Thursday, August 2, 2007

Sundae Afternoons

In summer, the afternoon ritual at some workplaces becomes sweeter.

It's ice cream season, and going out for a cone with co-workers or enjoying a cup alone al fresco makes perfect sense to Tom Bridge, a partner at Technolutionary in Clarendon.

A few years ago, when Bridge worked downtown, he and some co-workers used to go on summer afternoons to Dickies Frozen Custard on I Street Northwest, which he considers the best cool-treat shop in Washington.

These days, at his small-business tech-services company, he is more likely to splurge solo. "I do indeed sneak out of the office for ice cream on a regular basis," he said, meaning two or three times a week.

Ice cream can be used as a morale booster (ice cream parties in conference rooms) or a reward (ice cream for everyone who helped finish the project two days early). When it's this hot out, frozen goodies seem particularly cool.

"The summertime is really a wonderful time to take a break. . . . It may cost me half an hour at the end of my day," Bridge said. "But it's always worth it to hit the mental reset button and take a pause to be reminded of the sweet things in life."

-- Vickie Elmer