Area business’ and attractions came together at Central College Thursday night for the Marion County Development Commission’s “Best of the Red Rock Area” 2013 Awards. Director of the Marion County Development Commission, Carla Eysink, tells KNIA/KRLS News, that they are very excited to honor all the people who provide great hospitality to the visitors of our area, and provide them with a little bit of a thank you for all they do to make the Lake Red Rock area so special. Jaarsma Bakery took home the most awards with a total of four, and KNIA/KRLS was honored to accept the award for Best Local Source for News. Eysink adds that voting for The Best of The Red Rock Area 2014 will start in early February and run through November 1st, You can cast your vote by going to redrockarea.com and clicking on the “Vote Your ‘Best of’ Now” icon.
THE WINNERS: Award Recipients include:
Food:
Best Salad – Applebee’s, Pella
Best Appetizer – Checkerboard Restaurant, Pleasantville
Best Pizza – George’s Pizza & Steakhouse, Pella
Best Cup of Coffee – Smokey Row Coffee Company, Pella
Best Ethnic Food – Casa Grande, Knoxville
Best Steak – Monarchs Restaurant & Lounge, Pella
Best Burger – Culver’s, Pella
Best Breakfast – Windmill Café, Pella
Best Sweet Treat – Jaarsma Bakery, Pella
Best Tenderloin – Northcote Locker & Wholesale Meats, Melcher-Dallas
Best Buffet – Pizza Ranch, Pella
Best Caterer – Central College, Pella
Places:
Best Wedding Reception Venue – Central College, Pella
Best Conference Venue – Central College, Pella
Best Hotel – Royal Amsterdam Hotel, Pella
Best B & B, Guest House or Cabin – Cordova Park Cabins, Otley
Best Place to Entertain Kids – Pella Aquatics Center, Pella
Best Place to Go On a Date – Peace Tree Brewing Company, Knoxville
Best Family Restaurant – Checkerboard Restaurant, Pleasantville
Best Bar or Pub – Peace Tree Brewing Company, Knoxville
Best Happy Hour – Applebee’s, Pella
Best Outdoor Eating Location – Reed’s Kone Korner, Knoxville
Best Campground – Howell Station Recreation Area, Pella
Shopping:
Best Antique Shop – Simple Treasures, Pella
Best Consignment or Thrift Store – Bibles for Missions Thrift Center, Pella
Best Gift Shop – The Next Chapter, Knoxville
Best Place to Purchase Locally Made Items – Jaarsma Bakery, Pella
Best Retail Curb Appeal – Boat’s Home Furnishings, Pella
Best Shop for Clothing, Jewelry and/or Accessories – Embellish, Pella
Best Shop for Fresh Meats – In’t Veld’s Meat Market, Pella
Entertainment & Recreation:
Best Live Entertainment – Peace Tree Brewing Company, Knoxville
Best Golf Course – Bos Landen Golf Club, Pella
Best Place to Work Out – Anytime Fitness, Pella
Best Park or Gathering Place – West Market Park, Pella
Best Recreational Activity – Biking the Volksweg Trail, Lake Red Rock
Community:
Best Local Source for News – KNIA/KRLS, Pella and Knoxville
Best Place to Work – Vermeer Corporation, Pella
Best Library or Genealogy Research Location – Pella Public Library, Pella
Best Hospitality – Jaarsma Bakery, Pella
Best Bank – Marion County Bank, Pella
Top 10 Events:
Bike Night in Knoxville
Farm Crawl, Rural Marion County
Independence Day Celebration in Pella
Knoxville Living Windows
Knoxville Nationals
Pella Tulip Time Festival
Pig Out, Pleasantville
Ragbrai, Knoxville & Pella
Red Rock Balloon Fest, Knoxville & Pella
Thursday Nights in Pella
Top 10 Food Places:
Checkerboard Restaurant, Pleasantville
Coffee Connection, Knoxville
George’s Pizza & Steakhouse, Pella
In’t Veld’s Meat Market, Pella
Jaarsma Bakery, Pella
Kaldera Restaurant & Lounge, Pella
Peace Tree Brewing Company, Knoxville
Red Ribbon, Knoxville
Reed’s Kone Korner, Knoxville
Smokey Row Coffee Company, Pella
Top 10 Places to Shop:
Best of Thymes, Pella
Cornerstone, Pella
Embellish, Pella
Founders, Knoxville
Iowa Bike & Fitness, Pella
Lee’s Hallmark, Pella
Silver Lining, Pella
Simple Treasures, Pella
The Next Chapter, Knoxville
Work of Our Hands, Pella
Top 10 Things to Do:
Bike the Volksweg Trail
Boat at Lake Red Rock
Central College Sports Events
Climb the Cordova Observation Tower
Lake Red Rock Nature Programs
Performances at the Pella Opera House
Playing at the West Market Park Playground
Racing Go-karts at Slideways Karting Center
Riding Equestrian Trails at Elk Rock State Park
Weekly Races at the Knoxville Raceway