Style > Best Bargains Package

Monday

The first Monday of every month is Mad Monday at Johnson’s Florist & Garden Centers in DC, Kensington, and Olney: Get 20 percent off plants, cut flowers, garden supplies, and patio furniture; johnsonsflorists.com.

Every Monday and Sunday at Old Glory in Georgetown, kids eat free with any adult entrée purchased between 4 and 9 pm; oldglorybbq.com.

Today’s the day Arena Stage releases $10 tickets for the coming week’s plays, available to anyone under age 30. Although you can buy tickets by phone or online, an ID is required at will call; arenastage.org.

Tuesday

Get deals during Adams Morgan’s First Tuesday event (held—you guessed it—the first Tuesday of each month), including discounts at restaurants and at businesses such as vintage emporium Meeps, ecoboutique Hoopla, and the Spa at Mint. See adamsmorgannnow.com.

At Olazzo (olazzo.com), an Italian eatery in Bethesda, martinis are $5 on Tuesdays and wine bottles are half price on Mondays. At Rockville’s Cava (cavamezze.com), a Greek small-plates spot, the same specials are reversed: $5 martinis Mondays, half-price wine Tuesdays.

Over age 49? Head to Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets today and you’ll get a 10-percent discount at most stores; premiumoutlets.com.

Wednesday

Every other Wednesday at 7:30 pm, Salon Cielo in Dupont Circle opens its doors for $15 cuts and $30 color. (A cut normally starts at $40, color $75.) Part-owner and stylist Jamie Simon says Cielo drops its prices to give its stylists a chance to practice new techniques. “It’s not for someone who has long hair and just wants a trim,” he says. See saloncielo.com.

At Cleveland Park’s Dino restaurant, Wine Wednesdays offer three appetizers and three tastes of wines for $25; dino-dc.com. Other specials: free corkage on Tuesday and Thursday, one-third off wines over $50 Sunday and Monday, and, through July 29, three courses off the full menu for $30.08 every Monday and Tuesday.

Thursday

The boutique-laden stretches of U and 14th streets in Northwest DC stay open late the third Thursday of each month, with sizable discounts at such cool shops as Nana, Home Rule, and Caramel. See midcitylive.com.

Kids eat free every Thursday, 4 to 11 pm, with the purchase of an adult entrée, at Hard Times Cafe in Rockville. Other branches have kids-eat-free, half-price burgers, and other deals on other days; hardtimes.com.

Feel like a filet? Have a special bottle of wine you’d like to enjoy with it? Head to Charlie Palmer Steak in DC tonight—or any night—with a domestic vintage and corkage is free (up to two bottles). There’s $25 corkage for non-American wines; charliepalmer.com/steak_dc.

Friday

Take a free, guided walking tour though some of Bethesda’s art galleries and studios. Tours are given the second Friday of every month beginning at 6:30 pm; patrons meet at the Bethesda Metro, Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue. Even if you don’t take a tour, the galleries stay open until 9 pm; bethesda.org.

At Ultra Bar, a swank lounge on Northwest DC’s F Street, Friday is ladies night, with free rail drinks from 9:30 to 10:30—and a pass that gives free admission to women 21 and older all night and to men 21 and older until 11 pm. Get a free pass at ultrabardc.com.

Saturday

Today’s a chance to buy local at the farmers market at Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza. The plaza also features bargains galore at Reston Used Bookstore, Small Change Children’s consignment store, and Vogue to Vintage thrift. Grab a bite at Lakeside Pharmacy and Café, complete with soda fountain, counter seating, and throwback prices—entrées under $10; lakeanneplaza.com.

Enjoy a free show for kids Saturday mornings, 9:30 and 11, at DC’s National Theatre. Shows begin again in the fall; tickets are required and can be picked up half an hour beforehand; nationaltheatre.org.

Barracks Row in Southeast DC holds Second Saturdays, when shops such as gifty emporium Groovy DC stay open late and offer discounts and freebies. See barracksrow.org.

Sunday

Learn new moves and meet new people by taking a free belly-dancing lesson every Sunday at 10 pm at Meze in Adams Morgan (2437 18th St., NW; 202-797-0017; mezedc.com). No partner or experience is necessary; lessons are taught by professionals.

At the Majestic, Sunday is family night featuring Nana’s Sunday Dinner, a meal for four for $78. The menu changes monthly—August’s entrée is buttermilk fried chicken; next month’s is lasagna. The meal includes a main course, salad, two sides, and dessert; majesticcafe.com.

This article appears in the August 2008 issue of Washingtonian magazine. To see more articles in this issue, click here.