-- Three NC Towns Win 10Best Reader's Choice Contest
Wilmington was voted "America's Best Riverfront" in a 10Best Readers' Choice Contest. The online poll pitted 20 American cities with renowned riverfronts against one another, letting readers vote for their favorite. The poll's top five were Wilmington; Spokane, Wash.; Davenport, Iowa; Dubuque, Iowa; and Pittsburgh. Winners are expected to be listed in the print edition of USA Today on Friday October 17, 2014. Throughout the competition, the Wilmington and Beaches CVB rallied Wilmingtonians to vote. Libby McMillan, a content manager for USA Today and 10Best.com, said Wilmington and Spokane had a combined total of 61 percent of the vote; in the poll's final weekend alone the two cities got a combined 22,000 votes. But Wilmington finished in the lead, netting a third of the total votes. "This was a fiercely fought competition," McMillan wrote in an email. "We got a real kick out of seeing the two campaigns go head-to-head. In the end, both cities are winners, but Wilmington will have special bragging rights at number one."
For its "Places to dine down on the farm," 10Best mused, "With farm-to-table restaurants booming in popularity, farms themselves are now getting in on the act, offering meals to diners craving super-fresh cuisine that's often raised on site." So 10Best, as reported by USA Today, asked Matt Jones of Slow Food USA, an organization dedicated to sustainable, local agriculture, his choices, which included New Town Farms in Waxhaw. Of New Town Farms, the article said, "Expect an elaborate and tasty meal at this Charlotte-area farm, which raises heritage and heirloom vegetables and livestock, including poultry and hogs. 'Their dinners are spectacular. They're loaded up and they're exquisite," Jones says. "They're able to put together a full meal from the farm.'"
For its "Southern Cultural Festivals" list, 10Best notes, "While there's a good time to be had in each and every state, nobody truly throws a party like the South....the region offers a variety of extraordinary gatherings, all of which feature classic Southern hospitality and plenty of smiles." The list includes Folkmoot USA in Waynesville. 10Best observes, "Since its first edition in 1984, the two-week event has featured performers from roughly 100 countries. Over time, the festival has expanded to include performances across Western North Carolina. Hundreds of groups apply to perform but only a dozen or so are selected annually, with preference given to nationalities that have not been previously represented. Enthusiastic audiences often receive the opportunity to meet with the performers via workshops that provide access to the instruments, costumes, and crafts from around the globe."
