The Ultimate Kids Birthday Party (for my 30 year old Husband)

This past weekend, my husband, Dan, turned 30 years old! Planning a birthday party while almost 9 months pregnant is not an easy task to begin with. When I asked him what he wanted to do, he was really vague and just said he wouldn’t mind hanging out with me and a few friends at his favorite adult arcade, FTW (For The Win) in Streeterville.

Since it was a big milestone birthday, I knew I had to make it special for him. Dan has always been a little kid at heart, so I thought, “why not throw him an over the top, kid-themed birthday.” When I mentioned the idea to him, his eyes lit up. I knew I hit the jackpot.
So, I was off to planning!

The venue selection was simple. Dan wanted to go to FTW, so that’s where I was going to go.  If you haven’t been, this spot is an epic combination awesome arcade games, chef-driven food, over-the-top cocktails and mini golf, all in one location.
 Not only did it match my kid theme birthday, but I knew the menu would impress all our foodie friends who would be attending.

Working with FTW to plan a party is a total dream and made my nearly 9 month pregnant life SO much easier. The arcade actually has these amazing city view private suites that you can rent out for a really reasonable price. With floor to ceiling windows and a super cool steampunk decor vibe, I knew it was the perfect backdrop to plan the party.

Now let’s talk details! Since the location took care of the entertainment factor, I really only had to focus on 3 things: food, decor and of course, the CAKE!

The Food
It’s very rare to find an arcade as cool as FTW and still manage to get some of the best food in the city. Looking through the menu, it was so hard to decide what to order for our guests. I ended up over ordering (as usual), but it was worth it. Just look at this spread!
Whether you’re planning a party or just coming for a fun night with friends, make sure you plan to eat dinner here. I promise that every single dish will totally impress you.
and of course…you can’t forget the cocktails! Even though I didn’t partake this time, I’ve had them before and they are totally impressive. Check out this extensive and innovative menu.

The Decor

I have to admit, throwing a kid themed party was actually really good practice for me! I’m sure this party will be the first of many I throw over the next 10 years. Normally, I would probably have stuck to one Disney movie or one fun character, but when I asked Dan his favorite, he rattled off a list of like 10.

So, I bought stuff from all of them.

All the decorations cost me under $30 at Target. I got everything from party hats to glowsticks!
The Cake
Without question, Windy City Dinner Fairy makes the coolest themed cakes in Chicago. It was a no brainer for me to enlist her help once I decided on a theme. My only guidance to her was, “Make it look like Disney threw up on the cake.”

This is what she came up with…
Epic.

So there you have it! My first (and certainly not my last) kids party! What are some of your favorite themed birthday parties to throw?

Love always,
Erica