Best of Essex
The ballots are in! Discover the creative ways some favorite businesses attracted votes...

HAPPY HALLOWINE! The Best of Essex By Stefanie Jackowitz, photos by Sharon Stern ith nearly 500 businesses in the running for Vicinity Media Group's Best of Essex Readers' Choice Awards 2009, nominees devised creative ways to garner votes—everything from Facebook postings, email alerts, and window displays to "Vote for Us" cards in guest checks, on-the-spot voting—and more. "The awards generated a real buzz around the W e Road to " e Best of Essex" area—and area—and a lot of fun," says David Black, CEO of Vicinity Media Group. "The experience has been exciting for me, our staff—and the entire community." In all, more than 15,000 votes were cast! Winners will be announced in Vicinity Magazine's November issue—and receive awards on November 18, during the The Best of Essex inBiz Expo 2009. One 750ml Bottle of Wine With this ad. Offer expires 10/31/09. (Red & yellow sale items excluded) 25% OFF "Super Sip Saturdays" 1-4pm In-Store Wine Tasting Every Saturday Try Before You Buy! A "Vote for Us" placard blends in with the artistic display at Netef Gallery of Millburn, where the contest promotion is surrounded by some of the beautiful objects that helped put the gallery in the running for Best Jewelry Store. 277 Eisenhower Parkway • Livingston Cait & Abby's Daily Bread in Short Hills entices customers with sweet, mouth-watering goodies—and a poster for "The Best of Essex" contest. Cait & Abby's Daily Bread, which is both vegetarian and kosher, was nominated in the Best Bakery category. www.WineLegend.com 973-992-4441 How much is that poster in the window? Maplewood Pet Shop, nominated for Best Pet Supply Store, displays its supplies, toys— and a "Best of Essex" poster in the window of its shop along Maplewood Avenue. CulinAriane of Montclair, nominated as Best Romantic Restaurant, Best Overall Restaurant, and Best Caterer, slipped a "Vote for Us" card into every guest check all summer, and e-mailed a newsletter urging customers to vote. "Even if customers didn't take the card with them, they looked at it," says pastry chef Michael Duarte, who owns the restaurant with his wife, head chef Ariane (pictured here). "When customers taste our coffee, their eyes roll in pleasure," says Julie Orenstein, here with husband Mark at Mark and Julie's Homemade Ice Cream in West Orange. "I love that—and I love feeding people." The couple created a personalized Best of Essex handout for customers, and created a link of their website to SuburbanEssex.com, where the voting took place. Wednesday, November 18, 4-8pm The Wilshire Grand Hotel, 350 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange 973-276-1688 • www.inBizExpo.com $25 in advance $35 at the door TICKETS October 2009 VicinityMagazine.com 27

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www.inbizexpo.com
www.winelegend.com


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