28 September 21 - 27, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER contents | shopping & services | Arts & entertAinment | Food & drink | sports & recreAtion Best Japanese RecoRd selection Black Cat Records ’N’ Comics If you make it past the vast library of comics and shelves of collectibles, zines and merch, then venture to the back of the record section, you’ll find the most diverse and well-stocked Japanese record selection in the city. A passion project of owner Megan Daniel, the hundreds of LPs collected here cover a dizzying array of genres and subgenres: everything from Japanese new wave, hip-hop, classical, jazz, folk, punk and metal, to the minty environs of city pop and reissues of Japanese environmental music, a type of pastoral ambient that brings the soothing effects of forest bathing to your home stereo. You can even sip beer and cider while you browse. 971 Botham Jean Blvd. 469-913-7079, blackcatrnc.com Best Late-night nail salon Nail Bloom If you’re like us, by the time you’re done with the work day all nail salons are closed and your French tips are longer than the Eiffel Tower. And the weekend mornings are just too packed with people like us who couldn’t get there on time. That’s why Nail Bloom is kind of a godsend. The salon is open until midnight Monday – Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sundays. But that’s not the only reason it’s incredible: The place has more pink than the Barbie movie, and more flowers than a field in Provence — they even hang from the ceiling. Manicures are a great pick-me- up any time, but it’s truly impossible to be unhappy at a place like Nail Bloom. 4900 Beltline Road, No. 102 972-980-8888, nailbloomdallas.com Best BookstoRe FoR Vintage sci-Fi and hoRroR Recycled Books Situated within the extensive ecosystem of Recycled’s well-curated collection of books, records, CDs and video games lurks the finest population of horror and sci-fi novels in the region. Specializing in vintage paperbacks with exquisitely pulpy artwork, the shop’s offerings live largely on the weirder fringes of both genres, but are replete with classics and contemporary works. If names like J.G. Ballard, Ursula Le Guin or Thomas M. Disch grab your attention, expect hours of giddy browsing. Thanks to the local college-town culture and discerning staff, the selection is constantly refreshed, so you’re sure to find something new with each visit. Better yet, the prices are just a fraction of what you’d pay to snag similar gems from a collector on Instagram or eBay. 200 N. Locust St., Denton 940-566-5688, Recycledbooks.com Best exotic Vet Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic One of the worst stressors of exotic pet parenting is finding a knowledgeable vet you can trust when health complications arise. Your average vet down the road doesn’t encounter snakes or birds very often, so they’re not usually a comfortable option when you’re worried your animal friend’s in trouble. In this regard, Kelly Dearmore BEST JAPANESE RECORD SELECTION Black Cat Records ‘N’ Comics
