Fuzzy gnome bank at Vivid Credit: Photo By Kate X Messer

Atomic City Whoa, Bettie! Page, that is. They’ve got just about anything BP ya could ever covet: cuff links and lunch boxes to lighters. Plus, one of the best selections of kicks in town, as well as embroidered cowboy shirts, hula girls, and all things Gojira. 1700 San Antonio, 477-0293. www.myspace.com/atomiccityaustin.

Austin Modern Quality Plycrafts and Wassilys and decor circa 1950s-1970s. When they say “Modern,” it’s with a capital M. Look for the proto-Pan Am logo. 306 E. 53rd, 419-0488. www.austinmodern.com.

Lowbrow Emporium When Heather and Patrick Roach opened this brand-new klatch of kitsch on South Lamar, their intention was to offer a little something for everyone. Revel in Baseman art, My Little Pony, gnomes, Nemo by eeBoo, Schylling tin toys (cap bombs, etc.), and gr8 sk8 stuff from the Cliver Family (the folks behind Jackass). 2708 S. Lamar Ste. 1-C, 462-3739. www.myspace.com/lowbrow1.

Lucky Lou Shoes Original designs based on Forties classics, carved wood shoes from the South Seas! 619-0636. www.luckyloushoes.com.

Prototype Add some pop art to your interior design with household furnishings avec Sixties flair. 1700-C S. Congress, 447-7686. www.prototypevintagedesign.com.

Room Service Vintage Four-time “Best of Austin” winner, all-in-one time-machine stores! Vintage clothes, lighting, furnishings, figurines, glassware, vinyl, toys, and board games from the Forties to right about now. 107 E. North Loop, 451-1057; 1701 S. Lamar, 383-9898. www.roomservicevintage.com.

See our complete Kitsch/Vintage Guide online at austinchronicle.com/kitsch.

This article appears in December 8 • 2006.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.