Southbank winners in Richmond Magazine’s Best & Worst edition

Last Friday Richmond Magazine released their 25th Annual Best and Worst of Richmond. As expected the Southbank cleaned up and placed in the top 3 in over 20 categories. I went through the mag this morning and pulled out all the H&H specific winners I could find. If a winner took 1st place I included the text. Only 1st place finishers had the extra text. Chime in with your congratulations to locals and  local businesses. Also feel free to give a shout out to those that you think were unfairly left off the list.

• Best City Council Member of the Past 25 Years – 2. Kathy Graziano
• RVA’s Best Keep Secret - 1. The James River Parks – The ambitious Riverfront Development Plan went before the planning commission in Jul; and City Council gets final sign-off in September. Richmond voted like crazy through Facebook to become Outside magazine’s Best River Town Ever.
• Best Choice for Mayor in 2012 – 3. Kathy Graziano
• Best Neighborhood Blog - 2. Hills and Heights (Thanks everyone for the votes.)
• Nicest Person in Richmond – 1. Patience Salgado, aka Kindness Girl – Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine recognized local mom, birth photographer and “kindness worker” Patience Salgado last October, but Richmonders knew about her first. Putting the slogan “Commit small acts of kindness” into action through her blog, kindnessgirl.com. Salgado says Oprah’s stamp of approval connected her with a whole new group of people who are receptive to doing nice things. Meanwhile, the Kindness Captured event (like The Amazing Race, only with good deeds as missions) is scheduled Sept. 8.
• Wittiest Local Twitter Feed – 3. – @KarriPeifer
• Best Bridge Over the James - 1. Nickel Bridge – The steel-truss Boulevard Bridge is affectionately referred to as the Nickel Bridge because, for many years the toll was 5 cents (as opposed to today’s 35-cent fee). Back then, Westover Hills residents got a free pass to drive across, “which we still want,” says Debra McClane, former president of the neighborhood association, “Instead I have a SmartTag.”
• Best Neighborhood for Yard Sales - 2. Westover Hills
• Best Picnic Spot on the James River – 1. Belle Isle – What could better than carting a picnic basket over the suspension bridge to Belle Isle and then settling in for a lunch en plein air overlooking the James? Judging from the final vote tally, not much. And if you feel like you need to work off some of the calories you just consumed, bring your bike and go for a ride on Belle Isle’s trails, engage in some rock hopping on the river or practice you climbing. 2. Pony Pasture
• Best Arts and Culture Nonprofit – 1. Art 180 – Philanthropic organization Impact 100 recently awarded Art 180 with a $100,000 grant for a youth art center that will open in Jackson Ward on Oct. 5. The gallery and performing space will be open monthly for First Fridays. “It’s part of our new direction to engage more teenagers,” says Marlene Paul, Co-founder and Executive Director.
• Best Swimming Hole – 1. Pony Pasture – A popular destination for picnicking and river wading in the summer, Pony Pasture is favored for its fishing conditions – it has bass and sunfish year round- bird watching, inner tubing and more. “People do treasure it,” says Judith Warrington, communications coordinator with the James River Association. 2. – The James (in general) 3. Belle Isle
• Best Espresso – 3. Crossroads
• Best Wine Shop – 1. Once Upon a Vine South - This store carries 500 varieties of Virginia Wine – the most in the state, says owner Robert Kocher, also a partner in the Stratford Hills shop. You’ll find wine arranged by price for easier shopping, plus regional beers and hard to find microbrews and imports. Friday night tastings, free movies in the parking lot (at the North Side location) and other events make this a true neighborhood gathering place.
• Best Farmers’ Market Vendor – 1. Mrs. Yoders Kitchen – On Saturdays, Jay and Judy Yoder and their three daughters wake up at 3:3o a.m. to load their trailer and the 70 minute drive from McKenney to the South of the James Market. By noon, the Mennonite family has typically served 1,500 warm, glazed rings of sourdough. Jay says they are overwhelmed by the response. “We’re humbled and we want to thank everybody.” 2. – Victory Farms, 3. –  (Tie) Amy’s Garden; Pizza Tonight
• Best Farmers’ Market – 1. South of the James Market – For its fifth year the SOJ upped the ante by bringing in an on-site chef, Samuel Baker of the Hermitage Grill, to demonstrate how to cook whatever’s in season and on sale each Saturday from the market’s 100-plus vendors. On a Saturday in late June, that included stir-fried eggplant with green tomatoes, mushrooms and mild Thai chili peppers wrapped in steamed kale leaves.
• Best Local Chocolatier – 2. – Chocolates by Kelly
• Best Barista to Face First Thing in the Morning – 1. (Tie) Crossroads & Lamplighter – Whether they’re injecting you with that caffeine I.V. (stat!) or offering a little a.m. banter, the folks at Crossroads and Lamplighter know how to reverse your grim disposition.  Crossroads co-owner Olivia Patrick says, “I get here pretty early every day, so when they com in, I am ready. Me and my girls are ready.”
• Best Coffee Shop in Which to Camp Out – 2. Crossroads  
• Best Burger – 2. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
• Best Restaurant Patio – 2. Legend Brewing Co.
• Best Mexican Restaurant – 1. Mexico – Starting with just one restaurant on Horsepen Road, the Garcia family’s Mexico now has eight locations. José Garcia grew up in the business: “I’ve been working hers since I was probably 12 years old. I started cleaning tables on the weekends and after school.” Giving up weekends was tough when Garcia, 33, was a teenager, but it hasn’t been all bad. “We’re just so happy Richmond likes us and has been so kind to us.” 3. – Cielito Lindo

There are an amazing number of categories so be sure to pick up a copy of the magazine and check it out, better yet get a subscription here and you won’t miss out next year.