Best Bridal Shop 2012 | Leggenda Bridal Boutique | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Miami | Miami New Times
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Best Bridal Shop

Leggenda Bridal Boutique

The employees at Leggenda Bridal Boutique are superbly accommodating, even if they won't let sweaty male New Times correspondents try on the dresses. Owner Sandra Zacharias has been in the wedding business for more than 20 years. Her boutique began as a bridal accessories shop before expanding into the Miracle Mile institution it is today. She now runs the store with her daughter Yanitza, and the focus on family is not limited to the staff; Leggenda dresses not only the bride but also all ladies attending a wedding — from the flower girls to the mothers of the bride and groom. The store's goal is to provide dresses for every special occasion in a woman's life, and it's not uncommon for customers at bridal appointments to bring pictures of themselves in prom dresses they purchased at Leggenda. The staffers know it won't be long before they are fitting the daughters of their brides for prom dresses. Leggenda tends to stock younger, trendier designs while also keeping prices affordable: Bridal gowns run $900 to $4,000, mother-of-the-bride dresses cost $600 to $1,200, and quince dresses are $600 to $1,200.

Best Thrift Store

St. John's Parish Thrift Shop

Hello? Yeah, stupid, it's me. You are never going to believe this. Me and Jose went to Cracker Barrel, you know, the one in Florida City? Yeah, right, well, we got lost on the way there. Whatever. You know how the addresses in Homestead don't make sense, and we were stoned as balls anyway. Well, we found this awesome thrift store, like, in the middle of nowhere. I got an Alf T-shirt, and Jose bought a Mothers of Invention album — original vinyl! Not only that, but I also found an original Punky Brewster lunchbox! Jose got some stupid G.I. Joe dolls, whatever. And I found these kick-ass heels and, like, three supervintage purses. Now, get this, we paid three bucks for everything! Holy shit, right? Whoops, maybe I shouldn't say, "Shit." The shop is on church grounds!

Best Antiques

Stripe

When you finally grow up, it's time to tear down your silly "room accents" from Target and invest in some pieces worthy of a page in Coastal Living magazine. Actually, that's just one of the many publications that have showcased some of the unfailingly tasteful finds for which people from all over the world flock to Stripe. The front room is color-coordinated in beachy whites, beige, and natural wood tones. The back room is home to antiquities and some modern objects in darker, denser hues. Exquisite French cast-iron-framed mirrors, dandelion chandeliers, tables made of coral and wrought iron, Norwegian lounge chairs in oak and leather, Fornasetti coasters made of seashells, life-size Italian ceramic greyhound sculptures, vintage metal birdhouses, vintage "tractor seat" stools, and authentic tribal beaded headdresses are just the beginning of the list of stuff to peruse in this dazzling den of elite artifacts. You could spend anywhere from $25 to $30,000 in this hub of antiques and collectibles. But even if your budget isn't boundless, Stripe is worth a visit, if just for the experience. Unlike some of the proprietors at other renowned antique spots on North Miami's "20th Century Row," owner Eric Cody is informative and friendly, even if you don't stroll in wearing $3,000 shoes.

Best Used Furniture

North Miami's strip of antique shops

This strip of shops near Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami is one of those I-can't-believe-it treasures that's nestled in a surprising spot. North Miami is better known for its corruption-entangled mayor than for its great shopping, but this strip brings a touch of affordable class and homey history that deserves a nod and a visit from anyone considering purchasing a chair or a fancy mirror that looks like a bejeweled birdcage. There's ITS Antiques, owned by Francine Peltz, a kindly woman who's been bringing rare and collectible antiques to Miami for more than 15 years. Aubery specializes in chic French furniture from the 1950s to the '70s but also offers a host of cool modernist paintings. April Antiques, just next door, features quality wood furniture and is owned by Jim Hodgdon, a friendly old guy who made his first furniture sale when he was a boy of ten. Finally, Cliff Sneed, who's been in the antiques biz for upward of 20 years, has rococo-style dressers, vintage nightstands, highboy chests, and time-tested tables and chairs that are so densely packed into his Golden Era Antiques that walking through the doors is like embarking on an antique-furniture expedition.

Best Furniture Store

Home Design Store

Marty Quintana

Despite the Magic City's carnival mesh of cultures, many furniture shops here are more vanilla than Topeka. After your eyes glaze over from a slog through the big-box furniture stores, all the dressers and cabinets look the same. Here's the antidote: Home Design Store. The family-run business culls pieces from several countries, such as India, China, and Indonesia, and aims to make your home décor unique. The products are solid wood, with a selection including teak, mahogany, elm, and Indian rosewood. And the prices are right, considering your home will look like it was furnished by J. Peterman after a voyage to the Far East: a rosewood table from India will set you back just $599, a stylishly weathered nightstand costs $369, and a sweet jade-hued ceramic Buddha straight from China is $299.

Best Glassblower

Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller has been blowing glass since he was 15 years old. He started as a shop rat at the University of Miami's Art After Dark program and then apprenticed with the best of the South Florida "art glass" community. He's the right-hand man of sometimes Miami-based Rob Stern of the world-renowned Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. In 2005, Miller started his own company, Nickel Glass, and ever since has been filling custom orders for private clients, interior designers, and fancy hotels, as well as repairing high-end glass pieces from Murano, Italy. No other custom blower in Miami shows the full-time dedication to the craft it takes to be master of the glass.

Best Dry Cleaner

Kim's Valet Cleaners

It's not often you see your dry cleaner at the opera and she gives you a kiss and a hug. But Kim Coe is not your average dry cleaner. She is a stain-removing savant. And although she's not the cheapest in town, she's worth every penny. Her small store on Biscayne Boulevard handles dry cleaning for several South Beach hotels and even Miami City Ballet. But she will just as happily hand-finish your suit ($14.50), pants ($6.75), or shirt or blouse ($6.25). She even does alterations. But the real reason we keep going back to Kim is that she's like the aunt we never had. When Coe arrived in the United States from South Korea just before Christmas 1970, she had nothing but her daughter and $10. Walk into her store today and you'll see a woman at home in her self-made empire, right down to her dog Sparky and the Girl Scout cookies she sells on behalf of neighborhood kids.

Best Laundromat

Coral Way Lavanderia

While nearby Mary's Coin Laundry and Deli lures students, foodies, and night owls with café con leche, Cubanos, and other culinary perks at its 24-hour lunch counter, the recently renovated Coral Way Lavenderia has made family its focus. The launderette's newly repainted walls are adorned with cute paintings by local kids, while arcade games and multiple TV sets keep the little ones occupied as you separate the whites from the colors. For adults, there's free Wi-Fi and a pair of computers so you can check your email without having to stuff your laptop into your already-heavy laundry bag. Laundry sucks. Luckily, Lavanderia doesn't.

Best Swimwear Shop

Onda de Mar

Every girl needs a great swimmy. It's imperative to the very nature of our femininity. Onda de Mar has our backs every time we stop in. To start, the bathing suits are beautiful and simple. The selection is high-end designer wear (ladies' suits mostly range from $180 to $200), but the store frequently has awesome sales of 50 percent off. The swimwear style is primarily European, which is fantastic because it's a change from the typical tacky, neon prints we see in most other Miami swim shops. Guys, no baggy trunks here. If you want a clean-cut look, this is your place. And ladies, the only decision you'll have to make is which pattern looks better on you: solids, stripes, or polka dots.

Best Psychic

Sandra Cheryl Richardson

Skeptical or not, it's human nature to want to know what the future holds. But the average psychic always says you'll be going on a trip very soon or that the man of your dreams is just a failed relationship away. The more cunning ones will say you need to fork over more cash to get rid of some supposed curse or, worse, the evil eye. That's where Sandra Cheryl Richardson is different. The psychic, author, lecturer, and paranormal investigator isn't looking to deceive you. For $65 for a half-hour or $120 for a full hour, Richardson, a practicing wiccan priestess for more than 20 years, will read you the tarot cards or your aura and give you advice — that's the key difference, advice. She's more counselor than snake oil saleswoman, and perhaps that's why her customers are also her most ardent supporters. Richardson likewise teaches classes on developing your psychic powers and understanding the spiritual world. And you better believe there's an app for that — you can take Richardson on the go with the Wiccan Sabbats app (available in the iTunes Store). And even if you're not interested in a reading, perusing through Celestial Treasures' retail space is a must. There you'll find everything for the avid psychic enthusiast, including books, stones, tarot cards, and a chance to sign up for workshops.

  • 3444 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, 33133 Map

Best Of Miami®

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