A movie with no popcorn? Bowling with gloves? Fun returns to Miami — but not all the fun

Bowling gloved up. Playing a multi-player game solo. Eating popcorn before entering the theater.

Outings in Miami-Dade have changed. COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has kept people locked up inside for months. Then, little by little, restrictions loosened as cases slowed.

Miami-Dade and Broward County recently entered Phase 2, paving the way for schools to discuss reopening classrooms. Phase 2 also allowed movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, playhouses, and other select entertainment venues in Miami-Dade to open with new social-distancing guidelines in place.

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida would be entering Phase 3. For Miami-Dade, this means bars, nightclubs and strip clubs can reopen, also with social-distancing rules.

Here’s what to expect:

Bowling with gloves

At Bird Bowl, 9275 SW 40th St., a bowling alley that has served South Florida’s community for more than 60 years, some of its new changes include contactless temperature checks at the door and markings on the floor to separate bowling lanes.

A contactless check-in option is also available through Bird Bowl’s Yelp page, which means you can get on the waiting list before you arrive. Everyone will also be given gloves to wear during ball fittings.

What else is required?

Masks. This includes if you’re bowling, playing billiards or trying to beat your high score in the arcade. But this may change has Miami-Dade has shifted into Phase 3.

Bowlero Miami in Dolphin Mall also has similar rules in place. Its laser tag arena is closed until further notice and a maximum of six people will be allowed per lane, according to Bowlero’s COVID-19 safety page. Ball sharing is also prohibited and arcade games will be spaced out, where possible, to enforce social distancing. Learn more at: https://www.bowlero.com/COVID

Splitsville in Sunset Place is still listed as “temporarily closed” on its website.

Playing games, roller skating and private group experiences

How do you social distance in arcades, skating rinks and other entertainment venues to reduce the risk of COVID-19?

At Dave & Buster’s in Dolphin Mall, this means closing some games and moving tables to be at least 6 feet apart, according to the company’s COVID-19 safety guidelines.

At Chuck E. Cheese locations in Miami-Dade, this also means closing off some booths, canceling select character experiences and turning some, if not all, multi-player games into limited one-player games, according to its COVID-19 safety webpage.

The kid-friendly spot will also have pre-packaged bags at the gift shop to reduce time at the counter, contactless temperature checks at the door and instead of the traditional hand stamp, employees will be taking a “Kid Check Selfie.” Oh, and the salad bar is no more, at least temporarily.

Some entertainment venues are also offering private play experiences:

Super Wheels Miami has a private play experience option for parties and groups through Oct. 29. This means you can rent out the skating rink for 15-25 people if you don’t want to roller skate alongside strangers. The skating rink is also open for casual outings but expect to undergo a contactless temperature check at the door.

You’ll also need to buy your tickets online ahead of time, including for skate rentals and food purchases. Oh, and some skating activities are temporarily suspended, like couples and trios skates. Learn more at https://superwheelsmiami.com/

Sky Zone in Doral and Cutler Bay has also created a new “Private Play Experience” option for those who want to do maximum social distancing. This means you can reserve time for you and your family or friends to play in all of the trampoline park’s attractions, including its Ninja Warrior Course, without any strangers around.

You don’t need to reserve a private experience to enjoy the park. You can still show up to play, like usual, but expect extra wait times since the park is operating at limited capacity. Learn more at https://www.skyzone.com/doral/welcome-back

Movie night? Reserve ahead and forget the popcorn

Everyone has their favorite movie theater in Miami-Dade. Some have friendlier employees. Others have nicer seats.

Oh, and you can’t eat popcorn, candy or drink a soda while watching a movie.

Yes, you read that right. The change is part of Miami-Dade County’s “New Normal” guidelines to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Remember, doctors say the disease primarily spreads through respiratory droplets that are released into the air when someone who is infected with the virus coughs, sneezes, talks, laughs, shouts.

Movie theaters are still allowed to sell snacks and drinks, but they just have to make sure you eat and drink in a designated area that meets the county’s guidelines. So we repeat: No eating in your seat while watching a film.

An exception to the county’s rule: If you rent Silverspot Cinema in downtown Miami for a private screening, you can eat and drink all you want while watching a movie, as the Miami Herald has previously reported. Learn more at https://silverspot.net/

Some movie theaters might also have additional rules, like the Coral Gables Art Cinema.

The Coral Gables theater reopened Monday and is no longer accepting cash. Instead, everyone will need to buy their tickets in advance, either online or over the phone using a credit or debit card. The theater is doing reserved seating to enforce social distancing. Up to four tickets can be bought at a time and don’t worry, families can sit together.

The theater has also temporarily closed its concession stand while crews work to accommodate an area where people can take their masks off to enjoy snacks, according to a newsletter the theater sent out to fans. This means you’ll have to find a snack elsewhere on the Mile for now.

Coral Gables Art Cinema is also still streaming films virtually through its Virtual Screening Room and still has free films available on its Gables Cinema Drive-In page. To learn more, visit http://www.gablescinema.com/

Another thing to keep in mind: Even though movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades and other entertainment venues are allowed to be open, some might still be closed, so check online or call ahead before you make plans.

Regal Cinema locations, for example, are still listed online as being temporarily closed in Miami-Dade, though some are open in Broward County. AMC Theaters and CMX Cinemas have also reopened select theaters in South Florida with socially distanced seating.

For a full list of what you can and can’t do in Miami this weekend, visit https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/things-to-do/article245944935.html