I was pleasantly surprised to learn recently that kids eat free at Kona (www.konabistro.com) every day from 5-6 p.m. Always in search of a bargain, I'm hoping that others who read this post will help add to the Kids Eat Free list.
Here's one other place that I know of: at the Golden Dragon Chinese Buffet in Hamilton (take Main St. to the Goodwill/JoAnn Fabrics shopping center, on the left, before you hit downtown Hamilton), kids under 3 eat free; ages 3-6 are $2.35 for lunch/$3.75 for dinner; kids from 7-11 are $3.85 lunch/$4.75 dinner. (Adults are $5.69 lunch/$8.89 dinner, but it's a bit pricier on weekends).
I think kids might also eat free at the Skyline Chili and the China One in Oxford, and possibly at the Golden Corral in Hamilton, but I haven't had a chance to do any research on those places yet. If you have any info, please let me know. Thanks!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Lunar Mini Golf
The kids and I were looking for a way to kill a Saturday afternoon while Rich was away at a conference, so we wound up at the Cincinnati Mills Mall, where we haven't been in ages. It's a little disconcerting to see that so many of the stores there are now empty. Still, it's a fun place for little ones to burn off some energy indoors. There's a PBS Kids playground, which is good for 20-30 minutes of jumping around. The big draw, of course, is the Wonder Park, a Chuckie Cheese-like place with pizza, tons of video games (most of which cost at least 50 cents to play), and kiddie rides that range from $1 to $3.
But what really got the boys excited this time was Lunar Mini Golf. Right next to the Wonder Park, we discovered an indoor mini-golf course that offered so many things my boys enjoy: sticks, balls, and stuff that glows in the dark. The indoor course isn't fancy -- there aren't windmills or hippos bathing in waterfalls -- but there are two courses with 18 holes each that are challenging but not too frustrating for children. The gimmick is that the entire operation takes place in the dark, except for blacklights that set off the fluorescent course in an otherworldly sort of way. (In fact, SH thought we were playing "Alien Hockey").
Kids 5 and younger can play up to three rounds for only $3 (the man behind the counter let SS, age 2, "play" for free). Kids 6-12 pay $6 and adults pay $8, but there's no requirement that the adult has to play. SH, SS and I spent a really fun hour knocking little glowing golf balls around, all for three bucks. I highly recommend it.
What: Lunar Mini Golf
Where: Cincinnati Mills Mall. Take 27 to I-275 E. toward Dayton. Take the Winton Rd. Exit, #39. Turn left. The mall will be on the right. Takes about 40 minutes from Oxford.
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
But what really got the boys excited this time was Lunar Mini Golf. Right next to the Wonder Park, we discovered an indoor mini-golf course that offered so many things my boys enjoy: sticks, balls, and stuff that glows in the dark. The indoor course isn't fancy -- there aren't windmills or hippos bathing in waterfalls -- but there are two courses with 18 holes each that are challenging but not too frustrating for children. The gimmick is that the entire operation takes place in the dark, except for blacklights that set off the fluorescent course in an otherworldly sort of way. (In fact, SH thought we were playing "Alien Hockey").
Kids 5 and younger can play up to three rounds for only $3 (the man behind the counter let SS, age 2, "play" for free). Kids 6-12 pay $6 and adults pay $8, but there's no requirement that the adult has to play. SH, SS and I spent a really fun hour knocking little glowing golf balls around, all for three bucks. I highly recommend it.
What: Lunar Mini Golf
Where: Cincinnati Mills Mall. Take 27 to I-275 E. toward Dayton. Take the Winton Rd. Exit, #39. Turn left. The mall will be on the right. Takes about 40 minutes from Oxford.
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
*Holiday Drive-In Movie Theater*
I can still remember the first time I went to a drive-in movie: The Muppets Take Manhattan. I still think it's genius. There is food, and often multiple movies, merged with the joy of being under the stars. As a mom, the really appealing part is that I don't have to worry about ruining the movie experience for someone else when one of my kids gets cranky.
So we were ecstatic to discover the Holiday Auto Drive-In Theater in Hamilton. http://www.holidayautotheatre.com/
It is actually about 2 minutes from Hanover park, so it is maybe 20 minutes from Oxford. We have been twice, once with the kids and once on a date. We dream of going every time we get our e-mail update about what's playing, though! They were both great experiences. The coolest thing was the intermission snack commercials between the movies, complete with classic cartoons. We felt like we were blasted into the past as the singing hotdog did a song and dance on how "weiners" will fix friendships and make everyone happy...wouldn't you like to have a weiner?
The Drive-in just went under new ownership that has started "Retro Wednesday and Thursdays." These are school nights, so we are eagerly awaiting summertime. A good example of retro night was when they did John Hughes and showed "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Breakfast Club." They've also had Alfred Hitcock and other cool movies. RETRO prices are only $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for kids ages 4-11, and free for kids under 4. Box office opens at 6pm with a 700pm showtime.
The new ownership has also been doing more triple features on weekends, which is cool. During the winter, they are only open daily until Jan. 1st. Last year they closed for the cold months, and reopened in the spring. I would check out the website to see what's going on!
Admission Prices...Adults: $8.00, Children under 11: $5.00, Children under 4: FREE!
The only down-side, is that the movies run late (8pm-Mid, or 1am). So, if you think you're kids will sleep in the car, you'll have it made. Ours didn't which is why we don't go as much as we'd like to.
Tips: Bring lawnchairs if it's warm out! And they have Wi-Fi, so you can bring your laptop and get high speed. You can buy an outside food permit, to allow you to bring your own food (it's $5.00), but otherwise outside food will get you thrown out. I would arrive early on nice, summer, weekends. We've been past on nice summer nights and the traffic was aweful.
***Sign-up for their e-mail list and you'll get weekly updates on what is playing and all their special events.
Directions: Take 27 south, out of Oxford. Turn left at the second (out of town) light, Old Oxford Road. This will take you past Hanover park and the water company. The Drive-in is on your left (2-3 minutes past Hanover park).
So we were ecstatic to discover the Holiday Auto Drive-In Theater in Hamilton. http://www.holidayautotheatre.com/
It is actually about 2 minutes from Hanover park, so it is maybe 20 minutes from Oxford. We have been twice, once with the kids and once on a date. We dream of going every time we get our e-mail update about what's playing, though! They were both great experiences. The coolest thing was the intermission snack commercials between the movies, complete with classic cartoons. We felt like we were blasted into the past as the singing hotdog did a song and dance on how "weiners" will fix friendships and make everyone happy...wouldn't you like to have a weiner?
The Drive-in just went under new ownership that has started "Retro Wednesday and Thursdays." These are school nights, so we are eagerly awaiting summertime. A good example of retro night was when they did John Hughes and showed "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Breakfast Club." They've also had Alfred Hitcock and other cool movies. RETRO prices are only $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for kids ages 4-11, and free for kids under 4. Box office opens at 6pm with a 700pm showtime.
The new ownership has also been doing more triple features on weekends, which is cool. During the winter, they are only open daily until Jan. 1st. Last year they closed for the cold months, and reopened in the spring. I would check out the website to see what's going on!
Admission Prices...Adults: $8.00, Children under 11: $5.00, Children under 4: FREE!
The only down-side, is that the movies run late (8pm-Mid, or 1am). So, if you think you're kids will sleep in the car, you'll have it made. Ours didn't which is why we don't go as much as we'd like to.
Tips: Bring lawnchairs if it's warm out! And they have Wi-Fi, so you can bring your laptop and get high speed. You can buy an outside food permit, to allow you to bring your own food (it's $5.00), but otherwise outside food will get you thrown out. I would arrive early on nice, summer, weekends. We've been past on nice summer nights and the traffic was aweful.
***Sign-up for their e-mail list and you'll get weekly updates on what is playing and all their special events.
Directions: Take 27 south, out of Oxford. Turn left at the second (out of town) light, Old Oxford Road. This will take you past Hanover park and the water company. The Drive-in is on your left (2-3 minutes past Hanover park).
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