Are you looking for a place to take your family for some creative fun? Hearts of Clay, right here in Spartanburg, is the perfect place for almost any occasion. It’s more than just a pottery studio, and we’re going to tell you why our family loves spending time there!
About Hearts of Clay
For over twenty years, families have been creating memories with Hearts of Clay (Formerly Flying Saucers). In that time this family-owned business has expanded to include glass fusing, canvas painting, and more.
A trip to Hearts of Clay is the answer whether you’re looking for some family fun time, gifts for family members, a fun place to host a birthday party, or even a place to bring the kids for a parent’s night out.
Our family has visited so many times, I don’t even remember the first time we went. Since that first time, we have celebrated my son’s fourth birthday there, commemorated every month of my daughter’s first year of life, and enjoyed a mommy and son date night. I even eat my morning cereal out of a Hello Kitty-inspired bowl I made there.
If you feel like you aren’t artistically inclined, you shouldn’t be intimidated. The pieces available range from beginner to intricate, and there’s always someone around to help. If you mess up, the glaze can be rinsed off and you can start over. Any age can have fun painting pottery, the glaze used is non-toxic and will not stain clothes. For the more artistically inclined you have the option to use the pottery wheel to “throw” your own piece to paint. Once your item is painted, you leave it behind to be kiln-fired and it’s ready in about a week. There are also pre-fired items that can be painted with acrylic paint if coming back is not an option.
Hearts of Clay offers options for everyone
If pottery isn’t your thing, they also offer canvas painting and other classes in the studio. The classes and events cost between $5-$12, and reservations are encouraged. I’m always looking for mom’s night out activities and canvas painting and margaritas, sounds like the perfect night!
Hearts of Clay also offers Kids events. With their convenient location, it’s the perfect opportunity to have a date night or get some holiday shopping done. You won’t have to worry about the kids, they’ll be fed dinner and get to create something. Reservations are required, and the cost is $5-$12 per child.
Home school families can register for the art enrichment classes offered once a month on Thursdays during the school year. These 60-minute classes cost $12 per child.
Preschool age children receive $2 off the item they paint as part of the “5 & under club” on Wednesdays.
If your church or school is looking for a fundraiser idea, Hearts of Clay can help with that too! They’ll include everything you’ll need to make pottery of your choice. This can even be utilized as just a fun activity for a large group. And a percentage of your cost will be donated to your school, church, or organization!
There are so many reasons to visit Hearts of Clay! I encourage you to check out the event calendar and head over to make some memories.
Plan a visit to Hearts of Clay
Visit the Hearts of Clay website. Tuesday-Thursday 11 am – 5 pm Friday-Saturday 11 am – 7 pm Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm 660 Spartan Boulevard, Suite #20, Spartanburg 864.576.2228
Are you looking for fall date ideas near Greenville, SC? If you are hoping for a date that represents the season, you’ve come to the right place. We have tons of date ideas to chose from to help you embrace fall and the ones you love.
Dates are fun and necessary for healthy relationships. Now that the temperatures are dropping, it’s time for some festive, fall-themed dates. These can be family date activities, Daddy and Daughter/Son dates, Mother and Son/Daughter dates, romantic couple dates, or any combination. All will provide memories and fall fun!
Have you visited Magnetic South Brewery before? Better known for their Anderson location, Magnetic South also has a location in Judson Mills in Greenville. This location is the perfect spot for a casual date night out or a place to meet up with friends. It’s also a kid-friendly place where the whole family can have some fun playing pool, pinball, and other arcade games.
The Magnetic South Greenville location is in a bit of an off-the-beaten-path spot, located on the interior corner of Judson Mill beside The Foundry music venue. They have some outside space in front of the brewery for hanging out or playing corn hole. Inside you’ll find a large and open space with lots of seating.
Order both your beverages and your food at the bar. They’ll text you when your food is ready, so you’re free to enjoy the space instead of waiting in line!
Magnetic South Beer and Ciders
You’ll find a rotating draft menu board at Magnetic South. If you’re really particular about your beer choices you can always see what’s on tap today at the Magnetic South beer menu online.
We enjoyed the Red Carpet red ale, the Ale Earndardt rye beer, and a slightly sweet pineapple cider. They were all delicious. My personal favorite was the red ale, as it had a full flavor without being heavy.
Food at Magnetic South
The Greenville menu at Magnetic South offers Cuban-inspired flavors, including rice bowls, burritos, tacos, salads and snacks like nachos, chips & queso, and even street corn. We found the menu to be quite affordable, with menu items ranging from $6 to $13.
Food portions are not huge, but they are the perfect companion to a beverage or two where you don’t want to be too full anyway.
And, at those prices, you can definitely order a couple of items if you’re extra hungry. If you’re bringing the family, you could definitely order a few snacks to share to accompany your meal choice so everyone gets to try a few things.
I enjoyed the Mojo bowl, which was Cuban rice with marinated pork, black beans, corn, and tomatoes. It came with my choice of sauce and the curry mustard that I picked was so delicious. I would order it again in a heartbeat.
There are other bowl choices including one with grilled chicken and one where you can build your own by selecting a protein and toppings.
My husband enjoyed the Cuban Pork Burrito which was actually quite similar to my bowl, except in burrito form.
We are pretty terrible at pool. Like 97.5% of the balls I actually got in the pockets were accidental. But that’s ok. We had a great time doing it!
The two pool tables at Magnetic South, as well as the arcade games, are coin-operated. There is an ATM machine and a coin machine beside the games, and that worked perfectly for us.
A game of pool is just $1.25. I had a $5 bill on me, we turned it into quarters at the change machine and played several games of pool.
The other games like skee ball and pinball were both a dollar, also taking quarters. Another $5 bill had me losing a couple of games of skee ball to my husband. You know, these things happen. But it was really fun.
I loved that while there were several game options, the overall atmosphere wasn’t the loud, flashing lights, chiming bells, and sometimes overwhelming environment you might think of when you imagine an arcade. Magnetic South is not an arcade, they have just one corner of the space with games and they aren’t exceptionally loud. It’s really the perfect blend.
At the end of the day, it was a really affordable date night, with good food in a super fun place. We definitely will be back, and I wouldn’t hesitate to bring the kids sometimes, either.
If you need a new date night idea or something one-of-a-kind for your next event, we’ve got the perfect idea for you. Alchemy Comedy Theater in Greenville, SC will make you laugh so hard your stomach hurts. Every show is different. Every show is hilarious. And every show will keep you on your toes.
Overview of Alchemy Comedy
Located inside Coffee Underground in downtown Greenville, Alchemy Comedy Theater has been making people laugh since 2011. Weekly offerings include a combination of improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy.
All shows are live and incredibly energetic and interactive, featuring different local performers each week. The atmosphere is also laid-back and casual—no stuffiness about it. Coffee Underground offers food, coffee, and alcoholic beverages on its menu for patrons to enjoy before, during, and after the show.
What Alchemy Comedy Offers
Alchemy Comedy Theater offers a variety of different shows, classes, and special events throughout the year. You can even hire them for your next event!
Comedy Shows: Improv, Stand-Up, and Sketches
Fans of shows like “Whose Line is it Anyway” and skits on the “Tonight Show” will love Alchemy’s improv shows. I have no idea how they come up with things so quickly that are so funny. They’re truly unique comedic experiences.
If you attend, you may even get the opportunity to participate in the fun on stage! It’s been said that the more shows you attend, the funnier everything gets. All upcoming improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy shows can be found on Alchemy Comedy’s calendar.
Improv Comedy Classes
The Alchemy Comedy Theater offers improv classes throughout the Greenville area. Each 6-week-long class is held weekly from 6:30-9:00 pm. There are a variety of classes based on experience, but in order to reach the next level, you need to graduate from the previous class. The only graduation requirement is to attend at least 4 of the six classes.
However, there’s no comedy or theater experience needed in order to take Improv 101. Alchemy Comedy Students also get free admission to their shows while enrolled in a class! You can read more about their classes on Alchemy’s website.
Comedy Workshops and Shows at Your Next Event
You can also hire Alchemy Comedy for your next event! Whether it’s for business or personal fun, the theater offers group workshops, private shows, and even performances. These specialty workshops are great for businesses, students, and birthday parties. They even did a private show for TEDx Greenville. Read more details about hiring Alchemy Comedy.
Are you in need of some Group Therapy? Greenville has an indoor playground for adults that will bring out your inner child for a little fun. Group Therapy Pub & Playground is a great place to play, for everyone!
Sometimes you just need some space to chill out, play some games, and belt out some karaoke, or if you’re like me, just cheer on the brave souls who do. All of that and more is at the new Group Therapy Pub & Playground at Camperdown Plaza in downtown Greenville.
An awesome arcade that has the best games from the 80s and 90s is located in Simpsonville, SC and we just had to try it out! Thanks to the Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum for having us come by to do this review.
When I see an old-school Pac-Man machine, I immediately think of my mom and how much fun we used to have to play it (and constantly getting eaten by ghosts). Super Mario Brothers bring back memories I had of my friends and me playing it together in middle school. Yes, I’m dating myself but I don’t even care because there’s a place in Simpsonville where I can now go and play all these retro games and share my own great memories with my kids and make new ones as well.
Have you practiced your putt and drive at Topgolf? Greenville golfers love Topgolf for the combination of entertainment venue, sports bar, and practice area. Though we aren’t golfers by any stretch of the imagination, we had a blast and we know you will too! The facility is incredible and we learned a ton of cool stuff about it, which we are sharing here because seriously, we can’t keep all this to ourselves. Perfect for a date night, or a family outing, Topgolf Greenville is the place to go if you are a golf lover!
1- Topgolf is for the entire family
You can bring your whole family for a fun time at Topgolf to hit balls around, eat, and enjoy the facility. They even have clubs for kids and toddlers, which are as adorable as you are imagining. Parents are encouraged to hang out on the lower level when they bring their kids.
2- Line Dancing was part of the interview process
This made us wish we had interviewed just to have fun and line dance. We heard it was a three-hour interview process and prospective employees had to line dance.
3- There are five huge TV screens at the bar/restaurant
The screens actually span from floor to ceiling in a two-story bar and restaurant. That’s 28 feet of video wall along with over 200 HDTVs throughout the facility. It’s amazing and perfect for anyone who loves watching their favorite team. Probably better than seats right on the field.
4- The golf balls all have microchips
Topgolf spared no expense to make sure their guests have a cool experience and microchipped all the golf balls so you can see on a screen how far you hit the balls and other stats.
5- The employees are ridiculously happy
They all seemed genuinely happy to be working at Topgolf and the smiles they all sported were contagious. We left happier than when we came. The Topgolf Greenville location is regularly hiring. Learn more about their careers at their site.
6- You don’t have to know how to play golf to enjoy Topgolf
They have instructors on-site if you want to learn how to play but the staff there can also give you a couple of pointers before you start whacking the balls. In fact, 51% of Topgolf guests aren’t golfers at all. Our editor, Bethany, can attest to this as her golf game is pretty terrible but she had fun!
7- Topgolf has other games you can play
They have an outside turf area where corn hole can be set up and they also have indoor foosball on every level of their bar/restaurant space.
8- Topgolf is an all-weather facility
It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny, raining, or snowing because you are sheltered when you play and they have heaters and fans to keep you comfortable.
9- There are 72 bays so a lot of people can play/eat
A bay is basically a separate place where up to eight people can hang out at a table and six people can golf. There is a turf launching pad and golf clubs at each bay and a hostess takes care of each bay so you can order drinks and food while playing.
10- The driving range is 215 yards long
Don’t worry, you’re not going to be hitting cars along I-85 with the huge driving range and enormous nets. And your car in the parking lot will be safe too.
11- There are more than 9 games at each bay
Scores are tallied through a touch screen at each bay and kept track of through membership cards (a one-time $5 cost for each golfer). Games can be played by anyone, novice to expert, and include 20 balls each.
12- You pay per hour for each bay, not per person
Pricing for Topgolfis done by the hour per bay, not per game or per person, and depends on the time of day. Before Noon daily, the cost is $30- $35/bay per hour, from Noon – 5 pm, it’s $40-$45/bay per hour, and after 5 pm, it is $50-$55/bay per hour. Friday – Sunday is always the higher of the price range, and Tuesdays offer half-price bay/hr deals all day!
13- Topgolf has summer camps for kids
Send your kid, ages 6-12, to summer camp at Topgolf for a week where they can learn how to play, or at least learn a respectable swing. It’s Monday-Friday from 9 am – Noon and costs $225/child.
14- Birthday parties are all the rage at Topgolf
You’ll probably be Parent of the Year if you have your kid’s birthday party at Top Golf. Birthday party packages come with a lot of perks and include 2 hours of playtime.
15- Topgolf is three stories so you can see for miles when you’re golfing
Being up on the third level is pretty cool. You can see for miles on a clear day and it’s just a fun experience.
16- It costs nothing to rent golf clubs
Most of us non-golfers don’t have a full set of clubs in our garage. Thankfully all Topgolf bays have clubs you can use for free. You can bring your own though if you have them!
17- You don’t need to dress like a golfer to come to Topgolf
As long as you’re not dressed like you’re going to the beach, you’ll be fine. Bethany and I were both wearing cute dresses and we did just fine.
18- There’s an app for that
Topgolf has its own app, where you can track your score, reserve a bay, and even control what you watch in your bay (each one has its own TV).
Looking for more golfing adventures with your family?3’s Greenville offers a 12-hole golf course, perfect for younger kids to dip their toes into golfing! Thinking mini golf may be a better route? Check out Takeoff Mini Golf, located right beside the Greenville Downtown Airport!
Are you looking for places to enjoy live music at restaurants in Greenville, SC? Here you will find several spots where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy music. We can thank our contributor Andrea Beam and additions by local Kidding Around Team members for this great list of places in Greenville and nearby communities that offer live music while you dine!
One of my favorite things to do is to enjoy live music… it doesn’t matter if I’m eating out or shopping, the whole experience is made better with live music in the background. And when the temperatures pick back up, there’s nothing quite like enjoying local, live music outside. Here’s a list of my favorite local places to sip on a drink and eat delicious food while listening to live music. Take out your pen and pad: You’ll want to write these down!
Thomas Creek offers both indoor and outdoor seating spaces with a wide variety of brews on tap, plus a few wine and cider options as well. They have live music on select dates in the brewery.
The dates and times will vary, but follow Thomas Creek on Facebook to see what’s happening and when. Then head to the brewery to enjoy some wings and small plate bites with locally-crafted beer with a side of live music.
Fireforge Crafted Beer
Located in downtown Greenville, Fireforge Crafted Beer’s events calendar features live music on various nights throughout the week, usually starting around 7 pm (with some daytime shows during the weekend). Grab a bite to eat and enjoy their locally-brewed beer while tapping your toes!
Smiley’s On The Roxx
Looking for live music 7 nights per week? Then you have to check out Smiley’s on the Roxx in Downtown Greenville! The music lineup regularly features local artists you may notice in the Greenville music scene, plus they have a have a decent menu of small plate options and entrees to choose from.
Blues Boulevard Jazz
To really amp up the romance on a romantic date night, Blues Boulevard Jazz should be on your radar. The jazz club in Downtown Greenville regularly features some of the best jazz and blues musicians in the area.
Plus, they have a food menu to choose from, so you can sip a cocktail and enjoy a meal while listening to some smooth music. Ladies, they also have a night just for you every Thursday is you are looking for a girls night out.
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack
You can enjoy delicious Nashville-style hot chicken along with acoustic musical performances at Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack. The shop is located at 420 Laurens Road in Greenville near Pleasantburg Drive, and will have music during the spring and summer months with their Wings and Strings series.
Music usually happens Wednesday night from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Keep up with what bands are playing through the Rocky’s Wings and Strings website.
Gather GVL
Located near Fluor Field, Gather GVL is an outdoor food hall built out of shipping containers. The food and beverage vendors at Gather GVL promise something yummy for everyone, especially frozen drinks from Juice Box Wine Bar. At the heart of this colorful and kid-friendly outdoor space is a stage on which you can regularly find a local troubadour doing their thing.
Their event calendar regularly features live music, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. Be sure to read our review of Gather GVL before you pop over there.
13 Stripes Brewery
Located at the Taylors Mill, 13 Stripes Brewery always has something fun going on. The brewery regularly has live music, so you will want to follow their Facebook to see special live music events.
Chicora Alley
Chicora Alley has delicious food, and often pairs the meal with live music. Musicians that frequent Chicora offer funk, rock, acoustic, jam band, jazz, Caribbean fusion, and just excellent music that you can dance to! Chicora has two locations, one in Downtown Greenville near Falls Park, and one in Travelers Rest.
The Radio Room
The Radio Room may be known to many as a small, local music venue, but their menu features yummy sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, appetizers, and signature drinks. The venue is an excellent choice is you’re looking to see live music, but also maybe need a little bite to eat during the concert.
Their event calendar is loaded with live music coming to Greenville in addition to special events and trivia nights.
Fountain Inn Taproom at The Mill
The Fountain Inn Taproom offers a variety of events throughout the year, including live music. They have a wide selection of beer and wine to go along with your food, which includes snacking items like paninis, bratwurst, pretzels, and nachos.
Vaughn’s Food Hall
Located in Simpsonville, Vaughn’s Food Hall has it all! Not only can you grab delicious food from a variety of cuisines, but they regularly host bands for live music nights. You’ll find their upcoming music schedule on their Facebook page.
The Taphouse also has great brews if you want to grab a drink before heading out to the large open space to hang out. Check out our full review of Vaughn’s Food Hall to see everything they have to offer.
Backyard of the Vaughn’s Food Hall
The Whistle Stop
It’s no secret The Whistle Stop at The American Cafe is is one of my favorite destinations, but what’s even better than their menu is the rooftop dining area. Yes, you heard that right – eating dinner on the roof! Throw in a live band and you have the perfect spring evening. Check their website and/or Facebook page to see if they have anyone hitting the stage!
Also in downtown Spartanburg, Fr8yard is an outdoor biergarten built from repurposed shipping containers. They regularly welcome regional acts to their stage. Their master calendar has a full list of upcoming live music acts. Bonus: Their menu sounds like the perfect pairing to live music and tasty beverages!
New Groove Artisan Brewery
Just 30 minutes from Greenville, Boiling Spring’s New Groove Artisan Brewery serves pub fare and includes a menu “for the groovy kids.” Beverages include their beer, as well as specialty crafted sodas. To keep up with their live music schedule, follow their Facebook or Instagram pages.
With the continued growth of the restaurant, bar, and brewery scene in the Upstate, I’ve brushed the surface of places around town to enjoy live music while grabbing a bite to eat or perusing the stacks. However, my son would probably like to eat dinner so I had to stop at some point. As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have anything to add.
It looks like I’ve planned quite a few weekends for you!
You can thank me later.
What live music venue would you like to add to our list?
This article was originally written by Andrea Beam and has been updated by the Kidding Around Team.
Looking for romantic restaurants in Spartanburg, SC for a special date night? You’ve waited for what seems like forever to have a date night with your spouse. Now where to go for dinner? We asked our readers where they like to go for a romantic meal out. Here’s where Kidding Around Spartanburg readers suggested.
Looking for the top date night restaurants in Greenville, SC’s downtown area? We have a fantastic list of date night restaurants in the beautiful downtown Greenville area. Pair dinner with a walk-in Falls Park and you’ve got a great Greenville date night in the making.
As I’m writing this, Valentine’s Day is around the bend. Date Nights abound. I’ve compiled a subjective—yes, subjective—list of my highly recommended restaurants in Downtown Greenville for date nights. Do all of these have romantic ambience? No. Do they all have a massive price tag? Heck to the no. Do they all serve you outstanding food that will have to returning next month? YES. And for that, I hope you’ll read on and try out some of these locally-owned businesses on your next date.
Great Date Night Restaurants in Downtown Greenville
This list is far from exhaustive. The downtown Greenville restaurant scene is unmatched for a non-metropolitan area. I could argue several other eateries onto this list, but each here offers something unique and suits a variety of date desires. Start here and move out. I am rooting for you to test out something new on your next night out!
Soby’s New South Cuisine
207 South Main Street Greenville, SC You will probably recognize this restaurant immediately. Soby’s has been wining and dining the downtown Greenville scene with their fresh take on Southern cuisine for years. Alfresco dining is a popular option here while the atmosphere inside is slightly more traditional.
Chef Shaun Garcia stands by the philosophy that customers should develop favorites to keep them coming back. Therefore, his menu is permanent, and rightly so (*cough cough* the pimiento cheese). The dinner entrees range from $20-$40.
Foxcroft Wine Co
631 South Main Street Greenville, SC 29601 Speaking of wining and dining, for a less hearty evening, look no further than this Main Street bar, Foxcroft Wine Co. Elevated, though. The staff will bring out small plates paired with one of their hundreds of unique wines.
No reservations needed by design, this first come first served restaurant gives you a reason to trot out that new cocktail dress and not leave feeling like a popped can of biscuits. However, you can make reservations if you’d like. Lite and unique, this is a wonderful option for adventurous dates who can’t settle on one dish and drink. May I suggest the burgers, though, if you want some comfort food? There’s something about a scrumptious burger to deflate a stuffy date night.
Rick Erwin’s West End Grille
648 S Main Street Greenville, SC 29601 Rick Erwin’s name tacked onto this restaurant means one thing: time-“tasted” favorites and top quality control. The menu is full of American surf and turf mainstays you’ll immediately recognize. Mac and cheese, chicken, crab cakes, and all impeccably prepared and served.
Atmosphere? Elegant. You won’t be out of place in a necktie if you want to gussy up. During peak hours, secure a reservation. The prices range around $20 for starters and $40-$60 for entrees.
The Anchorage
586 Perry Ave Greenville, SC 29611 I feel like a Greenville date list isn’t complete with The Anchorage. No, it’s not in the heart of downtown, but not by a far jaunt. This eatery and chef have been nominated for several well-earned awards, requires no reservations (so arrive early or late), and pairs small plate decadence with craft beers, wines, and specialty cocktails.
Their eclectic chameleon of a menu features local providers and keto-friendly options. And, if the fact that I squirreled around with my original article plans to add this restaurant to the list doesn’t convince you, the cuisine is phenomenal. Top Tip: visit after 9 pm for your nightcap and “dessert.” Small plates can count as a dessert when they tick all the right boxes. Prices for plates in the teens and twenties.
Trappe Door
23 West Washington Street Greenville, SC 29601 An offbeat suggestion, I’m thinking about those “date nights” that need to include kids. New baby? No babysitting family around? Last-minute supper? Trappe Door has a variety of menu items rooted in Belgian culture that can please the pickiest eater. The atmosphere is cave-like, cozy, and a bit loud. I’ve been in that desperate situation before where I really needed a date night but didn’t have childcare. You just make do.
Trappe Door gives you an elevated-enough feel that your night will be special without stressing that your kids might amp up the volume. There is a solid reason that this funky pub has lasted so long in a sea of ever-changing downtown businesses. While it isn’t marketed as kid-friendly, the fish and chips can make anyone a believer. Entrees around $20-30.
Jianna
600 S Main St #2, Greenville, SC 29601 Delicious modern Italian? Check! Overlooking Falls Park? Check! Excellent vibes, drinks, and food? Check, check check! Jianna is a favorite of my husband and mine for date night, gathering with friends, special occasions, and I wouldn’t hesitate to have a meal alone there.
The atmosphere is light and relaxed, but elevated with cuisine that is not only delicious, but fresh and always being updated! We highly recommend making a reservation, and they are most busy on the weekend. entrees range from $30-$50, depending on what you are looking to indulge in.
Scoundrel
18 North Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601 Located in the heart of Downtown Greenville off of Main Street, Scoundrel has grown since it’s opening in 2022 to be one of Downtown’s top date night destinations. The cuisine at Scoundrel is a plethora of French favorites with a modern take to each dish, plus delicious craft cocktails are a hit here. You’ll find Foie Gras and Duck Liver Mousse, Beef Tartare, and other famous French dishes, along with items like the Tomahawk steak or roasted duck.
Scoundrel makes a wonderful date night spot because of the way the restaurant was designed with the consumer in mind, with low lighting illuminating the space, giving the restaurant the perfect romantic ambiance. Menu items range from $6-$88, with a wide range of dining options.
Where is your favorite date night restaurant in Downtown Greenville?
