| Readers pick the best of the bunch
This year marks the fifth time that Fast Forward has asked our readers to recognize the people, places and businesses that make this city a great place to live. After sorting through the overwhelming number of responses we received via mail and our Web site (and once again tossing out a few shameless ballot stuffers), the results are in.
From the best place for a first kiss to the most embarrassing Calgarian, from the best bar to spend a day in to the best place to do yoga, the annual Best of Calgary Readers' Survey reflects the fact that we have a vibrant city with a busy downtown and popular parks . We also asked some of Fast Forward's regular writers to weigh in with their personal picks and pans from the past year, and their contributions follow the results.
THE CITY
Best new trend
1.Low rider jeans
2.Mohawks
3.Peaceful protests
Worst new trend
1.Mullets
2.Mohawks
3.Traffic
Best kept Calgary secret
1.Belly Lint
2.Fish Creek Provincial Park
3.The Whiskey patio
Worst intersection
1.Glenmore Trail & Elbow Drive
2.10th Street & Memorial Drive N.W.
3.14th Street & 17th Avenue S.W.
Best weekend getaway
1.Banff
2.Kananaskis
3.Canmore
Coolest place to take visitors
1.Banff
2.Calgary Zoo
3.Calgary Tower
Best biking/walking trail
1.Banff
2.Bow River pathway
3.Glenmore Reservoir / Weaselhead
Best swimming hole
1.Stanley Park
2.Talisman Centre
3.Sandy Beach
Best neighbourhood
1.Mount Royal
2.Mission
3.Bridgeland
Biggest eyesore
1.Metal trees on 8th Avenue S.W.
2.Calgary Tower
3.Calgary Stampede
Best park
1.Fish Creek Provincial Park
2.Prince’s Island Park
3.Stanley Park
Best place to walk a dog
1.Nose Hill
2.River Park
3.Fish Creek Provincial Park
Best place to read a book
1.Prince’s Island Park
2.Riley Park
3.Glenmore Park
Best place for a picnic
1.Prince’s Island Park
2.Fish Creek Provincial Park
3.Bowness Park
Best place for a first kiss
1.Prince’s Island Park
2.Crescent Road N.W.
3.Scotsman’s Hill
Best pick-up spot
1.Ship & Anchor
2.The Whiskey
3.Cowboys
Best place for public nudity
1.Prince’s Island Park
2.Gap stores
3.17th Avenue S.W.
Best place to people-watch
1.17th Avenue S.W.
2.Eau Claire
3.Stephen Avenue Walk
Best place to get high
1.Home
2.Nose Hill
3.Riley Park
Best local cause
1.Mustard Seed Street Ministry
2.AIDS Calgary
3.Saving heritage buildings
Calgary’s claim to shame
1.Calgary Stampede
2.Ralph Klein
3.Calgary Flames
Best washroom
1.Earl’s Bankers Hall
2.The Whiskey
3.Saltlik
Worst washroom
1.The Night Gallery
2.Ship & Anchor
3.The Warehouse
URBAN LIFE
Best radio station
1.CJSW 90.9
2.CJAY 92
3.CKUA 93.7
Best television station
1.A-Channel
2.Global
3.CFCN
Best art gallery
1.Glenbow Museum
2.Artspace
3.Art Gallery of Calgary
Best public art
1.Udderly Art cows
2.Frogs on 4th Street S.W.
3.Statues outside Calgary Board of Education Centre
Best dance company
1.Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
2.Alberta Ballet
3.Dancers' Studio West
Best theatre company
1.One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre
2.Loose Moose Theatre Company
3.Alberta Theatre Projects
Best art house movie theatre
1.The Uptown Stage & Screen
2.Plaza Theatre
3.Globe Cinema
Best festival
1.Calgary Folk Music Festival
2.Lilac Festival
3.Carifest
Best free event
1.Lilac Festival
2.Stampede breakfasts
3.Canada Day
Best fund-raising event
1.Calgary Cares
2.Big Rock Eddies
3.CJSW Funding Drive
Best place to shoot pool
1.Garage Billiards
2.Vicious Circle
3.Schanks Athletic Club
Best area ski hill
1.Sunshine Village
2.Lake Louise
3.Fortress Mountain
Best golf course
1.Shaganappi Point Golf Course
2.Heritage Pointe Golf Club
3.Kananaskis Country Golf Course
Best fitness facility
1.Talisman Centre
2.Eau Claire YMCA
3.World Health Club
CALGARIANS
Most beloved Calgarian
1.Ed Whalen
2.Darr Maqbool
3.Jarome Iginla
Most embarrassing Calgarian
1.Ralph Klein
2.Dave Bronconnier
3.Rob Anders
Best corporate citizen
1.Smed
2.Petro-Canada
3.Lanny McDonald
Most active activist
1.Stephen Lock
2.Grant Kreiger
3.Sarah Kerr
Politician you’d like to fire first
1.Ralph Klein
2.Dave Bronconnier
3.Rob Anders
Sexiest man
1.Darr Maqbool
2.Dave Kelly
3.Jarome Iginla
Sexiest woman
1.Tara McCool
2.Su Ling Goh
3.Nirmala Naidoo-Hill
Best-dressed Calgarian
1.Darr Maqbool
2.Barb Higgins
3.Tara McCool
Worst-dressed Calgarian
1.Darr Maqbool
2.Artie the Jester
3.Ralph Klein
Favourite local tv personality
1.Darr Maqbool
2.Dave Kelly
3.Jebb Fink
Favourite local radio personality
1.Gerry Forbes
2.Jeff Collins
3.Dave Rutherford
Best local newscast
1.A-Channel
2.Global
3.CFCN
Best local columnist
1.James Martin (Mr. Smutty)
2.Rick Bell
3.Mike Bell
Best local actor
1.Paul Spence (FUBAR)
2.David Lawrence (FUBAR)
3.Brenda Finley
Best local band
1.Mico
2.Chixdiggit
3.Co-Dependents
Best local athlete
1.Jarome Iginla
2.Catriona LeMay Doan
3.Owen Hargraves
Best local author
1.Will Ferguson
2.Fred Stenson
3.Aritha van Herk
Best busker
1.Dan the One Man Band
2.Artie the Jester
3.Tomko Lamb
NIGHT LIFE
Best new bar
1.The Whiskey
2.Coyotes
3.Firewater
Best cocktail bar
1.The Mercury
2.Ming
3.Mortal Coil
Best pub
1.Ship & Anchor
2.The Drum & Monkey
3.The James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant
Best gay/lesbian bar
1.Detour
2.Boystown
3.Verge
Best bar to spend the day in
1.Ship & Anchor
2.Melrose Cafe & Bar
3.Schanks Athletic Club
Best bar to have a conversation in
1.Ship & Anchor
2.Mortal Coil
3.The Mercury
Best dive bar
1.King Edward Hotel
2.Cecil Hotel
3.Ship & Anchor
Best bar to catch last call
1.Ship & Anchor
2.The Night Gallery
3.Cowboys
Best place to watch sports
1.Schanks Athletic Club
2.Melrose Cafe & Bar
3.Ship & Anchor
Best DJ
1.Rice
2.Pump
3.Faust
Best nightclub
1.The Whiskey
2.The Night Gallery
3.Embassy
Best live rock/alternative venue
1.The Night Gallery
2.The Whiskey
3.MacEwan Hall Ballroom
Best live jazz/blues venue
1.Kaos Jazz & Blues Bistro
2.King Edward Hotel
3.Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club
Best live country/folk venue
1.Ranchman’s
2.Karma Local Arts House
3.Mecca Cafe
Best bartender
1.Jon Truch
2.Shane Fraser
3.Chris Carr
Best vibe
1.Ship & Anchor
2.Mortal Coil
3.Ming
Best patio
1.Ship & Anchor
2.Melrose Cafe & Bar
3.The Whiskey
FOOD AND DRINK
Best new restaurant
1.Catch
2.The Living Room
3.Murrieta’s West Coast Bar & Grill
Best restaurant for a first date
1.The Living Room
2.River Cafe
3.Fiore Cantina Italiana
Best restaurant atmosphere
1.The Living Room
2.River Cafe
3.Sultan’s Tent
Best service
1.The Mercury
2.Earl’s
3.The Living Room
Best late-night (after 1 a.m.)
1.Pongo Noodle House
2.Husky House
3.Wicked Wedge Pizza Co
Best place for cheap eats
1.Ship & Anchor
2.McDonald's
3.Wendy’s
Best diner
1.Galaxie Diner
2.Diner Deluxe
3.The Arden Diner
Best pizza
1.Wicked Wedge Pizza Co
2.Stromboli Inn
3.Panago Pizza
Best nachos
1.Original Joe’s
2.Rose & Crown Pub
3.The James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant
Best wings
1.The Regal Beagle
2.Ed’s Restaurant
3.Classic Jack’s
Best burger
1.Peters’ Drive-In
2.Burger Inn
3.Ship & Anchor
Best fries
1.McDonald’s
2.Ship & Anchor
3.Peters’ Drive-In
Best steak
1.The Keg
2.Caesar’s Steak House
3.Hy’s Steak House
Best fish & chips
1.Joey’s Only Seafood
2.Boyd’s Seafood Restaurant
3.Ship & Anchor
Best Chinese
1.Silver Dragon
2.Dragon Pearl
3.Golden Inn
Best sushi
1.Kyoto 17
2.Hana Sushi
3.Sushi Kawa Japanese Restaurant
Best Thai
1.Thai Sa-On
2.The King & I
3.Ruan Thai
Best Korean
1.Korean Village
2.Bow Bulgogi House
3.Sorabol Korean Restaurant
Best Vietnamese
1.Oriental Phoenix
2.Co Do Vietnamese Restaurant
3.Vietnam Restaurant
Best Indian
1.Rajdoot
2.Moti Mahal
3.Taj Mahal
Best Italian
1.Buon Giorno Ristorante Italiano
2.Chianti Cafe & Restaurant
3.Fiore Cantina Italiana
Best Greek
1.Pegasus
2.Paros on 4th
3.Santorini Greek Taverna
Best Mexican
1.El Sombrero Restaurante Mexicano
2.Salt & Pepper Mexican Restaurante
3.Juan’s Mexican Restaurante
Best international (other)
1.Marathon Ethiopian
2.Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro
3.Mongolie Grill
Best vegetarian
1.Buddha’s Veggie Restaurant
2.Anpurna Vegetarian Restaurant
3.Community Natural Foods
Best deli
1.Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli
2.Sunterra Market
3.Lina’s Italian Market
Best bagel shop
1.Great Canadian Bagel
2.Wayne’s Bagels
3.Bagels & Buns
Best bakery
1.Glamorgan Bakery
2.Eiffel Tower Bakery
3.Rustic Sourdough Bakery
Best breakfast
1.Nellie’s
2.Galaxie Diner
3.Denny’s
Best Sunday brunch
1.Nellie’s
2.Palliser Hotel
3.River Cafe
Best dim sum
1.Silver Dragon
2.Grand Isle
3.Regency Palace
Best ice cream
1.My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe
2.Philip's Forbidden Flavors
3.MacKay’s Cochrane Ice Cream
Best dessert
1.The Cheesecake Cafe
2.Chocolate Bar
3.Teatro
Best cup of coffee
1.Starbucks
2.The Planet
3.Caffe Beano
Best wine list
1.Teatro
2.River Cafe
3.Murrieta’s West Coast Bar & Grill
Best beer selection
1.Ship & Anchor
2.Bottlescrew Bills
3.Brewsters
SHOPPING
Best shopping district
1.17th Avenue S.W.
2.Kensington
3.Downtown
Best shopping mall
1.Chinook Centre
2.Market Mall
3.Southcentre
Best independent corner store
1.Kalamata Grocery Store
2.A&A Foods & Deli
3.Northeast Grocery
Best place to rescue cool junk
1.Value Village
2.Garage Sales
3.Inglewood
Best outdoor gear store
1.Mountain Equipment Co-op
2.Coast Mountain Sports
3.Camper’s Village
Best sporting goods store
1.Sport Chek
2.Mountain Equipment Co-op
3.Sportswap
Best surplus store
1.Crown Surplus
2.Value Village
3.Ribtor
Best snowboard/skateboard shop
1.The Source
2.Mission Snowboards & Skateboards
3.Freewheelin' Skateboards & Snowboards
Best bike shop
1.The Bike Shop
2.Bow Cycle
3.Mission Cycle
Best indie CD store
1.Megatunes
2.Sloth
3.Hot Wax
Best chain CD store
1.A&B Sound
2.HMV
3.Future Shop
Best place to buy vinyl
1.Recordland
2.Sloth
3.Hot Wax
Best music instrument store
1.Long & McQuade
2.Mother’s Music
3.Axe Music
Best indie bookstore
1.Pages Books on Kensington
2.Wee Book Inn
3.I’ve Read That
Best chain bookstore
1.Chapters
2.Indigo
3.Coles
Best used bookstore
1.Wee Book Inn
2.Fair’s Fair
3.I’ve Read That
Best magazine selection
1.With The Times
2.Chapters
3.Daily Globe News Shop
Best comic/fantasy/sf store
1.Phoenix Comic Books
2.Another Dimension
3.Sentry Box
Best indie video/DVD store
1.Casablanca Video & Sound
2.Video & Sound
3.DVD Now
Best chain video/DVD store
1.Blockbuster Video
2.Rogers Video
3.Casablanca Video & Sound
Best electronics/computer store
1.Future Shop
2.A&B Sound
3.Sony Store
Best furniture store
1.Ikea
2.Urban Barn
3.The Brick
Best car wash
1.Johnny Rockets
2.Big Bucket Car Wash
3.10th & 10th Car Wash
Best toy store
1.Toys "R" Us
2.Livingstone and Cavell Extraordinary Toys
3.Mountain Equipment Co-op
Best men’s clothing store
1.Henry Singer
2.Harry Rosen
3.Moore’s
Best women’s clothing store
1.Purr
2.Jacob
3.Holt Renfrew
Best club wear
1.Le Chateau
2.Aluminum Planet
3.Barbie’s
Best lingerie store
1.La Senza
2.Cat’s Pyjamas
3.Barbie’s
Best fetish wear/sex shop
1.B&D Emporium
2.Barbie’s
3.Just For Lovers
Best consignment/vintage clothing
1.Blue Light Special
2.Pendulum
3.Sagesse
Best shoe store
1.Gravity Pope
2.Arnold Churgin
3.Aldo
Best optical
1.The Brass Monocle
2.Eyeclectic Eyewear
3.Shopper’s Optical
Best flower shop
1.Peaseblossoms
2.Flower Power
3.Flowers Make Memories
Best international food store
1.T&T Supermarket
2.Lina’s
3.Italian Supermarket
Best natural foods store
1.Community Natural Foods
2.Amaranth
3.Sunterra Market
Best farmers' market
1.Crossroads Market
2.Blackfoot
3.Millarville
Best chocolate fix
1.Bernard Callebaut
2.Death By Chocolate
3.Da Vinci
Best liquor store
1.Royal Liquor Merchants
2.Willow Park Wine & Spirits
3.Great Canadian Superstore
Best wine shop
1.Kensington Wine Market
2.The Wine Shop
3.Bin 905
Best pet store
1.Petland
2.Petcetera
3.PetSmart
SERVICES
Best Internet service provider
1.Telus
2.Shaw
3.Nucleus
Best place for yoga
1.Yoga In Motion
2.Yoga Studio
3.Home
Best barber shop
1.Razor’s Edge
2.Atomic
3.The Barber Shop
Best hair salon
1.Hedkandi
2.Angles
3.Swizzlesticks
Best place to get pampered
1.Oasis
2.Swizzlesticks
3.Hedkandi
Best tattoo parlour
1.Smilin’ Buddha Tattoo
2.Symbols of Strength
3.Bushido
Best piercing shop
1.Adorned
2.Symbols of Strength
3.To The Point
Best laundromat
1.O’Henry Laundromat
2.The Wash House
3.Avenue Coin Laundry
Best dry cleaners
1.Fishman’s
2.Rosedale
3.Valiant
Best travel agency
1.Travel Cuts
2.AMA
3.WestCan Treks |
