Some culinary combinations—like the holy pairing of a burger and fries—are timeless. Others are misguided—a certain Simpson's foray into gum and nuts comes to mind. Ice cream and gourmet popcorn in the same storefront? Well, that's just brilliant.

Twenty-four ice-cream flavors line the cases at this tiny Loop-based shop. Inventive treats like coffee-toffee, banana cream pie and apple cinnamon mingle with classic sweet-shop staples like chocolate and vanilla. All the cream comes from the Chicago-based Homer ice cream, so you can indulge guilt-free (calories don't count when you eat locally). Once you choose your scoop, the kindly staff will throw it into a malt, float or shake for you, but if you truly want to get into the Dip & Pop spirit, take a gander at the kernels. Popcorn profiles range from savory to sweet—so you can have your cheesy, caramel, or buttered choice—or you can opt for the Chicago mix, a blend of cheese and caramel.

Here comes the good part: put the popcorn on the ice cream. No seriously, do it. Okay, chicken, ask a staff member to do it for you. The possibilities are endless; the surprisingly tasty marriage of sweet cream and savory crunch is a trick that pregnant women everywhere have been hiding from the masses for far too long.

Centerstage Reviewer: K. Tighe