Whether you’re hosting a grad party, low-key barbecue or picnic in the park, you can count on help from lots of local businesses to make your event special.
Uptown Balloon
Uptown Balloon owners Anabel and Edwin Plaza, originally from Mexico and Ecuador (respectively), spent 25 years working in the restaurant business. Anabel always harbored a passion for party planning, creating balloon decor in their basement.
When the space that housed the Corner Balloon at 25th and Hennepin came up for rent in 2022, the Plazas decided to try making their party business a full-time gig.
“What’s a grad party without balloons?”
Anabel says they started small, focusing just on balloons and a limited assortment of decorations. Today, you’ll find tons of latex and mylar balloons, as well as a small assortment of party plates, birthday candles, and more.
It’s no shock to anyone that a local balloon business struggled this winter. I sure didn’t know a lot of people throwing parties during Operation Metro Surge. (Though it’s worth mentioning that when I stopped by in March, I did see a guy buying seven gold mylar letter balloons that included an F, two Cs, K, I and E. Anabel seemed to be inflating a U balloon as I waited.) Add in the fact that helium prices have steadily increased over the last two decades and skyrocketed with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it’s been a tough go for the Plaza family.
June is often their best month — what’s a grad party without balloons? — but one month of excellent sales isn’t enough to sustain a family.
So if you’re hosting a party of any kind this summer, remember this business.
Baba’s
I love cooking, but when it comes to feeding a crowd, sometimes it’s best to just push the easy button. I personally feel so lucky to have Baba’s in the neighborhood: walking into their bright, cheery space on Lyndale I honestly can’t believe it used to be that depressing uniform store.
Baba’s catering menu offers stunning hummus and snack platters (all come with their delicious pita puffs, which just taste better from the restaurant than they do from the grocery store) and mix-and-match mana’eesh and their Arab-style brick oven pizzas.
Nico Tacos
Nico’s Tacos offers another great catering option. Hit them up for a taco bar, or chips and guacamole, or better yet, both!
You can even hire a bartender to sling margaritas on-site, or maybe ask them to whip up a batch of their margarita mix and allow your guests to decide how much tequila is the right amount.
Kowalski’s
There’s always Kowalski’s, a reliable option for cheese platters, pasta salads, and sandwich platters. I’m sure no one in the Kowalski’s family would be offended if you transferred their cashew chicken salad into a pretty bowl and said you made it yourself. I want to add a special shout-out to whoever makes their cupcakes — they aren’t cheap ($24 to $36 per dozen depending on the decoration), but they are notably delicious, and I don’t even really like cupcakes.
If you’re the kind of person who plans ahead, you can order adorably decorated cupcakes (unicorns! Minecraft!). I am not a planner, and whatever basic option I can procure last minute still slays.
Isles Bun & Coffee
I love to see that line snaking down the sidewalk at Isles Bun & Coffee, but I really don’t want to wait in it!
Did you know they offer pre-orders online? I’m talking freshly baked scones, coffee cake, and juice. You can opt for pans of baked or frozen cinnamon buns and puppy dog tails, too.
The main problem is feeling like a jerk when you get to skip the line and grab your goods from the bakery side door (which they say often has its own line going these days).
You can also opt to have your order delivered. It costs $25, but when your to-do list keeps growing, that might feel worth it.
Lowry Hill Liquor
Raise your hand if you, like me, always forget the ice. Did you know Lowry Hill Liquors offers delivery?
Imagine how great it would be to get cold beer, booze, wine, and ice brought straight to your house for your next get-together?
They require a minimum order of $30 (a 12-pack of Pryes and a bottle of bubbly will get you there pretty quickly), and charge $5 for delivery.
If you’re looking for a special order, like a keg, you’ll want to make arrangements about a week in advance, but otherwise they can accommodate needs fairly quickly — even day-of — should your guests be thirstier than expected.
Molly Mogren Katt writes for the Hill & Lake Press and also publishes the “Hey Eleanor!” column on Substack. She lives in the Wedge.
