Goods & Services >>

• Best Liquor Store
  Spec's Liquor Warehouse
  There are few adulthood joys that compare to the childhood experience of walking into a Toys-R-Us. But walking into Spec's Liquor gives grown-ups that same feeling of wonder. You immediately find yourself running down the aisles going, "Oh, wow! I can't believe they have this stuff, too!" Wanna... More >>
• Best Dry Cleaners
  Montrose Dry Cleaners
  Although having something dry-cleaned sounds like it should be a straightforward task, it can sometimes be a horrific experience: You drop off your most expensive piece of clothing and it comes back destroyed, with a terse reminder of the cleaner's liability disclaimer. A former member of Faith... More >>
• Best Shoe Store
  DSW
  The company's Web site says the typical DSW store carries more than 30,000 pairs of shoes in more than 2,000 styles. Sounds about right. The two Houston locations are huge yet easy-to-navigate churches of footwear. They've got everything from dress shoes to flip-flops at prices that will make... More >>
• Best Adult Video Store
  Adult Video Megaplexxx
  That's right, Megaplexxx. With three Xs, you know you're getting the real deal. We're talking a purported 100,000 movies, eight private viewing rooms and nine 63-channel arcades. We're talking a cornucopia of porn — a "pornucopia," if you will. They've got hot new releases, cheap used videos and... More >>
• Best Bookstore
  Murder by the Book
  Whodunit? Murder by the Book, that's who. The 26-year-old Inner Loop book nook has retained a loyal following despite the proliferation of enormous chains in its immediate neighborhood. Many patrons of the indie store are die-hard mystery fans who go to see and hear the parade of prestigious and... More >>
• Best Asian Grocery (1 Comment)
  Hong Kong Food Market No. 4
  The total square footage of this market comes to an even freakin' huge. They had to invent a whole new measurement to calculate the aisles of exotic treasures you'll find in this Chinatown landmark. It's nothin' fancy, just tons of great produce, meat, fish, spices and desserts you'd rarely find... More >>
• Best Computer Store
  Fry's Electronics
  Once upon a time, nerds had to wait until they died to get to computer heaven. But the brothers Fry saw a market in sentient beings, so they opened one of the most kick-ass electronics stores around. And they put an emphasis on customer service to make shopping at their stores a good experience... More >>
• Best Plants
  Buchanan's Native Plants
  Has your green thumb turned brown and got ya down? And has that balcony herb garden barely yielded enough to do anything other than order takeout? Maybe it's time to stop picking plants at the grocery store as an afterthought. Buchanan's specializes in flora native to the area, so whatever... More >>
• Best Day Spa for Men
  METRO-His Spa
  Metrosexuals, unite! While the term may have gone out of vogue, (some) men's proclivity to stay neatly groomed predates — and will forever outlive — pop phrases such as "manscaping." Owner Raul Guzman opened METRO in November 2004 and has been offering cosmetic services, massage and pampering to... More >>
• Best Bakery
  Kraftsmen Baking
  In cities such as San Francisco, almost every neighborhood has a boutique bakery with handmade breads and pastries cooked with top-quality ingredients. Houston has Kraftsmen. Walk over (if you live in Montrose) or drive in from Sugar Land. Either way, it's worth the trip if you value a great... More >>
• Best Meat Market (2 Comments)
  Burt's Meat Market & Cajun Foods
  Yes, we know they sell meat at Fiesta and Kroger and Whole Foods. But do they sell hog chitterlings and Cajun pan sausage? Do they sell smoked andouille and three kinds of boudin? Well, they do at Burt's Meat Market & Cajun Foods, making the trek past payday stores and pawnshops to its low-slung... More >>
• Best Bartender
  Ralph Rager
  We've been to Absinthe Lounge on nights it's so busy that you can't hear a damn thing over the voices echoing off the tile floor, and each time we're more impressed with owner Ralph Rager, who's a machine when it comes to slinging drinks. He's so deft and accurate, so quick with his hands and on... More >>
• Best Art Supply Store (2 Comments)
  Texas Art Supply
  We're going to have to retire this award unless someone else steps up to the easel pretty soon, but for now the folks at Texas Art Supply can hang up their third plaque in as many years. The place really does have it all: paints, brushes, canvases, easels, stamps, inks, molds, clay, posterboard,... More >>
• Best Hip-hop Mall
  Sharpstown Mall
  Is there a shopping center anywhere in America as gangsta-riffic as our own Sharpstown Mall? Each of the mall's entrance halls is lined with jewelry stalls — or bling counters, as we like to call them. Of course, there's the Johnny Dang/Paul Wall joint venture TV Jewelry, which now has multiple... More >>
• Best Record Collection (1 Comment)
  Nick DiFonzo's Worst Album Covers in the World
  If there were any justice in the world, Nick DiFonzo would be a wealthy man. A few years back, the KHOU-TV technician/satellite truck engineer started Bizarrerecords.com, a Web site on which he posted scans of hundreds of the weird, tacky and just plain bad album covers he's found in the thrift... More >>
• Best Head Shop
  Houston 420
  We used to bemoan the way the Houston 420 franchises were taking over the city. We felt like the Starbuckization of head shops was, like, totally uncool, man. But then we realized that all head shops are already pretty much the same anyway: bongs, hookahs, metal and glass pipes, Bob Marley... More >>
• Best Designer Boutique
  Tootsies
  The reigning queen of fashion, this Highland Village landmark is the place for serious femme shopping. Don't let the overattentive sales staff ("May I get you a drink?"), trophy wives and designer jewelry intimidate you. Sure, River Oaks divas drop a bundle on the evening gowns here, but... More >>
• Best Grocery Store
  Central Market
  Central Market is the cure for the common grocery store. Exotic produce, gourmet microbrews, healthy snacks, bubble bath and sweet-smelling soaps, case upon case of tender cuts of meat, freshly baked bread, prepared foods and towering bulk bins vie for patrons' attention in this gourmand's... More >>
• Best Sporting Goods Store
  Academy Sports & Outdoors
  Houston is not the only place you can find this sports authority, but it is the home of what was once known as Academy Super Surplus. It's for good reason that this local favorite has spread its huge selection of boats and bats, shorts and shotguns, tents and tennis balls to 80 stores in ten... More >>
• Best Car Wash
  Carisma Car Wash
  The type of cars you'd normally see being patted down with diapers by valets can now be spotted rolling into a $4 car wash. Why? As the name implies, there's a magnetic appeal to a place that offers a job well done. The best part is that you, the driver, are in control of how much or how little... More >>
• Best Spectacles
  Smith Opticians
  If you're on the lookout for Elton John-esque specs, funky, cheap or just cooler-than-average eyewear, Smith's Opticians is the go-to place. Owner-optician Phillip Brown is an affable guy with a burning love for spectacles, an affection passed down to him from his dad, who was also an optician.... More >>
• Best Place to Shop When You Don't Know What to Buy
  Bering's Hardware
  People who wander into Bering's Hardware expecting to find nuts and bolts and little else might find it confusing when they stumble onto the innovative cookware or the stationery section. They might be thrown by the unparalleled customer service and the divine smell of roasted coffee that... More >>
• Best Place to Buy a Gun
  Carter's Country
  For Texans, "gun control" means using both hands, so it's no mean feat to be the greatest gun- and gun-related equipment retailer in Big H. Whether you've been buying and trading guns since you were knee-high to a bumblebee or you're a first-time shooter, Carter's Country has a full lineup. With... More >>
• Best Dog Trainer
  Loralei Zwitt
  Fido still isn't listening when you calmly explain that jumping on the furniture is costing you a fortune in upholstery-cleaning fees? Trainer Loralei Zwitt can teach you how to get your message across effectively by utilizing her famous motto: Think like a dog. Houston's own dog whisperer has... More >>
• Best Watch Repair (2 Comments)
  Little Watch Shop
  In a day and age when nearly every business seems hell-bent on offering services as varied as nose-wiping and landscaping, it's refreshing to find a place that's been doing one thing — and doing it well — for nearly 60 years. The Little Watch Shop is a small house/store in Montrose that's been... More >>
• Best Manicure (2 Comments)
  Instyle Nails
  It's not hard to find a mani-pedi combo in this town for $25: Look for the nearest strip mall and take your pick. There's no need to wait — that is, unless you're going to Instyle Nails, where you'll get a great deal and a great massage. Yes! A shoulder and neck massage! Hallelujah! The little... More >>
• Best Chiropractor
  Jacqueline A. Doval
  Any chiropractor can crack your bones, but few are going to care about your total state of health as much as Jackie Doval does. At Alternative Health and Wellness, she uses traditional chiropractic manipulations (a.k.a. bone-popping), in conjunction with exercise, massage and nutrition, all in a... More >>
• Best Farmers' Market
  Canino's Produce Co.
  Inner Loopers have been patting themselves heartily on the back lately for bringing back "roadside" produce stands at various farmers' markets. Although our hats are off to the boom in homegrown tomatoes, we'd like to give props to the giant farmers' market (inside the Loop) that's been offering... More >>
• Best Mexican Bakery (4 Comments)
  La Ojarasca Panaderia
  La Ojarasca Panaderia has been around for more than 40 years — and that's a lot of cookies. And bolillos (French bread). And marranitos (gingerbread made in the shape of a pig). Deep in Houston's East End, La Ojarasca is the place for fresh, hot Mexican delicacies. Don't worry if you don't speak... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Socks
  Marshalls MegaStore
  Even for a chain boasting overall prices that distribute evenly along the "Holy shit, that's cheap!" continuum, this particular Marshalls is an even better bet than most for those hoping to land CK and Polo hosiery for next to nothing. And, as a special added bonus for the frugal yet bourgeois... More >>
• Best Tattoo Parlor (1 Comment)
  Bombshell Tattoo & Body Piercings
  Since opening in December, Bombshell Tattoo has quickly become the only place we get our ink done. Whether you need a butterfly or have been dreaming of a custom back-piece, this shop's talented stable of artists knows how to create art that'll last, well, forever. Its Spartan, lavender interior... More >>
• Best Store in the Galleria
  Apple Store
  One employee at the Apple Store in the Galleria is a shaggy-haired slacker who stumbles around the place singing to himself. "Hey, what's up?" he'll interrupt himself to ask a customer. "What's the deal-i-o?" The store, painted stark white with blond wood floors, is as sleek as the wafer-thin... More >>
• Best Magazine Selection
  Issues Magazine Store
  Issues offers no coffee bar, no hearty muffins, no place to sit and page through periodicals. Heck, it hardly offers a place to park. But the store's lone location on Shepherd has that certain something the big-box book behemoths don't. Namely, it's not a big-box book behemoth. Devoted almost... More >>
• Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring
  A.A. Benjamin Ltd.
  These days it's all the rage to slap ridiculously sized diamonds — which cost as much as a two-bedroom pad in West U — on plain platinum bands and call them engagement rings. But if you long for something classier than a gaudy, Paris Hilton-esque trinket, your answer is antique and estate... More >>
• Best Tattoo Removal (1 Comment)
  Town & Country Plastic Surgery
  Maybe it wasn't the best idea to get the big spiderweb tattoo that curls around your neck. And though Blues Brothers is a classic, you might have gone a little far getting "J-A-K-E" inked across your knuckles. So now it's time for a little tattoo removal. The folks at Town & Country Plastic... More >>
• Best Reason to Go to
  the Galleria
  To gawk at makeup hijackers in Sephora
  Described by one disgruntled along-for-the-ride male acquaintance as a "cosmetics crackhouse," Sephora is an orgy of high-end lip gloss, eye shadow, blush and sundry other forms of pretty-up. For a truly overwhelming experience, venture to Sephora's Galleria location on a Friday or Saturday... More >>
• Best Camera Store
  Houston Camera Exchange
  Any photog geek will tell you there's really only one camera store in the city worth knowing, and that's the Houston Camera Exchange. A perennial winner in this category, the warehouse-size location on Westheimer is a dream come true for any avid shutterbug. And budding amateurs needn't be shy:... More >>
• Best Psychic
  Sean Harribance
  Every month, a dozen people gather at the Sugar Land house of psychic Sean Harribance for a potluck lunch and a day of exploring the paranormal. Somehow, with no planning or coordination, it always seems like there's just the right amount and variety of food. Is it the triumph of psychic waves,... More >>
• Best Live Models
  Abercrombie & Fitch
  Despite what you might think, life isn't easy for the luscious live models at the Galleria's Abercrombie & Fitch store. Gaggles of preteens constantly swarm with cameras. Lonely types offer lame come-ons. And occasionally mall security is called to haul away a leering creep. Of course, it... More >>
• Best Flea Market
  Traders Village
  A visit to Traders Village might tempt you to buy the RV of your dreams and move right in. The open-air flea market, located just outside the beltway in northwest Houston, has great carny food: turkey legs, sausage-on-a-stick and funnel cakes. The entertainment is old-timey: bluegrass bands,... More >>
• Best Junk
  Texas Junk Company
  The sign in front of Texas Junk Company has an offer you just can't refuse: Over 1,000 used cowboy boots under $30. Sure enough, once you step inside, the smell of well-worn leather will guide your nose to the shelves piled high with Tex Ritter's favorite footwear. Aside from the bargain-priced... More >>
• Best Arborist
  Kris Bitner
  One of the only things that make Houston tolerable during the dog days of summer is the gorgeously green trees that embower the city. The soft shade of the live oaks, pecans and crepe myrtles that grow so profusely here can make the unforgiving heat seem almost worthwhile. So it's horrifying to... More >>
• Best Carpenter
  Rosendo Mendez
  Nothing is more crazy-making than remodeling, so finding a carpenter you can count on is the first line of defense against the dread of disappointment. Rosendo Mendez goes way beyond reliable. He will make your fabulous new kitchen/bedroom/great room dreams come true, and he won't break the bank... More >>
• Best House Painter (1 Comment)
  Marcelo Escobedo
  Whether you like your walls museum-white or racy red, Marcelo Escobedo is happy to oblige. And it's a good thing, too; he can make any wall into a thing of beauty with his steady hand and Zen-like technique. Once he's done with a room, you can't help but marvel at the clean, straight lines and... More >>
• Best Real Estate Agent
  Dennis Sigut
  The booming Houston real estate market makes finding a good agent more important than ever. Dennis Sigut of Keller Williams Realty isn't just good — he's one of those rare go-getters who can buy and sell with the best of them and still sleep at night. His dealings are honest, and he doesn't drop... More >>
• Best Local Interior Designer
  Cari Brookbanks
  Call her the Color Guru, because Cari Brookbanks can slide her magic gaze over any space and know just what it needs to make it absolutely gorgeous. Whether you're trying to fix up a house to sell, or redo an outdated condo to last you for the next 20 years, Brookbanks will whip out her bag full... More >>
• Best Local Clothing Designer
  Chloe Dao
  What's not to love about Chloe Dao? The sixth of eight children from Pakse, Laos, Dao settled in Houston with her family and grew up riveted to CNN's Style with Elsa Klensch. A good daughter, Dao followed her parents' wishes and entered UH's business school, but she soon left to pursue design.... More >>
• Best Florist (1 Comment)
  Elaine's Florist and
  Gift Baskets
  Did someone you know have a birthday, baby, wedding, graduation or simply a bad day? Did someone get promoted? Or die? Elaine's has a great vase or basket bouquet for all those occasions. They've got floral arrangements, bromeliads, silk and dried arrangements and even a cute gift basket... More >>
• Best Novelty Store
  Cindie's
  Ahhh, Cindie's, you had us at "butt-plug." Cindie's sells good old-fashioned fun: We're talking body jewelry, oils, vibrators, love kits, body stockings, even educational videos for those in the remedial classes. Their hours are great, too — open till midnight Monday through Saturday and until... More >>
• Best Clothes for Your Dog
  PetSmart
  If there's one thing every dog loves, it's wearing clothes. And in Houston, your best selection is at this venerable chain, which carries a bounty of haute couture for Fluffy and Rex. This summer, why not treat your bitch to a striped tennis dress or a cool zebra-print affair? For your he-dog,... More >>
• Best Doggy Day Care
  Rover Oaks Pet Resort
  Why not give your special buddy a chance to get footloose and fancy free while you're at work? Take him to Rover Oaks, a company founded on a philosophy of "positive reinforcement, plenty of exercise, and Ôgroup play' for pets with good social skills," and whose Houston location (there's one in... More >>
• Best Barber (1 Comment)
  Leonard Morgan
  Walking into Doug & Don's Barber Shop in the Heights is like taking a step back in time. Nostalgic photos and articles line the walls, and the sounds of KPFT, Neil Young or the afternoon news fill the room during conversational lulls. It's a classic barbershop, similar to one you may have seen... More >>
• Best Mechanic (5 Comments)
  Kar Hospital
  In Houston, finding a mechanic you can trust is as important as finding a competent doctor; many people in this town practically live in their vehicles, and chances are that your car will see more time on the operating table than you ever will. That's why it's imperative to find someone who has... More >>
• Best Comic Book Store
  Nan's Games & Comics Too
  Seedy strip-mall location? Check. Pale, geeky-yet-arrogant clerks who live up to the stereotype by listening to bands like Rush and Jethro Tull? Yep. Nan's has all of those things. (And best of all for male comic book lovers, they even employ some cute comic-book-loving girls.) Even better than... More >>
• Best Place to Buy CDs by Local Musicians
  Sound Exchange
  Sound Exchange might not have the widest selection of local music — the place is too small for that — but it's still the best spot to buy the stuff. That's because the staff there knows local music like no other salespeople anywhere, and they pretty much stock anything from any band willing to... More >>
• Best Record Store (1 Comment)
  Sig's Lagoon
  The demise of Cactus Music and Video this year left a huge void in Houston's music scene. Not because of the inventory, mind you, but because of the sense of community and the 100-percent-Houston-proud vibe Cactus had. Good thing Sig's Lagoon opened up shop. Though much smaller than Cactus,... More >>
• Best Vintage Clothing (1 Comment)
  That 70s Shop
  Admit it — back in the day, you were totally envious of that kid who sported an "I'm a Pepper" T-shirt. Now, thanks to folks who purge their clothes from yesteryear, you can finally get your hands on one at That 70s Shop — if you stop in at the right time. Although the name evokes memories from... More >>
• Best Fabric Store
  High Fashion Fabric Center
  On any given Saturday afternoon, crafty soccer moms, fashionable drag queens and frantic brides-to-be can be seen pushing and pulling at thousands of bolts of fabric — and at each other — in search of a yard of perfect pastel polyester or a roll of fabulous faux fur. With one of the widest... More >>
• Best Hobby Shop (5 Comments)
  Maridawn's Scrapbooking
  It seems as though everyone's doing it: preserving family memories in a personalized scrapbook. But where do you go when you need supplies? You'll find everything — and we do mean everything — at Maridawn's Scrapbooking. Don't know how to make a scrapbook? No worries. The Maridawn staff can show... More >>
• Best Veterinarian
  Jim Vulgamott
  Unless your pet is the star of an animated children's movie or the product of a really bad acid trip, chances are it doesn't speak English. So when something goes wrong with said pooch, kitty or ferret, you need the help of someone as close as possible to an animal whisperer. Jim Vulgamott, head... More >>
• Best Department Store
  Foley's
  Foley's downtown emporium, which occupies an entire city block on Main Street, has long been the flagship location of the chain's 70 or so stores. In its heyday (the chain was founded in Houston more than a hundred years ago just a few blocks from the downtown location), it featured nine... More >>
• Best Place for Men to Buy High Heels
  Jewel's Crossdresser's Boutique and More
  Jewel Dean is more than a boutique owner, she's a fashion expert. And she's generous with her expertise. Customers at her store will find wigs, makeup, dresses, body forms (translation: fake breasts) and shoes in special sizes (translation: giant), but they'll also find a warm, supportive... More >>
• Best Gas Station
  Shell Service Station No. 34
  Gassing up your car has become a budget-breaking experience, but you can make the trip a little more pleasant by going to the Shell station off 290 and West 43rd. There are plenty of pumps, so there's no waiting. The shopette features fresh fruit and pastries, along with beer and wine, CDs and... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Fish
  Aquarium World
  Whether your interest is in freshwater or saltwater fish, the best place to buy your finned pets is Aquarium World. Not only is the selection of animals and aquatic-type products one of the largest in the county, but the staff is extraordinarily helpful and knowledgeable about all things fishy.... More >>