Best City

Click on a category or scroll down the page to read about this year's winners for Seattle's best city life...

(Item 14, Best Y2K hideout, can be found in the best of the millennium.)

1. Best public official

OK, this isn't exactly a year for star politicians, what with the legacy of shame our leaders have left us in the form of that grandiose and scandalous new ballpark and all. By the time the dust has cleared from that project, practically every politician in the state will be dirty. Still, our readers' choice, Governor Gary Locke, probably would have finished first even among a bumper crop of pols. He virtually defines the term "public servant," having been a state legislator, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, King County executive, and governor. He is uncommonly smart and uncommonly decent, and never resorts to grandstanding or demagoguery. (Well, OK, except for that one time a few years ago when he raised his fist at F.X. McRory's over the Seahawks. . . .). He is that rare politician who inspires something other than cynicism or disgust, even though he helped the Mariners get their way, come hell or high-minded voters. Not his greatest moment, but—given his long and stellar service—not much of a blot, either. Rounding out the roster in a tie for second place were City Council member Nick Licata and our own mayor, Paul Schell. In what was a terrifyingly diverse race, we would like to acknowledge for the record that our publisher, Mike Crystal, earned himself a vote, but not enough to give Almost Live's Pat Cashman a run for his money. Sorry, Mike!

2. Best hellraiser/activist

Looking for trouble? Then your man is Charlie Chong, a former Seattle City Council member who enlivened city government with his uncompromising style and outspoken tongue during his single year as a legislator in 1997. After an unsuccessful mayoral bid that same year, Charlie's back, running for another council seat this year. And Chong's not the only hell-raiser in his camp: His former council aide and current campaign manager, Matthew Fox, was also among the top vote-getters in this category. The crew of the Sea Shepherd, who battled with the Makah tribe over their spring whale hunt, tied with Fox for second place.

3. Best scandal of the year

Many observers were puzzled when team officials seemingly sabotaged the opening of the Mariners' new stadium (we know, it's actually named after some insurance company) with their poorly timed request for another $60 million in tax dollars. Puzzle no more. When contacted by Seattle Weekly, team chairman John Ellis confided that the Mariners were afraid they wouldn't win Best Scandal of Last Year, so they sprang the megabucks money request prematurely. "Our hope was to catch up in the Internet voting," said a tearful Ellis. "We knew we could take the top spot." Readers also gave their attention to Mary Kay LeTourneau (whose scandal actually happened before last year), Bill and Monica (which happened in the other Washington), and the canceling of Pat Cashman's radio show (which might prove a blessing in disguise). Lower on the list were the Makah whale hunt, the Microsoft antitrust case, and the outing of gay Teletubby Tinky Winky. What will the Mariners do for an encore? Ellis says ownership is considering burning down their new stadium and asking taxpayers to build them a new one. Why? "Because we can, young man," said Ellis. "Because we can."

4. Best city event

The 29th year of Bumbershoot (Seattle Center, September 2-6) finds the annual arts celebration reaching amazing peaks of popularity. The four-day hoopla has attracted an average 225,000 city residents and outsiders to the grounds of the Seattle Center in recent years, and the expectations for the forthcoming fest hint at record attendance. Headliners like R.E.M. have already been announced, but the best aspect of Bumbershoot tends to be the diverse acts that cover disciplines beyond the pop-music lineup. Each year, there's an overwhelming selection of film, literary arts, theater, dance, visual arts, comedy, and classical music offerings, spanning the underground to the cutting edge to the mainstream. In the past, Bumbershoot—which, of course, is slang for "umbrella"—has helped launch the careers of such now well-known names as Beck, Jerry Seinfeld, Paula Poundstone, and Sherman Alexie, and served as a platform for already popular artists and personages such as Tina Turner, David Byrne, James Ellroy, and Jane Goodall. Folklife, that other Seattle Center convergence, ran second, while those Blue Angels have usurped Seafair as the third-best reason to gather in Seattle.

5. Best city park