Goods & Services

Bottom line: Size matters to miniature collectors, and the small-minded love this shop. At Auntie Em's, we can hold the whole world in our hands -- and decorate it. Doll houses feature furniture and every imaginable accessory, from place settings and appliances to minuscule trees and farm implements, even the teeniest cat food box. And those with big ambitions can pick up the wood, tools, paint and glue necessary to create their own trinkets. Need a little guidance? Peruse the racks of how-to books, videos and crafty magazines.

And for once, go ahead and bring the boys, for also on the premises: Smilin' Jack's Pedal Cars. (We appreciate the noncommittal slogan: "If it's got a pedal or wheel, we may have it.")

Our car was a beauty in its day, a 1960 Cadillac. But it had been so long since we'd been able to find parts to take care of it, it had fallen into a quiet, dusty sleep of disrepair. Then, we found Arizona Vintage Parts, and our pretty car knew it had gone to heaven. The place is hard to locate, down a dirt road with virtually no address, but it's got pretty much everything a vintage auto connoisseur could ever need. Some customers come from other countries just to find that perfect chrome accent, or engine part. The specialty is Cads, from 1930 to 1985. But there's a treasure trove for all makes and models of antique cars, with parts like water pumps, fuel pumps, brake parts, U-joints, bearings, seals, ignitions, front end, gaskets, fenders, panels, hubcaps, bumpers, floorboards, radios, antennas, seat belts, steering pumps and so much more. Another big bonus: Everything is rust-free.

Baby, we can drive our car!

Rich Ihle is known as the snake or reptile man. He has a large collection of scaly friends, with names like Freckles, Miss Piggy, Junior, Mrs. Square, T-Bo and Theresa. Freckles is a leopard gecko from India. Miss Piggy is a western hognose snake. Theresa is a tiger-phase reticulated python, the longest snake in the world, growing to 30 feet. Ihle is very interesting. He enjoys educating people of all ages about these often misunderstood animals, and showing his live creatures for schools, libraries, malls, scout and church organizations, youth groups, fairs, and other special events. The animals that he uses in his programs are captive reared and extremely tame, making them perfect for school classroom hands-on presentations (including preschool), birthday and company parties, even as stars in commercials and movies. As Ihle says, the critters actually enjoy the attention as much as we enjoy the show. What a ssssscintillating ssssservice.

Thanks to the superb selection at this cool new shop, our garden now looks like an advertisement for antique dealer Michael Robertson's latest business venture. We dropped in to buy a couple of vintage earthenware pots, and left with a truckload of outdoor decor we couldn't live without. Our garden's gorgeous with Garden Party finds: a stupendous Virgin Mary fountain; a just-weathered-enough Adirondack lounger; and a crate full of like-new gardening tools that double as ornamentation. We plan to go back for another tour of the extra-cool "Shabby Chic White Room," where last trip we snagged an ecru crackle-glazed "Pissing Boy" statue and a marvelous milk glass flower bowl. Fans of campy Catholic art will want to check out the roomful of Jesus junk, and anyone else with a patch of planted soil will surely score something from this marvelous hoard.

Looking for glamour? Looking to shine? Are you a performer? A star? A man who dresses in women's clothing? Well, then . . . Boom Boom LaRue's is the place for you. Located within the shabby chic space of Vintage Interiors, sequined gowns are packed on the racks. Each piece of costume jewelry is hand-picked so there are no duplicates (this ensures that no fashion faux pas occur onstage). Boas, tiaras and wigs (oh my!).

But the true treasures are those elusive size 12 and up stilettos and go-go boots. So all you men who have an upcoming command performance at Pookies, stop in and freshen up your look and avoid looking drag -- we mean, drab.

If it came out of Africa, chances are this place sells it. With walls of several rooms plastered with artworks -- copper reliefs, paintings, masks, woodcarvings -- Gold Coast is almost more museum than store. Imported from 26 African countries, loot ranges from CDs and sculpture to clothing and musical instruments (the bebo balafon xylophone is handcrafted from wood, gourds and leather). While dolls, drums and jigsaw puzzles provide a playful touch, photos of the artists -- many of them pictured in dreary working conditions -- accompany some of the artworks, putting a human face on creations from half a world away. And by offering one-of-a-kind decorations -- wicker furniture, hand-woven baskets, blankets and bean bags -- Gold Coast frees Arizonans from that ubiquitous kokopelli creature.

It's easy for locals to lose sight of just how good the bargain shopping is in the Valley, but shopaholics who visit or move here from fashion meccas like Los Angeles or New York are stunned at the amazing markdowns to be found in this area. Other outlets win out on ultra-cheap prices, but without a doubt Last Call has the best, most eye-popping selection of true designer merchandise. Where else can you score outfits by Anna Sui, Michael Kors or Prada for about a third of the regular price? Most important, you don't need to do a lot of digging to find such labels. The shoe department is inspirational as well, chock-full of Kate Spade flats and Gucci stilettos. When the store holds a clearance sale, the price cuts are even steeper, giving people with beer budgets the chance to really indulge their champagne tastes.

Readers' Choice for Best Secondhand Store: Buffalo Exchange

One day last summer we found ourselves lunching on stale pretzels dipped in months-old raspberry preserves because it was too hot out to drive to the market. This year, we're eating right and staying in, because we're hooked on Bashas' home delivery service. We'll never again have to risk UV burns just to bag some groceries, because Bashas' operators will take orders large and small (there's no minimum purchase) via fax or phone from 8 a.m. 'til 8 p.m. during the week, and from 9 a.m. 'til 4 p.m. on weekends. When we're feeling really organized, we place our order via the air-conditioned comfort of the grocery chain's Web site, which offers online shopping 24/7, and any of these options will allow us to use both our Club Card and cents-off coupons for swell savings. They'll even fill and deliver prescriptions, too. The $10 delivery charge (same-day deliveries are slightly higher) is worth every penny. We may never leave home again.

There it was! The first edition we'd been looking for to complete our collection, its dust jacket hardly worn at all and showing almost none of its 33 years. We found this literary treasure at Bookman's, where the prices are always rock bottom.

Sure, other stores cater to the hard-core bibliophile in search of rare first editions (and willing to pay dear prices), but for casual book collectors like us -- and for book lovers in search of no more than a good read -- nothing satisfies like this supermarket of recycled treasures in Mesa.

From the outside, the place resembles a big retail joint, anchoring a strip mall along Country Club Drive. Bookman's is huge, and, even better, the store stays open much later than others -- until 10 p.m. every day of the week.

Naturally, you'll find row after row of hardcovers and paperbacks in all the usual varieties. But Bookman's also has a large selection of magazine back issues (particularly Arizona Highways going way back), used video games, CDs, videotapes and DVDs. Best of all, Bookman's has such a healthy volume of trade-in, you're almost guaranteed to find new items every time you visit.

Readers' Choice: Bookman's Used Books, Music & Software

You've gotta love an entertainer who provides a résumé for his "trusty mount," Steel. Here's an excerpt: "Everyone loves Steel. He has been known to go up and down stairs and ride in elevators. He has even done the national anthem on ice for the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team. His ultra-soft coat and gentle personality make him a delightful and welcome visitor." The pretty white horse is just half the act, though, rearing and twirling on command as Gary Sprague croons our favorite songs from Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Since 1987, Sprague and Steel have been entertaining locals and visitors at area restaurants, and on weekends in Old Town Scottsdale. It's just too fun -- Sprague twirls his six-shooters, plays guitar, and dances with Steel. So we were beyond gleeful to find that we could hire the duo for private performances, too, with Western music, humorous cowboy poetry, funny tall tales and educational presentations. And because Steel (and Sprague, too, we guess) is so well-behaved, we can even have them perform indoors. This is truly the West at its best.

Tuff Stuff leather is one of the few remaining original custom leather stores in the country. Offering custom chaps, vests, jocks and more for 20 years, Tuff Stuff fabricates much of its inventory on the premises. Craftsmen make a sleek and affordable line of leather floggers, which helps maintain the store's philosophy of making bondage available to everyone. For less than $100, customers can purchase a complete starter restraint package, perfect for individuals and couples curious about the lifestyle but not yet ready to invest in an $1,800 leather body bag. Owner Bob De Jardine also emphasizes that, apart from the cock and ball toys, nearly all Tuff Stuff's items can be used by men or women. De Jardine carries a full line of harnesses, cock rings, art, whips, hoods and blindfolds, as well as racks of more traditional leather vests and pants for more formal occasions.

From pale ale to the ale pail, if beer production requires it, these "home fermentation specialists" have it. While beginning brewers may find the inventory overwhelming -- siphons, stopcocks, yeast, hops (whole and pellet), malt extract, blueberry flavoring -- liquid courage is easy to come by. Beer-brewing and wine-making kits pack all the necessary equipment (booklet, bucket, hydrometer, thermometer, etc.) into a single box. An initial investment of $108.50, plus a month's worth of patience, turns five gallons of water into 53 bottles of happiness. So pick your poison -- American cream ale, cerveza-style amber, Irish stout, Weizenbier -- and just brew it.

Many makeup junkies gladly made the pilgrimage to the Las Vegas Sephora until the European beauty chain finally set up shop at Scottsdale Fashion Square earlier this year. With a sleek, spotless black-and-white interior, no-pressure staff and aisle after aisle of high-end products, Sephora is laid out like the proverbial candy store. Best of all, the items aren't locked inside glass display cases -- everything is out for perusal, ready to be tucked into handy shopping baskets. Testers are available for everything, from Cargo lip gloss to Stila blush to bold eyeliners from Sephora's own complete line of cosmetics, and plenty of cotton balls, disposable applicators, alcohol and makeup remover are on hand for shoppers' adventurous beauty experiments.

Local bibliophiles have an almost cultlike affection for Changing Hands, and rightly so. From the carefully arranged tables of new books on display to employees' thoughtful comment tags for favorite titles, it's obvious that this place genuinely celebrates reading. It celebrates the authors, too, hosting top names such as Anthony Bourdain and Garrison Keillor, while also showcasing local and young writers. With the Wildflower Bread Company adjoining it, there's hardly any reason to leave the store; visitors can fuel up on frittatas and pastries, then participate in a book group, take in a lecture or workshop, or simply head back to the stacks for blissful browsing.

Readers' Choice for Best Bookstore -- New Titles: Borders Books & Music

We went looking for kitchen cupboard door handles and came up wanting. Finally, a contractor pal sent us to Clyde, an off-the-beaten-path treasure trove we'd always thought was only open to tradespeople. In fact, Clyde has been selling knobs and toilets and sinks and a hundred other household fixtures to do-it-yourselfers since 1967. Its gallery of things to screw onto drawers and cupboards and doors left us gaping: Literally hundreds of shiny tugs and knobs and hinges beamed out at us from carefully organized wall mounts, categorized by rooms where they might belong and tidily numbered for quick ordering ease.

Crystal octagonal knobs? Pewter library pulls? Hand-painted ceramic handles shaped like wee soccer balls? Our decision was made easier by knob-savvy staffers who can recite knob styles and dole out warm advice about what to buy. The friendly, knowledgeable staff treated us as if we were old friends who'd dropped in with good news. We had: We found our thrill with Clyde, and can't wait to return.

We're so happy when it rains in the Valley -- those few and far between wet days make us feel like we're getting a taste of Seattle. And we get absolutely excited when we get fog. That usually only happens once or twice a year, but when it does, it transports us to sultry San Francisco. Not that we don't love our own Arizona sun; we do, but sometimes it's nice to feel another cosmopolitan ambiance.

So imagine our delight when we discovered that we can have our very own fog, on demand, any time of year our damp little hearts desire. Thanks to the folks at Arizona Fog Wizards, all it takes is a high-pressure pump and motor module connected with high-pressure, 1,500 psi hoses, stainless steel tubing with aircraft welded stand-offs, and high-pressure mist nozzles (don't ask, just leave it to the pros). The fog created through the misting system lowers the air temperature 20 to 30 degrees, which is great. What we really like, though, is the look -- billowy mist, moody, Casablanca-style haze, vapory lace dancing through the air and clouds licking the ground.

Most people have fog "installed" to add drama to their pool, spa, waterfall or fountain. We're too poor to go whole hog like that, so imagine our joy to find that there's also a "mist rose." It's a small system designed to look like a flower that puffs spurts of fog wherever we set it down. Next time we have a party, we're going to see how they work in the house, maybe set in front of a strobe light or something.

Hey, it sure beats dry ice.

Tucked away in midtown Phoenix, Red is a ruby for those looking for retro style. This is a small furniture boutique that has an eclectic selection of rare finds including Eames, Wakefield, Miller and Knoll. You will certainly find that exquisite piece of 20th-century furniture that you've been looking for. This jewel also offers on-site reupholstering with a wide range of fabrics from contemporary to modern, as well as restorations. It's the perfect place to glam up your pad or to get that piece that you remember from childhood.

You're looking for Wild on the Beach. Or Desperate Living. Or that little French film that you can never remember the name of -- the one about the girl who only eats empty cereal boxes. You won't find any of these delightfully obscure titles at local chain rental stores, with their stacks of just-released-to-DVD feature films and wall of dreadful mass-appeal movies. This funky shop has all those and more, and it's the "more" that keeps us coming back weekend after weekend. We love the store's wall of John Waters films -- it's the only shop in town that carries the filthy filmmaker's entire output -- and the room full of cult movies (when's the last time you saw The Boy in the Plastic Bubble? Or The World of Henry Orient? Or anything starring Mothra?). The chatty, knowledgeable staff never wags a finger at us for our late returns. Maybe they understand that once we get our hands on these delightful, hard-to-find films, we hate to let them go.

Readers' Choice for Best Video Rental Store: Blockbuster Video

Sometimes we think our pet has a better life than we do. We knew for sure we were getting a little nutso when we decided that our crazy schedule was putting too much stress on the pooch, so we hired a doggy concierge to keep him entertained. Golden Paw meets all our canine concerns when we're too busy, with services including pet sitting with overnight stays (GP is a member of Pet Sitters International, "Professional Pet Sitting Excellence Through Education").

Okay, providing that kind of care is probably normal. But Golden Paw also coordinates pet field trips to parks "for health and socialization," shopping for pet groceries, pet spa treatments and massages, health care and "stylists" from the Valley's "top" vets and pet groomers, personal shopping at pet boutiques, pet travel arrangements, pet videos and, of course, pet birthday party planning.

It's no surprise that this service focuses on the high-dollar areas of Paradise Valley, Gainey Ranch, north Scottsdale, the Biltmore and Arcadia. It is surprising that to contract their attentions, we and our pet have to undergo an interview. Hey, if it really is a dog's life, we want to be our dog.

Whether you're a real vaquero or just want to look like one, De Leon in Guadalupe can outfit you from head to toe, and there's no item more important than the perfect pair of boots. De Leon has a whole wall of boots in different skins, colors, and degrees of embroidery. De Leon also provides plastic shopping bags so there's no need to tug your shiny red armadillo-skinned boots over your socks; just slip your foot into the bag, then into the boot. Once you've picked the right boots, De Leon also has a mountain of cowboy hats in different shapes and sizes, goat foot key chains, machetes, holsters, whips, milagros, and great big shiny belt buckles, including one as big as a pancake with a large marijuana leaf and "Sinaloa" in crusty gold letters ($29).

M & Co. Papery is proof that the art of correspondence has not been lost in the computer age.

Sure, e-mail is quick and cheap, but hard to adorn with just the right illustration, and impossible to emboss. This small shop is packed with cards, notes and paper for any occasion, from barbecue to baby shower, and party accouterment from birthday candles to cocktail napkins. You can fill out your own invitations, or custom-order them from a huge selection. Every piece of merchandise seems hand-chosen, with wit and whimsy. Even a tiny enclosure card is a piece of art, edged with glitter and a drawing of a perfect bride.

Beware: We walked out with way more than we planned to. And with a lot of plans, suddenly. We'll be throwing a garden party sometime soon (couldn't resist the invites) and now have dozens of people to thank with just the right card.

Thanks to you, M & Co.!

And the cheese stands alone. The locally owned Root Seller Gallery is the lone queso in this instance, and the only gay bookstore left in the Valley. An active participant in the gay community, Root Seller has been the place to find books by gay authors for the past year and a half. Venture upstairs and you will find books on erotica, how to acclimate your child to your gay relationship, and bios on gay icons like Princess Di, Lucy, and James Dean. There is also a wide variety of magazines, gay art and cards to choose from. Root Seller Gallery has "everything under the rainbow."

Department store racks have been overflowing with Asian-inspired clothes lately -- Mandarin collars, delicate, exotic prints and intricate ornamentation. But it's so much more satisfying to get the goods straight from the source. Short of a trip to China, Oriental Factory Direct is the Valley's best spot to seek out authentic Chinese apparel, at a fraction of the cost of designer interpretations. Get glam à la Suzie Wong with a classic, form-fitting satin cheongsam (the traditional sheath dress with a high collar and side slits), or swaddle yourself in a boxy Mao jacket, then accessorize with flat Mary Jane-style slippers and a colorful embroidered bag.

This den of metaphysical books and gifts boasts more star power than a Beverly Hills AA meeting. In addition to teaching classes on psychic development, tarot, reiki and feng shui, the store's resident astrologers/mediums/hypnotherapists/ministers guide clients through astrology charts, hypnotherapy sessions and past-life regressions; snap aura photographs; and perform weddings and handfastings. Psychic, tarot and medium services range from forensic astrology readings, which aim to solve crimes and locate missing persons, to asteroid chart readings, which employ no fewer than 8,956 asteroids to confirm past lives and uncover life themes "via mythology of the gods/goddesses." Looking for love in all the wrong places? A locational reading will tell you where to go -- for success in romance and the workplace, that is. "Sign" us up.

We're hoping something goes wrong with our old flivver soon just so we have an excuse to visit the waiting room at Chester's Garage. This is not your average repair shop. The owners specialize in restoration and repair of antique cars, even carrying Model A parts in stock.

But what makes us notice Chester's is the picture window facing Seventh Avenue that encases an amazing collection of 10 or so antique cars in a makeshift museum, some dating to the late 1910s. Chester's works on modern cars, too, and has been in business for 32 years. While your car is being fixed, you can replace the usual perusal of last month's Sports Illustrated with a waltz around some amazing pieces of automotive history.

Readers' Choice for Best Place to Get Your Oil Changed: Jiffy Lube

Ask any of the designers from the local fashion community where they prefer to spend their precious time (and money) away from the sewing machine. Chances are, it's SAS, a beloved Valley destination for creative, crafty types. If you've never stepped inside this material world, then it must seem strange that style hounds would bond over a shop crammed from floor to ceiling with bolts of fabrics. It's the same thing that sucks artists into art supply stores: SAS has the ingredients to make a project happen, no matter how far-out the idea. Looking for hot pink lamé, sparkly black vinyl or cheetah pattern fake fur? This is the place to come. And there are countless varieties of buttons, trims, ribbons and patches. Even if you don't show up here with a specific idea in mind, you'll have plenty when you leave.

602-255-0212 If you love vintage, but can't afford the high prices of the shops in Scottsdale and don't feel like sorting through endless rows of sweatpants at the thrift store, we suggest the Antique Market. A huge store taking up most of the corner at Seventh Avenue and McDowell, Antique Market is open seven days a week, and is stuffed to the ceiling with trinkets of yesteryear.

Whether your passion is clothes, knickknacks, furniture or kitsch, there is some of everything. You can walk in wanting a matching set of nine handkerchiefs and actually find what you're looking for. The merchandise is arranged in small nooks all over the store, so you can browse for hours without being in anyone's way.

From the turn of the century, to "vintage" from the last decade, it's all there. A few of our favorites are the collection of 1950s aprons, the clothing racks, and overflowing cases of every type of jewelry. The prices are very reasonable, and we doubt you can find a better selection anywhere in the Valley.

The heck with sightseeing! When we're out of town, wherever we happen to be, we always drop in at Borders Books & Music to check out the remainder table. That's because this chain always offers the best recently-out-of-print hardcovers and remaindered books on its bargain tables, which are wisely scattered throughout its large stores.

But our all-time favorite remainder table is the one at Borders' Biltmore store on East Camelback. Don't ask us to meet you for lunch anywhere near this particular bookshop if you mind that we'll arrive late, dragging along a bagful of cool finds. Just last week we scored a leather-bound Martin Chuzzlewit, a pop-up Book of Job, and a first-edition hardcover of John Irving's last novel, the version with the alternate cover art. Yeah, okay. So we're word nerds. And as long as Borders keeps plying us with gorgeous page-turners at rock-bottom prices, we'll stay that way.

We love to shake our booty -- and our belly. But where to find the goods to make our booty beautiful? Welcome to Belly Dancers Boutique. Everything we could ever need is in this store. There are belly dancing costumes (custom, Egyptian, Turkish and India imports, tribal and cabaret). There are beads, swords, music and jewelry. We can even sign up for classes to improve our style, from beginning belly dancing to choreographed belly dancing, to belly dance shimmy specialties. When we get really good, we graduate to classes on sensual dance, and dancing with swords. We've got to say it -- these are some great shakes!

Oh, it used to be such a hassle when we needed to get the Benz tuned up. We'd have to cancel lunch with our friends, miss a round of golf at the Club, even set the VCR to tape our favorite soap opera. It was such a stress, we always had to make sure the maid set us up with a spa appointment immediately after the ordeal. So what a relief it was to find Mercedes-Benz of Chandler, where we can schedule an appointment (they guarantee no waiting), or simply show up whenever it's convenient. Not only does the dealership have the best factory-trained and certified technicians, but it has a spacious guest lounge that's almost as pampering as our Club. It starts with shaded portico valet service. Then, we can dine in the Silver Star Cafe, selecting from fresh-made-daily sandwiches and light fare like salads, vegetarian food, croissants, homemade English muffins with Canadian bacon and Gruyère, yogurt and granola, panini, fresh-brewed coffee and iced tea. There's a small putting green should we want to get in a little practice. And we can keep up with As the World Turns watching the lounge's digital satellite televisions. Civilization, we salute you.

Readers' Choice for Best Auto Repair Shop: Sun Devil Auto

It's not called "animal attraction" for nothing. Creatures great and small (humans included) secrete pheromones, chemical substances that oh-so-subtly stimulate whoever happens to catch a whiff -- it was only a matter of time 'til somebody bottled it. At Unique on Central, N10Z -- "Undetectable . . . undeniable . . . the world's first gay pheromone product" -- can be had, two ounces for a mere $39.95. What makes it gay? Apparently, scientists at California's Human Pheromone Science Institute have discovered the chemical makeup of pheromones that cause attraction between men. And as long as we're "enhancing," why stop with scent? Up the, uh, ante with the California Muscle thong swimsuit ("Look larger than life while at the beach or catching the sun"). Prefer to do your enhancing in private? The shop's online store is open 24/7.

Okay, so we don't actually get to stomp the grapes here, but this is the closest experience we can imagine (and frankly, we're not averse to lying to our friends by saying we did). Because at Sorelli's, we can make our own wine, complete with our own label. It's true! This mini-winery provides kits with all the ingredients we need to fashion our favorite beverage -- juices, concentrates, and the helpful knowledge to guide us through the complexities of perfectly balanced pH, acid and tannin levels, and recommended aging. More than 100 different recipes are available in reds and whites, from dry to sweet. Each kit yields 28 to 30 bottles, and Sorelli's lets us create a custom label for our batch (a terrific wedding memento, we think). The staff even helps us select the perfect wine for our purposes -- perhaps a lively Chilean Chardonnay, a bright berry Spanish rioja, or a charming ice wine for dessert. Now that's something worth toasting!

Domestic Bliss is just that for any aficionado of the rusty, flea-market, faded floral look coveted by the shabby chic crowd. The store even carries the hard-to-find fabric marketed through Rachel Ashwell, the woman who popularized the decorating trend in the 1990s. Alongside the poppy and rose-strewn linens, you'll find picture frames, flower pots, furniture -- even jewelry and body products, all in the shabby chic spirit.

The youngest among us can get in on the trend. At the back of the store is Baby Bliss, featuring baby linens, as well as a large selection of Baby Lulu clothing (the choice of any self-respecting shabby chic mom) and quaint toys and iron cribs that look like they came from a yard sale, but without the lead paint.

Who would have thought that inside a small storefront in drab downtown Mesa, of all places, we could find such style? Maybe someone should hire Domestic Bliss to decorate the town! Mesa could use a little chic to go with the shabby.