2012 Readers’ Choice Awards

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Its the start of a new year, and to wrap up the old, we bring you the 2012 Readers Choice Awards. At the end of every year we ask Coast Weekend readers to vote for their favorite regional eateries, businesses and activities.

And you responded! We received votes from as far as Arizona, Wisconsin and Maryland. Our own Oregon and Washington sent in a combined 245 votes, but this year, Oregon made its voice heard with 172 votes compared to Washingtons 73.

Some defending champions swept their categories again this year, like KMUNs 68 votes for Best Radio Station, the Astoria Riverwalks 56 votes for Best Place to Walk, and Fort Georges resounding 74 votes for Best Brewpub.

Other winners dominated more than one category: The Depot Restaurant in Seaview, Wash., swept four and tied for a fifth.

And for some it was a close call: The Astoria-Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival beat out the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival by two votes and the Long Beach Kite Festival by three.

As always, we enjoyed your comments. Living in the Columbia-Pacific region is like being on permanent vacation, one reader wrote. Endless sights to see and so many great eatin joints!

We love hearing from readers, and not just at the Readers Choice time of year. If you have suggestions for categories to add to next years ballot, have an event to submit or just want to give us feedback on a story you read, let us know at editor@coastweekend.com or write to us at P.O. Box 210, 949 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103.

Rebecca Sedlak, Coast Weekend editor