Play Meter

UP FRONT Family harmony often needs a helping hand s Bonnie Theard Managing Editor PLAY METER tressed out? Suffering from conflict overload at the workplace and on the homefront? Two choices are open: sign up for yoga sessions or visit your nearest family entertainment center. Both are guaranteed to calm you down. But only one calms down the entire family, plus friends and relatives who may tag along for the afternoon. With the strain of the school year and other sundry problems bombarding us, it's nice to know there is a place where we can escape. A place where doddering parents, out of step with the teen perspective, can still beat the pants off said teenager at air hockey. A place where both teens and pre-teens can get behind the wheel and sample the fun of gok arts , often with their parents . Talk about bonding! A place where the dash and splash of bumper boats encourages a good-natured smack into fellow boaters. Ditto for bumper cars-a perfect way to relieve your frustrations with no harmful effects. A place where little leaguers of today and yesterday can step up to the plate at the batting cages-a more demanding sport than it appears at first glance. A place where outdoor iron rides may accommodate adults and/or the younger set. You don't have to leave the premises for a snack because most FECs have a goodly supply of pizza, nachos, popcorn, soft drinks, and other foods that appeal to kids. Adults can move over to the salad bar for a light lunch. Seating is usually available indoors and outdoors. Don't forget miniature golf, a major element at FECs. When was the last time you enjoyed one of the new-age courses? The ones with waterfalls, trees, fountains, and park benches scattered about. Way back in the '60s miniature golf was a cheap date. Teens with shallow pockets could enjoy a round of miniature golf 12 with a girlfriend or a bunch of the guys and still have some change. The same is true in the '90s. Even the youngest member of the family can get into the act because miniature golf is not a game of power, but one requiring a light stroke and a good aim. The game room in an FEC is filled with redemption equipment, usually about half of the machines fall into that category. The tickets they spew forth bring smiles to the faces of both young and old. The subsequent trip to a well-stocked redemption counter is another cause for wide-eyed amazement. Present desires can be satisfied on-the-spot, while the more patient customer surveys the offerings and makes a mental note about larger items achievable at a future date. The Theard clan enjoyed such an outing last weekend; it did wonders for the family dynamics . We were away from business deadlines, monthly bills, the last report card, and the phone (which never rings for us anymore but rings constantly). An entire afternoon in an atmosphere where we were surrounded by families in a festive mood, either celebrating birthdays or enjoying fun activities alongside of us. We could choose one, two, or three attractions, depending on our time frame because each was priced separately. Lastly, the cost. About the same as you would spend for five people to go to a movie and buy sodas and candy bars for everyone. Less expensive than five tickets to a major sporting event or a concert. We left saying that we need to do this more often. The nearest amusement park of any size is in Houston, so there is no way to manage a visit in one day. Leisure activities close to home, that's the niche. This month we zeroed in on family entertainment, expanding our "Family Focus" column to touch on all aspects of FECs. We also visited outstanding centers in print and photos. FECs are a trend and a new avenue for the coin-op world to continue supplying fun for the masses. From recent personal experience, a few hours of rides, games, and miniature golf helped us enjoy each other as well as the attractions. D JULY 1994