Best of 2025

Album of the Year – Different Strokes for Different Folks

 

Mammalian Attraction of the Year – Rats Playing Basketball Science Museum of Virginia 

 Read of the Year – Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America

Podcast of the Year – Atlanta Is...

Southern Thing of the Year – Dr. John House (NOLA)

Coffee Shop of the Year – Vela Coffee (San Antonio TX)

Time Waster of the Year – Discography of American Historical Recordings

Cookbook of the Year – To Die For

Viral Content of the Year – Atlanta Snow Day

 B2B Marketing Sage of the Year – Lashay Lewis

 

Atlanta Hallway of the Year – 634 North Highland Avenue

Georgia Book of the Year – Civil Sights: Sweet Auburn
 

Kid Pic of the Year – WVCW

 

 

YouTube Find of the Year – Mime Talk

Post Office of the Year – Avondale Estates, Georgia

Record Store of the Year – Plan 9 Records

New Atlanta Restaurant of the Year – Communidad

Cemetery of the Year – Chanhassen Pioneer Cemetery (MN) 

 

Condiment of the Year – Busha Browne’s Traditional Jerk Seasoning Rub

Christmas Tree Ornament of the Year – Geoduck

RIP Tom Robbins 

Best of 2024

Miniature Golf of the Year – Hotel Greene (Richmond, VA)

 

Atlanta Sandwich of the Year – The Sham Sham Hudson and Alphonse

 

 
Viral Content of the Year – Possums After the Storm

 

Book of the Year – 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool

 

Gig of the Year – Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

 

Time Waster of the Year – BBC Sound Effects Archive

 

Quest of the Year – Ocky Way at Family Food Center (Brooklyn)

Parenting Hack of the Year – Dental Floss Easter Eggs

 

Appetizing of the Year – Irish Smoked Salmon at Sable’s (Manhattan)

 

Cemetery of the Year – Greenmount Cemetery (Burlington, VT) 

 

Crate Dig of the Year – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – First Flight to Tokyo @ Low Yo Yo Stuff Records (Athens, GA)

 

Shoes of the Year – Converse All Stars

 

 

Kid Pic of the Year –Waffle House (Avondale Estates, GA)

Guilty Pleasure of the Year – It’s Florida, Man

 

Southern Thing of the Year – Johnny Blue Skies

 

Atlanta(ish) New Restaurant of the Year – Smiley's Burger Club

 

YouTube Find of the Year – Buena on 2 Meter Sessions

 

Georgia Book of the Year – UnStuck

 

 

Wisdom of the Year – Rick Steves "Culture Shock is Constructive" 

Stand Strong Award for 2024 – Ropeadope Records

 

 

Business Book of the Year – Cold Calling Sucks

 

 

Atlanta Urban Space of the Year – Gordon Park

 

 

Song We All Need in 2024 – Richard Petty

 

 

This year’s list dedicated to the memory of my mom Lucy Lee. Thank you for passing on your love of eccentric people and strange places.

RIP John Mayall

Best of 2018

Album of the Year – Khruangbin, Con Todo El Mundo





Atlanta Sandwich of the Year - Country Ham and Brie, Recess

Coffee Shop of the Year – Snowing in Space, Charlottesville, VA

Record Store of the Year – M-Theory, San Diego, CA

 
Book of the Year - The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War

 


 YouTube Find of the Year – Beware of Mr. Baker







Kid Art of the Year – Whalein' (Inspired by 08/16/69 Soul Sacrifice)

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@g_peterson5 and Will interpret Whalin’ #guitar #drums @markagnesi

A post shared by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Mar 16, 2018 at 6:35pm PDT

Song of the Year – Abstractum Belladonna by Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel




 
Pocket Knife of the Year – A. G. Russell Carbon Fiber Mid-Lock Folder

Podcast of the Year - The Bitter Southerner Podcast

Ice Cream of the Year – Oreo Bowl, iDessert by Jean-Philippe

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#jumptheshark dessert moment for Will

A post shared by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Jul 10, 2018 at 8:17pm PDT

Transportation of the Year – Bird Scooter (with helmet)

Gadget of the Year – Pavlok Shock Bracelet

     Chops of the Year – Rhythm Future Quartet  

      Grand Marshall of the Year - Dr. Victor Polizos

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Will is riding shotgun with the grand Marshall Dr. Vic! @inmanparkfest #inmanparkfestival

A post shared by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Apr 28, 2018 at 11:02am PDT

Outdoor Adventure of the Year – No Taste Like Home Foraging Tour Ashville, NC

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Cinnabar chanterelles— They’re small, but are an excellent addition to pasta! How bright and beautiful, too! #foragers #chanterelles

A post shared by No Taste Like Home (@wildfoodasheville) on Oct 27, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT

Southern Thing of the Year - Hutchinson's Finest Biscuits Delivery Service

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Always fun getting biscuit boxes ready. Hope one showed up at your door this morning! #candlerpark #inmanpark #decatur #lakeclaire #kirkwood

A post shared by Hutchinson's Finest Biscuits (@hutchinsonsfinest) on Oct 14, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Botanical Achievement of the Year – Bumper Crop of Celeste Figs

Pastry of the Year – Palmiers at La Calavera Bakery, Decatur, GA

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#winning

A post shared by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Jun 21, 2018 at 5:41am PDT

Business Book of the Year - Subscribed

Atlanta Crust of the Year - Margherita In Detroit Pizza, Nina and Rafi 

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Blown away by the Detroit-style #pizza @ninaandrafi. Unique and perfect double high cheese crust. Everything is going to be OK in the world! #atlantabeltline

A post shared by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Dec 7, 2018 at 5:29pm PST

ATL Street Art of the Year – Shimmering Ghosts 

Word of the Year - Tsundoku



Time Waster of the Year - History of Cartography Online Edition

Americana of the Year – Weather Vanes at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Poignancy of the Year – The Lesson of the Château de Calberte