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Best independent book store

Maxwell Books

OK, so the stock on hand doesn't match up with the warehouse chains, but owner Donna Cressman and her staff make up for it with friendly service and by offering useful critiques of books they've actually read. The selection of hardbacks and paperbacks is good, and if they don't have the particular title you're looking for, they'll quickly order it and give you a call when it arrives. The salespeople obviously love books and are quick to tack a note on the shelves offering a personal review of something they're eager to recommend. It's one of those hospitable stops that visiting authors, touring to beat the drum for their latest tomes, love to see on their schedules. It also sells a good selection of magazines, national and local, and greeting cards for every occasion.

Best revival of a shopping center

Wynnewood Village

In the late 1940s, Angus Wynne began building the Wynnewood community, the heart of which was the Wynnewood Village shopping center. By the early 1990s, this once very modern shopping center was an almost-abandoned hulk. In an almost miraculous rebirth it's again flourishing with stores that run the gamut, from Bobby's T-Shirts and Pan Africa Connection to Kroger and MacFrugals.

Best rocks

Banks Stone Service Inc.

Don't stop driving until you find this hidden stone yard in Oak Cliff, snuggled against the Trinity River levee. Drive in and weigh your vehicle. Then wander the rows of stone to your heart's content, admiring rocks hauled from all over the United States. Even though it's near downtown, this is a lost bucolic corner of the city: You'll scare up some cottontails as you search. Load up what you want, weigh out, and pay up. They also deliver.

Best health food store (tie)

Whole Foods Market & Roy's Natural Market

Healthy food can be hard to come by, but Whole Foods has no problem keeping a vast stock. From organic veggies to vitamin supplements, the granola munchers of Dallas have a place to call their own. The produce sections are large and the alternative vegetarian fare--tofu dogs and such--is more varied than what most non-healthy eaters would believe possible. A fun aisle contains books of varying worth, from holistic eating guides to vegetarian manifestos. The people at Whole Foods, by and large, look pretty fit and trim; perhaps the best endorsement of the natural food concept is their toned bodies. For those who are not so committed to health but want a light meal, the prepared food section is pricey but delicious.

Times have changed in the health-food business. Lost to the beef culture are the local health-conscious restaurants of old. Natura's, Eureka's, and Preston's have all succumbed to the Atkins diet and gone belly up. Low-fat now means chicken-fried steak without the gravy. Mega-health food stores with enclosed food courts rule the day. For those who like their carrot juice freshly chilled and their wheat grass freshly mowed, there is still Roy's in Preston Royal Shopping Center. This health-food store is small but hands-on, a holdover from the organic health food movement of the '60s when wheat germ was king. Knowledgeable devotees peddle a vast array of vitamins and supplements to keep you thinking that you are doing something, anything, to stay young. Try the protein plate if all else fails.

Best place to get a pet

SPCA of Texas

The SPCA of Texas has been around since 1938, so it's a sure bet you're dealing with a reputable group. Each month, the nonprofit organization handles an average of 1,200 animals. It has two locations, one in Dallas, another in McKinney, and you can adopt a pet at either place. The Dallas location can house more than 200 animals at a time, and the McKinney location can shelter another 80. That means there is a good selection of pets from which to choose. Dogs are $129, cats $99. The SPCA also provides information on numerous breed groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and many of these groups have animals available for adoption or can refer you to a reputable breeder. The SPCA offers many offsite adoption programs.

Best hair colorist

The Beauty Store and Salon

Not all of us like to acknowledge that we've had to dip into the color wheel now and again, but when middle age starts creeping up and gray hairs become evident, the colorists at this shop know how to keep you away from the tell-tale orangey glow or the just-too-vivid blonds.

Best way to get to Vegas

Legend Airlines

Vegas is all about fantasy, and Legend is the way to get there. (It's also the best way to go to Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.) For less than the price of a spur-of-the-moment ticket on any other airline, you'll be treated like a high roller from the time the valet takes your car at their private terminal until you're on board, wrapped in a roomy, luscious leather seat for the 9:45 p.m. flight. You'll be at the tables by 11:15 p.m. Even if you crap out, Legend will treat you like a high roller on the 1:05 a.m. flight back to Big D.

Best shopping center name in the Internet era

TheWebb@LBJ

You must admit, it's clever, and you won't forget it or the location after glancing at it once.

Best florist

Dr. Delphinium Designs

Most of us see the inside of a florist when our anniversary rolls around, when it's a major holiday (and around our house, Arbor Day counts as a major holiday), or when we're in trouble with the old lady. Dr. Delphinium, located in those most impractical spot in town (where the Dallas North Tollway intersects with Lovers Lane, making it danged near impossible to back out into traffic), has flowers for all such occasions. The cold-storage room is filled with all manner of flora, and the rest of the store overflows with exotic arrangements (some, less than $50) made for any day of the week. The staff is patient and helpful ("Uh, how do you say 'I'm sorry I ran over the cat' for $25?"), so much so we've begun to visit the good Dr. when we're just in the mood. Fact is, you know how we can tell this is the best florist in town? On Valentine's Day or February 15, this place is packed to the stems. The Dr. is in.

Best place to spend money

Highland Park Village

This is the most wannabe Beverly Hills area ever. The mall's layout and composition scream Southern California, as do the stores: Banana Republic for him and her, Williams Sonoma, St. John's, Hermès Paris, Chanel, Prada. And what Los Angeles establishment would be complete without an Ann Taylor, Chanel, Starbucks, and Jamba Juice (health drinks)? The parking lot is like an auto show, so unless you have a bankroll to spend or a loked-out ride, do yourself a favor and go to Syms, a few miles west on Mockingbird.

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