BEST BIKE SHOP

R&M Cyclery  832 W. Washington St., 544-9550 This one was close, with just six votes separating R & M from the runner-up, but the victory here is well-deserved. You’ll find no greater selection than here, from starter bikes to recumbents to high-end carbon fiber road racing bikes costing thousands of dollars. The shop also sells used bicycles, and for reasonable prices – expect to pay $200 or less for a club racer from the 1980s. At R&M, they understand bicycles as works of art, and we love gazing at the Schwinn Apple Krate and vintage frames by the likes of Cinelli, Vitus and Austro Daimler. Mainstay brands carried include Trek, Orbea and Cannondale. Runner-up: Ace Bike Shop

BEST PLACE TO FIND A BARGAIN

Goodwill 2001 W. Wabash Ave., 787-7496 815 N. 11th St., 789-0400 2531 N. Dirksen Parkway, 753-3620 A life-size cardboard stand-up figure of Humphrey Bogart for $5. A vintage made-in- USA Pendleton wool shirt for $3. A Lawnboy lawnmower that mulches or bags for $50. A Burberry trenchcoat for $7. Stuff like this comes along, if not every day, then often enough to make Goodwill a mecca for the serious bargain hunter. The store on 11th Street retains a traditional thrift-store ambience – word on the street is, there are plans to convert it to a sold-by-thepound outlet store, a concept that’s proven popular in other cities. The other two stores are more upscale and spacious. During the past year, a book section was introduced at the Wabash Avenue store, which features a coffee shop. Runner-up: TJ Maxx

BEST PET GROOMING

Petsmart 3183 S. Veterans Parkway, 698-3091 Whether you call it a pedicure or manicure when a dog is involved, it’s all good at Petsmart, which in addition to nail trimming offers exotic shampoos and coat-care products to deal with such issues as split ends, itchy skin, excessive shedding and encounters with skunks – expect to pay around $30 for the deluxe treatment that includes brushed teeth and a spritz of vanilla scent. With windows that allow anyone to watch, it’s great fun checking out the eight-station doggie beauty shop, even if you’re only stopping in for goldfish food or doggie nail polish.

Runner-up: Dal Acres West

BEST FRESH FISH/MEATS

Robert’s Seafood Market 1615 Jefferson St., 546-3089 Every once in awhile, you can find decent fresh fish at the local supermarket, but the only consistent offerings are tilapia and catfish. Not at Robert’s Seafood, where topquality fresh fish from all over the place are sold every day. The fish at Robert’s is as good as you’ll find in San Francisco, Seattle or any other big city, which explains why they’ve been in business since 1916. Consider salmon. Most places sell just one variety, but it’s not at all unusual for Robert’s to offer wild coho (best-tasting species in the world, in our opinion), wild chinook and farmed Atlantic, all on the same day. They have a knack for procuring to-die-for halibut, and they invite special orders – orders for most species, they say, can be filled within 24 hours, and they can get anything from Mexican mahi mahi to flounder from the North Atlantic.

Runner-up: Humphrey’s Market

BEST PLACE FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION

Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park 4965 S. Second St., 753-0702 Sitting on 80 acres of gardens and ponds, Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park is this year’s best place for a wedding reception. The main banquet hall accommodates more than 300 people and looks out onto a terrace and peaceful pond. Brides and grooms can also rest easy knowing they’re choosing both an ADA accessible and a “green” building – Erin’s Pavilion exceeds all accessibility standards and is powered by solar, geothermal and wind. With a gazebo, playground and gardens galore, the grounds surrounding the pavilion offer a backdrop for photographs of nuptial bliss.