For Jewish boys and girls, becoming bar or bat mitzvah is one of the most important events in a family’s life. Though traditionally a religious ceremony, these days the celebration outside the synagogue can often expand into an event with hundreds of guests, including children. That’s a lot of 13-year-old energy in one place, so how do you handle it? Get the kids up and moving with a sports-themed bar or bat mitzvah! There are plenty of places in and around Westchester County where you can hold your child’s celebration that will add that little extra sporting element and make their special day something they will remember for a lifetime.
A-Game Sports
856 Main St., New Rochelle 278-9477
agamesports.net
A-Game Sports opened its doors this past December, offering 25,000 square feet of customizable, recreational space. “We can do everything from soccer, flag football, baseball, softball, dodgeball and relay races,” says co-owner Darin Feldman. “Any kind of recreational game that you can think of, we have.”
In addition to the recreational fields, A-Game Sports has batting cages and a batting tunnel, and is equipped with Hittrax – a system that allows teams as small as 4-on-4 to play a full, 9-inning game. As A-Game is brand new, they do not offer a full catering service, but for the event planner (or parent) who is looking for an a la carte location to hold hundreds of guests, A-Game Sports is perfect. The professional coaching staff will guide the children through the activity of your choosing, and the children will have a blast.
“Every time you go to a bar mitzvah what do you see? You see a lot of the kids just running around the place trying to keep themselves entertained,” says Feldman. “They can dance for a while, but after a while, a lot of 13-year-old kids want to do something besides be on the dance floor. Having a facility like this opens up a lot of opportunities to do just about anything that a 13-year-old boy or girl would want to do.”
iFly Westchester
849 Ridge Hill Blvd., Yonkers 449-4359
iflyworld.com
Looking for an event space that will allow your child’s bar or bat mitzvah to soar above others? iFly Westchester is an indoor skydiving facility that recreates the free fall of a sky dive without having to use a parachute or jump out of an airplane.
“The experience is unlike anything that you can find anywhere else,” says Kristopher Beavers, iFly director of marketing in Westchester. “We are in the business of giving the dream of flight to everyone.” Able to accommodate parties of up to 180 people, iFly delivers its one-of-a-kind experience via a special tunnel that fills with a strong updraft of air, giving the participant the sensation of free falling through the atmosphere. “You literally are riding on a column of air,” says Beavers.
iFly works with three different caterers and can accommodate any desired level of dining experience, from casual or corporate to fine dining. While most of the action happens on the Flight Deck, there are a number of smaller rooms available for rent, and the entire facility itself can also be rented out.
Chelsea Piers
NEW YORK
23rd St. and Hudson River Park, New York City 212-336-6666
chelseapiers.com
CONNECTICUT
1 Blachley Road, Stamford, Conn. 203-989-1000
chelseapiersct.com
Chelsea Piers (with locations in both Manhattan and Stamford, Conn.) offers a wide range of activities for your child’s bar or bat mitzvah. They can customize their event to your needs and interests, and have hosted parties featuring soccer, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, trampoline dodgeball, flag football and more. The events can range from casual to formal and come with a Chelsea Piers facilitator to oversee and run the activities.
“Kids like the idea of having sports and playing,” says Erica Bates, vice president of Corporate Communications in New York. “[The bar or bat mitzvah is] supposed to be a celebration that they’re going to enjoy and I think kids enjoy playing more than sitting down at a table and having something to eat.”
Not that either location skimps on the dining portion of the event. Both facilities feature in-house catering. “You meet with the caterer, you meet with the event staff, you tell them exactly what you want,” says Bates. “From that moment forward there’s an event person who handles all the details and all the coordinating so you don’t have to.”
Rockin’ Jump
333 N. Bedford Road, Suite 225, Mt. Kisco
743-5730
mtk.rockinjump.com
Since a throng of 13-year-old children are going to be bouncing off the walls anyway, why not hold your child’s bar or bat mitzvah at Rockin’ Jump? Located in both in Mount Kisco and at Ridge Hill, Rockin’ Jump is an 18,000 square foot trampoline park where you and your guests can literally bounce off the walls!
“Rockin’ Jump is fun for kids of all ages,” says Patrick Jackson, director of sales and marketing for Rockin’ Jump Mt. Kisco, Ridge Hill and Towson, Md. “Where else can you have a fierce dodgeball match (foam balls!), a trampoline dunk competition, and a trampoline dance party in the same night?”
The trampoline dance parties feature black lights and disco lights, providing the bar or bat mitzvah with all the frenzied fun of a regular dance, with the added benefit of non-stop trampoline action!
Rockin’ Jump has a cafe onsite, but also welcomes outside caterers into their facility, and features three separate party rooms in addition to the 8,000 square foot lounge and cafe. “Thirteen is an amazing age. You are just stepping into adulthood while still having
a foot in childhood,” says Jackson. “Rockin’ Jump recognizes this and a Rockin’ bar/bat mitzvah allows you to have the best of both worlds. Jump and dance on our trampolines, then come down to our lounge and party rooms for the more adult side of life.”
David Neilsen is a frequent contributor to Westchester Family.
