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Green Acres Bowl in Tyler… Again!

May 10th, 2011

I went for my once a year bowling trip this past weekend, at Green Acres Bowl, and no it has nothing to do with Tyler’s mega church of the same name. (Does that sound like a slight; because it wasn’t intended to as one. It’s just that the church is huge, and it’s easy to assume that any business with “Green Acres” in the name is somehow connected to it. For some reason however, drawing attention to a churches size, large or small, can be a touchy prospect. Too large and people think you’re a social club, too small and you’re a cult). Sorry, again I digress. While reading on the bowling alley I discovered there are about as many opinions on it, as there are of its Baptist namesake.

First off let me say that the staff was really helpful, a bit overly protective I guess, but really very nice, and they generally took care of all our needs. Now I’m not a good bowler… at all. But I had good time nonetheless. My son was back and forth dropping his ball and retrieving another almost before the first one reached the pins. And it was like that all morning. Suffice it to say, he had a terrific time. The business has changed an awful lot over the years. I read some reviews that must have been written about the time former Vice President Gore was first establishing the internet, because the Green Acres bowling alley hasn’t looked like they described it in over twenty years!

On the plus side, the establishment is neat and clean and relatively inexpensive. It’s also a great place to take the fam, particularly when the weathers bad. If there’s a down side, it’s that there’s no bar or place to purchase food or drinks. But the facility’s not equipped for those added services, and I realize that’s exactly what many Tylerites like most about the place anyway. Our city has a strangely paradoxical and frankly, inconsistent view on the use of adult beverages, even if that use is moderate. Instead, maybe pull into Braum’s, for Ice cream and a cherry lime-aid prior to heading over to bowl a few frames. At any rate, if you’ve not been to Green Acres Bowl in a while, I recommend checking it out, particularly as summer starts to heats up. It’s cheap fun in a cool, family friendly, environment.

Mexican/Seafood do I dare?

January 1st, 2010

With Tyler being overrun with restaurants and a large number of them being mexican restaurants, it is real easy to overlook a restaurant like the Cancun Cafe. If you are in the mood for mexican food and are bored with the multiple Lugars, it might be time to try something with a little kick. Cancun Cafe is located off of the loop in Tyler across from the Green Acres Bowling Alley. Without the bright lights of Mercados it can be easy to overlook but this is one dining spot in Tyler you don’t want to miss.

Cancun Cafe has quality mexican food and surprisingly enough I’ve found that they also have a large quantity of delicious seafood dishes, and no this isn’t fish tacos or a trout with a jalepeno stuffed down its throat, this is quality seafood dishes with a kick, coupled with great mexican food. The signature dish that I have to suggest that everyone try at least once is their fajitas and snowcrab. I found as odd as this sounds it is one of the tastiest combos I’ve ever tried.

The service is decent although many people have had problems with food arriving late. Since this is not one of the more popular mexican restaurants like On the Border or Mercados, you will not find the crowds you will find packed out the doors as is frequently the case at those places, allowing you to be seated almost immediately. The atmosphere is like that of most of the mexican restaurants in Tyler and is roomy enough to cater to nearly all of your party needs. This is a restaurant that hosts events like karaoke night so if you don’t mind the howling that comes with these events it can be a good night out on the town.

Prices are pretty good, with several dishes under $10, and quantities especially in the fajitas and snowcrab are very generous. When ordering a dish like that you might consider taking a bag to go because I’ve found they often serve more than one can eat. So next time you are eating out, try something new like the Cancun Cafe, as long as you don’t mind the occasional wait for your meal it’ll definately be worth your while.

Green Acres Baptist Church Library

December 8th, 2009

After having been so disappointed by the Tyler Public Library and vowing never to return, I was stuck in a quandry: How do I relive the joy of childhood library visits and impart an enthusiasm for literacy in my own young preschoolers when I dread the thought of returning to the library? (Trumpets blare. The hero has arrived.) Another mom passed on a secret source for hours of golden literary adventures: The Green Acres Baptist Church’s (GABC) library. What? They have a library? I knew about the bowling alley, the Early Education Center, the roller coaster, (What? It doesn’t actually include an amusement park?) but I wouldn’t have thought to look for a library.

This little library is tucked away by door #1 in the Worship Center and includes a nice gift shop. As you walk in, you’ll see on one side, a smaller version of the Scroll Christian bookstore, and on the other, a modest, well-organized library of literary gems, DVDs, and audiobooks/dramas for young and old and in between. You may not find every resource you might need for a research paper, but they pack quite a bit in this small space.

The biggest relief for me as a mother, was that there was nothing I had to steer the kids away from (no Goosebumps, no No David) and very few Disney reworks. Everything we encountered was uplifting and positive if not blatantly Christian. As well as providing hours of quality read-aloud snuggle time, these books were an excellent springboard for discussions on handling difficult situations, our values, theology, Christian character, and all kinds of educational themes.

The staff at the Green Acres Baptist Church Library was always very friendly and helpful. I felt comfortable hanging out to read a few books with my two preschoolers and infant in tow. Because of the small size, I could even look for an inspiring craft book and woman’s devotional for myself just a few rows over while my kids perused their selections at a small table nearby.

If you’ve read my earlier review of the Tyler Public Library, you will undoubtedly figure out that part of what thrills me about this library is that it’s free!!! Whether you live in Tyler TX, or in a different county altogether, you will not have to purchase a rental punch card here. All I had to do to receive a card was fill out a little information paper, and I received three cards, one regular card, and two smaller ones to place on our key rings. How convenient!

Don’t forget there’s a great little bookstore in there too! It’s a convenient place to pick up a gift, or try (in the library) before you buy to find out whether your child will enjoy a video, audio, or book series before you make the investment!

After a year of going to the library almost every week, we had not yet exhausted the GABC Library’s selections, and the kids were still just as excited to head to the Library (snow, sleet, or hail)!

So, if you, like me have been disappointed by the Tyler Public Library, or you just want a more welcoming, less overwhelming space to let your kids’ nurture their love of books and explore positive, fun, life-shaping materials, I recommend that you check out the Green Acres Baptist Church Library.