STEPH DEROSA: MY TWO CENTS >>>

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.  King 5's Best of Western Washington winners were announced.  Here's what I have to say about that:  Congrats to the winners! You absolutely deserve it, and to the businesses who did not win: Who cares?  You rock in my world.  That's really all that should matter, right?  Humor me.

After spending almost an hour going through pages and pages of local nominees for Best of Western Washington, I eventually had to stop due to cramping in the frontal bultidreshia lobe of my brain.  That's the part of the brain that detects utterly pointless bullshit.

Here are the establishments who scored the popular online web votes in order to collect the ultimate title of "WINNER".  Can't say I disagree with these winners, they are all some of my favorite places in Tacoma:

Savi Day Spa, Mad Hat Tea Company and Celebrity Cake Studios.  McCabe's was the winner for Best Dance Club (with only 10 reviews), while McCabe's bartender Candy W. won for "Best Bartender in Seattle".  Dang, now we're considered "Seattle"  Or are the bartenders just that shitty up north that they have to include Tacoma's in order to have something that's "the best"?

Get this: Seahawks won for "Best Sports Team" (yawn), while the Sea Gals lost out to winner of "Best Cheer Squad" to youth organization Liberty Bell Cheerleading Squad. See now?  I'm almost positive the Sea Gals are better cheerleaders, but I'll be damned if that little cheer squad didn't rally up their friends to vote online.  For that, I suppose they deserve that illustrious Best of Western Washington title.

Fife High School won for "Best School Spirit".  That is something that surely deserves to win.  Voting for your school definitely proves you have spirit.  YAY Fife Hi!

Sanford and Son is now considered by King 5 as "Best Museum in Seattle" and Fort Nisqually Living History Museum as "Best Museum in Seattle".  Again with the "Seattle" thing:  Isn't this the "Best of Western Washington"?  Or are we now considering anything west of Snoqualmie Pass "Seattle"?  Grrrr.

Now onto the "TOP 5" local winners:

Tempest Lounge, Doyle's Public House, The Rock, Paddy Coyne's, Quickie Too, Grand Cinema, Varsity Grill, Indochine, Infinate Soups, Handful of Luvin', Beyond the Bridge Café, The Mix, Pacific Grill, and Asado.  Personally I think all of those are the "best of" one thing or another.

Over 50 local business (that I'm familiar with) were nominated but did not win.  I'm not thinking of the obscene quantity of dentists, photographers, event planners, and auto shops that were listed, I'm thinking of retail and dining for the most part:

Goodfella- Amazing steaks, hands down.
Hess Bakery- Authentic German Bakery galore.
Pour at Four- Wonderful small plates, extensive wine knowledge.
Embellish- C'mon now.  They rock.
Rosewood Cafè- Family friendly, personable, neighborhood-oriented, and yummy.
Crown Bar- Have you ever had their Caesar Salad?
Corina Bakery- Dessert Bars.  Try one.
South Sound Running-" Wouldn't buy my running shoes anywhere else.
Galanga Thai Cuisine- Fresh and authentic.
Monsoon Room- Cozy and warm.  Plus they have a great bar.
Babblin Babs- Organic, local, top-of-the-line cuisine.
Maxwell's- YUM.
Satellite Coffee- Seriously?  Should've won.
Clover Leaf- Thin crust Americanized pizza pie at it's best.
Parkway Tavern- Extensively diverse beer selection.
Red Hot- Whatever with not winning.  They are the best of everything, no doubt.
Puget Sound Pizza- Speechless.  I love Puget Sound Pizza.
Sea Grill- Awesome lunches, big windows overlooking Pacific Ave, great service.
Bikram Yoga- If you've never been, you should go.
Posh Home- Her eclectic, tasteful selection changes every time I go in.  I love it.
The Swiss- Bands, parties, drinks, and bartenders- all of them tasty.

Thankfully this year's Best of Western Washington is over.  Everybody is a winner in my book.  It may be a little black book filled with coffee stains and lipstick smudges, but it's my book and I'm proud of everyone in it.

Like I said, I had to stop after an hour of repetitive scrolling so if I missed anyone - I apologize.  Oh, and there are no links in this blog for you to click on.  It's obvious there were way too many to hook up.  Instead, I say to you: