CARING FOR OUR KIDS
Local spots for your child’s
next birthday bash

Fall is a busy time in our house. Not only is it the start of a celebration sprint with Halloween, Thanksgiving and the holidays, but we also squeeze two birthdays in there. Right after our family adjusts to the new school year, our children turn their focus to what they are going to be for Halloween and to their upcoming birthday parties. When I was growing up, my parents enforced a rule that we were only allowed to invite a number of friends equal to how old we were – so far I have not been able to enforce this in our house. Birthday parties are no doubt so much fun and a childhood ritual, but for parents they can be stressful and expensive. I decided to take a look at some of great options for parties right in our own neighborhood.

Park party: One of the easiest and probably least expensive options is to have a birthday party at one of the wonderful parks we have here locally. It is easy to bring some balloons, a cake and reserve a table or a special spot on the grass. If you are worried about the weather, Moscone and Julius Kahn Parks have rooms you can rent. These spaces are popular, so it is best to contact the Recreation and Park Department early to reserve a space. They can be reached at 415-831-5520. Kids love to play with their friends at the park and it is a great idea for a party where you are catering to many different age groups.

Theme party at home: Parties at home can be a lot of fun. You have control over the theme, the number of people, and the way you want the party to go – however, they can also be a lot of work and may not end up being much cheaper. We had a “fairy princess” party for my daughter and 18 of her “closest” friends at our home last year. We had crafts, face painting, a princess parade, and cake. It was a wonderful and memorable party, but after all the preparations, hosting and cleaning up, we were exhausted. Parties at home can also be simple and small. You can have a great party with just a few close friends and get creative with the activities.

Art studio: A wonderfully quaint art studio called ARTifact recently opened in Cow Hollow. The owners are both former schoolteachers who love art and children – a great combination. The space is small so they can only accommodate up to 10 children and 2 adults for parties. Children can paint, sculpt, draw, collage, and even sew. They leave with what they make plus a free pass for a future “date night” at ARTifact (which is better than any goodie bag!). Date night is on Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m. and normally costs $30 per child. The children participate in arts and crafts and watch a family-friendly movie while you run out for a quick bite or catch a movie yourself. They also offer classes, so stop in and say hello or check out their website (www.sfARTifact.com) for class schedules.

Gymnastics/yoga/trampolines: If you are looking for something a little more active for your children and their friends, there are a number of great local options. San Francisco Gymnastics (www.sanfranciscogymnastics.com) has moved to a new location in the Presidio and they have a nice large room for parties. The teachers are great with all age levels and gear the activities to the children’s interest and age level. Since they lead most of the party, this gives parents time to enjoy the party also. The party can be for a small group but they can also accommodate up to 20 children.

It’s Yoga Kids (www.itsyogakids.com) is a great option for those little yogis. This Presidio gem is neat, clean, and makes planning easy. This party is the perfect balance of a yoga class, time for cake and refreshments, and then some “free play” to work off all that sugar. Parents can watch the class from outside the room and then join for the cake and free time. The teachers are very good at keeping the children engaged.

For older children, the newest place in the Presidio, House of Air, may be your best option. This old airplane hangar has been turned into an indoor trampoline park. It just opened and it epitomizes the word “fun.” They have a bounce house for children ages 3–6, but to use the big trampolines you must be 7 or older. They have music and movies while you jump. You can also play trampoline dodge ball or basketball and even practice your snowboarding moves on their state of the art and one of a kind octagon trampoline. They also do adult parties and corporate events. The owners have taken the utmost safety precautions, requiring everyone to wear special shoes and children to use helmets. The space is pristine and decorated with picnic benches and ski lift chairs. You can check them out at www.houseofairsf.com.

It is important to remember when planning parties for our children that it is for them and not for us. The main focus should be that our children and their friends have a good time. So find things that they enjoy, that are age-appropriate, and aren’t too overwhelming. Happy party planning!

Liz Farrell lives in San Francisco and is the mother of two young children. She was
formerly a television producer in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.
E-mail: [email protected]