***image1*** Publisher's Note: Although SFR published its first Best of Santa Fe issue in 1991, it wasn't until 1996 that it became a regular addition to SFR's annual special issues list. Therefore 2005 marks the tenth consecutive year that SFR has published the Best of Santa Fe , which has now grown into the biggest and most popular issue of the year. The list of winners below is the result of online voting by SFR readers that took place between May 16 and June 12, 2005.
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Best Local Politician even if Nov. 2, 2004 Was the Most Depressing Day Ever to be a Liberal
Bill Richardson, Governor, State of New Mexico
Second Place:
US Rep. Tom Udall, D-NM
Third Place:
US Sen. Pete Domenici, R-NM
Best Celebrity Worth Acting like Paparazzi for
Gene Hackman
Second Place:
Ali McGraw
Third Place:
Val Kilmer
Best Local Author Worth Shelling Out for a First Edition
Tony Hillerman
Second Place:
N Scott Momaday
Third Place:
Stanley Crawford
Best Local Non-Profit 'Cuz Sometimes We All Need a Little Help From Our Friends
Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society
Second Place:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico
Third Place:
Kitchen Angels
Best Cerrillos Road Business Even if it is Rush Hour
Jackalope
Second Place:
Whole Foods
Third Place:
Artisan Santa Fe
Best Outdoor Recreation Spot Because It's Green Out There
The Plaza
Second Place:
Randall Davey Audubon Center
Third Place:
The Windsor Trail
Best Art Gallery Openings-Pass the Wine and Cheese, Please
Gerald Peters Gallery
Second Place:
Nedra Matteucci Galleries
Third Place:
(tie) SITE Santa Fe, Andreeva Portrait Gallery
Best Movie Theater Even Though Apparently We Need a Few More
Jean Cocteau
Second Place:
The Screen
Third Place:
The Lensic
Best Local Theater Group Where It's OK to Be All About the Drama
Santa Fe Performing Arts
Second Place:
College of Santa Fe Drama Department
Third Place:
Santa Fe Playhouse
Best Museum with or Without a Docent
Geogia O'Keeffe Musuem
Second Place:
Museum of International Folk Art
Third Place:
Santa Fe Children's Museum
Best Live Music Venue to Keep You Screaming for an Encore
The Lensic
Second Place:
Paolo Soleri Amphitheater
Third Place:
The Paramount and Bar B
Best Local Musician or Band You Don't Want to Miss-Even on a Tuesday Night
Alex Maryol
Second Place:
Bill Hearne
Third Place:
South by Southwest
Best Local Club DJ Because they Know How to Mix it Up
DJ Arrow
Second Place:
Melanie Moore
Third Place:
DJ Automatic
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Best Indie Bookstore and Aren't You Glad We Still Have 'Em?
Garcia Street Books
Second Place:
Collected Works Bookstore
Third Place:
Blue Moon Books and Video
Best Place to Buy Music Because Shopping at iTunes is Kind of Impersonal
Borders
Second Place:
The Candyman
Third Place:
Best Buy
Best Place to Rent Videos/DVDs and Get Informed Recommendations
Video Library
Second Place:
Hastings
Third Place:
Blockbuster
Best Jewelry Store Even if You Don't Celebrate Valentine's Day
Chavez Fine Jewelry
Second Place:
Romancing the Stone
Third Place:
Fairchild and Company
Best Women's Boutique When You Want to Be Sitting Pretty
Dust in the Wind
Second Place:
Bodhi Bazaar
Third Place:
Judy's Unique Apparel
Best Place to Buy Men's Clothing
Harry's Clothing
Second Place:
Robert R Bailey
Third Place:
Double Take
Best Children's Clothing Store When Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes
The Gap
Second Place:
Double Take
Third Place:
Gypsy Baby
Best Second-Hand Shop Because What Goes Around Comes Around
Double Take
Second Place:
Act 2
Third Place:
Goodwill
Best Shoe Store Because It's Not Safe to Go Barefoot
On Your Feet
Second Place:
Goler
Third Place:
Street Feet
Best Stationery Store Because You're Tired of Writing Notes on Post-Its
Cardrageous
Second Place:
Marcy Street Cardshop
Third Place:
Joni's Hallmark
Best Place to Buy Cowboy Boots and Giddyup
Back at the Ranch
Second Place:
Western Warehouse
Third Place:
Lucchese
Best Furniture Store Because You Need a Coffee Table for Those Coffee Table Books
American Country Collection
Second Place:
American Home Furnishings
Third Place:
Design Warehouse
Best Local Car Dealer When You're Ready to Get Behind the Wheel
Beaver Toyota
Second Place:
Premiere Motors
Third Place:
Capitol Ford
Best Nursery Because it's Been Raining and You're Ready to Start Planting Again
Santa Fe Greenhouses
Second Place:
Agua Fria Nursery
Third Place:
Payne's Nursery
Best Art Framer for Those Prints You Picked up at the Silent Auction
Frontier Frames
Second Place:
Fine Art Framers
Third Place:
Frame of Mind
Best Place to Buy Eyeglasses (tie)
Acoma Optical, Inc.
Ancient City Opticians
Second Place:
Aztec Optical
Third Place:
Santa Fe Optical
Best Pet Supply Store Because Precious is Hungry
The Critters & Me
Second Place:
Pete's Pets
Third Place:
The Feed Bin
Best Bike Shop to Get You Equipped for Biking the Rail Trail
rob and charlie's
Second Place:
Santa Fe Mountain Sports
Third Place:
New Mexico Bike and Sport
Best Outdoor Gear Shop Because it's Way Too Nice to Stay Inside
Alpine Sports
Second Place:
Santa Fe Mountain Sports
Third Place:
Beyond Waves
Best Ski/Snowboard Shop Because We've Got Some Powder Now
Alpine Sports
Second Place:
Santa Fe Mountain Sports
Third Place:
Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works
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Best Car Wash Because It Just Stopped Raining
Squeaky Clean
Second Place:
Oil Stop
Third Place:
Quick Stop Car Wash
Best Auto Repair Because You Can't Leave Your Car on Blocks in the Driveway Forever
Alex Safety Lane
Second Place:
Ace Automotive
Third Place:
Mike's Garage
Best Tattoo Parlor Because the Henna Ones Just Don't Last
Aware
Second Place:
Four Star Tattoo
Third Place:
Concrete Jungle
Best Piercer for your Ear or…Whatever
Aware
Second Place:
Concrete Jungle
Third Place:
Four Star Tattoo
Best Hair Salon-Extensions or Crew Cuts
Blue Monkey
Second Place:
Alchemy A Salon
Third Place:
Cactus Organic Lifestyle Salon
Best Bikini Wax Because DIY Just Ain't Cuttin' It
Beautiful Skin
Second Place:
Cactus Organic Lifestyle Salon
Third Place:
Holiday Spa
Best Place for a Massage, from Swedish to Shiatsu
Ten Thousand Waves
Second Place:
Avanyu Spa at La Posada
Third Place:
Body
Best Overall Spa for Taking 10 Years Off Your Face
Ten Thousand Waves
Second Place:
Avanyu Spa at La Posada
Third Place:
Absolute Nirvana Spa & Tea Room
Best Yoga Studio-from Half Moon to Corpse Position
Genoveva Chavez Community Center
Second Place:
Body
Third Place:
YogaSource
Best Pilates Studio Because Everybody's Doing It
Pilates Santa Fe
Second Place:
Genoveva Chavez Community Center
Third Place:
Active Recovery
Best Gym Because it's Summer and You Can't Hide Under a Sweater
Genoveva Chavez Community Center
Second Place:
Santa Fe Spa
Third Place:
El Gancho Fitness Swim and Racquet Club
Best Real Estate Agency Because Somehow You Can Afford to Buy a House
French & French/Sotheby's International Realty
Second Place:
Santa Fe Properties
Third Place:
Barker Realty
Best Local Web Designer Because Everybody Needs an URL
Cisneros Design
Second Place:
Xynergy, Inc.
Third Place:
Studio X
Best Bank Because You Can't Keep it All Under the Mattress
First National Bank of Santa Fe
Second Place:
Century Bank
Third Place:
Los Alamos National Bank
Best Bartending Staff, No Matter What Your Poison
The Paramount and Bar B
Second Place:
Cowgirl
Third Place:
Blue Corn Café
Best Restaurant Staff Because They Don't Make You Wait
Harry's Roadhouse
Second Place:
Fuego at La Posada
Third Place:
Bistro 315
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Best Green Chile So Good You Take the Three Extra Bites Home in a Doggy Bag
Tomasita's
Second Place:
Horseman's Haven
Third Place:
Tia Sophia's
Best Red Chile So Good It's Actually the Reason you Haven't Left Town
The Shed
Second Place:
Tomasita's
Third Place:
Blue Corn Café
Best New Mexican Restaurant You're at so Often They Know You by Name
Tomasita's
Second Place:
The Shed
Third Place:
Maria's
Best Breakfast Burrito So Yummy it's the Reason You Set Your Alarm Clock
Tia Sophia's
Second Place:
El Parasol
Third Place:
Santa Fe Baking Company
Best Italian Restaurant-Save Room for Tiramisu
Andiamo!
Second Place:
Osteria D'Assisi
Third Place:
Il Piatto
Best Chinese Restaurant, Little Dumpling
Chow's Contemporary Chinese Food
Second Place:
Yin Yang
Third Place:
Mu Du Noodles
Best Sushi Because Who Has Time to Pickle Ginger at Home?
Shohko Café
Second Place:
Kohnami
Third Place:
Izmi Sushi
Best Ethnic Restaurant Cuz You Can't Always Buy American
India Palace
Second Place:
Cleopatra Café
Third Place:
India House
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Annapurna Chai House
Second Place:
Mu Du Noodles
Third Place:
India House
Best Comfort Food Because Sometimes Life Ain't Fair
Harry's Roadhouse
Second Place:
Cowgirl
Third Place:
Zia Diner
Best Brunch, Please Pass the Syrup
Fuego at La Posada
Second Place:
Chocolate Maven
Third Place:
(Tie) Bishop's Lodge, Pasqual's, The Pantry
Best Appetizers Because We're Just Getting Started
El Farol
Second Place:
Steaksmith
Third Place:
Fuego at La Posada
Best Steak 'Cause We're Talkin' Medium Rare with a Pink Center
The Bull Ring
Second Place:
Steaksmith
Third Place:
Fuego at La Posada
Best Seafood in Case You Can't Catch a Trout in the Santa Fe River
Mariscos La Playa
Second Place:
Fuego at La Posada
Third Place:
El Nido
Best Local Pizza-and Votes for Domino's Will Not Be Counted
Upper Crust
Second Place:
Il Vicino
Third Place:
Backroad Pizza
Best Outdoor Patio Because the Night Belongs to Lovers
The Staab House Patio
Second Place:
Cowgirl
Third Place:
La Casa Sena
Best Restaurant for Kids, Who Eat Paste as Well as Food
Cowgirl
Second Place:
Backroad Pizza
Third Place:
Zia Diner
Best Dessert Because Splenda Just Doesn't Cut it
Chocolate Maven Bakery and Café
Second Place:
Café Paris
Third Place:
Harry's Roadhouse
Best Bakery Because Life Without Bread is Pretty Much Pointless
Sage Bakehouse
Second Place:
Chocolate Maven
Third Place:
Café Paris
Best Grocery Store-Quick, Vote Before Another One Opens
Albertson's
Second Place:
Trader Joe's
Third Place:
Whole Foods
Best Liquor Store Because You Can't Judge a Bottle of Wine by its Label
Albertson's
Second Place:
Kokoman
Third Place:
Liquor Barn
Best Margarita-Frozen or Rocks
Maria's
Second Place:
Tomasita's
Third Place:
Blue Corn Café
Best Martini, Even When it's Chocolate
Swig
Second Place:
The Anasazi Hotel
Third Place:
The Paramount and Bar B
Best Local Coffee Shop Where the Word "Grande" Produces a Blank Stare
Aztec Café
Second Place:
Ohori's
Third Place:
Downtown Subscription
Best New Restaurant Because Change is Good
Annapurna Chai House
Second Place:
Rooney's
Third Place:
Piccolino
Best Splurge Restaurant Because You Feel Like Dressing Fancy
Geronimo
Second Place:
Fuego at La Posada
Third Place:
The Compound
Best Inexpensive Restaurant-Don't Say Cheap
Bumble Bee's Baja Grill
Second Place:
Harry's Roadhouse
Third Place:
Backroad Pizza
Best Burger, Now That's Juicy
Bobcat Bite
Second Place:
Burt's Burger Bowl
Third Place:
Cowgirl
Best Sandwich
Carlos' Gosp'l Café
Second Place:
Mucho Gourmet
Third Place:
Backstreet Bistro
Best Soup, Please Stop Slurping
Back Street Bistro
Second Place:
Carlos' Gosp'l Café
Third Place:
Whole Foods
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Place to Meet Singles-Ones You Actually Want to Talk to, That Is
Friday Night Gallery Openings
Second Place:
Borders
Third Place:
Cowgirl
Best Flower Shop Where the Stems Say it All
The Flower Market
Second Place:
Artichokes and Pomegranates
Third Place:
Fred's Flowers
Best Romantic Restaurant for Public Displays of Affection
Fuego at La Posada
Second Place:
Julian's
Third Place:
Geronimo
Best Place to Tie the Knot, No Matter Your Sexual Orientation
Loretto Chapel
Second Place:
Randall Davey Audubon Center
Third Place:
La Posada
