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PARTNERS IN CRIME (AND REALTY) | Chad West, left, and Brian Bleeker, who are a couple, were both winners in their respective categories. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)

BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Chad West

614 N. Bishop Ave., Suite 2
Open Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
214-509-7555
ChadWestLaw.com

 

BEST REAL
ESTATE AGENT
Brian Bleeker

Hewitt and
Habgood Realty
2828 Routh St.,
Suite 100.
Call for appointment.
214-303-1133
DavePerryMiller.com

Imagine being in the West-Bleeker household today. There’s probably a ticker-tape parade happening right now on their street owing to the one-two punch that saw Chad West voted as the city’s top criminal attorney and his partner, Brian Bleeker, honored as the best Realtor. Forget Brangelina or Bennifer: Dallas Voice readers have gone and taken a power couple and made them even more powerful. (BleeWest? Or Chian? We’ll keep working on it.) That’s OK — these guys are both at the top of their games and they deserve the accolades. Plus, you never know when you may need one or both of them on your side. Picture this scenario for a second: You walk outside to get the morning paper, the front door closes on your robe and rips it off your body. There you are, standing half-naked on your porch as a school bus full of children passes by. When the lewd conduct charges start rolling in, you’re going to need a good criminal attorney (Chad, of course!), then when word spreads through the neighborhood that there’s a pervert on the block, it’s time to hire an real estate agent (Brian!) to sell your house so you can start over some place where nobody knows who you are. And he can probably even find you a house where the front doors don’t automatically lock behind you.

— Steven Lindsey


PILLOW TALK | Aaron Duke’s eye for sleek, contemporary style made him the favorite decorator in town. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Aaron Duke

1501 Dragon St., Suite 104
Call for appointment
469-231-4438

Aaron Duke, a young and buzzed-about designer, says in his design philosophy statement that “interior design should create an emotional response from all who enter the space.” But if that response is the wrong kind of gasp, with hands covering mouth, then chances are you’ve done something wrong. And you might want to consider a new designer, such as Duke. What we like about his portfolio is that he’s not afraid of bold choices, but they’re always clean and sleek, and more importantly, never cold. He’s known for sophisticated interiors, and excels at handsome but comfortable contemporary looks. And like any good designer, he gives the customer what is wanted, without compromising his own aesthetic. We know a few stuff-loving queens who need to call him, stat.

— Mark Lowry


BEST CIVIL ATTORNEY
Rebecca S. Covell

3710 Rawlins St., Suite 950
Open Monday–Friday at 9 a.m.
214-443-0300
CovellPC.com

Although Rebecca Covell won the award for best civil or family law attorney, she points out that she’s not a divorce lawyer but someone who does wills, estates — keeping families together, she explains, not pulling them apart. That’s the kind of low-key, problem-solving approach that Covell says gets her thank-you notes more than hate mail. One client recently told her, “This is the first time I’ve ever felt good writing a check to a lawyer.” There are civil-law attorneys, and there are attorneys who know how to be civil. Covell does both — but it’s the latter that has won her so many fans.

— Arnold Wayne Jones


AN INSURANCE AGENT WHO REALLY IS A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Steven Graves

2919 Welborn St., Suite 100
Open Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
214-599-0808
StevenGravesInsurance.com

Since opening his agency in 1995, Steven Graves has not only specialized in getting the best coverage for his customers, but in giving back to them and the broader community. From helping Heath Services of North Texas get new computers, office furniture and personal care products donated to filling the last 30 requests from the Leather Knights Angel Tree at Dallas Eagle (buying everything from MP3 players to watches and gift cards) to sponsoring Youth First Texas and the Texas Bear Round-Up, he insures a better Dallas for everyone. “You have to give back to the community,” Graves says. “Support those who support you.”

— David Taffet

 

BEST FASHION DESIGNER
Nicolas Villalba

Call for appointment
214-655-6820
NicolasDesigns.com

 

BEST HOME SERVICES
The Make Ready Group

Call for appointment
214-599-8757
TheMakeReadyGroup.com

 

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY • TIE
Prime Lending (Ron Watterson)

3500 Oak Lawn Ave.
Open Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
214-987-0500
DallasCentralAdmin.PrimeLending.com

Shelter Mortgage (Alex Arce)

5950 Sherry Lane
214-365-0708
Shelter-Mortgage.com

 

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY
Melanie “Angel” Irvin

Farmers Insurance Agency
14651 Dallas Parkway, Suite 110
Open Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
972-367-6200
Farmers.com

 

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY
Ebby Halliday Realtors

4455 Sigma Road
Call for appointment.
972-980-6600
Ebby.com

 

BEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Chase Bank

4236 Wycliff Ave. (additional locations)
Open Monday–Saturday at 9 a.m.
214-443-0784
Chase.com


BEST MASSAGE
THERAPIST • TIE
David Gates, Spa Nordstrom

8687 N. Central Expressway
Call for appointment.
214-231-3900
Nordstrom.com/c/Spa-Nordstrom

Bill Richard

Available daily.
Call for appointment.
214-923-0786
DallasBill.com

 

BEST HAIR SALON
Supercuts

4113 Lemmon Ave.
Open daily.
214-522-1441
Supercuts.com

 

BEST MANI-PEDI • TIE
Hollywood Nails & Spa

3517 Oak Lawn Ave.
Open daily.
214-526-7133
HollywoodNailsandSpa.com

The Nail Spa

4020 Cedar Springs Road
Open daily.
214-526-6245
TheNailSpaDallas.net

 

BEST BODY ART
Obscurities Tattoos and Piercings

4008 Cedar Springs Road
Open Tuesday–Sunday.
214-559-3706
Obscurities.com

 

BEST TANNING SALON
B-Tan

4107 Lemmon Ave.
Open daily.
214-219-1833
BTanInc.com

 

BEST AESTHETIC
BEAUTY SERVICES
Advanced Skin Fitness

2928 Oak Lawn Ave.
Open Tuesdays­–Saturdays at 10 a.m.
214-521-5277
AdvancedSkinFitness.com

 

BEST COMPUTER SERVICES • TIE
Clint Thompson

3000 Carlisle St., Suite 103
214-550-2118
Apple Genius Bar
Apple Store, 4525 McKinney Ave. (additional locations)
Open Monday–Saturday at 8 a.m., Sundays at 11 a.m.
972-629-2277
Apple.com

1 Conx Internet Services

2525 Wycliff Ave., Suite 124
Open Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
214-855-5561
1Conx.com

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This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 18, 2011.