by Harriot Manley, Sunset contributor

Oakland, California’s Fentons Creamery and Restaurant, celebrating 115 years of making ice cream this month, might just be the oldest movie star since Old Rose got teary-eyed in Titanic. The venerable ice cream parlor has a small but significant role in Disney/Pixar’s Up. Apparently, folks at the Emeryville animation studio celebrate completed deadlines by heading up the road to the Oakland classic, and they honored it in the film.

All through July, National Ice Cream Month, bring a same-day Up ticket stub into the Oakland or Vacaville locations and get a free scoop of ice cream. Also check fentonscreamery.com for news for big birthday celebrations at all locations, slated for July 18.

4226 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, (510) 658-7000
At the Nut Tree, 1669 East Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville, (707) 469-7200

Watching short—and highly entertaining—films about the environment.
By Rachel Levin, Sunset senior editor

Okay, so you already planned to see “I Love You, Man” on Friday night. (I know, I want to see it, too...) But for a far more emotionally fulfilling, and enlightening night, hold out for the DVD, and hit the EarthDance Short-Attention Span Environmental Film Festival, at the Oakland Museum of California instead. Key words: Short-attention span. We’re talking 30-second to 30-minute length films on everything from a Florida town divided over a feral chicken infestation to an inspiring downtown Los Angeles family who turned their front yard into a full-on urban farm. Catch a clip here of "Heather and Goliath" about a kayaker in love with the L.A. River.

Film fest founder and Oakland resident Zak Zide is most excited about an animated flick entitled "Our Wonderful Nature" -- "It's a documentary about the mating habits of the ever-cute water shrew (pictured below), and quickly turns into a Matrix-esque comdey. it's hilarious and wonderful, complete with British voiceover."

$8 adults, free for Oakland museum members. Beats the mega-plex prices. Friday, April 3rd, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.