Best Weather Detection System Named for a Deadly Snake
Volumetric Imaging and Processing of Integrated Radar (VIPIR)
Best Cuban/Spanish
La Teresita
Best Print Reporter
Lane DeGregory, St. Petersburg Times
Best Retrospective
Photography Past/Forward:Aperture at 50, Museum of Fine Arts
Best Morning Muffin
Village Health Market
Best Vegetative State
Ed Helm’s “Unity Campaign”
Best Newspaper for a Nickel
The St. Petersburg Enquirer
Best Sushi
Samurai Blue
Best Case of Shooting a Fly with a Cannon
Mary Ellen Elia vs. Lee DeCesare Drury
Best Beach
Clearwater Beach
Best Adopted Out-of-Towners
Dear & Glorious Physician
Best Soundtrack for a Friday Night Drive
WMNF’s Soul Party
Best Side Dish
Edamame Mash, Restaurant Hapa
Worst Sports Setback
The Bay Area’s Boxing Stars
Best Straight Bar for Lesbians
Emerald Bar
Best Place to Get Publicly Intoxicated
The parking lots of Ybor City
Best Win-Your-Dinner
Team Trivia at Ferg’s
Best Musical Achievement
The Vodkanauts
Best Adult Goods
XTC Supercenter of North Tampa
Most Hyped Media Story
Alligators Attack
Best Clothing Store (Men’s)
Men’s Warehouse
Best Home Store for When You’ve Overgrown Pier 1
Being: The Art of Living
Most Committed Anti-War Protesters
St. Pete for Peace
Best New Theater Company
Cruciverbalist Collective
Best Hot Potato
The Tampa Museum of Art
Most Surprisingly Good Buffet
Golden Corral
Best Resurrection of a Gallery Space
Para Gallery
Best Local Politician
Mayor Pam Iorio
Best Post Office
Crossroads Post Office, St. Pete
Best Local-Fan Uproar
The Kosmik Egg Backlash
Best Local Band
Giddy Up Helicopter
Best Place to Get Your Eye Shot Out
Jungle Games Paintball Field
Best Bucs Player
Derrick Brooks
Best Artistic Direction
David Jenkins
Best Place to Buy Obligatory Greeting Cards
GCO Gift & Card Outlet
Best Restaurant
Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, St. Petersburg
Best Up-and-Coming TV News Superstar
Ferdinand Zogbaum, Bay News 9
Best Local Connection to the Jack Abramoff Scandal
SunCruz Casinos
Best Ethical Repair Shop
Gulfport Transmission
Best Men’s Department Masquerading as a Discount Store
Dillard’s at International Plaza
Best Theater Company
American Stage
Best Potato Salad
Louis Pappas Market Café
Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor
Atomic Tattoos & Body Piercing
Best Pricey Mexican
Algusto Tortilla & Salsa
Best Place To Buy One-Of-A-Kind Greeing Cards
Cherie’s Eklectika
Most Refreshingly Off-the-Cuff Sideline Quote
Cadillac Williams
Best Place to Buy From Local Designers
Neo Trash
Best Place to Eat at the Bar
Restaurant BT
Best $6 Dickies Cap
Army Navy Surplus Market
Best Late-Night Gyro
Angie’s
Best Place to Witness the Ironic Distance Between Expectation and Reality
St. Pete Catholic High School
Best Spanish Grocery
El Grande One Stop Supermarket
Best Bay Area Tech Head
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
Best Singer-Songwriter
Geri X
Best Exhibit at a Gallery
Tie: Metal, Leather, Resin, Wax at Bleu Acier and Twist & Shout/Unrestricted at Florida Craftsman
Best Expensive Obsession
Hillsborough County’s Anti-Nudity Crusade
How do I find out what the people of any given year are doing, eating, reading, liking, hating?
To see part I of CL3000’s letter, click here. I always turn to Creative Loafing. Creative Loafing. It’s funny, when I first traveled back to 2006, I thought my Vortex Widget was malfunctioning; the paper had changed its name to Weekly Planet in 1994, and when I saw the Loafing tag reappear I initially wondered…
Best Thrift Store for Fashionistas: St. Pete
Salvation Army
Best New Political Blog
The State of Sunshine by Jim Johnson
Best Place to Stock Up on Paint Brushes
Central Art Supply Company
Best Chicken Wings
The Italian Way
Best Local Music Scene Stalwart
Martin Rice
Best Cigar Store
La Herencia de Cuba
Best Play
The Goat, Jobsite Theatre
Best Pie (Sweet)
Sweet Potato Pie at Connie’s Bar-B-Q
Best Travel Agent
Rebecca Falkenberry, Hills Travel Service
Worst Local Politician
Ronda Storms
Best Old-Fashioned Hardware Store
St. Pete Beach Hardware
Best Bloody Mary Bar
Café Alma
Best CL Staff Colonoscopist
Dr. John Stauffer
Most Deeply Ingrained Smell of Vomit in a Bar Bathroom
The Brass Mug
Best Free Educational Tour (That’s Fun, Too)
SeaPort Adventure Tour
Best Seafood Restaurant
Bonefish Grill
Best Dentist
Sebastian J. Castellano, D.D.S., P.A.
Best Local Print Journalist
Howard Troxler
Best Alternative to an Egg McMuffin
Baked egg soufflés at Panera
Biggest Waste of Tax Money
Ronda Storms
Worst Cultural Setback
The demise of Sunrise Cinema
Best Way to Win Friends and Lose Customers at the Same Time
Opening day at Chipotle in SoHo
Best Sushi
Jo-To Japanese Restaurant
Best Underdog Victory
Jack Day
Best Neighborhood Mix
Peg’s Pizza-Cantina
Best Morning Muffin (Human)
Channel 8’s Denise Moore
Best Local Cultural Website
SoHo Tampa
Best Costume Designer
Amy J. Cianci
Best Art Marketing
Creative Clay
Best Party District
Ybor City
Best show of Political Connections
St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker
Best Late-Night Eats (Ybor)
Tacos at Mema’s Alaskan Tacos
Best Incessant Fringe-Culture Rumor
The Bro Bowl’s Imminent Demise
Soon-to-be-Best-Loved Local Athlete
Cadillac Williams
Best Improvement to What was Already a Great Airport
Newfangled parking lots at TIA
Best Place to Feel Like a Tourist
John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk
Best Devil Rays Player
Carl Crawford
Best Kept Secret
Sully’s Beach Gameland
Best Thrift Store for Fashionistas: Tampa
Soho Sal’s
Best Local Political TV Show
Flashpoint, ABC Action News Channel 28
Best Neighborhood
Seminole Heights
Best Martini
Blue Martini
Best Udon
Satsuki Japanese Restaurant
Best Produce Stand
Josh Adams Produce, St. Petersburg
Best Festival
Gasparilla
Best Live Music Venue
Jannus Landing
Best Slumlord
Scott W. Snow
Best Local CD
When You Get Lost on Those Brick Streets, Military Junior
Best Train-Wreck Show
The Detroit Cobras, Feb. 9, The Orpheum
Best New Restaurant
Primi Urban Café
Best High-End Salad Bar
Armani’s Antipasti Bar
Best Thai
Thai Sweet Basil
Best Quiche
Buffalo Steakhouse
Best Chain Dining
Mellow Mushroom Pizza
Best Martini Garnish
Dirty Octopus, Samurai Blue
Best Beer Selection
New World Brewery
Best Way to Piss Off the Cycling Community
Tell them they look dorky in spandex
Best Ice Cream
Tanya & Matt’s Ice Creamiest
Best Mom’s-in-Town Scenic Drive
Roser Park
Best Place to Feel Superior to Tourists
Clearwater’s Pier 60
Best Soul Food
Atwater’s Cafeteria
Best Onion Rings
The Press Box
Best Exercise Class
Brian Gadson’s Aerobics Workout at the Y
Best Dance Club
The Castle
Best Outfitters
Bill Jackson
Best Hookah Lounge
Meridian Hookah Lounge
Best Pub Porch
Limey’s
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Road Rage
The 8th Street N./Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Junction in St. Pete
Best Gym/Health Club
Lifestyles Family Fitness
Best Empanada
Mr. Empanada
Best New Band
The Dry County
Best New Restaurant That Didn’t Make It
Surreal Bowl
Best Day Spa
Kennedy Salon & Day Spa
Best Car Salesman
Aretta Sevastakis
Best Mouth of the South
eFFex
Best Local (and Laughable) Anti-Immigrant Group
The Tampa Bay Minutemen
Best Non-Musical Local Music Scene Trend
Bass Players as Brewmasters
Best Hurricane-Be-Damned Programming
Ford Amphitheatre
Best Place to Make a Friend at a Tasting
Charlie’s Wine Cellar
Best Produce
Sweetwater Organic Community Farm
Best Lightning Player
Martin St. Louis
Best Place to Take a Class
The Arts Center
Best Thing About Hurricane Hysteria
Impromptu geography lessons
Best Quick Recovery
The Guzzo Brothers
Best Dinosaur (Rock) Exhibit
Largo Cultural Center
Best Exhibit That’s Still Open
Vik Muniz: Reflex at USF CAM
Best Local TV Reporter
Gayle Sierens
Best Happy Hour
Chili’s
Best Place to Use Dinner as a Grassroots Political Statement
Grass Root Organic Restaurant
Most Committed Pro-War Protesters
Bayshore Patriots
Best Rims
RZ Motoring
Most Arrests for a Political Operative
Peter Schorsch
Best Indie Bar
New World Brewery
Best Road to Killed On
U.S. 19 Between Park Boulevard and Pasco County
Best Place to Find a Hooker
34th Street and Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
Best Dive Bar
The Hub
Best Outdoor Dining
Cafe DuFrain
Best Actress
April Bender
Best Sports Bar
Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill
Best Pub to Hate On Out of Reverse Snobery
The Independent
Best Homage
Miles Doran’s “Living Life the Free Way”
Best Director
Kerry Glamsch
Best Local Blog
Sticks of Fire
Best Miso Soup
Grass Root Organic Restaurant
Best Theater Company
Tie: Jobsite Theater and Stageworks
Best Frat Party Flashback
MacDinton’s
Best Rock Climbing Venue
Vertical Ventures
Best Place to Light Up and Nosh
Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, St. Petersburg
Best Place to Tap Your Inner Mexican
RoCo Traders
Best Pizza
Westshore Pizza
Best Political Bumper Sticker
“You may not want me, but you need me!” – Joe Redner
Best Dim Sum
Sidebern’s
Best Place to Get Beaten By Your Lady at Pool
Central Billiards
Best Architectural Facelift
Mahaffey Theater
Best Slightly Out-of-the-Way Cheap Drinks
Steve’s Tavern
Best Chef
Chris Cresanta at Cafe Dufrain
Best Wurst
Schiller’s German Delicatessen
Best Programming
The Studio@620
Best New Wine Concept
Vino 100
Best Catfight
Pinellas School Board’s Mary Russell vs. Nancy Bostock
Best Local Winery
Florida Orange Groves Winery
Best Place to Bring the Family Bowling
Ten Pin Lanes
Best Funky Half-Block: A Requiem
St. Pete’s Central Avenue from Sixth Street to Daddy Kool
Best Achievement in Another Subpar Devil Rays Season
Scott Kazmir Shuts Out Red Sox
Hippest Wine Tastings
Tampa Bay Uncorked
Best Flea Market
Wagon Wheel Flea Market
Best BBQ
Sonny’s Real Pit Barbeque
Best Non-Chain Italian
Bella’s Italian Cafe
Best Smelly Tourist Gift
A Sea Sponge from the Tarpon Springs dock
Best Concert at a Large Venue
Steely Dan, Ford Ampitheatre, Aug. 10
Best Liquor Store
B-21 Fine Wines & Spirits
Best Place to Shop the World
International Bazaar
Best Proof That St. Pete is Still a Small Town
Special-Event Traffic and Parking
Best Unexpected Pooch Parade
Purina Incredible Dog Challenge
Best Crafts
Florida Craftsmen Gallery
Best Actor
Steven Clark Pachosa
Best Bad Idea
Tampa’s Riverwalk
Best Club: Rap/Hip Hop
Full Moon Saloon
Best Do-It-Yourself
Acafool
Best Chicken
Ponte’s Tuscan Grill
Best Reason to Ask Questions and Demand Answers
Ybor City Noise Ordinance Enforcement
Best Art Fair
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (with props to Booty)
Best Full-Service Gas Station
Bob Lee’s
Best Waitstaff
Cafe DuFrain
Best Gourmet Market
Fresh Market
Best Food as WMD
Tropical Sunburn, Coconut Bay
Best Pie (Savory)
Sedanini Alla Bella Brava at Bella Brava
Worst Idea for Renovating the Armory
Ronda Storms’ “Homeless Shelter” option
Best Anticipated Makeover
Ballast Point Park
Best Place to Get Orange Twist Soft Serve
Sun Grove Inc.
Best Haircut
New Team Salon at J.CON
Saddest Arts Trend
Tampa Bay’s cultural brain drain
Runaway Media Trend
The Proliferation of Free Papers
Best Exhibit at a Museum
Will Boys Be Boys? at GCMA
Best Bouncer
Derek at the Garden
Best Lunch Pig-Out
Wright’s Gourmet Café
Best News About the Tampa Museum of Art
Bye-bye, Beer Can
Best Shake
Snack City
Best Frat Party Spillover
The Dubliner
Best Wine Shop That’s Isn’t Vintage Wine Cellars
Wine Warehouse
Best Late-Night Eats (Downtown Tampa)
Fries at Fly
Best Friday Night Dance Party
Rocksteady@8 at Yeoman’s Road Pub
Best Coffee
Latitude 23.5 Coffee & Tea
Most Welcome Departure from the Hillsborough County Commission
Ronda Storms; possible runner-up Thomas Scott
Best Local Author
Raymond Arsenault
Best Fortress of Solitude
The Tampa Streetcar
Best Grouper Variation
Athenian Grouper at Acropolis
Best Public Art
Lights On Tampa
Best Art Gallery
Covivant Gallery
Best Urban Craft Fair
Crafting Out Loud
Best Plumber
Gary Forbes, Forbes Plumbing
Best Temporary Skyline
Tie: Tampa and St. Petersburg
Best Unnecessary Reminder You’re Out of Touch with What the Kids Are Into These Days
Underoath @ State Theatre, June 20
Best-Loved Local Athlete
Mike Alstott
Best Set Designer
Scott Cooper
Best Auto Repair
Goodyear
Best Condiment
Chile Garlic Sauce, China Yuan
Best Radio DJ
MJ at 93.3FLZ
Best Sounding Venue
Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Best Jukebox
Abbey Road Pub
Best Culture Clash
Acho Brother
Best Monologuist
Bridget Bean
Best Cheap Eats
Taco Bell
Best Media Hog
Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair
Best Club: Dance
The Castle
Best Boondoggle
The Four-County Sprawlway
Best Asian
PF Chang’s
Best Vegetarian
Evo’s
Best Strip Club
Mons Venus
