Month: August 2006

Well, here we are again—and there you are, too! For those just tuning in, and for everyone playing at home, let’s review the rules, shall we? As has become our annual habit, we’ve solicited C-VILLE readers to answer our call for the “Best Of,” and boy did you respond! Readers filled out those ballots, both in paper form and on that newfangled Internet, with a vigor usually reserved for scratching lottery tickets or solving the “Wheel of Fortune” puzzle. You know whom you’re rooting for, and now the time has finally come to find out which of Charlottesville’s lucky contestants will go home with a magnificent prize: Namely, a “Best of C-VILLE” certificate, and the overwhelming adulation of C-VILLE readers everywhere. Let the games begin!

Best of C-VILLE Entertainment
Best of C-VILLE Retail
Best of C-VILLE Local Color
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Contest prizes provided by:

Everyone who voted is a winner, of course—but some winners win bigger than others. We picked three lucky readers at random from those who completed our online ballot. The winner of our third prize, a $100 gift certificate to Zocalo, is Madeleine Hendrick. Cory Teitelbaum picks up our second prize, a pair of jeans from Judy B. And the winningest winner of them all is David Horgan, who’ll take home a complete satellite radio package from Crutchfield. Congrats!

ART GALLERY
Second Street Gallery
Runner-up: McGuffey Art Center
Second Street Gallery came in first this year, just edging out its former landlord (and numero uno in this category last year) McGuffey Arts Center. What sets Second Street apart from the others is its focus on a variety of contemporary artists. Its location in the first floor of the City Center for Contemporary Arts has proved a perfect match for the gallery’s wide variety of avant-garde offerings. We would like for them to tweak the acoustics in the beautifully spartan space, however—especially for shows that feature live music alongside the gallery gabbing. No matter what, though, it’ll be exciting to see what they display this year as they try to retain the coveted Best of C-VILLE title.

OUTDOOR RECREATION
Walnut Creek
Runner-up: Rivanna Trail
Walnut Creek’s lush 480-acre park, open year-round, is one of Albemarle County’s loveliest open spaces. The responsibly designed 13 miles of biking trails is the favorite spot of the Charlottesville Albe-marle Mountain Bike Club’s events (and C-VILLE voters), but there are also places for swimming, boating, fishing, as well as a beach for showing off that itsy bitsy bikini. If you’re looking for a trail in the city, however, the runner-up can’t be beat. The 20-mile long Rivanna Trail runs along the Rivanna River and Moores and Meadow creeks, and forms a loose loop around the entire city. Happy trails!

OUTDOOR EVENT OR FESTIVAL
Fridays After 5
Runner-up: The Vegetarian Festival
Thousands of people can’t be wrong. When you think outdoor events and Charlottesville, it’s hard to ignore free admission to the musical festivities at the big white baby bonnet at the east end of the Downtown Mall every Friday around 5. And you have to admit: The price is right (and the cheap beer’s not bad, either). In a surprising come-from-behind near-victory, The Vegetarian Festival came in a solid second, proving that there are almost as many
C-VILLE readers out there who prefer green tea, chi g’ong and music of the more acoustic flavor to the Pavilion’s week-ending rockfest. Long live diversity!

PLACE TO SWIM
ACAC
Runner-up: Fry’s Spring Beach Club
One is sleek, modern and ably outfitted in the shading department by man-made features, such as sun umbrellas. The other is old and old-fashioned, lined with a canopy of giant, cooling trees. But what ACAC and Fry’s Spring have in common is sparkling cool water, and plenty of it! Come summer, Charlottesville apparently likes a pool that combines kiddie delights (water slides! wading areas for little tykes!) with ample lap lanes and lots of space in which to splash about or play water basketball. ACAC and Fry’s Spring are your leading choices. Now that you know where to go, everybody get in the pool!

PLACE TO DANCE
R2
Runner-up: Club 216
We admit it: We were actually pulling for perennial write-in “my bedroom” to win—but we’re perfectly satisfied with these results, as well. And the best thing about this one-two disco-dancing punch is that the top vote-getters’ schedules are complementary. After you’ve sweated out the day’s frustrations at Rapture’s bass-pounding techno and electro palace, R2, you can head across Water Street at closing time and continue to shake your booty until dawn at runner-up Club 216. Ride the pony, people. Ride the pony.

LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Charlottesville Pavilion
Runner-up: Starr Hill Music Hall
It’s good to be the king. We wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how developer and music-hall monarch Coran Capshaw feels with both the winner and the runner-up live music venues among his holdings. After installing baffling (a term we find, frankly, puzzling) to absorb sound, the Pavilion is subject to a lot less neighborhood criticism these days. Either that, or people have finally figured out that it’s very cool to have Willie Nelson, Wilco and Ween play in your backyard, and it’s high time they stopped bitching.
    As for Starr Hill, the comparatively intimate venue on W. Main Street has obviously not been cowed by the mystique of the Pavilion’s high-drawing acts, responding with such memorable shows as Neko Case, The Yard Dogs and Ghostface Killah.

PERFORMING ARTS EVENT
Live Arts
Runner-up: The Paramount Theater
Event, venue—what’s the diff? As far as
C-VILLE readers are concerned, everything Live Arts does is so wonderful that there’s no point distinguishing among productions. You just love the whole organization, and everything coming out of it! For the record, Charlottesville’s long-running community arts organization put on some real winners last season, including Noises Off, Macbeth, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the icky-to-say-but-fun-to-watch Urinetown. No wonder you couldn’t chose just one!
    Meanwhile, the Paramount, now in its second full year, brought the indescribable Yo-Yo Ma, the elegant Miami City Ballet and the desperate Kathy Griffin to town, among many others. So much excellence, so little time!
    Next year, maybe we’ll ask you to pick the best “Performing Arts Moment,” and see if that helps you to get more specific!

ROCK MUSICIAN/BAND, OTHER THAN DMB
American Dumpster
Runner-up: Monticello Road
Yes, we had to exclude the destined-to-win Dave Matthews Band from the running this year, if only to give local up-and-comers a fighting chance. And fight they did, with Christian Breeden’s ubiquitous rasp-rock outfit American Dumpster emerging victorious. The sloppy, energetic, arena-ready quintet Monticello Road marshaled enough votes to snag second place. Keep rocking, boys—there’s always next year!

FOLK MUSICIAN/BAND
Terri Allard
Runner-up: Devon Sproule
Women sweep this category again this year, with singer/songwriter/supermom Terri Allard retaining the top spot. Allard just released her fifth CD, Live From Char-lottesville, recorded at The Paramount Theater, and shows no sign of relinquishing her crown to indie/folk chanteuse Devon Sproule (who also came in second last year). On the other hand, Sproule’s album Upstate Songs was dubbed one of Rolling Stone’s Top Albums of 2003, and the precocious 23-year-old will release her fourth CD, Keep Your Silver Shined, this summer. Looks like the 2007 “Best Of” race is officially on.

BLUEGRASS MUSICIAN/BAND
Hackensaw Boys
Runner-up: Old School Freight Train
Sorry, bluegrass purists—seems like the high-octane (and ever-evolving) Hackensaw Boys continue to dominate this category. Famous for fusing the borders between rock, old-time and country, these six guys have a staunch and growing following. Since their humble beginnings as a 12-piece old-time band on the streets of Charlottesville, the Hackensaws now boast four CDs, have toured from Amsterdam to San Francisco, and have appeared alongside the likes of The Flaming Lips, Cheap Trick and Modest Mouse. Similarly rockin’ new-grassy upstarts Old School Freight Train, who opened for Merle Haggard at the Pavilion in May, fiddled their way into second place.

JAZZ MUSICIAN/BAND
John D’earth
Runners-up: George Melvin
and Robert Jospé
Even though he’s regularly playing the Smithsonian these days, local jazz fans can still catch the high-energy improvisations of trumpeter John D’earth each Thursday night at Miller’s, where he’s played for the last 15 years. His work excites both hardcore jazz aficionados and jam band junkies. In addition to appearing with his six-piece band, D’earth also acts as the Director of Jazz Performance at UVA, where he directs the UVA Jazz Ensemble. No wonder the kids love him! Keyboard king George Melvin and drummer Robert Jospé (who, ironically, plays in the Free Bridge Quintet with D’earth) tied for second.

DJ
DJ Lem
Runner-up: DJ XSV
When it’s time to sway, dub genius DJ Lem—known by day as Lem Oppenheimer—is your No. 1 choice. Lem puts a ton of time into perfecting those reggae and dub tones, and his efforts have obviously paid off. His other job is managing the Easy Star record label, which brought all you stoners that crazy dub version of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. You can check out DJ Lem at regular gigs at Atomic Burrito.
    DJ XSV, who often mans the ones and twos at “Place to Dance” winner R2, specializes in mashups and remixes—an obsession that began when he heard his first mashup seven years ago. (Or at least that’s what he says on his myspace profile.) Scratch on, my brothers.

ARTIST
Laura Lee Gulledge
Runner-up: Sharon Shapiro
Manassas native Laura Lee Gulledge held her first (ever) art show this year at Fellini’s #9 in March. Three art showings later, she’s taken Charlottesville by storm with her introspective, emotive and sometimes hilarious paper, ink, gouache and pencil drawings. Her off-kilter, self-referential portraits—which often depict hauntingly hip, thin, bewildered characters—scored top marks from our readers.
    As for runner-up Sharon Shapiro—well, it seemed like her acrylic visions of ’40s-style beauties were everywhere this year, from the sensuous nude (sporting only a martini glass) on an arresting Artini flyer to the bathing beauty that graced C-VILLE Weekly’s most recent Independence Day flag cover. Great work, indeed.

AUTHOR, OTHER THAN JOHN GRISHAM
Rita Mae Brown
Runner-up: Barbara Ehrenreich
Never underestimate the power of felines. Charlottesville has, of course, its share of Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners—yet the majority of the votes went to Rita Mae Brown, best known these days for her “Sneaky Pie Brown” mystery novels (which feature a cat who can solve crimes as naturally as she can cough up fur balls). In the background, you can just hear everyone who voted for runner-up Barbara Ehren-reich—author of Nickel and Dimed, an exploration of welfare reform’s impact on the “working poor”—chanting, “We got robbed!”

TV STATION
NBC 29
Runner-up: CBS 19
The “most powerful station” in the state, NBC 29, takes home the prize once again for your favorite TV channel, having ruled the market for three decades now. Up-and-comer CBS 19, the flagship station of the tri-station Charlottesville Newsplex, was hot on their heels, however. Let the broadcast wars begin.

RADIO STATION
WNRN
Runner-up: WTJU
Local radio listeners are apparently of two minds when it comes to what they like. WNRN’s commercial-free cavalcade of crunchy nü metal, indie pop and “modern rock” (with occasional blocks of hip-hop, ‘80s rarities, local music and bluegrass) is the clear favorite. But the always-eclectic college station WTJU placed a strong second, showing that—for a sizable number of Charlottesville radio heads—musical variety remains the spice of life.

Back to Best of C-VILLE 2006

YOGA STUDIO
Bikram Yoga
Runner-up: Studio 206
Some like it hot. Actually, make that most like it hot. When it comes to body movin’ (and twisting, and stretching, and calming, and breathing), y’all seem to prefer a room that’s at least the temperature of the sun’s surface. So bring a towel—unless, of course, you’re headed to non-steamy runner-up Studio 206.

PILATES STUDIO
Tru Pilates
Runner-up: ACAC
When it comes to physical fitness, it’s all about “The Core” these days. What’s that supposed to mean? It’s those big muscles that line your torso and hips and back—you know, the part in the middle that goes soft and stooped if you don’t pay attention. Though weight lifters and aerobics fans are hearing about it more and more lately, this physical truth is no news to the Pilates faithful, who use a series of exercises, developed by Joseph Pilates early in the 20th century, to strengthen and elongate the body’s central muscle groups. Like a lot of groovy towns where taking care of yourself is practically a competitive sport, Charlottesville is getting the Pilates bug big time. Tru Pilates, winners in this first-time category, has evidently already made a splash—though at least a half-dozen Pilates studios preceded them.
    In scoring the runner-up spot, ACAC once again demonstrates the wisdom of its something-for-everyone approach to fitness programming.

JEWELER
Angelo
Runner-up: Andrew Minton
It’s not news around here—Angelo has taken the prize many times before—but take note, gem believers: The best jewelry in town, according to our readers, is found at this Downtown store. Maybe it’s the locally minted designs and the minimalist display that puts a sparkle in everybody’s eye. For bauble lovers, Andrew Minton is a bright and shiny favorite too.

DRESS SHOP
Eloise
Runner-up: Levy’s
At Eloise, you can find Marc Jacobs knockoffs and a little taste of New York glamour right here at home, along with exquisite textiles and textures in an inviting, homey store. At runner-up Levy’s, debutante goes modern, with classic, wear-anywhere dresses.

SHOE STORE
Scarpa
Runner-up: Rack Room
There are two dates that every kicks-loving Charlottesville woman puts on her calendar: Scarpa’s Imelda Marcos sale and Scarpa’s other sale. (Which starts on Saturday, August 12—yay!) Not that sale time is the only time to visit Amy Gardner’s shoe emporium; the gallery-like setting has once again been recognized by C-VILLE readers as the best place to satisfy your addiction to beautiful footwear—and that’s true throughout the year. With upmarket brands like Lucchese, Donald J. Pliner, Taryn Rose and Cordani, Scarpa makes us forget we live in a small town (we still do, right?)
    Of course, there’s a lot to be said for everyday bargains and shoes that say “style” with perhaps a tad more humility. And when those times arise—or when you need to get running shoes, Teva knock-offs, Steve Madden chunkers and a new handbag in one fell swoop—the best place to head to, according to our readers, is Rack Room.

VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE
Bittersweet
Runner-up: Antics and Goodwill
For the second year in a row, Shannon Iaculli’s trendsetting second-hand shop Bittersweet is first with our readers. This  chic urban ’60s-’80s vintage source in the Glass Building south of Downtown has survived a recent fire next door (at the new X Lounge), and never missed a beat. Sporting more new items to go with its dresses, skirts and accessories from decades past, it’s still the best place, according to one thrifty but trendy reader, to get a killer pair of jeans and cammie.
    A major surprise in this category are the second-place winners: Antics and Good-will tied for runner-up. Antics owners are rumored to comb estate sales and flea markets for you in search of that certain stylish vintage look, whether it be a tea set, men’s shirts or a party dress. The displays in this more antique chic shack are so smart, it feels like you’ve stumbled into a very cool aunts’ attic.  As for Goodwill, many of us have secretly known the store on Pantops as a must for do-it-yourselfers hunting affordable brand-name and stylish threads (if you are willing to trawl through its massive racks). Now it’s officially out of the closet. And more good news for bargain hunters: Goodwill is opening a second Charlottesville location on Route 29, in the old Hostess Outlet building.

ATHLETIC OUTFITTER
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports
Runner-up: Ragged Mountain Running Shop
For hiking boots and wicking fabric and lightweight tents and carabiners and freeze-dried tomato soup and pants with legs that zip off, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports is the place to go. Unless you prefer Ragged Mountain. Why not try both? Hey, the pursuit of outdoor gear is a neverending endeavor.

DRY CLEANERS
Brown’s Dry Cleaners
Runner-up: Terra Bella
Perennial favorite Brown’s cleans up again this year. With four locations around town, it has a bigger presence than Starbucks. Threee-location “green” cleaner Terra Bella is your second choice. Perhaps a little expansion could help the rival’s cause for next year (provided it’s sustainable development, of course).

HARDWARE STORE
Martin Hardware Co.
Runner-up: Lowe’s
You chose the mom-and-pop shop Mar-tin’s Hardware as the best place to get your paint and pulleys. Packing as much merchandise as possible into its crowded Preston Avenue store, Martin’s won readers over with its local feel, the friendly service and trustful lack of price-tagging on small items (shoppers are in charge of remembering how much that bolt costs). Still, local doesn’t do it for everyone. National chain store Lowe’s earned votes from those who enjoy wandering through a cavernous warehouse with shelves stacked with everything from upscale appliances to low-grade plywood sheets.

WINE STORE
Market Street Wineshop
Runner-up: Wine Warehouse
Robert Harllee has been running the show at Market Street for 20 years, and if we’d been soliciting “Best Of” votes all that time, there’s little doubt he’d have racked up 20 commendations. As it is, Market Street Wineshop nearly has a case of “Best Of” awards. Is it the Friday night tastings (free wine! cute patrons!) or the monthly wine dinners that serve up viticultural erudition and delicious courses in equal measure? Or is it the international selection and the sense you get that it’s O.K. to ask a naïve question about wine (or any of the 400 beers) because everyone working in the store is on a mission to spread the gospel of wine? Or is it the winning attitude Harllee espouses about his customers? (“They’re obviously very smart, very hip and very cool,” he says, with no hint of trying to curry favor with the reporter who asked the question.) The business has expanded to include a satellite shop next to Whole Foods in addition to the Downtown establishment, so whatever accounts for Market Street’s success, there’s clearly plenty of it to go around.
    Taking the runner-up slot, the Wine Warehouse is now in its 12th year, having been founded in 1994 by David and Elizabeth Souza. Their goal: To consistently offer “some of the lowest prices possible in the Mid-Atlantic on premium wine and beer.” Bargain prices and a nice bouquet to boot? Sign us up!

FLORIST
University Florist
Runner-up: Hedge Fine Blooms
With three locations and a history dating back to 1928, it’s no wonder University Florist gets your top vote again this year. Coming in second is contemporary arranger and European-style, build-your-own bouquet shop Hedge Fine Blooms in the Main Street Market and on Water Street.

GROCERY STORE
Harris Teeter
Runner-up: Whole Foods
With a revamped Cheeses of the World kiosk and fresh-baked breads, plus a convenient layout, neighborhood favorite Harris Teeter reigns supreme. Runner-up Whole Foods boasts tons of organic and natural options, a great salad bar, lots of earthy personal care products and ultrafriendly service.

TOY STORE
Shenanigans
Runner-up: Toys “R” Us
This city certainly has a plethora of toy stores, ranging from small to giant, unique to mainstream. Shenanigans takes home the trophy for another year as your favorite place to pick up something cute for the kids, or just get lost in the days of your own childhood. Geoffrey and friends at Toys “R” Us take second place, offering a more corporate setting in which to find any toy you could possibly think of for the young and the young-at-heart.

CD STORE
Plan 9
Runner-up: Sidetracks
Richmond-based Plan 9 takes home the CD Store prize once again. Its Corner location lets you wile away the hours, hopping from listening station to listening station in the expansive space that offers more than just new music releases. Offering post cards, band t-shirts and coffee from Higher Grounds, a trip to Plan 9 is as much a spelunking expedition as a shopping experience—you never know when you’ll find your way out again. Those on the 29 North side of town have the option of visiting their Albemarle Square store, as well.
    Other voters preferred the pared-down simplicity of Sidetracks, a comparatively modest shop near the Downtown Mall that features plain white shelves packed with jewel cases and a prominently displayed tree of new releases.

FURNITURE STORE
Under the Roof
Runner-up: The Artful Lodger
Minimalist, Euro-inspired retailer Under the Roof (or should we say Under “zee” Roof?) gets top prize again this year. Take that, you pergola-loving, column-worshipping, Jeffersonian-design diehards! Coming in a very close second is The Artful Lodger. Do we smell a rivalry brewing?

ANTIQUE STORE
Circa
Runner-up: Consignment House Unlimited
From kitschy conversation pieces to classy staples, there’s something for every taste and pocket book at returning champion Circa. With such a wide selection and constantly revolving inventory, it’s worth checking out the Allied Street shop daily. Your second choice, Consignment House Unlimited on the Mall, is a great source for china, crystal and silver recycled from your neighbors.

BIKE SHOP
Blue Wheel
Runner-up: Performance Bicycle Shop
Old-school Charlottesville pedal-pushers have long known, and loved, the funky and crowed Blue Wheel bike shack at the end of Elliewood Avenue on the Corner. Well, the Blue Wheel crew has recently transferred its bike-fixin’ funland to the Frank Ix building, but cycling enthusiasts’ passion for the place obviously remains undimmed. Runner-up Performance Bicycle Shop has also been serving local bikers forever, and—while part of a national chain—the store obviously provides enough of a personal touch to win a large share of our readers’ affection.

USED BOOKSTORE
Daedalus Bookshop
Runner-up: Blue Whale Books
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a skilled artificer who built a labyrinth for King Minos to imprison his wife’s son. For Charlottesville book lovers, the three-storey, jam-packed Daedalus Bookshop is a labyrinth built by owner Sandy McAdams in ancient times (the early 1970s) to free their minds. Runner-up Blue Whale Books, a much newer addition to Downtown, can’t quite compete (yet) with such time-honored tradition.  

GARDEN STORE/NURSERY
Ivy Nursery
Runner-up: Snow’s Garden Center
Out there in Ivy, there’s a little ol’ nursery that one or two of you have heard of. Need a rosebush? A Leland cypress? A rudbeckia fulgida sullivantii? (And no, we did not make that up.) Ivy Nursery probably has ’em—along with a shoppe full of giftes. Snow’s, a similarly sprawling place on Avon Street, garnered lots of gardeners’ love, as well.

MOVIE RENTAL
Sneak Reviews
Runner-up: Blockbuster
Ah yes, such a sweet story: Artsy movie store beats out chain giant yet again. Sneak Reviews continues to hold down its single Ivy Road location and beat out Block-buster’s three branches—proof that quality is often more important than quantity. There is something to be said for that classic movie store experience, though: browsing walls and walls of new releases, skipping through aisles of videogames, and drooling over popcorn and candy while standing in line. Though we do have to wonder about the future of movie stores, what with online ordering and home delivery looking to take over the movie-rental world. But for now, at least, stores with character (like Sneak Reviews) are getting the appreciation they deserve.

DOWNTOWN STORE
Cha Cha’s
Runner-up: O’Suzannah
Do you prefer “funky, campy, kitschy” or do you like “goods”? Well, more of you apparently go for the former—costume jewelry, ‘50s-suburban-housewife-themed gifts, and all other things retro—but plenty appreciate O’Suzannah’s more subdued aesthetic, too.

BARRACKS ROAD STORE
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Runner-up: Blue Ridge Mountain Sports
Words, words, words, as Hamlet—and
C-VILLE’s readers—would say. The huge selection of books helped maintain the mega-chain’s status as best Barracks Road store. And when you’re done reading, you can outfit yourself for an outdoor adventure at runner-up Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.

CORNER STORE
Finch
Runner-up: Mincer’s UVA Imprinted Sportswear
With its chic appeal and with-it designs, Finch takes the blue ribbon for best Corner store. This boutique-style shop secured its place by winning over winsome Wahoos. But if you’re not looking for a sundress—and want something with a lot more orange—head on over to the venerable runner-up, Mincer’s UVA Imprinted Sportswear.

29N STORE
Target
Runner-up: Whole Foods
The opening of the new (and massive) Hollymead Town Center is proving pesky for last year’s reigning King of Large Stores, Whole Foods. Bumped down to runner-up position by that pesky bulls-eye, the organic and natural food market takes a backseat this year to Target. Looks like all you bargain shoppers can’t resist the scenic drive along Route 29, as long as a passel of wallet-friendly purchases await you. Tar-zhay, here we come!

CAR DEALER
Brown Automotive Group
Runner-up: Jim Price Chevrolet
You still love the service at Brown. For runner-up Jim Price Chevrolet, we have one piece of advice: ear-worm jingle.

MECHANIC
Cole’s Import Specialist
Runner-up: Finley’s Service Center
Yes, it’s a beautiful thing—and unfortunately rare—to find a mechanic you can trust. For the second year in a row, Cole’s Import Specialist pulls out a win. Must be a lot of you out there driving around in cars that Chris Cole and his team have showered with TLC. Finley’s obviously fine service got a fair number of shoutouts, as well.

GAS STATION
Bellair Market
Runner-up: Fuel Co.
Come for the gas, stay for the sandwiches…and the exotic brands, the French cheese, the wide-ranging selection of beers—oh, and did we mention the sandwiches? This not-so-little gas station at the intersection of Route 29 and Ivy Road has it all. Bellair Market can’t hog all the limelight, though. Fuel Co., which offers dozens of wines, upscale dining and a full tank of premium, got enough votes to motor into the runner-up spot.

SPA
Oasis
Runner-up: The Spa at Boar’s Head Inn
Another year, another “Best Of” award for Oasis proprietor Kore Russell and her gentle team of exfoliaters, waxers and pamperers. We don’t mean to get too personal here, but there are some things about a woman that only her aesthetician knows. With a soothing ambience, and a selection of very cool skin refreshers and makeup to buy on your way out the door, Oasis lives up to its moniker. Again.
    And, in a nod to “The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same,” Boards Head Inn again takes the runner-up wreath in this pampering category.

Back to Best of C-VILLE 2006

PRINT JOURNALIST
John Borgmeyer
Runner-up: C-VILLE Weekly
A perennial favorite, C-VILLE’s erstwhile news editor John Borgmeyer capped his seven-year career here with that most precious of professional achievements: two consecutive “Best Of” awards. Whether the Missouri native (who’s heading back there to chase down a law degree with the same vigor he chased local government and development questions) was waxing poetic on the McIntire Golf Course or leveling a year-end “Cheap Shot” at an overstuffed law enforcement official, he always delivered the goods with wit and wisdom.
    Of course, Borgmeyer didn’t do it alone, and that’s where C-VILLE Weekly comes in. On behalf of all of us, we thank you.

PHILANTHROPIST
Dave Matthews
Runner-up: John Grisham
To be fair, the winner should be Dave Matthews Band (didn’t we make this point when Dave won last year, too?), as it’s through the Bama Works Fund that Dave and his DMB peeps give out the millions. And we do mean millions: more than $4 million at last count.
    Not to be outdone in the nice-rich-guys-who-live-here-and-make-a-difference category, megastar novelist John Grisham set an example for everyone with his and wife Renee’s response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster: They seeded a clean-up fund with $5 million faster than you could say “Mardi Gras.”
    If we were rich and famous, we’d want to be just like these guys.

PLACE TO WORK, Other than UVA
Charlottesville Newsplex
Runner-up: Martha Jefferson
While the “one viewer as a time” model of manager Roger Burchett hasn’t earned the top TV spot yet, it has hooked employees at the news center, which broadcasts news for CBS 19, ABC 16 and Fox 27. As C-VILLE reported April 4, virtually everyone at the station talks about the fun they have at work.
    Maybe it’s the real-life “Grey’s Anatomy,” or maybe it’s the hospital food. Regardless, voters chose Martha Jefferson as the runner-up. It bested electronics retailer Crutchfield in a real squeaker.

PLACE TO READ C-VILLE
Downtown Mall
Runner-up: Mudhouse
Thank you. We love you all, wherever you read this fine paper. For those reading it while stuck in traffic on Route 29N, or in the privacy of your own home (you know who you are), we salute you, too.

PICK-UP SPOT
Downtown Mall
Runner-up: Blue Light Grill
There’s something about the trees, the open sky and the plethora of available alcohol that makes Charlottesville’s epicenter also its center of love. Short of adding gondoliers, it would be tough to make this favorite pick-up spot more conducive to romance. And it seems that one Downtown Mall spot, in particular, epitomizes the appeal of flirt central: the runner-up, Blue Light Grill, which provides plenty of lounge-in-the-window people-watching opps for romance-minded readers (and its bar scene can’t be beat for young, available professionals looking to experience the Mall à deux).

BARTENDER
Ted Norris at Zocalo
Runner-up: Al Zappa at Rapture
Once again, the quick-handed and entertaining Ted “top shelf” Norris left other Charlottesville drink-slingers chasing his ponytail in the race for best bartender. While the congenial, always-working Al “perfect pour” Zappa is nearly as well-beloved by Downtown drinkers, in the end he came up just a few shots shy of first place.

SERVER
Tie: Janet Knight at West Main;
Jill Emerson at Mas and Bluegrass Grill
Read The Rant for one week and you’ll realize how many servers there are in this city (and how angry so many of them seem to be). Waiting tables is no easy task, but these two serving-savvy gals would make you think it’s a piece of cake. Friendly and attentive service, knowledgeable suggestions and fun conversation: According to our readers, Janet Knight and Jill Emerson provide that experience for their customers every chance they get (bet you won’t find them letting out any steam over low tips in the back of a certain weekly paper). Heaven knows that in this town, a good server is not to be undervalued. Keep up the good work, ladies.

LOCAL WEBSITE
cvillemovies.com
Runner-up: C-VILLE.com
Charlottesvillians obviously love their movies. So much so that their favorite local website is a simple, one-page site that does nothing but provide (sometimes questionable) movie times for area theaters, and looks like it was designed by a colorblind monkey who taught himself html from eBay’s help page. But then, we’re probably just sore because C-VILLE. com came in second.

FAMILY DOCTOR
Greg Gelburd
Runner-up: John Hong
With a special interest in homeopathic, natural medicine, Dr. Greg Gelburd is a recurrent favorite in a town that doesn’t shy away from the experimental or alternative approach. Last year he and his wife, Kathy, an optometrist, put the “act” in family practice (his specialty) when they ventured to Pearlington, Mississippi, to offer relief to families upended by Hurricane Katrina.  That was by no means Gelburd’s maiden experience with outreach: He’s also active with Advancing Native Missions, a local group that for 14 years has had the goal of “supporting indigenous ministries.”
    Taking the runner-up slot is the media-savvy (and ever-quotable) Dr. John Hong, who most recently earned fame for a very personal, ultimately televised offer he made to D-list comedienne Kathy Griffin when she was in town to perform at the Paramount.

DENTIST
David Dalley
Runner-up: Rebecca and David Swett
No one gets excited about going to the dentist. It’s an experience that everyone would be happy to give up if doing so didn’t mean cavities and other painful problems, so Charlottesville’s “favorite” dentist can be somewhat of a misleading term. But hey, if you’ve got to go under the drill, or just get a little routine cleaning, who doesn’t want friendly, relaxed people doing the job? Your choice for the masked man lurking over your chair (with the added bonus of watching you drool) is Dr. David Dalley, with Drs. Rebecca and David Swett coming in second. Thanks to these brave individuals (after all, who wants people to dread visiting them?), Charlottesville’s pearly whites are staying in top shape.

VETERINARIAN
Georgetown Veterinary Hospital
Runner-up: Dominion Animal Hospital
Your favorite place to take Fluffy, Fido and all of your other small furry and feathered friends is Georgetown Veterinary Hospital, in operation since 1959. Coming in second is holistic healer Dominion Animal Hospital, which offers such natural remedies as acupuncture, chiropractic care and herbal therapies. Fido, can you say Namaste?

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RESTAURANT
Zocalo
Runner-up: Mas
When this place opened, it won “Best New Restaurant.” Then, last year, it won “Best Restaurant.” Now here it is again with what some might consider the top prize in the entire “Best Of C-VILLE” universe. Wow! Better get on the horn and make yourself a reservation at this Latin-fusion hotspot on the Downtown Mall. We hear Belmont’s tapas bar, Mas, isn’t too shabby either. And by the way, writing this is making us very, very hungry.

OLD-SCHOOL RESTAURANT
C&O
Runner-up: Miller’s
Here we are with a brand-new category. Which restaurants have truly entered the hallowed halls of Charlottesville’s history books? we asked. You answered: C&O, which recently celebrated its very respectable 30th birthday. Just check out the patina on this place near the railroad tracks on Water Street, which has faithfully delivered a killer wine list and delicious French-inspired fare, decade after decade. Miller’s gets props too for being the no-frills standby that just won’t quit (and, incidentally, got a tiny taste of revenge in the “Best Old-School Bar” category—not that we’re giving anything away.)

BREAKFAST
The Tavern
Runner-up: Bluegrass Grill & Bakery
Like the sign on the roof says, it’s where everybody—whether they be starving student or clueless Nebraskan tourist—gets a big ol’ plate of pancakes. No pretension here. And the long lines snaking out of Bluegrass on Saturday morning don’t lie: You like it a whole, whole lot. Especially that to-die-for homemade corned beef hash.

BRUNCH
The Old Mill Room at Boar’s Head Inn
Runner-up: Bluegrass Grill & Bakery
It seems that, as long as y’all are going out for brunch, you’re inclined to go all the way. What’s more civilized than eating both smoked salmon and Virginia sugar-cured ham in one meal, then throwing in a frangipane pear tart for dessert—all before noon? Truly, it is the way of kings. For the rest of us, Bluegrass is a beloved brunch standby.

LUNCH
Bodo’s Bagel Bakery
Runner-up:
Revolutionary Soup
We love our bagels, and not just for breakfast. Bodo’s pounded the rest of Charlottesville’s many good lunch options into a cream cheese-like pulp. Revolution-ary Soup waved a red flag of protest. All patted their stomachs contentedly.

DESSERT
Splendora’s
Runner-up: Arch’s Frozen Yogurt
Seems that for “dessert” Charlottesville prefers “ice cream.” And ice cream just tastes better when you call it gelato and serve it up in a super-stylish space on the Downtown Mall. The light fixtures are to die for, the flavors are listed on a computer screen near the door, and, oh yeah—the sweet treats are delicious. Those of you who are more concerned with calories than style made a strong showing for Arch’s. See the “Frozen Treat” category for some eerie similarities.

FROZEN TREAT
Splendora’s
Runner-up: Arch’s Frozen Yogurt
Looks like the colorful gelato joint has proved that less really is more—a small cup of savory Italian ice cream wins out over gooey candy and chocolate-blasted Arch’s when it comes to your sweet tooth. Even with two locations for fro-yoers to get their fill, there’s just something about the rich, smooth texture of gourmet ice cream. Let’s face it, who hasn’t taken a stroll down the Mall, neon plastic cup in hand, thanking their lucky stars that heaven comes in at least 24 flavors? And we can’t forget the mini-spoon, designed to be the perfect size to force you to savor every last teeny bite (or just look funny eating a whole lot faster). While that tried-and-true soft-serve may hold a soft place in every Wahoo’s heart, creamy gelato still reigns supreme among Char-lottesvillians this year.

LATE-NIGHT MENU
Littlejohn’s Delicatessen
Runner-up: C&O
Ah, to be in college. For late-night party-goers and Corner-crawling Wahoos, Littlejohn’s tops C-VILLE’s list yet again as the place to get hot subs and nachos at hours when most folks are asleep. If something a little more upscale is to your tastes, you can always head Downtown to runner-up C&O.

MEAL UNDER $10
Bodo’s Bagel Bakery
Runner-up: Marco & Luca’s Noodle Shop
Who can resist the allure of fresh-baked bagels (and bagel sandwiches) at dirt-cheap prices? Obviously not the people who voted Bodo’s No. 1. And when you’re on the Downtown Mall, check out runner-ups Marco & Luca’s dumpling place for some tasty, yet inexpensive, Asian fare.

BAKERY
Albemarle Baking Company
Runner-up: Chandler’s
With its glamorous location in the Main Street Market, bread and pastry chefs who are Food Network-worthy (keep your eye out for the National Bread and Pastry Team Championship!), and—oh yeah—really great baked goods, Albemarle Baking Company kills the competition, then puts a dollop of real whipped cream on top. But Chandler’s in Albemarle Square has its committed devotees, as well.

TAKE OUT
Asian Express
Runner-up: Bodo’s Bagel Bakery
Some people believe Chinese food is Chinese food, but not you, Charlottesville. You know a standout take-out joint when you see one. With cheap dinner specials and sushi, Asian Express wins the Asian take-out battle hands-down. Of course, it wouldn’t be a food category without our favorite bagel stop. Quick, healthy bagel sandwiches, salads, and soups—with a dash of authentic Charlottesville feeling—lifted Bodo’s into second place.

CUP OF COFFEE
Mudhouse
Runner-up: Greenberry’s
Despite its recent price increases, readers still prefer Mudhouse for their morning jolt of caffeine. With its flagship Down-town location, its laptop-toting customers lining the back walls, and the anti-Musak music always on rotation, it’s a clear favorite (we guess you like the coffee, too). You love it even more because you can find that signature black cup in four other locations around town. But “rock on” and gnarly gargoyles don’t do it for everyone: Some prefer the more subdued tartans of Greenberry’s, with its Barracks Road shop and service at Alderman Library and the Law School.

FAST FOOD
Bodo’s Bagel Bakery
Runner-up: Wendy’s
With the addition of their new Corner location last year, Bodo’s was sure to win even wider acclaim this year—and sure enough, they did. If you’re looking for a quick bite farther away, you might swing by Wendy’s, which readers ranked second place for fast food.

VEGETARIAN FOOD
Ming Dynasty
Runner-up: Milan Indian Cuisine
Asian cuisine—particularly that on the 29 corridor—takes home the vegetarian category. Most of you preferred the East Asian treats and plentiful fake meat at Ming Dynasty. There, vegetarians get to play carnivore as they chow down on pretend pork, beef, chicken—and even shrimp. Those who prefer their veggie options to look like vegetables can also get their fill at the restaurant, which serves 28 separate meatless dishes for dinner and 25 for lunch. A sizable minority chose the spice and savor of South Asia, favoring Indian restaurant Milan, where vegetarians can revel in dishes of chickpeas, spinach, potatoes, okra and other subcontinent delights.

KIDS’ MENU
Red Robin
Runner-up: McDonald’s
There’s fast food, and faster food. If you have kids, you understand why.

ASIAN
Thai ’99
Runner-up: Lime Leaf Thai
It’s all about Thai with you people. From its cozy, student-popular Fontaine location to its larger, flashier suburban spot on Route 29N, Thai ’99 is C-VILLE readers’ favorite place for rice- and noodle-adorned cuisine. You also love the Siam-samplings at runner-up Lime Leaf Thai, which is known for its elegant dining room and loads of vegetarian options.

MEXICAN
Guadalajara
Runner-up: El Puerto
Unlimited chips and salsa, huge portions, and lightning-speed service.That’s what continues to fuel your love affair with the multilocated Guad. Your second favorite place for south-of-the-border grub is El Puerto in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

ITALIAN
Vivace
Runner-up: La Cucina
Twinkling lights and tasty food: Vivace takes home the gold for another year. Runner-up La Cucina pulls in the Downtown crowd with great dishes like homemade tiramisu. Bellissimo!

SEAFOOD
Blue Light Grill
Runner-up: Tiffany’s
It may be the runner-up for “Best Pick-up Spot,” but Downtown’s Blue Light Grill is second to none when it comes to food that once swam in the sea. We suppose this means you can go there and enjoy a top-notch dish of fish while perusing a not-quite-top-notch coterie of cuties. Of course, if down-home and old-school is the way you like your piscine plate, head over to Tiffany’s on Route 250 West.

BURGER
Five Guys
Runner-up: Riverside Lunch
In this battle of the belly bombs, Northern Virginia chain Five Guys once again edged out celebrated local greasy spoon (and we mean that in the most laudatory way possible) Riverside Lunch. While we tend to pull for the underdog, even we have to admit that Five Guys’ huge double-patty delights and fresh-cut fries are almost impossible to resist (not to mention the perfect hangover cure). The fact that they have three Charlottesville outlets surely gave them a burger-flippin’ advantage over Riverside, which serves their seared-beef-on-a-bun in only two locations.

WINGS
Wild Wing Café
Runner-up: Buffalo Wild Wings
Thirty-three "fabulicious" flavors of hot wings, a long line of beers on tap—all at the train station. Need we say more? Crosstown rival Buffalo Wild Wings couldn’t muster the votes to dislodge the reigning champs.

BBQ
Big Jim’s
Runner-up: Jinx’s Pit Stop
Big Jim is the big man again this year in this hotly contested category. Although the highlights of the place are the sliced barbecue pork plate and the shredded pork sandwiches, the menu also offers fried catfish and chicken tenders. Try the hash barbecue sandwich topped with coleslaw and a pile of fries. The close second, once again this year, is Jinx’s Pit Stop at the east end of Market Street. Jinx’s tiny stop boasts a real hickory smoke outdoor cooking pit (which, Jinx is quick to remind you, is the only authentic BBQ method). It’s the home of the quickest pulled-pork sandwich on plain white bread you can find (and put in your mouth).

PIZZA
Christian’s Pizzeria
Runner-up: Mellow Mushroom
No surprises here. Yet again you’ve voted for the New-York-style pizza place that loves piling on eclectic toppings, from feta and avocado to barbecue chicken. The pies, like Red Light District prostitutes in Amsterdam, line up along the counter top to display all they have to offer. And for a second year in a row, Mellow Mushroom earns the silver—perhaps for its thick, buttery crust, which comes heavily coated with parmesan.

CHAIN RESTAURANT
Five Guys
Runner-up: Outback Steakhouse
Available at Barracks Road Shopping Center, Hollymead Town Center and the Down-town Mall, Five Guys won over your hearts, your minds—and your guts—to beat second-place Outback Steakhouse, located on Route 29N. We’re guessing it’s the fries.

OLD-SCHOOL BAR
Miller’s
Runner-up: C&O
To be honest, we’d be shocked if Miller’s didn’t win this category. Although it’s recently changed hands, Miller’s will forever hold a place in local drinkers’ hearts as the place where Dave Matthews slang drinks before he made it big. The addition of a cheap pool hall (with the rockingest jukebox in town) on the top floor has only added to the bar’s fan base. Equally venerable watering hole C&O came in a very close second, with voters lauding this Charlottesville institution for its intimate atmosphere and delicious bar food.

AFTER-WORK WATERING HOLE
South Street Brewery
Runner-up: Miller’s
Even if the all-night cheap drafts on Tuesday are a thing of the (oft unremembered) past, readers still rate South Street as the best place to blow off steam. You get your choice of seating style—booth, bar or couch—as well as your choice of microbrewed beer, ranging from South Street signatures like Satan’s Pony to the prize-winning JP Ale. And you can still guzzle for cheap on Tuesdays before 9pm, so stop complaining! Those who prefer to people-watch on the Downtown Mall chose Miller’s, where drinkers can practice their wolf-whistles while reclining in the outdoor seating.

SPORTS BAR
Wild Wing Café
Runner-up: Buffalo Wild Wings
Apparently wings and sports are inextricably linked in this town. Wild Wing Café—where diners can simultaneously watch the game, eat dinner, and wait for the Amtrak train—wins the top spot for public sports consumption. Voters seemed willing to forgive the Southern chain’s all-too alliterative menu (“Souper Soups,” “Mucho Munchos,” “Ribroarious Ribs”), focusing instead on the TV-filled upstairs bar and seating, which also includes a big-screen projector. The outdoor seating also provides the opportunity for sports fans to broadcast their team’s victory (or loss) from the rooftops (literally). Second place goes to Buffalo Wild Wings (or BW3, as the alias somewhat inexplicably goes), a national chain that offers you four big screens, in addition to a plethora of TVs, at its Barracks Road location.

DRAFT BEER SELECTION
Mellow Mushroom
Runner-up: South Street Brewery
Once again, Mellow Mushroom takes the honors for providing the Corner with 39 beers on tap—far and away the most extensive selection in the city. Mellow’s variety allows local hop heads, Abbey ale-ers and Pabsts’ plebes to drink in cheerful camaraderie. The array of taps cover all of the usual suspects, like Bass and Newcastle, as well as choice stuff from America’s finest smaller breweries: Abita, Racer 5, Clipper City and Dogfish Head, to name a few. Those more interested in the native microbrews chose South Street, the brewery and restaurant near the Downtown Mall with its perennials like JP Ale and Satan’s Pony, in addition to seasonal brews. You also love South Street’s option to take home a growler of your favorite selection.

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