Memory Lanes Bowl Inc

This bowling alley has been in the neighborhood for years. We recently celebrated a birthday there and the staff made sure to make it a fun time! The prices are very reasonable. The outside of the building has also recently undergone a makeover, so it appears that they are trying to give the place a nicer, newer look. Some people say that the place has had some trouble with crime, but a local police officer mentioned they've stepped up patrol of the area.

PROS: Central location, low prices on party events
CONS: Decor was more "retro", but a little more common looking now

Don's Leather Cleaning & Area Rug Laundry

This shop has been a mainstay on East Lake Street for years. I recently took in my husband's leather jacket and they did a really nice job getting it to look almost new again.

Walker Art Center

This museum offers so much more than most - a beautiful sculpture garden (the spoon is everybody's favorite!), music shows in the summer, film festivals...definitely worth checking out periodically to see what's new. They have a neat trailer type home outside that was designed by a pop artist that you should be sure to see.

PROS: Constantly changing gallery inside
CONS: Not much convenient parking

Minneapolis Grand

This museum is the best in the midwest. I love the period themed rooms best, as they really give you a sense of what it would be like to have lived in a different time or place. I usually get tired before I can see everything in their large building, so that gives me plenty of excuses to come back another time and see what else I haven't seen yet.

PROS: Beautiful, authentic art
CONS: None

Franklin Dry Cleaners & Lndrrs

This small dry-cleaning shop is squeezed between and below other businesses and homes so you'd hardly notice it if you weren't looking, but they did a great job on a suit I had them clean recently. The service is quick, not many people in line to wait for. They don't have their own parking lot, and sometimes it is hard to find a parking space on the street.

PROS: Competitive pricing, good cleaning job
CONS: No parking space but on street

Perfect 10 Carwash

This car wash is awesome - the exterior car wash is the best because they actually clean your car, but the interior cleaning is a close second because they wipe down everything inside, vaccuum the interior and the trunk....and you're on your way in about 10 minutes. There may be a line to get in, but it really doesn't take long. Bring the kids - they'll love to watch your car "drive itself" through the wash.

Unique

This thrift store is great because it's huge (i.e. you could spend all day here) and they constantly bring in new arrivals. Your competition is tough here, but you're sure to find something you love for a totally affordable price. I like the large selection of lamps and household items - they seem to be pretty fairly priced and in good condition at this thrift store.

Buck's Unpainted Furniture Inc

I picked up a coffee table and end table here and absolutely love the quality I got for such a low price. The furniture I picked out was even ready for me to take home that same day! I applied my own finish to the tables, which looks good, but I think I may have them do it for me next time - the price doesn't seem bad in reflection, and they'd probably have done a better job than I on my living room tables.

PROS: Furniture is already assembled and you can customize finish
CONS: Still a little more expensive than furniture that is pre-finished (Ikea).

Loon

This uptown convenience store is awesome because they don't sell gas (you can drive right in their parking lot) and their cigarette prices are better than the large chain stores nearby. Perhaps because they're in busy uptown, the parking lot can get full and you may have to wait for a real parking spot. They offer the usual pop, snacks, cigarettes and other gas station fare.

PROS: Regular prices
CONS:

GM Tobacco

This little tobacco store is nestled in beside a huge chain grocery store, so you hardly ever notice it. But when I finally went in, I was hooked (in more ways than one), as the sales staff is so friendly. I ran into one of them in a sandwich shop later and he even bought my sandwich! You can't beat that.