Virginia Living magazine's 'Best of Virginia 2012' Staunton awards

Beverley Street in historic downtown Staunton, Virginia,
in the central Shenandoah Valley.

Staunton has more awards to tuck under her cap, this time from Virginia Living magazine. Forty-two Staunton businesses and events won 48 awards for everything from best restaurant to favored hotel, a total of twenty-seven first place, thirteen second place, and eight third place awards.

Here's the list of winners from Virginia Living for the "Best of Virginia 2012" Staunton awards. I noticed my favorite downtown restaurant, The Depot Grille, was absent from the list but it's still number one to me.

1. Best Bistro - 1st place: Byers Street Bistro
2. Best Burger Joint - 1st place: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
3. Best Chocolatier - 3rd place: Giancarlo Fine European Pastries
4. Best Coffee Shop - 2nd place: Blue Mountain Coffees
5. Best Diner - 1st place: Wright's Dairy Rite
6. Best Ice Cream Shop - 1st place: The Split Banana, Co.
7. Best Locavore Restaurant - 1st place: Zynodoa Restaurant
8. Best Place for a Power Lunch - 2nd place: Pampered Palate Café
9. Best Place to Buy Wine - 2nd place: The Wine Cellar
10. Best Place to Take the Family for Dinner - 2nd place: Mill Street Grill
11. Best Place to Take the Family for Dinner - 3rd place: Baja Bean
12. Best Vegetarian Restaurant - 2nd place: Darjeeling Café
13. Best Vegetarian Restaurant - 3rd place: Cranberry's Grocery and Eatery
14. Best Bed & Breakfast - 1st place: The Inn at Old Virginia
15. Best Boutique Hotel - 1st place: The Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center
16. Best Hotel – 1st place: The Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center
17. Best Private School – 1st place: Stuart Hall School
18. Best Art Event – 2nd place: Art in the Park
19. Best Art Event – 3rd place: Art for Gifts
20. Best Art Museum – 2nd place: Staunton/Augusta Art Center
21. Best Bar for Live Music – 1st place: Mockingbird
22. Best Bar for Live Music – 3rd place: Baja Bean Co.
23. Best Food Festival – 1st place: Staunton Restaurant Week
24. Best Historic Museum – 1st place: Frontier Culture Museum
25. Best Historic Museum – 3rd place: Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
26. Best Local Theater Group – 1st place: American Shakespeare Center
27. Best Auto Mechanic – 1st place: Hershey Tire Co.
28. Best Auto Mechanic –2nd place: Foreign Affairs
29. Best Baby Store – 1st place: Grandma’s Bait
30. Best Baby Store – 2nd place: Pufferbellies Toys & Books
31. Best Bike Shop – 1st place: Black Dog Bikes
32. Best Cigar Shop – 1st place: Beverley Street Cigar Shop
33. Best Consignment Shop – 1st place: Queen City Consignment
34. Best Dentist – 3rd place: Dr. Jeff Bang
35. Best Farmers’ Market – 1st place: Staunton/Augusta Famers’ Market
36. Best Fine Jewelry – 1st place: Crown Jewelers
37. Best Florist – 1st place: Honey Bee’s Florist
38. Best Gift Shop – 2nd place: Turtle Lane Gifts
39. Best Greenhouse and Nursery – 3rd place: Staunton Plant Company
40. Best Haute Couture – 1st place: Design @ Nine
41. Best Home Décor – 1st place: Arthur’s Home Gallery
42. Best Lawyer to Have on Speed Dial – 2nd place: Victor Santos
43. Best Pet Boutique – 2nd place: Pets-n-Pals
44. Best Shopping Area – 1st place: Downtown Staunton
45. Best Bartender – 2nd place: Susan Weeks
46. Best Local Sports Team – 1st place: Staunton Braves
47. Best Movie Theatre – 1st place: Visulite Cinemas
48. Best Performing Arts Company – 1st place: American Shakespeare Center

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell