BEST OF THE SUNCOAST - READERS' POLL '08

GOODS & SERVICES:

Best Bikini Wax

Mandala Medi Spa, Katrina at Sassy

 

Best Carwash

Johnny's Car Wash, Eager Beaver

 

Best Day Spa

Body & Spirit, Pineapple Holistic Day Spa, Sassy

 

Best Denim

Stitch, Willow 506

 

Best Detail Shop

Johnny's Car Wash, Hollywood 20

 

Best Dry Cleaner

Bob's Laundry & Dry Cleaning, Dry Cleaning to Go

 

Best Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

Brian Curro at Semper Fit, Charles Gibson at Sarasota Family YMCA

 

Best Furniture Store

Home Resource, Kanes of Sarasota

 

Best Garden Center/Nursery

Hibbs Farm & Garden Supply, Troy's Tropics

 

Best Gym

YMCA, Gold's

 

Best Jeweler

June Simmons Designs, Armel

 

Best Mani/Pedi

Sassy

 

Best Martial Arts Dojo

Capoeira Volta Ao Mundo, YMCA

 

Best Massage

Normen Schindowski at Trance Hands, Mandala Medi Spa

 

Best Mechanic

D&R Automotive, Burke's Auto Body

 

Best Men's Boutique

Stitch, The Met

 

Best New Store

Jake's Downtown, Bone Appetite

 

Best Nip/Tuck

Dr. Marguerite Barnett, Dr. David Mobley

 

Best Pet Groomer

Yuppy Puppy, Dog Gone Beautiful Pet Grooming

 

Best Place to Get Something for Your Pet

Holistic for Pets, Max's Dog Bakery

 

Best Realtor

Linda Dickinson, Michael Saunders

 

Best Running/Fitness Store

New Balance Sarasota, Fastrack Bicycle & Run

 

Best Salon

Sassy, Nuovo

 

Best Shoes

New Balance Sarasota, Addison Craig

 

Best Smoke Shop

Rocketman, Maduro's Cigar Bar

 

Best Thrift Store/Consignment

Goodwill, Woman's Exchange

 

Best Used Bookstore

Main Book Store, Goodwill

 

Best Vet

Gulf Gate Animal Clinic & Hospital, University Animal Clinic

 

Best Women's Boutique

Willow 506, Lotus

 

Best Yoga Studio

Bikram Yoga, Mandala Medi Spa

 

Best Bike Shop

Ringling Bicycles, Fastrack Bicycle & Run

 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

Best Architect

Guy Peterson, Dale Parks

 

Best Art Gallery

Selby Gallery, Allyn Gallup Contemporary

 

Best Beach

Siesta, Lido

 

Best Club DJ

DJ Sinna-G, Ryan from The Gator Club

 

Best Concert Venue

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Ford Amphitheatre

 

Best Festival

Sarasota Bluesfest, Giving Hunger the Blues

 

Best Local Actor

Cliff Roles

 

Best Local Actress

Annie Morrison, Christine Alexander

 

Best Local Band

Men From Mars, Chameleon

 

Best Local Blog

The 941, Mary Catherine Coolidge's Reality Chick

 

Best Local Magazine

Creative Loafing, SRQ

 

Best Local Website

Creative Loafing, This Week in Sarasota

 

Best Museum

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Classic Car Museum

 

Best New Artist

Krisztian Serfozo

 

Best Party District

Downtown, Gulf Gate

 

Best Rock Club

The 5 O'Clock Club, The Gator Club

 

Best Theater Troupe

Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre

 

Best Visual Artist

Tim Jaeger

 

CITY:

Best Alternative to a Car

Green World Scooters, Vespa of Sarasota

 

Best Booth at Farmer's Market

Wired Whisk, Crowley's Plants

 

Best Celebrity You Hate to Love

Angelina Jolie

 

Best College Team

UF Gators, FSU Seminoles

 

Best Dog Park/Park to Take Your Pooch

17th Street, Arlington

 

Best Golf Course

University Park, Bobby Jones

 

Best High School

Sarasota High, Riverview

 

Best Ladies Man

Joey Dangler, Mark Woodruff

 

Best Lighting Player

Vincent Lecavalier

 

Best Man About Town

Matt Orr

 

Best Neighborhood: Manatee

Lakewood Ranch, University Park

 

Best Place to Jog

John Ringling Causeway, Marina Jack

 

Best Place to See Beautiful People

Ceviche, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

 

Best Press Wrangler

Michael Saunders

 

Best Sun Coast Enthusiast

Cliff Roles

 

Best Thing Not on the List

Buddha Belly Donuts

 

Best Thing to Show Off to Out-of-Towners

Siesta Key, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

 

Best Volunteer

Everyone at the Humane Society of Sarasota County

 

Best-Kept Secret

The Backyard Getaway Store, Paneolio Restaurant

 

Local Hero

Firefighters

 

Local Zero

Vern Buchanan

 

Worst Eyesore

N. U.S. 41 hookers, The Quay

 

PEOPLE & POLITICS:

Best Local Columnist

Mary Catherine Coolidge

 

Best Local Newspaper Reporter

Tom Lyons

 

Most Annoying Local Columnist

Tom Lyons, David Grimes

 

Best Local Politician

Vern Buchanan, Christine Jennings

 

Worst Local Politician

Vern Buchanan, Christine Jennings

 

Best New Slogan for Bradenton

Bradentucky

 

Best New Slogan for Lakewood Ranch

Hey, it seemed like a good idea 10 years ago

 

Best New Slogan for Sarasota

Great place to live but don't try to vote, work or sell your house

 

Best Thorn in the Side of Government

The homeless

 

Local Issue That Needs More Attention

The homeless, affordable housing

 

Worst Use of Taxpayer Money

Red Sox baseball stadium, the noise ordinance

 

DRINK:

Best Bartender (Female)

Rene at Mattison's, Carrie at Arosa

 

Best Bartender (Male)

Tom at Arosa, Flip at Gilligan's

 

Best Beach Bar

The Daiquiri Deck, The Beach Club

 

Best Bookstore

Sarasota News & Books, Barnes & Noble

 

Best Coffee

Sarasota Coffee & Tea, Sarasota Olive Oil Company

 

Best Dance Club

The Beach Club, The Gator Club

 

Best Daiquiri

The Daiquiri Deck, Lido Beach Bar

 

Best Dive Bar

Red Barn, Cabana Inn & Lounge

 

Best Happy Hour

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, The 5 O'Clock Club

 

Best Hookup Bar

Horse Feathers, Evie's Tavern

 

Best Live Music

The 5 O'Clock Club, Pastimes Pub

 

Best Martini

Arosa, Ca D'Zan at the Ritz-Carlton

 

Best Place to Nurse a Hangover

Bed, Serving Spoon

 

Best Place to Play Pool

Boar's Head Lounge, The Gator Club

 

Best Place to Watch the Game

Evie's Tavern, The Sports Page

 

Best Smoothie

Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie

 

Best Wine List

Michael's on East, Fleming's

 

Best Wine Shop

Wine Warehouse, Michael's Wine Cellar

 

FOOD:

Best Asian Restaurant

Bangkok, Pacific Rim

 

Best Bakery

C'est La Vie, Buddha Belly Donuts

 

Best Bargain Restaurant

Serving Spoon, Five Guys Burgers and Fries

 

Best Bathroom

The Ritz-Carlton

 

Best BBQ

Sonny's BBQ, Roadside Rib Shack

 

Best Breakfast

First Watch, Word of Mouth

 

Best Brunch

The Ritz-Carlton, Serving Spoon

 

Best Burger

Five Guys, Cheeburger Cheeburger

 

Best Ceviche

Selva Grill, Ceviche

 

Best Chef

Stephen Phelps (Canvas Café), Derek Barnes (Derek's Culinary Casual)

 

Best Deli

Too Jay's, Nellie's Deli

 

Best Dessert

Euphemia Haye, The Melting Pot

 

Best Gourmet Market

Morton's, Whole Foods

 

Best Hangover Breakfast

Serving Spoon, Hob Nob Drive-In

 

Best Ice Cream

Big Olaf Creamery, Cold Stone Creamery

 

Best Italian Restaurant -- Casual

Caragiulo's, Solorzano's

 

Best Italian Restaurant -- Upscale

Mediterraneo, Divino

 

Best Latin American (Not Mexican)

Selva Grill, Sangria

 

Best Lunch Deal

Main Bar Sandwich Shop, Maximillian's Café

 

Best Mexican Restaurant (Not Taco Bell)

Mi Pueblo, Two Senoritas

 

Best New Restaurant

Ceviche, Arosa

 

Best Outdoor Dining

Marina Jack, Mattison's City Grille

 

Best Pizza

Rico's, Il Panificio

 

Best Place for Late Night Grub

Munchies, The Sports Page

 

Best Place to Take a Date

Canvas Cafe, Burns Court

 

Best Power Lunch

Michael's on East, Bijou Cafe

 

Best Sandwich

Main Bar Sandwich Shop, Monterey Deli & Pub

 

Best Seafood

Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar, Barnacle Bill's

 

Best Soul Food

Nancy's Bar-B-Q, 5One6 Burns

 

Best Splurge Restaurant

Maison Blanche, Derek's Culinary Casual

 

Best Steak

Fleming's, Ruth's Chris

 

Best Sushi

Yume Sushi, Kazu's

 

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Veggie Magic, Simon's Coffee House