During the steamy days and balmy nights of summer, local ice cream shops are the place to go for a sweet treat with family and friends.

In Dobbs Ferry, owner Frank Donato opened Brick Oven Pizza and Ice Cream on 147 Main Street 11 years ago and began selling homemade pizzas, pastas, subs, and other savory Italian fare. The place soon became a local favorite, and Donato had the idea to expand the business to sell homemade ice cream as well.

“I just thought pizza and ice cream go good together,” he said.

Known colloquially as “Brick Oven,” the friendly locale lends itself to groups of students from the town’s two high schools, The Masters School and Dobbs Ferry High School.

“We get a lot of kids from Irvington and Hastings, too,” Donato said. But the crowd is not limited to students.

“It’s always crazy when the Little League teams come in for parties. There’s about 60 kids at once then. It’s like patrolled chaos,” he said.

Brick Oven carries a variety of flavors to choose from, including soft serve, sorbet, and sherbet options. The owner himself is a Heath Bar Crunch fan, but the top seller spot is shared by chocolate brownie and coffee mud pie.

Speaking of pies, Chelsea White at Main Street Sweets in Tarrytown had a story to tell about her first days working at the shop years ago.

“I left a pumpkin pie in the oven for an entire night and the store’s still up and I’m still here!” she laughed while tidying up behind the counter.

This quaint place has been at 35 Main Street since May 2000, where owner Marlaina Bertolacci and her family have been making ice cream in the back of the store and selling it in the front. There is something for everyone there, even frozen treats without sugar, gluten, or dairy. Their house specialty is The Main Street Special. This delicious concoction is made up of coffee ice cream, chocolate chunks, and chocolate fudge.

“It’s our top seller. We’re actually out of it now,” said Alyssa Swanson, a Manhattan College student who’s been working behind the counter for two summers. She later described the busiest times at Main Street Sweets; on weekend nights, when she said, “the line goes out the door.” Other busy times are nights when there are concerts at Tarrytown Music Hall, which is just a stone’s throw away.

Main Street Sweets has become a vital part of Tarrytown’s thriving inner village, especially for a post-concert sundae. And, memorable occurrences happen there beyond enjoying a delicious sundae Owner Bertolacci described how a man came into the shop a few years ago on Fathers’ Day determined to finish a Family Size Sundae without help from anyone. That sundae boasts 12 scoops of ice cream, plus ample toppings. “He finished it all by himself,” Bertolacci recalled. “He got the t-shirt and everything.”

In addition to hosting Fathers’ Day, Main Street Sweets also hosts private birthday parties and with hours extending until 9 p.m. during the week and 10 p.m. on weekends, there is ample time to enjoy a frosty treat at this cozy hangout.

A bit further north in Ossining is The Purple Monkey. Its Arcadian Shopping Center location on 238 South Highland Avenue means parking is never hard to come by. The Purple Monkey scoops Gifford’s ice cream, and features whimsical wall art of monkeys swinging from vines.

“We get kids making messes with sprinkles,” said Emilio Nazario, a Penn State junior and Cortlandt Manor resident, who was working behind the counter. “They really like the Purple Monkey flavor, cotton candy ice cream in a vibrant purple color, with orange sprinkles mixed in.”

The Purple Monkey’s friendly vibe extends to its employees, who get to indulge in a scoop a day of whichever ice cream they choose. Emilio likes maple walnut. The Purple Monkey is located near a huge variety of restaurants in the shopping center, so finding a place for dinner before getting a cone at The Purple Monkey would make for a great summer night.