It’s the Best time of year! We’ve chosen 105 of our favorite things in the Valley, from the best new farmers’ market to one viciously good cookie. Here are 16 winners from this year’s Best of the Valley list. Head to newsstands for a copy of the September issue to see the rest of the winners!

In addition, check out your picks for Best of the Valley winners.

Photography by Jeff Newton; model provided by Ford Robert Black agency; hair, makeup and styling by Shauna Thibault

FOOD & RESTAURANTS

Best Local Product
Cotton Country’s Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Picking just one favorite, lip-smacking jam from Ernestine Riley’s 20-plus repertoire is almost impossible. Take the gorgeous fig jam, for example, which Postino Winecafé smears on its prosciutto sandwich and apple-and-brie bruschetta. But in the end, it’s the strawberry rhubarb that captures our taste buds. Why? Because it actually tastes of rhubarb first then strawberries. Riley says that, unlike most recipes, she “jams” three times the amount of rhubarb into every jar as she does strawberries. All we really know is that it tastes just like summer – sweet and sassy. ($6 for
8 ounces.) 3801 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-268-3181, cottoncountryjams.com




Best Fried Chicken
NOCA
The good news is that we’ve found the absolute best fried chicken in town. The bad news is that it’s only available once a month during NOCA’s Simple Sunday Suppers. What’s all the fuss? Maybe it’s the 24-hour citrus-and-spice brine, or the “top secret” flour coating, or perhaps it’s Executive Chef Chris Curtiss’ deft hand at frying the chicken just to the point of serious crispness. This town has some mighty fine fried chicken platters (Stacy’s, Lo Lo’s, Tuck Shop, to name a few) so we don’t take bestowing this “best of” award on NOCA lightly. Check the Website for the next fried chicken appearance and see for yourself. ($35, prix fixe three-course dinner) 3118 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602-956-6622, restaurantnoca.com

Best New Cookie
Sid’s Viciously Good Cookies
It’s a typical story these days: A high-powered exec ditches the corporate world to pursue her true passion. In Sidney Miller’s case, the risk has paid off. Miller, 34, left her career as a corporate recruiter for firms like Google and Microsoft when she had her daughter, Annie Violet, a year ago. Her new gig? Baking the softest, gooiest, habit-inducing cookies in town. The Valley native is new to the biz – she only started selling her cookies in February – but her “viciously good cookies” already are selling in select AJ’s stores, or you can order batches directly from Sid herself. Our favorite? “With Love…Annie V,” a sweet, crunchy concoction of white chocolate and almonds (finally, an alternative to the macadamia nut version!), but we’ll take the other flavors any day: Peanut Buttahs, Chockie Bickie (a blend of two rich chocolates), and Scotchies (a classic butterscotch). Only her two Pomeranians know the secret ingredients of her super sweet, doughy confections, but she claims they’re “made the way cookies are supposed to be made – not fat free, not low glycemic, gluten free, sugar free... nothing free here.” We just have one word to say to that: sweet. 602-468-2974, sidsviciouslygoodcookies.com

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Best Girls’ Night Out
Chat, Chew & Chocolate
In 2004, Dena Patton of Casa Grande founded Chat, Chew & Chocolate – a social group set up simply for girlfriend time and chocolate – and women ate it up. Now CCC has 14 chapters in four states, with a total of 50 expected by the end of the year. “Leave your drama at the door” is the mantra, and monthly events are built around positive, inspirational women and their stories. chatchewandchocolate.com

Best Place to Find Your Inner Child
The Noodle Forest, Children’s Museum of Phoenix
“Museum” as a concept doesn’t seem to fit here, but then again, there are few grown-up words appropriate to describe everything inside the new Children’s Museum. Suffice it to say, there’s plenty to keep adults entertained, too, perhaps none more giggle-inducing than the third-floor noodle forest. (Parents should know that by “noodles,” we mean those squiggly foam pool toys – more than 4,000 here, suspended from the ceiling.) Admission is free on First Fridays, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-253-0501, childrensmuseumofphoenix.org

Photography by Jeff Newton; model provided by Ford Robert Black Agency; hair, makeup and styling by Shauna Thibault

Best Bowling Experience
Brunswick Zone XL Gilbert
This is more than just a bowling alley. It’s a one-stop party spot for children and adults of all ages. In addition to the 44 lanes of bowling, you’ll find a billiards room, standard snack bar fare, more than 70 games in the arcade, and a bar and grill. Try Cosmic Bowling® for bowling and music in a fun atmosphere on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 1160 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, 480-813-2695, bowlbrunswick.com

Best Way to Work Out the Kids
CrossFit Kids
Let’s face it: Our kids aren’t rushing out to play tag anymore, so their activity levels need a boost. Enter CrossFit Kids, an offshoot of CrossFit Scottsdale, which has been whipping Valley adults into shape since it opened last October. Combining the elements of proper fitness and nutrition with the right amount of fun to keep kids motivated, CrossFit Kids aims to teach healthy habits to kids ages 3 to 16, engaging them in simple, short workouts. Think dodge ball, jump roping, push-ups and nutrition lessons. Small classes and special attention from upbeat coach Luke Kayyem make this workout one your kids won’t soon abandon for the Xbox. 14885 N. 83rd Place, Scottsdale, 480-922-3253, crossfitscottsdale.com

SPORTS

Best Clipboard Holder
Matt Leinart
Largely because he’s been hurt and because Kurt Warner hasn’t been, Matt Leinart has played in nine games and thrown only 141 passes the last two seasons for the Arizona Cardinals. When he signed a six-year contract in 2006 for $14 million guaranteed and up to $50.8 million, he couldn’t possibly have envisioned how little of it he’d actually end up earning. Perhaps that’s why Leinart spent much of the off-season training in mixed martial arts with Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer to prove he can still come in and kick some butt. Until he gets back on the field, he’s officially our favorite clipboard QB.

Photography by Jeff Newton

Best Show of Sportsmanship
Grant Hill
HopeKids isn’t in the business of granting sick children one last wish. Instead, the nonprofit strives to make children feel special at every stage of their illness by providing ongoing activities and sending the message that continual hope is the most powerful medicine. Grant Hill hears this message loud and clear; the Phoenix Suns forward volunteers with HopeKids and won the 2008 NBA Sportsmanship Award for his work with the group. Hill donated his time to shoot hoops with HopeKid Robby (pictured above) in May, who said the experience “opened more doors than I could’ve ever asked for.” And that’s all we can ask of someone in Hill’s position. hopekids.org

Photography by Brian Goddard

MEDIA & PEOPLE

Best Local Winemaker
Sam Pillsbury
New Zealand-raised filmmaker Pillsbury (now a Scottsdale resident) decided to get into the Arizona wine business while here on a camping trip. He produces 1,100 cases a year of Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Petite Sirah and two Rhone-style blends with cheeky names like One Night Stand, Roan Red and Diva, all from grapes grown near Willcox. It’s good enough for Pizzeria Bianco and Quiessence, who serve up the shippable wine as part of their menus. pillsburywinecompany.com






SHOPPING & SERVICES

Best Beer Selection
Total Wine & More
Plato once said, “He was a wise man who invented beer,” and to that we would add an addendum about Total Wine & More. With three Arizona locations, including two in the Valley, these shops allow customers to create their own six-packs from close to 1,000 different varieties of beer. The build-a-beer collections cost roughly as much as a regular six pack but offer nonpareil variety and allow customers to test-drive various craft beers rather than be stuck with five more bottles of dud suds.
Arrowhead Towne Center, 17550 N. 75th Ave., Glendale, 623-486-0162; Desert Ridge Shopping Center, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste. 12, Phoenix, 480-515-6211, totalwine.com

Best Designs on a Dime
Designer District
What recession? Score some major deals on designer jeans and apparel at Designer District (formerly Designer Off Price). With more than 30 designer brands in stock, including Seven, True Religion, Lucky and D&G, this affordable but classy boutique is our pick for picking up designer duds at 50 to 90 percent off retail prices. The store carries apparel for men and women of all ages and sizes, and is guaranteed to be 100-percent authentic and affordable for those fashionistas counting pennies. 15231 N. 87th St., Ste. 105, Scottsdale, 480-922-5270.
New store opens this month at the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard.

Best New Boutique
Eileen
Eileen Burke knows it’s a dry heat. In fact, she ditched her digs in swampy North Carolina in search of a drier spot to set up shop. Destination: Phoenix, where she opened her chic new clothing and accessories boutique last year, appropriately named Eileen. The funky, pretty collection of designer items made Eileen a hit in her hometown, and there’s no doubt she’s already created a dedicated fan base here in the desert as well. Why all the buzz? Eileen delivers trendy goods for a steal: Nothing in the store, except top-tier denim, is more than $99, and no dress is more than $42. That means Catherine Popesco jewelry, Melie Bianco handbags and Havaianas flip flops for a find.  Flowing floral dresses, chunky satchels and fun extras like paisley print scarves fill the basic boutique, and Eileen is all about personal service, so if you’re looking for a hands-off, uninspired, big-box shopping experience, you and Eileen may not get along. Just because the prices are cheap, don’t expect cheap-looking clothes, however. Burke says she keeps prices low by keeping other business costs in-house and by making regular buying trips herself. This also means that items go quickly, so that dress you’re eyeing on the Website today may not be there tomorrow. 4290 E. Indian School Road, Ste. 119, Phoenix, 602-957-2755, shopeileen.com

Best New Bookstore
Bards Books
Bards and bibliophiles, unite! The Valley got a boost to its independent book scene when Bards Books opened in central Phoenix last fall. The 2,000-square-foot space houses new releases, out-of-print items, and independent and local titles in a cozy house-like setting. You can even bring your own books in for store credit. Throw in monthly book club meetings, acoustic jams, meditation sessions, poetry contests and various other demonstrations, and Bards has quickly become a neighborhood staple. Husband-and-wife owners Sven and Leeann Rosckowff were smart to set up shop where they did – on Seventh Street between Indian School and Thomas – since it sits so close to so many other midtown favorites (Lisa G. Café, Drip Lounge, Coronado Café) and offers residents something so simple yet so rare in this city. Independent bookstores shouldn’t be hard to find, but they’re about as common in Phoenix as rain puddles, so we’re ecstatic that this book-loving team has brought us a cozy nook where we can cuddle up with the works of the Bard himself.
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m., Sunday; 3508 N. Seventh St., Ste. 145, Phoenix, 602-274-7530, bardsbooks.com

Best New Nonprofit Resource
Disability Empowerment Center
Last year, a 62,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) of Arizona opened in Downtown Phoenix, housing 10 organizations (including Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, which commissioned it) serving disabled people and their families. The center, hailed as a national model for accessible design, houses fully accessible administrative office space, meeting rooms, event space, a cafeteria and kitchen, computer lab and resource center, and a state-of-the art video conferencing center. A 45,000-square-foot sports, fitness and aquatics center also is in the works. 5025 E. Washington St., Ste. 200, Phoenix, 602-256-2245, abil.org/dec.htm

BEST BETS FOR YOUR PETS

Best Grassroots Animal Rescue
Scottsdale Strays
When times are tough for people, companion animals often suffer dire consequences. Left behind in the wake of home foreclosures, surrendered to shelters because of financial crisis or left to wander and produce unwanted litters, countless Valley pets face uncertain futures in these shaky times. Thankfully, the animals have a tenacious ally in Scottsdale Strays, an all-volunteer charitable organization dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation and giving homeless animals a second chance at life. The “shelter” is a network of foster homes where volunteers care for the animals until they are re-homed through adoption events. Want to get involved? Call or e-mail to learn how you become part of this creative solution. 480-202-4800, scottsdalestrays@aol.com

Best Betcha-Can’t-Buy-Just-One-Thing Pet Market
Choice Pet Market
Aisles of basted bones, bandanas, beds, balls and boisterous budgies make this pet supply superstore a real blast to explore. Known for its wide selection of premium foods for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and rodents, Choice Pet Market is the place to go for fresh diet products and hard-to-find brands. So whether you’re catering to the needs of a Borzoi, Burmese, bunny or basalisk, this is your one-stop shopping destination. Also, if you’re ready to succumb to the charms of a homeless critter, visit on weekends when the store features adoptable pets from local animal rescue organizations. 7119 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, 480-575-9292; 20028 N. 67th Ave., Glendale, 623-937-4444, choicepetmarket.com