2003 READERS' PICKS
Once again, we proudly salute Sacramento’s finest, as voted exclusively by our subscribers. We also announce our editors’ picks, written by Steve LaRosa. Be sure to attend our fifth annual Best of Sacramento party to benefit the March of Dimes on Thursday, Nov. 20. From 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center, Best of Sacramento and Readers’ Choice Dining Awards winners will present food, beer and wine, music, entertainment, giveaways and more. Best of all, the event is expected to raise more than $200,000 for our local March of Dimes chapter. Tickets are on sale now through the Community Center Box Office (916-264-5181) or online at tickets.com. Tickets also may be purchased by calling the March of Dimes at (916) 922-1913. Best TV news anchor team
1. Lois Hart and Dave Walker, KCRA Channel
2. Cristina Mendonsa and Dale Schornack, News10
3. Marianne McClary and Nick Toma, UPN 31 KMAX
RUNNERS-UP: Paul Joncich and Jennifer Whitney, KOVR 13
Best TV morning anchor
1. Walt Gray, KCRA Channel 3
2. Deirdre Fitzpatrick, KCRA Channel 3
3. Dan Elliott, News10 and Marianne
McClary, UPN 31 KMAX (tie)
Best local newspaper columnist
1. R.E. Graswich, The Sacramento Bee
2. Dan Walters, The Sacramento Bee
3. Mark Kreidler, The Sacramento Bee
RUNNERS-UP: Anita Creamer, The Sacramento Bee and Daniel Weintraub, The Sacramento Bee
Best sports writer
1. Mark Kreidler, The Sacramento Bee
2. Ailene Voisin, The Sacramento Bee
3. Martin McNeal, The Sacramento Bee
RUNNERS-UP: Debbie Arrington, The Sacramento Bee and Marcos Bretón, The Sacramento Bee
Best morning drive radio team
1. Paul Robins and Phil Cowan, KGBY Y92.5
2. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, Talk 650 KSTE
3. Shawn Cash and Jeff Jensen, 100.5 The Zone
Most attractive local person
1. Cristina Mendonsa
2. Kitty O’Neal
3. Edie Lambert and Chris Webber (tie)
Best local TV reporter
1. Edie Lambert, KCRA Channel 3
2. Ryan Yamamoto, KCRA Channel 3
3. Mark S. Allen, UPN 31 KMAX and Tom DuHain, KCRA Channel 3 (tie)
Best place to buy your dream car
1. Niello Motors
2. Von Housen Automotive Group
3. Roseville Automall
Best TV weather person
1. Mark Finan, KCRA Channel 3
2. Elissa Lynn, News10
3. Monica Woods, News10
Runners-up: Dave Bender, KOVR 13 and Patty Souza, KCRA Channel 3
Best afternoon drive radio personality (after 4 p.m.)
1. Kitty O’Neal, NewsTalk 1530 KFBK
2. Tom Sullivan, NewsTalk 1530 KFBK
3. Michael Savage, Talk 650 KSTE
RUNNER-UP: Grant Napear, Sports 1140 KHTK AM
Best rock radio station
1. 96.9 The Eagle
2. KWOD 106.5 The Alternative
3. 98.5 FM 98 Rock KRXQ
Best classic rock station
1. 96.9 The Eagle
2. KGBY Y92.5 and 98.5 FM 98 Rock KRXQ (tie)
3. 93.7 KXOA and 96.1 Mix 96 (tie)
Best oldies station
1. 101.1 KHYL
2. KOOL 101.9 Sacramento’s Oldies Station
3. 1320 KCTC
Best radio station at work
1. Smooth Jazz 94.7 KSSJ
2. KGBY Y92.5
3. 96.1 Mix 96
RUNNERS-UP: NewsTalk 1530 KFBK, 100.5 The Zone and 107.9 The End
Best country radio station
1. New Country 105.1 KNCI
Best jazz radio station
1. Smooth Jazz 94.7 KSSJ
2. KXJZ The NPR Station
Best local talk radio station
1. NewsTalk 1530 KFBK
2. Talk 650 KSTE
3. KTKZ 1380 AM
RUNNER-UP: Sports 1140 KHTK AM
Best local radio talk-show host
1. Tom Sullivan, NewsTalk 1530 KFBK
2. Eric Hogue, KTKZ 1380 AM
3. Jim Kozimor, Sports 1140 KHTK AM
Best radio sportscaster
1. Grant Napear, Sports 1140 KHTK AM
2. Gary Gerould
3. Jim Kozimor, Sports 1140 KHTK AM
Most influential local person
1. Tom Sullivan
2. Joe and Gavin Maloof
3. Mayor Heather Fargo
Sacramentan of the year
1. Kevin Johnson and Tom Sullivan (tie)
2. Joe and Gavin Maloof
Best local elected official (male)
1. Jimmy Yee, Sacramento city councilman
2. Doug Ose, U.S. representative
3. Darrell Steinberg, assemblyman
RUNNER-UP: Dave Cox, assembly republican leader
Best local elected official (female)
1. Heather Fargo, mayor of Sacramento
2. Deborah Ortiz, state senator
3. Jan Scully, Sacramento County district attorney
Best local artist
1. Wayne Thiebaud and Gregory Kondos (tie)
2. Brenda Boles
3. Thomas Kinkade
Best ice-cream parlour
1. Leatherby’s Family Creamery
2. Vic’s Ice Cream
3. Baskin-Robbins
RUNNERS-UP: Cold Stone Creamery and Gunther’s
Best upscale bar
1. Tunel 21
2. Esquire Grill
3. Harlow’s
RUNNERS-UP: KBar and Chops
Best piano bar
1. Max’s Opera Cafe
2. Biba
3. Bravo Ristorante and Delta King Pilothouse Restaurant (tie)
Best happy hour
1. El Torito and TGI Friday’s (tie)
2. Chevys Fresh Mex and Esquire Grill (tie)
3. Centro Cocina Mexicana
Best sports bar
1. Mandango’s Sports Bar & Grill
2. Players Sports Pub & Grill
Best martini
1. Bandera and Esquire Grill (tie)
Best bakery
1. Ettore’s Restaurant, European Bakery and Catering
2. Freeport Bakery
3. Philipps Bakery
Best candy store
1. See’s Candies
2. Snooks Candies & Ice Cream
3. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
RUNNER-UP: Sweet Factory
Best fried chicken
1. KFC
2. Church’s Chicken
3. Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
Best barbecued ribs
1. Tony Roma’s
2. Back Forty Texas BBQ
3. Chili’s
RUNNERS-UP: JR’s Texas Bar-B-Que and Texas West Bar-B-Que
Best place to buy bread
1. Grateful Bread Company and Raley’s/Bel Air (tie)
2. The Bread Store
3. Bella Bru
RUNNER-UP: Ettore’s Restaurant, European Bakery and Catering
Best pies
1. Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery
2. Bakers Square
3. Rick’s Dessert Diner
RUNNERS-UP: Ettore’s Restaurant, European Bakery and Catering; Freeport Bakery; and Ikedas Country Market and Pie Shop
Best doughnuts
1. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
2. Marie’s Donuts
Best gourmet cookies
1. Mrs. Fields
2. Ettore’s Restaurant, European Bakery and Catering
3. Kelli’s Gourmet Cookies
Best eggs Benedict
1. Cafe Bernardo
2. Tower Cafe
3. Venita Rhea’s
RUNNER-UP: Rio City Cafe
Best tearoom/tea house
1. The Elegant Garden & Afternoon Tea
2. Partea Time and Peet’s Coffee & Tea (tie)
Best Tahoe-area ski resort
1. Heavenly Lake Tahoe
2. Squaw Valley USA
3. Northstar at Tahoe and Sierra at Tahoe (tie)
RUNNERS-UP: Alpine Meadows and Sugar Bowl
Best ski/snowboard shop
1. Helm of Sun Valley
2. Surf & Skate
3. REI
Best music store
1. Tower Records
2. Dimple Records
3. The Beat
RUNNERS-UP: Borders Books Music & Cafe and Virgin Megastore
Best bookstore
1. Borders Books Music & Cafe
2. Barnes & Noble Booksellers
3. Tower Books
RUNNER-UP: Beers Books
Best florist
1. Relles Florist
2. Rust Florist
3. Kiyo’s Floral Shop and Enchanted Florist (tie)
Best place to shoot pool
1. Blue Cue
2. Players Sports Pub & Grill
3. Mandango’s Sports Bar & Grill
Best nightclub
1. Harlow’s
2. Tunel 21
3. KBar
Runners-up: Faces and Aqua
Best place to buy fruits and veggies
1. Raley’s/Bel Air
2. Farmers markets
3. Denio’s Roseville Farmers Market & Auction
Best drugstore
1. Longs Drugs
2. Rite Aid
3. Walgreens
RUNNER-UP: Raley’s/Bel Air
Best garden center
1. Capital Nursery
2. The Home Depot
3. Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse
RUNNERS-UP: Bushnell Gardens Nursery and Windmill Nursery
Best place to buy a special gift
1. William Glen
2. Guzzetta & Co. Fine Jewelers
3. Nordstrom and Sharif Jewelers (tie)
RUNNER-UP: Ivy House
Best place to buy antiques
1. Antique Plaza
2. Antique Trove
Best place to buy jewelry
1. Guzzetta & Co. Fine Jewelers
2. Sharif Jewelers
3. Grebitus & Sons Jewelers
RUNNERS-UP: Kenny G & Company and Rogers Jewelers
Best product made in Sacramento
1. Blue Diamond Almonds
2. Shari’s Berries
3. Merlino’s Freeze
Best church choir
1. Spiritual Life Center
2. Arcade Baptist Church, Capital Christian Center and Fremont Presbyterian Church (tie)
Best pet store
1. Petsmart
2. Petco
3. Western Feed & Pet Supply
Best wireless telephone company
1. AT&T Wireless
2. Verizon Wireless
3. Cingular Wireless
RUNNERS-UP: Sprint PCS and SureWest Communications
Best local website
1. sacbee.com
2. thekcrachannel.com and news10.net (tie)
3. sacjobs.com
Best investment firm
1. Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
2. The Sullivan Group
3. Hanson McClain
RUNNERS-UP: Edward Jones and A.G. Edwards & Sons
Best TV sports person
1. Del Rodgers, KCRA Channel 3
2. Ron Hyde, KCRA Channel 3
3. Gary Gelfand, UPN 31 KMAX
Best bowling alley
1. Country Club Lanes
2. Rocklin Bowl
Best restaurant to take out-of-towners
1. Rio City Cafe
2. Biba
3. Delta King Pilothouse Restaurant and Slocum House (tie)
RUNNER-UP: The Firehouse
Best tourist attraction locals can enjoy
1. Old Sacramento
2. California State Railroad Museum
3. State Capitol
RUNNER-UP: The Sacramento Zoo
Best tattoo artist
1. Wild Bill’s Tattoo & Body Piercing
2. Bonehead Tattoos
Best place to get a manicure/pedicure
1. Esthetics by Jeanette
2. Hoshall’s and Images (tie)
3. Atrium and La Dene (tie)
Best place to buy a weird gift
1. Evangeline’s
2. Spencer’s Gifts
3. The Sharper Image
Best bike store
1. City Bicycle Works
2. Bob’s Cycle Center
3. American River Bicycle
Best sporting goods store
1. REI
2. Big 5 Sporting Goods
3. Copeland Sports
RUNNERS-UP: Fleet Feet, Sportmart and The Sports Authority
Best health club
1. California Family Fitness
2. 24 Hour Fitness
3. Curves
RUNNERS-UP: Alhambra Athletic Club, Broadstone Racquet Club, The Capital Athletic Club
Best yoga classes
1. Bikram’s Yoga College of India
2. California Family Fitness
3. 24 Hour Fitness
Best health-food store
1. Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
2. Elliott’s Natural Foods
3. Trader Joe’s
RUNNERS-UP: Sunrise Natural Foods and Whole Foods Market
Best beauty salon
1. Hoshall’s
2. Images
3. Mosaic and New Attitude (tie)
RUNNERS-UP: Lush and Atrium
Best beauty supply shop
1. Total Beauty Experience
2. Ulta
3. Sally Beauty Supply
Best place for a massage
1. Mellow Me Out, Hoshall’s and Images (tie)
2. Atrium and Esthetics by Jeanette (tie)
3. The Spa Simply Skin
Best place to buy art
1. Thomas Kinkade galleries
2. Ventana Art Gallery and Solomon Dubnick Gallery (tie)
3. Art Foundry Gallery and Z Gallerie (tie)
Best miniature golf
1. Scandia Family Fun Center
2. Golfland/SunSplash
Best attraction for kids
1. The Sacramento Zoo
2. Golfland/SunSplash
3. Six Flags Waterworld USA
RUNNERS-UP: Fairytale Town and Funderland
Best bath shop
1. Bath & Body Works
2. Bed Bath & Beyond
3. Linens N Things
RUNNER-UP: Calla Lily
Best place to buy eyewear
1. LensCrafters
2. Sunglass Hut
3. Costco Wholesale
RUNNER-UP: Veyes Dispensing Opticians
Best local sports team
1. Sacramento Kings
2. Sacramento River Cats
3. Sacramento Monarchs
Best local athlete (pro)
1. Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings
2. Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings
3. Mike Bibby, Sacramento Kings and Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings (tie)
RUNNERS-UP: Doug Christie, Sacramento Kings and Vlade Divac, Sacramento Kings
Best local athlete (amateur)
1. Stacy Dragila, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, Women’s Pole Vault
Best local public golf course
1. Haggin Oaks
2. Ancil Hoffman
3. Teal Bend
RUNNERS-UP: Wildhawk, William Land Park
Best grocery store
1. Raley’s/Bel Air
2. Safeway
3. Trader Joe’s
Runner-up: Corti Brothers
Best traffic reporter
1. Commander Bill, KGBY Y92.5/NewsTalk 1530 KFBK
2. Tina Macuha, UPN 31 KMAX
3. Jim Harris, California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Traffic Management Center
Runner-up: Dann Shively, KCRA Channel 3
Best car wash
1. Pavilions Car Wash
2. Harv’s Car Wash
3. Folsom Glenn Car Wash
RUNNERS-UP: Bob’s Car Wash, Five Star Car Wash, Gem Auto Wash
Best limo service
1. California Limousines
2. Neumann Enterprises
3. Barrett Executive Transportation
RUNNER-UP: Lakeshore Pacific Enterprises
Best resale/consignment shop
1. Renaissance, The Designer Consignor
2. Consign-It Home Furnishings and Crossroads Trading Co. (tie)
3. WEAVEWorks/WEAVE Thrift Store
Best men’s clothing shop
1. Nordstrom
2. Men’s Wearhouse
3. Bonney & Gordon
RUNNERS-UP: Macy’s, Patrick James and S. Benson & Co.
Best women’s clothing shop
1. Nordstrom
2. Macy’s
3. Talbots
Runner-up: Ann Taylor
Best regional winery
1. Boeger Winery, Bogle Vineyards and Renwood Winery (tie)
2. Ironstone Vineyards and RH Phillips Winery (tie)
3. Frasinetti Winery and Lava Cap Winery (tie)
Best hotel for an evening getaway
1. Hyatt Regency Sacramento
2. The Sterling Hotel
3. Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel
RUNNERS-UP: Embassy Suites and Radisson Hotel Sacramento
Best place to get married
1. Vizcaya
2. Church
3. McKinley Park
RUNNERS-UP: Capitol World Peace Rose Garden and Lake Tahoe
Best photography studio
1. Sirlin Photographers
2. Jensen Photography
3. McKay Photography and Bill Smith Photography (tie)
Best camera store
1. Pardee’s Cameras
2. Ritz Cameras
3. Filco Discount Center
RUNNER-UP: Action Camera
