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NBrines
Nick Brines

GAYEST & GREATEST SPOTLIGHT
One Reason to Be Proud of Pride Houston: Nick Brines
Nick Brines is the sort of person who makes you want to sit up (um) straight. Towering at six-foot-three, he can’t be missed at local Pride events. The tall blond with the au-so-courant glasses has been a visible part of Pride Houston for 13 years. (That’s right, he started when he was 10.) Brine’s obvious passion and dedication for the mission of Pride are evident as he motivates volunteers and challenges the community to support the organization after a challenging year. Brines directs most of his talent toward corporate fundraising, a thankless pursuit, so that the rest of us can celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pride in 2008.—Sally Huffer • Photo by Yvonne Feece
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BSkinner
Bob Skinner

GAYEST & GREATEST SPOTLIGHT
One Fabulous Volunteer: Bob Skinner
Bob Skinner is the producer of Drag Queen Bingo, the weekly event that takes place at JR’s Bar & Grill. For five years, on Tuesday night, 9–11 p.m., he has worked behind the scenes with glamorous co-hosts Lillian Devereaux (who is also Skinner’s spouse), SoFonda St. John, and Jessica Van Shelton. “In five years, I’ve probably only missed five or five Tuesdays.” Besides offering prizes to the winners, Drag Queen Bingo raises money for local causes—Camp Hope in October. “We pick a new charity every month,” says Skinner, an accountant by day who has volunteered in the community since 1983 (pictured between Lillian Devereaux and Carey Pope of Bering Omega Community Services, the September beneficiary). On the fourth Tuesday of the month, the beneficiary is always the emergency fund for Charles Armstrong Investments employees.
—T.B. • Photo by Dalton DeHart

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GAYEST & GREATEST BUSINESSES

Most Supportive of the GLBT Community (Local)
Male UWear (tie)
415 Westheimer • 713/527-8499
www.maleuwear.com
OutSmart (tie)
3406 Audubon • 713/520-7237
www.outsmartmagazine.com
Runners-up
Simoneaux, Frye & Thomason, PLLC
Bering Memorial United Methodist Church
Gay & Lesbian Lesbian Yellow Pages

Most Supportive of the GLBT Community (National)

Wells Fargo
Locations include 1500 Waugh • 713/284-5401 • www.wellsfargo.com
Runner-up
Continental Airlines
www.continental.com

Best (Local) GLBT Website
www.OutSmartMagazine.com
Runners-up
www.bunniesonthebayou.org
www.gayyellow.com

Best (National) GLBT Website

www.gay.com

Best Internet Provider
Comcast
713/341-1000 • www.comcast.com
Runners-up
AT&T
AOL

Best GLBT TV/Cable Channel
LOGO , Comcast Channel 160
713/341-1000 • www.comcast.com
www.logoonline.com

Best Bank/Credit Union
Washington Mutual (tie)
Locations include 4313 Montrose Blvd.• 713/624-5755 • www.wamu.com
Wells Fargo (tie)
Locations include 1500 Waugh • 713/284-5401 • www.wellsfargo.com
Runners-up
Bank of America
Chase
Wachovia

Best (Local) Financial Advisor
Rick Dickson
Citigroup Smith Barney • 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1625 • 713/821-3061 •
www.fa.smithbarney.com
Runner-up
Bill Green, Green/White Advisors

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Best Mortgage Company
Diverse Lending (tie)
2912 Bagby • 281/830-5969
www.diverselending.net
Mortgage Associates
of Texas
(tie)
3303 Louisiana, Suite 220 •
713/524-1850
www.mortgageassoc.com.
Runner-up
Countrywide

Best Title Company
Alamo Title (tie)
2801 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 100 • 713/993-2900
www.alamotitle-houston.com
StarTex Title Company (tie)
3700 Buffalo Speedway •
713/418-7000 • www.startextitle.com
Runners-up
Chicago Title
Fidelity National

Best Home Builder
Loyd Russel Homes
1934 W. Gray • 713/529-4399
www.loydrusselhomes.com
Runners-up
Allegro Homes
Aziza Homes

Best Home Remodeling Contractor
Broman Design
and Construction

1231 1/2A Yale • 713/862-2570
www.bromanconstruction.com
Runner-up
Houston Structural

Best Furniture Store
IKEA
7810 Katy Fwy. • 713/688-7867
www.ikea-usa.com/houston
Runners-up
BoConcept
Cantoni
Gallery Furniture

Best Furniture Store (On a Budget)
IKEA
7810 Katy Fwy. • 713/688-7867
www.ikea-usa.com/houston
Runners-up
Chic Warehouse
The Dump
Gallery Furniture

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Best Landscape Company

A.J.’s Landscaping & Design
1223 W. 21st St. • 713/957-0449
www.ajslandscaping.com
Runner-up
Windswept Landscape Studios

Best Garden/Nursery Supply
Buchanan’s Native Plants
611 E. 11th St. • 713/861-5702
www.buchanansplants.com
Runner-up
Home Depot
Houston Garden Center

Best Grocery Store
Kroger
Locations include 3300 Montrose Blvd. • 713/526-7865 • www.kroger.com
Runners-up
Central Market
Whole Foods Market

Best Specialty Food Store

Central Market
3815 Westheimer • 713/386-1700
www.centralmarket.com
Runner-up
Whole Foods Market

Best Liquor Store
Spec’s Liquor Stores
Including 2410 Smith • 713/526-8787
www.specsonline.com

Best Place to Buy Nutritional Products

Houston Buyers Club
3224 Yoakum Blvd. • 713/520-5288
www.houstonbuyersclub.com
Runner-up
Whole Foods Market

Best Domestic Auto Dealership
Planet Ford
20403 I-45, Spring • 281/465-3804
www.planetford.com
Runner-up
Saturn of Houston

Best Import Dealership

Advantage BMW Midtown (tie)
2101 San Jacinto • 713/289-1200
www.advantage-bmw-houston.com
Momentum BMW (tie)
10002 Southwest Fwy. • 713/596-3100
www.momentumbmw.net
Runners-up
Sterling McCall Acura
Fred Haas Toyota

Best Place to Buy Music
Soundwaves
Locations include 3509 Montrose Blvd. • 713/520-9283
www.soundwaves.com
Runners-up
Best Buy
iTunes

Best Place to Buy Books
Half Price Books
Locations include 1011 Westheimer • 713/520-1541
www.halfpricebooks.com
Runners-up
Barnes & Noble
Bookstop
Borders

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Best Place to Buy Cellular Phones
Premier Paging (tie)
12220 Murphy Rd., Suite F, Stafford • 281/575-8500
Telecom Wireless Services (tie)
12320 Bellaire • 281/568-6108
www.telecomwireless.com

Best Women’s Clothing Store
Macy’s
Locations include The Galleria
2727 Sage • 713/968-1985
www.macys.com
Runner-up
Chico’s

Best Men’s Clothing Store
M2M Fashion
3400 Montrose Blvd. • 713/521-0804
www.m2mfashion.com
Runners-up
Macy’s
Male UWear
Nordstrom

Best Jewelry Store
I.W. Marks
Locations include 3841 Bellaire Blvd. • 713/668-5000 • www.iwmarks.com
Runners-up
Fly High Little Bunny
Silverlust

Best Place to Buy Eyewear
Spectacles
4317 Montrose Blvd. • 713/529-3937
www.wearusout.com
Runners-up
Eye to Eye
Eye Elegance
Eye Contact

Best Place to Buy Pet Supplies
PetsMart
Locations include 5415 W. Loop S. • 713/661-5585 • www.petsmart.com
Runner-up
Petco

Best Antiques Store
Moxie
2307 Dunlavy • 713/807-7994
Runners-up
Aunt Mike’s in the Heights
Heights Antiques

Best Resale Shop
Buffalo Exchange
Locations include 1618 Westheimer • 713/523-8701
www.buffaloexchange.com
Runners-up
Legacy Resale
The Guild Shop

Best Place to Buy Erotic Playthings
Hollywood Super Center
2409 Grant • 713/527-8510
Runners-up
Black Hawk Leather
Eros 1207

Best Place to Buy Drag Essentials

Jewel’s Boutique
2404 Taft • 713/523-3557
www.crossdressersboutique.com
Runners-up
Erotic Cabaret
Wigmart

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Best Catering Firm
Don Carlos Catering
1445 Yale • 713/869-5002
www.doncarloscatering.com
Runners-up
Absolutely Divine
Jackson & Co.

Best Tattoo Parlor
Electric Chair
8722 Richmond • 713/780-3500
www.electricchair.cc
Runners-up
Sacred Heart Studio
Scorpion Studios
Shaw’s Tattoo Parlor

Best Dry Cleaners

West Gray Cleaners
303 W. Gray • 713/522-2850
Runner-up
Image Cleaners

Best Day Spa
Metro His Spa (tie)
2606 Grant • 713/526-3876
www.metrospa4men.com
White, A Salon
& Skin Care Center
(tie)
320 W. Gray • 713/524-7100
www.whitesalon.com

Best Cosmetic Skin Care Center
Skin Renaissance Laser Center
106 Westheimer • 713/942-7546
Runner-up
Skin Renewal Center

Best Tanning Salon
Darque Tan (tie)
2907 S. Shepherd • 713/528-2663
www.darquetan.com
Tanacious Tanning (tie)
1216 Westheimer • 713/942-8267
Runners-up
Eclipse Sunless Tanning

Best Gym/Place to Work Out

Fitness Exchange
401 Branard • 713/524-9932
www.fitnessexchangehouston.com

Runners-up
Houston Gym
24-Hour Fitness

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Best Local B&B
The Lovett Inn
501 Lovett Blvd. • 713/522-5224
www.lovettinn.com

Best Local Hotel
Hotel Icon
220 Main • 713/224-4266
www.hotelicon.com
Runners-up
Hotel Derek
Hotel ZaZa

Best Airline
Continental Airlines
www.continental.com
Runner-up
Southwest Airlines

Best Local Travel Agency

Concierge Travel
4920 Mimosa • 713/661-2117
www.conciergetravel.cc

Best Travel Website
www.Orbitz.com
Runners-up
www.Expedia.com
wwww.Travelocity.com

Best GLBT Cruise or Tour Company
Atlantis (tie)
www.atlantisevents.com
RSVP (tie)
www.rsvpvacations.com
Runner-up
Olivia

Best Car Rental Agency
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Locations include 3709 Washington • 713/868-1063 • www.Enterprise.com
Runner-up
Hertz

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PeopleCommunityBusinesses/ServicesDiningAfter DarkGalveston

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