For us music scribes, it’s tough to pick the best concert of the year from an array of fine shows that passed… Continue

Hebden grew up wandering the rural wilds of Pennsylvania thinking flora was as alive as you and me. She proves it with… Continue

By his own admission, he can “sell it, print it, draw it, shoot it, paint it, crop it, flop it, stretch it… Continue

While we don’t see him on local stages quite as much as we used to — or we’d like to — Helm… Continue

A repeat winner from last year ... and the year before that. Range and consistency are what separate Carla from the legion… Continue

Like Nicia Carla, another frequent winner. Daring, skill and national renown are the hallmarks of NC Dance Theatre. Whether here in Charlotte,… Continue

Huge ups for the place that calls itself an “eccentric little gay bar in Plaza-Midwood” and sponsors the Charlotte Royals, the Queen… Continue

Professor Emeritus of English at Davidson College and vice president of the North Carolina Writers Network, Abbott’s writing passions include modern drama,… Continue

A repeat winner from last year. The band’s about as large as Earth, Wind & Fire (some eight members, and that’s without… Continue

Childers has won this award so many times that we should consider renaming it the David Childers Award for Best Local Songwriter.… Continue

Soulganic has been making musical waves in our neck of the woods with a blend of soulful jazz and shades of funk.… Continue

Whether scatting her way through a jazz classic or re-interpreting a torch song, Chorneau’s rich and smoky vocals conjure intimate nightclubs and… Continue

Originally one of the founding members of Rare Grooves & the Soul Movement, now Kitchen brings us the Sol Kitchen. Through Sol… Continue

Well, you can't say this local musician’s admirers aren't dedicated. After deluging the CL offices with often profane and usually incomprehensible e-mails… Continue

Or, more precisely, the three floors of the McColl Center for Visual Art. Never a dull moment at this place: AfroCubans, environmentalists,… Continue

The grand, oversized beams holding up the roof may seem a tad hokey in the Queen City. But ya know, so what?… Continue

Finally! For years, we’ve had to get our NoFo “fix” at Raleigh’s NoFo at the Pig. Featuring a café, food market and… Continue

This hot AC station from Wilkesboro gets the props for mixing it up. Take the Cure, Jack Johnson, O.M.D., Green Day, Aerosmith… Continue

“In my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of [the] leadership in Washington. And I would hope from time to time… Continue

This show provided Charlotte with a not-ready-for-prime-time view of man’s inhumanity to man, from Kosovo to Iraq. From laser guided bombs to… Continue

Two chef-owners will be missed. Like so many others, I enjoyed chef Mark Martin’s easy style at Ethan’s and Chris Zion’s precise… Continue

A repeat winner from years gone by (and a runner-up last year), Value Village again takes the top spot. This thrift shop… Continue

OK, so we admit to being a little biased here simply because for anyone who has spent as many years plugging and… Continue

There comes a point — it’s called adulthood — when you realize you need a more nutritious breakfast than Pop-Tarts. Around the… Continue

For two years in a row, Bang Bang rockets into first place, thanks to a funky interior, fun furnishings and, more importantly,… Continue

When it looked like U2 was going to be the first rock band to play at our swanky new downtown arena, we… Continue

Whether hosting an intimate acoustic gig or full-blown rawk show, the versatility of midtown’s Visulite Theatre makes it a favorite with… Continue

Whether it be for a foot-long dog, fried pickles and a martini, or sweet potato fries and a burger after hours, the… Continue

Charlotte has so many good charities (Urban Ministry Center, the Shelter for Battered Women, etc.) that this was a hard winner to… Continue

Many tattoo parlors in the city operate with a too-cool-for-school attitude. Some even make fun of their clientele while they tattoo them.… Continue

It’s been a little over a year since longtime anchor Bill Walker retired, but since his departure, WSOC has managed to more… Continue

The closest thing Charlotte has to a true NYC-style dance club is also the best thing Charlotte has in terms of dancing.… Continue

Every city deserves a secular conscience in the arts. Independent curator June Lambla assembles shows that address social issues from fresh, unexpected… Continue

Besides having perhaps the coolest storefront in Plaza-Midwood, Corinna and Co. also boast the largest selection of body jewelry in North Carolina.… Continue

What’s black and white and read all over? The 700-plus bottle wine roster (13 pages) at Zebra.

In the competitive rat race that is TV news, Mercer emerges as the swan: graceful, poised, confident and intelligent. And she doesn't… Continue

With 40,000 square feet, this YMCA branch is larger than some big-box retail stores, but with much more happening. Yeah, it has… Continue

Smart and helpful, first-term county commissioner Jennifer Roberts gets things done and doesn't pander to the prejudices of the local “ignorati.” Those… Continue

Let’s face it: You can learn only so much during a date of dinner and drinks. To determine the key factors of… Continue

We have gracious plenty contenders in this category, but James and Renee Bazelle’s spot always steals our hearts for their good food… Continue

Blowing the competition away, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte reached new heights from the moment it nestled into its new ImaginOn facility on… Continue

A repeat winner. Forget the perfect hair, forget his history as the Ty-D-Bowl man. What our critics remember, and like best, about… Continue

One of our critics purchased a $30 DVD player here after Christmas, and sure felt like it was a “best buy.” And… Continue

Not only is owner Tommy George one of the nicest guys in town but he owns an outstanding shop filled with homemade… Continue

Like Larry Sprinkle, Little posts his second consecutive victory in this category. With his baby face and nice-guy delivery, Little, WBTV’s sports… Continue

Have you seen the Apple commercials with the two guys — the Windows user wearing glasses and an ill-fitting suit, and the… Continue

Yes, Earth Fare’s a chain, but it’s kinda local, since it originated in Asheville. We especially go for its raw milk cheeses… Continue

Crump, a longtime veteran of WBTV, is that rare breed of TV journalist: one who takes his job, and his responsibility to… Continue

Myrick practically salivates every time she hears of an illegal immigrant doing anything wrong — all the better to propose another repressive… Continue

Central Avenue’s Lunchbox Records, run by former Manifest manager Scott Wishart, is one of those great High Fidelity-style independent record shops that… Continue

Associated Press correspondents’ bylines are often omitted or overlooked, but the news collective’s reporters, including local Tim Whitmire, are some of the… Continue

A repeat winner. The Carter family, and ‘cue lovers across the state, suffered a loss this year with the death of patriarch… Continue

First of all, it’s in a great location, nestled toward the quiet end of East Boulevard, which means you don’t have to… Continue

Humor seems a scarce commodity in this city lately, but when you want to read an irreverent columnist who doesn't take himself… Continue

When you think comedian, the first image that comes to mind is stand-up. But Charlotte’s two best comedians are masters of both… Continue

A little bit dark, a little bit smoky (OK, maybe more than a little), and quite a lot of billiards makes EB’s… Continue

Is there any other? For years, Park Lanes has gotten our vote for its retro feel, Strike-Mor Pro Shop and high-quality crap… Continue

Not even close. PS was a runaway winner, thanks to its incredible variety. Sure, you can get a picture frame for Mom,… Continue

Thai cuisine relies on the eye and palate of the cook rather than a step-by-step recipe, and Chef Tony Kwok has a… Continue

It was sooooo tempting to pick Tom Ashcraft, the George Will wannabe whose smarmy mug disgraces the pages of the Charlotte Observer… Continue

Forget luck; you can tell that a lot of hard work goes into keeping this South End shop in top gear. GT… Continue

It feels like the heart of the neighborhood, with a joyful noise and happy vibe emanating from its doors almost every night.… Continue

The people who work in the BOA operations center in the Gateway (as well as Johnson & Wales University faculty, staff and… Continue

It’s forecasted that by 2020, nearly a million more people will move to this region. Some of them will locate inside the… Continue

The Main Library’s annual summer film series has taken this honor several times in the past, but perhaps never more deservedly than… Continue

This shop is a full-service seven-acre nursery on Park South Drive, featuring upscale necessities such as Foxgloves gardening gloves, landscape lighting kits,… Continue

A repeat winner. Luisa set the bar high when she introduced her brick oven baked Italian pizza 15 years ago. It’s still… Continue

Born in Charlotte and raised in Waxhaw, Martin got involved in politics early, as student body president of UNC during his undergraduate… Continue

Just because they’re from McCleansville or Rochingsham or Fartbutt, NC, doesn't mean we care. North Carolina’s Idols might have other similarities with… Continue

Common only in name (‘cuz it’s on Commonwealth Avenue), this place defines the very concept of a neighborhood market. Grab a beer,… Continue

Lowe’s barely lost in this category last year (a vote behind the eventual winner), so it’s only fitting that it takes the… Continue

Take a look at the numbers: 21 taps of beer, three big-screen TVs and 17 regular-ol’ TVs (27 at the University location),… Continue

A repeat winner, again and again. A movie lover’s paradise (and still a secret to the masses, as evidenced by Blockbuster’s umpteenth… Continue

At long last, an upscale Indian restaurant in Charlotte. Copper is 100 percent Indian in a modern way. Restaurateur Pannu Singh offers… Continue

Some go for the beer and camaraderie, but CIA-trained chef-owner Thomas Meier makes outstanding German food, including his schweine lendchen mit jägersosse.… Continue

Years ago, there was a scare when the former owner advertised that he was selling the business because he couldn't compete with… Continue

Taking a page from the wholesome folks in Las Vegas, the marketers at Uptown Cabaret promise that “what happens here, stays here.”… Continue

Open for just a little more than a year, the Charlotte location of this five-store chain has written a new chapter in… Continue

If you’ve never tried Colombian food, Delicias is a treat. The empanadas are outstanding and the entrées are enormous and inexpensive. Plus,… Continue

Actually, it’s open 24 hours, so it doesn't matter how close to 2am you get there. Since 1960, owner Jimmy Kakavitsas has… Continue

Germany, Holland, Mexico, the Czech Republic — no, we’re not talking World Cup soccer, we’re talking beer at the Mellow Mushroom’s three… Continue

Choosing best ethnic (other) is like choosing among our children. However, we’ve been sending friends and readers to Meskerem since it opened.… Continue

Is there anyone else? It seems that, year after year, we simply rely on Book Buyers to delight us with new (old)… Continue

If you have yet to see these guys live, you’re definitely missing out. Soulganic’s sound isn't easily labeled. It’s jazzy but not… Continue

New to Charlotte this year, this expensive steakhouse has Charlotteans waiting in line and drinking mojitos. Ruth’s offers thickly cut steaks and… Continue

Clean, herbaceous flavors are the hallmarks of Vietnamese cuisine, and Ngan Nguyen (who used to cook for her daughter at Lang Van… Continue

The self-titled debut from the Wadesboro Four is already climbing the charts at influential radio stations like Seattle’s KEXP. Full of three-minute… Continue

Owner and Itatame Joanna Nix produces irresistible, deftly cleaved rolls that taste sparkling fresh at her SouthEnd location.

OK, it’s a chain, but these potatoes, with their Idaho birth place announced at the fry line, are hand cut, fried in… Continue

Price’s is the annual winner of this award (is there enough room on the wall for all the certificates?) and has also… Continue

Native Charlotteans use this spot to meet and chow down on these old-timey burgers topped with onions, peppers, mushrooms, cheese, lettuce and… Continue

Slathered with cole slaw and chili. Yum.

You can have your cake and lick it, too, with their house-made tiramisu and cheesecake gelato. Or get the affogato — two… Continue

Taking wings to a level beyond the hot and spicy Buffalo variety.

It’s hard to select other lunch items at Lulu when this sandwich is still on the menu. This superb item comes on… Continue

This Italian bakery offers many treats, including sfogliatelle, Italian cookies (including apricot shortbread), Italian cheesecakes, tiramisu, a two-layer almond butter cream cake,… Continue

The Manor has struggled ever since parent company Eastern Federal was bought out by the Regal outfit, so the emergence of Charlotte’s… Continue

Many will cite the expansive lobby. Some will focus on the auditorium’s leather seats. Yet others will appreciate the food and drink… Continue

Herring is a big fan of local venues the Loft and Eden, where he spins on any given night. However, he still… Continue

A first for Creative Loafing: Chef-owners (and graduates of the Culinary Institute of America) Stratos Lambos and Angelo Kaltsounis have done it… Continue

Kaltsounis, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan, specializing in pastries, cut his teeth at Kyma in Atlanta. Now, he’s… Continue

Any occasion, for that matter. Chef and owner Bruce Moffett’s deference to food is well known and his kitchen achieves tastes that… Continue

Because we remember how much we coveted cheap beer when we were in college. Grand Central offers $2 or $2.50 beers every… Continue

It used to be that you walked in the P-stone and you had these choices: Widespread Panic and whatever was left. Now… Continue

The quintessential Irish pub, since 1997. The owners of Ri-Ra now operate seven such bars up and down the East Coast, since… Continue

A frequent past winner. For 10 years now, Carolina Smoothies has been satisfying local taste buds with fresh blends of juices, yogurt,… Continue

As bank employees get pink-slipped while executives get golden parachutes, Moore’s message rings especially clear. Moore, the Bank of America… Continue