Grand Opening of Clark Commons @AppleBees Neighborhood Grill & Bar! #New #NJ #Foodie

Grand Opening of Clark Commons Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar! New Clark Commons Restaurant Features Community Theme and Outdoor Patio with Bar

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Our family is always on the run which means we are constantly searching for dining options along the way. Since we are a family of five we look for something that is not going to break the bank and somewhere where everyone in the family is satisfied. For the longest time Applebee’s comes up whenever we are in the choosing process. Recently we were invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony at the newest New Jersey Applebee’s in Clark Commons! It was a honor for us to be among the first diners following the grand opening! Clark Commons is located at 1255 Raritan Road in Clark, NJ and very easy to find! At the grand opening event we were thrilled to meet the one and only “Apple” and “Bee” who were there to  greet guests and take photos with kids. They even made their way over to our table. That was a first for us and quite entertaining!

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Whatever Applebee’s you enter, you can get a sense of the people that make up that particular community. The new Applebee’s  features a community-themed look that focuses on education, non-profit organizations and first responders in the Clark area, with wall decor consisting of photos from local high schools and youth sports programs, emergency responders and community groups. Some of the local schools and organizations to be featured include Arthur L. Johnson High School, Mother Seton Regional High School, Union County Vocational Technical High School, Rahway High School, Clark Little League, Clark Girls Softball League, Clark Pop Warner, Clark Recreation Youth Sports, Clark Historical Society, Boy Scouts Troop 145 and the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA.

“We’re very happy to announce the opening of our new Applebee’s in Clark,” said Kevin Coughlin, director of operations, Applebee’s New Jersey. “The restaurant will feature the brand’s evolved look – inside and outside the restaurant – along with its elevated flavor profile, so we’re confident the people in and around Clark will enjoy dining at Applebee’s in Clark Commons. We look forward to serving, meeting and supporting the people and organizations in the community.”

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Something our family has not seen before is the newest addition to Applebee’s we had the chance to see at the Clark Commons.   This location features a 680 square-foot brickyard outdoor patio, which will be heated and features a fire pit for outdoor seating all year round, along with an indoor and outdoor bar serving a variety of specialty drinks and beers ranging from neighborhood favorites to craft brews on its 22 tap handles. Additional features include 24 flat panel TV screens – 18 inside and 6 outside – for guests to cheer on their favorite sports teams. This is definitely a place to gather with family and friends over and over again!

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We were happy to find out about a great deal going on at Applebee’s! To beat the summer heat, guests can enjoy Sangria specials all day every Wednesday throughout the summer. The special includes $5 Summer Sangrias by the glass and $10 Summer Sangria pitchers, available in Berry, White Peach, and Red Apple. Bring it on!!

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There is also an awesome deal on appetizers! They are being offered for half-price, Monday – Friday, from 3 -6 PM in the bar areas starting July 27 – Dec. 1. Yum! You can taste them all! It is always so hard to choose with our family we end up getting a few and sharing. So if you are in the mood for delicious dining choices, desserts, or sharing drinks with friends, Applebee’s has you covered! See you at the new Applebee’s Clark Commons! Now Open!

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan was extended a media invitation to experience the new Applebee’s Clark Commons. No compensation was given for this post. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and completely honest. Contact me at 3decades3kids@gmail.com or Diane@3decades3kids.net and everywhere else as @3decades3kids.

#Giveaway @SesamePlace Celebrates Their 35th Birthday and You Are Invited to Join the Fun!

Giveaway- Sesame Place Celebrates Their 35th Birthday and You Are Invited to Join the Fun! Win a Family 4Pack of Tickets For Your Family! Plus-FREE Admission if you were born in 1980!

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This year is a super special year for Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa. They are  celebrating their 35th birthday! The good news for everyone is that the party is lasting all season long! The big party is featuring fun and festive birthday decorations and a fantastic new Neighborhood Birthday Party Parade. For the first time ever, the park is decorated for the celebration with bright balloons and garland, a giant, inflatable birthday cake, and a line of life-sized candles all the way down the Sesame Neighborhood. New character photo spots will be stationed throughout the park and the adorable Sesame Street character topiaries will be outfitted in their birthday best!

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From now through August 24th all Season Pass Members Bring A Friend for $10! Season Pass Members will be able to purchase $10 friend tickets through the Season Pass Member website.

From now- August 2nd  there is going to be a HUGE Birthday Celebration!! You can be a part of the  35th Birthday Celebration Week! Guests are invited to help Sesame Place celebrate our 35th birthday on July 30- Aug 2nd all week long with special events and birthday promotions!

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Total perk for anyone born in 1980!! FREE Admission if you were born in 1980! Guests who were born in 1980 can get FREE ADMISSION to Sesame Place between Monday, July 27th and Sunday, August 2nd .

 

Sesame Place will be offering special birthday promotions all week long on food and merchandise. Guests can save up to 50% on select merchandise at the 35th Birthday kiosk located outside of the Front Gate. Items include vintage logo t-shirts, swimwear and more!  Everyone who purchases a kid’s meal at Elmo’s Eatery, Cookie’s Café or Captain Ernie’s Bistro will enjoy a FREE cupcake!  Season Pass Members can save 35% on meals and snacks at the park all week long.

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Local artist, Holly Scott, will create a 3D chalk art based on our giant, inflatable 35th birthday cake on Monday, July 27th. Guests will be able to watch Holly create this work of art and take photos once the artwork is complete. The 3D chalk art will be located in the viewing area near Super Grover’s Vapor Trail roller coaster.

 

Giveaway: Win a 4pack of day passes and join the birthday fun at Sesame Place! Enter below on rafflecopter. Winner will be chosen August 5th at 11:59pm and notified by email on August 6th. Winner has 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Tickets are delivered through e-ticket from Sesame Place. Please have all four names ready for tickets when answering winning email. 18+/USA. No food/parking/transportation or any extras included. The prize is four single day tickets.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan is a Sesame Place Ambassador Blogger. All opinions are honest and my own. No compensation was given for this post. Family passes are provided as part of the ambassador program. Contact me at 3decades3kids@gmail.com and everywhere else as @3decades3kids.

#Giveaway Field Station: Dinosaurs 2015 season will be the last at Secaucus location

Giveaway: Win A 4pack of Tickets to Field Station: Dinosaurs
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Once place our family has enjoyed visiting over and over during the past few years has been Field Station Dinosaurs! We have been there for birthday parties, class trips, blogger events, and just to visit with our family and friends. It’s a great place for everyone to feel like they have been transported back to the dinosaur days! Field Station: Dinosaurs has announced that their 2015 season will be the last at their current Secaucus location.  This is the summer to visit and re-visit these life-size, ultra-realistic animatronic dinosaurs that respond to your presence with their movements and sound.  See what it’s like to walk among Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor and even the massive, 90-foot long Argentinosaurus.  Discover the sciences of paleontology and geology through fun games, exciting activities, special events and engaging films that educate us about dinosaurs and their impact on our world today. 

[Read more…]

#Giveaway The Knight Train Brought to you by New Jersey Renaissance Faire & The Delaware River Railroad Excursions

Giveaway!! The Knight Train Brought to you by  New Jersey Renaissance Faire & The Delaware River Railroad Excursions

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This August 22nd and 21st there is only one place to be! Brought to you by the folks at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire & The Delaware River Railroad Excursions. Prepare yourself for a full day of family fun and adventure on the Knight Train. Immerse yourself in the fully interactive world of the Knight Train. Enjoy the Renaissance Faire on the station grounds complete with acts and entertainment as well as food and merchandise vendors. Enjoy the different acts, vendors and entertainment throughout the day, before and after your train ride back in time.

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The real magic happens when you journey back in time to the King Arthur’s Tournament of Champions at the ruins of Kilns Castle. Each train car will have it’s very own Knight and Squire to escort you to the tournament. BEWARE, the tournament may awaken the evil sprit rumored to inhabit the ruins of the castle and disrupt the tournament! Will this be the year? Come cheer on your champions at the ruins and if the evil spirit makes her move, lets hope that Merlin the great wizard shows up in time to save the day!

This will be a day filled with entertainment, here are some of the acts:

The Lords of Adventure-Jack Bold and Roger Awesome are the Lords of Adventure. These two identical twin brothers perform their token “two-man comedy sword fighting show. They will delight you with comedy sword fighting and -life lessons that are fun for the whole family.

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Shelli Buttons: Aerial acrobatics and feats of human awe and gymnastics. Aerial Acrobatics, Fitness, Art, and Love! The Shelli Buttons YouTube channel will feature videos of my aerial and acrobatic performances, workout and fitness tips, philosophy, advice and more! Come learn and grow with me, and above all, have fun and spread love!

Pieces of 8 is a fantastic Acappella singing experience. No instruments needed, just the power of our voices. We sing about adventure, romance, and general silliness! Our debut performance was at the first annual NJ Renaissance Faire in Sept, 2010, and we can’t wait for more!!

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Arethusa

Father & Son strolling musicians performing on a good many instruments for music of the Renaissance, Victorian, World Music, Celtic, Jazz Improv and more!

Adamo Ignis

‘Adamo Ignis’ is latin for ‘to fall in love with flame’. Exactly what you’ll be doing when you see the literally hot stunts in this group’s show! The passion of dance, the danger of fire, and of course many other stunts and tricks will leave you in love with more than just the flame…

Hammernought Armory

Welcome to Hammernought Armory, specializing in handmade chainmail creations. All our work is hand-made from hand-wound, hand-cut rings. We are proud to supply anything from bracelets and hackey sacks to full suits of maille. Custom orders are always welcome!

Fortunes by Lydia-Fortune telling, tarot reading, related products.

My Pieces of Eight-Carved wooden boxes/journals, pirate themed products

Green Cow Studio-Hand made soaps, essential oils, scents

Beauty and Beasts-Hand carved wooden sculptures and products

Naturama-Hair garlands, unique jewelry

The Peddlers Village Food Vendors

Jersey Devil BBQ
WHAT’S JDBBQ’S DELICIOUS SECRET?
….SMOKE!
WE SMOKE OUR MEATS, OUR BAKED BEANS…EVEN OUR CORN!

JERSEY DEVIL BBQ FOODS ARE RICH, TENDER, AND BURSTING WITH FLAVOR
THAT YOU JUST CAN’T GET FROM A GRILL.

Villa Milagro Vineyards
Villa Milagro Vineyards will offer it’s “Vintage Knight” meade, made especially for the Knight Train, for sampling & sale. Meade was the beverage of choice of faire knights and ladies. The vineyard will also offer Steam Engine Red and other wines for sampling and sale.

http://877trainride.com/knighttrain.htm

Giveaway: Win 4 tix to the Knight Train ride. You choose the date and time. Enter on the rafflecopter  below. Giveaway ends August 17th at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified on August 18th and must respond within 24 hours to claim prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark – A Poconos Must Do!

Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark- A Poconos Must Do!

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Looking for a great family getaway in the Poconos? If you know our family we are always on the go and in search of great places where we can share fun and make memories. Just under two hours from NYC we were able to find this new gem that is newly opened. You may already be familiar with Camelback for its awesome ski resort or its summertime waterpark, Camelbeach. But you may not know that a massive lodge was recently opened that has so much to offer your family including an indoor waterpark, outdoor activities, dining, an arcade, pottery and much more. Splish! Splash! Eat! Play! Relax!

We started our trip by choosing a room. There are many choices that can accommodate from a small to large family. We are family of five and went with the basic room( double queen suite) that features two queen sized beds and a pull out sofa. There is also a microwave and fridge in the room so you can bring along some snacks and drinks. The room was big enough for our family and even had a balcony that overlooked the Camelback Ski slopes. I would love to have that room in the winter. It had a beautiful mountain view.

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After checking in the first place we headed to was Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark! Our family could not wait to get there. We were super surprised at the grand size of the waterpark- it is even bigger than it looks in the photos. There were plenty of places to grab a chair and leave our towels, etc. After a quick walk around we all agreed to test out the Lost River! This jungle and temple themed tube float gives you the illusion of floating in an underground river. Lit up for LED lights and grand waterfalls, it definitely was a total win for everyone in the family!

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Next stop: The Venus Slydetrap! So so so much fun! The Venus Slydetrap is a family raft that holds from three to six people. It’s the only combination family raft ride of its kind in the world! The ride is a definite “Don’t Miss”, but be prepared to be swallowed and spit back into a plunge pool before it is all over! It definitely puts the thrill in thrillride waterslide! Glad I had my family surrounding me for the that one. Of course that were ribbing me the rest of the day from the screams I let out. Someone has to entertain them, right?

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There are quite a few waterslides and thrillslides for the brave. Some of my sons’ favorites were the Himalayan where you go head first on a mat, the Outa-Space-Race where you go feet first down an aquatube and of course their favorite was the Paradise Plunge where the floor drops out below and there you go!  Don’t worry- there are plenty of other choices for people like me that want to just pretend they are on an island somewhere. There is a gorgeous wave pool, private cabanas, a swim up bar and a dedicated younger kids play area. There is literally something for everyone in this indoor waterpark.

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If you are not the waterpark type you don’t have to worry, Camelback Lodge has you covered! There are plenty of non-water activities waiting for you. There is a huge arcade filled with fun for all ages. Emily loved choosing and painting a piece of pottery which was fired in a kiln and picked up the following day! There is also mini golf, a lazer zone and a climbing wall.  In addition to that there is a spa designed just for kids! We did not have a chance to experience it all, but that is the great thing about Camelback Lodge- It’s definitely a place you will want to visit over and over again. They even host birthday parties with special private party rooms available!

So, if your family is in need of a little unplugged time, this is a perfect place for you! Our family definitely created memories that will last, had a ton of laughs and just enjoyed being with one another without a lot of distractions! We can’t wait to go back and see what winter has to offer. Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark is located at the base of Camelback Mountain in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The 453-suite lodge is coupled with the largest indoor family entertainment center and indoor waterpark in the Northeast. With Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark complementing the existing seasonal outdoor waterpark, skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, ziplining, treetops obstacle course, alpine mountain coaster and more, Camelback Resort offers more year-round excitement in one location than any other mountain resort in the country. Check out more about Camelback Resort here including room rates and deals. http://www.camelbackresort.com/ See you there!

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan received no compensation for this post. A complimentary room was provided for the purpose of this review. This review is part of our #SummerInPa Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net and everywhere else as @3decades3kids.