This year’s Best of Boulder County is our biggest — and most exciting — ever! And it’s no wonder. Boulder County residents came out in force this year to support their favorite restaurants, businesses, performers and more. With the biggest voter turnout in Boulder Weekly history, it’s clear readers take this contest seriously. But with so much interest in the contest, we’re often asked, “How does voting work?” and “Where can I get a ballot?” and “Why did you leave out the BEST sandwich shop in town?”

It’s fun to speak rapidly when saying you’re going to a tapas bar, because sometimes people think you said “topless bar.” In Sanskrit, the term “tapas” can mean either spiritual suffering or spiritual ecstasy.

According to ancient legend, chai tea was first brewed as a healing elixir by a king in the courts of India and later became frequently used in the tradition of “ayurveda” alternative medicine in the East. But now, chai tea is as common as a Subaru on the streets of Boulder: Every college hipster and aging hippie is familiar with the drink.

The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music broadly dates classical music from the 11th century through present times. We haven’t done the exact math, but that’s a longer track record than just about every other genre of music we can think of — combined. Some musicians chase the latest trends and fads, like electronica, dub step, drone, 8-bit and trance, to keep their sound fresh.

Think about most of the doctors you’ve been to over the years. How many were more than 60 years old? How many were in awesome shape? And how many were both? Unless you’ve been to see Dr. Charley Cropley lately, we’re guessing the answer to that last one is “zero.”

We all know cycling is next to godliness, and EcoPasses are the coolest badges you can flash after a CIA ID card. But this is America — huge, sprawling America. And as hard as it is to admit, our public transit systems aren’t quite up to snuff yet.

TIRE SHOPDiscount Tire 3215 28th St., 303-440-6811Runner-up: Barnsley Tire Co IncIn Colorado, buying tires can be as important as buying the car itself. Most residents have had the frightening experie

This year we not only had some new names in the winner's bracket, but a few new brackets, too, like Best Chai Drink and Best Medical Marijuana Wellness Center. Just more proof that Boulder County is always evolving and growing, no pun intended.

The term 'fusion' refers to cuisine that blends ingredients and cooking techniques from a variety of origins. Since 1993, chef Thuy (pronounced 'Twee') and her staff have offered Vietnamese food peppered with inspirations from France, China, Thailand and Indonesia, and the result is mouthwatering.

Beer. A wondrous, bubbly, golden liquid. Quencher of thirst, loosener of tongues, restorer of courage and uniter of strangers; faithful companion to sports, counterbalance of salty foods and food group for college students. The virtues of this beverage, old as written history itself, are many.