Month: August 2018

RESTAURANT

Lampo

Runner-up: The Local

Honorable mention: Al Carbon

Good things, they say, come in small packages. And the best things come from Lampo. The pint-sized Neapolitan pizzeria opened in 2014 to rave reviews and since then has set the standard for just plain good food in our area. Don’t get us wrong—“just plain good” doesn’t mean boring. Somehow, the boys of Lampo (including this year’s best chef, Ian Redshaw) know just how to craft a dish—from antipasti to dolci—that straddles the line between familiar and exciting. Sure, you’ll find a traditional margherita pizza on the menu, but you’ll also be tempted by the Hellboy, a permanent special that combines salami and mozzarella with orange blossom honey and scorpion oil. Down the street at The Local, executive chef Matthew Hart serves a farm-to-table menu that showcases the best of the area, from Buffalo Creek short ribs to Appalachia Star greens.

NEW RESTAURANT

Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery

Runner-up: Junction

Honorable mention: Iron Paffles & Coffee

By the time Three Notch’d opened its 17,400-square-foot space at IX, the craft brewery had already established three taprooms, plus locations in Harrisonburg and Richmond. What it didn’t have, the owners felt, was a flagship location—somewhere that served as an anchor for the brand. The new spot, which opened in fall 2017, expands the brewing operations and offers a full German brewpub menu. (Try the pretzel bites, which the restaurant pairs with a beer cheese made with its own 40 Mile IPA.) Long-awaited Junction, in Belmont, opened in late 2017 with a menu of inventive modern Mexican dishes at the hand of celebrated local chef Melissa Close-Hart.

BAR

The Alley Light

Runner-up: Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery

Honorable mention: Kardinal Hall

By now, you know the drill: Peek through the gate down the alley off Second Street SW and, if the light is on, The Alley Light is ready to serve. Once up the stairs, you’ll find bar manager Micah LeMon and his team serving up classics and originals, all with housemade ingredients (think tonics, bitters and syrups) that make each concoction one of a kind. If you’re looking for something a bit more caszh, pull up a yellow stool to Three Notch’d’s concrete bar, where the IX brewery pours its flagship and seasonal brews from more than 40 taps.

SPORTS BAR

Citizen Burger Bar

Runner-up: Kardinal Hall

Honorable mention: Wild Wing Café

Walk into the Downtown Mall burger spot any given afternoon, and you’ll see a full bar of spectators with eyes trained on one of the many TVs behind it, their hands absentmindedly lifting a grass-fed burger to their lips. Golf, basketball, the World Cup—each goes down better with a beer and an American Classic. Readers say the combo is undeniable. At Kardinal Hall, choose from more than 50 beers on offer and take a seat in front of a big screen or play a game yourself. Kardinal’s home to popular board game Chickapig and an outdoor bocce court.

COFFEEHOUSE

Shenandoah Joe

Runner-up: Mudhouse

Honorable mention: MarieBette Café & Bakery

Bigger is better. That’s true of a cup of coffee and that’s true of Shenandoah Joe’s Preston Avenue coffee shop, which in late 2017 underwent a significant expansion. The resulting design capitalized on what caffeine fiends loved about the old space: a cozy area for lounging and sipping and a large section for the roastery (and the consequent waft of fresh brew). In the runner-up spot, Mudhouse shines with multiple locations, thoughtfully sourced beans and a few national awards under its lid.

BRUNCH

MarieBette Café & Bakery

Runner-up: Bluegrass Grill & Bakery

Honorable mention: Tip Top

Whether you’re in the mood for sweet (try the stuffed French toast) or savory (recommended: simple baked eggs, enhanced with just herbs, cream and garlic), expect a wait outside this popular Rose Hill Drive eatery come brunch time. In the few years since they opened, owners Jason Becton and Patrick Evans have turned their bakery, named for their daughters Marian and Betty, into a must-visit spot for breakfast, lunch and take-home treats. In second place, a longstanding Charlottesville fave: Known for its signature muffiny-sconey biscuits, Bluegrass also often has a line snaking out the door. No matter: It’s worth the wait.

DRAFT BEER SELECTION

Draft Taproom

Runner-up: Beer Run

Honorable mention: Sedona Taphouse

It’s not exactly BYOB, but it is PYOB—pour your own beer. Downtown’s Draft Taproom offers 60 brews on tap, with a twist: Serve yourself. Fill up your pint (or take enough for a little taste) with Starr Hill, Champion or any number of featured breweries from around the country, and your card is automatically charged by the ounce. At Beer Run, expect a variety of choices: The popular Carlton Road spot offers tripels, stouts, IPAs and then some, plus weekday happy hours from 3- 6pm.

RESTAURANT WINE LIST

Tavola

Runner-up: The Alley Light

Honorable mention: Fleurie

In the two years she’s been managing the wine program at Tavola, Priscilla Martin has enacted some significant changes, not only making the Belmont restaurant’s wine list more accessible and reasonably priced, but reaching out to others in the food community to create memorable collaborations, like helping to save an orphaned Pinot Gris from Michael Shaps Wineworks from extinction by bottling it and serving it at the restaurant. Downtown at The Alley Light, local wines take center stage on the extensive menu.

PATIO

Blue Mountain Brewery

Runner-up: Brazos Tacos

Honorable mention: Kardinal Hall

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American is only spending 7 percent of her life outdoors. But does the EPA know about Blue Mountain? Because, listen, try to snag a spot on its patio on an autumn Saturday and all statistics go out the window. Whether you’re under the pergola or at a table beneath one of the brightly colored umbrellas (or, if you’re really trying to soak up some Vitamin D, down by the cornhole boards), readers say the Afton brewpub is the place to be. Back in town at IX, Brazos’ Austin-style tacos make the perfect companion to fresh air and sunshine.

BARTENDER

Micah LeMon (The Alley Light)

Runner-up: Brett Harder (The Whiskey Jar)

Honorable mention: Josh Stevens (Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint)

No surprise here: You’ll find the best bartender behind the best bar. Micah LeMon’s been back there since the restaurant opened in 2014 and has taken this title each year since. Readers know he’s the local authority in everything from classics to inventive tiki drinks—and the go-to mixologist when it comes to helping you discover a new favorite. Down the street at The Whiskey Jar, Brett Harder pours from the restaurant’s list of 125+ ryes, whiskeys, bourbons and scotches, and then there’s the menu of craft cocktails.

SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP

Feast!

Runner-up: Foods of All Nations

Honorable mention: The Pie Chest

The largest selection of cured meats in Virginia; local and international cheeses, hand-selected by award-winning cheesemongers; a homemade lunch menu of inventive sandwiches and salads. The list of reasons locals love Feast! is almost as long as its list of accolades. For 16 years, the Main Street Market shop has made readers believers in shopping (and tasting) local. Off Ivy Road, Foods of All Nations stocks imported and domestic fare, plus a deli counter with specialty meats like head cheese or Lachsschinken, a dry-cured pork loin that takes on the flavors of salmon when aged.

LOCAL WINERY

King Family Vineyards

Runner-up: Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards

Honorable mention: Barboursville Winery

Is it the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains? Is it Sunday polo matches? Is it the selection of wine, finely tuned by winemaker Matthieu Finot? Our best guess, it’s all of these things that keeps readers excited to try any and all of the Crozet winery’s creations. In second place, Pippin Hill’s six acres makes boutique wines from sauvignon blanc, petit verdot and viognier grapes, which the kitchen pairs with its celebrated farm-to-table menu.

LOCAL BREWERY

Three Notch’d Brewing Company

Runner-up: Blue Mountain Brewery

Honorable mention: Devils Backbone Brewing Company

Harrisonburg, Richmond, Charlottesville and, soon, Roanoke? When readers choose Best Local Brewery, they choose one they’ll be able to visit—no matter how far they roam (except Rome)—for APAs, IPAs, sours and then some, each in the brew house’s signature rustic-industrial space. Up Route 151, Blue Mountain boasts 10 beers on tap and a robust menu with burgers, pizzas and sandwiches galore.

LOCAL CIDERY

Bold Rock Hard Cider

Runner-up: Potter’s Craft Cider

Honorable mention: Albemarle CiderWorks

Make it all the way to the summit of Mount Bold Rock, an 801.5-foot elevation (don’t worry, it’s just a ramp from the parking lot to the front door), and you’ve earned a cold Virginia Apple. Or, if you prefer, one of the Nellysford cidery’s seasonal offerings—blackberry, blood orange or even rosé, which debuted in early 2018. City-side, find runner-up Potter’s Craft at its Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative tasting room and cider garden, and get your hands on a glass of grapefruit hibiscus or Farmhouse Dry.

BAKERY

MarieBette Café & Bakery

Runner-up: Albemarle Baking Co.

Honorable mention: Chandler’s Bakery

First came the brioche feuilletée (aka the bronut, a hybrid of brioche, donut and croissant, which earned mentions in Food & Wine and on Thrillist), then the prezzant (part pretzel, part croissant). There’s no telling what the French bakery will come up with next, but we’re happy to keep eating financiers in the meantime. Runner-up ABC charms with beautiful tarts, pastries and breads (not to mention the baked donuts —an impossibly fluffy-yet-dense confection generously dipped in sugar).

THAI

Monsoon Siam

Runner-up: Thai 99 II

Honorable mention: Thai Cuisine & Noodle House

When Monsoon co-owner Kitty Ashi arrived in the United States in 2006, she had just $500 to her name. Hard work (and a partnership with a friend from art school) eventually grew that to $20,000, which enabled her to buy Monsoon and turn it into Charlottesville’s best Thai restaurant. It might even be Madison, Wisconsin’s best restaurant, too: In 2014, the business partners opened a second (remote) location. Thai 99 II up 29N nabs the runner-up spot with traditional favorites and specialty dishes like crispy duck and volcano chicken.

INDIAN

Milan Indian Cuisine

Runner-up: Himalayan Fusion

Honorable mention: Maharaja

Of course the Emmet Street restaurant serves reliable standards from biryani to vindaloo, but by all accounts, Milan’s lunch buffet is where the magic happens. First, two words: unlimited naan. Ordering the buffet comes with stacks on stacks of hot, fluffy naan right to the table. Next, vegetarian-friendly. Choose a pakora, paneer or a side of salad from the salad bar. Finally, dessert: Skip the mango lassi and indulge in Indian custard and rice pudding (also on the buffet) instead. In second place, Himalayan Fusion’s $9 lunch spread gives downtown diners a taste of Indian, Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine.

MEXICAN

Guadalajara

Runner-up: La Michoacana

Honorable mention: Continental Divide

“Mexican food by Mexican folks,” the Guadalajara entry in C-VILLE’s dining guide has read for years. And you’d think it wouldn’t get much better than that, except that each of the restaurant’s four locations offers margs the size of a small fish bowl, complimentary chips and salsa to start and no one blinks an eye when you roll up with seven friends and spend the whole meal cackling over inside jokes (just us?). Runner-up La Michoacana earns your vote with traditional Mexican tacos, the kind Anthony Bourdain might have raved about—just meat, onion, cilantro and lime, served in a hole-in-the-wall spot off East High Street.

JAPANESE

Now and Zen

Runner-up: Ten

Honorable mention: Sakura

The downtown-adjacent sushi spot from former Tokyo Rose chef Toshi Sato may be the size of a postage stamp (or, say, the size of a sushi roll?), but it packs a lot of flavor. Take, for instance, the crunch roll, a combo of tempura shrimp, avocado and crab stick, covered in tempura flakes with a side of eel sauce, or even the regular special blue crab miso soup, which includes half a crustacean in the salty broth. Runner-up Ten wows year after year with upscale Japanese dishes and popular cocktails.

ITALIAN

Tavola

Runner-up: Lampo

Honorable mention: Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

Next year, Tavola will celebrate its 10-year anniversary, and with it comes a number of greatest hits —hit recipes and interesting pop- ups (remember Marco Polo?) that demonstrate owner Michael Keaveny’s range and dynamic collaborations, as in 2016 when the restaurant partnered with a Tuscan chef from Charlottesville’s Italian sister city, Poggio a Caiano. Any restaurant-goer knows it’s innovation that keeps us curious, but a plate full of Tavola’s signature pappardelle doesn’t hurt either. A few blocks over, Neapolitan pizza joint Lampo nabs the second place spot for authentic pies and small plates.

FRENCH

Fleurie

Runner-up: MarieBette Café & Bakery

Honorable mention: Bizou

When Jose de Brito—the former Alley Light chef whose other local highlights include HotCakes and Ciboulette—left town to pick up an apron at the Inn at Little Washington, locals thought that might have been the last we’d hear of him. But when he returned in 2017, he landed right where he belongs: In the kitchen at Fleurie. A Charlottesville fine-dining standard-bearer, the downtown restaurant takes the win for its romantic atmosphere, beautiful plating and exquisite tasting menu. In second place is Euro-inspired MarieBette, where you can find Parisian treats from baguettes to pain au chocolat.

CHINESE

Peter Chang China Grill

Runner-up: Red Lantern

Honorable mention: Taste of China

It’s hard to mention Peter Chang China Grill without using the word “elusive”—for so long, its namesake chef was difficult to pin down, having moved from Fairfax to Georgia to Tennessee and then some. By the time he opened Peter Chang China Grill in Barracks Road North Wing in 2011, though, the jig was up: A preview of his award-winning skills at 29N’s Taste of China had already left diners anticipating the menu to come. Though Chang’s long gone, having opened seven more eponymous spots elsewhere in as many years, the Szechuan specialties at PCCG have been hard to top. In second place, Red Lantern is your choice for no-frills Chinese fare and reliable delivery.

STEAK

Downtown Grille

Runner-up: Aberdeen Barn

Honorable mention: The Local

Even as new trends continue to pop up across the local dining scene, a great steak, we’d contend, never goes out of style. Around these parts, readers say the Downtown Grille, with its prime menu of ribeyes, strips and filets, is your pick for a classic T-bone and martini. Runner-up Aberdeen Barn has been cooking your Angus steaks and roast prime rib to perfection—over a charcoal hearth, no less—since 1965.

COMFORT FOOD

Riverside Lunch

Runner-up: BBQ Exchange

Honorable mention: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint

To be considered true comfort food, experts (i.e. this writer) agree a dish must have two things: It must be warm (extra points if there’s a bit of grease involved) and it must be served somewhere without a hint of pretension. Riverside’s burgers—smashed, fried and served all the way, on a paper plate—hit the spot every time. Gordonsville barbecue spot BBQ Exchange checks both boxes, too, with a menu of Southern staples out of its barn-inspired interior.

VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY

Revolutionary Soup

Runner-up: Roots Natural Kitchen

Honorable mention: Brazos Tacos

The Three Sisters soup, the Roquefort salad, the black bean and spinach wrap: Whatever your pleasure, readers agree Revolutionary Soup satisfies any number of meat- free cravings from both its downtown and Corner locations. And, in 2017, the restaurant re-introduced its poetry discount: Recite five lines from the work of a featured poet and get 10 percent off your order. On West Main Street, Roots offers a customizable salad bowl menu for even the pickiest of palates.

DIETARY- OR ALLERGY-FRIENDLY

The Juice Laundry

Runner-up: Burtons Grill

Honorable mention: Brazos Tacos

It’s easy to be dietary-friendly when your ingredients are 100 percent pure and 100 percent organic, as they are at The Juice Laundry. The Preston Avenue smoothie bar serves an impossibly delicious (sprouts, parsley, cilantro, jalapeño? We’ll never know why that works), all-natural menu of cold-pressed juices, bowls and cleanses to help you meet your daily nutrition requirements. Allergy-friendly chain Burtons Grill accommodates guests with specific restrictions (peanuts, gluten and then some) with an accessible menu and strict prep protocols.

KID-FRIENDLY

Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie

Runner-up: Brazos Tacos

Honorable mention: Tip Top

Don’t chew with your mouth open, don’t eat with your elbows on the table—there are so many rules for kids come dinnertime. But even Emily Post knows that eating pizza with your hands is not only acceptable, it’s part of the experience (no foolin’, she says it’s A-okay). Dr. Ho’s gives families a reason to dig in, from cheeseburger pizza to the classic Humble Pie. Over at IX, youngsters grab a few Brazos tacos, then go play in the nearby grassy field while their parents sip a watermelon marg.

DESSERT MENU

Oakhart Social

Runner-up: Fleurie

Honorable mention: Bang!

With a menu that’s rave-worthy from top to bottom (the Brussels sprouts! the wangz! the wood-fired oysters!), it’s almost a shame to call out Oakhart for its desserts alone. But the work chef Tristan Wraight and his team at Oakhart are doing for our sweet tooths (sweet teeth?) is certainly as noteworthy as the rest of the menu. Take, for instance, the uber-popular bread pudding, which is essentially a deconstructed s’more: A smear of chocolate pudding coats the plate and is accompanied by generous, lightly torched dollops of marshmallow, pillowy squares of bread and a few handfuls of puppy chow. At Fleurie, pastry chef Serge Torres creates French dinner-enders that are not only stunning in flavor, but almost—we said almost!—too pretty to eat.

FRIED CHICKEN

Wayside Fried Chicken

Runner-up: Michie Tavern

Honorable mention: Ace Biscuit & Barbecue

In 2014, Malcolm Gladwell posed a theory that in order to become an expert in something, you need to have done that thing for 10,000 hours. That would explain, then, why Wayside is our area’s standard-bearer for crispy, juicy, classic fried chicken: The JPA spot has been serving its ole Virginia version for more than 50 years (translation: more than 100,000 hours). At historic Michie Tavern, try anything on the buffet of Southern staples—mashed potatoes, mac ‘n’ cheese, stewed tomatoes—but don’t skimp on the yard bird, baked or fried.

BURGER

Citizen Burger Bar

Runner-up: Riverside Lunch

Honorable mention: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint

You pledge allegiance to the grass-fed beef on the patty of Citizen’s burgers, and to the Albemarle Baking Co. bun on which it stands, one lunch special under a fried pickle, with mushrooms and Swiss cheese for all. In the runner-up spot, Riverside’s double cheeseburgers never diminish in your estimation.

BBQ

BBQ Exchange

Runner-up: Ace Biscuit & Barbecue

Honorable mention: Smoked Kitchen and Tap

Like pasta or pancakes, barbecue is a culinary minefield: It looks simple (just slow-roast it and you’re done, no?), but make one wrong step and you’re toast. Luckily, chef Craig Hartman has the chops to take his Gordonsville joint to the top of all the “best barbecue” lists. Since 2010, the former fancy-food chef has taken his fine dining know- how and applied it to pork belly, brisket and then some, earning repeat customers who travel from all over the state to get a taste. In town, hole-in-the-wall Ace offers a menu of from-scratch, down-home favorites.

WINGS

Wild Wing Café

Runner-up: Wings Over Charlottesville

Honorable mention: Lazy Parrot Backyard BBQ

Menu hack: To get a taste of a restaurant’s menu, start by eating lunch there first. True, there aren’t many surprises here (it’s wings, man), but the Amtrak station spot offers a mean lunch deal: all-you-can-eat wings for $12.99. You start with 12, and if you think you can handle more, add on six by six with various flavors of sauce until you’re stuffed. Then come back for dinner. Wings Over Charlottesville takes second place with a wide variety of sauces, meaty wings and quick delivery.

PIZZA

Lampo

Runner-up: Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie

Honorable mention: Christian’s Pizza

“Now who ever heard of cutting pizza with scissors?” you can hear your grandmother say. Of course, Lampo isn’t your grandmother’s pizza place…unless your grandmother’s Italian. The Neapolitan joint has been officially certified for authenticity by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana, which means it meets requirements for ingredients, cook time and temperature set forth by the Italian organization. It also, say readers, meets requirements for best pizza in the land. Over in North Garden, Dr. Ho’s takes a more Southern approach, with specialty pies and create-your-own concoctions.

FROZEN TREAT

Splendora’s Gelato

Runner-up: Chaps Ice Cream

Honorable mention: La Flor Michoacana

Splendy’s, for those in the know, is more than just your average gelato shop. Owner PK Ross dreams up inventive recipes, like peach pie or yuzu, to push you outside of your chocolate-or-vanilla comfort zone. And, recently, Ross has expanded her offerings: Don’t miss gelato sandwiches, which combine the downtown shop owner’s unique flavors with cookies from Belmont’s found. market. Just down the mall, Chaps gives you that old-school ice cream shop experience, with oh-so-cozy booths and classic flavors like butter pecan or cherry vanilla.

CHEF

Ian Redshaw (Lampo)

Runner-up: Craig Hartman (BBQ Exchange)

Honorable mention: Dean Maupin (C&O)

Six years ago, before we’d barely even gotten a taste of his talents, then-l’étoile chef de cuisine Ian Redshaw told a C-VILLE writer that his five-year plan included opening a simple Italian restaurant serving authentic Roman food. And how would he get there? “Work hard and keep your head down.” That’s difficult to do when your menu includes the city’s best pizza (and then some) and folks can’t stop buzzing about it, but either way, his dream came true. Over in Gordonsville, Craig Hartman translates his fine-dining background to no-frills, real Virginia barbecue.

ANNUAL FOOD AND DRINK EVENT

Porkapolooza

Runner-up: Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival

Honorable mention: Know Good Beer Festival

There’s a date in mid-February that gives us the warm-fuzzies. The world turns pork, er, pink and there’s love and hope in the air again. …Or is that the smell of smoking pig? We don’t mean Valentine’s Day (though love is certainly involved): Come rain or shine, BBQ Exchange’s annual Porkapolooza is February’s best day, readers say. Each year, chef Craig Hartman presents an all-you-can-eat menu for those willing to belly up to the Gordonsville restaurant for an $18 entrance fee. Monticello’s Wine Trail fest in May gives locals a sip of the AVA, with winemaker dinners, winery tours and a grand tasting event.

SPOT WHEN THE BOSS IS BUYING

The Alley Light

Runner-up: Hamiltons’ at First & Main

Honorable mention: Downtown Grille

Would it be considered a missed opportunity dining at a place where the plates are small and the cocktails plentiful? No, say readers. That’s just what you want when you’re out with your company’s head honcho. Whether you’re getting a raise or getting berated, everything goes down a little smoother with barkeep Micah LeMon’s classic Manhattan. Hamiltons’ keeps it classy with reliable service and the ever-popular Blue Plate Special (or, if you’re really going for it, may we recommend the crab cakes?).

LGBT-FRIENDLY BUSINESS

MarieBette Café & Bakery

Runner-up: Firefly

Honorable mention: Feast!

In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, The Bard writes, “If music be the food of love, play on.” Pardon us, Bill, but we’d wager you’ve never tried a MarieBette baguette. Or an almond croissant. Or any number of things on the Rose Hill Drive patisserie’s menu. If you had, you’d know that baked goods are the food of love. They’re the great equalizer. Who cares who you’re into, as long as you love butter, sugar and flour? At Firefly, all are welcome to knock back a few local brews on draft or try their hand at a game of pinball.

FEMALE-OWNED BUSINESS

Al Carbon

Runner-up: Spring Creek EyeCare

Honorable mention: The Brow House

Opening a restaurant in Charlottesville is no easy feat; there are more than 400 in our area, so making an immediate impression on diners is paramount to success. Luckily for Myriam Hernandez and her husband, Claudio, their order-at-the-counter Mexican street food joint has just what we’ve all been craving. And, with their newest venture, Chew Chew Town, which opened in early 2018 just two doors down, the couple is expanding their reach to a younger set—kids come in, order a burrito and wait for their meal to arrive by train. In second place, Jaime Easton’s Spring Creek optometry practice provides quality care.

KIDS’ PARK

IX Art Park

Runner-up: Pen Park

Honorable mention: Greenleaf Park

It isn’t just that IX Art Park, that whimsical wonderland of weird and provocative work on Second Street, stretches the imagination —though it certainly does. But the folks at IX also stretch the bounds of what a park should be: a playground with climbables and swing sets? Or a place that puts learning and community at the forefront? IX opts for the latter, with benefits for migrant children and families, nature festivals and even a chance to build a Lego city with a master Lego builder, as per one summer 2018 event. Over at Pen Park, 250 acres gives kids the chance to run and play, with volleyball courts, a baseball field and an outdoor physical fitness course.

SUMMER CAMP

Triple C Camp

Runner-up: Camp Holiday Trails

Honorable mention: YMCA

The two words parents dread the most? “I’m bored.” In fact, that very phrase may be the reason summer camps were invented in the first place. Triple C solves the problem with horseback riding, swimming, a challenge course, woodworking, sculpture, soccer, archery, tennis and more—all toward the camper’s ability to explore and learn more about herself and others. Just outside of town at Camp Holiday Trails, campers with medical needs try their hand at everything from a climbing wall to a zipline.

MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL

Charlottesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Runner-up: Laughing Dragon Kung Fu

Honorable mention: 7 Tigers Taekwondo

Jiu-Jitsu, CBJJ owner Gordon Emery once told us, is like a real-life game of chess. It doesn’t involve punches or kicks, as some martial arts do, but rather joint locks, submission holds and chokes. The Brazilian version utilizes ground fighting, wherein someone smaller and weaker might be able to defeat a person who is bigger and stronger. In the end, it’s all about self-defense, and Emery teaches daily classes to students from 5 years old to folks in their 60s and beyond. At Laughing Dragon, you’ll get a taste of the practice of Chinese boxing.

MASSAGE THERAPIST

Emma Rowe (Move Medical Massage & Sports Therapy)

Runner-up: Jennifer Daniel

Honorable mention: Jane Neldon (Commonwealth Massage Therapy)

Not all bodies are created equal —literally. Often, one side weighs more than the other which, in turn, is what can cause pain. Move Medical Massage owner (and athlete) Emma Rowe has spent nearly 20 years developing her own treatment technique, combining various methods—active release, deep tissue massage, assisted stretching, strain counterstrain and more —to combat clients’ acute and chronic discomfort, as well as equip the body for sports and exercise. In the runner-up spot, Jennifer Daniel works out all your kinks from her private practice on East Market Street.

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Eliza Whiteman (FlyDog Yoga)

Runner-up: Liz Reynolds (Zen Bride Yoga)

Honorable mention: Vanessa Schnable (Purvelo)

A one-stop yoga shop. That was FlyDog co-owner Eliza Whiteman’s goal when she opened the doors in 2015. Readers say she did it: They visit the studio for power or heated vinyasa, yin yoga and even barre. The class sizes are intentionally kept small, so Whiteman is able to work individually with each student, providing pointers to improve his form. Freelance yoga instructor (and runner-up) Liz Reynolds applies her background in dance to her practice, paying special attention to physicality as well as mindfulness. Lately, she’s brought those sensibilities to Zen Bridge Yoga, her traveling yoga business that helps bridal parties unwind pre-wedding.

PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Ellie Tor (Tru Pilates)

Runner-up: Robin Truxel (Tru Pilates)

Honorable mention: Carla Shifflett (Posture Studio)

They’ve got a good thing going at Tru Pilates. Between Ellie Tor’s dance, TRX and Stretch Therapy background, and Robin Truxel’s emphasis on helping expectant mothers and those with complicated injuries exercise safely, there’s something for everyone—including those who’ve never tried Pilates at all—at the Warehouse District studio. The company’s group or individual sessions keep them aligned, readers say.

CYCLE INSTRUCTOR

Kristin Watson (Purvelo)

Runner-up: Justin Goodman (Zoom Indoor Cycling)

Honorable mention: Kendall Speno (Zoom Indoor Cycling)

At Purvelo, owner Kristin Watson is committed to doing things a little differently. She keeps the lights low, forgoes walls of mirrors and, in every class, incorporates hand weights and choreography, so it isn’t totally about your legs. You can go at your own pace, of course, but as Watson says, the red knob (which controls your bike’s resistance) controls your destiny. At Zoom, co-owner Justin Goodman gets your heart racing and your legs Jell-O jiggly with fun themed rides and once-a-month date nights, where you and a guest get two-for-one pricing and complimentary drinks and light appetizers after class.

NICHE FITNESS STUDIO

FlyDog Yoga

Runner-up: Orangetheory Fitness

Honorable mention: Zoom Cycle

Among the 30 or so fitness studios in Charlottesville, readers say FlyDog truly stands out above the rest. In addition to traditional and heated vinyasa classes, as well as barre and cardio exercises, the Millmont Street studio offers aerial yoga, during which students are practicing their Downward Dogs and Sun Salutations in a hammock suspended from the ceiling. It quite literally turns your yoga practice on its head. Nearby Orangetheory’s heart-monitored training helps clients burn up to 1,000 calories per hour-long session.

PERSONAL TRAINER

Vanessa Schnable (Purvelo)

Runner-up: Justin Tooley (The Gym)

Honorable mention: Sabrina Feggans (Beyond Fitness with Sabrina)

Charlottesville native Vanessa Schnable has been part of the local fitness scene since 2012, when she started as a personal trainer at ACAC. Since then, she’s taught the benefits of exercise to clients through her work at Lululemon, FlyDog Yoga and Purvelo, where in 2016 the cycle studio launched Purfit with Vanessa, a one-on-one training program, led by Schnable, to enhance clients’ fitness experience. At The Gym, Justin Tooley lends a strongman’s touch to strength and conditioning training.

GENERAL PRACTITIONER

Katharine DeGeorge

Runner-up: Bruce Campbell

Honorable mention: Alicia Dagli, Annika Abrahamson and Greg Gelburd (tie)

Virginia health care being what it is, summoning the gumption to go to the doctor can sometimes require Herculean effort. Then, once you get there, how to tell your provider what’s been ailing you? If you can do the first part—just get your foot in the door—readers say Katharine DeGeorge does the rest, asking the right questions to get you reasonable solutions. Over in Free Union, second place goes to Bruce Campbell, who specializes in family medicine at every step, starting with obstetrics and gynecology.

DENTIST

John Knight Jr. (Spring Creek Family Dentistry & Orthodontics)

Runner-up: Aaron Stump (Charlottesville Pediatric Dentistry)

Honorable mention: Jeffery Hodges (Albemarle Dental Associates)

“A pleasure.” That’s not exactly the phrase that comes to mind when describing a visit to the dentist’s office, but that’s the kind of review John Knight and his team at Spring Creek keep getting, whether for a simple cleaning or dental implants. In Charlottesville and Zion Crossroads, runner- up Aaron Stump and his team sets young patients off on the right foot (tooth?) with friendly service and fun lessons about dental hygiene, including avoiding sugar bugs so smiles stay nice and bright.

ORTHODONIST

David Hamer (Hamer & Hamer Orthodontics)

Runner-up: Bart Weis (Charlottesville Orthodontics)

Honorable mention: Suzanne Dennis

Like any good renovation—even of your smile—it’s gonna cost you. But David Hamer, in addition to fun or helpful extras like theme weeks where staff members dress up, and a shuttle service to the Crozet office, offers complimentary consultations, payment plans and discounts for things like scheduling your appointments between 9am and 3pm. In other words, he really gives you something to smile about. Charlottesville Orthodontics’ Bart Weis has been aligning the pearly whites of kids, teens and adults in our area for more than 20 years, and takes the No. 2 prize this year.

DERMATOLOGIST

Bridget Bryer (Family Dermatology of Albemarle)

Runner-up: Anna Magee (Charlottesville Dermatology)

Honorable mention: Bonnie Straka (Albemarle Dermatology Associates)

Fact: Your skin is home to more than 1,000 species of bacteria. It’s no wonder, then, that every once in a while it acts up—either by developing a weird, random freckle or by going dry in unexpected spots. Whatever the ailment, readers say Bridget Bryer is their go-to doc when it comes to putting their best face (or hair or nails or…) forward. Runner-up Anna Magee and her team take care to rejuvenate, correct and resurface your body’s largest organ.

PEDIATRICIAN

Paige Perriello (Pediatric Associates)

Runner-up: Robert Michel (Piedmont Pediatrics)

Honorable mention: Heather Quillian (Northridge Pediatrics)

Hormones, homework, social media—it’s hard to be a kid. And it’s made even harder when you realize that after being a kid comes being an adult. Readers say they trust Paige Perriello to help their teens ease the transition. The Charlottesville native has been practicing at Pediatric Associates’ downtown office for a decade, treating children of all ages for everything from common colds to sports injuries. At Piedmont Pediatrics, Robert Michel monitors your child’s growth and development.

CHIROPRACTOR

Scott Wagner (Scott Wagner Chiropractic & Sports Medicine)

Runner-up: Sam Spillman (Balanced Chiropractic & Physical Therapy)

Honorable mention: Michelle Heppner (Heppner Family Chiropractic & Wellness)

Certainly if you’re having major pains—no, we don’t mean your kids—it makes sense to see a chiropractor. But a little-known fact is that a chiro can also help with something as simple as a headache (according to the American Chiropractic Association, nine out of 10 people suffer from them). This year, readers agree that a visit to Scott Wagner—who also serves as UVA Athletics’ chiropractor—keeps them in check (and not just because he uses a cool anti-gravity treadmill in treatment). Off Preston Avenue, Sam Spillman applies the discipline learned through martial arts practice to repair what ails you.

OPTOMETRIST

Jaime Easton (Spring Creek Eye Care)

Runner-up: Stephen Record (Drs Record & Record Optometrists)

Honorable mention: Joe DiGirolamo (Primary Eyecare)

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. They’re also a window into other health issues you might be experiencing, like diabetes, STIs or even cancer, which is why a regular checkup isn’t only good for getting a new kickin’ pair of frames, but also getting a look at threats to your wellbeing. When you look good, you feel good, and since opening in mid-2016, Jaime Easton and her team at Spring Creek have kept you looking the best you can. Off Hydraulic Road, Stephen Record has a keen eye for improving your vision.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Heather Walton (Move Better Physical Therapy)

Runner-up: Kim Starr (ACAC)

Honorable mention: Rodney Madagan (Move Better Physical Therapy)

It says it right there in the name: Move better. That’s the goal of each of the Hydraulic Road practice’s orthopedic specialists and, in particular, Heather Walton, who focuses on tension headaches, neck pain, fall prevention, spine rehab, post-surgical shoulder, hip and knee care, as well as TMJ dysfunction. In other words, she helps develop a plan to get you back in fighting shape. At ACAC, physical therapy executive director Kim Starr specializes in treating injured athletes.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Katharine Knapp

Runner-up: William Fox and Chapin Faulconer (tie)

Honorable mention: Dan Elash

Using expressive arts therapies—think drama, dance, creative writing or sandplay—to enhance counseling and restore balance to one’s mental health, Katharine Knapp practices treating those with complex trauma. In second place, a tie between William Fox, who works with those experiencing anxiety and mood disorders and approaching difficult life transitions, and Chapin Faulconer, who provides therapy in the areas of anger management, grief and loss, addiction and recovery and more.

GOLF COURSE

Spring Creek Golf Club

Runner-up: Birdwood Golf Course

Honorable mention: Farmington Country Club

Scuttlebutt around the green (and among internet threads on the topic) is that Spring Creek might not stay a public course for long, so it may behoove readers who voted it No. 1 again this year to head to the fairways while they still can. The bentgrass course consistently earns praise for its bunkers, conditioning and value. At Birdwood, the par-72 course is undergoing a change as well: In 2017, UVA announced plans to rebuild the site, which was constructed in 1984, and create a world-class facility for the public as well as boost recruitment for the college’s golf program.

REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Nest Realty

Runner-up: Story House Real Estate and Montague Miller & Co. (tie)

Honorable mention: Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates

If the name Jim Duncan sounds familiar, it’s because the realtor—and Nest founder—has been an agent in our area for nearly 20 years, penning the Real Central VA blog and educating clients about home-buying in Charlottesville, Crozet and beyond. He started Nest in 2009 to usher in a new generation of realtors, and has grown the company from three to 200 agents in 11 markets. In the No. 2 spot, Sasha Farmer and her six-person team make buying and selling—whether it’s your first or 10th time—a breeze, while Montague Miller earns your vote with 70 years in the business.

REAL ESTATE AGENT

Sasha Farmer

Runner-up: Jamie White

Honorable mention: Candice Van Der Linde

Don’t call it a comeback. Though three years have passed since Sasha Farmer last took the best realtor prize, she hasn’t just been twiddling her thumbs. Quite the opposite: She’s been working on starting her own brokerage, Story House Real Estate, which she officially launched in spring of 2018, while serving as Montague Miller & Co.’s vice president of innovation. In the runner-up spot, another former Montague Miller & Co. realtor, Jamie White, whose own brokerage firm has earned a favorable reputation in the six years since it opened.

HOMEBUILDER

Southern Development Homes

Runner-up: Craig Builders

Honorable mention: Alexander Nicholson

Just six months from now, you could have a brand new house. If it sounds like one of those things that’s too good to be true, it isn’t. That’s how long it takes the folks at Southern Development to build your custom home—from researching floor plans to choosing light fixtures—in 10 communities throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle, including Crozet’s uber-desirable Old Trail Village. In the No. 2 spot, Craig Builders has been crafting stylish homes in the Charlottesville area since 1957.

LANDSCAPING COMPANY

Town & Country Services

Runner-up: Snow’s Garden Center

Honorable mention: Ivy Nursery

If you’re lucky enough to own some acreage in our area, you’ve probably hired Town & Country, the longest-licensed landscape contractor in Charlottesville and Albemarle (in business since 1973!). The city company handles everything from mowing and maintenance to installing pools and garden fountains. At Snow’s, find the lush elements you need to complete your backyard oasis, then hire the pros to do the work for you.

ARCHITECTURE FIRM

VMDO Architects

Runner-up: Wolf Ackerman

Honorable mention: Bushman Dreyfus Architects

In 2012, VMDO decided that, as the firm grew to include 50 or 60 architects under one roof, it no longer made sense to have everyone work as a generalist. It split into three studios—athletics and community, K-12 and higher education—and designated teams to specialize in each. The move paid off: The downtown studio has since done some of its best (and best-recognized) work, including a record-setting design for Arlington’s Discovery Elementary School, the largest zero-energy school in the country. Meanwhile, runner-up Wolf Ackerman takes a modern approach to designing spaces both public and private.

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Interior Concepts

Runner-up: Gibson Design Group

Honorable mention: Faulconer Design

Tamara Lacy displayed an interest in design from an early age: She can remember how her grandfather, a farmer and oysterman, would collect pieces of furniture he loved and line them up on the wall. He appreciated each piece, but Lacy knew they could be arranged to better display their relationship to one another and to the space. These days, the Interior Concepts owner does the same for clients, either by dreaming up a brand new space or refreshing an existing one. Readers turn to her to turn their house into a home. In second place, Andrea Gibson brings a refined, thoughtful approach to residential, commercial and new construction projects.

LAW FIRM

Tucker Griffin Barnes

Runner-up: Legal Aid Justice Center

Honorable mention: McGuireWoods LLP

When William Tucker founded TGB in 1990, he had a few goals in mind: to create a firm large enough to handle a range of client issues but small enough that they’d feel welcome; to staff the firm with smart, talented and passionate attorneys who live and work in their community as well as give back to it; to vigorously fight for clients’ justice, but offer compassion when the outcome isn’t as planned. Twenty-eight years later, readers say he’s achieved his goal. The Charlottesville-, Palmyra- and Harrisonburg-based firm handles cases ranging from accident and liability to traffic and real estate (and more), by a staff of mostly female attorneys. In second place, nonprofit firm Legal Aid gives free legal assistance to those with low incomes on issues related to housing, domestic violence, economic stability, discrimination and beyond.

LAWYER

William Tucker

Runner-up: Scott Goodman

Honorable mention: Chip Royer

A founding partner of Tucker Griffin Barnes, William Tucker has been practicing real estate law since 1972. Readers turn to him for property disputes, short sales and general residential contracts. In second place, Scott Goodman has represented clients in criminal and traffic cases —including DUIs—for more than 30 years, with experience as both a defense lawyer and prosecutor.

BANK

UVA Community Credit Union

Runner-up: Bank of America

Honorable mention: Wells Fargo

Talk about a snowball effect. Beginning in the 1950s, as more corporations and institutions were creating credit unions to meet the financial needs of their employees, UVA Hospital did the same. In the ’70s, it grew to include other employee groups and absorbed smaller credit unions. In the 1990s, it expanded its offerings to serve anyone who lived and worked in the area. Today, UVACC has branches in eight counties and Charlottesville, providing checking, savings and loans to residents for more than 50 years. In second place, national institution Bank of America offers all the usual money management services from eight locations in our area.

MORTGAGE LENDER

UVA Community Credit Union

Runner-up: Waterstone Mortgage

Honorable mention: Atlantic Coast Mortgage

Second verse, same as the first. UVA Community Credit Union gets your vote for mortgage lending, too. You turn to them for a range of product offerings—from FHA to jumbo loans—as well as homebuyer seminars to help you get better acquainted with the process. At runner-up Waterstone Mortgage, readers get funding fast, through innovative mortgage solutions and great customer service. 

INSURANCE AGENT

Hunter Wyant

Runner-up: Gary Albert

Honorable mention: Beth Towe Heck

Former Florida Marlin Hunter Wyant may have ended his baseball career in 2003, but he’s been hitting it out of the park as a State Farm agent ever since. Specializing in everything from auto and health to home and life insurance, the UVA alum also offers training and consulting to insurance and finance pros through his business, Trophy Consulting. In second place, fellow State Farm agent Gary Albert guides you through the process with nearly 15 years of experience.

NONPROFIT

Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA

Runner-up: Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Honorable mention: Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia

The Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA took in 2,844 animals in 2017, and all but 300 were adopted. Of course, adoption isn’t the only service of the SPCA: The shelter is also a resource for dog training, spaying and neutering, pet therapy and cremation. In other words, it’s a one-stop pet shop (it also has a retail arm, the SPCA Rummage Store, and a small shop at the shelter with pet food and accessories for sale), so your donation goes a long way. In second place, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has been providing the food-insecure with assistance through a network of more than 200 food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, churches and other nonprofit groups.

CAR REPAIR SHOP

Airport Road Auto Center

Runner-up: Bob’s Wheel Alignment

Honorable mention: Peacock Auto Services

A visit to the mechanic, to us, has always seemed like a visit to a foreign country: You don’t speak the language and you get the feeling that whatever you buy, you’ve overpaid. Not so at Airport Road Auto Center, where you can get upfront quotes and bring in your own parts (translation: You’re not tied to their vendors; you can shop around). In second place, Bob’s Wheel Alignment on Market Street specializes in tires—fitting, selling, rotating—but handles other repairs like alignments, inspections and heating and cooling services, too.

DOGGIE DAYCARE

All Things Pawssible

Runner-up: The Dogg House

Honorable mention: Pet Paradise and Tail Wags (tie)

As a young girl, Karen Quillen was often getting in trouble for stealing meat out of the fridge to give to hungry neighborhood dogs. It’s no wonder, then, that she grew up to provide the same kind of care and hospitality to her clients. A stay at All Things Pawssible’s Bed & Biscuit—a 4,000-square-foot facility with open, sunny spaces and artificial turf for exercising—offers your furry friend a cozy spot to lay her head, with a raw beef marrow bone and calming music in the background. Plus, readers say, Quillen is a master during obedience classes, helping you speak Lucy’s language and understand her idiosyncrasies. At The Dogg House, both canines and felines are welcome, and get five-star treatment with playtime, rest time and grooming options.

VETERINARY CLINIC

Georgetown Veterinary Hospital

Runner-up: Monticello Animal Hospital

Honorable mention: Charlottesville Veterinary Hospital

“Honest,” “ethical,” “caring,” “gentle”—there’s no end to the number of positive accolades given to Drs. Fietz, Handley, Peppard and Stone at Georgetown Vet. The family-run practice opened in 1959 and has provided quality care for puppers and kittens—including pet boarding and grooming—every year since. Over on Fifth Street, Monticello Animal Hospital earns praise for its compassionate care and friendly staff.

PRIVATE SCHOOL

St. Anne’s-Belfield School

Runner-up: Tandem Friends School

Honorable mention: The Covenant School

Broadly speaking, if the goal of academia is to prepare students to be curious, responsible, honorable citizens of the world, St. Anne’s-Belfield has been setting the standard in our area since its founding in 1856, when it opened as an all-girls academy promoting the type of learning afforded to men at the University of Virginia. When the school re-opened in 1910 as a coed, pre-K to grade 12 institution, it re-committed to its mission. Today, by the time they graduate, students log 60 hours of community service, travel abroad and participate in an internship. At Quaker day school Tandem Friends, students in grades five through 12 experience rigorous academics and participate in the stewardship of their environment, through community gardening and sorting recyclables.

PUBLIC SCHOOL

Albemarle High School

Runner-up: Western Albemarle High School

Honorable mention: Monticello High School

With programs like MESA (Math, Engineering & Science Academy), TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) and Arts and Letters, it’s clear that academics at the largest comprehensive high school in the area is of utmost importance. And it shows: By December 2017, 91 graduating seniors had been accepted to colleges during on-site admissions, with initial scholarship offers totaling $1.64 million. At runner-up Western Albemarle, students are encouraged to participate in cool projects like designing and building a tiny house or donating their hair to help cancer patients (talk about school spirit!).

Preschool

Bright Beginnings Preschool

Runner-up: The International School of Charlottesville

Honorable mention: St. Mark Lutheran Preschool

Bright Beginnings? Try Humble Beginnings. When BBP owner Kathe Petchel opened the school in 1984, it was out of her Earlysville home and had just nine students. But like any true success story, the school continued to grow, becoming what it is today, with three locations for infants, waddlers, toddlers and beyond to learn everything from motor skills and responsibility to literacy and nutrition. At The International School, students participate in Spanish and French immersion programs from preschool through kindergarten.

HAIR SALON

Moxie Hair & Body Lounge

Runner-up: The Honeycomb

Honorable mention: Bristles Hair Design & Day Spa

The difference between a good haircut and a bad one, as they say, is seven days. But whether you’re looking for a spiky pixie cut, a balayage dye job or want to experiment with bangs, at Moxie, none of those silly old adages are needed. Readers say the hip Preston Avenue salon gets it right every time. At The Honeycomb downtown, try out the latest trends —or just get an expert cut for your hard-to-handle tresses—with impunity.

NAIL SALON

Red Handed Nails Salon & Spa

Runner-up: Serenity Nails & Spa

Honorable mention: Neroli Spa & Beauty Lounge

You look like you could use a break. Pick one of the salon’s hundreds of colors—from acrylic to gel to organic—then head to the bar (the nail bar, that is, where the technicians perform the sacred relaxation ritual) for a profesh polish. Don’t forget about the pedicures, though: Forty-five minutes in the Stonefield salon’s uber-comfy chairs, readers say, is an unparalleled way to feel pampered. At Serenity Nails on Preston Avenue, friendly service amps up the relaxation factor.

SPA

Halo Salt Spa

Runner-up: The Brow House

Honorable mention: Signature Medical Spa

Why so salty? Because Himalayan salt is known to reduce inflammation and aid breathing, thin out mucus and eliminate allergens. So, a visit to the downtown spot is practically like taking an antibiotic. It’s medical. What’s more, the crystals are known to increase your seratonin levels—if that’s not the true function of a spa, we don’t know what is. Runner-up Brow House offers you waxing from top to bottom, plus facials and eyelash lifts and tints.

ESTHETICIAN

Brooke Fossett (The Brow House)

Runner-up: Lyn Chang (Signature Medical Spa)

Honorable mention: Leigh Walsh (Signature Medical Spa) and Ruby Liesen (The Brow House) (tie)

Last year, aka the year of the eyebrow, freed faces from plucking, threading, microblading and generally torturing its forehead fringe in favor of lush, prominent brows. Of course, not too lush, which is where readers say Brooke Fossett comes in. TBH’s owner waxes and shapes your caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. And while the Preston Avenue shop waxes other parts of your body, too—its Brazilian execution is expert—it’s named The Brow House for a reason. Runner-up Lyn Chang offers a range of high-end services for the face, eyes, body and hair, from microdermabrasion to SilkPeel.

HOTEL

Graduate Charlottesville and Omni Charlottesville Hotel (tie)

Runner-up: Keswick Hall

Honorable mention: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Charlottesville

Don’t get it twisted: A tie for first here doesn’t mean the winners are interchangeable. In fact, just the opposite. On the Corner, the Graduate offers overnighters whimsical details (think a mix of patterns and textures, quirky artwork and bikes to rent) and a rooftop bar. For those with more traditional design sense, the upscale Omni impresses with Blue Ridge views, a glass elevator (don’t look down!) and just a few steps to the Downtown Mall. Keswick Hall, which closed for a makeover in 2018, is poised to come back better than ever—with renovations to the guest rooms and suites, public areas and restaurants (in other words, the whole hotel).

INN OR B&B

Oakhurst Inn

Runner-up: The Clifton

Honorable mention: 200 South Street Inn

Certainly a staycation (the term people use when they forego travel expenses and, instead, indulge locally) isn’t the only reason Oakhurst has captured our hearts —its proximity to UVA and downtown make it attractive to out-of-towners, too—but a random Tuesday at the Jefferson Park Avenue inn, followed by a Wednesday morning brunch at its in-house café, is the best way to recharge. Runner-up The Clifton revamped its look in 2018, with new interior design that features a bolder color palette and richly textured fabrics, giving it a new grown-up, urban feel. Perhaps it’s making a play for next year’s No. 1 spot?

APARTMENT COMPLEX

City Walk

Runner-up: Stone Creek Village

Honorable mention: Lakeside Apartments

There are at least three reasons residents like living in City Walk, that 300-unit monolith at the end of Water Street: location, location, location. With its proximity to Beer Run to the east and the Downtown Mall to the west, it’s in a prime position for regular entertainment—and brews, which renters can work off in the 24-hour fitness center or by taking a few laps around the saltwater pool. At Stone Creek, Albemarle renters get a taste of Europe, with a cobbled façade and amenities within walking distance.