Second Helpings: Snow Cones

This week's entries were compiled by Cuisines Editor Virginia B. Wood, updated from an original publication date of 6/9/2000. When you need quick, reliable info about Austin eateries, check here.

Snocones, Sno-Cones, Snow Cones, Snowcones! Get 'em while it's hot. Due to the transitory and seasonal nature of this kind of business, most of these stands do not have phone numbers and some don't have regular hours.

Jim-Jim's Waterice

615 E. Sixth, 708-8285

Sun-Tue, noon-8pm; Wed-Thu, noon-9pm; Fri-Sat, noon-10pm

More sorbet than snow cone, the texture of a true water ice derives from the method of combining fruit juice flavors with ice and freezing the mixture to be scooped out later. The resulting ball of frozen refreshment melts pleasantly on the tongue without much crunch but with the power to gently lower the temperature. Available in small, medium, large, and quarts to take home. Look for portable carts at Deep Eddy and Dick Nichols pools.

Casey's New Orleans Snowballs

808 E. 51st, at Airport Blvd.

No phone, hours vary

This Louisiana transplant operates out of a house/trailer at the corner of East 51st and Airport, and there's always a line down the block when they're open. Their 36 custom fat-free exotic flavors are generously poured over seriously crunchy ice designed to cool off what ails you.

SnoBeach Hawaiian Shaved Ice

East 381/2 & I-35, in the Fiesta Mart parking lot, 789-6788

302 S. Lamar, in Tiedt Phillips 66 parking lot, 784-0670

Opens at noon

Razor-sharp blades give the shaved ice cones here their delightfully smooth texture. With more than 50 flavors to choose from, you can go mainstream (strawberry, green apple, grape, cherry), tropical (mango, kiwi, cantaloupe, tangerine), creamy (vanilla cream, wedding cake, dreamsicle) or mix-and-match. Look for more of these convenient trailers in grocery store and shopping center parking lots all over town.

Raspas

West Oltorf & South First Street, in the Tex-Mex

Bar-B-Q parking lot

No phone, opens at noon

Grab a brightly colored cone of crunchy flavored ice while you're waiting for a family pack of brisket and ribs or before you catch the Capital Metro bus at the corner. They've even put up some umbrellas where you can relax and enjoy the scenery while you beat the heat.

Jr's Neveria

1105 E. Sixth

No phone, hours vary

This brand new little joint offers one-stop shopping. You can grab a refreshing raspa (snow cone) while shopping for phone cards or wiring money home to Mexico.

Family Affairs

The following Eastside neighborhood stands are chaming little front-yard family affairs with no phones or regular hours. Just keep your eyes open on sweltering days.

Baety's Snocones
2100 Holly

Snowcones
11031/2 Tillery

Sno-Cones
Elkart, between Cesar Chavez & East Second

Shelby's SnoCones
1408 E. Second

Snowcones, Etc.
Riverview Street & Robert T. Martinez

Snocones
3023 Prado