FAVORITE POLITICIAN
1. Kevin Beckner, Hillsborough County Commissioner
2. Carrie West, Tampa City Council candidate
3. St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell and Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio
Who says all politicians are bad? Tampa Bay voters have a lot of LGBT-friendly politicos to choose from these days and we're happy that Beckner and Kornell, who are both out and proud, made the list. We're also thrilled to see West on the list, who ran a vibrant campaign for Tampa City Council earlier this year and we're sure he's not done with his political career. Of course, seeing Iorio appear in this category makes us smile, because her support of Tampa's LGBT community over her eight years in office still resonates with us, even now that she's a â┚¬Å”regular citizenâ┚¬Â like the rest of us.
FAVORITE LGBT ALLY
1. Kathy Castor, U.S. Representative
2. Jen Greenfield, former State Senate candidate
3. Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Florida Rep. Rick Kriseman
MOST EFFECTIVE LGBT ORGANIZATION
1. Equality Florida
2. GaYbor District Coalition
3. Una Voce: The Florida Men's Chorale
FAVORITE LOCAL CLERGY LEADER
1. Candace Shultis, King of Peace MCC, St. Petersburg
2. Phyllis Hunt, Tampa Metropolitan Community Church
3. Scott Welch, Fresh Start Church, Tampa
FAVORITE LGBT SPORTS ORGANIZATION
1. Monday Mixed Classic
2. Suncoast Softball League
3. Advantage Tampa Bay Tennis League
Each year the numbers are close between Tampa Bay's bowlers and softballers. Monday Mixed Classic bowling league took top honors after a successful year and an impressive GAGME Bowl earlier this year. There has also seemed to be a focus on bowling fundraisers in 2011, which may have contributed to the numbers as well.
FAVORITE WRITER
1. Steve Blanchard, editor of Watermark
2. Mark Bias and Carrie West of Dishing with Mark and Carrie
3. Tom Dyer, publisher of Watermark
FAVORITE LGBT BLOG
1. Dishing with Mark and Carrie
2. Shout Out Tampa Bay
3. Rainbow 411
FAVORITE LOCAL LGBT WEBSITE
1. WatermarkOnline.com
2. Una-Voce.org
3. MyQmunity.com
FAVORITE MOVIE THEATER
1. AMC Veterans
2. Westshore AMC
3. Cinebistro
FAVORITE LGBT ANNUAL EVENT
1. St. Pete Pride
2. Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
3. Una Voce concerts
FAVORITE NEW LGBT BUSINESS
1. 6S Boutique
2. Premier Events of Tampa Bay
3. Bradley's on 7th
In an economy as bad as our current one, it's nice to see so successful and well-liked businesses in our community. 6S Boutique exploded onto the scene this spring and has developed into the one-stop shop for all things performance and drag related in Tampa Bay. Premier Events has plenty to be proud of as well, considering their focus on LGBT commitment ceremonies and weddings have earned them mad respect from our readers. And, of course, Bradley's on 7th in Ybor City is constantly bringing in special events and entertainers to keep the bustling historic district full of surprises.
FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
1. Mike Hopkins, aesthetic and reconstructive dentistry, Dunedin
2. Nick Okelson, family practitioner, Largo
3. Michael Dunn, infections diseases, Tampa
FAVORITE PERSONAL TRAINER/FITNESS INSTRUCTOR
1. Chip Wright, Seminole
2. Sandi Lundin, St. Petersburg
3. Chris Albert, Tampa
FAVORITE MASSAGE THERAPIST
1. Cory Jeffries, Tampa Pro Massage
2. Jeremy Couture, ENSO, and Roger Medrano, Bodyworks
3. Russell Fox, Foxton Therapeutics
FAVORITE GYM/FITNESS CENTER
1. Lifestyle Family Fitness
2. You Fit
3. Gold's Gym and L.A. Fitness
FAVORITE LOCAL SPA
1. Bodyworks Massage
2. Don Cesar
3. Advanced Aesthetics
FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN
1. Brett Finkelstein, Dunedin
2. Connechusett Animal Hospital, Tampa
3. Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, Seminole
FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET
1. Bark Place Hotel, Largo
2. Barks by the Bay & Meows Too, Tampa
3. Two Poodles and a Mutt, St. Petersburg, and Fort DeSoto Dog Park
FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR
1. Ken Hodges, Tampa
2. Brian Longstreth, St. Petersburg
3. Elsa Knouse, Tampa
FAVORITE LOCAL CLOTHING STORE
1. Urban Body, Tampa
2. 6S Boutique, St. Petersburg
3. Macy's
FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO SALESPERSON
1. Sonny Gonzales, Tyrone Mazda
2. Keith Roberts, Reeves Imports
3. Steve Bednar at Crown Hyundai
FAVORITE LOCAL HAIRSTYLIST
1. Linda Militello, Salon 2510
2. Stephen Chappellie, Stephen Chappellie Salon
3. Ross McCulley, Dollylocks Hair Studio
FAVORITE FLORIST
1. Bay Area Florist
2. Nature's Patch
3. Bay Boutique of Hyde Park
FAVORITE MUSEUM OR GALLERY
1. Dali Museum
2. Tampa Museum of Art
3. Tampa History Museum
Last fall, the Dali Museum opened its brand new, multi-million dollar facility to incredible mainstream fanfare all while embracing LGBT causes. It partnered with St. Pete Pride for a fundraiser in 2010 and in 2011, it played host to one of the most successful Equality Florida fundraisers in the state. If you're in downtown St. Petersburg, check it outâ┚¬â€Âthey are huge supporters of the community and the tours are fascinating.
FAVORITE FRAMING SHOP
1. Michael Murphy Gallery, Hyde Park
2. Tyrone Frame and Mirror, St. Petersburg
3. Image Creations of Florida, St. Petersburg
FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY ART
1. Beak's Old Florida, St. Petersburg
2. Z Gallerie, Tampa
3. Michael Murphy Gallery, Hyde Park
FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY WINE/SPIRITS (NON-BAR)
1. Total Wine
2. West Palm Wine in Ybor
3. ABC Liquor
FAVORITE UPSCALE RESTAURANT
1. Bern's
2. Roy's
3. Side Bern's and Mise en Place
FAVORITE CASUAL RESTAURANT
1. Ranch House
2. Miguel's
3. Hamburger Mary's and J. Alexander's
FAVORITE PLACE FOR BREAKFAST/BRUNCH
1. IHOP
2. The Brunchery, Tampa
3. First Watch, Tampa
FAVORITE PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE
1. Bern's Steakhouse
2. Una Voce concerts
3. The beach
FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL/B&B
1. Gay St. Pete House
2. Flamingo Resort
3. Hampton Inn Ybor and Pier Hotel
FAVORITE LGBT CLUB
1. Georgie's Alibi
2. Flamingo Resort
3. The Honey Pot
FAVORITE LGBT HAPPY HOUR
1. Georgie's Alibi
2. Flamingo Resort
3. Hamburger Mary's
FAVORITE HOST FOR KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO
1. Amy DeMilo
2. Melanie Minyon
3. Trixie the Trivial Tranny
FAVORITE CRUISE BAR WITH THE CHOICIEST EYE CANDY
1. Georgie's Alibi
2. Flamingo Resort
3. G. Bar
FAVORITE BARTENDER/SERVER
1. Jeff Klein, Beak's Old Florida
2. Stephen Hair, Queen's Head
3. Shane Cullinan, Georgie's Alibi
FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG
1. Amy DeMilo
2. Alexis Mateo
3. Melanie Minyon
FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE
1. D.J. Holt
2. Judy B. Goode
3. Iman
FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN
1. Una Voce: The Florida's Men Chorale
2. Judy B. Goode and Paul Thomas
3. Phil Garris
FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DJ
1. DJ Craig Dirty
2. DJ Don Lamb
3. DJ Greg Anderson
FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
1. Michael Landry
2. Nick Cardello
3. David A. Deitz
FAVORITE LOCAL/TV RADIO PERSONALITY
1. Rod Carter, WFLA, NBC Channel 8 morning news anchor
2. Russell Rhodes, Fox 13 morning news anchor
3. Chuck Henson, Bay News 9 morning traffic reporter
FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC VENUE
1. Ritz Ybor
2. Jannus Landing
3. Crowbar
FAVORITE HOOK-UP SITE
1. Scruff
2. Grindr
3. Adam4Adam
FAVORITE ADULT NOVELTY STORE
1. Buddies of Largo
2. MC Film Fest
3. XTC
FAVORITE PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE
1. Bern's Steakhouse
2. Una Voce concerts
3. The beach
WHICH LOCAL (NON-DRAG PERFORMER) WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN DRAG?
1. Governor Rick Scott
2. Rod Carter, WFLA morning news anchor
3. Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner
Not surprisingly, we couldn't convince our new Republican governor to don a dress and a wig for a special photo spread in this issue of Watermark. It made us wonder, though, who he'd resemble with some makeup and some style tips? Tammy Faye? Delta Burke? It boggles the mind.