Best of Columbus

You voted (and we made our choices)

Every year we ask our readers to vote on their favorite places to drink, dine, watch concerts, shop and more, and every year you oblige. So, thank you for that.

As in the past, some votes came down to the wire, while other categories featured runaway winners (you sure love El Vaquero, Columbus). In addition, we again selected a handful of critics’ picks, highlighting a number of the individuals working to make the city a more vibrant, interesting place. On the other end of the spectrum, we once more spilled a few words on our Worst of Columbus picks. (You might want to skip this part of the issue, Jim Jordan, who we assume reads Alive religiously.)

Read on to see who topped the polls.

Dining

Best Chef: Avishar Barua

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Dining

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Dining by neighborhood

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Ethnic eats

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Coffee and sweet bites

Nightlife

Best Musician: Mark Lomax

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Music

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Brews and booze

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Bars by neighborhood

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Bowling and the big screen

Arts, Culture, Shopping

Best Activist: Feminist Flag Corps

Best Artist: Adam Hernandez

Best Comedian: Amber Falter

Best Humanitarian: Rev. John Edgar

Best Ongoing Political Stand: Edith Espinal

Face of Columbus: Save the Crew

Voice of Columbus: Maggie Smith

Best of Columbus Readers’ Poll: Arts, Culture, Shopping