Looking to have your kid's birthday party somewhere different this year? Well, move over Mickey D's, OMC has compiled a list of unique party locations:

John C. Cudahy YMCA Arts Alive Birthday Parties
9050 N. Swan Dr.
(414) 586-9622, ext. 118

Make a flute, learn printmaking, create a batik wall hanging, explore Japanese Gyotaku or piece together an art history collage at the Y's creative birthday party. $5 per participant, available Saturdays anytime between noon and 5 p.m. Class length is one hour for groups of at least five and up to nine participants. Room rentals are available before or after party activities.

Hoffer's Tropic Life Pets
7323 N. 76th St.
(414) 760-2257

Kids will get to observe fish and reptile areas, and will meet a bunny, chinchilla, rat, millipede, beaded dragon and/or snake. The cost is $70 for up to 15 kids. Parents may bring in food, beverage, party favors, etc. and can set up in a large party room with seven tables, sink, microwave and refrigerator.

My Gym Children's Fitness Center
20101 W. Bluemound Rd.
(262) 786-9496

Gym games and gymnastics are the theme here, and all parties are specially designed for the particular child's age and interests. Up to 20 children may attend. One-and-a-half-hour party is $185; two-hour party is $235. Bring own cake and juice boxes; paper products provided. You may bring in other food, as well.

Organ Piper Music Palace
4353 S. 108th St.
(414) 529-1177

Call ahead to make a reservation for your child's party. Pizza, game room and free organ entertainment are all available.

Petit Center Ice Chalet
500 S. 84th St.
(414) 266-0100

Ice skating parties are available in three packages, and all include skate rental and admission. Silver is $8 and includes popcorn and soda; Bronze is $10 and includes a hot dog or nachos and hot chocolate or soda; Gold is $12 and includes hot dog, pizza or nachos, cookie or chips and soda, slushie or hot chocolate. Parties may be hosted any time during open skate hours, which are all day on weekends and from 7 to 9 p.m. on weeknights. Please call one week in advance.

Koz's Mini Bowl
2087 S. 7th St.
(414) 383-0560

Weekend parties available for $2.50 per kid and $3 per adult. Features four lanes of "duck pin" bowling and human pinsetters, just like in the "olden days!"

Safe House
779 N. Front St.
(414) 271-2007

Although they do not have party packages, the espionage-themed Safe House welcomes clandestine parties for spy kids and adults of all ages. Call ahead to make a reservation and to discuss options.

Milwaukee Public Museum
800 W. Wells St.
(414) 278-2728

The public museum offers a unique party that includes a personalized cake, accessories, goody bags and a special gift for the birthday child. Kids can wear pith helmets to explore a new world in the Rainforest Safari, play junior paleontologists and dig for bones during Dinosaur Adventure or spread their wings with hundreds of live butterflies in the Butterfly Garden. Each party lasts two hours and can be scheduled on weekends or weekdays. Rates for up to 10 children are $280 for Friends of the Museum members and $340 for non-members (includes a free one-year membership). Lunch and IMAX options are available for an additional charge.

Paradise Landing
The Hilton Milwaukee City Center
509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
(414) 271-7250

All packages include entrance to the water park for the duration of the birthday party, which includes decorations, cheese pizzas, hot dogs, chips, beverages, birthday cake, 10 game tokens per kid and a birthday gift. Cost is $22.95 per person plus tax and gratuity (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) or $17.95 per person plus tax and gratuity (Monday-Thursday). All birthday parties are three hours long and there is a 10-person minimum.

Boerner Botanical Gardens
9400 Boerner Dr. (in Whitnall Park)
(414) 525-5650

The park offers three different theme parties: "Where the Wild Things Are" parties (ages 3 and up) include a tour of Boerner's bog garden, a monster mask craft and games. Guests to "Miss Spider's Tea Party" (ages 3 and up) will enjoy an elegant tea party complete with apple juice and make-your-own snacks, plus garden games and a storytime. For kids ages 6 and up, "The Artist's Garden" party includes an art activity, games and a reading of "The Magical Garden of Claude Monet" by Laurence Anholt. Every party includes a planting activity.

Party packages start at $125 and include the use of a party room in the Education and Visitors Center, 90 minutes of staff-led activities and games, goody bags and admission for each guest (up to 10 children, $5-$7 extra for each additional child). For $70 more, Boerner will supply a cake, juice and paper products.

The Milwaukee County Zoo
10001 W. Bluemound Rd.
(414) 771-5500

Rent a picnic space at the zoo for $200 and receive discounted admission fees ($6.50 for adults, $4.50 for children), free parking, use of a 400-square foot tent and picnic pavilion, picnic tables and zoo-provided site maintenance. The zoo offers parties all-you-can-drink soda for an additional fee of $1 per person. Private Zoomobile tours cost $150 for an hour-long narrated ride. Parties are hosted year-'round.

Schlitz Audubon
1111 E. Brown Deer Rd.
(414) 352-2880

Have your birthday at the center, or have the center come to you. Naturalist-led nature parties starring three or four of Schlitz Audubon's reptile and amphibian friends start at $200 and include a two-hour nature program for up to 15 kids. More expensive options include meeting the center's raptors, including owls, hawks and an American eagle. Families are welcome to bring cake and refreshments and open gifts on site.

Chuck E. Cheese
2701 S. Chase Ave.
(414) 483-8655

The birthday party package is $9.99 plus tax per guest. Each guest receives 16 tokens. A "Super Party Package" can be purchased for an additional cost. Bonus for birthday parties on Monday-Thursday. Some pizza and soda included.

Kid-do's Glamour Partyz
N81W15042 Appleton Avenue, Menomonee Falls
(262)251-8060

Glam up your next party with a special makeover, hairstyle and nail polish application at one of the few hair salons just for kids in the Milwaukee area. $15 per kid; four kid minimum. Party is approximately two hours long and includes fun music to dance to and a "modeling show" for participants.