The results of our 2013 readers’ poll
THE CITY • URBAN LIFE • SHOPPING & SERVICES • NIGHTLIFE • DINING OUT
THE CITY
Best new trend
- Cycling
- Car2Go
- Food trucks
Worst new trend
- High-waisted short shorts
- Neon
- Beer halls
Best kept Calgary secret
- Inglewood
- Market Collective
- Youth Central
Most livable neighbourhood
- Mission
- Sunnyside
- Bridgeland / Riverside
Best place to people-watch
- 17th Avenue SW
- Stephen Avenue Walk
- Prince’s Island Park
Best place to waste an entire day
- Prince’s Island Park
- 17th Avenue SW
- Calgary Zoo
Best place to snag Stampede breakfast
- Chinook Centre
- Community Natural Foods
- Fluor Rope Square (Olympic Plaza)
Best place to go for a picnic
- Prince’s Island Park
- Bowness Park
- Fish Creek Provincial Park
Best place to take kids
- Calgary Zoo
- Telus Spark Science Centre
- Calaway Park
Best off-the-beaten-path day trip
- Kananaskis Country
- Bragg Creek
- Drumheller
Best hikers’ trail
- Douglas Fir Trail (Edworthy Park)
- Mount Yamnuska
- Fish Creek Provincial Park
Best place to get wet
- Elbow River
- Bow River
- Sandy Beach
Best place to pick up someone of the opposite sex
- Ship & Anchor
- Commonwealth Bar & Stage
- National on 17th
Best place to pick up someone of the same sex
- Twisted Element
- Ship & Anchor
- 17th Avenue SW
Best public place to “do it”
- Nose Hill Park
- Prince’s Island Park
- Fish Creek Provincial Park
Best place to um smoke
- Prince’s Island Park
- Nose Hill Park
- McHugh Bluff (Crescent Road NW)
Best local not-for-profit
- Mustard Seed
- Inn From The Cold
- Good Life Community Bike Shop
Calgary’s claim to fame
- Calgary Stampede
- Naheed Nenshi
- Sled Island
Calgary’s claim to shame
- Calgary Stampede
- Calgary Flames
- Stephen Harper
Best use of local tax dollars
- Public Transit
- Cycling Infrastructure
- New Roads
Worst use of local tax dollars
- Urban Sprawl
- New Roads
- Calgary Stampede
Best alderman
- Druh Farrell
- John Mar
- Brian Pincott
Worst alderman
- Diane Colley-Urquhart
- Druh Farrell
- John Mar
URBAN LIFE
Most beloved Calgarian
- Naheed Nenshi
- Ralph Klein
- Paul Brandt
Most embarrassing Calgarian
- Stephen Harper
- Rob Anders
- Alison Redford
Best local villain
- Stephen Harper
- Cal Wenzel
- Alison Redford
Sexiest man
- Naheed Nenshi
- W. Brett Wilson
- Danny Vacon
Sexiest woman
- Jill Belland
- Tara Slone
- Connie Desousa
Best radio station
- CJSW 90.9 FM
- X92.9 FM
- Virgin 98.5 FM
Favourite local radio personality
- Chad Saunders (CJSW 90.9 FM)
- David Gray (CBC Radio One)
- Fuzzy (Virgin 98.5 FM)
Favourite local TV personality
- Jill Belland (Citytv)
- David Spence (CTV)
- Gord Gillies (Global)
Best theatre company
- Loose Moose Theatre Company
- One Yellow Rabbit
- Alberta Theatre Projects
Best local actor/actress
- Andrew Phung
- Jamie Konchak
- Rebecca Northan
Best local comedian
- Sarah Adams
- Andrew Phung
- Jebb Fink
Best dance company
- Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
- Alberta Ballet
- Pulse Studios
Best local filmmaker
- Gary Burns
- Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi
- Mike Peterson
Best local photographer
- Kenneth Locke
- Glen Co
- Phil Crozier
Best art gallery
- Art Gallery of Calgary
- Glenbow Museum
- MOCA
Best visual artist
- Mandy Stobo
- David Brunning (aka TheKidBelo)
- Caitlind Brown
Best tattoo artist
- Trevor Varem (Enso Tattoo)
- Doug Fink (Bushido)
- James Tex (Deadly Tattoos)
Best local author or poet
- Kris Demeanor
- Will Ferguson
- Chris Turner
Best journalist/columnist
- Drew Anderson
- Josiah Hughes
- Jason Markusoff
Worst journalist/columnist
- Rick Bell
- Ezra Levant
- Licia Corbella
Best professor
- Ron Glasberg
- John Manzo
- Gord Ferguson
Best local twitter personality
- Naheed Nenshi @nenshi
- Mike Morrison @mikesbloggity
- Crackmacs @crackmacs
Best local musical act
- The Dudes
- Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
- Cowpuncher
Best local music label
- Flemish Eye
- Modern Math Recordings
- Homebreakin Records
Best local album/EP of the last year
- Sanctums – Tongue Teeth Lips
- The Mandates – The Mandates
- Dojo Workhorse – Civil Shepherds
Best local DJ
- Smalltown DJs
- Ivan Rankic
- DJ C-Sik
Best festival
- Calgary Folk Music Festival
- Sled Island
- 4th Street Lilac Festival
Best free event
- 4th Street Lilac Festival
- Kensington Sun and Salsa Festival
- Stampede Breakfasts
Best fund-raising event
- CJSW Funding Drive
- Mother’s Day Run & Walk
- Big Rock Eddies
Best place to gamble
- Cowboys Casino
- Elbow River Casino
- Grey Eagle Casino
SHOPPING & SERVICES
Best shopping district
- 17th Avenue SW
- Chinook Centre
- Kensington
Best corner store
- Kalamata Grocery
- Bridgeland Market
- Jimmy’s A & A Deli
Best international food store
- Lina’s Italian Market
- Kalamata Grocery
- Italian Supermarket
Best farmers’ market
- Calgary Farmers’ Market
- Crossroads Market
- Kingsland Farmers’ Market
Best farmers’ market vendor
- Simple Simon Pies
- Sidewalk Citizen Bakery
- Blush Lane Organic Produce
Best place to buy organic food
- Community Natural Foods
- Sunnyside Natural Market
- Calgary Farmers’ Market
Best bakery
- Sidewalk Citizen Bakery
- Glamorgan Bakery
- Rustic Sourdough Bakery
Best deli sandwich
- Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli
- Peppino Gourmet Foods
- Lazy Loaf & Kettle
Best ice cream/gelato
- Village Ice Cream
- Fiasco Gelato
- My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe
Best local beer
- Village Blonde (Village)
- Wraspberry Ale (Wild Rose)
- Velvet Fog (Wild Rose)
Best wine store
- Willow Park Wines & Spirits
- Kensington Wine Market
- Vine Arts Wine and Spirits
Best liquor store
- Willow Park Wines & Spirits
- Co-op Wines Spirits Beer
- Crowfoot Wine & Spirits
Best men’s clothing store
- Understudy
- Gallery
- Purr
Best women’s clothing store
- Purr
- Blame Betty
- Espy
Best consignment/vintage clothing
- Trend Fashions
- Divine
- Cat’s Eye Retro/Vintage Clothing
Best shoe store
- Gravity Pope
- Arnold Churgin
- Luna Blue
Best place to find cool jewelry
- Market Collective
- Purr
- Rubaiyat
Best optical
- Brass Monocle
- Eyeclectic Eyewear
- Eye Candy Optical
Best lingerie
- She Apparel
- Cat’s Pyjamas
- Knickers ‘N Lace
Best place to buy a sex toy
- A Little More Interesting
- Little Shop Of Pleasures
- Hush
Best spa
- Oasis Wellness Centre & Spa
- Stillwater Spa – Hyatt Regency Calgary
- Riverside Spa
Best hair salon for women
- Redbloom Salon
- Hedkandi Salon
- Diva Salonspa
Best haircut for men
- Redbloom Salon
- Diva Salsonspa
- Hedkandi Salon
Best tattoo shop
- Bushido Tattoo
- Smilin’ Buddha Tattoo
- Deadly Tattoos
Best place to work out
- Talisman Centre
- Eau Claire YMCA
- One Cycle Spin Studio
Best place for yoga
- Yoga Passage
- Hot Yoga on 17th
- Bodhi Tree Yoga Centre
Best boot camp
- Bikini Bootcamp
- Evolve Fitness Bootcamp
- Fit Body Boot Camp
Best bike shop
- Bow Cycle
- Bike Bike
- Good Life Community Bike Shop
Best skateboard shop
- Source Skate and Snowboard Shop
- Mission Snow and Skate
- Royal Board Shop
Best ski/snowboard shop
- Source Skate and Snowboard Shop
- Ski Cellar Snowboard
- Mission Snow and Skate
Best place to spoil your pet
- Bon A-Pet-Treat! Pet Store & Bakery
- Tail Blazers – Health Food Store For Pets
- Pawsitively Pooched Dog Spa and Grooming
Best place to buy music
- Sloth Records
- Recordland
- Hot Wax
Best music equipment store
- Axe Music
- Guitarworks
- Vintage Music
Best place to buy a book
- Fair’s Fair
- Pages Books on Kensington
- Shelf Life Books
Best comics store
- Phoenix Comics
- Another Dimension
- Red Skull Comics
Best flower shop
- Peaseblossoms Flowers & Stuff
- Purple Orchid
- Twigs & Company
Most stylish furniture store
- Kit Interior Objects
- Revolve Furnishings
- Mcarthur Fine Furniture
NIGHTLIFE
Best new bar
- National on 17th
- National on 10th
- Oak Tree Tavern
Best neighbourhood pub
- Ship & Anchor
- Kensington Pub
- Local 510
Best patio
- Ship & Anchor
- Broken City
- West
Coolest hole-in-the wall
- Milk Tiger Lounge
- Ship & Anchor
- Hop In Brew
Best redneck bar
- Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall
- The Palomino
- Cowboys
Best brewpub
- Wild Rose Brewery & Taproom
- Brewsters Brewing Company
- Design District Urban Tavern
Sexiest clientele
- Ship & Anchor
- National on 17th
- Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Best bartender
- Stephen Phipps (National on 10th)
- Stu Connor (Oak Tree Tavern)
- Nolan Kotyk (Ship & Anchor)
Sexiest staff
- Ship & Anchor
- Commonwealth Bar & Stage
- National on 17th
Surliest staff
- Ship & Anchor
- The Palomino
- Broken City
Best cocktail menu
- Milk Tiger Lounge
- Ming
- Model Milk
Best beer selection
- Craft Beer Market
- National on 17th
- Bottlescrew Bill’s Pub
Best wine list
- Vin Room Mission
- Winebar Kensington
- Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro
Best place to watch sports
- Schanks Athletic Club
- Flames Central
- Melrose Cafe & Bar
Best place to shoot pool
- Garage Sports & Billiards
- Stix Sports Bar
- Schanks Athletic Club
Best place for comedy
- Yuk Yuk’s
- The Laugh Shop
- The Comedy Cave
Best place to dance
- Commonwealth Bar & Stage
- Hifi Club
- Twisted Element
Best open jam / open mic
- Ship & Anchor
- Mikey’s Juke Joint & Eatery
- Ironwood Stage & Grill
Best all ages venue
- New Black Centre
- Tubby Dog
- Macewan Hall
Best concert venue (under 500)
- Republik
- Broken City
- Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Best concert venue (over 500)
- Jack Singer Concert Hall
- Saddledome
- Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
DINING OUT
Best new restaurant
- Cibo
- Market Restaurant
- Anejo Restaurant
Best overall restaurant
- Model Milk
- Una Pizza + Wine
- Charcut Roast House
Best service
- Una Pizza + Wine
- Model Milk
- River Cafe
Best restaurant for a first date
- Una Pizza + Wine
- Model Milk
- River Cafe
Best restaurant when someone else is paying
- River Cafe
- Teatro
- Mercato
Best food truck
- Perogy Boyz
- Alley Burger
- Naaco Truck
Best late-night (after 1 AM)
- Tubby Dog
- Clive Burger
- Una Pizza + Wine
Best breakfast/brunch
- Diner Deluxe
- OEB Breakfast Co.
- Blue Star Diner
Best cheap eats
- Tubby Dog
- Clive Burger
- Ship & Anchor
Best pizza
- Una Pizza + Wine
- Without Papers
- Pulcinella
Best wings
- Regal Beagle Pub
- Mug Shotz Sports Bar & Grill
- Brewsters Brewing Company
Best burger
- Clive Burger
- Boogie’s Burgers
- Peters’ Drive-In
Best veggie burger
- The Coup
- Ship & Anchor
- Clive Burger
Best fries/poutine
- Big Cheese Poutinerie
- Charcut Roast House
- Clive Burger
Best vegetarian
- The Coup
- Buddha’s Veggie
- Community Natural Foods
Best gluten-free options
- The Coup
- Heaven Artisan GF Cuisine
- Craft Beer Market
Best steak
- Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
- Caesar’s Steak House
- Charcut Roast House
Best BBQ
- The Palomino
- Holy Smoke Barbecue & Smokepit
- Big T’s BBQ & Smokehouse
Best place for seafood
- Catch & The Oyster Bar
- Big Fish
- Bookers BBQ Grill & Crab Shack
Best Mexican
- Salt & Pepper Restaurante Mexicano
- Los Chilitos Taco & Tequila House
- Anejo Restaurant
Best French
- Cassis Bistro
- Fleur De Sel
- La Chaumière
Best Greek
- Broken Plate
- Manies Pizzaria & Greek Cuisine
- Santorini Greek Taverna
Best Italian
- Mercato
- Borgo Trattoria
- Bonterra Trattoria
Best Middle Eastern
- Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro
- Jimmy’s A & A Deli
- Tazza Deli and Grill
Best Indian
- Moti Mahal
- Rajdoot
- Mango Shiva
Best Chinese
- Silver Dragon
- Dragon Pearl Restaurant
- Peking Dragon
Best sushi
- Globefish Sushi & Izakaya
- Kinjo Sushi & Grill
- Hana Sushi
Best Thai
- Chili Club Thai House
- King & I Thai Cuisine
- Thai Sa-On
Best Vietnamese
- Co Do Vietnamese Restaurant
- Bagolac Saigon
- Pho Huong Viet
Best coffeehouse
- Caffe Beano
- Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters
- Higher Ground
Best place to indulge a sweet tooth
- Crave Cookies & Cupcakes
- Jelly Modern Doughnuts
- Yann Haute Patisserie