Yes, cooper has a great suggestion. With an online surprise party, you'd be able to include family, friends and that out of town guest. You could make your hubby a cake, light the candles and all the guests could sing Happy Birthday to him. If you were to do something like this, another special thing you could do during the party would be to have everyone give a toast or share a special memory/story about your husband.

Can you sponsor an animal in his area of expertise? Or, contact his zoo, for a virtual tour and maybe greetings from the animals? Have you see the Shedd aquarium’s penguin tours during the shutdown? Something along those lines?

Yes, to Zoom, although I am not sure how one can handle more than 10 people.

i have participated in 3 Zoom meetings and the last one had nine and it seemed a bit hectic.

Would you consider delivery from the restaurant that you like?

People can send their own video clips commemorating the day.

Best wishes to your husband.

It was kind of a joke because we have a lot of pets!

He worked in medicine actually and wishes he could be working during this time but the very rare health scare means it wouldn’t be prudent.

He would love if I surprised him with another pet but we are at a limit!!!

Instead of Zoom, try House Party. We use it with our 4 kids families. 17 of us all together!

Maybe people could do a video and I could ask a friend who is a filmmaker to edit something. Such good ideas!

I had a friend who just got the all clear on her cancer and my friend the filmmaker edited a video like that... not sure why I didn’t think of that!

Have a "make do" party now, and when all this is over, have a big surprise shin-dig!

A medical grade microscope, or a digital microscope that can store views on computer files.

How about concert tickets or symphony tickets for a Summer venue.....

I saw a cute baby's first birthday someplace. They had a sign that said "1st birthday in quarantine". He or she was in the crib with yellow police tape that may have said "quarantine". You could make a cute backdrop and do something similar and then facetime. I know a lot of people are getting together and eating a meal or having a drink over facetime. You could all have dessert or a drink. My husband would probably be happy to have a new Hawaiian shirt for the event.

My SIL called this morning and described a 'drive-up' birthday she had gone to last Friday. About nine social distancing cars pulled up to the birthday boy's house (he was 80 Friday), parked, honked. (afternoon, not evening). They took turns getting out and tying balloons, leaving cards at the driveway mailbox. Then, keeping far enough apart, they sang happy birthday and waved, clapped for him on his porch. And left again, she said the whole exercise took about 12 minutes. Arranged by his wife.

A parade of cars with Happy Birthday signs and balloons.....friends, family and neighbors?

Our Neighbor is doing cupcakes at the road for their daughters 10 year old birthday. They will deliver to your car or you can pick them up off the table by the driveway. Not sure if this is Kosher but thank goodness she has something to look forward to.

Another thing is a birthday card surprise. Contact people to send a card for his birthday. My mom loved it when she turned 80. She received over 100 cards. It was amazing. Since they cannot go out to the store as often, they could make their own. Much more personal anyway.