Okay, technically, Cutie isn't a "dollar store": Most of the items cost $1.50. But "dollar-fifty store" doesn't roll off the tongue, and you'll still be shocked at how low your total is when you shop at one of Cutie's two Valley locations. The stock here is mostly Daiso brand, a discount label from Japan, and it changes often. We go to Cutie for Asian-style dishware, fuzzy socks, notebooks, craft supplies, snacks, ramen, and way more. Our $1.50 earbuds aren't fancy, but they haven't broken yet. Last time we went to Cutie, we picked up a mini planter with a corgi on it, some bento box supplies, seaweed-flavored potato chips, and a plastic sushi pen. Relentlessly cheerful Japanese pop music plays on the intercom system, making every trip to Cutie that much more — what's another word for cute?

Dean Livermore must dream in chrome and hot rod flames. The namesake founder of Hot Rods by Dean has been building his reputation as the man for restored, custom, and kit hot rod builds since opening his 12,000-square-foot facility in 2001. Livermore was named the IMCA Super Nationals Builder of the Year in 2009, and his staff has a combined 60 years of experience building hot rods, specializing in custom fabrication and custom paint jobs. Dean's Hot Rods have been finalists multiple times for the Hot Rod of the Year awards by the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, and its vehicles have been entrants in several Goodguys Car Shows. Recognized rods include a modified 1935 Ford pickup truck, a chopped and customized 1933 Ford Coupe, and a 1951 custom-built Ford Mercury.

The act of buying a new vehicle tends to be about as exciting as a root canal. Not so at Tempe Autoplex, where shopping is like walking around a chrome-plated toy store. There are thousands of vehicles across the 12 individual dealerships, which means a selection to fit most budgets, lifestyles, and color preferences. Don't think of it as yet another affordable car dealership — it's more of a monument to the grander car culture of the Valley. Tempe Autoplex's mere existence demonstrates just how vital cars are to the larger cultural makeup of the region. Even those among us with an apathetic outlook on cars could find ourselves swept up by the allure of wandering around 80-plus acres of pure vehicular power.