All children know the most important day of the year is their birthday. Sure, the other holidays are nice, but a day celebrating Me and only Me wins hands down. So, what are space-strapped urban families to do? Even if you have room to host a party, do you really want to deal with the damage from 20 six-year-olds on a sugar high?
There are places set up specifically for birthday parties, such as Funtime Junction in Fairfield, or Kid’s Kingdom in Northvale. Most kids will enjoy these places, which feature arcades, games, and activities, with staff that handle all the details. Across the river, Chelsea Piers and the American Girl Place are popular (if somewhat pricey) venues. Whether your child takes karate or ballet, most places that offer lessons for kids will host their parties as well. And of course, if the weather is nice, you can plan a party in the park, complete with kite-flying and sack races. Follow your kid’s interests, and check out some of these cool venues.
American Girl Place
New York City,
americangirl.com/stores/. Heaven on earth for friends of Kit, Samantha, and company.
Artnest Studio, Hoboken,
artneststudio.com.
Create and celebrate with art projects.
Ben and Jerry’s,
Edgewater,
benjerry.com/edgewater/. Choose from activities such as tie-dying or balloon animals in addition to the requisite make-your-own-sundae bar.
BowlRite,
Union City,
bowlritelanes.com. Bowling.
Chelsea Piers,
New York City,
chelseapiers.com. Gymnastics, rock-climbing wall, and many other sports.
Creative Groove Studio,
Hoboken,
creativegroovestudio.com. Customized themes at this music and dance studio.
Devotion Yoga,
Hoboken,
devotionyoga.com.
I actually saw four-year-olds leave a party at Devotion calm and (relatively) quiet!
Edgewater Golf, edgewatergolf.com. Driving range.
Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas,
nationalamusements.com/programs/reel_kool.asp.
See the hot new Pixar release or the latest High School Musical movie.
ENA,
Paramus,
enaparamus.com.
Gymnastics.
Funtime Junction,
Fairfield,
funtimejunction.com.
Arcade, rides, and activities.
The Gravity Vault,
Upper Saddle River,
gravityvault.com.
Rock-climbing thrills.
Hudson Lanes,
Jersey City,
nationwidebowling.com.
Classic bowling.
Kids’ Kingdom,
Northvale,
njkidskingdom.com.
Kids rule.
Liberty Science Center,
Jersey City.
lsc.org.
Includes general admission to most exhibits, or you can add the IMAX show or simulator rides.
The Little Gym,
Jersey City,
thelittlegym.com.
Gymnastics.
Medieval Times,
Lyndhurst,
medievaltimes.com.
For the jouster in us all.
Monroe Movement,
Hoboken,
movementspace.com.
This light and airy dance space provides creative movement instructors to keep the fun moving.
Padilla Tae Kwon Do,
Hoboken,
sporttaekwondo.net.
For little martial artists.
Tiger Schulman,
18 locations in New Jersey.
tsk.com.
Karate.
Space Odyssey,
Englewood,
spaceodysseyusa.net.
26,000 square feet of arcades, laser tag, and space-themed activities.
Stevens Institute,
Hoboken,
stevens.edu.
Our daughter’s party was hosted as a fundraiser by the women’s lacrosse team. We brought in pizza and cake; they provided the gym, basketballs, soccer balls, and 10 inexhaustible young women. It’s a great time and benefits women’s athletics at Stevens.
Urban Kitchen,
Hoboken,
urbankitchen.biz.
Your little chef of the future and pals can create a tea party, burrito birthday, or make their own pizza.
Velocity 17,
Maywood,
v-17.com.
Go-karts and virtual racing, minimum age 9.