Best of Charlotte 2013

Oct 2-8, 2013 / Vol. 27 / No. 32

Cover Story

Q.C. Fringe Festival brings out the freaks

As my summer pilgrimages to Edinburgh in 2006 and New York in 2009 had shown me, fringe festivals are city animals. So it wasn’t surprising that the first Queen City Fringe Festival had a personality all its own during its four-day run, Oct. 3-6. Venues in the Plaza-Midwood, Elizabeth and NoDa neighborhoods provided the atmosphere,…

Perry Tannenbaum

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte’s police files (Oct. 3)

Pee-petrator: Two middle-aged women called police last week after getting more than they bargained for at a local gas station. The women told officers that they were filling their tanks while another man began to empty his, so to speak. The man was exposing his penis to both women while he urinated all over a…

Ryan Pitkin

Gravity: The final frontier for outer space FX

GRAVITY ***1/2 DIRECTED BY Alfonso Cuaron STARS Sandra Bullock, George Clooney To listen to some overzealous scribes tell it, writer-director Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity is so much the instant masterpiece that it almost makes Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey look as feeble as Plan 9 from Outer Space by comparison. Well, no. To be frank,…

Matt Brunson

Book reviews: The Truth and Elsewhere

In 1995, former Monty Python mainstay Michael Palin wrote a novel, Hemingway’s Chair. Almost two decades later, after detouring through a slew of BBC TV travel series, he’s written a second fictional work. The Truth was worth the wait. Palin’s protagonist, Keith Mabbut, a journalist who was once briefly famous for his environmental reporting, is…

John Grooms

Weekly horoscope (Oct. 3-9)

Libra The Scales (Sept. 22-Oct. 22): It is probable that others in your life may be erratic. Partner(s), clientele, good friends and even professionals may be far less reliable than you would like. If this has already started, then do your best to choose activities that depend only upon yourself for a short time. For…

Vivian Carol

Exploring snout-to-tail dishes in Charlotte

The smell in the well-chilled room was unmistakably death. Blood, copious amounts of it, bears a certain stench that is hard to forget. I stood on the kill floor at Mays Meats, a meat processing facility in Taylorsville, N.C, wearing a hairnet and an oversized white coat that looked particularly clownish on my 5’3″ frame.…

Keia Mastrianni

Charlotte Book Fair expands perspectives on literacy

This fall, Charlotte has seen no lack of literary events. Bibliophiles had a smorgasbord to choose from: the Book Smarts author showcase at Dupp & Swatt, theatrical readings of Jeff Jackson’s Mira Corpora novel and the Rock & Read 5k in Plaza Midwood, sponsored by the Women’s National Book Association, to name a few. But…

Emiene Wright

Fringe takes over three Charlotte neighborhoods

Charlotte bankers and financiers, hold onto your portfolios! NASCAR gearheads, get a grip on your wrenches! The new Queen City Fringe Festival is rolling into town, and life as you know it will change — for four loud, left-leaning, funk-driven nights, Oct. 3-6. Splayed out across NoDa, Elizabeth, Plaza Midwood and points east, Queen City…

Perry Tannenbaum

Building an inclusive beer scene in Charlotte and beyond

The wine snob. It’s an archetype anyone who has any dining experience knows all too well. That asshole with the “perfect” palate peering around the room, conspicuously judging any and all bottles that people brought with them to the tasting so he can pick apart every drop of your offering and pair it with the…

Cam Heiliger

Antiseen hits three decades and counting

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Antiseen celebrates its 30th anniversary with a blowout at Tremont Music Hall. It’s a milestone that makes the Charlotte punk crew one of the city’s longest-tenured bands, but the group hasn’t always seemed interested in the music going on around it. Antiseen’s collaborators — most notably the provocative and (quite literally)…

Jordan Lawrence

Judah Friedlander’s championship hat trick

If Judah Friedlander looks like a dork and acts like a dork, then he must be a dork, right? The question seems simple. But for the actor/comedian, the answer would most likely be the opposite of what you’d imagine. That’s because he considers himself a “World Champion,” as duly noted on the hats and T-shirts…

Anita Overcash

Was Occupy Charlotte’s demise an inside job?

On Oct. 8, 2012, about 12 Occupy Charlotte members filtered in and out of the area in front of the old City Hall building, where they had lived for four months over the previous winter. They were there to celebrate the group’s first birthday, but it quickly became clear that the fire that had sustained…

Ryan Pitkin

Best Worst Neighbor

Duke Energy is known for a lot of things around these parts – generating electricity, donating money to the community, etc. – and all are reasons why it calls itself the “good neighbor.” But what it may become most notorious for is coal ash waste and being a water hog. Not only does the company…

Best New Theater Entrepreneur

Ever since Michael Ford took over the Wine Up at 3306C N. Davidson St., he has flung the doors open to local theater groups, including Citizens of the Universe, PaperHouse and Stephen Seay Productions. Nor has Ford been afraid to take a laissez-faire attitude toward how his funky upstairs space is configured or used, even…

Best Jazz Club

This honor should rightly go to a joint that hosts jazz talent of local and national stature nightly in Banktown. So the Bechtler Museum is actually shaming dim-witted entrepreneurs all across our fair city with its Jazz at the Bechtler series, which doesn’t play nearly that often. Although it isn’t crammed with cocktail tables, the…

Best Place to Ride a Mechanical Bull

Where else can you see skilled riders show you how it’s done right after a pair of drunk girls falls off, while a big-name country artist plays live in the next room? It’s all about context here, folks.

Best Place to Get a Mani/Pedi

Sure, its parking lot is a bit of an eyesore, but scoot right in and you’ll forget all about gum-laden sidewalks and empty soda cans. This blissful little nail spa recently got a facelift and the outcome is Zen-approved. Newly painted walls and clean floors offer comfort and peace of mind. The technicians are still…

Best Dish to Feel the Heat

Even though English is an official language of India, much is lost in the translation of the words “hot” and “spicy.” But vindaloo, loaded up with bhut jolokia, or ghost peppers in English, is known in the culinary scene as one of the world’s hottest dishes. Although many Indian restaurants shy away from offering a…

Best Pride Event

Each July, Charlotte Black Gay Pride’s annual town hall offers opportunities to explore oft-ignored issues faced by the local LGBT African-American community. And, each August, the annual Pre-Pride Takeover Friday at The Westin provides a jump-start to official Charlotte Pride weekend events. Hundreds of locals and visitors meet up for drinks and fun. Related Stories

Best Marquee Lineup

Theoretically, this honor could go either to Park Terrace or its sister cinema house, the stately Manor. However, it’s a simple matter of mathematics: Park Terrace’s six screens versus the Manor’s two means that more alternative fare can be played there. Plus, thanks to some ill-advised booking decisions, some movies that would logically kick ass…

Best “I’ve Never Seen That Before” Concert

Hundreds of concerts pass through town every year, but seeing P!nk hover over the crowd like a Skycam being moved all over the inside of Time Warner Cable Arena – while continuing to sing – is something we’d never witnessed before, and won’t likely see again. Related Stories

Best EDM Event

Themed nights filled with aerialists, DJs, inflatable animals, costumes, decorations … there’s really no better place to let your weird flag fly. Related Stories

Best Place to get your Detox On

For 17 years, Dr. Ama Bey has been a ray of positivity on Charlotte’s west side. From cooking to qui gong to West African dance, her center offers classes to improve health in natural ways. In addition to holistic consultations for allergies, prenatal care and more, Kamit holds seasonal detox seminars to flush out those…

Best Edible Works of Art

Once you’ve had a taste of Bar Chocolate, you will know what it means to eat something twice – once with your eyes and again with your mouth. The bite-sized confections handmade by Lin McKay and Mike Shafer are almost too beautiful to eat. The cacao-obsessed duo are pushing the bounds of confections inside their…

Best LGBT Advocate

A member of the Human Rights Campaign’s national board of governors, Scott Bishop also serves as chairman of the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee, where he has pushed the city to expand nondiscrimination policies and domestic-partner benefits. In July and August, Bishop took the lead (and some heat) on pushing the mayor and City Council…

Best Theater Orgy

Until it perished in 2005, Charlotte Rep had a new play festival every year. Now with nuVoices Festival at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, we have an even better one. As before, two staged readings are presented of four different playscripts, followed by a pow-wow between the audience and the playwright. Nearly 300 scripts were submitted…

Best Amateur Night

There’s a reason that established acts still drop by the Evening Muse on Monday nights to play a couple of songs. It’s the most comfortable and honest room in town to truly test your skills. Related Stories

Best Strip Club

If you’re the type who believes rules are meant to be broken, you belong at Daisy Dooks. Since August 2012, Alcoholic Beverage Control has filed eight reports from this location, bolstering its reputation as the rowdiest titty bar in Charlotte. On multiple occasions, officers noted the strong smell of weed within the club. Citations also…

Best Place to Pamper Yourself

When one thinks about pampering, the words “permanent hair removal” don’t always come to mind. Let’s face it, lasers and electrolysis hurt. But we love Porch Swing Spa anyway – not just because they make us feel sexy and hair-free, but also because the folks here welcome the transgender community with open arms. And yes,…

Best Farmers Market

Celebrating its third year in existence, the Atherton Market has come into its own as a community hub not only for the locally minded, Lulu-wearing South End population, but for a bulk of the Uptown crowd and surrounding neighborhoods. Market manager Lynn Caldwell has created a European feel with market hours five days a week.…

Best Twitter Personality

Dianne Gallagher of NBC Charlotte is a woman who truly does it all. Not only is she a kick-ass reporter, but she has also sent more than 75,000 tweets. That’s 10,500,000 characters, assuming all 140 are used. Between breaking news and covering City Council meetings, one wonders where she finds the time (and the thumb…

Breath of Fresh Air

Since making her Theatre Charlotte debut back in May as Kate Monster in Avenue Q, KC Roberge has shown up everywhere this past summer. So aside from the altruistic monster teacher’s aide, if you got out at all this summer, you may have seen KC at Central Piedmont as a pesky, larcenous pre-teen in Wait…

Best Place for a New Big-Ass Fan

When the Neighborhood Theatre’s old management decided to move on, the venue could have disappeared. Instead, it was remodeled, reopened and re-energized with a broader variety of acts on a much more regular basis. That new big-ass fan is just the icing on the cake.

Best New Store

Owner Caroline Cook-Frers already had a strong following with her pop-up trunk show, but in 2012 she answered our prayers by opening a brick-and-mortar vintage-inspired boutique unlike any other in town. The Frock Shop is filled with classic dresses and unique recycled clothing, and dapper dudes will love the selection of bow ties, wing tips…

Best Yoga Venue

Whether your chakras are calling for relaxing yoga or sweaty yoga, this fresh spot (which opened last November) has a mix for folks who seek Nirvana. Best of all, the venue offers a full menu with coffee and teas that can be made to order and ready faster than you can say “Namaste!” Related Stories

Best (Kinda) Organically Grown Local Food Court

After a few reboots, the 7th Street Pubic Market is finally coming into its own by selling local and regional products. The market now offers produce, meat and fish markets; artisanal chocolates; sushi; baked goods from Cloud 9 Confections and Novel Sweets; a raw food bar; a coffeehouse; and a tea shop. Baker Adam Spears…

Best Way to Unintentionally Become the Coolest Guy in Town

The Charlotte Observer’s longtime reporter didn’t mean to get arrested. Funk was just doing his job and covering Moral Monday protests in Raleigh. But when a photo of cops leading him off in handcuffs made the rounds, everyone from the New York Times to the Daily Kos paid attention. *Swoon* We just love a guy…

Best Legacy

Alan Poindexter’s greatest legacy is surely the work he put in on ImaginOn, still a pioneering facility eight years after he opened it so spectacularly with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Yet for those of us who saw him onstage, the breathtaking range and power of Alan will continue to haunt us. From…

Best Place for the Old Big-Ass Fan

Instead of taking the old big-ass fan and going home, Zach McNabb of Zali Presents (formerly of the Neighborhood Theatre) took it and the lighting over to the “big room” of the Chop Shop, giving Charlotte another large space for national talent. From EDM events to artists including Black Flag, Man Man, Kurt Vile, Mobb…

Best Way to Renew Your Closet

We are way too impatient to scavenge for good deals, but we can’t afford full-priced retail for our champagne tastes. What can we say? We’re journalists. Clothes Mentor, a women’s fashion resale store, does all the work for us. They have everything from workout clothes (Lululemon top for a few bucks? Don’t mind if we…

Best Florist

Jesse Campbell is about as far from Walter White as you can get. Breaking Bad’s cancer-surviving chemistry teacher quit his job to become the Southwest’s biggest meth dealer. Jesse Campbell is a heart-attack survivor and former biology teacher, who left Myers Park High to make a business of his gift for growing exotic orchids and…

Best Place to Take People Who Say Charlotte Doesn’t Have Delicious Food

We have taken a number of skeptics to the tiny Musashi Japanese Restaurant who have come out believers in Charlotte’s ability to produce a quality restaurant. The key is ordering from the Japanese menu, which is, of course, written in Japanese. This is not the sushi list or the menu containing the ramen and the…

Best of Charlotte 2013

Sure, the Queen City might rest on the opposite coast from the City of Angels, but there’s no reason we can’t add a little Los Angeles movie magic to our lives. So for this, our 26th annual BOC issue, we’ve opted to pay tribute to the cinematic love stories that have moved us over the…

CL Staff

Best Festival

The festival has grown from just a few tents to a full-fledged beer and music festival, featuring dozens of local brewers and renowned bluegrass bands (Steep Canyon Rangers played in 2012). Tickets are affordable and attendees can camp close by. No DUIs and the best damn IPA you’ve ever had? Yes, please. Related Stories

Best Theater Parody of “Gangnam Style”

How could we not give a shout-out to the ninth edition of Charlotte Squawks, this year dubbed Ninesense? During the performance, actor Patrick Ratchford spoofs K-pop singer Psy’s YouTube viral video, “Gangnam Style,” as Charlotte’s former mayor – glamorously accessorized with fabulous Kanye shades – singing about leaving Charlotte behind and going “Governor Style.” Related…

Best Music Under the Stars

The USNWC could have taken the easy route and booked a bunch of cover bands, but instead it pulls in a variety of regional and national talent. And what better place to listen to some great music than alongside the raging river?

Best Place to Buy Cool Kicks

As an alternative newspaper, of course we’re going to gravitate toward a store with the name Black Sheep. After 10 years in business, though, this here nod is much deserved. Black Sheep is the area’s exclusive dealer for many brands of sneakers, including limited editions from Nike SB, Supra and Vans. Your cool factor goes…

Most Missed Store

In one short year, Poor Richard’s Book Shoppe established itself as a home for alternative expression, not exclusively but especially for artists of color. It filled a vital need in Charlotte’s arts landscape and became a hub of creativity. Inside that brick loft off the cobblestones of Brevard Court was a feeling something like Harlem,…

Best Culinary Time Machine

Grab your pomade and steady girl and head to George Fine’s Beef N’ Bottle for a trip back in time. Red neon lights beckon you on South Boulevard near Woodlawn Road, where the hand-cut steaks have been prepared the same way since 1958. Reserve a booth and sway to the timeless voices of Frank Sinatra…

Local Hero

The civil rights lawyer thwarted racist Southern rage throughout his lengthy career, which included arguing and winning eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Regardless of the retaliation he received for standing up for equality, including having his home and office fire-bombed, Chambers was a humble man of justice. He died in August. Related Stories

Best Public Art That Makes a Point

If you drove down Central Avenue over the summer, you may have spotted a ladder supporting a petite, bob-haired brunette, painting diligently on a wall between Sharon Amity Road and Eastway. Rosalia Torres-Weiner’s recently completed mural serves to promote awareness of the Papalote Project, a multi-disciplinary arts initiative telling the stories of Charlotte children who…

Best New Gallery

LaCa Projects has opened our eyes to the wonders of contemporary Latin American art. Their opening show, paintings by Juan Dolhare, showed Charlotteans a refined take on surrealism.

Best New Nightspot (Opened in Last 12 Months)

You fancy, huh. Bubble offers more than 30 different selections of champagne, serves Dom Perignon by the glass and has Barbie’s portrait plastered on the walls. Champagne ain’t just for the rich and famous anymore, thanks to this EpiCentre spot. Related Stories

Best Antique Shop

If you’re truly antiquing on a budget, this is the spot to shop. Vintage bed frames for 30 bucks? Check. Mid-century modern buffets for a buck and half? Check. Cat portraits that you’d pay too much for at Urban Outfitters? Yep, Clark’s has those, too.

Best New Restaurant

AZN: Azian Cuizine, which opened in late fall 2012 in SouthPark by husband-and-wife team Raymond and Anna Hsu, is a creative, eclectic approach to Asian flavors in a restaurant where food, drink, ambiance and service come together seamlessly. Even though this is part of a chain of two (the other is in Naples, Fla.), AZN…

Best Place to Eat Alone

You can wander in anytime and get a seat at Wolfgang Puck’s large but friendly bar, which is great for chatterers, but there are smaller tables for solo diners who want to be absorbed by the food or a Kindle. In the kitchen, Chef Scott Wallen produces consistently well-crafted dishes from time-tested recipes. Related Stories

Best Coming-of-Age Story

Talk about an impressive resume. He was the first African-American student body president of Davidson College and went on to earn a law degree from New York University. Elected at 38, Foxx was the youngest mayor in Charlotte history. During his local career, he smartly championed public transportation extensions and oversaw the successful Democratic National…

Best Damn Reporter in Town

From banks to Duke to the airport, this WFAE reporter is on top of her beat. The two-time winner of a national Edward R. Murrow Award for radio writing offers a sophisticated, intelligent take on local and statewide news. We hope she’s in Charlotte for the long haul. Related Stories

Best Public Art

Creators Amy Bagwell and Graham Carew have a goal in mind: Make poetry accessible. Their mural projects are meant to adorn sides of buildings Uptown; a good example is A.R. Ammon’s “Salute,” on the north side of Dandelion Market. More murals are in the works. Related Stories

Best Place for Theme Parties

The Roxbury is the best place to go in Charlotte for the beloved and trendy theme party. Offering fixed décor and musical stylings from both the ’80s and ’90s, guests have two full decades of rad fashion and icons to choose from when planning their homage. Saved by the Bell, Bad ’90s Advertisements and Late…

Best Place to Find Locally Made Gifts

When we first wrote about The Boulevard at South End reopening in 2011, we said it was “like a chic flea market owned by people with good taste.” That’s definitely still the case, as The Boulevard offers space to vendors, or partners, to show their wares. For handmade cuddle dolls, paintings by local artists, framed…

Best Insider Breakfast

Breakfast places and inexpensive meat-and-threes have a great history in Charlotte, and most of these were run by emigrated Greek families. The Gregory family is one of these families. Today, their Pressley Park Restaurant, located in a southwest industrial area, has both a retro feel and retro prices but is operated by the next gen.…

Best Spot for Bar Bites and a Creative Cocktail List

Ghostly echoes of pre-Prohibition cocktails are beginning to be heard around Charlotte, and you can rely on the bartenders at Soul Gastrolounge to serve imaginative cocktails and creative small plates. Nosh on marinated anchovies, perfectly grilled lamb chops or pork belly tacos with a watermelon salsa bundled in a flour tortilla, all the while sipping…

Best Way to Piss Off Everyone in City Government

City Hall’s usual partisan political fighting was miraculously put aside, thanks to the N.C. General Assembly, as a nearly unanimous city government agreed on one thing: The GOP majority in the G.A. are assholes for trying to steal our airport. When N.C. Sen. Bob Rucho of Matthews ram-rodded through a bill to take Douglas Airport…

Best Comeback Kid

Sure, WFAE’s improvement has been gradual, but it’s time to give credit where credit is due. In recent years, our ever-popular local NPR station has doubled its news staff (and added a new news director) and developed interesting segments, including “A Trifling Place,” a podcast that explores the “ins and outs of Charlotte,” like placing…

Gallery Showing Most Promising Charlotte Talent

Before Twenty-Two, there was a mostly untapped resource of creatives in Charlotte: those who fell between museum-worthy and commercial on the art spectrum. Owner Rodney Raines and curator Nick Bloomberg have found all (or most) of them, showing their work in month-long exhibitions that never fail to deliver. This year, we were graced with the…

Best Weekly Party

Not content to sit back and leave well enough alone, Shiprocked wizard Scott Weaver has taken his Thursday night Snug Harbor shindig and infused a range of live bands to help bring the party to a whole new level – and it’s still only $3.

Best Place to Find Writing Utensils That Look Like Tubes of Paint

Just because you have no artistic skill doesn’t mean that you can’t pretend, but buying paints and canvases can be a costly affair for something that’s going to amount to no more than child’s play (or worse). At Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s gift shop, we’ve found that a mere ink pen disguised as a…

Best Gut-Busting Lunch

For more than a decade, Dish has offered well-crafted Southern comfort food in prodigious quantities and at small prices. Long-time menu favorites include the collard dip (like kale dip, only Southern), the fried green tomato BLT sandwich, the soul-satisfying chicken and dumplings, and deviled eggs.

Best Local Brew

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) is Charlotte’s oldest continuously operating microbrewery; it produces the full-flavored, smooth-talking Copper, a Düsseldorf-style altbier – an old-school German brew. OMB’s new facility, complete with a 60-barrel-system (opening next year), will give Charlotte bragging rights of having the largest craft brew house in the state (that is, until Sierra Nevada Brewing…

Best Dysfunctional Relationship

There’s not much Old Charlotte loves more than formality and decorum. That’s why all hell broke loose when the county commission voted 6-2 to axe County Manager Harry Jones – and then didn’t allow Jones to speak before he left the dais. Three commissioners complained mightily that Chairwoman Pat Cotham had insulted Jones; Dumont Clarke’s…

Best “Stick it to the Man” Establishment

John Hatcher Realty, owner of the property surrounding this Plaza Midwood staple, wanted to develop the full plot of land. The Beaver wouldn’t budge. Hatcher erected a fence around the Beaver to turn customers – and the fire marshal – off. It only intrigued (and rallied) the former and got a finger shake from the…

Artist to Buy Now

While fairly new on the scene, this young artist has made quite a splash. Her layered, playful paintings include a Mona Lisa with a red bra strap, a hyena led by hummingbirds and plenty of nudies with animal masks. As Loesser continues to work with her paint – and it’s clear she loves it -…

Best Selection of Brews

With 140 taps – and a BeerAdvocate.com score of 87 – if you can’t find something here to satisfy that thirst, something must be wrong with you.

Coolest Etsy Shop

We love us some Etsy. We also love artist Holly Spruck’s paintings – vibrant and worthy of wall placement. She creates original abstract works that fuse subjects with intricate patterns and layers of colors. In one of her oil paintings, titled “If Mama is Not Happy, Nobody is Happy” (ain’t that the truth!), she uses…

Best Pupusa

You won’t hear the rhythmic slapping of pupusas in family-friendly El Pulgarcito de America, as the kitchen is not open to the dining room, but for years, this small eatery on Central Avenue has made hearty stuffed disks, redolent with the scent of corn and griddled to pied perfection. A topping of the crisp pickled…

Best Brewery

Over the last two years, NoDa Brewing Company has quickly become the go-to spot for the largest variety of local brews. The brewers here create a new beer every Tuesday, have paid tribute to 106.5 FM’s Woody & Wilcox IPA and Charlotte band Matrimony, all the while making their way into a number of local…

Best Bro Hug Between Two Bros Who Just Love to Bro Out

The governor and former mayor aren’t exactly chummy, and a photo – and subsequent animated gif – taken in March shows exactly how awkward these two are around each other. The governor came to Charlotte to help Mayor Foxx announce a big job boost, and somewhere between cheesy smiles and handshakes, Foxx leapt into McCrory’s…

Best Display of Sheer Strength in a YouTube Video

A melee at the annual North Carolina Awards Ball, a fashion show competition held in February in NoDa, went viral and even showed up in an intro of Tosh.0. At the beginning of the clip, a woman throws a full-size folding table across a gym at a group of men in matching outfits – and…

Best Use of Salt in a Visiting Exhibit

Japanese artist Motoi Yamamoto spent a total of 85 hours creating the “Floating Garden” salt installation, which was completed for the Mint Museum Uptown’s atrium and then quickly and publicly dismantled within days in March. Inspired by the death of his sister, Yamamoto travels the world doing these installations, which have just as much meaning…

Best Quality of Beer Selection

It means so much to us that Duckworth’s doesn’t have BMC (Budweiser, Miller and Coors) on tap. Couple that with the fact that it often has rare seasonals on draft, such as Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) and Bells Hopslam Ale, and we’re dubbing Duckworth’s as having the best quality of beer selection in the…

Best Bookstore for Eco-Friendly Goods

Book Buyers tempts with titles from classics to contemporary, but there’s more to this store than pristinely lined shelves of sweet-smelling books. Next time you’re perusing pages, stop to check out the quirky in-house progressive pantry, The Greener Apple. There aren’t many places in town to get your hands on eco-friendly goods like raw lip…

Best Pho

The pho at Doan’s Vietnamese Restaurant has a cilantro-scented beefy broth in the southern Vietnamese style, with pronounced hints of cinnamon, star anise, roasted ginger, cardamom and black peppercorns. All this is laced with satiny rice noodles and paper-thin slices of steak. Related Stories

Best Locally Made Spirit

In the few years since the N.C. beverage laws changed, the distillation of alcohol in this state has taken off. One of the newest contenders is Muddy River Carolina Rum, made by two Charlotteans, Robbie and Caroline Delaney, in nearby Belmont. Muddy River makes both a white rum and its Queen Charlotte, an aged 84-proof…

Best Gathering of Heroes and Villains

If art mimics life, any artist who attended the Heroes Convention in June got some really amazing fodder for villains over the weekend. The state Republican Party hosted its convention on the same weekend – and in the same venue – as HeroesCon.

Best Excuse to Become a Highly Functioning Alcoholic

Drinking beer is the best way to hydrate after a run. No, seriously, ask your doctor. Or join this club, which meets at the brewery every Wednesday and embarks on a 1-, 3- or 5-mile run that circles back to the beginning. Related Stories

Best Cocktail Selection

Bob Peters is the craftsman behind the cocktails at Pisces. If you haven’t met him in person, it’s quite possible you’ve liked his libation-heavy Instagram feed (@bob_peters) or Twitter page (@bobthebartender). But his virtual cocktails don’t hold a dimly lit bar candle to the reality of his knack for making the perfect drink. We’ve never…

Shopaholic’s Dream Come True

“Rusty” isn’t typically the adjective you’d use to describe one of the coolest home furnishing shops in town. It is, however, when its offerings include vintage street signs and 115-year-old mill windows converted into tabletops. Peruse old tobacco carts and wooden wine racks, as well as new dresses and lush homemade soaps. Be careful, shopaholic…

Best Use of Bananas

Now that a bunch of bananas – the Chiquita Banana logo – adorns a Center City high rise, Charlotte’s chefs need to get creative with bananas. After all, when Chiquita Bananas, then United Fruit, was based in New Orleans, a chef there created Bananas Foster. But for now, the best banana dishes are the Q.C.’s…

Best Food Truck

It’s not an overly colorful or decorative exterior that draws one to the Tin Kitchen food truck. Instead, it’s the long lines of salivating people by the vehicle’s side that tell you, “This is going to be really f-ing good” – a fact quickly confirmed by just one glance at the steaming tacos, sandwiches and…

Best Nod to Old Charlotte

Charlotte Hornets fans were awoken from their hive after New Orleans traded in their longtime name for the Pelicans, thus making available a team name that once brought so much glory, so many accolades, to the Queen City. The question remains: Will the name be enough to pack Time Warner Cable Arena? Related Stories

Best Movie Theater Lobby

While it’s logical for theaters to use their valuable real estate to push their upcoming films, it’s also a bit zzz… We still like that Ayrsley has a fish tank right there in the lobby (it would be even cooler if they dumped a shark or a school of piranha in it), but the shout-out…

Best Patio to be a Kid with Beer

Being an adult can be stressful, and we all need to revert back to our childhood every now and then. Luckily, The Blind Pig offers a patio full of interactive games that include a huge Jenga set, corn hole, Twister and mini golf. Inside they have even more classics, such as skee ball, foosball and…

Best Place to Get Your Movie Fix

VisArt is of course the place to rent movies, but if you’re looking to buy (or trade), you can’t beat this South Boulevard fixture. While its Blu-ray section isn’t as expansive as its DVD inventory, staffers will gladly order a requested title for you. Plus, the joint is always offering discounts and deals. But the…

Best Barbecue

Barbecue is as natural to the citizens of North Carolina as breathing. While we may argue whether Eastern style is better than Lexington, and whether North Carolina barbecue trumps Memphis, the simple truth is the process to make barbecue is an essential part of the culture. The best place to find superb, traditionally made barbecue…

Best Weekly Food Event

The food truck scene has reached a deafening crescendo in Charlotte with no real signs of slowing down. Charlotteans can’t seem to get enough of the ever-expanding menu of things to eat in cardboard containers with plastic sporks. Young families, professionals, awkward first dates and seasoned foodies flock to South End for Food Truck Fridays,…

Bloopers: Best of-Style

As we undergo the grueling process of counting hundreds of reader votes, occasionally, you readers make us chuckle. Here are 11 entries we couldn’t help but smile at — plus a bonus. Best Movie Theater (Quality of Presentation)The Lone Ranger Best DJThe shuffle setting on Winamp Best Place for a First DateIf you a daddyfatstacks…

Best Way to Deflect Racism at Your Local White Supremacist Rally

When a white supremacist group comes to your city to spew its hate-filled bullshit all over your streets, you have two options: You can ignore them or you can confront them. At a National Socialist Movement rally last November, the Latin American Coalition found a third: ridicule. Its members showed up to the rally dressed…

Best Roller Derby Nickname

Marissa Sherman, aka Ms. Snatch’Her, turned her passion for politics and beating ass into the best roller girl name in the CLT. We even think the Iron Lady, the first female prime minister of the U.K. and one bad b*tch herself, would approve.

Best Band

Remember the good old days, when music was still honest and raw and meant something? When an energetic, charismatic frontman was backed up by some of the best musicians around? When the lyrics told stories about the working man and rock ‘n’ roll dreams? Temperance League remembers.

Best Gay Bar

It’s been around for 45 years and features the most diverse, unpretentious crowd – from twinks to studs, Latinos, African Americans, white folks and more. Every year, it brings in national drag talent for regional and national drag competitions. This year, we’re sticking with the tried-and-true for our Best Gay Bar pick.

Best Store to Offer a Gaming Blast from the Past

The world of gaming has become so advanced, you almost need a third hand to maneuver the controllers. Take it back to the good ol’ days of Nintendo 64 and Mario Party. Computer Works @ Goodwill has everything from the very first Playstation to the original Nintendo NES. Duck Hunt, anyone?

Best Soul Food

Floyd’s cornbread has that touch of sweet that is indicative of this culinary genre. The lengthy menu is flecked with various offal offerings, from chitterlings and gizzards to pigs feet, while the sandwich roster includes a fatback sandwich for $1.30. But most go for the crispy fried chicken or fish, thin and delicious pork chops,…

Vag of Honor

I hoisted myself atop the monkey bars and looked down. Way down. “Grow some balls and jump already,” my husband Alex yelled. I rolled my eyes and looked at my husband and 15-month-old daughter, Sophie, seemingly hundreds of feet below. It wasn’t the height I was afraid of, it was the landing. When you’re over…

Rea Frey

Don’t Let the Door Bump Your Ass Award

County Manager Harry Jones’ supporters seemed shocked by his termination, but Jones had given the commission so many reasons to fire him, we do not have room to list them all. A small sample: repeated financial scandals at the Department of Social Services; blind-siding Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and our national-model library system with unforeseen massive cuts;…

Local Issue That Needs More Attention

Bank executives who practically built this city are a thing of the past, as are capable and outspoken members of local government. Charlotte needs a leader. Who will step up?

Best Rapper

From his Loose Leaf mixtapes and the honesty dropped on his Facebook page to his spoken word performances, Quill is establishing himself as a multi-media talent in the Queen City. Each single and video released has us constantly refreshing his page, waiting for the next one.

Best Place for a First Date

Possibly worded better as “best place to see if a first date should be a last date,” ­VBGB offers a relaxed, indoor/outdoor German biergarten-style atmosphere, complete with a massive roster of tasty craft brews and a menu that includes giant pretzels served up with … wait for it … beer cheese. If the conversation gets…

Best Place to Get Your (Straight) Hair Did

It won’t take you long to figure out that Joey Hewell, owner of J. Salon and Studio, is one creative dude. Just stand outside of his NoDa home/salon and take in the sights. Some call it a sanctuary; others call it a whimsical abode. Then, there are those that call it home – for their…

Best Sandwich

Get the number 6. Tender grilled pork, julienned vegetables, fresh cilantro and slivers of jalapeno on a crispy baguette. $4.02. You can thank us later. Related Stories

Best Place to Find Caffeinated Hipsters

If you want in on Charlotte’s coffee scene, put on your best pair of skinny jeans and new shoes that look old and watch the city’s best baristas battle it out at the Thursday Night Throwdown. The TNT latte art competition is an event that toggles each month between Jimmy Kleto and crew at Central…

We heart you, Charlotte

I’d like to think that if Creative Loafing and Charlotte were tagged in a relationship on Facebook, it’d be listed as, “It’s complicated.” With 26 years under our belt, we’re certainly not dumbstruck with love for this city. We aren’t afraid to tell it like it is. When the announcement was made that MetLife would…

Kimberly Lawson

Best “Fuck You” to the People

The legislature morphed North Carolina into a bad national joke. Its hatred of all things Obama led the legislators to deny health coverage to a half-million North Carolinians; ram through severe, Texas-style restrictions on abortion clinics; enact tax policies that favor the rich over ordinary citizens; try to steal our airport; pass the nation’s most…

Best Celebrity Sighting

Yeah, yeah, we know that numerous shows and movies are filmed here in the Queen City (with Homeland garnering the most ink), but how can any multi-million-dollar production compare to the priceless, peerless Bruce Campbell? The Evil Dead star and cult figure was on hand for the second annual Mad Monster Party – signing autographs,…

Best Club DJ

Having DJed since 1996, Arthur Brouthers is no stranger to his profession. Armed with years of experience and the recent alias of Hénri Frères, Arthur has become a staple to many area clubs, events and brands, most notably as the in-house selector for both Charlotte and Charleston’s fashion weeks, the Charlotte Bobcats, the Red Bull…

Best Bump and Grind

R. Kelly, Fantasia, Steve Aoki, Tiësto – instead of becoming just another dance club in the Queen City, Label continues to elevate the game through big-name performances and upgraded facilities.

Best Place to Get Your (Natural) Hair Did

Tinesha Matthews and her partners at Revolution Ego know hair, specifically the care of kinky, curly and wavy hair. Get a rocking cut, color, curly set or loc maintenance in this Apple store-inspired salon; free wi-fi and online booking are only a few of the conveniences. The true perk is looking in the mirror and…

Best Burger Menagerie

The prices may throw Block and Grinder’s burgers into the upper end of the gourmet burgers in town, but not only are the all-natural, organic meats fabulous, but the toppings have been chosen for maximum taste impact. The lamb burger, the Breslin, is a brilliant example of allowing the flavor of the meat to shine…

Locked out with Robyn Hitchcock

If you’re familiar with British singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock, you know he’s a little eccentric. Actually, the patients they used to send to Bedlam, were a little eccentric. If Hitchcock’s songs are any indication, he’s a daft bugger, a crazy-pants, a six pack of Guinness with at least four bottles missing. He writes great songs, of…

Peter Gerstenzang

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