2003
FORAGING FOR FOOD
NOCTURNAL ADVENTURES
LOOKING SLEEK
THE WELL-FEATHERED NEST
EVASIVE ACTION
LIVING LEAN
KEEN OBSERVATIONS

FORAGING FOR FOOD
Best sidewalk café/patio dining: Sam's Anchor Cafe
Best restaurant with view: Guaymas
Best special occasion restaurant (adults): Lark Creek Inn
Best place for a birthday meal (kids): Chevy's
Best meal under $10: High-Tech Burrito
Best Sunday brunch: The Dipsea Cafe
Best Chinese restaurant: Tommy's Wok
Best Japanese restaurant: Sushi Ran
Best Italian restaurant: La Ginestra
Best French restaurant: El Paseo
Best Indian restaurant: Lotus Cuisine of India
Best Mexican restaurant: Taco Jane's
Best Thai restaurant: Royal Thai
Best Middle-East: Bamyan Afghan Restaurant
Best decadent desserts: Sweet Things
Best tapas/small plates: Fork
Best pizza: Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
Best place to buy a wedding cake: Emporio Rulli
Best coffee shop (chain): Peet's Coffee & Tea
Best coffee shop (independent): Emporio Rulli
Best locally brewed beer: Marin Brewing Company
Best ice cream/yogurt shop: Double Rainbow
Best meat department: Whole Foods
Best produce: Whole Foods
Best ethnic food store: Asian Market
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NOCTURNAL ADVENTURES
Best place to go on a first date: El Paseo
Best place to rekindle romance: El Paseo
Best bar for conversation: Ted's
Best bar with pool table: Ted's
Best movie theater: Rafael Film Center
Best dancing with DJ: Club Fusetti
Best dancing/live music: Rancho Nicasio
Best new nightspot: No winner
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LOOKING SLEEK
Best hair salon (men): Cooper Alley
Best hair salon (women): Cooper Alley
Best day spa: Stellar Spa
Best laser/Botox specialists: Simple Radiance
Best vitamin store: Whole Foods
Best health club/gym: Bay Club Marin, Osher Marin JCC (tie)
Best Pilates studio: Fit First Pilates
Best yoga instruction: Yoga Loka
Best dance lessons: Marin Dance Theater
Best lingerie selection: Victoria's Secret
Best sunglass selection: Sunglass City
Best optician: Toso Optical
Best jeweler: Julianna's Fine Jewelry
Best boutique shoe store: Nordstrom
Best men's clothier: Nordstrom
Best boutique women's clothing: Mad Rags
Best maternity store: Mimi Maternity
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THE WELL-FEATHERED NEST
Best antique store: The Pavillion Antiques
Best furniture store: Scandinavian Designs
Best carpet cleaners: Atlas Window & Carpet Cleaning
Best rug store: Alexander's Rugs
Best paint store: Marin Color Service
Best roofer: Marin County Roofing
Best lighting store: Lights of Rafael
Best cookware store: Williams-Sonoma
Best home audio/ electronics: Best Buy
Best florist: Paradise Flowers
Best gardening store: Sunnyside Nursery
Best shop for unique gifts: The Great Acorn Co.
Best arts & crafts supplies: Creative Merchandisers
Best frame shop: Cheap Pete's Frame Factory Outlet
Best cards/stationery store: Ideal Stationers
Best educational/imaginative toys: The Discovery Channel (Store)
Best bookstore (chain): Borders Books & Music
Best bookstore (independent): Oliver&Mac182;s, Whyte's Booksmith (tie)
Best CDs, tapes: Tower Records
Best video store: Silver Screen Video
Best dog-walking service: Pooch Promenade
Best pet groomer: Pet-Agree
Best car dealership: Marin Honda
Best used car dealer: Scotland Car Yard
Best auto repair: Easy Automotive
Best tires: Cains Tires
Best motorcycle dealer: Hatt's
Best self-storage facility: Self-Storage Emporium
Best place to buy a hot tub: Creative Energy
Best computer store: CompUSA
Best cell phone service provider: AT&T Wireless
Best home office supplies: Office Depot
Best non-mall shopping district: San Anselmo Avenue
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EVASIVE ACTION
Best surf shop: Fat Kat Surf Shop
Best boat shop (marine goods): West Marine
Best place to buy camping gear: REI
Best sporting goods store: REI
Best bike shop: Mike's Bikes & Sausalito Cyclery
Best ski/snowboard rental: Any Mountain
Best place to swim laps: Osher Marin JCC
Best dog park: Bayfront Park
Best children's attraction: Bay Area Discovery Museum
Best neighborhood festival: Fairfax Festival
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LIVING LEAN
Best bargain car rental: Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Best bargain prices wine/liquor: Trader Joe's
Best bargains in clothing: Ross Dress for Less
Best bargain place to take a date: Max's
Best thrift store: Goodwill Industries
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KEEN OBSERVATIONS
Best unsung hero: Teachers and youth coaches
Best charity: Ritter House
Best place to volunteer: Center for Attitudinal Healing
Best TV News anchor: Dennis Richmond
Best TV Weathercaster: Brian Sussman
Best TV Sportscaster: Gary Radnich
Favorite local character: Michael Pritchard
Favorite local celebrity: Sean Penn
What Marin needs most? Mass transit
What Marin could do without? Traffic congestion
Buzzword or phrase you never want to hear again: Whatever
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