Best local grocery store 2013: Whole Foods

Whole Foods 1797 Hydraulic Rd. 973-4900 wholefoods.com Runner-up: C’ville Market 221 Carlton Rd. 984-0545 cvillemarket.com We probably should have been a bit more specific when we said “local grocery store,” because while Whole Foods is indeed inside city limits, it’s not locally owned. Still, its appeal is undeniable—a commitment to natural foods free of growth […]

Best plastic surgeon 2013: Victoria Vastine

Victoria Vastine 600 Peter Jefferson Pkwy. #270 654-8920 mjhplasticsurgery.org Runner-up: Stephen Park 415 Ray C. Hunt Dr. 924-2153 cosmeticuva.com Plastic surgery sure has come a long way: For the very first nose job, performed in 600 B.C., wooden tubes were placed inside the nose to keep air passage open during healing. These days, that procedure […]

Best attorney 2013: Tucker Griffin Barnes

Tucker Griffin Barnes 207 W. Rio Rd. 973-7474 tgblaw.com Runner-up: Ed Lowry of Michie-Hamlett 500 Court Square, Suite 300 951-7200 michiehamlett.com In 1995, inmate Robert Lee Brock claimed he violated his own civil rights by drinking alcohol against his religious beliefs and subsequently getting arrested. Once imprisoned, he sued himself for $5 million, then asked […]

Best gym 2013: ACAC

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: CrossFit 1309 Belleview Ave. #2 260-0209 crossfitcharlottesville.com All the best things come in threes. At least, that’s true of ACAC, with locations in Downtown Charlottesville, Crozet, and Albemarle Square to maximize […]

Best place to buy wine 2013: Market Street Wineshops

Market Street Wineshops 311 E. Market St. 305 Rivanna Plaza Dr., Suite 102 964-9463 marketstreetwine.com Runner-up: Trader Joe’s Stonefield Shopping Center 974-1466 traderjoes.com For nearly 30 years, Market Street Wineshops have served as not only the best place to buy wine (there’s more than 1,200 wines in stock), but also to learn about it, through […]

Best park for kids 2013: Pen Park

Pen Park East Rio Road Runner-up: McGuffey Park Corner of Second Street NW and Jefferson Street What’s a three-letter word for fun that isn’t “fun”? Pen. As in, Pen Park. Readers say it’s the best place for kids to play around, and no wonder—its 280 acres boasts eight tennis courts, a Little League baseball field, […]

Best foot race 2013: Women’s 4-miler

Women’s 4-miler Runner-up: Charlottesville 10-miler There are many benefits to running the women’s 4-miler (supporting UVA’s Breast Care Program, improving your health and stamina), but perhaps the most interesting component of the Labor Day weekend run is its training program, which begins two months before the 4-miler and ensures your readiness for the big day. […]

Best dermatologist 2013: Bonnie Straka

Bonnie Straka 3350 Berkmar Dr. 923-4646 signaturemedspa.com Runner-up: Anna Magee 600 Peter Jefferson Pkwy., #230 984-2400 Since your skin is the largest organ in (or, rather, on) your body, it makes sense that you’d want to treat it well. Bonnie Straka is the answer, readers say. The dermatologist has been serving patients in Charlottesville since […]

Best bookstore 2013: Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble Barracks Road Shopping Center 984-0461 barnesandnoble.com Runner-up: Daedalus Bookshop 121 Fourth St. NE 293-7595 The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., contains 28 million books and has 532 miles of shelving. If you’re looking to build your own collection, readers say there’s no better place to start than Barnes & Noble, where […]