Get ready to champion your favorite local spots!
Next week, ALXnow, Alexandria’s most-read news source, will launch the ALXnow Readers’ Choice Awards, a new initiative designed to celebrate the city’s best businesses, people, and activities, as chosen by the community itself.
Starting Tuesday, April 8th, ALXnow will roll out weekly polls asking readers to cast their votes in a wide array of categories. From the perfect slice of pizza and the most welcoming coffee shop to top-notch nonprofits and essential home service providers, the awards aim to spotlight the diverse elements contributing to Alexandria’s unique character and quality of life.
“We’re always looking for ways to deepen the connection between our readers and the amazing community we cover,” said Ryan Belmore, Publisher of ALXnow. “The Readers’ Choice Awards are one of the exciting new ways I see us doing that – letting our audience directly highlight the local gems they value most and fostering a shared sense of pride in what makes Alexandria special.”
The launch of ALXnow’s Reader’s Choice Awards was inspired by ARLnow’s popular Readers’ Choice Awards program.
How It Works:
Each week, ALXnow will unveil a new category poll. Nominees for each category will be carefully selected by the ALXnow team, considering factors such as online reviews, previous accolades, and general community standing.
Recognizing that hidden gems abound, a dedicated write-in option will be included in every poll, ensuring that readers can nominate any deserving candidate not initially listed.
Voting for each category will remain open for a two-week period. To maintain the integrity of the awards, ALXnow will vet the results, removing spam or suspicious votes before finalizing the outcome. Following this period, the top three vote-getters in each category will be announced and celebrated.
A running tally of the winners will be maintained in a new, dedicated ALXnow Readers’ Choice Awards section on ALXnow.com, creating a year-round resource for discovering community-approved favorites.
Get Involved:
While many popular categories like “Best Brunch” and “Favorite Family-Friendly Activity” are planned, ALXnow is also looking to include practical categories such as “Best Landscaper,” “Top Electrician,” and “Reliable Pest Control.”
What categories matter most to you? Belmore encourages readers to share their suggestions in the comments section below.
Prepare to cast your votes starting April 8th and help honor the businesses, organizations, and activities that make Alexandria a great place to live, work, and play.
