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Best of Buffalo 2008	We Have Our Winners

Crowd at the 2008 Best of Buffalo Party

It was an affair to remember, no question. On Monday night, thousands of Artvoice readers converged on the Town Ballroom to celebrate the region’s best—the best restaurants, the best shops, the best music, the best artists. The best of everything. In keeping with the theme, it was the the best Best of Buffalo Bash Artvoice has thrown yet, with music by DJs Lil Joe and Lady Atram, and performances by Babik and the Stripteasers, plus fine fare provided by the region’s top restaurants. If you missed it, oh well...

Click here to view more photos from the event!

ARTS & LETTERS

Best Actor
Vincent O’Neill

Best Actress
Lisa Ludwig

Best Cinema
North Park

Best Cultural Asset
Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Best Dance Company
Configuration Dance

Best Dancer
Aaron Piepszny

Best Genre-defying artist
Aaron Piepszny

Best New Arts/Performance Space
ALT Theatre

Best Painter
AJ Fries

Best Photographer
Jim Bush

Best Playwright
Jon Elston

Best Spoken Word Venue/Series
Allen Street Hardware

Best Poet/Spoken Word Artist
Celia White

Best Sculptor
David Derner

Best Small Art Gallery
CEPA

Best Supporter of the Arts
M&T Bank

Best Theater Company
Irish Classical

Best Theater Production
To Kill a Mockingbird

Best Video or Film Artist
Brian Milbrand

Best Writer
Gary Earl Ross

THE PLACE WE LIVE

Best Annual Festival
Allentown Art Festival

Best Annual Fundraiser
MASH Bash

Best Place to Eavesdrop
Spot Coffee On Chippewa

Best Outdoor Public Space
Delaware Park

Best People-watching
Elmwood Avenue

Best Place to Take Visitors
Niagara Falls

The Year’s Biggest Mistake
Eliot Spitzer’s

A Building You Want Renovated
Central Terminal

A Building You Want Torn Down
The Aud

Favorite Building
City Hall

Most Promising Green Project
The SteelWinds wind turbines

One Thing You Hope Happens in 2008
Buffalo’s waterfront redevelopment begins

THE MUSIC YOU HEAR

Best Blues Act
Jony James

Best Club DJ
DJ Lil Joe

Best Country Act
West of the Mark

Best Folk/Bluegrass Act
Skiffle Minstrels

Best Hip Hop Act
Soul Alignment

Best Female Vocalist
Kelly Wahl

Best Male Vocalist
Mark Valentino

Best Jazz Act
Babik

Best Open Mic Night
Nietzsche’s

Best Rock Act
Hit n Run

Best Vocal Ensemble
Gay Men’s Chorus

Best Regular Gig
Babik @ Allen Street Hardware

Govindan Kartha: Best Record Store (New World Record)

Sweet & Dirty: Best Women's Clothing

THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW

Unsung Hero
Dennis Delano

Best Activist Group
PUSH Buffalo

Best Drag King
Bud Wyzer

Best Drag Queen
Fantasee Island

Best Individual Activist
Kevin Gaughan

Best Local Blogger
Newell Nussbaumer

Best Local Politician
Brian Higgins

Best Print Journalist
Donn Esmonde

Best Radio Personalities
Shredd & Ragan

Best TV Personality
Chesley McNeil

Biggest Cheerleader
Newell Nussbaumer

Loudest Complainer
Frank Clark

Worst Local Politician
Byron Brown

THE PLACES YOU GO

Best Bathroom Graffiti
Old Pink

Best Beer Selection
Pearl Street

Best Bowling Alley
Voelker’s

Best Cocktails
Chocolate Bar

Best Dance Club
Level

Best Dive Bar
Old Pink

Best Bartender, Female
Jenn Parker @ Club Diablo

Best Bartender, Male
Jimmy @ Cathode Ray

Best Gay-friendly Bar
Club Marcella

Best Lesbian-friendly Bar
Roxy’s

Best Happy Hour
Soho

Best Jukebox
Essex Street Pub

Best Karaoke
Roxy’s

Best Live Music
Mohawk Place

Best Neighborhood Pub
Allen Street Hardware

Best New Bar
Bayou

Best Place to Shoot Pool
Pearl Street

Best Place to Throw Darts
Macaroons

Best Place to Watch a Game
Pearl Street

Best Upscale Bar
Stillwater

Best Wine List
Bacchus

Best Yoga/Pilates: East Meets West

Jon Elston: Best Playwright

WHERE YOU BUY THINGS

Best Accessories
Clutch

Best Antique Shop
The Antique Man

Best Bakery
DiCamillo’s

Best Barber
Vito’s Barber Shop

Best Bike Shop
Bert’s Bikes

Best Bookstore
Talking Leaves

Best Butcher
Federal Meats

Best Car Dealer
West Herr

Best CD/Record Store
New World Record

Best Customer Service
Wegmans

Best Day Spa
Excuria

Best Fish Market
Hayes

Best Florist
Maureen’s

Best Furniture/Home Decor
Room

Best Gift Shop
Everything Elmwood

Best Hair Salon
Studio 806

Best Head Shop
Terrapin Station

Best Health Club
BAC

Best Jewelry
Wild Things

Best Liquor Store
Premier

Best Massage
Studio 806

Best Mens Clothing
Urban

Best Music Store
Jackson Music

Best Natural Foods
Lexington Coop

Best Pedicure/Manicure
Studio 806

Best Pet Store
Elmwood Pet Supplies

Best Piercing
Cowpok

Best Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Shirley Anain

Best Produce
Wegmans

Best Sex Shop
Video Liquidators

Best Shoes
Shoe Fly

Best Outdoor Store
Campus Wheelworks

Best tanning Salon
Total Tan

Best Tattoos
Hand of Doom

Best Thrift Shop
Amvets

Best Video Store
Mondo (RIP)

Best Women’s Clothing
Sweet and Dirty

Best Yoga/Pilates
East Meets West

Best Female Bartender: Jenn Parker @ Diablo

Best Club DJ: DJ Lil Joe

THE PLACES YOU EAT

Best Bagels
Bagel Jay’s

Best Bar Menu
Cole’s

Best Barbecue
Fat Bob’s

Best Beef on Weck
Charlie the Butcher

Best Brunch
Left Bank

Best Burger
Grover’s

Best Chinese
Great Wall

Best Coffee
Spot

Best Deli
Globe Market

Best Dessert
Sweet Tooth

Best Diner
Lake Effect

Best Fish Fry
Papa Jake’s

Best French Fries
Ted’s

Best French
Rue Franklin

Best German
Ulrich’s

Best Greek
Pano’s

Best Hot Dog
Ted’s

Best Italian
Chef’s

Best Japanese
Kuni’s

Best Late-Night Eats
Jim’s Steakout

Best Latin
Niagara Cafe

Best Mexican
Gramma Mora’s

Best Middle Eastern
Falafel Bar

Best New Restaurant
Black & Blue Steak & Crab

Best Patio
Cozumel

Best Pizza
La Nova

Best Place for a Cheap Date
Pano’s

Best Place to Talk Business
Spot Coffee

Best Polish
Polish Villa

Best Salad
Globe Market

Best Sausage
Spars

Best Seafood
La Marina

Best Service
Left Bank

Best Soul Food
Gigi’s

Best Soup
Brodo

Best Steak
Buffalo Chophouse

Best Sub
Jim’s Steakout

Best Takeout/Delivery
La Nova

Best Thai/Vietnamese
Saigon Cafe

Best Vegetarian
Amy’s Place

Best Wings
Duff’s

Most Romantic Restaurant
Left Bank

Questions or Comments for Artvoice? Send e-mail to editorial@artvoice.com • Article last modified 4/16/2008

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