Hundreds gather for (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen Gala 2022 in Paramus

Cindy Schweich Handler, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read

Close to 400 business owners, advertisers, celebrities and other guests braved snow showers for the warmth of the Terrace in Paramus last night 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 USAT 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.

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After a red carpet champagne toast, guests were ushered into the ballroom to enjoy a cocktail hour — complete with ice sculptures — and the performance of a member of Cirque du Soleil. The sit-down dinner and awards show followed. Winners were declared in four groups: Places to Go, Things to Do, People to Meet; Health & Beauty; Shopping & Services; and Food & Drink. Radiant guest emcee Celinda Ortega, Miss New Jersey USA, read aloud the nominees and congratulated the winners from the stage.

Results: They're in! Here are your Best of Bergen results for 2022

These included past favorites such as Sal Lauretta for Men (Best Menswear) and Bob and Kayla Press (Best Men's and Women's Hair Stylists, Changing Heads Salon), and new ones such a s LT Bar & Grill (Best New Restaurant), Family Promise of Bergen County (Best Nonprofit) and Ted's North Delicatessen (Best Fries).

(201) Magazine's content and creative director John Flynn poses with Miss New Jersey, USA 2021 and Fair Lawn resident Celinda Ortega at the first annual Best of Bergen Gala on March 9, 2022.
(201) Magazine's content and creative director John Flynn poses with Miss New Jersey, USA 2021 and Fair Lawn resident Celinda Ortega at the first annual Best of Bergen Gala on March 9, 2022.

The Bergen advertising team and (201) editorial staffers, including editor Cindy Schweich Handler and VP of production Glenn Garvie, also attended. Art director Joram Mushinske and food writer Rebecca King live-interviewed guests as they arrived.

"After what the community has been through the last two years and what local businesses have had to endure, it's great to have an event where we can celebrate them," says John Flynn, the (201) Magazine content and creative director who opened the ceremony.

(201) Magazine's Best Of Bergen 2022 Gala at The Terrace in Paramus on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
(201) Magazine's Best Of Bergen 2022 Gala at The Terrace in Paramus on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

In a sense, everyone in the packed ballroom left a winner: After two years of the pandemic, guests described being in the same place to celebrate the Best of Bergen as a long-awaited treat.

Cindy Schweich Handler is the editor of Montclair and Wayne Magazines, and a writer for The Record and Northjersey.com. Email: Handler@northjersey.com; Twitter: @CindyHandler

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen Gala 2022 in Paramus