BEST MECHANIC ON THE GO: WHEEL FIX IT

Based in Kingston Springs and servicing Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson and Williamson counties, Robert McCurley's Wheel Fix It is the affordable savior of stranded drivers. The genius of the operation is he comes to you, saving the aneurism-inducing cost of a tow. Let's say (hypothetically!) you've been ignoring a problem with your starter. Not only will he meet you wherever you had to abandon your car, but you end up (hypothetically!) paying $75 less than what all the garages that required towing quoted you. Did I mention he accepts PayPal? Again, genius. ASHLEY SPURGEON

BEST EAST SIDE MECHANIC: H&H AUTOMOTIVE

How many auto mechanics do great work, give you a ride home from the shop and charge you $100 less than the estimate? While doing some work on my Honda CRV earlier this year, Scott Harris, who co-owns H&H with his wife Betsy, found replacement parts from a cheaper source than Honda and took the difference off my bill, even though I'd already agreed to the quoted price. Clearly I wouldn't have known the difference had he not passed the savings on to me. But that's what makes H&H one of the most recommended repair shops on East Side listservs. JACK SILVERMAN

BEST INDEPENDENT FOREIGN CAR MECHANIC: KEN NIXON, CUMBERLAND MOTOR WORKS

Ken Nixon's shop survived the May flood, and he's back to the business of fixing Toyotas, Nissans, Hondas, Minis and all manner of cars from other lands. Ken's prices are quite reasonable, and there's no standing in line waiting for some guy at a service desk to call your number, deli-style. Best of all, Nixon has a knack for keeping a car in service for many a year. WALTER JOWERS

BEST PLACE TO TINKER ON A BRITISH IMPORT: JD'S

If you're lucky enough to drive a vintage British import — and by lucky, we mean "really into being stranded" — then it's imperative that you become acquainted with J.D. Damon, the British Car Whisperer of Nashville. This Wilhagan Road import crew spends their days restoring a drool-worthy collection of Brit cars from the '30s on, and they've been known to let amateur grease monkeys rent a bay and pick their collective brains. We've even seen the man himself conjure life out of a hopelessly unreliable Brit engine, all by finessing the distributor cap. It turned out to not have any fuel in it, either, but in his hands, that was irrelevant. TRACY MOORE

BEST PLACE TO TINKER ON A BICYCLE: HALCYON

So maybe you don't have a greasy hunk of carbureted British steel in need of tuning up — there's a workspace for you just the same. If your preferred mode of transport is of the less oil-intensive, leg-powered sort, Halcyon Bike Shop in 12South has a place for you to drop in, tune up and rock out. (Halcyon occasionally hosts rock shows, in addition to bike rides and movie nights.) Bring your own bike in to work on at one of their stations, browse the selection of great vintage rides, or even check out some records. Get crankin'! STEVE HARUCH

BEST ROOFING COMPANY: SOUTHERN ROOFING

Southern Roofing Company does things most roofing companies can't, don't or won't do. When they strip off an old roof, they pull the old nails out by hand. When they put down the roofing felt and the shingles, they drive each nail by hand. And, wonder of wonders, they have guys who know how to bend and install sheet metal. When it comes to keeping water out of your house, handmade metal flashing works a lot better than sloppy caulk and black goop. Best of all, these roofers refuse to use roof-ruining nail guns. WALTER JOWERS

BEST HVAC COMPANY: ROSCOE BROWN

The Roscoe Brown boys don't just slap a heat-and-air system together with duct tape. Unlike many HVAC companies, they measure the house, do the math and come up with a system that will keep a house comfortable year-round. Better yet, they do all the bothersome math that allows you to take advantage of the federal tax credits that should come your way. WALTER JOWERS

BEST CHIMNEY SWEEP: ASHBUSTERS

The gentlemen of Ashbusters — who don't embarrass themselves by showing up in Dick Van Dyke chimney-sweeping drag — take on a hard, dirty job and make it clean. Chimney work isn't all about fireplaces and woodstoves — it also includes the proper venting of furnaces and water heaters. The work demands arcane knowledge, patience, creativity and a willingness to clean up after oneself and others. Ashbusters does it all, and does it well. WALTER JOWERS

BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICE: LIN-DELL ELECTRIC

Steve Smith at Lin-Dell Electric is knowledgeable, he works quickly and he has the nerve to stand on a ladder and wire up hard-to-reach ceiling lights. Even more impressive, he's not afraid to climb a ladder holding a chandelier that costs as much as a Smart Car. When he's done, the lights and gizmos that are supposed to be working are working, and they stay working. He's good with new work and old systems. WALTER JOWERS

BEST PLUMBING COMPANY: REPUBLIC PLUMBING

Sure, it's a bad day when your water heater splits open, but it's a good thing to have a plumber or two roll into your driveway a half-hour after it happens. Andy Ward at Republic Plumbing gets his plumbers to the jobsite in a hurry. When the Republic plumbers tackle a job, they get it done quickly and they get it done right. When they're done, the plumbing works and the house is squeaky clean. WALTER JOWERS

BEST TREE SURGEON: QUALITY TREE SURGERY, RUEL JONES

When the microburst hit on Aug. 12 and flattened a dozen or so big old trees along Richland Avenue, Ruel Jones' phone started ringing. By sun-up on Aug. 13, the Quality Tree Surgery guys were climbing, cutting, hauling and chipping what was left of the giant hackberries. On a normal day, Ruel's crew does the best tree maintenance — pruning and such — in town. WALTER JOWERS

BEST FREELANCE HANDYMAN: JIM HARDAWAY

If you need a fence built, new windows and doors installed, a fresh paint job or general residential fix-it work, Sylvan Park's erudite and cordial Jim Hardaway is your huckleberry. He's been keeping the west side of town straight and plumb since the Bee Gees raised their falsetto heads, and he doesn't show any signs of slowing down. WALTER JOWERS

BEST STRAIGHT-SHOOTING REMODELING CONTRACTOR: BRUCE MOTT

Mott is the guy who'll tell you that when he starts working on your house, there will be dust, noise and general upheaval. He'll even go ahead and tell you that remodeling is expensive, and there's no way to make it any less expensive. A load of boards costs what it costs. A gallon of paint costs what it costs. Same with labor. But when the job is done, the finished product turns out to be just about what you asked for. WALTER JOWERS

BEST HOUSEPAINTER: PAUL SLIVKA

Slivka is one of Nashville's most imaginative bass players — his goatish facial hair and sinuous grooves have accompanied the likes of Rod Picott, Amanda Shires and Elizabeth Cook — but he's also a formidable brush-man with an eye for color and an uncanny (and downright un-painterly) ability to stay sober and show up on time. Along with co-worker Dennis Murphy, Slivka's Zen-like focus is summed up by his unofficial motto: "Right now, I am painting." PAUL GRIFFITH

BEST NURSERY: BATES

Bates Nursery has all the right plants, and folks who can explain which plants are best for your yard. A trip to Bates is much more enlightening than a trip to a big-box store. If you want to buy plants from people who know the difference between cannas and cannons, Bates is the place. WALTER JOWERS

BEST BIG BUSINESS DURING THE FLOOD: PUBLIX ON HIGHWAY 100

Even when the power went out for good and floodwaters came within a few hundred feet of the Highway 100 Publix's doors, the supermarket stayed open operating on a generator, calling in extra employees from other stores, and miraculously trucking in additional shipments of ice and bottled water for several thousand unexpectedly stranded Bellevue residents. Customers showed up by foot, car and boat, and Publix employees were quick to help them with everything from finding outlets for phone chargers to giving out the latest information on passable roads. Free coffee was poured all day long and the line for it was out the door. The Highway 100 Publix staff went far above and beyond what was expected in a time of crisis, and made a scary situation a little more bearable.

LINDSAY FERRIER

BEST GREETER: HAROLD KENDRICK, MONROE CARELL JR. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT VANDERBILT

There's not much worse than having to check your child into a children's hospital. That's why Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital is lucky to have Harold Kendrick as one of the first friendly faces parents and patients see when they enter the hospital lobby. As a Guest Services representative, Kendrick handles everything from parking stamps to directions, but it's his friendliness, his compassion and his uncanny ability to remember almost everyone's name that really puts both adults and children at ease. That said, it's fitting that he's won the prestigious Commodore Award for Vanderbilt Medical Center staff. LINDSAY FERRIER

BEST AFFORDABLE WORKOUT: EAST PARK COMMUNITY CENTER

With a daily rate of $3, it's hard to beat East Park when it comes to balancing fitness and finance. While it doesn't have the amenities (some might say pretenses) of The Delta or Urban Active Fitness, the Center's mix of treadmills, recumbent bikes, elliptical trainers and free and Nautilus weights is more than adequate for the gym-rat-on-a-budget. There's also an indoor track and a lap pool (free!), and various Zumba, Yoga and Aerobics classes available for a nominal fee. Lastly, perhaps more than any eastside crew, East Park's regulars best represent that neighborhood's burgeoning diversity. PAUL v. GRIFFITH

BEST INSURANCE AGENT: ROB MITCHELL, SHELTER INSURANCE

If anyone was born to be an insurance agent, it's Rob Mitchell. Deeply involved in the community, he's passionately interested in local issues, a voracious reader on the latest insurance trends and seems to take real joy in determining the right combination of policies for his customers, who call him "a good listener," "established and knowledgeable," and "a true and trusted friend." What more could you ask for in an insurance agent? LINDSAY FERRIER

BEST NEUROSURGEON: ROBERT MERICLE, M.D.

The best isn't always necessary: A passable pizza slice at hand may well suffice over the better option across town. But when the thing being sliced is not your pizza but your skull, trust me, you want the better option. And when your brain surgery needs run vascular, there's no better option than Robert Mericle, who heads cerebrovascular neurosurgery at Vanderbilt. Mericle's boyish appearance and understated comportment thinly disguise his clinical ingenuity, technical finesse and uncommon tolerance for endless questions from justifiably apprehensive patients. Given the stakes involved, his name works pretty well, too. BRUCE BARRY

BEST LOW-INTERVENTION PRENATAL CARE: VANDERBILT MIDWIFERY CLINIC

Expecting mothers, beware: The national C-section rate has never been higher, and every wire, tube, drip and nudge to pop out your pod on a manmade schedule puts you further from the birth nature intended. But there is a way to embrace the unpredictability of childbirth without sacrificing all the modern amenities (read: painkillers). The Vanderbilt Midwifery Clinic offers just such a hybrid, mixing old-fashioned let-the-body-do-its-thing care with a state-of-the-art setting, and is an ideal solution for anyone who wishes Nashville had a birth center. Their staff has reassuringly ample control over their medicating, test-ordering trigger fingers, and a big bonus: Their laboring patients get dibs on Vandy's hydrotherapy tub. TRACY MOORE

BEST NEW MASS TRANSIT: MUSIC CITY CIRCUIT

For those Nashvillians who lament that the city lacks a comprehensive mass transit system, take note: The Music City Circuit is humming along nicely after only a few months of operation. These little blue-and-green vehicles are clean and comfortable and commandeered by pleasant drivers who know downtown. The hybrid vehicles allow downtown workers, residents and visitors to easily access SoBro, the Central Business District, North Capitol and the Gulch — and at no charge. And recently, the Metro Transit Authority, which oversees the circuit, added a lunchtime purple line to link Metro's Fulton Complex with the CBD. All aboard. WILLIAM WILLIAMS

BEST SALON EXPANSION: SALON YA YA TO GREEN HILLS

We've always suspected that this ultra-hip salon on Hillsboro Road that mixes top-notch talent with a cool, conversational vibe had plans for world domination. News of their expansion to Green Hills is proof they've thrown down the gauntlet. Owner Marilyn Lipsey's secret — aside from her perennially booked, extraordinarily gifted colorist and cutter, Courtney Krampf — is her implementation of intense, lengthy apprenticeships for all her hires, resulting in a salon where every stylist kills on cuts as much as color. And they encourage customers to try different chairs to find the one they like the most — no hard feelings. TRACY MOORE

BEST ROCK 'N' ROLL HAIRSTYLIST: JERRY CAMPBELL

Rock 'n' roll history and hairstyling are tangled at the roots. Little Richard and Chuck Berry both knew their way around a pair of clippers, and Jerry Campbell is a proud son of this same line. This former stylist from Even Salon on Elliston is currently chopping crops at Pavilion Hair Salon on Patterson Road, and his devotees testify that he never lets anyone leave the chair looking like a chump. As lead singer of Millionaire Magicians (natives will recognize him as the former frontman for Spider Virus), Campbell's stylishly shaggy mane is his salon's best advertisement, and the band's self-titled debut wows for its literate guitar-pop and epic 19-track song cycle. JOE NOLAN

BEST SALON WITH A HUMANITARIAN BENT: COGNITO

In 2002, a then-23-year-old Amanda McClanahan left balmy Bakersfield, Calif., for muggy Nashville, bringing with her a forward-thinking philosophy that's woven into every aspect of her edgy downtown salon, Cognito. Today, McClanahan boasts an intensely devoted following thanks to a portfolio that embodies Nashville chic and a location that feels like a modernist European lounge. Her substance matches her style, too: She donated hair clippings to soak up the BP oil spill and recently hosted a dance party (in the salon) to benefit Love 146, an organization fighting child exploitation. And as if her progressive and humane leanings aren't enough, she's also hip to the latest technology — not only can you book appointments online, but through Twitter. RYAN BURLESON

BEST NEW BOUTIQUE: IMOGENE + WILLIE

We're used to folks flying in for our honky-tonks and our hot chicken, but our jeans? Thanks to denim connoisseurs Matt and Carrie Eddmenson and their renovated 12South gas station, Nashville has become a top destination for denim. Though they currently draw a big out-of-town contingent, the Eddmensons are winning over locals by educating their customers on the charisma and care of raw denim — and taking the piss out of high-end boutiquing with their friendly, low-key vibe and down-home shindigs, which feature local bands, tasty brews and mobile taco truck Mas Tacos. TRACY MOORE

BEST SHORT-LIVED VINTAGE ENDEAVOR: VENUS & MARS – THE SHOWROOM

When Venus & Mars – The Showroom opened on Belmont Boulevard two years ago, the press went crazy. And not just local newsies: we're talking Vogue, people. Of course, in addition to great clothes, it helped that co-owner Amy Patterson already had a national presence (GQ twice listed her former vintage shop as one of the country's best). And it surely didn 't hurt that her business partner, Karen Elson, is a freakin' supermodel. Nevertheless, V&M has announced they're closing shop. Chalk it up to bad timing. Last year, Patterson battled (and defeated) breast cancer, while Elson got busy with her new music career. Factor in a crap economy and voila. There is a silver lining, though: The gals plan to expand their online presence soon. LIBBY CALLAWAY

BEST DESIGNER DEN MOTHER: SHEA STEELE/LOCAL HONEY

We have long harbored a massive crush on Shea Steele. Who can resist a cute redhead whose business acumen is as sharp as her sense of style? Then again, those things are to be expected from the owner of Local Honey, the 12South boutique that's home to Nashville's largest collection of local indie fashion labels, including Valentine Valentine, Jamie & the Jones, Shannon Lea and Steele's own line, White Rabbit. In July, Steele celebrated five years of cultivating the city's most promising fledgling design talent with a cupcake-and-PBR-fueled house party/fashion show. If we're lucky, there are many more of these celebrations in Local Honey's future. LIBBY CALLAWAY

BEST NEW ADDITION TO THE VINTAGE SCENE: T&P

With Venus & Mars — The Showroom, who always led local vendors in guys' stuff, closing its doors, there's a big void in the local men's vintage scene. Luckily, a new duo called T&P popped up on Nashville's secondhand radar last spring. Former Belmont roommates Luke Tidwell and Kevin Perryman debuted their curated collection of dude-friendly Americana — think Pendleton shirts, sturdy denim jeans, coolio army/navy dead stock — via an online lookbook modeled by local hipsters, their natural fan base. T&P is currently sold at Local Honey, where Renaissance man Perryman (also a popular DJ) works the counter a few days a week. LIBBY CALLAWAY

BEST WOMEN'S SHOE DEPARTMENT: DILLARD'S

Other stores sell bigger designer names, but Dillard's gets top prize for its selection of brands and variety of styles. In addition to a respectable mix of mid- to high-end lines such as Pucci, Frye, Lucky and Coach, this Mall at Green Hills shoe station is home to in-house "designers" Gianni Bini and Antonio Melani. (It's conventional wisdom in retail that shoppers feel most comfortable buying leather goods from designers with Italian-sounding names; whether they're real people or not is, of course, beside the point.) Bini and Melani offer an extensive, relatively inexpensive (most pairs under $100) selection of smart takes on big trends like ballet slippers with pyramid-style studs and high-heeled motorcycle boots. LIBBY CALLAWAY

BEST PLACE TO SCORE MINNIE PEARL'S CHANDELIER: CLEARING HOUSE CONSIGNMENT INTERIORS

Not every piece in this Belle Meade resale shop has a famous provenance, but those that do are pretty impressive. To wit: Sarah Cannon's aforementioned chandelier, a delicate iron piece we spied hanging in CHCI last summer. (Note that the staff doesn't share the names of its consignors freely; we made a lot of small talk before the light's former owner was begrudgingly revealed.) The Page Road store is packed with armoires, occasional chairs and tables, home accessories, rugs and linens. Beware: Stock moves quickly. We recently passed on a pair of Hermes beach towels for the steal price of $100. When we came back the next day ready to buy, they were gone, destined for someone else's poolside. LIBBY CALLAWAY

BEST FLOOD SALE: JAMIE

Jamie, Belle Meade's bastion of high-dollar chic, reopened after May's flood waterlogged from nearby Richland Creek — bad news for owner Jamie Stream, who had to remodel, but great news for us label snobs. To downsize her (barely) damaged stock, Stream held Nashville's sale of the year, nay, decade. We dropped just under a grand and walked away with eight current-season pieces from Vera Wang, Alberta Ferretti and Dries Van Noten with tags that originally totaled $11,000. Sadly, the likes of this bargain bonanza are a thing of the past: Jamie reopened last month without its storied "Last Chance" room, once a paradise of past-season Oscar, Donna and Calvin at 30 to 90 percent off. LIBBY CALLAWAY

BEST HANDMADE SOAP: HOPE GARDENS SOAP & TEXTILE

Even the dirtiest hippie/tree-hugging/locavore needs to scrub down sometimes — trust us, we've pushed the limits of acceptable funk and human interaction — but luckily for us, we don't have to leave the Farmers' Market to get all our sudsin' supplies. We really love Hope Gardens' almond oatmeal soap — it exfoliates like a champ — and we keep the charcoal soap over our sink so our hands don't always smell like garlic and onions. The rest of us, on the other hand ... SEAN MALONEY

BEST LIP GLOSS: THISTLE FARMS LIP SMOOTHIE

It's last December and we're looking for stocking stuffers. The young lady behind the counter at our local tchotchke shop leans over and says, "This is the best lip gloss ever." So we buy it, Festivus comes, and our recipient declares, "This is the best lip gloss ever!" Then our giftee leans in for a kiss, and we're like, "Whoa! This is the best lip gloss ever!" Smooth and tasty without being too thick or waxy, and all for a great cause — helping local women in need overcome lives of violence and prostitution. SEAN MALONEY

BEST PLACE TO FIND VINTAGE, PUNK AND HORROR T-SHIRTS: BOA

Where else in town can you buy a GG Allin onesie for your li'l punk rock tadpole? Nowhere, that's where! BOA is the latest proof that Richland Park and what we like to call the Thriftin' District is rapidly turning into the city's coolest haunt. BOA is the kind of cool rocker store that made you hate Hot Topic in the first place — cool shit as determined by cool people, not corporate hacks — and any place that has a full line of Lucio Fulci apparel is tops with us. SEAN MALONEY

BEST SHOPPING WE NEVER THOUGHT WE'D MISS: OPRY MILLS

Sure, there were cheesy tourist stores (cough — AppleBarn) but there was a lot about Opry Mills that grew on us. The Rainforest Café, Aquarium Restaurant and Build-A-Bear shop were good for whiling away a winter afternoon with children. Promise an IMAX movie and you could buy yourself 30 precious minutes at Saks Off Fifth. The Carters outlet was good for kids' clothes, and Strasburg was a sure bet for a super-special occasion outfit for Miss Precious or Master Punkin. It wasn't just about kids, either: The useful Scrub Hub and the Hanes outlet were real shopping — not tourist destinations. With Bass Pro Shop recently reopened, there's a glimmer of hope that, despite a shortfall in insurance reimbursement, Mills part-owner Simon Property Group will eventually rebuild a place that proved itself a good addition for locals and tourists alike. NICKI p. WOOD

The Sweetest Thing

MICHAEL HOWARD

By Shea Steele

Shea Steele owns and runs Local Honey, the vintage and handmade clothing store that sells the work of a handful of local designers and doubles as the nexus for the underground fashion scene. She also sells her own clothing line there, White Rabbit.

As a designer, from selecting your palette to sketching and constructing your garments, the process is personal in every way — an expression of your style, vision and personality. Just as important a part of selling your brand as the garment itself is a strong photo shoot of polished, well-conceptualized images — the extra oomph that turns the eyes of your target market and gives them the rush of lust we all know too well. In the past year, more than half of the best images produced in the local fashion scene have come from the lens of Michael Howard, an experienced wedding and portrait photographer whose recent branch into fashion has proved to be a good one. A great one, in fact. I've been fortunate to have more than my fair share of collaborations with Michael, and bright beautiful images to show for it. But aside from my own work, in a short time his portfolio has expanded to include shoots with nearly a half-dozen local designers and numerous features in local and national press, including full spreads in the current issue of Nashville Arts Magazine and the latest fashion spread in the Nashville Scene. Evidently I'm not the only one taking notice.