Salsa's Mexican Restaurant at Carmel Commons. The best Mexican food around -- just two minutes away. Everyone there calls me amigo, the veggie burrito is just five bucks, and the margaritas are as big as my head.

-- Adam Saunders, IT guy

My dog Mili and I love Charlotte parks like Independence, Freedom, and McAlpine for walking and for their dog-friendly events.

-- Heather Desmond, display advertising/promotions coordinator

Grand Central Deli & Spirits -- one of the best places to go on a Thursday night for dancing to faves like Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" to Ciara's "Get Up" with people of all ethnicities, where nobody is too embarrassed or cool to "do it to it" on the dance floor.

-- Branna Calloway, listings editor