Best of The Bay 2007
Creative Loafing readers and editors have been selecting The Best of the Bay since 1990. But it was only recently that we started bringing the winners…
BEST CORNED BEEF
Fred Fleming’s Famous Bar-B-Que
BEST BOUTIQUE LIQUOR STORE
American Spirits
BEST THEATER COMPANY
Jobsite Theater
BEST DISCOVERY
Blind Buddy Moody
BEST BOLOGNAISE
Primi Urban Café
MOST DISAPPOINTING BEACH LOSS
Bamboo Beer Garden in Madeira Beach
HOTTEST SEAT
Jon Gruden
BEST FREE OFFER FROM A POLITICIAN
Joe Redner’s Get-Out-the-Vote Effort
BEST SOUNDTRACK FOR DITCHING WORK EARLY ON FRIDAY
The Rhythm Vault on WMNF (88.5), 2-4 p.m. Fridays
BEST LUNCH DEAL FOR A TRUE CHEAPSKATE
Whaley’s Market
BEST TAKE-OUT BELLY BUSTER
One-Pound Burgers, Chavez At Home
BEST INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS FESTIVAL
Ybor Festival of the Moving Image
BEST PLACE FOR POLITICAL AND CIVIC LEADERS TO MEET FOR COFFEE
Seminole Heights Starbucks
DIVIEST OF THE DIVE BARS
Molly’s Place
BEST PLACE TO GAWK AT THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS
Starbucks in SoHo
People & Politics
Readers’ poll winners Best Local Politician Mayor Pam Iorio Worst Local Politician Ronda Storms Biggest Waste of Tax Money (Tie) Riverwalk/ Tampa Museum of Art Best Local Newspaper Reporter Wayne Garcia, Creative Loafing Best Local Columnist Howard Troxler, St. Petersburg Times Best Local TV Anchor Gayle Sierens, WFLA NewsChannel 8 Best Local TV News Reporter…
BEST ARTFUL PROTESTS
Kiley Gardens and Project: Home
MOST SURPRISING SUCCESS FOR A BAR GIMMICK
Dwarf Wrestling at the James Joyce Pub
BEST CONTEMPORARY PROTEST SONG
“Flowers on the Chains,” Lorna Bracewell
BEST HARDCORE LESBIAN RAP GROUP
Yo Majesty
BEST NEW BAND
Have Gun, Will Travel
BEST “NEW” KID ON THE BLOCK
Beach Theater
BEST POLITICAL SPIN
St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker and Police Chief Chuck Harmon
BEST CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH
Macadamian Chicken Salad Croissant at Seven 17 South
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A POLITICAL NEWCOMER
Tampa City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern
BEST SET DESIGNER
R. T. Williams
WE REALLY, REALLY LOAF YOUThank yous for our first Best of the Bay Awards Show
Somewhere around 7 p.m. the night of The Loafies — about a half an hour before Tampa Theatre was scheduled to open its doors — David Jenkins of Jobsite Theater saw me standing by the stage looking frazzled (I believe I had an armful of Cuban bread at the time) and asked if there was…
BEST SIGN WE HOPE NEVER GETS TORN DOWN
World Liquors, St. Petersburg
BEST UNDERGROUND ART SCENE THAT COULD’VE BEEN
The Ybor Cigar Theater
MOST VIGILANT CREATIVE LOAFING READER
David DalCason
BEST PLACE TO BUY USELESS CRAP
The Magic Mall
MOST IGNORED ISSUE
St. Pete’s race relations
BEST NEW MUSIC VENUE
Crowbar
BEST THRIFT STORE (LARGE)
Community Thrift Store
BEST PARK (ING LOT)
Al Lopez Park
BEST ROMANTIC RAP SONG BY A LOCAL ACT
“French Vanilla,” Blac Soap
Arts & Entertainment
Readers’ poll winners Best Theater Troupe American Stage Best Local Actor Richard Coppinger Best Local Actress Eileen Koteles Best Visual Artist Amanda Stiles Best Art Gallery STUDIO @620 Best Museum The Salvador Dalí Museum Best Standup Comedian Steve Arik Best Local Band Giddy-Up, Helicopter! Best Local Singer-Songwriter Rebekah Pulley Best Local Hip-Hop Act The Stick…
BEST LIQUOR SUPERMARKET
Lueken’s Liquors
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER
Katrina Stevenson
MOST TREACHEROUS INTERSECTION (HILLSBOROUGH)
Adamo Drive E. and I-75
BEST NONPROFIT ARTS AGENCY
Creative Clay
BEST PLACE TO BUY $1 kitsch & $10,000 folk art
Hong Kong Willie’s
BEST CONTEMPORARY DANCE PROJECT
Trisha Brown’s Residency
BEST WAY TO GIVE HILLSBOROUGH THE REPUTATION AS A BACKWOODS, INTOLERANT REDNECK COUNTY (AGAIN)
Sons of Confederate Veterans’ Flags Across Florida proposal
BEST REASON TO SUPPORT ROTC
The Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps of St. Petersburg
BEST PIZZA SUBSTITUTE
Garlic Chicken Naan, Laziz Authentic Indian Cuisine
MOST ORNERY SEPTUAGENARIAN
Cam Oberting
BEST ACTOR
Steve Garland
BEST PLACE TO DRINK CHEAP BEER AND WATCH BONANZA
Tiny Tap Tavern
BEST DRESSED
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White
BEST TEQUILA SELECTION
Zapata’s Authentic Mexican
BEST THAI FOOD
Wat Tampa Food Fair
BEST DRUMMER
Alex Fedele, Auto!Automatic!!
SCRAPPIEST THEATER COMPANY
Hat Trick Theatre
WORST DOUBLE BOOKING
The MacDill Air Show & St. Pete Grand Prix
BEST LOCAL POLITICAL BLOG
Pushing Rope
BEST HONKY TONK
Dallas Bull
MOST HYPED POLITICAL CONSULTANT
Mitch Kates
BEST RESTAURANT
Café Ponte
BEST WAY TO SPEND AN ARTSY SATURDAY NIGHT
Second Saturday Gallery Walk
BEST HISTORIC BUILDING
The Cuban Club
MOST OSTENTATIOUS USE OF POLITICAL CASH
Ralph Hughes’ $1 million committee
MOST TREACHEROUS INTERSECTION (PINELLAS)
U.S. 19 and Gulf To Bay Boulevard
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Savannah’s Café
BEST ONSTAGE DRAMA
The Beauvilles @ Dave’s Aqua Lounge
BIGGEST PERSONNEL BLUNDER
The Devil Rays and Josh Hamilton
BEST THRIFT STORE (SMALL)
Earthly Treasures at the Hillsborough United Methodist Church of Thonotosassa
BEST OPEN-AIR MARKET
City Produce
BEST STEAK AT A MEXICAN JOINT
Z Grille
BEST RAP CREW
The Umbrella Corporation
BEST DIRECTOR
Anna Brennen
BEST JOURNALISTS (PRINT)
Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite, St. Petersburg Times
BEST $5 MOJITO
Carmine’s
BEST CAMPAIGN STUNT THAT BACKFIRED
Joe Redner’s get-out-the-vote effort
BEST LAID-OFF MOVIE CRITIC
Bob Ross
BEST CHEF TO WATCH
Daniel Womack, Tedesco’s Grillside
BEST IN DRAWING
Claudia Ryan
Urban Exploring
Readers’ poll winners Best Neighborhood: Hillsborough Seminole Heights Best Neighborhood: Pinellas Old Northeast Best Beach Clearwater Beach Best Party District Ybor City Best Sports Bar Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill Best Dance Club The Castle Best Gay/Lesbian Bar Georgie’s Alibi Best Strip Club Mons Venus Best Blog Sticks of Fire Best Kept Secret Kaleisia Tea…
BEST WINE LIST
Fly Bar and Restaurant
WORST STOMPING OF A CITIZEN GROUP’S REQUEST
Mayor Rick Baker
BEST EXAMPLE OF NOT FITTING IN
La Fogata
BEST WITCH HUNT
Largo City Commission’s handling of the Steve-to-Susan Stanton affair
BIGGEST LITTLE BAR
Fuma Bella
BEST LOCAL FILM FESTIVAL
Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
BEST INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER
Tampa Theatre
BEST INDEPENDENT WINE SHOP THAT ISN’T VINTAGE WINE CELLARS
Bern’s Fine Wine and Spirits
BEST ARBORIST
Dependable Dan, Treedom Tree Service
BEST SANCTUARY
The Spring of Tampa Bay
BEST TAILOR
Ben’s Custom Tailoring
BEST GAY KARAOKE
Azalea Lounge
BEST DEPARTMENT STORE CAFETERIA
Café Bistro at Nordstrom
Food & Drink
Readers’ poll winners Best New Restaurant Fly Best Splurge Restaurant Bern`s Best Bargain Restaurant La Teresita Best Barbecue Restaurant Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q Best Sushi Restaurant Samurai Blue Best Italian Restaurant Carrabba’s Italian Grill Best Asian Restaurant Jasmine Thai Best Mexican Restaurant Vallarta’s Restaurante Best Vegetarian Restaurant Sweet Tomatoes Best Cuban Sandwich La Teresita Best…
BEST AFTERNOON CAFFEINE RUSH
Indigo Coffee
BEST LEGISLATIVE IDEA
A regional approach to solving transportation problems
BEST NEW JOB DESCRIPTION
Jack Holloway directs
BEST BAD LUCK
The Bucs draft
BEST SANDWICH BREAD
Mazzaro’s Italian Market
WORST TRAFFIC JAM
The five miles around Tampa International Airport
BEST DELI IN ST. PETE
Corned Beef Corner
BEST EXHIBIT IN A MUSEUM
The Art Guys @ Tampa Museum of Art
BEST AUTO SERVICE TOUCH
Free Windshield Wiper Installation at Advance Auto Parts
BEST REALTOR
Randy Clunn, Keller Williams
BEST NOT-SO-SECRET GARDEN
Kapok Gardens at the Kapok Tree Pavilion
BEST USED FURNITURE
Déjà Vu Consignment Furniture
BEST NEW SOURCE FOR COOL NEW FURNITURE
Miami Modern
BEST PLACE TO FORGET THAT TROPICANA FIELD IS OUTMODED
Whitney Bank Club
BEST OVERALL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Trombone Shorty at Tropical Heatwave
BEST SALT-AND-PEPPER CALAMARI
Yummy House
BEST LOCAL BLOG
St. Petersblog
BEST HOMAGE
My City Fashions
BEST MINI-CONCERT
Steve Connelly & the Lesser Gods at WMNF’s Americana Fest
BEST LOCAL MUSIC SCENE STALWART
Natty Moss Bond
BEST PLACE TO DRINK WINE ABOVE IT ALL
A Taste for Wine
BEST PLACE TO PICK UP A RANDY BUSINESWOMAN
Jackson’s Bistro
BEST PUNK BAND
Car Bomb Driver
BEST PLACE TO FIND YOUR NEIGHBOR’S MUG SHOT
Cellmates newspaper
BEST CHAIN WINE SHOP
Total Wine and More
BEST BITE OF OLD FLORIDA
Terra Ceia Mullet Smoke-Off
BEST BEER AND CHEESE TASTING
Beer Cheese Dip and Beer Cheese Soup, Tampa Bay Brewing Company
BEST SURPRISE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Patrick Bettison
BEST WAY TO HATE ON THE EARTH
Drink Bottled Water
SADDEST FILM-RELATED R.I.P. OF THE YEAR
Tampa International Film Festival
BEST KISSER
Hillsborough Tax Collector Doug Belden
BEST FINE-DINING BUZZ-KILL
Television
BEST ADDITION TO GULFPORT’S RESTAURANT ROW
Peg’s Pizza-Cantina
BEST CITY PLAGUE
Ducks in Kenneth City
BEST CULINARY RESURRECTION
Malio’s Prime
BEST MORTGAGE CONSULTANT
Jay Doty, Countrywide Home Loans
BEST PLACE TO NURSE A HANGOVER
Dave’s Restaurant
BEST BADASS
Edson Berto
BEST “PERFORMANCE” BY AN OLD POLITICIAN
Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Miller
BEST GIANT VISAGE
The giants of Skytower 13
BEST ACTRESS
Ami Sallee Corley
BEST LOCAL FILM SERIES
Eckerd College’s International Cinema Series
BEST DÉJÀ VU CONDO PROJECT
Element
BEST PLACE TO HEAR LOCAL MUSIC ONLINE
SMAsh Radio
BEST PAMPHLET: ANTI-GOD
Normal Bob Smith Ministries
BEST SPORTS SCOOP
Elijah Dukes Goes Around the Bend, St. Petersburg Times
BEST BIG VENUE THAT GETS SLAGGED BY MUSIC SNOBS
Ford Amphitheatre
BEST JOURNALIST (BROADCAST)
Mark Douglas, Newschannel 8 (NBC)
BEST ACTION SEQUENCE
The Bleepin’ Truth, TBCN
BEST THEATER NEWS
New Homes for American Stage and Stageworks
MOST COMFORTABLE WAY TO SAVE THE PLANET
Shirts of Bamboo
BEST NEW OPEN MIC NIGHT
Tre Amici @ The Bunker
Goods and Services
Readers’ poll winners Best New Store Kohl’s Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor Atomic Tattoos Best Personal Trainer Tim Ganley of Sculptured Bodies Best Day Spa Safety Harbor Spa & Resort Best Men’s Clothing Men’s Wearhouse Best Women’s Clothing Nordstrom Best Vintage Clothing La France Best Bookstore Barnes & Noble Best Clothing Designer Ben Chmura Best Veterinarian Dr.…
BEST WINE TASTINGS
ABC Fine Wine and Spirits
BEST EVENT THAT SHOULD’VE BEEN ON C-SPAN
FCC Hearing at TBPAC
MOST POLARIZING FIGURE
Bruce Wright
BEST TOURIST ACTIVITY FOR LOCALS
The Dolphin Encounter
BEST NEW CONVENIENCE
Free parking in St. Pete
BEST SONG TO PLAY FOR PROSPECTIVE TRANSPLANTS
“Gun Shine State,” Black Reign
BEST BEER SELECTION IN A BAR
The Independent
BEST IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Carlton Ward Jr.
BEST FREAKY MOMENT (AMONG MANY)
Edwin Jackson gets beaned
BEST LOCAL CD
The Ditchflowers, Carried Away
BEST RISKY PROGRAMMING
Casa Blue
BEST NEWS FOR NEW URBAN FURNITURE HOUNDS
Tampa City Council votes “yes” on Ikea
FRESHEST REPORTING ON ST. PETE
Points South
MOST EMBARRASSING TURNOUT FOR AN ARTS EVENT
Music Premieres at the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image
BEST CHEESY URBAN CAMOUFLAGE
That gussied-up cell-phone tower
BEST ANNOUNCING TANDEM
Dewayne Staats and Joe Magrane
BEST OVERPRICED BBQ THAT’S WORTH THE MONEY
American Sunday Plate at Tropicana Field
BEST PROMOTED FILM FESTIVAL
Gasparilla Film Festival
BEST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Judith Lisi
BEST PLACE TO CATCH A FLICK ON OPENING NIGHT
Seminole 8 Theaters
BEST WAY TO KID YOURSELF THAT YOU’RE EATING HEALTHY
Mac ’n’ Cheese at Nature’s Harvest Market
SWEETEST SWEET SHOP
Sandy Gull’s Sweets
BEST ART CLASSES
The Arts Center
BEST WINES BY THE GLASS
Wine Exchange
BEST CHEAP, FRESH ROSES
La Vie en Rose
BEST IN WEARABLE ART
Frank Strunk III
BEST PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
Tampa’s Photographer Laureate
BEST FISH SANDWICH
Pane Rustica
BEST LEGS ON A FORMER CITY MANAGER
Susan Stanton
BEST PLACE TO STARGAZE
Madeira Beach Access
BEST DISCOUNTS
Catalogue Outlet Store
TACKIEST LOCAL COMMERCIALS
Kerr’s Winghouse
BEST IMPROMPTU A CAPPELLA RAP PERFORMANCE
Mr. Smith at Tampa Music Conference
BEST REGGAE BAND
Tribal Style
BEST IMAGINARY BUILDING
Trump Tower
BEST POLITICALLY CORRECT BREAKFAST
Uhuru Breakfast Oasis at Saturday Morning Market, St. Pete
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Elliott Hulse, Strength Camp & City Gym
BEST MOCHA
Schakolad
BEST DOG TRAINER
Lisa Lombardo of Bark & Browse
BEST WAY TO TURN US OFF TO A RESTAURANT BEFORE IT EVEN OPENS
Call it “Ooze and Schmooze”
BEST PLACE TO DO A HIGH-KICK FOR JESUS
Grace Martial Arts
BEST USE OF CONFETTI
The Flaming Lips at Jannus Landing
BEST BULLSHIT ARTIST
Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair
BEST CHIMNEY SWEEP
Robert Westerfield Jr.
BEST NEW FAST FOOD
Five Guys Burgers And Fries
BEST WAY TO MAKE A FRENCHMAN CRY
Cassoulet de la Mer and Pink Paint at Chateau France
BEST ADOPTED OUT-OF-TOWNERS
Modern Skirts
BEST ONGOING JAZZ PROGRAM
Jazz at the Gorilla
BEST PATH TO AN EARLY GRAVE FOR A FOOD CRITIC
The PZZA Challenge
BEST RADIO STATION FOR YOUR INNER GRANDPA
105.5 FM, “The Dove”
BEST PLACE TO HAVE SOMEONE EATING OUT OF YOUR HANDS
Lowry Park Zoo Giraffe Feeding
BEST NEW CURATOR
Izabel Galliera
BEST PAMPHLET: PRO-GOD
Living Waters
BEST PALM-FROND ROSE DEALER
Ybor City’s Joe Adams
BEST VEGETARIAN GREASE BOMB
Gregory Jones’ Veggie Burgers
BEST NEW PIZZA
Alessi Bakery
BEST PANCAKES
Middle Grounds Grill
BEST JESUS FREAK GONE OVER THE EDGE
Bill Keller
BEST USED BOOKS
Wilson’s Bookworld
BEST RADIO STATION FOR A TRAFFIC JAM
WLCC 760 AM
BEST COLLAPSE
Chateau Privé
BEST ETHNIC FOOD STORE
Oceanic Market
BEST IN PRINTMAKING
Marie Yoho Dorsey
BEST HIPPIE HANGOUT
Blueberry Patch
BEST CRAB CAKE
Crazy Conch Café
BEST PLAY
Frozen
BEST POP EXTRAVAGANZA
Justin Timberlake at the St. Pete Times Forum
BEST SUB
Chicken Parm at Eddie & Sam’s
BEST IDEA FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY
Noah’s Ark on Wheels
BEST IN SCULPTURE
(Tie) Allen Hampton/Liz Bryant
BEST PLACE WHERE MEAT MEETS MEAT
The Penthouse Club Steakhouse
BEST PLACE TO GET A BURGER AT 3 A.M.
J’s Grill
