BEST ARCHITECTURE OR LANDMARK
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
For years before it opened, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge — called the Calatrava bridge, named for famed Spanish bridge architect Santiago Calatrava — was dismissively written off as “the bridge to nowhere.” After all, what was West Dallas, anyway? As it turns out, a great shortcut to Oak Cliff, and the gateway to the hottest new eateries in town, at Trinity Groves. No one’s laughing now … except maybe the photographers, who have made the iconic, graceful silhouette of “Large Marge” (her affectionate new nickname) one of the distinctive shapes of Dallas’ already potent skyline.
— Arnold Wayne Jones
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BEST PARTY FOR A CAUSE
Purple Party
PurpleFoundation.org
W hen we think of a party, we think of a single event … but that’s what sets our readers apart. The winner of this year’s award for best celebratory fundraiser wasn’t just a one-night thing, but an entire weekend — indeed, in some ways the Purple Party continues year-round, what with promoting its partners’ events. The spring fling (which returns May 9–12) is a series of dance nights and pool parties, with top local, national and international DJs brought in for the all-volunteer organization to raise money for the Purple Foundation’s primary beneficiary, AIDS Services of Dallas. Last year, the group donated $50,000 to area HIV/AIDS nonprofits. That’s the kind of news that can really get a guy dancin’.
— Arnold Wayne Jones
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HOTTEST LOCAL PRO ATHLETE
Jason Witten
DallasCowboys.com
BEST LOCAL LGBT SPORTS ORGANIZATION
Lost Souls Rugby Football Club, pictured
LostSoulsRFC.org
BEST LOCAL MUSEUM
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science
2201 N. Field St.
Open daily at 10 a.m. (noon Sunday)
PerotMuseum.org
BEST LOCAL ART GALLERY
Craighead GreenGallery
1011 Dragon St.
214-855-0779
CraigheadGreen.com
BEST LOCAL ARTIST
Daniel Padilla
GAYEST APARTMENT COMPLEX
the ilume
4123 Cedar Springs Road
214-520-0588
ilume.com
FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD
Oak Lawn
BEST PARK OR TRAIL
Katy Trail
BEST SUNDAY FUNDAY
The Hidden Door
5025 Bowser Ave.
Open daily till 2 a.m.
214-526-0620
HiddenDoor-Dallas.com
FUNNIEST LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY
Ron Corning
BEST LOCAL LGBT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
Resource Center
2701 Reagan St.
214-528-0144
MyResourceCenter.org
BEST LOCAL LGBT COMMUNITY LEADER
Cece Cox
BEST LOCAL STRAIGHT ALLY
(TIE)
City Councilman Scott Griggs
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 21, 2014.