Best Restaurant: Zen Zero

Awarded with Best Vegan or Vegetarian Food and runner-up for Best Asian Food in 2012, Zen Zero’s Asian fusion cuisine is easy to love. Whether you are in the mood for Red Thai Curry or a Vietnamese Spring Roll Salad, Zen Zero can serve it up along with a smoothie-style Bubble Tea to wash it down. With quick service and delicious dishes, Zen Zero is one of Lawrence’s best restaurants, not to mention the zero cool staff.

Best Coffee: Java Break

Open all night, everyday, Java Break is the place to be if you are in the mood to create your own cereal bowl, grab a coffee or get a cheesecake cupcake. Java Break offers four rooms full of seating and a closet packed full of board games. It’s a fun environment to immerse yourself in to study, go on a date or just hang out.

Best Local Band: Paper Buffalo

Paper Buffalo is growing more and more popular with solid support and frequent shows around town. Their avid, whirling, indie-rock sound is created by Free State’s own, Madeline Branstöm, on backup vocals, Jon Fitzgerald on lead guitar and vocals, Tony Pease on guitar, Kainen Spooner on drums and Tristan Reynolds on bass. Playing five shows in April alone, the band seems to gain popularity with every performance. They have a strong local tie that is growing even stronger. Catch them at the Jackpot on April 30th.

Best Entertainment: Liberty Hall

Just after their 100th birthday last year, Liberty Hall remains a great venue for fun-hungry Lawrencians. From Opera House to nightclub to movie theater, Liberty Hall has always been a place of entertainment. Liberty Hall is located in the center of where it’s all at: downtown Lawrence. See a movie in the Little Theater or watch a live performance just below the beautiful ceilings of the concert hall.