Arcade A+ Awards
Every year, the arcade comes up with a variety of categories to award Tulane’s favorite places in New Orleans with the highest accolade you can receive in this very newspaper — an A+ Award. This completely unscientific process results in the editors coming up with five choices per category and then leaving it is up to a random sampling of the Tulane population to vote. After passing out surveys in the Lavin-Bernick Center for several days, we compiled our findings to give you this year’s A+ Award winners. These bars, restaurants and shops cater to us college students with their flair and their fun. Read on to discover a fantastic new haunt or to be reminded just exactly why you love all the places at which you spend so much of your time…and money. Click on the section to read about the winners.
| SECTION 1: BARS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Winner | Runner Up(s) | Other contestants |
| BEST GAY BAR: | OZ | The Bourbon Pub | Rubyfruit Jungle, Good Friends, Cafe Lafitte in Exile |
| BEST BEER SELECTION: | Cooter Brown’s | Bulldog | Bruno’s, Bridge Lounge, Abita Brew Pub |
| BEST BAR ON FRENCHMEN: | Blue Nile | Snug Harbor | Apple Barrel, Spotted Cat, Yuki |
| BEST CLASSY BAR: | The Columns Hotel | Monkey Hill | W.I.N.O., Cure |
| BEST CLUB: | Republic of New Orleans | Ampersand | Metro, Le Phare, Hookah |
| BEST DIVE BAR: | Snake and Jake’s | Ms. Mae’s | Saturn Bar, Hi Ho Lounge, Balcony Bar |
| BEST HAPPY HOUR: | The Boot | Snake and Jake’s Christmas Lounge | Philip’s, St. Joe’s, The Column |
| BEST BAR ON BOURBON: | Tropical Isle | Cat’s Meow | The Beach, Krazy Korner, Bourbon St. Blues Co. |
| BEST BAR FOR LIVE MUSIC: | The Maple Leaf | Circle Bar | Le Bon Temp Roule, Bank’s Street Bar, Balcony Music Club |
| SECTION 2: MUSIC | |||
| Award | Winner | Runner Up(s) | Other contestants |
| BEST INDIE LOCAL BAND: | Caddywhompus | The Revivalists | Silent Cinema, Giant Cloud, MyNameIsJohnMichael |
| BEST BIG BAND: | Galactic | Rebirth Brass Band | Soul Rebels, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Trombone Shorty |
| BEST PLACE TO SEE BANDS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF: | Dragon’s Den | AllWays Lounge | The Maison, d.b.a., The Big Top |
| BEST BIG-NAME MUSIC VENUE: | Tipitina’s | House of Blues, the Parish | Republic New Orleans, Howlin’ Wolf, One Eyed Jacks |
| SECTION 3: ENTERTAINMENT | |||
| Award | Winner | Runner Up(s) | Other contestants |
| BEST ALTERNATIVE NIGHT OUT: | Prytania Theatre | Rock n’ Bowl | French Quarter Ghost Tour, Zeitgeist, La Nuit |
| BEST PLACE TO GO DANCING: | In the streets | F&M’s | Mimi’s in the Marigny, Republic New Orleans, Goldmine Saloon |
| BEST PART OF TOWN TO EXPLORE: | Frenchmen Street | Lower Garden District | The Marigny, Mid City, Warehouse District |
| BEST PLACE TO ENJOY A SUNNY DAY: | The Fly | Audubon Park and the Zoo | City Park/Botanical Gardens, French Market, Freret Street Market |
| FAVORITE PLACE TO BRING VISITORS: | Cafe du Monde | Jackson Square | Preservation Hall, Pat O’s, Lafitte Blacksmith Shop |
| BEST PLACE TO SPEND A DAY TRIP: | Tubing | Abita Factory | The Beach/Grand Isle, Avery Island, The Myrtles Plantation |
| SECTION 4: FOOD | |||
| Award | Winner | Runner Up(s) | Other contestants |
| BEST SANDWICH: | Domilise’s | Mahoney’s Po-Boys | Casamentos, Crabby Jack’s, Parasol’s |
| BEST BRUNCH RESTAURANT: | Dante’s Kitchen | Oak Street Cafe | Surrey’s Cafe and Juice Bar, Muriel’s Palace Cafe |
| BEST PIZZA: | The Dough Bowl | Reginelli’s | Slice, Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza, Fresco Cafe |
| BEST BBQ: | Voodoo BBQ | Squeal | The Joint, Mrs. Hyster’s Barbecue, Boucherie |
| BEST PLACE TO EAT WITH YOUR PARENTS: | Jacques-Imo’s | Commander’s Palace | August, Herbsaint, La Crepe Nanou |
| BEST MEXICAN: | Juan’s Flying Burrito | Felipe’s | Superior Grill, Taqueria Corona, Nacho Mama’s |
| BEST SNO-BALL: | Plum Street Snoballs | Hansen’s Sno-Blitz | Beaucoup Nola Juice Bar, Sno Wizard, Tee-Eva’s |
| BEST COFFEE HOUSE: | Rue de la Course | Z’otz | PJ’s, First Cup, CC’s |
| SECTION 5: SHOPPING | |||
| Award | Winner | Runner Up(s) | Other contestants |
| BEST COMIC BOOK SHOP: | Crescent City Comics | Old School Comics | More Fun Comics & Cards |
| BEST BOOK STORE: | Maple Street Book Store | Octavia Books | McKeown’s Books and Difficult Music, Garden District Book Shop, Iron Rail Book Collective |
| BEST USED CLOTHING STORE: | Buffalo Exchange | Funky Monkey | Swap, GLUE, Bloomin’ Deals |