Shopping in Calabasas

Collector's Paradise Comics & Gallery stuffs itself wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with more time-travel and evil-origin subplots than all the shops of the Megaverse combined. All comics comfortably coexist amongst shelves, including major publishers like Marvel and independents like Image, with every Top Cow, Dark Horse, and Archie in between. Indulge your tastes with the wildly popular (Batman Lovers six-comic collection, $30), the lovingly obscure (one of 500 copies of the graphic novelization of Kevin's Smith's unproduced Green Hornet film, $10), and the possibly functional (Lantern Corps colored ring set, $10), among much, much more. In all, the store encompasses 2,400 square feet of comics and graphic novels, action figures, posters, and much more. It is one of the oldest and largest comic-centric stores in the San Fernando Valley. Collector's Paradise also plays host to numerous in-store events, signings, and exhibitions.

Jackalope's buyers travel the world to curate an exotic collection of home and garden accessories, filling their boutique with ornamentations from Asia, Mexico, and towns across the globe. The eclectic décor, which has been featured on HGTV's The Outdoor Room, spills out from the multicolored store into a peaceful outdoor oasis teeming with intricate pottery, stone statues, and dulcet wind chimes. Fountains gurgle as eyes take in the sun-soaked scene of vividly colored pots, sculptures, and gleeful Buddha figurines that counsel garden gnomes on how to achieve enlightenment.

Before making his away across the country to own and operate Fleet Feet Sports' Encino-based shop, Trey Barnes developed a passion for running in his native North Carolina. Now, the avid marathoner and his team of dedicated gazelles help fitness buffs find the appropriate gear to match their routines and ability levels. By carefully accessing specific foot types and gait cycles, staffers can match customers with a brand-name solemate to cradle their feet during long jogs or power strolls, and a hearty stock of technical gear keeps men and women comfy in weather-appropriate attire. Meanwhile, the store's calendar of events stays up-to-date on races, marathon training, and fun runs.