Metric wins Best Ottawa Show '06 photo: Aaron McKenzie Fraser

1. FOOD & DRINK

Best African

Winner: Horn of Africa (364 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: East African Restaurant (376 Rideau), Kasbah Village Moroccan Cuisine (261 Laurier)

Best All-You-Can-Eat

Winner: East India Company (210 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Du Barry (33 Selkirk), Govinda's (212 Somerset), Moni Mahal Buffet (164 Laurier), Nagina (217 Rideau)

Best Appetizers

Winner: The Manx (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: E18hteen Restaurant and Bar (18 York), Oz Kafé (361 Elgin), Fourth Avenue Wine Bar (107 Fourth)

Best Bagel

Winner: Kettleman's Bagel (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Ottawa Bagelshop (1321 Wellington), Continental Bagel (55 Byward Market Square)

Best Bakery

Winner: The French Baker (119 Murray)

Honourable Mentions: Bread and Sons (195 Bank), Three Bakers and a Bike (1281 Wellington)

Best Bartending Staff

Winner: Manx (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Zaphod's (27 York), Barrymore's (323 Bank), Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square), Aloha Room (323 Bank), Babylon (317 Bank), Dominion Tavern (33 York), Helsinki (15 George), Avant Garde (135 Besserer), Mavericks (221 Rideau), The Lookout (41 York), Heaven (400 Dalhousie), Swizzles (246 Queen)

Best Brunch

Winner: The Manx Pub (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Stoneface Dolly's (both locations), The Wild Oat (817 Bank), Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)

Best Burger

Winner: The Works (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: The Manx Pub (370 Elgin), Chez Lucien (137 Murray), Dick's Drive-In and Dairy Dip (1485 Merivale)

Best Caribbean

Winner: Savana Café (431 Gilmour)

Honourable Mentions: Caribbean Flavours (881 Somerset), Groovy's Roti Hut (292 McArthur)

Best Cheap Eats

Winner: Ikea (2685 Iris)

Honourable Mentions: Govinda's (212 Somerset), German Town Deli (212 Slater), Ottawa Peace Kitchen (320 Elgin/Jack Purcell Community Centre)

Best Chicken

Winner: Casa do Churrasco (190 Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Da Chicken Crib (85 Montreal), Yre's Chicken (169 Charlotte)

Best Chinese

Winner: Shanghai Restaurant (651 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: So Good (717 Somerset), Northern Han (870 Somerset)

Best Chip Wagon

Winner: The Blooming Onion (York/Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Sasha's (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York); tie between: Tzan's Chip Wagon (Bank/Laurier) and Glen's Chip Wagon (Richmond/Kirkwood)

Best Coffee/Tea House

Winner: Bridgehead (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Planet Coffee (24 York), I Deal Coffee (176 Dalhousie), The Tea Store (53 York), The Tea Party (119 York), Temptation Tea Shop (324 Bank), Caffe Ventuno - Il Negozio Nicastro (1355 Wellington)

Best Deli

Winner: La Bottega (64 George)

Honourable Mentions: Sausage Kitchen (5 Byward Market Square), Kaedeya Mart (210 Slater)

Best Dessert

Winner: Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington)

Honourable Mentions: Three Tarts (1320 Wellington), Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston)

Best Diner

Winner: Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Mello's Diner (290 Dalhousie), Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)

Best Farmers' Market

Winner: Byward Market

Honourable Mentions: Parkdale Market, Ottawa Organic Farmers' Market (Bank/Heron), Landsdowne Farmers' Market, Carp Farmers' Market

Best French

Winner: Les Fougères Restaurant (783 Route 105, Chelsea)

Honourable Mentions: Benny's Bistro (119 Murray), Le Saint-O (327 St. Laurent)

Best Greek

Winner: Greek on Wheels (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Theo's Greek Taverna (911 Richmond), A'roma Meze (239 Nepean)

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

Winner: Pure Gelato (350 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Piccolo Grande (all locations), Malak Lebanese Pastry (1216 Bank)

Best Italian

Winner: Giovanni's (362 Preston)

Honourable Mentions: Fratelli (all locations), Caffe Ventuno - Il Negozio Nicastro (1355 Wellington)

Best Japanese

Winner: Suisha Gardens/Kaedeya Mart (208-210 Slater)

Honourable Mentions: Ichibei (197 Bank), Genji (175 Lisgar)

Best Korean

Winner: Joy (315 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Kwon's Korean BBQ (332 Wilbrod), Miga (399 Bank)

Best Local Brew

Winner: Clock Tower Brew Pub

Honourable Mentions: Heritage, Beau's All Natural

Best Mexican

Winner: Ahora (307 Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Pancho Villa (361 Elgin), Feleenas (742 Bank), Azteca (41 William), Agave (1331 Wellington), La Cabana (848 Merivale)

Best Middle Eastern

Winner: Saffron Restaurant (426 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Jericho (840 Bank), Persian Cuisine Express (340 Laurier)

Best Natural Food Store

Winner: Herb and Spice (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Natural Food Pantry (both locations), Rainbow Foods (1487 Richmond), The Wheatberry (206 Main)

Best Patio

Winner: The Courtyard (The Black Tomato, Mamma Grazzi's, The Courtyard Restaurant, Social, Helsinki)

Honourable Mentions: Elgin Street courtyard (The Lieutenant's Pump/Oz Kafé/Pancho Villa), The Irish Village, Black Thorn Café, Kinki, Milestones, Métropolitain Brasserie

Best Pho

Winner: Pho Bo Ga (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Vietnam Noodle House (706 Somerset), New Pho Bo Ga La (761 Somerset)

Best Pizza

Winner: Colonnade (280 Metcalfe)

Honourable Mentions: Forno Antico (683 Bronson), Johnny's Pizza (233 Laurier), House of Georgie and Sorento's (211 Gilmour), Calabria (193 Bell), Bread and Sons (195 Bank), Cheezy Pizza (World Exchange Plaza)

Best Poutine

Winner: Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Sasha's (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York), The Works (all locations), Fast Food Grocery (Bank/MacLaren)

Best Pub

Winner: The Manx Pub (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Pub Italia (434-1/2 Preston), Irish Village (67 Clarence), Chez Lucien (137 Murray), Mayflower (247 Elgin)

Best Romantic Restaurant

Winner: Black Tomato (11 George)

Honourable Mentions: Absinthe (65 Holland), Shanghai Restaurant (651 Somerset), Savana Café (431 Gilmour), Keg Manor (529 Richmond), Domus Café (85 Murray)

Best Sandwich

Winner: La Bottega (64 George)

Honourable Mentions: DiRienzo's Grocery (both locations), Chez Lucien (137 Murray), The Village Café (295 Richmond), Harvest Loaf (354 Richmond Road/1323 Wellington), Gooney's Sandwich Works (360 Laurier), Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)

Best Seafood

Winner: LaPointe's (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Whalesbone Oyster House (430 Bank), Pelican Grill (1500 Bank)

Best Shawarma

Winner: Shawarma King (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Maroush (380 Elgin St.), Shawarma Palace (464 Rideau), Really Lebanese (2297 St. Joseph)

Best South Asian

Winner: East India Company (210 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Ceylonta (403 Somerset), Coconut Lagoon (853 St. Laurent)

Best Splurge

Winner: Beckta (226 Nepean)

Honourable Mentions: Signatures (453 Laurier), Perspectives (525 Legget Dr., Kanata)

Best Steakhouse

Winner: Hy's (170 Queen)

Honourable Mentions: Sterling Steakhouse and Seafood (835 Jacques-Cartier St., Gatineau), SomRuedee Steakhouse (428 Preston)

Best Sushi

Winner: Kinki (41 York)

Honourable Mentions: Sushi 88 (690 Somerset), Wasabi (41 Clarence)

Best Take-out

Winner: Greek on Wheels (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Temptation Tea Shop (324 Bank), Yre's Chicken (169 Charlotte)

Best Thai

Winner: Hot Peppers (495 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Nokham Thai (747 Richmond), Anna Thai (91 Holland)

Best Vegetarian

Winner: Green Door (198 Main)

Honourable Mentions: Soup'Herbe (168 Old Chelsea Rd., Chelsea); Perfection, Satisfaction, Promise (167 Laurier); The Peace Garden Café (47 Clarence); Sacred Garden (1300 Bank); The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room (690 Lyon); Café Gaïa (47 Montclair)

Best Vietnamese

Winner: New Mee Fung (350 Booth)

Honourable Mentions: Golden Turtle (343 Booth), Cam Kong (726 Somerset)

Best Wings

Winner: The Clock Tower (575 Bank)

Honourable Mentions: Local Heroes (all locations), Highlander Pub (115 Rideau), Lonestar Texas Grill (780 Baseline), St. Louis Bar and Grill (399 Elgin), The Cock 'n Bull Pub and Eatery (3791 Richmond Rd)

2. ARTS & CULTURE

Best Art Gallery

Winner: SAW Gallery

Honourable Mentions: Ottawa Art Gallery, Cube Gallery, La Petite Mort, Gallery 101, Electric Gallery, CUAG

Best Artist

Winner: Michèle Provost

Honourable Mentions: Howie Tsui, Jeff Thomas

Best Album/EP of 2006

Winner: My Dad vs Yours - After Winter Must Come Spring

Honourable Mentions: The Acorn - Tin Fist EP, Souljazz Orchestra - Freedom No Go Die, Boycrusher - Sometimes a Man, Ukrainia! - Self-titled, Mélissa Laveaux - Camphor and Copper, Kellylee Evans - Fight or Flight, Sarah DeLuca - Unsafe and Sound, John Henrys - Sweet as the Grain, Eric Vieweg - The Silver Lining, Camp Radio - Self-titled

Best Comedian

Winner: Carrie Gaetz

Honourable Mentions: Don Kelly, Scott McMann, Mike Beatty, Rick Currie, Wafik Nasralla

Best Dance Club

Winner: Mercury Lounge

Honourable Mentions: Helsinki, Heaven, Mavericks, Surface, The Edge, Soda/Lotus

Best Dance Performance in 2006

Winner: Shimmer (Red Sky Performance)

Honourable Mentions: Hunt (Tero Saarinen Company), Onqotô and Lecuona (Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theatre), La Pudeur des icebergs (Daniel Léveillé Danse)

Best DJ

Winner: Trevor Walker

Honourable Mentions: Jason Pelletier, Jokers of the Scene, Martin Villeneuve, DJ Illo, CPI, Drastik, Kid SL, T-Wrecks

Best Film Festival of 2006

Winner: Ottawa International Animation Festival

Honourable Mentions: One World Film Festival, Ladyfest, European Union Film Festival, Writers Festival - Beckett Retrospective, Latin American Film Festival

Best Filmmaker

Winner: Lee Demarbre (Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter)

Honourable Mentions: Dan Sokolowski ((Winter) Time), Michael Ostroff (Pegi Nicol: Something Dancing About Her), Brian Singleton (Zombie Cop vs. the Alien Terror), Brett Kelly (the Bonesetter films), Matthiew Klinck (Greg & Gentillon)

Best Folk Band/Artist

Winner: Jim Bryson

Honourable Mentions: Lynn Miles, Ana Miura, Natalie Zukerman, Mélissa Laveaux, Craig Cardiff

Best Gay/Lesbian Bar

Winner: The Lookout (41 York)

Honourable Mentions: Helsinki (15 George), The Edge (212 Sparks), Club Soda (222 Slater), Swizzles (246 Queen), Centretown Pub (340 Somerset)

Best Hip-hop/Emcee

Winner: Dynamic

Honourable Mentions: Bender, Atherton, Kanswer

Best Live Music Venue

Winner: Barrymore's (323 Bank)

Honourable Mentions: Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield), Zaphod's (27 York), Babylon (317 Bank), New Capital Music Hall (128 York), Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square), The Rainbow (76 Murray), Mavericks (221 Rideau), End Hits (407 Dalhousie), Avant Garde Bar (135-1/2 Besserer), First Baptist Church (140 Laurier), tie between Irene's (885 Bank) and the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson)

Best Lounge

Winner: Mercury Lounge (56 Byward)

Honourable Mentions: Aloha Room (323 Bank), Avant Garde Bar (135 Besserer), Helsinki (15 George), The Collection/Bar 56 (56 Byward Market Square), Foundation (18B York)

Best Metal Band/Artist

Winner: Fuck The Facts

Honourable Mentions: Buried Inside, Joe Thrasher, Phalanx, Deämon (Dee-ay-mon), Syncytia (Sin-city-uh)

Best Museum

Winner: National Gallery of Canada

Honourable Mentions: Museum of Civilization, War Museum, Nature Museum, Science and Technology Museum

Best Music Festival of 2006

Winner: Bluesfest

Honourable Mentions: Ladyfest, International Jazz Festival, CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival, Tulip Fest, Canadian DMC Championships, Westfest, Chamber Music Festival, I (Heart) Music Mini-Festival

Best Non-Generic Movie Theatre

Winner: ByTowne Cinema

Honourable Mentions: Mayfair Theatre, Rainbow Theatre

Best Ottawa Show From 2006

Winner: Metric - New Capital Music Hall

Honourable Mentions: Hawksley Workman (Bronson Centre); Calexico (Bluesfest); The New Pornographers (Bluesfest); Stars (Winterlude); Wolf Parade (Barrymore's); Brazilian Girls (Bluesfest); Kardinal Offishall (Babylon); tie between Diplo/Bonde de Role/CSS (Zaphod's) and Cancer Bats (End Hits); three-way tie between Yo La Tengo (Babylon) and Dinosaur Jr. (New Capital Music Hall) and the Canadian DMC Competitions (New Capital Music Hall); tie between Gogol Bordello (Barrymore's) and Beirut (Zaphod's); Bell Orchestre (First Baptist Church); Hidden Cameras (Barrymore's); The Black Keys (Barrymore's); Mobb Deep (New Capital Music Hall); Akron/Family (Zaphod's); Paint It Black (Cafe Dekcuf); Mono (Barrymore's); three-way tie between Whitey Houston/Shout Out Out Out Out (Zaphod's) and Jamie Lidell (Bluesfest) and Solomon Burke (Bluesfest); Elliott Brood (Zaphod's); tie between The Acorn/The Empiricals (Babylon) and Rhume (Avant Garde Bar); The Slip (Mavericks); Asobi Seksu (Babylon)

Best Photographer

Winner: Aaron McKenzie Fraser

Honourable Mentions: Chantal Gervais, Lorraine Gilbert, Jean-Marc Carisse

Best Play in 2006

Winner: Bigger Than Jesus (Great Canadian Theatre Company)

Honourable Mentions: Portrait of an Unidentified Man (GCTC), The Real Thing (National Arts Centre), Chinese Clown Cabaret (Ottawa Fringe Festival), Brilliant! The Blinding Enlightenment of Nikola Tesla (National Arts Centre), Le Projet Andersen (National Arts Centre)

Best Punk Band/Artist

Winner: Million Dollar Marxists

Honourable Mentions: The Riptides, No Other Way, The Fully Down, The Creeps, Four-Stroke, The Sewer Rats

Best Rock Band/Artist

Winner: The Hilotrons

Honourable Mentions: The Acorn, My Dad vs Yours, For The Mathematics, The Love Machine, Boycrusher, As The Poets Affirm, Jetplanes Of Abraham, Amos The Transparent, The Empiricals, This Is Rocket Science, Rhume, The Curviture

Best Writer/Poet

Winner: Jennifer Whiteford (Grrl)

Honourable Mentions: Rob Mclennan (Written in the Skin), Charlotte Gray (Flint and Feather and Canada: A Portrait in Letters, 1800-2000), David O'Meara (The Vicinity), Charles de Lint (Moonlight and Vines), Frances Itani (Deafening), Janet Lunn (The Hollow Tree), Geoff Brown (Self-Titled), Paul Glennon (How Did You Sleep?), Matthew Firth (Black Bile Press, Front & Centre), John-James Ford (Bonk on the Head), Alan Cumyn (Burridge Unbound), Mark Frutkin (Iron Mountain)

3. LEISURE

Best Beauty Salon/Spa

Winner: Le Nordic Scandinavian Spa (Nordik Rd., Chelsea)

Honourable Mentions: York Street Spa (11 York), Saab (376 Bank), Amalfi (Rideau Centre), Salon Salwa (70 George), Shear and Spa Studio (1266 Wellington)

Best Bowling Alley

Winner: McArthur Lanes (175 McArthur)

Honourable Mentions: Walkley Bowling (2092 Walkley), Merivale Bowling Lanes (1916 Merivale)

Best Karaoke

Winner: Shanghai (651 Somerset)

Honourable Mention: Swizzles (246 Queen)

Best Night Out

Winner: Retro 80s Night, Barrymore's

Honourable Mentions: Spins & Needles (monthly) - Clock Tower Brew Pub; World Beats and Eats (monthly) - Mercury Lounge; Disorganised (monthly) - Clock Tower Brew Pub; Shanghai Thursdays - Shanghai Restaurant; Sunday's Mod Club - Babylon; Hump Wednesdays - Helsinki; Industrial Strength Tuesdays - Zaphod's; One Heaven Thursdays - Heaven Nightclub

Best Outdoorsy Place

Winner: Meech Lake (Gatineau)

Honourable Mentions: The Arboretum/Dow's Lake; Hog's Back Waterfall; Strathcona Park; Camp Fortune, Aerial Park (Gatineau); Mooney's Bay; Lafleche Caverns, Aerial Park (Gatineau); Andrew Haydon Park; Westboro Beach; Jacques-Cartier Park's disc golf course (Hull); Mont Cascades Waterpark (Cantley); Great Canadian Bungee (Morrison's Quarry, Wakefield); Legacy Skatepark

Best Pool Hall

Winner: MacLaren's (301 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Dooly's (2277 Gladwin Cres.), Orange Monkey (250 City Centre), Honest Lawyer (141 George), Le Skratch (1642 Merivale), Cue and Cushion (319 Bank), The Broken Cue (442 Hazeldean)

Best Skate Shop

Winner: Top of the World (158 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: West 49 (both locations), On Deck (141 Bentley), En Enquilibre (140 Gréber Blvd., Gatineau), Riders Village (650 Kanata Ave., Kanata)

Best Ski Hill

Winner: Mont Ste-Marie

Honourable Mentions: Camp Fortune, Edelweiss, Calabogie, Mont Cascades

Best Yoga

Winner: Rama Lotus (340 Gladstone)

Honourable Mentions: Upward Dog (413 MacKay), Santosha (205 Catherine)

4. BUYING THINGS

Best Art Supplies

Winner: Wallacks (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Loomis (499 Bank), Artguise (590 Bank), Omer DeSerres (499 Bank)

Best Bike Shop

Winner: Pecco's (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Joe Momma's (216 Pretoria), The Bike Dump (407 Catherine), McCrank's Cycle (889 Bank), Cycle Logik (358 Richmond), Cyco's (5 Hawthorne), The Cyclery (1073 Bank), Phat Moose Cycles (98 Hawthorne)

Best Bookstore

Winner: Octopus Books (116 Third)

Honourable Mentions: Collected Works (1242 Wellington); The Book Bazaar (417 Bank); tie between Mother Tongue (1067 Bank) and All Books (327 Rideau); Books on Beechwood (35 Beechwood); Perfect Books (258 Elgin); After Stonewall (370 Bank)

Best Camera/Photography Store

Winner: Henry's (267 Bank)

Honourable Mentions: Ginn (433 Bank); tie between Camera Exchange (529 Bank) and Black's (all locations); Galaxy Camera (525 Bank)

Best Comic/Gaming Store

Winner: The Comic Book Shoppe (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Silver Snail (391 Bank); Wizard's Tower (all locations); Fandom II (162 Laurier); Myths, Legends and Heroes (240 Montreal)

Best Flowers

Winner: Tivoli (282 Richmond)

Honourable Mentions: Scrims (262 Elgin), Bel Fiore (276 Elgin), La Maison de Fleurs (1 Rideau), Phulera Dola (World Exchange)

Best Furniture Store

Winner: Ikea (2685 Iris)

Honourable Mentions: EQ3 (60 Byward Market Square), Phillip Van Leeuwen (10 Byward Market Square), The Blue Oasis (184 Rideau), Zone (471 Sussex), Found Design (1090 Bank), Structube (111 Murray)

Best Head Shop

Winner: Crosstown Traffic (593 Bank)

Honourable Mentions: Rock Junction (151 Rideau), Smoke Signals (both locations)

Best Independent Record/CD Store

Winner: End Hits (407 Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Vertigo (193 Rideau), Compact Music (both locations), CD Exchange (142 Rideau), Birdman Sound (593 Bank), Turning Point (411 Cooper)

Best Jewellery Store

Winner: Magpie (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Sassy Bead (all locations), Milk (234 Dalhousie), Workshop Boutique (242-1/2 Dalhousie), Frou Frou (11 William), Bija Bijoux (1307 Wellington), Amuse (246 Dalhousie), Runway (358 Richmond)

Best Men's Independent Clothing Store

Winner: Top of the World (158 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Norml Clothing (41-1/2 William), Attic (203 Dalhousie), Shoreline Surf Shop (325 Richmond), Trustfund (493 Sussex), Ruby X (243 Bank), Babyface (153 Bank)

Best Movie Rentals

Winner: Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar)

Honourable Mentions: Elgin Street Video (258 Elgin), Glebe Video (779 Bank), Video Mondo (23 Beechwood)

Best Musical Instrument Store

Winner: Steve's Music Store (308 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Songbird (388 Gladstone), Ottawa Folklore Centre (1111 Bank), Long & McQuade (2631 Alta Vista), Lauzon Music Centre (1345 Wellington)

Best Outdoor Store

Winner: Mountain Equipment Co-op (366 Richmond)

Honourable Mentions: Bushtukah (203 Richmond), Trailhead (1960 Scott), North Face (342 Richmond)

Best Sex/Erotica Shop

Winner: Venus Envy (320 Lisgar)

Honourable Mentions: Adult Fun Superstore (1565 St. Laurent), Classixxx Adult Store (all locations), Couples Love & Romance (both locations), Love and Romance (1587 Bank), Wilde's (367 Bank)

Best Tattoos/Piercing

Winner: Planet Ink (306 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Living Colour (412 Dalhousie), Five Cents (201 Dalhousie), Universal Tattoo (156 Rideau)

Best Vintage Clothing

Winner: Ragtime (43 Flora)

Honourable Mentions: Attic (203 Dalhousie), Value Village (all locations), Phase 2 (all locations), St. Vincent de Paul (St. Vincent de Paul), Salvation Army (all locations)

Best Women's Independent Clothing Store

Winner: Milk (234 Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Allegro (55-1/2 William); Attic (203 Dalhousie);

Amuse (246 Dalhousie); tie between Paper Bag Junkies (242 Dalhousie) and Workshop Boutique (242-1/2 Dalhousie); Victoire (238 Dalhousie); Norml Clothing (41-1/2 William); Top of the World (158 Rideau); Trivium (50 Rideau); Schad (both locations); Red Velvet (253 Elgin); Ruby X (243 Bank); tie between Babyface (153 Bank) and Runway (358 Richmond)

5. LOCAL LORE

Best Architectural Eyesore

Winner: American Embassy

Honourable Mentions: City centre, Barrymore's (exterior only), The new Shoppers Drug Mart in the Glebe, Queensway, War Museum, Department of National Defence Building, Saudi Embassy

Best Blog

Winner: dial613.blogspot.com (music)

Honourable Mentions: onvertigo.ca (photo), spacetolive.com (photo), robmclennan.blogspot.com (lit), matildazine.org (personal), davidscrimshaw.com (personal), asteroideapress.com (personal), blog.johnwmacdonald.com (personal/photo), amandaearl.blogspot.com (lit/personal), www.pagehalffull.com/humanyms (personal), charlesearl.com (photo)

Best Hero

Winner: The guy who rides the 10-speed with no hands and wears a facemask and whistles (whoever you are!)

Honourable Mentions: Ed Broadbent, Maher Arar, Denis Rancourt (University of Ottawa professor who almost got fired for teaching an activist course), Brian Kilrea (Ottawa 67's head coach), Sparticat (Senators mascot), Jane Scharf (homeless activist), Lawrence Greenspon (human rights lawyer), Marion Dewar, Harold P. Funk (Voice of the Voiceless)

Best Neighbourhood to Live In

Winner: Centretown

Honourable Mentions: The Glebe, Westboro, Sandy Hill, The Market, Old Ottawa South, New Edinburg

Best New Thing That Happened to Ottawa This Year

Winner: No smoking on covered patios

Honourable Mentions: Construction of the Somerset footbridge over the Rideau Canal; Maman, Louise Bourgeois's bronze spider at the National Gallery of Canada; New Capital City Music Hall; The City's Heather Crowe Awards for work on anti-smoking campaigns; Martin Gerber (Ottawa Senators)

Best Place to Get Harassed

Winner: Rideau Street bus station (Bay and Rideau Centre)

Honourable Mentions: OC Transpo bus stops at night, York and Dalhousie, in front of the Bulldog/SIN nightclubs on Elgin, anywhere on Cumberland, Bell and Gladstone, Legacy Skatepark

Best Radio Station

Winner: CBC 91.5

Honourable Mentions: CKCU 93.1, Live 88.5, Hot 89.9, CHUO 89.1

Best Reason to Cheer City Council

Winner: Attempts to curb suburban growth by encouraging downtown construction

Honourable Mentions: Using Smart Cars in their bylaw fleet; Ottawa Light Rail (given that the project is designed correctly); bailing out Tulip Fest/Pride (but only after underfunding them in the first place); support for the arts; city marathons (but the people of Ottawa get a hearty cheer for their support too!)

Best Reason to Jeer City Council

Winner: Making OC Transpo the most expensive single-fare public transit in Canada

Honourable Mentions: Recycling sucks and there's no green bins yet (compost); the City of Ottawa is the worst supporter of the arts in Canada; allowing trailer trucks to drive downtown (i.e., King Edward and Dalhousie); the City's continuing heavy-handed attitude towards the homeless; not nearly enough graffiti spaces, skateparks and community gardens; hiring American multinational Asplundh to hack city trees

Best Scandal

Winner: Peeing on the War Memorial/Canada Day

Honourable Mentions: Ottawa Humane's Society euthanizing dogs because they failed their so-called "temperament test" - poking them while they ate; Ottawa Light Rail (north/south expansion vs. the obvious, an east/west line); Barrhaven scientist Mark Tushingham (he was prevented from attending his own lecture about his book on global warming, Hotter Than Hell, by Environment Ministry); Montreal Gazette's food critic, who trashed Ottawa restaurants on Canada Day; Swantanamo (swans were locked up due to bird flu)

Best TV Station

Winner: A Channel

Honourable Mentions: CJOH, Rogers



 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Here's a Kool Idea     Let your readers vote on a short list, and then have an Independent panel pick a winner. This would change your list from a popularity contest into a quality guild to what's hot in ottawa. plus one honourable mention maybe two......it loses its power when you name every dinner in the city for example.
Noved Drof		June 12th, 2007
You Can Tell Where Your Readers Chill     Most of the winners are all downtown on Rideau and the area. I have ate at most of these restaurants which were victorious, and I must say, your readers have poor taste. I would like to know how Top of the World can even be considered #1 mens clothing store? It is a punk/skater clothing store. Well it's easy to get a picture of who is voting. Your readers probably have tattoo's, pierced eye brows, dyed hair, and skateboard.
Alex Johnson		May 7th, 2007
Wings     i really dunno why a prior reviewer trashed St. Louis' wings so badly...they are one of the few places left in this city where tiny, stringy wings aren't hidden underneath globs of coating and flour, and they are tossed nicely in sauce and i'm glad they aren't dripping and oozing with goo...half the time i find, even if the wings are good, too man places drown them in a pool of sauce, leaving you to mop them off before trying to eat them. instead St. Louis' wings are very flavourful, with a wide range of heat levels...they could use more flavours, but the wings themselves are of average size and thankfully not breaded nor floating in sauce...i haven't tried their ribs, but intend on trying their pulled pork sandwich next time i go. nothing compares to the wings Alfie's used to have though...now -that- pub is sorely missed...
miss thing		April 24th, 2007
But Just 3 Additional Cents     1. I agree with Mr Dinn's cam shop feedback 2. You need to add Camp Fortune's poutine to the 2007 candidates. (Some may agree that it is a major factor for choosing CF as their preferred local ski centre) 3. Add Willie McGelligott (architectural photography) to your list of Best Photographer candidates for 2007. I've bookmarked your site and will be referring to it from time to time - THANKS!
Bernie Applebaum		December 28th, 2006
True Story     From a centretown resident (and yes, this is the best hood ever :) Anyone who's ever eaten anything at St. Louis knows they have the worst wings in town. That was fulling in a blank. You drove by and never actually went in. Their Sauce Sucks, and you have to beg if you want a decent amount on the wing. The wing itself is like the ones you can get in the grocery store (which is the least of my problems lol). Now to hit the other part of their misleading chain title. The ribs. Holy crap they have the worst ribs everrrr Really !! I mean it. I'm talkin pre cut, all bone, no meat on the bone garbage. Atleast give me the option to fully cut through my own rib - let me Atleast have a good time while sitting in a rib/wing house! yikes! The Sauce again...shyte! They specialize in the stuff, but I'd much rather run cross the street and walk over to Woodys. Best wings over there and I guess their patrons don't have access to a computer to represent but I will! St.Louis Does however have Awesome wraps and sandwiches! They also make awesome onion chips - so if you ever go...please take my advice and hit up one of those 3 items (beerskie included) and steer clear of the wings and ribs! For a simple appetitizer, this chain sure has botched it up. *missing celtic cross*
Victoria Grant		December 10th, 2006
Best Of 2006: To The Patient, Goes The Glory And The Fruit Of Our Labour Of Love (This Survey Was Tough).............     Did I miss the reveal of who won prizes for actually taking the time to fill out the "dreaded" 2006 Best Of Survey? I seem to remember some mention of prizes at the outset of the this survey being revealed. Did I miss something or will the prizewinners be announced in the next issue? The survey was Ok. The results are in and we can let out our belts for yet another year without getting too stressed about another survey for another 365 days. Now, about those prizes?
Steve Landry	{5 votes}	November 27th, 2006
Including west quebec?     This is an awesome list that makes me realize what a great city Ottawa is, how much there is to do, how much good food there is to eat out. I realize the amount of research required to generate this kind of list must be elaborate, but could I suggest you include west quebec - it's just an additional few worthy spots - Ambrosia in Aylmer (Italian), the Aylmer marina (recreation), St. Jean baptiste festival in Aylmer (festivals), some good clothes shopping in Hull, Black Sheep inn (you have it), best skiing (Camp Fortune), etc etc. Just an idea - after all, it's a quarter of the population of the NCR (national capital region), and some of that population are even English-speaking, and readers! Great job!
Julie Fine	{1 vote}	November 25th, 2006
What a load ...     Best Camera/Photography Store Winner: Henry's (267 Bank) Honourable Mentions: Ginn (433 Bank); tie between Camera Exchange (529 Bank) and Black's (all locations); Galaxy Camera (525 Bank) Best Ottawa camera store, is a Toronto chain store, the highest prices in town staffed with several ultra-rude clerks that are more concerned with their sales quota than actually selling cameras. Ginn's is locally owned but appears to be suffering the transition to digital. I used to go there , but now it's like a tomb. Runner-ups; tie with "The Camera Exchange" which bankrupt version? Camera Exchange went bankrupt in 1992, Camera Exchange II (525 Bank St) went bankrupt in Jan 2004. Black's a multi-national owned chain (Fujifilm) is hardly a local shop! Galaxy Camera has scaled down with the closing of their Bank, but they haven't scaled back their selection. They always have the best prices in town. All of the local camera stores have shortcomings, but I prefer Galaxy out of the 3 specialty camera stores. I am puzzled as to the inclusion of the multi-national Fuji owned Blacks. In best photographer, your staff member, that should exclude him. How did the three others make the list?
Geoff Dunn	{4 votes}	November 25th, 2006
Best Denture Clinic     Best denture clinic is Bank implant denture clinic, located at 1209 evans blvd., ottawa (on block north of heron at bank) call 613-733-2986 for free consultation
JOE MAX		July 2nd, 2010
Business service     There used to be a site bestinottawa.com where I could check things out on who's who and you could submit new categoies and vote. Whatever happened to it? Glad this is here. Would like to see business services added.
Tom Daley		March 18th, 2009
Best Sports Bar?     How come this isn't a category? I only know Don Cherry's and i wasn't impressed... Any recommendations? Places to avoid?
Tom Smith		March 31st, 2007
Fact check     That guy with the face mask and a dog on a bicycle? His name is Doctor Mask. He gave me his card once.
Karen Rodgers		November 24th, 2006

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