Throwing Kids' Parties Still a Source of Anxiety for Frazzled Parents

parent P-L-A-Y to offer NYC's First-Ever Kids' Party Planning Showcase: BASHED! The ABCs of Party Planning… From Birth to Bar Mitzvah, Second B'day to Sweet Sixteen


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - October 3, 2007) - parent P-L-A-Y, the NYC events company offering a new take on family time, and the juice team at Apple & Eve, today announced its essential party planning event, BASHED! The ABCs of Party Planning, a first... even for New York City. A boutique platform designed to help parents create the dream party for their children, BASHED! is a one-day showcase featuring such renowned vendors and notable names as NBA Store, Big Apple Circus, Stonekelly, The New York City Police Museum, apple seeds, Bayard's and Basketball City.

Though NYC parents are spending more money than ever on their kids' parties (remember Tom Hanks in "BIG"? Today, parents can book an overnight slumber party at FAO Schwarz for $17,500 and parents nationwide spend over $600 million annually on kids' party goods, according to Hallmark), NYC moms and dads are still overwhelmed with their options. Do they pick an all-inclusive party space or customize one to meet their child's interests? Do they plan a Bar Mitzvah bash at a cool club or do they invite the kids to sail around the island on a boat? The world is their oyster; it's just that the time it takes to make those dreams a reality is often in short supply.

And, as much as parties are big business, stressed parents don't always have the time to shop for a venue or an entertainer, especially when they're juggling several kids who are at different stages of life and party fun.

"Parents want their child's first birthday party, Bar Mitzvah or Sweet 16 to be a standout," says Lambeth Hochwald, co-founder of parent P-L-A-Y and co-producer of BASHED! The ABCs of Party Planning. "For a select few, flying in Aerosmith and 50 Cent is par for the course. For other parents, trying new locations, hiring unique entertainers and exploring out-of-box options just takes too much work."

Planning a unique party is a no-brainer at BASHED!, where the upstairs will be devoted to one-on-one conversations with vendors ranging from caterers to museums, stadiums to magicians. Downstairs, on the Main Stage, parents will groove to musical sets by well-known artists such as Klezmer musician Alicia Svigals and toddler favorites, Uncle Rock and The Bari Koral Family Band. In between sets, a Seminar Series will inform parents of all they need to know about party planning. Taking part in the line-up are party luminaries Sylvia Weinstock, Linda Kaye and Harriette Rose Katz who will share their thoughts on the best in NYC party planning; Dr. Mary Ellen Renna, a pediatrician and Apple & Eve spokesperson, who will discuss everything from Fruit Kabobs to Falafel: How to plan a healthy birthday party; Sara Gragnolati, editor in chief of Kiwi magazine, who will chat about Glamorously Going Green and Emily Haft Bloom, author of the just-released The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planner, who will touch on 10 Ways to Make a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Memorable. AllyKatzz CEO, Denise Restauri, has a good grasp on Teen/Tween Parties, so she'll cover High-School Musical Parties & Boy/Girl Bashes. Lori Sandler, CEO of Divvies, offers the 411 on food allergies and Lisa Kothari, author of Dear Peppers and Pollywogs... What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties, will talk about Hot Trends in Kids' Parties.

Gracing the front of the house: A party-themed installation by the talented team from Stonekelly, one of New York City's finest event/floral planners.

For press inquiries, media accreditation and passes, contact Brian Kaplan directly at 212.227.0251 or via e-mail at brian@parentplay.com.

About parent P-L-A-Y

Nominated by Time Out New York Kids in the 'Best Place to Meet Other Parents' category, parent P-L-A-Y is a premium events company offering a new take on family time. With monthly events held at such diverse venues as Tribeca Rooftop, Harry's Café and Steak and Cub Room, the events offer a reprieve for exhausted parents looking for some R&R on weekend mornings.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 28th, 2007, 10AM-6PM

THE ALTMAN BUILDING
135 WEST 18th Street
New York, NY
www.bashednyc.com


BASHED! DOWNSTAIRS SCHEDULE

10:30 - 11:00 OPENING SET / ROBBY K.

11:00 - 11:30 SEMINAR #1
From Fruit Kabobs to Falafel... Planning a Healthy (and Tasty) Party Menu
SPEAKER: Mary Ellen Renna, MD, board certified pediatrician

11:30 - 12:00  ARTIST #2 / BARI KORAL

12:00 - 12:30  SEMINAR #2
The 411 on Food Allergies for Party Hosts and Parents
SPEAKER: Lori Sandler, CEO, Divvies

12:30 - 1:00   ARTIST #3 / UNCLE ROCK

1:00 - 1:30    SEMINAR #3
Recycle This! How to Create a Glamorous Green Get-Together
SPEAKER: Sara Gragnolati, editorial director, KIWI magazine

1:30 - 2:00    ARTIST #4 / GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD SHOW

2:00 - 2:30    SEMINAR #4
The Best of New York: There's no Better Place to Party!
SPEAKERS: Harriette Rose Katz, owner Gourmet Advisory Services, Linda Kaye,
owner, birthdaybakers, partymakers & Sylvia Weinstock, cake artist

2:30 - 3:00    ARTIST #5 / ALICIA SVIGALS

3:00 - 3:30    SEMINAR #5
Torah Portions and Table Settings: Hosting a Bar/Bat Mitzvah to Remember
SPEAKER: Emily Haft Bloom, author of The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Handbook

3:30 - 4:00    ARTIST #6 / RYAN PAULSON

4:00 - 4:30    SEMINAR #6
High-School Musical Parties & Boy/Girl Bashes: A Teen/Tween Party Primer
SPEAKER: Denise Restauri, chairman and CEO, AllyKatzz

4:30 - 5:00    SEMINAR #7
Five Party Trends Everyone's Talking About
SPEAKER: Lisa Kothari, CEO, Peppers and Pollywogs

5:00 - 5:30    CLOSING SET / BARI KORAL

Contact Information: Brian Kaplan 212.227.0251