Best of The City
July is a month of celebration!
Kicking off with an explosive extravaganza for our nation’s birthday, the month is a jubilant one. Grills ignite, popsicles melt and the nights are filled with sounds of people enjoying life. Each year, the “Best of the City” issue celebrates all of the wonderful elements that make The 330 a great place to live. Readers vote on their favorites, nominating staples and newcomers alike. They create a list that reflects life in The 330. Each winner helps to transform a collection of lines on a map into a home. The list always inspires our team to explore the area and try new—or new to us—things.
As we tried out fan favorites, we found a few of our own that we wanted to share with readers. Fun personified, our staff picks are just a small sampling of things we love in The 330. See our EDITOR'S PICKS here.
illustration by Cait Jones
All Abut the 330
Best Local Charity Event
1st (tie): Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series
1st (tie): Pay it Forward for Pets Casino Night
2nd: Akron Children’s Hospital Have a Heart, Do Your Part Radiothon
3rd Place: Empty Bowl Project
Best Local Reason for Waiting in Line
1st: Luigi’s Restaurant
2nd: Strickland’s Frozen Custard
3rd: Akron Zoo
Best Neighborhood in The 330
1st: Highland Square
2nd: Hudson
3rd: Fairlawn
Best Local Place to Take Visitors
1st: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
2nd: Akron Zoo
3rd: Cuyahoga Valley National Parks
Best Way to Improve The 330
1st: Fix/Maintain Roads
2nd: Lower Crime Rate
3rd: More Pedestrian/Bike Friendly
Best Thing to Happen to Akron (last 12 months)
1st: New Mayor
2nd: Mustard Seed in Highland Square
3rd: Suburban Sit
Best Local Sledding Hill
1st: Goodyear Heights Metro Park
2nd: Firestone Park
3rd: Virginia Kendall Park
Best Local Corn Maze
1st: Szalay’s Farm & Market
2nd: Maize Valley Winery
3rd: Ramseyer Farms
Best Local Restroom
1st: Mustard Seed
2nd: Ken Stewart’s
3rd: Akron Zoo
Best Local Logo
1st: Akron RubberDucks
2nd: Rubber City Clothing
3rd: Akron Zoo
illustration by Cait Jones
Cait Jones
Entertainment
Best Local Fair
1st: Summit County Fair
2nd: Portage County Fair
3rd: Art in the Park (Hardesty Park)
Best Local Live Music Venue
1st: Blossom Music Center
2nd: Musica
3rd: Blu Jazz+
Best Local Live Theater
1st: Akron Civic Theater
2nd: Weathervane Playhouse
3rd: The University of Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall
Best Local Radio Show Host
1st: Keith Kennedy
2nd (tie): Bill Hall
2nd (tie): Ray Horner
3rd: Jeff Kinzbach
Best Local Hike
1st: Gorge Metro Park
2nd: Sand Run Metro Park
Best Local Natural Wonder
1st: CVNP
2nd: Gorge Metro Park
3rd: Brandywine Falls
Best Local 9 Holes of Golf
1st: Raymond C. Firestone Golf Course
2nd: J.E. Good Park
3rd: Brookledge
Best Local Free Event
1st: PorchRokr Highland Square
2nd: Art in the Park (Hardesty Park)
3rd: First Night Akron
Best Local Summer Camp for Kids
1st: Camp Christopher
2nd: Akron Zoo
3rd: YMCA Camp Y-Noah
Best Local High School or College Mascot
1st: Zippy
2nd: Stow Bulldogs
3rd: STVM Leprechaun
Best Local One-Tank Trip (Outside The 330)
1st: Hocking Hills State Park
2nd: Cedar Point Amusement Park
3rd: Put-in-Bay
Best Local Band/Musician
1st: The Black Keys
2nd: Keys & Corridors
3rd: The Angie Haze Project
Best Local 5K
1st (tie): Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Selfless Elf 5k
1st (tie): Metro Parks Mother’s Day 5K
2nd: The Color Run
3rd (tie): Akron Autism 5K Run/Walk
3rd (tie): Fishcreek Raccoon Run
illustration by Cait Jones
Services
Best Local Dance Studio
1st: Martell School of Dance
2nd: Etta Mae Smith Studio of Dance
3rd: Once Upon a Dream Dance
Best Local Florist
1st: The Greenhouse, a Fresh Flower Market
2nd: Pam’s Posies
3rd: Molly Taylor & Co
Best Local Dog Groomer
1st: Wizard of Paws
2nd: Celebrity Pets
3rd: Molly Taylor & Co.
Best Local Spa
1st: Gavin Scott Salon & Spa
2nd: The Spa at Yellow Creek
3rd: A White Pond Paradise Salon & Day Spa
Best Local Hospital
1st: Akron General Medical Center
2nd: Akron City/Summa Health
3rd: Akron Children’s
Best Local Dentist
1st: Barsan Family Dental
2nd: Semans Family Dentistry
3rd (tie): Dr. Mark Iati
3rd (tie): Dr. Bob Zavodny
Best Local Wealth Manager
1st: Thomas Clark, The Clark Guilliam Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
2nd: Paula Chesser, R.W. Baird
3rd: Dave Pelland, ALDA Advisors, Inc.
Best Local Pet Daycare
1st: Camp Bow Wow
2nd: Hattie's Doggie Day Care and Boarding
3rd: Tails R' Waggin
Best Local Women’s Clothing Store
1st: NOTO Boutique
2nd: Sugar Loves Spice Boutique
3rd: The Grey Colt
Best Local Landscaping Company
1st: Edenscapes Landscaping
2nd: R.B. Stout, Inc.
3rd: Lewis Landscaping & Nursery, Inc.
Best Local Jeweler
1st: Kimberly's Diamond Corner
2nd: Taylor Made Jewelry
3rd: Jewelry Art
Best Local Home Builder
1st: Testa Builders, Inc.
2nd (tie): Ryan Homes
2nd (tie): Schumacher Homes
2nd (tie): Steve W. Moore Building Corp
Best Local Art Gallery
1st: Zeber-Martell Clay Studio and Gallery
2nd: Don Drumm Studio & Gallery
3rd: Akron Art Museum
Best Local Independent Book Store
1st: The Learned Owl
2nd: The Bookseller
3rd: Snowball Bookshop
Best Local Bike Shop
1st: Eddy’s Bike Shop
2nd: Century Cycles
3rd: Falls Wheel and Wrench
Best Local Store (last 12 months)
1st: Suburban Sit (Hudson)
2nd: Mustard Seed (Highland Square)
3rd: Antiquation
Best Local Vintage/Consignment Store
1st: Revival
2nd: Village Discount Outlet
3rd: Glitzy Finds
Best Local Retro Décor/Antiques
1st: The Bomb Shelter
2nd: Stage Coach Antiques
3rd: Land of Plenty
Best Local Car Dealership
1st: Park Auto Group
2nd (tie): Ron Marhofer Auto Family
2nd (tie): Ganley Group
3rd (tie): The Van Devere Bunch
3rd (tie): Klaben
Best Local Fitness Center
1st: Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium
2nd: AGMC Lifestyles
3rd: Summa Health Center at Western Reserve
Best Local Wedding Reception Venue
1st: Stan Hywet Hall
2nd: Todaro’s
3rd: Guy’s Party Center
illustration by Cait Jones
Food
Best Local Cooking Class
1st: Western Reserve School of Cooking
2nd: Mustard Seed Cooking School
3rd: Gervasi Vineyards Culinary Classics
Best Local Farmers’ Market
1st: Szalay’s Farm & Market
2nd: Hudson Farmers’ Market
3rd: Countryside Conservancy
Best Local Ethnic Market
1st: DeVitis Italian Market
2nd: Al’s Meats (Barberton)
3rd: La Loma Mexican
Best Local Vegetarian Menu
1st: Mustard Seed Market & Café
2nd: Aladdin’s Eatery
3rd: Ms. Julie’s Kitchen
Best Local Gluten-free Menu
1st: Mustard Seed Market and Café
2nd: Jilly’s Music Room
3rd: Aladdin’s Eatery
Best Local Italian Restaurant
1st: Luigi’s Restaurant
2nd: Dontino’s Fine Italian Cuisine
3rd: Papa Joe’s
Best Local Mexican Restaurant
1st: Nuevo Modern Mexican
2nd: Tito’s Mexican Grill
3rd: Azteca
Best Local Chinese Takeout
1st: Chin’s Place
2nd: House of Hunan
3rd (tie): Chen’s Garden (CF)
3rd (tie): No. 1 Chinese Kitchen
Best Local Breakfast
1st: The Blue Door Café
2nd: The Eye Opener
3rd: Akron Family Restaurant
Best Local Family-Friendly Dining
1st: Akron Family Restaurant
2nd: Hudson’s Restaurant
3rd: Rockne’s Pub
Best Local Pizza
1st: Luigi’s Restaurant
2nd: Gionino’s Pizzeria
3rd: Fiesta Pizza on Newton Street
Best Local Burger
1st: Swenson’s Drive-In Restaurants
2nd: Flipside Hudson
3rd: Louie’s Bar and Grille
Best Local Sushi
1st: Sakura Sushi
2nd: House of Hunan
3rd: Big Eye Sushi
Best Local Steakhouse
1st: The Diamond Grille
2nd: Lanning’s Restaurant
3rd: Ken Stewart’s Grille
Best Local BBQ
1st: Jimmy’s Backyard BBQ
2nd: L.A. Soul
3rd: Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ
Best Local Deli
1st: Diamond Deli
2nd: Primo’s Deli
3rd: DeVitis Italian Market
Best Local Bakery
1st: West Side Bakery
2nd: Sweet Mary’s Bakery
3rd: Crest Bakery
Best Local Ice Cream
1st: Strickland’s
2nd: Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt
3rd: Pav’s Creamery
Best Local Food Truck
1st: Swenson’s
2nd: Orange Truk
3rd: Wholly Frijoles
Best Local Patio Dining
1st: The Merchant Tavern
2nd: Nuevo Modern Mexico
3rd: Beau’s Grille
Best Local Chef
1st: Victor Todaro, The Merchant Tavern
2nd: Dante Boccuzzi, DBA
3rd: Anthony Scolaro, 111 Bistro
Best Local Independent Coffee House
1st: The Nervous Dog
2nd: Angel Falls Coffee Company
3rd: Artisan Coffeehouse
Best Local Winery
1st: Sarah’s Vineyard
2nd: Wolf Creek Winery
3rd: Gervasi Vineyard
Best Local Craft Beer
1st: Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
2nd: Hoppin' Frog Brewery
3rd: R. Shea Brewing
Best Local Bar
1st: Jilly’s Music Room
2nd: Lockview
3rd (tie): Mustard Seed in Highland Square
3rd (tie): Ray’s
Best Local Bartender
1st: Janette Heitic, The Merchant Tavern
2nd: Erick Hirt, Nuevo Modern Mexican
3rd: Tony Thomas, Hyde Park Grille
Best Local Happy Hour
1st: The Merchant Tavern
2nd: Burntwood Tavern
3rd: Fleming's
Best Local Hangover Food
1st: Swenson’s Drive-In Restaurants
2nd: Mr. Zub's Deli
3rd: Wally Waffle
