It’s a Good Day to Eat Ice Cream and Hot Dogs (and More Updates)

Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.

Ice Cream Alert

Tonight’s the final night for the Parlor Ice Cream Co. Wednesday night pop-up series in front of the Continuum building in Allston (219 Western Ave.) Swing by between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. this evening for frozen treats. Flavors include Miso Caramel Apple, A Latte Milk, and more.

Ice Cream Alert #2...This Time With Hot Dogs

In other ice cream news, Union Square shop Gracie’s Ice Cream (22 Union Sq., Somerville) has decided that nothing pairs better with ice cream than hot dogs, adding simple hot dogs (100% beef) to the menu. Gracie’s hot dogs are currently in a “pilot phase” while the team figures out the most logical availability (all of the time versus a more specific schedule), so try calling first before showing up with your heart set on hot dogs. The buns and dogs are both steamed, and ketchup, mustard, and relish are available. $3 per dog, $5.25 for two, or $6.25 for a dog and an ice cream.

Late-Night Cafes Are a Dying Breed

Coffee shops are closing up earlier and earlier these days. The Boston Globe zeroes in on the Cambridge cafe scene, where once there was a Starbucks that stayed open until 1 a.m. (it’s now 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the season) and an Au Bon Pain that stayed open even later (it’s gone now.) 1369 Coffee House owner Josh Gerber told the Globe that his decision to close earlier (10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.) is related to the rising minimum wage; he can’t raise the price of coffee enough to keep up with the increasing wage, so cutting out that last hour of service helps save on payroll.

Food Television

Diane Kochilas, cookbook author and the consulting chef at Committee (50 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston), will star in a new cooking and traveling program on public television, “My Greek Table.” Catch it at 2:30 p.m. on October 21 on WGBH; it’ll then air for 13 weeks, showcasing the foods of many parts of Greece.

Prison Dining for the Public

The Boston Globe heads inside the Fife and Drum at Concord’s Northeastern Correctional Center, a pre-release and minimum-security prison with 300 acres of farmland. The inmate-run restaurant is open to the public — the only one of its kind in the country — and the prix-fixe meal is just $3.21.

Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.