By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Apr 09, 2019 at 11:30 AM

In honor of both Milwaukee Day and its own eighth anniversary, Purple Door Ice Cream will launch a new flavor – and give away free cones of it.

According to a press release issued today, "Since Purple Door’s inception in 2011, their ice cream-loving customers have been pleading with them to make blue moon ice cream: a classic, bright blue flavored ice cream that many have enjoyed as a kid growing up in Wisconsin."

Finally, Purple Door is offering its take on this sugary sweet Midwestern ice cream classic: purple moon.

This version, which has no artificial colors or flavors, is laced with hints of citrus and almond and is, natch, purple.

The color, according to co-owner Lauren Schultz, comes from a blend of raspberries and blueberries.

You can try it yourself in a free mini cone on Sunday, April 14 – Milwaukee Day – at either (or both, if you’re motivated) Purple Door location: 205 S. 2nd St. in Walker’s Point or at Sherman Phoenix, 3565 N. Fond du Lac Ave., in Sherman Park.

Purple Moon ice cream will also be available on 414 Day at Great Lakes Distillery, Anodyne Coffee in Bay View, Indulgence Chocolates in Shorewood and East Tosa, Bounce, Miss Molly’s Café, 5 Points Brew and Sweets, and Outpost Natural Foods in Bay View and on Capitol Drive.

In honor of April 19’s full moon, the Walker’s Point shop will host a Full Moon Party from noon until 10 p.m., with more free Purple Moon mini cones all day, along with raffle prizes, ice cream specials and more.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.