Shopping in Fremont

One of the largest comic shops in the Bay area, Illusive carries trading cards, games, and a wealth of popular and independent titles. The family-friendly store slings publications for all ages, introducing eager eyes to classic superheroes as well as a plethora of fresh characters, dot-grained in shiny new inks (most comics range from $2.99–$3.99). A 2,000-square-foot floor greets all of the Wednesday comic deliveries from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and more, which, after harmless hazing, find homes alongside graphic novels (starting at $9.99) from Spiegelman to Ware, booster packs ($3.99 each) for card games such as Magic: The Gathering and World of Warcraft, and a selection of traditional and designer board games.

With spring spreading like a bag of spilled gravy, now is the ideal time to throw open the windows and get home-care projects underway. Pick up a Stanley six-piece screwdriver set for $6.99, a VPT rip hammer for $8.49, and a whole bunch of screws, anchors, and bolts (prices vary), and you'll be ready to finally mount every buffalo nickel and steel penny in your coin collection. Illuminate the newfound décor with a 12-pack of Ace light bulbs ($21.48), the better to see by as you make use of a Purdy four-piece premium paint-tray kit ($19.99). If you need to match paint to a favorite coverlet or choose a hue that complements a pleather recliner, each store offers a paint-matching service free of charge. Get keys made for $1.99 a pop, or clean a barnacle-encrusted carpet with the help of a carpet-cleaning machine ($30 a day to rent).

Both Ibiss locations are friendly, simple storefronts with whitewashed walls that allow the vibrant palette of clothes and accessories to pop like a paint-filled balloon. For those who enjoy the latest dresses, outerwear, and accessories, and savor the soft drape of a skirt or the telltale glint of a wrist-bauble, Ibiss provides a heaping treasure trove of affordable delights. Garment prices are under $100, and more often than not, form an irregular bell skewed toward the low end, similar to the ACT scores of howler monkeys. Tops range from $20 to $49, and jackets from $38 to $78. Dresses ($28–$78) cover the stylish gamut from full-length sequin affairs for peacocking at prom, to trendy daywear and demure church-going duds. Brands such as Kersh, Collective Concepts, BLANK denim, Audrey 3+1, and Minuet line the walls, while handmade jewelry ($5–$48) is draped alongside sandals, handbags, and other accessories. Take a look at Ibiss trends, including upcoming Parisian vintage finds, on Ibiss' Facebook page.

Established in San Jose in 2006, Premier recently moved to new digs in downtown Palo Alto. Premier offers premium footwear, clothing, and accessories in a range of well-known brands, such as Nike and Adidas, as well as newer brands such as Creative Recreation and Supra. Show your sports loyalty with the Nike Auto Flight High ($90) in Miami-Dolphins orange and white, or slip digits into boat-shoe-style Toms ($54), just right for sailing the world in a hand-carved dugout.

Regan Nursery is a full-service garden center that boasts a massive selection of roses alongside a wide variety of other plants such as hydrangeas, trees, water plants, fruits, vegetables, and more. Though science has already proven that violets are not blue (they're violet), Regan's more than 1,000 featured rose varieties (starting at $32.99) finally lay to rest the theory that all roses are red. The roses featured in the nursery literally take on a life of their own; they can spring up to greet you with an Aloha, glisten in the late afternoon like an Amber Sunblaze, or strike vivid flashbacks of that one April in Paris when you saw that guy do that thing.

Romi Boutique's wide range of head-turning garb spices up any wardrobe without dousing it in a chipotle marinade. As they shop, visitors will enjoy a charming interior packed to the brim with a variety of fashion-forward styles teleported back from the future, including designer selections such as Red Engine denim, Charlotte Tarantino sweaters, Kim Culture jewelry, Beryll sunglasses, and steel armor blouses. The carpeted dressing room's billowing curtains allow for dramatic unveilings as you model fetching scarves ($40–$250), edgy T-shirts ($30–$140), and sexy jeans ($150–$260). Romi's style-conscious staff of fashionable advisors will help customers discover the most eye-catching threads among its overstuffed inventory, and will also make sure less fashionably intuitive customers don’t leave wearing a pair of handbags as shoes.