Elections aren't over yet. You can register your Columbus favorites in these online polls
If you're still in elections mode after Tuesday's primary, we thought we'd tell you about a few more votes taking place involving local candidates.
USA TODAY, through its 10Best coverage of travel, culture food and drink, conducts regular Readers' Choice votes to determine people's favorites in a number of nationwide and regional categories. It convenes panels of experts to make nominations for, and then throws the decision open to readers nationwide. (The Dispatch is part of the USA TODAY Network.)
Most recently, Columbus was voted in a 10Best survey as the nation's No. 3 beer city, behind Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, Michigan. COSI was selected as the No. 2 science museum in the country. Script Ohio was voted last year as the 10th-best college sports tradition — which just seems wrong.
Here are seven online votes currently taking place involving places, events and attractions of local interest. May the best candidates — meaning ours — win.
More: Time to vote in the second round of the Best Pizza in Columbus
Budd Dairy Food Hall
Budd Dairy Food Hall is one of 20 places nationwide nominated for a Best Food Hall title. Each has a "fantastic selection of eateries and ... positive contributions to their communities," USA TODAY wrote.
Why Budd Dairy? "Budd Dairy Food Hall is breathing new life into a former dairy that had stood vacant for more than 50 years. Nowadays, the brick building hosts foods from 10 kitchens, has a few bars to choose from, and offers a rooftop deck for great views of the surrounding neighborhood. Locals love 'Hatch,' the revolving pop-up that features up-and-coming Columbus area chefs."
The competition: Chelsea Market, New York; Federal Galley, Pittsburgh; the Garage Food Hall, Indianapolis; Revival Food Hall, Chicago; Union Market District, Washington, DC; and others.
Voting ends at noon on April 15. Vote here.
Columbus Food Adventures
Columbus Food Adventures is a nationwide finalist for Best Food Tour. Nominees "excel at providing a variety of dishes to sample and teach about the ingredients, traditions, and stories behind them," the nominating panel wrote.
Why Columbus Food Adventures? "From neighborhood walking tours to by-van excursions and private tours, Columbus Food Adventures offers a full menu of ways to meet the area's rich culinary scene. Whether you're a meat-lover, brew-hound, taco fiend, or gastronomic globe-trotter, there's a tour to fit your appetite."
The competition: Austin Detours, Austin, Texas; Bobby's Bike Hike, Chicago; Doctor Gumbo Tours, New Orleans; Little Havana Tours, Miami; Savor Seattle Food Tours, Seattle; and others.
Voting ends at noon on April 15. Vote here.
North Market Downtown
North Market Downtown is in the running for Best Public Market. Many of the 20 nominees, including North Market, occupy historic buildings in their communities, the website notes.
Why North Market? "Open since 1876, this historic public market has everything to make a foodie smile. Made up of local merchants and farmers, featuring delectable treats such as fresh pierogies and vegan soul food, North Market Downtown includes spaces for eating and has a satellite location 15 miles north in the town of Dublin."
The competition: West Side Market, Cleveland; Findlay Market, Cincinnati; Indianapolis City Market, Indianapolis; Pike Place Market, Seattle; Eastern Market, Detroit; Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco; and others.
Voting ends at noon on April 15. Vote here.
Worthington Farmers Market
The Worthington Farmers Market is among 20 places listed in voting for Best Farmers Market. USA TODAY reported there are more than 8,600 markets around the country.
Why the Worthington Farmers Market? "Nearly 100 vendors from the Columbus area converge for the year-round Worthington Farmers Market that adapts to the seasons. In summer, May through October, farmers and producers of high-quality food and plants, sell al fresco in the Old Worthington Historic District. The rest of the year, the market goes indoors at The Shops at Worthington Place."
The competition: Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Dane County Farmers Market, Madison, Wisconsin; Green City Market, Chicago; Kaka'Ako Farmers Market, Honolulu; and others.
Voting ends at noon on April 15. You can vote here.
Scioto Mile
The Scioto Mile has some tough competition in voting for the nation's Best River Walk. The experts who nominated 20 walks for voting said they all offer "an experience that combines the serenity of nature with the liveliness of city life."
Why Scioto Mile? "Columbus' Scioto Mile features 175 acres of green parkland connecting Downtown to the Scioto River. You'll find nine parks here, 12 miles of surrounding trails for walking and biking, a climbing wall, a 15,000-square-foot interactive fountain, and a year-round series of community-wide events on offer, like the Rhythm on the River music series and Jazz and Rib Fest. The panoramic glass-enclosed Milestone 229 restaurant and a cultural arts center ensure that even those who aren't into outdoor activity will love coming here."
The competition: Smale Riverfront Park, Cincinnati; Waterfront Park, Louisville, Kentucky; Milwaukee Riverwalk, Milwaukee; Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago; Charles River Esplanade, Boston; Miami Riverwalk, Miami; River Street, Savannah, Georgia; and others.
Voting ends at noon on April 8. You can vote here.
Best Small College Towns
Granville, Athens and Oxford are up for the Best Small College Town title. The three Ohio sites and 17 other nominees offer "fun, youthful vibes, unexpected dining and shopping options, and plenty of cultural offerings," USA TODAY's panel of experts said.
Why Granville? "Gentle hills and charming Greek Revival buildings can be found all throughout Granville, a small Ohio community that serves as the home of the 1830s-era Denison University. Visitors can spend time exploring the town's cozy pubs and cafes, while the bustling drinking and dining scene of Columbus can be found less than an hour outside of Granville's borders."
Why Athens? "The lush land surrounding the Hocking River gives Athens, Ohio, a beautiful setting. Ohio University has a classic campus with a gorgeous quad, and it's adjacent to a fun walkable downtown. Interesting food, a great local cinema (and annual film festival), and a vibrant local music and arts scene make Athens desirable as a getaway destination."
Why Oxford? "Miami University is a top attraction for visitors to the Ohio city of Oxford, with on-campus institutions ranging from the Hefner Museum of Natural History to the McGuffey House and Museum, a former residence that once hosted an established author. After exploring the campus, visitors can enjoy a show at the Performing Arts Center, savor global flavors at a great selection of local restaurants, or venture north to stroll along Hueston Woods State Park."
The competition: Annapolis, Maryland; Charlottesville, Virginia; Clemson, South Carolina; Ithaca, New York; and others.
Voting ends at noon on April 1. You can vote here.
OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon
The OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon is one of 20 runs nominated for Best Half Marathon.
Why the Capital City Half Marathon? "Called the 'best tour of Columbus on two feet,' you'll get to see all the highlights of Ohio's capital and tour its diverse neighborhoods as the half marathon winds its way through Downtown. Perhaps even better than the race itself is the finish line, where a party and post-race concert takes place, with bottles of Corona, margaritas, chicken wings, and pizza as just part of the festivities. More than 12,000 runners and walkers show up for this popular spring event."
The competition: OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, Indianapolis; Boulderthon Half Marathon, Boulder, Colorado; Glacier Half Marathon, Glacier Park, Montana; Napa Valley Half Marathon, Napa, California; and others.
Voting ends at noon Monday. You can vote here.
Our pizza bracket continues...
While we're on the subject of voting: Round two of our Best Pizza in Columbus bracket continues until noon Friday. Last week's opening round narrowed the field to eight: Adriatico's, JT's Pizza & Pub, the Original Josie's Pizza, Paulie Gee's Short North, Pizza House, Rotolo's Italian Pizzeria, Terita's Pizza and Tommy's Pizza. We'll announce the four top vote-getters and begin voting Monday morning for round three.
You can see the full bracket and cast your votes here.
Best of Columbus voting begins
Voting began Monday for Columbus Monthly's 2024 Best of Columbus reader survey.
This year's contest includes 99 categories grouped in three main groups: Food & Drink, Out & About and People. You can pick your favorite food truck, ramen, chef, Columbus Crew player, bike shop, local band, happy hour and more.
You can write in favorites that aren't on the ballot.
rvitale@dispatch.comInstagram: @dispatchdining
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus places events attractions in online national voting contests