Best of the City 2016

Best of the City 2016: EDITOR'S PICKS

You can find the reader's choice voting results HERE.

After many years of our readers sharing their favorite things with us, we wanted to take an opportunity to add a few of our own. We hope you enjoy our picks just as much as we have enjoyed yours. 

Best Meta Moment

Chubby’s Treats  

5326 Fulton Dr. NW, Canton

Eat an ice cream cone that came out of an ice cream cone. You could make this more meta by wearing a t-shirt with an ice cream cone on it while eating an ice cream cone that came out of an ice cream cone—but how far down the rabbit hole do you really want to go?

Chubby’s Treats offers a featured flavor every week, eight flavor “bursts” to intensify the vanilla soft serve, choco-vanilla twist, and rotating fat-free yogurt flavors to keep you coming back. It’s not exactly through the looking glass, but it’s frosty.

Best Sugar-Filled Wonderland

Yum Yum Sweet Shop

1593 Main St., Peninsula 

If you’ve got a sweet tooth but were as traumatized as we were by Willy Wonka’s House of Horrors, the Yum Yum Sweet Shop is for you. Swirling rainbows of sugary delights line the shelves, bringing back childhood memories of blue tongues, sticky hands and blissful sugar comas. Forget about those crazy rules and try everything. This shop is your golden ticket for literally feeling like a kid in a candy shop.

Best Time Traveling Day Trip

Civil War reenactment at Hale Farm and Village 

2686 Oak Hill Rd, Bath

Ever wish you could get a close-up view of the Civil War without the dysentery, gangrene and screaming? Hale Farm and Village has a totally sanitary history-lover's day out to never forget. The reenactments spring into action in August and feature all of the fake cannon fire, formation marching and itchy wool clothing you could ever desire. Feel like a clairvoyant and cheer for the side you know will win at this awesome event.

Walk through the campsites of both the Confederate and Union armies, learning about the everyday realities of the war. Soldiers were not always aiming, firing and fleeing from one another—they told stories, made meals and wrote letters home to beloved family members. Without the need of a DeLorean, or the pesky paradoxes of time-travel, let these reenactors show you how an important chapter in U.S. history unfolded. You also won’t run into any of the traditional time travel problems—like being your mom’s date to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.

Best Reason to Wake Up on a Sunday Morning

St. Bernard Catholic Church 

44 University Ave., Akron

Pulling yourself out of your PJs and into a pew isn’t always easy. But when the pure morning light pours through the vibrant panes of colored glass in St. Bernard Catholic Church, the atmosphere is divine. Bask in the warm glow of tradition as your ears—and perhaps your soul—soak in the lessons that have stood the test of time. With an old-world feel that reminds you of distant places on the map, this church is a beautiful, timeless part of Akron’s skyline. 

Best Way to Get to Mars Before Elon Musk

Alien Vacation Mini Golf   260 S. Court St., Medina 

Elon Musk may be pioneering new forms of futuristic travel, but you can have an extraterrestrial experience right here, right now. That is, you can play putt putt golf with glow-in-the-dark aliens in Medina. That counts, right? Grab a club, curb your frustration and conquer that awesome trick shot that you came close to par on. Great for the whole family, this alien encounter will leave you with memories to share, not nightmares. 

Best Place to Legally Race an 8-Year-Old and Win

Fun ‘N’ Stuff 

661 Highland Rd., Macedonia 

Learning to lose is an important life lesson. Instill this value in the youth of tomorrow at Fun 'N' Stuff. No participation trophies here. You either win or you lose—and we will win. Our legs are longer, our arms stronger, and we’re ready for victory on the racetrack. Whether it's bumper boats—bump is in the name—bikes that defy gravity or brightly colored go-karts, you can get that adrenaline rush without the bummer of a speeding ticket. 

Best Way to Embrace Your Inner One-Percenter

Pet Bomb Squad 

330-495-7000

www.petbombsquad.com

Want to feel like you’re in the one percent, but don’t quite have the cash flow? Get a glimpse of the life by eliminating one of the dirtiest jobs. Pet Bomb Squad will diffuse those landmines you were pretending weren’t there, but your shoe knows the truth. You may think your pet is number one, but no one likes his number two. Get a one-time spring clean-up or schedule weekly visits for your one-, two- or three-dog household. These poop pros will even service commercial properties, so you’ll never be sued for a tenant slipping in Fido’s little “surprise” again. It’s pampering you can afford that benefits your whole neighborhood. You’ll feel like a real fancy-pants as you enjoy your pooch minus the poo.

Best Local Mechanic That Won’t Rip You Off

Gregg Swartz, Honda Acura Specialist, LLC 

2687 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls

How do you know you won’t get ripped off when your 10-year-old Honda needs work? Go see Gregg Swartz, that’s how. That baby-face is the real deal. His name might as well be Honest Abe the way he does business. Check out his certificates from Portage Lakes Career Center and American Honda, and let his experience steer you right. His estimates are spot-on, his advice pulls no punches, and his bathroom is always clean.

Best Way to Feel Fancy at the Barre in Stretchy Pants 

Tru Barre 

1474 N Portage Path, Akron 

Pull on your finest stretchy pants and get ready to sweat your spare tire off at Tru Barre. Channel your inner black swan, minus the crazy, in this ballet-inspired fitness class. Combine dance studio classics, like the releve, and fitness favorites like planks and pushups to get a jiggle-free physique. It’s the only barre where you get a 6-pack instead of downing one. Feel the pride radiating through your gelatinized muscles after surviving an intense class. You’ll feel so fancy, you'll want to sing about it.

Best Reason to Wake up on a Saturday Morning

A Bloody Mary at Twisted Citrus 

1649 N Main St., North Canton

You’ve built your own bear. You’ve built your own burrito. Now build something you really need: a personalized Bloody Mary at Twisted Citrus. Choose a vodka, choose a juice, then make it as spicy, fancy or simple as you like. The change of attitude will keep that Friday night feeling with a Saturday morning twist. 

Best Brunch Item You’ll Fall Deeply in Love With

The Chicken and Waffles at 111 Bistro

2736 Medina Rd, Medina

It sounds wrong, but it’s so right. Chicken and Waffles is one of those food combinations that you wouldn’t think tastes good together, but it works so incredibly well. Once you try this, you’ll be skipping the eggs benny and going straight for this brunch staple. 111 Bistro’s take on this breakfast item is mouth-wateringly scrumptious. Sitting in the classy restaurant, you will be full of pride at your bravery for trying something new and even fuller of food. Loosen that belt; it’s okay. Don’t be chicken. Try it with waffles. And tobasco butter. And syrup.