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
• Roppongi’s 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.
