Think a stylish Pittsburgher is an oxymoron? I won't put myself up as an example, but as it turns out, Pittsburgh is a great place to fool myself into thinking I live a stylish life on a paltry budget. How do I manage so well to pretend to a life of style? As evidence, I offer up the following narrative reviews of literature, film, music, television and everything else.

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S&S; Best of Pittsburgh


Welcome to the voting booth for the first annual Best of Pittsburgh survey hosted by—who else?—Sarah and Sabrina. What makes this "Best of Pittsburgh" different from every other "Best of" in Pittsburgh? Well, us, of course—that is, this survey covers categories that we care about, and that you care about (and just when you thought we hadn't given you nearly enough opportunities to introduce new categories, be sure to include your category suggestion for next year in the final blank).

And so, without further ado, here is the official S&S; Best of Pittsburgh ballot. Select the best possible answer for each question, and try not to cheat—if you do, you'll get an F.

The ballot for our 2007 annual survey will remain open until November 30, 2007. Commentary boxes are provided for each answer choice, but commentary is optional. Please be advised, any commentary you provide may be quoted in the final results article. The quotations will be credited to the name, pseudonym or handle you provide at the opening of the survey. Please vote for only ONE item for each question. If you find that you simply can't pick one, you're welcome to go to the trouble of filling out the ballot a second time, provided you give different answers for any categories in which you vote. If you fill out multiple ballots voting for the same item(s) more than once, we'll discount all of your votes (this is the Internet; technology will rat on you, trust us). If you have any questions please write to Sarah at [email protected].


S&S; Best of Pittsburgh 2007 Ballot


NAME / PSEUDONYM / HANDLE (optional):

This is the name we will credit with any commentary you provide.


VOTING CATEGORIES


BEST CHEAP BAR:
You know the kind of place we're talking about. Good hangout, cheap booze.


COMMENTS:



BEST DINNER FOR TWO UNDER $50:
Let's face it, $50 is a "cheap date" in this day and age.


COMMENTS:



BEST OVERALL DRINK SPECIAL:
Be sure to mention the establishment, the drink, day of the week, and time of the special, where applicable


COMMENTS:



BEST BEER SPECIAL:
Be sure to mention the establishment, the type of beer(s), day of the week, and time of the special, where applicable


COMMENTS:



BEST COCKTAIL SPECIAL:
Be sure to mention the establishment, the type of cocktail(s), day of the week, and time of the special, where applicable


COMMENTS:



BEST FOOD SPECIAL:
Include any specific days, times and restrictions


COMMENTS:



BEST BARGAIN SUSHI:
Just the right mix of freshness and price


COMMENTS:



MOST SPLURGE-WORTHY SUSHI:
When the sushi is just that good, you're willing to reach deeper into your pocket


COMMENTS:



BEST NITE CLUB BARGAIN:
Consider a fun to cover charge to drink special ratio. Hey, we never said there wouldn't be math.


COMMENTS:



BEST SMALL VENUE FOR LIVE MUSIC:
You can hang out with your friends anywhere, but discovering new bands requires trust


COMMENTS:



BEST TAKE-OUT:
Because sometimes you're too lazy to cook and to get dressed


COMMENTS:



BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN FOOD:
Watch out carnivores, Sarah might slip you some tofu pie...


COMMENTS:



BEST COFFEE SHOP:
How better to cure your cheap bar hangover?


COMMENTS:



BEST YINZER BAR:
If you've never been to one, then you're probably not living in Pittsburgh. What? Your postal exchange is Cranberry? I knew it!


COMMENTS:



BEST NEIGHBORHOOD SHOP OR BOUTIQUE:
If there's a franchise in Iowa, it doesn't qualify


COMMENTS:



BEST PLACE FOR FREE WIRELESS:
Break out that abacus again and consider a cost to convenience to atmosphere ratio


COMMENTS:



BEST DESSERT:
Sometimes dinner isn't even necessary


COMMENTS:



BEST CITY POOL:
No, Club One doesn't count. Cityparks pool tag required


COMMENTS:



BEST PLACE TO CATCH A SKYLINE VIEW:
We can't promise we'll know where you're talking about if you answer in longitude and latitude


COMMENTS:



BEST FANCY-SCHMANCY RESTAURANT:
So... say you did have the money...


COMMENTS:



BEST CITY PARK FOR A PICNIC:
The one that permits alcohol! Oh, wait...


COMMENTS:



BEST NEAR-CITY DAY TRIP:
Just in case you needed some fresh air.


COMMENTS:



MOST ROMANTIC SPOT IN THE CITY:
Use your imagination, the sky's the limit... just remember, we're too poor for GPS


COMMENTS:



BEST ESTABLISHMENT OF ADULT ENTERTAINMENT:
And no, this category and the previous are not synonymous


COMMENTS:



BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR RENTING AN APARTMENT:
Consider an equation of convenience, price, safety, local commerce and entertainment... and you thought we were kidding when we insinuated that you might get an "F"


COMMENTS:



BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ENTERTAINMENT:
May or may not be the same as the last question. Think about clubs, restaurants, bars... even if you wouldn't want to or couldn't afford to live there.


COMMENTS:



BEST PARK:
That is, if you like communing with nature...


COMMENTS:



BEST FREE OR BARGAIN ART EVENT:
Where can Pittsburgh hipsters enjoy art on the cheap?


COMMENTS:



AND THE INDELIBLE PITTSBURGH LANDMARK AWARD GOES TO...:
What stone (or steel) bastion of the Pittsburgh landscape best showcases the je ne sais quois of what local architecture has to offer?


COMMENTS:





SUGGEST A CATEGORY FOR 2008:
Just in case this survey was utterly intolerable for you to fill out... or you enjoyed it so much you wish it could have lasted forever... suggest a category for next year's survey




Restaurant, Bar & Club Reviews
PITTSBURGH
The Aspinwall Grille
Cafe on Main
Cafe Fifth Avenue
The Crow's Nest
Country Chef Buffet
Gene's Last Chance
Gene's Place
Grand Concourse
Hemingway's
India Garden
Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor
Jimmy G's
Laforet
Lava Lounge
Macy's Bakery
Mad Mex
Margaritaville
Matrix
More
Mountain View Inn
Nicholas Coffee Company
1907 Tavern
The Park Classic Diner
The Parlour
Primanti's
Rumshakers
Sanctuary/Altar Bar
Tonic
Yokoso
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
Dina's
Ellicottville Brewing
Gin Mill
Myers Steakhouse and Inn
NEW YORK CITY
Ping Seafood Restaurant
The Village Cafe
Wild Ginger






Media Reviews
DVD
Bones Season 1
Deadwood Season 2
Entourage Season 2
The L Word Seasons 1 & 2
Nip/Tuck Season 1
Queer as Folk Season 1
Sex and the City Season 5
BOOKS
Shadow of the Wind






RECIPES
FOOD
Bacon Blue Cream Cheese
Best Cheese Spread Ever
Biscuit Extravaganza
Citrus Tuna Steak
Chicken Salad
Easy Chocolate Mousse
Gussied-up Marinara
Quiche Lorraine
Tuna Salad
Vegan Bean Dip
Vegan Rigatoni
DRINK
Cosmopolitan Punch
Frozen Cranberry Margaritas
Low-carb Cosmo
Matthew Stover Margaritas
Vodka Gimlet