We asked Eastern students, staff and faculty and Coles County residents for their opinion on the best Coles County has to offer in food, drink, entertainment and people. For those of you who either didn’t take the time to vote or thought your vote wouldn’t make the a difference, know this – multiple categories came down to less than five votes between the winner and the runner up. The goal of this experiment was to gage consumers thoughts about businesses that are both independently owned and operated and those which are part of larger chains. While winners would have been accepted from anywhere in Coles County, including Mattoon, Ashmore, Humboldt, Oakland, Lerna or anywhere else in between; as expected the winners came from Charleston. Perhaps a few categories needed clarification because people or things that don’t call Coles County home were not eligible. Thus, votes for 311 for best band or Angelina Jolie for best actor/actress were disregarded. Other categories that were misunderstood included beer selection, which was intended to identify the bar that not only offered the largest selection but the widest variety, not what specific beer you choose. Thanks to everyone who voted, your feedback was greatly appreciated.

Food

Restaurant: El Rancherito

El Rancherito is perfect for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Wake up around noon, watch television for an hour and wait for your roommates to rise. Head over to El Ranch, fill yourself up on complimentary chips and salsa and then stuff yourself with an entree. Burritos, fajitas, taco salad, enchiladas and every other Mexican dish you can imagine. It has a friendly wait staff plus that guy that can carry a half-dozen hot plates to your table with one arm. For those of you who are of legal drinking age, their pitchers of margaritas or daiquiris are among the best in town.

Honorable Mention: Alamo Steak House, What’s Cookin’

Chinese Restaurant: QQ Buffet

QQ Buffet is relatively new to the Coles County area but has quickly become a favorite of students and locals. An enormous Buffet is available all day, plus friendly and personable service have elevated QQ over its competition. QQ has also made a point to make students feel welcome with discounts available for those who carry their Panther Card. Take out and dine in are available.

Honorable Mention: China 88, Magic Wok

Dining Hall: Stevenson

Stevenson Hall is a cut above the rest of it’s dining hall brethren because of the variety it offers. Made-to-order omelets and DIY waffles highlight the west line during breakfast and lunch and various made-to-order sandwiches are available all afternoon on the east line. Although Stevenson may not have as much seating available as Taylor or Carman, between their two lines Stevenson offers food at more times during the average weekday than any other dining hall.

Honorable Mention: Taylor, Thomas

Sub Sandwiches: Jimmy John’s

Jimmy John’s was spawned in Charleston. The sandwich shop has continued to be popular among locals and students since its inception and gives Charleston another reason to be mentioned throughout the state besides Eastern. Even with corporate giant Subway moving in to the Union, Jimmy John’s defeated Subway with ease. Offering twenty plus made-to-order sandwiches and two different kinds of bread, Jimmy John’s continues to set the standard for cold subs in Coles County.

Honorable Mention: Blimpies, Boxa

Pizza: Pagliai’s

Locally owned and operated Pagliai’s is a refreshing change of pace from the pizza chains that otherwise dominate Lincoln Avenue. Offering numerous styles of pizza from a thin crust that oozes cheese to a deep dish that many Chicago-based pizza makers would be jealous of, Pagliai’s pizza is available for dine in, take out or delivery. Toppings galore plus you can even watch your pizza be prepared if you so choose.

Honorable Mention: Monical’s, Jerry’s

Food Special: pepperoni pizza @ Little Caesars

Little Caesars offers a daily five dollar special and a lunch special, but none is more popular than their $3.33 medium pepperoni on Wednesday. Although it is only available via pick-up, every Wednesday Little Caesars enjoys a rash of customers looking to get their pizza fix for the week. Pizza and college students will forever be a life-long love affair and Little Caesars does little to change this fact.

Honorable Mention: Spaghetti Wednesdays at Pagliai’s, Chicken Tuesday at Russ & Lynda’s

Fastest Delivery

Pizza: Dominoes

Sandwiches: Jimmy John’s

Honorable mention: Chubby’s (pizza), Joey’s (sandwiches)

Drink

Bar: Friends & Co.

In terms of offering the most variety of drink and entertainment, Friends rises to the top amongst Coles County bars. Besides being the premier music venue and hosting the only weekly open mich night, Friends offers numerous different beers both on tap and in bottles plus everyday and daily specials. Throw in a back room full of the bar room olympics and the most diverse and complete jukebox in Coles County and you have the best overall bar.

Honorable Mention: Stix, Marty’s

Mixed drink: Baltimore Zoo @ Stix

What actually qualifies as a mixed drink can typically be a subject of debate. Do two different liquids mixed together qualify (ie cranberry and vodka) or does it require a bartender to combine multiple kinds of liquors and juices into one drink that actually tastes good? Regardless, Stix’s Baltimore Zoo is a potent combination of four different shots, a splash of light beer, sweet and sour mix and grenadine. The result is a tasty, fruit punch-esqe concoction, which is served in pints. Stressing again: potent.

Honorable Mention: Long Island Ice Tea @ Friends, Pink Flamingo @ Stus

Beer Selection: The Mad Hatter’s Tea

Although many bars offer large beer selections, the staff at The Hatter is what sets their selection above the rest. Todd and Jedd Edgar can give you the background and flavor about every beer they offer. Whether it’s a pale ale from India or a domestic from a small brewery in Wisconsin, just as The Hatter itself offers an alternative bar atmosphere, their selection features many alternative choice to coincide with the more traditional domestics and imports.

Honorable Mention: Rocs, The Uptowner

Drink special: $1.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon everyday @ Friends

Honorable Mention: $3.00 Keystone pitchers @ Ike’s, $.50 amaretto stone sours @ The Uptowner

Coffee House: Jackson Avenue Coffee

Honorable Mention: Jitter’s & Bliss, Common Grounds

Entertainment

Band: Green Jenkins

Green Jenkins have only been together since the fall, playing their first show at Friends as part of the Second Annual Sue Pope Breast Cancer Fundraiser and Awareness Benefit, but they have quickly become one of the best local bands. Led by guitarist Ryan Groff, Green Jenkins blend harmonies with instrument experimentation via the work of bassist Dave Christensen (harmonica) and guitarist Waylon Schroeder (saxophone). Throw in the experience of drummer Jim Standerfer and you have yourself a Charleston quartet who makes new fans every show they play.

Honorable Mention: Tummler, Fad Proof

Music Venue: Friends & Co.

In one of the most lopsided victories, Friends & Co. ran away with Coles County’s finest music venue. The acts speak for themselves. Both national touring acts and Chicago and St. Louis-based projects have played Friends this year. Friends has continued to stress musical variety and originality and thus no band that strictly plays covers has taken the stage this year. Although many would argue shows would be better in The Dungeon, Friends brings the bands to town who have released albums on labels and gives us at The Verge something to write about.

Honorable Mention: The Uptowner, 7th Street Underground

Pawn Shop: (tie) Coles County Pawn, J & P Pawn

In our only tie of the balloting, both pawn shops on the north side of Charleston garnered equal support. While Coles County Pawn at Fourth and Madison features an adult room and smoking accessories that J & P Pawn on the Square don’t offer, J & P has a better selection of recorded music, video games and other random knickknacks.

Honorable Mention: Supreme Pawn Shop, Just Spence’s

Place to Dance: Stu’s

Narrowly defeating its Fourth Street brethren, Stix, Stu’s has always been a popular place to shake it thanks to their enormous multi-level dance floor. Throw in a prime location, DJs spinning top-40 dance and techno tracks plus cheap drinks during the week and Stu’s is the place where flesh rules and the finest dancers at Eastern go to showcase their skills. Whether you go to get on the floor or check out the scenery, it’s sometimes referred to as Stu-Stu-Stus for a reason.

Honorable Mention: Stix, Mom’s

Place to Tan: Outside

While the debate will rage on about whether it’s better to darken the skin under the sun or in a tanning bed, the real deal has been and always will be free. Tanning parlors have the advantage of being open year round and tanning in the buff if you so choose. But you can put your money on the fact that the first time the temperature hits 75, both quads and numerous other areas on campus will be filled with the welcome sites of college students in as little clothing as possible.

Honorable Mention: Body Shop, Tan Express

Place to Play Foosball: The Uptowner

Darts and Pool: Friends & Co.

While there are many great places to play foosball, pool and darts in this county, the place with the most votes won. The Uptowner has three functioning foosball tables and arguably the best competition plus a Thursday night tournament. You better bring your A game to the tourney, though, as the best of the best can and will expose you as an amateur. The Uptowner is the spot for the bar room olympics, offering weekly tournaments for pool, darts and euchre.

Honorable mention: The Mad Hatter’s Tea (foosball), Ike’s (darts), The Lighthouse (pool)

Radio station: WEIU FM 88.9

While WEIU FM 88.9 probably isn’t the most popular station among on-campus students, after the votes were tallied Eastern’s station stood victorious. One of WEIU FM’s goals has always been to broaden students musical horizons while not falling victim to many of corporate radio’s pitfalls. Thus, unless it’s by request you’ll never hear the same artist twice in one day and the same song twice in one week. WEIU FM also features an open request (581-6116), which will connect you to DJs who love requests. Jazz, rock, blues, alt-country, hip-hop and Eastern sports prove that college radio is alive and well in East-Central Illinois.

Honorable Mention: WWGO 92.1 (The Buzz), WCBH 104.3 (The Party)

On-campus event: Celebration

For more about Celebration and this year’s lineup check out next week’s edition of The Verge.

Intramural sport: Softball

Honorable Mention: volleyball, basketball

Open Mic Night: Friends & Co.

Honorable Mention: 7th Street Underground, Campus Perk

Bar Alternative: Jackson Avenue Coffee

Jackson Avenue Coffee will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Saturday. In its first year Ryan and Dulcey Dawson have not only provided The Square with a quality coffee shop that offers numerous different kinds of snacks, light-eats and a warm environment but with an alternative to the numerous bars that dominate The Square. Consistently providing an entertainment to broaden students cultural horizons from art shows to live music, Jackson Avenue Coffee more than just a caffeine boast.

Honorable Mention: Going to the movies, 7th Street Underground

Bowling Alley: Charleston Lanes

Although it was closed for more than a year, Charleston Lanes came back with a vengeance this fall. The Union Lanes has location in its corner as far as students are concerned but because alcohol can’t be served some would argue it’s not a real bowling alley. The fact that you can drink while you go for a turkey isn’t the only reason Charleston Lanes narrowly defeated The Union Lanes. Cosmic Bowling on the weekends and a quite a few more lanes probably also played a factor.

Honorable Mention: The Union Lanes, Lake Land Lanes

People

Athlete: Henry Domercant

Domercant enjoyed a brilliant career on the basketball court for Eastern. Not only did he help lead the Panthers to NCAA tournament in 2001 but he became one of only a few select players to finish in the top five in scoring in the nation three consecutive seasons. This season he became Eastern’s all-time leading scorer despite facing numerous box-and-ones and other defenses designed specifically to stop him. Throughout his career the only place you saw Domercant’s name in the paper was in the sports section, proving he was not only a great player but a stand up guy and role model.

Honorable Mention: Tony Romo, J.R. Taylor

Musician: Ryan Groff

Honorable Mention: Joshua Alford, Jason Kottwitz

Writer: John Chambers

Chambers has proved himself a quality and hard-working reporter in covering one of the toughest areas this school year, Eastern government. He successfully covered weekly meetings and weeded through the nonessential details giving readers the facts about the decisions the boards that allow this school were making. Chambers will be editor in chief in the Spring of 2004.

Honorable Mention: Graham Lewis, Michelle Jones

Landlord: PP & W Properties

Honorable Mention: Sharon Turner, Roberta @ Lincolnshire

DJ: Lee Michaels @ Stu’s

Michaels blends recorded music from CDs and vinyls into a mix that gets the crowds at Stu’s groovin’. He has been part of the Stu’s staff since transferring to Eastern three years ago. He has interned at B96 in Chicago and has said he plans to pursue a career at a Top 40 station or as a club DJ with ideal situation giving him a chance to do both.

Honorable Mention: Eric Davidson @ the Lighthouse, Todd and Jedd @ The Mad Hatter’s Tea

Actor: Jeremy Roach

Bartender: Kim Cook @ Friends

Honorable Mention: Kelly @ Stix, Lindsey @ Ike’s, Jill @ Friends, Chris @ The Uptowner

Professor: Brian Poulter

This category received the widest variety of nominees, but in the end journalism professor Brian Poulter finished with the most votes. Teaching courses like Online Journalism, News Photography and Archival Photo, Poulter has a just-another-student way about him. Equally skilled in the art of photography and web design, Poulter has been on sabbatical this semester working on an interactive newswriting teaching program with fellow journalism professor James Tidwell. They call their project “Fire Scene” and it has already received interest from a couple text book publishers.

Honorable Mention: Mary Barford, Peter Andrews, Howard Price, Michael Kuo, Jack Ashmore, Eric Hake, Mary Durkin-Wohlrabe, Jay Prefontaine