Best of Jackson Hole Readers’ Poll 2011

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

By JH Weekly Staff

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-We launched the annual Best Of Jackson Hole issue three years ago with some trepidation. We were told that Jackson Hole wouldn’t support it. That the valley was too small, not enough people would vote. That businesses (i.e. advertisers) were too fickle – if they didn’t win, they’d pull their ads. Some among our ranks also wondered if the superlative term “best” wasn’t reductive, or at least difficult to prove: everyone uses different methods of measure, some of us frankly have better taste than others, and some candidates have no moral dilemma stuffing ballots. But the “Best Of” is a cornerstone of every alt-weekly in the country – that, and boobie ads – and it’s the one time of the year that editorial closes its mouth for half a second to let readers say what they think is cool about the place they live. So we persisted.

Readers have responded. Each year, so far, the number of voters has doubled, and the field of candidates has grown. And what about ballot-stuffers? Well, a certain ad sales person over here pored over the polls everyday, zapping voters with the remnants of purple ink still on their thumbs. He complained daily, but we think he enjoyed himself, clicking away as if on an advanced level of Space Invaders. At any rate, we’re glad it’s “Game Over.”

Something new this year: Glass artist John Frechette custom made the belt buckles that we give to all our Gold winners. You may recognize Frechette from the Gaslight Alley shop, MADE, and the very first ArtSpot v.2.0 exhibition. On Monday, he also won the commission to build the first Poetry Box, a project of the Jackson Hole Public Art Initiative, Teton County Library and Jackson Hole Review, due out in the middle of April.

Well that’s all there is to write, so love it or hate it, here’s Best Of Jackson Hole 2011. Once again, you’re welcome! - eds.

Best real estate agent
Gold: Mack Mendenhall
Gold: Christie & Garth Gillespie
Silver: Zach Smith
Bronze: Greg Prugh Jr. ?

Best athlete
Gold: Travis Rice
Silver: Crystal Wright
Bronze: Resi Stiegler

Best elected official
Gold: Mark Barron
Silver: Ruth Ann Petroff
Bronze: Paul Vogelheim

Best politician that does NOT hold an office
Gold: Captain Bob Morris
Silver: Franz Camenzind
Bronze: Jim Stanford

Best Facebook friend
Gold: Trixie Jackson
Silver: David Swift
Bronze: Gwynn McCool

BEST BOSS
Gold: Joe Rice
Silver: Jeremy Weiss
Silver: Gavin Fine
Bronze: Hernando Pardo
Bronze: Bruce Grosbety

Best activist
Gold: Captain Bob Morris
Silver: David Gonzales
Bronze: Franz Camenzind

Best nonprofit
Gold: PAWS of Jackson Hole
Silver: Habitat for Humanity
Bronze: Friends of Pathways

Best charity event
Gold: Old Bill’s Fun Run
Silver: PAWS Fur Ball
Bronze: Teton County Library Fundraiser

BEST TEACHER
Gold: Lauren Butze
Silver: Bill Wiley
Bronze: April Repinski
Bronze: Libby Crews-Wood
?
Best lawyer
Gold: David DeFazio
Silver: Gerry Spence
Bronze: Tom Getz

Best DENTIST
Gold: Scott Larsen
Silver: Catherine Tebay
Bronze: Cary Smith

BEST NURSE
Gold: Sally Luke
Silver: Mary Ness
Bronze: Judy Bayse
Bronze: Eileen Thomson

Best KNEE DOCTOR
Gold: Dr. Peter Rork
Silver: Dr. Angus Goetz
Bronze: Dr. Bill Neal
Bronze: Dr. Dave Khoury

BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR
Gold: Neesha Zollinger
Silver: Adi Amar and Angela Tong
Bronze: Brittany Belisle

BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Gold: Rena Trail
Silver: Bobbi Reyes
Bronze: Gary Kolenich

Best ENTREPRENUER
Gold: Gavin Fine
Silver: John Frechette
Bronze: Joe Rice

Best ECCENTRIC
Gold: Captain Bob Morris
Silver: Aaron Wallis
Bronze: “Crazy Tom” Haigh ?

Best RADIO PERSONALITY
Gold: Fish
Silver: “Crazy Tom” Haigh
Bronze: Holly Danner

Best RESTAURANT
Gold: Snake River Grill
Silver: Rendezvous Bistro
Bronze: Il Villaggio Osteria

Best CHEF
Gold: Kevin Humphreys at Cascade
Gold: Jeff Drew at Snake River Grill
Silver: Roger Freedman at Fine Dining
Bronze: Paul O’ Connor at Il Villaggio Osteria ?

Best SERVER
Gold: Park Dunn-Morrison at Q Roadhouse
Silver: Chrissy Stretton at Rendezvous Bistro
Bronze: Cindy Huhn at the Virginian
Bronze: Rona Ferguson at Il Villaggio Osteria

Best WAIT STAFF
Gold: Snake River Grill
Silver: Rendezvous Bistro
Bronze: Q Roadhouse

Best BARTENDER
Gold: Rasta Kris Scholer at Koshu
Silver: Jeff Handi at Cadillac Grille
Bronze: Dave Johnson at Q Roadhouse and Il Villaggio Osteria
Bronze: Kattie LeMieux at Rustic Inn ?

Best CHINESE RESTAURANT
Gold: Chinatown
Silver: Ocean City
Bronze: Hong Kong Buffet

Best MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Gold: Pica’s Mexican Taqueria
Silver: Merry Piglets
Bronze: El Abuelito

Best THAI RESTAURANT
Gold: Teton Thai
Silver: Thai Me Up
Bronze: Bon Appe Thai

Best ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Gold: Il Villaggio Osteria
Silver: Nani’s Cucina Italiana
Bronze: Calico

Best under-the-radar restaurant
Gold: Lotus Cafe
Silver: White Buffalo Club
Bronze: Ignight

Best TETON VALLEY RESTAURANT
Gold: Teton Thai
Silver: Scratch
Bronze: Knotty Pine

Best RESTAURANT/BAR WITH A VIEW
Gold: Dornan’s
Silver: The Granary
Bronze: Couloir

Best SPORTS BAR
Gold: Sidewinders Tavern
Silver: Snake River Brew Pub
Bronze: Cutty’s

Best TAKEOUT
Gold: Teton Thai
Silver: Chinatown
Bronze: Pica’s Mexican Taqueria

Best BREAKFAST JOINT
Gold: Nora’s Fish Creek Inn
Silver: The Virginian
Bronze: Bubba’s

Best COFFEE SHOP
Gold: Pearl Street Bagels
Silver: Elevated Grounds
Bronze: Jackson Hole Roasters

Best SANDWICH JOINT
Gold: Backcountry Provisions
Silver: Pearl Street Meat & Fish
Bronze: New York City Sub Shop

Best SOUPS
Gold: Pearl Street Meat & Fish
Silver: Jackson Whole Grocer
Bronze: Betty Rock Cafe

Best vegegarian offerings
Gold: Lotus Cafe
Silver: Jackson Whole Grocer
Bronze: Teton Thai ?

Best BREAKFAST BURRITO
Gold: Down on Glen
Silver: Nora’s Fish Creek Inn
Bronze: Terra Cafe

Best BURGER
Gold: Billy’s Burgers
Silver: Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse
Bronze: The Bird

best FRENCH FRIES
Gold: Trio
Silver: Billy’s Burgers
Bronze: McDonald’s

Best SALSA
Gold: Merry Piglets
Silver: Pica’s Mexican Taqueria
Bronze: El Abuelito ?

Best SUSHI
Gold: Nikai
Silver: Sudachi
Bronze: Masa Sushi

Best PIZZA
Gold: Mountain High Pizza Pie
Silver: Il Villaggio Osteria
Bronze: Village Cafe

Best PLACE TO GET A MARGARITA
Gold: Pica’s Mexican Taqueria
Silver: El Abuelito
Bronze: Merry Piglets ?

Best LOCALLY ROASTED BEANS
Gold: Jackson Hole Roasters
Silver: Snake River Roasting
Bronze: Great Northern

Best pint of local brew
Gold: Snake River OB-1 Organic Ale
Silver: Snake River Lager
Bronze: Thai Me Up - Melvin IPA

Best FULL SERVICE SPA
Gold: Snake River Lodge & Spa / Avanyu
Silver: Four Seasons Resort
Bronze: Body Sage Spa at Rusty Parrot

Best HAIR STYLIST
Gold: Rob Hollis at Frost Salon
Silver: Jairus Robinson at Frost Salon
Bronze: Dave Johnson at Teton Barber Shop

BEST WAX
Gold: Mimi Hair & Body Care
Silver: Body and Soul
Bronze: Tootsy’s Footsy Lounge
Bronze: Shear Dimensions

BEST BOUTIQUE FOR DROPPING OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF CASH
Gold: Rodeo
Silver: Terra
Bronze: Altitude

BEST FITNESS CENTER
Gold: Bell Fitness
Silver: Enclosure
Bronze: Teton Sports Club

BEST OUTDOOR GEAR STORE
Gold: Teton Mountaineering
Silver: Hoback Sports
Bronze: Headwall Recycle Sports

BEST SKATE, SNOWBOARD AND SKI SHOP
Gold: Hoback Sports
Silver: Jackson Treehouse
Bronze: Boardroom

BEST BIKE SHOP
Gold: Fitzgerald’s Bicycles
Silver: Hoback Sports
Bronze: Wilson Backcountry Sports ?

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC
Gold: Spring Creek Animal Hospital
Silver: Animal Care Clinic
Bronze: Fish Creek Veterinary Clinic

BEST PET SUPPLIES
Gold: Pet Place Plus
Silver: Teton Tails
Bronze: Rally’s Pet Garage

BEST HARDWARE STORE
Gold: Ace Hardware
Silver: Sunrise Lumber
Bronze: Wilson Hardware

BEST FLORIST
Gold: Lily & Co
Silver: Char-Ral Floral
Bronze: Inner Forest

BEST BANK
Gold: Bank of Jackson Hole
Silver: First Interstate Bank
Bronze: Wells Fargo

BEST ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS
Gold: Jackson Whole Grocer
Silver: Hotel Terra
Bronze: Blue Spruce Cleaners

BEST PLACE TO BUY DRUGS
Gold: Smith’s
Silver: Albertsons
Bronze: Stone Drug

BEST REASON TO DRIVE TO VICTOR/DRIGGS
Gold: Huckleberry Shakes atVictor Emporium
Silver: Knotty Pine music
Bronze: Music on Main

BEST PRODUCE
Gold: Jackson Whole Grocer
Silver: Hotel Terra
Bronze: Blue Spruce Cleaners

BEST band
Gold: Mandatory Air
Silver: The Miller Sisters
Bronze: One Ton Pig

BEST MUSICIAN
Gold: Isaac Hayden
Silver: Judd Grossman
Bronze: Peter Chandler

BEST club dj
Gold: Rocky Vertone
Silver: Cut La Whut
Bronze: Mr. Whipple

BEST live music venue
Gold: Mangy Moose
Silver: Pink Garter Theater
Bronze: Knotty Pine

BEST western art gallery
Gold: Trailside Galleries
Silver: Legacy Gallery
Bronze: West Lives On Gallery

BEST contemporary art gallery
Gold: Diehl Gallery
Silver: Heather James Gallery
Bronze: Tayloe Piggott Gallery

BEST EMERGING ARTIST
Gold: Kelly Halpin
Silver: Abbie Miller
Silver: John Frechette
Bronze: Mike Tierney

BEST ESTABLISHED ARTIST
Gold: Amy Ringholz
Silver: Kathryn Turner
Silver: September Vhay
Silver: Tom Mangelsen
Bronze: Ben Roth

BEST ACTOR/ACTRESS
Gold: Andrew Munz
Silver: Jeff Bratz
Bronze: Brian Lenz

BEST GOLF HOLE
Gold: JH Golf & Tennis No. 13
Silver: JH Golf & Tennis No. 11
Bronze: Teton Pines No. 18

FAVORITE LIFTEE
Gold: Lynette “Silver Fox” Walden
Silver: Keil Corey
Bronze: “Dyno” Mike Dynia

BEST GAY HANGOUT
Gold: Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Silver: Ignight
Bronze: Town Square Tavern

BEST question we left out
Gold: Best ski run
Silver: Best hike
Bronze: Best martini

PERMALINK:
Best of Jackson Hole Readers’ Poll 2011 | Planet JH News Article: Cover Stories

Reader Comments
rigged jj
What the hell is a vegegarian? I thought everything had a spell checker these days. How about best homeless person? The african american lady with the shopping cart. Just sayin'
No Doubt. Judd Grossman? and AARON WALLIS??!! Place in a Planet Best Of survey? Hyuh. Seriously, though, some are deserving, but this is definitely an "I'm In With The In-Crowd" thing. Sorry, Mary. Hope everyone had fun at the party, though. Anonyholic II
Best Gay Article Every Year Gold: Best of Jackson Hole - Planet JH JG
Since when does Hotel Terra and Blue Spruce Cleaners sell produce, your poll and paper are a joke. Aaron
The only kernel of truth in an otherwise ballot-stuffed edition of the 'Best of Jackson Hole' is David DeFazio’s immensely fitting ad on p. 19. LOL Judge&Jury
Aaron, It's best ECO-Friendly business ... since when does that mean you have sell produce? Livinggreen
Hey, JH Weekly, good issue. It's fun and entertaining. And to all those people who complain that the ballots were stuffed or that there was bias because some of the winners are associated with the paper, chillax. The whole point is to get your friends/customers/neighbors to vote for you. Why is it so strange that the people who regularly read the paper also want to participate in the Best Of contest? I know more than one of the winners who launched a social media campaign and asked for votes. Kudos to that because their friends came through. Jackson Hole isn't even a small town; it's a neighborhood. Thanks for a job well done you guys! This is the best Best Of issue yet :-) Danny Haworth
Anonyholic, it's a small town, and yes our readers are the ones most likely to vote for the people they see or like in our paper. But there is no ballot stuffing by the staff whatsoever. Period. Our software doesn't allow multiple votes from one computer, and we comb through all the votes to check for IP addresses and voting behavior. If we see ballot stuffing (people who have voted with variations of their email address along with identical IP addresses) then we look at it case-by-case. If we see ballot stuffing from one source, we'll take one of those ballots and discard the others. Ask any of the staff about our resident "voter fraud" hawk, Shannon McCormick who's job it is to drive us crazy telling us about all the voters he busted stuffing ballots, pretty funny. I know that I account for one Judd Grossman vote because I really do think he's a great musician. My kid and maybe my Mom may have accounted for two more of his votes, so that's three votes. My dad couldn't figure out how to log on to vote, so he's out - but maybe people actually voted for him. Maybe we should have disqualified him, I don't know. Our software is a proprietary software from a group in SLC who manages Best of Polls for many alternative weeklies and they take this very seriously. So sorry if it comes off like we're just voting for our staff, but we're not. I think our readers really do think Aaron Wallis is eccentric - don't you? Mary Grossman
Say, what's up with the anonymous posting anyways? Didn't the Planet JH bloggers have that discussion like 6 years ago? It reeks of cowardice if you can't stand behind your words. Just sayin' Danny Haworth
Cowardice? If a person has a paper that hires them and essentially stands behind them, then they are considered an authority, by default. Weird. But the truth is, opinions are like chins, everybody has one, but some people have two. Just Sayin'
DANNY H: Get with the program Danny, the internet is ALL about anomymous posting unless you love Facebook. From protesters who fear the govt to those who have no desire to destroy their career options in a small town by speaking frankly, there are many good reason to be unknown. eyeson jackson
I never thought I'd have anything good to say about Aaron.W. but his ditty on skiing in Game Creek had me laughing. Besides that, he was accurate. eyeson jackson
You track IP addresses to figure out who is double voting? That screws everybody at the Library, the Brew Pub, PSB, my favorite Mexican restaurant, etc. eyeson jackson
Rigged? Let's see. Is Aaron Wallis liked by anyone other than the staff at JH Weekly? Hmmmm. Danny Haworth 2.0 (that's why, Danny)
@ Danny Haworth 2.0 You forgot my mother and Jesus. AW
Sweet. I get it. Anonymity is useful for when you fear the destruction of your reputation, career, etc. or when you need to protest without being apprehended by authority. What bothers me is when people use it to make cheap shots. When I want to insult someone I'd rather sign my name so that they at least can fire a shot back. Danny Haworth
I hereby challenge anyone who claims that the best of is rigged to a fistfight. There are probably valid reasons to dislike the contest, but claiming it is rigged is not just false, but also the equivalent of calling us liars. I won't stand for that, especially from cowards who use fake names to make those accusations. MJI, editor
And the difference between a named columnist and an anonymous commenter isn't the organizational support, but the accountability to base opinions on real things, rather than every dark motive, paranoid conspiracy theory floating on the interweb. That, and the right of the accused to face his accuser. MJI
I still think Gordito's SMOKES those other "Mexican" joints. It's family owned AND run, a majority of the Latino population dines there, and they hardly know any english. Great place!!! Bus-driver Steve
Being that I left town 20 years ago because the Gay scene seemed non existent and underground, it's nice to see things have changed and you guys have really "come out"....... DGS
@Bus-driver Steve, Thanks for the tip! ICE
Ballot stuffing is fairly simple. How many wireless hotspots do we have in Jackson; how many people vote by smart phone which can share an IP address or go through many in a single day—as can a personal computer with a non-dedicated IP address; how many people can use a proxy to mask an IP address; how many can create a fake email address; how many people can vote from work and home? I don't know. Neither does the JHW. If people voted at the Brew Pub over their single IP address how would the JHW know if it was one person or many? Even if you could capture the MAC address you still wouldn't know if two different people used the same computer at the library, home, etc. This isn't a scientific survey and the number of participants can't be accurately determined. The JHW doesn't even tell us how many votes were submitted for each category. How many people have actually used David Defazio's law firm, had knee surgery from Dr. Rork AND voted in this survey? Not too many. Does 3 votes make you a winner? eyeson jackson
The “Best Of” survey is an advertising vehicle for both the JHW and the winners. It's more fun than fact but it is used by many winners to attract customers. Why MJI gets all hot and bothered over postings here is beyond me but I'll venture a guess: money. As for the Editor's picks, they can choose whomever they want for whatever reason just as everyone else does. But I too like BDS' Mexican pick. eyeson jackson
I want to personally thank MJI for not posting anonymously. At the very least, he deserves to be elevate to a lofty status of the single man up against the tanks in Tiananmen Square for not fearing the blow-back from his controversial positions. He's standing up for all that's right against a mighty majority that disagrees with him. He puts more value in the color of a name than in the content of a posting. God bless America. eyeson jackson
MJI: Take a hint from your website: Sunny & 34 degrees at 8:30pm, even if it's dark it still says SUNNY up in the corner... I'll met ya outside the TST at 2am for a Fistfight. After I whoop your ass, you can buy me a beer. eyeson jackson
I get all hot and bothered b/c I hate self-important assholes who shoot from a distance (i.e. make shit up) - The Best Of creates more work for me without bringing a single additional penny to my paycheck. Content is valueless without someone willing to stand by it. And you can have the chance at whoopin my ass, but you'll have to declare on the record that JH Weekly has rigged the contest, so I can sue your ass for libel. Then you can buy me a beer. MJI
Ok, a couple of things: 1. I can tell you that yes it is probably possible to ballot stuff, "eyeson jackson." It's not foolproof, but for the effort someone spent gaming the system, there is not a huge payoff. Even a savvy person would have to be a calculated sonofabitch. Especially with hawkeyes Shannon McCormick watching out. Besides that, nobody ever claimed this was a scientific poll. Go away. 2. Matthew, this issue absolutely is a profit maker for the paper, and in turn, insures your salary. Look at all the new categories. The industry wisdom says that papers win big by courting new advertisers who are basking in the glow of their recent win. and 3. let me buy you a beer sometime. bygones buddy Danny Haworth
Yes, Danny this issue is a profit-maker for the paper - which my bosses deserve, considering they often take a hit putting this paper out - and I suppose that it does help ensure my salary over the long-term, but that's not how I read "eyeson's" comments. I think he was suggesting I get a bonus or something. Maybe I misinterpreted. At any rate, he's wrong in his accusations about my motives re: anonymous commentary. If it were up to me, everyone would have to register. Thanks for all your thoughtful, credited contributions. If the beer is gluten-free, I'm in. MJI
Well there's four danny Haworths in the US alone and this is the world wide web so which one are you? Post pics please or hide behind your anonymity, you choose. MJI is complaining about anonymous commenters.....really?....I mean really? Use your name as your handle, or are you afraid of revealing your true identity to everyone. Since this website is typically dead and boring, the last thing I would expect is the editors complaining about the folks who freely offer their opinions. jj
"jj," you're an idiot. MJI is a signature, not a handle. I identified myself as the editor in the first entry, from there it's not hard to figure out that I'm Matthew Irwin. My byline is at the top of every editorial, and not only is my name in the editor's box of every print issue, but it's also listed - with my contact info - on the contact page. MJI
Is 'idiot' the best you could come up with? You might want to consider going more anonymous, especially with your employer reading this board. I would have a hard time seeing such childishness from my employees. jj
What about Best Hitchhiker? Without hitchhikers we will be a people no more. Hitchhiking builds character. Tim Shey (a hitchhiker)
How about this: "Hey 'jj' are you actually stupid or are you pretending to be for the sake of your argument?" MJI
It's clearly the makeup of a small town when we have nothing to bitch about but each other. Munz
It's sad that you have to ask.... jj

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Best of Jackson Hole Readers’ Poll 2011

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Reader Comments