Best of the Hill 2019

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BEST OF THE HILL

Cherry Creative


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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Thank you for sharing your local favorites. From a young age, everyone probably asked you about your favorites. They’d ask your favorite color, sport or ice cream flavor. While you may have grown up, we still care about your favorites. Except now we want to know things like the best bar and the best place to cry on campus. Your favorites are worth sharing because they could become a new favorite for someone else, too. The WKU community has voted, and your favorites are in! Community favorites often become icons of a city, like Spencer’s Coffee or Jackson’s Orchard. I hope you enjoy exploring the Best of the Hill. I’d encourage you, if you spot a restaurant you haven’t tried or a bathroom you’ve never been in, make an effort to try it out. Because you never know, you may just find a new favorite. Best, Nicole Childress Creative Director


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BEST OF THE HILL

Nicole Childress Creative Director

Ryan Goodlett

2019 Winners

Writing Director

BEST LOCAL BAR

Grace Pritchett

Multimedia Director

BEST LATE NIGHT MUNCHIES SPOT

1st

Hilligan’s

1st

Cookout

Art Director

2nd

Hideout

2nd

GADS

Sam Oldenburg

3rd

Dublin’s Irish Pub

3rd

Taco Bell

Craig Ostertag

Adviser

Andrew Lee

Advertising Manager

Will Hoagland

MO M

Advertising Adviser Cherry Creative is a division of WKU Student Publications that helps clients reach the WKU community through the College Heights Herald and the Talisman. If you are interested in partnering with Cherry Creative, please email us at cherrycreativewku@gmail.com. We would love to help tell your story. (Cover photos by Grace Pritchett and Lauren Pestoff)

BEST TATTOO SHOP

BEST BURGER JOINT

1st

Carter’s Tattoo Co.

1st

Double Dogs

2nd

Age of Reason Tattoo

2nd

Five Guys

3rd

Topper’s Fine Line Tattoo

3rd (Tie)

White Squirrel & Hideout

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

1st

Steel Mill & Co.

1st

El Mazatlan

2nd

Back Down South

2nd

Que Buenos

3rd

The Pink Lily

3rd

Puerto Vallarta


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BEST OF THE HILL

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

BEST PIZZA PLACE

BEST LUNCH SPOT

BEST YOGA STUDIO 1st

Hot Yoga Bowling Green

1st

Griff’s Deli

1st

Mellow Mushroom

1st

SKyPAC

2nd

Preston Center

2nd

Home Cafe

2nd

Blaze

2nd

Tidball’s

3rd

The Spot

3rd

India Oven

3rd

Donato’s

3rd

The A-Frame

$

BEST SECOND HAND CLOTHING STORE

1st

Goodwill

1st

Shogun

1st

Montana Grill

1st

Red Barn Liquors

2nd

Beverly Hills Bargain Boutique

2nd

Mariah’s

2nd

2nd

Liquor Barn

3rd

Steamers Southern Seafood Kitchen

Steamer Southern Seafood Kitchen Hickory & Oak

3rd

3rd

Shenanigans Wine and Spirits

3rd

St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store

BEST DATE SPOT

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

$

BEST PLACE FOR YOUR PARENTS TO TAKE YOU

BEST PLACE FOR PIZZA AGAIN!

BEST LIQUOR STORE

Bowling Green, KY 1035 Chestnut St (270) 393-1800 www.mellowmushroom.com


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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPONSORED CONTENT

Spencer’s Coffee: Brewing strong connections BEST COFFEE SHOP Story by Ryan Goodlett & Sam Chumbley

“Let’s go to Spencer’s” has become a colloquial phrase among college students, professors and members of the Bowling Green community alike, making it no surprise that it was once again voted “Best of the Hill.” The beloved coffee shop has sat nestled in Bowling Green’s downtown for 18 years. Spencer’s was started by a WKU art professor who saw the need for a local coffee shop near campus. The original owner blended his love for coffee with his love for art by displaying the work of local artists on the brick walls of the shop.

Senior Mary Morgan Green from Leeds, Ala. studies at Spencer’s on a Saturday. “Here I can be around others, so I’m not alone, but I can still focus and get a lot done,” Green said.

The current owner, former WKU student Justin Shepherd, bought Spencer’s in 2005 with the goal of creating a space for people to find a bright spot in their day. “I was a customer before I owned the place, and that is what it was for me,” Shepherd said. “I saw potential to build on that and to provide a chill place for people to escape.”

Over the years, Shepherd has watched Spencer’s grow from a hub for business people working downtown, to a community staple for people of all walks of life. “It’s always been about making a space where people can walk in,” Shepherd said. “Giving them a place to celebrate or meet up with friends … like a modern-day pub.” Shepherd has succeeded in giving the community just that. Spencer’s is not just a place to study: It is a place that inspires deep conversation, provides quality products and service and breaks down stereotypes. “Coffee shops are sometimes portrayed as this snoody, hipster sort of thing,” Shepherd said. “We’re not into that. The space is what the customers make it; we just go along for the ride with them and stick to our values.” Jacob and Rachel Roy are WKU alumni who have been married for eight months and had their first date at Spencer’s. They valued the quality time they spent together at the local shop while dating. “We had so many conversations together across those wooden tables,” Rachel Roy said. “From fears and dreams, to family and backgrounds, to our faith and friendships.” While playing board games with friends, they grew close to fellow customers, baristas and kitchen workers as well, she said. “We always felt so special and thought it was sweet that the workers would remember our order: a small Front Porch Blend with absolutely no room and a small iced vanilla latte,” Rachel Roy said. During the couple’s junior year at WKU, Jacob took Rachel on a stroll through Fountain Square Park, where

Spencer’s Coffee Shop is the only place in Bowling Green where patrons can come to get latte art. Cody Crume is one of the baristas. “I love it. It takes a lot of practice because there are a lot of steps. It’s more than just pouring foam. You have to get everything right and pay attention,” Crume said. (Photos by Lauren Pestoff)

he gave her a note reflecting on many of the important conversations they had shared at Spencer’s. “He then proposed right there on the square, and of course, after tears and hugs, we went straight to Spencer’s and ordered our norm,” Rachel Roy said. “I did the cliche thing of having them write ‘future Mrs. Roy’ on the cup, which we still have. I found out later that he wrote that note in Spencer’s as well.” Mount Sterling junior Grace Johnson also recalls having important conversations inside Spencer’s while sipping her favorite drink, an iced vanilla latte. One of those conversations led her to make the decision to run for president of her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. “I had one of those conversations where you’re not sure how it was brought up, but by the end of it you’ve said everything on your mind,” Johnson said. “Without that conversation, I’m not sure I would

have had the confidence to try to do something I really wanted to do.” Louisville senior Janae Wellum has also made several big decisions within the walls of Spencer’s. After a challenging freshman year at a different university, she visited Bowling Green where her brother was in school at WKU. “I made the decision to transfer to WKU with my mom in Spencer’s,” Wellum said. Not long after that decision, WKU gave Wellum the opportunity to study abroad at Harlaxton, an opportunity she chose to accept while talking to friends about it in Spencer’s. “Spencer’s has made a really awesome environment to cultivate deep, life-changing conversations,” Wellum said. Wellum described Spencer’s as a refuge and a community. “It’s the heart of Bowling Green, and it’s the heart of WKU and its people,” she said.


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BEST OF THE HILL

BEST BARBECUE 1st

Smokey Pig Bar-B-Que

2nd

Smokey Bones

3rd

Whitt’s Barbecue

SPONSORED CONTENT

Nat’s Outdoor Sports:

A staple for outdoor adventure

BEST DESSERT 1st

Chaney’s Dairy Barn

2nd

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

3rd

PopWorks Nat’s Outdoor Sports is a staple in Bowling Green for those who love being outside. The store carries name brand, top-of-the-line gear, such as Patagonia, Chaco and Eno. (Submitted photo)

BEST HAIR SALON 1st

Tanglez Hair Studio

2nd

The Finery

3rd

Friendz Salon

BEST PLACE TO BREAK UP WITH SOMEONE 1st

The bottom of the Colonnade (so they can’t push you down the steps)

2nd

Cravens Library (so they can’t yell at you)

3rd

The bus (so you can get off at the next stop)

BEST PLACE FOR OUTDOOR GEAR Story by Chloe Benningfield

What started as a small bike shop has grown into a quintessential part of the Bowling Green community. Nat Love first opened the L&M Bookstore in 1971. Two years later, he added a bike shop that would become known as Nat’s Outdoor Sports. Lisa Martens, Love’s daughter, now owns and runs the store with a team of employees who are passionate about sports, the outdoors and helping

customers find exactly what they need for their next outdoor adventure. Whether you are running a marathon or hiking up the Hill to class, Nat’s provides high-quality sportswear and gear, including popular brands like Patagonia, Chaco, Eno, Birkenstock and Yeti. With spring just around the corner, Nat’s has you covered with camping, hiking and biking gear. “We have always been focused on staying local,” Martens said. Nat’s care for customers goes far beyond the confines of the store, as the store provides support for many athletic events and community organizations in Bowling Green.

1121 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, KY

www.natsoutdoor.com


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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPONSORED CONTENT

WKU Store:

Undoubtedly unmatchable BEST PLACE FOR WKU GEAR Story by Abbey Norvell

The volume and variety of WKU gear available at the WKU Store are what set it apart from its competitors — and why it remains the best place to buy WKU gear. The variety in the WKU Store starts with different brands of gear. “We have anything from the higher-end workout gear that’s Nike brand, all the way to basic T-shirts that are Russell,” marketing coordinator Sarah Sears said. “Part of that variety is that the price point really varies too, but of course the quality is good for everything.”

The quality of the WKU Store apparel is arguably the best, among all the brands and designs. “I really like everything I’ve bought at the WKU Store," Corbin freshman Bailee O’Neill said. "It’s super cute and has lasted for months without any issues." Collaboration plays a big role in the success of the WKU Store as well, Sears said. “Because we work so closely with departments on campus, such as Athletics, we are always able to come out with timely merchandise that coincides with particular games or celebrates 100 seasons of WKU football, basketball and now baseball,” she said. That collaboration produces unique WKU gear that cannot be found at other stores and adds to the store’s variety. “We have a good blend of throwback vintage marks and also the newer ones too,” Sears said. With variation comes volume, which the WKU Store has in multiple ways. “We have the space here to really cover a variety of categories that most of our competitors don’t really have,” Sears said. The WKU Store is larger than other physical locations in Bowling Green that sell WKU gear. It’s also devoted to WKU, so there’s not just a small section of WKU gear mixed in with apparel from other colleges like you would find at other stores. The WKU Store has anything from white squirrel Comfort Colors shirts, to WKU notebooks, to replica basketball jerseys, to red towel coffee mugs. The WKU Store also hosts separate sections of WKU gear for women, men

The WKU Store continues to sell a line of items with a white squirrel design, and the white squirrel hat is one of the store's most popular items. The WKU Store is one of the few retailers who are licensed to carry merchandise with logos released from the College Vault like the retro gray tee featured in the photo above. The "WK" is one of the vintage logos that was used by the WKU Baseball team in the '70s. (Photos by Phoebe Alcala)

and children, making it the perfect place to find a gameday outfit for one person or the whole family. When it comes to style, the store’s apparel buyer works closely with College Licensing, vendors and designers to serve Bowling Green the latest apparel trends. “We market to the fan population

with game gear,” Sears said. “We are always going to have game gear, but then we are also going to look at what’s trending, like Comfort Colors in ladies’ fashion.” The WKU Store continues to provide Bowling Green with volume, variety and quality, making it the best place to visit for all your WKU gear needs.


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BEST OF THE HILL

BEST NPHC FRATERNITY

BEST IFC FRATERNITY 1st

Pi Kappa Alpha

1st

Alpha Phi Alpha

2nd

Phi Gamma Delta

2nd

Omega Psi Phi

3rd

Sigma Phi Epsilon

3rd

Phi Beta Sigma

BEST PANHELLENIC SORORITY Chi Omega

1st

Alpha Kappa Alpha

2nd

Alpha Delta Pi

2nd

Delta Sigma Theta

3rd

Alpha Omicron Pi

3rd

Zeta Phi Beta

BEST NONGREEK ORGANIZATION

BEST ACADEMIC COLLEGE 2nd 3rd

Potter College of Arts and Letters

College of Health and Human Services

Wild Eggs: An egg-cellent menu

BEST NPHC SORORITY

1st

1st

SPONSORED CONTENT

1st

Kaois Dance Team

2nd

Christian Student Fellowship Student Government Association

3rd

Gordon Ford College of Business

The “Kalamity Katie’s Border Benedict” is one of Wild Eggs’ most popular menu items. (Photo by Phoebe Alcala)

BEST BREAKFAST Story by Sydney Jones

From the bright decor to the cheery staff, you’ll feel right at home as you dine at Wild Eggs on Campbell Lane. The restaurant is spotless and sports warm orange and happy yellow hues on its walls. Owner Angela Reeves, a Bowling Green native and alumna of WKU, has put her heart and soul into every aspect of the restaurant. Celebrating its fifth year, Wild Eggs has everything you need to enjoy breakfast, lunch or brunch. Guests can enjoy one of their

BEST PROFESSOR

BEST ONCAMPUS MEAL

many excellent gourmet items, like the popular “Mr. Potato Head Casserole” which is a hashbrown casserole topped with sausage, tomatoes, onions, poblano peppers, mushrooms, queso and an egg your way. Or you could indulge in Reeves’ favorite, the “Kalamity Katie’s Border Benedict,” which she describes as a spicy twist to the traditional benedict. “The flavors of everything go together so well,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like it!” Wild Eggs is also stocked with a full coffee and espresso bar, giving you various ways to put a little pep in your step and WiFi so you can work throughout the day.

BEST RESIDENCE HALL

BEST WKU SPORTS TEAM

1st

Chick-fil-A

1st

Timothy Straubel

1st

Hilltopper Hall

1st

Men’s Basketball

2nd

Panda Express

2nd

Marko Dumancic

2nd

Meredith Hall

2nd

Volleyball

3rd

Red Zone

3rd

Kelley Coppinger

3rd

Kentucky St. Apartments

3rd

Baseball


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Tuesday, Feb. 26, 11am - 3pm Downing Student Union Get your questions answered with representatives from Bowling Green apartment complexes, Housing and Residence Life and Bowling Green Municipal Utilities.

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BEST OF THE HILL

BEST PLACE TO TAKE TOURISTS

BEST STUDY SPOT ON CAMPUS

BEST MECHANIC

BEST HAPPY HOUR PRICES

1st

Helm/Cravens Library

1st

Jackson’s Orchard

1st

Sonic

1st

B&B Tire

2nd

Downing Student Union

2nd

Lost River Cave

2nd

Hilligan’s

2nd

3rd

Ogden College Hall

3rd

Corvette Musuem

3rd

Shogun

Firestone Complete Auto Care Sam’s Auto

1st 2nd 3rd

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash WaterWorks Campbell Lane Express

BEST INSTAWORTHY SPOT

BEST PLACE TO ESCAPE

BEST CAR WASH

3rd

BEST PLACE TO EAT HEALTHY

1st

Target

1st

Van Meter Overlook

1st

2nd

Humane Society

2nd

The Kissing Bridge

2nd

Top of the Hill Nutrition

3rd

Downtown Starbucks

3rd

Colonnade

3rd

Saladworks

BEST PLACE TO CRY ON CAMPUS

Panera Bread

BEST OFFCAMPUS APARTMENTS

1st

9th floor of Cravens

1st

Midtown

2nd

Tunnel under Van Meter

2nd

Walk2Campus

3rd

The basement of Cherry Hall

3rd

The Registry

BEST PLACE FOR CRAFT BEER

BEST BATHROOM ON CAMPUS

1st

White Squirrel

1st

Augenstein Alumni Center

2nd

643 Sports Bar & Grill

2nd

Bottom floor of DSU

3rd

Mellow Mushroom

3rd

Honors College

THANK YOU FOR VOTING


Best Yoga?

...that’s what you said!

Thank you for voting us the BEST place for yoga once again! We appreciate our WKU family!

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