4th Annual Best of Talent – 2012
The Greeks established the first democracy about 2500 years ago. The first thing they voted on was whether to wear their togas over their left, or right shoulders. 25 centuries later, the fine townsfolk of Talent took to the ballot boxes as well to vote for the TNR’s 4th Annual Best of Talent.
We need to remind everyone that this is a very unscientific survey and is not intended to be the final word on the popularity of any person, business or organization. It is strictly meant to recognize as many hard-working and deserving individuals as possible, which we think is a good thing.
Talent’s Friendliest Barista
They’re almost an indispensable member of society, for each morning they provide us with the sustenance we need to at least get through till 10 in the morning. Our readers were able to single out quite a few favorite baristas, with Sarah Goyette of Downtowne Coffee taking down the top spot.
Rounding out the Top Three were:
- The “girls at Organic Grind.”
- Macy, Crema.
Favorite Bartender
You’re either there to party and/or drown your sorrows, and it always helps to have friendly bartenders who can tend to your every need. In that regard, our readers most love Paul Valyo over at the Avalon Bar and Grill.
The Top Three were very close, and included:
- Heidi at the Little Brown Jug.
- Elise Passante, Inti Latin Soul & Cantina.
Friendliest City Employee
The Romans also voted for a “Friendliest Senate Member” in 44 B.C., and Brutus actually won hands down, helping gain the admiration of a young Julius Caesar. Go figure.
Receiving the most votes in this category was Mark Knox, Talent’s Planning Director.
Coming is a very close second was Leslea Heiken, Receptionist and Municipal Court Clerk.
Best Server in Talent
Every waitperson on earth has a recurring nightmare. Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie unexpectedly walk into the restaurant, and you end up getting all tongue-tied. When Brad asks what the soup of the day is, you say, “The Cham Clowder.” And when Angelina inquires about the salads, you tell her the lettuce is baked fresh every day.
Anyway, serving her way to the top was Inti’s very own, Galina Apreotesi.
Coming up a few votes short were Justin Fogel at The Grotto, and Denise Obrien at the Talent Cafe.
Favorite Postal Employee
The ancient Greeks used to carve messages on olive pits and then feed them to trained passenger pigeons that would then fly to far-away towns and “deposit” the pits to the lucky recipients. Actually, I made that up.
This year, our readers voted Lisa Rodgers Talent’s Favorite Postal Employee. Congrats, Lisa, and keep up the good work!
Coming in a close 2nd and 3rd were Teresa Testor and Christy Sanders.
Talent’s Funniest Person
Levi Anderson took home the bacon in this category. While we cannot dispute the votes he received, we do have a theory that folks thought the category was “Talent’s Funniest Looking Person,” which seems to make a little more sense for Levi’s landslide victory.
Talent’s 2nd Funniest Person was Brad Linnell.
Best Way to Spend $20 in Talent
These days Andrew Johnson ain’t burning too many holes in pockets (thanks to penicillin and/or the current economic slow-down), but when Talentians have and extra $20 to blow, they head down to Inti for a round of tacos and mohitos. The staff at the TNR agree, this is a wise investment for both pleasure and nourishment.
Finishing runner-up in this category was The Cupcake Daily.
Favorite Place for Talent Art & Music Fest
When art galleries and businesses throughout Talent open their doors to art, conversation, refreshments and entertainment, good things happen. This event has become extremely popular and has helped rejuvenate the local economy.
Virtually every business in town received votes in the category, but taking down top honors this year was Total Picture, located at 210 Talent Avenue and owned by artist Joe Dunbar.
Best Place to Eat with the Kids
This kind of restaurant has to have everything—a space large enough to accommodate the whole family, a menu that caters to all tastes, and servers who are willing to accept Grandpa’s foibles and Junior’s temper tantrums.
A lot of local restaurants were mentioned in this survey, with the number one nod going to The Grotto Pizzeria owned by Anna Clay.
Coming in a close second was The Talent Cafe located at 160 N. Pacific Hwy.
Best New Business in Town
Are we still in a recession, or is it merely a slowdown? Is the economy coming back or is it an illusion? Will our homes ever be worth what they were in 2006 before the bubble burst? Those questions may take a few years to answer, but in the meantime you have to admire people who open a new business during these trying times.
Topping the list this year was OmSweetOm, Melissa Cooley’s yoga studio located upstairs in the Historic Train Depot. Melissa offers high quality, intimate classes for all levels of students. For a list of classes, check out YogoOmSweetOm.com.
Coming in a very close second was Mystic Treats, 103 N Pacific Hwy.
Friendliest Employee at Tark’s
Thanks to Tark’s, Talentians only have to leave our city limits once or twice a year. It’s got everything you need, plus an entire staff of friendly faces. A lot of folks were mentioned in this category, but smiling their way to the top this year were Kyle and Karl. Keep those teeth white and shiny, boys.
Favorite Actor at Camelot
Camelot Theatre saw a couple of small changes this year, including the completion of their 164-seat state-of-the-art James Morrison Collier Theatre Building. We’ll all miss the old feedstore, but their new theater is indeed something to write home to mom about (which I did, well, I sent her an email—does that count?).
Anyway, the winner this year was Peter Wickliffe. In addition to being Talent’s Favorite Actor, he’s also Camelot’s current Office Manager.
Favorite Actress at Camelot
Winning this category yet again was the One-Woman-Theater-Creating-Directing-Acting-Queen, Livia Genise.
Favorite Hair Dresser
Sure, you can go for that wind-blown Kennedyesque look or just let it all flow like Albert Einstein. Most of us, however, want a little more order in our lives, which makes our friendly hair stylist an important part of the plan for happiness.
Cutting her way to the top this year was Mabel Davis, owner of New Look Hair Care, located at 26 Talent Ave.
The Top Three were pretty close:
- Teri Duncan
- Melissa, Simply Sassy
Friendliest Auto Mechanic
The average American can open the hood of a car and accurately locate three things: the battery, the radiator and the little thingie that keeps the hood open. Everything else is a big blur, which is why we rely on our mechanics to take care of business.
Quite a few automobile professionals were mentioned in this survey. Calibrating their way to the top were Frank and Dan of Snappy Service Auto Repair, 1309 S. Pacific Hwy.
Favorite Street in Talent
Twelve streets were mentioned in this category, but Talent Avenue won in a landslide. You can take an avenue out of Talent, but you can’t take the Talent out of Avenue…or something like that.
Friendliest Bankteller
What a job! Counting out hundred dollar bills like it was a Monopoly game; getting to cash all those million dollar checks from Publisher’s Clearinghouse; staring down bank robbers with your steely gaze, etc., etc. And all with a smile on your face.
Quite a few tellers were mentioned in this survey, but in the end the number one favorite was Ronda Bagwell at Umpqua Bank.
Favorite Part of the TNR
To the many people who wrote, “all of it,” we want to say “thank you.” Please extend those sentiments to potential advertisers whenever you can.
Other favorites included: The Best of Issues, The Goober Gallery and The Flash.
Best Part of Living in Talent
The votes were all over the place, ranging from the “small town feel” to the “walkability.” But once again, it’s the abundance of friendly folks that make living here so special (I can hardly see to type with all the tears in my eyes).