Critics' Picks sorted alphabetically
Readers Poll Results
Other People's Stuff by Jay Hardwig
Juxtapose This ... by Ken Lieck | Critics' Picks Best Ambassador of Good Will (Music): Mark Rubin
Best Art Print Shop: Coronado Studios
Best Celebrity Eyebrows: Tony Villanueva
Best Celebrity Giggle: Don Walser
Best Celebrity Hairdo: Clifford Antone
Best Counterculture Conclaves: FringeWare Inc.
Best Cultural Cut-Ups: Latino Comedy Project
Best Culture Jammers: KBN!
Best "Electronica" Club: Red Room
Best Excuse for Lone Star Flag-Waving: Texas Folklife Resources
Best Funny Smell: The Big Stinkin' International Improv & Sketch Comedy Festival
Best Homage to Prometheus: Tantien
Best Odd New Happy Hour: Fridays at the Electric Lounge
Best Oh, Who Cares, They Have 75¢ Pitchers: The Backroom, Thursday Nights
Best Place to Avert Your Eyes: Crown & Anchor's Pay Phone
Best Place to Pretend You're an Asian Pop Star: Paradise Karaoke & Bar
Best Place to Two-Step and Get a Funky Grind Down Going On: Dallas Night Club
Best Place to Write a Book: Mojo's Daily Grind
Best Reason to Take French: Alliance Francais
Best Regards to Old Broadway: Austin Musical Theatre
Best Restroom Pornography: Bates Motel
Best Street for a Bar Crawl: Burnet Road
Best Theater Sound: Gateway Theaters
Best Theatrical Scene Designer: Christopher McCollum
Best Way to Keep the Cops Busy on a Full Moon: 626/Soul's Renegade Parties
Most Delectably Seedy Club: The Black Cat Lounge
Most Intriguing Event Rumor: Chances Reunion
Next Best Thing to St. Patrick's Day: Gaelic League/Austin Celtic Association
Next Best Thing to the Chieftains in Your Living Room: Fadó Irish Sessions Best Arch : Arch at the Holly Power Plant
Best Billboard Message: YOU Are the Product
Best Building Name That Sounds Like a Herbie Hancock Song: Central Chilling Station No. 3
Best Cemetery for Meditation: Miller Creek Cemetery
Best Diner Decor: Laura's Bluebonnet Kitchen
Best Doorhandle: Hole in the Wall
Best Fair Warning: Rio Motel
Best Improvement in Bathroom Decor: Lala's Little Nugget
Best Industrial Landscape: Schlitz Building
Best Interior Design: Centennial Package (Main) Store
Best Neighborhood Makeover: Corner of 43rd & Duval
Best New Building Facade: 5th St. Market
Best New Neon Sign: Rowell's Shoe Repair
Best New Public Building: Eustasio Cepeda Branch Library
Best Non-residential View of Austin: Cliffs off Loop 360
Best Place to Have a Gathering: Alma de Mujer Conference & Retreat Center
Best Place to Reflect Upon the Essential Loneliness of a Bull, Part Two: Inside Computer Stuff
Best Place to Reflect Upon the Essential Loneliness of a Bull, Part One: Steer Statue at UT
Best Place to Throw a Swanky Party: The Trois Estate
Best Renovation: City National Bank Building
Best Rooftop Riot Grrrrrl: Fran's Hamburger's
Best Street to Drive Down & Check Out the Murals in South Austin: South Congress
Best Street to Drive Down & Check Out the Murals on the East Side: Cesar Chavez
Best Yard Art: Big Head Planters by Ellen Gibbs
Best-Looking Dance Club: Twist
Most Elegant Parking Lot: Carmelo's Restaurant
Most Glorious Renovation Potential: San Jose Motel
Most Self-Serving Structure: BookWoman's BoA Shrine
Place to Write on the Bathroom Walls Sans Vandalism: The Chalkboards at Magnolia Cafe
Most Riveran Mural: Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center by Fidencio Duran Best $8 You'll Ever Spend on Your Health: Casa de Luz
Best Authentic Chinese Experience: Austin's Wok n' Roll
Best Avant Garde Margarita: Curra's Avocado Margarita
Best Big, Honkin' Chocolate Eclairs: Quackenbush's/Quack's 43rd Street Bakery
Best Bowl of Coffee: High Time Tea Bar & Brain Gym
Best Chain Restaurants That Have Surprisingly Good Coffee: Souper Salads and Luby's
Best Cheap Drink: Austin's Tap Water
Best Cheap Kegs in a Bind: Junior's Beer & Wine
Best Chef's Apprentice: Joe Synatschk at Central Market Cooking School
Best Church Brunch: St. Julia Catholic Church
Best Comeback: Flo's
Best Cookbook by a Local Author: Cocina de La Familia
Best Corn Tortillas : Amaya's Taco Village
Best Delivery Pizza South of the River: Pizza Nizza
Best Dinner and a Movie: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema's First Anniversary Special
Best Downtown Breakfast in the 'Burbs: Austin Java North
Best Drink Named for Its Restaurant: The Marstini
Best Drive-Thru: Culver's Frozen Custard
Best Drive-thru Malteds & Shakes: Hilbert's
Best Drive-thru Pizza: Aljon's
Best Gelato to Go: Milano's Gelateria Dolci & Caffe
Best Gelato to Stay: Dolce Vita Gelateria & Espresso Bar
Best Gourmet Tamales: Hot Damn Tamales!
Best Hearts: Cynthia & Lydia Perez of Las Manitas
Best Hippie Cookie: Ronnie's Realfood Chocolate Chip
Best Homestyle Lebanese Meal: Longhorn Po-Boys & Falafel, Downtown
Best Host Chef: Elmar Prambs at the Four Seasons, Roger Mollett at Central Market Cooking School
Best Hot Dog: Shady Grove
Best Human-Scale Place to Buy Good Food: Wheatsville Co-op
Best In-Store Wine Tasting : Whole Foods Market Gateway
Best Jewish Deli Sandwich: The New York Deli
Best Liquid Cure-all: Dr. Dream's Immune Fuel
Best Local Use of the Potato: Tito's Handmade Vodka
Best New Branch on a Family Tree: Changos Taqueria
Best New Brunch: Ella's Restaurant & Bar
Best New Restaurant Without a Kitchen: Malaga Wine & Tapas Bar
Best New Saloon: Threadgill's World Headquarters & Saloon
Best New Spot for Pre-dinner Appetizers: Rhythm House Tapas Bar
Best New Take on the Lunchtime Noodle Bowl: Yen Ching Chinese Noodle House
Best Noodle Soup: Pho Cong Ly, Downtown Location
Best Peanut Butter Cookies: The Kolache Shoppe
Best Pizza Slice: Saccone's
Best Place for a Romantic Late-Night Snack & Drink: Hyatt Regency's Branchwater Lounge
Best Place to Get Cheap Breath Mints: Only Deals
Best Place to Tie One on for $10: G&S Lounge
Best Protein Fix: Ararat Middle East's Sizzling Lamb
Best Purveyor of Indian Imports: India Bazaar
Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Town Visitors to Watch the Sunset: The Iguana Grill
Best Roving Vendor: The Poleta vendor or Poletero
Best Sign That Civilization Has Reached South Austin: Onion Creek Bakery
Best Silk Purse From a Sow's Ear: Miranda's Patio
Best Silly Drink: Tien Hong's Dr. Skull
Best Specialty Dish: Perkins Special at El Patio
Best Summer in a Bottle: Goodflow Limeade
Best Taqueria Around Us: Taqueria Gaudalajara Arandas #5
Best Truck Stop Coffeeshop: Jim's Restaurant
Best Two-for-One Business: Parlour Antiques & Pies
Best Wacky Restaurant Idea: Manga, an Asian Diner
Best Way to Enjoy Lake Austin on a Budget: Mozart's Bookstore & Juice Bar
Best Way to Kick the Can: Mexican Cokes
Grocery Store Mega-Food Court: Greats! Cafe at Hancock Center HEB
Most Necessary Restaurant Expansion: Taco X-press
Most Testosterone in Smallest Place: Bert's BBQ Best Net Missives: Don Webb's "Letters to the Fringe"
Best Office Space & Commute: Solar Cart
Best Online Gals Club: Disgruntled Housewife
Best Place to Buy a Used Computer: Goodwill Industry's Computer Works
Best Place to Buy Videogames: Gamefellas
Best Recruitment Campaign: PC Order
Best Secret Clubhouse: Club Pants
Best Sign of Austin Online: City of Austin Internet Services Office
Best Site Redesign: Ain't It Cool News
Best Techno-Kids Business Idea: American Institute For Learning
Best Unsung High Tech She-ro: Carlean Johnson
Best Used Computer Salesman: Ken Gould of Mac Alliance
Best Value-Added Customer Service: Boggy Creek Farm's E-mail Newsletter
Best Way to Sell Widgets on the Web: WebZealots
Best Web site for Business Research: Hoover's Online Best Bonus of Owning a Library Card: Free Austin Children's Museum Passes
Best, Coolest Afternoon Diversion for Kids: Laser Quest
Best Cultural Overhaul: Austin Children's Museum
Best Flashback: Skate World Central
Best Fundraiser to Benefit Kids: Casas for CASA of Travis County
Best Innovative Combo-Entertainment: Summer Movies at Deep Eddy Pool
Best Kids Drama Camp: Austin Theatre for Youth
Best Koi, but Not Shy Pond: Austin Aqua Dome
Best Mini County Fair: Austin/Travis County Rodeo & Livestock Kids Town!
Best Neighborhood Swingset and Area to Release Tension: Windmill Run Neighborhood Park
Best Place to Meet Tomorrow's Local Independent Filmmakers: Zavala Elementary's Video Production Class
Best Place to While Away an Afternoon With a Toddler: Mayfield Park & Preserve
Best Pollywogging: Reed Park
Best Shady Spot the Whole Family Will Love: Little Stacy Pool & Park
Best Theme Store: Kids-N-Cats
Best Wait for Food With Hungry Kids: East Side Cafe
Best Way to Introduce Children to the Joys of Theatre: Zilker Summer Musical
Best Way to Say "CIPs Are for Kids!": Shipe & Alamo Playground Renovations
Big Fun With the Grandparents: Butler Pitch & Putt Golf Course
Cheap Thrills for Kids: Hill at Murchison Jr. High School
Fastest Kid's Birthday Present in the West: Over the Rainbow
Most Hearty Survivors: Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm Best Bumper Sticker: This is Not a Yellow Bike
Best Clear Voice on Lone Star Affairs: John Burnett, National Public Radio
Best Community Newspaper: ARRIBA Newspaper
Best Fumble Recovery: KAZI 88.7FM
Best Info on Latino Politics: Politico
Best Legacy: Carole Kneeland/KVUE-24
Best Local Radio Program Not on Local Radio (Again): Jim Hightower's "Chat-N-Chew Cafe"
Best Morning Show: Sara Trexler & Jen Garrison, 101X-FM
Best Night to Cook to the Radio: Monday Nights, KUT 90.5
Best Overlooked Deejay: John Hauser/KOOP 91.7FM
Best Place to Get Hip to the Sounds: Ear Candy, KOOP 91.7 FM
Best Quick Read: *15 Minutes*
Best Radio Station, In Spite of It All: KOOP 91.7FM
Best Reason to Drive to Work on Monday: "Show Toonz With Courtney" KVRX 91.7 FM
Best Response to the Media Glare: The Young Plaintiffs in the Cedar Avenue Case
Best Sex-Advice Column: "Intimacies," The Good Life, Lynn Branz
Best Survival Story: *The Texas Observer*
Best TV Show With No Name: *Show With No Name*
Best Voice on the Radio: Maria Martin at *Latino USA*
Best Way to Find Out the Latest With La Raza: Latino USA
Best Way to Infiltrate the Media: Austin Community Access Center
Best Way to While Away a Saturday Morning: *The Lounge Show* on KOOP 91.7
Biggest Media Bandwagon: Cinema West Adult Theatre
Most Useful Fanzine: *Hey, Hey, Buffet!* Best Adult Lemonade Stand: Run-Tex Hydration Station
Best Blacktop: Maplewood Elementary
Best Fledgling Altruistic Tradition: The Ride for the Roses
Best Gym for the Lazy: UT's Gregory Gym
Best Local Sports Story: UT Softball
Best National Champions: Lady Longhorns Track & Field Team
Best Pick-up Soccer Games: Sunday Night, UT Intramural Fields
Best Place to Get Rid of Your Stale Bread: San Gabriel Park, Georgetown
Best Place to Impersonate Sisyphus: Jacob's Rail at the Veloway
Best Place to Play Hoops in a Thunderstorm: Metz Park
Best Place to Run the Pooch: St. Edward's Park
Best Place to Teach a (Scaredy) Pup to Swim: Cypress Creek Park on Lake Travis
Best Place to Unleash Your Inner Eastwood: Cook's Shooting Range
Best Place to Unload Your Quiver: Archery Country
Best Place to Watch Football (American or European): House Park
Best Place to Work Out Aggression: Richard Lord's Boxing Gym
Best Reason to Be Naked: Austin's Summer of 1998
Best Reason to Visit Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium: Ricky Williams
Best Reason to Visit Springfield, MA: Jody Conradt in Basketball Hall of Fame
Best Scenic Drive: Red Bud Trail
Best Target Practice: Red's Indoor Range
Best Tree (Utilitarian Grounds): The Tree at...
Best Two-Hour $5 Vacation: Ski Shores Lakeside Restaurant
Best Urban Track: Disch-Faulk
Best Way to Lower Your Internal Thermostat: Barton Springs, Nighttime Hours
Collection/Shrine: Pin Shrine at Dart Bowl
Best Place to Live Out a Hitchcock Movie: North End of Drake Bridge at Twilight Best Brand-New Idea in Local Politics : East Austin Traditional Neighborhood District
Best City Bureaucrats: Tracy Watson; Carol Barrett
Best Corporate Cooperation: Motorola
Best Excuse to Revive the Environmentalist-Developer War: Globs of Algae Clogging Barton Springs
Best Grandiose Vision: Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council
Best Grassroots Victory: Bike Helmet Repeal
Best Head of the Class: Ruth Kane, Principal, Lanier High School
Best Kiss & Make Up: S.O.S. & the Chamber of Commerce
Best Looking Race for November: Rick Perry v. John Sharp for Lt. Gov.
Best Media Omnipresence: Mayor Kirk Watson
Best New Addition at the Courthouse: Family Violence Court
Best Out-of-Court Settlement: Cedar Avenue Plaintiffs vs. City of Austin
Best Performance(s) by a Neighborhood Association (or Its Equivalent): Hyde Park Neighborhood Association and Neighbors of Triangle Park
Best Place to Eavesdrop and/or Gossip: Little City on Congress
Best Political Fashion Model: Ann Richards
Best Public Performance in the Hot Seat: Assistant City Manager Toby Futrell
Best Reason (Maybe) to Move Into a Downtown Loft: Waller Creek Tunnel
Best Reason (Maybe) to Move to Round Rock: Smart Growth Comes to Williamson County
Best Resource for Local Lore: Austin History Center
Best Use of $123,000: Keeping the Pools Open Until October 4
Best Use of Zoning to Make a Difference: Tank Farm/Tire Farm
Boldest Taking of a Mile Instead of an Inch: The Local Environmental Lobby
Bravest Councilmember: Beverly Griffith
Coolest City Planning Pipe Dream: Seaholm Power Plant/Palmer Auditorium
Most Eye-Popping Public Performance: Mayor Kirk Watson, Councilmember Daryl Slusher, City Manager Jesus Garza
Most Improved Community Project (And We Really Mean It This Time): Austin Revitalization Authority
Most Vigilant Advocates for Public Health Care: Charlotte Flynn &Venola Schmidt
Raddest Mayoral Performance: Watson at the MTV Sports Festival
Unsung East Austin Visionary: Joseph T. McMillan, President of Huston-Tillotson College B(r)est Advice to New Mothers: Donna Cordoba, RN BCILC (Board Certified International Lactation Consultant)
Best Airline Service: American Air's Patty Reinhart & Betty Lower at the Driskill
Best Dogsitter: Positive Power Kennel
Best Electrician: O'Bannon Electrical Enterprises
Best Employee Benefits: Massage Therapists for Four Seasons Employees During SXSW
Best Film, Video, and Production Equipment: Gear
Best Friend in Need to Ailing Animals: Wildlife Rescue
Best Guitar Maker: Jamie Kinscherff
Best Hassle-free Place to Take your Aging Vehicle for Inspection: Alan's Vehicle Inspections
Best (if Not Only) Pedicure by a Straight Man: Roberto of Great Fillings Nail Salon
Best Leg & Bikini Waxing: Ruby Aldridge
Best Local Safety Net: Volunteer Healthcare Clinic
Best Name for a Urologist in Austin: Richard (Dick) Chopp
Best Place to Gain No Pain: Austin Pain Therapy Associates
Best Place to Pick Up Chicks: Page 113 of SWB "Black Pages" Business Directory
Best Place to Take a Shower Away From Home: Salon 505 The Day Spa
Best Plumber: Bruce David Johnson, Jr., Licensed Master Plumber
Best Precision Cutters: AquaJet, Inc.
Best Reason to Get Up at 8am on Sunday: University Baptist Church
Best Roving Photographer: Guero's Mr. Flash
Best Salon to Dye for: Astarte
Best Shoe & Leather Repair Shop: Costilla Shoe Repair
Best String Instrument Shop: Austin Violins
Best Swimming Pool Cleaner: Pool Aide
Best Thing About Owning a Mac: Mac Alliance
Best Time & Temp Announcement: Time & Temperature by Frost Bank
Best Upholsterer: Under Cover
Best Way to Avoid the Post Office: Drive-Thru Postal
Best Way to Feel Safe and Sound: Austin Security Concepts (ASC)
Collective Services for the Aging: AGE Building
Gardener's Dog: Steve Bell's Dog, Indra
Most Dependable Artist Safety Nets: AALA & SIMS Foundation
Most Reliable Key-Cutters & Locksmiths: Cothron's School of Lock Technology
Non-committal Swing Lessons: Four on the Floor
Place That Really Gets Under Your Skin: Halina European Skin Care Place to Find Good Old Electronics: Anthony's Electronics
Best Almost Free Wardrobe Makeover: Buffalo Exchange
Best Bargain Hunter's Paradise: Change Back Department Store Outlet
Best Bra Attendants: Petticoat Fair
Best Cheap-O Horror Comics: Comics & More
Best Church Lady Thrift Store ñ 1: Next to New
Best Church Lady Thrift Store ñ 2: Second Blessing Marketplace
Best Counter Intelligence: I Luv Video
Best Creepy-Crawly Pet Store: Zookeeper
Best Gigantic Overhaul of a Hyde Park Grocery Store: Fresh Plus
Best Global Overview: Mapsco
Best Gun Store/Gun Safety Lessons: McBride Guns, Inc.
Best Happy Hour: Amazonia
Best His and Hers Tejano Shops: La Moda; La Estrella
Best Human-Scale Rabbit Warren: Andy Castillo's
Best Junkshop: Hurt's Hunting Grounds
Best Late Night Shopping: New Bohemia Retro Resale
Best Late-Night Used Baby Furniture Outlet: Lawrence's Used Baby Furniture
Best Latin American Music Record Shop: Tu Musica
Best Military Surplus: The Quonset Hut
Best One-Stop Satisfaction Shop: Acapulco Video
Best Outfitting for Noir and Boudoir: Blackmail
Best Place to Buy a Pair of Boots: Tiny's Boots & Things
Best Place to Buy Cheap Videos: Austin Country Flea Mart
Best Place to Buy Chinese Stuff: Say Hi
Best Place to Buy Frozen Mice: Herpeton Exotic Pets & Reptiles
Best Place to Buy Makeup: Beaux Visage
Best Place to Buy New, Cheap, Quality Clothing: One Price Clothing Store
Best Place to Buy/Rent Laserdiscs: Encore Movies & Music
Best Place to Enjoy Being a Girl: The Bazaar
Best Place to Go From Bauhaus to Your House: Aqua 20th Century Modern
Best Place to Knock on Wood: Paxton, The Wood Source
Best Pot of Gold in a Most Obscure Spot: Peru Jewelers
Best Reason to Avoid Builder's Square: Pieces of the Past
Best Resurrection of the Dead: The Grateful Head; Grateful Shed
Best Revival Spot: Quackenbush's on 43rd Street
Best Sheet Music: Alpha Music Center
Best Sneakers: Blondies
Best Thrift Store Without Dressing Rooms: Thrift Land
Best Unpretentious Music Store: Treasured Tracs & Images
Best Used Academic Books: Book Market
Best Used Car Place : French Revolution
Best Vintage Expansion: Limbo
Best Vintage Semi-Secret: Old Time Teenie's Vintage
Coolest Strip Mall: Lamar Plaza
How to Change a Sow's Ear: The Silk Road
How to Make an Austin Quilt: The Quilt Store
Last-Minute Birthday Shopping for All Ages: Oat Willie's
Record Store Most Like Your Own Living Room: Duval Discs |
