MONROE UNFILTERED: THE DAILY BUZZ | August 21
Rain-Proof Weekend Picks and Homecoming for a Super Bowl Champ
Friday, August 21, 2026
WEEKEND WEATHER
Today is the pick of the (extended) weekend, and it's not close: mostly sunny, a high near 80°F, and next to no chance of rain. Get the outdoor plans done, eat/drink/be merry outdoors, and live it up. Because it's downhill from here (unless you have a well or are a plant).
Saturday turns messier, with showers and possibly a thunderstorm likely after 2 p.m., a high near 77°F, and a 60% chance of rain. Sunday isn't much better: same story after 2 p.m., a high near 81°F, and another 60% shot at getting caught in it. Between the two, we picked this week's Five Best of Monroe with a roof overhead on purpose.
Looking ahead, Monday clears back out: sunny, a high near 78°F, and next to no chance of rain, so the workweek starts on a better note than the weekend ends on.
FIVE BEST OF MONROE: BOWLING AND GAMING
With thunderstorms in the forecast Saturday and Sunday, here are five highly-reviewed bowling alleys, arcades, and gaming spots in Monroe County to keep the weekend going without getting wet, led off by Google rating, review volume as a tiebreaker.
Mudita Gaming Lounge (5.0 ★, 102 reviews). A retro-gaming lounge in Pocono Summit. Reviewers love it for private party bookings, Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering tournaments, and classic games with snacks included.
2657 PA-940 #101, Pocono Summit, PA 18346
Mountainhome Bowling Center (4.8 ★, 148 reviews). A cozy, family-run 8-lane alley in Cresco, with reviewers calling out the welcoming, down-to-earth staff and a mini arcade to round out the visit.
109 Golf Dr, Cresco, PA 18326
The Arcade Era (4.6 ★, 102 reviews). A retro arcade tucked inside the Stroud Mall, with $15 unlimited play and a lineup of nostalgic classics alongside modern cabinets. A bright side of an otherwise sad situation.
344 Stroud Mall Rd Ste 272, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Skylanes Bowling Center (4.1 ★, 588 reviews). East Stroudsburg's longtime lanes, the most-reviewed bowling alley on this list, with reviewers highlighting glow bowling nights and the on-site Sky Lounge Grill.
100 Eagle Valley Mall, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Summit Lanes (3.8 ★, 689 reviews). A large Pocono Summit alley with a bar, snack bar, pool tables, and a game room, popular for league play and parties.
5357 Development Pk Dr, Pocono Summit, PA 18346
All five were active and listed as open on Google as of this week.
THE DAILY RUNDOWN
Retail Theft Suspect Sought in Stroud Township. Stroud Area Regional Police are asking for help identifying a woman caught on camera committing retail theft at the TJ Maxx at 100 Pocono Commons Drive on Aug. 13, around 4:51 p.m. Anyone with information is asked to contact SARPD or submit a tip through CrimeWatch. I know they say you get the Max for the Minimum at TJ Maxx, but you still have to pay.
SILVER LININGS
Bash Comes Home. Sebastian Joseph-Day, the Stroudsburg High School and Rutgers alum now suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers on a two-year, $11 million deal, made his way back to Ross-Stulgaitis Stadium in May for his second youth football camp, per the Pocono Record. About 100 local kids got gear and coaching from current and former Stroudsburg players, and the Joseph-Day Family Foundation cut a $7,000 check to the Junior Mounties Youth Football program. After seven seasons and a Super Bowl ring with the Rams, plus stops with the Chargers and Titans, Joseph-Day is now giving back to his youth hometown. That should make us all proud!
GET OUT: THE WEEKEND ITINERARY
Thank you to the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for sourcing our weekend lineups. Their events calendar did the legwork so you don't have to. Here are our picks:
S.O.P.S. Short Play Festival — Shawnee Playhouse. The Shawnee Original Playwright Series stages a full weekend of world-premiere short plays. Fri 8/21 (3–9 p.m.), Sat 8/22 (2–8 p.m.), and Sun 8/23 (12–5 p.m.). $30 per person, one ticket covers the whole weekend.
Sabbath: “Long Live OZZY” — Sherman Theater. A touring Black Sabbath tribute show. Fri 8/21 only, doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. Tickets roughly $16–$63.
Jason Bishop: Straight Up Magic — Camelback Resort, Valley View Room. A magic-and-comedy show at Camelback, on the calendar for two more weekends. Fri 8/21, Sat 8/22, Thu 8/27, Fri 8/28, and Sat 8/29 (8–9:30 p.m.), plus Sun 8/23 and Sun 8/30 (5–6:30 p.m.). $45 general admission, $65 reserved (rows 1–3).
The West End Fair — West End Fairgrounds, Gilbert. Rides, food, and livestock exhibits, running Aug 23–29 — it opens Sunday, not Friday or Saturday. Gates open 2 p.m. $8 admission (ages 11+), free for 10 and under.
Comedy Night — The Taproom by Barley Creek. A fresh lineup: headlined by John Grier, featuring Jeremy Pryal, hosted by Jack Bermel. Sat 8/22 only, doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Pocono State Craft Festival — Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm. A long-running art and craft festival, with vendor demonstrations and live music. Sat 8/22 and Sun 8/23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $7 for adults, free for 12 and under.
Live Music at Pint Size Park — Barley Creek Brewing Company. Free live music at Barley Creek's outdoor park, running weekly through Sept 6. Sat (5–8 p.m.) and Sun (1–4 p.m.) this weekend.
Smoker Sundays on the Patio — Smuggler's Cove Restaurant, Tannersville. A different smoked specialty featured every week, while supplies last. Sun 8/23 only, 4–9 p.m. Free.
Have a great weekend, Monroe County.