Coming to Plano December 11: Main Event

Main Event will be ready for action December 11.  It is located on Central Expressway, on the west service road between Parker and Spring Creek.  It will be similar to FunFest in Addison, offering bowling, arcade games, lazer tag and party facilites.  Locations are currently open in Grapevine and Lewisville.  Click here for a peek at Main Event, as provided by Surf Island website.

Party Resources for you to check out to get ideas for your party - all are in Plano, unless otherwise noted:

Kids' Birthdays

Party at home with cool theme and cake: If you are planning a home birthday party because you think it will be less expensive than having one at a party business, think again. If you go all out and have decorations and cake and paper goods, plus favors – the costs can add up.

Inee or Outee? No, not your belly-button – I mean do you want to have an indoor or outdoor party? Naturally, with kids you want it outdoors, right? That’s great to keep the mess out of your house, but the weather is always ready to throw a curve, so "Plan B" is always necessary. What could be worse than a rained-out backyard party? All of the kids with wet feet taking refuge in your house!

Home parties are a good option for: very young child parties (under age 2), large groups of kids, kids ages 10 and up, teens…or, because you want to!

Home parties can be a good option if you want or need to entertain a large group of kids of more than 10 (because hosting a large group on a birthday package can cost a bundle). Most group birthday packages have a minimum of 10 participants and will run between $50 and $100 total. When evaluating a group birthday deal, check to see what is included:

-cake provided or bring your own – what about candles and matches?

-party supplies – plates, napkins, utensils, cups, balloons, decorations, ICE?

-beverages – by the cup or pitcher? Refills OK?

-food – is an entrée included? Usually pizza or hot dogs.

-host/hostess – sounds silly, but an extra pair of hands to take care of the mess can be helpful!

-activities – what activities are included and how long will they last?

-party favors – probably the single most important issue to the kids!

Any of the above items that are not included would be additional costs/work on your part. As always, it gets down to a matter of time and money – which do you have more of? NEITHER? That’s me…

Remember these things for birthday parties:

-candles and matches!!! Sounds obvious, but I’ve forgotten them before…

-a KNIFE to cut the cake!!! Something safe to carry it in, too…

-CAMERA!!! Preferably with film and working batteries!!

-pen/paper to jot down the gifts and the givers’ names for thank-you notes

-Thank You notes – might as well get them with your party supplies so they will be ready as soon as the party is over!

Helpful Hint: Every single birthday party has this scenario: when it is time to open the presents, all of the kids crowd up to the main event and there is hardly breathing room! This can result in a variety of mishaps, such as missing children, popped balloons, claustrophobia…. But seriously, it will definitely result in the gift-giver being very disappointed if they can’t have the satisfaction of seeing the recipient open the gift that he/she brought. Seems kinda rude, too. Here’s a solution: Have all of the party-goers sit down, with a spot open right next to the birthday child for the honored guest – the one whose present is being opened! As each gift is picked up, the giver will sit in his/her rightful place next to the birthday child. This way, each child has their moment in the spotlight and everyone gets to see the goodies! It will also be easier for the parent/host to write down the gift and giver’s name for future reference.

Photo op! Take a picture of the birthday child with each attendee as his/her gift is opened. The picture can be great to send along with the thank-you notes!

You should be ready to have a small hurricane hit your house. It is a lot of work to set up, host and clean up a kid’s birthday party. The women’s magazines and websites make them look soooo great. Please remember that the magazines have a staff that is paid good money to labor over a cake and take hours to primp it into a gorgeous subject for the photo. That is not to say that there isn’t satisfaction in going this route- it’s just a lot of work and not necessarily cheaper. You will have a one-of-a-kind cake that your child will remember!

I will tell you as a veteran of several home parties, that making one of those incredibly-clever cakes can be a big hit. They really aren’t difficult. Ordinary cake mixes and ingredients are used. For decorating the cake, some recipes may call for unique items such as paste food coloring or unusual candies. I can remember searching the globe for "spearmint leaves". What the heck are those? Turns out they are like gumdrops, only in spearmint flavor. Makes good foliage on an edible cake. Now I know!

There are many reasons to have a party - around here, there must be hundreds of sports team end-of-season parties every year. Sometimes you have to really dig to find a good spot to host the team. If you are doing "spontaneous planning", as in you've just finished the last game and you want everyone to go out, then it becomes even trickier.

Cici's Pizza often is the default location that comes to mind whenever a bunch of kids need to be fed. I am certain that the big draws for Cici's are a plentiful selection of pizza choices at the ready, plus an economical price. A herd of hungry kids can stampede directly to the source and start to graze within minutes of hitting the door. Unless, that is, the place is packed. With spontaneous planning, you always take your chances. Cici's locations are pretty accommodating, even during "high peak" feeding times.

Austin Avenue can be a change of the usual pace for a sports-minded group. Yes, it is a bar - but the grown-up bar patrons are in a completely separate area behind doors. The main dining area is suitable for the whole family and is a very sports-rich environment, with multiple TVs tuned to available games and team pennants, posters and digital scoreboards everywhere the eye can see. A game arcade is adjacent to the dining area (you will be asked for quarters, so be prepared). The usual sports-bar fare is available, including pizza, chicken, burgers, nachos, sandwiches and more. My pick is the Namath's Nacho plate - and the half size is plenty for 2 or 3. The full plate could feed 4 or more people. Chips and salsa are complimentary at your table. For game viewing, Austin Avenue may be your best bet in Plano. AA has satellite access to many games that are not televised locally. (I know, because we have to go there to see Duke basketball games). This is the scene for many non-Texas college games (especially Kansas & Kentucky) - plus the popular Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys games. Maybe the Mavs will catch on... Find Austin Avenue on Parker, just east of Alma intersection.

Slider and Blue's seems to be more well-known and populated by kids' teams. Perhaps the outstanding feature at S&B for kids' teams is the separate room in the back that can be reserved for parties ($20 or 20% added to everyone's bill). Planoites that have lived here 10 years or so will remember that this used to be Mr. Gatti's, with the cartoon room in the back and big-screen TV. If you do not have the back room reserved, you can still take your chances and get tables together in the main dining area. A big-screen TV is available there, also. The bar is in the very next room - and you have to enter S&B through the bar. Not a problem - just letting you know so that you won't be surprised when you walk in and think you've entered a saloon. A game arcade area is in the back. S&B is in the shopping center in the northeast corner of Parker & Independence (across from Tom Thumb).

Jason's Deli - not a sport-minded place, but with 99-cent kids' meals...you understand why the team goes there sometimes. Maybe not for the trophy party - but for filling up and hangin' with the buds. Find Jason's at 75 in front of Collin Creek Mall, on Parker at Preston and on McDermott in Allen (across from Home Depot).

Fuddrucker's - they do have a separate room that can accommodate a team, but it may not be exclusively yours. Although - I don't know why any sane family would WANT to sit in a room full of kids that are celebrating their season. Hamburgers are the primary fare at Fuddrucker's, but hot dogs and some chicken is available. Fuddrucker's is on the west side of 75, just north of Park.

If you need to see a game that isn't televised and you'd like a little more space or elegant atmosphere, Humperdink's is your best bet. The nearest location is on 75 at Renner (border of Plano & Richardson). TV screens are all throughout, and they will accommodate "special requests" for a particular game you want to see. Call ahead for best results. Other Humperdink's locations are fun, too. The Addison location features a huge multi-screen TV so that you can REALLY get into the game! The Dallas location on Greenville Ave. can be very spirited when a Dallas Stars or Cowboys game is on, and also features a micro-brewery.

Jack Astor's has proven to be a pretty popular hangout. In the shopping center at the SW corner of 75 and Parker.

Wizards in Richardson is spacious and offers pool - billiards, that is. Wizards is more of a warehouse environment. TVs are around for game viewing. This is more of a place for being with friends and playing pool than watching a game. Wizards is on the east side of 75 on the service road, just north of Spring Creek.

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