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| MANICURE MAN: John Long Vu brings Hollywood grooming to Big D. DANIEL A. KUSNER/Dallas Voice |
BEST MANI/PEDI
Hollywood Nails & Spa
3517 Oak Lawn Ave.
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sun. noon-5 p.m.
214-526-7133
HollywoodNailsAndSpa.com
Dallas gays know "looking good is feeling good," and making sure one’s hands and feet look their best is part of the whole package. But it’s not just for lipstick lesbians or nelly queens. Butch he-men and tough chicks can also benefit from having a pedicure and manicure to keep those manly appendages in shape. Hollywood Nails & Spa can make you beautiful and banish unsightly hangnails and uneven nail beds.
You won’t have to resort to wearing gloves like Diane Keaton and Priscilla Presley after your hands enjoy a soothing soak and nail treatment. Those unsightly callouses on your feet will be but a distant memory after the spa pedicure, and you’ll be ready for sandal season in no time.
John Long Vu opened his first salon in 1992, two years after emigrating from Vietnam. With no prior experience, he went to school and learned the business, eventually opening new salons under different names. Eventually they all came under the Hollywood Nails umbrella, which has provided a legacy to his family. "We have 24 locations in the DFW area. My whole family works together," he says with pride.
Hollywood Nails & Spa also offers a complete line of facial treatments, waxing, massage and spa packages.
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| coif engineerS: Zen crew, clockwise from left, Evan Graham, Arthur Rangel, Cynthia Vurbeff and Paul Kraft. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST HAIR SALON
Zen Salon
3910 Cedar Springs Rd.
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-219-1400
MySpace.com/ZenSalonDallas
Let’s face it: When it comes to Dallas hair salons, there are plenty of places you can go to get a stylish haircut from a gay man. But you demand more.
Madonna on the Muzak. Posters of hot, shirtless guys with spray-on tans. And a copy of Dallas Voice in the waiting area. Yes, you demand fabulousness. And Zen Salon delivers.
The space is casual, reasonably priced and filled with delightful (and delicious) cosmeticians who understand the importance of getting the perfect color in your faux-hawk for the big theme party this weekend. Zen, indeed.
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| GET BAKED: B Tan Inc.’s Dan Hinson shows off the "Sun Dash" UVB upright. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST TANNING SALON
B-Tan Inc.
4113 Lemmon Ave.
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-219-1833
Tanning is big business in Dallas — almost as many salons as convenience stores. And many North Texans want to maintain those sun-kissed flushes of golden brown and deep mahogany. So a good tanning salon has to stand out from the rest.
In business for 11 years, B-Tan Inc. has a reputation for being clean and affordable. Online reviews cite the staff’s attention to detail.
When it comes to service, owner Brian Worsley says a top priority is remembering customers’ names. Another mega-watt concern is keeping track of which tanning beds have recently changed bulbs, so that fair-skinned clients won’t get burned.
Worsley also says the economic downturn hasn’t affected business, "People here want to keep a healthy glow."
B-Tan also offers a punchcard membership where clients can purchase packages of 10 or 20 visits to be spread out over a year (ideal for those who want to tan for vacations and special occasions).
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| THE FINAL CHOICE: Gay friendly Sparkman Hillcrest has provided dearly departed services for many elite Dallasites. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST FUNERAL HOME
Sparkman-Hillcrest
7405 W. Northwest Hwy.
Sun.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
214-363-5401
Planning burial ceremonies are stressful. Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home, Mausoleum and Memorial Park has provided funeral planning in Dallas since 1920. Originally located downtown at a city landmark — the A.H. Belo mansion at Ross and Pearl — they moved in 1968 to their present address on Northwest Highway. This current location surrounds a cemetery on land that had belonged to the Caruth family. That portion of the property — with headstones dating to the mid-1800s — is considered a historical landmark.
Sparkman Hillcrest has provided funeral services for many of the city’s famous and elite, including Tom Landry, Greer Garson, Mickey Mantle, Sen. John Tower, former Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss, art collector Raymond Nasher, Mary Kay Ash and the Ross Perot family. And back in May 1934, Sparkman Hillcrest provided funeral services to an infamous notable: Clyde Barrow of "Bonnie & Clyde" notoriety.
Beyond the expected funeral s
ervices, Sparkman Hillcrest also provides families with bereavement resources, including "a 24-hour toll-free compassion helpline, grief management books, videos and brochures," says manager Frank Seddio.
He adds that while there are no specific guidelines in place when dealing with different groups (including gay clients and families), "Sparkman Hillcrest is committed to the loyalty and confidentiality of all of our clients."
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| WHEN YOU’RE CUFFED AND STUFFED: Gays need an advocate like Stephen P. Karns. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST CRIMINAL ATTORNEY
Stephen P. Karns
6116 N. Central Expy., Ste. 450
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
214-750-9010
KarnsLawFirm.com
John Grisham novels add stylish sophistication to the world of law. But being subjected to the Dallas County criminal justice system can be stressful and intimidating — especially if you’ve never been in trouble. From the time you’re arrested until your case is resolved, you need an advocate.
Stephen P. Karns handles all criminal matters including assault, theft, DWI, indecent exposure and public lewdness. Most of us are aware of the serious consequences that a criminal conviction can have — possible jail time, fines, court costs, reporting to probation, etc. But there are long-term consequences that are even more onerous — a criminal record, and depending on the offense, sex offender registration.
"A consensual encounter in the park or other public place should never warrant sex offender registration," Karns says.
Unfortunately, biases and misinformation regarding the gay community exist in the legal system. And many times Karns must overcome these prejudicial initial impressions in connection with representing his clients.
"It’s part of my job to educate the straight community regarding the discriminatory views that may tacitly serve to unjustly enhance the punishment which the system tries to impose on my gay clients," Karns says, "It’s about fairness."
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| SMOOTH OPERATOR: Advanced Skin Fitness’ clinical director William A. Moore gives Melinda Underwood the glamorus treatment. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Advanced Skin Fitness
2928 Oak Lawn Ave.
Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
After-hours treatments available.
214-521-5277
AdvancedSkinFitness.com
It is an ironic taunt that Advanced Skin Fitness would be awarded a citation for expert hair removal the same weekend of the Texas Bear Round-Up: So many hirsute men, so little interest in getting rid of it.
But for many (if not most) gay men, zapping your follicles clean is as much a rite of passage as a first visit to a gay bar or calling another man "Mary."
Advanced Skin Fitness’ virtually permanent process depilates without painful waxing, itchy shaving or tedious plucking, allowing your muscles to take their rightful place as the first thing fellow gym-rats see of you. Smooth.
BEST SPA — TIE
Aqua Spa
2222 McKinney Ave.
Mon. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tue.-Thur. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-443-0100
AquaRX.com
Nordstrom Spa
NorthPark Center
8687 N. Central Expy.
Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-231-3910
Nordstrom.com
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT — TIE
Lance Blann
Caliendo-Blann Realty Partners
Ebby Halliday Realtors-Intown
2828 Routh St., Ste. 100
Sun.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-303-1133
Ebby.com
Kathy Hewitt
Hewitt & Habgood
3131 Turtle Creek Blvd.
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-752-7070
HewittHabgood.com
BEST BARBERSHOP
Floyd’s Barbershop
(Various DFW locations.)
3636 McKinney Ave., Ste. 140
Mon.-Thur. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-219-4500
FloydsBarbershop.com
BEST MASSAGE
Ted Tymchak-Ted Dot Calm
214-566-6962
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
TedDotCalm.com
BEST BANK
Bank of America
(Locations nationwide.)
4023 Cedar Springs Rd.
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
214-520-0473
BankOfAmerica.com
BEST CATERER
Gregorio’s Catering
Call anytime for more info.
214-780-0988
GregoriosCatering.net
BEST CIVIL ATTORNEY
Rebecca Covell
3710 Rawlins St., Ste. 950
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
by appointment.
Special arrangements available.
214-443-0300
DoorLaw.com
BEST LANDSCAPER
Buddy Mullino
Landscape Architect
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
214-532-2223
BEST INSURANCE AGENCY
Melanie ‘Angel’ Irvin
Farmers Insurance Agency
14651 Dallas Pkwy., Ste. 110
Mon.-Thur. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
972-367-6200
Farmers.com
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY
Ebby Halliday Realtors
4455 Sigma Rd.
972-980-6600
Ebby.com
BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY
Shelter Mortgage
3535 Travis St., Ste. 120
Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. by appointment.
214-365-0708
ShelterMortgageTx.com
BEST COMPUTER SERVICES
High Wire Computer Services
3000 Corporate Cir., Ste. 100
Flower Mound
Assistance is available 24/7.
972-742-9330 or 817-385-7080
HighWireComputer.com
BEST HANDY PERSON
Rainbow Repair & Remodeling
4521 N. Hall St.
Call anytime.
214-520-7090
BEST MOVER
Editors Pick
Best Move in DFW
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m.-noon.
Closed Sundays.
972-941-8000
BestMoveInDFW.com
BEST HOUSE CLEANER
Robert York
House Cleaning Services
469-442-7694
BEST HOME REMODELING CONTRACTOR
Kitchen and Bath Kings
10110 Monroe Dr.
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
214-357-6879
KitchenKings.net
BEST TATTOO/PIERCING PARLOR
Obscurities
4000 B Cedar Springs
Tue.-Thur. noon-10 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. noon-midnight.
Sun. 2 p.m.-8 p.m.
Closed Mondays.
214-559-3706
Obscurities.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 20, 2009.