Friday, 18 January 2008

Best of Denver Winners from 1998

In 1998, Westword published its fifteenth Best of Denver issue, a celebration of the city that saluted everything from Best Local Girl Made Good (Pam Grier, an East High grad and ’70s star suddenly back in fashion with Jackie Brown) to Best Game: Super Bowl XXXII, that day in January 1998 when the Denver Broncos beat Green Bay to win their first Super Bowl. Our Best Guess for When the Broncos Will Win Another Super Bowl — 2525 — was way off the mark (the Broncos actually took the title again the next year), but we scored big with our Best TV News Anchor: Jim Benemann, back in Denver after a stint in Portland and being groomed for the big guy’s chair at Channel 9.

Benemann never got that chair, and we’ll bet Channel 9 is sorry about that now. Because instead, he moved over to Channel 4, where his steady presence and wry delivery has helped the CBS newscast make steady inroads at ten o’clock on longtime ratings leader KUSA. This is one anchor that won’t get dropped anytime soon.

Here are the rest of the winners from 1998:

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Best Proof that Colorado is Still The Center of The Universe:
Roy Romer and Jim Nicholson
Readers' Choice:
Denver Broncos Super Bowl win

Best Local Boys Made Good:
Trey Parker and Matt Stone

Best Place to Get South ParkMemorabilia:
Elitch Gardens

Best Mistake in The South Park Press Kit:
UFO Sighting Capital of the World

Best Explanation for The Existence of Both The News and The Post:
Separate universes

Best Local Girl Made Good:
Pam Grier

Best Comeback:
John Denver

Best Comeback From Way Back:
Molly Brown

Best Titanic Special Effect:
Molly Brown House Museum

Best Joke About Colorado:
Jay Leno

Best Example of Life Imitating Art:
Rex Burn's book, The Leaning Land

Best Unmasked Saboteur:
Vinny Licciardi

Best TV Pitchman:
John Elway

Best TV Bitchman:
Wellington Webb

Best Hair on a TV Personality--Male:
Gregg Moss, Channel 9

Best Hair on a TV Personality--Female:
Aimee Sporer, Channel 4

Best Use of Props:
Phil Keating, Channel 9

Best TV News Anchor:
Jim Benemann, Channel 9

Best TV Weathercaster:
Brien Allen, Channel 7

Best TV Sportscaster:
Gary Miller, Channel 4

Best Riot:
Post-Super Bowl Celebration

Best Pg-13 Broncos Riot Coverage:
Channel 4

Best R-Rated Broncos Riot Coverage:
Channel 9

Best Bronco Boosting:
KKFN-AM/950

Best Radio Talk-Show Host:
Peter Boyles, KHOW-AM/630

Best Talk-Radio Team:
Jay Marvin, KHOW-AM/630

Best TV Traffic Aid:
Pinpoint Traffic, Channel 4

Best Radio Sky Spy:
Tony LaMonica, KHOW-AM/630

Best Synchronized Lights:
Colorado Boulevard, from I-70 to Hampden Blvd.

Best Corner in Denver:
16th and Champa streets

Best Ten-Block Strip of Denver:
Olde Santa Fe Drive, 3rd to 13th avenues

Best Colfax Tribute:
"When Kitsch Was King", City of Lakewood

Best Old Neon Sign:
Autorama Inc.

Best New Neon Sign:
Elsie's Place

Best Sign That Newer is Not Always Better:
"Welcome to Colorful Colorado"

Best Bar Sign:
Joe's Cave

Best Yard Art for The Birds:
2809 Kearney St.

Best Yard Menagerie:
8th Ave. and Sheridan Blvd.

Best Cultural Mural:
3438 Downing St.

Best Commercial Mural:
Heavenly Daze Brewery

Best Official Graffiti:
Colorado Institute of Art

Best Unofficial Graffiti:
Abandoned sewage plant at 50th Ave./Washington St.

Best Vernacular Architecture:
River Rock Homes

Best Undiscovered Building Facade:
Denver Public Schools Food Administration

Best New Building:
ICG Communications Building

Best Addition to The National Register:
Nordlund House

Best Historic Rehab:
Corner of 17th and Champa streets

Best Resurrection of an Abandoned Building:
Wyatt School

Best Piece of Soho in Denver:
Baldwin Lofts

Best Commercial Building Redo:
Stritch Building

Best Downtown Parking Lot:
Larimer Square Parking Garage

Best-Looking New Parking Lot:
Botanic Gardens

Best Parking Lot for Impromptu Motorcycle Gatherings:
Johnny's Diner

Best Place to Pick Up Geezers:
Crossroads Mall

Best Place for a Gay Man To Find Husband Material:
Target

Best Place for a Lesbian to Find Wife Material:
The Dyke March, State Capitol

Best Drag Queen:
Miss Krystal Towers, www.accumind.com/krystaltowers

Best Porno Web Site:
AmateurCam.com, www.amateurcam.com

Best Place to Meet a Drunken Drag Queen:
White Spot

Best Place to Get Drunk for Free:
Denver Police Citizens' Academy

Best Gay Web Page:
Cafe Vivid, www.cafevivid.com

Best Web Page Dedicated to JonBen‚t:
Mrs. Brady's URLs,www.joshua-7.com/mrsbrady

Best Quote From a Book Dedicated to JonBen‚t:
Carlton Smith's Death of a Little Princess

Best Nostalgic Web Page:
Neal's Denver, www.charm.net/brooklyn/Denver/index.html

Best Public Radio on the Internet:
KGNU/88.5FM, www.kgnu.org

Best Local Politician:
Don Mares

Best Colorado Lawmaker:
Dottie Wham

Best New Colorado Law:
Minimum Hospital Stay for Newborns and Mothers

Sports and Recreation
-
Best Place to Shoot Up The Wilderness:
Kelsey Creek Shooting Area, Pike National Forest

Best Rendezvous:
Rocky Mountain College Rendezvous, South Park

Best Place for a Mountain Man to Stock Up:
Mountain Rendezvous and Trading Co.

Best Buffalo Soldier Re-Enactment Group:
Buffalo Soldiers of the American West, Inc.

Best Place to Commune With Spirits While Imbibing Them:
Sipapu Bar, Mesa Verde National Park

Best Place to Overcome Waves of Nostalgia:
South Platte Visitors Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tri-Lakes Project Office

Best Place to Get Into Hot Water:
Hot Sulphur Springs Resort, Hot Sulphur Springs

Best Big Chill:
Boulder's Polar Bear Plunge, The Boulder Reservoir

Best Heavy Competition:
Concrete Canoe Race

Best Place to Beat It:
Cheesman Park Pavilion

Best Impromptu Dog Show:
Washington Park

Best Place to Feed Ducks:
Clement Park

Best Zoo Attractions:
Dakin and Kerinda, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Best Zoo Babies:
Attie and Elway, Denver Zoo

Best Walk on the Wild Side:
Glen Hanket

Best Country Walk in the City:
Three Ponds Park

Best Working Farm:
Delaney Urban Farm

Best Spice-Up-Your-Life Road Trip:
Rabbit Shadows Farms

Best Nature Field Trips:
Nature Conservancy of Colorado

Best Urban Campground:
Golden Clear Creek R.V. Park

Best Yurts for Yuppies:
Advance Canvas Design

Best Place to Get Away From Denver Without Leaving Denver:
The Gregory Inn

Best Black Velvet Room In A B&B:
Elk Echo Ranch

Best Mountain Room B&B:
Redstone Castle

Best Cheap Mountain Getaway With Texans:
Creede

Best Cheap Mountain Getaway Without Texans:
Walden

Best Quickie Mountain Day Tours:
The Mountain Guides

Best Mountain-Town Day Trip:
Idaho Springs

Best Daytime Star Trip:
Red Rocks

Best At-School Field Trip:
Denver Fire Department

Best Downtown Field Trip:
Denver Public Library

Best Birthday Surprise:
Rockies Birthday Certificates, Coors Field

Best All-Day Birthday Party:
The Ski Train, Union Station

Best Official Tribute to John Denver:
Rocky Mountain High, Snowmass

Best Unofficial Tribute to Jerry Garcia:
Jerry Garcia shrine, Aspen Mountain

Best Cross-Country Ski Trip with the Kids:
Francie's Cabin, Blue River

Best Snowboarding Terrain:
Breckenridge Terrain Garden, Breckenridge Ski Resort

Best Snowboarding Terrain for Beginners:
Buttermilk, Aspen Ski Resort

Best Double-Diamond Run:
Jackpot, Aspen Mountain

Best Cruiser:
Sneaky's, Snowmass

Best Ski Outlet Store:
Berthoud Discount Sports, Berthoud Ski Area

Best Old-Time Ice Skating:
Keystone Lake, Keystone Resort

Best New-Fangled Ice Skating:
Big Bear Ice Arena

Best Ice-Skating for Showoffs:
Founder's Square Ice Rink

Best Ice Ice Babies:
Shaka Franklin Foundation, Inner City Edge Youth Hockey and Skating Program

Best Place to See the Avs For Free:
South Suburban Ice Arena

Best New Skate Park:
Lakewood Skate Park

Best Skate for Exhibitionists:
Against Speer Boulevard Rush-Hour Traffic

Best Roller Rink:
Funplex

Best Mass-Transit Improvement:
RTD Bike-n-Ride Program

Best Daily Vespas:
Sportique Scooters

Best Emergency Bike Shop:
Canyon Cycles

Best Martial Arts Dojo:
Grappler's Edge Jujitsu Academy

Best Martial Arts Supply:
Tigron Ltd.

Best New Golf Course:
Saddle Rock, Arapahoe and Liverpool

Best Public Golf Course:
Willis Case Golf Course

Best Private Golf Course:
Fox Acres County Club, Red Feathers Lake

Best Golf Hole:
Number 10, Castle Pines Golf Club

Best Miniature Golf Course:
Colorado Journey

Best Softball Field:
Sonny Lawson Field

Best Pre-and Post-Baseball Bar:
Redfish

Best Gay Gym:
Broadway Bodyworks

Best Performance by a Personal Trainer:
Daphne Eslick, Oxford Club

Best Pool Room:
Shakespeare's

Best Sporting League:
Denver Sport and Social Club

Best Sports:
Rocky Mountain Benefit Gamers Association, http://bengames.org

Best Fun Run:
Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half-Marathon

Best Racing Greyhound:
Beams Full Moon

Best Race Horse:
Ms. Yankee Doodle

Best 1998 Colorado Olympian:
Shannon Dunn

Best Air Force Academy Athlete--Male:
Christ Gizzi

Best Air Force Academy Athlete--Female:
Michelle Roxburgh

Best DU Hockey Player:
Paul Comrie

Best CU Athlete--Male:
Adam Goucher

Best CU Athlete--Female:
Line Selnes

Best CSU Athlete--Male:
Bryan Berryhill

Best CSU Athlete--Female:
Becky Hammon

Best CU Football Player:
Hannibal Navies

Best Ex-CU Linebacker with a Seven Iron:
Hale Irwin

Best Dynasty:
University of Northern Colorado Bears

Best Reason to Watch Basketball at McNichols:
Colorado Xplosion

Best Xplosion:
Crystal Robinson

Best Nugget:
Johnny Newman

Best Rapid:
Paul Bravo

Best Av:
Claude Lemieux

Best Rockie:
Vinny Castilla

Best Bronco:
John Elway

Best Sports Coach:
Mike Shanahan

Best Sports Team:
Denver Broncos

Best Game:
Super Bowl XXXIII, January 25, 1998

Best Guess for when The Broncos will Win Another Super Bowl:
In the year 2525

Best Football Date:
Saturday, September 5, 1998

Best Name for a New Broncos Stadium:
Rich Stadium

Best Realistic Name for a New Broncos Stadium:
John Elway Field

Best Sports Quote:
Dale Earnhardt

Best Sports Quote--Political Division:
Mayor Wellington Webb

Goods & Services

Best Warning Label:
US West Dex "On the Go" Driver's Edition of the Yellow Pages

Best Place to Buy/Sell a Used Car:
Vacant lot at 21st and Federal

Best Place to Buy a Car That Isn't Really a Place:
J.V. Auto Consultants

Best Gearshift Art:
Galeria Mexicana

Best Car Museum:
Gallery of Cars

Best Bus Route:
SKIP in Boulder

Best Free Service:
Denver Public Library 24-hour telephone renewal service
Readers' choice:
16th Street Mall Shuttle

Best Almost-Free Labor:
City of Englewood Rent-a-Worker Program

Best Free Advice:
Ellen Speare, Wild Oats Market

Best Tell-A-Medicine:
Health and Medicine Resources,www.aclin.org

Best Cheap Smiles:
CCD Dental Hygiene Clinic

Best Health-Care Idea:
The HMNo

Best Potions:
Apothecary Tinctura

Best Bargain Massage:
Colorado School of Healing Arts Clinic

Best Mental-Health Service:
Weekend Ventures, Aurora Central Library

Best Womb With A View:
"Family Birth Palace," Presbyterian/St. Luke's Hospital

Best Training for Fathers-To-Be:
Boot Camp for New Dads, St. Joseph Hospital

Best Place for Grandparents Expecting Out-Of-Town Visitors:
Baby Junction

Best Advice On Where to Throw Away Your Trash:
RecycleNet recycling bulletin board, governor.state.co.us/gov_dir/oec/recyclenet/

Best Educational Web Site:
Denver Museum of Natural History, www.dmnh.org

Best Post Office:
Glendale Post Office

Best Way To Make Book:
Library self check-out equipment

Best Bookstore For Bibliophiles:
Abracadabra

Best Specialty Bookstore:
The Gallagher Collection at the Antique Guild

Best History Section in a Used Bookstore:
I chabod's

Best Collection of War Books:
Imaginary Wars collection, Colorado State University

Best Collection of Romance Books:
Beth Anne's

Best Bookstore Crannies:
West Side Books and Curios

Best Boulder Used Bookstore:
Red Letter Secondhand Books

Best LoDo Used Bookstore:
Book Roundup

Best Star Wars Memorabilia:
Space Station

Best Xena Collection:
The Book Garden

Best Army Guys:
Musket Miniatures

Best Place to Buy Your First Work of Art:
Zip 37

Best Holiday Shopping:
Kaleidoscope

Best Halloween Costumes:
Red Rocks Community College Theater Department

Best Valentine's Day Cards:
Boulder Arts & Crafts Cooperative

Best Embarrassing Valentines:
Barbershop Quartet Singing Valentines

Best Lingerie:
Le Soutien

Best Support Services:
Treva's Bras, Villa Italia Shopping Center

Best Supportive Service:
Tailored Transitions

Best Place to get a Prom Dress:
The Prom Dress Exchange

Best Bridal Discounts:
Karen's Discount Bridal Outlet

Best Place to Outfit Your Little Princess:
Jordan Marie, Cherry Creek Shopping Center

Best Pricey Kids' Clothes:
B. Bear Express

Best One-Of-A-Kind Kids' Clothes:
Porcupine Kids' Clothing

Best Used Kids' Clothing:
Children's Exchange

Best Affordable Consignment Store:
Mercer Place

Best Vintage Store for A Limited Budget:
The Bunker, The Tivoli

Best Vintage/Contemporary Store for an Unlimited Budget:
Babareeba Clothing Exchange

Best Outlet for Local Designer Fashions:
Squid Clothing Company

Best Hole-In-The-Wall Boutique:
Attitudes

Best Cavern-In-The-Wall Boutique:
Iris Fields

Best Place for The Time Of Your Life:
The Little Watch Company, The Shops at Tabor Center

Best Place to Buy Prisoners' Handiwork:
Colorado Territorial Prison Museum, Canon City

Best Telescopes:
S&S Optika Ltd.

Best Locally Produced Toys:
Zometool, Inc., www.zometool.com

Best Toy Gun Collection:
Maggie May's Sandbox

Best Place to Buy Beanie Babies:
Caravan & Company

Best Puppets:
The Puppet Store, Denver Puppet Theatre

Best Gewgaws:
Al's Collectibles and Antiques, Upstairs in the Broadway Broker

Best Folk Curios:
Garnet Gecko.

Best Flea Market in a House:
Paris Flea Market

Best Antique Tea Sets:
Willow Antiques and Gifts

Best Personalized Plates:
Wilma Jolly, Sponsler Specialized Services, www.sponslergifts.com

Best Jewelry Artist:
Suzanne Williams

Best Bead Shop:
Skyloom Fibres

Best Head Shop:
Pipe Dreams

Best Hat Shop:
Minerva's Hat and Fashion Boutique

Best Shade Shop:
Lili Marlene Custom Lamp Shades

Best One-Of-A-Kind Furniture:
Rue 22

Best Rustic Furniture:
El Paso Import Co.

Best Furnishings for Lush Livers:
Djuna

Best Architectural Salvage:
Architectural Salvage, Inc.

Best Cast-Iron Gates:
Metropolitan Antique Gallery

Best Lumber Yard Circa 1865:
Hayden Forest Products

Best Handy Handymen:
Handyman Express, www.handymanexpress.com

Best Store at DIA:
U.S. Post Office, DIA Main Terminal, Level 6
Readers' choice:
Natural Wonders

Best Store at Cherry Creek Shopping Center:
Learningsmith
Readers' Choice:
Neiman Marcus

Best Store at Park Meadows:
Papyrus
Readers' Choice:
Nordstrom

Best Superstore:
Half Price Store
Readers' Choice:
Kmart Super Centers

Best Old-Fashioned Shopping Center:
Bonnie Brae
Readers' Choice:
Olde Town Arvada

Best 16th Street Mall Vendor:
James Lawson
Readers' Choice:
Tristan, the 50-cent hot dog guy

Best Pets to Go:
Denver Dumb Friends League Pet Careavan

Best Place for Pets When They Go:
Evergreen Pet Cemetery and Crematorium

Best Place to Get Your Puppy Fixed:
MaxFund Veterinary Hospital

Best Place to Get Your Rug Fixed:
Sarkisian's Oriental Rugs

Best Place to Get Flocked:
Paulino Gardens

Best Place to Plan Your Garden:
Denver Water Department Gardens

Best Free Gardening Help:
Plant talk

Best Seeds:
Botanical Interests, Inc.

Best Place to Buy A Birdhouse:
Echter's Greenhouse & Gardens

Best Garden Tools:
Birdsall & Co.

Best Potted Plants:
Wild Flowers

Best Bouquet Makings:
The Perfect Petal

Best Fake Bouquet Makings:
Zync

Best Tepees and Yurts for Yuppies:
Advance Canvas Design

Best Computers for The Image-Conscious:
TechStyle, www.techstyle-com.com

Best Used Macs:
Media Guide Mac Center,www.mediaguide.com

Best Computer Store for Mac Users:
Neighborhood Computer Store Inc.

Best Place to Buy Used CDs Online:
Second Spin, www.secondspin.com

Best Music Store:
Golden Music Center

Best Place to Buy A Sitar:
Aeolian Art & Music Center

Best Recycled Instruments:
Music Go Round

Best Used Record Store:
Don's Discs

Best Used CD Store:
Twist & Shout

Best New CD Store:
Wax Trax

Best Video Store:
The Video Station

Best Alternative Video Store:
Across the Trax.

Best Adult Video Store:
Universal Video's Las Vegas Adult Video Palace

Best Quick Art Dip:
Art Students League Summer Samplers

Best Place for Artists to Find Treasures:
Meininger's garage sales

Best Treasure Chest and Art Gallery:
Me L Yu

Best Studios for Hire:
Workshops

Arts and Entertainment

Best Free Entertainment:
"Free For All," Denver Center Theatre Company
Readers' Choice:
People's Fair

Best Free Arts Link-Up:
Colorado Arts Net, www.electracity.com/can

Best Way to put Art in The Heart:
AHA (Artists Helping Artists) benefit auction for Brigitte Schluger, March 21, Mackey Gallery

Best Free Artistic Advice:
Karen Lee Dance International, Karavan Studios

Best Annual Festival:
Denver Public Schools Shakespeare Festival
Readers' Choice:
Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Best Annual Arts Festival:
Passport to Asia

Best Festival for Kids:
Kidspree

Best Place for Kids to Dress up like Queen Elizabeth:
Bernadette Berger Discovery Library, Denver Art Museum

Best New Community Center:
Roundtree Center for the Arts

Best Art-World Upstart:
The Museum of Contemporary Art

Best Friend of Art in Denver:
Nancy Tieken

Best Comeback by a Local Institution:
Children's Museum

Best Cultural Connection:
Cleo Parker Robinson and the DCPA

Best Place to get a Slice of Buenos Aires:
Tango Colorado

Best Irish Culture Center:
Denver Irish Seis'un Common Grounds Coffee House

Best Place to Rub Elbows With Authors--and Everyone Else in Town:
Tattered Cover

Best Performance by a Literary Publication:
Bloomsbury Review

Best Performance by a New Writer:
Robin Troy

Best Local Kids' Book:
Girls Who Rocked the World: Heroines From Sacagawea to Sheryl Swoopes

Best Western Roundup:
Jon Chandler

Best Romance Writer:
Anne Holmberg (Anne Avery)

Best Verse-Case Scenario:
Going to Extremes Poetry Therapy Program

Best Poet:
Lorna Dee Cervantes

Best Poetry Reading:
Ed Ward, Mercury Cafe

Best Place to Get Slammed:
Brother Jeff's Cultural Center and Cafe

Best Reference to Denver in a T.V. Show:
The Closer
Readers' Choice:
South Park

Best Denver Actor in a T.V. Show:
Greg Germann
Readers' Choice:
Tim Allen

Best Locally Produced T.V. Show:
First Thusday With the Mayor and Council
Readers' Choice:
South Park

Best Performance by a Coloradan Behind the Scenes:
Joshua Colwell

Best Performance by Colorado Filmmakers:
Donna Dewey and Carol Pasternak, A Story of Healing

Best Boost for Colorado Filmmakers:
The Creative Film Group

Best Movie Web Site:
Mr. Cranky, internet-plaza.net/zone/mrcranky/

Best Outdoor Movie Theater:
Cinderella Twin Drive-In Theater

Best Movie-Theater Lobby:
Mann Chinese Theater, Arapahoe Crossing Shopping Center

Best Pre- and Post-Movie Watering Hole:
Poppies

Best Movie Date:
AMC Highlands Ranch 24 Theaters

Best Way to Sip Into Something More Comfortable:
Tazo teas at landmark Theaters

Best Way to Bite Into The Art-House Scene:
Biscotti at Landmark Theaters

Best Hot Movie About a Cold Cadaver:
Grandpa's in the Tuff Shed

Best Movie Theater--Multiplex:
UA Colorado Center

Best Movie Theater--Classic:
The Mayan

Best Revival Run:
Jean-Luc Godard's Contempt, Esquire Theater, December 1997

Best Denver International Film Festival Film:
The Sweet Hereafter, Atom Egoyan, Director

Best Denver International Film Festival Sleeper:
Mother and Son, Aleksandr Sokurov, Director

Best Film Series:
Haunted Carnival, Boulder, July 1-31, 1998

Best Exhibit of Art Talent by a Rhino:
Mshindi, Denver Zoo

Best Museum Exhibit:
Christo and Jean-Claude: Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970-1972--A Documentation Exhibition, Denver Art Museum
Readers' Choice:
Searching for Ancient Egypt

Best Long, Strange Trip in Time:
The Times They Are A-Changin': Colorado in the 60s and 70s, Colorado History Museum

Best Seventies Flashback:
KRFX-FM/103.5 (The Fox)

Best Place to Go Through The Looking Glass:
Alice in Wonderland Sculptures, William McKinley Carson Park

Best New Public Art:
"Elements," by Nancy Lovendahl, Cuernavaca Park
Readers' Choice:
"Lao Tzu," by Mark di Suvero

Best Solo Sculpture Show:
Jesus Bautista Moroles, Museum of Outdoor Art/Artyard

Best Group Sculpture Show:
Contemporary Metals, USA, Metropolitan State College, Denver Center for the Visual Arts

Best Installation Show:
John McEnroe's Voyage, ILK @ Pirate

Best Drawing Show:
Mark Brasuell: I aint a'gin nobody..., Edge

Best Political Art Show:
Left/Right: The Nazi Attack on Modern Art, Singer Gallery, Mizel Family Cultural Arts Center

Best Photography Show:
The Body and the Lens: Photography 1839 to the Present, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Best Focus on the Inner City:
Curtis Park Photo/Story Project

Best Group Show Combining Locals and Out-of-Towners:
Implied Nature, Robischon Gallery

Best Group Show of Out-of-Towners:
Embodies (faces and figures), Round World Gallery

Best Out-of-Town Gallery:
OneWest Art Center

Best Group Show:
The Third Degree: 3 Investigations in Abstraction, Rule Modern and Contemporary Gallery
Readers' Choice:
The King at CORE

Best Solo Show:
Clark Richert: Unfolding the Vacuum, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Best Solo Show--Emerging Artist:
Jason Hoelscher's NeoNow, Edge

Best Solo Show--Dead Artist:
Vance Kirkland: The Late Paintings, Denver Art Museum

Best Solo Gallery Show (readers' choice only):
Jerry Simpson at Zip 37

Best Kitsch Art:
The King, CORE New Art Space

Best Show of Miniatures:
William Stockman: Libros, Pirate

Best Comics--Group Show:
Art and Provocation (Images From Rebels), Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

Best Comics--Solo Show:
Arthur Szyk: The Man and His Art, Mizel Museum of Judaica

Best Storytellers:
Spoken Wheel

Best Reader's Theater:
Vaughn, New Mexico, Christmas Eve, 1956 by Terry Dodd, The Acoma City Center

Best Non-Politically Correct Production:
Day of Absence, Shadow Theatre Company

Best Environmental Theater Production:
IronCloud Productions

Best Experimental Production:
Eighty-Four, The LIDA Project

Best Shakespearean Mini-Series:
Troilus and Cressida, Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Best Ensemble Performance:
Blues for an Alabama Sky, Denver Center Theatre Company

Best One-Man Show:
Tony Church in Give 'em a Bit of Mystery: Shakespeare and the Old Tradition, Denver Center Theatre Company

Best Hero in The Making:
Jeremy Palmer

Best Bio-Mechanics:
Maggie Simms in Return to the Forbidden Planet, Actors Ensemble

Best Costumes:
Bruce McInroy, The Would-Be Gentleman, Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Best Set Design:
Richard Finkelstein, You Can't Take It With You, Department of Theatre and Dance, University of Colorado at Boulder

Best Director:
Anthony Powell, Denver Center Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actress:
C. Kelly Douglass

Best Supporting Actor:
John Seifert, Endgame, Germinal Stage Denver

Best Theater Production:
Angels in America, Hunger Artists Ensemble
Readers' Choice:
Poor Superman, Theatre on Broadway

Best Theater Company:
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Readers' Choice:
Denver Center Theatre Company

Best Kept Theater Secret:
CU Lyric Theatre Program, Colllege of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder

Best Musical:
Susannah, Central City Opera

Best New Way to Play Old Notes:
Trouble Clef Theater Company, The Guild at the Dairy

Best Musical Renaissance:
The Ars Nova Singers, Boulder

Best Music Zine:
State of the Union

Best Belter:
Nina Storey

Best Nationally Recognized Singer-Songwriter:
Sherri Jackson

Best Nationally Unrecognized Singer-Songwriter:
Wendy Woo

Best Country Act:
Denver Joe
Readers' Choice:
Slim Cessna's Auto Club

Best Graduate of The Colorado Country Scene:
Tim O'Brien

Best C&W Club:
The Grizzly Rose
Readers' Choice:
Grizzly Rose

Best Polka Band:
The Polka Nuts

Best Bluegrass Band:
Front Range

Best Bluegrass Jam:
Palph's Top Service

Best Blues Jam:
Catacombs at the Hotel Boulderado

Best Blues Club:
Brendan's Pub

Best Blues Musician:
Otis Taylor

Best Blues Band/Musician (readers' choice only):
Chicago Skinny

Best Son-Son Act:
Brian and Michael Hornbuckle

Best Acoustic Blues Musician:
Lonesome Dan Kase

Best Blues Recording:
As the Sun Goes Down, Lionel Young Band

Best Jazz Recording:
Hats, The Bob Gillis Group

Best Jazz Label:
Synergy

Best Jazz Band:
The Emergency Broadcast Players
Readers' Choice:
Dotsero

Best Jazz Club:
Vartan Jazz Club and Restaurant
Readers' Choice:
El Chapultepec

Best Rap Act:
Kingdom
Readers' Choice:
Celia and Skillz

Best Reggae Band:
Preacherman and the Congregation

Best Ska Band:
Five Iron Frenzy

Best Latin Band:
Universo II

Best Punk Band:
Electric Summer

Best Punk Club:
The 15th Street Tavern
Readers' Choice:
Lion's Lair

Best Punk Label:
Owned & Operated

Best Pop Label:
Elephant 6

Best Avant-Garde Label:
Starkland Records

Best Rock Label:
360 Twist!

Best Pop CD:
Tone Soul Evolution, The Apples

Best Local Recording:
Low Estate, 16 Horsepower
Readers' Choice:
Essensual, by Dotsero

Best Local CD Retrospective:
A Star Unbron, or What Would Have Been If What Is Hadn't Happened: The Amazing Story of Ralph Gean, Ralph Gean

Best Locally Produced Enhanced CD:
Morder, Red Yak

Best Rock Band:
Space Team Electra
Readers' Choice:
Opie Gone Bad

Best Rock Club:
The Lion's Lair
Readers' Choice:
Herman's Hideaway

Best Rock-The-Night-Away Club:
Herman's Hideaway

Best Party Band:
The Freddi-Henchi Band

Best Dance Band:
Cabaret Diosa
Readers' Choice:
Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra

Best Dance Label:
Club Records

Best Salsa Lessons for Gringos:
Sevilla at the Ice House

Best Swing Band:
The Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra
Readers' Choice:
Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra

Best Free Swing Lessons:
Mercury Cafe

Best Swing Club:
9th Avenue West
Readers' Choice:
9th Avenue West

Best After-Hours Club:
Fab Fridays
Readers' Choice:
Synergy

Best After-Hours Event:
Night of the Round Tables Castle Party, The Mtn-Raves Collective, May 2-3, 1998

Best Club DJ:
K-NEE (Ken Hamblin, Jr.)
Readers' Choice:
Vitamin D

Best Disco Ball:
The Raven

Best Party Room at a Gay Club:
The Heaven Lounge at Trax 2000

Best Experimental Band:
Hamster Theatre

Best On-and-Off Denver Dance Star:
DJ Keoki

Best All-Ages Club:
Club XT
Readers' Choice:
Mercury Cafe

Best New Club:
The Soiled Dove
Readers' Choice:
Polly Esther's

Best Sit-Down Theater:
Paramount Theatre

Best Stand-Up Theater:
Fox Theatre

Best Concert Venue:
Red Rocks

Best Concert:
Stereolab, Bluebird Theater, November 17, 1997
Readers' Choice:
Prince at Fiddler's Green

Best Band Name:
Fuck Yo' Punk Ass

Best Music War:
Universal vs. Everybody

Best Future Radio Station:
University of Colorado's new station

Best Nostalgic Radio Show:
Big Band Swing, KEZW-AM/1430

Best Kids' Radio:
The Children's Hour, KVOD-FM/92.5

Best Radio-Station Promotion:
The Greenbucks Project, KXPK-FM/96.5 (The Peak)

Best Radio DJ:
Jack "Radio" Regan
Readers' Choice:
Caroline Corley, KTCL-FM/93.3

Food and Drink

Best All-Around Comfort Food:
Janleone

Best Jewish Comfort Food:
Zaidy's Deli

Best Mexican Comfort Food:
Rosa Linda Mexican Cafe

Best Italian Comfort Food:
Sostanza Ristorante

Best French Comfort Food:
Normandy French Restaurant

Best Hungarian Comfort Food:
Budapest Bistro

Best Southern Comfort Food:
The Moondance

Best Cold Comfort:
Jamba Juice

Best Hangover Comfort:
Chef Zorba's Cuisine

Best Comfort-Food Quickies:
Soup N Juice

Best Way to Enjoy Gourmet Cooking in the Comfort of Your Own Home:
Cucina Leone

Best Comfort Food For Kids:
What's Fresh & Wild

Best Family-Style Dining:
Uncle Sam's

Best Place to Teach Your Kid Some Table Manners:
Ellyngton's at the Brown Palace Hotel

Best Children's Amenity:
Wazee Supper Club

Best Children's Menu:
New Happy Restaurant
Readers' Choice:
White Fence Farm

Best Brunch Buffet:
Garden Terrace at the Inverness Hotel
Readers' Choice:
Brown Palace

Best Cheap Brunch Buffet:
The Old Country

Best Mexican Brunch:
Tosh's Hacienda

Best a La Carte Brunch:
The Fourth Story

Best Cheap Breakfast:
Sunnyside Up Cafe
Readers' Choice:
Pete's Kitchen

Best Power Breakfast:
Racines

Best Power Lunch:
Brasserie Z
Readers' Choice:
Racines

Best Express Lunch:
Tommy Tsunami's Pacific Diner

Best All-You-Can-Eat Express Lunch:
Woody's Wood-Fired Pizza & Watering Hole

Best Lunch Buffet:
Marrakesh
Readers' Choice:
Bombay Clay Oven

Best $5 Barbecue Lunch:
Daddy Bruce's Bar-B-Que & Catering Service

Best Asian Buffet:
Mr. Panda

Best All-You-Can-Eat Deal:
Charbroil Delights

Best Dinner Specials:
Stockyard Inn & Saloon

Best Dinner Under $5:
McCormick's Fish House & Bar

Best Place for Dinner After 10 p.m.:
Michael's of Cherry Creek
Readers' Choice:
Chives American Bistro

Best Place for Dinner After 2 a.m.:
The Doll House

Best 16th Street Mall Food Vendor:
The Philadelphia Filly

Best Food Court Vendor:
Penthouse Noodles & Grill

Best Outdoor Patio:
Potager
Readers' Choice:
Cadillac Ranch

Best Transformation of a Parking Lot:
Cherokee Dining on 12th Ave.

Best Patio Dining With Mariachis:
El Noa Noa

Best Salad Bar:
Rodizio Grill
Readers' Choice:
Healthy Habits

Best Caesar Salad:
Hugh's New American Bistro

Best Vegetarian Menu:
Watercourse Foods
Readers' Choice:
Creative Cafe

Best Non-Vegetarian Dish in a Non-Vegetarian Restaurant:
Papillon

Best Vegetarian Burger:
Watercourse Foods

Best Vegetarian Steak:
Sushi Den

Best Vegetarian Mexican Menu:
Alexander's

Best Soups:
Petit Louis

Best Hot-and-Sour Soup:
Hung Kee

Best Clam Chowder:
North Woods Inn

Best Sandwiches:
The Corporate Deli and Grill

Best Sandwiches with a Side of Off-Track Wagering:
Red & Jerry's

Best Italian Sausage Sandwich:
Vinnola's Italian Market

Best Subs:
Tommy's Terrific Subs

Best Hamburger:
My Brother's Bar
Readers' Choice:
Cherry Cricket

Best One-Pound Hamburger:
HandleBar & Grill

Best French Fries:
Mercury Cafe
Readers' Choice:
McDonald's

Best Frites:
Cafe Bohemia

Best Sweet-Potato French Fries:
Hugo's

Best Place to get Your Coat:
El Tejado

Best Place to Talk Turkey:
Bassett's Original Turkey

Best Lamb Shank:
Bruno's Italian Bistro

Best Lamb Chops:
1515 Market Grille

Best Asian Lamb Chops:
Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant

Best Steak:
Morton's of Chicago
Readers' Choice:
Outback Steakhouse

Best Cheap Steak:
Bastien's

Best Garnish on a Steakhouse Salad:
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

Best Beef Sandwich:
Chicago

Best Beef Jerky:
Smokey's Bar-B-Que

Best Roast Chicken:
Palette's at the Denver Art Museum
Readers' Choice:
Boston Market

Best Fried Chicken:
Key's on the Green

Best Chicken Pot Pie:
Cornucopia Unlimited

Best Chicken-Fried Steak:
Rocky Mountain Diner

Best Chicken-Fried Chicken:
Divine Temptations

Best Fried Rice:
Los Cabos II

Best Fried Calamari:
Starfish

Best Prime Rib:
Gala Gardens
Readers' Choice:
Morton's of Chicago

Best Barbecued Beans:
Brothers BBQ

Best Barbecued Ribs:
M&D's Cafe
Readers' Choice:
Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que

Best Barbecued You-Name-It:
Breckenridge Barbecue and Brewery

Best Barbecue Served Under the Watchful Eyes of Old Country/Western Stars:
Frank's Bar-B-Que

Best Open Kitchen:
El Taco de Mexico

Best View Within a Restaurant:
Assignments

Best Kitchen Magician:
Denver Enterprise Center's Kitchen Incubator

Best Fast-Food Employee:
Tom Fey, Wendy's

Best Picnic Pizza:
Basil Doc's

Best Thick Pizza:
Attivo Pizza & Deli
Readers' Choice:
Beau Jo's

Best Thin Pizza:
Enzo's End
Readers' Choice:
Anthony's Pizza & Pasta

Best New York-Style Pizza:
New York Pizzeria

Best Breads:
Denver Bread Company

Best Bagels:
Moe's Broadway Bagel
Readers' Choice:
Moe's Broadway Bagel

Best Bakery:
Daily Bread
Readers' Choice:
Campagna

Best Pastries:
Dream Pastries

Best Cookies:
David's Bagels

Best Cheesecake:
The Marketplace Muffin & Cheesecake Company

Best Dessert Menu:
Rialto Cafe
Readers' Choice:
Cheesecake Factory

Best Place for Late-Night Dessert:
Chives American Bistro
Readers' Choice:
Racines

Best Deep-Fried Dessert:
Chowda House Light House

Best Ice Cream:
Gelato d'Italia

Best Ice-Cream Gimmick:
Marble Slab Creamery

Best Happy Hour for Free Food:
Baja Beach Club
Readers' Choice:
Jose O'Shea's

Best Brewpub:
Pints Pub
Readers' Choice:
Wynkoop Brewing Company

Best Microbrew--English-Style Pale Ale:
Denver Pale Ale, Great Divide Brewing Company

Best Microbrew--India Pale Ale:
Snake Dog I.P.A., Broadway Brewing

Best Microbrew--Scottish Ale:
Laughing Lab, Bristol Brewing Company

Best Microbrew--Stout:
Old Man Winter Stout, Overland Stage Stop Brewery

Best Microbrew--Wheat:
Wild Pitch Hefeweizen, Sandlot Brewery at Coors Field

Best Microbrew--Pilsner:
Barman Pilsner, Coors Brewing Company

Best Microbrew--Bock:
Butthead Bock, Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub

Best Extreme Beer:
Cask Conditioned Oatmeal Stout, Denver ChopHouse & Brewery

Best Beer Selection:
Falling Rock Tap House

Best Belgian Beer Selection:
BJ's Pizza Grill & Brewery

Best Red Beer:
Wynkoop Brewing Company

Best Wine List--Selection:
Mel's Bar & Grill
Readers' Choice:
Trios Enoteca

Best Wine List--Price:
Legacy Grill
Readers' Choice:
Le Central

Best Wine List--By The Glass:
Today's Gourmet/Highlands Garden Cafe
Readers' Choice:
Trios Enoteca

Best Wine Store:
City Wine

Best Unexpected Wine Store:
Wines Off Wynkoop

Best Fresh Juice:
Naked Foods

Best Human Beans:
Human Bean

Best Pot Of Tea:
A Spot of Tea

Best Teahouse:
Dushanbe Teahouse, Boulder Central Park

Best Buzz Stop:
Coffee on the Z

Best Place to have Coffee While Waiting to be Pierced:
Mother Herb

Best Shrine to Frank Sinatra:
Gaetano's Restaurant & Pizzeria

Best Martini:
Bistro Adde Brewster
Readers' Choice:
Purple Martini

Best Martini Bar:
Dazzle

Best Long Island Iced Tea:
Cruise Room at the Oxford Hotel

Best Bloody Mary Bar:
Cadillac Ranch

Best Cigar Bar:
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

Best Tapas:
Ilios
Readers' Choice:
Sevilla at the Ice House

Best Paella:
Sevilla at the Ice House
Readers' Choice:
Mediterra

Best Seafood Restaurant:
Jax Fish House
Readers' Choice:
Fresh Fish Co.

Best Margarita:
Dixons Downtown Grill

Best Soundtrack in a Mexican Restaurant:
Las Delicias

Best Chips and Salsa:
Don Quijote
Readers' Choice:
Benny's Restaurant & Cantina

Best Taco:
Benny's Restaurant & Cantina
Readers' Choice:
Taco Bell

Best Bargain Taco Carnitas:
El Valle Video & Ice Cream

Best Mexican Bull Testicles:
La Casa del Rey

Best Burrito:
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Readers' Choice:
Chipotle Mexican Grill

Best Breakfast Burrito:
Mexico City Lounge
Readers' Choice:
Pete's Kitchen

Best Tamales:
La Casita, La Casa de Tamales

Best Takeout Tamales:
Sabor Latino Express

Best Soft Chile Relleno:
El Tepehuan

Best Crispy Chile Relleno:
Norma Jean's

Best Green Chile:
The Majestic
Readers' Choice:
Blue Bonnet

Best Bowl of Green Chile:
La Casa de Manuel

Best Red Chile:
La Fiesta Supper Club

Best Red Beans And Rice:
Bang!

Best Black Beans and Rice:
El Azteca

Best Deli:
Tony's Meats & Specialty Foods

Best Tropical Market:
Paradise Marketplace

Best Middle Eastern Market:
Jerusalem Market

Best Indian Market:
Tajmajal Imports

Best Urban Supermarket:
King Soopers

Best Asian Market:
Denver Oriental Supermarket

Best Egg Rolls:
Little Ollie's

Best Chinese Restaurant:
Golden Plate
Readers' Choice:
Imperial Chinese Seafood Restaurant

Best Sushi:
Sushi Den
Readers' Choice:
Sushi Den

Best Japanese Restaurant:
Domo
Readers' Choice:
Mori Japanese Restaurant

Best Thai Restaurant:
Wild Ginger
Readers' Choice:
Bangkok Grill

Best Vietnamese Restaurant:
Tay Do
Readers' Choice:
New Saigon

Best Vietnamese Subs:
Cafe Phuoc Loc Tho

Best Indian Subs:
India's.

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant:
Damascus
Readers' Choice:
Jerusalem

Best Mediterranean Restaurant:
Aubergine Cafe

Best Pasta Restaurant:
The Cherry Tomato

Best Plate of Ravioli:
Cucina Colore

Best Plate of Spaghetti:
Romano's Pizzeria

Best Italian Restaurant:
Barolo Grill
Readers' Choice:
Carmine's on Penn

Best Indian Restaurant (readers' choice only):
India's

Best French Restaurant:
Tante Louise

Best Romantic Restaurant:
The Broker Restaurant
Readers' Choice:
Briarwood Inn

Best Place to Eat when Someone Else is Paying:
Papillon
Readers' Choice:
Morton's of Chicago

Best New-American Restaurant:
Mel's Bar & Grill

Best Old American Restaurant:
The Fort

Best American-As-Apple Pie Place:
Walnut Cafe

Best New Restaurant:
Palettes at the Denver Art Museum
Readers' Choice:
Il Fornaio

Category: 25 Years of The Best of Denver

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