Aside from perhaps coffee, there isn't another food item on earth so near and dear to a reporter's heart than pizza. It is the traditional newsroom food of Election Night. Picking up a slice is cheap and quick. A full pie is easy to keep around for leftovers too, making it an excellent choice for reporters keeping odd hours. For all these reasons and more, we here at Colorado Community Media love pizza.

We also love our community beats, and within those beats there are a wealth of pizza places. These are the places that the high school sports teams go to celebrate big wins, or generations of children have gone for birthday parties. Fancy or just fun, the local pizza place is a common part of the moments of our lives —date nights, moving days and family traditions.

And so, starting on the fitting Pi Day, CCM is hosting its own version of the March Madness  tournament.

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The contestants

This list is far from comprehensive. It is only a short list of locations picked by CCM staffers. Also, if the below contestant is truly your favorite community pizza spot, or even if it isn't, check out your community-specific Best of the Best business poll, taking place now.

Beau Jo's - The original Idaho Springs location (1517 Miner St, Idaho Springs) is, at least according to CCM staffers, is the best. With its signature thick wheat crust, these are the perfect pies to recharge after a hard day on the slopes or nearby trails. 

Bluegrass Lounge - *Champion*(7415 Grandview Ave., Arvada) At night, this place fires up the pizza oven and offers an array of pizza options.  If you're looking for a gluten-free option, or fancy the idea of doing some burbon-sampling with your slice, head here.  Vote in the Arvada BotB

Colorado High Country Pizza -  (26291 Highway 74, Kittredge) No gimmicks here, just well-priced pies served up quick. The lunch special is a great value. 

Garlic Jim's -  (3982 Red Cedar Dr., Highlands Ranch)  Gourmet pizza which boasts a special crust and pizza sauce. This is another location offering a gluten-free option.  Vote in the Highlands Ranch BotB

Parisi -  (4401 Tennyson St., Denver) The fanciest outfit in this year's list of contenders. If you're looking for a pizza experience thats more likely to include a fine wine and  procutto than a fountain drink and a paper plate, you're in the right place.  

Parry's Pizzeria and Taphouse -  *Finalist* Lots of locations for this  upscale chain, but we chose the Northglenn  location specifically for this year.  The full bar and good selection of more adult fare will make this a great place to eventually reconnect with friends as the pandemic fades. Oh, and garlic fans should definitely order "The Pearl."  Vote in the Northglenn BotB

Pietra's Pizzaria -  A family-owned Wheat Ridge mainstay (9045 W. 44th Ave.). Affordable and yummy. In summer it's nice to grab a pizza and head over to the nearby Anderson Park for an impromptu picnic.  Vote in the Wheat Ridge BotB

Pizzeria Lui -  Super chill pizza joint in Lakewood (5380 W. Mississippi). "The best authentic wood fired pizza in all of the metro area!   The Margherita is sublime.," according to our Lakewood reporter. Vote in the Lakewood BotB

Portofinos Pizza and Pasta - (10920 S Parker Rd., Parker) Great selection of dishes. Get a pepperoni for the kids and order the twin lobster tails dish for the grown-ups! Pizza options include white sauce, pesto, Mediteranian, BBQ sauce, gluten-free and more.  Vote in Parker's BotB  

Rico's Pizzeria - Broadway's got a couple pizza places of note. But for deliciousness (and proximity to our Englewood office), our go-to spot is Rico's.  It's dang-good pizza at  a surprisingly affordable price point. Plus, it's one of the few places in town with Stromboli on the menu!  Vote in Englewood's BotB

Woody's Woodfired Pizza Golden - A major part of the Golden community (1305 Washington Ave.), with delicious pizza and a nice outdoor dining area overlooking downtown Golden.  Vote in the Golden BotB

Z'Abbaracci  Pizza Pasta Taphouse - 314 Wilcox St. in Castle Rock. Lots more than just pizza, including quite a few beers on tap. Something for everyone.  Vote in the Castle Rock BotB

The bracket