Wrap it up

The 10 best gift shops in Dallas solve every pesky present problem

When our calendars get filled with birthdays, bridal showers and housewarming parties, we sometimes get stumped about where to buy a gift. And what do you get the friend who has everything?

Luckily, Dallas is well-stocked with shops that provide a plethora of perfect presents. These are our favorite gift shops in Dallas.

Artisan's Collective
This Bishop Arts gallery and shop showcases an assortment of affordable fine art, crafts and jewelry created by more than 150 Dallas artists, including Reed Hoover, Ted Matthews, Brice McCasland, Irma Ramirez and Manuel Sarmiento. It's just the right spot to pick up a painting, sculpture or piece of jewelry for your artsy friend who wants to support the local scene.

Forty Five Ten
Aside from the fine selection of couture clothing, Brian Bolke's boutique has an elegant selection of fine jewelry, coffee table books, candles, frames and home decor. Whether shopping for a fashionista or a yogi, Forty Five Ten has something for her. Our favorite gifts include Ippolita bracelets, Diptyque candles and the Kelly Wearstler hand sculpture — or, really, any sculpture by Wearstler.

Froggie's 5 & 10
This quaint Knox Street toy store has everything to stimulate a child's imagination. Discover puzzles, craft kits, action figures, Slinkys, Hello Kitty, dinosaurs and so much more. If you've been searching for a particular nostalgic toy, Froggie's 5 & 10 probably has it. Fair warning: It's hard to make it out of the store in less than an hour.

Grange Hall
The dark and moody ambiance of this shop reflects the gothic and mysterious qualities of the eclectic merch. Grange Hall is a veritable treasure chest filled with funky table sculptures, edgy jewelry and accessories, skulls, and other funky finds. Among our favorites are the beaded clutches, snake rings and Astier de Villatte Paris teacups.

Iota
Owners Dan Dean and Mickey Miller have filled their store — a "museum store without the museum," as Miller calls it — with one-of-a-kind pieces of contemporary art in clay, glass, metal, wood and mixed media. Shop for Karen Shapiro’s quirky ceramic sculptures of everyday objects (like Prozac capsules and Band-Aid boxes) or the jewelry creations of artists like Kathy Frey and Sydney Lynch.

Madison
This chic Highland Park Village boutique is fully stocked with luxurious items for your most sophisticated family and friends. Stock their bar with William Yeoward crystal, accessorize their table with monogrammed linen dinner napkins, or keep them warm with a cashmere throw. Madison carries gifts for men, women and babies. Plus it has a bridal registry.

Nasher Sculpture Center Store
The Nasher Sculpture Center is one of our favorite destinations for a fine-art fix. At the Nasher Sculpture Center store, we can buy a gift as unique as the sculpture within the walls. Choose from exquisite vases, coffee table books, jewelry, children's toys and housewares.

Nest
Nest carries an incredible selection of gifts for the home. Think bold Silicone coasters, blown glass vases, Missoni Home throws, puzzles and Christian Lacroix candles. But as much as we obsess over the giftables, Nest is at the top of our list because of the Bell'Invito shop-within-a-shop. Order custom letterpress stationery or pick up a stack ready for writing. These make excellent gifts too.

Nuvo
Nuvo is a one-stop-shop for all manner of gifts and greeting cards. It's the only complete Acme Studio Boutique in the United States, offering pens and card cases. Plus Nuvo stocks watches and jewelry, money clips, hand-etched barware, home fragrances, handbags, books — essentially an unrivaled assortment of pocketbook-friendly presents for absolutely anyone.

We are 1976
We love to learn at We are 1976's crafty classes, but this Henderson Avenue store is also a must-shop for anyone who adores cultural collectibles. Siamese cat ring? English bulldog screen print? Pocket-friendly C.I. Boys animal series? Bento lunchbox? Yes, you can find it all — and more — here.

Madison was inspired by the chic shops on Madison Avenue in New York City.

Photo courtesy of Highland Park Village

Madison was inspired by the chic shops on Madison Avenue in New York City.

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Burger Battle Royale

Get your grub on with the 5 best burgers in Dallas

Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House Facebook

Goodfriend gets creative with its burgers, like the Big Tex with white cheddar, Texas chili and crispy onion strings. A great patio and a ton of great beer round out the experience.

As our Best of Everything series comes to an end, we thought we would go with a topic that very few people care about: burgers. Namely, the five best burgers in Dallas.

A couple of criteria: These joints had to be from Dallas originally, so places like Hopdoddy’s were out, even though Hopdoddy’s could’ve made this list. The other criterion was that we made sure to not put your favorite burger joint on here. Just because.

So here they are, in alphabetical order: the five best burgers in Dallas.

Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
This Park Cities joint has been around awhile for good reason. Yes, they put mayonnaise on the burgers, which ought to be grounds for disqualification — and it would be if it didn’t all just work so well. There’s a char on the edges that gives the patty some texture without that heavy char flavor. Add in cheddar, toasted poppy seed bun and all the toppings, and you have a burger in which each element acts like an instrument in a song. Put some shoestring onions on the burger if you ever thought about playing the keytar.

Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House
Great patio? Check. Dedication to craft beers? Bingo. Those are big draws to this neighborhood joint in East Dallas, but people come back because the burgers are really good. And really inventive. Like the Redneck, a beef burger with crispy Rudolph’s bologna, redneck cheddar, red onion, lettuce and Miracle Whip, or the Pepper Bomb with spicy house harissa, roasted tomatoes, lettuce and chipotle cheddar. They’re not as cheap as the other burgers on this list, but they’re also getting a bit crazier. And, as anyone who has ever dated someone with a few screws loose can tell you: crazy will cost you.

Keller’s Drive-In
This drive-in on Northwest Highway is as old-school as it gets, with dirt-cheap burgers — go with the double-patty, double-cheese No. 5 special for $2.49 — and tater tots with melted cheese sent from the gods or Idaho. The fact that there are neon signs everywhere and you can have beer brought to your truck (always a truck) just adds to the charm.

Maple & Motor
Maple & Motor got its big moment when Guy Fieri came to town for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, but we still like this place anyway. The line is usually out the door come lunchtime, but it moves fast, so you won’t have to wait long for your burger. (And don’t even try to sit down before you order.) With a touch of char for added flavor and crunch, the fatty patties are more medium-well than some of the others on this list, if that’s your thing; just tell them “no pink.” Of course, you should throw some Wright Brand bacon on it. And charred jalapeños.

Off-Site Kitchen
Some people think that this is the ninth hottest burger joint in America, and it’s tough to deny the buzz surrounding the little building on the outskirts of the Design District. We still think Eater is a little nuts, but we would be equally nuts if OSK weren’t on this list. The patty is thick and juicy, if a little small, and the toasted bun provides the right ratio of bread to everything else. That ratio is paramount to a truly enjoyable burger. Too little bread and you’re dealing with a slip-and-slide disaster. Too much and you’re eating bread with some other stuff on it.

The No. 5 at Keller's is a steal at $2.49. Throw in a longneck of Bud Heavy and some cheesy tots, and there's nowhere else to be.

Hamburger America

The No. 5 at Keller's is a steal at $2.49. Throw in a longneck of Bud Heavy and some cheesy tots, and there's nowhere else to be.

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