NEWS & FEATURES

The Phoenix Best 2004
It's the 2004 edition of the Boston Phoenix Best awards. Each of our four categories "Arts and Entertainment," "City Life," "Food and Drink," and "Shopping" features Best selections chosen by our readers in the 2004 Best Readers Poll. We also feature a slightly more off-beat collection of Bests selected by our writers and editors.

David Bernstein says it is entirely possible that more Ohioans tried to vote for Kerry than for Bush, and if that's true the prez should be packing his bags and shredding his files, instead of plotting his second-term agenda.

Speculation is heating up that Mitt Romney could succeed Tom Ridge as homeland-security jefe - but Adam Reilly thinks the governor might not find it so easy to put the Bay State in the rear-view. Plus, notes on Massachusetts Democrats' post-election landscape.

Some serious Bible-thumping, tax-dodging, polluter-boosting homophobes are helping to tip the balance of the US Senate to the GOP. Dan Kennedy introduces five of the worst in the freshman class.

In dooming the rest of the country to four more years of George W. Bush, 51 percent of the masses had their say. Now Clif Garboden thinks it's time for these folks to do a little listening.

Local cult filmmaker Warren Lynch ponies up a new flick, and Camille Dodero's there to watch.

Tamara Wieder's Q&A with Newton native Seth Mnookin, who defied a troubled past to become a journalist and media expert with a new book on the shelves.

In "Savage Love," Dan Savage on sex and the occasional relationship.

In "Out There," Lauren Keane on a crowning achievement.

In "Urban Buy," Darcy Heitzke's got it in the clutch.

In the Phoenix editorial, Politics and war grab our attention. But Yasser Arafat's imminent demise, and ongoing troubles in Haiti and Cuba, speak to a dangerous world beyond the headlines.

Letters to the editor

Moon Signs

Plus, this just in:

MUSIC

On the eve of her first appearance in Boston, Michael Freedberg talks to the sensational British-born singer and actress Jane Birkin about music, stardom, and "Serge."

Brett Milano talks with Abbey Lounge chanteuse Andrea Gillis and the ever-changing crew of Victory at Sea.

Josh Kun reports on music for Neruda's centennial.

The Thrills escape the fashion police, Jeff Miller reports.

Franklin Bruno listens as Tom Herman and Tony Maimone make their own music.

Lloyd Schwartz says Karita Mattila's performance with the BSO was worth the price of several admissions.

Chris Rucker and Will Spitz listen to the local scene's post-election blues.

Live reviews of: Luna, Albert Cummings and Hilary Hahn.

Also, short reviews of:

THEATER

Carolyn Clay reviews the 25th anniversary return of Evita at the Colonial Theatre.

Steve Vineberg on two - sharply different - forgotten anti-war musicals from America's most experimental theatrical era.

SINGING SYNGE: Carolyn Clay checks out a smashing Playboy of the Western World from Dublin's visiting Abbey Theatre.

In Company One's Spell #7, Liza Weisstuch finds the language is so musical that the ensemble can't help but move, sway, and strut to the rhythm of Shange's prose.

ART

Christopher Millis visits a knock-out of a photo show at Tufts.

BOOKS

Richard C. Walls reads Peter Stephan Jungk's Tigor, a tale crowded with eccentric characters and event-filled asides.

TELEVISION

Joyce Millman says Veronica Mars and House both hit the mark.

HOTDOTS: TUESDAY 16 9:00 (2) Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good for America? No. Okay? By Clif Garboden

FOOD

SPECIALS