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Your kid wants her friends to gush about her birthday party as much as they oohed and aahed about so-and-so’s brand-name bear-making bash. But New York Kids Club? Bowlmor Lanes? Dylan’s Candy Bar? Please. They’re great places, sure, but is there no originality left in this city?
Of course there is—and no, you don’t have to cram your child’s 20 excitable second-grade pals into your junior two-bedroom’s eat-in kitchen. Our themes are evergreen ones: dancing, gaming, skating, tumbling, and so on. But in place of the tried-and-true, we’ve got some fresh ideas for you to try out.
The tea party
Suddenly, there’s a glut of civilized tea parties on the birthday circuit, and most of them seem to call for party dresses and shiny shoes. But if you’re acquainted with a real-live girl of post–pre-K age, chances are she’s all about jeans and kicks, and staying creatively busy—like six-year-old Adelaide Qassis of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, who had a Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Artistry Project, a neighborhood arts center. One weekend afternoon, Adelaide and her eight guests sat down at the Project’s child-sized art tables and got to work creating homages to their beloved bears in pastels, paint, fabrics, buttons and other collage materials. While they colored and pasted their Still Life with Teddy masterpieces, the girls offered one another compliments and appropriated creative techniques from their friends. “There’s a camaraderie that comes from doing art side by side,” says Celeste Simonelli, who owns the Artistry Project with her daughter, Kathlyn Wilson, a public-school art teacher. “They’re inviting each other into their imaginations.” After an hour or so, with the portraits complete, the children and their bears were ushered to the tea table—actually, it’s a prettified art table, and bears are allowed to sit on it as well as at it—where the girls less-than-demurely consumed the cake that Adelaide’s mother had brought. Later, on the way home, Adelaide introduced her bear to his portrait and asked them both, “Wasn’t this fun?”
Who’s it for? Ages 4 to 9
What’s the deal? $25 per child for 90 minutes (12-kid maximum)
What you get Invitations, art materials and instruction, plus balloons and banner the day of the event. The birthday child receives one free art class.
What you bring Cake, refreshments and paper supplies; guests go home with their teddy bear portraits, which could double as favors.
What about parents? There’s only space here for the birthday child’s parents. Others can mingle at a nearby coffeeshop.
185 Sackett St between Henry and Hicks Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-858-0217, theartistryproject.com)
The circuit party
The thump-thump of Dem Franchize Boyz’ “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It ” shakes the 28,000-square-foot room at the Empire Roller Skating Center as swirling disco lights beckon partygoers to the floor. The guests hit it—on four-wheel skates, or quads, that are almost certainly older than the kids wearing them. “This rink deserves party props,” says Alex Cohen-Young, a Park Slope fourth-grader who’s a major skater. Around him, boy-chases-boy games flare as posses of little girls, holding hands, shout and giggle.
On any given weekend, some 12 parties might be going on concurrently at the rink (book at least a month ahead for the most popular time slots). But don’t think you’ll have to put up with a communal party scene: When it comes time to sit down for cake and Empire’s menu of junk food (yes!) , even the basic package guarantees you your own hosted area.
Who’s it for? Kids should be old enough to skate; Empire starts lessons at age two, but the party’s best suited to ages 7 and up.
What’s the deal?$13.95 per skater for Classic Party (minimum of 10), for three hours; $35 per skater for private Sky Box Party package (minimum of 20)
What you get Admission, skate rentals and arcade tokens, plus a hosted party area with pizza or hot dogs, and soft drinks. Premium-level packages add ice cream, party favors and decorations
What you bringCake, and a helmet if you want your child to wear one—a bike helmet will do.
What about parents? Sit back and watch—or pay and join in.
200 Empire Blvd between Bedford and Rogers Aves, Crown Heights, Brooklyn (718-462-1400, empirerollerskating.com)
The arty party
Architots, a one-stop party destination in Queens, is bringing together small children and architectural construction with enough rigorous energy to lure kids from all five boroughs to Middle Village. While many art parties simply ask guests to paint a picture, architect-by-day Michael Macaluso, who cofounded this children’s arts center with his architect dad, says Architots is more interested in getting kids exploring. What’s your dream backyard? Your dream house? Let’s build it! “I have never seen a kid cry here,” says Forest Hills parent and freelance illustrator Jane Sanders, whose preschool daughter, Elizabeth Goldstein, is a three-party Architots vet. The center’s signature offering is construction-themed; kids design their own homes, then build models of them using foam, paint, markers and more. But first up during every Architots bash is open playtime, when partygoers don hard hats and add connections to a wall of exposed pipes, stack blocks or fiddle with the dollhouse. Later, one of the best local pizza parlors delivers, birthday cupcakes make their appearance, and finally, the kids let off some steam during a freeze- and limbo-dance finale.
Who’s it for? Macaluso says he’s booked parties for one- through 10-year-olds.
What’s the deal? $295 for 12 children, for two hours; $15 per additional child
What you get A private party with three staff members, including a birthday manager, plus invitations and paper products. The birthday child gets an Architots T-shirt or baseball cap; all kids take home their plastic construction hats and the house they built.
What you bringGoody bags
What about parents? Only one birthday parent is required to be on hand, but others can stay to watch if they like.
64-64 Dry Harbor Road at 82nd Pl, Middle Village, Queens (718-894-7777, architots.net)
The sporty party
Hyun “Master Hun” Hwang, an expert in Japanese martial arts and Western saber fencing, knows how to transform wanna-be pirates of the Caribbean into disciplined swordslingers in just two hours. And that’s with time out for cake. Master Hun (of Master Hun’s Safe Samurai Swordplay) begins each party with a bottle battle—i.e., controlled mayhem with empty Poland Spring bottles. After the kids have had a few minutes to exercise their laser sound effects and dramatic death blows, they’re ready to get into what it really means to wield a light saber—uh, foam-padded sword. Master Hun gives children a taste of real attack and defense moves and, most important, fancy footwork (as in Anakin vs. Obi-Wan). “Kids walk in looking like Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots and leave pure fluid,” he says.
Who’s it for? Ages 5 and up
What’s the deal? $250 for up to six kids, for 90 minutes; $20 for each additional child (12-child maximum). The workshop alone is $25 per child.
What you get A 60-minute workshop, plus 30 minutes for cake
What you bring Cake and refreshments, along with decorations
What about parents? For space reasons, advise guests’ parents to drop off their kids. If you’re not serving goodies, you can leave too.
Fighthouse, 122 W 27th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, second floor (646-387-8575, masterhun.com)
The gym party
The fourth floor above the UWS West Park Presbyterian Church is hopping—literally. A group of nearly two dozen girls watch as birthday kid Anna Gulko, 10, bounces higher and higher on a huge trampoline. Finally, Anna flies about seven feet into the air and—upside down—finds the hands of the gym’s head coach, Rudy Van Daele, then performs a handstand on his outstretched palms. Anna’s guests whoop and cheer. “The happier they get, the higher they go,” says Van Daele, who says he wants each party at his gym to be a celebration of how well the birthday child is developing.
Life Sport Gymis a well-conceived palaestra that sweats pure exhilaration. “This place isn’t ritzy,” says Anna’s mother, Candice. “There’s no planner holding your hand. But from the minute the party starts, Rudy builds this atmosphere of total coach-student trust, and by the end of the party, kids are doing things they never thought they could try.”
Who’s it for? If your kid’s old enough to toddle on mats, it’s a go.
What’s the deal?$280 for eight kids, for three hours; $40 per additional eight kids
What you get Private coach and exclusive use of equipment, plus access to a small lobby area with tables and chairs for cake. Birthday kids are invited to take one free class before their party.
What you bring Cake, snacks and decorations
How about parents? Chaperones are welcome to hang out on the sidelines.
165 W 86th St at Broadway (212-769-3131, lifesport gym.com)
The dance party
“Toe. Heel. Toe,” calls out Laura James Flynn, queen of the Irish dance-and-music toddler program Keltic Kids. Flynn is smiling widely at the lively attempts of her young charges—and their parents—to reproduce some Celtic footwork and sing-song. Not every guest here has Irish roots, and although Keltic Kids parties are popular among parents who want to give their children some contact with their heritage, all the kids here seem to think it’s big fun.
Flynn, a musician who’ll break out her tin whistle on occasion, begins each party with a greeting song, “Dia Duit A Chairde” (she comes across as something like Dora in leprechaun guise), and circle time. Then the real crack (that’s Irish for “fun”) begins—running, wiggling and bouncing, combined with singing, pounding on drums and tambourines, and performing scarf dances. “Laura is very physically involved,” says Kate Bushmann, whose daughter Eloise, 3, is a veritable gigglepuss after the two of them partner on a round of the “Pirate Song.”
Who’s it for? Toddlers to kindergarten-age children
What’s the deal? $600 for 12 children, for three hours; $15 for each additional child. Price includes $375 for studio rental; Keltic Kids will come to your home for $225 plus transportation. Time allocation includes setup and cleanup.
What you get A 45-minute private dance workshop, an hour or so of food and games, and staff to help with the transition between the two. Keltic Kids can provide Irish-themed decor, or you can bring your own.
What you bring Cake and refreshments, plus paper goods
How about parents? Each child needs one adult partner for the workshop; tell the guests’ parents to hold the date.
Drama Zone, 220 E 86th St between Second and Third Aves (646-387-8991, keltickids.com)
The overdone party
Some liken the Chuck E. Cheese’sexperience to gambling—children use tickets at arcades rather than poker chips or money. In case you’re wondering (never left Manhattan?), Chuck E. is the spokesmouse of a national chain of indoor play palaces–pizza joints that are so garishly mall-like a New Yorker could consider them exotic. They’re also impossibly fun, with their wowie selection of arcade-style and interactive video games, and plastic tubes for sliding on and crawling in, plus a menu full of goopy fried and sweet goodies. CEC parties are not terribly expensive, given that the staff does absolutely everything for you: Chuck E. himself comes out to sing “Happy Birthday,” and birthday children are crowned. “These parties feed every greedy, anxious, overeager tendency a small human being has,” says one Morningside Heights mother. For sure. In Chuck E.’s happy-go-lucky universe, that’s called having a great time.
Who’s it for? Don’t kids of all ages love games and pizza?
What’s the deal?Basic package $16.99 per child, for 90 minutes; super package $21.99 per child
What you getPizza, drinks, cake, game tokens and a party area with your own host. The super package includes more game tokens than the basic one, plus goody bags. (Be warned: You’ll probably go soft and spend more on extra tokens if you opt for the basic.)
What you bringNothing when you buy the super package; goody bags when you opt for the basic.
How about parents? The restaurants have a safety system at the door that matches kids and adults with invisible-ink hand stamps. Kids can’t leave without the adult they arrived with, and adults without children aren’t welcome. Still, you might prefer for other parents to join you in managing the party.
34-19 48th St between Broadway and Northern Blvd, Long Island City, Queens (718-728-3600, chuckecheese.com). Also at 139 Flatbush Ave at Atlantic Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-783-4570) and 1816 Gunhill Road at Ludovick Ave, Bronx (718-671-2240)
The techy party
The folks at this place make it their business to see that your kid plays more video games (as if that were possible). Web2Zone has some 40 networked PCs with high-resolution 3-D graphics and plenty of luxurious seats to tuck into (these are occupied mostly by teens and college students). It’s the perfect place for kids to celebrate a double-digit birthday while killing their pals on Battlefield 2. When two new monsters are spawned in a pit of lava onscreen, partygoers get an opportunity to retreat and gobble down mouthfuls of pizza. There is a console section, too, that younger kids prefer, with a fresh supply of XBox, GameCube and PlayStation 2 games partnered with plasma or CRT screens. “Kids love the idea of being able to access all the game systems as well as trying out network games,” says Yoosun Min, the party coordinator. Which means they won’t want to leave.
Who’s it for? Kids in grades 5 and up get the most out of this place.
What’s the deal? $12 per child for two hours, $20 for four hours for the basic package; $35 per child for two hours and $45 for four hours for the deluxe package (four kids minimum)
What you get The basic package includes a personal game coordinator plus a semiprivate area for your own food and drinks (à la carte pizza, soda and ice cream are also available at Web2Zone). The deluxe version includes pizza and soda, ice cream and a CD of digital party photos for each party guest, which makes the perfect favor.
What you bring Cake and refreshments (or order à la carte) when you buy the basic package, plus party favors; cake and favors when you opt for the deluxe.
How about parents? You really don’t need to hang around, but if you want to stay and play, you pay the same fee as the kids.
54 Cooper Square at E 6th St (212-614-7300, web2zone.com)
The nature party
Sarah Corning studied to be a science teacher; but when she entertains at kids’ birthday parties as Sarah the Science Teacher, the bubbly New Yorker comes across more like a magician. No rabbits and top hats here: Corning’s shtick relies on snakes, lizards, turtles and a big hairy tarantula named Charlotte, plus exploding volcanoes and rockets, slime, and a witch’s cauldron of liquid nitrogen. “She gets the chemistry—no pun—of the group and goes right to it,” explains Simone Weissman, whose two children, Jonathan, 10, and Zoe, 8, have had three Science Teacher Sarah parties between them. The highlight? “The exploding volcano, definitely. They loved it,” says Weissman. According to Corning, squeals and screams erupt when she brings out her cast of creatures. “I talk about them and invite the kids to touch them.” By the end of the party, which she holds in her “classroom” space (Corning also offers after-school workshops and summer camps), more often than not the birthday kid is wearing Charlotte as a birthday crown, and even the more animal-shy among the guests are clamoring for their turn with the tarantula.
Who’s it for? Pre-K to about age 9
What’s the deal? Basic package $240 for 18 children, for two hours; deluxe package $500
What you get A 90-minute workshop with Sarah and an assistant, plus 30 minutes for food and drinks. In addition, the deluxe offers decorations, cake, snacks and juice, helium balloons and a take-home science kit for each child.
What you bring A camera to memorialize the awe on those little faces. Plus, bring decorations and food , along with goody bags, if you opt for the basic package.
What about parents?“We always tell the parents it’s drop-off, but they always want to stay,” says Corning, who can accommodate the birthday kid’s and the guests’ parents.
1182 Broadway at W 28th St, tenth floor (212-683-2010, scienceteachersarah.com)
The glamour party
Think Sally Hershberger with pint-size clients, then replace the fussiness and fabulousness with banana curls and Heidi pigtails and, oh yes, lots of glitter. Now you have a Locks n Ladsbeauty birthday.
Parties at this community-minded East Village kids’ salon have a neighborhood vibe. Owner Judy Bodor—an East Village parent herself—is happy to try out new party ideas suggested by mothers and fathers. Local artists lead the storytelling, music, creative-movement and yoga options that partymakers can request (unlike the typical children’s salon, this one is sparsely furnished with simple barber chairs, leaving plenty of space for activities), and “glamour” here is decidedly downtown-kid.
Bodor knows how to please little girls without turning them into what she calls “Britney Spears extras.” One recent weekend, a group of four-year-olds stood around a tall barber chair. “How much makeup are you going to put on her?” asked one. “We’ll just keep it fun and light,” answered Bodor brightly. Later, when each girl was ready with a party ’do, shiny lip gloss and painted tiny nails, the partygoers disappeared into a comfortable side room, which was decorated with colored balloons and streamers. Favors were lined up on the party table, along with the cake. Basking in their beauty, the girls ate gingerly—fingers outstretched so as not to smudge the polish.
Who’s it for? Bodor welcomes one-year-olds up to teens.
What’s the deal? Space rental ranges from $125 an hour for off-hours to $300 for Saturday and Sunday afternoon prime time (two-hour minimum). Add on à la carte themes: $20 for hair/nails per child (maximum 20 kids); $30 per child for yoga; $70 per hour for music or storytelling; $80 per hour for creative movement.
What you get You have the run of the place for two hours. Bodor also provides balloons, plates and paper products, and decorations. You can bring your own food and goody bags, or Locks ’N Lads will do it all for you at an extra charge.
What you bring Nothing
What about parents? You can drop off kids older than 7, but stick around if they’re younger.
123 E 7th St between First Ave and Ave A (212-677-2262)
The diva party
“I don’t see no hot sauce!” Judine Somerville isn’t shouting about a lack of condiments. The original Hairspray cast member is trying to inspire a group of girls to put more spice into their shimmies and shakes. Lined up in a Theater District dance studio, the tweens are learning the moves to the finale of the musical Hairspray—and enjoying the most extravagant birthday party of their lives, courtesy of the Hairspray Party Package. Blake Mergler, 12, won the Hairspray Party through a radio station promotion. A block of theater tickets, a cast meet and a backstage tour are just the beginning of the customizable package. Parents who are feeling deep-pocketed can add beehive-wig makeovers, a karaoke session (partygoers belt it out like Tracy Turnblad), a mock Corny Collins Show starring the kids themselves, even a hotel slumber party. The sky’s the limit.
Who’s it for?Ages 4 and up
What’s the deal? Price depends on number of kids, date of the event and how many extras you add to the basic package, which includes theater tickets, Hairspray Highlights CDs and flashing rings. But even the rock-bottom price is—well, let’s just say it’s for a really special birthday.
What you get See above.
What you bring Nothing
What about parents?Just enjoy.
For more information and pricing, call 212-302-7000.
The music party
When Carla Weintrob, mother of Paul, 14, and Rachel, 11, heard that a Dumbo recording studio was offering group workshops for kids, she thought “birthday party.” The idea suited Paul: He’d been looking for a place to celebrate his 14th. So he and four friends brought their guitars and a piece of music they’d written, and spent a morning at Triple Z Recording Studioslearning about sound effects and layering tracks as they recorded their song. “It was a really intimate experience, and they all bonded over it,” recalls Carla. Triple Z is owned by veteran musician and composer Paul Guzzone. He has plenty of experience working with novices, so nonmusician Rachel didn’t present too much of a challenge. Before her big day, Guzzone polled her about music, and when she and her five girlfriends rolled into the studio after a birthday sleepover, they got right to work laying down their own version of Hilary Duff’s “Why Not” over an instrumental track. (Kids can also fill in as technicians; each session includes an intro to acoustics and recording techniques.) At the end of the party, each of the girls left with her own CD—a truly superior party favor.
Who’s it for?Ages 8 and up
What’s the deal? $100 per child for approximately three hours
What you get Just the experience
What you bring Snacks. For cake, try a nearby eatery.
What about parents?One or two can hang around.
20 Jay St between John and Plymouth Sts, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-624-6300, triplezmusic.com)
—Additional reporting by Billie Cohen and Susan Jackson
