Best of D.C. 2011: Borderstan Area Winners

Matty Rhoades and Alejandra Owens contributed to this post

Last Thursday the Washington City Paper released the results of its annual reader poll, Best of D.C. Readers voted in four categories: Goods & Services, People & Places, Food & Drink and Arts & Entertainment. In addition, the City Paper has a shorter list of some of its favorites.

As in past years, there many winners in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area and we have listed them below by category. Since there are too many local winners to call out here, we will simply note which establishments/places/people received a 1st, 2nd or 3rd Place in more than one category (we’ll call it a Special Mention).

Special Mentions go to Whole Foods, The Phillips Collection, Wagtime, Busboys and Poets, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, U Street (the area), Nellie’s Sports Bar, Buffalo Billiards, ChurchKey, Lauriol Plaza, Komi, Sweetgreen, Local 16, Town Danceboutique, 9:30 Club, Black Cat and U Street Music Hall.

We give Nellie’s Sports Bar an Extra Special Mention for being recognized six times in the City Paper reader poll. The U Street establishment received two 1st Place awards, finished in 2nd Place twice and in 3rd Place two times.

Borderstan.com did not place in the Best Local Blog/Blogger category, but we appreciated hearing from readers who said they voted for us (thanks!). 2birds1blog won this category for the second year in a row; 2nd Place went to Prince of Petworth and 3rd Place to DCist.

However, Borderstan co-founder and co-editor Luis Gomez took 2nd Place in Photography Services (Luis Gomez Photos). Luis is responsible for site design, photography and much more here at Borderstan.com.

 

City Paper Reader Poll Results

Goods and Services

• Athletic Shoe Store: Pacers Running, 3rd Place
• Bike Shop: The Bike Rack, 1st Place
• Bookstore: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, 2nd Place
• Clothing Boutique: Caramel, 1st Place tie with Nana
• Doggie Daycare: Wagtime, 2nd Place; Planet Pet, 3rd Place
• Farmers Market: Dupont Circle, 2nd Place
• Florist: Flowers on Fourteenth, 2nd Place
• Garden Store: Garden District, 1st Place (closed, not reopening this spring)
• Grocer: Whole Foods, 1st Place
• Gym: Balance Gym, 1st Place; Results Gym, 2nd Place; Vida Fitness, 3rd Place
• Hair Salon: Bang Salon, 1st Place
• Home Goods Store: Home Rule, 2nd Place
• Liquor Store: Barrel House Liquors, 3rd Place
• Pet Services: Wagtime, 2nd Place; Fur-Get Me Not, 3rd Place
• Photography Services: Luis Gomez Photos, 2nd Place
• Place to Buy Beer: Whole Foods, 3rd Place
• Place to Get Your Chocolate Fix: ACKC, 1st Place
• Place to Buy Home Furnishings: Miss Pixie’s Furnishings and whatnot…, 1st Place; Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, 2nd Place
• Place to Buy Jewelry: Troy Montana Jewelry, 1st Place
• Place to Buy Vinyl: Som Records, 1st Place
• Public WiFi: Starbucks, 1st Place; Busboys and Poets, 3rd Place
• Vet: CityPaws Animal Hospital, 2nd Place
• Yoga Studio: Yoga District, 1st Place

People & Places

• Blog/Blogger: 2birds1blog, 1st Place; Prince of Petworth, 2nd Place; Dcist, 3rd Place
• Mixologist (female): Alexandra Bookless at The Passenger, 1st Place
• Place to Take an Out-of-Towner: Busboys and Poets, 2rd Place
• Neighborhood for Nightlife: U Street, 1st Place
• Neighborhood for Shopping: U Street, 2nd Place
• Outdoor Patio: Lauriol Plaza, 2nd Place
• Place to Buy Fur Handcuffs: Leather Rack, 3rd Place
• Place to Smoke Weed Outdoors: Meridian Hill Park, 2nd Place; Rock Creek Park, 3rd Place
• Rooftop Bar: Local 16 and Nellie’s Sports Bar, tied for 2nd Place
• Singles Bar: Local 16, 2nd Place; Nellie’s Sports Bar, 3rd Place
• Sports Bar: Nellie’s Sports Bar, 1st Place; Buffalo Billiards, 3rd Place

Food and Drink

• Asian Restaurant: Mandu, 3rd Place
• Brunch: Tabard Inn, 1st Place
• Burger: Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 1st Place
• Coffee Shop: Filter Coffeehouse & Espresso Bar, 3rd Place
• Craft Beer Selection: ChurchKey, 1st Place
• Cupcake: Hello Cupcake, 3rd Place
• Draft Beer Selection: ChurchKey, 1st Place
• Ethiopian: Dukem, 1st place; Etete 2nd Place
• Happy Hour: Vinoteca Wine Bar & Bistro 1st Place; Nellie’s Sports Bar, 2nd Place
• Irish Pub: Duffy’s Irish Pub, 2nd Place
• Margarita: Lauriol Plaza, 1st Place
• Mussels: Bistro Du Coin, 2nd Place
• Neighborhood Bar: The Blaguard, 1st Place
• New Restaurant: Cajun Experience DC, 3rd Place
• New Bar: American Ice Co., 3rd Place
• Pie: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, 2nd Place
• Obama’s Date Night: Komi, 1st Place
• Restaurant When Someone Else Pays: Komi, 1st Place
• Restaurant When You Pay: Chix, 1st Place; Busboys & Poets, 2nd Place
• Salad: Sweetgreen, 1st Place
• Seafood: Hank’s Oyster Bar, 1st Place
• Soul Food: Oohs & Aahs, 1st Place; Eatonville, 2nd Place
• Sushi: Sushi Taro, 3rd Place
• Tapas: Estadio, 3rd Place
• Thai Restaurant: Thaitanic, 1st Place; ThaiPhoon, 2nd Place
• Vegan Restaurant: Cafe Green, 2nd Place; Java Green 3rd Place
• Wings: Duffy’s Irish Pub, 1st Place
• Yogurt/Smoothie: Mr. Yogato, 2nd Place; Sweetgreen, 3rd Place
• Rooftop Bar: Local 16, 2nd Place; Nellie’s Sports Bar, 3rd Place
• Singles Bar: Local 16, 2nd Place

Arts & Entertainment

• Art Gallery: The Phillips Collection, 1st Place
• Billiards: Buffalo Billiards, 1st Place
• Commercial Art Gallery: Long View Gallery, 3rd Place
• Dance Club: Town Danceboutique, 1st Place; U Street Music Hall, 2nd Place
• Dance Company: Jordin’s Paradise Dance & Fitness
• Gay Bar/Club: Nellie’s Sports Bar, 1st Place; Town Danceboutique, 2nd Place; Cobalt, 3rd Place
• Jazz/Blues Venue: HR-57, 2nd Place
• Museum: The Phillips Collection, 1st Place
• Music Venue: 9:30 Club, 1st Place; Black Cat, 2nd Place
• New Venue: U Street Music Hall, 2nd Place
• Place to See Local Music: Black Cat, 1st Place; 9:30 Club, 3rd Place

City Paper Staff Picks

• Coffehouse: Filter
• Empanada Innovator: Panas Gourmet Empanadas
• Place to Get Beer-Schooled: ChurchKey
• Reason to Cough: Blistered Shishitou Peppers at Estadio
• Unintentionally Vaginal Dessert: The Aegean Delight at Agora
• Uruguayan Sandwich: Fast Gourmet at Lowest Best Price Gas
• Best Use of a Whole Pig: Eola
• Vegan Brunch: Café Green
• Wings: Duffy’s Irish Pub