Best Outdoor Venue

In case you hadn't noticed, casinos aren't just for gambling anymore. The Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheater, part of the newly expanded and revamped Casino Del Sol, has injected a healthy dose of entertainment options into the Old Pueblo since it was built in October 2001. Before its existence, mid-sized touring acts--those too big for the Rialto, but not big enough for the TCC--had no place to play in Tucson, and usually passed us by in favor of The Big City To Our North That Shall Remain Unnamed. But not anymore. The swanky 4,600-seat AVA is comfy, aesthetically pleasing, has great sound (as long as the wind isn't blowing too hard) and there's not a bad seat in the place--even on its expansive lawn. Without it, we wouldn't have been able to witness the likes of Tori Amos, Alan Jackson, Bob Dylan, the Go-Go's, Barry Manilow and Earth, Wind and Fire this year.

Runners up:

2. DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park, 22nd Street and Country Club Road

3. La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave.