BEST CUP OF COFFEE ON GRAND 2006 | The Trunk Space | Shopping & Services | Phoenix
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BEST CUP OF COFFEE ON GRAND

The Trunk Space

There's something about JRC and Stephanie's little red espresso cart at the Trunk Space that's just so personal and accessible. It's like a car full of clowns, except the clowns are coffee, prepared with mad skills right in front of you. They also serve tea, snacks, fancy sodas, and even boba. Most things on the menu run $3 or less, and that's a conscious choice by your gracious hosts. Between sips, absorb a live performance, shop for art, apparel, books and gifts, and marvel further at how this much fun and coffee! can fit into this skinny julienne-fry of a gallery.

BEST SHOPPING OPPORTUNITY ON GRAND

Red Door Gallery

The vintage boutique in the back of Red Door is like three dozen estate sales on LSD, and we're drawn like magpies to the shiny, colorful objects on display. Artist Indigo Verton collects and prices the merchandise (mostly women's clothing and accessories) with a canny eye. If you want a little something for five or six bucks, it's here, but if you crave the pale blue Hello Kitty flight bag, it'll cost you. Last year, we admired gloriously hideous housewares from the mid-20th century, but those items seem to have moved over to .anti_space with designer Lisa Jacobs. There's still style aplenty at Red Door, though, and the selection of elaborate old hats, hostess aprons, and Sally Bowles-esque lingerie is a special treat. Devious Wigs and Things rounds out the offerings with fake hair and lashes in rainbow hues. The boutique's not open every day, but you can call Verton to check on the hours.

BEST REASON TO GO TO MESA

The Old JC Penney

The name JC Penney doesn't usually conjure visions of shabby-chic treasures and super-cute baby clothes, but we make an exception for the shell of the former department store, at the intersection of Main Street and Robson in historic downtown Mesa. The original brickwork remains, but the rest of this building has been transformed into a two-story, high-end boutique mall housing Domestic Bliss, Baby Bliss and Bella Fine downstairs, and Green B clothing boutique upstairs. High ceilings and hardwood floors are the backdrop, and onstage, vintage meets new fashion. Domestic Bliss offers fine linens, bedroom accessories and custom design with an emphasis on shabby-chic flair. Find a white cottage play area for the kids as you shop for baby couture and high-dollar accessories such as nursery chandeliers in Baby Bliss. Bella Fine offers Tuscany-inspired home accessories and specializes in oversize mirrors, wall clocks, and custom floral designs. Upstairs, pass through Green B's pink and pressed glass antique door to indulge your inner diva with some serious bling. Embellished tee shirts, crystal studded belts, purses and slippers dot the dark green and black backdrop reminiscent of a Paris boutique. Be prepared to drop some of your own green: We found fabulous hand-stitched tee shirts for (gulp) $137. But just think the eye candy is free.

BEST NEW BOUTIQUE

Frances

We thought we had original taste, until we walked into Frances. Then the mixed emotions started. On one hand, we were delighted to see vintage cowboy boots alongside oilcloth, rhinestoned belt buckles next to the cutest lines of greeting cards we'd seen in a long time. On the other hand, we had to realize that not only is our taste unoriginal, it's not nearly as good as the taste of the owner, Georganne Bryant, who named this adorable shop after her grandmother and filled it with the most imaginative, whimsical, must-have stuff in town. There's a vintage section with carefully chosen dresses, purses and tees. A baby section, with only the best for the newest. Orchid-scented candles, polka-dotted flip-flops, jewelry, garden supplies. We're in love. We've always wanted to open our own boutique, but now there's no reason. Thank you, Frances!

BEST BOUTIQUE, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Purple Lizard

We were bummed when The Gap on Mill Avenue went belly up, but it always makes us even sadder to see a small, independent business go under. That's why we're so happy to report that after many years in business, Purple Lizard is still going strong, tucked into a small, packed space at the intersection of 15th Avenue and Thomas Road. We almost always run into someone we know at Marguerite's cozy shop, stocked with Flax, CP Shades, Dansko and other favorite, often hard-to-find brands, as well as original jewelry that puts any schlocky arts festival to shame. Our favorite is the line with bright blue and pink beads and other items strung and knotted with orange thread, adorned with clasps the artist commissions in New Mexico. Every item in the shop is a treasure, treated as such with great care as it's wrapped and presented, either as a gift or just for you.

BEST PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR AN OUTDOORSY TYPE

Sportsman's Warehouse

We've gotten to the point where we dread hearing the word "birthday." And "Christmas"? Don't get us started. In our overstocked, overstimulated, overdone world, the "perfect gift" just doesn't exist anymore particularly when you're trying to buy for the type who thinks the word "shop" is the worst kind of four-letter word. That's why we're so happy we found Sportsman's, particularly the gift bar, where we can make one stop and pick up something for every outdoorsman on the list from a GPS to a flashlight to binoculars, Sportsman's stocks a wide variety of camping toys. Does your loved one prefer the outdoors from afar? Buy a cute woodsy frame and put a picture of yourself in it, sitting by the campfire and cross another name off your list.

BEST PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR AN INDOORSY TYPE

Lush

We love Lush so much, we gave this creative bath and body store a Best of Phoenix last year, even before the first Valley location opened. In the past year, we haven't been disappointed! In fact, we've gone back several times, to stock up on charcoal face soap, lemony flutter cuticle butter, and our favorite, bubbling bath bars with a unique smell we can't get enough of. We love that Lush puts out cookies and lemonade on a Sunday afternoon, and always labels its products with a cute drawing of the person who actually made the item. Best of all, we love buying Lush products as gifts it mitigates our guilt, because we have to admit that the prices are a little steep. But really, what price can you put on the head of your child, we think to ourselves, as we buy our daughter's teacher the "Happy Gift" a box filled with six Lush products, scented with orange, jasmine, ginger and rose, for $45? And what the heck, we'll buy ourselves a "Desperate Housewife," too (including a Two Timing Tart bath bomb and Smitten Hand Cream, $22.50). We deserve it.

BEST HOLIDAY STORE FOR SANTA MUTINY

Holiday Haus

We may not have to deal with dashing through the snow during the winter holidays, but there are the usual retail disappointments when it comes to the aisles of monotonous Santa-themed gifts. Ditch the rabid shoppers fighting for cheesy fat-guy merch and stroll into this bright and bold contemporary gift shop created by the masters of campy pop-type home furnishings over at the year-round staple, Haus. Holiday Haus carries non-traditional, non-Santa-type holiday items such as a winter survival kit that comes with hand wipes, mistletoe mints, earplugs and a shot glass. Adult gifts include Knock Knock sex flash cards, retro Jonathan Adler ceramic accessories, and holiday cards handmade with felt materials by local biz Laboratory5. The fun selection of kids' toys ranges from cards and games to cosmo pop dolls and old books. The high on style and low on clich shop is open from November through January.

BEST THEME PARTIES

MADE art boutique

It doesn't matter if we're picking up a gift for a friend, or just a pick-me-up for ourselves we'll take any excuse to pore over the shelves of goodies at MADE. Ever since this minuscule shopping space expanded a few months ago, there's been even more to tempt us: pretty jewelry, yummy-smelling soaps, exquisite woodwork, and cute ceramics all made by local artists, hence the store's name plus a cheeky variety of books and greeting cards. But what really make this shop a perfect fit on Roosevelt Row are its art exhibitions, featuring functional pieces by local artists focusing on different themes, such as handmade clocks, birdhouses, or planters. It's an incredibly affordable way to support local talent. There is one catch, though: Savvy shoppers and art collectors inevitably snatch these right up at the show's opening reception. So if the idea of buying an artist-made objet sounds irresistible, sign up for the store's newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming shows and events. You wouldn't want to miss a good theme party, now, would you?

BEST MAGAZINE RACK

Borders Books & Music

Yet again we would have loved to give this category to a wonderful indie bookseller, but that would imply that Phoenix actually has one with a decent magazine rack. And since hell hasn't frozen over yet in the desert, Borders on Mill is still our top pick. Whether you're looking for gardening tips or interviews with world leaders, you'll find what you need somewhere among the store's six aisles of glossy publications. There's Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Maxim or Mental Floss if you actually want to exercise your noggin. Trekkies can blend in with normal folks while perusing the latest Starlog, and with so many titles crammed on the shelves, no one will notice if you grab a copy of Teen People. The best part is that Borders never seems to mind customers sitting down with a latte and thumbing through a periodical, even if you decide not to buy.

Best Of Phoenix®

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