Life

6 Ways To Celebrate Pi Day 2014

by Allie Healy

It's Pi Day, that special time of year when math fanatics and pastry chefs alike celebrate in unity. π, which is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, equals approximately 3.14, and as today is March 14, it's only fitting to celebrate the most popular irrational and infinite numeral around. Additionally, Albert Einstein was born today.

I can remember my days in Geometry class, when we made a game of memorizing as many digits of Pi as possible. Some of my classmates made it hundreds of digits in. I, however, honored the number by showing up with baked goods. Get it? Pie?

Math may not be for everyone, but here are some ways to celebrate Pi and pie — or just Friday — the right way.

1. Grab a free cup of coffee at Starbucks.

While this has nothing to do with Pi or pie, Starbucks is actually giving out free grande cups of coffee with any purchase of a breakfast sandwich today.

2. Win a Pizza Hut gift card.

For just three hours, beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 4 p.m. (3.14, get it?!), Pizza Hut will be giving away 140 gift cards at $10 each if you tweet with the hashtag #PizzaHutPiDay. Ain't no pie like a pizza pie, am I right?

3. Answer Sbarro trivia for the chance to win a free slice.

On the topic of pizza, Sbarro is holding a contest for Facebook users to win a free slice if they answer the trivia question, "What famous scientist shares a birthday with National Pi Day?" Hint: I gave away the answer earlier. Winners will be announced 10 a.m. on March 15.

4. Bostonians can win a free pie.

Petsi Pies, located near the smartypants schools of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is giving away free pies if you can recite the digits of Pi. The challenge begins at 1:59 p.m. because, well, Pi is 3.14159! Here's how you can win.

5. Buy cheap pie at Whole Foods.

Whole foods will be offering all-day deals on pie, and free samples. Select stores will also be hosting pie tastings, contests, and much more. Country-wide, there are discounts on all fruit pies, so hit up your local store to see what yummy treats are available.

6. Throw a pie in your friend's face. And record it.

If you're a practical joker, Pi Day is a gift from the gods. These MIT students smashed pies into each other's faces and committed it to film in a video from the school's Admissions Office, which also makes admissions decisions on 3/14. Licking whipped cream from your fingers? That's a pretty sweet deal.