Best of Queens 2010

Saffron Restaurant Tapas Bar in Howard Beach beat a slew of top notch restaurants to earn this year's title. Congratulations to newcomer Saffron! Neighborhood residents know that Saffron has brought the tastes of Spain to Cross Bay Boulevard, an area previously known solely for Italian specialties, and we hope the restaurant gets more attention from eaters across the borough.

For a second year in a row Sweetleaf Cafe has claimed the Best Drinks in Queens crown. Long Island City'ers love the little cafe and its exceptional espresso pulls. There's so much love that Sweetleaf expanded this year. I can no longer call it a tiny cafe. They added a section dedicated for laptop use and another for listening to records!

Fans of this theater in Long Island City voted must not want it to remain a secret. Since 2007 it has brought live entertainment to its Off Off Broadway location. The Secret Theatre mounts ten or more productions a year and is the home of the Queens Players. Kudos!

Edible Queens launched its print magazine and website in 2009, and has satisfied many a stomach with tips on local restaurants and stories full of food love. It's hard to beat the site's blogger Joe DiStefano for finding honest ethnic eats. For dedicated home cooks, however, the publication really can't be beat with features and recipes that celebrate the locavore culinary movement. Kudos Edible Queens on your second year of publication and your first Best of Queens title!

Yuck! What did we do to deserve our pathetic state government? Vote for them? State government is so bad that it beat a tornado in voting for worst of Queens.

New York State is in a bind. Our politicians can't get over bickering and holding out their hands for cash, our cash. It's no surprise that you decided that the New York State government is the worst of Queens 2010.

Here's to hoping that 2011 brings something better. Here's to hoping that this great state can get righted before it is too late.