Best Bets?
We've all had those moments where we're shown a snapshot of ourselves, and we find ourselves looking at that snapshot and thinking, "Holy crap, do I look like that? I don't look like that. I don't know how you took this photo, but I totally don't look like that."
Comes now the Post, and the photo it's waving is the 2005 version of its Best Bets Readers' Choice survey, put together from registered readers' nominations and votes, tallied and presented by the paper just yesterday. From the look of things, we're liking our chains more, we're liking our suburbs a lot more, and our taste is remaining, er, questionable. In short, we don't think we look like that.
Of course, you should observe and decide for yourselves, but here are what DCist feels are some of the more interesting calls.
The Good:
>> There are still the little things that distinguish D.C. from Anytown, U.S.A.. The Post kept its Crabs and Best Place to Talk Politics categories, and they mercifully eliminated Best Place for a Bachelorette Party, which got Polly Esther's off the list for good.
>> The list is surprisingly accurate in the Neighborhood Bar department. The winners there are also less Adams Morgan heavy than last year, and Wonderland made the top ten, which counts for a lot.
>> Every once in a while, the local guys make the top of the list. Love it or hate it, Cakelove tops the Bakery category (over chains Panera and Firehook), which warms the heart.
>> Tops in the Kid-Friendly category is a place called Generous George's Positive Pizza and Pasta Place. We've never heard of this place, but any ten year old that has a birthday there must be solid gold.
The Bad:
>> For every Cakelove, there are ten Starbucks. The ubiquitous juggernaut passed Tryst for top Coffee Shop, Barnes & Noble ousted Kramerbooks in the Bookstore department, and Ruth's Chris is the best place in D.C. to get a Steak, or so say Post readers. It was a tough year for the little guy.
>> Tom Tom once again made the list for Best Pick-up Spot. There are a lot of things you can pick-up at Tom Tom. We're not sure a lasting relationship is one of them.
>> Ikea is tops for Home Furnishings. Granted, everything we own comes from Ikea, but still, isn't that sad?
>> None of the small indie clubs in D.C. made the list for Place to Hear Live Music. Fine, no one's going to stick their neck out for Grog and Tankard, but no DC9, no Velvet Lounge, no Warehouse? What gives?
The Moronically Absurd:
>> While maybe not moronically absurd, it is strange that Jaleo sits on the list of First Date Spots among monuments and scenic townscapes. Even weirder, Jaleo didn't make the list for Romantic restaurants.
>> Look at this list. Best Choice for Live Theater is a bunch of old pols singing barbershop? And not, like, an actual theater? Why do we feel like everyone misunderstood the question? Oh, the Capitol Steps! That would be a great place to watch a play!
>> The region's best Regional Beach is the Outer Banks, some 300 miles away. Also, the region's best canyon: the Grand Canyon.
>> Ok, quick, name the region's best Local Band. Got it? Guess what none of you just named? How about JunkFood, which tops the Post's best band list, and which we're not sure even exists. Sure, it's a little tragic when Virginia Coalition is named best while Washington Social Club, Q and Not U, or The Evens don't even make the list, but at least Virginia Coalition is, like, a band. Seriously, who is JunkFood?
So, what do the readers think?