Baltimore Living

Best Reason to Live in Baltimore: It's cheap

Best Reason to Leave Baltimore: The crime

Best Local Scandal: The alleged misuse of campaign funds by Keiffer Mitchell's father

Best Politician: Gov. Martin O'Malley

Best Politician in Need of a Slap Upside the Head: Mayor Sheila Dixon

Best Do-Gooder: Jennifer Mead, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter

Best Eyesore: "Male/Female" by Jonathan Borofsky

Best Neighborhood: Hampden

Best Festival: Artscape

Best Park: Patterson Park, 2601 E. Baltimore St., (410) 396-7931

Best Hiking or Biking Trail: Northern Central Railroad Trail, (410) 592-2897

Best Place to Swim: Beaver Dam Swimming Club, 10820 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, (410) 785-2323

Best Bus Line: No. 3

Best Local Athlete: Cal Ripken Jr.

Best Print Journalist: Dan Rodricks, The Sun

Best Local Radio Personality: Ed Norris, WHFS (105.7 FM)

Best Local TV Newsperson: Marty Bass, WJZ (channel 13)

Best Local Blog: baltimorecrime.blogspot.com

Best Wi-Fi Spot: City Café, 1001 Cathedral St., (410) 539-4252

Best Baltimore-Related Web Site: City Paper, www.citypaper.com

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Goods & Services

Best Local Women's Clothing Store: Doubledutch Boutique, 3616 Falls Road, (410) 554-0055

Best Local Men's Clothing Store: Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, numerous locations

Best Local Children's Clothing Store: The Corduroy Button, 1628 Thames St., (410) 276-5437

Best Shoe Store: Ma Petite Shoe, 832 W. 36th St., (410) 235-3442

Best Thrift or Consignment Store: Goodwill, numerous locations

Best Local Furniture Store: Su Casa, 901 S. Bond St., (410) 522-7010

Best Local Hardware Store: Falkenhan's Hardware, 3401 Chestnut Ave., (410) 235-7771

Best "Adult" Store: Sugar, 927 W. 36th St., (410) 467-2632

Best Independent Bookstore: Atomic Books, 1100 W. 36th St., (410) 662-4444

Best Used-Book Store: Normals Books and Records, 425 E. 31st St., (410) 243-6888

Best CD Store: The Sound Garden, 1616 Thames St., (410) 563-9011

Best Place to Buy Vinyl: The Sound Garden

Best Place to Rent Movies: Video Americain, 400 W. Cold Spring Lane, (410) 243-2231; 3100 St. Paul St., (410) 889-5266

Best Place to Buy Groceries: Whole Foods Market, 1001 Fleet St., Suite A, (410) 528-1640; 1330 Smith Ave., (410) 532-6700

Best Liquor Store: The Wine Source, 3601 Elm Ave., (410) 467-7777

Best Auto-Repair Shop: Brentwood Automotive, 1035 W. 41st St., (410) 889-6748

Best Tattoo Parlor: Baltimore Tattoo Museum, 1534 Eastern Ave., (410) 522-5800

Best Place to Get a Haircut: Tenpachi, 3003 N. Charles St., (410) 889-9788; 1722 Eastern Ave., (410) 522-0074

Best Place to Get a Massage: About Faces Day Spa and Salon, numerous locations

Best Yoga Studio: Charm City Yoga, 107 E. Preston St., (410) 234- 8967; 901 Fell St., (410) 276-9642

Best Place to Work Out: Merritt Athletic Clubs, numerous locations

Best Animal Hospital/Veterinarian: Falls Road Animal Hospital, 6314 Falls Road, (410) 825-9100

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Eats and Drinks

Best New Restaurant: Rocket to Venus, 3360 Chestnut Ave., (410) 235-7887

Best Fancy Restaurant: Charleston, 1000 Lancaster St., (410) 332-7373

Best Cheap Restaurant: PaperMoon Diner, 227 W. 29th St., (410) 889-4444

Best Restaurant for Vegetarians: One World Café, 100 W. University Parkway, (410) 235-5777

Best Outdoor Dining: Little Havana, 1325 Key Highway, (410) 837-9903

Best Late-Night Dining: PaperMoon Diner

Best Cup of Coffee: Daily Grind, numerous locations

Best Brunch: Little Havana

Best Place to Get Ice Cream: Cold Stone Creamery, numerous locations

Best Place to Get a Sandwich: Attman's, 1019 E. Lombard St., (410) 563-2666

Best Pizza: Matthew's Pizzeria, 3131 Eastern Ave., (410) 276-8755

Best Diner: PaperMoon Diner

Best Crab House: Bo Brooks, Lighthouse Point Marina, 2701 Boston St., (410) 558-0202

Best Crab Cake: G&M Restaurant, 804 N. Hammonds Ferry Road, Linthicum Heights, (410) 636-1777

Best Chinese: Ding How, 631 S. Broadway, (410) 327-8888

Best Greek: Samos, 600 Oldham St., (410) 675-5292

Best Indian: Akbar, 823 N. Charles St., (410) 539-0944

Best Italian: Amicci's, 231 S. High St., (410) 528-1096

Best Japanese: Matsuri, 1105 S. Charles St., (410) 752-8561

Best Latin: Arcos, 129 S. Broadway, (410) 522-4777

Best Middle Eastern: The Helmand, 806 N. Charles St., (410) 752-0311

Best Thai: Thai Arroy, 1019 Light St., (410) 385-8587

Best Local Beer: Resurrection Ale, Brewer's Art, 1106 N. Charles St., (410) 547-6925

Best Neighborhood Bar: Dizzy Issie's, 300 W. 30th St., (410) 235-0171

Best Dive Bar: Mount Royal Tavern, 1204 W. Mount Royal Ave., (410) 669-6686

Best Upscale Bar: Pazo, 1425 Aliceanna St., (410) 534-7296

Best Scenester Bar: The Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St., (410) 662-0069

Best Wannabe Scenester Bar: Rocket to Venus

Best Drunken Hookup Bar: Magerk's Pub, 1061 S. Charles St., (410) 576-9230

Best Sports Bar: ESPN Zone, 601 E. Pratt St., (410) 685-3776

Best Bar for Nonsmokers: Hon Bar, 1000 W. 36th St., (410) 243-1230

Best Gay Bar: The Hippo, 1 W. Eager St., (410) 547-0069

Best Lesbian Bar: The Hippo

Best Bar That Makes You Feel Like You're Not in Baltimore: Red Maple, 930 N. Charles St., (410) 547-0149

Best Bartender: Brett Chalfant, Bleachers Sports Bar, 2501 Fleet St., (410) 522-1626

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Arts & Entertainment

Best Band: Kelly Bell Band

Best Solo Music artist: Dan Deacon

Best Club DJ: K-Swift

Best Local Album: (tie) Kelly Bell Band, Reincarnated; Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad, Die Humpin!

Best Rock Club: The Ottobar

Best Place to Hear Hip-Hop: Sonar, 407 E. Saratoga St., (410) 327-8333

Best Dance Club: Sonar

Best Club Night or Event: Taxidermy Lodge (Talking Head and Sonar)

Best Karaoke: Frazier's on the Avenue, 919 W. 36th St., (410) 662-4914

Best Jukebox: Rocket to Venus

Best Strip Joint: Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, 409 E. Baltimore St., (410) 468-0990

Best Movie Theater: Charles Theatre, 1711 N. Charles St., (410) 727-3456

Best Local Theater Company: Everyman Theatre, 1727 N. Charles St., (410) 752-2208

Best Drag Performer: Tia Chambers

Best Public Art: The median along Mount Royal Avenue

Best Place to See Art: American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway, (410) 244-1900

Best Non-Art Museum: Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, (410) 727-4808

Best New Book by a Local Author: What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

Best Radio Station: WTMD (89.7 FM)

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Miscellaneous

Best Reason to Pick Up City Paper: To find out what's going on

Best Reason Not to Pick Up City Paper: The ads

Best Reason We Should Invite You to the Best of Baltimore Party: "Everybody knows me--I'm the guy who picks up the trash!"