Restaurants
Best Pizza Slice
Pontillo's Pizzerias Many area locations; pontillospizza.com
Best Specialty Pizza
Napa Wood Fired Pizzeria 573 S. Clinton Ave. 232-8558 | 687 Moseley Road, Fairport. 223-5250 | napawoodfired.com
Best Gourmet Burger
The Gate House274 N. Goodman St. (in Village Gate). 473-2090. thegatehousecafe.com.
Best Ribs
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que 99 Court St. 325-7090.dinosaurbarbque.com.
Best Hots
Dogtown 691 Monroe Ave. 271-6620.dogtownhots.com.
Best Bar Food
The Distillery Many area locations; thedistillery.com.
Best Sandwich
DiBella's Old-Fashioned Submarines Many area locations; dibellas.com.
Best Breakfast Sandwich
South Wedge Diner 880 S. Clinton Ave. 271-3190. Southwedgediner.com.
Best Place for Brunch
Jines Restaurant 658 Park Ave. 461-1280. Jinesrestaurant.com.
Best Place for Take-Out
Wegmans Many area locations; wegmans.com.
Best Seafood
Palmer's Meat and Seafood Market 900 Jefferson Road. 424-3210. palmerfoods.com.
Best Egg Roll
Chen Garden 1750 Monroe Ave. 241-3070. chengarden.com.
Best Noodles
Aja Noodle Co. 42 Perinton Hills, Fairport. 477-7000 | 2602 Elmwood Ave. 244-1052 | ajanoodle.com.
Best Sushi
California Rollin' Sushi Bar 274 N. Goodman St. (in Village Gate). 271-8990 | Port of Rochester, 1000 N. River St. 271-8920 | californiarollin.com.
Best Buffet
Mario's 2740 Monroe Ave. 271-1111. mariosit.com.
Best Pasta
Pasta Villa 1313 E. Ridge Road. 266-2676. thepastavilla.com.
Best Nachos
Salena's Mexican Restaurant 302 N. Goodman St. (in Village Gate). 256-5980. salenas.com.
Best Taco
John's Tex-Mex Eatery 489 South Ave. 232-5830.
Best Vegetarian Options
Aladdin's Natural Eatery 646 Monroe Ave. 442-5000 | 280 Exchange Blvd. 319-3217 | 8 Schoen Place. 264-9000 | aladdinsonline.com.
Best Soup
Nathan's Soup and Salad 691 Park Ave. 461-3016 | 900 Jefferson Road, Building 3. 424-4551 | 8 Lomb Memorial Drive, RIT | nathanssoupandsalad.com.
Best Coffee Shop
Java's Café 16 Gibbs St. 232-4820 | Wallace Memorial Library, RIT. 475-4770 | Brick Lounge, Monroe Community College. 292-8312 | javascafe.com.
Best Cupcakes
Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe 258 Alexander St. 319-5001 | 1697 Monroe Ave. 270-4832 |sugarmountainbakeshoppe.com.
Best Cheap Eats
Aladdin's Natural Eatery 646 Monroe Ave. 442-5000 | 280 Exchange Blvd. 319-3217 | 8 Schoen Place. 264-9000 | aladdinsonline.com.
Best Fancy Restaurant
Restaurant 2 Vine 24 Winthrop St. 454-6020. 2vine.com.
Best New Restaurant
The Crab Shack 749 E. Henrietta Road. 427-7420. crabshackrochester.com.
GOODS & SERVICES
Best Jewelry Store
Mann's Jewelers 2945 Monroe Ave. 271-4000. mannsjewelers.com.
Best Gift Shop
Parkleigh 215 Park Ave. 800-333-0627. parkleigh.com.
Best Used Car Dealership
Dorschel Automotive Group Many area locations; dorschel.com.
Best Auto Repair Shop
East Ave Auto 1656 East Ave. 271-7610. eastaveauto.com.
Best Store for Sports/Rec Equipment
Fleet Feet 2210 Monroe Ave. 697-3338. fleetfeetrochester.com.
Best Fitness Class
Rochester Athletic Club Many area locations; rochesterathletic.com.
Best Yoga Instructor
Carly Weis, Breathe Yoga
Best Salon
Scott Miller 3340 Monroe Ave. 264-9940. scottmillerstyle.com.
Best Barbershop
South Wedge Barber Shop 720 South Ave. 473-5570.
Best Florist
Arena's Florist 260 East Ave. 454-3720. arenasflorist.com.
Best Clothing Store
Thread 654 South Ave. 232-7110.
Best Tailor
Aldo's Ladies' and Men's Tailoring 1833 Monroe Ave. 442-6870.
Best Thrift/Secondhand Store
Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Many area locations; goodwillfingerlakes.com.
Best Place to Buy Local Art
Artisan Works 565 Blossom Road Suite L. 288-7170. Artisanworks.net.
Best Tattoo Parlor
Love Hate Tattoo 217 1/2 Alexander St. 262-6440. lovehatetattoo.com.
Best Piercing Parlor
Physical Graffiti Tattoo Studio 374 1/2 W. Ridge Road. 262-4444. physicalgraffiti.com.
Best Liquor Store
Marketview Liquor 1100 Jefferson Road. 888-427-2480. marketviewliquor.com.
Best Regional Wine
Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 9749 Middle Road, Hammondsport. 800-320-0735. drfrankwines.com.
Best Local Beer
Rohrbach Brewing Company Brew Pub: 3859 Buffalo Road. 594-9800 | Brewery: 97 Railroad St. | rohrbachs.com.
Best Bakery
Savoia Pastry Shoppe 2267 Clifford Ave. 482-1130. savoiapastry.com.
Best Farmers Market
Rochester Public Market 280 N. Union St. 428-6907. cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket.
Best Geek-Friendly Business
Park Avenue Comics & Games 713 Park Ave. 271-4549. parkavenuecomics.com.
Best Local Bank/Credit Union
ESL Federal Credit Union Many area locations; esl.org.
MEDIA
Best Local Radio Personality
Brother Wease, WFXF-FM 95.1
Best Local Radio Show
"Spezzano & Sandy" WPXY-FM 97.9
Best Radio Station
WBER-FM 90.5
Best Local TV News Station
WHAM Channel 13
Best Local TV News Reporter
Don Alhart, WHAM Channel 13
Best Local TV Weatherperson
Scott Hetsko, WROC Channel 8
Best Local News Story of 2011
Abby Wambach
Best Local News Story Ignored in 2011
Hydrofracking
Best Local Blog
The Rochester NY Pizza Blog (rochesternypizza.blogspot.com)
Best Local Facebook Account
Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe
Best Local Commercial Jingle
Lori's Natural Foods
LOCAL COLOR
Best Local Politician
Robert Duffy
Best Local Visionary
Tom Golisano
Best Local Activist Group
Planned Parenthood -- Rochester/Syracuse Region
Best Local Nonprofit Organization
Lollypop Farm
Best Local Sports Team
Rochester Red Wings
Best Local Mascot
Spike and Mittsy, Rochester Red Wings
Best Local Landmark
George Eastman House
Best Outdoor Art
M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival, Memorial Art Gallery
Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner
Wegmans
Best Place to Spot a Local Celebrity
Wegmans
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Original Band
Lobster Quadrille
Best Cover Band
Uncle Plum
Best New Band
Thunder Body
Best Solo Musician
Dave McGrath
Best Live Music Venue
Water Street Music Hall
Best Club DJ
DJ Jon Herbert
Best Karaoke
Jeremiah's Tavern (Tuesdays & Fridays 9 p.m.)
Best Music Concert of 2011
Elton John, Blue Cross Arena
Best Local Theater Production of 2011
"The Music Man," Geva Theatre Center
Best Local Theater Company
Geva Theatre Center
Best Local Improv Comedy Troupe
Geva Comedy Improv
Best Art Gallery/Museum
Memorial Art Gallery
Best Art Exhibit of 2011
"Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera," George Eastman House
Best Local Artist
Albert Paley
Best Local Photographer
Gerry Szymanski
Best Local Filmmaker
Matthew Ehlers
Best Local Film Festival
ImageOut Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival
Best Local Festival
Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
Best Local Parade
Rochester St. Patrick's Parade
Best Local Drag Performer
Pandora Boxx
NIGHTLIFE
Best New Bar/Club
Marshall Street Bar & Grill 81 Marshall St. 325-2191. marshallstreetbarandgrill.com.
Best Bar for Beer
Tap & Mallet 381 Gregory St. 473-0503. tapandmallet.com.
Best Bar for Wine
Chocolate & Vines 757 University Ave. 340-6362. chocolateandvines.com.
Best Specialty Drinks
Good Luck 50 Anderson Ave. 340-6161. restaurantgoodluck.com.
Best Bartender
Phil Rawleigh, Lux Lounge
Best Dance Club
Tilt Nightclub and Ultralounge 444 Central Ave. 232-8440. Tiltroc.com.
Best Sports Bar
The Distillery Many area locations; thedistillery.com.
Best Neighborhood Bar
Jeremiah's Tavern 1104 Monroe Ave. 461-1313. Jeremiahstavern.com.
Best Drink Specials
Lux Lounge 666 South Ave. 232-9030. lux666.com.
Best Place for a Date
The Little Theatre 240 East Ave. 258-0444. thelittle.org.
Best Non-Bar Hangout
Boulder Coffee Co. Many area locations; bouldercoffeeco.com.
