Best of Manhattan 09: Reader's Choice Poll
best summer festival: lincoln center out-of-doors
best public space: tie, the high line and central park best reason to love nyc: the food
best local blog: mominthecity.com best reason to go downtown: the high line
best downtown bar/restaurant: tie, beauty bar and yerba buena
best midtown bar/restaurant: applebee's bar and grill
best upper west side bar/restaurant: arte café
best upper east side bar/restaurant: baraonda
best rooftop bar: 230 fifth
best expensive eats: tie, babbo and morton's
best meal for less than $10: maoz vegetarian
best midtown lunch: chipotle
best ethnic restaurant: pera mediterranean brasserie best restaurant for comfort food: eisenberg's
best (non-chain) coffee shop: tie, mudd and joe the art of coffee
best discount clothing store: tie, h and m and century 21
best cheap date: central park best way to get rid of pests: move
best place for people watching: times square (specifically, the pedestrian malls on broadway)
best outdoor venue: central park summerstage
best place to hear live music: tie, bowery ballroom and carnegie hall
best political goof: gov. david paterson
best nyc celebrity to hate: donald trump
best art exhibit: the metropolitan museum of art
best broadway show: tie, jersey boys and hair
best local politician: mike bloomberg (runner-up: chuck schumer)
best old-timer: ed koch
thanks to everyone who weighed in on our readers' choice poll!