Professional Services in Wauwatosa

The technicians at Natural Cleaners revivify garments while respecting the earth's delicate ecosystem, eschewing traditional petroleum-based solvents for GreenEarth, a nontoxic formula made of silicone derived naturally from sand. Five Milwaukee-area storefronts bustle free from fumes and pollutants as suits, dresses, and coats shake off dirt during dry or professional-grade wet cleanings. Wedding-dress cleaning and preservation primes gowns for years of heirloom storage or Miss Havisham costume contests, and an in-house seamstress alters hemlines and cuffs to create dashing silhouettes. Household textiles also kowtow to Natural Cleaners' expertise as draperies, bedspreads, and feather pillows return home spic and span.

For more than four decades, the event facilitators at Brookfield Party Rental have shouldered the burden of party planning by supplying all of the accouterments for bashes, from tents and canopies fit for weddings or cookouts to cotton-candy machines. Picnic guests can bask in the summer sun at rentable banquet tables, while kids test gravity in colorful castle or obstacle-course bounce houses. The party supplier also dishes out charcoal and propane grills, stylish bars, dance floors, and 55-inch Vizio flat-screen TVs that distract guests with sporting events and movies while hosts steal the pennies out of their loafers.

Having spent more than four decades behind the lens, Phil Slaske has seen the photography industry change dramatically. As film and darkroom equipment have been set aside to make room for digital cameras and high-resolution printers, the photo specialist has adapted his craft to fit the times. Today, Slaske specializes in several types of photography, including wedding photography, business portraits, and high-school or military group photos. He offers images in both digital and print versions, and also retouches photos to minimize skin imperfections or adorn faces with Groucho Marx mustaches. He has personally photographed more than 1,500 weddings and also specializes in capturing high-school-senior and family portraits.

Seasoned shutterbug Jeffrey R. Kepner brings more than 25 years of photography experience to each photo shoot. A background in photojournalism helps him to capture the essence of each moment while snapping high-contrast black-and-white or color shots of families, graduating students, and even pets. Though Bella Classic Photography's studio provides a professional backdrop for photo shoots, Jeff also travels to shoots at parks, jails for trees, and other scenic locations. Digital retouching yields crisp images, which can be printed or shared digitally.

The Laundry Shop simplifies the apparel-cleansing process with 32 washers and 28 dryers capable of holding 60 and 80 pounds, respectively, and drop-off cleaning for everything from clothing to bedding. In an air-conditioned facility with pristine floors, mint-green countertops, and a flat-screen TV, experts scour sullied garments with a variety of thread-pampering services, such as dry cleaning, leather cleaning, and alterations. While little ones play with toys in the children's area, adults dominate a large table layered with books and free WiFi with caffeinated beverages in-hand supplied by nearby vending machines.

Meta House, a nationally recognized, gender-responsive residential treatment facility, supports women and their children through the process of recovery from substance abuse.

As one of the only treatment centers in Wisconsin that allows children to reside with their mothers as they undergo treatment, Meta House aims to support children, rebuild families, and end the cycle of intergenerational substance abuse. While mothers undergo treatment—including parenting courses and health education—children up to 10 years old learn interpersonal skills and receive interventional services if necessary in a facility next door. When not in class, women are responsible for preparing meals for their children, giving baths, and delegating chores, to ensure they are able to establish the basis of a healthy family routine.