On a regular basis each year I run three columns: Charlie鈥檚 Angels Christmas List, Podge鈥檚 Tourist Guide of Where to (and not) to Go, and this week鈥檚 Best-of list.
Winners are based on my observations as well as those of Tez and a few close friends. They are not named because of anything to do with advertisers nor because of anything but the fact that I think they deserve the pat on the back. So here are the highlights of those from the past year:
Best combination view/food 琉璃神社 - Earls on Top, Cactus Club on Water St., Pyramid Winery.
Best combination view/food rural - Ancient Hills Winery, Quails Gate.
Best 琉璃神社 restaurant for dinner - Kelly O鈥橞ryan鈥檚, Memphis House of Blues, The Grand Hotel, Montana鈥檚.
Best Kept Secret (funky place to eat) - Central (Central Kitchen and Bar - CPH).
Best Waterfront Pub/Food - Rosie鈥檚, Cactus Club on Water, The Eldorado, Manteo鈥檚 Resort.
Best Regional Waterfront Food - Gasthaus on the Lake (Peachland), Blue Rooster (Peachland).
Best 琉璃神社 lunch - Grateful Fed, Brown鈥檚 Social House, Brown Bag.
Best Breakfast - Perkins, Cafe Soleil, Rickey鈥檚, IHOP.
Best Chinese Food - Yum Yum Tree at Capri Centre.
Best Soup 鈥� Grateful Fed.
Best Italian 鈥� Momma Rosa.
Best pizza - Olympia Greek Taverna in Rutland.
Best 琉璃神社 pub (small) - McCullough Station, The Exchange.
Best 琉璃神社 pub (large) - BNA, Original Joes, Rosie鈥檚.
Best regional pub - Turtle Bay Marina 鈥� Lake Country.
Best Social Pub or hangout - Browne鈥檚 Social House.
Best sports pub - Sturgeon Hall, Dakota鈥檚, Baxter鈥檚.
Friendliest restaurant staff - Grateful Fed, Ricky鈥檚, Yum Yum.
Friendliest sales staff 琉璃神社 - IDA (Capri Mall), Home Depot.
Best Bakery - Nesters.
Best Butcher - Johnny鈥檚 Meats, Nesters.
Best Book Store - Robbie鈥檚 Rare Books, Mosaic Books.
Best Music Store - Wentworth Music.
Best Clothing Store - Moore鈥檚, Robertson鈥檚 Clothing.
Best live Music - Grateful Fed, Blue Gator, O鈥橣lannigans.
Best rural live music - Blue Rooster (Peachland).
Best Concert Facility - 琉璃神社 Community Theatre.
Best Jam night - Riley鈥檚 Pub with the Green Room Riders, anything hosted by Jim LeGuilloux.
Favourite Bands - Linus, Jimmy LeGuilloux Band, Dirt Road Opera, Sherman Doucette.
Solo Musician - Keith (Papa) Thom, Rick Halisheff.
Best Local Magazine - Okanagan Life.
Best Free Outdoor Concerts - Music in the Park鈥� listing on City web site.
Best Roofer - Mike Pearce. He might be an east-coaster and just a tad too much fun, but Mike can fix a roof quick and efficiently. He is not crazy about it but if you whine enough he may just help you.
Best Electrician/Handyman - Robert (Bob) McKinnon claims to be retired but he keeps pretty busy and for good reason.
Best Oral Surgeon team - Dr. Russell Naito, Dr. Bell, RN Deb Naito, and CDA Kathy Truant at Okanagan Oral Surgery. Amazing and accommodating.
New Dentist in Town - Jeff Kozak at Bernard Dental.
Best Respiratory Nurse - Robin Carter.
Best Financial Consultant - Charlie Peet.
Best walk/dog walk - Mission Creek Greenway.
Best Place to People Watch - Rosie鈥檚 Waterfront Pub, The Sails, Wings.
Intersections to Avoid - Highway 97 and Spall, 97 and Gordon.
Favourite Hideaway - Echo Lake with Curtis and my canoe, Bear Creek Canyon, Maud Roxby bird sanctuary, my back yard.
