24 August 2022
We are going to back at it once again, Columbia. In this annual Most of Columbia issue, we queried you, the readers, to nominate and then vote on which nearby businesses were among the best within their respective crafts. You the very best on the best hamburger, greatest local musician and, uh, best place to be created. If there’s a business for this in Columbia, chances are we all gave you the chance to choose was the best. And you replied in turn. Your votes are usually stretched across 11 classes with more than a thousand winners, runners-up and honorable mentions in every. As a result, this issue is for both you and for Columbia — that is a celebration of what makes this particular city rock. But from the little bit about us, the particular writers too, as you will see a section titled Writers’ Recommendations. That’s self-explanatory, but it can where Free Times authors and contributors saw the particular winner and decided these people know better — plus make their case. In case you have it in you, the actual same yourself and tell me — email me at editor@free-times. com — what your own picks are for anyone who you feel was snubbed, through the best plumber or what-have-you category. This issue comes in probably the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic has waned from your public consciousness in a severe way. It remains actually present, yet the city’s movements reflect some form of normalcy similar to before the pandemic. In previous years, we urged you to definitely support them through the hard times. I’d ask you to the actual same again this year. Within our reporting on the local as well as arts and entertainment moments in Columbia, Food Author Hannah Wade and I learn about the continuing reverberations sensed by the two-plus years of down time and secondary negative effects upon each respective industry. They will still need your assist. I hope you find the Best associated with Columbia to be an appealing and exciting read, buddies. If anything, I hope it provides you something to argue regarding. Because what really is the very best hamburger in town? DAVID CLAREY