Best of 2012 winners
1. Best place to take your dog
Sonoma Dog Park
Runner-up: Sonoma bike path
2. Best second hand store
Republic of Thrift
Runner-up: Church Mouse
3. Best grocery
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Whole Foods
4. Best senior deal
Whole Foods’ Senior Day
Runner-up: Vintage House
5. Best Bakery
Basque Boulangerie
Runner-up: Crisp
6. Best place to buy wine
Sonoma’s Best
Runner-up: Sonoma Market
7. Best tasting room
Gundlach Bundschu
Runner-up: Larson Family Winery
8. Best animal care
Arroyo Vet Hospital
Runner-up: Altimira Vet Hospital
9. Best mechanic or auto shop
Pacific Rim
Runner-up: Steve’s Smog
10. Best handyman
Manny
Runner-up: Mike Vanoni
11. Best youth coach
Dr. Charles De Torres
Runner-up: Brian Wirick
12. Best mail carrier
Butch
Runner-up: Joe Kennedy
13. Best policeman
Chief Bret Sackett
Runner-up: Rocky
14. Best workout
Sonoma Aquatic Club
Runner-up: Parkpoint
15. Best yoga
Yoga Community
Runner-up: Bikram
16. Best beauty salon
Catalina’s
Runner-up: Bianchi Grazia
17. Best nail salon
Maxwell Nails
Runner-up: Gra
18. Best spa experience
Raindance Spa at The Lodge
Runner-up: Massage Envy
19. Best winery tour
Benzinger
Runner-up: Sebastiani
20. Best nightspot
Murphy’s
Runner-up: Hopmonk Tavern
21. Best place to take visitors
Plaza
Runner-up: General Vallejo Home
22. Best place to picnic
Plaza
Runner-up: Bartholomew Park
23. Best local lodging
MacArthur Place
Runner-up: Lodge at Sonoma
24. Best place to take kids
Train Town
Runner-up: The Plaza
25. Best place to buy a gift
Sign of the Bear
Runner-up: The Toy Shop
26. Best customer care
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Exchange Bank
27. Best art gallery
Arts Guild of Sonoma
Runner-up: Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
28. Best place to buy organic
Whole Foods
Runner-up: Farmer’s Market
29. Best ethnic grocery
La Favoriita Carniceria
Runner-up: La Chapala
30. Best breakfast
Breakaway Cafe
Runner-up: Creekside Cafe
31. Best patio dining
Sunflower Caffe
Runner-up: Hopmonk
32. Best caterer
Olive & Vine
Runner-up: Elaine Bell Catering
33. Best chef
John Toule, girl and the fig
Runner-up: Norm Owens, Hot Box
34. Best international restaurant
Maya
Runner-up: Yeti
35. Best beer pub
Murphy’s
Runner-up: Olde Sonoma Pub
36. Best summer day camp
Boys & Girls Club
Runner-up: Rhoten Theatre Camp
37. Best family restaurant
Mary’s Pizza Shack
Runner-up: Red Grape
38. Best mobile cuisine
La Bamba
Runner-up: El Gran Taco
39. Best free Wi-Fi spot
Starbucks
Runner-up: Barking Dog
40. Best cocktails
Saddles
Runner-up: Swiss Hotel
41. Best burger
Happy Dog
Runner-up: Fremont Diner
42. Best Men’s Haircut
Johnny Mazza
Runner-up: Tony’s
43. Best pizza
Red Grape
Runner-up: Mary’s Pizza Shack
44. Best cup of coffee
Joe-to-Go
Runner-up: Sonoma’s Best
45. Best bike shop
Wine Country Cyclery
Runner-up: Sonoma Valley Cyclery
46. Best happy hour
Hopmonk
Runner-up: Meritage
47. Best bartender
Michael O’Leary
Runner-up: Kenny de Alba
48. Best local band
Whiskey Thieves
Runner-up: BackTrax
49. Best local radio show
Stan and Newman
Runner-up: Ken Brown Morning Show
50. Best health practitioner
Dr. Charles De Torres
Runner-up: Dr. Robert Geiger
