With everyone swearing that the end is near, we got busy enjoying the best things life in Dallas has to offer. But you readers didn't go quietly into that good night, either. You flocked to this web site in record numbers to record for future ape-dominated civilizations you own thoughts about what was grand in Dallas in 2011, singling out the city's best food, booze, shops, athletes, and plenty of other favorites. Read on to see the rundown of your winners, and browse the categories to see how our picks stack up with your own Dallas gems.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Best Art Gallery
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 N. Harwood St.
214-922-1200
dallasmuseumofart.org
Best Theater Company
Dallas Theater Center
214-526-8210
dallastheatercenter.org
Best Local Actor
Steven Walters
Best Local Actress
Liz Mikel
Best Theater Director
Joel Ferrell
Best TV News Show
Fox 4 News at 9
KDFW
Best Radio Station
KKXT-FM 91.7 KXT
Best Radio Talk Show
The Hardline
KTCK-AM 1310 The Ticket
Best Radio DJ
Kidd Kraddick
KISS-FM 106.1
Best Local Music Release
Old 97's
The Grand Theatre Volume 2
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Best Neighborhood
Lakewood
lakewoodneighborhood.org
Best Hotel
Belmont
901 Fort Worth Ave.
214-393-2300, belmontdallas.com
Best Movie Theater
Angelika Theater
5321 E. Mockingbird Lane,
214-841-4713, angelikafilmcenter.com
Best City Council Member
Angela Hunt
District 14
Best Dallas Blog
Gorilla vs. Bear
gorillavsbear.net
Best TV News Anchor (TIE)
John McCaa
WFAA-TV
Tim Ryan
KDFW-TV
Best TV Sports Anchor
Dale Hansen
WFAA-TV
Best Pro Sports Coach
Rick Carlisle
Dallas Mavericks
Best Dallas Maverick
Dirk Nowitzki
Best Dallas Cowboy (TIE)
DeMarcus Ware
Jason Witten
Best Dallas Star
Brenden Morrow
Best Texas Ranger
Josh Hamilton
Best Sports Talk Show
The Hardline
KTCK-AM 1310 The Ticket
Best Sports Columnist
Evan Grant
The Dallas Morning News
Best Place to Work Out (TIE)
24 Hour Fitness
11100 N. Central Expressway
214-360-0024, 24hourfitness.com
White Rock Lake
SHOPPING
Best Men's Clothing Store
Nordstrom
8687 N. Central Expressway
214-231-3900, shop.nordstrom.com
Best Women's
Clothing Store
Nordstrom
8687 N. Central Expressway
214-231-3900, shop.nordstrom.com
Best Wine/Liquor Store
Goody Goody
3316 Oak Lawn Ave.
214-252-0805, goodygoody.com
Best Vintage Clothes
3424 Greenville Ave.
214-826-7544, buffaloexchange.com
Best Eyewear Selection (TIE)
Pearle Vision
10720 Preston Road, Suite 1003
214-696-4614, pearlevision.com
Eye Pieces
3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 321
214-219-4402, eyepieces.net
Best Vintage Shop
Dolly Python
1914-1916 N. Haskell Ave.
214-887-3434, dollypythonvintage.com
Best Texas Collectables
Curiosities
2025 Abrams Road,
214-828-1886, getcuriosities.com
Best Hair Salon
Avalon
3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 412
214-969-1901, avalon-salon.com
FOOD AND DRINK
Best Chef
Stephan Pyles
Stephan Pyles Restaurant,
1807 Ross Ave., Suite 200
214-580-7000, stephanpyles.com
Best New Restaurant
Mamma Pita
5800 Legacy Drive, Suite C6, Plano
972-403-1609, mamapita.com
Best Late-Night Restaurant
Buzzbrews
2801 Commerce St.
214-741-2801, buzzbrews.com
Best Breakfast
Buzzbrews
2801 Commerce St.
214-741-2801, buzzbrews.com
Best Brunch
Blue Mesa Grill
7700 W. Northwest Highway
214-378-8686, bluemesagrill.com
Best Coffee Shop
The Pearl Cup
1900 N Henderson Ave., Suite B,
214-824-9500, thepearlcup.com
Best Restaurant For Kids
Dream Cafe
2800 Routh St., Suite 170
214-954-0486, thedreamcafe.com
Best Chinese Restaurant
Royal China
6025 Royal Lane, Suite 201
214-361-1771, royalchinadallas.com
Best Mediterranean
Restaurant
Mama Pita
5800 Legacy Drive, Suite C6, Plano
972-403-1609, mamapita.com
Best Indian Restaurant
Roti Grill
4438 McKinney Ave., Suite 100
214-521-3655, freshindianfood.com
Best Italian Restaurant
Campisi's
5610 E. Mockingbird Lane
214-827-0355, campisis.us
Best Tex-Mex Restaurant
Matt's Rancho Martinez
6332 La Vista Road
214-823-5517, mattstexmex.com
Best Thai Restaurant
Royal Thai
5500 Greenville Ave., Suite 608
214-691-3555, royalthaitexas.com
Best Seafood Restaurant
Pappadeaux
3520 Oak Lawn Ave.
214-521-4700, pappadeaux.com
Best Hot Dog
Angry Dog
2726 Commerce St.
214-741-4406, angrydog.com
Best Barbecue
Lockhart Smokehouse
400 W. Davis St.
214-944-5521, lockhartsmokehouse.com
Best Burger
Twisted Root Burger Co.
2615 Commerce St.
214-741-7668, twistedrootburgerco.com
Best Pizza
Il Cane Rosso
2612 Commerce St.
214-741-1188, ilcanerosso.com
Best Steakhouse
Bob's Steak and Chop House
4300 Lemmon Ave.
214-528-9446, bobssteakandchop.com
Best Sushi
The Blue Fish
3519 Greenville Ave.
214-824-3474, thebluefishsushi.com
Best Margarita
Gloria's
600 N. Bishop Ave.
214-942-1831, gloriasrestaurants.com
Best Taqueria
Good 2 Go Taco
1146 Peavy Road
214-519-9110, good2gotaco.com
Best Meal Under $15
Nuevo Leon
12895 Josey Lane, Suite 100
972-488-1984, nuevoleonrestaurant.net
Best Chicken-Fried Steak
Babe's Chicken Dinner House
1006 W. Main St., Carrollton
972-245-7773, babeschicken.com
BARS AND NIGHTLIFE
Best Beer Selection
The Flying Saucer
14999 Montfort Drive
972-991-7093, beerknurd.com
Best Dive Bar
Lakewood Landing
5818 Live Oak St.
214-823-2410, lakewood-landing.com
Best Happy Hour
Gloria's
600 N. Bishop Ave.
214-942-1831, gloriasrestaurants.com
Best Outdoor Patio
Ozona Grill & Bar
4615 Greenville Ave.
214-265-9105, ozonagrill.com
Best Gay Bar
JR's Bar & Grill
3923 Cedar Springs Road
214-528-1004, JR's Bar & Grill
Best Honky-Tonk
Adair's Saloon
2624 Commerce St.
214-939-9900, adairssaloon.com
Best Dance Club
Station 4
3911 Cedar Springs
214-526-7170, caven.com
Best Live Music Venue
Granada Theater
3524 Greenville Ave.
214-824-9933, granadatheater.com
Best Strip Club
The Lodge
10530 Spangler Road
972-506-9229, the-lodge.com
Best Karaoke
The Goat
7248 Gaston Ave.
214-327-8119, thegoatdallas.com
Best Sports Bar
Plucker's
5500 Greenville Ave., Suite 406
214-363-9464, pluckers.net
Best Rock Bar (TIE)
Trees
2709 Elm St.
214-741-1122, treesdallas.com
The Double Wide
3510 Commerce St.
214-887-6510, thedoublewidebar.com