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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Downtown Aquarium
Anyone been to or hosted a birthday party there?
Re: Downtown Aquarium
No, but I got married there. We had the entire top floor to ourselves, and it was gorgeous.
Yes...
What were your thoughts? I hate the Tilman empire, but I am in a battle with DH and I am losing. I want a party at home, he is not having it.
So Tasty, So Yummy
It was nice. I honestly can't even remember what we did to start- go through the aquarium I think... Geesh! Old age! Anyway, after that, we had a semi-private room upstairs. They had decent food for a kids birthday party. Each kid got a stuffed shark and they had a shark character come to the party. As a matter of fact, T still sleeps with the stuff shark he got at that party.
I thought it was nice. It was different than the typical Pump It Up and stuff like that (even though those are what T wants every year). Was there anything spectacular about it? No. Was it as fun for the kids as any other venue party we've been to? Sure.
No, definitely not. You can add both me and DH if you want to start a tally.
I don't know anyone that likes the Tilman empire. They take good restaurants and make them bad. I about fell over when I saw a sign for Landry's in New Orleans last weekend. No way can that place stay in business long term in New Orleans, with much better seafood restaurants on every corner. Blech.
There is this really cool bar on Almeda that would be perfect for a party. Heh. Kidding. Actually, I am sure the Aquarium would be fun for a kids party. I went to an adult Christmas Party on their top floor, and I was surprised that the food was actually decent. There are certainly enough activities to keep kids happy.
Did you check into the space you can reserve at Hermann Park?
Click it if you can't say it!
We did Hermann Park last year and it rained, so I am gun shy for outdoor stuff.
BWAH about the bar on Almeda...that place is so awesome.
So Tasty, So Yummy
We did Hermann Park last year and it rained, so I am gun shy for outdoor stuff.
BWAH about the bar on Almeda...that place is so awesome.
So Tasty, So Yummy
There are a couple of Landry's here. They both seem to do pretty well. The one in the 1/4 does fine bc that's mainly tourists. The other is on the lake and gets guests bc it's on the water. Location is key.
So Tasty, So Yummy
It would be hard to keep everyone together if you wanted to go explore the zoo as a big group afterwards, but you just have the room for two hours so that's not much time to stick close by. Plus, if you add on the zookeeper experience where they bring an animal by for the kids to see, that would help occupy a big chunk of time.
Worst part about the zoo, IMO, is getting everything back there to your room or pavilion.
j+k+m+e | running with needles
Pretty sure I take a seat near the top of this list.
A friend had her kid's b-day party there this summer and I took my nieces. They loved it. They got a stuffed sea animal, they had chicken tenders, pizza or burger as choices, I believe.Then they got on the carousel, ferris wheel, train, touched the sting ray's etc. They loved the fish/sharks. They still talk about it and want to go back.
The adults seemed to like the food, mainly apps, but eh, I really don't care for their stuff, kids though it's simple, they love tenders etc.
Me, neither. It was to chaotic getting up to the party room and just generally left me with an "eh" feeling.
I do agree with Kel. Parties at home are more work than they are worth. I love to entertain, but have learned I prefer to entertain adults over children.
The ones I have been to at the zoo people are on their own after the party in the party room is over.
And to the bolded-I have had to carry a 2 tier cake through the entire zoo to get to that pavillion. I thought my arms were going to fall off.
Having a party at the Zoo on Saturday, so far this is my experience. You can actually park your car at their side enterance (Medical Center) which is by the Carousel, so not too far of a walk from the party area, to unload/load before and after the party. You just have to move it when you are done unloading/loading.
http://www.houstonzoo.org/attachments/wysiwyg/79589/Gate%20Map_Birthday.pdf
The biggest problem is how unorganized everything is. I believe their event coordinator left over the Summer. First they told me that my party wasn't booked, after emailing them the confirmation email I had received they found my information. Then they had the wrong time/pavillion booked. They forgot to email me the admission tickets, in May, I finally broke down and went up there over the weekend because they kept forgetting...I gave them a list of add ons while I was there. One of which were Carousel tickets for the children, they told me that anyone under the age of 2 would need to have an adult with them and the adult would also require a ticket. After looking online, this is not the case. Another one is a scavenger hunt, we are planning on doing after the party is over so that everyone can see the zoo together.
I am not sure when your party is, however I was told that they are "reorganizing" their staff, I think they are finally getting everything settled. I believe a new event coordinator started this week/ over the weekend. Hopefully she will get everything back to normal
So Tasty, So Yummy
Not sure if you have checked out where F is taking/was taking gymnastics but I know my bosses daughter just had her at the studio where she takes dance and gymnastics and it was a huge hit. Her parents could not stop talking about it.
This is the place but it is in Humble/Kingwood area.
http://www.rowlandballard.com/
Oh, good! A friend was just telling me last night that she went to one last weekend, and that they had a really great time. pretty much mirroring what Belle said - they kids got to choose their meal, and the kids got a stuffed sea animal, and the adults got apps, but it was sufficient to keep them fed.
She said that they were able to do a guided tour of the acquarium, ferris wheel, train, and carosel (not sure if you pay extra for each additional ride, or they are all included in the party package). She said, they actually only filled up the ferris wheel with the party people and did the ride, then let them off - so they wouldn't have to wait for everyone else to load the baskets. And they basically got to cut all of the lines for the other rides.
She said she found out it was $28/kid, but that included 1 adult per kid (so, really, you are only paying $14pp)- then I guess as ppl RSVP, you can add more parents for more money.
She says her 3.5 y/o still talks about it (granted, it's only been a week!), and she is sleeping with her stuffed octupus. lol. They really enjoyed it.