This month’s Richmond Magazine features the ballot for Richmond’s Best and Worst. Isn’t it time for Haduken to break out its more democratic version (ie, online and you don’t have to buy a $4 magazine)…
For what it’s worth, here are my picks…
Best local venue to see live music- The National…could be one of the best in the country already!
Worst local venue to see live music- Innsbrook…something off-kilter listening to washed up bands in a soulless corporate office park. Henrico police department lurking hungry for DUI arrests.
Best place to watch the big game (other than home)- Big Al’s…Hi-def is so key to enjoy a game these days…I also love Glory Day’s sound boxes.
Best place to learn a craft- Hand Workshop or whatever they’re calling it these days
Best neighborhood for boomers- Downtown…everything within walking distance
Best neighborhood for kids- ?
Best place to get away without driving too far- Hiking Blue Ridge Mts
Best apartment complex for meeting people- ?
Worst street for potholes- Patterson Ave
Best kids’ birthday-party venue- ?
Most diverse neighborhood- Horspen and Broad
Best spot for a second home within reasonable driving distance- Wrightsville…the new OBX
Best local band- GWAR…as Richmond as the Lee statue
Best new condos- Riverside on the James…it’s all about the view
Best renovated condos- ?
Best social sports club- Richmond Golf Happy Hour
Best yoga classes- ?
Best new-home community- Founders Bridge
Best mall for walking and exercise- Carytown…f the malls.
Best 10k training program- YMCA
Best fine jewelry selection- ?
Best home décor store- La Diff
Best pharmacy service- Westbury
Store with the worst lines- Walmart Short Pump
Best place to test-drive a luxury vehicle- Easterns Motors…where your job’s your credit
Best custom jewelry design- ?
Best caterer for soiree- Chez Foushee…little known fact
Best cheese selection- River City Cellars…personally, not a huge fan of stinky cheese. Feast in Charlottesville is supposed to be good.
Best wine selection and service- J Emerson…not my favorite, but criteria was selection/service
Best local store for gift wrapping- Mongrel
Best place to shop for manly gadgets- ?
Best place to find unusual home accessories- Auctions
Best local store’s web site- Plan 9
Best place to buy chic eye glasses- Knockoff mall kiosk
Best art framing- Ben Franklin
Best dance classes- ?
Best landscaper/landscaping firm- Me and my mower
Best addition to carytown- Moshi Moshi…needed a Sushi joint
Best local shop for a last-minute gift for your wife- ?
Best portrait/family photographer- ?
Best place for finding a new family heirloom- ?
Best locally owned boutique for women- ?
Best place to buy organic meat and produce- ?
Best pet-grooming service- ?
Best laundered and pressed shirt service- $1.99
Best place to pick up a bouquet on the way home- Flower Market..diy
Best use for the diamond when the braves leave- Home of new Double A team
Best local TV commercials- None
Worst local TV commercials- The flying bulldog one & that doofus banner ad on NBC12Â
Best local morning radio duo- N & PR
Best local p.m. drive-time radio personality- Was Bopst on 1450
Best local sports-radio personality- Jeff in Richmond
Best local TV anchor (a.m., noon, or p.m.)- Lisa Schaffner
Best TV reporter- Mark Holmberg
Hottest richmonder- the guy who writes that 804 blog
Person who could really, truly run Richmond- Chief Monroe and Auditor Dalal
Radio station with the worst music selection- Lite 98
Radio station with the best music selection- SiriusÂ
Best philanthropist in the region- Ukrops BoysÂ
Biggest waste of taxpayer money in the city- 6th Street Market…let it die already.
Biggest waste of taxpayer money in the counties- Overpaying for Henrico land
Best local blogger- Save Richmond
Best local radio interviewer- WRIR
Radio station with the most annoying in-house ads- ESPN950
Local celebrity who does the most for charity- Bill Bevins
Best local event- Monument 10K
Best corporate citizen (a company)- Ukrops
Best new thing in Richmond region- The National
Best publicity hound- The Velvet owner
Best moment for Richmond region (so far) in 2008- Murders down
Worst moment for Richmond region (so far) in 2008- Braves
finally, the restaurant questions…you can only vote the same restaurant three times.
Fastest service at a local restaurant- Mexico…how do they do it?
Best chicken wings- Table 9, healthy, fall off the bone
Worst location of a great restaurant- Carena’s
Most overwhelming menu design- Cheesecake Factory
Best restaurant to cheat on your diet- Jefferson Sunday brunch
Best new restaurant- Lulu’s
Worst restaurant for a quiet meal- WHO CARES?
Best local place for a latte- Ashland Coffee
Best baked goods- Jean-Jacques
Best seafood restaurant- Edo’s Squid
Local restaurant serving the biggest portions- Sidewalk Cafe
Best reason to go out to eat in Richmond- Edo’s Squid
Restaurant best to be “seen†in- Sensi
Best mall restaurant- Copper Grill
Best paninis- still looking
Best wait staff at local eatery- Sidewalk Cafe
Best place for a lunch meeting- PomegranateÂ
Best happy hour- City Limits
Best prepared cuts of beef- Ruth ChrisÂ
Best restaurant overall in region- Mama ZuÂ
Best restaurant downtown- ComfortÂ
Best restaurant in shockoe slip- PomegranateÂ
Best restaurant in shockoe bottom- Lulu’s
Best restaurant in south side- Hibachi IchibanÂ
Best restaurant in far west end- North PoleÂ
Bet restaurant in the east end- CariniÂ
Best restaurant in north side- Iron Horse
Best restaurant in carytown/west of boulevard- AmiciÂ
Best restaurant in the fan- White DogÂ
Best local restaurant in the heart of VCU- Edo’s Squid
Best local Mediterranean restaurant (Italian, greek, etc.)- Zeus Gallery (for Greek)
Best Chinese restaurant- Shanghai Restaurant
Best authentic Mexican restaurant- Somewhere south of the river off or on Jeff DavisÂ
Best Indian restaurant- Curry House
Best Japanese/sushi restaurant- Hibachi IchibanÂ
Question we didn’t ask- I think you’ve asked enough, nosy parker…