BEST OF BERGEN GALA
Best
SIMPLY THE
( 201 ) holds the first annual Best of Bergen Gala WRITTEN BY CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
Close to 400 business owners , advertisers , celebrities and other guests braved snow showers for the warmth of Paramus ’ The Terrace in mid-March to attend the first annual Best of Bergen Gala honoring ( 201 ) Magazine ’ s Best of Bergen Readers ’ Poll winners and finalists . The event coincided with the release of the March issue , which included the 16th annual Best of Bergen Readers ’ Poll results .
Nearly 210,000 nominations and votes were cast in the 2022 contest among 155 categories . The event was open exclusively to associates of the top four finalists in each .
The sold-out three-hour event , planned by the USA Today Network Ventures events team along with ( 201 ) Magazine staff , drew national and local celebrities , including JACKIE GOLDSCHNEIDER of The Real Housewives of New Jersey ( FAVORITE BERGEN TV /
MOVIE CELEBRITY ), CBS2-News anchor CHRIS WRAGGE ( FAVORITE BERGEN TV / RADIO
PERSONALITY ), actress and model XEN SAMS ( BEST MAGAZINE COVER OF 2021 ) and movie producer BRAD FEINSTEIN .
After ared carpet champagne toast , guests were ushered into the ballroom to enjoy a cocktail hour — complete with ice sculptures — and the performance of amember of Cirque du Soleil . The sit-down dinner and awards show followed . Winners were
MICHAEL KARAS AND CHRISMARKSBURY
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