BEST KARAOKE
Wilson's Sports Lounge
Karaoke isn't just about the singing; it's about the atmosphere and the people-watching, too. And while you can hear singers talented and terrible at Mugs 'N Jugs while chowing down on some wings, it's just more fun to round up a gaggle of friends and experience the good, the bad and the ugly on a weekend at Wilson's. The bar is only nominally a "sports lounge." In actuality, it's a dive, one of our favorites, and that makes for a much more eclectic environment, one where an anonymous trailer-park diva might give up a note-perfect Celine Dion cover right before a dude who might or might not be homeless absolutely, hilariously chokes on the lyrics to "Baby Got Back." Plus, there's often a gaggle of local musicians in the place, one-upping each other and egging their friends on. 3030 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-895-4219.
BEST CONCERT VENUE FOR BASEBALL FANS
Bright House Networks Field
The Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson show on Memorial Day weekend — the third concert in the Clearwater stadium's short history — was a blissful break from the Jannus/Eckerd/Ford Amp circuit for big acts. They let you plop down in the outfield, right on the grass, and even if the music left something to be desired (see: Dylan), you could pass the time imagining the incredible catches you'd make if the Phillies would ever give you a shot. Add to that decent beer prices and a great view of the sunset, and Bright House Networks Field becomes a near perfect place to see a show. 601 Old Coachmen Road, Clearwater, www.threshersbaseball.com/field.html.
BEST PLACE TO BUY A GUITAR AND THE LATEST ISSUE OF AQUAMAN
Green Shift Music & Comics
The original Green Shift specialized in electronic repairs and offered second-hand musical instruments on an occasional basis only. The owner retired in the early 1980s and sold his business to then-employee Donald Taylor, who began stocking a greater selection of musical instruments as well as a small assortment of comic books. He ultimately opened a larger showroom (the current location) on Nebraska Avenue, dedicating a generous portion of its maze-like interior to new, used and vintage musical instruments, amps, accessories, and an array of note-related gadgets and books. Meanwhile, the demand for comics grew so significantly that the collection soon overtook the store's other half. Nowadays, Green Shift stocks over 200,000 new and back-issue comics, Manga comics, graphic novels and non-sports cards, as well as memorabilia of all sorts, action figures (from Homer Simpson to Jerry Garcia), fiction and nonfiction books, DVD and VHS movies, imported toys, T-shirts and other random must-haves. 5226 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-238-4177, www.greenshiftmusic.com.
BEST USE OF PREVIOUSLY DEAD SPACE
Flight 19 Gallery
The long, rectangular room has a wide-open feel with its high ceilings and exposed brick walls, and aside from a lack of air conditioning and plumbing, serves as the ideal setting for a tasteful (or madcap) art happening. Sadly, there's no telling how long the converted baggage building will be available for use as an art space. It belongs to the City of Tampa and is used free of charge by artist collective Experimental Skeleton as a space to display artwork and host artsy happenings — but only as long as it takes for the city to find a paying tenant. Union Station, 601 Nebraska Ave., downtown Tampa, 813-238-5910, www.experimentalskeleton.com.
BEST INEXPENSIVE ART
Rock 'n' Roll Swap Meet
The swap meet portion of this annual spring-time event takes a backseat to killer local tunes both in and outside Rick's ACL, but there are indeed bargains to be had at them thar tables. We've snapped up works by Natty Moss Bond, Valeri Rose, Dan MacLeod, Carrie Price and a half dozen other known and emerging local artists — never paying more than $40 (often just $5 or $10). And our living room walls have never looked better. Rick's ACL, 1750 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-823-6183. The Swap Meet occurs every April; keep your eyes peeled to the Planet 'round springtime.
BEST NEW PUBLIC SPACE
Airside C, Southwest terminal, TIA