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APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
ANTIQUES, LOCAL ART RETRO CLOTHING JEWELRY, VINTAGE BICYCLES ARCHITECURAL SALVAGE AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER STUFF
%10 OFF FOR WKU STUDENTS
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What is best of the hill? There is no denying that Bowling Green is a college town. For three weeks, the College Heights Herald asked WKU students, faculty and staff to vote online for their local favorites in our third annual Best of the Hill contest.
(excluding bikes)
We had great success with the contest, with 1,200 WKU students, faculty and staff voting in 52 categories. We’ve tallied the votes and are excited to announce the results.
270.799.9652 326 E. MAIN ST. BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN BOWLING GREEN IN THE OLD SPOT CASH BUILDING
The Herald’s Best of the Hill special section recognizes those businesses, places and services the WKU community voted the best. Our goal is for this annual contest and special section to become the guide for WKU when it comes to shopping, dining and enjoying the Bowling Green community.
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APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
Best Place to Eat on Campus
PANDA EXPRESS Panda Express is proud to present the best of both worlds in one delicious dish with new Samurai Surf & Turf. Our latest creation features Angus Top Sirloin Steak combined with tender, marinated Shrimp, wok-seared together with sweet red bell peppers, string beans, crispy diced potatoes in a new zesty Samurai sauce. To top it off, Samurai Surf & Turf is also Wok Smart!
Best On-Campus Housing
MINTON HALL Minton Hall is a ten story residence hall that was built in 1963 and underwent a significant renovation in 2004. It is named in honor of Dr. John Minton who was WKU's fifth President. Minton houses 406 men and women who are in the Honors College. It is located in the middle of campus across from DUC.
Best On-Campus Event
HOMECOMING Homecoming is the largest event at WKU as students, alumni and friends of the university gather on campus to celebrate and reminisce. Events begin on Monday and culminate with the football game on Saturday afternoon. A pep rally, concert, parade, campus organization events and campus-wide tailgating highlight the activities. The Homecoming Queen is crowned at halftime of the football game.
Best WKU Athletic Team
WKU BASKETBALL The men's basketball program has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA and has attained the 8th best winning percentage in NCAA history. The school made an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1971, which was later vacated, and has made three NIT Final Four appearances. The program has won numerous Ohio Valley Conference championships and is very competitive in its current conference, the Sun Belt Conference, regularly finishing near the top of the conference and competing for the conference championship. Street & Smith's publication "100 Greatest Programs", ranked WKU #31.
Best Professor
WAYNE MASON - BIOLOGY
Hilligans appreciates you voting us best bar in Bowling Green
Biology instructor Wayne Mason has a passion for his students. He believes in all of them and they say "you can tell that from the minute you walk into his class." He is known for explaining the material in a way in which students understand and for giving clever tricks to remembering terms. Students across campus say, "He is the BEST professor I have ever had, hands down!"
Best Sorority
OMEGA PHI ALPHA
GO TOPS!
The purpose and goals of this sorority shall be to assemble its members in the fellowship of Omega Phi Alpha, to develop friendship, leadership, and cooperation by promoting service to the university community, to the community at large, the members of this sorority, and to the nations of the world.
Best Fraternity
FIJI The Chi Eta chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was founded May 1, 2010. The chapter exists to promote lifelong friendships, to reaffirm high ethical standards and values, and to foster personal development in the pursuit of excellence. Phi Gamma Delta is committed to providing opportunities to each brother to develop responsibility, leadership, scholarship and social skills to become a fully contributing member of society.
1265 College Street | 270.282.2227
APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
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THANK YOU!
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THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST LATE NIGHT MUNCHIE PLACE! 1802 RUSSELLVILLE RD. 2460 NASHVILLE RD. 2628 SCOTTSVILLE RD. 1162 W. 31 BYPASS
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APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
Best Organization
SGA In 1956, Western Kentucky University students began actively participating in the administration of the university with the creation of the Student Advisory Council. Over the next ten years, students struggled to achieve the influence they desired, but in 1966 the student body ratified the first version of its constitution and elected James P. "Jim" Haynes as the first president of the Associated Students. In 1992, the Associated Students changed its name to the Student Government Association.
Best Place for Breakfast
TOPPER CAFE From August 2012 to June 2013, this facility will hold the "Fresh Food Company". This venue was formerly available in the Downing University Center but was relocated due to the renovation of DUC. During the summer of 2013, Fresh Food Company will transition back to DUC and the retail venues included in The Red Zone will move to the Topper Cafe location so that those areas of DUC can be renovated.
Best Coffee House
SPENCER'S Spencer’s Coffeehouse is the only cafe in south central Kentucky offering 100 percent organic, 100 percent fair-trade coffees from around the globe, hand-roasted in nearby Nashville. Quality-driven, locally owned, eco-friendly. From handmade soups to signature sandwiches, Spencer’s offers a quick, delicious and affordable meal, using only the finest ingredients and recipes to ensure that every bite’s as good as the last.
Best Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt Place
STAKZ "You can stack on a little, or you can stack on a lot," Stakz owner Kathy Higgins said with a laugh. Stakz offers a selection of 12 flavors of frozen yogurt such as sorbet and tart. Every week, they swap out one of their flavors for a new one, Higgins said. The shop also provides 50 toppings and fresh fruits for the customer to stack on the yogurt.
Best Liquor Store
LIQUOR BARN With a keen eye on developing trends, we have helped our customers celebrate the good life for over twenty years by continually adding to our inventory of ultimate party products. One of the most exciting areas of growth for Liquor Barn has been in Kentucky-made products. From the resurgence of Kentucky wineries and the traditional distilling of Kentucky Bourbon to preserves, salsas, barbecue sauces and artisan cheeses, “Kentucky Proud” is a sure sign of good taste in our Commonwealth.
Best Mexican Food
PUERTO VALLARTA Authentic Mexican food, wine list, vegetarian combination, steak specialties, pork specialties and yes, margaritas. Lunch specials starting at $3.39, fajitas, especialidades Puerto Vallarta, desserts and beer. It's authentic Mexican food prepared fresh daily.
Best Pizza in town
MELLOW MUSHROOM Mellow is a state of mind, a culture, a way of being. Our mission is to provide delicious food in a fun and creative environment. We are the originators of Classic Southern Pizza, & our unique and flavorful crust is a true original. We began from humble roots, born out of the free-wheelin' hippy culture of the 1970s. The idea back then was the same as it is now, to make the most delicious, craveable slice of pizza on the planet.
APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
Best Late Night Munchie Place
TACO BELL Everybody's heard about "Thinking Outside the Bun." Taco Bell is the nation's leading Mexican-style quick-service restaurant chain. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, signature quesadillas, burritos, nachos and other specialty items such as the Crunchwrap Supreme, in addition to the Why Pay More Value Menu. With locations near campus open to 2 a.m., the drive-thru is often filled with WKU students.
TONY LINDSEY & CO. We are Bowling Greens premiere full service hair salon. Our courteous and professional staff has served Bowling Greens women and men for over twenty-five years now, with results worth boasting about. Come visit our salon and experience like never before the beauty within yourself.
Best Place to Bargain Shop
SUBWAY
GOODWILL
Best Place to do Yoga
HOT YOGA Our studio’s mission is to assist you in achieving a union of body, mind and spirit. Hot Yoga stills the thought waves of the mind and helps you achieve liberation and relief from many kinds of suffering. We are dedicated to presenting the highest quality health and wellness experience in a welcoming, Christian atmosphere without judgment and without discrimination. We pledge to welcome you like family, and are loving & open to all faiths, and all folks — embracing our diversities as we learn together.
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Best Hair Salon
Best Place to Eat Healthy The Subway brand is the world's largest sandwich chain with more than 34,000 locations around the world. It has become the leading choice for people seeking quick, nutritious meals that the whole family can enjoy. As Subway continues to grow, the company is guided by a passion for delighting customers by serving fresh, delicious, made-to-order sandwiches.
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With four locations in Bowling Green, anyone is sure to find what they are looking for. Whether is it an eclectic treasure, an article of clothing or a piece of furniture, Goodwill provides reasonable prices and constantly rotating inventory. Goodwill inspires hope and self-confidence, helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life to feel successful, valuable and dignified.
Best Flower Shop
WKU FLORAL The WKU Floral Shop is a full service floral shop located on the campus of Western Kentucky University offering service to the campus and the Bowling Green area. We offer a full range of products and services, including wedding and funeral work. In addition, delivery and wire service is available.
Best Place for Dessert
STAKZ "You can stack on a little, or you can stack on a lot," Stakz owner Kathy Higgins said with a laugh. Stakz offers a selection of 12 flavors of frozen yogurt such as sorbet and tart. Every week, they swap out one of their flavors for a new one, Higgins said. The shop also provides 50 toppings and fresh fruits for the customer to stack on the yogurt.
Best Restaurant
MARIAH'S Located downtown in Bowling Green's oldest brick house and listed on the National Register of Historic Homes, Mariah's continues to offer casual dining and great food and beverages as it has for more than 25 years. Enjoy the specialty salads, hand-cut steaks and seafood, delicious pasta dishes and many unique items prepared in their woodfired brick oven.
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APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
Best Bookstore
THE WKU STORE The WKU Store was located on the third floor of Downing University Center on WKU's main campus. Additional store locations are on the WKU Glasgow Campus, WKU South Campus and WKU Owensboro Campus. The WKU Store is a full-service bookstore. They carry a wide range of WKU sportswear and souvenirs, as well as new and used textbooks, general course supplies, art supplies and computer software.
Best Sandwiches
GRIFF'S Griff’s is a unique dining experience for patrons in and around the Bowling Green area. They serve fresh food made to order with only the freshest ingredients. Griff’s is sure to satisfy anyone’s appetite. They serves fresh, made-to-order deli sandwiches, paninis, salads and mega spuds. Many recipes come right out of their kitchen and are surely soon to be famous!
Best Sushi
SHOGUN BISTRO Discover creative cuisine at the Bowling Green Shogun Bistro. In a time crunch? Run through the Shogun Express. Famous for their sushi, specialty Japanese entrées and desserts, each location provides a unique dining experience and contemporary atmosphere. Stop in for lunch, dinner, cocktails or desserts — just be sure to come hungry!
Best Local Bar
HILLIGAN'S Hilligan's is the ultimate sports bar where customers can enjoy great food, watch sports on 13 highdefinition TVs with NFL Sunday Ticket and College Game Plan and play their favorite games, whether it's pool, darts or arcade games. Hilligan's has live music, a dance area and three outdoor patios. They are open until 2 a.m. seven nights a week.
Best Happy Hour Prices
SONIC Sonic's Happy Hour is from 2-4pm every day! During these hours all drinks and slushies are half price! At America's drive-in there are 398,929 fountain drink and slush combinations so you can never get bored!
Best Nail Salon
Wku Floral Shop 270.745.3382
514 Regents Ave
Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm
SUN SUITES We want the clients who graces our doors to feel relaxed, rejuvenated, pampered, and taken care of by the best professionals in the industry. While doing so, I will provide excellent customer service and professional products. I believe in a holistic approach to serving our clients, which include improving your spirit as well as your health and beauty.
Best Place for Karaoke
OVERTIME "There Ain't Nothin Like It!" Their slogan describes the atmosphere of this Bowling Green hot spot perfectly. Overtime has 35 flat-screen HD TVs and an 1800-square-foot covered patio with TVs and music. The menu includes pre-game appetizers, the heavy hitters, oven-baked sandwiches, wraps, pizza, salads and desserts.
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Best Clothing Store
BLUETIQUE
25 YEARS 13 STYLISTS 1 BIG THANK YOU
Bluetique Cheap Chic is anyone’s dream closet! We offer the perfect selection of preppy, trendy, and gameday apparel that includes tops, dresses and more. Not to mention our fabulous jewelry, handbags, and accessories all at affordable prices. Come see us, we can’t wait to meet y’all!
Best Place For Live Music
TIDBALL'S Tidball's is Bowling Green's premiere venue for live music. It is located adjacent to historic downtown Bowling Green, near the square. They strive to bring in the best local bands and those who are just passing through town. They invite you to come check out live local music and their great drink specials!
Best Radio Station
REVOLUTION 91.7 Revolution 91.7 recognizes an intended audience of 18-34 year old adults that attend WKU, as well as young professionals in Bowling Green and its surrounding areas. Their listeners enjoy an active lifestyle at the university and in the community. WWHR-FM delivers a commercial-free mix of progressive music that follows the national charts of the College Music Journal and then expands the rotation to address local tastes.
Best Sports Bar
OVERTIME Overtime regularly features karaoke every Tuesday and Thursday night from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. If you prefer not to sing, they also have cornhole daily, pool tables, dart boards, NTN BuzzTime trivia and Texas Hold 'Em. Overtime also has regular drink specials, daily happy hour and a full menu to order from.
BEST HAIR SALON IN BOWLING GREEN
Best Furniture Store
ASHLEY'S FURNITURE At Ashley Furniture, we are proud of our past, encouraged for our future and genuinely excited to make furniture for the most important people there are - you. It takes more than just the ability to make good furniture to become the #1 selling brand of home furniture in North America.
Best BBQ
SMOKEY PIG Serving great tasting BBQ in Bowling Green, KY. Open 10:30am - 7pm Tuesday - Saturday Check us out on our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/smokeypig SMOKING IT UP, FOR WKU STUDENTS
1033 Shive Lane Bowling Green, KY 42103 270.782.7010 Mon-Fri 8am to 5:30pm Saturday 9am to 1pm Tonylindseyandcompany.com
Best Appetizers
CHEDDAR'S Cheddar's is especially proud of its menu, including homemade favorites that are still prepared the same way, in-house and from scratch. The restaurant also take pride in its great team that takes care of the guests each and every day. At Cheddar’s, the goal is to live up to that original, simple idea: be a great restaurant that serves quality food fresh from the kitchen in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere at a fair price.
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APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
Best Place To Work Out
Best Tattoo Shop
Best Place to Buy WKU Gear
PRESTON
CARTER'S
THE WKU STORE
The Preston Health & Activities Center offers students, faculty and staff a model physical fitness facility. It includes a weight room, fitness room, gymnasium, dance studio, racquetball courts, swimming pool, a proshop, the Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Center, a Health & Fitness Lab, separate locker rooms for faculty/staff and students, a lounge and vending area and a first-aid room. And it's free for students.
Bowling Green's Most Established and Well-Known Tattoo Shop! Carter's Tattoo Company is located at 948 US 31-W Bypass in Bowling Green, KY. It is owned and operated by Wes Carter & his wife Cara. For appointments call 270-843-1122 or just stop in.
The WKU Store was located on the third floor of Downing University Center on WKU's main campus. Additional store locations are on the WKU Glasgow Campus, WKU South Campus and WKU Owensboro Campus. The WKU Store is a full-service bookstore. They carry a wide range of WKU sportswear and souvenirs, as well as new and used textbooks, general course supplies, art supplies and computer software.
Best Tanning Salon
EXPRESS TAN Express Tan offers 5 levels of tanning to suit customers needs. Their tanning consultants will guide you through the "tan with a plan" method using all levels they offer. Keeping in mind skin care their tanning consultants assist you in your selection of quality skin care tanning products that are right for you.
Best Bike Shop
NAT'S Nat's is a regional store with customers from all over Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Nat's is a part of several buying groups and organizations (including Grassroots Outdoors) which ensures competitive pricing. With Nat's experience and reputation, customers can be confident that their transaction will be smooth and enjoyable. Nat's wants its customers to be a customer for life.
Best Golf Course
CROSSWINDS This 18-hole golf course which will challenge the skills of the most avid players, as well as being enjoyable for the beginner golfer. CrossWinds have over 6500 yards of Bermuda tees and fairways and bentgrass greens surrounded by some of the largest bunkers in Kentucky.
Best Place For Outdoor Recreation
KEREIAKES PARK The 53-acre park includes a disc golf course, six baseball fields, outdoor basketball courts, grills, picnic pavilions, picnic tables, playgrounds, soccer fields, tennis courts, walking and running trails, community garden spots and public restrooms, among other amenities.
Best Sports Store
NAT'S Nat's is a regional store with customers from all over Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Nat's is a part of several buying groups and organizations (including Grassroots Outdoors) which ensures competitive pricing. With Nat's experience and reputation, customers can be confident that their transaction will be smooth and enjoyable. Nat's wants its customers to be a customer for life.
Best Bank or Credit Union
BB&T We’re committed to providing the perfect client experience with reliable, responsive, empathetic and competent support every step of the way. Whether you prefer banking with a handshake or banking on the go—we work hard to ensure that you have the best experience possible.
Best Car Wash
WATER WORKS WaterWorks Auto Wash & Detail specializes in quality car washes and detailing services. It is Bowling Green’s only touch-free wash, and customers say, “They always take time to make sure that it is clean and neat even if it means running it through a second time.”
Best Cell Service
AT&T AT&T is the largest wireless telecommunications provider in the U.S. According to www.wku.edu/cellular, AT&T offers WKU employees a 15 percent discount and WKU students an 8 percent discount.
Best Off-Campus Housing
COLLEGE SUITES College Suites is minutes away from campus and close to all of the conveniences residents need. It also provides shuttle service to and from campus. At College Suites, management believes in enhancing their residents' college experience by offering an unforgettable lifestyle! Your College Suites apartment is not just a place to sleep at night. It is an experience to remember forever.
Best Burger in Town
FIVE GUYS Five Guy's has been ZAGAT survey rated every year since 2001 and has been voted the Washingtonian Magazine's "Readers' Choice" #1 Burger every year since 1999! Since expanding outside of the Washington DC metro area, Five Guys has continued to garner awards and praise in nearly every market we enter including Bowling Green, KY.
Best Place to Worship
HILLVUE HEIGHTS Hillvue Heights Church University Ministry exists to connect university age young adults to Jesus. They aim to help you become a maturing follower of Jesus, ready to serve Him the rest of your life. At Hillvue, you will get to meet other students who are also striving to live lives of worship and be challenged to share your faith with others, motivated by the desire to see God glorified in others when they experience His mercy and grace.
Best Place to Study
HELM-CRAVENS The Helm-Cravens Library is WKU's main campus library. Cravens Library has nine floors, with plenty of space to find the perfect hiding spot to study. Java City Cafe is located in Helm Library, and students stop by for not only a cup of coffee, but also to relax and listen to live music performances that take place periodically. The University Libraries collection includes more than one half million books, 100,000 volumes of periodicals, 1.2 million microforms and one quarter million government documents.
Best Club for Dancing
ENTOURAGE Entourage offers weekly drink specials with its happy hour every Wed. - Sat. from 5 till 11 p.m, featuring half-off wine, 2 for 1 Margaritas, Sangria, Domestic and Import beer specials, and martinis' on sale. We are offering bottle service for interested parties. Entourage also offers weekly entertainment with the best in the area house DJs keeping the music going with all your favorite club hits until 2 a.m.
Best Place to Take Someone On a Date
MARIAH'S Located downtown in Bowling Green's oldest brick house and listed on the National Register of Historic Homes, Mariah's continues to offer casual dining and great food and beverages as it has for more than 25 years. Enjoy the specialty salads, hand-cut steaks and seafood, delicious pasta dishes and many unique items prepared in their wood-fired brick oven.
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APRIL 23, 2013 • BEST OF THE HILL • WKUHERALD.COM
Best Campus Dining - Panda Express Best On-Campus Housing - Minton Hall Best On-Campus Event - Homecoming Best WKU Athletic Team - Men’s Basketball Best Professor - Wayne Mason (Biology) Best Sorority - Omega Phi Alpha Best Fraternity - FIJI Best Organization - SGA Best Place For Breakfast - TopperCafe Best Coffee House - Spencer’s Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt - Stakz Best Liquor Store - Liquor Barn Best Late Night Munchies - Taco Bell
Best Mexican Food - Puerto Vallarta Best Pizza in Town - Mellow Mushroom Best Healthy Dining - Subway Best Yoga Spot - Hot Yoga Best Hair Salon - Tony Lindsey & Company Best Bargain Shopping - Goodwill Best Flower Shop - WKU Floral Best Place For Dessert - Stakz Best Restaurant Near WKU - Mariah’s Best Bookstore - WKU Store Best Sandwich - Griff’s Best Local Bar - Hilligan’s Best Happy Hour Prices - Sonic
Best Nail Salon - Sun Suites Best Place For Karaoke - Overtime Best Clothing Store - Bluetique Best Live Music - Tidball’s Best Radio Station - Revolution 91.7 Best Sports Bar - Overtime Best Furniture Store - Ashley’s Furniture Best BBQ - Smokey Pig Best Appetizers - Cheddar’s Best Place To Workout - Preston Center Best Tanning Salon - Express Tan Best Bike Shop - Nat’s Best Golf Course - Crosswinds
Best Outdoor Recreation - Kariakes Park Best Tattoo Shop - Carter’s Best Bank/Credit Union - BB&T Best Car Wash - Water Works Best Cell Service - AT&T Best Off-Campus Housing - College Suites Best Place To Buy WKU Gear - WKU Store Best Burger In Town - Five Guys Best Place To Worship - Hillview Heights Best Study Spot - Helm-Cravens Library Best Date Spot - Mariah’s Best Sports Store - Nat’s Best Club For Dancing - Entourage
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR VOTING!
Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Center
1660 Normal Drive