The So Tampa Bay best and worst of 2008

The year is nearing a close and what better way to end it than to get all nostalgic about the times we had this year? Honestly, there were quite a few standout things that happened this year that I felt I needed to give credit either for their greatness or sheer horridness. That's why I've decided to create some year-end awards.

For better or for worse, these were some of the things that I think deserved mention this year. You probably won't agree but that's why it's my list. If you have any other events or people who you think should have been recognized, feel free to let me know with a comment.

BEST NEW VENUE: Art Pool
Everything about Art Pool just oozes awesome. From the kitschy design to its growth from a small art shop to the place to be every month. The parties are always unique, with a crazy theme to tie them together. Finally Tampa art scenesters have a a reason to journey across the bay.

BEST PARTY OF THE YEAR: Czar's 5th Anniversary
Mix free vodka with passwords, double agents, the USSR and a whole lot of forethought and you have Czar's wild anniversary. I cannot even put into words how great this party was. Oh wait, I can and did. It was original, well thought out and -- most importantly -- a lot of fun! I'm hoping to see more events like this in 2009.

BEST ART PARTY: State of the Art at the Cigar City Theater
Take one part scenester, one part large open warehouse and mix it together with a little liberal thinking and you'd have State of the Art. No other party has utilized the Cigar City Theater as well, and the fashion show was to die for. Not to mention the first piece of art you'd see when walking in was a live piece representing the bloody aftermath of adultery. It was edgy and made art feel rebellious again.

SCENE PERSON OF THE YEAR: Marina Williams
From putting together Art Pool to just doing her own crazy thing, Marina Williams was everywhere, getting her hands into everything. She's helped cultivate a new standard of what was considered hip for 2008 while staging some of the most interesting parties of the year.

BEST DRESSED: Amber Cox of A Wear to the Tear Vintage
Hands down, Amber exemplified the best parts of fashion whenever she was out and about. She had glitz, glamor and fun with whatever outfit she wore. She took the sequined-style dresses that my great-grandma would wear and made them hot for people in their 20s. For that alone, she deserves recognition.

WORST STYLE: Tight shiny pants on men
The sad thing is that I've seen this happening a bit more frequently. It's absolutely cringe-worthy. My motto: No man should be able to see his own reflection off of his pants. If this ever becomes an actual trend everywhere, I'm getting on the first plane back to Korea.

WTF STYLE: The Green Man at the Castle's gothic bikini beach party
Nothing makes you more confused than seeing a man dressed head to toe in bright green Spandex. Add to that, it was nowhere near Halloween and the theme of the night was swimwear. With costumes like these, I don't even look for an explanation. There'll never be one that's satisfactory.

WEIRDEST EVENT OF THE YEAR: Goths on Ice:
Part of the Convergence convention, Goths on Ice took the cake and was even wilder than watching a gothic Fonzie jump a shark in a pool (perhaps the biggest letdown of the year). There was just something about people in black frilly lace and PVC donning ice skates that was oddly appealing. Add in the reactions of regular skaters and you have an event that just left you speechless with bewilderment.

BEST PARTY YOU PROBABLY MISSED: Art Gone Bad at 688 Skate
Art scattered across half-pipes with kids skateboarding around paintings makes for a surprisingly pleasant experience. It's definitely interesting to be appreciating a nice sculpture and, all the while, looking over your shoulder for an oncoming BMX rider. It added a little bit of thrill to the art scene and I'd like to see more places capitalize on that.

BEST PARTY YOU'RE HAPPY YOU MISSED: Midget Chippendales at the James Joyce
This one will haunt me until the day I die. It wasn't really the guys who were disturbing (I'd really rather not see any of them in thongs again, though) but rather the ravenous women giving them dollars. No one should ever be that excited to stuff money in the crotch of a dancing dwarf. It just screams wrong.

MOST CLAUSTROPHOBIC EVENT: Sweatshop Strikes Back at Czar
So busy, I had a hard time even lifting up my camera. I was constantly being squished against at least five other people until I got next to the stage. It was a great time, but I was more than happy to go outside for a smoke every now and again to get away from the mass of hipsters.

THE 'DON'T TAKE YOUR GRANDMA' EVENT: Fetishcon 2008
Seriously, unless your grandma likes the idea of human ponies, whips and latex. Not saying anything is wrong with it, I just worry about exposing my grandmother to things like this. She might get ideas and that's information I don't need to know. I'm scarred enough as it is.

BIGGEST TREND OF 2008: Zombies
The Zombie Nation was everywhere. Tag your party with zombie and it instantly made it that much hipper. From zombie luaus to cowboy zombies, there seemed to be a new and different event focused on zombies every week. Now that it's 2009, let's give another horror franchise a go. Why not give the mummies some love?

MOST UNEXPECTED TREND OF 2008: Art exhibitions becoming the cool and hip thing to do
With the amount of indie galleries around the bay, 2008 saw a huge rise in the interest of the local art scene. People decided that it'd be more fun to go to an art show than go out to an Ybor club on a Friday night. Trust me, I'm not at all complaining and I couldn't be prouder of Tampa Bay. I hope 2009 continues the trend and we get more independent artists and more unique galleries opening throughout Tampa Bay.

Comments

[A YP]

So this whole format was a bad parody of the Creative Loafing annual "best Of the Bay" issue.

So this is to say TBO/Tribune has no origional ideas and can't get its act togeather?

[S]

Art exhibits being a cool & hip thing to do...an unexpected trend? Have you never been to an art exhibit before this year? Sorry, but this list was truly lame!

[Melisa Taylor]

It's too bad the trend of going to art shows wasn't just a 'scene' thing.

It'd be nice if some of these people supported the artists and art scene, by purchasing art, rather than show up in your cool new dress - just to be seen.

Alot more people are going to art shows, but sadly, for the wrong reasons. :/

[greg]

goths on ice :D

[A]

I agree with Melissa. Everyone in FL likes to say they support the arts, but they don't. What they really mean is that they will show up to the party, drink your wine, eat your food, and maybe buy a postcard or button.
FL sucks for art and artists. Eventually all the good artists move away-- not because they want to, but because they have to. To stay in FL and surivive they are forced into painting hokey beach scenes, abstract expressionism, or selling out to the art-party-scene and begin painting with glitter.

[L.R.P.]

My god this is sad!!
I agree with the comments below mine. I've stopped going to art shows because of crap like this, plus I don't like paying an obnoxious fee at the door just to leave ten minutes later. The art shows in this area need a major boost (if that's at all possible with the clientele in this area).
It really is a disgrace what passes for a gallery these days.

[Christian]

I feel frustration in comments...

I have seen some pretty darn good art around lately. Yeah so it sucks that art doesn't sell enough. But at least some of the artists are getting their work out there and building some sort of resume so they can then "move away" to bigger and better things.

It would be great if everyone sold out their paintings; however, that doesn't seem to be realistic in the "youthful" scene around here.

Hey, who knows? It could happen but it's not likely. Maybe we should just chuck out the art showings in exchange for a vacuum? - I don't think so.

Personally, I thought this article was cool. The way the worst was portrayed could really be someone's best, depending how you look at it.

Thumbs up.