Media | Dining | Music | Clubs & Bars
Arts & Entertainment | Goods & Services | Sports & Leisure

Media

Best local news: WIS
Honorable mention: Fox

Best local TV personality: Susan Audé Fisher
Honorable mention: Joe Pinner

Best TV anchorperson: Susan Audé Fisher
Honorable mention: Gene Upright

Best TV weatherperson: Jim Gandy

Best TV sportscaster: Rick Henry
Honorable mention: Ed Heil

Best hair: Susan Audé Fisher
Honorable mention: Joe Pinner

Best local radio personality: Jonathan Rush
Honorable mention: Steve Varholi

Best music radio station: WARQ
Honorable mention: WNOK

Best talk radio station: WVOC
Honorable mention: Sunny 100

Best local writer: Michael Graham
Honorable mention: James Dickey

Scariest member of local government: David Beasley
Honorable mention: Strom Thurmond

Best member of local government: Bob Coble
Honorable mention: David Beasley

Best use of public funds: Parks
Honorable mention: Gervais Street

Biggest waste of public funds: Gervais Street, State House renovation

Best activist group: MADD

Dining

Best new restaurant: New Orleans Riverfront Restaurant
Honorable mention: Saluda's

Best overall dining experience: Dianne's
Honorable mention: Richard's

Best late-night food: IHOP
Honorable mention: Martin's

Best quick lunch: Zesto
Honorable mention: Groucho's

Best take-out food: Groucho's
Honorable mention: Zesto

Best service: Richard's
Honorable mention: Dianne's

Best wine list: Richard's

Best coffeehouse: Courtyard Coffeehouse
Honorable mention: Adriana's

Best breakfast: IHOP

Best subs: Subway
Honorable mention: Groucho's

Best vegetable plate: Lizard's Thicket, Basil Pot

Best bagel: NY Bagel
Honorable mention: Big East Bagel

Best barbecue: Maurice's
Honorable mention: Millender's Barbecue

Best pizza: Pizza Hut
Honorable mention: Village Idiot

Best deli: Groucho's, Andy's Deli

Best chicken wings: Wings on Wheels
Honorable mention: D's Wings

Best hot dog: Sandy's
Honorable mention: Forest Drive Market

Best hamburger: Rockaway's
Honorable mention: Rush's

Best onion rings: Salty Nut Cafe

Best French fries: McDonald's
Honorable mention: Rush's

Best salad bar: Quincy's
Honorable mention: Ruby Tuesday

Best steakhouse: Outback Steakhouse
Honorable mention: Longhorn Steaks

Best ethnic restaurant: Miyo's
Honorable mention: Bangkok

Best Mexican restaurant: Monterrrey
Honorable mention: San Jose

Best Chinese restaurant: Miyo's
Honorable mention: Sesame Inn

Best Japanese restaurant: Kyoto
Honorable mention: Camon

Best seafood restaurant: Blue Marlin
Honorable mention: Red Lobster

Best place for dessert: Goatfeathers
Honorable mention: Courtyard Coffeehouse

Best ice cream: Adriana's
Honorable mention: Baskin Robbins

Music
Best new local artist: Danielle Howle

Best live performance in Columbia 1996: Farm Aid
Honorable mention: Bruce Springsteen

Best out-of town performance 1996: Pearl Jam
Honorable mention: KISS

Best local male vocalist: Darius Rucker
Honorable mention: Ray

Best local female vocalist: Danielle Howle
Honorable mention: Deborah Chasteen

Best LP-national: Fairweather Johnson, Hootie & The Blowfish

Best LP-local: About to Burst, Danielle Howle & The Tantrums

Best single: "Don't Speak, " No Doubt

Best music video: "Devil's Haircut, " Beck

Best local rock/pop band: Root Doctors
Honorable mention: Hootie and the Blowfish

Best local solo artist: Danielle Howle

Best local country band: Hick'ry Hawkins

Best CD store: Manifest Discs & Tapes

Best used CD store: Papa Jazz
Honorable mention: Manifest

Best musical instrument store: Pecknel
Honorable mention: Fox

Clubs & Bars
Best new club (opened in 1996): Rafters
Honorable mention: Characters

Best bartender: Scott B (Harpers)

Best brewpub: CBC
Honorable mention: Hunter-Gatherer

Best rock club: Rockafellas
Honorable mention: Elbow Room

Best C & W bar: Bubba N Bucks
Honorable mention: Checkers

Best college bar: Group Therapy
Honorable mention: Elbow Room

Best dance club: Nightworks
Honorable mention:Rafters

Best gay bar: Metropolis

Best neighborhood pub: Publick House
Honorable mention: Beulah's

Best people-watching bar: Group Therapy
Honorable mention: Art Bar

Best club deejay: Friddo (Rafters)
Honorable mention: Chris Cue

Best sports bar: Garrett's Grille and Grog
Honorable mention: Owner's Box

Best pool hall: Opening Break
Honorable mention: Pavlov's

Best bottled beer selection: Goatfeather's
Honorable mention: Sharky's

Best draft beer selection: Goatfeather's
Honorable mention: CBC

Arts & Entertainment
Best art gallery: Columbia Museum of Art
Honorable mention: Portfolio

Best local artist: Bill Davis
Honorable mention: Blue Sky

Best annual indoor event: Artists Against AIDS
Honorable mention: The Nutcracker

Best annual outdoor event: St. Patrick's Day in Five Points
Honorable mention: Mayfest

Best free entertainment: Finlay Park Summer Concert Series
Honorable mention: Shakespeare in the Park

Best movie of 1996: Independence Day
Honorable mention: The English Patient

Best movie theatre: Regal Cinemas
Honorable mention: Carmike Cinemas

Best movie rental selection: Blockbuster
Honorable mention: Moovies

Best local actor/actress: Barbara Lawrence
Honorable mention: Ed Gwynn

Best local theatre production: Angels in America

Best current TV show:The X-Files

Favorite cable channel: CNN
Honorable mention: The Discovery Channel

Best book: Primary Colors
Honorable mention: Jack & Jill

Best magazine: Vanity Fair
Honorable mention: Cosmopolitan

Goods & Services

Best car dealership: Pulliam Ford, Dick Smith Nissan

Best dry cleaner: Tripp's

Best bank: Wachovia

Best tanning salon: Tan for All Seasons, Sun Your Buns

Best furniture store: Madison Hall
Honorable mention: Whit-Ash

Best bakery: Tiffany's Bakery
Honorable mention: Cribbs Bakery

Best shoe store: Rack Room
Honorable mention: Barefoot Sandal

Best place for fresh seafood: The Fresh Market
Honorable mention: Waccamaw

Best place for fresh produce: The Fresh Market
Honorable mention: Harris Teeter

Best natural food store: Rosewood Market
Honorable mention: 14 Carrot

Best bookstore (new books): Happy Bookseller
Honorable mention: Barnes & Noble

Best bookstore (used books): Book Dispensary

Best thrift store: Community Thrift
Honorable mention: Salvation Army

Best new age store: Joyful Alternative
Honorable mention: Luna

Best alternative clothing store: OEO
Honorable mention: Superior Feet

Best vintage clothing store: OEO

Best electronics store: Best Buy
Honorable mention: Circuit City

Best Internet provider: America Online
Honorable mention: Intraweb

Best local WWW site: 5 Points Online, Rafters

Sports & Leisure

Best Gamecock store: University Bookstore
Honorable mention: Jewelry Warehouse

Best Clemson store: Jewelry Warehouse
Honorable mention: Todd & Moore

Best bike shop: Outspokin'
Honorable mention: Cycle Center

Best outdoors/camping gear store: Backpacker
Honorable mention: Adventure Carolina

Best sporting goods store: Todd & Moore
Honorable mention: Columbia Sports

Best public golf course: Linrick
Honorable mention: Indian River

Best fitness center/health club: New Life Fitness
Honorable mention: Columbia Athletic Club

Best bowling lanes: Anchor Bowling Lanes
Honorable mention: Brunswick