Welcome to the BEST of Lexington 2001
The more things change…
No one wants to be unpopular. Through popularity comes acceptance. Acceptance leads to assimilation. Assimilation leads to bliss. We calm and reassure. We embrace people with the message that we’re all in it together and that there is nothing, absolutely nothing WRONG.
In 1997, that’s the quote we used to end our “welcome” to the inaugural edition of the Ace Best of Lexington Readers’ poll. It was from the defunct thirtysomething, and it was all about the “dance of advertising.” The episode revolved around Desert Storm, an ad campaign that got canceled because of a war protest, and what it was like NOT to be a Yankee Doodle Dandy in the midst of a national crisis.
Here it is five years later.
And in so many ways, it’s déjà vu all over again.
The more things change, the more they stay the same…
The “Best Local Band” in 1997 was a three way tie: the Metropolitan Blues All-Stars, Catawampus Universe, and the Yonders. All three are still alive and kicking in some form or fashion, though Catawampus Universe remains the most prolific.
Readers had begun bemoaning the loss of the Wrocklage – as they still are today. (If half as many people showed up there as voted for it, it’d be bigger than Bogart’s by now.)
Many winners in the 1997 food and drink category still maintain a significant presence in the local restaurant scene (and in the voting). Dudley’s, a la lucie, Common Grounds, and Natasha’s were all favorites in 1997, and remain just as popular today.
Gatewood tied with Ed McClanahan as most beloved local character. And you’ll see, one of ’em is back this year.
That said, there are many newcomers in this year’s list. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to visit them, listen to them, watch them or whatever’s appropriate.
This is the issue where the readers get their say.
So without further ado, let’s give the people what they want…
Arts and Entertainment
BEST ART GALLERY
Galerie Soleil
Loudoun House
Wingspan
BEST VISUAL ART EXHIBIT
Horse Mania
Nude 2001
Teahouse Exhibit at ArtsPlace
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER (ARTISTIC).
Forrest Payne
James Archambeault
Guy Mendes
BEST LOCAL PAINTER
Robert Tharsing
Paul Nowacki
Lawrence X. Tarpey
BEST BOOK BY A KENTUCKIAN
TIE: ‘Jayber Crow’ by Wendell Berry
‘Prodigal Summer’ by Barbara Kingsolver
Clay’s Quilt by Silas House
BEST LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTION
Vagina Monologues
Grand Night For Singing
Skin This
BEST PLACE TO SEE LIVE MUSIC
Lynagh’s
High on Rose
TIE: A1A and
Kentucky Theatre
BEST NEW LOCAL CD
The Hub’s ‘Complex Circuitry’
Little Miss Tammy Smith (as far as we know, Little Miss Tammy has not released a CD but let us know if we’re wrong)
Pontius Copilot’s Madagascar
BEST BAND DUE FOR A NATIONAL BREAKOUT
Supafuzz
Damn Rathers
Triple Thick (now known as Steggo)
BEST LOCAL SONGWRITER
Mike Tevis
George Glasscock
Mark Heidinger (the Hub)
Beauty, Health & Fitness
BEST HAIRDRESSER
Mark Lewis (Trademark Salon)
Troy (J. Allen)
Kendall’s
BEST MANICURE/PEDICURE
Hair & Now
Nail Perfection
Pam (Planet Salon)
BEST WAX JOB
Jenny King (Regis)
J. Allen
Nicole (Planet Salon)
Editor’s Note: Jeff’s Car Wash made a valiant showing here – but given the category (Beauty, Health & Fitness) – we didn’t mean THAT kind of wax job.
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Michele de Jesus
Kevin Balsirac
BEST GYM
Gold’s Gym
YMCA
Powerhouse
BEST PLACE TO BUY RUNNING/OUTDOOR GEAR
John’s Run/Walk
Phillip Gall’s
Dick’s Sporting Goods
BEST MASSAGE
Lexington’s Professional Massage Center
Chesney Turner
BEST PLASTIC SURGEON
Dr. Henry Vasconez at UK Medical Center
TIE: Dr. Sherwood Moore AND Dr. Andy Moore
(they’re brothers; they can fight it out)
Dr. Henry Wells
BEST LASER EYE SURGERY
Commonwealth Eye Surgery
Dr. William Offutt of the Eye Consultants of Kentucky
BEST SHRINK
Dr. Stephen Cox
TIE: Jane Brake, Ph.D, of The Woodland Group
and Carla Wolff, LCSW
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Rossi’s
TIE: Holly Hill Inn
Natasha’s (at least it’s in a new incarnation)
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Dudley’s
Portofino
Café Jennifer
BEST DATE RESTAURANT
a la lucie
Jonathan at Gratz Park
Emmett’s
BEST FANCY FINE DINING
Jonathan at Gratz Park
The Homestead
Emmett’s
BEST ETHNIC FARE
Natasha’s
Kashmir
Oasis
BEST BAR/RESTAURANT PATIO
Cheapside
Emmett’s
TIE: Dudley’s
Atomic Cafe
BEST CATERER
Phil Dunn
Scarborough Fare/Kate Savage/Bleu Ribbon
Donna Potter
BEST GOURMET CARRY-OUT
Phil’s on Romany
Scarborough Fare
Cosmo’s
BEST DIVE (hole in the wall)
Tolly Ho
Meadowthorpe Café
Stella’s
(In past years, not everyone has considered a win in this category an honor. We used to call it “best greasy spoon,” but that just made the “winners” more angry. Everybody loves a good dive though, or as some readers prefer to describe them, “an undiscovered treasure.”)
BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE
Emmett’s
The Homestead
Jonathan at Gratz Park
BEST VEGGIE-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT
Alfalfa’s
Natasha’s
Desert Moon
BEST ROLE MODEL FOR A LEXINGTON RESTAURANT
Zola (Nashville)
Fressen (NYC)
Zen Palate (NYC)
BEST KY BOURBON
Labrot & Graham’s Woodford Reserve
Blanton’s
Maker’s Mark
BEST COSMOPOLITAN
Jonathan at Gratz Park
Pacific Pearl
Oscar’s
BEST PLACE TO SHOP FOR WINE
Thoroughbred Shop
Le Matin Wine Cellar
Liquor Barn
BEST COFFEE HOUSE
Common Grounds
Café at Joseph Beth
Cosmo’s
The Goods
BEST AUTO DEALER
Don Jacobs on Nicholasville
Quantrell Volvo
Paul Miller
BEST USED/NEIGHBORHOOD BOOKSTORE
Black Swan Books
Sqecial Media
Glover’s Bookery
BEST/MOST DIVERSE LOCAL RECORD STORE
CD Central
Pop’s Resale
Spy Records
BEST PET STORE
Petsmart
Incredipet
MVP
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING
Isle of You
Bella Rose
AJ’s Casuals
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING
Banana Republic
Eddie Bauer
J Crew
(Almost all voting in this category went to chains/mall stores. Many votes were accompanied by handwritten complaints about the dearth of men’s clothing options in this town.
Just to let you niche-seeking, fashion-forward entrepreneurs know.)
BEST ECLECTIC/ARTSY/FUNKY JEWELRY
Black Market
David Hungerford Goldsmiths
Artique
BEST FINE JEWELRY
Shelia’s Fine Jewelry
Farmer’s Jewelry
David Hungerford Goldsmiths
BEST CONTEMPORARY/MODERN FURNISHINGS
Modern Details
Alteriors Unique Imports
Medusa
BEST ANTIQUES
Thompson & Riley
Baldwin
January
BEST PLACE TO SHOP FOR PERSON W/ EVERYTHING
Artique
Natasha’s
Black Market
BEST PLACE TO BUY A BABY GIFT
Babies R Us
Animal Crackers
Zany Brainy
BEST PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING GIFT
Williams Sonoma
The Galleria
TIE: Crystal on Vine
Linens Limited
BEST STORE YOU WISH LEXINGTON HAD
Pottery Barn
Sex & City
MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR
Sticky
Ben VanMeter
Bill Meeks
MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELORETTE
Jennifer Nime
Holly on Z103 [not currently on air]
Rhonda Reeves
BEST POWER COUPLE
TIE: Alan and Kathy Stein
Gurney Norman (author) and Nyoka Hawkins (Old Cove Press)
Brian and Kathleen Collins
SEXIEST LOCAL BAND
The Hub
The Hangovers
Brother’s Keeper
SEXIEST LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR (MALE)
Marvin Bartlett
Scott Padgett
(not really fair – he’s usually a meteorologist)
SEXIEST LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR (FEMALE)
Jennifer Nime
Alexa Gromko
Nancy Cox
SEXIEST RADIO PERSONALITY (MALE)
Sticky (Z103)
Andy Mason (WRFL)
Freakdaddy (Z103)
SEXIEST RADIO PERSONALITY (FEMALE)
Holly (Z103) [not currently on air]
Suzy (Z103)
Ann Deck (WUKY)
SEXIEST ELECTED OFFICIAL
Ernesto Scorsone
Bill Farmer
BEST HEALTH CLUB/GYM (TO MEET A MATE)
Gold’s Gym
TIE: Powerhouse
Lexington Athletic Club
BEST BAR (TO MEET A MATE)
Cheapside
Atomic Café
A1A
Services
BEST ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
Tate/Hill/Jacobs Architects
GBBN
Johnson/Romanowitz
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Richard Kimbrel
Cathy Burgess Interiors
Linda Roberts
BEST BANK
First Security
Bank of the Bluegrass
5/3
BEST VETERINARIAN
Eric Headley @ Chevy Chase Small Animal Clinic
Romany Road Animal Clinic
Remmele
BEST PLUMBER
Tommy Taylor
John Estes
Hunter Plumbing
BEST LAW FIRM
Stites & Harbison
Stoll, Keenon & Park
Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs
BEST TATOO ARTIST
Charlotta (Tatoo Charlie’s)
Robert Alleyne (Skinfinity)
Renee Mikell (Skinfinity)
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
Commonwealth
Avant Travel
AAA
BEST FLORIST
E. Stephen Hein
Michlers
Chase Clark
BEST CPA
Greg Mullins (Potter and Co.)
Jenny Dulworth at Dulworth, Breeding, & Karns
BEST BROKER
Betsy Brooks Bulleit at Hilliard Lyons
J.C. Bradford
Carl Schreiber
BEST REALTOR
Jim McKeighan at Turf Town
Gina G. Re/Max Creative Realty
Linda Wilson
BEST MECHANIC
Lowell’s
Rotary Connection
Steve at Perfect Auto
BEST ISP
QX.NET
Open World
BEST CELL SERVICE PROVIDER
Cingular
SunCom
Verizon
Local Color
BEST BELOVED CHARACTER/PERSONALITY
Gatewood Galbraith
Sue Wylie
Anita Madden
BEST CELEB W/ KY ROOTS
Ashley Judd
George Clooney
Johnny Depp
BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO DOWNTOWN
Farmers’ Market
Horsemania
Keeping Vine Street
BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN YOU LOVE TO HATE
Scott Crosbie
Pam Miller
BEST COUNCIL MEMBER
Bill Farmer
Scott Crosbie
BEST STATE LEGISLATOR
Kathy Stein
Ernesto Scorsone (not currently in office)
BEST IDEA YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE W/ LFUCG
Build Bikepaths
More lanes on Richmond Road
BEST/MOST RESPONSIBLE LOCAL DEVELOPER
Oxymoron
BEST TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION PROJECT YOU CAN’T WAIT TO SEE COMPLETED
Rose St./UK Hospital
Courthouse
Limestone
Media
BEST PUBLIC ACCESS SHOW
Off the Air
Woodsongs (radio and webcast)
BEST NEW LOCAL WEBSITE
www.Brainsonfilm.com
www.electrictoiletbrush.com
www.karmastudios.net
BEST EVENING NEWSCAST
WLEX 18
FOX 56
WKYT 27
(While the Daily Show made a valiant showing in this category, it is definitively not local.)
BEST LOCAL METEOROLOGIST
Brian Collins
Scott Padgett
T.G. Shuck
BEST LOCAL RADIO TALK SHOW
Sue Wylie (WVLK)
Curtains at Eight (WUKY)
Freakshow (Z103)
(While the Freakshow isn’t talk-radio per se, they do, in fact, talk – often quite a bit – on the show. And since voting was so heavy for them, we didn’t think it fair to disqualify them.)
BEST LOCAL SPORTS REPORTER
Tom Leach
Rob Bromley
Jeff Zurcher
BEST OBSCURE ‘ZINE
‘Eugene’
BEST ACE COVER STORY IN LAST YEAR
Honky Tonk Diva
Worst of Lexington
BEST ACE COVER IN LAST YEAR
Honky Tonk Diva
UFOs in Crab Orchard
Moms and Work
BEST TOPIC YOU WISH ACE WOULD COVER
Arts/Downtown
Development Issues
Fayette County Public Schools
