Our readers voted for many familiar favorite talents in lip-synching, drink-serving, singing, dancing, and groove-spinning.
Best Bartender: Erick Lopez, The Edge
Runner up: Robbie Cheah, Oasis
It's a Greek fisherman's hat trick for Lopez, an impish Castro fixture and passionate supporter of the local leather community and AIDS Life Cycle, where this year he'll be serving some fabulosity as co-captain of Rest Stop #4. During last year's ride, he dressed in clingy pink and bent over to spread the spandex gospel of community as a "Mighty Morphin Power Bottom." Bottoms up, indeed!
Best Cabaret Performer (Female or Trans): Veronica Klaus
Runner up: Connie Champagne
This year's win is surely bittersweet for jazzy chanteuse Klaus, who recently announced her life's next big transition. After more than three decades in San Francisco, the soign�e interpreter of 20th-century jazz and saloon songs is planning to leave her adopted hometown to open a restaurant and music venue in more affordable upstate New York. Her dream project, Caf� Klaus, is taking root in a little village with a name that sounds like a drag queen -Sharon Springs- and a growing reputation as a weekend gay getaway from Manhattan.
Klaus has purchased a former Lutheran church that she's in the process of converting into the stage for what promises to be her life's exciting third act. Wish her well, and donate to make her dream come true, at www.gofundme.com/VeronicasLyricHouse
Best Cabaret Performer (Male): Jason Brock
Runner up: Joe Wicht
A local vocal staple with his wide range, wide smile, and sweet, sparkly style, Jason Brock rose to national attention with his powerhouse rendition of "New York State of Mind" on television's X Factor back in 2012. Since then, he's sung at pride festivals around the country and booked gigs in Palm Springs and Puerta Vallarta.
While he features well-known tunes by Whitney, Patti, and a roster of divas in frequent local gigs at Martuni's, Brock is also developing his own more personal compositions and guitar playing on the side.
Best Cabaret Performer (Drag): Honey Mahogany
Runner up: Katya Smirnoff-Skyy
There's a certain irony to Honey Mahogany having been the first San Franciscan contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race, back in 2013. In a city that has long pushed the boundaries of postmodern, genderqueer, ultra-ironic drag, Mahogany is a shining reminder of sincere old-school glamor drag. Mahogany -by day Berkeley-educated social worker, Alpha Mulugeta- brings an impeccably dressed earnestness to her performances; a welcome salute to the pleasures of femininity amidst the scene's endless gender upheaval. More at home in the sleek setting of of her own gently cooed Honey Love album than in her campy cameos in other performers' projects, Mahogany's best work comes when she doesn't werq it too hard. The voters have spoken: Honey, in a world of never-ending outrage, keep keepin' it classy.
Best Comic (Female): Marga Gomez
Runner up: Lisa Geduldig
Is your jaw dropping in happy astonishment, or is that a yawn? Yes, Marga takes home the Bestie again. Perhaps because there's a yawning gap between her comedic achievements and those of any other performer (male or female) working the Bay Area today. This year's crowning accomplishment came early: a New York Times theater Critic's Pick for her new one-woman show Latin Standards. Watch for a San Francisco run soon.
Best Comic (Male) : Nick Leonard
Runner up: Jesus U. Betta Work
In addition to performing at Cobb's, the Punchline, The Purple Onion and other notable local comedy spots over the years, Leonard has been a stalwart advocate for fellow LGBT comics via his QComedy Showcase and QComedy.com. A stand-up guy!
Best DJ (Male) - MC2 (Michael Chu)
Runner up: Bus Station John
L'chaim and happy Bar Monstvah! This summer marks the 13th consecutive year that Michael Chu has produced The Monster Show (Thursday nights at The Edge), one of the city's longest-running dance nights. A friendly crowd, clever themes and, of course, Chu's monster beats have kept the corner of 18th and Collingwood thumping long beyond the average life-expectancy for a weekly party. While the little Edge-in that could remains home base (Chu also spins there on Fridays and Sundays), DJ MC2 also makes his mark on larger sonic canvases, including Oasis (Mother on Saturday nights), the Folsom Street Fair, and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
Best DJ (Female): Page Hodel
Runner up: Lady Ryan
Spinning in the Bay Area over four remarkable decades, Page Hodel has helped the LGBT community lift its spirits in the depths of crises, celebrate the advent of marriage equality, and escape from mundane concerns through the balm and the beat of dance music. But perhaps the most meaningful beat Hodel has created is the regular weekly pulse of heart-shaped art she's created and distributed via internet every Monday since the passing of her partner Madalene Louise Rodriguez in June, 2006. www.mondayheartsformadalene.com
Best DJ Duo/Group - Go Bang! (Sergio Fedasz, Steve Fabus, Prince Wolf)
Runner up: Hard French
Disco sucks, in the best way possible. Fe'late night grooving in classic '70s style, San Francisco can't resist the Go Bang! crew, led by veteran vinylphiles Steve Fabus and Sergio, with recent permanent addition Prince Wolf, making them the Bestie-winning trio, but who's counting? Catch their regular gig at The Stud on monthly first Saturday nights.
Best Drag King: Alex U. Inn
Runner up: Leigh Crow
The face and founder of the Momma's Boyz troupe, Alex U. Inn is a human mix tape of artistry and activism, delivering provocative and raucously entertaining hip-hop riffs that simultaneously call gender and racial stereotypes into question. This summer, Alex will be a community grand marshal at SF Pride.
Best Drag Queen: Peaches Christ
Runners up: Donna Sachet, D'Arcy Drollinger
Peachy Queen as ever, Joshua Grannell continues to be San Francisco's drag impresario nonpareil, promoting and performing with relentless hilarity and efficiency. After Grease -ing up heartthrob Maxwell Caulfield at the Castro last Saturday, Peaches is prepping for a run of Mommie Queerest at Oasis next month.
Best Faux Queen: Fauxnique (Monique Jenkinson)
She's Sontag's Notes on Camp made flesh, a full-body brain in motion. Jenkinson's perennial gender-bending presence in the Besties is well-warranted: She's the sort of singular artist who gives San Francisco a good name. Fauxnique had a career high with an appearance at Joe's Pub in Manhattan this past New Year's Eve and will be concocting a follow-up to her most recent show, The F Word, as an artist-in-residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts in Marin this summer.
Best Gogo Guy: Michael Tempesta
Runner up: Andrew Slade
You've seen his chiseled features (facial and otherwise) at the Midnight Sun, QBar, 440, the Lookout, Powerhouse and especially memorably in shoulder pads and a jock at the much-missed Cockfight. You've coveted his goods in Mr. S. advertising. And you've admired his community volunteering for Pride, AIDS Lifecycle and many more. What a goody-goody gogo!
Best Gogo Gal: Jella Gogo
Runner up: Lucy Dorado
While a multi-year Bestie winner, Jella has remained remarkably reclusive when not shaking things up at Beaux, QBar, Oakland's Club 21, and Burning Man. Inquiring minds want to know: Who the hell is Jella?
Best Host/MC: Heklina
Runner up: Donna Sachet
Mother and Den Mother of us all, Heklina helps San Francisco hang onto whatever edge it has left, with her curation of and dedication to maintaining an Oasis for our sense of community. The proud nightclub co-owner and Mistress of drag Ceremonies blends reverence while introducing the likes of Cher and B52s singer Cindy Wilson to her stage, while lovingly dishing drag colleagues and openly lusting for her bevy of hunky backup dancers.
Best Nightlife Photographer: Gareth Gooch
Runners up: Steven Underhill and Georg Lester
Sharp of eye, quick of shutter, and a fine judge of male pulchritude, Gooch excels at candids that bring the heat, but never say cheesy. His sheer prolificity is notable, as well as his color-saturated style and witty poses with drag performers.
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If you didn't see your favorite nightlife personality among the winners or runners-up, remember to vote and write-in candidates next year. Or, send your next year's nominees to [email protected].