Let me set the stage: You and your best friend, significant other, study buddy or whatever other kind of "special friend" you may have are hungry. It is past 11, which means campusfood.com has practically shut down. You used to have only two real choices: brave the cold and walk through West Philadelphia in the dark to Fresh Grocer (open all 24 sketchy hours of the day) or order Insomnia Cookies. Now, you have a new option: cupmakes.com.
For all of those old SAT analogy lovers, Cupmakes is to cupcakes as Insomnia is to cookies. On this site, you can custom-make your own cupcakes - which really are 2.5 times the standard size, as they advertise - and have them delivered straight to your door. You choose your base (Moist Chocolate or French Vanilla), your icing (French Vanilla, Fabulous Fudge, Cinnamon Maple Syrup or Reese's Peanut Butter Cup) and your selection from a variety of toppings, ranging from sprinkles to caramel to coconut to M&M's and more. There is even a birthday option -- candles and a bow, anyone? - for a mere 15 cents. Sounds perfect for almost anyone: the stoners with the munchies, the drunken binge eaters or even those simply procrastinating and in the mood for cake (and who isn't always in the mood for cake?).
I have to admit that I am the token "fat kid in a skinny body," but even I find fault in what I thought was a flawless invention that would solve my problems forever. The issue lies in the fact that this Web site requires you to order a minimum of six identical cupcakes. Granted, it's a good deal; without frills, six cupcakes costs $12, and that includes delivery and tip. But being boxed into purchasing six identical goodies is more problematic than you might think. Try convincing your chocolate-obsessed girlfriend to agree to order a set of all vanilla cupcakes. And then there's the whole peanut butter debacle: do you get peanut butter frosting? Do you get crushed Reese's on the top? Do you get both plus drizzled caramel and crushed butterfingers? How much is too much? How could you possibly get two people (or more) to agree on these crucial cupcake matters? If you and your "friend" aren't what I like to call "cupcake compatible," this site could make or break your night. Or worse
