What’s the best new thing in Salem in the past year?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Salem reader poll.

Last year, voters picked Mamma Maria’s Gelato. Of course, something can only be new once! In 2011, the winner was The Blue Apron Restaurant and Red Rooster Bar. In 2010, it was The Ol Mule Hot Dog Company. In 2009, voters chose the Salem Red Sox.

What will win this year? We have no idea! Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.