THE IST

STORY BY MARLENA CHAVIRA-MEDFORD

THE MEDIA PERPETUALLY FEEDS THE PUBLIC’S HUNGER FOR LISTS.

There are useful lists, such as Oprah’s “Top 10 Superfoods”, Time ’s “25 People to Blame for America’s Credit Crisis”, or Esquire ’s “Best Bars in America”. Then there are more gratuitous tabulations — Star magazine’s “Best and Worst Beach Bodies”, or The Enquirer ’s index of gay and not gay celebrities, for instance.

Maybe it’s the order and brevity lists inject into our overwhelming lives, or that they make large quantities of information more digestible. Whatever the reason, the masses enjoy consuming info in the form of neat numbered and bulleted boxes, and the Advocate is here to oblige. In fact, we love lists so much that we’ve compiled a list of lists (sometimes useful, sometimes superfluous) for readers who can’t get enough of them.

It’s not that we have anything against Muzak; it’s just that the soft instrumental version of “Riders on the Storm” doesn’t appeal to everyone. These neighborhood haunts have earned favor for putting some real thought into their play list to give us

Ambiance Music We Dig

1. ZAGUAN BAKERY & CAFÉ. The cool Latin vibe at Zaguan Bakery & Café off Oak Lawn even carries over to the background music. So while you’re dining on Venezuelan cachapas (sweet corn turnsomething by the Buena Vista Social Club. Now that’s what we call chill.

2. NEUHAUS CAFÉ. Lounging at Neuhaus Café in the Preston Royal Shop-thing from indie rock by cool bands throwback R&B jams from the early ’90s you forgot just how much you loved. The absence of “Top 40” tunes here earns this café a thumbs up.

3. NORTHPARK’S METROPARK. The music playing at NorthPark’s Metropark is more like what you’d expect less like what you’d expect to hear while shopping for graphic tees. If you really want to feel

When it comes to public restrooms, cleanliness is key, but we want to recognize those spots that do a little extra to make your visit comfortable, convenient and, dare we say, entertaining. Here are ...

The Perfect Places For A Pit Stop

TOP 40 tunes

when the store really ups the trendy ante and brings in a deejay to spin those fresh beats. Metropark takes so much pride website has its own online music feed so you can feel just as cool when you shop their line at home.

Best Place To Find Zen

VALLEY HOUSE GALLERY & SCULPTURE GARDEN. Sitting beneath the leafy canopy as the sun sets over the pond at the Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garunwind. Owner Kevin Vogel graciously opens his private property so neighbors can a tradition started the previous the folks in East Dallas may have the arboretum. But we have this best-kept secret off Alpha and Hillcrest that’s every bit as lovely and never as crowded.

1. NORTHPARK. It’s a wellguarded secret among women in the know: The best bathrooms at NorthPark are downstairs next to Cibus. Not only but they also never have awhere near the 99 percentile of mall bathrooms. And if you’re nursing or have kids in tiny toilets for teeny tushies.

2. LADUNI OFF OAK LAWN. Not only does the bathroom at La Duni off Oak Lawn have hand lotions and mouthstrategically placed at a lowersure while seated at the toilet.

3. RISE NO.1. The bathrooms at Rise No.1 in Inwood Village pay homage to your elementary school days with communal basin-style sinks. And like are decorated with French in the stalls.

Cake Carousel

for the wedding cake of your dreams. Specializing in one-of-a-kind wedding and special occasion cakes.

1002 N Central Expwy., Ste 501 @ Arapaho 972.690.4628 cakecarousel.com

For those of us who actually enjoy spicy food (the “good burn”, as we call it), the hot sauce a restaurant offers can make or break our dining experience. But because these spots skip that sissy tomato-sauce stuff, we give a tip of the hat to these

RESTAURANTS THAT OFFER THE-REAL-DEAL HOT SAUCES

WOODLANDS GRILL You’d expect Sriracha hot sauce in a good Asian eatery — it’s a standard when you’re having Vietnamese pho, in fact. But surprisingly, it’s also available at Woodlands Grill, though you’d never know it unless you asked. So if you want to take that grilled salmon to next level, just ask the Preston and Forest restaurant to bring out the good stuff.

2. POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS. Take that turkey sub from so-so to sublime with a few dashes of the Cholula, which they keep by the register at the Preston and But take heed, this stuff has

3. CAFÉ EXPRESS. Café Express at Lovers and Inwood serves up plenty of Sriracha hot sauce, plus free peppers at condiment bar — oh, and keep an eye out for the free breadsticks there, too.

Bestplace To Skip The Ticket Fees

PRESTON ROYAL SHOPPINGCENTER. It’s the Dallas Summer Musicals — aptly named online, but if you do it the old-fashioned way, pick the best seats, so you get the most bang for your buck. Not to mention that you won’t be charged the online booking fee, which usually

IbC DESIGN

True luxury at a great price! Wonderful bedding, pillows, window treatments, fabrics,and trim on site with a workroom in back. Incredible in stock selection or design your own and have it produced on location!

2000 Greenville (before Ross @ Oram) M-F 10 - 5; Sat by appt. 214.515.9109 ibcdesignstudio.com employees have seen the musical, they may even offer their two cents on it. Now that’s customer service you can’t get from a computer.

It’s one of the few guarantees in life: you will have to pay taxes. It’s nice though to see that money working for you, especially when it’s happening right here in the neighborhood. So, despite the city’s budget deficit, we thought it’d be nice to shine a little light on the

BEST USE OF TAXPAYERS’ MONEY

Sitting in waiting rooms ranks up there with filing your taxes and paper cuts — there’s nothing enjoyable about the experience. That is, unless you happen to find yourself in one of these ...

1. ECO CLEANER. Environmentallyconscious drycleaner Eco Cleaner on Lovers near Douglas has a waiting area with comfy leather loungers and free WiFi. We’re not quite sure why you’d want to sit around and wait on your drycleaning, but if you do, this is your spot. Or, if you don’t want to wait, you can take advantage of the free delivery.

2. TEXAS SPORTS MEDICINE & ORTHOPEDIC GROUP. Sports TV is on in this waiting room all day, every day at Texas Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Group in Snider Plaza, making it the ultimate man cave. Plus, there’s a pretty impressive collection of sports memorabilia on the walls that you can check out while you wait.

3. WAXINGTHECITY. OK, so waxing isn’t ever fun, but the stocked minifridge at Waxing the City at Preston Center makes the process a little less

BACHMAN LAKELIBRARY. The Walnut Hill Library we had once upon a time was — well, just another library. But the sparkly new Bachman Lake Library that took its place puts your run-of-the-mill library to shame. This 21,000 square-foot space boasts a 60,000-volume collection of books and media, a Black Box theater for live performances, loaner laptops, and reading rooms with comfy lounging chairs.

AESTHET i C AN d FAM i Ly d ENT i STR y

Sarah Tevis Poteet, ddS, PA

Dr. Sarah Tevis Poteet is known for her exceptional skills, gentle touch, kind spirit, and the ability to listen to her patients. She was one of a select few to complete an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency and is certified to provide IV and oral conscious sedation to make her patients extra comfortable. We offer comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere, and we are conveniently located in Preston Center.

www.dALLASSmiLEdEnTiST COm

8226 dOUgLAS AvEnUE, SUiTE 859, dALLAS, Tx 75225 214-363-4414

OPTOMETR i ST

James R. Ampil, M.d.

Dr. Ampil and the other board-certified physicians at Wade-Huebner Clinic are committed to providing advanced medical care while adhering to traditional doctor-patient values. We treat most acute and chronic illnesses and focus on prevention by offering wellness and preventative examinations. We are on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and we strive to make our patients’ experience a rewarding one that leads to better health and well-being.

wAdE-HUEbnER CLiniC 9301 n. CEnTRAL ExpRESSwAy, SUiTE 670, dALLAS, Tx 75231 214.345.8250

COMPREHENS iv E dENT i STR y

Ashly

Dr Cothern is one of a small distinguished percentage of dentists who have invested in postgraduate training at one of the world’s premiere continuing education institutes, The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. We care about you as a unique individual and examine you in a way that together we can understand every aspect of your oral health. In our office we love what we do. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!