Best of Sacramento 2015: Arts & Entertainment readers’ picks

Best all-ages music venue

1. Ace of Spades 1417 R Street, (916) 930-0220, www.aceofspadessac.com

2. Cafe Colonial 3520 Stockton Boulevard, (916) 736-3520, www.facebook.com/
cafecolonialsacramento

3. Naked Lounge Coffeehouse, downtown 1111 H Street, (916) 443-1927, www.nakedcoffee.net

Best big screen

1. Esquire IMAX Theatre 1211 K Street, (916) 443-4629, www.imax.com/oo/esquire-imax

2. Tower Theatre 2508 Land Park Drive, (916) 442-0985, www.readingcinemasus.com

3. Crest Theatre 1013 K Street, (916) 442-5189, www.crestsacramento.com

Best casino/cardroom

1. Thunder Valley Casino Resort 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln, (916) 408-7777, www.thundervalleyresort.com

2. Red Hawk Casino Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville, (530) 677-7000,www.redhawkcasino.com

3. Limelight Bar & Cafe 1014 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 446-2236, http://limelightsac.com

Best comedy experience

1. Punch Line Comedy Club 2100 Arden Way, (916) 925-5500, www.punchlinesac.com

2. Sacramento Comedy Spot 1050 20th Street, Suite 130; (916) 444-3137; www.saccomedyspot.com

3. Laughs Unlimited 1207 Front Street, (916) 446-8128, www.laughsunlimited.com

Best community theater group

1. Big Idea Theatre 1616 Del Paso Boulevard, (916) 960-3036, www.bigideatheatre.com

2. California Stage 2509 R Street, (916) 451-5822,www.calstage.org

3. Actor’s Workshop of Sacramento 1721 25th Street, (916) 501-6104,www.actinsac.com

Best dance night

1. Sunday Night Dance Party at The Press Club, every Sunday 2030 P Street, (916) 444-7914, www.facebook.com/thepressclub

2. Motown on Mondays at LowBrau, every Monday 1050 20th Street, (916) 706-2636, www.lowbrausacramento.com

3. Throwdown at Midtown BarFly, monthly 1119 21st Street, (916) 341-0277, www.facebook.com/requiemevents

Best dance spot

1. The Press Club 2030 P Street, (916) 444-7914, www.facebook.com/thepressclub

2. Faces 2000 K Street, (916) 448-7798, www.faces.net

3. Badlands 2003 K Street, (916) 448-8790, www.sacbadlands.com

Best festival

1. TBD Fest www.tbdfest.com

2. Sacramento Beer Week www.sacramentobeerweek.com

3. California State Fair www.castatefair.org

Best film festival

1. Sacramento International Film Festival www.sacramentofilmfestival.com

2. Sacramento Film & Music Festival www.sacfilm.com

3. Sacramento French Film Festival www.sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org

Best gay club

1. Faces 2000 K Street, (916) 448-7798, www.faces.net

2. The Mercantile Saloon 1928 L Street, (916) 447-0792

3. Badlands 2003 K Street, (916) 448-8790, www.sacbadlands.com

Best karaoke

1. The Distillery 2107 L Street, (916) 443-8815

2. Pine Cove Tavern 509 29th Street, (916) 446-3624, www.pinecovetavern.com

3. Old Ironsides 1901 10th Street, (916) 443-9751, http://theoldironsides.com

Best live music venue

1. Ace of Spades 1417 R Street, (916) 930-0220, www.aceofspadessac.com

2. Harlow’s 2708 J Street, (916) 441-4693,www.harlows.com

3. Blue Lamp 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 455-3400,www.bluelampsacramento.com

Best open-mic night

1. Capitol Garage 1500 K Street, (916) 444-3633, www.capitolgarage.com

2. Luna’s Cafe & Juice Bar 1414 16th Street, (916) 441-3931, www.lunascafe.com

3. Old Ironsides 1901 10th Street, (916) 443-9751, http://theoldironsides.com

Best place to hear poetry

1. Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Cafe & Juice Bar 1414 16th Street, (916) 441-3931,www.lunascafe.com

2. Sacramento Poetry Center 1719 25th Street, (916) 240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com

3. Red Alice’s Poetry Emporium Shine, 1400 E Street,www.shinesac.com

Best place to knock down pins

1. Country Club Lanes 2600 Watt Avenue, (916) 483-5105, www.countryclublanes.com

2. Capitol Bowl 900 W. Capitol Avenue in West Sacramento, (916) 371-4200,www.capbowl.com

3. Strikes Unlimited 5681 Lonetree Boulevard in Rocklin, (916) 626-3600, www.strikesrocklin.com

Best place to see art

1. Crocker Art Museum 216 O Street, (916) 808-7000, https://crockerartmuseum.org

2. Sol Collective 2574 21st Street, (916) 476-3628, www.facebook.com/artcultureactivism

3. Verge Center for the Arts 625 S Street, (916) 448-2985, www.vergeart.com

Best professional theater company

1. B Street Theatre 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300,www.bstreettheatre.org

2. Sacramento Theatre Company 1419 H Street, (916) 443-6722, www.sactheatre.org

3. Capital Stage 2215 J Street, (916) 995-5464,www.capstage.org

Best reading or lecture series

1. Sacramento’s Living Library, Time Tested Books 1114 21st Street, (916) 447-5696, www.timetestedbooks.net

2. CRC Literary Series, Cosumnes River College www.crc.losrios.edu

3. Stories on Stage, Sacramento Poetry Center www.storiesonstagesacramento.wordpress.com

Best recording studio

1. Omina Laboratories 1908 16th Street, (916) 284-7770,www.ominamusic.com

2. Fat Cat Recording 5720 Roseville Road, Suite K; (916) 334-9600; www.fatcatrecording.com

3. Earth Tone 411 18th Street, (916) 759-9554, www.earthtonesacramento.com

Best spot for pool

1. Blue Cue 1004 28th Street, (916) 441-6810,http://bluecue.com

2. R15 Bar 1431 R Street, (916) 930-9191,http://r15bar.com

3. Alley Katz 2019 O Street, (916) 442-2682, http://alleykatzsacramento.com

Best strip club

1. Gold Club Centerfolds 11363 Folsom Boulevard in Rancho Cordova, (916) 858-0444, www.goldclubcenterfolds.com

2. Déjà Vu Showgirls 11252 Trade Center Drive in Rancho Cordova, (916) 853-2202,http://dejavu.com

3. City Limits Showgirls 5809 Auburn Boulevard, (916) 344-8118

Best trivia night

1. de Vere’s Irish Pub 1521 L Street, (916) 231-9947,www.deverespub.com

2. Alley Katz 2019 O Street, (916) 442-2682, http://alleykatzsacramento.com

3. Streets Pub and Grub 1804 J Street, (916) 498-1388, www.streetsoflondon.net