Birthdays.

Been there. Done that. And what a weekend it was. In addition to my daughter’s eighth  birthday, we also celebrated my brother-in-law’s 50th.

For my daughter, Sunday was Birthday, Day 3. My mother and I treated her and two friends to tea at the American Girl Doll Cafe; reservations were made two months in advance. Party of five, plus three dolls: Marisol, Molly and Elizabeth.

The cafe is decorated with black and white striped wallpaper and pink walls. They provide special striped seats that attach to the table for the dolls, as well as tiny black and white striped teacups and saucers. For the dolls.

That’s what I said. For the dolls.

The girls enjoyed ladeling spoonfulls of pink lemonade into their doll’s cups. My daughter asked if she could keep her doll’s cup and saucer but the waitress said, "Sorry, no. Those stay here."

Tea for the humans is a three story platter of tea sandwiches, jello boats, pudding in chocolate bowls and chocolate chip cookie scones with fluffernutter. Then dessert. All the items are named for various American Girl dolls.

The girls had a heavenly time. As did I with my glass of decent Chardonney. The wait staff treated the girls and the dolls like princesses, and the live harpist played "Yellow Submarine" and "My Favorite Things," as well as other classics.

Later, it was on to Peter Lugars, that classic Brooklyn steakhouse known for its rude waiters and  tough-love service in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge. Eight of my brother-in-law’s  best friends gathered to wish him the very best on this momentous day. Toasts, laughs, many bottles of red wine fueled a carnivorous evening of red meat and high spirits.

The older I get the more I realize how important it is to celebrate these happy milestones. Hear, hear, parties are a good thing: a chance to honor and toast those we love.

Yours from Brooklyn,
OTBKB