It’s every New York kid’s fantasy—a birthday party so totally awesome, the guest of honor becomes a playground legend. What the short set never suspect is that parents secretly harbor a similar dream: that by hosting said awesome party, they’ll erase any of their offspring’s lingering resentment (over treats denied, or weekends spent at the office) and seize the title of Coolest Mom or Dad. But where to begin? You guessed it: Our annual Party Special rounds up dozens of fetes to fit any family’s budget and time constraints.