Best pediatrician 2013: Piedmont Pediatrics

Piedmont Pediatrics 900 Rio E. Ct. 975-7777 piedmontpediatrics.net Runner-up: Paige Perriello 1011 E. Jefferson St. 296-9161 charlottesvillepeds.com It takes 11 years to become a pediatrician, which means that, all together, this year’s winners (five doctors at Piedmont Pediatrics) and runner-up have 66 years of medical experience between them. That’s a lot of expertise looking after […]

Best plumber 2013: Robertson Electric

Robertson Electric 973-4348 robertsonelectric.com Runner-up: Hodges Myers 973-2670 If it’s true that more than 70 percent of the earth’s total population doesn’t use toilet paper, then how in the world are there so many plumbing problems? That’s a question better left unanswered, as far as this category is concerned. Robertson Electric, which began as a […]

Charles McRaven: Renaissance man

Charles “Mac” McRaven sits in the basement of a house he built, flipping through a book he wrote about a trade he’s mastered. As the 78-year-old master craftsman describes his work in a smooth Arkansas drawl, he radiates energy, passion, and wisdom gained over a half-century in the field. Among the country’s preeminent stonemasons, builders, […]

Best cleaning service 2013: Merry Maids

Merry Maids 296-6603 merrymaids.com Runner-up: Charlottesville’s Earthly Cleaning 202-0455 cvillesearthlycleaning.com Unless you’re talking about dust bunnies, sometimes bigger really is better: Merry Maids operates 1,351 franchises and was voted No. 1 Residential Cleaning Service in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. The company cleans apartments, too! With less than a year in business, owner Lucille Weakley takes second […]

Best power lunch 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: Hamiltons’ at First & Main 101 W. Main St. 295-6649 hamiltonsrestaurant.com The thing about people in power is that they’re often in a hurry—off to a meeting or to get their shoes shined (we’re guessing). It makes sense, […]

Best toy store 2013: Shenanigans

Shenanigans 601 W. Main St. 295-4797 shenaniganstoys.net Runner-up: Alakazam 100 E. Main St. 971-1717 alakazamtoys.com It takes 63′ of wire to make a slinky. There are no hard and fast facts about how long it takes a child to get it all unraveled and tangled up, but we’re guessing it’s not long. Kids are tricky […]

Best tailor 2013: Heidi’s Perfect Fit

Heidi’s Perfect Fit 1311 Wertland St. 295-8777 hpfinc.com Runner-up: E Tailor 112 W. Main St. #7 923-8500 In a season 2 episode of “Friends,” Joey sends Chandler to his family tailor, who takes a few inappropriate liberties with his measuring methods. Hilarity ensues, of course, but that’s not quite what you want from a tailor. […]