Located at 2826 Highway 31W, Pattycake Place is the vision of Patricia Wilkinson. The new venture is scheduled to open this week, and it has already been creating a stir around town with numerous birthday and field trip events having been celebrated in the fledgling fun and educational center.

From Webkinz to monster trucks, birthday parties have abounded since Pattycake Place's renovation was completed last month. Parties of all sizes can easily be accommodated in the center's lower level and are theme-based according to the child's preferences. Balloons, crafts, games, special place cards, a group picture and more are standard with an array of options available to parents as well. “It's great to be able to come in and enjoy the party,” one parent recently commented after deciding to hand the reigns, and the set-up and cleaning, to Pattycake Place staff.

“I have such a huge vision that, with this type of thing, the sky is the limit,” Wilkinson expressed. And that vision includes classes and activities based squarely in the fine arts and foreign language studies. Arts and crafts are scheduled for ages three and up. Other offerings will include cooking classes, Spanish and English classes, homeschool and after school programs and daily programs such as “Dip and Dabble,” a call ahead and drop in art time from 10:00 a.m. until noon.

The staff at Pattycake Place includes a native of Nicaragua who speaks both Spanish and English equally, a Kindermusik teacher with a degree in music therapy, a Vanderbilt Children's Hospital employee, a certified teacher with a masters degree in special education, and a co-op student from Heritage who plans to study early childhood education, just to name a few. It is a group filled with creativity and love for children, learning and fun, a combination Wilkinson saw come together through “divine intervention.”

Although she would love to see the center become the place to go for parties, Wilkinson hopes Pattycake Place will also become an outreach to the community. “This could be a place where you could go that would be fun and enriching and educational,” she explained, “with quality time for families.”

For more information, visit Pattycake Place in person on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or online at www.pattycakeplace.com or call 238-1234. Watch for fliers around town with details about special events for St. Patrick's Day, Easter and more.