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 & 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&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!