Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? Neighborhood snowball stands are sprinkled throughout the crecent city. The snowball stand is to New Orleans what the coffee house is to Seatle. It is a familiar place where friends and families enjoy a break from whatever. And, there is nothing like a a New Orleans snowball. What makes the snowball special is the ice, syrup, and preparation. First, the ice is chopped up inside a stainless steel, electric machine. This specialized device shakes and rumbles as it chews up blocks of ice and spits out the perfect consistency(smooth and soft). I call this the magic box. The syrup is sweet and generous. There is a flavor for whatever mood, and it is true to it’s description. As the ice melts, the icy, syrupy mixture gets better with each spoonful. I found the Nola-ice stand at an event in Railroad Park. They also have a temporary trailer that can be found at the Sunoco gas station that is located on Highway 31 in Hoover. It is just south of the I-65 interchange. The summer hours are 1:00 — 7:00.