Best of Charlotte 2012

Oct 3-9, 2012 / Vol. 26 / No. 32

Cover Story

Best of Charlotte 2012

A year like 2012 doesn’t come around too often. On a microcosmic level, we celebrated CL’s 25th birthday this year. Woo-hoo! We had fun. On a regional level, we got the Democratic National Convention. A big woo-hoo!! We had big fun. On a macro level, all of us humans on Planet Earth had better get…

CL Staff

Charlotte writers get personal with riveting reads

A decade or so ago, a friend stated that Charlotte would be a “grown-up” literary city when it produced a wide variety of talented writers working in a wealth of styles and worldviews. From what I’ve seen over the past two or three years, we’re now in the time my friend foresaw. As evidence, these…

John Grooms

CD Review: The Eastern Sea’s Plague

On The Eastern Sea’s debut LP, Plague, frontman Matthew Hines’ voice is bold and sunny. It’s a smoother strain than that of Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, but Hines’ lyrical concerns are darker hued. Here, the word “plague” is a metaphor for the push/pull of fate vs. free will, powerlessness vs. control. It’s a…

Pat Moran

Tour de Feast

On a Friday afternoon earlier this summer, 15 strangers of varying ages, some of them local residents and others visitors to Charlotte, gathered at the downtown restaurant Queen City Q, with one thing on their minds: food. It was the trial run of the Soul of the South walking food tour, a fun, enlightening and…

Kelly Davis

3 questions with Angela Kim, food blogger

For Angela Kim, eating is one of the greatest forms of entertainment. The 27-year-old would prefer a foodie pen pal grub (obtained through a special exchange program in which bloggers mail food to each other) over a pair of Louboutins any day. “Food is one of the greatest commonalities we have as humans,” says Kim.…

Anita Overcash

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files (Oct. 4)

Party Monster: Police showed up at the Omni Hotel last week after security officers called about a guest who had returned from a nightclub looking for a good time. The men told police that the suspect walked through the lobby carrying 15 bottles of various liquors worth, they later estimated, about $800. When the officers…

Ryan Pitkin

Looper: Back to the future

LOOPER *** DIRECTED BY Rian Johnson STARS Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt The pretzel-twisted thriller Looper may not take us back to the future as satisfyingly as director Robert Zemeckis’ Marty McFly trilogy or James Cameron’s Terminator franchise, but writer-director Rian Johnson does enough right to all but guarantee that he now has a future cult…

Matt Brunson

Butterfingered

BUTTER ** DIRECTED BY Jim Field Smith STARS Jennifer Garner, Yara Shahidi Julianne Moore recently won an Emmy Award for her performance as Sarah Palin in the HBO film Game Change, but don’t expect the cinematic equivalent (read: an Academy Award) to land in Jennifer Garner’s lap for her performance as a Sarah Palin clone…

Matt Brunson

Weekly horoscope (Oct. 4-10)

Libra The Scales (Sept. 22-Oct. 22)Saturn is departing your sign and it will be a relief. You have spent the past cycle working toward redefining who you want to become in the world. However you may have done it, the probability is that it was costly in more ways than one. You know how much…

Vivian Carol

Punk rock Messiah: Chuck Prophet

Chuck Prophet is having a hard time explaining himself. The prolific songwriter is a touch out of sorts, and he apologizes every few minutes for not making his points more clearly. The cell phone service is spotty at his San Francisco apartment, and it cuts out at one point, ruining the rhythm of one of…

Jordan Lawrence

Frankenweenie: For ghouls and boys

FRANKENWEENIE *** DIRECTED BY Tim Burton STARS Charlie Tahan, Martin Landau The story goes that when Tim Burton presented his 1984 live-action short, Frankenweenie, to his employers at Walt Disney Pictures, they promptly fired him for blowing their money on a weird project that didn’t jibe with the company’s benign, kid-friendly offerings. Needless to say,…

Matt Brunson

Hotel Transylvania: Worth a short stay

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA **1/2 DIRECTED BY Genndy Tartakovsky STARS Adam Sandler, Kevin James An animated feature with Adam Sandler providing the voice of Dracula sounds like strength-sapping kryptonite to anyone with a modicum of taste, but Hotel Transylvania turns out to be a fairly pleasant surprise. Admittedly, it works in spite of Sandler, not because of…

Matt Brunson

Local activists marching forward

Charlotte protesters have been regrouping since the first week in September, when so many eyes were watching them and so many ears listening. Many are optimistic about the future of local activism and ready to put what they learned during the Democratic National Convention toward reaching new goals and increasing their numbers. Groups are weaving…

Ryan Pitkin

God of Carnage brings its wrath

Comedy is never far away in Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, where two well-to-do Brooklyn couples get together to have a civilized discussion about a nasty altercation between their sons. The big joke, of course, is that the parents are no more sober, responsible, neat, well-mannered or impervious to taunting and name-calling than their children.…

Perry Tannenbaum

Thrash unreal: Kreator and Accept made early marks in metal

The bands Accept and Kreator both have made essential contributions to the evolution of metal as integral players in the emergence of the speed and thrash sub-genres of the ’80s. Accept was one of the first bands to graft taut and concussive high-speed riffs to relentless bass drum rhythms, the backbone of both styles’ fury.…

Jordan Lawrence

Dead Prez continues radical hip-hop movement

On Friday, Oct. 5, few things going on in Charlotte will be bigger than the Dead Prez show at Amos Southend, because the duo of Stic.man and M-1 are likely to shake our city’s hip-hop scene to its foundations. Presented by the Knock Brothers and Dupp & Swatt, this “really dope music festival” will feature…

Mike Cooper

This week’s concert listings (Oct. 4-Oct. 10)

** Bullet points indicate CL’s critics’ picks** Thursday, Oct. 04 Blues/Roots/International Bayou Butch Lucas (Villa Antonio (Ballantyne)) Blues and More… (Wet Willie’s) Curtis Salgado (Double Door Inn) Latin Thursdays (Dream Nightclub, Matthews) Classical/Jazz/Smooth Beats and Keys (Encore Bistro and Bar) Bill Hanna’s Vintage Dance Band (Grand Central Events) John Alexander (Blue Restaurant & Bar) Country/Folk…

Local Zero

As the consummate smarmy sycophant of Mecklenburg County government, Harold Cogdell comes off as equal parts creepy and corrupt. Disloyal? Cogdell made a deal with the four Republican county commissioners to make himself the chairman, pulling a coup on shoo-in Democrat Jennifer Roberts. With his and the GOPers’ votes, he secured the seat but then…

Best Movie Rental Selection

A repeat winner. From A to Z, whether you’re searching for a title (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein to Zulu Dawn), director (Altman to Zetterling) or star (Astaire to Zellweger), you’ll probably find it here.

Best Art Exhibit (Established Artist)

The technical prowess Thornton Dial acquired during his years as a metalworker and his life experience in the Jim Crow South came together in massive pieces created largely from junk. His mixed media paintings and sculpture pulsate with color, energy and somber political and social commentary. Related Stories

Best Local Tattoo Artist

There’s a reason why Fu’s Custom Tattoos artist Hayley Lakeman books appointments months in advance – she’s that damn good and she’s worth the wait. She has the talent for portraits and pets, the artistic eye for composition, and the skill to pull off everything from realistic wildlife to M.C. Escher to just about anything…

Best Strip Club

A repeat winner. Once again, the venue of choice for buffets and booty-dropping is Uptown Cabaret. With its infamous amateur night on Sunday, the joint has been featuring T, A and a quality mix of impressive and awkward dance moves for many racy moons. The music is thumping, the ambience dark and sultry, and ladies…

Best Coffee Shop

All coffee served here is fair trade, but the real draw is the sensational and certifiably addictive Liège waffles. Trust me, you’ll make this a frequent stop. Related Stories

Best Clothing Store

Want to spend $15 on your next outfit, or $500? Either way, Summerbird’s got you covered. Head to the rack that suits your budget and peruse away. Ladies, the best part about this consignment boutique is owner Cindy Siesel’s ability to make you feel like the supermodel you are in your head. She has a…

Best Activist (Individual or Group)

When he isn’t involved in a protest, Luis Rodriguez is working behind the scenes to facilitate more of them. The Action NC organizer started his career as a foreclosure counselor, which often put him between big banks and their customers. He literally saw the foreclosure crisis unravel. Now, he protests big banks. He also helps…

Best Movie Purchase Selection

A repeat winner. Want a brand-new copy of that hit movie on Blu-ray or DVD? You’ll find it at Manifest, and perhaps even on sale. Satisfied with just getting it used? Wait awhile and it should turn up in that section. Low on cash? No problem; bring in your unwanted items (movies, music and games)…

Best New Band, Formed In Last 12 Months

The members of Charlotte’s best new band revel in their sub-humble beginnings as musicians-in-residence at the Q.C.’s aptly christened Sewercide Mansion. With sonic forebears including the bluesy swamp punk of the Gun Club and the snotty garage riffs of the Seeds, Paint Fumes mix in the brain-rewired-after-serious-head-trauma aesthetic of brilliant ’60s Lower East Side idiot…

Best Beer Selection

You name it, they have it. From obscure breweries to local favorites, World of Beer will have you globe-hopping. The customized flights are a great way to sample a variety of brews, particularly if you pair a few flights with proprietary World of Beer Jenga and turn sampling into a drinking game. The place is…

Best Caribbean

A repeat winner. If you think the quickest passage to Kingston is via USAirways, the curries, jerk chicken, coleslaw, plantain tarts and coco bread from Austin’s may prompt your taste buds to disagree.

Best Sushi

If you like your sushi both creative and flavorful – with impeccable ingredients – this is the place. The Hamachi Jalapeño roll with the alternating sweetness of crab and the unctuousness of avocado spiked with a wasabi citronette is all that. Related Stories

Best Place to Buy Vintage

If you love shopping in a thrift store that looks like Ace Hardware on the outside – and who doesn’t? – Value Village is your jam. You can pore over once-loved women’s and men’s clothes – and collectibles – without the high prices of vintage boutiques like Century or Hong Kong Vintage. The selection is…

Best Local Charity

This year’s winner proves do-goodery often requires personal sacrifice and cannot be done alone. Since it started 15 years ago, Project Halo, a no-kill, nonprofit animal rescue and sanctuary, has relied solely on volunteers and donations. Last year, it pulled in $60,000 and rescued 400 animals. As usual, it adopted out about 95 percent. (The…

Local Columnist You’re Sick Of

We feel a little bad giving this award to Observer mommy blogger Curtis. After all, we weren’t born in a laboratory – we all have moms and know how hard they work. But sentimentality aside, Curtis’ “ra-ra Charlotte” attitude is more than a little obnoxious. We already have enough coming from Uptown boosters, who get…

Best New Nightspot (Opened In Last 12 Months)

Once a cursed spot for businesses, the corner of Fifth and Church streets has become so hot, Hollywood actresses (Jessica Alba and Elizabeth Banks, albeit during the DNC) dine there. Maybe it has something to do with the food: Chef Jamie Lynch makes use of fresh local ingredients and puts a creative twist on the…

Best New Restaurant (Opened in Last 12 Months)

Charlotte has lacked a mainstream full-menu vegetarian restaurant for too long. But last fall, the creative team of Jill Marcus and Karen Teed stepped up and opened Fern: Flavors from the Garden. The intimate place has the feel of a backyard in summer and the food is creative and delicious. This is a back-to-back win…

Best Cupcake Shop

OK, so it’s actually a truck, not a shop. But we can’t help falling in love with The Elvis, a decadent banana cake with peanut butter butter-cream frosting and spiked with two strips of lean candied bacon, from the inspired food truck of entrepreneurs Shannon Turrell and Russ Falkowski. 704-458-9389 www.cupcakedelirium.vpweb.com Related Stories

Best Shoe Store

What’s better than a new pair of shoes? Two or three new pairs, of course! Plus, if you save your encore rewards, you can get money off your next purchase. The most complicated choice you’ll face is picking a brand, whether you’re a Chinese Laundry kind of gal or a proper Calvin Klein lady. Various…

Best Support Group

We’re kicking off this first-time category with a classic. Narcotics Anonymous has saved the lives of millions of grandparents, parents, children, sisters, brothers and cousins, but you’ll never see a commercial or billboard lauding its powers. It follows the Twelve Step program developed by its sister group, Alcoholics Anonymous, but focuses on addiction not just…

Best Local Film Festival/Event

Held this past March at the Blake Hotel, this superb three-day film convention, the brainchild of West Coasters Eben McGarr and Joe Moe (creators of Mad Monster magazine), offered booths, screenings and tons of celebrities with horror/sci-fi/fantasy credits: Rutger Hauer, Brad Dourif, Dave “Darth Vader” Prowse, Traci Lords, Dee Wallace and many, many more. McGarr…

Best Nightlife Event

For the music fan, it’s a chance to dance in a club setting just like you normally would, only you’ll be doing it while wearing headphones. The fun is more for the outsiders: watching a room full of people who appear to be dancing only to the music in their heads. Related Stories

Best Splurge Restaurant

A repeat winner. Year in and year out, Chef Bruce Moffett has created the best restaurant experience in town. It’s quiet and unassuming, tucked into tiny Foxcroft strip mall, but its food, desserts and wines are bold and delicious, and the ambiance warm and cozy. Don’t believe just us: Zagat rates it a whopping 98.

Best Steakhouse

Amor is all about Brazilian-style grilled meats: pork, lamb, chicken sausages and, of course, steak. You can have as much meat as you want and select from a well-chosen wine list, which includes many Chilean and Argentine wines. Related Stories

Best Hair Salon

One of our favorite things about Orange Olive Hair Gallery is that it shares on Facebook what appointments it has available each day. That the place uses social media to engage its clients is very cutting edge (pun intended) and it’s one of many reasons we’ve chosen Orange Olive as the best hair salon in…

Best Radio Station

A repeat winner. Considering the current environment of attack ads and overreaching media coverage in an election year, it’s not only important but comforting to have a radio presence that’s both eclectic and moderate. WFAE (90.7 on your radio dial) can credit its continuing success among Charlotte-area listeners to diverse programming as well as genuinely…

Best Homeless Facility

The Urban Ministry Center encompasses many buildings, programs and dedicated people, creating an urban oasis for Charlotte’s homeless. A few blocks from the Square, “The Urb” offers a daily soup kitchen and much more: mail service, showers, counselors, substance-abuse treatment, a laundry, art classes, resume advice, a communal garden, sculptures and, most importantly, a welcoming,…

Local Issue That Needs More Attention

There are more than 2,500 homeless people in Charlotte on a given night. State budget cuts have reduced funding for shelters, some receiving two-thirds less than in previous years. While there are many issues that need attention, and some that have suffered even more from budget cuts, the city’s homeless deserve more notice than ever.…

Best Local Band/Artist

Last year, The Bear Romantic won the critics’ prize for Best New Band, so this merely marks a natural progression. Jesse Clasen brings a haunting dynamic to his vocals in his band HRVRD, but it’s in this solo project that he really spreads his creative wings, exploring the boundaries of music in all directions. Related…

Best Cheap Restaurant

One of the last remaining family-owned Greek diners in Charlotte offers homemade spanakopita, cakes and reasonable prices.

Best Health Club

We can’t figure out whether the aquatic center won because one of the judges who voted for this pick was, ahem, influential (hello, Mr. Editor-in-Chief!) or because Charlotte-based Olympic star Cullen Jones has made the joys of swimming so damn compelling that everybody’s wanting to get in on the action. Whatever the case, there’s no…

Best Radio Personality

This year, Holloway proved she’s much more than half of the Matt and Ramona radio show on 107.9 The Link. She wrote and performed in this past spring’s original monologues, Women Exposed: Mating, Motherhood, and All the Madness, at The Comedy Zone, roping in local personalities like Brigida Mack to act out her own life…

Best Member of Local Government

It takes guts to run for Congress. It takes a whole lot more to be the only Democrat in the race. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts is battling Robert Pittenger for control of the 9th Congressional District, an area Republicans have ruled since 1952. Come November, she may find herself making history. Until then, she’s…

Best Local Film Series

We touted the first film (Trollhunter) in this burgeoning series last year, so we’re pleased that this ultra-hip event is still going strong. Filmgoers with a taste for the sexy, violent, provocative and/or plain offbeat have taken to this series like good ole boys to conservative politics. Speaking of good ole boys, they were featured…

Best Comic Shop

A repeat winner. The only venue to win this category in its fairly brief history, Heroes is celebrating 25 years of carrying the best variety of comic books in Charlotte. Owner Shelton Drum hosts the annual Heroes Convention, which draws homemade Spider-Mans of all ages. He managed to keep this year’s appearance of Marvel Comics…

Best Place for a First Date

Some first dates need a conversation starter, and nothing beats sitting in the dark for two hours to work up a really good getting-to-know-you question. Since 2008, Actor’s Theatre has been that place for couples on the last Monday of every month. Theatre650 and The Light Factory Museum of Contemporary Photography sponsor the movie fest,…

Best Sports Bar

It’s fall, which means football season. Need a place to watch the game? Dilworth has just what you’re looking for: TVs galore – big screens, flatscreens and more – that are watchable from just about every angle. They offer a shuttle service to and from Panthers games – once you’re done tailgating in their parking…

Best Cocktail Selection

Enso not only offers delicious rolls and cuisine, but it’s also home to a delectable selection of adult beverages. The drink menu ranges from hot and cold sake selections to fancy cucumber/flower/fruit-infused concoctions straight from the imaginations of the creative and hospitable bartenders. Regardless of what you choose to dine on, Enso can offer a…

Best Indian

A repeat winner. Well-crafted, high-end Indian cuisine. Dinner can get a bit pricey, but its lunch options are a fair deal. May we recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala? Related Stories

Best Hamburger

In this day of pricey farm-to-fork cuisine, the burgers at Wysacky are about as local and fresh as can be, since the beef comes from neighboring Waxhaw farms. Related Stories

Worst Member of Local Government

Republican City Councilman Andy Dulin left a sour taste in our mouths when he staunchly opposed the same-sex benefits package the council considered passing before Amendment One. But you can hardly blame him; he was just sticking to his party’s line. “I’m a no vote, and have been for the last seven years,” Dulin told…

Local Issue You’re Sick Of

Sure, we got some free booze and food out of it. But when we weren’t hungover or snarled in traffic, we were stuck in security lines, fighting our way through downtown crowds or getting caught in torrential downpours without umbrellas. We’re tired of writing about it and you’re tired of hearing about it. Cops are…

Best Local Songwriter

A repeat winner. Write-ups of Andy Fenstermaker tend to focus on his live performances; with that bellowing roar, all-in commitment and slightly deranged look, Andy gets your attention on stage. But on his gothic roots-based The Man Killed the Bird…, released this year, he makes it clear that he knows his way around every corner…

Best Soul Food Restaurant

A repeat winner. Southern and Low Country dishes prepared with heart by owners James and Renee Bazelle at this downtown favorite where everybody takes out-of-town guests. It’s Charlotte’s version of NYC’s Sylvia’s.

Best Seafood Restaurant

A repeat winner. It doesn’t matter whether you order your preferred fish plainly grilled or loaded up with sauces and stuffings – it’s all superb.

Best Asian (Other Than Chinese, Japanese or Indian)

A repeat winner. Although sparsely decorated, Ben Thånh produces exemplary Vietnamese dishes: pho, crispy quail, curry spiked with shrimp, yellow rice flour pancake filled with shrimp, hot pots and charbroiled chicken in lemongrass.

Best Yoga Venue

Go big or go home, right? Zen isn’t exactly our middle name at CL, so if it’s time to stretch, we like to multitask. We love that the yoga at this half-yoga/half-wrestling studio comes with a free side of cardio. In a 100-plus-degree room such as this, you could burn calories just taking a nap…

Best Use of Tax Money

With 37 miles of lush nature trails, you could get lost on the Greenways of Charlotte – and we mean that in a good way. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a favorite spot for runners, bikers and families looking to escape the concrete jungle of the downtown area. You may get so caught up…

Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Store

To paraphrase Arlo Guthrie, you can get anything you want at Trader Joe’s, from fresh veggies to beer and all kinds of branded gourmet items done up to make you feel … well, special. 1133 Metropolitan Ave. 704-334-0737 1820 E. Arbors Drive 704-688-9578 6418 Rea Road 704-543-5249

Best Smoothies

A repeat winner. There are numerous reasons to lament the passing of summer and all that hot weather: swimming, outdoor sports, blockbuster movies, and enjoying the cool and delicious concoctions crafted at Carolina Smoothies.

Best French Fries

The venue offers regular fries, sweet potato fries, Brunswick fries and chili cheese fries, but we’ll leave it to others to try those out. We’re all about the Smashfries: Tossed with olive oil, rosemary and garlic, they’re spectacular.

Best Hot Dog

It really is a “Weiner Wonderland” at Pinky’s, with its griddled beef hot dogs and organic soy sausages. Our favorite, the Southern 500 dog, glistens with tasty chili, slaw and onions. Related Stories

Biggest Waste of Tax Money

The Elizabeth Trolley, which will run from the Charlotte Transportation Center on Trade Street to the Presbyterian Hospital in Elizabeth, has been a waste of time and money since the beginning. Construction began on Elizabeth Avenue in 2008, closing it and even some of its businesses, including NoFo on Liz, an eclectic diner near CPCC’s…

Best Bookstore

A repeat winner. Being caught in a used bookstore makes you look not only smart but money savvy. And what a selection, from art to zoology and everything in between. (It even has a few of shelves of “green” household items.) Plus, you can spy on people through the book aisles, Unfaithful style.

Best Local Rapper

This has been a breakout year for Charlotte native Lute and his Forever FC crew. It was Lute in particular that made the collective’s initial splash, releasing his first mixtape, West1996, to widespread critical acclaim, dismissing the preconceived notion that the only thing Charlotte’s westside could produce was trap rap. His Queen City-centric stories chronicled…

Best Breakfast

The eggs here are local and organic, and Harvest Moon’s Summer Benedict, with thickly sliced heirloom tomatoes, will make you wish for tomato season year-round.

Best Italian

With its red-checkered tablecloths, delicious pasta and homey vibe – well, now, that’s Italian.

Best Record Store

Ah, the local indie record store. It was such a wonderful meeting place. So sad that it’s now… oh wait, you say there’s one left? That’s right, Lunchbox is your classic, old-school indie record store where geeks like you can meet your friends and debate which Pavement album marked the end for crazy drummer Gary;…

Best Radio Show

Our latest radio love is a little scrappier than usual. The online-only Plaza Midwood Community Radio is the city’s new hyperlocal neighborhood radio station; it offers a free-form mix of DIY shows, the best of which is Armando Bellmas’ Ecléctico. As Bellmas points out in his warm, soothing voice at the top of each show,…

Best Local Athlete

He may not have brought home a second Olympic gold medal this year, but we still believe Cullen Jones is the best swimmer in the world. Besides, he did bring home his second silver. In 2008, the former N.C. State University English major and swim team star became the second African American to win a…

Best Local TV Personality

A frequent funny guy as well as a reporter, Wilson brings levity and light to FOX Charlotte with his spots on positive community events, his philanthropy and his signature camouflage baseball cap. His perspectives on stories ranging from local human interest profiles to hot dog-eating contests to his support of the USO are not just…

Bar With Hottest Patrons

This hidden-away space in NoDa has quickly become a staple because of its eclectic scene and varied offerings. The nightlife includes live music from every imaginable genre, DJs, themed parties, alternative entertainment (aerialists, comedy, dance, theater) and a lot of aesthetically gratifying guys and gals scattered throughout the crowd. You’re not just guaranteed plenty of…

Best Lunch

Hands down the best chicken salad in town (local, of course, with Tabasco-charred spring onions), but with so many creative lunch selections, it’s difficult to choose. Plus, Halcyon – located in the Mint Museum Uptown – is open for lunch on the weekends. Related Stories

Best Milkshakes

A repeat – and perennial – winner. The milkshakes are simply divine. Where else can you find such flavors as toasted coconut, caramel-chai and – no kidding – Fruit Loop? Related Stories

Best Fried Chicken

A repeat winner – and a planetary treasure. And for those with such an inclination, you can skip the quarter or half chicken meal and go with the chicken liver or chicken gizzard dinner. But why skip when you can gorge?

Best Wings

A repeat winner. Hey, it’s not like we’re not looking. And while many other eateries come close (for instance, the wings at Fuel Pizza are mighty tasty), we’re still going with the crown king of wings. With so many savory flavors and purchase options available, it’s hard to bet against the house – er, café.

Best Museum

In the past two years, the Mint Museum has been revitalized by its new Uptown location and new executive director, Kathleen Jameson. A string of impressive shows, originated by the Mint or brought in from elsewhere, signals its new swagger and ambition. And the old Mint on Randolph Road – which has repeatedly won in…

Best Local Newspaper Reporter

A business reporter and one of the Observer’s rising stars, Dunn contributes stories that are insightful, well-written and, despite their complexity, digestible for anyone unfamiliar with the business world. His coverage of the Democratic National Convention was equal parts serious and humorous. We hope he sticks around a while; the Observer could use more fresh…

Best Art Exhibit (Group)

Organized by the Mint, this show comprised work drawn mostly from the museum’s own collection, plus Tom Price’s forest of polypropylene tubes, Mattia Biagi’s tar-covered fairy tale icons, Mark Newport’s knitted superhero costumes and Kako Ueda’s gigantic, embellished cut-paper head. It offered a deceptively family-pleasing premise but snuck in art that was by turns sinister,…

Best Mexican

By 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the line begins to form for the lamb barbecue made the traditional Mexican way: grilled and covered with maguey cactus leaves and served with its house-made, freshly griddled corn tortillas. Related Stories

Best Chinese

It’s the Year of the Dragon, and readers will get fired up by the food offered at this longtime (open since 1989) Charlotte favorite. “Wan fu” translates as “10,000 blessings,” and sometimes it seems as if there are that many items on this lengthy menu.

Bar With Hottest Staff

You probably won’t find a dance club with more energy or better-looking bartenders. Marigny offers a consistently good time, complimented by staff that could clean house at any hot-body contest around town. When visiting, you can count on the music to get the party started, contagious vigor and, of course, drool-worthy employees.

Best Sex Paraphernalia Store

White Rabbit recently got a makeover (it’s painted the colors of the rainbow), and the new look matches the glowing opinion we have of this saucy shop that caters to the fetishes and desires of the LGBT community. This friendly little store carries lube, vintage porn and everything in between. The staff is helpful and…

Best Area to Live In Charlotte

Why is Plaza Midwood still the best damn hood in the city? Because not only does it offer more of the same dizzying creativity it’s always had, it’s becoming more convenient, with a revitalized Harris Teeter coming soon and plenty of new watering holes. Like NoDa, PM positively sweats hipsterism. In one quick stroll on…

Best Local Actress

She doesn’t always get the roles that bring out her best – like the Country Mouse in Mouse Tails, in 2007, or the female lead in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, this past January – but Tania Kelly puts her best into whatever she gets. And when Kelly collides with a role that allows her…

Best Art Exhibit (Emerging Artist)

This harrowing show about the slave trade came from Stephen Hayes, a young artist from Durham who now lives in Atlanta. The centerpiece of the exhibition, which continues to tour the region, is a large, walk-through installation that symbolizes a slave ship and its human cargo.

Best Bowling Alley

Formerly George Pappas’ Park Lanes, Ten Park Lanes has become one of the most revered nightspots on the ever-busy Montford Drive. Renovations last year transformed the bowling alley into a mid-century-themed menagerie of things to do. In addition to the best bowling in town, Ten Park Lanes offers a full menu of food and libations.…

Best Brunch

Monte is the place to hang with friends on weekends and catch up on the latest gossip. Be warned, though: Given the quality of the French provincial cuisine offered, everyone will prefer to be chewing the tasty treats rather than chewing the fat. Related Stories

Best Dim Sum

This spot may be sparse in décor, but not in authenticity and flavor. Dynasty is the place for Shanghai and taro dumplings, congee or juk (porridge), preserved duck eggs, barbecue buns, turnip cakes, pot stickers and the ubiquitous egg custard tart. Related Stories

Best Festival

A repeat winner. Yiasou produces some of the best pastries in the Q.C. You’ll find tasty loukoumades, galaktoboureko, baklava (also made into a heavenly sundae) and others prepared by ladies of the church. And let’s not forget the meals of substance (including Grecian baked chicken and fish) and, of course, the entertainment (tours of the…

Best Movie Theater (Films)

It’s not a movie theater in the traditional sense – there are no on-screen promos telling patrons to hoof it to the lobby for stale popcorn and over-iced, over-priced sodas – but The Light Factory held a variety of film screenings this past year. The venue housed showings of such ’80s faves as The Neverending…

Best Local Artist (Established)

You’re as likely to see Maja Godlewska’s paintings and projects in far-flung places, including her hometown of Wroclaw, Poland, as you are to see them here. Her most recent Charlotte exhibition, On Tigers & Putti, at New Gallery of Modern Art last fall, included paintings inspired by frescoes, icebergs and other natural and human-made phenomena.…

Best Neighborhood Bar

It may look a little dicey on the outside, but it’s a whole lot of awesome on the inside. Thirsty Beaver is the poster child for the neighborhood bar in Charlotte. Any given night, weeknights included, you can meander over and find folks willing to drink with you. Vintage country music croons from the free…

Best Gay/Lesbian Bar

Petra’s provides a nice hybrid: a cozy atmosphere for gathering and a hyper joint for shaking your tail feather. With a hospitable ownership and staff, an undeniably hip location and one of the most happening and diverse crowds you’ll find in Charlotte, it’s no wonder Petra’s is the queen of the Queen City.

Best Takeout

Like all good mom-and-pops, the food here – Vietnamese – is pure comfort and extremely reasonable. Related Stories

Best Japanese

Charlotte doesn’t have ramen-yas (ramen shops), but luckily, Musashi serves a diverse menu, which includes soups. The best pork broth ramen in town is found here. Related Stories

Best Pool Hall

A repeat winner. Elizabeth Billiards is a Plaza Midwood favorite and beloved home to many regulars. It’s a little grimy and the acoustics require yelling to communicate, but it’s the quintessential pool hall, embodying everything that’s to be adored about a local dive bar. The pool is free, the beer comes in bottles and it’s…

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

It’s more than a neighborhood favorite; even the most insulated of Ballantyne residents have heard about this shop’s creamy goodness.

Best Local Blog

Justin Ruckman and Matthew Tyndall, UNC Charlotte graduates, created CLT Blog in 2008. Their goal was to tell stories about Charlotte and be a go-to source for news and trends. Though now competing with many other blogs, CLT has added to its fan base and increased its content, including more interactive features and video offerings.…

Best Local Artist (Emerging)

To create his moody paintings of anonymous buildings that dwarf anonymous figures, Isaac Payne begins with collaged surfaces that he stains with ink. His work has appeared in New American Paintings and will be included in an upcoming exhibition at Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art. Payne also collaborates with Chris Watts (who easily…

Best Concert Venue

Maybe it’s the sound quality. Perhaps it’s the slanted floor giving great vantage points. It could be the old-school movie-theater balcony. Possibly the value-added VIP seats. Whatever it is, we’re sure glad the Neighborhood Theatre’s a part of the Charlotte music scene; aside from being a great place to see a show, it always brings…

Best Barbecue

A repeat winner. With barbecue, smoke matters. Follow the tantalizing aroma into this 1950s, western-style dining room with aqua chairs and wagon wheels. The Old Hickory House is the only place in the state with the barbecue pit in the main dining room. Want outside brown? Old Hickory is your kind of place.

Best Frozen Yogurt

It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the big fro-yo chain shops, but the yogurt is delicious and the topping selection is just fine – all the essentials, none of the goo. Another plus: This green-minded shop is part of that nice walkable strip of North Davidson Street in NoDa.

Best Place to People-Watch

The airport might be the only place in Charlotte where you can find couples fighting publicly, men in pristine business suits sprinting, the elderly plowing down pedestrians with motorized scooters, supermodels, rock stars and public barefootedness all under one roof. It’s a melting pot where, on any given day, you can witness both love affairs…

Best Local Columnist

Tomlinson, who left his Observer gig in May, now joins the pantheon of Most Popular Columnists in Big O History, along with Kays Gary, Dot Jackson and Dannye Romine Powell (and funny-guy Doug Robarchek, another kind of columnist altogether). Tomlinson is a passionate, first-rate wordsmith who built a loyal, loving following by telling great stories…

Best Theater Company

In its first year at its nifty new digs in NoDa, CAST wasted no time in tackling unprecedented challenges – and triumphing. Most impressive was its exemplary production of Tracy Letts’ three-act and three-story-tall August: Osage County, a spectacle that left no doubt why the script won the Pulitzer. Later in the season, CAST’s first-ever…

Best Live Music Club

When the thrill of the Big Rock Show wears off, gig-goers know the best ones happen in intimate settings. This Plaza Midwood mainstay features musician-friendly environs (i.e., two different patios for the talkers) and a gritty rock vibe, improved acoustics (if you haven’t been in a while, go listen), and eclectic booking. Out-of-towners as diverse…

Best Middle Eastern

Middle Eastern food in this town has a checkered past, present and, I suppose, future. Although Zeitouni offers only foods in the street food range, the spin on traditional manoushi and the kibbeh support this nod. Related Stories

Best of Charlotte’s Honorable Mentions

City Life BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN FOR VOTERS WHO DIDN’T REALIZE THERE WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THAT IT WON Bill James We got tired of giving Mecklenburg County’s biggest bigot a “Worst” prize in our annual Best of Charlotte issue, so we came up with a “Best” category for this despicable excuse for a…

Local Hero

Beverly Clark is a case study in the saying, “Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.” The 64-year-old grandmother is more than a pillar of Charlotte’s west side; she is an advocate, a champion and a font of information. And she’s making sure the spirit of community is passed…

Best Movie Theater (Presentation)

Perhaps because it’s hidden in the part of South Charlotte that isn’t Ballantyne, it’s easy to overlook this theater. But with an inviting lobby, more than a dozen screens (one of which is usually employed to show Bollywood films for the city’s Indian population) and the awesome fish tank parked indoors, this gets our vote.

Best Local Actor

He first began attracting notice three years ago as Savage Red, one of the weirdest characters in ThomThom, Matt Cosper’s truly weird take on To Kill a Mockingbird. But Jeremy Shane has been no less memorable in everything since: Captain Braid Beard in How I Became a Pirate, an elephant and a hypochondriac in Junie…

Best Dance Club

A repeat winner – and snagging this award for the final time. Yes, the tragic news is that Breakfast Club, Charlotte’s ’80s dance club for about a decade, has shut its doors. But as suitable placation, owner Jody Sullivan is starting a new venture downtown called the Roxbury. Thankfully, the Roxbury will carry the Breakfast…

Best Bar/Restaurant Patio

The beauty of Thomas Street Tavern’s patio is the feeling that you’re on someone’s deck while actually being just a few feet away from the bustling streets of Plaza Midwood. Plenty of bench seating and chairs dot the deck and patio, but it’s the little things that make you feel like you’re in your own…

Best Pizza

You’ll love the pizza: 17 different pies, including the famous house-smoked salmon pizza. And you’ll love the space: over 100 seats, plus a 20-seat bar and an eight-top communal table. Who gives a Puck? You will. Related Stories

Best New Store (Opened In Last 12 Months)

Step off, Earth Fare; there’s a new organic sheriff in town. People were buzzing about the first Whole Foods store in Charlotte before it even opened in late August, some even paying $5 to take a preview tour. Sure, organic is a little more expensive, but it’s good for you. Besides, we always like to…

Best Drag Performer

Two ab-fab examples of putting the Queen into the Queen City. BethAnn Phetamine can shoot (and lick) sparks off a grinder chest plate. She can whip past brunch patrons on roller skates while wearing a white afro. While she may be the main attraction at Snug Harbor’s Thursday night Shiprocked shows, what makes BethAnn stand…

Best Local TV Show

With its mix of hard news, entertainment and weather coverage, WCNC gives you more than just the facts, even when you’re away from the TV. Its dynamic website and robust social media presence make the news accessible wherever you go. Award-winning investigative reporter Stuart Watson has been uncovering corruption in the city for more than…

Best DJ

Outside of DJ Complete’s work for the Bobcats and solo DJing gigs, his ability to join forces with Styles and take the dubstep world by storm in short order has been impressive. While conquering the college crowd has been good, we can’t wait to see where Styles & Complete’s experimentation with trap music takes them…

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