The issue of the readers, by the readers, for the readers
It’s that time of year again — a time when we let you, the reader, determine the best our fair city has to offer, from all-you-can-eat deals and fine dining to church picnics and strip clubs. We welcome your votes, even when we seriously disagree, and we present the winners in these pages without interference, aside from correcting the occasional mangled word (it turns out very few people can spell Muhammad Ali or Peter Berkowitz correctly).
But did you honestly think we would be willing to relinquish all editorial control? Of course not. And so this year, LEO writers weigh in as well, presenting our own picks in some rather unorthodox categories. After all, where else are you going to learn about the best places to take a romantic stroll and watch drunken frat boys vomit?
Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to our readers for caring enough about Louisville to log on and vote.
And now for the winners ...
ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
Best Annual Festival
1) Kentucky Derby Festival
2) St. James Art Fair
3) Forecastle
Best Art Gallery
1) 21c Museum Hotel
2) Speed Art Museum
3) Tim Faulkner Gallery
Best Blues Band
1) Lamont Gillispie & the 100 Proof Blues Band
2) Hellfish
3) Da Mudcats
Best Bowling Alley
1) Kingpin Lanes
2) Vernon Lanes
3) Ten Pin Lanes
Best Charitable Event
1) Crusade for Children
2) Cabo Wabo
3) The Taste of the Grapevine
Best Church Picnic
1) St. Joseph Orphan’s Picnic
2) St. Agnes
3) St. Rita
Best Comedian
1) Kent Carney
2) Andrew Bailey
3) Jacob Williams
Best Country/Western Band
1) Olivia Henken Band
2) Johnny Berry & the Outliers
3) Black Mudd
Best Cover Band
1) Eight Inch Elvis
2) Olivia Henken Band
3) Rocktimus Prime
Best Film Festival
1) Flyover Film Festival
2) Derby City Film Festival
3) 48 Hour Film Project
Best Hip-Hop Artist/Group
1) Villebillies
2) Nappy Roots
3) Code Red
Best Jazz Artist
1) Harry Pickens
2) Dick Sisto
3) Craig Wagner
Best Live Music Venue
1) Louisville Palace
2) Headliners
3) Zanzabar
Best Live Theater
1) Actors Theatre
2) Louisville Palace
3) Alley Theater
Best Movie Theater
1) Baxter Avenue Theatres
2) Rave Motion Pictures Stonybrook
3) Tinseltown
Best Museum
1) Speed Art Museum
2) Frazier International
History Museum
3) Louisville Science Center
Best Music Festival
1) Forecastle
2) HullabaLOU
3) Abbey Road on the River
Best Original Band
1) Wax Fang
2) My Morning Jacket
3) Cougar Express
Best Performing Arts Group
1) Actors Theatre
2) Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble
3) Louisville Ballet
Best Promoter
1) Production Simple
2) Terry Harper
3) Mr. and Mrs. Smith PR
Best Public Mural
1) Louisville Palace Lobby Bar
2) Muhammad Ali Center
3) Highlands Mural at Wick’s
Best Public Sculpture
1) Abraham Lincoln
2) The Thinker at U of L
3) York at the Belvedere
Best Rock Band
1) Eight Inch Elvis
2) Cougar Express
3) Wax Fang
Best Singer-Songwriter
1) Brigid Kaelin
2) Justin Lewis
3) Andrea Davidson
Best Theater Production
1) “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Alley Theater
2) “Dracula” at Actors Theatre
3) “Jersey Boys” at Kentucky Center for the Arts
Best Theater Troupe
1) Le Petomane
2) Pandora
3) Actors Theatre
Best Visual Artist
1) Douglas Miller
2) Ken Hardy
3) Kathleen Lolley
DINING
Best All-You-Can-Eat Deal
1) Sitar
2) Shalimar
3) Dynasty Buffet
Best Bakery
1) Phlen’s
2) Nord’s
3) Cake Flour
Best BBQ
1) F.A.B.D.
(Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot)
2) Mark’s Feed Store
3) Smoketown USA
Best Beer List
1) Sergio’s World of Beers
2) New Albanian Brewing Co.
3) Nachbar
Best Breakfast/Brunch
1) Wild Eggs
2) Toast
3) North End Café
Best Burger
1) W.W. Cousins
2) Bristol
3) Jack Fry’s
Best Cajun/Creole Restaurant
1) J. Gumbo’s
2) Joe’s OK Bayou
3) Café Lou Lou
Best Chef
1) Anthony Lamas
2) John Varanese
3) Laurent Geroli
Best Chinese Restaurant
1) Café Mimosa
2) August Moon
3) Double Dragon
Best Coffee Shop
1) Heine Brothers
2) Sunergos
3) Java Brewing Co.
Best Deli
1) Stevens and Stevens
2) Morris’
3) Joe Davola’s
Best Delivery
1) Soup ByCycle
2) Café Lou Lou
3) Joe Davola’s
Best Dessert
1) Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen
2) Sweet Surrender
3) Cake Flour
Best Dinner Roll
1) Buckhead Mountain Grill
2) Bristol
3) KT’s
Best Fine Dining
1) Jack Fry’s
2) Corbett’s
3) Jeff Ruby’s
Best Fish Sandwich
1) Stan’s Fish Sandwich
2) Mike Linnig’s
3) Fish House
Best French Fries
1) The Blind Pig
2) Caffé Classico
3) Village Anchor Pub
Best Happy Hour
1) Napa River Grill
2) Maido
3) BoomBozz Pizza
Best Ice Cream Shop
1) The Comfy Cow
2) Graeter’s
3) Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen
Best Indian Restaurant
1) Sitar
2) Shalimar
3) Kashmir
Best Italian Restaurant
1) Le Gallo Rosso
2) Comeback Inn
3) Vincenzo’s
Best Japanese Restaurant
1) Sapporo
2) Osaka
3) Shogun
Best Late-Night Bite
1) Ramsi’s
2) Bristol
3) Spinelli’s
Best Mexican Restaurant
1) El Mundo
2) La Rosita
3) Santa Fe
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
1) Shiraz
2) Safier
3) The Grape Leaf
Best New Restaurant
1) Village Anchor Pub
2) The Blind Pig
3) The Bard’s Town
Best Outdoor Dining
1) Captain’s Quarters
2) Avalon
3) Village Anchor Pub
Best Pizza
1) Wick’s Pizza
2) BoomBozz Pizza
3) Papalinos NY Pizzaria
Best Place for a Cheap Date
1) Ramsi’s
2) Papalinos NY Pizzaria
3) Dragon King’s Daughter
Best Place for a Romantic Dinner
1) English Grill
2) Jack Fry’s
3) Le Relais
Best Produce
1) Paul’s Fruit Market
2) Creation Gardens
3) Bardstown Road Farmers Market
Best Pub Grub
1) Zeppelin Café
2) Zanzabar
3) Cumberland Brewery
Best Quick Lunch
1) City Café
2) Joe Davola’s
3) Annie Café
Best Restaurant (Louisville)
1) Jack Fry’s
2) English Grill
3) Seviche
Best Restaurant (Southern Indiana)
1) La Rosita
2) Rocky’s Italian Grill
3) Bank Street Brewhouse
Best Restaurant Décor
1) Lynn’s Paradise Café
2) Village Anchor Pub
3) Proof on Main
Best Restaurant on the River
1) Captain’s Quarters
2) Rocky’s Italian Grill
3) Tumbleweed
Best Ribs
1) Mark’s Feed Store
2) F.A.B.D.
(Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot)
3) Smoketown USA
Best Seafood Restaurant
1) Z’s Fusion
2) Mike Linnig’s
3) KingFish
Best Steakhouse
1) Pat’s Steak House
2) Jeff Ruby’s
3) Jack Fry’s
Best Sushi
1) Sapporo
2) Oishii
3) Osaka
Best Takeout
1) Café Mimosa
2) August Moon
3) Annie Café
Best Thai Restaurant
1) Simply Thai
2) La Que
3) Thai Orchids
Best Vegetarian Food
1) Zen Garden
2) Swan Dive
3) Ramsi’s
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
1) Vietnam Kitchen
2) Annie Café
3) Basa Modern Vietnamese
Best Waitstaff
1) The Blind Pig
2) North End Café
3) Jeff Ruby’s
Best Wine List
1) L&N Wine Bar and Bistro
2) The Blind Pig
3) Napa River Grill
Best Wings
1) Rumors
2) Shack in the Back BBQ
3) Spring Street Bar & Grill
GOODS & SERVICES
Best Adult/Erotic Store
1) Cirilla’s
2) Love Boutique
3) Metro Station
Best Antique Store
1) Goss Avenue Antiques
2) Joe Ley Antiques
3) Crazy Daisy
3) East Broadway Home Store
Best Attorney
1) Armand Judah
2) David Crittenden
3) Darryl Issacs
Best Auto Dealer
1) Sam Swope
2) Bob Hook Chevrolet
3) Tafel Motor Co.
Best Bank
1) Republic Bank
2) Stock Yards Bank & Trust
3) PNC
Best Bicycle Shop
1) Bicycle Sport
2) Bike Couriers Bike Shop
3) Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling
Best Clothing Boutique
1) Dot Fox
2) The Nitty Gritty
3) Dressing Room
Best Comic Book Shop
1) The Great Escape
2) The Zone
3) Role of the Die
Best Consignment Store
1) Margaret’s
2) Rosie’s Consignment Boutique
3) Sassy Fox
Best Contractor
1) Esposito Ellery Construction
2) Kevin Kelton
3) Rick Hall
Best Daycare
1) Cornerstone Child Development
2) Highland Community Ministries
3) KinderCare
Best Dentist
1) Mortenson Family Dental
2) Dr. David Schaefer
3) Dr. John Sisk
Best Dry Cleaner
1) Highland Cleaners
2) Nu Yale
3) Parrot Cleaners
Best Farmers Market
1) Bardstown Road Farmers Market
2) St. Matthews Farmers Market at Beargrass Christian Church
3) Gray Street Farmers Market
Best Florist
1) Nanz & Kraft
2) Colonial Designs
3) Broadway Florist
Best Gift Boutique
1) Regalo
2) WHY Louisville
3) Scout
Best Golf Course
1) Valhalla
2) Cherokee
3) Shawnee
Best Gym
1) YMCA
2) Baptist East Milestone
3) Fitness 19
Best Hair Salon
1) Gregory Michaels
2) Z Salon & Spa
3) Joseph’s Salon & Spa
Best Health Food Store
1) Rainbow Blossom
2) Amazing Grace
3) Paul’s Fruit Market
Best Hospital
1) Baptist East
2) Norton Healthcare
3) Jewish Hospital East
Best House of Worship
1) Sojourn Community Church
2) Unity of Louisville
3) Southeast Christian
Best Instrument Shop
1) Doo Wop Shop
2) Guitar Emporium
3) Mom’s Music
Best Jewelry Store
1) Davis Jewelers
2) Royal Fine Jewelers
3) Aesthetics in Jewelry
Best Law Office
1) De Renzo Durrett
2) Frost Brown Todd
3) Judah Law Offices
Best Liquor Store
1) Old Town Wine and Spirits
2) Liquor Barn
3) Westport Whiskey and Wine
Best Local Bookstore
1) Carmichael’s
2) Book & Music Exchange
3) A Reader’s Corner
Best Local Pet Grooming
1) Pretty Paws
2) Stacey’s Grooming Emporium
3) Connie’s Groom Room
Best Local Shoe Store
1) 2nd Step Shoes
2) Swag’s Sport Shoes
3) Footworks
Best Luxury Auto Dealer
1) Bluegrass Motorsports
2) Sam Swope BMW
3) Lexus of Louisville
Best Luxury Hotel
1) 21c Museum Hotel
2) The Brown Hotel
3) The Seelbach Hotel
Best Massage
1) A Therapeutic Touch
2) Z Salon & Spa
3) Elements Therapeutic Massage
Best Mechanic
1) McCormick Motorsports
2) Bill’s Automotive
3) Volksdoktor
Best Pediatrician
1) Dr. Bernie Speevack
2) East Louisville Pediatrics
3) Dr. Moises Dreszer
Best Place for a Wedding Reception
1) The Brown Hotel
2) The Olmsted
3) Mellwood Arts Center
Best Place to Adopt a Pet
1) Kentucky Humane Society
2) Shamrock Foundation
3) Louisville Metro Animal Services
Best Place to Buy a Unique Gift
1) WHY Louisville
2) Regalo
3) Ultra Pop
Best Place to Buy Vinyl
1) ear X-tacy
2) Underground Sounds
3) The Great Escape
Best Place to Take Kids
When It’s Raining
1) Louisville Science Center
2) Art Sparks Interactive Gallery
3) Incredible Dave’s
Best Plastic Surgeon
1) Dr. Thomas Haas
2) Dr. Alex Digenis
3) Dr. Bradley Calobrace
Best Playground
1) Waterfront Park
2) Tyler Park
3) Iroquois Park
Best Plumber
1) BC Plumbing
2) United Plumbing
3) Tom Drexler
Best Public Restroom
1) 21c Museum Hotel
2) Rivue
3) Greenwood Boat Dock
Best Real Estate Company
1) Keller Williams Realty
2) Re/Max
3) Semonin Realtors
Best Record Store
1) ear X-tacy
2) Underground Sounds
3) The Great Escape
Best Roofer
1) Ray Nolan Roofing
2) Highland Roofing
3) Frederick Roofing
Best Running Store
1) Swag’s Sport Shoes
2) Fleet Feet
3) Ken Comb’s
Best Screen Printer
1) Monkey Drive
2) Kopilot
3) Mad Pixel Art and Design
Best Spa
1) Z’s Salon & Spa
2) Imaage Medical Spa
3) Joseph’s Salon & Spa
Best Tattoo Parlor
1) Acme Ink
2) Tattoo Charlie’s
3) Twisted Images
Best Tobacco Store
1) J. Shepherd Cigar Boutique
2) Cox’s Smokers Outlet
3) Bardstown Road Smoking Shop
Best Veterinarian
1) Dr. Elizabeth Bond
(Plantation Animal Clinic)
2) Dr. Lynn Horrar
(Highlands Animal Clinic)
3) Dr. Joe Deck
Best Video Store
1) Wild and Woolly
2) Book & Music Exchange
3) Louisville Free Public Library
Best Vintage Clothing Store
1) The Nitty Gritty
2) Cherry Bomb
3) Hey Tiger
Best Yoga Class
1) Yoga on Baxter
2) Yoga East
3) Infinite Bliss
MEDIA
Best Local Arts Writer
1) Erin Keane
2) Peter Berkowitz
3) Jo Anne Triplett
Best Local Blog
1) Backseat Sandbar
2) Consuming Louisville
3) Peter Berkowitz
Best Local Columnist
1) Pam Swisher
2) Peter Berkowitz
3) Rick Bozich
Best Local Feature Writer
1) Peter Berkowitz
2) Steve Shaw
3) Dana McMahan
Best Local Media Celebrity You Love to Hate
1) Terry Meiners
2) Karen Sypher
3) Dawne Gee
Best Local Music Writer
1) Hunter Embry
2) Mat Herron
3) Jeffrey Lee Puckett
Best Local News Writer
1) Andrew Wolfson
2) Phillip M. Bailey
3) Jonathan Meador
Best Local Publication
1) LEO Weekly
2) Underwired
3) The Courier-Journal
Best Local Radio Personality
1) Terry Meiners
2) Laura Shine
3) Kelly K
Best Local Radio Station
1) 89.3 WFPL
2) 102.3 WXMA
3) 91.9 WFPK
Best Local TV Meteorologist
1) John Belski
2) Kevin Harned
3) Mark Weinberg
Best Local TV News Anchor
1) Dawne Gee
2) Rachel Platt
3) John Boel
Best Local TV Station
1) WAVE-3
2) WHAS-11
3) WLKY-32
Best Local Website
1) backseatsandbar.com
2) louisvillehardcore.com
3) kentuckianaweddings.com
Best Place to Pick Up LEO Weekly
1) Heine Brothers
2) ear X-tacy
3) City Café
Best Reason to Read LEO Weekly
1) It makes you smarter
2) In-depth arts, music and
news coverage
3) It’s not Velocity
Best Reason to Use Social Networking
1) Bored at work
2) Professional networking
3) Hooking up
Best Scandal of the Year
1) Karen Sypher/Rick Pitino scandal
2) Rand Paul and the Aqua
Buddha debacle
3) Louisville Metro Animal Services
Best Social Networking Site
1) Facebook
2) Twitter
3) LinkedIn
Best TV Disaster Graphics
1) WLKY-32
2) WAVE-3
3) WHAS-11
Best TV Morning Show
1) “FOX in the Morning”
2) “Good Morning Kentuckiana”
3) “WAVE 3 Sunrise”
NIGHTLIFE
Best (Strongest) Mixed Drink
1) The Back Door
2) Cahoots
3) ZaZoo’s
Best Bar Bathroom
1) Proof/21c
2) Louisville Beer Store
3) Zanzabar
Best Bar to Nurse a Hangover
1) Highland Taproom
2) Outlook Inn
3) Monkey Wrench
Best Bar to People Watch
1) The Back Door
2) Highland Taproom
3) Nachbar
Best Bartender
1) Quinn Mueller at ZaZoo’s
2) Kenny Kaelin at Zeppelin Café
3) Jeremy Johnson at The Blind Pig
Best Bloody Mary
1) Outlook Inn
2) Lynn’s Paradise Café
3) The Blind Pig
Best Blues Bar
1) Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar
2) Zeppelin Café
3) The Lounge
Best Club DJ
1) DJ Prism
2) DJ Glitter Titz
3) OK Deejays
Best Comedy Club
1) Comedy Caravan
2) The Improv
Best Country/Western Bar
1) Electric Cowboy
2) Jim Porter’s Good Time Emporium
2) Saddle Ridge
Best Dive Bar
1) Nachbar
2) Magnolia Bar and Grill
3) Third Street Dive
Best Gay Bar
1) The Connection
2) Starbase Q
3) Tryangles
Best Gentlemen’s Club
1) PT’s
2) Déjà Vu
3) Rustic Frog
Best Karaoke Bar
1) Akiko’s
2) Highland Taproom
3) Tink’s Pub
Best Local Brewery
1) Bluegrass Brewing Company
2) New Albanian
Brewing Company
3) Cumberland Brewery
Best Margarita
1) El Mundo
2) El Rodeo
3) El Nopal
Best Martini
1) 732 Social
2) 60 West Bistro
3) Martini Italian Bistro
Best Neighborhood Bar/Pub
1) Nachbar
2) Monkey Wrench
3) Zanzabar
Best New Bar/Club
1) Zanzabar
2) Louisville Beer Store
3) Patrick O’Shea’s
Best Original Cocktail
1) Proof on Main
2) 732 Social
3) The Blind Pig
Best Place to Dance
1) The Connection
2) Jim Porter’s Good Time Emporium
3) VFW Post 1181
Best Place to Hear Jazz
1) Nachbar
2) The Seelbach Hotel
3) Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar
Best Place to Shoot Pool
1) The Back Door
2) Diamond Pub and Billiards
3) Darkstar Tavern
Best Singles Bar
1) O’Shea’s
2) Phoenix Hill Tavern
3) Magnolia Bar and Grill
Best Smoking Area
1) Monkey Wrench
2) Nachbar
3) The Back Door
Best Sports Bar
1) BoomBozz Pizza
2) Big Blue Country
3) Zanzabar
Best Trivia Night
1) Zanzabar
2) Molly Malone’s
3) Wick’s Pizza
Best U of L Bar
1) Granville Inn
2) Monkey Wrench
3) Zanzabar
Best UK Bar
1) Big Blue Country
2) Highland Taproom
3) Dundee Tavern
Best Wine Bar
1) L&N Wine Bar and Bistro
2) The Blind Pig
3) Brix Wine Bar
OTHER STUFF
Best Business to Have as
a Facebook Friend
1) ear X-tacy
2) Liposuction Institute of Louisville
3) Gigi’s Cupcakes
Best Category We Forgot
1) Best Barber Shop
2) Best Performer
3) Best Drummer
Best Community Role Model
1) Tom Owen
2) Scott Carney
3) David Wicks
Best Excuse to Leave Town for a Day
1) Kentucky Derby
2) Mint Julep Tours
3) Bourbon Trail
Best Eyesore
1) House next to Genny’s Diner
2) 800 Building
3) Colonial Gardens
Best Local Attorney Gimmick
1) Heavy Hitter
2) Ask Gary
3) Son in Jail? Call Waddell
Best Local Celebrity
1) Muhammad Ali
2) Dawne Gee
3) John Yarmuth
Best Local Landmark
1) Churchill Downs
2) Louisville Slugger Bat
3) Conrad-Caldwell House
Best Local Politician
1) John Yarmuth
2) Jerry Abramson
3) Kimberly Greenwell
Best Local Urban Legend
1) Pope Lick Monster
2) Fairdale Bigfoot
3) Goat Man
Best Month to be in Town
1) May
2) October
3) April
Best Neighborhood
1) Highlands
2) Germantown
3) Crescent Hill
Best Nonprofit
1) Fairness Campaign
2) No Kill Louisville
3) Home of the Innocents
Best Person to Have
Their Face on a Building
1) Muhammad Ali
2) Diane Sawyer
3) John Yarmuth
Best Place to Get a
Parking Ticket
1) Anywhere Downtown
2) Bardstown Road
3) University of
Louisville
Best Place to Make a Public Spectacle of Yourself
1) Fourth Street Live
2) Bardstown Road
3) Louisville Sub Rosa:
The Gypsie Courtyard
Best Place to Ride Your Bike
1) Cherokee Park
2) River Road
3) Waterfront Park
Best Place to See Christmas Décor
1) Lake Forest
2) Old Louisville
3) Downtown
Best Place to Take Your Dog
1) Cherokee Park
2) Dog Hill
3) Cochran Hill Dog Run
Best Place You Wish Had Never Gone Out of Business
1) Hawley-Cooke Booksellers
2) Art Ecology
3) Bacon’s
Best Politician You Love to Hate
1) Mitch McConnell
2) David Williams
3) Rand Paul
Best Question for John Yarmuth
1) Can you fix Washington and
make Congress work?
2) Who is Todd Lally?
3) Would you agree to be cloned?
Best Question for Mitch McConnell
1) How do you tolerate Nancy Pelosi?
2) When are you going to retire?
3) How much did you get
for your soul?
Best Reason to Get In the Ohio River
1) None
2) To Avoid Tolls
3) Ironman
Best Thing That’s Changed
Here in the Last Year
1) Main Street
2) New Arena
3) More Bike Lanes
Best Thing to Do with Your Used LEO Weekly
1) Recycle it
2) Pass it on
3) Leave in waiting rooms
Best U of L Basketball Player
1) Darrell Griffith
2) Peyton Siva
3) Kyle Kuric
