READERS' POLL THE READERS HAVE SPOKEN BY DAVID WARNER
Y
TODD BATES
ou’ve done it again. And then some. Approximately 17,000 of you voted in the 2010 Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll — a new record — casting 185,000 total votes in four categories. The biggest vote-getters were not exactly surprises — huge wins for USF, for instance, in Best Local College or University, and for the Tampa Bay Rays and Joe Maddon. (Raheem Morris, on the other hand — voted Worst Sports Coach — may have to earn your love.) We none-too-subtly tried to head off votes for big chains with hints like “The-Please-Not-Starbucks-Again Award,” but our efforts to retire another longtime BOTB champ didn’t work out quite so well: See the award for Best Troublemaker. Many new names surfaced in this year’s poll — from bikini designer Bunny Couture to the breakfast mavens at Pinky’s Diner. And an unusual thing happened on the culinary front: For the first time in memory, CL’s restaurant critic and CL readers chose the same person as Best Chef: Greg Baker of The Refinery in Seminole Heights. The results in two categories proved particularly heartening. Readers expressed surprisingly strong support for transit, whether high-speed or light-rail, in their votes for Best New Idea for Tampa Bay. And they showed their sympathy for the fallen TPD police officers Kocab and Curtis by posthumously voting them Local Heroes. The winners and runners-up in all the Readers’ Poll categories follow, the runners-up listed in descending order of votes received. In cases where there were close races, you’ll see more than two runners-up listed; in cases where the runner-up was far in front of the competition (except for the winner, of course), only one name is listed. We've also included some of the voters' choicest comments, their opinions (and their spellings) kept pure and unvarnished. Read. Enjoy. Argue. And thanks for voting.
Winner of the Readers' Poll for Best Local Fashion Designer, Bunny Couture, center, with models Jennifer Johnson (left) and Nikole Kristine wearing Couture's trademark sparkly bikinis.
cltampa.com | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | 63
PEOPLE
BEST LOCAL TV nEwSPERSOn
BEST BuCS PLAyER
BEST LOCAL TV wEATHERPERSOn
BEST LigHTning PLAyER
BEST LOCAL HEROES
Steve Jerve Runners-up: TIE: Dennis Phillips and Jim Weber Or: “The suspender guy”
& POLITICS Officers Jeff Kocab and Dave Curtis (in memoriam) Runners-up: Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, George Steinbrenner, Tony Dungy Other: “The 3 ladies who called 911 on the shooting of our 2 TPD officers”; “The 4-year-old who called 911 for his great grandmother”
BEST LOCAL POLiTiCiAn
Pam Iorio Runners-up: Mary Mulhern, Kevin Beckner, Charlie Crist, Kathy Castor The Second Coming: 12 votes for “Charlie Christ”
THE ROndA STORmS AwARd fOR wORST LOCAL POLiTiCiAn
Kevin White Runners-up: TIE: Charlie Crist and Jim Norman; Brian Blair Question: “can we still vote for rick baker?” Him again: 9 votes for “Charlie Christ”
THE JOE REdnER AwARd fOR BEST LOCAL TROuBLEmAkER
Joe Redner Runners-up: Bubba the Love Sponge, Peter Schorsch, Catherine Durkin Robinson Other: “my 3 y.o. son”; “it’s been pretty dull lately” Note: We didn’t want to give the Joe Redner Award to Joe Redner, but he blew away the competition. We now permanently retire the award; it’s Joe’s in perpetuity.
BEST nEigHBORHOOd, HiLLSBOROugH
Seminole Heights Runners-up: Hyde Park/South Tampa, Westchase
BEST nEigHBORHOOd, PinELLAS
Old Northeast Runners-up: Historic Kenwood, Dunedin, Gulfport
BEST BEACH
Fort DeSoto Beach Runners-up: Clearwater Beach, Pass-AGrille, St. Pete Beach
BEST nEw BuiLding Tampa Museum of Art Runners-up: Salvador Dali Museum, Signature Place Condominiums, Glazer Children’s Museum Comment: “We should probably stop building”
Gayle Sierens Runners-up: Brendan McLaughlin, Reginald Roundtree
BEST LOCAL COLumniST
Howard Troxler Runners-up: Ernest Hooper, Catherine Durkin Robinson, Eric Deggans
BEST CLTAmPA.COm COnTRiBuTOR
Catherine Durkin Robinson Runners-up: Mitch Perry, Amanda Allwood Comment: “None they all suck. You’re a bunch of Liberals!”
BEST LOCAL BLOggER
Catherine Durkin Robinson (Out in Left Field, Daily Loaf) Runners-up: W.B. Philip (Lightning Shout!), Miss Destructo
BEST LOCAL PERSOnALiTy TO fOLLOw On TwiTTER
Miss Destructo Runners-up: Jesse Scotto; TIE: Catherine Durkin Robinson and Cowhead Comment: “Anyone but Miss Destructo... please. 10, 000+ tweets and what does it fucking matter”
Ronde Barber Runners-up: Cadillac Williams, Barrett Ruud
Martin St. Louis Runners-up: Steven Stamkos, Vincent LeCavalier
BEST LOCAL RAdiO STATiOn
WMNF 88.5 FM Runners-up: 93.3 WFLZ FM; 97X
BEST LOCAL RAdiO PERSOnALiTy
Bubba The Love Sponge Runners-up: Rat Boy and Stay Puff; Rob Lorei
BEST PARk
Fort DeSoto Park Runners-up: Curtis Hixon Park, Vinoy Park
BEST wEEkEnd gETAwAy
The Mystery Monkey Runner-up: 1-800-AskGary Amphitheatre Comment: “s o many head hurts ! omg” Classic Florida: “Pasco Woman Sells Trailer that’s not hers...and knifes someone in jail”; “sex toy recycling in Pasco” Classic anywhere: “The lady pulled over for ‘shaving her privates’ while driving
BEST-kEPT SECRET
Orbit 19 Lounge Runners-up: Bula Kafe, Tempus Projects’ Secret Movie Lectures, Pink Credit Other: “My 3-space parking lot at Sunset Beach... and no I won’t say where it is!”; “how many people have tigers in their backyards. It’s true!” Many versions of: “not telling, it’s getting crowded already” and “im not telling! i dont need a gang of douche bags up in my spot”
BEST SPORTS COACH
Joe Maddon Runners-up: Urban Meyer, Tony Dungy
BEST nEw idEA fOR TAmPA BAy
wORST SPORTS COACH
Raheem Morris Runner-up: Jim Leavitt
64 | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | cltampa.com
BEST LOCAL SEx SCAndAL
BEST BizARRO LOCAL nEwS STORy
Orbit 19 Lounge Runners-up: Blue Martini, MacDinton’s Other: “my kitchen...pick up those dishes, bitch!”; “1:00 a.m.…any bar…”
Bulls Runners-up: Gators
Evan Longoria Runners-up: Carl Crawford, Carlos Peña
Orbit 19 Lounge Runners-up: At home, The Hub Other: “In my car as I drop his no car or license 32 year old ass off at work :)”; “If you can’t swing national TV… then facebook is a nice fall back”; “the police station...you never know!!”; Skyway Bridge
BEST PiCk-uP SPOT
BEST fLORidA COLLEgE TEAm
BEST RAyS PLAyER
Nova 535 Runners-up: Don CeSar Resort, the beach Typical comment: “DON’T DO IT!” The Vegas guy: “Again… Las Vegas, baby!!”
Kevin White Runners-up: Teachers having sex with kids; The Hogans Other: “BP screwing all of us” Dialogue: “Again....Anyone have the Gayle Guyardo pictures???????”; “Pathetic Question — Get a Life!!”
University of South Florida Runners-up: University of Tampa, Eckerd College
Tampa Bay Rays Runners-up: Buccaneers, Lightning
BEST PLACE TO gET mARRiEd
Anna Maria Island Runners-up: Don CeSar Resort, Fort DeSoto Most fun to say: “Tubing the Ichetucknee” Least likely to stay: “Las Vegas...handsdown....what you think Plant City can compete?”
BEST LOCAL COLLEgE OR uniVERSiTy
BEST LOCAL SPORTS TEAm
& checking things out in St. Pete, lunch/dessert at The Globe, then cocktails” Back-up plan: “Capital Grille… if the date sucks, at least you can get a great steak & wine...Roy’s too!!”
BEST PLACE TO BREAk uP
Valerie troyano
continued from page 63
BEST PLACE fOR A fiRST dATE
Ceviche
Ceviche Runners-up: Tampa Theatre, Vertical Ventures Other: “segway tour of downtown tampa”; “stroll on Bayshore”; “day of vintage shopping
High-speed rail Runners-up: Light rail, mass transit In other words: The overwhelming sentiment among BOTB voters was, “Let’s get going with transit already!”
wORST nEw idEA fOR TAmPA BAy
Moving the Rays Runner-up: Nothing else came close
Most overrated thing about taMpa bay The weather Runners-up: Ybor City, sports teams, strip clubs, beaches Booster of the Month: “Nothing is overrated. Tampa is great.” Ouch: “The fact that Creative Loafing acts like they’re important to the Community!!”
Most underrated thing about taMpa bay
The beaches Runners-up: Ybor, Downtown St. Pete, the arts scene Other: the friendly toll-booth operators”; “That Babe Ruth and Jack Kerouac both lived here for decades”; “the amazing volume of talented professionals willing to work for rates lower than normal to live here…”; “flipflops” Exclamation points: “The RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!”; “Lack of oil on our beaches!”; “Its Beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”; “everything!!!””
GOODS
& SERVICES best Clothing boutique, FeMale
Dara Lauria Runners-up: Georgette’s Fashions, MISRED Outfitters
best Clothing boutique, Male
Urban Body Runners-up: Monaco Boutique, Sacino’s Formalwear
best loCal Fashion designer
Bunny Couture Runners-up: Judy Tampa, Raven Reda, Ben Chmura
best vintage Clothing store
La France Runners-up: Sherry’s YesterDaze, Squaresville, Revolve Clothing Exchange Comment: “sorry,no spending 300 on a dress im BOUND to spill beer on anywho for me…”
best hair salon
Spa 801 Runners-up: The Hair Company, Mikel’s Salon, Bentley Salon
best spa
Spa 801 Runners-up: Safety Harbour Resort & Spa; Spa Jardin; Blue Lotus Day Spa; Glow
best tattoo artist
Keller, Classic Tattoos Runners-up: Angelo Nales, RedLetter1; Frankie D Comment: “That stupid fad is still going? Grow up people, its a life sentence of stupidity”
best gyM
YouFit Runners-up: LA Fitness, Lifestyle Family Fitness Comments: “It’s fun to stay at the YMCA”; “who works out?”
best plaCe to volunteer
SPCA, Largo Runners-up: Metropolitan Ministries, CASA, Humane Society
best bike shop
Flying Fish Bicycles Runner-up: Chainwheel Drive
best plaCe to take the kids
Lowry Park Zoo Runners-up: Busch Gardens, Disney World; TIE: Florida Aquarium and MOSI Comments: “a one way trip to Siberia”; “Anywhere that you spend time with them without a cell phone”; “OUTDOORS!”
best aniMal resCue organization
Big Cat Rescue Runners-up: ASPCA, Humane Society of Tampa Bay
best environMental organization
Tampa Bay Watch Runners-up: Sierra Club, Audubon Society Comment: “fucking oxymoron isn’t it?”
best eCo-Friendly store
Whole Foods Runners-up: Rollin’ Oats, Why Not/Sweet Emotion Boutique R.I.P.: The top vote-getters in this category were Whaley’s and Tampa Street Market, both of which are now closed.
best bookstore
Barnes & Noble Runners-up: Haslam’s Book Store, Inkwood Books
best publiC WiFi
Starbucks Runners-up: Tampa International Airport, Panera Bread, Wilson’s Book World Alternative: “My neighbor, who doesn’t password-protect.”
best sex shop
The Todd Runners-up: XTC SuperCenter, Shhh! Don’t
Tell Mama Superstore Comment: “I can’t believe you’re ranking this”
best head shop
High Tide Runners-up: Purple Haze, Wooden Nickel, Headzup Smoke Shop
best yoga studio
South Tampa Pilates Runners-up: Yogani, Yoga Energy Studio
best dry Cleaner
Sew Fast Runners-up: McNatt’s Cleaners, Sacino’s Fine Dry Cleaning Comment: “I sell skateboards. I don’t use drycleaning.”
FOOD & DRINK best CheF
Greg Baker, The Refinery Runners-up: Peter Leonavicius, Toasted Pheasant Bistro; Suzanne Crouch, Ella’s Comment: “Pia Goff from Pia’S Trattoria in Gulfport (she’s not only the best chef but she’s the prettiest chef, too ;-))”
best neW restaurant
Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café Runners-up: The Refinery, Toasted Pheasant Bistro, Burger Monger
best bargain restaurant
Pizzaiolo Bavaro Runners-up: La Teresita, The Refinery
best splurge restaurant
Bern’s Steak House Runners-up: Ocean Prime, SideBern’s, Mise en Place
best pizza
Pizzaiolo Bavaro Runners-up: Cappy’s Pizzeria, Mellow Mushroom, Sally O’Neal’s Pizza Hotline
best Wings
Hooters Runners-up: Beef O’Brady’s, Buffalo Wings ‘N Things, The Wing King
best burger
Five Guys Runners-up: El Cap, Square One Burgers
best Cuban sandWiCh
The Floridian Runners-up: La Teresita, Brocato’s Sandwich Shop
best seaFood restaurant
Mitchell’s Fish Market Runners-up: Bonefish Grill, Salt Rock Grill, Frenchy’s
best soul Food restaurant
Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café Runners-up: Unique Soul Food; Savannah’s Café; TIE: Mary’s Miracle Restaurant and New Soul Sandwich Shop
best steakhouse
Bern’s Steak House Runners-up: Charley’s Steak House, Outback, Ruth’s Chris
best vegetarian restaurant
Grass Root Organic Restaurant Runners-up: Leafy Greens Café, Consciousness Blossoms
best barbeCue restaurant
Smoke Runners-up: Smokin’ J’s BBQ, Jimbo’s Pit BBQ Comment: “HAHA!!! 12 bones in asheville north carolina!”
best Chinese restaurant
P.F. Chang’s Runner-up: Hao Wah Chinese Comment: “nothing since Ming Dynasty”
best Cuban restaurant
La Teresita Runners-up: Columbia Restaurant, Pipo’s Café, Habana Café
best greek restaurant
Acropolis Greek Taverna Runners-up: Athenian Garden, Louis Pappas, Hellas
best indian restaurant
India Grill Runners-up: Cilantro Indian Cuisine, Taj Indian Cuisine
best italian restaurant (the pleasenot-olive-garden-again aWard)
Pizzaiolo Bavaro Runners-up: Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bella’s Italian Restaurant, Rigatoni Tuscan Oven
best MexiCan/tex-Mex restaurant
Taco Bus Runners-up: Estela’s, Red Mesa, Miguel’s
continued on page 68
READERS' POLL cltampa.com | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | 65
66 | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | cltampa.com
cltampa.com | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | 67
Best neiGhBorhood Bar, pinellas
Best Beach Bar
Byblos Runner-up: Fez
Old Northeast Tavern Runners-up: Georgie’s Alibi, Orbit 19 Lounge, Dunedin House of Beer
Best thai restaurant
Best party district
Best wine Bar
continued from page 65
Best Middle eastern restaurant
Jasmine Thai Runners-up: Nitally’s Thai-Mex Cuisine, Thai Terrace; TIE: Siam Garden and Thai Island
Best GourMet Market
Mazzaro’s Italian Market & Deli Runners-up: Fresh Market, Whole Foods
Best sandwich shop/deli
Datz Delicatessen & Foodie’s Market Runners-up: Lucky Dill Deli, Publix, Reservations Gourmet-to-Go
Best coffee shop (the please-notstarBucks-aGain award)
Kahwa Coffee Runners-up: Buddy Brew Coffee, Indigo, Cafe Hey Comment: “shut up, I love Starbucks”
Best Breakfast
Ybor Runners-up: TIE: Downtown St. Pete/Grand Central and SoHo/Hyde Park Party pooper: A vote for Ybor City, with caveat that there’s “too much crime and gays in the evening hours”
Best dive Bar
The Hub Runners-up: Emerald Bar, Tiny Tap Tavern Comment: “I avoid those, I want to live to see my grandchildren”
Best sports Bar
Ferg’s Sports Bar Runners-up: Press Box, Beef O’Brady’s
Best draft selection at a Bar
World of Beer Runners-up: The Independent, Dunedin House of Beer, New World Brewery
Pinky’s Diner Runners-up: Lenny’s, Daily Eats (including 8 votes for “Daily Eats, although service sux”), and three-way tie between Pach’s Place, Skyway Jack’s and First Watch
Best local Brewery
Best Brunch
MacDinton’s Irish Pub Runners-up: The Chase Club, Grillsmith
Oystercatchers Runners-up: Island Way Grill, Pinky’s Diner (tie) Other: “naked at home”
Best Bakery
Alessi Bakery Runners-up: Pane Rustica, Kalupa’s Bakery
Best ice creaM/Gelato shop
Paciugo Gelato Runners-up: Coldstone Creamery, Bo’s Ice Cream
Best Juice/sMoothie Bar
Xtreme Juice Runners-up: Jamba Juice, Tropical Smoothie Café
Best drunk eats
The Wine Exchange Runners-up: A Taste for Wine, Taps, The Grape
Best late-niGht restaurant
Ashley Brown, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Runners-up: Anthony Santos, Rigatoni’s; Cary Shirai, Pinky’s Diner Other: “All the shameless hussies at The Tilted Kilt, Clearwater”
Best Martini
Taco Bus Runners-up: Mema’s Alaskan Tacos, Taco Bell
Best neiGhBorhood Bar, hillsBorouGh
Best MarGarita
Superfruit 1800, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Runners-up: Red Mesa, Estela’s Mexican Restaurant
68 | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | cltampa.com
Best local JaM Band
Cope Runners-up: Poetry ’N Lotion, Green Sunshine, J. Coker & Westbrook
Best local reGGae/ska Band
Best place to Buy Booze
Best local punk act
Total Wine & More Runners-up: The Hub Package Store, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Lueken’s Liquors Comment: “Anywhere that’s not Total Wine and More”
ARTS
& ENTERTAINMENT Four Star Riot
Elysium Runners-up: Localism; TIE: Doll Partz and Misunderstood Superheroes
Best local Metal/hardcore
Lo Runners-up: Elysium, The Absence
Best instruMentalist
Jon Oliva (Savotage, Jon Oliva’s Pain) Runners-up: Kiley Astle, violin (Will Erickson and Local Roots); Gary Schutt, guitar
Best local cover Band
Four Star Riot Runners-up: Hell-Bent, Category Three, Circle Sky
worst local Band naMe
Best Bartender
Best server
The Stick Martin Show Runners-up: Rebekah Pulley, John Allison
Reality Band Runners-up: Tribal Style, Johnny Cakes & the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso, Magadog
Best happy hour
Demitry Lewis, The Chase Club Runners-up: Christina at Mahuffer’s, Kevin Gallagher at The Palm Other nominees: “Dude with the red beard at the Dubliner”; “the one with the huge tits at blur in dunedin”
Best local sinGer/sonGwriter
Taco Bus Runners-up: Bella’s Italian Restaurant, Ceviche
Cigar City Brewing Runners-up: Dunedin Brewery, Tampa Bay Brewing Company
Blue Martini Runners-up: Orbit 19 Lounge, Timpano Italian Chop House, Café Alma
The Independent Runners-up: Maloney’s Local Irish Pub, World of Beer, Tiny Tap Tavern
Caddy’s on the Beach Runners-up: The Undertow, Frenchy’s Original Cafe
Best local Band
Four Star Riot Runners-up: Reality Band, 10th Concession, John Q
Best local aMericana/roots/altcountry act
The Loving Thorns Runners-up: Have Gun, Will Travel; J. Coker & Westbrook
Best local Blues act
Damon Fowler Runners-up: T Blue, Nervous Turkey, Lee Pons
Best local indie rock/pop act
10th Concession Runners-up: Dynasty & DJ Sandman; Green Sunshine; Auto? Automatic?
Best local hip-hop act
The Stick Martin Show Runner-up: Green Sunshine
Pitbull Toddler Runners-up: Psycho Jesus, Not Tonight Josephine, Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso Other worthy candidates: Blood Fart, Twisted Thong, Ladies of Death Row Swimsuit Calendar, Peace Mole and the Psychedelic Multicolored Litmus Paper Test, Dreadful Memories
Best record store
Vinyl Fever Runner-up: Daddy Kool Records Comments: “Ha ha like there is such a thing anymore”; “They still have those?”; “what’s a record store?”; “iTunes”
Best larGe concert venue
1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre Runners-up: Jannus Live, St. Pete Times Forum Variations: “1-800-Axe Gurry Amphitheater”; “1800 ask gary or roz AMPLITHEATER”; “1800 Ask Gary Amphitheatre (so ghetto)”; “Ford Amphitheater (I refuse to write the other name)”; “1-800...... UGH”; “Jannus- NOT Jannus Live. Booo!!!!”; and the ever-lovely “Janice Landing”
Best small ConCert Venue
Jannus Live Runners-up: Skipper’s Smokehouse, State Theatre, The Hideaway Café, Crowbar Other: “ruth exists hall”
Best ConCert in the last 12 months
restART Spring Forward @The Orpheum Runners-up: Not Tonight Josephine feat. Framing Hanley and The Veer Union; Dave Matthews Band Other: One vote for the immortal “Bruce Springstein”
Best Jazz ensemBle
Buster Cooper Trio Runners-up: Nate Najar Trio, LadyFingers, Impromptu
Best loCal soul/r&B/Funk aCt
The Black Honkeys Runners-up: Green Sunshine, Kickin’ Again
Best Visual art exhiBit
Best strip CluB
Best loCal Visual artist
adult perFormer, Female
Chihuly Collection Runner-up: Grey Matter at Tempus Projects Variations: “Chahulli - I know I spelled that wrong;( ”; “CHIHULLY Gallery”; “Chihouly Collection”
Anesti Vega Runners-up: Len Neff, Ana Briancesco; TIE: Duncan McClellan and Frank Strunk III
Best Film FestiVal
Motion Film Festival Runners-up: Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival
Best open miC niGht
Yeoman’s Pub Runners-up: Dunedin Brewery, Café Hey
Best danCe CluB
Steve Alex Runners-up: Stick Martin, Cave McCoy, Jeremy Thomas
Czar Runners-up: The Castle, Push Ultra Lounge Comment: “We dont have a proper one. The inside of Push makes me feel like Jonas inside the whale.”
Best theater Company
Best CluB dJ
Best loCal Frontman/Frontwoman
American Stage Theatre Company Runners-up: Jobsite Theater, Stageworks Theatre
Best loCal theater produCtion
Got Jokes? Improv Troupe Runners-up: Hair (American Stage in the Park); Pericles (Jobsite Theater)
Best loCal aCtress
Allison Burns Runners-up: Summer Bohnenkamp-Jenkins. Dahlia Legault, Meg Heimstead
Best loCal aCtor
Jeff Norton (in memoriam) Runners-up: David Jenkins, Steve Garland, Bob Devin Jones
Best danCe Company
Moving Current Dance Collective Runners-up: Hip Expression Belly Dance, Tampa West Ballet Company
Best museum
Salvador Dali Museum Runners-up: Museum of Fine Arts (St. Petersburg); MOSI; Tampa Museum of Art
Best art Gallery
Vitale Art Studio Runners-up: Morean Arts Center, Tempus Projects
DJ Mega Runners-up: DJ Sandman, DJ Fresh
Best weekly CluB niGht
Filthy Richard, Fridays at Czar Runners-up: Klick Klack at The Lobby; Turbo Tuesdays at Fubar Saddest comment: “I have work.”
Best Gay/lesBian Bar
Georgie’s Alibi Runners-up: G Bar, PLAY Ybor
Best draG perFormer
MACAViTi Runners-up: Traila Parks, Kori Stevens Joke winner: Marcus Kempton (Marcus, we think your friends were playing a joke on you — but let us know if you actually do deserve the crown)
Best draG name
Traila Parks Runners-up: MACAViTi, Amber Alert Other suggestions: Scarlett O’Whora, Miss Anita Cocktail, Cherry Poppins, Ronda Storms
Best karaoke
Pornaoke at The Pegasus Lounge Runners-up: PLAY Ybor, Wilson’s, The Refinery
Mons Venus Runners-up: 2001 Odyssey, Oz Indignant voter: “Can’t believe you’re even asking. Why not ‘Best escort service’ or ‘best place to find a hooker’?”
Stephanie Shippae Runners-up: Delilah Strong, Lillith Vain Comment: “Who asks names at a Strip Club?”
Best adult perFormer, male
Jack Hammer Runner-up: 6Pak aka Andrew Six Other nominees: Fuck You the Hobo Clown; Rick Scott
Best JukeBox
The Hub Runner-up: New World Brewery
MISCELLANY prediCt the BiGGest news story oF 2011
Oil and hurricanes Specifics: Readers expect that oil will still be making headlines next year. Among the possibilities: “BP CEO killed by activists”; “BP suffers no consequences of any kind”; “Mutant shark samurais walk the earth avenging fallen brothers.” A major storm — or, as one BOTB voter resignedly puts it, “Probably some darn hurricane…” — is also on tap. Several prognosticators see a female governor in Florida’s future, but there was a wide range of opinions about who will control Congress after Nov. 2. Here’s one: “Republicans take power and finish running the country into the ground.” Another voter predicts a “Tea Party revolution — everyone throws their health insurance into Boston Harbor.” Obama, in various prophecies, will turn out to be: a Russian, an alien, a woman, another Tiger Woods. And an uncomfortable number of you predicted a presidential assassination attempt. But then, you were all about the celebrity deaths, counting the days for Betty White, Phyllis Diller, Lindsay Lohan, Tom Cruise, Dick Clark and (finally) Abe Vigoda. One consolation: “Anna Nicole Smith — ALIVE!” Readers also seem to be obsessed with celebrity outings: according to you, not just Charlie Crist but Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Ronda Storms, Ryan Seacrest, Obama, Tiger Woods, Oprah, Sarah Palin and LiLo will all come roaring out of the closet. And “Al Ruechel’s sex tape”? That’s just wrong. Doomsday sentiments are in vogue, as we get closer to 2012. It might be later than we
think, according to one prophet: “World Ends as we discover Mayans were off by one year.” Overall, CL readers showed a mix of optimism, despair and gallows humor. Here are some more of the headlines you’re expecting to see: • Apple invents the iWife. • Enraged flamingos swarm Tampa • Global Warming: Wow, you weren’t kidding were you? • Jesus Returns, brings pork chops. • Mass suicides over facebook site crash • New fad diet! Eat less, exercise more! • RAYS WIN THE WORLD SERIES • Rays MGMT found guilty of “accidentally” blowing up the Trop and forced to pay to build new stadium on existing site • Something embarrassing we do here in FL that takes the heat off a real news catastrophe or political scandal • Successful Business Woman Dies After Spending an Hour of Time She Doesn’t Have Filling out an Awards Survey
what’s the Best way to punish Bp?
Oil and feather ’em Details: Angry much? We got suggestions for boycotts, banishment, fines, floggings, even decapitation (in jest, we hope). Some measures seemed, if not plausible, at least satisfying, like: “Evenly distribute all remaining tar balls recovered to the living room of the top 100 executives” or “Make the executives sit in a room and watch 24/7 BP propaganda commercials” or “Free gas for 3 months in Gulf states.” There were some respondents who spoke up for the mom-and-pop BP stations, and others who called for perspective: “Don’t punish them. US companies have been doing much worse in Nigeria for years!!” But the most far-reaching, and actually doable, response might be to follow this reader’s directive: “Sell your car, buy a bicycle.”
who should host this year’s loaFies?
DJ Mega Apologies: DJ Mega ran away with this competition, and would have been a great choice. But he has a conflict on Sept. 15, so he can’t make it. And we couldn’t get Stephen Colbert, or Ellen DeGeneres, or “I should, I”m awesome,” among the many, many other nominees for the position. And to tell the truth, this question was kind of an, um, accident. The editor thought he’d deleted it from the ballot before it went live and... well, oops. And who knew so many of you would want the gig? But whoever’s hosting, we think this year’s Loafies party is going to be a good time. Take a look at photos from the party at cltampa. com/loafies.
READERS' POLL cltampa.com | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | 69
.. n es Sto
. Crys
tals... Sterling... Delicas ... a n
!
Casa Tina’s Family of Restaurants presents
Progressive Dinner First Course
Appetizer & Glass of Wine at
Second Course Entree & Drink at
Third Course Dessert & Coffee at
all for
$29.95 Thurs–Sat 5-7pm Reservations recommended
www.casatinas.com 365 Main Street in Downtown Dunedin
70 | SEPTEMBER 16-SEPTEMBER 22 ,2010 | cltampa.com
DELI • CAFE • MARKET
Parties & Classes
dM
ore
Ge m
Open @ 6am Breakfast Lunch 11-4
727-738-9000
www.DunedinBeads.com
730 Broadway, Dunedin, FL 34698