BEST FURNITURE
Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams
4519 McKinney Ave. (and additional locations)
214-753-8700
Everyone has his own style, and not all furniture makers reflect everyone’s taste: Country French, Danish modern, British Colonial … no one brand can perfectly embrace the great variety. As such, the sophisticated, Hamptons-esque aesthetic of Mitchell Gold+ Bob Williams may not be for everyone, but we have an idea why they came out on top. It’s not just the designs and the craftsmanship and the price, but the owners’ activism for marriage equality and support of diversity and gay rights. Somehow, a couch feels more comfortable knowing the folks who make it celebrate your right to sit on it with your boyfriend.
— Arnold Wayne Jones
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BEST SMOKE/CIGAR SHOP
Blue Smoke
4560 W. Mockingbird Lane, Ste. 102
214-350-7553
BlueSmokeOfDallas.com
It’s a peculiar fact that at the same time cigarette smoking has come under attack with laws, warnings and social stigmas, the old-school appreciation of a cigar has rarely been more popular. For those who brand all tobacco products with a skull and crossbones, they fail to perceive the differences in how a cigar is enjoyed: It’s not inhaled, but puffed, its deep aromas more valued that a jolt of nicotine. It takes longer to smoke, so a cigar isn’t meant as a quick fix but a pause in a busy day, a moment to slow down and savor the sensuality of a long draw. And Blue Smoke understands that. Its selection of tobaccos is only surpassed by The Back Room, a clubhouse for fellow cigar aficionados to luxuriate in the pleasures of stogie that harkens back to a more civilized era.
— Arnold Wayne Jones
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BEST ADULT NOVELTIES
Alternatives of New Fine Arts
1720 W. Mockingbird Lane
214-630-7071
Problem! Your best friend’s 30th birthday is today, and you forgot to get a gift! Or your favorite couple is celebrating 20 years together and they didn’t register! Or you’re just horny! What to do? The folks at Alternatives of New Fine Arts are accustomed to such dilemmas — it’s kind of what they are there for. It’s a veritable superstore of sex, from novelties to Neoprene, videos to vibrators, leather to lube. This store’s wide assortment of creative toys (male chastity belt, anyone?), sex aids, movies and fetish items (plus private screening rooms) — all in a well-lit, modern, low-creep-out-factor setting — have something on hand to help you spice things up in the bedroom …. or porch …. or back yard …. hey, it’s your life. Best to come well-stocked.
— Arnold Wayne Jones
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BEST CLUBWEAR
Outlines Men’s Wear
3906 Cedar Springs Road
Open daily at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. Sunday)
214-528-1955
BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING/THRIFT STORE
Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support
4411 Lemmon Ave., Ste. 201
Monday–Saturday at 10 a.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.
214-520-6644
BEST COLLECTIBLES/ANTIQUES/CONSIGNMENT
Lula B’s Antique Mall
2639 Main St.
Monday–Saturday at 11 a.m., Sunday at noon
214-824-2185
Lula-Bs.com
BEST EYEWEAR/OPTICAL
Fashion Optical
3430 Oak Lawn Ave.
Open Monday–Friday, Friday at 9 a.m.,
Saturday at 10 a.m., Sunday at noon
214-526-6006
FashionOpticalDallas.com
BEST BRIEFS AND BOXERS
Skivvies
4001 Cedar Springs Road, Ste. C
Open daily at 10 a.m. (noon Sunday)
214-559-4955
SkivviesMensUnderwear.com
BEST IMPORT AUTO DEALERSHIP
Park Place Motorcars
6113 Lemmon Ave.
Sales open weekdays at 8:30 a.m., Saturday at 9 a.m.;
Service open weekdays at 7 a.m., Saturday at 9 a.m.
888-873-4597
Park.MercedesCenter.com
BEST DOMESTIC AUTO DEALERSHIP
Massey Cadillac
11675 LBJ Freeway
Sales open Monday–Saturday at 8:30 a.m.;
Service open weekdays at 7:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m.
800-491-6372
MasseyCadillacDallas.com
BEST GROCERY STORE
Kroger
4142 Cedar Springs Road (and additional locations)
Open daily at 6 a.m.
214-599-9859
BEST FLORIST
All Occasions Florist
3428 Oak Lawn Ave.
Open Monday–Friday at 8 a.m., Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
214-528-0898
AllOccasionsDallas.com
BEST GARDEN SUPPLY/NURSERY
Brumley Gardens Bishop Arts
700 W. Davis St.
Open daily at 9 am
214-942-0794
BrumleyGardens.com
BEST LIQUOR AND WINE SELECTION
Goody Goody
3316 Oak Lawn Ave. (and additional locations)
Opens Monday–Saturday at 10 a.m.
214-765-6878
GoodyGoody.com
BEST GIFT BOUTIQUE
NUVO
3311 Oak Lawn Ave.
Opens daily 10 a.m. (noon Sunday).
214-522-6886
NuvoDallas.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 21, 2014.