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

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