When the gidgets and gadgets inside those entertainment boxes we are so fond of break down, we happily stroll over to Bond's. Once inside, we have two options: get the sucker fixed or just buy a new one. Bond's is another staple of the Enfield & 12th area of Austin and has been fixing TVs since vacuum tubes were the common component. This gives them more than enough experience to get you watching cartoons again in no time.
Bond's
1010 W. Lynn
512/476-3551
www.bondstv.com
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Rarely has a nom de plume inspired such devotion amongst patrons of the auto shop. The "Home of the Groovy Mechanics" is a shining beacon against the gloomy backdrop of the automobile malady. Steady service, attention to detail, and even a sympathetic ear await all ye who enter. A similar yet divergent plume can be found on the Drag at Flamingo, where a gaudy pink color scheme belies the rock-solid service provided by the resident mechanics in black.
Flamingo Automotive
3512 Guadalupe
512/459-9917
flamingoautomotive.com
Express Automotive
4011 Red River
512/450-0951
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First let's clear something up: It's the Wooten Barber Shop, not the Goodall-Wooten Barber Shop. Goodall-Wooten is the name of the dormitory which houses the venerable hair hut. Not that it's not "all good" - it is. Especially when they strop you with a straight razor, then powder your hairline and then, just when you think you are on subtle-pleasure overload, they whip out the hand massager and give the ol' neck a once over. Ahhhhh! Hair heaven!
Wooten Barber Shop
2106 Guadalupe
512/477-0109
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University Schwinn resides in a building along North Lamar with some of the tallest windows, allowing Austin to drool over the shiny new two-wheelers or to giggle at the spinning classes going on in the evenings (They pedal, but they don't go anywhere!). The repair shop at University Schwinn is always ready for alterations to your brand-new custom Cannondale or that discounted model you got at Wheatsville's Bikes Not Bombs bike sale three years ago. Your bike will appreciate its new chain, tires, or "look."
University Schwinn Cyclery
2901 N. Lamar
512/474-6696
bikeshops.com/universitycycle/
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Watch the car magically move through the tunnel of a thousand chamois! Knock back a complimentary cup of brew! Buy an overlooked birthday card from the extensive selection! And oh yeah, get a really clean car, too!
Genie Car Wash
1311 S. Lamar, 512/444-9274
7320 Burnet, 512/451-9274
1021 W. William Cannon, 512/416-9274
www.geniecw.com
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Reliable, knowledgeable, and straightforward, Ken Gould and his Mac Alliance crew can make your Mac purr again. With an ample selection of replacement parts and a walk-in-friendly atmosphere, this is the Apple support one-stop. While you're waiting, check out their bulletin board for the latest anti-evil-empire (Microsoft) news.
Mac Alliance
900 Old Koenig Ln.
512/453-3830
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Dry cleaning=steam=your clothes are clean without wear and tear. Rick's and Reid's have perfected this little equation in their separate ways. Rick's prices are divine ($1.79 for any garment), and Reid's provides that added touch. Along with dry cleaning, Reid's also provides shoe repair (in conjunction with Austin Shoe Hospital) as well as alterations. These two businesses keep Austin's upper (and lower) crust looking their best with a minimum of fuss.
Rick's Cleaners
5324 Cameron
512/452-2200
rickscleaners.com
Reid's Cleaners & Laundry
3317 N. Lamar
512/302-1870
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Lift. Grunt. Wipe sweat. Repeat. No frills here, just good equipment, loud music, and a staff that's seriously dedicated to pumping you up. Open 24 hours, so you can gasp, grunt, and sweat the night away.
World Gym
115 E. Sixth
512/479-0044
www.worldgym.com/city.cfm?name=Austin&state=tx
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Don't stop by this fascinating little shop just off West Sixth looking for decorated tumbleweeds or cowgirl drag, because that's not what you'll find. You'll find what readers have counted on for 22 years: unique and innovative floral designs for any and all occasions. No matter what you need to say with flowers, these folks will make sure your message is unforgettable.
Cowgirls & Flowers
508 Walsh
512/478-4626
www.cowgirlsandflowers.com
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Ever tried xeriscaping? No, it's not some new n' gnarly x-treme sport or a mood-enhancing meditation practice. It's a hot-weather way of landscaping with plants that require little water. And the folks at Great Outdoors can completely design, install, and maintain a xeriscape or any other landscape for your home or business.
The Great Outdoors Garden Adventures
2730 S. Congress
512/448-2992
www.gonursery.com
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Doll yourself up and bring a friend - our readers say: Kenneth's has 20 different hairdressers to choose from, each specializing in his/her own field of expertise, from coloring, waving, cutting, and styling. Our readers also give a well-coiffed nod to Aziz, the spa to check into when you are ready for a day of Cleopatra-like luxury - everything from massages, facials, pedicures, herbal wraps, body scrubs, aromatherapy, and reflexology should keep your inner queen pampered.
Kenneth's Hair Salon
702 West
512/478-5306
Aziz Salon & Day Spa
710 W. Seventh
512/476-4131
www.azizsalon.com
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Tried and true, Texas.net wins for the second time in three years as Austin's favorite ISP. With all the cable and conglomeration of said market taking place, isn't it nice to see a locally based independent win, y'all?
Texas.net
823 Congress
512/427-1650
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A place where you can feel good about not being able to afford your own Maytag combo, this newish facility boasts a huge space, a ton of modern appliances, and several TV monitors built into the cabinetry. Definitely the posh of wash.
Spin Cycle
3501 Guadalupe
512/380-0218
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Being sick is the pits. But Nau's Pharmacy holds more than a few remedies for that problem. Kindly pharmacists direct sickies to those over-the-counter concoctions that make a throat less sore - like cough drops or an ice cream from the lunch counter a couple of feet over. If stronger stuff is needed, the Norman Rockwell-esque dispensary gets to shaking and stirring and comes up with the perfect dose, as prescribed by your doc, to chase away the ills.
Nau's
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Local pros count on Holland for a full spectrum of professional photographic services that are usually way beyond our mundane everyday needs. However, when we required a restoration job on a recently discovered turn-of-the-century snapshot of a great-great-great grandmother, we knew exactly where to turn. We entrusted the old gal to Holland's expert hands for negatives and prints, and now Granny's new photos will be smiling benevolently at us for generations to come.
Holland Photo Imaging
2125 Goodrich
512/442-4274
www.hollandphoto.com
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It's 3am and you've just found the perfect job on the Internet. You've got your résumé, you've got your cover letter - you've got 24 hours until the job opening closes. Relax, there's a Kinko's right around the corner. They're open all night and they're always willing to help. Whether you need a computer, color copies, or a bound presentation for your next business meeting, Kinko's is the place to exercise your creative impulses any time of the day or night.
FedEx Office
327 Congress #100, 512/472-4448
2901-C Medical Arts, 512/476-3242
327 Congress, 512/472-4448
330 Bee Caves Rd. #715, 512/314-2300
6406 N. I-35 Ste. 1210, 512/452-3600
5601 Brodie #1210, 512/892-1992
9222 Burnet #101 & 102, 512/339-1191
13729 Research, 512/331-0800
www.fedex.com/us/office
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Shoes are mysterious, but the Shoe Hospital knows how to get to the "sole" of them. Take your broken-down dogs to the spa for shoes and soon they'll be tap-tapping along comfortably.
Austin Shoe Hospital
3106 Windsor, 512/477-6515
720 Congress, 512/477-5078
3300 Bee Caves Rd., 512/329-8104
1911 W. Ben White, 512/440-8788
8211 Burnet, 512/453-1961
5114 Balcones Woods Dr. Ste. 301-B, 512/345-8663
6781 Hwy. 290 W., 512/288-6386
1316 Round Rock Ave., Round Rock, 512/244-9124
306 S. Bell, Cedar Park, 512/219-8387
3932 RR 620 S., Lakeway, 512/263-4630
12119 Hwy. 290 W., 512/827-3398
www.austinshoehospital.com
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For more than 20 years, folks have been coming to this lovely outpost on Lake Austin to rest, restore, and rejuvenate. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a couple of weeks of serious diet and exercise, this is just the spot for some Hill Country-style pampering. The biggest drawing card here is the delectable spa cuisine of executive chef Terry Conlan. Guests rave about Conlan's very tasty, absolutely satisfying meals that make the lean lifestyle perfectly painless.
Lake Austin Spa Resort
1705 S. Quinlan Park
512/372-7300
www.lakeaustin.com
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The tailors at Ace deliver just what their company logo's design would lead you to believe: old-fashioned values like care and consideration and the sort of attention to detail that sent you searching for a tailor in the first place or as C. Porter might've put it, "Reconsider loathing your out-of-date clothing, dear - have it upholstered and re-bolstered right here."
Express Alterations by Ace Custom Tailors
916 W. 12th
512/478-9965
www.acetailors.com
