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We asked you, Xtra readers, how you best like to spend your free time and hard-earned money. This Xtra Best of Toronto supplement profiles your top picks for favourite people, places and things of 2008.

Gay and lesbian customers and taxpayers like you make a huge contribution to Toronto’s social and economic climate. Without you Toronto would not be among the world’s most attractive cities to gay and lesbian people. Without you the victories of sexual minorities have enjoyed over the last generation simply would not have been achieved.

When you support businesses that display Xtra Best plaques and window stickers, know that you’re supporting businesses that are operated by friends, allies and members of Toronto’s gay and lesbian communities.

Xtra would like to take this opportunity to thank our readers and advertisers for their ongoing support. To all those winners and runners-up for this year’s Xtra Best awards: congratulations and thank you for your dedication to excellence. The contributions you make to Toronto’s gay, lesbian and trans communities are critical to our prosperity.

Best behind-the-scenes champion

Harvey Brownstone
Todd Klinck

Best club event for women

The S Word at Slack’s
Cherry Bomb

Best strip club for women

Brass Rail
Remington’s

Best local musician/band

People You Know
Dance Yourself to Death

Best local DJ

DJ Delicious
Shane Percy

Best gym

GoodLife Fitness

Best spa to be spoiled at

Elmwood Spa (read more about it here)
Southern Comfort

Best restaurant for a romantic dinner

Fuzion
Il Fornello

Best restaurant for a first date

Zelda’s
Hair of the Dog

Best restaurant to make a scene in

Zelda’s
Byzantium

Best restaurant for a big gay party

Zelda’s
Slack’s

Best patio for people watching

O’Grady’s
Zelda’s

Best brunch

Zelda’s
Hair of the Dog

Best coffeehouse

Starbucks
Timothy’s

Best caterer

Daniel et Daniel
Lisa Shamai Cuisinére

Best bathhouse

Steamworks
Spa Excess

Best cruising website

Squirt
Gay.com

Best sex shop

Priape
Come as You Are

Best public place for a quickie

Queen’s Park
Cherry Beach

Best condom brand

Trojan
Lifestyles

Best lube brand

Wet
K-Y

Best escort service

Empire Men
Men4RentNow.com

Best place for a new hairdo

House of Lords
Ho’s Place

Best cosmetic clinic (facial, hair removal, injection, surgery, etc)

Southern Comfort
Yorkville Cosmetic Clinic

Best dentist

Dr Allan Harris & Associates
Dr Martin Sterling

Best doctor

Dr Fred Crouzat
Dr Steven Cord

Best holistic practitioner

Dr Masina Wright
Dr Brian Dower

Best health/ supplement store

GNC
Noah’s Natural Foods

Best walk-in clinic

Hassle Free Clinic
Sherbourne Health Centre

Best daycare

The 519 Community Centre
Church Street School Daycare

Best veterinarian

Blue Cross Animal Hospital
Downtown Animal Hospital

Best outlet/ chain clothing store

H&M
Winners

Best place to buy accessories (sunglasses, bags, jewellery, etc)

H&M
Holt Renfrew

Best leather

NorthBound Leather
Priape

Best shoes

Aldo
Browns Shoes

Best vintage/antiques

St Lawrence Antique Market
Kensington Market

Best shopping neighbourhood

Queen West
Yorkville

Best car brand

BMW
Toyota

Best car dealer

Downtown BMW
Downtown Mercedes

Best bank

TD Canada Trust
CIBC

Best investment advisor/firm

TD Waterhouse

CIBC

Best accountant

Barry Benigson
Charles Lyall

Best lawyer

Bruce Walker
Cynthia Warren

Best real estate agent

Anushki Bodhinayake
Ellie Burns

Best credit card

Visa
Mastercard

Best neighbourhood for a home

Cabbagetown
Riverdale

Best mover

Avenue Moving
El Cheapo Movers

Best contractor/renovator

Luis Fernandez
Mike Holmes

Best home accessories/furniture

IKEA
EQ3

Best computer store

Apple Store (Eaton Centre)
Future Shop

Best tech support

Apple Store (Eaton Centre)
Future Shop – Geek Squad

Best internet service provider

Rogers
Bell Sympatico

Best cell phone brand

Motorola
Nokia

Best phone service provider

Rogers
Bell Canada

Best bar for men

Woody’s
Straight

Best bar for women

Slack’s
Crews & Tango

Best bar for trans folks

Goodhandy’s
Crews & Tango

Best mixed bar

Crews & Tango
Goodhandy’s

Best club event for men

Grapefruit at Fly
Woody’s

Best club event for trans folks

Goodhandy’s
Degenderit

Best community event

Pride

Best dance club

Fly
Circa

Best spot for a quiet drink

Hair of the Dog
Slack’s

Best theatrical production

We Will Rock You
Dirty Dancing

Best music venue

Massey Hall
Air Canada Centre

Best movie theatre

Scotiabank Theatre
Varsity Cinema

Best independent bookstore

This Ain’t the Rosedale Library
Glad Day Bookshop

Best independent art gallery

O’Connor Gallery
Edward Day Gallery

Best strip club for men

Remington’s
Brass Rail

Best destination for a dirty weekend

Montreal
New York City

Best destination for a romantic retreat

Niagara-on-the-lake
Montreal

Best queer-friendly getaway

Montreal
Provincetown

Best queer travel-planning resource (agent, on-line, etc)

Conxity
Flight Centre

Best overall travel destination

New York City
Montreal

Best bartender

Derrick at Straight
Adrienne at Slack’s

Best restaurant server

Chad Elliot
Justine Touch

Best local artist/photographer

Natasha Bailey
Tanjya Tiziana Burdi

Best tattoo artist

Lizzie at Passage Tattoo
Jay at Passage Tattoo

Best piercing artist

Exotix Tattoos & Body Piercing
Blair at Passage Tattoo

Best drag performer

Donnarama
Sofonda Cox

Best community organization

The 519 Community Centre
AIDS Committee of Toronto

Best activist

Elle Flanders
Helen Kennedy