YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
lifestyle
Dollars & Sense columnist John Ewoldt searches the Twin Cities and beyond for bargains and strategies to spare you time, money and hassles.
Email us if you see a great deal. Include your name, city you live in and info on the deal you spotted.
Find deals on our Steals + Deals Facebook page and find me on Twitter.
Memorial Day sales and discounts
Posted by: John Ewoldt under Holiday shopping Updated: May 24, 2012 - 2:34 PM
Bargain hunters know that Memorial Day weekend sales aren't as enticing as the ones on July 4 or Labor Day, but there are deals worth checking out. Here's a list to start the weekend.
Thursday, May 24, Dunn Bros coffee shops are giving away a Nut Goodie candy bar with a coffee purchase while supplies last at all locations between 3 and 6 p.m. Fifty cents will also be donated to PACER to benefit anti-bullying campaigns.
The weekend weather looks a bit dicey but Valleyfair honors military heroes Saturday through Monday by offering free admission to any member of the armed services, active or veteran. Members of the military can also purchase discounted tickets for members of their immediate family for $28.50 each (regularly $43). A valid military ID must be presented at the window to receive the offer. FYI--the same discount will be honored July 4.
Shoe Zoo in Minneapolis, a kids and women's shoe store begins its summer sale on Thursday, May 24. Save 10 to 80 percent on brands such as Naturino, Umi, Aster, Teva, Primigi, Skechers, Converse, Geox, Keen, Saltwater, New Balance, Lelli Kelly and Havaianas.
Garden sales: At least one garden sale is remaining the same this year. Jan Ehrlich, a sales rep for garden supplies, will hold a sample sale with discounts of 50 to 75 percent. Quantities are limited, but the selection includes cast stone animals and gnomes ($7 to $50, regularly $15 to $100), small to extra-large glazed pots ($4 to $80, regularly $10 to $180), 3- to 6-foot trellises ($6 to $20), cocoa moss hang- ing baskets, urns, topiary towers, arbors and selected herbs and perennials. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Ehrlich's home (330 8th Av. N., Hopkins, 952-934-6179). Cash and checks are accepted, but there will be no early sales.
The Wolf Garten/BlueStone garden tools sample sale in Golden Valley will not be held this year, but next year looks likely, said a sales rep.
Linder's has dropped its half-off-everything sales at the flower marts, but various sales at the marts will begin throughout June.
On Monday, stores such as Value Village, Savers, Salvation Army, Unique and Valu Thrift discount almost everything 50 percent. One exclusive feature at Value Village, with stores in Brooklyn Center, New Hope, Richfield and St. Paul, is its new rewards program ($10 to join but you get it back in an immediate $10 store credit). Get 10 points for each dollar spent, 200 points for each month you donate, and 400 for volunteering at one of the stores. Get $10 off anything except sale items for signing up and $10 more after 2,500 points have accrued.
At Premium Outlets in Albertville check out the holiday weekend deals listed on the website store by store or call your favorite one for details. Here are some highlights valid through Monday: 10 percent off factory-renewed products at Bose, 20 percent off storewide at Le Creuset (starts Friday), 30 percent off everything at Loft Outlet, 40 percent off the entire store at New York & Company, and 50 percent off the entire store at Puma.
You have until Memorial Day to save during Menards 11 percent off everything sale. Get the most bang for your buck by buying sale merchandise you need. If an item isn't on sale this week, consider waiting until Sunday for the new sale flier. Getting the 11 percent off requires you to send in a form and the original receipt for a store credit voucher.
You can still get the discount without the hassle of the mail-in rebate by taking Menards' 11 percent flier from Sunday's paper and asking Home Depot to match it. Sometimes the Depot will just take off the discount immediately, and sometimes it will give you the savings in a gift card. It depends on the cashier. Generally, if you purchase more than $50 worth of merch, you'll get a gift card. Purchase less than $50 and you'll get an immediate discount. It's because Home Depot doesn't allow gift cards under $5. Lowe's will not match Menards' rebate discounts but will match their regular or sale prices.
For a list of Memorial Day discounts,try one of the sites such as Gift Card Granny, which lists more than 140 nationwide. Check the comments for updates.
Twin Cities' best shopping, foods, drinks and entertainment
Posted by: John Ewoldt under Discounters Updated: May 16, 2012 - 1:58 PM
When I moved to the Twin Cities 25 years ago, the "best of" issues from The Reader, City Pages, Skyway News and Minneapolis St. Paul magazine introduced me to unknown places I should try. I still devour any "best of" list from a publication, blog or website, but for different reasons. Now I look at them to respectfully disagree or agree or to look for an offbeat choice that I haven't heard of.
I encourage you to check out the "Best of MN" tab in the Star Tribune on May 16 or online. It includes the best county fair, best state park, best hiking trail, best places for canoeing (in and out of the metro), best budget golf course, best men's store on a tight budget, best gift shop for men or women, and best home furnishings stores. Foodies can check out the selections for cheap eats and wine store outlets.
Stroll through our selections, nod your head at a couple, feel a sense of outrage at an omission or two, and check out a couple of spots that you hadn't heard of before. That's the beauty of a Best Of.
Feel free to comment if there's a fave of yours that we didn't give its due.
The biggest neighborhood, church garage sales, part 2
Posted by: John Ewoldt under Storewide sales Updated: May 15, 2012 - 1:25 PM
Today's Variety section of the Star Tribune contains an invaluable resource for garage salers. It's part two of the largest Twin Cities neighborhood garage sales and church rummage sales between now and October.
The calendar is a big time saver. Instead of driving around to hit a sale here and a sale there, it points you to a neighborhood where 40 or more homes are participating, including the Richfield citywide sale, Linden Hills, Victory and Nokomis neighborhoods in Minneapolis and Mac/Groveland and Como Park in St. Paul.
Nearly 50 sales are listed in part two. If you're printing them from the link above, print parts 1 and 2. Part 1 includes some sales through August that are not included in part 2.
Feel free to add your own favorite mega neighborhood or church sale.
Free tips from a local manners expert during National Etiquette Week
Posted by: John Ewoldt under Home Security Updated: May 14, 2012 - 4:03 PM
National Etiquette Week (May 14-18) seemed the perfect time to take a look at how Minnesotans stack up on the politeness meter.
Local business etiquette expert Liz Taylor said some behavior here is “less than graceful.”
“Manners aren’t about being stuffy. They’re about making people more respectful,” said the Wayzata resident and business advisor of Etiquetteprinciples.com. Taylor made some tactful suggestions to help us clean up our act.
The flu is no excuse for bad manners. Minnesotans feel they have to go to work even when they’re sick. Go home when not feeling well. Until then, cough or sneeze into a sleeve, not the hand.
Why are we so afraid of commitment? A lot of Minnesotans fail to show up to social functions after making a commitment to show. Or they fail to RSVP. The worst offenders are those who cancel when a more desirable invitation comes along. “Show up if you said you will,” Taylor said.
The more the merrier, but only if they’re invited. Check the names on an invitation before deciding to bring your posse. If a wedding invitation is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, it’s not OK to bring the kids or friends.
Clip those social butterfly wings. Texting when you’re in a conversation is a blatant interruption, whether it’s with one person or in a group. “It makes the other people in the conversation feel less important. Check your phone in private,” Taylor admonished.
For more free tips, check Taylor’s blog posts at www.etiquetteprinciples.com.
Hooters and other restaurants offer Mom a free meal on Mom's Day
Posted by: John Ewoldt under Restaurant Bargains Updated: May 11, 2012 - 2:47 PM
Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants when most moms catch a break from kitchen duty. The following Twin Cities area restaurants are offering price breaks for moms.
Hooters (Mall of America, 952-854-3110) is offering Mom 10 free boneless chicken wings (an $8.95 value) on Sunday.
Ikea (across from Mall of America, 952-858-8088) offers a free breakfast until 11 a.m. Sunday, including scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes and cup of coffee, a $1.74 value.
Beef O Brady's (Andover, Monticello, Northfield). Mom gets a free entree (up to $10 value) all day Sunday at this family friendly sports pub.
Tony Roma's (Mall of America, 952-854-7940). Moms get a free entree (up to $15) with this coupon. If mom's a big fan of Tony Roma's Endless Slab, steer her to something else. The coupon isn't valid on the Slab. Note: the free offer is not valid without the coupon.
Champps (nine Twin Cities locations including Woodbury, 651-735-5050). Mom can come in any time Friday through Sunday (May 11-13) and get a card entitling her to $10 off a $25 purchase on the first of every month (while supplies last).
If you know of other restaurant deals on Mother's Day, please comment.
ADVERTISEMENT
recent posts
- Memorial Day sales and discounts
- Twin Cities' best shopping, foods, drinks and entertainment
- The biggest neighborhood, church garage sales, part 2
- Free tips from a local manners expert during National Etiquette Week
- Hooters and other restaurants offer Mom a free meal on Mom's Day
- Target's boutiques get an A for effort, but really, what's the fuss?
- Unofficial garage sale opener this weekend. Tips for buyers, sellers
- Free next-day shipping on personalized Mother's Day gifts @ Snapfish
- What does it cost to join DirectBuy? Is it worth it?
- Forgot your phone on the plane? A simple call usually works.
- The best sale Cooks of Crocus Hill has had and 'Wolves tickets for $2
- One guy's attempt to be greener on Earth Day. No more Drano, Charmin
- Want free or cheaper HBO at Comcast? Just ask for it.
- Early deals on Minnesota Twins merchandise
- Barry Manilow Xcel concert tickets for $16.29
- Minneapolis gives residents a 4-week grace period on plastic lawn bags
- Tuesday only: MSP to Chicago $69 each way on Southwest
- Black Friday sales at Home Depot and Lowe's
- Where to find compostable plastic lawn bags in stock now
Post By Category
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2012 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters