Battle of the Best: Alameda Magazine's Poll

It's always fun to see Alameda Magazine's annual "best of" issue, a compendium of readers' favorites and editors' choices in about 100 categories, from restaurants to children's classes.

New categories this year, according to Alameda Magazine editor Judith Gallman, will include the best "non-burger" burger (chicken, veggie or whatever), best place to buy cake, best Thai restaurant, best T-shirts and, for online voters only, best chiropractor and best dentist in town.

Categories that are enduringly popular with readers include best margarita, best chef, best new restaurant and best place to buy antiques, Gallman said.

But the only way to determine the winners is for readers to vote. You can vote now through March 2.

You've got two choices. To vote online at the magazine's website — look for the bright orange button at upper right, click and follow instructions. (You'll need to register if you haven't used the system before.)

Alternatively, the magazine's January-February 2012 issue contains a mail-in ballot. You have to use the original; no photocopies will be accepted.

Either way, the magazine wants you to vote in at least a majority of the categories, and to focus on locally owned and operated businesses rather than mega-chains.

Results will appear in the July-August 2012 issue.