When we set out to create our first annual BYGays Ponies Choice Awards, we knew that we wanted to honor the best in queer DC - and we knew that we wanted all of you to help us. That's why we opened up both nominations and voting to the public. Now it's time to announce the winners, and it's even more exciting because these ideas came from you: they truly represent what our readers think are the very best places to go, things to do, and ways to have fun in the District of Columbia.

In some of the categories, we've also made an Editors Choice selection, because we want to make sure that you know about all the amazing things that are out there. Whether they're something new, something totally different, or just something that deserves special notice, the Editors Choice picks are our way of saying: "Hey, look - this is worth your time."

But that's enough intro. We've got awards to hand out. Without further ado...

Best Community Organization

Actual Photo From Jimmy V's:

Best Nightclub

• Town Danceboutique - The workhorse of the gay club stable, it wasn’t surprising that our ponies chose Town as Best Club. An outstanding drag cast, stellar sound, and great lighting is just the foundation. This year, Town flourished by hosting innovative parties such as Bear Crue Happy Hour, the Kylie Minogue After Party,  and the holiday-centered WTF?! parties. If we had a “Best Place to Pick Up a Twink on a Friday” this would be it for its 18+ night. But even on Saturdays, you can probably see your friends dancing shirtless on a box upstairs. - John
• Editors Choice - U Street Music Hall - We love Town for what it is - a big gay club. But sometimes you want a little more than that. U Street Music Hall was just named the #6 nightclub in America, and it’s not hard to see why: this place is all about the music. The nearly-million dollar sound system is nothing short of incredible, the cork dance floor helps keep you dancing all night long, and the bar staff always keeps things moving. But where U Street Music Hall really shines is in the talent they bring in. Some of the biggest and most forward-looking DJs in the world have come through including Seth Troxler, Simian Mobile Disco, and incredible post-concert set by Cut Copy, and gay favorite Fred Falke (who impressed everyone by busting out his bass). They’ve had live music too: the sold-out Rapture show was amazing, and even queer rockers Jessica 6 have been by. And now they’re kicking off a partnership with 9:30 Club that will see even more live music filling the venue. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out. - Bradley

Best Place to Drink Before 8pm

• Nellie’s

Best Music Venue

• 9:30 Club - This one’s a no-brainer: the size is perfect, the bands that come through are amazing, and the staff are pros all around. We all saw Lady Gaga’s show before she totally blew up, not to mention Goldfrapp and Robyn. Just this year we’ve rocked out to Cut Copy and Foster the People. What’s next for 9:30 Club? Who knows, but we’ll be there. - Bradley
• Editors Choice - Red Palace is one of the least valued venues in our fair city. This place is most renounced for bringing you live, in your face tits. Red Palace is more than just burlesque these days, putting on indie shows that drive the underground to their small-ish upstairs stage to see bands blow that place to shreds. Since the venue is a smaller you can find yourself within a beer’s throw of both the bartender and the band. We have met some dreamy guitar players here and don't take the privilege for granted. - Shona

Best Hotel to Party At

• Donovan House - Donovan House’s rooftop has been host to some amazing parties - Timur Tugberk’s weekly Twilight Tuesdays, summer Maison, and of course the straight-but-gay-friendly Happy Sundays. There’s no rooftop pool where you’re likely to find better drinks or sexier people. And we all know what goes on in the rooms... - Bradley
• Editors Choice - Homo Hotel Happy Hour - Once a month, promoter organizer Aaron Riggins brings together hundreds of gay men for cocktails at Washington hotel for Homo Hotel Happy Hour. No matter what hotel its held at, HHHH makes it the place t be seen and meet people. - John

Best DJ & Party Promoter & Performance Artist

• Shea Van Horn - Shea Van Horn. Possibly the only gay DC DJ with his own profile in the New York Times. He of MIXTAPE (with Matt Bailer), RAW (with Bil Todd), formerly of Maison (with Tommy Cornelis), and of course the hugely popular Guil-Tea at Nellies every Sunday all summer. He’s DJed our Pride party, planned a truly incredible Afterhours at the Hirshhorn, and never seems to lack for creativity. It’s not exactly a party, but his CRACK variety show is one of the best ways to spend two hours in DC (and is always shockingly entertaining). There’s simply no gay DJ in DC with greater range or more on his plate - and we hope he keeps it up for a long time to come. - Bradley

• Editors’ Choice (Best DJ & Drag King) - A magical creature somewhere between centaur and wizard. Her name is Natty Boom. I’m serious it’s like an epic battle between mystical beings every time she throws down beats. Natty B, whom I’ve just nicked named right now, smacks you on your ass every time she performs. Her taste in music explodes from those speakers and has everyone dancing at all her events from Backdoor, to the former Homo/Sonic, and even both of the Capital Pride parties. If you haven’t danced to those enchanted beats, you need to find her. She will have you writhing in joy all over those dance floors. - Keli

Best Drag Queen

• Shi-Queeta Lee

Best Drag King

• Ken Vegas - Bradley and I were once invited up to watch Ken Vegas prep for a show and it was magical. As one of the godfathers of the DC King scene, Ken is proof that there’s far more to being a King than a nice mustache or some baggy jeans. We salute you, sir. - Deb

Best Regular Party

• Mixtape - One of the longest running regular parties in DC has claimed this title for good reason. Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer’s MIXTAPE has kept us all dancing for the past four years with its mix of everything you could possibly dance to. The crowd is always large and attractive, and we’ll keep coming back as long as they keep making it happen. - Bradley

Best Pool Party

• BYT Summer Camp - Awww, shucks. Thanks guys. - Bradley

• Editors Choice - Banneker Pool and a handle of gin - It didn’t quite get the most votes, but it’s hard to disagree with one of your suggestions: “Bannker Pool and a handle of gin.” Right between Shaw, Logan Circle, and Columbia Heights, the pool is free to get into if you show that you’re a DC resident, and although it’s a little sketchier than some of the other pools around, it’s still full of cuties and leaves your pocketbook way more full than anywhere else. - Bradley

Best One-off Party

• Pride @ the Newseum - Again, guys - we’re totally flattered.
• Editors’ Choice - Pocket Gays’ Road Trip To Robyn - Baltimore is like DC’s Canada. It’s right above us, yet most here don’t have a clue regarding anything about it. So when our collective crush Robyn stopped in Baltimore this past February for a concert, gay DC was perplexed. Did you need you passport? Is it accessible by Metro? Are the boys there cute?  Party promoters The Pocket Gays stepped up by booking two sold-out party buses to Baltimore. Straight people don’t get the significance, but the gays aren’t generally the party bus crowd. But with the right expertise in planning and programming, The Pocket Gays created an outstanding experience that is still being talked about every time “Call Your Girlfriend” comes on at a house party. - John

Best Neighborhood for House Parties

• Columbia Heights is the base camp for house parties. We love being able to abbreviate the neighborhood to CoHi and we love the proximity to our own apartments and bus stops. Being with-in stumbling distance of a hook-up’s front door is worth its weigh in gold! - Shona
• Editors’ Choice - Mount Pleasant is just next to y’alls choice of Coumbia Heights. Your beloved editors just want to remind you how pleasant Mount Pleasant can be. Party down and have a good time. We like it. - Shona

Best Place to get laid on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday

• Grindr - It’s like a giant singles bar in the sky, except full of torsos and aggressive come-ons. It’s Grindr, pretty much everyone is there, and you can find any kind of hookup your little heart could desire. - Bradley
• Editors’ Choice - JRs Showtunes on Mondays - Even if you don’t know a thing about musical theater,this s the place t meet guys on a Monday night. The packed is always super friendly and flirty, and ranges from twink to bear. Also, the night also seems to be a magnet for visiting celebrities, politicians, and luminaries sneaking quiet drinks with local friends. - John

Best Place to get laid on Tuesday and Thursday

• Cobalt
• Editors’ Choice (Tuesday) - Twilight Tuesdays at the Donovan House - Its always fun to watch gay Washington try to dress up in the sweltering summer heat. But, the rooftop of the Donovan House provides a respite to your perspiration with cool breezes and strong cocktails. Organizers Timur Tugburk and John Michael stepped up their summer party this year by layering in innovative performance artists, fashion shows, and even more stylish features. The best place to get laid on a Tuesday? This one was easy. - John

• Editors’ Choice - (Thursday) - 18th & U Duplex Diner -  In 2011, owner Eric Hirshfield sold the establishment to bartender Kevin Lee. Over the years, both have made the Diner the place to be on Thursday nights. White House correspondents, conservative bloggers, liberal activists, and all of official Washington put labels aside to press in like sardines each week. If you want to see an old friend, or get laid by a new one, then this is the place to go. Former owner Hirshfield is still there as a patron, and we love that fact. -John

Best Place to get laid on Friday

• Nellies
• Editors’ Choice - On Fridays DC9 has this thing called The Liberation Dance Party. We keep telling you to go because... well... its pretty liberating. If you get there early enough there is open bar. And after that the place is just a free for all dance party. Gays and straights all love that shit. - Shona

Best Place to get laid on Saturday

• Town
• Editors’ Choice - Monthly Parties - Mixtape, Peach Pit, Backdoor, or RAW, the best place to gt laid on a given Saturday night is one of DC’ multiple monthly parties. If you haven’t ventured far beyond the comfortable confines of traditional gay bars, you’re missing your best chance to hear great music and meet new people. - John

Best Place to get Laid on Sunday

• Nellies

Best Place to Pick Up Chicks

• She.Rex - Someday, this monthly party at Chief Ike’s will, in fact, bust through the second floor from the weight of stomping feet, but until then, it’s undoubtedly your best bet for going home with a hot queer chick. (Incidentally, the gay boys tend to get lucky there, too.) - Deb

• Editors’ Choice - Cuntfessions - Over the past year, under the guidance of founder Alexander Smith and editor Sarah Marloff, Where the Girls Go has stealthily become a home for all your DC dyke-y goodness and then some. Their “Cuntfessions” page (in the vein of Post Secret) is not only a source of amusement but a perfect place to find out once and for all whether that cute femme on the sixth floor of your building really is giving you the flirt-eye. - Deb

Best Place to Pick Up Guys

• Nellies
• Editors’ Choice - RAW - The sexual energy is flowing at this dark disco party held the last Saturday of each month at Cobalt. Organizers (and DJs) Shea Van Horn and Bil Todd stock the evening with go-go dancers, sexy videos and creative additions such as spanking booths. For 2012, we’re hoping that they add a holding pen on the bottom floor for the straight girls who always seem to end up at Cobalt. Perhaps keep the top floor reserved for queers, as nothing kills a pick up vibe like a bunch of “Woooo!” girls drunkenly grinding their high heels into your feet. Still, the scene is hot and simply the best place to pick guys each month, as well as one of our favorite parties. - John

Best Gym Scenery

• Vida Fitness
• Editors’ Choice - Crossfit - There’s no sauna, lap pool, or tanning booth at any of DC’s crossfit facilities. There’s little equipment too - just weight sets, medicine balls, and the occasional rowing machines. Popular with law enforcement officers and military personnel, gay Washingtonians have been early adopters of this movement (some may call it a cult) including a strong number of DC lesbians. If you’re looking for scenery, hang out on Church Street in Logan Circle behind Vida where members of Crossfit MPH show off ridiculous effort and bodies (they’ll take anyone where they are) on daily sprints set in between Olympic power lifting and conditioning exercises. - John

Best First Date Location

• Dickson Wine Bar
• Editors’ Choice - American Ice Company - I’ve had more than one truly great first date at American Ice Company this year (well, I guess that means they weren’t *that* great). It’s the rare bar with a mix of great beer, good cocktails, good food if you need it, and the kind of atmosphere where you can actually talk and get to know someone. In the summers, the ability to sit outside under the stars adds a bit of romance to any evening. And the usually-deserted street outside is perfect for stealing that first kiss. - Bradley

Best Tenth Date Location

• Ponies’ Choice - The Monuments at Night (awwwwww)

Best Gallery Show

• Hide/Seek - Well this makes sense, doesn’t it? Hide/Seek was the best gallery show to give the US a swift kick in the pants. THIS WAS THE FIRST SHOW IN A MUSEUM IN THE U.S. TO REFER TO ART AS QUEER. That’s a huge fucking deal. The show was a total success because it unabashedly showed art, and good art, of the homosexual lifestyle. Then shit hit the fan and the show became an even bigger success because it showed America’s homophobia at its best. The Smithsonian, took down a piece by David Wojnarowicz because of pressure from people who don’t like queers. The shock! It was publicised even more, and nationally, and OMG internationally. This is known as the Streisand Effect, yes because of that mega gay icon Barbara Streisand. Basically, more people knew about the show because of queer haters. QUEERS FOREVER! This controversy caused such a sensation that the Brooklyn Museum acquired the show. You can see it now. Go. And invite Barbara. You owe it to her. - Keli
• Editors’ Choice - 30 Americans at the Corcoran - I’ll tell you how I first found out about 30 Americans. I went to pick up a press pass from our HBIC, Svetlana, who had just come from a preview of the show. She stood there speechless, eyes wide, trying to put into words the grandeur of the exhibition. She managed to eek out, ‘It’s absolutely incredible,’ with that stunned look still on her face. Dudes, I went, and my face was stuck just like that, the entire show. I mean the show had everything, rhinestones from Michalene Thomas, weird hair/fabric costumes from Nick Cave, a Basquiat duh, and this like five story tall painting by Kehinde Wiley. Ok, that last item might have been an exaggeration, but that man’s guts must be like steel to conceive a painting the size of a billboard. The show is still up at the Corcoran. - Keli

Best Theater

• Studio Theatre
• Editors’ Choice - Woolly Mammoth

Best Movie Theater

• Ponies’ Choice - E Street Cinema- One thing that we don’t have enough of in this city is movie theaters - but luckily, we do have this one. Right downtown, E Street always plays the best in current cinema (plus a few old classics). Not to mention it’s the rare movie theater that sells alcohol. Next time you want to see a movie, check out what’s playing here first: we guarantee it’ll be more satisfying than a trip to Gallery Place.

Best Art Gallery

• National Portrait Gallery - You guyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyssss. The portrait gallery isn’t exactly what we meant. DC has galleries, like small ones, where you can see the work up close and personal and even buy it. But ok, I’ll play your game. in all honesty, the Portrait Gallery is an incredible monument to American Art. All those busts document the history of our nation from Manifest Destiny to the Civil War to life today. The ‘gallery’ is one of the gems of the city that most people miss which means that you can go any given day and know that those fanny packed tourists will be elsewhere.

A few tips:
1. Bottom floor, east side, there is this painting of a crazed man. It’s captivating every time.

2. Always look for the contemporary portraits on the bottom floor, north east side.

3. Second floor south side, or north (idk where it's at exactly so, whatever, wander around until you find it) you’ll find this buffalo hide round couch. It’s a real hide and it’s funnnnnn to twirl your fingers in its tail.

4. They have the original Obama portrait by Shepard Fairy, which you can catch if you are lucky

5. Don’t miss the top floor with contemporary art including that giant wall of T.V.’s by Nam June Paik and that girl with the big red lips. - Keli

• Editors’ Choice - Conner Contemporary - Now to get to the real meat and bones of what we were looking for. The BYGays LOVE Conner Contemporary. They show queer art on the regular and have these artists from all over that will bring hoards of drag queens to start major parties or intense performance art or naked people on an upside down boat. Their show openings are always filled with everyone. I’m serious, everyone. I’d say they are the most influential gallery in DC for the aforementioned reasons, but because they put on the first art fair in DC, (e)merge. Leigh Conner and Jaime Smith put on an amazing international fair, right here, in DC which brought an epic amount of attention to the city as a creative capital in the US. Go to their next opening because you never know what kind of rager it will turn into. - Keli

Best Museum

• The Hirshhorn - First of all, let me give you a huge round of applause. Thank you BYG readers for picking the best museum in the city. Everything about the Hirshhorn is amazing. It’s so accessible, physically and conceptually. What I mean is that it’s easy to wander around to discover new things, and you can understand some part of any art piece there. Some of the pieces might be straight forward, like the recent Black Box video of the flamingos wincing at gunshot sounds (fear, anxiety, war). Others might not be, like those DeKoonings on the top floor. One may not understand them, but you can attach meaning to the color or to the chaotic paint strokes (pink, emotional). Whatever your fave flavor of art, the Hirshhorn has something that will cause some kind of reaction in you. Oh yeah, and don’t forget about those wicked awesome Hirshhorn Afterhours parties! Art and dancing/drinking. Amazing! - Keli

Best Performance Artist

• Editors’ Choice - Jason Barnes/Pu$$y Noir - Even if all he is wearing is a jock strap and a pair of high heels, there is always a sophistication that surrounds Jason Barnes (who also performs as Pu$y Noir). This classically trained opera singer with a Parisian-based education could be found at countless gay parties in 2011 performing in back rooms on bar tops. More classic gender-fuck than drag, Barnes always elevated the experience of any party he performed at. However, it was his performances before straight audiences that truly advanced his art by demonstrating fully just how much he could simultaneously be both transgressive and seductive. Watching shocked frat boys break into a smile revealed just how far Barnes could push his audiences to consider new views of gender. - John

Best Visual Artist

• Lisa Marie Thalhammer - Think of Michelle Obama as a giant, with stars in her eyes, and this enormous smile. This was the first painting I saw from Lisa Marie. It's hanging, right when you enter her apartment.  I'll be the first to admit that I have a huge gay icon crush on Michelle, so, you can imagine my jaw hitting the floor as my eyes teared up in emotion upon seeing that painting. Around the corner, more: a painting of a woman, done in bright colors and angular lines, huge eyes and gestures of power and strength. Then, around the next corner, collages of sexy women on eighteen wheelers.  Her work is tough and done with finesse and wow, if you collect art, make sure you check out her work. She does everything from video, to murals, to paintings and I bet she would love you forevs if you commissioned something. Just imagine, you could get your very own giant gay icon. - Keli

America's Next Top Otter

David Brown - The furry and handsome David Brown didn't start his Otter Crossing party until late in 2011. While it may not have qualified for our voting period, we wanted to grant special recognition for his efforts with a Ponies Choice award for "America's Next Top Otter".  Brown started with the simple idea of creating a monthly party for otters (for the unitiated: typically slim-to-fit, and hairy gay men) and their friends at the DC Eagle, a bar which doesn't always see robust business on Friday nights.  His gamble was a huge success, and a welcome addition to the DC LGBT nightlife scene.  The vibe is flirty and non-pretentious and features manly men participating in events such as "Best in Beard" and "Best in Chest" contests.  We're very excited to see where this party goes. - John

A participant in Otter Crossing's "Best in Beard" contest.

There you have it - the 2011 Ponies Choice Awards. What did we totally fuck up? Tell us in the comments.