[ 'Best of' Index | North Bay | MetroActive Central | Archives ]

Best Everyday Stuff Best Antique Shop Sonoma County Whistle Stop Antiques 130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/542-9474 Honorable Mention: Antique Society 2661 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol 707/829-1733 Napa County Riverfront Antique Center 705 Soscol Ave., Suite F, Napa 707/253-1966 Best Art Supply Store Sonoma County Riley Street 103 Maxwell Court, Santa Rosa 707/526-2446 Honorable Mention: Montmartre Artist's Supplies 7231 Healdsburg Ave., Sebastopol 707/824-4837 Napa County Calistoga Bookstore 1343 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-4123 --Tie-- Redwood Art Supply 3383 Solano Ave., Napa 707/226-2466 Best Auto Body Shop Sonoma County G&C Auto Body 251 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa 707/525-3520 Honorable Mention: Key Auto Body 250 Morris St., Sebastopol 707/823-7591 Napa County B&B Foreign Car Service & Repair 1750 Tanen St., Napa 707/255-7588 Best Auto Dealer--New Sonoma County Freeman Toyota 2875 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa 707/542-1791 Honorable Mention: Saturn Dealership 3001 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa 707/525-1800 Napa County Napa Chrysler & Volvo 333 Soscol Ave., Napa 707/224-6684 Marin County Sonnen Motorcars 740 W. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael 415/460-4100 Best Auto Dealer--Used Sonoma County Freeman Toyota 2875 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa 707/542-1791 Honorable Mention: Angel Motors 283 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa 707/578-1592 Napa County Napa Chrysler & Volvo 333 Soscol Ave., Napa 707/224-6684 Best Auto Detailing Sonoma County California Shine 2549 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/573-0601 Napa County Joseph Newman Co. 1538 Third St., Napa 707/252-8366 --Tie-- Napa Valley 100 Percent Hand Car Wash & Detail 1745 Soscol Ave., Napa 707/224-9566 Best Auto Repair--Domestic Sonoma County Noonan's Garage 16312 Fifth St., Guerneville 707/869-2781 Honorable Mention: McLea's Tire & Automotive Service 800 Piner Road, Santa Rosa 707/542-0363 Napa County B&B Foreign Car Service & Repair 1750 Tanen St., Napa 707/255-7588 --Tie-- Chuck's Auto Repair 2053 Iroquois St., Napa 707/224-7462 Marin County Northbay Motorsports 61 Belvedere St., San Rafael 415/457-2238 Best Auto Repair--Imported Sonoma County Tilman's German Car Specialists 2728 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa 707/546-3409 Honorable Mention: Smother's European 2881 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa 707/542-4810 Napa County B&B Foreign Car Service & Repair 1750 Tanen St., Napa 707/255-7588 --Tie-- Chuck's Auto Repair 2053 Iroquois St., Napa 707/224-7462 Marin County Northbay Motorsports 61 Belvedere St., San Rafael 415/457-2238 Best Bank Sonoma County Exchange Bank 545 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/524-3106 Honorable Mention: Redwood Credit Union 370 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa 707/545-4000; 250 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park 707/545-4000; 301 N. McDowell Ave. Suite B, Petaluma 707/545-4000 Napa County Vintage Bank 3271 Browns Valley Road, Napa 707/224-5417; 3626 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa 707/256-1966; 6498 Washington St., Yountville 707/258-3999 Marin County Corporate: Washington Mutual Financial Center 300 Las Gallinas Ave., San Rafael 415/479-5439 Best Bike Shop Sonoma County Dave's Bike Shop 353 College Ave., Santa Rosa 707/528-3283 --Tie-- Bike Peddler 605 College Ave., Santa Rosa 707/571-2428 Honorable Mention: Analy Bike 961 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol 707/823-0425 Napa County Palisades Mountain Sport 1330 Gerard St., Calistoga 707/942-9687 Best Body Art Place Sonoma County Monkey Wrench 1700 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/575-0610 Honorable Mention: Good Time Tattoo 1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/528-0863 Napa County Flying Colors Tattoo 579 Coombsville Road, Napa 707/226-8986 --Tie-- Pleasures Unlimited 1416 Second St., Napa 707/226-2666 Best Bookstore--New Sonoma County Copperfield's Books 138 North St., Sebastopol 707/823-8991; 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma 707/762-0563; 2316 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 707/578-8938 Honorable Mention: North Light Books & Cafe 550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati 707/792-4300 Napa County Calistoga Bookstore 1343 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-4123 Marin County Corporate: Border's Books, Music, and Cafe 588 W. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael 415/454-1400 Best Bookstore--Used Sonoma County Copperfield's Books 138 North St., Sebastopol 707/823-8991; 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma 707/762-0563; 2316 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 707/578-8938 Honorable Mention: Treehorn Books 625 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/525-1782 Napa County Copperfield's Books 1303 First St., Napa 707/252-8002 Best CD Store--New Sonoma County Last Record Store 802 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/528-2350; 739 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/525-1963; Honorable Mention: Copperfield's Books 138 N. Main St. , Sebastopol 707/823-8991; 2316 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 707/578-8938 Napa County Free Time 1348 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-0210 Marin County Maximum Music 1555 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/454-9262 Corporate: Tower Records 2052 Redwood Hwy., Greenbrae 415/924-7447 Best CD Store--Used Sonoma County Last Record Store 802 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/528-2350; 739 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/525-1963 Honorable Mention: Back Door Disc & Tape 7665 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati 707/795-9597 Marin County Maximum Music 1555 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/454-9262 Best Cigar/Pipe Shop Sonoma County Mighty Quinn 3372 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/545-5081 Honorable Mention: The Squire 1305-G Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa 707/573-8544 Napa County Calistoga Smoke Shop 1430 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-3937 Best Clothing Store Men's Sonoma County Patrick James 2340 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa 707/523-2346 Corporate: Macy's 800 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa 707/523-3333 Honorable Mention: Outlander's 101 Plaza, Healdsburg 707/433-7800 --Tie-- Romero's Fine Men's Clothing 723 Village Court, Santa Rosa 707/527-5742 Napa County D. Champaign Casual Menswear 1228 Main St., St. Helena 707/963-1782 Marin County Bullerini Italian Clothing 919 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/257-2696 Best Clothing Store Women's Sonoma County Dressers 145 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/829-8757 Corporate: Macy's 800 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa 707/523-3333 Honorable Mention: Mishi Apparel 201 Western Ave., Petaluma 707/778-1441 Napa County Mountain Where 1333 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-0263 Best Computer Store Sonoma County Executron 1831 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa 707/525-3715 Corporate: Best Buy 1950 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/545-1078 Honorable Mention: Bits & PC's 3201 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa 707/571-0386 Marin County Computer Ware 605 W. California Ave., San Rafael 415/457-1952; 1031 C St., San Rafael 415/457-1952 Best Computer Repair --Mac Sonoma County Executron 1831 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa 707/523-3715 Honorable Mention: Mac Networks 456 10th St., Santa Rosa 707/522-1400 Best Computer Repair --PC Sonoma County Bits & PC's 3201 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa 707/571-0386 Honorable Mention: Executron Computers 1831 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa 707/525-3715 Best Copy/Business Services Sonoma County Sprint Copy Center 175 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/823-3900 Corporate: Kinko's 700 Third St., Santa Rosa 707/523-0922; 901 E. Washington Ave., Petaluma 707/763-6553 Honorable Mention: CopyWorks 640 Third St., Santa Rosa 707/525-0345 Napa County Corporate: Kinko's Copies 702 Lincoln Ave., Napa 707/226-7722 Marin County Corporate: Kinko's Copies 234 Northgate One, San Rafael 415/491-0343; 777 Grand Ave., San Rafael 415/453-5494 Best Costume Shop Sonoma County Disguise the Limit 100 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/575-1477 Honorable Mention: House of Humor 318 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/544-7600 Best Culinary Store Sonoma County Hardisty's Homewares 710 Montgomery Lane, Santa Rosa 707/545-0534 Honorable Mention: Pots & Pans 107 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/566-7155 Corporate: Whole Foods 6910 McKinley St., Sebastopol 707/829-9801 Napa County Culinary Institute at Greystone 2555 Main St., St. Helena 707/967-1010 --Tie-- Shackford's 1350 Main St., Napa 707/226-2132 Best Day Spa Sonoma County Osmosis Enzyme Bath and Massage 209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone 707/823-8231 Honorable Mention: Alles European Day Spa 432 Orchard St., Santa Rosa 707/573-3068 Napa County Lavender Hill Spa 1015 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga 707/942-4495 Best Electronics Store Sonoma County Corporate: Radio Shack 621 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/527-1547 --Tie-- HSC Electronic Supply of Santa Rosa 5681 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park 707/585-7344 Honorable Mention: Dada Hardware 15600 River Road, Guerneville 707/869-2832 --Tie-- California Audio & Video 9550 Main St., Penngrove 707/795-9065 Napa County Corporate: Radio Shack 3016 Jefferson St., Napa 707/255-5000 Best Gift Shop Sonoma County Milk & Honey 137 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/824-1155 Honorable Mention: Classic Duck 532 Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa 707/575-0755 Napa County Free Time 1348 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-0210 --Tie-- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Bob 1248 First St., Napa 707/265-8989 Best Grocery Store Sonoma County Fiesta Market 550 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol 707/823-9735 --Tie-- Pacific Market 1465 Town & Country Drive, Santa Rosa 707/546-3663 Honorable Mention: Oliver's Market 546 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati 707/ 795-9501; 560 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa 707/537-7123 Napa County Cal Mart 1491 Lincoln Ave.,Calistoga 707/942-6271 Marin County Mollie Stone's Market 270 Bon Air Shopping Center, Greenbrae 415/461-1164 Best Hair Salon Sonoma County California Cuts 216 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa 707/579-4339 Honorable Mention: Supercuts 367 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma 707/765-1055; 707 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/575-1268; 2060 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/541-7013 Napa County The Arrangement 821 Coombs St., Napa 707/253-2811 Marin County Le Cut of Marin 1009 Reichert Ave., Novato 415/892-4758 Best Hardware Store Sonoma County Sebastopol Hardware Center 660 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol 707/823-7688 Corporate: Yardbirds Home Center 100 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 707/546-5662 Honorable Mention: Friedman Bros. Home Improvement Center 4055 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/584-7811; 1360 Broadway, Sonoma 707/939-8811 Corporate: Ace Hardware & Mission Lumber 4310 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa 707/539-7070 Napa County Corporate: Ace Hardware 325 Lincoln Ave., Napa 707/255-4272; 819 Randolph St., Napa 707/224-0204 Marin County Jim Corbet's Ace Hardware Store 1155 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur 415/461-5330 Best Herbal Apothecary Sonoma County Rosemary's Garden 132 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/829-2539 Honorable Mention: Farmacopia 95 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 707/528-4372 Napa County Calistoga Natural 1426 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-5822 Best Internet Provider Sonoma County Sonic Net 300 B St., Santa Rosa 707/522-1000 Corporate: America On Line AOL.com Honorable Mention: AccessPort Internet 1030 Second St., Santa Rosa 707/522-5100 Napa County Napa Net 1142 First St., Napa 707/257-2826 --Tie-- T3West.com 1505 Fourth St., Napa 707/255-9330 Best Framing Shop Sonoma County My Daughter the Framer 1617 Terrace Way, Santa Rosa 707/542-3599 Honorable Mention: MeSh Gallery 6984 McKinley St., Sebastopol 707/823-1971 Napa County Fast Frame 1346 Trancas St., Napa 707/226-3422 Best Furniture Store Sonoma County R.S. Basso Home Furnishings 186 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/829-1426 Honorable Mention: Scandinavian Designs 3480 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa 707/528-6640 Napa County R.S. Basso Home Furnishings 1219 Main St., St. Helena 707/963-0391 Marin County Scandinavian Designs 1212 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/457-5500 Best Place to Buy Futons Sonoma County The Futon Shop 3499 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa 707/578-4242 Napa County Futons & Furniture 1138 Main St., Napa 707/252-3626 Marin County Mary's Futons 4212 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael 415/472-2919 Best Outdoor Gear Shop Sonoma County Sonoma Outfitters 145 Third St., Santa Rosa 707/528-1920 Honorable Mention: Marin Outdoors 2770 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/544-4400 Napa County Sportago 1224 Adams St., St. Helena 707/963-9042 Marin County Marin Outdoors 935 Anderson Drive, San Rafael 415/453-3400 Best Head Shop Sonoma County Mighty Quinn 3372 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/545-5081 Honorable Mention: Gravenstones 8246 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati 707/795-8498 Best Home Furnishings Sonoma County R.S. Basso Home Furnishings 186 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/829-1426 Corporate: Sears Roebuck & Co. 100 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa 707/571-5600 Honorable Mention: Pedersen's Furniture Co. Fifth & D St., Santa Rosa 707/542-1855 Napa County Hacienda Hardware 1989 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford 707/963-8877 Best Jewelry Store Sonoma County Earthworks 350 Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa 707/528-7181 Honorable Mention: Rose's River Jewelery 16248 Main St., Guerneville 707/869-3420 Napa County Artful Eye 1333 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-4743 Marin County Solarium 815-A Grant Ave., Novato 415/897-7556 Best Musical Instruments Store Sonoma County People's Music 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/823-7664 Honorable Mention: Zone Music 7884 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati 707/664-1213 Napa County All Star Guitars 2522 Jefferson St., Napa 707/224-6577 Marin County Bananas at Large 1504 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/457-7600 Best Motorcycle Shop Sonoma County Michael's Harley Davidson 7601 Redwood Drive, Cotati 707/793-9180 Honorable Mention: Jim & Jim's Yamaha 910 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/545-1672 Napa County Harley Davidson of Vallejo 1600 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo 707/643-1413 Best Natural Foods Store Sonoma County Community Market 1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/546-1806 Corporate: Whole Foods Market 6910 McKinley St., Sebastopol 707/829-9801 Honorable Mention: Oliver's Market 546 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati 707/795-9501; 560 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa 707/537-7123 Napa County Calistoga Natural 1426 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-5822 Marin County Good Earth Natural Foods 123 Bolinas Road, Fairfax 415/454-0123 Best Nursery Sonoma County Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery 3244 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol 707/823-9125 Honorable Mention: Empire Nursery 3747 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa 707/546-1113 Best Optical Store Sonoma County Sonoma Eyeworks 534 Larkfield Shopping Center, Santa Rosa 707/578-2020 Honorable Mention: Optical World 1054 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa 707/544-3000 Napa County Calistoga Family Eye Care Center 1220 Washington St., Calistoga 707/942-4674 Best Ski/Skate/Board Shop Sonoma County Brotherhood 1215 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/546-0660 Napa County Board Garden 2740 Jefferson St., Napa 707/253-7949 --Tie-- Snowdrift Ski/Tennis Shop 3090 Jefferson St., Napa 707/255-3509 Best Ski/Board Shop Sonoma County Santa Rosa Ski & Sport 1125 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa 707/578-4754 Best Shoe Store Sole Desire 441 Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa 707/571-8643 2411 Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa 707/542-1690 Honorable Mention: Santa Rosa Shoes Inc. 2555 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa 707/546-1083 Corporate: Payless Shoe Source 381 Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa 707/575-3092; 1031 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa 707/526-4772 Napa County Bella Tootsie 1373 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-8821 Best Shoe Repair Sonoma County Coddingtown Shoe Repair 555 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa 707/544-7463 Honorable Mention: Tate's Shoe Repair 404 1/2 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/545-3859 Napa County Tony's Shoe Repair 3022 Jefferson St., Napa 707/257-7512 Best Sporting Goods Store Sonoma County Marin Outdoors 2770 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/544-4400 Corporate: Big 5 360 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa 707/575-8475 Honorable Mention: T&B Sports 1250 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/544-2433 Napa County Mountain Where 1333 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga 707/942-0263 Marin County T&B Sports 1345 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/453-2433 Best Surf Shop Sonoma County Northern Lights 17190 Bodega Hwy., Bodega 707/876-3032 Honorable Mention: High Tide Surf Shop 9 Fourth St., Petaluma 707/763-3860 Best Tanning Salon Sonoma County Great Sunsations 508 Seventh St., Santa Rosa 707/546-6786 Honorable Mention: Tan Time 6 Fifth St., Petaluma 707/769-5234 Napa County Calistoga Tan 2450-C Foothill Blvd., Calistoga 707/942-4060 Best Secondhand Sonoma County Corporate: Goodwill Industries 3535 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa 707/545-2492; 651 Yolanda Ave., Santa Rosa 707/545-2720 --Tie-- Sack's on the Square 116 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/541-7227 Honorable Mention: Pinegrove General Store 149 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/829-1138 Napa County Lolo's 1424 Main St., St. Helena 707/963-7972 Marin County Corporate: Goodwill Industries 809 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael 415/456-5273 Best Video Rental Sonoma County Box Office Video Stores 2700 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa 707/575-8383; 6960 McKinley St., Sebastopol 707/823-9798 Honorable Mention: Video Droid 1240 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707/526-3313 Napa County Peters Video 1509 W. Imola Ave., Napa 707/224-7842 Marin County Video Droid 898 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael 415/456-3146; 215 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley 415/381-9315; 570 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur 415/924-2679 Best Clothing Store--Vintage Sonoma County Haute Couture 101 Wilson St., Santa Rosa 707/528-7247 Honorable Mention: Shards & Remnants 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol 707/823-1366 Napa County Wildcat 1210 First St., Napa 707/257-8702 Best Vinyl Record Store Sonoma County Last Record Store 802 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/528-2350; 739 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707/525-1963 Honorable Mention: Incredible Records & CDs 112 N. Main St., Sebastopol 707/824-8099 Marin County Bedrock Records 2226 Fourth St., San Rafael 415/258-9748 Best Juicy Excuse for Being Late to Work Sonoma County Heavy traffic Napa County Rolling blackouts Marin County Sunrise in the arms of a lover Best Way to Beat High Cost of Living Sonoma County Move out of state Napa County Build a teepee in vineyard Marin County Have someone else pay, remember fun is free --Tie-- Move to Oregon Readers' Poll Results Best Culture Best Food & Drink Best Kids' Stuff Best Recreation Best Romance Staff Picks Best Culture Best Food & Drink Best Kids' Stuff Best Recreation Best Romance Best Everyday Stuff [ North Bay | MetroActive Central | Archives ]