—————————————————— Best Novelty Store 2008 | Sig's Lagoon | Best of Houston® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Houston | Houston Press
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Best Novelty Store

Sig's Lagoon

No, Sig's didn't win Best Novelty Store because it proudly sells vinyl — the entire upstairs balcony is devoted to that processed plastic — which is less and less a novelty every year in any case. It was more the book of illustrations that conveniently leaves a hole for the reader's penis where, for example, someone's head or a banana might be. (That book was sold, but they can always reorder.) The entire wall of bobblehead dolls — Rat Fink, the Gruesomes, the Monkees' Davy Jones, Mr. T — is nice too. There's nothing novel, however, about owner Tomas Escalante's dedication to making Sig's the closest thing the city has to a Houston music museum, with the added bonus of offering exhibits you can actually buy. And if that means he has to sell a few Hillary Clinton nutcrackers — though he's probably not selling many of those anymore; maybe he should trade them for some Obama merch — to finance the purchase of some rare TSU Toronadoes LPs, that's just fine by us.

Best OB-GYN

Steven D. Meltzer, M.D.

Dr. Meltzer has a wonderful bedside manner. He respects patients' wishes, treating them like humans in charge of their own bodies, which is an amazing thing for a doctor to do. And he does it well, providing emotional and educational support, whether during a time of ladybit crisis or on a joyous occasion, such as birthing a child. While some docs might look at a challenging fertility case and recommend costly and taxing in vitro or adoption or tearing out the plumbing altogether, Steven empowers the patient to make her own choices, providing extensive consultation and upbeat communication.

Best Oil Change

CarSpa

CarSpa is a big lube shop/car wash in Midtown, but unlike similar places, CarSpa doesn't have the mall-on-Christmas-Eve parking-lot atmosphere that might make you change your mind before pulling in for a quick oil change. The shop doesn't do appointments, so it's a first-come deal. But the wait shouldn't be longer than an hour. A straight oil change costs $25, and that comes with all the standard fluid, tire and belt checks. The price might be a tad more expensive than at other places, but it includes a free car wash when the oil change is complete. If you roll on dubs, you can get a professional polish for an extra $20.

Best Pawnshop

The Wright Pawn & ­Jewelry Co.

Selling your personal property to stall an eviction or buy that extra rock of crack can be a depressing, bewildering decision. There are a million pawnshops in Houston, and most of them emanate an aura of bleakness that makes your whole transaction feel hopeless, whether you're buying or pawning. But Jack and Pamela Wright want everyone to feel confident and comfortable when browsing through their inventory of jewelry, high-end electronics, guitars and more. Their shop has won an award from the Greater Houston Better Business Bureau and is a member of both the national and state associations of pawnbrokers, as well as the Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce. Plus, they customize and repair jewelry!

Best Place to Buy a Gun

Collectors Firearms

It's a well-known fact around the world that we Texans love our guns. Actually, "love" may be putting it lightly; we not only use our right under the Second Amendment, we celebrate it as much as possible by buying, owning, talking about and, most importantly, shooting guns. That's why it's so important to have that special go-to man or place that can hook you up with a fix when you need to shoot stuff. Big ones, small ones, Collectors Firearms has them all. They deal in a wide range of firearms, from the latest in killing machines to Civil War-used black powder rifles.

Best Place to Buy a Squeezebox and Catholic Bling

Gabbanelli Accordions and Imports

Ever wake up with twin hankerings for a new top-of-the-line accordion and a St. Christopher medallion? Or maybe you just need a replacement bellows for your squeezebox and some rosary beads. Either way, Gabbannelli has you covered. This Westbury store offers world-famous accordions, multicolored, finely detailed creations fresh from their Italian factory and much-coveted by Tejano, Norteño and zydeco/Cajun musicians, as well as all manner of Holy Faith-enhancing religious accessories.

Best Place to Buy Cigars

Briar Shoppe

The Briar Shoppe is a Houston institution. The place, originally opened by the current owner's mother, has been around for about 45 years. The store is an all-woman enterprise, but macho aficionados keep coming back. The walk-in humidor is great, with an easy-to-browse selection. All the favorites in the $5-to-$10 range — Cohiba, Macanudo, Romeo y Julieta — are there. For a couple bucks more, you can pick up something from the large selection of Padrón cigars. The really ambitious smoker looking to spend serious cash can check out the Stradivarius Robusto Major. The Briar Shoppe also sells plenty of designer cutters and lighters. Smoking is allowed inside, but there isn't a lot of room for lounging. Prices are a tad higher at The Briar Shoppe, but expect great customer service whether buying or browsing.

Best Place to Buy Music

Cactus Music

When Cactus Music closed a few years ago, it was one of the saddest days Houston music has seen or ever will see. Cactus fostered quality local and international music across genres for generations, and carried albums by musicians available almost nowhere else. It was one of the last examples of a music store done right in this city. So it was a happy day last year when the longtime manager and a couple of partners reopened Cactus Music a few blocks away from the original location. It hasn't disappointed, with a huge selection and a giant room just for vinyl lovers. Tack on the knowledgeable staff and tons of great in-store performances and this place is as good as, if not better than, it ever was.

Best Place to Buy Sexy Lingerie

Erotic Cabaret Boutique

If you're like us, buying sexy lingerie isn't an everyday deal, which is why Erotic Cabaret is so appealing. The employees are well versed in the merchandise, but realize it's a taboo experience for some shoppers. Want to know where that thing goes and how, and why your partner will appreciate it? Just ask. But if you're there just to find a perfect pair of thigh-highs or a cute thong, or to browse the selection with no one but your lover in mind, they won't bother you. Thanks, Erotic Cabaret. You make ­shopping for our kinkiest fantasies easier than we are after a few glasses of cheap wine.

Best Plumber

LEA Plumbing

People have been raving about LEA Plumbing, so when a plumbing emergency hit one of our Best of Houston® correspondents, she called them right away and was crushed to learn LEA only serves Northeast Houston. But Sue Riddle, who handles the company's dispatch, helpfully offered a couple reasons for the correspondent's current water woes. And her husband, master plumber Billy Riddle, called back later that day to mentor the correspondent through cleaning out the showerhead herself. She was blown away as he patiently explained — for free! — why the situation developed, what tools to use and what she might find behind the shower wall.

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