Winner: Hands Across The Bay handsacrossthebay.org
Second Place: Martini’s for Moffitt moffitt.org
Runner Up: Equality Florida Gala eqfl.org/tampagala
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Previous Winners
Best of the Bay 2020 People, Places and Politics: Our critics and readers pick the best—and shittiest—people, places and politicians of the last year.
People, Places & Politics Critics' Picks
Best Case of Mistaken Identity
Best High School Newspaper Story
Best Hometown Reality Show Connection
Best Instagram To Live Vicariously Through
Best It's About Time (Asphalt Division)
Best It's About Time (Racist Intonation Division)
Best Local News App Push Notification
Best Poor Choice Of A Hill To Die On, Vol. I
Best Poor Choice Of A Hill To Die On, Vol. 2
Best Safe Space To Bike From South Tampa To The Heights
Best Shit Starter (In A Good Way)
Best Socially Distant Day Trip
Biggest South Tampa Asshole Until Coronavirus Arrived
Best Thorn in Scientology's Side
Best Way To Get A Kids-Glove Editorial In The Daily Newspaper
Best Way To Keep Sports Fans In Their Seats During A Pandemic
Best We Don't Give A Fuck Anymore
Best You Knew This Would End Badly
People, Places & Politics Readers' Picks
Best Environmental Organization
Best Neighborhood, Hillsborough
Best Personality to Follow on Twitter
Best Place to Instagram A Selfie
Best Place to Socially Distance
Best Up-And-Coming Radio Personality
Best Waste of Taxpayers' Money
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Allendale Methodist Church
St. Petersburg’s Allendale United Methodist Church has been no stranger to activism since 2017, so it came as no surprise to see the house of worship say something about the murder of George Floyd. One side of the church sign said “George Floyd was lynched today by the police. We can’t breathe!” while the other reads, “White Supremacy: The most dangerous virus infecting our country since 1492.” We’re going to need this kind of moral clarity and gumption to call it like it is over the next month, and maybe four years. allendaleumc.org —Ray Roa
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Tampa Bay Times Mugshot Galleries
Progressive media junkies have long questioned the continued use of mugshots by Tampa Bay Times (and other papers across the country). In the midst of the George Floyd protests and a push for racial justice, Sarasota Herald-Tribune—alongside all Gannet-owned properties—made the decision to discontinue the publication of mugshot galleries. The following day, June 10, CL contributor Jo Ellen Schilke further explored the ethics of TBT’s continued use of the photos in her article, “It’s 2020, and The Tampa Bay Times still has a mugshot gallery.” Five days later on June 15, the Times announced plans to drop its mugshot galleries. “The galleries lack context and further negative stereotypes. We think the data is an important resource that our newsroom will continue to analyze and watch carefully, but the galleries alone serve little journalistic purpose,” Executive Editor Mark Katches said in a statement. It’s about damn time. —Jenna Rimensnyder
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Winner: Elliott Darrow @elliott.darrow on Facebook
Second Place: Naomi Ardjomand-Kermani adifferentkindofdifferent.com
Runner Up: Anthony Koedel @anthony.koedel on Facebook
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Winner: Drew Garabo Live theboneonline.com
Second Place: The Nut House - WiLD 94.1 wild941.com
Runner Up: Serrano in the Afternoons hot1015tampabay.com
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Tampa Museum of Art
Art is supposed to be for everyone, but let’s face it: admission to the museum isn’t always tops on the list of families trying to make ends meet—especially in the coronavirus era. That’s why it was cool to see the Tampa Museum of Art say that anyone receiving food assistance can show their EBT card and get in free (as of July, that’s 152,000 families in Hillsborough alone). In May, Nina Contreras Womeldurf, TMA’s Director of Marketing and Communications, told CL that the museum has no end date in mind for the “Museums for All” initiative. "We want to keep it as a permanent feature if sponsorship funding continues to be available,” she said. Tampamuseum.org —Ray Roa
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A dive bar’s bathroom can be a special place, but there’s not one as special as the women’s room at The Hub in downtown Tampa, and Hub lifer Chloe Davis has devoted her life (OK, well, a few hours a week) to celebrating it via her @the.hubs.bathroom Instagram account. Lately, since The Hub was to-go only, the feed has been of feet (yum), but the entire thing just feels like a love letter to a dive, and that’s certainly worth remembering as the joint navigates reopening.—Ray Roa
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Winner: Pass-a-Grille Beach visitpassagrille.com
Second Place: Treasure Island visitstpeteclearwater.com
Runner Up: Clearwater Beach visitclearwaterflorida.com
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Winner: Tiger King cltampa.com
Second Place: Everything about 2020
Runner Up: Nocturnal Restaurant Group / Lanfranco Pescante cltampa.com
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Winner: I Love the Burg ilovetheburg.com
Second Place: St. Pete Rising stpeterising.com
Runner Up: Julie Silva Williams
See all winners from Best of the Bay 2020.
