Culture: The Winners

Best 4th of July fireworks

1. John Ascuaga’s Nugget

1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, 356-3300

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Reno Aces Stadium

250 Evans Ave., 334-4700

Best animal shelter

1. Nevada Humane Society

2825 Longley Lane, 856-2000

2. SPCA of Northern Nevada

4950 Spectrum Blvd., 324-7773

3. Boxers & Buddies

P.O. Box 895, Virginia City, 342-5789

Best art gallery

1. Nevada Museum of Art

160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

2. Stremmel Gallery

1400 S. Virginia St., 786-0558

3. The Holland Project

160 West Liberty St., 329-3333

Best mural

1. Nevada Fine Arts

1301 S. Virginia St., 786-1128

2. Junkee Clothing Exchange

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

3. Craft Wine & Beer

22 Martin St., 622-4333

Best charity race or walk

1. Moms on the Run

2. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

3. Color Me Rad

Best church

1. Living Stones

445 S. Virginia St., 622-9772

2. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada

780 Del Monte Lane, 851-7100

3. Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church

1138 Wright St, 323-6894

Best day trip

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Virginia City

3. Float the Truckee River

Best dog park

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St., 785-4512

2. Link Piazzo Dog Park

Hidden Valley Regional Park, 4740 Parkway Drive, 823-6501

3. Sparks Marina Park

300 Howard Drive, Sparks, 353-2376

Best drag queen

1. Ginger Devine

Best gay pride event

1. Reno Gay Pride Festival

2. Reno Rainbow Festival

3. Build Our Center’s Pink Party

Best independent art gallery

1. Never Ender Boutique & Art Gallery

119 Thoma St., 348-9440

2. Stremmel Gallery

1400 S. Virginia St., 786-0558

3. Reno Art Works

1995 Dickerson Road, 391-0278

Best kept secret

1. Homage Bakery

519 Ralston St., 323-8952

2. Won’t tell

3. Stone House Café

1907 S. Arlington Ave., 284-3895

Best local band

1. Moondog Matinee

2. Jelly Bread

3. Elephant Rifle

Best local band album

1. Funk in Public by Mojo Green

2. Vacancy at the Wonder Lodge by Moondog Matinee

3. Teenage Lover by Elephant Rifle

Best dance instructor

1. BB and Kiki of Salsa Reno

2. Alexander Van Alstyne

3. Gina Hernandez

Best local dance company

1. AVA Ballet Theatre

2. Gózalo Dance Company

3. Reno Dance Company

Best local theater company

1. Brüka Theatre

99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221

2. Good Luck Macbeth

713 S. Virginia St., 322-3716

3. Reno Little Theater

147 E. Pueblo St., 329-0661

Best local website

1. www.toastcarsontahoe.com

2. www.salsareno.com

3. www.newsreview.com/reno

Best monthly event

1. Wine Walk

2. Food Truck Fridays

3. First Thursdays at the Nevada Museum of Art

Best neighborhood

1. Old Southwest Reno

2. Midtown

3. Northwest Reno

Best non-casino thing to do downtown

1. Float/play/walk by the Truckee River

2. Wine Walk

3. Reno Aces

250 Evans Ave., 334-4700

Best place to meet gay singles

1. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 329-2878

2. Tronix

303 Kietzke Lane, 333-9696

3. The Patio

600 W. Fifth St., 323-6565

Best place to meet straight singles

1. The Brew Brothers

Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 785-9089

2. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 329-2878

3. Shea’s Tavern

715 S. Virginia St., 786-7447

Best place to people watch

1. Truckee River Walk

2. Downtown Reno

3. Wingfield Park

300 W. First St.

Best radio station

1. 104.1 KRZQ

2. 100.1 KTHX

3. 104.5 KDOT

Best talk show host

1. Rob, Arnie & Dawn

2. Chris Payne

3. Jessica Schneider

Best scandal

1. Harvey Whittemore

2. Jim Gibbons

3. Dennis Hof bailing out Scott Thorson

Best reason to live in Reno

1. The weather

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Outdoor recreation

Most environmentally conscious company

1. Great Basin Community Food Co-op

240 Court St., 324-6133

2. Patagonia

8550 White Fir St., 746-6878

3. Whole Foods Market

6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023

Best local farm

1. Lattin Farms

1955 McLean Road, Fallon, 867-3750

2. Girlfarm/Grow for Me Sustainable Farm

1400 Long Valley Road, 221-0001

3. River School Farm

7777 White Fir St., 747-2222

Best non-profit group

1. SPCA of Northern Nevada

4950 Spectrum Blvd., 324-7773

2. The Holland Project

160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

3. Nevada Humane Society

2825 Longley Lane, 856-2000

Best green event

1. Earth Day

2. Farmers’ Markets

3. Reno River Festival

Best green store

1. Great Basin Community Food Co-op

240 Court St., 324-6133

2. Patagonia

8550 White Fir St., 746-6878

3. Whole Foods

6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023

Best special event in downtown Reno

1. Artown

2. Hot August Nights

3. Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival

Best special event in downtown Sparks

1. Best-in-the-West Nugget Rib Cook-off

2. Hot August Nights

3. Farmers’ Markets