Reports of disco’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Photos by Megan Pisha.
Hank hasn’t yet learned how to be cool at dance parties. For example, these days itap considered passé to take a bite of the cheese cube, leave it on the floor, then pick it up a few minutes later and eat the remainder. Using a hula hoop as a battering ram is another etiquette no-no. And the bubbles emitting from those onstage machines? Not for eating.
These hardly compare with the worst faux pas I’ve seen from grownups at parties. But Hank, my 20-month-old son, probably gets a few mulligans on that front. And it was all in good fun Saturday morning at the at , which drew a couple hundred kids ages one through six-ish, dragging their parents along with them.
This event is a local installment of a national Baby Loves Disco event-concept, and like so much kids entertainment these days, it speaks as much to cooped-up parents as amped-up kids. Rather than utilitarian gymnasiums or convention halls, Baby Loves Disco events are held at the sorts of places adults consider worthy of a night out — here the Boulder Theater, in other locales the painfully-chic W Hotels and other hotspots.
And the music? An authentic smattering not only of disco’s kitschier “Y-M-C-A” moments, but also deeper party cuts by Stevie Wonder, Sugarhill Gang and Sly and the Family Stone. The DJ appeared to actually scratch and do some of the indeterminate things DJs seem to do. While most parents dressed in streetwear, a few adhered to the Pajama Party theme (notably me, causing me to slog up Pearl Street and through Costco in slippers the rest of the afternoon). And yes, even at 11 a.m., the bar was open for Bloody Marys and other alcoholic libations.
Meanwhile, the kids were alright. They were actually pretty psyched. Distracted by hula hoops, bubble machines (the occasional emission of which caused periodic stage rushes), egg shakers and other paraphernalia. They shook around, giggled and took full advantage of often-unsung corners of the Boulder Theater. They noshed on snacks such as veggies, cheese chunks and Smart Food (not to be confused with “brain food”) and relaxed in a “chill lounge” outfitted with pillows, mini tents, stuffed animals and books.
And there wasn’t an Elmo or a Thomas the Tank Engine to be seen.
While the event was sponsored by Stride-Rite and hosted booths by a few enlightened-parent-product vendors, it was mainly free of the logo clutter and advertising that new parents are typically assaulted with. And it allowed us to get out and see like-minded folk en masse without worrying about childproofing, cleanliness, babysitters or feeling like we’ve lost every iota of coolness we’ve ever possessed. Finally, befitting any great disco party, the footwork did get rather fancy, as we navigated around the pinballs that were other people’s children.
Too bad it was over by 2 p.m. Now, what to do this evening?
Jeremy Simon is a Boulder freelance writer and regular contributor to Reverb.
Megan Pisha is a Colorado photographer.
More photos from Baby Loves Disco:
