SHOPPING

Best Fashion Trend: The newest trend in fashion sounds like a culinary term, but going vegan can also refer to your closet. Equita (an Italian word meaning "fairness") is a Lawrenceville shop that focuses on selling cutting-edge designs that are eco-friendly and sweatshop-free, and geared toward fostering fair trade and sustainable employment in developing countries around the world. Equita's fashion-forward merchandise includes labels that adhere to using organic materials. 100 43rd St., Lawrenceville; 412/353-0109, shopequita.com. - R.R.

Best Tea Assortment: Coffee, tea or me? The answer is obvious at Marktfrau, Inc., a tea lover's paradise that has moved front and center in Wexford's Country Inn Shoppes on Perry Highway. Owner Betsy Hollweck once worked in Germany at the Viktualienmarkt in Munich, hence the store name. The global tea village offers white, green, oolong and black brews - in bulk or bags - from India, China, Japan, Britain and South America. Taste the many exquisite blends, including Jasmine Phoenix Pearls or Organic Silver Needles, both $14.95 for two ounces. Tea partiers also will find tea stationery, teapots, tea sets and even tea stirrers made of crystallized sugar. Take your libation up a notch by adding one of Marktfrau's flavored honeys, including mango mania, wild watermelon and sour grape. Country Inn Shoppes, 10441 Perry Highway, Wexford; 724/934-5828, marktfrau.com. - J.T.

Best Pint-Sized Ride: Smart on gas, smart for parking (two cars fit into an average spot), smart cars have been a hit in 37 countries around the world. Not to mention they're irresistibly cute. The "smart fortwo" is aptly named because it's a car built, well "for two." But they're amazingly comfortable, even for tall folks, and surprisingly safe. A joing design venture of Swatch (of Swatch watches fame) and Mercedes-Benz, the smart car is the only currently produced car on display in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City. In Pittsburgh, get 'em exclusively on the fifth floor of the Mercedes-Benz of Pittsburgh dealership in Shadyside. 4709 Baum Blvd; 412/688-7000, smartcenterpittsburgh.com, smartusa.com. - J.W.

Best New Upscale Grocery: McGinnis Sisters has been a longtime favorite with food lovers for its specialty goods as well as for its attention to details - like great meat and cheese departments and a full-service bakery. A newly opened location in Adams Township makes the store's gourmet offerings accessible to those who live north of the city (the current two locations are south and east of town). This new 17,000-square-foot store also has a café with free wireless Internet and cozy seating. 700 Adams Shoppes, Adams Township, Butler County; mcginnis-sisters.com. - K.C.

Best High-End Place Settings: The best example of "great taste" for dinner guests (besides the food) is in the place setting. Contemporary Concepts helps customers, including a huge bridal-registry clientele, set a dramatic table with an exceptional selection of high-end offerings from lines such as Simon Pearce, Heath Ceramics, Versace, Anna Weatherly, Limoges, William Yeoward and Sambonet. The second-generation business provides personalized guidance to achieve each customer's desired style. Duncan Manor Shopping Center, McCandless; 412/635-0122; 5820 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill; 412/521-2500; contemporaryconcepts.com. - J.W.

Best Toy Store: Have you ever gazed in wonder at the magical rows of toys and overstuffed, life-sized animals at the FAO Schwartz toy store in New York City? There's something so whimsical about it, no matter what age you are. Luckily, thanks to downtown's S.W. Randall Toyes & Giftes, which has been open for 38 years and is owned by local businessman Jack Cohen, you can get that same feeling in Pittsburgh. Here, wooden nesting dolls and marionettes dance overhead to the sound of music boxes. Climb to the second floor and enter a universe of puzzles, Slinkys, kites, trains, Legos and toy soldiers. It's especially magical around the holidays. 630 Smithfield St., downtown; 412/562-9252. - Amanda Hoover

Readers' Poll: Best Grocery Store: "Yinz goin' food shoppin' dahnna Iggle?" If you're from the Pittsburgh area, chances are the answer is yes. Giant Eagle ranks high on the list of Pittsburgh icons, right "uppair" with pierogies and Myron Cope. Locations range from colossal supermarkets to simple convenience stores and everything in between. With additional services such as dry cleaning, on-site child supervision and fuelperks!, it's easy to see why Giant Eagle Inc. has become the No. 1 supermarket retailer in the region. So, next Sunday, when your pantry "needs filled," grab a "buggy" at Giant Eagle..."n'at." Info: gianteagle.com - B.S. Readers' Poll: Best Health-Food Store: What began as one small store in Austin, Texas, blossomed into Whole Foods Market, a leading retailer of natural and organic foods. For you "localvores" who have cultivated the need for more Western Pennsylvania-area food in your diet, Whole Foods supports local growers by selling their fruits, veggies, fresh flowers and herbs. Want to do your part in reducing, reusing and recycling while food-hunting? Whole Foods encourages its patrons to BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag(s). 5880 Centre Ave., East Liberty; 412/441-7960, wholefoodsmarket.com. - A.H. Readers' Poll: Best Local Furniture Store: Wait - we're not supposed to be hip, are we? Then what are readers doing choosing Perlora as the Best Local Furniture Store? The ultra-cool Perlora is one of the names in modern (but comfortable) furnishings in our area, with one of Pittsburgh's most memorable advertising campaigns. The Perlora emphasis is not on style without substance, though, as it is known for carrying only quality furnishings and accessories, many of them surprisingly affordable. Owners Perry and Lora Sigesmund (the "Per" and "Lora" in "Perlora") are simply heroes to Pittsburgh design lovers. 2220 E. Carson St., South Side; 412/431-2220; Perlora Leather, 2837 Smallman St., Strip District; 412/434-7425, perlora.com. - J.W.

WORST OFS:

Worst Accident Waiting to Happen: Bicyclists who take over sidewalks and don't warn pedestrians they're approaching.
Worst Excuse for a Bike Lane: Painted lane in Bloomfield; motorists disregard it.
Worst (Most Dangerous) Bus Stop: Along Penn Avenue near 16th Street, Strip District.
Worst Smell: Alcosan from Brighton Heights.
Worst Loss to the Literary World: The closing of mainstay Jay's Book Stall on Fifth Avenue in Oakland after owner Jay Dantry's retirement.
Readers' Poll: Worst Traffic Bottleneck: Parkway East/Squirrel Hill tunnels.
Readers' Poll: Worst Thing About Pittsburgh: The weather.
Readers' Poll: Worst Pothole: P.J. McArdle Roadway on the way down - (there are seven hubcaps on the fence).
Readers' Poll: Worst Day to Take the T: St. Patrick's Day during the festivities.

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