Montclair Nominees Are Plentiful in 2 'Best of' Contests

Every Montclair resident knows that no-one, nowhere in New Jersey offers better outdoor dining than Raymond's. Or makes a better pizza than Nauna's. And we defy you to find a better toy store than Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats or Learning Express.

So, tell it to the world—or at least to the rest of the New Jersey.

Two current online contests are aiming to help you do just that. Both New Jersey Jewish News and Suburban Essex Magazine are holding Internet-based "best of" contests. Many, many Montclair businesses are nominated and you can vote now.

Mollie Leitzes, COO/General Manager of NJJN Media Group—the publishers of New Jersey Jewish News—is asking readers to vote for their favorite New Jersey vendors so that New Jersey Jewish News can announce the winners in its Rosh Hashana edition.

In April, NJJN asked readers "to share with us their choices—whether for service or for merchandise." (Although gourmet shops, bagels and caterers are included, there are no restaurant categories.)

Leitzes writes, "We were amazed at the impressive response we got." NJJN compiled lists from the responses and is now asking readers to vote for their favorite nominees.

Local nominees include: Barbara Eclectic, Banyan Tree, and Amanti Vino. You can vote for your favorites here.

Likewise, Suburban Essex Magazine has launched its Best of Essex 2010 contest. Voting ends September 15.

This contest goes beyond retailers and services and contains categories like "painter" and "electrician" and, yes, restaurants including Chinese Take Out (T.S. Ma and others), Italian (Marzullo's and others), and Romantic (Fascino's and others).

Vote here for your Best of Essex 2010. You can vote in as many categories as you like, but only one email address per ballot will be accepted. Also, you must a resident of New Jersey and be 18 or older to vote.

And may the best businesses win. We're pulling for our Montclair-based faves—because, ya know, they are the best out there anyway.