Pi Day is a big deal for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but for many of us it just means big deals.
Pi Day falls on Thursday, March 14 this year.
The holiday pays tribute to Pi, a Greek letter and what mathematicians call the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Its first three digits are 3.14.
Pi was first applied to the third month, 14th day of the year by a physicist at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988, according to NASA. U.S. Congress declared March 14 National Pi Day in 2009.
Pasadena’s JPL considers Pi Day to be filled with teachable moments and issues math students an annual challenge using the constant. This year’s mathematical problem involves a 15-second video of a cat chasing a laser that was beamed to Earth from deep space in December. Students are asked to calculate how NASA aimed the transmission.
Now for the delectable moments of Pi Day.
Many restaurants that sell circular foods, usually pizza parlors, have used the holiday as a promotion, often involving the price $3.14. Some restaurants that sell fruit pies also get into the act.
Here are some chains that have announced Pi Day deals this year in news releases, on their websites or in social media. Some of them require memberships, and there are usually limits and restrictions. Check the details before you commit.
Pizza deals
7-Eleven: 7Rewards members can get any large pizza for $3.14 on March 14. 7-eleven.com
BJ’s Restaurants & Brewhouse: Dine-in guests can get a mini one-topping pizza for $3.14 on March 14. bjsrestaurants.com
Blaze Pizza: 11-inch pizzas will sell for $3.14 at participating U.S. locations, one per customer on March 14. The offer is good in-restaurant only. fire.blazepizza.com/2024-pi-day
Mountain Mike’s Pizza: Customers can get a free mini pizza with the purchase of a 20-ounce bottled beverage on March 14 on the chain’s app. mountainmikespizza.com
North Italia: On March 14, the chain will debut The Cure at participating locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties. It’s made with such ingredients as guanciale pork, potato, fontina cheese and potatoes and will be available through April 10. Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto will be available nationwide. North Italia will also hold a sweepstakes for a five-night trip to Italy. People who order online between March 14 and April 10 will be automatically entered. More conditions are explained on the chain’s website. northitalia.com
Pieology: Pies and Perks members will receive two free perks with a Craft Your Own Pizza or Calzone purchase. pieology.com
Pitfire Pizza: Mini Margherita Pizzas will go for for $3.14 until 3:14 p.m. on March 14. The offer is dine-in only but includes a Vegan Margherita Pizza. pitfirepizza.com
Round Table Pizza: Royal Rewards members can get a personal cheese pizza for $3.14 with the purchase of a large or XL pizza on Pi Day. New members must sign up before March 14. roundtablepizza.com
Speedway: Speedy Rewards members any large pizza for $3.14 on March 14. speedway.com
Dessert deals
Polly’s Pies: Customers can receive a free slice of pie with any entrée purchase on March 14, and Polly’s Perks members can get the free slice without purchasing an entrée. www.pollyspies.com