Shopping & Services

There are three factors that contribute to a good shot of espresso — beans, machine, and barista. If even one of the pieces of that trifecta is off, your shot of espresso can suffer. Luckily, the boys behind Scottsdale Quarter's Press Coffee Roasters have the process down. Created with their bold house-roasted Twitch Espresso Blend and pulled by their talented baristas off their top-of-the-line Synesso espresso machine, the end result is a perfectly balanced earthy shot of espresso with hints of sweet fruit, notes of chocolate, and a slightly smoky finish.A great way to start the day — or make sure it doesn't start too early.

Great coffee starts with high-quality beans, and the folks at Cartel score only the best from Brazil for their impressive Black Market Espresso. The four-bean blend is sourced from a single high-elevation farm in the Sul de Mina region of Brazil, where it goes through its natural pulping process on-site before it is shipped off the farm. Cartel then roasts these beans to perfection, creating a bold-flavored coffee with citrus and chocolate notes and a dash of sweetness.

We were sold on this quaint and cozy coffee shop the second that designer-turned-barista Pat Flanagan opened the doors of his freshly remodeled spot last spring. The warm interior and interesting artwork begs you to take a few minutes out of your day to stay and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee (beans courtesy of Lux). But Carmel's isn't just a coffee house — it serves a full menu of delicious breakfast and lunch treats. Fresh-baked quiches, scones, and muffins, flaky croissant sandwiches, and even crepes are available. When the weather permits, Carmel's has plenty of patio space to savor your coffee while watching traffic go by on Camelback.

All of the sudden, there's a lot of coffee competition on Roosevelt Row. But for us, there's no contest. Fresh house-roasted beans, an in-house bakery, an omelet bar, and a beautiful selection of rotating artwork are just a few reasons why Lola is our go-to downtown coffee shop. Artisan coffee roaster and latte art fanatic Daniel Wayne has created a laid-back atmosphere with a welcoming demeanor — and some of the best whipped cream in town. The espresso-infused whip gives Lola's coffee drinks a sweet and creamy kick. Try the dark chocolate and orange Café Borgia or the coffee shop's almost famous Matador.

Crepes and coffee go together like peanut butter and jelly, David Lee Roth and Van Halen, or vodka and Red Bull. Without one, the other is lonely and incomplete. Thankfully, Cupz N' Crepes is keeping the coffee-and-crepe team together at its Paris-inspired shop in Ahwatukee. Dig into a delicate crepe packed full of sweet Nutella and ripe bananas or the savory Veggie Delight, filled with spinach, tomatoes, and goat cheese. The coffee is always fresh and the bold espresso drinks are expertly crafted. A can't-miss breakfast or lunch stop on the south side of town.

A good West Valley coffee shop isn't easy to come by — so many we've loved have shut their doors and taken their sweet coffee drinks and free Wi-Fi with them. Thank goodness we've been blessed with Elevate Coffee Co. The modern coffee shop is inviting, with lots of cozy nooks in which to relax with a hot latte and a good book or sit at one of the sleek tables with a laptop, a java chip frappe, and a Southwest turkey sandwich during lunch. If you're in a rush, this coffee shop lets you text in your order, and they will even deliver to your car when you arrive. Warning: The coffee shop is owned by a church, but we swear you'd never know unless someone told you; nevertheless, you may want to leave your "F*@# Religion" shirt at home.

On the grounds of Agritopia (home of Joe's Farm Grill) in Gilbert, The Coffee Shop is a sanctuary from run-of-the-mill strip-mall coffee joints. Set in a beautifully repurposed maintenance garage, the spacious modern building has tons of natural light and plenty of seating. The baristas behind the counter whip up fantastic iced lattes and specialty drinks, including the Black and White — a unique blend of espresso, steamed milk, white chocolate, and milk chocolate topped with a healthy dose of fresh whipped cream. And The Coffee Shop has cupcakes — lots and lots of cupcakes. This place can get packed, but there is plenty of seating among the trees outside to escape the crowds. Don't forget your laptop and your puppy; Wi-Fi is free, and furry friends are allowed on the patio.

This strip-mall gem serves hot cups of fresh-brewed coffee from its skillfully roasted beans along with sweet housemade pastries. Matador strives to roast only the best beans daily, giving each and every cup of coffee or shot of espresso an extra kick of flavor to start your caffeinated day on the right foot. Curl up in one of the shop's tucked-away chairs with a book or get out your laptop and take advantage of free Wi-Fi. And if you need something stronger than coffee to get you through that paper you've been working on for a week, Matador serves up a nice selection of beer and wine.

When Cartel Coffee Lab opened its doors in 2007, it changed the game for coffee shops across the state. In Arizona, roasting beans was unheard of, and unless they'd visited Portland or Seattle, most Arizonans didn't really have a clue that coffee could be so good. With its über-hip industrial space and walls adorned with artwork from the Tempe community, Cartel is still top dog in this 'hood. A couple of other shops have tried, but not a single one can come close to the quality beverages made by the expertly trained staff. You may have to wait a minute or two longer for your cup of joe, but you can't rush the best.

The first thing that you'll notice when you walk in the doors of this sleek coffee shop is the giant bean roaster on the south side of the room, and most of our afternoon visits have been accompanied by the aroma of fresh-roasted coffee. The shop's small-batch roasted beans have an exotic flavor achieved by using a patented scientific method employed by only a handful of roasters in the world. The result is a smooth, balanced blend that doesn't need even a dash of cream or sugar. The only thing that rivals the shop's coffee is its handmade fresh-out-of-the-oven pastries and Danishes. Stop by for a delicious afternoon pick-me-up.

Four Peaks seems to have winning down to a science. At the 2011 Great American Beer Festival, the brewery's American IPA, Hop Knot, took home the bronze; at the 2012 World Beer Cup, it claimed the gold, along with its Kolsch, SunBru. Four Peaks was the only Arizona brewery honored in the World Beer Cup's judging competition — actually coming within half a medal of winning Champion Mid-size Brewery and Brewmaster — and was ranked among the top 50 craft brewers in terms of sales volume for 2011. With a new production facility set to open this year, an impending partnership with a nearby distillery, great beer, and the hardware to prove it, Four Peaks' success should only continue.

Beer geeks, craft brew nerds, and classy alcoholics rejoiced this year when the Arizona Liquor Board changed its rules and began allowing bars and restaurants with certain liquor licenses to fill 64-ounce glass jugs — a.k.a. growlers — with draft beer from their favorite breweries. And when we feel the need to get our trusty growlers filled to go, we head over to South Tempe's Flanny's Bar & Grill. Not only will they fill any clean growler for $12 (and up, depending on the beer), but they have one of the best rotations of draft selections in town. Mark your calendars for the third Thursday of each month, when Flanny's hosts a different brewery for their monthly tap takeovers. We can't promise everything will be available for your growler, but there's a 100 percent chance you'll be able to fill up with something awesome.

The choice of beer at most grocery stores comes down to color — would you like the boring, mass-produced lager that comes in a blue box or the boring, mass-produced lager that comes in a silver box? Not so at this Whole Foods location, where scores of bottles from Belgium, Germany, Canada, and every state in the union stand in refrigerated, fluorescent-lit glory. Beer nerd James Swann not only keeps the shelves stocked with some of the best craft brews around, but also holds weekly classes at the Watering Hole — the in-store beer bar — to educate and inebriate the masses.

Where else in the East Valley can you grab a bottle of Arizona Stronghold's Mandala Red, a six-pack of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, and a bottle of Crystal Head vodka, all without leaving the comfort of your vehicle? Sun Devil Liquors has one of the biggest selections of craft beer and an extensive selection of locally made wines and unique spirits. The staff knows more about booze than anyone we've ever meet and has awesome suggestions if you're into trying new things. The drive-thru is great for those lazy beer runs, but we find it hard to resist getting out of the car to peruse the packed shelves inside.

Getting out of the car to pick up a 12-pack of Coors sucks. You have to turn the car off and then walk into the store and, well, it's just a big pain in the behind (that we'd rather be sitting on while drinking). Luckily, someone had the genius idea to sell booze from the window of his store. Family-owned and -operated Henry's Liquor has been around for more than a decade, selling spirits, beer, and wine for much cheaper prices than their drive-thru competitors. The store itself is a little rough around the edges, but the staff is extremely friendly. If you choose to get out of your car, you'll find the the store's interior to be kempt and organized. Henry's has a decent selection of wine, but you're better off sticking to booze.

Much like the wide-eyed crew of kiddos who won golden tickets into Willy Wonka's colorful world, shoppers' jaws drop (and there might be some incidental drool) when they walk into Smeeks. And that's for good reason. To the very likely chagrin of Valley dentists, the small Medlock Plaza candy shop offers crave-worthy goodies including lollipops nearly the size of dinner plates, vegan chocolate bars, and such handmade treats as campfire marshmallows and salted caramels. Those really looking to recapture their childhood also can indulge in the novelty toy selection of yo-yos, Shrinky Dinks, and bouncy balls. Document your sugar rush with the old-fashioned photo booth in the shop's back corner — it's owner Georganne Bryant's favorite part of the store.

Magnum's may not be in the classiest part of town, but what the Valley's premier cigar lounge lacks in location, it makes up for in selection. The upscale shop carries more than 1,000 different varieties of imported cigars in its 450-square-foot walk-in humidor. Don't know anything about cigars? That's okay. Magnum's has cigar aficionados on staff who will walk you through the mind-numbingly huge menu to help you choose the perfect stogie. And Magnum's doesn't stop at cigars — the lounge stocks 350 different kinds of single malt scotch, hundreds of different beers, an extensive selection of wine by the bottle and by the glass, and even has a mixologist on hand creating classic and unique cocktails. The atmosphere is modeled after speakeasies of the 1930s, with a true lounge ambiance and relaxed vibe. Suit and tie are optional, but try not to look like you just came from the Goodwill next door.

When The Headquarters first expanded into the longtime location of neighboring Eastside Records, we instantly had pangs of nostalgia for the independent music store. But the expansion has only made the head shop bigger and better for locals looking to light up their lives. And now that the "records" portion of the sign that read "smokeshop records" is removed, that yearning for the past is cleared too quickly. That's because the store's selection of glass gear and rolling papers will satisfy serious and silly smokers alike — with well-versed staffers all too eager to assist them in their inhaling endeavors.

With all this talk of medical-marijuana, new grow shops have sprung up in the Valley like seedlings. weGrow's a California transplant, having started with a store in Sacramento before spreading to Phoenix. In January, the franchise opened another location in Washington, D.C. The Phoenix store is huge, inhabiting a former warehouse. The grow lights, bottles of fertilizers and nutrients, and hydroponics trays don't take up the whole space; the store has a large variety of products. Pot patients will appreciate the running marijuana theme at weGrow, from the video games on a TV surrounded by couches to the posters with growing tips, including how drying pot increases its psychoactive compounds. A doctor who writes medical-marijuana recommendations is located in the same building, and farmers markets — which sometimes feature patients exchanging pot with other patients — take place periodically in the parking lot. After the dispensaries open, forcing patients and caregivers to give up their home-grows, many of the Valley's hydro shops will wither and disappear. weGrow seems to be dug in for the long haul.

Somehow, this incredible nursery in West Valley has stayed under the radar for the past 11 years. If you're looking for hearty plants for a front or backyard makeover, the handsome nursery stocks everything you need to spruce up your land, from citrus trees to hip succulents to high-quality fertilizers and seeds. Jackrabbit will even deliver your new green babies and plant them for you if you're afraid (or too lazy) to do it yourself. The family-owned business has more than 30 years' experience working with and caring for Southwest plants. Ask them anything regarding plant care, and they'll know the answer. And if they don't, they'll look it up for you.

We didn't know we needed a vintage hand rake until we saw a nicely weathered green one hanging on the wall at Qcumberz, a longtime favorite of local antique fans. We bought it and, as we were leaving, the nice guy behind the counter mentioned that he had several similar rakes and hoes and gardening tools, as well — and suddenly, a new collection was born.

Staring at the ceiling is a good idea at Stuff Antiques, a place that's really all about the best in period lighting. Joe, the owner, clearly is obsessed with fine examples of exceptional period lamps and light fixtures; his place is filled to the rafters with stunning examples of Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and Midcentury Modern pieces. The stuff is pricey (and none of it is priced, which means having to have a conversation with Joe, which is a good thing — he's a blast!), but you won't find a better selection anywhere of fully restored lights and lamps. As much an homage to the history of electric lighting as a shop, Stuff also offers antique furniture and vintage medical cabinets for sale, as well as restoration services. You'll think of Stuff and of Joe every time you flick the switch on the fabulous lamp you bought at this Phoenix perennial.

We wanted an old claw-foot tub, and we looked in all the usual places. Pretty much every antique dealer rolled his eyes and wrung his hands and sent us away, empty-handed. And then we went to Antique Trove, which lives up to its name, always. Treasures everywhere, and all of it so nicely displayed and lit. This is one of the few antique malls where one can buy not only a gorgeous old wooden tea tray but also the necessary ointments to keep it healthy and well-oiled. It's also the only place in town where we were able to find a claw-foot bathtub — and we were thrilled. The price was right, the nice Trove staff was helpful with suggestions about the best places to buy old-time bathtub hardware, and the delivery price was reasonable. We almost wish we needed another bathtub — but we're happy to return to Trove to plumb its many wonderful dealer spaces for other treasures. Come dig with us!

We spend a lot of time on our sofa — often fast asleep in front of some '60s rerun marathon. And so every couple of years, we drag the couch down to UFO, where the magic upholstery elves who toil there can work their magic on it. There may be no better or more affordable upholsterer in town, but even if there is, there isn't one that offers such wacky fabric offerings as this fun place. Even better than its keen reupholstery and furniture restoration services are UFO's vintage furniture store and art gallery, up front, filled to the rafter with things (antiques, art by local talent, kitschy new stuff) that owner Leonardo loves, and knows you will, too!

Ramie. Baft. Bombazine. We're addicted to reading the labels on vintage clothing, and some of the best label-reading (not to mention shopping) that we've done lately is at Retro Ranch, one of Seventh Avenue's best-known vintage stores. Sure, you can find broadcloth and dungaree at most vintage shops that sell clothing, but what is it about these guys that even their throw pillows are made of decades-old Gloria? Swing coats made of Shaker flannel and midi skirts made of landsdown — nowhere else but at Retro Ranch, baby.

We didn't used to own a set of Santa Claus salt-and-pepper shakers or a Frosty the Snowman slushy maker, but we do now, thanks to Zinnias at Melrose, our favorite spot in town for vintage holiday gewgaws and all things Christmas. There, we've seen boxes of 60-year-old Shiny Brite glass tree ornaments stacked alongside mint-in-package tinsel, bags of still-glossy garland strings, and even an ancient card full of brightly painted jingle bells. We bought as much as we could and dragged it all ho-ho-home. Next time we were back at Zinnias, there was even more Christmas stuff, right where we couldn't miss it, just inside the door. It's remained there, year-round — well, most of it, anyway. We keep going back and buying more red-and-green holiday stuff from the '50s and '60s. And you can, too.

Lots of people go to Scottsdale for its better restaurants and uptown department store shopping, but we go there for plaster Kewpie dolls. Antique Centre is the best place to find vintage carnival chalkware, those oddly painted statues that were given away as prizes at carnival dime-tosses in the '30s and '40s. At Centre, we've scored two 10-inch marching majorettes, a tiny Pinocchio, and a really gigantic Betty Boop. And that's just this year! We've seen a lot of animal chalkware from the '50s here, too, but we're into the dolls and figurative statues, and we never leave Scottsdale's better antique mall without at least one of them.

Last time we were here, we got a Virgin of Guadalupe with a chipped ear and an Infant of Prague whose index fingers were gone. The time before that, we got a plaster Jesus with real vinyl hair. And although we sometimes see religious statues in other thrift stores, this is the only place in town where we always find them — and good ones, too. They may not always be in mint condition, but the prices are so good that we feel blessed. We're on the lookout for another melamine Jesus-on-the-Cross wall plaque, like the one our mom found here last summer. We have faith it'll be here, eventually.

When we decided we wanted an old set of encyclopedias, we thought it would be a piece of cake to find one — because any thrift store must have at least one set, right? Wrong. We visited a half-dozen of them before we headed to this west-side Goodwill, where we snagged a 33-volume set in mint condition for $20. And after poking around, we found that this place is a veritable treasure trove of nice old books — and some better new ones, besides. We found a second edition printing of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a pair of John Irving novels with their dust covers intact, and the rather more unusual Hygiene of the Breasts, a 1920s hardcover about nursing one's baby. We've made going to this particular Goodwill a weekly habit, and we never leave without a new stash of reading material.

Outside of a plain old antiques store, this is the place where the best local collection of slightly tarnished vintage furniture resides. Every stick of Stickley is waiting for you to discover it and bring it home; and next time you drive past this Seventh Avenue destination and see a moving van out front, pull in! Nonstop deliveries to this popular thrift means that the vintage stuff just keeps arriving — and flying out the door, too, because local pickers love this joint. We do, as well — our most recent finds at this super-chic furniture emporium include a blond book shelf with built-in lamp (a steal at only $29), a well-loved handmade side table ($24), and a rather large ottoman that, while not strictly an antique, was still too good a deal to pass up. Go find one of your own at White Dove.

The best thing about our new set of Brockware Chanticleer dishware is that we got it for next to nothing, because we shop at Flo's. The buyers there seem to know what they have — often, dishes and serving pieces will be tagged with the set's current eBay value — but they're not doing that weird thing where they lock it all up in a case and over-price it. Flo's is a thrift store, and the owners know it. So one can find great cooling trays and warming dishes and coffee pots and stemware and plated flatware for nearly no money at all. The former Florence Crittenton Thrift Shoppe also offers furniture, clothing, appliances, and even great old 45 RPM records, but it's the Harkerware and the Anchor Hocking and the Stengl that keep us coming back. (Fans of old linens will want to make Flo's a regular haunt, too, because vintage tablecloths, napkins, and window treatments are among this shop's other specialties.)

We thought it was a total fluke when we found two minty-mint Wearever cook-pots from the 1940s at this thrift store, but then a few weeks later, we found the matching saucepan — with its lid, too! After that, we made this unusually clean shop a regular stop. We've since found a like-new fondue set, still in its avocado-green box, and a Minute-Man turkey roaster with its original draining pan — something we'd been looking for on eBay forever. We bought it, and now we're waiting for the day when we walk into this cookware-centric secondhand store to see the Wearever coffee pot we need to complete our set. It'll happen. Meantime, see you there!

There was this corner in our home that needed nothing so much as a big, ugly table lamp. Off we headed to the Goodwill at 32nd Street and Thomas, because we'd seen a colossal monster of a lamp there not long before. Little did we know we'd find not one giant lamp, but three — one of them a floor model! We bought the one shaped like a giant ship in a bottle (the bottle lights up, as does the top part with the shade on it) and are tempted to go back for the big plaster cherub holding a snow globe we saw there — all it needs is a nice shade, and just the right corner of someone's house to live in . . .

We wanted an electric can opener but didn't want to pay full price; we knew we'd be using it only to open the occasional can of dog food. And so we headed straight to the Bell Road Savers in Peoria, because we knew they have practically an entire department devoted to small appliances. We found a nice almond-colored can opener for five bones, and then cruised around admiring all the nice Crock-Pots and Mr. Coffees. Which, of course, led to our purchase of a vintage Mixmaster blender with a glass canister and a funny little pamphlet with fruity drink recipes stuffed inside. Next time you need a little thing that plugs into an electric outlet, head to this thrift.

We admit it: There's a box in our closet where we keep inexpensive gifts we've scored at Assistance League Thrift, one of the best thrift shops in town for still-in-the-box re-giftables. Recently, we've found a cute box of vintage stationery for a dollar; a still-wrapped-in-plastic potpourri candle; and a neat spice rack (also still in its original box) shaped like a giraffe that we know will make the perfect last-minute hostess gift. This is the best thrift store in town for those of us who don't love a smelly secondhand store jammed with clothing and piles of junk. Assistance League's merch is all neatly displayed and turns over quickly — so get there, pronto, for nice gifty stuff priced to move.

We secretly hate those glass cases in thrift stores, where the "good stuff" has been locked away because someone in a backroom has decided that a headless Shirley Temple doll with a torn dress is valuable and should cost $40. And there's never anyone around with a key to show us the thing we want, anyway. But at Indian School Thrift, we love the glass cases — because they're just one part of a whole department of neatly arranged, actually vintage things for sale. This department is always manned by a helpful clerk who's happy to take stuff out of the cases, or off of the shelf behind the cases, and let us examine them. The prices are more than fair, and we've never seen junk from the '80s being pawned off as "antique" here. Instead, we find honest-to-gosh old stuff, all of it fairly priced and accessible. The thrift store itself is also full of cool bargains, but the real finds are to be found at the special section over in the corner, which you won't want to miss checking out.

It's the glassware that we love the best. No, wait. It's the stunning selection of hardcover books for sale here. Or is it the whole roomful of vintage record albums that keep drawing us back, over and over again, to this cute little best-kept-secret of a thrift shop? We can't decide, so we keep going back, and once there, we pile up on used housewares and books and dishes . . . and we can't help noticing that the room full of nice, clean clothing is always full of shoppers, too. Three nice-size rooms full of impossibly low-priced stuff, tucked away in a big strip mall on the west side — that's Eve's Treasures, a place worth digging through. Don't miss their half-off Saturdays and their Senior Discount days; we never do.

If you spend considerable time on Craigslist employing search terms like "teak," "Danish," and "Eames," pause your rapidly moving fingers. Now, instead of compulsively hitting refresh on that shady search page again, redirect your eyes to Ryan and Kylie Durkin's website for a look at their mod treasures. Nice, right? We thought you'd like Modern Manor. Once you manage to get yourself over to their mid-century furniture boutique, in its warehouse-style building, you'll find pieces in brilliant condition dating from the 1940s to the '70s, many of which would pop up with your preferred search terms. Except instead of stalking garage sales and risking creep association, you're ready to inject some major personality into your home.

Every month, we strive to make a little more room in our apartment in hopes of squeezing in a new vintage find from Sweet Salvage. The décor shop opens its doors every third Thursday through Sunday with a new theme (the second-ever, held around Halloween, was "mad scientist") and fresh merchandise. To its sprawling Seventh Avenue space, shoppers flock to find globes, signage lettering, metal lockers, a vide-poche or two, and large pieces like reupholstered couches and chairs, tables, desks, and, well, just about anything else you might desire. Items fly fast, so be sure to get to the store as early as possible if you want first dibs on the decorative wares. We can't promise we'll be able to tame our competitive nature when it comes to old-timey chemistry sets and massive world maps.

What we wanted more than anything was a pair of gigantic vintage Drexel china cupboards to cram all of our dishes into. Alas, everyplace we saw them (they're pretty common but still very lovely), there was only one and it was way too expensive. Then we headed over to Antique Gatherings for its semi-annual Spring Parking Lot Sale, because we always find something there that makes us want to scream with joy. And there they were: two big Drexel cupboards with teeny tiny price tags on them. If you haven’t been to this twice-a-year sale (April and November), go! Eighty vendors from far and wide set up camp right in front of this venerable antiques mall to sell everything from glass doorknobs to vintage linens to high-end furniture — and all for discounted prices. It’s the tag sale of the season for antiques lovers, and one you’ll be addicted to after just one visit.

We're clumsy. And so, when we recently knocked over and smashed a vintage Dr Pepper bottle while visiting a friend's very vintage home, we were mortified but not surprised. We also weren't worried about replacing this rare article — we just grabbed our phone and dialed Brass Armadillo, because if anyone had one, we knew they would. They did, and they set it aside for us. When we went to pick it up, we ended up buying a nice boomerang coffee table — even though ours is perfectly fine. We couldn’t resist either the minty beauty of this vintage piece or its unbelievably low price. We ran for the door, though, because we knew if we lingered we’d buy so much more — because this antique mall outdoes all others in the valley, with more than 200 vendors who sell gorgeous and fairly priced antiques, vintage, and Midcentury Modern stuff we just love.

It just keeps growing, like Topsy. Antique Marketplace, which savvy shoppers remember as the old Historic District Antiques on Seventh Avenue, continues to gobble up the other storefronts around it, expanding more and more every time we drop in. That's a good thing, because we always find something amazing, at an amazingly low price, when we do. For our friend who collects vintage pressed glass, we picked up a still-boxed Anchor Hocking creamer-and-sugar set from 1946, for peanuts. For our dad, a set of ancient wooden golf clubs, for next to nothing. And for our very own, a like-new cherry wood French Deco bedroom suite that was practically free. Set up like a museum of gorgeous antique décor, lighting, dishware, and everything old and pretty that anyone could ever want, Antique Marketplace is an ever-growing colossus of antiquing pleasure.

We know where to go for fancier antiques for our great old house, and now we're going to tell you — in good part because you may not know that this wonderful old shop even sells antiques. They do — and good ones, besides. We recently dropped in for a lampshade and ended up staying for an hour to ogle the amazing old lighting fixtures, breakfronts, and side tables. We scored a hundred-year-old cherry wood library table, a lighted lectern ripped from the lobby of an old Deco Miami hotel, and a '20s oil lamp chandelier, too. We're planning to go back next week for that Regency tea cart and perhaps the framed Turner prints, too. Maybe we'll even have a lamp repaired, while we're at it.

Shopping for vintage duds can prove an iffy endeavor in Phoenix, where some stores couldn't be bothered to give a hoot about their products. That's especially true when delving into racks and stacks ends with shoppers exiting in the midst of a dusty sneezing fit. In the case of Melrose district vintage staple Antique Sugar, the clothing couldn't be ignored by the shop owners or vintage lovers long enough for mites to collect — it's simply too desirable. With a sizable men's section (and, man, that's nothing to sniff at) and a plethora of womenswear, Antique Sugar is stuffed with colorful, seasonal pieces that range from bright and ballsy to simple and wearable. What you walk away with entirely depends on whether you're aiming to look like a Betty Boop sex kitten or Mr. Rogers chic.

Yeah, yeah. We know all about food trucks. But there's a new brand of shops on wheels we're excited about: clothing trucks. And we have Ashley Eaton to thank for our newfound obsession. Her white and peach 1961 Shasta Airflyte trailer houses Merry May Shoppe, Eaton's mobile boutique, and travels to festivals and special events such as First Friday to vend her selection of secondhand girly threads. When you're whiling away the hours waiting for Eaton to announce her next big shopping event, check out her blog for fashion inspiration, vintage fabulousness, and Merry May updates.

Misty Guerriero travels the world in search of to-die-for vintage fashion and furniture to fill up Vintage By Misty. London, Paris, Israel, and Spain all make her list of shopping destinations. Where Guerriero's eye for the eye-catching serves her best (in our humble opinion) is in her selection of fabulous baubles, as evidenced by the shop's impressive variety of accessories. From assorted Chanel buttons transformed into costume rings to art deco Guillemette L'Hoir necklaces and Moroccan turquoise armor jewelry, you'll find an array of visually striking statement pieces all vetted by the internationally en vogue shop girl. Accessorize away.

With the frequency that designers use the word "couture" to describe their work, you'd think the stuff magically grew on mannequins. The term actually is short for haute couture, a French descriptor for handmade, custom high fashion that is really, really expensive. And if you're in the market for it, there's one Valley standby that always has it stocked: Fashion by Robert Black. If your aim is to look red-carpet ready, make a stop at the beautiful store, located in downtown Scottsdale's landmark White Hogan building. You'll find one-of-a-kind elegant pieces from decades past and designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Versace. Drooling yet? Yeah, just don't get it on the clothes.

Label lovers who get giddy over good deals on quality products, we're about to let you in on a little shopping secret of ours. Instead of getting bogged down by aimless shoppers and too much filler at places like T.J. Maxx, head to discount department store alternative Poor Little Rich Girl. It’s an upscale resale and consignment boutique chock-full of familiar brands, including Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Coach. But they land some high-end loot, too, and finding labels like Christian Louboutin, Tom Ford, and Manolo Blahnik is a semi-common occurrence. Between its two locations — one in Arcadia and the other uptown — it’ll be easy to stock your closet with next-to-new pieces that’ll hang around for the foreseeable future.

The only thing more adorable than a little girl's party dress is a little girl's party dress at a screaming bargain. And that's what you'll find — rack after rack of 'em, in fact — at Love Child. We'll be honest: We don't know how this cute little consignment store stays in business. The prices on clothing, shoes, and a limited selection of toys, games, and home furnishings for both boys and girls are that low. And we don't care, as long as Love Child keeps supplying us with Nick & Nora nighties, Gap sundresses, and teeny-tiny wool blazers for a 5-year-old nephew who insists on a suit-and-tie approach to kindergarten. The quality is high, the service is friendly, and we can wardrobe our kids cheap and teach them about recycling as well as good fashion taste. That's what we call style!

Nobody pulls off the hippie-chic look quite like Butter Toast owners Traci Nelson and Jasmine Jarrett do. At once effortless and thoughtfully put together, theirs is a look that is easy to attempt but can be tough to pull off. Those looking to cultivate a Woodstock-worthy wardrobe have a leg up by way of the twosome's boutique, though. It's full of reasonably priced, eclectic vintage clothing and accessories that already have Nelson and Jarrett's style-conscious seal of approval. On their racks you'll find a bounty of bohemian dresses, crocheted shawls, worn-in denim, and floral prints that will look right at home in a field of sunflowers.

On the flipside of Mucho Gusto, on University Drive, sits Sunset, a boutique thrift shop where, after a few of those hibiscus margs, we tend to go a little berserk. Not that it's unwarranted. It's quite the opposite. Shopping here is almost too easy to do because the store's racks are packed with designer clothing on the cheap (sometimes with tags still attached, only upping that glorious "I'm saving so much!" feeling) including DKNY, French Connection, and Michael Kors. Overstock from American Apparel and Urban Outfitters also hits the hangers at discounted prices, making it oh-so-easy to tap into youthful, seasonal trends while supporting a local biz. Sign us up.

The ever-chic Angelica Gonzalez bridges two stylish worlds, mixing vintage wear with new pieces from small, upcoming labels at her boutique, Nostra Style House. When the shop joined GrowOp and Butter Toast on Sixth Street off Roosevelt, it completed a trifecta of independently owned stores on a quest to keep downtowners looking good. And, boy, does it succeed. With a stellar throwback selection from Annie Boomer Vintage, a great reputation with local designers, including Tiffe Fermaint, and a keen eye for picking out comfortable, beautiful items from brands like Gentle Fawn and BB Dakota, Nostra is poised to impress shoppers with its curated selection that is largely inspired by Gonzalez's own taste and moods.

We never met Georganne Bryant's beloved grandmother — the namesake for her vintage-inspired CenPho boutique — but frankly, we feel like we knew the woman well; that's how much time we've spent with Frances over the years, poking at "her" gorgeous, creative collection of jewelry and super-cute kitchenware. And we are pretty sure we're sending Bryant's kid to college with our splurges on Orla Kiely bags over the years. At Frances, you truly do feel like family — the staff knows your name and your shoe size, and they're just as excited as you are when you find that perfect dress on the 50 percent off rack during one of their amazing sales. Bryant quickly is becoming the godmother of the hip, indie retail scene in Phoenix — a scene she had a hand in creating. Frances' blog is a must-read, and the store's offspring (Frances Studio and Smeeks candy store) complete our favorite shopping experience. Bryant's "Love Phoenix or Leave Phoenix" mantra is catching on as copycats come along, and she welcomes them with open arms. Look for a second location of Frances to open soon at Biltmore Fashion Park as part of an experiment called Union.

Anchored by Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue, open-air shopping center Biltmore Fashion Park makes for some of the best people-watching we've ever enjoyed. Unlike most malls that are overrun with hapless high-schoolers trying to look cool, Biltmore's crowd is made up of shoppers who tend to fall into one of two groups. The first has money to burn at Escada and a penchant for conspicuous consumption. Behind door number two are the folks at the shopping center for Cheesecake Factory and a toppings-heavy serving of Mojo. We're guessing that you're somewhere between the two, and that means you're in for a fun time, provided you have a pair of sunglasses (to maintain an air of mystery, of course), a label-ambiguous but fashionable outfit, and a few hours to kill.

Believe it or not, the Phoenix arts district known as Roosevelt Row has been around long enough to have some actual history. And when people tell the story of how the whole thing started, they love to talk about Modified Arts, the music/arts venue that popped up many years ago in a nest of twinkly white lights that eventually put the spotlight on downtown. With all due respect to Modified's Kimber Lanning, there's another pioneer in the field (and one that's still going strong, while Modified has adopted a lower profile): MADE. Cindy Dach opened her little boutique in 2005 and — in a city where shops come and go with the seasons — she kept it going during one of the toughest economic times in history. That's because MADE isn't just a store (although that would be enough — we'd go there just for the refrigerator magnets!); it's a community gathering spot, both literally and figuratively. Dach hosts workshops and classes (full disclosure: New Times' Deborah Sussman and Laura Gill currently lead workshops there) and themed art exhibits (among our favorites, the artist-made salt-and-pepper show several years ago). The merchandise (much of it made by local artists) is constantly changing, and we find ourselves stopping by on a regular basis for inspiration – or any time we need an original gift. A bonus: In the years MADE's been there, an entire community of coffee shops, boutiques, salons and other businesses has sprung up near the corner of Fifth and Roosevelt streets, with Dach's little shop as its centerpiece. Thank you, Cindy.

We were ecstatic upon hearing that Cole and Dana Reed would fill Roosevelt Row's long-empty, shoebox-shape building that formerly housed drag bar 307 Lounge. High expectations for a quirky, interesting, and, most important, fun place to shop on RoRo were happily met with the pair's GreenHaus Gallery + Boutique. Its offerings include reupholstered and refinished furniture, vintage interior décor finds, and paintings from local artists. The shop's artsy leanings are no surprise. Preserved behind removable drywall at the back of GreenHaus is one of Phoenix's oldest murals by Ted DeGrazia.

Gloria Marsiglia's Grand Avenue jewelry shop and gallery is a gem worth unearthing. In the small space, you'll discover handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, beads, accessories, and other gifts made by local artists, including Marsiglia, who has designed decorative accouterments for more than 30 years. And she's all about sharing her in-depth knowledge. Marsiglia teaches workshops for beginners looking to learn about wire design, creative upcycling, chain-making, and cuffs, as well as more advanced sessions that tackle metalsmithing and wax casting, if you've got some experience under your handmade belt. On Third Fridays, you can share your new skills with other adornment fanatics during On the Dish, Marsiglia's networking potluck and wine-tasting series.

Whether you've got one pair or one for every day of the week, Saba's got what you're looking for. There's nothing worse than a cheap pair of boots, and fortunately, Saba's carries only the best. From a simple starter set to top-of-the-line exotics such as ostrich and rattlesnake, they'll hook you up and fit you right. In fact, we stop in just to drool over their selection of colorful and intricate designs from classic Texas boot makers. Even more than their great selection and helpful, knowledgeable employees, we love the experience of pulling on our fancy new footwear and stepping out onto the wooden sidewalks of Old Town Scottsdale. Since opening in 1927, Saba's has served as Arizona's most authentic and original Western store, and when sporting a pair of their handcrafted boots, we're damn proud to be Arizonans.

It's not every day that a business founded online succeeds to the point of opening a brick-and-mortar shop. In fact, the story usually seems to go the other way around and is attributed to lack of consumer interest. But that's the story of Cory Martinez and Ben Funke's Meat Market Vintage, an eBay shop that grew to take over the Mill Avenue space that Three Roots Café formerly occupied. The couple's delight in finding vintage oddities makes their boutique a must-see. Visit for a heaping helping of kooky patterns, blasts of bold color, and uncommon silhouettes. Not sure if you can rock those giraffe-print pants? Martinez and Funke will help you embrace your funky side and assemble a one-of-a-kind look.

It's a rare occurrence when boyfriends, hubbies, and, well, any dudes can stay entertained during a shopping endeavor. Bunky Boutique is the exception to that rule. Granted, it neighbors Matt Poole's Giant Coffee, so no excuses for dozing off are acceptable while in a 50-foot radius. But what it really comes down to is the inherent style of its owners, Rachel and Jim Malloy, who pride themselves on a selection of pieces that are, as they like to say, timeless with a twist. The men's section is stocked with supersoft eco-heather polos and hoodies, lit-inspired T-shirts, offbeat neckties, Baxter grooming products, bike accessories, and plenty more for him to keep busy with while you're trying on that pile of must-haves in the dressing room. Don't worry. He'll be in line right after you.

Those of us who like nothing so much as a hardware store that offers old-fashioned DIY advice must now stop our whining. Because the folks who work at Six Points Hardware are so nice and so helpful that we sometimes wonder if we've stumbled onto the set of an Andy Griffith Show rerun. Sure, they sell lumber and nuts and bolts and paint and power tools, just like a hardware store is meant to do. But what sets Six Points apart is the warm-hearted help we always get from the staff here. We recently were advised against buying a particular type of paintbrush to go with the interior flat latex we were purchasing — and the brush the nice clerk recommended cost less than the one we were going to buy! Sometimes we call just to ask a home improvement question, and we're never disappointed by the advice we receive — even when we're not shopping at this down-home, well-stocked, friendly hardware store.

Bill Wahl's happy to be disturbed at work. The local typophile and his stockpile of typewriters continue the tradition of the business that's occupied 30 South MacDonald in Mesa since 1949. Wahl’s surrounded by old, rusty machines that local diehards and newfound typewriting hipsters have dropped off at his shop for repairs. The walls are lined with Coronas, Smiths, Hermes, Remingtons, and Royals with enough carrying cases and musty typewriter smell to put any sucker for vintage stuff over the edge. It’s in Wahl’s shop where you’re likely to spend an afternoon plinking on old keys and warming up to the lack of a backspace button and real ink on paper (ah!). If you look carefully, you might catch a glimmer of Hipstamatic hope for the future of the typosphere.

We recently decided we liked Sonny and Cher, and we knew just where to go to get a big pile of their super-groovy records for next to no money. Revolver Records never lets us down when we're on a musical whim. Whether we're stuck on Leonard Cohen or the 1910 Fruitgum Company, the nice boys at Revolver always have at least one slice of licorice pizza that we're looking for. That's probably because they stock more than 25,000 vintage vinyl record albums on any given day. We always make a beeline for the dollar-a-disc room, where we've been known to score cool platters by Sergio Mendez, Isaac Hayes, and even a whole album of songs by Chad Everett! Only at Revolver Records, which buys and sells albums, CDs, and music paraphernalia seven days a week.

If you've spent any time identifying the indie songs you hear in hip coffee shops or in your even hipper friend's car with the help of iPhone's handy Shazam app, you can take that list straight to Stinkweeds, where employees can find the correlating albums and make a few suggestions. We love Stinkweeds because we don't have to surf through Flo-Rida's latest to get to the Freelance Whales, or Tina Turner classics to get to the latest killer sounds by Tennis. Stinkweeds specializes in indie labels — which, yes, means more than a thin leather headband and a V-neck shirt — and is home to more than 6,000 hard-to-find CDs and vinyl LPs . . . that we'll likely be using to create our own impressive playlists for as long as it's around.

Local designer Victor Moreno has had a lifelong love affair with movie posters. Gowing up in the 1980s, he was fascinated by legendary artist Drew Struzan's action-packed one-sheet for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as well the iconic poster for Robocop. "I can always remember movie posters being something that stuck with me, even when I was little." Such arresting imagery still sticks with Moreno even today and has influenced the custom movie posters he creates for his Cult Classics film series. Much like such renowned indie repertory houses as Austin's Alamo Drafthouse commission limited-edition prints for special screenings, Moreno designs unique one-sheets influenced by the vintage sci-fi, fantasy, and horror flicks he's showcased every month at local cinemas, including Mill Avenue's MADCAP Theaters and Pollack Tempe Cinemas. For Army of Darkness, he reproduced the moment when badass protagonist Ash held his boomstick aloft, while Back to the Future's poster re-created the moment when the DeLorean was struck by lighting. And Moreno brought things full circle last year when he crafted his own Robocop poster for a showing of the 1987 cyberpunk film. It seems only fitting.

If you buy into the theory that the end of the Mayan calendar will coincide with the end of the world this December, then it's about time you picked out your apocalypse ensemble. As it very well could be the last thing you ever wear, why not have a little science fiction-inspired fun along the way? Perhaps you'd like to outfit yourself as an uprising primate, à la Planet of the Apes, or embrace the end as a zombie from The Walking Dead. Goofy green aliens and Star Trek characters also could work just as well. For any of the above and, oh, so much more, Easley's Fun Shop is the place. Of course, they're your go-to costume emporium when it comes to Halloween, but the family-owned store is open to suit your dress-up needs year-round and, if that Mayan legend holds true, until the end of time.

You don't see many of Fuei Shokai's eerie Slender Man dolls selling alongside other vinyl playthings at chain stores like Urban Outfitters or Zia Record Exchange. In fact, the sought-after collectible is so scarce that they can't be purchased anywhere in Arizona, except at Lulubell Toy Bodega. The quirky emporium, which moved to downtown Mesa from Tucson last winter, focuses on selling ultra-rare figures and obscurities imported from Japan, particularly Kaiju monsters and custom rarities made by little-known and micro-size manufactures. Co-owner Luke Rook frequently visits the Asian nation to search through boutiques and toy shows and scoop up these gems while partner Amy Del Castillo minds the store. Though you can also purchase cutesy works created by local artists or popular designer favorites from Frank Kozik and Kid Robot at the shop, it's a niche operation geared toward hardcore collectors. That's a toy story with a happy ending.

With all the geekery that's found a home in downtown Mesa, it's no surprise the main drag is also home to a comic shop that's busy with Daredevil, Wolverine, and Joker fans alike. Store owners Kevin Johnson and Miguel Vega and have played host to video game tournaments, book-signings, action figure showdowns, late-night Wi-Fi sessions, and plenty of good-hearted debate on the latest Marvel masterpiece. It's been called the next best thing to a geek mall, and with the buzz served up behind the counter, we could stay well past curfew.

It's funny. As reports of the demise of the bookstore — and, indeed, the paper-and-ink book itself — increase, hipsters are embracing the book as an art form. Not as something to read, but something to carve — literally. Really, we've seen skulls carved from old books, art stamped on their pages, shelves built on their backs. A coffee bar made of books; a rug, for crying out loud. We love art, but we'll be honest: Book art makes us cringe. Is it really time to call it a day when it comes to the book? Have we forgotten what books are actually for?

There’s one place (two, if CHB’s plans for a Central Phoenix spot come to fruition) where the book still is alive and well — and flying off the shelves, thank you very much. It’s not for lack of a lot of hard work on the part of the owners, staff, and community that loves Changing Hands, and it’s not for nothing that this bookstore embodies all the best qualities of our favorite book shops across the country. Not only will you find an educated staff and a wide selection, this spot serves as a community gathering place for metropolitan Phoenix, with readings from nationally acclaimed, famous authors, as well as first-time locals. And, hey, before you decide to arrange those old books by color in a decorative (and never-to-be-disturbed) artistic display, or make them into shelves for your Kindle, iPad, and Nook, consider selling them back to Changing Hands and buying new ones. The paper-and-ink kind. A novel idea.

Really, we should give this local micro-chain a Best of for "Best Place to Kill an Entire Summer Afternoon," because we've done that more than once at Bookmans. Or "Best Place to Do All Your Christmas Shopping" — because we've done that, too. In short, this is our favorite place to browse, to buy, and to sell back gently used books, movies, and gaming electronics. The magazine rack alone is reason to come — for a fraction of the cost, you can pick up the latest issues of your favorites if you're lucky. And you'll always be in luck when it comes to finding just the right book — the selection is giant and if they don't have it at one store, chances are they'll have it the other.

When bookworms find themselves craving a literary thrill, we point them toward The Poisoned Pen. There are shelves of novels in the bookstore that will sate their appetite. But that's nothing new. Since 1989, the specialty store has offered up tales, some of which its sister press publishes, in niche genres such as mystery and thriller. But don't let that (or the unpleasant origins of its name) scare you off. The bound-paper purveyor provides a cordial place that's free of plot twists where you can read and explore. Weekly book-signings featuring nationally acclaimed writers and such hyper-talented locals as James Sallis, an annual authors' conference, and the staff's eagerness to share their latest crime, noir, and other fictional faves will leave you feeling poisoned in the best possible way.

After slowly but surely plowing through the mass of art history goodness that is Phaidon Press' The Art Museum, any artist (or person with vaguely creative tendencies, for that matter) would feel inspired. But what to do with such a burst of creative energy is the real matter. We say head to Arizona Art Supply and let the materials that strike you be your guide. The store is a favorite among pros and amateurs when it comes to finding project must-haves like sketch pads, watercolors, and pencils, as well as discovering necessities that shoppers didn’t realize were must-haves until seeing them (yes, pearlescent airbrush color kit, we mean you).

Whether you're a serious beader in need of sophisticated tools or a newbie ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the strings of crystals and other sparkling treasures, Beads Galore won't disappoint. It's a one-stop shop for all your beading needs, a star of the annual gem show in Tucson, and the standard bearer in the Valley. Seed beads in every imaginable color, vats of Czech glass beads to pick through, an entire wall devoted to African trade beads, pearls in all shapes, sizes and hues — what are you waiting for? Get your bead on!

In case the cheeky name didn't give it away, Knit Happens is not some mothball-infused shop for old ladies and their kittens. No. Knitting noobs and purling pros of all ages get their needle fixes at this Scottsdale skein supply store, where the approachable staff has shoppers in stitches in no time. Knit offers more than 30 brands of yarn (including some that are locally dyed and spun) and all sorts of accessories keep the Valley's crafty knitheads coming back. Not sure how to wield a needle? No matter. Whether you're a total novice who needs basic training or you're embarking on some ambitious handmade project, Knit has a class for you.

The dimly lit aisles of Tempe Sales might not be the easiest spot to locate the Marimekko-inspired fabric for your latest reupholstery project. But if you have an hour or two to kill and need a place to find some serious inspiration for a new fabric-based project, Tempe Sales is a good place to start. It's here you'll find collections of cloth and vinyl in countless designs, colors, and textures, and heaps of swatches that can be patched together, all at prices that'll make it a whole lot easier to justify the long list of projects you came up with after you entered the doors.

Trust us: Not every SAS store is created equal. Several years back, there was a fire at the Central Phoenix location on Indian School Road. This forced a cleanup and reorganization that was cause for great celebration among sewers, crafters, and fabric hoarders across the land. The "new" spot is cleaner, brighter, and it's actually possible to find what you're looking for, although the truth is that at SAS, the best part is finding treasures you never knew you needed. Like pieces of sparkly green oilcloth, velvet ribbon, and upholstery fabric so cute and affordable that you'll look at your living room in a whole new way. Even better: All the prices are rock-bottom. Happy hunting!

Fine. You can blame our unbridled love of and compulsive need to spoil our pets on watching too many Disney movies featuring talking animals when we were kids. And, you know, we probably did watch Lady and the Tramp a few too many times. Big deal. Feel free to judge our gorgeously manicured fuzzy companions — and us — all you want. We'll keep pampering them at Mackie's Parlour, because dropping your pup into a lap of luxury is the pet boutique's specialty. With its unrivaled selection of high-end harnesses and collars, scrumptious treats, quality food selection, and plush pet beds, furry friends leave feeling like canine royalty.

Bath time is a dreaded tradition — for both dirty doggies and their parents. The wagging ones dread the sudsy tub, while the promise of cleaning up Fido's watery tracks all over the house after he decides to jump ship inspires ire in the well-meaning humans. That’s why we thank goodness that Wag n’ Wash provides professional-grade and easy-to-use equipment for bathing scruffy pups into barking beauties, along with smell-good soaps and a handy dryer.

We all need a job to do, and for many homeless individuals, a job could be the first step toward a better life. Just B — B Just, a program of the Phoenix-based Lodestar Day Resource Center, is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness. Just B sells natural bath and body products and is run almost entirely by formerly homeless individuals. The company recently set up shop in local Whole Foods markets — so now you can easily find their wares. Purchases from Just B go toward funding the LDCR's homeless services. According to the Just B website, one purchase of the organization's all-natural lip balm can fund a day's services for two homeless individuals. Some of the other products offered by Just B include body soap, candles, and lotion. Smell good and do good — we call that a very good idea.

When taking a much-needed spa day, the key to really enjoying the pampering experience is feeling transported to an oasis. Hyatt Gainey Ranch's Spa Avania, with its instantly calming neutral, sandy color scheme, takes us to such a state of bliss. But it's through its unique treatments, like the signature Desert Essence Body Wrap ($165), a deeply hydrating treatment employing cactus extract, and the lavish Crushed Pearl Facial ($180), that we find that elusive world of Zen-like enlightenment. If you hear us chanting oms, chalk it up to the spa-induced state of nirvana and get yourself an appointment, stat.

Remember going through the automatic car wash as a kid in your mom and dad's car? That feeling of being inside something so mechanical, so loud, and so much more sci-fi futuristic than any of your parents' other errands. Now, as adults, car washes are a boring necessity — that is, unless you take your ride to Clean Freak, where you can recapture the fantastical feeling of your childhood. Plus, the staff is friendly, and the deals are priced right. A regular wash is $5, takes just three minutes, and includes vacuuming. Step it up with the Freaky Clean for $8 or the Obsessively Clean for $10, complete with undercarriage power wash and Turtle Wax ICE. Can't keep the desert dust off your car? Unlimited monthly washes start at $20.

The slew of sedans making up Sunrise Cab's fleet isn't exactly what you'd call pristine. In fact, shabby and squalid would be better words to use when describing the tattered, threadbare interiors of the former cop cars and secondhand hoopties that were purchased from local surplus auctions by this mom-and-pop cab company and transformed into taxis. The practical upshot of such low-fi livery vehicles, however, is that Sunrise Cab can offer substantially cheaper rates than its snazzier competitors. Flag drops, for instance, are only $2.50, and the per-mile charge is a mere $1.50. Drivers — who are not only prompt but also ultra-friendly — tend to stick around the Phoenix area but will journey to other parts of the Valley for those who schedule pickups in advance. It allows you to get to and from your favorite nightspots with plenty of dough leftover for drinks.

The Mercedes-Benz E350 isn't a mere car; it's a rolling palace of posh. This dream machine's V-6 engine purrs with 302 horsepower, its luxury exterior exudes an aura of wealth and privilege, and its price tag is in excess of $50,000. So unless you can somehow divine the correct Powerball numbers, your only shot at taking a ride inside this high-end automobile (or any others in the E-class) is by ringing up the drivers at Euro Way Transportation. They've got a bounty of Benzes at their disposal and can ferry you around the Valley in style for roughly the same as most other luxury cab companies (with $5.20 for the first mile, $2.25 for every mile thereafter). Or, if you'd like to be shuttled around to some of Scottsdale's swankiest for an entire evening, Euro Way's staff — who go through a rigorous screening process — will charge you $58 per hour. It certainly beats rolling up to the Mint in your old Mazda.

If you think women know nothing about cars, you haven't met Bogi Lateiner. The 30-something is passionate about vehicles and ditched her plans to become a lawyer to instead break down the barriers between women and their cars (and men who don't think their cars can be fixed by women). She opened 180 Degrees Automotive this year and is already busy with oil changes and repairs. And when she's not under the car, Lateiner is hard at work on a handbook for women — and anyone else — who want to learn more about auto repair. For her, the business is more than an oil change; it's an education and a pretty sweet hobby if you get to know what's under the hood.

Have a mechanical snafu on the morning commute to work or need a quick repair from damage done on the weekend ride? PHX Bike is downtown Phoenix's little urban bike boutique that not only could, but is. Shop owner Palmer Martines can have a bike ready before it's time for the ride home. Break a spoke, need a derailleur adjustment, brakes freeze up, or drop a chain? No problem. If you're into two-wheel fun of any variety, this super-specialized, super-indie shop's got the goods for fixie, single-speed, road, or BMX varieties. Located in The Hub building, just south of Adams on Central, PHX Bikes is the only shop downtown to service bike commuters and ASU students. And, as with any good shop, the space is anchored by a comfy red couch.

Set in Old Town Scottsdale, Bicycle Haüs is the town's ultimate cycling boutique. It carries drool-worthy, super-high-end lines like Rapha, Assos, Pinarello, and Colnago in a shop that is always immaculate. Even though it's got the stuff that can fill anyone with bike envy, it also has baseline bikes for those looking to cruise the Greenbelt or area canals. Haüs is a big supporter of local racing, sponsoring multiple teams as well as a local pro-level crit race. The very best part of the shop, though, is the collection of vintage Specialized and Schwinn bikes and race-worn bike jerseys that line the ceilings, making this place not only a shop but a museum. Be sure to look for the green jersey from the Tour de Romandie, won by the Valley's own Chad Beyer. Complete with a bar to sidle up to for chatting up the wrenches who seem to constantly be building a new dream bike, Bicycle Haüs may only look like it's for a few, but it really is for anyone who loves to pedal two wheels.

We're not sure why the titular character of Avril Lavigne's hit song "Sk8r Boi" was dubbed a loser. In our high school, the skater kids were some of our coolest classmates. And the chill cats behind the counters at Cowtown Skateboards are the same way, which makes us feel right at home. Maybe that's because the shop employs burgeoning kick-pushers who will give you their honest take on everything from trucks and shirts to decks and sneakers. When they're not hawking wheelie goods, you likely will find them out at local skate parks testing out tricks and gathering material for new videos. That's what makes the Cowtown team legit, and it's why we trust 'em above all others when it comes to grinding, carving, and flipping.

It's said that a chemist's best friend is the periodic table. If that's true, being BFFs with a tabular display of elements sounds like a boring existence, if you ask us. It might behoove said chemists to seek some new buddies, and, no, we're not talking about any greasy-haired teenagers eager for you to help them cook up. Instead, consider making acquaintances with the helpful and sociable staff at ChemLab Supply, who seem to have great chemistry with their customers (sorry, couldn't resist). If your latest experiment calls for sodium thiosulfate or cupric chloride, ChemLab Supply has 'em in stock at their South Phoenix retail location, as well as more than 600 other essential substances, oxidizers, and acids. And if you're feeling testy, the store also stocks kits for gauging pH levels, conductivity, and water purity. A full range of flasks, beakers, glassware, Bunsen burners, and lab equipment is available for purchase. ChemLab's been serving solvents since 1980 to a variety of local inventors and lab nerds. But if a badass bald-headed ex-teacher strolled in asking for thorium oxide and phenylacetone to make Blue Sky, they'd probably call the cops.

Do you own a chinchilla? If so, then you are a bad person and should feel bad about subjecting an animal to the Arizona heat. Chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains and adapted to live at cool higher elevations. Arizona is probably as far as you can possibly get from that environment without shooting them into space. So what is a conscientious desert-dwelling animal lover to do?

Perhaps head over to the annual Phoenix Reptile Expo held at the Mesa Convention Center. Whether you are looking for a new tank for your 15-foot boa constrictor or just a hot rock for your favorite scaly friend, this reptile convention has you covered. Beyond upgrading your current reptile enclosure, you can also look forward to browsing through a huge array of new reptile companions. Local and national vendors sell everything from corn snakes to bearded dragons. The expo goes down in November, and tickets will run you $12 for adults and $5 for children. There is a $2 admission coupon available on their webpage.

If you have ever had even a passing interest in preparing for the End Of The World As We Know It (EOTWAWKI) then you'll probably want to check out this Mesa convention. Held in the hangars of the Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum, this "prepper" convention has all your bases covered. Here you can pick up the very latest in personal post-apocalyptic protection, a good example of which is the Crovel, a combination of a multi-tool and a sharpened shovel suited for hacking down a tree or hacking off someone's head.

If you can't find a bottle of wine you like somewhere in Sportsman's 1,500-plus bottle collection then you probably need to admit to yourself that maybe you don't like wine – or that you're the snobbiest wine snob in all the land. For more than 25 years, Sportsman's has been offering Phoenicians the best selection of wines in town. Whether it's that perfect bottle of malbec or an oaky chardonnay, the Sportsman's team can help you find what you're looking for. Since wine shopping can sometimes be stressful, head over to their tasting room to decompress with a glass of something red and an impressive cheese plate.

We're not claiming to be experts in the world of hunting, but we do know that the telltale sign of a good taxidermist appears when you find yourself seriously debating whether the stuffed animal you see is alive. That's the reaction that Chris Kruger strives for with every animal he preserves — from bears to bass, bison to bobcats.

Working alongside his wife, Mary, who specializes in animal rugs, Kruger considers himself an innovator in the world of taxidermy. Having practiced the art full-time since 1985, Kruger tries to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to developing more advanced techniques, creating his own materials from scratch, and capturing not just the most vivid animals but also some of their most epic moments in nature.

As you enter Kruger’s at-home studio, you’ll pass by a life-size javelina leaping into the air as a snake extends its body to sink its teeth into the poor mammal’s leg. Traces of the glossy, saliva-covered cactus that the boar had been feasting on still nestled around the grooves of his teeth. It’s details like this that set Kruger apart. If you want further testimony to his craft, you can find his mounts at the Smithsonian Institution and in sporting-goods stores around town. See a slideshow here.

In 1996, Phoenix-based entrepreneur Christina Carlino decided to put her beauty school knowledge and life philosophy to work. The then-34-year-old had had plenty of experience in the beauty industry (she worked for plastic surgeons in Hollywood and developed the BioMedic line that's now sold in plastic surgery offices around the country). As the story goes, the idea for Philosphy skin care came to Carlino while she was hiking Squaw Peak. She was going through a hard time and looked up to see a rainbow. From that rainbow came a book of poems, and from that book came a internationally successful skincare company. Carlino started small, but the business grew quickly. She not only developed the original fragrances, but she wrote the poems on the backs of all her products — a moisturizer called "hope in a jar," a scrub called "deeply superficial," and a perfume called "pure grace," to name a few. And she chose the imagery for each label that you can now pick up at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, and QVC (though in Phoenix, we still have our own standalone stores). Carlino sold the company to the Carlyle Group in 2007, and the brand was acquired by perfume maker Coty Inc. in 2010, though Carlino still vouches for the brand. Her Phoenix-based life now is a little more low-key, with a focus on family and smaller singing and songwriting ventures, which you can hear all about on her website.

Phoenix artist Christy Puetz works on her animal creations with a long needle, a collection of glass seed beads, and countless peyote stitches. Her fragile, delicate, and painstakingly detailed creatures come from a variety of backgrounds and stories. In 2011, she created a collection of “shapeshifting” creatures shown at Modified Arts, and, in 2009, she showcased a series of birds with beaded patterns inspired by the microscopic appearances of diseases including herpes and chlamydia. Together, her animals create a story line played out in the artist’s mind. Over the summer, Puetz was an artist in residence at Gallery@theLibrary (located inside Scottsdale Civic Center Library), where she worked for a public audience and hosted workshops that fed into the exhibition, titled “Monsters and Squirrels,” that surrounded her.

Armed with two turbo-charged Cessna 206 aircraft and a slew of cameras, the Kenney Aerial Mapping crew takes to the sky. From above, the team can capture data that helps it create custom aerial topographic maps, aerial photos, surveys, and digital terrain models of any area in the Southwest. Forget Google Earth; these guys use two Zeiss aerial-mapping cameras that are calibrated regularly by the U.S. Geological Survey and have higher resolution for fine detail. When they're back on land, the team scans and processes film in its in-house photo lab, where custom maps and aerial photos can be processed, printed, and mounted to document your latest trophy hike or the beginning stages of your next big project.

Scottsdale could serve as the poster city for three things: bleached blond hair, bedazzled jeans, and plastic surgery. Which means we shouldn't be that surprised to find out the city with as many plastic surgeons as gas stations is also the home of Medicis, the pharmaceutical company behind one of the most popular family of injectable fillers for facial tissues. The company makes its corporate home in Scottsdale and brought the powers of Restylane from Sweden to the United States. The company reports the stuff has now been used in more than 15 million facial wrinkle and lip injections around the world. And to think, before this, we were pretty sure that Scottsdale's biggest seller was fake boobs. So don't worry about wrinkles; go ahead and smile. We've got you covered, er, injected.

Did you know that the Los Angeles Department of Public Health classifies traditional nail polish as toxic waste? Well, guess what, they do, and you have been putting it all over your flanges for years. Yuck. So, ladies (and gentlemen, if you're into this sort of thing), the days of putting toxic paint all over your pretty fingernails is over. No more worrying about the long-term effects of mysterious chemicals like phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde; there's a new nail polish out there that's super-ecofriendly, and it's made right here in Phoenix. Ginny Cardena, CEO and founder of Scotch Naturals Nail Polish, has developed a "3 Free" nail polish that uses nontoxic acrylic polymer emulsions with pigments that are commonly found in watercolor paints, instead of the chemical sludge that most companies use. The Phoenix-based line is vegan-friendly, gluten-free, biodegradable, and comes in almost three dozen colors. They even make a special kid-friendly line called HopScotch. Perfect for tiny fingers that love bright colors without any of the bad stuff that you'll find in the traditional lacquers.

Any given day (except Sunday; they're open from noon to 4 Monday through Saturday), ASU Surplus is worth a visit — if you're looking for a super-cool, old-school vintage desk or perhaps a sturdy desk chair. Last time we visited, we found some giant green chalkboards. Nice. The price is right — ASU orders new supplies and dumps the old stuff here. But even better are ASU Surplus auctions, held the second Thursday of the month. That's where you can find the really crazy items, like a gorgeous apothecary cabinet a friend scored. (We're still jealous, years later.) In case you didn't get the memo, vintage science equipment is all the rage — even if you don't have any real experiments to conduct. Happy hunting.

Boy, you wish your high school shop class was as cool as Local Motors in Chandler. It's a space where auto enthusiasts, fabricators, engineers, and designers come to create vehicles conducive to the local environment. The Rally Fighter is the flagship vehicle of Local Motors, designed by Song Ho Kim, who won Local Motors' open competition. It's built for the American Southwest, and as intense as it looks, it's perfectly okay to take it out on Interstate 10. While Local Motors has an international online community of engineers and designers called The Forge, the coolest thing about this space is that you can (for the right price) build a Rally Fighter for yourself. From scratch. In six days. Even if you don't know how an engine works or why it's a called a monkey wrench, Local Motors will pair you up with a member of their team and you can drive this bad-ass car home in about a week. Learn more about it www.phoenixnewtimes.com/bestof2012.

Plasmids are the key to genetic engineering. You can't just take a string of genetic code, throw it into a pot of DNA, give it a shake and expect a cure for cancer to fall out. Plasmids are tiny loops of genetic material that scientists use to courier desired genes into the heart of a cell, its DNA. Pretty much all genetic engineering depends on plasmids, and keeping track of them can be a hassle. In the past, scientists who wanted to use plasmids had to more or less build them from scratch, which can be a slow and time-consuming process.