Topsy Turvy

What kind of birthday cake can you make for a 27-year-old man? Hopefully, in most cases he’s past the action figure/superhero stage. No favourite toy, literary character, or comic strip will fit the bill either. The go-to generic solution – flowers – is definitely out. And what if he’s not a sports fan?

Enter Nambigrams.com, an amazing site where you can order a personalized ambigram – in which your name is spelled out right-side up and up-side down – in stunning calligraphy. It’s a terrific novelty piece and great conversation starter. No question, it’s a bit of a puzzle to decipher (this says Happy Birthday Benjy or Benjy Happy Birthday depending on which way you read it). Don’t believe it? Just flip your computer screen over.

Full discolosure: Nambigrams is the brainchild of my brother, Jonathan Mishkin (I know, slightly different last name. What can I say? He lisps). Much more creative than I, he can ambigramize anything – go ahead, try and stump him.

I know what you’re thinking. Wouldn’t it be fabulous to order an ambigram to grace my invitation or bentchers (wedding, bar mitzvah, tree-planting ceremony) and then get a cake to match? Or how about a baby naming? Keep the name a secret then bring out the cake and have people try and guess what it is. Hm, or maybe not. Well, I’ll keep thinking about it. In the meantime, check out www.nambigrams.com