Best Celebrity Sighting
Best Savannah Moment in the National Spotlight
Alan Rickman and the CBGB shoot
The great British actor — best known to the world at large as Severus Snape from the Potter films — was ready for his closeup all around downtown during shooting of this film based on the exploits of New Yorker Hilly Krystal, legendary owner of the equally legendary Manhattan punk club CBGB.
An interior set at Meddin Studios was transformed, down to the most minute detail, into a near-exact facsimile of the club itself. High-resolution digital prints simulated the hundreds of stickers on the walls. The actual doors of the actual club were incorporated into the set.
So how's the movie? Well... there's not a lot floating out there other than the poster and a few stills. It's set to screen at Cannes, with a tentative release date of this year if they can get a distributor. — Jim Morekis
Runner-up, Celebrity: Paula Deen
Runner-up, Spotlight: St. Patrick's Day
Best Historic Building
Owens-Thomas House
The best example of Regency architecture in the United States is also a major downtown tourist attraction, with careful restoration and meticulous historic research continuing throughout the year.
Runner-up: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Best Local Revitalization
Most Underrated Neighborhood
Starland District
Slowly but surely this area at the edge of the Victorian district has become a vibrant center of commerce and culture. Further development along its southern border at Victory Drive, including Hugh Acheson's new restaurant project, can only mean more and better things.
Runner-up, Revitalization: SCAD Museum of Art
Runner-up, 'Hood: Baldwin Park
Building Most in Need of Revitalization
Savannah Civic Center
Despite a recent band-aid "renovation," the much-maligned Civic Center — which replaced a real architectural gem, the City Auditorium, in the '70s — is increasingly an embarrassment to a city with aspirations to be a world-class destination.
Runner-up: Hungry World
Best Bike Path
Rails to Trails
We thought for sure the newest bike path, Price Street would win. But what do we know? You guys get to vote...
Runner-up: Lincoln Street
Best Neighborhood
Ardsley Park
Perennial winner in this category combines suburban peacefulness with closeness to downtown.
Runner-up: Historic District
Best Apartment Community
The Merritt at Whitemarsh
These gated condos are equidistant from downtown and Tybee. Sweet!
Runner-up:The Oaks at Wilmington Island
Best Place of Worship
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The iconic spires are wrapped in scaffolding for a huge renovation, but the Cathedral remains the spiritual heart of Savannah's Catholic community, especially the Irish-Catholic community.
Runner-up: Savannah Christian Church
Best Pastor/Priest/Rabbi
Rev. Billy Hester
The pulpit at Asbury Memorial UMC is in capable hands with this charismatic show biz vet and outstanding clergyman.
Runner-up: Rev. Cam Huxford
Best Private School
St. Vincent's Academy
Best Principal
Mary Anne Hogan
A perennial winner in this category, SVA has educated Savannah's young women for 166 years. Ms. Hogan is the school's first principal not to be a Sister of Mercy.
Runner-up, Private School: Savannah Country Day
Runner-up, Principal: Charles Wooten, Charles Ellis
Best Public School
Savannah Arts Academy
Energetic, innovative leadership and a strong commitment to academic as well as artistic excellence keeps SAA at the top of this category year after year.
Runner-up: Charles Ellis Montessori Academy
Best Charity Event
Hospice Savannah's Tree of Light
The first Sunday of each December since 1991, Hospice Savannah has held this annual fundraiser to benefit their Full Circle bereavement program, providing services to anyone who has experienced a loss by death.
Runner-up: Relay for Life
Best Tour Company
Old Savannah Tours
These are the nice white trolleys! They give all kinds of tours, from the basic unlimited on/off to the Paula Deen tour.
Runner-up: Savannah Slow Ride
Best Street Character
John Sandifer (Forrest Gump)
Life is like a box of ... oh you know.
Runner-up: Savannah Dan
Most Eligible Local Bachelor
Trent Kissinger
This teacher at Charles Ellis has actually been in at least one actual bachelor's contest locally, so he had a leg up in winning this one.
Runner-up: Jordan Mooney
Most Eligible Local Bachelorette
Melissa Norman
Her rink name with the Savannah Derby Devils is Emm Jay, but you might know her better as "Sweet Melissa." Actually we made that last part up. Don't hit us, Emm Jay.
Runner-up:> Jean Coleman
Best Gala
Telfair Ball
Months of planning goes into this ornately festive yearly fundraiser. This year's theme was an Italian Villa motif based on the huge and internationally significant exhibit of masterworks from the Uffizi Gallery. Next year? We don't know, but we bet they're planning it already.
Runner-up: Cathedral Ball
RIP: Local Person You'll Miss the Most
Marcia Clanton
The widely respected former principal of the Savannah Arts Academy passed away of cancer at her home in North Carolina.
Runner-up: Ron Higgins
