Birthday party places for kids in New York City

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Sarah the Science Teacher 1182 Broadway at W 28th St, tenth floor (212-683-2010, scienceteachersarah.com. Subway: 1 to 28th St. Prices from $220–$745 for up to 18 children.
Parties hosted by Sarah are anything but your typical science lesson. She entertains with exploding volcanoes and rockets, slime, and a witch’s cauldron of liquid nitrogen. Packages include decorations, food, cake, and goody bags.

Scholastic Store 557 Broadway between Prince and Spring Sts (212-343-6987, scholastic.com). Subway: R, W to Prince St. Prices start at $550 for up to ten kids; $30 for each additional child up to 20 children.
Celebrate your budding bookworm’s big day with a storytelling and craft-making party in the store’s private loft. Decorations, refreshments and cupcakes are provided; lunch is available for an additional fee. Booking six or more weeks in advance is required.

74th St Magic 510 E 74th St at York Ave (212-737-2989, 74magic.com). Subway: 6 to 77th St. Basic party: $675 for up to 12 kids; deluxe party: $825 for up to 12 kids.
Tots can tumble and jump in the play space’s gym, and take turns on the balance beam, trampoline and zip-line. Other activities, including arts and crafts, cooking, video game playing and karaoke, can be added for an extra fee. Invitations, thank-you notes, balloons and staff are supplied. Food, cake and decorations are supplied for the deluxe package.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab 550 Madison Ave at 55th St (212-833-7858, sonywondertechlab.com. Subway: E, V to Fifth Ave–53rd St. Prices range from $2000–$3500 for basic packages.
For a party in high definition, Sony Wonder Labs offers three posh packages. The Big Birthday Bash, geared towards guests six years and up, provides lunch and an after-hours party option where visitors can either take a tour of the interactive exhibition space or watch a movie. Little Birthday Bashes, aimed at kids ages three to five, include a movie in an exclusive HD screening theater and a craft activity. All packages provide food, cake, invitations and decorations.

SpaceCraft 355 Bedford Ave at South 4th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-599-2718, spacecraftbrooklyn.com). Subway: J, M, Z to Marcy Ave; L to Bedford Ave. $200 rental fee; $65 per kid.
Partygoers enjoy an individual craft project such as beading, printmaking, sculpting or painting, then engage in a group undertaking. Snacks, juice and decorations are provided; full catering is also available for an additional fee. Booking at least a week in advance is required.

Staten Island Children's Museum Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terr at Snug Harbor Rd (718-273-2060, statenislandkids.org). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the S40 bus to Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Prices start at $315 for members and $350 for non-members for up to 16 kids; $15 for each additional child.
Kids get to check out interactive exhibits, play games, and try their hand at a craft project, all led by a museum educator. Party-goers take home the ultimate goody bag: a three-month membership to the museum.

Staten Island Skating Pavilion 3080 Arthur Kill Rd at Johnson St (718-948-4800, thepavilion.org). Travel: From the Staten Island ferry, take the S74 bus to Johnson St. $22.95 per kid, ten child minimum.
The ice is open year-round at the Pavilion, which offers two-hour-long birthday parties. Guests are provided with rental skates and an instructor is available for novices at an additional charge. All the food, cake, and decorations are included (even coffee for the adults) in the party area.

Staten Island Yankees 75 Richmond Terrace at Wall St (718-720-9265, siyanks.com). Travel: From the Staten Island ferry, follow the signs to the ballpark. Prices from $17 per person for reserved seats to $19 per person for box seats.
This minor league ballpark near the Staten Island ferry reserves special seats for birthday parties—guests also get hot dogs, ice cream and limited edition team hats. After the final inning, kids can run the bases and meet Scooter, the mascot. The birthday child gets a personalized gift and his or her name on the video scoreboard.

Staten Island Zoo 614 Broadway between Forest Ave and Clove Rd, Staten Island (718-442-3100, statenislandzoo.org). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the S48 bus to Broadway. Basic package: $275 for up to 15 kids; deluxe package: $400 for up to 15 kids and four adults.
After choosing a theme, such as rain forest, dinosaurs, African savanna or barnyard animals, the birthday kid and guests enjoy related games and crafts, and learn about the subject. Deluxe package includes pizza and cake. Booking at least a month in advance is required.

Striking Viking Story Pirates The Drama Book Shop, 250 W 40th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves (310-880-4725, storypirates.org). Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St–Port Authority. $850 for up to 40 kids.
Performing a comical musical based on kids' stories, including one supplied by the birthday kid, this popular children's theater troupe will have guests of all ages in stitches. Food, cake, decorations, invitations and goody bags are provided.

Super Soccer Stars 606 Columbus Ave at 89th St (212-877-7171, supersoccerstars.com). Subway: B, C, 1 to 86th St. Prices start at $350 for ten kids.
Coaches lead kids in soccer warm-ups and drills before letting them bend it like Beckham in a mini-tournament. Food, cake, decorations and party favors can be added for an extra fee. In addition to the flagship location, parties are also held at the Jewish Cultural Center and the Riverdale Y. Booking at least two months in advance is required.

The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre Central Park’s West Drive, enter park from Central Park West at 79th St (212-988-9093, cityparksfoundation.org). Subway: B, C to 81st St–Museum of Natural History. $800 for 30 minutes of setup time, a private hour-long performance and 90 minutes in the adjacent party room.
Tucked just inside the western boundary of Central Park is a curious old wooden structure that seems mysteriously plunked down, like Dorothy’s house in Oz. Inside is one of the best-kept secrets (and deals) in town: a tiny marionette theater with shows performed daily, where regular kids’ tickets cost a mere five bucks. The theater can accommodate up to 100 kids and adults, while the party room seats up to 30, making this a spacious location if you need to invite your tot’s entire class.

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Teatro SEA at Los Kabayitos Puppet Theater 107 Suffolk St between Delancey and Rivington Sts (212-529-1545, sea-online.info). Subway: F to Delancey St; J, M, Z to Delancey–Essex Sts. $12.50 per kid; $100 for space rental.
After watching a puppet show, partygoers gather in a private space to feast on food and dessert, provided by the parents. Booking two months in advance is required.

13th Street Repertory Company 50 W 13th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-675-6677, 13thstreetrep.org). Subway: F, V to 14th St; L to Sixth Ave. $50 for party space rental; $10 per ticket.
Guests enjoy one of the kid-friendly shows playing at the theater, then retire to a private room to party. Parents supply food, drinks, cake and party decorations.

Tribeca Treats 94 Reade St between Church St and West Broadway (212-571-0500, tribecatreats.com). Subway: A, C, 1, 2, 3 to Chambers St. $750 for up to 12 kids.
This scrumptious bakery offers cookie-decorating, cupcake-baking-and-decorating, chocolate-tasting or tea parties. Bagels, fruit platters and cake are provided. Parties held on Sundays only. Booking at least a month in advance is required.

Toys "R" Us Times Square 1514 Broadway between 44th and 45th Sts (646-366-8800, ext 8578, toysrustimessquare.com. Subway: N, Q, R, W, 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Square. Prices start at $35 per child on weekdays and $50 per child on weekends.
Guests start the festivities off by receiving a VIP gift allowing them exclusive access to the themed celebration (choices include Anything But Bored Games, Dancing Divas, Dinosaur Extravaganza and Pirate’s Passage). Each party package includes a ride on the 60-foot-tall Ferris Wheel and a trip to Geoffrey the Giraffe’s Party Pavilion, where the iconic animal makes a guest appearance during cake and punch.

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