Best of Ashland 2010 (Restaurants and Entertainment)
BEST NEW RESTAURANTOver 300 ballots were turned in this year, and our readers were able to recognize twelve new restaurants that sprouted in Ashland, including two coffeeshops and a yogurt place. The competition was intense among the top three, but in the end, Sesame Asian Kitchen, Tom and Lisa Beam’s new establishment at 21 Winburn Way, was the winner.
They were following closely by:
• Tease, which opened at 303 E. Main.
• Taj, a restaurant offering Indian cuisine at 31 Water Street.
Rounding out the list were:
• The Palace Café, (542 A Street).
• Motif, 62 E. Main, offering Vietnamese and Asian food.
• Torero’s, in the Tolman Creek Plaza.
• Red Hibiscus (11 1st Street).
• Noble Coffee on 4th Street.
• Boulevard Coffee in the Stratford Inn.
• Caldera Brew Pub on Water Street.
• Yogurt Hut, at 140 Lithia Way.
• The Greensprings Inn, up in the mountains.
MOST EXTENSIVE BREAKFAST MENU
What we’re talking about here is a menu that can appeal to everyone, from omelet lovers to French Toast aficionados. And in that regard, our readers had a hard time choosing between three very popular restaurants. Each has a loyal following, and they aren’t shy about sending their ballots in every year. So congratulations for great breakfasts go to:
• Morning Glory Café at 1149 Siskiyou.
• Breadboard, located at 744 N. Main.
• Brother’s, at 95 N. Main.
Also landing very near the top were:
• Dragonfly at 241 Hargadine.
• Wild Goose (2365 Ashland Street).
• Munchie’s at 59 N. Main.
• Harper’s, located at 36 S. 2nd.
• Greenleaf on the Plaza.
• El Tapatio, in their new location next to Butler Ford.
MOST EXTENSIVE LUNCH MENU
You’re taking that client from Malaysia out to lunch, trying to land that important deal in Kuala Lumpur. The last thing you need is for him to make up his mind quickly about lunch. You want him to spend all his energy perusing the lunch menu … then you make your pitch during his moment of weakness.
Topping the list for this category in 2010 was a tie between Dragonfly at 241 Hargadine and Munchie’s, located downstairs at 59 N. Main.
The Top Ten featured:
• Standing Stone at 101 Oak Street.
• Wild Goose.
• Greenleaf.
• Oak Tree NW, at 2510 Highway 66.
• Lark’s, at the Ashland Springs Hotel.
• Breadboard.
• Lela’s, located at 258 A Street.
• Brother’s.
BEST OMELETS
It’s always reassuring when the cook displays his diploma in Omeletology from Harvard, but those people are few and far between. Apparently, though, the cooks at Morning Glory Café know what they’re doing, as our readers voted them number one.
Also receiving lots of votes were:
• The Breadboard.
• Brother’s.
• Dragonfly.
• Wild Goose.
• Greenleaf.
• Munchie’s.
BEST B.L.T. SANDWICH
This is nothing too complicated, but if you don’t cook the bacon exactly right and place things expertly between the buns, it can be a total disaster. And in that regard our readers most often picked the B.L.T.’s at Allyson’s Kitchen (the “Brutus”) at 115 E. Main and the Wild Goose.
The Top Six featured:
• Greenleaf.
• Big Town Hero.
• Oak Tree NW.
• Big Al’s, at 474 N. Main.
MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT
FOR LUNCH
It’s the middle of the day, so you really don’t need a table for two in a dark corner. What you do need, however, is some ambiance that will put you in the mood for romance.
The two that first came to mind for our readers were Lela’s, at 258 A Street, and Lark’s, located in the Ashland Springs Hotel.
Other romantic hot spots include:
• Dragonfly.
• Tabu, located at 90 N. Pioneer.
• Martino’s, at 58 E. Main.
• Alex’s, on the Plaza.
• Black Sheep, on the Plaza.
• Thai Pepper, at 84 N. Main.
MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT
FOR DINNER
Subdued lighting, waiters who speak softly, strolling minstrels, pictures of wood nymphs hanging from the walls … we all have that idealistic vision of the perfect romantic restaurant.
Where do our readers go for a little romance? Most said either Chateaulin (50 E. Main); Amuse (15 N. 1st); or Peerless (265 4th Street).
The Top Six were very close, and they included:
• Winchester inn.
• Martino’s.
• Cucina Biazzi.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Alex’s.
• Dragonfly.
• Lela’s.
• Callahan’s.
• Liquid Assets.
BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS
TO DINNER
Fred and Ethel are in town and you want to take them to a place that will make them wonder why they ever lived in Toledo in the first place. According to our readers, that would be the Peerless Restaurant, located on 4th Street in the Railroad District.
The Top Ten featured:
• Dragonfly.
• Lark’s.
• Standing Stone.
• Pasta Piatti, at 358 E. Main.
• The Black Sheep.
• Alex’s.
• Chateaulin.
• Amuse.
• Omar’s.
BEST SELECTION
OF STEAKS
When you’re really hungry, it’s hard to pass up a big juicy steak. There’s just something about the smell that brings out the primordial, carnivorous instincts in humans.
And when we want to return to our roots, our readers suggest we visit long-time favorite Omar’s (1380 Siskiyou), which has won this event twenty years in a row.
Coming in a strong second in this category was Beasy’s on the Creek, located at 51 Water Street; and the Peerless.
BEST SELECTION
OF SEAFOOD
We live near the Rogue River, which is world famous for its fishing, and we’re only a stone’s throw (if you have an exceptional arm) from the Pacific Ocean. So, yes, our selection of seafood is outstanding!
And when it comes to exceptional seafood dishes, our readers most often mentioned four different restaurants as being particularly good. They were:
• Hana Sushi, located on the Plaza.
• Beasy’s on the Creek.
• Omar’s.
• Kobe, at 96 N. Main.
Others receiving a fair amount of recognition were:
• Sesame Asian Kitchen.
• Bonsai Teriyaki.
• The Black Sheep.
BEST SELECTION
OF PASTA DISHES
You’ve spent the entire day traversing the canals of Venice or cruising East Main and Lithia Way in Ashland, and you’re in the mood for some pasta. You could, of course, go home and get the pasta maker out, but that would entail about three hours of labor. OR … you could visit a local restaurant where they’ll do the work for you.
Most people usually choose the latter, and in that regard our readers once again named the selections at Pasta Piatti, Tom and Lisa Beam’s establishment at 358 E. Main, as their number one.
Coming in a close second was Wiley’s Pasta Co., located at 1606 Ashland Street, followed by:
• Cucina Biazzi.
• Macaroni’s/Martino’s.
• Il Giardino (although they moved to Medford recently).
FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT
It’s easy to get spoiled in Ashland when it comes to Mexican restaurants. Over the last twenty years, there has been an explosion of high quality south-of-the-border establishments catering to our incessant need for hot sauce and margaritas.
In this survey, all ten of the local establishments were named, and we’ll go ahead and list them all, starting with the number one favorites—La Casa del Pueblo (on Siskiyou across from the college); and Senor Sam’s, in the Ashland Shopping Center.
They were followed by:
• El Tapatio.
• Miguel’s.
• Agave.
• Tabu.
• Torero’s.
• Soco’s.
• Big Al’s.
• Inti (in Talent).
BEST CHILE
RELLEÑOS
This is the classic Mexican dish which originated in the city of Puebla (also the site of the battle of Cinco de Mayo, when they kicked butt on the French). You take a poblano pepper and stuff it with cheese, meat and other goodies, then cover it in egg batter and fry it. Delicioso!
Almost all of the local restaurants were named in this category, and the top three were Torero’s, Big Al’s and La Casa del Pueblo.
FAVORITE ASIAN RESTAURANT
Asia may have the most people on the planet, but the continent was really put on the map last summer when Y.E. Yang, an unknown golfer out of South Korea, came from behind to beat Tiger Woods in the PGA championship.
Tiger, of course, is half-Asian so when he and Y.E. ever visit Ashland and want to partake in the local cuisine, they have a choice of 14 fine Asian establishments. Our readers mentioned them all, including the number one spot, Thai Pepper, which tied with Sesame Asian Kitchen.
The Top Five were close, and they included:
• Kobe.
• House of Thai Cuisine.
• Hana Sushi.
Others very popular with our readers were:
• Taj.
• Bonsai Teriyaki.
• Yuan Yuan.
• Mihama’s.
• Panda Garden.
• Dragonfly.
• Golden Dynasty.
• Chun’s Palace.
• Bento Express.
BEST PAHD THAI
The Thai restaurant craze hit the U.S. about 24 years ago, and today everyone knows what Pahd Thai is. It’s basically fried noodles, with egg, bean sprouts, green onions and other goodies spread on it.
Our readers were well-versed on this topic, and they chose Thai Pepper and House of Thai Cuisine as their favorites, although Yuan Yuan came in a close third, and Sesame was also mentioned a lot.
BEST JAPANESE DISHES
My boss’ name at the library when I was working my way through college was Eichi Oshiro. He married a Korean woman named Kim and they combined their last name to O’Kim. He also Americanized his first name and was officially known as Victor O’Kim, but everyone just called him “H.”
Anyway, enough of useless information. This category was a hard fought battle between Kobe and Hana Sushi, but fortunately they left the samurai swords at home, and it ended in a tie.
Also receiving plenty of votes were:
• Bonsai Teriyaki.
• Mihama’s.
• Bento Express.
• Koko’s Bento-Dog Café.
FAVORITE ITALIAN RESTAURANT
I heard a joke on XM Radio the other day. A good old boy from Kentucky had a friend from New York visit and was pretty sure he was in the Mafia. They went out hunting, and the guy put a deer in the trunk and then shot it.
But enough of the Mafia jokes. Ninety-nine percent of all Italian-Americans have nothing to do with the Mafia, and I apologize if anyone was offended. When it comes to Italian restaurants, our readers most often mentioned both Pasta Piatti, located at 358 E. Main, and Cucina Biazzi, Beasy McMillan’s restaurant at 568 E. Main.
Coming in a close third was Martino’s, followed by:
• Wiley’s Pasta Co.
• Vinny’s (in Medford).
• Il Giardino (now in Medford).
BEST SELECTION
OF PIZZAS
If it hadn’t been for pizza back in my college days, I may never have made it through. It contains all the major food groups and is a good combination of protein and carbos. What else could you ask for?
And when our readers wanted to ask for the perfect pizza, they most often turned to both the creations at Great American Pizza (1448 Ashland Street) and Creekside Pizza Bistro, located at 92 N. Main (on the creek).
Coming a close second and third were:
• Northwest Pizza & Pasta at 1585 Siskiyou.
• Giseppi’s, in the Market of Choice Shopping Center.
Others mentioned were:
• Standing Stone.
• Papa Murphy’s Take n Bake, at 1401 Siskiyou.
• Lela’s.
BEST SOUPS
AND SALADS
Sometimes you’re just not in the mood for huge servings that practically require the use of a wheelchair to make it out of the restaurant. A great soup with an ample salad can fit the bill. Where do our readers go when they want to simplify their lives? Most chose the selection at both Pangea (272 E. Main) and Grilla Bites, on the Plaza.
They were followed closely in the balloting by:
• Greenleaf.
• Standing Stone.
• Lela’s.
• Munchie’s.
• Palace Café.
• Allyson’s Kitchen.
• Lark’s.
BEST PRIME RIB DINNERS
The prime rib is one of the best cuts on the cow, and the accomplished cook then prepares it as a standing rib roast and serves it to a delighted audience. Here in Ashland, our readers love the prime rib dinners at a number of establishments, especially Omar’s, which won this in a runaway.
BEST BUFFET
When you’re really, really hungry, the only recourse is to find a buffet. You can stack your plate with about three-cubic feet of food, and if you’re still hungry you can come back for seconds. Leave room for dessert, though.
There aren’t a lot of buffet lines in Ashland, but leading the way in this category for 2010 was Taj, located at 31 Water Street, where Vin Mehta and his cousin Sonny work overtime to keep you happily fed.
The list also included:
• Three Rivers Indian Cuisine in the Ashland Shopping Center.
• Hometown Buffet (in Medford).
BEST VEGETARIAN DISHES
There’s something to be said for following a diet that contains only the most healthful ingredients that will ensure a properly functioning heart, liver and intestines.
Most restaurants these days offer some kind of vegetarian items, and our readers singled out quite a few. They reserved most of their accolades for Greenleaf, located on the Plaza.
The Top Five included:
• Dragonfly.
• Ashland Food Co-Op Deli.
• Pangea.
• Grilla Bites.
BEST CAESAR SALADS
When in Rome, do as Caesar did (well, try not to get assassinated on the floor of the City Council): order a salad with romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese, egg, and black pepper, named after the Italian-born Mexican cook Caesar Cardini.
A lot of local restaurants were mentioned in this survey, with the number one nod going to Martino’s and Macaroni’s, Marty Morlan’s fine establishments at 58 E. Main.
Other favorite salads included:
• Greenleaf.
• Pasta Piatti.
• Beasy’s on the Creek.
• Standing Stone.
• Lela’s.
• Lark’s.
• Ashland Food Co-Op Deli.
RESTAURANT WITH BEST COUPONS
Yes, we’re still in a recession, although the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke just announced that we’re starting to come out of it. We can only hope. Until then, we might want to stockpile those restaurant coupons and find the best deal we can. In that regard, the top nominee in this category was Papa Murphy’s, followed by:
• La Casa del Pueblo.
• Miguel’s.
• Hana Sushi.
• Torero’s.
• El Tapatio.
• Taj.
RESTAURANT SERVING MOST EXOTIC COCKTAILS
If you love cocktails, buy the book “The Art of the Bar,” a compilation of classics from the owners of the Absinthe Bar in San Francisco. There you’ll learn—in addition to others—about the Sazerac, the “first truly important cocktail”—which made its appearance in New Orleans in 1860.
Here in Ashland, a number of fine establishments specialize in exotic drinks. Topping the list were both Hong Kong, located on the Plaza at 23 N. Main; and Tabu, at 90 N. Pioneer.
They’re not alone, though, as these others received their share of votes:
• Tease.
• Thai Pepper.
• Lark’s.
• Alex’s.
• Kobe.
• Sesame.
• Peerless.
BEST PIES/PASTRIES
I’m sad to report that the 60-year-old cherry tree in my backyard is starting to die. We used to dub it the “mother of all cherry trees,” and we would make 4-5 pies a year from it, then freeze them. You didn’t need a ladder, either; you could just walk along and pick handfuls of cherries. Today, the few cherries it sprouts are at the very top, 35-feet from civilization.
There’s nothing like homemade pies and pastries, and locally where would we go? Our readers most often mentioned The Apple Cellar, at 2255 Ashland Street; and Munchie’s, downstairs on the Plaza.
The Top Eight included:
• Mix, on the Plaza.
• Deux Chats, on A Street.
• 4 & 20 Blackbirds.
• Market of Choice Deli.
• Puck’s Donuts.
• My Old Etcetera.
RESTAURANT WITH BEST PATIO/VIEW
This category is always a horse race between a number of fine restaurants in the valley with great views and/or outdoor settings in Ashland. The top two definitely have their supporters, and they include Thai Pepper, across from the Plaza and overlooking Ashland Creek and Bluebird Park; and Dragonfly, at the corner of 1st and Hargardine which has a garden patio that makes you think you’re in New Orleans.
Coming in a close third was a tie between Alex’s and Caldera Brew Pub, overlooking Ashland Creek.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Standing Stone.
• The garden/patio at Peerless.
• Cucina Biazzi.
RESTAURANT WITH BEST BAR TO SIT AND HAVE DINNER
From the fanciest restaurant to the not-so-fancy, the bar has its own ambiance. It’s almost like a communal gathering, as you can interact with the emcee (the bartender) and fellow diners. This category was extremely popular, as there were nine different restaurants getting the majority of votes. I’ll list them in alphabetical order:
• Alex’s
• Black Sheep.
• Kobe.
• Lark’s.
• Liquid Assets.
• Martino’s.
• Omar’s.
• Peerless.
• Tabu.
RESTAURANT WITH FRIENDLIEST WAITSTAFF
It’s hard to imagine that a restaurant could survive with a surly waitstaff, but apparently that’s what you get in New York City. Here in Ashland, that kind of attitude wouldn’t last a month, and our readers mentioned 25 different restaurants.
Topping the list for 2010 was Greenleaf on the Plaza, where Daniel Greenblatt and the crew make you feel right at home.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• The Breadboard.
• Dragonfly.
• Alex’s.
• Brother’s.
• Peerless.
• Omar’s.
• Munchie’s.
BEST PLACE TO GET REALLY FAST SERVICE
Some people complained that “fast food restaurant” has a different meaning in Ashland, so I took the liberty of changing the title of this category. Where to go when you’re in a semi-hurry and you need to get back to the lab and discover that cure for cancer? Topping the list this year was both Bento Express on Granite Street and Happy Falafel, in the Ashland Shopping Center.
The Top Ten included:
• Senor Sam’s.
• Wendy’s.
• Taco Bell.
• Big Town Hero.
• Grilla Bites.
• Koko’s.
• Subway.
• Mihama’s.
BEST
BURGERS
Just for fun I Googled “Hamburgers History” and learned that Genghis Khan’s troops were the first to take ground lamb or mutton and flatten them into patties. They could then eat their “burgers” with one hand on horseback and not miss out on any pillaging of the countryside.
If Genghis were to suddenly turn up for a “tea party” in Ashland, our readers most often directed him to both Louie’s on the Plaza (which has won this category for ten years in a row); and Big Al’s, located at 474 N. Main.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Standing Stone.
• Munchie’s.
• Omar’s.
• Grilla Bites.
• Wild Goose.
• Wendy’s.
• Stillwater.
• Burger King.
BEST
FRENCH FRIES
According to Google, they were actually “invented” in Belgium, and during World War I American soldiers thought they were “French fries” since the Belgian soldiers who introduced them were speaking French. Belgian Fries just doesn’t sound right, though, does it?
A lot of restaurants take pride in their French Fries, and this year’s favorites with our readers were Happy Falafel and Standing Stone Brewing Co.
The list of favorites also included:
• Big Al’s.
• Greenleaf.
• Munchie’s.
• Creekside.
• Wendy’s.
• Louie’s.
• Wild Goose.
BEST
SELECTION OF SANDWICHES
It’s the classic offering for lunch and sometimes for dinner—chock full of goodies and wrapped around a variety of different breads. The selections are endless, which is a good thing because our readers are fairly picky, choosing 21 different restaurants in this category.
The top two were Big Town Hero, located on Granite Street and N. Main; and Pangea, at 272 E. Main.
Also receiving lots of votes were:
• Grilla Bites.
• Allyson’s Kitchen.
• Ashland Food Co-Op Deli.
• Big Al’s.
• Pita Pit.
• Greenleaf.
• Happy Falafel.
RESTAURANT
WITH BEST
LUNCH SPECIALS
Sometimes it’s hard to make up your mind when you sit down to lunch. The menu contains about 194 different items, and your brain is torn. Then the waitress comes over and tells you about the daily lunch special, and suddenly you realize that that’s exactly what you want!
In our readers’ tortured minds, the restaurant offering the best lunch specials was Lela’s, located at 258 A Street.
Also making the Top Eight were:
• Lark’s.
• Brother’s.
• Greenleaf.
• Omar’s.
• Panda Garden.
• Hana Sushi.
• Creekside.
FAVORITE
BARISTA
(COFFEE SERVER)
It’s more of an art than a science, and all of our local baristas take it seriously. Our readers were able to identify quite a few by name, including this year’s winner, Brian Cole at the South Starbucks.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Catie Case of Case Coffee.
• Kaleb and Jared at Noble Coffee.
• Jazmine Smith at Boulevard Coffee.
• David Light at Bloomsbury Coffeehouse.
BEST PLACE
TO ORDER
COFFEE
Yeah, I know, you wish you had invested in coffee back in the mid 80s when the craze was just starting. Sorry you missed out on that Microsoft stock, too, but if you snooze, you lose.
Over at Noble Coffee, Jared Rennie and his fellow co-owners were definitely not caught napping, as they have parlayed their love of coffee into a popular neighborhood gathering place at 281 4th Street.
The Top Eleven featured:
• The Beanery.
• Mix.
• Dutch Brothers.
• Rogue Valley Roasting Co.
• Starbucks (downtown and south of town, next to SOU).
• Key of C.
• Case Coffee.
• Boulevard Coffee.
• Bloomsbury Coffeehouse.
• Human Bean.
MOST
EFFICIENT
CATERERS
You have a big family reunion planned, and your Aunt Alice suggested that you make all the food since you’re “such a good cook.” Yeah … okay. That sounds like a lot of fun. Instead, you get on the phone to your favorite caterer and let them do all the work while you enjoy the reunion.
Whom to call? Number one in our readers’ minds were both A-Z Catering, where Anna Zegzdryn runs a tight (but fun) ship; and Helena Darling, who also owns the Palace Café on A Street.
Coming in a close third were the folks at the Ashland Springs Hotel, followed by:
• Greenleaf.
• Ashland Gourmet.
• Gourmet Lunchbox.
• Dragonfly.
BEST RESTAURANT OUTSIDE ASHLAND
Our readers apparently like to travel outside the area for other culinary experiences, as 29 different restaurants were mentioned. The number one choice this year was The Avalon, located in Talent; and New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro, between Talent and Ashland on Highway 99.
Others included:
• Kaleidoscope Pizza in Medford.
• Inti in Talent.
• Callahan’s.
• Porter’s in Medford.
• Bambu in Medford.
• Summer Jo’s in Grants Pass.
• Vinny’s in Medford.
• The Greensprings Inn.
• Backporch BBQ in Jacksonville.
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST CONCERT IN ASHLAND LAST YEAR
This is actually a music-crazy town, but the overwhelming choice was for 2009 was the “Tribute to Dave Marston Concert,” which was held in June. Dave had been diagnosed earlier that year with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a fatal illness which only gave him a few months to live. The outpouring of community support was amazing, and the two-day benefit attracted scores of local musicians and thousands of supporters.
Other concerts mentioned a lot were:
• The Yard Dogs.
• The Devil Makes Three concert.
• The Borderline Reunion concert.
• The American Band Conductors’ concert on the 4th of July.
• Concerts in the park by the Ashland City Band.
• “My Funny Valentine” by Leslie Kendall and her Band.
• Bill Tapia, the 101-year-old ukelele player.
BEST “CLASSICAL” CONCERT LAST YEAR
Taking down the top spot in this category was the April concert by Rogue Valley Symphony and the Rogue Valley Chorale.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Rogue Opera’s production of La Bohème.
• Chamber Music Concert’s presentation of the Leipzig String Quartet.
FAVORITE CONCERT AT THE BRITT FESTIVAL LAST YEAR
Quite a few people mentioned the concert last summer by Wilco, followed by:
• Diana Krall.
• Blondie.
• Indigo Girls.
• Pink Martini.
• Blues Traveler.
• Michael Franti & Spearhead.
BEST PERFORMANCE AT THE CRATERIAN LAST YEAR
It’s the classiest venue south of Eugene and is a jewel in downtown Medford. They also bring in some outstanding acts and performers, including last year’s favorite, a visit from Lily Tomlin.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• The Rogue Valley Symphony concerts.
• Dance Brazil.
• Viva Voce.
• Thomaseen Foley’s “A Celtic Christmas.”
MOST FUN PLACE
FOR FIRST FRIDAY
ART WALK
During the first Friday of every month, art galleries and businesses throughout Ashland open their doors to art, conversation, refreshments and entertainment. Over a thousand people descend on downtown for this popular social scene, and our readers named twelve different locales as their favorite.
Taking down top honors for 2010 were both Ashland Art Works on Oak Street and Hanson Howard Gallery at 82 N. Main.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Liquid Assets.
• Gathering Glass.
• Gallerie Karon.
• Bohemia.
• JEGA Gallery.
• Plaza Salon.
FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST
It’s a tough job—trying to bring something beautiful into our lives—but someone’s got to do it. For that, we can be thankful that Ashland has such a great number of talented artists.
Taking down top honors for 2010 was Harriet Rex Smith, who also won this category in 2002. Harriet moved to the Greensprings in 1978 and opened a studio. She works mainly in watercolors.
The Top Eight included:
• Isabelle Alz-ado.
• David Win-ston.
• Judy How-ard.
• Kevin Chris-man.
• Tom Hous-ton.
• Denise Kes-ter.
• Margaret Garrington.
BEST FILM AT THE FILM FESTIVAL
LAST YEAR
Time just seems to fly by when you’re putting together one of the top independent film festivals on the West Coast. AIFF will be hosting the ninth annual festival during the first week of April this year, and it will continue to attract thousands of filmmakers, actors and moviegoers.
Last year was no exception, as 108 different films were shown. Our readers loved a lot of them, including this year’s winner, All Together Now, a documentary which centered around the collaboration between the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil for the stage show “Love.”
The Top Five featured:
• Prom Night in Mississippi.
• Archaeology of Memory: Vila Grimaldi.
• Automorphosis.
• Smile Pinki.
BEST EXHIBIT AT SCIENCEWORKS LAST YEAR
This hands-on museum began almost twenty years ago as a natural history museum and has evolved into “an engaging science center where kids and adults can rediscover wonder.”
Last year the highlight was the visit in September by the NASA Traveling Exhibit that demonstrated what it would be like to live and work on other worlds, starting with a simulated journey into space.
Other exhibits mentioned were:
• The bubble room.
• Dinosaurs.
• Noise.
FAVORITE DAY CARE CENTER
In this modern era of two working parents, finding the perfect day care center for the little ones is extremely important. Our readers agreed and were able to single out 14 different places as their favorites.
Topping the list for 2010 was Lil’ Rascals, located at 1640 Siskiyou.
The list also included:
• Schneider Children’s Center at SOU.
• Ashland YMCA.
• Head Start.
• Pilot Rock Christian School.
BEST PLACE TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE
To the handful of people who voted “at home,” we appreciate your input but were actually looking for something a little more exciting. And no, we weren’t talking about “Times Square in New York,” although that certainly sounds like fun. Closer to home our readers most often picked Alex’s on the Plaza, where for the last two years D.J. Lucky Star has helped keep everyone dancing into the new year.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• The Black Sheep.
• Standing Stone.
• Camelot Theatre in Talent.
• Martino’s.
• Tabu.
BEST FITNESS CENTER
All the talk about health care these days is forgetting one important ingredient: disease prevention! If we all started watching our diets, took supplements that were proven to be clinically successful, and exercised more, the health care bills in this country would be cut in half, if not more. We need to take responsibility for our health and not depend on insurance companies and bureaucrats to bail us out when things go bad. And if we stay healthy, we should be given a break on our insurance policies.
Anyway, staying fit is important, and once again our readers named Ashland Family YMCA as their top choice, followed by:
• Ashland Tennis & Fitness.
• Anytime Fitness
• Baxter Fitness.
• Ashland Yoga.
• Curves.
• Bikram Yoga.
BEST LOCAL PLAY LAST YEAR (OFF BARDWAY)
If you’re a theater fan, living in Ashland is practically heaven. In addition to the Shakespeare Festival, there’s plenty of community theater, including Oregon Stage Works, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Camelot Theatre (in Talent), the SOU Theatre Arts Department, and the high school, plus smaller venues which present readings and one-acts. All of them produce professional quality productions that are enjoyed by thousands every year.
The competition was fierce in this category, but the number one choice according to our readers was Camelot Theatre’s Cabaret, the story of the Kit Kat Club in Berlin in the 1930s.
Other top productions included:
• Shirley Valentine at Oregon Stage Works (OSW).
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Oregon Cabaret Theatre (OCT).
• Doubt, A Parable by Camelot.
• Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks by Camelot.
• Glengarry Glen Ross by OSW.
• What’s Goin’ On at OCT.
• Love’s Labor’s Lost at SOU.
• The Merry Wives of Windsor at the high school.
BEST THEATER PERFORMANCE (MALE) OFF BARDWAY
As soon as the curtain rose at Camelot Theatre last summer for Cabaret, and Mark Barsekian did his introduction as the emcee for the Kit Kat Club, you knew it was going to be a special evening. Barsekian won this year’s balloting for “Best Performance,” followed by:
• Peter Alzado in OSW’s Glengarry Glen Ross.
• Doug Warner in Camelot’s Doubt, a Parable.
• Justin Samuel Cowan in Camelot’s Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
• John Stadelman in OCT’s Holiday Memories and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
• J.R. Storment in Camelot’s Cabaret.
• Sam King in OSW’s Glengarry Glen Ross and The Nerd.
• Dante Maurice Sterling in OCT’s What’s Going On.
BEST THEATER PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
OFF BARDWAY
There was a tie on the female side of the ledger between Helena de Crespo in OSW’s Shirley Valentine and Jessica Price, who played Sally Bowles in Camelot’s Cabaret. Others mentioned a lot were:
• Shirley Patton for Camelot’s Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
• Sophia Palosaari in OSW’s The Nerd.
• Gayle Wilson for Camelot’s Spotlight Series on Karen Carpenter.
• Brandy Carson for OCT’s Holiday Memories.
• Gwen Overland in Camelot’s Cabaret.
BEST LOCAL PLAY
LAST YEAR (OSF)
Once again all eleven OSF plays were mentioned by our readers, including the number one choice Equivocation, the story of a writer commissioned by the King of England to write a play about contemporary events in England circa 1605.
The Top Five for the 2009 season included:
• Music Man.
• Macbeth.
• Paradise Lost.
• Don Quixote.
BEST PERFORMANCE
(MALE) – OSF
Our readers must have liked Equivocation, as they voted Anthony Heald, who played the writer commissioned by the king to write a play, as their favorite.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• John Tufts in Equivocation.
• Michael Elich in Music Man.
• Armando Duran for Don Quixote.
• Elijah Alexander in Henry VIII.
BEST PERFORMANCE (FEMALE) – OSF
The female side of the equation also had some strong performances, including our readers’ number one choice, Robin Goodrin Nordli, for her performance as Lady Macbeth.
The list also featured:
• Catherine Coulson in Dead Man’s Cell Phone.
• Christine Albright in Equivocation.
• Vilma Silva in Henry VIII.
• Eileen DeSandre in The Servant of Two Masters.
BEST DIRECTOR (LOCAL THEATER)
It was a stellar lineup this year, but in the end, our readers agreed that Livia Genise outdid herself with last summer’s production of Cabaret.
The list of great directors also included:
• Bill Rauch for OSF’s Equivocation.
• Jim Giancarlo at OCT.
• Doug Rowe for OSW’s The Nerd.
BEST TECH PERSON (LOCAL THEATER)
These people really should join the actors onstage at the end of each production for a standing ovation. For now, they’ll have to be content with this mention in the “Best of Ashland.”
And in that regard, the number one nod went to Michael Maag, Lighting Department Manager at the Shakespeare Festival.
Also mentioned a lot were Kristen Mun and Karen Kuran at Oregon Stage Works.
BEST LOCAL
MUSICIAN/SINGER
Whether it’s rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, classical or jazz, local musicians entertain us year round with their soothing and melodious sounds. Winning this category for 2010 was blues/rock singer Karen Lovely, whose band recently returned from Memphis, where they competed in the International Blues Challenge.
Other top-ranked musicians included:
• Robbie DeCosta.
• Tim Church.
• Ed Dunsa-vage.
• Jim Quin-by.
• Craig Wright.
• Leslie Kendall.
• Gayle Wilson.
BEST LOCAL
JAZZ BAND
Basketball, baseball, apple pie and jazz … four unique American innovations that have made the world a better place. And in Ashland, our readers love their jazz, as they voted the Ed Dunsavage Trio (Joe Cohoon, Gary “Chicken” Hirsh and Ed Dunsavage) as their favorites.
The list also featured:
• The Leslie Kendall Band.
• Grooveyard Trio.
• Gene Burnett.
• Gabe Young and Friends.
• Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra.
• Adam Harris Trio.
BEST NIGHTCLUB TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC
Food isn’t the only thing you can get at restaurants. There’s also entertainment, and a few establishments cater to that need. Our readers most often mentioned Alex’s, upstairs on the Plaza.
The list also included:
• Tease.
• Stillwater.
• Avalon (in Talent).
• Black Sheep.
• Standing Stone.
• Martino’s (jazz night).
• Wild Goose.
BEST PLACE
TO HEAR
KARAOKE
If you can find the right emcee and a great crowd, karaoke can be loads of fun. Our readers loved a number of places, including this year’s winner, The Wild Goose, followed by Paddy Brannan’s Irish Pub.
BEST PLACE
TO GO DANCING
You don’t have to be John Travolta or Ginger Rogers to enjoy dancing. Just lose yourself in the beat, shake that thang, and have fun. And when our readers want to have fun dancing, they most often chose the friendly confines of Tabu, located at 90 N. Pioneer. The list also included:
• Alex’s.
• Ashland Historic Armory.
• Stillwater.
• Hong Kong.
• Vinyl Club.
• Roscoe’s (in Phoenix)
FAVORITE “FLOAT”
IN THE 2009
FOUTH OF JULY PARADE
It was perfect weather this year, and the Fourth of July Parade was the biggest and best ever. The number one “float” for the second year in a row was the spectacle provided by El Tapatio, complete with horses, dancers, mariachi band, and loads of fun.
Other favorite entries included:
• The Peace Corps.
• The hula dancers.
• The jets flying overhead.
• Jackson County Animal Shelter.
BEST BAR TO MEET FRIENDS AFTER WORK
“Work” can sometimes be a drudgery, but it’s almost always better than the alternative. The key to keeping any job is to do the best you can and help the company or business you work for succeed. It’s as simple as that. As the unemployment rate in Jackson County begins to decline, let’s all meet at our favorite local establishment and celebrate.
Where to go? Our readers most often mentioned Alex’s (upstairs on the Plaza) and Standing Stone (at 101 Oak Street).
It was pretty bunched up at the top, and they included:
• Liquid Assets.
• Omar’s
• Martino’s.
• Black Sheep.
• Wild Goose.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Oak Tree.
• Tabu.
• Creekside.
• Tease.
• Peerless.
• Caldera Brew Pub.
• Paddy Brannan’s.
• Hong Kong.
• Stillwater.
• Beau Club.
• Thai Pepper.
BEST BAR
TO MEET FRIENDS LATE AT NIGHT
Ah, I fondly remember the days when I used to do this. Now, I’m in bed before the action really gets started at most bars. For our readers who were still able to stay awake, they most often chose Hong Kong (upstairs on the Plaza) and Black Sheep (also upstairs on the Plaza), followed by:
• Martino’s.
• Omar’s.
• Oak Tree.
• Creekside.
• Liquid Assets.
• Alex’s.
• Wild Goose.
• Stillwater
• Beau Club.
BAR WITH MOST ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE
I realize the word “bar” doesn’t sound romantic, so let’s change the name of this category to “lounge” with the most romantic atmosphere. Nah, I don’t like that either. Sounds like a motel room. How about “club?” No, too elitist. “Establishment?” Reserved for CEOs. Okay, “bar” it is.
And in that regard, our readers selected both Tabu and Martino’s as number one.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Peerless.
• Chateaulin.
• Hong Kong.
• Tease.
• Alex’s.
• Winchester Wine Bar.
BAR WITH
BEST LATE
NIGHT MENU
Despite eating that 7-course French dinner earlier in the evening, you find yourself still a little hungry. Luckily you’re in an establishment that serves a great late night menu.
Number one in our readers’ stomachs this year was Liquid Assets, followed by:
• Tabu.
• Alex’s.
• Martino’s.
• Black Sheep.
• Wild Goose.
• Creekside.
BEST LOCAL
HIKING TRAIL
We live in the midst of an outdoor paradise, and the opportunities for hiking are endless. Our readers mentioned fifteen different trails, reserving their number one choice for the hike up Grizzly Peak.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• White Rabbit.
• Toothpick.
• The T.I.D. path.
• Lithia Park.
• The Pacific Crest Trail.
• Oredson-Woods.
FAVORITE
MOUNTAIN LAKE
Amazingly, there are ten outstanding mountain lakes in the region that range between a ten-minute drive to five hours. Lake of the Woods won this category hands down, and the rest of the list featured:
• Hyatt.
• Howard Prairie.
• Squaw Lake (to the east of Applegate Lake).
• Four Mile Lake (in the Sky Lakes Wilderness).
• Crater Lake.
• Applegate.
• Lake Tahoe.
• Emigrant.
• Klamath Lake.
BEST PLACE
TO GO VISIT
ON THE COAST
My wife grew up in Gold Beach (her ancestors first moved there in 1855), and she got all bummed out when I mentioned that her hometown came in third place in this category. Maybe next year!
Anyway, taking down top honors was Bandon, followed by:
• Brookings/Harris Beach
• Gold Beach.
• Port Orford.
• Charleston.
• Newport.
• Cannon Beach.
BEST PLACE
TO TAKE A BIKE RIDE
Now that Lance Armstrong is back riding in the Tour de France, the world seems a little more stable. He was inflicted with the Michael Jordan/Brett Favre syndrome: you retire from your sport, then come back for one last hurrah.
Where would Lance go for a ride if he came to visit Ashland? Most of our readers directed him to the bike path/Greenway, which starts at Tolman Creek Road and can practically take you to Grants Pass.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• The Lakes Loop.
• White Rabbit.
• Toothpick.
• Lithia Park.
BEST THING ABOUT LITHIA PARK
It was approved by a vote of the people in 1908 and is now the crown jewel of southern Oregon. Topping the list by our readers in this category were the many walking trails throughout the park, followed by:
• The duck ponds.
• The Japanese garden.
• Ashland Creek.
• The changing colors in the fall.
• The playground.
• The bandshell
• The landscaping.
• “Dan the Cello Man” also got a few votes.
FAVORITE VINEYARD/WINERY IN THE VALLEY
Southern Oregonians apparently love their wine, as our readers named quite a few wineries in this survey. The number one choice locally was Weisinger’s of Ashland, followed closely by Paschal Winery and Vineyard in Talent. RoxyAnn Winery in Medford also received a lot of votes.
Other wineries mentioned were:
• Troon.
• Schmidt.
• Del Rio.
• Valley View.
• Ashland Vineyards.
• Wooldridge Creek.
* * * * *
And there you have it—the end of 144 categories. See you next year for the 2011 “Best of Ashland.” And if you have any suggestions for new entries next year, write to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . —C.H.
