Archive for the ‘Deal Spice’ category

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What’s the Dealio?

August 26th, 2010

Speaking of staying in the loop, sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are great ways to save on things you’d normally never spend your money on (like a keratin hair treatment or a wine-tasting party on a yacht). These sites regularly take off 50+% on things like spa and salon services, theater shows, food and drink.

Here’s a list of some of the other sites that offer big deals:

There are some sites you have to request an invitation from, like Ideeli, Gilt Groupe and Rue La La which offers more high-end brands of clothing and accessories, but there’s no harm in checking them out!

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Posted in Deal Spice, Online Shopping, Shopping Deals

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Stay In the Loop With Deal News

August 24th, 2010

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a website that’s sole purpose is to inform the masses of incredible savings on the internet?

Oh wait, it already exists. Yes!

The site is called DealNews.com and they work hard to bring the latest and greatest price cuts to hit the web. Today alone there have been 137 new deals posted. The deals include technology items, stuff for macs, kids items, home goods, and for a limited time only, a back to school section. For really cool stuff that usually goes under the radar, you have to check out the Editor’s Picks page.

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Posted in Deal Spice, Online Shopping, Shopping, Shopping Deals

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The Brooklyn Museum Is A Deal

June 15th, 2010

The Brooklyn Museum of Art is often compared with its Manhattan counterparts as a lesser more populist museum. In truth, the museum has a superb permanent collection, and in order to lure more visitors is offering deals.

Every First Saturday, the museum offers free admission, along with a wine and beer cash bar, sandwiches, salads and live entertainment. The party lasts until 11 p.m. but every other Saturday, the museum closes at 6. You may want to get there early – sometimes the event fills up and tickets are necessary.

Currently the museum has a Kiki Smith exhibition, along with an exhibit on American high fashion. Starting Friday, they will feature an Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, a vastly productive period for the artist where he experimented with the screened image, and pieces of a grander scale than normal.

Although the Brooklyn Museum has taken heat in the past for trying to appeal to a crowd through more mainstream exhibitions, like the popular rock photography show that ended in January, the permanent collection – with rarities from Egypt and the Incan Andes, along with masterworks from the Hudson Valley school are always on display and shouldn’t be missed.

For the true deal hunter, with a suggested $10 admission, this museum is often overlooked and underrated.

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Posted in Deal Spice, Entertainment, New York

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BOLT For A Buck

May 25th, 2010

If you live in New York City and like to get away to Boston, Baltimore or Washington, D.C. every so often, but don’t have a whole lot of money, you’re probably familiar with the phenomenon of the Chinatown bus. You wait on a designated corner and make a mad dash onto the bus when it pulls up to the curb. It’s cheap, it’s…well, it’s cheap. That counts for a lot. And it’s kind of exciting. It reminds me a little bit of bus travel in Central America, except with fewer live chickens on board.

Once the Chinatown bus I was riding home from Boston broke down just north of The Bronx.  The driver didn’t speak English, but we could see the smoke rising from under the carriage, and we gathered from his gestures that we were on our own now, so we collected our bags and followed signs to the city.

I splurged for the train for awhile after that.

Then one sunny day, along came BOLT. Once again, for less than the cost of a cab ride from the East Village to Brooklyn, a bus will take me to Boston, Baltimore or D.C., but this time it’s clean. It’s reliable. And it has free WIFI. A one-way ticket costs $16-$20, depending on peak hours. If you become a member, every eight trips buys you a free one-way ticket. And if you book far enough in advance, a ticket’s just a dollar.

With all the work I get done on board thanks to the free WIFI, sometimes I think it would be worth the commute.

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Government Deals On Appliances Fly Fast

April 20th, 2010

The government is giving out more than $300 million in rebates for those who buy energy efficient appliances. Unfortunately, the program was so successful that in many cases, states ran out of deals to dole within a day or two.  The Fed created the program as part of the stimulus package, and the results seem to be boosting the sales of retailers.
Part of the success was inspired by turn in programs involving cars and other old appliances. Last year, the Cash for Clunkers program rewarded those who swapped gas guzzling trucks and SUV’s for cash, and similarly, these appliance seekers have seen the boon.

Partly fueled by Earth Day, California’s incentive program has $35 million in rebates, while American Samoa has $100,000. Some states, like Texas, had such a positive response to the rebates that many customers had difficulty securing reservations, due to long phone wait times, and crashing websites. Frustration and dissatisfaction was rampant.

Other states, like Missouri, have learned from these problems and begun a phasing process instead.  Illinois made the retailers seek the rebates from the state, which was a lot easier on the customers.  A Colorado appliance company, Appliance Factory Outlet, anticipates to make more than $300,000. It seems that most people are benefitting from the government’s deal.

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Posted in Deal Spice, Holiday Discounts, New York, Shopping

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Jet Blue has Spring Travel Deals Galore

April 12th, 2010

While for many, Spring Break has come and past. But the irony is that Spring is really just beginning; we have more than two months until summer. If you were late on the Spring Break train, or were working through February and March and need to get away in May or June, now is the time to buy.

Until April 21, for one way flights from April 22nd to June 16th, Jet Blue is offering discounted flights at excellent prices.  Of special note are the specials to the Carribean: Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau is $29, JFK to Bermuda is $69 each way, to Kingston, Jamaica is $109, and to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is $99. If you’re flying on the left coast, San Diego to Boston starts at $149, Long Beach to San Francisco is $39, and Burbank to Las Vegas is $39.

Just looking at all of these cheap destinations gets me fired up. I can just see it now, jet setting on the plane with a backpack of carry- on, unwrapping a sandwich that I brought from home… Anyway, these deals won’t last, so visit JetBlue’s complete list of cities and specials to choose your Spring Break destination deal.

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Posted in Deal Spice, Entertainment, Holiday Discounts, New York, Travel

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Swiss Deals

April 9th, 2010

Switzerland, the land of neutrality, mountain goats, fine watches, and big bank accounts has never been a better place to visit.  Not only is Zurich consistently rated one of the world’s nicest cities, with beautiful mountain landscapes and skiing during the winter, and gorgeous lakes and forests during the summer, but now Swiss Rail is offering some major discounts.

Rail Europe in association with Switzerland Tourism is offering half price train rides for adults and kids 16 and under ride free. The Deal begins on April 21st and lasts until the 27th, and tickets are good for six months after bought.

The two tickets the deal covers are the 8 day, for $193, and the three day Flexipass for $128 which can be used for non- consecutive travel days. The tickets cover trains, boats and buses and allow for free access into Switzerland’s hundreds of museums.

The Kunstmuseum in Bern houses some of Switzerland’s finest art collections. As the capital of the state, Bern houses Italian pre- Renaissance pieces as well as masterworks by Cezanne and Matisse, and of course Swiss artists of today.

The Paul Klee collection is another impressive museum just outside of Bern. This house is the centerpiece of all Klee works and is a must see for any art fan.

With deals like this, why not head to the land of holey cheese?

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Posted in Deal Spice, Holiday Discounts, Travel

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Top 10 U.S. Deal Cities

April 2nd, 2010

The beautiful Atlanta skyline (right)

Do you want a vacation that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Hotwire just ranked the best cities in the U.S. to visit if you want a deal on entertainment, hotels, transportation, and value.

1. Atlanta, GA. This southern city switches spots with last year’s number 1 and this year’s

2. Orlando, FL. Disneyworld, anyone?

3.Phoenix, AZ. is perfect if you want a hot spring break.

4.Dallas, TX. This city is quintessential Texas, and has deals galore – from thrift shops to downtown dining.

5. Denver, CO. Low prices makes this city highly livable and a great destination spot.

6. Houston, TX. is another Texan gem, and is even more cosmopolitan than Dallas.

7. Los Angeles, CA. If you want cheap entertainment and nice weather, visit the home of the movies, music, and television.

8. Raleigh, N.C. This city is another one renowned for its low prices.

9. Chicago, Ill. is known for being a “second-city,” but there’s nothing second rate about this gem of a town, except its prices, of course.

10. Miami, FL. is another hotbed of entertainment and deals. Plus, the beach is a hop skip and a jump away.

If you are lucky enough to live in one of these cities, rejoice! If not, what are you waiting for? Book your deal vacation today!

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Posted in Deal Spice, Entertainment, Food, Shopping, Travel

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Looking For Drink Deals? You’ve Come to the Right Place.

March 25th, 2010

If you’re looking for free drinks this spring and summer (and honestly, who isn’t?) here is some research that may help you out. For New York viewers, www.MyOpenBar.com is a must see for free happy hours or open bars. You can also check it out if you’re in other large cities.

Or if you want some more varied options, www.DrinkDeal.com is another great choice. This site has sortable by category drink deals, which also feature food specialties. The HappyHoured Iphone app does the same dance, just in a different hall, as does www.BoozeParty.net. While most of these sites are for the thirsty in NYC, you can always get free alcohol at a wine tasting.

These take the form of art gallery openings, or even wine shops, which are eager to let you try samples. And remember tipping one dollar a drink is customary in most places, unless you’re in Europe, because Europeans never tip.

So go out there and celebrate the coming of spring with a free (or discounted) drink!

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Posted in Deal Spice, Food, New York

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Jimi’s Deal

March 17th, 2010


Jimi Hendrix is the best guitarist of all time. I was going to write “arguably the best guitarist of all time” but Jimi has no true rival. Bringing jazz, the blues, soul, and funk (before it officially existed) into contact with the electric guitar, Jimi did what no one since has been able to do and inspired a generation of rockers, hip-hoppers and r&b players.

Recently a new Jimi album with unreleased tracks has been released.  There are some favorites that have been done like never before (Stone Free, Hear My Train A Comin’) which are stellar, there are new songs too.  Crying Blue Rain and Valley of Neptune (the title track) are no shots in the dark. They are tracks featuring Jimi at his best – soloing madly, evolving riffs and his reassuring voice in the background singing the hook.

You don’t have to like rock and roll to appreciate Jimi’s style — just  look at the ‘i’ at the end of his name for crying out loud. Legend has it that Jimi used to insert tabs of acid under his headband while performing so that when he started to sweat, his pores would accept the chemicals and his guitar playing would reflect his state of mind. This collection of new songs makes me believe it.  No matter how you buy them, mp3, iTunes, CD, vinyl, or even if you just listen to them on youtube, these new hits are a great deal.

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