album, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Mount Pleasant will sell a special band-approved ice cream to commemorate the occasion.

The D.C.-based band have teamed up with D.C. company Mount Desert Island Ice Cream to create a new flavor called Savor the Chill, which is available through November 22. Purchase of the ice cream also comes with a limited edition shirt.

Yes, it’s true — Darkest Hour are partnering with fellow Washington, D.C. trailblazers Mount Desert Island Ice Cream to launch a new flavor, Savor the Chill, this month (the D.C. Mout Desert Island Ice Cream location — the confectioners’ first outside of Maine — is run by Brian Lowit and Melissa Quinley, two longtime employees at the punk label Dischord Records, so it’s got music cred and deliciousness cred).

What’s better than ice cream and punk rock? Brian Lowit and Melissa Quinley, two longtime employees at the local punk label Dischord Records, loved Maine-based Mount Desert Island Ice Cream so much, they brought it home

If you’re an ice cream fan, here’s something awesome: two employees of Dischord Records have opened an outpost of Maine’s Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, based in Bar Harbor. The ice cream has had rave reviews over the year, including from President Obama.

If you’re looking for a reason to try Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, the Maine-based import that opened in Mount Pleasant early last month, ask Obama. The former president gave the artisanal scoops his stamp of approval back in 2010 at one of the Bar Harbor locations, pronouncing the toasted coconut “terrific.”

Business partners Brian Lowit and Melissa Quinley met working at Dischord Records—D.C.’s legendary punk label that launched in 1980 and grew into one of the most respected and enduring independent labels in the country.

“For me and for Brian, it shaped us growing up,” Quinley says. “The way Dischord is run has had a profound impact on me on being up front, honest, no bullshit.” Lowit, who also has his own record label, echoes Quinley, describing Dischord as simple, utilitarian, and honest. That’s how the pair plans to run their ice cream shop, which opened in Mount Pleasant on July 1.

Founded in Bar Harbor by Linda Parker in 2005, Mount Desert Island was named one of the "Best Ice Cream Spots in the U.S." by Food & Wine this year.

After having opened two additional locations in Maine, the Mount Desert Island team is ready to storm the District with unique flavors such as blueberry basil, Maine sea salt caramel and cinnamon cardamom. Brian Lowit and Melissa Quinley, DC locals and longtime friends of Parker, will helm the new DC location.

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is a small-batch shop that has a presidential pedigree. While vacationing in Bar Harbor in 2010, President Obama stopped by Mount Desert Island Ice Cream for a bite of toasted coconut (with the former FLOTUS opting for chocolate.)

“We are excited to announce that we are opening in Washington D.C. this fall! This is the site of our future location in Mount Pleasant, added bonus, a great Pupuseria downstairs! We are currently under construction so we will keep you posted as we get closer to opening.”

The heat may be here in full force but so too is the ice cream!!

“Mount Desert Island Ice Cream Artisanal small-batch ice cream thoughtfully sourced with forward-thinking flavors. In Bar Harbor & Portland, Maine, coming soon to Washington DC.”

A relative new kid on the block, Bar Harbor’s buzzy ice cream stand goes all in on experimental flavors and counterintuitive pairings—think nectarine Prosecco, blueberry basil, and chocolate bergamot (a bergamot being a green Italian orange). Some may say the secret is fresh ingredients and organic cream, but really it’s MDIIC’s “why not?” attitude.

“I went with coconut,” Obama said as he walked out of the shop. Licking his cone, he said: “This stuff is terrific. Excellent. I strongly recommend it.” 

Ice cream artisan Linda Parker shows her local pride, as when she adds Maine sea salt to caramel ice cream.

At this artisanal ice cream shop founded in 2006, the tagline sums up the approach: “fearless flavor.” Nowhere else will you find Blueberry Basil, Maine Sea Salt Caramel and Bay of Figs ice cream, all on one menu. This is summer.

It takes one bite of the insanely rich Maine sea salt caramel ice cream to win you over forever, but don’t overlook sorbet flavors like grapefruit tarragon and cantaloupe on sweltering summer afternoons.