Readers have spoken in our annual Best of Arkansas contest. Click below for the winners in dozens of readers choice categories and make sure you see the Times’ own choices on other categories worthy of mention.
Goods and Services
Recreation
Entertainment
People, places and things
Cuisine
GOODS AND SERVICES
Shopping center
Park Plaza
RUNNERS-UP: Pleasant Ridge, Midtowne Little Rock, Chenal Promenade.
Grocery store
Kroger
RUNNERS-UP: Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Walmart.
Women’s clothing
Dillard’s
RUNNERS-UP: Chico’s, Barbara Jean, Kohl’s.
Men’s clothing
Dillard’s
RUNNERS-UP: Bauman’s, Greenhaw’s, Evolve.
Children’s clothing
Toggery
RUNNERS-UP: Children’s Place, Dillard’s, Old Navy.
Vintage clothing
Savers
RUNNERS-UP: Elaine’s Closet, Poor Little Rich Girl, Paddywack’s.
Hip clothing
Forever 21
RUNNERS-UP: Scarlet, Evolve, RK.
Antiques
Morris Antiques of Keo
RUNNERS-UP: Fabulous Finds, Blue Suede Shoes Antique Mall, Mid-towne Antique Mall.
Furniture
Hank’s
RUNNERS-UP: IO Metro, Ashley’s, Haverty’s.
Garden Store or nursery
Good Earth
RUNNERS-UP: Cantrell Gardens, Hocott’s, Home Depot.
Hardware
Kraftco
RUNNERS-UP: Fuller and Sons, Home Depot, Lowe’s.
Eyewear
Lenscrafters
RUNNERS-UP: Burrows/Mr. Frank’s, Walmart, Kavanaugh Eye Care
Fresh Vegetables
River Market Farmers Market
RUNNERS-UP: Fresh Market, Argenta Farmers Market, Kroger.
Outdoor Store
Ozark Outdoors
RUNNERS-UP: Academy, Gander Mountain, Gene Lockwood’s.
Bicycle shop
Chainwheel
RUNNERS-UP: Arkansas Cycle and Fitness, Orbea, Community Bicyclist.
Gun store
Fort Thompson
RUNNERS-UP: Don’s Weaponry, Gander Mountain, Bullseye Guns and Ammo.
Commercial Art Gallery
M2
RUNNERS-UP: Greg Thompson, Gallery 26, Cantrell Gallery.
Mobile phone
AT&T
RUNNERS-UP: Verizon (Alltel), Sprint.
Internet Service Provider
AT&T
RUNNERS-UP: Comcast, Aristotle, Windstream.
Realtor
Janet Jones
RUNNERS-UP: Crye-Leike, Charlotte John, Pulaski Heights Realty.
Auto Service
Landers
RUNNERS-UP: Bale, Kingwood Exxon, Jett’s Gas and Services.
Auto Stereo
Best Buy
RUNNERS-UP: Auto Audio, Music Mart, Custom Audio
Travel Agency
Poe Travel
RUNNERS-UP: Sue Smith Vacations, AAA, Dillard’s.
Hotel
Capital
RUNNERS-UP: Peabody, Embassy Suites, Doubletree.
Private School
Episcopal Collegiate
RUNNERS-UP: Pulaski Academy, Catholic High School, Mount St. Mary Academy.
Public School
Central High School
RUNNERS-UP: Parkview Magnet High School, eStem Public Charter Schools, Joe T. Robinson High School.
Apartment complex
Links
RUNNERS-UP: Park at Riverdale, Rivercliff, Highland Pointe
Bank
Metropolitan
RUNNERS-UP: Arvest, Regions, Centennial
Barbershop
Jerry’s
RUNNERS-UP: SportsClips, Kristi-Kuts, Morrison’s.
Salon
Joel’s
RUNNERS-UP: Fringe Benefits, Caracalla, Blush.
Spa
Rejuvenation Clinic
RUNNERS-UP: Caracalla, Indulgences, Quy’s
Jeweler
Sissy’s Log Cabin
RUNNERS-UP: Roberson’s, Jones and Son, Stanley’s.
Pharmacy
Walgreens
RUNNERS-UP: Kroger, USA Drug, Cornerstone.
Carwash
Best
RUNNERS-UP: Splash, Suds, Boomerang.
Mattress
Denver Mattress
RUNNERS-UP: Bedding Mart, Hank’s.
Auto Dealer
Landers
RUNNERS-UP: Bale, Parker Lexus, Northpoint.
Lingerie
Victoria’s Secret
RUNNERS-UP: Barbara Graves, Cupid’s, Dillard’s.
Electronics
Best Buy
RUNNERS-UP: Radio Shack, Walmart.
Sporting Goods
Academy
RUNNERS-UP: Sports Authority, Gander Mountain, Ozark Outdoors.
Toys
Toys R Us
RUNNERS-UP: Heights Toy Center, Toy Up, Walmart.
Florist
Tipton and Hurst
RUNNERS-UP: About Vase, Frances Flower Shop, Crocus.
Plumber
Advantage
RUNNERS-UP: Ray Lusk, Russell Lemay, Roto-Rooter
Gift Shop
Kirkland’s
RUNNERS-UP: The Crown Shop, Full Moon, Box Turtle.
Office Supply
Office Depot
RUNNERS-UP: Staples, Pettus, Office Max.
Veterinarian
Hillcrest Animal Hospital
RUNNERS-UP: Allpets, Pinnacle Valley Animal Hospital, Hartford Hamilton.
Cleaners
Comet
RUNNERS-UP: Schickel’s, Moose, Hangers.
Decorator
D&D Designs
RUNNERS-UP: Georgia James, Tobi Fairley, Tom Chandler Associates.
Music Equipment
Guitar Center
RUNNERS-UP: Best Buy, Jack’s, Jacksonville Guitar.
Shoes
Dillard’s
RUNNERS-UP: DSW, Warren’s, Shoe Connection, Solemates.
Bookstore
Barnes and Noble
RUNNERS-UP: Wordsworth, Books-a-Million, That Bookstore in Blytheville.
Pawn shop
National
RUNNERS-UP: Braswell and Son, Big Daddy’s, USA Pawn, Pawnderosa.
Funeral home
Roller
RUNNERS-UP: Ruebel, Griffin Leggett, North Little Rock Funeral Home.
Retirement community
Fox Ridge
RUNNERS-UP: Parkway Village, Woodland Heights, Hot Springs Village.
RECREATION
Place to Swim
Little Rock Racquet Club
RUNNERS-UP: Wild River Country, Greers Ferry Lake, Little Rock Athletic Club.
Park
Burns Park
RUNNERS-UP: Murray Park, Allsopp Park, Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
Cheap Date
Movies in the Park
RUNNERS-UP: McDonald’s, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Big Dam Bridge.
Weekend Getaway
Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Eureka Springs, Branson, Mount Magazine.
Resort
Mountain Harbor
RUNNERS-UP: Red Apple Inn, Big Cedar Lodge, Gaston’s.
Marina
Heber Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Mountain Harbor, Jolly Roger, Hot Springs Marina.
Golf Course
Chenal Country Club (private)
RUNNERS-UP: Rebsamen Golf Course, Pleasant Valley Country Club (private), Alotian (extremely private).
Athletic Club
Little Rock Athletic Club
RUNNERS-UP: 10 Fitness, Jim Dailey Fitness Center, Little Rock Racquet Club.
Tennis
Little Rock Athletic Club
RUNNERS-UP: Little Rock Racquet Club, Burns Park, Rebsamen Tennis Center.
ENTERTAINMENT
Band
Gettys
RUNNERS-UP: Rockets, Tragikly White, Typhoid Mary.
Place to Dance
Discovery
RUNNERS-UP: Cajun’s Wharf, Electric Cowboy, Sticky Fingerz.
Live Music
Juanita’s
RUNNERS-UP: Rev Room, Sticky Fingerz, Cajun’s Wharf.
Pickup Bar
Cajun’s Wharf
RUNNERS-UP: Ernie Biggs, Ciao Baci, Fountain.
Gay Bar
Discovery
RUNNERS-UP: Starbar, Backstreet, Pulse.
Sports Bar
West End Smokehouse and Tavern
RUNNERS-UP: Fox and Hound, Big Whiskey, Buffalo Wild Wings.
Late Night
Midtown Billiards
RUNNERS-UP: Salut, Waffle House, Whitewater.
Place to shoot pool
Fox and Hound
RUNNERS-UP: Midtown Billiards, West End, Fountain.
Movie Theater
Rave
RUNNERS-UP: Chenal 9, Regal Breckenridge, Market Street Cinema.
Museum
Arkansas Arts Center
RUNNERS-UP: Museum of Discovery, Clinton Presidential Center, Old State House.
Performing Arts Group
Arkansas Repertory Theatre
RUNNERS-UP: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, River City Men’s Chorus, Red Octopus.
Place to Gamble
Oaklawn Park
RUNNERS-UP: Goldstrike, Harrah’s, Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
Place to See Someone Famous
Clinton Presidential Center
RUNNERS-UP: River Market, Capital Hotel, Doe’s Eat Place.
PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS
Artist
Emily Galusha
RUNNERS-UP: Lisa Krannichfeld, Barry Thomas, Kevin Kresse.
Photographer
Tim Vahsholtz
RUNNERS-UP: Sarah Bussey, Nancy Nolan, Dixie Knight.
Politician
Mike Beebe
RUNNERS-UP: Vic Snyder, Bill Clinton, Bill Halter.
Athlete
Ryan Mallett
RUNNERS-UP: Jermain Taylor, Cliff Lee, Joe Johnson.
Neighborhood
Hillcrest
RUNNERS-UP: Heights, Chenal Valley, Pleasant Valley.
Liberal
Vic Snyder
RUNNERS-UP: Mike Beebe, Joyce Elliott, Bill Halter.
Conservative
Mike Huckabee
RUNNERS-UP: Bill Vickery, Gilbert Baker, John Boozman.
Looking
David Bazzel
RUNNERS-UP: Beth Hunt, Joan Early, Donna Terrell.
Charity
Heifer International
RUNNERS-UP: Humane Society of Pulaski County, Susan G. Komen Foundation/Race for the Cure, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Pulaski County.
MEDIA
Radio Station
Tom FM
RUNNERS-UP: The Buzz, Alice, KUAR.
Radio Personality
Heather and DC
RUNNERS-UP: Tommy Smith, Bob Robbins, Dave Elswick
TV Station
KATV, Channel 7
RUNNERS-UP: KTHV, Channel 11; KARK, Channel 4; Fox 16.
TV News Person
Craig O’Neill
RUNNERS-UP: Scott Inman, Christina Munoz, Donna Terrell.
TV Sports Person
Steve Sullivan
RUNNERS-UP: Craig O’Neill, Wes Moore, Mark Edwards.
TV Weatherman
Ed Buckner
RUNNERS-UP: Ned Perme, Barry Brandt, Mike Francis
Newspaper Writer
John Brummett
RUNNERS-UP: Wally Hall, Max Brantley, Paul Greenberg
Local Blog
Arkansas Blog
RUNNERS-UP: Tie Dye Travels, Tolbert Report, Blake’s Think Tank.
CUISINE
French Fries
McDonald’s
RUNNERS-UP: Buffalo Grill, The House, Arkansas Burger Company
Onion Ring
Sonic
RUNNERS-UP: Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Cotham’s, The Hop.
Cheese Dip
Mexico Chiquito
RUNNERS-UP: Senor Tequila, Chili’s, El Porton, Juanita’s.
Ribs
Whole Hog
RUNNERS-UP: Corky’s, Sims, Famous Dave’s.
Wine List
Ashley’s
RUNNERS-UP: Acadia, By the Glass, 1620.
Liquor Store
Colonial Wine and Spirits
RUNNERS-UP: Ridge, Pop-a-top, Lake Liquor.
Sushi
Sushi Cafe
RUNNERS-UP: Gina’s, Hanaroo, Igibon, Mount Fuji.
Salad
ZaZa
RUNNERS-UP: US Pizza, Trio’s, Jason’s Deli.
Brunch
Loca Luna
RUNNERS-UP: Ya Ya’s, Capi’s, Bosco.
Gourmet To Go
Catering To You
RUNNERS-UP: Boulevard Bread, Diane’s, Fresh Market
Cocktail
Capital Bar
RUNNERS-UP: Ciao Baci, Ferneau, Bonefish Grill.
Business Lunch
Capital Bar
RUNNERS-UP: Copper Grill, Trio’s, Brave New Restaurant.
Milkshake
Purple Cow
RUNNERS-UP: Cheeburger, Cheeburger, The Hop, Doe’s.
Vegetarian Food
Whole Foods
RUNNERS-UP: Lilly’s Dim Sum, ZaZa, Star of India.
Bread
Boulevard Bread
RUNNERS-UP: Panera, Old Mill, Community Bakery.
Caterer
Catering To You
RUNNERS-UP: Simply The Best, RSVP, Trio’s.
Outdoor Dining
Acadia
RUNNERS-UP: Cajun’s Wharf, Brave New Restaurant, US Pizza.