Shopping in Mountlake Terrace

In 1991, comic experts Marv Brost and Steve Beard decided Seattle needed a new outlet for mainstream, underground, and adult comics, and Comic Dungeon was born. Now owned by family oriented enthusiast Scott Tomlin, the store focuses on new and vintage comics and has attracted visits from illustrators and writers across the business. The store's shelves host scores of inky adventures, ranging from the whiz-bang derring-do of superheroes from the Green Lantern and Spider-Man to the surreal grabbed-from-TV exploits of Finn and Jake in Adventure Time. In addition to newly featured merchandise, Comics Dungeon also honors time-tested plotlines in the form of anthologies, graphic novels, and etchings on the front of old VHS tapes.

Richard Jamieson's childhood spent in his grandparent's log cabin had a strong influence on his career. It instills his pieces of hand-hewn furniture with a rustic, old-school aesthetic also displayed by the three NFL players who still wear a leather, facemaskless helmet. As a former USMC officer, renowned marksman, sawmill operator, and world traveler, the carpenter draws from a lifetime of adventure to create intricate latticework carvings and exotic monsoon wood.

As he shapes his materials into dinner tables, drawers, and bed posts, Jamieson animates an ecologically sustainable philosophy. He retrieves his wood from responsible sources such as salvaged teak, overshading mango trees, and invasive meh trees that overrun Javan rainforests without even offering to pay part of the rent. The designer infuses each piece with a masterful craftsmanship that can impart not only an artistic composition, but long-lasting solid wood construction. Jamieson adds strong dovetail joints and a 10-step hand-finishing process that protect the luxurious planks of tropical hardwood for years to come.

At Spex in the City, Dr. Mark J. Hamilton and Dr. Cathy Tran lead their team in framing faces with trendy yet functional eyewear. The optometric physicians begin by examining eyes and conjuring up prescriptions that correct nearsighted, farsighted, or age-related vision problems, as well as those caused by wearing View-Masters as glasses. From there, frame stylists step in to help clients select complementary frames from D&G, Oakley, Tom Ford, and other major designers. Technicians at the in-house laboratory can craft the custom eyewear in as little as one hour, treating Zeiss prescription lenses with luxurious extras such as progressive thickness, antiglare coating, and the ability to discern dreams from reality.:

Coco Chanel once mused, "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury." The staff at Opal Boutiques takes its cue from this fashion icon, outfitting three stores with colorful displays of clothing that effortlessly emanate elegance but are comfortable enough for everyday wear. These pieces hail from renowned brands such as Joe's Jeans, Juicy Couture, and Marc Jacobs, forging a trendy inventory that has helped earn the boutique accolades from Seattle magazine and a cold shoulder from Popular Mechanics.

Sprouting orchids fill the nursery at Emerald City Orchids and enchant visitors with a colorful bouquet of rare, imported, and locally grown specimens. Staff members deftly navigate the canopy of petals, helping hobbyists or green-thumbed experts pick out a particular species and arranging individual stems within decorative pots. Education is also a priority for the shop, which features informative reading materials on how to properly care for orchids and how to tell whether she loves you or loves you not without actually damaging a flower. Surrounded by the tropical ambiance of fragrant orchid blooms, the nursery's café area stimulates senses with the scent of percolating coffee, sweet pastries, and a selection of beers and wines.