2008 Best Bets Finalists Are Announced: And the Winner Is…

HPR Readers have spoken. Best Bets 2008 Winners will be announced Friday night, April 4, at 8 p.m. at the Aquarium downtown Fargo. Multitudes of voters cast ballots in 39 categories. Find out who the best musician in the Valley is, and who the best artist is, the best bartender, best band, best pizza, etc.

Please join us and many of these finalists as we munch on food and socialize from 8-9:30 p.m. at the Aquarium Friday. Live entertainment follows at 10 with The Palest Blue (finalist, Best Musician), Ghost Hand Punch (finalist, Best Band), and Stupid Birthday (finalist, Live DJ). A special appearance by Just ‘n Tyme (finalist, Drag Performer) will polish the night off perfectly.

We announce Friday night at the Aquarium and we print the details in our April 10 issue of HPR. Come to the party and see if your votes were on or not?  If your name is on this list, please come and rub elbows with your select group of peers, and get a chance to meet some folks who voted for you.
The following names and businesses—in alphabetical order—are finalists in this year’s Best Bets contest:

BARTENDER: Josh Voltz—The Aquarium, Jon Cossette—Dempsey’s, Heather Hans—The Empire.

MUSICIAN: The Palest Blue, Deb Jenkins, Brenda Weiler.

BAND: Betty Does, Ghost Hand Punch, Legionnaires, Poitin, Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, Weapon.

LIVE PERFORMANCE DJ: Dextrious, Guy Jean, Stupid Birthday.

ARTIST: Modern Man, Jon Offutt, El Perdido.

CELEBRITY: John Lamb, Modern Man, Bert Meyers, Just ‘n Tyme, Ed Schultz, Tom Szymanski.

WRITER/POET: Erik Block, Zach Kobrinsky, Amanda Silbernagel, Neil Schloesser.

PERSON TO WATCH: Doug Burgum, Chomos, Dan Mahli, Bert Meyers, Just ‘n Tyme.

FUNNIEST PERSON: Steve Poitras, Jason “Teddy” Ramstad, Keith Gripper, John Lamb, Bert Meyers.

MEDIA PERSONALITY: Ed Schultz, John Strand, Tom Szymanski.

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: Prairie Rose, Duke Schemp, John Strand.

RADIO DJ: Josh Anderson, Randall Black, Trevor Hirst, Matt Oland, Rat, Silkee.

DRAG PERFORMER: Janessa Jaye Champagne, Meathead, Sonja Neez, Just ‘n Tyme.

VEGETARIAN MEAL: Green Market, Thai Orchid, Zandbroz.

LUNCH: Bertrosa’s, Green Market, Josie’s Corner.

RESTAURANT: Monte’s, Sarello’s, Texas Roadhouse, Thai Orchid, Toscana.

PLACE TO TAKE A DATE: Fargo Theatre, HoDo, Monte’s.

ASIAN RESTAURANT: King House Buffet, Thai Orchid, Yuki Hana.

MEXICAN RESTAURANT: Acapulco, Juano’s, Mexican Village.

LATE NIGHT EATS: Fryin’ Pan, Perkins, Taco Bell.

COFFEE HOUSE: Atomic Coffee, Babb’s, Red Raven.

BURGER OR SANDWICH: Bertrosa’s, Burger Time, Grand Junction.

PIZZA: Duane’s, Pizza Hut, Sammy’s.

BAR: The Empire, Dempsey’s, HoDo.

LIVE MUSIC BAR: The Aquarium, The Hub, The Nestor.

PLACE TO DANCE: Mr. G’s, The Aquarium, The Hub.

MUSEUM / GALLERY: Gallery 514, Plains Art Museum, Up Front Gallery.

LIVE THEATRE: FMCT, Theatre B.

FESTIVAL: Blues Festival, 10klf, Downtown Fargo Street Fair, Winter Carnival.

CLOTHING STORE: Dakota Boys Ranch, Ole Navy, One World, Revolver.

SECOND HAND STORE: Dakota Boys Ranch, Revolver, Savers.

HEALTH FOOD STORE: Amazing Grains, Swanson Health, Tochi.

BOOKSTORE: Barnes and Noble, BDS Books, Zandbroz.

NEW STORE: Charlie’s Ice Cream Parlor, Orange Records, Revolver.

PLACE TO BUY A GIFT: Best Buy, Wal-Mart, West Acres, Zandbroz.

HEALTH CLUB: Courts Plus, Elite 24-hour Fitness, YMCA.

TATTOO PARLOR: 46 & 2 Tattoo, Addictions, Dead Rockstar.

HAIR CUT: Great Clips, MJ Capelli’s, Olivieri’s, Salon Why?

BEST KEPT SECRET: Bertrosa’s, Charlies Ice Cream Parlor, Josie’s Corner, KNDS 105.9, Toscana, Zach Echola.

April Birthdays…

Happy April Birthdays to all the others we know celebrating this month: Jan Ellen Myrdal-Morrell, Modern Man, Aryeh Kobrinsky, Josh Costello, Pamela Sund, Tom Davies, C.T. Hanson, Becky Jones-Mahlum, Maureen Kelly-Jonason, Ben Hill, Matt Haney, Charlie Wilson, Steve Becker, Rick Clayburgh, James Wolberg, Vicky Larson-Neuharth, Nellie Bjelde, Randy Schwartz, Joyce Geddes Simmons, Paul “Spike” McDaniel, Marjorie Morris, Zach Hannestad, Melanie Robinson, Tricia Strand-Jerrich, Don Kadlec, Tom Hartman, David Stradling, Terry Hanney, Dan Hedrick, Davin Brown, Mike Williams, Kristin Helgeson, Matt Morken, Mark Campbell, Sue Berg-Anderson, Terri Iverson, Mike Vangsness, Mark Altenburg, Jed Bontjes, Billy Delaney, Roy Raaj, Kara Miller, Barb Raetzman, Elise Pallais, Netty Berger, David Ideele, Pete Morsch, Tyrell Scott, Scott Miller, Matt Wiener, Tommy Lund, John Maddock, Russ Quammen, Don Haney, Marty Risky.