Restrooms at Nova 535, left, and Tampa Theatre.

(Via Tampa Downtown Partnership)

Strange but true: two Tampa Bay area arts venues - downtown Tampa’s iconic Tampa Theatre and downtown St. Petersburg’s Nova 535 - are in the running for Cintas Corporation’s annual America’s Best Restroom contest.

According to the contest website: While these finalists are all quite unique, they have one thing in common: all are exceptionally clean. Cintas created the Best Restroom award in 2002 to honor those businesses across America that place high value on hygiene and exceptional style in their public restrooms. Over the last six years, the contest has attracted tens of thousands of voters. The 2009 winner will receive a plaque of recognition and a coveted place on the America’s Best Restroom “Hall of Fame” [!] section of the program’s Web site. Previous winners have included restrooms at Notre Dame University, The Grand Casino in Biloxi Mississippi, Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Fort Smith, Arkansas Airport, Wendell’s Restaurant in Westerville, Ohio, Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio and, in 2008, The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

Art lovers, rack your brains to decide just how stylish and hygenic your last restroom experience was at the aforementioned venues (refresh your memory by taking an online tour at the contest website), and when you’re ready - vote here. Voting remains open through July 31.