Owen’s first birthday was nothing short of magical, and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting than MY Play Café in Gardner. With its cozy, kid-friendly atmosphere, the café was the ideal venue for an intimate gathering with close family and friends to celebrate our little one’s special day.
The author received goods and services in exchange for this article. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are their own.
Hosting a party at MY Play Café Gardner is the perfect way to create a stress-free and unforgettable celebration! With the entire venue dedicated to your party, littles were able to enjoy two hours of playtime while the grown-ups could eat and visit with one another. Plus, their talented baristas will serve up fun, delicious drinks for everyone to enjoy. Private parties include a dedicated host to help with setup and cleanup throughout the event, allowing you to focus on enjoying the moment. (They also offer various packages, including one where you just walk-in day-of and the entire space has been set up for you!) It’s a kid-approved, parent-loved venue that takes all the pressure off while ensuring a memorable, exciting event for everyone involved.
To elevate the experience, we made sure the brunch was just as unforgettable as the venue itself by partnering with Risen Dough Bakery. They provided a delicious spread of muffins in flavors like Blueberry, Double Chocolate Chip, Chai Carrot, and Coffeecake, along with bagels in Plain, Asiago, Everything, and Sesame Seed varieties. The bakery also offered freshly baked artisan loaves—one plain and one chocolate chip—plus a dozen irresistible chocolate chip cookies that were devoured in no time.
For the desserts, I turned to Razzie’s Cupcakery, who created the most adorable pull-apart cake in the shape of a caterpillar! Owner, Abigail, also crafted a stunning green ombré smash cake for Owen, which was the perfect size for his first taste of birthday sweetness. On top of that, she made mini chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing that were as delicious as they were cute!
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To add a bit of creative fun to the party, my sister helped design some of the printed elements I had up around the venue, and for those who wanted to color instead of play - I downloaded activity sheets and coloring pages from the Eric Carle website. For party favors, I wanted to give something unique that would encourage family togetherness, so I filled multicolored bags with chalk, stickers, Wikki Sticks, and Eric Carle board books. It was a sweet and practical gift that I hope everyone loved!
Besides picking the theme and designing the invites, one of my favorite aspects of this party was how we sourced everything! The décor, and Owen's adorable outfit, were all purchased from FB Marketplace. (Using secondhand items for parties is one of my top parenting hacks, and it's something I always look for when I shop at Rhea Lana's or JBF consignment shops.) It’s amazing what treasures you can find while being eco-conscious and budget-friendly!
The combination of MY Play Café’s playful environment, Risen Dough Bakery’s tasty treats, and Razzie’s Cupcakery’s creative cakes made for a celebration we’ll cherish forever. Click here to view the Reel!
Thank you to everyone who made Owen’s first birthday such a special occasion!
