After two weeks, some 1,000 votes, heated bar wars, write-in contenders and a fun party for the whole queer village on Thursday, our first Bestest of the Best of Gay Atlanta finally has its winners. Project Q’s Matt Hennie and Mike Fleming hosted the Bestest Bash on Thursday with the folks who came out on top of their categories and just about everybody else who wanted to party. The winners listed below got a framed memento, and Project Q got some face time with our readers. Take a look for yourself in the photo gallery below. Now that's a win-win. All of our guests were treated to an inspired set by DJ Diablo Rojo, yummy munchies by Bestest Brunch victor Radial Café, and Jungle’s intimate new Jungle Room at the Bestest Place to Dance. It was a full night indeed. Rugby stud Ben Cohen, in town for his StandUp Magazine launch, dropped in to pick up his Bestest LGBT Ally plaque, and the Armorettes (top photo) were voted the winners of our top prize, Bestest of the Bestest of the Best of Gay Atlanta. It's a mouthful, but they can handle it. They also won Bestest Drag Show and Bestest Theme Party for Easter Drag Races. But according to the write-in votes – no not those funny, snarky ones – everyone’s a winner. Something struck us when tabulating the write-ins for Bestest of the Bestest of the Best. Tons of people wrote in responses like “the people,“ “the community,“ “not just one person or group or place, but the combination of all of it makes gay Atlanta the best,“ etc. So by that measure, everybody wins! Congratulations to all of the write-in candidates and the finalists who won “Best Of” nods from Atlanta’s LGBT print media outlets over the course of this year. Here’s our full list of the Bestest of the Best of Gay Atlanta.

People & Community

Bestest of the Bestest of the Best Bestest Drag Show The Armorettes Bestest Male Activist or Advocate Chandler Bearden Bestest Female Activist or Advocate Melissa Carter Bestest Local Nonprofit MISTER Center/Positive Impact Bestest LGBT Ally Ben Cohen Bestest Benefit Toy Party Bestest LGBT Sports Team Atlanta Bucks Bestest Community Event Atlanta Pride Bestest A&E Barry Brandon

Nightlife

Bestest Overall Bar Burkhart’s Bestest Off the Beaten Path Bestest Karaoke Mary’s Bestest Place to Dance Jungle Bestest Place to Pick up a Guy Heretic Bestest Place to Pick up a Girl My Sister’s Room Bestest DJ Vicki Powell Bestest Theme Party Armorettes Easter Drag Races Bestest Karaoke Mary’s Bestest Drag Queen Ruby Redd

Food, Retail & Services

Bestest Overall Restaurant Roxx Bestest Brunch Radial Café Bestest Late Night Landmark Diner Bestest Patio Joe’s on Juniper Bestest Mexican Food Las Margaritas Bestest First Date Apres Diem Bestest Gift Store Brushstrokes Bestest Clothing & Underwear Boy Next Door Bestest Liquor Store Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits Bestest Haircut Helmet Bestest Gym LA Fitness Bestest Neighborhood Midtown Bestest Realtor Justin Ziegler Bestest Theater Actor’s Express Bestest Place of Worship Saint Mark UMC Bestest Art Gallery Bill Lowe Gallery Photos by Sher Pruitt