We at the Anchorage Daily News' 8 magazine like presenting you with the Best of Anchorage every year for a number of reasons.

First, it helps take the pulse of our community and offers our readers some insight about our fine city: an "undiscovered" restaurant they could try or a great local band they should go out and support. Call it a rudimentary Gallup Poll.

Second, the ballots prove that we at the Daily News don't have the worst spelling or penmanship in the Last Frontier.

And finally, we like the Best of Anchorage because if you don't agree with what's printed in the magazine, you can't blame us. You should point your finger at all the people in town who either didn't vote or don't agree with your opinion that McDonald's is a better place to go for fine dining than Ristorante Orso.

Chilkoot Charlie's, a staple of the Best of Anchorage winners circle, took home the most awards this year, with five victories out of 33 categories. But amid the perennial favorites -- Flattop, the Coastal Trail, Gwennies -- there were new faces in this year's balloting, including H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark.