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Welcome to the Third Annual Philebrity Awards Readers’ Poll! When we started these awards in 2009, we knew what we didn’t want them to be: Another piece of crap service-y listicle that mostly seeks to get you to go buy things, stroke the egos of advertisers, or tell you things that you already know.

What we did want them to be — and to our now-annual surprise, what they’ve become — was a celebration of the very real people and things that make Philadelphia a continuously inspiring place to live, even when it’s getting us down. The nominees below (even the bastards marked for the ever-popular “Excommunication” category) have worked hard to make their bones in a city that is simultaneously tough as hell to make waves in, yet possibly one of the easiest places in the world to make a friend. They all deserve your respect, and if a name is new to you, please take a moment to click the corresponding link below each category to find out more.

A word about the selection process: Each year, we correspond with a dozen or so respected colleagues in a variety of fields — from a diverse pool that includes folks in the arts, the restaurant biz, media, and more — and ask them for their nominations. Then, we throw our own in as well. Next, we weed out all of the nominees that were obviously people just nominating their friends. (Or in some cases, themselves. You know who you are.) Then, we ask you, the readers, at the last possible minute, and grab some from there. Finally, our resident staff narrows down the pool to five nominees in each category over Chinese food, and we present them to you, to decide as you will. This is what democracy looks like. So enjoy it, why don’t you!

Polls will close at 3PM, on Thursday, December 15th. The 2011 Philebrity Awards Ceremony & Xmas Pageant will take place that night, at 8:30PM sharp, at the Trocadero — the show this year is FREE, and it’s shaping up to be the best one ever. Come on down, and celebrate these lovely folks, and yourself.