Host your child's birthday party at a playground/pavilion at Skidaway Island State Park

A plus of living in our area is you can host a children’s birthday party outdoors – even in fall. But the one challenge is finding a playground with access to bathrooms and a pavilion.

Here’s a fun suggestion for a playground children’s birthday party from SouthernMamas reader Katie Kelley: she’s having her child’s 3rd birthday party at Skidaway Island State Park.

The state park has a playground that’s suitable for smaller children; has several picnic tables available or you can rent one of the pavilions for $55 for the entire day. There are two pavilions right next to the playground with access to the bathrooms.

You can make the reservation online. Parking passes for cars is $5. You can add up the cars and then pay later so that our guests don’t have to pay, Katie emails. You also can bring your own food/snacks/cake/decorations/goodie bags, etc. For more info, click here.

Bouncy house lovers, take heed: Bouncing Angels , the beloved Savannah indoor play place at Victory Drive and Skidaway Road, is undergoing some fabulous changes to make it into an even more fun play space and birthday party headquarters.

The indoor inflatable play & party entertainment center @ the Victory Drive Shopping Center, 2123 E. Victory Drive, no longer charges higher weekend rates!  Now, you pay the same price every day for kids: $5 plus tax for tots 2 and younger; $8 plus tax for the 3-and-up set.  

Coming this month and in December, more inflatables and less distracting arcade games. That means kids will spend more time jumping and playing than begging Mom and Dad for money to play the coin-operated arcade games. New inflatables include Dora and Diego and a farm, plus more slides.  

Bouncing Angels also plans to add two Wii Sports games, yet another fun way for children to exert all their energy.

New discount cards are also available so after 10 visits, your next THREE visits are free. You receive a discount on admission with three or more kids.

In addition to regular walk-in, open play, Bouncing Angels also is available for birthdays, field trips, mommy clubs, group events etc. Birthday parties are a snap at this monolith of play. If you’re planning to host a birthday party there, ask about the free party deal: after 15 paid admissions of $16 each, you earn a free birthday party with up to 16 kids (a $259 value).

Birthday are becoming much more special at Bouncing Angels, too. Coming soon: thrones for the birthday boy or girl (like the one pictured here) as well as a personalized “Happy Birthday” banner with the child’s name.  Birthday guests receive unlimited jump time – so they can bounce off all that birthday cake.

Many popular features of Bouncing Angels will remain including the free Wi-Fi and frequent jump cards, which allow you to save on admission fees.

Bouncing Angels hours:
10 AM-8 PM Mon-Thurs.  
10 AM- 9 PM Fri.- Sat.
noon-8 PM   Sun.

Check out their Web site here. For more info. call: 912.691.8797.

Check out the fabulous prices @ See Jane’s Beauty Bar, Savannah’s ultimate chic and cheeky destination for exceptional manicures, pedicures, waxing, brow grooming and facials.

Custom facials from as low as $20. Brow shape waxing for $15. Custom built lashes for $20. Plain Jane Manicure for $15. Signature manicure for $20.

Almost as enticing as those prices: BEAUTY BAR HAPPY HOUR is every Thursday night. Receive a complimentary cocktail with every service, treatment or purchase from 5-9 PM.

See Jane Apothecary + Beauty Bar is @ 323 W. Broughton St. Click here for more info. Tell them SouthernMamas sent you! Tel. 912.234.1080. Email: info@seejaneshop.com

See Jane is also Savannah’s hottest socializing space for group bookings such as bachelorettes, bridal showers, girls’ night out. Click here for more info on excusive use of See Jane. For all bookings, the hostess gets a free pedicure.

If all those pony rides at local fall festivals has your kid hooked on horses, check out Norwood Stables, near Isle of Hope, Savannah.

Norwood stables offers exercise and fun in the great outdoors. Ladies morning riding club $40 per session and children’s riding lessons $160 p/m. Pony rides $35 for 30 minutes up to 3 kids per pony. Call Linda at 663-5288 for more information or click here.

Be sure to tell them SouthernMamas sent you.

Also, according to the Norwood Stables Web site, Norwood also hosts children’s birthday parties. The $200 birthday package includes full use of the picnic area for a two-hour party with two ponies for one hour. Check out the picnic area and available upgrades here.

Monkey Joe’s Savannah  – a sponsor of SouthernMamas – is just days away from opening at 311 Eisenhower Drive.

The first official day of business will be Fri. Oct 2. Then the GRAND OPENING festivities will be Sat.
Oct. 3. 

The new indoor playground and birthday spot offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger.

The Monkey Joe’s party coordinator will be available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday  – ALL DAY! – to book parties and answer questions. Swing in and let your kids go BANANAS!

912-349-2528. For Monkey Joe’s Savannah business hours and more info click here.

Are you a SouthernMamas fan on Facebook? If not, you’re missing out on helpful tips and comments from other SouthernMamas readers.

For example, recently an out-of-town reader asked for suggestions for a Savannah spot where she can host a baby shower for a friend. What follows is an interesting conversation about restaurants that are good for a baby showers and ones that aren’t.

Read that conversation and others by becoming a fan of SouthernMamas on Facebook. Click here to do so.

Here are a few of our readers’ suggested spots to host a baby shower:
45 Bistro inside of The Marshall House
Vics on the River
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar
Cha Bella.
Soho South Cafe

Get ready to bounce.

Monkey Joe’s Savannah is set to open Sat. Oct. 3 at 311 Eisenhower Drive, next to Dr. Ramon Ramos’ office.

The new indoor playground and birthday spot offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger. 912-349-2528. Find out more here.

Ready to enjoy some fondue?

The Melting Pot on Broughton Street in downtown Savannah opens Wed. Sept. 23

The Melting Pot offers a four-course dining experience, relaxed atmosphere, private tables, fine wines, attentive service and exceptional fondue dinners.

Start with a creamy cheese fondue. Then choose from four flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of entrées including filet mignon, lobster, blackened chicken, duck, shrimp, salmon and more. For dessert, enjoy chocolate fondue served with dipping items including fresh strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies.

Sign up here for Club Fondue. Club Fondue members receive free chocolate fondue for two on your birthday and wedding anniversary. You will also receive monthly emails about The Melting Pot’s grand opening, ladies night out, wine tastings and other fun events.

Planning a child’s birthday party or your BFF’s baby shower can be stressful. How is a mere mortal supposed to choose the perfect items to include in the gift bags or create one of those amazing diaper cake centerpieces?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have your very own event planner to help you put it all together?  Posh Petals and Pearls to the rescue.

Posh Petals and Pearls will make your child’s birthday, your BFF’s baby shower or even your wedding day a unique and unforgettable event for you and your guests.  You’ll learn how to incorporate your own personal style into all of the party details.

Posh Petals and Pearls provides full-service wedding and event coordinating; specializing in classy, timeless and elegant designs serving the Savannah and Statesboro areas as well as the coastal Carolina area. 

Posh Petals and Pearls provides packages ranging from day-of directing to full service wedding consulting. The PPP pros specialize in planning events such as bridal related showers and parties, children’s birthdays, baby showers and any other event you may desire. A few examples of their work are pictured here.

Contact Tara Skinner and Ashley Greene via email poshpetalsandpearls@yahoo.com or call 912.596.6064 or 912.659.9590.

Here’s a fun idea for entertainment for a children’s birthday party: hire a pirate-parrot act.

Captain Goodie Twoshoes and his parrot Pete will take your birthday child and party guests on an amazing undersea adventure. Here’s the jist of their birthday show: Goodie can’t remember how to open his magic chest full of treasure. So he calls upon the kids and his animated friends to help.

With loads of ruckus magic, music and comedy, kids are swept away with belly laughs and songs.

The children participate with Goodie by playing percussion instruments, helping with magic tricks and solving riddles. There is even crazy pirate rabbit trying to steal Goodie’s gold. The rabbit appears through out the show in a hilarious series of magic tricks. In the end, kids figure out how to open the chest and Goodie shares his treasure. Of course, there is a special treat for the birthday child.

For ages 3-8.

Treasure hunts are also available.

For more info, click here. Call 1-877-444-8253 or email sean@thestoryship.com to book your child’s pirate-themed birthday party.

Coming soon to Savannah: a new indoor playground and birthday spot.

Monkey Joe’s – which offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger – will open a Savannah location at 309 Eisenhower Drive next to Dr. Ramon Ramos’ office.

The exact opening date is not confirmed yet, but a spokesperson said the estimated opening time is the end of September/early October.

Monkey Joe’s features an inflatable play center including inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses where kids can bounce, jump, slide, and have fun. Kids 3 years-old and younger have their own play area.

Read more here.

Tired of assembly line invites and stationery? Just your luck: Savannah-based graphic designer Emily McCarthy gives new moms and baby shower-throwers alike a fresh take on the old baby announcement and invitation.

Emily has been in the invitation and stationery industry for more than eight years. While still employed as Senior Designer for one the largest invitation retailers in the country, Emily has created emma j design – an exclusive offering of custom invitations and stationery. Mixing modern and traditional, Emily adds her flair to any event.

A firm believer in setting the mood of your event with the invitation, Emily works one-on-one with each client to create a unique invitation that can only be found at emma j design. All of her illustrations and artwork are completely custom and are drawn specifically by the artist. Emily, originally from the Atlanta area, was a newcomer to Savannah three years ago and is excited to offer her talents and services to the South.

emma j design offers custom invitations {couture wedding and letterpress, birthday parties, dinner parties, baby and bridal showers}, baby and moving announcements, custom stationery and monograms, wedding styling {logos, invitations, programs, favor tags}, corporate branding and logos, business cards, catalogs and product design.

Contact Emily McCarthy today to set up an appointment or to place an order. Email inquiries to emily@emmajdesign.com .

Visit www.emmajdesign.com for an online gallery of work and to visit her popular blog: A Savannah Redtop.

Looking for a fabulous date night? How about a fun night out with the girls? Coming soon to Broughton Street in downtown Savannah is The Melting Pot! At The Melting Pot, fondue becomes a memorable four-course dining experience where you can truly dip into something different. Come discover The Melting Pot’s relaxed atmosphere, private tables, fine wines, attentive service and exceptional fondue dinners.

Start with a creamy cheese fondue. Then choose from four flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of entrées including filet mignon, lobster, blackened chicken, duck, shrimp, salmon and more. For dessert, enjoy mouthwatering chocolate fondue served with dipping items including fresh strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies.

To enter to win, sign up here for Club Fondue. Club Fondue members receive free chocolate fondue for two on your birthday and wedding anniversary. You will also receive monthly emails about The Melting Pot’s grand opening, ladies night out, wine tastings and other fun events.

You have to be a SouthernMamas subscriber to enter. Subscribing is free. Click here to do so.

You have until 9 pm this Thurs. July 30 to enter and then The Melting Pot will choose a name. SouthernMamas will announce the winner here Fri. July 31.

The Melting Pot will be opening soon in September. Come and enjoy a night of fondue!

Call Fun Faces Face Painting Services for your child’s next birthday party.

Fun Faces is available for all types of events; private parties, corporate events, grand openings, festivals and more. Service area includes Savannah, Statesboro, Jacksonville.

Fun Faces uses only water-based FDA compliant as a cosmetic face paints and cosmetic glitters that wash off with mild soap and water. No craft glitter. No acrylic paints or other paints which are not meant for the skin.

Fun Faces can paint about 10 faces an hour, depending on the complexity of the design.

Get in touch early for the best selection of available dates. Call 912.674.1830 or email sherrys.funfaces@gmail.com. Learn more here.

Vicki Braswell!

Vicki wins $50 off an inflatable rental from Savannah Inflatables.

Savannah Inflatables are great for children’s birthday parties, pool parties, community and corporate fund-raisers. The set up and delivery is included in the price. Available seven days a week. Click here for more info.

Look for another giveaway from a different business to be announced here Monday.

Kristen Grach, a Savannah advisor for Lia Sophia jewelry, is giving away two sweet Valentine’s treats .

Two SouthernMamas can each win one item of your choice under $100 from the Spring/Summer catalog or the Kiam Collection.

Just check out the rules below to enter to win:

We’ll pick two names at random and announce the TWO winners Friday.

February is Double Up time @ Lia Sophia: purchase two items at full price and you can add two items for half price. When you purchase three items at full price, you can add three items for half price. And so on and so on. Even better, your half-priced items can be your HIGHEST priced items. The jewelry comes with a lifetime guarantee. Contact Kristen by clicking here and schedule your show or place your order today.

Every time your child’s birthday rolls around, your goal is always the same: a creative, fun, memorable yet EASY birthday theme. But the arduous task of trying to find that perfect fit has you sounding like your little pirate-wannabe: “Aaaarghhhh!”

Finally, “Captain Goodie’s Birthday Adventure” to the rescue. Captain Goodie Twoshoes and his parrot Pete will take your birthday child and party guests on an amazing adventure.

Two versions of the birthday show are available- complete with ruckus magic, music and comedy. Kids participate by singing along, playing percussion instruments, helping with magic tricks and solving riddles.

The plot of the birthday shows: Goodie can’t remember how to open his magic chest full of treasure. So he calls upon the kids and his animated friends to help. The performance includes a pirate rabbit who tries to steal Goodie’s gold and appears through out the show in a hilarious series of magic tricks. In the end, kids figure out how to open the chest and Goodie shares his treasure which includes a special treat for the birthday child!

Click here to see details of the two pirate birthday party shows available. Each is best for ages 3-8. Click here to watch a video clip of “Captain Goodie And The Magic Chest.”

For booking info, call 1-877-444-8253/912.353.8381. Or email sean@storymaker.com. Please support SouthernMamas sponsors like Captain Goodie. They help make this site possible!

The creative mind behind the pirate birthday shows is Sean Driscoll, founder of The Story Ship, a Savannah children’s educational performance and workshop company. Driscoll’s worked in the children’s entertainment industry for more than 30 years. The Story Ship’s workshops unite new digital audio recording technology with music and storytelling. Kid’s create their own audio CDs of music and stories and share them @ The Story Ship website.

Savvy moms know the importance of kids birthdays. So what better topic for our first post than a roundup of the best bets for parties.

Wild birthday with reptiles or birds

The Center for Wildlife Education & The Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University offer four birthday packages. Each includes a reptile or bird program and reserved covered pavilion. Birthdays are held on Saturdays through the school year and Monday-Friday during June, July and August. Costs range from $100-$350 depending on the package. Special themed wildlife programs are available including Soft & Cuddly, Tails & Scales or Creatures of the Night. Gift bags and special gifts for birthday child are available. One package is a birthday overnight camping adventure and private wildlife program.

Party reservations are based on availability. Call Pam Harley at (912) 681-0831 or email pharley@georgiasouthern.edu.

Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum

Kids can play in the magic sand at the loggerhead sandcastle, pretend to prepare exotic meals in the international bazaar, trek across the rock challenge course or paint a picture and play instruments at this Hilton Head Island museum. Rental of the birthday party room includes plates, napkins, utensils and a special gift for the birthday child and guests. Rates range from $125-$225 and includes museum admission for up to 12 children. 18A Pope Ave. HHI (843)842-7645

Edible Art Party, Savannah Rum Runners

Each child gets to sharpen their baking skills decorating three items – usually a large cookie, cupcake and donut – using butter cream icing and different colors, chips, sprinkles, sugar, candies etc. Children take their goodies home. Call 355-4177. Located in Habersham Village, 4515 Habersham St. at 61^st St. 

Sea Turtle Cinemas

For the budding film buff. Watch a blockbuster, play in the theater game room and eat popcorn, soda and candy. Packages range from $12-$15 per child. For ages 2-12. Located at 106 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton. (843) 706-2888.

Caboose Party, Roundhouse Museum

Play in the conductor’s seat of a real caboose. Watch the model trains run through a miniature Savannah. Get an up-close look at diesel and steam engines. Catered train or character cake will be waiting with character plates and napkins set with a railroad lantern centerpiece. Lemonade, cups, ice, forks, candles provided. Parties up to eight children: $150. Add $8 for each additional child. Located downtown 601 W. Harris St. 651-6823

Puppet People
Themed birthday parties are held at the Puppet People studio Parties include: interactive studio tour; puppet show; make-and-take paper puppet that coordinates with the party theme; Decorations, utensils, paper napkins and table cloths. Prices at the studio start at $250 for up to 20 children and last up to two hours. Fees are different when Puppet People are hired to go to birthday parties at different locations from the party studio. Studio is at 3119 Furber Ave. in Thunderbolt. (912) 355-3366. E-mail puppets@puppetpeople.com

Animals for hire

The Double C Ranch:The traveling petting zoo from Ridgeland, S.C. comes to Savannah to do birthday parties.They have a variety of animals including sheep, goats, a cow and donkey. Cost is $150 for a minimum of two hours. (843)247-0428

Running Horse Ranch: The ranch in Hagan, Ga. brings the pony rides to your own back yards. Two ponies cost $150 per hour. (912) 739-7837

Kindermusik Party

Turn your child’s birthday into musical celebration. A Kindermusik birthday on-site at your location includes 15 minutes of exploration and free play with instruments plus 45 minutes of instrument exploration, instrument play-alongs, creative movement, storytime and circle dances. Also included is a free gift for the birthday child. Birthdays are given by licensed Kindermusik educators. Cost: $150 if child is enrolled in Kindermusik; $175 otherwise. Upgrades are available. (912) 352-2420.

Chick-fil-A and Build-A-Bear Party

The two Oglethorpe Mall businesses team up for kids’ parties. Each guest makes a stuffed animal they can keep at Build-A-Bear. Parties start at $10 per guest. (912)352-1876. The party then moves to the food court for lunch that includes kids meals, balloons and pictures taken with the cow. Cost is $6 per child. (912)352-1580

Air Force Party

 The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum birthday parties include a private party room, personalized cakes, drinks and supplies, goody bags, free gift wrap for purchases in from the museum store and guided tours. Located off I-95, exit 102, Pooler. 748-8888 ext. 106. E-mail education@mightyeighth.org