A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

What Woodland Hills Businesses Offer Kickbacks For Buying Gift Cards?

This practice recently caught my attention, and I must say I’ve very excited about it.  Apparently, some company’s are offering perks, kickbacks, and incentives to buyers of gift cards.  I was hoping my readers my help me put together a list.   I found a couple on my own.

From The Cheesecake Factory’s Twitter account (@cheesecake):

For every $25 Gift Card u purchase in our restaurants, u receive a card redeemable 4 a FREE slice of chzcake! Details: http://bit.ly/8VCQzq

Maggiano’s is also offering a great kickback:

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Receive a $20 Bonus Card for every $100 in Maggiano’s Gift Cards purchased!

Also, in a separate special Maggiano’s (@maggianos on Twitter)  is offering a $10 coupon to those who join their ‘e-club’ – here’s the link to that.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, is offering the same deal as Maggiano’s, $20 for every $100 spent.  See details here.

Given that Outback Steakhouse owns both Fleming’s and adjacent Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion in Woodland Hills, Roy’s is also offering the same deal.

Corner Bakery Cafe advertises a $5 bonus gift card for every $25 in gift card purchases on their website.

Ruth’s Chris is offering a significantly less financially enticing kickback:

With the holiday season just around the corner, Ruth’s Chris can help make gift giving even more rewarding. For a limited time, you’ll receive 10% back in bonus cards* for every gift purchase of $250 or more. An unforgettable experience is the perfect gift for friends, family, and colleagues. Accepted at Ruth’s Chris restaurants throughout the United States and Canada.

If you’d like to get these cards in time for your holiday gift giving deadlines, I suggest stopping into the store or restaurant and purchasing them there (when possible).  E-mail me, or post a comment if you know of others.

Popularity: 1%

Morton’s (Arnie Morton’s) Open For Prix Fixe Lunch Select Days In December

Morton’s The Steakhouse (or Arnie Morton’s as it’s known in Los Angeles) will be open in Woodland Hills (Warner Center) for select days in December with a special $25 per person Prix Fixe menu.  Limited a la carte items are also available.  I learned of this from their Twitter account (@Mortons).

The special lunch dates are December 10 (today), 11, 17, 18, 21, and 22.

From their site:

$25 Morton’s Prime Lunch Selections*

Includes Cup of Soup or Salad, Entree and Dessert

Choice of Soup or Salad:
Lobster Bisque, Baked Five Onion Soup, Morton’s Salad, Caesar Salad or Mixed Field Greens Salad

Choice of Entree:
• Grilled Ribeye Steak with Garlic Butter and Mashed Potatoes
• Grilled Colossal Shrimp & Sea Scallops with Grilled Vegetables
• Grilled Northwest King Salmon with Sauteed Garlic Green Beans
• Chicken Christopher with Garlic Beurre Blanc Sauce and Mashed Potatoes

Choice of Dessert:
Double Chocolate Mousse or Key Lime Pie

Limited a la carte menu also available.

Morton’s is not normally open for lunch at a location, this is a special seasonal promotional event.  What could be a better way to say “thanks” to an employee or your favorite blogger than taking them to lunch at Morton’s?

Reservations are not required, but they are highly recommended.  Use their website or call 818-703-7272.

Popularity: 13%

Smooch Going Out Of Bussiness Follow Up Pictures, 50% Off Everything

In a follow up to yesterday’s article about Smooch’s eventual closing, I stopped by to take a picture of the storefront.  The follow note was also posted on the door:

Popularity: 1%

Got My Free Tote At Cost Plus World Market In Woodland Hills On Saturday!

Well, this holiday weekend I had some ambitious plans to get up at 4AM like a maniac to check out some Black Friday sales.  However, when the time arrived I decided that looking at the inside of my eyelids would be more fun.

Needless to say, by the time I made it to a couple of places like The Home Depot (in West Hills) all of the good deals were sold out.  Late Friday evening, however, I got an e-mail from Cost Plus World Market letting me know that the first 200 customers Saturday morning at 9AM would get a free reusable tote bag and 15% off of whatever would fit in it (sadly excluding booze).

I figured that by Saturday morning all of the hoopla surrounding Black Friday would be over, and the lines would be minimal.  So, I got up at 8:50AM and headed over to Cost Plus.  I guessed correctly, and there were no crazy lines.  I was able to get my free tote and pick up a few goodies.  I particularly like the specialty bar soaps that Cost Plus carries, as well as their chocolates, and holiday cookies.

The reusable bag is actually pretty nice, so hopefully I can come up with some environmentally conscientious use for it!

Popularity: 1%

Free Tote And 15% Off Whatever Fits In It At Cost Plus World Market Today @ 9AM

Cost Plus World Market e-mailed a special post Black Friday deal:

Saturday Nov. 28 at 9AM

First 200 Customers Get A Free Tote And Save An Extra 15% On Whatever Fits Inside!

I love World Market, they have especially great coffee, in my opinion.  This offer has some notable exceptions: gift cards, alcoholic beverages, furniture, kitchen electrics, and all items too large to fit inside tote bag.

Popularity: 1%

Save Money And The Planet! Black Friday Is Green Friday At All Green Things!

I’ve been in local businesswoman & green living advocate Tanya Peel’s local shop All Green Things a few times now, and I really love the place.  [See the little CurrentTV segment featuring All Green Things]  The way I feel about the store is that it has a bunch of stuff that you already need to live your life, but the greener, sustainable, environmentally friendly versions.

One of the best things about the store too is that Tanya knows the story behind literally every single product.  She has hand selected this stuff, tried it out herself, and stands behind it.  Go there, and ask her a question about a product, and you’ll see what I mean!

She is having a promotion at the store this Friday – Black Friday, or in her case Green Friday – where you can get just about 25% off anything in the store and online.  She blogs:

Black Friday is going GREEN! All Green Things wants to remind you about our 1 Day Event on November 27th, 2009.
Everything in our Store and On-Line is 25% Off!!!!! Spend less on more meaningful, green gifts. Stock is limited so shop early!

On-Line Coupon Code to be entered at checkout: GRNFRI09

Just about everything in the store is on sale, see her blog for a few exceptions.  We all have someone on our shopping list that would love an environmental friendly gift, even ourselves!  Some categories of items Tanya has in her store include reusable bags, bottles, & containers,  baby supplies & gifts (some cool stuff), personal care, pet supplies, home decor and cleaning, and some neat stationary items (including pencils made out of paper that you can feel free to buy for me).  Oh, and don’t forget eco-friendly handbags for the ladies!  There is actually more cool stuff in the store than even online, you just gotta go in and check the place out.

Some of my favorite items:

• Water Powered Clock (a great gift idea!)
• Klean Kanteen Reusable Bottle (environment & human rights friendly)
• Bike Chain Bottle Openers (these things are so cool)
• Scrappy Puppy (this is the coolest looking stuffed doggy, I really want one!)
• And so much more!

Extended Green Friday hours and location info:

Extended In-Store Hours on    Nov. 27th 8AM-8PM
Store Location:
5321 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Man, I really do love that place, so stop in, check it out, and pick up a gift or two, and save some money!! Oh yeah, and the planet.

Popularity: 1%

dineLA Winter Restaurant Week Announced (Jan 24 – 29, Jan 31 – Feb 5, 2010)

A tipster writes in to let me know that Eater LA is reporting that the Winter dineLA dates have been announced:

Doesn’t it seem like dineLA’s fall deals happened just last week? (They kinda did. But more like 4 weeks ago.) Anyway, winter dates for 2010 have been announced as follows: January 24th-29th and January 31st – February 5th. No word just yet on the kiddies participating, but as soon as we hear, you’ll be the first to know.

A quick check of the Dine LA site confirms that no updated list has yet been posted of participating restaurants.  I will keep you posted as well.

Popularity: 1%

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