Best Community Event (city specific)
Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market
Higuera Street, SLO
(805) 541-0286
@downtownslofarmersmarket
Best Movie Theater
Palm Theatre
817 Palm St., SLO
(805) 541-5161
@palmtheatre
Best Movie Theater
Palm Theatre
Solar-powered (first in America, mind you) with red chairs and real butter on its popcorn, the Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo is the default for film buffs. Take it from my friend, who biked there expecting to watch the latest Nicolas Cage movie, while I waited with our tickets at another theater. The Palm doesn’t play the new Cage flick but its offbeat curation of films from around the world leaves me feeling all the richer for their wealth of knowledge. I go almost every week. From Oscar shorts to global documentaries, the Palm has us covered. It’s the best place to up your cultural knowledge.
—Bulbul Rajagopal
Best Theater Group
SLO Rep
888 Morro St., SLO
(805) 786-2440
@sloreptheatre
Best Dance Company
CORE Dance
882 Ricardo Court, SLO
(805) 541-2669
@coredance.slo
Best DJ
Malik Miko Thorne
@djmalikmiko
Best Live Music Venue
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
3800 Mill Road, Paso Robles
(805) 286-3680
@vinaroblesamp
facebook.com/vinaroblesamphitheatre
Best Live Music Venue
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Phoebe Bridgers. Elvis Costello. Pat Benatar. This is just a handful of some massive talents slated to perform upcoming concerts at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Tears for Fears, Ringo Starr (who is returning to the venue in October), and other acts at the local staple over the years, and I’ve yet to be dissapointed. There’s always something magical about sitting under the stars at Vina Robles, especially while hearing one of your childhood idols perform live in person. To anyone who’s planning on catching Cal Poly alumnus “Weird Al” Yankovic’s show in September, I’ll see you there!
—Caleb Wiseblood
Best Place to Catch a Band
The Siren
900 Main St., Morro Bay
(805) 225-1312
@thesirenmorrobay
Best Place for Karaoke
Bill’s Place
112 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 489-9989
@billsplaceag
Best Place to Buy Music
Boo Boo Records
978 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 541-0657
@booboorecords
Best Place to Buy a Musical Instrument
Lightning Joe’s Guitar Heaven
100 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 481-2226
@lightningjoes
facebook.com/lightningjoesguitarheaven
Best Photographer
Asia Croson Photography
1242 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 888-7448
@asiacrosonphotography
Best Place for Camera Equipment
The Photo Shop
1027 Marsh St., SLO
(805) 543-4025
@photoshop_slo
Best Kids Arts Program (Tie)
Studios on the Park
1130 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 238-9800
@studiospr
SLO Museum of Art
1010 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-8562
@slomuseumofart
Best Music School
Music Motive
SLO, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles
(805) 543-0377
@musicmotive805
Best Visual Artist
Susan Kounanis
(805) 441-4238
@susankounanis
facebook.com/SusanKounanisFineArt
Best Art Gallery
SLO Museum of Art
1010 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-8562
@slomuseumofart
Best Public Art
SLO Museum of Art
1010 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-8562
@slomuseumofart
Best Tattoo Artist (Tie)
Jake Schroeder (The Mojave Room)
811 El Capital Way, suite 210, SLO
(805) 439-2363
@themojaveroom
Danny Derrick (San Luis Tattoo Company)
390 Higuera St., suite E, SLO
(805) 704-9772
@sanluistattoocompany
Best Bookstore
Phoenix Books
986 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 543-3591
@phoenixbooksslo
facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-Books/121050681242482
Best Local Podcast
Your Own Backyard
yourownbackyardpodcast@gmail.com
@yourownbackyardpodcast
facebook.com/yourownbackyardpodcast
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2022.