Best Community Event
San Luis Obispo Concerts in the Plaza
Mission Plaza, SLO
(805) 541-0286
downtownslo.com/events/concerts
facebook.com/ConcertsinthePlaza
You nailed it, New Times readers. Concerts in the Plaza held this year every Friday from June 20 through Sept. 12 in the Mission Plaza is the best. It's free, it's fun, it's all-ages. You can dance, you can buy drinks and grub, and if you're a SLOcal, you're guaranteed to run into friends and neighbors. The event is organized by Downtown SLO, and this season they're teaming with Libertine Brewing Co. to keep the party going for those 21-and-older with concert afterparties starting at 8:30 p.m. in their SLO Town location (1234 Broad St.). See the complete season lineup online at downtownslo.com/events/concerts. Each show starts with a 5 p.m. opening act followed by the headliner from 6 to 8 p.m. On Friday, June 20, Vintage Renegades open followed by Moonshiner Collective. Stay classy, San Luis Obispo!
—Glen Starkey
Best Movie Theater
Palm Theatre - Home of the SLO Film Center
817 Palm St., SLO
(805) 541-5161
Best Theater Group
SLO Repertory Theatre
888 Morro St., SLO
(805) 786-2440
Best Dance Company
CORE Dance
882 Ricardo Court, SLO
(805) 541-2669
Best DJ
Epic Entertainment- LaDell Erby
675 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
(805) 295-8555
facebook.com/EpicEntertainmentInc
Best Band/Musician
Brass Mash
(805) 801-4889
Best Live Music Venue
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
3800 Mill Road, Paso Robles
(805) 286-3680
facebook.com/vinaroblesamphitheatre
Best Place for Karaoke
Bill's Place
112 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 489-9989
Best Place for Trivia
Bang the Drum Brewery
1150 Laurel Lane, suite 130, SLO
(805) 242-8372
facebook.com/BangTheDrumBrewery
Pop quiz! Who can name SLO's best spot for trivia? Ooh, me! It's Bang the Drum Brewery, located at 1150 Laurel Lane (at least until May 9). Best known for its brews, pies, and trivia, Bang the Drum provides a lively and fun space every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. that's sure to challenge your brain in ways you didn't know possible—but what's most important are the friends you made along the way, amirite? Imagine, it's the second round of trivia. You're completely stumped on the question, "Which ocean surrounds the entirety of Antarctica?" You take a bite of your fresh-out-of-the-oven mac-and-beer-cheese pie, which activates your fourth-grade self's geography lesson. "The Southern Ocean!" you exclaim (not too loudly) to your group. You win the point, and they carry you out on their shoulders. Sounds like a Wednesday night no-brainer to me.
—Libbey Hanson
Best Record Shop
Boo Boo Records
978 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 541-0657
Best Bookstore
Phoenix Books
986 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 543-3591
Best Place to Buy an Instrument
Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven
100 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 481-2226
facebook.com/lightningjoesguitarheaven
Best Kids Arts Program
SLO Museum of Art
1010 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-8562
Best Music School
Music Motive
SLO, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles
(805) 543-0377
Best Sculptor
Adriana Lemus
(805) 234-2217
facebook.com/adrianalemusceramics
Best Photographer
Andrew Gin
Best Fine Arts Painter
Susan Kounanis
(805) 441-4238
facebook.com/SusanKounanisFineArt
Best Mixed Media Artist
Marina Marsh
Best Museum
SLO Museum of Art
1010 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-8562
Best Art Gallery
Just Looking Gallery
740 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 541-6663
facebook.com/JustLookingGallery
Best Event Venue
Flying Caballos Ranch
1150 Farmhouse Lane, SLO
(805) 704-9634
Best Event Planner
Anna Fergus - The Cliffs Hotel
2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-5000
facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa
Best Tattoo Shop
Traditional Tattoo
251 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 784-0822
facebook.com/slotraditionaltattoo
Best Limo Service
Lush Limousine
2235 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles
(805) 226-5558
Best Radio Station
KJUG 98.1
3620 Sacramento Drive, suite 204, SLO
(805) 549-8698
Best News Source
KSBY
1772 Calle Joaquin, SLO
(805) 541-6666
