Best Of Atlanta 2010 Main Header Large


2010 Index of Winners

Best Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Old Fourth Ward

Best Bizarro Local News Story BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Zebra loose on interstate
Runner-up: Woman crashes into Green’s liquor store for second time

Best Bizarro Local News Story BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Ban on human microchipping
In saner states, legislative hearings to address the problem of involuntary implantation of microchips would easily score as the year’s weirdest news story. But in Georgia, where the General Assembly also passed a bill allowing motorists to keep and eat their roadkill, the proposed BAN ON HUMAN MICROCHIPPINGmore...
In saner states, legislative hearings to address the problem of involuntary implantation of microchips would easily score as the year’s weirdest news story. But in Georgia, where the General Assembly also passed a bill allowing motorists to keep and eat their roadkill, the proposed BAN ON HUMAN MICROCHIPPING needed a little something extra. As luck would have it, that came in the form of a DeKalb County woman invited to testify to a Senate committee about how “researchers with the federal government” implanted a microchip in her “vaginal-rectum area.” The microchip, she said, is activated by phone, like a beeper, with the number displayed “on billboards throughout the city.” Naturally, the committee OK’d the bill. less...

Best Nonprofit BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlanta Community Food Bank

Runner-up: Habitat for Humanity


519 Memorial Drive, 404-223-5180, and other metro Atlanta locations. www.habitat.org.

Best Country Music Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
94.9 FM The Bull

www.bullatlanta.com


Runner-up: 101.5 (WKHX-FM)


www.wkhx.com

Best Local TV News BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Susan Richardson TV Interview
This year’s turnover in state House leadership wasn’t brought about by voters, prosecutors or an act of God. Instead, it was due to the SUSAN RICHARDSON TV INTERVIEW with Fox 5 reporter Dale Russell. The six-minute piece, in which the Speaker’s ex described his frolicking with lobbyists, is proofmore...
This year’s turnover in state House leadership wasn’t brought about by voters, prosecutors or an act of God. Instead, it was due to the SUSAN RICHARDSON TV INTERVIEW with Fox 5 reporter Dale Russell. The six-minute piece, in which the Speaker’s ex described his frolicking with lobbyists, is proof that the old-school news media can still affect big changes. less...

Best College BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Georgia State University

Runner-up: Emory University


www.emory.edu

Best Dog Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Piedmont Dog Park

Runner-up: ParkGrounds


142 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., 678-528-9901, www.parkgrounds.com

Best Fighters for Atlanta’s Soul BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Gay elected officials
They still can’t marry in Georgia, but it’s clear that GAY ELECTED OFFICIALS are finding more public acceptance than ever before. Voters have sent two openly gay candidates to the state House, three to the Atlanta City Council and, this summer, for the first time ever, one to the Fulton County Commission.more...
They still can’t marry in Georgia, but it’s clear that GAY ELECTED OFFICIALS are finding more public acceptance than ever before. Voters have sent two openly gay candidates to the state House, three to the Atlanta City Council and, this summer, for the first time ever, one to the Fulton County Commission. And we’re not even counting politicians who are in the closet! In fact, the Fulton race came down to a runoff between two lesbian candidates who handily out-polled a couple of breeders with nary a mention of sexual preference along the way. less...

Best Free Thing to Do in Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Piedmont Park

Runner-up: Centennial Olympic Park


265 Park Ave. W., 404-222-7275, www.centennialpark.com

Best Georgia Beach Retreat BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Tybee Island

exploretybee.com


Runner-up: St. Simons Island


www.explorestsimonsisland.com

Best Georgia Mountain Retreat BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Blue Ridge Mountains

blueridgeonline.com


Runner-up: Helen


www.helenga.org

Best Hiking Trail BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Stone Mountain Park

Runner-up: Kennesaw Mountain


900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw, 770-427-4686, www.kennesawmountain.areaparks.com

Best New Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Scoutmob

Best Contribution to Atlanta’s Urban Design BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Regional transportation tax

Best Hotel BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
St. Regis Atlanta

Runner-up: The Georgian Terrace Hotel


659 Peachtree St., 404-897-1991, www.thegeorgianterrace.com

Best Festivals BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Cabbagetown Park
Cold draft beer, live bluegrass and all the chili you can eat (until it runs out). What’s not to love about Cabbagetown’s annual CHOMP AND STOMP festival? Held the first Saturday in November, the day kicks off with a 5K run, but most folks come to get samples from the chili cook-off, have a few beersmore...
Cold draft beer, live bluegrass and all the chili you can eat (until it runs out). What’s not to love about Cabbagetown’s annual CHOMP AND STOMP festival? Held the first Saturday in November, the day kicks off with a 5K run, but most folks come to get samples from the chili cook-off, have a few beers and rub shoulders with pretty much every cool kid residing south of Ponce de Leon Avenue. There are also a few booths selling crafts, as well as a variety of food from local restaurants and vendors, including an entire slow-roasted hog. But possibly the most welcoming feature of the C&S is its laid-back Cabbagetown vibe; it’s like one giant, day-long block party. Cabbagetown Park, Tye Street and Kirkwood Avenue. www.chompandstomp.com. less...

Best Intown Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Piedmont Park

Runner-up: Grant Park


840 Cherokee Ave., 404-624-0697, www.gpconservancy.org

Best Under-rated Attraction BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Unseen Underground Walking Tour

Best Jazz Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Jazz 91.9 WCLK

www.wclk.com


Runner-up: 91.1 (WREK-FM)


www.wrek.org

Best Jogging Path BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Freedom Park

Runner-up: Silver Comet Trail


Cooper Lake Road at Mayell Road, 404-875-7284, www.pathfoundation.org

Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
The Kids Are Alright
Airing Saturdays on 1690 (WMLB-AM), THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT touts itself as “kids’ music for everyone.” But that tag undersells the product. Each DIY-ish broadcast is a joyous riff on a single theme (summer, bugs, ice cream, etc.) lovingly curated from a vast library that ranges from the Pogues tomore...
Airing Saturdays on 1690 (WMLB-AM), THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT touts itself as “kids’ music for everyone.” But that tag undersells the product. Each DIY-ish broadcast is a joyous riff on a single theme (summer, bugs, ice cream, etc.) lovingly curated from a vast library that ranges from the Pogues to Emmylou Harris to Bo Diddley. You don’t need kids to appreciate its wit, indelible melodies and irresistible sing-alongs. www.1690wmlb.com/the-kids-are-alright less...

Best Landmark BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Stone Mountain Park

Runner-up: Fox Theatre


660 Peachtree St., 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org

Best Local Athlete BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Jason Heyward
Runner-up: Matt Ryan

Best Local Athlete BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Evander Kane

Best Local Blog/Zine BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
The Quick + Dirty Dirty

Best Local Blogger BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Pecanne Log
Nowhere will you find more cleverly written posts on such Atlanta-centric topics as beer-swillin’ 1930s circus elephants, the city’s first parking deck or downtown’s hidden beauty than at PECANNE LOG. At a time when others have retreated to Twitter or Facebook (or given up blogging entirely), itsmore...
Nowhere will you find more cleverly written posts on such Atlanta-centric topics as beer-swillin’ 1930s circus elephants, the city’s first parking deck or downtown’s hidden beauty than at PECANNE LOG. At a time when others have retreated to Twitter or Facebook (or given up blogging entirely), its editor, “Christa,” remains one of Atlanta’s best observers of the city’s quirks, characters and history. www.pecannelog.com less...

Best Local Blogger BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Lindsay Roberts and Lauren Kraselsky

Best Local Celebrity BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Kevin Gillespie’s beard
What’s red and bushy, has fancy W Hotel parties thrown in its honor, can be spotted at local joints including Morelli’s Ice Cream and the “Ghetto” Kroger and boasts nearly 8,000 Facebook fans? That would be KEVIN GILLESPIE’S BEARD. Kevin Gillespie might be a “Top Chef” finalist and Jamesmore...

What’s red and bushy, has fancy W Hotel parties thrown in its honor, can be spotted at local joints including Morelli’s Ice Cream and the “Ghetto” Kroger and boasts nearly 8,000 Facebook fans? That would be KEVIN GILLESPIE’S BEARD. Kevin Gillespie might be a “Top Chef” finalist and James Beard semifinalist who can create a transcendent meal as easily with pork belly and veal chop as with a bundle of farm-fresh veggies, but it’s his Yukon Cornelius-inspired facial hair that’s earned him the national fame he deserves. Oh, and if you’re angling for a KGB sighting, your best bet is the dining room at Woodfire Grill. The best tables offer an unobstructed view of the open kitchen - and the chef’s lustrous beard.


Editor’s note: This blurb has been modified to correctly reflect Gillespie’s recognition from the James Beard Foundation.

less...

Best Local Celebrity BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Ludacris
Runner-up: Usher

Best Local Hero BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Clark Howard

clarkhoward.com


Runner-up: Jimmy Carter

Best Local Twitter Feed BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Neal Boortz

twitter.com/talkmaster


Runner-up: Andisheh Nouaree


www.twitter.com/andishehnouraee

Best Spot to Commune with Nature/Best Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlanta Botanical Garden

Runner-up: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area


www.nps.gov

Best Local Political Figure BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Kasim Reed

Best local sports radio show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Chuck Oliver, WCNN-AM (680)

www.680thefan.com


Runner-up: Buck Belue, WCNN-AM (680)


www.680thefan.com

Best Hope for the Braves BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Jason Heyward

Best Local Sports Team BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Turner Field

Runner-up: Atlanta Falcons


www.atlantafalcons.com

Best Local TV News BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Monica Pearson

www.wsbtv.com


Runner-up: Brenda Wood


www.11alive.com

Best Columnist/Journalist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Doug Richards

www.11alive.com


Runners-up:


Thomas Wheatley


www.clatl.com


AND


Chad Radford


www.clatl.com

Best YouTube BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
“FU BP” on Krog Street Tunnel
Runner-up: Pants on the ground

Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
“The Bert Show”

thebertshow.com


Runner-up: NPR “Morning Edition”


www.npr.org

Best Neighborhood Festival BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Inman Park Festival

www.inmanparkfestival.org


Runner-up: East Atlanta Strut


www.eastatlantastrut.com

Best Neighborhood for Nightlife BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Buford Highway
Atlanta’s “last call” doesn’t have to mean “good night.” Just outside the city limits, late-night carousers and party animals flock to BUFORD HIGHWAY to seek the boompf boompf of Club Miami, the Latin rhythms of La Rumba and the drunken revelry of Karaoke Medley. (Don’t forget the slendermore...
Atlanta’s “last call” doesn’t have to mean “good night.” Just outside the city limits, late-night carousers and party animals flock to BUFORD HIGHWAY to seek the boompf boompf of Club Miami, the Latin rhythms of La Rumba and the drunken revelry of Karaoke Medley. (Don’t forget the slender strippers of Pink Pony.) Top it off with 4:30 a.m. carne asada at any of the late-night authentic taquerias and you can see why Buford Highway beckons. less...

Best Neighborhood for Nightlife BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
East Atlanta

Best Thrift Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Virginia-Highland

www.virginiahighland.com


Runners-up:


Candler Park


www.candlerpark.org


AND


Decatur


www.decaturga.com

Best Place to Buy a Starter Home BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
East Atlanta

Best Walkable Neighborhood BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Midtown

midtownatlanta.org


Runner-up: Decatur


www.decaturga.com

Best Public Skatepark BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick

Best New Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlanta Beltline Inc

www.beltline.org


Runner-up: King of Pops


www.kingofpops.net

Best Non-Commercial Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
WABE-FM (90.1)

www.pba.org


Runner-up: 88.5 (WRAS-FM)


www2.gsu.edu


 

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