Deal Technology and FREE Jeans

I am not one to get excited about new technology, but when it involves easy access to deals then consider me a step closer to geekyness. I had never been so satisfied with my smartphone purchase as when I was introduced to Foursquare and learned that I could access coupons simply by "checking in." Now Facebook is offering a similar feature. To learn more, click here. This page also has a list of participating national businesses (scroll about halfway down the page).

Gap is aboard the Facebook Deals train by offering a chance to get FREE pair of jeans this Friday, Nov. 5 (up to $59.50 value). To take advantage of this deal, be one of the first at your choice of Gap store to check in on Facebook on Friday. Show a store employee that you've checked in and you'll get your FREE pair.

Stores only have limited quantities, so if you're too late you'll get a pretty good consolation prize: 40% OFF a regularly priced item.

For more information about Gap's Free Jeans promotion, click here.

FREE Coffee Fridays

I am often irked when a man just takes me out to coffee on a first date. Although I don't think I'd reconsider my opinion if he took advantage of this particular promotion, I'd appreciate his deal awareness. Burger King will give out FREE coffee during breakfast hours on Fridays in November.

Offer is valid for a 12-oz. cup of Seattle's Best Coffee. Flavor shots or whipped topping is not included.

No purchase is necessary, but if you're taking a date during the promotion, purchase is most definitely necessary for a chance of a second date.

For more information, click here to go to BK's home page, then click on the "Coffee's on at BK" button to view a list of participating restaurants.

6 Flavors for Price of 1

No, this isn't a Double D Alert, but it's my favorite way of getting a variety of flavors at Pinkberry, the Southern California-based frozen yogurt chain, which has quickly grown to nearly 100 stores nationwide.

Here's the secret: Ask for multiple flavors. But here's a secret to the secret: The two flavors that sit in each machine can be swirled together (for example, original and chocolate come from the same machine, ask to have them swirled together and you've got a chocolate-original swirl). I think Pinkberry has up to six flavors in each store, which means you can enjoy up to 6 flavors for the price of one (Pinkberry is kind enough to not charge extra for this, and, for the price of one topping, you can get as many toppings that will fit in your cup).

The next time you go to Pinkberry be sure to try its new whipped cream. It doesn't come from a store-bought can, but rather Pinkberry's own concoction. It's best described as tangy frozen yogurt in whipped cream form, without the heavy cream taste. There's an additional charge (it's not included in the regular topping price) but it's worth the extra few cents.

FREE Ice Cream at Cold Stone

Double D Alert: When ice cream and charity come into play, I like to get involved. And when the ice cream is FREE, then I really like to participate. Cold Stone Creamery will host its 9th annual "World's Largest Ice Cream Social" from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.

The FREE ice cream only applies to a Like It size (aka, small) called Kate's Creation: caramel apple ice cream mixed with chocolate shavings, graham cracker pie crust and apple pie filling. The creation was invented by a girl named Kate, a participant in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Although the ice cream is free, bring some cash to donate to Make-A-Wish.

For more information, click here.

FREE Museum Day

Smithsonian magazine is offering FREE museum passes for visits on Saturday, Sept. 25. Passes are good for only one museum and two people per household.

Passes are available for more than 1,000 museums nationwide, including the California Academy of Sciences (adult admission regularly $29.95) and Walt Disney Family Museum (adult admission regularly $20) in San Francisco.

Click here for a list of participating museums and to register for tickets. Passes will be e-mailed after registering online.

FREE Dessert Day

Double D Alert: What's the best way to promote a dessert TV show? Offer FREE desserts, of course! In honor of the season premiere of "Top Chef: Just Desserts" on the Bravo network, OpenTable.com will offer users a FREE dessert on Wednesday, Sept. 15, to coincide with the show's premiere.

To take advantage of the promotion:

• Click here to view the list of participating restaurants.
  
• Make a Sept. 15 reservation for at least 2 people for lunch or dinner (not all restaurants offer lunch for this deal) through the page with the list of restaurants. You'll get a free dessert for every 2 guests in your party.
  
• Each diner must order a meal. Sorry, no splitting a meal just because you're going to order a calorie-laden dessert!

Here's my tip for men: Find a restaurant on the list, then tell the special lady in your life that you heard about this great restaurant and you want to take her there on Wednesday. Tell her you'll make a reservation, which will sound impressive. When you get to the restaurant and she goes to order a salad tell her that she looks so thin that she should really go with a regular meal. Then as your girl rejects dessert because she's being modest -- you know she really wants it -- tell her that you've already made arrangements for dessert, then have the server come out with the most-expensive dessert on the menu!

Chocolate Festival and a Discount

One of my favorite events is set for this weekend: The 15th annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival will take place from 12-5 p.m. Sept. 11 and 12. Tickets include 15 tastings from dozens of vendors. Last year, attendees also were able receive freebies such as wine openers from Cost Plus World Market.

My fellow chocolate aficionado and I like to bring a big purse or extra bag to the festival and collect chocolates to bring home on the chance that we get full by the end of the day.

Some of my favorite items from last year were the chocolate martini tastings (I had 2), Ghirardelli hot fudge sundaes and chocolate tea. Some non-chocolate items were available; only a cup of mango ice cream was able to lure me away from all the chocolate.

Cooking demonstrations, tea pairings (extra charge) and, my favorite, ice cream eating contests are scheduled for this year's festival.

Double D Alert: Tickets cost $20, but today I was able to book my ticket using the goodytwos discount code for 10% OFF ($2 discount).

Tips for receiving deeper discounts for next year's tickets:

• Join LivingSocial.com's mailing list. It's like Groupon where users receive daily deals on gift certificates for area services, restaurants, etc. A few days ago, it had a deal for 50% OFF tickets.
  
• Follow Ghirardelli Square on Twitter (user name: GhirardelliSQ). For a few days last month, it offered $5 discounts to mark the one-month countdown to the festival.

For more information about the festival, including a list of vendors, click here.