Best of Sonoma Valley 2010 winners
Thanks for voting, Sonoma!
Here are your picks for The Sun’s yearly Best of Sonoma poll. 2010 turned out to be a very fine year with lots of folks weighing in on their favorites. As always, there are the stalwart selections like Scott at Pacific Rim as best mechanic and Little Switzerland as best place to dance. Relative newcomer, Mike Vanoni has won for the second year in a row as best handyman and Heidi Stearn’s coffee cart, Joe-2-Go, located inside Friedman Brothers, has won for best coffee. There are runners up in every category and we invite you to take a look at who was chosen. Of course, patronize your favorites but maybe try out one of these picks and see what all the buzz is about. We encourage loyalty but also expanding one’s horizon’s.
1. Best place to take your dog
Bike Path
Runner-up: Sonoma Dog Park
2. Best second hand store
Church Mouse
Runner-up: My Girlfriend’s Closet
3. Best grocery
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Whole Foods
4. Best new restaurant
Hopmonk Tavern
Runner-up: Hot Box Grill
5. Best Bakery
Basque Boulangerie
Runner-up: Artisan Bakers
6. Best place to buy wine
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Valley Wine Shack
7. Best tasting room
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
Runner-up: Meadowcroft Wines
8. Best animal care
TIE Altimira Animal Hospital
Arroyo Veterinary Hospital
9. Best mechanic or auto shop
Pacific Rim
Runner-up: William’s Auto Care Center
10. Best handyman
Mike Vanoni
Runner-up: One Call Does It All
11. Best youth coach
Mark Burningham
Runner-up: Charles DeTorres
12. Best mail carrier
Butch
Runner-up: Goober
13. Best policeman
Regan
Runner-up: Rocky
14. Best workout
Parkpoint
Runner-up: Fitness Factory
15. Best yoga
Yoga Community
Runner-up: Bikram Yoga
16. Best beauty salon
Catalina Skin and Body
Runner-up: EJ-588 Hair Studio
17. Best nail salon
Beautiful Nails
Runner-up: Maxwell Village Nails
18. Best spa experience
Raindance Spa at The Lodge Runner-up: Sonoma Mission Inn
19. Best place to dance
Little Switzerland
Runner-up: City Party
20. Best nightspot
Hopmonk Tavern
Runner-up: Murphy’s Irish Pub
21. Best place to take visitors
Sonoma Plaza
Runner-up: Overlook Trail
22. Best place to picnic
Sonoma Plaza
Runner-up: Bartholomew Park Winery
23. Best local lodging
The Lodge at Sonoma
Runner-up: MacArthur Place
24. Best place to take kids
Train Town
Runner-up: Maxwell Fun Center
25. Best place to buy a gift
Baksheesh
Runner-up: Zipper at Cornerstone
26. Best festival
Jazz+
Runner-up: Vintage Festival
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 taco truck
La Bamba
Runner-up: Las Mangos
30. Best breakfast
Creekside Cafe
Runner-up: Schellville Grill
31. Best patio dining
Sunflower Caffe
Runner-up: Swiss Hotel
32. Best caterer
Sheana Davis
Runner-up: Rocket
33. Best chef
Norman at Hot Box
Runner-up: Arturo at La Casa
34. Best dive bar
Town Square
Runner-up: Blue Moon Saloon
35. Best beer pub
Olde Sonoma Public House
Runner-up: Murphy’s Irish Pub
36. Best summer day camp
Sonoma Academy of Dance and Arts
Runner-up: Sebastiani Theatre
37. Best family restaurant
La Casa
Runner-up: Mary’s Pizza Shack
38. Best frozen treat
La Michoacan
Runner-up: Ben & Jerry’s
39. Best restaurant overall
Swiss Hotel
Runner-up: Depot Hotel
40. Best cocktails
Swiss Hotel
Runner-up: Meritage Oyster Bar
41. Best burger
Happy Dog
Runner-up: Breakaway Cafe
42. Best Men’s Haircut
Cheveux Salon
Runner-up: Tony’s Barber Shop
43. Best pizza
The Red Grape
Runner-up: Mary’s Pizza Shack
44. Best cup of coffee
Joe-2-Go at Friedman Brothers
Runner-up: Terri’s Hot Shots
45. Best place to satisfy your sweet tooth
Baskin Robbins
Runner-up: Chocolate Cow
46. Best happy hour
Maya
Runner-up: Meritage Oyster Bar
47. Best bartender
Gerard at Meritage Oyster Bar
Runner-up: Mike at the Swiss
48. Best local band
BackTraxx
Runner-up: Whiskey Thieves
50. Best local radio show
Ken Brown/Mornings In Sonoma
Runner-up: Guys @ Five
51. Best Dance studio
Sonoma Academy of Dance and Arts
Runner-up: Sonoma Ballet Conservatory
52. Best bike shop
Sonoma Valley Cyclery
Runner-up: Wine Country Cyclery
53. Best health practitioner
Dr. Eliot Carter
Runner-up: Dr. Charles DeTorres
As with last year, we’ve selected a few editor’s picks that weren’t included on the ballot. Some are quirky, some are fun and some simply must be tried to be believed. Here, in no particular order are The Sun’s new favorites.
• Best local eggs: Nix Chix at the Sonoma Garden Park
• Best Friday morning snack: Mike the Baker’s fresh wood-fired pretzels at the Farmers Market
• Best people watching: Outside table at Basque Boulangerie
• Best looking local winemaker: Andrew Mariani at Scribe
• Best reminder of the Sonoma of yesteryear: Second Street East Clydesdales
• Best way to spend a free, relaxing half-hour: Sampling lotions at Pharmaca
• Best Bloody Mary (before or after the lotion, your choice): Jack London Lodge
