three time winner

Wifey and I went to the Creative Loafing Best of the Bay award show on Monday night, and we found out that Sticks of Fire garnered the most votes from CL readers in the Best of the Bay balloting. Woo Hoo! That makes us a three time winner in the annual contest – Editors’ Choice Best Local Website 2005, Readers’ Choice Best Local Blog 2006, and Readers’ Choice Best Local Blog 2007.

Editor’s Choice this year went to St. Petersblog for Best Local Blog, and to Pushing Rope for Best Local Political Blog.

Other Readers’ poll winners announced Monday night include these great deserving folks:

Best Theater Troupe
American Stage

Best Local Actor
Richard Coppinger

Best Local Actress
Eileen Koteles

Best Visual Artist
Amanda Stiles

Best Art Gallery
STUDIO @620

Best Museum
The Salvador Dalí Museum

Best Standup Comedian
Steve Arik

Best Local Band
Giddy-Up, Helicopter!

Best Local Singer-Songwriter
Rebekah Pulley

Best Local Hip-Hop Act
The Stick Martin Show

Best Club DJ
DJ Ray

Best Concert Venue
Jannus Landing

Best Rock Club
State Theatre

Best Concert of the Past 12 Months
Vans Warped Tour

Best New Store
Kohl’s

Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor
Atomic Tattoos

Best Personal Trainer
Tim Ganley of Sculptured Bodies

Best Day Spa
Safety Harbor Spa & Resort

Best Men’s Clothing
Men’s Wearhouse

Best Women’s Clothing
Nordstrom

Best Vintage Clothing
La France

Best Bookstore
Barnes & Noble

Best Clothing Designer
Ben Chmura

Best Veterinarian
Dr. Don Morgan

Best Furniture Store
Rooms to Go

Best Gourmet Food Store
Fresh Market

Best New Restaurant
Fly

Best Splurge Restaurant
Bern`s

Best Bargain Restaurant
La Teresita

Best Barbecue Restaurant
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q

Best Sushi Restaurant
Samurai Blue

Best Italian Restaurant
Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Best Asian Restaurant
Jasmine Thai

Best Mexican Restaurant
Vallarta’s Restaurante

Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Sweet Tomatoes

Best Cuban Sandwich
La Teresita

Best Soul Food
Atwater’s

Best Bakery
Alessi Bakery

Best Pizza
Cappy’s Pizzeria

Best Burger
Five Guys

Best Breakfast
First Watch

Best Wine Shop
Total Wine & More

Best Local Politician
Mayor Pam Iorio

Worst Local Politician
Ronda Storms

Biggest Waste of Tax Money
(Tie) Riverwalk/ Tampa Museum of Art

Best Local Newspaper Reporter
Wayne Garcia, Creative Loafing

Best Local Columnist
Howard Troxler, St. Petersburg Times

Best Local TV Anchor
Gayle Sierens, WFLA NewsChannel 8

Best Local TV News Reporter
Charley Belcher, Fox13

Best Radio Station
WMNF 88.5 FM

Best Radio DJ
MJ (Todd Schnitt), WFLZ-FM

Best Bucs Player
Derrick Brooks

Best Devil Rays Player
Carl Crawford

Best Lightning Player
Vincent Lecavalier

Local Celebrity You Love to Hate
Ronda Storms

Local Celebrity You Hate to Love
Hollywood Hulk Hogan

Local Hero
Joe Redner

Local Zero
Jim Smith

Best Local Troublemaker
Joe Redner

Best Neighborhood: Hillsborough
Seminole Heights

Best Neighborhood: Pinellas
Old Northeast

Best Beach
Clearwater Beach

Best Party District
Ybor City

Best Sports Bar
Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill

Best Dance Club
The Castle

Best Gay/Lesbian Bar
Georgie’s Alibi

Best Strip Club
Mons Venus

Best Blog
Sticks of Fire

Best Kept Secret
Kaleisia Tea Lounge

Best Thing to Show Off to Out-of-Town Guests
Beaches