Shopping & Services

You're driving on South Dixie Highway when you notice the needle on your tank approaching E. So you pull up to the BP on SW 17th Avenue to fill 'er up. As you walk in, a glass case displaying fruit tarts, fine chocolates, Spanish-style desserts, and flaky, chocolate-drizzled pastries slaps you across the face. After staring in awe at the goodness that lies before you, you realize this isn't your typical gas station. Murals of colonial-like structures adorn the walls. Instead of rows of dusty honey buns and oil cans, you'll find specialty beers such as Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout and Twisted Pine Ghost Face Killah Chili beer, a selection of more than 2,000 wines, and a variety of champagne. Toward the back of the store is the most surprising feature: Spanish restaurant El Carajo International Tapas & Wines, which serves an array of tapas, including tortilla española and stuffed piquillo peppers. Forget filling up your tank — you might catch yourself visiting this BP to fill up on food and drinks.

In Miami-Dade, car dealers get a rap somewhere between that of international weapons brokers and human-organ harvesters. But there are plenty of car dealers worth trusting — provided you do your homework and know what you want. Kendall Toyota is one of them. At Kendall, the huge inventory is key. Along with its West Kendall branch near Tamiami Airport and an off-site lot, this long-standing dealership stocks an impressive selection of both used and new cars. The display lot has vehicles that come and go as soon as they can be stickered. If you can't find the right color or features you want, they'll walk you to their onsite multilevel lot, packed tightly with automobiles in all shades. They also have more than Toyotas in their fleet, and they move cars so fast they don't waste anyone's time with lemons or jacked-up prices. Often, cars less than a year old with only a few thousand miles show up. So pack the cynicism in the trunk of your beater, head to Kendall Toyota, and ride home with a newfound faith in automobile salesmen — plus a much better set of wheels.

Let's face it: Miami has more poorly maintained death traps rolling around its highways than any city this side of Havana. So it makes sense that the best mechanics in Dade are a brother and sister from Jaruco, a town just outside Cuba's capital packed full of rusting '50s clunkers. Family-owned and -run since 1984, Red Road Tire & Auto Center has friendly staffers always ready to make space in their day to slide your ride into the garage and get you checked out so you're one of the safe ones out on the Dolphin. And if that $70 synthetic oil change you dread every 5,000 miles has you cursing your decision to buy such a snazzy, newfangled jalopy, you'll be hard-pressed to find a place that does a quicker or cheaper change — all for less than 40 bucks. Nearly 30 years in Hialeah has made this garage battle-tested, so it's a damnably rare problem that they can't fix, and if you've let things get that drastic, you might consider throwing your keys into the river anyway. They service everything from Hummers to Hyundais and even trucks that work at Miami International Airport. Luckily, you don't have to go to all the way to Havana to find crack mechanics.

Next time you're twiddling your thumbs while waiting for one of those $10, automatic drive-thru car washes to finish blasting your ride with suds, consider this: For only $2 more, you could've had your car degreased, depollinated, and scraped for miscellaneous bug residue by hand at the Liberty Gas Station on Coral Way. Cars flood the cramped parking lot on evenings and weekends trying to get under a red-topped tent that simply reads, "Car Wash." It's nearly hidden behind the gas station's small market, which is easy to find. It's the one with the sign boasting fresh-baked bread (large Cuban loaves for less than $1). Inside, you'll discover made-to-order Cuban sandwiches, pan con lechón, and sugary-strong café con leche. Put your thumbs back in your pockets — this is how you kill time waiting for a clean car.

You hear it all the time: Bookstores are dying, hanging on to cultural relevancy by threads more battered than the spine of a well-worn paperback. But what you don't hear about are the avid, enthusiastic readers keeping those stores alive. Guys like Mike McCall of the Paperback-Book X-Change. This charming shop is yellowed and worn, just like a beloved tome. It's been around for more than 35 years, with McCall at the helm for the past 13 years. Friendly and knowledgeable, he's happy to talk to customers who care about the dying art of the bound and printed word. Like all great used-book shops, there's a fantastic element of chance in what you'll walk out with.

"Do you have Neuromancer by William Gibson?" you might ask.

"I don't know," McCall will admit, "but here is Mona Lisa Overdrive. Let's keep looking, the G's continue on that shelf."

You inquire, "Do you have The Great Gatsby?"

"I see that one all the time!" he will exclaim. "It comes in every day or every five days. You never can tell — come back tomorrow!"

Caring customers are the life-blood of the X-Change. All selections are half their original sticker price, and readers who bring in books for trade get an additional 50 percent off when it's time for check out. You never know, he might strike a deal with you just because he likes the cut of your jib.

Admit it: You're addicted to the internet. You grind on the web at work, day in and day out, and as soon as you escape the office, what do you do? You get on your phone and surf on-the-go. Once you walk through the door at home, you sit at that laptop or tablet or PC and get lost for hours down some insane YouTube rabbit hole of babies chasing cats. That being said, what's the only thing that makes the internet better? Great food and a friendly atmos­phere to go with your Wi-Fi. That's exactly what the Daily Creative Food Co. delivers. You can munch some crunchy sandwiches, fresh salads, or original wraps — all named for local neighborhoods and newspapers, most for $6 to $10 — while you attack that World Wide Web. Slurp it down with some soup, soda, or tea. Hell, this place even serves alcohol, because the Daily knows it gets tough out there on the net. But isn't it weird hanging out in a restaurant for hours? No, it's not. The Daily wants you to use its internet access. It advertises the free Wi-Fi on its drinks, for crying out loud! The dining room is spacious and comfortable, and there are plenty of outdoor seats if you need some sunshine with your blogging.

Homer Simpson said it best: "Alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all life's problems." The wisdom of Homer reigns supreme at Sunset Corners Fine Wine and Spirits, where its massive selection of distilled antidepressants is fit to cause or cure any ill. From craft beer to rare spirits, your liquid elixir is here. Bernie and Rosalind Rudnick began solving problems from that particular corner back in 1954. These days, their grandsons Larry and Michael are the men who'll find a poison to suit your particular predicament. Need to impress the boss? An Aberfeldy single-malt will do. Feed a cocktail party? Try some drunken goat cheese from the charcuterie case. Step up from Bud Light? Snag a Dogfish Head 90 Minute. And if you're into education, sidle up to their frequent tastings — wines, beers, and spirits. They'll feed you, drink you, and teach you too. What more could you want from a friendly neighborhood liquor store?

This is Miami. Two-buck Chuck is unheard of, and you'll impress exactly no one with your favorite $10 Publix vino. This is a city that's all about impressions, be it first, second, or 376th. And when it comes to wine, Wine by the Bay's Stefano is happy to supply you with the stuff that will save you the undue embarrassment among friends and colleagues of showing up with a box of bargain-basement wine. With high ceilings, white-washed walls, and concrete floors, the lofty space is more Tribeca than downtown Miami, but the killer view of the American Airlines Arena across the way keeps your perspective straight. Stroll in on any given afternoon and you'll find Stefano and his rolling Italian accent behind the counter while chatting up patrons. Also the man behind Etra Fine Art, he regularly rotates pieces out of the shop, so there's no shortage of aesthetic appeal. Ask for some guidance and he'll show you his (pricey) silver and gold selections, his assortment of imported cheeses and foie gras, and his prosciutto slicer. Snag a top-dollar bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac ($524.95) for your baller marriage proposal, or a more reasonable bottle of Dry Creek Vineyard Fume Blanc ($21.95) for next week's Friendsgiving. Or just pop the cork on a bottle of Balan prosecco ($16.95) in-house and sit a spell while Stefano regales you with tales of his travels.

Cigars are as burrowed into Little Havana's culture as the mangrove roots that dig into Florida Bay. There's no better spot to get deep into the aromatic depths of tobacco worship than Mi Cuba Cigar Lounge. Just a stone's throw from Marlins Park, this Little Havana hideaway is where the locals go for an eclectic choice of cigars at great prices. Anytime, day or night, you can play a game of dominoes or watch baseball on TV while enjoying a delicious stogy. The shop — which also offers beer, wine, and humidor maintenance to keep those 'gars fresh — is the only place in town that offers "cigar restoration" for damaged but cherished vintages. It also proffers some of the most unique blends, including a 1994 Cuba Aliados 3 Gentleman ($300 for three cigars), a 1990 Puros Indios Chief ($85 per stick), and a 1998 Aliados Miami Vintage for $30 per cigar. Or just stop by to breathe it all in — the culture, the smell, the flavor of Little Havana.

Named after Thomas Stone and John Hart, a pair of patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence, this Kendall hangout for firearm enthusiasts is filled with guys and gals who strive to embody the same kind of "resiliency, hard work, honesty, and leadership that these two great individuals demonstrated throughout their lives." Oh, and if it's the second or fourth Thursday night of the month, they'll also be blasting bowling pins with rented handguns ($20 for members, $25 for nonmembers). For amateurs, the fine, friendly folks at Stone Hart's offer "free monthly basic safety courses" as well as affordable $100-to-$149 "safety training, concealed weapon, and precision shooting, women-only, and family courses, among others." For the pros, though, just pack an extra-large shooter's bag, throw on your favorite conceal-carry Bermuda shirt, and go unload on one of Stone Hart's 16 shooting lanes, all for only $13 to $18 an hour. Other notable perks: free Wi-Fi, cable TV, and gourmet coffee.

It carries rare Nike SBs and retro Jordans. It carries a dozen high- and low-top Adidas kicks. It carries a display of Nike Dunks with more colors than a Timothy Leary acid trip. It carries early-release Jordans alongside sneakers from Diamond Supply, Vans, and Obey. It carries flat-brimmed NBA hats. It carries shiny Mitchell & Ness baseball jackets with vintage MLB logos. Foot Soldiers, in other words, carries the aspirations of an evolving downtown Miami. It's a city where people live, not one they abandon at 6 o'clock. It's a city that has art, fashion, good food, and pride. Best of all, Foot Soldiers sells $30 "F--k You From Miami" T-shirts — so you can show yours too.

Sometimes in life, you just need one place where you can buy everything: jeans, dresses, shoes, accessories, swimwear, lingerie. And yes, there are plenty of malls around town that might meet that description, but half the fun of dressing up is bragging about where you got the goods. Saying you scored it all at this boutique in Coral Gables sounds a lot cooler than saying you went shopping at Dadeland Mall. ISA Boutique has you covered both ways. It's got everything you need to stock your wardrobe, and it's a small, locally owned boutique that you can tell your friends you "discovered." Also, the sticker shock isn't overwhelming — items range in price from $40 to $300. The fashion isn't necessarily avant-garde, but ISA carries the basics every Miami woman should have in her closet, with labels like Bec & Bridge, Blank NYC, Ava Sky, and Red Carter. And if you can't make it to the store, ISA delivers to Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, and Pinecrest for only $5 — you know, in case of a fashion emergency.

Living in Miami Beach is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that you are just blocks from white-sand beaches dotted with bikini-clad beauties. A curse in that you must suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fashion sense: Ed Hardy hats festooned with fierce animals, swimwear splashed with beer logos, and an endless wave of neon "I'm in Miami Bitch" T-shirts. It's like an eternal acid trip. But one store has taken arms against this sea of troubling threads. Located around the corner from Slurpee staple Wet Willie's, Basico is an island of style in a South Beach awash with ugliness. The small menswear boutique has been around since 2000 under the name Lina Cantillo but was rechristened by owner Francesco Cianci when he remodeled last summer. Along with a new layout came new lines of clothes, carefully curated by Cianci himself. The Colombian has assembled sleekly cut summer garments in bright colors, such as vibrant Venroy board shorts ($80 to $95), Bogosse dress shirts with paisley print highlights ($189 to $228), and enough sneakers ($100 to $150) to make you salivate. "I like for my clients to have a little bit of fun when they dress up," Cianci says of his selection. Basico's clientele is a mix of tourist walk-ins and devoted locals. "It's like a little secret," Cianci adds. "Most people don't tell anybody about the store because they don't want anybody else wearing the same stuff." Oops.

"I'm gonna pop some tags/Only got $20 in my pocket." Don't worry, it's not just Macklemore who doesn't have time for $800 Louboutins from Nordstrom, though you'd be forgiven to think otherwise in Miami. It's tough to live on the cheap in a city where construction contractors show up to work in Prada sneakers and Gucci belts and where produce sales reps make restaurant visits in Betsey Johnson skirts. Enter the thrift shop, where one man's trash is another man's come-up. Nowhere is that motto more a way of life than at the Recycled Closet, a consignment boutique fit for penny-pinchers who aren't looking to spend $50 for an Armani T-shirt. Like Macklemore: "I call that getting swindled and pimped/I call that getting ticked by a business/That shirt's hella, though." And at the Recycled Closet, in the Apollon Plaza just east of the Falls, you'll probably find the same shirt for $15. The store owner, Jennifer, is always incredibly helpful and welcoming. The clothes are organized by item type and color, so it's easy to get lost (in a good, definitely-gonna-find-a-bargain-today kind of way). You can find a denim shirt and kick it '90s-style for $4, or you can find that Betsey Johnson dress your produce sales rep has for $10. The "Dolla Holla" bins alone make the trip worth it. So head to the Recycled Closet before you ask Grandpa: "Can I have your hand-me-downs?"

Trivia time: Where is one of the largest outdoor shopping malls in the nation? Hint: It's in Dade. Double hint: It's not in South Beach. OK, we don't blame you if you're still floundering for an answer on this one. But if you haven't checked out the Falls lately, you're missing out on a seriously great shopping spot that's open enough to enjoy a South Florida breeze but covered enough to keep that sticky summer heat off your back while you try on some new duds. Chances are, the Falls has spruced up since last time you swung by. Dining options are on the up thanks to a new BJ's Restaurant & Brew­house and a Red Robin, and the upscale stores have been upgrading, with unique retailers like Lovesac, a shop that specializes in luxury beanbags and alternative furniture. With open-air babbling brooks and regular live music on an intimate stage at the center of the mall from November through April, the Falls is a pleasure even for a quiet stroll. Just make sure your walk takes you by the recently opened Fresh Market so you can pick up some hummus and fancy stinky cheese to go with your new Williams-Sonoma grater, iPad, and movie tickets.

Most bridal boutiques won't admit it up front, but when it comes to designer gowns, they're all the same. Sure, one dress shop might carry different samples than another. And yes, if you're enamored of a particular designer, a shop that specializes in those brand-name dresses can help with details like color choice and sizing. But when you've decided on the perfect gown, no matter where you buy it, every bridal shop in America will order it from the same company, often in Europe, so far away that you're just another number instead of an excited bride buying the most expensive, most photographed item of clothing you'll ever own. Unless, that is, you have your wedding dress designed for you and you alone. That's where Lourdes Currie of Couture Bridal Miami comes in. Working out of her Surfside shop, just down the road from the designer fashion haven of Bal Harbour, Currie creates one-of-a-kind wedding dresses according to her clients' desires. Women who've been dreaming of their wedding their whole lives tend to have a very specific dress in mind; Currie makes those dreams a reality. It comes at a price, of course — custom-designed gowns start at $4,000. The shop also carries creations by top bridal designers for $2,000 to $10,000. But this is Miami, a town where locals spend more on quinces than people in other parts of the country spend on their weddings. After all, if you just want a pretty dress, you can go anywhere.

Springtime is party time. Not like booze, teenagers, and kegstands. Think weddings, graduations, and banquets. Though the former might sound like more fun, class and elegance always prevail. And if you want your fancy party to fit that bill, you need color, life, and vibrance. Otherwise, you've got a dull space filled with a bunch of people and a DJ, and you might as well just resort to kegstands after all. Flowers make all the difference. Sure, you could probably order a bunch of roses and stargazers in bulk from 1-800-FLOWERS or some other generic company, but where's the fun in that? Abbott Florist's Romina can help you select lovely arrangements for any affair, and for a reasonable price ($35 to $170). The family-run business has been around for more than 20 years, and one of the best things about the Normandy Isle shop is that it offers an entire section of "Miami Style" arrangements. These bouquets, naturally, are far more colorful and vibrant than a traditional bunch of roses. If you can't stop in, you can find Abbott's tent at the Normandy Farmers' Market every Saturday morning. So when you plan your next event, don't forget the flowers. Watered-down drinks and a lame song mix can put a damper on any party, but if guests can take home gorgeous centerpieces, well, it was all worth it in the end.

Robert often frequents Scrub-a-Dub Coin Laundry empty-handed — not looking for a wash or a dry, but simply some conversation. A few nights a week, he approaches one of the 30 stainless-steel washing machines stacked in threes along the right wall and chats with a new patron in (sometimes slurred) Spanish. While an occupied look will turn him away, Scrub-a-Dub's friendly customers engage the wandering personality as they pile whites, colors, and darks into Big ($4.75), Medium ($3.50), or Economy ($2.50) loads. Part-owner Zafar, a longtime Miami resident from Delhi, India, enjoys the company. He sits behind the counter, listing prices for the laundromat's wash and fold service (95 cents per pound), smiling as Robert advises even the regulars to choose any dryer they'd like. After all, 20 rumbling machines line the side of Scrub-a-Dub and will dry your pants and panties at a rate of 25 cents per seven minutes, just long enough to check your email on the joint's free Wi-Fi or grab a bite from Little Caesars next door. With a cortadito from Zafar, a smile from Robert, and about a half-hour of your time, Scrub-a-Dub will leave you feeling accomplished, content, and, of course, squeaky-clean.

Daenerys Targaryen and Ser Jorah Mormont, characters from HBO's Game of Thrones, stand beside their ship, washed up on the shores of South Beach.

— What strange shores are these, Ser Jorah?

— Khaleesi, we appear to have arrived in the exotic city of Miami. Our ship must have made a wrong turn en route to Westeros.

— Ser Jorah, this is unwelcome news. My dragons grow stronger every day. My men are eager to fight. I must return to King's Landing and claim the Iron Throne.

— I know, my queen. But right now, there is nothing to be done. I suggest we stay the night. This Miami place is not so bad. Its weather is almost unbearably warm, so your desert-dwelling Khalasar will feel at home. Your dragons can feast on its pythons and feral cats. And you, Khaleesi, you should pay a visit to Sir Galloway.

— Ser Galloway? Who is this man? A cruel king? An evil soothsayer? Another pretender to my throne?

— No, Khaleesi. It's Sir, not Ser, Galloway Cleaners, a gang of local tradesmen who can— um ­— make your queen's attire seem all the more, uh, royal.

— How dare you address your queen this way, Ser Jorah! I am the Mother of Dragons. It matters not what I am wearing.

— That is true, Khaleesi. I only meant that, well, we've come such a long way from the Dothraki plains, and you carry only a limited wardrobe.

— Perhaps what you say is true. I have not laundered my royal attire since I housetrained the dragons. And some of my Dothraki have still not gotten over their seasickness. The bile they leave on the decks of the ship has been impossible to avoid.

— If I may speak plainly, my queen, you're a bloody-ripe mess. And I have heard the locals here speak of Sir Galloway with awe and admiration. They say it is the best dry cleaner in all the land, caring for delicate silks and garments such as yours with expert care. Sir Galloway will remove the dragon pee from your dresses, shine your shoes, and even clean your royal knapsack and any other handbags or accessories as you see fit. They are members of the environmentally friendly Green Cleaners Council, so the work they do for you will have little negative impact on the locals here. And they even have a wash-and-fold-by-the-pound service, should you see fit to treat your army to fresh garments.

— A fine idea, Ser Jorah. But can they do it in time?

— If they're late in returning your precious attire, we shall pay them not a single silver coin. And the kind Sir will freely pick up and deliver almost anywhere in Miami, from Bal Harbour in the north to Cutler Bay in the south. They will not likely desire to deliver to you in Westeros, of course, but I believe your dragons can convince them.

— Very good, Ser Jorah. Send a pigeon to summon Sir Galloway immediately.

(A loud, throbbing sound erupts from a nearby building.)

— But wait! Ser Jorah, what is that menacing sound?

— That is EDM, Khaleesi. Come, let me show you the customs of this strange place.

There's a scene in Disney's The Little Mermaid in which Ariel shows off her collection of artifacts from the world above the waves. She's got gadgets and gizmos aplenty: candlesticks, mirrors, a fork she naively uses to comb her hair. In Miami, there's a place just like that. Better yet, you won't need a snorkel to get there. Memoires antique store in MiMo is home to the most eclectic collection of thingamabobs in town. You've got your traditional antique fare: jewelry, glassware, vintage signs. You have your more unique items: bell jars, soaps (not antiques, but still nice-smelling), musical instruments. And you have some pretty freaky stuff too, like jars full of doll's heads. But these aren't just random finds. Memoires' collection is expertly curated for both style and condition — if there's a dent in the silver platter you're holding, it's because the design of the piece is extraordinarily elegant and possibly rare. Walking through the tightly packed space and examining its treasures isn't just shopping; it's almost like being in a museum, except you can touch just about everything. Just don't use that silver fork to comb your hair. That might be too eclectic even for Memoires.

The bad news: Our economy still sucks and almost everyone is on the edge of some kinda personal economic collapse. The good news: That's why the pawnshop biz is booming, especially in the Sunshine State! So when the bank finally takes your house, the car bursts into flames, and your boss says it's time to clean out your godforsaken cubicle, you will have plenty of local options for hocking all those family heirlooms, priceless keepsakes, and other prized possessions. But it'd be a bad idea to rush off to just anywhere for a lil' loan, cash, or barter action. Be safe and stick with an old standby like Cutler Bay's finest buy-sell-and-trade spot, Cash Dome, AKA "South Florida's Largest Pawn Shop." It's family-owned, and they'll treat you right no matter what you're trading in for cash.

In the market for a used Shake Weight? A knockoff Prada bag? A Katy Perry-inspired wig? A 1950s-era pin-up calendar? Amid the more than 800 vendors inside the sprawling Opa-locka/Hialeah Flea Market, you'll find whatever you could possibly be looking for. Parking is free (or $1 on the weekends) outside what looks like a golden-domed sultan's palace, and inside, you'll find a veritable labyrinth of stalls lined with used athletic equipment, car stereos, discontinued beauty products, polyester prom dresses, household appliances, tropical flowers, disposable cell phones, and anything else you could possibly imagine in your wildest Hoarders dreams. Try the Mini Dollar stand, where everything from Betty Boop shorts to '80s leotards costs 99 cents, or go classier at Junior Jewelry, where you can get gold, silver, and diamonds on the cheap. Bring your bargaining skills. And cash. The market is open 365 days a year, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., so if you need a neon-haired troll doll, fake fruit bowl, or satin athletic jacket at 8 a.m. Christmas Day, you know where to go.

Tucked into a lot on the perennially colorful Calle Ocho and guarded by a gang of plywood ghouls that range from an uncomfortable-looking Dracula to a dead-eyed, gigantic-handed Frankenstein's monster, La Casa de los Trucos is the Mecca of Miami costume shops. But let's not call it a shop, because it's in a category all its own. This is an emporium de disfrazes — that's disguises, for those of you who haven't spent quite enough time en la saguesera. The moment you walk through the door, you realize there seem to be more strange, intrinsically fascinating props, masks, severed limbs, outfits, and other trucos than space in the store. This place flouts the laws of physics, like someone packed Dr. Who's Tardis full of Halloween paraphernalia. Seriously, everything is here. Need fake parking tickets? Those start at $1.99. A rubber reticulated King cobra for those extra-special romantic evenings? Just $3.99 to $24.99, if you please. A perfectly constructed replica of a Beretta 9mm for... whatever? A cool $259 and it's all yours. There's a reason why La Casa de los Trucos has been catering to Miami's trickery needs for the past 40 years: Nobody does weird so well.

True art blossoms in the unlikeliest spots. Warhol found it in dilapidated New York warehouses. Banksy made it happen on teetering brick walls in Bristol tenements. So don't be surprised to see Dade's budding painters tucked into a drab strip mall on the southern reaches of U.S. 1. Inside Art Atelier, the walls are covered with the colorful creations of dozens of amateurs and blossoming professionals, mostly working in oil and acrylic paints. The shop (which has another location on South Dixie Highway in Pinecrest) holds adult workshops in the mornings and children's classes in the afternoons. Every Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m., $60 gets you into an adult happy hour, with wine and snacks to go with professional instruction. The teachers are all pros, but they're laid-back and ready to help you refine your technique whether you're a color-splattering newbie or an expert scraper working on your blue-period masterpiece.

In the heart of Westchester, tucked between the Tiki Dog Salon and an optical store in a shopping center on Galloway Road, groups of extraordinary beings come together to share their stories of good versus evil. You'll find Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Teen Titans, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men, the Avengers, and hundreds of your favorite superheroes inside the bins of Mac's Comics & Collectibles. This comic book mecca was established in 1988 by the late collectibles guru Frank Goetz. In 2006, Goetz sold his shop to a former customer, Mike McEwen, who's combined old-school brick-and-mortar retail with 21st-century social-media marketing to create a topnotch online and traditional comic book shop. Customers visiting the store for the first time receive a free comic book from the discount bins by mentioning Mac's Facebook page, where McEwen posts daily and weekly images of new issues from DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and all the niche publishers out there. Every week, Mac's holds an online contest that rewards each winner with a $25 discount on all comic books in the back-issue bins. Even better, McEwen lets his clients fill out online pull lists that allow them to hold new issues for up to seven days and get 25 percent off. On top of all that, every first Saturday of the month, Mac's Comics pays homage to FCBD (Free Comic Book Day) by giving customers one free book from the discount bins just for stopping by. Caped crusaders, it's worth the short flight to Westchester for this superhuman experience.

Pink, yellow, red, green, blue, and purple. All the colors of a gorgeous day at the beach line the walls and floor of this adorable boutique, nestled in the heart of Coral Gables' Miracle Mile shopping district. The suits have charm and character, and they come in all kinds of styles and sizes, because not all beach bodies are made alike. Curves n' Waves is fully stocked in all beach accessories: hats, sandals, tunics, wraps, and more. And hey, this is Miami — you're probably gonna hit the streets once the sun sets. Check the opposite wall to find the right look for your club-ready nightlife, because the shop has all of that too. It's a boutique, and it does have boutique prices. Most suits go for about $120 to $150, but they're not quite like any suits you'll find anywhere else. After all, the beaches here are beautiful, and you should be too.

Kowabunga, dudes and dudettes! There's finally a spot on the beach where you can rent surfboards and paddleboards, and learn how to ride them with some of the coolest surfers in the Magic City. Owned by Miami Beach surf rats Mark Gamez and Christian De La Iglesia, F1RST Surf Shop has been holding it down since 2008 at South Pointe Park, the premier location to catch Miami's sporadic swells. Instead of a run-of-the-mill surf shop where you'll have to spend close to $1,000 for a board, wetsuit, and all the accessories that come with catching waves, these two bros specialize in rentals of surfboards, skimboards, and paddleboards by the hour. They also offer lessons. Prices for rentals range from $30 to $100, while lessons cost between $75 and $99 (although the price drops for group lessons). If you've got your own board, F1RST offers year-round dry-dock storage inside the store and a private secured cage with 24-hour surveillance inside the Continuum condo tower. Even better, its waterfront location is just 50 feet from the white sands of South Beach. F1RST also carries an inventory of boards and accessories for sale. Find your board shorts and practice that Keanu snarl: Surf's up!

Living in Miami and not taking advantage of the ocean is like living in Vegas and refusing to gamble, residing in Phoenix and forgoing Mexican food, or being lactose intolerant in Wisconsin: It just ain't right. That's why Underwater Unlimited has been prepping local divers for aquatic adventures since Charlie Matthews opened it in 1964, and it's still going strong with more than 24,000 certifications. Charlie Jr. now runs the shop with his beyond-friendly team, whose service technicians and dive instructors go above and beyond. Sign up for their training and you'll get to know the staff — they're not simply going to hand over a certificate. Just ask the University of Miami Scuba Club, which uses UU for its members' certification. Tuition for Open Water Certification starts at $150, with personal, private, or concierge classes from $300 to $500 and affordable specialty courses for continuing education as low as $55 per class. Drop by the dive shop for discount equipment packages and service specials, and once you're certified and geared up, test your newly acquired skills on one of the shop's many dive trips, which go anywhere from West Palm Beach to Key West to Crystal River for dives alongside hundreds of manatees. Don't you want to see those sea cows up close? Get that certification already.

For true cyclists, there's nothing better than that glimmering open stretch of road on a sunny day. But this comes close: a topnotch bicycle shop that refills tires free of charge with absolutely no fuss from the shop mechanic. That's exactly what die-hard mountain and road cyclists know they can always rely on at the RB Cycles locations in Doral and Coconut Grove. The staff eagerly helps pedal fiends keep their legs cranking with efficient repair service and an inventory from a wide array of bicycle parts and accessories manufacturers. "Our goal is to make sure everyone rides off happy," says Doral manager Ricardo Garcia. When you're ready to upgrade that heavy old Schwinn from Kmart to a sleek 16-speed performance bicycle, RB is your source. In addition to the brick-and-mortar store, RB Cycles has a robust website that shows the wide variety of makes and models in the store, from a $900 Felt bicycle perfect for cruising around Wynwood with the hipster crowd, to an $11,550 Trek Madone for pursuing your Tour de France dreams.

William Arias is a humble urban bike shop owner whose experience includes cycling the French Alps, the steep inclines of his native Colombia, and parts unknown in Mexico. And his shop, Willie's Bicycles, whose motto is "Ride in, ride out faster," delivers without fail. Whether it's a simple flat tire repair ($12 for the tire and labor), a complex overhaul on your fixie, or a fresh built-custom bike, Arias tells you how much it will cost before he starts work. Need a paint job, a tuneup, or some tricked-out accessories? Arias is your man. And he makes radical custom road and city bikes using your specs and his skills. He also imports his own carbon rims and builds each wheel set to order. In fact, he has his own line of Team Willie's Pros that will have you flying on the roadways like a speeding cannonball. As the official wrench of Miami Bike Polo, he's a hero to the local bike scene and a damn good mechanic who enjoys talking shop. He also offers rentals, sales on new and used bikes, and pick-up and drop-off service.

The words "Miami traffic" generally elicit a posttraumatic stress reaction: chills, flashbacks, spontaneous honking. But have you ever rolled down Washington Avenue at 7 a.m. on a Sunday or taken an early-morning cruise on Collins Avenue between 65th Street and Arthur Godfrey Road? Truth is, if you pick your spots, Miami is one of the most scenic places on Earth to enjoy a ride — and there's no better way to soak it all in than from the seat of a stylish Vespa with the wind whistling through your hair and the sun on your neck. Enter Roam Rides. This online-only scooter depot organizes some of the most interesting guided tours, including a trip amid Wynwood's street art, a gallery crawl through Miami Beach and Wynwood, and a South Beach architecture tour ($75 plus scooter rental). Imagine it as a day in the life of the big biker gangs, cruising together on the highways while wearing rugged leather jackets and American-flag bandannas. Except beach attire, flip-flops, a sunburn, and a Panama hat would be more appropriate for this riding tour. By the time it's all said and done, the words "Miami traffic" might bring a smile to your face.

Here's what you have to know about Capt. Carl Starling: He's one of the few people to survive a bull shark attack, he's appeared in a movie alongside Frank Sinatra, he sparred with Muhammad Ali at the legendary 5th Street Gym, and he fought in 24 professional boxing matches (winning many by KO). The seventh-generation Bahamian is what islanders call a real Conky Joe, and he knows Biscayne Bay and the Caribbean like the back of his salty hand. He's also a certified dive master, can hold his breath for more than three minutes, and spear-hunts with a Hawaiian sling (so the fish have half a chance against him). So if you want to go fishing, lobstering, snorkeling, cruising to Stiltsville at sunset, or on any other adventure involving a boat, Captain Carl will get you there and back in one safe piece, probably with a trophy and hours of stories we don't have room to retell here.

Need a pimped-out ride to the airport? Maybe a 40-person party bus for a 96-hour spree on South Beach? How about a hot-pink stretch Chrysler 300 for your last night as a bad-bitch bachelorette? An orange Hummer limousine with tiger stripes? A Ford Excursion superstretch with a champagne chest and mirrored moon roof? No sweat. Just snatch a few C-notes from the transportation fund (not too many, though — prices vary depending upon the size of the ride and the number of hours you need it, but many can be yours for less than $1,000 for the night, tip included). Holler at Miami Limo. And take your pick from SoFla's most extensive candy-colored, animal-printed fleet of vans, shuttles, motor coaches, charter buses, and sports utility vehicles.

It's 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Painfully hung-over, you reek of tequila shots and stale cigarettes. But you vowed to start working out, dammit, so you roll out of bed, slide into your gym clothes, and power through the drive to Sanctuary 7. In the spin room, mirrors surround you, much to your chagrin. Thankfully, dim lighting means no one can see you're still wearing last night's makeup. Instructor Shawn sits atop a platform, surveying the room. There's nowhere to hide. As the class kicks off, "I'm Sexy and I Know It" reverberates through your haggard frame. You're feeling anything but sexy. He spots your half-assed sprints and cracks a goofy joke at your expense. Everyone laughs, including you. Cheeks burning, you step it up. Sprint, jump, climb, repeat. And before you know it, you're burning off that 3 a.m. Taco Bell shame. Fifty minutes later, "last song" are the two sweetest words you've ever heard. But strangely — with your brow soaked in alcohol-infused sweat, your quads burning, and your tongue desperately dehydrated — you're almost sad to see class end. The endorphins have kicked in, and life is feeling a little rosier. Hangover banished, you've earned yourself a bloody mary — or two.

Tanning is about nothing more than personal aesthetics, so it's not asking too much for tanning salons to step up their interior design schemes. Walking into some strip-mall joint with fake palm trees and yellowed linoleum floors gives you the eerie vibe that their machines will make you come out looking as leathery and tragic as that tabloid monster "Tan Mom." By contrast, the sleek, minimalist interior of Solar Intoxication makes you feel like a high-end swimsuit model even before you get sun-kissed like one. The tanning beds here are all new and state-of-the-art. One even employs sensors to control the amount of UV light so you avoid getting too crisp. And you won't have to pay Kate Upton prices, either: Single sessions start at $15, with a weeklong pass for $27 or a monthly tanning ticket for $75. Looks are everything when it comes to tanning, so make sure you go to a place that values both yours and its own.

In this world, and especially in luxury-obsessed Miami, there are two kinds of people: spa people and Spa People. Normal, everyday spa people like a massage from time to time, as long as it's not too expensive. Maybe they get a gift certificate from their children for their birthday every year. Maybe they work with a guy who freelances as a masseuse on the cheap to make extra cash. But fancy-shmancy smells and scrubs and techniques? Don't know, don't care. Spa People are a different beast entirely. They want the best. They're willing to pay a lot of money for it too. And places like the Spa at Mandarin Oriental were created for Spa People. Spa People don't want just a massage. They want hours if not full days of scrubs, facials, baths, wraps, manicures, and pedicures. They want lotions with scents designed to invigorate or calm; they want balms that promise to turn back the clock on their skin. They want treatments created by celebrity spa professionals, such as Brazilian doctor Ivo Pitanguy, whose products are used in the Mandarin Oriental's Opulent Rejuvenescence facial ($400). They want these things to be described not as mere treatments, but as "rituals," or, more intensely, "journeys." Spa People don't want just a massage table. They want their own private haven. They want the Mandarin Oriental's VIP suites with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at Biscayne Bay and amenities like private showers, sunken bathtubs, and Asian décor. (They're going to spend a lot of time in their spa suite, after all.) Spa People don't want just a gym. They want a fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art machinery. They want personal trainers at their beck and call, telling them exactly how best to work out according to their unique makeup of body fat. They want to complement their spa "journeys" with yoga and meditation and even something a little quirky, like belly dancing. If you're a regular spa person, go to a regular spa. If you're a Spa Person on a Spa Person budget, go to the Mandarin Oriental.

For many guys, special occasions are like rigorously trained ninja assassins. They creep up on you, silent and deadly, until — bam! — it's Valentine's Day or your anniversary or your mother-in-law's birthday and you're completely, devastatingly unprepared. There is hope. It's Esthetique, and one call can set up the pampering massage that will save your relationship. You can choose among traditional Swedish, craniosacral, prenatal, reflexology and relaxation, deep-tissue, or hot-stone massage therapy. Want to win more brownie points? Esthetique offers whole-body vibration treatments. Used by NASA, Stanford University, and professional sports teams, whole-body vibration makes muscles expand and contract continually, which pumps extra oxygen into the cells. The idea is that all of that extra O2 relaxes and stimulates the body while healing and growing muscles. Bunk or not, it sure feels great. Your bank account won't need much massaging here either. Weekly specials mean that a half-hour Swedish massage, which usually runs $85, can be yours for $39.95. That fancy vibration session gets knocked down to $99 from nearly $300. Esthetique also offers monthly membership deals from $50 to $150 that include massages, facials, an oxygen bar, manicures, and pedicures.

Between digital cameras and the smartphone that even your mom started carrying around to post cat photos on Instagram, it's easy to assume old-school, film-based photography is a dead art. But there are some things even a high-end digital SLR can't give you — like the almost paradoxical stress and serenity of a dark room, the ingenuity that comes with limitations, or simply the fact that losing a roll of film isn't nearly as distressing as misplacing a 2GB memory card. Film will always be here, in one form or another, but finding proper equipment is getting harder and harder. Thankfully, a trip to Pitman Photo Supply, a family-owned and -operated business in Miami since 1928, can provide you with just about anything you need. They carry Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras, lenses, and accessories; a wide variety of solutions from LowePro, Tamrac, Werner Hollingsworth, Kata, Gura Gear, and others; and tripods from Manfrotto, Gitzo, Sirui, Giottos, and more. The 12,000-square-foot facility also offers darkroom supplies, frames, and photo albums. And don't worry — if you have some digital work to develop, there's a state-of-the-art photo lab capable of prints up to 24 by 36 inches. Just leave the cat-Instagram'ing to your mom.

You already brew your own beer in the garage, grow your herbs on the windowsill, and knit your own scarves. But how do you take your urban craftsmanship routine to the next level? How about making your own gold, silver, and brass jewelry to give your accessories that DIY flair? Thanks to Jewelry Creations Workshop, you don't need a degree in metalworking or access to a medieval forge to make it happen. Instead, head to an unassuming white single-story building a couple of blocks from Arch Creek Memorial Park in North Miami. Inside, the workshop offers intimate classes that teach everything from the basics to advanced techniques in metal fabrication using any kind of metal you'd like, plus techniques such as fabrication, enameling, fold forming, and wax carving. Steven Brownlee, a professional jeweler since 1999 and a graduate of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, started the workshop five years ago. "I love what I do, and I'm eager to share my passion and knowledge," Brownlee says. Options range from one-day classes to four-day sessions at varying prices.

He is the self-anointed "Real King of Bling." And for the past several decades, AJ the Jeweler (born Anthony John Machado) has spent his early mornings, late days, and even later nights peddling the iciest custom pieces to South Florida's most recklessly flossy ballers, rappers, and miscellaneous millionaires. Now boasting a clientele of more than 300 athletes, entertainers, and public figures, he and his heir, Josh the Jeweler, continue to strive to maintain the top spot in the jewelry game. So on the regular, they wake at dawn, cruise out to their Cutler Bay stash house, load up a backpack with $2 million in merchandise, climb into a black Escalade driven by an armed bodyguard, and then zigzag all over the 305, 786, 754, 954, and 561 for meets with top-flight buyers such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Floyd "Money" Mayweather, and clients on all 32 NFL teams. That's called a delivery day. And whether the next client needs a black-and-canary-diamond Dom Pérignon bottle pendant, a five-figure Rolex with a face to match its owner, or an iced-out $250,000 platinum necklace for grandmama's b-day, these hard-hustlin' jewelers gotcha. Because, as father and son shrug, "C'mon, we're AJ and Josh the Jewelers!"

Nasir Kassamali, who cofounded Luminaire Lab with his wife, Nargis, has always envisioned his business more as a church for the worship and learning of design rather than merely a furniture store. Unfortunately, there's no "Best Design Church" category here, so "Best Furniture Store" will have to do. Then again, don't be surprised if you begin feeling a bit religious and fall to your knees in worship of modern design if you do enter the space. Luminaire is simply the best source in Florida for contemporary and cutting-edge design sourced from all over the globe. Even if you can't quite afford that sleek Zanotta desk or that wispy "Leaf Chair" from Lievore Altherr Molina, the store and its sister shop in Coral Gables carry several other practical design items that may well be within your budget. If you walk away empty-handed, consider the visit a pilgrimage to the design gods.

They say the eyeballs are the windows to the soul. So when your windows get grimy and bug-splattered on the highway of life, get 'em cleaned by Dr. Bruce Clarin or Dr. Adam Clarin. The father-and-son team is more efficient than a NASCAR pit crew. Doc Bruce began his career at the renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and then opened a private practice in Palmetto Bay in 1981. His son, Doc Adam, graduated with honors from Nova Southeastern University and was even in an optometric honor society. They both volunteer with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to teach kids about eye care. Ay, que lindo. Their office is bright and clean, and a routine eye exam is affordable ($75 with no insurance). Plus, the friendly front-of-house ladies are a pleasure. Together, the team is an optometric force to be reckoned with. So don't let bad eyesight hinder your great vision. Clarin's friendly staff and walls full of fine spectacles will get you seeing fine in no time.

It's late, you just finished an eight-hour work shift, and the last thing you want to do is stand in line at the pharmacy, where the aura of sickness and the smell of pharmaceuticals smack you right in the face. Don't worry. Coconut Grove Pharmacy will make sure you never leave feeling worse than you did when you came in. Owned by Adriana Vergara and husband James Lyons, the managing pharmacist, it's a legitimate mom-and-pop shop in a city where the Walgreens-CVS turf war seems to have overtaken every street corner. The first thing you'll notice is the atmosphere: Seasonal decorations, calming scents, and perfect product displays fill the walls. Next, you'll see the benefit of Lyons' 35 years of experience and specialty in compounding medications. With most drugs mass-produced nowadays, his custom, state-of-the-art lab — specializing in dermatological, pediatric, hormone replacement therapy, and veterinary medicines — is a unique draw. To top it off, Coconut Grove Pharmacy carries a wide range of homeopathic and organic products, as well as top-of-the-line skin-care products. They even do same-day delivery for a flat rate of $3.50 in the surrounding area (there's an extra $1 per mile surcharge if not).

Hello, humans. Princess Penelope here. I'm a 6-year-young rescue dog with a winning personality and a charming bark. My puppy-dog eyes could melt even the iciest of human hearts. Mama says I'm her wittle baby — and I'm the envy of all the neighborhood canines. Naturally, Mommy's sweetheart gets only the best: home-cooked chow, bedtime stories, rhinestone-studded collars. And when my madre leaves town, I need the highest maintenance money can buy. Luckily, she puts me up at Wynwood's hippest resort, D.O.G., where the happy, gentle staff waits on me hand and foot. My days are chock full of acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, treadmill workouts, playtime with other pups, and gourmet treats. At night, I sleep on a silk pillow with my favorite stuffed bunny by my side. And I get Skype dates with my mom every afternoon. I take classes, too, for personal enrichment. Soon I'll be a certified therapy dog. Prices range from $18 for a half-day to $30 for a full day, and $180 will get me a week of posh digs so you'll still have plenty of cash to buy me bacon when you get home. Honestly, at D.O.G. I get better treatment than Paris Hilton's pretentious little Chihuahua does on a daily basis. Eat your heart out, Tinkerbell.

Let's get something straight right this second: Your dog is not a toy — not even if it's a toy breed. Rover doesn't need a spiked collar to show how tough he is. Princess can walk on her own four legs and doesn't need to be carried in your purse, thank you very much. And unless it's Halloween or really cold outside, no dog needs to wear clothing. Ever. Certainly not tutus, tiaras, or other ridiculous accouterments normally reserved for toddler pageant queens. Your job as dog owner is simple: Provide for the health of your dog. And sometimes it's not easy. Pups these days have all sorts of issues, such as allergies and special dietary needs, just like their human providers. And like humans, they're also subject to greedy food corporations packing their cheap-o product with filler instead of nutritious ingredients. Both can leave your pet feeling ill — and leave owners with the unenviable task of cleaning up after Fido gets sick on the rug again. Happily, Miami dog owners can turn to Animal Crackers for their food-based needs. The store carries many brands and types of dog food that you just can't find at PetSmart, including specialty items for pups with allergies or sensitivities to commonly used ingredients. Think brands such as Fromm, Canidae, Weruva, and Nature's Variety, rather than your typical Iams. Animal Crackers' delivery service will have your pet's food on your doorstep within 24 hours if it's in stock; if what you're looking for isn't in the store, they'll do their best to order it for you specially. The store also carries treats, vitamins and supplements, and accessories you and your pet actually need, like balls for retrieving, odor-eliminating cleaning solutions for "accidents," and chew toys that'll save your shoes. And the staff is so friendly that if you did show up with your dog in a dress, they'd refrain from mocking you until you left the store. Frankly, that's better than you'd deserve.

This Killian Senior High graduate is so famous in the canine community that pooches from Country Walk to the Hammocks ask for him by name. Serving West Kendall since 1986, Dr. Jeffrey L. Davidson practices by the motto "A lifetime of care for the life of your pet." And he's helped generations of cats, dogs, fish, lizards, goats, and even monkeys live long and prosper. Davidson, who earned his veterinary degree in Gainesville, also has an ardent fan club of pet parents who appreciate his candor and commitment to their precious furry friends. His staff offers everything from six-month exams to checkups tailored to older pets, dental work, parasite protection, and microchipping. Whether Fluffy has a broken leg or Polly the parrot caught a cough on the high seas, Dr. D has you covered.

Lingerie is the weapon of choice for seduction. It's time to make sure you're well armed. Thankfully, Miami has the killer lacy armory to stock up for any sexual battle for attention. Eberjey Intimates is Dade's ultimate stop for lingerie, loungewear, and swimwear. Founders Ali Mejia and Mariela Rovito, who recognize what makes a gal feel fierce in her undies, have curated a staggering collection of fashion cuts that have been featured in the wardrobes of femme fatales such as Liv Tyler, Cameron Diaz, and Keira Knightley. There's everything from an eco-friendly green line to couture swimwear, but the real draw are the bras, panties, and teddies. There's also a valet and convenient storefront parking, making for a quick getaway if you're in a hurry to, uh, nail your target, so to speak.

Walk into Miami's Vice. No, really, walk on in. Because you won't find any hard-core scenes on a flat-screen TV or even a table full of dildos waiting for you up front, but a wall of tasteful, film-noir pinups separating customers from the merch. That's exactly the kind of discreet touch that sets Miami's Vice apart from its competitors. This adult store carries the crème de la crème of pornography. First, this kink is green, thanks to solar-powered panels on the building. The friendly, uniformed staff members have extensive knowledge of what they carry, and the whole place is clean, with no creepy viewing booths or glory holes. There are leather recliners in case you get exhausted from checking out the ridiculously well-stocked boutique. The clothing wall has a large assortment of lingerie, frilly things, and corsets of all colors; a moderately sized selection of shoes; and a section of men's underwear. There's a fetish room and multiple walls arranged by categories such as bachelorette, candy, body wands, incense, vibrators, and tons of other unmentionables. There's also a DVD room, with a larger selection than most adult stores, arranged by category with decently priced films and discount rates. If you're more into touching than watching, Miami's Vice carries high-end toys — you know, the kind that usually sell for upward of $200 and don't even come with batteries? They're on sale here. There's even a free gift-wrapping station so customers can bundle their sexy goodies. Don't miss Wednesdays, when ladies receive 20 percent off everything in the store. If all of that isn't enough to draw you into this sex shop, it's one of the few in Miami that carry edible condoms. Feeling dirty never felt so classy.

Sure, Chris Nuñez, of Miami Ink and Ink Master fame, is the man behind HandCrafted Tattoo and Art Gallery. But that's only one reason why this place should be your new favorite spot to get tatted up. The place hardly feels like a tattoo shop. You won't find drunken spring breakers here asking for a butterfly tramp stamp. If it feels more like an art gallery, that's because it is. Pieces adorn the walls, both in the front as well as in a much larger, white-walled gallery space in the back. The shop's best design detail is an anchor embedded right into the lobby floor. Of course, there's also a tattooing area where everything looks spotless — clinically so. And in addition to Nuñez, other ink specialists are Jamie Ryscik and Twig Sparks, as well as artists from all across the globe who sometimes pop in for a visit. (Nuñez's notoriety comes in handy like that.) Plus, despite Nuñez's fame, you won't find TV cameras here following anyone around. This is a sanctuary for both art and tattoos, and that's a glorious place to be.

For some, getting a body piercing is a rite of passage. For others, it's a declaration of independence and individuality. And for the rest of us, it's just effing cool. Whether you want an additional hole in your ear or nose, the mom-taunting tongue stud, or something more intimate, Tattoos by Lou is the place to get it done. Piercings are performed in individual rooms for utmost privacy, and prices are beyond reasonable. Want a hole above the belt? It's $50, depending on the jewelry. Below the belt? Around $100. So next time you're in the mood to do something to shake things up, head to Lou's and get some new holes.

In Miami, our spirits need regular cleansing the way car windows need a good scrubbing every winter in the Midwest. Down here, it's not dirty snow mucking up the windshield; it's our sin-soaked beaches of bare flesh and shady people polluting our souls. So think of Five Sisters as the drive-thru car wash for your spiritual well-being. With eight spiritual healers on call to give you insight and clarity, Five Sisters isn't the kind of dingy storefront that comes to mind when you hear the word psychic. Inside a strip mall a few blocks off South Dixie Highway in East Kendall, the comfortable shop offers services from astrologers, mediums, and tarot card readers, as well as consciousness channeling, lightwave therapy, and everything in between. Prices range from $30 to $55 per half-hour to $90 an hour depending upon the service. In addition to the daily offerings, Five Sisters also hosts a plethora of semiregular events such as past-life regression sessions, ascension therapy, and chakra replenishing. There are even weekly yoga classes for only $10, so you can clear your mind, spirit, and body.

It's about time you got right with the gods, papa. Calamities are no laughing matter, and it seems like tu suerte is just getting worse. You require help from on high, and you'll need to be properly equipped if you want to get in touch with Changó, Obatala, and the rest of the pantheon of orishas whose help you so desperately seek. Open for 25 years, Almacen de Botanica Monzon Bros. II looks more like a warehouse of Yoruba goods than a simple shop. The immense store carries everything from santeros' scimitars and horse-hair fly-whisks ($45 each) to six-foot-tall Indian chiefs ($850) and faux human skulls ($25) to keep the spirits in check. And if you want to make elekes (bead collars) to keep the orishas in your corner and around your neck, you'll have no trouble, because Monzon Bros. II appears to have every size, shape, and color bead conceivably necessary to wrap yourself in good vibras. Better hurry up — El Viejo San Lazaro is always waiting at the door, and somehow he looks like he's expecting you.

Luca Castaldo easily commands a room. The Italian hairstylist has been a staple in Miami since 2005, when he began working at Contesta Rock Hair, an Italian salon chain with an outpost on Española Way. Even in a small salon full of big personalities, he still stole the show with a loyal clientele who would wait for hours, if needed, until his chair opened up. So it only makes sense that Luca would take that magnetic persona and go into business for himself. In 2012, he opened Bleach Hair Addiction in the Shops at Midtown. Unlike his last perch on Española Way, parking here isn't a problem for Castaldo's loyal customers. We've all encountered our fair share of snooty salon employees, but you won't find them at Bleach, where the staff is friendly and ready to offer complimentary wine, beer, or water. This isn't Supercuts, so expect to pay a price for a quality cut, starting at $40 for men and $50 for women. Prices jump from there, but rest assured the cost is worth it. Don't trust just anybody with your hair. Trust Luca.

(Sung to the tune of "Valleri" by the Monkees.)

There's a girl I know who makes me look so good.

And I wouldn't live without her, even if I could.

Just call on Valerie (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays).

You'll love that Valerie.

[Instrumental, during which you whip your newly perfected hair back and forth.]

She'll color, cut, condition you with treatments galore.

She'll have you looking better than you ever did before.

Just call up Valerie (and make an appointment)!

You'll love that Valerie.

Peter of London's Kendall location is a fabulous full-service salon (including nails, facials, and waxing) in its own right, but one of its real treasures is hairstylist Valerie Paquet. Her warmth, smile, and devotion to great work make you feel like you and she are a dynamic duo with the common goal of making your hair your crowning glory. She's also not one to shy away from a challenge: Along with having a grip on the latest trends, she's also been known to experiment with cosplay-grade hairpieces that can go from convention to club outing. Whether you're looking to straighten, color, cut, or sculpt your coif, you'll be singing Paquet's praises when she's done.

There are a few problems that can ruin even the most swag confidence. Deodorant all over your shirt. Coffee spilled on your pants. And — shudder — raggedy nails. Don't let your digits deteriorate, ladies. Head to Nail Time for a quick, affordable manicure. Whether you're in the market for a subtle French job or psychedelic patterned talons, Nail Time's artisan technicians will have your hands looking flossy for your sister's wedding, the hubby's annual company fundraiser, or Junior's little-league soccer championship game. Manicures start at just $12, and you can get your hands and feet done for $30 ($35 for hubby). Add five bucks if you'd like a French mani, and while you're at it, spend an extra $10 to get your eyebrows waxed. You can schedule an appointment, but Nail Time accepts walk-ins and will have you out within 30 minutes.

Hey, pal: Between that hornets' nest on your head and that follicle explosion on your chin, you look like you're gonna come up on the wrong side of this week's "Homeless or Hipster" game. You need a haircut, son. Luckily, Upper Kutz Barbershop is in the neighborhood. Conveniently located in midtown, Upper Kutz's vintage-inspired parlor offers cuts on the cheap, starting at $18, and a whole range of other hygienic rescues, including tapes for $8, hot shaves for $30, and blowouts for $18. Owner Ray Agnew, a cosmetologist with more than 15 years of experience under his belt, stocks UK with a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Trust us, that Chewbacca look is clichéd. Shape it up at Upper Kutz.

What if the best place to get beautiful just happened to be one of the most beautiful spots in town? That's exactly the case with Muse Beauty Suite, a 500-square-foot space on the second floor of the Sagamore Hotel with a sweeping vista of the Atlantic Ocean. The latest venture of local entrepreneur Sabrina Badeaux Linden overlooks the pool and the beach, offering views that refresh the spirit while the experts go to work on your face. You can start with the signature Muse facial, which involves steam cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, massage, and a soothing finishing mask for a hundred bucks. For five dollars less, you can do the seaweed facial, which includes steam cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, and a fresh seaweed mask. Or go all out with a $130 Repêchage four-layer facial. Whichever you choose, your natural beauty will be revealed as vibrantly as the scenery outside.

Need a new nose? Better boobs? Bigger booty? "If you're looking to take your body to the next level with surgical mastery," the Aventura Center for Cosmetic Surgery advises, "Dr. G can get you there!" Born in New Jersey, educated at the University of Miami, and doctored up at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Gershenbaum is a self-described perfectionist whose workweeks are chockablock with rhinoplasties, breast augmentations (AKA BAMs), and Brazilian butt lifts — not to mention Miami's more niche procedures like calf implants, fat grafts, and labiaplasties. And yes, he's also dabbled in reality TV and given away boob jobs at South Beach megaclubs while amassing a fine collection of SUVs and speedboats. But Doc Gershenbaum isn't in the plastic surgery game just for the fame and fortune. Every time he takes his scalpel to patients like Playboy centerfold Kimberly Holland, Tami "Miss Maxim 2006" Donaldson, and hall-of-fame bodybuilder Richard Gaspari, it's because he wants to make this world a more beautiful place. "My work is about empowerment," Dr. G once philosophized in a letter to Haute Living magazine. "I don't just want my patients to look better; I want them to be all they can be."

This place has it all: gargoyles, a haunted floor, and a room where a mobster murder allegedly took place. The enormous pool plays host to rows of beautiful Roman-style statues of women who look like the Venus herself. Access to the fitness center for those who have not booked a room costs $35 for the day, starting at 5 a.m. and continuing into the night. It includes access to the gym, sauna, showers, and lockers. More than 100 weddings are curated by the staff of the hotel every year. A stroll through the halls often yields at least one blushing bride posing for her bridal shoot. Some of the best-kept secrets of the legendary hotel are private poolside cabanas, finch cages scattered throughout the main lobby, a culinary academy, great mojitos, and high tea time, which is held during two seatings each day for the bargain price of $25. To truly capture the essence of the timeless establishment would take far more than a couple of hundred words. It is everything you don't expect from Miami but should.

Everything about Nordstrom is extravagant: A-list-celebrity-worthy designer shoes, Dolce & Gabbana handbags, a gourmet café, and marble floors all make you feel like a million bucks. So it's no surprise the restrooms are on par with the department store's opulence. The one that stands out is the ladies' room on the second floor. The exterior might look like a typical lavatory, but the interior lounge is, um, bursting with luxury. We're talking leather couches, wing chairs, a wooden center table, modern full-length mirrors, ceiling lights that cast a golden glow, and a subtle scent of floral freshness. This is what royalty must feel like every time they visit the loo.

It's easy to turn a blind eye to those Miamians who are struggling a bit more than the rest of us. But helping others is good for the soul, so get out of your brand-new condo and put some effort into helping those in need. After all, Miami isn't exactly known as a charitable city, so you should do your part to change that perception. A great place to offer help is at Overtown's Lotus House, where you can put in volunteer hours helping women who find themselves homeless due to domestic abuse, medical or mental illness, disability, or economics. The house, which is already receiving aid from titans like art collector Martin Margulies, offers these women and their children a much-needed oasis in Overtown, one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. You can also help by donating unwanted clothing or furniture or by simply shopping at the Lotus House Thrift Store in Wynwood. All proceeds from the store help fund the shelter and its services, which include health care, job training, counseling, education, and meals. What you get in return is the priceless feeling of charitable giving.

The Everglades is a dumping ground. Not just for garbage but for living things. People drive in and toss unfixed lab mixes, matted shih tzus, and fluffy puppies out of their cars and into the wild. Mother Nature is unkind to these pets. They're hit by cars, devoured by mosquitoes, infested with fatal heartworm infections. But the 100+ Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida cleans up the horrors that South Floridians leave behind. Its members trek through the sawgrass and concrete of Miami on regular rescue missions, armed with food, medical supplies, and crates. They deal with dead dogs, starving puppies, gruesome injuries — the worst scenes imaginable for animal lovers. But most important, they save lives. They scoop up the innocent pets that people throw away like so much trash and give them new life. They've rescued well over 700 dogs and more than 40 cats, all otherwise doomed to die. These are real-life animal heroes. Email them at [email protected].