College Bar
Reader's pick: Scoop – Scoop has become synonymous with UCF nightlife. One of the first places most people go as freshmen? Scoop. Friends visiting from out of town? Scoop. Hunting for good drink specials? Scoop. It's a staple of the college scene and has remained strong while the rest of the college bar scene has rotated like a carousel.
Editor's pick: FUBAR - Maybe it's the proximity to campus, maybe it's the good plaza that it's in — or maybe it's the $10 all-you-can-drink specials twice a week. FUBAR is brand new in the grand scheme of UCF nightlife, but it's made a quick splash in the battle with TD's, Devaney's, Scoop and Knight Library.
Downtown Bar
Reader's/Editor's pick: Independent Bar – For a lot of barhoppers, downtown is for variety: stick to the college bars for the Gaga/Weezy/Drake, head to the city for the Ting Tings/Vampire Weekend/Animal Collective. iBar is full of obscure songs, weird dress and awkward dancing and that's why we love it. A nice outdoor patio, weekend drink specials and the old school Tuesday nights (Grits & Gravy) are just icing on the cake.
Club
Reader's pick: Roxy – When it comes to basic night clubs, Roxy does all the standard elements well. The VIP Lounge overlooks the giant dance floor and the club offers reasonably priced drinks. It's away from campus, so there is a decent amount more of dolled-up clubgoers than you'd find at the college bars.
Editor's pick: Firestone Live – Ranked the No. 1 concert venue in America by Billboard and Rolling Stone, Firestone Live has not only hosted some of the biggest names in music (Girl Talk, Lil Wayne, Bloc Party), it's also one of the nicest clubs in Downtown Orlando. Firestone's got three large party rooms, a patio, a concert stage and a VIP lounge that play host to the best party you can experience in Orlando.
Sports Bar
Reader's/Editor's pick: Buffalo Wild Wings – Is it any coincidence that the winner for best wings also won best sports bar? For most sports fans, one can't be the best without the best wings, as well. BW3's multiple televisions, trivia games, loud music and festive bar area make it tops in the area.
Music Venue
Reader's/Editor's pick: The Social – No one rivals The Social when it comes to good live music. In the next month alone, The Social is playing host to Dillinger Escape Plan, Copeland and Alexisonfire, with about a dozen more live acts in between. Its location on Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando is perfect for the music scene: finish your show, head down the street and hang out at the bars for the rest of the night. There wasn't much competition against The Social for best music venue; it's one of a kind.
Hookah
Reader's pick: Natura – Natura doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside, however, it's a hub for live music and fine hookah. The readers recognized Natura's appreciation of the local music scene and its down-to-earth atmosphere.
Editor's pick: Tie between Meridian/Natura – With 14 flavors and more than a dozen recommended combinations, Meridian's bread and butter is its wide array of flavors. Its homely, relaxing atmosphere has an ongoing iTunes playlist of relaxing indie and alternative rock, and its comfortable half-moon couches can fit up to 12 people.
Tanning Salon
Reader's pick: Sol y Luna - Sol y Luna offers five different tanning beds: the Solarix, Sky, Malibu, Santa Barbara and Sun Up II. While we won't pretend we can tell you which one will eliminate tan lines best, we know that its top-of-the-line options and close proximity to campus made Sol y Luna an easy pick for best tanning salon.
Editor's pick: We here at the Future are not a very tan bunch and as a whole, have never visited a tanning salon in the area. Without being able to sample the GTL lifestyle, we don't feel as if we'd be qualified to make a pick.
Mani/Pedi
Reader's pick: Riana's – We won't pretend that we're mani/pedi afficionados, but word is Riana's knows the formula to succeed: a calm, clean and sanitary environment. Riana's offers hundreds of nail designs and various OPI products such as replenishing oil, cuticle oil and nail strengthener.
Editor's pick: Odyssey Nails - Odyssey focuses on preventing damage to the nail, and through their extensive monomer and polymer care products, Odyssey gets our vote.
Golf Course
Reader's pick: Twin Rivers Golf Club – As well as playing home to the UCF golf team's practice facilities, Oviedo's own Twin Rivers landed the reader's choice for best course in a city that is considered by many to be the golf capital of the world. Twin Rivers is a tight and narrow course with not much room for error, but offers $25 weekend rounds for Knights.
Editor's pick: Tie between Stoneybrook/Eastwood golf clubs – Nestled back in the suburbs behind Waterford are two of Orlando's nicer — and affordable — golf courses. Eastwood lies in the lowlands off Woodbury Road, so plenty of water comes into play on its links. Stoneybrook is a long, fairly wide-open course with lots of room for the weekend hacker to shank or slice.
Beach
Reader's/Editor's pick: Cocoa – Cocoa isn't only the closest beach to UCF; it's also one of the better watersport beaches along the Space Coast. Ron Jon Surf Shop doesn't hurt Cocoa's watersport cred, either. Even the casual beachgoer — the one more interested in getting some sun than some swell — has myriad options at Cocoa. The 800-foot-long Cocoa Beach Pier has five bars and restaurants and is home to live entertainment nearly every weekend.


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