On September 16, Creative Loafing releases The Best of the Bay , the annual blockbuster issue in which CL readers, writers and editors celebrate the highs (and the lows) of life in Tampa Bay.
But if you can't wait till Wednesday, you can get a sneak peek of the results tonight at the Best of the Bay Awards party, aka The Loafies. The results in selected Readers' Poll races will be announced for the first time during the party (and won't be announced in CL's print edition until next week), so if you attend you'll really be the first on your block to know the whole story of Best of the Bay 2009.
Here are the finalists in the Readers' Poll categories for which awards are being presented tonight:
The finalists in each Readers' Poll category are listed in alphabetical order. The winners will be revealed tonight at the Best of the Bay Awards Party at the Creative Loafing offices in Tampa.
Best Local Politician
Mayor Rick Baker
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio
Worst Local Politician
Rick Baker
Brian Blair
Ronda Storms
Best Local Troublemaker
Bubba the Love Sponge
The Hogan Family
Joe Redner
Best Neighborhood, Hillsborough
Davis Islands
Seminole Heights
SoHo/Hyde Park
Best Neighborhood, Pinellas
Downtown St. Petersburg
Historic Kenwood
Old Northeast
Greenest Activist
Jason Green
Darden Rice
Mariella Smith
Best Actress
Kari Goetz
Meg Heimstead
Julie Rowe
Best Actor
Richard Coppinger
Eric Davis
Patrick Wilson
Best Local Band
Roppongis Ace
The Stick Martin Show
Tribal Style
Best Fashion Designer
Ben Chmura
Ivanka Ska
TS Rootswear
Best Chef
Chris Greer, Queenshead Eurobar
Domenica Macchia (formerly of Diner 437, now Bella Brava)
Chris Ponte, Cafe Ponte
Best New Restaurant
Datz Deli
Diner 437
Queenshead Eurobar
Best Stripper, Female
Mia at Thee Dollhouse
Natasha at Vegas Showgirls
Shannon at Mons Venus
Best Stripper, Male
Juan at Chelsea
Brian LaMarre
Ronda Storms in drag
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2000.

