Best Soy Candles — Island Sham Farmhouse

At this Sandusky candle shop, you can blend more than 200 fragrances into a custom scent and choose a vintage or eclectic vessel to make it your own.

Best Fruit Carver — Chef Lin Repko

At Sandusky’s Rockin’ Ranch, chef Lin Repko transforms ordinary produce into extraordinary works of art, continuing a fruit-carving tradition rooted in her Thai family.

Best New View — The Galley

Dine just feet from the water at The Galley, a new restaurant with sailboat views, a big patio and an approachable menu.

Best Cocktails and Mocktails — Patina Porch

Sip garden-fresh cocktails and mocktails with sunset views over the marsh at this laid-back Sandusky gathering spot.

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Best On-the-Water Fun — Cleveland Floaters

Jim Kukral turns a sunset cruise on the Cuyahoga into a funny, cathartic escape where worries dissolve.

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Best New Look — Shooters Cleveland

A Flats nightlife icon gets a fresh look, new ownership and a new menu while keeping its classic riverfront views and boat-up charm.

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Save the Date to Create

Search for your next upcycle project at these fall markets and craft fairs across the Lake Erie region.

Best Tiny Bookstore — Millie Magoo’s & The Fine Print

Head to Lakeside Chautauqua for a charming new bookstore filled with good reads, mahjong sets, puzzles and plenty of reasons to linger.

Best New Winery — Corkscrew Taphouse Winery + Tasting Bar vs. Monarch Meadow Vineyard

Two new Ashtabula County wineries bring distinctly different personalities to Ohio’s Grand River Valley wine scene.

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Best Buzz — Strawberry Shots at the Groove Bar & Grill

Kelleys Island’s iconic strawberry shots have drawn visitors for more than 30 years — and they’re still made to order, berry by berry.

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Best Chef — Darian Bryan

From Jamaica to Buffalo, Chef Darian Bryan is serving bold, vibrant flavors at three distinct dining experiences.

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