ABC had us at their adorably weird aardvark logo, but turns out they have the goods to boot. They’ve served Central Texas for more than six decades and are deeply involved in our community. Pest services are just the beginning: Services from lawn maintenance to air-conditioning installation and appliance repair are all part of their range of expertise. And our readers say they make getting rid of pesky varmints and home service problems big and small as easy as 1-2-3. Let ’em show you what it’s all about.
ABC Home & Commercial Services
9475 Hwy. 290 E., 512/837-9500
202 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown, 512/819-9140
208 S. Guadalupe St., San Marcos, 512/392-9500
1010 College St., Bastrop, 512/308-1274
abchomeandcommercial.com/austin
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Among the sea of Austin auto repair shops, Yost Automotive truly stands out. As a "Best of Austin" regular, Yost Automotive is no stranger to the kind words of Austinites. Yost offers all of the basics for your vehicle, such as state inspections and maintenance checks, as well as more intricate service for any other car trouble. Next time your engine light illuminates, check your gas cap and then cruise over to Yost: Not Sucking Since 1993.
Yost Automotive
5415 N. Lamar, 512/374-9678
6517 N. Lamar, 512/452-9678
www.yostauto.com
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It seems like a niche bike shop opens up every week in Austin, Texas, but when it comes to one-stop shopping for your two-wheeled friend, you can count on Bicycle Sport Shop's three decades of Austin experience and three convenient locations to have what you need.
Bicycle Sport Shop
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They boast 24-hour or less diagnostic turnaround, repair all brands – Apple and PC – and even offer flat-rate iPad and iPhone fixes. The staff members are friendly and diligent problem solvers. If the issue with your baby is small, you can shop for all sorts of gadgets, like gaming components, cords, headphones, and drones, at this 2015 Best Computer Store winner (see the Shopping section) while you wait.
Discount Electronics
4005 W. Parmer, 512/983-9989
1001 S. I-35, Round Rock, 512/637-7051
www.discountelectronics.com
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When you take your clothes off, think of EcoClean. This laundromat uses a gentle wet cleaning process and biodegradable detergents that'll help rub-a-dub-dub away that strange stain on your dress (and conscience).
EcoClean
2438 W. Anderson Ste. C-3, 512/236-8645
4012 N. Lamar, 512/236-8645
3005 S. Lamar Ste. D-114A, 512/236-8645
3600 Capital of Texas Hwy. N. #120, 512/263-8645
ecocleanaustin.com
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Want to up your Austin native street cred? Order your dear heart some flowers from seven-time "Best of Austin" winner Freytag's. A tradition on Mesa Drive since 1974, they done busted loose in 2002 into a 13,000-square-foot flower megastore (previously the site of a Steak & Ale restaurant). Freytag's remains a family affair, with founder Ken Freytag's son Chad hatching online plots to rule the digital flower world and Casey Freytag Chitsey assuring designs are top-notch.
Freytag's Florist
2211 W. Anderson
512/371-5640
www.freytagsflorist.com
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Todd V. Wolfson
Pompadour. Taper fade. Undercut. Asymmetrical. Pixie. Whatever style you're looking for, the talented crews at Birds can do it for ya. So whether it's a girl cut, a guy cut, or a girl-who-wants-a-guy-cut cut, you're in good hands at Birds.
Birds Barbershop
Birds Barbershop South Lamar, 2110 S. Lamar, 512/442-8800
Birds Barbershop Burnet, 6800 Burnet Rd., 512/454-1200
Birds Barbershop East Sixth, 1107 E. Sixth, 512/457-0400
Birds Barbershop South Congress, 1902 S. Congress, 512/445-0500
Birds Barbershop 41st/Red River, 905 E. 41st, 512/492-8400
Birds Barbershop Slaughter, 5000 W. Slaughter, 512/758-7800
Birds Barbershop 183/Anderson Mill, 13219 Hwy. 183 N., 512/879-4700
Birds Barbershop Rock Rose, 11420 Rock Rose #114, 512/610-7600
Birds Barbershop William Cannon, 3601 W. William Cannon, 512/795-4600
birdsbarbershop.com
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Pretty much every religion and faith practice mentions tending the land, sowing seeds, and taking care of the Earth and her crops. We'll spare the preaching, but will remind you that gardening and lawn maintenance are not just about keeping up with the Joneses or showing up neighbors – they're about being good stewards. For years, our readers have recognized the folks at Fertile Ground as responsible and reliable stewards, keeping Austin green (or as green as can be under drought restrictions). Sustainability, after all, is not just a buzzword; it's a core belief.
Fertile Ground Organic Gardens
3303 Breedlove
512/340-0432
www.fertilegroundgardens.com
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David Brendan Hall
In the immediate aftermath of the Memorial Day Weekend floods, social media began to light up with calls for help. It also lit up with calls offering help. We watched in awe as neighbor after neighbor put their own needs aside to help someone in more dire straits. Tears definitely flowed as we read about the folks at the Wimberley Wash Day Laundry (along with some other local business owners) in their struggles to keep washers going and flowing with free laundry services to those affected. Our readers may have voted this small chain as the 2015 winner anyway, but it's stories like this that make working on "Best of Austin" a joy. Wash Day, thank you for making the sorrows of late May April-fresh.
Wash Day Laundry
7626 Hwy. 71 W., 512/906-2760
Wash Day Laundry (Brodie), 8213 Brodie, 512/614-6760
14306 RR 12, Wimberley, 512/847-0292
www.washdaylaundry.com
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Majestic: That's how you should feel when crashing at the end of a long moving day. The fact that burly guys and gals in moving trucks bearing the most magical creatures of the sea (the blue whale, duh) and sylvan glen (Unicorns are real!) ferry your clutter to and ’fro is only confirmation that you made the right choice. Go, you. Now get some sleep; tomorrow you start to unpack your collection of troll dolls.
Blue Whale Moving & Storage
8291 Springdale #100
512/328-6688
www.bluewhale.com
Unicorn Moving & Storage
102 Victor
512/339-9922
www.unicornmoving.com
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Bret Brookshire
A dream, circa 1981: The flood waters rage into Strait Music on North Lamar. Stevie Ray Vaughan is on guitar. Junior-high kids from O. Henry play along on flute, oboe, and bassoon. A skinny redneck from Anderson High pounds on the snare drum. A tall Latina from Crockett smashes cymbals together. Strait moved away from the flood waters, but echoes of their rental instruments fill the hallways of Austin schools forever. Two locations, endless memories.
Strait Music Co.
3201 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 140
13945 Hwy. 183 N., 512/918-3743
straitmusic.com
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ABC had us at their adorably weird aardvark logo, but turns out they have the goods to boot. They’ve served Central Texas for more than six decades and are deeply involved in our community. Pest services are just the beginning, too; services from lawn maintenance to air conditioning installation and appliance repair are all part of their range of expertise. And our readers say they make getting rid of pesky varmints and home service problems big and small as easy as 1-2-3. Let 'em show you what it’s all about.
ABC Home & Commercial Services
9475 Hwy. 290 E., 512/837-9500
202 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown, 512/819-9140
208 S. Guadalupe St., San Marcos, 512/392-9500
1010 College St., Bastrop, 512/308-1274
abchomeandcommercial.com/austin
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From professional grooming to DIY wash stations, boarding facilities, and training classes, these friendly folks offer the ultimate in doggy convenience. Drop off your pup for a fun day of playcare and grooming while you work, then fetch him and a bag of his favorite food on your way home. It's a win-win (or woof-woof) for you both. In the end, the real winners here are Austin's dog lovers.
Mud Puppies
2015 E. Riverside Bldg. 9, 512/912-0200
12233 FM 620 N. Ste. 110-A, 512/249-2498
www.mud-puppies.com
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Empathic, intuitive, and a mighty good guiding voice: It's everything we could ask for in a therapist, psychologist, and healer – and way more than we could ask for in a tarot reader. There's a reason why renaissance Austinite Angeliska is booked from here to Sunday; she homes in on what it is you truly came to learn, whether it's healing a hurt, clearing the brush from the messy yards of life, or indulging in an intellectually stimulating conversation about the forces of our world.
Sister Temperance Tarot
www.sistertemperance.com
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John Leach
Austin is great for walking, but the sidewalks ain't so grand. So, when our sandal straps rip, or our soles wear thin, there is only one solution to solve the problem. ASH has 11 locations scattered around the city, and no matter which one we go to, we are guaranteed great service, work, and prices.
Austin Shoe Hospital
12119 Hwy. 290 W., 512/827-3398
3106 Windsor, 512/477-6515
720 Congress, 512/477-5078
3300 Bee Caves Rd., 512/329-8104
1911 W. Ben White, 512/440-8788
8211 Burnet, 512/453-1961
5114 Balcones Woods Dr. Ste. 301-B, 512/345-8663
6781 Hwy. 290 W., 512/288-6386
1316 Round Rock Ave., Round Rock, 512/244-9124
306 S. Bell, Cedar Park, 512/219-8387
3932 RR 620 S., Lakeway, 512/263-4630
www.austinshoehospital.com
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Escape the hustle and bustle of our fast-growing city and treat yourself to a spa day. With seasonal treatments and products like Mosquito Spray, Milk + Honey gets rid of whatever is bugging you. Stick it to your stress with acupuncture. Add a scrub to your treatment (we love the mint …), and end your visit with a steam shower in the locker room. Ahhhhh, that’s better!
Milk + Honey
12901 Hill Country Blvd. Ste. D1-110, 512/236-1115
9722 Great Hills Trail #210, 512/236-1115
1211 W. Riverside Dr., Suite 200
www.milkandhoneyspa.com
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Whether hemlines need lifting or lowering, dresses need taking in or letting out, or alterations just need alteratin’, Ace Custom Tailors can do sew much. For stitching, fixing, fastening, and binding, Austinites have long relied upon these master textile talents – for 48 years and counting.
Ace Custom Tailors
724-A N. Lamar, 512/478-9965
2707 Walsh Tarlton, 512/329-0523
www.acetailors.com
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The body is a temple, right? So paint them walls! True Blue, around since ’92, has a knack for creating Austin's favorite "temple" decorations. Their team of 15 artists are well-versed and well-inked themselves. And with two locations to serve every inky inclination, you can book well in advance (advisable), or simply walk in. Just brace yourself for the ritual… Bzzzzt! Ye gods!
True Blue Tattoo
607 Red River, 512/472-2783
4507-B Airport, 512/363-5511
www.truebluetattoo.com
