Is there a restaurant in Manhattan that has your undying devotion? Have you ever wanted to show a specific salon how much appreciation you have for your new fabulous hair? This year, you may just get your chance to showcase the Manhattan places you love best.
Voting began yesterday for the first ever Best of Manhattan: Purple Apple Awards for 2014. Surveys for seven categories of Manhattan life appeared for K-State students, faculty and staff to vote on who delivers their service the best.
“I really like the idea of voting for my favorite place,” David Jones, sophomore in computer engineering, said. “It’ll be interesting to really see what’s popular around the area.”
A variety of local businesses are competing to be this year’s Best of Manhattan, from newer establishments like Fuzzy’s Taco Shop to local mainstays like Rockstar & Rogers. The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and McCain Auditorium are included in the voting selections as well.
The Best of Manhattan: Purple Apple Awards was designed by Collegian Media Group itself in order to engage the K-State community about Manhattan’s services and highlight local business. Anyone who is involved or connected with K-State is invited and encouraged to vote in the seven “Best Of” categories: best burger, best mexican food, best bar, best salon, best antique/thrift store, best source of entertainment and best clothing boutique.
“Maybe if I go in and let them know that I voted for them, I’ll get a discount or something,” Jones said. “I’ll try to get my friends and roommates voting too.”
The Best of Manhattan competition will occur in two rounds. The first round, which you can now vote for, will reveal the top three in each category. That round ends Oct. 29. The companies that move forward will compete for votes in the final round, which ends Nov. 8. Voting now is crucial to making sure your business or service of choice can make it to the finals.
The winner of each “Best Of” category will receive recognition through the Purple Apple Awards in the form of certificates that denote K-State’s choice for best service.
Allison Johnson, senior in chemical engineering, said that the voting system is set up in a way that makes it easy for people to vote.
“It doesn’t sound hard at all,” Johnson said. “I would do it.”
Some businesses have already begun their campaigns to attain the “Best Of” status. Through various forms of advertising, including The Collegian, companies from the area are beginning to attract voters.
To get in on the action, you can vote for your favorite burger or boutique at kstatecollegian.com. Click on the “Best of Manhattan” banner and select your choices.