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 Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Volume: 22, Issue: 50
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New Times / Special IssueBest of 2008About Town
BEST RADIO STATIONKZOZ 93.3 FM “93.3 KZOZ—everything that rocks.” That’s not just KZOZ’s motto, it’s the truth. KZOZ rocks so much, it’s rocked itself to the top of San Luis Obispo’s airways and the top of this category. “We’re the soundtrack of Central Coast living,” program director and radio personality Dusty Rhoads said. “We take it very seriously.” We take it seriously, too, Dusty. That’s why you’re the first station we tune to when need our jock rocking Zepplin fix. —Angela Marie Watkins runner up: Coast 101.3 FM
BEST BIKE SHOPArt’s Cyclery 2140 Santa Barbara St., San Luis Obispo No surprises here. Art’s has been voted Best Bike Shop in SLO County for the 20th year in a row. They actually had to remodel and expand to make room for all of their “Best Of” awards, but now that they’ve grown, there’s more room for new bikes and all the necessary accessories—like helmets. Owner Scott Smith said that over and beyond selection, superior service is what sets Art’s apart from the rest. They can fix your flat, or set you up with a brand new bike and have you back on two wheels in no time. —Kylie Mendonca runner up: Wally’s Bicycle Works
BEST PLACE TO BUY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENTDrum Circuit 280 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Drum roll, please, for the rhythmic magic of Drum Circuit. “Stick to what you know,” owner Howard Emmons said of Drum Circuit’s focus on percussion. At this store, he explained, “you’re buying drums from drummers. All we know about is drums. All we care about is drums.” Emmons said that he has a strong belief in supporting the local music environment. To this end, the store holds “Show and Tell Saturdays.” “We want to create a vibe that makes people want to hang out and express themselves artistically,” he said. The event provides a venue, not just for drummers, but for whole bands. Emmons commented that it’s “a good hang” and “anti-karaoke.” When you visit the store, don’t forget to say hello to Mocha, the canine shop greeter. “Everybody loves Mocha,” Emmons said. —Brent Parker runner up: Blue Note Guitars
BEST PLACE TO PROLONG YOUR CAR’S LIFESPANSunset Honda 12250 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo Behold, ladies and gentlemen, the vanishing cabinets! With them, I can transport myself from one side of the stage to the other. Of course, if I need to go any farther than that, I use a car. This business’ website, SunsetHonda.com, describes it as “a small, family store located at the base of the rolling green hills in San Luis Obispo.” Current owner Don Woodward is the third generation to run the business; it was founded by his grandfather, Had Burger, in 1977. The technicians working in the service department are trained and certified by the Honda company. And Sunset Honda is a winner of the Honda “President’s Award.” “It’s the highest award that Honda gives a Honda dealer,” Woodward said. “It’s very difficult to get, and we have won it four times.” —BP runner up: Villa Automotive
BEST NURSERY/GARDEN STORERon’s Nursery 1207 South 13th St., Grover Beach The roses at Ron’s Nursery smell like candy. Dolphin topiaries greet you as you wander by the captivating waterfall in the parking lot. Massage room-like music plays softly as you round the corner from the outdoor plant displays to the inner workings of this den of goodies. Not much has changed at Ron’s in the last quarter century, but something big has fermented in the last year: Ron Carlock is now a winemaker, and his signature wines (Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, and, of course, the stemware) are available at Ron’s. “We sold wine glasses, so it was a natural development,” Peggy, his wife, explained. “Customers want a piece of Ron’s when they leave the store.” —Christy Heron runner up: Pacific Coast Home and Garden
BEST HAIR SALONSOHO Studio 1021 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Soho Studio on Higuera does the best job with hair in San Luis Obispo, according to New Times readers. And this little slice of hair heaven—and, occasionally, art—is planning a summer move. Soho Studios will be renting a brand new space at 3085 S. Higuera St. by June. Unfortunately, this means the store might shrink a bit, meaning fewer salon chairs and stylists. But fear not, fans of this cutting and coloring: The quality will no doubt remain the same. —AMW runner up: Salon Lux
BEST PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PETGolden Paw 2314 Broad St., San Luis Obispo Golden Paw has been around for 25 years, keeping SLO’s pets beautiful and happy. So after your dog rolls in the viscous anaerobic muds of Laguna Lake, take it to the Golden Paw for a shampoo, cut, color, and a pedicure. Owner John Salmeron said that people come to Golden Paw for the experience—and for customer service. “We get to know our clients,” Salmeron said. “They’re not just a number. We get to know the clients as well as the animals.” After a pet makeover, get your animal some high-end pet food—guaranteed to keep your pet’s coat shiny and new. They even offer doggy daycare so your pet doesn’t get lonely while you’re off at work. —KM runner up: Tails Pet Boutique
BEST HEALTH CLUB / GYMKennedy Club Fitness Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo With four locations, including the recently opened complex in Paso Robles, Kennedy Club Fitness is exactly were SLO County locals love to work on their fitness, get physical, and sweat to the oldies. Boasting 50,000 square feet, the SLO MultiPlex includes an outdoor 50-meter pool, clubhouse, wellness center, cappuccino bar, and more than 15,000 members. It’s enough to make glamorous Fergie jealous. —AMW runner up: The Studio Fitness for Women
BEST HEALTH FOOD STORENew Frontiers 896 Foothill Blvd., ste. C, San Luis Obispo Between the über-popular salad bar, organic produce, and massive selection of alternative foods, it’s no surprise that voters chose New Frontiers as the Best Health Food Store. New Frontiers caters to an array of health-conscious folks, including those with special dietary needs—just try to find almond cheese, soy mayonnaise, or gluten-free bread at your local mega mart. New Frontiers opened in 1997 and is one of five stores (one is in Solvang and three are in Arizona). According to marketing director Ron Colone, part of their mission “is to have a huge selection of natural, organic, and local food … without any artificial colorings or sweeteners.” Not bad. —KM runner up: Trader Joe’s
BEST PLACE TO GET A MASSAGESycamore Mineral Springs 1215 Avila Beach Dr., Avila Beach The full massage experience at Sycamore includes some extra accessories of sorts. These extra “goodies” can often turn a 60-minute appointment into an indulgent two hours. “All treatments 60 minutes or longer include a 30-minute private mineral spring hot tub soak before hand,” said Charles Crellin, general manager for the Springs. “Along with the treatment, you can take yoga, Pilates, or guided hikes. Someone comes for a massage, and they sit in the hot tub for 30 minutes before they begin.” The resort averages about 250 to 275 massages a week, and currently employs 30 therapists. —Jeff Kendall-Weed runner up: The Bladerunner Salon and Day Spa
BEST DAY SPAThe Bladrunner Salon and Day Spa 894 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo The Bladerunner day spa may not have Harrison Ford on staff, but could possibly make you as hot as Daryl Hannah. With all of the futuristic sounding treatments they offer—Anti-Aging Glycolic Facials, Multi-Vitamin Power Facials, Reflexology Massages, Micro-Buff Body Polish, Acti-Sea Body Mud Wrap—we understand the name choice. Mostly. This richly designed spa offers reasonably priced packages ($90 for a pedicure, manicure, shampoo, and style? That’s a steal!) and special services for brides and grooms. They also do waxing for both women and men and operate a full-service salon. In other words, you can get your back rubbed and your hair did all in one stop. —AMW runner up: Sycamore Mineral Springs
BEST LOCAL NEWS SOURCEKSBY It’s so much easier to trust someone when you can see them. That must be why nobody trusts The Shredder, but readers consider KSBY the best local news source. “Nothing is more important to a news organization than having the trust of the community,” said News Director Dave Schermer. “We work hard to earn it every day with newscasts that reflect the realities of this amazing place we call home." Their news anchors are tanned and happy-seeming, their building is awesomely perched up there above us all on the hill, and they consistently break news about the local community. What more can you ask for from a local television station? —Patrick Howe runner up: New Times
BEST NEW COMPANY OF 2007
1126 Morro St., San Luis Obispo As if SLO’s best new company was any surprise. It’s G’s Italian Freeze—or is it Giordano’s Italian Freeze? Back in January, owner Dean Giordano said it was both, but to call it G’s for the time being. Either way, it’s a great place to get delicious frozen fruit treats and warm European-style hot chocolate in downtown SLO. But that’s not the only reason this place rocks readers’ socks. Giordano is usually in the store and is so darn likable that once he hands you that free sample, it’s hard to not stay for more. And as he said back when he first opened, “it’s fruit and nothing but the fruit!” —AMW runner up: Native
BEST DIVORCE LAWYERGary Faucette 1568 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Let’s be realistic, people: if you’re going to get married in this day and age, there’s a significant chance that you’re going to find yourself fighting for possessions you never cared about in the first place. And while it’s funny in the movies, when it’s your La-Z-Boy on the line, the situation does lose a degree of its humor. Before you decide to take your no-good soon-to-be-ex to court, consider a kinder, cheaper approach: mediation. Gary Faucette, who happens to be New Times readers’ favorite divorce lawyer for a second consecutive year, offers mediation services at a set fee, so you know what you’re getting into from the very beginning. And if you could say the same about your soon-to-be-ex, you probably wouldn’t be looking for a divorce lawyer, would you? —Ashley Schwellenbach runner up (tie): Susan Boatman runner up (tie): Paul Johnson
BEST LOCAL BLOGDave Congalton Get this—for nearly three years, Dave Congalton has been blogging about everything from his perceptions of local media (thanks for trying to keep New Times on its toes, Dave!), to musings on national politics (generally lifted from other articles and sources), to rambling descriptions of weekend trips (during a trip in February of 2006 he found San Diego beautiful, but chilly). The public is then welcome to comment—subject to his gatekeeping, of course. From his taunting of “Anonymouse” posters with a damning “squeak, squeak!” to his constant monitoring of and response to criticism leveled at him and his favorite sources, Congalton maintains his cultivated on-air certitude on the web—though he’s not too proud to delete one of his own posts if he’s later proven wrong. —AS runner up:
BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANYMaino Construction 1122 Laurel Lane, San Luis Obispo Making handkerchiefs and doves appear out of thin air is one thing. Making buildings appear is quite another. Maino Construction is a family company that has been building in the area since 1881. Current president Tom Maino is the fifth generation to lead the company. In the early 1900s, his great-great-grandfather built the historic Carnegie Library building in San Luis Obispo. When the building became the home of the SLO County Historical Museum half a century later, Maino Construction handled the remodeling. Tom said that they’re primarily a “public works contractor,” building for the state, county, cities, and school districts. He said that they’ve also built all of the hospitals. “We’re a relatively conservative company,” Maino said. “We stay in our own marketplace.” —BP runner up: Baker’s Construction
BEST HOME REMODEL COMPANYKelly Construction 4785 Traffic Way, Atascadero “Reparo!” Ladies and gentlemen, my lovely assistant is now in one piece again, and although you have just seen her sawed in half, I defy any one of you to detect any lasting damage. Kelly Construction’s primary business is “remediation”—repairing the damage caused by everything from fires to floods to trees falling into houses. Co-owner Kevin Snyder said that their job is to restore the property to “pre-loss condition.” He added that many of the reconstruction jobs also turn into remodeling upgrades. The company also performed “substantial” earthquake retrofitting following the 2003 quake in SLO County. —BP runner up: Holland Construction
BEST PLACE TO GET LASIKLimberg Eye Surgery San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Templeton, Cambria When someone plans to use a laser on your face—your eyes no less—you’ll want to check their credentials. In this case, experience counts, and the Central Coast’s Dr. Limberg practically invented modern Lasik surgery. He’s been performing surgeries locally since the ’80s. Now, he’s helped more than 25,000 people to see better. Nearsighted, farsighted, stigmatisms, or stink-eye, whatever your malfunction, Limberg can fix it. With lasers. —KM runner up: Pacific Eye Surgeons
BEST PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING DRESSDown the Aisle 144 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande It may be the Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress, but Down the Aisle in Arroyo Grande is so stocked full of dresses, it’s also the perfect place to pretend to be a princess—or maybe that’s just me. And wedding dresses aren’t the only thing Down the Aisle offers; they also have a wide selection of dresses for homecoming, quincenaras, and prom, which is helpful now that we’re knee deep in prom season. With shoes, purses, and jewelry in stock, Down the Aisle is a one stop-shop for your wedding day. And other fancy days, too. —AMW runner up: Central Coast Wedding Center
BEST PLACE FOR A WEDDING RECEPTIONMadonna Inn 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo When you walk into the Madonna Inn, you walk into a fairy tale land. Locals recognize the inn’s distinctive atmosphere—the ornate carved woodwork, cascading staircases, pink upholstery, red chandeliers, rock pillars, and gilded details—as the best place to hold the wedding of your dreams. The inn’s experts have already done the thinking and coordinating for you. The deluxe reception package includes everything you could need or want for your big day—hors d’oeuvres, entrees, punch, wine, Champagne, wedding cake, linens, and five hours in one of the lavish inn’s six banquet areas. All you’ll have to do is name the date. —Andrea Rooks runner up: The Cliffs Resort
BEST LOCAL BANK /CREDIT UNION
San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande In these troubled times of global climate crisis, crushing national debt, and monetary collapse, it’s good to know you’ve got a friend in the local financial system. From Arroyo Grande to Paso Robles, SESLOC credit union has been serving the Central Coast since 1942. They are your hometown credit union. “People get genuine customer service here,” said Carla Swift, marketing director for SESLOC. “We treat everyone who comes through the doors like they’re the owners of the business—because they are.” Swift explained that credit unions are basically nonprofit banks, so they can offer loans to locals at lower rates and higher returns to local investors. Keeping your money in a credit union, keeps your money in the community. Feel better yet? —KM runner up: Coast Hills Credit Union
BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY IN SLO COUNTYSycamore Mineral Springs 1215 Avila Beach Dr., Avila Beach Sycamore Mineral Springs is a great spot for tired-out residents to relax and fall back in love with the natural wonders of the Central Coast. “The springs have been around as a hot springs resort since 1890, and it has an interesting history from the old Hollywood days, with people coming down from Hearst Castle,” said General Manager Charles Crellin. The long-standing fame of the springs is only one reason why they’re so popular. “We have many exclusive treatments that aren’t available anywhere else on the Central Coast, like our Chardonnay Wine Therapy,” Crellin said. Whether a romantic weekend is in order, or just some old-fashioned relaxation, Sycamore is both a local and global favorite. —JKW runner up: Cambria Pines Lodge
BEST MOVING COMPANYMeathead Movers 144 Hind Lane, ste. 140, San Luis Obispo Let me tell you about the 2,000-pound couch I own. This thing is black leather and made out of antigravity or something, because when you look at it you figure there’s no way it could be as heavy as it is. I can’t even slide it without hurting myself, so I hired the Meathead guys to do the impossible during a recent move. It was fun to watch because I warned the two giant jocks Meathead dispatched that it was heavy, but they only looked down at me and laughed. Then they bent down and tried to lift it and I could see in their eyes they were like, “He wasn’t lying.” But to them it seemed to be a challenge, and they just got a better grip, grunted it up, and hauled the thing off without another second’s hesitation. Then they came back and told me I had another couple hours’ worth of time left and they proceeded to move pretty much everything in my house for the same price. And yes, they actually ran back from the truck to the house. Plus, I’ve heard they’re now driving veggie-burning trucks, so they aren’t even contributing to the oil problem. —PH runner up: Sandercock Transfer Co.
BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANYCentury 21 throughout the Central Coast Ladies and gentlemen, my magic is but illusion, but let me introduce an act that works wonders for real—real estate, that is. “Century 21 is the most recognized real estate company on the planet,” real estate agent Steve Martin said. “That’s the No. 1 thing that sets us apart from everybody else.” Sales manager Shirley Hulin also lauded “our hometown real estate training and education that our agents receive.” She said that, in addition to initial training, each agent goes through an ongoing training program. —BP runner up: RE/MAX
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