Stillwater Place / Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
TEEN THEMES
Local vendors, centers allow b’nai mitzvah celebrants to explore unique interests
By Amy Richards
C
reating trendy themes, incorporating personalized activities, serving enticing food and drinks, and bringing guests to an outstanding venue is a recipe for successful b’nai mitzvah celebrations. Choosing a spot or entertainment provider that offers a built-in theme or activity is one way to make a celebration stand out. Fortunately, there are many such options locally that allow for celebrants and their guests to explore interests, such as animals, history and music. Where to begin? Bar•Bat Mitzvah spoke with representatives from three Northeast Ohio venues and entertainment providers that offer unique activities and themes to hone in on interests specific to children and teens celebrating their rites of passage.
CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of the gems of Northeast Ohio, and entertaining guests at the zoo, located on the west side of Cleveland, makes for a unique celebration. There, children and adults alike can enjoy the company of the zoo’s many exotic animals. Sam Cario, director of events and experiences for the Cleveland Metroparks, says the three best zoo venues for b’nai mitzvah celebrations are Stillwater Place, the RainForest, and the Primate, Cat and Aquatics building. “Stillwater Place is an elegant reception event center featuring year-round, spectacular views of Waterfowl Lake,” says Cynthia Roebuck, special events and experiences sales representative at the zoo.
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The venue also has a dance floor and can accommodate up to 300 guests for a seated meal, or 500 for a standing reception. Guests are also welcome to enjoy the spacious patio and outdoor fireplace, she explains. “The RainForest offers your guests lush surroundings of the tropics, allowing them to wander through the RainForest, enjoying the animals at play,” Roebuck says. This venue can accommodate up to 300 guests for a seated meal or up to 800 for a standing reception. “After dinner in the storm room, guests move out to the cafe where they dance the night away on the tiki-thatched dance floor,” Roebuck continues. The Primate, Cat and Aquatics building has a tiered floor and can accommodate up to 225 guests for a seated meal. And, guests dine surrounded by glass-enclosed exhibits. All rentals include tables, chairs, china dinnerware, glassware, silverware and linens. And, catering is done exclusively by Aramark, but families are encouraged to coordinate entertainment, lighting, cakes and decorations with outside vendors. Kosher options are available.
CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER The Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel, originally built in 1910 and operated at Euclid Beach Park before being moved to the Cleveland History Center, has been completely restored and is fully operational. Adjacent to the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, which has a large open rotunda area in the middle of the main level with an accompanying dance floor, the Cleveland History Center’s spaces offer b’nai mitzvah party options that celebrate local history in addition to the rare ride. Up to 300 guests can be accommodated for a seated dinner or up to 500 for a cocktail-style standing reception.
