Best Festival
Spoleto Festival USA
Readers Pick
For a few weeks every year, Charleston's art scene can hold its own against the likes of New York and London. Last year's festival included Druid Theatre's production of Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan and Marianne Weems' production of Kaija Saariaho's opera Emilie.
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Intro
Attractions & City Living
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- Attractions & City Living
- Best Mix of Classes and Races
- Best Place to Put a Driving Range Near Downtown
- Best Bus Stops in Need of Repairing
- Best Future King Street Home
- Best Dueling Billboards
- Best Place to Declare Your Undying Love
- Best Alleyway to Stumble upon a Werewolf Late at Night
- Best Left Turn
- Best Place to Erect a Statue of Joseph P. Riley Jr.
- Best Graveyard That Isn't
- Best Rail Depot in Need of Some Love
- Best Way to Ride Around Town in Style
- Best All-Blue Thing Since Viagra
- Best Indication Our Kids Are Earthquake-Ready
- Best Place for a Mid-Day Dip After a Torrential Downpour in Mt. Pleasant
- Best Valet Parking
- Best Reason to Hold Off on Branding Morrison Drive a Creative Corridor
- Best Uninhabited House of Worship
- Best Third-Place Finish
- Best $5.5 Million Makeover
- Best New Waterfront Park
- Best Place to Hold a Pizza Party
- Best Location for a Storm
- Best Byproduct of Global Warming
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Politics, News, & the Media
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- Politics, Public Affairs & Personalities
- Best Charlestonian
- Best Charlestonian to Defriend
- Best Troublemaker
- Best Do-Gooder
- Best Local Legislator
- Best City Council Member
- Best County Council Member
- Best School Board Member
- Best Community Activist
- Best Philanthropist
- Best Progressive
- Best Greenie
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- Best Local Cause
- Best Political Gaffe
- Best Misuse of Taxpayer Funds
- Best Happy Slapper
- Best Tsunami of Discontent
- Best Motivational Speaker
- Best Campaign Slogan
- Best Road Construction Project Humor
- Best Example of Napoleon's Rule That All Pigs Are Created Equal But Some Are More Equal Than Others
- Best School Board Exit
- Best Switcheroo
- Best Conflict of Interest
- Best Arrest
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- Best Tweeting Politician
- Best Homegrown GOP Insider
- Best Jackass with a Video Camera
- Best Attempt by a U.S. Citizen to Renounce His Citizenship
- Best Park Ranger/Peacemaker
- Best Water Carriers
- Best Future Congressman
- Best Gathering of Tea Partiers
- Best Stump Speech Location
- Best Host for Presidential Contenders
- Best Place to Spot Celebreporters
- Best Glitter Bomb
- Best Stump Speech Interruption
- Best Political Rally that Accomplished Nothing
Culture, Arts & Entertainment
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- Culture, Arts & Entertainment
- Best Local Theater Company
- Best Piccolo or Spoleto Show
- Best Non-Piccolo or Spoleto Play of 2011
- Best Cultural Event
- Best News for Local Theater Companies
- Best Production Featuring Live Cats
- Best Cease-and-Desist Order
- Best Redneck Beat-Down
- Best Chainsaw Juggler
- Best Reclaimed Trend
- Best Place to Look at Art While Partying
- Best Plan for a Beautiful Old Building
- Best New Addition to a Coliseum
- Best Studio You May Not Have Heard of Yet
- Best News for Studio-Dwellers
- Best Alleyway Makeover
- Best Replacement for an Overpriced Chain Store
- Best Unexpected Art Show Venues
- Best Morbid Motivator
- Best and Weirdest Alternate Universes
- Best Comedy Theater-Cum-Art Gallery
- Best Testosterone-Fueled Group Show
- Best Branders
- Best Small-Batch Letterpress Outfit
- Best Moment in the Spotlight for Local Gospel Singers
- Best Place to Find an Out-of-Print Back Issue of Cinemafantastique
- Best Book that Shames Illiterates
- Best Proof That Kids Still Like to Read
- Best Local Monster Expert
- Best Milestone
- Best Proof that Arts Funding Works
- Best Place to Yell "You're Tearing Me Apart, Lisa!" on a Bi-Monthly Basis
- Best Video Production Company
- Best Local Reality Star
- Best Trivia Duo in Charleston
- Best Girl Power
- Best Obscure Local Rock Trio
- Best Job Promotion
- Best Band with a Chance of Making Jam Bands Cool Again
- Best Shows We Didn't Have a Chance to See
- Best Hip-Hop Concert that Never Happened
- Best NPR Appearance
- Best Send-Off of a Beloved Jazz Icon
- Best Homecoming Concert
- Best Rock 'n' Roll Seamstress
- Best Return from the Edge
- Best Culture Clash
- Best Town We Are Not
- Best Benefit for a Friend in Need
- Best American Idol Who Has a Fascination with James Brown
- Best Movie Theater
- Best Local Actor
- Best Local Actress
- Best Local Comic
- Best Local Author
- Best Museum
- Best Art Gallery
- Best Exhibit of 2011
- Best Local Visual Artist
- Best Art Instruction
- Best Music Concert of 2011
- Best Rock Music Club
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- Best Cover Band
- Best Local Band
- Best Jazz Band
- Best Musician
- Best Female Vocalist
- Best Male Vocalist
- Best Karaoke Night
- Best Club DJ
- Best Hip-Hop Club
- Best Local Hip-Hop Artist
- Best Magazine Covers Besides Ours
News & The Media
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- News & The Media
- Best Back-Up Anchor and Field Reporter
- Best Talk Radio Asshole We Didn't Know We'd Miss
- Best Helping Hands
- Best New TV Channel
- Best Blotter Show
- Best Low-Budget Cooking Show
- Best Little Girl
- Best Soapbox Ranter
- Best Sexy Surprise in the P&C
- Best Late-Night Streetwalker
- Best Pinko Columnist in a Salmon-Colored Paper
- Best Skincare Column
- Best Love Letter to Charleston
- Best Local Fashion Representation in the Blogosphere
- Best Breaking News from an AOL-Owned Hyperlocal Website
- Best News Story of 2011
- Best Local TV Anchor
- Best Local Investigative Reporter
- Best Local TV Weather Forecaster
- Best Local TV Sports Anchor
- Best Local TV Station
- Best Newspaper Columnist
- Best City Paper Cover Story
- Best Local Website
- Best Radio Station
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- Best Local Radio Show
- Best Local Radio Personality
- Best Local Talk Show Host
- Best Local TV Commercial
- Best Local Interest Blog
- Best Local Twitter Feed
Recreation, Health, & Beauty
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- Recreation, Health & Beauty
- Best Local Athlete
- Best Marina
- Best Island
- Best Place for Family Fun
- Best Bowling Alley
- Best Park
- Best Surf Shop
- Best Watersports Company
- Best Stand Up Paddleboard Co.
- Best Bike Shop
- Best Sporting Goods Store
- Best Dive Shop
- Best Outdoor Outfitters
- Best Store for Beach Gear
- Best Place to Buy a Boat
- Best Golf Course
- Best Health Club
- Best Personal Trainer
- Best Physician
- Best Plastic Surgeon
- Best Dermatologist
- Best Tanning Salon
- Best Dentist
- Best Orthodonist
- Best Chiropractor
- Best Pilates Studio
- Best Yoga Studio
- Best Acupuncturist
- Best Medical Spa
- Best Hospital
- Best Pharmacy
- Best Place to Give Birth
- Best Piercing Studio
- Best Tattoo Studio
- Best Adult Toy Store
- Best Day Spa
- Best Nail Salon
- Best Massage Therapist
- Best Hair Salon
- Best Barber Shop
- Best Hair Stylist
- Best Hotel
- Best Bed & Breakfast
- Best Veterinarian
- Best Argument
- Best Place to Watch a Live Sport
- Best Equestrian Comeback
- Best Call to Legs
- Best Blend of Bikes and Fashion
- Best Leave of Absence
- Best Tournament
- Best Hope for the Cougars
- Best Big League Move
- Best New Sports League
- Best Place to Wait an Hour to Play Ping-Pong
- Best Disc Golf Course
- Best Run for a Scare
- Best Scenic Tour of the Neck
- Best Holy City Road Race That Doesn't Exist Yet
- Best RiverDogs Promotion that Not Enough People Knew About
- Best Yoga View
- Best Park that Bit the Dust (For Now)
- Best News for Skaters
- Best Way to Explore Park Circle
- Best Sign There Will Be an Ashley River Bike Crossing
- Best Study Aid Freakout
- Best Place to Get Highlights
- Best Place for Co-eds to Get a Brazilian Wax
Shops, Wares & Services
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- Shops & Wares
- Best Local Sports Team
- Best Mall/Shopping Center
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- Best Department Store
- Best Women's Clothing Store
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- Best Children's Clothing Store
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- Best Boutique
- Best Local Clothing Designer
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- Best Bead Store
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- Best Shoe Store
- Best Consignment Store
- Best Vintage Clothing Store
- Best Gift Store
- Best Thrift Store
- Best Collegiate Store
- Best Eyewear Boutique
- Best Antique Store
- Best Furniture Store
- Best Home Accessories Store
- Best Stationery Store
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- Best Landscaper
- Best Pet Store
- Best Pet Groomer
- Best Doggie Daycare
- Best Art Supply Store
- Best Paint Store
- Best Frame Shop
- Best Grocery Store
- Best Gourmet Grocery Store
- Best Corner Store
- Best Health Food Store
- Best Wine Shop
- Best Cheese Shop
- Best Tobacco Shop
- Best Liquor Store
- Best Hardware Store
- Best Cell Phone Provider
- Best Lighting Store
- Best Dry Cleaner
- Best Florist
- Best Pawn Shop
- Best Music Store
- Best Bookstore
- Best Comic Book Store
- Best Used Book Store
- Best Musical Instrument Store
- Best Place to Buy a Used Car
- Best Place to Buy a New Car
- Best Car Wash
- Best Tire Store
- Best Mechanic
- Best Motorcycle Shop
- Best Cab Company
- Best Limo Company
- Best Law Firm / Lawyer
- Best Realty Company
- Best Realtor
- Best Insurance Agency
- Best Bank
- Best Costume Shop / Party Store
- Best Place to Break the Charleston Dandy Mold
- Best Hidden Broad Street Boutique
- Best Place to Buy Designer Vintage
- Best Boutique in the 'Burbs
- Best Designer Boutique
- Best Design Blogger Appearance
- Best Trend-Conscious Antique Store
- Best New Goodwill
- Best Madeline Moment
- Best Place to Buy a Hat for Your Inner Cowboy
- Best Use of Old Wine Bottles
- Best In-Restaurant Shopping Selection
- Best Shop for Serious Cooks
- Best Book Store We'll Miss
- Best Place to Feed your Cookbook Hunger
- Best Place for a Cat Person to Endlessly Gush Over Felines
- Best Storage Unit If You Just Need a Place To Stash Stuff Cheap
- Best Used Musical Gear
- Best Place to Liquidate Your Old-Timey Media Collection
- Best Downtown Record Store
- Best Variety Store
- Best Stop for Boaters
- Best Scratch-and-Dent Sale
- Best Little Sewing Shop for Unicorn Costume Supplies
- Best Celebration of Vinyl
Eating & Drinking Out
- All
- Eating & Drinking Out
- Best Restaurant & Best Downtown Restaurant
- Best New Restaurant
- Best Restaurant When Someone Else is Paying
- Best Chef
- Best Wait Staff
- Best Sommelier
- Best Caterer
- Best Food Truck
- Best Daniel Island Restaurant
- Best James Island Restaurant
- Best Folly Beach Restaurant
- Best Mt. Pleasant Restaurant
- Best Sullivan's Island Restaurant
- Best IOP Restaurant
- Best West Ashley Restaurant
- Best North Charleston Restaurant
- Best Summerville Restaurant
- Best Johns Island Restaurant
- Best Romantic Restaurant
- Best Waterfront Dining
- Best Outdoor Patio
- Best Kid Friendly Restaurant
- Best Japanese
- Best Indian
- Best Chinese
- Best Thai/Vietnamese
- Best Asian Fusion
- Best French Restaurant
- Best Italian
- Best Mexican
- Best Greek
- Best Tapas
- Best Cheap Meal
- Best Restaurant for Vegetarians
- Best Pub Food
- Best Sunday Brunch
- Best Breakfast
- Best Late Night Menu
- Best Meat and 3 Veggies
- Best Charcuterie
- Best Soul Food
- Best Burger
- Best Cheesesteak
- Best French Fries
- Best Fried Chicken
- Best Sweet Tea
- Best New York Style Pizza
- Best Gourmet Pizza
- Best Sub Sandwich/Hoagie
- Best Gourmet Sandwich
- Best Wings
- Best Seafood
- Best Place to Buy Local Seafood
- Best Oysters
- Best Sushi
- Best Raw Bar
- Best Buffet
- Best Salad
- Best Steak
- Best Shrimp & Grits
- Best Ice Cream
- Best Frozen Yogurt
- Best Barbecue
- Best Ribs
- Best Hot Dog
- Best She-Crab Soup
- Best Bagels
- Best Deli
- Best Bakery
- Best Desserts
- Best Coffee House
- Best Wine Selection (Retail)
- Best Wine Selection (Bar or Restaurant)
- Best Excuse to Eat
- Best Local Food Hub
- Best Local Food Bin
- Best Source of Somewhat Hidden Local Foods
- Best Yet-to-Arrive Chain Restaurant to Inspire Drooling
- Best New Fit for Park Circle
- Best Upper King Street Plans
- Best Rodeo Roundup-er
- Best Incubation Project
- Best New Twist on a CSA
- Best Mt. Pleasant Expansion
- Best Name for a Restaurant
- Best New Ethnic Food Corridor
- Best Hype that Proved to Be Overblown
- Best Gourmet Produce Selection
- Best New Fast-Food Upgrade
- Best Facebook Feed
- Best Media Treatment
- Best Restaurant Architect
- Best Wrap-Tastic Restaurateur to Return to Work
- Best Use of Bacon
- Best TV Food Appearance
- Best Spin Machine
- Best Celebuchef We Can Almost Count As Our Own
- Best Butcher to Hang it Up (But Who Will Be Sorely Missed)
- Best Move with Big Potential
- Best Dinner in a Restaurant
- Best Dinner Not in a Restaurant
- Best New Fire Pit and Patio
- Best Restaurant We Wish Would Stop Changing Their Concept
- Best Use of an iPad
- Best Beer Selection (Retail)
- Best Pizza Fix
- Best Cheap Culinary Pick Me Up
- Best News for King Street Cops
- Best Cheese on Church
- Best Place to Buy Pickled Jellyfish
- Best $10 Lunch-and-Workout Special
- Best Bottled Beer Selection (Bar or Restaurant)
- Best Beer Selection on Tap
- Best Restaurant Renovation
- Best Happy Hour
- Best New Bar
- Best Takeout Window
- Best Way to Spend $5
- Best Neighborhood Bar
- Best Use of an Old Applebee's
- Best Upscale Bar
- Best Rooftop Bar
- Best Bar Staff
- Best New Restaurant in Mt. Pleasant
- Best Bouncers
- Best Happy Hour for Eating
- Best Downtown Bar
- Best New Senior Citizen Hangout
- Best Daniel Island Bar
- Best New Thai Restaurant
- Best Mt. Pleasant Bar
- Best Use of Tongue
- Best James Island Bar
- Best Place to Stare into the Stenciled Face of Guy Fieri
- Best Folly Beach Bar
- Best Random Hole-in-the-Wall Food Spot
- Best IOP Bar
- Best Sign Charleston is Getting More Metropolitan Every Day
- Best Sullivan's Island Bar
- Best Way to Increase Your Cholesterol Level
- Best New Burger Night
- Best West Ashley Bar
- Best Name for a Burger Special
- Best North Charleston Bar
- Best Johns Island Bar
- Best Place to Stand in Line for 30 Minutes on Half-Price Burger Night (and Still Be Glad You Did)
- Best Ceviche
- Best Summerville Bar
- Best Lasagna
- Best Waterfront Bar
- Best Baguette
- Best College Bar
- Best Authentic Pub
- Best Paella
- Best No Frills Watering Hole
- Best Salad to Eat in Your Car
- Best Dance Club
- Best Local Seafood Platter
- Best New Pizza Pie
- Best Pool Hall
- Best Use of Pulled Pork and Sriracha
- Best Pick-up Joint
- Best Side of Cornbread
- Best H2O
- Best Late Night Bar
- Best Late Night Bar Food
- Best Meat Creation
- Best Coma-Inducing Skillet of Cheesy Goodness
- Best Sports Bar
- Best Pesto Not Paired with Pasta
- Best Culinary Mash-Up
- Best Gay Club
- Best Dirty Rice
- Best Lesbian Club
- Best Adult Establishment
- Best Place to Get Sautéed Shrimp & Crab over Grits
- Best Reason to Eat Your Veggies
- Best Gluten-Free Lunch
- Best Martini
- Best Cocktails
- Best Ridiculously Extravagant Appetizer
- Best Margarita
- Best Way to Flex Your Mussels
- Best Brunch Crêpes
- Best Cold Beer
- Best Gyro
- Best Oddball Pizza
- Best Cheap Beer Deal
- Best Intense Beefy Bite
- Best Cheese
- Best Fresh Beer Samples
- Best Pork Medallions
- Best Double Dog Dare Bar Snack
- Best Local Beer Resembling a Frosty
- Best Messy Corn Dish
- Best Tongue-Torching Sauce
- Best Five-Hour Beer Session
- Best Fork-Tender Corned Beef
- Best Breakfast Sandwich Probably Ever
- Best Greens
- Best Spaceballs Reference
- Best Little Ice Creamery
- Best New Summerville Tasting Room
- Best Dessert from a Pizza Place
- Best Place to Have a Campfire and Drink PBR Tallboys
- Best Draught Beer System
- Best Popsicle
- Best Camaraderie Between Competitors
- Best Upscale Take on Mexican Street Food
- Best Dessert for Four that Will Probably Get Eaten by One
- Best Beer That Never Was
- Best New Beer Cans
- Best Bar Restroom Reading
- Best Hippie Happy Hour
- Best Place to Watch Two Women Make Out
- Best Booze Class
- Best Stylish Dive Bar
- Best Month for Drinking
- Best Bar to Run into 13 Bachelorette Parties in One Night
- Best Place for Beer Geeks to Geek Out
- Best Place to Taste the Rainbow
- Best Place to Grab an Adult Beverage and Imagine You're a Drug Smuggler
- Best House-Infused Brandy
- Best Use of Tobacco Leaves
- Best Cocktail Name
- Best Use of Shredded Ginger
- Best Straight Shot
- Best Hideaway for Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate
- Best New Tequila Menu
- Best Margarita That Won't Make You Feel Like You Drank the Blood of the Toxic Avenger
- Best Place to Get Your Bubbly On
- Best New Cocktail Trend
- Best High-Tech Wine Tap Station
- Best New Flavored Whiskey
- Best Way to Sip Charleston Wine History
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