40th Birthday Celebration Ideas

January 10, 2007 6:16 AM

My husband's 40th birthday is coming up the first week in March. Please help me with some great ideas on how to celebrate with about 20 friends, a $500 budget, in the southeastern Massachusetts/RI area?

A house party is not ruled out, but we did just have a New Year's Eve bash here, and I dread more of the same.

posted by maloon to society & culture (13 comments total)

F1 Boston might be able to do something for that price.
posted by mkb at 6:25 AM on January 10, 2007

Link to aforementioned.
posted by mkb at 6:26 AM on January 10, 2007

What kind of party are you looking for, and what kind of thing would your husband and friends like? Is this a swanky 'do occasion, or are you looking for a less formal fun thing? I want a skating party for my 40th, is why I ask.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:42 AM on January 10, 2007

I'll second the F1 Boston suggestion. Some cow-orkers did this a few years ago and they loved it. Definitely a boy thing, though, so maybe a mixed group might not be so into it.
posted by briank at 6:48 AM on January 10, 2007

Oh, and Seekonk Grand Prix is probably closer to you.
posted by mkb at 6:57 AM on January 10, 2007

F1 does look fun -- thanks mkb. One concern I have is that two of the guests are 300+ pounds, so I'll have to check if they can participate (fit) comfortably.
Definitely not a swanky 'do occassion, Lyn Never, but something memorable for my beer guy.
posted by maloon at 6:58 AM on January 10, 2007

Since you called him a beer guy, maybe a tour of Coastal Extreme Brewing Co., a microbrewery in Newport. They do private tours and tastings. I've heard about it, but not been.
posted by jdl at 7:08 AM on January 10, 2007

If he likes beer, you could try calling local breweries to see if they offer private tastings for groups, or call local brewpubs to see if they offer tastings or dinner-pairings for groups. A dinner would exceed your $25/person budget, but people would probably chip in if you asked. On preview: what jdl said.

I don't know if you want to do the Seekonk Grand Prix in winter, or if they're even open. Chilly!!
Instead, try calling Dave & Buster's in the Prov. Place mall and see what options they have for a group of 20 adults.
And there's always bowling!
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 7:13 AM on January 10, 2007

The Sam Adams and Harpoon breweries definitely do tours.
posted by mkb at 7:30 AM on January 10, 2007

Forget the cake. Get him a banana cream pie from Frankies Of Course. They're in Seekonk.

Seriously. I moved to Seattle, but I still think of that pie fondly, and often.
posted by ImJustRick at 8:42 AM on January 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

just so you know, a 300+ pound man will not be able to do F1. I know this from (bitter) experience. Unless they've gotten larger sizes in the jumpsuits you're supposed to wear.
posted by annabkr at 9:16 AM on January 10, 2007

Maloon what did you end up doing for your husband's birthday?
posted by zaphod at 4:11 PM on July 2, 2007

ain't nothing but a house party!
posted by maloon at 5:15 PM on July 29, 2007