Morgantown Magazine February/March 2018

370 Finalists!

More than 10,000 ballots cast!

104 Winners!

3 Ties!

The Best of Morgantown FEB/MAR 2018

volume 7

•

issue 3

PUBLISHED BY

New South Media, Inc.

709 Beechurst Avenue, Suite 14A, Morgantown, WV 26505

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nikki Bowman, nikki@newsouthmediainc.com EDITOR

Pam Kasey, pam@newsouthmediainc.com DESIGNER

Becky Moore, becky@newsouthmediainc.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Zack Harold, zack@newsouthmediainc.com OPERATIONS MANAGER

Allison Daugherty, allison@newsouthmediainc.com WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Julian Wyant, social@newsouthmediainc.com PHOTOGRAPHERS

Carla Witt Ford, Julian Wyant INTERNS

Demi Fuentes Ramirez, Jackson Jacobs SALES DIRECTOR

Heather Mills, heather@newsouthmediainc.com ADVERTISING

Heather Mills, Jeremiah Raines, Bryson Taylor CONTRIBUTORS

Kaylyn Christopher, Kendall Perkinson, Austin Rempel

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MORGA NTOW N is published by New South Media, Inc. Copyright: New South Media, Inc. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher. © N EW SOU T H M EDI A, I NC. A LL R IGH TS R ESERV ED

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MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

EDITOR’S NOTE You can meet Pearl, a friendly Goffin’s cockatoo, at Exotic Jungle Pet Superstore, our BOM 2018 Best Local Pet Store.

B

OM is a wild beast.

The thing had a mind of its own right from the first, in 2012. Every year since then, more people and businesses are nominated. More nominees promote themselves, more readers vote from more devices, more categories are suggested. And more people express more opinions on how it should and shouldn’t be done.

BOM is our wild beast, and we love it. It has all of the traits we’re about at Morgantown: community, excellence, friendly competition, a little suspense— and, ultimately, storytelling and celebration.

Now at 101 “Best of” designations, BOM has outgrown its feature story slot and taken over the magazine. This issue is coverto-cover BOM—an entire publication profiling all of the things Restaurant, Personality, Shopping, Downtime, Services, Health + Wellness, and Blue + Gold that you love most.

This is my fifth year with Best of Morgantown and my first year managing it. Based on the suggestions and gripes I’ve heard, I’d like to revisit some basics: • BOM is a democratic endeavor. Advertising doesn’t influence it. Reputation does.

• We cheer when local enterprises win. But again, it’s democratic.

Voters sometimes prefer the broad selection and hardnegotiated prices that chains can offer over the expertise and personal service of a local establishment. The good news is, we saw more local places nominated and win in this 7th year than ever before.

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MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

• BOM has become a valuable marketing tool, and we are delighted by that. But let’s all keep some perspective: BOM is at its heart a feel-good endeavor. If you were disappointed this year, toast your competitors, learn something from them, and promote yourself harder next year.

Like any wild creature, to press an analogy too far, BOM teaches us about ourselves. None of us knew, before BOM, that Black Bear would be Morgantown’s favorite Business Lunch, no matter how we word that category.

Without BOM, we might not remember the importance of a “sit and fit” shoe store. We’d have no idea, individually, that we, collectively, most like Shorty Anderson’s and Stenger’s to take care of our cars. And we wouldn’t know the fun of seeing our many very popular hair salons compete each year.

BOM reflects the creativity, passions, and idiosyncrasies that make Morgantown a great place to live. So join us on February 21 in celebrating our 2018 winners— see the calendar listing on page 70 or visit morgantownmag.com/BOM for details. Then go out there and be your weird, wonderful best, and let’s wrangle a whole new wild beast in 2019.

Best,

PA M K ASEY

Editor

Follow us at . . . @morgantownmagazine @morgantownmag @morgantownmag ON THE COVER Our web and social media manager, Julian Wyant, snapped our cover photo from The Montmartre’s rooftop terrace at the Historic Clarion Hotel Morgan, looking up High Street.

BEST OF MORGANTOWN STAFF PICKS BOM doesn’t have a category for everything that’s great about Morgantown. Here are some New South Media staff nominations.

“Best Sunday Funday: Cheat Lake During the spring, summer, and fall there’s no better place to relax and enjoy the day, whether by walking the more than four miles of trails alongside the lake or by hanging out on the water ‘makin’ waves and catchin’ rays’ with great friends.” — Jeremiah “Best Dog Park: Krepps Park Dog Park It’s therapeutic.

You get to bond with new people—students, professionals, retired couples—thanks to your dogs. You learn new things about the area and about enjoying life in general. I love it.” — Demi “Best French Fries: The Greeks I’m based in Charleston, so every time I pass through Morgantown I have to stop for Greek Fries. They’re always fresh and crispy and come topped with garlic olive oil and feta. It’s a lunch unto itself—but I usually end up ordering a gyro, too.” — Zack “Best Community Market: Morgantown Farmers Market It’s an upbeat environment where students and locals seem happy to occupy the same space. I always leave feeling good about buying local products, and that good feeling continues throughout my day.” — Allison “Best Place to Sweat: CrossFit Ridgeline This place is my go-to stress reliever. The coaches are so positive and encouraging and the workouts are awesome. I always leave this place feeling like Wonder Woman.” — Becky “Best Unusual Structure: The WVU Coliseum I love the view of the Coliseum coming up I-79 north toward the Westover exit. When my kids were younger, they equated it to a giant cheeseburger in a silver wrapper, so now I see it as such every time I drive in to work.” — Heather “Best Stress Food: Fries & Bleu at Wings Ole When I’m stressed, this is my go-to comfort food. There’s just something about the combination of french fries crisped to perfection and the creamy blue cheese dip that makes my stress melt away. I savor that first bite!” — Nikki

CORRECTION The team at FEOH Realty, misidentified in our December/ January 2018 issue, are Jason and Janet Donahue.

We regret this error.

SPONSOREDCONTENT

Industrial Strength

Ready for a refresh? Chuck’s Furniture can outfit and update your home with one-of-a-kind furnishings. ➼ AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, are you wishing you had a bigger dining room table? Or did Uncle Ralph tip a chair back and end up on the floor? Whether you are graduating from IKEA bookcases, the dog did a number on your Oriental 8

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

rug, or you just want to freshen up your surroundings, Chuck’s Furniture, located off I-79 near the Morgantown Mall, is a one-stop shop for your home décor and furnishing needs.

“One of our most popular lines is from

Home Trends and Design (HTD), a unique company that creates one-of-akind, sustainable products,” says James Prutilpac, marketing manager at Chuck’s Furniture “Their pieces are statement pieces. The type that when guests come over, they say, ‘Wow!’” Think oversized raw-edge tables or industrial-inspired bar stools—pieces that incorporate variations in wood and texture and mix mediums like reclaimed beams and cast iron. “Home Trends and Design’s solid wood products are built to last—heirloom quality. Not products that are going to end up in the landfill,” Prutilpac says.

More people are making environmentally savvy choices in furnishing homes, and that is resulting in a positive impact on the planet and creating healthier living environments.

“HTD uses sustainably sourced wood, like mango trees. It is the most harvested

COURTESY OF HOME TRENDS AND DESIGN

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

2018 TRENDS Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection.

In home design, this practice incorporates handmade or handpainted items that highlight the organic and unique aspects of home furnishings and décor.

Here are 3 ways to incorporate wabi-sabi into your home.

COURTESY OF HOME TRENDS AND DESIGN

1. Sabi means “the bloom of time.” Incorporate pieces that are tarnished or rusted.

fruit in the world. When the trees are no longer fruit-bearing, they are turned into furniture,” says Warren Clark, HTD director of Visual Projects & Marketing.

“We also make a lot of our furniture with reclaimed wood, and all of our finishes are eco-friendly. Other companies will use toxic glues or toxic chemicals and can off-gas, but we use water-based finishes that make our products water-resistant.”

For the past 12 years, HTD has responded to market demands, evolving its product line. “We’ve become more modern, added industrial and mixed media and more scaled-down sizes. We have products that work in apartments, condos, and small homes and are attractive to empty nesters as well as the big-case pieces for larger homes. Most of our tables have three size options.”

According to Clark, HTD was the first to bring live edge tables to the market.

The company’s London Loft Collection,

which marries unique metal bases with thick, solid wood slabs that are as beautiful as the trees they’re crafted from, is extremely popular in the Northeast.

This collection blends art with function.

The cast iron bases are recast from old iron and range from machinery-themed to more ornamental, vintage Frenchinspired. Given the nature of the wood, no two pieces are the same. Clark says, “Weathered grays and lighter finishes are very popular right now.”

Prutilpac says, “People want to purchase a piece that will last a long, long time. They also want something unique. We have people who come from all over, even Pittsburgh, to purchase HTD’s products because they can’t find it anywhere else in the area.”

Visit chucksfurniture.com; pac5furniture.com

2. Earthy and natural furnishings that showcase the imperfect nature of solid wood are hallmarks of wabi-sabi.

3. A decluttered living environment allows pieces like this with unsymmetrical edges to ground a room.

MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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Seven years in, BOM has taken on a rhythm.

It’s a six-month process from the time we start planning the fresh ballot in August to the time we gather in February to celebrate the winners.

But there are still surprises—new contenders, new enthusiasm for particular categories, unexpected upsets, and dynasties in the making. Those surprises are all you. This year, along with profiles of the favorites, we’re sharing some of the numbers.

Congratulations to the winners!

Written by Nikki Bowman, Kaylyn Christopher, Demi Fuentes Ramirez , Zack Harold, Jackson Jacobs, Pam Kasey, Kendall Perkinson, Austin Rempel, Julian Wyant

Nomination round opened: 10/13

Number of categories: 101

Highest number of nomination ballots in a day: 650, on 10/24

Nomination round closed: 11/6

Number of nomination ballots filed: 5,677

CONTENTS

Shopping p.12

Downtime p.20

Services p.28

Food + Drink p.40

Personalities p.54

Health + Wellness p.58

Blue + Gold p.64

Final round opened: 11/20

Highest number of final ballots in a day: 1,363, on 11/21

Number of finalists in the 101 categories: 370

Final round closed: 12/18, with 10,092 ballots cast

Number of unique categories suggested for 2019 BOM: at least 120

Shopping Because retail therapy is real

M

organtown loves to shop. And like any growing town, it has more and more options.

We note happily that, while chain retailers that bring us variety from the region and nation find welcome reception here, more independent shops were nominated for Best Of this year than ever.

Thank you to those who suggest that we should make BOM all about the locals: We, like you, root for the hometown shops. But voters sometimes express a clear preference for selection and price over expertise and personal service, and we acknowledge a place in our growing economy for all scales of retail.

BEST GIFT SHOP

The Elegant Alley Cat A staple in downtown Morgantown, The Elegant Alley Cat has gifts for every occasion. West Virginia–themed goods, local artwork, jewelry and accessories, housewares, and seasonal and year-round decor give customers the warm and loving feeling of home. Just looking around is part of the experience. At The Elegant Alley Cat, finding gifts is not the challenge—it’s having to choose between the two or three or maybe five options you fell in love with.

The Elegant Alley Cat has offered downtown shoppers a steady stream of stylish and heartwarming gifts since 1984. Coowners Amy Dale and Amber Sellaro became the third owners in 2015. What makes the store one-of-a-kind, in Dale’s mind, is the products they sell and their customer service. “I love everything about this business,” she says. “I love being able to wait on customers, help them pick a gift, and wrap it for their loved ones. It’s a labor of love.” — DFR 358 High Street, 304.292.4433, elegantalleycat.com @elegantalleycat on Facebook

BEST BOOKSTORE

The sound of pages turning, the smell of paper, the calming atmosphere: There’s nothing like browsing a bookstore. Barnes & Noble’s 1970s experiment in encouraging browsers to linger became a signature part of the store’s experience.

Barnes & Noble at University Town Centre invites shoppers to sit down, read a little, and enjoy themselves, with comfortable chairs and an in-house Starbucks.

The store also sells magazines, music, movies, games, and library accessories. Staff are always happy to point you toward what you’re looking for or order it for you if it’s not in stock. — JW 2814 University Town Centre Drive, 304.599.1294 barnesandnoble.com 12

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

JULIAN WYANT; CARLY SUPLITA

Barnes & Noble

BEST FURNITURE STORE

Chuck’s Furniture If you are looking for furniture, our readers say that Chuck’s Furniture and Mattress is indeed the BOM, winning Best Furniture Store this year for a fifth time.

What started out as a 2,500-square-foot warehouse and showroom in 1967 has grown to more than 100,000 square feet of high-quality furnishings at every price point—from tables and chairs to mattresses and sofas. Recognizing the growth of a more transient and student customer base, the family expanded three years ago by adding PAC 5, a warehouse and showroom that carries products at a lower price.

Today, three generations work together with longtime employees to bring customers personalized service and top-notch products to outfit their homes. “At our core, our mission is to take care of our customers and to provide them with the best customer service and the highest-quality affordable furniture they can find,” says James Prutilpac, the third generation to run the business. — NB 77 Lawless Road, 304.292.7621, chucksfurniture.com, @chucksfurniturewvu on Facebook

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Jacqueline’s Fine Jewelry Specializing in diamonds and bridal jewelry, Jacqueline’s offers the resources of a large-scale store with the charm of a homegrown retailer. That mix of broad expertise and personal service comes through on Jacqueline’s website, where buyers can learn about diamond basics and browse photographs of the shop’s extensive inventory. In video interviews, Jacqueline’s staff talk about how much they enjoy helping customers choose jewelry and fine gifts for women and men from designers such as Charles Krypell, Stephen Webster, and William Henry—and how proud they are to work with customers in the creation of unique custom pieces. — PK 1070 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, 304.599.6981, jacquelinesfinejewelry.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES

CARLA WITT FORD

Shoe Story In today’s world of self-service shoe stores, a shop that does fittings is a rarity. That’s not always for the better, says Shoe Story owner Julie Jordan.

“A lot of people are wearing the wrong width, the wrong fit without realizing it,” Jordan says. A poor fit can cause fatigue, contribute over time to fallen arches or plantar fasciitis, or aggravate arthritis.

“There are so many brands now for every kind of foot problem, and our employees know everything about every shoe we carry. Our customers could write testimonies about their pain that went away.”

Originally a children’s shoe store when Jordan bought it in 1999, Shoe Story still carries children’s brands including Stride Right and See Kai Run. She’s since added women’s fashions for work, everyday wear, and a night out. Birkenstock, Ugg, and Earth are among the shop’s most popular brands, and FitFlop is up-and-coming.

“We’ll bring out a huge selection, until you get what fits you—no one else does that,” Jordan says.

“Why go anywhere else?” — PK 749 Chestnut Ridge Ridge Road, 304.599.7443; 114 Emily Drive, Clarksburg, 304.622.4434; theshoestory.net, “The Shoe Story” on Facebook

Inside BOM Most nominations in any Shopping category: Best Grocery Store

1,177

Most nominations for any one nominee in Shopping: University Town Centre for Best Shopping Center

369

Highest number of nominees in a single category: Best Place to Buy Women’s Apparel

19

Most votes in final round: Best Grocery Store

5,763

Variations on some uncountable nominations for Best Shopping Center:

Town center Town Center Town center mall Town Centre Town hill Towncrest Towne Center MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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Contemporary Consignment When you want something special—a standout handbag, a stunning ball gown—the first place in town to try is Contemporary Consignment. It’s also the place to go if you spent serious cash on a piece and now you’re hoping to get some of it back.

Contemporary Consignment calls itself a “selective upscale retail fashion boutique.” If you’re buying, that means current fashions, new or very gently used, at 50 to 75 percent off retail.

If you’re selling, it works like this: Call in advance to drop off your clean and hangered, new or like-new fashions a season ahead. Dresses, coats, and boots, wallets and handbags, jewelry and accessories, “anything you can wear, for women only,” says boutique owner Hallie Waugaman, who started the shop in 2004. Anything you can wear, that is, with a coveted label. Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Coldwater Creek—whatever’s selling well in the current season. “Fads change and we change with them,” Waugaman says.

The shopping experience is just what we all want: stylish pieces at hot prices, organized by size and color.

The selling experience is good, too. A sophisticated tracking system barcodes every tag, credits consignors’ accounts with a share of their sales, and can generate receipts for donations to charity for everything that has to be moved out at the end of the season.

Contemporary Consignment holds a blowout semiannual 3-2-1 clearance every February and August.

“Everything’s $3 the first day, $2 the second day, then $1,” Waugaman says. “People literally go out with garbage bags.”

To see great finds as they come in the door, follow the shop on Facebook. And check the Facebook Notes page for details about the consignment process. — PK 1756 Mileground Road, 304.284.8070 @contemporaryconsignment on Facebook 14

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

BEST PLACE TO BUY MEN’S APPAREL

Daniel’s of Morgantown Every man should have at least one tailored suit in his steez. And every Morgantown man can get that snazzy suit from seven-time BOM winner Daniel’s of Morgantown.

What color suit? According to style guru and 11-year Daniel’s salesman Phil Mauser—aka Fine Lookin’ Phil—the go-to used to be black, but now it’s blue and charcoal. This winter, Fine Lookin’ Phil says a lighter shade of blue in sport coats and suits is the current trend. “Navy is such a staple in a gentleman’s wardrobe that the lighter shades of blue work well in providing something a little different,” he elaborates.

Keeping Morgantown gentlemen sharp and sophisticated since 1963, Daniel’s has pieces for every occasion—weddings, job interviews, date nights, and beyond. And it doesn’t sell just suits. Daniel’s sells shoes, sweaters, belts, and ties as well as women’s wear. It also has a proprietary line of WVU gameday apparel and a State Pride line that features the state of West Virginia. — JW 2908 University Avenue, 304.296.7202, danielsofmorgantown.com @danielsofmorgantown on Facebook

BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN’S APPAREL

T.J. MAXX From workout apparel and teen fashions to dresses and professional attire, T.J. MAXX is the discounted designer department store that has everything women love. The T.J. MAXX buying teams travel to 60 countries around the world to buy the best brand items directly from designers. This cuts the middlemen out and lets the stores offer quality brands for as little as 40 percent of department store prices. With more than 10,000 new items coming in each week, the stores offer an ever-changing variety of high-end clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories. — DFR 4041 University Town Centre Drive, 304.599.1261, tjmaxx.com

JULIAN WYANT

BEST CLOTHING CONSIGNMENT STORE

BEST LOCAL PET STORE

Exotic Jungle Pet Superstore A good pet shop is a sanctuary for animals as colorful as the people hoping to take them home. The atmosphere at Exotic Jungle is exactly as advertised— exotic, hospitable, and teeming with character. The number of standout characters is too much to name here: Marley the Savannah Monitor, who wore a sporty Santa uniform in December; parakeets jumping laps around each other; one cat sleeping on top of a boa cage and another looming regally over the shop atop its play tower—just another Saturday morning at Exotic Jungle. The store boasts options for all kinds of pet owners, offering a myriad of food and accessories for your furry, feathered, or scaly friends. The shop doesn’t treat its animals as a business commodity, but as members of the family. — JJ 1716 Mileground Road, 304.296.8552 “Exotic Jungle Pet Superstore” on Facebook

BEST PLACE TO BUY KIDS’ APPAREL

JULIAN WYANT

Once Upon A Child Keeping up with the needs of a growing child can get expensive, especially when those new jeans from Christmas are already starting to look a little short and those barely worn sneakers are beginning to fit a little snug. Luckily, secondhand store Once Upon a Child has an apparel selection that can help kids stay in style and parents stay on budget. Since the franchise opened in Morgantown one year ago, it has offered parents the ability to trade their children’s used items in for cash and the chance to buy name brands for less.

“I love dressing my little girl in cute, stylish brands, and this is a great way to be able to do so for much less than paying retail prices,” says Jessica Douglas, the store’s manager. “Then, once she's finished with the toys or equipment or grows out of the clothing and shoes, I can sell them back.”

Inside the shop’s doors in Westover, racks are filled with items like Under Armour hoodies and Miss Me jeans while the shelves and floor are lined with anything from a gently used pair of Uggs to Legos, American Girl dolls, and jogging strollers. And unlike many other secondhand stores, Once Upon a Child pays money up front for used items that are on trend and in good condition. So when you’re rummaging through your things during spring cleaning this year, keep an eye out for any clothing, shoes, toys, furniture, or baby gear that you’re willing to part with—it just might give a little oomph to someone else’s closet as well as your wallet. — KC 7100 Willie G Ave Ste 104, Westover, 304.322.2446, onceuponachild. com/morgantown, @onceuponachildmorgantown on Facebook MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST LOCAL RECREATION STORE

Pathfinder There’s as much to do in the waters, woods, and cliffs around Morgantown as there is downtown. But you can’t take on the great outdoors without the right equipment—that’s where Pathfinder comes in. Pathfinder can outfit everyone from car camper to daredevil with equipment for skateboarding, cycling, paddling, snow sports, and much more. Its gear appeals to mountaineer and urbanite alike because it’s both functional and fashionable, including popular brands like North Face, Patagonia, and Columbia.

Pathfinder first opened 45 years ago on Willey Street. The shop has relocated into larger spaces three times since, finally landing in a High Street space big enough for extensive racks of bikes, snowboards, skis, and kayaks.

Today it sits right in the sweet spot for Morgantown recreationalists: offering an impressive variety of outdoor recreation equipment, with the personalized service of experienced staff who use the gear they recommend—even offering tune-ups and repairs for many of the products they sell. — JJ 235 High Street, 304.296.0076, pathfinderwv.com, @pathfinderwv on Facebook

BEST PAWN SHOP

There’s exactly one place in Morgantown where you can buy an electric guitar autographed by John Mayer, a .357 revolver, and a vintage Gianni Versace trench coat all at once.

Cashland Pawn opened more than 20 years ago, but it was in 2004 that current manager Rob Summers started helping his father-in-law out with the business. “I just needed some part-time work, but I’ve been here ever since,” Summers says.

Long before Morgantown existed, pawn brokers were associated with the pious followers of religious orders. In 5th century China, they were owned and operated

by Buddhist monasteries. In the 12th century, Franciscan friars ran similar shops.

Saint Nicholas—aka Santa Claus—is, to this day, the patron saint of pawnbrokers.

But Summers acknowledges that in America, ideas about pawnbroking eventually changed for the worse.

“Pawn shops have a stigma to them, like we’re back here hiding behind a newspaper, smoking, crabby with everyone.” He laughs. “We always try to do things a little different.”

The stereotype of the shady, grumpy pawnbroker has been undergoing a renovation in some corners of pop culture, Summers says. He credits television shows like Hardcore Pawn and Pawn Stars, which chronicle the business lives of well-established brokers in Detroit and Las Vegas.

The store operates as most pawn shops do: Clients take items in as collateral for loans. They can either purchase the items back within 30 days or keep the loans and leave the items to be sold in the shop.

What makes Cashland Pawn stand out, according to Summers, is the way clients are treated. “It’s in having an understanding for people. Having an understanding for their situation and where they’re at, treating them like human beings. Our clients are the best. This place pretty much runs on our regulars.”

Regular buyers at Cashland Pawn know to shop seasonally. As winter first approached, people started bringing in tools that they wouldn’t be using in the cold weather. Now, as deer hunting season ends, the guns are showing up.

The shop’s recent move from Beechurst to Brockway Avenue—between Chestnut Brew Works and Beertopia—has so far worked well for frequent clients. Others are only gradually discovering the more tucked-away location. Summers smiles. “We’re South Park’s best-kept secret.”

Not anymore. — KP 530 Brockway Avenue, 304.296.3970, cashlandpawnshop.com @cashlandpawn on Facebook 16

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

CARLA WITT FORD; JULIAN WYANT (2)

Cashland Pawn

BEST SECOND-HAND SHOP

JULIAN WYANT; CARLY SUPLITA

Plato’s Closet Dressing in style doesn’t have to leave you with sticker shock. Instead of paying full price for designer jeans or the latest handbag, more and more shoppers are scouring the racks at Plato’s Closet, a secondhand store that came to Morgantown just two years ago, for deals on a wide selection of new-to-you items for preteens and young adults.

Plato’s Closet, which is a sister company to fellow BOM award winner Once Upon a Child, is outfitting its customers with fashion choices that are not only trendy but also wallet-friendly, by offering gently used apparel, accessories, and even high-end makeup at anywhere from 50 to 70 percent off retail prices. The store also accepts West Virginia clothing vouchers, making back-to-school shopping season one of the most popular times of the year.

“A $200 voucher can get you almost a trash bag full of stuff, and it’s all name brand,” district manager Kaylee Martin says.

In-demand items like Hunter boots and Nike Air Jordan sneakers are quickly snatched from the store’s shelves, but Martin says sellers are eager to trade in their used items for money, so more inventory rolls into the store every day. Plato’s Closet always accepts items for all seasons, so you can simultaneously clear out some much-needed space in your closet and earn a little cash on the spot.

“If you haven’t worn it in the last three months, you’re probably never going to,” says Martin. “It’s so easy to sell to us, and it’s completely at your convenience. If you haven’t tried shopping with us, I dare you to, because once you start, you will never be able to pay full price for something again.”

On the heels of the success the store has found in Morgantown, the franchise is expanding this March with the opening of another location in Parkersburg. — KC 6504 Mall Road, 304.983.6020 platosclosetmorgantown.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING DRESS

Coni & Franc Coni & Franc has been voted Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress for seven years running, and no wonder: For more than 35 years, the full-service boutique has aimed to give each customer a one-on-one shopping experience.

Coni & Franc offers 1.5-hour bridal appointments and bridesmaids’ appointments with trained consultants and refreshments. With information in advance about taste and budget, a consultant can prepare a selection from among the shop’s large inventory of new and sale dresses and daywear pieces that range from $50 to $5,000. The shop stocks a full range of sizes and partners with a professional seamstress should alterations be needed, and also carries veils, bridal jewelry, and accessories from Pronovias, Erica Koesler, Edward Berger, and other fashionable designers. — PK 422 High Street, 304.296.9466, coniandfranc.net, @conifranc on Facebook CLOSE RUNNER-UP

The Vow Boutique 4 Suburban Court, 304.291.7333, thevowwv.com @thevowboutique on Facebook MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST PLACE TO BUY HEALTH FOOD

Morgantown Farmers Market

Kroger at Suncrest Towne Centre Like any other Tuesday morning, Kroger cheesemonger Miguel Acosta was cutting cheese. An old man with a white beard and a tweed flat cap walks up to him and says, “You’re a murderer.” Confused, Acosta asks why.

The old man replies sternly, “You’re killing the cheese!”

A connoisseur of cheese, he spends 10 minutes explaining to Acosta why he is a cheese murderer.

This is one of the most curious things that has happened to Acosta in his 16 months so far working at the cheese counter at Kroger. He finds being a cheesemonger entertaining. “I like that I get to learn about the cheese and get to interact with customers.

By now I know the people because of the cheese they usually get,” he says.

With more than 180 varieties of imported and domestic cheese as well as 25 varieties of olives, the cheese station is one of Suncrest Towne Centre Kroger’s most-loved amenities. The cheesemongers help customers with their cheese selections. The most popular cheeses at the shop are gruyère and Murray’s Cambozola Black Label, a mild brie-style blue cheese.

Acosta’s favorite is Murray’s Irish Cheddar. “It goes great with pepper jelly and crackers.”

Customers have come to love the Suncrest Towne Centre Kroger’s many amenities. With its in-house sushi makers, large natural foods section, regional products, extensive beer and wine inventory, and ClickList online ordering service, the supermarket earns its Morgantown nickname of “Gucci Kroger.” — DFR 500 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, 304.285.6780 kroger.com 18

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

304.291.7201, morgantownfarmersmarket.org @morgantownfarmersmarket on Facebook

BEST SHOPPING CENTER

University Town Centre Between the retail shops, medical services, casual and upscale restaurants, movie theater, and baseball stadium, it’s possible to spend an entire day crossing off errands and having a good time at University Town Centre. The Interstate 79 Exit 153 that opened in the fall of 2016 made access to the newer shops and restaurants at the southern end—Panda Express, Star Furniture, car dealerships, and others—even easier. — PK

JULIAN WYANT; ELIZABETH FORD

BEST GROCERY STORE

There’s something about buying fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats at the Morgantown Farmers Market that feels traditional, communal.

Saturday mornings from May into November, 35 to 40 vendors sell produce, meats, cheeses, jams, breads, and other locally produced foods under the Spruce Street pavilion, with a smaller number showing up Tuesday afternoons at the former Shop ’n Save in Westover. At the winter markets in the gymnasium of the Wesley United Methodist Church, singers or belly dancers often perform.

The market meets the demand not only for healthy food, but for the “locavore” movement gaining traction across the country: All of the produce is grown within a 50-mile radius. This eliminates the cost and pollution of long-distance shipping while keeping money circulating locally.

The farmers’ market has its own chef during summer months. Tastings are often prepared using ingredients available from participating vendors, making it easy to experiment with the dishes on your own.

And keep your eyes open: Scattered throughout the market, shoppers can find interesting non-food items like handwoven winter wear, potted annuals, herb and spice mixes, bird feeders, and more. — KP

Downtime Where to spend the 5-9 after your 9-5

M

organtown takes its downtime seriously—it’s not easy for a contender to break through and beat a perennial favorite. Whether it’s the arts, recreation, fitness, or communitybuilding, most winners in this section give us what we love year after year. This year, the community recognizes a lot of longtime favorites and a couple of new ones.

BEST BAND

Music runs deep in the Davisson Brothers’ blood. Long before they were touring the country, making records, and winning fans, brothers Chris and Donnie were joining their father onstage as Ed Davisson and Sons. “It was kind of like homeschooling. We were homeschooled in the music business,” Chris says.

Ed Davisson was a professional musician since he graduated high school, and still plays more than 200 shows a year with his blues– rock band. Their uncle Pete plays music, too, though his tastes run more toward country and folk. He lives on the family farm, located on a piece of the 400-acre plot their great-greatgrandfather Daniel D. Davisson was granted following the Revolutionary War. After working in the hayfields all day, he and his nephews would often hang out in the barn and write music together.

The legacy goes back even further. Both of Ed’s and Pete’s parents were musicians. Although his grandfather had a “regular job,” Chris says, he was an accomplished jazz guitar player in his free time. And his wife, Chris’s grandmother, was a pianist who liked to play hymns and popular music of the day. But even before that, Davissons were known for their musical prowess.

Back then, they were mostly fiddle players. “One of our family members was hired by the B&O railroad to help workers work faster,” Chris says. The family has largely given up on fiddling by now. Chris says only one distant cousin, Denny Davisson, still saws the strings.

But the musical genes are still going strong. “Every single male in my 20

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

family is out performing with their own show,” Chris says.

The Davisson Brothers are certainly doing their part to keep the family tradition alive. The band recently released a new single, “PO’ Boyz,” which is climbing the charts in Australia. They hope to release the single stateside, along with an accompanying music video and a whole new album, later this year.

“We’re thankful. I couldn’t imagine doing something else for a living,” Chris says. — ZH davissonbrothersband.com

COURTESY OF DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND

Davisson Brothers Band

BEST THEATER

Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the CAC The Clay Theater has been operational since 1968, but it still feels fresh. One acoustic challenge of the space is its very different uses: artists and musicals that use amplification on one hand, and acoustic sounds like symphonic orchestras on the other.

Amplified shows are pumped through a PA system that is still relatively new. For acoustic acts, the rear walls of the stage fold out and around the musicians, forming a bandshell that projects more of this quieter sound toward the audience.

The best seats in any theater are usually lost to a center aisle, where the surfaces evenly reflect the sound. But the Clay theater has “continental” seating, which means that rows extend all the way across the venue but are wide enough to allow for easy passage.

Pro-tip: Grab those center seats for an acoustically ideal experience. — KP 1 Fine Arts Drive, 304.293.7469 events.wvu.edu

BEST RADIO STATION

WVAQ If you’re looking for the songs topping today’s pop charts, WVAQ 100.9 FM is the place to go. But we wanted to know what songs get WVAQ’s on-air personalities going. Here are their top picks: Jack Logar My favorite new song is Justin Timberlake’s “Filthy.”

The stripped-down, funky sound is instantly catchy, and I like the way it switches gears. The video is excellent, too.

Jaime Ames I’m really into Camila Cabello’s “Havana” right now.

Mostly because of the hook and the lyrics “Jeffrey, just graduated fresh on campus.” Who the heck is Jeffrey? How did he get in this song? I imagine him in a turtleneck doing awkward-dad dance moves.

Jason Knight Fave song at the moment is “New Rules” by Dua Lipa, a great singer-songwriter from the U.K. who sounds like nothing else on Top 40 right now. I’m always intrigued by artists like her that stand out. “Best Friend” by Sofi Tukker is my second choice for the same reason.

JULIAN WYANT

Matt Kelly Demi Lovato is my girl, so anything she puts out is always a must-listen for me. Especially her new one, “Tell Me You Love Me.” Nikki Drake I love songs I can blast and sing in the car. So since Matt already chose our mutual crush Demi, I’m going to go with “Let Me Go” by Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso, featuring Florida Georgia Line and Andrew Watt. It makes me dance and it’s an earworm. — ZH

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BEST MUSIC VENUE

123 Pleasant Street These 1890s Pleasant Street rowhouses-turned-hangout have been dedicated to live music since the 1980s, when Marsha Ferber started the Underground Railroad and, later, the all-ages Dry House. They’ve hosted thousands of live shows, fostering local musicians and bringing in big-name touring acts as eclectic as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bo Diddley, and Wynton Marsalis. Professional West Virginia musicians like Todd Burge remember Ferber with great affection and attribute their starts, in part, to the scene at the Underground Railroad.

The club went through a few incarnations in the 1990s, including the fondly remembered Nyabinghi Dance Hall. When the property was condemned in the late ’90s, Morgantown native L.J. Giuliani took it over, gave it a lot of love, and reopened it as 123 Pleasant Street to carry the legacy forward.

Two decades later, the club is doing just that. “Serving the community and local bands—that’s the foundation,” Giuliani says. “And we try to maintain a balance of genres: jam bands, punk rock, bluegrass, all kinds.” 123 still pleases the late-night core of its business as much as ever. At the same time, Giuliani and his booking agent schedule some events for a workingman’s crowd. And the club carries through on its longtime support for local and aspiring bands, hosting open mic nights, all-ages shows, and frequent PopShop shows of young musicians.

123 Pleasant Street wears a club patina that can only be earned through decades of the real thing. Three rooms with the stage in the center let any group of friends find its niche, and the good listening and dancing are backed up by tacos from the kitchen and a well-stocked bar with local brews. — PK 123 Pleasant Street, 304.292.0800, 123pleasantstreet.com @123pleasantstreet on Facebook

BEST LOCAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

In 2007, Empty Bowls consisted almost solely of the annual fundraising luncheon that Morgantown has come to know and love.

People from all over the county come to enjoy some 50 varieties of soup and bread, after which they leave with empty, hand-painted bowls. Creator of the concept John Hartom hoped that the bowl would serve as a visual reminder of hunger and food insecurity for the rest of the year.

In 2008, the organization stepped up its game. It was around this time that Mike Mosser began working with it.

“When I came on the board, there was only the luncheon that really raised funds. There were no donations, no contributions from companies or passionate people,” Mosser says. “So that was my purpose getting involved with Empty Bowls.”

Mosser and Executive Director Jerrey Hoyt put their contact lists together and started reaching out to movers and shakers, soliciting donations for the hungry in Monongalia County.

A decade later, funds raised from companies and individuals outside the luncheon total over $130,000—about 85 percent of the organization’s total distributions. Meanwhile, the luncheon itself has more than doubled in size, with almost 700 people volunteering thousands of hours of labor for that one night.

One reason Empty Bowls has been so successful is its efficiency.

There are very few overhead costs. The organization is all-volunteer, and the money collected is distributed directly to 23 church charities, food pantries, and feeding programs throughout the area.

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Not all donations are monetary. One year, WVU offered symphony tickets in exchange for a single item of food dropped off at the Creative Arts Center. Longtime volunteer Gina Brown says that previously, food donated during the event filled just one box.

This time was different. “There was so much food,” she says. “We kept taking the tub out and emptying it in the car and going back in to gather more. Every time we went back in, it would be piled all over the table. It went like that all night.”

This year’s luncheon is coming up on February 24. Those interested in volunteering for the event should check out the “Get Involved” section of Empty Bowls’ website. — KP ebmon.org

PAM KASEY; JULIAN WYANT; BOB CAMPIONE

Empty Bowls Monongalia

BEST DANCE STUDIO

Morgantown Dance Studio

GRETCHEN HURD

Serving the local community since the early 1990s, Morgantown Dance Studio is still pulling out its very best moves, earning the BOM award for a third time since 2013. At one time primarily a ballet studio, Morgantown Dance has expanded its repertoire to include everything from tap, hip-hop, and Irish dance to musical theater and strength and conditioning classes. About 250 students of all ages call the nonprofit arts organization home, something Morgantown Dance Board President Isaac Wolford attributes to the diversity and camaraderie the studio offers.

“We have as broad a range of people as you can possibly have in terms of age, culture, and socioeconomic status,” Wolford says.

The studio is run by highly skilled contracted teachers as well as volunteers, all of whom have a love for dance and want to instill that same passion in others. That’s why they offer flexible financial arrangements, low production participation fees, and even a free men’s and boy’s ballet class.

Don’t miss Morgantown Dance Studio’s upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz at the Metropolitan Theatre in March. — KC 5000 Greenbag Road 304.292.3266 morgantowndance.org @morgantowndance on Facebook

BEST LOCAL RUN/WALK

You probably already know the story of Morgantown Marathon founder Jamie Summerlin from his book Freedom Run or his many news features over the years. He ran across the country in 100 days in 2012 to honor his heroes: the men and women of the U.S. military. Since then, the Morgantown Marathon has raised more than $200,000 for Operation Welcome Home, a nonprofit that helps veterans transition to the civilian workforce.

But the circle of lives touched by the marathon extends beyond the service member community.

Barb Navarini-Higgins has run in about 130 races, including the shorter trials in the first Morgantown Marathon. But it wasn’t until the event’s second year that she decided to run a full 26-mile race. Her inspiration: a dying Bridgeport child.

Jack Rollins was 5 years old at the time and had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer. Navarini-Higgins was overwhelmed with compassion for his family’s situation and the stories of Rollins’ kindness to other children in the hospital. She decided to run the full marathon even though she had recently herniated a disc in her spine, making it painful—even dangerous—to attempt a race of this difficulty.

“I thought if he could deal with all of the pain and the suffering that he was going through, I certainly could run a marathon in his honor,” Navarini-Higgins says. “My goal was to give him my marathon medal.”

With her injury, Navarini-Higgins knew she couldn’t run the full 26 miles in the 6.5-hour time limit. When she told Summerlin about her predicament, he agreed to reserve a medal and allow her to finish.

But before the date of the marathon, Rollins’ family informed her that he was nearing the end of his life. Upon request, Summerlin provided a medal for her to give to Rollins before the race had even been run. He died a week later.

As Navarini-Higgins prepared to run the race two months later, her friends warned her against it. Rollins, they said, would not want her to hurt herself. But she had a promise to keep.

The race began at 7 a.m. She’d expected the run to be painful and difficult, but hadn’t expected to nearly die.

Somewhere around Stewartstown Road, a fast-moving car swerved into the runners’ lane, almost hitting her. “It was so close that I could feel the wind off of the car,” she says.

“It scared me to death, and I thought, Jack is watching out for me. I felt that he kept me safe. I know that might sound crazy, but I felt that.”

As the race ended for everyone else, the city began to open the road to traffic, making the trek even more dangerous.

Near the Kennedy Center, Navarini-Higgins’ right leg gave out and she tumbled into the road, bloodying her knee and hand.

There happened to be no traffic in the lane at the moment, and again she felt protected.

Eight hours after starting the race, she finally made her way to the finish line. All the runners had gone, but Summerlin stood waiting with open arms and a second, well-earned medal. This one was for her. — KP morgantownmarathon.com 24

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COURTESY OF MORGANTOWN MARATHON; BARB NAVARINI-HIGGINS

Morgantown Marathon

BEST GYM/FITNESS FACILITY

Pro PerformanceRX With four locations to choose from, state-ofthe-art fitness equipment, and a skilled team of trainers, physiologists, and coaches, it’s no wonder Pro PerformanceRX has been voted the Best Gym/Fitness Facility in Morgantown for a fourth time. At Pro Performance, there’s no shortage of options for working up a sweat. From belly dancing and yoga to group boxing classes, personal training, and youth and adult sports leagues, Pro Performance can help you meet your individual goals. And with new offerings like cycling, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and Pro Bubble Balls—you’ll just have to check those out for yourself—Pro Performance is finding more and more ways to make staying active fun. — KC 304.983.7761, properformancerx.com, @properformancerxfitnessandsports on Facebook

Inside BOM Most nominations in any Downtime category: Best Radio Station

1,058

Most nominations for any one nominee in Downtime: 123 Pleasant Street for Best Music Venue

297

Highest number of nominees for a single category: Best Band and Best Gym/ Fitness Facility tied

13

Most votes in final round: Best Festival

COURTESY OF PRO PERFORMANCERX; NIKKI BOWMAN

4,845

BEST GOLF COURSE

Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa Golf in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Sam Snead at Lakeview’s two championship courses on Cheat Lake. The 1985 Mountainview Course and the Lakeview Course, where the first nine opened in 1950 and the second nine in 1954, pose challenges for the entire range of skill levels and reward golfers with striking views. Check out the spa afterward, or book a well-appointed room and stay the night. Better yet, a season’s golf membership gets you reduced cart and green fees, discounts on rooms and dining, and a $60 friends-and-family guest room rate. — PK

Best Downtime nomination autocorrect:

Sincerest Yoga

One Lakeview Drive, 304.594.2011, lakeviewwvgolf.com MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST FESTIVAL

Wine and Jazz Festival

Patty’s Art Spot For my first few tattoos, I was nervous, careful, and attentive. But for my sixth one, I went to Patty’s Art Spot and Piercing Studio’s “Walk-in Wednesday” to get a spurof-the-moment creation. It was an adrenaline rush from the moment I stepped into the Beechurst Avenue studio.

The music rocked, the tattoo gun buzzed in the back, and the smell of incense permeated the air. Both of Patty Colebank’s shops are hung with vivid displays welcoming customers to their artistic spaces.

I consulted tattoo artist Paul Anderson about the design I wanted: a small drawing of an elephant that’s been swallowed by a boa constrictor from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Anderson didn’t know where it was from or what it meant, but all it took was one look for him to capture the design in his artistic mind. Less than 10 minutes later, he had drawn a perfect sketch.

Anderson prepared his tattoo gun, needles, and ink. Getting a tattoo is an experience that’s different for everyone. For me, it’s a thrill. It’s all about trusting the artist—even if he took just one look at the design.

Anderson started tattooing my arm. It’s a unique tingling sensation, irritating at first, numbing by the end. Half an hour later, the result was a flawless copy of the original design. How did he do it? “Photographic memory and the 14 years of experience,” he laughs. Anderson loves everything about his work. He gets to draw, meet new people, and listen to music. “I love art and I love tattooing. It’s a fitting job for me, all in all.”

Check out Patty’s online to see the resident artists’ exquisite portfolios, and note the new Sabraton location. — DFR 1836 Listravia Avenue, 304.598.0190; 425 Beechurst Avenue, 304.292.2885; pattysartspot.org @pattysartspot on Facebook 26

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wvwineandjazz.com

BEST GALLERY

Monongalia Arts Center When Don Knotts walked into 107 High Street to volunteer for World War II, the Monongalia Arts Center had not yet been conceived of.

Constructed in 1913, the building served as Morgantown’s first large post office and federal office building. Today it’s on the National Register of Historic Places—and BOM voters consider it Morgantown’s best gallery.

Displaying local art is just one of the MAC’s functions. In 2017 it hosted a flood benefit, artist networking events, a CD release party, comedy nights, choral and chamber concerts, a Prince memorial art tribute, and several stage productions.

The center hosts private lessons of all kinds: visual arts, digital photography, drums, guitar, and voice, to name a few. Writers share their work at monthly literary nights, and the MAC even has its own glee club.

But the community knows the MAC best for is its always-changing displays and sales of local art. Exhibitions rotate monthly, in general, and they’re free to the public. Check the MAC Facebook page to find out about upcoming events. — KP 107 High Street, 304.292.3325, @monartscenter on Facebook

CARLA WITT FORD; DEMI FUENTES RAMIREZ; DAVID BESS (2); ELIZABETH FORD

BEST TATTOO SHOP

Wine and Jazz wins Best Festival year after year. The two-day celebration draws more than 5,000 attendees each year. And what’s not to love? Wine and Jazz showcases local and regional jazz artists in hourlong sets, also welcoming performers from as far as New York and Kansas City.

“Big bands to small combos, traditional to avant-garde, we have pretty much any style that’s been around in the past 50 years,” says festival board President Jeff Miller.

Between sets, festivalgoers visit the regional wineries, local food vendors, and artisans that set up booths in the clearings at Camp Muffly.

Best of all, Wine and Jazz is a volunteer, nonprofit organization that directs proceeds right back into the community—more than $450,000 in its 24 years so far for music scholarships, for sending college groups to perform at middle and high schools across the state, and for music-related nonprofit groups.

If you’ve never experienced Wine and Jazz, mark your calendar: The 25th annual festival will take place September 15 and 16, 2018. — PK

BEST MUSEUM

Art Museum of WVU The Art Museum of WVU had some great exhibitions in 2017, from big names like Shepard Fairey to self-taught Appalachian artists. To give you an extra incentive to see Impulse, its current exhibition of works from the WVU collection, we made you this five-item scavenger hunt. You’ll know them when you find them.

COURTESY OF ART MUSEUM OF WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY; PAM KASEY

In clockwise motion, early stop Birds on bird, master of crop Illegal aliens inside Accordion survival guide New York City, not in full But “sanely modern,” colorful Standing free with members three A happy wooden family Urban geometric shape Four elements in cityscape Check the website for occasional Lunchtime Looks and Art Up Close! events—they’re another great way to enjoy the museum community. — KP 2 Fine Arts Drive, 304.293.2141, artmuseum.wvu.edu MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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Services Meeting life’s needs with style

BEST HOTEL

O

With a modern new look and feel, the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place is a striking symbol of Morgantown’s business growth and progress. From its naturally lit lobbies to its new steakhouse, Bourbon Prime, it surrounds visitors in comfort and elegance.

When the ownership of the already-loved Waterfront Place Hotel changed in 2014, the new management’s goal was to capture the modern styles of millennials while maintaining a connection with the community. Several years’ makeover has updated the hotel into a place worth visiting whether you’re staying the night, having a meal, or hosting a community event. In 2017, out of 369 full-service Marriott hotels worldwide, the Morgantown Marriott was ranked third for customer service. Its modern rooms, local foods, and many amenities make any visit a memorable experience. — DFR 2 Waterfront Place, 304.296.1700, marriott.com/mgwmc

BEST BANK

Clear Mountain Bank Dave Thomas often hears how Clear Mountain Bank helped businesses get their start when no other bank would. “Those stories go back 15, 20 years,” says Thomas, who serves as president and CEO. “Those stories obviously make me feel good.” A community bank can judge the risks of loans to families and businesses more accurately than a remotely headquartered bank can.

But Thomas thinks the 125-year-old institution’s popularity stems from the many other ways it supports north central West Virginia and western Maryland. “We try to be very involved, whether it be through serving on boards, donating our time, or making monetary contributions,” he says. The bank’s new Clear Mountain Cares program gives each employee a paid day off from work every year to do community service. “We really try to give back.” — PK clearmountainbank.com

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COURTESY OF MORGANTOWN MARRIOTT AT WATERFRONT PLACE; JULIAN WYANT

ne underappreciated determinant of quality of life is a town’s services.

There’s nothing so satisfying as having a mechanic who can explain the problem clearly without being condescending or a landscaper who checks in occasionally to see how things are holding up or a veterinarian who remembers all of our pets’ names and health histories. These establishments tend to be local, run by our neighbors and friends.

Most of the suggestions we get for new categories are services—that goes to show how much they matter to people.

Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place

BEST LANDSCAPER

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY

Biafore Landscape Development

J.S. Walker Associates

Founded in 1962, Biafore Landscape Development has created beautiful gardens and landscapes across north central West Virginia. BLD’s team of architects, designers, and horticulturalists has won multiple awards for residential and commercial design and installation. This winter, the company is rehabilitating the iconic mine shaft players can walk or drive through on their way to the seventh tee at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport. — PK 500 Hartman Run Road, 304.594.3006, biafore.com, “Biafore Landscape Development” on Facebook

Voted Best Real Estate Agency for the seventh year running, J.S. Walker was No. 1 in the sale of single-family homes in the Morgantown market area in 2017. The agency closed nearly 300 buys and sells in 2017, taking part in nearly 40 percent of all single-family sales—more than $90 million in sales volume.

J.S. Walker also applies its decades of local market experience to the sale of vacant lots, commercial sales and leasing, and property management and appraisal. — PK 148 Fayette Street, 304.296.0074, jswalker.com “JS Walker Associates” on Facebook

BEST FLORIST

COURTESY OF BIAFORE LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT; MARY WADE BURNSIDE; JULIAN WYANT

Coombs Flowers A Morgantown institution, Coombs Flowers is still owned and operated by the family that founded it in 1952. Coombs provides the full range of floral services and prides itself on custom work. “A member of a local fire department passed away recently, and the department asked us to incorporate a fire truck in the arrangement,” says Manager Renee Riggs. “I’ve done everything from Harley-Davidson emblems to canoes.

Our arrangements aren’t pre-made—we make them here, and we’ll do whatever we can do for a customer.”

Looking ahead to spring formals? Corsages are a specialty at Coombs Flowers. “The keepsake bracelets are popular now,” says Riggs, who is trained in the most current trends and techniques. “We’ve got several styles here, shiny bracelets, pearl bracelets, and when they’re done with the corsage, they’ve got the bracelet they can keep.”

Coombs provides everything from snack baskets and fruit baskets to planning for weddings and other events and delivers as far as Maidsville, Dellslow, and Cheat Lake in the greater Morgantown area. — PK 401 High Street, 304.292.1571, coombsflowers.com @coombsflowers on Facebook

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BEST CHARITY/NONPROFIT

Christian Help Good works happen every day at Christian Help. A man had no electricity for over a month, and this nonprofit helped him get it back. A woman from out of town was at the hospital. She had no family and no clothes to wear, and Christian Help gave her clothes and items to help her during her stay. A young couple adopted a baby born to an addict, and Christian Help gave them formula, diapers, linens, and furniture to help the them better care for the newborn.

This nonprofit has served the Morgantown community for 43 years. Its mission? Give to those who are in need. “We feel good about what we get to accomplish here every day,” says Christian Help Executive Director Cheryl Callen. Through its free store and food pantry, it gives those who have plenty the opportunity to help others. “Because of our volunteers, we get to be a part of this,” Callen says. “We get to know our clients and their families and help them in any way to be more successful.” — DFR 219 Walnut Street, 304.296.0221, motownchristianhelp.com

BEST VETERINARIAN

Cheat Lake Animal Hospital

286 Fairchance Road, 304.594.1124, cheatlakevets. com, “Cheat Lake Animal Hospital” on Facebook

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JULIAN WYANT

Every pet owner knows that terrifying feeling: It’s the middle of the night, and your furry, feathered, or reptilian best friend isn’t acting normal. Who do you call? That’s where Cheat Lake Animal Hospital comes in. CLAH is the only full-service, 24-hour animal hospital in the Morgantown area.

“Our emergency service allows people to come in when their animal is sick without having to schedule an appointment,” says Jesse Fallon, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and part owner of CLAH, “and we have 24-hour hospital care with veterinarians and technicians, which allows us to achieve a higher level of medical care than you would find in a hospital that isn’t open 24-hours a day.”

“Every doctor has a niche that they’re most interested in,” Fallon says. Some are interested in dermatology, some in behavior; some are simply interested in cats.

The emergency veterinarians have a lot of experience working with critical patients, complex medical cases, and critically ill animals.

Fallon is most interested in orthopedic surgery, treating joint disease, and working with exotic animals—particularly birds. Some of the most exotic animals he has worked with include fish, tarantulas, and coatimundi, a member of the raccoon family. He has six pets of his own: two dogs, Sally Ann and Liza Jane; two horses, Ranger and Rosie; a 21-yearold Blue Crown Conure named Asha; and an aquatic frog named Michael Jackson. He also serves in leadership roles with the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia.

That’s the kind of passion CLAH staff have for animals. CLAH staff number more than 70, including 13 veterinarians. The clinic treats pets as well as injured wild animals. Once a wild animal is healthy again, CLAH releases it to the wild or finds a loving home for it. — JW

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BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

Micki Pauley

BlissBlissBliss BOM usually considers yoga a “Downtime” pursuit and massage a “Service.” But in recognition of the philosophy at double winner BlissBlissBliss— which encourages “a healthy union of mind, body, and spirit”—we’ve unified the two awards under “Services” here.

Now in its 10th year, BlissBlissBliss provides a broad suite of healthful services: its BOM-winning yoga and massage as well as other types of bodywork, energy work, and meditation. As its community has grown, BlissBlissBliss has come up with incentives to help people make those services habitual parts of their lives.

“At BlissBlissBliss Membership Massage and Yoga, we believe that energy and bodywork should be more than a once-in-a-while treat,” its website explains. “To us, touch is a fundamental component of wellness, and our prices are designed to support you in getting frequent bodywork. We hope your mind-body benefits.” Memberships package massage sessions, yoga classes, or both at discounted rates that let regulars make bodywork a lifestyle.

What works perfectly during a stressful week, BlissBlissBliss knows, may not be what a person wants to celebrate a birthday, prepare for a new child, support healing from an illness, or train for a marathon. To address the range of needs, it makes itself a home for practitioners of many types of massage—deep tissue, reflexology, Swedish, Ayurvedic, and others—and for yoga classes and styles geared toward many abilities and goals.

The gift shop at BlissBlissBliss carries essential oils, body care items, yoga and meditation supplies, local art, and more. And among other ways BlissBlissBliss supports community organizations, it will give 100 percent of proceeds from its Friday donation-based Happy Hour Yoga classes in 2018 to the Child Advocacy Center, Friends of Deckers Creek, Pet Helpers, and the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center. — PK 3101 About Town Place 304.413.0270, theblissblissbliss.com @theblissblissbliss on Facebook 32

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304.549.5648, mickilifestyle.com, @micki.lifestyle on Facebook

BEST DAY SPA | BEST MANI/PEDI

Spa Roma A many-time and many-category BOM voter favorite, Spa Roma is recognized this year for its day spa and mani/pedi services. With its high ceilings and stately columns, the Cheat Lake location is one of the grandest spa settings in the region—perfect for a pampering retreat for hair, makeup, nails, and massage. Or schedule an advanced personal care treatment like microdermabrasion, an oxygen-infused facial, or noninvasive body sculpting. Spa Roma had a particularly strong BOM showing this year for its manicures and pedicures, and no wonder: Its nail services come combined with a full range of skin treatment and massage options, all at reasonable prices. — PK 170 Lakeview Drive, 304.594.9782, sparoma.com, @sparomawv on Facebook CLOSE RUNNER-UP

Tuscan Sun Spa & Salon 401 Boyers Avenue, Star City, 304.296.1325, tuscanspaandsalon.com @tuscansunspa on Facebook

MICHAEL SHERWIN; MIKE CADOTTE, MIDATLANTIC PHOTOGRAPHY; CARLA WITT FORD

BEST MASSAGE BEST YOGA STUDIO

For Morgantown-area personal trainer Micki Pauley and her clients, working out is a way of life—a Micki Lifestyle, to be exact. For the past five years, the elementary school teacher–turned–fitness guru has been advising others how to transform, sculpt, and fuel their bodies in ways that are sustainable and fun. After just one session with Pauley, a personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist certified through ISSA, clients know her philosophy: “There are no doovers.” If you want to see for yourself what Micki Lifestyle is all about, head on over to her Warrior Body group fitness classes at Viking Performance Training, where beginners and regulars alike sweat their way through tire flips and gasp for breath between running sets of stairs. “My warriors find out not just how strong they are physically, but how strong they are mentally, and that is what is important,” Pauley says. “When you can build a strong mind, everything else falls into place.” — KC

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BEST LAW FIRM

Steptoe & Johnson

Bob Burdette, State Farm Agent Selling real estate didn’t do much for Bob Burdette. “To be quite honest with you, I wasn’t very good at it,” he says. “I just didn’t get a lot from it.” So 35 years ago, he decided to try his hand at selling insurance through State Farm. He’s never looked back. “If somebody’s home burns down, you can stand in the front yard and give them some sympathy and a big check to start from that day all over again,” he says. “That’s what I like.”

Few agents go to the lengths Burdette does: He gives clients his cell phone number. “My policyholders can call me any time they want,” he says. “They can call me in the grocery store, or they can call me when I’m in England for my daughter’s wedding, like they did last summer.” A client once called at 3:18 a.m. after a car accident. “About an hour later we got his car towed, and we took care of it the next day,” he says. “When you get that unusual phone call, that’s someone in distress.”

Burdette especially likes State Farm’s “Steer Clear” program that reviews road skills with young drivers, then offers an insurance discount. “But they have to come in and talk to me,” he says. “If I can tell some of these kids that just got their license about some of the things I’ve seen, maybe it will help. Auto insurance is expensive enough—my job is to make it more valuable than just a premium payment.”

When he’s not fielding client calls, Burdette’s passion is growing blueberries. He stopped planting at what he estimates to be about 500 bushes. “I found out being that kind of farmer takes a lot more effort than being a State Farmer,” he quips. — PK 1189 Pineview Drive, 304.598.0707, bobburdette.com 34

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

Suncrest Center, 1085 Van Voorhis Road, 304.598.8000, steptoe-johnson.com

BEST CONTRACTOR

MarchWestin Company From pre-construction services through designbuild and construction management, March-Westin Company provides the full range of construction contracting services. The Morgantown-headquartered firm has completed thousands of projects in six states since it was established in 1984, with more than $1 billion in projects in north central West Virginia alone.

Among its many awards, March-Westin has received the Associated Builders and Contractors Safety Training Evaluation Process award every year since 1997. The firm plays a major role in Morgantown’s growth— recent projects in town have included the Art Museum of WVU, the UClub Sunnyside, Premier Chevrolet Buick GMC at University Town Centre, and the Mountain Line’s 30,000-square-foot solar panel array in Westover. — PK 360 Frontier Street, 304.599.4880, marchwestin.com

JULIAN WYANT; STEVEN ROYCE; GABE DEWITT

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

When Clarksburg-based Steptoe & Johnson PLLC was designing new Morgantown office space in the early 2000s, the firm had something grand in mind—but the builder’s estimate for a circular staircase was a budgetbuster. The solution: three Amish carpenters from central Ohio. Their threequarter-turn staircase with mahogany treads and railings, completed at half the original estimate, made for a classic architectural centerpiece befitting a law firm approaching its hundredth year.

Now 105 years old, Steptoe & Johnson has core strengths in energy, labor and employment, litigation, and transactional law. Its more than 300 attorneys practice in Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and six offices across West Virginia.

Steptoe & Johnson is guided by core values laid out on its website. “Our clients don’t belong to individual lawyers. The firm has clients, and we all serve them,” it reads in part. The firm guards its reputation. It is passionate, but plays fair. Staff share credit and learn from their mistakes. And they see themselves as stewards of a great law firm. “We are duty-bound to ensure that the culture that has sustained and united our firm for more than 100 years endures even after we are all long gone.” — PK

BEST HOME INSPECTOR

COURTESY OF DAVIS HOME INSPECTIONS; COURTESY OF MILLS GROUP

Davis Home Inspections Home inspector Jeff Davis happened into his profession 20 years ago when he noticed on driving up to a friend’s house that the house’s foundation was crumbling.

“Then, when we walked in the front door—it’s an 1880s farmhouse—I saw the previous owner had taken out a bearing wall and put in a wall that was bowing under the weight of the second floor and the roof,” Davis recalls. “We walked through the house, and he made all these notes. After dinner, he pulled out his inspection report and said, ‘My guy didn’t catch any of this.’” A WVU graduate in civil engineering whose father had a construction company, Davis had an eye for signs of failing construction.

That eye is one thing Davis figures makes a good home inspector. Another is an understanding of what is expected as opposed to what is a concern—“Not being an alarmist.” Ultimately, a home inspector’s product is a report that a prospective buyer can use to negotiate a fair deal and to prioritize repairs after buying, and Davis says his wife, Mary Ann, is a good proofreader who has helped him with clear language.

“I’ve honed the reports over the years to write in terms that people can understand.”

Davis respects the privacy of sellers and buyers, but he shared one funny story. “I was inspecting a house for a Granville police officer,” he says. “In the basement, I was shining a light at the floor framing, and he said, ‘What’s that?’ It happened to be a jar of pot,” he laughs. “He borrowed a Sharpie from me and wrote on the top, ‘Police officer purchasing your house found your stash—verbal warning!’”

Home inspections aren’t just for buyers of old houses, Davis reminds us. Buyers of new houses may want to have them inspected before their oneyear warranties lapse. And longtime homeowners can benefit from occasional maintenance inspections. Check Davis’s website for his extensive qualifications. — PK 304.292.5871, davishomeinspections.com @davishomeinspectionsllc on Facebook

BEST ARCHITECTURAL FIRM

Mills Group Take a quick jaunt around town and you’ll see the handiwork of Mills Group— our Best Architectural Firm. From the Courthouse Square to the Courthouse Marriott and the Morgantown Market Place pavilion to Tin 202, this team of architects, designers, planners, and historians improves our community through timeless, inspired design. In addition, this firm, which also has an office in Wheeling, is responsible for the design of such high-profile buildings as The Health Plan corporate headquarters in Wheeling, the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg, and Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg.

Founded by Michael Mills in 2005, Mills Group assists clients with residential, commercial, public, and interior designs, emphasizing traditional design principles, vernacular design influences, and long-term sustainability.

It’s also the state’s go-to firm for historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse, having worked on the Metropolitan Theatre in Morgantown, the West Virginia Veterans’ Memorial at the state capitol complex, and Davis & Elkins’ Graceland Inn and Halliehurst Mansion in Elkins, to name a few projects.

“What sets us apart is that we are diligent in understanding our clients’ spatial needs, design goals, and budgets,” says Principal Michael Mills. “We believe in designing structures for our clients that improve not only their lives, but also the communities with which they are involved.”

With the recent increase in state historic tax credits, Mills Group hopes to work on more adaptive-reuse projects that preserve the heritage of downtowns.

“We can’t afford to recreate the past. By restoring or adapting historic structures, we are preserving the contextual features of our downtowns,” Mills says. “At Mills Group, we walk a client through the process, help them conceptualize the potential, and make sure they meet the National Park Service standards to ensure the receipt of the tax credits. The tax credits provide great incentive to save important buildings, because it’s money back in the client’s pocket.” — PK 63 Wharf Street, 304.296.1010, millsgrouponline.com, @millsgrouponline on Facebook MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST ACCOUNTING OFFICE

Premier Tax Consulting As an endurance athlete, Danny Fink competed on the U.S. Summer Biathlon National Team for a decade. He represented the U.S. at eight world championships and won two medals in international competition as a member of Team USA. So as a CPA, certified tax coach, and founder in 2011 of Premier Tax Consulting, he goes the distance for clients.

Fink likes to ask a question: When was the last time your accountant or tax consultant came to you and said, “Here is an idea that I think will save you some money”? For small business owners, he says, the answer is usually “Never.”

Most accountants and tax advisers do a competent job of recording what Fink calls tax history—the history their client gives them. They record the correct amounts in the correct boxes on the tax return. But they offer little in the way of planning that reduces taxes or ongoing support to help a business grow.

That’s what Premier Tax Consulting is about. Premier offers proactive tax advice that minimizes taxes before a return is ever filed.

It does both individual and business tax preparation, offering each business client the option of monitoring key performance indicators that point to ways to increase profits and grow the business—an accounting service that BOM voters feel hits the target. — PK 1101 About Town Place, 304.992.7416 premiertaxwv.com

BEST CAR DETAILING

Celebrating 50 years of wax-on wax-off is Stenger’s Car Wash & Detail, voted best for the second year in a row.

Owner Don Stenger remembers his father’s decision to open the business after a trip to Huntington, where he saw lines of motorists waiting for a wash. Joseph A. Stenger Jr. asked his son to help with the business on South High Street, and the younger man says it’s been all about toothbrushes and Q-tips ever since.

Stenger still has the South High Street location but purchased property on Chestnut Ridge Road in 1981, where he built onto a home located there. This location offers a touchless car wash and detailing services, with an express lane for those seeking a lower-tier wash and hoping for a speedier trip.

Known for a dedication to excellence, Stenger says his success is based solely on commitment to the customers. His staff of 12 fulltime employees diligently scrubs bugs from windows and hand dries every car that moves through the wash. Many automatic washes clean the car, he says, but it’s the drying that removes the last bit of dirt and makes the real difference. He recalls many customers who have gone in for a detail before selling a car, only to decide it looked so good that they would drive it for another year or two.

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Manager Charlene Talbert has worked at Stenger’s for 15 years and oversees many of the day-to-day operations. Talbert still details some of the regulars’ vehicles herself, and she speaks of the friendships she has built over the years. She says her employees are all about respect and going the extra mile. The car wash is like a family, both Stenger and Talbert say, where regulars are common and first-timers often come back. — AR 767 Chestnut Ridge Road, 304.599.1148, “Stenger’s Car Wash” on Facebook

COURTESY OF PREMIER TAX CONSULTING; JULIAN WYANT

Stenger’s Car Wash & Detail

BEST HAIR SALON This has always been one of the most hotly contested categories in BOM. Salons promote themselves fiercely, and their devoted customers do nominate and vote. Nominations were so active this year that we let an unusual six contenders into the final round—and even so, after almost 4,000 votes, we had a tie.

Nico Spalon Many-time BOM winner Nico Spalon offers the full range of salon services, from cut, color, and style to keratin smoothing and hair extensions.

Additional services include bridal hair and makeup and body waxing, and the salon also offers its own line of Nico Spalon hair care products.

Owner Nicholas Romanoli places a high priority on mentoring up-and-coming stylists and on continuing education. Nico Spalon was named a Top 200 salon in 2015 and 2016

by Salon Today. — PK 80 South Pierpont Road, 304.594.1550, nicospalon.com @nicospalon on Facebook

Tonique’s Trilogy Tonique’s Trilogy was BOM’s very first Best Hair Salon. Tonique’s stylists specialize in precision and creative cutting and coloring services ranging from trend color to color correction. The salon offers body waxing, extensions, keratin treatments, and natural nail services. Working under the ownership of Beth Clark since 2013, Tonique’s team upholds core values of continuing education, teamwork, and customer care. Clients also love the convenient downtown location and the salon’s display and sale of locally produced art. — PK 130 Fayette Street, 304.291.4050, toniquestrilogy.com @toniquestrilogy on Facebook

BEST MECHANIC

CARLA WITT FORD; COURTESY OF TONIQUE'S TRILOGY; JULIAN WYANT (2)

Shorty Anderson’s Auto Service Brothers Ernie and John Rowan learned to fix cars growing up around their dad’s junkyard in the 1960s and ’70s. In the late ’70s, Ernie bought Shorty Anderson’s garage on Stewart Street. Anderson had started the business in 1927, when there were hardly any cars yet in Morgantown, and earned a solid reputation. John later came in as Ernie’s partner, and they never changed the name. “It had been such a good name,” says Ernie and John’s nephew Travis, who runs the office at Shorty Anderson’s Auto Service today. “Not much else has changed over the years, either—we do have diagnostic computers, but we have no computers in the office. Everything’s written by hand.”

The Rowans have always upheld the good name Anderson built. “We try to do everything the same day or the next day,” Travis says. “And we’re just very, very honest with customers. It’s not rare for somebody to come in here thinking they need something, and us to tell them their car’s fine.” Shorty’s has lifelong customers and third-generation customers, some of them from before Ernie owned it. They’ve voted Shorty’s Best Mechanic three years in a row.

Ernie and John will eventually pass the business along to their nephews, Travis and his brother Shawn. “We plan to try to keep things the same, because it’s worked so well,” Travis says. Well, maybe one change: “We probably will get a computer.” — PK 908 Stewart Street, 304.599.4419

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP

John Howard Motors In a town full of car dealerships, John Howard Motors gets top BOM honors year after year. Maybe it’s because of West Virginians’ appreciation for the hardy Subaru and Nissan brands the dealership has built its reputation on. Maybe it’s the extensive inventory, both new and pre-owned, including Subaru certified pre-owned vehicles. Maybe it’s the service department’s complimentary shuttle service.

But we think some of what BOM voters appreciate is the dealership’s community involvement, raising money over the years for Meals on Wheels, Mon General Hospital, the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, and many other causes. — PK 1730 Mileground Road, 888.377.9734 johnhowardmotors.com

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BEST LAUNDROMAT

Years ago, Allan Feldman went out looking to buy a house. He ended up with a laundromat instead.

Feldman was a licensed real estate agent and was inspecting a home as a possible investment. He decided it wasn’t right for his purposes, but the owner casually mentioned that he also had a laundromat for sale. Almost on impulse, Feldman jumped into the laundry business.

“It was a smoky, awful-looking place inside, lots of old ladies losing their money,” he says with a laugh.

The Laundry, which Feldman co-owns with his wife, is the exact opposite of that. The facilities are clean and especially modern. Customers can pay to activate washers and dryers with a phone app or swipe a credit card at a kiosk. Machines also accept quarters, but anyone with a debit or credit card no longer has to feed wrinkled bills into change machines to do their wash.

“It’s in a terrific location, because lots of these buildings nearby don’t have washers and dryers,” Feldman says, “but we get people from all around the area.”

It’s not just households The Laundry is marketing itself to these days. This year it’s expanding into the business world. It offers complete door-to-door service for uniforms and food prep clothing— pickup, wash, fold, and delivery—which local establishments like Saladworks at Suncrest Towne Centre are taking advantage of. Feldman hopes offering free quotes and 50 percent off a first order will attract more business clients in 2018.

You can find The Laundry at its website, which is also its motto: The Dirty Come Clean. — KP 441 Brockway Avenue, 304.241.5616, thedirtycomeclean.com

BEST DRY CLEANER

Massullo’s Cleaners & Tailors Not all superheros wear capes—some of them wear measuring tape.

Massullo’s has taken countless treasured garments, seemingly ruined, and made them clean. When teenage girls show up just days before prom with dresses that need to be hemmed and taken in, they make it happen.

“Just last night a minister came in here at 5 o’clock. We close at 5:30. He’d just found out he had to do a funeral at 11 o’clock the next morning,” says owner Linda Cerone. “He needed a suit, coat, and tie cleaned. We got it done for him, and we even sewed his pants for him that he busted.”

The minister was amazed and grateful. But Cerone, like any good superhero, was hesitant to accept the praise. The folks at Massullo’s are long accustomed to saving the day.

Cerone’s grandfather Dominick Massullo started the business in 1925, opening a tailor shop on Pleasant Street. Her father, Carl, and his brother Ralph took over the business some years later, moved to the corner of Chestnut and Walnut streets, and added dry cleaning services. They moved again in 1961 to the business’s current plant on High Street.

Cerone, her husband, Tony, and her brother Carl Jr. bought the business in the late ’70s, eventually adding a drop-off and pick-up location at Suncrest Towne Centre.

Tony and Carl Jr. passed away in 2012, leaving her to run the business. Cerone says she’s not retiring anytime soon—at least, not until Massullo’s celebrates its 100th birthday in seven years. In the meantime, she’s going to continue the long family tradition of helping customers out of tight spots and stained shirts. — ZH 447 High Street, 1068 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, 304.296.5210 38

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

Inside BOM Most nominations in any Services category: Best Hair Salon

1,078 Most nominations for any one nominee in Services: Willow Med Spa for Best Day Spa

147 Highest number of nominees for a single category: Best Charity/Nonprofit

26 Most votes in final round: Best Veterinarian

4,198 Greatest geographical range of nominations: Best Mechanic

from Bruceton Auto in Bruceton Mills to Tirelady’s Rainbow Tire in Masontown to Yoney’s Auto Repair in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania.

CARLA WITT FORD

The Laundry

BEST PIZZA

The quaffs that quench, the spreads that satisfy

M

organtown has seen an explosion of restaurants in the past few years.

Some beloved places have come and gone— remember the avocado smash at The Real Juice Bar? The Lebanese Bistro’s enormous platters? The fresh salsas at Carmona’s Cocina Mexicana? But some longtime restaurants have secured their place as Morgantown institutions, and some relative newcomers are clearly here to stay.

One of the best developments in Morgantown’s diverse dining scene is even greater diversity: We now have two Thai places to choose from and, suddenly, two Vietnamese restaurants, too. More brunches. More bakeries. More fine dining than ever.

Given that, we introduced many new Food + Drink categories in BOM18 and enjoyed many more nominees—and the final round was more competitive than ever. Here are the winners.

Everyone in town has a favorite pizza place. It’s the little things— the crust, maybe, the tang of the sauce, that one topping you can’t find anywhere else. Pizza Al’s empire is built on those little things. This everyman’s pizza is consistent across all three Morgantown locations—the dough tossed just so, the cheeses carefully selected, the toppings meticulously spread, the ingredients always fresh.

The craftsmanship at Al’s outcompetes the chains: Albino Roperti’s pizza is a perennial BOM winner. — JJ 2952 University Avenue, 304.599.4040; 1407 Earl Core Road, 304.225.2222; University Town Centre 304.599.9555; pizzaals.com

BEST SWEET INDULGENCE

The Cupcakerie No one can be surly when they’re eating a cupcake. That’s why Morgantown is a happier place than it was before The Cupcakerie opened in 2011. The little happiness factory on Willey Street dominates this BOM category year after year.

The Cupcakerie offers up its mood-lifting cakes in mini, regular, and jumbo sizes topped with expert whorls of icing and cheery decorations. There are so many flavor combinations, they come in nine collections, including gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan options. — PK 194 Willey Street, 304.212.5464, thecupcakerie.com @thecupcakeriewv on Facebook

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CARLA WITT FORD; CARLY SUPLITA

Food + Drink

Pizza Al’s

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

JULIAN WYANT; ELIZABETH FORD; JULIAN WYANT (2)

Here’s what we learned from the first year with this category: Morgantown is of two minds when it comes to Chinese food. An extensive pan-Asian menu, or a compact, super-fast, high-value menu? We have a tie.

Lavender Cafe

Wong’s Wok

There’s something for everyone on the Taiwanese-centered pan-Asian menu at Lavender Cafe. Diners will find the long list of appetizers, soups, rice and noodle dishes, and house favorites we expect on any Chinese menu, along with an entire page of chef’s specials. Fans of hot pot will appreciate the Chinese and spicy Korean kimchi options. Lavender also has a full sushi bar with nigiri and maki. And complementing all of that is a great variety of hot or cold green, black, and milk teas, flavored tea and juice combinations, and fruit smoothies, with or without tapioca pearls.

Even with its huge menu, Lavender’s earnest staff completes both take-out and dine-in orders quickly. — PK

Every day of the week, a steady stream of customers heads for Wong’s Wok in the food court at the Morgantown Mall.

The line moves fast. Wong’s Wok’s concise menu of hot, readymade Chinese-style combo meals makes for quick service and a devoted following of mall-goers. Part of the restaurant’s popularity is due to its fast, fresh dishes and generous servings, Sesame Chicken and Bourbon Chicken among the favorites.

Part of it is the owners themselves. Over their two decades at the mall, Jimmy Wong and his wife, Bing, have earned customer devotion through their tasty dishes and very obvious hard work—and by greeting regulars by name and everyone with a friendly smile. — PK

247 Beechurst Avenue, 304.296.2266, mylavendercafe.com

9409 Mall Road, 304.983.6815

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BEST BREAKFAST

Ruby & Ketchy’s Nothing shouts breakfast like a pint-sized, familyowned roadside diner. That place is first-time BOM winner Ruby & Ketchy’s in Cheat Lake. Ruby & Ketchy’s has been serving up home-cooked comfort foods since 1958. Its breakfast staples satisfy a steady flow of regulars and passersby daily, and staff treat each and every customer like family. The menu hasn’t changed much since Ruby Nicholson was cooking it up herself, and neither have the prices. Try Ruby’s Breakfast—two eggs, two pancakes, two pieces of sausage or bacon, and hashbrowns—or a local favorite, Buckwheat Cakes, now served year-round. — JW 2232 Cheat Road, 304.594.2004

BEST SUSHI

Ogawa When you walk into Ogawa, a smiling staff greets you enthusiastically: “Irasshaimase!” Welcome to the store! Ogawa owner Hee Cho and his waitstaff always like to meet their customers.

For Fiona Galley, waitress at Ogawa, it’s the friendly, family atmosphere that enhances the experience customers have when they dine at the restaurant. Galley is a biology and public health major at WVU and, after working at Ogawa for seven months, she has gained a deep admiration for Asian culture, and especially for the artof sushi. “The large sushi boats and Korean dishes served in stone bowls never fail to amaze people,” she says. For customers who are new to sushi, she suggests they start with a cooked or deep fried roll. She wasn’t used to eating raw fish either, but by starting with cooked fish and then trying different rolls, she learned to appreciate the flavor and texture of each fish. Now her favorite is the Love Roll II: salmon, tuna, avocado, asparagus, and masago, topped with crab, mayo, and spicy sauce.

Galley loves the strong relationships she has established with Hee, her co-workers, and the customers. “Although it’s a very small business in Morgantown, Ogawa has made a cultural impact on many people and continues to do so every day.” — DFR 2920 University Avenue, 304.598.8338, ogawasushi.com

BEST BURGER

Terra Cafe Chef Lauren Hartman and her talented kitchen staff at Terra Cafe dish out delicious breakfasts year after year, and BOM voters shared their love for a third time since we created the Best Breakfast category in 2014. From the Santa Fe Egg Wrap to the French Toast to the Savory Steak and Eggs, Terra puts its own twist on breakfast favorites. Don’t miss the Smoked Salmon Bagel: a house-made bagel smothered in silky cream cheese and a layer of sliced tomatoes, then piled high—really high—with buttery smoked salmon and topped with pickled onions and capers. Any Terra breakfast will get your day started right. — JW 425 Industrial Avenue, 304.554.2233 terracafewv.com

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Tailpipes serves up a burger that would make Guy Fieri’s heart stop—in a good way. As soon as this burger shack opened in 2010, it found its way to our hearts with its classic format updated for the adventurous diner-goer.

Choose a patty of ground beef, ground turkey, grilled chicken, black bean, or portobello mushroom.

Dress it up with standard burger fixings, or go for a signature combination with toppings like grilled pineapple or fried green tomato. Fresh hot fries, never greasy, come standard; sweet potato fries just a little extra. Couple your creation with a thick, creamy milkshake—these come in classic and signature combinations, too, like maple bacon and fruity pebbles—and fall in love all over again. — JJ 417 High Street, 304.225.2535, tailpipesburgers.com @tailpipeswv on Facebook

JULIAN WYANT; CARLA WITT FORD; CARLY SUPLITA; CARLA WITT FORD; CAROLINE NICHOLAS

Tailpipes

CARLA WITT FORD; JULIAN WYANT; CARLA WITT FORD (2)

BEST BEER SELECTION

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

Apothecary Ale House & Café

Tropics Restaurant and Bar

Tap list paralysis—it can strike any time in Morgantown, these days. You walk thirsty into your favorite pub, only to stand stupefied before a chalkboard wall of hop puns, ABVs, nitro, and cask conditioning.

“Look for the style you want,” is the seasoned advice from Grace Hutchens at Apothecary Ale House, where 26 rotating craft-only taps and 130 styles in bottles and cans can be wonderfully gobsmacking. If you know you’re in the mood for a porter or a saison or one of those citrusy IPAs that this writer hopes are on their way out soon, that narrows it down. Still dumbstruck? Let a bartender guide you.

If you haven’t had the guts to try a sour yet and want to challenge yourself, go for one on tap and see if you can get a smaller pour, Hutchens says— Apothecary does a half-priced half-pour of any draft to encourage experimentation and moderation.

Hutchens recommends a sour brown, or bruin, which tends to be mellow. Or ease into it with a fruit-flavored sour. — PK 227 Chestnut Street, @apothecaryalehousecafe on Facebook

There’s outdoor dining around Morgantown. There’s some really good outdoor dining. But if you want to eat outside and feel like you’ve had a vacation, there’s just one place to go: Tropics.

Outdoor dining at Tropics is a multi-sensory experience. For one thing, the space is huge: At 275 seats, it’s larger than most restaurants in town. But it’s not a sea of sweltering seating—far from it. Tropics has two covered pavilions on different levels, an open deck with umbrella-shaded tables, and two outdoor bars, all constructed of wood. One of the bars is a tiki bar, with Hawaiian decorations and grass thatching—“We call that ‘lauhala,’” says Tropics co-owner Maria Burchfiel, a native Hawaiian. The area is divided into intimate spaces through the use of festive string lighting, a koi fish pond, and lush, fragrant tropical plantings that include banana trees. “The banana trees are gorgeous,” Burchfiel says. “We put them in ourselves when we took over the property, and they come back and get bigger every year.”

Tropics hosts live bands at its outdoor stage every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in the warm months. Thursday night is kids’ night, with face painting and balloons. “It’s a little more casual—parents don’t have to feel as if their kids have to be restrained,” Burchfiel says.

The menu at Tropics features Pacific island flavors like coconut and pineapple, native dishes like poke—raw fish salad—and lots of Pacific Rim influences, along with enough less adventurous fare that anyone in a group can be satisfied.

Here’s the ultimate summer Tropics outing: Twice a year, the restaurant hosts a traditional luau. “We have a troupe that comes out of Pittsburgh, originally from Hawaii. They do a full Polynesian show,” Burchfiel says. “Dancers from Tahiti, Hawaii, and Fiji, and a traditional fire knife dance. Being from Hawaii, I can tell you it’s 100 percent authentic.” A vacation in an evening. — PK 2500 Cranberry Square, 304.291.5225, tropicswv.com @tropicswv on Facebook MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Mario’s Fishbowl

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Los Mariachis Mexican Restaurant After a long day of taking classes and studying for exams, Los Mariachis is one of college students’ favorite places to unwind. Professionals and families love it, too. The restaurant started serving its Mexican specialties in 1998. Being a college town, the founders thought Morgantown might be a good place to run a fun and affordable restaurant, and they were right: Twenty years later, everyone still loves their margaritas and their cheese dip.

Los Mariachis is as much fun for the waitstaff as it is for the customers. Waiter Horacio García says the servers’ favorite part is the customers. “We get to serve people from the school, and just anybody who comes in, and we enjoy meeting these nice people.” Interacting with the customers and seeing their faces when they bring their famous margaritas or their delicious combination dinners is what they enjoy the most.

Another highlight of Los Mariachis is its birthday celebrations. The staff surprise a celebrating customer with a sombrero and the restaurant’s popular fried ice cream, while singing the traditional birthday song, “Las Mañanitas”: “The Little Mornings.” It was once Catholic custom to name a child for the patron saint associated with his or her birthday so the saint would become a role model for the child. The song is a traditional serenade that celebrates the person’s birthday and honors the patron saint of the day.

Los Mariachis is an upbeat restaurant full of laughter, colors, and delicious aromas and flavors. — DFR 1137 Van Voorhis Road, 304.598.3715, losmariachismorgantown.com

There’s no specific definition of a great old neighborhood bar, but you know it when you’re in it. There’s probably some well-worn seating, probably some memorabilia on the walls, probably some beloved characters memorialized on the menu in good fun, but always free-flowing camaraderie that makes newcomers feel like regulars.

Mario’s Fishbowl has all of that and more. The original Richwood Avenue watering hole makes Woodburn the envy of some other Morgantown neighborhoods, but the newer University Avenue spot has a lot of the same feel. Mario’s celebrated its 68th anniversary in January 2018. Stop by, order a basket of wings with Cowboy Ranch, and raise a frosty fishbowl of beer to neighborhood traditions. — PK 704 Richwood Avenue, 304.292.2511 @mariosfishbowl on Facebook; 3117 University Avenue, 304.599.4309 @fishbowlsuncrest on Facebook; mariosfishbowl.com

BEST PLACE TO CAFFEINATE

Coffee is to morning as air is to life, and with multiple chain and local coffee shops in town, our options are almost endless. Even so, Blue Moose Cafe has won BOM voters’ hearts for a second year running.

The Moose offers an extensive variety of lattes and specialty drinks alongside four coffee blends it brews daily: its dark roast house blend, two light-to-medium roasts that change often, and a flavored blend.

One flavored specialty in particular has its devotees: the Highlander Grogg, a mouthwatering mixture of rum, butterscotch, caramel, and vanilla flavors that tastes just as delectable as it smells.

To complement your cup of joe, Blue Moose serves an array of breakfast and lunch options including quiche, bagels, and a lip-smacking yogurt and granola bowl topped with grapes, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries and finished off with a drizzle of honey. — JW 248 Walnut Street, 304.292.8999, thebluemoosecafe.com 44

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

JULIAN WYANT; NIKKI BOWMAN; ELIZABETH FORD; CARLY SUPLITA

Blue Moose Cafe

BEST BREWERY

Mountain State Brewing Company When Mountain State Brewing Company opened its Morgantown restaurant almost a decade ago, it was only Morgantown’s second source of fresh-brewed beer—from its microbrewery in Thomas, to be sure, but fresh and West Virginian.

The local craft brew scene has since exploded, but Morgantown still loves Mountain State for its flagship blonde, amber, IPA, and stout and its seasonal brews, as well as for its wood-fired pizza and two-tiered riverside deck. Mountain State grows an acre of its own hops and distributes in cans; in town, it hosts a popular trivia night on Tuesdays. The brewery plans to open a location in Bridgeport in 2018. — PK 54 Clay Street, 304.241.1976, mountainstatebrewing.com

BEST BBQ

JULIAN WYANT (2); CARLY SUPLITA

Atomic Grill

BEST OVER 30 SPOT

Bartini Prime When Bartini Prime opened in January 2016 in the former Bartini space under new ownership, its founders’ intention was to make it the top steakhouse in West Virginia. And not without a sense of humor and local pride—here’s the restaurant’s list of signature steaks: The Randy Mazey a 14-ounce New York strip The Mike Carey a 14-ounce ribeye The Holgorsen a 14-ounce ribeye blackened and topped with bleu cheese crumbles The Marlon Leblanc 21-ounce bone-in ribeye

When Atomic Grill opened in 2013, it was a welcome arrival in then-barbecuestarved Morgantown.

Atomic serves up a tomato-based West Virginia barbecue sauce that diners love, with Mustard, White, Hawaiian, and other variations ranging in heat up to Inferno. The kitchen reworked its menu last fall, changing up some of its brisket, pork, and chicken dishes and adding smoked sausage, says manager Casey Shaffer. It updated its vegetarian options, and all of the sauces and some dishes are gluten-free. The burgers, sliders, and Fried Green Tomato PoBoy get a lot of customer love online. No matter what changes on the menu, it’s still the meaty signature dishes—ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and the popular burgers—that anchor the operation.

Customers also love the restaurant’s commitment to sourcing locally. A chalkboard state painted on the wall displays the locations where West Virginia– produced meats, vegetables, and beers come from—places like Hawthorne Valley Farms in Harrison County.

What accounts for Atomic’s popularity even as other really good barbecue joints have come along? “We were pretty much the grandfathered barbecue place that started everything off,” Shaffer says. “And we’ve got a good staff and good customers who keep coming in.” — PK

Enjoy your steak with one of more than 100 varieties of Scotch and bourbon or, if you prefer, one of Bartini Prime’s signature or seasonal martinis.

For a lighter meal, Bartini Prime is making a reputation for itself with sashimi and nigiri and maki sushi—try pairing your meal with one of the bar’s five sakes. — PK

595 Green Bag Road, 304.241.1170, atomicgrillmotown.com @atomicgrill on Facebook

510 Burroughs Street, 304.241.1687, vintnervalley.com

The Shane Lyons the center-cut 10-ounce filet mignon The E. Gordon Gee a 10-ounce filet wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon like a bow tie The Huggy Bear to Share a limited-availability prime two-inch-thick porterhouse sliced tableside

350 Suncrest Towne Centre, 304.599.1001 bartiniwv.com, @bartiniprimewv on Facebook CLOSE RUNNERS-UP

Tin 202

202 High Street, 304.212.5863, tin202.com @tin202wv on Facebook

Wine Bar at Vintner Valley

MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST SPORTS BAR BEST WINGS

Kegler’s Sports Bar & Lounge

735 Chestnut Ridge Road 304.598.9698 keglerssportsbar.com

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

Ali Baba Restaurant It’s been 40 years since Elias Hishmeh started a deli in Westover, soon serving up dishes from his native Palestine to appreciative diners. Even as his restaurant changed names and moved to High Street and then to the Morgantown Municipal Airport, Hishmeh’s crowd-satisfying mix of Mediterranean and American cuisines and his genuine, hospitable rounds in the dining room have kept customers coming back for generations.

Ali Baba’s kitchen has done a lot over the years to introduce Morgantown to more international flavors. We can also thank its kitchen for bringing us choclava—that fun and decadent twist on the traditional baklava. Even as we’ve enjoyed an explosion of good Middle Eastern restaurants in town, Ali Baba’s gracious dining room and beautifully plated shish kebab meals know no equal. — PK 82 Hart Field Road, 304.777.4120, alibabaexpress.com 46

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

BEST THAI RESTAURANT

Chaang Thai 2017 is the first year ever that Morgantown has had the luxury of more than one Thai restaurant. And in BOM’s first Best Thai Restaurant category, voters gave their love to Chaang Thai.

Rajagopal and Pookie Sundaram were living in Washington, D.C., when they got the idea almost a decade ago to open a Thai restaurant. After extensive research, they chose Morgantown as a college town with a busy downtown, a stable economy, and no Thai competitors. They opened Chaang Thai in 2011, and Morgantown was immediately grateful.

Chaang Thai’s unconventional process lets you feel like you’re on vacation in another country. Choose a table when you enter, then order at the back with your table number. The extensive appetizers-to-desserts menu includes all of the Thai rice noodle, fried rice, stir fry, and curry favorites and a long list of signature dishes, with five spice levels ranging up to hot and “Thai hot.” Diners especially love Chaang Thai’s Pad Thai, Pad Siew, and Massaman Curry and the many duck and lobster tail entrees.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are clearly noted on the menu along with recommendations for first-timers.

Chaang Thai has wines by the glass and bottle as well as bottled beers and, recently, a dozen beers on tap. Or if you’re just looking for a break in a busy day, the restaurant’s High Street storefront window is a great place for sipping a Thai Iced Coffee and peoplewatching. — PK 361 High Street, 304.241.5374, chaangthai. com, “Chaang Thai Restaurant” on Facebook

CARLA WITT FORD; ELIZABETH FORD; CARLA WITT FORD; KATIE GRIFFITH

You know it, you love it—we’re sure of that because Kegler’s Sports Bar & Lounge wins Best Sports Bar every year and Best Wings most years. We probably don’t need to tell you about the sheer quantity of large TV sets or the wide variety of games that can be watched at any given time. The energy is festive and fun.

Kegler’s wings are available with an incredible 15 varieties of sauce. Four of these—Seasoned Blend, Southwest, Kegler’s Gold, and Kegler’s Special—are signature blends, unique to the bar. Wings are only 50 cents each on Mondays from 3 to 6 p.m., and platters are discounted all day on Sundays.

If you need to work up a hunger first, Suburban Bowling Lanes shares a location and an owner, and is only steps from the bar. — KP

BEST FINE DINING

Stefano’s Some readers may remember Steve Lorenze’s Old MIll Club that operated in the ’80s where Kegler’s is now. They may not know that that supper club was the inspiration for Stefano’s, which is also named for Steve.

Stefano’s has won Best Fine Dining for five years running. Owner Jerry Lorenze attributes that to quality food served up at reasonable prices, a dedicated staff, and lots of hard work. “And customers like the atmosphere— the intimate setting with a seating capacity of about 70,” he says. “We have specials nightly and a piano player Friday and Saturday nights, so it’s a little bit different twist than other restaurants in town.”

Lorenze thanks Head Chef Chris McDonald for a great run as he moves on to other ventures; McDonald has been with Stefano’s since the restaurant opened. And he welcomes Teddy Smith, Stefano’s original head chef, back to the kitchen in February 2018. — PK 735 Chestnut Ridge Road, 304.581.6930, stefanoswv.com CLOSE RUNNER-UP

Tin 202 202 High Street, 304.212.5863, tin202.com

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

NIKKI BOWMAN (2); MARY WADE BURNSIDE; CARLA WITT FORD; ELIZABETH FORD; NIKKI BOWMAN

Oliverio’s on the Wharf

The Oliverio family starting serving up its home cooking in Bridgeport more than 50 years ago. Expanding over time from burgers and hot dogs to pizzas, hoagies, and eventually family Italian recipes, the Oliverios’ food and service inspired customer devotion. “Oliverio’s is everyone’s hometown favorite,” says Clarksburg native Amber Porter.

“Ever since I can remember, if our family is celebrating, we always go to Oliverio’s, because we know we’ll be treated like family and always feel welcome.”

With the opening of Oliverio’s on the Wharf in 2001, the restaurateurs brought their cuisine to an upscale yet relaxed urban space in Morgantown. “Now whether it’s for an office holiday party or we just want to relax after a long day, it’s the best place to go,” Porter says. Her favorite dish? The Diablo: chicken and Italian sausage with red peppers, onions, and garlic, sautéed with linguine in a spicy cream sauce. — DFR 52 Clay Street, 304.296.2565, oliveriosristorante.com @oliveriosonthewharf on Facebook

BEST LOCAL RESTAURANT NEW IN 2017

Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe Every morning, the owners of Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe make offerings—rice, oranges, something to drink—to Buddha and to Chulalongkorn, a king of Siam. That authentic environment is one reason that, of the many good new restaurants that opened in Morgantown in 2017, BOM voters chose Ta-Khrai as their favorite.

“Ta-Khrai” is Thai for “lemongrass,” the bright, citruslike herb that flavors many Thai dishes. Owner Phasavee Katepratoom brought family recipes from his hometown north of Bangkok.

Operating in an exotically decorated space, Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe offers an extensive menu of appetizers, soups, salads, fried rice, Thai curries, and desserts. Seafoods, meats, noodles, and crisp fresh vegetables are perfectly paired throughout the menu with signature Thai flavors like coconut, ginger, papaya, and lime. Aromatics play a strong role in the Ta-Khrai kitchen, and attention to color and contrast in plating makes each dish its own experience.

Ta-Khrai is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. — PK 2862 University Avenue, 304.282.3707 takhraithaimorgantown.com, “Ta Khrai Thai Cafe” on Facebook

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BEST BUSINESS LUNCH BEST UNDER 30 SPOT BEST VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY

When WVU alumni Jason Coffman and Matt Showalter took over the old Falstaff’s space on Pleasant Street in 2002, Coffman—whose family’s WVU cred goes back to a many-greatsgrandfather who was an early president—asked his father, a contractor, to drop by and advise them. His father walked through the door with a grin on his face. “I lived upstairs from here in college,” he said. “I can almost guarantee you your brother was conceived upstairs.” For Coffman, it was a good omen. “We knew we had picked the right spot.”

It seems they had. Asked what has made Black Bear a five-time-running BOM favorite for Best Business Lunch, Coffman says, “foods that don’t send you back to work feeling sluggish.” Showalter credits a professional and dedicated staff. “We can get people in and out in the short time frame they have for lunch.”

That staff also explains why Black Bear dominated our new category Best Under 30 Spot. “We have a youthful concept and an extensive collection of craft beers,” Coffman says. “And the majority of our staff is under 30. We take their input on what this millennial generation likes.”

Meat lovers know Black Bear expands on its bacon, chicken, turkey, and steak options with frequent fish and pulled pork specials. But the restaurant has also won Best VegetarianFriendly all seven years of BOM. “We have always prided ourselves on having separate cooking surfaces,” Showalter says. “We try to respect dietary needs and train our staff to be aware what it means to be vegan or vegetarian or eat gluten-free. You might not subscribe to those ideas yourself, but I think it’s important to understand them well enough to respect somebody else’s choices.”

Coffman and Showalter are celebrating the downtown location’s February 7, 2018, 15-year anniversary with a remodel—the restaurant has new floors, fresh paint, and seating and lighting upgrades. Both restaurants will also have new menu options.

Can we call Black Bear a Morgantown icon yet? Given its longevity and popularity, Morgantown magazine says yes. — PK 132 Pleasant Street, 304.296.8696, @blackbearburritos on Facebook; 3119 University Avenue, 304.777.4867, @black.bear. evansdale on Facebook; blackbearburritos.com

CARLA WITT FORD; JULIAN WYANT

Black Bear Burritos

BEST WINERY

Five reasons to visit Forks of Cheat Winery this summer: Forks of Cheat grows its own grapes just north of town. What could be more picturesque than 16 acres of grape vines in a West Virginia river valley?

Four signature reds, two whites, and a blush wine, ranging from sweet to dry.

So many fruit wines, fermented from fruit sourced as locally as possible and made entirely from the fruit on the label: apple, raspberry, blueberry, plum, and others.

The Deal family that founded the winery in 1990 and runs it still today participates in wine festivals across the region.

Tours, tastings, and lots of summer catered events on the expansive pavilion with live music: 2017 themes included Caribbean, Low Country seafood boil, and Oktoberfest.

Morgantown has a local winery! Enjoy it! — PK 2811 Stewartstown Road, 304.598.2019, wvwines.com, @forksofcheatwinery on Facebook

BEST BAKERY

Apple Annie’s Bakery Everyone who ever biked downriver or made the drive to Point Marion, Pennsylvania, to salivate over one of Apple Annie’s mile-high meringue pies was excited when Apple Annie’s Bakery opened on Don Knotts Boulevard in 2016. Fresh, madefrom-scratch cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and all kinds of pastries as well as cakes and of course those pies are now available locally, out of the mouth-watering display case on a whim or preordered for special events. BOM voters showed their mile-high love. — PK 63 Don Knotts Boulevard 304.777.4855 @appleanniesbakery on Facebook

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MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

Inside BOM Most nominations in any Food + Drink category: Best Pizza

1,887 Highest number of nominees: Best Neighborhood Bar

23

Most nominations for any one establishment in Food + Drink: Pizza Al’s for Best Pizza

610

Most votes in any category in all of BOM: Best Bakery

6,489

Most Inspiring of Nominator Creativity:

Crab Shack Carribea Carb shack.cheat lake Cheatlake crabshack Coaches on the Lake Coach’s crab Crabshack Crab shake Crabshack caribea Carriba Crab Shack Caribe Crab Carriba Crabshack on the lake Coaches Carriba’s Crab Shack The crab shack

CARLA WITT FORD

Forks of Cheat

Join us for the 2018 Best of Morgantown Celebration

Featuring food from 2018 BOM winners FEBRUARY 21 AT 123 PLEASANT STREET VISIT MORGANTOWNMAG.COM FOR TICKETS

BEST VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

Pho Hung Morgantown’s dining scene got a boost in 2017 with the addition of Vietnamese cuisine—especially, in this writer’s judgement, with pho (“fuh”): an inspired flavor and texture combination of thinly sliced meats, blanched rice noodles, and garnishes like crunchy bean sprouts, fragrant basil, and sweet hoisin and hot chili sauces.

It’s the bone broth that really makes pho stand out. Simmered beef or chicken bones develop a soup base that is both rich and light, a broth that smells and tastes great and feels deeply nourishing.

Liquid health.

At Pho Hung—named for owner Hung Hoang, a native of Saigon— the globally popular Vietnamese street dish comes in many varieties, including meatball, shrimp, and seafood. Non-pho offerings include chicken or beef satay, lemongrass soup, rice-based entrees, bun—a rice vermicelli dish with a variety of additions—and spring rolls served with peanut sauce.

Pho Hung’s space in Westover feels contemporary and comfortable, and the restaurant’s servers are industrious. It’s a welcome addition to Morgantown’s dining diversity. — PK 21 Commerce Drive, Westover, 304.292.5622, “Pho Hung Westover” on Facebook

BEST BRUNCH

Iron Horse Tavern

140 High Street, 304.296.6230, ironhorsetvrn.com @ironhorsetvrn on Facebook

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BEST STEAK

Texas Roadhouse At Texas Roadhouse, steak lovers are already salivating before they get to their tables—it starts when they’re led by the fresh meat display on their way to being seated. Texas Roadhouse’s fresh, aged beef is hand-cut, then seared to lock in juices before it’s grilled to order. Every steak dinner—the Choice Sirloin, New York Strip, Ft. Worth and Bone-In ribeyes, Porterhouse T-Bone, and Dallas Filet— is served with choice of two sides from a long list ranging from healthy salads to appetite-quashing loaded sweet potatoes. Need a little more? Any steak can be smothered in sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions, jack cheese, or brown gravy.

It all comes at family-friendly prices, even the 23-ounce Porterhouse. — PK 3505 Monongahela Boulevard, Star City, 304.598.0109 texasroadhouse.com

CARLA WITT FORD; JULIAN WYANT; KATIE GRIFFITH

Weeks can drag, but there’s always Sunday brunch at Iron Horse Tavern to look forward to.

Recognized by BOM voters three times running, Iron Horse offers a brunch unlike any other. Crowd favorites include the the Cap’n Crunch French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, and Steak & Eggs. Marketing and Sales Manager Stephen Dilettoso loves the Shakshuka: a Middle Eastern dish of poached eggs in a spicy red sauce with green chilies, onion, cumin, topped with some creamy, crumbly feta cheese.

Most popular on the brunch menu is the Eggs Benedict. Iron Horse dishes out a traditional, a vegetarian, and a Colonel Eggs Benedict: two fried eggs, fried chicken fritters, and ham layered atop buttermilk biscuits and smothered with a thick and creamy jalapeño gravy.

But brunch isn’t just about the food, of course. Iron Horse serves up bottomless mimosas every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Don’t dally—the line forms early. — JW

Personalities The folks who give Morgantown its local color

I

t takes a Morgantown insider to decipher Best of Morgantown nominations.

Readers nominate people by their first names only. They use nicknames.

The use initials. They identify them by their Twitter handles and by reference to the past: “the one who used to have that restaurant on Richwood.”

We take every nomination seriously and decode the names into a list of finalists that everyone can recognize. Here are the winners.

BEST CRAFT COCKTAIL BARTENDER

Morgantown native Josh Graham got to know one of the founders of Tin 202, then the other, when he was tending bar at the former Yesterday’s Restaurant, Bar & Grill. He’d learned bar basics at Yesterday’s—mainly martinis—but he got a whole new level of training from the beverage director he worked under when Tin 202 opened in 2014. He became beverage director himself in 2015.

Graham likes the personal interaction of bartending. “I’m not going to lie, I also like to drink,” he says.

“I don’t drink a lot every day, but I enjoy a well-made cocktail.” Mixing craft cocktails is an art, he says—or a chemistry lab. He’s invented quite a few for Tin 202’s menu.

His High and Pleasant, a tipsy play on Tin 202’s address, starts from a bourbon base, with the elderflower liqueur St. Germain, hopped grapefruit bitters, and lemon oil on top. “It’s served up in a chilled coupe glass, a nice sipping drink before dinner.” The Bogart—fresh espresso, sugar, bourbon, and egg whites—has a frothy texture. “It’s a nice end-of-the-night drink or a dessert drink to wake you up a little bit.”

What makes a great craft cocktail bartender? Multitasking, for one thing, Graham says. Precision—making sure Tin’s Old Fashioned tastes the same every single time. Creativity for inventing new cocktails. And, to be sure, a little bit of showmanship.

Visiting other cities, Graham likes to sit at bars and get ideas from skilled bartenders. He loved the New York speakeasy Attaboy, which has no menu.

“You describe the thing—say you want a bourbon drink that’s bitter with no ice—and they just go and do their thing. You have to put trust in a person like that.” He invites everyone to take a seat at Tin’s bar and put a little trust in him. — PK tin202.com 54

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

JULIAN WYANT

Josh Graham

BEST CHEF

BEST BARTENDER

Chris McDonald

Grace Hutchens

This is a bittersweet winner profile for BOM voters. Hometown boy and two-time BOM winner Stefano’s Head Chef Chris McDonald has served up memorable fine dining since the restaurant opened in 2009. McDonald’s love of seafood and his inventiveness with flavors and textures helped develop the restaurant’s loyal following.

But when this year’s Valentine’s Day dinner is done, McDonald will hang up his apron for the last time. “Stefano’s has been a great experience,” he says. He wants to spend time with family— he has children ages 8 and 9—and work on personal culinary projects, like making bacon and advancing his Von Blaze pickle company.

McDonald doesn’t know yet whether he’ll cook again at another restaurant or start his own venture. He does offer this one assurance: “It’ll definitely be in Morgantown.” — PK

As a bar owner, Grace Hutchens may have an advantage in the Best Bartender category—and BOM voters agree she makes the most of it. In the five years she’s owned Apothecary Ale House & Café, she’s introduced us to a world of beer. Her ever-evolving tap list, her extensive inventory in bottles and cans, and her easy mix of hospitality and expertise make her a fourth-time winner.

“The taste of this town has grown so much in five years—I’m sure it’s the most diverse palate in the state,” says Hutchens, who is humble about her role in that. “I know I can bring in any style of beer, and somebody will appreciate it.”

These days, Hutchens spends a little less time behind the bar, and she feels great about the business and her customers. “I’m at a happy place now,” she says. — PK

JULIAN WYANT (2); AUSTIN REMPEL

BEST POLITICIAN

Tom Bloom Winged headbands and can koozies may be the most visible icons of this year’s Best Politician, but there is more to Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom than a friendly smile and jogging shoes.

Bloom had a distinguished career as a school guidance counselor and a Morgantown city councilman before becoming a county commissioner.

227 Chestnut Street, @apothecaryalehousecafe on Facebook Bloom attributes his political success to his time in the school system, explaining that he always tries to solve problems through collaboration and cooperation. He calls this “Team Monongalia” and believes his accessibility as a public official has given him a distinct edge. Even those who may not have checked his name at the polls reach out to Bloom with an understanding that he is willing to help. Bloom extends his commitment to communication to his Facebook page, which he posts to often and uses as a medium for dialogue with constituents.

Open-mindedness and accountability aren’t the only things Bloom credits his success to. He recalls his first race for Morgantown City Council in 1987, for which he had limited funds and only 60 yard signs. He moved those signs to new locations every Sunday and says people saw his dedication during the campaign and knew he would do the same for them if elected.

The hard-work philosophy has continued in Bloom’s weekly trips to the recycling center and his dedication to helping establish food pantries in many of the county’s schools, saying his role as a commissioner is one of service and that he cherishes being able to accomplish things for the community.

Bloom laughs and says he’s been called the Energizer Bunny because he’s always on the run, but he insists his work isn’t done.

“I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked and enjoying it more,” he says. — AR co.monongalia.wv.us MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY

When Tony Caridi calls a basketball game at the WVU Coliseum, he’s close enough to identify players by their faces. “I don’t even know what number Nathan Adrian wore,” he says, referring to the six-foot-nine forward and Morgantown native who, for the record, wore No. 11.

But calling a game on the gridiron is a different story altogether. “Football is 22 players running into each other with helmets on, about 100 yards away,” Caridi says. So in order to provide listeners with a quality play-by-play, Caridi spends hours each week memorizing the opposing team’s roster. “I want to be able to say, ‘That’s John Smith’—boom, instantly, as soon as that ball hits his hands.”

His preparation begins each Monday when he leaves for his morning walk with Charles Barkley, the family’s wheaten terrier. For those 45 minutes, you’ll find Caridi strolling behind Charlie and studying a depth chart, the paper folded so all the players’ numbers are on one side and their names are on the other. To memorize the list, Caridi creates associations between those numbers and players’ names.

For an example, let’s say a player named Andy Roth—Caridi picks an old elementary school friend’s name for the demonstration—wears No. 16: “Sixteen, don’t even ask me why, is a dish. A dish that’s as big as a flying saucer. Roth, I would associate that with a raft. My son’s name is Andy, so I’d put him in a raft. So when I see 16, I see a dish, I see a raft, I see Andy. Andy Roth.”

It’s a trick he learned from a book he read in college, The Memory Book, by memory training specialist Harry Lorayne and NBA All-Star Jerry Lucas. But there’s no recycling. For the trick to work, he must create new associations for every player in every game. “You have to be able to shock this portion of your brain to get it to remember. You have to shock it with a crazy, stupid image.”

He watches game film about halfway through the week to study each player’s build and gait.

“So I can associate those numbers with what they actually look like,” he says. On gameday, he’s assisted in the broadcast booth by a pair of spotters. But if he’s prepared enough, “I should have 90 percent of it,” he says.

For all his memory muscle, Caridi is also talented at forgetting. He does not junk up his brain with piles of unneeded statistics, names, and numbers. When the game is over, he lets it all go. “You flush it. No. 7 next week is going to be a different player, and No. 7 from this week doesn’t stick.”

Catch Caridi’s play-by-plays on WRLF and WZST, found at 94.3 FM and 100.9 FM on your radio dial, respectively. — ZH

JULIAN WYANT; ELIZABETH FORD

Tony Caridi

Inside BOM Most nominations in any Personality category: Best Artist

765 Most nominations for any one nominee in Personalities: Jaime “Just Jaime” Ames on WVAQ for Best Media Personality

172 Highest number of nominees: Best Politician

25 BEST ARTIST

MARY WADE BUNSIDE; CARLA WITT FORD (2)

Jamie Lester If the number of bronze sculptures in a town says something about its pride, Morgantown became a much prouder place in 2016. It also became far more aware of sculptor, artist, and musician Jamie Lester.

A native of southern West Virginia, Lester showed artistic talent even as a kid. He studied art at WVU, eventually finding his home in sculpture. After college he worked with the Sheidow Bronze foundry in Kingwood, where he made reliefs for display in prominent places like the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida, and Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

His winning New River Gorge Bridge design for the 2005 West Virginia quarter led to his first large-scale bronze commission, the Jerry West statue—a year-long project unveiled at the WVU Coliseum in 2007.

Lester’s establishment of Vandalia Bronze with business partner Jeff Edwards in 2012 gave him a platform for promoting his work, and that contributed to his strong 2016 in Morgantown. It started in February with the installation of his statue of basketball great “Hot Rod” Hundley at the Blue Gate of the WVU Coliseum, across from the Jerry West statue. In June, his sculpture of Morgantown founder Zackquill Morgan was unveiled in front of the Public Service Building on Spruce Street. And, in July, his representation of beloved native comedic actor Don Knotts took its place before the Metropolitan Theatre on High Street.

Lester continues to work in both two and three dimensions and is an annual participant in Morgantown’s fall Arts Walk. He’s also a musician and tries to find time to practice and perform.

“Morgantown is full of great painters, printmakers, and potters,” he says. He encourages residents to support the arts. “The risk is minimal when you’re buying art. Be willing to take the risk—trust your heart.” — PK

Most votes in final round: Best Media Personality

4,666 Best Personality nominations with the most personality:

Shane (blonde) That guy from mainstahe who plays in hill giant The guy with the man bun at tin202 The guy with the eyepatch at the Mylan tailgate

vandaliabronze.com MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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Health + Wellness When an apple a day isn’t enough

O

ur doctors and dentists provide the most personal of services, and Morgantown patients show their appreciation every year in BOM. Favorites tend to carry over from one year to the next, a testament to the quality of services they provide.

BEST CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE

Inside BOM

Advantage Health & Wellness

726 Most nominations for any one nominee in Health + Wellness: Cardinal Pediatrics for Best Pediatric Clinic

138 Highest number of nominees in a single category: Best Dentist / Orthodontics Office

23 Most votes in final round: Best General Medicine Clinic

3,502

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Kevin Trembush says he loves skeptics.

He himself became aware of the value of chiropractic medicine when nothing else relieved the pain he felt from playing sports in high school and college. “I’ll never forget that first adjustment,” he says. “It was like that pain and pressure was trying to get out of my body but just needed a little help. That is when I knew I would be a chiropractor.”

Trembush started Advantage Health & Wellness on the Mileground in 2005 and moved it to Burroughs Street in 2010.

Chiropractors take a drug-free, hands-on approach to a broad range of health conditions—especially back pain, neck pain, and headaches. For that reason, Advantage bills itself as “primary care for your spine.” But the clinic’s services can also help with complaints as diverse as pain anywhere in the body and with chronic conditions. Over time, the clinic has come to offer a combination of physical therapy, medical massage, and chiropractic adjustments for a complementary approach.

Advantage practitioners make a point of explaining the chiropractic approach to new clients, detailing a treatment plan and answering all questions. In addition, the clinic’s website offers information about ways chiropractic treatments may help manage chronic ailments, including fibromyalgia and asthma. And the clinic encourages dietary and lifestyle habits for all-around wellness. — PK 699 Burroughs Street, 304.225.9355, morgantownchiropractor.com

JULIAN WYANT

Most nominations in any Health + Wellness category: Best Dentist / Orthodontics Office

BEST GENERAL MEDICINE CLINIC

Mon Health Wedgewood Primary Care and Psychiatry Started in 1979, Wedgewood Family Practice and Psychiatry Associates was already the largest primary care practice in north central West Virginia when it combined with Mon Health in 2017 to improve the services of both. Today Mon Health Wedgewood Primary Care and Psychiatry operates out of three offices, offering primary and urgent care as well as behavioral health, occupational medicine, and workers’ compensation services. — PK 1000 Mon Health Medical Park Drive 304.599.9400; 1300 Fort Pierpont Road 304.241.7150; 900 Fairmont Road Westover, 304.292.7316; wedgewood-fp.com

JULIAN WYANT; CARLA WITT FORD

BEST DERMATOLOGY OFFICE

Mountain State Medical Specialties The team at Mountain State Medical Specialties believes that informed patients make better decisions about their health and well-being. So when it comes to dermatology, the practice’s website offers easy-to-understand information about skin care, common diagnoses, and treatment options—empowering patients to take strong roles in their own skin health.

Prevention, the website reminds us, is the best medicine: Protect skin from the sun, keep it clean, and moisturize it often. But if medical care is needed, MSMS is there to help.

Coming up on a quarter-century of patient care, MSMS has grown from a solo practice in Clarksburg and Elkins to offer primary and specialty care at nine locations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, with dermatology offered at six of those locations.

Staff give back to their communities by volunteering at health fairs, screenings, and community charity events. — PK 165 Scott Avenue, 304.554.0400, msmswv.com MORGANTOWNMAG.COM

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Morgantown Dental Group

It’s comforting to see the same faces when you go to the dentist, six-month cleaning after six-month cleaning, year after year. Morgantown Dental Group has stability that goes on for generations.

Dr. Mike Wilson joined Morgantown Dental Group almost 40 years ago, when his father was part of the already-50-year-old practice. In recent decades, Wilson and longtime partner Dr. Ed Hawkins practiced with Dr. Josh Dolin until Hawkins retired.

“We’ve had really good longevity among employees,” Wilson says. “We’ve had hygienists and front office people who’ve been here for over 20 years. My dental assistant here is in her 51st year. She worked for my father, she works for me, and she’s helped my son”— that’s third-generation dentist Dr. Jason Wilson, who works part-time with the practice and will soon take a larger role.

And it’s not just staff: Morgantown Dental Group has third-generation patients, too.

Wilson attributes that kind of loyalty to a practice built on integrity, quality, and punctuality.

“We have a reputation for running on time,” he says.

Morgantown Dental Group works to educate patients so they can participate knowledgeably in decisions about their own dental care. “The focus has to be on what’s best for the patient and not just on the bottom line,” Wilson says. His best advice? Regular trips to the dentist and good home care can save a lot of money in the long run. “Our goal in that regard is to catch small problems before they become big problems.” — PK 142 High Street, 304.292.7307, morgantowndentalgroup.com

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CARLA WITT FORD

BEST DENTAL OFFICE

BEST PEDIATRIC CLINIC

CARLA WITT FORD

WVU Medicine Cheat Lake Physicians

Not too long ago, a family that was moving away from Morgantown stopped by WVU Medicine Cheat Lake Physicians just to say goodbye to Dr. Taylor Troischt. Their child had been his very first patient there, and both he and the parents remembered that throughout their 13-year relationship.

What does it take to be the BOM Best Pediatric Clinic? “When you get a whole bunch of people who show up in the same place and are dedicated to a common goal, good things happen,” Troischt says. It’s not only the clinic’s five pediatricians and nurse practitioner, he says. “It’s a team effort. We have great people in the patient access area when you check in, great nurses who help kids through every step, and great triage and administrative support.”

WVU Medicine Cheat Lake Physicians offers patients a lot of convenience, Troischt says.

He had been working several years at that location already when WVU Medicine bought the existing clinic, “and they really worked with us to help grow it and provide all the supportive services on-site. It’s helpful to have ancillary services like laboratory, x-ray, dietitian services, and a lactation consultant.”

When parents are deciding where to take their kids, Troischt recommends finding a doctor who they feel listens to them and communicates well. “We try to take some time, get to know people, develop a relationship,” he says. “Everyone wins in that scenario.” — PK 608 Cheat Road, 304.594.1313

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BEST OB/GYN CLINIC

Women’s Healthcare of Morgantown Whether you’re an expectant mother or a woman looking to put your health in the hands of a professional you trust, you know that quality medical care matters. So do doctors Shane Prettyman and Craig Herring at Women’s Healthcare of Morgantown, and that’s why they work tirelessly to create a setting where females of all ages can feel both comfortable and secure.

Women’s Healthcare of Morgantown, which partners with Mon Health’s Birth Center, has served the community for more than 25 years. The team of Prettyman and Herring upholds the clinic’s reputation of providing exceptional health care to those who walk through its doors by offering comprehensive services in the areas of gynecology, obstetrics, contraception, and primary care. “We want to provide a whole lifetime of care for you,” Herring says.

Since moving to their new location in the Suncrest Towne Centre six years ago, Prettyman and Herring have seen their practice grow, specifically in the areas of accessibility and holistic personal care.

Women’s Healthcare of Morgantown offers a 24-hour call service as well as flexible scheduling, and it prides itself on being a onestop shop that eliminates the need for separate trips to a hospital for services like ultrasound and lab work. What’s more, the smaller size of the practice allows patients to really get to know their health care team.

“The care that everybody in our clinic, from the front office staff to our nurses and providers, gives to patients is something we are really proud of,” Prettyman says. — KC 1249 Suncrest Towne Centre, 304.599.6353, whcofmorgantown.com

BEST PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY OFFICE

Attend any high school sporting event in the area, and you’re likely to see a HealthWorks athletic trainer on the scene. HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness teams up with WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sports Science to provide athletic training coverage to high schools in several counties, helping high school athletes train and compete safely.

Founded in Morgantown in 1979, HealthWorks is grounded in a sports medicine approach to injuries, with an emphasis on a speedy return to activity. HealthWorks staffs physical and occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, and other professionals to manage every rehabilitation need.

HealthWorks touts its friendly, experienced staff, state-of-the-art technology and facilities, extended hours, and child care service for clients. With its close ties to education and WVU and Mon General hospitals, support for community programs including Girls on the Run, Relay for Life, and United Way, and five satellite clinics, HealthWorks touches many lives across greater Morgantown every day. — PK 943 Maple Drive, 304.599.2515; 200 Fairchance Road 304.594.1545; healthworksrf.com 62

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COURTESY OF WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE OF MORGANTOWN; JULIAN WYANT

HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness

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BEST COACH

Blue + Gold A salute to the flagship

W

hether you’re a student, an alum, or just an innocent spectator, game day is the biggest excitement in town. Mountaineer sports draw visitors from all over and put Morgantown on national and global stages. And for those of us who live in town, it’s not just the game—we enjoy everything from glimpses of the Pride practicing in the parking lot to daylong tailgates to bumping into our favorite coaches and athletes in the supermarket. And we do have our favorites.

Of course, WVU is fundamentally about teaching. Students past and present chose this year’s number one professor.

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Bob Huggins It’s April 3, 2010, the WVU men’s basketball team is making its second-ever appearance in the Final Four, and the Mountaineers are trailing Duke University’s Blue Devils by 15 points with nine minutes left.

Fans are still hoping for a comeback, and that hope rests on the shoulders of star forward Da’Sean Butler.

Butler takes the ball and drives for the basket, but collides with a Duke player. He plants his left leg to make a jump shot. His knee buckles.

He crashes to the hardwood.

No one knows the extent of Butler’s injuries yet. Later we’ll learn that, in that fleeting instant, he sustained two bone bruises, sprained his medial collateral ligament, and tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

But one thing is immediately clear: He’s out of the game.

Butler knows this, too. And he knows his injury will cost WVU the game. He bites his thumb, grabs at his face, and pounds the floor with his fist as a trainer inspects his knee. Then WVU head coach Bob Huggins appears by his side.

At first, Huggins crouches to pat the gold-outlined 1 on Butler’s stomach. But in just a moment, he’s down on his knees, arms surrounding the player’s head.

“I could hear Butler apologizing,” says Mike Casazza, who covered the game for the Charleston Daily Mail. He was just feet away when Butler went down. “I think that’s what broke Huggins up.”

Television cameras do not capture audio of their conversation, but fans around the world see Huggins nose-to-nose with Butler, wiping tears from his face. “There were tens of thousands of people there, but there were two people at that moment,” Casazza says.

It was a tender moment from a coach better known for his tortuous practices, unrelenting defense, and red-faced sideline rants toward officials and his own players. But Huggins’ players were hardly surprised.

Truck Bryant still remembers his first practice at WVU. It lasted three hours. “We went straight back to the dorm. It had to be about 5 o’clock, and we slept the rest of the night.”

Huggins’ obsession with defense made practices particularly grueling for Bryant, a point guard. “It was me and him all the time,” he says.

But no matter how things went during practice or a game, the bad feelings stayed between the sidelines. “If something happened in practice—if he yelled at you, screamed at you—it never came off the court,” says former WVU forward Kevin Jones. “It was never personal with him, and you knew that.”

Off the court, Bryant and Jones say Huggins takes on a paternal role with his players. That relationship doesn’t end when players go off to the NBA, or European basketball leagues, or life beyond the backboards. Like several former WVU basketball players, both Bryant and Jones still have homes in Morgantown, where they train during the off season.

Huggins had an alumni locker room set up for them at WVU’s practice facility. “He was tired of seeing us get changed in the court,” Bryant says.

“He told me he was going to do it, and he really did it.”

And Huggins—who’s one of only 10 NCAA men’s coaches to top 800 career wins—doesn’t play favorites.

“He treats everybody the same, whether you were a star player or a role player,” Jones says.

After those eternal minutes on the floor of the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Huggins got up from his knees, allowing his players to help Butler off the court. Duke continued to run up the score, winning 78–57.

The Blue Devils would go on to win the NCAA Division I championship. But at least for a while, the only thing cable networks, sports radio hosts, bloggers, and newspaper columnists wanted to talk about was that moment between Huggins and Butler.

“I don’t care how old he gets,” Casazza says. “I don’t care how many years he’s gone from coaching. He could win a national championship, but that’s what you’re going to remember.” — ZH

WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS, DAVID MILLER

WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS, DALE SPARKS

WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS, SCOTT LITUCHY

WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS, DALE SPARKS

BEST PROFESSOR

Lisa DiBartolomeo The secret to being a successful professor, says Lisa DiBartolomeo, is genuinely caring about the subject and the students you teach—along with hard work.

DiBartolomeo is a Morgantown native who attended WVU as an undergraduate.

After earning her M.Litt. in Russian Literature from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and her Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she decided to build her career as an academic here because of her deep love for WVU. “It’s such a wonderful place for providing access to students from all over our state, and all over our world, to come and learn about people, places, and ideas they may never have encountered,” she raves.

At WVU, DiBartolomeo coordinates the Russian Studies and the Slavic and East European Studies programs. She teaches courses on subjects ranging from vampires in traditional and pop culture to Russian fairy tales to Holocaust literature and film.

“It’s all intensely interesting to me,” she says. “Learning about the humanities helps everyone at all stages of life be better people, be better consumers of information, be better citizens and voters and participants in everyday life.”

DiBartolomeo has been teaching “forever.” “I started coaching little kids at hockey when I was an undergrad, and it’s continued since then.” But it wasn’t until college when she had a class with her mentor, Marilyn Bendena, that she realized that academia was where she wanted to be.

Although keeping students—and sometimes even colleagues—engaged can often be a challenge, DiBartolomeo says being passionate about the subject helps.

“I also try to consider different learning styles and use different media and materials,” she says. “If you can keep a majority interested by having a thoughtprovoking conversation, by showing a funny YouTube video and then discussing it, by telling an illustrative anecdote, then you’ve done well.” Clearly her methods are working. — JW

BEST PLACE FOR MOUNTAINEER GEAR

We can go lots of places to buy Mountaineer gear. But if you’re looking for a reason to choose one over another, know this: Mountaineer Zone at University Town Centre is a family-run boutique with a long local history.

Its roots go back to the 1960s, when Fred Fiorini started a sporting goods shop on Pleasant Street. He added WVU fan gear over time and, in 1986, opened a place that specialized in community and university sporting goods—many will remember his Mountaineer Corner at Beechurst Avenue and 8th Street, which operated until 2013.

Meanwhile, Fiorini’s daughter Lisa and her husband, Mudassar Ahmad, wanted to be part of the shiny new development up on the hill in Granville. They opened Mountaineer Zone in 2007.

Mountaineer Zone carries the range of gear. “We have everything from clothing to collectibles, simple everyday things, signage for your office, car accessories—those are huge,” Lisa Ahmad says. The shop orders licensed Mountaineer products in quantities that allow it to customize designs, so many of the products available there can be found nowhere else. The Ahmads support local services, like screen printing, and local artisans wherever they can.

The WVU team enthusiasm on Mountaineer Zone’s Facebook page rivals anybody’s. But some people who visit Morgantown want souvenirs

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that aren’t Mountaineer-related, and the shop serves those people with West Virginia-themed products. Recently, it has offered craft sessions, and Lisa’s craft tutorial videos have become popular: In a January video, she demonstrated how to make a blue and gold West Virginia candy jar.

Mountaineer Zone also takes mail order requests through Facebook.

Now graduated from WVU, son Sheraz Ahmad, a co-owner, manages the store and handles social media. “We’re a familyowned and -operated business with a focus on customer service,” Lisa says. — PK 1107 Target Way, 304.599.8326, @mountaineerzone on Facebook

JULIAN WYANT; POLLY FIORINI

Mountaineer Zone

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Ginny Thrasher If the name Ginny Thrasher doesn’t ring a bell, here’s a reminder: She was the first gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the first U.S. Olympian to win gold that year, the first American to medal in the 10-meter event since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the first woman from WVU’s Rifle team to win an Olympic medal, and only the second WVU athlete to take home gold while attending the school. And that was all just one year of her reign.

Thrasher is now a WVU junior majoring in biomedical engineering. Along with training, it’s a lot to juggle. Her typical day goes like this: class 8 a.m.–1 p.m., practice 1–5 p.m., workouts 5:30–6:30 p.m., then team dinner, homework, and finally bed around 10:30. But this schedule doesn’t bother Thrasher. “I enjoy the challenge of balancing athletics and academics, and it has definitely given me better time-management skills,” she says.

She carries that uniformity over to competitions. “My sport is truly about consistency, so I try to be very consistent about my pre-competition routine,” she says. On match day, Thrasher eats the same thing for breakfast—which, like any day, involves no caffeine—then journals about her expectations and stretches. “I like to talk to my coaches and teammates a few minutes beforehand,” she explains, “and then take some time to relax by myself.” After a competition, she likes to eat and relax. She might watch a movie or just spend some time chilling out.

Despite her success, Thrasher is still the well-rounded, down-to-earth woman she was before.

“Sometimes how you are viewed by other people changes as a result of your accomplishments, but recognizing I am the same person with or without a gold medal has helped me stay me despite all the distractions that come with success.” — JW

BEST MALE STUDENT ATHLETE

WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS; WVU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS, DALE SPARKS

Jevon Carter On a summer day before his sophomore year at WVU, Mountaineer basketball player Jevon Carter found himself at a pivotal point in his career. The Maywood, Illinois, native had made the trek to Morgantown largely due to the fact that he wanted to play for legendary coach Bob Huggins, and now Huggins was presenting him with a choice.

“That day, he told me he was going to move me from off the ball to on the ball, and I told him that was a lot of responsibility,” Carter says. “He asked me if I wanted to be a good player or a great player, and I said, ‘Great.’”

Carter put his trust in Huggins and, three seasons later, the senior point guard has made a name for himself as one of the top defensive players in the country on a Mountaineer squad known for its press.

Carter has also proven himself to be an integral player in a historic 2017–18 season that has seen WVU reach its highest AP national ranking since 1959.

Touting achievements like being named the 2017 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and establishing himself as WVU’s all-time leader in steals, it’s easy to respect and appreciate Carter’s athletic prowess and the energy he brings to the court. But what makes Carter even more special to Morgantown and the rest of the Mountain State is his love and pride for the place he’s grown to call home.

“We are playing for the state and the people here,” he says. “‘I've been told since I've been here that I truly represent the Mountaineer culture—it’s really just who I am. No matter what I'm doing, I'm going to give it my all. West Virginia’s gotten four years of my life, and I've given them everything that I’ve got.” — KC

Inside BOM Most nominations in any Blue + Gold category: Best Coach

618

Most nominations for any one nominee in Blue + Gold: Bob Huggins

346

Highest number of nominees in any one category: Best Professor

more than 50

Most votes in final round: Best Coach

4,999

Variations on “hug” in nominations for Bob Huggins for Best Coach:

Hugs Huggie huggs!

HUGGY BEAR

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Come Party With Us! Join us for the 2018 Best of Morgantown Celebration FEBRUARY 21 AT 123 PLEASANT STREET VISIT MORGANTOWNMAG.COM FOR TICKETS

Your local guide to life, art, culture, & more FEB/MAR 2018

ELIZABETH FORD

February FEBRUARY 3 WVU Men’s Basketball vs. Kansas State WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard Sat. 4 p.m., wvugame.com The Mountaineers take on the Wildcats.

Airs on ESPN. Whiskey Myers with Scooter Brown Band Schmitt’s Saloon, Sat. 9 p.m., 245 Cheat Road 304.291.9001, schmittssaloon.com Home is sacred ground for Whiskey Myers—not just a plot of land, but the cornerstone of an identity worth dying for. The songs on the band’s 2016 album Mud are stories of ordinary people standing up for their families and honoring their roots. Whiskey Myers is heavily influenced by country music, but the band credits everything from Alan Jackson and Waylon Jennings to Led Zeppelin and Nirvana. $15 FEBRUARY 5 WVU Women’s Basketball vs. University of Texas WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Mon. 7 p.m., wvugame.com Watch the Mountaineers take on the Longhorns.

FEBRUARY 7 WVU Core Arboretum Work Day Wednesday Core Arboretum, Wed. 1–4 p.m.

Volunteers work on trails, do invasive species removal, clean drainage channels, and maintain lawn areas Wednesdays year-round. It’s hard work and good exercise much appreciated by the arboretum’s many users. Email zfowler@mail.wvu.edu to express interest.

FEBRUARY 10 WinterFest Coopers Rock State Forest, Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., coopersrock.org, @coopers.rock.wv on Facebook WinterFest celebrates winter recreation at Coopers Rock and raises funds for the Coopers Rock Foundation. Events include sledding, a snow obstacle course, a winter tree identification walk, a chance to try out snowshoes and cross-country skis, a snowball target range, a cross-country ski mass-start downhill dash, a women’s frying pan toss, and a men’s snowball throwdown. Alternative activities planned for a snowless day. Proceeds support recreational facilities at the forest. Free

FEBRUARY 17 14th annual Morgantown Polar Plunge The polar plunge supports the Special Olympics of West Virginia.

Each participant must raise a minimum of $50 for the privilege to plunge. This is your opportunity to get out of the house and join others in a bracing time that includes a warming postplunge party.

Morgantown Marina, Sat. 2 p.m., 304.345.9310, sowv.org Morgantown Farmers Market Wesley United Methodist Church Gymnasium 503 North High Street, Sat. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. morgantownfarmersmarket.org WVU Men’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma State WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Sat. noon, wvugame.com Watch the Mountaineers take on the Cowboys.

Airs on ESPN. Cabin Fever Craft Beer Festival Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center 111 Mylan Park Lane, Sat. noon–6 p.m. wvbeerfest.com North central West Virginia’s annual indoor winter event featuring brews from across the Mountain State—a great way to sample the state’s newest breweries. Local food and merchant vendors, with a focus on Appalachian culture. A ticket gets six hours of sampling and a souvenir tasting glass. $12–$35

Seed Swap West Virginia Botanic Garden, 1061 Tyrone Road, Sat. 1–3 p.m., 304.322.2093, wvbg.org Swap seeds at a fun social event. Details on types of seeds to bring and packaging will be sent to registrants. Free; donations encouraged.

WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital Gala Morgantown Event Center at the Morgantown Marriott, 2 Waterfront Place, Sat., 5:30 p.m.

304.598.4346, wvuchgala.com This year’s theme, Moonlight in Morocco, promises an elegant evening of gourmet dining, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Dress up for a great cause.

The Anti-Imperialism Nationwide Comedy Takeover with Krish Mohan & Andrew Frank Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High Street, Sat. 8 p.m., 304.292.3325, @monartscenter on Facebook An evening of socially conscious comedy featuring Michael Cohen and Zach Funk. $10

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FEBRUARY 12

FEBRUARY 24

WVU Men’s Basketball vs. TCU WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Mon. 9 p.m., wvugame.com The Mountaineers face the Horned Frogs. Airs on ESP2.

Empty Bowls Luncheon

Empty Bowls Monongalia provides resources and assistance to county agencies that support individuals and families threatened by food insecurity. This luncheon is a tastegood, feel-good event that also does good.

Unlimited soup and bread plus select a hand-painted bowl to take home. Minimum donation of $20

FEBRUARY 13 Art Up Close!

Art Museum of WVU, 2 Fine Arts Drive, Tues.

5:30 p.m., 304.293.7790, artmuseum.wvu.edu Presentation by Dylan Collins, professor of sculpture, WVU School of Art & Design. Free

Aphrodesia! 13th annual St. Valentine’s Day Feast Hill & Hollow, 709 Beechurst Avenue, Tues.– Thurs., 304.241.4551, hillandhollowwv.com @hillandhollowwv on Facebook Hill & Hollow’s popular three-course Aphrodesia feast features an aperitif and appetizer and an entree course of free-range beef chateaubriand and broiled petite Maine lobster tails, all followed by a single-origin heirloom chocolate torte with lavender-infused honey, apricot fig chutney, and blueberries in sweet cream.

BOB CAMPIONE

FEBRUARY 13–15

Hazel and JW Ruby Community Center, 500 Mylan Park Lane, Sat. 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

304.241.5510, ebmon.org

FEBRUARY 14 WVU Women’s Basketball vs. University of Kansas WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Wed. 6 p.m., wvugame.com The Mountaineers face the Jayhawks.

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles WVU Creative Arts Center, 1 Fine Arts Drive Wed. 7:30 p.m., 304.293.7469, events.wvu.edu RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles celebrates the 50th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. RAIN will bring the historic album to life in a psychedelic, multimedia spectacular, delivering a note-fornote theatrical event that is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles themselves. $44 and up NEARBY Valentine’s Dinner Buffet Preston County Inn, 112 West Main Street Kingwood, Wed. 4–8 p.m., 304.329.2220 prestoncountyinn.com An extensive buffet including crab cakes, prime rib, and lobster alfredo, with a chocolate fountain and other desserts. $25 per person

FEBRUARY 15–18 5th Annual One-Act Fest M.T. Pockets Theatre, 203 Parsons Street Thurs.–Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., 304.284.0049 mtpocketstheatre.com See the 12 winners of the 5th annual One-Act Play Contest: September 18th by Lisa VillaMil, Dry Spell by Gretchen Suarez-Pena, The Golem of 67th Street by Christopher Handschuch, The Bar Club Experience by Alex Rubin, 2018 World Staring Championships by Sean Bonnette, Haywire by Matthew McLachlan, Table(s) for Two by Mara Monaghan, and more. Mature audience. $10/$13/$15 70

MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

FEBRUARY 15–19 Frostburn Marvin’s Mountaintop, Cascade, Thurs.–Mon. frostburn.org Patterned after Burning Man, Frostburn, started in 2008, is an annual music and arts festival filled with music, art, fire, dancing, food, and all manner of cold-weather fun. Creativity and participation are encouraged. $100 at the gate NEARBY

FEBRUARY 16 40th Anniversary Concert Metropolitan Theatre, 371 High Street, Fri. 7 p.m., gwmf.org/concert Join the Gardner Winter Music Festival and Morgantown Friends of Old-time Music and Dance as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary with The Critton Hollow String Band and the Hillbilly Gypsies. $10 in advance, $15 cash only at the door FEBRUARY 16 & 17 Valentine’s Day Overnight Package Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, 2 Waterfront Place, 304.296.1700, marriott.com A night in the Marriott’s redesigned guest rooms, a four-course prix fixe dinner for two, and breakfast for two. From $209 FEBRUARY 17 Sweethearts Self Defense Class Forks of Cheat Winery, 2811 Stewartstown Road, Sat. noon–1 p.m. 304.296.5111 Offered by John Beluschak’s American Judo-

Hapkido Institute. Open to the public ages 21+.

Registration required; call for details.

WVU Women’s Basketball vs. University of Oklahoma WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Sat. 3 p.m., wvugame.com The Mountaineers face the Sooners.

FEBRUARY 18 Third annual Beauty and the Beast WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Sun. 2 p.m., wvugame.com The Mountaineers wrestling squad faces Clarion while the gymnastics team takes on Maryland and Pitt for its home finale in one tri-meet. $5 FEBRUARY 21 7th annual Best of Morgantown Celebration 123 Pleasant Street, Wed. 5:30–8 p.m., 304.413.0104, morgantownmag.com/BOM Best of Morgantown awards ceremony and celebration. Food, music, and good feelings all around. Tickets online while they last. $10 FEBRUARY 22 Winter Blues North Farmers’ Market Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, 2 Waterfront Place, Thurs. 4–8 p.m., “Winter Blues North Farmers Market” on Facebook If you’ve never been to the Winter Blues market, you’ll be surprised what fresh items local farmers can produce this early in the year. It’s an inspiring anticipation of spring every year. Free

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FEBRUARY 24

Earth, Moon, and Sun Fulldome Planetarium Show WV Planetarium and Observatory, White Hall 135 Willey Street, Fri. 6 p.m., 304.293.4961 planetarium.wvu.edu Looking for something new to do indoors with the kids as winter drags on? This is the planetarium’s monthly children’s show. Free; reservations required

Cris Jacobs’ Band with

Weary Space Wanderer Former The Bridge front man Cris Jacob returns to 123 Pleasant Street after nearly a decade. $8/$10 day-of

FEBRUARY 22–24 Oodles of Noodles: Rollin’ Yer Own from Asia to Appalachia Hill & Hollow, Seneca Center, 709 Beechurst Avenue, Thurs.–Sat., 304.241.4551 hillandhollowwv.com, @hillandhollowwv on Facebook Great noodle dishes from around the globe paired with winter ales and bitters.

Gardner Winter Music Festival South Middle School, 500 East Parkway Drive Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–11 p.m., gwmf.org This year marks the 40th anniversary of this two-day old-time music festival that features on-stage performances, informal jam sessions, free workshops, a Friday evening swing dance, and a Saturday evening square dance. $3–$5 FEBRUARY 24 International Polar Bear Day Spark! Imagination and Science Center Mountaineer Mall, Sat. 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

304.292.4646, sparkwv.org.

Learn how we can help polar bears by lowering our carbon footprint. Visitors receive a reusable grocery bag, one per family, while supplies last.

Adults $2, children $6, under 12 months free

COURTESY OF 123 PLEASANT STREET

FEBRUARY 23–24

breakout star of The Illusionists, brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to this 90-minute spectacle. Produced by the same creative team behind The Illusionists brand, this production is an immersive entertainment extravaganza of magic, comedy, and music perfect for the entire family. $44 and up FEBRUARY 26

WVU Women’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma State WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Sat. 1 p.m., wvugame.com Watch the Mountaineers take on the Cowgirls.

WVU Men’s Basketball vs. Texas Tech WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Mon. 9 p.m., wvugame.com The Mountaineers face the Red Raiders. Airs on ESP2.

WVU Men’s Basketball vs. Iowa State WVU Coliseum, Monongahela Boulevard, Sat. 6 p.m., wvugame.com Watch the Mountaineers take on the Cyclones.

Airs on ESP2.

March

FEBRUARY 25 Strike A Vein Bowling Event Suburban Lanes Bowling Center, 735 Chestnut Ridge Road, Sun. 1–5 pm., 681.212.9355 wvnhf.org Spend a fun day bowling while helping to raise money for bleeding disorders, sponsored by the West Virginia chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. $25 Adam Trent: The Next Generation of Magic WVU Creative Arts Center, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Sun. 7 p.m., events.wvu.edu “Seeing is dis-believing,” raves The New York Times. Direct from Broadway, Adam Trent, the

123 Pleasant Street Sat. 8 p.m.

304.292.0800 123pleasantstreet.com

MARCH 2 HR & Human Rights with Tom Batchelor Band 123 Pleasant Street, Fri. 8 p.m.

304.292.0800, 123pleasantstreet.com Former Bad Brains front man HR brings his reggae group Human Rights. $12 / $15 day-of MARCH 3–4 17th Annual West Virginia Fishing, Hunting, & Outdoor Sports Show Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center, Mylan Park, Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. wvoutdoorsportsshow.com More than 150 vendors will be on hand selling items including tackle and bait, camping

equipment, tractors, boats, ATVs, mowers, and other goods and services. $9, under 12 $1, under 6 free MARCH 4 Spring Wedding Showcase Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa, Sun. 11 a.m. lakeviewresort.com Check website for details on this spring event.

Screaming Females with Radiator Hospital and Beast Friend 123 Pleasant Street, Sun. 7 p.m.

304.292.0800, 123pleasantstreet.com Female-fronted rock trio Screaming Females All At Once album release party. $12 /$15 day-of MARCH 7 Foreigner WVU Creative Arts Center, 1 Fine Arts Drive Wed. 7:30 p.m.

Foreigner is back! “Hot Blooded,” “Cold as Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and more.

Their music changed the rock ’n’ roll landscape forever. Now you can see this legendary band and their electrifying brand of blustery blues and impeccably crafted pop in the intimacy of the WVU Creative Arts Center Lyell B. Clay Theatre.

WORTH THE DRIVE Jersey Boys The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences 1 Clay Square, Charleston, Wed. 7:30 p.m.

304.561.3570, theclaycenter.org Jersey Boys is the behind-the-music story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang

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their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard. But while their harmonies were perfect on-stage, off-stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Hits include “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like A Man.” Explicit language. $48 and up

A screening of “Heroin(e)” WVU Downtown Campus Library, Thurs. 6:30 p.m., exhibits.lib.wvu.edu/gallery_intimacy This Netflix Original Documentary short follows three women fighting the opioid crisis in Huntington, West Virginia. Director Elaine McMillion Sheldon is a Peabody award–winning documentary filmmaker based in West Virginia.

The screening is part of “A Knowing Intimacy: A Photography Exhibit by West Virginia Women,” and a panel discussion by the exhibitors will follow.

“Heroin(e)” is among five short documentaries nominated for Oscar awards; the awards ceremony will have taken place on March 4.

MARCH 9–11 North Central West Virginia Home Builders Show Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center Mylan Park, Fri.–Sun., 304.599.0850 morgantownhomeshow.com More than 100 vendors, from gardening suppliers to kitchen designers, showcase products to make your house a home. Free MARCH 10 Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer Day of Play WVU Caperton Indoor Practice Facility, Sun. 10 a.m.–noon, “Always a Mountaineer Day of Play” on Facebook Day of Play gives children the opportunity to socialize and exercise with former NFL and WVU athletes while learning about the importance of health and fitness. Ages 6–12. Free Morgantown Farmers Market Wesley United Methodist Church Gymnasium 503 North High Street, Sat. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. morgantownfarmersmarket.org MARCH 16–18, 22–24 Glengarry Glen Ross M.T. Pockets Theatre, 203 Parsons Street Fri.–Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., Thurs.–Sat. 8 p.m.

304.284.0049, mtpocketstheatre.com Winner of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize, this is David Mamet’s scalding comedy about four smalltime, cutthroat real estate salesmen trying to grind out a living by pushing plots of land on reluctant buyers in a scramble for their fair share of the American dream. Mamet writes brutally of the tough life of tough characters who cajole, connive, and wheel and deal for a piece of the action—where closing a sale can mean a brand new Cadillac, but losing one can mean losing it all. Directed by Sean Bonnette. $10/$13/$15

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MORGANTOWN • FEB/MAR 2018

COURTESY OF WYCLIFFE GORDON

MARCH 8

MARCH 23 Wycliffe Gordon & His International All Stars Highly acclaimed trombonist Wycliffe Gordon can scat, multinote, slide, and plunge just like he stepped out of the 1930s. A son of the classical jazz era, he is best known for his work with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis. Gordon’s arrangements and compositions range in style from Louis Armstrong to hip-hop laced with Deep South jazz-roots soul. $27 and up WVU Creative Arts Center, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Fri. 7:30 p.m., 304.293.7469, events.wvu.edu

MARCH 17 Hands-On Science Spark! Imagination and Science Center Mountaineer Mall, Sat. 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

304.292.4646, sparkwv.org.

Visitors will explore physics, engineering, math, and logic through interactive activities. Adults $2, children ages 5–12 $6 MARCH 18 PopShop’s SpringFest 2018 123 Pleasant Street, Sun. 1 p.m.–?? popshopwv.com Fall Session 2 groups from the nonprofit community music school PopShop will show off their new skills. All ages. Donations appreciated MARCH 24 Morgantown Farmers Market Wesley United Methodist Church Gymnasium 503 North High Street, Sat. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. morgantownfarmersmarket.org NEARBY Colonial Dance Class Prickett’s Fort State Park, Prickett’s Fort Road Fairmont, Sat. 1–3 p.m., 304.363.3030, prickettsfort.org An afternoon of 18th century culture. This class will teach your child to dance like our early American ancestors did, with live music and

instruction. Must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration required. Free with park admission

Upcoming APRIL 3 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella WVU Creative Arts Center, 1 Fine Arts Drive Tues. 7:30 p.m., 304.293.7469, events.wvu.edu This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations, and all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, and more—plus some surprising twists. Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved songs in this funny and romantic Broadway experience.

APRIL 13 Northern Lights WVU Creative Arts Center, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Fri. 7:30 p.m., wvsymphony.org Enjoy a performance of Brahms’ “Academic Festival Overture,” Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 2 with Erik Ralske on French horn, and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. Free with WVU ID, $10 off for West Virginia residents