New categories! New faces and places! Our readers have voted in unprecedented numbers on their favorite things in the Roanoke Valley. Our thanks to all who voted and our invitation to make use of those results.
Pop Out People
Biggest Brain in Town
Platinum: Ed Walker, area property developer
Government Person Who Gets it
Platinum: Chris Morrill, Roanoke city manager
Court Rosen, city councilman
Silver: Bob Goodlatte, congressman
Government Person with Foot in Mouth
Platinum: David Bowers, Roanoke mayor
Get this Person for “King of the Valley”
Platinum: Zack Jackson, K92 Mornin’ Thang
Gold: Ed Walker
Takes the Best Pictures
Platinum: Kevin Hurley Photography
Gold: Don Petersen Photography
Silver: David Hungate /Dominion Images
Easiest to Look at (Female)
Platinum: Natasha Ryan, formerly of WDBJ 7
Gold: Jean Jadhon, WDBJ 7
Easiest to Look at (Male)
Platinum: Robin Reed, WDBJ 7
Gold: Jeff Phillips, manager at SpaFit, fitstudio365 motivational speaker
Silver: Brent Watts, WDBJ 7
Best Teacher
Platinum: Sasha Saari, Ferrum College
Gold: Kaitlin Rice, Franklin County
Silver: Joy Watson, Bonsack Elementary
Honorable Mention:
Holly Martin, Sylvan Learning Center
Mark Ingerson, Salem High
Nancy Meacham, Wasena Elementary
Pat Carr, Cave Spring High School
Bill Pratt, Roanoke County
Kari Sullivan, Bonsack Elementary
Lady with the Best Sense of Style
Platinum: Jean Jadhon
Gold: Natasha Ryan
Area Singer
Platinum: Jane L. Powell
Gold: Hoppie Vaughan
Silver: Corey Hunley
Foster Burton
Judi Jackson
Tim Martin
Local Celeb You’d Want for Your Charity Event
Platinum: Danny Meyers and Zack Jackson, K92 Mornin’ Thang
Gold: Jean Jadhon
Silver: Brett Sharp, 94.9 FM Star Country
Robin Reed
On a Little Screen Right in Front of You
Area Blog You Check Most Often
Platinum: blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/
Silver: blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/
fromtheeditr.blogspot.com
Local Website You Go to Most
Platinum: roanoke.com
Gold: wdbj7.com
Silver: wsls.com
TV & Radio
TV News Person You Rely on Most
Platinum: Jean Jadhon
Gold: Karen McNew, WSLS 10
Silver: Keith Humphry, WDBJ 7
TV Weather Person You Trust
Platinum: Robin Reed
Gold: Brent Watts
Silver: Jeff Haniewich, WSLS 10
TV Sports Person Getting it Across
Platinum: Travis Wells, WDBJ 7
Gold: Chris Miles, WDBJ 7
Silver: Grant Kittelson, WDBJ 7
John Appicello, WSLS 10
Honorable Mention:
Greg Roberts, News/Talk 960 AM WFIR (Radio)
Most Fun on the Radio (Personality)
Platinum: Danny Meyers and Zack Jackson
Gold: Dick and Dave, The Breakfast Club on Q99
Silver: Brett Sharp and Robynn Jaymes, The Morning Show on 94.9 FM Star Country
Serious Stuff on the Radio
Platinum: WVTF Public Radio, 89.1 FM
Gold: News/Talk 960 AM WFIR
Music on the Radio
Platinum: K92 FM
Gold: 106.1 Steve FM
Silver: 94.9 FM Star Country
The Newspaper
Best Thing in it
Platinum: Extra Section
Gold: Comics
Silver: Coupons
Worst Thing in it
Platinum: Editorial pages & Letters to the Editor
Best Comic
Platinum: Zits
Gold: Dilbert
Silver: Peanuts, Pickles
News/Feature Writer
Platinum: Beth Macy
Gold: Lindsey Nair
Silver: Mike Allen
Ben Beagle (since retired)
Dan Casey
Sports Writer
Platinum: Doug Doughty
Gold: Randy King
Silver: Aaron McFarling
Live & Learn
Public School
Platinum: Salem High
Gold: Cave Spring High
Silver: Bonsack Elemenatry
Crystal Spring Elementary
Private School
Platinum: North Cross
Gold: Roanoke Catholic
Silver: Faith Christian School
College/University in the Roanoke Valley
Platinum: Roanoke College
Gold: Hollins University
Silver: Virginia Western Community College
Library Branch
Platinum: 419 Headquarters
Gold: Downtown
Silver: Salem
Continuing Ed Class You’d Love to See at VWCC
Platinum: Culinary Arts
Gold: Foreign Languages (beyond Spanish – German, Japanese, etc.)
Photography/Photoshop
Museum
Platinum: Taubman Museum of Art
Gold: Science Museum of Western Virginia
Silver: O. Winston Link
Place to Meditate
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Mill Mountain
Silver: McAfee Knob
Most Worthy Group to Volunteer for
Platinum: Rescue Mission
Gold: Roanoke Valley SPCA
Silver: Habitat for Humanity
Angels of Assisi
What Happened What’s Happenin’
Annual Sporting Event
Platinum: Stagg Bowl
Gold: VT football (especially vs. UVA and Thurs. night games)
Silver: Guns and Hoses hockey
Annual Festival
Platinum: Festival in the Park
Gold: Strawberry Festival
Silver: Local Colors
Local Charity Event, 2010
Platinum: Drumstick Dash
Gold: Black and White Ball (Square Society)
Silver: Best in Show SPCA
Free Comedy, 2010
Platinum: Roanoke City Council deliberations
Best Place to Get Wild Once a Year
Platinum: Corned Beef & Co.
Gold: 202 Market
Silver: FloydFest
Best Thing to Happen in Roanoke, 2010
Platinum: Market renovations
Gold: New Roanoke City Manager
Silver: Blue Ridge Marathon
Patrick Henry Hotel renovation
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine opening
Where We Blew it, 2010
Platinum: Taubman financial problems (staff cuts, Nora’s Cafe)
Gold: Angering vendors by shutting down the Market Building
Best New Business, 2010
Platinum: Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar
Gold: The Shadowbox Cinema
Best Idea For 2011
Platinum: Kohl’s moving into former Hunting Hills WalMart location
Gold: Consolidation
Patrick Henry Hotel renovation
Passenger Train Service from Roanoke to DC and beyond
Musician You Hope Plays the Valley
Platinum: Dave Matthews
Gold: Jimmy Buffett
Lady Gaga
Longest Traffic Light
Platinum: 419 in front of Tanglewood Mall
Gold: Hershberger / Williamson Rd. Intersection
Silver: Elm Ave. over I-581
Best-Kept Secret in Town
Platinum: TUNED OUT – tunedouttv.com
Gold: Cakes by Carla
Lucky Restaurant
Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar
Silver:
Angelo’s Restaurant (Vinton)
Bubblecake Bake Shop
Burger in the Square
Coach & Four Restaurant
Fork in the Alley
Fork in the City
Full Moon Cafe’s Cookies
Local Roots Restaurant
Thelma’s Chicken and Waffles
The Underground Gallery at Frames N’ Things
Holiday Event
Platinum: Dickens of a Christmas
Gold: Roanoke Symphony Holiday Pops
Silver: Drumstick Dash
Building in Most Need of a Facelift
Platinum: Taubman Museum
Gold: Heironimus Building
Silver: Virginia Railway Passenger Station at Jefferson Street and Williamson Road
Place that Makes You Feel Like a Kid Again
Platinum: Chuck E. Cheese’s
Mill Mountain Zoo
Silver: Mill Mountain
Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
Where to Go, What to Do
The Movies
Platinum: Grandin Theatre
Gold: Valley View Grande 16
Silver: Carmike 10 Tanglewood
Live-Music Venue
Platinum: Kirk Avenue Music Hall
Gold: Jefferson Center
Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Boys’ Night Out
Platinum: Buffalo Wild Wings
Gold: Corned Beef & Co.
Silver: 202 Market
Allsports Cafe
The Blues BBQ Co.
Girls’ Night Out
Platinum: 202 Market
Metro!
Silver: Corned Beef & Co.
Just-the-Two-of-You
Platinum: Carlos Brazilian International
Gold: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
Silver: Table 50
Budget-Friendly
Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
Gold: The Brambleton Deli
El Rodeo
Long Weekend
Platinum: The Homestead
Gold: The Greenbrier Resort
Silver: Smith Mountain Lake
Course to Try for Par
Platinum: Hanging Rock
Gold: Hidden Valley Country Club
Hunting Hills
Ole Monterey
Place to Walk the Dog
Platinum: Roanoke River Greenway
Gold: Green Hill Park
Silver: Highland Dog Park
WiFi Spot
Platinum: Panera Bread
Gold: Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea
Silver: Starbucks
Place to Meet Singles (21-39)
Platinum: Corned Beef & Co.
Gold: Metro!
Silver: 202 Market
Place to Meet Singles (40+)
Platinum: 419 West
Gold: Awful Arthurs Towers
Silver: Blue 5
Montano’s
Kids’ Attraction
Platinum: Mill Mountain and Mill Mountain Zoo
Gold: Green Ridge Recreation Center
Silver: Thunder Valley
Greenway or Section
Platinum: Roanoke River
Gold: Murray Run
Silver: Garst Mill
Place to Come Back From With a Fish Story
Platinum: Smith Mountain Lake
Gold: James River
Silver: Carvins Cove
Bicyclists’ Dream Route
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Greenway
Silver: Carvins Cove
Walk Under 5 Miles
Platinum: Any Greenway
Gold: Peaks of Otter
Silver: Green Hill Park
Area Hike (5+ miles)
Platinum: McAfee Knob
Gold: Dragon’s Tooth
View (That’s Not Mill Mountain) to Show Out-of-Towners
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Peaks of Otter
Silver: McAfee Knob
Place to People-Watch
Platinum: Valley View Mall
Gold: Downtown Market
Silver: Salem Fair
Fitness Club
Platinum: YMCAs
Gold: Planet Fitness
Silver: RAC
Green Ridge Rec Center
Yoga Class/Instructor
Platinum: Uttara Yoga Studio, Jill Loftis
Gold: Gold’s Gym, Leonard Loria
Silver: Peace Yoga Club (for kids) at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Beth Oakes
The Yoga Center, Debbie Stevens
EmPower Pilates & Yoga, Erin Gray Garvin
Pilates Class/Instructor
Platinum: Erin Gray Garvin
Wheels
Place to Buy a Luxury Car
Platinum: Brambleton Imports
Gold: Crossroads Motors
Silver: Berglund Automotive Group
Place to Buy a Good Basic Ride
Platinum: Berglund Automotive Group
Gold: First Team Auto Mall
Silver: Haley Toyota
Most Dependable Car Repair
Platinum: Berglund Automotive Group
Gold: Wayne’s Imported Automotive
Silver: Brambleton Auto
White Tire
Place to Get it Shined
Platinum: Tanglewood Auto Wash
Gold: Sunnybrook Auto Spa
Silver: Southern Classic Auto Wash
Bike Shop
Platinum: Cardinal Bicycle
Gold: East Coasters
Silver: Just the Right Gear
Motorcycle Route
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Va. 311
Shop for it All
Shoes
Platinum: Macy’s
Gold: The Cobbler’s Wife
Silver: Yarid’s
Jewelry
Platinum: Fink’s
Gold: Jewells
Silver: Amrhein’s
Wedding Floral Designer
Platinum: Corsair Floral & Decor
Creative Occasions
Silver: Billy Shepard
George’s Flowers
Twig & Berry
Bridal Shop
Platinum: David’s Bridal
Gold: Amrhein’s
Silver: Bride’s House and Formals
Men’s Formals
Platinum: Men’s Warehouse
Gold: Amrhein’s
Davidsons
Caterer
Platinum: Lib & Amy Catering
Gold: Schaal’s Catering & Events
Silver: Center Stage Catering
Chanticleer Catering
Blues BBQ Co.
Wedding Venue
Platinum: Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
Gold: Corinthian Ballroom
Vinton War Memorial
Women’s Clothing
Platinum: Macy’s
Gold: La De Da
Silver: Talbots
Men’s Clothing
Platinum: Davidsons
Gold: JoS. A. Bank
Silver: Belk
Sporting Goods
Platinum: Dick’s Sporting Goods
Gold: Gander Mountain
Silver: Play it Again Sports
Kids’ Clothes
Platinum: Toad’ly Kids
Gold: The Children’s Place
Silver: The Gap Kids
Consignment Shop
Platinum: Hidden Treasures Consignment
Gold: Euro Fashions & Exclusives
Fresh Flowers
Platinum: George’s Flowers
Gold: Creative Occasions
Silver: The Fresh Market
CDs and DVDs
Platinum: F.Y.E.
Gold: Best Buy
Silver: Barnes & Noble
Books
Platinum: Barnes & Noble
Gold: Ram’s Head
Silver: Too Many Books
Camera
Platinum: Best Buy
Gold: Lee Hartman & Sons
Silver: Walmart
Beachwear
Platinum: Dance Etc.
Gold: Pacific Sunwear
Everyday Grocery
Platinum: Kroger
Gold: Food Lion
Silver: Walmart
Gourmet Grocery
Platinum: The Fresh Market
Gold: Tinnell’s Finer Foods
Silver: Kroger
Retail Wine Selection/Shop
Platinum: Wine Gourmet
Gold: Kroger
Silver: Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar
Local Produce
Platinum: Roanoke Farmers Market
Gold: The Fresh Market
Silver: Salem Farmers Market
Pharmacy
Platinum: CVS
Gold: Kroger
Silver: Walgreens
Fabric Store
Platinum: Jo-Ann Fabrics
Gold: The French Thistle
Silver: Second Yard
Mall or Shopping Center
Platinum: Valley View
Gold: Tanglewood
Silver: Towers
Home, Sweet Home
Greenest Garden Shop
Platinum: Greenbrier Nurseries
Gold: Townside Gardens
Hardware Store Where They Know the Answers
Platinum: Northwest Hardware
Gold: Lowe’s
Lighting
Platinum: Williams Lighting Gallery
Gold: Lowe’s
Place to Buy the Couch
Platinum: Grand Home Furnishings
Gold: Virginia Furniture Market
Kitchen and Bath
Platinum: Bed, Bath & Beyond
Gold: Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
Silver: Provisions Gourmet
Home Theater
Platinum: Audiotronics
Gold: Lee Hartman & Sons
Best Buy
Sound Decision
Lawn Care / Landscaping
Platinum: Varsity Landscaping & Grounds
Gold: Forever Green Lawn Care
Silver: Alluring Landscapes
Grasshoppers Landscaping
Landscape Enterprise
Apartment Complex
Platinum: Glade Creek
Gold: Sunscape
Friendliest Neighborhood
Platinum: Raleigh Court
Gold: Grandin Village
Silver: Old Southwest Roanoke
Best in Services
Bank
Platinum: SunTrust
Gold: Member One Federal Credit Union
Silver: Valley Bank
Wachovia
Women’s Hair Styling
Platinum: Salon Del Sol
Gold: Onyx
Plaza 101
Men’s Hair Styling
Platinum: Hollywood Hair and Nails
Plaza 101
Shear Perfection
Massage / Facials
Platinum: Pure Spa
Salon Del Sol
Silver: Plaza 101
Kid’s Birthday
Platinum: Pump it Up
Gold: Chuck E. Cheese’s
Silver: Green Ridge Recreation Center
Frame Shop
Platinum: Frame ‘N Things
Gold: Brambleton Frame Shop
Silver: Simply Framing by Kristi
Veterinarian
Platinum: Roanoke Animal Hospital
Gold: Vinton Animal Hospital
Silver: Veterinarians to Cats
Doggie Day Care
Platinum: About Pets Center (Salem)
Klub Kanine
Hospital
Platinum: Carilion Clinic
Gold: LewisGale Medical Center
Cleaners
Platinum: Wheeler’s
Gold: A Cleaner World
Silver: Harvey’s
Spa
Platinum: Salon Del Sol
Gold: Plaza 101
Silver: Pure Spa
Moving Company
Platinum: Virginia Varsity Transfer
Gold: Crowning Touch
Silver: Lawrence Transportation Systems
Limo Service
Platinum: Executive Town Car & Limousine Service
Prestige Limo
Rental Store
Platinum: Aztec Rentals
Place for Visitors to Spend the Night
Platinum: The Hotel Roanoke
Retirement Community
Platinum: Brandon Oaks Retirement Community
Friendship Retirement Community
Silver: The Glebe
Advertiser Quicklinks
Here are links to some of the wonderful businesses that supported our May/June “Best of Roanoke” issue. We encourage you to visit their websites soon – and tell them you saw them in The Roanoker!
A Cleaner World
About Pets Center
Alluring Landscapes
Brambleton Frame Shop
Brides House & Formals
Burger in the Square
Carilion Clinic
Casa Bella Services
Cobbler’s Wife
Creative Occasions
Davidson’s
Euro Exclusives Consignment
F. Geoffrey Jewelers
Faith Christian School
Famous Anthony’s
Fork in the Alley
Frame ‘N Things & The Gallery
Friendship Retirement Community
Healthy Stuff Cakery
Jefferson College of Health Sciences
K92
Kevin Hurley Photography
Kroger
Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar
Mulch N More
Nawab Indian Cuisine
Q99Roanoke College
Roanoke County Parks and Rec.
Salon Del Sol
Simply Framing by Kristi The Center for the Arts
The French Thistle
The Glebe
Toad’ly Kids
Valley Bank
Vinton War Memorial
