If you live in the Metropolitan area, there is one specific day of the year you look forward to Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s. Before becoming a student at the UPR in Rio Piedras, I looked forward to the day when I would be able to stop by Torrimar on my way home for a scoop of my favorite ice cream ever.
Free Cone Day started in 1979 as a thank you to the customers of Burlington, Vermont with Ben & Jerry’s first year of business in a renovated gas station. The rest is history as the different locales celebrate year after year this much-loved occasion for loyal and new customers alike. Be it in a cup or a cone, from chunky monkey to strawberry or vanilla, there is a flavor fit for everyone.
Other than this being a day when you get free ice cream, it is also the perfect hang-out opportunity amongst friends. This year I went with college friends and met some others there while waiting in line.
Taking the train from the Universidad station to Torrimar station somehow feels different. You get anxious thinking of the big lines, of the ice cream running out, and something getting in the way of you and that creamy delicious dessert; alas, you make it. And the big line? The sun blinding you for a bit as it hits your face the closer you get to the front doors? Totally worth it, and even more among good company to keep you laughing. It is more than just ice cream, it is a small portion of your day in which you let the stress take a back seat and you can enjoy the simple things.
If by this time next year you want to do something new and fun—not to mention cost-effective—Ben & Jerry’s is your place to go. Don’t forget to mark the date on your calendar! And, happy Free Cone Day!