Best of Chicago 2012: City Life

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Best of Chicago 2012: City Life

Best Local Writer who Excels at Social Media

Britt Julious

by Tal Rosenberg on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

The best indication of what to expect from 25-year-old writer Britt Julious can be found in her Twitter handle, which is also the title of her Tumblr: the witty portmanteau "Britticisms." It's remarkable how active she is on both platforms, even as she works at Groupon, serves as a senior editor at the terrific high/low culture blog This Recording, and writes regularly for Gapers Block, Rhizome, and Design Bureau, among others.

Best View of the City

John Hancock Center

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

875 N. Michigan johnhancockcenterchicago.com

Best Historic Building

Chicago Cultural Center

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

78 E. Washington 312-744-6630

Best Attraction

Millennium Park/the Bean

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

201 E. Randolph 312-742-5222

Best Tour

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

224 S. Michigan 312-922-3432

Best Chicago Ambassador

Barack Obama

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Rahm Emanuel

Best Street Character

Puppet Bike guy

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Sharkula

Best Alderman

Proco "Joe" Moreno

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Ameya Pawar

Best Activist(s)

Andy Thayer, Gay Liberation Network

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

gayliberation.net Runner-up

Best Politico

Rahm Emanuel

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Toni Preckwinkle

Best Politician You'd Like to Resurrect

Harold Washington

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Abraham Lincoln

Best Example of Old Media Hanging in There

Chicago Reporter

by Mick Dumke on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

The Chicago Reporter is 40 years old and still covering racial issues as well as anyone anywhere—which makes it more necessary than it's ever been, since most other news shops in Chicago—one of the country’s most segregated cities—hardly touch race at all. As when it was launched in 1972, the journal avoids flash and fire in favor of facts: recent investigations into police misconduct, immigrant wage theft, and politically connected slumlords are hard to dismiss since they're based on primary-source documents and data.

Best Celebrity

John Cusack

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Vince Vaughn

Best Power Couple

Barack and Michelle Obama

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Bill and Giuliana Rancic

Best Local Genius

Weed Wolf

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runners-up Andrew Bird Jeanne Gang Rahm Emanuel

Best Lawyer

Adam Airhart, Brunswick Corporation

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

847-735-4700 brunswick.com Runners-up

Best Charity

PAWS Chicago

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1997 N. Clybourn 773-935-7297

Best Activist Hipster Magazine

Lumpen

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Editor and publisher Ed Marszewski has built a small empire for the artistic left, from spearheading alternative arts festivals such as Version and the MDW Fair to creating the Co-Prosperity Sphere, a Bridgeport cultural center. First published in 1991, Lumpen stays on top of the liberal underground with quality articles, reviews, interviews, and essays about art, politics, and everything we should be pissed off about, such as privatization, militarism, and corporate power.

Best LGBTQ Organization

Center on Halsted

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

3656 N. Halsted 773-472-6469

Best Overall Neighborhood

Logan Square

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Andersonville

Best Neighborhood for Nightlife

Wicker Park

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Logan Square

Best Neighborhood for Culture

Pilsen

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Logan Square

Best Neighborhood for Affordability

Logan Square

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Pilsen

Best Alderman to Turn up at a Rock Show

Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

When Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno isn't dealing with his constituents in the First Ward, he’s often hitting one of its music venues. On record as a serious Minor Threat fan—a vinyl copy of Complete Discography adorns his office wall—Moreno is a fan of punk, an advocate for Chicago’s music community, and a frequent presence at summer music festivals and rock clubs such as the Empty Bottle and Subterranean.

Best Neighborhood for Diversity

Rogers Park

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Logan Square

Best Neighborhood for Schools

Lincoln Park

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Lakeview

Best Suburb

Oak Park

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Evanston

Best Street

Milwaukee Avenue

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Clark Street

Best College Degree for the Money

University of Illinois at Chicago

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runners-up University of Chicago Columbia College Chicago