(September 25, 2017 – Tampa, Fla.) – For the 27th consecutive year, Creative Loafing (CL) will celebrate the Tampa Bay area’s best local businesses, people, and places during Best of the Bay (BOTB).
Winners will be announced at Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay Awards Party presented by Tampa Bay Rowdies at Mahaffey Theater (400 1st Street South in St. Pete) on Wednesday, September 27th, and in the annual Best of the Bay issue online and in print on Thursday, September 28th.
CL has been handing out Best of the Bay awards since 1990, first through polling readers and later adding a critics’ component. For this year’s Best of the Bay, close to 500,00 votes were cast by more than 27,300 individuals. At the Awards Party, CL Editor-in-Chief David Warner will be handing out a select number of the readers’ and critics’ awards from the stage, aided by a surprise guest or two. At the end of the ceremony, all the winners who haven’t yet been brought up to the stage will be invited to pick up their plaques.
During the ceremony, Creative Loafing will also present checks to Suncoast Animal League and Humane Society Tampa Bay, the beneficiaries of CL’s Furricane Relief GoFundMe campaign to help animals affected by Hurricane Irma. More information on Furricane Relief at cltampa.com/furricane
Best of the Bay Awards Party attendees can take advantage of a unique opportunity to mix and mingle with some of the Tampa Bay area’s key players and get their hands on a copy of the annual Best of the Bay issue the night before it hits stands on September 29th; in addition to the complete winners list, the BOTB 2017 issue highlights hurricane heroes and canine companions. Additionally, the Best of the Bay Awards Party will feature local vendors and food and drink sampling from Tampa Bay area restaurants and bars. For more information on the food and drink sampling lineup, visit cltampa.com/botbparty
General Admission tickets to the Best of the Bay Awards Party include unlimited food and drink sampling from the Tampa Bay area’s best and entry into the Best Of Ceremony. GA Admission prices are $30 Advance (now through Sept. 26th) and $35 Door (Sept. 27th).
VIP Admission includes unlimited food and drink sampling, access to the private Little Donut House VIP Lounge where attendees can mix and mingle with some of Tampa Bay’s key players, two complimentary drinks and bites by Catering by the Family, a commemorative swag item, reserved seating for the Best Of Awards Ceremony, and more. VIP Admission prices are $110 Advance (now through Sept. 26th) and $120 Door (Sept. 27th).
Those interested in attending the Best of the Bay Awards Party are encouraged to RSVP to the Facebook event to stay in-the-know: bit.ly/clbotb2017
About Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing is an award-winning alternative, weekly newspaper and website committed to providing Tampa Bay with an independent perspective, up-to-the-minute local news, and a comprehensive listing of local happenings. Creative Loafing offers readers’ unique monthly events and CL Deals, a locally focused platform featuring dining and event experiences at half-off their regular price. For more information about Creative Loafing, visit cltampa.com and cldeals.com.
About Southcomm, Inc.
Formed in 2007, Southcomm Inc. is the nation’s second-largest publisher of alternative weeklies, one of the largest publishing companies serving chambers of commerce, and with the Cygnus Business Media purchase in 2014, a significant player in the B2B publishing world. The Nashville-based company now owns more than 30 titles reaching millions of B2B professionals and consumers annually, via its diverse suite of print, digital, online and live-event products. The company has offices in Nashville, Tenn.; Fort Atkinson, Wis.; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Louisville, Ky.; Kansas City, Mo.; Cincinnati; Tampa, Fla.; Arlington Heights, Ill.; and Florence, Ky. For more information, visit southcomm.com.
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