Tag: Best of C-VILLE

C-VILLE Weekly’s Best of C-VILLE content is Charlottesville’s premier reader-generated rating for the best the community has to offer. It is published annually in September.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best bar 2013: Whiskey Jar

Photo: John Robinson

Whiskey Jar

227 W. Main St.
202-1549
thewhiskeyjarcville.com

Runner-up:
Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar
422 E. Main St.
202-7728
commonwealthskybar.com

Omigosh, you guys. I love you. I love you like soooo much. And you know what else? I love Whiskey Jar. I like drinkin’ all the whiskey, and I like the live music, and, like, I love how they make all that Southern food and you can sit at the bar and like—OMG. You know what we should do? We should go to Skybar! You would like love it there. It’s like classy downstairs and upstairs it’s like totally chill. There’s these super comfy couches and the bartender is like the best in town. Like we totally should go right now.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best architect 2013: VMDO

VMDO

200 E. Market St.
296-5684
vmdo.com

Runner-up:
Wolf Ackerman
110B Second St. NE #201
296-4848
wolfackerman.com

There are 403 steps from the foundation to the top floor of the torch in the Statue of Liberty. That’s the kind of information that’s pertinent to someone interested in architecture. For the average person, what’s more important is simply how something looks. And readers know, for looks, there’s no better firm than VMDO, which specializes in design for educational institutions. Among its projects: John Paul Jones Arena, Buckingham County Primary and Elementary schools, and UVA’s College at Wise Henson Residence Hall. With Wolf Ackerman, expect quality work in residential, commercial, and institutional realms.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best barber 2013: Staples Barber Shop

Photo: Ashley Twiggs

Staples Barber Shop

Barracks Road Shopping Center
296-7354

Runner-up:
Chung’s Barber Shop
Albemarle Square Shopping Center
973-7578

They say the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks. But readers know that’s not even a consideration when they step into Staples for a trim. The barbers at the Barracks Road Shopping Center joint have kept local locks in check for 90 years. At Chung’s, enjoy a hot towel massage at the Albemarle Square cuttery. (But be warned: They don’t take credit cards!)

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Retail

Best florist 2013: University Florists

Photo: Aaron Cohen

University Florists

1929 Arlington Blvd.
973-1381
universityflorists.com

Runner-up:
Hedge Fine Blooms
416 W. Main St.
817-9950
hedgefineblooms.com

Need a quick fix? Readers head to University Florists for all things bright and blooming when it’s a special occasion (or they’re looking to create one). In second place, Hedge Fine Blooms’ two locations keeps readers peppered in petals.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best outdoor dining 2013: Blue Mountain Brewery

Photo: Dan Addison

Blue Mountain Brewery

9519 Critzer Shop Rd. (Afton)
(540) 456-8020
bluemountainbrewery.com

Runner-up:
MAS
501 Monticello Rd.
979-0990
mastapas.com

Negative 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the coldest temperature ever recorded, taken at the Russian research station in Vostok, Antarctica in 1983. Fortunately, temps at the Nelson County brewery, which you say is the best seat in town, never drop that low. In fact, the conditions are always just right at the pleasant patio setting, complete with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Plus, you can bring your pet. In the heart of Belmont, MAS’ signature yellow umbrellas brighten up the dining experience.

See more:

Best brewery 2013: Blue Mountain Brewery

Best Restaurant 2013: MAS

Mas chef teams up with Schoolyard Garden program

Five Finds on Friday: Tomas Rahal of MAS Tapas

Five Finds on Friday: Mike Ketola of Mas

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Recreation & Fitness

Best fitness class 2013: Athletic conditioning at ACAC

Photo: Elli Williams

Athletic conditioning at ACAC

200 Four Seasons Dr.
978-7523
111 Monticello Ave.
984-3800
Albemarle Square Shopping Center
978-3800
1015 Heathercroft Cir., Suite 100 (Crozet)
817-2055
acac.com

Runner-up:
Zumba at ACAC

At ACAC, the athletic conditioning classes led by Chris Collins and Blaise Spinelli are heavily attended—and with good reason. Both instructors deliver a cross-training workout jam-packed with ways to make you sweat. Also at ACAC, Zumba (the Latin-inspired, dance-heavy cardio class) shimmies into second place.

See more:

Best gym 2013: ACAC 

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Entertainment

Best visual artist 2013: Isabelle Abbot

Isabelle Abbot

isabelleabbot.com

Runner-up:
Kris Bowmaster
bowmasterart.com

Keen observation. That’s what it takes to win in this category—and Isabelle Abbot knows it. As she says, “It is by moving through the world that we understand its particularities.” Her impressionistic oil paintings zero in on local scenes with slashes of color on canvas or muslin. Kris Bowmaster, who takes the No. 2 spot, earns his keep with vivid oil paintings, often rendered while hanging out on the Downtown Mall.

 

What’s Isabelle passionate about in Charlottesville?

1. The local food movement. Whether it’s cooking up some eggs from Free Union Grass Farm, attending a cider tasting at Potter’s Craft Cider, or following the blog Beyond the Flavor, I love all the energy and enthusiasm surrounding local food production in this town.
2. Tubing on the James. The perfect summer activity.
3. Pure Barre Charlottesville. A great work out and a fun, inspiring group of women.
4. The Celtic Sea Salt Caramels at Feast.
5. The public library. Browsing for inspiring books.

 

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best bank 2013: UVA Community Credit Union

UVA Community Credit Union

3300 Berkmar Dr.
300 Preston Ave.
1018 W. Main St.
325 Four Leaf Ln. (Crozet)
220 Wayles Ln. (Crozet)
964-2000
uvacreditunion.org

Runner-up:
Wells Fargo
123 E. Main St.
244-3900
2100 Ivy Rd.
984-1301
901 Emmet St. N
984-3710
wellsfargo.com

In India, many temples have ATMs installed inside so you can make devotional contributions or religious donations. In Charlottesville, the only place you’ll make donations once you get cash from the ATM is to the god of loans and bills. But readers feel good about giving their money to UVA Community Credit Union, where they know it’ll be safe. Wells Fargo provides a kind of big-box bank experience for those who need the security of a national name to store their cash.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best winery 2013: King Family Vineyards

Photo: Jack Looney

King Family Vineyards

6550 Roseland Farm (Crozet)
823-7800
kingfamilyvineyards.com

Runner-up:
Veritas Vineyard & Winery
151 Veritas Ln. (Afton)
(540) 456-8000
veritaswines.com

You know how, at a pig roast, people sometimes say the pig gave its life so that we could eat? Well, for every bottle of wine you drink, approximately 2.8 pounds of grapes gave their lives so you could swish, swirl, and sip. That’s a sacrifice worth noting. King Family Vineyards takes top honors with its 10 wines and Sunday afternoon polo matches. At Veritas, sample a selection of the Afton vineyard’s 14 wines at its picnic-perfect tasting room and grounds.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best service 2013: The Local

File photo.

The Local

824 Hinton Ave.
984-9749
thelocal-cville.com

Runner-up:
Maya
633 W. Main St.
979-6292
maya-restaurant.com

The promise of a good menu gets people into restaurants, but great service keeps them coming back. No one knows this better than Peter Shankman, a devoted fan of Morton’s Steakhouse who once jokingly tweeted that the restaurant should meet him at the airport with a porterhouse—and they did. Sure, that seems a little extreme, but readers know that’s the same kind of attentiveness that causes them to return to The Local (and Maya, for that matter) time and again.

See more:

A happy marriage: Maya perfects Charlottesville’s signature cuisine

Five Finds on Friday: Christian Kelly of Maya