| THE CITY
Calgary is still basking in the booze-soaked afterglow of the Flames’ wild playoff streak, to judge from the votes cast below. The team itself was named the city’s "best new trend," while the notorious Red Mile was a no-brainer choice in the categories of best public places to spot skivvies and skin.
Best new trend
1. Calgary Flames
2. Scooters
3. The Red Mile
Worst new trend
1. Trucker caps
2. The Red Mile
3. ’80s revival
Best kept Calgary secret
1. Cantos Music Foundation
2. Inglewood
3. Prince’s Island Park
Worst intersection
1. Glenmore Trail & Elbow Drive
2. Deerfoot Trail & Memorial Drive
3. Kensington Road & 10th Street N.W.
Most interesting structure
1. Calgary Tower
2. Pengrowth Saddledome
3. Metal "trees" on Eighth Avenue S.W.
Coolest place to take visitors
1. 17th Avenue S.W.
2. Calgary Tower
3. Zoo
Best public art
1. Calgary Board of Education ("Family of Man")
2. Metal "trees" on Eighth Avenue S.W.
3. Cows
Best graffiti
1. Anti-Klein stencils
2. Behind The Source
3. Anti-Bush stencils
Biggest eyesore
1. Metal "trees" on Eighth Avenue S.W.
2. Cecil Hotel
3. The East Village
Best view of the city
1. Crescent Road
2. Scotsman’s Hill
3. Nose Hill Park
Best neighbourhood to live in
1. Mission
2. Mount Royal
3. Kensington
Best park
1. Prince’s Island Park
2. Fish Creek Provincial Park
3. Nose Hill Park
Best place to ride your bike
1. Bow River Pathways
2. Fish Creek Provincial Park
3. Nose Hill Park
Best place to go for a stroll
1. 17th Avenue S.W.
2. Fish Creek Provincial Park
3. Prince’s Island Park
Best toboggan hill
1. St. Andrew’s Heights
2. Nose Hill
3. Confederation Park
Best place to take your dog
1. Nose Hill Park
2. River Park
3. Fish Creek Provincial Park
Best place to read
1. Prince’s Island Park
2. Library
3. Devonian Gardens
Best place for a picnic
1. Prince’s Island Park
2. Bowness Park
3. Fish Creek Provincial Park
Most romantic place for a first kiss
1. Crescent Road N.W.
2. Scotsman’s Hill
3. Prince’s Island Park
Best pick-up spot
1. 17th Avenue S.W.
2. Ship & Anchor
3. Cowboys
Best place to see someone’s ginch
1. 17th Avenue S.W./The Red Mile
2. Cowboys
3. Ship & Anchor
Best public place to get naked
1. The Red Mile/17th Avenue S.W.
2. Prince’s Island Park
3. Nose Hill Park
Best place to people-watch
1. 17th Avenue S.W.
2. Stephen Avenue Walk
3. Eau Claire
Best place to get high
1. 17th Avenue S.W.
2. "Anywhere"
3. Nose Hill
Best parkade/lot
1. Bankers Hall
2. The Bay
3. James Short Parkade
Best local cause
1. The Mustard Seed
2. AIDS Calgary
3. Children’s Hospital
Calgary’s claim to shame
1. Ralph Klein
2. Homelessness
3. The Red Mile/Flashing
Best use of local tax dollars
1. Public Transit /LRT
2. Roads
3. Parks
Worst use of local tax dollars
1. Roads
2. Paying politicians
3. The Stampede
URBAN LIFE
Art-house cinemas, galleries, dance companies… Calgary is awash in culture and sophistication. And to that end, we felt it was time to add another category to the list of popular urban pastimes. Check out this year’s choices for the finest bowling alley in the burg.
Best radio station
1. CJSW 90.9 FM
2. CJAY 92
3. JACK FM
Best television station
1. A Channel
2. Global
3. CBC Calgary
Best art gallery
1. The Glenbow Museum
2. Artspace
3. Stride Gallery
Best dance company
1. Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
2. Alberta Ballet
3. Springboard Dance
Best theatre company
1. One Yellow Rabbit
2. Alberta Theatre Projects
3. Loose Moose
Best art-house movie theatre
1. Uptown Stage & Screen
2. The Globe
3. The Plaza
Most comfortable cinema
1. Paramount Chinook
2. Sunridge Spectrum
3. Silver City
Best area ski hill
1. Sunshine Village
2. Lake Louise
3. Canada Olympic Park
Best golf course
1. Shaganappi Point Golf Course
2. Kananaskis Country Golf Course
3. Valley Ridge
Best bowling alley
1. Chinook Bowladrome
2. Mountain View Bowl
3. Frank Sisson’s Silver Dollar Bowl
Best festival
1. Calgary Folk Music Festival
2. Lilac Fest
3. Calgary Stampede
Best free event
1. Lilac Festival
2. Stampede Breakfasts
3. Shakespeare in the Park
Best fund-raising event
1. Calgary Cares
2. CJSW Funding Drive
3. Big Rock Eddies
Best cup of coffee
1. Starbucks
2. Caffè Beano
3. The Second Cup
Coolest washroom
1. Earl’s Bankers Hall
2. Night Gallery
3. Cactus Club Cafe
Worst washroom
1. The Night Gallery
2. The Warehouse
3. The Back Alley
THE LOCALS
A Channel continues to sport the sexiest celebs, with Big Breakfast co-host Dave Kelly (see the cover story) displacing his colleague, weather guru Darr Maqbool, as favourite stud muffin this year. Darr also had to surrender his "most beloved Calgarian" crown to Flames frontman Jarome Iginla. Meanwhile, Kelly’s Breakfast mate, Tara McCool, once again took the tiara for sexiest gal.
Most beloved Calgarian
1. Jarome Iginla
2. Ralph Klein
3. Darr Maqbool
Most embarrassing Calgarian
1. Ralph Klein
2. Rob Anders
3. Stephen Harper
Best corporate citizen
1. Clive Beddoe (West Jet)
2. Enmax
3. Ken King
Most active activist
1. Stephen Lock
2. Grant Krieger
3. Keith Purdy
Politician you’d like to fire first
1. Ralph Klein
2. Rob Anders
3. Dave Bronconnier
Sexiest man
1. Dave Kelly
2. Jarome Iginla
3. Darr Maqbool
Sexiest woman
1. Tara McCool
2. Su-Ling Goh
3. Barb Higgins
Best-dressed Calgarian
1. Darr Maqbool
2. Su-Ling Goh
3. Tara McCool
Worst-dressed Calgarian
1. Darr Maqbool
2. Jebb Fink
3. Ralph Klein
Favourite local TV personality
1. Darr Maqbool
2. Dave Kelly
3. Jebb Fink
Favourite local radio personality
1. Gerry Forbes
2. Peter Maher
3. Don McSwiney
Best journalist/writer
1. Mike Bell
2. John Gilchrist
3. Rick Bell
Best local actor
1. Christian Goutsis
2. Michael Green
3. Andy Curtis
Best local band
1. Mico
2. The Dudes
3. Hot Little Rocket
Best local athlete
1. Jarome Iginla
2. Mikka Kiprisof
3. Catriona LeMay Doan
Best local author
1. Wil Ferguson
2. Cheryl Foggo
3. Suzette Mayr/Raj Pal
Best Panhandler
1. Frenchie
2. Freedom Street Guy
3. Ron in Kensington
SHOPPING
No big surprises here, with many of Calgary’s urban favourites holding strong. But clearly they’re selling something other than anatomically incorrect children’s dolls at Barbie’s Shop, which panted and moaned its way to the top of the "fetish wear/sex shop" category this year. And if Barbie’s looking for something to lick, she need stroll no further than Fiasco Gelato, which our readers cited as the purveyor of the city’s best cool treat.
Best shopping district
1. 17th Avenue S.W.
2. Kensington
3. Chinook Centre
Best indie corner store
1. Kalamata
2. Buy-Rite Grocery
3. A&A Foods & Deli
Best place to rescue cool junk
1. Value Village
2. Inglewood
3. Garage Sales
Best outdoor/sports gear store
1. Mountain Equipment Co-op
2. Sportswap
3. Sport Chek
Best surplus store
1. Crown Surplus
2. Ribtor
3. Army & Navy
Best snowboard/skateboard shop
1. Mission Snowboards & Skateshop
2. The Source
3. Skater’s
Best ski shop
1. Ski Cellar
2. Techno Sport
3. Abominable
Best bike shop
1. The Bike Shop
2. Bow Cycle
3. Sportswap
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. Phonics
3. Sloth
Best indie bookstore
1. Pages Books on Kensington
2. McNally Robinson
3. Wee Book Inn
Best used bookstore
1. Fair’s Fair
2. Wee Book Inn
3. Baskerville Books
Best magazine selection
1. Chapters
2. With The Times
3. Daily Globe News Shop
Best comics store
1. Phoenix Comic Books
2. Another Dimension
3. Tramps
Best indie video/DVD store
1. Casablanca Video & Sound
2. Bird Dog Alternative Video
3. Video & Sound
Best electronics/computer store
1. Future Shop
2. Memory Express
3. Best Buy
Best place to find furniture
1. IKEA
2. Inglewood
3. The Brick
Best men's clothing store
1. Henry
2. Purr
3. Moore’s
Best women's clothing store
1. Purr
2. Smyth & Kang
3. Winners
Best club wear
1. Le Chateau
2. Barbie’s Shop
3. Purr
Best lingerie store
1. La Senza
2. Le Vie En Rose
3. The Cat’s Pyjamas
Best fetish wear/sex shop
1. Barbie’s Shop
2. B&D Emporium
3. Mischiff’s Closet
Best consignment/vintage clothing
1. Trend
2. Junkstar
3. Blue Light Special
Best shoe store
1. Gravity Pope
2. Aldo
3. Arnold Churgin
Best place to find cool jewelry
1. Wanderlust
2. I Appeal
3. Barbie’s Shop
Best optical
1. The Brass Monocle
2. 17th Avenue Specs
3. Shoppers Optical
Best pet store
1. Petland
2. PetSmart
3. Pet Cetera
Best toy store
1. Toys "R" Us
2. Livingstone and Cavell Extraordinary Toys
3. Who’s Who In The Zoo
Best flower shop
1. Flowers Make Memories
2. Flower Power
3. Pushing Petals
Best international food store
1. T&T Supermarket
2. Lina’s Italian Market
3. Real Canadian Superstore
Best natural foods store
1. Community Natural Foods
2. Planet Organic
3. Sunterra Market
Best farmers’ market
1. Crossroads Market
2. Millarville
3. Calgary Farmer’s Market
Best deli
1. Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli
2. Lina’s Italian Market
3. Sunterra Market
Best bagel
1. Great Canadian Bagel
2. Wayne’s Bagels
3. Tim Horton’s
Best bakery
1. Glamorgan Bakery
2. Eiffel Tower Bakery
3. Safeway
Best cool treat on a hot day
1. Fiasco Gelato
2. 7-Eleven Slurpee
3. Dairy Queen
Best liquor store
1. Royal Liquor Merchants
2. Willow Park Wine & Spirits
3. Real Canadian Superstore
Best wine shop
1. Willow Park Wine & Spirits
2. Kensington Wine Market
3. The Wine Shop
SERVICES
They must be doing something right at Swizzlesticks, which snipped a path from third to first place as the best hair salon this year. Meanwhile, newcomer Yoga Passage topped the list of the city’s premier yoga studios, providing those crucial lessons in breathing that come in handy when you get a tattoo at Smilin’ Buddha or a piercing at To The Point.
Best fitness facility
1. Talisman Centre
2. Eau Claire YMCA
3. World Health Club
Best place for yoga
1. Yoga Passage
2. The Yoga Studio
3. Yoga In Motion
Best barber shop
1. Razor’s Edge
2. Dick’s Barber Shop
3. First Choice/We Can Do
Best hair salon
1. Swizzlesticks
2. Hedkandi
3. Jerome Hair Salon
Best place to get pampered
1. Oasis Spa
2. Swizzlesticks
3. Stillwater Spa
Best tattoo parlour
1. Smilin’ Buddha Tattoo
2. Bushido
3. Eternal Image
Best piercing shop
1. To The Point
2. Bushido
3. Steel Sensations
Best laundromat
1. Oh Henry Laundromat
2. Pink Elephant
3. The Wash House
Best dry cleaners
1. Fishman’s Personal Care Cleaners
2. Barker’s Fine Dry Cleaning
3. Rosedale
Best local website
1. www.ffwdweekly.com
2. www.calgarymovies.com
3. www.flamesgirls.com
NIGHTLIFE
Oh, come on now, is the Ship & Anchor really that special? Well… yeah. And so, apparently, is the Ironwood Stage and Grill, which once again made "best live country/folk venue" despite the fact that it shut its doors this summer (but – good news – it’s now back in business). This year we also broadened our after-hours tastes to recognize the best karaoke bar and strip club – won by Ducky’s Pub and The French Maid, and we’ll let you guess which one has the exotic dancers.
Best new bar
1. Bungalow
2. Broken City
3. Mynt
Best cocktail bar
1. The Mercury
2. Ming
3. Mortal Coil
Best pub
1. Ship & Anchor
2. Drum & Monkey
3. The Rose & Crown
Best gay/lesbian bar
1. Detour
2. Boystown
3. Calgary Eagle
Sexiest clientele
1. Cowboys
2. Ship & Anchor
3. Tantra
Best bar to spend the day in
1. Ship & Anchor
2. Melrose Café & Bar
3. Ceili’s
Best dive bar
1. King Edward Hotel
2. Ship & Anchor
3. Shamrock Hotel
Best place for karaoke
1. Ducky’s Pub
2. Stonegate Pub
3. O’Sullivan’s
Best place to watch sports
1. Schanks Athletic Club
2. Melrose Café & Bar
3. Pengrowth Saddledome
Best place to see exotic dancers
1. The French Maid
2. The Speakeasy
3. The Big Easy
Best place to shoot pool
1. The Garage
2. Stix
3. Schanks Athletic Club
Best DJ
1. DJ Rice
2. Emes & Grimes
3. Rob Faust
Best nightclub
1. The Whiskey
2. The Night Gallery
3. The Warehouse
Best live rock/alternative venue
1. The Night Gallery
2. Broken City
3. The Whiskey
Best live jazz/blues venue
1. King Edward Hotel
2. Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club
3. Kaos
Best live country/folk venue
1. Ironwood Stage and Grill
2. Ranchman’s
3. Karma Local Arts House
Best bartender
1. Paul (Warehouse)
2. Brent Nalder
3. Nolan (Ship & Anchor)
Friendliest staff
1. Ship & Anchor
2. Mercury
3. The Night Gallery
Best vibe
1. Ship & Anchor
2. The Night Gallery
3. Ming
Best patio
1. Ship & Anchor
2. Melrose Café & Bar
3. The Whiskey
Best beer selection
1. Ship & Anchor
2. Bottlescrew Bill’s
3. Limerick’s
Best wine list
1. Teatro
2. The Living Room
3. Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro
DINING OUT
Calgarians love their Vietnamese food. Dalat, the latest provider of Vietnamese cuisine to grace 17th Avenue S.W., was our readers’ choice for best new restaurant in town. And sushi’s a growing fave, too. This year, Sushi Kawa came on the scene like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, slicing its way to the front rank of Japanese eateries. The Broken Plate, meanwhile, triumphed with its superior Greek dishes (no word on how breakable they really are), while Marathon proved that Calgary palates have discovered the delights of Ethiopian fare.
Best overall restaurant
1. River Café
2. Earl’s
3. The Living Room
Best new restaurant
1. Dalat
2. Julio’s Barrio
3. Vintage Chophouse
Best restaurant for a first date
1. Mortal Coil
2. The Living Room
3. River Café
Best restaurant atmosphere
1. River Café
2. The Living Room
3. Vintage Chophouse
Best service
1. Vintage Chophouse
2. La Chaumiere
3. Mortal Coil
Best casual dining
1. Earl’s
2. Moxie’s
3. Joey Tomato’s
Best late-night (after 1 a.m.)
1. Wendy’s
2. Denny’s
3. Husky House
Best diner
1. Galaxie Diner
2. Diner Deluxe
3. The Arden Diner
Best pizza
1. Wicked Wedge
2. Panago Pizza
3. Papa John’s
Best nachos
1. Ship & Anchor
2. Original Joe’s
3. Boston Pizza
Best wings
1. The Regal Beagle
2. Earl’s
3. Hooters
Best burger
1. Peters’ Drive-In
2. Burger Inn
3. Ship & Anchor
Best veggie burger
1. Burger Inn
2. Ship & Anchor
3. Harvey’s
Best fries
1. McDonald’s
2. Ship & Anchor
3. New York Fries
Best fish & chips
1. Joey’s Only Seafood
2. Ship & Anchor
3. Boyd’s Seafood Restaurant
Best Chinese
1. Silver Dragon
2. Buddha’s Veggie Restaurant
3. Peking Dragon
Best Sushi
1. Sushi Kawa
2. Hana Sushi
3. Kyoto 17
Best Thai
1. The King & I
2. Thai Sa On
3. Ruan Thai
Best Korean
1. Bow Bulgogi House
2. Korean Village
3. Koryo Korean BBQ
Best Vietnamese
1. Co Do Vietnamese Restaurant
2. Oriental Phoenix
3. Bagaloc Saigon Restaurant
Best Indian
1. Rajdoot
2. Moti Mahal
3. Taj Mahal
Best Italian
1. Chianti Café & Restaurant
2. Buon Giorno Ristorante Italiano
3. Fiore Cantina Italiana
Best Greek
1. The Broken Plate
2. Santorini Greek Taverna
3. Pegasus
Best Mexican
1. El Sombrero Restaurante Mexicano
2. Salt & Pepper Mexican Restaurante
3. Julio’s Barrio
Best international (other)
1. Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant
2. Sultan’s Tent
3. Mt. Everest’s Kitchen
Best vegetarian
1. Buddha’s Veggie Restaurant
2. Anpurna Vegetarian Restaurant
3. Good Earth
Best steak
1. The Keg
2. Vintage Chophouse
3. Caesar’s Steak House
Best seafood
1. Catch
2. Cannery Row
3. Red Lobster
Best breakfast
1. Nellie’s
2. Galaxie Diner
3. Diner Deluxe
Best dessert
1. The Cheesecake Café
2. Moxie’s Restaurant
3. Fiasco Gelato |
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