So who, you were wondering, were all the early-20s types at Taste of Cincinnati in T-shirts that said “Boycott the Boycott.”

        Wellsir, it's a group founded by five UC students that has grown to about 20, says Justin Binik-Thomas, one of the founders. Because, “We stand to support Cincinnati — to keep it strong, fair and just. We believe that to succeed we must work together and build our future . . . ”

        To that end, they make themselves visible at every opportunity. They were all over Jammin' on Main. Last weekend, they traveled Central Parkway all three days of Taste, usually in a pack of 10 to 12.

        “We got no hassles,” Binik-Thomas says, “and lots of thumbs up. We lost count of how many people thanked us for what we were doing.”

        Even with the UC school year ending, the group plans to stay together and, Binik-Thomas says, “visit all public events. We also plan to go downtown a lot to shop and visit bars and restaurants.

        “Our goal is to get people downtown, and we think it's best to lead by example. Our goals aren't much different from the boycotters. We both want to keep Cincinnati strong and just. We just approach it differently.”

        The group has a Web site, www.boycotttheboycott.org, and can be contacted by e-mail at binikthomas@zoomtown.com.

        Top dish: Well, looks as if the people have spoken. The best dish at Taste was Don Pablo's Chocolate Volcano. It got 3,392 votes for best, more than any of the 168 menu items.

        This was the first time in Taste's 23 years that the public got to vote, says Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce spokesman Buz Buse. In the past, it was always a panel of media types.

        But this year, thanks to PlanetFeedback and CincyTechUSA, people could vote on site or go home and vote online. To cut down on ballot-box stuffing, Buse required e-mail addresses.

        Other winners were: Cafe Cin-Cin's Chocolate Strawberries, Best Appetizer; Buffalo Wild Wings' Buffalo Wings, Best Entree; and a tie for best ethnic between Izzy's Reuben and Black Forest's Bratwurst with Kraut.

        Drag races: And this for people thinking of spending money on the benefit circuit: How about a bunch of guys in high heels?

        One of the city's edgiest fund-raisers, the annual Drag Races, hits the streets Sunday. This is the one where local bars and restaurants enter 4-man teams for a relay race from Court and Central to Court and Race.

        The catch, says coordinator Gene Stow, is runners have to be in Bonnets, wigs, dresses, high heels and handbag for the four-block sprint.

        Emceed by the wonderfully off-center Miss Mona Lott, the races are always a big deal, with people, often armed with water balloons, three deep on the closed-off street.

        Court Street closes noon-9 p.m. for the festivities, including the Spicy Divas drag show at 2 p.m., food, beer and raffles. The race is at 4 p.m. and free. Money (generated by teams' entry fees) goes to AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati.

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