Playful Places for Your Next Party
Leah Harrison is a reporter and copy editor for the Atlanta Jewish Times.
The Atlanta area is replete with adventurous, exciting, innovative and plain old fun options for special events. From venues that are outlandish and whimsical to groundbreaking and downright awesome, these places enable you and your guests to let loose beyond the dance floor after celebrating a bar mitzvah, wedding or other simcha.
One of the newest kids on the block to help you unleash your inner child is The Roof at Ponce City Market, which offers three distinctive components, each with a captivating view of the Atlanta skyline:
- Skyline Park features old-fashioned carnival games and amusements, including 18 holes of minigolf, a Heege tower free fall and a three-story slide built into the classic PCM sign. With a tasteful carnival concessions menu and a capacity of 500, the park is available for private and semiprivate parties.
- Set to open this fall, Nine Mile Station is a classic beer garden concept alongside the park, with indoor and outdoor patio dining for 400. Craft beers on tap, a sharable menu, and a comfortable lounge atmosphere with communal tables and a fireplace complement the sweeping views. It will be available for events alone or in conjunction with Skyline Park.
- A private event venue, Tower Terrace has 6,500 square feet of wooden deck and a 4,800-square-foot, semipermanent tent strung with market lights to go with the view of the skyline. With a full catering kitchen, Tower Terrace is available for weddings, corporate events and other parties.
The Roof at Ponce City Market
675 Ponce de Leon Ave., Midtown
Contact for Skyline Park and Nine Mile Station: Mandy Slater, mslater@slaterhospitality.com
Contact for Tower Terrace: Brad Gibson, 404-900-7900, brad.gibson@jamestownlp.com
While we could not list every fun venue in the area, here are more of the playful options for celebrations of every size, temperament and budget. Most of the representatives, even at the newest venues, were familiar with and appreciative of the Jewish community. Give them a call. They’ll be happy to help you.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
1255 Roswell Road, Marietta
Contact: Shannon Rucker, 678-496-9509, shannon@andrettikarting.com
11000 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell
Contact: Sharon Bagley, 678-352-7674, sbagley@andrettikarting.com
Amusements at both locations include multiple tracks with SODI karts (gas in Roswell and electric in Marietta, which opened in October), full-lane laser tag, a suspended, two-story ropes course, an arcade with more than 120 games, CXC simulators, and the only XD Dark Ride 7D interactive movie experience in Georgia. In-house food and beverage service includes kosher-style options, and kosher dining can be accommodated. Parties from 10 to 1,200 for a full facility lock-in can be booked. The Marietta location offers over 10,000 square feet of private event space, including the Grand Room (400 people), the stunning Sky Bar (350), and suites for 10 to 1,050.
Dave & Buster’s
2215 D&B Drive, Marietta
Contact: Lissette Mathus, 770-951-5554
4000 Venture Drive, Suite 15, Duluth
Contact: Heather Montgomery, 770-497-1152
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Suite 441, Lawrenceville
Contact: Heather Montgomery, 678-847-5400
With the ability to entertain parties of 20 to 2,000, all three Atlanta-area Dave & Buster’s locations have multiple private spaces to accommodate parties of varying sizes. Using Power Cards preloaded according to your budget, guests enjoy hundreds of state-of-the-art games, midway amusements and classic video games, with the ability to collect winnings and submit them for prizes. The custom buffet is purchased per person in attendance; no outside catering is permitted. The Lawrenceville location has a 16-lane bowling alley available for events. An Alpharetta location is due to open in 2017.
Jimmy’s Mad Mad Whirled
2854 Delk Road, Marietta
Contact: Derrick Davis, 770-953-4040, ext. 3, funzoneatlanta@yahoo.com
Available for partial or full-building lockdown access, Mad Mad Whirled boasts two Whirlyball courts, a laser tag arena and an arcade area, as well as a 2,000-square-foot theater room (think mitzvah video). For those feeling nostalgic, a DVR with Dance Dance Revolution is an option within the arcade. You may use the on-site catering service or bring in an approved caterer of your choice. The two party rooms accommodate either 100 or 200 people in this 30,000-square-foot entertainment complex.
Main Event Entertainment
3101 Cobb Pkwy., Cumberland
Contact: Cameron Daniels, 678-932-4182, cameron.daniels@mainevent.com
10700 Davis Drive, Alpharetta
Contact: Jennifer Price, 770-521-9100, jennifer.price@mainevent.com
In addition to 24 bowling lanes with black lights, lasers, fog, music, and above-lane video screens available for logos, photos and videos, Main Event has a suspended Gravity Ropes course, multilevel laser tag, minigolf, rock climbing, an arcade with more than 100 games and more. Two meeting rooms with full, complimentary audiovisual equipment can be used for up to 100 people, and a full-facility, all-you-can-play, four-hour shut-down for parties of 150 to 1,500 is an option, including on-site buffet catering and full beverage service. So after you pray, you can eat, bowl and play at Main Event.
Monster Mini Golf
2505 Chastain Meadows Pkwy., Marietta
Contact: Marcus, 770-423-2212, marietta@monsterminigolf.com
For an electrifying experience, try Monster Mini Golf’s indoor, glow-in-the-dark 18-hole course and arcade for two to three hours of fun for up to 250 people. Full-facility buyouts and private catering are allowed. An entertainment team with an internal radio station ensures fun and laughter as your guests enjoy “black lights, cool music, mini golf and monsters” in Marietta.
Mountasia
175 Barrett Pkwy., Marietta
Contact: Joshua Espinoza, 770-422-7227, joshua.espinoza@palaceentertainment.com
A “hidden gem” with beautiful landscaping, waterfalls and caves, Mountasia Marietta is among the most affordable of our listings. Offering three safari-themed, fully lighted, 18-hole minigolf courses, a quarter-mile go-kart track with two figure eights, and a 75-game arcade room, Mountasia provides a great value to a loyal clientele. A full-property lock-in is available for 100 to 300 people, and private catering can be brought in for a 15 percent upcharge. Joshua Espinoza and the enthusiastic staff are happy to help with your event.
The Painted Pin
737 Miami Circle, Buckhead
Contact: William Stallworth, 404-814-8736, william@thepaintedpin.com
With 20 bowling lanes and classic games including indoor bocce ball, Pop-A-Shot, table shuffleboard, ping-pong, Skee-Ball, Southern skittles and giant Jenga, the Painted Pin is an upscale boutique bar and whimsical play land smack in the heart of Buckhead. Owner William Stallworth has assembled a renowned food and beverage staff (noted chef Thomas Collins, mixologist Trip Sandifer and advanced sommelier Justin Amick) to offer carefully curated and sophisticated alley fare (courtesy of two Neapolitan-style pizza ovens), mixed drinks and wines for up to 400 private party guests. A semiprivate area is also available with eight lanes, flat-screen TVs and lounge-style soft seating, or an indoor courtyard with interactive games may be reserved. The Painted Pin is an exciting new addition to the intown entertainment scene.
SlingShot Entertainment
6344 Cash Court Northwest, Norcross
Contact: Stephanie Gil, 678-585-2268, ext. 592, events@slingshotplay.com
At an unprecedented 130,000 square feet and less than 1 year old, SlingShot houses a 14-lane bowling alley, an arcade, a stage with live music, a massive indoor play structure, a full restaurant and bar, pool tables, and state-of-the-art amusements, including SODI electric go-karts and the largest indoor, interactive ninja obstacle course in the nation. And if you didn’t know that was a thing, it is. The course was designed by Jason Huewe from the “American Ninja Warrior” TV show, and ninjas from the series are on site, providing interactive experiences and instruction throughout. The unique course is SlingShot’s biggest selling point right now, according to sales manager Stephanie Gil, providing healthy and active play. Private and semiprivate areas throughout are available in this bright, airy space that easily absorbs up to 1,000 people. Full-facility buyouts are an option in this flexible and customizable facility. Dining options include regular and kosher-style catering, and arrangements can be made for kosher or special dietary requirements.
Stone Summit Climbing & Fitness
3701 Presidential Pkwy., Doraville
Contact: Tyler Roberts, 678-720-9882, troberts@ssclimbing.com
2801 George Busbee Pkwy., Kennesaw
Contact: Michael Baker, 770-545-6227, mbaker@ssclimbing.com
An unusual way to work out and entertain, Stone Summit Climbing & Fitness offers hours of healthy, engaging fun for ages 18 months through centenarian. Staff assistance is available for specific areas, events and first-time climbers, and an upstairs area with shorter, easier climbs is dedicated to children. The whole facility, with a capacity of 900, is also available for close-down, but book early. Atlanta general manager Tyler Roberts gratefully acknowledged that Stone Summit hosts a lot of b’nai mitzvah parties and is already booking into 2018. Private catering may be brought in, and two private rooms are available.
Topgolf
1600 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd., Midtown
Contact: Jamila Bell, 404-475-4000, jamila.bell@topgolf.com
10900 Westside Pkwy., Alpharetta
Contact: Christine Bausano, 470-299-7017, alpharettaevents@topgolf.com
For the avid golfer or curious novice, Topgolf provides an unusual way to entertain. With most locations offering three levels and over 100 hitting bays, with climate control and a full-service wait staff, this high-tech approach to golf enables guests to refine their swings or test their abilities in a highly social atmosphere. The golf balls in each bay are microchipped for seamless target tracking and point scoring. You can rent bay spaces with integrated private party rooms using on-site catering services for parties of 12 to 612; a full-facility buyout is an option for larger parties.
Wisteria Lanes at Emory Conference Center Hotel
Contact: Guido Brun, 404-712-6019, gbrun@ecch.emory.edu
Wisteria Lanes is Atlanta’s only on-site hotel bowling facility. Nestled within the Emory Conference Center Hotel, Wisteria Lanes offers six state-of-the-art lanes with “cosmic” bowling, a high-end lighting and sound system, comfortable lounge areas, pool tables, and a game room. Food service through the conference center is available; outside catering from approved vendors is also an option. Ideal for groups of 30 to 150, the venue also can be used for a youth party in conjunction with the adjoining ballrooms or the adjacent Silverbell Pavilion.
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