1. 42 timeoutnewyorkk ds.com
PHOTOGRAPH:LUCYSCHAEFFER
Forget vanilla, cookie-
cutter celebrations—
these unique NYC bashes
will stick with your kids
long after they blow
out the candles.
By Hannah Doolin
Ample Hills Creamery
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.
BEST.
BIRTHDAY
PARTIES.
EVER.

2. timeoutnewyorkk ds.com 43
PHOTOGRAPHS:CARMELOTHESCIENCEFELLOW:CAROLINEVOAGENNELSON;COURTESYCINEMAKIDZ
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 blue-
tongued 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. 300Atlantic
Ave,Brooklyn (718-722-0000,carmelothesciencefellow.com).Prices
start at $600 for up to 25 children.Ages 3–11.
Baby DJ School
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 (845-
392-7358,babydjschool
.com).All ages.
CinemaKidz
And…action! Budding screenwriters
and directors make original live-action
or animated films at these movie-
making 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 movie-
themed 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.

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PHOTOGRAPHS:COURTESYBROOKLYNGAMELAB;
BROOKLYNFARMACY:LAURENSPINELLI
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 SeventhAve,Brooklyn (718-788-
1122,brooklyngamelab.com).Prices start at $475.
Ages 8–15.
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 awe-
inspiring 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 SeventhAve,
third floor (212-244-
3633,fantasmamagic.
com).Prices start at
$1,000 for 10 children.
Brooklyn
Farmacy
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 house-
made 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.
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 two-
hour 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 FirstAve (646-
850-4032,milkand
cookieskidsspa.com).
Prices start at $600.
Ages 3 and up.
Birthdays

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PHOTOGRAPHS:COURTESYKIDZLOUNGE;CONSTRUCTIONKIDS:LAURENSPINELLIRipley’s Believe It or Not!
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); sword-
swallowers, magicians and a Mad
Science show can be added, too ($200–
$500). 234W 42nd St (212-398-3133,
ripleysnewyork.com).Prices start at $14
per child.Ages 4–17.
ConstructionKids
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 NavyYard,BLDG92 (Building 92),63 FlushingAve,Brooklyn
Industry City,241 37th St,Brooklyn (718-522-2902,constructionkids
.com).Prices from $500 for up to 12 children.Ages 4–8.
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,kidz-
lounge.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 improv-
comedy 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.
For more birthday
party ideas, visit
timeout.com/
newyorkkids
Birthdays