BARGAIN BIN: Bargain bin: living stylishly on a budget

MARK THIS OCCASION

Filene's Basement has its Running of the Brides; women's boutiqueAndrews & Andrews in Concord Center now has what it playfully callsthe Running With the Mother of the Bride and Groom. All of thestore's special occasion dresses, originally $379 to $1,349, are $99-$399; brands include Daymor Couture, Junnie Leigh, Joseph Ribkoff,and Ursula of Switzerland. The store also has a nice selection ofjackets, skirts, and pants, many by emerging European designers, at75 percent off. Andrews & Andrews is at 32 Main St., Concord, 978-369-9209. www.andrewsandandrews.net

TURNING BLUE JEANS INTO GREEN

It sounds like magic to us, but until Sunday, Gap stores arecollecting old denim (could be men's, women's, or kids') to be madeinto cotton fiber housing insulation for communities in need. (Justhow does that work, you ask? The process, and projects completedthus far, are explained on the denim drive website:www.cottonfrombluetogreen.org.) Should you bring in your cast-offs,you'll get 30 percent off on a new denim purchase (Converse andStella McCartney for GapKids and babyGap are excluded). Find storelocations at www.gap.com.

FINE DINING TO GO

Dining out can be expensive, and sometimes a nice meal in is moresatisfying. To help you assemble such a meal, Beacon Hill Wine &Gourmet in Melrose offers a dinner package on Wednesdays thatincludes artisanal pasta; imported tomato sauce (tomato basil orputtanesca); a wedge of Italian cheese (parmigiano-reggiano, brenta,or piave); fresh Italian cookies or lemon or anisette pizzelles; anda bottle of Italian wine (you choose between a pre-selected red orwhite) for $29.99. (It would total up to around $35 or $37ordinarily.) The shop, which opened last October, has a goodselection of wine and gourmet foods. Find it at 538 Main St.,Melrose, 781-665-3332. www.beaconhillwine.com

TREAT YOURSELF

A few weeks back, we mentioned SpaFinder's Deal Days (which aregoing on now), for which a number of area spas are offeringdiscounted treatments. If you didn't book an appointment then, marknext Monday (the 15th) on your calendar, when Spa Week participantswill be posted online and you'll once again have a chance to make adate with luxury. Lots of spas in Boston and beyond will be offering$50 treatments, many of which are normally $100-$450. Participatingspas include Bella Sante (Lexington, Wellesley, and Boston);Rosaline's Skin Care & Spa (Brookline); and Chuan Body + Soul(Boston, pictured). Spa Week runs from April 12-18, but it's best tobook early. Sign up at www.spaweek.com to see the listings.

RISE AND SHINE

Speaking of spa treatments, if you have a free Thursday morningor afternoon this month, you can take advantage of Inman Oasis'sThursday Early Bird special, which runs through the end of March.Book an appointment for sometime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on aThursday this month and get 10 percent off the cost. (Choicesinclude massage, normally $50-$115, or a hot tub soak, normally $10-$55.) Half of the proceeds from these appointments will go to theCheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota to help with recoveryefforts after severe storms damaged the reservation earlier thiswinter. Inman Oasis is at 243 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-491-0176. www.inmanoasis.com

Get bargain advice every day online at www.boston.com/bargainbin. E-mail ideas for Bargain Bin to bargainbin@globe.com.

11bargain.ART

BARGAIN BIN: Bargain bin: living stylishly on a budget

MARK THIS OCCASION

Filene's Basement has its Running of the Brides; women's boutiqueAndrews & Andrews in Concord Center now has what it playfully callsthe Running With the Mother of the Bride and Groom. All of thestore's special occasion dresses, originally $379 to $1,349, are $99-$399; brands include Daymor Couture, Junnie Leigh, Joseph Ribkoff,and Ursula of Switzerland. The store also has a nice selection ofjackets, skirts, and pants, many by emerging European designers, at75 percent off. Andrews & Andrews is at 32 Main St., Concord, 978-369-9209. www.andrewsandandrews.net

TURNING BLUE JEANS INTO GREEN

It sounds like magic to us, but until Sunday, Gap stores arecollecting old denim (could be men's, women's, or kids') to be madeinto cotton fiber housing insulation for communities in need. (Justhow does that work, you ask? The process, and projects completedthus far, are explained on the denim drive website:www.cottonfrombluetogreen.org.) Should you bring in your cast-offs,you'll get 30 percent off on a new denim purchase (Converse andStella McCartney for GapKids and babyGap are excluded). Find storelocations at www.gap.com.

FINE DINING TO GO

Dining out can be expensive, and sometimes a nice meal in is moresatisfying. To help you assemble such a meal, Beacon Hill Wine &Gourmet in Melrose offers a dinner package on Wednesdays thatincludes artisanal pasta; imported tomato sauce (tomato basil orputtanesca); a wedge of Italian cheese (parmigiano-reggiano, brenta,or piave); fresh Italian cookies or lemon or anisette pizzelles; anda bottle of Italian wine (you choose between a pre-selected red orwhite) for $29.99. (It would total up to around $35 or $37ordinarily.) The shop, which opened last October, has a goodselection of wine and gourmet foods. Find it at 538 Main St.,Melrose, 781-665-3332. www.beaconhillwine.com

TREAT YOURSELF

A few weeks back, we mentioned SpaFinder's Deal Days (which aregoing on now), for which a number of area spas are offeringdiscounted treatments. If you didn't book an appointment then, marknext Monday (the 15th) on your calendar, when Spa Week participantswill be posted online and you'll once again have a chance to make adate with luxury. Lots of spas in Boston and beyond will be offering$50 treatments, many of which are normally $100-$450. Participatingspas include Bella Sante (Lexington, Wellesley, and Boston);Rosaline's Skin Care & Spa (Brookline); and Chuan Body + Soul(Boston, pictured). Spa Week runs from April 12-18, but it's best tobook early. Sign up at www.spaweek.com to see the listings.

RISE AND SHINE

Speaking of spa treatments, if you have a free Thursday morningor afternoon this month, you can take advantage of Inman Oasis'sThursday Early Bird special, which runs through the end of March.Book an appointment for sometime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on aThursday this month and get 10 percent off the cost. (Choicesinclude massage, normally $50-$115, or a hot tub soak, normally $10-$55.) Half of the proceeds from these appointments will go to theCheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota to help with recoveryefforts after severe storms damaged the reservation earlier thiswinter. Inman Oasis is at 243 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-491-0176. www.inmanoasis.com

Get bargain advice every day online at www.boston.com/bargainbin. E-mail ideas for Bargain Bin to bargainbin@globe.com.

11bargain.ART