International House of Pancakes
2294 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., 73-01 Northern Blvd., and other locations
Tuesday, February 23, free, 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
www.ihoppancakeday.com
When we were kids, we always looked forward to those Sundays when our family headed over to IHOP for big breakfasts, for us usually consisting of the Young People’s Plate with boysenberry syrup. We hope you haven’t had breakfast yet this morning, because today is IHOP’s National Pancake Day Celebration. Starting at 7:00 am and continuing through 10:00 tonight, the International House of Pancakes will be serving free short stacks of buttermilk pancakes, one to a customer, all over the country. Yes, it might be free, but IHOP is asking that each person make a donation in return, benefiting local children’s hospitals through the Children’s Miracle Network as well as other local community charities. IHOP started National Pancake Day in 2006 and has raised $3.25 million so far, looking to reach the $5 million level today. They generally hold the event in conjunction with Fat Tuesday, but they’re a week late this year. In any case, cityfolk can get their flapjack fix in Harlem or Jackson Heights, while Jersey and Long Island residents have a lot more choices.