Businesses offer April 15 freebies to help take the sting out of tax day

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The tax man cometh on Thursday but all is not lost. Several businesses are offering freebies to take away some of the sting, including:

Dunkin Donuts shops at 4152 W. 167th St. in Oak Forest, 4021 W. 183rd St. in Country Club Hills and 11309 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park will be giving away free small iced coffees from midnight to midnight April 15. Owner Asif Nathani said the offer is good for one per customer but no purchase is required.

“You don’t even need a coupon,” says Nathani, who took over ownership of the three shops recently. “It’s a get acquainted offer.”

Starbucks is giving away free 20-ounce coffees to anyone who brings in a travel mug from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 15. http://www.starbucks.com/

IHOP is letting kids under 12 eat for free throughout April. Deal runs from 4 to 10 p.m. daily. Deal is for one free child’s meal with every paid adult meal. http://www.ihop.com/

Cinnabon is offering two free cupcake bites from 6 to 8 p.m. http://www.cinnabon.com/

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is offering a 15 percent discount on all orders on Thursday. Non-alcoholic drinks are included in the offer as are take-out orders. http://www.pfchangs.com/

Jamba Juice is offering a buy one get one coupon at its Web site www.jambajuice.com through April 25. This one is tied to the company’s 20th anniversary rather than tax day but what the heck.

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream Treatery is giving away free slices of its ice cream pizza from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday. http://www.maggiemoos.com/

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants are offering $10.40 tax day dinner specials with the added bonus of a gift certificate good for a $10.40 dinner special on your next visit. The restaurant also has a tax preparer’s dessert special for Friday. http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/

These two are unconfirmed but possible. Subway has given away free cookies on tax day in the past, while McDonald’s restaurants have offered tax day specials such as buy one get one for a penny in the past. There’s no harm in asking.

While we’re on the subject of freebies, national parks across America will offer free admission from April 17 to April 25 in honor of National Parks Week. Just in case you find yourself next to the Grand Canyon or Appomattox Court House.

What Donovan McNabb oughta say

Courtesy of The Onion, here's the press conference we'd like to see from Donovan McNabb, the Dolton native and 1994 Mount Carmel High School graduate, four-year starter at QB for the Caravan, 1991 state title game winner, Big East player of the decade and six-time Pro Bowler.

"I'd like to thank all the Eagles fans who were always there to demand the whole world from me every week, who expected me to do everything with almost nothing, and who blamed me for the team's every failure."

The Little Guys now open in Mokena

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

The Little Guys home electronics store has completed its move to new digs at 19031 S. Old LaGrange Road in Mokena. The store, which moved from its longtime home in Glenwood, is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and is closed on Sunday.

The store’s new phone number is 708-754-8844. The Web site is http://www.thelittleguys.com/

Chicago Ridge churros
Fans of the Churro Factory, a Pilsen-based bakery that produces the Mexican pastries, can now get their fill at Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall. The company opened a shop in the mall late last year. The shop is open during mall hours. The phone number is 708-424-3026.

Now open
Factory Outlet Center, which features flooring and cabinets wholesaled priced for the public, is now open at 13019 U.S. 41 in Cedar Lake, Ind. Phone number is 219-374-7360.

Blue Fox closed againThe Blue Fox 6820 179th Streetin Tinley Park is scheduled to reopen Tuesday after again being temporarily closed for a few days last week. The restaurant was closed for a few days last month to make repairs. Blue Fox celebrated its second anniversary on March 17.

CUB energy seminar
The Citizens Utility Board will hold a free seminar on saving energy costs at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Tinley Park Library, 7851 Timber Drive.

The session will touch on energy efficiency incentives, CUB’s free online service at www.cubenergysaver.com and ComEd’s smart-grid pilot program. All participants will receive a free CFL bulb.

To sign up for the seminar, call the library at 708-532-0160.

Out of gas
The Speedway gas station at 15301 S. Harlem Ave. in Oak Forest has closed. The former SuperAmerica station shut its door last week.

Verizon calling
Verizon Wireless has opened a new store at 7854 S. Cicero Ave. in Burbank. The phone number is 708-346-6115.

Papa Russo’s opens in Hickory HillsPapa Russo’s Pizza opened recently at 8609 W. 95th St. in the Hill Creek Shopping Center in Hickory Hills. Hours for Papa Russo’s are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The phone number is 708-233-9999. They also have a fan page at Facebook.