Best of 2019: House of Arts Scene 

Best Festival (Specific City)

Strawberry Festival, Arroyo Grande

The Village, Arroyo Grande

May 25-26, 2019

The Strawberry Festival in Arroyo Grande Village has been a staple event on the Central Coast since 1983—before this newspaper began publishing! On Memorial Day weekend, thousands bring their families to enjoy fresh, locally grown strawberries offered in every conceivable form—shortcakes, pancakes, milkshakes, chocolate-dipped, you name it—and for the 5K and 10K walk/run, live music and entertainment, kids' carnival, booths, arts and crafts, and more. Sunset magazine once called the Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival "the place to be on Memorial Weekend." And admission is free!

—Peter Johnson

arroyograndevillage.org/strawberryfestival

Best Photographer

Brittany App

(805) 704-3996

brittany@appsphotography.com

appsphotography.com

@brittanyapp

facebook.com/appsphotography

Best Visual Artist

Colleen Gnos

141 Suburban Road, #C4, SLO

(805) 441-8277

It's nearly impossible to not be aware of Shell Beach fine artist, muralist, and sculptor Colleen Gnos. Her colorful and dynamic images are everywhere from Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards wine labels to the Avila Beach lifeguard towers. Mermaids painted on surfboards are a common theme as well as hyper-colorful paintings of musicians in action. Gnos is also an upright bassist. In fact, her self-portrait with her bass graced the March 2018 cover of Bass World magazine. She's won this award before—last year and in 2016. One of her paintings became the poster for the 2016 Live Oak Music Festival. Basically, she's a badass.

—Glen Starkey

gnosart.com

@gnosart

facebook.com/colleengnosart

Best Art Gallery

Hands Gallery

777 Higuera St., SLO

M-W, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Th.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

(805) 543-1921

handsgallery.com

@handsgalleryslo

facebook.com/HandsGallerySlo

Best Tattoo Artist

Keith Duggan-Ink Dynasty

791 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach

M-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

(805) 295-6419

inkdynastytattoo.com/keith-duggan

@keithduggantattoo

facebook.com/KeithDugganInkDynastyTattoo

Best Movie Theatre

The Palm Theatre

817 Palm St., SLO

(805) 541-5161

thepalmtheatre.com

facebook.com/ThePalmTheatre

Best Theatre Group

SLO Repertory Theatre

888 Morro St., SLO

(805) 786-2440

slorep.org

@sloreptheatre

facebook.com/sloreptheatre

Best Dance Company

CORE Dance Company

882 Ricardo Court, SLO

(805) 541-2669

info@coredanceslo.com

coredanceslo.com

@coredance.slo

facebook.com/coredanceslo

Best Local Entertainer

Matt Cross

(805) 704-8695

mattcrossmusic.com

facebook.com/mattwcross

Best Live Music Venue

Vina Robles Amphitheatre

3800 Mill Road, Paso Robles

Th.-Sat, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

(805) 286-3680

amphitheatre@vinarobles.com

vinaroblesamphitheatre.com

@vinaroblesamp

facebook.com/vinaroblesamphitheatre

Best Film Festival

SLO International Film Festival

SLO

March 12-17, 2019

(805) 546-3456

slofilmfest.org

facebook.com/slofilmfest

Best Community Event (Specific City)

Downtown SLO Farmers' Market

SLO

Th., 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

(805) 541-0286

ReachUS@DowntownSLO.COM

downtownslo.com/farmers-market

@downtownslofarmersmarket

facebook.com/ExperienceDowntownSLO

Best Place to Catch a Band

The Siren

900 Main St., Morro Bay

M-Sat., 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-2 a.m.

(805) 225-1312

thesirenmorrobay.com

@thesirenmorrobay

facebook.com/thesirenmorrobay

Best Place for Karaoke

Bill's Place

112 E Branch St., Arroyo Grande

Sun.-T, 9 a.m.-midnight; W-Sat., 9 a.m.-2 a.m.

(805) 489-9989

facebook.com/billsplaceag

Best Local Band

Bear Market Riot

bearmarketriot.com

@bearmarketriot

facebook.com/BearMarketRiot

Best Place to Dance

The Graduate

990 Industrial Way, SLO

Sun.-T, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; W-Sat., 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

(805) 541-0969

slograd.com

@thegraduate

facebook.com/thegraduateslo

Best Bookstore

Phoenix Books

986 Monterey St., SLO

Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; M-W, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Th.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

(805) 543-3591

facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-Books/121050681242482

Best Place to Buy Music

Boo Boo Records

978 Monterey St., SLO

M-W, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Th.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

(805) 541-0657

booboorecords.com

@booboorecords

facebook.com/booboorecords

Best Place to Buy a Musical Instrument

Central Coast Music

365 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay

T-F, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

(805) 772-4930

ED@CENTRALCOASTMUSIC.COM

centralcoastmusic.com

facebook.com/centralcoastmusicmorrobay

Best Public Art

Avila Beach Lifeguard Towers

Best DJ

DJ Malik

1335 Walker St., SLO

(805) 801-7959

As a child, Malik Miko Thorne used to hold a portable tape recorder to the TV speaker to make mixed tapes of songs from Solid Gold, American Bandstand, and Soul Train. Is it any wonder he became a DJ? While attending Cal Poly, he started working at the college radio station KCPR 91.3 FM. Then he got a job at Boo Boo Records. Then he started DJing shows on local NPR affiliate KCBX 90.1 FM. Then he started DJing house parties and weddings and nightclubs. Then he started the SLO Record Swap with fellow DJ and Traffic Records owner Manuel Barba. DJ Malik currently owns and operates A Satellite of Love—a used, vintage, and consignment retail store at 1335 Walker St. in SLO, which hosts periodic live music concerts. Got an event you need DJed? Hit him up! He's the man!

—Glen Starkey

theweddingstandard.com/blog/malik-miko-thorne/

@djmalikmiko

facebook.com/malikmiko