Out and About : Readers Picks

Best Art Gallery
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-721-0390

Best Arts Organization
Enjoy the Arts/START
1338 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-621-4700

Best Bar/Nightclub
alchemize
1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-2400

Best New Bar/Club (since 3/1/05)
The Poison Room
301 W. Fifth St., Downtown, 513-333-0010

Best Hole-in-the-Wall Bar
The Comet
4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-8900

Best Bowling Alley
Western Bowl
6383 Glenway Ave., Bridgetown, 513-574-2222

Best Brewpub
Hofbrauhaus
200 E. Third St., Newport, 859-491-7200

Best Casino
Argosy Casino & Hotel
777 Argosy Pkwy., Lawrenceburg, 812-539-8236

Best Celtic Pub
Claddagh Irish Pub
Newport on the Levee, Newport,
859-581-8888; 5075 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, 513-770-0999

Best Comedy Club
Go Bananas
8410 Market Place, Montgomery, 513-984-9288

Best Comedy Troupe
Wit's End
www.witsendcomedy.com

Best Dance Club
alchemize
1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-2400

Best Gay/Lesbian Bar
Jacob's on the Avenue
4029 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-591-2100

Best Happy Hour
Palomino
505 Vine St., Downtown, 513-381-1300

Best Beer Selection in a Bar
Beer Sellar
301 Riverboat Row, Newort, 859-431-6969

Best Margarita
Margaritas
Multiple locations

Best Martini
Havana Martini Club
441 Vine St. in the Carew Tower, Downtown, 513-651-2800

Best Single's Bar
McFadden's
19 E. Seventh St., Downtown, 513-621-6800

Best Concert in 2005
Coldplay at Riverbend (Aug. 9)

Best Concert Venue
Riverbend
Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Twp., 513-232-6220

Best Local Actor/Actress
Dale Hodges

Best Local Artist
Kendall Bruns

Best Local Author
Bob Woodiwiss

Best Local Band/Originals
Heartless Bastards

Best Local Band/Covers
Rusty Griswolds

Best Open Mic Night
Allyn's
3538 Columbia Pkwy., Columbia-Tusculum, 513-871-5779

Best Jukebox
The Comet
4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-8900

Best Karaoke
Hamburger Mary's
911 Vine St., Downtown, 513-381-MARY

Best Live Theater
Playhouse in the Park
962 Mount Adams Drive, Mount Adams, 513-421-3888

Best Movie Theater
AMC Newport
Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-261-8100

Best Pool Hall
Rack & Roll
2176 Anderson Ferry Road, Covedale, 513-922-2220

Best Place to Play Darts
Hap's Irish Pub
3510 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-6477


  

TICKER: A lot of first-time winners in Out & About: alchemize (Bar/Nightclub and Dance Club), Hofbrauhaus, Claddagh, Go Bananas, Beer Sellar, McFadden's, Kendall Bruns, Bob Woodiwiss, Heartless Bastards, Allyn's, Rack & Roll and Hap's.

Old favorites start with the Contemporary Arts Center, which won for the 10th consecutive year; Enjoy the Arts/START and Playhouse in the Park (six years in a row); Riverbend (seventh time in eight years); and Dale Hodges (sixth time in seven years).

Streaks snapped: Jekyll & Hyde's had won Best Pool Hall seven years in a row; the defunct BarrelHouse won Best Brewpub seven years in a row; and The Dubliner, closed and now reopened under new ownership, won Best Celtic Pub five years in a row.