The Hot List 2008: 56 Things We Love

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For the third consecutive year, we’re celebrating our birthday bash with not only a party (see below), but also a special issue overflowing with our favorite people, places, things and events in the city we call home. Fifty-six is our number (there’s no reason, it just has a nice ring to it). This year we asked you, our readers, to help us out. Over the course of a month, you narrowed five finalists in 10 special categories down to a single winner.  Such winners are noted in bold throughout this feature.

Oh, and why all the dolls? Well, we thought an issue full of Springfield icons deserved to be represented by the hottest icon of all time (Marilyn Monroe couldn’t make it). Plus, it was funny.

Let's go party (ah, ah, ah yeah)

Click here to read more about our Hot List Block Party on Park Central East!

Hot immersive experience:

Really, really high alcohol beers

For several years, we’ve enjoyed drinking super-strong, high-end beers like Delerium Tremens and Chimay at MudLounge and Patton Alley Pub. They’re wonderful, but none too easy to find. Now, Boulevard is in on the action with its Smokestack series. The 750ml beers, which range from 6.2 to 10.5 percent alcohol by volume, are available at Price Cutter and Brown Derby, as well as a few select restaurants and pubs like Bijan’s, Tuscan Grill, Patton Alley and Finnegan’s Wake. We’re in love.