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HALL OF
FAME COMIC BOOK STORE
Tate’s Comics, Toys, Videos and
More
4566 N. University Drive, Lauderhill
954/748-0181
www.tatescomics.com
Tate Ottati opened his comics and anime store
10 years ago after selling his shares in Marvel Comics, just
before the company’s value spiraled so far south that
it is no longer traded on Wall Street. Ottati was just a senior
in high school at the time, but his instincts for timely investments
and surreal story lines have stayed with him. What began as
a 1,000-square-foot shop dedicated to comic books, underground
novels and action figures has grown four-fold to house the
most comprehensive collection of cutting-edge animation, vintage
sci-fi, lowbrow horror, graphic fiction and collectible comic
books around. Tate’s moved to a new location last July
to fit everything under one roof, but it already looks as
though the new place might not be big enough. More than 5,000
videos and DVDs are for rent and sale, with an emphasis on
the latest in Japanese anime. The huge collection of toys
and action figures includes the heroic Green Lantern, the
demented Krusty the Clown, GI Joe, Sigmund Freud and Alfred
E. Neuman as Superman. Tate’s also carries a selection
of videos of 1960s TV classics such as The Prisoner,
Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone, plus a stock
of collectible comic books. We could go on, but this is a
place you need to see for yourself. Don’t miss the prop
museum right inside the door, with the gopher from Caddyshack
and a leg of meat from one of the live-action Flintstones
movies.
::top::
BEST PLACE TO BUY A MARILYN
MONROE NUDE OR AN ADOLF HITLER PORTRAIT
Mark First Antique Guns
1 N. Federal Highway, Dania Beach
954/925-0856
Owner Mark Furst has operated this store at
the corner of Federal Highway and Dania Beach Boulevard for
22 years, but it looks more like 50, even 75. As dark and
cramped as the family attic, Mark’s is a living time
warp, with the emphasis on warp. While it appeals to
the inner scavenger in all of us — with vintage jewelry,
glassware, curios and even vinyl records — Mark’s
appeals best to shoppers who aren’t queasy about keeping
collectibles that conjure images of flesh and blood. The flesh
includes some choice Marilyn Monroe nudes and kitschy ’50s-era
calendar pinups, plus some European erotica that’s as
hardcore as anything Al Goldstein ever printed. The treasure
trove, however, and Furst’s real specialty, is the massive
stock of war relics, including rifles, handguns, swords and
military uniforms that date as far back as the Revolutionary
War. The impressive collection of weaponry and military fashion
includes plenty of disturbing memorabilia from the Nazi era,
with Adolf Hitler himself captured in several startling photographic
portraits. Curators, historians and skinheads can also find
a sizable selection of creepy badges, jackets, helmets and
pins that bear the Nazi swastika.
BEST PLACE TO ASSUME A
SECOND IDENTITY
Fetish Factory
855 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/563-5777
www.fetish-factory.com
The motto at the dressed-in-black Fetish Factory
is “Transform yourself,” and its adventurous clientele
is apparently doing so in record numbers. In the past year,
the Factory has expanded to open a sex-toy store and a shoe
shop alongside its meticulously arranged clothing-and-accessories
boutique. Now, women looking to express their dark side can
one-stop-shop for nipple rings and platform boots to match
their metal corset, a cherry-red vinyl nurse’s uniform
or a lacy Lolita schoolgirl dress. Guys who are keeping their
secret self hidden from their family and co-workers are just
as able to become transformed. For them (and women, for that
matter), the shop offers wigs, whips, studded chokers, leather
armbinder sleeves, military-officer hats and uniforms, and
a collection of colorful gas masks for times when you really
want to let go. For fetishists looking to express themselves
in public, the Factory hosts parties at local clubs monthly.
::top::
BEST ADULT-VIDEO SUPERMARKET
Adult Video Warehouse
4500 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach
954/969-9616
In an ad that ran a year ago, the clever copywriters
for Adult Video Warehouse claimed that the store’s selection
of videos, adult toys and bedroom (or dungeon) wear was the
fifth largest in the world, behind the annual Carnaval celebrations
in Brazil and ahead of the Temples of Khajuraho in India.
We have no way to verify that claim, but we are sure that
in a business where size matters, the Pompano Beach megastore
is big enough to be included in the aforementioned company.
As neat and tidy as the nearby Linens ’n Things, AVW
startles the naked eye by packing its roughly 25,000 hardcore
videos, CD-ROMS and DVDs onto every inch of available shelf
space. The library of graphic imagery is complemented by racks
of leather wear and lingerie and all the paraphernalia needed
— dildos, handcuffs, lubricants and much more —
to please adults the world over.
BEST PLACE FOR USED CDS
AND RECORDS
All Books and Records
917 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
954/761-8857
Sure, you might stumble across a CD or LP
you’re actually looking for at All Books and Records,
but to enter the sprawling Searstown emporium with an agenda
is almost beside the point. Be prepared to spend an afternoon
or evening and more money than you intended by scooping up
bargain discs that you just can’t pass up for the price.
Broad wooden bins are filled with recent arrivals, most for
$7.95 and $8.95, which actually include some new releases
(we found Marcia Ball’s So Many Rivers and a bunch
of new jazz CDs on Delmark) but also gems that you might have
missed over the years. (How about For the Stars, Elvis Costello’s
sublime pairing with classical singer Anne Sofie von Otter,
or Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Girl?) Also be sure
to peruse the “blems,” or blemished CDs; they go
for $5.95 and $6.95. As for vinyl, All Books’ owners
say that’s what’s keeping them in business right
now, accounting for most of the store’s sales. Even if
you don’t have a turntable — which you can buy here
— you might get a kick out of flipping through LPs with
covers of everyone from Jackie Gleason to Marx and Lennon.
(That’s Groucho and John.) Trade-ins are welcome, to
replenish the stocks, and the store might even pay you for
some of your discards.
::top::
BEST NEWSSTAND
Bob’s News and Books
1515 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
954/524-4731
Two warnings about Bob’s: Watch your
step and be prepared to shimmy. Bob’s has long been the
most densely stocked magazine and alternative bookstore around,
and the stock is thicker than ever. The overflow has resulted
in the floor being used as an impromptu shelf to house the
stacks of national and foreign newspapers, glossy magazines
and “banned” novels, as well as erotica, porn and
illustrated serials. This is in no way a bad thing. In fact,
the almost claustrophobic mass of printed materials harks
to the pre-Internet days, when a newsstand like Bob’s
was the best and only way to read up on most anything. The
Internet has changed that, but Bob’s still keeps us coming
back for the surprises we find on the shelves — and the
floor — among them a copy of Memoirs of a Sword Swallower
and tattoo-and-piercing magazine Prick.
BEST AQUARIUM STORE
Exotic Aquatic
1170 N.E. 34th Court, Oakland Park
954/565-0947
www.exoticaquatic.com
In little more than a year, Exotic Aquatic
owner Rob Homer has established quite a name for himself with
local fish fanatics. This small storefront houses a wide array
of both marine and freshwater fish that Homer hand-picks from
local and national suppliers. Aside from being one hell of
a nice guy, Homer knows his fish and is happy to help you
whether you’re a seasoned pro or setting up your first
aquarium. And you can rest soundly when pondering the purchase
of your new aquatic pet, as all his fish are guaranteed to
be healthy. If you don’t see the fish you’re looking
for, Rob will track it down for you.
::top::
BEST SURF SHOP
Island Water Sports
728 Lake Ave., Lake Worth
561/588-1728
www.islandwatersports.com
Whether they’re looking for a new surfboard,
wakeboard, skimboard or bodyboard, hardcore surfers know they
can find it at Island Water Sports in Lake Worth. (IWS also
has stores in Deerfield Beach and Dania Beach; each is independently
owned and operated.) With 7,000 square feet spread over two
floors, IWS neatly displays all the major product lines of
boards and any accessory needed for a day at the beach, from
car and bike racks for carrying boards to footwear and beachwear,
including T-shirts, baggies, tank tops and bikinis. IWS is
also the nexus for local surfer news and events, including
the Eastern Surfing Association contest it sponsors every
January at the Lake Worth Pier.
BEST PLACE TO BUY A GOURMET
ESPRESSO MACHINE
Victoria L’Originale
212 N. Federal Highway, Dania Beach
954/922-2512
www.vlo.com
If the one thing your kitchen needs is a restaurant-quality
espresso and cappuccino maker, this is the place to shop.
This standalone near the antiques row in Dania Beach stocks
dozens of shiny, stainless steel, copper and solid brass machines
from Italy, many of them with pressure gauges and multiple
brewing spouts, and some (the gold ones) with domed tops crowned
by a bird in flight. Victoria L’Originale also sells
espresso beans, grinders, cups and saucers. If you’re
in the market for a pasta machine or sandwich grill, they
have that, too, without the bird or pressure gauge.
::top::
BEST VINTAGE-CLOTHING
BOUTIQUE
Deco Dermot’s
4628 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
954/989-4299
www.decodermot.com
Johnny Depp shopped here. So have local movie
and TV producers in need of that perfect ’80s sequined
blouse, ’70s shirt collar or ’60s bell-bottoms.
Anyone looking to retrofit his or her wardrobe can do so at
Deco Dermots, where thousands of once-trendy discards are
squeezed onto two-tiered clothing racks. While clothes, especially
blue jeans, fill most of this tiny boutique, a good selection
of platform boots, platinum-blond wigs, spangled sunglasses
and Halloween costumes are waiting for a second chance. A
Hillary Clinton pullover mask is displayed by the cash register,
though the face looks more like Phyllis Schlafly than the
senator from New York.
BEST TOURIST DESTINATION
Everglades Holiday Park
21940 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale
954/434-8111
www.evergladesholidaypark.com
Alligators for meat must be transported alive
(they rot rapidly when dead), and this was the original impetus
for alligator wrestling. Visitors to Holiday Park can see
this skill in action and even taste the meat, spiced and deep-fried.
Airboat tours provide exciting forays into the vast River
of Grass, where, in addition to plentiful alligators and plant
life, many gorgeous birds live, lured close by guides tossing
bread. The park also offers camping and boat rentals.
::top::
BEST TOURIST TRAP
Sawgrass Mills
12801 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise
954/846-2350
www.sawgrassmillsmall.com
Let’s not kid ourselves: We like most
tourists more for their effect on the economy than for the
pleasure of their company. Thankfully, we have Sawgrass Mills,
where visitors can pad the local tax revenues without clogging
our eastbound roads and shorelines. Located 10 miles west
of Fort Lauderdale and 30 minutes from Palm Beach or Miami-Dade
county, the remote yet accessible megamall purges the pocketbooks
of out-of-towners with more than 400 retailers and 30 restaurants.
Mall management makes it easy to keep them spending, as well,
with ATM machines and foreign currency exchanges located throughout
the 2.5 million-square-foot shopping center. With roughly
two miles’ worth of aisles to browse, we can take comfort
that our guests are also getting plenty of exercise. Better
still, because they’re indoors, they won’t go home
with third-degree sunburns that might discourage other tourists
from running up their credit card debts here.
BEST PLACE TO BUY TACKY
SOUVENIRS
Alex’s Flamingo Groves
236 N. Federal Highway, Dania Beach
954/921-7600
www.alexsflamingogroves.com
Happy pigs and human heads carved from coconuts.
T-shirts, coffee mugs, salt- and peppershakers, trays, bells
and toothpick holders stenciled with Florida iconography.
One person’s tacky is another’s kitsch at Alex’s,
the favored souvenir stand for snowbirds who want to take
a piece of the tropics home with them. Alex’s specializes
in decorative items made of seashells, with about half the
store dedicated to bracelets, necklaces, nightlights, purses,
curtains and more made from the mollusks’ shiny homes.
The nautical theme pervades throughout with colorful coral,
stuffed sailfish, painted wood pieces and metal frames bordered
with leaping dolphins. The only things that are neither tacky
nor kitschy are gift baskets of Florida oranges, which are
sold seasonally (October-April) in the fruit stand out back,
where tourists and shameless locals can also score pecan rolls
and jars of honey.
::top::
BEST PLACE TO SPEND ALL
YOUR MONEY IN AN AFTERNOON
Auto Boutique Exotic Car Rental
1754 Bay Road, Miami Beach
305/531-7990
www.autoboutiquerental.com
Not quite sure how to spend your inheritance
or the windfall from nailing the 5-2-1 trifecta at the track?
Before you blow it on something responsible, like a paying
off a college loan or buying a new suit for your next round
of job interviews, indulge yourself by renting a set of high-priced
wheels from Auto Boutique. This South Beach dreammaker can
shift you into more glamorous gear by delivering one of its
late-model convertibles, sedans or SUVs to your home, hotel
room or office, assuming you can get credit card preapproval.
Live life as you imagine it, not as it really is, by renting
a Lamborghini Diablo or Bentley Azure for $2,500 a day. A
Ferrari 360 Modena will set you back only $1,999 for the day,
while a Mercedes SL 500 comes in at a mere $599. Auto Boutique
offers nearly 30 vehicles from which to choose, with the menu
available on its Web site. The privilege of assuming celebrity
airs comes with two rules: You can’t smoke in the car,
nor can you drive it off-road.
BEST PLACE TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT
RING
J.R. Dunn
4210 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point
954/782-5000
www.jrdunn.com
With a glittering 8,000-square-foot showroom
and a 14-day, money-back guarantee on your purchase, the family-owned
J.R. Dunn offers an exhaustive selection of engagement rings
and an escape hatch if she says no to the proposal. Jim and
Ann Marie Dunn opened their first jewelry store more than
30 years ago in Hanover, Mass., making service and
trust the watchwords of the business. Now in their
26th year in South Florida, the Dunns aren’t just committed
to selling you a ring but to helping you design one as well.
The store houses an on-site studio, where award-winning designer
Robert Pelliccia, Anne Marie’s brother, heads a staff
that includes three certified gemologists.
::top::
BEST PLACE FOR UNIQUE
JEWELRY
Crystal Creations
4058 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach
561/649-9909
www.crystalcreationsonline.com
You can make it yourself or buy it ready-made
at Glenda Paunonen’s incredible Woodhaven Plaza storefront,
where the jewelry is mainly composed of colorful beads and
gems. Crystal Creations works with 15 artisans and designers
who stock the shelves and teach the 95 different classes that
are offered. The classes — at least two are held on any
given day — set this store above all others and educate
students in the art of making wire bracelets, Victorian lace
necklaces, knitted purses, fused glass and pieces fired from
silver clay. If you don’t see a class on the list, simply
ask, and Paunonen will likely create one. Guest artists host
specialized workshops every month. From 6 to 9 p.m. every
Wednesday, the store hosts an open beading session, where
you can work on projects while trading ideas.
BEST LIQUOR STORE
67 Liquors
1317 S.E. 17th St., Fort Lauderdale
954/767-9099
With its window display of artful containers
and decades-old vintages of high-proof alcohol, 67 Wine and
Spirits grabs shoppers’ attention before they even enter
the door. Among the 100 or so bottles facing the plate-glass
window are a 1969 Glenlivet pure, single-malt scotch; a 1951
Knappogue Castle Irish whiskey; and grappa stored in a container
shaped like Pegasus. Things get even better inside, with the
floor-to-ceiling stock of high-grade liquors and fine wines.
The selection of wines is noteworthy for the quality of vintners
and variety of fermented grapes, with sophisticated California
reds, particularly Cabernet Sauvignons, the specialty. Anyone
new to buying wine is in good hands with knowledgeable salespeople
who can help sort through the overwhelming number of labels.
::top::
BEST FLEA MARKET
Florida Swap Shop
3291 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/791-7927
www.floridaswapshop.com
Don’t even bother entering the massive
indoor mall. OK, go inside, but just to see the circus; then,
leave the building and walk among the vendors who bring one
of the state’s most visited tourist attractions to life.
Even if you don’t buy any of the crap they’re hawking,
it’s worth a visit for people-watching purposes alone.
And if you happen to be looking for old lamps, cheap socks
or worn-down appliances, all the better. Plus, Swap Shop owner
Preston Henn requires all of his vendors to promise a full
refund should that sewing machine from 1972 somehow not work.
The tricky part is locating that same salesman, as daily vendors
never set up shop in the same place, instead moving around
a parking lot enormous-enough to hold 13 drive-in theater
screens, which are open nightly and get packed on weekends.
By morning, those folks have been replaced by the flea market
crowd, happily picking through a massive pile of shit in hopes
of finding the donkey.
BEST PLACE TO LIGHT
UP YOUR LIFE
Lighting Designs by Light Bulbs Unlimited
872 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/563-6667
This is a must-stop for people looking to
change the way they see their living space in terms of style
and foot candles. Actually two stores sharing one address,
Lighting Designs carries the sleek, high-tech hardware for
casting the light, while Light Bulbs Unlimited carries the
bulbs themselves. The real fun, though, is at the former,
where scores of designer-quality fixtures are displayed on
the walls and hang from the ceiling. Colorful and shapely
sconces, artfully crafted shades, dramatic modular tracks,
sculptural rails and a variety of inset styles are for sale.
Light Bulbs Unlimited, meanwhile, thrives on the slogan, “If
we ain’t got it, we’ll get it.” And judging
by their shelves, there’s very little they ain’t
got.
::top::
BEST PICTURE-FRAMING
J.B. Concepts
962 N.W. 53rd St., Fort Lauderdale
954/491-2757
Don’t let the unassuming storefront fool
you — Jeff and John and their talented staff are doing
some serious framing in the back. J.B. Concepts has a mind-numbing
selection of framing options, plus helpful and imaginative
people with a strong artistic eye for advice when you reach
maximum confusion. (Do you really want linen with a 1-inch
float and UV-coated Plexi?) To top things off, they offer
some of the most righteous prices and quickest service to
be found anywhere. Loved by collectors, galleries, artists
and nonartists alike, J.B. is the place for frames. Your art
and your walls will thank you.
BEST PLACE FOR EXOTIC
PLANTS
Trinity Churchside Garden
24 S.W. 10th St., Fort Lauderdale
954/768-0423
This nursery carries a wide variety of colorful
tropical plants, with an emphasis on the unusual. Recent items
include neem trees, the bark of which is used as tooth powder
on the Indian subcontinent; lablab vines, with edible purple
beans known for their high-protein content and leaves commonly
used as cattle fodder in parts of Asia and Africa; tilo, which
makes a nonaddictive sedative tea; and the charming “sensitive
plant,” with little, pink puffball flowers and leaves
that fold up when you touch them. The nursery also holds “walks
and talks” about topics such as orchids, water gardens
and ferns, plus sends out a newsletter with information on
locally grown plants and the pests that plague them.
::top::
BEST PLACE FOR HERB
PLANTS
Jane’s Herbs and Things
970 S. Flamingo Road, Davie
954/472-1677
In addition to common herbs such as basil,
dill, tarragon and parsley, Jane’s carries unusual species,
such as the insecticidal herbs tansy, rue and citronella geraniums,
which are supposed to repel mosquitoes. Leafy greens and flowers,
such as nasturtiums, arugula and red lettuce, also abound.
Most spectacular are the roses, a specialized selection of
varieties that grow particularly well in South Florida. Jane’s
helpful staff highly recommends the low-maintenance Louis
Philippe, which produces highly fragrant magenta blossoms
year-round.
BEST FLORIST
Flowers and Found Objects
521 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/523-4155
Elizabeth “B.J.” Buntrock’s
quaint store may be dwarfed by the neighboring office buildings
on Las Olas Boulevard, but her status in the neighborhood
isn’t likely to be diminished. One reason is that she’s
a cousin of H. Wayne Huizenga, and her former husband was
a founder of Waste Management Inc. Another is that she has
enough moxie to tell the city of Fort Lauderdale, which wanted
to raze her business and turn the site into a park, “Not
in my lifetime.” A third reason is that she’s a
shrewd businesswoman who bought the store for $285,000 in
1987 and could now sell it for about $2 million. Oh yeah,
and her boutique also happens to make beautiful flower arrangements
while selling a unique assortment of decorative items.
::top::
BEST PLACE TO BUY MOVIES
Movies 4 Sale
4017 Oakwood Blvd. (Oakwood Plaza), Hollywood
954/921-4355
Blockbuster, move over. With its staggering
collection of new and used DVDs (roughly 15,000) and VHS tapes
(about 40,000) for sale, Movies 4 Sale is the place for videoholics
to go hog-wild. In fact, with VHS tapes priced as low as 99
cents, you can buy four for about the price of a Blockbuster
rental. Since most of this store’s product is neatly
alphabetized, you can run your fingers along yards of tapes,
selecting favorites at unbeatable prices. If you want to see
Diane Lane’s Oscar-nominated performance in Unfaithful,
the movie is yours — brand-new — for less than $10.
You also can pick up a wide assortment of movies on DVD for
less than $7. If you can’t find something you like here
at cheap prices, then you just don’t love movies.
BEST SMOKE SHOP
Havana Republic
300 S.W. First Ave. (Las Olas Riverfront), Fort Lauderdale
954/525-6333
www.havanarepublic.com
So maybe the cigar craze that flared up several
years ago has burned itself out, or at least been reduced
to glowing ash. A huge contingent of cigar-loving men and
women still enjoy the earthly pleasure that only a fine stogy
can bring. Havana Republic has everything a robusto-head could
imagine, with the added advantage of being only a few steps
from the perfect cigar stroll: outdoors, along the New River
in the evening, gentle breezes blowing as you wander in the
moonlight and watch passing boats idle into the night. It
offers more than 25 of the finest brands of cigars, including
Partagas, Arturo Fuentes, Davidoff, Macanudo, Ashton, Montecristo,
Romeo y Julieta, Bolivar, Nat Sherman, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey
and Padron in every size from petite coronas to Churchills.
It also sells its own Havana Republic brand. An amazing selection
of lighters, humidors, cutters and every other type of cigar
paraphernalia imaginable make lingering a must. A few moments
spent standing in the glassed, walk-in humidor, breathing
the heady sent of finely aged and blended tobacco, is a Zenlike
experience that stays with you long after the smoke clears.
::top::
BEST ELECTRONICS STORE
Bang and Olufsen
Locations in Aventura, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami,
North Palm Beach and West Palm Beach
www.bang-olufsen.com
There is no more beautiful and functional
way to address your telephone, music or television requirements
than the systems produced by Bang and Olufsen. These stores
have it all: from $160 earphones that look like they belong
in the Museum of Modern Art to multiple-CD players such as
the BeoSound 9000, to starkly beautiful and functional cordless
telephones, to the ultimate, 50-inch plasma integration of
TV, DVD, CD, VCR and satellite technology that is the BeoSystem
1. The well-trained staff even offers complimentary in-home
consulting. And for the tragically hip, the stores sell an
$80 key ring that looks like a piece of jewelry and can function
as a remote control to turn on your lights, radio or TV.
BEST PLACE TO BUY A USED
PET
Humane Society of Broward County
2070 Griffin Road, Dania Beach
954/989-3977
www.humanebroward.com
Strays and unwanted pets form the population
of animals provided cages, care and feeding at the Humane
Society of Broward County, funded by corporations and private
donors. Last year, more than 4,600 dogs and puppies and 3,500
cats and kittens were adopted from the center. If you’re
looking for a special breed, ask to be called when a pet of
your description arrives. A feline or canine of any size can
be yours for only $70, which includes spaying or neutering,
deworming, up-to-date vaccinations and tattooing for identification,
in case your pet gets lost. It’s a good deal for a new
best friend.
::top::
BEST PLACE TO BUY A
PET THAT CAN KILL YOU
Underground Reptiles
107 N. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach
954/428-8434
www.naturalhistorymall.com
Underground Reptiles can be a dangerous place.
Owned by Rian Gittman, a former hell-raiser who found salvation
at Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale, the store is a veritable
feast for thrill-seeking pet owners. The snake section in
particular (serpents happen to be Gittman’s passion)
is replete with dangerous beasts, among them puff adders (responsible
for 60 percent of snake bites in South Africa), gaboon vipers
(longest fangs of any snake), eastern diamondback rattlers
(can cause nerve paralysis within minutes), red spitting cobras
(yes, they actually spit their venom) and spectacled cobras
(perhaps responsible for more human deaths than any other
snake). If deadly serpents aren’t your vice, Underground
also sells tarantulas, alligators and plenty of less-menacing
animals. And lest anyone think Gittman has cold blood running
through his veins, take note of the two signs on the store’s
window: One reads “Exotic Pets,” the other, “Pray
for peace.”
BEST KENNEL
Holly Acres
10701 Stirling Road, Cooper City
954/434-1535
A repeat winner, Holly Acres is a full-service,
full-of-love sanctuary where your dog or cat can find peace,
contentment, a chew toy and a caring environment that takes
away most of the sting of being separated from his most loyal
companions. The owner and staff treat your pet like one of
their own family, with supervised playtime, special treats
and a whole lot of attention. Still, our favorite feature
is the Hilton Room, which features a raised, comfy bed, an
indoor/outdoor private run and special private, one-on-one
playtime breaks for your pampered pooch. The pets of City
Link are doing the talking, and their barks and meows
are telling us that they swear by the folks at Holly Acres.
::top::
BEST BARBERSHOP
Roma 6 Hairstylists
2585 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/563-2078
It doesn’t get any more traditional than
this. From the spinning barber pole outside to the neon sign
in the window and the photographs of smiling customers sporting
everything from shags to flattops, Roma 6 offers the best
haircuts in town. Sure, the shop is nestled in a shopping
center across from the Galleria Mall, not on Main Street U.S.A.,
but this is Florida, remember? Surrounded by European soccer
posters and barbering memorabilia, master barber Rocco Testa,
“from Roma, Italy,” holds court, working with the
ease and grace that can only come from a lifetime of cutting
hair. He and the rest of his friendly, full-service staff
offer men — and women — everything from a shave
and a haircut to a manicure and pedicure. We are most partial
to a lightly waxed, 1-inch flat top that stands at military
attention while we stroll the beach with a bit of sea breeze
in our face, but name your own cut. After all, it’s your
hair.
BEST HAIR SALON
Design 4000
8277 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation
954/472-8860
“Let’s talk.” Those were
the first words out of Darlene Sunshine’s mouth when
a new customer arrived for her haircut-and-style appointment
at Design 4000. As a licensed cosmetologist, Sunshine’s
a brave soul. What woman hasn’t been dissatisfied —
even traumatized — after a trip to the salon because
the stylist didn’t understand what she wanted? So Sunshine’s
inquiring mind wants to know. And she doesn’t rush things,
repeatedly asking for feedback. Although such qualities might
also be found in stylists at expensive salons in Palm Beach
or South Beach, this West Broward salon charges only $38 for
shampoo, cut and blow-dry, with equally reasonable prices
on its other services, such as color, curl, manicure and pedicure.
But call for an appointment; naturally, the place is always
packed.
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BEST BEAUTY-SUPPLY STORE
Gables Beauty Supply
18545 W. Dixie Highway, Aventura
305/931-5291;
21302 St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton
561/394-6123;
31 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
954/763-9899
www.gbsbeauty.com
If you need to wax, scrub, polish, peel, moisturize,
purify or beautify your hair, eyes, skin, nails and even spirit,
GBS is the one-stop shop to do it all. The preferred place
for beauty salon owners, this superstocked supply outlet carries
leading brands of hair products, skin lotions, makeup and
small appliances (curling irons, blow dryers and the like).
The inventory of quality combs, brushes, pads, sponges and
other applicators is also scrupulously chosen, and an informed
sales staff is well-versed in all manner of merchandise.
BEST IN-TOWN GETAWAY
Ocean Queen Inn
5500 N. Surf Road, Hollywood
954/920-7149
Searching for respite from construction on
his condo, a City Link staffer immediately thought
of the Ocean Queen. He had passed it for years while biking
Hollywood’s North Beach. Without pause, he ponied up
the $650 for a week in a corner room with the Atlantic just
over his shoulder and was lulled to sleep by the roar of the
surf at night. In the mornings, he fixed himself a cup of
coffee in the room’s kitchenette, which he then drank
on the back patio, pretending to read while the sun’s
rays tap-danced on the glassy ocean surface and tiny birds
darted to and fro at surf’s edge. A quiet stretch of
beach was just a few steps from his door, and a few bikes
were available if he chose to take one for a ride down the
Broadwalk. A laundry room and barbecue grill were also there
for his use, and he returned to his ravaged condo a new man.
If this sounds like your kind of in-town vacation, summer
rates are $120 for one night, $180 for two or $500 for the
week in an oceanfront or corner room, and $120, $150 or $380
for a room facing Surf Road.
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BEST IMPORTED FURNITURE
Cargo Imported Furniture and Accessories
2301 N.E. 26th St., Fort Lauderdale
954/568-5944
This small, cramped storefront in a small,
cramped shopping plaza at the corner of Federal Highway and
Northeast 26th Street is a true find. The name Cargo implies
a sort of well-traveled durability, and this place delivers
that and more with stylish but simply carved teak living room,
dining room and bedroom sets; curios and cabinets; patio furniture;
and even wall hangings. Everything is shipped from South Pacific
nations, mostly Bali and Indonesia, where cheap labor and
quality craftsmanship result in reasonably priced furniture
that’s built to last.
BEST SECONDHAND FURNITURE
Jane Loves Cheap Furniture
201 N. Federal Highway, Lake Worth
561/547-7868
So maybe it’s more like Jane Loves Moderately
Priced Furniture these days, but this bare-bones Lake Worth
store still does a great job refurbishing old junk. It’s
amazing what a fresh coat of paint, new knobs and a crackle
finish can do. In fact, many of the pieces for sale at Jane’s
are nothing most weekend warriors couldn’t do after a
day glued to HGTV, but who has the time or patience? Mother-and-daughter
owners Jane and Jackie Jacobson do, which is why the store
has been successful, not only bringing plenty of bargain hunters
to Lake Worth but inspiring similar stores to open around
it. Jane’s may not offer the steals it once did, but
Martha Stewart and Rachel Ashwell didn’t get rich giving
their crap away either, did they?
::top::
BEST ANTIQUE FURNITURE
Flagler Antiques
720 N.E. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale
954/463-0994
www.flaglerantiques.com
France has a well-deserved reputation for
fine wines, great fashion and handsomely designed furniture.
You can find the nation’s most glorious representations
in 10,000 square feet of space at Flagler Antiques. The store
gets its clocks, hutches, buffets, chests, armoires, tables,
chairs, cabinets, bookshelves and other functional items for
the home straight from the source. With new arrivals every
month, the shop boasts the largest selection of art deco furniture
in the state.
BEST VINTAGE FURNITURE
50’s, 60’s and 70’s Living
2207 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
954/565-3006
Need a throw rug to go with your vintage Herman
Miller lounge chair or a nice credenza to complement your
George Nelson ball clock? Well, Paul Goldberg has what you’re
looking for at 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Living.
He loves furniture and has amassed a notable collection of
mid-20th-century goodies distinguished by their clean design,
smooth lines and molded plastic. From the 1950s to the ’70s,
droves of hip folks moved to South Florida, bought homes and
decorated them with the best furniture of the day. Today,
however, they are dropping like flies — bad for them,
great for collectors. Goldberg is a master of tracking this
stuff down. In business just 18 months, he is enjoying an
ever-growing customer base by providing quality goods at reasonable
prices.
::top::
BEST STREET TO BUY ARTFUL
HOME FURNISHINGS
Harrison Street
Downtown Hollywood
www.harrisonstreetdesigndistrict.com
With four high-quality furniture outlets within
a block of one another, trendy Harrison Street serves as a
kind of impromptu design district for anyone looking to upgrade
his living quarters. Each store is distinctive but carries
furniture for pretty much any room in the house. Start at
Home on Harrison, which specializes in elegant European styles
built for American comfort. Nobsa Furniture Design brings
in rustic wood furnishings from Colombia, though you can special
order pieces built to your specs. Until last month, San Lazaro
was next to Nobsa, but it just moved up the street to the
2011 storefront, where it also sells wooden, wrought-iron
and stained-glass pieces. Shoppers can find colorfully modern
Italian imports at Trend Furniture and Design, where the motto
is “There are no limitations” in terms of customizing
a room’s look.
BEST HOBBY SHOP
Warrick Custom Hobbies
7676-B Peters Road, Plantation
954/370-0708
www.warrickcustomhobbies.com
Our perennial winner is still going strong
with the most thorough supply of miniature planes, trains
and automobiles around. Still, it hasn’t stayed in business
for more than 30 years simply by stocking more model replicas
than its competition. Warrick separates itself from the pack
with experienced salespeople who are experts in their respective
fields, from assembling classic cars to constructing elaborate
rail lines that wind through imaginary villages. Moreover,
these are staffers who seem damn happy to be working at a
job that allows them to make a grown-up living while remaining
a kid inside.
::top::
BEST MUSICAL-EQUIPMENT
STORE
MAE, Music Arts Enterprises
3301 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/581-2203
www.mae-music.com
Now in its 40th year, MAE is the store serious
musicians look to when they need anything related to carrying
a tune. Owners Michael and Ken Katz’s parents first opened
in a cramped shop up the road, but the brothers have long
since expanded to a 15,000-square foot stand-alone store that
carries items from nearly 60 manufacturers. The list includes
Gibson, Ovation and Fender acoustic and electric guitars;
Yamaha keyboards; Zildjian drums; Shure microphones; and Peavy
amps. MAE also carries lighting and sound equipment. The guitar
is clearly the lead instrument at MAE, with finely crafted
models that range as high as $6,000.
BEST DIGITAL PHOTO SHOP
National Camera and Digital Imaging
1650 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach
561/689-3155
www.greatnationalcamera.com
Have an old memory you’d like to restore?
National Camera and Digital Imaging specializes in digital
restorations of photographs, so you can restore Grandma’s
faded wedding photo (or your Woodstock snapshot) to its original
glory. This custom shop also offers digital and 35 mm cameras;
35 mm, E-6 and digital film-processing; large-format printing
on photographic paper or canvas; and custom picture-framing.
Just developing your talent? Check out the digital-photography
classes. And if you fancy yourself a Photoshop artist, you
can print your digital creations here, too. But the coolest
service is online processing of digital images. Upload your
digital prints on their Web site, and they’ll mail you
the prints.
::top::
BEST PHOTO-PROCESSING
Color Lab of South Florida
3401 N. Dixie Highway, Fort Lauderdale
954/563-6124
www.colorlabonline.com
If you want your photo done according to spec,
be it in terms of the size of the enlargement, the depth of
color and contrast or how it’s cropped, then make a trip
to Color Lab. Professional photographers have been processing
their work here for more than 30 years, whether they’re
working on 35 mm or large-format cameras. The wide range of
developing and printing services includes custom black-and-white
enlargements as large as 16 by 20 inches, and exhibition-quality,
poster-size prints from color negatives. Whatever the size
of the enlargement, Color Lab has the technical wherewithal
to make your photo as sharp as the negative will allow.
BEST PLACE TO BUY GREETING
CARDS
Grand Central Stationery
1227 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/467-2998
www.grandcentralstationery.com
The indecisive will be happily overwhelmed
at this bright and beautiful shop. Whether you’re celebrating
a wedding, anniversary, birthday, Fourth of July or any other
holiday, the wealth of handsome cards at Grand Central Stationery
features lovely images married to perfect sentiments. An ample
section devoted to gay and lesbian cards underscores the shop’s
diversity, and owner Patrick Regis helps make customized party
invitations a breeze.
::top::
BEST PLACE FOR EYEGLASSES
Jazzy Eyes
2279 S. University Drive, Davie
954/424-8427
The frames at Jazzy Eyes are so hip and beautiful
that they make up for all those times you were called “four
eyes” as a kid. Deficits of macular and retinal clarity
are turned to advantages at this immaculate eyewear boutique,
where sight is made 20/20 again in sophisticated style. The
hard part is deciding which one of the 1,000 or so frames
is really you, though you’ll get plenty of help in the
winnowing process from the shopkeepers. Jazzy Eyes is also
a full-service eye-care outlet, with an on-site optometrist
available to diagnose just how near- or farsighted you’ve
become.
BEST BICYCLE SHOP
Wheeler Dealer
4150 Peters Road, Plantation
954/581-8800
Other bike shops are bigger and better-stocked,
but any place that’s been around for as long as this
one — in a scarcely trafficked locale, no less —
has to be doing things right. Wheeler Dealer first opened
in 1974 in what was once a 7-Eleven convenience store, back
when Davie Boulevard drivers were routed a block north to
this original stretch of Peters Road. The boulevard has since
bypassed the small shop a block south, leaving it privy mainly
to neighborhood denizens and customers who have remained steady
through the years. Enduring under such conditions is no small
feat, but Wheeler Dealer has stayed the course by providing
great service and fair prices on bikes, accessories and cycling
wear. It also boasts an on-site repair shop that preps your
new bike before you take it home or tunes it up and fixes
it after you’ve worn the wheels a bit. The off-the-main-road
setting is actually a plus when it comes to trying out a new
bike. The front parking lot leaves plenty of room to wheel
around, with little threat of anyone peeling in from Peters
to scare you off-track.
::top::
BEST ARTS-AND-CRAFTS
STORE
Pearl Artist and Craft
1033 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/564-5700
www.pearlpaint.com
As the region’s first art-supply superstore,
Pearl has spawned imitators. Patronage of the original is
enticement to get creative with its vast assortment of paper,
paint, frames, mats, art books, magazines, beads, baskets,
fake finishes and blank greeting cards. The store even sells
art-studio furniture and leather portfolio cases. It’s
a blast just to roam the aisles and spin ideas.
BEST IMPORT STORE
Indaba
2029 Harrison St., Hollywood
954/920-2029
www.indaba.com
Although the owners, Jill and Seymour Kantor,
also occasionally carry items from Morocco, sub-Saharan Africa
is the emphasis in this beautifully decorated shop. With inventory
ranging from Zulu baskets and textiles such as kuba cloth
from the Congo to contemporary housewares from South Africa,
Indaba reflects the wealth of the continent. In fact, Jill
Kantor makes twice-yearly buying trips to central West Africa,
where she picks up old authentic pieces such as masks and
statues.
::top::
BEST PLACE FOR GUYS WHO
HATE TO SHOP
Neiman Marcus
2442 E. Sunrise Blvd. (Galleria
Mall), Fort Lauderdale
954/566-6666
www.neimanmarcus.com
For men who don’t have the time, inclination
or taste for making well-informed shopping decisions, Neiman
Marcus makes the unnatural act easier, if not cheaper, by
providing a personal shopper who can sort through the merchandise
in a timely and decisive manner. Whether it’s buying
a suit for a friend’s wedding or figuring out what to
buy Mom for Mother’s Day, Dad for Father’s Day,
your wife for your wedding anniversary or your sister-in-law
at Christmas, a Neiman’s personal shopper will do the
dirty work of actually picking something out. All you have
to do is provide a little background information on the person
you’re buying for and be able to afford those Neiman
prices. Then, of course, you give the gift as if you really
picked it out yourself.
BEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES
AND A HAT
Hat and Cap Emporium
1020 N.W. Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale
954/462-6619
William J. Cone has been a fixture on Sistrunk
Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale so long he can reminisce about
the days when the street was a thriving black shopping district.
Of course, those also were the days of segregation. And while
Sistrunk is now a combination of good and bad, Cone represents
the good. In 1996, he even took advantage of a government-funded
Façade Treatment Program and improved Cone Plaza, which
is anchored by his store. The man flat out sells the baddest
hats and shoes around, stocking it full of Stacy Adams products,
including a cap-toe oxford in electric-green or fire-engine-red.
If the world were just, we’d all be walking around in
a pair of those.
::top::
BEST SELF-STORAGE
Space Plus Self-Storage
1850 S. Miami Road, Fort Lauderdale
954/523-8900;
4950 N. Dixie Highway, Fort Lauderdale
954/491-4600;
2928-B State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes
954/739-8111
www.storageflorida.com
The storage units at Space Plus are nicer
than the apartments of some City Link staffers. It’s
comforting to know that all your worldly possessions (or the
porno stash that you’re hiding from the wife) are being
safely stored in a climate-controlled atmosphere. Space Plus
offers a full selection of moving carts that could safely
accommodate a bed, small wall unit, corpse or foosball table.
(Please note that Space Plus does not allow the storage of
corpses. The preceding was used only to illustrate the capacity
of the carts.) Prices range from $29 for a small unit to about
$450 for the largest one.
BEST AUTO BODY SHOP
James McHugh’s
2492 S.W. 57th Ave., Hollywood
954/989-4285
An honest, skilled body shop in South Florida
is about as rare as excellent service at the Miami International
Airport — and just as welcome. The straight-talking McHugh
stands up for the consumer in fighting to make sure that corner-cutting
insurance companies pay for all the necessary work to restore
your car to its original, pre-accident condition. His prices
may seem higher than his slipshod competitors’, but that’s
only because he’s taking all the right measures needed
to protect your car’s value. No wonder owners of antique
cars and luxury models go to his shop. He also serves as an
expert witness in lawsuits over fraudulent repairs and runs
a Wreck Check franchise that determines if your car has been
victimized by shoddy bodywork.
::top::
BEST TATTOO SHOP
Babylon Tattoo
831 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
954/523-3088
Thinking about finally getting that much-desired
neck tattoo or just need to get your ex’s name on your
left ass cheek covered up? Well, look no further than Babylon
Tattoo, where the artists will gladly stick you with a needle.
After just three years in business, owners Novi and John have
built a substantial following by providing dependable, clean
work. Not that cost should be a concern when deciding to get
something that’ll be stuck with you for life, but for
a reasonable fee, Babylon’s artists will ink you with
traditional flash, tribal, old-school or top-of-the-line custom
work. They’ll also be happy to punch some holes in you
if you get a hankerin’ for some piercing, as long as
that hankerin’ doesn’t come in the morning: The
store is open noon to midnight daily.
BEST PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR
Dents and Details
954/755-7167 or 561/213-6803
Joe LaRocco, owner of Dents and Details, is
a magician who works his dent magic with a collection of metal
rods, shims, poles and other paraphernalia that look like
a lock-picking set for the Jolly Green Giant. You say some
geriatric with an ’88 Caddy and doors like bat wings
parked next to your gleaming chariot and banged your sills
into submission? No problem. Oops, you backed Dad’s car
into a telephone pole while the folks were fishing in the
Bahamas and that now-smiling crease will be severely frowned
upon? No problem. LaRocco will come to you, maybe drop the
bumper, insert a long rod through a hole in the wheel well,
throw in a few spins, a smoothing here and there, a couple
of bends and flexes and — presto! — good as new.
He’s fast, dependable and convenient: All you can ask
for from a craftsman. Or a magician.
::top::
BEST PRINTER
Identity Press
500 S.W. 21st Terrace, Fort Lauderdale
954/792-8155
If you need a printer, it’s not too much
trouble to find one in South Florida. The challenge is finding
one that can do the job right in time to meet your ridiculous
deadline. That’s where Identity Press comes in. As a
club promoter in the ’90s, co-owner John Wolford found
that making fliers was expensive, and printers generally couldn’t
meet his often-tight schedule. So he went into the printing
business himself. His and co-owner Ames Friedman’s store
specializes in four-color offset printing of post cards, fliers
and brochures but will take on just about any job. Identity
provides unsurpassed service with a topflight design staff
and state-of-the-art presses. (One of its presses once was
used to print playing cards for a Las Vegas casino.) Best
of all, Identity can complete most jobs in 24 hours.
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