Out-of-the-Box Birthday Ideas
Make birthday parties easy-peasy by taking the party elsewhere! Check out these three out-of-the box and affordable ideas for birthday celebrations. Do yourself a favor, avoid the setup and cleanup that comes with hosting your own party!
Aerial Yoga at Yogaja Yoga
3145 W. Central Ave., Toledo.
contact@yogajayoga.com
YogajaYoga.com | @YogajaYoga
Make it a birthday party to remember by soaring at Yogaja Yoga in their aerial yoga hammocks! Your private aerial yoga instructor can tailor the class to the needs and desires of the party, keeping things simple and fun for younger kids or teaching older children how to hang upside down. Gena Collier, Yogaja yoga and aerial instructor, shares, “Aerial is just fun— it feels like flying. It’s yoga with a cool prop, and with the help of the aerial silks, everyone can do an inversion!”
Parties can be scheduled for any weekday afternoon, weekend afternoon or evening. One hour of studio time with your own personal private instructor costs $150. For younger ages, a shorter class is often suggested, with remaining time to open presents or eat cake. Special music requests can also be included.
Gena adds, “I encourage my parties to contact me ahead of time to plan the perfect experience—how intense of a class, what kind of music would you want, what moves do you want to practice, will there be food, presents, etcetera.”
Private parties cost $150 for up to 15 participants and $10 per person, for each additional attendee. Aerial yoga can accommodate up to 14 total participants for older kids and up to 7 younger children accompanied by a parent (who can also participate).
For children who prefer to keep their yoga firmly rooted on the ground, regular yoga parties can fit up to 30 people at a time, including time for yoga games, yoga poses, breathing exercises, and, of course, final relaxation/meditation.
Indian Creek Zoo
2744 Consear Road, Lambertville, MI.
734.224.0390 | indiancreekzoo@aol.com.
Indiancreekzoo.com | @indiancreekzoo
Explore the world of animals up close with a birthday party at Indian Creek Zoo, just over the line in Michigan! Invite 20 of your friends to experience camel rides and feeding the animals at the petting zoo, enjoy a private party area for birthday celebrations, and receive a gift for the birthday boy or girl.
Rachel Jaffe gushes, “We love Indian Creek Zoo! They gave us an up-close and personal, interactive experience with the animals [that] we haven’t had anywhere else. [My daughter] got to feed a little monkey and play with baby goats that were just born that morning!”
Mother and teacher Catherine Sadowski echoes the sentiment: “Cooper (my son) had a birthday party there— we love Indian Creek Zoo— [and it] was such an amazing, up-close experience. It feels like you are walking through someone’s backyard! Every time we go, there is a new animal to see.”
For those who want to keep their festivities indoors, pay $250 ($225 for members) for up to 20 people, paying $10 for each additional person. The outdoor pavilion is slightly less at $200 ($175 for members) for 20 people and $10 for each additional person. Birthday party-goers can bring any food, drink (non-alcoholic), cake, ice cream and decorations that they choose.
Party times are weekends from 10:30AM to 1PM or from 2PM to 4:30PM. Choose to add on “animal encounters” for $50 to experience a few of Indian Creek’s “furry, feathered and scaly friends” up-close.
Clara J’s Tea Room
219 West Wayne Street, Maumee.
419-897-0219 | clarajsat219.com
@ClaraJsTeaRoom
Host a themed tea party for your child this year! From princess themes to Harry Potter, Clara J’s Tea Room offers something for all the little ones, ages 4 to 11.
Parents can select one of three party packages, ranging in cost from $115 to $175, and each package automatically includes two sandwich choices (selections include turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, traditional cucumber, peanut butter and jam, or cream cheese and jam), various kid-friendly sides, such as pink lemonade or raspberry iced tea, and teacup cupcakes presented on a birthday pedestal with candles.
The “Vanilla” package ($115) includes all of the above plus an array of dress-up clothes. The “Strawberry” package ($145) adds on the option for children to decorate their own teacup hat to wear and take home. The elite “Chocolate” package ($175) includes everything listed plus a favor bag for each child.
Clara J’s foods are impressive. You would never imagine that a cream cheese and jam sandwich or ‘ants on a log’ could ever look so fancy and taste so delicious. The crustless sandwiches and sides arrive on a tiered, silver tray, complete with sprinkles. The tea arrived in a tiny, child-sized kettle. But watch your children carefully or they may start nibbling on a sugar cube instead of dropping one into their tea!
We went for “Princess Tea” one Friday afternoon, and the tables were set meticulously, with embroidered linen and fine China, and the tall windows provided the room with natural light. The owner popped in to check on us, making sure we were happy with our meals and giving our girls free party hats for their tea party. It was a wonderful lunch spent with my 3-year-old and her friend.
Clara J’s is available for princess tea parties for smaller groups— or even parent/child— and for birthday parties. Party packages include up to eight children accompanied by two adults, and teas are available from 11am to 12:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Adult meals, taxes and gratuity are not included in party package prices. Once attendence meets capacity, the cost per additional child is prorated.
Party Resources for Parents
WHERE to get THE CAKE
Cake Arts Supply
2858 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo
419-472-4959
Cake in a Cup
3144 Markway Rd, Toledo
419-720-1104
6801 Central Ave, Toledo
419-491-1104
Eston’s Bakery
5433 Monroe St, Toledo
419-885-9442
Michael’s Cafe & Bakery
101 Main St #7, Toledo
419-698-2988
7 Little Cupcakes
1021 Sandusky St, Perrysburg
419-252-0858
Wixey Bakery
2017 Glendale
419-382-6684
PLACES to PARTY
Toledo Zoo
2 Hippo Way, Toledo
419-385-4040
Toledo Turner Gymnastics
26280 Glenwood Rd, Perrysburg
419-873-0511
Rosenbloom’s Farm
2738 Shetland, Toledo
419-841-3320
Forest View Lanes
2345 W Dean Rd, Temperance, MI
734-847-4915
Get Air Trampoline Park
5055 Jackman Rd
419-216-9216
Toledo Metroparks
419-407-9700
Funagin’s Family Fun Center
5340 Centennial Rd, Sylvania
419-517-1750
FIND the PERFECT GIFT
Learning Express Toys
5577 Monroe St., Sylvania
419-885-3959
3100 Main Street, Maumee
419-878-2446
Kids Klothesline
111 Louisiana Ave, Perrysburg
419-874-5437
HobbyTown
5825 Monroe St., Sylvania
419-517-4655
Bowinkles
5627 Main St., Sylvania
567-455-5939