Berkeley Parents Network: 11-y-o Birthday Party

Berkeley Parents Network

11-y-o Birthday Party

Berkeley Parents Network > Advice > Birthdays > 11-y-o Birthday Party

Cool birthday party ideas for 11-y-o
Indoor 11th Birthday Party Ideas
Recipe for 11-year-old's Birthday Party

Cool birthday party ideas for 11-y-o

September 2003

I'm looking for ideas for my son's upcoming 11th birthday. Since his birthday is in December, we're hestitant about planning an outdoor event. At 11, he's outgrown a lot of the more traditional things to do. We're hoping to find something that he and his friends will think is ''Cool''. thanks... hb

Recommended:

Berkeley Iron Works

Birthday Party Ideas (website)

Indoor 11th Birthday Party Ideas

December 2002

My son turns 11 in January, and we're searching for indoor birthday party ideas. In the past couple of years we've done small-scale sleepovers, so we feel he's overdue for a big, fun party. He really enjoyed playing laser tag down at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Does anyone know of a laser tag facility within 45-minutes' drive of Berkeley? Any other ideas for a fun party place that can handle pre-teen boy energy (other than the over-used Albany Bowl)? Maria

To the writer seeking laser tag for 11-year-old party: Q-zar has laser tag places in Concord and in Pleasanton. We have been to both. I prefer the one in Pleasanton--there's a world of shopping out there if you are not participating in the games yourself--but they are both pretty similar in terms of what you get. The Concord place has a web site at http://www.theentertainmentzone.net/Welcome.htm. Cynthia

For my son's 13th birthday we took him and a small group of friends to the Spaghetti Warehouse in Concord, then walked the one block to the Q-Zar laser tag place. It was lots of fun and at least cheaper than the Metreon in the city where we had gone the year before. The Metreon is fun, but very much designed to suck as much money out of you as possible. I don't have the address info for the laser tag place, but a web search should turn it up. Good luck Dianna

We took our 11 year-old boy and his friends to the batting cages in Emeryville for his birthday and it was quite a hit (ha ha). They have several different ''cages'' with different speed balls, etc. and they also have a indoor basketball court and balls which we used for an adult against kids game. They have other stuff like an air hockey table and some video games, and there is a ''party room'' for doing cake and presents. I can't remember the exact name of the place but I'm pretty sure it is on Hollis St. in Emeryville, a little past the Emeryville Public Market and movie theater area. Suzi

There is Q-Zar at 2295 Willow Pass Road in Concord. Their phone number is (925) 521-9663. Annie

we once had a party for my son at pt. pinole regional park - - asked kids to bring bikes to ride, and we had a picnic. they had a great time riding off that energy!

another idea -- take amtrak down to san jose, and visit the tech museum of innovation. the kids love the train ride, especially once they find the snack bar! it is fine for them to wander around, and there are seats with tables so they can play games etc. on the way. and the tech museum has lots of very cool things to offer. it's maybe a 1/2 mile walk from the train station. the whole trip makes for a long and satisfying day.

or, berkeley iceland is a good place for energetic kids, even if they don't yet know how to skate -- most can get the gist of it pretty quickly! and most kids who have skated before also fall. add some hot chocolate from the vending machine, and a good time had by all.

but albany bowl is also wonderful, especially if you get adults involved -- the kids can look pretty good next to some of us, you know?

kathy

Recipe for 11-year-old's Birthday Party

Not long ago my younger son had his 11th birthday. My sister was complaining about throwing toddler parties, so I thought I'd give her an idea of what she has to look forward to. This easy recipe makes one sleepover birthday party.

6 boys (aged 11-13 years)

Food:

4 sixpacks of sodas
2 quarts orange juice
2 gallons milk
1 cup coffee (this kid was weird)
1 package pretzels
2 packages chips
1 dozen apples
4 peaches
1 large bag of carrots
1 med size jar peanut butter
2 large pizzas
1 large birthday cake
1 dozen fudgesicles
2 dozen pancakes
4 frozen waffles
1 dozen bagels
1 large pot of leftover spaghetti
any other leftovers on hand

Entertainment:

3 packages of water balloons
8 squirt guns (preferably supersoaker variety - have kids bring them)
2 garden hoses with faucet connections
8 towels
1 gory movie (rent)
2 Japanese animation videos (rent)
computer and games - at least one
video game system and games (borrow)
birthday presents (kids will bring)

Directions:

Party will run itself! Just do the following:

Leave food out where they can find it.
Make sure outdoor entertainment doesn't come inside, and vice versa
Deposit food, entertainment, and sleeping bags as far away as possible from where you plan to sleep.
Next morning, withhold all food and entertainment for 30 minutes before departure time (for clean-up).

--Ginger

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