Fort Worth Weekly - News, Entertainment, Restaurants, Music

Click here to read more and see who won best Hair Salon, Spa, Customer Service, and more.

Barber Shop

Readers' choice: West 7th Street Barber Shop, 701 Barden St, FW

Critic's choice: Shelton Given's Barber Shop, 512 Main St, Ste 112,  FW

This quaint three-chair barbershop is located on the ground floor of the Sinclair Building - downtown's funkiest example of Art Deco design -- and the location is perfect because stepping into Shelton's shop is like stepping into a Norman Rockwell illustrated Life magazine cover. The well-loved Given is always at his chair, cutting hair and serving as camp counselor to the many regulars who come to discuss politics, sports, and weather, and try to solve the world's problems in the 20 minutes it takes to get shorn. The best part: $15 buys a haircut with a beard trim and even a razor shave around the ears, topped off with a touch of talcum power.

Hair Salon

Readers' choice: Esoterica, 941 Foch St, FW

Critic's choice: Halo Salon and Color Lab, 6333 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW

The relatively new salon in the Village at Camp Bowie is known for its coloring -- owner Jennifer Rabideau is a master colorist who specializes in both corrective work and first highlights. The friendly, contemporary-looking establishment is also genuinely guy-friendly, and the prices are reasonable.

Fashion Fad

Critic's choice: Flip-flops

Flip-flops capture the laid-back essence of living in Fort Worth. A perfect choice for the hot summers, the myriad possibilities in this mode of footwear adorn the feet of 817 denizens in restaurants, malls, nightclubs ... even in the toniest restaurants. They can be anything from fancy and jeweled to the poolside variety, with versions to fit every occasion and personality - as long as one is proud enough to show off his or her feet.

Tattoo Shop

Readers' choice: Randy Adams Tattoo Studio, 6467 E Lancaster Av, FW

Critic's choice: Elite Tattoo Gallery, 5936 Curzon Av, FW

Like a cheap guitar or a German automobile, a tattoo is one of those things where you get what you pay for. What you're paying for at Elite is several of DFW's (if not the state's) best artists in the cleanest shop in town. Got a custom piece in mind but can't draw for shit? Roxxy and his crew can flesh out your idea and sink it in your flesh - his color work is bar none the best in town. As the saying goes, pain is temporary, but tattoos are forever, so you might as well get 'em from the best.

Guitar Shop

Readers' choice: Guitar Center, 5250 S Hulen, FW

Critic's choice: Competition Music, 3136 E Lancaster Av, FW

The "little guitar shop that could" continues to be the workingman's dream. Scott, the owner, is one of the few remaining dinosaurs who specializes in used guitars and musical equipment and is willing to buy, sell, trade, arm wrestle, flip a coin, and do what's necessary to turn over inventory. He's not out to screw anybody, but he's no sucker either. Expect a fair deal. Also to his credit, for the past eight years he's hosted the annual Fort Worth Guitar Show in July.

Masseuse

Critic's choice: Rachel Parker-Maxey, Legacy Salon and Day Spa, 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 100, FW

Don't let her easygoing charm fool you, Parker-Maxey has a grip like a python and can work out even the most stubborn of knots. She can also adopt a light touch for frailer clients. She combines experience, know-how, and the ability to put her clients at ease.

Customer Service

Readers' choice: Perfect Touch Day Spa, 3023 Bledsoe St,  Ste 103, FW

Critic's choice: Cheryl Gay, 7-Eleven, 2500 Forest Park Blvd, FW

We've all seen the derelicts who work at some convenience stores - the ones with unlit cigarettes hanging from their mouths, silently scowling at you for having the audacity to come to the counter when they were just about to go on a smoke break. The complete opposite of that is Cheryl Gay. Anyone who has ever been more than once to the 7-Eleven at Forest Park and Park Hill knows her name. Always smiling and never without a kind word, Cheryl is the kind of person whom giant franchises put on their marketing material to brag about their happy employees. She'll brighten your day for sure.

Thrift Store

Readers' choice: McCart Thrift Center, 5203 McCart Av, FW

Critic's choice: Berry Good Buys, 1701 W Berry St, FW

Diggers, beware! Berry Good Buys isn't as cavernous as some of the warehouse-like thrift stores in town, but their treasure-to-junk ratio is much higher. In impeccably clean surroundings, shoppers can find unbeatable deals on wearable clothes, shoes, and furniture. The stock rotates often, so each visit brings the possibility of adding another bit of dirt-cheap elegance to a wardrobe. The fact that all proceeds go to SafeHaven of Tarrant County is a major plus.

Car Wash

Readers' choice: Colonial Car Wash, 8880 Hwy 80 W, FW

Critic's choice: Magic Carwash & Detail, 7008 South Fwy, FW

They'll do right by your wheels (and your chrome and carpets and dashboard) at this modest-looking establishment on the west frontage road of I-35, south of the Alta Mesa exit. The detailing is by hand, the service is personal and personable,  and the rates (beginning at $12) are hard to beat. Customers seem to include a lot of folks who obviously care about their sporty and/or classic cars.

Antiques

Readers' choice: Montgomery Street Antique Mall

Critic's choice: Carter Bowden Antiques, 4704 Bryce Av, FW

This shop offers an interesting collection of small, mostly European antiques peppered with occasional oriental pieces and garden decorations.

Spa

Readers' choice: Pamper House Day Spa, 806 W Abram St, Arl

Critic's choice: Hanna Isul, 6333 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW

Owner Myong Chong calls her serene establishment a "med-spa." All the products you'll see on the shelves are her own formulations, and they're all pure botanicals. She's worked since childhood to develop her expertise, and it's in the genes as well as the effort: Her family has produced physicians for generations. Expect the usual pampering experiences, just taken up a couple of notches. Even the air feels better inside, thanks to a state-of-the-art filtering system.  No animal testing, no cardboard packaging: Myong was green before it was cool.

Enviro-Friendly Business

Readers' choice: Spiral Diner & Bakery, 1314 W Magnolia Av, FW

Critic's choice: Spiral Diner

Aside from ass-kicking vegan food that's mostly organic - good enough that you don't need to be a vegan to love it - owner Amy McNutt sees to it that her joints (there's another in Dallas) are run as green as humanly possible. She keeps her place clean with environmentally friendly, biodegradable cleaning products; uses unbleached and recycled paper products; has biodegradable take-out containers; donates a portion of profits to green organizations; and donates excess food to local food banks - among a host of ways she's trying to keep things cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. If McNutt can do it, why can't McDonalds or Starbucks?

Toy Store

Critic's choice: Go! Toys & Games, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine

Yeah, this place is inside Grapevine Mills Mall, which should disqualify it from contention. Still, it's hard not to be impressed when you're faced with an entire wall of differently themed Monopoly games. (Whichever pro or college football team you root for, it's probably represented here.) The store also features tons of other board games and puzzles for hobbyists of all ages.