Readers' picks

Metro Times readers submitted more than 1,000 ballots. Categories that received fewer than 10 votes have been eliminated, as were categories marked by blatant ballot stuffing attempts — cough casinos cough. We told you we could tell.

Best museum: Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).

Best museum to take kids: Detroit Science Center.

Best art gallery: DIA.

Best place to see a blockbuster film: Birmingham Palladium.

Best place to see an independent film: Main Art Theater.

Best intimate live music venue: St. Andrew’s.

Best mega-sized live music venue: DTE Energy Music Theatre.

Best place to see live theater: Fox Theatre.

Best public art: Joe Louis Fist sculpture.

Best urban park: Belle Isle.

Best suburban park: Kensington.

Best place to fly a kite: Belle Isle

Best place to bicycle: Kensington.

Best place to skateboard: Hart Plaza.

Best Web site dedicated to Detroit: detroityes.com (Fabulous Ruins of Detroit).

Best place to cruise: Woodward.

Best place for romance: Belle Isle.

Best Michigan vacation spot: Traverse City.

Best Ontario vacation spot: Toronto.

Best Michigan tourist trap: Mackinac Island.

Best local TV newscast: Channel 4 (WDIV).

Best local TV newscaster: Carmen Harlan.

Best local radio music show: tie — Martin Bandyke (WDET-FM 101.9) and Homeboy Show with Kelly Brown (89X).

Best local radio talk show: Drew & Mike (WRIF 101.1 FM).

Best local radio news: WWJ-AM 950.

Best politician: Jennifer Granholm.

Best local character, i.e. public figure: Kwame Kilpatrick.

Best place for the mayor to hold a party: Manoogian Mansion.

Best place to spot a celebrity: Townsend Hotel, Birmingham.

Best place to fish: Lake St. Clair.

Best local non-politician who should seek office: Geoffrey Fieger.

Best charity: Michigan Humane Society.

Best pro sports team: Red Wings.

Best pro athlete: Steve Yzerman.

Best annual event/festival: Movement/DEMF.

Best thrift store: Value World.

Best smoke shop: Smokey’s.

Best head shop: The Station.

Best vintage clothing: Mother Fletchers.

Best independent hardware store: Frentz & Sons.

Best video store: Blockbuster.

Best record store: Record Time.

Best record store for vinyl: Record Time.

Best record store staff: Record Time.

Best health food store: Whole Foods.

Best big-box store: Best Buy.

Best new building: Compuware.

Best old building: Michigan Central Station.

Best building to blow up: Silverdome.

Best hair salon: London Calling.

Best Detroit experience for out-of-towners: Greektown.

Best mall: Somerset.

Best non-mall shopping area: Royal Oak.

Best independent clothier for women: Incognito.

Best independent clothier for men: Showtime Clothing.

Best hip-hop clothing: Mr. Alan’s.

Best independent shoe store: Incognito.

Best lingerie store: Victoria’s Secret.

Best adult novelty store: Priscilla’s.

Best health club: Lifetime Fitness.

Best tattoo shop: Eternal Tattoos.

Best place to buy organic food: Whole Foods.

Best place to buy cookware: Williams-Sonoma.

Best new night spot: Blue Martini.

Best club to hear rock: Magic Stick.

Best club to hear country: Diamondback Saloon.

Best club to hear blues: Music Menu.

Best club to hear rap: River Rock.

Best club to hear jazz: Baker’s Keyboard Lounge.

Best comedy club: Second City.

Best strip club: Deja Vu.

Best dance club: Luna.

Best dance club sound system: Necto.

Best gay bar: Q.

Best dive bar: Gusoline Alley.

Best jukebox: Gusoline Alley.

Best beer selection in a bar: Berkley Front.

Best wine selection in a bar: The Earle.

Best beer selection in a store: Merchant’s Warehouse.

Best wine selection in a store: Merchant of Vino.

Best new restaurant: Small Plates.

Best restaurant to blow a wad: The Whitney.

Best bargain restaurant: National Coney Island.

Best after-hours eatery: National Coney Island.

Best seafood: Tom’s Oyster Bar.

Best Mexican: Xochimilco.

Best Italian: Roma Cafe.

Best Greek: Pegasus.

Best African: Blue Nile.

Best Chinese: P.F. Chang’s.

Best Japanese: Little Tree.

Best sushi: Little Tree.

Best Thai: Siam Spicy.

Best Indian: Peacock.

Best Middle Eastern: La Shish.

Best breakfast: Original Pancake House.

Best steakhouse: Outback Steakhouse.

Best soul food: Beans & Cornbread.

Best barbecue: Memphis Smoke.

Best burger: Miller’s Bar.

Best fries: McDonald’s.

Best buffet: Old Country Buffet.

Best vegetarian: Inn Season.

Best cheap pizza: Little Caesar’s.

Best gourmet pizza: Pizza Papalis.

Best deli: Zingerman’s.

Best bakery: Astoria.

Best desserts: Astoria.

Best ice cream/yogurt shop: Stucchi’s.

Best coney island: Lafayette.

Best juice bar: La Shish.

Best independent coffeehouse: Café de Troit.

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