Sep 14-20, 2005

Sep 14-20, 2005 / Vol. 18 / No. 26

HEATHER TINNARO: Tangelo’s

Personal Best: “When the waitstaff will approach you in the grocery to ask about your kids BY NAME, that’s the best. Dennis, Rosemary, et al are AWESOME!” Heather cited Papa Joe’s for Best Waitstaff, Outdoor Dining, Cuban/Spanish and Cheap Eats.Tangelo’s Grill, 226 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-894-1695.

SYLVESTER “SlY” THOMAS JR.: The El Cap

Personal Best: “I’m crazy about the El Cap — St. Petersburg’s best all-around ‘everything.’ The clientele there range from newborn to senior citizen. Once there, you will be a regular. ‘Boom Goes The Dynamite.’” Sylvester chose El Cap for Best Cuban/Spanish and Best Waitstaff.El Cap, 3500 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-521-1314.

HEIDI SUMNER: Papa Joe’s Country Cafe

Personal Best: “If you have not experienced a sub and Latin salsa at Papa Joe’s Country Market in St. Petersburg — you have been deprived!” Heidi chose Joe’s for Best Cuban/Spanish and Best Vegetarian.Papa Joe’s, 2498 13th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-327-0296.

ROXANNE MOULTON: Salvador Dali Museum

Personal Best: “The Dali Museum is an international treasure. I’m a Friday afternoon docent and I’m fun and cool and not boring! Locals should check it out!” Roxanne voted for the Dali as Best Kept Secret — and is that also a vote for Best Docent?Salvador Dalí Museum, 1000 Third Street S., St. Petersburg, 727-823-3767.

THE ERIKSENS: Café Ponte

Personal Best: “Café Ponte is indeed the place! Polished service, surroundings, fabulous and innovative food and one of the most amiable chefs around — a true ‘master’ — Chris Ponte!” The Eriksens chose Café Ponte for Best Waitstaff, Best Chef and Best Martini. Café Ponte, 13505 ICOT Blvd., Clearwater, 727-538-5768.

Best Of 2005

Our annual compendium of all that’s bright and beautiful in Tampa Bay (plus all that’s bad and tacky) has everything you need to know and more. Best new restaurant? Check. Best place to buy sneakers? Check. Best way to go completely batshit crazy? Check again. Plus this year, in the spirit of our favorite supermarket…

Personal Bests

As part of our Readers’ Poll this year, we gave voters a chance to expand a bit on their favorites. In 25 words or less, they were invited to tell us more about one of the people or places they voted for, or write about something that should have won — if only we’d included…

Out of this World

The Weekly Planet has been living with a secret: For the last seven years, we’ve been harboring an illegal alien. Arnie showed up on our doorstep in 1998, back when we had some sweet digs in Ybor City. We figured he was just another fellow sleeping off a Saturday all-nighter, but his green skin, saucer-like…

Spins

Kanye West, The Rolling Stones, Laura Cantrell


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