By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jul 16, 2008 at 4:57 PM

Babe's Ice Cream and Desserts, 2264 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is doing its part to help the vegan, lactose intolerant and / or health conscious dessert lovers through the dog days of summer by offering several soy-based selections.

Right now the Bay View shop offers mint chip and vanilla chip in soy ice cream, gelato and Italian ice.

"Regular" ice cream (remember, Milwaukee, this is ice cream, not custard) advocates will find cones, sundaes, shakes, malts, cakes and pies.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”