Thanks to Hannah of Bittersweet and My Sweet Vegan for this recommendation:
"I can absolutely recommend Lula's Sweet Apothecary, which is pretty much the best ice cream parlor in the world, bar none. They have adorable vintage metal straws and real apothecary jars lining the walls with every delicious topping you can imagine. The flavors of ice cream are inventive, and so perfectly creamy, even my mom was highly impressed."
She even shared a photo of some Lula's delights – http://www.flickr.com/photos/_bittersweet/3445674792/
This place is billed as "New York's first natural, non-dairy & vegan frozen dessert shop." An impressive claim to fame. I have read on many sites that this is some of the best vegan ice cream ever, and perfect if you are in Manhattan. To note – Lula's offers cashew-based ice creams with gluten-free ice cream “accessories” available too (as in cones, brownies, etc.).
They are open Tuesday through Sunday, see their website for hours.
Location: Neighborhood: East Village, 516 E 6th St (between Avenue A & Avenue B), New York, NY 10009
Phone: (646) 912-4549
Website: www.lulassweetapothecary.com