Today, Boston Runs on J.P. Licks

There are a couple of spring events we've gotten used to. Free iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts or a scoop from Ben and Jerry's make their appearance in March and April, respectively, about a month apart. This year JP Licks joins the crew of freebie days. May 17, 2007 will be the first free coffee day at all 7 of their locations. They're hoping to prove how awesome their coffee is by giving it away by the cup. The coffee is roasted locally in the JP Licks flagship location in Jamaica Plain on Center Street (where, might we add, the waffles with ice cream are a fantastic alternative for waiting in line for brunch at the Centre Street Café.)

Free coffee isn't the full story here. Bostonist usually makes our way into JP Licks for the unique flavors – like the team of Red Sox inspired tastes for April, or the things we can't believe aren't standards yet like Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, Oreo Cake Batter, or Fresh Banana Peanut Butter Ripple (better than Peanut Butter and Pickle) – though we wonder why they didn't add a little honey into the last one, we find it rounds out the sandwich version of the combo. But coffee is the focus of the promotion today. Free coffee will be handed out – but the best news is that they'll also be handing out cards for free iced coffee good on any day this summer that the temperatures rise above 81 degrees. JP Licks started serving Ice Cream in 1981 and to raise awareness and celebrate their birthday they're keeping that number in our heads anytime we think about an iced coffee, for free. JP Licks has seven locations, Brigham Circle, Coolidge Corner, Davis, Jamaica Plain, Newbury Street, Newton, and West Roxbury – the promotion goes on all day at any of the seven.