Gap’s Give and Get Sale begins this Thursday: Print this coupon to save 30% off your entire purchase at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores. Plus, 5% of your purchase gets donated to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society! Expires Sunday.

Also, save 25% at Crazy 8’s Friends and Family Sale, Thursday through Sunday (There’s a location in Short Pump Town Center)

Here are some of my scores from the current Buy 8, get $4 off March to Savings promo at Kroger. (Check out this week’s RVA Deals for more details and ideas!)

Ronzoni Smart Taste box pasta Final cost: -$.51
Bumble Bee tuna pouch -$.06
Kraft cracker cuts cheddar $.49
Smart Balance butter blend sticks $.74
Purina One cat food $1.49 **For to the Richmond SPCA, which is in need of cat food donations**

A bunch of Chick-Fil-A promos:

Facebook fans of Chick-Fil-A Hull Street get a free 8-pack of chicken nuggets anytime between 10:30am and 8pm on St Patrick’s Day!

At the Stratford Hills Chick-Fil-A, the first 100 customers after 8:30am receive a free yogurt parfait (7125 Forest Hill Ave)

Wear something green and receive a free breakfast item with the purchase of a drink from 6:30 – 10:30 a.m. at Virginia Center Commons Chick-Fil-A (10176 Brook Rd)

If you wear green- (make sure its obvious and not just a pair of socks), you will receive your choice of either a FREE small coleslaw, or small fry with any purchase at Chick-Fil-A Mechanicsville

On Wednesday at Posh Belly Boutique, save 17% on all non-marked-down items when you mention this Facebook post. (1350 Gaskins Road, Richmond, VA, 23238)

St Patrick’s Specials at South Beach Tan & Body (7137 Staples Mill Rd, Richmond, VA, 23228)

Get your green items cleaned at Puritan Cleaners on Thursday March 18 for 20% off regular price.

(Huge Facebook presence in this list! I guess that’s the way deals are all headed)

*NEW* Wear green to LaDifference today and receive 10% off

Public Sale:
Thursday March 18 – 9am to 8pm
Friday March 19 – 9am to 7:30pm
Saturday March 20 – 8am to 3pm (Half price sale)
(Also a preview sale Wed night March 17 from 4-8pm, $10 admission)

Fabulous Finds Consignments – March 19 to 21
Richmond Raceway Complex
600 Laburnum Avenue

Public Sale:
Friday March 19 – 9am to 8:30 pm ($3 admission)
Saturday, March 20 – 9am to 7pm, ($3 admission)
Sunday, March 21 – 10am to 3:30pm (No admission charge)

This sale will also have formal wear and children’s clothes

Kidtopia Now Women’s Consignment Sale – March 19 to 21, and March 26 to 28
3107 Old Hilliard Rd
Richmond, Virginia 23228
Across from Bahama Joe’s

Public Sale:
Friday March 19 – 9am to 8pm
Saturday March 20 – 8am to 8pm
Sunday March 21 – 12pm to 5pm
Friday March 26 – 9am to 8pm
Saturday March 27 – 8am to 8pm
Sunday March 28 – 12pm to 3pm (50% off sale)

Also host women’s sales but none scheduled: Threads Consignments

Spring weather got you thinking about sprucing up the yard? Thanks to Jonah for this Near West End News post about several opportunities to pick up free tree seedlings in the near future.

The Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will hold its annual spring tree-seedling giveaway for Henrico County residents on Friday, March 19 at the Hermitage High School parking lot, 8301 Hungary Spring Road. Trees will be distributed free of charge from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

There will also be bare-root trees given away at the Stay Cool with Trees Arbor Day celebration in Byrd Park on April 3 (10am-2pm at the Carillon). In addition, enjoy children’s activities, tree workshops, and experts on hand. Event attendees will be able to purchase The Earth Machine compost bin at a discount through the Clean City Commission (cash or personal checks only).

March 13
Shamrock the Block – 12p-6p The Historic Shockoe Bottom neighborhood is transformed into a huge block party! Shamrock The Block happens in the area of 18th Street, Franklin Street and 17th Street Farmer’s Market. Shamrock The Block is FREE to attend, with lots of great food, live music all day and plenty o’ green beverages

March 14
Irish in Richmond Event – 3pm – 5pm
Music, storytelling, and a bit of Irish History — but no Irish whiskey — will headline an early St. Patrick’s Day event at Shockoe Hill Cemetery on Sunday, March 14th, from 12 Noon to 3 p.m. The toil and triumph of Irish immigrants to Richmond and elsewhere in the South in the 1800s and 1900s will be the focus of Dr. Nicholas Wolf, assistant professor of history at VCU at 12:30 p.m.. Dr. Wolf is a specialist in the history and fortunes of Ireland and her immigrant sons and daughters who helped re-make the face of Richmond. Denise Bennett, from the Virginia Storytelling Alliance, will honor the long Irish performance tradition by playing her harp and singing Irish folk tunes at 1:30 p.m. — a sure favorite for kids and adults alike. (Directions)

March 17
Ireland in Song and Story – Heritage Music Series: Turf Fire performing at Hanover Tavern (13181 Hanover Courthouse Road 23069 , 7:00-8:00pm)
Listen to classic Celtic tunes to celebrate St. Patrick’s day, and the Irish heritage. Stories and history will intermingle with the fiddle, banjo, vocals and the bodhran. Appropriate for all ages and FREE!

March 19
Irish Dance Festival – 6 p.m. Manchester High School (12601 Bailey Bridge Road, Midlothian) Celtic Reflection, the Irish dance company of Swift Creek Academy of the Performing Arts, is hosting an event this March in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. SCAPA and Celtic Reflection will sponsor their 2nd Annual Irish Dance Festival on Friday, March 19 at 6:00 pm at Manchester High School. Dancers in levels from beginner to adult will compete in many forms of Irish dance, including soft shoe and hard shoe steps. SCAPA’s Irish company, Celtic Reflection, will perform at the event as well. Observers may attend the Festival free of charge. 744-2801 or info@swiftcreekacademy.org

March 20-21
Church Hill Irish Festival – ($2 donation) Traditional Irish musicians, bagpipers and dancers will perform throughout the weekend. We will also have a Bluegrass Stage. In addition to great entertainment, there will be plenty of family fun, including children’s games, face painting and Irish-themed crafts. Over thirty Irish vendors will be in attendance! Food and refreshments will also be available. (Details on Church Hill People’s News)
25th Street between Broad & Franklin

Savings from local dry cleaner Puritan Cleaners – Every Wednesday, save 10-20% on cleaning a particular type of clothing (next Wednesday is sweaters). Get free cleaning on your birthday when you sign up for Home Delivery (free!) or the Priority Club. Puritan also offers 50% off all military, police, fire, or EMS uniform cleaning every day.

50% off yellow, blue, orange and pick-tagged items at Cary St location of the Clothes Rack, through Saturday (2618 W. Cary St, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm)

Kids Consignment Sales –

The Clothesline children’s sale in Bon Air
Threads Consignment sale in Glen Allen
Christ Church Consignment Sale in Short Pump
Mustard Seed Sale in Goochland
Ring Around the Rosy continues in Midlothian

Several contests for area businesses/organizations to win free PR assistance:

Nonprofits- Members of the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s public service committee is offering free (FREE!) public relations assistance for one area nonprofit this year. For consideration, the organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that needs public relations assistance with a specific 2010 project or event (from RVANews)

“Save A Business” Contest from Our Time Designs- Local companies are eligible to win $4,000 in creative marketing and consulting services. Submit an application online.

Greeting cards (2 for $1)
Gift bags
Pregnancy tests
Diaper disposal bags
Multi-purpose lighters
Seasonal decorations & party supplies

How about you?

Frosties and animals, two of my most favorite things From the SPCA blog:

For the second year in a row, our wonderful adoption partner Wendy’s has launched their key tag fundraising campaign to benefit the Richmond SPCA. Participating Wendy’s locations and our Lora Robins Gift Shop are selling $1 key tags good for a chocolate or vanilla Jr. Frosty with every Wendy’s food purchase through December 31, 2010. All proceeds from the sale of the key tags go directly to the Richmond SPCA to help homeless animals! Get yours today!

Welcome to the first edition of Home Grown Deals, highlighting the sales & specials of local businesses!

It’s First Thursdays in Carytown tonight. Shops stay open later, and many offer special discounts. Unfortunately, the Carytown website doesn’t get updated to show businesses doing specials; you have to go store by store. ShopTalk has the report on Eurotrash, which is giving 25% off one spring item. (3009 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23221). Pink will also be offering 30% off selected flats (3158 W Cary St)

Get your deal fix at children’s consignment sales this weekend: Ring Around the Rosy (probably my favorite; it’s HUGE) opens to the public tomorrow, and runs weekends through the end of March. Fancy Pants Richmond is tomorrow and Saturday, and Richmond Moms of Multiples is Saturday morning.

Megan also posted about Frances Kahn’s Consolidation Sale, starting today and running through Sunday. Designer clothes up to 90% off (6229B River Road, Richmond, VA 23229)

Ben Franklin’s 6-Day Sale Thursday through Tuesday – $1.44 Tshirts, $1 frames, and FICUS! ($29.94)

The Cordial Cricket is having a Mom’s Morning Out sale next Wednesday morning from 9:30-11:30 for mothers of preschoolers. Receive 15% off and free coffee & donuts, plus the store will be giving a donation to the preschool with most participation. (3524 Festival Park Plaza, Chester, Virginia 23831)

On the subject of shopping locally, mark your calendars for the weekend of March 20-21. Locally Owned Richmond, Saturday Stroll, and Shop RVA will be kicking off campaigns, and I’m sure there will be some interesting events and promotions then, and in the upcoming months.

I expect to have more tips through the weekend, and will post in the comments. Please share if you know about a local business having a sale!