Simply the best

It’s that time of year again, time for the annual Best of Chico issue, in which we reveal the winners of this region’s preeminent contest identifying the community’s favorite people, places and things.

One of the greatest parts of Best of Chico is that the public chooses the honorees. CN&R’s write-in ballot means that anyone and anything can be voted the best of the best. As a result, earning the title of Best of Chico is a point of pride in our community, especially among members of the local business sector. Taking home the award is a testament to the hard work, determination and creativity of each business, service provider and community leader.

For those of us who put together the issue, it’s an opportunity to learn about and highlight that which makes our hometown and the surrounding area such a wonderful place to live. This year, there are a whopping 124 categories, from Best Fine Dining and Best Bloody Mary to Best General Practitioner and Best Place for Kids to Play.

In addition, CN&R’s editors have our picks—fun, outside-of-the-box faves.

Best of Chico is by far this newspaper’s biggest issue of the year, and as such, it requires a considerable amount of work, from our sales department selling ads, to our editorial department tallying votes and creating the fun write-ups accompanying the winners, to our design department making it a beautiful package, to our distribution department delivering stacks of 76-page papers to hundreds of racks in the tri-county area.

Of course, the real stars are the winners who’ve worked tirelessly to secure your votes. You can thank them by shopping for their wares and hiring them for their services. Remember that shopping locally ensures your money stays in our community.

Now, kick back, relax and check out this year’s winners. Happy reading!