The Slurpees Are Back in Town

It's just an ICEE with a silly (okay, sillier) name!

Slurpees, that's who.

While there hasn't been a 7-Eleven in the Houston city limits since the late '80s, fans of its famous Slurpee still exist.

Although it's just a cleverly marketed rip-off of the California-based ICEE, there's something about the Slurpee that people still hold dear.

Is it the fact that it's produced by a Texas-based company? (Well, Texas-based for their American headquarters; 7-Eleven is owned by the Japanese now.) The fact that it inspired The Simpsons's Squishee? I'll honestly never know (especially considering the fact that you can get Dr Pepper ICEEs all over town, thus negating the need for Slurpees).

Regardless, the Slurpee is back in Houston starting today -- 7/11, get it? -- and running through at least the end of the summer. But you can't get them at a 7-Eleven store, obviously. They're only at the movies.

Slurpees are now available in three flavors -- red, blue and Coca-Cola, I'm guessing -- at Cinemark movie theaters across the city. This marks the first time that Slurpees have ever been sold outside 7-Eleven stores, and it makes for a rather perfect pairing during the hot summer: a cool, dark theater with big summer movies on the screen and a bucket of sweet, icy slush in hand.

Alright, maybe I can sort of see the appeal of Slurpees. Especially right now. But I'm still sticking to my Dr Pepper ICEEs.