Let’s keep this brief:
Congrats!
As in kudos to the hundreds of SN&R Best Of Sacramento nominees!
Voting begins tomorrow, July 11, here, at www.newsreview.com/bestofsac.
And so, this year’s nominees (good luck!):
Nightlife & Entertainment
Best all-ages music venue
Ace of Spades
The Boardwalk
Bows & Arrows
Club Retro
The Cozmic Cafe
Luigi’s Fun Garden
Naked Lounge Downtown
The Refuge
Shine
Sol Collective
Best casino
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Capital Casino Restaurant & Bar
Casino Royale
Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel
Lucky Derby Casino
Red Hawk Casino
Thunder Valley Casino Resort
Best comedy club
ComedySports Arena
Laughs Unlimited
Punchline Sacramento
Sacramento Comedy Spot
Tommy T’s Comedy & Dinner Theatre
Best festival
Chalk it Up!
Festival de la Familia
Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar
Launch
Pacific Rim Festival
Sacramento Beer Week
Sacramento French Film Festival
Sacramento Pride Festival
SactoMofo
Trash Film Orgy
Best gay club
Badlands
Faces
The Bolt
The Depot Video Bar
The Mercantile Saloon
Best karaoke
Blue Moon Cafe and Karaoke
Hamburger Patties
Marilyn’s on K
Old Ironsides
On the Y
Pine Cove Tavern
River City Saloon
Swiss Buda
The Distillery
Best open-mic night
Fox & Goose
Luna’s Cafe & Juice Bar
Mondo Bizarro
Old Ironsides
Shine
Best place to go dancing
Badlands
District 30
Faces
Mix Downtown
Powerhouse Pub
Social Nightclub
The Park Ultra Lounge
The Press Club
Splash Nightclub & Bar
Best place to knock down pins
AMF Land Park Lanes
Capital Bowl
Country Club Lanes
Folsom Lake Bowl Family Fun Center
Strikes Unlimited
Best place to see live music
Ace of Spades
Assembly
Blue Lamp
Bows & Arrows
Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub
Luigi’s Fun Garden
Marilyn’s on K
Old Ironsides
The Boardwalk
Torch Club
Best place to watch it on the big screen
The Crest Theatre
Esquire IMAX Theatre
The Tower Theater
West Wind Sacramento 6 Drive-In
Best spot for pool
Alley Katz
Blue Cue
Corner Pocket Sports Bar
Hard Times Billiards
Hideaway Bar & Grill
Hot Shots Billiards
Jointed Cue Billiards
Players Sports Pub & Grill
R15
Round Corner
Sharky’s Billiards
Skybox Grill and Bar
Best trivia night
Alley Katz
Bonn Lair
DeVere’s Irish Pub
The Kilt
Streets of London Pub
The Depot Video Bar
The Shack
Travel & Sports
Best golf course
Ancil Hoffman Golf Club
Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course
Bing Maloney Golf Course
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex
Land Park Golf Club
Teal Bend Golf Club
Turkey Creek Golf Club
Whitney Oaks Golf Club
Wildhawk Golf Club
Woodcreek Golf Club
Best gym
American River Crossfit
BodyTribe Fitness
Capital Athletic Club
Figure 8 Women’s Workout
Fliptastic
Natomas Racquet Club
Results the 24 Hour Gym
Rocklin Crossfit
Sacramento Pipeworks Climbing and Fitness
YMCA
Best Kings player
DeMarcus Cousins
Isaiah Thomas
Jimmer Fredette
Jason Thompson
Marcus Thornton
Tyreke Evans
Best martial-arts studio
Joslin’s Martial Arts Center
Kovar’s Satori Academy
Moore’s Martial Arts
Robinson Taekwondo
Self Defense & Personal Safety Academy
Best Sacto sports coverage
Sam Amick, USA Today
Matt Barrows, The Sacramento Bee
Carmichael Dave, Sports 1140 The Fan
Joe Davidson, The Sacramento Bee
Jason Jones, The Sacramento Bee
Grant Napear, Sports 1140 The Fan
Jason Ross, Sports 1140 The Fan
Ailene Voisin, The Sacramento Bee
Tom Ziller, Sactown Royalty
Best ski resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Kirkwood
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Sierra at Tahoe Resort
Squaw Valley USA
Best TV sportscaster
Brian May, News 10
Del Rodgers, KCRA 3
Jim Crandell, Fox 40
Ryan Yamamoto, News 10
People & Personalities
Best comedian
Ngaio Bealum
Michael Calvin Jr.
Steve Ferris
Jack Gallagher
Chazz Hawkins
Keith Lowell Jensen
Ray Molina
Carlos Rodriguez
Johnny Taylor
Tapan Trivedi
Best local actor
David Pierini
Greg Alexander
Jamie Jones
Janis Stevens
Jason Kukendall
Jonathan Rhys Williams
Kurt Johnson
Matt K. Miller
Michael RJ Campbell
Stephanie Gularte
Best local morning radio show
Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning, KRXQ 98 Rock
The Armstrong & Getty Show, Talk 650 KSTE
The Don Geronimo Show, KHTK 1140 The Fan
Best local media personality to have a beer with
Nick Brunner, Capital Public Radio
Bethany Crouch, Fox 40
Isaac Gonzalez, Ransackedmedia.com
Walt Gray, 96.9 The Eagle
Heckasac
Edie Lambert, KCRA 3
Kurtis Ming, CBS 13
Grant Napear, Sports 1140 The Fan
Blair Anthony Robertson, The Sacramento Bee
Dale Schornack, News 10
Best meteorologist to trust for your weather forecast
Darla Givens, News10
Dave Bender, CBS 13
Dirk Verdoorn, KCRA 3
Kristina Werner, Fox 40
Mark Finan, KCRA 3
Monica Woods, News10
Best reporter
David Bienick, KCRA 3
Jared Goyette, The Sacramento Press
Ryan Lillis, The Sacramento Bee
Carla Meyer, The Sacramento Bee
Bob Moffitt, Capital Public Radio
Best seductive radio voice
Ashley Nickels, 107.9 The End
Monica Lowe, Star 106.5
Kitty O’Neal, 92.5FM / AM 1530 KFBK
Alan Ray, Capital Public Radio
Devin Yamanaka, Capital Public Radio
Best public servant
Councilwoman Angelique Ashby
Mayor Kevin Johnson
Councilman Kevin McCarty
Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna
State Sen. Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
Food & Drink
Best chef
Pajo Bruich, Enotria Restaurant Wine Bar
Brad Cecchi, Grange Restaurant & Bar
Michael Fagnoni, Hawks Restaurant
Aimal Formoli, Formoli’s Bistro
Kelly Hogge, Magpie Cafe
Patrick Mulvaney, Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
Billy Ngo, Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
Kevin O’Connor, Blackbird Kitchen & Bar
Ravin Patel, Ella Dining Room & Bar
Adam Pechal, Restaurant Thir13en
Oliver Ridgeway, Grange Restaurant & Bar
Best food truck
Bacon MANia
Cajun Wagon
Coast to Coast Sandwiches
Chando’s Tacos
Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen
Krush Burger
La Mex Taqueria
Mama Kim Cooks
The Leaven & Earth Sandwich Co.
Wicked ‘Wich
Best grocer
Corti Brothers
Oto’s Marketplace
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
Taylor’s Market
Best Middle Eastern eats
Cafe Morocco
Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant
Darna
Famous Kabob
Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant
Royal Kebab
Shahrzad Fine Persian Cuisine
Best happy-hour
Blackbird Kitchen & Bar
Bows & Arrows
Cafeteria 15L
Hideaway Bar & Grill
Kasbah Lounge
Lucca Restaurant and Bar
R15
Riverside Clubhouse
The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar
Shady Lady Saloon
Skybox Grill and Bar
Best Indian
Bombay Bar and Grill
Kathmandu Kitchen
Kaveri Madras Cuisine
Mehfil Indian Restaurant
Monsoon Cuisine of India
Pooja Indian Grill
SHAZ Restaurant
Sher-e-Punjab Indian Restaurant
Tandoori Nights
Best irresistible sandwich
Bud’s Buffet
Dad’s Sandwiches
Huong Lan Sandwiches
Juno’s Kitchen and Deli
Magpie Cafe
Roxie Deli
Sampino’s Towne Foods
The Sandwich Spot
Super Tortas Chilangas “El Abuelo”
Zia’s Delicatessen
Best Italian
Anthony’s Italian Cuisine
Biba Restaurant
Espanol Restaurant
Il Fornaio
La Trattoria Bohemia
Lucca Restaurant and Bar
Michelangelo’s Italian Restaurant
Paesano’s
Palermo Ristorante
Vince’s Ristorante
Best baked goods
Doughbot Donuts
Estelle’s Patisserie
Ettore’s European Bakery and Restaurant
Freeport Bakery
Les Baux Bakery
Mahoroba Japanese Bakery
New Roma Bakery
Rick’s Dessert Diner
The Plum Cafe and Bakery
Pushkin’s Bakery
Village Bakery
Best Mediterranean eats
Anatolian Table
Cafe Europa
Crest Cafe
Greek Village Inn
The Kabob House
Maalouf’s Taste of Lebanon
Opa! Opa!
Petra Greek
Pita Kitchen Plus
Trio Restaurant
Best Mexican food
Caballo Blanco Restaurante
Chando’s Tacos
El Novillero
El Papagayo Restaurant
La Flor De Michoacan
Lalo’s Restaurant
Nopalitos Southwestern Cafe
Mayahuel Tequila Museo
Tres Hermanas
Zocalo
Best new restaurant
Bacon and Butter
Blackbird Kitchen and Bar
Broderick Roadhouse
La Huaca
LowBrau Bierhall
Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co.
Hock Farm Craft & Provisions
Preserve
Best outdoor patio
Aioli Bodega Espanola
Bows & Arrows
Dad’s Kitchen
LowBrau Bierhall
Mulvaney’s B&L
Paragary’s Bar and Oven
Riverside Clubhouse
Tower Cafe
Best pizza
Chicago Fire
Linda’s Chicago Style Pizzeria
Luigi’s Pizza Parlor
Hot City Pizza
Hot Italian
Masullo
OneSpeed Pizza
Pizza Rock Sacramento
Roma’s Pizzeria
The Shack
Uncle Vito’s Slice of N.Y.
Zelda’s Gourmet Pizza
Best beer destination
Boneshaker Public House
Capitol Beer & Tap Room
Final Gravity Taproom & Bottleshop
Hot City Pizza
LowBrau Bierhall
Pangaea Two Brews Cafe
Samuel Horne’s Tavern
The Davis Beer Shoppe
The Shack
Best spot to drink a few pints
36 Handles
Alley Katz
The Bonn Lair
Burgers & Brew
Dad’s Kitchen
de Vere’s Irish Pub
The Fat Rabbit Public House
Firestone Public House
Hoppy Brewing Company
Rubicon Brewing Company
River City Brewing Company
Streets of London
Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery
Best brewer
Auburn Alehouse Brewery and Restaurant
Berryessa Brewing Company
Hoppy Brewing Company
Knee Deep Brewing
Loomis Basin Brewing Company
New Helvetia Brewing Co.
River City Brewing Company
Rubicon Brewing Company
Ruhstaller Brewing Co.
Track 7 Brewing Co.
Best barbecue
A&K Barbecue
Burgess Brothers Burgers
Downtown’s Kitchen BBQ vs. Vegan
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
MacQue’s Bar-B-Que
MoMo’s Meat Market
Sandra Dee’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood
Best brunch
Bacon and Butter
Cafe Bernardo
Capitol Garage
Dad’s Kitchen
Fox & Goose
Golden Bear
Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co.
Magpie
OneSpeed
Orphan Breakfast House
The Shack
Taylor’s Kitchen
Tower Cafe
Best burger less than 10 bucks
Burgess Brothers Barbecue
Burgers & Brew
Dad’s Kitchen
Flaming Grill Cafe
Gatsby’s Diner
Krush Burger
Nationwide Freezer Meats
Skip’s Kitchen
Squeeze Inn
Whitey’s Jolly Kone
Willie’s Hamburgers and Chiliburgers
Best place for coffee
Broadacre Coffee
Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters
Insight Coffee Roasters
The Mill
Naked Lounge
Old Soul Co.
Temple Coffee
Best dim sum
Asian Pearl 2009
Capital Tea Garden
King Palace Restaurant
New Canton Restaurant
Best dive bar
Back Door Lounge
Brownie’s Lounge
Club Raven
Club 2 Me
Cheater’s Sports Bar
Flame Club
Henry’s Lounge
The Hideaway Bar & Grill
Hilltop Tavern
Mercantile Saloon
Mushroom Lounge
Pre-Flite Lounge
Round Corner Tavern
Swiss Buda
The Stag Bar
Best place to swill a cocktail
Blackbird Kitchen & Restaurant
Ella Dining Room & Bar
The Golden Bear
Grange Restaurant & Bar
Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co.
Hot Italian
The Press
The Porch
Pour House
Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar
Shady Lady Saloon
Three Fires Lounge
Best place for a glass of wine
58 Degrees & Holding
Enotria Restaurant Wine Bar
Downtown and Vine
The Grand Wine Bar
The Rind
Best place for late-night eats
Burgers & Brew
Gogi’s Korean BBQ
Hot Rod’s Burgers
Ink Eats & Drinks
Kasbah Lounge
LowBrau Bierhall
Petra Greek
Pieces Pizza by the Slice
Uncle Vito’s Slice of N.Y.
Willie’s Hamburgers and Chiliburgers
Best place for meat-free eats
Anna’s Cafe
Andy Nguyen’s Vegetarian Restaurant
Baagan
El Papagayo
Loving Hut
Noble Vegetarian Restaurant
Queen Sheba
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
Sunflower Drive In
The Plum Cafe & Bakery
Best place for something sweet
Devine Gelateria & Cafe
Estelle’s Patisserie
Ettore’s European Bakery & Restaurant
Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
Goodie Tuchews
Gunther’s Ice Cream Shop
OsakaYa
Rick’s Dessert Diner
Tower Cafe
Vic’s Ice Cream
Yogurtagogo
Best restaurant to impress your date
Biba Restaurant
Ella Dining Room & Bar
Enotria Restaurant Wine Bar
The Firehouse Restaurant
Grange Restaurant & Bar
Hawks Restaurant
Land Ocean New American Grille
Moxie Restaurant
Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
The Press
Sienna
The Waterboy
Best sushi
Akebono Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar
Arigato Sushi
Bento Box
Blue Nami Sushi
Crazy Sushi
Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Miyagi Bar & Sushi
Nishiki Sushi
Sushi Hook
Zen Sushi
Best burrito
Chando’s Tacos
Dos Coyotes
La Esperanza Mexican Food Products
La Favorita Taqueria
La Flor De Michoacan
La Soga Taqueria
Lalo’s Restaurant
Nopalitos Southwestern Cafe
Tres Hermanos Taco Truck
Best Thai
Asian Cafe
Bangkok @ 12 Thai Restaurant
Bangkok Garden
Chada Thai Cuisine
Pattaya Cafe Thai Cuisine
Siam Restaurant
Taste of Thai
Thai Basil
Thai Hut
Thai Thai Express
Vientiane Restaurant
Arts & Smarts
Best community-theater group
Big Idea Theatre
Celebration Arts
Chautauqua Playhouse
Green Valley Theatre Company
KOLT Run Creations
Resurrection Theatre
Runaway Stage Productions
Best local actor
Greg Alexander
Michael RJ Campbell
Stephanie Gularte
Kurt Johnson
Jamie Jones
Jason Kukendall
Matt K. Miller
David Pierini
Kate Rubin
Janis Stevens
Michael Weis
Jonathan Rhys Williams
Best place to hear poetry
Blue Monday at A Taste of Laguna
Mahogany Urban Poetry Series at Queen Sheba
Poetry with Legs at Shine
Sacramento Poetry Center
Best place to see art
40 Acres Art Gallery
Axis Gallery
Beatnik Studios
Bows & Arrows
Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento
Crocker Art Museum
Elliott Fouts Gallery
Fe Gallery & Iron Art Studio
John Natsoulas Gallery
Sol Collective
La Raza Galleria Posada
Little Relics
Verge Center for the Arts
Vox Sacramento
Best place to stock your bookshelves
Beers Books
The Avid Reader at the Tower
The Avid Reader, Davis
The Book Collector
Dimple Books
Time Tested Books
Best professional-theater company
B Street Theatre
California Musical Theater
Capital Stage
New Helvetia Theatre
Sacramento Theatre Company
Best reading or lecture series
CRC Literary Series, Cosumnes River College
Crossroads Reading Series, Center for Contemporary Art Sacramento
Literary Lectures, Sacramento Poetry Center
Sacramento’s Living Library, Time Tested Books
Stories on Stage, Sacramento Poetry Center
Best comedy night
Open mic comedy on Tuesday at Bows & Arrows
Open mic scramble at the Comedy Spot
Laughs Unlimited
Wednesday night stand-up with Keith Lowell Jensen at Luna’s Cafe and Juice Bar
The Punch Line
Jokes on J Thursday at Shenanigan’s
Nutty Mondays with Tristan Johnson at The Stoney Inn
Scott’s Comedy Club, Thursday at Zigato’s Bar & Grill
Best visual artist
Jon Bafus
Maren Conrad
Amanda Cook
Gale Hart
Gioia Fonda
Jose Di Gregorio
Micah Crandall-Bear
Nathan Cordero
Pete Eckert
Rogelio Manzo
Danny Scheible
Peter Stegall
Best novelist
Jodi Angel
Doug Rice
Pam Houston
Christian Kiefer
William T. Vollman
Shops & Services
Best place to get a piercing
American Graffiti Tattoo & Piercing
Bonehead Tattoos and Piercing
The Exotic Body
Legacy Tattoo
River City Tattoo
Sacramento Tattoo and Piercing
Sub Q Body Piercing
Best Middle Eastern eats
Cafe Morocco
Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant
Darna
Famous Kabob
Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant
Royal Kebab
Shahrzad Fine Persian Cuisine
Best barber shop
Anthony’s Barbershop
Barber Blues
The Business Barber Shop
The Buzz Barber Shop
Eddy’s Deluxe
Fly Cuts & Styles
Hot Rods Chop Shop
Knock Out Barber Shop
La Riviera Barber Shop
Norm’s Barber Shop
The Head Game
Best boutique
Bows & Arrows
Cuffs Urban Apparel
Denim Spot
Heart Clothing Boutique
Krazy Mary’s Boutique
Serendipity Boutique
Sugar Shack Boutique
Best home furnishings
57th Street Antique Row
Casa Bella Galleria
Living Space
Scout Living
The Antique Company
Best medical-cannabis physician
420 Med Evaluations
Best 420 Care Center
Cann Medical
Confidential 420
MediCann
Sacramento 420 Evaluations Center
Best strip club
City Limits Showgirls
Club Fantasy
Deja Vu Showgirls
Gold Club Centerfolds
Best place to buy supplies for your animal friends
Land Bark Pet Supply
Pet Department Store
Trends-n-Treats
Wagger’s Pet Spa & Market
Western Feed & Pet Supply
Best veterinary hospital/clinic
Del Paso Veterinary Clinic
Integrative Veterinary Center
Midtown Animal Hospital
Mercy Pet Hospital
Mueller Pet Hospital
Natomas Veterinary Hospital
Sacramento Animal Hospital
VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center
Best place to buy tchotchkes
Evangeline’s
Fringe
Ladybug Ladybug
Mixed Bag
Sakura Gifts
Best place to put a ring on it
Guzetta & Co. Fine Jewelers
Rainbow Bridge Jewelers
Roper’s Jewelers
Shane Co.
Sharif Jewelers
Best place to buy vintage
57th Street Antique Row
Bows & Arrows
Cuffs Urban Apparel
Freestyle Clothing Exchange
Midway Antique Mall
Sacramento Antique Faire
Scout Living
Thunderhorse Vintage
YSJ Trading Co.
Best tattoo shop
Forever Tattoo
Legacy Ink Tattoo
Monroe Tattoo Parlor
Pretty In Ink Tattoo
Reclamare Gallery and Custom Tattoo
River City Tattoo
Royal Peacock Tattoo Parlor
Side Show Studios
Urban Body
Best place to get pampered
Blue Sky Day Spa
Body Advantage
Byuti
Happy Day Spa
Hoshall’s Salon & Spa
Mellow Me Out Day Spa
Salon Cuvee & Day Spa
The Pedicure Lounge
The Spa Simply Skin
Best place to get your nails painted
Gloss Nail Studio
Golden Nails
Happy Day Spa
Nails 2000
Salon Cuvee & Day Spa
Pedicure Lounge
Picasso Spa & Nails
Best place to get your hair done
AJF Salon
Alley Cuts
DEEDA Salon
Hoshall’s Salon & Spa
Maverique Style House
Magic Salon
Mecca Salon
Potter Hair Salon
Salon Bravissimo
Salon Paisley
Space 07 Salon
Spanish Fly Hair Garage
Best place to get a bike
Addison’s Bicycle Repairium
City Bicycle Works
College Cyclery
East Sac Bike and Board
Ikon Cycles
Mike’s Bikes
Pedal Hard
Practical Cycle
Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen
The Bicycle Business
Best yoga studio
Arden Hot Yoga
Asha Yoga
Capital Athletic Club
It’s All Yoga
Padme Yoga Center
Sacramento Bikram Yoga
Sacramento Pipeworks
The Yoga Seed Collective
Yoga Loka
Zuda Yoga
Best record store
Armadillo Music
Dimple Records
Records
Best thrift store
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
Goodwill
SPCA Thrift Store
Thrift Town Thrift Stores
Weave Thrift
Best place to buy sexy-time stuff
G Spot
Goldie’s Adult Superstores
Kiss N Tell
