Announcing the 2020 Best of Madison category list and dates
In the most recent Best of Madison poll, we tweaked the nomination process in the hopes of making this list an even better representation of the very best of Madison. The new process proved to be a success! We will keep the new process the same for the 2020 readers poll nominations, outlined below, as well as what categories you’ll see in the first round of nominations starting Aug. 1:
TWO ROUNDS
There will be two rounds of voting for Best of Madison 2020, starting with a nomination period.
ROUND ONE: NOMINATION PERIOD
Throughout Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, nominate any geographically local* people, places or things to do in a wide variety of categories. You can vote every single day in each category per valid email address**.
ROUND TWO: FINAL VOTE
Up to six top vote-getters** in each category will become finalists in round two. The final voting period is from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31. Unlike round one, in which you can vote every day for what you think is the best, in round two of final voting, you will only be able to vote once per category, so consider your pick and make your vote count!
*Since Madison Magazine has discontinued the Best of the Burbs readers poll, the Best of Madison poll will qualify vote-getters residing throughout Dane County, plus cities in the counties contingent to Dane County—which include the counties of Columbia, Dodge, Sauk, Iowa, Green, Rock and Jefferson.
**You will be asked to register when you navigate to the Best of Madison voting page. It will ask you for a valid email address to vote in the poll. We WILL police entries and follow up on suspicious registrations or ballot stuffing.
CATEGORIES
Here’s a look at the categories you will see on the 2020 Best of Madison ballot:
FOOD & DRINK
Artisan Food Product
Bakery – Bread
Bakery- Sweets
BBQ
Breakfast
Brewery
Brunch
Burger
Butcher
Caterer
Cheese Producer
Chicken Wings
Local Chef
Chinese
Chocolate
Coffee Roasters
Coffee Shop
Cup of Tea
Destination Restaurant (Outside of Dane County)
Distillery
Ethnic Grocery Store
Farmers’ Market (Other than Dane Country Farmers’ Market)
First Date
Fish Fry
Food Cart
Fried Cheese Curds
Greasy Spoon
Grocery Store
Ice Cream/Custard/Gelato
Indian/Nepalese
Italian
Japanese/Sushi
Kid-Friendly
Korean
Lake View
Latin American
Liquor Store
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
Mexican/Southwestern
New Restaurant
Old Fashioned
Outdoor Dining
Local Pastry Chef
Pizza
Restaurant
Restaurant Ambience
Sandwich Spot
Seafood
Southeast Asian
Specialty Food Store
Steakhouse
Supper Club
Tapas (Small Plates)
Takeout
Upscale Dining
Vegetarian/Vegan Focused
Winery
NIGHTLIFE
Bar for Beer
Bar for Cocktails
Bar with a View
Best Bartender
Best Place for Trivia
Bloody Mary
Cocktail (Not Old Fashioned or Bloody Mary)
Local Craft Beer (Write as: Brewery, Beer)
Dance Venue
Dive Bar
LGBTQ Bar
Hotel Bar
Live Music Venue
Neighborhood Bar
Sports Bar
Wine Bar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Local Actor
Art Gallery
Local Band or Singer – Alt/Indie
Local Band or Singer – Blues
Local Band or Singer – Classical
Local Band or Singer – Country
Local Band or Singer – Cover Band
Local Band or Singer – Folk/Bluegrass
Local Band or Singer – Funk/Fusion
Local Band or Singer – Hip Hop/R&B
Local Band or Singer – Jazz
Local Band or Singer – Latin
Local Band or Singer – Rock/Metal
Local Band or Singer – Singer/Songwriter
Local Blogger
Classical Music Group
Columnist
Comedian/Comedy Group
Local DJ
Movie Theater
Museum
Local News Website
Performance Venue
Performing Arts Group
Podcast
Photographer
Radio Team
Social Media Personality
TV News Team
TV Personality
Youth Performing Arts Group
HOME & LIFESTYLE
Alterations
Antique Store
Appliance Repair
Assisted Living
Domestic Auto Dealer
Import Auto Dealer
Luxury Auto (Import and Domestic)
Used Car Dealer
Auto Detailing
Dealer Auto Service Shop
Non-Dealer Auto Service Shop
Auto Body Repair
Auto Parts
Wisconsin Bank
Barber Shop
Bed & Breakfast
Bookstore
Boutique Hotel
Childcare
Chiropractor
Cleaning Service
Clothing (Men)
Clothing (Women)
Commercial Developers
Consignment Store
Computer/Cell Repair
Wisconsin Credit Union
Dry Cleaner
Electrician
Flooring
Florist
Furniture
Gift Shop/Specialty Store
Hair Salon
Handyman Service
Health Specialty Store
Heating & Cooling
Home Accessories
Home Builders
Home Health Care Agency
Hotel
Interior Design
Jeweler
Kitchen & Bath Design
Laser Hair Removal
Lawn, Garden & Landscape
Local Maker
Moving Company
Mortgage Company
Music Store
Musical Instrument Store
Nail Salon
Outdoor Living
Pet Day Care & Boarding
Pet Grooming
Pet Supplies Store
Physical Therapy
Plumber
Real Estate Company
Retirement Community
Roofer
Shoes
Spa
Specialty Spa
Sports Team Apparel Store
Tattoo Shop
Thrift Store
Veterinarian
Wealth Management
Web Design
RECREATION & FITNESS
Alternative Fitness Center
Bike Shop
Bowling Alley
Campground
Dog Park
Fitness Center
Golf Course
Martial Arts Studio
Park
Personal Trainer
Pilates
Resort
Running/Biking Trail
Sports & Recreation Shop
Yoga
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY MADISON MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
Announcing the 2020 Best of Madison category list and dates
In the most recent Best of Madison poll, we tweaked the nomination process in the hopes of making this list an even better representation of the very best of Madison. The new process proved to be a success! We will keep the new process the same for the 2020 readers poll nominations, outlined below, as well as what categories you’ll see in the first round of nominations starting Aug. 1:
TWO ROUNDS
There will be two rounds of voting for Best of Madison 2020, starting with a nomination period.
ROUND ONE: NOMINATION PERIOD
Throughout Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, nominate any geographically local* people, places or things to do in a wide variety of categories. You can vote every single day in each category per valid email address**.
ROUND TWO: FINAL VOTE
Up to six top vote-getters** in each category will become finalists in round two. The final voting period is from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31. Unlike round one, in which you can vote every day for what you think is the best, in round two of final voting, you will only be able to vote once per category, so consider your pick and make your vote count!
*Since Madison Magazine has discontinued the Best of the Burbs readers poll, the Best of Madison poll will qualify vote-getters residing throughout Dane County, plus cities in the counties contingent to Dane County—which include the counties of Columbia, Dodge, Sauk, Iowa, Green, Rock and Jefferson.
**You will be asked to register when you navigate to the Best of Madison voting page. It will ask you for a valid email address to vote in the poll. We WILL police entries and follow up on suspicious registrations or ballot stuffing.
CATEGORIES
Here’s a look at the categories you will see on the 2020 Best of Madison ballot:
FOOD & DRINK
Artisan Food Product
Bakery – Bread
Bakery- Sweets
BBQ
Breakfast
Brewery
Brunch
Burger
Butcher
Cheese Producer
Chicken Wings
Local Chef
Chinese
Chocolate
Coffee Roasters
Coffee Shop
Cup of Tea
Destination Restaurant (Outside of Dane County)
Distillery
Ethnic Grocery Store
Farmers’ Market (Other than Dane Country Farmers’ Market)
First Date
Fish Fry
Food Cart
Fried Cheese Curds
Greasy Spoon
Grocery Store
Ice Cream/Custard/Gelato
Indian/Nepalese
Italian
Japanese/Sushi
Kid-Friendly
Korean
Lake View
Latin American
Liquor Store
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
Mexican/Southwestern
New Restaurant
Old Fashioned
Outdoor Dining
Local Pastry Chef
Pizza
Restaurant
Restaurant Ambience
Sandwich Spot
Seafood
Southeast Asian
Specialty Food Store
Steakhouse
Supper Club
Tapas (Small Plates)
Takeout
Upscale Dining
Vegetarian/Vegan Focused
Winery
NIGHTLIFE
Bar for Beer
Bar for Cocktails
Bar with a View
Best Bartender
Best Place for Trivia
Bloody Mary
Cocktail (Not Old Fashioned or Bloody Mary)
Local Craft Beer (Write as: Brewery, Beer)
Dance Venue
Dive Bar
LGBTQ Bar
Hotel Bar
Live Music Venue
Neighborhood Bar
Sports Bar
Wine Bar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Local Actor
Art Gallery
Local Band or Singer – Alt/Indie
Local Band or Singer – Blues
Local Band or Singer – Classical
Local Band or Singer – Country
Local Band or Singer – Cover Band
Local Band or Singer – Folk/Bluegrass
Local Band or Singer – Funk/Fusion
Local Band or Singer – Hip Hop/R&B
Local Band or Singer – Jazz
Local Band or Singer – Latin
Local Band or Singer – Rock/Metal
Local Band or Singer – Singer/Songwriter
Local Blogger
Classical Music Group
Columnist
Comedian/Comedy Group
Local DJ
Movie Theater
Museum
Local News Website
Performance Venue
Performing Arts Group
Podcast
Photographer
Radio Team
Social Media Personality
TV News Team
TV Personality
Youth Performing Arts Group
HOME & LIFESTYLE
Alterations
Antique Store
Appliance Repair
Assisted Living
Domestic Auto Dealer
Import Auto Dealer
Luxury Auto (Import and Domestic)
Used Car Dealer
Auto Detailing
Dealer Auto Service Shop
Non-Dealer Auto Service Shop
Auto Body Repair
Wisconsin Bank
Barber Shop
Bed & Breakfast
Bookstore
Boutique Hotel
Childcare
Chiropractor
Cleaning Service
Clothing (Men)
Clothing (Women)
Commercial Developers
Consignment Store
Wisconsin Credit Union
Dry Cleaner
Electrician
Flooring
Florist
Furniture
Gift Shop/Specialty Store
Hair Salon
Handyman Service
Health Specialty Store
Heating & Cooling
Home Accessories
Home Builders
Home Health Care Agency
Hotel
Interior Design
Jeweler
Kitchen & Bath Design
Laser Hair Removal
Lawn, Garden & Landscape
Local Maker
Moving Company
Mortgage Company
Music Store
Musical Instrument Store
Nail Salon
Pet Day Care & Boarding
Pet Grooming
Pet Supplies Store
Pet Training
Physical Therapy
Plumber
Real Estate Company
Retirement Community
Shoes
Spa
Specialty Spa
Sports Team Apparel Store
Tattoo Shop
Thrift Store
Veterinarian
Wealth Management
Web Design
RECREATION & FITNESS
Alternative Fitness Center
Bike Shop
Bowling Alley
Campground
Dog Park
Fitness Center
Golf Course
Martial Arts Studio
Park
Personal Trainer
Pilates
Resort
Running/Biking Trail
Sports & Recreation Shop
Yoga
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY MADISON MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
