DeKalb businesses offer specials, activities for students
October 9, 2011
As students begin their Homecoming celebration there are many places and activities for students to check out within the DeKalb area.
Star Worlds Arcade, 1234 E. Lincoln Highway , offers their customers a classic gaming experience. The arcade features mostly classic vintage coin slot machines mixed in with a few newer games.
Star Worlds Arcade is placed on The International Registry of Historic Video Game Arcades making it a tourist spot for people in the Midwest and for NIU students.
“We have people that travel to come visit our arcade from all over the Midwest,” said Patrick O’Malley Star Worlds Arcade owner. “We gain students all the time and we lose students due to students graduating every year. Unfortunately a lot of students don’t notice us until their last year in college. It is something fun for everyone, especially because this spot gives students something to do rather going to the bars.”
Tokens are “dirt cheap,” O’Malley said. One token is $0.25, five tokens are $1 and 30 tokens are $5.
“We like to have the college students come out,” O’Malley said. “They are very respectful of the business and appreciate the video game history. There is nothing else like us around.”
The Jonamac Orchard, 19412 Shabbona Road in Malta, offers many activities on the weekends for families and for students, such as the their famous haunted Corn Maze, barn yard, petting zoo, Apple Train, Apple Launcher and Cannon, wagon rides and pony rides.
“The haunted corn maze is a popular event for teens and attracts a lot of NIU students,” said Denice McArtor Jonamac Orchard manager and co-owner.
The Haunted Corn Maze opened on Sept. 30 and will be held for 11 nights this year. The Haunted Corn Maze opens roughly around 7 p.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m. Admission to the Haunted Corn Maze is $10 for adults and $8 for kids six to 12.
The maze is 10 acres of corn fields and 3 miles of paths that are transformed at night into a haunted challenging maze. The maze is inhabited with spooks of all sorts, chain-saws, a graveyard and other surprises.
Leave flashlights at home because they will not be permitted into the maze.
O’Leary’s Restaurant and Pub, 260 E. Lincoln Highway, offers a unique dining experience. They have many specials on burgers, ribs, soup and more.
“Compared to other places in the area, we provide a much more relaxed environment for our customers,” said O’Leary’s manager Lauren Olah.
Everyday there are specials and deals on their cuisine. On Tuesdays, all Burgers are $4.99 all day and on Saturdays there are specials on ribs.
O’Leary’s also accepts Huskie Bucks.
One of their events coming up on Saturday, Oct. 29 is called “Fright Night” from seven to 11:59 p.m. there will be a costume contest and the best costume receives a prize.
If you’re looking for something to please your sweet tooth, The Confectionary, 149 N. Second St., has a lot to offer. The shop offers a large variety of treats such as, chocolate clusters, English toffee, peanut brittle, caramels and seasonaly treats such as sponge candy.
“We are the only shop that knows how to make our own candy around,” said Confectionary owner Tom Smith. “Our secret ingredient is quality. We have quality ingredients and the best techniques. The shop is a very unique candy shop with plenty of sweet treats for fall and all year round.”
Some sweets are only made at certain types of the year such as their caramel dipped apples.
“As the temperature decreases, we see an increase of people coming in for a sweet treat,” Smith said.
