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BEST OF BAKO 2007!

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BEST OF BAKO 2007!
By: Matt Munoz, Bakotopia Editor
Description: Bakotopians have spoken! Check out the complete list of winners!

Topics: Best 2007, Bakotopia, Bakersfield, Winners, blog
Posted by matt Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:52:32 PST
Viewed 2953 times
0 responses 3 comments


The results are in, and what a list of winners they are!

Bakotopialand people, places, and businesses are now officially being crowned as your local Bako best for '07! Some campaigned for vote while others rallied the troops and made sure they got their winner.

To change things up, we decided to add some oddball categories to see just how people would react. While some got the joke, others were puzzled - but answered anyway.

Inside you’ll find some familiar names, but also a lot of newcomers to the winner’s circle. Bakotopians have curious tastes, just the way we like it.

In order to prevent ballot stuffing, our online poll at: www.bakotopia.com required all voters to fill out the ballot completely and fill out contact information.

If you didn’t see your name on the winner’s list, don’t be sad. Bakotopia loves you and there is always next year!

Congratulations to all of our Bakotopia 2007 winners! Thanks to all who voted!

<CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BAKOTOPIA VIDS FROM 2007!

(LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?)

THE CITY

Best local park
Riverwalk
Beach Park
Hart Park

Best neighborhood
Oleander
Westchester
Rosedale

Best place to skateboard
Beach Park
Downtown

Best kept secret
The Bluffs
Filling Station Coffee House

Best place to sneak in booze
Movies

Best place to piss off a bad date
A Strip Club

Best place to do the nasty in public
The Mint
Downtown Parking Garage Roof
Best place to fight
The Mint

Best thing about Bakersfield
The people
Within driving distance to coast, mountains and big cities

Best place to loiter
The Marketplace
Downtown
Jerry's Pizza

Best place to beg for money
Downtown


MEDIA

Best magazine/newspaper
Bakotopia

Best radio station
KRAB 106.1 FM
Pirate Radio 93.1 FM
KELLY 95.3 FM

Best TV station
KGET 17
KERO 23
KBAK 29

Best radio morning show
Meathead & Rocky Nash
Bob & Tom
Romeo Hot 94.1

RADIO PERSONALITIES / MORNING SHOWS
Meathead (KRAB) / Romeo (HOT 94.1) / Morning Show with Meathead & Rocky

If you still can’t afford an iPod, or have a stock stereo with CD player, chances are you’ve met Meathead, Rocky, & Romeo, this year’s picks for “Best Radio Personalities” and “Best Morning Shows.”


Meathead is the host of KRAB’s morning show, and is one of the quickest minds on local radio. A fan of comic books and independent film, Meathead keeps listeners on their toes with trivia and masterful switchboard operation. During the Halloween season you can catch him at The Chamber haunted attraction, as himself.


Rocky Nash is the co-host of KRAB's morning show. Along with her trusty sidekick, Meathead, Rocky keeps the flow of every show going, and is one of Bako’s most recognizable voices and faces on the local music scene. A champion of working moms everywhere, Rocky rates very high on the hot rocker chick scale, and will kick you square in the gonads, should you treat her rudely.


Romeo has been a staple of Bakersfield morning radio for years. Making a name for himself with his popular on-air pranks and funny commentary on everything from relationships to popular news, Romeo continues to pull on the ears of Bako listeners. Although his romantic skills are not known on the Bako social scene, Romeo has mystically been allowed to keep his DJ name. Catch him mornings on HOT 94.1!

BUSINESSES

Best "adult toy" shop
Deja-Vu Love Boutique
Wild Cat

Best bail bonds
Aladdin
Bail Bond Leon
Brock's Bail Bonds

Best taxi service
Yellow Cab
American Cab
Shorty's

Best coffee house
Dagny's Coffee Shop
Starbuck's
Supreme Bean

BEST COFFEE


Dagny’s Coffee Co. (1600 20th st.,) is a downtown institution, and the first place many Bako busy bodies hit on their way to work, or on their break. On any given weekday, the place is full of hipsters, students, business execs, musicians, or on Saturdays - those in need of a cure for the common hangover. Bakotopians who love their daily fix represented for their favorite java joint in 2007.

Best musical instrument shop
Front Porch Music
Stockdale Music
Guitar Center

Best body piercing
Piercing by Shawn
Mad Dog
Naked Al's

BEST PIERCING


Piercing by Shawn
Shawn has been a professional body piercer since 1996, and knows human anatomy well. So well, he’s completed over 40,000 body piercings and modifications on everyone from doctors to rock stars. Shawn prides himself with providing his clients with quick healing techniques, and a clean, hygienic atmosphere. Judging by the amount of votes he received in the poll, he obviously knows his job well. If you’d like to be pierced by Shawn, you can reach him at: www.myspace.com/piercingbyshawn

Best bike shop
Snider's
Action Sports
Thorp's Harley Davidson

Best thrift store
Goodwill
RAD Thrift Shop
Salvation Army

Best tattoo shop
Mad Dog
Naked Al's

BEST TATTOO SHOPS



Mad Dog Tattoo & Naked Al’s Tattoo
Over the past five years, Bakersfield has become a Mecca for skin art aficionados. Everyone from college kids, skaters, scenesters, wannabees, housewives, Bettie Page chicas, and your old high school teacher has one. New shops pop-up up regularly all over town. No longer a taboo subject, tattoos have become a mainstream form of personal expression. Two of Bako’s oldest shops - Mad Dog (two locations: 1219 19th St. and 4300 Wible Road) and Naked Al’s (1820 Eye St.) were the two big vote getters in the 2007 poll. It’s never too late to get your first ink!

Best bookstore
Barnes & Noble
Russo's Books
Borders

Best strip club
Deja-Vu
Exotic Kitty
Teaser Pleaser

Best CD/record store
World Records
Best Buy
Downtown Records

Best mechanic shop
A-1 Automotive
Performance Automotive #1

Best pawn shop
The Wooden Nickel
Griffin and Sons
Globe Loan

Best local boutique
Howcool.com The Shoppe
Shabby Chic

BEST BOUTIQUE


HowCool.com - The Shoppe (1912 Chester Ave.,) is a newcomer to the local fashion set, by providing styles for the pin-up and punkabilly rebel in you. Owner Jim Stidham, who’s become quite the independent success story, maintains the store’s hipness factor by stocking shelves with enough unique styles to keep you shopping locally instead of Melrose.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Best smallish venue
Fishlips
Jerry's Pizza
Sandrini's

Best band name
Three Chord Whore

BAND NAME OF THE YEAR


Three Chord Whore
“The name Three Chord Whore is a response to how women are viewed in the music industry, and in the world as a whole. Some hold the belief that women can’t really ever master an instrument, and at best can play ‘three chords,’ that is why we get told things like ‘you are really good for a girl band,’ and at times we have been treated like we can’t even stand in the same venue with our male peers. The ‘whore’ part stands for the way that both men and women in the music industry attack powerful women. We in a sense are taking the word ‘whore’ back so it can’t be used to put women down! Without the power to hurt, it makes a great (expletive) band name!” - Shantell, Heather, Darcie (Three Chord Whore)

Best band to break up
The Beatles

Best new band
Elevation 406
Velorio
Vogue In The Movement

BEST NEW BAND


Vogue In The Movement
Tons of young boys and girls will be screaming “GET IT! GET IT! GET IT!” when Vogue In The Movement takes the stage Jan. 12 at Studio 99 in Bako. This night will see the release of an exclusive, limited edition EP that will only be available to Bakersfield fans. Months of anticipation have gone by as Vogue have been recording their debut full-length record, “Fire On The Dancefloor.” The record features appearances by Tom Higgenson of The Plain White T’s and Tim Pagnotta of Sugarcult. The full record will be available after Vogue returns from the Music Saves Lives Digital D-Tour, along with Them Terribles, Gillmor, The After Midnight Project, and Run Doris Run. Stay in the movement!

Best local album
The Filthies - "Your Turn"
Bakotopia  Music Compilation Vol. 1

LOCAL CD OF THE YEAR


The Filthies, “Your Turn”
“Punk mortician guitarist Kenny “Motor” Mount once told me the story of how he found his way into The Filthies. There was heartache, cross country travel, self-discovery, a weird Freak Show, a guy stealin’ a girl, and Moto Gussi motorcycle redemption. It’s a long story and one that I’d really have to hear again to nail down all the details. What I do know is the song and album ‘Your Turn’’ universalize the theme of someone who does the worst thing you can do to a friend and gets theirs in the end ...” - NL Belardes



Best local act gone big-time
KORN

Best live club venue
Fishlips
The Dome
Buck Owen's Crystal Palace
The Nile Bar & Grill

BEST VENUES


The Dome (2201 V St.) became bigger and stronger in 2007, thanks to the multitude of promoters who came through and tried their best to enhance the local music scene. The Dome has been everything from a wrestling/boxing ring to a wedding reception hall over the years through various owners. Now, under the ownership of Chencho Madera, the local landmark has become one of the official all-ages venues of Bakersfield by consistently booking everything from heavy metal shows to rap, but is flexible enough to host a church revival or strongman competition. Vive Le Dome!


Fishlips (1517 18th St.) was to no surprise, a multiple winner a many categories. Hungry? Try the famous fish tacos. Need a brew? The ice cold Tecate is always on tap. Your ears need some tunes? The Fishlips stage and sound is one of the best bets for live music in Bako for the over 21 crowd. Rock, reggae, country, acoustic, and the occasional big name act - Fishlips consistently attracts a packed, mixed crowd of young and old, who need their weekly fix at the 'Lips.

The Nile (1721 19th St.) Owner Klark Garl’s vision has brought a landmark back to life, with non-stop partying and a classy touch. Once a movie house, The Nile brings back memories to all who enter. 2007 saw many a packed night, with concerts, club nights, art shows. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s time to dust off your dancing shoes and look spiffy, because the girlies and guys come out in force to this downtown venue on the weekends.

Best all ages venue
Jerry's Pizza
The Dome

Best theater company
The Empty Space
Spotlight Theater
Stars Theatre

Best art gallery
Bakersfield Museum of Art
Metro Galleries
The Empty Space

Best movie theater
Edwards at the Marketplace
Pacific Theater
Fox Theater

PEOPLE

Best local leader
Mayor Harvey Hall
Michael Rubio
Nicole Parra

Best TV personality
Kiyoshi Tomono (KGET)
Jim Scott & Robin Mangarin (KGET)
Lloyd Lindsay Young (KERO)

Best holy person/preacher
Father Craig / St. Francis
Ron Vietti / Valley Bible

Best radio personality/DJ
Meathead
The Real Bruce Wayne

Best blogger
NL Belardes
Twinkie

BEST BLOGGERS

Twinkie & TheNovelist
Cyberspace has given birth to many a legend since its inception. Bakotopialand has seen its share of cyberbabblers over the past year, but no two have achieved the level of popularity in '07 like Twinkie and NL Belardes.


Twinkie’s madcap adventures in Vegas, at home with the kids, or her hilarious “stinky purse,” have become favorites of Bakotopia.com users. She’s also been an effective Bakotopia fieldtrip organizer, with group party outings to local plays and concerts. Bakotopians love the “Twink!”


Whether you loved him or hated him, there was no denying that “TheNovelist,” aka NL Belardes, was one of Bako's first bloggers to experiment with the power of the almighty blog. Belardes managed to anger and amuse half of Bakersfield over the past few years, with a series of “controversial” offerings designed to inform and entertain, but also market his novel: “Lords: Part One.” In 2007, Belardes calmed a bit, but still manages to cause waves when cyberspace becomes a bore. Bravo Belardes!

Best psychic
Sylvia Brown

Best bartender
Greg / the Mint
Bubba / The Cat
Andrew / Fishlips

BEST BARTENDER


Greg Looney at The Mint is one of the coolest guys you’ll ever meet. A friend of many a local and mixologist of The Mint meek, “Lord Looney,” was given the royal treatment in 2007, by winning 'Best Bartender' in a landslide win. Not only does Looney serve up a magnificent drink, but can play some mean punk rock while you thrash to your hearts content. Catch his new band - The Order of File & Claw around town, and by all means make sure to play his favorite song, “Guns of Navarone,” by The Specials on the jukebox.

Best club DJ
DJ Mikey
Nicky the DJ
DJ D-Money
DJ Noe G

BEST DJS


L to R: DJ D-Money, Nicky The DJ, DJ Mikey, DJNoe G
Bakersfield dancefloors stayed busier and sweatier than ever, thanks to the CD and vinyl turntable stylings courtesy of four of Bako’s busiest and most popular DJs. Each with his own distinctive style, their mission is always clear - make the girls dance until last call. This category brought out the fans, and the choice was so close, we had to highlight the top four the choices of 2007. Kicking hip-hop, Latin vibes, old school sass, strip club beatin’, or rockin’ roots — these fantastic four flex the local rhythm.

RESTAURANTS/BARS

Place with the best looking servers
Tahoe Joe's
Chili's
Fishlips

Best gay bar
Casablanca
Club 902

Best draft beer selection
Lengthwise Brewery
BJ's Brewery
Fishlips

Best sports/jock bar
B-Ryder's
Tailgater's
RJ's

Best place for a first date
Uricchio's
The Marketplace
Mama Roomba

Best mixed drinks/shots
The Mint
Alley Cat
Riley's Tavern

Best mixed drinks/shots


The Mint (1207 19th St.) is home to a million misfits, and that’s just the way they like it. Not enough bling-bling in your step? Come home to The Mint, a place where outsiders are welcome with open arms. The bar’s interior is pretty mellow at best, what makes it so unique are the regulars who pack out the place on the weekends and into the wee hours. Boasting one of the best jukeboxes in Bako, The Mint also hosts live shows on the patio, where the real action goes down. The place is considered hallowed ground for many, so make sure to pay homage to its many spirits by tipping the bartenders well - you’re sure to get a blessing.

Best place to impress out-of-town guests
Buck Owens Crystal Palace
Wool Growers
Cafe Med

Best Mexican food
La Costa Mariscos
Mexicali

Best pizza
Rusty's Pizza
Pizzaville
Jerry's Pizza

Best place to get drunk
Home

Place with the best restroom
My House
Fishlips

Best sushi
Akira's
Tokyo Gardens
Shogun

Best ethnic food
Mama Roomba
Taj Mahal

BEST ETHNIC RESTAURANT


Mama Roomba (1814 Eye St.,) Mojitos are no doubt one Bako’s best libations, but what makes it even better is the food that should always accompany this classic drink. The Peruvian ceviche will make you say, “Mmmmm,” more than 10 times, and the Cuban sandwich will make you wanna say, “Buena Vista Social Club.” The intimate surroundings and brightly colored décor (even in the restroom) make a visit to Mama Roomba more than just a food experience - it’s like stepping into an authentic Caribbean cantina. Educate your taste buds and head on over - Bakotopia voters did!

Best place to score if you’re desperate
Riley's
Trout's
The Alley Cat

Best karaoke
Kosmos
Silverfox
Riley's Tavern

Best cheap grub
Taco Bell
Del Taco

Best Burger
John’s Burgers
In & Out
Happy Jack's Pie N' Burger

OK — name your favorite restaurant that we missed:
Frugatti's
Luigi's

Best place to pass out at the bar
Home
The Mint

Best place to dance
The Nile
Trout's

PICK UP A FREE COPY OF OUR LIMITED COLLECTOR'S ISSUE WITH MORE PICS OF OUR COVER MODEL, JOANNE MCCAIN! FIND A RACK BY CLICKING LINK BELOW!


SEE YOU IN 2008!
(LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?)

Originally Printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 18, 12-27-07
Send to a Friend Report a Violation
Comment From: Ninpire

Fri Jan 4, 2008 13:54:56 PST
Great List. The Mint and Greg, yayyy!
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Comment From: hecticfilms

Tue Jan 8, 2008 12:28:32 PST
Best Film Makers: Hectic Films!
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Comment From: PuNkY

Wed Jan 9, 2008 09:50:02 PST
I think you hit the jackpot. Great people and great places!!!! Look out! 2008 is going to be great! =] Punky
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