The Detroit News: Michigan's Best

sports & recreation: potpourri

Best pool hall to shoot some stick:

Snookers Pool & Pub

snookerspool.com

Second place:

Anazeh Sands

1339 28th St., Wyoming (616) 538-0818

Third place:

Roosevelts Billiard Bar

27843 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills (248) 488-1990

Best Pistons game played this year:

San Antonio, 85-70 W

Second place:

at N.Y. Knicks, 105-79 W

Third place:

at Boston, 82-81 W

Dave Guralnick / The Detroit News

Detroit's Maurice Evans, left, and Rasheed Wallace fight for a loose ball with San Antonio's Tim Duncan at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Christmas Day 2005. Detroit beat San Antonio 85-70 and fans say this is the best game, so far, this year.

Best place to kick back and shoot the breeze:

Mustang Lounge

8 Astor St., Mackinac Island

(906) 847-9916

Second place:

Pink Pony Bar & Grill

Mackinac Island (866) 847-6575

Third place:

Starbucks

starbucks.com

Best game for neighbors with yards:

Lawn darts

Second place:

Horseshoes

Third place:

Volleyball

Best professional sports figure in Michigan:

Steve Yzerman

Second place:

Rip Hamilton

Third place:

Ben Wallace

Best old sport to bring back:

Rounders

Second place:

Croquet

Third place:

Sandlot baseball

Best biking community:

Mackinac Island

Second place:

Northville

Third place:

Rochester Hills

Best marina:

Mackinac Island Marina

(906) 847-3561

Second place:

Harbor Springs Marina

(231) 526-5355

Third place:

Beaver Island Marina

(231) 448-2300

Best place to take yoga:

YMCA

ymca.net

Second place:

Bikram Yoga Grosse Pointe

15000 Kerchaeval St., Grosse Pointe Park (313) 331-9641

Third place:

Warren Recreation Center

5460 Arden, Warren (586) 268-8400

Best place to experience a small Midwestern town’s night out:

Pink Pony Bar & Grill

Mackinac Island (866) 847-6575

Second place:

Mustang Lounge

8 Astor St., Mackinac Island (906) 847-9916

Third place:

Town of Petoskey

Best place to throw darts:

Side Door Saloon

1200 N. U.S. 31 Highway, Petoskey

(231) 347-9291

Second place:

Snooker’s Pool & Pub

snookerspool.com

Third place:

Shark Club

Canton and Waterford locations

Best bowling alley:

Gateway Lanes

200 Ferry Lane, Saint Ignace (906) 643-8476

Second place:

Merri-Bowl Lanes

30950 Five Mile Road, Livonia (734) 427-2900

Third place:

Pampa Lanes

31925 Van Dyke Ave., Warren (586) 264-8877

Best workout spot:

Warren Recreation Center

5460 Arden, Warren (586) 268-8400

Second place:

Mission Point Resort

1 Lakeshore Dr., Mackinac Island

(906) 847-3312

Third place:

YMCA

ymca.net

Dave Guralnick / The Detroit News

Maurice Agerof Michigan State University was voted one of the best Detroit bred atheletes poised to hit the big time.

Best Detroit-bred athlete about to hit the big game:

Jeff Lerg

MSU hockey

Second place:

Maurice Agar

MSU basketball

Third place:

DeShawn Sims

U-M basketball

Best place to meet athletes:

Townsend Hotel lobby

100 Townsend St., Birmingham

(248) 642-7900

Second place:

Cheli’s Chili Bar

Dearborn and Detroit locations

Third place:

Seldom Blues

400 Renaissance Center, Detroit (313) 567-7356

Best Michigan landmark:

Mackinac Bridge

Second place:

Pictured Rocks

Munising

Third place:

Round Island Lighthouse

Mackinac Island

Best place to fix your NASCAR jones:

Leo’s Lounge

434 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey (231) 347-2739

Second place:

Michigan International Speedway

12626 U.S. 12, Brooklyn (517) 592-6671

Third place:

Jerry’s Frenchtown Bar

2932 N. Dixie Hwy., Monroe (734) 289-9878

Best place to go before a big game:

Hockeytown Café

2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 965-9500

Second place:

Mario’s Restaurant

Detroit and Troy locations

Third place:

Cheli’s Chili Bar

Dearborn and Detroit locations

Best tickets to win:

Detroit Pistons

Second place:

The lottery

Third place:

Detroit Red Wings

Best place to celebrate a big win:

Damon’s Grill

3150 Boardwalk St., Ann Arbor

(734) 827-2277

Second place:

Hatchy’s

7759 Auburn Road, Utica (586) 991-0408

Third place:

Trophy Room Pub

25034 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights

(313) 274-6278

Best public golf course:

Dearborn Hills Golf Course

1300 S. Telegraph Road, Dearborn

(313) 563-GOLF

Second place:

Wawashkamo Golf Club

British Landing Road, Mackinac Island

(906) 847-3871

Third place:

Tullymore Course at St. Ives Resort

9900 St. Ives Dr., Stanwood (800) 972-4837

Best tailgate party:

U--M football game

Second place:

MSU football game

Third place:

Lions game

Eastern Market

Best softball fields:

Liberty Park of America

33600 Mound Road, Sterling Heights (586) 978-9070

Second place:

Canton Softball Center

46555 Michigan Ave., Canton (734) 483-5600

Third place:

Borden Sports Park

1400 E. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills

(248) 656-4797

Best community recreation center:

Warren Recreation Center

5460 Arden, Warren (586) 268-8400

Second place:

South Oakland Family YMCA

1016 W. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak (248) 547-0030

Third place:

Taylor Sportsplex

13333 Telegraph Road, Taylor (734) 374-8900

Best golf tournament:

CATCH Golf Classic

(313) 876-9399

Second place:

Mustang Open

Charlevoix

(231) 547-3268

Third place:

Buick Open

Grand Blanc

(810) 694-4103