Best Bets of 2008: The Winners

Best Musician

Brenda Weiler recently released her sixth album End the Rain. Originally from the
Fargo/Moorhead area, Brenda currently lives in Portland, Oregon. As a musician Weiler
is most known for her compelling voice and insightful lyrics. She has an amazing ability
to connect with any audience. Barking Dog Records released her first album, Trickle
Down in 1997. Weiler has won awards for her music including the Minnesota Music
Award for Best Folk/Acoustic Artist in 2001 and the Minnesota Music Award for Best
Singer/Songwriter in 2002.

Best Clothing Store

When the final votes were tallied and a store I had never been to won best clothing store,
I had to check out what made this place stand out from all the other shopping in Fargo.
Located on 1st Ave. N, Revolver is on of several new stores in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
Unlike most second hand stores that are a collection of donated goods, Revolver
specializes in vintage clothing, accessories, and home furnishings. In addition, it carries
locally made items and repurposed goods.

Best Kept Secret

The arrival of spring and nicer weather encourages people to venture outside once again.
And what better way to welcome spring and eventually summer but with some ice cream.
Charlie’s Ice Cream Parlor is located on 3rd Ave N in downtown Fargo. It has a warm and
wholesome feel to it. If cold ice cream in a hand-made waffle cone on a hot day isn’t
enough to get you in there, their several other delicious treats should. Some other menu
items include sundaes, floats, pastries, and soup.

Best New Store

With Revolver and Charlie’s Ice Cream Parlor close behind it, Orange Records wins 1st
place for the best new store of the Red River Valley. Located downtown, Orange Records
caters to all music lovers selling new and used vinyl records as well as new and used cds.
It is also the place to go to pick up cds made by local talent.

Best Restaurant, Best Place to Take a Date

Downtown Fargo offers a wide variety of get-out-of-the-house activities. From shopping
to going out to dinner to bar hopping, downtown Fargo has a bit of something for
everyone. It’s no surprise that the best restaurant would be located among all the
downtown action. Monte’s was not only voted the best restaurant, but also the
best place to take a date. Their menu offers everything from filet mignon to rack of lamb
with an equally large selection of wine and martinis.

Best Coffee House

With two locations and a strong aroma of guest satisfaction, the Atomic Coffee café has won Red River Valley’s Best Coffee House Award ’08.  Atomic Coffee, located right next to Dempsey’s pub in Fargo, shares some of the same characteristics as its award winning neighbor. With its ability to host frequent regulars, which you’ll see sitting outside on warm nights, and its strength to pull in new comers, Atomic Coffee can be a place for anyone. Whether you’re doing homework, reading, or just in for a quick espresso, Atomic Coffee treats you with the same good service day in and day out.

Best Drag Performer

Just-n-Tyme, the Red River Valley’s winner for best drag performer ‘08, received her award like a seasoned veteran who’s truly accepted the craft of acting. For Just-n-Tyme, performing is not only a means of enjoyment but in a way has also helped bring a strong level of confidence to her life as well.  “I used to never be able to look someone in the eye,” she said.  “I went from somebody who had no self confidence at all, and going from that, to playing strong women who have confidence, it can’t help but wear off on you. And it’s made me a stronger person. A guy doing a woman helps you look at things in an entirely different way.” Not only did Just-n-Tyme win for best drag performer, but also took first place honors in the ‘local celebrity’ category and also for the Red River Valley’s favorite ‘person to watch.’ Upcoming events for Just-n-Tyme include pushing performances towards interested casino’s and also starting work on a new book titled, “From Duct Tape to Diamonds.” We wish for the best.

Best Bar

Dempsey’s, which seems to be the only place a fella can get a good glass of Old Style in this town, has won this year’s Best Bar Award ’08 of the Red River Valley.  With its willingness to entertain and its standard for good service, Dempsey’s stands out from other bars in the area. Any night of the week a person will see many regulars role through, all greeted with friendly smiles, but what one will also see, is Dempsey’s unparalleled ability to welcome new comers into their establishment. Everyone is treated the same, whether your wearing Giorgio Armani or wearing you’re favorite Chicago Bears t-shirt, it doesn’t matter, which in the end, really matters. 

Best Bartender

It’s only appropriate that Dempsey’s, voted as HPR’s Best Bar of the Red River Valley ’08, also have the areas best bartender. Meet Johnny Cossette everyone, he is a Fargo native, who’s been serving at Dempsey’s bar for just over two years and is now at The three Lyons. With a laid back attitude and his own original shot called the “Johnny Cossette”(dropping a shot of orange Stoli into a glass filled with Spark’s and a little grenadine) John says his secret to bartending is “just trying to have fun, doing a good job, and keeping a smile on everyone’s face.” And as we’ve probably heard before “behind every great man there’s a great woman” and for Johnny that woman is Heather, a local bartender at the Empire and runner-up for best bartender ‘08. “She’s an amazing bartender, who I’ve watched for a long, and she’s taught me things” says Johnny.  With aspirations to someday take his bartending skills to a bigger city, Johnny Cossette for now will remain here at The Three Lyons and continue to serve as one of the FM areas best bartenders.

Best Radio DJ

Getting older may seem like a curse for some, but for Randal Black, this year’s winner for Best Radio DJ of the Red River Valley ’08, it appears to have been a blessing.  Taking several distinct musical phases of his life and combining them, Randal has formed his haphazardness into two popular radio shows on KNDS 105.9. “I grew up on everything” he said.  “I started with really crappy 80’s pop music . . . and then I use to listen to nothing but hip-hop and RB, and used to dress with Malcolm X hats. And then I listened to Sepultura and got into a heavy metal stage and that was followed by Radio Head, which changed everything.” Armed with his affinity for music, Black divides his rhythmic taste into two separate shows on KNDS. On Monday mornings DJ’s “Morning Star Radio” from 8am-10am,which highlights current alternative rock and on Wednesdays you can find him hosting “The Thirty Year Old Freshman” from 10pm to 1am, which is more of a variety show focusing on hip-hop, punk, and some heavier alternative rock.  With no ulterior motives and no main stream radio offers ahead, Randal Black is a radio DJ for no other reason than his deep rooted love for music. That is definitely appreciated.

BARTENDER
1st Place: Jon Cossette—Dempsey’s
2nd Place: Heather Hans – The Empire
3rd Place: Josh Voltz – The Aquarium

MUSICIAN
1st Place: Brenda Weiler
2nd Place: Deb Jenkins
3rd Place: The Palest Blue

BAND
1st Place: Betty Does
2nd Place (TIE): Ghost Hand Punch, Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome
Honorable Mention: Legionnaires, Poitin, Weapon

LIVE PERFORMANCE DJ
1st Place: Guy Jean
2nd Place: Dextrious
3rd Place: Stupid Birthday

ARTIST
1st Place: El Perdido
2nd Place: Jon Offutt
3rd Place: Modern Man

CELEBRITY
1st Place (TIE): Just-n-tyme, Modern Man
2nd Place (TIE): John Lamb, Bert Meyers, Tom Szymanski
Honorable Mention: Ed Schultz

WRITER/POET
1st Place: Zach Kobrinsky
2nd Place: Amanda Silbernagel
3rd Place: Erik Block, Neil Schloesser

PERSON TO WATCH
1st Place: Just-n-tyme
2nd Place: Bert Meyers, Chomos
Honorable Mention: Doug Burgum, Dan Mahli

FUNNIEST PERSON
1st Place: Keith Gripper
2nd Place: John Lamb
3rd Place: Steve Poitras, Jason “Teddy” Ramstad, Bert Meyers

MEDIA PERSONALITY
1st Place: Tom Szymanski
2nd Place: John Strand
3rd Place: Ed Schultz

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
1st Place: John Strand
2nd Place: Prairie Rose
3rd Place: Duke Schemp

RADIO DJ
1st Place: Randall Black
2nd Place: Silkee
3rd Place (TIE): Josh Anderson, Trevor Hirst, Matt Oland, Rat

DRAG PERFORMER
1st Place: Just-n-tyme
2nd Place: Janessa Jaye Champagne
3rd Place (TIE): Meathead, Sonja Neez

VEGETARIAN MEAL
1st Place: Thai Orchid
2nd Place: Green Market
3rd Place: Zandbroz

LUNCH
1st Place: Bertrosa’s
2nd Place: Josie’s Corner
3rd Place: Green Market

RESTAURANT
1st Place: Monte’s
2nd Place (TIE): Sarello’s, Texas Roadhouse, Toscana
Honorable Mention: Thai Orchid

PLACE TO TAKE A DATE
1st Place: Monte’s
2nd Place: Fargo Theatre
3rd Place: HoDo

ASIAN RESTAURANT
1st Place: Thai Orchid
2nd Place: Yuki Hana
3rd Place: King House Buffet

MEXICAN RESTAURANT
1st Place: Mexican Village
2nd Place: Juano’s
3rd Place: Acapulco

LATE NIGHT EATS
1st Place: Fryin’ Pan
2nd Place: Taco Bell
3rd Place: Perkins

COFFEE HOUSE
1st Place: Atomic Coffee
2nd Place: Red Raven
3rd Place: Babb’s

BURGER OR SANDWICH
1st Place: Burger Time
2nd Place: Bertrosa’s
3rd Place: Grand Junction

PIZZA
1st Place: Sammy’s
2nd lace: Duane’s
3rd Place: Pizza Hut

BAR
1st Place: Dempsey’s
2nd Place: The Empire
3rd Place: HoDo

LIVE MUSIC BAR
1st Place: The Aquarium
2nd Place: The Hub
3rd Place: The Nestor

PLACE TO DANCE
1st Place: The Aquarium
2nd Place: The Hub
3rd Place: Mr. G’s

MUSEUM / GALLERY
1st Place: Plains Art Museum
2nd Place: Up Front Gallery
3rd Place: Gallery 514

LIVE THEATRE
1st Place: Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre
2nd Place: Theatre B

FESTIVAL
1st Place: Downtown Fargo Street Fair
2nd Place (TIE):  Blues Festival, 10klf
Honorable Mention: Winter Carnival

CLOTHING STORE
1st Place: Revolver
2nd Place: One World
3rd Place (TIE): Dakota Boys Ranch, Old Navy

SECOND HAND STORE
1st Place: Dakota Boys Ranch
2nd Place: Revolver
3rd Place: Savers

HEALTH FOOD STORE
1st Place: Tochi
2nd Place: Swanson Health
3rd Place: Amazing Grains

BOOKSTORE
1st Place: Barnes and Noble
2nd Place: Zandbroz
3rd Place: BDS Books

NEW STORE
1st Place: Orange Records
2nd Place: Revolver
3rd Place: Charlie’s Ice Cream Parlor

PLACE TO BUY A GIFT
1st Place: Zandbroz
2nd Place: Wal-Mart,
3rd Place (TIE): Best Buy, West Acres,

HEALTH CLUB
1st Place: YMCA
2nd Place: Elite 24-hour Fitness
3rd Place: Courts Plus

TATTOO PARLOR
1st Place: Addictions
2nd Place: Dead Rockstar
3rd Place: 46 & 2 Tattoo

HAIR CUT
1st Place: Salon Why?
2nd Place: MJ Capelli’s
3rd Place (TIE): Great Clips, Oliveri’s

-Miranda Roberson