HATS OFF TO THE BEST ​

Our Opinion/ We extend a hearty thanks to the 300 or so people who showed up Thursday night

Fifty winners were announced May 28 at HPR’s Best of the Best awards night. The annual contest reflects the cream of the crop in our local arts and entertainment world.

The original “Best of” contest in the Fargo region, HPR’s Best of the Best began in 1997. Over the years, the categories have evolved, some new ones, some weeded out over time. This year 50 certificates were awarded.

Next week’s High Plains Reader will focus on the winners. It will be a keeper edition of HPR.

The annual Best of the Best competition unfolds in two phases. And it all takes place online versus actual paper ballots back when. Phase I is a period of time when HPR readers and friends can go online and place nominations for the various categories. Phase II follows whereby we list the top five finalists for each award, and people choose their favorites. While our system is designed to reduce the likelihood of spam or stuffed ballots, we in fact go in and remove excess ballots placed by the same individuals, leaving only the first of theirs in the system.

One thing that goes without saying is that no one in the Best of the Best list of finalists is anything but a winner already. Thousands of voters determine who’s in that final run for an award. It’s an honor to be nominated and even more so when fortunate enough to win.

Though you will be able to see the winners listed in HPR June 11, and read about some of the highlights from the contest this year, we do have some acknowledgments to note this week.

Special thanks to the Beverage Wholesalers who were prime sponsor of the awards night this year. It is partnerships like theirs that allow us to step up our game and to go an extra distance to make such an event not only memorable but first class. Thanks, Beverage Wholesalers, very sincerely.

We also want to give a shout out to the folks at Avalon West who went the distance this year, as well. The Prairie Rose ballroom is spectacular, to say the least, as is the entire facility, formerly the Hub. It’s a gem in our community, and it’s beautiful beyond words. The Avalon’s service and attentiveness to our event were unsurpassed. And, frankly, it was classy to have such an awards night in a gorgeous room with cloth tables and all the amenities worthy of such a group in attendance. Thanks, Avalon West, you exceeded our every expectation.

The Carluster Crumplebee Orchestra outdid themselves again, but no surprise when you take note of the extraordinary musicians making up that musical group. They were the perfect fit for the audience and the space. Their music is brilliant and engaging. Their sense of customizing the playlist to the moment is keen. We love you guys and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Erik P. Block was spot-on as emcee. The winner of best comedian last year, Erik fits in well when he’s rubbing elbows with his own kind. He knows well how it feels to be nominated for such an award as the Best of the Best, and he has the select experience of having been named a winner in the past. He keeps the program moving smoothly, he was spontaneous, and he was genuine. Erik, you are a total natural. Will you please give us a repeat next year? Thank you!

Lastly, we extend a hearty thanks to the 300 or so people who showed up on a Thursday night to be there and to in unison celebrate the best of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo, and in some instances, in the entire state. All you people are a reflection of what truly puts our community on the map. You are the heart and the soul of the current Fargo reformation unfolding on so many fronts. You are the genius, the creativity, the spring in our step and in our dance. You all rock, frankly. Thank you for being you.