Custom bday cake -- how much $ and where to get one on Cap Hill, downtown, Arlington, or Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

I'm planning a first birthday party and debating between doing a Safeway/Giant/Costco cake, which I know can be very good and reasonably cute, and splurging on a more adorable speciality cake. FWIW the party will be very low key and mostly family--the cake will be the only overtly birthdayish thing there. We're expecting about 35 people, including children/babies.

1. Any idea of the price difference between a supermarket cake and a custom/specialty type cake? I'm not looking for some crazy multi-tiered extravaganza, just something a bit more unique than a supermarket sheet cake. We don't want to do a photo as my sister did that a few months ago for her DD's party.

2. Any recommendations for where I can find a reasonably priced custom cake on Capitol Hill, downtown, Arlington, or possibly Alexandria? Georgetown or upper NW would not work well for us. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I really like Alexandria Pastry Shop in Alexandria. I can't remember their pricing, it's obviously more than grocery store cake but I never thought it was outrageous. They have lots of design options - once I've gotten a green cake with pink polka dots there for a baby shower.

[Anonymous]

Safeway/Giant/Costco cakes are gross. Blech!

[Anonymous]

Pastries by Randolph's have good cakes (4500 Lee Highway in Arlington). Their specialty cakes are probably $40-50...not sure if the decorations would work for you though. If you go for a fancy fondant/sculpted cake, that will be over $200.

[Anonymous]

Cakesayle.com. Her cakes are adorable. We had one done for a shower that fed about 30 people and it was $70 (a couple of years ago). She's on Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

simplysweetbakery.com

Christina is amazing and she will deliver to you. Her cake tastes as good as it looks. I use her for all of my parties.

[Anonymous]

Why are you having a party for a kid who won't know what is going on?

[Anonymous]

I second the recommendation for Simply Sweet Bakery (simplysweetbakery.com). We, too, use Christina for our special events and her cakes and cupcakes are very good. We have never been disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second the recommendation for Simply Sweet Bakery (simplysweetbakery.com). We, too, use Christina for our special events and her cakes and cupcakes are very good. We have never been disappointed.

Christina of Simply Sweet just posted on the Old Town Moms list serve that she is not accepting new orders and is taking an indefinite hiatus from cake-making. major bummer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you having a party for a kid who won't know what is going on?

Um, duh, for us! To celebrate the most challenging, rewarding, happiest year of our lives with the people who helped us get through it. How sad for you that you can't relate to that. Hugs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you having a party for a kid who won't know what is going on?

Um, duh, for us! To celebrate the most challenging, rewarding, happiest year of our lives with the people who helped us get through it. How sad for you that you can't relate to that. Hugs!

nice ==enjoy having the people who have been there for you there to enjoy!

[Anonymous]

I just did this, although I'm in chevy chase. a 1/2 sheet cake from Giant (feeds about 25-35 depending on size of slice) was about $35, including flower decorations and writing. A truly custom cake (i.e., I told them exactly the design I wanted) from a bakery in silver spring was $120. The cake had real buttercream frosting and was delicious. I think it would have been about $30 less if I had just had a standard design (balloons, flowers, whatever) and some writing, but they actually free-drew a cartoon character for me.

[Anonymous]

If you are willing to travel to Mclean, Fluffy Thoughts is amazing! We ordered dd's cake from there last month. It was probably the best cake since my wedding.