Best. Birthday Parties. Ever.

Best.

Birthday parties.

Ever.

Forget vanilla, cookiecutter celebrations— these unique NYC bashes will stick with your kids long after they blow out the candles.

By Hannah Doolin

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Besides doling out incredible original flavors like Mexican Hot Chocolate and Toxic Sludge, Brooklyn’s favorite ice cream emporium hosts birthday parties that are good enough to eat—and at the Gowanus location, the rooftop party space comes complete with stellar views of Manhattan. Partyers get a lesson in making ice cream, then the birthday kid chooses a single concoction to churn on a stationary bike (adorable photo- op alert!). Each kid gets a keepsake shot that can be printed on a place mat or tote bag, or put in a picture frame they can decorate.

Afterward, fresh waffles are piled with the just-made flavor, followed by toppings like M&M’s, marshmallows, gummy bears—and brain freeze! 305 Nevins St, Brooklyn (347-725-4061, amplehills.com). Prices start at $575 for 20 children.

Photograph: Lucy Schaeffer

Ample Hills Creamery

Baby DJ School

photographs: carmelo the science fellow: Caroline Voagen Nelson; courtesy Cinemakidz

The music at your youngster’s next party will blow Kidz Bop out of the water if you bring Baby DJ School to the party spot of your choice. With the “DJing and Games” package, your shindig gets a spinner who tailors beats to the birthday kid’s taste (they can even include sound clips from their favorite films and TV shows), plus dancing games to get guests moving. “Mini DJ School” lets little ones drop the beat themselves using a record player, laptop, MIDI controller and sampler (headphones provided) to mix their own sets. The “DJ Set + Mini DJ School” package gets the kids a 35-minute DJ class, plus dance sessions before and after the food so they can dance off the sugar rush.

Various locations (845392-7358, babydjschool .com). All ages.

Carmelo the Science Fellow

Science and math will be the stars of your birthday kid’s bash, thanks to ultra-fun former P.S. 261 teacher Carmelo Piazza. The self-proclaimed science geek weaves close-up creature encounters, hands-on experiments and plenty of gross jokes into the two-hour shebang at his Cosmic Cove studio space. Youngsters start by meeting a bluetongued skink, corn snakes, hamsters and bearded dragons, then get to the really fun stuff: experiments! Guests concoct glow-in-the-dark Silly Putty, build cool rockets out of paper, make 10-foot slime worms and more. Once the little Einsteins have worked up an appetite, they chow down on parent-provided food, drinks and snacks. 300 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn (718-722-0000, carmelothesciencefellow.com). Prices start at $600 for up to 25 children. Ages 3–11.

CinemaKidz

And…action! Budding screenwriters and directors make original live-action or animated films at these moviemaking bashes. Long before the big day, professionals work with the birthday kid to come up with ideas for a script starring all their friends. The “Live-Action Movie Star” package lets everyone act and direct the flick using lights, HD cameras, mikes and costumes. “Animation Bonanza” gives each kid a MAKER prop kit and lets them loose with iPad apps, tripods and lights. CinemaKidz also provides moviethemed party supplies and two pro party hosts to run the show, and every guest gets a copy of the finished product. The Artisan, 109 South 5th St, suite 409, Brooklyn (347-699-6401, cinemakidz .com). Prices start at $600 for 9 children. timeoutnewyorkk ds.com 43

Birthdays

Fantasma Magic

Create real birthday magic at this party spot where kids can witness cool illusions and sleight of hand right before their eyes. The basic package includes a private 40-minute stage show packed with tricks and comedy, and the birthday kid will assist with aweinspiring feats that reveal live birds and Rambo the Rabbit.

Pizza, juice and a custom Cold Stone Creamery ice cream cake are served in a private party room. The group is then given a mission: to unlock the Safe Vault (the birthday kid’s DOB is the secret password!) to find goody bags filled with wands, magic tricks, jokes and candy. 421 Seventh Ave, third floor (212-2443633, fantasmamagic. com). Prices start at $1,000 for 10 children.

Milk & Cookies Kids Spa and Salon

At this sweet new spot on the Upper East Side, party guests get pampered like a celebrity with dessert-themed salon and spa treatments: haircuts and styling, manicures, pedicures and facials.

Boys and girls are welcome for all treatments; several packages are geared toward coed groups— including everything from karaoke and air hockey, to dress-ups complete with tutus, tiaras, capes and swords. Each twohour party includes ice cream and cookies from the in-store Cookie Cafe, plus party-favor gift bags and dedicated staff members to manage the fun. 1196 First Ave (646850-4032, milkand cookieskidsspa.com).

Prices start at $600.

Ages 3 and up.

Brooklyn Farmacy

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Brooklyn Game Lab

A cool game-themed bash that doesn’t involve joysticks or iPads? That’s right! This Park Slope gaming center harks back to the days when Monopoly was cooler than Minecraft, and you’ll be amazed at how enthralled kids are with the old-school form of fun.

Game fanatics challenge each other to the latest card and board games, like King of New York, Coup, Splendor and Machi Koro. Gamers have full access to the library and get a chance to try out cool customized games where, for example, instead of your typical rooks and bishops, they might navigate the board as wizards or werewolves. Parents provide food, cake and decorations. 353 Seventh Ave, Brooklyn (718-7881122, brooklyngamelab.com). Prices start at $475.

Ages 8–15.

photographs: Courtesy Brooklyn Game Lab; brooklyn farmacy: lauren spinelli

Your little one may be turning a year older, but a vintage bash at this quaint ice cream shop lets you turn the clock way back for their special day.

A pharmacy in the 1920s, this Carroll Gardens spot has been spiffed up and transformed into a classic soda fountain, complete with intricate tiled floors, a long bar with swivel-stools, and soda jerks serving scoops and ice cream floats. Before the bash, families build a menu of brunchy fare like grilled cheese, waffles and hot dogs, all served on platters. On the day, party guests decked out in retro paper hats get to choose from sweet treats like housemade ice cream sodas and sky-high sundaes to cap their meal. 513 Henry St, Brooklyn (718-522-6260, brooklyn farmacyandsodafountain.com). Prices start at $250 for up to 20 children, plus food and gratuity. Ages 7 and up.

Birthdays

Kidz Lounge

This Staten Island spa can transform to take on any cool theme (think Super Mario, Candy Shoppe or Frozen) to suit your kid’s fancy. The upper level offers luxurious spa experiences, decking out guests in robes and sparkly flip-flops before mani-pedis, makeovers and hairstyling. There are three variations on the pampering package including two-hour options Spa-mper ($399) and Spa-Diva ($499–$550 with an added hostess, pedicure and house DJ), or the two-and-a-half-hour Spa-tacular ($699–$750). Downstairs, kids can hit the dance floor, play video games on a big screen, and battle it out at foosball and air-hockey tables. 17 Maplewood Pl, Staten Island (718-351-7576, kidzlounge.com). Prices start at $399 for 12 children.

Broadway Birthday Bashes at the PIT

At the Peoples Improv Theater, kids are encouraged to yell, shouting out ideas for the performers. And you can bet the birthday kid’s suggestions will be a big part of one of the city’s funniest improvcomedy shows. Guests nab front-row seats and watch as performers create a hilarious musical before their eyes, then after the curtain falls, partyers can mingle backstage with the cast and musicians before breaking it down in a kid-friendly dance party. VIP extras like face-painting, karaoke, and treats like cotton candy or a chocolate fountain are available to round out the all-star treatment. 123 E 24th St (212-563-7488, broadwaybirthday bashes.com). Prices start at $1,995 for 25 children. Ages 5 and up.

ConstructionKids

For more birthday party ideas, visit timeout.com/ newyorkkids

Little tinkerers make some truly impressive creations at these DIY birthday parties. Using new materials and tools, kids work on cars, airplanes or even go-karts and, with the help of an experienced craftsperson, finish their project in two hours. ConstructionKids provides all materials, paper goods, utensils, decorations and a balloon for each guest; parents provide the food, drinks and dessert.

Brooklyn Navy Yard, BLDG92 (Building 92), 63 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn • Industry City, 241 37th St, Brooklyn • (718-522-2902, constructionkids .com). Prices from $500 for up to 12 children. Ages 4–8.

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If your kids are into the peculiar, they’ll go nuts for this Times Square museum’s collection of artifacts and oddities.

Freaky relics like an albino giraffe, shrunken heads and a portrait crafted entirely from dog hair will have them shrieking with joy. Then they’ll try to stay upright as they make their way through a dizzying vortex tunnel and maneuver through a maze of lasers to beat the clock. The basic package lets the group wander at their own pace. To amp up the museum experience, tack on a 90-minute guided tour ($200); swordswallowers, magicians and a Mad Science show can be added, too ($200– $500). 234 W 42nd St (212-398-3133, ripleysnewyork.com). Prices start at $14 per child. Ages 4–17.

photographs: courtesy kidz lounge; constructionkids: lauren spinelli

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!