Greetings:

So here we are on on deadline, and you can cut the tension with a knife. We’re cranking a mix of The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The White Stripes. Jack White is howling, “Find me a soapbox where I can shout it/Yeah, I can think of one or two things to say about it.”

I can think of one or two things to say myself.

First, I want to thank you for picking up the ninth annual City Link Best of Broward and Palm Beach issue. For the last four months, the magazine’s staff has fought, argued, cajoled one another and basically worked themselves into a frenzy on their way to choosing — and then writing about — more than 350 of the most interesting, useful, quirky and unique things that make South Florida the ideal place to live.

Second, I want to share with you just how proud I am to be the publisher of City Link. The members of our staff, from editorial to advertising to marketing to distribution, are all extremely talented, dedicated individuals who are totally committed to our mission to be the most knowledgeable, useful and compelling news, arts and entertainment alternative to the mass media in South Florida. This issue, along with our annual music and art issues, helps us serve that mission. I have been involved in all eight of our previous Best Of issues, and I will put this most recent work by our collective up against that of any other publication — anywhere, anytime. There are nuggets of information here that you will find in no other print, Web or broadcast media, items that reflect the intimate knowledge of the South Florida landscape for which City Link is known.

Although this was a group effort, from judging to writing to editing to proofreading to printing, special thanks are in order. Longtime freelancer Jeff Rusnak once again served as Best Of executive chef, overseeing and coordinating the writing of the issue, along with the assistance of our editorial staff and freelancers Candice Russell, Michele Armentrout and William Fox. Art Director W Kelley Lucas did a magnificent job presenting the issue’s content, from his inspired cover concept to the unique typography and layouts. Peter Langoné, a world-renowned photographer and good friend of City Link, took a break from shooting celebrities to focus, with the help of Las Olas Models Inc., on the issue’s front cover and its five section covers, while photographer Josh Prezant shot a multitude of the winners.

A few notes about the content: Continuing the tradition we began in 2001, we’re pleased to usher in the third class of the City Link Best Of Hall of Fame. These five institutions and cultural icons have stood the test of time and the fickle tastes of the community: Chef Oliver Saucy of Café Maxx, Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor, Tate’s Comics, Le Tub and Armadillo Café. Look for them featured at the beginning of each section. And don’t forget our past Hall of Fame inductees, listed on page 37. Our People’s Choice winners this year, also featured in each section, are an eclectic and assorted bunch, reflecting the diverse interests of our readership. A special thank-you to the enterprising bands, clubs, salons and the like who mounted mass mailing and bulk e-mail campaigns for their respective favorites. The resulting flood of entries crashed our servers and buried our mailroom. Even though we judiciously cut back on our regular news coverage, classifieds and several other features in an attempt to keep the paper at a reasonable size, we still made room for Barbara Lester’s film reviews, a great interview with alt-rock group Longwave by Chris Parker and the most complete and comprehensive listings guide to what's happening in South Florida.

Although we always seem to moan and complain and struggle and fight and pull our hair out making this issue happen, secretly we all know that the City Link Best of Broward and Palm Beach issue is the most fun we can legally have while still getting paid. And in honor of our best Best Of yet, and to say thanks to our loyal readership, we’re throwing a solid week of Best Of bashes that promise to be the biggest, boldest and, well, best ever. Join us tonight at Downtown Live in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday at Clematis by Night in West Palm Beach, Friday at Broadwalk Friday Fest in Hollywood, Saturday at Café Iguana in Pembroke Pines, Sunday at Beale Street Bar and Grill in Pompano Beach, Monday at GameWorks at Sawgrass Mills and — if you are still standing — for the Tuesday finale at Boston’s on the Beach in Delray Beach. For complete details visit our Events page.

My advice? Sit back, crank up your favorite tunes and dig in. I hope you enjoy the issue, and thanks again for reading City Link.

-- Michel Farver
     City Link publisher