Flour is probably the best bakery in the area that can do something like this. Lyndell's is good (& def cheaper) but a step below.

Formaggio Kitchen could probably put something very nice together for you. Won't be cheap, but it will make an impression. And be delicious.

Seconding Lyndell’s. They’ve done my last two birthday cakes

Bar Enza in Harvard Square. Talulla has one or more two person green houses. (These are both pretty expensive, fyi)

Market basket in Chelsea does an amazing job. Cheap and super customizable.

Flour’s Boston Cream Pie is filled with a lightened crème patisserie, which I’d argue is pretty close to a pudding. I’m reasonably confident you can place an order online or via email.

Flour makes amazing cakes. Pricey though.

Try Lyndell’s in Somerville.

As an update to my own post, just found out Brownwyn in Somerville has tables covered by umbrellas so that is an option for rainy days like today when its not a downright downpour

If an outdoor area is covered, there are fewer allowable outdoor heating elements e.g. no propane heaters.

Remnant Brewing at Bow has covered outdoor seating. Though no food service you can bring in outside food.

If you are into leftist politics there is the Democratic Socialists of America's Cambridge chapter and Party for Socialism and Liberation.

I think it must have to do with zoning or something? There are very few awnings anywhere in Cambridge. I know the owner of a shop who had to remove their custom signage because the building said it stuck too far out over the sidewalk.

Edit: OK in searching, I found Cardullo's application for its awning, which has been there forever. Looks like you need to jump through a lot of hoops for anything sticking out more than 6 inches. https://www2.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/121203%20app%201%20cardullo%20awning.pdf

Edit2: And it looks like the City Council itself has to vote on approvals. So that's a high bar. https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/inspectionalservicesdepartment/OnlineForms/projectingsigndirectionsapplication.pdf

I'm sharing this info in case it's of interest to anyone. It's not in Cambridge but nearby (Arlington). I've not worked for the organization but have heard of it for a long time:

https://mysticriver.org/overview

https://mysticriver.org/volunteer

They do and the size hasnt changed

As of Tuesday. But they also had cotton candy grapes for $2, so that made up for it.

My thoughts too. My car slid earlier that day on another street wet with fresh snow.

Now that think about it, even with ample distance, that could still allow for the opportunity of another car turning to squeeze between me and the car in front of me, diminishing the distance.

I don’t know what the right strategy is for the future 😞 (if I ever drive again). My entire back and neck hurts and I am so mortified I hit someone (who’s probably hurting more).

Cambridge Brewing Company still has covered outdoor dining, although last time I walked by it looked like their outdoor space had shrunk a bit compared to what it was before. Not sure if they still have heaters or not.

Harvest has a walled off outdoor area - not indoor but not quite open air with cover either, depending on what you’re looking for

So I don’t have recommendations but I do have a rant:

What the fuck Cambridge!?! Why the fuck aren’t there more covered patios? The weather is historically unpredictable so providing some kind of covering would seem like a simple way to extend the utility of outdoor spaces. But do we have that? No. Just look! Our neighbors have better options.

And honestly the amount seems to be dwindling over time.

I demand a better class of covered out door dining! More!

The rant will continue until options improve.

See you there!

Prospect Hill is much closer for me too! Join you next Friday?

Thanks for aggregating this!

Rain or shine, that's kind of a November Project's thing. We exercise outside no matter the temperature or weather. I typically go to the official Wednesday workout at Harvard stadium. The official Friday workouts are in Brookline on Summit Ave. That's a bit too far for me, so a smaller group of us meet every Friday at Prospect Hill in Somerville, run up and down the hill for about 45 minutes then go down to Union Square Donuts for coffee and sweets. There were probably around 10 of us today and with the warm weather it was actually quite pleasant. Again, it's a super friendly group, new faces are always welcome.

The tent is gone, went by there this week