Best CD/record store
Schoolkids Records
144 E Franklin St Chapel Hill, 929-7766
2712-100 Hillsborough St Raleigh, 821-7766
www.schoolkidsrecords.com
Finalists: Best Buy, CD Alley
Best local bookstore
The Regulator Bookshop
720 Ninth St Durham, 286-2700, www.regbook.com
Finalists: Barnes & Noble, Quail Ridge Books & Music
Best local women’s boutique
Uniquities
452 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 933-4007
450 Daniels St Raleigh, 832-1234
4120 Main at North Hills Raleigh, 785-3385
www.uniquities.com
Finalists: Gena Chandler, Scout & Molly’s
Best men’s clothing
NV
The Alexan at North Hills 4209-134 Lassiter Mill Rd Raleigh, 787-3038, nvclothes.com
Finalists: Men’s Wearhouse, Nordstrom
Best place for kick-ass shoes
Firefly
605 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, 821-4536, www.fireflync.com
Finalists: DSW, Nordstrom
Best vintage/used clothing store
Time After Time
414 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 942-2304
Finalists: The Electric Blender, Father & Son
Best place to find used treasures
NC State Fairgrounds Flea Market
1025 Blue Ridge Rd Raleigh, 829-3533, www.ncstatefair.org/Fleamarket.htm
Finalists: Father & Son, Goodwill
Best hair salon(salon and/or stylist)
Moshi Moshi
416 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 933-1272, www.moshimoshimeanshello.com
Finalists: Cherrybomb, Mina’s Studio, Syd’s Hair Shop
Best day spa
Iatria
8020 Creedmoor Road Raleigh, 870-1975
13200 New Falls of the Neuse Rd, Suite 113 Raleigh, 488-7050
2058 Renaissance Park Pl Suite 200 Cary, 870-6114
Two Progress Plaza 150 E Davie St Raleigh, 841-0043
www.iatria.com
Finalists: Jolie, Skin Sense
Best local place to buy a wedding gift
Belk
www.belk.com
Finalists: Nested, A Southern Season
Best jewelry store
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
415 Daniels St Cameron Village Raleigh, 829-7337, www.baileysfinejewelry.com
Finalists: Jared, Jolly’s Jewelers
Best local hardware store
Finalists: Burke Brothers Hardware, Lowe’s
Best magazine/newspaper selection
Barnes & Noble
www.barnesandnoble.com
Finalists: Borders, VisArt Video
Best kids’ toy store
Toys R Us
www.toysrus.com
Finalists: Learning Express, Tookie’s Toys
Best place to work out (gym/health club)
Peak Fitness
www.peakfitnessclubs.com
Finalists: Gold’s Gym, YMCA
Best camera/video store
Wolf Camera
www.wolfcamera.com
Finalists: Peace Camera, Southeastern Camera
Best hotel
Sheraton
www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton
Finalists: The Carolina Inn, The Umstead
Best place to buy music gear
Music Loft
116 W Main St Carrboro, 968-4411
1900 W Markham Ave Durham, 286-9539
www.carrloft.net
Finalists: Guitar Center, Harry’s Guitar Shop
Best place to buy candy
A Southern Season
201 S Estes Dr University Mall Chapel Hill, 929-7133, www.southernseason.com
Finalists: The Fresh Market, Target
Best retail cheese selection
Whole Foods Market
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Finalists: Fresh Market, A Southern Season
Best retail wine selection
Total Wine
www.totalwine.com
Finalists: Seaboard Wine Warehouse, A Southern Season
Best retail beer selection
Peace Street Market
804 W Peace St Raleigh, 834-7070
Finalists: Harris Teeter, Total Wine
Best bike shop
The Clean Machine
104 W Main St Carrboro, 967-5104, www.thecleanmachine.com
Finalists: The Bicycle Chain, Performance Bicycle
Best place to buy sex toys
Cherry Pie
1819 Fordham Blvd Chapel Hill, 928-0499, www.cherrypieonline.com
Finalists: Adam & Eve, Priscilla’s
Best outdoor outfitters
REI
255 Crossroads Blvd Cary, 233-8444
6911 Fayetteville Rd Durham, 806-3442
4291 The Circle at North Hills Raleigh, 571-5031
www.rei.com
Finalists: Great Outdoor Provision Co., Townsend Bertram & Company
Best tattoo studio (studio and/or artist)
Blue Flame
3015 Hillsborough St Raleigh, 755-3355, www.blueflametattoo.com
Finalists: Dogstar, Warlock’s
Best comic book store
Chapel Hill Comics
412 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 967-4439, www.chapelhillcomics.com
Finalists: Capitol Comics, Ultimate Comics
Best doctor
Dr. Bruce “Goofus” Wilks, Carrboro Family Medicine
610 Jones Ferry Rd, Carrboro, 929-1747, www.carrborofamilymedicine.com
Finalists: Dr. Michael C. Sharp, Plum Spring Clinic; Dr. Lee Ann Bankaitis, Comprehensive Family Medicine
Best dentist
Dr. James Sarant
3713 Benson Dr Suite 102 Raleigh, 855-8600, www.strikingsmiles.com
Finalists: Dr. Jeff Kennedy, Dr. Rebecca Schmorr
Best chiropractor
Dr. Chas Gaertner, North Carolina Chiropractic
212 W Rosemary St Chapel Hill, 929-3552, www.ncchiropractic.net
Finalists: Dr. Brett Hightower, Health Space; Dr. Charles Hecht, Partners in Health & Wellness
Best real estate agent
Jayme Hicks, RE/MAX United
51 Kilmayne Dr Cary, 469-4700, www.jaymehicks.com
Finalists: Community Realty; Linda Lee, Linda Lee & Associates
Best veterinarian
The Animal Hospital of Carrboro
112 W Main St Carrboro, 967-9261, www.theanimalhospital.biz
Finalists: Oberlin Animal Hospital, Park Veterinary Hospital
Best auto mechanic
Chapel Hill Tire
502 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 967-7092
203 W Main St Carrboro, 967-7058
Cole Park Plaza Chapel Hill, 960-6001
www.chapelhilltire.com
Finalists: Al’s Garage, Auto Logic
Best radio DJ
Bob & the Showgram (+ Mike and Kristin), G105.1
3100 Smoketree Ct 7th Floor Raleigh, 878-1500 (main)/860-1051 (request/contest), www.bobandtheshowgram.com
Finalists: Bill and Sheri, Mix 101.5; Big Fat Sac, WKNC
Best radio station
WKNC 88.1 FM
NCSU Mail Center Box 8607 Raleigh, 515-2401 (business)/ 860-0881 (request)/ 515-2400 (request), www.wknc.org
Finalists: KISS 93.9 FM, WUNC Public Radio 91.5 FM
Best local television personality
Greg Fishel, WRAL
PO Box 12000 Raleigh, 821-8555, www.wral.com
Finalists: David Crabtree, WRAL; Larry Stogner, ABC 11
Best pet specialty store
Phydeaux
103 W Weaver St Carrboro, 960-3606, www.phydeauxpets.com
Finalists: Barnes Supply Co., Wag
Best garden store
Logan’s
707 Semart Dr Raleigh, 828-5337, www.logantrd.com
Finalists: Fifth Season Gardening Co., Southern States