Bond's
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.
1010 W. Lynn, 476-3551
Best Auto Service/Repair
TIE: Express Automotive,
Flamingo Automotive
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.
Express, 4011 Red River, 450-0951; Flamingo, 3512 Guadalupe, 459-9917
Best Bicycle Repair
University Schwinn Cyclery
University Schwinn resides in a building with some of the tallest windows along North Lamar, 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."
2901 N. Lamar, 474-6696
Best Car Wash
Genie
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!
1311 S. Lamar, 441-1098; 7320 Burnet, 454-4831; 1021 W. Wm.Cannon, 462-2411
Best Computer Repair
Mac Alliance
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.
900 Old Koenig, 453-3830
Best Florist
Cowgirls & Flowers
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.
508 Walsh, 478-4626
Best Gardener/Landscaping
Great Outdoors Landscape
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.
2730 S. Congress, 448-2992
Best Internet Provider
Texas.net
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?
823 Congress, 472-2532
Best Pharmacy
Nau's Drug
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.
2406 San Gabriel, 476-1544; 1115 West Lynn, 476-1221
Best Photo Lab
Holland Photo Lab
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.
1221 S. Lamar, 442-4274
Best Printer/Copies
Kinko's
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.
327 Congress, Ste. 100; 5 other locations, 472-4448
Best Laundromat
Spin Cycle
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.
3501 Guadalupe, 380-0218
Best Dry Cleaner
TIE: Reid's Cleaners, Rick's Cleaners
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.
Reid's, various locations, 288-3713; Rick's, various locations, 453-2916
Best Fitness Club
World Gym
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.
115 E. Sixth, 479-0044
Best Barber Shop
Wooten Barber Shop
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!
2106 Guadalupe, 477-0109
Best Hair Salon
Kenneth's Hair Salon
TIE: Aziz Salon & Day Spa,
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.
Aziz, 710 W. Seventh, 476-4131; Kenneth's, various locations, including 515 W. 15th, 474-9451
Best Shoe Repair
Austin Shoe Hospital
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.
3106 Windsor, 477-6515
Best Spa
Lake Austin Spa Resort
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.
1705 S. Quinlan Park, 372-7300
Best Tailor
Ace Custom Tailors & Alterations
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."
209-B W. Fifth, 478-9965
