SPEND THRIFT

Greetings, happy marchers, you have done us proud. What a difference a peaceful stroll makes. We've been transformed and there are at least 500,000 toasts of thanks to be raised. So get cracking before Wednesday's joyful reunion at Legco. Viva la revolution!

The best things in life are free, especially when those things are posh nosh and champers. The Mandarin Oriental is giving away a Dom Perignon dinner for four in the kitchen of its superb French/Asian restaurant, Vong. It's a bit mean of them not to provide a proper table, but you do get bubbly and there's no mention of dishwashing, so it's best not to complain. Visit www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong and click on dining news to enter. Oh, and if you win, make sure to wash the black T-shirt beforehand, the kitchen staff will appreciate it.

If you miss out on the fancy fare, you may choose to go out and get thoroughly smashed. Every Wednesday night Club 97 in Lan Kwai Fong holds For Those In The Know, an evening of free-flowing drinks for just $97.

Okay, I apologise - it's irresponsible of me to encourage reckless acts of alcoholic abandon so here's an idea for some 'brainfood' (if you can call Charlie's Angels and The Hulk intellectual fare). UA cinemas' brilliant meal deals continue with some recent additions. Basically, keep your cinema ticket for up to 31 days and enjoy a two-dine-for-the-price-of-one deal at various top-notch places around town. For example, at Cafe Einstein (33 Tong Chong Street, Quarry Bay, tel: 2960 0994) order one meal from the All Day All Night menu and receive a second of the same value free, every day, 6.30pm-11pm. Other participating restaurants include Post 97 in Lan Kwai Fong, Amaroni's Little Italy (Shop 3-4, G/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queens Road East, Wan Chai, tel: 2891 8855) and Lucky Joy restaurants in Sha Tin, Kowloon City and Causeway Bay. Menus and availability vary from outlet to outlet so visit www.cityline.com.hk and click Bon Appetit for details.

Speaking of Cafe Einstein, it offers Monday Movielounge - a cult film with free-flowing bar and unlimited tapas for $197. It's not on every week so phone ahead to be sure.

Xi, at the Miramar Hotel (1/F, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2315 5155), is offering a reasonable lunch deal. Do lunch there twice and get 50 per cent off the set lunch menu on your third visit. The menu, which includes soup, main, dessert and coffee/tea, is $138 plus 10 per cent, and includes an all-you-can-eat appetiser selection.

Meanwhile, the Great Eagle Hotel's Main Street Deli (8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2375-133 ext 7883) has introduced Canadian Canner lobster. The PR blurb says: 'These succulent crustaceans are smaller in size than regular lobsters and are caught only in the Gulf of St Lawrence in Canada. As the sea is warmer in this part of the Canadian coast, lobsters mature at a smaller size. ' So, for a taste, tuck into the lobster served in its shell with cocktail sauce and melted butter, with home made light rye for $108 plus 10 per cent.

Now, that's not a bad way to round off great week.