The staff of Seeds Entertainment voted on various categories, determining who did it best in 2013, both locally and nationally.

[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best National Artist[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]KANYE WEST[/title]

Kanye’s presence was unavoidable this year and love him or hate him, he was ubiquitous. Kanye’s personal life, dating a human US Weekly cover, naming his daughter after an intercardinal direction, the rambling interviews, and confederate merchandise threatened to eclipse his music but somehow (and luckily) it didn’t. Kanye decided to succeed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy with an even more audacious album and the end result is the most personal album yet. Kanye promised to “pop a wheely off the zeitgeist” and he delivered, once again hitting his second career peak in back to back albums.

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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Local Artist[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]A FEROCIOUS JUNGLE CAT[/title]

A Ferocious Jungle Cat, formerly known as More Machine Now than Man, is a funk, soul and R&B group. A Ferocious Jungle Cat breaks any preconceived stereotypes based on their demographics (young and white) that are proven to be irrelevant as the band consistently impresses audience members, gains new fans and brings back regulars to almost every show they play.
A Ferocious Jungle Cat on Facebook

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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Motion Picture[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]12 YEARS A SLAVE[/title]

12 Years a Slave is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free man who was kidnapped in New York and sold into slavery in the South. Relatively unknown actors Chiwetel Ejiofer (as Northup) and Lupita Nyong’o (as Patsey, another slave) play deeply affecting roles. 12 Years a Slave is a haunting look at the reality of slavery in the United States.

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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Live Performance in Lincoln[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]KENDRICK LAMAR at Pershing Center[/title]

In the afterglow of his hit release, good kid m.A.A.d city, Kendrick Lamar took a victory lap across America in 2013. Seemingly the near consensus choice of best rapper alive, Lamar played a show at the Pershing center in May. Major hip-hop acts seldom tour through Lincoln, so this concert was a major get for Lincoln and King Kendrick certainly delivered.

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To view our staff’s choices for Best Albums of 2013, go here.

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[title size=”1 to 6″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]BEST LOCALLY-OWNED, DOWNTOWN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS[/title]
With the help of an extensive list on the Downtown Lincoln Association’s website, Seeds Entertainment staff members (UNL students) voted on the best locally-owned food establishments in downtown Lincoln.

[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Sandwhich Shop[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]DOOZY’S[/title]

Although there are plenty of sandwich shops in downtown Lincoln, Doozy’s stands alone. They offer half or whole portions and toast their sandwiches to perfection with a spear-picle on the side. If you are tired and don’t feel like making a homemade sandwich yourself, head to Doozy’s. They’ve perfected it.
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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Casual Dining[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]YIA YIA’S[/title]

Yia Yia’s coins itself on its ‘around the world’ pizza, which is a caliber difficult to hold up themselves up to, but they succeed in doing so. The menu is full of diverse options that can be ordered by the very affordable slice or in a sharable whole–though you’ll probably need to order two. The crust is thin and crispy, the ingredients always fresh, and the service is quick. Furthermore, Yia Yia’s boasts an insane stock of around-the-world beer.

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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Late Night/Drunk Food[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]BADANG Food Cart[/title]

Badang has quickly gained attention after opening on O Street earlier this year. Although it’s just a food cart, Badang does not skimp on quality. Badang describes itself as American Bar-B-Que with modern Asian flavors and features sliders and wraps in large portions. Drunk late at night on O Street? You will not go wrong with Badang.
Read the full food review of Badang here.
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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Coffee Shop[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]THE COFFEE HOUSE[/title]

The Coffee House offers a large, broken up space that accommodates focused, working individuals as well as meetings, coffee dates and the like. The Coffee House has a daily specials, a wide range of pastries and snacks and a shelf of flavors that looks like a full bar. The friendly staff, Radiohead-like playlists and windows full of local events adds to the inviting atmosphere of this local gem.

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[title size=”1″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Best Bar Food[/title]
[title size=”3″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]THE WATERING HOLE[/title]

The Watering Hole has your typical bar food with a case selection of darught beers. What it lacks in caliber of its everyday menu, they make up in wings. After remodeling a few years ago, it has become a hangout for college students to watch football or grab two dollar Empyrean pints on Friday nights.

Seeds encourages you to support local businesses.
Thanks for a great year, Lincoln. 2014 is sure to be another great one.