Best Hiking Trail Bestie: Table Rock Hon. Mention: Cathedral Hill    Best Mountain Biking Trail  Bestie: Jabberwocky Mountain Trail (Ashland)  Hon. Mention: Eight Dollar Mountain (Illinois Valley)    Best Dog Park  Bestie: Schroeder Park (Grants Pass)  Best Park to Smoke Weed Bestie: Lithia Park (Ashland)  Hon. Mention: My backyard    Best

Best Elected Official Bestie: Darby Ayers-Flood (Mayor, City of Talent)  Hon. Mention: Jeff Golden (Oregon Senate, 3rd District)  Best Veterinarian Bestie: Pacific Veterinarian Clinic (Grants Pass) Hon. Mention: Dr. Steven Poet (Best Friends Animal Hospital, Medford)    Best Doggie Day Care/Groomer Bestie: R&R Pet Resort (Phoenix) Hon. Mention: Land of

Best Record Store Bestie: Biscuits & Vinyl (Talent)  Hon. Mention: Music Coop (Ashland)  Best Outdoor Store Bestie: REI Hon. Mention: Mountain Provisions (Ashland)    Best Place to Find Vintage/Used Clothing  Bestie: Runway Fashion Exchange (Medford)  Hon. Mention: Three Penny Mercantile (Ashland)    Best Adult Store  Bestie: Castle Hon. Mention: Love

Best Non-OSF Theater Company  Bestie: Oregon Cabaret Theatre (Ashland) Hon. Mentions: Collaborative Theatre Project (Medford) Camelot Theatre (Talent)   Best Local Actor (film or stage) Bestie: Cody Wright  Hon. Mention: Bruce Campbell  Best Local Author Bestie: Melissa Mathewson  Hon. Mention: Josh Gross   More Besties: Best of Food Best of

Best Band or Solo Artist Bestie: The Brothers Reed Hon. Mention: John Dough Boys Petty Thievery  Best place to see live music  Bestie: Walkabout Brewing Co.  Hon. Mention: Talent Club   Best Local Music Festival Bestie: Britt Fest Hon. Mention: Apple Jam    Best Karaoke Spot Bestie: Wild Goose Café & Bar

Best Coffee Shop for a Date Bestie: Limestone (Medford)  Hon. Mention: Rogue Roasters (Grants Pass) Best Coffee This was a category with divided loyalties, and a four-way tie! Besties: Dutch Bros. Limestone Case Coffee Roasters Rogue Roasters   Best Drive-up Coffee Stand  Bestie: Dutch Bros.  Hon. Mention: Human Bean  More

Best Cocktail Bar Bestie: Jefferson Spirits Hon. Mention: Immortal Spirits    Best Bartender Besties (tie): Kalea McKenna (Jefferson Spirits) Alli McGonagle:(Jefferson Spirits) Best Cider Bestie: Gold Rush Hon. Mention: Outlaw    Best Local Winery  Bestie (tie) Del Rio Vineyards Dancin Vineyards Hon. Mention: Red Lily Roxy Ann   Best Dive

Best Brewery The most popular category in all of the voting showed a virtually tie, with the Medford-based Walkabout Brewing Co. edging out the relatively new Weekend Beer Co. by just six votes for “Bestie” brewery.  Bestie: Walkabout Brewing Co. (Medford)  Hon. Mention: Weekend Beer Co. (Grants Pass)   Best

Best New Restaurant Bestie: Tap & Vine (Medford)  Hon. Mention: Bird & Rye (Ashland)    Best Chef Bestie: Neil Clooney (Bird & Rye) Best Outdoor Seating Bestie: Walkabout Brewing Co.  Hon. Mention: Weekend Beer Co. (Grants Pass)   Best CSA or farm stand Bestie: Fry Family Farm  Hon. Mention: Barking

Southern Oregon’s array of live theater venues spans from cozily intimate to nationally renowned, and to celebrate the 2020 season the Messenger spotlights three local actors who have made the Rogue Valley stages their home. Grants Pass actor, Steve Chroninger, deciding to peel free from his high school math nerd