While we refer to the And the Rest section of the ballot as “unofficial,” we count all votes just the same. This is where we let our readers rant and rave, and they did just that. Read on.
Best Category
We Left Out
READERS’ CHOICE
Best Farmers Market
Best Festival/Event
Best Park
Best School
Though it was too close to call in this category, the response was pleasantly civic-minded, with schools, parks, festivals and events, and farmers markets garnering the most votes.
Among the votes in this category was, oddly, “Best Category We Left Out.” “Best Cupcake” and “Best Drunk Food” also got nods, as did “Best Kept Secret,” “Best Meatball” (!), and “Best Place To Shoot Off Your Pistol” (!!).
This category also came with a bit of editorializing, as one reader wrote in, “I don’t know. I’m not through yet.” Another let us know we “got it pretty much covered.” Yet another helpful reader offered this: “None, but you got a lot of useless ones.” So noted.
Best Memphis
Failure
Alex Harrison
Were you one of the 90,000 or so to pack into the Cooper-Young Festival a couple weeks ago? Theres no denying it: The festival draws the crowds, and the neighborhood with its sweet homes, vibrant restaurant and business district, and wonderful walkability once again draws the votes to win this category.
by Justin Fox Burks
Mayor Willie Herenton’s Reelection/Not Resigning, 1st place: Best Memphis Failure
1. Mayor Willie Herenton’s Reelection/Not Resigning
2. The Pyramid Remaining Empty
3. Memphis Tigers Losing in the
NCAA Finals
Our readers are fed up with Mayor Willie Herenton, a repeat “winner” in this category. Reelected to a fifth term last October, he announced he was stepping down to seek the Memphis City Schools superintendent post. That never came to pass, something that clearly disappointed many of our readers.
Best Success
1. Memphis Tigers Making It to the NCAA Finals
2. Steve Cohen’s Defeat of Nikki Tinker in Democratic Primaries
3. Hiring Kriner Cash as the Memphis City Schools Superintendent
What a ride! The Tigers, as they clawed their way deeper into this year’s NCAA bracket, brought Memphians together in excitement and anticipation like no event in recent history. Alas, they lost to Kansas in the last minutes of the final game. A heartbreaker, for sure, but there’s always next year. Go, Tigers!
Best Memphian
1. Congressman Steve Cohen
2. Shelby County mayor A C Wharton — tie — Memphis Tigers coach
John Calipari
3. FedEx CEO Fred Smith
For all the people who voted for themselves, we regret to inform you that you did not win.
It was Congressman Steve Cohen all the way in this category. Despite his awful jokes — comparing Hillary Clinton to a character in Fatal Attraction and Barack Obama to Jesus (note to Cohen: Stop it) — Cohen has won over Memphians by holding to his liberal ideals and by being one of the city’s biggest boosters. His sweeping the 9th District primaries in August is proof enough.
Best Locally
Produced Product
1. Music
2. Barbecue
3. Gibson Guitars
From blues, neo-soul, and indie pop to jazz, country, and emo, there’s a lot of great music made in this city. It’s a point of pride, in fact, and a winner in this category.
