Would you go to a kid's birthday party at Hooters?

[noodleoo]

H and I were invited to a 1st birthday party for a friend's child.  We have other plans so we can't go, but I'm curious if other people would go.  They are having it a restaurant that is a competitor to Hooters.  (Fun fact, in the course of our discussion about this topic, we discovered that there is a new category of restaurants called "breastaurants".)  I've never been to one of these types of places.  H and were having a debate and I'm curious what others think. 

1)  Would you attend a kid's birthday party at a Hooters type place?  Note the party was 11 AM to 2 PM, so we would be bringing our 2 year old DD.

2)  Would you judge someone for having a kids birthday party at a "breastaurant"?

[countthestars]

I wouldn't attend and I would side-eye it. Is there really nowhere else to have this party?

[ilikedonuts]

My first thought would be 'is this real life???'

[minniemouse]

1) Lol. Maybe? I've only been to hooters once- in college- and no one was exposed or anything. Just tight shirts/short shorts. I think it would be extremely boring for a 2 year old though, so I wouldn't stay very long.
2) yes....it's an odd choice. There has to be somewhere more family friendly.

[panicked]

I am side-eyeing the hell out of that venue choice.

[Deleted]

1. If I otherwise wanted to go, sure.

2. I'd be curious but not judge really.

[mrshandy]

Ewwww.....

[orval]

A first birthday party is for adults not kids, so why not?

[orval]

A side note, I heard on the radio yesterday there are two things that people look at that make them happy.
Cute Animals
and
Boobs

[pugz]

Ha. Twin Peaks?

[mrssandro]

I am envisioning a ton of pearl clutchers sharing their opinion. 

I would be curious but also wouldn't care much.

[miamigirl]

Lol, that's so weird. Why did they pick that place? Do any of the parents work there or own the place or something like that?

[kdubs923]

Um, that's an odd choice for venue. I hope there's a cool story behind their choice.

If the party was for someone we are close to, I'd go.

Someone random - like a daycare 'friend'? No, we're probably 'busy'. But that's more because I'm protective of our free time on the weekends vs. venue.

[dulcemariamar]

For a 1YO or 2YO Birthday party, I would not care since it is ususally just for adults to get together and hang out.

[mbcdefg]

I don't know if I'd purposely skip it or not, but that's really weird. 

One of my brother's friends had his birthday party at Hooters when he turned 13. I forget if my brother attended or not, or what our mom and dad said about it - I'll have to ask him.

[felicity]

Maybe they are doing it for the 1 y/o...I mean, DS loved boobs at 1. He'd be so interested in all the boobs!

[cajunmom]

Everyone always says that a 1-year-olds birthday party is really for the parents, so I wouldn't care. If it were a close friend I would go.

[MadamePresident]

Well my 1 year olds have always loved boobs, but that's due to their milk obsession. I think it's an odd choice, but whatever.

[Mrs.flang]

I wouldn't go, and I would judge.

Edit - I don't think I would go regardless of the occasion anyway (ie, 40 year old birthday party).  That type of atmosphere squicks me out.  And I don't even consider myself a prude about most things!

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2017 9:05:41 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

1. If I otherwise wanted to go, sure.

2. I'd be curious but not judge really.

Quoting my own response to say I've only been to Hooters once but I was with my kids. The reason I chose it was it was hot and we needed someplace with air conditioning that was open early and wasn't crowded or expensive. We were on vacation in Aruba.  The service was pretty awful but the food was good and they had free wifi. It was also pretty empty when it first opened (which made the bad service all the more annoying because there was no one else to serve).  Maybe there are logical reasons why they chose it despite it being unconventional. I doubt (although I don't know them and am just speculating) that they chose it to be provocative in any way.

[noodleoo]

Apr 5, 2017 9:16:03 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

I'd go if it was a close friend and/or convenient, same as anywhere else.

I'd also judge that. I know it's actually for the adults, but you're still supposed to be celebrating your kid. At least pretend.

This is what I think is so weird about it!  Especially since they have a son.  I couldn't decide if it was weirder if they had a girl or boy, but I think it is kind of gross for a son.  I guess I'm a pearl clutcher!  Really though, I'm a feminist.

We have lots of older kids in our family, so we had a bunch of kids age 5 to 12 at DD's first birthday party and I can't imagine choosing a place like that for an event centered around kids.

No, they don't have any family ties or anything to that particular restaurant.  And there are TONS of restaurants where we live, so definitely other options available.

H had an old boss who used to take him to Hooters "for the wings".  Lol.  He said they are really good.  I think I'll pass.

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2017 9:26:36 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Apr 5, 2017 9:23:41 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Quoting my own response to say I've only been to Hooters once but I was with my kids. The reason I chose it was it was hot and we needed someplace with air conditioning that was open early and wasn't crowded or expensive. We were on vacation in Aruba.  The service was pretty awful but the food was good and they had free wifi. It was also pretty empty when it first opened (which made the bad service all the more annoying because there was no one else to serve).  Maybe there are logical reasons why they chose it despite it being unconventional. I doubt (although I don't know them and am just speculating) that they chose it to be provocative in any way.

I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that MA has more options than tiny Caribbean islands, though.

Ha, true.  But I still think noodleoo needs to go to this party and report back. (high5)

[countthestars]

Apr 5, 2017 9:25:28 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

I'm going to keep going on my judgey train. I'm not really a fan of adults thinking this is a great place to hang out even if there was no kid involved. Their business model is "objectify women." No thanks.

yup.

[noodleoo]

Apr 5, 2017 9:28:59 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Apr 5, 2017 9:26:36 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that MA has more options than tiny Caribbean islands, though.

Ha, true.  But I still think noodleoo needs to go to this party and report back. (high5)

LOL, I'm glad we have a prior commitment so I don't really have to debate going or not.  But I will be stalking FB for pictures and report back!

We're not actually that close with these friends anymore.  We're very different, as this has confirmed.  I feel a little bad, but I'm judging hard.

[somersault72]

I'd probably go, because I find their food to be delicious (which I realize makes me a terrible feminist). But even though a 1 year old doesn't really know any different I do kind of side eye the choice of venue.

[Ashley&Scott]

My kid is 5 & I'm assuming he would also be invited. We would not attend. If it were someone we were close to I would set up another time to meet up to drop off the gift.

[jeaniebueller]

Apr 5, 2017 9:18:41 GMT -5 hocus2 said:

Going to hooters with kids was a hot topic on my local FB group.

I think it is an odd choice but depending on where you live it might have been a purely economic choice. I've heard they are pretty accommodating to larger groups and fairly affordable. FWIW I'd say that a one year old really won't care and if most of the guests are adults it doesn't matter.

I wouldn't think hooters would be suitable for say a 5 year old more because it just isn't that child friendly and most parties at that age have a place for the kids to play.

But I can't imagine in a city with a Hooters or Twin Peaks that there aren't numerous other chain restaurants they could have used? That said....I had no idea that Twin Peaks was supposed to be like Hooters until someone told me (have never been in one). I think choosing this venue is weird and gross for many reasons. 

[noodleoo]

@littlemoxie , I agree with you. Even if the event is mostly for adults and the kid is only 1 and has no idea, my sister brought up what about when their son is 15 and looks back at the pictures of his first birthday at Hooters? Isn't that weird and sending a certain message? The more I think about it, the more I judge!

I told my sister about it and she said "you are not allowed to be friends with them anymore". (half joke, half serious).

jeaniebueller, is Twin Peaks a real thing?  Never heard of it.  Actually, the restaurant they are having it at, H had never heard of either.  I only knew it because I saw a commercial when we were in FL.  They are new around here.  Same idea, Scottish theme.

[hermione]

I don't go to Hooters, Twin Peaks, etc in general. I also don't think it makes me pearly clutchy or a prude. Have you not seen any of the shows/articles about these places? Hell, the Undercover Boss episodes of these shows were mortifying - being ranked every day on your looks to determine what section you get - which of course devolved into whoever was willing to flirt with or fuck the manager getting ranked highest. Yea, no thanks.

[mrssandro]

Apr 5, 2017 9:41:12 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

jeaniebueller , is Twin Peaks a real thing?  Never heard of it.  Actually, the restaurant they are having it at, H had never heard of either.  I only knew it because I saw a commercial when we were in FL.  They are new around here.  Same idea, Scottish theme.

It's worse in my opinion. The outfits are even more revealing than Hooters. The food is worse than Hooters. 

My DH often goes to Hooters for a work lunch but he knows it's not a place to go with the girls. Even in Aruba.