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| RODIN’S ‘THE INKER’? | When you’re the best in town, who does your tattoos? We prefer not to ask Obscurities owner Jay Westerman — he has a higher threshold for pain than we do. (Photo by Rich Lopez) |
BEST BODY ART
Obscurities Tattoos and Piercings
4008 Cedar Springs Road
Open Tuesday–Sunday; closed Monday.
214-559-3706
Obscurities.com
It’s no fun to get stuck with a needle, but if it means having a badass tiger fill your back, you’re gonna want it done right. For almost two decades, Obscurities has been the go-to parlor in Dallas for getting that tribal armband around your bicep or that stainless stud plunged into your tongue. Gay and straight customers hit up Obscurities based on its solid reputation even as other tattoo shops have come and gone, come back and then gone again. It doesn’t hurt that, for the most part, Obscurities is the only body art shop in its vicinity. Owner Jay Westerman adds, "It’s the only shop worth going to." Clearly,
Dallas Voice readers agree. And we’re not just needling you.
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BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Lance Blann, Keller Williams Turtle Creek
3131 Turtle Creek Blvd.
Call for appointment.
972-489-0892
KWTurtleCreek.com
That plucky gal Dorothy said it best: "There’s no place like home." And you know what? She was onto something. Still, finding the right house can be a real challenge even in good times, let alone during the economic situation we’ve been facing the past few years. That’s why it’s important to have a Realtor who knows his market well, and Lance Blann is on a first-name basis with every house in town. Focusing on homes in Oak Lawn, Downtown, Uptown, the M Streets, Park Cities and basically anything inside the 635 Loop, he’s got years of experience that will have you laying out your welcome mat in no time at all.
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BEST MOVERS
Two Men and a Truck
10610 Metric Drive, Suite 175
972-479-1995
TwoMen.com
When it’s time to move, the idea of hunky men doing heavy lifting makes for heavy breathing. (Just keep it to yourself when they move that grand piano — it’s gonna be a bitch to do.) But these professionals aren’t just the strong, moving type. Franchise owner Francey Beall has made her branch a big-time supporter of nonprofits in the LGBT community.
"I think it’s great. We’ve got an award that says we’re good movers and people appreciate the volunteer work we do. Yay!"
Two Men and a Truck has done pro bono work for the Turtle Creek Chorale, the Black Tie Dinner and the Women’s Chorus of Dallas, among other non-profits. During special event season, the men in trucks take care of moving details and sometimes take till 3 a.m. to finish. Who doesn’t like that kind of commitment in a man? Or better yet, two?
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| HIGH WIRE ACT | Jayson Grimsley is a computer dweeb so you don’t have to be. We’re fine with that. (Photo by Arnold Wayne Jones) |
BEST COMPUTER SERVICES
High Wire Computer Services
3000 Corporate Cir. Suite 100, Flower Mound
Assistance available 24/7.
972-742-9330 or 817-385-7080
HighWireComputer.com
Geek chic is so dated. It’s the new decade of the new millennium, so savvy gays know to save the horn-rimmed glasses for the Clark Kent fantasies and get computer help from trained professionals. That accounts for why High Wire Computer Service was a favorite of readers. High Wire delivers customer service at a fraction of the price of the big-chain, fix-it shops, leaving money leftover for the important things in life, like a new iPad or an extra appletini after work. Whether it’s a Mac or PC on the blink, they can have it back up and running in no time. And speaking of backing up, they can help with that, too. Just like Scarlett O’Hara, "you’ll never go with lost e-mails again…" or something technical like that. Hey, that’s their job, not ours. Another cosmo, please.
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| LET HIS FINGERS DO THE WORKING | Massage therapist Mark Berry uses techniques from sports and deep tissue massage to hot stones to relax and stimulate the body. (Photo by Arnold Wayne Jones) |
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Mark Berry
Available daily from 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
214-810-4531
MyDallasMassage.com
On a scale of one to 10 among things that make life worth living, a good massage ranks at least a solid 372. Nationally certified in massage therapy and bodywork, Mark Berry is skilled at providing every type of massage from meditative and relaxing to therapeutic, deep tissue and sports. Online booking makes it easy to schedule an appointment, as well as pre-pay and tip in advance so when the treatment is over, all you have to do is stumble to your car in a state of utter bliss. Or have him come to your home for the ultimate in rub-a-dub-dub indulgence. Have table, will travel — that’s a man we could get used to putting on speed dial.
BEST HAIR PALACE • TIE
Zen Salon
3910 Cedar Springs Road
Open daily.
214-219-1400
ZenSalonDallas.com
Supercuts
4107 Lemmon Ave. (and additional locations)
Open daily.
214-522-1441
Supercuts.com
BEST HAIR REMOVAL
Candi Spillman, Bliss Spa
2440 Vi
ctory Park Lane in the W Hotel Dallas Victory
Open daily.
877-862-5477
BlissWorld.com
BEST MANI-PEDI
Hollywood Nails & Spa
3517 Oak Lawn Ave.
Open daily.
214-526-7133
HollywoodNailsandSpa.com
BEST MANSCAPING
Jeana Delano at
Evolution Salon
4030 Lemmon Ave.
Available Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
214-528-4481
EvolutionSalon.net
BEST FUNERAL HOME SERVICES
Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home
10116 E. Northwest Highway (and additional locations)
Opens Monday–Friday at 9 a.m. or by appointment.
214-340-8008
AriaCremation.com
BEST TANNING SALON
B-Tan
4113 Lemmon Ave.
Opens Monday–Saturday at 10 a.m., Sunday at 11 a.m.
214-219-1833
BEST HOME SERVICES
Robert York, House Cleaning Services
469-442-7694
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY
Texas Pride Realty
1614 S. Broadway St., Suite 108, Carrollton
Call for appointment.
972-754-0582
TexasPrideRealty.com
BEST INSURANCE AGENCY
Melanie "Angel" Irvin,
Farmers Insurance Agency
14651 Dallas Parkway, Suite 110
Opens Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
972-367-6200
Farmers.com
BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Stephen Karns
6116 N. Central Expressway, Suite 450
Opens Monday–Friday at 9 a.m.
214-750-9010
KarnsLawFirm.com
BEST CIVIL ATTORNEY
Timothy Thomas
3710 Rawlins St., Suite 950
Opens Monday–Friday at 9 a.m.
214-324-9298
TTTLaw.net
BEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Dallas Credit Union
1301 Young St., Suite 100
Opens Monday–Friday at 8 a.m.
214-748-5166
DallasCU.org
BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY
Prime Lending
3500 Oak Lawn Ave.
Opens Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m.
214-987-0500
DallasCentralAdmin.PrimeLending.com
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This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 19, 2010.
