THE 2008 AWE READERS’ POLL Every week AWE campaigns hard for Staten Island entertainers, artists, restaurants and nightspots. Now it’s up to you to elect the best. Obviously we can’t cram every deserving candidate onto this bipartisan ballot. The choices featured here are just primers, compiled from write-in votes we’ve received since AWE’s inaugural poll last summer. Oh, and that "Other" slot isn’t just some P.C. formality. We’re actually depending on your expertise to fill in the blanks. Of course, we hope you’ll make educated choices by supporting as much of the featured talent as possible. So eat out. Belly up to a martini lounge, dance club or dive bar. Catch a live band (or at least sample their sounds by searching MySpace.com). Remember, you have no one to blame but yourself if your personal favorites don’t own this thing. Vote online at SILive.com/AWE. Make photo copies of the ballot and distribute them at your business. Scatter ballots in the ferry terminal. Go door to door. Whatever it takes to get S.I. entertainers some much-deserved recognition is fine with us. But there are three simple rules to ensure fairplay (we don’t want any of that chad biz getting in the way of this due process): 1. Only one pick per category. 2. At least half of the ballot must be completed for your votes to count (i.e. you can’t turn in 300 copies with only the "Best Sangria" category filled in — you know who you are). 3. Only one entry per person. All entries must include a full name and contact number or e-mail address so we can verify these things are legit. -- Rob Bailey, AWE editor
Please supply the following information: NAME: NEIGHBORHOOD: PHONE NUMBER: E-MAIL:
Please type an “X” next to your selection, or type in your choice next to “Other”: LIVE & LOCAL MUSIC: Best Live Music Stage CSI’s Center for the Arts Lorenzo’s Cabaret The Music Hall St. George Theatre Veterans Memorial Hall Snug Harbor’s Great Meadow Bandshell Other:
Best Live Music Bar Adobe Blues in New Brighton Big Nose Kate’s in Rossville The Cup in Stapleton Cargo Cafe in St. George The Dugout Pub in Port Richmond Jimmie Steiny’s in St. George Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville
L’amour in Rossville Martini Red in Stapleton The 13th Hour in Rosebank Other:
Best Original Pop/Rock Band/Duo Avon Junkies The Corrao Q Dead Men Dreaming The Delay Enrage Farewell Division The Great Unwashed Paragraph Paperbombs Happy Anarchy The Headlocks Heavy Weather Heavenly Tenants Hollywood Hangover The Melonfarmers Nashville Attitude Seven Second Delay Therina Bella Tryptophan
The Rabbits Other:
Best Original Solo Pop/Rock Artist The Jon Katie Ballou Phoebe Blue Joan Caddell Joey Figgiani Milton Henry Dru Hepkins Kilgore Trout is Dead Matt Lindauer Scott Magri Poton Jaclyn Shaw Paul Strayfer Terrible Tim Andrew Philip Tipton Matt Wilson Other:
Best Hip-Hop Act Niki Bond Trife Diesel
Cotton Weary Crucial Tactics Dead End Kids Vinny Jett Matty Doobs NYOil Optometrist Renagade Musik Remedy Squeegie O The Ice Queen Other:
Best Class(ical) Act Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble Richmond County Orchestra Riverside Opera Company St. Alban’s Festival Choral Society S.I. Chamber Music Players S.I. Philharmonic Viva Voce Other:
Best Cover Band The Atomik Age
Marcus Bennett & The Nonsense The Blue Meanies Bob Kaiser & Friends Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens Crisis of the Day Geezer The Greatest Nameless Band Guys in the Band Kissology LaLa’s Basement Mandown No Standards Off-White Trash Ointment Project 19 The Recruders Screaming Broccolli SexPot Scandal Sounds Uncertain Other:
Best DJ/Remixer 3D Anthony Acid Kris Anton
Peter Bailey Million Dollar Bill Paul Bruno Dave Elliott Danny Estrella Tommy Flatts Kristen Mike "Loki" Lopez Mark the Spark Emilio Sparks Richie Santana Mike Spinella Udachi Xcel Other:
Best Crooner Al Lambert Tony Babino John Buccheri Vito Picone (The Elegants) Marc Sica (Nashville Attitude) Marcus Simeone Carl Thomas Other:
Best Diva Amuka Donna Maxon Betty Miller Teresa Poidomani Nicole Pignatelli (The Bandulos) Queen Tipsy Lucie Terrenova (SexPot Scandal) Other:
Best Jazz/Blues Act Curtis High School Jazz Frank Ferreri Quartet Mike Morreale/Ray Scro Big Band Michael Packer Blues Queen Tipsy Big Frank Mirra & the Healers Wafoo Wagner Jazz Ensemble Wolfpack Jam Other:
Best Impossible-To-Label Band/Duo The Bandulos
Belt Band Brownwater ElektroMotif Happy Tones The Humans The ReAwakening Trish and Christoph Video Giant Wahoo Skiffle Crazies Other:
Best Homegrown Artist Gone Big Time Christina Aguilera The Budos Band Bumblefoot aka Ron Thal David Johansen Ghostface Killah Galt MacDermot Ingrid Michaelson Kevin Devine Raekwon Vernon Reid RZA Wu-Tang Clan Other:
Best Tour Stop Attraction The Budos Band, Rock the Harbor David Johansen/Vernon Reid/Galt MacDermot, St. George Theatre Ingrid Michaelson, Wagner College Wayne Newton, St. George Theatre Chazz Palminteri, Lorenzo’s Cabaret Joe Piscopo, Lorenzo’s Cabaret Ronan Tynan, College of Staten Island Other:
ARTS/VISUAL/STAGE Best Visual Artist: Robert Bunkin Ed Davin Griselda Healy Scott Lobaido Jenna Lucente Bill Murphy Richard Plunkett Jenny Tango Sarah Yuster Other:
Best Gallery/Exhibition Space: Alice Austen House Museum in Rosebank Cargo Cafe in St. George Gallery 6 in Stapleton Gallery of CSI Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in Rosebank Martini Red in Stapleton Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art in Livingston Noble Maritime Collection in Livingston SHOW Gallery in St. George Snug Harbor Visitors Center in Livingston Spotlight Gallery at Wagner College The Wagner Gallery at Wagner College Other:
Best Stand Up Comic: Mary Dimino Casey Jost JP Justice Randi Kaplan John Kurschner Samara Lugo Hassan Madry Soul Joel Richardson Tracy Rosenberg
John Szeluga Other:
Best Improv Act: ElektroMotif The Tenderloins Mancrush Other:
Best Author/Playwright/Poet: Linda Nieves-Powell, "Free Style" Tom Coffey, "Blood Money" Marguerite Maria Rivas, "Laughter, Hope and a Sock in the Eye" Morna Murphy Martell, "On the Way to Shangri-La" Nanci Richards, "Pedagogy" Michael Sulsona, "Virtue of the Heart" Other:
Best Actress: Nicole Juliett Libby, "Wait Until Dark," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Nikki Lauren, "Bad Dates," Snug Underground Theatre Festival Caitlin McGee, "How I Learned to Drive," Wagner College Theatre Nanci Richards, "Pedagogy," NY Fringe Festival Lee Tenenbaum, "Inherit the Wind," S.I. Shakespearean Theatre
Other:
Best Actor: Ezra Donnellan, "Reservoir Dogs," Snug Harbor Reading Series Tim Duffy, "Mayor of the North Shore," independent Steve Goffin, "Mayor of the North Shore," independent John Grenon, "Dog Sees God," Snug Underground John Griffin, "Wait Until Dark," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Joe Daly, "Inherit the Wind," S.I. Shakespearean Theatre Philip Sulsona, "Virtue of the Heart," Snug Underground Festival Other:
Best Actor/Musical: Andrew Eckert, "Footloose," Wagner College Theatre Billy Piscopo, "A Grand Night For Singing," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Meridoc Burkhardt, "My Way," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Brett Figel, "The Mikado," Wagner College Theatre John Griffin, "My Fair Lady," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Other:
Best Actress/Musical Alison DiGregorio, "Rock Around the Clock," Sea View Playwrights Theatre Kathleen Fehrle, "My Fair Lady," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Nikki Lauren, "My Fair Lady," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Sonya Mason, "Don’t Call Me Woman," independent
Margel Vanriel, "The Mikado," Wagner College Theatre Other:
Best Director: Christopher Catt, "Wait Until Dark," Snug Harbor Rusty Curico, "The Mikado," Wagner College Theatre Susan Guthrie, "The Ice Wolf," Sundog Theatre Helen Huff, "How I Learned to Drive," Wagner College Theatre Gena Mimozo, "Dog Sees God" & "Reservoir Dogs," Snug Underground Theatre Festival Michael Moor, "The Furies," Wagner College Theatre Mickey Tenenbaum, "Inherit the Wind," S.I. Shakespearean Other:
Best Overall Production: "Celebrate Christmas," Gateway Cathedral "Christmas Show," St. George Theatre "Dog Sees God," Snug Underground "How I Learned to Drive," Wagner College Theatre "The Mikado," Wagner College Theatre "Wait Until Dark," Snug Harbor Performing Arts Other:
Best Wagner Grad On Broadway: Kathy Brier, "Broadway for Musikids" Randy Graff, "Damn Yankees"
Janine LaManna, "The Drowsy Chaperone" Brian LeTendre, "Mary Poppins" Bret Shuford, "The Little Mermaid" Other:
Best Dance Company: Staten Island Ballet Gabri Christa’s DanzAisa Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theatre Other:
Best Tour Stop Attraction: Axis Dance Company, College of Staten Island Tony Bennett, St. George Theatre Brad Garrett, St. George Theatre Ira Glass, College of Staten Island Jollyship & the Whizbang, College of Staten Island The Smithsonian’s "The Way We Worked," Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art Rich Voss & Bonnie McFarland, The Cup Other:
WEB/BLOGOSPHERE: Best Local Blog: DJ Paul Bruno’s TheUnblinkingEar.blogspot.com
Island Girl at blog.silive.com/islandgirl Pat Duffy’s PopTartsSuckToasted.blogspot.com Tim Duffy’s ANewNuance.blogspot.com Save Snug Harbor, Saveshcc.blogspot.com Other:
Best "Viral" Videos: DAPS, DogandPonyShowWebSite.com James Sorrenti, PhraseProductions.com Geoffrey Celis, MySpace.com/starviewnyc Casey Jost, MySpace.com/caseyjost John Matland, YouTube.com/johnnymattoos Firat Parlak, YouTube.com/nevarnewyork TheTenderloins, TheTenderloins.com Terrible Tim, TerribleTim.com Jay Weichun, YouTube.com Other:
Best Web Site: TheBudos.com CargoCafe.com DogandPonyShowWebSite.com DoSICaffe.com DJPeterBailey.com IngridMichaelson.com
LorenzosDining.com NewhouseCenter.org Northshore.noizart.com RocktheHarbor.net Snug-Harbor.org SaveStatenIsland.com StatenIslandUSA.com Other:
FOOD/RESTAURANTS: Best Atmosphere: Adobe Blues in New Brighton Beso in St. George Fushimi in Grant City Indian Clove in Sunnyside South Fin Grill in South Beach Other:
Best Bakery: Cake Toppers in Dongan Hills Chez Laurent in Rosebank Cookie Jar in West Brighton Perkins in Graniteville Renato’s in Port Richmond
Royal Crown Bakery in Dongan Hills Other:
Best Barbecue: Bob’Z RibZ in West Brighton Rum Runners in Port Richmond Wild Boar Inn in Prince’s Bay Big Al’s Soul Food in Mariners Harbor Trends in Great Kills Other:
Best Brunch: Afternoone’s in West Brighton Beso in St. George Burrito Bar in West Brighton Cargo Café in St. George Jody’s Club in West Brighton The Lake Club in Sunnyside Lorenzo’s in Bloomfield Manor House in Castleton Corners Marie’s Gourmet in Sunnyside Old Bermuda Inn in Rossville Panini Grill in West Brighton Patisserie Bruno in West Brighton Other:
Best Chain Restaurant: Applebee’s (multiple locations) Carrabba’s in New Springville Chevy’s TexMex in New Dorp Outback Steakhouse in New Springville Panera Bread in Charleston Other:
Best Ethinic Eats: Ayder Turkish Restaurant in Port Richmond Center Dandana Middle Eastern Cuisine in Bulls Head Nieto’s Ecuadorian Restaurant in West Brighton Rinconcita Paisa in Port Richmond (Colombian Bakery/Restaurant) Singlelicous in Port Richmond (Soul food) Other:
Best Housemade Desserts: Alor Cafe in Grant City Bistro in New Dorp Chez Laurent in Rosebank DoSI in Stapleton Lorenzo’s in Bloomfield Other:
Best Healthy Choice: Better in Travis Cucina Mia in Castleton Corners Tastebuds Health Food Store in Dongan Hills Tuttoroso! in St. George Other:
Best Italian Restaurant: Angelina’s in Annadale Brioso in New Dorp Da Noi in Travis Da Noi in Fort Wadsworth Filippo’s in Dongan Hills Trattoria Romana in Dongan Hills Other:
Best Overall Restaurant: Bocelli in Grasmere DoSI Caffe in Stapleton Trattoria Romana in Dongan Hills Zest in Rosebank Other:
Best Pizza: Pronto in Rosebank/West Brighton
Mama Rosario’s in Mariners Harbor Joe and Pat’s in Castleton Corners Denino’s in Port Richmond Other:
Best Service: Angelina’s in Annadale Bocelli in Grasmere Cielo in Dongan Hills Fortune Garden in Dongan Hills Italianissimo in South Beach Vida in Stapleton Other:
Best Specialty Food Shop/Deli: A&C Deli in Castleton Corners Ariemma’s in Dongan Hills Mecca Mart in Mariner’s Harbor Montalbano’s in Rosebank Pastosa in West Brighton Other:
Best Sushi: East Pacific at the S.I. Mall Fushimi in Grant City
Nori in New Dorp Osaka in Port Richmond Sapporo in Bulls Head Xin in Grasmere Other:
Best Tavern Tastes: Cargo Cafe in St. George Duffy’s in West Brighton Jody’s Club in West Brighton Lacey’s Bridge Tavern in Elm Park Lee’s in Dongan Hills Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn in Charleston Rosebank Tavern in Rosebank Schaffer’s Tavern in Meiers Corners Other:
Best Waterfront View: Angelina’s in Tottenville Coral Bay Cafe in Tottenville Fresca’s on the Bay in Tottenville R.H. Tugs in Livingston Ruddy and Dean’s North Shore Steak House South Fin Grill in South Beach Other:
COCKTAILS/CLUBS/BARS: Best Bartender: Marisa Annunziata, Big Nose Kate’s Sal Biondio, Eagle’s Nest Jessica Fiore, Martini Red Ricardo Hernandez, Elm Park Inn Angela "Big Ang" Raiola, Drunken Monkey Wally Richards, Danny Boys Dave Shea, Black Dog Grill Jay Sicker, Bridget’s Public House Joey ("Joe Sef") Shefershayaw, Afternoone’s Other:
Best Beer Selection: Adobe Blues in New Brighton Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn in Charleston Martini Red in Stapleton Nurnberger Bierhaus in West Brighton Schaffer’s Tavern in Meiers Corners Other:
Best dancefloor: Illusions in Great Kills
Old Bermuda Inn in Rossville Lobby Lounge in Bloomfield Pure Lounge in Grant City Other:
Best Happy Hour: Big Nose Kate’s in Rossville Chic-N-Bones in Mariners Harbor Drunken Monkey in West Brighton Karl’s Klipper in St. George Mugshots in Travis Other:
Best Margarita: Applebee’s (multiple locations) Beso in St. George Carmen’s in Annadale Chevy’s TexMex in New Dorp Mezcal’s in Meiers Corners Real Madrid in Mariners Harbor Other:
Best Martini: American Bistro in Great Kills Es-ca in Dongan Hills
Fushimi in Grant City The Lake Club in Sunnyside Lorenzo’s Cabaret/Lobby Lounge in Bloomfield South Fin Grill in South Beach Pure Lounge in Grant City Other:
Best Party Patio: Big Nose Kate’s in Rossville The Cup’s "Alley" in Stapleton The Dugout Pub in Port Richmond ETG Book Café in Tompkinsville Fresca’s on the Bay in Tottenville Joe & John Toto’s in Ocean Breeze Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn in Charleston Marina Cafe in Great Kills Notes by Digi in Stapleton Nurnberger Bierhaus in West Brighton South Fin Grill in South Beach Valeno Grill in West Brighton Other:
Best Sangria: Bayou in Rosebank Beso in St. George
Denino’s in Port Richmond Espana in Annadale Lacey’s Bridge Tavern in Elm Park Read Madrid in Mariners Harbor Other:
Best Wine Selection: Basilio Inn in South Beach Enoteca Maria in St. George Jean’s Fine Wines in West Brighton Pete Milano’s in Port Richmond Center Zorba’s Mediterranean Grill in Dongan Hills Other:
Best Theme Night: Wolfpack Jam at Adobe Blues Kevin Devlin’s Trivia Sundays at Cargo Cafe Bill Woods’ FilmFest Reloaded at Karl’s Klipper Hog roasts at Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn in Charleston Geoff Celis’ Open Film Night at Martini Red ETG Book Cafe’s Open Mic Dine & Dance at Old Bermuda Inn Other:
Best Throwdown Party Joint:
Afternoone’s in West Brighton Big Nose Kate’s in Rossville Black Dog Grill in West Brighton Bottomly’s in Stapleton Burrito Bar in West Brighton Chic-N-Bones in Mariners Harbor Danny Boys in Castleton Corners The Dugout Pub in Port Richmond Other:
MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORIES Best Local Treasure: Alice Austen House Museum in Rosebank Carousel for all Children in Willowbrook New York Chinese Scholars Garden in Livingston Conference House Park in Tottenville Fort Wadsworth Historic Richmond Town Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art in Lighthouse Hill Jim Hanley’s Universe in New Dorp Ralph’s Italian Ice in Port Richmond St. George Theatre in St. George Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Livingston Wagner College Theatre Dept. in Grymes Hill
Other:
Best Annual Event: Back to the Beach Day de Dada Downtown Drive-In High Rock Adventure Challenge Memorial Day Parade The Neptune Ball Richmond County Fair Sandy Ground Festival St. Patrick’s Parade on Forest Avenue SINY Film Festival Starlight Concerts Staten Ireland Fair S.I. Restaurant Week Travis 4th of July Parade Other:
Best Special Event: Art by the Ferry Art Lab: A Tribute to Aviva Dancing with the Stars at Alice Austen Kiss Me Downtown Rock the Harbor Music Festival
S.I. Composer’s Project S.I.: Alive in Wonderland SummerFest (formerly known as JuneFest) Other:
Best Green Space: Blue Heron Park Fresh Kills Park Greenbelt Nature Center Moses Mountain at High Rock Park New York Chinese Scholars Garden in Livingston Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Livingston Other: