When we kicked off Best of the MOV, we had no idea the momentum it would gain. Sure, we thought it would gain some traction and get folks excited to celebrate life in the Mid-Ohio Valley, but never in our wildest dreams would we have imagined the social media storm that came our way.

When we first launched nomination collections, we started with 50 categories only. After seeing the passion our community had for uplifting local places, people, and businesses alike, we added over 40 more to be as responsive and inclusive as we could. By the time nominations had closed, we captured over 20,600 recommendations from across the MOV.

After sifting through every single nomination to ensure eligibility, we established six ballots: Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Fun & Lifestyle, Health & Wellness, Home & Garden, and Retail & Service. For just two weeks, we accepted ballots across those six categories via our website and, at the end of the polling period, over 17,000 ballots were received.

That was two weeks ago. So what comes next?

Looking forward, all winners and runners up will be included in our digital and printed Best of the MOV Guide coming out later this year. With this Guide, we will advocate for and promote our region to tourists and locals alike as a true celebration of the Mid-Ohio Valley. This Guide will live for two years, at which point Best of the MOV will kick off again. Stay tuned for more details on the Best of the MOV Guide, how to support this effort, and where to find the Guide once it’s published!

Now, the time has come to share the tremendous love this region has for its communities. Drum roll, please!

We are proud to present to you the 2019 Best of the MOV Winners.

Arts & Culture

Best Local Author: Abby Werry
Runners Up: R.G. Yoho; Don Stansberry

Best Local DJ: Premiere Productions Entertainment, Mike Bishman
Runners Up: Chris Foss, DJ Associates Entertainment; Rob Goff, Class Entertainment

Best Local Filmmaker: Joe Huck, JH Media
Runners Up: Brooklyn Ewing, Dirt Candy Productions; Rich Rule, Dizzyboy Productions

Best Local Actor: Morgan Leigh Stubbe
Runners Up: Ben Bradley; Tasha Spencer

Best Videographer: Joe Huck, JH Media
Runners Up: Steve Spencer, Spencer Imageworks; To a T Videography

Best Local Attraction: Downtown Marietta
Runners Up: Peoples Bank Theatre; Sweetapple Farm

Best Museum: Campus Martius & Ohio River Museum
Runners Up: The Castle Historic House Museum; Henderson Hall

Best Historical Site: Blennerhassett Island State Park
Runners Up: Historic Lafayette Hotel; Campus Martius & Ohio River Museum

Best Local Theatre: Peoples Bank Theatre
Runners Up: Actors Guild of Parkersburg; The Historic Smoot Theatre

Best Local Dance Studio: Marietta Dance Academy
Runners Up: Stacey’s Dance Studio; Gel’s Dance Centre

Best Public Mural: Marietta Brewing Co. Murals
Runners Up: Dinosaurs at Marietta College; Harmar Village Train Mural

Best Local Artist: Meg Doreen Rataiczak
Runners Up: Geoff Schenkel; M.J. Ayson-Lemon

Best Art Gallery: Parkersburg Art Center
Runners Up: Riverside Artists Gallery; Gallery 310 at Marietta College

Best Venue for Live Music: The Adelphia Music Hall
Runners Up: Peoples Bank Theatre; Point Park

Best Radio Station: 102.1 The River, WRVB
Runners Up: 91.9 K-LOVE, WLKP; 103.1 The Bear, WHBR

Best Local Musician: Jake Binegar
Runners Up: Justin Arthur; Levi Westfall

Best Local Band: The Bash
Runners Up: Sour Mash String Band; Jake Binegar Band

Best Local Podcast: Mile Marker 181
Runners Up: Raspy Voice Kids Podcast; Beer Talk Inc.

Food & Drink

Best Creative Cocktail: The Galley
Runners Up: Austyn’s Restaurant & Lounge; Spats at The Blennerhasset Hotel

Best On Tap Selection: Marietta Brewing Co.
Runners Up: The North End Tavern; Harmar Tavern

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Selection: Emanuel’s Restaurant & Bakery
Runners Up: Mother Earth Foods; Chams Lebanese Cuisine

Best Overall Restaurant: Belair’s Bistro
Runners Up: Da Vinci’s; Austyn’s Restaurant & Lounge

Best Pizza: The Original Pizza Place
Runners Up: Jukebox Pizza; The Pizza Place

Best Chinese: China Wind (Marietta)
Runners Up: China Fun; Dragon House

Best Burger: Belair’s Bistro
Runners Up: The North End Tavern; Marietta Brewing Co.

Best Ice Cream: Whit’s Frozen Custard
Runners Up: Neader’s Cone N Shake; The Jug

Best Food Truck: The Sweet Stop
Runners Up: Q-Wagon BBQ; The Busy Bee

Best Breakfast Spot: The Busy Bee
Runners Up: Mary B’s Diner; Jeremiah’s Coffee House

Best Wine Selection: House of Wines
Runners Up: Marietta Wine Cellars; North End Market

Best Coffee Shop: Stoked
Runners Up: Jeremiah’s Coffee House; The Coffee Bar

Best Fine Dining: The Buckley House
Runners Up: Da Vinci’s; Austyn’s Restaurant & Lounge

Best Outdoor Dining: Boathouse BBQ
Runners Up: The Galley; Harmar Tavern

Best Lunch Spot: Belair’s Bistro
Runners Up: Der Dog Haus; Joe Momma’s Kitchen

Best BBQ: Boathouse BBQ
 Runners Up: Q-Wagon BBQ; Smokin’ Pigs Ash

Best Mexican: Las Trancas
Runners Up: Tampico (Marietta); Los Agaves

Best Italian: Da Vinci’s
Runners Up: Spagna’s; CJ’s Italian Kitchen

Best Restaurant to Order Dessert: Belair’s Bistro
Runners Up: Da Vinci’s; Mary B’s Diner

Best Authentic/Ethnic Food: Chams Lebanese Cuisine
Runners Up: Fusion Japanese Steakhouse; Emanuel’s Restaurant & Bakery

Best Restaurant to Take Your Kiddos: Neader’s Cone N Shake
Runners Up: The Yellow Jacket; Los Agaves

Best Place for Farm Fresh Goods: Witten Farm Market
Runners Up: Huck’s Farm Market; Hensler’s Town and Country Store

Best Bakery/Cake Shop: The Sweet Stop
Runners Up: Village Cakery; The Little Stirr

Fun & Lifestyle

Best Trivia Night: Marietta Brewing Co.
Runners Up: The Coffee Bar; Over the Moon – Pasky’s Pub Trivia

Best Local Festival: Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
Runners Up: MOV Multicultural Festival; Rivers, Trails & Ales Festival

Best Place to Take A Selfie: Ohio River Levee
Runners Up: Point Park; Historic Harmar Bridge

Best Hiking Trail: McDonough Park
Runners Up: Marietta River Trail; Broughton Nature & Wildlife Refuge

Best Place to Watch a Sunset: Fort Boreman
Runners Up: Ohio River Levee; Lookout Point on Harmar Hill

Best Place to Take Your Kiddos: Marietta Aquatic Center
Runners Up: Stacy Family Farm; Gymniks Gymnastics

Best Event Venue: Peoples Bank Theatre
Runners Up: The Adelphia Music Hall; The Blennerhassett Hotel

Best Public Park: Muskingum Park
Runners Up: Belpre Civitan Park; Parkersburg City Park

Best Playground: Jackson Park
Runners Up: Tomlinson Park; Devola Recreation – EMCA

Best Place to Watch the Game: The North End Tavern
Runners Up: J.P. Henry’s; Boathouse BBQ

Best Indoor Activity: Show at Peoples Bank Theatre
Runners Up: Emerson Lanes; The Pottery Place

Best Outdoor Activity: Sweetapple Farm
Runners Up: Strawberry Picking at Stacy Family Farm; Marietta Bike Path

Best Wedding Venue: The Blennerhassett Hotel
Runners Up: Sweetapple Farm; Marietta Shrine Club

Best Bowling Alley: Emerson Lanes
Runners Up: North Hills Lanes; Pastime Lanes

Best Local Website: Marietta Main Street
Runners Up: The Kitchen Wife; MOV2GO

Health & Wellness

Best Yoga Studio: Full Circle Yoga
Runners Up: Studio 6 Yoga on Market; Simply Breathe

Favorite Yoga Instructor: Cat Bigley
Runners Up: Stephanie Biehl; Cheryl McHugh

Best Place to Work on Your Fitness: MOVement Fitness and Rec Center
Runners Up: Temple Challenge; Bent Barbell Club

Best Massage Therapist: Natural Remedies Spa
Runners Up: Chelsea Boone, Dawn Injury & Wellness Center; Velvet Trachina, Zenergy Massage

Best Pharmacy: B&W Pharmacy & Gift Shop
Runners Up: Cox Family Pharmacy; Bond’s Drug Store (Lubeck)

Best Chiropractor: Dr. Callie Howison Rader, Dawn Injury & Wellness Center
Runners Up: Dr. Steven Eddy, Eddy Chiropractic; Dr. Jen Dennis, Back2Back Chiropractic

Best Dentist: Dr. John Frye, Marietta Dental Works
Runners Up: Dr. Bret Frye, Frye Dental Group; Dr. Douglas Florence, Florence Dental Group

Best General Practitioner: Dr. Michael Brockett
Runners Up: Dr. Katrina Barnes; Dr. Kimberly Hunkele

Best Pediatrician: Dr. Prakesh Patel
Runners Up: Dr. Brett Wolfe; Dr. Karl Ohly

Best Personal Trainer: Stacy Houser, Temple Challenge
Runners Up: Cat Bigley; Amanda Mercer, Thrive Fitness

Home & Garden

Best Interior Designer: Pam Holschuh, Copper Leaf Interiors
Runners Up: Laura Quillen, Rhododendron Furniture & Design; Doug Hines, Circa Furnishing & Design

Best Lawn Care: Greenleaf Landscapes
Runners Up: Scots Marketplace; Lisk Lawn Care

Best Home Builder: Tebay Construction
Runners Up: Conrad Construction; Virgil Huck Builders

Best HVAC Company: Morrison, Inc.
Runners Up: Grogg’s Home Services; Wood Heating and AC

Best Construction Company: Tebay Construction
Runners Up: J A Schwendeman & Sons Inc.; Conrad Construction

Best Landscaping Company: Greenleaf Landscapes
Runners Up: Scots Landscape; Thomsons Landscaping

Best Local Realtor: Lori Taylor, Elite Real Estate Group
Runners Up: Christina Parrish, Elite Real Estate Group; Desni Crock, Advantage Real Estate

Retail & Service

Best Place to Take Your Vehicle for a Check Up: Berdine’s Auto Service
Runners Up: Sterling Service Store; Auto Aid LLC

Best Tattoo Studio: Lure Tattoo & Piercing
Runners Up: Monkey’s Uncle Tattoo; Electric Anchor

Best Place to Find a Gift: Gift Gallery of Vienna
Runners Up: Wit & Whimzy; Mulberry Lane Country Store

Best Local Photographer: Amanda Buckley Imaging
Runners Up: Ashly Collins Photography; Tara Clegg Photography

Best New Business in 2018: MOVement Fitness and Rec Center
Runners Up: Sugar Maple Boutique; Oasis Salt Cave & Renew Wellness

Best Florist: Crown Florals
Runners Up: Two Peas in a Pod; Dudley’s Florist

Best Makeup Artist: Heather Ashley
Runners Up: Amy McCoy; Lauren Elaine

Best Hair Salon: L-Salon & Spa on West
Runners Up: Bella Via Salon; Aspire Salon

Best Barber Shop: Ray’s Barber Shop
Runners Up: Mr. Golden Scissors; Broadway Barber Shop

Best Veterinary/Pet Care: Green Meadow Veterinary Hospital
Runners Up: Parkersburg Veterinary Hospital; Belpre Animal Clinic

Best Local Clothing Shop: Peyton & Peppy Boutique
Runners Up: Sugar Maple Boutique; Schafer Leather Store

Best Car Dealership: Astorg Auto
Runners Up: C&C Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM Toyota; Matheny Motors

Best Graphic Designer: Just A Jar Design Press
Runners Up: Alec Ortiz; Matt Parsons

Best Nail Salon: Pretty Nails (Vienna)
Runners Up: Yahss Nails; Sway Studio & Spa

Best Jewelry Store: Baker & Baker Jewelers
Runners Up: Buttermore Jewelers; Mel’s Diamond House

Best Financial Institution: Peoples Bank
Runners Up: West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union; Chase Bank

Best Law Firm: Jan Dils Attorney at Law
Runners Up: Dunbar & Fowler; Cosenza Law Office

Best Hotel: The Blennerhassett Hotel
Runners Up: Historic Lafayette Hotel; The Hackett Hotel

Best Grocery Store: Kroger (Belpre)
Runners Up: ALDI (Marietta); ALDI (Vienna)

Best Furniture Store: Big Sandy Superstore
Runners Up: Belpre Furniture; Habitat for Humanity of the MOV ReStore

Best Daycare/Child Care: The Betsey Mills Club
Runners Up: Joyful Sound Daycare; A Little People Place

Best Local Architect: Traci Stotts, Pickering Associates
Runners Up: David Haught, DLD Design; Brad Payne

Best Print/Sign Shop: Just A Jar Design Press
Runners Up: Sir Speedy Printing; Elite Signs

Best Antique Store: Antique Mall of Marietta
Runners Up: Dad’s Primitive Workbench; Rinky Dink Flea Market

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up!
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