Best singer/songwriter 2013: Sarah White

Sarah White sarah-white.com Runner-up: Travis Elliott A Charlottesville native, Sarah White’s got staying power. She started her career in the late ’90s, released her first studio album in 2000, another in 2006, won “Best Song” in a 2007 contest for “Sweetheart,” which became the title track for an EP she re-released this year before becoming […]

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 […]

Best local band 2013: Sons of Bill

Sons of Bill sonsofbill.com Runner-up: Love Canon lovecanon80s.com It was only five years ago that Sons of Bill (three literal sons of UVA philosophical theology and southern literature professor Bill Wilson, plus a drummer and bassist) took to the stage for a UVA battle of the bands and won three days of recording. Since that […]

Best local photographer 2013: Jen Fariello

Jen Fariello jenfariello.com Runner-up: Sarah Cramer-Shields cramerphoto.com It must be nice to see the world through the eyes of Jen Fariello. It seems every frame she captures is more beautiful than the last, which is why readers voted the wedding and lifestyle photographer into the top slot this year. Sarah Cramer-Shields, who for the past […]

Best community theater 2013: Live Arts

Live Arts 123 Water St. SE 977-4177 livearts.org Runner-up: Four County Players 5256 Governor Barbour St. (Barboursville) (540) 832-5355 fourcp.org The idea of “community theater” too often conjures images of wannabe stars performing on hack-job sets. Unless, of course, you’re talking about our community. Here, we’re lucky enough to get legit productions with talented local […]

Best sports bar 2013: Boylan Heights

Boylan Heights 102 14th St. NW 984-5707 boylan-heights.com Runner-up: Citizen Burger Bar 212 E. Main St. 979-9944 citizenburgerbar.com In “The Simpsons,” it’s “Moe’s Tavern.” In “Cheers,” it was, well, Cheers. In Charlottesville, say readers, the best place to go where everyone knows your name to watch the game and grab a beer is Boylan Heights. […]

Best art gallery 2013: McGuffey Art Center

McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW 295-7973 mcguffeyartcenter.com Runner-up: Second Street Gallery 115 Second St. SE 977-7284 secondstreetgallery.com Three galleries comprise the McGuffey Art Center, the largest display space in the city. It’s there, in the 1916 school building, that visual artists, sculptors, photographers, and more converge for a veritable zoo of artistic talent. […]

Best music venue 2013: The Jefferson Theater

The Jefferson Theater 110 E. Main St. 245-4980 jeffersontheater.com Runner-up: nTelos Wireless Pavilion 700 E. Main St. 245-4910 thenteloswirelesspavilion.com The history of The Jefferson Theater starts with a bang and a whimper: In 1912, it was conceived as a “combination house,” doubling as a vaudeville and silent movie theater. These days, it’s pretty rare to […]