Vibrant, creative, edgy, demanding (only sometimes!), smart, funny. For this year's awards, we've chosen eleven New Yorkers who not only gave us their best but also brought out the best in New York. From Eliot Spitzer's determined drive to clean up the worst of Wall Street excess to Harvey Fierstein's monumental mom -- with a heart to match, in 'Hairspray' -- not to mention Tina Fey's irrepressibly irreverent humor, we salute their vision and celebrate our luck in being here at the right time and, of course, in the right place.

How the "Post" does Al D’Amato’s dirty work.

Building coalitions where none existed, county leader Roberto Ramirez has turned the Bronx into a critical Democratic stronghold.

Don't think of Fernando Ferrer as the Latino candidate for mayor. Think of him as the one who's overseen the rebirth of New York City's toughest borough.

If the $2 ride becomes history (for now), what else might we roll back?

No, we’re not talking terrorists. It’s the parking police, who are issuing tickets like there’s no tomorrow (no pun intended).

John Lennon imagined—and his martyrdom still fuels his dream.