If someone made you have a b-day party.

How do you make it fun, interesting, enjoyable pleasant for you.

Location, number of guests ,food, beverages, games, attire, decorations , kids no kids?

My immediate family at a high end steak house, some Woodford Reserve neat and a Grand Marnier for dessert

No damn kids

My family present. Location could be my folks house, out at our house, at our boat, in Fl, in Mexico..but mostly family would be what makes it for me.
If that’s not possible, a trip, and a reservation at a fine dining establishment to treat myself.

They take me out to the desert, set up the BBQ, set up the 1000 yd targets, we shoot at them from various ranges and angles while the food is cooking, we take a break and eat BBQ. After food we shoot some more, we place bets, bust chops and generally goof around. When it gets dark we build a fire and sit around it complaining about politics, talking gun stuff, talking car stuff, busting chops and goofing around. Spend the night in the desert, wake up, make breakfast, shoot some clays, bust chops, break camp and go home. Happy birthday to me.

Normal birthday, I enjoy having good conversations so my preferences:

group size of 4 to 6 with myself included in the number. 4 tends to be one conversation at the table and 6 tends to be two conversations at the table.

a restaurant with good food and you can talk at normal levels (i.e. no loud places). Had many birthdays at hibachis and last few have been at a Mexican restaurant that is reservations only.

no kids, no decorations, no games

normal attire

Milestone birthday (e.g. next milestone for me is retirement eligible). I've done the 20 or 30 person party and it's just not my thing. This is more my speed:

helicopter hog hunting in the afternoon with 2 or 3 friends

dinner at hibachi or Mexican w/ reservations with the helicopter friends, my SO, and my parents.

no kids, no decorations, no games

normal attire

A good cookout with friends and family at the house with either ribeyes or a fat brisket. Beer, bourbon, cigars, and a firepit.

I am a simple man and still love playing pinball at the arcade at 56. A nice b-day for me would me and the family at the arcade and then out for a nice steak.

A bbq on the patio with plenty of cold beer with a dozen good friends.

Good thing my birthday lands in the middle of summer so this is my usual

Going to Japanese Palace in Ft. Worth, Tx with the wife, kids, spouses and grandkids. Its the cook in front of you tables.

Been eating there since the early 80’s. Still the same taste and food. Still see one girl/lady that has always worked there.

Hot Sake
BBQ shrimps for appetizers.
Palace Special with white rice and fried rice side.

On birthdays you can ask for a birthday cake that has a sparkler on it. They bring it out singing. They usually never charge for it when its a large group so thats nice.

My friend and I, on his break in Maui, surfing. Attire, half wet suit in the winter, board shorts. Rest of the year, rash guard and board shorts. Food, Poke bowl at Foodland after. Another option would be a few friends on our sport bikes ripping back roads in the mountains.
Plenty of places to stop for food. Good meat and spuds.

A Ron Swanson birthday. Here is a youtube link. Sorry, I don't know how to embed yt so a link is the best I can do.

My wife, mom, siblings, and nephews in attendance. Food needn’t be fancy. Location can be someone’s house.

Wife, kids, one friend, home cooked meal, hot chocolate, a few drinks and staring at the snow. Nice and quiet.

Me, grill a great steak and shrimp.
Bottle of Wyoming Whiskey.
Vanilla Ice Cream.
Watch old movies while reclining in my chair with my cat beside me.

They always drop the ball for my birthday! NYE. We rarely make a production of it. Older brother (RIP) same date 7 years before.

All I want and ask for is chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Just the wife and I or some family doesn't matter. I'm happy!

To be taken to a Carvers restaurant so I can have a Filet Mignon and a baked potato with butter.
That is all.

I'm a simple man... hookers & blow.

Just a short handful of friends, some good steaks grilling on the kettle and a couple belts of good whiskey.

Followed by:


Actually, Darthfuster's plan sounds pretty good to me too!

My guy friends from HS that I still keep in contact with all had big parties with lots of people for their 50th birthdays recently.

I was very clear that my 50th birthday party would be just family and not a big affair. I cooked a tri-tip on the Weber, made an apple cake and it was nice and low-key.