Metroland Online

With a name like Jack’s, you know it’s American. When you get a hankering for some good ol’ meat and potatoes with a bit of flair, these are your three favorite spots around.

Best Italian

1. Lombardo’s Restaurant

2. Café Capriccio

3. Caffe Italia

The old school takes it handily: Lombardo’s is the red-sauce champ, with Café Capriccio’s delectable fare bringing them a well-earned second.

Best French/ Continental

1. Provence

2. Nicole’s Bistro

3. Chez Sophie

Oui, oui!

Best Seafood

1. Real Seafood Co.

2. Red Lobster

3. Jack’s Oyster House

Real Seafood? Delicious. Jack’s Oyster House? You bet. But Red Lobster?

Best Chinese

1. Ichiban

2. Plum Blossom

3. Peking

You guys love you some Ichiban . . .

Best Japanese

1. Ichiban

2. Koto

3. Hiro’s

. . . as you voted them tops in both eligible categories.

Best Vietnamese/ Thai

1. My Linh

2. Bangkok Thai Bistro

3. Van’s

My Linh won this in a landslide; it would appear that this is because readers can’t think of any other Vietnamese restaurants.

Best Mexican

1. El Mariachi

2. El Loco Mexican Café

3. Garcia’s

The mighty El Mariachi kingdom has cornered the market on your hearts, and that crazy café on Madison Avenue still offers some of the best margaritas poured.

Best Southern/Soul

1. Hattie’s

2. Smokey Bones

3. Magnolia’s

The Saratoga Springs landmark won in a landslide, but Smokey Bones’ BBQ and Magnolia’s Southern flair won favor, too.

Best Caribbean

1. Clayton’s

2. Roy’s

3. First Choice

You sure miss Clayton’s: The shuttered Center Square mainstay won by a lot.

Best Indian/ Pakistani

1. Shalimar

2. Sitar

3. Karavalli

Two perennial faves take the top spots, while the buzz-heavy Karavalli places third.

Best Greek

1. A Taste of Greece

2. Grecian Garden

3. Chariot

You still have a taste for the ever-tasty Taste of Greece.

Best International

1. Yono’s

2. BFS Restaurant

3. Avenue A

Yono’s has won fast favor in its new downtown Albany location, while BFS holds steady and always-busy neighborhood fave Avenue A moves into contention.

Best Vegetarian

1. Antipasto’s

2. Four Seasons

3. Shades of Green

Antipasto’s was the overwhelming winner. As with Clayton’s, you folks just won’t let go of your fond memories of the long-gone Shades of Green.

Best Steak House

1. Angelo’s 677 Prime

2. Barnsider

3. Delmonico’s

The Capital Region, evidently, can appreciate expensive meat: Angelo’s 677 Prime won easily. The ever-dependable Barnsider and Delmonico’s also know how serve up a tasty slab o’beef.

Best BBQ

1. Giffy’s

2. PJ’s

3. Chico’s

Thanks! We were getting a taste for some ribs, and now we know that you guys overwhelmingly prefer the classic BBQ styles of Clifton Park’s Giffy’s.

Best Brew Pub

1. Albany Pump Station

2. Brown’s Brewing Co.

3. Troy Brew Pub

The C.H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station continues to impress, while Brown’s earns a respectable second. In third is, uh, the Troy Brew Pub . . . which changed its name to Brown’s Brewing Co. three years ago. When’s the last time you people went out for a pint?

Best Beer Selection

1. Mahar’s

2. Lionheart

3. Holmes and Watson

Mahar’s has it all, from the sublime to the ridiculous, from every corner of the globe. And they serve their brew with attitude: Mahar’s is not a place for beer poseurs. The Lionheart has great drafts, and Homes and Watson has a great selection.

Best Diner

1. Latham 76

2. Metro 20

3. Miss Albany

When you’re looking for eggs and bacon at 3:30 AM, you go with the classics: Latham 76 and Metro 20 in Guilderland. And for your weekend brunch, another classic—Miss Albany.

Best Deli

1. Gershon’s

2. Maurice’s

3. Ragonese

People tend to like their delis old-school, with big helpings and bigger pickles. Gershon’s is all of that, and it’s No.1 in your hearts.

Best Brunch

1. Justin’s

2. Gideon Putnam

3. Peaches Café

We can taste Justin’s casted hash and eggs right now. Mmm. Gideon Putnam’s brunch is almost overwhelming, while Peaches is an old favorite.

Best Outdoor Dining

1. El Mariachi II

2. DeJohn’s

3. Water’s Edge Lighthouse

El Mariachi’s Robinson Square location is your first choice, but you have plenty of love for DeJohn’s patio and the Scotia charms of Water’s Edge Lighthouse.

Best Cheap Eats

1. Bombers

2. Taco Bell

3. McDonald’s

People head to Bombers when they want a lot of food for a little money—and, we imagine, because they prefer their Tex-Mex free of e-coli or rat infestation.

Best Catering

1. Glen Sanders Mansion

2. Old Daley Inn

3. Classe Catering

For the ultimate in takeout, our readers prefer Glen Sanders time and time again.

Best Burger

1. Red Robin

2. Five Guys

3. Lark Tavern

This category was dominated by two national chains, with the venerable Lark Tavern serving up a tasty No. 3 special.

Best Wings

1. Bombers

2. Wings Over Albany

3. the Rusty Nail

You guys like your wings the same way we do—with a frozen margarita. Does that make us strange? Hell, no.

Best Pizza

1. I Love NY Pizza

2. Paesan’s

3. Inferno

Um, we’re not going to try to guess which of the many I Love NY Pizzas you people mean. Next year, specify please. We can verify, however, that both Paesan’s and Inferno have some tasty pies.

Best Bagels

1. Bruegger’s

2. Uncommon Grounds

3. Dunkin Donuts

The first Bruegger’s opened 20 years ago in Troy. It’s true! Big ups to Uncommon Grounds.

Best Sandwich/Subs

1. Quizno’s

2. Debbie’s Kitchen

3. Panera Bread

Look at Debbie’s Kitchen sandwiched in between Quiznos and Panera Bread. We’re warning you, you out-of-town, chain-restaurant start-ups, don’t piss Debbie off.

Best Ice Cream

1. Ben & Jerry’s

2. Cold Stone Creamery

3. Stewart’s

Don’t mention ice to us right now—it’s, like, 10 below out.

Best Coffee

1. Dunkin Donuts

2. Starbucks

3. Daily Grind

In the age of big, bad franchise domination, it’s nice to see y’all still got some love for the locally owned Grind.

Best Desserts

1. Cheesecake Factory

2. Vanilla Bean

3. Bella Napoli

Business Penetration 101: The secret to a successful venture is to use a signature product in your name. The runners-up in this category are locally owned and they rock.

Best Martini

1. Alibi’s

2. Justin’s

3. Blue 82

We like our martinis girly and pink, and these fine establishments make the girliest and pinkest ones around. They also pour some pretty macho gimlets, too.

Best Wine List

1. the Ginger Man

2. Wine Bar

3. Antica Enoteca

The Ginger Man has always impressed us with its comprehensive wine list and the servers’ knowledge of their wares. And, actually, the same can be said for Saratoga Springs’ Wine Bar and Lark Street’s Antica Enoteca.

Best Bakery (Desserts)

1. Bella Napoli

2. Vanilla Bean

3. Villa Italia

We’re on our way for cannoli already.

Best Bakery (Breads)

1. Panera Bread

2. Bella Napoli

3. Perreca’s

There was a time when we got Red Lobster as the winner for seafood restaurant every year. That stopped this year. But now this? Panera Bread as best bread bakery? We suppose you are going to tell us that McDonald’s makes the best coffee in town, too. (Actually, they kinda do.)

Best Indian Buffet

1. Shalimar

2. Karavalli

3. Curry House

Anything and everything you want in an Indian buffet can be found at Shalimar—we can almost taste the shahi korma and chicken vindaloo now. And you can’t beat the price! Our mouths are watering.

Best Chinese Buffet

1. Dragon Buffet

2. Capital Buffet

3. Kings Buffet

Their names say it all. Buffet. When you got that craving to graze from heat-lamped pots of Szechuan goodness, these spots are your top picks.

Best Date Restaurant

1. Justin’s

2. the Ginger Man

3. Jack’s Oyster House

Justin’s cozy, cushioned, candlelit dining room provides just the kind of ambience you all prefer when choosing a date destination. The Ginger Man and Jack’s followed closely in terms of votes.

Best Kids Restaurant

1. Friendly’s

2. Red Robin

3. Chuck E. Cheese’s

Friendly’s is great and all, but where are the giant animal costumes?

Best Power Lunch

1. Jack’s Oyster House

2. 677 Prime

3. Panera Bread

Feel the power of Jack’s. Not pow-pow-Power Wheels power, but the power of hundreds of politicians gathered in one spot haggling over the fate of us normal folk, all while they enjoy some ultra-tasty oysters.

Best Eats at 3 AM

1. Denny’s

2. 76 Diner

3. Bob’s Diner

At 3 AM, it isn’t so much about the food as it’s about that comfortable vibe of bleary-eyed scenesters and super- caffeinated servers, and Denny’s, apparently, never fails. You aren’t looking for gourmet; you’re just looking to wind down with a fresh cup of coffee. These places can’t be beat.

Best Breakfast

1. Denny’s

2. Miss Albany Diner

3. 76 Diner

So what you are saying is that a good breakfast to you means bingeing on eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, and gravy to the tune of two times your caloric intake for the day? Well, we agree.

Goods and Services

Best Optical Store

1. Empire Vision

2. Lenscrafters

3. DiNapoli’s

We see you know what you’re talking about.

Best Appliance Store

1. Sears

2. Best Buy

3. (tie) Green’s and Lowe’s

Our readers are not shy about going big-box for their appliance needs. Nice to see one locally owned business (Green’s) hanging in there.

Best Antiques

1. River Street, Troy

2. Katbird Shop

3. (tie) Aunt Katie’s Attic, and Warren Street, Hudson

There are a lot of old things for sale in Troy. And Scotia. And Hudson.

Best Bookstore

1. Borders

2. Barnes & Noble

3. The Book House

Borders and Barnes & Noble duke it out for the top spot again. We can just picture them lobbing rotten eggs across Wolf Road at each other.

Best Newsstand

1. Coulson’s

2. Borders

3. Westmere News & Variety

No one even came close to Coulson’s, as per usual.

Best Internet Provider

1. Road Runner

2. Verizon

3. AOL

It must be our collective childhood fondness for the Looney Tunes, or its reliable broadband service, because Road Runner dominated in this category. It won by a landslide.

Best Garden Store/Nursery

1. Hewitt’s

2. Faddegan’s

3. Home Depot

Hewitt’s won by a landslide, perhaps because people don’t so much trust their gardening questions to dudes who sell aluminum siding.

Best Florist

1. Lark Street Flower Market

2. Frank Gallo and Son

3. Emil J. Nagengast

You people love your flowers! And there is an apparent bond you’ve made with their florists. We can tell that by how close the votes were for the top three winners.

Best Home Electronics Store

1. Best Buy

2. Hippo’s Home Entertainment

3. Circuit City

Why does Best Buy have a lockdown on the home-electronics market? It’s probably because you can buy a microwave, a car stereo installation and the DVD of Enter the Dragon all inside its comfortable yellow-and-blue world. Hippo’s appeals to those who want some custom lovin’.

Best Furniture Store

1. Taft Furniture

2. Old Brick Furniture Co.

3. Raymour & Flanigan Furniture

“Hey, it’s the big store,” what do you expect? People like big. Old Brick did come in a close second. Probably because it’s kinda big, too.

Best Pet Supplies Store

1. Petsmart

2. Petco

3. Benson’s

When you absolutely, positively need to dress your dog up in a cute little sweater and booties, you turn to Petsmart.

Best Gift Store

1. Romeo’s

2. Wit’s End

3. Hallmark

Because you like your gift stores with a bit of man-ass, Romeo’s defeated its vanilla comers handily.

Best Wine/Liquor Store

1. All Star Wine & Spirits

2. Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse

3. Capital Wine & Spirits

All Star is the rock star in this category for the umpteenth time.

Best Vintage Store

1. Salvation Army

2. Goodwill

3. (tie) Metropolis and Last Vestige

The DIY vintage-clothes shoppers voted in droves this year, and Salvation Army came out on top. For those of you who are willing to pay someone else to claw through the bargain-filled racks, Metropolis and Last Vestige offers tons of style and a bit of savings.

Best Women’s Clothing Store

1. Macy’s

2. H&M

3. Circles

Your Macy’s card is buzzing in your pocket now, isn’t it?

Best Men’s Clothing Store

1. Macy’s

2. Spector’s

3. Express and J. C. Penney

Your Macy’s card is out of your pocket and leading you by the hand toward the register now, isn’t it?

Best Children’s Clothing Store

1. Gap Kids

2. Children’s Place

3. Old Navy

Your kids dress fancy. Our kids can too, when they figure out how to apply for their own Gap cards.

Best Women’s Shoe Store

1. Saratoga Shoe Depot

2. DSW

3. Macy’s

In past years we may have alluded to a certain shoe fetish shared by some members of the staff. It’s Saratoga Shoe Depot’s fault. They keep us longing to dip our toes into fresh leather.

Best Men’s Shoe Store

1. DSW

2. Macy’s

3. (tie) Saratoga Shoe Depot and Payless

The guys know where to go to get their shoes—they feel comfortable in the warehouse atmosphere of DSW. They can get in, get out, and get on with their lives.

Best Women’s Haircut

1. Jean Paul Salon & Spa

2. Rumors

3. Tullio’s

We were hoping you’d misinterpret this one and write in “Britney Spears.”

Best Men’s Haircut

1. Rumors IV Men

2. (tie) Gregory’s and Jean Paul Salon & Spa

You can’t see this, but Supercuts came in just behind Gregory’s and Jean Paul. You guys are real funny.

Best Sporting Goods Store

1. Dick’s Sporting Goods

2. Sports Authority

3. Goldstock’s

While Sports Authority and Goldstocks garnered a respectable number of votes, no one came close to the winner in this category. Apparently everyone loves Dick’s.

Best Bike Shop

1. Downtube

2. Plaine’s

3. Dick’s Sporting Goods

Downtube remains at the top of the list for discriminating cyclists. Customer service, great selection and a superb fix-it shop all contribute to the store’s annual dominance in this category.

Best Toy Store

1. Toys “R” Us

2. K B Toys

3. The Toymaker

You naughty, naughty devils—Adult World nearly snuck its way into the top three. Let’s try to keep the rest of list clean, shall we? To that end we suggest you check out Toys “R” Us and let Geoffrey the giraffe clean your mouth out with soap.

Best Video Rental

1. Hollywood Video

2. Blockbuster

3. Netflix

Don’t be surprised if you see your neighbor at Hollywood Video, because apparently, that’s where most of you go to grab your copies of Borat nowadays.

Best Tattoo

1. Lark Tattoo

2. Tom Spaulding

3. Impulse Tattoo

The readers were very clear about where they prefer to get inked—Lark Tattoo won by a landslide.

Best Cellular Service

1. Verizon

2. Cingular

3. Sprint

Verizon, you devil, you. You stole our heart with the Chocolate and then stole our money when it broke three or four times. But we still love you, and so does everyone else.

Best Jeweler

1. Northeastern Fine Jewelery

2. Hannoush Jewelers

3. Kay Jewelers

When you want your bling, any of these top winners get your business. It was a dead-heat between the top three.

Best Day Spa

1. Kimberley’s . . . A Day Spa, Ltd.

2. Crystal Spa

3. Jean Paul Salon

Kimberley’s proves convincingly it’s the place you most like to be pampered.

Best Musical Instrument Store

1. Parkway Music

2. Guitar Center

3. Drome Sound

This was a close one, but readers ultimately went with Parkway, perhaps because it’s not as loud as the next- closest competitor.

Best Farmer’s Market

1. Troy Farmer’s Market

2. Saratoga Springs

3. Empire State Plaza

At either the Atrium in the winter, or the parking lot in the summer, the Troy Farmer’s Market is always hopping.

Best Produce

1. Price Chopper

2. Hannaford

3. Honest Weight Food Co-op

Price Chopper won by a huge margin in this category, perhaps because this locally owned chain has revamped its produce sections in recent years to include things like hard-to-find fruits and organic selections.

Best Place To Buy a Computer

1. Best Buy

2. Dell Online

3. Apple Store

What happened, Apple Store? Hope that iPhone thing works out for ya.

Best Place to Service a Computer

1. Best Buy

2. Apple Store

3. CompUSA

The geek squad rolls hard. The geek squad rolls deep. Don’t F with the geek squad, or they will put you to sleep.

Best Shopping (plaza)

1. Stuyvesant

2. Mohawk Commons

3. Newton

There is only one worthwhile plaza in the Capital Region, according to our readers. That is not to say there is only one plaza. There are lots of strip malls and plazas, but there is only one plaza that escapes the strip-mall stereotype by laying on the pomp and circumstance like it’s going out of style.

Best Shopping (Mall)

1. Crossgates Mall

2. Colonie Center

3. Rotterdam Square

It started in 2007: Malls across America shirking their human masters to do battle with each other. Many lives were lost, many Starbucks and Torrids laid to waste. Cinemas sprang up, Cheesecake Factories shot forth from the muddy soil. Here in Albany we got the worst of it, as titans Crossgates and Colonie Center unleashed a shopaholic’s Armageddon of savings. Rotterdam Square was the only survivor.

Best Shopping (City)

1. Saratoga Springs

2. Albany

3. New York City

You love the Spa City, whose cute little downtown is a shopper’s paradise.

Best Shopping (Outlet)

1. Lee, Mass.

2. Lake George

3. Woodbury Commons

Lee reigns supreme, perhaps because it’s so fun to sing the word “Lee” as you stroll its outlets.

Best Supermarket

1. Price Chopper

2. Hannaford

3. Honest Weight Food Co-op

It was a neck-and-neck race between Price Chopper and Hannaford, but Price Chopper pulled ahead in the end, and we can see why. We love PC’s huge produce selections and various perks—in some locations there are sushi chefs and florists.

Best Health Food Store

1. Honest Weight food co-op

2. GNC

3. Green Grocer

This category was no contest for Honest Weight. But, we have to say, we’re still concerned that our readers think that GNC is a health food store. We know you all love your pills, but c’mon now.

Best Record Store (Used)

1. Last Vestige

2. FYE

3. Blue Note

There can be only one! And that one is Last Vestige—the last remaining beacon of used-record and -CD sales in the Capital Region.

Best Record Store (New)

1. FYE

2. Best Buy

3. Coconuts

We may have asked last year but we have to ask again: You guys look at how much your CDs cost before you buy them right? OK, just checking.

People and Places

Best Park

1. Washington Park, Albany

2. Central Park, Schenectady

3. Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs

Washington Park received three times the votes as the very close second- and third-place finishers. Score one for the 19th-century “city beautiful” movement.

Best Playground

1. The Crossings, Colonie

2. Washington Park, Albany

3. Central Park, Schenectady

Parents of the Capital Region have spoken: The Crossings is a hit. Folks still love Washington and Central parks, though.

Best Day Trip

1. Lake George

2. New York City

3. Vermont

Lake George won this with a huge lead over the perennial favorites to the south and northeast of us. Score one for the home team.

Best Bike Trail

1. Mohawk River

2. Corning Preserve

3. Saratoga State Park

In the past we and our readers have been accused of coveting trail mix. Well here are the places we like to eat it.

Best Running Trail

1. Corning Preserve

2. The Crossings

3. Mohawk River

Nothing beats a good run around (or away from) the Hudson.

Best Hiking/Nature Trail

1. Thatcher Park

2. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center

3. Albany Pine Bush Preserve

Thatcher Park is the best place to take out-of-towners to impress them with the Capital Region’s natural beauty. Five Rivers is great nature preserve. And we’re pretty sure that Albany hasn’t taken all of the Pine Bush for dump expansion yet.

Best Rock Climbing

1. Albany Indoor Rock Gym

2. Electric City Rock Gym

3. Thatcher Park

The Albany Indoor Rock Gym has superior escarpments, and monumental ledges.

Best Gym

1. Planet Fitness

2. Gold’s Gym

3. YMCA

People like working their abs in the “judgment free zone.”

Best Massage Therapist

1. Chris Minehan

2. (tie) Nick Pavoldi and Mary Panza

Next time, send us gift certificates so we can test these people out and prove you all right.

Best Yoga/Pilates

1. Albany Kripalu Yoga Center

2. Best Fitness

3. Studio G

No one out om’s Albany Kripalu. It took this one in a landslide.

Best Golf Course

1. Saratoga National Golf Course

2. Capital Hills at Albany

3. Stadium Golf Club

Saratoga National won with a good lead over the course you still call Albany Municipal, and Schenectady’s Stadium.

Best Mini Golf

1. Hoffman’s Playland

2. Funplex, East Greenbush

3. Pirates Cove

Hoffman’s Playland has spent years fine-tuning its miniature-golf course, and you like the results.

Best Skiing/ Snowboarding

1. Gore Mountain

2. Jiminy Peak

3. West Mountain

The votes are in: As the ads say, you want more Gore.

Best Ice Skating

1. Empire State Plaza

2. Swinburne Park

3. Hudson Valley Community College

There is just something about skating at the center of Albany’s most stunning architectural mess.

Best Bowling Alley

1. Playdium

2. Latham Bowl

3. Sunset Lanes

The Playdium dominated the competition, keeping the bowling crown in the heart of Albany.

Best Pool Hall

1. Diamond 8 Billiards

2. Golden Cue

3. Backstreet Billiards

Rack ’em up and shoot ’em.

Best Bar

1. Tess’ Lark Tavern

2. Jillian’s

3. Old Dublin Inn

This was close, but Tess’ Lark Tavern took the victory, which is likely a testament to everything Tess herself has done since she took over this Center Square mainstay. Jillian’s second-place win is likely a testament to Jerry Jennings’ vision for Pearl Street, and Clifton Park’s Old Dublin Inn has made a name for itself with good beer and live music.

Best Hook-Up Bar

1. Jillian’s

2. Skyline

3. Lionheart

Hey reader, you like reading the Metroland Readers Poll? Yeah, so do we—it is so hot. Hot like white-socks-in-the-dryer kind of hot. So, where are you going after this? Maybe we could get a few drinks at Jillian’s?

Best Gay Bar

1. Oh Bar

2. Waterworks

3. Club Phoenix

They battled it out like gladiators. Their hot, sweaty flesh glistened under the neon of the beer signs as they wrestled hard and long through the night. In the end, Oh Bar came out on top, outlasting its closest competitor, Waterworks.

Best Wine Bar

1. Antica Enoteca

2. the Wine Bar

3. (tie) Vin Santo and the Ginger Man

It was a close race, probably because, like us, you get warm and fuzzy about anything after a few glasses of Cabernet.

Best Happy Hour Bar

1. Bombers

2. Jillian’s

3. Noche

Seems like everyone has an opinion on this category, as it received a truckload of entries. Bombers won big here, on the strength of its eight-hour-long happy hour.

Best Strip Club

1. DiCarlo’s

2. Nite Moves

3. Shenanigans

You like seeing nakey-nakey ladies at DiCarlo’s the best. We can’t usually be so picky about where we see nakey-nakey people. But we know that DiCarlo’s is the best place to do it.

Best Bartender

1. Michael Callagan, Old Dublin Inn

2. Mike Ruddy, JJ Rafferty’s

3. Tess Collins, Lark Tavern

The world-renowned statisticians in our employ excitedly informed us that the contest for best bartender was “CUT-THROAT CLOSE!” Looks like a few bartenders are going to have to make their drinks a little stiffer.

Best Server

1. Julianne Torres, Yono’s

2. Aleph Ashline, Justin’s

3. Desiree, Hill St. Cafe

It takes a certain balance of charm, efficiency and love for the job to claim the Best Server award. The readers have spoken: The majority of you love Julianne at Yono’s, and Aleph from Justin’s pulled in at a close second.

Best Public Official

1. Eliot Spitzer

2. Jerry Jennings

3. David Soares

You elected him, you love him, you expect to see him as president someday. Again you prove that Gov. Spitzer has won your hearts by a landslide. As for numbers two and three: Watch out Jerry, there’s a new star in Albany politics.

Best Citizen Advocate

1. Alice Green

2. Eliot Spitzer

3. Naomi Jaffe

Alice Green is a perennial favorite in this category and with good reason. Green has dedicated her life to improving the lives of the discarded in Albany and while she lost her bid for mayor of Albany in 2005, Green left her mark and put Albany’s old guard on notice.

Best Animal Advocate

1. Steve Caporizzo

2. ASPCA

3. Whiskers Animal Benevolent League

We appreciate Steve Caporizzo for his meteorological skills, but we love him for his commitment to finding adoptive homes for homeless animals. Readers called it a draw, as he took gold in both categories. We’re not sure which ASPCA you prefer, but we know and love Whiskers, too.

Best Local Charity

1. Salvation Army

2. Ronald McDonald House

3. Equinox

Was it the thrift shops? Because that’s why we would have voted for them.

Best Swimming Pool

1. Victoria Pool, Saratoga

2. Lincoln Park, Albany

3. YMCA

This one was very close, as the Colonie Town Pool was fourth.

Best Swimming Hole

1. Grafton State Park

2. French’s Hollow, Guilderland

3. Poestenkill Creek

Grafton’s “hole” is actually a lake, but we’ll let it go since we haven’t instituted a Best Local Lake category thus far.

Best Campgrounds

1. Moreau State Park

2. Lake George

3. Thompson’s Lake

These three were all pretty close in the voting, but Moreau’s campgrounds edged ahead for the win.

Best In-Store Pet

1. Caymus (dog), All Star Wine and Spirits

2. Sparky (cat), the Katbird Shop

3. Amber (cat), Sweater Venture

Store pets just make the shopping experience homier, so let’s hear it for Caymus, Sparky and Amber—and Morsel, of Some Girls Boutique, who was only one vote out of third place!

Media

Best Local TV News

1. WNYT

2. Capital News 9

3. WRGB

Complete and utter ownage from WNYT. Capital News 9: You might be on all the time, but WNYT is right-on, all the time.

Best Local TV News Anchor

1. Lydia Kulbida, WNYT

2. John Gray, WXXA

3. Liz Bishop, WRGB

We get it—you love your Lydia Kulbida. She is smart, snappy and sincere. But you have a soft spot in your heart for John Gray and Liz Bishop, too. We understand.

Best Local Meteorologist

1. Steve Caporizzo, WTEN

2. Bob Kovachick, WNYT

3. Paul Caiano, WNYT

It wasn’t very close this year. Steve Caporizzo brought home best local meteorologist without breaking a sweat. People still have plenty of love for the WNYT weather team, though.

Best Local Sportscaster

1. Rodger Wyland, WNYT

2. (tie) Joe Calderone, Capital News 9, and Rich Becker, WXXA

Rodger Wyland won in a landslide; he’s clearly become the local sports guy.

Best News Radio Station

1. WAMC 90.3 FM

2. WGY 810 AM

3. WROW 590 AM

Alan Chartock’s flagship station of Northeast Public Radio won this by a mile, and why not? They have reporters in the field all over the region. WGY’s news coverage has slipped, while must-hear interviews with state and local newsmakers have made WROW the local go-to station.

Best Local Music Radio

1. WEQX 102.7 FM

2. WRPI 91.5 FM

3. WGNA 107.7 FM

Lesson to all the format-shifting, classic-rock whoring, Christian-rock loving, identity-crisis having stations in the area: WEQX owns your rumps. The 21-year-old alt-rock outlet won in a landslide, while all-over-the-map WRPI and country mainstay WGNA were only one vote apart.

Best Local Radio DJ

1. Willobee, WEQX

2. Kevin Richards, WGNA

3. Jason Keller, WHRL/WGY

This one was very close. In the end, readers chose WEQX’s amiable afternoon guy (and program director) Willobee over his “drive-time” rival Kevin Richards and multitasker Jason Keller, who