Whether looking for a site to throw an elegant bash, or keeping it simple with a celebration just for the kids, read on to find the perfect venue to fit your family’s party style.
Glen Island Harbour Club
With a waterfront setting and 100 park-like acres to roam for photos, this venue focuses on elegant parties. Located in New Rochelle, history buffs and older generations remember this site as Glen Island Casino, home to the big bands of the 1930’s (think Glen Miller). The site was transformed into Glen Island Harbour Club after a $10 million renovation. Choose from one of two ballrooms for your occasion, both of which offer beautiful views of the Long Island Sound. Each ballroom has its own entrance for guests, cocktail lounge and dining room. The site can accommodate anywhere from 100 to 500 guests and suggests booking one to two years in advance. Kosher and non-kosher options are available for food.
Coliseum
If you are planning a nightclub-style event, consider Coliseum in White Plains. Specializing in bar/bat mitzvahs since 2003, the family-owned Coliseum strives to provide a stress-free event, from the beginning stages of planning to the celebration itself. Owners Daniel J. Coughlan and Joshua Mazzetti will help you design a custom-tailored menu perfect for your bar/bat mitzvah party. Packages run from $65 to $90 per person depending on the menu and include a mock-tini bar serving bottled water, soda, juice and nonalcoholic frozen beverages. Liquor can be added for an additional fee. According to owner Coughlan, popular party menu items include Philadelphia cheese steak sliders, filet mignon quesadillas, lamb chops, assorted sushi, lox on latkes, and the over the top Viennese hour for dessert. In addition to food and beverages, Coliseum also provides table and lounge furnishings, lighting and audio systems including screens, cubbies for personal belongings and an experienced staff. Coliseum has a list of exclusive entertainment companies available for hire for your son or daughter’s special day. “The entertainment companies that we do business with and allow in our space are the best in the industry,” says Coughlan. Located in White Plains, Coliseum is currently taking bookings for bar/bat mitzvah parties into 2019.
Launch Trampoline Park
For a party geared toward young guests, check out Launch Trampoline Park in West Nyack. Recently opened in June of this year, activities at Launch are endless. Attractions include a main trampoline area specifically for jumping, a trampoline basketball court, extreme trampoline dodge ball, a launch pad (fly through the air and land on a giant air bag), battle beam, a ninja course and an arcade. “We’re 20,000 square feet of pure fun, entertainment and fitness,” says Ann Jarcho, general manager. Packages start at $399 for 10 kids with an hour of public jumping or rent the entire facility for hours of private jumping with up to 150 guests. An observation deck is available for adults to sit back and watch. Be adventurous and turn your private party into an overnighter. Foam pits and trampolines take the place of beds after kids jump for hours; breakfast is included. Non-kosher food is available through the site’s café or kosher food can be catered. What sets Launch apart from other trampoline parks? “Our people,” says Jarcho. “We believe good people build a great company, and we pay special attention to cleanliness, safety and details.”
The Davenport Mansion
The Davenport Mansion in New Rochelle provides two great options when looking to book a party – onsite event or off-site catering. Built in the 19th century, The Davenport Mansion offers old-world charm, understated elegance and a beachfront ambiance for your celebration. Proudly hosting one party at a time, the site accommodates parties of 125 to 200 guests. Menus are completely customizable, and kosher food is available. “Most often at bar/bat mitzvahs we offer a split menu – a buffet for young adults and a plated dinner for the grownups,” says Guy DeMeo. The venue is happy to assist in traditional rituals such as the blessing of the hallah, a candle lighting ceremony and the hora. If you prefer to host your bar/bat mitzvah party in your home or at a rental site that does not provide food, The Davenport Mansion will be happy to provide off-premise catering.
Rachael Sanderson Benz is a freelance writer in Westchester County.
