Best reason to leave the Triangle
Politics
Finalists: Go to the beach, bad public transportation, road infrastructure and traffic
Best reason to love the Triangle
Diversity
Finalists: The people, food scene, parks and trails
Best use of public money
Public schools
Finalists: Parks and greenways, Capital Area Greenway Trail System, bike infrastructure
Best waste of public money
General Assembly 2152
Finalists: Enforcing Raleigh’s downtown drinking ordinance, light rail, closing in I-540
Best politician (Durham/Chapel Hill)
U.S. Representative David Price
Finalists: Mayor Bill Bell, Senator Mike Woodard, Councilman Steve Schewel
Best politician (Raleigh/Cary)
Attorney General Roy Cooper
Finalists: U.S. Representative David Price, former state senator Josh Stein, Mayor Nancy McFarlane
Best local politician in need of a reality check
Governor Pat McCrory
Finalists: All of them, Senator Thom Tillis, Mayor Bill Bell
Best local columnist
Barry Saunders
Finalists: Kirk Ross, Bob Geary, Josh Shaffer
Best local crank
Grayson Haver Currin
Finalists: Ross Grady, Larz Robinson, Andy Little
Best local do-gooder
Scott Holmes
Finalists: Van alston, Amber Smith, James Tripp
Best local Facebook page
New Raleigh
Finalists: SoDu Parents Posse, The Green Monkey, Piedmont Picnic Project
Best local Instagram account
@rdubaton
Finalists: @NewRaleigh, @RaleighFoodPics, @thedurhamdoll
Best local Twitter feed
@NewRaleigh
Finalists: @ncbeerguys, @WCPSS, @MajorTheBull
Best local-interest blog
Bull City Rising
Finalists: Triangle Food Guy, Triangle Foodie Adventures, The Raleigh Connoisseur
Best local-interest website
Finalists: Bull City Rising, Chapelboro, Open Durham
Best local radio personality
Frank Stasio (WUNC)
Finalists: Gene & Julie Gates, Bob Dumas, Mir.I.Am,
Best local radio station
WUNC 91.5 FM
Finalists: WKNC 88.1 FM, WQDR 94.7 FM, WHUP 104.7 FM
Best local TV newsperson
Bill Leslie (WRAL)
Finalists: Tisha Powell, Barbara Gibbs, Kevin Kaze Thomas
Best local TV weatherperson
Greg Fishel (WRAL)
Finalists: Elizabeth Gardner, Don Schwenneker, Chris Hohmann
Best charitable group
Trosa
1820 James Street, Durham
Finalists: Table, 100 Women Who Give a Hoot, Activate Good
Best local activist group
N.C. NAACP
Finalists: Durham People’s Alliance, Saturday Chores, CHALT (Chapel Hill Allliance for a Livable Town)
Best neighborhood to live in (Durham)
Trinity Park
Finalists: Watts Hospital Hillandale, Duke Park, Northgate Park
Best neighborhood to live in (Raleigh)
Five Points
Finalists: Oakwood, Boylan Heights, Mordecai
Best people watching
N.C. State Fair
Finalists: Weaver Street Market, Durham Farmers Market, RDU Airport
Best place to take visitors from out of town (Durham/Chapel Hill)
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson Street, Durham
Finalists: American Tobacco Campus, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, UNC campus
Best place to take visitors from out of town (Wake)
N.C. Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
Finalists: N.C. State Farmers Market, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Pullen Park
Best-kept secret
Funny Girl Farm
Finalists: Crude Bitters and Sodas, Flash Chorus, UNC Cypher
Best place to pick up INDY Week
Whole Foods
Multiple locations
Finalists: Weaver Street Market, Elmo’s Diner, Bean Traders
