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Best Music & Nightlife Readers' Choice Awards EVERYTHING YOU need to know about going out on the town is the old formula "One martini is not enough, and two are too many." The point is proven at Clouds in downtown Santa Cruz, where the martinis are colder than the heart of NRA spokesman Wayne La Pierre. On the other hand, too much espresso is not enough (just ask Balzac). Teetotalers don't have to stay home after dark when so many of our coffeehouses offer nightlife as varied as that of any bar or disco. The crema of the crop populate Cafe Pergolesi, Jahva House and Espresso Royale (1, 2, 3 respectively in the voting for Best Cafe Scene), self-medicating with caffeine until the wee hours. The beleaguered Catalyst won again this year for Best Live Music Club, perhaps a vote of confidence in the venerable club's recent troubles with the city of Santa Cruz and the police department. Winners in the Best Band categories show off a new beat around the local music--and a few good grooves still going strong. Newcomer Kaye Bohler edges her outfit into the blues category, picking up a bronze behind longtime diva Sista Monica and the hard-working Red Beans and Rice. Master of the ukulele Oliver Brown, though he's been turning out white vinyl 12-inch records for years, ranks as a virtual upstart amid folk winner Mary McCaslin and bronze finisher Larry Hosford, who both have contributed to the local (and national) scene for decades. Best Local CD winner the Lonely Kings, debuting on the Goldies after a big year selling out shows all over town, have all the trappings of this town's next big thing. Best bar GOLD Blue Lagoon 923 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7117 SILVER Club Dakota 1209 Pacific Ave., SC, 454.9030 BRONZE The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.1336 Best bartender GOLD Sal Lal at Blue Lagoon SILVER Amy Hawthorne at Zelda's BRONZE Bill Sipple at Stagnaro's Best cafe scene GOLD Cafe Pergolesi 418 Cedar St., SC, 426.1775 SILVER Jahva House 120 Union St., SC, 459.9876 BRONZE Lulu Carpenter's (a.k.a. Espresso Royale Cafe) 1545 Pacific Ave., SC, 429.9804 Best club DJ GOLD DJ Taylor, Wednesdays at Aptos Club, Thursday at Club Dakota, Fridays at Rosie McCann's and every third Saturday at Blue Lagoon SILVER DJ AD, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Club Dakota BRONZE DJ Tripp, Fridays and every second Saturday at Blue Lagoon and every first Thursday at Blue Lagoon Best dance night GOLD '80s at Blue Lagoon, Thursdays SILVER Ladies Night at Club Dakota, Wednesdays BRONZE Disco Night at Blue Lagoon, Tuesdays Best happy hour GOLD El Palomar 1336 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.7575 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr., SC, 476.4560 BRONZE Blue Lagoon 923 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7117 Best live music club GOLD The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.1336 SILVER Moe's Alley 1535 Commercial Way, SC, 479.1854 BRONZE Palookaville 1133 Pacific Ave., SC, 454.0600 Best local band/musician-blues GOLD Sista Monica SILVER Red Beans and Rice BRONZE Kaye Bohler Band Best local band/musician-folk GOLD Mary McCaslin SILVER Oliver Brown BRONZE Larry Hosford Best local band/musician-jazz GOLD India SILVER Dizzy Burnett BRONZE Johnny Fabulous Best local band/musician-rock GOLD Extra Large SILVER Ribsy's Nickel BRONZE Good Riddance Best local CD GOLD 'What If' by the Lonely Kings SILVER 'Dub Congress' by Dub Congress BRONZE 'Dance to the Spin' by Extra Large Best martini GOLD Clouds Downtown 110 Church St., SC, 429.2000 SILVER The Red Room 1003 Cedar St., SC, 426.2994 BRONZE Pearl Alley 110 Pearl Alley, SC, 429.8070 Best place to dance GOLD Blue Lagoon 923 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7117 SILVER Club Dakota 1209 Pacific Ave., SC, 454.9030 BRONZE Palookaville 1133 Pacific Ave., SC, 454.0600 Best place to play pool GOLD Fast Eddy's 4300 Capitola Rd., Capitola, 462.1882 SILVER Santa Cruz Billiards 325 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.7665 BRONZE The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.1336 Best singles bar GOLD Blue Lagoon 923 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7117 SILVER Asti Cafe 715 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7337 BRONZE Club Dakota 1209 Pacific Ave., SC, 454.9030 Best Food & Drink       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Arts       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Music & Nightlife       Critic's Choice Best Goods & Services       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best People & Places       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Sports & Recreation       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Write-in Web Exclusive: More Goldies [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]