TOPOF THE VALLEY
PRESENTS THURSDAY, NOV. 28, 2013
TOP SHOPS,
GREETINGS, READERS!
CONT’D • HARDWARE/DECOR/ IMPROVEMENT
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elcome to the fourth annual installment of the Top of the Valley awards. In October we asked you to vote on the best of the best in the mid-valley, and you responded with more than 47,000 votes. Here are your picks in 74 categories, which includes everything from favorite eats to favorite nonprofits. You may have noticed that Top of the Valley looks a tad bit different this year. That’s because it is! ToV and The E have merged to become a special section within a special section. But never fear. Top of the Valley is still packed with the same goodies and tidbits as usual. You will find a list of winners, finalists and fun facts as well as featurettes that dive into the inner worlds of some of our biggest winners. We here at The E (and this goes for the Gazette-Times and Democrat-Herald, too) consider the mid-valley a special place to live, and, judging from your votes, so do you. These Top of the Valley winners and nominees have helped make this a special place, and for that we thank them. We also thank all of those who voted and participated in the awards this year, our advertisers, and, of course, you, our Top of the Valley readers. We hope you enjoy the section, and that it encourages you to explore your community and the greater mid-valley.
Robnett’s Hardware (Corvallis) Finalists: Powell Construction (Corvallis), Garland Nursery (Corvallis) Robnett’s Hardware, a Corvallis fixture that opened its doors in 1855, defended its title this year as the mid-valley’s go-to place for contractors and do-it-yourselfers. Tori and Scott Lockwood, the sixth generation working the family business, pride themselves on competitive prices, quick service and speedy special orders from suppliers nationwide.
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• MUSIC/ ENTERTAINMENT Premier Sound and DJ (Albany) Finalists: Calapooia Brewing (Albany), Cloud & Kelly’s (Corvallis) Premier Sound and DJ prides itself on using only the highest quality equipment and offers a money back guarantee that everything works for your event. Owner Trey Kenyon started the business when he was in high school and has kept it focused on professional, high quality and customized service for all types of events. Trey Kenyon is also half of this year’s Best Local Band, Little Rascalz (see page B3).
• SALON/SPA/BARBER
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• SPORTS/OUTDOORS
— SARAH PAYNE THE E EDITOR AND THIS YEAR’S TOP OF THE VALLEY COORDINATOR
TOP SHOPS
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• ARTS & CRAFTS Gallery Calapooia (Albany) Finalists: Michael’s, The Arts Center and The Drawing Board (all Corvallis) Albany’s first co-op gallery rotates wall space among its 19 artists so all the prime real estate gets shared equally. Artwork includes photography, jewelry, weaving, watercolor, oil, felt and more. Gallery Galapooia was also voted Best New Business (see page B2).
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Mother-daughter duo Debra Long, left, and Kristen Simpson have been in business together at the Modern Boutique in Corvallis for three years. ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Coffee Culture manager Garrett Esary serves up a hot latte while working at the Kings Boulevard location. AMANDA COWAN | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Artist and co-op member Cheryl French, left, and co-op president Linda Herd pose at the Gallery Calapooia in Albany. DAVID PATTON | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
• AUTO REPAIRS Power Auto Group (Corvallis and Albany) Finalists: G&J Auto Center (Corvallis), Ken’s Car Care (Corvallis) A GM and Honda dealership since 2003, Power added Volkswagen to its lineup in late October. It services those and all other makes and models.
• BANK/CREDIT UNION OSU Federal Credit Union (multiple locations) Finalists: Central Willamette, Umpqua Bank Bob Coyle founded the credit union in 1954 with $25 in a shoebox he kept in his desk at Oregon State College. When a member needed a loan, the associate professor would take the shoebox around until the need was covered. The shoebox is gone, but the bank says it still relies on the strength of personal relationships to serve members’ financial needs.
Glitterati Crew Salon (Lebanon) Finalists: B-Polished (Lebanon), Suite 101 (Corvallis) Since opening her shop in June 2011, Leila Fisher’s salon has expanded within the Old Town Mall in Lebanon, and provides hair design, waxing, spray tanning and nail services. Fisher, a 1999 Lebanon High School graduate, is a licensed cosmetologist with a team of two nail technicians and a barber. Her salon serves everyone from young ladies looking for trendy new styles to older men who want a consistent cut.
TOP SHOPS, CONT’D • CUSTOMER SERVICE The Inkwell Home Store Modern Avenue Boutique (Corvallis) Finalists: Gateway Imprints (Lebanon), Powell Construction (Corvallis) Our winner also was named a top downtown business, tops in clothing (see page B2) and a top place to impress out-of-towners. The mother-daughter duo of Kristen Simpson and Debra Long opened their women’s clothing boutique three years ago with just one goal: to make you look amazing. Yes, YOU.
• DOWNTOWN BUSINESS Modern Avenue Boutique (Corvallis) Finalists: Grass Roots Books & Music (Corvallis),
(Corvallis) It’s been three years now since mother-daughter coowners Debra Long and Kristen Simpson began offering women and girls big-town clothing labels with friendly, small-town customer service. Long grew up in Corvallis working in her dad’s drug store, learning early the value of hard work and good service. The boutique also won top honors in clothing (see page B2), customer service and place to impress out-of-towners.
• FURNITURE The Inkwell Home Store (Corvallis) Finalists: Blackledge Furniture
(Corvallis), Hometown Furniture (Lebanon) Almost five decades have passed since the founding of the the stationers and bookstore that gave The Inkwell its name. Since then, the business has more than tripled in size and is known more now for beautiful and unusual furniture and accessories, including kitchen supplies.
last year. Market of Choice may be best known for its eco-friendly practices, bakery, wide beer and wine selection and the Taj Mahal of all grocery delis.
• HOME REPAIRS
Mikowski Painting (Philomath) Finalists: Powell Construction (Corvallis), Home Depot (Albany/Corvallis) • GROCERY Owner Sam Mikowski is a Market of Choice (Corvallis) 2004 Philomath graduate Finalists: First Alternative who started his business in Co-op (Corvallis), Fred Meyer 2005. He specializes in resi(Albany, Corvallis) Market of Choice, part of a dential interior and exterior Eugene-based chain, reclaims painting and works throughits throne as the top mid-val- out the valley, emphasizing ley grocery store after finish- customer service and providing a quality product. ing runner-up to Trader Joes
Kokoro Martial Arts (Albany) Finalists: Peak Sports (Corvallis), Bike and Hike (Corvallis) With more than 25 years experience, Kokoro Martial Arts owner Michael Wise encourages his students to focus on personal growth and mental self-defense. Kokoro offers programs in jujitsu, tae kwon do and karate for entire families, including children as young as 3 years.
• THRIFT Heartland Humane Society Thrift Shop (Corvallis) Finalists: Revolve Resale (Corvallis), OSU Folk Club (Corvallis) Heartland Humane Society was founded in 1966 by concerned Benton County residents whose mission remains building a more compassionate community “by teaching humane messages to our youth, caring for homeless animals and strengthening the human-animal bond.” The program cares for up to 3,000 animals per year, funded in part by the thrift store.
TOP BITES • BAKERY Jillicious Desserts (Philomath) Finalists: Market of Choice (Corvallis), Le Patissier (Corvallis) Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop wins best bakery for the second year in a row since its opening. All of the desserts are baked from scratch daily, and owner Jill Nagel notes that the bakeshop is well known for its chocolate pecan brownies, fruit handpies and chocolate decadence cakes, as well as its fall treat — pumpkin whoopie pies.
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TOP OF THE VALLEY | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES AND ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD
TOP BITES, CONT’D • BARBECUE/ STEAKHOUSE Bo-Mack’s (Albany) Finalists: Brew BBQ (Corvallis), Wilhelm’s (Albany) The top stop for meat-lovers for the fourth straight year, BoMack’s offers plenty of traditional BBQ including brisket, ribs and chicken with a tantalizing array of sauces and their always popular cornbread.
• BREAKFAST Tommy’s 4th Street Bar & Grill (Corvallis) Finalists: Novak’s (Albany), Original Breakfast (Albany) Tommy’s secures its first ToV breakfast win. If you find yourself hungry for a big breakfast, try Tommy’s Beaver Buster Breakfast: a 7-pound feat of omelet, hash browns, home fries, pancakes, biscuits, bacon, sausage, ham, gravy and toast, all free if consumed within the hour.
• BURGERS
ety of different pastries each day, creating a changing daily menu of delectable delights.
• DRIVE-THRU Hasty Freeze (Albany) Finalists: Dutch Bros. (Corvallis), Burgerville (Albany) Hasty Freeze reclaims the top spot this year, besting former winners Dutch Bros. and Burgerville. Hasty Freez attributes its win to treating its customers like they are family.The food is traditional burger fare, made to order and cooked with passion and heart.
• FARMERS MARKET/ VENDOR/FOOD CART Gathering Together Farms (Philomath) Finalists: Lebanon Farmers Market (Lebanon), Spring Hill Organic (Albany) The combination farm store and restaurant in Philomath is repeating its 2012 win.Although Gathering Together is now closed, it will participate in the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market, which starts Jan. 11.The farm stand will reopen March 6.
First Burger (Albany) Finalists: Calapooia Brewing (Albany), Squirrel’s Tavern (Corvallis) First Burger wins again! Since • HAWAIIAN/KOREAN/ 2010, First Burger has won the honor of Best Burger.While all of VIETNAMESE its burgers are made with houseLocal Boyz (Corvallis) ground beef, the best seller by far Finalists: Sam City (Albany), is The Iron Woman: a beef patty Aomatsu (Corvallis) with cheddar and pepperjack Popular Hawaiian dishes led to cheeses, bacon, avocado, cilantro a three-peat for Local Boyz in and a house-made burger sauce. this category. The restaurant also won the Asian/Pacific Islander division in 2010. • CHINESE K-1 Chinese Restaurant (Albany) • INDIAN Finalists: Queen’s Chopsticks Evergreen (Corvallis) Corvallis), Bing’s (Lebanon) Finalist: Nirvana (Corvallis) K-1 in North Albany Village Not surprisingly, Evergreen’s beat out the competition in this popularity hasn’t diminished. category. The Chinese restaurant This year makes it four straight opened last October, and offers wins for the restaurant with a traditional Chinese fare like Mon- wide variety of Indian cuisine. golian beef and salt and pepper shrimp. • ITALIAN/GREEK/
• DESSERT Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop (Philomath) Finalists: Sybaris (Albany), Yogurt Extreme (Albany/Corvallis) Owner Jill Nagel bakes a vari-
MEDITERRANEAN Pastini Pastaraia (Corvallis) Finalists: Alley Gyros (Corvallis), Pizzamore (Albany) Bistro-style dining and some 30 pasta dishes created in Oregon helped bring Pastini Pastaria
TOP BITES, CONT’D
to the top of the list after finishing second last year. The menu also includes wines from Oregon and Italy, and plenty of craft beers.
• LATE NITE
• PIZZA Woodstocks (Corvallis) Finalists: American Dream (Corvallis), Ciddici’s (Albany) Woodstocks’s delivered for readers, who named it the area’s top pizza, unseating three-time
ering Together Farm (Philomath) For the fourth year in a row, Sybaris in downtown Albany rose to the top. Owners Matt and Janel Bennett pride themselves • RESTAURANT on using Northwest ingredients Sybaris (Albany) Finalists: Luc (Corvallis), Gath- and fresh monthly menus.
winner American Dream. Its innovative menu includes wheat crust and lower carb options.
McMenamins (Corvallis) Finalists: Pineway Golf Course (Lebanon), Vault 244 (Albany) Cajun tots with ranch dressing are probably the most popular item in the chain’s late night menu, according to staff. But don’t forget the 1/3-pound burger, which is $6 during the late happy hour from 10 p.m. to midnight.
• MEXICAN/ LATIN AMERICAN Los Tequilas (Albany) Finalists: El Sol de Mexico (Corvallis), Taqueria Alonzo (Corvallis) Los Tequilas, on the Santiam Highway in Albany across from Fred Meyer, was the winner in this packed category.
• MIDDLE EASTERN Al Jebal Middle Eastern Restaurant (Corvallis) Finalist: Crystals (Corvallis) Open for more than three years, this Corvallis restaurant offers a taste of Lebanon — the country. Among its popular dishes are the veggie mezza, a sampler, and the baked lamb, which the business raises itself.
• NEW RESTAURANT Frankie’s Restaurant and Bar (Albany) Finalists: Tup Tim Thai (Albany), Lebanon Teriyaki (Lebanon) Since Frankie’s opened in August, chef Cody Utzman has brought experience gleaned from his four East Coast bistros to his hometown. A two-time winner of the Chopped competition on the Food Network, Utzman and crew focus on locally sourced, sustainable food that’s in season. Customers rave about the quality hamburgers and ambitious dinner menu, plus full bar. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
In addition to clothing, Modern Avenue Boutique carries accessories.
A Modern family affair BY CANDA FUQUA TOP OF THE VALLEY
In an age of big-box stores and online shopping, locals can appreciate the service that comes from a small ma-and-pop clothing store — or, in the case of Modern Avenue Boutique — a ma-anddaughter shop. Debra Long and daughter Kristen Simpson opened Modern Avenue Boutique in November 2010 at 462 S.W. Madison Ave. in Corvallis. “We find for here in Corvallis that a lot of people tend to like the boutiques and the smaller en-
and place to impress outof-towners. Modern Avenue Boutique Long and Simpson (Corvallis) pride themselves in creatFinalists: Emma Downtown ing a positive atmos-phere (Albany), Zooey’s (Corvallis) where women of all ages can shop for a selection of vironments,” Simpson clothing and accessories. said. “They still get the They both had prior exgood brand names (found perience in clothing retail in stores like Nordstrom’s) and even worked alongside but they’re getting more of each other at one point, so a one-on-one, personal when the downtown retail experience.” space opened, they Last year the motherjumped at the prospect. daughter duo took home “It was the perfect opthe prize for top clothing portunity to follow our store. This year, in addidreams and open a store tion to that category, they together,” Simpson said. are adding to the trophy “We always talked about case best customer servthat, too, as I was growing ice, downtown business up.”
• CLOTHING
DAVID PATTON | ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD
Bobby Williams, procurement manager for the Albany Habitat for Humanity ReStore, shows the solar electric system that provides energy savings for the facility that was acquired in October. DAVID PATTON | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
ReStore recycling es can all be dropped off at the ReStore. Earlier this year the “The Lions Club picks Albany Habitat for Huup the eyeglasses for manity Restore installed reuse,” Bradford said. Habitat for Humanity a solar electrical system ReStore (Albany) Even candle wax can that not only saves monFinalists: B-Polished find a new home at the ey but adds to a legacy of (Lebanon), First Alternative ReStore. Bradford said a Co-op (Corvallis), Powell eco-friendliness that dewoman collects the meltConstruction (Corvallis) fines the store. ed down candle wax that “Just about everything is dropped off and makes we have here is the result “When people were new candles with it. of recycling,” said Brenda remodeling kitchens beRecycled metals are Bradford, store manager. fore we were here, they often taken to Burcham’s “It’s all recycled stuff.” often just dumped their Metals in Albany. The new photo voltaic old material. Now they One of the main recysystem of solar panels on donate it to us and we cling efforts is paint. the ReStore roof proturn it into a reusable duces about 1,100 kiloHabitat takes unused piece,” Bradford said. watt hours a year. house paint and if it can And Habitat benefits Of course saving ener- from all of it by using be remixed, provides it gy and recycling are what sales to help build new for customers. If it can’t, the Habitat ReStore lohomes. it’s recycled through cated at 1225 Sixth Ave. The ReStore has been Paint Care. S.E. was built for. It’s able to grow in its recyBradford, who has sides are bursting with cling efforts. In recent been with the ReStore recycled shelving, siding, years it has collected since 2007, said that appliances, sinks and just many previously hardearning the distinction of about anything else that to-recycle items. top eco-friendly business can go into a remodel or Batteries, particularly be reused in some way. smaller AA and AAA bat- was a pleasant surprise. “That’s really nice,” That’s the reason that teries, can be taken to the she said. “It’s an awereaders named the store store, cork from wine some honor and kind of the top Eco-Friendly bottles or bulletin tells us we are doing the Business in the mid-val- boards, ink cartridges, egg cartons and eyeglass- right things.” ley. BY STEVE LATHROP
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD
• ECOFRIENDLY BUSINESS
Cheryl French, left, and Linda Herd are among the 19 artists from the Albany area who show their work at Gallery Calapooia.
Albany artists form a co-op adding with a smile: “We’re not in the red.” General gallery hours Christmas is coming are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gallery Calapooia, (Albany) and Gallery Calapooia’s Tuesdays through SaturFinalists: Frankie’s Restaurant halls are decked. days, although the co-op (Albany), Alley Gyro (Corvallis) But the co-op art will be open until 8 p.m. gallery at 222 First Ave. on Fridays through the W. in Albany is paying at- competition. holiday season. tention to more than just The designation thrills Gallery artists also ofthe pretty details for its Herd. “We’re very excitfer classes. The next is a first holiday season. ed,” she said. “We’ve three-hour workshop this In addition to their worked really hard to be January by Anna Tewes, usual features, 19 member one of the best things we who works with handartists are hard at work can be.” made papers to make colcreating smaller pieces to Area artists had been lages. Information is appeal to Christmas talking together about the available by calling Tewes shoppers whose budgets possibility of a gallery for at 541-223-1478 or visitmay be stuck more at more than a year. Last ing www.gallerycala Scrooge than Santa. November, a core group pooia.com/event/waterAlong with paintings and photographs, gallery roughed out various rules scenes-collage-miniabout monthly fees and workshop. visitors can browse lapel work schedules. The comment Herd pins, notecards, ornaMarc Manley, owner of hears most often from ments and earrings as they shop for their special the Flinn Block, helped visitors: “I didn’t know members find a location, there were so many talsomeones. “We want to be afford- and the gallery held its ented people in Albany.” grand opening in Septemable,” said Linda Herd, Herd said she knew gallery president. ber. More than 300 peothat talent existed, but It’s that emphasis on ple came, Herd said, and it’s exciting to be able to accessible art that led provide a place for others attention has continued readers to vote Albany’s to see it. steadily since then. first artist co-op gallery “It’s always been here,” “We’ve been doing re“Best New Business” in she said. “You just had to ally well. We’re very the 2013 Top of the Valley pleased with it,” she said, look.” BY JENNIFER MOODY TOP OF THE VALLEY
• NEW BUSINESS
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THURSDAY, NOV. 28, 2013 | TOP OF THE VALLEY
TOP BITES, CONT’D • SANDWICHES Old World Deli (Corvallis) Finalists: Alpine Bakery (Corvallis), Calapooia Brewing (Albany) This downtown Corvallis location claimed a win for its tasty sandwiches, such as its most popular item, the Mighty Meaty with turkey. And, of course, there is more than sandwiches here. Belly dancing and beer, anyone?
TOP NIGHTLIFE, CONT’D • PLACE TO GO DANCING/CLUBBING Downtown Dance (Corvallis)
Finalists: The Peacock (Corvallis), Cloud & Kelly’s (Corvallis) Downtown Dance offers classes that cover creative, contemporary,
jazz and hip-hop, and also rents its space at 223 N.W. Second Street for everything from improvs to belly dancers and yoga events.
• PUB/BAR Calapooia Brewing (Albany) Finalists: Squirrels (Corvallis),
Downward Dog (Corvallis) Tucked away in a corner of Albany’s funky waterfront industrial district, Calapooia Brewing is a cozy hangout with something for everyone: killer local brews, hearty pub grub, live music and — wait for it — monthly Science Pub lectures.
• SEAFOOD/SUSHI
TOP PLACES • ART GALLERY The Arts Center (Corvallis) Finalists: Gallery Calapooia (Albany) The Arts Center at 700 S.W. Madison Ave., is celebrating its 50th year of bringing outreach, exhibitions and events and educational opportunities to residents of Linn and Benton counties.
• MUSEUM
Sybaris (Albany) Finalists: Tokyo Steakhouse (Corvallis), Sada (Corvallis) The winning restaurant has served Northwest cuisine in Albany for the last 13 years, uses “super local” ingredients and was a Top of the Valley winner in 2010. The owners support a number of local charities through benefit dinners and other fundraisers, and estimate they have contributed $120,000 to charity since opening.
Benton County Historical Museum (Philomath) Finalists: Albany Regional (Albany), Linn County Historical Museum (Albany) Since 1951, the historical society has collected more than 100,000 items, all now housed in the museum and adjacent buildings.
• THAI
Albany Historic Carousel (Albany) Finalists: Gateway Imprints (Lebanon), Corvallis-Benton County Public Library (Corvallis) Carousel lovers can watch as a dedicated corps of volunteers continues to create the animals that will be part of the merry-go-round when it starts spinning.
• PLACE TO BE CREATIVE
Tarn Tip (Corvallis) Finalists: House of Noodle (Albany),The Woodsman (Philomath) The restaurant, which is situated in the hub of popular OSU-adjacent lunch places on Monroe Avenue, won the top spot in the Thai category. Tarn Tip, which opened in 1990, still proudly does not accept credit or debit cards. ANDY CRIPE | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
• VEGETARIAN Nearly Normals (Corvallis) Finalists: Café Yumm (Corvallis) The “gonzo cuisine” at the vegetarian eatery in Corvallis helped propel it to a first place finish. The only foods they serve not made from scratch: mayonnaise and mustard.
Late lunchers linger over their meals at Squirrels Tavern in downtown Corvallis.
Squirrel’s serves up discounted suds BY BENNETT HALL
• WORLD CUISINE Sybaris (Albany) Finalists: Novak’s (Albany), Magenta (Corvallis) Sybaris has been a previous multi-award winner for Top of the Valley, and is generally recognized as one of the top places to eat in the area. The restaurant’s motto: “Dedicated to bringing the best of Oregon to your table.”
TOP NIGHTLIFE • CINEMA/MOVIE HOUSE Darkside Cinema (Corvallis) Finalists: Pix (Albany), Carmike (Corvallis) In a world where art house cinemas have all but disappeared, you can still go to the Darkside in downtown Corvallis and see movies like “In a World...,” a quirky comedy about the cutthroat movie trailer voiceover profession. Climb the stairs over the Book Bin to catch an ever-changing selection of foreign, independent and offbeat motion picture fare you won’t find anywhere else.
TOP OF THE VALLEY
It doesn’t take much to make some people happy. For fans of Squirrel’s Tavern, the cozy downtown watering hole that’s been a comforting presence on the Corvallis bar scene since the Nixon administration, it’s cheap beer. That’s the only edge Squirrel’s needed to make it the top vote-getter in this year’s Best Happy Hour competition, edging out Flat Tail Brewing and Applebees for the honor. Squirrel’s happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the only
Oakshire’s Ill-Tempered Gnome. And the prices aren’t • HAPPY HOUR Squirrel’s Tavern (Corvallis) bad to start with: craft brews Finalists: Flat Tail Brewing (Corvallis), normally go for $4.25 a pint. Applebee’s (Albany/Corvallis) Same goes for the food. The menu is reasonably priced and change owner Greg Little makes to the bill of fare is dis- long on pub-style comfort count suds. food such as burgers and “It’s just draft that gets sandwiches. Check the chalkcheap,” says dayside bartender board for the nightly dinner Julyan Kasper. “All micro pints special — steak, salmon and are 3 bucks, and Pabst is a meatloaf are popular offerings buck seventy-five.” and generally go for $7.50 a But honestly, what more plate. could you want? Squirrel’s ofJust remember to bring fers plenty of variety with 18 cash. Squirrel’s doesn’t take beers on tap, a mix of mainplastic — although Little did stays such as Boneyard IPA, new arrivals like 10 Barrel OG put in an ATM a few years and seasonals on the order of back for forgetful patrons.
Modern Avenue (Corvallis) Finalists: Albany Historic Carousel (Albany), Sybaris (Albany) The mother and daughter team who own Modern Avenue were inspired to open their own boutique while working together at a clothing store in Corvallis called Gabby’s. Particularly hot right now is a line of handmade French jewelry they sell by La Vie Parisienne. For more about Modern Avenue Boutique, see page B2.
• PLACE FOR KIDS IN THE SUMMERTIME
• MICROBREWERY
Sybaris (Albany) Finalists: Vault 244 (Albany), Gathering Together Farms (Philomath) Locally sourced, impeccably prepared food makes this bistro a foodie’s favorite — and a great place to take a date. Start with salted halibut fritters served with pickled strawberry tartar sauce, add a romaine salad for two, then tuck into the venison schnitzel with crabapple chutney or seared ahi with Okinawan sweet potatoes. Dating tip: When you call for reservations, ask for a table by the fireplace.
• PLACE TO IMPRESS OUT-OF-TOWNERS
• PUBLIC PARK
• COCKTAIL
• PLACE TO TAKE A DATE
The Peacock Bar and Grill (Corvallis) Finalists: Dixie Creek Saloon (Tangent) 1929 was a rough year for America. Gang violence erupted in Chicago, leading to a mass murder the press called the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. On Black Tuesday, the stock market crashed and dragged the entire U.S. economy down with it. Last but not least, the Peacock Bar and Grill opened for business in Corvallis. And 84 years later, it’s still going strong.
Avery Park (Corvallis) Finalists: Monteith Riverpark (Albany), Talking Water Gardens (Albany), Central Park (Corvallis), Bryant Park (Albany) Four-time winner Avery Park is to mid-valley public recreation areas what Rocky “The Rock” Marciano was to professional boxing; both are undefeated. Avery Park, though, is prettier.
Del Alma (Corvallis) Finalists: Vault 244 (Albany), 101 (Corvallis) Got a yen for an exotic drink in a dramatic setting? Check out del Alma, in the Renaissance building on the Corvallis riverfront, where creative bartenders blend top-shelf tequilas and rums, mate-infused vodkas and tropical fruits to create Latin-inspired versions of classic cocktails. Crowd favorites include the del Alma Margarita, Sergeant Pepper and Green Acres.
Calapooia Brewing (Albany) Finalists: Flat Tail (Corvallis), Sky High (Corvallis) Calapooia’s award-winning Chili Beer will wake up your taste buds with three kinds of peppers, but craft brew fans will also appreciate the rest of the lineup, including RIPArian IPA, Big Aft Pale, Riverdog ESB and ’Pooya Porter.
• PLACE TO DO SOMETHING YOU’LL REGRET
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Corvallis Riverfront Park fountains (Corvallis) Finalists: Otter Beach (Corvallis), Cool! Pool (Albany) In a town with lots to offer kids in summertime, its fitting they’d prefer to cool off in the Riverfront Park fountains. The fountain attracts youngsters to a plaza named for three-term Corvallis Mayor Helen M. Berg, who died years ago. Berg, while mayor, enjoyed watching children frolic in Central Park from her office in City Hall.
Albany natives Trey Kenyon, left, and Michael Shogren perform as electric pop duo Little Rascalz.
Not-so little rascals BY ALEX PAUL TOP OF THE VALLEY
• LOCAL BAND
Trey Kenyon, co-founder of the Little Rascalz combo, can’t remember a time when he wasn’t involved with music. The 21-year-old senior at Oregon State University sang in choirs as a young boy and then learned to play guitar, piano and drums as a teen. And he enjoys the fact that he gets to share that interest with his best friend, fellow West Albany graduate Michael Shogren. The duo formed Little Rascalz as a way of keeping in touch after graduation in 2010. “I enrolled at OSU and Michael went to Western Oregon,” Kenyon said. “We grew up
Little Rasclaz, (Albany) Finalists: Fate 55 (Corvallis), Crescendo Show (Corvallis)
together on the same street and have been best friends since grade school.” Kenyon said both he and Shogren write music, play instruments and sing. “We do everything ourselves and have written music and recorded music everywhere from apartments to dorm rooms,” Kenyon said. “We even book our own shows and handle our own tech stuff, promotions and graphic designs.” The duo will pick up a guitar
player and drummer for some gigs. Although they have performed around the state, Kenyon said Eugene seems to be among their most booked communities. They have performed at OSU, WOU and the University of Portland as well. Kenyon said their music tends to be pop, Top 40. “We are a high-energy, family-friendly show,” Kenyon said. “We have a lot of fun.” Kenyon said he’s not sure what the future holds for Little Rascalz, but “we want to take it as far as we can. We both love what we’re doing and we don’t do it for the money. We like having a positive effect on people.”
• THEATER/ CONCERT VENUE The Majestic (Corvallis) Finalists: River Rhythms (Albany), Albany Civic (Albany) The venerable vaudeville house at 115 S.W. Second St. turned 100 in August and puts on local shows as well as provides a venue for touring artists. Stop by and say hi to the theater’s new executive director, Tinamarie Ivey.
• WINERY Emerson Vineyards (Monmouth) Finalist: Tyee Wine Cellars (Corvallis), Lumos Wine Cellars (Philomath) Emerson Vineyards hosts wine tastings daily, and in summertime, the winery hosts weekly concerts. Bring $7.50, your picnic basket and a canned food item to donate. Annualy, Emerson donates aproximately one ton of food to the South Corvallis Food Bank.
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TOP OF THE VALLEY | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES AND ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD
TOP HONORS • ARTS NONPROFIT Albany Historic Carousel & Museum (Albany) Finalist: The Arts Center, (Corvallis) A repeat winner, the museum and carving studio has become a tourist attraction in downtown Albany, with some 2,000 visitors a month. Thirty of the 55 colorful animals that will be mounted on the carousel are completed. Fundraising continues for the building that will house the carousel. For more information, go to www.albanycarousel.com
• ARTIST Brittney West (Corvallis) Finalists: Melissa Saylor (Albany), Lainey Dyer (Corvallis) Painter Brittney West, who has a gallery in downtown Corvallis, won the award for top artist. West lost her mother to cancer as a child and many of her paintings depict women who have lost their hair while undergoing chemotherapy.
• BARTENDER
Sustainability Coalition. Kreth, 20, a graduate of Monroe High School and a student in the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon, nabbed this year’s Top of the Valley title. Kreth has long been active in community volunteering and political circles, and in June was named to represent the Willamette Valley in the annual Conference on Volunteering and Service in Washington, D.C. Kreth’s Eagle Scout project involved redoing the landscaping around the Monroe High School parking lot. He’s also been active in the local and state Democratic Party, and recently filed as a candidate for the Benton County Commission in the 2014 election.
• LOCAL THEATER GROUP Albany Civic Theater ACT, now in its 63rd season, was the only nominee in the category, which it has won four straight years. Its next production, the stage adaptation of the classic holiday film “It’s A Wonderful Life,” opens Dec. 6.
Mitchell Glasser, Pineway Golf Course (Lebanon) Finalists: Andrew Bengstan • LOCAL UPROAR (Calapooia Brewery, Albany), The ban on plastic bags Seth Waddell (Crowbar, Corvallis) (Corvallis) In addition to his drink skills, Finalists: GMOs in the valley, the 22-year-old Glasser is food cart controversy known for the smile and perAlthough it was a relatively sonality he brings to his job at quiet year on the bag-ban front in Pineway. Corvallis, it’s likely true that Top of the Valley voters were remind• CHEF ed of the fuss every time they visConor Claffey-Koller ited a grocery store or another re(del Alma, Corvallis) tailer — so no wonder that the Finalists: Matt Bennett ban claimed another title as top (Sybaris, Albany), Casey Gough local uproar.And a measure seek(Vault 244, Albany) ing to put the bag-ban ordinance Conor Claffey-Koller has barring retailers from using cerbeen the chef at del Alma for tain plastic bags on the Corvallis more than a year and he has alcity ballot still bubbles along, so ready won the Top Chef honor. who knows — this uproar could Claffey-Koller has cooked at oth- have some legs.The battle over er restaurants in the area over genetically modified organisms the last 10 years, and has never in the mid-valley seems likely to had a job as anything other than continue generating heat a cook in his 20-year working ca- throughout 2014. reer.
• COACH Rob Romancier (Albany) Finalists: Mark Hulburt, Rick Guenther On Nov. 9, Romancier led the West Albany High School girls water polo club to its third straight state championship.
• COMMUNITY SERVICE NONPROFIT Heartland Humane Society (Corvallis) Finalists: United Way of Linn and Benton counties, Linn Benton Food Share Heartland, also a winner of this honor in 2011, invites you to adopt an animal, foster an animal, invite a Humane Society educator to your school or organization, send your youngster to the Kindness Kids Club or to Camp Catnip, or shop or donate to Heartland Humane Society Thrift Shop (winner of the Thrift Store category). For more, go to www.heartlandhumane.org
• PARADE
River Rhythms (Albany) Finalists: Linn County Fair (Albany), Calapooia Brewing Co. (Albany) A four-time winner in this category, River Rhythms is a perennially popular series dating back to the early 1980s. The free concerts are held on Thursday nights in July and early August in Monteith Riverpark.
Coffee Culture rides local roasting and quality to top of list BY JAMES DAY
• COFFEE HOUSE
TOP OF THE VALLEY
Coffee Culture, which has four Corvallis outlets, rode its local roasting and quality of service to win best coffee house in the Top of the Valley voting. General manager Garrett Esary works mainly at Coffee Culture’s largest venue at 1195, N.W. Kings Blvd., but he also handles business at the company’s Timberhill (2495 Kings Blvd.), 2515 N.W. Ninth St. and downtown (363 S.W. Jefferson Ave.) locations.
Coffee Culture (Corvallis) Finalists: King’s Coffee House (Lebanon), Beanery (Corvallis)
“We put a big focus on quality,” said Esary, who has worked for Coffee Culture for 81/2 years. “We started roasting our own coffee locally, and we put quality and customer service above everything else.” So how did Coffee Culture brew its way to the top given the intense competition in the industry? “Everybody has a different take
on how to do coffee and present coffee,” Esary said. “We’re striving and changing every day to make our coffee the best and make sure our customers enjoy themselves with a great cup of coffee in their hand.” Also helping Coffee Culture stand out, Esary said, is “we provide a lot of background and information on where our coffee comes from and what it takes to make it. “We have knowledgeable baristas, and we manually brew every cup, which is more labor intensive.”
Veterans Day Parade (Albany) Finalists: Lebanon Strawberry Festival Parade (Lebanon), daVinci Days Kinetic Sculpture Parade (Corvallis) “Nobody does Veterans Day like Albany,” said U.S. Sen Ron Wyden, who walked with fellow senator Jeff Merkley in the 2013 parade earlier this month. The parade featured more than 200 entries, led by hundreds of motorcyclists. Thousands of spectators lined the route of the parade, which lasted 2 hours and 35 minutes. If you like to mark your calendar early, the next Veterans Day Parade is set for Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014.
• TEACHER
Chad Matthews (Philomath) Finalists: Terry Stephenson, Byron Holroyd Matthews, who teaches language arts and social studies at Philomath Middle School, says of himself: “I am an incredibly • DOCTOR blessed man. I want to love and Emily Rangel, MD (Corvallis) inspire my students to be all Finalists: Sharon Blouin, that they were created to be. veterinarinan; Shaun Foley, MD My areas of greatest interest The OB/GYN with the Corvalare being the best husband and lis Clinic wins this year’s Top best dad that I can be and pourDoctor honor. Rangel, a Kansas native, created the “Ask Doc Gin- ing my efforts and time into my ny” concept for the clinic’s Face- family, my friends and my students.” book page as a way to give women a chance to ask personal • VOCALIST health questions. Don Thorp (Waterloo) Finalist: Alexis Ebert, country • FESTIVAL and pop/rock singer (Albany) ATI Northwest Art & Air Thorp, frontman for the clasFestival (Albany) sic rock band Fate 55 since 1991, Finalists: Fall Festival (Corvallis),daVinci Days (Corvallis) wins the category for the second The annual Art & Air Festival year in a row. features hot-air balloon launch• WAIT STAFF es, art vendors and music in Sybaris (Albany) Timber-Linn Park and events at Finalists: Frankie’s (Albany), adjacent Albany Municipal Airport. The festival had its biggest Calapooia Brewing (Albany) Thirteen-year Sybaris emyear yet in 2013, with attenployee Jesse Brown manages dance of about 55,000 during the three-day August run. A Sat- the four-person wait staff at urday night concert by Foreigner Sybaris, which has to learn a drew 25,000. Next year’s festival new and complicated menu is set for Aug. 22-24. every month
• LOCAL MUSIC SERIES
AMANDA COWAN | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
A hot latte waits on the counter for a customer at Coffee Culture at the Kings Boulevard location.
• WRITER
Charles Goodrich (Corvallis) & Robert Plamondon (Blodgett) Although these writers have vastly different subjects, Charles Goodrich and Robert Plamondon tied for the top writer honor. Goodrich is the director of OSU’s Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature and the Written Word, and has published two volumes of poetry. Plamondon, a writer, engineer and • LOCAL PERSON farmer from Blodgett, owns Norton Creek Press and has pubOF THE YEAR lished a post-apocalyptic fiction Quintin Kreth (Monroe) Finalists: Dena Burian Black- book, a guide to raising baby law, an Albany property manag- chicks, and a book of advice for playing pen-and-paper role player and community volunteer; and Annette Mills of the Corvallis ing games.
AMANDA COWAN | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Jon Munster, The Book Bin’s store manager, assists a customer with her books while using one of the store's plastic bags last June.
Bookstores without Borders BENJAMIN RICKER TOP OF THE VALLEY
“A lot of business,” Book Bin owner Bob Baird said, “is outlasting the other guy”— wisdom Baird attributed to bronze business god Donald Trump. Outlasting, though, is not the same thing as waiting. Baird didn’t lose sleep when Borders Books opened in Corvallis in 2001. In fact, The Book Bin moved to its current location at 215 S.W. Fourth St. in order to compete head to head with the Michigan-based book giant. For 10 years Borders roosted in the Cannery Mall on N.W. Ninth St. “I wasn’t worried,” Baird said, “because we were doing everything we could do to meet them.” The Book Bin expanded its inventory of sale
• BOOKS/ PERIODICALS The Book Bin (Corvallis) Finalists: Grass Roots Books & Music (Corvallis), St. Vinnie’s (Albany)
books, calendars and gift items to be nearer to what he thought customers have grown to expect from book stores. “We didn’t want to seem dowdy,” Baird said. Borders closed its doors for good two years ago. Book Bin manager Jon Munster remembers it as a time of uneasy speculation for local booksellers. Nobody was sure what to expect after Borders, he said. Amazon added to the atmosphere of uncertainty when it began aggressively pushing its line of e-book readers. The Kindle revolution seems to have cooled off, though.
“People foretold the end of the printed book,” Munster said. “Far from it.” According to Munster, sales numbers jumped after Borders closed. What’s more, they’ve held steady. Munster and Baird attribute some of the store’s success to its small size.
“Because we’re small, we can move and adapt quickly,” Munster said. It must be harder for stores like Borders to make changes, he said. At the time it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Borders operated over 600 locations. The Book Bin just added a second location in Salem, at 2235 Lancaster Drive N.E., in addition to its longtime downtown Salem store at 450 Court St. N.E. The Corvallis store turned 30 in October.