couple of quick questions:
how many people will you invite?
mostly friends or family?
coworkers?
adults or adults and kids?
What kind of budget (extravagant or simple?)
Probably one of the best parties I was at was for my brother's 40th birthday. We "roasted" him like they do on comedy channel. Gotta have some thick skin to do that but it was fun and he loved it.
What about a comedy club? Something at the beach (are you near a beach?)