The Best of Roanoke 2012
From doggie daycare to retirement homes, from biggest brain to biggest clown, from worst moment of 2011 to best new idea for 2012, our readers have picked the best – and a few not-so-bests – of the valley. Our thanks to those readers for more than 30,000 individual votes cast in 153 categories, resulting in the following 465 Platinum, Gold and Silver awards.
- Pop Out People
- On the Web / TV & Radio
- Live & Learn
- What Happened What’s Happenin’
- Where to Go, What to Do
- Wheels
- Shop Til You Drop
- Home, Sweet Home
- Best in Services
What Happened What’s Happenin’
Best Thing to Happen in Roanoke, 2011
- PLATINUM: Patrick Henry Hotel Renovations
- GOLD: City Market Building Reopened
- SILVER: Kohl’s Opening
Where We Blew it, 2011
- PLATINUM: City Market Building Renovations (primarily running away venders and not being ready to open.)
- GOLD: Taubman Museum’s continued financial struggles
- SILVER: Kicking out Little Dipper for Center in the Square renovations
Best New Business, 2011
- PLATINUM: Uptown Joe’s
- GOLD: Punch Boutique
- SILVER (tie): Roanoke Valley CrossFit; The Quarter
- CHAIN WINNER: Kohl’s
Best-Kept Secret In Town
- PLATINUM (tie): Brickhouse CrossFit; Tuned Out episodes on WSLS-10
- SILVER: Bubblecake Bake Shop
Favorite Annual Festival
- PLATINUM: Strawberry Festival
- GOLD: Festival in the Park
- SILVER: MicroFestivus
Best Annual Holiday Event
- PLATINUM: Dickens of a Christmas
- GOLD: Drumstick Dash
- SILVER (tie): Fashions for Evergreens at Hotel Roanoke; St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
Best Local Charity Event, 2011
- PLATINUM: Rescue Mission Drumstick Dash
- GOLD: Puppy Love Ball, RVSPCA
- SILVER: Project Faith, Faith Christian School
Annual Sporting Event That Scores Big
- PLATINUM: Stagg Bowl
- GOLD: Guns & Hoses Hockey Game
- SILVER: Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Tournament
Best Free Laughs, 2011
- PLATINUM: K92 Mornin’ Thang
- GOLD: Roanoke City Council Meetings
- SILVER: Mike Wilson on WSLS 10’s Our Blue Ridge
Best Place to Go Wild Once a Year
- PLATINUM: Corned Beef & Co.
- GOLD: Buffalo Wild Wings
- SILVER: 202 Market
Place That Makes You Feel Like a Kid Again
- PLATINUM: Mill Mountain Zoo
- GOLD: Chuck E. Cheese’s
- SILVER: Pump it Up!
Musician You Hope Plays the Valley in 2012
- PLATINUM: Lady Gaga
- GOLD: Katy Perry
- SILVER (tie): Dave Matthews Band; Jimmy Buffett
Traffic Light That Makes You Late to Work
- PLATINUM: Elm Ave. over I-581
- GOLD: Any light on Orange Ave.
- SILVER: Brandon Rd. / Grandin Rd. Intersection
Building Most in Need of an Extreme Makeover
- PLATINUM: Taubman Museum of Art
- GOLD: Heironimus Building
- SILVER: Tanglewood Mall
Best Idea from 2011
- PLATINUM: Patrick Henry Renovations
- GOLD: Add a comedy club
- SILVER (tie): Anthem’s Roanoke Outdoor Circus; Occupy Roanoke VA; Renovation of the City Market Bldg
Your Best Ideas for the Valley in 2012
- PLATINUM: Add a comedy club
- GOLD: Amphitheatre in Elmwood Park
- SILVER: More concerts
