GEMS
Best TV News Personality That’s Too Good for
This Market – Amy McRee, KWTV
Best Morning Radio Team – Jack and Ron, KYIS
Best Metro Hottie – Amy McRee, TV News Anchor,
KWTV
Best Person to Escort to the City Limits – Kirk
Humphries, Mayor of Oklahoma City
Best Government Official – George W. Bush
Best Congressman for a Brain Transplant – Jim
Inhofe
Best Set of Colossal Teeth – Jack Elliott
Best Artist – Greg Burns
Best Performer Headed for the Big Time – Pinkie
and the Snakeshakers
Best Local Eccentric – Al Eschbach, sports
commentator
Best Person Who Deserves a Pat on the Back and
Never Gets One – Public School Teachers
Best Community Activist – Martha Collar, Safe
Kids Coalition
Best Waiter/Waitress – Richard Taylor, Bourbon
Street Café
Best Bartender – Shannon Barros, Flip’s Wine Bar
and Trattoria
Best Chef – Kurt Fleischfresser, The Coach House
Friendliest Business Owner – Kathy Jacobson,
Kathy’s
ON THE MAP
Best Place to Have Fun for Free – Festival of
the Arts
Best Neighborhood – Nichols Hills
Best Place to Get Away from it All without Going
too Far – Dallas
Best Place to Get Rowdy – OU Football Game
Best Place to Soak Up Some Culture – Oklahoma
City Museum of Art
Best Place to Impress Out-of-Towners – Bricktown
Best Place to Get Creative – Hobby Lobby
Best Place to Volunteer – Habitat for Humanity
Best Place to Prepare for a Party – Byron’s
Liquor
Best Business to Assist with a Job or Career
Change – Express Personnel
Best Place to Alter Your Appearance – 23rd
Street Body Piercing
Best Live Music Club – UCO Jazz Lab
Best Karaoke Joint – Henry Hudson’s
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar – Hi-Lo Club
Best New Business to Open within the Last Year –
The Market at Quail Springs
Best New Business in Edmond to Open within the
Last Year – Ted’s Café Escondido
Best New Business in Norman to Open within the
Last Year – La Luna
LOOT
Best Antiques – 23rd Street Antique
Mall
Best Place to Buy Books or Music – Full Circle
Book Store
Best Car Dealership – David Stanley
Best Career Clothing – Harold’s
Best Clothing to Carouse in – Harold’s
Best Shoe Store – Shoe Gallery
Best Home Décor – Mathis Brothers
Best Jewelry – Samuel Gordon Jewelers
Best Electronics or Appliances – Audio
Dimensions
Best Wedding Gifts – Christie’s Toy Box
Best Place for Unique Gifts – Christie’s Toy Box
Best Sporting Goods – Athletic Village
Best Place to Buy Plants/Flowers – TLC
Best Home Improvement Store That’s Not a
National Chain or Warehouse – Habitat for Humanity Renovation Station
FEASTING
Best New Restaurant to Open within the Last Year
– Grand Boulevard Bar and Grill
Best New Restaurant in Edmond to Open within the
Last Year – Ted’s Café Escondido
Best New Restaurant in Norman to Open within the
Last Year – La Luna
Best Fancy-Schmancy Restaurant – Nikz
Best Casual Restaurant – RedRock Canyon Grill
Best Restaurant for a Romantic Rendezvous –
Haunted House
Best Place to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth – Braum’s
Ice Cream and Dairy Stores
Best Coffee House – Java Dave’s
Best Barbecue – Earl’s Rib Palace
Best Patio Dining – Pearl’s Lakeside
Best Sunday Brunch – Bellini’s Ristorante and
Grill
Best Late-Night Dining – Flip’s Wine Bar and
Trattoria
Best Hamburgers – Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler
Best Italian Food – Zio’s Italian Kitchen
Best Mexican Food – Ted’s Café Escondido
Best Deli/Sandwich Place – City Bites
Best Place to Please Your International Palate –
Sushi Neko
Best Tastes-Like-Home-Cooking Restaurant –
Sleepy Hollow
Best Nouveau Cuisine – Nonna’s Bakery and Café
Best Asian – Golden Palace
Best Seafood – Pearl’s Oyster Bar
Best Steakhouse – Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
Best Restaurant with Great Service – Ted’s Café
Escondido
Best Healthy/Vegetarian Menu – TerraLuna
Best Bread – La Baguette
Best Pizza – Hideaway
Best Hospital Food – Integris Baptist Medical
Center
Best Gourmet, Ethnic or Health Food Grocer –
Crescent Market
Best Elegant Drinkery – Metro Wine Bar and
Bistro
Best Undiscovered Eatery – Sophabella’s Chicago
Grill
POT O’ GOLD
Best Metro Area Time-Waster – Road Construction
Best Pain in Oklahoma City’s Ass – Bricktown
Parking
Best Thing the Gaylords should Sell Next – Daily
Oklahoman
Best Local News Source Other Than Oklahoma
Gazette – KFOR Channel 4
Best Conflict of Interest – Bass Pro Shop
Best Category You Would Like to See in Best of
OKC 2004 – Best Local Band
If Your Wrote a Book about Central Oklahoma,
What Would Its Title be? – “No, We Don’t Live in Teepees”
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2014.