The train wreck that is Charlie Sheen may have made the word “winning” a national trend, but in our neck of the woods, the first week of April has always been about winning. Well, winners, actually, because it’s time to announce the winners of our annual Readers’ Choice poll, which gives our readers a chance to tell us the people and places they love in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
This issue is just the first step in celebrating this year’s winners — join us Wednesday, April 6 at 8 p.m. for the Readers’ Choice Awards party at Breaker’s inside Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. DJ Freckletone will be spinning, and your winners will be winning — hopefully a little better than Mr. Sheen.
Here are your Readers’ Choice 2011 winners, NEPA:
Best New Restaurant
“It’s a real honor,” says Kevin Boylan, owner of Kevin’s Bar & Restaurant in Kingston, of winning. “It shows that we’re obviously making an impression on the local restaurant scene.”
Kevin’s opened in September and features a menu ranging from steak and oysters to chicken parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs. With a cocktail lounge upstairs, a bar downstairs and private rooms for parties, Boylan says the building has a great vibe and is a real fun atmosphere.
As for their plaque, Boylan knows right where to put it.
“We want to hang it right where you come in so everyone will see it.”
RUNNER-UP: Mizu
Best Chef
Dave Ciminelli, chef and owner of AuRants in Duryea, describes his restaurant as a place of fine food, but with a very casual atmosphere.
“It’s like a local watering hole, and at the same time, a nice sit-down restaurant.”
He plans to hang his plaque in his office with other write-ups and such he has collected about AuRants. Ciminelli says he loves what he does and is very thankful for the loyalty of his customers.
“There are a lot of restaurants out there and a lot of chefs by far,” he says. “It’s something to be proud of.”
RUNNER-UP: Gary Edwards, Fire & Ice
Best Tattoo Artist
Some people express art through painting, drawing and even by gluing random objects together on a blank canvas. Rhiannon Wallace, who won Best Tattoo Artist, defines art in another way.
“I love it!” says Wallace. “Tattooing is just another form of art. I love painting and drawing, but the skin is just another way to show art. I enjoy tattoos more now than I did drawing. I never thought that would be the case.”
Wallace, who has only been in the tattoo industry for 3 1/2 years, was not expecting such an award.
“It’s great because it’s the voter’s choice,” says Wallace. “It means a lot to me because I haven’t been tattooing for long, and I really appreciate it.”
RUNNER-UP: Ron Russo, 5-7-0 Tattooing Co.
Best Solo Musician
Having released his first solo album, “For What It’s Worth,” last May, Ronnie Williams is no stranger to the music scene — he’s performed with bands such as Midnight Rain and Bad Hair Day.
“As I got older, I just wanted to pursue my career as a solo artist, so I just decided to start playing the guitar and try to go up front.”
He is excited to have won this year’s Readers’ Choice for best solo musician, saying that it shows how loyal fans can be and how much they like him.
“I just want to thank everybody for their support over the years and for voting for me.”
RUNNER-UP: Mike Miz
Best Politician
Congressman Lou Barletta brings home his second Readers’ Choice award for Best Politician, after tying with Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton last year.
“I feel very proud, and I’m honored to accept this award from the Weekender for another year,” he says. “The award means so much because it was the people that made the selection.”
Formerly the mayor of Hazleton, Barletta says he still has a great relationship with the people of Northeast Pennsylvania and is thankful for their continued support. He plans to hang the plaque either in his district office or his personal office at home.
RUNNER-UP: Rep. Phyllis Mundy
Best Visual Artist
Alison Schmidt is a late-blooming artist: She started painting at the age of 30.
“I was originally studying to be a science teacher, and some things occurred in my life,” Schmidt says. “I always wanted to be an artist. I love making art. It is fantastic, and it felt like it was something I was always meant to do.”
Notorious for his bling, Flavor Flav usually wears an oversized clock around his neck; Schmidt plans on doing the same with Weekender award.
“I have been joking with my friends that I was going to wear it like a necklace like Flavor Flav,” says Schmidt. “I am so excited. It will probably go with my diplomas in my house, until I get a studio place.”
RUNNER-UP: Sarah Schimeneck
Best Sports Bar
General Manager Kathi Bankes of Lucky’s Sporthouse is really excited for Lucky’s third consecutive win for Best Sports Bar.
“We have a state-of-the-arts sports bar, 30 huge plasma TVs, 20 beers on tap, great service, and our bartenders are knowledgeable in sports and can converse back and forth with the customers,” says Bankes. “We keep winning because we treat our guest great. We love our fans, and we hope they keep on voting for us.”
Bankes has been with Lucky’s Sporthouse since 2009.
“I love the people, the guests, the staff. I think I have the best staff in the valley. I love that we are not a chain, and everything is made from scratch here.”
RUNNER-UP: Patte’s
Best Clothing Boutique
Most little girls loved playing with Barbie dolls, dressing them up and seeing which pair of shoes and which handbag matched each outfit. Natalie Wilczynski, owner of Bratty Natty’s in Kingston, did not expect to be doing just that the rest of her life and loving it.
“I love my customers, I love seeing people every day, showing them the new styles and just basically working with people,” says Wilczyncki. “I have a great customer base. I have my regulars, and it’s so much fun playing dress up with them every day. When my customers walk out of here without spending so much money, it makes me so happy.”
With the shop open just eight months, Wilczynski was surprised to have won Best Clothing Boutique.
“I am just really grateful to be compared to so many businesses.”
RUNNER-UP: Bettie & Co.
BEST BAR
Wilkes-Barre Hardware Bar
RUNNER-UP: Metro Bar and Grill
BEST NEW BAR
West Side Caf�
RUNNER-UP: Mulligan’s
BEST CORNER BAR
Cafe 99
RUNNER-UP: Liam’s
BEST COLLEGE BAR
Senunas’
RUNNER-UP: Beer Boys
BEST DANCE CLUB
Evolution
RUNNER-UP: Reflex
BEST KARAOKE NIGHT
Old Tyme Charley’s
RUNNER-UP: Kildare’s
BEST BIKE NIGHT
Outsider’s
RUNNER-UP: Damon’s
BEST IRISH BAR
Kildare’s
RUNNER-UP: Liam’s
BEST ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE BAR
Twist
RUNNER-UP: 12 Penny
BEST RESTAURANT
AuRants
RUNNER-UP: Metro Bar and Grill
BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE
Olive Garden
RUNNER-UP: T.G.I. Friday’s
BEST DELI/LUNCH
Circles on the Square
RUNNER-UP: Goldstein’s Deli
BEST ICE CREAM
Hillside Farms
RUNNER-UP: Manning Farm Dairy
BEST BAKERY
Bakery Delite
RUNNER-UP: Sanitary Bakery
BEST HOAGIES
Subway
RUNNER-UP: Dagwood’s
BEST BURGERS
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
RUNNER-UP: Red Robin
BEST HOT DOGS
Abe’s, South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre
RUNNER-UP: Ranch Wagon
BEST FRIES
Wendy’s
RUNNER-UP: Five Guys Burgers & Fries
BEST DINER
Eddie’s Place
RUNNER-UP: Glider Diner
BEST DESSERTS
Friendly’s
RUNNER-UP: Olive Garden
BEST VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT
Eden
RUNNER-UP: Thai Thai
BEST FINE DINING
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
RUNNER-UP: AuRants
BEST CHAIN RESTAURANT
Olive Garden
RUNNER-UP: T.G.I. Friday’s
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Peking Chef
RUNNER-UP: Asian Cafe
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Andy Perugino’s
RUNNER-UP: Leggio’s
BEST JAPANESE/SUSHI RESTAURANT
Katana
RUNNER-UP: Mirakuya
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
La Tolteca
RUNNER-UP: Chicano’s
BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Cooper’s Seafood House
RUNNER-UP: Red Lobster
BEST STEAKHOUSE
Outback
RUNNER-UP: Ruth’s Chris
BEST PIZZA
Angelo’s
RUNNER-UP: Pizza Perfect
BEST WINGS
Whiskey Business
RUNNER-UP: Kelly’s Pub.
BEST BEER
Miller Lite
RUNNER-UP: Coors Light
BEST MARTINI SELECTION
Arena Bar and Grill
RUNNER-UP: Cork Bar & Restaurant
BEST WINE SELECTION
Cork Bar & Restaurant
RUNNER-UP: Metro Bar and Grill
BEST BEER SELECTION
Arena Bar and Grill
RUNNER-UP: Metro Bar and Grill
BEST STRIP CLUB
Gentlemen’s Club 10
RUNNER-UP: Diamond Club
BEST JUKEBOX
The Bog
RUNNER-UP: Beer Boys
BEST DRINK SPECIALS
Arena Bar and Grill
RUNNER-UP: Scranton Hardware Bar
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Starbucks
RUNNER-UP: Dunkin Donuts
BEST ORIGINAL BAND
The Curse of Sorrow
RUNNER-UP: The Woody Browns Project
BEST COVER BAND
M80
RUNNER-UP: Pop Rox
BEST LARGE MUSIC VENUE
Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
RUNNER-UP: Mohegan Sun Arena
BEST CLUB-SIZED MUSIC VENUE
River Street Jazz Cafe
RUNNER-UP: Eleanor Rigby’s
BEST OPEN-MIC NIGHT
River Street Jazz Cafe
RUNNER-UP: Irish Wolf Pub
BEST TV ANCHOR
Tom Williams, WNEP
RUNNER-UP: Candice Kelly, WBRE
BEST TV WEATHERPERSON
Joe Snedeker, WNEP
RUNNER-UP: Tom Clarke, WNEP
BEST RADIO STATION
97.9X
RUNNER-UP: FM 92.1
BEST RADIO PERSONALITY
Jeff Walker, 98.5 KRZ
RUNNER-UP: Jim Bone, 97.9X
BEST COLLEGE RADIO STATION
88.5 WRKC, King’s College
RUNNER-UP: 90.7 WCLH, Wilkes University
BEST COLUMNIST/WRITER
Rich Howells, Go Lackawanna
RUNNER-UP: Brandon Halsey, author
BEST LOCAL FILMMAKER
Joe Van Wie
RUNNER-UP: James McCabe
BEST DJ
Richard David
RUNNER-UP: DJ Hersh
BEST FEMALE BARTENDER
Erin Piazza, River Street Jazz Cafe
RUNNER-UP: Leesa Colon, River Street Jazz Cafe
BEST MALE BARTENDER
Jimmy Finn, Cafe 99
RUNNER-UP: Mark Mason, Hops & Barleys
BEST BOUNCER
John Hoxie, Gentlemen’s Club 10
RUNNER-UP: Angelo Delsordo, Wilkes-Barre Hardware Bar
BEST WEBSITE/BLOG
Facebook.com
RUNNER-UP: theweekender.com
BEST FESTIVAL/BAZAAR/ANNUAL EVENT
Pittston Tomato Festival
RUNNER-UP: La Festa Italiana
BEST MOVIE THEATER
Cinemark
RUNNER-UP: Wilkes-Barre Movies 14
BEST PIERCER
Woody Wodock, Electric City Tattoo Gallery
RUNNER-UP: Nick Necro, Four Aces Tattoo Studio
BEST ART GALLERY
AFA Gallery
RUNNER-UP: Sordoni Art Gallery
BEST THEATER GROUP
Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre
RUNNER-UP: Gaslight Theatre Company
BEST BOOKSTORE
Barnes & Noble
RUNNER-UP: Borders
BEST COLLEGE
King’s College
RUNNER-UP: Wilkes University
WORST POLITICIAN
All of them
RUNNER-UP: Mark Ciavarella
BEST HOTEL
The Woodlands Inn & Resort
RUNNER-UP: Hilton Scranton
BEST SKI RESORT
Sno Mountain
RUNNER-UP: Elk Mountain Ski Resort
BEST GOLF COURSE
Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club
RUNNER-UP: Hollenback Golf Course
BEST GYM
Planet Fitness
RUNNER-UP: Danko’s All-American Fitness
BEST TRAINER
Terese Culver, Maximum Health & Fitness
RUNNER-UP: Matthew Balas, Odyssey Fitness
BEST BOWLING ALLEY
Chacko’s Family Bowling Center
RUNNER-UP: Idle Hour Lanes
BEST EXOTIC DANCER
Paige, Gentlemen’s Club 10
RUNNER-UP: Mystique, Gentlemen’s Club 10
BEST AUTO SALES
Motor World Auto Group
RUNNER-UP: Wyoming Valley Motors
BEST MOTORCYCLE SHOP
Electric City Harley Davidson
RUNNER-UP: Two Jacks Cycle
BEST JEWELER
MarCo Jewelers
RUNNER-UP: Kay Jewelers
BEST RECORD STORE
Joe Nardone’s Gallery of Sound
RUNNER-UP: Musical Energi
BEST GAMING STORE
Game Stop
RUNNER-UP: EB Games
BEST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE
Wayne’s World
RUNNER-UP: Music Go Round
BEST PLACE TO BUY A PIPE
Utopia
RUNNER-UP: Primal
BEST DAY SPA
The Woodhouse Day Spa
RUNNER-UP: Sapphire Salon & Destination Spa
BEST HAIR SALON
Hi-Fi Hair Studio
RUNNER-UP: Sapphire Salon & Destination Spa
BEST NAIL SALON
Wonder Nails
RUNNER-UP: Alexander’s Salon & Spa
BEST TANNING SALON
Tanfastic, Wilkes-Barre
RUNNER-UP: Hollywood Tans, Scranton
BEST TATTOO/PIERCING PARLOR
Marc’s Tattooing and Body Piercing, Scranton
RUNNER-UP: A Psychic Unicorn
BEST PET STORE
PetSmart
RUNNER-UP: Village Pet Supplies & Gifts
BEST PLACE TO BUY LINGERIE
Victoria’s Secret
RUNNER-UP: Mr. Fashions
BEST ADULT STORE
Mr. Fashions
RUNNER-UP: Adult World
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