Retail deals and free meals for veterans abound on Veterans Day

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Local restaurants and national chains are saying thanks to the men and women who served in the military by offering free food to active duty personnel and retired veterans this weekend.

Many of these offers require proof of service and may be limited or do not include drinks and gratuity. Some offers at national chains may not be honored by local franchises, so call ahead or ask first.

Meal deals include:

Ed and Joe’s in Tinley Park is offering a free small pizza with two toppings or a free sandwich on Veterans Day, which is Sunday, Nov. 11. The restaurant says it’s their way of making up for all of the Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) a vet consumed on duty.

Bar Louie locations (including Matteson) are offering free meals (up to $11) all day Sunday and Monday, Nov. 12.

Applebee's is offering a free meal from a special menu all day on Sunday.

Chili’s is offering their choice of one of seven meals from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Denny’s nationwide are offering free all-you-can-eat pancakes from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday.

Famous Dave’s is serving free or discounted meals on Sunday. Offers vary by location. Call ahead or visit Famous Dave’sVeterans Day page for more information.

Golden Corral is offering its 12^th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner from 4-9 p.m.

Hooter’s is offering 10 free wings – Boneless or Regular – with a drink purchase on Sunday.

Participating Krispy Kreme doughnut shops are serving a free doughnut on Sunday to all veterans.

Little Caesars Pizza will give away a free Crazy Bread on Monday.

Lone Star Steakhouse will serve a free entrée from its Stars & Stripes menu on Monday.

LongHorn Steakhouse offers a free Texas Tonion and non-alcoholic beverage on Sunday.

Outback Steakhouse is giving away free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes on Sunday and Monday. The chain also discounts 10 percent on purchases from Nov. 13 to Dec. 31.

Red Lobster is offering a free appetizer on Sunday.

Red Robin will serve a free Red’s Tavern Double and Bottomless Steak Fries on Monday.

Texas Corral is offering a free entrée on Sunday.

Texas Roadhouse offers a free lunch on Monday from a list of 10 selections, plus sides and a drink.

T.G.I. Friday’s also is offering a free lunch on Monday.

The Olive Garden is serving a free entrée on Sunday from a special menu that includes baked garlic bread sticks and a soup or salad.

Champps American will give away a free Champps Cheeseburger and fries on Monday.

7-Eleven is serving free small Slurpees from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Other deals include:

Home Depot Military Discount: The Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veterans Day.

Lowe’s Military Discount: Lowe’s will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made Nov. 7- 11.

Big Lots is offering 10 percent off your entire purchase to active duty, Guard/Reserve, veterans, retirees and their immediate family members.

Cabela’s is giving their standard employee discount to veterans, active duty military, Guard/Reserve, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel on Nov. 11-12. Discount varies from 5 percent to 20 percent, depending on the item.

Dollar General offers a 10 percent discount on entire purchase on Veterans Day. Also good online from Nov 11-13, use Coupon Code VETERANSDAY.

Video 6-Pack: Hollywood’s take on presidential elections

Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman star in "All the President's Men."

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Americans will head to the polls on Tuesday to elect another president.

Either Barack Obama will continue to reside in the White House for four more years or Mitt Romney will try his hand as president.

Whoever wins will have a difficult task of dealing with a massive deficit, terrorism, possible nuclear weapons in Iran and economic uncertainty.

Hollywood has had more than its share of films devoted to the race for president as well as the men who have occupied the White House over the years.

Films about candidates with dark secrets have included the Bruce Willis action film “Red” about a candidate trying to cover up his involvement in a military cover-up. Dustin Hoffman stars as a spin doctor in “Wag the Dog” about a campaign of disinformation and manipulation when a candidate is caught having sex with a minor. Frank Sinatra stars in “The Manchurian Candidate” about a candidate (Laurence Harvey) who is a communist stooge after being brainwashed while a POW during the Korean War.

Fictional presidents have had their share of woes including Michael Douglas as a widowed president trying to do his job, run for re-election and woo a lobbyist in “The American President.” Hal March is a president who has to thwart a military coup in “Seven Days in May.” Kevin Kline portrays both a calculating president who dies while having an affair with a staffer and the good-natured imposter brought in to portray him in “Dave.”

Real-life presidents have had their problems, too. President John Kennedy faces off with the Russians over missiles in Cuba in “13 Days in October.” Before he was president, Dwight Eisenhower has to defeat Nazi Germany in “Ike.”

Presidents have been action stars, such as the gun-toting chief executive portrayed by Harrison Ford in “Air Force One,” while Abraham Lincoln moonlighted as a vampire killer in “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Killer.” Jack Nicholson’s president is chased out of the White House by bloodthirsty aliens in “Mars Attacks!”

Here are six films available on video, DVD, on-demand or streaming that have featured one way or another the campaign for the highest office in the land. Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday.

“All the President’s Men” (1976) – This exceptional film about the two Washington Post reporters who uncover the Watergate scandal is a tribute to old school journalism and, unfortunately, a look at how paranoia brought down a president. Stars include Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Hal Holbrook, Jason Robards and Jane Alexander.

“Swing Vote” (2008) – A presidential election comes down to a single man’s vote in this political comedy that may be a more accurate observation of the average voter than we want to believe. Stars include Kevin Costner, Paula Patton, Dennis Hopper, Madeline Carroll, Kelsey Grammer and Nathan Lane.

“Primary Colors” (1998) – John Travolta stars as a Bill Clinton-like candidate stumping for the Democratic nomination for president who will stop at nothing to win. Other stars include Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Adrian Lester, Billy Bob Thornton, Maura Tierney and Larry Hagman.  

“Shampoo” (1975) – The 1968 election between Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey plays in the background for this film about a hair dresser (Warren Beatty) trying to find financing for his own shop while he beds just about every woman he encounters. Other stars include Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie, Lee Grant, Jack Warden and a young Carrie Fisher.

“Man of the Year” (2006) – Robin Williams stars as a Jon Stewart-like television pundit who runs for president and wins because of a computer glitch that the voting technology company will do everything to keep secret in this twisted comedy. Other stars include Laura Linney, Christopher Walken and Lewis Black.

“Head of State” (2003) – A candidate for president dies and his party decides to replace him with a nobody (Chris Rock) in the waning days of the campaign in this comedy. Other stars include Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Nick Searcy, Lynn Whitfield and Robin Givens.

Check out my other Video Six-Packs at What to Watch.

Cigar lounge opens in Chicago Heights

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Ron Nesheiwat only has two rules at his new business: Have fun and you have to buy a cigar.

Nesheiwat and his partner George Arambula opened Rojo Cigar Lounge at 101 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights in the former Cigar Store Indian smoke shop in August and say it’s the perfect place for someone who wants to sit back and light one up.

“We can comfortably seat 44,” he said. “We feature premium hand-rolled cigars; no cigarettes and no cheap, smelly cigars.

“People can come in and watch the game, play cards or dominoes, or just talk. We want people who come here to enjoy themselves and the experience. We’re trying to bring back the elegance of cigars.”

“One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of people who are buying cigars today are people who didn’t buy cigars before,” he said dispelling the notion that fine cigars are only smoked by mustachioed millionaires in private clubs while swirling brandy in a snifter.

“There are more blacks and Hispanics buying cigars, as well as blue collar workers,” he said. “That’s why I picked this location. We draw from all over the Southeast Suburbs.”

Rojo doesn’t have a liquor or food license, but the lounge is next to the Tender Trap and guests can buy a beverage or meal there and bring it with them into the lounge.

Nesheiwat said he sells only hand-rolled cigars that usually take two years to make it into a cigar lounge humidor.

“I have five shelves about 30 feet long filled with cigars,” he said. “The cheapest is $5 for one of our hand-rolled, flavored cigars. The most expensive cigar I carry is a Padron No. 9 that goes for $22.”

“I’m probably the cheapest cigar lounge around,” he said. “I’m trying to turn a hobby into a lifestyle.”

Regular lounge hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

“If there’s a game or something going on, we’ll stay open later,” he said.

For information, call the lounge at 708-300-2040 or visit their Facebook Page.

A website is under construction at www.rojocigarlounge.com.

Deal of the week

Famous Dave’s barbecue restaurant will be giving away free ribs starting at noon Saturday at the K&G Fashion Superstore at 2535 W. 95^th St. in Evergreen Park. The giveaway is to promote the restaurant's opening Nov. 19 at 2851 W. 95th St.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com. 

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.