2014 Top of the Town Final Five Nominees

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Top of the Town Awards enters Final Five round

“It was an honor just being nominated.”

That, traditionally, is what the losers say from the wings through clenched teeth and barely concealed contempt. But in the case of the City Pulse/News 6/MLive Lansing Top of the Town Awards, a nomination is a significant distinction all its own. Every name you see on the next 11 pages is a tribute to the best of everything that makes the Capital city so … capital, from Grand Ledge to Williamston, and from DeWitt to Dimondale.

It’s all in fun; there’s no cash prize, just bragging rights. If life is a competitive foot race, consider the Top of the Town Awards a downhill stretch with a cool back breeze.

The only two themes tying the contenders together are geography and all-around awesomeness. Contestants are pitted against each other in 88 categories: Politicians are up against politicians. Comedians against comedians. Marijuana strains versus marijuana strains. Only in the Top of the Town Awards could the same name appear in all three categories.

Never before has Lansing been celebrated in such diversity. Or levity.

Round 1, which launched March 19, narrowed the field down. Over 10,000 of you voted for the best in local dining, arts, entertainment, retail and politics, and now you get to vote again. Starting today, Round 2 takes the contest into its final leg, where the true winner will emerge May 21.

We asked you to vote for your favorite [fill in the blanks] and then we did the math. The list was winnowed down to a lean five contenders in each category, and now we want you to vote for a winner. (Sometimes there weren’t enough vote-getters to warrant a top five; sometimes a tie resulted in six nominees — just in case you’re wondering.) Only one can cross that finish line first.

Several upgrades from last year include new categories and new ways to vote. This year, for the first time, you can vote from your smart phone using the new free City Pulse app, The Pulse. It’s easily downloadable from your favorite mobile app store. Or if you want to vote the old fashioned way, you can go to lansingcitypulse.com/finalfive. Additionally, votes from the first round carry over this year, giving you a second chance to cast a ballot for your favorite band, burger or bookstore.

We’re not playing favorites with those bold-faced entries; those businesses are members of Capital Area Local First, a nonprofit group dedicated to advancing locally owned establishments. It’s no mystery: buying local is good for the local economy, good for your community and good for the environment.

So take a gander at the people, places and businesses on the following pages and know they wouldn’t be here without the acclaim of the people who put them there. And only the people —that’s you — can pick a champion.

Let the voting begin.

-Allan I. Ross


List is in alphabetic order. Bold nominees marked with (*) are members of Capital Area Local First. For more information, see page 3.

BEST SHOPPING

Antique Shop
• Antiques Market (Williamston)
• Lambs Gate Antiques
• Love, Betti
• Mason Antique District
• Mega Mall

Art Gallery
• Absolute Gallery
• Broad Museum
• Creole Gallery
• Lansing Art Gallery
Saper Gallery*

Bookstore
• Barnes & Noble (Lansing Mall)
• Bestsellers (Mason)
• Curious Book Shop
• Schuler Books & Music (Eastwood)
• Schuler Books & Music (Meridian Mall)

Butcher
• Goodrich’s Shoprite
• Horrock’s
• Merindorf Meats (Mason)
• Merindorf Meats (Williamston)
• Mert’s Meats

Clothing Store
• DEFYE Clothing
• Grace Boutique
• Kohl’s
• Maurice’s (Meridian Mall)
• Younker’s

Consignment Shop
• Goodwill Emporium
• Kellie’s Consignments
• Plato’s Closet
• Plush Consignments
• Second Time Around

Convenience/ Liquor Store
• Big Ten Party Store (Holt)
• Big Ten Party Store (East Lansing)
• Oades Big Ten Party Store (Clippert St.)
• Quality Dairy
• Tom’s Party Store

Florist
• BA Florist
• Bancroft Flowers
• Horrocks
• Smith Floral
• Tallulah’s Folly

Indoor Grow Store
• Capital City Grower Supply
• Greener Planet
• H2O Hydroponics (Okemos)
• Horizen Hydroponics
• Hydroworld

Jewelry Store
• Becky Beauchane Kulka
• H&H Jewelry Design
• Kay’s Jewelry
• Medawar Jewelers (West)
• Medawar Jewelers (Frandor)

Local Grocery Store
• D&W Fresh Market (Williamston)
East Lansing Food Co-op*
• Foods for Living
• Goodrich’s Shop-Rite
• Horrock’s

Musical Instrument Store
• Elderly Instruments
• Guitar Center
• Marshall Music
• Meridian Winds
• Music Manor

Pet Store
• Capital Area Humane Society
• Pet Supplies Plus
• PetSmart
• Preuss Pets
• Soldan’s

Produce/Farmers Market • Allen St. Farmers Market*
• East Lansing Farmers Market
• Horrock’s Farm Market
• Lansing City Market
• Meridian Township Farmers Market

Vinyl Record Store
• Dicker & Deal
• Flat, Black & Circular
• Record Lounge Replay Entertainment Exchange
• Schuler Books & Music (Eastwood)

Wine Shop
• Dusty’s Cellar
• Goodrich’s Shop-Rite
• Horrock’s
• Vine & Brew
• World Market

BEST WHATEVER

Annual Festival/Event
• Be A Tourist In Your Own Town
• Common Ground Music Festival
• East Lansing Art Festival
• Old Town BluesFest
• Festival of the Sun & Moon

Best Night Out
• Connxtions Comedy Club
• Downtown Lansing
• Lugnuts Game
• Painting With A Twist
Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern*

Best Local Theatre Group
• Lansing Community College
• MSU Theatre Dept.
• Peppermint Creek Theatre Co.
• Riverwalk Theatre
• Williamston Theatre

Best Marijuana Strain
• Blue Cheese
• Blueberry Kush
• Danny Trevino
• Headband
• Virg Bernero

Place to take Outof-Towners (tie)
• Broad Art Museum
• Connxtions Comedy Club
• Golden Harvest
• Lugnuts Game
• MSU Campus
• Old Town

BEST PEOPLE

Best Bartender

• Cattie Jensen (The Avenue)
• Craig Doepker (Mac’s Bar)
Kevin Angell (Soup Spoon Caf*)
• Rocky Gray (Ledges Sports Bar & Grill)
• Sami Hutting (Watershed Tavern & Grill)

Best Local Politician
• Barbara Byrum
• Gretchen Whitmer
• Mike Rogers
• Rick Snyder
• Virg Bernero

Best Car Saleperson
• Brent Wesley (Shaheen Chevrolet)
• Dennis Lemon (Shaheen Chevrolet)
• Dorene Fuller (Grand Ledge Ford)
• Jimmy Johnson (Sundance Chevrolet)
• Nick Cypher (Sundance Chevrolet)

Best Environmentalist
• Cecilia “Chica” Garcia
• Denis Laidler (Potter Park Zoo)
• Jessica Yorko
• Julie Powers
• Nature Conservatory of Michigan

Best Local Comedian
• Dan Currie
• Dwayne Gill
• Evan Pinsonnault
• Jason Carlen
• Melik Brown

Local FM/ AM Radio Personality
• Alabama (97.5 NOWFM)
• Banana Don & Stephanie (100.7 WITL)
• Deb Hart (94.9 WMMQ)
• Josh Strickland (97.5 NOW FM)
• Tim Barron (92.9 WLMI)

Local TV News Personality
• Andy Provenzano (WILX)
• Evan Pinsonnault (WLNS)
• Jake Dunne (WLNS)
• Jane Aldrich (WLNS)
• Jason Colthorp (WILX)

Worst Local Politician
• Carol Wood
• Mike Rogers
• Rick Jones
• Rick Snyder
• Virg Bernero

BEST DINING

Asian Cuisine

• AI Fusion
• Maru
• P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
• Sansu
• Ukai Japanese Hibachi & Sushi

BBQ
• Backyard BarBQ
• Famous Dave’s
• Meat. Southern BBQ & Carnivore Cuisine
• Smokey Bones
• Wacousta General Store

Bakery
• Bake ‘N Cakes*
• Great Harvest Bread Co.
• Roma Bakery
• Sugar Shack
• Sweetie-licious

Breakfast
• Bob Evans
• Flap Jack Restaurants
• Fleetwood Diner
• Golden Harvest
• Soup Spoon Caf*

Lansing-area Brewery
• BAD Brewing Company
• Eagle Monk
• Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub
• Midtown Brewing Company

Burger
• Bagger Dave’s
• Crunchy’s
• Dagwood’s Tavern & Grill
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries
• Red Robin

Chili (tie)
• Beggar’s Banquet
• Buddie’s Pub & Grill
• Dagwood’s Tavern & Grill
• Meat. Southern BBQ & Carnivore Cuisine
• Soup Spoon Caf*
• Wendy’s

Cocktails
• Applebee’s
• The Exchange
• Soup Spoon Caf*
• Watershed Tavern & Grill
Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern*

Craft Beer Selection
• Crunchy’s
• Harry’s Place
• Hopcat
• Taps 25*
• Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern*

Dessert
• Bake ‘N Cakes
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Grand Traverse Pie Co
.• MSU Dairy Store
• Sugar Shack

Diner
• Fleetwood Diner
• Fork in the Road
• Golden Harvest
• Soup Spoon Caf*
• Theio’s

Farm to Table (Local Products)
• Dewitt Farmers Market
• Fork in the Road • Horrock’s
• Lansing City Market
• Red Haven

Fries
• Dagwood’s Tavern & Grill
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries
• Hopcat • McDonald’s
• Red Robin

Gourmet Restaurant
• Capital Prime Steaks & Seafood
• Dusty’s Cellar
• English Inn
• Red Haven
• Soup Spoon Caf*

Indian
• Jerusalem Bakery
• Myanmar Family Restaurant
• Persis Indian Grill
• Sindhu Indian Cuisine
• Swagath Indian Cuisine

Italian

• Bravo!
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill
• Cugino’s
• Deluca’s Restaurant
• Emil’s

Mediterranean
• Aladdin’s
• Embassy Grill
• Sultan’s Place
• Woody’s Oasis
• Zaytoon Mediterranean

Mexican
• Cancun Mexican Grill
• El Azteco
• El Oasis
• Los Tres Amigos
• Pablo’s Panderia

New Restaurant
• Capital Prime Steaks and Seafood
• Famous Dave’s
• Hopcat
• Tom and Chee
• Zaytoon’s Mediterranean

Pizza
• Arts Bar and Grill
• Cugino’s
• Deluca’s Restaurant
• Jet’s Pizza
• Pizza House

Restaurant Wait Staff
• Applebees
• Golden Harvest
Soup Spoon Caf*
• Texas Roadhouse
• Watershed Tavern & Grill

Sandwich/Deli
• Big John’s Steak and Onion
Jersey Giant*
• Jimmy John’s
• McAllister’s Deli
Soup Spoon Cafe*

Seafood
• AI Fusion
• Blue Gill Grill
• Maru Sushi
• Mitchell’s Fish Market
• Red Lobster

Steak
• Capital Prime Steaks and Seafood
• Knight Cap
• Outback Steakhouse (Okemos)
• Outback Steakhouse (West Side)
• Texas Roadhouse

Sushi
• AI Fusion Sushi & Grill
• Maru (Lake Lansing)
• Maru (Okemos)
• SanSu Sushi
• Ukai Japanese Steakhouse

Vegetarian/ Vegan/Gluten Free (tie)
• Better Health Caf
• Fork in the Road
• Golden Harvest
• LEAF
Soup Spoon Caf*
• Woody’s Oasis

BEST LOCAL MUSIC

Best Local Solo Artist
• Jen Sygit
• Jimi Kanklez
• Phil Denny
• Taylor Taylor
• WardSkillz

Club DJ
• Craig Doepker
• DJ Donnie D
• DJ James
• DJ Leeky
• Skitzo

Radio Station
• 88.9 The Impact
• 94.1 The Edge
• 96.5 Power FM
• 97.5 NOW FM
• 100.7 WITL

Cover Band
• Global Village
• Kathy Ford Band
• Showdown
• Soulstice
• Starfarm

Original Band
• Devereux
• The Devils Cut
• Frog & the Beeftones
• Root Doctor
• Steppin In It

BEST HANGOUTS

Best Spartan Sports Hangouts
• Buffalo Wild Wings (East Lansing)
• Buffalo Wild Wing’s (Lansing)
• Crunchy’s
• Reno’s East
• Spartan Hall of Fame Caf

Coffee Shop
• Avenue Caf
• Biggby (Holt)
• Biggby (Okemos)
• Decker’s Coffee Company
• Grand River Coffee Caf

Church (tie)
• Cristo Rey
• Mount Hope Church
• Riverview
• St. John Student Parish
• Trinity Church
• Unitarian Universalist

Dance Bar
• Dublin Square
• Green Door
• Harem Urban Lounge
• Spiral Dance Bar
• Whiskey Barrel

Gay/Lesbian Bar
• Esquire Bar
• Preston’s Bar
• Sir Pizza Grand Caf
• Spiral Dance Bar
• Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern*

Karaoke
• Buddies Pub & Grill (Okemos)
• Crunchy’s
• Ledges Sports Bar & Grill
• Leroy’s Classic Bar & Grill
• Sir Pizza Grand Caf

Movie Theater • Celebration! Cinema
• Goodrich Lansing Mall 6
• NCG Cinemas
• Studio C!
• Sun Theater (Grand Ledge)

Music Venue
• Avenue Caf
• Breslin Center
• Green Door
• The Loft
• Mac’s Bar

Open-Mic Night
• Comedy Night at The Green Door
• Connxtions Comedy Club
• Dagwood’s Tavern & Grill
• Mac’s Monday Comedy Night
• Sir Pizza Grand Caf

Patio
• Blue Gill Grill
• El Azteco (East Lansing)
• Peanut Barrel
• Reno’s West
• Waterfront Bar & Grill

Pub/Tavern
• Claddagh Irish Pub
• Crunchy’s
• Dagwoods Bar & Grill
• Watershed Tavern & Grill
• Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern*

Sports Bar
• Buffalo Wild Wing’s (East Lansing)
• Buffalo Wild Wings (W. Saginaw)
• Champps
• Reno’s East
• Reno’s West

BEST SERVICES

Alternative Health
• Alive – Charlotte
• Creative Wellness Holistic Health Center
• East Lansing Hot Yoga
• Hilltop Yoga
• Just B Yoga

Auto Repair • A & J Transmission
• Brogan’s Tire & Auto Service
• Frankie D’s Auto and Truck Repair
• Mike’s Auto Care
• Shaheen Chevrolet

Bank/Credit Union
• C.A.S.E
• Chase
• LAFCU
• Lake Trust Credit Union
• MSU Federal Credit Union

Bicycle Shop
• Denny’s Central
• Park Bicycles
• Holt Pro Cycle
• Riverfront Cycle
• SPIN Bicycle Shop
• Velocipede Peddler

Car Wash/ Detailing
• Fast Eddie’s (Holt)
• Fast Eddie’s (West Side)
• Kwik Car Wash (Cedar)
• Showroom Shine (East Lansing)
• Soapy Joe’s

Electrical
• B & D Electric
• Bohnet Electrical Co.
• BWL
• Capital City Electric Co.
• Consumers Energy

Hotel/Bed & Breakfast (tie)
• Cozy Koi B & B
• English Inn
• Kellogg Center
• Marriott at University Place (East Lansing)
• Radisson Hotel
• Wild Goose Inn

Laundromat/Dry Cleaners
• Baryames
• Holt Cleaners
• Maurer’s
• Point Laundry
• Sunshine Laundromat (Frandor)

Lawyer
• Aaron Matthews
• Andrew Abood
• Doug Meeks
• Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C.
• Sinas Dramis Law Firm

Maid Service
• Aunt JoJo’s Cleaning Service
• Bee Clean
• Leeney’s Cleaning Service
• Merry Maids
• Molly Maid of Lansing

Movers
• B & J Moving Storage
• EJ & Sons Moving Services
• Kingsley Moving Systems
• Two Men and a Truck
• U-Haul

Pet Care Services
• AnnaBelle’s Pet Station
• Miller Animal Clinic
• Patterson’s
• Waverly Animal Hospital
• Wag’n Tails Pet Resort

Photographer
• Autumn Luciano Photography
• Benjamin David
• Jena McShane Photography
• Jessica Cowles
• Natosha Cribbs Photography

Plumber (tie)
• Applegate Heating & Plumbing
• Capital City Plumbing
• Fedewa Plumbing
• Hedlund Plumbing
• Meridian Plumbing
• Michigan Plumbing Sewer & Drain Cleaning

Salon/Spa/ Barber Shop
• Douglas J. Aveda Institute
• Douglas J. (Okemos)
• Headroom Salon
• Matthew Ryan Salon
• Patrick’s Salon & Spa

Tanning Salon
• J2
• Pacific Tan
• Simple as 1,2,Tan
• Tanfaster South
• Tanzmania

Tattoo Parlor
• Eclectic Art Tattoo Gallery
• Fish Ladder Tattoo
• Liquid Tattoo
• Splash of Color
• Vivid Ink


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