Unique Birthday Ideas for Men

Try a different location to add some spice to a man's birthday party. Throw a party near a lake or around a swimming pool. Or go tiki and do a fire pit barbecue in your backyard. Hire a friend or professional to bartend and make the favorite drinks of the moment. Rent out a room in a fun ethnic restaurant and share some dishes you haven't tried. Theme parties involving music, such as disco, jazz, lounge or country, are also a possibility.

Another year, another shirt? Birthday gifts do not always have to be boring and practical. Check out the offbeat theme gift baskets sold by Fun n' Fancy (see Resources). The Wine Basket features gourmet crackers, cocktail napkins, a wine journal and a wood wine carrier (you add the wine). The Working Guy's Survival Kit comes wrapped in a metal attache case. Inside are tools and potions for every cosmetic emergency imaginable. The Zen for Men set offers aromatherapy supplies, spa toiletries and a wooden bath brush in a metal tub.

Break with tradition by substituting that birthday cake with a different treat. Try a tower of gourmet cupcakes to add some variety. Or create a chocolate fountain with tiers of chocolate fondue and strawberries, butter cookies and slices of kiwi for dipping. You can stick with cake but make it more interesting by trying Cuban tres leches or a tiramisu.