After two months of online balloting and tens of thousands of votes cast, we present to you your favorites in dozens of categories in our fifth annual Best of Atlanta awards.
Many people like to say these awards are nothing but a popularity contest. We don’t deny that at all, because in the end, the winners are decided by one thing only: your votes.
Our first round of voting took place in May and we gave readers a chance to nominate their favorites in categories of Community, People, Places, Shopping, Eats, Arts & Entertainment, Nightlife, Pets and Services. In most cases, the top three vote-getters (or more if there was a tie) were named finalists and moved on to the second stage of multiple-choice voting, which lasted through the end of June.
Many organizations, people and businesses let their fates be determined unprompted. Others mounted organized campaigns, usually through Facebook and Twitter, to convince fans and to garner votes from fans and friends and others. Both approaches are valuable and any group or business that has a devoted fan base willing to vote every day is worth checking out.
Be sure to congratulate the winners. And if your favorite didn’t make it to the finals, plan on doing something about that next year by nominating and voting early and often.
The best part of this issue is the party we throw for it, a party for the winners, finalists and for everyone who makes this community a great place to live, work and play.
We hope to see you there on July 17 at the Georgian Terrace. We couldn’t throw the party without the kindness and generosity of the gorgeous Midtown hotel as well as Green’s Liquor and Barefoot Wine, Henry’s Midtown, Campagnolo Restaurant & Bar, Green Ginger, Southern Sweets, our emcee Ian Aber of A Bear Comedy Show and DJ Vicki Powell.
Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to all of our communities who share their stories with us and therefore empower all of us.
SHOPPING
LIQUOR STORE
GREENS
First place this year goes to Greens (www.greensbeverages.com). The multistate chain has a wide selection of beer, wine and other spirits at its two Atlanta locations.
- Mac’s Midtown (www.macsbeerandwine.com) placed second and Tower (towerwinespirits.com) was third.
JEWELRY STORE
WORTHMORE
Since Harris Botnick, Geri Botnick, and Joan Wasser founded it in 1994, Worthmore (worthmorejewelers.com) has served the jewelry needs of the Atlanta area. It has won acclaim both in Atlanta and across the nation. This year it won first place in this category.
- Jonathan Buckhead (www.jonathanbuckhead.com) took second place and Twelve (www.twelveatlanta.net) finished third.
HOME DÉCOR
BY DESIGN
By Design (www.bydesignfurniture.com) gained first place for its elegant European and International style. Its three Atlanta-area stores have brought comfort and style to Atlanta for over two decades.
- Eclectia (www.eclectia.net) came in second and Horizon Home (www.horizonhomefurniture.net) took third place.
GIFT STORE
BRUSHSTROKES
A visit to Brushstrokes (www.brushstrokesatlanta.com) always yields unique gift items for individuals in the LGBT community, and the store has been rewarded with first place this year.
- Second place went to Heliotrope (heliotropehome.com) with Stanton Design (www.stantonhomefurnishings.com) finishing third.
FLORIST
FLORAL MATTERS
Floral Matters (www.yourfloralmatters.com) proved to be the first choice this year. Jeanna and Martin provide arrangements for weddings and other events and work through all the details, from largest to smallest.
- Twelve (www.twelveatlanta.net) and Foxgloves & Ivy (www.foxgloves.biz) took second and third place, respectively, with only a petal-thin margin between them.
CLOTHING STORE
JUNKMAN’S DAUGHTER
Evergreen favorite Junkman’s Daughter (www.thejunkmansdaughter.com) brought home first place this year. Its trendsetting fashions and footwear have clothed hipper Atlantans for over thirty years. It’s a Little Five Points institution. Pam Majors opened the store and she really is a junkman’s daughter.
- Lost N Found Thrift (www.facebook.com/LnFThrift) found second place and Boy Next Door (www.boynextdoormenswear.com) suited up for third.
TATTOO SHOP
LIBERTY TATTOO
Liberty Tattoo (www.libertytat2.com) inked a first place win this year. The tattoo and piercing shop is named after the
daughter of the owners, Shay and Kaki Cannon. There are two locations: the original on Ponce de Leon Avenue and the second in Grant Park.
- Planet Ink (planetinktattoos.com) landed in second place and third place went to Southern Star (www.southernstartattoo.com).
ANTIQUE STORE
PARIS ON PONCE
Paris On Ponce (www.parisonponce.com), right on the Beltline, is one of the coolest stores in town. Its Lé Maison Rouge
event space is in high demand for weddings and parties. Its endless rooms are filled with everything one could imagine, “from vintage Americana to French candelabra” according to its website.
- Second place went to Antiques & Beyond (www.antiquesandbeyond.com) and Eclectia (www.eclectia.net) was a very close third.
ADULT BOOKSTORE
INSERECTION—CHESHIRE BRIDGE
The Cheshire Bridge Road location of Inserection (www.inserection.com) won this category for 2014. It has books and DVDs to satisfy everyone’s interest, whichever direction they tend.
- Capulets (www.brushstrokesatlanta.com/OurStores.htm) reached second place and Southern Nights Video (snvonline.com) took third.
AUTO DEALERSHIP
NALLEY BMW
Nalley BMW (www.nalleybmw.com) took top marks. The Decatur dealership has an avid customer base, earned for its expert service department as well as its fair and friendly sales force.
- Stivers (www.stiversatlantasubaru.com) cruised into second place and Sandy Springs Ford (sandyspringsford.com) into third in a photo finish, separated by the thinnest of margins.
BOOKSTORE
BARNES & NOBLE EDGEWOOD
There are many bookstores in town, and Barnes & Noble Edgewood (store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2204) is the favorite of our readers. It’s large, well-stocked and conveniently located, and it has many cozy nooks for reading (and also many Nooks for reading).
- Coming in second was Brushstrokes (www.brushstrokesatlanta.com) and Charis (www.charisbooksandmore.com) earned third place.