The oddest birthday party setup/situation that you have encountered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Invited to newly-built house, still just dirt for the yard. We arrived early because they were borrowing our bounce-around, so we needed to set it up. Were informed no one would be allowed inside--party would take place on tiny, unshaded back porch when it was a sunny, 100+ degree lunchtime.

Refreshments were not-cold water bottles, 1 bag of chips with salsa, and plate of PB&J sandwiches, cut into triangles, for about 10 families. Cake too small for everyone to have a sliver.

Clown arrived, and refused to work outside--her makeup was melting. So hostess made eveyone take off shoes and stay right inside the door.

We left hungry, thirsty, hot, and exhausted.

Sounds like standard bourgeois behavior. I hope you dropped these people immediately. What boors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First grade classmate of my daughter's. The kid apparently liked helicopters, because the parents rented a real helicopter that flew in and gave the kids rides at the party. Everything else was over the top too, but I had rented a goat for my daughter's party a few months before and felt a little, um, amused by the whole helicopter thing. Kids thought it was cool. And the R/C helicopter gift bag thing was cool too.

Also, see news story about indulgent, smug, mummies and children killed in b-day party helicopter crash...I looove that you rented a goat!

schadenfreude about mothers and children who died? wtf is wrong with you? smug does not equal deserves to die.

[Anonymous]

uhhoh,
14;45 used a big fancy word...

[Anonymous]

I can cite many examples of ginormous Cleveland Park homes (usually paid for or owned by grandparents since the couple with the kid usually worked for politically perfect ngo's or had cutsie "cool jobs" as documentary producers or some such sh*t) where there were "stations" for the 3-4 yo to shuttle through, an elaborate spongy or felt "craft"and a hay maze in the backyard. In 90º weather, they eccentrically had no air conditioning in the house and I had to beg the hostess for a dusty glass of tepid tap water. Then there was there was the party in the Palisades at a 4 story, Martha Stewart perfect mansion complete with 4 flights of tightly winding stairs (which was awesome to navigate with 3 yo) Of course, there were "station activities" on each floor. The crowning moment was when the hostess stood in front of the group bewildered parents that had been sequestered to the back porch. She forced us to all smoosh in together and say: "cheese" for a photo-op with her GIGANTIC Canon 7D that was so unwieldy that as she went to focus the lens she lost her footing and fell face first down into the porch in front us and actually smashed the camera to the floor. I don't generally laugh at such things but, many snickers were stifled while feigning attempts were made to help her get off the ground. She was physically unhurt but her pride and her 3k+ Canon were totaled. If the hostess is reading this now, just know you will NEVER be forgotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First grade classmate of my daughter's. The kid apparently liked helicopters, because the parents rented a real helicopter that flew in and gave the kids rides at the party. Everything else was over the top too, but I had rented a goat for my daughter's party a few months before and felt a little, um, amused by the whole helicopter thing. Kids thought it was cool. And the R/C helicopter gift bag thing was cool too.

Also, see news story about indulgent, smug, mummies and children killed in b-day party helicopter crash...I looove that you rented a goat!

schadenfreude about mothers and children who died? wtf is wrong with you? smug does not equal deserves to die.

Lighten up. No one actually died. Just saying, taking 6 year olds up in helicopter rides at a b-day party is really just tempting the Darwin principle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:uhhoh,
14;45 used a big fancy word...

I know, right? She is letting us know both how smart and sensitive she is...

[Anonymous]

I still want to know why a goat...

We went to a baby shower with lots of kids and parents in the middle of July on a 100 degree day, typical DC humidity of course.

There was food, but absolutely no shade and no chairs. The hostess refused to let anyone in the house, not even a several disabled child confined to a wheel chair. This family left early, but the rest of endured the couple opening the multitude of gifts. I felt really bad for the mom to be, sitting on the grass, hugely pregnant. Least enjoyable party ever.

[Anonymous]

What is with all these hosts who invite people over but won't let them inside? What exactly are they concerned about? I thought it was tacky when a boss back in NYC had an all day required event at his house in the Hamptons and we were either to be outside or in the guest house all day, not the main house. But the guest house was larger than any regular home I've seen, there were ample tents etc outside so it wasn't an inconvenience. But to invite people over and never let them in anywhere is so weird.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I really thought people died in a helicopter crash at a bday party. oops!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Invited to newly-built house, still just dirt for the yard. We arrived early because they were borrowing our bounce-around, so we needed to set it up. Were informed no one would be allowed inside--party would take place on tiny, unshaded back porch when it was a sunny, 100+ degree lunchtime.

Refreshments were not-cold water bottles, 1 bag of chips with salsa, and plate of PB&J sandwiches, cut into triangles, for about 10 families. Cake too small for everyone to have a sliver.

Clown arrived, and refused to work outside--her makeup was melting. So hostess made eveyone take off shoes and stay right inside the door.

We left hungry, thirsty, hot, and exhausted.

I wouldn't have left hungry, thirsty, hot and exhausted...I would have left immediately.

This!!!!

The dad of the birthday girl outranked my husband. We were stuck.

[Anonymous]

I don't blame the clown for not working that heat, Pp. This woman shouldn't have thrown a party, at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were invited to a party via evite and told something along the lines of "there are a limited number of spots, so not everyone invited will be able to attend." When we opened the evite, we already were too late, and our DC didn't make the cut.

You have got to be kidding??11

I'm the poster, and, no, not kidding. The Emily Post in me felt compelled to respond to the evite, so I wrote a pretty basic "Sorry, DC won't be able to attend." (Of course, I meant, b/c there was no more space for her.) I honestly was at a loss for words. Thankfully, the child was a non-school friend, and I didn't even tell my DC about the party.

[Anonymous]

I don't get not letting people into your house either. It seems like a common theme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just this morning saw an internet article about "crocodile pool parties" in Florida; as in real gators in the pool swimming with the kids!!! It's the new big thing there. They simply tape the crocs mouth shut and throw them in the backyard pool with all the guests. They quoted some parents who have hired this for their kid's b-days and they said they don't tell other guests about it beforehand "because they might not come". Wonder why?

Are there not enough tigers or boa constrictors to play with them in the ball pit? That's just insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get not letting people into your house either. It seems like a common theme.

I've seen this with people with brand new homes, off white carpeting, and brand new furniture who don't want to risk anyone else touching their stuff. That's their prerogative but then don't host.