2020 Best of Erie Winners and Finalists Your favorite people, places, and things in the Erie area by Erie Reader Staff
Nick Warren / seohwa
Given the historic challenge of 2020, few could be blamed for not being at their best. In the context of COVID-19, sometimes doing your best was just hanging in there. But to transcend all that, to continue to be a superlative asset to this city and this community despite all those trials and tribulations? That deserves recognition and celebration sometimes in ways previously unthought
Your 2020 Best of Erie winners reflect this. With categories such as Culture & Nightlife and Food & Drink disproportionately affected by the pandemic, new subcategories were created while others have gone on temporary hiatus. Before 2020 could you have imagined voting for Erie s Best Alcoholic Slushie (Altered State Distillery) while live-streaming an award-winning Erie Playhouse
Chris Sirianni, owner of The Brewerie at Union Station, said he was feeling frustrated, disappointed and heartbroken for his staff.
About 45 full-time and part-time employees were on Sirianni s payroll Thursday at the popular downtown Erie restaurant at 123 W. 14th St.
Sirianni estimates he will likely lay off about 35 employees on Friday in response to the latest temporary state COVID-19 mitigation guidelines outlined Thursday by Gov. Tom Wolf.
In an effort to curb the surging spread of COVID-19, Wolf announced that indoor dining at restaurants, taverns, breweries, wineries, distilleries, social clubs and private catered events is prohibited for the next three weeks.