title: MVC3 Html.DropDownListFor with both static and dynamic values
body: <p>I'd like to populate a Html.DropDownListFor with both static and dynamic values in my controller.  I can't seem to figure out how to make this work.  I've tried a few different approaches, but most center around (1) define the static values in a variable, (2) try to append the dynamic values (3) pass all values via the viewModel to my partial view.</p>
  
  <p>Here is a sample of the above approach.</p>
  
  <pre><code>//retrieve categories from DB
  List&lt;Category&gt; categoryFromDb = new GetCategory().GetCategoryDropdownList(MySession.Current.AccountId).FindAll(c =&gt; c.StageId == currentStage);
  
  //local variable with static values and trying to add the dynamic values from above
      var categoryDropDown = new [] {
                                        new {CategoryId = "", CategoryName = "Select Activity"},
                                        new {CategoryId = "0", CategoryName = "Note"},
                                        new {CategoryId = categoryFromDb[0], CategoryName = categoryFromDb[3]}  //THIS IS THE LINE I CAN'T FIGURE OUT
                                    };
  
      var viewModel = new ActivityTimelineViewModel
      {
          ActivityTimeline = new GetActivity().GetActivityTimeline(MySession.Current.AccountId, MySession.Current.CandidateId),
          CategoryList = categoryDropDown,
          Date = DateTime.Today
      };
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I'm sure given my novice ability I am missing something simple.
  -Tim</p>