For 12 days you voted for your favorites in Music, Nightlife, Shopping, Recreation/ Leisure. Find the winners by clicking here.

And just for fun, we at SqueezeOC compiled our Top 2 Dubious Distinction Awards:

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Banning’s Bikes in Fullerton is holding a basic skills clinic for women August 11 - 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. both days. The two day workshop will cover bicycle riding skills, cornering, pacelines and drills as well as road side repairs, nutrition and training. Bring your (mountain or road)bike and riding gear, if you plan to participate in the riding skills portion of the clinic. Participants will be able to test ride women specific bikes and check out the latest cycling apparel from brands such as Felt, Look, Speedplay, Castelli, Sidi, Canari, Motorable and Northwave.
Banning’s Bikes is located at 205 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton, 92832, 714-525-2200

- LAILA D.

We want your VOTES!

To commemorate the upcoming two-year anniversary of SqueezeOC.com, we’re compiling a “Top 2” list of the best entertainment and lifestyle offerings here in Orange County.

But we need your help in making those final Top 2 decisions in a variety of categories, from restaurants to bars to spas and outdoor amenities. So please go to our online ballot here and place your votes for any or all of the categories.

You have until Aug. 15 to vote. Hop 2 it!

Since today is officially 7-11-07, 7-11 stores are giving away free mini Slurpee’s in celebration of it’s 80th year in the business.

The free Slurpee offer ends at midnight tonight and is only while supplies (aka the mini cups) last!

If you’re craving something a little extra, check out the new Simpson’s inspired products. 7-11 is now carrying a special line of products like Squishee’s (instead of a Slurpee), Krusty O’s (instead of Cheerios), a special “The Simpson’s Movie” doughnut and a ton of Simpsons merchandise including pens, mint tins, cups and more.

The Road Less Traveled, an environmental store in Santa Ana, has knocked down a wall and branched out with the opening of its newly expanded “eco-home” space.

The larger store, which now occupies a storefront-and-a-half, offers a great selection of earth-friendly goods, including organic fashions, baby items, linens, non-toxic cleaners, and literature.

And now you’ll find those staple items you need for a “green” home or office, like organic cotton mattresses, furniture made from reclaimed wood and other materials, decor, and a spectrum of natural, clay-based paints that give off no stinky toxic fumes! And building supplies too.

The expanded space, which is painted in gorgeous lilac and avocado hues, serves as a showroom and a workshop area where customers can attend eco-classes and seminars. The space is also a design center, and home to local eco-designer Rachel Hulan, of Path Design, who offers eco-friendly architectural and interior design solutions.

****EXPANSION GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION****
What: Peruse the newly expanded eco-store while enjoying wine, food and music.
When: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, May 12
Where: 2204 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Info: roadlesstraveledstore.com

Two of my favorite things in the South Coast Metro are are leaving in January: Edwards South Coast Village 3 is closing on Jan. 4, and Book Soup in South Coast Plaza is closing on Jan. 28.

In the huge shopping-industrial complex that is South Coast Metro, Edwards Village and Book Soup were notable for the way they prioritized quality over what sold best. Hearing that both stores were closing made me feel a little insecure about Orange County: Are we such a boring population that we can’t support two indie-minded businesses?
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It’s a shame that it takes a bad event for everyone to come together.
Tower Records is in its final weeks of existence (there’s still no official last day yet) and the company’s Southern California employees were all invited to Slidebar Café in Fullerton to reminisce and meet up with old friends.

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Pioneer Electronics has opened its first retail store in the U.S., and kicked things off Thursday night with a private reception at its South Coast Plaza location.
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Check it out, found these bracelets made of Barbie doll heads and toy cars at The Black Flamingo in Laguna Beach. Black Flamingo sells lots of one-of-a-kind new and vintage dresses and accessories. Their stuff has been in Laguna Beach: The Real OC.”

Also, found this at Inkwells Paperie, a great card and stationery shop in Corona del Mar. A 14-year-old boy from Newport Beach made a bunch of pencil cases using old ties. What do you think: cute or dorky?

At the recommendation of the knitters from Long Beach Stitch ‘N Bitch group, I checked out the Marukai 98-cent Superstore yesterday in Fountain Valley. This is basically a 99-cent store (note the Japanese’ competitiveness by going down one cent), but almost everything is imported from Japan. Tons of plastic storage containers and cooking gadgets. I spotted these funny plastic head masks.

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