I would like to add a folder to a Gnome panel (Gnome Fallback on ubuntu 12.04). In Windows this can be accomplished by right-clicking the taskbar, selecting "New toolbar", and browsing for a folder. I would like the same functionality in ubuntu. When I click on an icon in the panel, I should get something that looks like the "Applications" menu, but with the content of a specific folder instead.
This useful extension provided you an option to add places to gnome panel.
Also check out other extensions at the main site.