When the mercury plummets, the last thing you want to do is go outside. For anything. And even if work requires braving the elements, at the end of a long day, it’s hard to find that extra burst of energy needed to complete banal chores. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of everyday tasks that others will do for you. Take off your power suit and pop on your bunny slippers—we’ve got your superhuman alter ego.
Errands Made Easier
Errands, Etc.
314-721-0908, errands-stl.com
For more than 20 years, Errands, Etc. has been catering to its clients’ every whim. From delivering cars to the shop and watering plants to picking up prescriptions and standing in line for tickets, the service takes care of your needs. All you have to do is ask…and pay an hourly fee. And for this kind of service, who wouldn’t?
Ontime Express
314-729-7878, ontimeexpress.net
Delivery services don’t just have to bring things your way—they can go the other direction, too. Ontime Express courier service will deliver pretty much anything that can fit in a car. From your front door to the package’s final destination, it’s secured by a top-notch tracking system. Prices depend on distance, but generally range from $7 to $50.
Concierge Services of St. Louis County
314-477-4948, stlconcierge.com
Unfortunately, wish-granting genies are hard to come by. Concierge Services of St. Louis County is pretty darn close, though. For this business, concierge is just another name for personal assistant. The company’s employees will do anything from picking up dry cleaning to acting as a personal clothing shopper and making dinner reservations to planning your next soirée. Other services include providing personal chefs, event catering, and pet walking. Services cost either a basic hourly rate of $35 or are available by monthly subscription.
The Drama of Getting Dressed
Give-N-Go Dryclean Delivery
314-719-7589
Half of your closet is wrinkled, on the floor, or stained. What do you do? Call in the dry-cleaning professionals who offer free pickup and delivery for laundry services, alterations, and leather cleaning. For $27.99, you can even have your comforter cleaned. Service extends to neighborhoods in the central corridor.
Pressed 4 Time
314-434-4333, www.pressed4time.com/169
You don’t even need to be home to facilitate dry-cleaning pickup and drop-off if you live in West County or St. Charles. Pressed 4 Time is the largest mobile dry-cleaning service in the United States and the prices reflect it: only $2.70 for a laundered shirt. The service will even do shoe repair, and will make runs to Clayton and downtown St. Louis.
Elite Concierge
314-884-1161
Among the personal services Elite Concierge offers, one stands out: For those who do not find excitement in combing stores for sales, gifts, or that one particular style of jacket, the company’s shoppers will do it for you.
Saks Fifth Avenue
314-567-1929, saks.com
With consultants available every day, Saks’ free personal-shopping service is a low-key way to have your clothing and accessory needs met over the phone. After an initial consultation, your information is kept on file for those times when you need shopping done but have no time to do it.
Neiman Marcus
314-994-5038, neimanmarcus.com
All Neiman Marcus personal shopper Mary Beth Fossell needs is an idea of what you want and a quick sit-down to get a sense of your personal style. From then on, she can pull anything you need on a moment’s notice and have it delivered to your home, from the latest trends for your wardrobe to a perfume for that hard-to-shop-for sister-in-law.
You Gotta Eat… and Drink
Schnucks
Of all the area’s main grocery chains, Schnucks is the only one with its own online delivery service set up. On orders placed before 11 a.m., the delivery will be made the same day and the charge is $15.50. After 11 a.m., the groceries will come the next day and the charge drops to $12.50
All Restaurants Deliver
314-544-9003, allrestaurantsdeliver.com
Want that favorite restaurant dish without the hassle of getting in the car? Give All Restaurants Deliver a call. They have been catering to St. Louis’ cravings since 1992 and will deliver anything from any restaurant—even if it’s just a single shake from Dairy Queen. Delivery charges vary, depending on your ZIP code and your distance from the restaurant, running from $5.50 up into the $20 range for long-distance runs.
Casie’s Cuisine
314-753-6012, casiescuisine.com
You can get a home-cooked meal without actually having to slave over a hot stove. Casie’s Cuisine will do everything: menu planning, grocery shopping, or leaving delicious meals with warming instructions in your fridge. For $150 plus groceries for three entrées with two portions each (with many other price and entrée combinations available), Chef Casie is willing to cook anything from comfort food to international fare.
DinnerStyle
314-518-9753, dinnerstyle.com
Chef Karen Tedesco does it all—she shops, chops, cooks, and cleans. A sampling of her winter meal suggestions: roasted garlic and portabella mushroom lasagna, rosemary- and lemon-roasted chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes and short ribs braised in zinfandel with Parmesan polenta. But she’ll discuss your hankerings and cook to please. If you want her to cook up a storm and stock your freezer, she offers a package of five entrées of four portions each (a total of 20 meals) for $300.
The Elegant Cookie
314-845-2745, elegantcookie.com
Local and affordable—the company sells baskets and beautiful bags of baked goods for less than $25—The Elegant Cookie takes a bite out of the stress of finding that perfect gift. Established in 2008, this business makes gift-giving even sweeter for both the giver and the receiver.
Alice
877-962-5423, alice.com
Stay ahead of the game with this friendly helper whose name is aptly the same as the Brady Bunch housekeeper’s. Simply sign up (for free) and order what you need for your laundry room, pantry, nursery, office, etc. Prices are competitive with those of discount stores, coupons come with each order, delivery is free and overnight, and Alice will send you reminders when you’re likely running low.
Stadium Liquor
314-436-2232
Nothing brings a meal or a cozy party at home to the next level like a bottle of wine or spirits. And few things slow up—or shut down—a festive occasion the way running out of alcohol does. Thankfully, Stadium Liquor will bring the booze. The service is generally free of charge, depending upon your location.
Pamper Your Pet
Aussie Pet Mobile
314-991-8875, yourlocal.aussiepetmobile.com/St.-Louis
For such a portable van, it’s remarkable how many services come along for the ride. The van provides a cage-free environment with a 15-step grooming process that takes your dog or cat from bedraggled to fabulously fluffy. Other services include flea and tick shampoos, tooth brushing, and paw-pad treatments.
MobileVet
314-566-6545, stlouismobilevet.com
If you’ve ever taken a pet to the veterinarian’s office, you know the worst part of the visit is the ride there. Luckily, Dr. Jamie Plappert will visit to perform anything from routine examinations to blood work, vaccinations, or even, if worst comes to worst, euthanasia services in the comfort of your home. A stocked pharmacy also comes along for the ride. Prices vary depending on the service.
Animal Adventures Pet Care
You’re all ready for your vacation to the tropics—but what about your pet? For those of us who can’t tote our dog in our purse like Paris Hilton, Animal Adventures can help. For $12 per visit, plus a small transportation fee, the company will send a trained and insured pet walker or sitter to your home to care for your pet while you’re at work or on vacation, and will even assist in pet potty training.
Bark Busters Home Dog Training
877-500-2275, barkbusters.com
Why take your dog somewhere else to be trained out of bad behavior when so much of behavior—good or bad—is environmental? This is the idea behind Bark Busters. By reducing the stress of separation from home,
St. Louis trainer Kathy Colbeck helps solve behavior issues, set boundaries, and teach commands via voice and body language—no draconian measures involved. Prices vary depending on the training desired.
Technically Speaking
Netflix
866-716-0414, netflix.com
Like having a video store at your fingertips, Net-
flix allows you to order up to eight DVDs at a time to be delivered to your home (starting at $8.99 for one at a time). Unlike the brick-and-mortar stores or Redbox, however, there are no late fees if you don’t return a DVD right away. You can keep it for months. Even better: You can browse the company’s online selection and instantly stream TV series or movies direct to your computer or TV.
Geek Squad
800-433-5778, geeksquad.com
By now, Best Buy’s Geek Squad mobile computer-troubleshooting services are pretty well-known. But did you know the Geek Squad can also help you set up your home entertainment center? The squad can also, for a negotiated price, help you program one universal remote to replace them all—no longer will you have to figure out which of five
remotes controls the TV.
Aches and Pains
Williams Community Pharmacies
University City: 314-727-4854; Ladue: 314-993-4031; Chesterfield: 636-532-6060; St. Louis: 314-367-5558; williamscommunitypharmacies.com.
There’s nothing like having your local pharmacist deliver whatever you need to make life easier or the flu flee. Have a prescription? No problem. Need Kleenex, aspirin, or a hot pad? Done.
Massage Therapy St. Louis, MO
314-856-8992, masssagestlouis.com
Beauty Van Go
314-587-1385, spasanctuary.net
Bones just a bit stiff from all that TV-watching? Call in the magic fingers of a professional masseuse. Massage St. Louis offers therapeutic or relaxation massage. The rates: $95 for 60 minutes and $130 for 90. Beauty Van Go’s Janet Gray, also a licensed massage therapist, charges $100 (mileage may be applied if the destination is more than 10 miles outside of Sunset Hills).
Flabby and Frumpy
Body Fit
314-757-0248, bodyfitstl.com
The fact that you refuse to put on a parka does not excuse you from a good workout. Call Body Fit and an instructor will come to your door, barbells in hand, and put you through your paces. The first consultation is free; afterward, the rate is $55 an hour. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never gotten physical with a personal trainer before or you’ve been doing it for years—the trainers work with clients at all levels.
The Pilates Center
9825 Clayton, 314-569-9400, pilatescenterstl.com
Roll out the mat and get ready for an instructor to arrive at your house for one hour of yoga or Pilates to fend off the winter blues. Call for rates.
Paula Lee
636-544-9006
Starting to look a little wan and wispy around the edges? Call Paula Lee, a makeup artist extrordinaire. She charges $75 for a two-hour makeup lesson.
Danielle Erb
314-302-1467, daniellestyle.com
Or tap the talents of stylist and model Danielle Erb to cut your hair ($150), get color ($120), or add highlights ($220).
By Steph Kukulijan, Christy Marshall, Kelly Moffitt, and Stephanie Rapp
