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Best Comic Book Store

8th Dimension Comics & Games

Ever since Jeremy and Annie Bulloch opened their shop off West and Highway 6 in 2011, it's been an exceptional hub of geek culture that gets bigger and better. Poised to have double the floor space in the very near future, 8th Dimension is not only chock-full of the best local and national comic titles, but also maintains a premier game room that sometimes runs all night and has food delivery right to the table. Lately the Bullochs also have started hosting concerts for acts like the Doubleclicks, and they've instituted a widely successful series of ladies' nights that are always packed.

Best Adult Gift Store

Zone D'Erotica

One of the crown jewels of the Galleria area, this boutique has been serving Houstonians' naughtier sides for many years. It's truly one-stop shopping — you can get your traditional one and three-fourths-inch red ball gag, kiwi-strawberry lube, French maid's outfit and an Adam & Eve Easy Anal Buddy on your way home from work for that romantic evening with your partner. Or if you just want to spend the night alone curled up with a good movie, you might want to check out a contemporary or classic DVD from the shop's impressive library. And keep this place in mind for bachelorette parties and birthdays. (Two words: penis balloons. You're welcome.)

Best Antiques Store

Carl Moore Antiques

One of the reasons we love this place so much is that everyone here is interested in antiques as fun, stylish pieces, as opposed to dusty, staid museum relics. As discussed on the store's website, some people immediately equate "antique" with hand-crocheted doilies and a "floral teacup and saucer." But take a quick glance at Carl Moore's inventory, and you'll find pieces that could really spruce up your place, like maybe a Scandinavian long case clock (c.1800) or some funky-looking iron and leather armchairs from France (c.1940). Check out the extensive selection for yourself, and you'll see what we mean.

Best Costume Shop

Party Boy Texas

We love this place so much, we can hardly wait for Halloween. A random Tuesday will do. With costumes ranging from superheroes to Jazz Age flappers, from theatrical garb to mascots, Party Boy has something for just about every occasion. The prices are right, and the staffers are courteous, knowledgeable and ready with suggestions if you're not sure who or what you want to be. Party Boy has what you need for a memorable birthday party or thematic bar crawl. What are you waiting for? Let's get the party started.

Best Place to Buy Gaming Supplies

Asgard Games

There may be no better place than Asgard to let out your inner geek. Or even your outer one, for that matter. That's because Asgard hosts weekly tournaments for games like Magic: The Gathering, with plenty of tables for you and your fellow knights, elves and wizards to enjoy an afternoon of spell-casting and sword-clashing. You can also shop online, or hop on over to the forums to chat with your fellow gamers. There's a good chance you'll pop in for the latest cards, figurines and other supplies only to wind up with some new gaming pals.

Best Web Comic

Jason Poland's Robbie and Bobby

Jason Poland got started cartooning playing Mario Paint on Super Nintendo, and from there graduated to doing Robbie and Bobby for The Daily Cougar. Now it's easily the most amusing web comic in the city. Call it a darker version of Calvin and Hobbes for the Cartoon Network generation. That's as good a description as any, and it shows off the playful dichotomy Poland brings to the comic. One second it's as lighthearted and irreverent as Family Circus, and then the next it's like one of those Bug-Eyed Earl anecdotes from Red Meat. The web format gives Robbie and Bobby an edge and room to explore the format, and Poland uses every inch of that space.

Best Car Wash

Splash Hand Car Wash

In a city where the car is king, there'd better be some good car washes. Fortunately, Houstonians have a healthy array of lathering options, even if it's just a quick-and-cheap gas station drive-through. But if you want a cut above without breaking the bank, we recommend Splash. For $16 to $23, depending on your vehicle, you get an interior vacuum, hand wash with lamb wool mitts, chamois hand dry, wipe-down wash, window cleaning, rim cleaning and free tire dressing — all in about 15 minutes. Splash also offers a bevy of more comprehensive services, such as detailing and waxing, for a reasonable cost. It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and with two other locations in town, there's a good chance you won't have to drive too far. Your car will thank you, trust us.

Best Head Shop

Smoke Dreamz

For 12 years, the dudes at this family-owned shop have been making your hazy dreamz come true. They carry some of the finest glass accessories, hookahs, shisha, vaporizers, e-cigs, kratom, tattoo supplies, premium lighters and even body jewelry. Some of the glass pieces, including stellar creations by Pure, HELIX, Sheldon Black, US Tubes, Illadelph and others, are simply works of art. These folks pride themselves on customer satisfaction, so whether you're a lifelong smoker or a newbie, you will be treated with the utmost courtesy and respect, and the staff will help you find exactly what you need. Now if you'll excuse us, we hear some brownies calling our name.

Best Mechanic

Arthur's Auto Service

We recently towed an inoperable but sentimentally valuable 21-year-old Dodge truck that had been literally put out to pasture on a family farm north of Waco to a nearby dealership. The place demanded $5,000 just to replace the fuel pump. Two months later, after said fuel pump conked out, we hauled the truck to Arthur's Auto Service, where owner Arthur Cruz asked only $356 to repair the "repaired" fuel pump. Cruz also fixed the interior lights for free — "All I did was turn them up" — and charged only $150 to resurrect the A/C from years of inactivity. Next time, wherever a vehicle conks out, we'll slap that sucker on a flatbed bound for Arthur's and be the richer for it. Arthur and wife Bertha's kindly natures and low fees are straight out of Mayberry.

Best Jewelry Store

Zadok Master Jewelers

For seven generations and 35 years, the Zadok family has brought Houstonians the finest shininess. Boasting several Gemological Institute of America graduates on staff, the Zadok crew knows just about all there is to know about jewelry. Whether you're looking for loose diamonds or watches, or you need your precious stones serviced (heh), Zadok can do it all. Jewelry brands include A & Furst, Bulgari, Tacori and Marco Moore. And the timepiece collection includes watches from Hublot, Michele, Breitling and Montblanc. With more than 12,000 square feet of first-class inventory, Zadok is the best. And you and yours certainly deserve the best, right?

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