Grove Market

242 Forest Ave, Pacific grove, 375-9581

Grove Market wins in this category partly because it actually is in a neighborhood--that is to say, not in a shopping center, not surrounded by a couple acres of striped asphalt. Then there''s the fact that chefs from some of PG''s swankier eateries can regularly be seen selecting their evening''s side dish from the local organic vegetables in the produce section--that seems a pretty good endorsement. At the Grove Market all the employees have their names embroidered on their aprons--that''s kind of a throwback and it seems people like that. You are also virtually guaranteed to meet some old or new friends in there and that makes the shopping kind of social, which people also enjoy. Grove Market sells fresh Gizdich pies and Bagel Bakery bagels; you can pick up a fifth or a six pack, toilet tissue and canned soup--all the grocery staples. Ultimately though, lots of shoppers wind up at the Grove Market is because of the butcher shop. You''ll find rows of pork chops about two stories tall; the filet mignon tastes even better than it looks; the house marinade makes the tri tip grill-ready. And then of course there''s the thick-cut bacon and salmon and snapper, too. These butchers seem to know their way around the business end of a sharp blade and there''s a even band saw just sitting around in plain sight. Grove Market, you know, just like Safeway--only different.

Best Jewelry Store (tie)

Andrus Jewelers

236 S. Main St, Salinas, 422-6181 967 A N. Main St, Salinas, 422-2803

Gasper''s Jewelers

Alvarado St, Monterey, 375-5332

Monterey County''s two best jewelry stores have a lot in common--they both have gems of owners and friendly employees. "It''s our service and our quality," says Gasper Spadaro, owner of Gasper''s Jewelers in Monterey and Pacific Grove. "And we''re friendly as hell."

Says Andrus owner Jeff Andrus: "We''re always looking out for customers. We''re just like a big family down here--we''ve all been here forever," says Andrus owner Jeff Andrus. He''s not kidding. Husband-and-wife team Jeff and Eileen Andrus are local institutions along Salinas'' Main Street. Jeff''s father started the shop in 1952. Jeff practically grew up in the store, sweeping the floor after school, sorting the mail, eventually moving on to engraving jewelry. Thirteen years ago, he took over the store from his brother, who now owns a jewelry store in Cincinnati.

Gasper Spadaro, on the other hand, didn''t plan on becoming a jeweler. "It was just a fluke," he says. When he entered the business, working at a shop down the street, "I didn''t know a diamond from a piece of glass. And 30 years later, here I am."

Best

Del Monte Shopping Center

Monterey, 373-2705

It''s hard to leave Del Monte Shopping Center empty-handed--or with an empty stomach, for that matter. With retailers like The Gap, Victoria''s Secret and The Body Shop connected by outdoor walkways and clustered around the venerable anchor store, Macy''s, Del Monte combines the convenience of mall shopping with the ambiance of plein air shopping. And yes, guys, there''s a Radio Shack for your enjoyment, too.

Best Shopping District/Center

Del Monte Shopping Center

Monterey, 373-2705

Best Place To Buy Art Supplies

Michael''s Arts & Crafts

860 Northridge Shopping Center, Salinas, 442-3506

Best Place To Buy Craft Supplies

Beverly Fabrics

2090 N. fremont, Monterey, 696-5141

1760 Fremont, SEaside, 394-2200

344 S. Main St, Salinas, 422-1508

Best Bank

Bank Of America

11 Locations Countywide

Best Bike Store

Aquarian Bicycles

486 Washington, Monterey, 375-2144

Best Car Repair

Wayside Garage

1901 Del Monte, Seaside 899-2425

Best Independent Bookseller

Thunderbird Bookshop

3600 The Barnyard, Carmel, 624-1803

Best Used Bookstore (tie)

Old Capitol

639 Lighthouse, Monterey, 375-2665

Bookworks

667 Lighthouse, Monterey, 372-2553

Best Bookstore

Borders

2080 California, Sand City, 899-6643

Best Car Dealership

Stahl Motor Company

498 Fremont, Monterey, 375-2456

Best Car Wash

El Estero Car Wash

590 Fremont, Monterey, 373-1801

Best Computer Store

PC People

534 Abrego St, Monterey, 649-5900

Best Dive Shop

Aquarius Dive Shop

2240 Del Monte, Monterey, 375-6605

Best Dry Cleaners (tie)

Quality Dry Cleaners

1370 S. Main St, Salinas, 751-9870

Rainbow Cleaners

269 Bonifacio St, Monterey, 372-6743

Best Health Club

Garden Health & Fitness

2000 Garden Rd, Monterey, 646-0550

Best Ethnic Market

International Market

580 Lighthouse, Monterey, 375-9451

Best Florist

Swenson & Sillacci Flowers

432 Alvarado, Monterey, 375-2725

110 John St, Salinas, 424-2725

Best Golf Shop

Nevada Bob''s Discount Golf

399 Lighthouse, Monterey, 372-5516

Best Men''s Clothing Store

Dick Bruhn

300 S. Main St, Salinas, 758-4684

458 alvarado, monterey, 647-1100

Best Furniture Store

Furniture Mart

425 Pacific, Monterey, 372-7766

1740 N. Main, Salinas, 442-7520

Best Jewelry Store (tie)

Andrus

236 S. Main, Salinas, 422-6181

967 A N. Main, Salinas, 422-2803

Gaspers

447 Alvarado, Monterey, 375-5332

Best Internet Provider

Redshift

www.redshift.com

Best Women''s Clothing Boutique

Bliss Boutique

1021 S. Main St, Salinas, 751-6600

Best Women''s Clothing Store

Macy''s

200 Northridge Shopping Center, Salinas, 443-1111

100 Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, 372-3333

Best Neighborhood Market

Grove Market

242 Forest Ave, PG, 375-9581

Best Secondhand Clothing Store

Goodwill

729 Broadway, Seaside, 394-1212

1258 N. Main, Salinas, 449-6361

571 Lighthouse, Monterey, 649-6056

Best Independent Shoe Store (tie)

Lloyds Shoes

Ocean & Dolores, Carmel, 625-1382

Joy-per''s Shoes

944 S. Main St, Salinas, 424-3466

Best Store For Musical Instruments

Gadsby''s

219 Monterey St, Salinas, 424-2711

Best Outdoor Gear Store

Outdoor World

2222 N. Fremont Blvd, Monterey, 373-3615

Best Place to buy Wine (tie)

Rancho Cellars

26340 Carmel Rancho Blvd, Carmel, 625-5646

Star Market

1275 S. Main St, Salinas, 422-3961

Best Pet Store

PetSmart

1265 N. Davis Rd, Salinas, 775-0318

2020 California Ave, Sand City, 392-0150

Best Nursery

Griggs Nursery

9220 Carmel Valley Rd,Carmel, 626-0680

1021 David, Pacific Grove, 373-6961

Best Selection Of Liquor

Cork ''n'' Bottle

2210 N. Fremont, Monterey, 372-8246

1112 Forest, Pacific Grove, 372-6091

1298 N. Main, Salinas, 444-6566

Best Pharmacy

Longs

12 Locations Countywide

Best Photo Developing

Bay Photo

763 Lighthouse, Monterey, 372-6337

202 Monterey St, Salinas, 424-0532

Best Place To Buy Organic Produce

Whole Foods Market

800 Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, 333-1600

Best Place To Buy Seafood

Sea Harvest

100 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel, 626-3626

598 Foam St, Monterey, 646-0547

Best Plumber (tie)

Walton Plumbing

550 California Ave, Seaside, 394-0707

Wilson Plumbing

Monterey, Marina, Salinas, Seaside, 375-4591

Best Hardware Store

Orchard Supply Hardware

800 Playa Ave, Sand City, 899-5144

1267 N. Davis Rd, Salinas, 422-9652

Best Retirement Facility

Alterra

290 Regency Circle, Salinas, 443-6467

Best Place To Buy CDs/Tapes

The Wherehouse

1680 Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, 372-1236

402 Lighthouse, Monterey, 649-3469

1712 N. Main, Salinas, 449-4320

Best Place To Buy A Cell Phone

AT&T Wireless

800-200-1916

Best Place To Buy A Car Stereo

Circuit City

905 Playa, Seaside, 392-0103

1662 N. Main, Salinas, 442-3600

Best Surf Shop

On The Beach Surf Shop

693 Lighthouse, Monterey, 646-9283

Best Spa

Spa On The Plaza

201 Alvarado, Monterey, 647-9000

Best Thrift Store

Goodwill

571 Lighthouse, Monterey, 649-6056729 Broadway, Seaside, 394-1212

1258 N. Main, Salinas, 449-6361

Best Place To Rent Obscure Videos/DVDs

Monster Video

26540 Carmel Rancho Blvd, Carmel, 624-5776

584 Munras, Monterey, 643-9110

Best Shoe Repair Shop

Federico''s Drive-In Shoe Repair

542 Abrego, Monterey, 649-3322

Best Toy Store

Thinker Toys

480 Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, 643-0907

Critics Picks

San Carlos Ave, Carmel, 624-0441

Best Place to Buy A Look

Absolutely Fabulous

116 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel. 625-6222

Carmel is full of boutiques, a lot of them catering to the fashion-conscious among us with a lot of money to throw around. And sure, if you''ve got the time and money to sort through all those stores to figure out exactly what it is you''re paying extra for, go for it. At Absolutely Fabulous, the prices are still a little on the high side, but the clothes are so distinctive and fun that it''s okay. Who wants to dress like everybody else? Fashionistas with tastes running from the conservative to the daring will love this shop, and it''s a great place to buy a party dress that no one else will have. It''ll cost you a few extra bucks, but people are always saying you can''t buy taste. It can, however, help you to show off.

Best Place to Take Fido for A Fluff

Oxten Kennels (Wild Things)

400 River Rd, Salinas. 455-1901

While not a traditional establishment of higher grooming, Wild Things will bathe and beautify Fido for a small fee. And who better to finesse fur than the personal butlers to Hollywood''s four-legged stars (such as the model for Simba of The Lion King)? They never come up short on service, pet tips or supplies, and our poochie pranced proudly after his bathing frolic at Oxten. Maybe it was being surrounded by all of the lions, tigers and bears--oh, we''ll spare you. Owners of those high-maintenance poodle types may want to skip Oxten and head for a local groomer instead. But for your average house mate, be it tiny or towering, this is our pick. Another plus at Oxten is that should some crisis force you away from your little darlings, Oxten will keep your dog or cat for a slumber or two--or three or four. Pillow fights are optional.

Best Place to Buy Picnic Fixings

The Cheese Shop

Carmel Plaza, Lower Level, 625-2272

Sometimes the best things are the simplest. Forget the Tupperware containers of grainy salads or the tuna sandwiches that get mushed mid-hike. Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a classic picnic of cheese, bread, and wine? At The Cheese Shop, the bread is always fresh and the abundant selection of cheeses has to be seen to be believed. Better yet, ask for a sample or two--The Cheese Shop has been a Carmel fixture since 1975, and the folks here are friendly and enthusiastic about their cheese. The wine selection is equally inspiring, and includes a good assortment of local half-bottles. Note: post-picnic naps in the shade of a favorite tree are highly encouraged.

Best Place for Erotic Edibles

Chocolate Dipper

1126 S. Main, Salinas, 754-1931

While we certainly would never suggest our readers play with warm chocolate and plump fresh fruit without companion--er, supervision, we do think everyone should try it at least once. If you''re short on time or the double boiler''s already in use, this place will dip fresh strawberries into your favorite chocolate for mere pocket change. You pick the color of the decadence--dark, milk, white or all of the above. After all, variety never hurts. When you see the finished product, the sight alone of these succulently smothered, curvy creations will be enough to make you put on three pounds. (Not to worry, though. You''ll burn that off later.) And just in case you feel like melting one on yourself, the place is packed with how-to kits and chocolate-covered pretty much everything.

Best Place to Decorate A Bathroom for Under $30

Treasure Bay

883 Lighthouse, Monterey, 656-9303

Let''s suspend our finer sensibilities for just a moment and talk about bathroom reading. It''s simply a fact of life that perusing a text goes with perching on the throne like "bran" goes with "muffin." So why not plaster the bathroom walls with entertaining reading? At Treasure Bay, boxes upon boxes are filled with old advertisements from Life, Look, Collier''s, The Saturday Evening Post and other magazines from America''s most prosperous and outlandish era. It''s pure kitsch, from the concerned Stepford wife in a Colgate ad reading a letter about her husband''s bad breath ("So that''s why Don didn''t get the job!") to the Olympic downhill skier testifying that smoking Lucky Strikes helps him concentrate on his race. Little monuments to a golden age of advertising when consumers were as gullible as children, these gems are appalling, instructive, unintentionally hilarious, cautionary and horrifying--but never dull. And at about $5 a pop, they''re priced right, too.

Best Place to Catch Up on The Town''s Chatter And Grab A Trim

Sweet Thursdays

212 Main St, Old Town Salinas, 759-2200

Right in the middle of John Steinbeck''s Old Town Salinas, a tiny belled blue door beckons patrons into this haute little trim joint. And if you''re lucky enough to land yourself in one of Abby Miles'' front row chairs, you''ve just scored yourself a hard-to-find seat at the brink of Old Town Salinas'' goings on. The place can charm the hat off of even the most Stetson-faithful gent and cast curls upon the locks of the straw-headed. We''re not even sure that their product is any different, but we''re sure we like the people-watching locale, the ambiance and the stylists--oh, and that fabulous blue door that just screams Aegean Sea Island chic. If a day of self-adoration is in order, book a wax, facial and massage at least a couple of weeks ahead, then stop off at one of the quaint downtown coffeehouses for a latte on your stroll in. Sure, it''s a bit on the pricey side when you consider the walk-in butcher shops that dot the malls, ready to send folks back on the street with coiffures that simply cry out to be covered by caps. But really now. What price beauty?

Best Place To Read Metaphysical Books While Sipping Chai

Thunderbird Bookshop

3600 The Barnyard, Carmel, 624-1803

There are bigger bookstores in Monterey County. There are stores that only sell metaphysical books. There''s even better chai to be had. But there''s something about Thunderbird''s warm atmosphere and helpful staff that make this the place to hang out. If you need a bookstore to lose yourself in for hours, this is it. The food in the cafe is decent, the kids who serve you are a bunch of cuties, and the people who sell the actual books are knowledgeable and eager to special order whatever they don''t have. Owner May Waldroup can often be seen behind the counter herself, making this bookstore a very homey place. Local charm, great selection and good food all in one place? Neato.