Back With the Best

Annual Review-Journal's readers' poll turns up a variety of interesting results

     Welcome to politics, Mr. Mayor.
      Although Best of Las Vegas voters chose Siegfried & Roy as Best Magician(s) in the 19th annual Review-Journal readers' poll, Oscar Goodman may have pulled off the best trick.
      The new and constantly learning Las Vegas mayor not only scored as Best Politician, but left his audience wanting more as the Las Vegan You'd Like to Know More About. It's not quite an NBA team but it's not a bad start for a guy who's been holding the gavel only since June. (Giving much hope to those of us who bought Goodman casino chips expecting them to be valuable collector's items someday -- soon.)
      Leaving the mayor's office was just as profitable for Jan Jones, who maintained her status as Favorite Female Las Vegan for the third consecutive year while shedding less flattering titles involving her political acumen.
      The Best of Las Vegas poll has always been a mix of the old and the new. Readers seem almost magnetically attracted to anything bright and shiny, such as the mayor, The Venetian and the House of Blues. But they can't quite let go of such comfy old shoes as Binion's Horseshoe, the Olive Garden and Bob Stupak. Who says Las Vegas doesn't have any traditions?
      For the record, 2,651 readers cast ballots in this most unscientific of polls. That's a welcome improvement from last year's dismal 1,034 return. We noticed more vigorous ballot-stuffing campaigns, too, from places surprisingly high and predictably low. (You'll know who you are from your marked absence from the results. What a shame, too, because some of you would have won anyway. Well, at least the post office made out.)
      In an effort to keep Best of Las Vegas fresh and exciting -- and to fill all these darned pages -- Review-Journal columnists have added their two cents and a few features on topics of interest are tucked within the various categories. Celebrity picks are back, too, primarily because we like to chat up celebrities.
      Some of the discoveries made by Review-Journal readers include Rosemary's Restaurant, which made an impressive debut as Best New Restaurant and Best Undiscovered Restaurant. Clint Holmes joined the Best of Las Vegas family as Best Singer after a stint at the Golden Nugget landed him a spot at Harrah's Las Vegas. The Venetian's architecture drew kudos while Mandalay Bay's pool area attracted plenty of attention. The House of Blues was anything but after topping the Best Live Music Club category.
      And it appears the Bellagio has put down roots in Best of Las Vegas, winning Best Strip Hotel, Best Attraction (the dancing fountains), Best Production Show ("O"), Best Showroom, Best Hotel Lobby, Best Valet Parking and Best Coffee Shop.
      Readers also leaped over the net to congratulate Andre Agassi as Best Pro Athlete for his impressive comeback on the tennis court and made him their Favorite Male Las Vegan for the many other things he does, particularly his charitable work with children in the Las Vegas Valley.
      Best of Las Vegas voters apparently are starting to miss Stupak, once again naming him Most Unappreciated Las Vegan. They probably just want to know what he'll be up to next.
      For those who are following downtown redevelopment issues, the Fremont Street Experience experienced mixed returns, winning Best Place to Go on a Budget (although that can't be good news for the casinos) and Worst Place to Take Visitors (ouch). Of course, the Strip can hardly brag about winning the Biggest Tourist Trap category.
      We wouldn't make R-J readers go to all the trouble of filling out a 200-item ballot without some chance of reward. This year's winner of a night on the town is Alan Will of Las Vegas. Thanks for sharing, Alan, and don't be surprised if the mayor looks you up for a handshake.

Best of Las Vegas is a product of the Las Vegas Review-Journal features department, under the direction of features editor Frank Fertado and assistant features editor Patricia Morgan. It is written by reporters Carol Cling, Heidi Knapp Rinella, David Mirhadi, Peter O'Connell; Michael Paskevich, John Przybys, Mike Weatherford, Ken White and Joan Whitely; copy editor Don Weiner; columnists Norm Clarke, Joe Hawk and John L. Smith; View editor Kirk Kern; and Morgan. The cover is illustrated by Review-Journal editorial cartoonist Jim Day. Photography is by Steve Andrascik, K.M. Cannon, Ralph Fountain, John Gurzinski, Clint Karlsen, Jim Laurie, Craig L. Moran, Jeff Scheid, Gary Thompson and Christine H. Wetzel. Also contributing to the project are page designer Mark Antonuccio, copy editors Chuck Pollet and Chris Stanley and editorial assistant Brock Radke.

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