2013 Texas Food Truckin’ Fest: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington; Friday, April 26th & Saturday, April 27th

Eat your heart out at the first annual 2013 Texas Food Truckin’ Fest at Rangers Ballpark! In addition to the gourmet food trucks, there will also be live bands and kids’ activities. The two-day event takes place from 4pm-10pm on Friday, April 26 as well as 12pm-10pm on Saturday, April 27. FOX Sports Southwest will broadcast Rangers Live pregame & postgame shows from the fest as the Rangers take on the Twins in Minnesota on Saturday. Admission is $10 for 1-Day Passes or $12 for 2-Day Passes with a portion of proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society.

 

2013 Texas Food Truckin’ Fest.
Rangers Ballpark
1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington TX
Dates: Fri, April 26 (4pm-10pm); Sat, April 27 (12pm-10pm)
Admission: $10 for 1-Day pass; $12 for 2-Day pass; $5 kids 12 & under (under 32” Free)
Parking: FREE
Web site: www.texasfoodtruckinfest.com

 

Most important advice for the two-day festival: COME HUNGRY!!!

 

Experience Arlington has teamed with Texas Rangers Enterprises and U.S. Food Trucks for the 1st Annual Texas Food Truckin’ Fest at Rangers Ballpark. Hours are 4pm-10pm on Friday, April 26th and 12pm-10pm on Saturday, April 27th.

 

Participating trucks include: Aunt Sweet Tooth’s Kitchen; The B.L.T. Bacon Lovers’ Truck; Bombay Chopstix; The Butcher’s Son; Café con Leche Cuban Cuisine; Cravetopia Bakery; Cup Cakin’; Doughboys’ Pizza; Eat Joe Dawgs; Empanada Armada; First Bite Gourmet; Four Seasons; The Guava Tree Cuban Café; Jolly Trolly Express; Little Greek Food Truck; My Cupcake Garden; Nammi Cruisin’ Vietnamese Cuisine; OinknMoo BBQ; Pompeii DFW; Rockn’ Rick’sShort-n-Sweet; Simply Dosa; Taste of Home; Tin Star Taco Taxi; Tutta’s Pizza; What’s Cook-N Chef; and Yellow Belly.

 

The good news about all the excellent food you’ll be eating? A portion of the proceeds (15%) is going to a great cause: The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life which funds cancer research. Admission to the Food Truckin’ Fest is just $10 for 1-Day Pass or…even better…$12 for a 2-Day Pass. Kids 12 & under are just $5 and kids under 32” in height are free. The live bands, kids activities and entertainment are included.

 

Here are some FAQ’s regarding the 2013 Texas Food Truckin’ Fest:

 

*When and where can I buy tickets?
Tickets can be bought at the entrance gate of the fest Friday and Saturday. You can also get them by linking here: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/fan_forum/foodtruck.jsp?partnerId=316231M-CZ1R4.

*Do you accept credit cards or cash?
Both! We will be accepting all types of plastic – Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover.

 

*My pet likes food trucks … can they come?
We know Fido likes a hotdog as much as we do, but unfortunately pets have to wag this one out. Service animals are allowed.

 

*When I grub, I grub hard. Will there be a place for me to chill out on a full stomach?
Although there won’t be cots to help you out of your food coma, there will be some seating at tables, chairs and benches throughout the area. The Ballpark seating is also available, so you’ll have plenty of spots to rest your belly.

 

*What about drinks?
There will be drinks available for sale throughout the Ballpark grounds, and trucks will be able to sell specialty drinks.

 

*How much will the food cost?
Food prices vary by truck. It can range from a couple of bucks to more for gourmet items that the trucks showcase.

 

*Is alcohol allowed on the premises?
Sorry! Not allowed to bring in alcohol, but there will be beer/wine to purchase for adults 21+.

 

*Is it going to happen rain or shine?
We are in Texas, so we’ll say it’ll happen rain, shine, snow or ice!

 

*What about the kids? What can they do?
There will be plenty for the little ones. We’ll have balloon people, face painters and bounce houses…and all kids get an espresso upon entrance! Just kidding.

 

*Any tips for a newbie?
Tip #1 – Pick Your Trucks of Choice and Team up to Beat the Lines…and yes, there may be lines.
Here’s a great tip: come with friends, split up into singles and find the #1 item from separate trucks. Buy that item. Meet everyone back at a spot with each of your food finds and share the love. BAM! You’ve just had the deliciousness of more than one truck… repeat with the next trucks on the list.

Tip #2 – Pace Yourself and bring a smile with you!
This event goes on for hours Friday and Saturday, with the trucks prepared to serve the masses. So don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to eat, especially with the awesome 2-day pass! There will be great music, kid stuff and the Rangers away-game on a big screen. Grab a drink, some great food… relax, enjoy and have fun!

Parking is free.

 

Rangers Ballpark is located in the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District at 1000 Ballpark Way in Arlington, Texas 76011 (from I-30, exit Ballpark Way and go south 1 block). For a map/directions, click here: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/ballpark/directions_parking/index.jsp

 

For instant updates and the latest info on Food Trucks that are part of the event, go to the fest’s Facebook site or Twitter feeds (www.facebook.com/txfoodtruckinfest; http://www.Twitter.com/Txfoodtruckin).

 

If you’re visiting from out-of-town and want to stay at a hotel near the fest, Experience Arlington is available 24/7 to help book your room on-line. Link here: www.experiencearlington.org.

Six Flags Over Texas: See the Electrifying “iLuminate”!!!

You may have seen “iLuminate” light up the stage on America’s Got Talent with their incredible acrobatic dance moves and groundbreaking, electrifying glowing costumes. Now experience iLuminate live at Six Flags Over Texas (every day except Tuesday) now through August 12th.
It’s a performance like no other with spectacular dance routines choreographed to blood-pumping music performed in complete darkness – we’re talking pitch black! – by dancers decked out in the latest high-tech computerized, light-up body suits covered in electroluminescent (EL) wire and LEDS.

Six Flags Over Texas’ summer full-time schedule is underway. The park is open daily through the summer, so make plans to join us weekdays as well as weekends at the region’s premiere theme park! Everyone pays kids’ prices when you buy your tickets on-line ($39.99). Save even more with 3-day advance on-line purchase (only $36.99!!!).

Six Flags Over Texas
Address: 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington, TX
Tickets: $39.99 with On-line purchase ($36.99 on-line with 3-day advance purchase); non-discount rate of $56.99 adults at gate; kids under 48” are $39.99; Kids under 2 Free
Guest Relations: 817-640-8900
http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/index.aspx

With more than 100 rides, shows and attractions, Six Flags Over Texas remains the premier travel destination for affordable family fun. Everyone pays kid’s price when tickets are purchased online ($39.99); otherwise, general admission tickets at the gate are $56.99 adults, kids under 48” tall are $39.99 at the gate. If you purchase on-line tickets 3-days in advance, tickets are only $36.99.

Thrill seekers looking for savings all year long can purchase a Season Pass, priced at just $59.99, plus tax, each when you purchase 4 or more. Guests can also purchase a Play Pass for $56.99, plus tax– the same price as a one-day admission ticket.
To purchase tickets online, click here: http://www.sixflags.com/overtexas/tickets/index.aspx

Group discounts are available for single-day visits starting for groups of 10-or-more starting at $27.00 per person. For more information about discounts or anything about the park, call Guest Relations at (817) 640-8900 or go to: http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/index.aspx

**Note: Daily operations (summer hours) begin May 16th and run through late September. For the full schedule, link to the Six Flags calendar here: http://www.sixflags.com/overtexas/info/parkInfo.aspx

Here’s a tip for even more savings: use your Discover Card credit card. Discover® Cardmembers save 5% online and around the parks— that’s big savings on big fun at Six Flags! Start saving today when you use Discover to save 5% on your entire online purchase, including Season Passes, Play Passes, daily admission tickets, parking, food, merchandise, The Flash Pass, VIP Tours and more. Also, you can enter through the Discover Cardmember Entrance Lane during the first two hours of each day.

For more information on Play Passes, Season Passes, and Combo Season Passes, click here: http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/tickets/index.aspx

Click here for a Six Flags Vacation Package from the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau: http://travel.arlington.org/nexres/start-pages/hotelactivity_promotion.cgi?src=10025665&hotelactvid=1174

Parking is $15 per day. If you plan on returning to Six Flags Over Texas throughout the year, you can purchase a Season Parking Pass for $50. You do not have to pre-purchase parking, but if you like, you can purchase parking passes and Season Parking Passes on-line here (scroll down towards the bottom of the page, it’s the same page as purchasing tickets): http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/tickets/index.aspx

Location/Driving Directions: Six Flags Over Texas is located in Arlington, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, at the intersection of Interstate 30 and Highway 360 (Angus Wynne Jr. Freeway), approximately 20 minutes from downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth. If you need to input an address into your GPS, use this physical address: 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington TX 76011. You can also click here for driving directions: http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/info/directions.aspx

Follow Six Flags Over Texas on Twitter and Facebook: on Twitter at twitter.com/sixflagsovertx ; on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags/sixflagsovertexas

HURRICANE HARBOR: On-Line Tickets Only $24.99! (New Dive Bomber’s 7-Story Plunge)

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is bigger, better, and wetter than ever…especially with the new DIVE BOMBER, a 7-story free fall water slide with a 70-ft drop! Everyone pays kids’ prices when you buy your tickets on-line to North Texas’ largest water park (over 47 acres of wet-n-wild fun!) for only $24.99. That’s $5 off the adult price at the gate. Kids ages 2-and-under are free.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (open daily through Aug 26th)
1800 E. Lamar Blvd (across I-30 from Six Flags Over Texas)
Tickets: On-line Discount ($24.99); At the Gate: $29.99 ($24.99 under 48”)
(817) 265-3356
www.sixflags.com/hurricaneHarborTexas/index.aspx

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is kicking off the 2012 season with a splash and continuing its tradition of being number one for exhilarating water attraction fun. Guests can enjoy more than 25 rides, slides, and pools across 47 acres with 3 million gallons of water. Families can step out and enjoy the adventures at Hook’s Lagoon or relax at Boogie Beach. While the experienced thrills seekers might prefer Geronimo or Der Stuka or Surf Rider, there’s also the relaxing alternative of floating down the lazy river.
The new DIVE BOMBER is a daring drop slide. Perched 7 stories high, you count to three before the floor literally drops from below and you plunge down at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. It’s an adrenaline rush as you free-fall! Be the first among your friends and family to take the plunge!
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor’s Summer Season 2012 is in full swing with daily operations underway through August 26th with the following hours: Saturdays (10:30am-8pm) and Sundays through Fridays (10:30am-7pm).

 

Buy tickets on-line and pay only $24.99. If you use a Discover credit card, save an additional 5% on all purchases on-line or at the gate.

If you buy tickets at the gate (not on-line), daily tickets for General Admission are $29.99 for adults and $24.99 for juniors under 48” in height. Kids 2 and under are free.

For the best savings, buy a 2012 Season Pass for only $64.99 (if you buy four or more Season Passes, you’ll get a free Season Parking Park worth $55).

Combo Passes are great, too, because it’s unlimited visits this summer to Hurricane Harbor as well as Six Flags Over Texas Theme Park. Combo Passes are $99.99 per person.

Daily parking is $14.

Click here to link to the site to purchase tickets and parking on-line: http://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneHarborTexas/tickets/index.aspx

FOOD/CONCESSIONS: You can also pre-purchase vouchers redeemable for “Meal Deals” (starting at $13.49 individual “Super Hero Meals” and $39.99/44.99 Family Meal Deals for Four) and Souvenir Sports Bottles (1 for $14.99, 2 for $23.98, 3 for $29.97).

Once you’re inside the Hurricane Harbor Web site, you can click on “Cabana Rental” for more information on renting a private cabana for the day, starting at $125.

Click here for a listing of all the rides so you can survey which level of thrill-seeking will best suite your style: http://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneHarborTexas/rides/index.aspx

Hurricane Harbor is located conveniently in Arlington’s Entertainment District, just one block north of Interstate 30 at 1800 E. Lamar Boulevard. Hurricane Harbor is directly across interstate from Six Flags Over Texas and Rangers Ballpark, and four blocks northeast of Cowboys Stadium Click here for driving directions to Hurricane Harbor: http://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneHarborTexas/info/Directions.aspx

Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more info on group discounts, call the Groups Sales department at (817) 640-8900, extension 4100.

For any questions relating to Hurricane Harbor and its policies or ticketing, call the park’s Guest Relations at (817) 265-3356 or click here for Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneHarborTexas/info/Faq.aspx

Alley Cats Family Fun Center: Summer Fun discounts/promotions

Alley Cats is your place for fun all summer long with special discounts/promotions for bowling, laser tage, Putt-Putt, rock climbing wall, billiards & arcade games.   “Summer Playcations”, “Teen Nights” (Wednesdays),“Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long”, “Summer Camps” and “Late Night Friday Nights” are just a few of the awesome summer specials at Alley Cats Family Fun Center. Great for hanging out with friends or family, come for bowling, arcade games, laser tag, rock climbing, billiards and karaoke.

 

ALLEY CATS FAMILY FUN CENTER
2008 W. Pleasant Ridge
Hours: Sun-Thurs 9am-Midnight (Wed 7:30pm-11pm Teenagers Only/Teen Night); Fri & Sat 9am-2am
(817) 784-2695
www.alleycatsbowl.com

Alley Cats has a little bit of everything (it’s also next to the Putt-Putt center, so go next door if you want to do some putt-putt). While this is a fun place for the family and for kids’ parties, the evenings offer parties for adults, a billiards room, and special pricing for groups of all ages. It’s open until 2am on Fri and Sat nights, until midnight Sun through Thurs. “Teen Night is Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm, so Alley Cats closes to the rest of the public at 7:30pm on Wednesday during the summer.

 

You can get a good value by taking advantage of money-saving packages and summer specials:

* “Summer Playcation” on Mondays through Fridays from 9am to 5pm is only $29.99 per person and iincludes: unlimited bowling and bowling shoe rental; unlimited laser tag; unlmited Putt-Putt Golf; $10 game card; and a jumbo hot dog and 16oz soft drink.

* “Late Night Friday Nights” from 11pm to 2am for ages 18 & older only for just $14.99 per person. Includes: unlimited bowling plus shoe rental (minimum 4 people per bowling lane); drink specials, and prize drawings.

*“Teen Night” on Wednesdays. Closed to the public at 7:30pm; teenagers (ages13-17 only) from 8pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Just $20 per person includes bowling, laser tag, unlimited rock climbing, and a $10 game card. You must have a school ID or other ID to prove your age. Security provided by Arlington Police Department. Prizes will be drawn throughout the evening.

*Tuesdays are “Family Fun Night” from 5pm to 10pm. The cost for a group of 5 is $39.99 for 1 hour, or $59.99 for two hours. The price includes bowling, rental shoes, large single-topping pizza, pitcher of soft drink, and a $5 game card for up to 5 people in the party.

*“Morning Madness” (Monday thru Friday, 9am-1pm; or Sunday, 9am-1pm) $15.99 per person includes unlimited bowling & shoes, $10 game card, one jumbo hot dog & soft drink. Add unlimited laser tag or unlimited Putt-Putt Golf for just $5.99 more.

*“PIZZA BOWL” is a discount for a group of up to 5 people (Monday thru Friday, 11am-6pm for $59.99 for a group up to 5 people; or Sunday thru Thursday, 6pm-10pm for $69.99 for a group up to 5 people). Here’s what is included: 2 hours of open bowling for up to 5 people, rental shoes, $5 game card per person, a large single-topping pizza and pitcher of soda.

* “Happy Hour Billiards & Beverages” Monday thru Friday, 4pm-7pm — Just $1 per rack (normally $2 per rack or $5 for 30 minutes); plus domestic 22 oz drafts for just $3.25 and $3.25 well drinks

* “Sunday Morning Madness = Four Hours of Fun”: 9am-1pm on Sundays; $15.99 per person includes unlimited bowling & shoes, $10 game card, jumbo hot dog & 16 oz soft drink (add unlimited laser tag or unlimited Putt-Putt for just $5.99 more).

*”Manic Mondays” are 8pm to Midnight on Mondays. For $19.99 per person, you get unlimited bowling & shoes, unlimited laser tag; $2 domestic longnecks, and a $10 video game card.

“Summer Camps 2012” are available now through August with prices beginning around $160 per week. For more information on camps (as well as registration forms), click here: www.alleycatsbowl.com

Alley Cats specializes in group parties, youth and adult. For more info and pricing, click here: http://www.alleycatsbowl.com/group.php. Yes, there are Birthday Party packages, too. With 4 party rooms, they’re usually able to accommodate most requests. Hold your birthday party on a weekday and save $25.

And here’s a great idea for a youth group or youth sports-league team (pardon me while I flash back to my church youth group)….a LOCK-IN! Pricing is based on a minimum of 150 students and there must be a 1:20 ratio of chaperones. The cost is anywhere from $25 per person for 3 hours, up to $36 per person for 6 hours. Call Alley Cats or go to the Web site for more information.

The Web site is very informative. It includes a virtual tour and lots of video to go with animation. Even if you’re not interested in bowling or laser tag, it’s fun to see how they’ve put together an entertaining site. Just click on www.alleycatsbowl.com.

As for Alley Cats’ location, the street address is 2008 W. Pleasant Ridge Road which is two blocks west of the S. Cooper Street/W. Pleasant Ridge intersection. W. Pleasant Ridge Road is just a block north of I-20; in fact, it runs parallel to I-20. So go to Cooper Street, one block north of I-20 (in front of The Parks mall), then go two blocks west on W. Pleasant Ridge Road. The Parks Mall will be on the east side of S. Cooper Street/W. Pleasant Ridge intersection. Here’s the Mapquest for Alley Cats: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Arlington&state=TX&address=2008+W+Pleasant+Ridge

Planetarium at UT-Arlington’s Summer Schedule

The Planetarium at UT-Arlington invites you into their 60-foot dome for fun and educational shows on astronomy shown with a Digistar 4 DLP Projection system. Tickets for other shows throughout the week are only $4 kids and $6 adults!

The Planetarium at UT-Arlington
Chemistry-Physics Building on UTA campus
700 Planetarium Place
(817) 272-0123
www.uta.edu/planetarium

The Planetarium at UT-Arlington is a one-of-a-kind teaching, learning and special occasion facility. In addition to charting the skies and traveling the galaxy, the Planetarium presents kid-friendly (and educational) shows. Inside the cool air conditioned auditorium which seats nearly 150, there are comfortable reclining seats, wheelchair friendly access, and radio headsets for the hearing impaired.

 

Ticket prices for planetarium shows featuring astronomy are: $6 adults, $4 seniors (65+), $4 children (18 & under); $3 UTA students w/ID; $4 non-UTA students; $4 UTA alumni/faculty/staff w/ID. Groups of 15-or-more should make a reservation 24 hours in advance to receive a discount ($4 per person per ticket). The phone number for Group Reservations is (817) 272-1183.

Here is the SUMMER SCHEDULE (June 1st through Aug 26th), but I suggest you confirm dates/show times by calling the pre-recorded show line number at (817) 272-0123.

SATURDAYS:
*1pm “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” (kids show: discover the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo and their new friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu)

*2:30pm “Cosmic Colors” (follow the spectrum and adventure into a world of colors)

*5:30pm “Stars of the Pharoahs” (travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings)

*7:00pm: “Pink Floyd” (enjoy a 60’s style laser lights show set to the music of Pink Floyd)

SUNDAYS:
*1:30pm “Two Small Pieces of Glass” (follow two students and they interact with an astronomer at a local star party; along the way they learn how telescopes work, the history of telescopes, and major discoveries made with these instruments)

*2:30pm “SpacePark 360” (an out-of-this-work entertainment experience. Get transported to surreal vistas and experience the most thrilling amusement park rides the solar system has to offer)

*3:30pm “Molecularium” (a magical, musical adventure into the world of atoms and molecules)

MONDAYS: Closed

TUESDAYS:
*2pm “Texas Stargazing” (find out what’s visible in the night sky tonight)

WEDNESDAYS:
*2pm “Two Small Pieces of Glass” (follow two students and they interact with an astronomer at a local star party; along the way they learn how telescopes work, the history of telescopes, and major discoveries made with these instruments)

THURSDAYS:
*2pm: “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” (kids show: discover the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo and their new friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu)

FRIDAYS:
*2pm “Stars of the Pharoahs” (travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings)

The Planetarium is an awesome idea for field trips for your school or organization. And what a cool birthday party! They’ve even hosted corporate events, family reunions and sweet 16 birthday parties. Yes, they even offer catering (click here for catering menu: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/_content/pdf/general/catering-menu.pdf

The Planetarium Dome Theatre seats 148 people, but there is also an atrium area (comfortable seating for 50 or standing area comfortable for 75-100 guests)as well as an executive conference room (3rd floor of Chemistry-Physics Building, planetarium is at ground level entrance). So this is a venue to consider to presentations, ceremonies, corporate gatherings, and parties.

If you’re thinking of having a children’s birthday party here, rental of the dome theatre is $225 which includes one show (you can choose from a long list of shows) and one hour in the atrium for cake/presents. For an extra $50 you can get a customized show that would include some visual effects (e.g. snow falling, slideshows, etc.).

When you book a private show, you may choose from the following options: “Astronaut”, “Bad Astronomy”, “Black Holes”, “IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System”, “Ice Worlds”, “Magnificent Sun”, “Microcosm”, “Nanocam”, “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”, “Pink Floyd”, “Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 1”, “Secret of the Cardboard Rocket”, “Spacepark 360”, “Star of the Pharoahs”, “Time Space”, “Two Small Pieces of Glass”, “Unseen Universe, the Vision of SOFIA”, “Violent Universe”, “We Are Astronomers”, and “Wonders of the Universe”.

The Planetarium staff will work with you to choose a show that is age appropriate. They’ll also answer questions about event planning. Call them at (817) 272-1183.

To help arrange a Field Trip for your organization, click here: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/schools/
The Planetarium is located inside the Chemistry-Physics building in the heart of the UT-Arlington campus. Parking (especially on weekdays when school is in-session) is not available immediately in front of the building but there is a drop-off circle drive in front of the building’s entrance. There is a covered parking garage a short distance away (one-half block south of Planetarium) at $1.50 per hour with validated parking ticket (get it validated at Planetarium box office).

Free parking on Sunday (you still need to have it validated). If you don’t want to pay for covered parking, you may park in “Student Surface Lots” which are free from 5pm Friday to 5am Monday (Friday evenings through Sunday nights, only).

As for directions/maps (For the purpose of Google maps, the address is listed as 700 College Street), from South Cooper Street, turn east on S. Nedderman Drive, go one block to Planetarium Place (turn left on Planetarium Place). For the parking garage, go past Planetarium Place and turn left on S. West St (garage is located at corner of S. Nedderman and S. West St.).
Click here for directions and parking: https://www.uta.edu/planetarium/about/directions-and-parking.php