11 year-old son needs a birthday plan! (Raleigh, Chapel Hill: chapel, house, to buy)

[vanllabean81]

Hey all!
My son is turning 11 later this month, and I need some ideas on where to have a birthday party for him. He wanted to have it at Frankie's, but they require a minimum of 10 kids, and he doesn't even know that many kids yet. (We're new to NC.) Plus, it's pricey, it would cost about $225 just for the party! So, if anyone has any ideas, I would really appreciate it. I'd like to save some cash for the presents.

And answer quickly, because I'm trying to figure this out by Sunday!

[welovedurham]

I'm hoping to convince my own son to take a few friends here next year:
Vertical Edge Climbing Center - Birthday Parties - 919.596.6910

I think another fun place to have a preteen party would be at Chapel Hill Comics. I heard at their new location (where the Paint the Earth pottery center was) they have a party room:
Chapel Hill Comics

If just a couple friends, what about a popular older-kid movie (Clone Wars?) with some video games and pizza after?

[lamishra]

What part of town are you in? Bowling, ice skating (Ice Plex or Factory), roller skating, swimming, (if you have a place to swim now, it's still plenty warm), Raleighwood cinemas. There is also a cool go-Kart place off Tryon Road in Raleigh, but I don't know how far that is from you. But most of these places have a minimum for parties. Could you just go somewhere for fun, like Frankies, and then drive the kids back to your place for cake and birthday festivities? It would be a lot cheaper to do it that way rather than book a party somewhere.

I just asked my 13 year old daughter and she said to have one at home with a few friends, movies, pizza and popcorn.

[vanllabean81]

Originally Posted by lamishra

What part of town are you in? Bowling, ice skating (Ice Plex or Factory), roller skating, swimming, (if you have a place to swim now, it's still plenty warm), Raleighwood cinemas. There is also a cool go-Kart place off Tryon Road in Raleigh, but I don't know how far that is from you. But most of these places have a minimum for parties. Could you just go somewhere for fun, like Frankies, and then drive the kids back to your place for cake and birthday festivities? It would be a lot cheaper to do it that way rather than book a party somewhere.

I just asked my 13 year old daughter and she said to have one at home with a few friends, movies, pizza and popcorn.

that may be a good idea....he has a few friends here in the complex, and i bet a big slumber party would be really fun for them! keep the ideas coming, people! you're such a big help!

what would i do without this site?!?!?

[J_Lurk]

My kids aren't that age yet, but my nieces and nephews have just gone to Frankie's with a few friends for birthdays, and the parents have just bought a certain amount of stuff for them. You don't have to buy the formal package.

I just discovered a place close to me that does some interesting birthday packages including Harry Potter birthdays, Camelot Treasures:
Camelot-Treasures.com

Most of the area movie theaters also have birthday packages (I particularly have noticed the party room at the Raleigh Grande, but they are all around).

[wanderintonc]

What about taking him and a few friends to Frankie's, giving each a certain amount of tokens (or a token card, I think Frankies does those?) and then driving them back to your house after for pizza and cake?

I've done similar for my sons, when I didn't want to have a huge party.

[RPV2NC]

When my son turned twelve we'd been here less than three months. He was wishy washy on the party idea (would rather have a bigger present, plus he's shy). In the end, we had some kids from my son's class over to the house, let them hang out on the deck, fed them pizza and drinks, then took them to the movies and back to our house for video games, cake, presents, etc. It didn't sound exciting to me, but wouldn't you know one of the guests decided to invite my son to the exact same style of party a few weeks later, so the kids must have enjoyed it!

[Charlton Dude]

Originally Posted by vanllabean81

Hey all!
My son is turning 11 later this month, and I need some ideas on where to have a birthday party for him. He wanted to have it at Frankie's, but they require a minimum of 10 kids, and he doesn't even know that many kids yet. (We're new to NC.) Plus, it's pricey, it would cost about $225 just for the party! So, if anyone has any ideas, I would really appreciate it. I'd like to save some cash for the presents.

And answer quickly, because I'm trying to figure this out by Sunday!

Why don't we have a City Data family meetup at Frankies. That way you will have more than 10 kids. Plus, I love the go karts there.