Goods & Services >>

• Best Place to Buy Carnival Chalkware
  Historic District Antique Mall
  We tried to resist our newest obsession, vintage carnival chalkware, but we failed. It certainly didn't help that while we were out looking for end tables, we stumbled on a treasure trove of this cool stuff, which used to be handed out as prizes at carnival dime pitches in the '30s and '40s. Our... More >>
• Best Soda Selection
  Pop the Soda Shop
  Looking for that ultra-spicy ginger beer that they serve at your favorite indie restaurant? Come to Pop the Soda Shop. Not only do they have the elusive drink you've been searching for (as well every conceivable kind of ginger ale, ginger soda, and ginger beer out there), they have more... More >>
• Best Souvenirs
  Francine Sumner Jewelry
  Francine Sumner didn't mean to become a successful jewelry designer. She just didn't want to fork over a lot of money for that cute "mommy jewelry" she wanted, namely the hand-stamped silver discs with kid names that every mom worth her station wagon is wearing around town these days. Sumner... More >>
• Best New Coffee House
  Toshi's Roast
  Ten years ago, if a restaurant were to charge $5 for coffee, it would have been laughed out of business. That's why Toshi's Roast in Surprise nabbed our vote this year — because if a cuppa Joe is going to cost as much as a decent burger, than it had damn well better be imported from South... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, Downtown Phoenix
  Conspire
  In our often-sheltered, middle-class world, nothing's worse than waiting in line for a cup of coffee. And though there are plenty of mainstream and mom-and-pop shops in town serving caffeinated goodness, there always seems to be a queue moving at a snail's pace. Grrr. That's until Conspire began... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, South of the Ballpark
  Royal Coffee Bar
  It's easy to forget about this downtown gem — but every time we remember it's there, we wonder why we don't go more often. True, it's located in a part of town that's usually busy only on game day, but it's worth stepping off the beaten path (by which we mean Roosevelt Row and/or Seventh... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, North Phoenix
  Fiddler's Dream
  If coffee shops were people, Fiddler's Dream would be an aging hippie who just wants, like, music, freedom and peace, man. Despite its weekend-only hours and Quaker meeting-hall digs, we love Fidd's because it's a true community in a city of 5 million-plus people. The $1 brew's pretty solid... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, West Valley
  Mighty Cup & Spoon Coffee House & Gallery
  Mighty Cup is housed in an awesome vintage home with funky furnishings, serving up a mean cup of joe (along with teas, espressos, and other high-octane drinkage) with a groovy, laid-back vibe. But there's more than just beverage action to be had, as the works of local artists adorn the walls,... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, East Valley (2 Comments)
  Ground Central
  Being stuck in Phoenix, sans vehicle, sucks. That goes double if your ride is in the shop and you're relying on your folks, who live in east Mesa, to drive you around. Ugh. Where to go? Hightail it (rather, get them to hightail you) to Ground Central, an indie coffee shop tucked away in one of... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, Scottsdale
  The Orange Table
  The Orange Table is almost invisible compared to high-profile neighbors like SMoCA and AZ88, but we kind of love that about it. You can stick with coffee — the menu's complete in that arena, and no one will mind if you hang around all day, on the patio or inside. But trust us, you'll want... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, Tempe
  Cartel Coffee Lab
  Looking for coffee in all the wrong Tempe places? Get your bean-loving butt to Cartel. Walk through its cheerful black-and-white tiled foyer into the mellow-but-hip high-ceilinged space, and you will swear you've died and gone to coffee heaven. And that's before you taste the espresso, which, in... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Coffee House, Southeast Valley
  The Coffee Shop
  This upscale espresso emporium, located next door to the bucolic Joe's Farm Grill, offers the same variety of caffeinated beverages you'd find at any other coffee house around the Valley (lattes, blended drinks, iced mochas). But that's where the similarities end, as The Coffee Shop is far... More >>
• Best Tea Room
  Souvia
  Tea is cool. Or hot. This cute little shop will lure you with delicious aromas that permeate the neighborhood. Perhaps that's because the stewards of this one-of-a-kind establishment have collected about 120 varieties from the world's greatest tea estates. The selection includes white, green,... More >>
• Best Head Shop
  Graffiti Shop
  Graffiti Shop, often referred to as "Graffiti Underground" because it's downstairs from Gordon Biersch, has been around since 1987, making it one of the longest-running, independent business left on Mill Avenue. True to its name, the walls (and ceiling) of the shop are covered with graffiti, but... More >>
• Best Smoke (1 Comment)
  Churchill's Fine Cigars
  The first time we set foot in Churchill's, we were smoking novices. Sure, there'd been a few cigarettes here and there, but nothing serious. The guy behind the counter gave us a big smile, as though he could sense how green we were, and asked what we'd like and what we'd smoked before. Lesson... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Thunderbird Wine
  V.A. Market Liquors
  Hobo wine is shockingly hard to come by these days. In search of the perfect gag gift, we scoured the landscape for the self-proclaimed "American Classic," but were running on fumes 'til we stumbled on a Web site called bumwine.com. In addition to profiles of the tramp-booze clan (T-Bird... More >>
• Best Wine Selection
  Total Wine & More
  We thought we knew the meaning of "jaw-dropping" until we set foot inside Total Wine, the sprawling Dionysian temple whose name pretty much says it all. In the past year, the national retailer has opened two locations in the Valley, and both have become to wine lovers what IKEA is to compulsive... More >>
• Best Beer Selection
  Sun Devil Liquors
  If you live near downtown Mesa, you have no idea how much we envy you. Because Sun Devil Liquors, that unassuming, ordinary-looking little joint on Country Club happens to be one of our favorite haunts — and we don't even live in the neighborhood. Yes, we're shamelessly devoted to this den... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Agwa (1 Comment)
  Top's Liquor
  In addition to carrying more than 1,700 wines and 600 beers, Top's has also been staying on top of the latest imported trend drinks. It was one of the first locations to offer absinthe when the lucid, weaker American version was legalized, and it was the first location we found Agwa de Bolivia... More >>
• Best Drive-Thru Liquor Store
  Jerry's Liquors
  The government can take away our right to privacy, free speech, and reproductive choice, but damn if they'll stop us from grabbing a 40 for the road. With its colossal teal-and-white sign and red flashing marquee arrow, Jerry's Liquors is like a time warp back to the days of bobby socks and... More >>
• Best Car Wash
  Los Olivos Car Wash
  Like Sonny and Cher used to sing, "It's the little things that mean a lot." We couldn't agree more, and that's why we've made Los Olivos our one and only — car wash, that is. Besides getting a great wash and wax, Los Olivos offers a long list of "little things," like more-than-friendly... More >>
• Best Cab Company
  Yellow Cab
  It doesn't take a lot to be the best cab company in Phoenix. Valley bar hoppers and newcomers alike can tell horror stories about Phoenix cabs. One such baby Phoenician says she called for a cab and was picked up by two non-English speakers in an unmarked minivan. When she asked to go to the... More >>
• Best Free Designated Driver in a Mercedes
  Idle Inc. Exclusive Chauffeur Service
  So you're afraid of Arizona's insanely strict DUI laws? Join the club. But there's good news. Now you can go drinking and get a free ride home. That is, if you're willing to intoxicate yourself at a growing roster of high-end Scottsdale bars, restaurants, and resorts. Those destinations will... More >>
• Best Place to Ogle a $200,000 Car
  Scottsdale Ferrari/Maseratti
  Browsing or buying? What's a car junkie like you to do when the Barrett-Jackson auction is months away and you're desperate for some auto lust? We've got just the glory land, with your fill of Ferrari, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Maybach and other $200,000-plus rides. This gem of a dealership... More >>
• Best Free Car Show
  Scottsdale Pavilions Car Show
  The law of entropy says that energy dissipates if not contained. But humans like to localize their energies, and thankfully so because some of us have some pretty sweet cars. There's no better place to see a hundred or so collector cars than the free Scottsdale Pavilion car show, every Saturday... More >>
• Best Bike Shop
  Wayne Frank's Bicycle Repair Center
  Wayne Frank's west-side bike repair shop has been 'hood-certified for years. A throwback to Sesame Street's Fix-It Shop, the BRC is all hanging bike frames and seemingly scattered parts, while proprietor Frank doles out rock-solid service with a smile. The shop's landline has been long gone... More >>
• Best Bike Co-Op
  Bike Saviours
  For the Bike Saviours, good habits start at home. The co-operative, run out of a residence, puts the power of bicycle knowledge in the hands of the people, teaching them to fix and maintain their rides or even build one from scratch. Recycled parts, tax-deductible donations (Saviours has... More >>
• Best Skateboard Shop
  Cowtown Skateboards
  Maybe it's the store's proximity to College Town, USA, but Tempe's Cowtown is the shiz when it comes to scoring the hottest skate gear. Look for limited edition and hard-to-find stuff like Sector Nine's gorgeous surf-inspired long boards, cool Royal brand skull-and-crossbones trucks, and Nike's... More >>
• Best Toy Store for Adults
  Synthetic Compound
  Earlier this year, Gren Radcliff's toy store for big kids moved from a cubbyhole inside of The Firehouse art collective into a beautiful and more visible location inside of Pravus gallery. We don't want to tell Radcliff how to run his business (and no offense to the good people at The... More >>
• Best Comic Book Store (1 Comment)
  Drawn to Comics
  If the comic book mega-stores that dominate this category every year are the Superman and Batman of the retail universe, then this tiny, 550-square-foot shop in the heart of downtown Glendale is more like the Boy Wonder — puny in comparison, but with a lot of heart. Let's face it, X-Men... More >>
• Best Place to Get Your Game On (1 Comment)
  Arizona Arcade and Pinball Store
  Today's video games just aren't what they used to be. Million-dollar budgets and expectations for cinematic cut scenes in full rendered video have ruined the once-humble game. Can you imagine Pac-Man as a 70-hour epic MMORPG epic? What's wrong with just eating ghosts and, sometimes, a... More >>
• Best Library for DVD Rentals
  Scottsdale Public Library system
  If you're driving by Burton Barr Central Library and think, "By golly, I think I'll check out a first-run DVD tonight!" — uh, no. Barr's by far the largest repository of municipally owned intellectual property in the state, and the Phoenix library system's flagship is a victim of its own... More >>
• Best Magazine Rack
  MADE art boutique
  What makes a real city? For us, it's always been about the magazines. A good town can't have too many magazine racks. Our favorite local rack is found at one of our favorite local shops, MADE. The selection's not as big as the commercial bookstore departments, but don't let that fool you. The... More >>
• Best Bookstore
  Changing Hands Bookstore
  Bookstores may be a dime a dozen (the way novels used to be), but there's something priceless about Changing Hands Bookstore, the independently owned Tempe shop that's become a Valley destination for book lovers, shopaholics, and DIY types. Along with a stunning selection of new and used reads... More >>
• Best Place to Buy a First-Edition Zane Grey
  Pages
  Considering this just-opened bookstore is in the middle of a brand-new shopping center in Cave Creek, we assumed we'd see a lot of soccer-mom reading, like Jodi Picoult and Mitch Albom. Boy, were we wrong! The husband-and-wife team that owns this friendly shop has carefully assembled some really... More >>
• Best Place to Find Mystery
  The Poisoned Pen
  If Edgar Allan Poe were alive and a Phoenician, where would he buy his books? Probably at the Poisoned Pen, the Old Town Scottsdale home of all things mystery and fiction. More likely, Poe would set foot in the Poisoned Pen during a book tour. After all, many of the best mystery authors in the... More >>
• Best High-Stress Used-Book Sale
  VNSA Charity Used Book Sale
  The meek may inherit the Earth, but it's the cunning and the cocksure who score the cool stuff at this long-lived literary offload. The boldest treasure hunters leave nothing to chance, camping out the night before as if they were trying to score tickets to a Led Zep reunion concert. All to... More >>
• Best Low-Stress Used-Book Sale
  Heard Museum Guild Library Book & Treasure Market
  If you're an eBay PowerSeller, you'll scoff at this modest sale. The number 30,000 — that's the total quantity of items typically up for grabs — will make you chortle softly. Poor saps, you'll say to yourself, thinking of those potential book buyers who choose to thumb through books,... More >>
• Best Place to Find a Typewriter
  Mesa Typewriter Exchange
  Before desktop and laptop computers, there were typewriters. Remember? Well, we do, and we even use them from time to time to type up to-do lists and letters to be sent in the mail. (Yes, people still do that, too.) Our favorite place to browse for these time-tested machines is the Mesa... More >>
• Best Boutique
  Frances
  We've given owner Georganne Bryant a nod in our Sideshow profiles but really, an issue of Best of Phoenix just wouldn't be complete without an award for Best Boutique, and we've gotta hand it to Frances. From carefully chosen vintage clothing (we even noticed the Goldwater's Department Store... More >>
• Best Shopping in the Roosevelt District
  Bunky Boutique
  In some cities, no self-respecting chick would ever disclose where she found her great clothes. Names of sassy stores and boutiques are guarded like state secrets. And sometimes they are — ever notice how downtown types dress like ensemble creation is an Olympic event? Not so for Bunky... More >>
• Best Shopping on Grand
  Shop Devious
  If you've ever worried that fashion and budget couldn't possibly co-exist, you've obviously never been to Anna Marie's funky Shop Devious on rapidly changing Grand Avenue. We've slated our lust for handbags here many times, like when we snagged a brand new herringbone and velvet ribbon clutch... More >>
• Best Boutique for Kids
  Garage, A Body Shop for Kids
  All the way at the back of The Mix, the glam, Fred Segal-ish collection of shops on Scottsdale's Stetson Drive, you'll find our favorite boutique, Garage. Here, almost all pretense is thrown to the wind, and you can hang at the candy bar (eat your heart out, Dylan Lauren) and browse mini-me... More >>
• Best Kids' Accessories
  Lollilocks
  There are lots of kiddy hair salons cutting their way into the market, and frankly, they're all about the same when it comes to Junior's buzz cut. But our favorite, aesthetically speaking, is Lollilocks. From the candy-themed décor to the spa pedicures in the back and the handy "kiddy... More >>
• Best Kids' Used Clothing
  Small Change
  We were shopping for gently used kids' clothing long before some greenster thought to call it "recycling." Whatever you call it, Small Change is the place. You won't find clothing from Target or Old Navy (what's the point, it's practically free at the lower-end spots) but Small Change stocks the... More >>
• Best Vintage Clothing
  Mint Vintage
  This shop is kind of a two-for-one deal. Mint is located inside Red Modern Furniture, one of the best and most reliable places to find quality mid-century furniture in town. But, as that '70s chaise we have our eye on is a bit out of our price range, Mint Vintage is the real reason we frequent... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Designer Jeans for Cheap
  Goodwill
  Wouldn't you like to see what recycled designer threads you could find at a Goodwill in Beverly Hills? Well, you don't have to fly to L.A. because we've got a Goodwill in Scottsdale that, yes, recycles the designer digs of trophy wives and trust-fund babies alike. We know a wise man who used to... More >>
• Best Place to Buy an Old Angora Sweater
  Hollywood Regency
  When it opened a couple of years ago, this wonderful antiques shop made its mark by offering the usual cool old furniture and wonderful mid-century housewares at rock-bottom prices. But not long ago, proprietress Heidi Owens opened up Hollywood Regency's back room and made space for a... More >>
• Best Place to Buy a Gas Mask and a Pair of High Heels
  Fetish Falls
  This new fetish and fashion shop has everything a sexy freak needs for a night out, from glittery hair extensions and spiked bracelets to vinyl bustiers and straitjackets. But the shop's most impressive merchandise is its selection of gas masks, and we're not talking about some cheap-ass,... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Spy Gear
  Spy Headquarters
  Maybe you're hunting ghosts and you need an electromagnetic field detector. Maybe you want to spy on your significant other with a hidden camera made to look like a desk clock. Perhaps you're the parent of a stoner teen and would like to find an EZ-5 disposable drug test. Maybe you're the stoner... More >>
• Best Spa
  Golden Door Spa at the Boulders
  It probably would be therapy enough just to visit the Boulders, an elegant resort set in a particularly lovely part of Carefree, on a landscape with massive clumps of brownish-red rock and lush desert life. But once we've driven that far north, there is no way we're not going to make a stop at... More >>
• Best Budget Spa Event
  Spa Week
  Forget Disney World. The first thing we'll do after we win the lottery is head straight to the spa. The unequaled bliss of a day of pampering, fortified by a chorus of angels trilling "aaaaahhhhhhh" in the background, beats standing in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean any day.... More >>
• Best Boutique Pedicure
  Sundrops Nailspot
  Don't get us wrong: We're all about the cheap mani/pedi. We've scoured the city for low-end (but not dirty!) spots to get our toes polished for under $20. But sometimes, a girl's just gotta have a little primping, and that's when we head to Sundrops. Not in the hoity-toity spa category, this... More >>
• Best Alternative to Sending Flowers
  Nothing Bundt Cakes
  We'd sent brownies and iced cookies to just about everyone we know, which is why we were so happy to find a sweet new alternative to flowers. The folks at Nothing Bundt Cakes have turned the humble bundt into a work of art, starting with a moist, rich cake in your choice of flavors, and pouring... More >>
• Best Trophy Shop
  Award Mart
  We've used this mom-and-pop shop just off the McDowell exit of the 51 for years — and never once experienced a bad attitude, a missed deadline, or even a typo. And we know we're not alone in appreciating Award Mart's charms: Just about every time we're in there, we run into a cop or a... More >>
• Best Wedding Supplies
  Wedding Accessory Superstore
  Shopping for a wedding is the worst. Especially if the wedding isn't yours. Sure, shopping for your dress is kind of fun — getting to feel like a princess and having tons of attention lavished upon you always is — but the rest just sucks. You can burn a lot of gas driving from shop... More >>
• Best Resource for the Home Chef
  Sweet Basil Gourmetware and Cooking School Inc.
  We went for a 14-inch pizza pan and ended up hauling home a giant bagful of other stuff and signing up for a cooking class, as well. Once you've been to Sweet Basil, you'll understand why. There's too much temptation in this shop, which is clearly run by people who love hanging out in the... More >>
• Best Resource for the Professional Chef
  Phoenix Knife House
  It's no wonder people call Phoenix Knife House the barbershop for chefs. This inconspicuous little shop is not only a treasure trove for folks who need serious gear for the kitchen, it's a place for chefs to hang out and talk knives, food, and life with owner Eytan Zias, himself a former chef... More >>
• Best Baking Supplies
  ABC Baking Cake Decorating & Party Supplies
  We've always loved ABC Baking, but recently we took our favorite 7-year-old there, and experienced the place anew. The kid was awestruck by the rows of old cardboard boxes of treasure in the form of plastic cupcake toppers — bearing everything from the brand-new Kung Fu Panda to old-school... More >>
• Best Art Supplies
  Arizona Art Supply
  Oh, sure. You can get paintbrushes at any art supply store. But how about airbrushes? Or grease pencils imported from Latvia? Or one of those clever, little wooden guys with all the movable joints? There are art-supply stores, and then there's Arizona Art Supply, where the help treats you like... More >>
• Best Graffiti Art Supplies
  Just Blazed Hip-Hop Smoke Shop & Gallery
  Graffiti artists of the Valley, we feel your pain, yo. Sucka politicians are constantly trying to put the smackdown on your creative efforts with their anti-graffiti programs and by handing out some pretty wack penalties if you're caught doing your thing (including up to $150,000 in fines and... More >>
• Best Scrapbook Supplies
  Scrapbooks, Etc.
  If you're talking about photos, not pants, when you say "cropping" and you've got more punches than Muhammad Ali, you'll be in your element at Scrapbooks, Etc. The store offers a huge selection of lignin-free archival papers printed with everything from teddy bears to wizards to footballs.... More >>
• Best Paper Store
  The Paper Studio
  Oh, we love The Paper Studio. We love The Paper Studio so much that we're genuinely afraid to go inside — with our wallet in tow, at least. It's hard to browse with so much temptation — from handcrafted paper to scrapbook supplies to stamps and pre-made cards and glitter and, oh, we... More >>
• Best Bead Store
  Beads Galore
  Beads Galore is the REI of Valley bead shops, which is fitting, because it's just around the corner from the outdoor mega-store's East Valley outpost. BG is stocked wall to wall with everything a beader (beginning or advanced) could want, from basic supplies like wire and clasps to pearls in... More >>
• Best Place for Creative Inspiration
  Diane Ribbon & Notion Co.
  "Diane" is like the crazy love child of Michael and JoAnn, a place where you can find much of the crafting gear available at those bland chain stores, but where you can also find an entire aisle devoted to old plastic doll parts, equal in size to the ribbon department. There's no rhyme or... More >>
• Best Etsy Shop
  jasonhilldesign.etsy.com
  We try to feel only the love in Best of Phoenix, but we've got to stop and grouse for just a moment. Though we have a vibrant art scene, certain financial realities dictate that galleries don't, for the most part, keep regular hours — at least, not the downtown spots with the funky work we... More >>
• Best Artist's Sale
  Joe Willie Smith at Lizabel's Treasures
  First, we wanted the multicolored writing desk with the crossbow legs. Then we had to have the bright reddish-orange workbench, to use as a coffee table. Finally, we couldn't last another minute without the black-and-white-spotted legless side chair (we wanted to put it next to our bed as a... More >>
• Best Home Accessories
  Embellish Home
  Everyone knows that the last thing you're supposed to do before you leave the house is stop, look in the mirror, and remove one accessory. It's the key to elegance, as far as we're concerned. (Not to mention avoiding looking like a clown.) But when it comes to the home, we ditch the theory in... More >>
• Best High-End Antiques
  Antiques on Central
  The best high-end antique shop in the Valley is in the center of the city, on the northeast corner of Central and Camelback. Victorian writing tables, cherry wood waterfall bureaus, and Deco dining suites share space with Eames chairs and Mondrian prints — every era of fine furniture is... More >>
• Best Antiques on a Budget
  Rust and Roses
  We had no idea what we were going to do with the 1830s Federal-style hope chest we found at this, our fave place to buy shabby-chic décor for our home and garden, and we didn't care, because the price (and the piece itself!) were so breathtaking. Ditto a 19th-century French silver coffee... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Swell '60s Décor
  Vintage Solutions
  Vintage Solutions' tagline is, "Offering you endless possibilities for your home," which is certainly true — we've decorated practically our entire home with amazing finds from this fabulous furniture store. But what's really been piquing our interest of late is the swell selection of... More >>
• Best Place to Snag an Authentic All About Eve Poster
  Femmes Fatales & Fantasies Art Museum & Gallery
  The following nugget of wisdom was drilled into us the minute we signed our first mortgage: Take care of your house because, someday, it'll take care of you. Weeeelllllll, maybe. If you live in Connecticut. Or Monaco. Here in Phoenix, homeowners are shackled to the fickle fortunes of a Wild... More >>
• Best Place to Buy a Guitar
  Musicians Discount
  Because musicians are some of the most competitive folks we know in the creative community, a music store founded and operated by these people may sound kind of intimidating. But even folks who are starting or playing in their first band will feel welcome at Musicians Discount. The spacious... More >>
• Best Place to Exchange a Guitar (1 Comment)
  Ziggie's Music
  These cats, in business since 1927, definitely know what they're doing when it comes to headstocks, fret boards, whammy bars, and all of that other fancy talk about guitars. Even if you don't speak the lingo, you can still find yourself a kickass acoustic or electric guitar during the store's... More >>
• Best Place to Buy CDs
  Eastside Records
  Aside from being one of the few truly independent record stores in town, Eastside's always had a reputation for satisfying eccentric tastes. Sure, you can go to the mall for that copy of Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds (Eastside will have it, too), but where do you go when you're... More >>
• Best Place to Sell CDs
  Zia Record Exchange
  Of course, Zia offers more in trade than in cash (after a recent sale, they offered us $57 in trade credit or $39 in cash), but they also pay more for CDs than any other place in town (some places, like a particular bookstore chain that also sells used CDs, will offer only pennies on the... More >>
• Best Place to Buy Vinyl and a Turntable to Play It On
  Revolver Records
  Revolver has a small amount of CDs for sale, but the store's forte is vinyl records — rooms upon rooms of them. There's an entire room of records filled with jazz platters, and rows of rock records, too. Hell, we even found two copies of the 1972 post-Jim Morrison Doors record Other... More >>
• Best Record Swap Meet
  Arizona American Italian Club
  About once every month, a hall that's normally reserved for bingo and pasta dinners is transformed into a place where rare dusties and cheap-o wax cylinders in every musical genre possible sell for reasonable prices. The heavy hitters of the local vinyl scene — including Revolver Records,... More >>
• Best Addition to a Strip Mall
  Hoodlums
  We would head to the southeast corner of Guadalupe and McClintock just to go to Changing Hands — or Trader Joe's, or China Max, or even Baskin-Robbins, but now we're happy to report we have yet another reason to hit the south Tempe strip mall. Hoodlums, the record store smoked out of the... More >>
• Best DIY Dog Wash
  Wag N' Wash Healthy Pet Center
  Problem: Your dog stinks. Auxiliary problem: You're can't stomach overpriced groomers who slap those pink bitch bows on your pal's collar even though he's a pit bull named Butch. There is a solution, and the "green" chain Wag N' Wash pioneered it at its six stores in Colorado, Illinois, and... More >>
• Best Place to Find Stuff for Your Fish
  Pets Inc.
  The 20-gallon fish tank we bought for our children three years ago is a regular Garden of Eden, where lots of going forth and multiplying goes on, and death is a stranger. We owe it all to Pets Inc. Things weren't always this good. We were worried when we set up the tank — we knew anything... More >>
• Best Place to Buy a Plastic Worm
  Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
  If you can't find the fake lure to fit your specifications at this off-the-grid outdoors emporium, it doesn't exist. The selection is mind-boggling, monstrous, even excessive, if that's possible in this big-box age. However, not everyone is a sucker for the Bass, which started life in 1971 with... More >>
• Best Place to Help Your Pet Go Green
  Bonnie's Barkery
  Thanks to the popularity of "green" these days, you're probably already buying organic food for yourself. But what about your very best friend? Sarah Dixon started this popular Cave Creek-area pet supply shop a few years ago because she was frustrated by the lack of additive-free, free-range,... More >>