Best of The Bay 2016
An election-year cavalcade of the Bay area’s finest and favorites — selected by us and you.
Best thing about Trump rallies, aside from the people-watching
TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
BEST LOCAL RADIO STATION
102.5 The Bone
BEST SPORTS BAR
Ferg’s Sports Bar
Best art show to elicit indignance from quasi-governmental agency
BENJAMIN DIMMITT’S AN UNFLINCHING LOOK at CLAYTON GALLERIES
Best gastronomic hypocrisy
DONALD TRUMP IS FAT
BEST GELATO
Paciugo
Best post-folk
BUSHI
BEST CHEF
Chris Ponte (Cafe Ponte, On Swann)
Best director
ERIC DAVIS, MR. BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY
BEST HUMMUS
Acropolis Greek Taverna
Best play
JITNEY, AMERICAN STAGE
BEST SURF SHOP
Suncoast Surf Shop
BEST FRIED CHICKEN
Southern Fresh
BEST NEW BREWERY, HILLSBOROUGH (OPENED AFTER SEPT. 2015)
Hidden Springs Ale Works
BEST HEAD SHOP
Purple Haze
Best friendly AC company
CHILL OUT PLUS AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING
BEST RIBS
4 Rivers Smokehouse
BEST CAJUN RESTAURANT
Cajun Cafe on the Bayou
Best gluten-free fried chicken
CORNMEAL FRIED CHICKEN at FODDER & SHINE
BEST LATE-NIGHT RESTAURANT
Taco Bus
Best all-grrrl power trio
PISS GHOST
BEST WEEKLY CLUB NIGHT
The Castle
BEST ORGANIZED BIKE RIDE
Bikes & Brews
BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT
Birch & Vine (The Birchwood)
BEST MUSEUM
The Dali
BEST GAY/LESBIAN BAR
Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille
BEST PILATES STUDIO
Flow Yoga & Pilates
BEST PLACE TO BOWL
Pin Chasers
BEST PIZZA
Cappy’s Pizza
BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT (COMEDY)
Side Splitters
BEST TAPAS/SMALL PLATES
Ceviche
BEST LOCAL CITIZEN
Jeff Vinik
BEST LOCAL LITERARY JOURNAL
Tampa Review
BEST VISUAL ART FESTIVAL
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Best tapas small plate
JAMAICAN ME CRAZY at PISCES SUSHI & GLOBAL BISTRO
Best cross-bay catalyst
RICK KRISEMAN
BEST HOTEL
Don Cesar
Most outrageously ambitious, visually beautiful production of a loooong American masterpiece
TAMPA REP’S THE ICEMAN COMETH
People, Places & Politics
The who, the where and the WTF?!
Best memory lane
Through the Lens: The Mahaffey at 50
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Premier Physical Therapy
BEST COCKTAILS
Cask & Ale
BEST BAKERY (BREAD)
Mazzaro’s Italian Market
BEST JUKEBOX
The Hub
Best fan support
THE HIP ABDUCTION
BEST DRAFT SELECTION
World of Beer
BEST HOME DECOR
HomeGoods
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR (PINELLAS)
3 Daughters Brewing
Comedian of the year
JOHNNY B
BEST BARGAIN RESTAURANT
4 Rivers Smokehouse
Best guilt-free gourmet snack packs
CHEF INSPIRED GOURMET POPCORN COMPANY
Best no-sh*t
HILLARY CLINTON’S FLORIDA PRIMARY WIN
Best display of caring by a healthcare institution
ORLANDO HEALTH & FLORIDA HOSPITAL
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT
The Cider Press Café
BEST SANDWICH SHOP/DELI
Mazzaro’s Italian Market
BEST FOOD BLOGGER
Tampa Bay Eats Out
BEST LOCAL ROCK ACT
Bangarang
Best garage-blues ass-kickers
SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING
BEST TACOS
Casita Taqueria
Best Sunday 2-4-1
Xtreme Juice
BEST CHICKEN SALAD
Mazzaro’s Italian Market
BEST OPERA COMPANY
St. Petersburg Opera Company
BEST BAKERY (PASTRIES)
Alessi Bakery
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Kellie Paradis
Best dessert pizza
PIZZA BOX
BEST TEA SHOP
Teavana
Best vintage cheeky
TWISTY CHRIS AND THE PUDDIN’ PACKS
BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN
Bob Buckhorn
Best mix of new-age and old-school cocktails
ANISE GLOBAL GASTROBAR
Best industrial-scale mensch
MESH ARCHITECTURE
BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE (MEN)
Nordstrom
BEST WASTE OF TAXPAYERS’ MONEY
Anything Rick Scott and Pam Bondi do
BEST BAHN MI
Green Mint Asian Grill
Best performer in a tiny role
MAYA HANDA NAFF, 4000 MILES
BEST COLD-PRESSED JUICE
Squeeze Juice Works
BEST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Anyone but Trump
BEST LOCAL DANCER
Alexa Schecht
Best equality crusader
Nadine Smith
BEST LOCAL BAND
Soul Circus Cowboys
BEST LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT
Rory Lawrence
BEST LOCAL CLASSICAL MUSICIAN
Brent Douglas
Best happy hour that includes $2 tacos
CASITA TAQUERIA
Best embedded local
SULYNN HAGO JOINS PROPAGHANDI
BEST LOCAL STAGE DIRECTOR
Tony Stinyard
BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Brentwood Lee
Best city councilperson
GUIDO MANISCALCO
BEST BURLESQUE ACT
Vita DeVoid
BEST PET SITTING
Puppy Manor
Best undiscovered hipster bar
DEAD BOB’S
Arts & Entertainment
All singing! All dancing! All expressing for your cultural edification!
BEST FOOD FESTIVAL
Ribfest
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD, PINELLAS
Downtown St. Pete
Best venue (Tampa)
CROWBAR
BEST LOCAL HIP-HOP ACT
Bangarang
Best recurring sh*tstorm
Dumping sewage into the bay
Best costume designer
AMY J. CIANCI
BEST ANTIQUE SHOP
Brocante Market
BEST LOCAL POET
Deborah Klein
Best scary soirée
The Vault of Souls
Best audio engineer
NORVALSOUND STUDIOS
BEST LOCAL POP ACT
Dropin Pickup
BEST HOTEL BAR
The Canopy Rooftop Lounge (The Birchwood)
Best punk n’ roll vets
CAR BOMB DRIVER
Best actor
NICK LEREW
BEST LOCAL PUNK ACT
Up From Here
Best reason to go to Tyrone Square Mall
COBB’S CINEMA AVEC LES BARCALOUNGERS
BEST REALTOR
Smith & Associates
BEST GYM
Krazy Kardio
BEST SKATE SHOP
Skatepark of Tampa
BEST YAPPY HOUR
Dog Bar
BEST LOCAL PODCAST
Drew Garabo
BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH
Oystercatchers
BEST PLACE TO SHOP GREEN
Rollin’ Oats
Best handyman
AARON BURKETT
BEST LOCAL NEWS STORY (ANY MEDIUM)
Charley’s World
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD, HILLSBOROUGH
Seminole Heights
BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE (WOMEN)
Anthropologie
BEST BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
CC’s Bridal Boutique
Best restaurant
ROOSTER & THE TILL
BEST LOCAL BLOGGER
I Love the Burg
BEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Best political Sophie’s Choice
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT
The Moon Under Water
BEST LOCAL COLUMNIST
Daniel Ruth
Best clusterf*ck
CROWDED DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Best marriage of the chicken and the egg
Fried chicken biscuit at Noble Crust
BEST BARRE STUDIO
Pure Barre St. Petersburg
BEST GROUP FITNESS TRAINING
Krazy Kardio
Best “What Prohibition?”
TAMPA BAY
Best art scene bitchfest
SHINE ’15
Best music in the jungle
THE MUSIC BOX: TAMPA BAY
BEST LOCAL EXPERIMENTAL ACT
Bangarang
BEST FARMERS’ MARKET
Saturday Morning Market, St. Petersburg
BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX
Fusion 1560
Best helper
CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY
BEST STAND-UP COMEDY VENUE
Improv Tampa
BEST DOWNTOWN ST. PETE RESTAURANT
BellaBrava
BEST ICE CREAM
Bo’s Ice Cream
BEST STORE STAFF
Publix
Best stitchin’ bitchin’ solo show
APRIL HARTLEY’S THAT CHILD OF ALWAYS at THE STUDIO@620
BEST TATTOO ARTIST
Gina Fote
BEST MANI/PEDI
Alicia Brandt
Best new theater
THE SPACE AT 2106
BEST SANDWICHES
Wright’s Gourmet House
Best generous server
Jeremy Gloff at Cappy’s Pizza, New Tampa
BEST WAITSTAFF
BellaBrava
BEST LOCAL SET DESIGNER
Keith Arsenault
Best new Japanese import
IZAKAYAS
Best localista celebrity death match
OLGA vs. ESTER!
BEST WINE BAR
Annata
Best new face in local theater/female
ROXXI JAXX
BEST SUPERMARKET
Publix
Best “cyser”
THE NORTHERNER, GREEN BENCH BREWING CO.
BEST PLACE YOU WISH HAD NEVER GONE OUT OF BUSINESS
Arigato Japanese Steakhouse
BEST SOUTHERN COOKING
Southern Fresh
Best immersive art exhibit
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE at BLOOM ART CENTER
BEST PET BOUTIQUE
Health Mutt
BEST PLACE FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION
Don CeSar
Best sushi with a side of architecture
Samurai Blue
Best band to accidentally discover at a dive bar
DREAM WINDOW
Best crying (almost)
MOTHERS at NEW WORLD BREWERY
Best metal convergence
FLORIDA METAL FEST
Best dinner-size salad
SOUTHERN BELLE SALAD at THE MILL
Best UPS store (& center of the DTSP universe)
The UPS Store, Downtown St. Petersburg
Best young entrepreneur
Reuben Pressman of Check I’m Here
BEST LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTION
Silence: The Musical!, Jobsite Theater
Best political upset
LISA WHEELER-BOWMAN
BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Salt Rock Grill
BEST SPORTS COACH
Jon Cooper
BEST COMICS SHOP
Emerald City
BEST SOUP
Stone Soup Cafe
Best event to mispronounce
BROCANTE
Best stupid environmental decision
GULFPORT’S BEACH RENOURISHMENT
BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER
Metropolitan Ministries
Best Dunedin trifecta
Kelly’s, Chic-a-Boom Room and Blur
BEST HAIR SALON
Salon Swank
BEST HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY
Mavilo Wholesalers
Best video
WOLF-FACE
Best playthings
FR33DBACK
BEST LOCAL AFTERNOON RADIO SHOW
Drew Garabo
BEST SPLURGE RESTAURANT
Bern’s Steak House
BEST WELLNESS CENTER
Art of Acupuncture
Best greenwashing
PUBLIX
Best way to your breakfast date’s heart
BREAKFAST BURRITOS at RED MESA MERCADO
Best boozy brain freeze
WINE SLUSHIES at TWO LIONS WINERY & PALM HARBOR BREWERY
BEST SOUP
The Stone Soup Company
BEST SUSHI RESTAURANT
SoHo Sushi
BEST FROZEN YOGURT
Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt
Best heavy music haven
BRASS MUG
Best local riff on a national fest
BURNING BLUEBERRY BROTHER
Best new source for nice people delivering things to Ray’s door and getting paid for it
AMAZON PRIME WAREHOUSE
Best children’s hospital
JOHNS HOPKINS ALL CHILDREN’S
BEST RECORD STORE
Daddy Kool Records
BEST LOCAL SOUL/FUNK/R&B ACT
The Black Honkeys
Best anniversary party
THE BENDS 4-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Best place to teleport with a beer
WOODWRIGHT BREWING CO.
Best non-highway-related Tampa traffic balls-up
PALM AVENUE BETWEEN FLORIDA AVENUE & YBOR CITY
Best artsy restaurant exterior
DRAMA BURGER
Best DIY studio
YOKO PHONO RECORDING
BEST DESSERTS
Harry Waugh Dessert Room at Bern’s Steak House
BEST NONPROFIT
Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue
BEST MARGARITA
Red Mesa Cantina
BEST DOCTOR FOR A NIP AND TUCK
Dr. Joseph Castellano
BEST NATURE TRAIL
Fort DeSoto
BEST STRIP CLUB
Mons Venus
BEST CUBAN SANDWICH
Brocato’s Sandwich Shop
Best way to ditch meat
PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM PASTRAMI at URBAN DELI AND DRAFTS
Best production of a modern classic
THE MAIDS, JOBSITE THEATER
Best let-it-go
ST. PETERSBURG PRESERVATION and the CHEESE GRATER BUILDING
Best stiff drink that’s not from The Hub
HURRICANE at TIBBY’S NEW ORLEANS KITCHEN
BEST COUNTRY BAR
Dallas Bull
BEST DUNEDIN RESTAURANT
Casa Tina
BEST HOSPITAL
Tampa General
Best theater company
freeFALL THEATER
Best solar charade
CONSUMERS FOR SMART SOLAR (AMENDMENT 1)
BEST FARMERS’ MARKET VENDOR
Bearss Groves
BEST DRAG PERFORMER
Alexis Mateo
BEST FILM FESTIVAL
Gasparilla International Film Festival
BEST MARTINI
Blue Martini
Best on-air community service
JOEL WEISS
Best dessert surprise
CHOCOLATE ON CHOCOLATE at MARINA CANTINA
Best emerging artist
SHARON NORWOOD
Best capitalism/history love story
YBOR CITY REDEVELOPMENT
Best hunger-inducing mural
TRISTAN EATON’S EPIC SCENE at BERN’S
Best chef
CHRIS PONTE
BEST STREET FOOD
Bodega on Central
Best link with the greater theater world
JOBSITE THEATER & ISRAEL HOROVITZ
Best hometown homage on a cocktail menu
OX & FIELDS
Best (new) tribute band
SHOW BIZ KIDS
BEST LOCAL COUPLE
Jeff & Penny Vinik
BEST LIQUOR STORE
Total Wine & More
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
Mike Calta
BEST TAPROOM/TASTING ROOM
3 Daughters Brewing
BEST HAIRSTYLIST
Irina Bilka
Best show for selfies
JAUME PLENSA: HUMAN LANDSCAPE, TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART
BEST ART PARTY
Nook & Cranny DIY Studio
Best time travel pie
BUTTERSCOTCH PIE at GOODY GOODY
Best new place for tequila and a taco
MIGUELITOS TAQUERIA Y TEQUILAS
BEST LOCAL BLUEGRASS BAND
Applebutter Express
Best 2016-17 season kickoffs
Jobsite’s The Underpants and American Stage’s Good People
Best album
HEADY STONES, SOAPBOX SOLILOQUY
BEST CITY: TAMPA, ST. PETERSBURG OR CLEARWATER?
St. Petersburg
Best cupcake diva
DIANE RATTO
BEST LOCAL FURNITURE MAKER
Marcotte’s Design Salvage
BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE
Innisbrook
BEST LOCAL INTERNET RADIO SHOW
Bone TV
Best new artist-in-residence program
TEMPUS PROJECTS
Best veggie sushi roll
EBISU SUSHI SHACK
BEST LOCAL IMPROV TEAM
Got Jokes?
BEST PET-FRIENDLY DINING
Dunedin Brewery
BEST ACUPUNCTURIST
Dr. Brian Caswell
BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP
Bob Lee’s Auto Repair
Best burger with an Old Florida vibe
THE CHATTAWAY
BEST LGBT ORGANIZATION
St. Pete Pride
Best family faceoff (marital)
David Jenkins & Joanna Sycz in Time Stands Still, Jobsite
Best political near-death experience
Marco Rubio
BEST WINGS
Hooters
Best musical get
MAC SABBATH at LOCAL 662
Best bread that’s even better than Europe
M&G Bakery and Deli
BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE
La France
BEST LOCAL BREWERY
3 Daughters Brewing
BEST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
Meze 119
BEST BANK
Wells Fargo
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Taco Bus
BEST FLORIDA COLLEGE TEAM
UF Gators
BEST VETERINARIAN
Bayshore Animal Clinic
Best fond farewell
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE
BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPENED AFTER SEPT. 2015)
Mini Doughnut Factory
Best musical force
ROGER LAFRANCHI
BEST THEATER COMPANY
American Stage
BEST LARGE CONCERT VENUE
Jannus Live
BEST COLLEGE HANGOUT
MacDinton’s
Best Krispy Kreme tribute
DOUGHNUTS at THAI PRIME
BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST
Jaime Bunny McKnight
Best garage jangle
THE PRETTY VOICES
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Yummy House China Bistro
BEST LOCAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
University of South Florida
Best it’s-hell-gettin’-old
CLINTON/TRUMP MEDICAL RECORDS FIASCO
BEST SKINCARE SPECIALIST
Donna Eggers
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT
Byblos Café
BEST LOCAL ACTOR
D.J. Holt
Best display of caring by a baseball team
TAMPA BAY RAYS’ PULSE TRIBUTE
Best preventable environmental nightmare
LAKE-O RELEASES
Goods & Services
Tampa Bay businesses that did it right.
BEST LOCAL MORNING TV SHOW
Good Day Tampa Bay (Fox13)
BEST LOCAL BLUES ACT
The Black Honkeys
BEST SPA
Safety Harbor Resort & Spa
Best anytime of the day pick-me-up
ACAI BOWLS at SOHO JUICE CO.
Best South Tampa bar that won’t make you hate yourself the next day
THE BLIND GOAT FOOD & DRINK CO.
Best Trump surrogate-turned-meme
MICHAEL ‘SAYS WHO?’ COHEN
BEST SINGLES HANGOUT
Downtown St. Petersburg
Best exhibit for purse shopping
HORST at THE DALÍ
Best place for quality wine on the cheap
ROLLIN’ OATS
Best tribute
The Terry Tomalin paddle-out
Best bad news, good news for St. Pete nightlife
CLOSING OF THE AMSTERDAM/(RE)OPENING OF INDEPENDENT BAR ST. PETE
BEST KARAOKE
Pornaoke at The Pegasus Lounge
BEST LOCAL MORNING RADIO SHOW
The Mike Calta Radio Show
BEST EVENT TO MISPRONOUCE
We “cahnt”
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Publix
Best concert doc
HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL PERFORMS THE LAST WALTZ
BEST STEAK HOUSE
Bern’s Steak House
WORST LOCAL POLITICIAN
Rick Scott
Best poodle cut
TWO MUTTS AND A POODLE
Best actress
ROSEMARY ORLANDO, BROADWAY BOUND
BEST YBOR CITY RESTAURANT
Columbia Restaurant
BEST FREE CLINIC
St. Petersburg Free Clinic
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Brooke Clark
Best all-women’s exhibition
MARKS MADE: PRINTS BY AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS FROM THE 1960S TO THE PRESENT, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
BEST PLACE TO PLAY POOL
Strokers Billiards & Lounge
BEST INSTRUMENTALIST
Santino Rumore
Best new grocery mini-chain
Duckweed Urban Grocery
BEST LOCAL CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Dunedin Art Festival
BEST GULF BEACHES RESTAURANT
Frenchy’s
BEST SMALL CONCERT VENUE
Jannus Live
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Yaneisy Moochnek
Best dance duo (professional & romantic)
Erin Cardinal & Brian Fidalgo
BEST ART SUPPLY STORE
Michaels
BEST BARBECUE RESTAURANT
4 Rivers Smokehouse
BEST LOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE
The Black Honkeys
BEST MAC ‘N’ CHEESE
Datz
BEST LOCAL ROOTS/ALT-COUNTRY ACT
Soul Circus Cowboys
BEST BEER EVENT
Tampa Bay Beer Week
BEST LOCAL RECORD LABEL
Daddy Kool Records
Best Fried Chicken
Chicken Hut
BEST BIZARRO LOCAL NEWS STORY
Anything Rick Scott does
BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP
Crown Auto Dealerships
Best dance duo (professional)
Helen Hansen French & Lauren Slone, BEACON Performance Series
BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Bahama Breeze
Best dig into our Florida roots
ORANGE STATE, MOREAN ARTS CENTER
BEST BEACH BAR
Frenchy’s Outpost Bar & Grill
Best unflappable server
KYLE at CAPPY’S (ST. PETE)
BEST LOCAL BEER
Beach Blonde, 3 Daughters Brewing
BEST LOCAL FILMMAKER
Cam Simon
BEST GREEK RESTAURANT
Acropolis Greek Taverna
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Kahwa Coffee
Food & Drink
The finest in comestibles and imbibables.
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
BellaBrava
BEST BARISTA STAFF
Kahwa Coffee
BEST LOCAL REGGAE/SKA BAND
Jah Movement
Best up-and-coming female comedian
JUANITA LOLITA
Best real taste of Europe without traveling
HOFBRÄUHAUS
BEST LOCAL FASHION DESIGNER
Tracy Negoshian
BEST DIVE BAR
Mahuffer’s
Best swoon-worthy nibble
FOIE GRAS “BUTTER” WITH FIG JAM AND TRUFFLE FINANCIERS at ON SWANN
BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER
Drew on the Radio
BEST LOCAL LIGHTING DESIGNER
P&M’s Dreamland
BEST LOCAL JAZZ VOCALIST
Betty Fox
BEST PHO
La V
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR (HILLSBOROUGH)
Cigar City Brewing
Best shock treatment
KARA WALKER at GALLERY221@HCC
BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAMMER
Steph Davis
Best new face in local theater/male
DERRICK PHILLIPS
Best Brunch Buffet
New World Brewery
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill
BEST MOVIE THEATER
Tampa Theatre
BEST CREPES
La Creperia Cafe
Best glass ass-rests
SUSAN GOTT, GREEN ARTERY BENCH PROJECT
BEST GALLERY SHOW
Down the Rabbit Hole, Bloom Art Center
BEST BURGER
Engine No. 9
Funniest comedy
SPAMALOT, AMERICAN STAGE IN THE PARK
BEST LOCAL FASHION EVENT
Monthly Art pARTy, ARTpool
Best cock rock
NINEHORN
Best place to accidentally leave your credit card
RED STAR ROCK BAR
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Big Cat Rescue
BEST LOCAL DANCE COMPANY
Kan Dance Studio
BEST GOURMET MARKET
Mazzaro’s Italian Market
BEST LOCAL SINGER/SONGWRITER
Billy McKnight
BEST DRY CLEANER
McNatt’s
Best rejoinder to the “Farm to Fable” flap
The Black Pearl
BEST MUSEUM EXHIBIT
Disney and Dali: Architects of the Imagination, The Dali
BEST HANDMADE CRAFTS GALLERY
ARTpool
Best UPS guy
ANDY “BOOBOO” SANCHEZ
BEST LOCAL FICTION WRITER
Tim Dorsey
BEST CUBAN SHOP
Bodega on Central
BEST NEW BREWERY, PINELLAS (OPENED AFTER SEPT. 2015)
Big Storm Brewing Co. (Clearwater)
BEST FLORIST
Artistic Florist of Tampa
Best pansexual dance party
oF MONTREAL at ORPHEUM
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Bella Brava
BEST WHISKEY/BOURBON SELECTION
Cask & Ale
BEST BOOK BY A LOCAL AUTHOR
The Coconut Cowboy, by Tim Dorsey
BEST MIXOLOGIST
Chris Humpherys (James Joyce Irish Bar)
BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT (POETRY)
The Blueberry Patch
BEST SAFETY HARBOR RESTAURANT
Whistle Stop Grill & Bar
BEST LOCAL ACTRESS
Tiffany Edwards
BEST DOUGHNUTS
Mini Doughnut Factory
BEST ART GALLERY
Dunedin Fine Art Center
BEST YOGA STUDIO
Bella Prana Yoga and Meditation
Best mix of luxe and lazy
Sandbar at Opal Sands Resort
BEST DANCE CLUB
The Castle
BEST KAVA BAR
Mad Hatters Ethnobotanical Tea Bar
Best exhibit for purse shopping
HORST PHOTOGRAPHS at THE DALI
BEST LOCAL BOOKSTORE
Haslam’s Book Store
Best “that time of the month”
MONTHLY SHOWS at LESLIE CURRAN GALLERY
Best political implosion(s)
Pam Bondi
BEST LOCAL SPORTSWRITER
Terry Tomalin
BEST PUBLIC ARTWORK (NON-MURAL)
Melting Clock Bench, Dali Sculpture Garden
BEST TATTOO STUDIO
Atomic Tattoos
Best foster-vangelist
RICK CHABOUDY
BEST COUNTY
Pinellas
BEST CHEESE COURSE
Annata
BEST LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTER
Steve Otto
Best municipal investment in artists
PINELLAS PARK’S LIVE/WORK PROGRAM
BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL
Gasparilla Music Fest
BEST LOCAL PRO SPORTS TEAM
Tampa Bay Lightning
BEST THAI RESTAURANT
Jasmine Thai & Sushi
BEST LOCAL STAND-UP COMIC
Amanda Jordan
Best roadside dog
RIPPERS ROADSTAND
Best cheap beer at a sports stadium
OLD MILWAUKEE at YOUR FATHER’S BAR at TROPICANA FIELD
Best up-and-coming male comedian
CAM BERTRAND
BEST CHARCUTERIE
Annata
Best antidote to campaign bullshit
PolitiFact
Best world music
WAHH WORLD FUSION BAND
BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOP
Deja Vu
Best place for your old clothes
REVOLVE CLOTHING EXCHANGE
Best bar where everyone knows your name
RESERVOIR BAR
BEST BEACH TOWN
Anna Maria Island
Best sushi dinner for two
SUSHI HOUSE BY KAZOKU SUSHI
Best hip-hop
MIKE MASS
Best sweaty songfest
FLORIDA FOLK SCENE SHOWCASE at GREEN BENCH
WORST SPORTS COACH
Whoever the Rays have now
BEST BLOODY MARY
Ella’s American Folk Art Cafe
Best veterinarian for haughty cats and overly dramatic dachshunds
NICOLE TISDALE at ST. PETE BEACH VETERINARIAN
BEST LOCAL LITERARY EVENT
Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading
Best guy to contact for stand-up stage time
JOHN JACOBS
Best come to Cheezus moment
Mac & Cheezus sandwich at Kings
BEST PUBLIC MURAL
Dogedin, by Anna Hamilton (Dunedin)
BEST LOCAL JAM BAND
The Black Honkeys
Best way to honor John Hughes
REWIND at TAMPA THEATRE
BEST WATERFRONT DINING
Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
Best venue (St. Petersburg)
STATE THEATRE
BEST SEX SHOP
Todd Couples Superstore
BEST GROUPER SANDWICH
Frenchy’s
Best jazz-jam fusion
ACME JAZZ GARAGE
Best pest control
NATURE’S SAFEWAY
BEST LOCAL TV NEWSPERSON
Charley Belcher
BEST PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH
St. Petersburg Public Library Main Branch
Best restroom cop
ROZ SANDERS at THE STRAZ
Best server of pizza, pasta and gracious good cheer
Brianna Morin at Bavaro’s St. Pete
Best guy at making things sound better
RICKY SEELBACH
Best olde-fashioned ice cream shoppe flavor under your radar
BLACK CHERRY ICE CREAM at STRACHAN’S
BEST LOCAL COVER BAND
Jaded
BEST BARBER SHOP
Tim’s Barber Shop
BEST BIKE SHOP
Flying Fish Bikes
BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST
Beth Kokol
Best new restaurant row
The EDGE District
Best sour orange pie
PIA’S TRATTORIA
BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT (MUSIC)
Open Praise Tampa Christian Open Mic
BEST CLUB DJ
DJ L Mo
Best real taste of Asia without traveling
PHO at THINH AN KITCHEN & TOFU
Best set designer
STEVEN K. MITCHELL, MR. BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY
Best family faceoff (paternal)
Mujaheed Abdul-Rashid & Adrian Roberts in Jitney, American Stage
BEST THRIFT SHOP
Goodwill
BEST SEMINOLE HEIGHTS RESTAURANT
Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe
Best new restaurant
ON SWANN
BEST CUBAN RESTAURANT
Columbia Restaurant
Best young musician incubator
JIM CHAMBERS MUSIC BOX
Best use of ampersands
SEMINOLE HEIGHTS
Best celestial inspirations
SUN SIGNS
BEST BREAKFAST
First Watch
BEST LOCAL CHOREOGRAPHER
Frank Musso
Best localista celebrity death match
OLGA vs. ESTER!
BEST BAR FOOD
Dunedin Brewery
BEST LOCAL METAL/HARDCORE
Eccentric
Best salon with a side of art
LUX Studio
Best star-power collab
BENJAMIN BOOKER + MAVIS STAPLES
BEST HEALTH FOOD MARKET
Rollin’ Oats
BEST DINER
Daily Eats
BEST BAGEL SHOP
St. Pete Bagel Co.
BEST SMOOTHIE BAR
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Best place for ribs if you time it right
BAKER’S HOGLEY WOGLEY BAR-B-CUE
BEST TRIVIA NIGHT
Six Ten Brewing
