Author: Becca Horton

The mission of the “Becca Does Best Of” social media project was not to encourage voters to vote for certain things, but rather to remind them that the Best of Memphis competition that launched in 1994 is covered with history, much like Memphis itself. I found that whether I was talking to dominating winners of the BOM media categories, restaurant categories or retail categories – everyone I spoke to was passionate about Memphis and thankful to have the enduring love of their city in the annual Flyer poll.

Here are the past dominating winners in the Best of Memphis broadcasting category:

Joe Birch, who has won first place in the Best TV Anchor category since it began in 1994, said that winning Best Of Memphis is always a thrill. “I aspire to be the best everyday and often fail,” Birch said, “but I do really love this city. For every problem, there are armies of Memphians to solve them.”

”It’s very gratifying! We do this job for the people, and we try to give the best information to the viewers,” said Dave Brown, who has been awarded Best TV Weatherperson since 1995. He advises hopefuls to do the best they can, adding ‘“technology is changing much faster than it did for me.”

Jarvis Greer, who strongly values his family as his support system, said he is honored to have been awarded Best TV Sportscaster since 1997. “I am humbled and honored the people like what I do. I just try to have fun with it,” he said.

Read on for the reigning Best in Memphis competition’s winning restaurants:

Several Memphis eats have been awarded “Best of Memphis” in their various categories every year since the categories originated. These places are Huey’s (Best Burger), Folk’s Folly (Best Steak), Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous (Best Ribs), Sekisui (Best Japanese/Sushi) and Memphis Pizza Cafe (Best Pizza – Non-Chain).

And now for the dominating retail winners of Best of Memphis:

A few Memphis retailers have also been first in our Best of Memphis readers’ hearts for many years: Buster’s (Best Liquor Store), First Tennessee (Best Bank), Burke’s (Best Used Bookstore) and Tobacco Corner (Best Smoke Shop).

(Not pictured: First Tennessee – Best Bank since 1996.)

Take a gander at the history of Best of Memphis on Memphis Flyer’s Instagram, @memphisflyer/ #bestofmemphis or #beccadoesbestof. And as you look through these little pieces of Best Of Memphis history, become a part of history yourself by voting for this year’s winners. Voting for 2013 ends this Sunday, July 28th at midnight!

If you’re a frequent Instagram-mer, hopefully you follow the Memphis Flyer (@memphisflyer), and maybe you’ve noticed recent posts related to the annual Best Of Memphis issue, hashtagged with the super-catchy phrase “#beccadoesbestof.”

Hey, I’m Becca.

As a marketing intern for the Memphis Flyer, I’ve spent an abundance of time researching the history of the Best Of Memphis poll, which began in February 1994 (making this the 19th year!). While all of Memphis is dripping with history, I found, so is the Flyer’s annual Best Of Memphis competition. It is truly amazing to see the categories throughout the years that didn’t make it – such as “Best Place to Celebrate Divorce” (1994), “Best Place to Use Your Dog as a Chick/Dude Magnet” (1996) and “Best Place to Cure a Hangover” (1996).

There are many winners that have been voted “Best Of Memphis” the entire run of the competition, and these winners and Memphis have undeniable chemistry. Some have even celebrated seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen years of Best Of stardom.

For the past three weeks doing “Becca Does Best of” (so catchy, right?), I have also thoroughly enjoyed coming up with some silly categories of my own, for example: the Peabody Ducks are clearly the Best Ducks Around, and Beale Street is the Best Place to Legally Beat Open-Container Laws.

Check out these and more interesting categories and pictures on Memphis Flyer’s Instagram, @memphisflyer/ #bestofmemphis. And while I continue to revisit the history of the annual competition, be sure to cast your vote for the 2013 Best of Memphis using the online ballot now until July 28th!