Dan's Papers - May 30, 2008 - Err, A Parent by Susan Galardi

Last week in this column, I wrote about the great places on the East End to have birthday parties or other festive occasions for your children. Several museums out here host kids parties that are fun, educational, and won't cost the price of a summer share.

The Children's Museum of the East End (CMEE) in Bridgehampton is an amazing place inside and out. The architecture is first rate, and the exhibits are the quality of feature film sets. It's been a home away from home for us with our son since he was 18 months. He "still" loves it, and with its changing exhibits, there's always something cool and new to explore.

In addition to offering classes and special programs for kids all year long, CMEE is a wonderful place for a party, which can be scheduled in two-hour increments on Saturdays and Sundays. Kids amass in one of the classrooms and may start out with an art project. Then it's recess - they have the run of the museum until they're called back in for cake and treats. Some of the party packages include refreshments, or you can bring your own. The basic party ($375.00) includes admission to the museum for up to 20 children and 20 adults, a CMEE art project led by staff member, and a gift for the birthday boy or girl. The Pizza Party ($450) includes three large pizzas, drinks and basic birthday themed party-ware. You can add a sheet cake for $40 to any package, and you may bring decorations as long as they can be taped to the wall. For parents who want to do nothing but show up with a big present, there's the Birthday Bash! For $525, CMEE provides pizza, refreshments, cake, and paper goods - and a staff member to help with set-up and clean up.

Right across the street from CMEE is the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center (SoFo), designed so that a walk through it feels like a nature hike. The main floor features nature murals, exhibits and a short video explaining how glaciers created Long Island. There's a fun interactive habitat exhibit - opening little doors and drawers takes you close up into a nature scene. My favorite is the marine touch tank downstairs, with native marine animals like whelks, sea stars, sea urchins and crabs.

While you can't have a party at SoFo with food (it's a health department thing - you know, live animals, reptiles and amphibians in tanks) the museum does welcome groups of kids for special, customized programs. For an afternoon at the museum, it's $5 each admission for children 3-12, and $7 for adults. Ramp that up to $10 each, and SoFo will design any type of program facilitated by a nature educator, on topics like bugs, reptiles or amphibians. Sometimes the group starts inside with a program and exploration of the museum, then heads out in search of frogs and bugs.