Best Pop-Up Retail Event
Bang Bang Fashion’s Hella Good Hot Mess Resale Trunk Shows
Staff Pick
The retro fashion goodness is evident in racks of high-waisted shorts, flowing midi skirts, dashikis and crazy jewelry. Hippy, hipster and ’90s hip-hop style abound. Follow on Facebook for future installments. (Takes place mostly monthly at the Pizza Peel at 1600 Central Ave.)
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Best Of Intro
City Life
- All
- City Life
- Local Hero
- Best Activist (Individual or Group)
- Best Member of Local Government
- Best Local Athlete
- Coolest Team Mascot
- Best Place to Tailgate
- Best Festival
- Best Free Event
- Best New Thing
- Best Old Thing
- Best Area to Live In Charlotte
- Best Apartment Community
- Best Church
- Best Place to Get Back to Nature
- Best Place to Go Walking/Hiking
- Best Place to Get Hitched
- Best Place to People-Watch
- Best Hotel
- Best Place to Take Your Republican Parents
- Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Visitors
- Best Golf Course
- Best Disc Golf Course
- Best Rec Center
- Best Weekend Getaway
- Best Taxi Company
- Best Co-working Space
- Best Local Charity
- Best Support Group
- Best Place to Volunteer
- Best Radio Personality
- Best Radio Show
- Best Local News Story of 2014 (So far)
- Local Issue That Needs More Attention
- Best Local TV Personality
- Best TV Station
- Best TV News Anchor/Team
- Best TV Sportscaster
- Best Local Blog
- Best Local Facebook Page
- Best Local Twitter Feed
- Best Local Instagram
- Best Local Celebrity
- Best Use of Tax Money
- Worst Use of Tax Money
- Local Hero
- Local Heroine
- Best Multitasker
- Best Way to Get Out of a Murder Charge
- Best Modern Incarnation of Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond
- Most Audacious Ask
- Best Reason to Start Saving Quarters
- Best Bible Autograph, Next to Jesus’
- Best Reason to Go Back 100 years and Kick Some Old-Timey Ass
- Local Issue That Needs More Attention
- Best Reason to Dig Through Your Parents’ Closet
- Best Reason to Spend $60 Watching Triple A Baseball
- Best Local Crowd-funded Project
- Best Way to Get Introspective
- Best Reason to Let a Hornets Player Blow in Your Ear
- Best Local Instagram
- Best Way to Learn WFAE Charlotte Talks Host Mike Collins’ Opinion
- Best Way to Piss Off Even the Most Tepid Charlotteans
- Best Reason to be Scared of Sending Your Kids to Public Schools
- Best Anticlimactic Moment
- Best Reason to Take a Break from NoDa
- Best Reason to Invest in Hardcore Snow Equipment
- Best Non-Hipster Reason to Grow a Beard
- Best Venue Conversion
Arts & Entertainment
- All
- Arts & Entertainment
- Best Museum
- Best Art Gallery
- Best Art Exhibit (Traveling)
- Best Art Exhibit (Local)
- Best Art Space
- Best Art Space Outside of Charlotte
- Best Display of Public Art
- Best Local Visual Artist
- Best Local Performing Artist
- Best Theater Company
- Best Local Actor (Male or Female)
- Best Theater Show of Past 12 Months
- Best Movie Theater (Quality of Films)
- Best Movie Theater (Quality of Presentation)
- Best Charity Event
- Best Place to Hear Spoken Word
- Best Improv Group
- Best Place to See Comedy
- Best Local Comedian
- Best Drag Show
- Best Drag Performer
- Best Fine Arts Photographer
- Best New Band, Formed In Past 12 Months
- Best Local Band (Originals)
- Best Local Band (Covers)
- Best Local Album of Past 12 Months
- Best Solo Music Performer
- Best Female Singer
- Best Male Singer
- Best Drummer
- Best Guitarist
- Best Rapper
- Best Local Songwriter
- Best Open Mic Night
- Best Concert Venue (Quality of Sound)
- Best Concert Venue (Quality of Performers)
- Best Concert of Past 12 Months
- Best Music Event of Past 12 Months
- Best Place to Hear Country Music
- Best Place to Hear Jazz
- Best Exhibition
- Best Showcase of Women Who Rock with Their Cameras
- Best Art/Community/Environment Partnership
- Best Use of Carpet Padding
- Best Comedy Specials
- Best Drama
- Best Musicals
- Best Arts Haven
- Best Arts Showcase
- Best New Theater Tradition
- Best Identity Crisis
- Best Escape Act
- Best Kept Cinematic Secret
- Best Event for Hanging Out with Insatiable Nymphomaniacs, Zombie Cheerleaders and Michael Fassbender in a Giant Fake Head
- Best Reason to Revisit the 1980s
- Friendliest Celebrity
- Best Library
- Comedian Hostess with the Mostess
- Best Comic Book by a Charlottean
- Best Uptown Takeover
- Best Indie Label Debut
- Best Major Label Debut
- Best WTF Was That?
- Best Reason to Wait in Line for a Concert
- Best Reason to Wait in the Rain for a Concert
- Best New Fest
- Best Old Fest
- Best Booking
- Best Place to Stay a While
- Best On the Brink Act
- Best Export
After Dark
- All
- After Dark
- Best New Nightspot (Opened Since August 2013)
- Best Weekly Nightlife Event
- Best Annual Party
- Best Club DJ
- Best Dance Club
- Bar With Hottest Patrons
- Bar With Hottest Staff
- Best Cougar Bar
- Best College Night
- Best Bar to People-Watch
- Best Place to Wear an LBD
- Best Hookup Bar
- Best Place for a First Date
- Best Karaoke
- Best Wine Bar
- Best After-Work Spot
- Best Paint and Sip
- Best Bowling Alley
- Best Neighborhood Bar
- Best Downtown Bar
- Best Sports Bar
- Best Hookah Bar
- Best Gay/Lesbian Bar
- Best Place to Pregame
- Best Strip Club
- Best Bartender
- Best Beer Selection (Bar)
- Best Cocktail Selection (Bar)
- Best Drink Specials
- Best New Rooftop Bar for Shenanigans
- Best New Spot to Get a Fancy Drink
- Best DJ
- Best Lounge DJ
- Best Place to Watch Soccer Again in Four Years
- Best Party for No Reason
- Best MeetUp to Get You Out of the House
- Best Bar to Yell Out “Bingo!”
- Best Master of Trivia
- Best EpiCentre Dance Club Alternative
- Best Place to Dance on Everything
- Best Nightlife Nostalgia
- Best Place to Pregame Before a Night Out Dancing
- Best Concert Hack
- Best Reason to Get Wet
- Best Grown and Sexy But It’s Not That Serious, Tempo, Venue
- Best Place to Pregame Before a Concert at the N.C. Music Factory
- Best Bar for Meeting Your Future Ex
- Best Worst Bathroom
- Best “Did That Place Ever Open?”
- Best Novelty Drinks
- Best Bar for Brews and Brussels Sprouts
- Best Weird Party Theme That Some people Didn’t Know How to Dress For So They Just Came Naked
- Best Place to Turn Down
- Gone too Soon
Food & Drink
- All
- Food & Drink
- Best New Restaurant (Opened in Last 12 Months) AND Best Farm-to-Fork Restaurant
- Best Breakfast
- Best New Restaurant
- Best Splurge Restaurant
- Best Cheap Restaurant
- Best Late-Night Eatery
- Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
- Best Hangover-Friendly Restaurant
- Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant
- Best Restaurant in Lake Norman Area
- Best Restaurant in NoDa
- Best Restaurant in Plaza Midwood
- Best Restaurant in SouthPark
- Best Restaurant in Uptown
- Best Waitstaff/Service
- Best Restaurant Patio
- Best Breakfast
- Best Lunch
- Best Brunch
- Best Appetizers
- Best Barbecue
- Best Soul Food
- Best Steak House
- Best Seafood Restaurant
- Best Selection of Oysters
- Best Vegetarian-Friendly
- Best Vegan-Friendly
- Best Pizzeria
- Best Sandwich
- Best Burger
- Best French Fries
- Best Hot Dog
- Best Wings
- Best Chinese
- Best Vietnamese
- Best Japanese
- Best Thai
- Best Korean
- Best Sushi
- Best French
- Best Italian
- Best Mexican
- Best Middle Eastern
- Best Indian
- Best Caribbean
- Best Bakery
- Best Place To Get Dessert (Restaurant)
- Best Place To Get Dessert (Retail)
- Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Store
- Best Health Food Section
- Best Place To Buy International Items
- Best Chef
- Best Mixologist
- Best Farmers Market
- Best Caterer
- Best Local Coffee Shop (tie)
- Best Wine Selection (Restaurant)
- Best Wine Selection (Retail)
- Best Local Brewery
- Best Bottle Shop
- Best Place To Get A Bloody Mary
- Best Place To Get A Martini
- Best Place To Get A Margarita
- Best Charlotte Beer
- Best North Carolina Beer
- Best Frozen Treat
- Best Food Truck
- Best Domestic Beer
- Best Import Beer
- Best Local Spirit
- Best Vodka
- Best Tequila
- Best Whiskey
- Best Scotch
- Best Barbecue
- Best Japanese
- Best Vietnamese
- Best Central American/Latin American
- Best Middle Eastern
- Best Indian
- Best Place to Get Dessert (Retail)
- Best Frozen Treat
- Best Rise from the Ashes
- Best Person to Pack Your Lunch
- Best Al Pastor Taco
- Best Uni
- Best Use of North Carolina Sweet Potato Leaves
- Best Cheap Dinner Date
- Best Sunday Brunch for the Fam
- Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Store
- Best Farmers Market
- Best New Artisan
- Best Makeover
- Best Place to Get Your Snack On
- Best One-Stop Shop for Spices
- Best Place for a Crafty Coffee
- Best Wine Selection (Restaurant)
- Best Retail Shop to Get a Bottle of Wine at Any Price
- Best Year-Round Charlotte Beer
- Best Local Brewery
- Best Quality of Beer Selection
- Best New Charlotte Brewery
- Most Impressive Taproom
- Can’t-Miss Beer Festival
- Best Overall Bottle Shop
- Most Inventive Cocktail List
- Best Cocktail List
- Best Cocktail
- Best Place for a Twilight Drink
- Best Neighborhood Patio to Have a Cocktail
- Best Response to a CL Food Article
Consumer Culture
- All
- Consumer Culture
- Best New Store
- Best New Store (Opened in Last 12 Months)
- Best Local Clothing Store
- Best Local Consignment Shop
- Best Place to Buy Vintage
- Best Gift Shop
- Best Shoe Store
- Best Jewelry Store
- Best New Independent Boutique
- Best Independent Men’s Retail
- Shoe Shop That Makes Us Salivate
- Best Revived Vintage Clothing
- Best Resale Therapy
- Best Thrift Store
- Best Resale for a Cause
- Best Pop-Up Retail Event
- Grandest Opening That Maybe Could’ve Marinated A Little Longer
- Best Used Bookstore
- Best Indie Bookstore
- Best Bookstore That’s Not Really a Bookstore
- Best Comic Book Shop
- Best Gaming Shop
- Best African American Hair Salon
- Best Natural Hair Salon
- Disneyworld of Salons
- Best Charlotte-Centric Retail
- Best Tattoo Shop
- Best Gift Shop for your BFF
- Best Gift Shop for your Mom
- Best Place for a Nontraditional Engagement Ring
- Best Zumba Teacher
- Best Way to Sweat It Out
- Best Local Fashion Designer
- Best Home Accessories Store
- Best Furniture Store
- Best Adult Ed
- Best Bicycle Shop
- Best Hair Salon
- Best Natural Hair Salon
- Best Comeback Shop
- Best Hair Stylist
- Best Adult Novelty Shop
- Best Makeup Artist
- Best Barber Shop
- Best Underwear
- Best Nail Salon
- Best Massage Therapy
- Best Tattoo Shop
- Best Piercing Studio
- Best Dry Cleaner
- Best Shoe Repair
- Best Alterations
- Best Realtor
- Best Bank (Specify location)
- Best Auto Dealer
- Best North Carolina Product
- Best Car Wash (Specify location)
- Best Vet
- Best Pet Store
- Best Doggie Daycare
- Best Fitness Studio
- Best Yoga Studio
- Best Bookstore (New or Used)
- Best In-Store Pet (TIE)
- Best Record Store
- Best In-Store Pet (TIE)
- Best Vape Shop (TIE)
- Best Head Shop
- Best Sex Paraphernalia Store
- Best Dentist
- Best Plumber
- Best Car Mechanic
- Best Heating & Air Repair
