Best of Erie 2019: Finalists

You've outdone yourself again. This year, nearly 376,000 votes were cast as our readership sorted out the most superlative of people, places, and things that the area has to offer. Some categories were landslide victories, while others were decided by only a handful of votes. To avoid spoiling the surprise, we've listed the finalists in each category in alphabetical order. Check back next issue to see the who, where, and what you've elected to call the Best of Erie.

Goods and Services (top three finalists in alphabetical order):

Best Local Business

Erie Insurance

Kraus Department Store

Waldameer & Water World

Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

The Cork 1794

The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Underdog BBQ

Best Locally Made Product

Mighty Fine Donuts

Romolo Chocolates

Smith's Hot Dogs

Best Car Dealership

Bianchi Honda

Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram

New Motors

Best Bank

Erie Federal Credit Union

Northwest Bank

PNC Bank

Best Antique Shop

The Green Eyed Lady

Main Street Antiques

Oregon Antiques

Best Boutique

A La Carte Gift Shop

Grasshopper

Mama Mia's BOWtique

Best Consignment Shop

Claudine's Consignment

Cobb's Second Time Around Thrift Shop

The Sassy Peacock

Best Jewelry Store

Breakiron Jewelers

Dahlkemper's Jewelry Connection

Sacred Piercing

Best Furniture Store

Arthur F. Schultz

Furniture Row

John V. Schultz

Best Local Book Store

Books Galore

Pressed

Werner Books

Best Health Food Store

The Juice Jar

Whole Foods Co-op

Zero Gravity

Best Barbershop

Colony Barber Shop

Ruiz Barber Shop

Russo's Barbershop

Best Spa

Ambridge Rose Spa & Salon

Coventina Day Spa

Panache Salon and Spa

Best Beauty Salon

Ambridge Rose Spa & Salon

Moxi Hair Salon

Panache Salon and Spa

Best Dog Groomer

Buzz n' B's Aquarium and Pet Shop

Mud Puppies Self Serve Dog Wash

Paws 'n Claws

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

The ANNA Shelter

Because You Care, Inc

Erie Humane Society

Best Bike Shop

Competitive Gear

John Adams Cycling & Fitness

Lake Country Bike

Best Auto Repair Shop

Bates Collision

Bianchi Honda

Bonnell's Collision Center

Best Web Developer

Epic Web Studios

Erie Multimedia

weCreate Website Design & Marketing

Best Graphic Designer

Stephanie Bruce

Alice DeGeorge

Matt Texter

Best Advertising Agency

ErieMultimedia

RFrank Media

SkyRocket Group

Best Law Firm

Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C.

MacDonald, Illig, Jones, & Britton LLP

Vendetti & Vendetti Law Firm

Best Real Estate Agency

Agresti Real Estate

Howard Hanna

Marsha Marsh

Best Bed and Breakfast

Grape Arbor Bed and Breakfast

Spencer House Bed & Breakfast

Victoria Inn Bed and Breakfast

Best Place to Get a Six Pack

Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

U Pick Six

Wegmans

Best Smoke/Vapor Shop

Hippie and the Hound Vapor Store and Lounge

Smoker Friendly

Vapor Cabana

Best Tattoo Parlor

Ink Assassins

Mid-Town Tattoo

Wayward Tattoo Studio

Culture & Nightlife (top three finalists in alphabetical order)

Best Art Event

Arts & Drafts Festival

Erie Art Museum Spring Show

Gallery Nights

Best Festival

Celebrate Erie

Erie's Blues & Jazz Festival

Tall Ships

Best Music Series

8 Great Tuesdays

Live Music at the Sunset Grill

Sunset Music Series

Best Heritage Festival

Erie Irish Festival

Panegyri Greek Festival

Zabawa Polish Festival

Best Museum

Erie Art Museum

ExpERIEnce Children's Museum

Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Best Art Gallery

Artlore Studio

Erie Art Gallery

Glass Growers Gallery

Best Community Theatre

Erie Playhouse

Mercyhurst University Theater Program

PACA

Best Dance School

Lake Erie Ballet School

Little Dance Studio

Long's School of Dance

Best Photographer

Rob Frank

Paul Gibbins

Sarah Peach

Best Fine Artist

Rachel Berlin

Evan Everhart

Kaitlyn Page

Best Band (Original)

Eric Brewer & Friends

First to Eleven

Six Year Stretch

Best New Band/Musician (Last Two Years)

Save Yourself

Scarlett

Tiny Paper Boats

Best Cover Band

Abbey Road

The Geek Army

The Groove

Best Vocalist

Brittany Morton

Brooke Surgener

Lindsay Vendetti

Best MC

Charles Brown

Brandi "FRESCO" Carlini

Ducky

Best Instrumentalist

Eric Brewer

Brooke Surgener

Stephen Trohoske

Best DJ

DJ Bill Page

DJ Nitro

Millennium Sound

Best Venue for Local Music

Basement Transmissions

Coconut Joe's

King's Rook Club

Best Night Club

Big Bar

Bourbon Barrel

Coconut Joe's

Best College Bar

Cornerstone Bar & Grill

Edinboro Hotel

Plymouth Tavern

Best Sports Bar

Coach's Sports Bar & Grill

Cornerstone Bar and Grill

Odis 12

Best Bar for Hooking Up

Coconut Joe's

Plymouth

The Zone Night Club

Best Lounge

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Room 33

Sneaky Pete's

Best Happy Hour

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Tap House

U Pick 6 Taphouse

Best Irish Pub

McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe

Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub

Sullivan's

Best New Bar or Club (Within Last Two Years)

The Cork 1794

Riverside Brewing

The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Food & Drink (top three finalists in alphabetical order):

Best Restaurant

The Cork 1794

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Underdog BBQ

Best Chef

Jean Paul (Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro)

Joe Perino (The Cork 1794)

Ashley Sayre de Rivas (Lavery Brewing Co.)

Best Bakery

Art's Bakery

Icing On the Lake

Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Coffee Shop

Brew Ha Ha

Ember + Forge

Tipsy Bean

Best Ice Cream Shop

Fat Lenny's

Sara's

Whippy Dip

Best Dessert

Icing on the Lake

Romolo Chocolates

Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Chocolates or Candy

Pulakos Chocolates

Romolo Chocolates

Stefanelli's Candies

Best Donut Shop

H & K Donut Shop

Jack Frost Donut Shop

Mighty Fine Donuts

Best Dinor

The Breakfast Place

Flip Cafe

New York Lunch

Best Brunch

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Peek'n Peak

Voodoo Brewery Erie

Best Brewery

Erie Brewing Company

Lavery Brewing Company

Voodoo Brewery Erie

Best Locally Made Beer

Dulachan (Lavery Brewing Company)

Railbender (Erie Brewing Company)

Voodoo Love Child (Voodoo)

Best Winery

Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co

Heritage Wine Cellars

Mazza Vineyards

Best Distillery

Erie Distillery

Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing

Luminary Distilling

Best Patio

Calamari's Squid Row

Rum Runners

Sloppy Duck

Best Bar Food

Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Plymouth Tavern

U Pick 6 Tap House

Best Sandwich Shop

Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

Picasso's

Teresa's Italian Deli

Best Deli

Teresa's Italian Deli

Tickle's Deli

Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat

Best Burger

Avonia Tavern

Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Voodoo Brewery Erie

Best Pizza

John's Wildwood Pizza

Stevo's Pizza

Virgil's Plate

Best Wings

Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

One Way Inn

The Park Tavern

Best Sushi

1201 Kitchen

Chopstix Asian Restaurant

Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

Best Food Truck

A Waffle Miracle

The Big Cheese Food Truck

The Que Abides

Best Place for Vegan or Vegetarian Food

The Juice Jar

Like My Thai

Whole Foods Co-op

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Three B Saloon

Underdog BBQ

Best Seafood Restaurant

1201 Kitchen

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Smugglers' Wharf

Best Asian Restaurant

Chopstix Asian Restaurant

Golden Wok

Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

Best Italian Restaurant

Mi Scuzi

Serafini's Restaurant

Valerio's Italian Restaurant

Best Mexican Restaurant

El Amigo Mexican Grill

El Canelo

Torero's

Best Thai Restaurant

Khao Thai Restaurant

Like My Thai

Thai Eatery

Best Mediterranean or Middle Eastern Restaurant

Casablanca Grill

Habibi Mediterranean Cuisine

Shish Kabob

Best Romantic Restaurant

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

The Cork 1794

Mi Scuzi

People & Places (top three finalists in alphabetical order):

Best Place to Work

Erie Insurance

UPMC Hamot

Wegmans

Best Place for a First Date

The Cork 1794

Presque Isle

Sara's Restaurant

Best Place to Take Your Dog

Asbury Woods

Frontier Park

Presque Isle

Best Radio Station

HAPPI 927

Star 104

The Wolf 99

Best Radio Personality (or Radio Team)

Captain Dan

Jessica Curry Star 104 Mornings

Shari McBride

Best TV Personality

David Belmondo

Kara Coleman

Sean Lafferty

Best Filmmaker

Brittany Hills

John Lyons

MenajErie Studio

Best Yoga Studio

LECOM

YMCA

yogaErie

Best Tattoo Artist

Jennifer Christina

"Gentle" Josh Makowski

Rachel Travis

Best Local Actor

Chris Bucci

Shawn Clerkin

Brandon Vogt

Best Local Actress

Jessica Annunziata

Adele Crotty

Kate Neubert-Lechner

Best Nonprofit

ANNA Shelter

Emma's Footprints

Shriners Hospitals for Children Erie

Best Bartender

Sarah Mazzone (Lavery Brewing Co.)

Brittany Stowe (Plymouth Tavern)

Kristin Walker (The Cork 1794)

Best University

Edinboro University

Gannon University

Penn State Behrend

Best Fitness Club

LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center

Planet Fitness

YMCA

Best Athletic Competition

Barber Beast on the Bay

Highmark QUAD Games

Presque Isle Triathlon

Best Bowling Alley

Eastway Lanes

Greengarden Lanes

Rolling Meadow Lanes

Best Team to Root for

Eerie Roller Girls

Erie Otters

Erie SeaWolves

Best Lawyer

Erin Connelly

John Knox

David Ridge

Best Dentist

Shawn Casella

Nicole Johnson

Ronald Merski

Best Golf Course

Mound Grove Gold Course

Peek'n Peak

Whispering Woods Golf Club

Best Real Estate Agent

Levi A. Marsh

Sarah Parsons O'Neill

Stacey Santos

Best Local Entrepreneur(s)

Hannah Kirby (Ember + Forge)

Jason and Nicole Lavery (Lavery Brewing Company)

R.J. Messenger (Underdog BBQ, Iron Empire)