2025 Best of Grants Pass Part 1
It’s hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since the last “Best of the Rogue Valley.” Speaking of time, I started the Sneak Preview on my 39th birthday on July 28, 1986, and the Sneak Preview is celebrating its 39th birthday this year. That means exactly one half of my life has been devoted to this newspaper. But don’t worry, it’s not a job anymore. I officially retired, and the Sneak Preview is now my hobby. A lot of guys buy fishing rods and golf clubs to fund their hobbies; I buy ink by the barrel.
I need to make this introduction short and sweet since there are some space constraints this month, as “The Best” will take up most of the paper. That means no “Profile” this month, nor did I have room for two excellent letters to the editor about the tellurium mine controversy, and a letter about the city official arrested for downloading child porn. Those letters will have to wait for the October issue.
So without further ado, here is Part I of the 2025 “Best of the Rogue Valley.” Our thanks to the hundreds of people who sent in ballots, either by the mail or online. To keep the ballot stuffing to a minimum, we required a minimum of 20 categories filled out on each ballot, which gave us a more well-rounded accumulation of opinions. And congratulations go to Karen Morris of Grants Pass who was randomly chosen to receive a $100 gift certificate to 115 Broiler.
As Jackie Gleason would say … “And away we go!”
MEDIA
FAVORITE RADIO DJ
At the Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in Jasper, Indiana, visitors are entertained with recordings from famous disc jockeys over the years, including the gravelly voice of Wolfman Jack, who credited “shots of whiskey” for his unique sound. Then, of course, there’s Alan Freed out of Ohio, who popularized the term “rock ‘n’ roll” back in the 1950s and helped bring Black artists into the mainstream. Unfortunately, Freed was also caught up in the payola scandal of 1958, when he was found guilty of accepting bribes to play certain songs on the radio.
Here in the Rogue Valley, we have our own personal Hall of Fame, and topping the list was long-time favorite Cassie Callas at KLDR, followed by:
• Jason Allen of KRRM
• Ashley Main at KLDR
• Brian O’Connor of 102.7 The Drive
• Lisa Evans on Sirius-XM
FAVORITE LOCAL TV WEATHERPERSON
The weather is in the news a lot lately, from flash floods in Texas to 72 fires in Southern Oregon caused by lightning strikes on July 8. And now that the budget for the Weather Service has been slashed, we may have to rely on our animal friends for information. For example, birds often fly low, go silent, or gather when a storm is approaching. And cows lie down before a rain, while bees and butterflies retreat into shelter when weather becomes unstable. And, of course, frogs croak more when humidity rises. Who needs all those high-falutin’ weather forecasters with their fancy degrees when we have a wealth of information right before our eyes?
Our local TV weather people are still on the job, though, providing us with detailed reports straight from the Weather Service and the dog down the street (just kidding). Topping the list this year was Matt Hoffman of KDRV-12, who joined the NewsWatch team as Chief Meteorologist in 2018. Matt grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology in May 2010.
The list also included:
• Milt Radford of KTVL-10
• Kade Stirling at KOBI-5
• Sara Kress of KDRV-12
FAVORITE REPORTER AT THE DAILY COURIER
Covering the news in Josephine County is not for the weak of heart, as people from all political persuasions are out there hammering away at elected officials and their employees. Some people even want to shut the library down, which doesn’t make any sense. You’ve got to admire the Courier, though. They’re there for every county commissioner (and City Council) meeting, which can sometimes lead to fireworks. Then there are the people who love to shoot the messenger, as if reporting on the news was a bad thing.
Moving right along, our readers mentioned quite a few reporters at the Courier, reserving their number one choice for Vickie Aldous, who tackles quite a few local issues in depth.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Edith Decker, Entertainment Editor
• Reporter Chrissy Ewald
• Editor Scott Stoddard
• City Editor Chris Bristol
• Features Reporter Kathleen Alaks
PEOPLE/BUSINESS
BEST NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN (LAST YEAR)
Yeah, when the Sneak Preview started on July 28, 1986, not a whole lot of people thought it would last more than six months. Somehow, we proved them wrong although there have been some ups and downs. Just surviving the pandemic was a major accomplishment in the publishing world. So our hats are off to everyone who started a new business in Josephine County last year.
Our readers were able to name quite a few start-ups, including this year’s winner, The Growler Guys Taphouse, which opened its first growler station in Bend in 2012, “offering customers 45 of the most varied local craft beer favorites and not-so-local brews on tap.” The Taphouse is located at 901 NW E Street, while the fill station is at 531 NE F.
Also making the list were:
• Bath & Body Works, located at 959 NE D
• Chik ‘N’ Rib BBQ Restaurant at 405 NE 7th
• Taste & See, a coffee, Boba Tea and smoothie destination located at 239 SE G Street
• Blaze ‘N’ Monkeys, a food truck that makes the rounds
• Tia’s Puffy Tacos, another food truck
• Broadside Boats at 966 SW 6th
• Apothi-Crow, offering handmade candles, body products and skin care at 131 SW G
• The Mixed Grill Restaurant at 225 Rogue River Highway
• Beef Cakes Bakery & Patisserie, located at 331 NE 6th
FROM OUR READERS:
• Best Thrift Store: Rogue Valley Humane Society. They are also “Best Nonprofit” for their new public low-cost spay/neuter program.
• Favorite Vet: Heid Bohmer, Allen Creek Vet
• Kudos to Bill Derrick Excavation & Cat Work. He delivered a load of gravel to our new homesite with a smile.
• Best Pet Store: Mini Pet Mart
• Best Mini Market: Redwood Market
• Best Motorcycle/Collector Car Dealer: Ted Holman at Automania
• Best Bodywork and Massage: Karen Suggs and staff at Essential Wellness Bodywork & Massage, especially massage therapist Dave Pursell
• Best food trucks: El Callejon and Bobalastic
• Best Yoga Instructor: Chrysalis Holy Yoga
• Favorite Florist: Clara at Beyond the Garden Gate
• Best Place for Bicycle Repair: Don’s Bike Center, with Eric as “Best Bicycle Mechanic”
• Most Unique Gift Store: Apothi-Crow is celebrating its first year in business on G Street with many unique handcrafted items by local crafters and artists. It is a unique shopping experience.
• Best Crisis Service: Pregnancy Care Center, and the Sobering Center
• Special recognition to all those who made Porchfest possible. It’s a pleasure and honor to be a part of it. You all give in so many ways to make life a bit better for everyone. Keep it up!
• Best Volunteer Public Service Organization: Homeless Oregon Pet Project (HOPP), serving Grants Pass for over 18 years, “because pets are people, too!”
• Best Plumbing: Sherlock Homes
• Best Landscaping: Daley Yard Maintenance
• Three River Community Orchestra is the best local community orchestra
• Best Chiropractor: Connor Green (Total Performance); Best Massage Therapist: Tabitha Moser (Karma Day Spa); Best Nail Technician: Kate Cannon (Karma Day Spa)
• Favorite Preschool Teacher: Kathy Johnson (St. Anne School)
• Favorite Day Trip Location: Wildlife Safari
• Best Dog Trainer: Southern Oregon Dog Training
• Gone but not forgotten: Community member Jim Clark
• Rogue Cleaners & Laundromat is very clean and reasonably priced
• Best Sushi: Nikko Sushi
FAVORITE BUSINSSPERSON
They’re the lifeblood of every community, providing jobs and living wages to every person willing and able to do the work. They also volunteer time, energy and money to worthwhile community projects, knowing that all of that will be recycled throughout the business community, creating an even stronger economy.
Quite a few businesspeople were mentioned in this survey, and taking down the top spot this year was Sydney Mitchell of Shoefly Oregon (229 SW G below Grants Pass Museum of Art), a store offering a great selection of shoes, clothing, accessories and gifts. Sydney opened her first store in Alaska in 2005, and after she and her husband moved to Grants Pass in 2014, she opened a second store in 2020.
The list also included:
• Steve Roe of Roe Motors GM
• Travis Boersma of Dutch Brothers and Grants Pass Downs
• Jamie and Elvie Cartwright of Taprock NW Grill and Cartwright’s Valley Meat Co. and Specialty Market
• Ed Morey of Redwood Nursery
• Nick Gates of Gates Furniture & Mattress
• Hyla Lipson at the Grants Pass Museum of Art
• Keturah Alger of Laughing Clam
• Cliff Woodruff of Cliff Woodruff Construction
FAVORITE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER
I can tell you some hair-raising stories of my days substituting middle school. One of my favorites was in 1986, right after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine melted down. I told the kids about a huge cloud of radioactive material was that swarming all over Western Europe, causing illness, open sores and mental illness (okay, I was exaggerating). I had them spellbound, then I looked out the window, saw a grey cloud in the distance and yelled, “Oh my God … there it is!!” The whole class jumped, and one girl even screamed. I laughed and said, “Just kidding,” and I thought they were going to kill me.
I have nothing bad to say about my middle school experiences in Josephine County because they were all perfect angels (and I have some beachfront property in the Gobi Desert to sell if you’re interested). Anyway, taking down the top spot as Favorite Middle School Teacher this year was Travis Reese of North Middle School, followed by:
• Cheyenne Davis at South
• Bob Bath at North
• Mitzi Grannis of South
CUTEST BABY BORN IN LAST YEAR
Our esteemed staff of baby connoisseurs couldn’t make up their minds this year, so we’re declaring this category a tie between Eleanor Yang and Lewis Barr. Keep up the good work, kids!
CUTEST PET
We received eight entries this year, and they were all cuter than the dickens. The sympathy vote, however, went to Stevie (Bourquin) the Cat, who turned 21-years-old in May, which translates to 100-years-old for a human. Congrats, Stevie, and hang in there, dude.
Other cuties included Nina the dog; Ruby the dog; Cinders the cat; Lucy the dog; Ollie the dog; and Pom Pom the cat.
FAVORITE DENTIST
The next time you see a cute little kitten, check out the upper incisors. They are fairly scary looking and are the mark of a true carnivorous predator, used to take down even the most intransigent wildebeest on the Serengetti. Human teeth are mainly for chewing and grinding, and you have wonder exactly how carnivorous we really are. Our teeth are more closely aligned with horses and cows, rather than cats and dogs. As apex predators, though, we really don’t need teeth to do our hunting. The brain is what sets us apart from other animals, and it figured out millions of years ago how to kill animals without resorting to inch-long canine teeth.
But I regress. Teeth are 32 of our most trusted allies, and it’s good to hang onto them for as long as possible. To ensure that, brushing, flossing, and yearly checkups/cleanings with a dentist should be on our to-do list. And when it comes to that, our readers mentioned quite a few local dentists, once again reserving their top not to both Rachel, Sten and Matt Erickson at Erickson Dental Care; and Blake Anderson at A Street Dental.
The Top Five were actually pretty close, and they included:
• Devin Nelson at C Street Dental
• Sara Riechers at Compassionate Dentistry.
• Steven and Aaron Rogers
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Matthew Hill of Hill Dentistry
• Peter Pastrell
• Brandon Scott of Smile Suite
• Matt Johnson
• Justin Buchanan
• Greg Bigelow
FAVORITE DOCTOR
Well, here’s a fun fact: The human body consists of 30 trillion cells, and each one is a metabolic machine, performing millions of transactions ever second. Those cells are constantly at work, and you would be dead if even one little thing went wrong. Then on top of that we have 38 trillion bacterial cells, most of them located in our digestive tract, and without them we’d also be dead. In fact, mother’s milk contains proteins that cannot be digested by the baby; they are there specifically to feed the bacteria that the baby will need to stay alive. It’s extremely complicated, and luckily we have doctors who can make sense of it all.
This was a popular category, as our readers were able to name 25 different doctors, starting with Kristin Miller, MD, at Siskiyou Community Health Center.
Others high on the list were:
• Heather Kahn of Rogue Medicine
• Andrew Pitzak of Grants Pass Clinic
• Tamara Medley of Women’s Health Center
• Jason Pilcher
• Marcel Wiggins of Grants Pass Clinic
• Felicia Cohen of Women’s Health Center
FAVORITE DERMATOLOGY OFFICE
Skin is nothing to mess around with because it can turn ugly quickly as far as melanomas are concerned. About 15 years ago I had a weird skin discoloration on my forehead, and they did a biopsy. Turned out to be benign and something unpronounceable, and the dermatologist worked feverishly to get rid of it. Took about five months, and in the interim I wore a baseball hat to hide it. One day I went to get an eye exam and as I took the hat off, I told the optometrist, “I have a little sore on my forehead and everything’s healing up, but I wear this hat because everyone thinks I got cancer and s**t.” He nodded, then turned around, saw my forehead and said, “Wow, it looks like you got cancer and s**t.” We both laughed.
And when it comes to getting your yearly skin exam, our readers mentioned the Advanced Skin Center (1021 NE 6th), Dr. David Young (1309 NE 6th); and Dermatology & Laser Associates of Medford (2959 Siskiyou Boulevard).
Also mentioned were Griffin Mansell and Joselin Tacastacas at 1619 NW Hawthorne in Grants Pass.
FAVORITE PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Your son-in-law called and needed help moving some safes, anvils, grand pianos and welding machines into their new house, and the next day you could hardly move. Stretching exercises just weren’t doing it, and massages only helped peripherally. The chiropractor referred you to a physical therapist, and before you knew it, you were back to normal.
Whom to call in Grants Pass? The first person mentioned was Jonathan Hill, DPT, of Siskiyou Physical Therapy. Jonathan was born and raised in Grants Pass and received a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University in 2008.
Also received lots of votes were:
• Cornerstone Health
• Benchmark Physical Therapy
• Essential Wellness
• Southern Oregon Orthopedics
• Riverside Physical Therapy
FAVORITE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER
Sometimes it’s good to get a second and third opinion, especially from someone who is thinking outside the box. Not all physical ailments can fit neatly into a college textbook. There are all kinds of extraneous variables that are hard to measure, including stress, which is probably the root cause of most illnesses.
Our readers listed quite a few alternative medicine practitioners, including Kristen Plunkett, ND, of the Naturopathic Medical Clinic, and a number of acupuncturists led by Janet Moret; Greg Doss of Acupuncture & Herbal Medical Center; and Ellen Leonard at Acupuncture at Riverside.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• New Medicine Collaborative
• Deborah Lang at River of Wellness Acupuncture
• Cornerstone Health
• Raven Sara of the Acupuncture & Herb Clinic
• Essential Wellness
• Shawn Harris of Rogue Valley Acupuncture
FAVORITE HAIR STYLIST
You’re walking down the street minding your own business when a TV crew from CNN wants to ask you what you think about what was going on in Kashmir. No way I’m getting in front of a camera with my hair looking like this, you thought. Luckily your hair dresser was on speed dial, and she rushed over immediately to give your hair a quick going-over. Then you turned to the camera and said, “I think Kashmir sweaters are the absolute best, and you can quote me on that.”
Kashmir is actually a disputed area between India and Pakistan, and the above joke taken from the old TV show “The O.C.,” so I thought I should give the writers some credit. We writers need to stick together. Anyway, this is always a popular category, as our readers named 31 different hair stylists, with Jessie Vasilia of Beauty in the Rogue (1439 NE 6th) leading the way, followed by:
• Jordan Newell of Peerless Beauty Lounge
• Ronni Garcia of Rockstar LA Hair Studio
• Hair by Melissa
• The team at Spa at Club Northwest
• Stacey Brown at Wild Roots Salon
• Jackie McConnell of Salon Venusto
• Ginger Holder Skudstad at The Hairport
• Hair Design by Eva
• The Hair Channel
FAVORITE MECHANIC
The first car I ever bought was in Yellowstone the start of the Summer of 1968 (all in caps because it was epic). I went in with two other guys and bought an old 1950 Packard (or something like that) from one of the lifers we worked with. We drove down to St. Anthony, Idaho, to pick up the car (I think we spent $150 for it), and amazingly we didn’t even make it back to Madison Junction (where we lived) before the thing broke down. The lifer felt bad for us and had the car towed to “the shop” but it was beyond repair. I think it ended up in a junk yard.
Where were all those great mechanics when we needed them? Our readers named quite a few, with Jim Hill at Tom’s Auto Service getting the top nod.
Others high on the list were:
• Kelly’s Automotive Service
• Bridge Street Auto
• Autosmith
• AutoPro Automotive
• City Automotive Service
• Roe Motors
• Mock’s Ford
FAVORITE POST OFFICE MAIL CARRIER
You got to love the men and women who diligently deliver the Sneak Preview each month to everyone’s mailbox. I know I do. The next time you see them, give them kudos for a job well done. Tell them I sent you.
A number of carriers were named but not everyone knew their full names. The number one mention was Sue Fine, whose route includes the Portola area.
The list also included:
• Lindsay
• Rick
• Austin
• Frank
• Roger
• Tina
FAVORITE ATTORNEY
More funny scenes from the courtroom:
Attorney: How was your first marriage terminated?
Witness: By death.
Attorney: And by whose death was it terminated?
Witness: Take a guess.
* * * * *
Attorney: Can you describe the individual?
Witness: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Attorney: Was this a male or a female?
Witness: Unless the circus was in town, I’m going with male.
* * * * *
Our readers named quite a few attorneys in this survey, with Chris Mecca, a perennial favorite who has been practicing law in Grants Pass since 1976, as their favorite.
Other favorites included:
• Richard Adams
• Bill Ransom
• Rebecca Peterson
• Jack Davis
• Dan Simcoe
• Debbie Cumming
• Carl Clyde
FAVORITE POLICEPERSON
Well, I tried to Google “Funny Anecdotes with Police Officers Testifying in Court,” and all I found were some memes:
Officer: Ma’am, did you know you had a tail light out?
Woman: No, officer, because I drive from the inside of my car.
* * * * *
Officer to young girl: Have you been out drinking today?
Girl: Not yet, did you have some place in mind?
* * * * *
Meme with 2 police officers: inside car: “Obey the law and always pay attention to your surroundings.”
Next photo with caption, “Same cops later that day,” showing a broken hose stuck in the gas tank and trailing behind the car.
* * * * *
Yeah, I know, fairly lame, but that didn’t stop our readers from naming their favorites, including #1 officer Ken Frownfelter, with the Grants Pass Public Safety, followed by:
• Grants Pass Officer Darron O’Donnell
• Sheriff Dave Daniel
• Grants Pass Officer Jeff Craven
• Corporal Aaron Porter with the Sheriff’s Office
• Grants Pass Police Chief Warren Hensman
• Lt. Mike Miner with Grants Pass Police.
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER
There must be a thousand and one things to keep track of while running a restaurant, and having your cook call in sick ten minutes before the doors open doesn’t help. You have Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking turned to page 75 on how to make a Bouillabaisse, and you’re going crazy trying to find where the damn cook hid the saffron. Suddenly, the 16-year-old girl bussing the tables edges you aside and says, “Let me take care of this, boss; I can make Bouillabaisse in my sleep. Just go deal with that drunk guy at table 15.”
Yep, it’s never-ending which is why our readers love their restaurant owners, naming 21 of them in this category. Taking down the number one spot for 2025 was Clayton Leedy of Wild River Pub and Wild River Brewing and Pizza Co.
Others high on the list were:
• Jamie Cartwright of Taprock
• Manuel Flores of Si Casa Flores
• Doug Carson at Carson’s Bistro
• John Tamashiro of Matsukaze
• Beth Forshay of Twisted Cork
• Dustin Myers of The Vine
• Jose of Casa Amiga
FAVORITE WAITPERSON
Growing up in a family of eleven people on a limited budget, I don’t remember ever eating out in a restaurant all the way through high school. Actually, I went with a group of people the night of the Senior Prom to an iHop, but that can’t count. Then in the summer of 1965 (17 years old) I was on my own working in Washington, D.C., and lived just three blocks from the capitol building near Stanton Square. Every night I’d go to Stanton Park Grill, sit at the counter, and have a burger and fries. I got to know the server really well, and I think he felt sorry for me because every now and then he’d slip me my favorite oatmeal raisin cookie on the house. Despite the fact that I knew nothing about how to tip, he is still my favorite waitperson of all time.
Our readers were able to name 25 wait people in this category, with the number one spot going to Letty Morales at Taprock Northwest Grill. Letty has worked at Taprock since graduating from GPHS in 2012.
Also mentioned were:
• Marci Saunders at 115 Broiler
• Debbie Hamblin of Powderhorn
• Jessica at Carson’s
• Jillian Devecka at MaMosa’s
• Jennifer at Wild River
• Rodney Forberg at Black Bear Diner
FAVORITE BARTENDER
In the first part of the 20th century, the number of bars in many towns and cities across America far outnumbered those of churches. Alcohol abuse was literally tearing families apart and it got so bad that in 1919 the teetotalers convinced Legislatures across the country to approve the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited the sale of alcohol. That only made things worse, and by 1933 the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, being the only amendment to ever be repealed. Alcohol abuse is still with us, but we learned that you can’t legislate your way out of that problem.
Meanwhile, bartenders are the first line of defense, as they happily serve us drinks while also making sure we don’t get too carried away. Our readers appreciate the effort, and this year they named Tim Coatney at Partake Shop, Lounge & Dine as their favorite.
Also mentioned were:
• Chayse Murphy at Growler Guys
• Ethan Bass at Weekend Beer Company
• Kenny Welich at Steam Distillery
• Krystal Graham at Area 61 Taphouse
FAVORITE HOUSE PAINTER
In the summer of 1975, I was staying at a frat house at the University of Denver, paying cheap rent and being in close proximity to a lot of partiers. The frat house across the alley was closed down for the summer as it was being painted. They hired a good friend of mine who was into construction, but halfway through the job he left for a gig in Utah. He’d already prepped it, and he asked me to finish, which I accepted. I then made out fake W-2 forms and had two friends of mine (both 20-something women) to help. All we had to do was slather the paint on, and I thought it turned out pretty good. The sight of Judy Lucero on a ladder painting the second floor was scary, though. The thought of what would happen if she fell and injured herself never occurred to me. Young and dumb, etc.
Here in the Rogue Valley, there are a number of house painters near and dear to our hearts. Taking down the number one spot was Stephen Edwards of Grants Pass Painting. Stephen grew up in Grants Pass and learned to paint while working construction with his dad. He opened his business in 2021 with a partner and became sole owner in 2023.
Others high on the list were:
• Healey’s Quality Painting
• John at Good Neighbor Painting
• Precision Paintworks
• Winston S Pro Painting
• Eric Jewkes
FAVORITE ROOFER
Yep, I worked two weeks as a roofer in Denver the summer of 1972. We were actually installing the joists that would support the roofing material. Anyway, at the tail end of the summer, I was all spaced out one day (hangover, maybe) and accidentally smashed my ring finger with a rigging axe (you know, the hammer with a corrugated edge). I had to say goodbye to the fingernail, and it was officially the end of my construction career. Got a job doing door-to-door surveys the next summer and never looked back.
Roofs are really something where you don’t want to practice deferred maintenance. It can come back to bite you really quicky. Whom to call? Many of our readers mentioned James Wright Roofing, followed by:
• Lawless Roofing
• Versatile Builders & Church Roofing
• Rhoads Roofing
• Brad Fox Roofing
• Accurate Roofing Company
FAVORITE STORE DOWNTOWN
Ever since the pandemic, there’s been renaissance in downtown Grants Pass, as more and more people are opting against the vapid Big Box experience and enjoying the vibrant community feel of shopping locally. There are plenty of retail stores, plus restaurants and bars that add to the fun. And you don’t have to be bombarded with loud “Attention K-Mart Shoppers” from speakers blaring out of the ceiling.
Anyway, our readers love visiting downtown, and once again they named over 30 stores as their favorite, including perennial favorite The Kitchen Company (301 SE 6th Street).
The Top Ten included:
• Shoefly
• Shop River Rock
• Fiona Bean
• Rita’s – Live, Love, Shop
• Glass Forge
• Oregon Outpost
• The Herb Shop
• Gallop & Glitz
• Grants Pass Museum of Art
FAVORITE STORE OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN AREA
Yep, you have stores south of the bridge, the north end, the shopping center area, Murphy, Merlin, Rogue River … so many places, so little time. There’s a lot to choose from, and in this category our readers most often mentioned Fred Meyer, located on the Parkway.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Bath & Body Works
• Maurice’s
• TJ Maxx
• Grange Co-op
• Ross Dress for Less
• Wal-Mart
BEST GIFT STORE
Just in case you need a good excuse to buy a gift, here are some holidays in August that will jog your memory. August 1: National Girlfriend Day. August 3: Sisters’ Day. August 9: Book Lovers Day. August 12: Middle Child Day. August 16: Tell a Joke Day. And last but not least, August 20: Chocolate Pecan Pie Day.
There … go for it. And where to go? Our readers most often mentioned Shop River Rock at 966 SW 6th in the Hellgate Jetboat Check-in.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Fiona Bean
• Kitchen Company
• Josephine Market & Interiors
• Red Canary
• Oregon Outpost
• Aquarius Books
• Bear Cave
FAVORITE JEWELRY STORE
Diamonds, gold, rare gems and stones all come from the ground, but once an experienced jeweler gets done with them, they become things of rare beauty adorned by human beings the world over.
Our readers certainly appreciate a little bling, and in that regard they voted Hart Jewelers at 225 SE 6th as their favorite, followed by:
• Fred Meyer Jewelers
• A Right Now Jewelry & Repair
• Fire Mountain Gems & Beads
BEST SELECTION OF WOMEN’S CLOTHES
I wonder why the typical shopping mall features 15 stores offering women’s clothes to every one store for guys. I’ll be the first to admit that the variety and options for women are vastly more interesting than pants and shirts, with a well-appointed baseball hat for guys being the only avenue for creativity.
Anyway, our readers love to go shopping for clothes, and they mentioned Rita’s—Live, Love, Shop, located at 121 SE 6th Street, as their favorite.
Also receiving their fair share of votes were:
• TJ Maxx
• Shoefly
• Fred Meyer
• Tierra del Sol
• Woven & Wyld
• Maurices
• Ross Dress for Less
BEST PLACE TO BUY STUFF FOR GARDEN
I’m a confirmed gardenholic and could spend hours going through a garden center picking out flowers, shrubs, herbs, even an occasional tree. Then, of course, there are garden tools and statuaries (we currently have Confucius, a horse’s head, a gnome, a dragon, Lao Tzu, a Japanese pagoda, a fountain and a bird bath … obsessive much?). Oh, and let’s not forget dirt, fertilizers and amendments. You’re on your own when it comes to all the water you’ll need to keep everything alive.
This category ended in a virtual tie between Grange Co-op (1710 W. Schutzwohl Lane) and Greenleaf Industries at 150 Union Avenue, followed by:
• Redwood Nursery
• New Hope Nursery
• Home Depot
• Diamond
• Bi-Mart
• Fred Meyer
GROCERY STORE WITH BEST SELECTION OF MEAT
Humans are officially omnivorous. We could easily survive without eating meat … just ask some marathon runners who are totally vegan. Meat, however, is part of our evolutionary background, and it’s a hard habit to break.
And when it comes to shopping for a great selection of meat, Cartwright’s Market, located at 825 Union Avenue, ran away with this category.
The list also included:
• Fred Meyer
• Safeway
• Winco Foods
• Grocery Outlet
• Albertson’s
FAVORITE APPLIANCE REPAIRMAN
When it comes to appliance repair, the top of the list has to be the refrigerator. You can live without a dishwasher, and you can go to a laundromat when the washing machine goes out. Even the stove is temporarily expendable if you don’t mind eating out every day. But the refrigerator? Each one contains hundreds of dollars worth of food which, if deprived of ice-cold air, will spoil within 8-9 hours. I know this for a fact because my wife accidentally left the door open to the freezer in our garden shed last year, and after 16 hours, it was adios amigos for all the food.
Whom to call when you need repair jobs on any of your appliances? This turned out to be a tie between Just-In Time Appliance Repair and Sean’s Appliance Repair, followed by:
• Appliance & Mower Center
• Active Home Furnishings
• Al’s Refrigeration
• Action Appliance Service
BEST PLACE TO GET HEARING AIDS
Thankfully, my hearing is hanging in there, and I owe it all to my decision years ago to not subject myself to loud rock ‘n’ roll concerts. Yeah, I might crank up the sounds in my car while driving down the Interstate (and believe it or not, that’s equal to the same number of decibels as a rock concert, but it’s only for one song, and I don’t have people screaming “this is righteous, dude” in my ear every 15 seconds).
My wife insists I go in for a hearing test because I’ve been saying “what” a lot lately. According to our readers, they most often preferred Audiology Associates of Southern Oregon (1665 Williams Highway), although My Hearing Centers (1833 Nebraska Avenue) came in a close second.
Others mentioned were:
• Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center
• Costco
• American Hearing Aid Centers
• Wal-Mart
POLITICS
A VERY UNSCIENTIFIC POLITICAL POLL
Each year we ask our readers to answer four political questions just to gauge the mood of the community. These answers are “relatively” accurate since very few people stuff the ballot for them.
1. Should the County give the okay to the tellurium mine? This issue has gotten a lot of coverage in the Sneak Preview over the last five years. Six years ago, the owners of American Mineral Research had discovered a mother lode of tellurium at a site in Josephine County and they applied to the County for a permit, only to be stonewalled every step of the way. It doesn’t make sense. Every politician I’ve talked to over the last 39 years gives lip service to how the County should exploit its natural resources, and that government should get out of the way. Yet AMR is still twisting in the wind because Josephine County politicians are talking out of one side of their mouth and doing another. Once again, it doesn’t make sense, but apparently that doesn’t translate well with Sneak Preview readers, as they were torn equally on this issue.
Yes, approve the mine: 50%
No, let then twist in the wind: 50%
2. Should people be able to opt out of the Library District? This is another one that doesn’t make sense. When the Library put the District up to a vote a few years ago, they were meticulous in only allowing those with easy access to a library the honor of voting in the election. Since we live in a majority-rule democracy, that means if the measure passes, everyone who voted has to respect the wishes of the majority. That’s just life in a democracy. Yet two years ago a Grants Pass couple appealed to the county commissioners to let them opt out of the Library District because they didn’t vote for it. Getting some misguided advice from Counsel, the commissioners agreed to the plan, forcing the Library to sue and costing everyone a lot of money in legal fees. The courts, of course, ruled that the people could not opt out, and it was a total exercise in futility. Our readers agreed.
Yes, let them opt out: 20%
No, do not let them opt out: 80%
3. Should the County give the Library a good deal on the rent? Amazingly, this one makes no sense either and you have to wonder if the county commissioners are thinking straight. About a year ago, one of the commissioners (we won’t name names) insisted that the lease arrangement with the Library, in which they were able to rent the building for $1 a year, needed to be re-assessed. What’s extraordinary is that the County Charter specifically states that the County should do everything in its power to support the Library, not try to run it out of business. The commissioners even hinted that the Library should pay the going rate on rent, which was about $10,000 a month. That would be the kiss of death for the Library. It certainly seems as if the commissioners are playing a game of chicken, and the voters are not happy about it.
Yes, keep the rent at $1 a year: 96%
No, put the squeeze on them: 4%
4. Is the Grants Pass City Council doing a good job? A whole new slate of councilors (and mayor) was voted in last November, and changes have been happening at a rapid pace. I haven’t really been keeping up with everything that has occurred, so I’ll defer to the judgment of my readers.
Yes, doing a good job: 23%
No, not doing a good job: 77%
* * * * *
Okay, after three days of counting ballots and writing up the results, it’s back to watching reruns of “Friends.” See you in September for Part II.
—C.H.
2025 Best of Grants Pass Part 2
Quite a few people missed the deadline for getting the ballots in, and while their votes weren’t counted in Part I, they did make it for Part II. And we’d like to extend belated congratulations to two dogs, Madison Fisher and Hank, who were recognized as “cute pets.”
There was a major faux pas in Part I of “The Best” last month. In the lead-in to the category, “Favorite Doctor,” I wrote that there were 30 million cells in the human body and 100 million bacterial cells. Well shoot, there’s actually 30 trillion cells and 100 trillion bacterial cells. I was only off by a factor of a million. What’s sad is that
I knew better. I have a master’s in neurobiology and read biology textbooks just for fun. Just days before I wrote that ditty, I told my daughter that her breast milk contained proteins that could not be digested by her baby. They were there solely to feed the 100 trillion bacterial cells in the digestive tract. I proofread that thing three times and still didn’t catch it. It was the Mother of All Brain Farts. I think I need to slow down.
In that same category, we misspelled the name of Doctor Marcel Wiggers. Our apologies.
That being said, let’s get right into the mistake-free, hopefully, Part II of the “Best of the Rogue Valley,” featuring restaurants and entertainment.
RESTAURANTS
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
You gotta love all the variety that local restaurants provide in the greater Grants Pass area. Last year was a record, as our readers were able to name ten new restaurants as their favorite, everything from fine dining to small bakeries. This year was no different, as nine more restaurants were added to the scene. When will it slow down? Hopefully never, as we all love to check out the latest new restaurant destined to become our favorite place to go.
Topping the list this year with our readers was Growler Guys Taphouse, located at 531 NE F Street. Growler Guys is a Pacific Northwest creation, and the first one opened in Bend in 2012. The concept is simple: they “have 45 of the most varied local craft beer favorites, and not-so-local brews, on tap for you to choose from and take home in either a 32-oz or 54-oz growler.” Or just enjoy there on the premises along with an extensive menu.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Perez Kitchen & Bar at 241 SW G
• Mixed Grill, 225 Rogue River Highway
• Chik-N-Rib, located at 405 NE 7th
• Beef Cake’s Bakery at 331 NE 6th
• Magic Donuts, 945 NE D
• Bobablastic, at 104 NE Morgan
• Agora Artisan Eatery, 208 SW 6th
And while Taprock Northwest Grill isn’t exactly new, the new owners from Cartwright’s received quite a few votes.
BEST BREAKFAST
You have a 9:00 meeting with that delegation of China to discuss exactly how the tariffs on polonium will affect that nuclear reactor you’d hoped to have installed on the factory floor, and the last thing you need to do is make breakfast at home. The only resort is to head out to your favorite breakfast spot, and according to our readers that would be either MaMosa’s at 118 NW E or Elmer’s, located at 175 NE Agness.
Also landing near the top was the Powderhorn Café at 321 NE 6th, followed by:
• Depot Eatery
• Lulu’s for the Love of Food
• Black Forest
• Black Bear Diner
• Taprock NW Grill
• Sweet Tea Express
• Babe’s Bakery
BEST LUNCH
What a morning! Whether you’re sitting at a desk in an air-conditioned office deciding whom to report to Human Resources for sleeping on the job or laying down tarp on a roofing job with the sun beating down, once noon rolls around you’re ready to hang up the computer and/or hammer and head to your favorite lunch spot.
This is always a popular category in the Best of the Rogue Valley as our readers mentioned 29 different restaurants as their favorite. Leading the way for 2025 was a tie between Taprock Northwest Grill at 971 SW 6th and Casablanca at 412 NW 6th, with another location at 686 Union Avenue.
The Top Ten featured:
• River’s Edge
• Wild River
• Nelly’s
• Chik-N-Rib
• Depot Eatery
• Babe’s Bakery
• Powderhorn
• Elmer’s
BEST PANCAKES
Back in the day when the kids were still at home, it was my assignment to make pancakes on Sunday morning. Cooking around my wife is a little intimidating. When she was in her 20s, she read Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking and reproduced every recipe in the two-volume book. Every meal at our house is like eating at a 5-star Michelin restaurant. And there I am trying to make the perfect pancake under her watchful eye. But I persevered, and I soon published my own book,
Mastering the Art of Cooking Pancakes … just kidding.
Where to go for masterful pancakes? Our readers most often mentioned the ones at Elmer’s, located at 175 NE Agness, followed by:
• The Powderhorn
• Black Bear Diner
• Depot Eatery
• MaMosa’s
• Black Forest
• Lulu’s
Also receiving a lot of votes was Murf’s Marvelous Pancakes & Handcrafted Syrups, which is a “pop-up breakfast” at Weekend Beer Company on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
BEST BLT SANDWICHES
I’ve probably told this joke before, so just humor me on this: In the last 15 years we lost Johnny Cash, Steve Jobs, and Bob Hope. Now we have no cash, no jobs, and no hope. Please, God, don’t let Kevin Bacon die.
Pretty funny, but we do love our bacon, especially when it comes with such nutritious items as lettuce and tomatoes. And when our readers go out searching for the perfect BLT, they named Depot Eatery at 577 NE F as their favorite.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• MaMosa’s
• Elmer’s
• Taprock
• Big Block Sandwich Shop
• Jersey Mike’s
• Babe’s Bakery
• Ajace
BEST FISH & CHIPS
My wife and I visited London for a week last October, and it is officially the capital of fish & chips. It’s where it all began, and before seeing the play Hamilton in the Theater District, we had dinner at the Duke of York Restaurant, where I ordered the obligatory fish & chips. When in London, do as the Londoners do, right? I did not come away disappointed, and in Grants Pass, our readers directed me to Laughing Clam, located at 121 SW G Street, which is as close to London as we’re going to get.
The list also featured:
• Wild River
• Taprock
• Elmer’s
• Black Forest
• Red Robin
• Sizzler
• 115 Broiler
FAVORITE DINNERHOUSE
I grew up in a family of nine kids, and my oldest sister didn’t leave the nest until she got married at age 21. So for all those years, eleven people gathered around the dining room table for dinner. It was total chaos, but my mom didn’t care. There wasn’t enough room at the table for eleven people, so she had a little table off to the side where she could eat in peace. Why she just didn’t pile everyone into the station wagon and take us out to dinner is beyond me.
Where would Hazel go if she wanted to take a break and treat the family to dinner? Most of our readers mentioned River’s Edge, located at 1936 Rogue River Highway with outstanding views of the river below.
Coming in a close second and third were 115 Broiler and Carson’s Bistro, followed by:
• The Twisted Cork
• Taprock Northwest Grill
• The Vine
• The Horny Goat
• Matsukaze
• Sizzler
RESTAURANT WITH MOST ROMANTIC DECOR
I realize that most guys would consider a sports bar as romantic, especially during Fantasy Football season, but that’s not what we were looking for here. We were thinking more along the lines of soothing music, nice table settings, some appropriately-placed antiques, and spotlessly attired waitpeople. And guys, you can always place your cell phone on your lap and surreptitiously check on scores every few minutes. But trust me … don’t overdo it. Screaming “YES!” just because your team scored a touchdown is a no-no.
Our readers named seven different restaurants in this category, reserving their number one choice for Carson’s Bisto, located at 220 SW H Street.
The list also included:
• 115 Broiler
• Twisted Cork
• River’s Edge
• Taprock
• Bohemian
• The Vine
BEST STEAK ENTREES ON THE MENU
For better or worse, humans and cows have developed a synergistic relationship over the last 10,000 years. If it weren’t for cattle’s ability to provide high levels of protein for a burgeoning human population, there is no way there would be near as many cows on the planet as there are today. Granted, most of them meet an untimely death (300 million are slaughtered every year), but before that time they’re fed and pampered and live the good life.
And when it comes to a nice variety of steak entrees on the menu, our readers once again named 115 Broiler at 115 NW D Street as their favorite, followed by:
• Taprock Northwest Grill
• Carson’s Bistro
• River’s Edge
• Horny Goat
• Twisted Cork
• Sizzler
• Wonder Bur Café
• Bohemian
BEST SEAFOOD ENTREES ON THE MENU
Here’s the thing about fish. They don’t marry for life and raise 2.2 children. The female lays over a thousand eggs, and the males fight over who gets to be the daddy, which isn’t very romantic but it gets the job done. If each of those eggs goes on to lay 1000 eggs, the original female will be responsible for one million little babies in just one generation. Pretty extraordinary, and it also makes for a fairly convenient source of human protein.
When it comes to seafood dishes, our readers once again named both River’s Edge at 1936 Rogue River Highway, and Twisted Cork (210 SW 6th) as their favorites.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Laughing Clam
• 115 Broiler
• Musashi
• Neko Sushi
• Matsukaze
FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Yeah, I’m so old that I remember when Maria’s Mexican Kitchen, aka the Shack by the
Track, was the only Mexican restaurant in Grants Pass. Now that’s old. Today, there over 20, and they’re all near and dear to our readers’ hearts … and stomachs.
Once again taking down the number one spot was Si Casa Flores, located at the corner of E Street and the Parkway.
The Top Ten included:
• Casa Amiga
• Taqueria Mexico
• El Mocajete
• El Charro Viejo
• La Burrita
• Frida’s Cantina
• Si Casa Express
• Los Taquitos
• Taco Mania
BEST MARGARITAS
The first time my wife and I visited Cabo san Lucas in 1992, we stopped at an outdoor restaurant on the marina called Margaritavilla for Happy Hour. We ordered grande margaritas and I swear they were bigger than our heads. By the time we were done, we were extremely “happy,” and I do believe we stayed for dinner. They must have seen us coming.
Where to go in Grants Pass for Happy Margaritas? Many of our readers mentioned the ones at Taqueria Mexico, at 137 SE H, followed by
• Si Casa Flores
• El Mocajete
• La Burrita
• Casa Amigo
• El Charro Viejo
• Bohemian Bar & Bistro
• Food Studio
FAVORITE ASIAN RESTAURANT
Not many people know that people of Chinese descent have been living in Southern Oregon since 1850, nine years before statehood. Yet according to the Oregon Historical Society, “Oregon’s public memory largely excludes those early Chinese residents’ role in shaping the state’s development.” Here in the Rogue Valley, we’ve caught up with the times, as our readers named 17 different Asian restaurants as their favorite.
Back to the real world, our readers mentioned all of the local Asian restaurants as their favorites, including their number one choice, Ban Mai Thai Cuisine, located at 1887 NE 7th, “offering a variety of meals that can be customized to your desired spice level.”
Others mentioned a lot
• Pongsri’s Thai Restaurant
• Matsukaze
• Four Seasons Restaurant
• Musashi
• Thai BBQ
• Neko Sushi
• Saigon Xich Lo
• Hong Kong
• China Hut
• Taroko
• Royal Barge
• Hunan Garden
FAVORITE ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Not many people know that the spaghetti western movies (most notably the early Clint Eastwood films A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More) were filmed entirely in southern Italy and Spain. In fact, from 1960 to 1978, nearly 500 spaghetti westerns were filmed, mostly set in the Western United States but filmed in Europe. The Italians know more about the history of the U.S. West than we do!
Where to go when you want to revisit a spaghetti western in Grants Pass? This ended in a tie between The Vine, located in the Allen Creek Shopping Center, and Giannelli’s A Taste of Italy at 211 NE A Street.
Also receiving votes were:
• Paisano’s in Rogue River
• Catalyst Pizza
• Vinny’s in Medford
• Olive Garden in Medford
FAVORITE PIZZA RESTAURANT
Ah college, when one could subsist primarily on Ramen and dollar slices of pizza. Good friends was all we needed. We’d pass out at three, wake up at ten, go out to eat, then do it again. I actually stole those lines from the song “I Love College” by Asher Roth, and I hope I don’t get in trouble for plagiarizing.
Pizza was a staple of life in college, and it has remained that way throughout life. And when it comes to pizzas, our readers were most impressed with the creations at Catalyst Pizza, with a new indoor location at 314 SE H Street, and a food truck at Weekend Brewing at 1863 NW Washington.
It was pretty close at the top, as both Wild River Brewing & Pizza and Abby’s Pizza received their own share of the votes, followed by:
• MOD Pizza
• Oregon Pizza Pour Authority
• Papa Murphy’s
• The Haul
• Domino’s
RESTAURANT WITH BEST DESSERTS
Ever since the first Caveman discovered cheesecakes, we’ve all had an obsession over desserts. Personally, I’ll take a tasty cherry pie over any of that fancy stuff, although a really good crème brulee is one of my weak points.
And when it comes to desserts, our readers most often appreciated the selection at Twisted Cork, located at 210 SW 6th Street, although Carson’s Bistro and House of Glory were close on their heels.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Powderhorn
• The Vine
• River’s Edge
• Wild River
• GG Sugarplums
• Babe’s Bakery
• 115 Broiler
RESTAURANT WITH FRIENDLIEST WAITSTAFF
When at the pearly gates facing down St. Peter’s withering look, every waitperson dreads the inevitable question: “That day your dog got run over by a cement truck, were you still able to put on a smiley face when serving your customers?” The only answer that will get you into heaven is a yes, and despite St. Peter rolling his eyes, you’re allowed in.
And when it comes to friendly waitstaff, our readers named 22 different favorites, starting with this year’s number one, Casablanca, at 412 NW 6th with another location at 686 Union Avenue.
Also landing near the top were:
• Taprock
• The Powderhorn
• Carson’s Bistro
• Wild River
• Oregon Pour Authority
• Black Bear Diner
• Bohemian
• 115 Broiler
FAVORITE “QUICK SERVICE” RESTAURANT
In my junior year of high school, the first McDonald’s opened in Evansville, Indiana, and as impatient teenagers always in a hurry, it fit perfectly into our lifestyle. Just drive up, order your burgers and fries (15 cents for the burger, by the way … does that date me?), then head on down the highway to that kegger at Mike Clayton’s house. Just kidding about that last part. I didn’t really run with that crowd in high school, and 50 years later, I have to ask myself why not?
Our readers were all over the board on this category, but in the end they named In-N-Out Burger as their favorite, followed by:
• Casablanca
• Carl’s Jr.
• Panda Express
• Jimmy’s Classic Drive-In
• Taco Bell
• Wendy’s
• McDonald’s
• Muchas Gracias
BEST SELECTION OF BURGERS
Do you think the cavemen made mastodon burgers? I can just see them around the campfire now. Fred Flintstone has a “kiss me, I’m a Cro Magnon” apron on, flipping burgers with his sabertooth tiger bone spatula, while tending to a Lascaux beer imported from southern France. Wilma, meanwhile, being the “gatherer,” is chopping up turnips and lettuce for the salad while sipping on that Chardonnay made from fermented boysenberries that she stumbled across in the forest.
Okay, I might have gotten a little carried away there, but when it comes to burgers, our readers know what they’re talking about, and they chose both In-N-Out Burger (124 NE Morgan Lane) and Eddy’s Burgers at 956 Rogue River Highway as their favorite.
The Top Five were pretty close, and they included:
• Jimmy Classic Drive-In
• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
• Valentino’s (at Weekend Brewing)
Others high in the balloting were:
• Barney’s Burgers
• Carl’s Jr.
• Corvette Bar & Grill
BEST MILKSHAKES
I am clinically addicted to milkshakes, and at the last MA meeting, I laid out my entire sordid history, leaving no stone unturned. Like the time in 1973 when I holed up in a basement with some fellow addicts and had Dairy Queen on speed dial, gorging on milkshakes, watching reruns of Mister Ed, and putting on 32 pounds in four days. It was a scary moment, indeed.
Our readers apparently have the same addiction as they were able to name fifteen different establishments that serve up some great milkshakes, including this year’s favorite, Jimmy’s Classic Drive-In, located at 515 NE E Street, followed by:
• Dairy Queen
• In-N-Out Burger
• Barney’s Burgers
• Udder’s Ice Cream & Gelato
• Big Block Sandwich Shop
• Carl’s Jr.
• McDonald’s
BEST SELECTION OF SANDWICHES
According to Wikipedia, “In the first century BC, Jewish sage Hillel the Elder is said to have wrapped meat from the Paschal lamb and bitter herbs in a soft matzah—flat, unleavened bread—during Passover in the manner of a modern wrap made with flatbread.” Twenty-one hundred years later, we can thank ol’ Hillel for his culinary insight, as the sandwich is now ubiquitous the world over.
Where would Hillel go when he wanted to sample some really great sandwiches in Grants Pass? This category ended in a tie this year between Cartwright’s Market (825 Union Avenue) and Babe’s Bakery (1701 NE 6th).
The list also included:
• Big Block Sandwich Shop
• Jersey Mike’s
• Subway
• Wild River
• Millie’s
BEST COFFEHOUSE
My hobby is breaking human processes down to the molecular level. While everyone else can just sit back and enjoy a good cup of coffee, I ruminate over how caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that helps to increase alertness and reduce fatigue by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. It’s known for its wakefulness and cognitive-enhancing properties. Yeah, I’m real fun at parties.
In this category our readers totally appreciate both Dutch Brothers (corner of 6th & D) and Rogue Roasters (610 SW 6th), followed by:
• Wheeelhouse
• Human Bean
• Casablanca
• Starbucks
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST LOCAL CONCERT LAST YEAR
Our readers were torn over this category, as they have fond memories of the annual Porchfest Festival, in which two blocks on Washington Street are reserved for local bands performing on selected front porches. Not to be outdone, the Concerts in the Park was also mentioned a lot, and a performance by the Lack Family in July was singled out.
And, of course, concerts by Rogue Valley Symphony at the Performing Arts Center are always popular.
Weekend Beer Company also hosts concerts throughout the year, and our readers specifically mentioned an appearance by Brothers Reed.
And the concert by Sawyer Brown at the 2024 Josephine County Fair was a big hit.
FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST
As a writer, I can almost see (and hear) the words in my head while writing. It doesn’t require anything more than letting the grey matter do the work. Trying to draw something, however, is another story. It is almost impossible for me to visualize the finished product. I’m totally lost, and I have the utmost respect for artists who can see the image in their head and reproduce it effortlessly.
A number of artists were mentioned by our readers, and the number one choice was Julie Birkle, whose art can be seen periodically at the Grants Pass Museum of Art.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Janet Higgins
• Tina Albrecht
• Susan Williams
• Bob Eding
• Paula Fong
• Dan Kennedy
• Del Hearn
• Kel Letvinchuck
MOST FUN PLACE FOR FIRST FRIDAY ART STROLL
Our readers apparently love getting out of the house because this was a very popular category. And downtown is hopping every First Friday, making it the perfect occasion to socialize, see some great art, and top it off with a visit to a local restaurant or bar.
Winning this category once again was the friendly confines of the Grants Pass Museum of Art (and Gallery One), followed by:
• Glass Forge
• The Hivve
• Dutch Brothers
• Kitchen Company
• All along G Street
• The Bear Cave
• Oregon Outpost
FAVORITE BEAR DURING BEARFEST
When Evergreen Federal Bank’s Brady Adams started the first Bearfest twenty years ago by enlisting a few local artists to make whimsical sculptures of bears and placing them at strategic street corners in downtown Grants Pass, little did he realize that it would grow into a major attraction downtown (and off the beaten track), now featuring 55 cuddly little bears. Our readers were able to name 21 of those bears, including this year’s favorite, “Going Bearfoot” at the library, with artist Janet Gogué.
The Top Five were:
• “Barry Potter” at Oregon Books; artists Tommi Drake and Tomorrow Nelson
• “Rockabilly Bear” at the Fairgrounds; artist Tami Richardson Saffer
• “Nikov Tyme, Jet Boat Racing Bear” at Evergreen Federal Bank; artist Jon Peterman
• “Captain Rogue: Pirates of Bear Cove,” at 6th & K; artists Julie and Ben Bickle
BEST PLAY LAST YEAR
Grants Pass is still a hotbed of theater, with the Barnstormers, One Eleven Theatre, Rogue Music Theatre, and the RCC Theater Arts Department putting on performances. Even the local high schools present plays every year. Quite a few were mentioned by our readers, and topping the charts for the 2024/2025 season was 9 to 5: The Musical, which was presented by the Barnstormers in May. An all-star cast of local actors reprised the roles of Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the 1980 movie.
Also receiving votes were:
• One Eleven Theatre’s production of Oliver!
• Angel Street (Gaslight) by the Barnstormers
• Lost (and Found) in IKEA by the Barnstormers
• The Nutcracker Ballet by Stillpoint Dance Studio
• Two Gentlemen of Verona at RCC
• The Unsinkable Molly Brown at Grants Pass High School
BEST THEATER PERFORMANCE – MALE
Quite a few performances were turned in by the men this year, but the number one choice was Chris Green, who played the lecherous, egotistical boss Franklin Hart in the Barnstormers’ production of 9 to 5 last year.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Sharif Abdulrahman for the Barnstormers’ Lost (and Found) in IKEA
• Zach Dodge, for both Angel Street (Gaslight) and Devour the Snow by the Barnstormers
• David Blake for the Barnstormers’
BEST THEATER PERFORMANCE – FEMALE
On the female side of the ledger, the number one favorite was The Female Cast of 9 to 5, featuring Mairen Ogle, Janeen McGinnis, Michelle Spohn, and Shannon Veon-Kase.
The list also included:
• Angela Padilla for the Barnstormers’ Angel Street (Gaslight)
• Anna Nelson for the Barnstormers’ Lost (and Found) in IKEA
• Sharon Giddings for the Barnstormers’ The Outsider
BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN/SINGER
Quite a few local musicians were singled out in this survey, including the number one choice, Trevor Hanks, who plays at a number of local venues, including the County Fair and Concerts in the Park, with his band, The Blackburn Rebels, and other guest artists.
Other musicians mentioned were:
• Janeen McGinnis
• Jen Ambrose
• Gretchen Owens
• Jerry Hurley and his “Elvis Imitation”
• Matt Spurlock of American Contraband
• Broadway Phil
• Scott Head
• Steve Howell, bass player for the John Dough Boys
BEST LOCAL ROCK ‘N’ ROLL BAND
We built this city on rock ‘n’ roll, so let’s just right into this. The number one choice for our readers was Rock Steady, who appear at a lot of local venues, followed by:
• Starvation Heights
• Free Creatures
• The John Dough Boys
• Brothers Reed
• Broadway Phil & the Shouters
• American Contraband
• A Band of Brothers
BEST BAR TO MEET FRIENDS AFTER WORK
Work isn’t always a four-letter word. Most of us actually enjoy what we do, but at the end of the day, it’s always good to blow off some steam and meet with friends to commiserate over all the fires you had to put out at work that day.
Where to go? Winning this category was Weekend Beer Company (and food trucks) at 1863 NW Washington, followed by:
• Growler Guys
• Area 61
• Horny Goat
• Taprock Northwest Grill
• Wild River
• River’s Edge
• Cedarwood Saloon
• Laughing Clam
• The Haul
BEST BAR TO MEET FRIENDS LATE AT NIGHT
Night life is definitely for the young and/or the young at heart, and there are plenty of places in Grants Pass that cater to that particular lifestyle. Topping the list this year was Bohemian Bar & Bistro, located at 233 SW G Street.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Weekend Beer Company
• Wonder Bur
• Steam Distillery
• Growler Guys
• JDs Sports Pub
• The Haul
• Taprock Northwest Grill
• Taroko
• River’s Edge
BAR WITH BEST MUSIC VENUE
Live music is the lifeblood of any community, and luckily for Grants Pass, we have a number of venues that keep us entertained and our musicians employed. Taking down the top spot in this category was Weekend Beer Company, followed by:
• Area 61
• Shenanigans Lounge at Herb’s LaCasita
• The Hivve
• G Street Bar & Grill
• JDs Sports Pub
• Wonder Bur
• Sound Lounge
FAVORITE VENDOR AT THE GROWERS’ MARKET
It’s a huge social scene ever Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm in the parking lot behind the Post Office, as hundreds of local vendors offer everything from fruits and vegetables to cheese, desserts, tamales, and crafts.
Our readers definitely appreciate the local Growers’ Market, now in its 45th year, and their number one favorite vendor was Pennington Farms, a “90-acre farm located in the heart of the beautiful Applegate Valley.”
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Rise Up Artisan Breads
• Sweetwater Farms
• Windmill Bakery
• Bright Star Bakery
• The donut guy
• Fort Vannoy Farms
• Plaisance Ranch
• The tamale lady
FAVORITE HIKE IN SOUTHERN OREGON
They say that hiking in the woods is good for your health, and if that’s so, then Southern Oregon is the place for you. Entire books have been written on the hiking trails within 50 miles of Grants Pass. I look the liberty of Googling “hiking trails in Southern Orgon,” and then had a list of about forty different ones. So go for it!
And in this regard, our readers most often mentioned the Cathedral Hills, located in an area of BLM land in southeast Grants Pass.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Rainie Falls
• Limpy Creek
• East Applegate Trail
• Rogue River Trail
• Butte Creek Falls
• Table Rock Trail
• Mount McLoughlin
BEST CANNABIS DISPENSARY
It took decades of protests and lobbying, but six years ago Oregon voters finally realized that the criminalization of marijuana was doing more harm than good, kind of like Prohibition back in the 1920s. So a bill was crafted together that put restrictions on where it could be sold and consumed, and how it was going to be taxed, with much of the proceeds returned to the counties and cities where it was sold.
There are a number of cannabis dispensaries in Josephine County, and our readers most often mentioned Diamond Cannabis in this survey, located at 300 SW 6th Street, followed by:
• Nectar
• Southern Oregon Cannabis
• Redwood Cannabis
• Zuni Farm Stand Dispensary
FAVORITE WINERY/VINEYARD
Forget Napa Valley and the Willamette Valley. In the last 20 years, Southern Oregon has emerged as one of the most important wine-growing regions in the Pacific Northwest. Our readers could only scratch the surface, naming 19 of them in this survey, including its number one choice, Schmidt Family Vineyards, located at 330 Kubli Road.
Other favorites included:
• Two Rivers Vineyard
• Woolridge Creek Winery
• Red Lily
• Dancin’
• Apricity
• Del Rio Vineyards & Winery
• Kriselle Cellars
• Plaisance
• Troon Vineyard
* * * * *
Well, there you go. Another year, another Best of the Rogue Valley. If you have any suggestions for new entries next year, write to me at sneakpre@mind.net. —C.H.