Best Granola Selection 2010 | Lakewood Whole Foods | Best of Dallas® 2020 | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Dallas | Dallas Observer
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Best Granola Selection

Lakewood Whole Foods

It was so traumatic for Old East Dallas—the whole closing of Dallas' first Whole Foods on Lower Greenville Avenue. Sort of like what the closing of the Metropolitan Museum might be for Manhattan. Then they opened the new store on Abrams and called it "Lakewood"—a knife in the heart for Bohemians. Might as well have called it "Country Club Whole Foods." But at least Whole Foods has honored its East Dallas origins by maintaining what has to be the city's finest selection of granolas. We counted 79 varieties of packaged granola on a recent visit, and that didn't even include the bulk bins where you can mix up your own. In that sense it's still an East Dallas store, even if you do have fend your way past a lot of sweaty 9-year-olds in golf cleats to get to the granola section.

Best Home Stylist

Doniphan P. Moore

Designing home interiors is only one aspect of 25-year-old SMU grad Doniphan Moore's many talents. He's more of a life stylist, working with design-challenged clients at all budget levels to unify their aesthetic senses, from furnishings to wardrobe to personal style. His own taste fits somewhere between clean traditionalist and soft modern, with a touch of the eccentric. "I embrace the human element of a home," he says, "and don't steer away from the messiness of everyday life. If a bed has to be made up to look good, it's a shame." He's done high-end interiors, low-end home offices, magazine shoots, weddings, floral designs and head-to-toe makeovers. Moore does it all with a keen eye for bargains and it doesn't hurt that he is even funnier and cuter than Oprah's design guru, Nate Berkus. Our crystal ball (which Moore helped us find in a consignment store) predicts that he'll be a major design star too, sooner than later.

READERS' PICK BEST RECORD STORE

Good Records

Good Records

READERS' PICK BEST VINTAGE CLOTHES

Buffalo Exchange

Buffalo Exchange

READERS' PICK BEST BOOKSTORE (NEW)

Borders

Borders

Best Food From Ferners

Fiesta

The Fiesta grocery store on Ross Avenue in East Dallas bursts at its Hispanic-targeted seams at all hours of the day and night, a taqueria-and-carniceria wonderland of everything needed to make a spicy, south o' the border meal. (Or, you know, it's also a good place to buy toilet paper and cat litter.) But what many don't know is that it's not just a fine place to pick up taco makin's—Fiesta also has the best selection of British, European and Asian imported foods in town, and yes we are looking at you, Certain Giant And Pricey Grocery Store On Lovers Lane. Three kinds of Weetabix? Check. Spaetzle out the wazoo? Yes, please. Looking to fashion a homemade saag paneer? Party on at...Fiesta.

Best Pre-emptive Strike

Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Bathroom Spray

Every bathroom in every workplace, in every restaurant, in every home, needs a spray bottle of Poo-Pourri. The magical potion is to be sprayed on top of the toilet water (as opposed to around you in the air) to provide an aromatic barrier of essential oils and natural fresheners...and, apparently, magic. As in, the stank goes in the water and never comes back out. As in, everything smells nice and fresh before you even bust a move. As in, if you have one bathroom, this will help sustain that teeny shred of romance left in your relationship. Based in Dallas, and run by CEO and founder Suzy Batiz, the company launched its first product in 2007, after a long R&D process. These days there are many varieties of the before-you-go bathroom spray (we like the bergamot, lemongrass and grapefruit of the original), as well as auto aromatherapies and Pooch-Pourri Pet Odor Remover.

Best Kayaks

Mariner Sails

A little hard to find (take Walnut Hill east from Stemmons, turn north on Ables, back west on Merrill) but well worth the search. A respected custom sail maker since 1976, Mariner now offers a spacious showroom full of really neat kayaks by a variety of makers. The staff brings deep expertise on the boats but also on bodies of water in the region and beyond. Mariner is also sort of a neat place just to visit, with the big sail-making room in the back. Very nautical. They do boat demonstrations every Thursday evening at White Rock so you can try a boat before buying. It's free, but you do have to call ahead for a reservation. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Best Car Wash

D-Town Tires and Car Wash

So you want your ride to shine but you don't have the time or energy to do it yourself. Don't bother with one of those gas station assembly-line washes when, for a few bucks more, you could not only get a hand-polished gleam on the outside, but have the interior vacuumed as well—without having one of those automated brush wheels snap off your antenna. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, this Oak Cliff and West Dallas franchise offers $11.99 inside-and-outside washes. Not only that, but most days it offers oil changes for less than $20. Combine that with the discount wash and you can get out for just over $30—which would only get you one or the other almost anywhere else.

Best Place To Get Felt Up

Intimacy

Ladies, this Best Of award is for you. Not to sound like a corny late-night infomercial, but are you tired of always adjusting your bra or having the four boobs problem because your brassiere doesn't quite cover the top part? Well, the bra fit stylists at Intimacy can help you with your undergarment-related problems. The women's store offers a free bra fit makeover with an expert to see what bra size fits your body best. The bra experts will teach you how to properly wear a bra (yes, there is a proper way to wear a bra other than just strapping the thing on) while still being comfortable. Intimacy also offers more than 90 sizes to choose from in all different styles and colors like sexy red lace or plain Jane white. Who even knew bras came in 90 sizes? Intimacy did.

Best Of Dallas®

Best Of

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