Best local hardware store 2013: Martin Hardware

Martin Hardware 941 Preston Ave. 293-8171 martinhardwareinc.com Runner-up: Crozet Hardware 5783 The Square (Crozet) 823-4381 facebook.com/crozethardware If it’s true that the average wood frame house uses between 20,000 and 30,000 nails of varying types and sizes, then Martin Hardware, readers say, is the place to go for supplies. For folks outside of the city, Crozet […]

Best place for stationery 2013: Rock Paper Scissors

Rock Paper Scissors 225 E. Main St. 979-6366 thinkrockpaperscissors.com Runner-up: Caspari 100 W. Main St. 817-7880 casparionline.com When you think of stationery, you think of friendship—people writing to each other across land and sea, sharing hellos and thank-yous and catching up. Take, for instance, Nellie Beaven and Daphne Morgenson, pen pals in England who wrote […]

Best optometrist 2013: Primary Eyecare

Primary Eyecare Barracks Road Shopping Center 977-2020 Hollymead Town Center 975-2020 cvilleeyecare.com Runner-up: Drs. Record & Record Optometrists 1450 Sachem Pl., Suite 202 978-4090 600 Peter Jefferson Pkwy., Suite 390 975-2420 recordeyecare.com The human eye can distinguish 500 shades of gray and blinks over 10,000,000 times a year. Those two facts are unrelated, but serve […]

Best restaurant wine list 2013: C&O

C&O 515 Water St. E 971-7044 candorestaurant.com Runner-up: Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar 422 E. Main St. 202-7728 commonwealthskybar.com When a champagne cork pops out of the bottle, it reaches a speed of around 40mph. Coincidentally, that’s also how fast readers decide they’d like a glass of vino with their entrée—and C&O makes it easy with […]

Best apartment complex 2013: Lakeside Apartments

Lakeside Apartments 200 Lake Club Ct. 984-5253 liveatlakeside.com Runner-up: The Reserve at Belvedere 200 Reserve Blvd. 296-6200 liveatbelvedere.com Ask anyone the things they love about Charlottesville and, most likely, one of those things will be that you can be in the city one minute and, after a short drive, in the middle of nature’s bounty. […]

Best bike shop 2013: Blue Ridge Cyclery

Blue Ridge Cyclery 1043 Millmont St. 995-2453 blueridgecyclery.com Runner-up: Blue Wheel Bikes 941 Second St. NE 977-1870 bluewheel.com Before getting into the bike business, Blue Ridge Cyclery owner Shawn Tevendale was a paramedic. Once he fell in love with cycling, he was hooked, and has been a sponsored athlete for eight years, with experience in […]

Best sandwich spot 2013: Bodo’s Bagels

Bodo’s Bagels 505 Preston Ave. 293-5224 1609 University Ave. 293-6021 1418 Emmet St. N 977-9598 bodosbagels.com Runner-up: Bluegrass Grill & Bakery 313 Second St. SE #105 295-9700 The most important meal of your day, breakfast is not to be taken lightly. Readers know Bodo’s is the best way to break the fast, offering up a […]

Best consignment shop 2013: Glad Rags

Glad Rags 1923 Commonwealth Dr. 979-1816 mygladrags.com Runner-up: Natalie Dressed 1051 Millmont St. 296-6886 nataliedressed.com High-end designers and off-the-rack choices abound at this Commonwealth Avenue shop. In fact, “rags” seems a less-than-complimentary term for the type of things you’ll find at this year’s winner. The accessories on offer are a particular draw; the store stocks […]