Kids can imagine, build, and decorate their own play structures with saws, hammers, nails, and paint. They earn the right to use these tools by collecting hazards like loose nails…
Our birthday party at Pump it Up
April 3, 2014 By 2 Comments
I’ve been a guest at Pump it Up parties before but this was my first time as a host-mom. I’m pretty sure that my kid got everything he wished for in a party. Its not cheap, but it was a ton of fun.
East Oakland Sports Center: Pool Party!
March 19, 2014 By 3 Comments
Not far from the Oakland Airport is a glossy new recreation center that is part of the city’s network of public facilities, and it’s a great place to have a kids birthday party. The indoor swimming pool has an adjacent party room with tables, chairs, and a sink. We attended a party there and loved […]
Birthday Party Place: Oakland Ice Rink
March 17, 2014 By 1 Comment
The cool thing about an indoor ice rink (see what I did there?) is that you can enjoy it year-round. An invitation to a birthday party at Oakland Ice Center reminded me that ice skating is a fun family activity, especially if you go frequently enough to stop being terrible at it. Side note: My […]
Laid-back birthday party: Pizza and a movie
February 18, 2014 By 5 Comments
For my son’s seventh birthday, EVERYTHING WAS AWESOME (insert the rest of that infectious song for those of us who have seen The LEGO Movie) because we paired the winning combination of pizza and a movie while avoiding all clean-up. The main coordination for this type of party is juggling showtimes and pizza restaurants for […]
Berkeley Gem: Cinnaholic or What I Want for Breakfast on My Birthday
January 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment
To get out of the house and entertain a multi-generational crowd during a family visit, we headed over to the Cal campus to walk around. Upon discovering that the Campanile was closed as was the door to the Life Science building, it was time for something sweet, and my husband lead our nine-person posse to […]
Get to know Color Me Mine of Alameda
December 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
We welcome a new sponsor today, Color Me Mine of Alameda. It’s been a lot of fun to get to know Color Me Mine, a paint-your-own pottery studio in Alameda (with locations in Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Fremont). Not only can families drop in to paint unglazed ceramics and have them fired in a kiln, […]
Baby Loves Disco: In San Francisco this weekend
September 24, 2013 By 2 Comments
Want to shake your groove thing, family style?
Win this amazing birthday party from Whole Foods and 4Cats!
September 9, 2013 By 17 Comments
To celebrate the launch of our East Bay Kids Birthday Party Guide, we’re throwing a huge birthday party with 4Cats Art Studio and Whole Foods Market Berkeley. And the guest of honor is YOUR KID! The sweet party package includes: Birthday party for 10 kids (suitable for ages 3 to 16) at 4Cats in the […]
East Bay Kids Birthday Party Guide
September 1, 2013 By 12 Comments
Are you planning a child’s party? Click on a category below to browse listings. Indoor birthday party places | Outdoor birthday party places | Birthday party entertainment | Birthday cakes & treats {sponsored listings} Brushstrokes Studio (Berkeley) Pottery painting parties include selection of ceramics such as piggy banks, boxes, picture frames, tea cups and 100s of others. […]
Birthday party venue: Alameda’s Crab Cove
May 6, 2013 By 2 Comments
Crab Cove in Alameda is a terrific place for children age 3 to 12 who like to get their hands dirty. If your kiddo loves the feel of sand between her fingers, consider their nature-themed birthday parties. As of this writing, the Alameda estuary’s visitor center offers two different themes: Bay Critters and Reptiles. What you […]
Indoor birthday party venue: Wheelhouse batting cages in Richmond
March 26, 2013 By 2 Comments
My son’s eighth birthday party was a casual, mostly-boys affair at the Wheelhouse batting cages in Richmond. {previous post: Batting Cage in Richmond: The Wheelhouse} For our Sunday evening party, we had (way too much) pizza delivered right to the venue, brought fruit, pistachios, drinks, and cupcakes. Easy! Here’s what $160 gets you at the […]
Berkeley birthday party venue: Studio Grow
January 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Perfect for a two-year old or three-year old party, Studio Grow is available at 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays for birthday parties. You get the entire place to yourself for two hours or three hours, your choice, and a staff member will help you with set up and clean up. Packed with activities for […]
How to: School holiday bouncy house
December 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A few months ago, I bought a LivingSocial Deal for a bouncy house rental. When I tried to use it for my daughter’s backyard birthday party, I learned that the offer wasn’t valid on Saturdays. Blargh. I filed the coupon away, finding a bright side in the fact that we had now paid for a […]
Berkeley birthday party: Tilden’s Merry-Go-Round
September 12, 2012 By 3 Comments
I went to a lovely birthday party last weekend at the carousel in Berkeley’s Tilden Park. Made more wonderful by the shady trees and perfect summery weather, it struck me as a fun, special, and pretty easy party.
Birthday advice: Venues for rent in Oakland
September 6, 2012 By 3 Comments
House too small for a party? Here are four venues you can rent out from Oakland Department of Parks and Recreation. The East Oakland Sports Center- Two rental rooms allow you to have a pool party at this location. The room closest to the tricked-out swimming pool holds 24 people. The non-resident rate for weekend […]
Get inspired at 4 Cats art studio
May 29, 2012 By 3 Comments
Located in Kensington (AKA the Berkeley Hills), 4Cats Studio is a hands-on art center for children based on the work of the masters. I am looking forward to exploring with my children. I asked local owner, Sarah Chester, a few questions so we could plan our visit. WHO is your studio for? 4Cats Arts Studio […]
