Best wine store: Uncorked Most plans that come together on road trips to Palm Springs turn out to be ill-begotten, but the idea that Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best liquor store: Ocean View Liquor Loyal customers come from throughout the beach cities for the wide selection of wines, often-rare craft beers and spirits in Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best martini bar: Palmilla Cocina y Tequila It’s not hard to imagine what critic H.L. Menken would think of Palmilla’s Mexican Hot Chocolate Martini, which is Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best neighborhood bar: The North End Bar & Grill We all know the place was known as Critters from 1971 to 1999. That was 13 years ago. Some people Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best Happy Hour: Baja Sharkeez Happy Hour garnered the highest number of votes cast for any category in the Best of the Beach balloting. Readers Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best margarita bar: Coyote Cantina Do not overlook this much-loved joint just because it’s in a strip mall. That means it has parking. The Zagat-rated Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best tequila bar: Palmilla Cocina y Tequila: With tequila in the name and a mixologist selecting tequilas, expectations are high. Palmilla rises to the challenge with healthy, Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best craft beer: Strand Brewing Co. The story of the Strand Brewing Co. will probably one day make a great Hollywood buddy movie about beer, surfing, Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best craft beer bar: Simmzy’s For years, restaurants came and went at 229 Manhattan Beach Blvd., a curious occurrence given its prime location two blocks Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Best Bartender: Justin Biers Justin is a mellow, affable guy who can handle a slammin’ crowd at one of the busiest pier hotspots. He Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
Working Class Country: The Midnight Screening [DIRTY HIPPIE RADIO] “Thanks for showing interest in our little hillbilly act.” The first words offered to me by a beautiful band. Beauty Easy Reader Staff March 10, 2012
“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” – an unlikely fairy tale [MOVIE REVIEW] Director Lasse Hallström and writer Simon Beaufoy have taken their most magical talents, sprinkled on some kind of stardust and Neely Swanson March 10, 2012
“John Carter”: a swing and a miss [MOVIE REVIEW] “John Carter” has been the recipient of a great deal of negative buzz, some of it not entirely justified. How Neely Swanson March 10, 2012