"Hey Siri, Take Me To...MainStreet DeLand": Mini Adventure Series

Guess who's back with a brand new mini adventure post. Also, did anyone else read that and in their head start singing "guess who's back, back again, Shady's back, tell a friend...." No? Just me? Oh okay, cool cool.

Well anyways, I was able to go on a mini-venture in the middle of the week this time; I know crazy, who am I. This may not happen again or at least for a while because I did not end up getting home until about 11:00 and that is waaaaay past my bedtime cause I'm a grandma. But I digress.

This week's mini-venture (that sounds so much better than mini adventure) is right where I go to work, well right next to it; MainStreet DeLand.

In case you were not already aware, DeLand has won Best Main Street in America (peep the photo) and I will say that it totally earns that title. When I was first introduced to MainStreet was on my initial visit for my current job. They drove me around this area and it honestly gives off New England vibes, which is amazing. The strip is full of small businesses ranging from clothing shops, antiques, record stores, and tons of restaurants for every cuisine craving. If you are bored, you should seriously check it out online. There may be only one or two restaurants that are chains but that's it. What is also nice is that a little further down the road, you hit Stetson University's campus, which is gorgeous in itself. My mini-venture takes me both on campus and on MainStreet on this random Tuesday night. I hope to do another mini-venture here in the daytime for better pictures and more stores being open. Until then, follow me along on my night on the town.

Tuesday the 9th: First Day of College Hoops

For most sports fans, especially basketball fans, Tuesday the 9th is like Christmas. For those who are retired college basketball athletes, this day is full of reminiscing and living vicariously through those who are playing and wishing we could still lace up the 'ole New Balance kicks and jump on the court again. This year was a bit different, since usually my first home basketball game I am watching is in Maine, bundled up in a sweater/sweatshirt, boots, maybe even a beanie hat, cheering on my Alma Mater. Instead, I was wearing a t-shirt, sandals, and watching a team I really know nothing about. Either way, I was excited to be in a gym again and I have heard good things about the Stetson Hatters and their head coach of 14 years. Stetson was playing a team I had never heard of who were from a conference/league I never knew existed. Guys, did you know that there was a NCCAA? Its the National Christian College Athletic Association. They have Division I and II sports with over 50 schools. This game was an exhibition game and based on the final score (127-36) you probably could have figured that out.

The major entertainment of the game was the half-time show, featuring the one and only, The Amazing Sladek. This man is crazy but in the best way possible. He is the oldest daredevil in the country apparently (63 years old) and climbs up chairs at ridiculous heights. It was the most amazing, entertaining surprise ever. I mean he started shaking it to Drake....dude's a legend. Y'all need to go to his website to take in all of his glory. You can see in the photo how high up he gets. I was panicking the whole time while I simultaneously think about how this man is more flexible than I am and I get sore for sitting in a chair for too long.

After watching Stetson completely dominate and trying to figure out how the Amazing Sladek is such a boss, it was time to head downtown and get some grub.

Time to Hit the Streets

The pictures just don't do it justice. Which is why I will definitely make sure to share MainStreet photos in the day time. So this post is really a part 1 of MainStreet DeLand. It is great place to walk around (FYI I did not do that since it is nighttime and it's just me, even though I could kick someone's butt if necessary, gotta be safe out there ladies and gents). I had a direct route that I was shooting for. I was craving some pizza and knew exactly where to go for some that is gluten free (yes I am one of those people but I am a cool, not difficult, not being a part of the band wagon gluten free). I headed straight for Positano Pizzeria. I have been here before, on my visit, and had their gluten free pasta and it was delicious. So I knew I had to go back to try their pizza. It did not disappoint. Got myself a dang pineapple and bacon pizza and had some leftover for lunch the next day. Also, I will totally win a debate as to why pineapple deserves to be on pizza, especially with bacon. Best version of a Hawaiian pizza. Try it. Do it.

No longer on the verge of being hangry, it was time to test my useless knowledge at trivia.

TRIVIA!

I know I will not be the first or only person to say that I am can only contribute to trivia if the topics are 90s-20s music, Disney, and maybe sports (but not really, more so the first too). Therefore, I went in with full intentions that I was going to sip on my free mead (I had a coupon cause I'm frugal as heck) and be the team mascot. Now, you may be asking, who the heck did you go to trivia with, spill the deets. Well I have some pretty awesome colleagues and supervisor who go to trivia every Tuesday at a place called Abbey's. Abbey's is a cool spot for beer, mead (a new gluten free drink that I have finally tried and in love with) and wine. And every Tuesday, they do trivia and the guys that runs it/hosts it is fantastic. He clearly loves coming up with categories and questions. What is also a nice bonus is that the guys I joined are the best ones there. Their team literally wins every time. So I really could just sit back and be the mascot. Well let me tell you, I actually got some answers right, and they had nothing to do with the topics I mentioned earlier! I know y'all are surprised, I am even surprised myself. We won three out of the six categories and ended up getting the most points at the end and got some sweet swag, including coupons for free drinks on the next visit.

The true highlight and MVP of the night was my new best friend Sailor (the amazing fluff of a pup in the pictures below). He is such a lover and was sitting at the table next to us. He would literally just put his paws up on my lap to get pets, which of course I obliged. He clearing made this mini-venture the BEST. NIGHT. EVER.

Just when I think the night is over, two of my trivia teammates asked if I was down to go to Issues. Of course I have no idea what they are talking about. Apparently it is the definition of a dive bar (sign me up) so obviously I said yes and we headed over to grab one last drink for the night. It is a school night so we can't go crazy. This dive bar was dark, full with the smell of smoke, stickers all over the wall, TVs playing Mean Girls (yes you read that correctly) and a couple of pool tables and dart boards. Other than the fact that Mean Girls was playing in the background, I stood out like a sore thumb. Of course I made it worse, or better, depending on how you swing it, I played Bye, Bye, Bye by NSYNC on their music app. It was a total vibe.

After realizing it was 10:30, again past my bedtime, and I still had to drive 30 minutes home and it was a school night, I scooted right on out of there and made the realization on the drive home that I definitely need to move closer to DeLand after my year lease is up.

Overall, DeLand definitely knows how to show a girl a good time on a week night and I am excited to see what other adventures it can show me. Until then, peace out.