On a blustery November day in Garfield, Katie Heldstab and Christa Puskarich opened an ice cream shop.

Warm wishes, they say, are best served frozen.

Leona’s, a local brand known for real dairy, lactose-free ice cream and dessert sandwiches, opened a brick-and-mortar at 5119 Penn Ave. after a brief stint at Lawrence Hall, a bar and food hall in Lawrenceville.

This sweet-cream and pumpkin sandwich matched my hat, which is exactly how I like to accessorize when it’s cold aht.

The grab-and-go freezers are filled with fresh pints and colossal ice-cream sandwiches that rival Primanti’s in height. Have we tried putting fries on these things?

Since 2013, Leona’s has been cranking out classic ice cream and cookie flavors, crafting signature creations such as plum ice cream on ginger molasses, sweet corn on oatmeal lace and Sichuan peanut streusel with caramel — and also letting customers create their own flavorful combinations.

In addition to the jaw-dislocating masterpieces, you’ll find seven rotating dairy flavors and two rotating dairy-free scoops in cups or cones with toppings galore. The menu also includes floats, Dippys (ice cream coated with a chocolate shell — on a stick!) and Krispwiches, gluten-free ice cream sandwiched between two Rice Krispie treats.

Snap, crackle and pop your way into winter!

Go on a cookie tour

If you want to add a little sweetness to your holiday shopping trip, the Lawrenceville Cookie Tour will put you on a path to enlightenment.

On Dec. 13 and 14, dozens of neighborhood businesses, from restaurants and retailers to barber shops and breweries, will welcome visitors with open arms and homemade cookies.

Now in its 28th year, the Cookie Tour will feature complimentary gift wrapping stations set up along Butler Street from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., printed and digital maps to guide folks to the next sweet spot and a free shuttle service. There will also be free parking options in the neighborhood throughout the weekend.

That sweetens the deal.

Goodbye, “little Eat’n Park”

The Eat’n Park on McKnight Road southbound is closing on Dec. 1 after 46 years and I can’t help but frown — it’s as old as I am!

Maybe that’s why I feel at home there. I think the location at 7671 McKnight Road (my family refers to it as “little Eat’n Park”) is cozier than its larger, northbound counterpart a half-mile away, and has more of a classic diner feel to it.

Dual Eat’n Parks are a North Hills anomaly; there are no other locations within the company’s footprint that sit that close to one another.

In September, when my favorite band Rilo Kiley played Pittsburgh on their reunion tour, I stopped to grab a dozen Smiley Cookies — the final piece in a yinzer care package I had curated for them.

Thanks to my obsessive fangirling, the employee who rang up my order heard all about the band and their music. She further fueled my enthusiasm by throwing in an extra Smiley Cookie for me to enjoy after the show.

Just thinking about it puts a grin back on my face. Big thanks to little Eat’n Park.