Shopping & Services

The act of having hot wax applied to your most private of nether regions is a thing that requires some careful forethought; while a nail salon on any random corner can generally do a capable manicure, a Brazilian bikini wax should be trusted only to the utmost of professionals. Enter Waxing the City, where the cerologists — that's their fancy word for waxers — are just that: professional, efficient and chatty enough to keep you gossiping about your latest online dating nightmare so intently you'll hardly notice the hair being ripped from your ladyparts. (Sort of.) Best of all, they have a no-tipping policy, because when you're already spread-eagle on a table you definitely don't need any more potential awkwardness.

Seeing as how the skin is the human body's largest organ, we feel a little funny about slathering ours with a bunch of weird, barely pronounceable chemicals. The Healthy Living department at this foodie mecca stocks everything you need to take a more natural approach to hair and body care, from sliced-to-order slabs of soap and organic lavender-scented shampoo to pricey vitamin C eye cream and mineral makeup — as if you needed more stuff to add to your cart that's already full of artisanal gelato, chanterelle mushrooms and fresh-pressed mango juice.

Just how many shades of lipstick does one woman need, exactly? For a certain beauty-obsessed sector of the population, the answer to that is "more than you could possibly imagine." Just when we think we've acquired every shade of vampy deep red available on the cosmetics market, we stumble into this veritable candy store of a makeup boutique and find five more that need adopting. If lipstick's not your thing, there are also a bazillion shades of lip gloss, eyeshadow, glitter, fabulous fake lashes and more practical items like waterproof foundation and concealer, and since the line is geared toward professional makeup artists, it's all super high-quality. Need help mastering the art of the perfect cat eye? The store also offers makeup lessons, and they'll even record it for you on a USB drive so you can perfectly recreate the look at home.

OK, so real hipsters probably get their clothes from thrift shops (or Brooklyn), but when you need to get your jorts and Wayfarer game up to par quickly, trek on over to Lower Greenville's beloved used clothing store, where the selection is carefully curated by painfully hip buyers. You're guaranteed to find plenty of old band tees, pearl-snap Western shirts, broken-in skinny jeans, faded Keds and cool vintage purses sprinkled amongst the racks full of so-five-seasons-ago Forever 21 rejects. The glasses section is also on point, from those obnoxious neon shutter shades to the ubiquitous oversized black plastic frames. Now all you need is a bike and a six-pack of PBR.

The ladies of the little purple house on Bell Avenue hand-make their candles and their dozens of herbal remedies and oils. Plus, they teach classes in magickal candle-making to boot, all of which makes it a one-stop shop for your energy-correcting needs. Need to banish negativity? Attract money? Get your ex to stop friend-requesting you over and over on every social media platform known to man? They've got what you need. It's also, we're pretty sure, the only place in Dallas where you can buy a giant penis-shaped candle, in case you need a baby shower gift. (And we're sure if you ask them they can tell you all about its proper, non-gag-gift use.)

Preparing for the playa is serious business: It takes a lot more planning and preparation than you'd think to run around naked in the desert for a week. Before you hit the road, it'd be wise to hit up this Mockingbird Lane emporium that stocks a glorious combination of outdoorsy essentials (think hydration backpacks, space-saving super-absorbent towels, water bottles with built-in filters and bandanas in every color of the rainbow, for protecting your mug from those pesky dust storms) and weirdly awesome stuff you never knew you needed, from octopus kites and faux-fur tails for your iPhone to metallic Birkenstocks and furry trapper hats.

Most of us are more than capable of doing our own nails at home, so when we decide to splurge on a mani-pedi we want to be treated like the Disney princesses we aren't. With that in mind, it makes sense to go to a place called Castle Nail Spa, where the friendly nail techs will ply you with the booze of your choice (red or white wine or margaritas, if you're feeling especially festive) and plop you in a massage chair while they get to work scrubbing, rubbing, filing and painting your claws in that perfect shade of glittery chartreuse. The slightly cheesy gold cherub decor and pillows emblazoned with blinged-out crowns only serve to enhance the pampering experience, especially if you've splurged on the aptly named Royal Pedicure that includes a green tea soak and paraffin dip.

You're the type of person who has no trouble dropping 40 bucks on fancy cheeses and organic mangoes, so why would you subject your four-legged child to generic food from the big-box pet supply stores? For the most extensive selection of specialty and hard-to-find pet foods around, head to this friendly store, where you'll find everything from freeze-dried raw food imported from New Zealand to a display case of elaborately decorated dog cookies. There's even a pet nutritionist on hand to help you figure out what Fido (or Fluffy) needs to look and feel his very best, plus an extensive selection of treats, toys, supplements and accessories from blinged-out collars to cushy dog beds.

The thrill of the hunt is what drives us to shop at thrift stores over, say, the mall, and this massive thrift emporium on Forest Lane is one place we rarely leave empty-handed. While items from well-known, mainstream brands are often way overpriced, there are plenty of designer and vintage gems to be had — think a brand-new with tags BCBG dress for $12, or perfectly worn-in cowboy boots for seven bucks. Different colored tags are discounted daily, so check back often to snag some killer deals. Be forewarned, though: This place has no actual dressing room, so come outfitted in minimal clothing you can slip that vintage beaded cocktail dress over.

Gallery owner Jason Cohen and his antiques dealer mother, Terry Cohen, teamed up several years ago to create a venue where all of the really cool stuff from junk and antique stores has already been eyeballed, culled and collected in one convenient location. The inventory ranges wildly from decapitated doll heads to religious icons. The bottom line is that an hour spent prowling these aisles will produce better finds than a whole day at an antiques mall.

You need a dresser. And maybe a sidebar, plus some glassware to stock it. And you've really, really been wanting a fancy, ornamental backgammon set for your coffee table. So you head to Lula B's because what you want is something with some character to it, and a little age and a little attitude. What you weren't looking for was the armchair made entirely out of steer horns. At least you didn't know you were looking for it until you saw it. And the same for that taxidermy fruit bat mounted in a shadow box, the one that looks like a weird mix of a toy and a still-living thing. And the silk-screened painting of Master Chief from Halo. Forget the dresser — just grab as many of those sugar skull-shaped goblets as you can.

WELD isn't for every freelance professional, which is precisely what makes it such a great co-working space. WELD caters to the creative community, and everything about the space is geared to give them what they need. Membership means access to ample desk and studio space, Wi-Fi, fresh Stumptown Coffee and local beer on tap no matter what time of day or night. Though it might seem like nothing could be better than beer on demand, WELD's greatest resource might be its members. If you have a question about a lighting technique or new editing software, chances are there is a member one table over who will gladly help you figure it out.

We take home decoration for granted. And in the hierarchy of needs we certainly view furniture, decor and other domestic niceties as luxuries. But just imagine the feeling of walking into a room of crates and mattresses on the floor verses a room with an actual bed, a lamp to read by and a blanket to comfort you. The first feels temporary, the latter feels safe, permanent and like something that you'd be proud of. That's why Dwell With Dignity works so diligently to turn apartments for families transitioning out of homelessness into actual homes. They gather gently damaged or donated wares from reputable designers and showrooms, paint the places and even fill the cupboards with food. Dwell With Dignity is more than an interior design nonprofit for those in need; it's a reminder that we all deserve a little supportive comfort.

If you are new in town and still looking around, this chicken coop tour, which takes place every year in early May, will show you exactly why you either do or do not want to live in East Dallas, where people keep backyard chickens under conditions ranging from absurd luxury to hillbilly hell. It's sort of like one big reality TV show spread out all over that part of town, with money raised going to an excellent cause, the student gardens at Stonewall Jackson Elementary School. Keep an eye on the website or watch for posters. It's a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Casey's was always a great place to get a lawnmower tuned up or a blade sharpened when it was on Northwest Highway by West Lawther Drive at White Rock Lake, but it was, not to put too fine a point to it, a dump. It made the liquor stores around it look good. Now it has relocated to new quarters half a mile east on Northwest Highway, and it's fancy-schmancy, like walking into a fine men's clothing store. Only they fix lawnmowers. The best part: They're still good at it.

Buried somewhere in Carrollton is a magical place. It's a hotel. It's a spa. It's a pool with a bar in it. It's modeled after Korea's mondo giant spas, and $35 gets you into a series of saunas and pools both indoor and out. It's peaceful, and when you get hungry, you can don some comically ill-fitting house sweatpants and go to the café upstairs to dine on sushi or ramen or bubble tea. The most delightful conversations with strangers seem to happen here. It probably has something to do with that bar-pool.

It has its own smell. If you grew up in Dallas, the scent of NorthPark Center likely evokes childhood memories of staring in wonder at those huge robotic sculptures of men ceaselessly hammering, and running up and sliding down those smooth brick quarter-pipe-shaped planters. It could trigger happy nostalgia for picking out toys, wistful memories of ceaselessly trying on clothes as the start of another school year looms or that time your mother loudly asked a clerk if they have any husky-sized jeans to fit your fat ass. We try to avoid going to malls whenever possible, but we won't deny that eau de NorthPark makes things just a little more bearable when we are about to drop some coin on a pair of shoes, a Legos set or an IMAX blockbuster.

For those of us who can't buy bespoke, there's Lee's, which will make you look bespoke. Say you're on your lunch break, and you have a new suit from H&M. It looks good, but the sleeves are a bit long, and the pants need to be taken in and hemmed. So, you walk in, and your fondest hope is that this doesn't take forever, and that you actually get to eat lunch. Without a moment's wait, you're ushered into a dressing room. Once you've changed, a nimble-handed man is turning you around in front of a mirror, deftly slipping pins into the back of your jacket, the seat of your pants, your waistband and hems. In less than five minutes, you're done. A week later, your suit is ready and you look bespoke as hell, but you didn't spend two months' pay. The mom and pop running Lee's are fast, friendly and, best of all, really, really good at what they do.

Here's how to spend your Saturday afternoon: Fill up on brisket at Lockhart Smokehouse (some fat and a little bark with deviled eggs on the side), and, thus sated, stroll a few hundred feet over to M'Antiques. You need stuff from there. Like a giant brass tank shell to put flowers in. Or a leather Davy Crockett jacket with awesome fringe. And, while you're at it, you know that mounted bass head is going to look pretty sweet on the wall. They've got antique swords too so ... good luck not blowing your paycheck on extremely random, manly trinkets. This ain't your ma's antique shop.

Fuel City is best experienced in the wee hours of the morning, when the clubs have disgorged a collection of intoxicated women whose dresses may have been intended as tube tops. Fun game, but seek the answer at your own peril: Which of them are working girls? On the way to the counter, you'll surely get panhandled by drunks and meth heads. But once you get there, you're at the precipice of the greatest drunk food on God's green earth. Pastor on corn tortillas, with diced onions, cilantro and red sauce? They've got barbacoa, beef fajita and chicken fajita, all for $1.40 a pop. By this time of night, the gas station doors will probably be locked, so stroll on over to the window and order a Mexican Coke from the attendant while you wait for your tacos.

We Are 1976 pretty much has the market cornered on adorableness in this town. This is where the hippest chick you know got her gorgeous pocketknife necklace or that teddy bear patterned like a brain she's got artfully propped up on the sofa or the hip Japanese robot figurines marching in formation across the windowsill in her kitchen. Now you know her secrets, and you know where to get her next birthday present. They've also got an ever-rotating display of gorgeous prints, an always delicious assortment of Japanese candy and easily the most beautiful selection of cards around.

Dallas may be lacking in the horse department — we have Fort Worth for that — but that doesn't mean you shouldn't rock a sweet pair of cowboy boots. Consider it one of your inalienable rights as a Texan, right along with eating chicken-fried steak at least once a week. This emporium of Western wear has a massive selection of men's and women's boots of every style and color, from affordable everyday pairs to ridiculously expensive ostrich numbers, not to mention all the belt buckles, Western shirts and Wranglers your little Texan heart could possibly desire. (Oh, and just in case you find yourself drunk at a bar with a sudden urge for some new footwear, Pink's offers shuttle service. Hey, it happens.)

Do you dream of a bygone era when neon-colored jeggings and tramp stamps had yet to be invented? If the overall look you're aiming for is more Rita Hayworth than Courtney Love, hit up this Deep Ellum boutique that's stuffed to the brim with everything you need to cultivate a classy pinup look, from vintage dresses and retro-style swimwear to the perfect shade of red lipstick. There's even an in-house photography studio boasting its very own hair and makeup stylist who's a pro at bringing out any woman's inner retro sex kitten. Major bonus: Nearly all of the merchandise is sourced from local, female-owned businesses.

Good jeans are hard to find; once we locate the perfect pair, we have a tendency to wear them for weeks at a time until they're perfectly conformed to our asses. So unlike the sparkly crop tops that compose much of our weekend wardrobe, we consider a great pair of jeans an investment piece. This Snider Plaza shrine to denim stocks more than three dozen different brands of high-end jeans in every style, from super-skinny and wax-coated to boot-cut and destroyed, and their denim experts will help you find a pair that's just the perfect size, fit and wash to make your butt the very best it can be. Go during happy hour and they'll even hook you up with a pint of beer or a mimosa, which makes that whole squeezing into skin-tight pants thing all the more tolerable.

This extremely friendly, well-lit neighborhood smoke shop has everything you could possibly need for a night of debauchery: a zillion varieties of rolling papers from bubblegum-flavored to Bob Marley-branded, a wide selection of the newest and most high-tech vaporizers on the market and tons of locally blown glass ranging from bargain-priced everyday pieces to some seriously artsy stuff reaching into the thousands of dollars. There's also a huge refrigerated case full of beer, a rather unusual find for a head shop, that makes Puff N Stuff ideal for Friday night one-stop shopping.

Had to happen someday. Somebody finally took your dad's old hardware store and turned it into something that speaks to how people live in cities today. Gecko Hardware is part of the old True Value chain, but it's definitely not from yesteryear. Stocked with green yard products, bird-feeding supplies, urban chicken-keeping equipment and ... what is that cheeping sound coming from the back? Oh, wow, they even sell baby chicks! This is like Mr. Greenjeans heaven. And it's still a good hardware store, by the way.

Size, selection, prices and location are our four chief concerns when it comes to choosing a liquor store, and Total Wine hits on all four cylinders. Don't let the name trick you into thinking it's a wine store, though the wine aisles are an oenophile's candy store. The beer selection is one of the best in town, and ditto for spirits. Frequent free classes, meet-and-greets and tasting events are excuses to go to this enormous booze-a-torium and, oh, as long as you're there you might as well pick up a bottle or two for the weekend. A relatively central and easy-to-access location makes it that much easier to pummel your liver while showing a bit of mercy to your pocketbook.

Ever wondered where all the best-dressed frontmen and -women in town buy their stage-wear? Well, we've bumped into several frequenting this 3,800-square-foot East Dallas vintage shop with arms full of clothes. With a wide range of sizes and styles to fit any look you're trying to put together – from a special soiree to your daily grind — you can always find something worth adding to your closet at Dolly Python. Owner Gretchen Bell signed the lease for the space located on one-way Haskell near Ross Avenue in 2005, and in the years since the spot's won dozens of awards from local publications. And we've given them titles ranging from "Best Vintage Wear" to "Best Vintage Shop" to "Best Source for Pack Rats." But what draws us back are the racks of hand-selected women's and men's clothing — from sequined gowns and Mad Men pencil skirts to pearl snaps and cowboy boots, plus loads of costume and custom jewelry.

At Dallas Camera anyone can indulge their inner photographer without dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars to snap some frames. And don't worry about pretentious attitudes found at some camera shops. Whether you're an amateur just starting to build your portfolio or a professional about to tackle your hundredth commercial shoot, the folks at the family-run camera rental shop have all your photo needs covered. If you need a 35-mm film camera or a top-of-the-line DSLR, Dallas Camera offers fairly priced rentals on cameras and everything most photographers will need to get a job done — from backdrops and lighting to lenses and Pocket Wizards.

Scoping out Milk and Honey's rapidly changing collection is inspiring for a few reasons. The shop has such reasonable price points you have no reason to doubt that you could, in fact, pull off those black leather hot pants with a fringe top — but do question whether or not you should. The buying is done so well at this boutique that you'll find clothes that seem made for you, many of which can actually fit a variety of body types. The biggest problem you have when leaving the dressing room is picking a favorite, which is refreshing when you've been through the retail wringer at the other usual haunts. Add on that the sales staff is not only helpful but genuinely looking out for you — eager to tell you how to dress up or down a look — and you wonder why anyone ever battles the mall gantlet.

Looking for the kind of mod leather couch upon which one should shag, not make love? Really, if you can swing it, Simply Austin has the clean lines and fundamental simplicity that interior designers salivate over. They have sleek acrylic chairs that are, by the way, totally transparent. They've got a sofa table made of clear, tempered glass, which you probably can't imagine ever placing a cup of coffee on. And they've got a sumptuous aluminum-framed coffee-brown rattan day bed. It's in the "outdoor" section, but it's so comely you'd be grateful if it were in your living room.

Letterpress isn't for everyone. Printing this way is a personal process, requiring time and attention to detail that is often lost in the digital age. But Lily Smith-Kirkley wouldn't want to do business any other way. Her one-woman company, Lilco, specializes in handcrafted branding, identity, stationery, wedding and collaborative efforts. From design to press, Smith-Kirkley will give you a one-of-a-kind badass product. This year, after winning $10,000 and a car through the national Scion Motivate award, Smith-Kirkley took the leap and left her day job to focus on Lilco full-time, so expect to be seeing even more of her work around town soon.

Your dog's got fleas, again. If he were a human, he'd be Perpetual Lice Kid, and you'd be The Mother of Perpetual Lice Kid. Sounds like it's time for a serious bath at Urban Dogg. This self-wash grooming headquarters costs $12.95 on weekends, which initially you might balk at. After all, he's a dog and garden hoses exist. But you live in an apartment, don't want your drains clogged with mutt hair cast-offs, hate chasing him around the bathtub and don't have one of those handy detachable nozzles. At Urban Dogg you harness your pup in what looks like an industrial kitchen sink with a drain-through bottom. The water is pleasantly warm and you can turn a dial to select from a few different shampoo options. Plus, there are a bunch of tools, like brushes, giant shop-vac-like blow dryers and yes, even a metal fine-tooth comb especially designed for flea removal. If you're not the DIY washing type, call ahead and schedule one of UD's ridiculously friendly groomers to do your dirty work. They won't judge you for hands-off parenting.

You could bathe your dog in the bathtub at home, then spend the next hour mopping water off the floor and plucking soggy fur from the drain. Or you can take them to Dirty Dawgz, hose them down in one of the walk-in tubs, then brush out a sweater's worth of fur and blow them dry. The staff will clip nails and clean ears at no cost. For those who can't face the chore booze-free, there's a wine night. Also, dogs get to bathe free on their birthday. Don't know your dog's birthday? Make one up. They don't check birth certificates.

Marie Tedei is a tireless advocate for the local food movement, and her words have the weight of a farmer behind them. Tedei is the person behind Eden's Organic CSA. Tedei is quick to mention that a CSA, which stands for Community Supported Agriculture, is as much a relationship between the farmer and the customer as it is a transaction involving money and vegetables. As a member, you commit to a yearlong relationship with the farm. In exchange for your money Tedei puts together a basket of the seasonal vegetables when they are available, generally from October to July. Start and end dates vary from year to year because it's farming, not a factory. You can pick your share up on her farm in Balch Springs or at the Green Spot in Dallas.

Pittsburg, Texas, with its absurdly large pavilion bust of hometown chicken magnate Bo Pilgrim, is not the first place you'd expect to find a co-op dedicated to sustainable organic agriculture. But somehow, Comeback Creek Farm has managed to carve out a niche. You can find them sometimes at White Rock Local Market selling their excess carrots or kale, but the more reliable way to enjoy their bounty is to sign up for their community-supported-agriculture program. Pay for your share of the harvest in advance, then pick up every weekend at any of their numerous local drop-off locations.

This is where Whole Foods employees go when they decide their employer's too corporate. Rather than cater to soccer moms and organic-food faddists, the Colorado-based chain has clung to the unapologetic kookiness of the 1970s health food store. Care to engage in a spirited discussion on the relative merits of sprouted versus regular tofu? Curious about the immense health benefits of hemp seed oil, hemp seed milk and other hemp-derived products? Natural Grocers is the place to go. Even if you're not into any of that, it's a handy and affordable place to stock up on organic produce, pick up bulk nuts, grains and dried fruit, and soak up the health-food ambiance.

Curse you, Elements, for selling exciting, flattering looks by hard-to-find designers. And double curses for knowing exactly what from those collections would look perfect for exactly the right occasion. You're like ensemble wizards peddling thread-stitched wishes and you've cast a couture spell. From limited-run coats and dresses to decadent accessories, Elements keeps it pulled together showing designers from Australia, Europe and a few American cities, Dallas included. Well-ordered and affectionately displayed, there's a calming feeling when you step into the shop. That peaceful luxury only intensifies when those shop gals break down exactly what looks good on you — trust us, you'll want to take notes. You'll also want to take copies of your receipts to your accountant, just in case these investments are tax deductible.

Sure, a million places offer blowouts and there's a nail salon on every corner, but why would you go to those spots when you could sit in empowered style at Studio 410? They specialize in taming down unruly, wild hair into sleek modern styles through cuts and color, but they also turn out specialty do's, like killer beehives and blowouts that won't leave you looking like a pageant queen. Tweak that style out further with a set of specialty-designed art nails and clear your head in the musical glow of Beyoncé hits, a cornerstone of Studio 410's backtrack. The shop's spirit animal, Miriam Ortega, is street fashion in motion, so pick her brain on ideas for gussying up your everyday look. (Spoiler alert: It might involve false eyelashes. Double Spoiler Alert: We love false eyelashes.)

It's big, and isn't that all that matters? Well, it's comfortable and easy to find, and it's ready to fill your needs at any hour. Plus, the staff is nice. And other penis puns. The three Dallas New Fine Arts locations (and their sister stores Paris Bookstore and the gay-friendly New Fine Arts Alternatives adjacent to the Mockingbird Lane store) pack an impressive array of toys, lubes and DVDs (which people who haven't heard of the Internet still buy, apparently). They also have private viewing booths with dollar-fed previews, locking doors and couches that are surprisingly clean. There are even smoking rooms in case you and whoever accompanies you need a cigarette after you get done ... um, previewing a title.

Dallas' best-kept shopping secret is perched atop Bolsa. The charming little millinery boutique is the last of its kind, harkening back to an era when folks dressed to leave their homes and hats were staples rather than luxuries. House of MacGregor is the hand-sewn brainchild of Cassie MacGregor, a sparkly eyed girl with a massive smile who's determined to beautify the world around her, one hat at a time. She studied her niche textile path in New York, working with designers and creating her own looks. When she moved back to Dallas five years ago, she took the plunge and opened Dallas' only shop working exclusively with hats. Now this adorable atelier is a mandatory visit for any discerning Derby-goer, but it's also the perfect spot for everyday retail therapy. Sure, you can buy any hat in the shop and Mrs. MacGregor will size it for you, but she'll also design your new look from scratch if you're searching for something uniquely you. Call ahead, book a visit, then celebrate life's excesses through headgear.

Bishop Arts, Bolsa, West Davis Street, the Kessler, all that very successful activity in North Oak Cliff didn't just happen by accident, nor did it happen because of one guy by any means, but if you had to pick somebody who was there at the beginning, it would be David Spence. In 1995 Spence, a lawyer, left a career in nonprofit community development to buy and save aging structures that everybody else assumed were just food for bulldozers. Over time he showed he could not only rescue old apartment and commercial buildings from the wrecking ball but turn a profit in the process. His example left footprints for other investors to follow in, and they have, with splendid results.

Good chance you're not going to ride that new bike for long, that it'll be collecting dust or clothes hangers in a couple of months. The folks at Richardson Bike Mart won't acknowledge that — they're too encouraging, too nice, too hopeful, which we thought was outlawed last decade — but they seem to intuit it, because they never steer to equipment you don't need or can't afford. They bring your bike to you, whether it's a $500 Trek Hybrid Shirt-Hanger or a $5,000 Cervelo Garage-Wall-Art, and they match it with only the accessories you need to keep you safe, and, against all odds, to keep you riding.

Deep Ellum's lovely little yoga studio, tucked inside the Life In Deep Ellum building, made the decision this year to go donation-only. The suggested donation is around 10 bucks, but nobody's turned away; SYP is about promoting access to the practice of yoga, regardless of income level, physical condition or ability to smile and say "om" while bending your spine in ways you never imagined it would go. The environment is mellow, friendly and kind, a nice antidote to the packs of stressed-out, pinched-face Lululemon wearers you might find Uptown. Try the Super Vinyl class for the most kickin' yoga-doing soundtrack in town.

If you're like most American men, your closet is a rough sea of mediocrity, filled with sale-rack specials and XXL charity-walk T-shirts. In there somewhere, jutting from the service like a life raft, is (or should be) that one piece you splurged on: timeless, perfectly fitting and worn every time someone dies. It is (or should be) from Billy Reid. The Highland Park outpost is small and tightly curated, but you'll still find yourself lugging nine things into the dressing room. The selection is on-trend but muted, so no one will accuse you of trying too hard. It's expensive — we're talking $150-plus for a shirt — but the clothes are timeless both in style and construction, and you'll be relying on them for years.

In the market for a new pair of specs? Check out this Greenville Avenue eyewear shop, where friendly owner Arman will take one look at you and present a selection of frames to perfectly suit your face — and his expertise will likely be appreciated, as the store has no less than one zillion options, whether you're looking for some funky cat-eye frames or a classic horn-rimmed setup. He's a hell of a wheeler-dealer, too, meaning you'll always walk out feeling like you got a sweet deal. Payrite also does fast and affordable repair jobs, whether you bought your glasses there or not, and they'll even outfit vintage frames with your prescription.

Just try to resist the siren song of the Nordstrom shoe department when strolling through NorthPark Center. We challenge you. When there's serious footwear-shopping to be done, the iconic department store is the first place we head for the unbeatable selection, whether you're in the market for a fresh pair of Toms or just want to drool over the never-gonna-afford-them Louboutins. The extremely liberal return policy doesn't hurt matters, either, nor does the top-notch customer service.

There is no better judge of a garden store than a first-time homeowner, who needs everything and knows nothing. In Dallas, there's no better place for a first-timer than North Haven Gardens. The sprawling garden center has enough acreage to carry everything from basic backyard building blocks (soil, fertilizer, keg-sized buckets) to exotic plants and even some weird things they call veg-et-a-bles. There's plenty of space to maneuver and hunt on your own, but a friendly and knowledgeable staffer is always lurking just behind the corn gluten, ready to pretend your super-dumb questions aren't dumb. If there's something they don't know or can't do, just ask them to break open their binder full of contractors: After 51 years in business, they probably know a guy, and the guy's probably pretty good.

The other NYLO locations in Plano and Las Colinas are a bit too contrived-hipster for our tastes, but the brand's newest locale in The Cedars is decked out in an eclectic industrial-ornate style that seems perfectly suited to the neighborhood. While the location of most of the city's top hotels will find you hailing a cab to get anywhere cool, the NYLO is located within walking distance of plenty of prime spots including The Cedars Social and South Side Ballroom. It's also eco-friendly and has super-comfortable beds, and did we mention the rooftop pool with a full bar and killer skyline views? Yeah, we did.

The best place to find your new furry friend — or, perhaps more accurately, let that dog or cat find you — is the municipal pound. The huge facility built in 2007 has dozens and dozens of dogs that you can get to know in play areas outside. And along with a huge selection, the city shelter has the lowest adoption fee we could find: $85 for any dog or puppy, $55 for any cat or kitten with greatly reduced fees for the more seasoned pets. Included with that fee is spaying/neutering, current vaccinations and microchipping. You can look online at pictures of adoptable animals, but there's no sense in committing, as you never know which animal is going to capture your heart once you start walking past their enclosures.

The "... and Dallas Home Brew" part of the name may make it seem like homebrewing supplies take a backseat to the needs of amateur vintners. Could be true, or at least that could be what most local homebrewers think. Whatever the case, we were recently looking for a few ounces of Nelson Sauvin hops, a relatively scarce New Zealand variety, and the guys at our usual go-to spot just shook their heads wistfully when we asked. But one visit to The Winemaker's Toy Store later, we had more than we needed and left some behind, too. If you're looking for a hard-to-find specialty ingredient or piece of equipment and come up empty at Homebrew Headquarters, there's a good chance it hasn't been snatched up yet at this sleeper store.

For the uninitiated, an e-cig is basically a battery attached to a heated atomizer that turns a more-or-less nicotine-laced liquid into a vapor that you inhale in place of smoke. Arguably much better for you than real coffin nails — the FDA would quibble over that point — e-cigs come in a mind-numbing array of shapes and styles ranging from the disposable, God-awful expensive Blu thingies sold at convenience stores to elaborate, rechargeable behemoths with refillable liquid tanks, lights, power meters and, we suspect, enough power to jump-start a car. Vape Lounge has all the gewgaws a serious gearhead could desire; a friendly, patient staff who'll explain how to use them; and an enormous menu of vapor flavors ranging from the vaguely tobacco-like to a whole host of candy- and dessert-flavored concoctions, for those inveterate smokers who have always wanted to put away those Marlboro Reds and try something a little more piña colada-flavored. (You can sample any flavor before you buy.) If you're looking to kick the smokes, a visit to Vape Lounge is worth a trip to Carrollton. It may or may not extend your life, but it won't waste your time.

One level above the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton in Uptown is 12,000 square feet of pure luxury. The spa and salon here treat you like a revered guest, even if you're just a slob who drove over from your rental in Lower Slobbovia. With a dozen treatment rooms (each with in-room shower), two VIP treatment suites for couples (if you're that lucky) plus "healing waters," dry cedar saunas and eucalyptus steam rooms, this joint is a haven of health, a sanctuary for sagging skin and strained sacroiliacs. Our picks for best treatments: the restorative facial using infusions of pure oxygen pumped right into your complexion and the Texas Eight-Hand Massage. Be sure to arrive an hour or two early to chill in the quiet relaxation room, where complimentary hot tea, Champagne, fruit and tiny cups of nuts and M&Ms are delivered by friendly but not-too-chatty staffers. Lie back and say "aaaaah."

Actually going shopping for books is something of a dying art these days, what with Amazon Prime, e-books and all that tech-y stuff. But when it comes down to it, nothing compares to the tactile pleasure of being able to turn the pages of a weighty hardcover (not to mention inhaling that unmistakable musty smell that all bookstores possess). When you want to do some book browsing that doesn't involve clicking a mouse, head to this incredibly well-organized used book store, where the selection ranges from best-sellers to the more obscure. Bring in your old library to swap for fresh reads — or cash — or just browse the shelves. There's also a decent selection of old VHS, cassettes and vinyl.

Whether you have dreams of rocking Beyoncé's flowing honey-colored mane or want to rock a pink ombre faux-hawk, the hair wizards at this Uptown salon can make it a reality. Each of the 20 or so stylists and colorists are chic, professional and up-to-date on all the latest trends, from so-hot-right-now pastel hues to intricate braids, and they have a knack for figuring out how to translate your dream style into something that's wearable for you. If your hair just needs a little pick-me-up, head for the Blow Dry Lounge and sip a glass of bubbly while your locks get pampered with a deep-conditioning treatment (a killer neck massage is a major bonus).

Sure, the name and location of this new salon are unexpected, but once you find your way inside you'll wonder how you ever got by without it. Located on lowermost Greenville and owned by Xristofer Crowder, this spot is more than a hair salon, it's a transformation room. You walk in burdened with everyday messiness, with your hair pulled back in a ponytail and your face reflecting the stress of where you've been. Then, you sit with these specially selected stylists and all of that static simply discharges. The catty, gossipy salon stuff you've grown accustomed to does not exist at Free Xpirit. Instead, you're in calm, uplifting hands. It's pure positivity. And you know what the best part is? Those hands can really sculpt a head of hair. Plus, they'll talk you through a long-term growth or styling plan, shaping and coloring your hair through its various stages. Sure, it's not an inexpensive cut and color, but you leave feeling great about yourself. And that splurge is worth every penny.

If you know what you want and it can be found anywhere on Spotify, head to Mad World Records in Denton or Good Records on Greenville Avenue. If you want a bottomless crate to dig through, head for Bill’s Records. But for the most rewarding record browsing experience in Dallas, there is no topping Half Price Books, particularly its flagship location on Northwest Highway. There you’ll find a meticulously organized and surprisingly large collection of songs that sound better scratchy, or never made their way to digital translations. There’s plenty of Dallas history there as well, particularly in the country and blues sections. And the prices are built for people looking for something functional rather than the shrink-wrapped artifacts found elsewhere in town.