Goods & Services

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) might roll around only once a year, but the skulls, monarch butterflies, and other motifs meant to celebrate ancestors who've died are a part of everyday life in Mexican culture. And quite a few Phoenicians have embraced them, too, sporting iconic sugar-skull images on everything from bolo ties to hipster socks. Walls, bins, and shelves at La Tiendita (meaning "the little shop") inside the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center are filled year-round with jewelry, magnets, masks, home decor, fashion accessories, and crafts channeling Day of the Dead and other Mexican traditions. Many are made by local artists, and there's a good chance you'll get to meet and talk with at least one local artist while you're there. Pieces of colorful tissue paper called papel picado, perforated to create Day of the Dead designs, hang suspended from the ceiling — proving that shopping, as you've long insisted, is actually an essential life-affirming act. Go ahead, get that fancy skull-print handbag or wallet. Your abuela (grandmother) would have wanted you to go for it.

We know it's officially winter when it's finally time to put on a scarf, park at the AJ's on Central Avenue and Camelback Road, buy a dirty chai from a Dutch Bros. associate who is so busy he doesn't have time to be annoying, and knock out holiday shopping at Crafeteria. Every December, the handmade marketplace brings together around 50 specially selected vendors who set up shop in the Medlock Plaza parking lot for an evening of perusing, live music, and food-truck snacks. Expect letterpress cards, painted paper goods, jewelry, knitwear, toys for kids, and leather items. All of which equates to check, check, check, and check when it comes to that gift list.

If one man's trash is another man's treasure, then Junk in the Trunk is basically the vintage and resale equivalent of the Cave of Wonders in Disney's Aladdin. Seriously, this craft fair/antique mall hybrid takes over WestWorld of Scottsdale and turns it into a Pinterest addict's wonderland. Need an adorable wooden end table with paint chipped in such a way that gives it a rustic charm? Or how about the final Pyrex bowl that completes your Butterfly Gold set? Or maybe you just need one more sassy picket-fence-turned-wall-hanging piece to finish off your entryway. Well, grab those reusable bags, and bring plenty of cash, because Junk in the Trunk has everything you're looking for and a few more things you won't be able to live without.

When people imagine Phoenix, they don't really think of jewelers, carpenters, clothing designers, or leather workers. But, oh, are they wrong not to. Hidden within this desert valley are some incredibly talented crafters, and there's no better place to peruse and choose which maker is your favorite than Phoenix Flea. Thankfully, this "modern market" happens several times per year at different locations throughout the city.

Mall experts that we are, we know that a multi-level, multi-store day of shopping requires a, well, multitude of things. We also know that Scottsdale Quarter has all of 'em. Sustenance? The north Valley spot runs the gamut, with baked goods and caffeine by way of Press Coffee to easy lunches and light fare at True Food Kitchen and a full-blown fancy dinner at Dominick's Steakhouse. Shopping? There's your generic mall fare, including an Apple store, H&M, and Bath & Body Works; rarer finds like Warby Parker, Design Within Reach, and West Elm; and high-end offerings from Intermix and Suitsupply. There are places to unwind with beauty services (Drybar and Dolce), an American Girl store to keep the kiddos occupied, and when you're sick of hauling those bags around, the iPic Theater awaits, with room to mellow out for a few hours while cozied up in its plush seating. What more could you want?

Joshua Hahn and Kenny Barrett have, among other things, stellar taste. So when the duo behind downtown's community garden slash co-op vintage shop GROWop announced that they'd open a new store called Phoenix General, we counted down the days. And boy, we weren't disappointed. An aesthetic departure from its cozy sister shop, the General's scene is more streamlined, with clean lines, simple designs, and minimal frills. That means men's and women's wearables by Bridge & Burn, Hill-Side bandanas, and bags by Yield. More exciting still, Hahn and Barrett have launched an in-house label of covetable T-shirts and cushy cotton separates, with more options to come. Um, also? They carry Ace & Jig, the textile-centered label that makes the kinds of shirts, jumpsuits, and dresses that make you feel like you're on vacation (even when you're at work).

Georganne Bryant's Frances has fans, the kind of people who might not know what they want walking in but are confident they'll walk out with something they love. That sort of love is what's kept the shop going strong (and stylish) for a decade now. Stock your wardrobe with seasonal Toms, locally crafted jewelry by against the grain, and Free People's latest take on a flowy top. Nab home goods including Two Trees Botanicals terrariums and Standard Wax candles. And while you're at it, snag some one-size-fits-all gifts for upcoming holidays and unexpected birthdays: State Forty Eight shirts, Fishs Eddy mugs, and the latest goodies from Rifle Paper Co. We recommend repeating the exercise every few months, if not sooner.

We would've called it For the People with the Very Best Taste, but we get that brevity is fairly important when it comes to signage and marketing and other business-y affairs. And so we have For the People, formerly located at Biltmore Fashion Park's UNION. Now at home along the Central Corridor, the shop's increased square footage means more things to covet and, when we're feeling generous, buy for our nearest and dearest. Which is pretty easy when choosing between copper desk accessories by Tom Dixon, Iittala glassware, and a collection of Taschen books designed to make the heart skip a beat in the very best way.

A candle that looks as good as it smells? That's the dream. And for those who like to have it all, there's Standard Wax. The local company specializes in candles that not only make your home smell divine, but can also be repurposed as decorative storage, pots for plants — you name it. Their color-blocked ceramic containers, which feature a white exterior and bold interiors of red, green, yellow, and purple, can be purchased online or at local shops including Frances, For the People, and Urbana. Try the Whiskey and Fig for a smoky, floral aroma, or go for something light and clean like the Basil and Thyme. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Yeah, we're aware that Queen Creek is about three trillion miles away from most of you.But we also promise that the schlep to Desert Horizon Nursery will be worth it for the Instagram posts alone, though it would be pretty silly to make the trek without a few things to pick up — or a few questions for the experts on hand at the sprawling plant store. We're talking citrus trees, an abundance of cactuses and succulents, and statues of dinosaurs (how could we even make something like that up?) to create the outdoor space of your wildest and weirdest dreams.

Pretty sure flowers work for any occasion, particularly when they're from Camelback Flowershop. From "sorry" and "thanks" to "I love you" and "I might be over it," the shop's got an option. Air plants, succulents, bundles of ranunculus, and towering clematis are just a few bloomers you'll spot (when they're in season, that is). To make a splash, custom arrangements are your best bet. Or, arrive on a Friday afternoon for flower happy hour if you're more the DIY type. You can even build a gift box — complete with chocolates or handmade soaps and a handwritten card tucked into a wooden gift box. And, hey, we've had the privilege of never receiving hate flowers, but we wouldn't mind a nastygram if it came with an arrangement of peonies from this place.

Though the title of her nail art blog, Chalkboard Nails, gives us pinching chills just imagining that dry screech, what Sarah Waite does with a nail bed often leaves us asking the annoying question, "How does she do it?!" Thing is, you can see how she does it — both through her online tutorials and by making an appointment with Waite to take you on as a client at The Spa at Camelback Village. Bring your own big ideas or let the artist have at it. After all, she's the one with experience painting perfectly spaced plaid, oozing galaxies, and whirling tie-dye on fingernails.

Ninety minutes for a facial? In the immortal words of YouTube sensation Kimberly "Sweet Brown" Wilkins, ain't nobody got time for that. Ten minutes, on the other hand, is a practically perfect amount of time to spend on professional skincare. And at Skin Laundry, that's all the time you'll need for a laser and light facial treatment. It's a quick treatment that deep-cleans pores, and at the risk of sounding like science nerds, all we really can tell you is that people who get into it become sort of obsessed with the slight snapping sensation the laser delivers, followed by a bright light treatment. (You wear protective goggles the whole time — kinda like the ones from tanning beds in 2006.) The first facial's free, and the results are said to cumulate over time. Which, ya know, you'll have plenty of.

No judgment, but you look like a spa day might be in order. And we know just the one. Try reading this without relaxing (and feeling just a twinge of longing): The Spa at Camelback Inn sits amid a desert scape with tranquil offerings revolving around such water treatments as whirlpools, a Turkish steam bath, Finnish saunas, and a heated outdoor pool. If you aren't already staying at the Inn, you gain access to all the aforementioned amenities with the purchase of a one-hour spa appointment. Your options there include massages, facials, and assorted salon services. We'd recommend the aromatic Sonoran Rose Facial ($160) or the Native Stone Hot Massage ($165). For the best of both treatments, indulge in a combination of treatments ranging from the Soother Package, which comprises a massage and loofah treatment for $200, to the Camelback Day Package, which stretches for three and a half hours and includes a massage, facial, and your choice of two salon treatments, for $375.

We are all for hopping into the makeup chair at Sephora for the occasional over-the-top primping session. But the eyeliner gods know two things: We will never execute an immaculate winged liquid look if we do it ourselves, and if we can avoid being bare-faced at the mall, we will. Enter the Sparkle Bar, a full-service makeup studio. It's one of a kind here in Arizona and offers an array of services, ranging from quickie makeovers and false eyelash applications to in-depth master makeup lessons and glam-squad makeup at a location of your choosing for $65 (plus applicable travel fees). Packages and memberships are also available, too, should you need that sparkle in your life.

If you've ever walked through Christown Spectrum Mall, then you know what it means to be simultaneously confused and disappointed. Ever heard of BBB Fashion? How about Wave? No? We didn't think so. Imagine our surprise, then, when we discovered that, hidden inside this graveyard of godawful retail, there is (wait for it) a Sephora. Yes, an honest to God Sephora. Not a full-size one like you'd find in Scottsdale, but it gets the job done with a good selection of your favorite luxury cosmetics. To access this black-and-white diamond in the rough, simply walk through the JCPenney on the building's north side. Goodbye, trips to Fashion Square. Hello, VIB Rouge status.

Looking for glasses that are anything but sheepish? Get your eyeballs to Framed Ewe. The eyewear boutique specializes in high-end brands with artsy cred such as Garrett Leight, Moscot, and Krewe. Framed Ewe is one of just a few shops to stick around at Biltmore Fashion Park after participating in the failed mini-store shopping experiment that was UNION. In June, the shop opened a second location at the newly developed Colony, where you'll find the likes of cartoonishly polarized lenses by Retrosuperfuture alongside See Concept's bendy Barbie-pink readers on the contemporary white shelving. And we almost forgot to mention: The new shop's a one-stop situation, since it's home to an optometry office to help get your prescription in order for those crystalline gray Salt frames. Would ya lookie there.

Whether you're new to Phoenix or just delving into the city's art world, MADE is the place to start. On the corner of Fifth and Roosevelt streets in a converted bungalow, the shop spotlights locally crafted functional art pieces that are lovely to look at and serve a purpose. The 700-square-foot space is packed with ceramic wares from Danielle Wood and Jeff May, jewelry by Alex Ozers, and delightfully plush animals from Sighfoo. Be sure to spend a few minutes eyeing the wall above the fireplace. Dubbed the "Mantle at MADE," it serves as a showcase of local artists' work, having presented pieces from notable creatives including Space Boy Robot and Alexandra Bowers.

On a summertime First Friday, we stumbled into Unexpected Art Gallery just off Grand Avenue to find a fashion show with original dance choreography that was inspired by meditation, crystals, and lasers, which shot from projectors to create the rectangular runway. Turns out, such out-there fare is fairly standard for the open warehouse-style space, which does nothing if not live up to its name. Besides hosting events and exhibitions, the space serves as a store where shoppers will find oddball works of art and a rotating selection of objects for sale. Pop in on a First or Third Friday and expect the, well, you know.

For style with street-art sensibility, no shop delivers quite like the Bee's Knees. Located off 16th Street in the same complex as Julia Fournier's the Hive, the resale boutique stocks paper-thin tees and coveted band shirts along with day dresses, knick-knacks, small home goods, and locally crafted accessories — all with a side of art. Besides the lure of its exterior mural works, Bee's Knees' big draw is its tiny prices. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for alerts about discount days when items go for just $5.

Nothing screams lack of imagination more than a generic coffee mug. There's no such thing at the ASU Ceramics Research Center and Brickyard Gallery, which is part of ASU Art Museum but located in the heart of Mill Avenue's retail hub. Their coffee cups, including Danielle Wood creations bearing coral-shaped polyps painted with ethereal pastel colors, are actually small works of art. The center has an ever-changing selection of functional and decorative ceramic works perfect for gift-giving or feathering your own nest, from rough-hewn vessels carved with deep textures by Patricia Sannit to polished, perfectly symmetrical, nature-infused works by Farraday Newsome. You can shop while supporting local artists, who actually need to sell their works to pay for all those niceties like housing and food. And you won't have to pay a thing to hang around and explore the center's impressive collection or latest exhibition.

Blink and you'll miss it. Glance and you'll think it's closed. Yet inside the low, brown, adobe complex beyond the sign declaring "DRUMBEAT" in all-black caps is a little look at the Valley's often-overlooked Native culture. A wooden door opens to a tight space packed with crafting materials ranging from bird feet behind glass and dyed canary-yellow feathers to a color wheel of tiny Japanese seed beads packed into tubes. Venture toward the back for selections of releases from Canyon Records, hard-to-find cassette tapes, and shelves of Pendleton serapes, pillows, and Chief Joseph blankets in a dizzying spectrum of teals, purples, and fuchsias.

They've got beads up the wall at Bead World Phoenix, the colorful shop for beads and beading materials at the northwest corner of 16th Street and Bethany Home Road. With a motto like "She who dies with the most beads wins," we know these people take this bead thing seriously. Shoppers find beads ranging from Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls to wood, copper, Czech glass, and African Trade beads. You'll also see beading materials for stringing, tools, and tubes, plus jewelry-making kits for Chimera and meditation bracelets, and TierraCast jewelry. Big spenders can take advantage of wholesale and volume discounts. Bead World itself also hosts classes on bracelet- and necklace-making, and special events like a Traditional Bead Party, or "Plan Your Own Adventure" bead parties – where you rent the classroom space and shop tools for up to seven beaders. Bead World opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and is closed on Sunday.

More than simply a store with yards (and yards and, okay, still more yards) of yarn, Tempe Yarn & Fiber serves as a community hub for crafters. Tempe Yarn is home to classes for beginners new to the needle game and aspiring crochet pros, as well as courses on weaving with a loom, using crafting website Ravelry, and how to spin your own yarn on a freaking Sleeping Beauty-style spinning wheel. Stuck on a project that's going nowhere? Pop in on Wednesday afternoons for free help. And while you're at it, scope out the shop's locally dyed yarns, array of needles and tools, and patterns aplenty.

For more than 60 years, Arizona Art Supply has been the Valley's go-to resource for everything from high-end drafting and drawing materials to kids' art easels and crayons. Founded by hardware store owners back in 1950, the shop offers up all sorts of tools an artist — whether aspiring, professional, or somewhere in between — might need for such projects as framing, oil pastel sketching, or simply organizing that growing collection of Prismacolor markers. Wanna try your hand at printmaking or sculpture? There's a book for that. Need a black pen? You'll find so many varieties your head might explode. But do your best to keep it together; there's art to be made.

Donning vintage garb is one thing, but actually working with vintage equipment is quite another. That's exactly what happens inside Hazel & Violet, founded by longtime friends Nancy Hill and Beverly Wolfe. The small custom letterpress printing shop, located inside the historic Bragg's Pie Factory, has five letterpress printers — including two built during the 1920s. Hazel & Violet has mastered the fine art of mixing century-old technology with contemporary digital tools to create masterpieces ranging from humble coasters to super-slick posters — although the letterpress actually specializes in wedding invitations, announcements, and letterhead. Hazel & Violet is even happy to share the letterpress love through tours and workshops that give the rest of us a chance to make a good impression ourselves.

The Melrose District in central Phoenix did in fact say yes to the dress when the boutique Cleo & Clementine opened in 2012. Monique Sandoval is the owner and dressmaker — a combination of designer, seamstress, and overall creative type — who, along with her small team, produces unique wedding, prom, and special-occasion gowns. Sandoval learned to sew from her grandmother, borrowed her aunt's sewing machine growing up, and even participated in family projects like reupholstering the couch as a kid. Sandoval first started the more young-woman focused OUMA line, and later developed Cleo & Clementine. The gowns are designed in-house — the fabric handpicked, hand-dyed, and hand-stitched — and range in color from beige, cream, and white to soft pinks and blues, gold sequins, and solid black — some of which have been featured in Rock N Roll Bride and New Times.

Any bride that's made her way to the altar can tell you that planning a wedding isn't so simple as black and white — emphasis on the white. Finding your perfect dress to say "I do" in is rarely done in a day, let alone in a one-stop shopping trip. That's where Danese Creations comes in. For more than 40 years, owner Sylvia Danese has been helping brides-to-be make their must-have gowns fit like a glove — even going so far as to make them from scratch if she must. Come for quality alterations, stay for fairy godmother-esque words of wisdom for your big day, because at this point, Sylvia knows a thing or two about weddings.

He went to the mall? Well, that's too bad. Especially when you consider that he could have given you a custom-made piece from local jeweler Mother of Gideon. Business owners Charis Elliott and Seth Fainkujen specialize in one-of-a-kind creations that are as edgy as they are beautiful. Whether it's a crown, a wedding ring, or something in between, the creative duo will work with you to bring your idea to life while not straying away from their signature style of being sustainable, ethical, and unique. Adding to their elusive charm, Mother of Gideon recently closed their brick-and-mortar location, so interested buyers must seek them out at their Phoenix studio by appointment only.

Christina "Xappa" Franco has a thing for darkness. Among her favorite works of art are Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal and Frank Frazetta's Cat Girl. Different styles, sure. But when you consider the fantastical mysticism of the former in conjunction with the snarling lure of the other, Franco's jewelry starts to make a whole lot of sense. Under the banner Xappaland, the artist crafts metal jewelry that blends minimalism, goth tendencies, and statement making in a way that looks distinctly Arizonan. There's a beautiful but eerie heft to the dangling pendulum earrings with an earthy pink patina, her wiry crowns that wouldn't look out of place in a nymph-filled fairy tale, and the stabbing point of a stackable copper ring. They're pieces that merit a double take — and a spot in your jewelry box.

Dunno if you and your denim jacket have heard, but pins are happening in a big, err, we mean small way. And in Phoenix, nobody's on their pin game quite like Bermuda Press, a subsidiary of local apparel company Hello Merch. A bizarro mix of Arizona pride, pop-culture obsession, and sci-fi allure, Bermuda's stocked locally at Frances, but you can order online, too. At $10.99 a pop, go ahead and fill your lapels with Illuminati logos, a drippy Paul Is Dead proclamation, Bob from Twin Peaks screaming into oblivion, potted aloe, and an Arizona sunset in old-school Suns colors. Putting a pin in it never looked so smart.

The most creative pieces of dispensary marketing this year were the T-shirts at Arizona Natural Remedies. In the style of the classic D.A.R.E. campaign, these shirts celebrate Arizona medical cannabis with just the right amount of humor. The shirts read, "D.A.N.K. Keeping locals supplied with quality medication." Pick one up next time you're checking out Arizona Natural Remedies' truly quality medication.

TruMed is committed to bringing quality medicine to Arizona patients at competitive prices. The dispensary distinguishes itself from others through knowledgeable and friendly customer service. President Lauren Gooding, RN, is a registered oncology nurse who prides herself on helping patients become acquainted with cannabis as medicine while tailoring treatment regimens to their individual needs. TruMed's design is unparalleled, clean, modern, and inviting; this is a place you wouldn't think twice about recommending to friends or family. TruMed's flower is grown in house and represents some of the best genetics and attention to detail in the Arizona market. Many extracts are available at the dispensary's "dab bar," and Butane Hash Oil Shatter, Rick Simpson Oil, CLEAR (alcohol-extracted concentrates), and shatter pens are all made in-house to exacting standards of quality. TruMed also stocks a wide variety of edibles, many made by their in-house brand, Baked Bros.

Grown exclusively by Harvest of Tempe, Verde Electric is a genetic cross unique to Phoenix. This strain is a mix of Durban Poison, Platinum OG, and Sherbet genetics. It is known as "electric" because of its energetic, relaxed, and clear-headed but potent effects. The buds are a bright, light green color, giving the strain the "verde" moniker. Patients report decreased nausea and improved digestion after use. For a fantastic strain that is truly unique to the Valley, Verde Electric is a must-try.

Baked Bros Pourable THC Syrup is a revolutionary product in the world of cannabis-infused edible products. Flavors include Grape, Cherry, Strawberry-Kiwi, Mango, and Watermelon. Each batch is strain-specific, allowing patients to choose between sativa, indica, and hybrid options. It can be purchased in bottles containing either 300 or 600 milligrams of THC. With 10 milligrams being a widely accepted standard dose of THC, the active ingredient responsible for the "high" of cannabis, either bottle will last a while for most patients. What sets this product apart from imitators is the consistency of the syrup, which doesn't separate over time. It can be added to drinks or simply consumed on its own. Similar to a tincture, if you choose to hold the liquid in your mouth, it will be absorbed sublingually and you will feel effects in five to 10 minutes.

Melting Point Extracts is on the cutting edge of cannabis-extraction technology. Their Butane Hash Oil (BHO) shatters and waxes are flavorful and potent, with impressive terpene retention that allows you to smell and taste the plant matter that went into these extracts. However, for those who are terpene-obsessed, they also offer flavorful and aromatic live resin. Live resin is an extraction method where plant material is frozen and extracted immediately after being harvested, instead of waiting for the material to be cured as would be the case for a traditional extraction. Many of the compounds in cannabis are volatile and can be lost through the curing process; live resin extraction helps preserve as many of these as possible. For those concerned about the purity of their extracts, MPX offers CO2 extracts as well. In this method, super-critical or liquid CO2 takes the place of traditional hydrocarbons like butane. The result is an extremely clean and unique extract. What is even more impressive is the consistency or texture that MPX has achieved with their CO2 extracts; they rival the glass-like BHO shatters on the market.

For those unfamiliar with cannabis as medicine or looking for a personalized treatment plan for their specific ailments, it would be hard to find a better consultation anywhere than at Monarch, a dispensary in Scottsdale. New patients are offered a private consultation with one of Monarch's knowledgeable and friendly staff members. They are happy to discuss any and all questions related to cannabis and offer recommendations of products and treatment methods that patients should try. First-time patients typically receive a follow-up phone call a few days after their visit to inquire about their experience with their products. Monarch truly goes above and beyond to help patients and put them at ease.

Sky High has an impressive selection of glass, vaporizers, accessories, and tobacco products at competitive prices. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about all products. Sky High offers fun events and specials for holidays like 4/20 and 7/10. Kitty-corner to the main shop, Sky High recently opened a glass gallery that specializes in unique and custom pieces by some of the finest glass artists from around the country. This gallery truly brings something unique to the Phoenix glass scene, and is something all glass lovers should see.

Kim Wessinger can do without the kitschy cult following of Midcentury Modern. That's because the longtime owner of pristine barware boutique RegencyMod offers a different caliber of one-of-a-kind glassware better classified as Hollywood Regency style. "If it doesn't scream Frank [Sinatra], it's not for me," she says. Wessinger's cocktail sets predominantly feature art deco graphics completed in actual 24-karat gold and immaculate, artist-signed tumblers — the limited-edition sort that only would have been available once at, say, Neiman Marcus in 1961. Because of this, her barware has been featured on the sets of movies, television shows, and the window displays of posh flagship stores. Of course, you could display these antique works of art in your own home; you'll just have to pay Hollywood prices to get them.

Established in 2011 as Rocket Resale, this Tempe punk shop at Southern and Mill avenues has plenty to offer in the way of women's and men's clothing. Within heavily decorated walls, you'll find retro-cut dresses, alternative and upcycled accessories, chunky shoes, band shirts, and geek-themed purses. Owned by mother-and-daughter-in-law duo RoseAna Dodge and Stormy Love, Rocket a Go~Go carries favorite brands for rockabilly- and punk-leaning girls and boys like Hell Bunny, Sourpuss, Kreepsville 666, Dr. Martens, Iron Fist, and their own house brand. Plus, resale is still a major part of Rocket a Go~Go. The "Rocket Girls" also draw in a number of famous shoppers from the neighboring Yucca Tap Room, including Sugar Thieves, Nekromantix, and Agent Orange.

We'd be hard-pressed to think of a better method of whiling away an afternoon than sifting through vintage furniture and goods. And that goes double when there's a deal on the table. Which is precisely the case with Third Thursdays at Zinnias, when the multi-level Melrose Curve shop knocks 20 percent off of nearly everything in stock, save for the fancier furniture in its front room. No matter, though. The rest of the antique shop is stacked with goods, ranging from Pyrex dishware and midcentury couches to vintage magazines and framed artwork that might just be the finishing touch you've been looking for.

You've definitely seen this place when driving on Interstate 17: the sprawling white building with the cute and incredibly large cartoon armadillo meeting eyes with you from the back of Brass Armadillo Antique Mall. The expansive operation is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and features more than 600 antique dealers selling everything from military memorabilia to books, home decor, and historic crystal, china, and pottery collections. Shoppers can take home anything from comic books to bikes to those vintage, Flintstones-adorned Welch's jelly jars. Brass Armadillo also offers a snack bar and free lessons to dealers and the public on how to post antique items through iAntique, Craigslist, and eBay. There are other Brass Armadillo locations in the West Valley and Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska, Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado, in case you need your antique fix outside of central Phoenix – but this one is our favorite.

We have this thing with display windows — and particularly, the Valley's lack of them. There's something special about a stylishly posed swing dress catching your eye, and the ladies at Antique Sugar know this all too well. Not that we need convincing to step inside the shop. Sugar has been a favorite spot for both men's and women's vintage clothing for years now. The boutique's in a league of its own downtown, with candy-colored party dresses, hefty turquoise-and-silver belt buckles, and the tacky-meets-sparkly overkill of costume jewelry. But still, we really like those windows.

Follow uptown boutique Poor Little Rich Girl on Instagram at your own risk. Well, your own risk of needing to make trips to the shop on the regular — not that we could possibly discourage that, given the resale inventory the store stocks. Think floral Toms with tags still attached, tiered Diane von Furstenburg summer dresses, and Joie blouses, all at just a fraction of what you'd pay buying them brand new. Not spotting the to-die-for Tory Burch wedges that have been haunting your dreams? You can create a profile that's on file at the shop to share everything on your fashionable wish list — including brands, sizes, and particular items.

We've got a confession to make. We're not all that green. We forget our reusable bags every single time we walk into Trader Joe's, and we may not be so great about separating recyclables at home. But there's one place where it's easy being green, as far as we're concerned: Love Child, a used kids' clothing store in Tempe. We love to reduce our carbon footprint by buying cute, previously worn shoes for our kids at this small shop where the selection is wide and ever-changing. The staff is super friendly and accommodating to our diva children, who take over the dressing room whenever we visit. And bonus: We love to trade our gently used kids' clothes in exchange for credit so we can buy more. It may not be easy being green, but at Love Child, you can outfit your kid without guilt — and save some of that other green, too.

If you haven't seen toddlers sporting Morrissey and Joy Division onesies, and little T-shirts reading "Cure Hair Don't Care," then you probably haven't seen the work of Tiffe Fermaint. She's a mom and owner of Baby Teith, a "line of cosmic, New Wave fashion for babies and kids ages newborn to 14 years old." One look at this clothing line, and you'll swear somebody's kid out there is dressed cooler than you are, donning New Wave and alternative band shirts, shimmering metallic leggings, and spacey prints like galaxy, moon, and rainbow dragons in the form of little dresses, skirts, shorts, and tops. Accessories include psychedelic headbands. Gift cards are available. In addition to boutiques in Texas, New York, California, and other states, Baby Teith can be found around town at spots like Frances, Cheeky Chic Baby Boutique, and Whole Foods Market locations around the Valley. 

Designer denim takes some getting used to — there ain't as much give as your standard jeans — but once you've properly broken in a pair, the look and feel's unbeatable. The folks at HUB have the best selection in town of raw and organic cotton jeans for both men and women, from hip brands like Naked and Famous, Won Hundred, Diesel, Acne Studios, and Nudie. The staff there knows what's what, too, and they'll clue you in on all the tricks (mostly, don't wash 'em) to keep your dungarees in fine shape, along with accessories and outerwear to pair them with. 

Perhaps you're familiar with the notion of skirting the issue. The stylish team at Bunky Boutique has more of a yen for, um, shirting it. Owned by Rachel and Jim Malloy, the small central Phoenix shop is our favorite place to pick up casual cotton tops. You know, T-shirts. With super-soft shirts from local labels including Overthrow Clothing and an in-house line that's equal parts Bunky love and Arizona pride, dressing locally and looking great has never been this easy (or, for that matter, comfortable). 

Looking to up your boot game without breaking the bank? Here's your spot. We once snagged a pair of studded brown beauties for under $100 and a perfect pair of basic black boots for less than we'd spend on date night. At Cowtown Boots in north Tempe, you can often score quality, brand-name boots at seriously discounted prices. We're talking all the best brands — Justin, Ariat, Tony Lama, and more — at prices that will make it difficult not to walk away with a half-dozen pairs. Located on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Curry roads, the shop may not be the fanciest place to do your shopping, but if you're looking for that perfect boot to round out your collection, then it's worth digging through Cowtown's shelves in search of a gem.

Like it or not, the athleisure trend is only getting warmed up. And luckily for Valley dwellers looking to get in on the action, Scottsdale Waterfront shop High Point has been in on the kicks game for a while now. A veritable sneakerhead's paradise, the boutique shoe store stocks men's and women's footwear, ranging from old-school canvas lace-up Vans to retro low-top Jordans, perforated New Balance 696s, and Pumas so pretty they'll make you wanna cry. No sneaks are complete without some coordinating casual wear, which is why High Point also carries clothing, hats, and accessories from brands including Herschel, Acapulco Gold, and Stussy.

Sure, running can be a low-maintenance sport, but any real enthusiast knows a good pair of shoes makes all the difference, and for that, you'll want to jog on over to Runner's Den. Since 1978, this north Phoenix boutique has been the go-to place for runners, racers, and athletes of all types who know you can't do much without the right equipment. The shop's knowledgeable staff will happily help you find the perfect pair of shoes for any type of training, plus all the additional swag you need to get yourself from point A to point B. From training essentials like hydration belts and the newest Garmin watch to race-day needs like gels, sweat-wicking shirts, and the perfect socks, Runner's Den has what you knew you needed and some stuff you probably didn't. Plus, the shop's a hub for the local running community, offering group runs, training groups, injury clinics, and even discounts for coaches.

Someone stole the front wheel off our Down Hill hardtail. So, it sat in the garage for a couple of years. By the time we got around to getting that wheel replaced, our poor old (new) bicycle needed a full service before it was going to be street-ready again. We took it straight to the Slippery Pig, a place we knew was home to expert riders and obsessively tidy mechanics that get all turned on by bikes. It's where we bought our last two bikes, and we remember how the salespeople there were more interested in fitting us with the right bike than they were with selling us more than we needed. Because these guys don't sell anything they wouldn't ride themselves, we knew we'd be getting top-of-the-line stuff: road, hybrid, fixie, mountain bikes, street bikes, racers, and bikes for kids, too. We knew we could always bring our bike back to be lovingly serviced by the same caring hands that sold it to us. With more than 15 years of matching bikes with riders both novice and expert, the guys at Slippery Pig get our vote.

People love their bikes in Tempe, and the Bike Saviours Co-op is a great example of this. Located across Roosevelt Street from Boulders on Broadway in Tempe, Bike Saviours is a public, nonprofit, volunteer-run bicycle education center available to teach cyclists and the community bike repair, maintenance, and safety. Backed with the tagline "We Save Your Bike," your confidence in these people should be soaring. The co-op offers services like Fix-Your-Bike, Build-a-Bike, volunteer training, and a Women's Workshop, and provides donated parts and tools, an array of repair manuals, periodicals, books, videos, and Park brand truing stands at 10 workstations. Use of the Bike Saviours shop will cost $4 an hour, capped at $12 a day, with options to work or trade for shop time as well. Bike Saviours also hosts special events, including Bike Parts Art Nights.

It must be disonancia cognitiva. Right around the time we quietly landed on our theme for this year's Best of Phoenix issue — Border Town — we began to notice that Changing Hands Bookstore was sponsoring Spanish-language events, including a story hour for kids. That's just how it seems to go with Changing Hands — it's like the staff can read our minds and know what we want, like a second indie bookstore in Phoenix, with a wonderful bar with killer coffee, a great wine and beer selection and good snacks, and expanded programming, including workshops. They even knew that in the middle of all the changes with the arrival of the Phoenix store, we didn't want a single thing about the Tempe location to change — and it hasn't, not to our eyes, anyway.

No matter what language you say it in, Changing Hands remains our city's bespectacled, nerdy-in-a-hip-way, always-generous BFF. Let's keep it that way. Buy local.

This tiny outpost on Mill Avenue is easy to miss, but it's also well worth a visit for any bibliophile. Just make sure you set aside a nice chunk of time, since it's all too easy to get lost among the store's somewhat messy stacks of previously loved reads. Old Town's appearance can be overwhelming, but perseverance pays off as you can find everything from affordable paperback copies of classics you've been meaning to revisit to hardback vintage editions that will leave the avid reader in your life swooning. The shop's hours are flexible — as in, you may find the owners have "gone reading" even during posted business hours — but that, along with the resident bookstore cat, only adds to the small-town charm of this book lover's paradise.

Some people have the Super Bowl. Others have Coachella. But for the literary junkies of the Southwest, there's the VNSA Book Sale. Short for Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association, the annual VNSA Book Sale is a treasure trove of gently used paperbacks, rare and unusual hardcovers, and the occasional audio-visual item, all organized neatly inside a warehouse at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. With only two days to shop and roughly a half-million books up for grabs, the February event sees its fair share of customers who not only camp out in line but carry their own suitcases for shopping. Better mark your calendar and set your alarm, because the book lovers who attend this sale mean business.

With comic book heroes headlining so many summer blockbusters, the market for superhero stories has never been bigger. But one of the best things about Ash Avenue Comics & Books in Tempe is that while the staff stocks and totally gets down on whatever Superman, Batman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and Deadpool are up to, their knowledge extends to a wide variety of comics outside of the Big Two publishers, from creator-owned independent books and science fiction to horror and autobiographical alt-comics. Community-minded, Ash Avenue also hosts readings like the Untidy Secrets storytelling series and monthly book-club readings, where books like Neil Gaiman's Sandman can be digested and discussed.

Mesa has blossomed into an arts destination these past few years, with music festivals and new venues popping up to complement the city's thriving art scene. And then there's Asylum Records, the best record store in the Valley. The store has a surprisingly well-stocked collection of classic rock records, and its metal collection is pretty terrific, too. Browse through the funk and soul records and you'll find the classics, from Funkadelic to Etta James. If the selection isn't enough for you, this is also the only record store in the Valley we know of that has a store cat welcoming visitors and bugging the friendly ones for head scratches.

Need that one Mötorhead live CD to complete your collection? Most likely, you can find it at Zia Records. There really isn't a better place to buy new and used CDs in town. Zia's selection is just that much bigger — there really is no competition or comparison. If you are looking for a hard-to-find CD, Zia is your best bet (unless, of course, you are hip to this little thing called the internet, which is probably just a flash in the pan, anyway). If the price is important to you, the bang for the buck at Zia is usually pretty great for the new and used CDs you must have before the medium completely goes away for good. Buy, sell, and trade CDs with the best in town at Zia.

Bizarre Guitar founder Bob Turner passed away last year, but it would seem his legacy is in good hands, as the shop has continued on, maintaining his high standards. Famously featured in a Miller Beer advertisement that ran during Super Bowl XLIV in 2010, Bizarre Guitar doesn't have that impersonal, warehouse-like feel that makes other places so nightmarish. Instead, the staff is attentive and quick to answer questions about the new and vintage guitars, amplifiers, pedals, and drums. The staff values connection, whether you're picking up a starter Squire or a deluxe Gibson ES 335; the company's Facebook page routinely features happy customers posing with their recent purchases, all smiling faces and gleaming six-strings.

Step aside, boys: This one's dedicated to the ladies. Young ladies, to be specific. In 2007, a group from Portland, Oregon, decided to reach out and expand on a little idea they'd had for a while — a rock 'n' roll camp for girls. Recognizing that rock is too often a male-only pursuit, camps have sprung up across the country (and even internationally) with the idea of allowing girls to form bands, learn to play, and then perform live before an audience. This year, Girls Rock! Phoenix hosted its first-ever summer camp — and brought down the house. The weeklong day camp included screen-printing instruction and a zine workshop, as well as performances by local bands and the aforementioned musical training. The final show, held at the Nash on Roosevelt Row, was standing room only. Women from all over the Valley stepped up to volunteer their time and talents, and the tiny band members did them proud. Girls about to rock, we salute you.

Pop quiz, movie buffs: Which Hollywood legend performed his most iconic film scene with a 100-degree fever? In Jaws, Steven Spielberg named the mechanical shark after whom? The answers, and plenty of other fun facts, behind-the-scenes stories, and juicy Tinseltown gossip can be found at FilmBar Film School, the popular series hosted by screenwriter, ASU professor, and cinephile Joe Fortunato. Film School is offered approximately once a quarter; past offerings include Citizen Kane, City Lights, Casablanca, The Graduate, and Dr. Strangelove. Each screening begins with introductory remarks by Fortunato; then, audiences watch the film while he provides commentary. After the credits, you can stick around for a post-show discussion, or go out into the night replete with enough movie trivia tidbits to dazzle everyone at your next cocktail party. (And for the curious: Gene Kelly, Singin' in the Rain; Bruce, Spielberg's lawyer.)

Ever wanted to study the art of improv? You totally can at the Torch Theatre, where a dedicated cast of improvisers will walk you through the ins and outs of live, spontaneous comedy. Director of education Jacque Arend leads open classes on the art of taking an audience suggestion and building on it for hilarious results. The crew at Torch help make sense of the character building and dialogue required to construct comedy gold in front of a live audience, absent the safety net of a script. Class sizes are small and intimate (and we highly recommend the kids' program), but the potential for yucks is great.

If you've ever wanted to feel like you were walking into a Lisa Frank print, try La Moda just north of 16th Street and McDowell Road. Around since 2007, La Moda specializes in dresses ideal for weddings — offering bridal gowns, bridesmaids' dresses, and flower girl getups — plus proms, baptisms, holiday parties, and of course, quinceañeras. Think ruffles, beads, and skirts in every cut and color of the rainbow. La Moda is an authorized dealer for formal quinceañera vendors like Vizcaya by Mori Lee, Bella Sera, Diana Ponce Boutique, and the Quinceañera Collection by House of Wu. Accessories must accompany a dazzling new quinceañera dress, and they've got sparkling shoes, tiaras, scepters, masks, and more. And just so you know, tuxedos are also available here, provided by Jim's Formalwear and Formal Knight Tuxedos.

Need a cool gift for that person who has everything? Love browsing a store where you will always find something new and different, even if you were just there a week ago? Mexican Arts Imports is the place. The cool (and very funky) store at the southeast corner of 24th and Polk streets, across from the Arizona State Hospital, is definitely a destination even if you didn't know you needed a cool bronze sun with a mirror in it. Or a small statue of a lucha libre star from years gone by. Talavera, Day of the Dead, religious items ... it's all there in the jam-packed store. Warning: You can easily get lost here. But what a way to go. Viva la Mexican Arts Imports.

Don't be fooled by the sparse exterior of the building; La Nueva Piñata has the best hand-made piñatas around — and for totally reasonable prices. Need a three-foot-tall Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle piñata or one that looks like a Bud Light bottle? This place has you covered. It sells Disney characters, unicorns, the Cardinals mascot, SpongeBob SquarePants, and traditional giant stars. The owners make everything on-site, and if you bring along a photograph of what you want, they'll make it for you. So next time you throw a party, whether your guests are children or a bunch of bridesmaids, consider adding a piñata to the mix because, let's be honest, who doesn't like a game that ends with a shower of candy?

Where do you go for that hard-to-find bergamot hair tonic designed to imbue your hair with luster? Or nutritional supplements to tame your hot flashes? Or a St. Jude candle, so that you can build your own altar to the lost cause looming in your life? Yerberia Santa Fe is a beloved neighborhood yerberia on the east side specializing in natural Mexican and Latin American health products. Come here for the best and latest selection of health supplements, specialty teas, candles, plus a smattering of Spanish-language books covering everything from introductory tarot reading to dream interpretation. We can't promise you that a visit will deliver newfound health or a rejuvenated spirit, but it will definitely offer an interesting shopping experience.

When we hear someone has chosen to style their home with a "Mexican" or "Southwestern" twist, we can't help but cringe a little. It's not that we don't like and appreciate this kind of decor. When it's done well, the style can be gorgeous and almost transport your home to another place. But all too often, "Mexican" basically means sombreros tipped over the face of slouching figurines. If you want to do it right (and for a great price), check out Casa Decor in Tempe (and now in Cave Creek). Take your pick from rich, sturdy wooden cabinets, high-backed carved dining chairs, wardrobes with iron flourishes, and more. Trust us. There won't be a sombrero in sight.

About 20 percent of the Valley's population speaks Spanish, per 2010 census data. And that is why it's mind-blowing that until pretty recently, there was a dire lack of Spanish-language bookstores. But Palabras is changing that. Inside the seafoam green and bright yellow Easter egg of the La Melgosa building on Grand Avenue, the downtown librería will sell and lend books to its lit-loving patrons. As of this writing, it's only open on weekends, with plans to launch a full schedule this fall. Until then, keep an eye out for Scrabble game nights and chances to contribute your gently used reads to the growing collection.

This place is off the beaten path, for sure, but we think you'd be hard-pressed to find such a varied and creative selection of tile north of the border, so never mind if you have to head to an all-but-deserted swath north of the airport. The gregarious staff will shove, er, nudge you toward just the right choice, whether it's large and plain or tiny and ornate. Accent your new floor with a hand-painted chair or an armoire; they've got that, too.

When you were a kid, did you ever dream of hiding in a clothing rack and getting locked in a mall overnight? Being able to explore every part of every store, make whatever you wanted for yourself in the food court, and shop at your leisure with no one else around? Well, if we could get trapped in any mall, it would be Desert Sky Mall. We are not exaggerating when we say this mall not only has just about everything you could need, but more importantly, everything you could want. In one visit, you could buy a bike, see a movie, plan a quinceañera, snack on delicious tosti elotes, be entertained by student folklorico dancers, make funeral arrangements, and get your sewing machine repaired. See what we mean? Desert Sky Mall has it all.