What category suggestions do you have for the annual Best of Northfield straw poll?

bestofnfld2009sshot1Rob Schanilec and his team at the Northfield Entertainment Guide are gearing up for the 2011 best oBest of Northfield categoriesf 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

20 Comments

  1. Griff Wigley said:

    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

    November 17, 2010
  2. 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.

    November 17, 2010
  3. Are there dudettes?
    As for media category, how about best columnist, where I slug it out with Maggie Lee? (joke)

    November 17, 2010
  4. Tim Freeland said:

    How about best AM Radio station in Division street??

    November 17, 2010
  5. And best radio guy who is also a piano player and magician? We are not making Griff happy here, I imagine!

    November 17, 2010
  6. And tallest playwright?! What the ever-loving hell, Rob!?! Where’s that category?

    November 18, 2010
  7. Jessica Paxton said:

    I like best advertising campaign. I mean, isn’t that what the Guide is all about?? Advertising??

    November 18, 2010
  8. 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.

    November 18, 2010
  9. Robert Palmquist said:

    Best local college — let’s get those Carelton vs St. Olaf voters in the mix.

    November 18, 2010
  10. Robert Palmquist said:

    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.

    November 18, 2010
  11. Donna Maus said:

    How about Thrift (Second Hand Stores)?

    November 19, 2010
  12. Ross Currier said:

    Jessica –

    Good point, and it’s also a way to recognize our community’s wealth of creative talent.

    November 19, 2010
  13. Ross Currier said:

    Hayes –

    Good point, with the Guide’s increasing regional perspective, more and more of the audiences may be “visitors”.

    November 19, 2010
  14. How about most Congenial Staff and/or Best Ambiance and/or Most Unique Offerings in any type of office, store, or restaurant

    November 20, 2010
  15. Bright, Froggy Bottoms could win all of those in abstentia. RIP, Froggy Bottoms River Pub.

    November 20, 2010
  16. Rob Schanilec said:

    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.

    November 21, 2010
  17. Pat Allen said:

    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

    November 22, 2010
  18. john george said:

    How about a catagory for elderly care under community? Or, for that matter, best place to retire?

    November 22, 2010
  19. Mary Closner said:

    R – Best place to buy a cardboard rhino head or a tree made out of silverware? Always a great category!!!

    November 24, 2010
  20. Hmmm. Mary, could you tell us where we might find such arcane treasures?

    November 24, 2010

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