Suggestions for things for teens to do in NEPA (Scranton: movies, college)

[I LOVE PA!]

Hello Everyone! OK...besides movies and the ski hills, what is in your area in the way of teen entertainment? Hamlin used to have its 'Fun Center', but since that closed...there isn't much in the area to do. Movies don't exactly provide a social atmosphere...looking for ideas on someplace to go to just have fun! (Not me of course!) Anything 'different' out there?

[ScranBarre]

In Hamlin/Sterling/Lake Ariel? You can watch paint dry. You can smash mailboxes. You can go cow-tipping. You can watch the grass grow.

[I LOVE PA!]

Exactly Paul...but I'd be willing to drive 50 miles to give them something fun to do. What is REALLY out there to do at that age? The Hideout is chock full of activities, but nothing much for a teen..to just hang out and have some social interaction!

[MermanMike]

What about bands...where are the local teenage bands...I remember there was a good spot in Wilkes Barre...I forget what it was called. All the indie kids and bands played there. Maybe there is something like that in Scranton. They charged like 5 dollars at the time, no alcohol, so all ages were allowed in. That was back when I thought it was fun to be crammed in a room with sweaty teenagers.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by MermanMike

What about bands...where are the local teenage bands...I remember there was a good spot in Wilkes Barre...I forget what it was called. All the indie kids and bands played there. Maybe there is something like that in Scranton. They charged like 5 dollars at the time, no alcohol, so all ages were allowed in.

I think Cafe Metropolis is (was?) like this in Downtown Wilkes-Barre. The nearby Barnes & Noble downtown also hosts some younger bands (I believe on Wednesday nights, but I'm not sure). Downtown Scranton is mostly the bar/club scene for the college crowd.

Originally Posted by MermanMike

That was back when I thought it was fun to be crammed in a room with sweaty teenagers.

Considering what happened several years ago at that night club in West Warwick, Rhode Island in which 100 people were killed because they couldn't escape the night club after a fire broke out, I'd never venture into a place that cramped ever again (at least unless there were clearly marked alternate exits). I know times were different back then, and people were a lot more care-free, but you're very, very lucky that a fire/stampede never occurred during your era like that one. Then again, who would want to see a Great White concert anyways?

[ScranBarre]

I know it's lame, but my friends and I used to love karaoke at Applebee's on Wednesday nights. I don't believe they do this anymore (at least not the one near Wilkes-Barre). Karaoke is surprisingly fun, especially for nerds like us!

[61scout80]

Originally Posted by MermanMike

What about bands...where are the local teenage bands...I remember there was a good spot in Wilkes Barre...I forget what it was called. All the indie kids and bands played there. Maybe there is something like that in Scranton. They charged like 5 dollars at the time, no alcohol, so all ages were allowed in. That was back when I thought it was fun to be crammed in a room with sweaty teenagers.

there was cafe metro (i think) and another i don't remember the name of, both in down town wilkes-barre. there was also a coffee bar in midtown village, but i think they started serving alcohol. i don't know if any of them are still there.

a band is a good activity for that area. there is a HUGE music scene in north east pa, lots of places to play and close proximity to new york and philly for when you get a little sharper. there are also a lot of music shops, and a lot of friends to be made. most the people i met while we did shows were pretty straight shooters, friendly and very very few were drunks or drug addicts. most the people i met took themselves and their music very seriously, some way too much though.

i miss my nepa band (MySpace.com - 14mileDrive - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - Indie / Alternative / Rock - www.myspace.com/14miledrive), oddly here in phoenix i can't find anyone to get something going. i thought there would be more of a scene here

[MermanMike]

Yep, you both got it..cafe metropolis...i clicked your link scout, i like it. this first song kind of reminds me of the chilli peppers. maybe you were destined for the west coast! you will find your people out there.

[61scout80]

Originally Posted by MermanMike

Yep, you both got it..cafe metropolis...i clicked your link scout, i like it. this first song kind of reminds me of the chilli peppers. maybe you were destined for the west coast! you will find your people out there.

thanks for the compliment, been 2 years since i even picked up the bass

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by SWB

I know it's lame, but my friends and I used to love karaoke at Applebee's on Wednesday nights. I don't believe they do this anymore (at least not the one near Wilkes-Barre). Karaoke is surprisingly fun, especially for nerds like us!

Karaoke is great, I usually do a wine tasting karaoke jam, the wine tasting is to lossen people up, but karaoke is fun