Editor’s Note
Welcome, September! This summer, like so many, has flown by far too quickly. The September issue of NW Kids is our annual Birthday Party Guide and this year’s is a pretty great one, if we do say so ourselves. While you’ll recognize many of your favorite go-tos in this year’s guide, there are also a number of new businesses and that is always exciting to see!
With an end of August birthday, many of my childhood celebrations took place on the Washington coast. Coming from a family that fished, this was the place to be and the time to be there. We’ve carried that tradition on and returned to the same spot for many of my children’s birthdays. However and wherever you choose to celebrate, we think you’ll find some inspiration in these pages. As always, the guide will be on nwkidsmagazine.com for future reference as well!
Lastly, we can’t wait to see you at our first annual Education & Enrichment Expo at OMSI! We’ll be there on the 28th from 10-5. If you’ve attended our Summer Camp Expos in the past, you’ll know right where to find us (in the auditorium that’s directly next to the planetarium). Come and check out local schools and other education and enrichment opportunities for your kids. It will be a a fun day for all!
Cheers, Mary
MY MOM CELEBRATING HER 1ST BIRTHDAY
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Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies. Printed locally; Please recycle.
Publisher
Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com
Editor/Account Manager
Mary Brady mary@nwkidsmagazine.com
Graphic Designer Robyn Taylor robyn@folkloremedia.com
Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com
Birthdays are special and we are lucky to live in an area with endless ways to make them even MORE special! Are you looking for a venue, sweet treat, activity or performer? You will find them all here - and then some!
Cakes, Treats & Everything Sweet
Candy
Lolli & Pops lolliandpops.com
Rocket Fizz rocketfizz.com
Rose City Sweets rosecitysweets.com
Sugar Cloud Cart (Cotton Candy cart rental) sites.google.com/sugarcloudcart.com/ welcome/home
The Candy Basket theartfullgardenandcompany.com
Frozen Treats
22 Below 22beroll.com
Cloud City Ice Cream cloudcityicecream.com
Cup & Cone cupandconepdx.com
Dairy Hill Ice Cream dairyhillicecream.com
Eb & Bean ebandbean.com
Fifty Licks fifty-licks.com
Great Northwest Ice Cream Company facebook.com/gnwcompany
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream handelsicecream.com
Hurry Back Ice Cream hurrybackicecream.com
Kate’s Ice Cream (Gluten-free & vegan)
All of their ice cream is 100% plant-based and gluten-free. With signature flavors like Cookie Dough and Marionberry Cobbler, Kate’s also features seasonal flavors. There’s something for every taste! They also create custom cakes and host full birthday party experiences for kids! katesicecream.com
McBee’s Shakes Crepes & Cones mcbeescafe.com
Miss Oz Ice Cream & Dessert IG: @missozicecreamcafe
Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge nectarfroyo.com
Nico’s Ice Cream nicosicecream.com
Ome Calli Frozen Treats omecallifrozentreats.com
Pinolo Gelato pinologelato.com
Ruby Jewel rubyjewel.com
Salt & Straw saltandstraw.com
Staccato Gelato staccatogelato.com
Sunny’s Legendary Frozen Yogurt sunnysfrozenyogurt.com
Wailua Shave Ice shaveiceorderspdx.com
Custom Cakes
Baker & Spice bakerandspicepdx.com
Cake It cakeit.us
Champagne Poetry champagnepoetrypdx.com
Decadent Creations decadentcreations.com
Dream Cakes dreamcakesportland.com
FAT Cupcake fatcupcake.com
Fun & Fancy Cakes funandfancycakes.com
Helen Bernhard Bakery helenbernhardbakery.com
Kate’s Ice Cream (Gluten-free & vegan) All of their ice cream is 100% plantbased and gluten-free. Place your custom cake orders in advance of your event (see their website for lead times) or pick up a Signature Ice Cream cake at either of their locations. Kate’s also offers scoops, cones, ice cream sandwiches and full birthday party experiences for kids! katesicecream.com
KATE’S ICE CREAM
Just a Dash justadashcakes.com
Mehri’s Bakery & Cafe mehris.com
New Cascade Traditional (Gluten-free) newcascadiatraditional.com
Nothing Bundt Cakes nothingbundtcakes.com
Petunia’s Pies & Pastries (Gluten-free & vegan) petuniaspiesandpastries.com
Piece of Cake Bakery pieceofcakebakery.net
Sweetpea Baking Company (Vegan) sweetpeabaking.com
Donuts, Cookies & Pies
Angel’s Donuts & Ice Cream angelsdonutsandicecream.net
Bipartisan Cafe bipartisancafe.com
Blue Star Donuts bluestardonuts.com
Coco Donuts cocodonuts.com
Crumbl Cookies crumblcookies.com
Delicious Donuts deliciousdonutspdx.com
Lauretta Jean’s laurettajeans.com
Pacific Pie Company pacificpie.com
Pie Spot pie-spot.com
Pip’s Original Doughnuts pipsoriginalonline.com
The Pie Guy IG: @the.pieguy
Voodoo Doughnut voodoodoughnut.com
Places to Party
Animals & Outdoors
Frog Pond Farm
Party the Frog Pond Farm Way! Enjoy bounce houses, 10 acres of activities, and meet over 80 animals that call Frog Pond Farm home—from emus to goats, llamas, and even camels! Enjoy a stress-free celebration at Frog Pond Farm with our party packages! Each package features a two-hour reserved covered space at no extra charge. Bring your own decorations, food, and loved ones – just pay the cost of admission for you and your guests! Perfect for every age! thefrogpondfarm.com
Oregon Coast Aquarium aquarium.org
Oregon Reptile Man oregonreptileman.com
Portland Goat Parties portlandgoatparties.com
Portland Insectarium pdxinsectarium.org
The MAiZE at The Pumpkin Patch
Peanuts is turning 75 and The MAiZE has a special treat just for you! Bring the gang and get lost in the twists and turns of their specially themed Peanuts Corn
THE MAIZE
MAiZE. Featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang, you never know who you’ll bump into! A-MAiZEing Attractions: - Private Bonfire Rentals for up to 50 guests (Perfect for Birthday Parties!) - Daily Hayrides to the U-Pick Pumpkin Patch - The Big Red Animal Barn - Fresh Produce Market with 55 Annual Crops. portlandmaize.com
Triskelee Farm
Experience farm life with a guided educational tour. Get up close and personal with ostriches, goats, alpacas and more! Party in a real barn. Have access to farm to table food, and local beer and wines. Fun for all ages! triskeleefarm.com
FROG POND FARM
Arts, Crafts & Building
Art World School artworldschool.com
Bricks & Minifigs bricksandminifigsportland.com
CeramiCafe Art Lounge NW
CeramiCafe Art Lounge is a fun, relaxing, and unique way to get a group together. The most popular package is just $100, plus $24/person (8 person minimum) and includes the following: items chosen, 2 hours of fun in a private space, clean-up and a staff person to assist you! ceramicafenw.com
Creative Culture creativeculturediy.com
iSandbox Factory isandboxfactory.com
Hey! Happy Makers heyhappymakers.com
Mimosa Studios mimosa-studios.com
Portland Child Art Studio portlandchildartstudio.org
SCRAP scrappdx.com
The Craft Factory craftfactorypdx.com
Venvino Art Studios venvinoartstudios.com
Whimsy Wees Art Studio whimsywees.com
Bowling
Allen’s Crosley Lanes crosleylanes.com
Big Al’s ilovebigals.com
Grand Central Bowl & Arcade thegrandcentralbowl.com
KingPins mykingpins.com
Milwaukie Bowl milwaukiebowl.com
Park Lanes parklanes.net
Punch Bowl Social punchbowlsocial.com/portland
Super Play superplayor.com
Tigard Bowl tigardbowl.com
CERAMICAFE NW
Cinemas
The Judy
An epic birthday bash awaits at The Judy! Parties are held in The Family Cinema, where you choose whatever you want to watch on the big screen. Parties also include unlimited popcorn and water; cups, plates, napkins and cutlery; and a party host to take care of set up, clean up, and making this special day one to remember. “Our 8-year-old’s party at The Judy was a HUGE success! Multiple parents commented on how easy and safe it was. All we had to do was show up with the cupcakes!” – Andrew’s Parents nwcts.org/birthday
Climbing
Circuit Bouldering Gym thecircuitgym.com
Portland Rock Gym portlandrockgym.com
Rock Haven Climbing Climb into Adventure! Their party package is a 2 hour private room rental with bouldering games and activities led by a Rock Haven Party Host. Parties are
designed for up to 10 climbers; up to 5 additional welcome for additional charge. $250 for 2 hours.
-Party room with decorations -You bring food & drinks, paper plates, napkins etc… (Rental shoes included) -Climbing for Ages 3+
-Parties available on Fri, Sat, Sun rockhavenclimbing.com
Stoneworks Climbing Gym belay.com
Dance, Gymnastics & Movement Arts
Echo Theater Company echotheaterpdx.org
Metro Gymnastics Center metrogymnastics.com
THE JUDY
ROCK HAVEN CLIMBING
Naydenov Gymnastics ngymnastics.com
Omega Gymnastics
Gymnastics based parties for groups of 10-30. Staff leads party-goers through events on Trampoline, Foam Pit, 30′ long Tumble Track, rope swing, obstacle course and finish up with open play! omega-gymnastics.com/birthdayparties
Oregon Gymnastics Academy ogagym.org
Precision Elite Gymnastics precisionelitegymnastics.com
The Children’s Gym childrensgym.com
Westside Dance and Gymnastics Academy westsideacademy.com
Escape Rooms & Fantasy
Escape Games PDX escapegamespdx.com
Imagination Adventures, LLC
They offer an exciting variety of handcrafted adventures for their party packages, or can create a bespoke adventure just for you! Join them in the land of Orenwood and negotiate with dragons, craft potions with alchemists, duel in epic battles, solve dungeon puzzles, and more! Packages range from hour-long storytelling (4+) to boffer dueling games and fully interactive liveaction role play games (6+). Create your hero, interact with unique characters, and be the hero of your own adventure! imaginationadventurespdx.com
OMEGA GYMNASTICS
IMAGINATION ADVENTURES
Hopworks Brewery
Host your next birthday party at Hopworks on SE Powell! With room for up to 56 guests, this is the perfect space to celebrate with loved ones. Complete with a built-in AV system, projector and your very own kids play area. Available daily except Thursday evenings. No deposits or fees required! Buffet options available. hopworksbeer.com
Kate’s Ice Cream
Kids Birthday Parties are the perfect indoor unforgettable experience for your child! Kate’s is a safe space for allergens, dairy-free, and gluten-free kids and parents alike. Their ice cream is 100% plant-based and gluten-free. This experience includes: Make your own ice cream flavor, decorate your pint, take home your ice cream, scoops of ice cream during the party, pin the cherry on the ice cream cone, coloring sheets while families arrive, plus add-ons like custom ice cream cakes and face painting! katesicecream.com
Merry Kitchen themerrykitchen.com
Pietro’s Pizza
A Northwest family favorite since 1957! With a variety of party themes to choose from, personal pizzas, games and prizes for the kiddo, Pietro’s is THE place to book birthday parties! pietrosrestaurants.com
Two Sisters Play Cafe twosistersplaycafe.net
Fun Centers, Theme Parks & Video Games
Animal Rides Happy Rides happyrides.business.site
Bullwinkle’s fun-center.com
Enchanted Forest enchantedforest.com
Electric Castle’s Wunderland wunderlandgames.com
GameTruck Portland gametruckparty.com/portland
Oaks Park oakspark.com
HOPWORKS BREWERY
PIETRO’S PIZZA
Indoor Play
Dizzy Castle dizzycastle.com
Happy Baby Play
Throw your little one’s next birthday party at Happy Baby Play! Perfect for kids 0-8 to enjoy a rock wall, foam pit, pretend play, and so much more. Jungle gym coming soon! Add ons: bounce house, bubble machine, popcorn, balloons, food & cake. Private access to entire space, including a party room (NEW!). Clean-up and set-up included. Fully customizable package options also available, including the party of your dreams planned entirely by HBP! happybabyplay.com
LEKA Playland lekaplayland.com
Liggle Land liggleland.com
Nest Playground nestplayground.com
Ocean Plays Indoor Playground oceanplays.com
Playdate PDX playdatepdx.com
Playforest playforestkids.com
Play Street Museum playstreetmuseum.com/oregon
Scotty’s Playhouse scottysplayhouse.com
Sellwood Community House sellwoodcommunityhouse.org
The Wiggle Room thewiggleroom.com
Wippersnappers Kids’ Play Place wippersnappers.com
Karaoke
Punch Bowl Social punchbowlsocial.com/portland
Voicebox Karaoke Lounge voiceboxpdx.com
Laser Tag, Paintball & Vehicles
Clackamas Ultrazone clackamasultrazone.com
HAPPY BABY PLAY
Crossfire Lasertag crossfirelasertag.com
Impact Action Sports impactactionsports.com
K1 Speed k1speed.com
Malibu Raceway at Skibowl skibowl.com/summer/mt-hoodactivities/malibu-raceway-skibowl
Sykart Indoor Racing sykart.com
Splat Action Paintball splataction.com
Miniature Golf & Golf
Envision Golf envisiongolf.com
Glowing Greens glowinggreens.com
Topgolf topgolf.com/us/hillsboro
Twin Pines Country Club twinpinescountryclub.com
Museums & Science
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum spucegoose.org
Experiment PDX
Experiment PDX has super-fun STEAM birthday parties in their Hands-On Museum and Craft Lab! In addition to time with their Museum exhibits, birthday families choose one of five science and artrelated activities, including Super Science Show with Dr. L Ektron or Professor Moli Cule, Beaker Bonanza, LEGO Robotics, Slime Time and Crafty Creations. Their standard party is 2 hours of fun: 45 minutes in the museum, 45 minutes of chosen activity and 30 minutes for cake in the party room. experimentpdx.com
Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
INCLUDES: Admission for up to 25-30 people, use of a private room for up to 2 hours, special gift for the guest of honor. Cost is $300. ADD-ONS: 45-minute tour of the galleries in the Main House – $100, Geode cracking or thunderegg cutting – priced per cracked or cut item. Add-ons must be booked at least two weeks in advance of party. The Museum will provide folding tables and chairs. Decorations, table clothes, and centerpieces are encouraged. Food and drink are allowed. ricenorthwestmuseum.org Skating & Ice Skating
Sherwood Ice Arena sherwoodicearena.com
Sports & Active Play
Aim High Martial Arts
Mountain View Ice Arena mtviewice.com
Mt. Scott Community Center portlandoregon.gov/parks/60409
Oaks Park Roller Rink oakspark.com/roller-skating.html
Book your party with Aim High! Choose from two different party packages. Activities offered include: Bounce House, Bounce Obstacle Course, Laser Tag, & a martial arts lesson! Pick your party color and they’ll do the rest! aimhighma.org
Kidstrong kidstrong.com
Play.Fit.Fun
Play.Fit.Fun birthday parties are 60 minutes of massively fun games. Think PE mixed with Minute To Win It and Field Day! Perfect for K-6th Grade! And, they bring you 1 dozen FREE Nothing Bundt Cakes Bundtinis!! playfitfun.com
Revolution Parkour Beaverton rvpkbeaverton.com
Sky Zone Gresham
Sky Zone Gresham is a state of the art trampoline park with slides, zip line, ninja course, dodgeball and so much more. Play, bounce, run, fly, dodge and swing! Great fun for any age, plus hot, delicious pizza and snacks. Birthday party packages available too! skyzone.com/gresham
The Movement Park themovementpark.com
Trackers Earth, Oregon trackerspdx.com/youth/birthday-party
Tree to Tree Adventure Park tree3treeadventurepark.com
Swimming & Water Play
DolFUN Dynamics: Swim-MovePlay-Learn
Celebrate with DolFUN Dynamics! Choose a Dynamic Ninja Party or Sweet Pea Party: Includes one hour in the gym and 30 minutes in the party zone. DolFUN Dynamics is a newly expanded Multi-Sport & Early Childhood Development Center featuring their dynamic Swim program, Ninja & Sweet Pea Educational Gymnastics, Camps, Parties, Parent’s Night Out and an Enrichment Center opening this Fall offering art, music, STEAM and afterschool classes. dolfundynamics.com
PLAY.FIT.FUN
SKY ZONE GRESHAM
Emler Swim School emlerswimschool.com
Farber Swim School farberswimschool.com
North Clackamas Aquatic Park ncprd.com/aquatic-park
Portland Parks & Rec portlandoregon.gov/parks/38284
Safe Splash Swim School safesplash.com
Tualatin Hills Parks & Rec thprd.org
Wings & Waves Waterpark wingsandwaveswaterpark.com
Performers
Balloon Artists
Joy Entertainers joyentertainers.com
Not Your Average Joe Mishkin joemishkin.com
Tuxedo Jimmy
Tuxedo Jimmy is a balloon artist and children’s entertainer, and Chandra (@RoseCityAirbrush) offers airbrush face painting/airbrush temporary tattoos. They have been making parties special for over 10 years. Based out of their hometown, Portland, they serve all surrounding
areas. Tuxedo Jimmy & Chandra love what they do! They arrive early with professional equipment & attire, are insured and make every party, including yours: memorable, fun and special! tuxedojimmy.com
Clowns, Characters & Puppeteers
Blast Kids Parties blastkidsparties.com
BJ the Clown bjtheclown.com
TUXEDO JIMMY
Cha Cha the Clown chachatheclown.com
Dragon Theater Puppets & Princesses dragontheater.com
Olive and Dingo oliveanddingo.com
Penny’s Puppets pennypuppets.com
Princess Power Parties princesspowerparties.com
Red Yarn redyarnproductions.com
Second Star Party Characters secondstarpartycharacters.com
Wishes Come True wishescometruepdx.com
Face Painters
Beyond the Lines Face Art beyondthelinesfaceart.com
Cherry Lime Cheeks cherrylimecheeks.com
Fancy Faces by Amy fancyfacesbyamy.com
Mystique’s Fancy Faces mystiquesfancyfaces.com
Nicole’s Face Painting nicolesfacepainting.com
Portland Face Painting with Miss J portlandfacepainting.com
Circus Arts & Magicians
Alexander Master of Marvels parlorofwonders.com
All American Magic Shop & Theater magicpdx.com
A-WOL Dance awoldance.org
Magic with Hart hartkeene.com
Presto the Magician prestothemagician.com
Scramble James scramblejames.com
Musicians
Aaron Nigel Smith aaronnigelsmith.com
Kelli Welli kelliwelli.com
Micah and Me micahandmerocks.com
Mo Phillips mophillips.com
Red Yarn redyarnproductions.com
Tallulah’s Daddy makemusicwithmatt.com
The Alphabeticians thealphabeticians.com
Decor & More
Balloons
Balloons on Broadway balloonsonbroadway.com
Boom Boom’s Balloons boomboomsballoons.com
Bouquets & Balloons bouquets-balloons.business.site
Lippman Co. lippmancompany.com
Magic Balloons PDX magicballoonspdx.com
Portland Balloon Delivery portlandballoondelivery.com
Bounce House Rentals
Ready. Set. Bounce. readysetbouncellc.com
Planning & Decor
Cheers To You Party Goods cheerstoyoupartygoods.com
Hooray! Yard Cards hoorayyardcards.com
Small & Might Event Rentals Plus smallandmightyevents.com
Think Pink Flamingo Flocking thinkpinkflamingoflocking.com
Salons
Cookie Cutters haircutsarefun.com
Kid’s Castle Cuts kidscastlecuts.com
Pigtails & Crewcuts pigtailsandcrewcuts.com
Sage Kids Salon sagekidssalon.com
Sit Still Salon & Shoppe sitstillkids.com
Tickle Clips tickleclipssalon.com
Black Wagon blackwagon.com
Finnegan’s Toys & Gifts finneganstoys.com
Jolliffe’s
Find an ever-changing assortment of locally made gifts and vintage costume jewelry amid the clothes at this upscale consignment shop in Progress Ridge Townsquare, next to Piccolo Mondo Toys. From beaded bracelets in bright
colors for your little ones to sophisticated handbags to cashmere sweaters, they offer unexpected choices for all ages. Odds are good that you’ll find something for yourself too. jolliffesshop.com
MudPuddles Toys & Books mudpuddlestoys.com
Oodles of Toys IG: @oodles_toys
Piccolo Mondo Toys piccolomondotoys.com
Presents of Mind presentsofmind.tv
Spielwerk Toys spielwerktoys.com
Thinker Toys thinkertoysoregon.com
JOLLIFFE’S
Get Out & Play: Our Top September Picks!
September 9-15
Oregon Science Festival
The Oregon Science Festival, presented by OMSI, includes five days of events in the Portland Metro Area and beyond from September 9-15. Enjoy workshops, tours, lectures, and events—all celebrating STEAM education. The event will culminate in a two-day Science Festival hosted at OMSI on September 14-15. All ages welcome. omsi.edu
September 28
NW Kids Education & Enrichment Expo
After over a decade of successful NW Kids Summer Camp Expos, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest event: The Education & Enrichment Expo, designed especially for you — Portland families! Join us at OMSI for a unique opportunity to discover area schools and learn about after school programs and other education and enrichment choices that are available locally. Don’t miss this FREE event. Much like our annual Summer Camp Expos, there will be fun for the whole family! 10am-5pm nwkidsmagazine.com/2024-education-enrichment-expo
