Summer’s here and the livin’ is easy… and planning a summer children’s party in Brooklyn is also easy given the borough’s plethora of diverse summer venues that cater to every personality type, from the dreamer to doer. So, grab your shades, slip on your flip flops, and follow this guide to the best Brooklyn venues for a Children’s Summer Party.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum – According to their website, “A pioneer in education, Brooklyn Children’s Museum was the first museum created expressly for children when it was founded in 1899.” This self-proclaimed first-ever children’s museum recently completed a multi-million dollar eco-friendly expansion that includes a new party room and expanded collections and exhibit space. The perfect place to beat the heat on a hot summer day, the museum offers “hands-on activities, role-playing opportunities, authentic Museum specimens and artifacts, and hundreds of new things to discover in the arts, culture, science, and the environment!” So, for those who desire a celebration filled with culture and a fun “educational experience,” Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the way to go.

Their birthday party packages are totally turn-key, and come complete with food, drinks, cake and a make-and-take party favor for every child. There are many interesting themes to choose from, including an Archaeology Dig and an Undersea Adventure. The price of a party ranges from $550-$650, and covers the cost of admission to the museum for a total of (20) twenty people, including children & adults (a minimum of five adults are required to attend). The party is scheduled for two hours. The first hour is spent in a learning experience. The second hour is spent in the party room with food & cake. The party time slots are 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm & 5:00pm. A $100.00 deposit is required to reserve your time and space. Brooklyn Children’s Museum accepts all major credit cards via the telephone. For more information visit http://www.brooklynkids.org/index.php/kidsandfamily/birthdayparties.

Prospect Park – Located in the heart of Brooklyn, Prospect Park comprises just under 600 acres of lush green space. An “urban oasis” designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park; Prospect Park is an ideal summer party venue for a child who lives for the great outdoors. In addition to Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park offers a wide variety of party locations and activities that are appropriate for kids of all ages. A sampling of party options that call the park home include:

• The Carousel (perfect for a carnival theme) – There is a 60-person capacity at the Carousel for parties, which may be reserved for two hours for $350 (non-member fee).

• The Boathouse (appropriate for kids 4-12) – Features nature-themed exhibits and hands-on activities. Parents may bring their own snacks and birthday treats. Birthday packages can serve up to 28 children for $425 (non-member fee).

• Pedal Boats – Lakeside picnic tables serve as the setting for a nautical birthday party that can accommodate 20 people. A Prospect Park Pedal Boat Party includes five boats, unlimited fountain beverages and a Good Humor Ice Cream treat for each guest, all for $250.

• Tennis – For the athletic child (best suited for kids 5 and up), Prospect Park offers a tennis party that includes tennis instruction, exclusive use of the courts (which can accommodate up to 16 kids), and refreshments. Tennis ball bashes run $600 for non-members.

For more information on birthday parties at Prospect Park, visit http://www.prospectpark.org/parties_permits/birthdays.

Brooklyn Cyclones – Visit the minor league and have major fun with a birthday party that also celebrates Brooklyn baseball. Located in Coney Island, the Brooklyn Cyclones are an affiliate of the NY Mets. The ballpark is the perfect size for little sports enthusiasts who want to celebrate on the big diamond. Birthday party packages at the ball park are reasonably priced, and start at $18 per child for seats in the Bleachers (10 child minimum – box seats and field box seats are more expensive). The package includes: a hot dog, soda, ice cream, bag of chips, and souvenir for each child, as well as a tribute to the birthday boy or girl between innings when the entire ballpark sings “Happy Birthday!”

The Cyclones also supplies party invitations and vouchers for one free game of Speed Pitch for each child. According to their website, there is a new offering this year; parents can upgrade their party for an additional $5 per child to include “a pre-game party in the Brooklyn Baseball Gallery, with special autograph and photo shoot appearances by a Cyclones mascot and a Cyclones player.” To book or for additional information, visit http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/tickets/birthday/.

With two days remaining before Cinco de Mayo, here’s two more recipes to add flavor to your party plans. Check back tomorrow for an excellent Mexican Limeade recipe!

Shrimp Ceviche
Makes 4 servings

1lb. Medium cooked shrimp
1C. Red onion – f finely chopped
1/2C. Plum tomatoes – diced
1 Jalapeno – seeded and minced
2 Tablespoons salt
Juice of 4 limes

Dice shrimp. Place in a bowl. Mix in lime juice and salt. Refrigerate while you prep the other ingredients. Mix in the onion, tomato and jalapeno. Place back in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips and Tabasco for those who like a little extra heat.

Red, White & Green Vegetarian Sopes
Makes 12 sopes

12 Ready-made Sope shells
1C. Finely shredded lettuce
1/2C. White onion – finely chopped
1/2C. Plum tomatoes – diced
1/2C. Cilantro – finely chopped
1/4C. Pickled jalapeno peppers – finely diced
Juice of one lime
1/3C. Crumbled queso fresco
1/2C. Refried beans

Mix together onion, tomato, cilantro, jalapeno and lime juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate. Heat refried beans over medium heat until warm. Remove from heat and set aside. Cook sopes on a griddle or in a skillet until golden brown on the bottom. Remove from griddle and fill each with two tablespoons of refried beans. Top with lettuce, onion and tomato mixture. Finish by sprinkling queso fresco on top. Serve warm.

With just under two weeks until Cinco De Mayo, I thought I’d share some of my family’s fave fiesta recipes – those with mucho sabor. Check the site this week and next for lots of tips and tricks for throwing the best Cinco De Mayo fiesta ever!

The following recipes, twists on traditional Mexican fare, will bring big sonrisas (smiles) to all of your Cinco de Mayo party guests!

Ground Turkey & Potato Empanadas
Makes 4 servings

1 Tablespoon oil
1 Yellow Onion chopped fine
1 Bunch scallions chopped fine
1 Boiled potato diced fine
1 lb ground turkey
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 package Goya ready made empanada shells (Discos Grandes)

In a saute pan, heat oil. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add ground turkey, crumble and cook until brown. Add taco seasoning, scallions and potatoes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Place about 1-1-1/2 tablespoons of meat filling into the center of each empanada shell. Moisten edges with water. Fold empanadas in half, pressing edges firmly together with the tines of a form to seal. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes, or until golden. Serve with salsa.

Green your next party with a luxury spirit, Square One Vodka, that leaves a light footprint on the earth and makes a big splash [so to speak] among cocktail cognoscenti!

Vodkas are prized for their purity, so the idea of an organic vodka is exciting.  The founder of  Square One set out to create the greenest clear spirit yet.  And she started at…square one, with the purest ingredients she could find:  pristine spring water from the Teton mountains and organically certified North Dakota-grown rye.  The ingredients are so pure that Square One obviates the need for multiple distillation, emerging through a single pass in the distiller with its unique flavor profile intact.

 But the founder, Allison, wasn’t content to focus only on what’s in the bottle – the packaging had to reflect Square One’s philosophy of eco-conscious sophistication.  That’s why the distinct square bottle is not frosted [a process that calls for some serious chemicals!] and the label is now printed on paper made from bamboo, bagasse and cotton, all sustainably grown and renewable fiber sources.  And once the bottle is empty the label easily peels off so the bottle can enjoy a second life as a vase or other container.

 Finally, while Square One embraces the square, they’re also happy to come full circle: Because the rye byproduct from their vodka-making process is organic and minimally processed, it is packed with protein and fiber, thus making it ideal for sale as feed to an organic dairy farm.   Althought they did not intend to sell off their“waste, ” they are now thrilled to be a vital link in the cradle-to-cradle process of growing grain, feeding cattle, and creating the best martinis you’ve ever tried! 

Looking for a “Green” cocktail to serve at your next party, try the following from Square One.  Cheers!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! Do your part and reduce your party planning carbon footprint and think “Green.” From flowers to flatware, you, the host are responsible for the extent to which your party will impact the planet. “Green” your next event with the following eco-friendly entertaining tips and tricks (first in a series).

The Right Invite
I’m a big proponent of paper invites and wouldn’t usually recommend virtual invites, but I recently became aware of PaperlessPost.com, a website started on the premise that virtual invites could be as lovely and special as paper invites! So, if you can save the environment and be chic simultaneously, I say “just do it!”

Paperless Post seeks to redefine the tradition of paper stationery so that you can send custom, personalized invitations and announcements with the same thought and care as you would with a paper invitation, but send them the way we communicate today: online.

Paperless Post stationery is as tasteful as its tangible counterpart, but it also makes life simpler. In minutes, members can send out invitations for any occasion- dinner parties, anniversaries, save the dates – whenever you want to send something more personal than a simple email or awkward PDF. After sending, you can then monitor as guests receive and reply to their invitations.

Paperless Post uses “stamps” as its currency. Typically, when you join you receive 25 free stamps. One Stamp sends one piece of mail to one recipient. Stamps never expire and you can purchase additional stamps for a nominal fee as needed. However, as a special offer to the Chic Party Plans community, Paperless Post will give readers who join through the link below 35 (10 extra) stamps!  Join Paperless Post.  Membership is Chic.

Evoke the smells of spring with this menu full of citrus and berry infused recipes.

Orange Vanilla Croissant French Toast with Fresh Berries and Whipped Cream

Ingredients
8 Croissants
6 large eggs
3/4 C orange juice
1/2 C whipping cream
2 T sugar
4 t vanilla
1 t grated orange rind
1/4 t salt
1 T butter or marg
1 C fresh strawberries, chopped
1 C fresh blueberries
1 C fresh raspberries
½ C sugar
1 can Whipped cream for garnish

Slice croissants in half. Beat eggs, sugar, OJ, cream, orange rind, vanilla, salt to blend well. Dip croissant in mixture, turning to coat. Melt butter in skillet or on griddle. Add bread in batches; cook to light brown both sides.

Mix berries with sugar, and pour a spoonful on top of each croissant half. Top with whipped cream.

Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar & Turkey Sausage

Serves 8
Ingredients
16 large eggs
2 and 2/3 cup grated extra-sharp cheddar
2.5 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 uncooked turkey sausage links

Remove sausage from casing. Sautee in skillet, crumbling the meat, until Cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside. In a bowl whisk together eggs and Cheddar and season with salt and pepper. In nonstick skillet heat butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides, until just beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add egg mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until eggs are just set. Remove skillet from.

Two nights ago, I attended a happy hour at a Cuban restaurant in NYC. A well-dressed, sophisticated-looking woman standing at the bar beside me ordered a “hand-shaken Daquiri.” I was intrigued. I asked the woman, “what exactly is a hand-shaken Daiquiri?” She excitedly explained to me that before the syrupy sweet blended concoctions that we currently know as Daiquiris ever existed, before ice, before blenders even, there was the original, hand-shaken cocktail invented by a bartender in a little Cuban bar near a place called Daiquiri.

I watched the bartender mix together what looked like a very refreshing concoction of rum, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. I had to have one! I took one sip and I was sold. The hand-shaken Daiquiri is my new favorite cocktail. So long Mojito. Good bye Margarita. Try this traditional recipe and make history at your next fiesta!!

Mix 3 parts Bacardi Gold rum, with one part simple syrup and one part fresh lime juice (none of the bottled stuff). Pour into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a lo ball. Enjoy!

Oscar party menu: Serve champagne, as well as hors d’ouerves and cocktails named after nominees. What’s a movie night without popcorn? Try these grown-up versions of two movie food favorites:

Savory Herbed Popcorn:

courtesy of Foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons peanut oil
3 ounces popcorn kernels, approximately 1/2 cup
1/2 teaspoon popcorn salt
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Place the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife.

Place the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using a pair of tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl. Sprinkle the herbs on the popcorn and gently stir to coat.

Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Stir to combine. Serve immediately. 3 tablespoons peanut oil

Grown-Up Rootbeer Float

Ingredients:

1 oz Galliano® herbal liqueur
2 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 dash cream
1 oz Coca-Cola®
Pour the galliano and kahlua into a highball glass filled with ice. Add a splash of cream, top with coke, and serve.

Establish the theme with your invitation – Send guests a Hollywood-themed invite from an online invitation service, or for a more formal invite, try the Oscar-themed Party Invitations from Party Basics.

Create your own drama with a red carpet, paparazzi-filled entrance. Rent a red carpet from Red Carpet Runway. Hire a student from the local college’s Drama Department to interview guests as they stroll the red carpet, asking questions like, “who are you wearing?” A professional (or non-professional) photographer can snap photos of guests as they enter. The photos can be used as a party favor. Renting a strobe light and placing it at the end of the red carpet will also give the feeling of flashing cameras.

Allow guests to rub shoulders with the stars by placing life-sized cut-outs of Oscar nominees around the room. Create your own images at Wallhogs.com. This will make another unique party favor for guests to take home.

Social Couture’s Hollywood Glam tabletop décor will add just the right sparkle to your evening.

Check back later this week for tasty Oscar Night recipes and cocktail suggestions.

A romantic breakfast is a great way to start Valentine’s Day, and if you’re a lover of everything bagels, I’ve found the perfect gourmet topping blend to spice up your Valentine’s Day breakfast (or lunch or dinner for that matter)!  A good friend of mine sent me a bottle of an incredibly aromatic, spice-packed accompaniment to a variety of savory dishes; it’s called Bagel Spice.  Use of this flavorful spice is only limited by your imagination. 

• You can sprinkle it on cream cheese, hummus or other bread spreads for a taste bud explosion.
• Shake it over fried eggs, lox and tuna for a delectable flavor boost. 
• Mix it with mashed potatoes for a delightful flavor. 
• Add it to salad dressings and vinaigrettes for extra zing in your salads. 
• Blend it with marinades and sauces for an aromatic kick, or combine it with your favorite dry rub mixture for delicious meat dishes.

The possibilities are endless for distinctive, mouth-watering dishes with Bagel Spice.  Just last night, I added it to my chicken paillard with lemon butter sauce.  The results were amazing.  Check out my recipe below and lots of others on the Bagel Spice website.

Two chicken breasts, sliced in half and pounded flat

Salt & Pepper

Bagel Spice

1/4 cup sliced or minced shallots

Fresh spinach

Juice of two lemons and lemon segments

2 tablespoons olive oil

5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup chicken stock

Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper and Bagel Spice.  Sautee the chicken breasts in one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of butter (heated until butter foams).  Flip the breasts when golden brown and heat through.  Move the sauteed breasts to a plate.  Add the remaining olive oil and butter to the pan and sautee the shallots until transparent.  Add the lemon juice, lemon segments and chicken broth.  Reduce by half and gradually add 2-3 additional tablespoons of butter.  To serve, place a handful of spinach on the plate.  Place one chicken breast on top of the spinach and then spoon the lemon butter sauce over the chicken and spinach so that the spinach slightly wilts.  Enjoy!