Goods and Services

Readers’ choices

Best bookstore

1. Barnes & Noble Booksellers
5555 S. Virginia St., 826-8882

2. Borders books & music,
4995 S. Virginia St., 448-9999

3. Sundance Books,
1155 W. Fourth St., 786-1188

Best place to buy a musical instrument

1. Maytan Music
777 S. Center St., 323-5443

2. Bizarre Guitar,
2677 Oddie Blvd., 331-1001

3. Carpenter’s Music World,
6015 S Virginia St #G, 788-4045

Best Gym

1. 24-Hour Fitness
various locations

2. Flex Fitness (currently American Iron Gym),
650 S. Rock Blvd., #13, 856-4766

3. Sports West Athletic Center,
1575 S. Virginia St., 348-6666

Best place to buy CDs

1. Best Buy
5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797

2. Tower Records,
6450 S. Virginia St., 852-5559

3. Soundwave CDs,
971 W. Moana Lane, 825-5044

Best place to rent DVDs

1. Blockbuster
various locations

2. Hollywood Video,
various locations

3. Video Maniacs,
900 W. Fifth St., 786-3444 and 3340 S. McCarran Blvd., 827-4758

Best adult-themed store

1. Suzie’s Adult Superstore
195 Kietzke Lane, 786-8557

2. Romantic Sensations,
1065 S. Virginia St., 322-1884

3. G Spot,
138 West St., 333-6969

Best computer store

1. Best Buy
5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797

2. CompUSA,
6407 S. Virginia St., 853-4222

3. Moondog Multimedia,
4896 S. Virginia St., 332-6666

Best place to buy vintage clothes

1. Rad Betty’s Fresh Thrift & Vintage
141 Vesta St., 322-3889

2. Savers,
2350 Oddie Blvd., Sparks, 359-4244

3. Coral Rose Vintage,
805 S. Virginia St., 324-1953

Best bicycle shop

1. Bicycle Bananas
2005 Sierra Highlands Drive, No. 115, 747-1413

2. College Cyclery,
622 S. Virginia St., 323-1809

3. Sierra Cyclesmith,
7007 S. Virginia St., 852-9253

Best flower shop

1. Sparks Florist
1001 Pyramid Way, Suite 100, Sparks, 358-8500; 5000 Smithridge Drive, Suite C-3, 826-8500

2. St. Ives Florist,
700 S. Wells Ave., 333-9190

3. Marion’s Flowers Shop,
273 E. Plumb Lane # B., 786-1463

Best beauty salon

1. Crush Hair Studio
350 W. Liberty St., Suite B, 324-4447

2. Genesis Salon & Medical Spa,
250 Crummer Lane, 828-9797

3. Metro Salon & Day Spa,
121 California Ave., 786-7720

Best garden nursery

1. Moana Nursery
1100 W. Moana Lane, 825-0600;
11301 S. Virginia St., 853-1319

2. G&G Nursery & Landscaping,
900 S. Rock Blvd., 358-1700
(moving to 3397 Pyramid Way)

3. Dry Creek Garden Co.,
7250 S. Virginia St., 851-0353

Best car wash

1. Mission Car Wash
6355 S. McCarran Blvd., 827-4222

2. Franktown Hand Car Wash & Express Detailing,
2331 Kietzke Lane, 827-2601

3. Buggy Bath Car Wash,
2525 S. Virginia St., 826-6679

Best apartment complex

1. Lakeridge Apartments
6155 Plumas St., 825-0500

2. Tanamera Apartment Homes,
900 S. Meadows Parkway, 852-8989

Rad Shelly Marcum, left <i>and</i> right, and Jessica Stanley, center, mix plaids and stripes, felt and lace. You can do that at Rad Betty’s Fresh Thrift and Vintage, where owner Marcum sells department-store-weary shoppers just what they need.

Photo By David Robert

Best place to get a car repaired

1. Greg’s Garage
410 E. Sixth St., 324-0911

2. Mooney’s Automotive,
1701 Greg St., Sparks, 359-6626

3. Concours Body Shop,
240 Telegraph St., 329-4557

Best place to get a tattoo

1. Aces Tattoo
681 S. Virginia St., 333-0915

2. Pirates Tattoo,
1039 S. Virginia St., 337-1153

3. Battleborn Tattoos,
1717 S. Wells Ave., 327-4465

Best place to get pierced

1. Black Hole
912 S. Virginia St., 329-6010

2. Lotus Body Piercing,
677 S. Virginia St., 323-6266

3. Fondue Body Boutique,
416 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks, 359-1750

Best bank

1. Wells Fargo Bank
various locations

2. Bank of America,
various locations

3. US Bank,
various locations

Best pawn shop

1. Metropawn
various locations

2. Pacific Pawnbrokers,
various locations

3. Super Pawn,
641 S. Rock Blvd., 331-4044

Best grocery store

1. Raley’s Supermarkets and Drug Centers
various locations

2. Trader Joe’s,
5035 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-1621

3. Albertsons,
various locations

Best specialty ice cream store

1. Cold Stone Creamery
various locations

2. Baskin-Robbins,
various locations

3. Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop,
1495 E. Prater Way, Suite 111, Sparks, 355-1236; 720 S. Meadows Pkwy., 853-1266

Best pet store

1. Petco
various locations

2. Petsmart,
various locations

3. Ofishal Aquarium,
3434 Lakeside Drive, 825-3434

Best pet supply store

1. Petco
various locations

2. Petsmart,
various locations

3. Healthy Tails,
3892 Mayberry Drive, 787-2287

Best skateboard store

1. Out of Bounds Board Shop
235 E. Plumb Lane, 323-7669; 2300 S. Carson St., Carson City, 888-2010

2. Reno Skate Supply,
25 St. Lawrence Ave., 324-5588

3. Copeland’s Sports Fitness Super Stores,
Meadowood Mall, 829-1700

Best hotel for a romantic getaway

1. Peppermill Hotel Casino
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121

2. Atlantis Casino Resort,
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700

3. Adventure Inn & Wedding Chapel,
3575 S. Virginia St., 828-9000

Best wireless phone service coverage

1. Cingular
various locations

2. Verizon,
various locations

3. Sprint,
various locations

Best brothel

1. Moonlight Bunny Ranch
Carson City, NV, (775) 246-3825

2. Wild Horse Resort & Spa,
1000 Wild Horse Canyon Drive, 788-4137

3. Old Bridge Ranch,
4756 Peri Ranch Road, 342-0176

Best motorcycle dealer/shop

1. Harley-Davidson Inc.
2295 Market St., (800) 867-7661

2. Big Valley Motor Sports/Honda,
2325 Market St., Suite C, 324-1901

3. Shoeman’s Custom Cycle,
275 E. Fourth St., 348-9339