"Don't you just love a bargain?"

Well, duh, of course we do.

This week, the deep discounters are rolling out holiday goodies at their store at the Garden State Park development in Cherry Hill.

Among the bountiful bargains: 20-inch (artificial) holly wreaths, $3.99; wine glasses hand-painted with snowmen and poinsettias, $1.99; and handmade Polish reindeer ceramic serving pieces, $3.99-$12.99.

As always, shoppers will find rock-bottom prices on household goods. A current doorbuster is a Mission-style dining set that includes a table with removable leaf and four chairs, served up for $199.99. Other affordable indulgences: 600-threadcount cotton sheets, $39.99 for a king- or queen-sized set; five-quart, stainless steel chafing dish, $16.99; and amaryllis or paperwhite bulb kits (guaranteed to bloom!), $3.99.

Sears says the new line redefines ‘best-in-class’ for the kitchen, highlighting advanced technology, higher performance and overall enhanced design.

"Sears continues to listen to our customers who have voiced their desire for a super-premium line,” said Doug Moore, senior vice president.

“As the nation’s leading appliance retailer, Sears is committed to providing the best selection of major appliances, and beginning later this month, customers will have the opportunity to engage with a sophisticated and attention grabbing display showcasing as many as 17 Jenn-Air appliances in approximately 255 of our largest stores -- in various retail formats."

The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale -- the one and only clearance event of the season -- starts at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Cherry Hill Mall.

Expect deals on such delectable brands as BCBG, Calvin Klein, Guess, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Steve Madden and Ugg. Think Michael Kors handbags. Think Eileen Fisher knits and sweaters. Think shoes, shoes, shoes.

Nordstrom is pumping up the bargains by offering store cardholders double rewards points. Instead of two points for every dollar you charge, you will receive four points.  That means those $20 Nordstrom Notes will be winging their way to your mail box twice as fast.

I'd like to propose a small revision. How about: "The store will open at 5 a.m. after the Phillies WIN the World Series."

The chain is introducing holiday-themed drinks, such as the Pumpkin Pie Martini, made with Captain Morgan, kahlua, butterscotch schnapps and pumpkin pie spices and a dollop of whipped cream.

Taco Bell is haunting patrons on a budget with free Black Jack Tacos between 6 p.m. and midnight at participating restaurants throughout the 5,600-unit chain. The new limited-time menu addition, which typically sells for the suggested price of 89 cents, features a black taco shell filled with seasoned beef and a pepper jack sauce.

Saturday is also the night of game three in the World Series between the Phils and the Yanks, played in Philly. Taco Bell is the official quick-service restaurant of Major League Baseball, officials noted.

In fact, Sears will celebrate Black Friday deals weekly, with layaway options.

Starting Saturday, and continuing every Saturday until Christmas, Sears will offer Black Friday deals making gift giving easier and more affordable with guaranteed best prices.

The “Black Friday Now” deals were created when customers asked for day-after Thanksgiving doorbuster values earlier in the season. Customers, particularly those who don’t enjoy the thrill of hitting the stores at 4 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, like the “Black Friday Now” concept because it gives them more options to get good deals.

A sample of Sears “Black Friday Now” deals for this week include:
· 50 percent off (save $200) Craftsman® 302-piece mechanic’s tool sets
· $79.99 (reg. $259.99) 3/8 ct. tw. diamond stud earrings
· $174.19 (reg. $259.99) 7 1/2 ft. Wakefield Christmas tree with 700 Never OutTM clear or multi lights
· 50 percent off all DieHard workboots (reg. $75.00) and $19.99 (reg. $39.99) on all Covington low-shaft boots
· $399.99 closeout (reg. $699.99) ProForma XP elliptical 16-in stride length

All “Black Friday Now” events will occur on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon except for this week. Due to Halloween, doorbusters will start on Friday at 5 p.m. as a preview event through Saturday at noon.

Even if you are watching the World Series from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy recliner, you should dress up for the Phillies' date with destiny.

Phasionable phans can check out such goodies as a Ryan Howard jersey, priced at $114.99 and newly emblazoned with a World Series logo. It's sure to score a home run at game time.

Other goodies for your personal locker room:

A series pullover fleece for those cool nights at Citizens Park, %69.99

A women's National League Champions T-shirt in lipstick red, $24.99

And the Phillies bowler's bag, made by Concept One for the style-conscious miss, $27.99.

This fall, the coolest pets will be wearing Phillies uniforms. Word is Cutter's Mill on Route 70 in Cherry Hill is trying to get its mitts on the iconic red-and-white uniforms.

The online retailer Buycostumes.com first rolled out costumes for Fido and
Fluffy in 2003, offering 10 outfits. This year, the company is selling 95 costumes with 24 new disguises, including a Cave Dog costume, complete with wig.

"We also have Elvis, with a cape and cute little bell bottoms," said spokeswoman Katie Chiovatero, who said prices top out at about $30.

Petsmart already has marked its rapidly shrinking inventory down 50 percent, meaning you can dress your pooch as a pumpkin for a slim $7.47. (The Pirate costume, shown here, is $9.97).

In what the retailer says are the lowest prices of the fall, Penneys is cranking out bargains in extended hours, open until 10 tonight and from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.

Here are a few of the goodies:

The department store's own cotton bath towels, $4.99; Docker's pleated-front chinos for guys, $24.99; and Levi's jeans for him, $29.99.

Have a big family? You can stock up with a special buy-one, get one for 88 cents offer. That deal includes the entire stock of fashion jewelry, kids' boots, Ambrielle bras and other apparel.

There also are lots of good deals for kids. Moms and dads can indulge the little ones in Okie Doke coveralls, batted back from $12.99 to $5.99, and new jammies, all marked down 60 percent.

More than one-third (35.7%) said their budgets for free shipping are higher than last year.

“Retailers know that times are tough so they have created promotions and incentives to help Americans save money this holiday season,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org. “From free shipping to Facebook, online retailers are combining new initiatives with tried-and-true tactics to make their companies stand out.”

Online merchants are also compensating for the recession by trimming operations.

According to the survey, 41.4 percent have scaled back inventory and 22.9 percent have fewer staff in their stores.

In addition, the discounter is rolling out doorbusters that will be offered Wednesday only. A few random prices: women's Sonoma jeans, $16.99; Isotoner slippers, $12.99; and kids wool gloves, $3.49.

Also on Wednesday, a set of four Circle Reserve wine glasses will be reduced from $39.99 to $14.99. A Tablecraft three-gallon beverage dispenser, originally $49.99, is now $21.99.

To make those dollars go even further, from Wednesday through Oct. 27, shoppers will get $10 in Kohl's cash for every $50 they spend in the store and online.

This is the first year Macy's has decided to make gay pride part of its message, says Corliss Fong, vice president of diversity strategies.

When the chefs started picking pinot noirs I was delighted to see one of my faves, Terlato's 2007 Pinot Noir,  as one of the choices.

Making the grab was Eli, who cooked braised pork belly with carrot puree and raw celery and fennel as a play on mirepoix, a holy trinity of cooking that usually teams carrots, celery and onions.

Made in California's Russian River Valley, the wine is delightful, slightly acid yet fruity and flavorful with the aroma of raspberries and cherries and a hint of smoke. Although the Terlato pinot is very nice, the judges didn't think much of Eli's pairing. But he is still in the running and will live to pour another day.

If you decide to uncork a bottle at home, try it with roast pork, which is a good match with this lighter red. Expect to pay $50 and change for this special occasion wine.

Here is an Associated Press account:

A woman being driven around in a
rented limousine pulled up at a coat store and announced she'd
won the lottery and would pay for everyone's purchases, police
said, but she ended up causing a riot when customers realized
it was a hoax.

Angry customers threw merchandise around and looted, leaving
the store looking as though a hurricane had passed through it,
police said.

Linda Brown was arrested Tuesday after an hours-long
shopping spree that began when she hired a stretch Hummer
limousine to drop her off at a Burlington Coat Factory store,
police Sgt. Lt. Michael Deakins said. Brown walked to a cash
register and loudly announced she had won the lottery and would
pay for each person's merchandise up to $500, he said.

šWell, of course, people like to hear that,™ Deakins said.
šApparently they were in line calling relatives who were not at
the store and told them to come.™

People flooded the registers as cashiers began ringing up
purchase after purchase, but Brown had not yet paid the bill,
Deakins said. At least 500 people filled the aisles and another
1,000 were outside trying to get in, he said.

šShe was telling people she won $1.5 million,™ Deakins said.
šBut it ends up she didn't win anything. She had no money to
pay for anything.™

About an hour later, Brown had the limousine driver take her
to a bank to withdraw money, but she returned empty-handed,
police Detective Steven Nace said. By then, store employees had
called in two dozen police officers to handle the crowds.

Shopper Candace Jordan said she told Brown she didn't need
clothes, she needed help paying her rent.

šAnd she said, 'How much is it?™' Jordan told WBNS-TV. šAnd
she promptly wrote out a check.™

By the time employees realized Brown didn't have any cash to
pay, police said, she already had taken off in the limo.

That's when angry customers, realizing they weren't getting
free coats, began throwing merchandise on the floor and
grabbing clothes without paying for them, Nace said.

šEverybody was like, 'I still want my free stuff,' and that
started the riot,™ he said. šIt looks like (Hurricane) Katrina
went through the store.™

Police said they have no way of tracking down the customers
who stole items and fled, but they're reviewing surveillance
video.

When the limousine driver realized he wasn't going to be
paid the $900 Brown owed him for the day's rental, he turned
her in to police, Deakins said.

Brown, 44, was arrested on three outstanding warrants for
aggravated menacing, misuse of a 911 system and causing false
alarms. She was jailed late Wednesday, but no charges had been
filed against her related to the coat store chaos pending a
mental health evaluation.

Police said they didn't know if Brown had a lawyer.

There were will more retailers. But shoppers also can expect lots of other improvements.

More entertainment!

More restaurants!

And more restrooms!

The Baltimore-based developer, David Cordish, said the project could even include a bowling alley.

At a time when developers and retailers are both struggling, The Walk is getting a boost from the Casino Reinvestment Authority, which is providing a $9 million loan. The project price tag: $15 million.

So far, The Walk has been a slam dunk with consumers, generating sales of $500 per square foot, compared to the retail average of $311 per square foot.

But the ace hurler likes to dress with a dapper flair when he's not on the mound.

Martinez was recently spotted at Les Richards at Cherry Hill Mall, where he looked at high-end labels at prices even a fan can afford.

He left with a Merino knit shirt and a Kroon jacket (those hip blazers that have a contrasting tab on the lapel).

Boscov's is offering shoppers discounts on goods they can line their nests with, including an 11-piece bedding ensemble (including three decorative pillows) for a mere $89.97. Queen or king size.

Other deals on the homefront: 50 percent off the store's entire stock of blankets; Egyptian cotton bath towels, $3.99; and linen table cloths in a variety of sizes, with six to 10 napkins, $19.99.

Boscov's also is trotting out discounts on ladies boots. The buckled slouch-style Madden Girl Sabrina has been discounted to $59.99.

Of course, with Boscov's the deal is always a little sweeter. So, is there a coupon? There certainly is. Check out the latest circular and clip a coupon good for an additional 10 percent off.

It's a gift A.C. Moore, which just turned 24, is giving in partnership with Boys & Girls
Clubs of America, a national network of 4,300
neighborhood-based clubs serving more than 4.5 million young people.

"Crafting a Better World takes our community relations
efforts to the next level by adding an ambitious, new program
through which we will collaborate with our customers to make a
direct impact on the communities in which they live and work,"
says Rick Lepley, CEO of A.C. Moore. "Our
first Crafting a Better World partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of
America, is an ideal fit for our company with its emphasis on
kids, education and creativity. Our 133 stores will work with
their local chapter of that organization to help their
customers give back to their own community. As we move forward,
we look forward to partnerships with other non-profit
organizations throughout the regions we serve."

During the next five weeks, A.C. Moore stores
will host crafting parties for participants in local Boys
& Girls Clubs. During this same period, customers are
encouraged to drop off new or gently used craft supplies at
their local store.

Customers can also add $1 to their
bill at check out to donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of
America. A.C. Moore will donate an additional $500 to honor its store which raises the most money.

Bluecoat American Dry Gin is five times distilled in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America.

Robert Cassel, the craft distiller, uses organic juniper berries and American citrus peels and other natural botanicals.

Bluecoat (as opposed to the Brits' redcoats) is distilled in a custom-built, hand hammered copper pot still. Using true batch distillation, the process calls for extremely slow heating of the pot, which allows for maximum separation of alcohols.

The impurities are tossed, leaving only the purest, most flavorful spirits. Bluecoat Gin is veddy smooth and pleasantly invigorating.

Because this is a special gin, I would resist the temptation to use it in a cocktail. Serve on the rocks or with a splash of tonic. MSRP: $28.

In its 2009 holiday forecast, the NRF projected holiday retail industry sales to decline one percent this year to $437.6 billion.

While this number falls way below the 10-year average of 3.39 percent growth, the decline is not expected to be as dramatic as last year’s 3.4 percent plummet in sales.

“As the global economy continues to recover from the worst economic crisis most retailers have ever seen, Americans will focus primarily on practical gifts and shop on a budget this holiday season,” said NRF chief economist Rosalind Wells.

Though some hopeful signs of a recovery have begun to emerge, chiefly better-than-expected sales in August and momentum in the stock market, continued consumer uncertainty over jobs and housing values will take a toll on spending.

Consumers can expect more promotions in popular holiday categories. Clothes and electronics prices will likely cost less, due to dramatic sales.