Best retail combo

PSYCHIC SISTER

Just as restaurants offer you fries with your burger or rice with your curry, retail shops tend to offer combinations of goods: Gift shops have cards; shoe stores have socks. But those classic combinations are nothing compared to the offerings at Psychic Sister. Sure, the vintage clothing store stocks shoes and accessories, and shop owner Sarah Adams does alterations, and not just on purchases. What really stands out, though, is the psychic part: The store offers a regular schedule of psychic readings. So if you need advice about the future and a glam new-old dress, this is the place. 109 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia - Molly Gilmore

Best beer-inspired debit card design

OBEE CREDIT UNION

This award goes to Obee Credit Union, who has brilliantly used the retired Olympia Brewery design as part of their logo for years. Now, they've stepped it up a notch by not only a creating a debit card design of the brewery building, but also Rainier beer logo, and a vintage and new  Olympia beer logo designs, cleverly labeling the line "heritage collection" for all the drunk-loving hipsters and old-school blue-collars that bank there. "I love being able to go to all the downtown bars and buy tall boys with my Rainier card," says Norm Chompsky, smiling beneath his ironic mustache. - Nikki McCoy

Best place to find rubber beads donning smiley faces plus a sandwich

SHIPWRECK BEADS

Throw me out to sea and call me a castaway; I've been officially wrecked at Lacey's ultra colossal bead super emporium, Shipwreck Beads. And it's a very good thing.

This is more than just a simple retail store. It's actually considered an attraction, too. It is 80,000 square feet (for real) of bead madness for an artist, jewelry maker and crafter. In fact, it's their nirvana. Beads of all shapes, colors, sizes, materials that come from all over the world call this place home. From the practical to the whimsical to the exotic, this isn't a boatload but a cruise shipload of beady goodness. Better: the tricks, tools, goodies and fun extras of the trade are here, too. Even the hopeless crafter (me) had access to do-it-yourself, step-by-step kits to make your own art and feel like you are totally awesome. Hungry? Pop into "The Galley" for some breakfast, lunch, treats and a variety of beverages. 8560 Commerce Dr., NE, Lacey - Kim Thompson

Best once-a-year shopping opportunity

DUCK THE MALLS

Duck the Malls, held every December at the Capitol Theater brings together a great assortment of Olympia makers selling handmade and high-quality versions of things you will find at the mall (jewelry, clothing, cards, candleholders, toys) plus an assortment of items you probably won't - elf slippers, mosaic altars, wooden swords. And instead of the food court, the theater has a bake sale of goodies made by the artists, plus the concession stand is open. It's the epitome of d.i.y. culture and shopping locally. All that, plus it's fun to explore the historic theater, and it's a fundraiser for the Olympia Film Society. 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia - MG

Best place to see a teen's head explode

OLYMPIC CARDS AND COMICS

While the outside of Lacey's Olympic Cards and Comics reminds me of a mildly cheesy indoor mini-golf course facility, inside is a whole other story. Holy Nerdgasm. Gamers, comic lovers, collectors and the downright curious, welcome to the one-stop shopping, 7,000 square foot (not kidding here) store for you. Scores of comics and graphic novels, sports cards and memorabilia, anime, action figures, board and card games, game workshops and more grab the patron's attention big time. My faves? The Game of Thrones card games, the Wonder Woman action figures, the imported Hello Kitty dressed up in samurai warrior garb and the plethora of DC Comics neatly tucked into massive racks. I also had to smile when I watched a teen's head nearly explode with happiness over the huge selection of Walking Dead merchandise; apparently zombies were never so awesome. 4230 Pacific Ave., Lacey - KT

Best thing to happen to downtown Oly businesses

THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

From sweeping alleys, to acting as extra eyes and being a familiar friendly face, downtown businesses have been benefitting from the Olympia Ambassadors. This of course, has been a pick-me-up for downtown retail. Downtown Ambassadors provide customer service, directions, and city information to all users of downtown. They have expanded their coverage to seven days a week in 2013. "I'd say the impact we've had for businesses primarily is that the Ambassadors are a resource, a connector, and a friendly face," says Rob Richards, program manager. "Sometimes all a person needs to feel better about things, even in tough times, is just knowing that somebody out there is looking out for them, and really cares." - NM

Best store to find a Popeye purse

RETAIL RETRO 360

One of the most rad features of ANY town is a great vintage shop. To me, there's nothing better than scoring a great retro find and then bragging about it. "Oh this? Well, I picked this up in Coolsville. Yeah, I know? Can you believe it?" Well, friends, the city of Lacey has its own vintage bragging rights and one gem of a vintage store. Retro 360 is neat as pin, creatively executed and just out and out gorgeous. The clothes, accessories, shoes, jewelry and other goodies of yesteryear, are well appointed, displayed with perfection and boast fair prices. The best part is in the details; groovy little goodies are tucked in every nook and cranny - a mini juke box, historic signage, and antiques - to showcase the different eras and the delightful goods. Heck, even the bathroom is something to behold. What did my eye gravitate to? The stunning, very gently used square toed flaming red patent leather Mary Janes with a hint of heel from the '80s and a glorious vintage leather Popeye purse for a steal. As Popeye says, "I ‘yam what I ‘yam" (and I ‘yam going back). 4812 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey - KT

LINK: Best of Olympia 2014

LINK: Best of Olympia 2013

LINK: Best of Olympia 2012

LINK: Best of Olympia 2011