I was sad to hear that the perennially cheerful Betsey Johnson is going out of business. Right now, clothes, jewelry, handbags, and shoes are 20-50 percent off. The markdowns are expected to last until the merchandise is gone. Find Betsey Johnson locations here.

Gently priced designer duds, new and vintage-inspired jewelry, and home accessories abound at Ensemble, a recently opened boutique that includes a mix of new and consigned items. On a recent visit, consigned pieces included bright, springy dresses by David Meister and Lilly Pulitzer; a stunning Burberry runway dress and a couple of Armani suits; and Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs bags. (Prices for consigned items are generally one-quarter to one-third of retail.) New items include covetable handmade leather cuffs ($30), $20-earrings and scarves, and a range of home items (check out the iron mermaids). Ensemble is at 62 Salem St., Boston, 617-455-8711.

Online shop Cardigan by Lynne Hiriak has select sweaters marked down 40 percent through Sunday. Save on the store's Serge, Bruno, and Sebastian styles with the checkout code "sergemesergeme". The cardigans are merino wool, but cool enough to wear on summer evenings. Free ground shipping on these styles, too.

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston holds its annual Spring Sidewalk Sale Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hundreds of pieces including ceramics, photographs, screen prints, jewelry, handmade cards, and more will be on offer at prices starting at around $5. A portion of the proceeds will go to Mobius, a Cambridge nonprofit supporting experimental art. The sale happens on the sidewalk along Museum Road, between the school and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (In case of rain, it will be held indoors at the school, at 230 The Fenway, Boston.) Find more details here.

Marathon Sports is running a Mother’s Day sale this week through Sunday, with full-price women’s apparel marked down 20 percent. Tights, shirts, shorts, bras, and underwear from brands including Saucony, Brooks, The North Face, and Nike will be on offer. Store locations include 671 Boylston St., Boston, 617-267-4774; 1654 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-4161; and 255 Washington St., Wellesley, 781-237-0771. Find others at here.

Patch NYC is taking 20 percent off jewelry and scarves from its own line through Sunday. Finds include intricately crafted earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings and stylish, mixed-pattern scarves. Shop the sale in-store at The Courtyard at 46 Waltham St. (corner of Washington St.), Boston, 917-292-2640, or online here.

If you're still wondering what to get mom for Mother's Day, you might do well to get advice straight from the source. Plum District, a flash-sale site powered by moms around the country who scout out good deals, has discounts of up to 80 percent on everything from jewelry and beauty products to kids' decor to artisan wine and vacation packages. Deals running right now include a 16-by-20 canvas print of a favorite photo for $27 (normally $87), and an 8-piece mineral makeup set from Bellapierre for $29 (worth $150). Deals last up to 6 days.

KitchenWares by Blackstones is running a spring cleaning sale, with select items marked down up to 50 percent. Viking electric items are up to 40 percent off, and the Breville Keurig coffee maker and Breville toaster oven are now $199.99 (normally $249.99), to name a few specifics. KitchenWares by Blackstones is at 215 Newbury St., Boston, 857-366-4237.

Wondering what the CrossFit craze is all about? You can try it out for free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at CambridgeSide Galleria. We're told it'll be an unintimidating introduction to the exercise, and that there will even be some extras including 25 percent off a GapBody Fit purchase and gift bags for the first 100 people to check in (at Event Registration in the Level 1 food court.) Learn more about the event here. RSVP at csginfo@nedevelopment.com.

Dozens of salons in and outside of Boston will offer be trimming tresses for a minimum $40 donation as part of the third HAIRraising Cut-a-thon to benefit Children’s Hospital Boston. (Find a complete list here; book soon, as appointments are filling up fast.) We’re told the Patriots cheerleaders will be at some of the participating Dellaria locations, while the Celtics dancers might make an appearance at Mario Russo's Newbury Street salon. Some salons may request a higher minimum donation; all the money benefits the hospital. Find more information here.

Beverly Hills-based jewelry website Art On A Wire has nearly all of its pieces marked down 35 percent through May 1st. (Perhaps a present for mom?) The sophisticated yet playful necklaces, earrings, rings, and leather cuffs are each handmade by jewelry artist J. Aston. The “Feisty in Pink” cuff is marked down 50 percent, with 30 percent of sales going to breast cancer research. Items without a price (for example, the “Long Tail Lolita” and “I Hear Paris” earrings) require you to choose a metal (e.g., 14-karat gold, gold vermeil, or silver); the artist will refund 35 percent of the purchase price on these, also through May 1st.

If you're in the market for some jewelry, here's a sale to hit: DIVA in Newtonville will have thousands of designer contemporary, vintage, antique, and estate pieces from the world over marked down 15-25 percent starting this Friday. The selection spans a wide range of tastes and price points (anywhere from around $11 to several thousand dollars). The selection will be continuously refreshed throughout the sale, which ends April 29th. DIVA is at 331 Walnut St., Newtonville, 617-916-2063.

It may be off-season, but it is Patriots' Day -- and a good time to pick up a new piece of Pats wear. The Patriots ProShop website has most apparel and gifts at 20 percent off through tomorrow. Shirts, caps, photo frames, novelty items (like the toaster, at left). Use the code "Save2012" at checkout.

Tess & Carlos has a wide range of winter and past-season merchandise marked down 50-75 percent at its Newton and Cambridge stores through the end of the month. The Cambridge store has stylish tunics and shirt dresses from CP Shades, Johnny Was, and Biya and covetable cashmere sweaters and vests from Italian labels Biella Collezioni and Incentive by Sasa Cashmere, among other finds. Both stores also have sale shoes and men’s clothing; find Modern Vintage, Jil Sander, C.P. Company, and others. Tess & Carlos is at 1229 Centre St., Newton, 617-965-8377 and 20 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-864-8377.

Cape Clogs is offering a special price on its Zinnia clogs (at left) and donating 50 percent of sales to Hope in Bloom, a nonprofit that plants gardens for Massachusetts women and men undergoing breast cancer treatment. Through May 31st, the clogs, normally $87, are $50, including shipping and handling. Learn more here; purchase here.

Though designer Cibeline Sariano closed her namesake Beacon Hill boutique in January, she is still running her occasional trunk show sales, including one happening on Thursday. Dresses, jackets, pants, and skirts will be on offer for $100 each; tops and accessories will sell for $20-$60. Brands include Lilla P, Saint James, Mystree, and others, along with some of Sariano’s own creations. (Clothing available in sizes extra small through extra large.) Guys can get measured for custom shirts, pants, sport coats, and suits from J. Hilburn, the men’s line Sariano serves as a style consultant for; first time clients get $20 off orders of $100 or more. The event happens from noon to 9 p.m. at The Liberty Hotel’s Ebersol Presidential Suite (16th floor), 215 Charles St., Boston.

Former South Boston vintage Maude Mango will be resurrected Thursday evening for a pop-up store at Habit. Count on lots of stylish and fun clothing and accessories from Maude Mango proprietress Maureen Dahill, now a Rue La La stylist and co-founder of the "Caught in Southie" blog. As a big bonus, Habit will have its own pieces marked down 20 percent for the evening; find BB Dakota, Jack, Hudson, James Jeans, and others. The fun happens from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; RSVP at habitshop@gmail.com. Habit is at 703 East Broadway, South Boston, 617-269-1998.

Dress has a modest but well-curated selection of Spring 2012 pieces from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Vanessa Bruno, and others marked down 30-40 percent. We especially liked a small pony hair zip bag from 3.1 Phillip Lim ($375, originally $625) and a springy, silk faux wrap dress from Yumi Kim ($136, originally $194). Past-season clothes and accessories are marked down more steeply. The sale will run while the selection lasts; no end date has been set. Dress is at 221 Newbury St., Boston, 617-424-7125.

Here's a site to bookmark for covetable and affordable bags, wallets, briefcases, and other leather goods: roztayger features a carefully chosen selection from ro, Orla Kiely, 49 Square Miles, Bill Amberg, and others, along with a constantly rotating sale selection of items marked down 50-70 percent. On now are Orla Kiely laptop cases, reversible backpacks from ro, and felt zip cases from Graf & Lantz, among other finds.

Acquire in the North End has select furniture and accessories marked down 50 percent as part of its semi-annual sale. Find vintage tables, settees, and wall art and modern tables, stools, and ottomans. Apothecary items including soaps, candles, and room sprays are also discounted. The sale is expected to end around April 6th. Acquire is at 61 Salem St., Boston, 857-362-7380.

Here’s an added incentive to change up your look for spring: A number of salons will be offering half-price cuts and other services this Sunday through next Saturday (April 1st through 7th) as part of the first Salon Week. A few of the deals include a full Keratin treatment for $175 at Studio 9 (9 Newbury St., 7th floor, Boston, 617-267-9990); a custom haircut and blowdry styling with Marc Harris, Salon Week co-founder, for $100 at his salon (115 Newbury St., Boston, 617-262-2222); and a single-process color starting at $37.50 for first-time clients at Tęte-ŕ-Tęte Salon (765 Beacon St., Newton, 617-559-0660). Find more participants and deals at here. Mention “salon week” when you book.

Lekker Home is running a “spring break” sale on upholstery and floor models through April 15th. All new and special-order upholstery from Marie’s Corner and John Derian is 20 percent off, including sofas, chairs, benches, and ottomans. Floor models including tables, benches, chairs, sofas, sideboards, and more from Central Station Interiors, Ethnicraft, and others are 30 percent off. Lekker Home is at 1317 Washington St., Boston, 617-542-6464. Shop the upholstery sale online here; use the code “springbreak.”

[Pictured: Jackson chair by Marie's Corner]

Stellabella Toys is running its semiannual sale through Sunday. Games, dolls, builder kits, art supplies, puppets, and more are marked down 20 percent. (Lego, Playmobil, Stokke, and Ergo items excluded.) Sale is in-store only; find locations here.

Downtown menswear store Cuffs & Collars has markdowns on select clothing and accessories through the end of the month. Shirts are 20 percent off (30 percent off if you buy two or more); ties are $20 off; outerwear is 15 percent off; and cufflinks are 10 percent off. The store’s predominately Italian-made selection includes elegant dress shirts, silk ties, and other sophisticated pieces. Cuffs & Collars is at 9 Water St., Boston, 617-720-2833.

Harvard Square celebrates St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow with lots of holiday-themed specials and discounts. First Printer, Finale, Grafton Street, Sweet, and others will have special menus or treats; Follow The Honey will take 10 percent off its goldenrod “honey on tap” (Friday through Sunday); The Maharaja will take 25 percent off lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday when you print out and present the St. Patrick’s Day invitation from its website. See the full list here. After the festivities are over, TisTik will offer 10 percent off to celebrate spring and give a 20 percent coupon toward your next purchase.