Why are there so many more readers’ picks this year?

The Current’s critics get to flip our thumbs up and down all year long. Best of SA gives you the opportunity to tell your fellow residents what you think — in a
collective, quasi-democratic fashion. Our goal is to create a fairly comprehensive guide to the best our city has to offer, based on your wisdom and biases.

Who wrote the little articles after each pick?

The Readers’ Picks stories were written by the Current’s editorial staff, with the help of regular freelancers Ron Bechtol and Mark Jones. You can tell who wrote a Critic’s Pick by the initials at the end of the item. Refer to our masthead, page 6, and add MJ=Mark Jones to that list.

You left out ice cream and head shops, dammit!

While we try to be as comprehensive as possible, there’s not enough room or time to include every possible category, and we try to mix it up a little each year, too, so this annual issue stays fresh. You can suggest categories for 2009 by emailing Elaine Wolff at ewolff@sacurrent.com. If we use your suggested category, you’ll get an invitation to next year’s Best of SA party.

Why do some categories have second and third-place winners, and others only list first place?

In most cases it means that there were more than three winners for the second- and/or third-place spots. In many of those cases, there were four or more winners for a spot, which makes it impractical to list them all, and starts to dilute the purpose of the readers’ poll.

Who, for fuck’s sake, are the Methane Sisters?

The Sisters are rock ’n’ roll salvage/salvation from the deliciously bad ’70s. If you missed their infamous return to the stage at Jump-Start this year and last (and their Best of SA 2007 title), watch the schedule at jump-start.org. They’re sure to be back soon.

Best of 2008 FAQ's in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

Special Places in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

You've Been Served in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

Shop Till You Drop in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

Working-class Heroes in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

You Turn Me On in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

Mini Me in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

Our Bodies, Our Selves in Readers Pick 4/23/2008

Vice and Virtue : Part 2 4/23/2008

Vice and Virtue : Part 1 4/23/2008