Award season is here yet again, and it’s one of The Local Voice staff’s favorite times. We’ve tallied the votes, held tie-breakers, and gathered photos of this year’s Local Favorites Winners, a.k.a. “The Townies.”
It seems like every year we get some sort of surprise and this year was no different. Three categories that have been dominated by the same winner each year were upset in 2014: Favorite Burger, Favorite Computer Nerd, and Favorite Filmmaker. Read on to see the new winners.
If you don’t like the results…well, did YOU vote? Every vote counts, so try again next year! Maybe your favorite business or person will get bragging rights. Now, on to the winners!
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LOCAL RESTAURANTS & BARS
Fries
1. Proud Larrys’
2. Frank & Marlee’s
3. Snackbar
HM: Lamar Lounge, McDonald’s, Phillip’s Grocery, Buffalo Wild Wings, Abner’s, Backyard Burgers, Oby’s, Bistro Burger
Music Venue
1. Proud Larrys’
2. The Lyric
3. Ajax
HM: Rooster’s, Frank & Marlee’s, Lamar Lounge
Patio / Deck
1. Proud Larrys’
2. Frank & Marlee’s
3. Bouré
HM: City Grocery, Soulshine, Volta, The Library, Round Table, Lamar Lounge
Mexican Food
1. El Milagro Taqueria
2. Tequila’s
3. El Mundo Latino
HM: Papito’s, Casa Mexicana, El Mariachi
Karaoke
1. El Milagro Taqueria
2. Rooster’s
3. Frank & Marlee’s
4. Golden Rule
Seafood / Catfish
1. Taylor Grocery
2. Irie
3. Ajax
HM: Rib Cage Shrimp Boil, Snackbar, Frank & Marlee’s, Delta Steak Co., Jinsei, Oby’s, Ezell’s, Ravine, Proud Larrys’, Terry’s (Pontotoc)
Italian Food
1. Old Venice Pizza Co.
2. Tre Amici
3. Pizza Den
HM: Soulshine, Proud Larrys’
Pasta
1. Old Venice Pizza Co.
2. Proud Larrys’
3. Tre Amici
HM: Noodle Bowl, Ravine, Rice & Spice, Delta Steak Co., Lenora’s, Pizza Den
Ladies’ Night
1. Burgundy Room
2. The Library
3. Funkys
HM: Blind Pig, Bouré
Pizza
1. Soulshine Pizza Factory
2. Proud Larrys’
3. Old Venice Pizza Co.
HM: 6 N Tubbs, Square Pizza, Funkys, Papa John’s, Domino’s, Pizza Den, Little Caesar’s, Pizza Hut, Newk’s, Volta
Local Restaurant
1. Ajax
2. Rib Cage
3. Delta Steak Co.
HM: Frank & Marlee’s, Rice & Spice, Bouré, Proud Larrys’, Blind Pig, Lamar Lounge, Newk’s, City Grocery, Tequila’s, Square Pizza, Snackbar, Volta
Soul Food
1. Ajax
2. Mama Jo’s
3. Little Easy
HM: The Beacon, Delta Steak Co., Cash Saver
Vegetarian
1. Volta Taverna
2. Rice & Spice
3. Ajax
HM: Honey Bee Bakery, H2O, Maharaja, Pita Pit, City Grocery, Noodle Bowl, Proud Larrys’, Snackbar, Lamar Lounge, Bouré, Newk’s
Wings
1. Frank & Marlee’s
2. Rib Cage
3. Buffalo Wild Wings
HM: Coop DeVille, Rooster’s, Zaxby’s, Pizza Hut, Soulshine, Red Bull, Irie
Cook / Chef
1. Allen Sanders (Delta Steak Co.)
2. Quinn Chandler (Frank & Marlee’s)
3. John Currence (CGRG)
HM: Buck Walden, Nick Husbands, Vish Bhatt, Allison Russell, Erika Lipe, John Myrick
Steak
1. Delta Steak Co.
2. Bouré
3. Oxford Grillehouse
HM: Lenora’s, The Sizzler, Snackbar, Huddle House, Ajax, City Grocery, Ravine
Server
1. Marais Vorster (Frank & Marlee’s)
2. Emily Read (Volta Taverna)
3. Whit Hamilton (Lenora’s)
HM: Meg McConnell, Lacee George, Stephanie Winter, Lori Beth Hopper
Asian Food
1. Rice & Spice
2. H2O
3. Toyo
HM: Noodle Bowl, Jinsei, Two Stick, Kabuki, China Royal, New Hunan
Bakery
1. Bottletree Bakery
2. Honey Bee Bakery
3. Lusa Pastry Café
HM: Emeleigh’s, Shipley’s Donuts, Kroger, High Point
BBQ
1. Rib Cage
2. Handy Andy
3. Golden Rule
HM: Lamar Lounge, B’s BBQ, Ajax, Blind Pig
Buffet
1. China Royal
2. Chow King
3. Big Star
HM: New Hunan, Pizza Hut
Breakfast
1. Big Bad Breakfast
2. The Beacon
3. Huddle House
HM: Mama Jo’s, Shipley’s Donuts, Chick-fil-A, Ember’s, IHOP, Lusa Bakery, BTC Grocery, Bottletree Bakery
Burger
1. Lamar Lounge
2. Proud Larrys’
3. Ajax
HM: Frank & Marlee’s, Handy Andy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bouré, Bistro Burger, Bim Bam Burgers, The Beacon, Blind Pig, Snackbar, Phillip’s Grocery
Coffee
1. High Point
2. Starbuck’s
3. Square Books
HM: Bottletree Bakery, Big Bad Breakfast, Chaney’s (Ugly Mug)
Crawfish
1. Dixie Crawfish
2. The Crawdad Hole
3. Frank & Marlee’s
HM: Taylor’s Crawfish, Irie, Delta Steak Co., Bouré, P-Reaux
Dessert
1. Holli’s Sweet Tooth
2. City Grocery
3. McEwens
HM: YaYa’s, Delta Steak Co., Snackbar, Irie, Ajax, Lusa, Emeleigh’s, Ravine, Tre Amici, Old Venice Pizza Co., Sonic, Lamar Lounge, Vienna Desserts, Panini, Lenora’s, No Time to Cook
Bartender
1. Chip Moore (City Grocery)
2. Phil Landers (Ajax)
3. Jayce McConnell (Snackbar)
HM: Nature Humphries, Carson Chandler, Drew Clowney, Preston Dunaway, Liz Mazzanti, Taariq David, Carter Wilkes, Tyler Keith, Brian Dorris, Sarah Charlton, Adrian Dickey
Sushi
1. Two Stick
2. Jinsei
3. Toyo
HM: Kabuki, Noodle Bowl
Smoothie
1. Smoothie King
2. High Point
3. Sonic
Ethnic Food
1. Maharaja
2. Volta Taverna
3. Rice & Spice
HM: Two Stick, El Mundo Latino, Petra, H2O, Jinsei, Noodle Bowl
Favorite Local Bar
1. The Blind Pig
2. Frank & Marlee’s
3. Rib Cage
HM: Proud Larrys’, The Library, City Grocery, Ajax, Snackbar, Rooster’s, Lamar Lounge
Sandwich
1. Blind Pig
2. Mink’s on the Park
3. Rib Cage
HM: Newk’s, McAlister’s, Oby’s, Ajax, Panini, Pizza Den, Proud Larrys’, City Grocery, Subway, Olivia’s, Ember’s, Bouré, Frank & Marlee’s, McEwen’s
Beer Selection
1. Blind Pig
2. Irie
3. Rib Cage
HM: The Library, Buffalo Wild Wings, Soulshine, Lamar Lounge
Happy Hour
1. Blind Pig
2. Proud Larrys’
3. Frank & Marlee’s
HM: Volta, Rib Cage, Rooster’s, Ajax
Place to Shoot Pool
1. Blind Pig
2. Frank & Marlee’s
3. The Library
HM: Rooster’s, McCarthy’s
Trivia Night
1. Blind Pig
2. Frank & Marlee’s
3. Two Stick
4. Buffalo Wild Wings
Catering
1. The Main Event
2. Rib Cage
3. Taylor Grocery
HM: Olivia’s Food Emporium, Newk’s, My Michelle’s, Aramark, Volta, Abner’s, Panini
Fine Dining
1. Snackbar
2. City Grocery
3. Ravine
HM: McEwen’s. Delta Steak Co., Bouré, Oxford Grillehouse
Wine List
1. Snackbar
2. City Grocery
3. Burgundy Room
HM: Irie, Delta Steak Co., Ravine
Doorman
1. Andre Thompson (Rooster’s)
2. Frank Shughart (Proud Larry’s)
3. Kevin Young “KY” (The Levee)
HM: Tim Russell, Tristan Lowe, Mike Poole, Devin Mooneyham
Shot
1. Jägermeister
2. Fireball
3. Lemon Drop
HM: Rumple, Jameson, Tequila, Irish Car Bomb, Jack Daniel’s, Hello Kitty
LOCAL BUSINESSES
Antique Store
1. The Mustard Seed
2. The Depot
3. Sugar Magnolia
Boutique / Gift Shop
1. Amelia Presents
2. Local Color
3. Oxford Floral
HM: Material Girls, Private Gallery, Mimosa, Lily Pad, Olive Juice Gifts, Mississippi Madness, Lacy Lauren’s
Beer Store
1. Joe’s Craft Beer
2. Bikini Beer
3. Betty Davis BBQ
Chiropractic
1. Oxford Chiropractic Clinic (Dr. Peebles)
2. Dr. G. R. Orndorff (Water Valley)
3. Dr. Henderson (Henderson Chiropractic & Sport Rehab)
Convenience Store
1. Lindsey’s Chevron
2. James Food Center
3. The Brittany Store
HM: Oxford Spot, The Store, Dollar General, 3-Way Grocery, Walgreen’s, Double Quick, Four Corners Chevron, Ward’s Shortstop, CVS
Florist
1. Bette’s Flowers
2. Oxford Floral
3. University Floral
4. Mimosa
Music Supply Store
1. Ron’s Music Center
2. Austin’s Music
3. Rebel Music
4. The End of All Music
Beauty Salon
1. Café Salon
2. Pro Nails
3. Bethany’s / Stone Washed
HM: Alice & Co., All About U, The Parlor, La Rousse, King’s Den, Emma J
Thrift Store
1. Goodwill
2. Helping Hands
3. Salvation Army
Tattoo Parlor
1. Oxford Tattoo
2. Opus Land
3. LCDC
Radio Station
1. WQLJ 93.7
2. Bullseye 95.5
3. Rebel Radio 92.1
HM: 96.5, 105,5, MPB 90.3, 102.2, 98.5
Grocery Store
1. Kroger
2. Cash Saver
3. Farmer’s Market
HM: Oxford City Market, Wal-Mart, BTC Grocery
Local Farm
1. Yokna Bottoms
2. Woodson Ridge
3. Brown Family Diary
4. Taylor Creek Egg Farm
Liquor Store
1. Star Package
2. West Jackson Wine & Spirits
3. PJ’s
HM: The Colonel’s, Kiamie’s, Safari
Taxi Service
1. Angel Taxi
2. Hotty Toddy Taxi
3. Rock Star Taxi
HM: Rebel, Oxford, Austin
Gym
1. Snap Fitness
2. Crossfit 38655
3. YMCA
HM: Turner Center, Anytime Fitness, Southern Star Yoga
Furniture Store
1. Johnson’s
2. The Green Door Co.
3. Cheepo Deepo
HM: Fur
niture World, The Depot, Mustard Seed
Bygone Business
1. Two Stick
2. Murff’s
3. The Hoka
HM: Main Squeeze, Dino’s Pizza, Taylor’s Pub, Uncle Buck’s, HotDog Records, L&M’s, The Longshot, Django’s, As Seen on TV
Local Business
1. Square Books
2. The End of All Music
3. Frank & Marlee’s
HM: Delta Steak Co., Ajax, The Local Voice, Private Gallery, West Jackson Wine & Spirits, City Grocery Restaurant Group, Monarch, PMQ, Blind Pig, Mustard Seed
ARTS & MUSIC
Actor
1. Johnny McPhail
2. Rory Ledbetter
3. Greg Earnest
HM: Kacey Coleman, Susan McPhail
Visual Artist
1. Glennray Tutor
2. Megan Kingery-Patton
3. Kimberly Robinson
HM: Eric Sheppard, Bruce Newman, Michael Ikeda-Chandler, Keelan Stokes
Art Gallery
1. Southside Gallery
2. Yalo Studios
3. Art 2 Frame
4. The Powerhouse
Bass Player
1. Tommy Turan (Mustache The Band, George McConnell & The Nonchalants)
2. Josh Blackburn (Gutter Daisies)
3. Newt Rayburn (The Cooters, Hawgwash)
HM: Nathan Robbins (Rocket 88), Jason Valles, Jesse Lipe (Tequila Mockingbird), Jake Fussell, Slade Lewis, Matt Patton
Bluesman
1. Garry Burnside
2. Eric Deaton
3. Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry
HM: Kenny Brown, Cedric Burnside, CadillacFunk
Dancer
1. Lindsay Fine
2. Cambino
3. Jennifer Mizenko
Comedian
1. Bruce Butler
2. KC Kellum
3. Carter Wilkes
4. Patrick Spearman
Country Singer
1. Nick Spiller (Hawgwash)
2. Shane King (Gutter Daisies)
3. Jimbo Mathus
HM: Lonesome Skeeter, Wolf Ruffin, Ken Edwards (Mustache The Band)
Drummer
1. Richard Zepeda (The Whiskey Barrels)
2. Kenny Graeber (Mustache, The Nonchalants)
3. Mike Namorato (The Cooters, Hawgwash)
HM: Zack Tillotson, Tim Burkhead, Len Clark, Wallace Lester, Dr. Ricky Burkhead
Filmmaker
1. Micah Ginn
2. Jordan Berger
3. Joe York
HM: Thad Lee, Daniel Lee Perea, Greg Earnest, Melanie Addington, Danny Klimetz
Guitarist
1. Jesse Pinion
2. Tyler Keith
3. TIE: George McConnell
Nick Spiller
HM: Gentry Webb “Raw Cooter,” Kyle Kite, John Grissom, Daniel Karlish
Photographer
1. Newt Rayburn
2. Bruce Newman
3. Danny Klimetz
HM: Pablo Corona, Daniel Lee Perea
Horn Player
1. Jeff Callaway
2. Cameron Allen
3. Charles Washington
4. Casey Ray (“K.C.”) Lipe
Keyboardist / Pianist
1. Bill Perry, Jr.
2. Robert Chaffe
3. Kyle Jones
HM: Shane Chastain, Mark Yacovone, Eric Carlton
Favorite Acoustic Player
1. Zack Tillotson
2. Adrian Dickey
3. Collin Bowen
HM: David Lonesome, Jake Fussell, Greg Johnson, Clint Jordan
Most Underrated Musician
1. Zack Tillotson
2. Bill Perry, Jr.
3. Kevin Guyer
HM: Keith Sanders, Nick Spiller
Record Label
1. Fat Possum
2. Hill Country Records
3. Tweed
Recording Studio
1. Sweet Tea
2. Black Wings
3. Tweed
HM: Fat Possum, Push Button, Dial Back Sound, RNN
Producer
1. Winn McElroy
2. Andrew Ratcliffe
3. Dennis Herring
Favorite DJ
1. DJ Mario
2. DJ Curly T
3. DJ Fuyal
Rapper
1. Demetrios Brown (Fade2Black)
2. Crazy J
3. Stork
HM: Big Herk
Sound Man
1. Leigh Taylor (Proud Larrys’)
2. Tim Burkhead
3. Max McDonaldson
HM: Shelby Rayburn, Josh Boyette
Songwriter
1. Adrian Dickey
2. Tyler Keith
3. Shannon McNally
HM: Jimbo Mathus, CadillacFunk, Robert Earl Reed, George McConnell
Record of the Year
1. “Bless the Soul” – Adrian Dickey
2. “Cheers Sports Fans” – George McConnell
3. “White Buffalo”– Jimbo Mathus
HM: “Black Highway” – Tyler Keith, “Weekend” – Talbot Adams
Song of the Year
1. “Black Mamba” – George McConnell
2. “White Buffalo” – Jimbo Mathus
3. “Bless the Soul” – Adrian Dickey
Bygone Band
1. One Mile South
2. Blue Mountain
3. Robert Earl Reed
HM: Duff Dorrough, PF Flyers, The Neckbones
Video of the Year
1. “White Buffalo” – Jimbo Mathus
Directed by Daniel Lee Perea and Melanie Addington
2. “A Change is Coming” – Zack Tillotson
Directed by Oxford Sessions
3. Oxford Sessions
Directed by Danny Klimetz and Gabriel Scala
Book of the Year
1. “Pickles, Pigs, and Whiskey” – John Currence
2. “The Education of a Lifetime” – Robert Khayat
3. “The Broken Places” – Ace Atkins
HM: “Where Do They Go On Game Day?” – Laurie Fisher, “Sycamore Row” – John Grisham, “The Tilted World” – Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly
Vocalist
1. Keith Sanders (The Gutter Daisies)
2. Adrian Dickey
3. Erika Lipe
4. Silas Reed,
HM: Daniel Lee Perea, Jesse Pinion, Mark Adamec, Tate Moore, Tyler Keith
Local Band
1. Mustache the Band
2. The Cooters
3. The Whiskey Barrells
HM: Hawgwash, George McConnell & The Nonchalants, Young Buffalo, Tyler Keith, The Gutter Daisies, Bass Drum of Death, Kudzu Kings
Live Show in 2013
1. Mustache The Band
2. The Cooters (Ajax)
3. Beach House (The Lyric)
HM: Tyler Keith, Those Darlins, Kenny Rogers, Jimbo Mathus
New Band
1. The Whiskey Barrels
2. Fade2Black
3. Hawgwash
HM: Morgan Pennington, 1 Last Chance, Tequila Mockingbird, The Red Thangs, Old Buffalo
LOCAL PEOPLE
Athlete
1. Marshall Henderson
2. Robert Nkemdiche
3. Eli Manning
HM: Bo Wallace, Andrew Ritter, Todd Wade, Jeff Scott
Attorney
1. Kevin Frye
2. Ray Garrett
3. Jay Carmean
HM: Dee Hobbs, Swayze Alford, George Read, Josh Turner, Lucky Tucker
Business Owner / Boss
1. Randy Yates (Ajax Diner)
2. John Currence (City Grocery Restaurant Group)
3. TIE: Ashley Jackson & Todd Lynch (Frank & Marlee’s)
tied with Jim Moore (Blind Pig)
HM: Allen Sanders, Kyle McGrevey, Steve Snyder, Holli Ratcliffe, Taariq David, Steve Green, Bryan Weis, Scott Caradine
Coach
1. Hugh Freeze
2. Coach Cutcliffe
3. Johnny Hill
HM: Charles Allen, Ryan Herring, Gus Melzahn, Dusty Finley, Brett Frank
Local Celebrity
1. Eli Manning
2. Todd Wade
3. Shephard Smith
HM: Johnny McPhail, Charlie Mars, Joey Lauren Adams, Ron Shapiro, William Faulkner
Pool Shark
1. Gene Daniels
2. Ernest Carothers
3. John Desler
4. Brad Brawner
Columnist
1. Nature Humphries
2. Jesse Yancy
3. Rebecca Long
HM: Jim Dees, Shelby Rayburn, Newt Rayburn, James Tighe, Phil McCausland, Vera P.
Computer Nerd
1. Cambino (Cameron Wilson)
2. Kyle McGrevey (Express Computers)
3. Chase Campos
HM: David Fontenot, Taylor Wood
Public Servant
1. Jay Hughes (Ward 1 Alderman)
2. Billy Lamb (Buildings & Grounds)
3. Todd Wade
HM: Justice Court Judge JW McLarty, Ward 3 Alderwoman Janice Antonow, Police Chief Joey East, Mayor Pat Patterson
Doctor
1. Dr. Coon (Urgent Care)
2. Dr. Willis Dabbs (Urgent Care)
3. Dr. Blake Smith (Oxford Clinic for Women)
HM: Dr. Blythe Peebles, Dr. Blake Smith, Dr. Phil Hooker Jr., Dr. Mona Castle, Dr. David Bridgers, Dr. Erik Richardson
Nurse
1. Merilyn Charlton (NMMC Clinic at Wal-Mart)
2. Kristy Stokes (NMRC, Hermitage)
3. Rachel Sledge (Urgent Care Clinic)
HM: Jason Melton, Meg Hayden, Melissa Fontenot, Tracy Smiley
Professor
1. Matt Johns
on (NWCC)
2. Charles Allen (UM)
3. Marlow Durrough (UM)
4. Lance Herrington (UM)
Writer
1. John Grisham
2. Ace Atkins
3. Tom Franklin
HM: Gary Short, Wright Thompson
Veterinarian
1. Crossroads
2. Animal Clinic of Oxford
3. Animal Care Center
HM: Lafayette Animal Clinic, Pampered Paws
Taxi Driver
1. Phillip Howard
2. Louis Brummett
3. Brad Myers
HM: Anthony Brummett, Vernon Alger “Mr. Late Night”
Townie
1. Ronzo (Ron Shapiro)
2. Carter Wilkes
3. Chico Harris
HM: Blake Dunagin, Barton Segal, Kim Daves
Other Local FavoritesL
Local Event
1. Double Decker
2. Oxford Film Festival
3. Yappy Hour
4. North Miss. Hill Country Picnic
New Addition to Town
1. Cold Beer
2. Delta Steak Co.
3. Oxford Commons Malco
HM: Free parking, Marshall’s, Suthern Oasis Spa, Lamar Lounge, Jinsei
Local Landmark
1. Rowan Oak
2. Faulkner’s Grave
3. The Square
HM: Faulkner Statue, Courthouse, Oxford Water Tower, Phone Booth
Make Out Spot
1. Sardis Lake
2. The Green Room
3. Faulkner Statue
HM: at home, Faulkner’s grave, Ole Miss Motel
Categories You Wish Were Listed
1. Favorite Ranch Dressing
2. Favorite Fitness Class
3. Favorite Margaritas
HM: Sexiest Oxonian, Barista
Tourist Attaction
1. Rowan Oak
2. Ole Miss Football
3. Double Decker
HM: The Square, Oxford Film Festival, Ole Miss, Ajax
Church
1. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
2. The Life
3. Oxford-University Methodist
HM: First Baptist, St. Andrew’s, The Orchard
Local Website
1. TheLocalVoice.net
2. Dealz After Dark
3. EatingOxford.com
Twitter Feed
1. The Local Voice (7,946 followers)
@TheLocalVoice
2. John Currence (8,883 followers)
@BigBadChef
3. Hugh Freeze (60,106 followers)
@CoachHughFreeze
HM: Red Cup Rebellion, Ole Miss Problems
Mascot
1. Colonel Reb
2. Landshark
3. Black Bear
HM: Chargers, Aubie, Admiral Ackbar
Place for a First Date
1. City Grocery
2. Ajax
3. Oxford Commons Malco
HM: Delta Steak Co., Bouré, Jinsei, The Grove, Snackbar, The Square, Holli’s Sweet Tooth
Place for a Last Date
1. Papa John’s
2. Two Stick
3. The Library
HM: Jail, The Square, Taco Bell
Mustache
1. Carter Wilkes
2. Jayce McConnell
3. Matthieu Dessier
4. Mustache The Band
Beard
1. Will Rote
2. Whit Hamilton
3. Brian Dorris
HM: Kyle Kite, Dallas Mooneyham, Chip Moore, Bo, Mike Marry
Road Trip / Day Trip
1. Sardis Lake
2. Betty Davis BBQ
3. Wall Doxey
HM: New Orleans, Memphis, Germantown, Tupelo, Tunica
Most Likely to End Up on Reality TV
1. Shelby Herring (Ole Miss girl in the Grove)
2. Tim Ferguson
3. Jessica Ham
HM: Austin Marshall, Stevo McCain, Carter Wilkes, Adair McIntyre, Daniel Lee Perea, Molly Beth Shaffer
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Image gallery: some of this year’s winners
