Seattle Weekly‘s annual “Best of” list is back with its awards for the very best of the best in all things Seattle. While Queen Anne didn’t take home the distinction of “Best Neighborhood to Live in” (that title went to our neighbors over in Ballard), QA was recognized for a bunch of other citywide bests that call the hill home. And so, without further ado and in no particular order, here are all of Queen Anne’s bests:

• Best Lounge: Oskar’s Kitchen
• Best Reason to Look Forward to Winter: Urban Downhill Skiing (shout out to the slipper slopes of the Counterbalance)
• Best View of Downtown: Rooftop of the Queensborough Apartments (in Lower QA)
• Best Stroll: QA Top Pot to the ferry terminal
• Best Theater Company: Teatro ZinZanni
• Best Kids’ Thrill: Seattle Center International Fountain
• Best New Building: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Best Children’s Theater Production: Go, Dog. Go! (At the Seattle Children’s Theater in Seattle Center)
• Best Lesbian Bar: KeyArena (See the Weekly’s reasoning if, like me, your response was like mine–something along the lines of “Huh…?”)
• Best Wine List in a Restaurant, Price be Damned: Canlis
• Best Service in a Restaurant: Canlis
• Best Underage Music Venue: VERA Project
• Best Place to Get Fatter: Red Mill Burgers (Technically in Interbay, but it still counts!)
• Best Record Store – Classical Department: Silver Platters
• Best Car Wash: Brown Bear (locations in QA and elsewhere)

Every year Queen Anne gets a number of shout outs in the ‘best of’ issue, because, well, there are just so many bests we Queen Anne-ers have to boast. Last year Queen Anne’s Easy Street Records, El Diablo Coffee, and our many secret stairways (the “Best Alternative to the Stairmaster”) were just a few of the winners. Check out last year’s wins here.

The Seattle Weekly “best of” list includes people, places, food & drink, sports & recreation and shopping & services. To see the entire list, click here.

Just a reminder that today is the Free Car Wash Day at Brown Bear Car Wash.

Photo from the 2009 Free Car Wash Day
To celebrate their 53rd anniversary, the company is giving away free “Bear Essential” car washes at all of their “tunnel” locations in the area. This includes the one at 1800 15th Ave West in Interbay. The car wash will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. While the line may look daunting, we’re told that it takes 15 to 20 minutes to get through the line in the above photo.

This Thursday (8/26)  is the annual Free Car Wash Day at Brown Bear Car Wash.

Photo from the 2009 Free Car Wash Day

To celebrate their 53rd anniversary, the company is giving away free “Bear Essential” car washes at all of their “tunnel” locations in the area. This includes the one at 1800 15th Ave West in Interbay. The car wash will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Over the last four years, Brown Bear has washed 78,760 vehicles during its annual free car wash day.

On the way to or from getting a free car wash at Brown Bear in honor of Veterans Day today, veterans can also swing by EMP|SFM and Dick’s Drive-In for a few more honorary treats. EMP|SFM just tweeted that they’re offering free admission to all veterans and their families for the holiday today. And Monica Guzman at the PI reports that Dick’s is giving free cheeseburgers to veterans and active duty military members in honor of their service until closing tonight at all five of their Seattle locations. Co-founder Dick Spady is himself a World War II and Korean War vet. Details here. And if you’re venturing outside Queen Anne today, check out this list of 20 other discounts and freebies for Seattle veterans.

According to My Ballard, free car wash day at Brown Bear has been packed since opening at 8 a.m. this morning, and is expected to stay just as busy until closing at 8 p.m. tonight.

But don’t be daunted by the long lines running into the street. According to an employee, they get through the lines in about 15 minutes – a small amount of time to wait for a free car wash!

It’s Brown Bear‘s 52nd Anniversary, and to celebrate, they’re offering free car washes until 8 p.m. tonight!

Get your “Bear Essential” wash on the west side of the hill at 1800 15th Ave W. Other participating locations here.

This Thursday, August 27, Seattle-based Brown Bear will be offering free cars washes all day (from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) as part of their 52nd Anniversary promotion.

Brown Bear has been a family-owned company in the Puget Sound area since 1957, when they opened their first location on 15th Ave West.

The nearest location to get your “Bear Essential” car wash will be 1800 15th Ave W, right on the west side of the Hill. For a list of all participating locations, click here.