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You're in Worcester, baby! As staunch observers of all things Worcester, we'd be remiss not to hand out a few pats on the back (along with a couple of good-natured kicks) of our own. Sure, our annual Best Of Worcester awards are somewhat of a popularity contest, but our own picks were arrived at using an uber-scientific method that consisted of months of heated internal debate, test groups, at least one arm-wrestling match, hefty doses of libations and consultation with a tarot car reader, a Ouija board and a guy named Joe. Yes, we're good. Best traffic stopper: Bob Largess, of Hotel Vernon fame, and his Belgian dray horses. Largess has a penchant for hitching up his horses to a hay wagon or stagecoach at the slightest opportunit — Canalfest, Canal District tours, Cornelius Kelley Day, what have you — and driving them through Kelley Square. The traffic stops. Worst traffic stoppers: State Police. Maybe we're sensitive to this issue because we're located near Kelley Square, but our state's finest seem to have a passion for leaving their ancestral domain on Route I-290 and exerting a presence on local streets. Whether this is revenue-driven we don't know, but the excessive vigilance doesn't endear them to anyone, on either side of the law. Best hair on an elected official: There's something refreshingly traditional about City Councilor Gary Rosen's hair. It's not overly gelled like Joff Smith's; it's not quite the "Tim Murray side-part" that is all the rage among political wannabes; and it's not the close cropped ‘do that some settle for. It's just normal, straightforward, thinning hair. No wonder he gives out all those combs. Worst act of improvement to the public realm: The removal of benches in Federal Square. The Hanover Theatre is a brave and wonderful contribution to our cultural scene, but its support group went too far when it decided that they had to eliminate public benches out of fear that the wrong people would sit on them. A classic example of elitist paranoia, insulting to the common citizen. Maybe that explains the "re." Best illusion of something fun going on: Don't look up. That's the best advice we can give you if flashing lights give you headaches, and you're driving past the Osgood Building behind Union Station on 290. Jumpin' Joes, on the top floor of the Osgood, likes to play lighthouse with its strobe light, leaving it on (24-7, it seems) at all hours like a beacon warning you away from shore. We just find it an odd/nice landmark to get to our office. ("OK, you're going to see a white train station, immediately followed by a flashing strobe light. Get off at the next exit.") Shortest-lived political promise: Perennial mayoral candidate Bill Coleman's announcement that he was abandoning politics and would not run for local office again. This sparked a gentle rustle of civic appreciation for Coleman's longtime presence on the scene, which he apparently mistook for a groundswell of support, because here he was again next election season, with familiar results.  Best pita bread in the land: The Belfry Restaurant is located at 59 Blackstone River Road, which used to be part of Millbury Street. Formerly a church, it's been refurbished and is now a quaint little restaurant with gorgeous wood, high ceilings and the charm of an old neighborhood church. It's a little hard to spot, but worth finding. The Belfry has a delicious menu of Greek and American cuisine that includes spinach pies, Greek salads and kabobs. But its claim to fame — or something that should make it famous — is their pita bread. Even if you stop in for some bread, hummus and a glass of wine, you will be thankful. These soft wedges of heaven are fried lightly in butter and are just short of being called fried dough (but less greasy). See if you can talk them into letting you take some to go. Best vintage "whine": K.J. Baaron owner Katie Krock's attempt to sue the city over its redesign of Washington Square. Krock's upscale wine store — a fine addition to the local scene, by the way — seemed to have rotary-side presence opposite Union Station until the rotary became a roundabout and receded about a block to the south. Krock claimed the change was a surprise that was leaving her land-locked.  In the driver’s seat (from left): Allie Bombz, Bob Largess and Allen Fletcher on the Water Street tour.
Best accomplishment in Worcester that took eight years: The Hanover Theatre. It's glorious, and the best thing to happen to downtown since ... well, in a damn long time. Best reunion: Big Dawg. With more than 10 years out of the scene, singer Bruce Reed was itching to get this R&B outfit back onto the stage again. In February, Big Dawg jam-packed The Hotel Vernon with a reunion, and did it again in April — and will probably continue to do so. Most unlikely NIMBY protest: In the context of opposition all over the city to group housing for a variety of social purposes, the tony Montvale neighborhood objected to plans by the American Antiquarian Society to create a residence for visiting scholars and convert its abandoned tennis court into a parking lot. Didn't seem to evoke a lot of sympathy from the proletariat. Best new sign: A jaunty, teal-colored "Davis" sign (Davis Publications) atop the Printer's Building on Portland Street. Visible from 290 and a welcome addition to our skyline. Worst new sign: A classy, retro Foothills Theatre marquee on Major Taylor Boulevard offers no indication as to where the theater actually sits (it's nowhere in sight). If you stand there long enough, a show may start, but it's probably not the one you came to see. Best new street name: Major Taylor Boulevard replacing Worcester Center Boulevard. Worcester Center's long gone, and nobody needs to be reminded. Major Taylor, on the other hand, was an under-sung sports champion whose commemoration is long overdue. Worst new street name: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, replacing Central Street. With apologies to the good doctor, there are upward of a thousand of these throughout the country, with no compelling rationale — either in location or in timing — for us to add another. And that goes for "JFK Plaza" behind City Hall, too. Best positive spin on a health hazard: Underneath the Tropic Sun Tanning Salon sign in a Stafford Street plaza, there is a programmable digital sign. These signs can be real attention-grabbers, but they also can spew out some pretty confusing health tips. A few months ago, Tropic Sun reminded us that baking under hot lamps — just like the sun — can provide us with desperately needed vitamin D! Hmm. We'd also like to point out that a hot fudge sundae is loaded with calcium! 
Best business saturation: If you ever need to quickly have your nails done, chances are you are within walking distance of a salon. In Worcester alone, a Yellow Pages search reveals more than 160 businesses with the word "nails" in the title alone — and we don't mean the kind you whack with a hammer. Best place to get praised for your car: Call it a copy editor's nightmare, but the signs for S&K valet — the guys who handle parking for Bocado, Mezcal and Block 5, among many others — offer you something more than curbside service. Their signs promote a "complimentary" valet experience, as in, "Hey, nice car! That'll be $50," rather than "complementary" service, as in "free." They give you the latter, but a part of us always hopes for the former. Best showing by a "little guy": Though the chains took the top spots in our "Best Pool Hall" category, it was nonetheless gratifying to see the healthy number of votes Elite Billiards on Main Street received. Buffeted by the construction turmoil at the theater next door (including a broken sign), this neighborhood institution is apparently still highly regarded by its customers. We like 'em, too. Highest and best use: We wonder what it means when the store-front businesses closest to City Hall are all donut shops, nail salons and a quickie mart. It's too late, we suppose, for the return of Denholm's. o
Where to go, what to do, and who does it best While it's only been seven years since we painstakingly counted paper ballots that our readers submitted through the mail, it seems light years ago. The ways of pencil and postage have evolved seamlessly into mouse clicks and hitting the "send" key. That technological advance has not slowed our readers one bit - in fact, the volume and pace of voting for your favorites has quickened. This year, we received more than 1,700 qualified ballots. And, thanks to ever-improving software and a seasoned staff, fraud and ballot-stuffing have all but been eliminated. Our greatest challenge, it seems, is your creative spelling (we had nearly a dozen different ways to spell "EcoTarium," for example — and don't get us started on "Leitrim's" or "Wholly Cannoli"). We counted everything we could decipher. We believe this year's survey is a truer representation of our readers' choices than ever before. That accounts for the return of some old favorites to our list - and a number of new ones as well - from all over Worcester County. Congratulations to them all. There are some other things you should also know. The most common call we get after this issue appears in print or on our Web site is "So-and-so should have won — I know, because I voted for him/her/it and so did 50 of my friends." Given our sophisticated technology (and the aforementioned staff), the numbers are what they are — there's no margin of error. The totals have been checked and re-checked, and the votes speak for themselves. Also, your ballot was NOT counted if: You did not completely provide your name, address, phone number and e-mail address; you did not vote in at least 15 categories (voting for the same thing 15 times did NOT count); and/or you voted for chains (e.g., AAA, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Dunkin' Donuts, Home Depot, Panera, Newbury Comics, Starbuck's and a whole host of steakhouses, to mention a few) doing business outside Worcester County. Also, votes in the "People" category were not counted if you did not provide the last name and place of employment for nominees as requested. Another thing to remember: Just because a person, product or service wins in a particular category, that does not mean that this magazine endorses the people, products or services mentioned — these are your choices, not ours. Here we go. These are the categories as they appeared on the ballot, followed by the winners and their addresses and phone numbers (if applicable). The runners-up follow the winners. Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote. We were counting on you and you came through — proving once again that among the best of Worcester are the readers of Worcester Magazine. o
And the winner is...ENTERTAINMENT Bowling alley Colonial Bowling Center 284 Mill St. 508-754-7645 Runner-up: AMF Shrewsbury College bar Leitrim's Pub 265 Park Ave. 508-752-0502 Runner-up: The Blarney Stone Dance Club Irish Times/Rehab 244 Main St. 508-797-9599 Runner-up: Fusion 
Driving range Auburn Golf and Learning Center 541 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-0557 Runner-up: Wachusett Country Club Family fun destination Crystal Caves Family Entertainment Center 790 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-0797 Runner-up: The EcoTarium Golf course / private Pleasant Valley Country Club 95 Armsby Road, Sutton 508-865-4441 Runner-up: Worcester Country Club Golf course / public Green Hill Golf Course 2 Green Hill Ave. 508-799-1356 Runner-up: Wachusett Country Club Live music venue Lucky Dog Music Hall 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 Runner-up: The Dive Bar Museum Worcester Art Museum 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 Runner-up: Higgins Armory Museum Pool hall Boston Billiards Club 454 Grove St. 508-852-2121 Runner up: Jillian's Billiard Club Theatre production company Foothills Theatre 100 Front St. 508-754-3314 Runner-up: Stageloft Repertory Theater Tobacconist  The Owl Shop 416 Main St. 508-753-0423 Runner-up: Victory Cigar Bar Wedding venue Mechanics Hall 321 Main St. 508-752-5608 Runner-up: Tower Hill Botanic Garden FOOD & DRINK Bagels Bagel Time 194 Park Ave. 508-798-0440 Runner-up: Bagel Inn Bakery Crown Bakery 133 Gold Star Blvd. 508-852-0746 Runner-up: Widoff's Bakery Breakfast Gold Star Restaurant 68 West Boylston St. 508-852-7900 Runner-up: Annie's Clark Brunch Catering service Pepper's Fine Foods Catering 43 Hudson St., Northboro 508-393-6844 Runner-up: Struck Catering Cheeseburgers Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner 95 Prescott St. 508-753-9543 Runner-up: Annie's Clark Brunch Chicken wings Wings Over Worcester 1 Kelley Sq. 508-421-9464 Runner up: West Side Steak & BBQ Coffee The Bean Counter 113 Highland St. 508-754-3125 Runner-up: On the Rise 
Desserts Caffe Dolce 154 Shrewsbury St. 508-754-3761 Runner-up: Wholly Cannoli Diner Kenmore Diner 250 Franklin St. 508-792-5125 Runner-up: The Boulevard Diner Dining bang for the buck Annie's Clark Brunch 934 Main St. 508-756-1550 Runner-up: Mac's Diner Grinders Regatta Deli 28 Lake Ave. 508-756-6916 Runner-up: Steve's Pizza Hot dogs Coney Island Lunch  158 Southbridge St. 508-753-4362 Runner-up: Hot Dog Annie's Ice cream Pinecroft Dairy Inc. 555 Prospect St., West Boylston 508-853-0717 Runner-up: Gibby's Lunch spot Annie's Clark Brunch 934 Main St. 508-756-1550 Runner-up: Block 5 Martini Block 5 139 Green St. 508-767-3483 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor Seafood & Spirits 
New restaurant (in business one year or less) Mezcal Tequila Cantina 166 Shrewsbury St. 508-926-8308 Runner-up: Via Italian Table Pizza joint Wonder Bar Restaurant 121 Shrewsbury St. 508-752-9909 Runner-up: Blue Jeans Pizza Pub restaurant O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar 1160 West Boylston St. 508-853-0789 Runner-up: The Boynton Restaurant Restaurant 111 Chop House  111 Shrewsbury St. 508-799-4111 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor Seafood & Spirits Restaurant / barbecue West Side Steak & BBQ 2 Richmond Ave. 508-756-6328 Runner-up: Pampas Churrascaria Restaurant / beer selection Brew City Grill & Brew House 104 Shrewsbury St. 508-752-3862 Runner-up: The Dive Bar Restaurant / bread O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar 1160 West Boylston St. 508-853-0789 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor Seafood & Spirits 
Restaurant / buffet Nancy Chang 372 Chandler St. 508-752-8899 Runner-up: Imperial Buffet Restaurant / Chinese Nancy Chang 372 Chandler St. 508-752-8899 Runner-up: The New Ping's Garden Restaurant Restaurant / country Carmella's Italian Kitchen Rte. 9, Brookfield 508-867-5475 Runners-up: The Publick House, Salem Cross Inn (TIE) Restaurant / family-friendly The Boynton Family Restaurant 117 Highland St. 508-756-8458 Runner-up: The Grand Slam Cafe Restaurant / Indian Surya Indian Cuisine 299 Shrewsbury St. 508-752-3700 Runner-up: The India Cafe 
Restaurant / Italian Dino's Ristorante 13 Lord St. 508-753-9978 Runner-up: Via Italian Table Restaurant / Latin Bocado 82 Winter St. 508-797-1011 Runner-up: Maria's Kitchen Restaurant / Mexican Mezcal Tequila Cantina 166 Shrewsbury St. 508-926-8308 Runner-up: Tortilla Sam's Restaurant / Middle Eastern El Basha Various locations in Worcester and Westboro Runner-up: Shiraz Restaurant / romantic Bocado 82 Winter St. 508-797-1011 Runner-up: 111 Chop House Restaurant / seafood The Sole Proprietor Seafood and Spirits  118 Highland St. 508-798-3474 Runner-up: Coral Seafood Restaurant / service 111 Chop House 111 Shrewsbury St. 508-799-4111 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor Seafood & Spirits Restaurant / Southeast Asian (Thai, Vietnamese) Dalat Restaurant 425 Park Ave. 508-753-6036 Runner-up: Sakura Tokyo Restaurant / Sushi Baba Restaurant 309 Park Ave. 508-752-8822 Runner up: Haiku Restaurant / traditional American The Boynton Family Restaurant 117 Highland St. 508-756-8458 Runner-up: Block 5 Restaurant / wine list 111 Chop House 111 Shrewsbury St. 508-799-4111 Runner-up: Bocado Ribs Wings Over Worcester 1 Kelley Sq. 508-421-9464 Runner up: West Side Steak & BBQ Salad 111 Chop House 111 Shrewsbury St. 508-799-4111 Runner-up: Ciao Bella Soup Spoodles 358 Main St. 508-755-0800 Runner-up: Ciao Bella 
Steaks 111 Chop House 111 Shrewsbury St. 508-799-4111 Runner-up: Block 5 Sunday brunch Maxwell Silverman's Restaurant Worcester Center Boulevard 508-755-1200 Runner-up: Beechwood Hotel Vegetarian food The Living Earth 232 Chandler St. 508-753-1896 Runner-up: Nancy Chang MEDIA Columnist Dianne Williamson, Telegram and Gazette Runner-up: Scott Zoback, Worcester Magazine News (radio or TV) Fox 25 Runner-up: WTAG Radio personality Jordan Levy  WTAG Runner-up: Hank Stolz Radio station WXLO 250 Commercial St. 508-752-1045 Runner-up: WSRS MERCHANDISE / SERVICE Antique store Brickyard Place Antiques & Collectibles 65 Water St. 508-755-4500 Runner-up: Happy Birthday Mike Leslie Bank Flagship Bank Various locations in Worcester County Runner-up: Commerce Bank Bike shop Bicycle Alley 1067 Main St. 508-752-2230 Runner-up: Barney's Bicycle Bookstore Tatnuck Bookseller Westboro 18 Lyman St., Westboro 508-366-2548 Runner-up: Ben Franklin Bookstore Butcher shop Emerald Meats 347 Chandler St. 508-756-2700 Runner-up: Fairway Beef Car dealer / new cars Harr Ford 29 Glennie St. 508-852-5811 Runner-up: Diamond Car dealer / used cars Linder's Inc. 211 Granite St. 508-756-5125 Runner-up: Mill Street Motors Car wash Ernie's Car Wash Various locations in Worcester County Runner-up: Gervais Auto Body & Car Wash Clothing / Men's Shack's Clothes Locations in Worcester and Auburn 508-753-8188/832-6258 Runner-up: Armando's Clothing / Women's Tush  138 Green St. 508-791-8874 Runner up: Ike's Den College Clark University 950 Main St. 508-793-7711 Runner-up: Worcester State College Cosmetic surgeon Cynthia Poulos 17 South St., Northboro 508-393-4544 Runner up: David Connors Credit union Digital Federal Credit Union Various locations Runner up: AllCom Credit Union Dance School Salsa Storm 9 Harrison St. 508-854-8489 Runner up: Charlotte Klein Day spa Tu Moda European Day Spa 574 Pleasant St. 508-754-1513 Runners-up: Jeffrey Robert Salon & Spa and Paul Conzo Day Spa (TIE) Ethnic market Ed Hyder's Mediterranean Market Place 408 Pleasant St. 508-755-0258 Runner-up: Santiago's Fish market West Boylston Seafood Co. 1078 West Boylston St. 508-853-3655 Runner-up: A.P. Fish Flower shop Sprout 118 June St. 508-757-5300 Runner-up: The Perfect Package Frame store Framed in Tatnuck 1099 Pleasant St. 508-770-1270 Runner-up: Gaston Art & Frame Furniture / handcrafted Blackington Furniture 172 Shrewsbury St. 774-696-5145 Runner up: Dovetail Furniture Gift shop Bhadon Gift Gallery Various locations in Worcester and Holden Runner-up: The Perfect Package Gym / health club Worcester Fitness Various locations in Worcester Runner-up: Greendale YMCA Hair salon D'Iorio's 335-A Plantation St. 508-756-7791 Runner-up: Jeffrey Robert Salon & Spa Hardware store I. B. Barrows 15 Webster St. 508-752-7191 Runner-up: Elwood Adams Insurance agency Marsh Kemp Insurance 28 Park Ave. 508-798-8863 Runner-up: Sullivan, Garrity & Donnelly Jewelry store Sharfmans Jewelers 19 Glennie St. 508-792-2211 Runner-up: Sach's Jewelers Limousine service Joey's Limousine Service 76 West Mountain St. 508-754-9575 Runner-up: Knight's Limousine Service Liquor store Austin Liquors 50 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury 508-755-8100 Runner-up: State Liquors Musical instruments store Kurlan Music Center 17 East Mountain St. 508-853-6417 Runner-up: Union Music Nursery / garden center Bigelow Nurseries Inc. 455 West Main St., Northboro 508-845-2143 Runner-up: Shrewsbury Nurseries Optician Bello Opticians 348 Shrewsbury St. 508-798-2421 Runner-up: Atchue Opticians Tanning salon Sun City  Lauren Callahan tans at Sun City. 508-852-0900 Runner-up: Indian Summer Tattoo parlor Out of the Dark World 256 Grafton St. 508-459-5798 Runner-up: The Piercing Emporium Tire store C & R Tire Co. 111 Randolph Road 508-852-6464 Runner-up: Harding Tire Travel agency Young's Worldwide Travel 31-A Auburn St., Auburn 508-721-2620 Runner-up: All Cruise and Travel Yoga / holistic / wellness center Flow Forms Yoga 195 Lake Ave. 508-752-4700 Runner-up: Highland Chiropractic PEOPLE Bartender Alec Lopez  Alec Lopez of The Dive Bar. 34 Green St. 508-752-5802 Chef Steve Champagne  Steve Champagne of Block 5. 139 Green St. 508-767-3483 City councilor Kate Toomey Hair stylist Jeffrey Kilcoyne Jeffrey Robert Salon and Spa 1 Kelley Square 508-792-4247 Massage therapist Mary Forjette  Mary Forgette of Tu Moda European Day Spa. 574 Pleasant St. 508-754-1513 Short-order cook Annie Jenkins  Annie Jenkins and Megan Mancini of Annie’s Clark Brunch. 934 Main St. 508-756-1550 State Representative Robert Spellane State Senator Edward Augustus Waiter Michael LeBlanc Peterson Cedar Street Restaurant 12 Cedar St., Sturbridge 508-347-5800 Waitress Megan Mancini Annie's Clark Brunch 934 Main St. 508-756-1550 Thank you for voting!
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