Readers Have Their Say
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Annual poll rewards Rudner, Goodman, Bellagio and Fashion Show mall
By Patricia Morgan
REVIEW-JOURNAL
It takes someone strong -- or funny -- to unseat the queenpin of
Best of Las Vegas®.
Former Mayor Jan Jones has practically ruled the R-J's
Best of Las Vegas® Favorite Female Las Vegan category since it was instituted in 1991. Only once, in 1997, did anyone dare to defeat her. That was the year KLAS-TV, Channel 8 anchor Paula Francis took over the crown. The pressure must have been too much, however, as Francis settled back into a more comfy run as Best Local TV Anchor.
Once again, in this the 22nd year of the
Best of Las Vegas® readers' poll, Jones has been toppled. Comedian Rita Rudner dons the mantle after winning by just 12 votes. Is this the start of a new reign? Is Jones' high-ranking job as a casino executive not enough to ensure her the title? Must she return to selling cars on TV, which, when we think of it, is fairly close to stand-up comedy?
It's true, we're using the cheap ploy of a cliffhanger to draw you into this edition of the
Best of Las Vegas® readers' poll.
We received 2,531 ballots this year, up from last year's total of 2,116, but still off the pace of 1998's all-time record of 3,962 ballots. We're not going to stop until we beat this record. Of course, we won't stop then until we beat that record. Oh, face it, we're never going to stop.
In all, there are 215 categories, which is the same as last year but not as many as, OK, enough of the numbers already.
This year's poll bears striking similarities to many of the others as Mayor Oscar Goodman joins the Bellagio, Olive Garden, Taco Bell and Sunset Park as virtually invincible.
Goodman notched wins as Best Local Politician, Favorite Male Las Vegan and Most Colorful Character. He was the runner-up as Best-Dressed Las Vegan, Las Vegan You'd Like to Know More About and Most Powerful Las Vegan. On the flip side, defying all logic, Goodman also "won" the readers' wrath as Least Effective Public Official. It just goes to show you life is weird at the top.
The Bellagio picked up wins as Best Strip Hotel, Best Architecture, Best Attraction (fountain show), Best Lounge (Fontana Lounge), Best Hotel Lobby, Best Hotel Restrooms, Best Poker Room, Best Brunch, Best Coffee Shop (Cafe Bellagio), Best Valet Parking, Best Place to Go When Price Is No Object, Best Art Gallery (Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art), Best Visitor Photo Opportunity (fountain show) and Best Production Show (Cirque du Soleil's "O"). It almost makes you wonder what's next: Best Hotel Across the Street from the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower? Best Hotel With Windows? The possibilities are endless.
And, of course, there would be nothing to mock in the
Best of Las Vegas® poll if readers did not stand so firmly by Olive Garden as Best Italian Restaurant and Taco Bell as having the Best Taco. Maybe there is some type of "family" that inspires such loyalty to Olive Garden. As for Taco Bell? Well, we're still thinking outside the bun on that one.
But our mocking is good-natured since we enjoy the many pleasures of Sunset Park, too, which fielded readers' top votes as Best Park, Best Outdoor Basketball Courts, Best Place to Walk or Jog, Best Softball Field and Best Tennis Courts. Think of it as the Bellagio of large expanses of grass and trees.
When it comes to readers' favorite people, we should note that Rudner also won as Best Comedian in this year's poll. If she hangs around long enough, she could expand her territory just as others have. For instance, Andre Agassi is a perennial favorite, picking up Best Celebrity Resident, Best Local Professional Athlete and Most Generous Las Vegan this year. Steve Wynn is another experienced
Best of Las Vegas® player, winning Best-Dressed Las Vegan, Las Vegan You'd Like to Know More About and Most Powerful Las Vegan in this edition of the poll.
Rudner was not the only sparkly winner in this year's poll, however. Readers rewarded the Fashion Show mall its top honors for a boffo remodel and expansion that finally landed Nordstrom and a high-tech runway for real fashion shows.
But the real reason you're still reading here and not diving into the thick of it is this is the only place to find out the winners of the valuable and coveted
Best of Las Vegas® prizes. Here goes:
Thomas Greenough of Las Vegas, a night on the town; Annette McNaughton of Las Vegas, two tickets to see "O"; Shirlee Tripp of Las Vegas, two tickets to see Danny Gans; Joy Bowles of Jean, dinner for two at Alize at the Palms; Bob Peyton of Las Vegas, dinner for two at Rosemary's Restaurant; Andy Olson of Las Vegas, lunch for two at Cili at the Bali Hai Golf Club; and Nelly Anaya of Las Vegas, a gift certificate to the Fashion Show mall. Mark and Petrina Olson of Henderson won tickets to the "
Best of Las Vegas® Awards Show."
