NYC Party Planning Guide, Part 2: Vendors
The NYC party playbook: everything you need to throw a great kid's bash — venues, vendors, entertainers, decor, and more for birthday and any kid's party.
A few weeks ago, I shared a guide to the best venues for hosting your kid's party in NYC. This week, I'm rounding up all the details that actually bring a party to life — the vendors, the food, the entertainment, the little touches. Consider it your party planning guide, and — with end-of-year school parties in the mix — your go-to for those, too.
Below, I've marked my personal favorites with 🍭🍭🍭 — consider them my editor's picks for those that really deliver.
🍭🍭🍭 Need a gift for a kid? Books are always my answer — here are our favorites. And if you're looking for more, I've pulled together my favorite girl gifts, boy gifts, and gifts for preschoolers.
Paper Source: Reliable basics. Great for solid-color napkins, cake candles, gift wrap, and last-minute paper goods. I especially love their tissue paper garlands and honeycomb tissue paper decor — a perfect pop of color and super easy to set up.
Houses & Parties: A brilliantly maximalist world of tabletop, paper goods, and party decor. Everything is full of wit and whimsy — the opposite of restrained, in the best possible way.
🍭🍭🍭 Meri Meri: My go-to for kids’ party paper goods. Gorgeous themed plates, napkins, garlands, and party hats — the prints are beautiful, the quality is solid.
Modern State: A UES neighborhood institution (two locations on 3rd/72nd Street and Lex/86th Street). Excellent for last-minute party supplies, candles, balloons, and stationery — basically a one-stop-shop for the basics. I especially love their plastic cake stands, bowls, and serving platters.
🍭🍭🍭 Pavilion Paper: Hands down, the chicest paper plates I’ve seen. They look like china — beautifully patterned, elegant, but they’re paper. I love them so much I want to throw a party just to display them. Table Two Studio also makes delightful and gorgeous paper plates.
🍭🍭🍭 Here are the Amazon party and decorating finds I keep coming back to.
Below the paywall—where to purchase balloons, the BEST entertainment, coaches, live music, food and catering, desserts, goody bag ideas, and how to throw a party in Central Park. There’s so much in this one!
