Sure, popcorn is great – but savoring a nice meal while you enjoy a fun flick is even better!

Enjoying a sit-down dinner and a movie is something everyone should experience.

When you visit the Northwood Cinema Grill, you’ll enjoy a one-of-kind movie experience, highlighted by a tasty meal that you order from a menu. (No need to stand in a long line at the concession stand. A friendly waiter or waitress will bring your food to you!)

There’s something for everyone on the menu, including tasty appetizers (potato skins and nachos), salads, pizzas and kids’ meals (chicken fingers and cheeseburgers). Main entrees, or “Feature Presentation” selections, include things like Chicken Parmesan, a Mushroom Swiss Burger, and a BBQ Chicken Finger Wrap. Desserts (caramel apple cheesecake, anyone?) and drinks (soft drinks, beer and wine) round out the menu.

You’ll enjoy your movie and meal while sitting in comfortable swivel chairs situated around small tables. The spacious dining-room type environment is a welcome change to traditional theater-style seating.

The table layout is a welcome change from the typical theatre-style seating at a movie.

If you’re looking for a fun dinner-and-movie experience, you’ll definitely want to visit the Northwood Cinema Grill. Purchase tickets directly at the box office. (On weekends, it’s a good idea to arrive at least 30 minutes before show time.) The cost for evening movies is $8 per person. Matinees (shows starting before 6 p.m.) are $6. Tickets for children (ages 3 to 10) and seniors (55 and older) are $6, as well. Cinema Grill, located in the Northwood Shopping Plaza at the corner of Stellhorn and Maplecrest, accepts all major credit cards, both at the box office and inside the theater.

• 

Whether it’s a date night with your significant other, or a day out with the family, mini golf provides the perfect budget-friendly outing. From a glow-in-the-dark game, to outdoor courses that test your skill and patience, Fort Wayne offers more than a handful of mini golf options. Play your next round at one of these local favorites.

Take to the greens at The Plex South!

• The Plex South. Travel southwest to The Plex South for an indoor mini golf game. This 18-hole course features water hazards, a rough and even angled slides. The Plex South also offers video games and a concession stand. For those age 11 and up, it’s $5.50 per round. Children age four to 10 play for $4 per round. Children under age 3 play for free! The Plex South is located at 5702 Engle Road. For detailed information on rates and hours go online.

• Putt-Putt Fun Center of Fort Wayne. This course offers three options — the Jungle Course, Pro Course or the Volcano Course, each showcasing their own unique obstacles. In addition to mini golf, Putt-Putt has go-karts and an arcade. Keep an eye on the colored lights at the clubhouse during your play for a chance to win prizes! Prices start at $6 for one course, or $10 for to play all three courses. Putt-Putt Fun Center is located on the north side, at 4530 Speedway Drive. For information on specials go online.

Enjoy Crazy Pinz Mini Golf at Shankz

• Shankz Glo Mini Golf. The Crazy Pinz facility is not only known for bowling. Check out the glow-in-the-dark mini golf course inside which features brightly painted decor! Prices are $4.95 for 9 holes, or $6.95 for 18 holes. Crazy Pinz is located on the north side at 1414 Northland Blvd. For detailed information on Shankz Glo Mini Golf visit Crazy Pinz online.

• Back Nine Family Fun Center. Test your skill at this completely outdoor course. Here you can play 18 holes for only $4. Children under age five can play for $2. Arcade games, a driving range and batting cages are also offered! Back Nine Family Fun Center is located on the north side at 9116 Lima Road. For more information call 260.489.7499.

• GlowGolf. Conveniently located inside Glenbrook Mall, this glow-in-the-dark course is a great option for larger groups, where more players mean more savings! Adults play for $8 each. Children ages five to 12 play for $6 each, and children age four and under play for $3 each. For information on group deals visit GlowGolf online. GlowGolf is located on the mall’s lower level, at 4201 Coldwater Road.

• 

Be a Tourist on Sun, September 11th!

On Sunday, September 11th from 12 – 5 pm you can Be a Tourist In Your Own Hometown FOR FREE!

Simply pick up a FREE passport at any Fort Wayne Scott’s or Kroger location (or download one here) and you can enjoy FREE admission to 12 of Fort Wayne’s museums and attractions, including:

African/African-American Historical Museum

Pick up your passport at any Fort Wayne Scott's or Kroger location

Allen County Courthouse

Artlink

Botanical Conservatory

Embassy Threare

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

History Center

Historic Fort Wayne

Parkview Field

Science Central

The Lincoln Tower

Historic Swinney Homestead

Learn more online or call the Visitors Center at 1-800-767-7752 for more information!

• 

Joseph Decuis, located just 15 miles south of Fort Wayne in Roanoke, returns guests to the days of fresh, home cooked meals made with local ingredients. This “farm-to-fork” approach is a gastronomical treat for anyone looking for an alternative to mass produced, on-the-go dining.

Joseph Decuis offers a restaurant, emporium and inn all on site. I suggest checking out the Four Diamond restaurant for the full dining experience. In December 2010 Joseph Decuis was named one of the top 50 restaurants in the United States based upon customer reviews by OpenTable.

Watch the master chefs at work at Joseph Decuis

The menu boasts seasonal dishes with ingredients raised on their farm and other local farms, artistically prepared by talented chefs. Their Wagyu beef is a delicacy. Joseph Decuis is the only restaurant in the United States raising Wagyu beef, employing the all-natural, humane Japanese husbandry practices taught by the legendary Wagyu farmer, Mr. Shogo Takeda. Entrees range from $22 to $40.

The scenery is just as enjoyable as the food. The heart of the restaurant is housed in an old bank building. This historical landscape conjures up feelings of simpler times. No doubt you’ll enjoy a fine meal, superb service in a unique atmosphere.

Reservations are encouraged.  To book your reservation, click here to choose from available seating times, or call them at (260)-672-1715. Dinner Hours are 5:30 to 10pm, Monday thru Saturday.

• 

Oh, the perks of being an intern! I recently got to interview three of Fort Wayne’s most notorious celebrities  . . . the members of the Fort Wayne TinCaps Bad Apple Dance Crew. This is the first of three insightful interviews. Click here to read the other posts in this series.

Brad "B-Rad" Shank

1. What motivated you to become a member of the Bad Apple Dance Crew?

I always got bored just dragging the infield, and it wasn’t entertaining for the fans, so why not dance and get the crowd going?  My extensive experience going all the way back to my mom making me take ballroom dancing as a kid just made it a natural transition.

2. Who inspires you as a dancer?

Michael Jackson, Usher, Justin Timberlake, James Brown, Lady Gaga, Carlton from the Fresh Prince—I find inspiration in a lot of places. Tyler wouldn’t admit it, but his inspiration all comes from Justin Bieber and Jaden Smith.

3. What is your favorite song and dance routine to perform at TinCaps Games?

Poker Face is a good one, and the players doing that with us for the last regular season game in 2009 was great!  I love the crowd getting into it, and their favorite is probably “Party in the USA!”  So many to choose from though and you can check them all out if you’d like ( http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTincaps)!

4. Finish the following statement: My dance style most closely resembles ______________.

Vanilla Ice.  He was all about the short high energy dance moves, which is pretty much every dance for us.  Now I just need that hairstyle…

5. What is one song you would like to create a dance for that has not yet been used?

“Pump Up The Jam”

6. On average, how many hours a week do you spend fine-tuning your dance skills?

Usually about 20 minutes on a game day.  The sad part is that I can’t listen to the radio or hear songs without thinking if they would work for us to dance to—that’s constant.

7. Do you dance outside of Bad Apple Dancer performances and practices?

On occasion when I’m out and about and at wedding receptions and things like that.  Otherwise I try to lay low.  I don’t want to get challenged to a dance off or anything, because there are no winners in that situation!

8. What is your signature dance move? (And please describe)

It would have to be shaking the booty, and there are a few variations.  I can work the swivel, the side to side and the circle.  Sometimes even the rare combination of all the three at the same time.  It’s mind blowing!

9. Do you have aspirations of taking your show on the road?

I’ve always joked that it would be fun to be a national entertainer, so I wouldn’t be opposed to it.  I think as of yet the farthest we’ve taken our show on the road is across the street to the Grand Wayne Center for the Brain Game.

10. What words of advice do have for fans or co-workers who aspire to be in the Bad Apple Dance Crew?

For co-workers, just ask and you could be the next guest dancer.  For the fans, make sure to pay attention next season as there will be an opportunity through a charity function to bid on the opportunity to be a Bad Apple Dancer for one game.

Catch the Bad Apple Dancers in action at their few remaining home games this season!

•