Where kids can paint the town, and faces, red
Fun Express offers a variety of party packages for kids
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

Clockwise from above: The party packages at Fun Express, located on Livingston Avenue in North Brunswick, feature time in the jungle gym, temporary tattoos, games, ice cream sundaes, and, of course, pizza. Bronte Bolanos holds on tight as she slides along a zip rail that leads from one end of a giant jungle gym to the other. Fun Express is a new party center that features a four-level play gym that can hold both kids and adults. Carly Whiting, Chris Hauber and Evan Fajardo, front to back, run up the ramp that leads to the giant jungle gym.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Children in the township now have a place to clown around and act like, well, children.

Fun Express on Livingston Avenue, located inside the Children's Center for Learning, offers birthday party packages, a jungle gym and Mommy & Me sessions for children throughout the area.

Each party begins with a designated amount of time in the play area. The newly installed play gym for older children, which can also support the weight of adults, is four levels high and has a glider on the side and spiral slides. There is a separate area for smaller children so they do not get hurt.

PHOTOSBY CHRIS KELLY staff

"Kids love running through this. They burn off some energy, which is a good thing," owner Marti Grande said.

Afterward, there are individual rooms to accommodate different themed parties. During the science party, children make slime, homemade volcanoes and realistic-looking blood. The glamour party lets girls get their hair styled, nails polished and makeup done, and they can dress up in clothing for a runway fashion show.

The circus party has kids be a part of the show as animals, ring leaders and clowns. The magic show performs magic tricks involving a live bunny and entertaining games. The princess or superhero party allows children to meet their favorite character who will play games, dance and apply tattoos to the crowd.

Depending on the specified package, each party lasts 1 1/2 to two hours and includes invitations, time in the play gym, pizza, soft drinks, ice cream sundaes, temporary tattoos, music, games and giveaways. Add-ons include popcorn, goodie bags, face painting and balloon sculpting.

Employees who are high school and college age help serve food and watch the kids in the play gym, at a ratio of 10 kids to one adult. The maximum capacity is 50 kids in the jungle gym, but Grande said each playtime would be limited to the designated party.

"It's convenient for parents. It's stress-free when they're thinking about putting a party together; they leave it up to us," she said.

For teenagers, a music party with a DJ and disco lights seems to be a favorite, along with games such as mummy wrapping and bubble tape stomping.

"They all love music. 'Hannah Montana,' 'High School Musical' - there are not a lot of places for that age group," Grande said of the 14-year-olds who come to visit.

There are also open public play gym sessions Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon for $5 and an afternoon session from 4 to 7 p.m. for $6 for the public.

For adults, there are audience participation, theater and murder-mystery dinners and comedy shows held outside of the facility.

Grande began Marti Enterprize 10 years ago, inspired when her 5-year-old daughter was at a birthday party with a clown who was not entertaining the guests.

"I'm a natural," she said. "I was like, I could do better. I told the girl to give me the wig. I just started from there."

She quit her corporate job and became Marti the Clown full time.

"I love the entertainment field. I love the kids, I just love the kids," she said.

Deana Conomos, the owner of the Children's Center for Learning day-care center for the past six years, met Grande through a business venture and asked her to utilize her space for a play area. Grande, who was seeking a place of her own, decided to use the center for her birthday party attractions.

"I'm just tired of going to people's houses. I wanted people to come to me," Grande said. "A lot of people don't have room, especially around here. There are apartments with big families and I wanted to share a good time at a good cost."

Fun Express is located at 1330 Livingston Ave. For more information call (888) 441-1608 or (732) 546-3672 or visit www.martienterprize.com.