Welcome to the 24th annual Best of Charlotte edition, in which, as always, the critics and the readers offer their selections of the best — and, in some cases, the worst — that the Queen City has to offer. (To see all the 2011 winners, click through the drop-down menus on the left.)

This time around, though, we’re adding a few extra voices. A handful of local celebrities and trendsetters offered their own picks on a trio of topics. We enjoyed hearing their opinions and are happy to share them with you. (Click through the drop-down menu on the left, under the heading Section, for Celebrity Picks.)

As usual, tallying the readers’ picks was an engaging activity, thanks to numerous attempts at ballot-stuffing (Ashley and Gaye deserve special mention for their Herculean efforts in this respect). But despite the occasional odd selection (Taco Mac for Best Latino Restaurant?), the picks were sound ones and, in those instances where they don’t match the critics’ favorites, offer worthy alternative choices in their respective categories.

As always, this issue wouldn’t be possible without the combined efforts of various people: the critics, vote tabulators, sales people, designers, writers, photographers, editors, bean counters and distributors. But most of all, we’d like to thank the readers, without whom none of this would be possible.

Critics’ Panel / Copywriters: Matt Brunson, Brittney Cason, Tricia Childress, Mary Curtis, Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman, John Grooms, Jeff Hahne, Carlton Hargro, Cheris Hodges, Manoj Kesavan, Kimberly Lawson, Debbie Millwater, Anita Overcash, Barbara Schreiber, Samir Shukla, Jeff Taylor, Perry Tannenbaum, Priscilla Tsai.

Editorial Assistants / Copywriters: Ben Baer, Laura Camilo, Kyra Gemberling, Cannon Miller.

Photography: Justin Driscoll, Ashley Goodwin, Jasiatic, Angus Lamond, Jeaumane McIntosh, Graham Morrison.

Section Lead Photos: Angus Lamond.

Model: Kaya Stowers.

Design: Valery Lovely.