Creative birthday celebration ideas?
Chrissy emails:
I'm turning 30 in a month! I want to do something special with my friends but throwing a party is too much stress and I'm not a drinker (there goes the Albany birthday tour de alcohol). Can you ask the AOA crowd for creative ways they've celebrated their special days? Thanks!
Got a suggestion for Chrissy? Please share! You only turn 30 once. (Actually, now that we think about it, we know some people who have turned 30 a few times.)
Earlier on AOA: Capital Region birthday freebies (2009)
photo: Flickr user Will Clayton (cc)
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Comments
go camping! or throw a bbq at thatcher.
... said julianne on Aug 2, 2012 at 1:42 PM | link
I've always wanted to go up to Lake George and rent an island to camp on. You can even rent a boat to get to/from that island! So, your party would involve boating around Lake George, swimming, barbecuing, bonfire..ing, and then camping! The food is simple, the costs are easily split across a group and your fun is hanging out with friends in a beautiful spot.
... said Sean on Aug 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM | link
A few years ago we got a group of our friends together, went out to Howe Caverns and did the lantern tour for a birthday celebration. A little cheesy, sure, but it was a lot of fun and definitely memorable.
... said s on Aug 2, 2012 at 2:23 PM | link
I know a few ways I would have loved to have celebrated my 30th but I was away from friends and family and my birthday is in November:
A day at Great Escape (they cater)
Valleycats (or Major League) Game (I think you can get a private box at the Joe, I could be wrong)
Going out to a place like Hana for hibachi (they have a few party room options)
Buca is great for celebrations too!
That's all I can think of.
... said Wendy McLaughlin on Aug 2, 2012 at 2:40 PM | link
Chuck E. Cheese
... said Derek Mahlitz on Aug 2, 2012 at 3:51 PM | link
Laser Tag! There's nothing more fun than (virtually) blasting away at your friends...
... said Mike on Aug 2, 2012 at 3:54 PM | link
My little sis, also not a drinker, threw a psychic party--she hired a local psychic, made some snacks, and she and 10 of her friends all had readings done, then went dancing.
... said Kizzi on Aug 2, 2012 at 4:26 PM | link
When I turned 30, I attempted to learn to rollerskate -- my then-boyfriend and I met a couple of friends at Guptill's and spent a few hours, them skating, me clinging desperately to the rail of the beginner area, trying to figure out how to move on skates. Then, we had dinner out, during which I learned that it's a challenge to eat with a newly sprained wrist. Needless to say, I still don't know how to skate, but at least I tried.
I don't know why throwing a party needs to be stressful, if you have friends, btw -- they threw me a party a few days after my birthday, and all I had to do was show up and enjoy. :)
... said KB @ Home-Baked Happiness on Aug 2, 2012 at 4:42 PM | link
Spa day! Massages, nails, fruit and chocolate to snack on
Or go up to the lake George and go parasailing.
... said Carly on Aug 2, 2012 at 6:14 PM | link
Second the rollerskating! My friends kidnapped me and took me to Rollerama (sp?) in Rotterdam for my 30th and we had the best time. And I mostly clung to the wall.
Happy almost birthday!
... said This is Unclear on Aug 2, 2012 at 10:30 PM | link
Go zip-lining! or sky-diving!
... said kate on Aug 3, 2012 at 9:33 AM | link
It's summer in the Capital District - Go up to Toga and the track. Make a day of it and hit a concert at SPAC or take in time at the spa at the Roosevelt Baths when you're done.
Thatcher Park BBQ and a hike to boot is a great call. So is parasailing in Lake George.
Meet up for a free concert and picnic at Freedom Park in Scotia or Schenectady Central Park or Park Playhouse.
Invite everyone to take a cooking class at Different Drummer's Kitchen.
Bike/Run/Walk the route of the Hudson-Mohawk Marathon, with different friends joining for different portions of the route.
... said Leah the Nosher on Aug 3, 2012 at 10:53 AM | link
Thanks for all the great suggestions! I definitely have some things to think about now!
... said Chrissy on Aug 3, 2012 at 12:49 PM | link
What about a group cooking class at Different Drummers Kitchen? A group day at the track with a bunch of friends? A weekend trip to Las Vegas?
... said DL on Aug 3, 2012 at 10:28 PM | link
I am using the ap "Scavenger Hunt With Friends" to create a photo hunt for my upcoming birthday celebration. I'm looking forward to showing my friends some of my favorite places around Troy!
Someone above mentioned Lasertag - Oasis mini-golf on rt4 in East Greenbush has OUTDOOR lasertag - and you can play during the day or at night. We did it with a work group of ~18 people, and it was a lot of fun.
... said Jessica R on Aug 6, 2012 at 2:39 PM | link