Free Ice Cream Today at Cold Stone Creamery (9/28)

 Here’s another great tip from Jennifer:

Cold Stone Creamery is giving away free 3-oz portions of ice cream today from 5pm-8pm while supplies last. 100% of all donations collected during the promotion will be given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Thanks!

Birthday Freebies

This great resource was sent in by Julie:

This came from a website called http://www.slickdeals.net/  Not all of
the freebies are local, but quite a few are!

All deals are up to the specific location. So you can call ahead and
see if they do them or not.

ALFY'S PIZZA - free mini pizza
ALL-AMERICAN CAFÉ - free dessert
APPLEBEES - free dessert
AUSTIN GRILL - free meal (register first)
BAKERS SQUARE - free pie
BANDIDO'S [IN] - free entrée
BASKIN ROBBINS - free ice cream treat
BEACHES RESTAURANT - free meal
BENIHANA'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT - free dinner WITH 3 other paying guests
BENNIGANS - free dessert + song
BJ's - Free Pazookie!! (best dessert)
BOB EVANS - Free Kids Meal for kids Under the age of 12
https://kids.bobevans.com/birthday.asp
BOB'S BIG BOY - free hot fudge ice cream
Boston Market also has a free kids B-Day! meal coupon for kids under
12, and coupons online for their various entrees.
B-Day meal:
http://www.bostonmarket.com/offers/i...dsBirthdayClub
Sirloin coupons:
http://www.bostonmarket.com/coupons/sirloinCoupons.jsp
BUFFALO WILD WINGS (BW3) - free dozen hot wings
BURGER KING - free kids meal to all kids club members
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN - free kids meal during the month of their
birthday (register first)
CAPTAIN DIZZY'S CAR WASH - free car wash
CARROWS - free cake
CATTLEMEN'S - free dessert and cowboy hat
CHEVY'S - free dessert and sombrero
CHILI'S - free song
CHIPS N GIGGLES - free meal
CLAIM JUMPER - Free Dessert
COLDSTONE CREAMERY - Free Creations
DENNY'S - free meal (said to be only kids under 10 now)
EINSTEIN'S - free meal
EL CHICOS - free dessert
ERNIE'S STEAKHOUSE - free meal
FAMOUS DAVE'S BARBEQUE - free meal (w/advance signup)
FIRESTONE SUBS - Sign up and get an email for a free sub
http://www.firehousesubs.com/ecrew/signup.cfm
FUDDRUCKERS - free burger **apparently its free sundae and NOT free meal**
GOLDEN CORRAL - free meal to Birthday Club members (not just kids!)
during month of birthday
GRILLFISH - free meal
HARD ROCK CAFÉ - free dessert
HOMETOWN BUFFET - free birthday cake
HOOTERS - free song + tshirt
Houlihans - Free Coupon for an entree next visit(up to a week after b-day)
IHOP- free meal **apparently its free sundae and NOT free meal**
People are reporting getting nothing
JOE'S CRAB SHACK - free cake
LOTUS - free meal
LUTHERS BBQ - free stuff (varies) for "Great Rewards" members
MACARONI GRILL - free dessert + OPERA-style "Happy Birthday" song
MAGGIANOS - $10 Off purchase of $20 (sign up in advance)
MARIE CALENDERS - free dessert
MAX AND ERMA [OH] - free $5 dessert
Memphis BBQ - coupon good for a free Rack of Ribs & strawberry
shortcake (must sign up on website 24 hours in advance)
MEXICAN VILLAGE - free meal
MOONIES DINER - free meal
OLD SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE - free meal
OLIVE GARDEN - cake (some say free, most say $$)
OUTBACK - free dessert + song
PAPPA'S RESTAURANTS (PAPPADEAUX, PAPPASITO'S, ETC) - free dessert
PARADISO'S - free meal
PERKIN'S - free stack of pancakes
PF CHANGS - free cake or cheesecake
PONCHO'S - free meal, dessert & picture
PROVINO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert
RED LOBSTER - free slice of cake + song
RED ROBIN - Free Hamburger ( sign up for Eclub)
ROCK BOTTOM - free appetizer for Mug Club members
ROUND TABLE - free personal pizza
SMOKEY BONES - Free Meal YMMV( up to the location)
STEAK AND ALE - free mini choco cake
STEAK-N-SHAKE - free dinner for "birthday club" kids
TACO BELL - free combo meal of your choice
TGI FRIDAYS - Free Birthday Dessert
THE PALM - 3lb lobster (must be a member/register first)
The Pasta House - free dessert
THE VINE TAVERN - free meal
TODAI SEAFOOD BUFFET - Free Meal or voucher for Meal Next Visit
TONY ROMA'S - free dessert (sign up for Eclub to get coupon)
VACCARO'S ITALIAN PASTRY SHOP [MD/DC AREA] - free dessert and drink
WENDY'S - free kids meal to all kids club members
Z' TEJAS - $15 coupon for the month of your birthday (register first)
ZIO'S - free dessert
BEAR MOUNTAIN OR SNOW SUMMIT - free skiing/riding
BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN - free skiing/riding
DAVE AND BUSTERS - $5 game card credit
FOOD PAVILION GROCERY STORE - free movie rental
Hallmark - 20% off coupon for one item
HARKINS - free movie
HOLLYWOOD VIDEO - free video rental
SAFEWAY GROCERY STORE - free movie rental
SCRUB-A-DUB - free car wash
VARIOUS TANNING SALONS - free tan
WHITEHALL JEWELERS - free $50 gift certificate
Claim Jumper - Free Desert + sing
Bakers Square - Free Pie
Hollywood Video - free rental
http://www.texasdebrazil.com/index2.php (sign up for free $40 gc on B-day)

OTHERS:
Auto Zone - Free oil change (Most Autozones do NOT do oil changes)YMMV
DAVE AND BUSTERS - $5 game card credit
FOOD PAVILION GROCERY STORE - free movie rental
Hallmark - 20% off coupon for one item
HOLLYWOOD VIDEO - free video rental
SAFEWAY GROCERY STORE - free movie rental
SCRUB-A-DUB - free car wash
VARIOUS TANNING SALONS - free tan
WHITEHALL JEWELERS - free $50 gift certificate
COLDSTONE CREAMERY - Free Creations

Thanks, Julie!

Community

Morning everyone. I am proud to report that Stone Soup DC now gets around 150-200 hits a day. Very cool.

I am glad people are finding the information useful, at least I hope you are. I believe one of the best resources anywhere and anytime, is community. We can make this resource so much more powerful if we pull together our information and ideas. Anything from what’s on sale this week, to a great store you’ve found, to free/cheap community events, to how to make something yourself that you would have previously purchased. That’s what we all want to hear. I am sure each one of you has ideas to add. Please consider joining the Yahoo discussion group, posting a comment on the blog, or even sending me an email at stonesoupdc@gmail.com. I want to hear from you!

Have you all heard the story of Stone Soup? I’ve added some stones. Anyone out there have some cabbage or carrots or an onion?

Chick-Fil-A

Here are two reasons to recommend Chick-Fil-A:

1.  The have free kid’s meals on Tuesday evening with the purchase of an adult meal.  In Silver Spring, they also often give the kids free ice cream or face painting.

2.  If you go to a stand alone restaurant (such as the one on Route 1 in Laurel), they have indoor play structures, great for a hot day with lots of energy to burn.  It’s a small enough space that I don’t have to constantly follow him around and I can take a magazine and have a little downtime while my son climbs and slides.   And he loves meeting new kids playing there.

Don Pablo’s in Laurel

From another member of the Stone Soup DC Yahoo listserve:
Through the Prince Georges Parents listserve I learned that on Tuesday
nights, the Don Pablo’s in Laurel has a kid’s program where the
children eat in a separate room between 6-8PM and do a craft.

I’m going to try to check it out in the next few weeks, so I’ll report
back on the experience.

Local Ice Cream Shops

The sun is finally out and it’s starting to feel like summer again! Time for ice cream!

What are your favorite ice cream shops? Who has the best deal on a scoop? Any particular smashing flavors out there?

A favorite since I was a little girl is the old-fashioned Thelma’s Country Store at 10200 Colvin Run Mill Rd. in Great Falls. Open since the 1930’s, the country store looks the part. If you head to the back of the store, past the racks of this and that, you’ll find an ice cream counter with flavors such as black raspberry and butterscotch. Flavors tend to be light and refreshing on a hot summer day.

Another place I have been meaning to try is York Tropical Ice Cream at 9324 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. I’ve seen several good reviews, but I haven’t gotten myself over there yet. It seems to be cheaper than our other heavy-hitting chain scoop shops in Silver Spring, and very interesting flavors. I can’t wait to try soursop or the swiss chocolate. Has anyone been here and can recommend a favorite flavor?

Here is a Washingtonian article about local ice cream shops to get the juices flowing. Any other recommendations?

(DC) Free Kids Meal at Austin Grill

Karen sent me the following:

Kids eat free on Wednesday nights at the Glover Park location of Austin Grill! I took my 4 y.o. to celebrate the end of school last week and was pleasantly surprised to learn this. It’s not advertised in any that I noticed. Their kids’ meals are usually 4.99 so it’s a good deal! It even extended to my son’s dessert last week.

I will be checking to see if this holds true at other locations as well. Anyone know?

(I got a message back from Austin Grill HQ and this deal only applies to the Glover Park location.)

Lebanese Taverna Cafe

Mark tomorrow's calendar with plans to have a meal at the Lebanese Taverna Cafe in downtown Silver Spring. Every Monday, their sandwiches and sandwich platters are 1/2 price, a great cheap eat. I am partial to the Chicken Shawarma or Falafel sandwich platters which include a salad and either fries, rice or potatoes, and at 1/2 price, the platters come in at under $4. Enjoy!