Teen themes

Local vendors, centers allow b’nai mitzvah celebrants to explore unique interests

By Amy Richards

Creating 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 off ers 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 off er unique activities and themes to hone in on interests specifi c 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.

The venue also has a dance fl oor 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 fi replace, she explains.

“The RainForest off ers 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 fl oor,” Roebuck continues.

The Primate, Cat and Aquatics building has a tiered fl oor 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 fl oor, the Cleveland History Center’s spaces off er 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.

Burning River Entertainment Group / Natural Light Studio / David Tavens

“This, hands down, is a premium space for a celebration and has appeal for all ages,” says Angie Lowrie, director of the Cleveland History Center, located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland.

Guests also have access to the rotating collections of the Crawford Museum that surround the rotunda area.

“Now, through September of 2022, the exhibit is ‘The Year of the Motorcycle,’” Lowrie says. “When guests walk in, they will see airplanes hanging from the ceiling, the Goodyear Blimp gondola, various automobiles and the entryway fi lled with the motorcycle exhibit.”

In addition to the rotunda area, the Cleveland History Center also has a large enclosed courtyard that can be tented to house a celebration. This area can accommodate 150 guests for a seated meal, and a dance fl oor could be rented to add to the area. Access to the carousel, which is not close to the courtyard, is available for an additional fee.

The Cleveland History Center has an approved list of caterers and is fl exible when working with clients who require kosher catering, Lowrie says. There are no restrictions on entertainment, decorations or fl owers.

BURNING RIVER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

When choosing entertainment for a special celebration, it is important to sit down with the child and decide what type of entertainment they have in mind. Are they a party lover who can’t wait to get onto a dance fl oor vibrating with loud music and pulsating lights? Or, would they prefer low-key music and interactive games?

Gene Natale, Jr., owner and founder of Burning River Entertainment Group based in the Larchmere area of Cleveland, explains the most important factor is customizing the celebration to the child.

“In our planning meetings, we listen to the child’s interests and our client’s wishes and brainstorm how to turn those ideas into something fun and memorable,” he says. “Oftentimes, families have ideas, and we have the know-how to turn them into reality.”

Making the celebration unique to the child is what makes it meaningful, whether that means incorporating specifi c themes and activities, or simply having a bash that refl ects their personality and style, he explains.

“Putting a personal spin on a game that guests have played at numerous other celebrations makes it stand out,” Natale says.

Personalizing decor and lighting also go far in making a celebration unique. For example, Natale says, “Once we did a party for a child who loved big cities, so we lit up silhouettes of various cities along the walls. Another time, a child’s dad dressed up in a neon suit that we lit up with black lights to create a special moment.”

Natale adds, “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but want to add unique little wrinkles or personal touches that make the celebration special.” BM