Arandas Bakery has a huge selection of fresh breads, muffins, donuts, custard-and-fruit desserts, cakes, and Mexican pastries such as empanadas, churros, and cookies. The bakery makes birthday cakes, and carries party supplies, including a wide variety of pinatas.

Arandas Bakery has a huge selection of fresh breads, muffins, donuts, custard-and-fruit desserts, cakes, and Mexican pastries such as empanadas, churros, and cookies. The bakery makes birthday cakes, and carries party supplies, including a wide variety of pinatas.

Arandas Bakery has a huge selection of fresh breads, muffins, donuts, custard-and-fruit desserts, cakes, and Mexican pastries such as empanadas, churros, and cookies. The bakery makes birthday cakes, and carries party supplies, including a wide variety of pinatas.

Arandas Bakery has a huge selection of fresh breads, muffins, donuts, custard-and-fruit desserts, cakes, and Mexican pastries such as empanadas, churros, and cookies. The bakery makes birthday cakes, and carries party supplies, including a wide variety of pinatas.

Arandas Bakery has a huge selection of fresh breads, muffins, donuts, custard-and-fruit desserts, cakes, and Mexican pastries such as empanadas, churros, and cookies. The bakery makes birthday cakes, and carries party supplies, including a wide variety of pinatas.

Arandas Bakery has a huge selection of fresh breads, muffins, donuts, custard-and-fruit desserts, cakes, and Mexican pastries such as empanadas, churros, and cookies. The bakery makes birthday cakes, and carries party supplies, including a wide variety of pinatas.

Astro Events of West Houston rents inflatables that are all fire retardant, well maintained, and cleaned prior to every event. Options include four-in-one combos, wet/dry slides, obstacle courses, moonwalks, and slip-n-slides. Packages can also include a cotton candy machine, sno cone machine, or popcorn machine, as well as additional games and themes such as Batman, Dora, Sponge Bob, Princesses, Noah, and more.

Baskin Robbins and its 31 flavors has been around for a long time. It has never tried to be fancy, which is one reason we like its ice cream cake. It's good, basic, reasonably priced, and ready for pick up any time. One particular favorite is the mint chocolate chip ice cream and oreo combo. B-R will decorate a cake on request.

The store has franchises all over town. We've listed a few here; visit the website to find a location near you.

Baskin Robbins and its 31 flavors has been around for a long time. It has never tried to be fancy, which is one reason we like its ice cream cake. It's good, basic, reasonably priced, and ready for pick up any time. One particular favorite is the mint chocolate chip ice cream and oreo combo. B-R will decorate a cake on request.

The store has franchises all over town. We've listed a few here; visit the website to find a location near you.

Baskin Robbins and its 31 flavors has been around for a long time. It has never tried to be fancy, which is one reason we like its ice cream cake. It's good, basic, reasonably priced, and ready for pick up any time. One particular favorite is the mint chocolate chip ice cream and oreo combo. B-R will decorate a cake on request.

The store has franchises all over town. We've listed a few here; visit the website to find a location near you.

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 Cherry Garcia, 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 24 hours 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 Cherry Garcia, 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 24 hours 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 Cherry Garcia, 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 24 hours 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 Cherry Garcia, 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 24 hours 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 Cherry Garcia, 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 24 hours 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 Cherry Garcia, 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 24 hours in advance, if you have something special in mind), or try the sundaes, shakes, and fruit smoothies.

Chef Tony Lee operates Cake Craze, which not only makes creative, intricate, special-order cakes, but also has everything you need to create your own birthday cake, graduation cake, or cake for any other special event. Also available are vegan, vegetarian, and sugar-free cakes, pies, and cookies.

The shop features baking supplies, cake decorating supplies, pans, and more. Pans can be rented out by the day.

The site is also home to Le Leeds Cooking School, which offers classes for kids and adults in cake decoration, baking, candy-making, and more. Classes are scheduled on weekday evenings and on weekends. Call 713.339.4535 for further details and a current schedule.

Chef Tony Lee operates Cake Craze, which not only makes creative, intricate, special-order cakes, but also has everything you need to create your own birthday cake, graduation cake, or cake for any other special event. Also available are vegan, vegetarian, and sugar-free cakes, pies, and cookies.

The shop features baking supplies, cake decorating supplies, pans, and more. Pans can be rented out by the day.

The site is also home to Le Leeds Cooking School, which offers classes for kids and adults in cake decoration, baking, candy-making, and more. Classes are scheduled on weekday evenings and on weekends. Call 713.339.4535 for further details and a current schedule.

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.

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.

Chocolate Cafe and Bakery serves not only coffee and dessert, but also breakfast options such as bagels, breakfast burritos, and croissant sandwiches. For a quick lunch either at the cafe or to go, the cafe features deli sandwiches and a soup of the day. A selection of tea, gourmet coffee drinks, and Italian sodas are available from the espresso bar.

Now, about those desserts...Owner/chef Mike Watkins creates a variety of mouth-watering chocolate cakes, cheesecakes, fruit tarts, cookies, and more. A dozen or so different flavors of malted milk balls fill a line of jars on the counter, further tempting the sweet-toothed among us. Custom-made birthday cakes can also be ordered.

Restrooms, high chairs, boosters, and plenty of table seating are available.

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. Visit the website for the nearest location.

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.

Fiesta Time Moonwalks Houston delivers and sets up giant inflatables, including moonwalks and slip 'n' slides, for birthday parties or other special events. Reservations can be made by phone, email, or online.

A sno-cone machine, bubble machine, and tables and chairs are also available for rental.

For a real birthday party blast, Foam Rox sets up a large, square pit with inflatable walls and shoots foam out of a cannon, covering kids better than a giant bubble bath. Kids - OK, and the grown-ups - can play, dance, and splash in piles and piles of foam. The foam pit is 20 feet by 20 feet, so make sure you've got plenty of yard space. Or have the party at a nearby park, because Foam Rox brings its equipment to your location of choice.

The foam is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and harmless to clothes, grass, and plants. We found that even a bear-hug from a foam-covered kid doesn't leave the grown-up sopping wet; the foam dries off quickly and easily.

Foam Rox also offers a 30-foot, two-lane, inflatable slip 'n' slide, which is not only tons of fun, but also a great way to rinse off the foam.

Prices: The foam pit costs $340 for the first hour, $125 for each additional hour. The slip 'n' slide costs $75 per hour with the foam pit, or - by itself - $200 for four hours, $375 for eight hours.

For events over 20 miles from I-10 West (Katy Freeway) and Beltway 8, Foam Rox adds a $25 service charge, plus mileage. Rentals are also available for school fairs, church festivals, or any other large gathering.

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.

JJs Party Rentals offers moonwalks, tables, and chairs with free delivery and pick up. Party packages are also available, which include moonwalk, tables, chairs, and your child's favorite character plates, cups, invitations, and pinatas.

Jumpin Jacks is a party rental company offering a wide variety of moonwalks, as well as cotton candy machines, snow cone machines, popcorn machines, tables, chairs, and tents. Party packages are available to suit customers' budgets.

Jumpy Things Houston provides rentals of moonwalks and a variety of other giant inflatables for kids' birthday parties. Half-day rentals are available for up to five hours, while all-day rentals are available for up to eight hours.

The toddler party pack includes an all-day inflatable rental, with two toddler tables and 12 toddler chairs, for $120. The total party pack includes all of that, plus two banquet tables and 16 adult chairs, for $145.

All rentals include delivery, set up, and pick up

At Marble Slab Creamery, freshly made ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors are combined with your choice of a zillion mix-ins to bring those ice cream fantasies to life.

Homemade waffle cones, ice cream cakes, and ice cream pies are made daily; some locations also offer specialty baked goods and gourmet coffees.

Check the website to find a location near you.

As the name implies, Pinatas Etc. & Party Supplies has dozens of pinatas, Mexican decorations, and all the other supplies you need for a party. The store also rents tables, chairs, and even a popcorn machine.

Southwest Moonwalks rents a variety of moonwalks and other inflatables, as well as popcorn machines, snowcone machines, cotton candy machines, tables and chairs, a Kick and Score soccer game, and more. Setup and pickup is free; delivery charges may apply depending on location.

Mr. Clint the Snake Man brings non-venomous, non-aggressive snakes to your birthday party location, and shares his absolute love of reptiles, why they are important for our environment, and what to do when you spot a snake in its natural habitat. As age groups are different, each show is adjusted (time and information) to fit the appropriate age of your child. Mr. Clint helps both the children and the parents with their fears and apprehensions about snakes.

Party supplies such as custom invitations, thank you cards, and goody bags are also available for an additional charge.

The Imagination Bake Company creates specialty decorated and sculpted cakes, cupcakes, cookies, petit fours, and other sweet treats. Full service catering is also available for all occasions in the entire greater Houston area including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Tomball and Atascocita.

A Houston institution since 1949, Three Brothers Bakery makes fresh breads daily, as well as breakfast pastries, bagels, cupcakes, cheesecakes, birthday cakes, and more. Custom-ordered cakes are also available.

The store has a few stools for customers who can't wait to eat their treats.

US Toy is a pinata filler's dream, with multiple aisles of inexpensive novelty and carnival items to suit any theme and fill any goodie bag. The large selection of educational supplies and toys includes bristle blocks, dolls, play food, workbooks, and art supplies, making it a handy stop for parents and teachers.