Just in case you haven't read the angry letters we received and have been printing in past weeks' Mailbox section, here's a little taste of what the letters were like: "Your new attempt is a failure. I've never heard of half the places listed, didn't like the choices and had no opportunity to state how I felt [...]" etc. It would be easy to dismiss the complaints as hate mail, but from our point of view it demonstrates that at least people care enough about the poll to get angry.

I don't want to repeat myself here, but essentially we justified the changes because we strongly felt that much of what Ottawa has to offer - in terms of good, local, independent "stuff" - was underappreciated. In the past, there was some evidence of vote stuffing and it always pissed me off when some crappy band won or some generic restaurant beat out a local gem. And so this year we decided to try something different: We created a shortlist of people/places/businesses/issues that we felt deserved to be nominated. We eliminated most of the generic big-box chain stores and made changes to some of the categories, eliminating some, adding others. Whenever the choices were too hard to narrow down, we increased the number of choices.

But we knew it wouldn't be perfect and that we may have missed things, and so that's why we urged readers to write in to the XPress and set us straight, which many of you did. Those are included in the Rest Of section at the end of the Best Of results.

Change is never easy. Many of you wanted an "options" button, and we'll take that into consideration for next year's poll. But we're proud of the list and this year's winners. We have also alphabetized the entire list for easier reading in the hopes that you'll keep this issue's copy around as a helpful guide to some of what Ottawa has to offer.

Still not happy? Write to us at letters@ottawaxpress.ca and let us know what you think of this year's winners.

BEST OF OTTAWA PARTY

For the first time ever, XPress is throwing a party celebrating the Best of Ottawa on Friday, November 24, at Barrymore's with headliners Boycrusher (composed of the two Mikes from the Hilotrons - this year's winner of Best Rock Band/Artist) and My Dad vs Yours (winner of this year's Best Album/EP of 2006), and DJs Booth, Lady Ms. Myrrh, Jason Pelletier and CPI (Caitlyn Pascal). Plus a live video presentation from the Ottawa International Animation Festival (winner of this year's Best Film Festival), prizes and giveaways, food and beer, and more from other Best Of winners/nominees. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door and are available at Top of the World, Vertigo Records, Compact Music, End Hits and CD Exchange. Doors open at 8 p.m.

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

We The People...We care! We care!     Once a year, the "Best Of" poll purports to reflect the the peoples' choice. This year however, the voice of the people was severely constrained. I did take the time to vote but found it frustrating to have such limited options. Picking the better option from a limited pre-selected list forced me to cast votes for 2nd or 3rd favorites in many cases. This defeated the purpose of asking the people. Dunn's was named Best Deli in Ottawa last year and yet, was not even included as an option this year. This is especially sad because Dunn's is still my pick for favorite deli. I know I'm not alone in naming Micky Dee's as favorite burger and while it may not be what you'd like to hear (or print) it is my honest answer. I do understand the frustrations you face each year struggling to combat ballot stuffing and being forced to suppress your disappointment when the "big chains" overshadow the little guys. I understand too that this year you attempted to mitigate the results by inviting people to submit their "Rest Of" picks, but really, being named "Rest Of" is like being named an also-ran, second best or afterthought which may explain why many did not choose this route. Perhaps a return to the old format of asking the people what THEY pick as "Best Of Ottawa" with a special supplement called the "XPress Picks" would ensure that those little known restaurants, bars, pubs, services etc. are not overlooked. You could use this as an opportunity to really support these smaller or newer venues, alert your readers to how good you think they are and maybe they'll receive the people's nod next year.
Daniela Plume	{3 votes}	November 25th, 2006
Interesting results     Just thought I'd drop a note to all leting you know the reach and power of this very publication and web-site. A couple of months ago there was a restaurant review in the OttawaXpress both print and web versions and low and behold the restaurant in question, which was given a very negative review, with just cause of course, has now closed it's doors. We the populus of Ottawa can now be thankful that Dixie-Lee on Somerset is now closed; no more overly greasy chicken and tasteless fries purpoted to be "food" being passed off on unsuspecting passer-bys. Now I don't want to give the folks at Xpress a swelled head or anything, but, since the article I noticed a large drop-off in clients at that particular location (I walk by it every day on my way home from work) and even on occasion saw staff outside trying to "drum-up" some business, by the looks of it to no avail. Now on to the Best-Of... comments I can't say that I agree with all the winners that were chosen, but then again that would be boring now wouldn't it? For those of you complaining about the process, well, if you don't like the choices that were offered then don't vote in that category, when I filled out my best of... poll survey there were lots of questions that I felt I shouldn't vote, and others that didn't offer me my preferred choice, so I skipped those leaving them blank, that way I didn't sway or skew the results. As for the change in format, I personally feel that the change is good, but there is room for improvement. Perhaps allowing people to have a write-in vote as well as a list from which to choose, a comments section for each question or category, and maybe, next time, links back to the articles from which the choices were drawn, so that readers/members can refresh their memories and make an informed choice, rather than just going by memory. As for the year end bash at Barrymore's; it seemed to be well attended, 200+ people; food was middling, music was OK, but not to my taste.
Scott Holliday	{1 vote}	December 5th, 2006
Manotick?     Well, another year come and gone, and Ottawa turned exactly as I thought it would: unflaggingly self-righteous about everything..... I swear to god, at all age groups, Ottawa must be the most self-righteous city in Canada. Manotick? Do we even have circulation out in Manotick? Alright ladies and gentlemen, I understand that amalgamation has made us all one giant huggable morass of municipal waste and corruption, but seriously. I don't think anyone is going to cover Manotick. If I can listen to more than five chapters of my Harry Potter audiobook between the moment I get into a car, and the moment that car gets to where I want to go, that means you live, as Socrates used to say: "Really Damn Far Away", and will have to "Deal With Being Overlooked" when you come into "The City". So you feel underrepresented in our paper, eh? Well, that's certainly ironic. Because I feel underrepresented in Ottawa. Every week I hear the Editor struggle to sell enough advertising so that the bosses in Montreal don't slash pages out of our content. And every week we get ripped off, haggled with, pushed around by the Ottawa business community. Thank the Good, Crucified Jesus I don't have to worry about that side of things. And when we're not getting pushed around by businesses, we're getting ragged on by the community. From our inability to notice absurdly distant restaurants, to our forgetting to acknowledge mediocre faux-Irish bars. Not to mention my getting an earful from people who tell me how unimportant and ignored my book and theatre reviews are, yet somehow decide that I should stand still long enough for them to tell me this?! Why do you even have opinions on things you're ostensibly ignoring?! Am I drunk?! The answer, of course, is yes. I'm usually drunk.
Jeremy Mesiano-Crookston		November 28th, 2006
It's Not the "Best of Ottawa", Just the "Best of Ottawa Xpress"     Interesting to see a number of my comments on the poll when it first came out have been relected in the comments of Daniela P. -- the constrained choices, the refusal to acknowledge the contribution of large chains, etc.. Really, the part that makes me feel the most frustrated is the presumptuousness of the poll title. It's not a poll about the Best of Ottawa, it's only a poll about the Best of Ottawa Xpress' choices. Now one of the other comments posted on the poll's original appearance seemed to come from a writer, pointing out that they are mostly freelancers with other jobs, etc.. OK, fair enough, but then don't go claiming that your poll is about the best of Ottawa, as if you really have the intention of finding out what Ottawa has to offer beyond your own experience. That's just false advertising, pure & simple.
Brad Thomas		November 27th, 2006
Bizar...bizarre real distinct     I was at the Capital Music Big Band contest. I was shocked by a unique voice. The Band plays good music also. Anyway check them out ..I find them Unique... www.livelifelive.fm The name of the Band is StereoVision ..they are new...but real bizarre and unique.......oh welll fun websites Take a look , listen ...if I am right ..good if not check the other Bands out also
Louis Plouffe		November 27th, 2006
XPress Best of Ottawa poll - comply or else     No point in complaining about this year's poll anymore, as the voting is over, the results have been recorded, and any complaints will fall on deaf ears. The powers that be won't accommodate the angry masses who want the Best of Ottawa poll to change back to its original write-in format because apparently we're too stupid to think for ourselves, and our choices just weren't cool enough to begin with. Not voting in protest makes you part of the problem - the solution is blind acceptance. The poll is now for the XPress staff's enjoyment, not us the readers, and it's our fault for not subscribing to their line of thinking of what is the best the city has to offer. I look forward to being told what to like in next year's offering.
Andrew Franklin	{1 vote}	November 27th, 2006
Alas, Ottawa always afraid of a little shaking up     I like this experiment witht he best-of poll. It makes a nice change from reading about the same large well known chains and the same well-known indie gems (I mean, Is Barrymore's really in danger of being overlooked?). This year, instead of the poll results looking the same as every year there will be a whole new 'map' of places of interest. Readin the poll may lead to discovery for more people I had the same problem as many people, not recoginising many of the choices, and often felt slighted when something I love was not in the running. But, so what. I had gotten to the point that I didn't bother reading the poll, it was boring and uninformative. Kudos on the express for trying something different.
Robert Kehl		November 27th, 2006
B.O.O!!!     No one is ever happy with these surveys, you hate the selections or lack thereof or worse yet, you disagree with the way the survey was conducted. Congrats, now you all know how the Florida voters felt 7 years ago. You really have to appreciate the rare opportunity that this site provides you with, if you dispute one aspect or another of B.O.O. 2006 you've got this nifty comment box where you can rant and rave at your leisure. If nothing else, these lists open your eyes to places and people you didn't even know existed.
Pedro Eggers		November 26th, 2006
Of course we care...     If we didn't we also wouldn't be writing critiques in here either. I didn't like the Poll this year and this proves i wasn't alone. you should standardize these things. give every subject an equal amount of choices for one. I also think your readers should have some input because the Xpress is not the "all knowing, all seeing" magazine. Some people love out of the way places so i agree that you shouldn't include Macdonalds. Give your readers a choice though. This is a democracy. As for best shows...it was almost all crap. All the best shows I saw this year weren't even mentioned. This ranges from a small club to the Scotiabank Place. As for local artists, this needs to be broken down more of which i am sending a letter describing why.
Ger Madden	{1 vote}	November 24th, 2006
Best of....ish.....     I for one did not take 5 minutes to fill out the best of Ottawa for one simple reason. The list was not even close to the best of.... Many "indepedent, and locally owned" businesses that have won in the past were not even on the short list. Dunn's on Elgin has won Best Deli more than once in the past and it wasn't nominated. And this is just one example. My apologies to those who think I was complaining by not participating. Maybe if I took the time to vote for the one or two places that the Editorial Staff of the XPress deemed worthy to enter their little contest and I thought were the best I would have the right to be critical. Who knows? I've been reading the XPress for almost as long as I've lived in Ottawa but now I think I've outgrown it. It was fun while it lasted.
Terry Thompson	{2 votes}	November 24th, 2006
The results are in ....     Like most people who read the Xpress, I'm not familiar with all the local acts, places and things that you included in this years vote --- still I love the results. I really appreciate the opportunity to see the votes and see the preferences. Next year it would be nice if we could see the actual voting results on line --- i.e., if there are is a "clear" preference or if a restaurant just won by a few votes. thanks again!
Joe Shebib	{3 votes}	November 24th, 2006
Best of Ottawa?     Ottawa is bigger than the Byward Market and centre core. I don't live downtown, shop downtown, or eat downtown, so I felt I had no voice in many of the categories this year. There are fabulous restaurants outside the core that deserve to be recognised too, like Oggi's in Manotick (now part of Ottawa) and Zuni's on Greenbank. I can think of more, but you get the idea. I don't go to clubs downtown, but I do haunt a favorite bar where the waitress brings me my drink without me asking. It's called O'Brien's Pub and Eatery - on Heron, near Bank. The waitress is Sonya - a real gem. I go there on karaoke nights mostly, but bring friends from a singles group (Plenty of Fish) out on other nights as well. Dog & Pony Sound is still the best karaoke company in town, and I was glad to see them listed as a choice again this year. No matter where they run a show, it's always professional and fair, with the biggest song choice (song bible) in town. All their disks are legit copies, too, so you know they really care about their business. Perhaps next year's survey will reflect the city a bit better. I'll check it out again then, even if only to vote for the best karaoke in town.
Susan Lorden		November 23rd, 2006
But, at least you're trying...     When it comes to what's the best of, it's definitely a matter of taste and popularity. In fact, it's an extremely relative opinion given to the public. In order to be more credible, a poll should compare everything that there is in the Ottawa region, and that is not alwasys the case in this poll. But, don't take me wrong, I am not against it because it actually reminds me, each and every year, about places I've never tried before and where I could discover. I also feel that much of what Ottawa has to offer in terms of entertainement and food is quite underappreciated compare to bigger cities. Although, I must admit, a poll like this one could be a good publicity for some, and a really bad one for other good places you haven't even mentionned...
Valerie Augier		November 23rd, 2006
Cranky Pants Best Of....Hacked To Pieces By Verbal Mob............     Oh Well. At least you tried or was that tired of making some changes to the Best Of...choices in this year's Xpress listing of the best options available across our fine city. Funny how so many criticisms came from people who didn't even bother filling out the online questionnaire and I am curious how many people filled out the 5 minute exercise without even spilling one ounce of rant from their mouths? Isn't that always the case? The loudest barking dog gets the attention and squeaky wheel gets the oil? I'm now going to assume that these same fussy-butts will also make their views known to the new Mayor about how they want their new city run. Now that they've learned to capitalize on the learned ways of self-expression and criticizing processes and methods of doing things.
Steve Landry	{3 votes}	November 23rd, 2006
More discussion about this!     Hello Ottawa, I just thought I'd mention that we're having a big discussion about this year's Best Of Ottawa over on my website, xvi.com which is a mostly Ottawa-based underground music site. Feel free to have a look for more opinions on the subject! http://xvi.com/forums/topic.php?t=86795#lr
Graham Nicholls		December 1st, 2006

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