Just clowning around at Denny's in New Smyrna Beach

Photos by Henry Frederick / Shelby Yant, dressed as "Yantsy Pants the Clown," shown here in the far left photo, sits with Kristen Speller, 2, and grandma, Rhonda Spellers, as they get ready to color at the corner table at Denny's restaurant in New Smyrna Beach. In the near photo, Shelby has the attention of a trio of siblings, Dontae Geraci, 9, and his sisters, Kendall, 4 and Madison, 8. They were at Denny's wiith their grandmother, Linda Geraci. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights at the New Smyrna Beach restaurant. All of the children in the photos are from New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's Tuesday night. There's no school so 17-year-old Shelby Yant is just clowning around with little ones at Denny's restaurant on State Road 44.

Actually Yant is providing a valuable service for her employer, Denny's where children eat free Tuesday nights.

The part-time hostess is a welcome sight to children. After all, everyone loves a clown.

Shelby is an incoming senior at New Smyrna Beach High School and is considering a career in broadcast journalism. 

On this night Shelby teacher pre-schoolers and elementary-age children alike the art of coloring and self expression with crayons, markers and watercolor drawings. Yant alternates the Denny's Tuesday Kids Night with Ashley Faulds, a fellow teen and volunteer who is not employed by the restaurant.

Denny's is open seven days a week around the clock.

"Children know that Tuesday night is kids-eat-free night and they remind their parents that they want to have the clown paint their face," Callie Gatanis, night manager of Denny's, 1830, S.R. 44. "It's a relaxing atmosphere for both parents and children.

"Children know that Tuesday night is kids-eat-free night and they remind their parents that they want to have the clown paint their face. It's a relaxing atmosphere for both parents and children."

And who can beat that deal in this economy?

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