Need a new soul? Try the Church of Christ. Need your ratty old sandals fixed? Try In Step, the only store in Austin that specializes in Birkenstock repair. And if your footwear is too far gone, they have a large selection of new merchandise to help ease the pain of the loss.

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Did your dog have a breakthrough with her therapist this morning? Then why not take her to Austin's finest pets-only eatery for some freshly baked longhorn-shaped or Texas-shaped biscuits (available in beef, chicken, peanut butter, and apple-cinnamon flavor)? Maybe she'd prefer a personalized bone dipped in carob and sprinkled with nuts, with your own special message inscribed in frosting. Why say it with flowers when you can say it with beef ears (smoked or natural flavor)? Or try our personal favorite, the "Fetch & Feast": a dog pizza pie served in an inverted flying disc.

Bone Appetit Bakery
8820 Burnet
www.geocities.com

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Face it. With the news that Safeway has recently bought Randalls for over a billion dollars, big supermarkets are here to stay. But this shopping experience doesn't always have to be cold and impersonal. In fact, some stores actually serve as a neighborhood's central hub, a place where a true cross section of folks are found. The HEB on South Congress is such a place. Both the shoppers and employees come from the same neighborhood pool, so the atmosphere is open and unpretentious. Oh yeah, they have a huge selection and cheap prices, too.

HEB
7015 Village Center Dr., 512/502-8445
2400 S. Congress, 512/442-2354
2701 E. Seventh, 512/478-7328
10710 Research #200, 512/794-8221
6900 Brodie, 512/891-8900
11521 FM 620 N., 512/249-0558
2508 E. Riverside, 512/448-3544
201 FM 685 N., Pflugerville, 512/251-0002
1080 E. 290, Elgin, 512/285-4168
500 Canyon Ridge Dr., 512/973-8143
5808 Burnet, 512/453-8864
7112 Ed Bluestein #125, 512/926-1491
9414 N Lamar, 512/835-5400
600 W. William Cannon, 512/447-5544
6001 W. Parmer, 512/249-0400
5800 W. Slaughter, 512/301-9770
www.heb.com

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Watching David Bowie's head spin makes us giddy. Known for its extensive collection of collectible vinyl, Treasured Tracs poster selection is sometimes overlooked. Offering both vintage and new, movie and music, this store caters to the avid collector as well as to the poor college kid in need of wallpaper. Elvis, Marilyn, and Bart are all waiting side by side to be taken off the rack and pinned against your wall. Can't find what you're looking for? Just ask. The guy behind the counter and his young assistant amazingly keep track of all these treasures.

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Hosting one of the largest selections of bulk herbs in town (340 different types), the Herb Bar is a veritable garden of delight. Helping people easily utilize the healing effects of these herbs is a goal of this privately owned store. They carry books and products for using color, aroma, and herb therapies, as well as tinctures created for a variety of ailments and herbs made for the critical tastes of kids. Various other natural products are available for housecleaning, killing fleas, or body care. The Herb Bar also has a section of essential oils which the customer can form into his or her own personal fragrance.

The Herb Bar
200 W. Mary
512/444-6251
www.theherbbar.com

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If cleanliness is next to godliness, then this soap is just one wash away from heaven. Pungent with rosemary and other essential oils, this simple amber bar, handcrafted by Sarah Nitsch, is a miracle of ablution. It might not make your hair talk, but if it did, that hair would say, "Wow! I've never felt so damn clean before!" And the rest of you? It would happily concur.

Natural Magic
5209 Martin
512/451-4491

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These two unrelated music ventures - the mega Mars Music mart and the impressively stocked independent CD and vinyl shop Jupiter Records - reside in the same solar system: Hancock Center. Do we detect a pattern here? There is some retail space left at Hancock- How can etherial entrepreneurial types resist? Venus Furs, anyone? Neptune's Seafood? Mercury Thermometers? Fine. We're all for it - as long as no joker comes up with one for the seventh planet -

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Austin prides itself on being a comfortable, friendly, musical place to live. And if there is one establishment in town that cements this impression for both out-of-towners and natives alike, it's the multi-instrument shop above the Continental Club. Mainstays Steve and Gary will not only give you top-notch advice and a square deal on their chock-full-o'-goodies inventory of preowned and new equipment (Moogs, sitars, Gretsch, etc.), but they also offer excellent repairs on everything from cracked acoustics to broken necks on African lutes.

One World Music
1313 S. Congress
512/462-9424

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Frank Hunt calls it a hobby that got out of hand. Since 1972, his queens and workers have produced veritable tons of pure, raw honey which he sells in three-pound mason jars from the front of his furniture restoration business right off Guadalupe. The Health Department now says he has to move the hives to the country, but the buzz is that his small supply of mint-tasting honey, beeswax, and candles will continue to fly off the shelves.

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Any man that tells you he's in Melange or By George's San Gabriel location shopping for his girlfriend is a liar. Looking for a girlfriend maybe, but not purchasing for one. Savvy suitors know that finding attractive, smart, well-dressed, and approachable women in either clothier is easy - convincing them you have what it takes to keep up with their taste, sophistication, and sense of style may be another story, though. And if browsing the evening wear racks for a date sounds sleazy, at least know you're in good company - you'll see plenty of freshly minted Dellionares, real-estate types, and even Lyle Lovett himself (at By George) "shopping" right alongside you.

ByGeorge
524 N. Lamar
512/472-5951
www.bygeorgeaustin.com

Melange
500 N. Lamar
512/236-8180

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Designing you own necklace has never been so easy. They have countless numbers of beads, shells, pendants, and rocks to help make any anklet, necklace, or bracelet meet your fancy. And for those of you who don't know how to make your own hemp necklace, the employees here are happy to make it for you. The Austin Bead Shoppe also offers a wide variety of supplies for making hemp jewelry in your own spare time.

Austin Bead Shoppe
2102 S. Lamar
512/448-2323

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We hate to give this secret away, but how many Ralph Lauren shirts can a closet hold? The beauty of buying at The Shoppe is that many of the shirts come already dry cleaned and ready to wear to almost any occasion. Great prices, good selection, and support for good causes add up to great purchasing power, especially for skinny wallets.

Junior League's The Shoppe
6555 Burnet Rd.
512/459-4592

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Every item in Eva Roots is a unique, quality piece, reflecting the exquisite taste of its well-traveled proprietress. When you really want to wow your significant other's mother, take a spin around the jam-packed interior of this upscale-funky little shop in far North Austin. The owner periodically jaunts around the globe and hand-selects big and little treasures to bring back to you. Appropriate a little of this hand-crafted and exotic taste next time you want to endear yourself to Endora.

Eva Roots
9901 N Hwy Loop 360
512/338-9454
www.austinunscene.com

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Some of us are learning to accept old age gracefully and find we are no longer ashamed to indulge our formerly secret love of romance novels. Unfortunately, it's expensive, as the price of paperbacks continues to spiral. All the better then that Book Exchange lets you trade in your romances, or mysteries, or westerns, or biographies. They're picky - a clerk confessed that they couldn't take any more Danielle Steele - but the idea of being able to trade in the book it took two days by the pool to read is very appealing. Plus, you can see a lot of man titties on those covers.

Book Exchange
7411 Burnet
512/454-6139

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They're everywhere, you know, and lots of them. You can't even see most of them because they're tucked into ferns or family portraits or your girlfriend's bra. Get up to speed with the latest in Big Brother technology at this store that specializes in James Bond, oops, we mean Austin Powers paraphernalia. Really scary stuff. Learn how to vanish without a trace, how to get anything on anybody, how to pick locks. They've got it all, Flint: bionic ears, blowguns, CIA shirts, pen blades - whoa.

Spy Exchange and Security Center
9513 Burnet Rd. #101
512/719-3595
pimall.com/nais/equ.find.html

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The blossoming of South Congress Avenue continues unabated. It is now the premier strip to peruse and partake. Longtime retail residents such as Off the Wall, Uncommon Objects, The Armadillo Market, Rue's, and others have been joined by relative newcomers Pieces of the Past and New Bohemia. And the variety of places to fortify oneself while shopping for the truly wonderful is staggering. While the choices offered by Magnolia Cafe, Fran's, TFB, Shaggy's, and Güero's have made choosing difficult before, the additions of the wonderful Liberty Pie and the hip Vespaio make this street a diner's paradise. We know of no better place to satisfy two of our most urgent pleasures.

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Geronimoooo. Okay, okay, we admit it: The folks at Tipler's won't let you swing from their chandeliers. But if they did - whoo boy - you'd be swingin' in style. Glass, brass, crystal, and more. With almost 400 chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, this West Fifth purveyor of lovely lamptitude has everything a latter-day Tarzan could ask for, from humble little pretties to gaudy glass gaslights from 1920s France. It's mighty tempting to jump up and take a ride, but with prices running from a hundred bucks to the low five figures, we think we'll just stay on the floor.

Tipler's Lamp Shop
1204 W. Fifth
512/472-5007

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Mitchie's is more than your average specialty art gallery and custom framing shop. While carrying a most impressive array of fine black art and literature from around the globe, Mitchie's Fine Black Art is also a great place to learn about what's going on right here in Austin's African-American community. Yet, it's even more than that: With a row of shops within the new Manor Road location, inside Mitchie's is a place to get your hair plaited, no matter the hair type (Braids From Africa), to have a totally custom Afro-centric attire created or your current wardrobe altered (Gussie's Corner), to check out the latest and greatest hard-to-come-by gospel recordings (BJ's Gospel Music), to bring the kids for storytime (Saturday's, 1-2pm), to hear the raves of the Ebony Poet Society (the last Saturday of each month, 4-6pm), and even to get that traffic ticket wiped off your record (Rapid Defensive Driving). This beacon in north East Austin is the labor of love of Joyce Hunt, a local entrepreneur and de facto anti-drunk-driving activist, who named this shop for her son, a determined young man who survived a horrific car accident.

Mitchie's Gallery
7801 N. Lamar Ste. B-148
512/323-6901
www.mitchie.com

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Last time we checked, her roots were purple. She reminds us of that poem "When I Grow Old I Shall Wear Purple," but Nant Z's too young to be old; in fact she's exactly the right vintage. She's also a delight at the cash register, friendly without being too perky, doesn't wear any extraneous hardware where it doesn't belong, and is professional to a T. Chamomile tea, of course, since this is Whole Foods.

Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market Gateway, 9607 Research #300, 512/345-5003
Whole Foods Market Downtown, 525 N. Lamar, 512/476-1206
Whole Foods Market Arbor Trails, 4301 W. William Cannon, 512/358-2460
Whole Foods Market Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave, 512/206-2730
Whole Foods Market Domain, 11920 Domain Dr., 512/831-3981
www.wholefoodsmarket.com

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Actually, a corny phrase like "wearing of the green" has little to do with the wonderful selection of arts, books, CDs, crafts, T-shirts, jewelry, musical instruments, and more from various Celtic countries. There are no chubby-cheeked leprechauns in green bowler hats and they don't sell Guinness - but you can buy a harp! They also stock books on learning Scottish, a Gaelic League T-shirt, or an Irish cross. They also host lectures and classes in various Celtic interests; as the local Celtic community grows, look for this to become an ersatz cultural center.

Things Celtic
1806 W. 35th
512/472-2358
www.thingsceltic.com

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For angling with a challenge (no bait buckets here), these folks have led the movement in the metro area since 1980. They were the first shop in the entire state of Texas specializing in fly fishing only. Stocked with an incredible selection of sage advice, flies, rods, reels, and all the accoutrements. Introductory clinics, casting classes, fly tying clinics, fishing trip bookings, and guides. Just tell them where you're fishing, and they'll show you what works. Tight lines and loops - they'll teach you how!

The Austin Angler
312 1/2 Congress
512/472-4553
www.austinangler.com

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Who would've thought to find jewelry, much less some of the most stunning innovations for officially plighting one's troth, in a place better known for its take on functional ceramics and larger art forms? Gold, silver, diamonds, so much of all that glitters forged into breathtaking circles of precious metal by the likes of artisans Stephen Dixon, Kate Pearce, and George Sawyer. Holy matrimony, Batman! We've stumbled upon The Nuptialator's secret hideout!

Clarksville Pottery & Gallery
4001 N. Lamar #200
512/454-9079
www.clarksvillepottery.com

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Tired feet wander over warm concrete as dust wafts in. "$3 for Photo with Monkey," "Bunny Rabbit $15: Good for Stew or Pet" "Ab Roller Plus $2, (only a little damaged)" "Hot Steamed Corn," "Any Key Copied - No Refunds." Plus, they sell that weird, white decal stuff we always see on pickup trucks with ground effects. A buck a carload? It's more than worth the trip, even if we do not see any fleas.

Austin Country Flea Mart
9500 Hwy. 290 E.
512/928-2795
www.austincountry.citymax.com

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This West Campus wonder has it all: Mickey's, Mickey's "Ice," Hurricane, Red Dog, Olde English 800, Big Bear, Colt 45, Miller High Life, Schlitz Malt Liquor Red Bull, Carta Blanca, Schlitz Malt Liquor BLUE Bull, King Cobra, Country Club, Crazy Horse, Magnum. All of them neck-deep in chests of ice and conveniently located near the checkout counter for impulse buying. Just remember to get a paper bag, or it'll slip right out of your hand.

Grande Food Mart
2706 Rio Grande
512/495-9764

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While the expertly chosen South American merchandise is alluring enough to get us into this meandering gallery of treasures, it is the pungent aroma as the door is opened when we walk by that makes it irresistible. The citrus potpourri is made on site and it is as beautiful as it is fragrant. Dried blood oranges, cinnamon, and chili peppers are combined in this perfect hostess/housewarming gift. We've been very popular when we come bearing this gift.

Mi Casa Gallery
1700 S. Congress
512/707-9797
www.micasagallery.com

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We generously offer our own jingle free of charge: Flames to the left of me/Eyeballs to the right/Here I am/Stuck in Work Clothes & More!!! So maybe we should stick to newspapers, but boy, does this place know how to serve the working crowd. Working attire is more than a blue collar these days. Working in style requires Quicksilver, von Dutch, and Dickies. And for the worker who wants to slack, the racks are stacked with Hawaiian shirts. This is the place for farmers, construction workers, and even shiny happy punks to find high-quality clothing. But as the name suggests, there is more: jewelry, satchels, and errrrrr, more.

Work Clothes & More
1613 West Ben White
512/444-6016

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From cat's eyes to Buddy Holly frames, Santa Fe Optical has the prescription for fabulous eyewear. The little store near Kerbey Lane offers an impressive collection of hard-to-find styles to suit anyone from the conservative businessman to the pierced punk. We recommend asking for assistance: The help is wonderful.

Santa Fe Optical
1601 West 38th Street #8
512/451-1213
www.santafeoptical.com/

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The winner, year after year, hands-down - So let's just check our definitions. When something is no longer brand-new and somebody, somewhere might think it isn't entirely lame - that's thrift. When something is extremely old and general consensus says, "This totally rocks!" that is an antique. And whether it's jeweled straight razors or smartly upholstered club chairs or a particularly ornate flying buttress we seek, Whit Hanks is the first place our readers go to find it.

Nest
1009 W. Sixth
512/637-0600

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Don't come in here looking for faux flowers or little wooden geese to pretty up your dining nook. These are supplies, and lots of them, for the serious artist or student. All the major players in paints and inks and papers and boards are represented here, the basic and the sublime among pencils, pastels, and markers, a fine niche of silkscreen gear, you name it. It's a smallish shop, but it's dense with just the right material for so many different projects.

Asel Art Supply
218 W. MLK
512/477-1762
www.aselart.com

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Readers know homegrown quality when they see it. And now those folks flying into Austin can see it too, thanks to the branch at the new airport. BookPeople combines the broad scope and munchies appeal of those national chains with the hometown funkiness and informed staff of smaller shops. When readers want to sit a spell in a well-worn easy chair or find the obscure tome they're craving, they head to this repository as they have year after year.

BookPeople
603 N. Lamar
512/472-5050
bookpeople.com

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It's like trying to figure out who'd win a fight: Superman or The Mighty Thor? Both these popular stores are stocked to the rafters with comics, comics, comics, and books about comics. Ranging from silly-animal fanzines and superhero compilations to adult-themed graphic novels and indie alterna-views, flanked by figurines of vampires and elves and robots, tended by folks who live this stuff and could easily tell you, for instance, the current market value of Journey Into Mystery #83. Looking for Eightball? Artbabe? Jimmy Corrigan? Seek, and ye shall find.

Austin Books & Comics
5002 N. Lamar
512/454-4197
austinbooks.com

Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy
2438 W. Anderson Ste. B-1
512/454-2399
dlair.net

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Your Living Room? In your dreams, pally; you should be so tasteful. But if you're in the mood and money to consider furnishing those dreams, check out this stunning array of interior home designs featuring such local artisans as Eddie Myers, Judd Graham, and Gerard Less. It's metal, it's wood, it's glass, it's leather, it's too well-made for words.

Your Living Room
220 S. Congress
512/320-9909
www.yourlivingroom.com

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Oooooooooh, trying to find that perfect thing for that special someone can be such a drag sometimes. But now you have not one, not even two, but three fabulous "Best of" winners to choose from. Emeralds and Le Cadeau have duked it out as your favorites for quite a while. This year they're joined by new contender, For All Seasons, who carry everything from jewelry to wind chimes to really cool glass hummingbird feeders, in a three-way tie. One of these three places is bound to have that perfect gift for your loved one - and hey, while no one's looking - one for yourself!

The Cadeau
2316 Guadalupe
512/477-7276

For All Seasons
4006 S. Lamar
512/477-3322

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Maybe it was that Christmas TV commercial with the sweet little lisping girl that got your attention. More likely it was the watches and bracelets and pearls, oh my! Or the loose diamonds (So that's where that band name comes from!) or engagement rings or the 14k gold choices. Or could it have been the sterling silver selection or the necklaces or the variety of watch lines? Whatever gems and jewels you're seeking, Russell Korman is the place you picked to find them.

Russell Korman Jewelers
3806 N. Lamar
512/451-9295

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"If they say it's not about sex, it's about sex," said some senator during the Clinton unmentionables. No hypocrisy here - these hot spots are about pure, unabashed sex, and it is gloriously shameless. Wanna compare a whale penis with that of a goat? Need a new nipple clip? How about a tattoo for, uh, Mr. Johnson? These one-stop sanctuaries have everything a quivering body desires.

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With stores both north and south, Reuben's is there to serve your tastebuds and supply your accoutrements. From cactus donned 'rita glasses to 20-year-old tawny ports, Reuben's has it. Creaking wooden floors and friendly conversations with staff are both elements of seven-time BOAer Wiggy's effervescent charm. There's no better place in town to discuss the existential meaning of drinking a particular bourbon than inside Wiggy's on a sunny afternoon.

Reuben's Liquors
107 W. Stassney
512/442-4805

Wiggy's
1130 W. Sixth
512/474-9463
www.wiggysliquor.com

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... five, six, pick up sticks (drumsticks, that is), and maybe a music book or recorder or piano or organ or whatever your little musical heart desires. This is the sixth year "Strait" (We had to use that stale old joke again; we just had to!) for this no-longer-flood-threatened music biz, and in Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, that's saying a lot.

Strait Music Co.
3201 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 140
13945 Hwy. 183 N., 512/918-3743
straitmusic.com

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Hey! It's the wild, wild West meets wild, wild surplus weed-eaters! Maybe you seek a Best of the Oak Ridge boys album? Or perhaps a pearl-toned squeezebox is more your speed. Or trumpet? Or cornet? Or a reliable, sharper-than-your-average pawnshop staff who can tell you the difference?

Doc Holliday's Pawn Shop/Cash America
611 S. Lamar
512/443-7787

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It's like Sixth Street for pets! We can take our animals to this huge pet store to hang out, socialize with other cute canines, and pick out food and accessories that all the coolest kitties are using these days. Plus, they can get neutered and vaccinated cheaply by the in-store vets, eliminating the risks associated with getting down and getting funky in the aisles (just like Sixth Street! Wait - no -).

PetSmart
1628 Ohlen, 512/835-7221
5400 Brodie, 512/892-3297
2601 S. IH-35 Pad E, Round Rock, 512/218-1816
www.petsmart.com

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Goodwill's going online with their really fine stuff, but it's still downright amazing what people donate, and what can be yours for dimes to the dollar. Enough good can't be said about the worthwhile works of this nationwide nonprofit; your business truly does make a difference. Though Goodwill perennially leads the thrift pack, this year it shares honors with Flipnotics, the apparel companion of the popular coffeehouse, whose downstairs back room purveys a small but smart vintage clothing collection.

Goodwill
Main office: 1015 Norwood Park Blvd.
512/637-7100
www.austingoodwill.org

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The perennial favorite place to leave with more books than you arrived with to sell. Old, new, obscure, antiquated, and more, it's all here. Not to mention a terrific calendar selection and a kids section that can keep the tykes occupied for as long as you can browse. At these prices, we all come away happy, too.

Half-Price Books
3110 Guadalupe
512/451-4463
www.halfpricebooks.com/

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The name may conjure up images of a cozy little backwoods trading post, but don't let it fool you. Callahan's is a hypermodern superstore, a Western Wal-Mart for all of your feed, seed, tack, farmware, houseware, and hardware needs. It also has a great clothing and boot department, one that'll please urban cowboys as well as seasoned ranch hands. And the staff is so friendly and helpful that you may start to feel like you're actually in a cozy little backwoods trading post after all.

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