Red Modern Furniture/Mint Vintage
Those who fondly remember palazzo pants or lava lamps will dig this museum-esque home décor shop, stocked with streamlined mid-century and Danish modern furniture by the likes of Eames,
Milo Baughman, and
Niels Andersen. Mint Vintage has an equally dazzling selection of retro threads, though thankfully we've yet to find the favored fuchsia sequined tube top of our youth.
201 E. Camelback Rd., 602-256-9620, redmodernfurniture.com
Revolver Records
Revolver carries used DVDs and games for the more technologically mod, but the real gems are the small racks of cassettes and 7-inch records you'll find when scouring the converted house's nooks and crannies. Lost wax — the tracks, not the art method — is king here. Used LPs are as little as $1.99, and the shop also stocks a healthy selection of newer artists like The Forget Me Nots and Dropkick Murphys for the cost of a couple of lattes.
4214 N. 7th Ave., 602-795-4980
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Castle Boutique
Since our theme is "toys," we couldn't resist a trip to the sex toy superstore. The sign outside this unassuming brick building indicates "Knight & Damsels Welcome" but the only thing medieval here is the large stock of paddles, restraints, and other torture devices designed to make your bedroom an adult playground. Look for games from foreplay dice to strip darts, fantasy videos, naughty "massagers" and other buzzing playthings guaranteed to make you blush.
300 E. Camelback Rd., 602-266-0426, castleboutique.com
Bunky Boutique
If you're looking for that "Oh, my God, where did you get that??" squeal from total strangers, head to this indie boutique in the Roosevelt District for East Coast designer threads and handmade jewelry, like the set of vintage dollhouse birdcage earrings we're currently coveting. Bunky's not just for gals, either. Though the quaint house is stuffed with little girls' tutus and sweet Lil Zilla sundresses, there's a separate "closet" area for the hip, fedora- and walking- shorts-wearing boys.
812 N. 3rd St. #2, 602-252-1323, bunkyboutique.com
Stuff Antiques • Qcumberz • Willo Historic District Antiques
Scour the crowded aisles of Stuff and you'll likely find the stuff you need to fix up your cute, '40s downtown bungalow, from maple secretary desks to dozens of chandeliers to leaded-glass windows salvaged from old buildings. Salvage yard goodies are also plentiful at Qcumberz, where there's a room of old windows and doors in a maze-like building brimming with discarded furniture, antique hardware and other treasures. Sanding and refinishing too much of a chore? The more upscale Willo sources their goods from local estate sales, which means most everything comes in picture-perfect shape.
Stuff Antiques: 4206 N. Central Ave., 602-266-1967 • Qcumberz: 4429 N. 7th Ave., 602-277-5133, qcumberz.com • Willo Historic District Antiques: 133 W. McDowell Rd., 602-266-0939, willoantiques.net
Wig Out
Glittery eyelashes? SweeTarts candy? Vintage Marc Jacobs handbag? Arizona native Anna Marie Gutierrez' funky little thrift shop/candy store/accessory boutique Devious Wigs & Things has it all. Devious carries clip-on hair extensions for $3 to $7 apiece, and synthetic wigs in natural and eye-popping neon shades for about 50 bucks a pop — a sweet deal for a good quality, washable, and style-able hairpiece. The shop also offers custom anime wigs, in case your geeky self just has to be Naruto or Miko Mido for the next cosplay fest.
The selection of vintage threads is equally quirky. On a recent visit, we scored a hot burgundy tweed mini with some awesome knee-length alligator print boots and striped tights for just over 30 bucks. For dudes, there's a solid selection of retro button-down shirts and blazers in the back room. When you need a break from bargain hunting, grab a chair and join Anna Marie and company in playing old board games or watching classics like Back to the Future on the small screen (via VCR, natch). — Wynter Holden
1229 Grand Ave., 602-330-5794, www.shopdevious.com
