If you bowl regularly, you’ve probably seen other bowlers warming up, and hopefully you do too! While your warm up is an easy step to skip, you really should make time for it if you want to bowl your best and minimize your chance of injury. Keep reading to learn some great bowling warm up stretches, and make sure you use them next time you bowl at Mid County Lanes! 

Why warm up before bowling? 

Are you wondering why you need to warm up for bowling? After all, it’s not like you’re running a marathon or quarterbacking a football game. Well, while bowling may not be the most strenuous sport out there, it is still a whole body sport that requires coordination, strength, and skill.

Swinging your arm around while holding a heavy ball is a great way to pull a muscle if you aren’t properly warmed up, so you should always do at least a few of these stretches before you start a game. Stretching literally warms up your muscles, preparing them for action and reducing the chance of a sprain or strain, and it can help you avoid repetitive strain injuries from doing the same motion over and over. 

Bowling Stretches

While these bowling stretches are a great way to warm up, remember that they can also help you stay limber during a game. And remember never to stretch just one side of your body; always maintain symmetry by stretching both. 

Legs

• Stretch your hamstrings by bending at the waist and touching your toes.
• Stand on one foot while bending and lifting the other leg backwards. Grasp your lifted foot with your hand to stretch your quad muscle. Repeat with the other side. 
• Stretch your calf muscles by lunging forward with one leg while keeping the other foot flat on the ground behind you. 
• Widen your stance with your feet past your shoulders. Lift your arms and lean to one side, then back to position. Lean forward and touch the ground with your hands, leaning into the stretch. Return to your starting position and lean to the other side. 

Shoulders

• Extend your arm straight out and slowly swing it in a full circle, first forward, and then backward. Repeat with the other arm. This will help loosen up your shoulder joints and arm muscles, which are obviously crucial to bowling. 
• Extend one arm across your chest and use your other arm to gently pull it towards you, stretching your upper arm and shoulder. Repeat with the other arm. 

Wrists and Hands

• Extend your arms straight out in front of you. Drop your hands (think zombie arms), and gently point your fingers back towards your body until you feel the stretch. Reverse by holding one hand up like you’re making a “stop” gesture, and gently pulling the fingertips back towards your body with the opposite hand. 
• Interlace your fingers and hold your arms above your body, palms towards the ceiling.
• Try these strengthening exercises for your thumbs, fingers, hands, and wrists. 

Ready to put your newfound knowledge to work? Visit our Middletown bowling alley for Sunday Morning Practice, or join one of our bowling leagues and let the good times roll.

Arcades used to be widespread, and if you were born before the 1990s, you probably have fond memories of wasting many an afternoon (and many, many quarters) trying to beat your favorite games at the local arcade. As the cultural relevance of the shopping mall declined and the availability of at-home video games skyrocketed, arcades all over the country closed. 

Today, you may not be able to find an arcade in your local mall, but you don’t have to resign yourself to a joyless existence devoid of the classic arcade games that made our youths so fun. Just come to Mid County Lanes and Entertainment to feel like a kid again at our Middleton arcade! 

Classic Arcade Games

What are your favorite classic arcade games? We have an array of classic and new games, but these are some of the timeless classics we can’t get enough of. 

Air Hockey

Who would think that a simple puck and handheld strikers could incite such fierce competition?! Air hockey is an arcade classic for a reason, and it’s easy to see why once you play a game. Guarding your “goal” and trying to score on your competition will get your adrenaline pumping, and the super-low-friction surface created by the air cushioning the puck leads to a fast-paced game that is anything but boring.

Ice-Ball (aka Skee-Ball)

Everyone knows this game, in which players toss lightweight, palm-sized balls down an alley and over a hump to send the ball into one of several rings, each with its own point value. A little bit like bowling, a little bit of test-your-luck carnival game, and a whole lot of fun, skee-ball is one of those games you’ll want to play over and over again until you master it. 

Racing Games

Driving games are a staple of any arcade worth its salt, and here at Mid County Lanes and Entertainment, we’ve got you covered with some classic racing games that will satisfy your need for speed. 

NBA Hoops Basketball

How many shots can you sink before the buzzer? This arcade take on basketball is fast-paced and fun, whether or not you’re a baller. Challenge a buddy for an added element of competition.

Claw Machines

The allure of a claw machine prize is hard to beat. While the prizes are cool, it’s the sense of satisfaction from beating the game that will make you treasure anything you manage to lift into the prize chute! Try your hand (or rather, claw) at our giant claw machine full of huge stuffed animals, or one of our smaller machines with fun prizes like plushies, rubber duckies, and more.

Whether you’re looking for a unique date night with your special someone, a cool place for a birthday party, or you want to introduce your kids to favorite games from your youth, our Middleton arcade is the place to go. Come on in and enjoy some friendly competition!

2019 has come and is almost gone. We are getting ready to begin a new decade. 20 years into the new millennium, but we still don’t have flying cars or teleportation. Although, we do have cars that drive themselves and mini hovercrafts (aka drones).

Here are some of our favorite inventions that have come about in 2019:

• A talking hearing aid
• WeWalk smart cane that pairs with apps for navigation.
• Virtual Surgery for medical students with Osso VR.
• Fully Recyclable sneakers courtesy of ADIDAS.
• Impossible Burger.
• Oru’s foldable kayak.
• Scotch Flex & Seal Shipping Roll by 3M.
• Draper/Sprout Microplastics-Sensing Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
• PureCycle Technologies and their innovations on repurposing plastic.

You can check out the 100 Best Inventions of 2019 from Time Magazine here.

While we are on the topic of 2019, here are some of our favorite moments from 2019:

• The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team winning the World Cup.
• The Nationals and the Mystics winning their championships.
• A record number of women, 102, took their seats in the U.S House of Representatives.
• Scientists release first image of a black hole.
• China makes historic first landing on the far side of the moon.
• A kidney is delivered by drone.

You can check out some more exciting stories and highlights from 2019 courtesy of The New York Times here.

Innovations aside, it’s been an amazing year at Mid County Lanes. To thank you for making 2019 unforgettable, we’re giving our loyal customers a little holiday present. We will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Blast Off Party and we would love to see you there!

There are two types of people: the people that always have extravagant plans for New Years and the ones that never have plans for the holiday until the last minute. If you already have New Year’s Eve plans, then stop in early and join our family celebration from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Want to ring in the year with an awesome time? We have our Rock ‘n’ Late Night party from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Both events will have a buffet and champagne toast. The bar will be open for the entire party. Additionally, each guest will receive a gift card for a free game of bowling or laser tag. You can call ahead to reserve a lane for either party. The price per lane includes lane reservation, shoe rental, glow bowling, music, party favors, and more.

Whether you are the family that lounges around or the family that typically travels, try something new and come celebrate with us. We promise it will be a fun and safe environment that everyone will remember for years to come. Spots are filling up fast, so make sure to contact us at 302-378-0677 to make your reservation now.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you know what that means—holiday party season is on! If you’re thinking about throwing a holiday party in Middletown this year, Mid County Lanes is the perfect venue to host your holly jolly event. Read on to learn why you should host a holiday bowling party for your friends. 

Reasons to Host a Holiday Bowling Party

Uncommon Fun

Let’s face it, the holidays are a hectic time for most people. November and December calendars are usually packed full of family, church, social, and community obligations, so scheduling conflicts abound. 

If you want a good turnout to your party, well, first of all you should book now! Get those invitations out as soon as possible so people can save the date. However, it’s also important to plan a party that will stand out from the rest. A bowling party is perfect because it’s a little bit out of the norm, and a welcome break from the run-of-the-mill holiday parties we’ve all been to year after year. 

Put Your Holiday Party on Easy Mode

Hosting a holiday party can be a lot of work—or it can be as easy as (pumpkin) pie! At Mid County Lanes, our party packages take the stress out of event planning, so you can actually relax and enjoy the celebration! 

The Weather Outside is Frightful

… But do you really want a bunch of people crowding into your house? Even seemingly small get-togethers can end up being a lot of work for the host, as people inevitably track in mud or snow, not to mention the crumbs you’ll be vacuuming out of your couch later or the wine stain no one thought to mention to you. 

Our bowling facility is a great alternative, as we can accomodate groups large and small. Standard parties get 45 minutes in a private party room, or ask us about private event rentals. 

Something for Everyone

The key to any great party is entertainment. It doesn’t matter how good the food or the music is if everyone is bored! Bowling parties provide built-in fun, with a little friendly competition on the side. But there’s a lot more to Mid County Lanes than just bowling. If you opt for our bowling/arcade party package, your guests can also enjoy our other attractions, including Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, Ball-o-City, and Frog Hopper. 

Ready to host the best holiday party of the year? Contact us to make a reservation, and check out these ideas to make your party even better:

• Liven up the usual gift exchange with a gift exchange game.
• Dress the part. Invite your guests to wear their favorite tacky holiday sweaters, and vote on the tackiest! Give the winner a gift card or some other fun yet small prize. 
• Hashtag it! Come up with a unique Instagram hashtag and let your guests know to use it when posting photos from your event. 

Fall and winter birthday parties can be a bit of a challenge. If the birthday falls during the holidays, scheduling can be tricky, as it’s one of the most socially busy times of the year for many people, who may be traveling or hosting out of town guests. It’s also cold and dreary outside, so your basic backyard or neighborhood park parties are out. What’s a parent to do? 

Don’t panic, you’re in good hands! Here at Mid County Lanes, we make birthday parties super easy for parents and fun for everyone. Read on to see some ideas for fall and winter birthday parties that kids love.  

Fall and Winter Birthday Party Ideas

First and foremost, choose an indoor party venue. Next, opt for a place with built-in entertainment. There’s no need to scour the internet for game ideas or entertain all of the kids’ parents while simultaneously serving cake if you hold your party somewhere fun and exciting. 

Remember to send party invitations 3-5 weeks before the party so there’s a better chance that people will be able to come. And hey, it’s almost 2020—why not opt for an evite while you’re at it? 

Bowling Parties

Bowling birthday parties are great for kids of all ages. We have bumpers and ramps to help little ones enjoy the game, and most kids over 6 can play without them. Tweens and teens will love a cosmic bowling party, and you can even add an adult lane onto any party so the parents can get in on the fun (and out of their teens’ hair). 

Our bowling parties include 2 hours of bowling with shoe rental for up to 8 (including the birthday person), as well as food, tableware, 45 minutes in a private party room, a party coordinator to keep things rolling, and a bowling pin drink cup for the birthday child.  

Laser Tag Parties

Laser tag birthday parties are especially popular with middle and high school kids, and who can blame them? Laser tag is fun, fast-paced, and competitive, perfect for a kid who wants an action-packed party. If you opt for our arcade party package, your party of 8 (including birthday kid) can enjoy 2 hours of attractions, including laser tag, bumper cars, Frog Hopper, and Ball-o-City! 

Something for Everyone Parties

Just can’t choose between bowling and our other attractions? No worries, we’ve got a party package for that! With our Bowling/Arcade party, your group gets 1 hour of bowling and 1 hour of everything else. 

Whatever you choose for your kid’s winter birthday party, you can’t go wrong with something fun, active, and indoors. Give us a call at 302-378-0677 to make your party reservation, or come visit us in person at 875 North Broad Street in Middletown, Delaware!

The leaves are falling, there’s a pumpkin on almost every porch, and you’ve broken out your coziest sweaters and scarves. It’s that time again—autumn in Delaware! If you’re looking for some family-friendly fall events in Middletown, you’re in luck. Read on to see some of the fun things to do with your family and friends this month in New Castle County. 

Fall Fido Festival

• Who: Your family – including the furry ones!
• What: Fall Fido Festival
• When: November 2nd, 11 am – 3 pm
• Where: Concord Pet Foods & Supplies (Middletown Crossing), 340 Main Street

Join some furry friends for a fundraiser event to raise money for two local animal rescues, Tanner’s Endless Love and Daawgs Rescues. For $10 admission, guests can enjoy games and activities, receive a goody bag, and enter to win one of the amazing raffle prizes. There will also be food trucks on site with food and drinks available for purchase. 

Firelight Friday at The Nest

• Who: All are welcome
• What: Firelight Friday
• When: November 8th, 7:30 pm – 10 pm
• Where: The Nest, 215 N. Cass, Middletown, DE

What could be more autumnal than cozying up to a toasty fire? Come hang out by the fire pit at The Nest for s’mores, warm drinks, and even warmer conversation. 

Bright Pin Cosmic Bowling at Mid County Lanes

• Who: Your faves!
• What: Bright Pin Cosmic Bowling
• When: Every Friday 9 pm – midnight and every Saturday 7 pm – midnight
• Where: Mid County Lanes, 875 North Broad Street

Whether you’re planning a family fun night with your kids, a double date with friends, or a siblings-only night out, Cosmic Bowling at Mid County Lanes is a surefire hit and a great way to get out of the cold and still have some active fun! Join us from 7 pm to 9 pm for Early Bird pricing of just $30 per lane per hour. Regular price is $35 per lane per hour from 9 pm to midnight. Throw a strike with the bright pin as the head pin and win a chance to spin our prize wheel!

Please note, we allow a maximum 5 bowlers per lane. Don’t forget to bring socks, and remember, shoe rental is not included in the lane price. 

47th Annual Newark Turkey Trot

• Who: (Human) runners, walkers, and trotters – no pets, please!
• What: Turkey Trot 10k/5k race and fun run
• When: Saturday, November 23rd, 8 am (registration), 9 am (10k start), 10:30 am (5k start)
• Where: Handloff Park, 1000 Barksdale Road, Newark, DE

Lace up your running shoes and get ready to burn off some calories on the Saturday before Thanksgiving! The Turkey Trot features a USATF Certified course of rolling hills in a residential neighborhood. 10k runners will run the course twice. The first 800 registered participants will receive long sleeve t-shirts, there will also be post-race refreshments and a raffle. This event not only promises to be fun, but also benefits a great cause! The funds raised through the event will go to the James F. Hall Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance to youth who would otherwise be unable to participate in Newark Parks and Recreation Department programs. There will also be a coat drive to benefit local people in need. 

So you’re planning a company outing. Whether you’re in charge of planning an event for your team, department, or even the whole company, this is one task you want to knock out of the park. When done right, team building events can have a powerful impact on morale, communication, and employee retention. If you’re not sure how to plan a successful work outing for your team, not to worry! We’ve got your back with these tips for a well-executed event that will earn rave reviews around the water cooler or breakroom. 

Start early.

When planning an event for your company, it’s always best to start a couple of months early if possible. That gives you plenty of time to finalize the budget, discuss goals and requirements for the event with other stakeholders, and then announce it to the employees. You’ll want to give teams enough of a heads up that they are able to incorporate the event into their schedules and make any necessary changes to meeting times, project schedules, etc. 

Consider the logistics.

One of the most important aspects of planning any group event is managing the logistics. Consider factors like capacity, parking, and distance from work to ensure the outing will be convenient for everyone and to schedule the day’s activities appropriately. You should also make sure employees know what the company outing is so they can dress accordingly. For bowling, comfortable business casual (or just plain casual!) clothing is fine, as long as guests have socks to wear with their rented bowling shoes. 

Choose a venue that multi-tasks. 

Think about the elements of a successful work event: entertainment, food, drinks, atmosphere. Selecting a venue that fulfills several of these needs will make your event planning tasks much easier. 

For instance, when you book an event at our bowling alley and entertainment center, you’ve got entertainment on lock. In addition to bowling, our entertainment options include laser tag (a perpetual favorite for team building events), bumper cars, and an arcade. We even have kids activities if you choose to host a company event for your employees’ families. 

Don’t worry about the menu; our kitchen serves up a range of party foods, from appetizers to entrees to desserts. There’s no need to deal with a catering company because we can help you create a menu that your group will love. And forget hiring bartenders—we have a full-service bar for any adult beverages your party requires.  

Here at Mid County Lanes in Middletown, we have years of experience helping our clients host crowd-pleasing events, so don’t stress! Just give us a call at 302-378-0677 to discuss your organization’s group event needs, or fill out our online form and we will contact you. 

Bowling is one of our classic American pastimes, so most people have bowled at least a game or two at a birthday party or after-work hangout. However, a few casual games at the bowling alley won’t necessarily teach you everything you need to know about the game if you want to become a better bowler. Whether you’re new to the sport or want to level up from social bowling to league play, we’ve got some “Bowling 101” tips to help you out. For starters, these are the basic types of bowling shots.  

Basic Bowling Shots Explained

• Straight shot – This shot is what most people start with. It’s the most basic bowling shot, and it’s as simple as it sounds; you just visualize a straight line and try to throw the ball along that path to the pins. Of course, you don’t want to roll your ball straight down the lane and split the pins, so it’s best to angle your straight line towards the pocket on either the right or left. However, even if your straight shot hits the pocket, it may lack the force and spin necessary to send pins flying and get you a strike. That’s why you will eventually want to learn how to throw a hook. Of course, there’s a time and a place for everything, so if you have just one or two pins left standing, a straight shot may be just what you need! 
• Hook shot – Also known as a curve ball, this shot starts out moving straight down the lane, but once it’s closer to the pins it curves or “hooks” into the pocket, picking up speed and energy. This allows the ball to strike the pins with more force and at the perfect angle to send pins flying into each other, which ultimately increases your chances of a strike. The key to mastering a hook shot is putting a little “twist” on the ball as you release it, giving it a boost of centripetal force that creates the hook you’re looking for. While the hook shot is harder to learn, once you’ve got it down it can do wonders for your bowling game. 

Practice pays off, so visit us for open bowling in Middletown or check out our bowling specials! 

With school back in full swing, there are a million different sports teams and after school programs for our kids to join. How do you choose? Once you choose, is your child on to something new the next week? After school programs and sports teams may seem like an endless amount of carpool and laundry duty. However, there are several benefits in having children participate in some sort of afternoon program.

Benefits of after-school programs

• Leadership skills and camaraderie. Any after school program will feature a different group of people than their daily classrooms. Once they build relationships with these kids, they will feel a sense of belonging which leads to improvement of self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Improved social skills. With more time being around peers and new faces, your child will become more comfortable talking to and getting to know people.
• Exercise. After school programs can help to build a routine as well as healthy, active habits which kids will carry on to their adulthood.
• Opportunity to explore new interests. After school programs give children the opportunity to try several different activities, hobbies, and sports. This gives kids the ability to try new things without the parents having to invest time and money into something they are not sure will stick.
• Time management techniques. Students participating in an after-school program obviously have a busier schedule. This will help these children learn and develop time management skills. They will need to learn how to get their work done if they want to participate in the fun.

Here are some things you can do on your own to help with some of the items mentioned above without an after school program:

• Help plan a classroom, youth group or scout outing at Mid County Lanes.
• Encourage your children to meet one new friend at any of our Family Fun Galaxy.
• Have a family outing with your best friends and their kids regardless of the age difference.

However your children are spending their afternoon, we hope they have as much fun as we do at Mid County Lanes.