Shopping in Aldine

More than 40 years ago, Daniel Boone Cycles began as a backyard operation as Joy and Dan Boone and their seven children started refurbishing used bikes to augment their income. Over the years, their little shop grew and evolved, becoming known throughout the cycling community as the place to go for rare, high-end bicycles and parts. Now, their inventory includes Specialized and Bianchi bikes, as well as tandems, recumbents, and special-order brands from Strida to Kestrel, all still located in the family’s backyard. The mechanics can custom-build frames to any specifications, short of attaching an E.T. to them, and perform bike fittings for riders to ensure their chosen steed is suited to their body for comfort.

Local artists and well-known personalities also influenced the shop: the flying-wheel logo was drawn by Adventure Cycling Association cofounder Greg Siple, and the ironwork at the shop’s entrance was constructed by artist and former bike-shop owner Lee Benner. In continuing with the family’s involvement with the bicycle community, Joy is in the process of raising money for a bicycle museum that she plans to construct on a parcel of her own land.

Amid the staccato snips of clippers and the scents of lilies and daisies, Laura Platas and her team of floral artists arrange fresh bouquets. A catalog of premade designs serves as a jumping-off point for custom arrangements, which clients can personalize with baby’s breath, roses, and tufts of ferns. Displayed in selections from a range of vases, the colorful bundles are ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, and attempts to distract bees from rude pamphlets about their queen. The florists, who speak English and Spanish, also specialize in event decorations and wedding arrangements.

Cubbies filled with colorful skeins of yarn line a long wall at The Social Knitwork, where owner Chris Rogers shares her lifelong passion and natural knack for all things knitted. From the tender age of 8, Chris regularly wielded knitting and crocheting needles and, more than four decades later, helms a space for knitting and crocheting enthusiasts to buy supplies, enroll in classes, and craft harmless yarn dynamite. Courses, suited for crafters of all ages and experience levels, teach methods ranging from the fundamentals to more advanced techniques.

Wireless & More's technicians fix glitches and address issues on phones of all types, providing services for T-Mobile, Cricket, and Apple phones. As an authorized dealer for a variety of service providers, the store can outfit clients with the mobile phone that suits their needs. Current cell-owners can browse accessories ranging from car chargers and headphones to miniature radio antennas.