Today you don't have to steal ice cream. Ben and Jerry's will be serving up free cones at their scoop shops all over town – and all you have to do is wait in line. Each year Bostonist tries to find the optimal time to visit the nearest scoop shop at a time when the fewest others will be awaiting their Cherry Garcia in front of us. We've found that the best time to go is…no, of course we're not going to tell you or our five-year research project would be bust, we'd be waiting in line behind everyone we told our secret to today. The free scoops are available to anyone who wanders by and waits for them all day long. (Scoop shops at movie theaters and the airport don't participate.) Ben and Jerry stores will be doling out free cones from noon until 8 pm; if you find a shop that's not participating let us know – we heard the Arlington Center location caused some grief last year, and we know the soloution.
Bostonist loves free ice cream, but we'd never be like the girls in this video who abscond with ice cream which is not rightfully theirs.

Free Cone Day runs from noon to 8 p.m. today