5 Things: Free Ice Cream at Ben & Jerry's

1. Not only is free ice cream an American Dream, but today at the St. Armands Circle  it's also an AmeriCone Dream. Today is the ice cream store's annual free cone day where you can engage in important debates of whether Late Night Snack, Schweddy Balls or AmeriCone Dream are better than old standby like New York Super Fudge Chunk. It's also a chance to give a scoop of change in your pocket and donate to WSLR community radio station, who will be at the event as well.

2. Sarasota Music Scene will co-host a free, all-ages Sarasota Film Festival pre-party from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at called Midnight at the Nickelodeon. A vintage silent film will be the backdrop as bands perform that night, and tickets to the festival will be on sale at the bar. Bands include Scone Train, Bard and Mustache, Come Back Alice and Villanova Junction.

3. Politcos and protesters will gather for different reasons at Marina Jack on Thursday. Gov. Rick Scott will be at a fundraiser that day from 5:30 to 7 p.m. benefiting his political action committee Let's Get To Work. Outside, Occupy Sarasota plans to protest the governor during the same time.

4. Noticed something missing as you walk onto Siesta Key Beach? YourObserver.com reports that the Siesta Key Beach sign was vandalized recently and should be back in place today. 

5.  will host “Paint the Town READ,” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. The event will feature author meet-and-greet sessions, book discussions, an open-microphone session, a book sale to benefit the Friends of Selby Library and more.

Topics for book discussions include:

• Audiobooks facilitated by Susan Rife, arts and books editor for the Herald-Tribune Media Group.
• Who Knew? and Poetry, facilitated by Georgia Court, Bookstore1 Sarasota owner.
• Classic Food Writers facilitated by librarian Charlotte Thompson.
• New to You, a sneak preview of new books with David Chaplin, Bookstore1 Sarasota’s manager.

For more info, call  941-861-5000.