Birthday parties at A Step Outside of the Box include crafts, hair beading, nail polishing, tattoos, games, and much more. Schedule a gathering for any day of the week. Saturdays book up fast, so call early.

Food and beverages may be brought in, and customized invitations are printed for you. A $50 nonrefundable is required.

This is a great old-fashioned ice cream and sweet shop that has been around since 1921. Alinosi's serves up real sodas, malts, and homemade chocolates. Well known in the Detroit area for its hand-layered spumoni. Featured on the Food Network's Food Finds show.

When in Greektown or strolling in downtown Royal Oak, a stop at the deliciously decadent Astoria Pastry Shop is a must.

Astoria specializes in such Greek goodies as baklava and choureki (sweet egg bread), and also sells key lime pie, tortes, and cheesecakes. The shop offers a full selection of ice cream and serves it up a la mode for those eating in-house.

Online ordering is available.

When in Greektown or strolling in downtown Royal Oak, a stop at the deliciously decadent Astoria Pastry Shop is a must.

Astoria specializes in such Greek goodies as baklava and choureki (sweet egg bread), and also sells key lime pie, tortes, and cheesecakes. The shop offers a full selection of ice cream and serves it up a la mode for those eating in-house.

Online ordering is available.

Baskin Robbins, and its 31 flavors, has been around for a long time. The ice cream is good, reasonably priced, and ready for pick up any time. One particular favorite is the mint chocolate chip ice cream and oreo combo. Baskin Robbins will decorate a cake on request.

The store has franchises everywhere, though recently a number have consolidated, changed hands, or just plain shut down, so you might do well to call ahead.

Visit the store's online site and sign up for the Birthday Club to get a coupon for a free 2.5 oz ice cream scoop and $3 off of an ice cream cake.

For a location near you, check online.

Baskin Robbins, and its 31 flavors, has been around for a long time. The ice cream is good, reasonably priced, and ready for pick up any time. One particular favorite is the mint chocolate chip ice cream and oreo combo. Baskin Robbins will decorate a cake on request.

The store has franchises everywhere, though recently a number have consolidated, changed hands, or just plain shut down, so you might do well to call ahead.

Visit the store's online site and sign up for the Birthday Club to get a coupon for a free 2.5 oz ice cream scoop and $3 off of an ice cream cake.

This frosty franchise, known for its commitment to world-wide social causes, turns out dairy confections like no other. With funky names like Chunky Monkey and Wavy Gravy, this honest-to-goodness ice cream is worth its weight in flavor. Sold in regular cones, waffle cones, and quarts.

You can also pick up an ice cream cake (or order in advance, if you have something special in mind), or try the sundaes, shakes, and fruit smoothies.

This frosty franchise, known for its commitment to world-wide social causes, turns out dairy confections like no other. With funky names like Chunky Monkey and Wavy Gravy, this honest-to-goodness ice cream is worth its weight in flavor. Sold in regular cones, waffle cones, and quarts.

You can also pick up an ice cream cake (or order in advance, if you have something special in mind), or try the sundaes, shakes, and fruit smoothies.

This frosty franchise, known for its commitment to world-wide social causes, turns out dairy confections like no other. With funky names like Chunky Monkey and Wavy Gravy, this honest-to-goodness ice cream is worth its weight in flavor. Sold in regular cones, waffle cones, and quarts.

You can also pick up an ice cream cake (or order in advance, if you have something special in mind), or try the sundaes, shakes, and fruit smoothies.

This frosty franchise, known for its commitment to world-wide social causes, turns out dairy confections like no other. With funky names like Chunky Monkey and Wavy Gravy, this honest-to-goodness ice cream is worth its weight in flavor. Sold in regular cones, waffle cones, and quarts.

You can also pick up an ice cream cake (or order in advance, if you have something special in mind), or try the sundaes, shakes, and fruit smoothies.

In addition to open bounce hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Bobby's Bouncers offers birthday party packages that include pizza and soda for 20 guests. Party attendees play for an hour and 15 minutes and then go into the party room for the last 45 minutes to have pizza, cake, and open presents. Paper products, invitations, and balloon decorations are included.

Inflatables and games include a giant slide, an obstacle course, Mega Dinozone with a rock climb, Basketball Challenge, Air Hockey, Dome Hockey, Play Station, and X-Box - with a large selection of games.

A full line of party rental equipment can either be picked up or delivered, as well.

Carnival Bounce Rentals rents a large selection of moonwalks, interactive games, slides, carnival games, and concessions for backyard parties, schools, churches, companies, and fundraisers.

Given that Carvel's mascot, Fudgie the Whale, has his own MySpace page, it's clear that even after 70 years, the pioneering ice cream company wants to stay cool. So when kids scream for ice cream, the nearest franchise is a good bet.

Carvel stores churn out hand-dipped and soft serve ice cream in classic cups, cones, sundaes, novelties, and shakes, but the company may be best known for its dependably good ice cream cakes, which can made to order or plucked, ready to go, from freezer cases filled with take-home treats. Carvel uses only kosher ingredients in its products.

Use the store locator to find the Carvel nearest you.

Indulge in ice-cream heaven: Cold Stone Creamery, now nationwide, serves up homemade ice cream and yogurt individually mixed on an ice cold granite stone in front of your eyes, with mix-ins of your choice. From warm brownies (the so-called national favorite) to gummy bears to fresh strawberries, your kids will find a flavor worth finishing their homework for.

Ice cream cakes are layered with rich devil's food, red velvet, or yellow cake and topped with fudge ganache, fluffy white, or strawberry frosting. Order a custom cake or pick up one from the freezer case. Coldstone offers a variety of kids' celebration cakes with popular characters (such as Barbie, Spongebob, and Spider-Man) as cake toppers. They are available in both rounds and rectangles and can be customized with names and special messages.

The Creamery Club Card gets you your tenth ice cream free, and the Cake and Pie Club Card gets your sixth cake or pie free.

Indulge in ice-cream heaven: Cold Stone Creamery, now nationwide, serves up homemade ice cream and yogurt individually mixed on an ice cold granite stone in front of your eyes, with mix-ins of your choice. From warm brownies (the so-called national favorite) to gummy bears to fresh strawberries, your kids will find a flavor worth finishing their homework for.

Ice cream cakes are layered with rich devil's food, red velvet, or yellow cake and topped with fudge ganache, fluffy white, or strawberry frosting. Order a custom cake or pick up one from the freezer case. Coldstone offers a variety of kids' celebration cakes with popular characters (such as Barbie, Spongebob, and Spider-Man) as cake toppers. They are available in both rounds and rectangles and can be customized with names and special messages.

The Creamery Club Card gets you your tenth ice cream free, and the Cake and Pie Club Card gets your sixth cake or pie free.

Check online to find a location near you.

Who doesn't love a Blizzard?

Because the majority of Dairy Queen restaurants are individually owned and operated franchises, quality, hours, and offerings vary greatly - you probably know what you like (or don't) about your local store.

What we like is DQ's take on the ubiquitous children's meal concept. In most stores, not only can parents substitute applesauce for French fries (if they're lucky), but the meals come with a coupon for a free treat (small Dilly bar, ice cream sandwich, or $.49 off a Blizzard) so the dessert part of the meal can stay cool, and out of reach, until the "healthy" part of the meal has been consumed.

Of course, the chain's ice cream cakes are practically required equipment for some kids' parties, and some stores offer discounts on birthday parties held on site.

Most Dairy Queen restaurants nationwide participate in annual (and more frequent) fundraisers for Children's Miracle Network. Eat up.

The Detroit Popcorn Company makes and sells a variety of popcorn and other treats. The company also provides catering, equipment, and supplies for events like birthday parties, family reunions, picnics, and corporate celebrations.

Rents all kinds of concessions and party equipment, including hot dog machines, slush machines, sno-cone makers, ice cream carts, popcorn machines, and more. The company also offers concession sales and services.

Find the party paraphernalia you're looking for online at iparty.com. Packages for birthday parties and special occasions could be a life saver when you're pressed for time and ideas.

Halloween costumes in all shapes and sizes are available here, too.

Kimbrella makes girls' tea party dreams come true. A theme-party business that provides dress-up parties for girls, Kimbrella is the thought-child of entreprenuer Kimberly Williams.

Choose from such themes as Back to School Tea, Dolly Me and Tea, Mommy Tea and Me, and Teddy Me and Tea. Cakes and pastries can be ordered, and items such as party favors, canopies, chocolate fountains, and horse and buggies can be arranged.

The claim from Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery is that the ice cream is so fresh, it moos. And the ice cream is fresh - made right on the premises. Maggie Moo's offers 51 flavors of ice cream - 24 are available at any given time, and these are rotated daily - with more than three dozen varieties of mix-ins. Kids love the old-fashioned chocolate or vanilla with sprinkles and, when available, cotton candy or bubble gum. Also offered are real fruit smoothies, ready made and custom-made ice cream cakes, and Mooo-Lah® gift certificates.

The claim from Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery is that the ice cream is so fresh, it moos. And the ice cream is fresh - made right on the premises. Maggie Moo's offers 51 flavors of ice cream - 24 are available at any given time, and these are rotated daily - with more than three dozen varieties of mix-ins. Kids love the old-fashioned chocolate or vanilla with sprinkles and, when available, cotton candy or bubble gum. Also offered are real fruit smoothies, ready made and custom-made ice cream cakes, and Mooo-Lah® gift certificates.

Mrs. Maddox Cake Shop is often described as one of the best cake shops in metro Detroit. The bakers can personalize your cake with hand-picked colors, a photo, drawing, or copy of an invitation in just about any shape you can imagine.

The shop also makes tea sandwiches, miniature pastries, quiches, and petit fours.

To avoid last minute dashes to the grocery store, only to find there aren't enough Barbie plates for the birthday guests, dash to a store that specializes in party planning - and is sure to carry whatever accessories will make your child's special day a success.

From candy to pinatas to party favors, cards to balloons, you should be able to find it here.

There are numerous Party America locations in the metro Detroit area, including in Ann Arbor, Madison Heights, Novi, Orion Township, Taylor, Utica, Warren, and Westland. Check the website for more info.

Party Cakes specializes in fresh, moist, made-from-scratch cakes and icing. Designs can range from simple and elegant to whatever-you-can-dream-up. Cake samples are available. The store, which was named tops in cakes for Oakland County by WDIV-TV, also features cake truffles, pastries, and party favors.

With everything for birthday parties to baby showers, Party City is the one stop shop for invitations, napkins, decorations, and party favors. At Halloween, it turns into a spooky costume spot, with dressing rooms so kids can make sure that gotta-have costume fits before you take it home.

Visit the website to find a location near you.

Party Layne offers a complete range of event planning for parties. The company handles everything from children's birthday parties to gala movie premieres and travels throughout the metro Detroit area.

Sanders is back! Not in its traditional soda shop sort of way, but it's back! Morley Candy Makers is reviving the brand name and has opened its first Sanders sweet shop in the quaint downtown village of Grosse Pointe on Kercheval. Introduce your kids to Sanders bumpy cake or a hot fudge cream puff.

Rents inflatable moonwalks and giant slides. Serves Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Washtenaw Counties.

A long-time eastside Italian bakery that makes the best cannolis around. Tringali's specializes in Italian bread and pastries and makes delicious cassatta cakes.

Tringali's has a full deli, makes its own gelato and granita, and carries Alinosi spumoni.