Monkeying Around at The Treehouse Social Club

We finally made it out of the house yesterday at 1:30 - just in time to take advantage of a couple of hours of free play day at the Cadillac of indoor kid play places: The Treehouse Social Club (http://thetreehousesocialclub.com). Tricia and Joely Fisher (daughters of Connie Stevens and Eddie Fisher) have done a lot with their Beverly Hills space: it does have a treehouse, it is very fanciful and will stimulate those little imaginations a la Alice in Wonderland.

It isn't as big as the ultra physical Under the Sea-type kid spaces, but what the Treehouse lacks in size it makes up for in cuteness. There's a separate craft room with zillions of drawers for supplies -- think apothecary for stickers and glitter glue. There's even a dedicated space for the older kids that has computers and a Wii.

My girls loved climbing the treehouse, but the really impressive thing about the Club was the staff. Henriette cheerfully guided five kids in making bejeweled mini flower pots -- complete with real live marigolds -- and rounded everyone up for a music and movement class. Kristin answered all my questions and invited us to indulge in cookie decorating even though the Valentine's Party was pretty much over by the time we arrived.

I hadn't planned on staying for hours on end, and since I parked on South Robertson right outside, spent the last half hour paranoid about my meter expiring and getting a ticket. My children were oblivious to this problem, of course, and when Henriette promised the music class would end within 15 minutes, I knew we'd have to stay.

Parting was such sweet sorrow, as I had to pry my daughters off the play equipment so we could leave in time to avoid the parking police. My final bribery to get them out the door? A promise that this Valentine's Day visit would certainly not be our last.

Barbara Correa