A “big” birthday is coming up. It's 70 grand (gulp!). I'd like to throw a party, but it might seem more appropriate for a 7-year-old than a 70-year-old (except when it comes to the food). I wish there were activities or games like treasure hunts, escape rooms, pool, pinball, karaoke, pin the tail on the donkey, whatever. But my friends and I also appreciate gourmet-quality food, like that served at Providence, Crustacean, and Mélisse. Is there a way to combine all of that into a party for 20 or 30 people? —Marla Levine
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Marla, I love that you want to celebrate your milestone birthday in a playful way that awakens your inner child. Who says you can't run and play with your friends just because you're an “adult”?
Like you, I prefer fun activities to formal, stuffy parties. I celebrated my birthday at a go-kart track and a bowling alley. One year, I hosted an adult picnic in the park with sack races, water balloons, and snow cones, so I have some fun ideas for you. While many of these places don't offer gourmet-level cuisine, unless you consider chicken tenders and fries fancy, I've paired them with nearby restaurants that you can walk to. Depending on your environment, you can do the activity first and then walk to dinner, or vice versa.
One of my favorite adults-only boats in Los Angeles is EightyTwo in the Arts District. Not only is it located among a variety of bars, shops and restaurants, but it is also home to over 50 vintage pinball and arcade machines. They have all the classics like “Donkey Kong,” “Galaga,” “Mario Bros.,” “Ms. Pac-Man” and “Mortal Kombat.” Some nights you can also see live DJ sets. For a meal, consider the Michelin-recommended Manuela Restaurant, which received the seal of approval from the late Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold. Tucked inside the Hauser & Wirth complex, Manuela is a farm-to-table establishment with a variety of modern American bites to choose from. Whatever you do, be sure to order cream cookies for the table.
An activity that instantly makes me feel like a kid again is singing (okay, more like singing) my favorite song into a microphone while surrounded by my loved ones. One of the best karaoke spots in Los Angeles is Break Room 86, a nostalgic speakeasy hidden inside Koreatown's Line hotel, featuring private karaoke rooms, live DJs (and sometimes dancers, including a Michael Jackson impersonator), and an ice cream truck serving ice cream and jello shots. Times senior food editor Danielle Dorsey says: “Walking into the bar feels like you've stepped into an '80s time machine with vintage arcade games, stacks of TVs with static screens and cassettes decorating the walls.” Break Room 86 doesn't open until 9 pm, so visit Openaire for a sunset dinner. Led by Michelin-starred chef Josiah Citrin (the same one behind one of your favorites, Mélisse), the rooftop restaurant offers elevated American dishes, like brick-pressed jidori chicken and grilled branzino, and is inside a glorious light-filled greenhouse.
Another great place to enjoy a nice birthday celebration is Highland Park Bowl, the oldest operating bowling alley in Los Angeles. Built in 1927 during the Prohibition era, the venue still retains that vintage aesthetic with old bowling pins serving as chandeliers, a renovated 1930s mural, and eight renovated bowling lanes. There's also a billiards room and a full bar (with a delicious cocktail menu that rotates twice a year). When you're hungry, take a quick walk to Checker Hall, a neighborhood bar and restaurant serving California Mediterranean fare like kabobs, Turkish chicken, and chicken schnitzel. Actress and comedian Hannah Pilkes told The Times that it's her “favorite bar in all of Los Angeles.” How he described it: “It has the best cocktails and you almost feel like you're in New Orleans when you walk in. It has a beautiful patio overlooking Highland Park. The decor is funky and kitsch but elegant; it's magical.” Then, you can take another short walk to Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams for a sweet treat (if you don't have cake).
My colleague Todd Martens, who writes about theme parks and immersive experiences, says it's hard to find escape rooms that seat 20 or 30 people, but if you don't mind splitting up and staggering start times, check out Hatch Escapes near Koreatown. The place can accommodate about 10 people at a time. Martens wrote about his room called “The Ladder,” which he describes as a “90-minute interactive movie with puzzles, taking visitors through five decades, starting in the 1950s, in which they will play an exaggerated game of corporate life.” The room “incorporates a wide variety of games, puzzles, as well as movies and animation,” he adds. If this theme doesn't pique your interest, there are three other options, including “Lab Rat,” which seats up to 12 people.
You sound like a fun person, so I have a feeling that whatever you do will be a good time. I hope these suggestions are helpful to you as you plan your special day. If you end up visiting any of these places, send us a photo. We would love to see it. Happy Birthday!
