Best Of 2018

Best Kids Are Alright: SADIE at Stardust Video & Coffee

SADIE at Stardust Video & Coffee

Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018

Have you ever seen the future coming straight for you like a runaway train? A packed house at Stardust Video & Coffee did when 5-year-old SADIE from Ohio kicked off the New Year with a set of improvised, straight-up snotty but joyous "skull rock." Accompanied by a drum machine and sampler, SADIE howled and stomped her way through future hits like "Werewolf Moon" like a preschool Suicide or Screamers. Suddenly every musician present – and there were quite a few – felt very old and obsolete. Extra points awarded to SADIE for never taking off her leather jacket.

Best of Orlando: Music and Nightlife: The best in local bars, clubs, bands, DJs and more

Image: Best of Orlando: Music and Nightlife

Best Bar: Will's Pub

1. Will's Pub, willspub.org

2. The Guesthouse

3. Mathers Social Gathering, mathersorlando.com

Best Bar Patio: World of Beer Lake Eola

1. World of Beer Lake Eola, worldofbeer.com

2. The Hammered Lamb, thehammeredlamb.com

3. Eden Bar, enzian.org

Best Bar Rescue: The Copper Rocket

The Copper Rocket

thecopperrocket.com

Ah, the Copper Rocket. The Maitland pub has gone through plenty of ups and downs with its different owners over the years, but the most recent owner, Selman Markovic, was really something special. And after the episode of Spike TV's Bar Rescue featuring the Rocket finally aired this spring – about a year after filming – everyone got to see exactly how special. As loudmouth host Jon Taffer pointed out several times throughout the episode, Markovic had problems taking responsibility for any of the problems at his bar, from poor service to health code violations to mistreatment of employees. To no one's surprise, the Copper Rocket was sold shortly after the filming of the episode, and since then, new owners AKT Enterprises have put a ton of work into rescuing the bar from Markovic's reputation.