From the editor: May I present to you

Our own sprinkled bikini

 by Celeste Sepessy
 published on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Apparently my apartment has a to-die-for gay bar.

That is, according to one of the answers of SPM's "Best of" survey. If you say so, loyal reader!

SPM opened up an online survey to allow readers to choose ASU's, Tempe's and the Valley's best.

We posted a link to the survey on the Web Devil and advertised it in The State Press. And our staff used the excellent tool of Facebook to spread the word.

The survey provided some great feedback — and some funny answers, like my apartment's unexpected nomination.

One reader suggested former SPM editor and current State Press head honcho James Kindle as "Best vegetarian."

A delightful smartass decided to nominate only presidential candidates. Barack Obama received one vote for "Best pizza," while the mystery poller voted Hillary Clinton for "Best breakfast" and "that Huckabee guy" for "Best ice cream." Ron Paul was nominated for "Best coffee" but, sadly, not even that vote could help him secure the nomination.

For "Best place not to have sex," one sexually frustrated respondent listed "my bedroom L." Aw.

For the most part, the responses were awesome and legitimate. I was really excited to see so many people taking the survey and giving some interesting and sometimes enlightening answers.

But, a few of the winners were boring. That's not to say Coldstone doesn't deserve our immense honor of "Best ice cream," or IHOP "Best breakfast."

With some of these more obvious answers, we decided to wow you readers with our choices in "Staff picks."

For example, instead of Coldstone, staff writer Lauren Cusimano chose to profile Mary Coyle's in downtown Phoenix (page 13).

Assistant Editor Amanda Fruzynski presents Four Peaks' delightful Sunday brunch as an alterative to the greasy pancakes we know and love (page 13).

So, hopefully you'll take away some insight from both our choices and your peers'.

One thing is for certain though: Rock-N-Roll Fingers won "Best Chicken Fingers" hands down. Even if I had to make up a category to profile it. Oops?