Things to Do in East Orange

Whether culled from California's Napa Valley region in the fall or from Chile and Argentina in the spring, every bundle of red and white grapes winds up beneath a patron's stomping feet. Eight months later—after a pressing session and half-hour racking—each red, white, or rosé batch makes the transition from barrel to bottle. Clients then fill, cork, seal, and adorn the bottle with their own label before gently kissing it to remove any curses. For visitors more eager to imbibe wine than concoct it, The WineMakers Cellar accommodates guests with dinners and wine and cheese pairings in its bistro. Handcrafted wine continues to flow at cooking demonstrations, courses, and private parties held within the facility.

Members of the Resnick clan have managed the family business for a century, growing the original hardware store into a garden center and party-rental warehouse. Always emphasizing customer service, three generations of Resnicks have built up a loyal clientele, learning the names and spirit animals of shop regulars. The rental side of the company provides clients with memorable props such as popcorn machines, frozen drink makers, a tiki bar, kids games, and mic-equipped podiums amplify wedding toasts and stump speeches for the office of city comptroller. For weddings and formal events, Resnick's can deliver upscale décor and furnishings, including romantic archways, white linens, and fountains for champagne or punch.

My Gym, which currently has more than 200 international locations, was founded more than 20 years ago as a structured place for children to safely play, acquire new skills, and romp off a sugar buzz. Tots as young as 6 weeks can take a month or two of weekly classes, all designed to incorporate the latest physiological, psychological, and meteorological research. One-hour Waddlers sessions for babies and parents introduce tots aged 14–22 months to mobility, agility, and social skills as they build block towers and participate in puppet shows. Other classes include Tiny Tykes, a class for parents and babies that focuses on movement, as well as Mighty Mites and Whiz Kids, classes for more independently mobile children aimed at mastering motor skills to build strength, balance, and agility.

For older kids, independent gym classes such as Champions and Cardionastics build self-esteem, fitness skills, and muscles for future speed-texting showdowns. My Gym's energetic instructors are experts at using music, dance, and gymnastics to develop youngsters' strength while stimulating their giggle-plexes—carving out a place for creativity and face-to-face engagement in the face of technological temptations and giant robotic faces.

Inflated structures, slides, and games fill the climate-controlled environs of the numerous BounceU locations that speckle the nation. At each site, staff members closely monitor all activities as little ones traverse obstacle courses or pull on oversized inflatable boxing gloves. The crew also invites parents to join in on the fun, letting them bounce alongside their kids or make sweeping edicts from atop a bouncy-castle throne.

In addition to open sessions, the indoor-play haven sets the stage for the Preschool Playdate program, where instructors lead games and activities. Special events include family-bounce night, which lets parents join in the bouncing or relax in the party room and do grownup things, such as eat marshmallows with a knife and fork.

Gatherings blossom into full-blown galas under the ministrations of Fun-4-All Entertainment’s party accoutrements, such as balloon artists, live bands, and cotton-candy machines. The party supply service’s portable miniature golf courses let putters perfect their strokes anywhere, and its vast inflatable screens hook up to DVD-players or gaming consoles to furnish outdoor movie nights or gaming tournaments. Further party accessories nestle in Fun-4-All’s supply shop, which includes a range of items from noisemakers and rainbow-hued hats to sunglasses ideal for the best party activity of all, safely staring into your favorite lamp.

At Build 'n Blocks, laughter drifts from youngsters, punctuating the buzz of motorized cars and the pop of plastic blocks snapping together. Kids preschool through eighth grade construct catapults, devise chemical compounds to create slime, and develop sparks of interest in science, engineering, and math. The instructors at Build ‘n Blocks stress that the earlier kids dabble in these fields, the greater their learning abilities will be throughout their lives.

While stacking Legos into replicas of cities or assembling mechanized robots with K'nex, kids develop a comprehension of basic physics without watching the Three Stooges try and run an elevator factory. During science experiments, youngsters strap on goggles to investigate and diagnose unknown illnesses, forming the foundation of inquisitive minds capable of problem solving. As they work together on laptops or around tables strewn with drawing and sculpting materials, they also form an aptitude for teamwork and social interactions. The team at Build 'n Blocks also fosters an appreciation for math and science through afterschool programs and birthday parties.