Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo ... oh wait, we're adults here; we plan birthday parties instead of acting like monkeys at them. And, like many adult responsibilities, birthday party planning can be a bit stressful (especially with Aunt Betty on the RSVP list), but it's much less so if you secure a stellar venue.

To make that first step a breeze for you, we asked RT readers to send us tips on where they've had winning parties.We then hand picked the top options encompassing different age groups and price points (see the listed web sites for specific details). Start with these and let the madness, er, fun begin:

• Urban Monkeys Seattle (South Lake Union)
  1124 Harrison St
  206.262.9282
  www.gourbanmonkeys.com
  Adults will love the mod design of this loft-like facility as much as the kids will. Birthday parties available on Saturdays in 90-minute slots (starting at noon, 2:30 pm or 4:00 pm). Simply rent a space–and maybe a class instructor to amuse the kids–or go all out and have the party completely planned for you by the Urban Monkeys folks.
• Mountlake Terrace Swimming Pool Mountlake Terrace
  5303 228th St. SW
  425.776.9173
  www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us/departments/parks/facilities.html
  Twelve miles north of downtown Seattle off of 1-5. Playing in the pool is a blast for kids–hopefully they'll burn up plenty of energy, too. You can rent this entire indoor pool, complete with a Lazy River. Rafts, noodles, life jackets and floating toys available. There's also different rooms you can rent for the celebration itself.
  
• Remlinger Farms Carnation
  32610 Northeast 32nd Street
  425.333.4135
  www.remlingerfarms.com
  About forty-five minutes east of Seattle. Worth the drive so that kids can experience the Country Fair Family Fun Park with its animal barnyard, mini roller coaster, ferris wheel, pony riding area, steam train and much more. The farm serves a lunch of pizza, salad and birthday cake in a special birthday party corral area.
  
• Creation Station Lynnwood
  19511 64th Ave W
  425.775.7959
  www.creationstationinc.com
  Kids with an artsy streak will dig this place–imaginations can run wild with all the fun, recycled arts and crafts supplies provided. (Think paper, beads, fabric, buttons, feathers, rhinestones. etc.) You bring your own cake, ice cream and drinks. Creation Station provides supplies for projects and then kids take home a goody bag of creative stuff from the store's bulk bins at the end of the party.
• Ben & Jerry's Seattle (Ballard)
  2032 NW Market Street
  206.784.4454
  www.benjerry.com/ballard/home.cfm
  This scoop shop has a separate room where the birthday party magic happens. Kids get to savor an ice cream cake (made with Ben and Jerry's, natch), tie-dye t-shirts, watch a video on how the ice cream is made in Vermont and follow a funny guide on a tour.

Other great party sites:

• Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio Seattle. Can accommodate two-hour birthday parties for eight kids, centered around age-appropriate art projects. www.roaringmouse.org
  
• Green Lake Community Center Seattle. A very budget-friendly option–you get a big play space with plenty o' toys, plus a separate space for cake and ice cream time. www.cityofseattle.net/parks/centers/grnlakcc.htm
• The Children's Museum Seattle. Rent the entire museum after hours or get a party room (includes museum admission for 15 children and all accompanying adults). www.thechildrensmuseum.org
• Pump it Up Kirkland. Appropriately dubbed the "The Inflatable Party Zone." Kids over two bounce in and interact with colorful, inflatable shapes in this indoor play space. www.pumpitupparty.com
• Kelsey Creek Community Park Bellevue. Home to a barn with farm animals including pigs, goats, sheep and the ever-popular ponies. www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/page.asp?view=2035
• Woodland Park Zoo Seattle. Catered, wild-animal-themed b-day parties in the Rain Forest Food Pavilion take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. www.zoo.org