Practical Art is part retail shop, part community gathering space, and part art gallery. More than 150 artists and makers who have Arizona ties or call Arizona home sell their pieces through this store. Many of Phoenix's best-loved and most renowned artists have work for sale at Practical Art, including Brent Bond, Tato Caraveo, Jake Early, Annie Lopez, Carrie Marill, and Ann Morton. The shop carries a wide selection of functional and decorative pieces, including garden decor, furniture, kitchen wares, jewelry, and more. (You can make a personal shopping appointment or shop online.) Nobody else comes close to carrying such a wide selection of works made by local artists. The store also has an Art Club that gets you exclusive artworks, and exhibits that change monthly to help you learn more about all the amazing artists in your midst.

Back when Arizona Art Supply was the only art store in Phoenix, it was the place to go for graphite erasers and tempera paint and handmade easels. Today, 70 years later, it's not the only place offering paint and palettes and pencils, but it's certainly the best. That is, if what you're after is every manner of drawing, painting, sculpting, and crafting supply, neatly organized and offered at competitive prices. We love the chatty staff, most of whom are visual artists themselves, and often rely on their advice when we're ready to try a new type of watercolor paper or wonder why our clay isn't drying fast enough. We do sort of wish their sale-price markdowns weren't so tempting, but only because we're about out of room in our art studio and have taken to stashing Arizona Art's red-tag items in the trunk of our car.

Oops. You're halfway through a Jersey-knit shrug when you realize you're going to run out of Fair Isle wool. You know you can't trust an internet shop to match your dye lot, and there's no knit store in town that treats its customers like the royalty you know yourself to be. What to do? Drive to Wickenburg. Fiber fans far and wide know that Isabelle's will not only have what they need to start or finish knitwork, but they'll be nice about selling it to them besides. Isabelle's carries local spinners like Mary Gavan and well-loved wools from Plymouth to Malabrigo. You've never seen so many notions and needles in one knit shop, or so cozy a knitting room as the one Isabelle's provides. It's the perfect place to tie one on.

Our mind starts spinning the moment we walk into a SAS Fabrics store. "What could I make with this? How would I use that?" SAS Fabrics represents endless creative possibilities in each of its Valley locations. We love to run our fingers over the cozy fleece, delicate lace, faux mink, and heavy brocade. There's enough faux fur to create an army of Muppets. There are plenty of accessories here, too, from piles of zippers and rolls of elastic to fun patches and tubs of buttons. The staff is knowledgeable and ready to help, not just because you're not allowed to cut your fabric, but because they know the exquisite feeling of having a sewing project turn out perfectly.

Did we find a still-sealed copy of The Archie's Everything's Archie for only $20? We did. A mono pressing of The Beatles' Second Album with the shrink wrap was not only affordable, but also in dead-mint condition. The only thing better than the bonus dollar-record bins tucked under the counter at this east-side shop is the quality of the products it peddles to novice and longtime collectors alike. The 'In' Groove's stock is not only neatly organized, but each disk (including that nice, clean copy of The Love Generation's rare third album we scored on our last visit) is slipped into a high-end plastic sleeve so potential buyers can see what great shape the vinyl is in. The knowledgeable staff always takes time to talk with us about our purchases, and when we say, "We'll be back!" they know we mean it.

A Spotify user data report came out earlier this year that stated that of all the major cities of the world, Phoenix buys the most CDs. We don't buy many these days ourselves, but when we do, we get them at local entertainment chain Zia Records. Zia locations still have a large selection of new and used discs. The used CDs in particular are super-affordable, and you can often pick up some hard-to-find gems, like titles by local bands and rare imports. Of course, once you've made your CD selection, there are countless other things to browse at Zia, too, such as records, toys, books, video games, and clothing.

We know a number of people who took up a musical instrument to pass the time during the pandemic (although not as many as started baking bread). When our friends asked for suggestions on where to get a guitar or a ukulele or, in one notable case, a banjo, we directed them to Bizarre Guitar & Drum in the Melrose District. This year, Bizarre Guitar celebrated 45 years of equipping Phoenix musicians with instruments, and the shop shows no signs of slowing down. We love to visit the showroom, where the walls are lined with everything from the humblest starter guitars to some stunning Taylors, Fenders, and Gibsons. If you're into skins rather than strings, you're covered too: the store has Drum in the name for a reason. Bizarre Guitar's staff genuinely wants to see you walk out with the instruments, equipment, and accessories that are going to work best for you, whether you're a lifelong musician or a new pandemic player.

Got a special night coming up? You know, one of those Marvin Gaye on the stereo, rose petals on the bed kind of nights? Get yourself to Groove. The local chain stocks a wide assortment of naughty merchandise — there are sexy get-ups for men and women, toys, BDSM accessories, instructional books, lubricants, and a big selection of condoms (gotta play safe, after all). The stores are brightly lit, colorful, and well-stocked, and the staff is helpful, friendly, and doesn't make you feel weird for asking questions. We like the Thomas Road location best, which is decorated graffiti-style by local artists. Props to Groove for giving the lovers of Phoenix an open and unashamed atmosphere to find everything they need for a night of romance.

We don't judge how others choose to spend their spare time. Some people like to golf, some do crafts. Others relax by engaging in less wholesome activities. Whatever your vice, north Tempe mainstay Smokin' Lingerie probably has what you need for it. If drugs are your thing, there's a significant portion of the store devoted to that, including a large assortment of glass accoutrements, as well as vape equipment, rolling papers, scales, and back issues of High Times magazine. If you'd rather stock up on gear for other pastimes, Smokin' Lingerie has a big selection of, well, smokin' lingerie plus accessories like hosiery, costumes, and shoes. There's also one of the bigger adult DVD sections left in this town, plus plenty of sex toys and a varied — and frankly, quite eye-opening — assortment of BDSM gear (anybody in the market for a human-sized cage?).

A cigar is an occasional vice for us, but every so often, when we feel like indulging, we get what we need at Big Sticks. Whether you're looking to smoke on a budget or you feel like dropping more than a Benjamin on a single stogie, the store's humidor will have what you're looking for. Outside the main humidor, the shop sells everything from pipes and tobacco to cutters and humidor boxes. There are lockers for your stash if you're a frequent customer, and even a dropbox where you can donate cigars to veterans. And when you feel like sticking around to smoke, Big Sticks has a bar that sells beer and wine, and several rooms with TVs and big comfy couches. It's like your own personal rumpus room.