Best of Erie 2016 Winners and Finalists

There are so many great things happening in and around Erie. Every unique restaurant, business, and artist helps to make our community what it is. Directly from your suggestions, we assembled our nominees. From there, you helped spread the word, gathering hundreds of thousands of votes along the way. Some races were neck-and-neck, with new leaders every other day. There were plenty of familiar favorites, with more than a handful of surprises thrown in. Below are a few of your favorite things. We're profoundly proud to announce the winners (italicized in bold) and top three finalists in 100 different categories for the 2016 Best of Erie. 

Goods and Services

Best Car Dealership

Bianchi Honda

New Motors

Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

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Best Thrift Store

Salvation Army

Goodwill

Erie City Mission Thrifty Shopper

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Best Vintage Clothing/Consignment Shop

Sassy Peacock

Pointe  Foure

Salvation Army

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Best Antique Shop

Oregon Antique Boutique

Romantique Boutique

Walker House

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Best Jewelry Store

Dahlkemper's Jewelry Connection

Glass Growers Gallery

Relish Studio & Gallery

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Best Place to Buy Furniture

John V Schultz

Arthur F Schultz

Fred's Furniture

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Best Comics and Collectibles Shop

Books Galore

Action Toy Man

Above & Beyond Comics

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Best Smoke/Vapor Shop

Smoker Friendly

Hippie and the Hound Vapor Store and Lounge

Erie Vapor Cabana

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Best Chocolate/Candy Purveyor

Romolo Chocolates

Stefanelli's Candies

Pulakos Chocolates

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Best Bakery

Art's Bakery

Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Icing on the Lake

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Best Deli

Teresa's Italian Deli

Tickle's Deli

Bello's Market

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Best Winery

Mazza Vineyards

6 Mile Cellars

Arrowhead Winery

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Best Place to Get a Six Pack

U Pick Six

Wegmans

Six Pack House of Beer

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Best Health Food Store

Whole Foods Co-op

Chicory Hill Herbs

Dietary Foods

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Best Tattoo Parlor

Ink Assassins

Wayward Tattoo

Midtown Tattoo

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Best Tattoo Artist

Jess Scutella

Eerie Eric

Jen Minor

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Best Place to Get Pierced

Ink Assassins

Sacred Piercing

Buddha's Body Art

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Best Place to Adopt a Pet

The ANNA Shelter

The Humane Society of NWPA

Orphan Angels

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Best Bank

Erie Federal Credit Union

Widget Financial

Marquette Savings Bank

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Best Spa

Coventina Day Spa

Panache Salon and Spa

The Spa at LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center

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Best Beauty Salon

Panache Salon and Spa

Moxi Hair Salon

Innovations Hair Studio

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Best Barbershop

Uncle Nick's Barbershop

Heads of State

Poor Richard's Cuts

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Best Bike Shop

John Adams Cycling and Fitness

Competitive Gear

AR Adams Schwinn

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Best Web Developer

Epic Web Studios

Firefly Web Studios

NMT Marketing

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Best Locally Made Product

Romolo Chocolates

Iron Empire Clothing

Stefanelli's Candies

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Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

The Juice Jar

Iron Empire Clothing

The Que Abides

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Best Dog Groomer

Paws 'n Claws Groomers

Mudpuppies

TLC Groomers

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Culture & Nightlife

Best Local Festival

Erie Art Museum Blues & Jazz Festival

Panegyri Greek Festival

The Gathering at Chaffee's

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Best Art Event

Arts &  Drafts Fest

Erie Art Museum's Spring Show

Gallery Night

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Best Museum

Erie Art Museum

ExpERIEnce Children's Museum

Erie Maritime Museum

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Best Performing Arts Space

Warner Theatre

Erie Playhouse

PACA

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Best Local Act (Band/Musician)

Jakes Blues

Eric Brewer & Friends

Whiskey Road

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Best Local Artist

Fran Schanz

Theresa Musatto

Noreen Finn

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Best Art Gallery

Erie Art Museum

Glass Growers Gallery

Artlore Studio

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Best Music Venue

Coconut Joe's

Kings Rook Club

Basement Transmissions

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Best Local Sculptor

Evan Everhart

Patrick Catalde

Brian Pardini

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Best Local Photographer

Sarah Peach

Robert Frank

Eric Smyklo

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Best Up-and-Coming Band/Musician (Last Two Years)

First to Eleven

Pine Diary

Clever Norman

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Best Local Singer

Jess Royer

Brenna Bone

Roy Hollis Jr.

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Best Local Musician

Eric Brewer

Stephen Trohoske

Ron Yarosz

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Best MC

Bill Page

C.Brown

Butchie Knight

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Best Local Graphic Designer

Alice DeGeorge

Starlight Events by Design

Amber Smith

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Best Neighborhood Bar

Plymouth Tavern

U Pick 6

Jekyll & Hyde's Gastropub

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Best Night Club

Coconut Joe's

Docksider

Sunflower Club

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Best New Bar/Club (Within Last Two Years)

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Resolution

Erie Arena Sports Bar

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Best Dance Company

Mercyhurst Dance Company

Dance Elite Performance Company

Dafmark Dance Theatre and Academy

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Best College Bar

Plymouth Tavern

Cornerstone Bar and Grill

Coconut Joe's

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Best Sports Bar

Odis 12 Bar & Grille

Sluggers Sports Bar and Grill

Coach's Sports Bar & Grill

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Best Lounge

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Jekyll & Hyde's Gastropub

Kings Rook Club

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Food & Drink

Best Restaurant

Pineapple Eddie's

1201 Kitchen

New York Lunch

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Best Sandwich Shop

Picasso's

Tickle's Deli

Whole Foods Co-op

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Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Chopstix

Millcreek Brewing Company

Federal Hill Smokehouse

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Best Place to Get Seafood

Smuggler's Wharf

Joe Root's

1201 Kitchen

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Best Romantic Restaurant

1201 Kitchen

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Colao's Ristorante

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Best Chef

Dan Kern (1201 Kitchen)

Bertrand Artigues (Cloud 9 Wine Bar)

Adam Williams (1201 Kitchen)

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Best Bar Food

Odis 12 Bar & Grille

Calamari's Squid Row

Avonia Tavern

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Best Local Coffee Shop

Brickhouse Coffee

Brew Ha Ha

Out of the Grey

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Best Food Truck

The Que Abides

Odis 12 Food Truck

Ernie's

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Best Breakfast

The Breakfast Place

Summerhouse Cafe

Dominick's

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Best Patio

The Sloppy Duck

Plymouth Tavern

Calamari's Squid Row

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Best Brunch

Summerhouse Cafe

Voodoo Brewery

The Juice Jar

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Best Place to Get Ice Cream

Whippy Dip

Creamland

Connie's Ice Cream

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Best Local Brewery

The Brewerie at Union Station

Lavery Brewing Co.

Sprague Farm and Brew Works

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Best Locally Made Beer

Apparition Amber Ale (Brewerie)

Dulachan (Lavery)

Rustbelt (Sprague Farm)

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Best Place to Get Vegan/Vegetarian Food

Whole Foods Co-op

The Juice Jar

Like My Thai

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Best Place to Order a Steak

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

LongHorn Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse

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Best Place to Get Barbecue

Three B Saloon

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Famous Dave's

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Best Burger

Max & Erma's

The Brewerie at Union Station

Voodoo Brewing

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Best Pizza

Stevo's

Virgil's

Brooklyn Pizza

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Best Wings

Odis 12 Bar & Grille

Park Tavern

One Way Inn

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Best Sushi

Chopstix

1201 Kitchen

Sushi and Asian Cuisine

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Best Asian Restaurant

Chopstix

Golden Wok

Like My Thai

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Best Italian Restaurant

Mi Scuzi

Calao's Ristorante

La Bella

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Best Mexican Restaurant

El Canelo

Torrero's

Chipotle

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Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Restaurant

Casablanca

Petra

Habibi

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Best Late-Nite Menu

Panos

Jekyll and Hyde's Gastropub

Kings Rook Club (Sakura)

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Best Dessert

Icing on the Lake

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Alkeme

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Best Thai Restaurant

Like My Thai

Khao Thai

Thai Eatery

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Best Indian Restaurant

Tandoori Hut

MK Indian Cuisine

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People & Places

Best Radio Station

Happi 92.7

WERG 90.5

Star 104

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Best Radio Personality

Craig Warvel

Mojo McKay

Shari McBride

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Best TV Personality

Sean Lafferty

Dave Belmondo

Jill McCormick

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Best Yoga Studio

YogaErie

Art of Yoga

Plasha

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Best Politician

Ryan Bizzarro

Jay Breneman

Sean Wiley 

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Best Poet

Monica Igras

Marisa Moks-Unger

Luchetta Manus

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Best Filmmaker

John C. Lyons

Len Kabasinski

Menajerie Studio

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Best Place to Work

Wegmans

Erie Insurance

UPMC Hamot

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Best Tourist Attraction

Presque Isle State Park

Waldameer Park

Erie Zoo

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Best Local Actor

Mark Tanenbaum

Michael Haas

Morgan Gore

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Best Local Actress

Kelly Rodland

Adele Crotty Gross

Jessica Flock

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Best Non-Profit/Charity

The ANNA Shelter

Sisters of St. Joseph Network

Erie Art Museum

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Best Landmark

US Brig Niagara

Dobbin's Landing

Presque Isle Lighthouse

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Best Bartender

Meghann Legler

Amanda Schaffner 

Brian Matson

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Best Place to get Lectured to

Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Erie County Public Library

Jefferson Educational Society

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Best University

Penn State Behrend

Edinboro University

Mercyhurst University

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Best Fitness Club

LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center

Real Fitness

Joe's Gym

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Best Athletic Competition

Beast on the Bay

ERC Turkey Trot

Edinboro Highland Games

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Best Bowling Alley

Greengarden Lanes

Eastway Lanes

Rolling Meadows

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Best Team to Root for

Erie Otters

Erie Seawolves

Erie Bayhawks

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Best Golf Course

Whispering Woods Golf Club

Lawrence Park Golf Course

Beechwood Golf Course

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Best Local Entrepreneur(s)

RJ & Jamie Messenger

Emily George

Matt Silva