Rob Schanilec and his team at the Northfield Entertainment Guide are gearing up for the 2011 best o
f Best of Northfield straw poll, an annual collaboration with Locally Grown. See the table (PDF) for past categories and the winners.
Here’s Rob’s thinking about the category changes he’s considering for 2011.
What do YOU think? What suggestions do YOU have? Rob says:
Here’s my take on the Best of Categories.
- I nixed a few that were more about tourism (ie visitor attraction)
- I nixed some that I thought just weren’t very exciting (ie non-alcoholic offerings, people-watching venue)
- I combined a few (ie latte/coffee/tea)
- And I added a few (in red/italic)
Music
- Band
- Musician
- Venue
Visual Arts
- Artist
- Gallery
Theater
- Actor
- Play/Musical
Community
- Web site/blog/publication
- Family venue
- Indoor activity
- Outdoor activity
Retail
- Women’s Clothing
- Men’s Clothing
- Gifts
- Grocery
- Window Display
- Salesperson
Local Services
- Salon/Barbershop
- Auto Maintenance/Repair
Food/Beverage
- Coffee/tea product
- Cookie/pastry
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Hamburger
- Beer Selection
- Wine Selection
- Pizza
- Appetizers
- Soup
- Ice Cream
- Bartender/server
- Healthy menu
- Vegetarian menu
- Romantic venue
- Take-out
Performance
Event
Best Value
Northfield Personality (radio, organizer, activist, just cool dude)
Best of the Best
I’m not sure I like having the “Web site/blog/publication” in the Community category.
How about a media category that’s more people-specific?
Best radio personality?
Best reporter?
etc
Rob,
I’d be careful not to be gender-specific on the “Northfield Personality (… just cool dude)” I can think of some non-dude Northfield personalities.
Are there dudettes?
As for media category, how about best columnist, where I slug it out with Maggie Lee? (joke)
How about best AM Radio station in Division street??
And best radio guy who is also a piano player and magician? We are not making Griff happy here, I imagine!
And tallest playwright?! What the ever-loving hell, Rob!?! Where’s that category?
I like best advertising campaign. I mean, isn’t that what the Guide is all about?? Advertising??
I guess, my questions is why nix the visitor stuff. If we promoted this poll on the Downtown Northfield and Northfield MN Facebook pages, we would get a lot of visitors that just love Northfield.
Best local college — let’s get those Carelton vs St. Olaf voters in the mix.
Make that “Carleton” not “Carelton” — my left hand was typing faster than my right hand — I should have been using speech recognition software instead of a keyboard.
How about Thrift (Second Hand Stores)?
Jessica –
Good point, and it’s also a way to recognize our community’s wealth of creative talent.
Hayes –
Good point, with the Guide’s increasing regional perspective, more and more of the audiences may be “visitors”.
How about most Congenial Staff and/or Best Ambiance and/or Most Unique Offerings in any type of office, store, or restaurant
Bright, Froggy Bottoms could win all of those in abstentia. RIP, Froggy Bottoms River Pub.
Great input, all. You’ve made me chuckle as well as rub my chin in ah-ha thought. Stay tuned – as will I for more input.
Rob,
I would suggest that you include best city park, best floral display, and best landscaping in your list!
Pat Allen, Chair of Northfield in Bloom
How about a catagory for elderly care under community? Or, for that matter, best place to retire?
R – Best place to buy a cardboard rhino head or a tree made out of silverware? Always a great category!!!
Hmmm. Mary, could you tell us where we might find such arcane treasures?