People, Politics & Media

Best radio station for music: KEXP-FM (90.3)

Best local morning radio show: John in the Morning on KEXP-FM (90.3)

Best local talk radio host: Steve Scher, Weekday, KUOW-FM (94.9)

Best local TV personality: John Curley, Evening Magazine, KING

Best daily newspaper: The Seattle Times

Best daily newspaper columnist: Nicole Brodeur

Best religious leader: The Very Rev. Michael G. Ryan, Pastor, St. James Cathedral

Best local Web site: seattle.craigslist.org

Best local blog: www.horsesass.org

Best local politician: Rep. Jim McDermott

Best activist/hell-raiser: Tim Eyman

Best local celebrity: Bill and Melinda Gates

Best local sports star: Ichiro Suzuki

Best local cause: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Best local scandal: SEATTLE Monorail PROJECT

Best place to work: Microsoft

Best viaduct solution: Tunnel

Food & Drink

Best happy hour: McCormick and Schmick’s

Best specialty cocktail: Tini Bigs’ Burning Man–Tini

Best gay bar: Neighbours

Best bartender: Aaron at Tini Bigs

Best local wine shop: Pete’s Wine Shop

Best pub: George & Dragon

Best local microbrew: Manny’s Pale Ale by Georgetown Brewing Company

Best independent coffeehouse: Kaladi Brothers Coffee

Best local chef: Tom Douglas

Best new restaurant in the last year: Crush

Best vegetarian food: Cafe Flora

Best splurge: Salty’s Brunch Buffet

Best outdoor cafe: Agua Verde

Best restaurant for a first date: Bleu Bistro

Best restaurant for a last date: Dick’s Drive-In

Best 24-hour restaurant: 13 Coins

Best downtown breakfast: Macrina Bakery & Cafe

Best pizza: Pagliacci Pizza

Best hot dog: Costco

Best barbecue: Jones BarbeQue

Best cheese shop: Beecher’s in Pike Place Market

Best local bakery: Macrina Bakery & Cafe

Best gourmet burger: Red Mill Burgers

Best local candy: Fran’s Chocolates

Best non–Pike Place farmers market: Ballard Sunday Farmers Market

Best taco truck: Taqueria Los Patrillos

Best pho: Than Brothers Pho

Best sushi: Wasabi Bistro

Best place to break the 25-foot rule: Anywhere and everywhere

Arts & Entertainment

Best local performing artist: Marya Sea Kaminski

Best local painter or sculptor: Dale Chihuly

Best public artwork: Fremont Troll

Best local arts organization: Seattle International Film Festival

Best independent bookstore: Elliott Bay Book Co.

Best movie theater: Cinerama

Best local video store: Scarecrow

Best place to get foreign videos: Scarecrow

Best independent music store: Easy Street Records

Best local music label: Sub Pop Records

Best rock club: The Showbox

Best piano bar: Daniel’s Broiler

Best DJ: DJ Bryce

Best classical instrumentalist: Byron Schenkman

Best local dance troupe: Pacific Northwest Ballet

Best theater company: Intiman Theatre

Best street performer: Artis The Spoonman

Best burlesque performer: Go-Go Amy

Best after-hours hot spot: Noc Noc

Best free activity: Walking

Urban Living

Best reason to stay in Seattle: Natural Beauty

Best reason to emigrate: Weather

Best place to pick someone up: Grocery Store

Best neighborhood: (tie) Ballard and Capitol Hill

Best neighborhood for a strip club: Capitol Hill

Best place to send tourists: Elsewhere

Best local public school: Garfield High School

Best local private school: Lakeside School

Best language school: Seattle Language Academy

Best day care: Pike Place Market Child Care and Preschool

Best scooter shop: Vespa

Best bike repair: Gregg’s Cycle

Best import store: Cost Plus World Market

Best local beach: Alki Beach

Best local nursery: Swanson’s Nursery

Best P-Patch garden: Belltown

Best thrift store: Value Village

Best boutique: The IndustRy

Best hair salon: Quint Eby Salon

Best tattoo/piercing parlor: Slave to the Needle

Extras

Best place to pretend you’re not in Seattle: alki beach

Best new thing you discovered in Seattle in the last year: Elliott Bay Water Taxi