Best Birthday Venues - Chelsea Piers Field House vs. Brooklyn Boulders - Best of New York Kids 2012 -- New York Magazine

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Smackdown: Birthday Venues


Illustration by Dan Woodger  

  • Chelsea Piers Field House
    High-energy athletoplex.
    Piers 61 and 62, 23rd St. and Hudson River Park
    VS
    Brooklyn Boulders
    Outer-borough half-dome.
    Degraw St. and Third Ave., Gowanus

    Facilities
    Chelsea Piers Field House: The smaller, 30-foot wall in one corner of the massive main floor is the primary one for kids (the 11,000-square-foot climbing gym at the Sports Center is off-limits to under-16s)
    Brooklyn Boulders: There’s a wall for little climbers, but the more challenging walls�including one that has arches shaped like the Brooklyn Bridge� are open to them, too, if they’re up for it

    The Party Package
    Chelsea Piers Field House: 75 minutes of climbing (shoes and harnesses included) and 45 minutes of party time; depending on the size of your group, you get a section of the wall or the entire rock face; experienced staff members can teach them how to climb safely (one instructor per seven kids)
    Brooklyn Boulders: One hour for climbing, including gear, and another hour for revelry; staff-to-kid ratio is one to four

    Food
    Chelsea Piers Field House: Families can order from Famiglia Pizza, Abigail Kirsch, or Stonyfield Farms, which has just begun offering organic fare here; no outside food except for the cake is allowed
    Brooklyn Boulders: BYO everything (there’s a fridge) or order in from a large list of approved vendors

    Price
    Chelsea Piers Field House: A basic party costs $650 for ten guests and includes your own party room, paper goods, balloons, and candles; for an extra $60, you get pizza and drinks; the all-inclusive package, which comes with invitations, party favors, and the cake, runs $795
    Brooklyn Boulders: $39 per child ($45 for adults if they’re climbing, too) for a two-hour party; parties can be as small as four kids or as large as 16; gotta bring your own plates and cups, though

    Vibe
    Chelsea Piers Field House: Enthusiastic and sporty
    Brooklyn Boulders: Hipster meets hard-core athletics; encouraging and bouncy

    Winner
    Both are serious fun, but Brooklyn Boulders wins by a half-step for its focus, coziness, and lower prices.

Next: Back of the Best of New York Kids 2012 Index

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