It’s time for the results of our annual Best of Arkansas contest.

Readers voted, using ballots printed in two issues of the Times. We received hundreds of ballots. We counted them. Now’s where you come in. Read and second-guess. But blame only yourself if you didn’t vote.

As usual, we have a number
of repeat winners, some new faces and, sigh, regrettable efforts to stuff the ballot box. (We know who you are.)

Also as usual, we’ve picked out a few categories for feature treatment. This year, we’ve reached beyond the winners to the runners-up for some stories on several bridesmaids.

Drum roll, please, for the 2006 edition of the Best of Arkansas.





Goods and Services


SHOPPING CENTER

Park Plaza

Runners-up: McCain Mall, Lakewood Village, Wal-Mart/Sam’s on Bowman Road.



GROCERY

Kroger

Runners-up: Hestand’s, Wal-Mart Super Center, Wild Oats.

ANTIQUES

David Claibourne Ltd.

Runners-up: Fabulous Finds, I-40 Antique Center, Morris Antiques of Keo.



FURNITURE

Hank’s

Runners-up: Haverty’s, IO Metro, Norwalk.



INTERIOR DESIGNER

Tom Chandler

Runners-up: Bear-Hill Interiors, Brenda Hogan, Mertinsdyke.



MUSIC (CDS) STORE

Best Buy

Runners-up: Anthro-Pop, Arkansas Record and CD Exchange, Barnes and Noble.



MUSIC EQUIPMENT

Sigler Music Center

Runners-up: Guitar Center, Jack’s Music of Conway, Saied Music.



SHOES

Dillard’s

Runners-up: Journeys, Payless Shoesource, Shoe Connection.



VIDEO STORE

Blockbuster

Runners-up: Movie Gallery, Premier Video, RAO Video.



BOOKSTORE

Barnes and Noble

Runners-up: Books-a-Million, Waldenbooks, Wordsworth.



WOMEN’S CLOTHING

Dillard’s

Runners-up: Barbara Jean, Beyond Cotton, Chico’s.

MEN’S CLOTHING

Bauman’s

Runners-up: Dillard’s, Greenhaw’s, Mr. Wick’s.



HIP CLOTHING

Scarlet

Runners-up: American Eagle, RK Collections, Tulips.



VINTAGE/RESALE

CLOTHING

Poor Little Rich Girl

Runners-up: As Good As New, Paddywacks, Private Collections.



CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

Toggery

Runners-up: Charlie, Gap, Gymboree.

ELECTRONICS

Best Buy

Runners-up: Circuit City, Radio Shack.



LINGERIE

Victoria’s Secret

Runners-up: Cupid’s, Barbara Graves, Understatement.



SPORTING GOODS

Academy

Runners-up: Gander Mountain, Gene Lockwood’s, Sports Authority.



TOYS

Toys R Us

Runners-up: Heights Toy Center, Target, Wal-Mart.



FLORIST

Tipton and Hurst

Runners-up: About Vase, Frances Florist, Friday’s Florist.



GIFT/HOME

ACCESSORY SHOP

Crown Shop-Hallmark

Runners-up: Cobblestone and Vine, Fifth Season, Steinmart.



OFFICE SUPPLIES

Office Depot

Runners-up: Pettus Office Products, Settle Office Products, Staples.



VETERINARIAN

Hillcrest Animal Clinic

Runners-up: Allpets, Laura Mehaffy, Park Hill Pet Clinic.



CLEANERS

Cuffs

Runners-up: Comet, Moose, Schickel’s.



BANK

Metropolitan

Runners-up: Delta Trust and Bank, Pulaski Bank, Regions.



BARBERSHOP

Jerry’s

Runners-up: Morrison’s, Supercuts, Sullivan’s Barber Service.



SALON

Joel’s

Runners-up: Caracalla, High Maintenance, Salon Nouveau.



JEWELER

Mary Healey

Runners-up: Cecil’s, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Stanley Jewelers.



PHARMACY

Walgreen

Runners-up: Kroger, USA Drug, Wal-Mart.



CAR WASH

Best

Runner-up: Splash.



MATTRESSES

Denver Mattress

Runners-up: America’s Mattress, Haverty’s, Nichols Furniture.



AUTO DEALER

Landers

Runners-up: Bale dealerships, Parker dealerships, Russell dealerships.



AUTO SERVICE

Moore-Robinson

Runners-up: Austin Brothers, Jett’s Gas and Service, Parker dealerships.



AUTO STEREO

Best Buy

Runners-up: Auto Audio, Wal-Mart.



TRAVEL AGENCY

Poe Travel

Runners-up: Goodwin Travel American Express, Sue Smith Vacations.



HOTEL

Peabody

Runners-up: Capital Hotel (closed for renovation), Courtyard by Marriott, Embassy Suites.



PRIVATE SCHOOL

Pulaski Academy

Runners-up: Central Arkansas Christian, Episcopal Collegiate School, Little Rock Christian.



PUBLIC SCHOOL

Central High School

Runners-up: Jefferson, Pulaski Heights Middle School, Parkview Magnet.



APARTMENTS

Park at Riverdale

Runners-up: Arbors of Pleasant Valley, Forest Place, Turtlecreek.



SPA

Caracalla

Runners-up: Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Rejuvenation Clinic and Day Spa, Quy’s Salon and Spa.



GARDEN STORE/NURSERY

Good Earth

Runners-up: Green Tree, Hocott’s, Lakewood Gardens.



HARDWARE

Fuller and Sons

Runners-up: Home Depot, Kraftco, Lowe’s.



COMPUTERS

Best Buy

Runners-up: Circuit City, CompUSA, Office Depot.



EYEWEAR

LensCrafters

Runners-up: Burrow’s-Mr. Frank’s Optical, Pearle Vision, Wal-Mart.



VEGETABLES

River Market farmers market

Runners-up: Hardin’s, Terry’s, Wild Oats.



OUTDOOR GEAR

Ozark Outdoor Supply

Runners-up: Academy Sports, Gander Mountain, Gene Lockwood’s.



BICYCLES

Chainwheel

Runners-up: Arkansas Cycling and Fitness, Bikeseller.com (now Competitive Cyclist).



GUNS

Fort Thompson

Runners-up: Don’s Weaponry, Gander Mountain, Southern Trading and Loan.



COMMERCIAL ART GALLERY

Heights Gallery

Runners-up: Cantrell Gallery, Red Door Gallery, River Market ArtSpace.



CELL PHONE PROVIDER

Alltel

Runners-up: Cingular, Verizon.



INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER

AT&T

Runners-up: AOL, Aristotle, Comcast.



REALTOR

Janet Jones

Runners-up: Crye-Leike, Charlotte John, RPM.



PAWN SHOP

Southern Trading and Loan

Runners-up: A-1 Gun and Pawn, USA Loans.





RECREATION


PARK

Burns Park

Runners-up: Murray Park, Petit Jean State Park, Pinnacle Mountain State Park.



SWIMMING POOL

War Memorial pool

Runners-up: Little Rock Athletic Club, Maumelle Aquatic Center, Westside YMCA.



WEEKEND GETAWAY

Hot Springs

Runners-up: Eureka Springs, Branson, Memphis.



RESORT

Mountain Harbor

Runners-up: Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Lake DeGray Lodge, Red Apple Inn at Eden Isle.



MARINA

Mountain Harbor

Runners-up: Heber Springs Marina, Jolly Roger’s Marina.



GOLF COURSE

Rebsamen Park

Runners-up: Chenal Valley Country Club, Diamante at Hot Springs Village, Pleasant Valley Country Club.



ATHLETIC CLUB

Little Rock Athletic Club

Runners-up: Bowman Fitness, Curves, War Memorial Fitness Center.



TENNIS CENTER

Little Rock Athletic Club

Runners-up: Burns Park, Little Rock Racquet Club, Rebsamen Tennis Center.





ENTERTAINMENT


LOCAL BAND

The Rockets

Runners-up: Brenda and Ellis, Ferris Wheel Junkies, Salty Dogs.



PLACE TO DANCE

Electric Cowboy

Runners-up: Afterthought, Cajun’s, Discovery.



LIVE MUSIC

Sticky Fingerz

Runners-up: Afterthought, Cajun’s, Juanita’s.



PICKUP BAR

Cajun’s

Runners-up: Ciao Baci, Electric Cowboy, Flying Saucer.



GAY BAR

Discovery

Runners-up: Backstreet, Easy Street, Factory.



SPORTS BAR

West End Smokehouse and Tavern

Runners-up: Embassy Suites, Hooters, Legends.



LATE-NIGHT HANGOUT

Midtown Billiards

Runners-up: Cajun’s, Pizza D’Action, Waffle House.



PLAY POOL

West End Smokehouse and Tavern

Runners-up: Arena Billiards, Fox and Hound, Midtown Billiards.



MOVIE THEATER

Rave

Runners-up: Market Street Cinema, Regal Breckenridge 12, Riverdale 10.



MUSEUM

Arkansas Arts Center

Runners-up: Clinton Library, Historic Arkansas Museum, Museum of Discovery.



PERFORMING ARTS GROUP

Arkansas Repertory Theatre

Runners-up: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Weekend Theater.



PLACE TO GAMBLE

Tunica, Miss.

Runners-up: Grand, Horseshoe, Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.



PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS


ARTIST

Barry Thomas

Runners-up: Jane Hankins, Jim Johnson, Kevin Kresse.



PHOTOGRAPHER

Nancy Nolan

Runners-up: Cunningham Photography, Dixie Knight, Ben Moody.



CITIZEN

Keith Jackson

Runners-up: Bill Clark, Rollie Remmel, Doyle Rogers, Skip Rutherford.



POLITICIAN

U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder

Runners-up: Bill Clinton, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Sen. Mark Pryor.



ATHLETE

Jermain Taylor

Runners-up: Ronnie Brewer, Matt Jones, Mitch Mustain.



NEIGHBORHOOD

Hillcrest

Runners-up: Chenal Valley, Heights, River Market.



LIBERAL

U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder

Runners-up: Dean Kumpuris, Pat Lynch, Rita Sklar.



CONSERVATIVE

Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller

Runners-up: Asa Hutchinson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Rep. Mike Ross.



LOOKS

Eudora Mosby,

Miss Arkansas 2005

Runners-up: David Bazzel, Becky Ditchfield, Jason Harper, Jancey Sheats.



CHARITY

Komen Foundation Race for the Cure

Runners-up: Arkansas Sheriffs Youth Ranch, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Humane Society of Pulaski County.





MEDIA


RADIO STATION

KUAR

Runners-up: KLAL (Alice 107.7); KSSN; KABZ (The Buzz).



TV STATION

KATV

Runners-up: AETN, KTHV, Fox 16.



RADIO PERSONALITY

Heather and DC

Runners-up: Corey and Jay, Bob Robbins, Tommy Smith.



TV WEATHER

Ed Buckner

Runners-up: Barry Brandt, Tom Brannon, Ned Perme.



TV NEWS

Anne Jansen

Runners-up: Scott Inman, Andy Pearson, Jancey Sheats.



TV SPORTS

Craig O’Neill

Runners-up: Paul Eells, Steve Sullivan.



NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST

Wally Hall

Runners-up: John Brummett, Bob Lancaster, Helaine Williams.




CUISINE


FRENCH FRIES

McDonald’s

Runners-up: Buffalo Grill, Burger King, Sonic.



ONION RINGS

Sonic

Runners-up: Cotham’s in the City, Outback, Shorty Small’s.



CHEESE DIP

Juanita’s

Runners-up: Chili’s, El Porton, Senor Tequila.



RIBS

Sims

Runners-up: Corky’s, Rib Crib, Whole Hog.

BEER

Flying Saucer

Runners-up: Boscos, Pizza Cafe, Vino’s.



WINE LIST

Ferneau

Runners-up: Acadia, Capers, Nu.



LIQUOR STORE

Colonial Wine and Spirits

Runners-up: Grapevine, Heights Fine Wine and Spirits, Popatop.



COCKTAIL

Nu

Runners-up: Afterthought, Mallards, Vermillion Water Grille.



BUSINESS LUNCH

Vieux Carre

Runners-up: Best Impressions, Homer’s, Vermillion Water Grille.



MILKSHAKE

Purple Cow

Runners-up: Hop, Shakey’s Frozen Custard, Sonic.



VEGETARIAN FOOD

Wild Oats

Runners-up: Bossa Nova, Boulevard Bread Co., Cafe 1217 in Hot Springs.



BREAD

Boulevard Bread Co.

Runners-up: Community Bakery, Old Mill, Silvek’s.



CATERER

Catering to You

Runners-up: Corky’s, Simply the Best, Trio’s.



OUTDOOR DINING

Trio’s

Runners-up: Brave New Restaurant, Cajun’s, Scallions.



GOURMET TO GO

Diane’s

Runners-up: Boulevard Bread Co., Capers, Catering to You.



WEEKEND BRUNCH

Boscos

Runners-up: Loca Luna, Mimi’s, Trio’s.



SALAD

U.S. Pizza

Runners-up: Faded Rose, Franke’s, Trio’s.



DOUGHNUT

Shipley

Runners-up: Community Bakery, Krispy Kreme, Mark’s.



SUSHI

Sekisui

Runners-up: Benihana, Kobe, Mount Fuji.



BEST ENTRY

Dawn Cloud’s entry was chosen for our $100 prize drawing.