Watermark’s 2021 WAVE Award Winners – Tampa Bay

FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN

First: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor

Second: St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman

Third: St. Petersburg City Councilmember Darden Rice

FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST

First: Nadine Smith, Equality Florida

Second: Todd Richardson, Equality Florida

Third: Jim Nixon, City of St. Petersburg

GREATEST ALLY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

First: St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman

Second: Nancy Desmond, PFLAG Tampa

Third: Katie McCurry, Project Pride SRQ

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATION

First: Metro Inclusive Health

Second: Equality Florida

Third: Balance Tampa Bay

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE/ORGANIZATION

First: Tampa Bay Rays

Second: Tampa Bay Lightning

Third: Pride Bowling, Dunedin Lanes

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER/JOURNALIST

First: Ryan Williams-Jent, Watermark

Second: Rachel Covello, OutCoast

Third: David Borman, Tampa Bay Gay

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE

First: WatermarkOnline.com

Second: GayStPete.com

Third: TampaBayGay.com

FAVORITE VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

First: Equality Florida’s Equality LIVE!

Second: Daphne and Friends, A Socially Distant Drag Show

Third: DaVinci’s Digital Days

MOST PRIDEFUL EVENT (IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL)

First: St Pete Pride

Second: Tampa Pride

Third: Come OUT St Pete

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR/CLUB (OVER ONE YEAR OLD)

First: Tyler’z Barbershop

Second: Out of the Closet

Third: The Blind Tiger Café

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS (LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD)

First: The Saint

Second: The MAR St. Pete

Third: Jeffy Tees

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY

First: Metro Inclusive Health

Second: Love the Golden Rule

Third: Diversity Health Center of Tampa Bay

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON

First: Tyler’z Barbershop

Second: VanHalst Salon

Third: Bambu the Eco Salon

FAVORITE LOCAL FITNESS CENTER

First: Planet Fitness

Second: LA Fitness

Third: Crunch Fitness

FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN CLINIC

First: SPCA Tampa Bay

Second: Pet Pal Veterinary Clinic

Third: VIP Petcare

FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET

First: Dog Bar St. Pete

Second: Bow Wow Barber

Third: A Very Important Pet

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

First: Eric Wilson, The Wilson Group, Keller Williams Realty

Second: Ryan Thompson, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Florida Properties Group

Third: Caitlin Jones, RE/MAX Realty Unlimited

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY

First: Liz Moneymaker, Ferrari, Butler Moneymaker, PLLC

Second: Lindsey Sheppy, GBY Law Associates

Third: Tim Martin, Martin Law Office, P.A.

FAVORITE LOCAL CPA/ACCOUNTANT

First: Joel Schmitz, CPA

Second: Frederick C. Thacher, CPA, Thacher, PA

Third: Kathy K. Cregan, CPA, Cregan & Co.

FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY A CAR

First: Tyrone Square Mazda

Second: CarMax

Third: Crown Hyundai

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING/ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

First: The Grand Central District

Second: Ybor

Third: Downtown Dunedin

FAVORITE LOCAL GEEK SPOT

First: The Vortex Bar and Game Room

Second: Right Around the Corner Arcade Brewery

Third: Emerald City Comics

FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING VENUE

First: Sunken Gardens

Second: Sunset Beach

Third: Armature Works

FAVORTE FAITH-BASED ESTABLISHMENT

First: MCC Tampa

Second: King of Peace MCC

Third: Allendale UMC

FAVORITE LOCAL FLORIST

First: The Potting Shed

Second: Absolutely Beautiful Flowers

Third: Beneva Flowers & Plantscapes

FAVORITE AREA MUSEUM OR GALLERY

First: The Dali Museum

Second: Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete

Third: Imagine Museum

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL/B&B

First: The Hollander

Second: The Vinoy

Third: Gay St. Pete House

FAVORITE LOCAL FRAMING SHOP

First: Tyrone Frames & Mirrors

Second: Michaels

Third: Gallery Barbas

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

First: Chad Mize

Second: John Gascot

Third: Cole Foust

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

First: Dylan Todd

Second: Morgan Le Shade

Third: Jamarcus Mosley

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

First: Punky’s Bar and Grill

Second: Old Key West Bar & Grill

Third: Social Roost Kitchen and Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH

First: Old Key West Bar & Grill

Second: Showbar Ybor

Third: Bonefish Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING

First: Three Coins Diner

Second: Punky’s Bar and Grill

Third: Old Key West Bar & Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

First: Sonny’s BBQ

Second: The Stuffed Mushroom

Third: Darlene’s Cocina

FAVORITE LGBTQ CLUB/BAR

First: Quench Lounge

Second: Enigma Bar & Lounge

Third: Bradley’s on 7th

FAVORITE ALLIED BAR/CLUB

First: Old Key West Bar & Grill

Second: Showbar Ybor

Third: White Lie Ybor

FAVORITE HAPPY HOUR

First: Quench Lounge

Second: Enigma Bar & Lounge

Third: Bradley’s on 7th

FAVORITE KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT (INCLUDE HOST(S), EVENT AND LOCATION)

First: Theresa McGivern, Karaoke at Quench Lounge

Second: Georgia Moore, Drag Queen Bingo at Punky’s Bar and Grill

Third: Duane Cook, Karaoke at Blur Nightclub

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER/SERVER

First: Chris Hannay, Enigma Bar & Lounge

Second: Alex Honda, Bradley’s on 7th

Third: Jon Jusino, The Garage on Central Avenue

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG

First: Veronica Vixen

Second: Alexis De La Mer

Third: Rockell Blu

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE (NON-DRAG)

First: Matthew McGee

Second: Mavin MissBehavin

Third: Robert Rigsby

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN

First: That Steel Drum Girl

Second: Alyssa

Third: Boys’ Entrance

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DJ

First: TC Czaritsa

Second: Mike Sklarz

Third: Jayson Chancey

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO SHOW

First: The Miguel & Holly Show, Hot 101.5

Second: Drew Garabo Live, 102.5 The Bone

Third: Big Rig, 98Rock

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE WE CAN’T WAIT TO OPEN BACK UP

First: Straz Center for the Performing Arts

Second: Ruth Eckerd Hall

Third: freeFall Theatre

FAVORITE LOCAL THEATRICAL SHOW (IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL)

First: A Socially Distant Drag Show, Daphne and Friends

Second: POPera: Holiday Sparkle, St. Petersburg Opera Co.

Third: War of the Worlds, freeFall Theatre

FAVORITE ADULT NOVELTY STORE

First: XTC Adult Supercenter

Second: Todd Couples Superstore

Third: Fantasyland Adult Supercenter

FAVORITE COVID-19 TESTING SITE

First: Tropicana Field

Second: CVS Pharmacy

Third: MedExpress

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