<h1>Popular opinions</h1>
<p>What does it take to be the best? In his book <em>Outliers: The Story of Success</em>, Malcolm Gladwell says one needs at least 10,000 hours practicing a thing to be an expert at it. But that doesn&rsquo;t necessarily equate to &ldquo;the best.&rdquo; The best, at least in this town, is more of a feeling: It&rsquo;s a crisp glass of Virginia wine with a view of the Blue Ridge in the distance; it&rsquo;s an annual family portrait by the photographer who was there (right there?) when you gave birth; it&rsquo;s a foot race that takes you past the houses of your neighbors where they&rsquo;re waiting with bottles of water and a few &ldquo;whoo hoos!&rdquo; Best can be quantified in myriad measurable ways, but we use our annual readers&rsquo; poll to celebrate the intangible things that make us love living in Charlottesville, from the practical (like your favorite grocery store) to the nice-to-know (like where everyone&rsquo;s getting their eyebrows waxed). After all, with more than 10,000 hours living here, you&rsquo;re definitely the experts.</p>
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<h4>(Of course, C-VILLE has its own opinions, too. Click <a href="https://www.c-ville.com/category/2023-best-of-c-ville" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>here</strong></a> to see the editorial staff's ideas about what makes Charlottesville the best.)</h4>

Best of C-VILLE 2023 Results

Devils Backbone Brewing Co.

Ix Art Park

McGuffey Art Center

Art museum or gallery

Chamomile and Whiskey

Kendall Street Company

Band

Charlottesville Symphony

Charlottesville Band

Classical music group

Umma’s

Drag Venue

The Paramount Theater

Live Arts

Dramatic arts venue

Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival

Virginia Film Festival

Festival

River Hawkins

Camille Gerrick

Gallery artist

John Grisham

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

Local Author

Katie Cox

Jason Elliot

Local Influencer

Kasey Hott

Dan Schutte

Local TV personality

Sherry Taylor

Tom Morgan

Local radio personality

106.1 The Corner

WNRN 91.9

Local radio station

Alamo Drafthouse

Violet Crown

Movie theater

I Love Charlottesville A Lot

Mural

The Hidden Leaf

John D'earth

Eli Cook

Music artist

Ting Pavilion

The Jefferson Theater

Music venue (large)

The Southern Café and Music Hall

Pro Re Nata

Music venue (small)

Green Light Podcast with Chris Long

The Rising Mind with Sidney Blair

Podcast

Bright Beginnings

YMCA Early Learning Center

Daycare

Sarah Cramer Shields

Jen Fariello

Family photographer

Three Notchd Brewing Company

The Dairy Market

FIREFLY Restaurant & Game Room

Kid-friendly restaurant

Kid to Kid

Whimsies

Kids' clothing store

Pen Park 

Greenleaf Park

Kids' park

The Front Porch

Stacy's Music

Music lessons

Karyn Wolfe

Morgan Newsome

Pediatrician (individual)

ACME Tattoo & Piercing

Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville

Place for first ear-piercing

BOUNCE Play-n-Create

Decades Arcade

Place to throw a kid's birthday party

ACAC Preschool

St. Anne's-Belfield School

Preschool

Covenant School

Private school

Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jits

Triple C Camp

Piedmont Family YMCA

Summer camp

Shenanigans

Alakazam

Toy store

Dr. Dawn Anderson Math Tutor LLC

Clayborne Education

Tutoring

Thompson Hospitality

Three Notch'd Brewing Co.

BBQ Exchange

Ace Biscuit & Barbecue

MarieBette Café and Bakery

Albemarle Baking Co.

Bakery

Mederio Venable (The Bebedero)

Andrea Rouillard (The Alley Light)

Bartender

Three Notch'd Craft Kitchen & Brewery

Blue Mountain Brewery

Brewery (large)

Rockfish Brewing Company

Decipher Brewing

Brewery (small)

Ralph Sampson American Taproom

Guajiros Miami Eatery

Beer Run

Brunch

Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

Riverside Lunch

Burger

Laura Fonner (Siren)

Kelvin Barrera (South and Central)

Chef

Peter Chang China Grill

Red Lantern

Chinese

Grit Coffee

Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters

Coffeehouse

The Alley Light

The Bebedero

Craft Cocktails

Burtons Bar and Grill

Burtons Grill & Bar

Botanical Fare

Dietary or allergy friendly

tavola

Marigold by Jean-Georges

Fancy Dinner Spot

Tacos Gomez

FARMacy Food Truck

Food truck

Tilman's

First Date

Bizou

Fleurie

French

Wayside Takeout & Catering

Michie Tavern

Fried chicken

Moo Thru

Chaps Ice Cream

Frozen treat

Kanak Indian Kitchen

Milan Indian Restaurant

Indian

Vivace

Italian

Potter's Craft Cider

Bold Rock

Local cidery

Silverback Distillery

Ragged Branch Distillery

Local distillery

Ralph Sampson's American Taproom

New restaurant

Kardinal Hall

Quirk Hotel Charlottesville rooftop

Outdoor dining

Dr. Ho's Humble Pie

Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Pizza

Umma's

Queer Friendly Happy Hour

Bad Luck Ramen Bar (North American Sake Brewery)

Ramen

South and Central

Restaurant

Restaurant Beer List

Mockingbird

Restaurant Week participant

Restaurant wine list

Bodo's Bagels

Ivy Provisions

Sandwich shop/deli

Pearl Island Café & Catering

Mel's Cafe

Soul food

Feast!

Gearharts Fine Chocolates

Specialty foods made in Charlottesville

Aberdeen Barn

Steak

Now & Zen

Sushi

Brazos Tacos

Tacos

Monsoon Siam

Chimm

Thai