Services

Party Entertainment
Lorri Michals just might be the TC’s funniest hypnotist. Funny Finkelfloozie, well, he’s a clown. Amazing Jeffo makes stuff disappear. Wings of Love releases white doves for that extra touch of heavenly peace. You can find them all, plus local astrologers, bands, emcees, and Elvis too at partypop.com, the most complete website for local party people we’ve found. [top]

Holiday Lights
No more testing light strings, tangled cords, numb fingers, or ladder mishaps—Chanhassen’s Custom Christmas Lighting has been taking the aggravation out of the annual holiday lights ritual for eight years. Hands down the best holiday lighting company in town, they’ve created some of the most spectacular home-lighting displays around, some that even Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold would envy. Professional installation and removal and free estimates. 612-695-5390 [top]

Disaster Cleanup
The guys at R & C Cleaning Specialists have been cleaning up after floods, unclogging sewers and pipes, removing pet and smoke odors, and basically saving people’s bacon since 1996. They clean carpets and upholstery too and are members of the Better Business Bureau with certified technicians and a perfect record. 612-759-9600, 763-789-9600, 952-944-9600 [top]

Dog Services
Pets are members of the family, and you wouldn’t trust a family member to just anyone. Lulu & Luigi’s Grooming Pawlor offers any kind of grooming a dog may need, plus dog makeovers, custom pedicures, and other cosmetic services, all with a loving, relaxing approach. Once Fido is groomed, get him to behave by calling Citizen Kanine, which specializes in new dog integration, training, therapy, and, of course, problem-solving. Lulu & Luigi, Wayzata Village Shoppes, 812 E. Lake St., Wayzata, 952-249-0330,  Citizen Kanine, 612-816-6363 [top]

Shoe Repair
Grab your beat-up heels and head to the back corner basement of the downtown Macy’s for quick, top-of-the-line shoe repair. The friendly men behind the counter offer a small-town approach to customer service and have a way of making you feel good about not springing for a new pair of shoes. Not that this should stop you. 700 on the Mall, Mpls., 612-375-2200 [top]

Knife Sharpening
Serious chefs need seriously sharp knives, so if the blade on your favorite Wüstof is doing more crushing than cutting, take it to Cooks of Crocus Hill. The professional knife sharpener comes in every Sunday; just leave the knife before 7 p.m. Saturday, and by Monday morning it will actually be sharper than it was when you bought it. The service costs $4 per knife and is worth every penny, any way you slice it. 877 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-228-1333 [top]

Tattoo Parlor
The sign on the front door of eight-year-old Uptown Tattoo says it all—no minors, no drunks, no babies. Shop owners Jon Sweet and Nic Skrade and associate Tom Strom are serious about their art and will work with you to create a one-of-a-kind custom design. The shop offers a clean and comfortable environment that will work for first-timers and the well-inked alike. But make sure you plan ahead. Due to popular demand, it’s not uncommon to wait a week between your consultation and taking the permanent plunge. 614 W. 27th St., Mpls., 612-874-6400 [top]

Florist
For ten years, bastian*skoog has offered unique, high-end flower arrangements for weddings and events. The women-owned studio approaches floral design as an art, and specializes in clean, contemporary  arrangements. 310 N. 2nd St., Mpls., 612-333-6450 [top]

Place to Buy a Snake
Some people love snakes, or at least enough to keep Twin Cities Reptiles in business. If the reptilian urge ever strikes you (and you never know, it may), this is the place to go. They’ve got a wide assortment of pythons, boa constrictors, king snakes, corn snakes, and other slithery creatures, as well as geckos, skinks, iguanas, turtles, and many other “alternative” pets. On rainy days, the shop doubles as one of the best free zoos in town. 2363 University Ave. W., St. Paul, 651-647-4479 [top]

Hotel Doorman
The Grand Hotel Minneapolis has wisely retained one of the last and best vestiges of civilization, the old-fashioned doorman. Dressed in a red coat, suit vest, and a black top hat, the Grand’s chief doorman, John, is a distinguished gentlemen who greets visitors when they arrive, helps with their bags, provides sage advice to newcomers, and generally makes people feel as if they’ve arrived at one of those special places where time has stopped and life’s special courtesies have not been forgotten. 615 2nd Ave. S., Mpls., 612-288-8888 [top]