Winner: BB's Micros
Finalists: Bliss Wellness Market, Art of Acupuncture

So yes, it’s alleged that he ran his boat into the Clearwater Ferry, killing a father of two young daughters and injuring several others, and that he then fled the scene claiming that his boat was taking water. But it’s not as if the owner of Jannus Landing had ever run into trouble before. Except for the sexual harassment accusations reported in the Tampa Bay Times. And the coked-up guy that fell off Knight’s yacht in 2012 and drowned in the Vinoy Marina. And the pontoon boat he ran into in 2019. And his three convictions for driving while impaired. But hey, he rescued Jannus, didn’t he?—David Warner

Winner: Pass-A-Grille
Finalists: Dunedin, Gulfport

There are always words, but not everyone has the gift to find them. When it comes to celebrating Tampa Bay’s watershed, Thomas Hallock assembled a proverbial cast of Avengers to do the job. Leader of the 2025 Creekshed project, the USF professor and Creative Loafing Tampa Bay columnist tapped the best writers in Florida to explore the human and natural stories that drain into the Gulf of Mexico (you read that right). From Rita Youngman’s gutwrenching songs about the atrocities suffered by the state’s Indigenous population, to Gary Mormino’s reflections of vanishing Florida, Gloria Muñoz’s search for wonder, Tyler Gillespie’s DEI (“deep earth inclination”), and Amanda Hagood’s jubilant reminder that “This place rules,” the Earth Day launch of the project was a beautiful reminder of the bitter and sweet truths that are always bubbling underneath the feet of every Floridian whether native or newb. digitalcommons.usf.edu – Ray Roa

Winner: Lat & Sons Family Hair Care
Finalists: Coach Tii Wood / Burg Body Fitness, Hogg Batch Coffee Roastery

Winner: PandemicFoodie
Finalists: Bailey's Babblings, Ava Daly

Winner: Booze & Book Club
Finalists: Silent Book Club Riverview, Queer Expression Radical Book Club

Jason Latimer’s LinkedIn describes his job as, “Active Listener, Constantly Communicating.” That couldn’t be more accurate because this guy has his ear to the ground. If you’re famous and in Pinellas County (or even big-upping the neighborhood), Latimer is probably in your rearview mirror. Jack Harlow, Rick Ross, Bella Kidman Cruise, Katie Ledecky, Caitlin Clark, Billy Idol, Bam Margera and Brie Larson are just some of the names Visit St. Pete-Clearwater’s hyper-responsive director of public relations has dropped in our inbox over the last year. The exchanges are gold for any pop culture freak, and we’re grateful to be in the loop. —Ray Roa

Winner: Stella Dinnis—St Pete Wellness and Med Spa
Finalists: Debbie Reinhardt Resource Property Management, Rachel Fine Wilson—Gigglewaters