Celebrate Summer! Sonic Milkshakes -- Half Priced After 8 -- Cool You Down For Change

Sonic milkshake

Here comes the relief!!  Warm weather has freed us from the indoors, and you should be thinking about how you will celebrate summer.

How about turning the change in your glove compartment for something delicious?  Adam has come through again with a HowChow guest post.  He hit up the relatively new Sonic on Rte 40, and he gives the full recommendation to their milkshakes, especially if you can hit up the half-priced promotion after 8 pm.  Take it Adam:

Look, I get it. It was only a few weeks ago we were dealing with snow and 20 degree days. Ice cream might be the last thing on your mind right now, and with the spring season ushering in its short-lived but no less attractive bounty of produce, you're looking to eat "farm to table," not "supply truck to chain."

Oh well, more for me, I guess.

In all seriousness though, the best milkshake in Howard County is is one you don't even have to leave your car to enjoy, and probably affordable enough to pay for with the change in your glove compartment. I'm talking, of course, about Sonic's half-priced milkshake promotion after 8 pm.

Don't believe me? Well consider for a second that Sonic isn't serving soft serve, they're serving "real" ice cream. If you're a fan of Alton Brown's classic Good Eats you'll recognize this is code for something with at least 10% milkfat. It's not just something you notice in the taste of Sonic's milkshakes, but in the texture. They give you a straw to drink these from, but it's about as helpful as chopsticks at a steakhouse. No, you'll want a spoon, because the indulgent and thick mixture of ice cream, whipped cream, and yes, that classic maraschino cherry, is built more like what the Midwesterners call a 'concrete.'

My personal go-tos are vanilla and fresh strawberry -- the former bursting with vanilla and sweet cream flavor, the latter plump with strawberry puree and pieces.  But Sonic advertises 25+ shakes complete with peanut butter flavors, cheesecake flavors, and even the option to add 'secret' additions like bacon, cookie dough, and turtle pecans. They're running the promotion through September, and damn if I don't break with tradition one of these nights and at least try tater tots in there. When you're running under a buck fifty for a premium shake, what have you got to lose?

Well, maybe your waistline. But everything in moderation I say!

Where else will you celebrate summer? Lil' Chow loves ice cream.  Luckily for us, he doesn't have enough body mass yet to pull open the freezer on his own.  I don't think we'll hit the late-night promotions with a toddler, but we want to get him soft serve and milkshakes and other summer fun.  I did "Ice Cream Summer" round-ups in 2009 and 2011.  I'd love to update the list. 

Sonic Says It Will Open Oct. 16 In Ellicott City

The new Sonic on Rte 40 in Ellicott City will open on October 16, according to a Facebook post spotted by Adam.

This is on Rte 40 west of Rte 29.  It's definitely a joint with a loyal following.  Adam says he will aim for opening day:

I plan to be there. It's overrated, yes, but it's been a few years since I reminded myself of that.  Where else are you going to get a corn dog, tots, and a shake all at the same time without ever leaving for car?

The Sonic has been two-and-a-half years in the making.  The first report was May 2012 by Wordbones.  It may be a while before I can try the shakes -- which Mrs. HowChow says are the highlight -- but I'll pour a little out for Wordbones.

Race On Rte 40: White Oak Versus Sonic

More incremental news on some of the restaurants coming to Ellicott City.

White Oak Tavern posted on its Facebook page that they had an inspection cancelled today, so they're hoping to do that tomorrow and then open in a week or sooner.  This is the farm-to-table restaurant coming to the Enchanted Forest shopping center.

Earlier this month, the Sonic coming a little farther west on Rte 40 posted on its Facebook page that they're hoping to start site work in February and open over the summer.

(Update:  Did Chutney open in Columbia?  This is the Indian place replacing Akbar's.  Jeff commented on the HowChow Facebook page that Chutney's Web site says that it opened on the 17th.)

On White Oak's page, Tony joked by asking which one would open sooner.  Opening any restaurant is an enormous job.  So I'll take them when they arrive -- but I think we're still waiting for Petit Louis in Columbia, Ananda in Fulton and a bunch of other new joints.  Hat tip to Gina, who noted the Sonic post.

Sonic Coming To Rte 40 In Ellicott City

Sonic Drive-In appears to be coming to Rte 40 in Ellicott City and has posted its first sign -- or at least the first sign that I have seen.

Kathy spotted the sign above on Rte 40 west of Rte 29.  It's the former site of 84 Lumber near Bethany Lane.  On the real estate sign, someone added a sign that says "Join Sonic."

Anyone know the time table?  I remember talk about Sonic in 2010, but I hadn't heard anything recently.  All that I see are some comments about rumors on an Ellicott City Patch page.

(Update:  I had a vibe that Kathy and I were late to the burger party.  Wordbones wrote about the Sonic a year ago.  And Leeann provides a Facebook link below where the Sonic folks say that they hope to break ground this summer.)

Will Elkridge Get A Sonic Burger Spot?

Has anyone heard about a Sonic opening at the site of a McDonalds that had a fire last December in Elkridge?  Vicki posted a comment saying that neighborhood rumor says Sonic might open at the Washington Boulevard site.  Heard anything?

(Update: Trevor-Peter writes below that a Sonic doesn't seem likely.  He says Courtney Watson posted a month ago that McDonald's says the store will continue to be a McDonald's.)