1. Spectrum 8 Theatres

2. Regal Crossgates Stadium 18

3. Madison Theater

The Spectrum has the sweet goodies, diverse mix of films and first-class atmosphere that put it twice as many votes ahead of Regal Crossgates’ impressively massive hugeness. A few Pine Hills neighborhood peeps represented for the reopened Madison.

Best Museum

1. New York State Museum

2. Albany Institute of History & Art

3. MASS MoCA

The readers went with a couple of Albany mainstays, and why not—both the NYSM and AIHA have amazing collections and a variety of traveling exhibits. As for MASS MoCA, folks coudn’t resist the industrial hipster allure of the newer kid on the block.

Best Art Gallery

1. Albany Institute of History & Art

2. Firlefanz Gallery

3. Clark Art Institute

This pick proves that the Albany Institute’s Hudson River School collection is the most popular local art treasure-trove, and when the AIHA brings in a large exhibition like the Artists of the Hudson Mohawk Region, folks appreciate it. Nice contrast with the second- and third-place winners, too.

Best Local Performing Arts Organization

1. Saratoga Performing Arts Center

2. Capital Repertory Theatre

3. WAMC, Park Playhouse (tie)

This one has us puzzled, since, until recently, SPAC was, well, very poorly run, and the rock concerts are booked by someone else. Capital Rep we get: They present quality professional theater year-round, right in Albany. WAMC we get if you like folk music; Park Playhouse we get if you like big Broadway musicals.

Best Local Visual Artist

1. Wes Bennett

2. Denise Anderson

3. Michael Oatman, Tommy Watkins, Wendy Williams, Bill Furlong, David Brickman (tie)

Congratulations to Wes Bennett, whose commercial photography is just one bullwhip away from fine art; Denise Anderson, for putting us in touch with our inner pastel-surrealist; and everyone else for voting for themselves.

Best Local Filmmaker

1. Bruce G. Hallenbeck, Thomas Moore (tie)

3. John Sayles, Jeff Burns, Terry Field, James Ivory, HBO Dave (tie)

With Bruce G. Hallenbeck, it’s all about the fake blood and hot babes. Rock on, Bruce. Also, we hate to break it to y’all, but John Sayles getting born in Schenectady and James Ivory owning an estate in Columbia County doesn’t make ’em local.

Best Local Author

1. William Kennedy

2. Gregory MacGuire, Alan Ilagan (tie)

A big win for old Albany institution William Kennedy. (Take that Trevanian, hidden away in the Basque region.) As for Alan Ilagan, you do get around the categories, don’t you?

Best Local Poet

1. R.M. Engelhardt

2. Tom Nattell

3. Mary Panza, Barbara Unger (tie)

To his credit, Engelhardt continues to push the local poetry scene forward, but since we’re all friends here, we’re going to assume that Rob Engelhardt accepts this award on behalf of the dearly departed Tom Nattell.

Best Solo Musician

1. Paddy Kilrain

2. Rosanne Raneri, Ernie Williams, Kevin McKrell, Sean Rowe (tie)

Boy, that Paddy sure does have herself a fanbase. Even in a year when her live performances were scarce at best, she mopped up in this category. To the four acts tied for second place: Do we sense a collaboration coming? Oh, guess not.

Best Live Music Venue

1. SPAC

2. Valentine’s

3. Northern Lights

SPAC is tops in our readers’ minds again this year, and we couldn’t agree with them more. It’s simply a great place to take in a concert; this summer’s quality live-music lineup makes it all the more likely that you’ll do so. And to Howard at Valentine’s: Here’s the love.

Best Dance Club/Dance Night

1. Jillian’s

2. Sneaky Pete’s

3. Danceland Boomers

This is the verdict of our readers: “We got our freak on.” Yeah, baby.

Best Open Mic

1. Lark Tavern

2. Daily Grind

3. Valentine’s, Rkstar Open Mic at Moon & River Café (tie)

It’s getting better all the time. With this year’s addition of a stage, a new sound system, and new co-host Mother Judge, the Lark Tavern’s open mic has become a Wednesday night happening, and a winner in this category for the second straight year.

Best Karaoke

1. Oh Bar

2. Maxies

3. Side Door Cafe

We know what you like: Three drinks and you’re ready to warble “To Sir, With Love.” You go, girl.

Best Local Country Band

1. Aged in the Hills

2. Back 40

3. North 40, Coal Palace Kings (tie)

Aged in the Hills have been around for a long, long time, and you still love ’em. Our curiosity directs us elsewhere, though—do Back 40 and North 40 know about each other? Seems like it might be a bit confusing. We’re just sayin’.

Best Local Blues/R&B Band

1. Ernie Williams

2. George Boone

3. Tom Healy

There are other blues acts out there, but in readers’ minds, nobody comes close to Ernie Williams—he received more than five times as many votes as his closest competitor.

Best Local Jazz Band

1. Adrian Cohen Trio

2. Brian Patneaude

3. George Muscatello, Mark Hollis Trio, Skip Parsons (tie)

Adrian and Brian, Brian and Adrian. You have annointed them the Capital Region’s Kings of Jazz. May they rule benevolently.

Best Local Punk Band

1. the Erotics

2. Kitty Little, After the Fall, Nogoodnix, Section 8 (tie)

We’d be more inclined to call the Erotics’ music glam-metal, but since there wasn’t a category for that, you guys called it punk. That’s fine with us; three of the bands who tied for second place aren’t even together anymore. (For those keeping track, Kitty Little are still going strong.)

Best Hiphop Artist

1. Baby Shit, Badi, Jeremy “Origin” Dudley (tie)

We think we’re being had. Baby Shit? You guys totally made that one up.

Best Rock Band

1. Super 400

2. Five Star Outlaw

3. Ten Year Vamp

We’ve been singing the praises of Super 400 for many years now. We’re happy to see that our readers agree—they’re one good-ass rock & roll band.

Best Local Alternative Band

1. Sirsy

2. Mudfunk

3. School Bus Yellow, Monkey Gone Mad, Kamikaze Hearts (tie)

“Alternative” is so murky a category that bands of all stripes were represented in this year’s voting. But no matter how many bands tried, two-time Best Band winner Sirsy defeated all comers.

Best Local Cover Band

1. Burners UK

2. The Refrigerators

3. The Deadbeats

What did it for you? Was it the billboards? The radio play? The way they segue “Brick House” into “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”? Whatever it is, you guys love you some Burners.

Best Local Tribute Band

1. The Fab Faux

2. The Deadbeats

3. The Brits, Believer, the Machine (tie)

While the Fab Faux did put on one of the year’s most-loved concerts, they’re not technically a local act. While the Deadbeats include some Grateful Dead covers in their set, they’re not technically a tribute act. So congrats to the Brits, Believer, and the Machine for paying homage to the Beatles, Ozzy Osbourne, and Pink Floyd, respectively.

Best Local DJ

1. Kevin Richards

2. Candy & Potter

3. Michael Campion, DJ Teo & the Crew (TIE)

Seems we confused you guys here—we meant the kind of DJ you can find in da club, bottle full of bub, etc. Two turntables and a microphone. Jam Master Jay. Terminator X. Spinderella. But then, who even uses turntables anymore, anyway?