All singing! All dancing! All expressing for your cultural edification!

Best of The Bay 2016: Win Win!

If you’re one of those benighted souls who still haven’t made up their minds about which presidential candidate they dislike the least in this year’s presidential election, we’re here to offer you certainty, and relief. Because the elections for Best of the Bay are over! We received 135,000 reader ballots over the summer, the voters registering their opinions in nearly 300 Readers’ Poll categories. CL staffers and contributors made their favorites known, too, writing close to 200 Critics’ Picks.

And all of the so much winning is right here.

It being an election year, though, we did feel it necessary to acknowledge the elephant (and the donkey) in the room. So who better to enlist as our cover models but the man and woman taking up all this year’s electoral oxygen?

Because we’re stronger together.

Many thanks to the inspired impersonations of Scott Daniel and Matthew McGee, aka Scott & Patti, who did their patriotic duty as the two candidates; to Frank Chavez, who outfitted them in campaign-wear (and to Scott, who did the wigs and crafted the perfect shade of Halloween orange for his makeup); to Alessi’s Bakery for the election-year cookies; and to Todd Bates, photographer extraordinaire, and Julio Ramos, CL’s creative director, who pulled the whole crazy thing together with his stylish eye.

And special thanks to all of the readers who voted, the nominees who campaigned, and the writers and editors who opinionated with such flair.

You win!

—David Warner

The finest in comestibles and imbibables.

Tampa Bay businesses that did it right.

The who, the where and the WTF?!

Let’s face it: Sometimes beer, even local beer, gets old. What to taste? There are plenty of ciders and meads around here, but — speaking of taste — Green Bench’s blend of the two is currently the best thing going if you’re looking to sample local beer culture without actually sampling local beer. Neither too sweet nor too dry, this blend of cider and honey wine traditions is, really, an amazing and utterly unique flavor experience. We can’t recommend it enough for both those who don’t drink beer, and those who are looking for a break from the norm when out at the tasting room. —Scott Harrell

Since opening its new gallery space just a few doors down from ARTicles last fall, Leslie Curran Gallery has been curating consistently strong monthly shows that conveniently align with the Second Saturday Art Walks. Not only do they feature local artists like James Oleson and Jules Cozine, but they’ve been striving to bring contemporary art from international artists as well. With works ranging from photography to sculpture to painting, this is one “that time of the month” to look forward to. articlesstpete.com. —Caitlin Albritton

The 12-piece Steely Dan tribute band composed of venerated local musicians and helmed by keysman Phil Magallanes unleashed a few sets of material at their Ringside Café debut this past June. Each rendering proved damn near impeccable and was delivered with no shortage of reverence and musicality; Todd Plant channeled Donald Fagan with ease, Kirsten Joyer and Denise Moore backed him (and occasionally took over lead) with soulful harmonies, and the four-member horn section delivered the classy arrangements that brought the fine production qualities to life. We’re pleased to see Show Biz Kids has become a permanent project. steelydantributeband.com.  —Leilani Polk

I’m jumping the gun here because awards for the professional theater season aren’t usually handed out this early. But I couldn’t resist, because these two productions, opening within days of each other, were as exhilarating a start to a season as I can remember — Jobsite finding both the hilarity and the heart in Steve Martin’s stylish farce, with a terrific ensemble under the direction of moonlighting Stageworks AD Karla Hartley, and Stephanie Gularte launching her first all-chosen-by-her season at American Stage with a riveting rendition of an important, funny and moving play by a Pulitzer Prize winner. Granted, the critics for the Times and CL did not agree with me about Underpants, but I had a helluva good time. —David Warner