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

Media
Best local news: WIS-TV
Honorable Mention: WOLO-TV

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

Best TV anchorperson: Susan Audé Fisher
Honorable Mention: Leslie Mattox

Best TV weatherperson: Joe Pinner
Honorable Mention: Jim Gandy

Best TV sportscaster: Rick Henry
Honorable Mention: Terry Chick

Best hair: Susan Audé Fisher
Honorable Mention: Leslie Mattox

Best local radio personality: Jonathan Rush

Best music radio station: WNOK-FM
Honorable Mention: WARQ-FM

Best talk radio station: WVOC-AM
Honorable Mention: Sunny 100

Best local writer: Michael Graham
Honorable Mention: Gary Galloway

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

Best member of local government: Bob Coble
Honorable Mention: Strom Thurmond

Best use of public funds: Education
Honorable Mention: Gervais Street renovation

Biggest waste of public funds: Waterless Waterfall on I-126
Honorable Mention: Five Points Fountain

Best activist group: Sierra Club

Food
Best new restaurant: Cafe Strudel
Honorable Mention: Jillians

Best overall dining experience: Mangia Mangia

Best late night food: Yesterday's
Honorable Mention: IHOP

Best place to dine outdoors: Mangia Mangia
Honorable Mention: Harper's

Best quick lunch: Cafe Strudel
Best take-out food (tie): Yesterday's & Monroe's Blind Dog Café

Best service: Yesterday's
Honorable Mention: Outback

Best wine list: Richard's
Honorable Mention: Mangia Mangia

Best coffeehouse: Cafe Strudel
Honorable Mention: Courtyard Coffeehouse

Best breakfast: IHOP

Best Sunday brunch: Goatfeathers
Honorable Mention: Adams Mark

Best subs: Subway
Honorable Mention: Sub Station II

Best vegetarian menu: Basil Pot
Honorable Mention: Rosewood Market

Best bagel: New York Bagel

Best barbecue: Maurice Bessinger's Piggie Park
Honorable Mention: Millender's

Best pizza: Village Idiot
Honorable Mention: Parthenon

Best deli: Andy's
Honorable Mention: Groucho's

Best chicken wings: Publick House & Wings on Wheels
Honorable Mention: D's Wings

Best ribs: Damon's

Best hot dogs: Sandy's
Honorable Mention: Frank's

Best hamburger: Rush's
Honorable Mention: Rockaway Athletic Club

Best onion rings: Sonic
Honorable Mention: Fat Boys

Best french fries: McDonald's
Honorable Mention: Rush's

Best salad bar:Ruby Tuesday's

Best steakhouse: Outback
Honorable Mention: Longhorn

Best ethnic restaurant: Miyo's
Honorable Mention: India Pavilion

Best Mexican restaurant: Monterrey's
Honorable Mention: San Jose

Best Chinese restaurant: Eggroll Station
Honorable Mention: Miyo's

Best Italian restaurant: Olive Garden
Honorable Mention: Villa Tronco

Best Greek restaurant: Zorba's
Honorable Mention: Devine Foods

Best Japanese restaurant: Kyoto
Honorable Mention: Yamato

Best sushi: Camon
Honorable Mention: Sushi Yoshi

Best seafood: Blue Marlin
Honorable Mention: Red Lobster

Best place for dessert: Cafe Strudel
Honorable Mention: Nonnah's

Best ice cream: Baskin Robbins
Honorable Mention: Sandy's

Music
Best new local band: Shades of Grey
Honorable Mention: Trimtabs

Best live performance in Columbia 1997: Elton John
Honorable Mention: Prince

Best live performance out of town 1997: Rolling Stones
Honorable Mention: Dave Matthews Band

Best male vocalist: Darius Rucker
Honorable Mention: Brent Lundy/Angelo Gianni

Best female vocalist: Danielle Howle
Honorable Mention: Deborah Chasteen
Best LP - national: The Wallflowers

Best LP - local: Treadmill Trackstar, Only This

Best single (tie): Barbie Girl & Tubthumping

Best video: Virtual Insanity, Jamiroquai

Best local rock/pop band: Treadmill Trackstar
Honorable Mention: Hootie & the Blowfish/Root Doctors

Best local solo artist: Danielle Howle

Best local jazz artist: Terry Rosen Quartet
Honorable Mention: Larb

Best local blues band: Elliott & the Untouchables

Best local country band: Thunder Rose
Honorable Mention: Zassoff Boys

Best CD store: Manifest
Honorable Mention: Best Buy

Best used CD store: Papa Jazz
Honorable Mention: Manifest

Best musical instrument store: Pecknel
Honorable Mention: Sims Music

Clubs & Bars
Best new club: Have a Nice Day Cafe
Honorable Mention: Jillians

Best bartender: Angie Seshun (Have a Nice Day Cafe)
Honorable Mention: F. D. Mudd (Rafters)

Best brewpub: Hunter Gatherer
Honorable Mention: Columbia Brewing Co.

Best rock club: Elbow Room
Honorable Mention: Rockafellas'

Best college bar: Group Therapy
Honorable Mention: Rafters

Best dance club (tie): Rafters & Have A Nice Day Cafe
Best gay club: Metropolis

Best neighborhood pub: Publick House
Honorable Mention: Rockaway Athletic Club

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

Best club DJ: Friddo (Rafter's)
Honorable Mention: Chris Cue

Best sports bar: Garrett's
Honorable Mention: Jillian's

Best pool hall: Jillian's
Honorable Mention: Pavlov's

Best bottled beer selection: Yesterday's
Honorable Mention: Rockaway Athletic Club

Best draft beer selection: Publick House

Best art gallery: Portfolio
Honorable Mention: I. Pinckney Simons

Best artist: Bill Davis
Honorable Mention: Blue Sky

Best festival: St. Patrick's Day
Honorable Mention: Mayfest

Best movie theatre: Regal
Honorable Mention: Wynnsong

Best movie rental selection: Blockbuster
Honorable Mention: Moovies

Best movie of 1997: Men in Black
Honorable Mention: Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil

Best theatre: Trustus
Honorable Mention: Town Theater

Best magazine: Free Times

Sports & Leisure
Best Gamecock store: Addams
Honorable Mention: Jewelry Warehouse

Best Clemson store: Jewelry Warehouse
Honorable Mention: Howard's

Best Panthers store: Todd & Moore
Honorable Mention: Jewelry Warehouse

Best bike shop: Out Spokin'
Honorable Mention: Cycle Center

Best outdoors/camping gear store: Backpacker
Honorable Mention: Howard's

Best sporting goods (tie): Todd & Moore & Jumbo Sports

Best golf store: Nevada Bob's
Honorable Mention: Todd & Moore

Best Fitness Club: Columbia Athletic Club
Honorable Mention: Stronghold Athletic Club

Best bowling lanes: Brunswick
Honorable Mention: Parklane

Goods & Services
Best dry cleaner: Tripp's
Honorable Mention: Burnette's

Best boat/water vehicle store: Holiday Kamper
Honorable Mention: Capital Kawasaki (Seadoo)

Best car dealership: Pulliam Ford
Honorable Mention: Rick Hendrick Honda

Best motorcycle dealership: Harley Haven
Honorable Mention: Kawasaki Seadoo

Best auto repair (tie): R & R Motors & C. V. Masters

Best bank: Wachovia
Honorable Mention: First Citizens

Best travel agency: Forest Lake Travel
Honorable Mention: AAA

Best tanning salon: Sun Your Buns
Honorable Mention: Tan for all Seasons

Best hair salon: Larry Marshall
Honorable Mention: Salon Bastille

Best nail salon: Glamour Nails
Honorable Mention: J. B. White

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

Best shoe store: Rack Room
Honorable Mention: Barefoot Sandal

Best boutique: Luna
Honorable Mention: Joyful Alternative

Best alternative clothing: OEO
Honorable Mention: Joyful Alternative

Best vintage clothing: OEO
Honorable Mention: Rojas

Best one-of-a-kind-jewelry: Joyful Alternative
Honorable Mention: Hand Picked

Best fine jewelry: Jewelry Warehouse
Honorable Mention: Sylvan's

Best bakery: Rising High
Honorable Mention: Tiffany's

Best florist: Chinaberry
Honorable Mention: Blossom Shop

Best place to buy fresh seafood: Waccamaw Seafood
Honorable Mention: Fresh Market

Best place to buy fresh produce: Fresh Market
Honorable Mention: Farmers Market

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

Best new bookstore: Happy Bookseller
Honorable Mention: Barnes & Noble

Best used bookstore: Book Dispensary
Honorable Mention: Book Place

Best smoke shop: Intermezzo
Honorable Mention: Jerry Weber's

Best thrift store: Community Thrift
Honorable Mention: His House

Best electronics store: Best Buy
Honorable Mention: Circuit City

Best place to buy a cellular phone: Bell Atlantic Mobile
Honorable Mention: Alltel

Best internet provider: AOL