My mind has been thoroughly blown by this musical behemoth! Thought I stumped the thing but apparently just looked in the wrong section. While their prices aren't as "amazingly low" as advertised (c'mon, $11 for a USED CD? Perhaps I'll try my hand at vinyl), I'd keep coming back to this for my aural needs, because the staff with whom my friends and I interacted were actually quite helpful and not snobby at all. Instantly smitten, I almost blew a wad on some choice box sets...the only shop from whom I'd consider buying promo merch.

The diminutive shop on the lovely Plaza Citlaltépetl provides a relaxed ambiance in which you can peruse design magazines, check out street duds or have a listen to any available album at one of four retro-fitted listening stations. From time to time, Discoteca also hosts intimate concerts with local bands; check online or stop by for more info.

Fancy Tiger is a neat place to get your local wares and fosters a sense of community. It seems that everybody in there knows everybody; if not, you probably will soon, either because you're checking out the same item or you're taking a class together. Everything is very cute.

and more," so the site says. I first popped by to check out Acuarela Records' 15th anniversary party, and was pleasantly surprised by the intimate setting. Upon entering you first notice the register/cafe area in the middle, surrounded by shelves of fiction, design/art, poetry and autobiography. La Buena Vida also sells the odd CD and DVD selected, I'm sure, by personal preference, so you really get the feeling of love put into the entire endeavor. Perhaps if I were ever to open up a shop, it would be quite similar to this one.