The Bottom Line
If the organizers moved this event to a brighter, kid-friendlier location, and ramped up the emphasis on fun while eliminating the competition, I'd become a much bigger fan.
Pros
- Solidly Organized
- Kid-Friendly Organizers and Staff
- Pretty Fair Price for Experience ($12 per "walking human")
- Decent Gift Bag Take Away
- Healthy Snacks Available
Cons
- Really, the Metro for Kids? Really? C'mon.
- Make-up/Hair Station a Bit Much
- Competition was Focal Point of the Afternoon
Description
- Target Age Range is 6 months to 7 years old.
- Cocktails are available for "non-driving" parents.
- The DJ when I attended was DJ Bald Eagle.
September 2008
Guide Review - Baby Loves Disco Chicago - Review
I don't care how many bubble machines, stuffed animals, and copies of "the Lorax" you spread around the Metro, it is still a dark, stanky bar. Particularly on Sunday afternoons.I'm no hyper-protective parent, but walking my 3 year old past into the Metro on a Sunday afternoon seemed less than the good idea I thought it was when I bought my tickets.
Baby Loves Disco is a three hour dance session for kids ages 6 months to 7 years old. A hostess serves as master of ceremonies and danced with the kids and led the afternoon. Healthy snacks and some candy were available upstairs. They also featured a "salon" with make up and hair-do's by Sweet & Sassy. Spa services are not a priority for my kid, and it added to the disconnect I saw between the age of the kids at the event (most under 6) and the age appropriateness of the experiences offered.
What I think most soured me though, was that their dance competition was the focal point of the event. The hostess continued to emphasize how some children would be selected to compete (possibly) nationally. When it came time for the competition, all the walkers under the age of 3 got on the dance floor and let loose. (Later, the older kids did.)
Then, the hostess said, "Remember, you're being judged on how well you move and if you look like you're having fun." That's when I truly regretted coming. Two organizers stared at the kids and whispered back and forth and then pointed out the finalists. Those finalists then got on the main stage and a winner was chosen. I found it a bit much. I had come because I wanted my daughter to have fun jumping around and dancing.
We need more creative outlets and events for kids in the city, especially in winter. I'm glad to see parents and organizers thinking innovatively. I just think Baby Loves Disco needs more tweaking to be worthy of our family's time and money.