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FFWD REW

Best of Calgary 2013 winners

by Fast Forward Weekly readers

The results of our 2013 readers’ poll

THE CITY • URBAN LIFE • SHOPPING & SERVICES • NIGHTLIFE • DINING OUT

THE CITY

Best new trend

  1. Cycling
  2. Car2Go
  3. Food trucks

Worst new trend

  1. High-waisted short shorts
  2. Neon
  3. Beer halls

Best kept Calgary secret

  1. Inglewood
  2. Market Collective
  3. Youth Central

Most livable neighbourhood

  1. Mission
  2. Sunnyside
  3. Bridgeland / Riverside

Best place to people-watch

  1. 17th Avenue SW
  2. Stephen Avenue Walk
  3. Prince’s Island Park

Best place to waste an entire day

  1. Prince’s Island Park
  2. 17th Avenue SW
  3. Calgary Zoo

Best place to snag Stampede breakfast

  1. Chinook Centre
  2. Community Natural Foods
  3. Fluor Rope Square (Olympic Plaza)

Best place to go for a picnic

  1. Prince’s Island Park
  2. Bowness Park
  3. Fish Creek Provincial Park

Best place to take kids

  1. Calgary Zoo
  2. Telus Spark Science Centre
  3. Calaway Park

Best off-the-beaten-path day trip

  1. Kananaskis Country
  2. Bragg Creek
  3. Drumheller

Best hikers’ trail

  1. Douglas Fir Trail (Edworthy Park)
  2. Mount Yamnuska
  3. Fish Creek Provincial Park

Best place to get wet

  1. Elbow River
  2. Bow River
  3. Sandy Beach

Best place to pick up someone of the opposite sex

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. Commonwealth Bar & Stage
  3. National on 17th

Best place to pick up someone of the same sex

  1. Twisted Element
  2. Ship & Anchor
  3. 17th Avenue SW

Best public place to “do it”

  1. Nose Hill Park
  2. Prince’s Island Park
  3. Fish Creek Provincial Park

Best place to um smoke

  1. Prince’s Island Park
  2. Nose Hill Park
  3. McHugh Bluff (Crescent Road NW)

Best local not-for-profit

  1. Mustard Seed
  2. Inn From The Cold
  3. Good Life Community Bike Shop

Calgary’s claim to fame

  1. Calgary Stampede
  2. Naheed Nenshi
  3. Sled Island

Calgary’s claim to shame

  1. Calgary Stampede
  2. Calgary Flames
  3. Stephen Harper

Best use of local tax dollars

  1. Public Transit
  2. Cycling Infrastructure
  3. New Roads

Worst use of local tax dollars

  1. Urban Sprawl
  2. New Roads
  3. Calgary Stampede

Best alderman

  1. Druh Farrell
  2. John Mar
  3. Brian Pincott

Worst alderman

  1. Diane Colley-Urquhart
  2. Druh Farrell
  3. John Mar

[Top]

URBAN LIFE

Most beloved Calgarian

  1. Naheed Nenshi
  2. Ralph Klein
  3. Paul Brandt

Most embarrassing Calgarian

  1. Stephen Harper
  2. Rob Anders
  3. Alison Redford

Best local villain

  1. Stephen Harper
  2. Cal Wenzel
  3. Alison Redford

Sexiest man

  1. Naheed Nenshi
  2. W. Brett Wilson
  3. Danny Vacon

Sexiest woman

  1. Jill Belland
  2. Tara Slone
  3. Connie Desousa

Best radio station

  1. CJSW 90.9 FM
  2. X92.9 FM
  3. Virgin 98.5 FM

Favourite local radio personality

  1. Chad Saunders (CJSW 90.9 FM)
  2. David Gray (CBC Radio One)
  3. Fuzzy (Virgin 98.5 FM)

Favourite local TV personality

  1. Jill Belland (Citytv)
  2. David Spence (CTV)
  3. Gord Gillies (Global)

Best theatre company

  1. Loose Moose Theatre Company
  2. One Yellow Rabbit
  3. Alberta Theatre Projects

Best local actor/actress

  1. Andrew Phung
  2. Jamie Konchak
  3. Rebecca Northan

Best local comedian

  1. Sarah Adams
  2. Andrew Phung
  3. Jebb Fink

Best dance company

  1. Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
  2. Alberta Ballet
  3. Pulse Studios

Best local filmmaker

  1. Gary Burns
  2. Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi
  3. Mike Peterson

Best local photographer

  1. Kenneth Locke
  2. Glen Co
  3. Phil Crozier

Best art gallery

  1. Art Gallery of Calgary
  2. Glenbow Museum
  3. MOCA

Best visual artist

  1. Mandy Stobo
  2. David Brunning (aka TheKidBelo)
  3. Caitlind Brown

Best tattoo artist

  1. Trevor Varem (Enso Tattoo)
  2. Doug Fink (Bushido)
  3. James Tex (Deadly Tattoos)

Best local author or poet

  1. Kris Demeanor
  2. Will Ferguson
  3. Chris Turner

Best journalist/columnist

  1. Drew Anderson
  2. Josiah Hughes
  3. Jason Markusoff

Worst journalist/columnist

  1. Rick Bell
  2. Ezra Levant
  3. Licia Corbella

Best professor

  1. Ron Glasberg
  2. John Manzo
  3. Gord Ferguson

Best local twitter personality

  1. Naheed Nenshi @nenshi
  2. Mike Morrison @mikesbloggity
  3. Crackmacs @crackmacs

Best local musical act

  1. The Dudes
  2. Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
  3. Cowpuncher

Best local music label

  1. Flemish Eye
  2. Modern Math Recordings
  3. Homebreakin Records

Best local album/EP of the last year

  1. Sanctums – Tongue Teeth Lips
  2. The Mandates – The Mandates
  3. Dojo Workhorse – Civil Shepherds

Best local DJ

  1. Smalltown DJs
  2. Ivan Rankic
  3. DJ C-Sik

Best festival

  1. Calgary Folk Music Festival
  2. Sled Island
  3. 4th Street Lilac Festival

Best free event

  1. 4th Street Lilac Festival
  2. Kensington Sun and Salsa Festival
  3. Stampede Breakfasts

Best fund-raising event

  1. CJSW Funding Drive
  2. Mother’s Day Run & Walk
  3. Big Rock Eddies

Best place to gamble

  1. Cowboys Casino
  2. Elbow River Casino
  3. Grey Eagle Casino

[Top]

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Best shopping district

  1. 17th Avenue SW
  2. Chinook Centre
  3. Kensington

Best corner store

  1. Kalamata Grocery
  2. Bridgeland Market
  3. Jimmy’s A & A Deli

Best international food store

  1. Lina’s Italian Market
  2. Kalamata Grocery
  3. Italian Supermarket

Best farmers’ market

  1. Calgary Farmers’ Market
  2. Crossroads Market
  3. Kingsland Farmers’ Market

Best farmers’ market vendor

  1. Simple Simon Pies
  2. Sidewalk Citizen Bakery
  3. Blush Lane Organic Produce

Best place to buy organic food

  1. Community Natural Foods
  2. Sunnyside Natural Market
  3. Calgary Farmers’ Market

Best bakery

  1. Sidewalk Citizen Bakery
  2. Glamorgan Bakery
  3. Rustic Sourdough Bakery

Best deli sandwich

  1. Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli
  2. Peppino Gourmet Foods
  3. Lazy Loaf & Kettle

Best ice cream/gelato

  1. Village Ice Cream
  2. Fiasco Gelato
  3. My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe

Best local beer

  1. Village Blonde (Village)
  2. Wraspberry Ale (Wild Rose)
  3. Velvet Fog (Wild Rose)

Best wine store

  1. Willow Park Wines & Spirits
  2. Kensington Wine Market
  3. Vine Arts Wine and Spirits

Best liquor store

  1. Willow Park Wines & Spirits
  2. Co-op Wines Spirits Beer
  3. Crowfoot Wine & Spirits

Best men’s clothing store

  1. Understudy
  2. Gallery
  3. Purr

Best women’s clothing store

  1. Purr
  2. Blame Betty
  3. Espy

Best consignment/vintage clothing

  1. Trend Fashions
  2. Divine
  3. Cat’s Eye Retro/Vintage Clothing

Best shoe store

  1. Gravity Pope
  2. Arnold Churgin
  3. Luna Blue

Best place to find cool jewelry

  1. Market Collective
  2. Purr
  3. Rubaiyat

Best optical

  1. Brass Monocle
  2. Eyeclectic Eyewear
  3. Eye Candy Optical

Best lingerie

  1. She Apparel
  2. Cat’s Pyjamas
  3. Knickers ‘N Lace

Best place to buy a sex toy

  1. A Little More Interesting
  2. Little Shop Of Pleasures
  3. Hush

Best spa

  1. Oasis Wellness Centre & Spa
  2. Stillwater Spa – Hyatt Regency Calgary
  3. Riverside Spa

Best hair salon for women

  1. Redbloom Salon
  2. Hedkandi Salon
  3. Diva Salonspa

Best haircut for men

  1. Redbloom Salon
  2. Diva Salsonspa
  3. Hedkandi Salon

Best tattoo shop

  1. Bushido Tattoo
  2. Smilin’ Buddha Tattoo
  3. Deadly Tattoos

Best place to work out

  1. Talisman Centre
  2. Eau Claire YMCA
  3. One Cycle Spin Studio

Best place for yoga

  1. Yoga Passage
  2. Hot Yoga on 17th
  3. Bodhi Tree Yoga Centre

Best boot camp

  1. Bikini Bootcamp
  2. Evolve Fitness Bootcamp
  3. Fit Body Boot Camp

Best bike shop

  1. Bow Cycle
  2. Bike Bike
  3. Good Life Community Bike Shop

Best skateboard shop

  1. Source Skate and Snowboard Shop
  2. Mission Snow and Skate
  3. Royal Board Shop

Best ski/snowboard shop

  1. Source Skate and Snowboard Shop
  2. Ski Cellar Snowboard
  3. Mission Snow and Skate

Best place to spoil your pet

  1. Bon A-Pet-Treat! Pet Store & Bakery
  2. Tail Blazers – Health Food Store For Pets
  3. Pawsitively Pooched Dog Spa and Grooming

Best place to buy music

  1. Sloth Records
  2. Recordland
  3. Hot Wax

Best music equipment store

  1. Axe Music
  2. Guitarworks
  3. Vintage Music

Best place to buy a book

  1. Fair’s Fair
  2. Pages Books on Kensington
  3. Shelf Life Books

Best comics store

  1. Phoenix Comics
  2. Another Dimension
  3. Red Skull Comics

Best flower shop

  1. Peaseblossoms Flowers & Stuff
  2. Purple Orchid
  3. Twigs & Company

Most stylish furniture store

  1. Kit Interior Objects
  2. Revolve Furnishings
  3. Mcarthur Fine Furniture

[Top]

NIGHTLIFE

Best new bar

  1. National on 17th
  2. National on 10th
  3. Oak Tree Tavern

Best neighbourhood pub

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. Kensington Pub
  3. Local 510

Best patio

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. Broken City
  3. West

Coolest hole-in-the wall

  1. Milk Tiger Lounge
  2. Ship & Anchor
  3. Hop In Brew

Best redneck bar

  1. Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall
  2. The Palomino
  3. Cowboys

Best brewpub

  1. Wild Rose Brewery & Taproom
  2. Brewsters Brewing Company
  3. Design District Urban Tavern

Sexiest clientele

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. National on 17th
  3. Commonwealth Bar & Stage

Best bartender

  1. Stephen Phipps (National on 10th)
  2. Stu Connor (Oak Tree Tavern)
  3. Nolan Kotyk (Ship & Anchor)

Sexiest staff

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. Commonwealth Bar & Stage
  3. National on 17th

Surliest staff

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. The Palomino
  3. Broken City

Best cocktail menu

  1. Milk Tiger Lounge
  2. Ming
  3. Model Milk

Best beer selection

  1. Craft Beer Market
  2. National on 17th
  3. Bottlescrew Bill’s Pub

Best wine list

  1. Vin Room Mission
  2. Winebar Kensington
  3. Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro

Best place to watch sports

  1. Schanks Athletic Club
  2. Flames Central
  3. Melrose Cafe & Bar

Best place to shoot pool

  1. Garage Sports & Billiards
  2. Stix Sports Bar
  3. Schanks Athletic Club

Best place for comedy

  1. Yuk Yuk’s
  2. The Laugh Shop
  3. The Comedy Cave

Best place to dance

  1. Commonwealth Bar & Stage
  2. Hifi Club
  3. Twisted Element

Best open jam / open mic

  1. Ship & Anchor
  2. Mikey’s Juke Joint & Eatery
  3. Ironwood Stage & Grill

Best all ages venue

  1. New Black Centre
  2. Tubby Dog
  3. Macewan Hall

Best concert venue (under 500)

  1. Republik
  2. Broken City
  3. Commonwealth Bar & Stage

Best concert venue (over 500)

  1. Jack Singer Concert Hall
  2. Saddledome
  3. Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

[Top]

DINING OUT

Best new restaurant

  1. Cibo
  2. Market Restaurant
  3. Anejo Restaurant

Best overall restaurant

  1. Model Milk
  2. Una Pizza + Wine
  3. Charcut Roast House

Best service

  1. Una Pizza + Wine
  2. Model Milk
  3. River Cafe

Best restaurant for a first date

  1. Una Pizza + Wine
  2. Model Milk
  3. River Cafe

Best restaurant when someone else is paying

  1. River Cafe
  2. Teatro
  3. Mercato

Best food truck

  1. Perogy Boyz
  2. Alley Burger
  3. Naaco Truck

Best late-night (after 1 AM)

  1. Tubby Dog
  2. Clive Burger
  3. Una Pizza + Wine

Best breakfast/brunch

  1. Diner Deluxe
  2. OEB Breakfast Co.
  3. Blue Star Diner

Best cheap eats

  1. Tubby Dog
  2. Clive Burger
  3. Ship & Anchor

Best pizza

  1. Una Pizza + Wine
  2. Without Papers
  3. Pulcinella

Best wings

  1. Regal Beagle Pub
  2. Mug Shotz Sports Bar & Grill
  3. Brewsters Brewing Company

Best burger

  1. Clive Burger
  2. Boogie’s Burgers
  3. Peters’ Drive-In

Best veggie burger

  1. The Coup
  2. Ship & Anchor
  3. Clive Burger

Best fries/poutine

  1. Big Cheese Poutinerie
  2. Charcut Roast House
  3. Clive Burger

Best vegetarian

  1. The Coup
  2. Buddha’s Veggie
  3. Community Natural Foods

Best gluten-free options

  1. The Coup
  2. Heaven Artisan GF Cuisine
  3. Craft Beer Market

Best steak

  1. Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
  2. Caesar’s Steak House
  3. Charcut Roast House

Best BBQ

  1. The Palomino
  2. Holy Smoke Barbecue & Smokepit
  3. Big T’s BBQ & Smokehouse

Best place for seafood

  1. Catch & The Oyster Bar
  2. Big Fish
  3. Bookers BBQ Grill & Crab Shack

Best Mexican

  1. Salt & Pepper Restaurante Mexicano
  2. Los Chilitos Taco & Tequila House
  3. Anejo Restaurant

Best French

  1. Cassis Bistro
  2. Fleur De Sel
  3. La Chaumière

Best Greek

  1. Broken Plate
  2. Manies Pizzaria & Greek Cuisine
  3. Santorini Greek Taverna

Best Italian

  1. Mercato
  2. Borgo Trattoria
  3. Bonterra Trattoria

Best Middle Eastern

  1. Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro
  2. Jimmy’s A & A Deli
  3. Tazza Deli and Grill

Best Indian

  1. Moti Mahal
  2. Rajdoot
  3. Mango Shiva

Best Chinese

  1. Silver Dragon
  2. Dragon Pearl Restaurant
  3. Peking Dragon

Best sushi

  1. Globefish Sushi & Izakaya
  2. Kinjo Sushi & Grill
  3. Hana Sushi

Best Thai

  1. Chili Club Thai House
  2. King & I Thai Cuisine
  3. Thai Sa-On

Best Vietnamese

  1. Co Do Vietnamese Restaurant
  2. Bagolac Saigon
  3. Pho Huong Viet

Best coffeehouse

  1. Caffe Beano
  2. Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters
  3. Higher Ground

Best place to indulge a sweet tooth

  1. Crave Cookies & Cupcakes
  2. Jelly Modern Doughnuts
  3. Yann Haute Patisserie
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