Photos

Place to Change into Your Superhero Costume

The green booth on the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Waverley Street has plenty to offer to local Clark Kents looking for a private venue to don capes and suits. Located near City Hall, the police department and downtown's panoply of banks and shops, the public bathroom at Hamilton and Waverley allows superheroes to get to Palo Alto's most prominent locations within seconds. Its two maps are particularly useful for out-of-town superheroes unfamiliar with the local retail scene. On top of that, the bathroom cleans, disinfects and air dries itself after each use, thereby allowing superheroes to focus on their core mission: fighting crime.


Superhero Headquarters

The majestic Hoover Tower looms over Stanford University, giving students, visitors and heroes the perfect vantage point for spotting crimes and thwarting them just in time. Its prominent location and elegant design helped the Hoover Tower edge out other local landmarks in the Best Superhero Headquarters category. And when they're not fighting crime, superheroes can always tour the tower's archives and memorabilia relating to the nation's 31st president and Stanford graduate Herbert Hoover, or climb to the top to play with the 48-bell carillon. The largest bell, inscribed with the words "For Peace Alone Do I Ring," further underscores the tower's potential to house idealistic crime-fighters. 434 Serra Mall, Stanford University, 650-723-2560.


Place for a Hero-Villain Battle

Spider-Man vs. the Green Goblin. Batman vs. the Joker. Captain America vs. the Red Skull. For years heroes and villains have squared off on printed page and the big screen. Many Best Of readers say that were a climactic battle ever to be waged in Palo Alto, it would likely take place at Lytton Plaza or Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Plaza. The open expanses would allow for those in downtown to watch the cartoonish tussle with curious awe. And although the "Digital DNA" egg and parts of City Hall would surely crumble in the collision, it's safe to say the hero, as always, would walk away with a win. Lytton Plaza: University Avenue and Emerson Street, Palo Alto. King Plaza: 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto.


Place to Deliver A Villainous Monologue

Depending on your point of view, it could be apropos that many Weekly readers say the best place for a villainous monologue -- Lytton Plaza -- is often used for rallies and peaceful protests. Although Dr. Doom and Mr. Sinister haven't ever stopped at Lytton to wax about plans for world domination, voters say the brick-layered plaza (soon to be refurbished) is the ideal location for a speech riddled with arrogance and menacing laughter. So should any Palo Alto-based ne'er-do-well ever decide to reveal his or her dark intentions, Lytton Plaza would be the likely locale. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King (City Hall) Plaza, the Rodin sculpture garden at Stanford's Cantor Arts Center and the Mitchell Park bowl were other suggestions.


Rooftop to Shine the Bat Light From

It's Monday night, very late. Wait, correction. It's Tuesday morning, very early. There's an emergency: The Joker has drunk all the milkshakes at the Creamery! Wherever will we find people still awake to help us shine the Bat Light and call for help? Most Weekly voters picked towering City Hall -- of course the members of the City Council will still be up, negotiating away. Now let's see if Batman can do something about the budget. (Other choices for best place to shine the Bat Light included Hoover Tower, East Palo Alto's Four Seasons Hotel and Palo Alto Square.) 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto.


Local Figure Most Likely to Be a Superhero in Disguise

Apparently, enough superheroes are hiding out in Palo Alto for the city to field its own Justice League. No fewer than two dozen ordinary, everyday citizens are suspected by Weekly voters of cloaking their powers. Leading the pack was Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, but other nominees include politicians (Palo Alto Mayor Peter Drekmeier, Menlo Park City Councilman Andy Cohen, former Palo Alto vice mayor and high-tech pioneer Roy Clay); food proprietors (organic chef Jesse Cool, chef Charles Ayers, Fleming's Steak House partner Wayne Hanseth, Pizza My Heart general manager Ricardo Ibarra, Rick of Rick's Rather Rich Ice Cream and Michal the Milkman; and a number of police officers. But alas -- no newspaper reporters.

— Palo Alto Weekly staff