From Free Kid Meals to Free Ice Cream: The Eating Edition

Melrose has many redeeming points—its location, its bustling Main Street, its family dynamic. And finally: The love of its people for food. In light of this final characteristic, we present to you the first eating (and drinking) edition of Frugal Family. (Remember to check with merchants for additional conditions.)

Don’t forget you're part of this column too. Let us hear about deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box, at the bottom of this page. Then come back each week and see what we’ve uncovered together.

Soc’s Ice Cream

Deal: Just to be clear, the return of autumn does not mean the end of ice-cream season. Local dairy-treat institution Soc’s is driving this point home with their new Fall Special: Buy one quart of ice cream, get a second free. The same goes for banana splits, happily.

Good through: No expiration currently

Deal: Sure, you could argue that wine doesn’t count as food, but … we’d just ignore you. A friendly reminder to those we wouldn’t need to ignore: As always, Beacon Hill offers 15 percent off cases of wine and 10 percent off the purchase of six bottles. Want to sample from the store’s amazing selection? No problem. The discount is good on mix-and-match, too.

Good through: Ongoing

Deal: One of the only pubs within a stone’s throw of Melrose, Harrington’s is still in the throes of its seventh-year celebration. Bring the kiddles in any night from 4-6:30 p.m. and they can eat free from the “Wee Lads and Lassies” menu, as long as you order up something for yourself, too. (Hint, hint: Wednesday is Irish Night.)

Good through: 2011

Deal: Lorenzo from Coffee Tea & Me wants to remind Melrose Patch readers of the shop’s new special: Get one of the housemade empanadas and a cup of soup for $4.99.  Considering choices like organic tomato bisque and shredded-pork-and-cheese empanadas, that’s a bargain of a yum.

Good through: No expiration currently

hopesndreams

Local Etsy Deal of the Week: Now, back to libations. What good is a cup of coffee in a plain old non-reusable paper cup? Shake things up, both environmentally and stylistically, with one of Burlington-based hopesndreams' ceramic travel mugs. Many have lids. Several have handles. And they're dishwasher and microwave-safe. Oh! We almost forgoot: Use the code FRUGAL10 at checkout for a very specific 10 percent discount just for particularly gourmet Melrose Patch readers.

Good through: Oct. 2