You might notice something different in the River Cities' Reader Best of the Quad Cities poll this year: For the first time, we're offering "staff picks" for certain categories.

This doesn't mean that we're invalidating our readers' choices. Rather, we're offering individual picks based on our experience, as a way to broaden the conversation a little. Sometimes the best things in our community are popular; other times, they need a little push to get the recognition they deserve.

Alternative-health-care provider

1. Palmer Clinics

2. Harvey Jack Chiropractic

3. Genesis Continuing Care

Fitness club

1. YMCA

2. Gold's Gym

3. Ultimate Fitness

Flower shop

1. Flowerama

2. Hy-Vee

3. K'nees

Place to buy cool home accessories/furnishings

1. American Furniture

2. Pier 1 Imports

Local blues band

1. Ellis Kell Band

2. Electric Leroy

3. Shane Johnson

Local country band

1. Dani Lynn Howe Band

2. Jim the Mule

3. A Fifth of Country

Local jazz band

1. Josh Duffee & His Orchestra

1. The Tritones Jazz Ensemble

3. Craig Bentley Jazz Trio

Local rock band

1. Crossroads

The Davenport city leadership is receiving strong objections from the community regarding the elimination of regular standing-committee meetings by folding them into the bi-weekly Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting. How responsive it will be to the collective opposition to this serious degradation of the public process remains to be seen, especially since it tends to conduct far more business behind closed doors these days.