What is a good place to celebrate my daughter's 1st birthday around
Mountain View, CA at the end of october? We plan on inviting around 35
people (12 infants/toddlers) and the rest are adults. We would like
for this party to be held indoors in a fun environment. We are
basically looking for some space that is infant/toddler-proof with
lots of toys to play with. No entertainment is needed - we will
entertain ourselves. Oh and we need to be able to bring food to this
place or have it catered.

Thanks in advance
Greg

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 07 Oct 2005 14:42 PDT

Hello penlac-ga,

Have you considered Gymboree? They offer birthday parties for ages
1-5. There are several Bay Area locations that might be suitable --
see Los Altos and San Jose.

http://www.gymboree.com:2000/cgi-bin/mqinterconnect 

http://www.playandmusic.com/b2c/customer/birthParties.jsp
Make your birthday boy or girl feel extra-special this year with a
party--Gymboree style! Bring the crowd over to our place and we'll wow
them with colorful parachutes, tunnels and bridges. An enthusiastic
teacher will lead your group in play and song with activities geared
specifically for a first through fifth birthday. We'll handle
everything from set-up to clean-up. Isn't that exactly what you were
wishing for? Come out and play with us this birthday! Contact your
local Gymboree Play & Music now to save the date!

Will this meet your needs? Can I post this as the answer? Thanks.

~ czh ~

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Clarification of Question by penlac-ga on 07 Oct 2005 15:21 PDT

Hello czh,

We did know about gymboree, and it's a pretty nice place from what I
heard. However, in both los altos and san jose they are booked for the
date that we want - Oct 30

So I am unable to use your answer unfortunately
Need more suggestions

Thanks

Doesn't anyone in googleland, CA, have an answer?

I think The Jungle would be a good place, I only know of one in San
Jose, Ca its similar to Chuck E. Cheese but its supposed to be better.

i found the website if that would help you.
http://www.junglefunandadventure.com/

A nice link to most kid friendly places in the Bay Area.

http://www.bayareakidfun.com/pages/atoz.html

regarding the Jungle, it's not that great location - too far from
mountain view. Plus this looks more like a place for 3+ year olds. A
lot of the kids in my party will be under 1 year old and they won't be
able to appreciate the place

Thanks

Let's be honest, your daughter is not going to care too much about
where her 1st birthday is celebrated, so how old are the other
children?   Although places do offer parties for 1st to 5th birthdays,
there is a practical reason why their facilities are geared for 3+. 
If some of the kids are that age, the toddlers' party will be to
entertain them, the younger ones just need safe space and some toys
that are too big for them to become possessive about:  beachballs they
can push about, etc.  Some of them may not want to leave Mom in such a
large group of persons.
It's been some years but now I recall the recommendation of one child
guest per age of the birthday being celebrated.  That does not have to
be a rule, of course, but it makes the point that one shouldn't expect
too much group participation from their side.
Before I go on, my question again about the ages of the other children?

There will be 5 chilren < 1year old, 3 children 1-2 year old and 3-4
children > 3 years old.

Penlac,
Thanks for your comment.  My wife and I just returned from lunch with
a family:  grandparents, two pairs of parents and 3 children < 1
(incl. twins) and one, 3.
The youngest spent about half the time on the floor, the rest on
someone's lap, the 3 year-old entertained herself, seeking adult
attention at times. Probably she would have been more involved with
someone her own age, but that would have required adult oversight and
probably some intervention.

From this experience, my impression is that a party of two dozen
adults and a dozen toddlers should be planned as a buffet for the
adults with things the older children can eat, expecting the parents
of the younger ones to provide food for them, since they are going to
have to feed (and diaper) them.
Only the oldest children will - maybe - understand that it is a
birthday party, so I don't think that gearing the party to that is
important to them, maybe when the candle on the cake is lit, but more
out of curiosity.

So, where does this put us?  Somewhere that can provide the buffet and
space for the kids to crawl and play within constant sight of the
adults.  I wouldn't choose a place directed at providing play
facilities for the few older children, since this would just require
adult attention, taking people away from the group.  It is not those
children's party, and they will find their own entertainment with each
other, with the younger ones, or with the adults.
Plan to finish the party after two hours.

Just checked back to your original question.  Yes, you will be
entertaining yourselves (and the children themselves, too  - and the
adults).  Your suggestion that you might bring your own food suggests
a church hall or the like with a kitchen for warming dishes and
washing up.  The "lots of toys to play with" seems unnecessary to me,
as I have already mentioned.

Good luck, Myoarin