Navigating: birthday cakes for procrastinators

Continental Bakery

The cake: This Mexican bakery offers up all manner of pastries, but the Tres Leches cake is made fresh every day, always available and very pretty. The famed recipe consists of moist vanilla cake soaked in three milks, filled with light whipped cream and topped with creamy frosting and fresh fruit.

The price: $20 for the 6-inch; $30 for a quarter sheet.

The extras: Writing is free; a pack of 10 candles is $1.50.

If you have more time: We were told that the bakery will create whatever you have in mind; you just have to come into the shop to place the order.