Best of Manhattan 09: Reader's Choice Poll

best summer festival: lincoln center out-of-doors

best public space: tie, the high line and central park best reason to love nyc: the food

best local blog: mominthecity.com best reason to go downtown: the high line

best downtown bar/restaurant: tie, beauty bar and yerba buena

best midtown bar/restaurant: applebee's bar and grill

best upper west side bar/restaurant: arte café

best upper east side bar/restaurant: baraonda

best rooftop bar: 230 fifth

best expensive eats: tie, babbo and morton's

best meal for less than $10: maoz vegetarian

best midtown lunch: chipotle

best ethnic restaurant: pera mediterranean brasserie best restaurant for comfort food: eisenberg's

best (non-chain) coffee shop: tie, mudd and joe the art of coffee

best discount clothing store: tie, h and m and century 21

best cheap date: central park best way to get rid of pests: move

best place for people watching: times square (specifically, the pedestrian malls on broadway)

best outdoor venue: central park summerstage

best place to hear live music: tie, bowery ballroom and carnegie hall

best political goof: gov. david paterson

best nyc celebrity to hate: donald trump

best art exhibit: the metropolitan museum of art

best broadway show: tie, jersey boys and hair

best local politician: mike bloomberg (runner-up: chuck schumer)

best old-timer: ed koch

thanks to everyone who weighed in on our readers' choice poll!