Best Women’s Accessories
Poppy’s accessories will add a dash of arty, unique flair to any outfit they adorn. Though the store also carries delicately crafted purses, scarves and hats, the jewelry is the star. Big, chunky beads, sea-inspired necklaces, woodsy earrings and whimsical rings — the enchanting shapes and concepts will have you gliding at a snail’s pace through the store.

920 E. Broadway,
442-3223,
www.poppy.biz

Runner-Up: Sha,
917 E. Broadway,
441-0925

Best Male TV News Anchor
Columbians who want to “improve their view” make a nightly date with Jim Riek at 6 and 10 p.m. The KOMU-TV8 nightly news anchor and Target 8 investigative series reporter may be a natural on camera, but like any good newsman, he’s also frequently out and about in the community. From participating in fundraising events such as the MU Sinclair School of Nursing’s annual “Fund the Drive for Nurses” to moderating public debates for congressional district candidates, Riek has been a familiar face in the community for the past 10 years.

Runner-Up: John Bassford,
KMIZ-TV ABC17

Best Female TV News Anchor
When Teresa Snow traded in her anchor desk at KMIZ-TV for one at KRCG, she took along thousands of loyal viewers. Last September, Snow adopted KRCG as her new home station and took over anchoring the News Live at Five. She also co-anchors the Evening News at Six and KRCG News Nightside at Ten with Kermit Miller. Snow has continued to report in her specialty area — medical news — by presenting Healthwatch reports and related segments that keep viewers at home healthy and happy.

1st Runner-Up: Sarah Hill,
KOMU-TV8

2nd Runner-Up: Lindsey Rendlen,
KMIZ-TV ABC17, FOX38

Best TV Sports Anchor
Chris Gervino has been around for many a memorable moment in Missouri sports, including Colorado’s fifth down and Quin Snyder’s surprise resignation. Columbians don’t know Gervino for what he’s seen, though. They know him for what he tells them. From highlights, live interviews, special features and commentaries local viewers catch on KOMU-TV8’s “Sunday Night Sports Show” to the sportsman’s live radio broadcasts of Mizzou basketball and football games, Columbians have come to know Gervino as both a face and voice they can trust for all things sports-related.

Best TV Weathercaster
When KOMU-TV8 launched the local broadcast market’s first Doppler 8 Radar system for weather coverage in the early ‘90s, Dave Schmidt — forever after known fondly as “Doppler” Dave — became the friendly face for the sophisticated new up-to-the-minute weather technology. Doppler Dave’s coverage of the ’93 floods soon after then solidified his position as a central Missouri mainstay and trusted weather adviser. Columbians still tune in to Doppler Dave and his Weather Plus team today, whether a storm is expected to hit or they just want to know how low the day’s temperatures will go.

Runner-Up: Sharon Ray,
KMIZ-TV ABC17, KQFX-TV

Best Place To Take the Kids
Kids driving you bonkers? Drive them to Going Bonkers, the family fun center. It’s awash with swings, slides, video games, jungle gyms, and other energy-draining equipment guaranteed to tame the feistiest 4-year-old — at least for a while. If your brood gets cranky, visit the food court. Burgers and pizza, taken internally, will reduce the noise. A great place for birthday parties that won’t stress out your home or homeowner’s insurance.

3812 Buttonwood Drive,
499-0366,
www.goingbonkers.com

1st Runner-Up: Cosmo Park,
1615 Business Loop 70 W.,
www.gocolumbiamo.com

2nd Runner-Up: The Little Gym,
1400 Forum Blvd., Suite 19B,
446-4446, www.tlgcolumbiamo.com

Best Drive-In
In the good old days, drive-ins were a dime a dozen. Times may have changed, but luckily Columbia held on to one of these old-time classics. Mugs Up, an off-the-beaten-path eatery, has been serving up Zip burgers, chili cheese dogs and to-die-for root beer floats since 1955. The drive-in is closed during the winter, but come summertime, the spectacular sky view and refreshing floats are all the motivation residents need to hop in the car and take a tasty trip down Memory Lane.

603 Orange St.,
442-7238

Staff Pick: Best Drive-Time ‘Save’
The victory isn’t assured until the closer saves the game, and your workday isn’t over until you maneuver through rush-hour traffic. KFRU’s new drive-time team, “The Closers” makes the trip to your home plate a lot more fun with their energetic exchange about all things sports. Spencer Kane and Jet Roberts inform and entertain from 4 to 6 p.m. every weekday. At Inside Columbia we like them so much we invited them to write their own monthly feature, on Page 160 of this issue.

KFRU-AM 1400,
www.kfru.com

Staff Pick: Best Place to Get Fresh
Get your mind out of the gutter; there’s nothing naughty about this winner. If produce is your thing, however, we forgive you for getting a little riled up. After all, whether you shop at the Columbia Farmers’ Market or the Boone County Farmer’s Market, you are sure to find a plethora of locally grown greens, flowers, meats, cheeses, preserves and more. From their farms to your table, the fresh food from these markets simply can’t be beat.

Boone County Farmer’s Market:
Business Loop 70 West and Creasy Springs Road,
boonecountyfarmers.com

Columbia Farmers’ Market:
Clinkscales Road and Ash Street,
www.farmersmarket.missouri.org

Celebrity Pick: Jeff Harris, House Minority Leader,
State of Missouri
Best Place To Forget About Elephants And Donkeys
I’ll gladly admit it: I’m a serious Mizzou football fan. I’ve been attending Mizzou games at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field since Dan Devine’s final season in 1970, when my dad and my grandfather started taking me with them. Like a lot of fans, I leave the outside world behind for a few hours on football Saturdays at Faurot Field, and I stay to the end. It also allows me to imagine my dream job: being Mizzou’s offensive coordinator.

Best Place to Ride a Bike
The MKT is Columbia’s premier bike trail. Although built on the bumpy bed of the old MKT railroad line, you’ll find the riding is smooth and the all-weather crushed limestone surface perfect for emulating Lance Armstrong. Cruise along its 8.9 miles until reaching the Katy Trail, have a drink of designer water; then the next stop is Sedalia if you go west or St. Charles if you pedal east.

www.gocolumbiamo.com

Runner-Up: Katy Trail,
www.bikekatytrail.com

Best Ethnic Cuisine
Columbia may be situated right in the heart of Middle America, but you wouldn’t know it judging by our surplus of exotic ethnic cuisine. Take your taste buds on a trip to Bangkok Gardens and enjoy such delights as Phat Thai, a popular dish made with rice noodles, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts and egg, or Sa-tay, an appetizer of chicken marinated in coconut milk and yellow curry, served with peanut sauce. Just one bite and you might not think you’re in Missouri anymore.

811 Cherry St.,
874-3284,
www.bangkokgardens.com

Best Frozen Drink
No beach? No problem. Who needs sand when we’ve got Tropical Liqueurs’ brain freeze-inducing rumrunners? This south-of-the-border beverage haven is a must-do on hot Missouri days when no amount of air conditioning can cool you down. Choose from an extensive menu of frozen beverages, and just one sip will transport you to crystalline waters far, far away from the Missouri River.

515 E. Broadway,
442-8098; and one additional location

Best Happy Hour
Ah, happy hour. Come 5 o’clock and employees all over town are heaving a sigh of relief that the workday is over. At Boone Tavern, the beers are cold, the cocktails are strong, and happy hour is actually a very happy three hours. With specials on draft beer and margaritas, Boone Tavern is the place to be for Columbians to mingle and unwind after the stress of a busy day.

811 E. Walnut St.,
442-5123,
www.boonetavern.com

Best Local Artist
Despite the medium’s implication to the contrary, there’s nothing wishy-washy about watercolorist Paul Jackson’s work. The artist has remained dedicated to producing bold, imaginative and challenging projects despite setbacks and controversies (including the removal of Tiger Spot and the row over Jackson’s original design for the Missouri commemorative quarter versus its altered U.S. Mint version). His work has garnered national and international acclaim, earning features in Forbes magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post among others. Most recently, Jackson won the 2006 Dong Kingman Award from the American Watercolor Society for his painting New York Nightlights.

Best Wine Shop
Top Ten Wines gives Columbia’s downtown a little taste of rustic flavor that’ll have you talking about the homeland, even if your ancestors have been on American soil since the Mayflower. Paul Vernon, owner and only employee, favors wines that evoke particular passion in him, especially those imported from Spain, Australia and Argentina. Vernon has established direct relationships with some notable importers, such as The Grateful Palate, Dan Philips and Hand Picked Selections, so even if he doesn’t have a particular wine in stock, he can get it. When you stop in, be sure to make a reservation for the next Friday night wine-tasting.

207 S. Ninth St.,
442-2207,
www.toptenwines.net

Runner-Up: Village Wine & Cheese,
929 E. Broadway,
442-1010,
www.villagewineandcheese.com