Readers’ Choice ’09: The Winners

•Arts & Entertainment

Best Annual Festival

1. Kentucky Derby Festival

2. St. James Art Festival

3. World Festival

 

Best Charitable Event

1. Crusade for Children

2. St. Joseph Picnic

3. Light the Night Walk

 

Best Film Festival

1. Last Call Film Fest

2. 48 Hour Film Fest

3. Fright Night Film Fest

 

Best Music Festival

1. Forecastle

2. Abbey Road on the River

3. Waterfront Wednesdays

 

Best Church Picnic

1. St. Joseph

2. St. Agnes

3. St. Rita

 

Best Performing Arts Group

1. Actors Theatre of Louisville

2. Louisville Orchestra

3. Louisville Ballet

 

Best Live Theater

1. Actors Theatre of Louisville

2. Pandora Productions

3. Derby Dinner

 

Best Theater Production

1. “Dracula”

2. “Wicked”

3. “A Christmas Carol”

 

Best Theater Troupe

1. Actors Theatre of Louisville

2. Pandora Productions

3. Le Petomane

 

Best Comedian

1. Marty Pollio

2. Danny Browning

 

Best Art Gallery

1. Speed Art Museum

2. 21c Museum Hotel

3. Glassworks

 

Best Museum

1. Speed Art Museum

2. Frazier Museum

3. Louisville Science Center

 

Best Movie Theater

1. Baxter Avenue Theatres

2. Cinema de lux: Stonybrook

3. Cinemark Tinseltown

 

Best Bowling Alley

1. Vernon Lanes

2. King Pin

3. Ten Pin

 

Best Visual Artist

1. Ed Hamilton

2. Barry Motes

3. Matt Dobson

 

Best Public Mural

1. Highlands Mural

2. Muhammad Ali Center

3. Café Metro

 

Best Public Sculpture

1. Abraham Lincoln

2. The Thinker

3. Gallopalooza

 

Best Original Band

1. My Morning Jacket

2. Siren Falls

3. Wax Fang

 

Best Cover Band

1. Rocktimus Prime

2. V-Groove

3. Edgewood

 

Best Singer-Songwriter

1. Brigid Kaelin

2. Tim Krekel

3. Teneia Sanders

 

Best Rock Band

1. My Morning Jacket

2. Cougar Express

3. Siren Falls

 

Best Hip-Hop Artist/Group

1. Nappy Roots

2. Skyscraper Stereo

3. Villebillies

 

Best Orchestral Instrument

1. Violin

2. Cello

3. Viola

 

Best Blues Band

1. V-Groove

2. The Bad Reeds

3. Hambone

 

Best Country/Western Band

1. United States Military

2. Johnny Berry & the Outliers

 

Best Jazz Artist

1. Harry Pickens

2. Todd Hildreth

3. Squeeze-Bot

 

Best Live Music Venue

1. Headliners

2. Louisville Palace

3. Waterfront Park

 

Best Promoter

1. Production Simple

2. Terry Harper

3. Horseshoe Casino

 

•Goods & Services

Best Auto Dealer

1. Sam Swope

2. Toyota of Louisville

3. Carmax

 

Most Honest Mechanic

1. McCormick’s Motor Sports

2. Conn’s Auto Shop

3. Volksdoktor

 

Best Bank

1. Republic Bank

2. PNC

3. National City

 

Best Roofer

1. Highland Roofing

2. Christian Brothers

3. American Roofing

 

Best Plumber

1. BC Plumbing

2. Tom Drexler Plumbing

3. Dauenhauer Plumbing

 

Best Vet

1. Deck Veterinary Clinic

2. Shively Animal Hospital

3. St. Matthews Animal Hospital

 

Best Record Store

1. ear X-tacy

2. Underground Sounds

3. FYE

 

Best Instrument Shop

1. Doo Wop Shop

2. Guitar Emporium

3. Mom’s Music

 

Best Video Store

1. Wild ’n’ Woolly

2. Blockbuster

3. Redbox

 

Best Vintage Clothing Store

1. Nitty Gritty

2. Cherry Bomb

3. Elizabeth’s Timeless Attire

 

Best Adult/Erotic Store

1. Cirilla’s

2. Theatre X

3. Love Boutique

 

Best Health Food Store

1. Rainbow Blossom

2. Whole Foods

3. Amazing Grace

 

Best Liquor Store

1. Old Town Liquors

2. Liquor Barn

3. Party Mart

 

Best Tobacco Store

1. Cox’s Smokers Outlet

2. J. Shepherd Cigar Boutique

3. Kremer’s

 

Best Bookstore

1. Carmichael’s

2. Borders

3. Barnes & Noble

 

Best Bicycle Shop

1. Schellers Fitness & Cycling

2. Bardstown Bicycle

3. Bike Couriers Bike Shop

 

Best Antique Store

1. Joe Ley Antiques

2. Crazy Daisy

3. Louisville Antique Mall

 

Best Luxury Hotel

1. 21c Museum Hotel

2. The Seelbach Hotel

3. The Brown Hotel

 

Best Wedding-Night Hotel Room

1. The Seelbach Hotel

2. 21c Museum Hotel

3. The Brown Hotel

 

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

1. Kentucky Humane Society

2. Metro Animal Services

3. Shamrock Foundation

 

Best Tattoo Parlor

1. Tattoo Charlie’s

2. Acme Ink

3. Body Art Emporium

 

Best Screen Printer

1. Monkey Drive

2. Metro Promotional Services

3. Kopilot

 

Best Running Store

1. Swag’s Sport Shoes

2. Fleet Feet

3. Ken Combs Running Store

 

Best Gym

1. YMCA

2. Urban Active

3. Fitness on Frankfort

 

Best Golf Course

1. Valhalla

2. Seneca Golf Course

3. Cherokee Golf Course

 

Best Public Restroom

1. 21c Museum Hotel

2. Von Maur

3. Macy’s

 

Best Yoga Class

1. Yoga on Baxter

2. Betsey’s Hot Yoga

3. Yoga East

 

Best House of Worship

1. Southeast Christian Church

2. St. Francis of Assisi

3. Unity of Louisville

 

Best Plastic Surgeon: Breasts

1. Imaage, Dr. Thomas Haas

2. Louisville Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Calobrace

3. Institute of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Salzman

 

Best Plastic Surgeon: Face

1. Imaage, Dr. Thomas Haas

2. Louisville Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Calobrace

3. Institute of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Salzman

 

Best Liposuction Doctor

1. Imaage, Dr. Thomas Haas

2. Louisville Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Calobrace

3. Smart Lipo, Dr. Crabtree

 

Best Dentist

1. Mortenson Family Dental

2. Family Dental Associates

3. Dr. Charles B. Barrett

 

Best Hair Salon

1. Icons Salon

2. Z Salon

3. Joseph’s Salon & Spa

 

Best Jewelry Store

1. Shane Company

2. Davis Jewelers

3. Kay Jewelers

 

Best Local Jewelry Store

1. Davis Jewelers

2. Aesthetics & Jewelry

3. Seng Jewelers

 

Best Spa

1. Z Salon & Spa

2. Imaage

3. Joseph’s Salon & Spa

 

Best Place to Buy a Unique Gift

1. Regalo

2. WHY Louisville

3. Edenside Gallery

 

Best Clothing Boutique

1. Dot Fox

2. Clodhoppers

3. Blink Boutique

 

Best Gift Boutique

1. Scout

2. Regalo

3. Dandelion

 

•Dining

Best Restaurant (Louisville)

1. Jack Fry’s

2. Ramsi’s Café on the World

3. 610 Magnolia

 

Best Restaurant (S. Indiana)

1. Rocky’s

2. La Rosita

3. Rich O’s

 

Best New Restaurant

1. 732 Social

2. Diamond Café

3. Sake Blue

 

Best Outdoor Dining

1. Captain’s Quarters

2. Avalon

3. Mike Linnig’s

 

Best Fine Dining

1. Jack Fry’s

2. Jeff Ruby’s

3. Vincenzo’s

 

Best Place for a Romantic Dinner

1. Jack Fry’s

2. Lily’s

3. Le Relais

 

Best Restaurant on the River

1. Captain’s Quarters

2. Rocky’s Italian Grill

3. Tumbleweed

 

Best Late-Night Bite

1. White Castle

2. Ramsi’s Café on the World

3. Spinelli’s Pizzeria

 

Best Chinese Restaurant

1. August Moon

2. Red Pepper

3. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

 

Best Indian Restaurant

1. Kashmir

2. Shalimar

3. India Palace

 

Best Japanese Restaurant

1. Sapporo

2. Osaka

3. Maido

 

Best Italian Restaurant

1. Come Back Inn

2. Le Gallo Roso

3. Porcini

 

Best Mexican Restaurant

1. El Mundo

2. El Nopal

3. Los Aztecas

 

Best Salsa

1. El Mundo

2. El Nopal

3. Tumbleweed

 

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

1. Shiraz

2. The Grape Leaf

3. Safier Mediterranean Deli

 

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

1. Vietnam Kitchen

2. Annie’s Cafe

3. Basa

 

Best Thai Restaurant

1. Simply Thai

2. Thai Smile

3. Thai Siam

 

Best Cajun/ Creole Restaurant

1. J. Gumbo

2. Joe’s OK Bayou

3. Furlongs

 

Best Chef

1. Dean Corbett, Corbett’s “An American Place”

2. John Varanese, Varanese

3. Anoosh Shariat, Browning’s

 

Best Buffet

1. Golden Corral

2. Bristol

3. Ramsi’s Café on the World

 

Best Takeout

1. Double Dragon

2. Annie’s Café

3. Simply Thai

 

Best Delivery

1. Jimmy John’s

2. Papa John’s

3. Domino’s

 

Best Ribs

1. Mark’s Feed Store

2. Famous Dave’s

3. Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot

 

Best Fish Sandwich

1. Stan’s Fish Sandwich

2. Mike Linnig’s

3. The Fishery

 

Best Produce

1. Paul’s Fruit Market

2. Whole Foods

3. Farmers Markets

 

Best Bakery

1. Plehn’s Bakery

2. Cake Flour

3. Blue Dog Bakery

 

Best Breakfast/Brunch

1. Wild Eggs

2. Toast on Market

3. Lynn’s Paradise Cafe

 

Best Coffee Shop

1. Heine Brothers

2. Starbucks

3. Highland Coffee

 

Best Deli

1. Stevens & Stevens

2. Jason’s Deli

3. Morris Deli

 

Best Dessert

1. Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen

2. Sweet Surrender

3. Desserts By Gretchen

 

Best Ice Cream Shop

1. Graeter’s

2. Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen

3. Baskin-Robbins

 

Best Seafood Restaurant

1. Mitchell’s Fish Market

2. Red Lobster

3. King Fish

 

Best Steakhouse

1. Pat’s Steakhouse

2. Jeff Ruby’s

3. Texas Roadhouse

 

Best Sushi

1. Sapporo

2. Osaka

3. Maido

 

Best BBQ

1. Mark’s Feed
Store

2. Kentucky BBQ Company

3. Famous Dave’s

 

Best Pub Grub

1. Flanagan’s Ale House

2. The Irish Rover

3. O’Shea’s Traditional Irish Pub

 

Best Burger

1. W.W. Cousins

2. Five Guys Burgers

3. Kentucky BBQ Company

 

Best Pizza

1. Tony BoomBozz

2. Wick’s Pizza

2. Impellizzeri’s Pizza

 

Best Vegetarian Offering

1. Zen Garden

2. Ramsi’s Café on the World

3. Third Avenue Café

 

Best Wings

1. Buffalo Wild Wings

2. Hooters

3. Rumors

 

Best Beer List

1. Flanagan’s Ale House

2. Bluegrass Brewing Company

3. Nachbar

 

Best Wine List

1. L&N Wine Bar

2. Napa River Grill

3. Proof on Main

 

Best Happy Hour

1. Maido

2. Napa River Grill

3. Bluegrass Brewing Company

 

Best Waitstaff

1. Bluegrass Brewing Company

2. Proof on Main

3. Hooters

 

Best Uniform for Waitstaff

1. Hooters

2. Varanese

3. The Pub

 

Best Dinner Roll

1. O’Charley’s

2. Texas Roadhouse

3. Red Lobster

 

Best Décor

1. Lynn’s Paradise Cafe

2. Proof on Main

3. Sake Blue

 

Best Menu Design

1. Proof on Main

2. 732 Social

3. Z’s Fusion

 

Best French Fries

1. McDonald’s

2. Rally’s

3. Kentucky BBQ Company

 

Fastest Lunch

1. Jimmy John’s

2. McDonald’s

3. Qdoba

 

•Nightlife

Best Sports Bar

1. Buffalo Wild Wings

2. Hoops

3. Hooters

 

Best U of L Bar

1. Granville Inn

2. Kentucky BBQ Company

3. Hall of Fame Café

 

Best UK Bar

1. Dundee Tavern

2. Buffalo Wild Wings

3. None

 

Best New Bar/Club

1. Zanzabar

2. Swan Dive

3. Zeppelin Café

 

Best Blues Bar

1. Stevie Ray’s Blues Bar

2. Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge

3. Carly Rae’s

 

Best Country/Western Bar

1. Electric Cowboy

2. Coyote’s

3. Saddle Ridge

 

Best Neighborhood Bar/Pub

1. Monkey Wrench

2. Shenanigans

3. Back Door

 

Best Dance Club

1. The Connection

2. Hotel

3. Jim Porter’s

 

Best Comedy Club

1. Comedy Caravan

2. Improv

 

Best Dive Bar

1. Nachbar

2. Back Door

3. Mag Bar

 

Best Queer Bar

1. The Connection

2. Starbase Q

3. Tryangles

 

Best Place to Hear Jazz

1. The Seelbach Lounge

2. Nachbar

3. Sake Blue

 

Best Karaoke Bar

1. Akiko’s

2. Seidenfaden

3. Phoenix Hill Tavern

 

Best Singles Bar

1. Brendan’s

2. Jim Porter’s Good Time Emporium

3. Phoenix Hill Tavern

 

Best Local Brewery

1. Bluegrass Brewing Company

2. Cumberland Brews

3. New Albanian Brewing Company

 

Best One-Tank Trip

1. Nashville

2. Cincinnati

3. Red River Gorge

 

Best Smoking Area

1. Outside

2. Phoenix Hill Tavern

3. Nachbar

 

Best Bartender

1. Eric Holloman, Kentucky BBQ Company

2. Becky Fey, Za’s Pizza

3. Stephen Dennison, Z’s Fusion

 

Best Gentleman’s Club

1. PT’s Showclub

2. Trixies Strip Club & Sports Bar

3. Godfather II

 

Most Unusual Tasty Cocktail

1. 732 Social

2. Varanese

3. Z’s Fusion

 

Best Margarita

1. El Mundo

2. Tumbleweed

3. El Nopal

 

Best Martini

1. Proof on Main

2. 60 West Bistro & Martini Bar

3. Martini Italian Bistro

 

Strongest Mixed Drink

1. Back Door

2. Cahoots

3. Mag Bar

 

Best Bar to Nurse a Hangover

1. Outlook Inn

2. Monkey Wrench

3. Back Door

 

Best Place to get Hungover

1. Back Door

2. Nachbar

3. Cahoots

 

Best Bar Bathroom

1. Proof on Main

2. Phoenix Hill Tavern

3. O’Shea’s Traditional Irish Pub

 

•Media

Best Local TV Station

1. WAVE-3

2. WHAS-11

3. Fox-41

 

Best Local TV News Anchor

1. Dawne Gee

2. Rachel Platt

3. Jackie Hays

 

Hottest Anchor (male or female)

1. Julie Tam

2. Jennifer Baileys

3. Carrie Weil

 

Best TV Morning Show

1. Fox in the Morning

2. Good Morning Kentuckiana

3. WAVE-3 Sunrise

 

Best Local TV Meteorologist

1. John Belski,
WAVE-3

2. Tom Wills,
WAVE-3

3. Jay Cardosi,
WLKY-32

 

Best TV Disaster Graphics

1. WAVE-3

2. WHAS-11

3. WLKY-32

 

Most Accurate Local Forecast

1. WAVE-3

2. WLKY-32

3. WHAS-11

 

Best Magazine

1. LEO Weekly

2. Louisville Magazine

3. Underwired

 

Best Local Radio Station

1. WFPK-FM

2. WDJX-FM

3. WFPL-FM

 

Best Local Radio DJ

1. Laura Shine, WFPK-FM

2. Ben Davis & Kelly K, WDJX-FM

3. Lambert & Lindsay, WXMA-FM

 

Best Local Writer

1. Bob Hill

2. Stephen George

3. Phillip M. Bailey

 

Best Local Website

1. LouisvilleMojo.com

2. ConsumingLouisville.com

3. LEOWeekly.com

 

Best Local News Blog

1. TheVilleVoice.com

2. LouisvilleMojo.com

3. FatLip.leoweekly.com

 

Best Local Arts Blog

1. LEOWeekly.com

2. LouisvilleMojo.com

 

Best Local Entertainment Blog

1. ConsumingLouisville.com

2. LEOWeekly.com

3. BackseatSandbar.com

 

Best Local Music Blog

1. BackseatSandbar.com

2. Bluegrass Catastrophe (bluecat.leoweekly.com)

3. Buzzgrinder.com

 

Best Social Networking Site

1. Facebook

2. LouisvilleMojo.com

3. MySpace.com

 

Best Reason to Use Social Networking

1. Connect with friends

2. Sex

3. Networking

 

Best Web Tool Available to Louisville Consumers

1. Google

2. LouisvilleMojo.com

3. Facebook

 

Best Reason to Read LEO Weekly

1. Events

2. Articles

3. News of the Weird

 

Best Place to Pick Up LEO Weekly

1. Heine Brothers Coffeeshops

2. Anywhere

2. Qdoba

 

Best Wrong News Story of the Year

1. Flood

2. Weather

3. Town Hall Meetings

 

Most Under-reported Story of the Year

1. Pitino/Sypher

2. Farrah Fawcett’s Death

3. Obama’s Hidden Agenda

 

Most Over-reported Story of the Year

1. Pitino/Sypher

2. Michael Jackson’s Death

3. The case of Jason Stinson

 

•Other Stuff

Best Domicile Style

1. Shotgun

2. Ranch

3. Tudor

 

Best Reason to get in the Ohio River

1. Polar Plunge

2. I’m on fire

3. No Reason

 

Best Local Attorney Gimmick

1. Heavy Hitter

2. Son in Jail Call Waddell

3. Ask Gary

 

Best Place to Make a Public Spectacle of Yourself

1. Fourth Street Live

2. Bardstown Road

3. Waterfront

 

Best Place to Take Your Dog to People-Watch

1. Cherokee Park

2. Waterfront

3. Bardstown Road

 

Best Excuse to Leave Town For a Day

1. Kentucky Derby

2. Thunder Over Louisville

2. A concert

 

Best Thing That’s Changed Here in the Last Year

1. Obama

2. No Bush

3. Bike Lanes

 

Best Person to Have Their Face on a Building

1. Muhammad Ali

2. Diane Sawyer

3. Hunter S. Thompson

 

Best Description of Louisville in Three Words or Less

1. Biggest Little City

 

Best Thing To Do With Your Used LEO Weekly

1. Recycle

2. Liner

3. Wrapping Paper

 

Best Local Urban Legend

1. Goatman

2. Waverly Hills

3. Pope Lick Monster

 

Best Local Landmark

1. Churchill Downs

2. Louisville Slugger Museum

3. Belle of Louisville

 

Best Place to Ride Your Bike

1. Cherokee Park

2. Waterfront

3. Seneca Park

 

Best Business to Have as a Facebook Friend

1. Cake Flour

2. Heine Brothers

3. Dot Fox

 

Best Month to be in Town

1. May

2. October

3. April

 

Best Place to Speak a Foreign Language

1. A foreign place

2. Churchill Downs (Backside)

3. Americana Apartments

 

Best Place to See Xmas Décor

1. Downtown

2. Lake Forest

3. Hillcrest

 

Most Frustrating Bridge to Drive Over

1. Kennedy Bridge

2. Second Street Bridge

3. Sherman Minton Bridge

 

Best Eyesore

1. House next to Genny’s Diner

2. The Galt House

3. The Downtown Arena

 

Best Neighborhood

1. Highlands

2. Crescent Hill

3. St. Matthews

 

Best Local Celebrity

1. George Clooney

2. Muhammad Ali

3. Rick Pitino

 

Best Community Role Model

1. Muhammad Ali

2. Jerry Abramson

3. Tom Owen

 

Best Politician you Love to Hate

1. Mitch McConnell

2. Jerry Abramson

3. Anne Northup

 

Best Nickname for the City

1. The Ville

2. Derby City

3. Possibility City

 

Most Likely Place to Get a Parking Ticket

1. Downtown

2. Belknap Campus, U of L

3. Baxter Avenue

 

Most Dangerous Intersection for Pedestrians

1. Second Street & Broadway

2. Bardstown Road & Eastern Parkway

3. Fourth Street & Broadway

 

Best Question for Mitch McConnell if you had him one-on-one

How are you enjoying your government health care?

 

Best Question for John Yarmuth if you had him one-on-one

When will we have universal health care?