April 25, 2006
Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's Today!
Did you skip breakfast? No worries, as today is all about the ice cream. Ben and Jerry's, everyone's favorite tree-hugging ice cream company (yes, even after being purchased by Unilever, they continue to love the world), is having their annual Free Cone Day today! That's right, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, you can revel in the glory of Cherry Garcia and Peanut Butter Swirl without breaking the bank, or be daring and try the Turtle Soup. DCist votes for the delicious Fossil Fuel; goes along with the current energy climate, no?
We love facilitating free yummies, so here are the Scoop Shops in the District, Virginia, and Maryland. With all the ice cream fanatics attacking the website, the links might be slow, or seem to be dead, so you may have to reload a few times; be assured that they do work. Or if you don't know where one is located, just go wander the streets until you find a line snaking around the city blocks. Apparently this is a global event, too, so be sure tell your friends in Sweden or Mexico.
Be forewarned: the lines can be rather lengthy. I recall the B & J near Eastern Market having quite the wait last year, what with the Hill staffers as well as kiddies from neighborhood schools lining up for free cones. But kids, just like Hill staffers, are so cute with ice cream. Take a long lunch or break on this spring day and be patient; the free ice cream goodness is totally worth the wait.
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Since the links seem to be not working, here's the info on the District:
3135 M St NW (Georgetown)
327 7th St. SE (Eastern Market)
1350 19th St. (Dupont Circle)
1100 Penn St. (Downtown)
Enjoy your free ice cream, and don't forget to tip!
Thanks, Adam! There is also the little shop in Union Station. And one up near Chevy Chase.
Darn links...they are good, I swear! Yarg.
A co-worker said Union Station didn't participate last year, so I went by to scope the scoops. This year, Union Station WILL be participating, but won't open til noon (they'll keep the promo running until 8pm for those of you who are fond of overtime).
Hope the lines aren't too long for everyone! If it gets retarded, maybe it's time for a icecream flashmob?
Jeez DCIST. Thanks for ruining another secret for real fans of Ben and Jerry's. Now the real fans will be kept away by the posers who read your site. I also blame you for not getting Death Cab tickets.
Better DCist readers find out than people riding the MARC in from B-more.
Ice cream love, people. We're all about spreading the ice cream love. And an ice cream flashmob sounds exciting.
The Free Cone hours seem to be 12pm - 8pm across the board; at least judging from the website (the two times that I got it to load).
FWIW, after waiting 45 min. in line, you get the equivalent of a not-quite kiddie cone size and thru the day they gradually run out of best flavors...
Have fun.
RTC: You made me laugh out loud with your comment. That was priceless. Thanks!
There is a new Ben and Jerry's at the trolley stop on 10th and E and there is no line whatsoever. Hint: the guys behind the case on the left are very generous with the ice cream scoop. And, better news still, they have not yet discontinued Coconut Almond Fudge Chip, which resides in said left case.
I heard that even though the lines are long they go very quickly -- you can't order something besides a free cone, even if you want to. People march up, divulge their creamy achilles heel, and get out of the way.
the lines at Dupont weren't bad at all at 1:00pm, but still attracted a TV news crew:
Not surprising that Sky would be the ones wasting the effort on such a non-story. Seriously, though, what's the story here? Company runs promo! Film at 11!
Does anyone know why the Ben and Jerry's in Adams Morgan closed? Granted, it was a horrible location, but their ice cream was so much better than Maggie Moo's.
The line at the Georgetown location was about 30 minutes long at 2:00 pm.
i didn't wait at all at the 10th & E location. and the cone was a normal sugar cone, not a tiny one. and yes, the dudes behind the left case gave me a nice sized scoop.
I've been waiting in line with my laptop for 5 hours, 24 minutes, and 13 seconds now just so I can snarf down a few ounces of flavored fat. Damn you America! Don't make me fat! I'll sue your ass and then you'll be sorry!
Yup, I did the Visitor's Center one @ 10th & E, and the wait was maybe 10 minutes at 2pm. I got a nice little Peanut Butter Cup cone that made my day.