We know there are a few disgruntled losers out there (and even a few disgruntled winners). But for the most part the response to our 21st Annual Best of the Bay Awards was heavy on the huzzahs and hallelujahs, not to mention heartfelt thank-you's. To which we say, "Thank you."
Here are some reactions to this year's BOTB that we found online.
From transcript, WFLA-TV, NewsChannel 8, Evening News with Stacie Schaible & Steve Jerve, Sept. 22
stacie: i have to ask ya, how does it feel? >>steve: what, my cold, my flu, what? >>stacie: no, i'm congratulating you because you were named one of the best in the bay by creative Loafing! we love our steve jerve! apparently their readers do, too, along with gayle sierens who was also voted top newscaster, and we have shannon behnken who is the best foreclosure watchdog. and "the tampa tribune," the best local paper that's hanging on despite all odds, the best local web site, tbo.com. it beat out Creative Loafing, the web site that actually put together the best of the bay. but, steve, we just wanted to really say congratulations to you. >>steve: thanks very much. thanks to the readers, obviously, and that great paper...
From Facebook page of Alayne Unterberger, Florida Institute for Community Studies
Wonderful news! CL really gets what FICS does! And they gave us YES ALL OF FICS an award last night for Best of the Bay. I urge you to go out and get a hard copy because there is a huge picture of me (....which you can laugh at.) I wondered where all those wrinkles came from till I came into work this am.
From Eric Deggans' St. Pete Times media blog, The Feed
Here's how much of a nerdy dad I am.
While the hipsters at Creative Loafing were announcing an award for me Wednesday in the ultra-cool Czar's Imperial Club in Ybor City, I was sitting at St. Pete High School listening to my daughter's teachers describe a new education program she would soon start.
I eventually made my way to the Czars, too late to hear what I'm told were some very nice words voiced by CL editor David Warner about my work, giving me a Loafies award for Best Voice in Local Media.
The Loafies are CL's annual local awards — now 21 years old, which explains all the free shots flowing at Czars Wednesday night — which are mostly a cool showcase for the most interesting stuff going on in the Tampa Bay area. Thumbing through this year's issue, I found myself making all kinds of mental notes on places to check out and things to try based on the awards listed...
From a Facebook message from Kira Jefferson, cheese guru at Sidebern's and CL columnist
It's Kira from SideBern's. Just wanted you to know that Chad {Johnson, critics' winner for Best Chef] and I were there tonight. We tried like hell to get on stage... Just too many peeps, but it is so important for us that you know we were there and appreciate our awards! We are so flattered and grateful. Please know we were there in person and still completley surprised...
From South Tampa Scoop on CL's Facebook page
I'm SO EXCITED to see we were one of the runners up for Best Local Facebook Page! We only started our page in April so I am sooooo sooo excited about this!
CORRECTIONS
The Readers' Poll winner for Best Dance Studio/Lessons was incorrectly listed as Reno Beach. The winner was Hip Expressions.
The Readers' Poll winner for Best Hotel was inadvertently omitted from the list along with the runners-up in that category. The winner was the Loews Don CeSar Hotel. The runners-up were, in order of votes received, Vinoy Renaissance Resort, Postcard Inn on the Beach and TradeWinds Resorts.
Two popular hangouts demonstrated a generous spirit. The winner of the Critic's Pick for Best Art Parties, The Bricks of Ybor, suggested that the award really belongs to Kick Start My Art's Chad and Suzie Cardoza, who throw the parties. The winner of the Critic's Pick for Best Open Mic, Cafe Hey, suggested that the award really belongs to Doorstop Productions, who organize the open mic nights. We'll adjust the awards accordingly.
The Critic's Pick winner for Best Jazz with a Side of Breakfast, The Hangar, presents jazz on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; the Al Downing Jazz Society plays there one Monday a month.
Eric Deggans, aforementioned winner of Best Local Voice for Media, pointed out in his blog that the Best of the Bay item about him contained "one tiny error — I have never been president of the National Association of Black Journalists, but served as president of that group's local chapter, the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists, for more than eight years." We've made the correction online.
