Shopping & Services

Note that we did not say cheapest or best buy or anything. Handmade in their studio at Regalos de la Tierra Pottery in Silver City, New Mexico, these rain barrels are terra cotta sculpture, so prepare yourself for a little bit of sticker shock. But the other way to look at it is this: Those big ugly green and brown plastic rain barrels look sort of like emergency septic tanks. The rain barrels from Regalos de la Tierra are truly beautiful complements to the garden plants around them.

Located on 2.5 acres, Strokers has been repairing some of the meanest, baddest bikes in Dallas and Fort Worth for 30 years. It’s a place where a biker can grab a bite to eat, cool off with a cold brew or listen to live music while their bike is being serviced. On any given weekend, more than 500 bikes will pass through Stroker’s doors. Owner Rick Fairless opened the shop not long after retiring as the top sales rep for the Glidden Paint Co. and never looked back. “I can truly say that I am the luckiest boy in the world,” he says. “I am living my dream every day.”

Operating a well-done tobacco store depends on subtle cues. These days, stores can double as vape stores, head shops or small-scale bars. But Cigar Art, located in Bishop Arts District, does all the little things right. The lounge in front is plush but not ostentatious, the humidor is large but not intimidating, and the staff is knowledgeable without being douchey. A good tobacco store encourages people to stick around and smoke, and this BYOB spot is surprisingly roomy and comfortable. People actually lounge in this lounge. The place has a great selection and some real cred — cigar makers rolling product in the store have a minimum of 12 years experience in a Cuban factory.

Just a few blocks from the book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, Wild Bill’s Western Store offers a selection of saddles, boots and belts in the historic West End of downtown Dallas. It’s a place that once catered to actors from the old TV show Dallas and rock stars such as Mick Jagger, Elton John and Eric Clapton. Wild Bill’s boot selection is impressive, from freshwater Hornback alligator boots to diamondback rattlesnake and hippopotamus skinned ones, too. Some boots showcase designs of guitars and others crosses. From hand-tooled Indian skulls to tooled snake and roses, all different types of custom-made boots are available. Moccasins, too. Wild Bill’s is the best and one of the oldest boot shops this side of the Trinity.

The Joule isn’t just a comfortable place for out-of-towners to rest their weary heads. It’s fast become a culture hub of downtown Dallas and a favorite haunt of locals (meaning you know it’s good). With a basement-level speakeasy, Midnight Rambler, which serves cocktails with exotic ingredients, and a lobby-level restaurant, CBD Provisions, which sources sustainable ingredients with a focus on local farms, brewers and vinters, the Joule is the best hotel in these parts. The hotel is a patron of the arts with an impressive collection, and sources some of its decorative works from local artists. It’s the official hotel sponsor of the Dallas Art Fair and plays host to art galleries, dealers and artists from around the world. With the yearly Dallas Art Fair fete taking place under the watchful gaze of the Joule’s massive eyeball sculpture in its garden across the street, this hotel is the one to watch for the best events in the city.

Readers’ Pick:

Omni Dallas Hotel

If you have, say, an English Foxhound with a very finicky stomach, there is no better place in Dallas to find comfort than Deep Ellum’s Upper Paw. The local shop stocks dozen of specialty foods for all types of dogs and has a complete selection of harnesses and other dog gear to keep Fido outfitted. Just don’t eat the cookies stocked near the front of the store, however good they look. They’re for your four-legged pal, not you.

Readers’ Pick:

Petsmart

It’s time to say goodbye to your dog or cat. You don’t want to, but you knew it would happen. So you can take your furry pal to the vet, the place you know the critter hates, or you can go to lovingpawshousecalls.com and ask for a house call. Dr. Rebecca Westbrook will show up with kind words, a professional demeanor and total competency. Her lethal cocktails are delivered in a way that ensures your pet’s final moments, spent at home, are painless. The fee is reasonable, especially since you’ve bought yourself a lifetime of guilt-free happiness, knowing you sent your animal off in the best possible way.

Pet boarding has gone upscale. Video cameras, plasma televisions, spa days and swimming pools have made it easier to tamp down the separation anxiety associated with leaving your furballs behind when you’re out of town or busy during the day. These perks don’t come free, but the return on investment is easily recouped in peace of mind. Paradise 4 Paws’ DFW facility markets itself as a pet resort, and rightfully so. Dogs can get mud baths, individual walks, time in the pool and “cuddle time” at night. Cats have a jungle gym area to roam. For those traveling from Love Field, they have a “boarding lounge” service that will ferry pets to their Airfield Drive location in a van. Here’s a tip: Leave your vehicle at the pet resort, take the ride P4P offers and save yourself from the steep airport parking charges.

Dropping off Rover at his first day of doggy daycare feels like dropping a kid off at preschool. You worry about his ability to fit in with the other pups, whether he’ll get bullied, if he’ll have fun, and most of all you hope the person responsible for watching him is attentive and nurturing. Pawliday Inn in The Cedars just south of downtown may not be much to look at, but the friendly staff really loves your pup. They play fetch with your pooch, run around with him and send you Snapchat videos or photos to put you at ease. At affordable prices like $22 for a full day and $11 for up to six hours, it’s hard to turn down a day of fun for your four-legged friend.

The guilt is real. Your dog is spending another day waiting by the door of your cramped boring apartment. Even with a dog walker, your pup may only get an hour or less of exercise. But Dallas has many day care options that offer pups a fun environment with plenty of frocklicking friends. The best for small dogs is Urban Paws in Deep Ellum. This facility has many clients under 40 pounds. Having an abundance of smaller cohorts is essential if your mini French boxer is a major menace to larger dogs. Urban Paws also offers bathing and grooming, training classes and overnight boarding. Best of all, they offer curbside pooch pick-up and drop-off.

More and more people are getting hip to the fact that Dallas is, well, hip. And while natives like us are enjoying this long-awaited moment of validation, it also comes with downsides. More people moving here means it’s harder to find an affordable apartment with a washer and dryer. But thankfully, if you’re tired of twiddling your thumbs at the laundromat every week, we have a solution: JR Coin Laundry, a laundry that also offers an excellent and cheap wash and fold service. For just 99 cents a pound they’ll wash your clothes for you and even hang them when necessary. If you get there by early afternoon you can almost always pick them back up the same day. When you do you’ll find your items have been handled as carefully as if you’d washed them yourself, and best of all, you don’t have to pair your socks.

The Denton Independent Maker Exchange, or DIME store, is a shared collective of makers in Denton, giving local crafters a physical alternative to Etsy. The store carries hand-crafted goods like embroidered wooden jewelry, bow ties for dogs, organic soy candles, plush mushroom characters and prideful Denton paraphernalia. The store resides in a quaint house less than half a mile off the courthouse square. Besides shopping, DIME offers crafting courses like hand lettering, calligraphy, embroidery and weaving. The collective also participates with First Fridays, staying open late once a month to offer late night shopping with refreshments.

Readers’ Pick:

Resurrected Designs

Connie Chantilis is an artist who works in a variety of materials — glass, stone, shells, shattered pots — to create bewitching mosaics. She wraps her work around furniture, hangs it as wall pieces, builds it up from the ground as garden sculpture. She never creates a piece you wouldn’t enjoy standing before and studying for at least an hour. The best way to see her work is on her web page, where she also lists a full calendar of shows around town and around the country where she is invited to exhibit.

Looking for a paint-peeling chicken-farm egg rack with dodgy looking substances still stuck in the cracks for $1,800? No, didn’t think you were, but it might be an interesting field trip for you anyway to visit this shop on the far outer edge of the antique-o-sphere, way beyond primitive, light years past shabby chic, in the land of antique deconstructivism where a French fainting couch can look, well, sort of deconstructed, with all the upholstery peeled off and springs sticking out and a price that makes you faint all over again. This is the place to go if you want to see where it’s all headed. Landfill chic? Dystopian dope? Who knows? But it’s all right here and not really anywhere else — a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your point of view.

Looking to satisfy your superhero or graphic novel fix until the next Marvel or DC blockbuster hits the movie houses? Then look no further than Freaks and Geeks in Denton. In their shop in a small three-bedroom house, co-owners Alec Featherstone and Beth Baalman offer a collection of more than 35,000 comic books to surf, 15,000 video games and more than 1,000 toys to please even the most snobbish collector. Comic prices depend on the book’s rarity but range anywhere from a couple of bucks to more than $1,000. “Our biggest dream with opening this up was to make it a place where people felt comfortable coming and staying for a while,” Featherstone told the local newspaper when the shop opened in January 2015.

Grange Hall itself is a florist, gift and decoration shop specializing in quirky juxtapositions of flowers, minerals, small antlers we don’t want to know too much about and that sort of thing. The restaurant occupies an elegant intimate room decorated sparely with floral arrangements and whatnots from the shop. It’s definitely not the right place to watch a Cowboys game, but it might be exactly the right place for some shopping and a long conversation over lunch.

Drizly is like your favorite liquor store without leaving the house. Depending on where you live within the app’s large service area, a few taps will summon your favorite suds or bottle from shops like Goody Goody or Pogo’s Wine & Spirits in under an hour. The prices are just about what you’d pay in store, so, for the cost of a tip and a $5 delivery fee, you can avoid the shameful eye the liquor store casts on you every time you buy Taaka instead of Tito’s.

There are a number of Spec’s in town, but this one is a destination liquor store. It’s cavernous — about as big as a Target — and filled with all the alcoholic goodies one’s heart could desire. Some liquors stores specialize, featuring maybe a great whiskey selection, a wide variety of local beer or several unique bottles of wine. Spec’s has all three and a lot more, including a surprisingly decent party food selection. It’s a one-stop shop.

Readers’ Pick (tie):

Spec’s

Total Wine & More

We Are 1976 is the shop in Dallas to discover cool, internationally sourced designer-created gifts and artist prints. Abundant in obscure treasures from San Francisco,Tokyo and Dallas, these objects are begging to be gifted to your coolest friend. But We Are 1976 also carries a trove of unique letterpressed cards from their own studio and other print shops. Each card is a work of art. We Are 1976 understands the draw to precious paperie and can indulge your enthusiasm with a variety of printing, calligraphy and letterpress workshops in store.

Going to the dentist isn’t the nightmare that it used to be. Case in point, if you go to the Dental Loft at the Shops in Park Lane, after they lean you back in your chair they’ll hand you a remote so you can watch the new David Cross stand-up special on a large flat screen dangling overhead. While you watch they’ll still use that sharp, pointy metal thingy to scratch at your gum line — they haven’t innovated away from that unpleasant task — but you’re much less likely to fixate on it when you’re busy binge-watching. And perhaps even better than the Netflix, if you can believe it, is the time and care Dr. Rekha Reddy takes to explain the state of each of your teeth to you. The X-rays the hygienist takes at the beginning of your appointment also go up on the TV and Dr. Reddy walks you through every one, laying out all of the options for addressing any issues she discovers. Visits to the dentist used to be mysterious and boring at best and painful at worst. Now they don’t have to be any of the above.

Maybe it’s because many people don’t till fields all day anymore. Sitting at a desk or even working retail can be exhausting, but it doesn’t even begin to warm up the body for running straight to CrossFit, or some such workout, and going wild with box jumps and TRX straps. People get hurt. Torn this, strained that. Even not doing strenuous exercise, but doing basic repetitive stuff like riding a bike or sitting in a bad position can offer all sorts of fun chronic issues. So, the trained pros (licensed doctors of chiropractic and physical therapists) at Airrosti use their skills to diagnose injury, or source of pain, and treat it … fast. Fast, as in really, really quickly. The goal is for patients to keep moving, to get back to what they enjoy and sometimes that’s after only one to three visits. While the noninvasive treatment can be intense (providers use focused manual therapy, sometimes referred to as soft tissue therapy), the “active recovery,” or rehab exercises that follow, helps ease out discomfort, plus it’s homework for maintaining the healing process and preventing future ouch. There’s also the convenience of Airrosti: Most providers are located in family clinics or medical offices around the city, and, sure, in the occasional CrossFit gym.

Situated uptown is an unlikely but much-appreciated specialty supply store serving the artists, designers and architects of Dallas. Asel Art Supply has a wide variety of professional art supplies, blowing away competition from craft store giants Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Founded in 1951 by Kenny Asel and his brother Herb, the store is now employee-owned and family-operated. From canvas rolls to Sumi calligraphy ink, this store caries more hard-to-find artist supplies than any in the area. The staff is friendly and helpful, often chatting up customers about what they are working on. And for working artists in Dallas proper, the location can’t be beat.

Someday maybe all shopping will be done online. Home 3-D imaging sensors will let consumers try clothes before they buy and busy little drones will drop off packages at the click of a button. The department store will go the way of the dodo, dinosaurs and network news broadcasts. The world will be a much sadder place if it ever loses Nordstrom, a store that understands that clothes shopping is not simply a utilitarian chore, but a delight, a hobby and a quest (and in extreme cases, a religion). Whether high-end designer wear, everyday business attire or athleisure clothing, Nordstrom’s spacious, well-ordered racks and frequent sales offer loads of hidden treasures and surprise values. Its salespeople are classy and helpful, without a hint of snootiness. And it’s return policy is so liberal and hassle free that we wonder why the store even bothers to have dressing rooms. Take it home. Try it on. You can always come back for a little more fun. Our only quibble? We really miss the piano player.

Readers’ Pick:

Nordstrom at NorthPark Center

It’s an outdated concept to say that men don’t enjoy clothes shopping. Some guys are good at it, and they know where to go. But there are still a bunch of us out there who feel confused, misshapen and frustrated when we walk into a store. We need help but don’t want to feel diminished about it, the 21st century analog to a 1950s man walking into an auto garage. For these fellas, there is Men’s Wearhouse on Preston Road. The selection (from suits to office wear) is good, the tailoring done on the premises and the prices are reasonable. But what makes this place work is the staff: subservient enough to make you feel like a big shot, knowledgeable enough to stop you from making a fashion mistake and friendly enough to point out discounts and deals. And when they up-sell you, your wardrobe is usually better off for it.

Readers’ Pick:

Stanley Korshak

Not all vintage clothing is created equal. Just ask anyone who ever wore Army surplus fatigue pants to a sister’s wedding or thought the Goth look, being black, was just fine for granny’s funeral. But enough about our family. You people are classy and deserve the best. The expert curators at this Deep Ellum shop know the difference between classic vintage clothing and used duds and have created a boutique full of designer finds from Oscar de la Renta, Ferragamo, Burberry and countless others. They buy as well as sell. Not from us, of course – no mass-market crap here — but from people who know how to dress in clothes that keep their looks and value. Keep tabs on Elluments’ Facebook page, where they frequently post outfits of the day that could soon find their way into your closet.

Readers’ Pick:

Dolly Python

Nail polish has been in use since about 3000 BC, and until the advent of the gel manicure a couple of years ago, it seemed like techniques for applying it hadn’t changed much since then. Gel, and now “dipping powder,” allow for manicures that dry instantly and never chip. These inventions have made nail maintenance a lot simpler, but all that high tech comes at a cost, which quickly adds up if you want regular treatments. That’s why we love Melrose Day Spa on Oak Lawn Avenue, which offers 20 percent off all services Monday through Thursday (gel is $35, dipping powder is $36). Go on your lunch break and you’ll find it’s never too crowded to accommodate walk-ins. The manicurists work with care and they will even rub your neck between steps. Multiple TV screens set to news channels will help you stay caught up on the latest while you’re pampered. Or if that’s exactly the kind of information you’re trying to escape, there are plenty of trashy magazines, too. Ancient China may have had polish, but it couldn’t have competed with all that.

Readers’ Pick:

Hollywood Nails & Spa

It’s odd. For a city that perennially ranks low in bike friendliness, Dallas and its environs has a surprising number of great bike shops. Richardson Bike Mart is the big daddy, Performance and REI have the low-cost chain end of things covered, out in Grapevine Mad Duck Cyclery justly bills itself a “concierge” shop offering custom builds and service and there are many more great shops serving on- and off-road. Our fave though is Dallas Bike Works, the shop that hits the sweet spot in supporting the local cycling community and offering a range of prices and brands, among them our beloved Jamis, a steel-framed beauty that takes all that Dallas’ unfriendly streets can dish out, soaks up bumps like a sofa and is still nimble as a colt. The pleasant staff doesn’t try to up-sell customers and offers the same level of friendly, knowledgeable service to noobs and experienced riders alike. Better still, their shops are located in bike-centric Oak Cliff and right off White Rock trail, making them the perfect spots to wheel in for fast, affordable repairs or meet up for group rides.

Readers’ Pick:

Richardson Bike Mart

Some of our friends have good reasons never to go back to Las Vegas. Some have had moments in Vegas they just can’t remember. (The two groups often overlap.) Elite Casino Events, one of the area’s better known casino party companies, has expanded its services for those who want memories of Vegas without the threat of an arrest warrant. The company already has a Vegas-class staff — dealers, bartenders, waitresses, showgirls alike — so deciding to launch their own photo booth service wasn’t a big gamble. It was just another extension of the VIP experience they provide. Elite has a Las Vegas Strip photo booth that “puts your guests right on the Vegas strip” as their in-house photographer snaps hundreds of red-carpet pictures, available as prints and online. It turns out that what happens in fake Vegas doesn’t have to stay in fake Vegas.

Readers’ Pick:

Premiere Photo Booth

Sometimes we need to gift a kiddo with something a little more substantial than whatever a dash through Target 10 minutes before party time yields. In those cases, Madre is our go-to. Technically, it’s an interior design boutique aimed at the Highland Park set. But the cozy little space also houses Little Bean, which brings in noteworthy trinkets, toys and togs that make memorable gifts. Our favorite finds: Gunner and Lux dinosaur necklaces, GAIA mini kitty purses, and a magical Maileg Princess and the Pea playset. Madre also monograms chic baby blankets, carries colorful children’s cutlery, and stocks whimsical prints from artist Caitlin McGauley and photographer Gray Malin — there’s no shortage of giftables in the cheerful West Lovers bungalow.

Forget a savings account. Treat yo’ self. This Los Angeles transplant in the Joule Hotel offers nothing but the best. You deserve that $75 shirt. It’s made from bamboo and the ultra chic shop girl says it never smells bad. Oh, and toss in that $65 candle. Sure, they’re the cheapest things in the shop, but you’ll feel so luxurious when you walk through downtown Dallas after spoiling yourself. If you’re really looking to break the bank, put together a full outfit from brands like Cheap Monday, Deer Dana and Creatures of Comfort, but maybe get advice from the shop girl before you pull the trigger on those culottes.

In March 2014, Lake Highlands got a kick in its vintage game. Where a weary Dollar General once stood, excitement was building with every bronze figurine, Lucite lamp or Eames-era chair positioned in the booths of Top Drawer Antiques and Mid Mod Shop. What was once a 7,500-square-foot store offering rows and rows — or hours and hours — of treasure hunting has in the past year expanded in the neighboring space for what’s now about 13,000 square feet of accessory heaven. (There’s 7,000 square feet more to come as the store expands again after the start of 2017.) Western art, bar sets, vintage ashtrays, light fixtures, Pyrex, classic toys. Top Drawer’s larger pieces (full Danish modern dining sets, pristine couches, dressers) are exquisite, but there’s just so much fun to be had poking around for the lamps, the art and the small items that are, like the name says, top drawer. The best part, however, is the staff, who clearly adore what they do and what they sell. Reed Sutton, owner and matriarch, runs the place with daughter Corey Sutton on the daily, and if it’s busy, their husbands are there too. It’s a labor of love to manage approximately 70 vendor booths at any given time, but there’s a lot of laughter behind that counter. With stock constantly turning but wonderfully curated, the Suttons have given Dallas a great way to shop down memory lane.

Warby Parker has every style of glasses and sunglasses you could imagine. That isn’t the best part. They’ll let you try out up to five sets of frames at home for no charge. That also isn’t the best part. The best part of Warby Parker is the price. Their stylish, durable frames are all available for a flat $95, single vision lenses included. For anyone who’s suffered through paying $300 or more for “discount” glasses, Warby Parker and its try-before-you-buy Dallas showroom is a godsend.

Readers’ Pick:

Warby Parker

Sometimes you just have to stand in awe at the scale of America’s vast supply chain as it feeds its hungry consumers. Bigger may not always be better, but humongous is pretty darn impressive no matter what it’s describing — dinosaurs, Donald Trump’s ego, breasts, or in this case, the biggest furniture store in Texas. Forget IKEA. It only feels huge because it’s maze-like design never let’s you leave. The Midwestern import NFM has everything imaginable to furnish your home, from electronics and appliances to furniture, rugs and outdoor kitchen gear. All of it is from affordable lines from makers like Ashley, or our favorite, Flexsteel. Higher-end furnishings are also displayed in a store the size of a small city that’s open and airy, so you don’t feel like a lab rat. Better still, the salespeople are knowledgeable, plentiful and friendly but don’t attach themselves to shoppers like a commission-hungry remora. Also, their warehouse pickup area is a marvel of logistics.

Readers’ Pick:

Nebraska Furniture Mart

Owner Jason Cohen, a partner in Curiosities antique store, takes his eccentric eye out into in the garden for this new store and finds predictably unpredictable treasures — an antique wheelbarrow right out of Peter Rabbit, tin chicken fountains that spit, a twig rocker, a bell jar in which a perfectly bleached bird skeleton flutters above a mossy nest and a variety of quirky wind-driven ornaments and gewgaws. A visit here may change your whole vision of what a garden can be.

Sometimes playing games is actually good for one’s relationships. Game playing has even been known to foster new ones. At least, that’s the case when the games are played at Common Ground Games. No one is required to play Cards Against Humanity. Most of the game playing during the week revolves around Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, Pokémon, Star Wars: LCG and community-centric games. Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to close serves as a new game demo and board game night, and most every Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., there’s open gaming (although, technically, Common Ground is always open gaming, that’s just the day there’s no scheduled game event). Attendees can buy, borrow or BYOBG, then grab a table. All are welcome: That is to say, there’s no intimidation — backgammon, Risk, Telestrations, Mysterium and Tyrants of the Underdark are all perfectly acceptable. Most folks bring fellow players with, but friends can be made over shared strategies and/or snacks. As always with gaming (and relationships), snacks and hydration recommended.

The southeast corner of Central Expressway and Royal Lane is known to most as “oh, yeah right, that’s where the Chicken Express is.” But behind those fried tenders are strong, knowing hands with the power to relax even the most fried Dallasite. Knowledge of pressure points or reflexology isn’t required; leave that to the practitioners at Foot Therapy. Also, the name could not be more of an undersell, in the most amazing way: For a freakishly low rate per hour, customers receive foot reflexology (as one would expect), as well as a full body rub that manages to both relax and invigorate. From scalp to toe, virtually every body part is either massaged, thumped, pounded or stretched, depending on the intensity requested by each client, and the problem areas pointed out by the client or simply sussed out by the therapist. And wow, can they suss. Aside from shoes and socks, clothes stay on, so the massage area is communal, but very calm — save the thumping sounds — and the cushy chair-pallets are so comfortable that under the face-covering towel, the outside world is quickly forgotten.

Local fashion stylist Lisa Slusher stumbled into her crystal obsession when she was searching for a little positivity in her life, and she quickly found that her collection of quartzes, amethysts and moonstones gave her a real boost. Soon she was designing necklaces that combined different crystals to address specific issues. Need a little self-awareness? “Nice to Meet Me” has the perfect combo of turquoise, quartz and adventurine. Want to access some inner strength? Try “Mighty Me” and its will power-inducing amazonite. Regardless of whether you think the power is in the stones or just in your ability to accessorize, the message behind Spark of Change inspires and reminds you to set your intentions and keep on the pathway to happiness. And Slusher’s beautiful, Western-tinged aesthetics don’t hurt either. Her pieces make magical conversation starters and joyful sartorial experiences. Find them locally at Gypsy Wagon or online.

We’ve lost our significant others for hours on end in this unassuming warehouse that’s stocked to the gills with, well, wood — and we’ve been lured in ourselves by the promise of design inspiration. We weren’t disappointed. Inside Wood World, there is indeed a world of lumber in all its forms. You’ll find exotic varieties, like Peruvian walnut and beautiful striped zebrawood or plain old plywood in all its practical glory. And when the vast array of timber starts to make your head spin, the well-versed staff is there to tell you what pieces are best for your big ideas, what tools you’ll need, and whether or not you’re about to bite off way more than you can chew.

High-end florists are in no short supply in Dallas, but we’ve always had a soft spot for this one in particular, founded by local floral dynamos Luit and Jamie Huizenga. Now run by Doan Do, the shop still consistently produces some of the most artistic, elegant and stunning arrangements in town thanks to the efforts of its long-term designers, most of whom have been churning out paves, bouquets and custom florals for close to a decade. The mix of French, Eastern European and Latin American aesthetics is an obvious indicator of the diversity of the staff, and the shop’s loyal following among Dallas high society is a nod to their artistry and emphasis on quality. We love the less traditional offerings, though: Beautiful succulent blends with impeccable construction, funky orchid designs and whimsical color combinations never fail to floor their recipients.

A modern cowgirl’s oasis in Knox-Henderson, Gypsy Wagon offers a plethora of clothing, home decor, shoes, hats, children’s toys and clothes. Although abundant in its bohemian Western wear, the store is carefully curated. From Free People tribal dresses to Minnetonka leather cowboy hats, Gypsy Wagon carries the perfect outfit and accessories for a festival weekend or a road trip to Marfa. Bring that Boho Texas feeling home with their home goods selection — from cactus vases to bright hand-stitched pillows. Have a little cowgirl? Check out the kids’ corner with onesies from KicKee Pants, embroidered Mexican dresses, leather baby moccasins and cowboy boots. And if you are shopping with the little one, the cute plush unicorns and longhorns will make for a great distraction.

Behind every successful working parent is good childcare. Seriously, if you don’t have a good, reliable source for childcare, you’re screwed. And even then, chances are that you’re still going to question whether you’re doing the best thing for your kids. Spanish House, which has built a devoted following among East Dallas parents, takes all that doubt out of the equation. Their Spanish immersion nursery and preschool programs combine the necessity of daycare with the power of dual language learning. Staff speak to the children primarily in Spanish while providing top-notch care and creative educational programming. The drop-off line is a mix of local artists and musicians, professionals and mother’s-day-out types who enjoy peace of mind while their kids learn español. One caveat: Get your bebé on that waiting list while they’re still in utero. The waiting list here is muy gigante.

We’re sticklers about bedtime for the most part, but once in a while we are more than happy to bust up a bedtime routine in favor of busting a move. Local party doyenne Alicia Duncan provides the venue for kids to break out and get down about twice a month at the venerable It’ll Do Club, and while the dancers are teeny-tiny, the good times are in no way diminished. One recent Friday, the lighted dance floor was packed with toddlers and preteens, decked out in strobe-lit jewelry and hopped up on food from Easy Sliders (one of Disco Kids’ frequent food truck vendors). The music was loud enough to facilitate some serious grooves, but not so loud that the pediatrician’s gonna kill your buzz, and those kids were jammin’. And the parents weren’t exactly wallflowers — the full bar is available and the DJ occasionally inspired some parental booty-shaking with well-placed Prince or B-52’s tracks. For upcoming Disco Kids events, which are $5 each for kids and free for parents, see their official Facebook page.

Known as “the big, purple building on the square,” Recycled Books is a beacon for book and music lovers from across the country. Located in the historical Wright’s Opera House on the corner of Locust and Oak streets in Denton, Recycled offers three levels filled with shelves of used books. It’s quite a change from the tiny storefront on University Drive where Recycled first opened in the early ’80s. Today, the used bookstore is emblematic of Denton’s “independent and arts-loving spirit” and offers rare books, records, CDs, DVDs and VHS (as well as other collectibles) all at affordable prices. “Just as Walt Whitman commented that great poetry requires great audiences, Recycled is able to be what it is because of its great customers and the community it’s a part of,” its website reads, and the Observer agrees.

Your friend with the good hair gets it done at Dear Clark. This friendly, full service salon has a variety of stylists, all of whom are willing to help you find a new look, whether it’s ombre, balayage or neon pink. Plus, they’ll serve you a mimosa while they tame your mane. Whether you know what shade of red you want or you just broke up with your boyfriend, they’ll leave you looking good. The only downside is the valet parking, but hey, this is Dallas, and at least it’s free.

Readers’ Pick:

Avalon Salon

There are those of you out there who enjoy a rare blueberry soda or peanut and jelly flavored beverage. Adventurous drinkers and Texas transplants who crave regional specialties can get their fix at Rocket Fizz, an eminently explorable shop in Deep Ellum. The 1,500-square-foot store, the third of its kind but the only one in Dallas, showcases hundreds of kinds of soda and an equally vast array of candy. Vintage signs and oddball tchotchkes can encourage loitering and impulse buys. But the soda selection is really the main attraction. Where else can one buy a bottle of Martian Poop marionberry flavored soda? And what the hell is a marionberry?

There’s nothing like a well done military surplus store. Sure, they often appear the same, with racks of old uniforms, displays of button insignia, dangling backpacks from various nations and cheeky T-shirts that say “Infidel” in Arabic. But the Army Store, Dallas’ oldest surplus store, takes the concept to a professional level. The prices are reasonable, the stock is clean and well-presented and the staff friendly. Even better for aficionados, the stock rotates nicely so fresh finds are there to reward repeat visitors. The family-owned store doubles as the best place in Dallas to buy airsoft paintball weaponry.

This outlet is where craftsmen carefully stitch, stud and staple leather gear for BDSM sex. In 2005 California-based Leather Masters bought a boot shop and opened a fetish supply outlet in Deep Ellum. It may not seem like a big deal to the uninitiated, but having experts on staff and the ability to make alterations on premises is a huge plus. Honestly, who wants to be uncomfortable when dangling from a harness while someone whips your genitals? Well, you know what we mean.

Look at your neighbor’s yard. Behold the array of large rocks and stones laid out in such complex and bewildering patterns that future archaeologists could try to match them with myriad astronomical alignments. Then ask yourself, how do I get my own yard looking as Druidic and mysterious? The answer, you wannabe pagan, is AAA Sand & Stone. It’s a 5-acre playground of earthen material with enormous racks of rocks, slabs of stone, collections of car stops, miles of mulch and groupings of gravel to examine. Watch your fingers and back muscles as you handpick your rocks, or depend on their delivery service and fleet of trucks to deliver.

A couple years ago, Citibank changed strategies. Where once they focused on 120 cities around the world, they decided to cut 20 from their consumer banking portfolio. Dallas was one of the 20 they cut. When Citibank abandoned Dallas, cardholders who moved to Dallas from out of state discovered that the only place to find an ATM is a 7-Eleven convenience store. The preferred store for such bank-seekers largely depends on location, but special consideration should be paid to locations that accept check deposits. For that, the 7-Eleven on Garland and Easton takes the cake.

Unlike all the home remedies to fix a waterlogged phone, DryBox’s eponymous boxes actually work. The next time you lose your phone to a puddle or a toilet or the condensation from the lunch in your messenger bag, take it to one of the San Antonio-based company’s kiosks. Swipe your credit card, put your device inside and come back a half hour later. The box doesn’t work all the time, but it works often enough that its $35-per-use price tag seems more than reasonable.

Although most parents might consider Lakeshore Learning solely for teachers, the store caters to any caregiver interested in providing children with learning experiences. These toys aren’t superhero focused or purple and pink. They are fun exploratory toys — like kinetic sand and water beads, water tables with magnetic fishing poles and toy fish, parachutes and balance boards, light tables and Magnatiles. Although at times pricey, Lakeshore Learning is one of few toy stores in the Dallas area that carries educational supplies and toys. When your child is playing with toys from Lakeshore Learning, they are also building skills and knowledge. Their curiosity is engaged, not their brand awareness.

She slings ink better than most artists, creating lifelike images with her permanent art. She’s been featured in the Observer and appeared on several cable tattoo shows. Her designs have garnered her a legion of followers on Facebook (more than 1 million and counting), and she’s become a celebrity among celebrities. But all of this fame hasn’t gone to her head. Liz Cook still slings ink out of her shop Rebel Muse Tattoo in Lewisville. “Tattoos are a collaboration,” she says. “A lot of times I try to get the feel for it to understand that personality and be able to push the piece past what was requested.”

Readers’ Pick:

Deborah Brody Pittman

Located on a corner of the historic square in Denton, Dark Age Tattoo offers customers more than a simple tattoo. The artists tattoo true art. Tattoo artist Rember Orellana opened the shop in 2014 after serving a three-year stint at Cat Tattoo in Dallas. Now he’s world renowned for his complex work, appearing in several tattoo magazines. The shop consistently receives five stars from its customers, praising the artists for their ability to walk customers through the tattoo process, as well as offer great attitudes and professionalism when it comes to their art. Originality is the most important part of what he does at his shop, Orellana says. “There are so many great artists that do realism really clean and really straight, but what makes the difference is when you have style.”

Named in honor of Elvis Presley, Shake Rag Music offers not only a huge selection of vinyl but also guitars of all shapes and sizes from a Fender that looks like something Stevie Ray Vaughan would play to a bass that resembles Beatle Paul McCartney’s bass but with psychedelic designs. Owner John Gasperik, who spent his years as a photographer at Mother Blues, opened the shop in the early 2000s near Lower Greenville, showcasing not only his collection of guitars and vinyl but also extensive rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. “When Elvis was a little boy, his father got thrown in jail, so they had to move to the poorer part of town across the railroad tracks, which was called ‘Shake Rag,'” Gasperik once told a reporter. “That was when Elvis first heard the blues and gospel music. I figure that’s the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, so I thought it was an accurate name for the store.”

Supporting the Dallas skate scene since 2004, the Rec Shop prides itself on being a mom-and-pop skateboard shop offering skateboard supplies at affordable prices. Both longboards and old school boards can be found at its Lower Greenville location. The shop doesn’t just specialize in skating supplies but also offers graffiti art supply from brands such as Montana, Alien, Ironlak and Sabotaz. It’s one of the few shops in the U.S. to carry these spray-paint brands under the same roof. If your graffiti and skateboard loving self isn’t tantalized enough to check out this place, keep in mind Rec Shop also carries 12-inch vinyls to support “all real DJs” with a selection that covers hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, house and break beats.

The vaping craze is still going strong at Wizard’s Vapor Bar and Smoke Shop where new products arrive on a daily basis. Juices, tanks, chargers and dozens of brands of e-cigs — Wizard’s sells just about everything a person needs to enjoy a vaping experience at a reasonable price. It also offers a large space for customers to vape together and a knowledgeable staff willing to explain how vaping works. Oh, and Wizards also provides adequate parking for customers.

Readers’ Pick:

Good Vapes

There are plenty of great comic book shops in the Dallas area, but Red Pegasus Games and Comics has a special aura about it. Housed in Oak Cliff next to the Bishop Arts area, it’s a welcoming place for longtime and new comic book readers. They regularly have artist and writer networking meet-ups. Co-owners Gabriel Mendez and Kenneth Denson are friendly to every person who walks in the door. It’s a simple concept, but actually giving a crap about your customers goes a long way. It’s the kind of place you want to keep coming back to. In only a couple of years, it has been a major positive for Oak Cliff, filling a much-needed demand for those who live south of I-30.