May 2, 2001

9:15 AM

FREE ICE CREAM!!!Just thought you all should know that today is a very important day in the US...

IT'S FREE CONE DAY!!!! Yea!!!

So, if y'all love ice cream, run out and get your free ice cream cone TODAY!

Baskin Robbins is participating this year, as well as Ben & Jerry's.
posted by zeoslap (33 comments total)

I wouldn't say Baskin Robbins is participating, I'd say they're jumping on the bandwagon. Ben & Jerry's came up with this idea first. BR is just riding their coattails. But you know what? Edy's Dreamery is giving B&J's a run for their money, in my opinion. That's some good ice cream.
posted by starvingartist at 9:17 AM on May 2, 2001

For someone that claims to be starving you sure do know a lot about icecream sa ;)
posted by zeoslap at 9:24 AM on May 2, 2001

Ironic, isn't it? :p
posted by starvingartist at 9:29 AM on May 2, 2001

As a certified glutton, I'd like to share with my fellow gluttonous souls out there that my particular B&J branch was allowing upgrades to the free cones in exchange for donations.

Two bucks to charity in exchange for something like a pound and a half of B&J's...that, my friends, is what life is all about.
posted by thebigpoop at 9:39 AM on May 2, 2001

BTW, here's what it takes to be a certified glutton.
posted by thebigpoop at 9:43 AM on May 2, 2001

Toscanini's is sooooo over-rated. Except for the burnt caramel flavor.
posted by briank at 10:02 AM on May 2, 2001

Oh... BrianK... what are you smoking?

: )

Toscanini's is to-die-for.
posted by silusGROK at 10:07 AM on May 2, 2001

you're all crazy...Herrell's is the best
posted by treedream at 10:22 AM on May 2, 2001

Ahhh... Tosci's...The first and only place that served me Guinness Ice Cream.

Mmmm, beery ice cream...
posted by Avogadro at 10:28 AM on May 2, 2001

Mmmmmmm Swensens.
posted by zeoslap at 10:31 AM on May 2, 2001

Swensens is great ice cream... if all you want is vanilla and chocolate. But I want innovation! I want Tosci's!

*Pumps fist in the air*

Are you with me? I can't hear you!
posted by silusGROK at 10:38 AM on May 2, 2001

I have to agree with treedream, Herrell's shakes do it for me.

Plus, the line at Ben and Jerry's in the Garage is going to be soo ridiculous all day long...
posted by padjet1 at 10:40 AM on May 2, 2001

"For every scoop given away, Baskin-Robbins will make a donation to First Book to provide new books for underprivileged kids." Just wanted to make sure y'all knew that. And btw, Toscanini's was my absolutely favorite during college but when I went back in 1996 (five years after graduation), no one working there had ever heard of my favorite flavor "Dark Chocolate #3". I could NOT believe it. I mean, they made t-shirts for that flavor!
posted by girlhacker at 11:07 AM on May 2, 2001

The B&J's near me was closed when I got there. At noon. On an 85-degree day.

Unless they went out of business and I didn't hear about it (doubtful), they're bastards. Would they really hand out so many free cones that they couldn't absorb the loss?

(Rte. 9 in Framingham, MA if anyone's interested)
posted by CrayDrygu at 11:29 AM on May 2, 2001

Just got back. Went through the line twice (went 4 times last year). Am planning on going again after work. Must nap now.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:30 AM on May 2, 2001

Cool treats? Ted Drewes, a St. Louis institution since 1930. No contest. The best in the land.
posted by bradlands at 11:42 AM on May 2, 2001

A cost-benefit analysis indicates that the monetary value of the time wasted standing in the lengthy line is not offset by the savings of the price of the gratis cone. Therefore, I demur.

Oh, wait, there are no Ben & Jerry's or Baskin-Robbins anywhere near me anyway! I wasted a demurrer for nothing. Damn.
posted by Dreama at 11:49 AM on May 2, 2001

How is it that while over in Metatalk no one in Boston but me responded to a MeFi get together proposal, but now that there's free ice cream involved, we're coming out of the woodwork?

Oh, yeah.... ice cream.........
posted by J. R. Hughto at 11:55 AM on May 2, 2001

I thought this was how you distinguish a certified glutton.

JR, same problem in Chicago. Maybe we have a hook here?

FREE ICE CREAM to all who show up and contribute to the ice cream fund.
posted by dhartung at 12:12 PM on May 2, 2001

I second the Dreamery recco. That New York Strawberry Cheesecake... mmmm.

Their site is pretty cool, too. They have a Flavor Finder that will tell you which stores in your area have your favorite flavor and -- get this -- the date it was delivered. Talk about your gratuitous Web application.
posted by kindall at 12:24 PM on May 2, 2001

I am a Bostonian living in Utah... hence my reticence to commit to the get together. As for everyone else: MeTa still has a smaller following than MeFi.
posted by silusGROK at 12:49 PM on May 2, 2001

Fave Dreamery flavor -- Cool Mint:

"Arctic white mint ice cream with fudge swirls, cool thin mint cookies and whole peppermint patties. Bring a chill to your sweet tooth. " (from the site)

Mmmmm....... :}
posted by metrocake at 1:54 PM on May 2, 2001

Mmmmmm....New York Strawberry Cheesecake...ggahghaghgahahhh

BTW, I'm Boston(ish) as well. I'd be up for a gathering, if there were enough interest. Maybe we could do it in Connecticut and involve the New Yorkers as well?
posted by jpoulos at 2:33 PM on May 2, 2001

Live from the Chicago suburbs!

There is mayhem at the Ben & Jerry's across the street. The parking lot is solid, adjoining streets are lined with cars, and the best part is... media coverage! There are two news stations covering this breaking news!

Film at 11.
posted by hijinx at 2:46 PM on May 2, 2001

"How is it that while over in Metatalk no one in Boston but me [...snip...]"

I don't read Metatalk...maybe I should start? =)
posted by CrayDrygu at 5:30 PM on May 2, 2001

How is it that while over in Metatalk no one in Boston but me responded to a MeFi get together proposal, but now that there's free ice cream involved, we're coming out of the woodwork?

Well, apart from the free ice cream, I never saw your post in MetaTalk. How long ago did you suggest it? I've been here (@MeFi) for 8 months but don't venture to MetaTalk much.

P.S. We hit the B&J in Arlington at 6:00 p.m.; most of the good flavors were gone, but there was absolutely NO line. I had Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and my wife had Cinnamon. We went to dinner and on our way out of the restaurant about an hour later, the B&J line was around the block.
posted by briank at 6:19 PM on May 2, 2001

The B&J in Arlington is fun... and when you're done eating desert, you can go across the street for dinner (great little Thai place).
posted by silusGROK at 6:27 PM on May 2, 2001

Vis10n, that Thai place is, in fact, exactly where we were having dinner.

Life is uncertain...eat dessert first.
posted by briank at 7:09 AM on May 3, 2001

briank: We hit the B&J in Arlington at 6:00 p.m.; most of the good flavors were gone, but there was absolutely NO line.

I was in the B&J in Arlington at 5:45. Weird. You're right, no line, but not too much selection...
posted by MarkAnd at 8:01 AM on May 3, 2001

I stopped in once more (at the Eastern Market B&J) on the way home. Very short line at 6pm, much shorter than the early-afternoon count. My three-cone total this year fell a bit short of last year's 4 cones, but much fun was had by all.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:43 AM on May 3, 2001

I'm surprised to see that people went back in line a second or third time. I went to my local one and donated while I was there, and never thought for a moment to go back through the line.
posted by keli at 11:16 AM on May 3, 2001

You know you're a MeFi junkie when: you complain about no one noticing your post...in MetaTalk.
posted by J. R. Hughto at 11:55 AM on May 3, 2001