Hippie ice cream purveyors Ben & Jerry's will hand out free scoops of ice cream today. Why? Because it's Free Cone Day. Head over to your nearest Ben & Jerry's outlet for a free ice cream cone. You can choose from a variety of kooky signature flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, or Lady Gaga's Breast Milk Nut Chew (that's a flavor, right?). Or whatever. And, for your convenience, here's a map of the Ben & Jerry's outposts in San Francisco: more ›

Drawing from colleges and universities across the country and throughout California, some of the brightest kids lucky enough to be part of the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) will bring a dozen of the country’s most promising student start-ups to the Bay Area for the the 2012 Open Minds, a showcase of student innovation. Come see who they are and what they're making tomorrow, Thursday, March 22. Their stuff is astounding. In fact, here are a few of the teams competing tomorrow to make the world a groovier place: more ›

Some say yes. Many say no. According to an op-ed piece in Thursday's Chronicle, the good-intentioned plan, sparked by Supervisor David Campos, stands as "an appealing idea that City Hall is all but certain to adopt." While the plan would help kids get to school, ease parents' drop-off schedules, and possibly alleviate traffic congestion, it would also add another $4 million to $7.9 million dent "for the under-funded transit system facing a $23 million deficit." more ›

Looking for a new, free two-piece suit? Here's how you can get it: Wearing only your underwear please head down to Desigual in Union Square (101 Powell) after midnight on Friday, March 2; be one of the first 100 people in line; wait until the doors open at 9 a.m.; and then, if you haven't yet succumbed to hypothermia, you will get a free two-piece suit of your choice. But only if you're one of the first 100 people in line will you score a free suit. more ›

Before you take off for the holidays, remember that come New Year's Eve, you can ride Muni for free. For free? For free. Muni travel, including cable cars, is free of charge from 8 p.m. New Year's Eve until 6 a.m. New Year's Day. And who in their sane mind would want to ride Muni on New Year's Eve? Not us. Because we don't like harrowing train and/or bus rides. But many of you will have to rely on San Francisco's semi-reliable public transportation, so... have at it. more ›

The fine folks at FuncheapSF bring word that, sweet sinewy Jesus!, free ice cream cake can be yours for the taking today. All you need to do is donate an item of food—good food—for an icy slice of heaven. Your donated food will go to the SF Food Bank, who are pretty much doing God's work, so do it. Come on. Please. more ›

Would you like a free grilled cheese and soup combo today? Sure you would. And QR code-friendly grilled cheese joint The Melt will be doing just between 3 - 7 p.m. today. All you're required to do is give them the secret password (i.e., "pecorino") in order to reclaim your cheesy prize. more ›

Due to the September house blaze at Haight and Fillmore, Fecal Face Dot Galley had to shutter its smokey doors. Sad. But! They will reopen (temporarily) on Friday in the Inner Richmond (at 248 Clement) with Everything Under the Sun, a solo show by the Mario Martinez / Mars-1, and something called 11-11-11, which will features other artists from around the world. more ›

Or something like that. Ike's Place's reports that if you do a little social media favor on their end, they will reward you with savory goodness. Ike writes, "This is the Tweet that you've all been waiting for! Ike's SF will be giving away A LOT of Sandwiches to Thank You for keeping Ike’s SF alive for 4 years!" Here's what you have to do in order to score a coveted sandwich: more ›

Well, it's better than nothing. 7-Eleven and Krispy Kreme stores will offer free coffee today in honor of National Coffee Day. That's right, Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven will hand out tepid brew at participating locations. To find a store nearest you, go here or here. more ›

Hey, you! Go get a free grilled cheese and soup combo today at The Melt. As FunCheap reminds us, "come by the brand new location in SoMa at 115 New Montgomery from noon to 4pm" and "mention the secret code word 'GOUDA'" to score a free lunch. Mmm. Head over now before it gets mobbed. more ›

Our favorite caffiene fix in the Bay Area, Four Barrel, celebrates its birthday today with free coffee and games. Paolo Lucchesi reports, "First and foremost, there is free coffee all day today, until closing (which is at 4pm). Repeat: free coffee. This year’s festivities are also extended to include treats from Pizza Hacker and a few additional entertainment amenities, like a photo booth and skeeball." more ›

In horrific news today, the Diamondbacks are now sharing first place with the Giants. After losing their fifth straight game last night, SF now ties with Arizona. Shudder. In better news a mega cable corporation Comcast will offer passersby free Kinder's BBQ after the game today at 3:30 p.m. more ›

Poor little fella. Or poor little spoiled brat. Depending on how you want to look at it. See, at last night's Giants-Dodgers game, this kid was left with zilch after failing to catch a foul ball. We've been there. It's devastating. Such hope. Such loss. The good news, though, is that the Giants creamed LA 5-3, and "stadium staff was shown handing the kid a foul ball of his own before the game ended." more ›

Today, Monday July 11, you'll be able to pick up a free Slurpee in celebration of the company's 84th anniversary. A 7-11 VP says in a press release that "July is the biggest month of the year for Slurpee sales," and they'll be dishing out free 7.11-ounce Slurpees while supplies last. more ›

Today, June 3, is National Doughnut Day. If pressed, one can get a free sweet treat at your nearest Dunkin Donut or Krispy Kreme. Or, better yet, you can get a free donut at Dynamo Donuts, the city's finest purveyors of circular treats, which you can find at 2760 24th Street, between Hampshire and York. more ›

Much-ballyhooed bar Comstock will celebrate their one-year anniversary by offering free lunch with the purchase of two drinks. Which is some sort of San Francisco tradition, it seems. SFoodie has the details: "Tomorrow ― Friday ― the saloon officially marks its first year with a day of music, $4 shots, $3 Anchor Steam beers, and the revival of a tradition from the Barbary Coast era: free lunch. It was common practice in San Francisco saloons during the 19th century, a patron buying drinks was fed a hot meal as a means to encourage regular visits." Tomorrow's lunch will be...Hamburg steak. (Mmm.) Free lunch will continue Monday through Friday (11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.), featuring a different dish each week. more ›

The last time we heard about BART teaming up with local libraries to dispense reading material through vending machines was three years ago. Back then, the world was an entirely different place. George W. Bush was still president, iPhones didn't have apps for anything, and Justin Bieber's YouTube channel only had like a dozen views. Now it's 2011, Osama bin Laden is dead, your grandmother is downloading eBooks on her 3G Kindle, and Millbrae is still that place you end up when you accidentally take the wrong train out of SFO. But as of today, should you find yourself there without something to read, the Examiner reports that you can check out books from a crisp new Library-a-Go-Go machine. (Sidenote: Really? We're still calling them that?) All you need is a library card from the Peninsula. A much smarter move would be to put one in SFO so we could pick up trashy novels on our way to Cabo, but nobody consulted us on it. Their loss! [SFEx] by way of [CurbedSF] more ›

While you binge on margaritas, Tecate, and body shots tonight, please remember a few things. For starters, do not drink and drive. Ever. AAA Northern California will offer free tows to drivers who drink too much while celebrating Mexican heritage and pride. The offer, according to SF Appeal, "is valid within 10 miles of the driver's home, is offered between 6 p.m. this evening and 6 a.m. Friday. Call 800-AAA-HELP and tell the operator you need a "tipsy tow." Or, better yet, take a free cab home. more ›

Need an afternoon bump? Head over to your nearest Starbuck's for a cup of coffee, provided to you free of charge if you bring in your own reusable coffe mug. You even have your choice of hot or iced -- the latter if you're a true coastal California brat. "They ran the same promotion last year and saved over a million disposable cups," repots Eater. Go here to find your nearest location. more ›

From noon to 8 p.m. today, the Ben and Jerry's at 2130 Center Street (near West side of campus) will hand out free scoops of ice cream. And that sounds positively delightful. What's more, your free scoops will help support Camp Kesem, a Berkeley institution that provides kids whose parents have or had cancer with a summer camp experience that "gives them a chance to be kids." Again, delightful. [via the devine Diana Newby at Daily Clog] more ›

Frazzled? Chakras out of whack? New yoga pants? Then, by all means, head sover to SOMArts on Sunday for two free yoga meditations. SOMArts tells us: "Drop by the All Access Open house for a FREE 30 minute yoga meditation with Crystal Nelson in SOMArts' beautiful dance studio. Hosted at 3:30 and 5:00, these introductory sessions will bring together a diversity of SoMa locals and introduce new visitors to SOMArts Cultural Center." more ›

Not sure if this is good or bad news, but Taco Bell plans on giving away 10 million free tacos featuring their famous beef-like crumble. This latest marketing scheme was sparked by the lawsuit that claimed Taco Bell's meat contains a scant 36% real beef. Get your free taco via Facebook. Or, at the risk of getting all Marie Antoinette on you, print out a bajillion of these coupons and hand them out to people in need. [Eater] more ›

Can't cook? Won't cook? Don't want guests? Have no friends to call guests? Don't worry. These Thanksgiving feasts in the Bay Area (ranging from expensive prix fixes to freebies) will have your turkey binging covered. (We even have a cheap--if you consider $115/night inexpensive--hotel option at The Clift, a convenient and sleek place to stash your parents during the four-day holiday weekend.) more ›

On a glacial day like today, your palate craves one thing. Sorbet. Lucky for you, Cooking Channel (Food Network's new Guy Fieri-free cousin) will send out a Scream Sorbet truck at the Ferry Building today for lunch, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m, for free sorbet. Head over on your lunch break to pick up a free frozen treat. [7x7, via Eater] more ›

The Ice Cream Man is back in town and he'll be in Dolores Park tonight dishing out free sweet treats. Starting at 6:30 p.m. the Ice Cream Man will hold a mini ice cream social, featuring music from Still Flyin’. more ›

Holy smokes, y'all! It's Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day today! Yippie! more ›

On this most gloomy day, doesn't a stack of hotcakes sound good? Yes. Yes, it does. So, you can celebrate National Pancake Day, which is today, by visiting your nearest Maison Internationale des Crêpes for a free short stack of pancakes. (Here's a handy list of Bay Area IHOP locations.) more ›

We're a little late getting this to you, but the SPCA is offering free pet food today. Check it: "Tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Purina ONE Tour for Heroes is making its stop at the San Francisco SPCA. Purina will set up a temporary food bank to give out more than 1,000 bags of pet food to Bay Area pet owners from 2-7 p.m., while supplies last." Location: 250 Alabama Street (at 16th Street), San Francisco. more ›