Worst of the Lehigh Valley Awards 2011 “Winners”

Thank you to all who voted in our first Worst of the Lehigh Valley Awards!

We had about 250 votes in categories that included “Worst Cable Company,” “Worst Movie Theater” and “Worst Restaurant.”

Some of the responses were rather…. well, I don’t even know if I can post them on this website, which is pretty screwed up.

All winners will be presented with some sort of award. Probably something from my recycling bin or, at the least, probably a little .pdf plaque. Cmon, our award show budget is SUPER low.

When you’re done, you can read the full votes here. (Warning, there are a ton)

Click on images for larger view.

1. Worst Mall: The Westgate Mall

This one was pretty easy. While the Whitehall Mall and South Mall both have their issues, The Westgate Mall in Bethlehem is just sad. Most of the stores are closed. Anything that tries to open up there fails and it feels like you’re walking through a post apocalyptic zombie attack zone.

2. Worst Salon: TC Salon and Spa

How anyone could not pick TC Salon and Spa after this fiasco is beyond me. Lehigh Valley Magazine apparently thought they were great though. Idiots.

3. Worst Lehigh Valley Publication: The Morning Call

Most of the “other” votes on this category were just blanks, so, the Morning Call eeks out a victory here with 20 percent of the vote. Now, go back to reading it every day like you do anyway. I, for one, was a bit surprised LV Style got more votes than LV Magazine. Morning Call only really one this one because it’s the biggest target. Sure, they get stuff wrong here and there, but, man Lehigh Valley Magazine can be quiet atrocious.

4. Worst Municpal Police Force: Hellertown

Everyone pretty much voted for whatever town they live in. However, Hellertown got the most hate and probably due to the fact that they are a small town, but get a lot of out of town traffic from 78 and people passing through to and from better places. The cops like to screw with people for the smallest infractions (like touching the yellow line while driving on 412.) And, for that, Hellertown Police, you are the worst.

5. Cell Phone Provider: AT&T

Due to dropped calls and sometimes crappy signals, AT&T beats out TMobile in our most hotly contested category with only two votes separating crappy service from other crappy service. 

6. Worst High School: Allen High School

This one was pretty easy. Most of the “other” votes here were left blank by people who did not go to high school in the Lehigh Valley, so, Allen is your winner. Who wants to go to a school where they are happy to graduate 50 percent of incoming freshman or one where there are probably at least two armed guards on the premises at all times. My vote went to Bangor because, well, you know naked teacher aides and drugs and stuff.

7. Worst College: LCCC

LCCC won this in a landslide and, believe it or not, it’s actually the first thing LCCC has ever won. When you’re the second best community college in a community, it may be time to rethink your standards. Hey, at least Darryl Dawkins was coaching their basketball team. In what may be more interesting news, Lafayette beat out Lehigh by ten votes to be the worst real college. (DeSales doesn’t count.)

8. Worst Local Road: Route 22 

Wasn’t even a contest. Route 22 is the bane of many of our existences.

9. Worst Casino: Sands

This was a close vote, but the Sands got the nod for being the worst casino in the Valley. Probably has something to do with all the driving cars off the roof and stuff.

10. Worst Local Politician: U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent

At least this was a close election, compared to what happened last time Dent and Callahan had a show down. PLEASE read the transcript we have here. Dent probably gets the most hate because he’s the most visible local politician. But, cmon guys, Joe Brennan should have taken this one easily!

11. Worst Movie Theater: Carmike 16 in Allentown

I wholeheartedly agree with this landslide victory. Carmike’s theaters smell like feet, people behave like animals there and, the last time I was there, they started to play the wrong movie. Boyd shouldn’t have gotten any votes! I miss the Boyd! 

12. Worst Cable Company: RCN

RCN trounced Service Electric, getting almost double the votes. I have RCN and don’t have many problems with them, but some people just HATE them. There is something cool about Service Electric being the oldest cable company in the U.S., but whatever. I just want to watch the History International Channel without having to pay for it!

13. Worst Lehigh Valley Town: Easton

No surprises here, folks. Easton takes the cake here because it’s crime riddled, full of citizens who rationalize the actual problems, gets flooded twice a year, has a police force that shoots each other, has inept politicians and, to be honest, is in the back of everyone’s minds when it comes to doing anything locally. Easton destroyed Allentown in this vote, think about that. People think it’s THAT much worse than what most people consider a hell hole: Allentown.

14. Worst Lehigh Valley Restaurant: Fiesta Ole in Bethlehem

We received some pretty colorful votes for worst restaruant, including Starters Riverport, Edge and Sotto Santi. But, Fiesta Ole kept getting nods. 

As one voter put it: ”Fiesta Ole on Linden Street in Bethlehem…where a taco salad is wilted, shredded lettuce with watery chicken hidden at the bottom of it. (and I have eaten at some BAD places.)”

Hey, other places did get votes, too. Like Edge and Olio in Bethlehem: “Olio in downtown Bethlehem. Italian joint sold as moderately upscale. Food is too salty, they serve powdered parmesan cheese, and the service sucks.”

15. Worst Convenience Store: Pantry One in Bethlehem

Pantry One just recently replaced an older Wawa at the corner of Linden and Union in Bethlehem and we received no less than ten write-in votes saying how much it sucks. So, Pantry One, you’re no Wawa.

16. Worst Hospital: Easton Hospital

I know nothing really about what makes a hospital good or bad, so you’ll have to explain this one to me. It’s because it’s in Easton, isn’t it? Just found out that it is actually in Wilson Borough, but whatever, it still has an Easton address.

17. Worst Bar in Easton: Drinky’s

18. Worst Bar in Bethlehem: The Funhouse (Really?)

I know the Funhouse is a dive, but it’s a swan dive amongst dives. If I had my druthers you’d have to go with the New Street Pub. The reason it didn’t win is because most of you are lucky enough to have never been inside of it. It’s just downright awful and ridiculous. People in with no teeth, people asleep at the bar, needles all over. Man…

19. Worst Bar in Allentown: Celebrations.

20. Other Miscellaneous Worst of the Lehigh Valley Write-Ins

Worst professor on Twitter: Jeremy Littau “Guy is just a D*#K.” :)

Worst Supermarket:  Redners Lehigh st.  - It’s just a shithole.

Worst Coffee Shop:  Starbucks on Schoenersville rd.  - Consistently fucks up one of the easiest drinks (seriously, it’s espresso and cold milk)

Worst Music Writer in the Lehigh Valley: John Moser

Worst Musician not from the Lehigh Valley: Taylor Swift

Worst Musikfest Platz: Polkaplatz

Worst Boss in the Lehigh Valley: Frank Shipman

Worst Comic Book Store: Phantom of the Attic

Worst Dunkin Donuts: In the Circle in Easton

Worst Hookah Lounge: Essence: Too loud and obnoxious for hookahing! 

Worst Twitter Haiku Writer: @kblumneau

Worst Animal Hospital: The Walbet animal hospital.  I went in for my dog’s yearly check up. The male vet (I forget his name) said my dog had a heart murmur. He wrote it on a slip of paper, told me to go home & look it up, then walked out of the room! I found the vet I used to have, (she left there & opened her own pratice), & my dog is doing fine on her heart meds.

Worst Airline: US Airways - way too many flights delayed to PHL on a regular basis. 

Worst Retail Store: Walmart on MacArthur rd. Whitehall. The place ALWAYS looks like a bomb went off. I was in the Makeup Department yesterday and there was a watermelon sitting on the shelf between the lipstick pile that was a heaping mess and the eyeliners. I HATE THAT WALMART!!!!

Worst Farmers Market: Easton Farmers Market - Lost its focus and has become botique and out of touch.

Worst Vineyard: Blue Mountain.  Their Pinot Noir smells like burnt tires and is so offensive you must have no nose if you can drink it.  Plus it’s over $20 a bottle. This isn’t Napa sweethearts.  The owners should throw in the towel and try honing another craft.

Most over-rated restaurant:  A-1 Japanese Steakhouse

Worst Dead Founder of a College on Twitter: @asapackersghost

Worst State Police force: Pennsylvania State Police for their daily speed traps on route 22 when the top speed possible, due to traffic, is about 45. But there he is in the bushes, drinking his coffee. It’s the equivelant of someone with a regular job wasting the day away on Facebook. 

Worst Local Radio Show Host: Robert “Bob” Holder - After Further Review Sports Show on Fox 1470am

Worst Blog: Lehigh Valley with Love

View ALL the votes here.