Best of the Best

To paraphrase the Marines: Many are nominated, only the best are chosen.
We always look forward to our annual Best of Sonoma Valley poll, the results of which for 2007 are announced in today’s edition of the Sun (pages 20-21).
It’s become a coveted award, based on how often we see the awards mounted in offices, stores, and shops around the valley. As well it should be, since it represents a selection by the people who matter most: one’s neighbors here in Sonoma.
We particularly like the way nominations are so open. The editors don’t just offer a few candidates and ask you to pick among them. Readers make the nominations, as many and as varied as you want. This is YOUR poll, dear readers.
If every corner is nominated as the best place to propose marriage, so be it. What’s fun for us is to see that variety, much more than we could have dreamed up. Or if there’s one predominant choice for, say, best local hike, that’s okay, too.
The voting in many categories was exceedingly competitive, decided by just a few votes. These included categories like best outdoor dining and best mixed drink – so many places from which to choose, and so many are popular. Best ice cream was also very competitive, and may be more so next year, with a new spot in town.
Some categories had surprisingly few votes overall, like best kept secret. Perhaps that one shouldn’t be surprising, after all, since those of you who have great secrets must be keeping them.
Of course, the editors do pick the categories, but are always happy to have suggestions there. Especially so for really important categories that we might have missed. Some we’ve rejected are best Sonoma police officer (how many DO you know, and why?), or best attorney (no comment!), or best debt collection agency (familiarity on either side of that one is unfortunate). Not that Sonoma isn’t blessed with excellent people in all those categories, but there are certain ones best left untouched.
Congratulations to all the nominees and to all the winners. The fantastic selections you readers have made for 2007 Best of Sonoma Valley show that we live in a remarkable place among amazing people and businesses. If there were a category, in any poll any place, for the best place to live, there should be one clear winner: Sonoma Valley.