The 2018 Best of Erie Finalists

After two months of voting and nearly 350,000 ballots cast, it's evident that Erie has clear ideas about what is best for itself. The Reader hereby presents your top three 2018 Best of Erie finalists (in alphabetical order) in all 111 categories. Winners will be revealed in the upcoming Jan. 2 issue.

Goods and Services

Best Local Business

Erie Insurance

Kraus Department Store

Waldameer Water World

Best Car Dealership

Bianchi Honda

Hallman Chevrolet

Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram

Best Used/Vintage Clothing

Plato's Closet

The Salvation Army Family Store

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 Smoke/Vapor Shop

Hippie and the Hound Vapor Store and Lounge

Smoker Friendly

Vapor Cabana

Best Place to Get a Six Pack

1000 Beers

U Pick Six

Wegmans

Best Health Food
Store

The Juice Jar

Whole Foods Co-op

Zero Gravity

Best Tattoo Parlor

Ink Assassins

Mid-Town Tattoo

Wayward Tattoo Studio

Best Local Graphic Designer

Alice DeGeorge

Amanda Daniels

Ellen Chipoletti

Best Place to Get Pierced

Erie Eclect-Ink

Ink Assassins

Sacred Piercing

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

The ANNA Shelter

Because You Care, Inc

Humane Society of Northwest Pennsylvania

Best Bank

Erie Federal Credit Union

Northwest Bank

Widget Financial

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 Barbershop

Colony Barber Shop

Russo's Barbershop

Uncle's Barber Shop

Best Bike Shop

A. R. Adams Cycle

Competitive Gear

John Adams Cycling & Fitness

Best Web Developer

Epic Web Studios

Snowberry Media

weCreate Website Design & Marketing

Best Locally Made Product

Erie Apparel

PopLuck Popcorn

Smith's Hot Dogs

Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

Ember + Forge

PopLuck Popcorn

Room 33

Best Dog Groomer

Mud Puppies Self Serve Dog Wash

Paws 'n Claws

Peninsula Pups Doggie Daycare

Best Consignment Shop

Claudine's Consignment

Milestones Children's Consignment

The Sassy Peacock

Best Thrift Store

Goodwill

The Salvation Army Family Store

The Thrifty Shopper

Best Graphic Design Agency

ErieMultimedia

Presque Isle Printing Services

Tungsten Creative Group

Best Antique Shop

Oregon Antiques

The Curiosity Shoppe

The Green Eyed Lady

Best Independent Book Store

Books Galore

Pressed

Werner Books

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

Keller Williams

Marsha Marsh

Best Real Estate Agent

Amanda Serafini

Levi A. Marsh

Nanci Lorei

Best Bed and Breakfast

George Carroll House Bed and Breakfast

Grape Arbor Bed and Breakfast

Spencer House Bed & Breakfast

Culture & Nightlife

Best Local Festival

8 Great Tuesdays

Celebrate Erie

Roar On The Shore

Best Art Event

Arts & Drafts Festival

Erie Art Museum Spring Show

Gallery Nights

Best Museum

Erie Art Museum

Erie Maritime Museum

ExpERIEnce Children's Museum

Best Performing Arts Space

Erie Playhouse

PACA

Warner Theatre

Best Local Band

Erie Brewer & Friends

First to Eleven

The Groove

Best Local Fine Artist

Corey Thompson

Evan Everhart

Tom Ferraro

Best Art Gallery

Erie Art Gallery

Erie Art Museum

Glass Growers Gallery

Best Music Venue

Basement Transmissions

Coconut Joe's

Warner Theatre

Best Local Photographer

Matt Mead

Paul Gibbins

Sarah Peach

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

Black Moon Mistress

Cult Classics

The Filthy Casuals

Best Local Singer

Brooke Surgener

Mckenzie Sprague

Zack Orr

Best Local Musician

Eric Brewer

Matt Boland

Zack Orr

Best MC

Charles Brown

Jonny Evans

Tony Facchiano

Best Neighborhood Bar

Jekyll & Hyde's

Lavery Brewing Company

Plymouth Tavern

Best Night Club

Bourbon Barrel

Coconut Joe's

Kings Rook Club

Best New Bar or Club (Within Last Two Years)

Big Bar

Room 33

The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Best College Bar

Coconut Joe's

Cornerstone Bar & Grill

Plymouth Tavern

Best Sports Bar

Coach's Sports Bar & Grill

Oasis Pub

Odis 12

Best Lounge

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Room 33

Scotty's Martini Lounge

Best Local Cover Band

Abbey Road

The Geek Army

The Groove

Best Happy Hour

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Coconut Joe's

U Pick 6 Taphouse

Best Dance School

Little Dance Studio

Long's School of Dance

Marguerite's Academy of Dance

Best DJ

Dj Bill Page

Dj Johnny B

Dj Roach

Best Irish Pub

Lavery Brewing Company

McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe

Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub

Food & Drink

Best Restaurant

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Nunzi's Restaurant

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Best Sandwich Shop

Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

Picasso's

Teresa's Deli

Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Room 33

The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Sneaky Pete's

Best Seafood

Joe Roots Grill

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Smugglers' Wharf

Best Romantic Restaurant

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Colao's Ristorante

Mi Scuzi

Best Chef

Bertrand Artigues (Cloud 9 Wine Bar)

Dan Kern (Noosa/1201 Kitchen)

Jean Paul (Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro)

Best Bar Food

Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Plymouth Tavern

U Pick 6 Tap House

Best Local Coffee Shop

Brew Ha Ha at the Colony

Ember + Forge

Mugs & Muggles

Best Food Truck

The Big Cheese Food Truck

The Que Abides

Voodoo Brewery Foodoo Truck

Best Breakfast

Flip Cafe

The Breakfast Place

The Original Breakfast Place

Best Patio

Bayfront Grille

Calamari's Squid Row

Plymouth Tavern

Best Brunch

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Peek'n Peak

Voodoo Brewery Erie

Best Place to Get Ice Cream

Creamland

Sara's Restaurant

Whippy Dip

Best Local 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 Place to Get Vegan or Vegetarian Food

Like My Thai

The Juice Jar

Whole Foods Co-op

Best Barbecue

Dickeys Barbecue Pit

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Three B Saloon

Best Burger

Five Guys

Max & Erma's

Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

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

Chopstix Asian Restaurant

Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

Wegmans

Best Asian Restaurant

Chopstix Asian Restaurant

Golden Wok

Like My Thai

Best Italian Restaurant

Mi Scuzi

Nunzi's Restaurant

Serafini's Restaurant

Best Mexican Restaurant

El Canelo

Moe's Southwest Grill

Torero's

Best Mediterranean or Middle Eastern Restaurant

Alkeme

Casablanca Grill

Petra Restaurant

Best Late-Nite Menu

Dominick's Diner-Eatery

Panos Restaurant

Plymouth Tavern

Best Dessert

Give A Crepe. La CrepErie

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Romolo Chocolates

Best Indian Food

Curry Point LLC

Darjeeling Kitchen

Tandoori Hut Indian Cuisine

Best Thai Restaurant

Kao Thai

Like My Thai

Thai Eatery

Best Donut Shop

H & K Donut Shop

Jack Frost Donut Shop

Mighty Fine Donuts

Best Chocolates or Candy

Pulakos Chocolates

Romolo Chocolates

Stefanelli's Candies

Best Bakery

Art's Bakery

Icing On the Lake

Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Deli

Teresa's Italian Deli

Tickle's Deli

Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat

Best Winery

Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co

Heritage Wine Cellars

Mazza Vineyards

Best Distillery

Cart/Horse Distilling

Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing

Luminary Distilling

People & Places

Best Radio Station

90.5 WERG

HAPPI 927

Star 104

Best Radio Personality (or Radio Team)

Craig Warvel

Jessica and Murphy in the Morning

Sammy Stone

Best TV Personality

Amanda Post

Lou Baxter

Sean Lafferty

Best Yoga Studio

LECOM

Yoga Erie

YMCA

Best Poet

Marisa Moks-Unger

Michael Bennett

Monica Igras

Best Filmmaker

Jack Rys

John Lyons

Mike Gallagher

Best Place to Work

Erie Insurance

UPMC Hamot

Wegmans

Best Tourist Attraction

Brig Niagara

Presque Isle State Park

Waldameer Water World

Best Local Actor

Brendan Daugherty

Michael Haas

Will Steadman

Best Local Actress

Adele Crotty

Emily Olszewski

Kelly Rodland

Best Non-Profit or Charity

Emma's Footprints

Humane Society of Northwest Pennsylvania

Orphan Angels Cat Sanctuary and Adoption Center

Best Bartender

Brittany Stowe (Plymouth Tavern)

Jim Wise (Coconut Joe's)

Meghann Legler (Haggerty's)

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

The Color Run

Best Bowling Alley

Eastway Lanes

Greengarden Lanes

Rolling Meadow Lanes

Best Team to Root for

Eerie Roller Girls

Erie Otters

Erie Seawolves

Best Golf Course

Beechwood Golf Club

Peek n' Peak

Whispering Woods Golf Club

Best Local Entrepreneur(s)

Autumn and Ryan Atzert (Federal Hill Smokehouse)

Hannah Kirby (Ember + Forge)

R.J. Messenger (Iron Empire)

Best Place for a First Date

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Presque Isle State Park

Tinseltown

Best Lawyer

Erin Connelly

James "Chetty" Vendetti

Rebeka Seelinger

Best Tattoo Artist

Corey Thompson

"Gentle" Josh Makowski

Jennifer Christina