KIDS EAT FREE AT METRO DETROIT APPLEBEES ON MONDAY-TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY THROUGH 5/14/17

My daughter and I were in the mood for a good burger so my family headed over to our neighborhood Applebee's for dinner tonight.  In addition to enjoying a delicious meal we had the bonus of my daughter's meal was FREE!  From now through May 14, 2017, children twelve and under can get a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Michigan-owned Team Schostak Applebee's locations*.  To find a participating location, click here.

Applebee's has a nice selection of options to choose from when it comes to Kids Meals.  From grilled cheese and chicken tenders for picky eaters to fried shrimp or a 4 oz sirloin for more mature palates there is something on the menu that will appease almost any kid.  Applebee's is also working with the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program to provide healthy options for children to eat when families dine out.  During our meal at Applebee's, of course we went there for the burgers so my daughter enjoyed two mini cheeseburgers with a side of mashed potatoes and a juice box.

For adult appetites, Applebee's has a variety of great tasting burgers to choose from:

The American Standard: Pickles, bacon and onions seared in and topped with American cheese and Applebee's signature sauce.

All Day Brunch Burger: Bacon and onions are seared in a topped with a fried egg, crispy has browns, American cheese and ketchup.

The Blazin' Texan: Onions and jalapeños are seared in and topped with shredded BBQ brisket, fresh jalapeños, cheddar and Applebee's signature sauce.

Triple Bacon Burger: Bacon seared in and topped with more bacon, cheddar and a BBQ bacon ranch sauce.

I enjoyed The American Standard while my daughter gobbled up her mini-cheeseburgers.  I particularly like the seared onions mixed with Applebee's signature sauce on this burger.  Which of Applebee's burgers do you prefer?  Think about that question for a moment because it can help you win a prize through A Geek Daddy giveaway later in this post.

If you want to be extra thrifty while enjoying a good burger, stop by one of the Michigan Team Schostak Applebee's location at lunchtime before March 12, 2017 to take advantage of their All-In Burger promotion.  Between 11a - 4p daily, you can get one of the four burgers I mentioned above plus fries and a Pepsi for just $9.99.  Don't miss out on this deal because it is only for a very limited time!

Why is it that only kids eat free?!  Mom and dad deserve a free meal too!  So I'm giving away to one lucky reader a $25 gift card valid at any Team Schostak Applebee's location in Michigan so that mom and dad can take their kids out to eat on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday during the KIDS EAT FREE promotion and the parents can enjoy their portion of the family's meal courtesy of A GEEK DADDY.

To participate in the giveaway you must be a legal resident of Michigan over the age of 18.  Email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with your full name and mailing address before 3/6/17 at 11:59pm ET.  Plus include in the email which of the four All-In Burgers is your favorite and why.  Simple as that! One eligible entry will be randomly selected to win the $25 Applebees gift card.  I recommend burgers for everyone but actually you can spend it however you want at a participating Team Schostak location once the prize is in your hands.  Good luck everyone!

 A Geek Daddy received gift cards for a complimentary family dinner at Applebee's and the prize being given away for publishing this post and hosting the giveaway. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. The prize is provided by Team Schostak and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to our readers. Must be a Michigan resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize. A Geek Daddy will be responsible for shipping the prize to the selected winner via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

*Some restrictions apply on the FREE kids meal promotion.  Ask participating restaurants about any restrictions/limitations on the offer before ordering.

Noodles & Company Spices Up Their Menu

I was invited to swing by the NOODLES & COMPANY restaurant down the street from my house for a complimentary tasting of the recent changes they've made to their menu.  While the focus of the menu is of course on dishes featuring noodle recipes, they also have a variety of appetizers, soups and salads available too and I tried some of them all.  I have to admit being a creature of habit and while regularly frequenting this restaurant always get the same thing -- Japanese Pan Noodles with Shrimp.  So have to admit it was nice to get out of my comfort zone a bit and try a whole lot of different things from their menu.

I started off trying out the new Thai Chicken soup.  Wow that was incredible! The soup isn't too spicy but it still warms up your mouth in a nice way.  It is made from coconut, curry chicken soup with onion, cabbage, red bell pepper, lemongrass, lime, galangal, turmeric, and shallots.  Not sure what some of those ingredients are but it sure was good!  I will absolutely be getting this again next time my family visits NOODLES & COMPANY.

Next they brought out their Napa Market Salad with Chicken & Chicken Veracruz Salad to try out.

Napa Market Salad with Chicken

Mixed greens layered with Gala apple slices, Roma tomato and red bell pepper topped with pulled grilled chicken, bleu cheese and naturally raised bacon crumbles, tossed with pomegranate vinaigrette

Chicken Veracruz Salad

Mixed greens with Roma tomato, red onions, chili-lime chicken, naturally raised bacon crumbles, fresh cut corn, tossed with jalapeno ranch dressing and crispy jalapenos, fresh avocados and cilantro.

I enjoyed both salads but the Napa Market was a bit more my taste.  I really enjoyed the pomegranate vinaigrette mixed up with the apple slices, grilled chicken and tomatoes.  Have to admit loading up my plate a couple of times with the Napa Market Salad along with plenty of Cheesy Garlic Bread.  NOODLES & COMPANY'S Cheesy Garlic Bread is made of parmesan and garlic butter melted over toasted petite baguette.  Be careful because the bread is so good you could fill up your stomach before getting to your main course!

Steak Stroganoff was next.  Marinated steak, mushroom sherry cream sauce, fresh herbs, cracked pepper, roasted mushrooms, wavy egg noodles and parmesan.  A very filling meal.  I particularly liked how the steak and mushrooms complimented each other in this dish.

I wrapped up my tasting session at NOODLES & COMPANY with their Thai Green Curry with Shrimp entree.  I really liked this! Shrimp with a sweet coconut green curry sauce, rice noodles, pineapple, broccoli, red onion, snap peas, lime, black sesame seeds and cilantro.  I'm definitely going to be mixing up my normal routine of just ordering the Japanese Pan Noodles by starting to occasionally get this dish as well.  In fact the next time I go to NOODLES & COMPANY, I'm going to be buying the Thai Green Curry with Shrimp for my entree.  I'll probably get some of that Thai Chicken soup to go with it as well!

As I was about the leave, the staff at NOODLES & COMPANY has one last surprise for me.  They boxed up some Japanese Pan Noodles for me to snack on later on because they know I love that dish so much.  See it does pay off to try new things even if they take you a bit out of your normal comfort zone.  I really had a wonderful time learning more about the menu at NOODLES & COMPANY.

To learn more about their menu for yourself or find a location near you, please visit noodles.com

DIA "INSIDE / OUT" ART DISPLAYS HEAD TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS

Six years ago the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) began a community outreach campaign to expand the awareness and appreciation of the museum with local residents.  The DIA placed weather-proof, high-quality reproductions of artistic masterpieces from its collection outdoors in a few select cities within the three counties surrounding Detroit for people to enjoy.  The goal of the displays was to bring the art IN its galleries OUT into communities for people who may not normally visit the downtown Detroit museum to enjoy. These representations were so accurate that police departments in these communities began to receive calls from concerned citizens that stolen artwork from the DIA may have been put up as a prank.  Rave reviews from the public about the displays have made INSIDE/OUT an annual on-going program since its inception.

The INSIDE / OUT program selects several local cities and townships each year to host these art displays. The nice thing about the program is that seven to twelve images are clustered within walking or bike-riding distance so you can have a fun family outing searching for the artwork and exploring the community where it has been placed.  I've gone on an art hunt with my kids in at least one of the INSIDE/OUT communities hosting the displays each year since the program began.  It is nice too that they've rotated the participating cities and townships during the life of the program so the displays aren't always hosted in the same places and new artwork is regularly introduced year to year keeping going on art hunts fun and exciting.  Metro Detroit locations hosting INSIDE/OUT in 2016 include Eastern Market and the Dequindre Cut greenway trail in the City of Detroit, plus the communities of Hamtramck, Ecorse, New Baltimore, Pontiac, and Warren, among other locations.

Because of the popularity of INSIDE/OUT  the displays will also be included over the summer in three northern Michigan towns popular with summer vacationers -- Alpena, Traverse City and Mackinac Island.  If you are planning on going on an Up North Michigan adventure this summer these INSIDE / OUT exhibits will be on display until September.  I hadn't realized that the INSIDE / OUT artwork was going to be on display in Northern Michigan until we stumbled upon one of the portraits during a family trip to Mackinac Island while walking to our hotel.  Because of our family's past art hunts we instantly associated it with being INSIDE/OUT artwork.

 Mackinac Island is known for prohibiting motor vehicles so walking, bike riding and horse drawn carriages are the primary means of getting around while visiting the Michigan state park which is filled with historical buildings, scenic landscapes, and lots of fudge shops and souvenir stands. The INSIDE / OUT artwork is sprinkled throughout the island's downtown and the grounds of the historic Grand Hotel.  Some of the artwork really stands out along the island's thoroughfares while others are a bit more subdued so they are not so easy to discover without looking out for them.  Of course we went on an art hunt to our Mackinac Island activities once we realized the DIA reproductions were there searching for all the INSIDE/OUT displays adding an extra element of fun to our trip.

I've shared a few of the Mackinac Island INSIDE/OUT portraits we discovered.  If you visit can you find them all?  If so let us know!  Plus if you make it to Alpena or Traverse City this summer, have some Pure Michigan fun and go on an art hunt!  Of course we'd enjoy seeing your INSIDE/OUT art hunt photos.  Please share your pictures by tweeting them to @Geekdad248 so we can share in your fun!

If you are planning a Metro Detroit art hunt be aware that they switch up the locations and displays in August with the new exhibit locations staying up through October.  Upcoming locations include Belleville (Wayne County), East English Village (Detroit), Beverly Hills (Oakland County) and Romeo (Macomb County).   For more information, visit www.dia.org.

DISNEY STORES CELEBRATING MAY THE FOURTH WITH SPECIAL STAR WARS EVENT

Disney retail locations around the country will be celebrating STAR WARS DAY (May the 4th ... be with you) with a special event to celebrate the launch of a new exclusive toy line.  On Sunday, May 4, 2014 the first 100 customers (3 years and older) at each Disney Store location will receive a limited edition collectible Star Wars pin.  Starting at 12:30pm children 3 and up will be able to participate in an interactive Star Wars presentation where they can learn about the "Ways of the Force":

• Participating children will be provided an inflatable light saber (while supplies last) which they can use to master hands-on training during the presentation...pretty cool!

• They'll discover the Jedi Mind Trick and learn how Obi-Wan Kenobi uses it to serve the greater good.

• Help Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star through an interactive Media Wall experience.

• Plus participate in a Medal of Bravery Ceremony where they will receive a coloring sheet with their very own medal to decorate and cut out.

In addition to promoting attention to the upcoming Star Wars: Rebels animated television series coming this summer to Disney Channel & DisneyXD and the feature film, Episode VII coming in 2015, Disney Stores are utilizing the event to promote expanded Star War merchandise at the stores.  One of the new exclusive items that will be sold at Disney Stores starting May Fourth is a new toy line of Star Wars action figures.

The new Star Wars TALKING ACTION FIGURES toys will be 18" tall and feature the original voices and sounds of  the characters from the original trilogy of Star Wars movies.  The first wave of figures will each feature 15 phrases plus sound effects and light-up effects.  Darth Vader for example will have an illuminated light saber.  Stormtroopers, X-wing pilot Luke Skywalker, and smuggler Han Solo will have weapons with gun barrels that light up as if lasers are shooting from them. Boba Fett and Chewbacca will join Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo on store shelves later in the year.  These action figures will retail for $29.95 each.

I'm going to have to pick up a stormtrooper for my son and I to play with!

In addition to the MAY THE FOURTH special event and the debut of exclusive Star Wars merchandise at Disney Stores there will be one more thing to look out for in May.  Guests at Disney Stores throughout the month of May can pick up FREE collectible trading cards featuring characters from the classic films each week while supplies last.

To find the closest Disney Store to your home click on the STORE LOCATOR tab at the very top of the homepage at www.disneystore.com 

and the flavor of the month is .... THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

The only ice cream that I was aware of named after a superhero was SUPERMAN.   As a kid, I loved going to the local ice cream parlor that carried the STROH'S brand and ordering two scoops of Superman in a waffle cone.  The blue, red and yellow colored scoops that burst with the flavor of Blue Moon, Red Pop and Lemon flavors was one of my favorite flavors growing up. Starting this month, Superman's not alone anymore when it comes to superhero inspired flavors at ice cream parlors.  The Amazing Spider-Main is swinging into your friendly neighborhood Baskin-Robbins.

For a limited time only, Baskin-Robbins is hosting a promotional tie-in with the feature film The Amazing Spider-Man 2 that will feature a special Spidey flavored ice cream.  The Amazing Spider-Man ice cream is red and blue vanilla flavored ice cream covered with a dark chocolate web and popping candies.  You can get your Spider-Sense tingling by enjoying several items with this new superhero themed ice cream:

• The Amazing Spider-Man ice cream is available by the scoop in a cup or cone, and can also be taken home in fresh-packed pints and quarts.
•  The Amazing Spider-Man Ice Cream Cake lets you bring the image of Spider-Man to any party.  You can use the Spidey flavored ice cream or customize it with your own favorite flavor of Baskin-Robbins selections.
• Electro's Milkshake blends up The Amazing Spider-Man ice cream into a shockingly good treat.

 

A good time to try out Baskin-Robbin's Spider-Man inspired flavor of the month for April will be during the chain's Scoop Fest taking place from April 22 - 24 to kick off the summer movie and ice cream seasons.  Swing into your local Baskin-Robbins to take advantage of this special pricing:

$1 for a Single Scoop (2.5oz scoop)
$2 for a Double Scoop (4oz scoops)
$3 for a Triple Scoop (4oz scoops)

To find a Baskin-Robbins location near you CLICK HERE.