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NICE THREADS
Best New Clothing Store
Nordstrom Rack, Downtown Summerlin
The Rack in Downtown Summerlin is like a fashion supernova. I’ve found great deals on Adidas gear, Munsingwear threads and Lacôste cologne in the men’s section. The majority of the store is for the ladies — including an astonishing constellation of shoes — and always seems thronged with shoppers. Park Centre Drive, 702-915-2000, shop.nordstrom.com Greg Thilmont
Best New Men’s Store
Suit Supply
Sophistication isn’t dead, it’s merely been hiding out at this genteel boutique that has its own seamstress on site. (It’s mesmerizing merely to watch for a few minutes at the front window). Only the finest Italian fabrics are used, but the suits are so absolutely stunning, you’ll walk out looking like Robert Downey Jr. — well worth the price, indeed. The Palazzo, 702-359-6100, suitsupply.com Jennifer Prosser
Best New Women’s Store
M Missoni
Known for its dizzying flurry of geometric, striped and abstract
patterns, this brand, sought after by many celebs, is now in Vegas. While we’re overjoyed to layer on the kaleidoscope of colors that’s made M Missoni a success, we covet the more laid-back pieces as well, such as stunning winter whites and new neutrals made another trend by the brand. The Forum Shops at Caesars, missoni.com JP
Best Outlet Store
Le Sportsac Factory Store
Las Vegas has lots of great outlet shopping, but none so great as this store that sells sporty nylon bags, from the most current styles to collections by Jonathan Adler, Tokidoki and Gwen Stefani. While you’ll still pay a little more if you can snag one of these coveted styles, most pieces are steals, particularly messenger bags and wallets. The inventory turns over quickly, so if it’s a must-have, buy it today — or you’ll be left not holding the bag. Premium Outlets North Downtown, 785 Grand Central Parkway, 702-366-9268, lesportsac.com JP
Best Hat Shop
Goorin Bros.
Everyone is a hat person at this fourth-generation, family-owned shop, where the staff can help point you toward the straw fedora, wool cloche or flat cap you didn’t know was missing from your wardrobe. Stick a feather in it and walk out feeling cooler than when you walked in. The Linq, 702-732-4287, goorin.com Sarah Feldberg
Best Dry Cleaners
Village East
Your fancy gowns, three-piece suits and embellished accessories are in the best of hands at this Green Valley super cleaner known for the care it takes with haute couture and specialty items. You’ll never want to go anywhere else. Before you go, check the website for the monthly coupon. 1760 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, 702-897-0098, villageeastcleaners.com JP
Best Haberdasher
Habib’s Tailoring & Leather Repairs
If it’s true that clothes make the man, then Habib Chamie is the man who makes sure the clothes fit the man. His one-man operation can get your everyday work shirts model-snug, save your pant hems from dragging and make your suit look like it just stepped off the runway in Milan, not the clearance rack at Dillard’s. 3345 S. Decatur Blvd., 702-364-9696 Pj Perez
YOU WANT US IN THAT MALL! YOU NEED US IN THAT MALL!
Best Green Shopping Experience
Downtown Container Park
Here’s a shopping center that does our heart proud: The Container Park is made of repurposed shipping containers and Xtreme cubes that house a variety of crafts from local artisans, and restaurants helmed by locals. Don’t miss shops and restaurants such as Art Box, which offers handcrafted jewelry, Blumarble, which makes unique gifts from liquor and wine bottles (more recycling!) and Big Ern’s BBQ. 707 E. Fremont St., 702-359-9982, downtowncontainerpark.com JP
Best Shopping Mall
Downtown Summerlin
For years, locals have been looking for a shopping center to call their own. Yes, the Fashion Show is a towering jewel, but who wants to deal with the Strip? So when Downtown Summerlin opened late last year, our shopping dreams were realized. This bright, open-air center has plenty of parking, tree-lined streets and a wealth of our favorite retailers. Its Macy’s carries the best handbags from the best brands. The Toy Box offers the largest selection of Funko Pop! figurines we’ve ever seen. Take your golf skills to the next level at Golfsmith. There’s a great new discovery beyond every avenue. 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, at the 215 Beltway and Sahara Avenue. 702-832-1000, downtownsummerlin.com JP
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS
Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party
Pump It Up
Birthday parties at Pump It Up are a real workout. Climb to the top of the towering inflatable slides, master the obstacle course and jump around in a basketball-themed bounce house. And Pump It Up makes life easier for parents — setup and cleanup are taken care of by the helpful staff. 3200 W. Sunset Road, 702-228-8017, pumpitupparty.com Sarah Vernetti
Best Only in Vegas Daycare
Kids Quest at Red Rock, Boulder, Santa Fe, Sunset and Texas Stations
For all the cultural advantages L.A. has over us, we’ve got daycare for movies and they don’t, ha ha. And Kids Quest is the sweetest daycare you or your whiny one has ever seen. All locations feature a three-level slide, basketball court and snack bar, plus iPads, Wiis, PlayStations and Xboxes. It’s $9.50 per hour, but you can so win that back at blackjack because you were never going to see a movie anyway. kidsquest.com Corey Levitan
Best Educational Playdate
The Springs Preserve
For harried parents looking for a safe, fun and instructional place to set their little people loose for a few hours, Springs Preserve is a must. From the daily Crack a Geode hands-on geology session to rotating shows like Extreme Parrot Meet & Greet, this civic treasure is perfect for growing minds and bodies alike. 333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-822-7754, springspreserve.org GT
Best Toy Store
The Toy Box
Kids will love the Frozen-themed stuffed animals, Ty Beanie Babies and Minecraft accoutrements. For parents, the store is a treasure trove of collectibles and movie-themed action figures, many of which hark back to the good old days of Ghostbusters and Terminator. Along the back wall, you’ll find a vast array of Funko Pop! vinyl figures, which are based on popular movies and TV shows. Allow plenty of time to explore this section of the store; these strangely cute figurines manage to make even Walter White look loveable. In Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive #175, 702-776-8690, toyboxlasvegas.com SV
PAMPER YOURSELF
Best Caviar Service
Mansions at MGM
For connoisseurs of caviar, few places can source the absolute, no-expense-spared best for their guests better than the Mansions at MGM. There’s no point in eating the world’s finest caviar out of a dixie cup, so guests enjoy their expensive eggs out of even more expensive eggs, a set of gold and crystal eggs from the Fabergé Design House. 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 877-225-2121, mgmgrand.com Mitchell Willburn
Best Pamper Session
Nagomi Ritual at Qua Baths & Spa
Created in conjunction with Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, this 90-minute experience is a full-body sampler of spa indulgences, literally from head to toe. Or rather, toe to head. The “ritual” begins with a floral foot bath and exfoliation using crystallized honey, then moves into a full-body massage before ending with a “carboxitherapy” facial to leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and even a little Zen. $425. Caesars Palace, 866-782-0655, caesars.com SF
Best Use of Foie Gras
FG&J at Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar
Executive chef Brian Massie has hidden a maniacal masterpiece among the expansive American fare at Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar — the FG&J. Foie gras mousse topped with bits of peanuts and served with a housemade jam is unctuous without being overpowering; the peanut shards convey a variety of textures without obscuring the smooth goose liver. PB&J never tasted so good! Red Rock Resort, 702-693-8300, hearthstonelv.com JB
MEMORY LANE
Best Thrift Store
Epic Thrift
A thrift store is value-driven already, but at Epic Thrift, you can walk out with an item that looks brand-spankin’ new for as little as 50 cents on sale days — and most days are sale days. Plus, it has 50 percent off sales every other Saturday, as well as a new incentive program that gives you even greater savings, such as 10 percent off of already discounted merchandise and more. Multiple locations, epicthriftstores.com JP
Best Designer Thrift Store
Déja Blue Boutique
This haute couture wonder proudly displays finds from the hottest designers
around: Diane von Furstenberg, Valentino, Badgley Mischka and more. You’re all but guaranteed to find some Gucci, Juicy Couture and Betsey Johnson on every trip, and selections range from day- and eveningwear to barely-worn footwear, furs and other glamour-puss pieces. 10300 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-586-1100, goodwill.vegas JP
Best Vintage Store
Roxtrot Vintage
Remember that time you walked into a shop, picked up something adorable like a vintage trivet in the shape of an owl, and then immediately saw two other items absolutely essential to your existence? Right, because that didn’t happen yet — because you haven’t been to Roxtrot Vintage. This oversight can be easily corrected by checking out its awesome collection of locally made and vintage items. 9272 Tamarus St., 702-260-1190, roxtrotvintage.com Molly O’Donnell
Beg to differ! At the Vintage Glam Factory, the emphasis is on pieces from the ’40s to the ’60s — and you’ll want to spend hours in this time warp, looking through every dress, pantsuit, hat, glove and bracelet. 211 E. Colorado St. 702-443-0131, etsy.com/shop/glamfactoryvintage JP
TO THINE OWN SELF BE GROOMED
Best Old-School Barber Shop
Downtown Vintage Barbershop
Fitting in perfectly with the “land that time forgot” vibe of downtown Henderson’s Water Street District, this throwback spot doesn’t take appointments or credit cards, but it does offer what a good barber shop should: tight clipper cuts, hot towel shaves and a killer selection of pomade. 37 S. Water St., 702-564-2343 PP
Best Place for Manscaping
Box Human Landscapers
We know hair is natural and beautiful and all that. But if you can’t wear a tank top without looking like Teen Wolf, then a visit to Box might be in order. From simple back-hair removal to its infamous “sac and crack” treatment, these “human landscapers” have you covered. Er, uncovered. 420 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-893-9993,
bikiniwaxing.com PP
GONE TO THE DOGS
Best Pet-Friendly Patio Dining
Annie’s Gourmet Italian
This family-run, Green Valley strip-mall gem doesn’t just tolerate furry diners — it welcomes them with open paws. On Ookie’s Garden Pet-Friendly Patio, pet owners can order special meals made specifically for their four-legged friends. 75 S. Valle Verde Drive, 702-254-3663, anniesgourmet.org PP
Best Place to Spoil Your Dog
Flea Bag’s Barkery & Bow-tique
You wouldn’t throw a birthday party for your kid without a cake, so why stiff your pet? This longtime denizen of The District not only offers fresh-baked treats for Fido, but also luxury collars, toys and accessories. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but you don’t want Fifi looking like a plebeian at the dog park, do you? 2225 Village Walk Drive, 702-914-8805, fleabagsonline.com PP
Best Spot to Do Shots with Man’s Best Friend
Yappy Hour at Rumor
If you’ve ever dragged your pooches to a dog park and thought, “What this really needs is liquor,” you’re in luck: Just about every third Thursday, from 6-9 p.m., pet-friendly boutique hotel Rumor hosts an outdoor mixer for canines and their owners, featuring drink specials, a DJ and free goodies for fur-covered guests. 455 E. Harmon Ave., 702-369-5400, rumorvegas.com/yappyhour PP
Best Accommodations for Pampered Pets
Las Vegas Dog Resort
A 600-square-foot suite pimped out with a queen-sized bed, 46-inch flat-screen TV and a sofa would be pretty swank for any one person, but for a dog? Hey, nothing’s too good for your princess, so if your little angel needs boarding, this upscale pet hotel offers the royal treatment. Wonder if we can book a stay there? 6810 W. Sahara Ave., 702-560-7387, lvdoghotel.com PP
Best Veterinarian
Mountain Vista Animal Hospital
The good people here understand the special bond we have with our pets. “What are your babies’ names,” they’ll ask when you call for an appointment. Animal-lovers themselves, they bring a gentle, compassionate touch to your pets’ treatment and, when one of your loved ones must be euthanized, they grieve with you. When my cat Fasolt, a beloved, longtime patient, finally crossed the Rainbow Bridge, it was as though a member of the Mountain Vista family had died. I wouldn’t take my cats anywhere else. 4675 E. Flamingo Road, 702-458-8808, mvahvetlv.com David McKee
SUPER SPECIALTY!
Best Running Store
Red Rock RunningCompany
When it’s time to buy running shoes, you want a store staffed by actual runners. At this shop, owned by Adidas ultrateam member Josh Brimhall, you can hop on the treadmill, have your stride analyzed, then stroll out in the perfect pair to help you be the best marathoner/fun-runner/mall-walker you can be. 7350 W. Cheyenne Ave. #106, 702-870-4786; 120 S. Green Valley Parkway #144, 702-998-9054, redrockrunningcompany.com SF
Best Bike Shop
Peloton Sports
This Trek-focused mom-and-pop can’t match the vast inventory or wide variety of its bigger competitors, but it has something they don’t: a personal touch. Loyal fans say they go there because owners Deya and Phil Hawk remember not only their customers' names, but also the last part they bought and century they rode in. 911 N. Buffalo Drive #101, 702-363-1991, pelotonsports.com Heidi Kyser
Best Crafter’s Heaven
Paper Source
Does “crafting” mean something more to you than pipe cleaners and Elmer’s glue? Do you know what washi tape is? Is everything made cuter with a bird on it? If you answered yes, a pilgrimage to this fantasyland at Tivoli Village is mandatory. Unleash your inner Martha Stewart with DIY workshops, scrapbooking supplies and reams of specialty papers. 410 S. Rampart Blvd. #165, 702-233-8740, paper-source.com Debbie Lee
Best Beauty Products Store
Guerlain
A piece of luxury can be yours at this exquisite boutique, where you’ll find luxury lipsticks, haute couture fragrances and Guerlain’s signature Meteorites pearls, which contain light-creating polymers and corrective colors to even out skin tone and leave a long-lasting glow on the skin. Never has the adage “you get what you pay for” been so right. The Palazzo, 702-732-7008, guerlain.com JP
Thermal Relief Design
While the team at Thermal Relief are brilliant restorers, rehabbers and rebuilders of any breed of electronic audio equipment, their pedigree is earned from servicing vintage tube amps. My mere rewiring and retubing requests may fall far below their full tinkering potential, but the pros always treat my clunker like a Plexi. 730 W. Cheyenne Ave. # 120, 702-395-7005, thermalrelief.com Chris Bitonti
Best Place for Artisanal Ingredients
Artisanal Foods
Need a big bag of foie gras? This boutique retailer has you covered. Get molecular in the kitchen with “pearls” of rosemary and olive oil and emulsification kits from Spain. Snag a wasabi grater for your weekend sushi experiments. Stock up on truffles and caviar. You can even score “cat poop coffee” — gourmet beans fermented in the guts of Indonesian civets. Meow! 2275 E. Sunset Road, 702-436-4252, artisanalfoods.com GT