In the spirit of all these top (insert number) lists that are popping up online - don't worry, our own various 2013 retrospectives publish on Thursday - here's a compilation of the stories that published on our website this year you readers visited the most (not counting any event list-type posts).

1. Long live the Thirsty Beaver. Remember when that fence went up around one of Plaza Midwood's most beloved bars?

• Kennieth Holmes

2. North Carolina no longer gives a damn. This edition of Erin Tracy-Blackwood's monthly column Trouble Hunter berates the General Assembly for passing a budget that stripped more than half a billion dollars from the state's public school systems.

3. 2013 106.5 Weenie Roast bands announced. This music festival brings a big variety of bands for a low price. No wonder it was so anticipated.

4. The stages of Lisa Ann. When Sarah Palin's porn star doppelganger Lisa Ann came to Mooresville, your interest was piqued. I don't blame you.

5. Look! Up On The Screen!: The best and worst superhero films of all time. Because who doesn't love a good superhero movie?

6. Massage therapist in Charlotte offers happy endings ... to women. I think the headline of that story says it all.

7. Man of Steel: It's a bore! It's a pain! It's Stuporman! How DARE Matt Brunson disagree with the fanboys. Just ... how dare he.

8. Recipe: Pumpkin Pie with Brown Butter Gingersnap Crust. The comments on this blog post suggest it drew attention because people were pissed blogger Scott Greenberg had the audacity to drop some f-bombs. I'd like to think people gravitated to this post because the recipe sounds so delish. I could be wrong, though.

9. Greed seen as the church's top problem - so why isn't Elevation angrier at pastor's excess? When the news came out that Elevation Church's pastor Steven Furtick was building a multi-million dollar home, his critics and supporters went to war. Just skim the comments of this post and any other story online about Elevation and you'll see for yourself.

10. Why are women attracted to burlesque? Popular burlesque performer Dita Von Teese made her first North Carolina appearance in October. That she could draw an audience in the Bible belt - and the fact that this story made our top 10 list - shows that prim and proper Charlotte might be ready to sport a lower neckline.