The List of Lists '08

What's the highest form of pop-culture observation? Academic criticism? Uh, no. Blogs? Please. Twitter? Maybe. No, it's the top-10 list, of course!

Exhibit A: Our online community at www.vita.mn is populated by a race of obsessive listmakers -- with more than 1,293 list topics and counting in our first two years. Vita.mn users can sign in and create top-10 lists on just about any topic imaginable. Once a list is created, other users jump in with their own top-10s on the same topic -- more than 20,000 list items in the past month -- and the results are amassed into the fearsome display of collectivist groupthink and discordant views as seen in this, our second annual List of Lists issue.

What we have here is merely a snapshot, circa July 2008, of 130 of our favorite lists from the past year. For prestigious, evergreen lists, such as "Greatest places to eat" and "Best bar", we've calculated new rankings from the past year of answers.

After all, lists are highly adaptive, evolving organisms. If you disagree with anything here (Amy Hockert, hotter than Marni Hughes?), you can sign up and add your own two cents. Or 10. So read on -- and happy listing.

Our favorites Best bathrooms Best locally brewed beers within 200 miles Best places to people-watch Greatest board games of all time Best liquor store Favorite video game hero		Music Best live rock music venues Best concert you've ever seen Comeback tours we really didn't need Must-see local bands Songs we never need to hear again Favorite musical artists of childhood Favorite record stores Best places to buy concert tickets I can't effing stand this band Song of the summer
Dining Greatest places to eat Best Italian food Best Mexican food Best bakery Restaurants we wish were in the Twin Cities Best patios Best Thai food Favorite buffets Where to get a great salad Best fries in town Best places to dine solo Most underrated / overlooked restaurants Great sandwiches (hot or cold) Best brunch		Bars and drinking Best bar. Period. Best bars for games Best GLBT Bar Best DJ nights Best sports bars Best places to recover after a night of hard partying Best happy hour Best karaoke venues Best cup of coffee Most pretentious bars
Movies Best epic movies of all time Favorite soundtrack Best movie theaters Best '80s movies Best '90s movies Favorite scary movies Movies I could watch a million times and never get sick of them		Media Favorite TV characters Best local blogs Best audio podcast Best TV to watch on DVD Hottest local female news personality Great bookstores Best TV theme song of all time Hottest local male news personality Favorite radio DJs Magazines we love
Fashion Best place to buy used clothing Best places to go clothes shopping Articles of clothing I can't live without Hottest local boutiques Deals on designer threads ... off the rack Best stores in the Mall of America		Romance I'm sorry, I can't date you because you drive a... Favorite ways to break up Best places to meet cute boys Best places to meet cute girls Best date movies First date ideas I'm sorry, I can't date you because... I'd hit that Great places for a romantic date
Office When I think of the movie 'Office Space,' I think of... As soon as the boss is out of the office I... Best downtown after-work happy hour Subtle ways to annoy a co-worker Items that tempt you at the company vending machine Things I hate about my job Signs you work in an office		Minnesota Best day trip If I weren't living in Minnesota, I'd live in Best hot dish your mom makes Common Minnesota phrases How to merge, for Minnesota drivers Excuses for going to the Renaissance Festival Best books written by Minnesotans
Twin Cities Most photographed landmarks Best places to live in the Twin Cities Best views of downtown Mpls. Man, it'd be great if light rail went to... Most interesting street corners Best local parks Favorite Metro Transit bus routes Best hotels Most missed in the Twin Cities Easiest places to get lost		Neighborhoods Best U of M off-campus hangouts Least favorite downtown eyesores Best spots to grab a drink before a First Ave. show Best Mpls. skyway lunch spots 5 things I hate about Uptown 10 things I love about Uptown Best places for dinner on Eat Street Best bars in northeast Mpls. Best Twin Cities suburb Favorite Twin Cities neighborhood Worst Twin Cities suburb
On the cheap Best cheap beer Cheap eats Hardest things to cut out when strapped for cash Things I have done when poor		Miscellaneous Best places for furnishing your home If I were a superhero: name and power Best bumper stickers My dream home would have You might be a douchebag if... Best art galleries Best live theater venues When I start a band, it will be called... Things that incite immediate road rage Top 10 signs you're a hipster

The List of Lists '08...

Introduction || Our favorites || Music || Dining || Bars and drinking || Movies || Media || Fashion || Romance || Office || Minnesota || Twin Cities || Neighborhoods || On the cheap || Miscellaneous

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