Ottawa XPress - Best of Ottawa 2009

Ottawa XPress
September 2nd, 2010

	Hit List
	Community Garden
	Picture This [4]

	Fall Cultural Preview: Music
	Kid Koala

	Going the Distance
	Fall Cultural Preview: Film
	Love Ranch

Fall Cultural Preview: Theatre

Fall Cultural Preview: Visual arts

Fall Cultural Preview: Books

La Terrasse

The Best of Ottawa Awards recognizes the people, places and things
that make the National Capital a great place to live.

RESULTS ARE IN!
Best of Ottawa 2009: Results

Read also:
Best of Ottawa '09 photos

1. FOOD & DRINK

Best African
Kasbah Village Moroccan Cuisine (261 Laurier)
Horn of Africa (364 Rideau)
Eri Café (953 Somerset)
East African Restaurant (376 Rideau)
La Gazelle (33B Gamelin, Gatineau)
Chez Fatima (125 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Blue Nile (577 Gladstone)
Zam Zam (111 Mann)
Other

Best all-you-can-eat
Ceylonta (2920 Carling)
Light of India (730 Bank)
Green Earth Vegetarian Cuisine (lunch buffet) (354A Preston)
Jean Albert's (1759 Reids Mills, Hallville)
Govinda's (212 Somerset)
East India Company (210 Somerset)
Nagina (217 Rideau)
Moni Mahal Buffet (164 Laurier)
1000 Sushi Islands (1696 Carling)
Coconut Lagoon (853 St. Laurent)
Haveli (39 Clarence)
Sushi Kan (1440 Merivale)
Chez Fatima (125 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Other

Best appetizers/tapas
222 Lyon (222 Lyon)
Petit Bill's Bistro (1293 Wellington)
The Moonroom (442 Preston)
Zen Kitchen (634 Somerset W.)
Murray Street Restaurant (110 Murray)
Allium (87 Holland)
The Manx (370 Elgin)
E18hteen Restaurant and Bar (18 York)
Oz Kafé (361 Elgin)
Urban Pear (151 Second)
A'roma Meze (239 Nepean)
Mambo (77 Clarence)
107 Fourth Avenue Wine Bar (107 Fourth)
Other

Best bakery
B.Goods (Byward Market)
Boko Bakery (280 Elgin)
Brown Loaf (264 Elgin)
Auntie Loo's Treats (507 Bronson)
Golden Baguette Bakery (240 Bank)
Ichiban Bakery (1490 Bank)
Bread & Sons (195 Bank)
Le Pain d'Alain (53 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
Philouze (811 St. René W., Gatineau)
Aux Deux Frères (146 Principale, Gatineau)
Pâtisserie Fidélice (both locations, Gatineau)
Three Bakers and a Bike (1281A Wellington)
Harvest Loaf (all locations)
The French Baker (all locations)
Art-is-in Bakery (all locations)
Middle East Bakery (all locations)
Kettleman's Bagel (all locations)
Three Tarts Bakers (1320 Wellington)
Le Moulin de Provence (55 Byward Market Square)
Pipolinka (8 Valley, Wakefield)
Rideau Bakery (384 Rideau)
The Wild Oat Bakery (817 Bank)
Other

Best bistro
Atomic Rooster (303 Bank)
Oz Kafé (361 Elgin)
The Black Cat (428 Preston)
Allium (87 Holland)
Fraser Café (143 Putnam)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Bistro St. Jacques (51 St. Jacques, Gatineau)
Bistro Auténtika (199 Montcalm, Gatineau)
Trio (307D Richmond)
The Wellington Gastropub (1325 Wellington)
Absinthe (1208 Wellington)
Jak's Kitchen (479 Bronson)
Benitz Bistro (327 Somerset)
Fresco Bistro Italiano (354 Elgin)
Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)
Other

Best brunch
Maxwell's Bistro & Club (340 Elgin)
Lieutenant's Pump (361 Elgin)
Chelsea Pub (238 Old Chelsea, Chelsea)
The Wild Oat Bakery (817 Bank)
Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Imperial Food & Beverages (329 Bank)
Cora's (all locations)
Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)
Jak's Kitchen (479 Bronson)
Wilfrid's Restaurant (1 Rideau)
Stoneface Dolly's (416 Preston)
Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)
Von's Bistro (819 Bank)
Black Tomato (11 George)
Memories Café (7 Clarence)
Other

Best burger
Must Wine Bar & Tapas (41 William)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
The Works (all locations)
Imperial Food & Beverages (329 Bank)
Mello's (290 Dalhousie St.)
Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Hino (1013 Wellington)
Zak's Diner (14 Byward Market Square)
Fraser Café (143 Putman)
Le Twist Café (88 Montcalm, Gatineau)
Other

Best catering
The Whalesbone Oyster House (504A Kent)
Epicuria (419 Mackay)
Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)
Thyme & Again (1255 Wellington)
D & S Southern Comfort BBQ (6501 Russell)
Dish Catering (119 Ross)
Other

Best up-and-coming restaurant
Murray Street (110 Murray)
Zen Kitchen (634 Somerset W.)
Must Wine Bar & Tapas (41 William)
Atelier (540 Rochester)
Play Food & Wine (1 York)
The Moonroom (442 Preston)
Imperial Food & Beverages (329 Bank)
Lyna le Sushi (740 Maloney E., Gatineau)
The Black Cat (428 Preston)
Navarra (93 Murray)
Other

Best cheap eats
Olga's Delights (588 Bank)
Golden Baguette Bakery (240 Bank)
Ikea (2685 Iris)
Green Earth Vegetarian Cuisine (lunch buffet) (354A Preston)
Costco (1100 Maloney, Gatineau)
Zam Zam (111 Mann)
Pho Bo Ga (all locations)
German Town Deli (212 Slater)
Ahora (307 Dalhousie)
Govinda Vegetarian Buffet (212 Somerset)
Peace Garden Café (47 Clarence)
DiRienzo's Grocery (111 Beech)
Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)
Other

Best Chinese
Shanghai Restaurant (651 Somerset)
Golden Palace (2195 Carling)
Mekong (637 Somerset)
Golden Baguette Bakery (240 Bank)
May's Garden (122 Preston)
So Good Restaurant (717 Somerset)
Palais Imperial Chinese Restaurant (313 Dalhousie)
Royal Treasure Restaurant (774 Somerset)
Yangtze Dining Lounge (700 Somerset)
Jadeland (625 Somerset)
Other

Best chip wagon
S&G Fries (Carling/Maitland)
Sasha's (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York)
Pataterie Hulloise (311 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
The Chip Wagon (Bank/Sunnyside)
The Blooming Onion (York/Dalhousie)
JP's Chip Stand (Merivale)
Tzan's Chip Wagon (Bank/Laurier)
Glen's Chip Wagon (Richmond/Kirkwood)
Fritomania (St. Joseph/Orleans)
Other

Best tea/coffee house
I Deal Coffee (176 Dalhousie)
The Tea Store (53 York)
Bridgehead (all locations)
Brûlerie Café Aladdin (470 Gréber, Gatineau)
La Brûlerie (152 Montcalm, Gatineau)
Bubblicity (all locations)
Planet Coffee (24 York)
Morala Specialty Coffee (734 Bank)
The Tea Party (119 York)
Temptation Tea Shop (324 Bank)
Caffe Ventuno - Il Negozio Nicastro (1355 Wellington)
Moca Loca (all locations)
Other

Best cozy nook
Avant-Garde Bar (135 Besserer)
Café Gaia (both locations, Gatineau)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Imperial Food & Beverages (329 Bank)
La Dolce Vita (180 Preston)
The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room (690 Lyon)
Whalesbone (430 Bank)
Aunt Olive's (209 Gilmour)
The Tea Party (119 York)
Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Other

Best deli
Luciano's (106 Preston)
La P'tite Épicerie du Quartier (158 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
La Bottega (64 George)
Nate's Deli (316 Rideau)
Olga's Delights (588 Bank)
Sausage Kitchen (5 Byward Market Square)
Budapest Delicatessen (54 Byward Market Square)
Nicastro's (all locations)
DiRienzo's Grocery (111 Beech)
Other

Best dessert
Aux Délices Boulangerie & Patisserie (32 Byward Market Square)
Three Tarts Bakers (1320 Wellington)
Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington)
Auntie Loo's Treats (507 Bronson)
Stoneface Dolly's (416 Preston)
Maison Chaloin (540 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
Pâtisserie Fidélice (both locations, Gatineau)
Memories Restaurant (7 Clarence)
Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)
Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston)
Oh So Good (25 York)
Three Bakers and a Bike (1281A Wellington)
Cakes by Tatiana (1202 Bank)
Other

Best diner
Ada's Diner (510 Bank)
Zak's Diner (14 Byward Market Square)
Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)
Mayflower (247 Elgin)
La Station (611 St-Joseph, Gatineau)
Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)
Mello's Diner (290 Dalhousie)
Fil's Diner (1205 Wellington)
John's Diner (Hintonburg)
Dunn's Famous Deli (220 Elgin)
Other

Best farmers' market
Ottawa Organic Farmers' Market (Bank/Heron)
Ottawa Farmers' Market (Lansdowne)
Byward Market
Parkdale Market
Le Marché du Vieux-Hull (Gatineau)
Carp Farmers' Market
Wakefield Farmers' Market
Other

Best French
L'Orée du Bois (15 Kingsmere, Chelsea)
Les Fougères Restaurant (783 Route 105, Chelsea)
Le Saint-O (327 St. Laurent)
Le Panaché (201 Eddy, Gatineau)
Metropolitan Brasserie (700 Sussex)
Le Tartuffe (133 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
Fleur de Sel/L'Argoät (59 Laval, Gatineau)
L'Aubergine (138 Wellington, Gatineau)
Other

Best Greek
Greek Souvlaki House (1200 Prince of Wales)
Dolmades (460 Bronson)
A'roma Meze (239 Nepean)
Greek on Wheels (all locations)
Theo's Greek Taverna (911 Richmond)
Pilos Restaurant (876 Montreal)
Other

Best ice cream/gelato
La Cigale (241 Old Chelsea, Chelsea)
Pure Gelato (350 Elgin)
Truffle Treasures (all locations)
Pascale's All-Natural Ice Cream (all locations)
Piccolo Grande (all locations)
Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston)
Malak Lebanese Pastry (1216 Bank)
Other

Best South Asian
Coconut Lagoon (853 St. Laurent)
Light of India (730 Bank)
East India Company (210 Somerset)
Aahar (727 Churchill)
Ceylonta (403 Somerset)
Haveli (39 Clarence)
Taj Mahal (925 Bank)
Other

Best Italian
Mamma Teresa Ristorante (300 Somerset)
La Dolce Vita (180 Preston)
Giovanni's (362 Preston)
Arturo's Market (49 Beechwood)
Chianti (160 Metcalfe)
Bella's (all locations)
Carmello's (all locations)
Johnny Farina's (216 Elgin)
Il Primo Ristorante (371 Preston)
Il Piccolino (449 Preston)
Caffe Ventuno - Il Negozio Nicastro (1355 Wellington)
Mamma Grazzi's (25 George)
Vittoria Trattoria (35 William)
Other

Best Japanese
Sushi 88 (690B Somerset)
Genji (175 Lisgar)
MHK Sushi (1519 Merivale)
Kinki (41 York)
Suisha Gardens/Kaedeya Mart (208-210 Slater)
Ichibei (197 Bank)
Japanese Village (170 Laurier)
Hino (1013 Wellington)
Wasabi (41 Clarence)
Other

Best Korean
Seoul House (601 Somerset)
Kwon's Korean BBQ (332 Wilbrod)
Joy (315 Somerset)
Soora (610 Somerset W.)
Kochu (361 Elgin)
Korea Garden (470 Rideau)
Miga (399 Bank)
Arum (512 Bank)
Alirang (134 Nelson)
Other

Best Mexican/South American
Pancho Villa (361 Elgin)
Feleena's (742 Bank)
Mexicali Rosa's (1800 Bank)
Ahora (307 Dalhousie)
Agave Grill (1331 Wellington)
Azteca (41 William)
La Cabana (848 Merivale)
Other

Best Middle Eastern
Jericho (840 Bank)
Maroush (all locations)
Les Grillades (85 Holland)
Saffron Restaurant (426 Rideau)
Persian Cuisine Express (340 Laurier)
Middle East Bakery (all locations)
Other

Best natural food store
Rainbow Foods (1487 Richmond)
Market Organics (126 York)
Herb & Spice (both locations)
Natural Food Pantry (both locations)
La Boîte à Grains (both locations)
The Wheat Berry (206 Main)
The Wild Oat (817 Bank)
Other

Best patio
Arrow & The Loon (99 Fifth)
Pancho Villa (361 Elgin)
Dominion Tavern (33 York)
Pub Italia (434 Preston)
The Grand Pizzeria & Bar (74 George)
The Blackthorn Café (15 Clarence)
The Courtyard (The Black Tomato, Mamma Grazzi's, The Courtyard Restaurant, Social, Helsinki)
Elgin Street Courtyard (The Lieutenant's Pump/Oz Kafé/Pancho Villa)
The Irish Village (67 Clarence)
Kinki (41 York)
Milestones (700 Sussex)
Métropolitain Brasserie (700 Sussex)
Feleena's (742 Bank)
Sweetgrass (108 Murray)
Le Twist (88 Montcalm)
Other

Best pizza
Louis Pizza (181 McArthur, Vanier)
Bread & Sons Bakery (195 Bank)
La Dolce Vita (180 Preston)
Forno Antico (683 Bronson)
The Grand Pizzeria & Bar (74 George)
Colonnade (all locations)
Gabriel's (all locations)
Bronson Pizza (368A Bronson)
Pavarazzi's (443 Somerset W.)
Johnny's Pizza (233 Laurier E.)
House of Georgie and Sorento's (211 Gilmour)
Calabria (193 Bell N.)
Cheezy Pizza (World Exchange Plaza)
Piz'za-za (36 Laval, Gatineau)
Other

Best poutine
The Works (all locations)
The Chip Wagon (Bank & Sunnyside)
Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)
Sasha's (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York)
Fast Food Grocery (Bank/MacLaren)
La Patate Dorée (153 Eddy, Gatineau)
La Pataterie Hulloise (311 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
Other

Best pub
Irene's (885 Bank)
Quinn's (1070 Bank)
D'Arcy McGee's (44 Sparks)
The Clock Tower Brew Pub (575 Bank)
Chelsea Pub (238 Old Chelsea, Chelsea)
The Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Pub Italia (434 Preston)
The Prescott (379 Preston)
Irish Village (67 Clarence)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Wellington Gastropub (1325 Wellington)
The Wood (1237 Wellington)
Barley Mow (1060 Bank)
Patty's (1186 Bank)
Other

Best romantic restaurant
Black Tomato (11 George)
Absinthe (1208 Wellington)
Savana Café (431 Gilmour)
Black Cat Bistro (428 Preston)
Oz Kafé (361 Elgin)
Sweetgrass (108 Murray)
Domus Café (85 Murray)
Fleur de Sel/L'Argoät (59 Laval, Gatineau)
L'Orée du Bois (15 Kingsmere, Chelsea)
Juniper (245 Richmond)
Urban Pear (151 Second)
Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)
Le Tartuffe (133 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
Signatures (453 Laurier, Cordon Bleu)
Other

Best sandwich
Olga's (588 Bank)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Lunch (121 Bank)
Arturo's Market (49 Beechwood)
Luciano's (106 Preston)
La Bottega (64 George)
DiRienzo's Grocery (111 Beech)
The Village Café (295 Richmond)
Harvest Loaf (all locations)
Gooney's Sandwich Works (360 Laurier)
Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)
Aunt Olive's (209 Gilmour)
La Petite Épicerie du Quartier (158 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
Other

Best seafood
Pelican Grill (1500 Bank)
LaPointe's (all locations)
Whalesbone Oyster House (430 Bank)
Merivale Fish Market & Seafood Grill (1480 Merivale)
Other

Best shawarma
Maroush (380 Elgin)
Shawarma Palace (464 Rideau)
Shawarma King (all locations)
Civic Shawarma (915 Bank)
Istanbouli (33 Richmond)
Really Lebanese Garlic King (321 Dalhousie)
Other

Best splurge
Sweetgrass (108 Murray)
The Urban Pear (151 Second)
Play Food & Wine (1 York)
Murray Street (110 Murray)
Atelier (540 Rochester)
Beckta (226 Nepean)
Social (537 Sussex)
Perspectives (525 Legget, Kanata)
Whalesbone (430 Bank)
Le Baccara (Casino du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau)
Les Fougères (783 Route 105, Chelsea)
Juniper Kitchen (245 Richmond)
E18hteen (18 York)
Signatures by Le Cordon Bleu (453 Laurier E.)
Benitz Bistro (327 Somerset)
Domus Café (85 Murray)
Other

Best sushi
Takara ( 366 Dalhousie)
Lyna le Sushi (740 Maloney E., Gatineau)
Sushi 88 (690B Somerset)
Sushi Umi (1311 Wellington)
Wasabi (41 Clarence)
Kinki (41 York)
MHK Sushi (all locations)
Suisha Gardens (208 Slater)
Fuji Sushi (163B Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Genji (175 Lisgar)
Other

Best take-out
The Red Apron (all locations)
Lunch (121 Bank)
Lyna le Sushi (740 Maloney E., Gatineau)
Café Gaïa (both locations, Gatineau)
Indian Express Food & Sweets (1104 Somerset W.)
Greek on Wheels (all locations)
Temptation Tea Shop (324 Bank)
Sushi Go + Tea Express (48 Byward Market Square)
Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington)
Other

Best Thai
Royal Thai (272 Dalhousie)
Coriander Thai (282 Kent)
Som Tum Thai (260 Nepean)
Pookies (2280 Carling)
Sacred Garden Vegetarian Thai (1300 Bank)
Hot Peppers (495 Somerset W.)
Nokham Thai (747 Richmond)
Bangkok Thai Garden (370 Dalhousie)
Sweet Basil (1585 Bank)
Anna Thai (91 Holland)
Khao Thai (103 Murray)
Siam Kitchen (1050 Bank)
Soupçon (759 Riverside, Wakefield)
Siam Bistro (1268 Wellington)
Chez Le Thaï (31 Laval, Gatineau)
Green Papaya (both locations)
Other

Best vegetarian
The Peace Garden Café (47 Clarence)
Sacred Garden (1300 Bank)
Zen Kitchen (634 Somerset W.)
So Good (717 Somerset W.)
Café Gaïa (both locations, Gatineau)
Green Earth Vegetarian Cuisine (lunch buffet) (354A Preston)
Green Door (198 Main)
Café Soup'Herbe (168 Old Chelsea, Chelsea)
Fleur de Sel/L'Argoät (59 Laval, Gatineau)
Perfection, Satisfaction, Promise (167 Laurier E.)
The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room (690 Lyon)
Fleur de Sel (59 Laval, Gatineau)
Govinda's (121 Somerset)
The Table (1230 Wellington)
Other

Best Vietnamese/pho
Cam Kong (726 Somerset)
Pho Bo Ga (all locations)
New Mee Fung (350 Booth)
Pho Thi (1691 Merivale)
Springroll House Café (1093 Wellington)
Golden Turtle (343 Booth)
Vietnam Noodle House (706 Somerset)
New Pho Bo Ga La (763 Somerset W.)
Café Indochine (105B Clarence)
Sweet Art (309 Dalhousie)
Pho Mi Bo Ga (2430 Bank)
Other

Best wings
Minglewoods (101 York)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
The Cock 'n' Bull Pub & Eatery (3791 Richmond)
Carleton Tavern (223 Armstrong)
Wild Wings (1263 Donald)
Highlander Pub (115 Rideau)
The Clock Tower Brew Pub (575 Bank)
Local Heroes (all locations)
Honest Lawyer (141 George)
Lonestar Texas Grill (780 Baseline)
St. Louis Bar & Grill (399 Elgin)
Quinn's Ale House (1070 Bank)
Other

Best watering hole
Dominion Tavern (33 York)
The Carleton Tavern (223 Armstrong)
Elmdale House Tavern (1084 Wellington W.)
Avant-Garde (135 Besserer)
The Manx (370 Elgin)
The Royal Oak (all locations)
Other

2. ARTS & CULTURE

Best alternative to a multiplex movie theatre
Café Ex (Club SAW)
Rainbow Theatre
Canadian Film Institute
Cinema Politica (Ottawa U)
ByTowne Cinema
Mayfair Theatre
Centretown Movies (summer only)
Ottawa Film Society (Rideau)
IFCO @ Mercury Lounge
Other

Best art gallery (besides the National Gallery of Canada!)
Ottawa Art Gallery (2 Daly)
Cube Gallery (7 Hamilton)
Canteen Art Shop & Gallery (238 Dalhousie)
Dale Smith Gallery (137 Beechwood)
SAW Gallery (2 Daly)
Artguise (590 Bank)
Blink Gallery (Major's Hill Park)
Gallery 101 (236 Nepean)
Gallery 3 (1281B Wellington)
La Petite Mort (306 Cumberland)
CUAG (Carleton University)
Axenéo7 (80 Hanson, Gatineau)
Daïmõn (78 Hanson, Gatineau)
Other

Best dance performance in 2009
Susanna Hood/Le Groupe Dance Lab
Rubberband Dance Group
605 Collective @ Hip Hop 360
Dancing Through Cultures/Canada Dance
Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theatre
LIFT by Propeller Dance
The Reins by Tedd Robinson
Dark Matters by Kidd Pivot
Other

Best festival of 2009
House of PainT 2009
Westfest
GAGA Weekend
Chamber Music Festival
Festival de l'Outaouais Émergent
Scribology
Magnetic North Theatre Festival
BC Scene
O-Town Hoedown
Reggae Fest
Kelp Records 15-Year Anniversary
Carivibe
Ottawa Folk Festival
I (Heart) Music Mini-Festival
Bluesfest
Ladyfest Ottawa
International Jazz Festival
Ottawa International Animation Festival
Pride 2009
Reggae Fest
Ottawa Fringe Festival
Winterlude
Ottawa International Writers Festival (both editions)
Other

Best film by a local filmmaker in 2009
King of Magazines by Nick Cross and Dave Cooper
Smash Cut by Lee Demarbre
Sith Academy: Class of '87 by Robert Baldwin
Hank & Mike by Paulo Mancini and Thomas Michael
In the Moment by Sandra Chwialkowska
Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero by Lee Demarbre
Other

Best film festival of 2009
One World Film Festival
European Union Film Festival
Ottawa International Animation Festival
BoxcART Film Fest
Silents Is Golden (silent films with live bands @ Mayfair)
Ottawa Film Festival
Festival du Film de l'Outaouais
Latin American Film Festival
IFCO Shorts (summer)
IFCO Winter Gala
International Silent Film Festival
Other

Best folk/country album/EP of 2009
Leif Vollebekk, Inland
Sarah Hallman, Likely
90 Pounds Of Ugly, Richmond Motel Room #3
The Kingmakers, Tupelo to Memphis
Ray Harris, East End, West End, South End, North End
Other

Best live music show of 2009
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings @ Bluesfest
Sam Roberts @ Bluesfest
Wanda Jackson & The Lustre Kings @ Elmdale House Tavern
Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Bluesfest
King Khan & The Shrines @ Bluesfest
Bahamas, Amy Millan @ Zaphod's
K'naan @ Bluesfest
Tuneyards & Think About Life @ Babylon
Girl Talk @ Bluesfest
Leonard Cohen @ NAC
Bruce Cockburn @ Folk Fest
The Balconies @ The Black Sheep Inn
Recloose @ Mercury Lounge
KISS @ Bluesfest
Dead Weather @ Bluesfest
Black Mountain @ BC Scene
Lee Scratch Perry @ Bluesfest (Byward Market)
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble @ Mercury Lounge
The Idlers @ Mercury Lounge
White Wires @ The Polish Hall
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble @ Babylon
Other

Best lounge
Le Petit Chicago (50 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Trio Lounge (307 Richmond)
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward)
Avant-Garde Bar (135 Besserer)
Foundation (18B York)
Other

Best new musical artist/group
The Balconies
Converters
Giant Hand
The Girlfriends
Jill Zmud
StrayOtic
Winchester Warm
Chris Page
The Big Bend
Butch Bouchard
Boyscout Killers
NOAH
The Fays
Organ Eyes
Cold Coffee And Salty Boots
Other

Best night out
Rock 'n' Roll Pizza Party (Atomic Rooster)
Techcetera @ The Freehouse (Elgin)
One Night Stands @ La Petite Mort
Guerrilla Gay Bar/Faire (all locations)
Muyafrofunke @ Mercury Lounge
Spins and Needles (different locations)
Cinema Politica @ University of Ottawa
Disorganised @ Babylon
Retro '80s Night @ Barrymore's
Sunday's Mod Club @ Babylon
Industrial Strength @ Zaphod's
Timekode @ Eri Café or Mercury Lounge
Other

Best place to hear live music
National Arts Centre (53 Elgin)
Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield)
Zaphod's (27 York)
Elmdale House Tavern (1084 Wellington W.)
Babylon (317 Bank)
Capital Music Hall (128 York)
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square)
The Rainbow (76 Murray)
Mavericks (221 Rideau)
Avant-Garde Bar (135-1/2 Besserer)
First Baptist Church (140 Laurier)
Irene's (885 Bank)
The Bronson Centre (211 Bronson)
Le Petit Chicago (50 Portage, Gatineau)
Café Dekcuf (221 Rideau)
Other

Best punk/metal/hard rock band of 2009
Buried Inside
Holy Cobras
Brights
Germ Attak
Alaskan
Sedatives
Tokyo Sex Whale
The Creeps
Gunsmoke
Year Zero
Other

Best punk/metal/hard rock album/EP of 2009
Buried Inside, Spoils of Failure
The Visitors, Tropic of Cancer
Germ Attak, They Live We Sleep
The Creeps, These Walls
Sedatives, s/t
Suppositories, Moments of Square Violence
The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol, Superficial Marks
Other

Best rock/pop/dance/other band of 2009
White Wires
The Balconies
Andrew Vincent
StrayOtic
NOAH
Giant Hand
Other

Best rock/pop/dance/other album/EP of 2009
Giant Hand, Coming Home
40 Watt Monkey, The Oshawa Tree
The Balconies, The Balconies
The Hundreds And Thousands, The Hundreds And Thousands
Ken Workman & The Union, Ken Workman & The Union
John Allaire, Up Hill. Both Ways
Jim Bryson, Live @ the First Baptist Church
Andrew Vincent, Rotten Pear
NOAH, Human Geometry
Monkey Junk, Tiger in Your Tank
StrayOtic, StrayOtic
Doll, Inside the Dollhouse
Liar's Rosebush, Thank-you Machines
Amanda Rheaume, Kiss Me Back
Other

Best theatrical performance in 2009
The Pillowman (Vision Theatre)
Old Times (Third Wall)
My Name Is Rachel Corrie (Vision Theatre)
Countries Shaped Like Stars (¡Mi Casa!)
Noises Off (The Gladstone)
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (Writers Fest)
Coma Unplugged (GCTC)
A Midwinter's Dream Tale (Company of Fools)
Eddie Get Your Gun (Eddie May Mystery Theatre)
The Girl Who Was Eaten by the Dark (Ottawa Stilt Union)
The Blue Dragon (NAC)
Billy Twinkle (NAC)
Belle Moral (NAC)
Buried Child (NAC)
Meta Schmeta (Arts Court)
Other

Best visual arts exhibit of 2009
Megan Haughian @ La Petite Mort
Jonathan Hobin's MOtherGoose @ Dale Smith Gallery
Animal House: Works of Art Made by Animals @ SAW Gallery
Little Legs @ Gallery 101
Gerald Trottier @ Cube Gallery
Kirsten McCrea @ Canteen Gallery
Scott McFarland @ NAG
Beat Nation @ SAW Gallery
Camouflage @ War Museum
Tim desClouds @ Gallery 3
Julian Garner @ Wurm Gallery
Festival Karsh (citywide)
Other

Best work of fiction/non-fiction/poetry by local writer
Dear Sylvia by Alan Cumyn
Noble Gas by David O'Meara
The Local Cluster by Colin Morton
Character Actor by Scott Randall
Eva's Threepenny Theatre by Andrew Steinmetz
When Jupiter's Aligned With Mars by Bill Brown
Soft Where by Marcus McCann
Egg on Mao by Denise Chong
Life Without Death: The Cinema Of Frank Cole edited by Tom McSorley, Mike Hoolboom
Chase & Haven by Mike Blouin
Alberta Dispatch by Rob McLennan
Other

3. AROUND TOWN

Best art supplies
Wallack's (all locations)
The Sassy Bead Company (all locations)
Artguise (590 Bank)
Other

Best bar staff
Lieutenant's Pump (361 Elgin)
Lago (Dow's Lake)
The Lookout (41 York)
Zaphod's (27 York)
Manx (370 Elgin)
Clock Tower (89 Clarence)
Babylon (317 Bank)
Elmdale House Tavern (1084 Wellington)
Barrymore's (323 Bank)
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square)
Dominion Tavern (33 York)
Helsinki (15 George)
Avant-Garde (135 Besserer)
Heaven (400 Dalhousie)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Other

Best beauty salon/spa
Amalfi (Rideau Centre)
Salon Salwa (70 George)
Shear and Spa Studio (1266 Wellington)
Le Spa (429 MacLaren)
Le Nordik Scandinavian Spa (16 Nordik, Chelsea)
York Street Spa (11 York)
Westboro Spa and Hair Studio (455 Churchill)
Saab (376 Bank)
Bliss Beauty Club (333 Laurier)
Other

Best bike shop
Full Cycle (427 St. Laurent)
Fresh Air Experience (1291 Wellington)
Foster's Sports Centre (305 Bank)
Bicyclettes de Hull (675 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
Pecco's (both locations)
Bushtuktah (Richmond)
Foster's Sports Centre (305 Bank)
Joe Momma's (216 Pretoria)
The Bike Dump (407 Catherine)
McCrank's Cycle (889 Bank)
Cycle Logik (358 Richmond)
Cyco's (5 Hawthorne)
Phat Moose (98 Hawthorne)
Other

Best bookstore
The Book Bazaar (417 Bank)
MOtherTongue (1067 Bank)
All Books (327 Rideau)
Bytown Bookshop (21 Arlington)
Octopus Books (116 Third)
After Stonewall (370 Bank)
Perfect Books (258 Elgin)
Singing Pebble (202A Main)
Collected Works (1242 Wellington)
Nicholas Hoare Bookstore (419 Sussex)
Other

Best video rentals store
Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar)
Elgin Video (258 Elgin)
Glebe Video (2-779 Bank)
Blockbuster (all locations)
Other

Best comic/gaming store
The Comic Book Shoppe (both locations)
Silver Snail Comics (391 Bank)
Game Power (835 Bank)
Wizard's Tower (all locations)
Fandom II (162 Laurier)
Myths, Legends and Heroes (240 Montreal)
Other

Best fun outdoors
Your choice

Best furniture store
Phillip Van Leeuwen (10 Byward Market Square)
Found Design (1090 Bank)
Ikea (2685 Iris)
Vice Versa (50 Montcalm, Gatineau)
Envy Home (333 Dalhousie)
EQ3 (60 Byward Market Square)
Structube (111 Murray)
Other

Best independent record/CD store
Birdman Sound (593B Bank)
Sounds Unlikely (5 Arlington)
Legend Records (1315 Wellington)
End Hits (407 Dalhousie)
Vertigo (193 Rideau)
Black Tomato (11 George )
Compact Music (all locations)
The Record Centre (1097 Wellington)
Other

Best jewellery store
Workshop Boutique (242 Dalhousie)
Magpie (all locations)
Sassy Bead (all locations)
Milk (234 Dalhousie)
Bija Bijoux (1307 Wellington)
Other

Best men's clothing store (not a chain)
Milk (234 Dalhousie)
Babyface (153 Bank)
Top of the World (158 Rideau)
Norml Clothing (184 Rideau)
Slaysh (775 Bank)
Shoreline Surf Shop (325 Richmond)
Trustfund (493 Sussex)
Ruby X (243 Bank)
Other

Best women's clothing store (not a chain)
Workshop Boutique (242 Dalhousie)
Victoire (238 Dalhousie)
Milk (234 Dalhousie)
Slaysh (775 Bank)
Allegro (55 William)
Attic (203 Dalhousie)
Trustfund (493 Sussex)
Red Velvet (253 Elgin)
Other

Best musical instrument store
Spaceman Music (388 Gladstone)
Ottawa Folklore Centre (1111 Bank)
Long & McQuade (2631 Alta Vista)
St. John's Music (1541 Merivale)
Retrotown Music (422 Richmond Road)
Steve's Music Store (308 Rideau)
Lauzon Music Centre (1345 Wellington)
Other

Best outdoor store
Trailhead (1960 Scott)
The North Face (342 Richmond)
Camp de Base (540 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
Mountain Equipment Co-op (366 Richmond)
Bushtukah Great Outdoor Gear (203 Richmond)
The Expedition Shoppe (43 York)
Other

Best pool hall
The Dominion Tavern (33 York)
James Street Pub (390 Bank)
Orange Monkey (250 City Centre)
Honest Lawyer (141 George)
MacLaren's on Elgin (301 Elgin)
Dooly's (2277 Gladwin)
Le Skratch (1642 Merivale)
Cue 'N Cushion (319 Bank)
The Broken Cue (442 Hazeldean)
Other

Best sex/erotica shop
Classixxx Adult Store (all locations)
Wicked Wanda's Adult Emporium (1473 Richmond)
Boutique Erotica Plus (22 Eddy, Hull)
Couples Love & Romance (both locations)
Venus Envy (320 Lisgar)
Aren't We Naughty? (1531 Merivale)
Adult Fun Superstore (1565 St. Laurent)
Wilde's (367 Bank)
Other

Best skate shop
En Equilibre (140 Gréber, Gatineau)
Riders Village (650 Kanata, Kanata)
Top of the World (158 Rideau)
West 49 (both locations)
Slaysh (775 Bank)
On Deck (141 Bentley)
Other

Best tattoos/piercing
Five Cents Tattoo (201 Dalhousie)
Universal Tattoo (156 Rideau)
Planet Ink (306 Rideau)
Living Colour (412 Dalhousie)
New Moon Tattoo (all locations)
Other

Best vintage clothing
Value Village (all locations)
Young Janes (203 Dalhousie)
Heaven to Betsy (1243 Wellington)
Ragtime (43 Flora)
Attic (203 Dalhousie)
Hush ReSale Clothing (1440 Wellington)
Orange (145 York)
Aunt Olive's (209 Gilmour)
June's (1094 Wellington)
The Clothes Secret (1136 Bank)
Other

4. LOCAL LORE

Best local website/blog
Guerilla
Dharma Arts
National Capital Rock
I(heart)music
The Ottawa Arts Newsletter
MW Music Review
Apartment613
PunkOttawa
Other

Best architectural addition to the city
Your choice

Best architectural eyesore
Your choice

Best Ottawa neighbourhood to live in
Old Ottawa South
New Edinburgh
Hintonburg
Chinatown
Centretown
The Glebe
Westboro
Sandy Hill
The Market
Other

Best new idea for the city
Your choice

Best radio station
Hot 89.9
CHUO 89.1
Oldies 1310
CBC 91.5
CKCU 93.1
Chez 106.1
Live 88.5
Other

Best reason to cheer the city
Your choice

Best reason to jeer the city
Your choice

Best scandal
Your choice