For the Best of the Bay Awards Party 2017, click here!

What are YOUR favorite local people, places, artists, retailers, events, scandals, and more?

YOU nominated. YOU voted. Now, let's party! Join us to celebrate the Tampa Bay area's best at the Best of the Bay Awards Party presented by Tampa Bay Rowdies with an awards ceremony and food and drink samples from the best restaurants from around the Tampa Bay area!

Get your hands on a copy of CL's annual Best of the Bay issue a night early; sample your way around more than 25 food and drink stations; rub elbows with the locals who have made the Tampa Bay area an amazing place to live, work, and play; and much more!

Tampa Bay Rowdies present

Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Awards Party 2016

Wed., Sept. 28th | 6 to 9 p.m.

The Mahaffey Theater

400 1st St. S. in St. Pete

FEATURING SAMPLING BY:

Acropolis Greek Taverna
Greek Souvlaki Burgers, Hummus, & Greek Salad

Anise Global Gastrobar
Boozy Brownies

Backfin Blue Cafe
Puree of Roast Corn & Crab Chowder

Besito Mexican Restaurant
Freshmade Guacamole & Chips

Big Storm Brewing Co.
CL's Exclusive Best of the Bay Beer, Loafin Brau

BRGR Kitchen + Bar
Mini Bison Sliders

Casa Tina
Vegetarian Mole Poblano

Chef Inspired Popcorn
A variety of gourmet popcorn

Datz
Margarita Wars Winning Margarita, "Kelly Kapowski"

District Tavern
Mac 'n Cheese

Good Vibes Juice Co.
A variety of organic, cold pressed juice

Isabelle's Restaurant
Peninsula Pork Belly Bites

Jerk Hut
Jerk Chicken, Rice & Peas, Jerk Pork, & Plantains

Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Company
Hot Coffee, Iced Coffee, & Tea Sachets

Kahwa Coffee
A variety of coffee

Mangia Gourmet
Spicy Tuna Jicama Taco

Marchand's Bar & Grill
Lamb Cassoulet

Mini Doughnut Factory
A variety of mini doughnuts

New Belgium Brewing Company
A variety of New Belgium brews

Pipo's Cafe
Chicken Paella

Stella's
Stella's Gravalax & Bagel Chip

The Living Room on Main
Pineapple Mojo Chicken with Roasted Root Vegetable Hash & Pickled Red Onions

The Mill (VIP only)
Watermelon Bruschetta, Sweat Pea Hummus, & Blue Crab Croquettes

& MORE

PLUS POP UPS BY:

Ameriprise Financial

Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts
Current Initiatives

Daddy Kool Records
IKEA Tampa
Mahaffey Theater
Oktoberfest Tampa
Premier Photo Booths
Sarah Modene Photography
Tampa Bay Rowdies
TIGLIFF

& MORE

General Admission

$25 Adv. (Aug. 17th – Sept. 27th) | $30 Door (Sept. 28th)

Includes unlimited food & drink sampling from more than 25 of the Tampa Bay area's best, entry into the Best Of Ceremony, & more!

VIP

$100 (Aug. 17th – Sept. 27th) | $120 Door (Sept. 28th)

Includes unlimited food & drink sampling, a private VIP area where you can mix and mingle with some of Tampa Bay's key players,
two drinks, passed hors d'oeuvres (Watermelon Bruschetta, Sweet Pea Hummus, & Blue Crab Croquettes) by Chef Ted Dorsey (2015's BOTB Best Chef winner) and The Mill, dessert by Mini Doughnut Factory, a commemorative VIP bag, reserved seating for the Best Of Awards Ceremony, & more! VIP area pictured below.

Thanks to our sponsors and partners Tampa Bay Rowdies, New Belgium Brewing Company, Mini Doughnut Factory, Watch Your BAC, Dunedin Fine Art Center, City of St. Pete, Florida Print Solutions, The Mill, Chef Inspired Popcorn Company, The Bricks Ybor, Lyft, Premier Photobooths of Tampa, & Roundhouse Creative!

Need a ride to or from Best of the Bay 2016? We've teamed up with Lyft to help! First-time Lyft users, get your first ride free up to $20 by downloading the app, creating an account, and entering the code CLTAMPA in the 'Payment' section at checkout.