Best live entertainment venue
The Mill
120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City
Opened in 1962 as a coffee house/restaurant/folk music venue, The Mill has been a destination for touring musicians for going on 50 years. The original owners closed the venue in June 2003, but it was reopened the next month and continues to go strong. Live music plays nearly every night of the week, with institutions like Tuesday Night Social Club and Open Mic Night filling the calendar, and the roster includes local musicians as well as national acts.

Runners-up: The Englert Theater, downtown pedestrian mall.
Last year’s winner: Friday Night Concert Series