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Best Specialty Boutique

Green by Adeline

Really into all things organic? Well, don't forget about your clothes. At Green by Adeline, we're not talking just cotton. No, no. We mean bamboo, beach wood tree and wood pulp. Of course, the trees have been beaten and processed into thread, which is then woven into soft, scrumptious fabrics. Safe, chemical-free, organic dyes are used to produce a variety of deep, lush colors. You'll find simple, well-designed 100-percent organic T-shirts, tops, dresses, pants, sweaters and more. And the best part of it all is, not only are you doing your bit to save Mother Earth, but you're cutting down on dry-cleaning expenses, because all of Adeline's clothing is simple wash-and-wear, with a mostly wrinkle-free finish. The Richmond Avenue location opened less than a year ago and its offerings have already earned rabid fans.

Best Storage Facility

BullsEye Storage

If you're an enterprising thief and want an easy score, look for a storage facility. Find one's that open 24 hours, and then rent the cheapest unit available for access. Show up around midnight with a pair of bolt cutters and have your way. However, you won't want to choose a storage facility that has surveillance cameras or infrared laser beams shooting around the perimeter of the building. So don't choose BullsEye Storage. The place is nuts about security and does, in fact, use infrared laser beams. Even if you're a paying customer, you need special permission to get in after 9 p.m. If you're just looking for a secure place to store your stuff, BullsEye is a safe bet. And if you need to hide or store something where humidity control is important, BullsEye has that, too.

Best Therapist

Denise O'Doherty, L.P.C.

Psychotherapist Denise O'Doherty has all the right credentials: She's a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. Oh, and she's also a registered psychiatric nurse. She has a supportive, empowering approach. Have a problem with boundaries? Or maybe your self-esteem is low. No worries. O'Doherty has practical exercises for you that will take you from feeling helpless to feeling strong. Finally willing to face your fears and anxiety? O'Doherty will be there, guiding you every step of the way. Many of O'Doherty's clients come from the GLBT crowd; she's an advocate for gender education among the psychiatric community. And don't worry if you're not ready for weekly shrink sessions — O'Doherty teaches several workshops through Leisure Learning.

Best Tobacco Shop

Tobacco Habana

This store could win on name alone. Genius. But Tobacco Habana is a serious smoke shop. There's a good selection of pipe and rolling tobacco and papers and pipes and lighters and cutters. There's also those cigarette brands you can't find at the typical corner store. The cigar selection stands out, with a humidor that's huge for the store's size. Check out the Gurkha Warlord cigar, which is a beast. Smoking is allowed inside, with some lounge chairs and a table set up for smokers. Another nice surprise for this small store: Tobacco Habana also sells Cuban-esque smoking shirts from Perdomo and others.

Best Toy Store

Fundamentally Toys

Are you a parent who feels like you're going to snap if you see that freaking Geoffrey the Giraffe one more time? Well, there is a surefire way to avoid stepping into that developmentally delayed mutant of a mammal's lair ever again: Fundamentally Toys. First of all, they have a "toy philosophy," which sounds pretty darn cool, and what parent worth his or her salt wouldn't agree with this: "While playing should always be FUN, it must also be taken seriously. Children are building a variety of skills, talents and abilities as they play. Their playthings should enrich and enhance their development." The store backs that up with a ton of exciting and educational games and toys. Plus, they plan and host theme birthday parties, providing the activities and the cupcakes, so you can kick back and actually have time to enjoy things — without once ever having to check behind your back for that long-necked behemoth.

Best Used Furniture

Blodgett Street Store

If you're looking to give the ol' pad a modern makeover, then be sure you're free on Saturday. That's the only day this little shop near Texas Southern University is open. Luckily, it's stocked with plenty of modern-design sofas, chairs, bed frames, lamps, dishware, artwork and other furnishings. In other words, it's a one-stop shop. The selection does outweigh the space, so you'll need to do some rearranging and light lifting to see everything, but it's worth it. The staff (and by staff we mean the owner, who runs it on her own) is knowledgeable, friendly and, most importantly, reasonable.

Best Vet

West Alabama Animal Clinic

Dr. Danielle Rosser brings her golden ­retriever to work every day. Lucky dog. The homey atmosphere, friendly staff and fat cats lounging on the counter create an old-time ambience, but the new two-story, state-of-the-art, $1.5 million building next to the original clinic is nothing but high-tech animal health care. Need a DNA test to determine your mutt's ­heritage? Done. Doggie needs dental work? Done. Boarding your pup or cat? Check them into the new clinic's facilities for a relaxing stay. There's grooming, day care and ­behavioral medicine — everything for the pampered pet in your life.

Best Video Store

Movies! The Store

When you enter this neighborhood spot, owner and manager Rob Arcos greets you with a smile and a wave. You can walk in totally clueless about what to rent, and Rob will happily offer recommendations on anything from TV shows to indie and foreign flicks. He has a lot of stuff you haven't heard of and, since he's seen all his stock, can tell you if it's good or bad. While his collection isn't comprehensive, it has everything we've ever needed for a slothful weekend of movie marathons. Awesome daily specials (including two-for-one catalog items on Wednesdays) keep this local business competitive with Netflix. But if lust is your vice, you're better off trying 420 down the street — contrary to what some think, Movies! does not have a "back room."

Best Vintage Clothing

Retropolis

Retropolis is a little overstuffed with goods from the '30s to the '80s, but any true vintage buyer knows it's all about the hunt. The place is known for its well-stocked (and fairly priced) selection of vintage dresses, pearl-snap cowboy shirts and jewelry, but there's always a wide range of wares from every era. We recommend giving yourself a couple of hours to wander through this Heights location. It operates like a vintage mini-mall, with a variety of vendors always adding their latest finds to the mix. The prices meet the condition (in other words, if you want something nice, you'll pay for it) but nothing is too steep, unlike the prices you'll find up the road.

Best Vintage Record Store

Sound Exchange

Sound Exchange has been slanging rare and collectible records to Houston's stone-cold junkies for years now. And those junkies have good reason to be repeat customers; the incredibly fresh selection and well-priced bins of '60s psychedelic music and soul are hard to beat. And the two owners are courteous enough — or fiendish enough — to regularly slip you some hip sounds from their secret stash. You'll most likely leave the place as high as can be with a fat sack of vinyl under your arm and a little coin left over in your wallet.

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