Nowadays, the array of birthday options available to kids (or their parents, to be precise) is mind-boggling. Here are some choices, from the simple to the sophisticated, provided by businesses and organizations in our local neighborhoods:

Food & Fun
If you don’t want to do anything too fancy, most restaurants will provide a slice of cake and gather the servers around your table to sing to the guest of honor. Places like Hibachi in McMurray or Benihana in Green Tree are particularly fun for kids because they get to watch the chefs perform while cooking tableside.

If your kids and their friends want to get in on the action, consider the Young Chefs Academy, on Washington Road, McMurray, which offers unique cooking parties. Each child will make a pizza, decorate a cupcake and go home with a chef’s hat and recipe card. Regular price is $30 per child, or $35 if it includes a party favor.

Cici’s Pizza, in Bridgeville, has birthday packages that include an all-you-can eat pizza buffet plus tokens to the game room.

Or, at the opposite end of the dining spectrum, children’s birthday tea parties can be scheduled at the Garden Party Tea Room located within the Malone Floral Shop, 17 West Pike Street, Canonsburg. A recent little girls’ tea party featured petite finger sandwiches, chocolate mousse and a swan cream puff. Parties are also available at Uniquely Yours Tea Room, on Millers Run Road in Cecil.

Sophie Villa enjoys the games at Chuck E. Cheese in Collier

Chuck E. Cheese, on Washington Pike, in Bridgeville, is one of the busiest and most popular kids’ birthday spots. For $11.99 per child, the party gets a reserved table for 90 minutes, complete with party balloons, two slices of pizza per child, soft drinks with free refills, a birthday cake, 20 tokens per child, a special souvenir cup, a special balloon, and a bag of cotton candy and birthday crown for the birthday child. Chuck E. Cheese himself will also pay the party a visit. For $16.99 per child, the package includes the above plus 32 tokens per child, 100 prize tickets per guest, and 500 tickets for the birthday child. Pre-packaged goody bags are an additional $1.99 per child.

Oogles ’n Googles, on Washington Road in McMurray, is a themed party experience that includes postcard-style invitations, games and songs based on one of 15 themes, plates, cups, napkins and flatware, party favors, party cake, souvenir photos and a special gift for the birthday child. Themes range from teddy bear teas, dinosaurs and pirates to pom pom princesses, detectives and wizardry. Parties are for children ages 3-10.

Over in Robinson Township is the North Park Clubhouse, a popular restaurant/arcade where a party package includes 90 minutes of reserved area seating and party host. The $11.99 per child package includes an entree chosen from the kids’ menu and drink, $5 in game tokens and 50 redemption tickets for the birthday child, $2.50 in game tokens and 25 redemption tickets for each guest, personalized Dairy Queen ice cream cake, a goody bag for each child, and choice of one of three activities (scavenger hunt, rock climbing wall or racing game). Additional packages add more game tokens, party platters, balloons or buffets.

Birthday packages are also available at Trax Farms in Finleyville. All parties include reserved tables with tablecloth, plates, cups, napkins, utensils, placemats and balloons. A 15-child minimum entitles the birthday child to a gift, one craft activity, party hats and unlimited popcorn for $9.99 per child. A party hostess will help with the distribution of a cake and refreshments if brought by the child’s family. A few dollars more allows for cupcakes, ice cream fun balls, unlimited lemonade, and a hot dog or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Craft activities center around themes: garden party (paint a pot and plant a flower); beach party (create an octopus and color a hat); tea party; fall harvest party; holiday cookie house; backyard nature party; and dinosaur adventure party.

A truly vintage experience can be had at the ice cream parlor tucked into the McDonald Pharmacy, on West Barr Street, McDonald (across from the Heritage Public library). An old-fashioned soda fountain, surrounded by bar stools and café tables, makes for a fun day.

Old-time fun, candy displays, hand-dipped ice cream, period-style chandeliers, and brass booths can be had at the ice cream parlors located in the back room of Andy’s Candies at Robinson Town Centre and Sarris Candies in Canonsburg.

Movie Magic
The private party rooms at the Destinta movie theater in Bridgeville can accommodate up to 20 guests. At $15 per guest, the package includes a choice of either chicken tenders and fries or hot dogs and fries plus two pitchers of soft drinks and paper products. Each child also receives a kid’s combo (child popcorn, drink and piece of gummy candy) to eat while watching the movie. The first couple of rows of stadium seating are roped off for the party. A party host brings the food and beverages to the party room and escorts everyone to the party room and to the chosen movie. Available show times for upcoming movies are not final until the Tuesday before the Friday of the release, so all party times are approximate.

ScreenWorks (the former Star City), off Route 50 in South Fayette Township, has stadium seating and 14 giant wall-to-wall 50 foot screens to offer party groups. A children’s birthday party includes invitations, ice cream cake, movie admission for the entire group, food and beverages. There are three different packages from which to choose.

Let’s Get Physical
Not far from ScreenWorks is Rolling Hills Ranch, which offers group horseback riding parties for children ages 8 and up during the late spring, summer and early fall months. Various releases and helmet waivers must be signed when booking the event.

If your kids like the water, South Fayette Township School District rents out its middle school pool for private parties on Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. The cost for 25 swimmers or fewer is a $60 non-refundable deposit plus $4 per swimmer; 26 or more swimmers is $3 per swimmer plus $30 for an additional lifeguard. Food and drinks are permitted.

AMF Noble Manor Lanes, on Noblestown Road, Greentree is one of the busiest birthday sites in the Southwestern suburbs. The basic package is available on Sundays for $13 per person and includes two hours of bowling, shoe rental, party host, pizza, choice of soda, paper products and autographed bowling pin. The “Xtreme” packages (with cosmic or laser lights) are available on Saturdays at $15 per person. Similar bowling packages are available through Sports Haven on Carol Avenue, Bridgeville.

Birthday parties that include indoor ice skating are available at the Iceoplex at Southpointe. Packages include admission to a public ice skating session, skate rental, private party room for an hour and fifteen minutes, beverages, treat bags, and a party host. A skating instructor can be provided for an additional $50. A minimum of nine guests plus the birthday child and pizza is $210. Substituting hot dogs for the pizza brings the cost down to $190.

The Bianco School of Baseball, on Springfield Drive, Canonsburg, allows 18 friends to play baseball and more in their big sport court. Package parties are available on Friday evenings only, beginning at $200.

Gymsport, on Vanadium Road, Scott Township, offers 90 minutes of supervised play plus treat bags. Parties can also be arranged at Greentree Sportsplex, Iron City Drive, Greentree.

The Little Gym, Washington Road, McMurray, provides invitations, a party host, all the paper goods, drinks, a T-shirt for the birthday child and 90 minutes of supervised gymnastics and motor skills activities.

The Mall at Robinson contains Giggles & Smiles, a supervised children’s fitness and fun center. The birthday child receives a free T-shirt and goody bag, along with two hours of supervised fun, a party host, private party room (seating for 15), snacks, juice, plates, napkins, forks, spoons, tablecloths, decorations, and balloons. The fee is $13 per child, and an additional charge of $1.50 per child buys cupcakes and goody bags for each attendee. Activities are for children ages 10 and under only.

To keep things simple for youngsters, you might want to grab some Happy Meals and visit one of the outdoor playgrounds at McDonald’s in Scott Township at Raceway Plaza or on Washington Pike in South Fayette Township or on Route 19 in McMurray. The McDonald’s in Canonsburg has a two-story indoor playroom.

Or if the weather is bad, you could head to the indoor mini-golf course on the second floor of St. Petersburg Ice Creamery, on Valley Brook Road, McMurray. A fee of $15 per person includes invitations, mini-golf, pizza, party host, face painting, Hershey’s ice cream cake, balloons and decorations.

Making Memories
Kids can create their own birthday memories at Scrapbooker’s Dream, on Washington Road, McMurray. Each child (minimum of nine for a party) should bring 8-10 photos of themselves which they can cut and use to make an “About Me” album. A basic accordion album, including stickers or embellishments, adhesive and cardstock, is $12 per child. Guests are also taught to use the die-cutting machines, punches and decorative scissors to make their albums unique. Included are party decorations, pretzels and a drink box. Cake, pizza and other foods may be brought at the customer’s expense. Parties are recommended only for kids aged 7 and older due to the sharp tools used.

Birthday parties at Beads2Wear, also on Washington Road, McMurray, involve designing a beaded bracelet and pair of earrings or a memory wire bracelet and necklace. A similar party can be held at Bead It, on Washington Road, in McMurray. For children 7 years and older and a fee of $12 per child, the party-goers make a wire memory bracelet and necklace, and the birthday child receives a special charm and T-shirt.

Unique paint-your-own pottery parties can be brought to your house by Sara Hauck, former owner of Bisque & Brew in Peters Township. She provides the paints and pottery choices and the children have a choice of glazing (which takes a few days’ turnaround) or acrylics (which can be done in the same day). Minimum prices start at $12 per person.

Fired Up, located on Washington Road, in McMurray, offers paint-your-own pottery choices beginning at $12 per person. Guests are permitted to bring food.

Kids can make their own stuffed animals at Build-A-Bear, located at South Hills Village and the Mall at Robinson. The basic $10 per guest fee includes a $10 furry stuffed animal that the guests choose, stuff and personalize, a party leader, an autograph bear for the birthday child, party favors and guest invitations.

Friends-2B-Made is also at The Mall at Robinson. The basic $15 per guest fee includes a doll of each child’s choice, an outfit, a customized friendship certificate and a memory box, a party leader, guest of honor gift, and party favors.

JoAnn Fabrics, at Robinson Town Centre, requires a minimum of eight children for their “Party for 8” craft session. Fees begin at $5 per child and include games and crafts centered around such themes as sports, jungle creatures, oceans and fish, “tween” fashion, and fairy princesses.

Wherever you go, you’ll be creating memories for the birthday child that will last a lifetime – or, at least until the next birthday comes around!