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The stock is the stuff of clichéd prom dreams; the goods, geared towards any festivity, shower, ceremony, dance, parade, and traditional/consumer-driven holiday observed in North America. Indeed, every gaudy permutation of mylar, crepe, and latex seems to rain down from the towering shelves. Yet this megastore is a necessary evil. For every lame decoration or silly toy, you’ll find a party item that you suddenly can’t live without. Balloons. Hats. Candy. Pinatas. Favors. Costumes. For every numbered birthday candle that becomes obsolete the moment the flame’s blown out, you’ll find an equal number of baking pans or cupcake molds to see you through many a season. Party City’s raison d’etre is the theme party be it Old West or Disney Princess. How you put your own trademark on the festivities depends on what you scoop out of the giant bins which carry the bulk of the bric-a-brac. — Ben Perkins