Best of OKC 1997 

PEOPLE

Best Television Personality – Linda Cavanaugh

Best Morning Radio Team – Rick and Brad – KATT-FM

Best Newcomer – Meg Alexander

Best Local Sports Figure – Shannon Miller

Best Local Hero – Firefighters

Best Local Villain – Timothy McVeigh

Best Government Official – J.C. Watts

Best Person Who Knows How to Have a Good Time – Cherokee Ballard

Best Person Who Needs to Lighten Up – Earnest Istook

Best Local Conspiracy Nut – Charles Key

Best Okie to Become Famous Recently – Hanson

Best Person to Blame for All the MAPS Delays – Oklahoma City Council

Best Person Who Should Run for Mayor in 1998 – Ron Norick

FOOD & DRINK

Best Meal for Less Than $10 – Ted’s Café Escondido

Best Coffee House – Java Dave’s Coffee

Best Meal When Someone Else is Paying – Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill

Best Service – Charleston’s

Best Breakfast – Jimmy’s Egg

Best Lunch – City Bites Subs

Best Upscale Dining – Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill

Best Barbecue – County Line Restaurant

Best Hamburgers – Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler

Best Sandwich Shop – City Bites

Best Chinese – Hunan Chinese Restaurant

Best Healthy Eating – New York Bagel Shop

Best Far Eastern, Not Chinese – Lido Restaurant

Best Italian – Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill

Best Mexican – Ted’s Café Escondido

Best Steakhouse – Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

Best Homestyle – Sleepy Hollow

Best Tea Room – Allisha’s Tea Room

Best Salad Bar – Jason’s Deli

Best New Restaurant – Windy City Pizza & Pasta Kitchen

Best Restaurant in Edmond – Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill

Best Restaurant in Norman – Legend’s

Best Restaurant – Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill

GOODS & SERVICES

Best Boutique – Gil’s Contemporary Clothing

Best Place to Pamper Yourself – Le Visage

Best Car Dealer – Fred Jones

Best Commercial Art Gallery – Greg Burns Fine Art and Framing

Best Internet Service – Internet Oklahoma

Best Tanning Salon – Tan and Tone America

Best Sporting Goods Store – Athletic Village

Best Bicycle Store – Al’s Bicycles

Best Liquor Store – Byron’s Liquor Warehouse

Best Health Food Store – The Earth Natural Foods & Deli

Best Used Records, Tapes & CDs – CD Warehouse

Best Antiques – Spivey’s Fine Used Furniture and Antiques

Best Jewelry Store – B.C. Clark Jewelers

Best Furniture Store – Mathis Brothers Furniture

Best Real Estate Firm – Paradigm Realty

Best Professional Clothing – Harold’s

Best Casual Clothing – Harold’s

Best Outrageous Clothing – Christie’s Toy Box

Best Formal Wear – J.J. Kelly Bridal Salon

Best Fitness Club – All American Fitness Center

Best Travel Agency – Seagrave Travel and Galleries

Best Tobacco Shop – Ziggyz Smoke Novelty Shop

Best Hotel – The Waterford Hotel

Best New Business in Edmond – Crest Discount Foods

Best New Business in Norman – Harold’s Outlet

PLACES

Best Place to Hear Live Music – Zoo Amphitheater

Best Local Attraction – Oklahoma City Zoo

Best Attraction in Norman – OU Football Games

Best Attraction in Edmond – Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park

Best Place to Dance – In Cahoots

Best Place for Cocktails – Flip’s Italian Restaurant

Best Indoor Attraction – Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey

Best Leisure/Recreational Facility – Oklahoma City Zoo

Best Place to Spot Someone Famous – Will Rogers World Airport

Best Place that Symbolizes Oklahoma City – National Cowboy Hall of Fame

MISCELLANEOUS

Best Performing Arts Group – Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma

Best Higher Education Institution – University of Oklahoma

Best Non-Profit Group – Feed the Children

Best Church Singles Group – MetroChurch

Best Community-Spirited Business – Oklahoma Gazette

Best Named Business – Yippie Yi-Yo Café

Best Local Band – The Nixons

Best Thing That Happened This Year – Conviction of Timothy McVeigh

Best Disappointment – MAPS

Best Eyesore – Interstate 35 Construction

Best Building Constructed within the Last Year – Cat Forest and Lion Overlook

Best Next Big Thing – Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Memorial

Best Project Local Taxpayers Can Build For Ed Gaylord – An Island For Him to Move To

Best 137-foot Structure That Should Be Built Next to Interstate 35 in Edmond – Nothing

Best Project for OCAF to Take on Next – Itself

Best Thing About Downtown You’d Like to See Changed – More Parking