Best Ad Agency in the Triangle: Aubrey’s Marketing Services
Finalists: Abundant Marketing, Gather Group & Co., New Start Impressions
Best Architect / Architecture Studio in the Triangle: Sophie Piesse Architect, PA
302 West Weaver Street, Suite F, Carrboro, sophiepiesse.com
Finalists: The End Vision Visual Design Group, Jim Spencer Architects, PA, Linton Architects
Best Art / Craft Supply Store in the Triangle: The Scrap Exchange
2050 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, scrapexchange.org
Finalists: Freeman’s Creative, Hillsborough Yarn Shop, Jerry’s Artarama of Raleigh
Best Attorney in the Triangle: Arnette Law Offices, PLLC
Finalists: Ben Hiltzheimer, Chris Mann, Miller Law Group
Best Auto Repair in Durham County: Wasp Automotive
4906 Meadow Drive, Durham, waspauto.com
Finalists: Ingold Tire & Auto Service Center, Massey Brothers Automotive, Northgate Auto Service
Best Auto Repair in Orange / Chatham County: Chapel Hill Tire
203 West Main Street, Carrboro, chapelhilltire.com
Finalists: Auto Logic, Chapel Hill Tire (formerly Auto Pro to Call), Sturdivant’s Tire Pros & Auto
Best Auto Repair in Wake County: Fuquay Tire & Automotive Center
108 East Academy Street, Fuquay-Varina, fuquaytireandauto.com
Finalists: A & J Automotive Inc., Chapel Hill Tire (formerly Atlantic Avenue Tire & Service), Johnson Auto Body Inc.
Best Bed & Breakfast in the Triangle: The Carolina Inn
211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, carolinainn.com
Finalists: Arrowhead Inn Bed and Breakfast, Guest House Raleigh, The King’s Daughters Inn
Best Bike Shop in Durham County: Durham Cycles
756 Ninth Street, Durham, durhamcycles.com
Finalists: Bicycle Chain (Durham), Bullseye Bicycle, Seven Stars Cycles
Best Bike Shop in Orange / Chatham County: Back Alley Bikes
100 Boyd Street, Carrboro, backalleybikes.net
Finalists: The Clean Machine, ReCYCLEry NC
Best Bike Shop in Wake County: Oak City Cycling Project
212 East Franklin Street, Raleigh, oakcitycycling.com
Finalists: Bicycle Chain (Raleigh), Cycle Logic, TLC for Bikes
Best Bookstore in the Triangle: Quail Ridge Books
4209 Lassiter Mill Road, #100, Raleigh, quailridgebooks.com
INDY: In October, this quirky, inviting book store will celebrate thirty-five years, and it’s still going strong. On its shelves, style meets substance: Customers can browse the extensive Southern fiction and nonfiction collections and crack open a new release under the elegant chandeliers while kids cozy up with a picture book beneath the leaves of an indoor tree surrounded by fuzzy cloud lights. The shop also regularly hosts local and national writers, including, recently, the poet Ocean Vuong and the Pulitzer-prize winning historian Rick Atkinson.
Finalists: Dog-Eared Books, Flyleaf Books, The Regulator Bookshop
Best Butcher Shop in the Triangle: The Butcher’s Market
5045 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, thebutchersmarkets.com
Finalists: Cliff’s Meat Market, Kings Red & White, Left Bank Butchery
Best Caterer in the Triangle: Catering Works Inc.
2319 Laurelbrook Street, Raleigh, cateringworks.com
Finalists: Neomonde Mediterranean, Old North State Catering, Rocky Top Catering
Best CD / Record Store in the Triangle: Schoolkids Records
2237 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, schoolkidsrecords.com
Finalists: Chaz’s Bull City Records, Hunky Dory, Nice Price Books& Records
Best Children’s Clothing Shop in the Triangle: Beanstalk—Because They Grow So Fast
3400 Westgate Drive, #13A, Durham, beanstalkrdu.com
Finalists: Glee Kids, Little Details, Tiny
Best Comic Book Store in the Triangle: Ultimate Comics Durham/Chapel Hill
6120 Farrington Road, Chapel Hill, ultimatecomics.com
INDY: Thief smash puny display cases! That’s what happened a year ago at all three of Ultimate Comics’ locations, in Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. It’s the favored shop of criminals because of its curated selection of rare comics and pricey toys, but it’s the favored shop of respectable citizens because of its welcoming staff and vibrant culture (it also puts on NC Comicon twice a year, in Raleigh and Durham). Atomic Empire is the joint for games, but when it comes to comics collecting and culture, make ours Ultimate.
Finalists: Atomic Empire, Capitol Comics II, Fight or Flight Comics
Best Consignment Shop in Durham County: Pennies for Change Thrift Boutique
2715 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, facebook.com/PenniesforChangeThriftStore
Finalists: Beanstalk—Because They Grow So Fast, Fifi’s Fine Resale Apparel, Gibson Girl Vintage
Best Consignment Shop in Orange / Chatham County: Clothes Mentor (Chapel Hill)
241 South Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, clothesmentor.com/chapel-hill
Finalists: My Secret Closet, Rumors
Best Consignment Shop in Wake County: Fifi’s of Cameron Village
2028 Cameron Street, Raleigh, fifisfineresale.com
Finalists: Petersons’ Consigning Design, Raleigh Furniture Gallery, Revolver Consignment Boutique
Best Contractor in Durham County: Actual Size Builders Inc.
Finalists: CQC Durham, Grey Star Woodworks & Design LLC, Little Corner Construction
Best Contractor in Orange / Chatham County: Actual Size Builders Inc.
Finalists: Grey Star Woodworks& Design LLC, Little Corner Construction, Will Johnson Building Company
Best Contractor in Wake County: Big Monkey Renovation & Repair
Finalists: Tri City Maintenance, Razon Contracting, Little Corner Construction
Best Dance Studio in the Triangle: CC & Co. Dance Complex
8863 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, cccodance.com
Finalists: Arts Together Inc., Barriskill Dance Theatre School, Renner Dance
Best Early Childhood Learning Facility in Durham County: Nido: Coworking + Childcare
902 Broad Street, Durham, nidocoworking.org
Finalists: Children’s Campus at Southpoint, Harvest Learning Center
Best Early Childhood Learning Facility in Orange / Chatham County: Learning Outside
2912 Jones Ferry Road, Suite B, Chapel Hill, learningoutside.org
Finalists: Casa Club Spanish Immersion Preschool, Children’s Campus of Chapel Hill, Emerson Waldorf School, The Goddard School of Chapel Hill
Best Early Childhood Learning Facility in Wake County: Knightdale Station Preschool
710 Lightrail Drive, Knightdale, knightdalestationpreschool.com
Finalists: Arts Together Inc., Little by Little, Temple Beth Or Preschool
Best Electrician in the Triangle: Bonneville Electric
210 Maple Avenue, Suite B, Carrboro, bonneville-electric.com
Finalists: Braco Electric Company, Electric Jake, Michael & Son Services
Best Environmentally Friendly Business in the Triangle: The Scrap Exchange
2050 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, scrapexchange.org
Finalists: CompostNow, TROSAThrift Store and Donation Center, Ungraded Produce
Best Erotic Gifts in the Triangle: Cherry Pie
1819 Fordham Boulevard, Chapel Hill, cherrypieonline.com
INDY: This ain’t Walmart for vibrators. Cherry Pie is a locally owned love shack for all of your bedroom needs. You’ll find a wide array of lingerie, lube, toys, and novelty items, and no kink-shaming. Into BDSM? Get your freak on. Looking for some adult entertainment? Porn galore. And it’s also accessible to adult store virgins. As a sales associate describes it: “We’re pretty entry-level.”
Finalists: Adam & Eve, Frisky Business Boutique
Best Ethnic Market in the Triangle: Li Ming’s Global Market
3400 Westgate Drive, Durham
Finalists: CapriFlavors, H Mart Cary, Mediterranean Deli, Neomonde Mediterranean
Best Event Planner in the Triangle: The Details Events
Finalists: Cherished Occasions Production, Magnolia and Grace Events, Myss January Events
Best Fabric Store in the Triangle: Cary Quilting Company
935 North Harrison Avenue, Cary, caryquilting.com
Finalists: Freeman’s Creative, Mill Outlet Village, MulberrySilks & Fine Fabrics
Best Florist in the Triangle: Pine State Flowers
2001 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, pinestateflowers.com
Finalists: The English Garden, Fallon’s Flowers, Ninth Street Flowers
Best Furniture Store in the Triangle: TROSA Thrift Store and Donation Center
3500 North Roxboro Street, Durham, trosathriftstore.org
INDY: TROSA is like the Six Flags of thrift stories—it’s cavernous and brimming with things, and after spending more than five minutes inside, you’re likely to lose some sense of time and space. The inventory is exhaustive. Need an assortment of vases? Check. Need electronics or a weirdly sized table for that one weirdly-sized spot in the living room? Check. Need a reasonably priced sectional couch? Check (and they’ll deliver it, too). It’s sort of staggering how one store can check so many boxes and fill so many nooks and crannies in your house, but TROSA—which is staffed by folks in TROSA’s nonprofit rehabilitative program—takes the cake.
Finalists: Discount Furniture of the Carolinas, Petersons’ Consigning Design, Raleigh Furniture Gallery
Best Garden Store in the Triangle: Logan’s One Stop Garden Shop
707 Semart Drive, Raleigh, logantrd.com
Finalists: Durham Garden Center, Homewood Nursery & Garden Center, Stone Brothers & Byrd
Best Gift Shop in Durham County: Morgan Imports
113 South Gregson Street, Durham, morganimports.com
Finalists: One World Market, Parker and Otis, Vaguely Reminiscent
Best Gift Shop in Orange / Chatham County: Womancraft Gifts
360 East Main Street, Carrboro, womancraftgifts.squarespace.com
Finalists: Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, SallyMack, This & That Gift Gallery
Best Gift Shop in Wake County: Deco Raleigh
207 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, decoraleigh.com
Finalists: The Green Monkey, NOFO @ the Pig, Petersons’ Consigning Design
Best Handyman / Woman in the Triangle: Grey Star Woodworks & Design LLC
Finalists: Big Monkey Renovation, James of All Trades, Razon Contracting, Shayne Kilpatrick
Best Hardware Store in the Triangle: Fitch Lumber& Hardware
309 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro, facebook.com/fitchlumber
Finalists: Burke Brothers Hardware, Seaboard ACE Hardware, Triangle Ace Hardware
Best Hotel in the Triangle: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary, theumstead.com
Finalists: 21c Museum Hotel Durham, The Durham Hotel, The Franklin Hotel Chapel Hill, Unscripted Durham
Best House Cleaners in Durham County: Best Clean Ever
1631 Midtown Place, #103, Raleigh
Finalists: Carpe Diem Cleaning, Enovana Green Cleaning, Tangerine Clean
Best House Cleaners in Orange / Chatham County: Carpe Diem Cleaning
Finalists: Lucie’s Home Services, Southern Hospitality Cleaning& Concierge, Tangerine Clean
Best House Cleaners in Wake County: West Domestic
305 South Salem Street, Apex, westdomestic.com
Finalists: Enovana Green Cleaning, Go-2-Girls, Raleigh Cleaning Company
Best House Painter in the Triangle: Zarazua Painting
Finalists: Anderson Painting, Bryant Froeschle, Jason Johns Specialty Paint
Best HVAC Company in the Triangle: Newcomb and Company
3000 Comfort Court, Raleigh, newcombandcompany.com
INDY: Nothing feels better than a cool breeze blowing through your vents on a ninety-degree day—and nothing feels worse than when it’s replaced by stagnant, hot, stale air. Locals say the responsive pros at Newcomb and Company can solve HVAC problems faster than you can dab the sweat from the brow.
Finalists: 6 & Fix Heating & Cooling, Boer Brothers Heating & Cooling, Michael & Son Services
Best Insurance Agent in the Triangle: Amanda Hagood, State Farm
Finalists: Blake Edwards, Christine Walorz, Christopher Domingo
Best Jewelry Store in Durham County: Jewelsmith Inc.
2200 West Main Street, Suite A, Durham, jewelsmith.com
Finalists: Atelier N Fine Jewelry, Hamilton Hill Jewelry, John David Jewelers
Best Jewelry Store in Orange / Chatham County: William Travis Jewelry
201 South Estes Drive, #400D, Chapel Hill, williamtravisjewelry.com
Finalists: Creative Metalsmiths, Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, Melissa Designer Jewelry, Womancraft Gifts
Best Jewelry Store in Wake County: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
415 Daniels Street, Raleigh, baileybox.com
Finalists: HTY Jewelry, Katie Callahan & Co., Petersons’ Consigning Design
Best Landscape Company in the Triangle: TROSA Lawn Care
1100 Neville Street, Durham, trosalawncare.com
Finalists: Bountiful Backyards, Central Carolina Lawn and Landscape, KP’s Lawncare and Landscaping
Best Local Brand in the Triangle: House of Swank Clothing
119 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, houseofswankclothing.com
Finalists: Humility Clothing, Munjo Munjo, RUNAWAY (closed)
Best Moving Company in the Triangle: TROSA Moving
700 Mallard Avenue, Durham, trosamoving.com
Finalists: All American Relocation, Crabtree Family Moving, Two Men and a Truck
Best Music Lessons in the Triangle: High Strung School of Music
1805 West Markham Avenue, Durham, highstrungdurham.com/school
Finalists: The Musicians Learning Center; Katherine Posner, Vocal Studio; Matt Stutzman, American Home Studio
Best New Business in Durham County: Boxcar Bar & Arcade
621 Foster Street, Durham, theboxcarbar.com/durham
Finalists: Barley Labs, Emerald Medicine Company, Gibson Girl Vintage
Best New Business in Orange / Chatham County: Cat Tales Cat Café
431 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, cattalescatcafe.com
INDY: Whether you want to get your cat yoga on or you just want to drink a craft beer and pet a cat, Cat Tales Cat Cafe is your one-stop shop for all your favorite feline fixes—including adoption. In partnership with the Goathouse Refuge in Pittsboro, Cat Tales gets its well-socialized and housebroken kitties from the good folks who foster from the Goathouse. On Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, Cat Tales’ two-story glass-walled building is pure paradise for the twelve cuddly creatures who dwell there at a time, awaiting your pets—and maybe even a new place to call home. No purrrressure, of course
Finalists: House of Hops, Samantha’s Pupusas, Ungraded Produce
Best New Business in Wake County: Black Dog Bottle Shop
140 West Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs, blackdogbottleshop.com
Finalists: Just 4 Dogs Mobile Dog Treats, Pine State Coffee, Trellis Beauty
Best Nonprofit in Durham County: TROSA
1820 James Street, Durham, trosainc.org
Finalists: Animal Protection Society of Durham, Beyond Fences, Hope Animal Rescue
Best Nonprofit in Orange / Chatham County: Orange County Rape Crisis Center
1506 East Franklin Street, #200, Chapel Hill, ocrcc.org
Finalists: Carolina Tiger Rescue, ISLA, TABLE
Best Nonprofit in Wake County: Cause for Paws
INDY: This nonprofit takes a multifaceted approach to rescuing abandoned and unwanted pets from euthanasia, from raising money through thrift stores and pet supply drives to fostering homeless pups. If you’re looking to add a furry friend to the family, you’ll have your pick of the litter. Sign up for CFP’s newsletter, Wet Nose News, for updates on local events and the cutest new rescues.
Finalists: Healing Transitions, Military Missions in Action, Urban Ministries of Wake County
Best Pet Boarding in Durham County: Camp Bow Wow (North Durham)
4310 Bennett Memorial Road, Durham, campbowwow.com/north-durham
Finalists: Creature Comforts Inn, Suite Paws Pet Resort & Spa, Sunny Acres Pet Resort
Best Pet Boarding in Orange / Chatham County: Green Beagle Lodge
6805 Millhouse Road, Chapel Hill, greenbeaglelodge.com
Finalists: Chapel Hill Pet Resort, Doggie Spa & Day Care, Top Dog Training and Resort
Best Pet Boarding in Wake County: Dog Holiday Resort
830 Purser Drive, Suite L, Raleigh, dogholidayresort.com
Finalists: Dogtopia of North Raleigh, PetSound Daycare and Boarding, Suite Paws Pet Resort & Spa
Best Pet Groomer in Durham County: Elliotte’s Pet Spa and Grooming Salon
2005 North Pointe Drive, #1B, Durham, elliottespetspa.com
INDY: If your puppy spends more money at the salon than you do but has yet to indulge at Elliotte’s Pet Spa and Grooming Salon, she’s missing out! The welcoming, supportive staff at this decadent Durham day spa can soothe the most anxious of your furry friends, as Elliotte’s skilled technicians specialize in customer service and bedside manner. Whether it’s a classic bath and regular grooming or a deluxe pawdicure, you can customize your dog’s (or cat’s, if your cat somehow tolerates grooming) spa treatments to suit their fancy, helping them detox, destress, and decompress from their very demanding lives.
Finalists: Beth’s Barks N Bubbles, Pam’s Paw Prints, The Pampered Pooch
Best Pet Groomer in Orange / Chatham County: Top Dog Training & Resort’s Emily Harris
Finalists: Dogs Paw Mobile Grooming’s Fiona; Green Beagle Lodge; Hair of the Dog Grooming Studio
Best Pet Groomer in Wake County: Dogtopia of North Raleigh’s Angie
4708 Hargrove Road, Raleigh, dogtopia.com/north-raleigh
Finalists: City Pet Grooming, Dog Holiday Resort, Top Notch Pet Spa
Best Pet Specialty Store in the Triangle: Phydeaux
400 South Elliott Road, Suite A1, Chapel Hill, phydeaux.com
Finalists: Oliver’s Collar DogTreat Bakery & Boutique, Other End of the Leash Pet Boutique & Bakery, Unleashed at Lake Boone Shopping Center
Best Pet-sitting Service in Durham County: Kate’s Critter Care
Finalists: A Whole Lotta Love Pet Sitting, Bull City Pet Sitting, Rachel McNeil
Best Pet-sitting Service in Orange / Chatham County: Kate’s Critter Care
Finalists: Laughing Dog Pet Care, Rachel McNeil, Walk & Wag
Best Pet-sitting Service in Wake County: FURbaby Pet Sitters
INDY: The second you lock the front door, you hate to think your precious Mr. Fluffers is anxious and alone. FURbaby Pet Sitters ensures this won’t be the case. In addition to dogs and cats, they have experience accommodating special-needs pets as well as chickens, hedgehogs, parrots, hamsters, and guinea pigs. These sitters also know how anxious pet parents can be, so they’ll send you pictures and videos while you’re away to calm your nerves.
Finalists: All Breed Care, Dog Holiday Resort, LindsLove
Best Place to Adopt a Pet in the Triangle: Saving Grace NC
Wake Forest, savinggracenc.org
INDY: You know better than to buy a dog from a puppy mill, right? A reputable, independent breeder, perhaps—if you’re set on a certain breed, and if they can demonstrate that the puppies have been bred responsibly. But never, ever one of those places that breeds by the hundreds and ships the pups out to pet stores. OK, end rant. Now that we know you want to be a decent human being who would like to adopt a dog while not feeding a garbage industry, let’s look at your options: You could go to the shelter—and our local shelters always need more people willing to adopt. But maybe you’re skittish about what that shelter dog will be like once she gets home—whether she’ll be healthy and happy, whether she’ll get along with your kids or your other dogs or your cat, whether she’ll tear up your sofa or poo all over your rug. This is where Saving Grace comes in. A Wake Forest-based nonprofit, it does the pre-adoption work for you: It rescues dogs mostly from animal control facilities in impoverished rural areas in North Carolina, gives them vet care, vaccines, and parasite treatment, and trains and socializes them before putting them up for adoption. No guarantees, of course—some issues don’t manifest right away—but adopting from Saving Grace means you’ll have a better sense of what kind of furry child you’re bringing home. (Also: The INDY already has two assistant editor dogs, but if we were in the market, holy cow is Noob the retriever puppy adorbs.)
Finalists: Best Friend Pet Adoption, Hope Animal Rescue, Love Mutts Rescue, Triangle Beagle Rescue
Best Place to Buy Locally Made Art in Durham County: The Patchwork Market
Finalists: The Artisan Market at 305, Durham Craft Market, Pleiades Arts
Best Place to Buy Locally Made Art in Orange / Chatham County: Womancraft Gifts
360 East Main Street, Carrboro, womancraftgifts.squarespace.com
Finalists: FRANK Gallery, Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, The Joyful Jewel
Best Place to Buy Locally Made Art in Wake County: Cedar Creek Gallery
1150 Fleming Road, Creedmoor, cedarcreekgallery.com
Finalists: Artspace, Pop-Up Raleigh, Raleigh Night Market
Best Place to Buy Musical Instruments in the Triangle: High Strung Violins & Guitars
1803 West Markham Avenue, Durham, highstrungdurham.com
INDY: If you need an electric ax, look elsewhere: Locally owned standby High Strung traffics in acoustic guitars, ukuleles, violins, and cellos, and that’s pretty much it. There’s nowhere better for your unamplified string purchase, repair, and rental needs, thanks to the ramshackle charm of the space and the helpful, knowledgeable staff. Of course, you can also dip in for all your impromptu pick, string winder, and other-odds-and-ends needs, and if you get really serious, there’s an affiliated music school onsite. Whatever it lacks in the convenience of a big-box or online retailer, it more than makes up for with the human touch and the chance for discovery.
Finalists: American Home Studio, Sam Ash Music Stores, Twin House Music
Best Plumber in the Triangle: Midtown Plumbing
3029 Stony Brook Drive, #111, midtownplumbingllc.com
Finalists: Carrboro Plumbing, Leak Locators, Michael & Son Services
Best Realtor Group in the Triangle: The Abshure Realty Group
201 South Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, theabshurerealtygroup.com
Finalists: DeRonja Real Estate, DuBois Property Group, ERA Dream Living Realty
Best Realtor in Durham County: Lisa Ellis
Finalists: RED Collective’s Alison Domnas, Justin Burleson, Kenny Coates
Best Realtor in Orange / Chatham County: Martha Newport
Finalists: Justin Burleson, Virginia Sloop, Octavius “O” Smiley-Humphries, Hope Tyler
Best Realtor in Wake County: Tracy Watson
Finalists: Justin Burleson, Samantha Gradle, Lynette Mittendorf
Best Retail Beer Selection in Durham County: Sam’s Bottle Shop
1112 N.C. Highway 54, Durham, samsbottleshop.com
Finalists: Beer Durham, Beer Study, The Glass Jug Beer Lab
Best Retail Beer Selection in Orange / Chatham County: Beer Study
106 North Graham Street, Chapel Hill, beerstudy.com
Finalists: Bottle Rev (Chapel Hill), House of Hops, Weaver Street Market
Best Retail Beer Selection in Wake County: Tasty Beverage Company
327 West Davie Street, #106, Raleigh, tastybeverageco.com/raleigh
Finalists: Cellar 55, The Green Monkey, Peace Street Market, Pelagic Beer and Wine
Best Retirement Community in the Triangle: Carol Woods Retirement Community
750 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill
Finalists: Cambridge Village of Apex, Carolina Meadows, Croasdaile Village, The Oaks at Whitaker Glen
Best Roofing Company in the Triangle: Baker Roofing Company
517 Mercury Street, Raleigh, bakerroofing.com/raleigh
Finalists: Avilez Roofing, Joe Ray’s Inc., Roofwerks Inc., Walker Brown Roofing
Best Running Store in the Triangle: Bull City Running Co.
202 West N.C. Highway 54, #109, Durham, bullcityrunning.com
Finalists: Fleet Feet Raleigh, Run-N-Tri Outfitters, Runologie
Best Salvage / Reuse Business in the Triangle: The Scrap Exchange
2050 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, scrapexchange.org
Finalists: CompostNow, Habitat ReStore Durham-Chapel Hill, TROSA Thrift Store and Donation Center
Best Store to Buy Eyeglasses in the Triangle: Upchurch Optical Center
Riverview Shopping Center, 5108 North Roxboro Street, Durham, upchurchoptical.com
Finalists: Specs Eye Care, The Spectacle, Warby Parker
Best Toy Store in the Triangle: Ali Cat Toys
200 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro, alicattoysandbooks.com
Finalists: Crowemag Toys, Learning Express Toys & Gifts, Science Safari Inc., Tiny
Best Summer Camp in Durham County: Schoolhouse of Wonder
2634 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, #220, Durham, schoolhouseofwonder.org
Finalists: Camp Shelanu at the Levin JCC, Chapel Hill Quest Martial Arts, Duke Lemur Center
Best Summer Camp in Orange / Chatham County: Carolina Friends School
4809 Friends School Road, Durham, cfsnc.org
Finalists: Chapel Hill QuestMartial Arts, Immersion Island, Learning Outside
Best Summer Camp in Wake County: Raleigh Little Theatre
301 Pogue Street, Raleigh, raleighlittletheatre.org
Finalists: Arts Together, Lux Performance Arts, Schoolhouse of Wonder
Best Tailor in the Triangle: Lee’s Tailor
6910 Fayetteville Road, #188, Durham, tailorsdurham.com
Lee’s Tailor Shop
5535 Western Blvd #201, Raleigh, leetailorshop.com
Finalists: Alterations by Christina, Anna’s Tailor and Alterations, Glenwood South Tailors Alterations
Best Tattoo Studio in the Triangle: Dogstar Tattoo Company
807 East Main Street, Durham, facebook.com/DogstarTattooCompany
INDY: You turn eighteen, so you want your first tattoo. Being eighteen, you want it to be massive—a giant forearm illustration of a faceless, cross-legged woman surrounded by flowers, vines, birds, and butterflies. But when you show up to Dogstar, you get cold feet: Do you really want that inked on your forearm the rest of your life? But the tattoo artist understands. He talks you through it. He draws up an alternative—a simple outline of a rose—and makes sure you’re at ease before he starts needling it into your arm. In the years since, you’ve been inked at studios all over the country, but Dogstar is your first love, not just because of that one experience, but because it’s the most sanitary and accommodating place you’ve visited. And also because you’d be hard-pressed to find crisper lines, smoother shading, or bolder colors anywhere in the Triangle.
Finalists: Conspiracy Ink Tattoos, Raleigh Tattoo Company, Sacred Mandala Studio
Best Veterinary Practice in Durham County: Southpoint Animal Hospital
5601 Fayetteville Road, Durham, southpointpets.com
Finalists: Carver Street Animal Hospital, North Paw Animal Hospital, Willow Oak Veterinary Hospital
Best Veterinary Practice in Orange / Chatham County: Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic
104 N.C. Highway 54, Suite M, Carrboro, carrboroplazavet.com
Finalists: Cats Love Housecalls’ Dr. Barbara Kirch, Cole Park Veterinary Hospital, Piedmont Veterinary Clinic
Best Veterinary Practice in Wake County: Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital
10009 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, bayleafvetraleigh.com
Finalists: Care First Animal Hospital at Glenwood, Hayes Barton Animal Hospital, Magnolia Animal Hospital
Best Vintage / Antique Store in the Triangle: Father & Son Antiques
302 South West Street, Raleigh, instagram.com/fatherandsonraleigh
INDY: There are antique stores, and then there’s Father & Sons, which just last year moved into the burgeoning Warehouse District. You’ll find loads of mid-century modern furniture, vintage clothing (think fifties bomber jackets, seventies wide-leg floral jumpsuits, original Farrah Fawcett t-shirts), antiques, oddities, artwork, vinyl, record players, even a sixties-style brutalist chandelier. It’s the kind of place you spend hours in without realizing you’ve been there for hours—and the kind of place where you wish your paycheck had an extra zero so you could buy everything you wanted, because you want it all.
Finalists: Dolly’s Vintage, Petersons’ Consigning Design, Raleigh Furniture Gallery
Best Wedding Planner in the Triangle: A Southern Soiree
Finalists: Cherished Occasions Production, Lillian Suarez Weddings& Events, Magnolia and Grace Events
Best Wine Shop in Durham County: Wine Authorities
2501 University Drive, Durham, wineauthorities.com
Finalists: Durham Co-op Market, Ramblers, The Wine Feed
Best Wine Shop in Orange / Chatham County: Southern Season
201 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, southernseason.com
Finalists: Chapel Hill Wine Co., Hillsborough Wine Co., winestore. Chapel Hill
Best Wine Shop in Wake County: Cellar 55
1351 East Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina, cellar55nc.com
Finalists: Short Walk Wines, The Raleigh Wine Shop, Wine Authorities
Best Women’s Boutique in Durham County: Vaguely Reminiscent
728 Ninth Street, Durham, facebook.com/vaguelyreminiscent
Finalists: Fifi’s Fine Resale Apparel, Smitten Boutique, Vert & Vogue
Best Women’s Boutique in Orange / Chatham County: Sofia’s
200 North Greensboro Street, Suite B3, Carrboro, sofiasboutique.us
Finalists: Clothes Mentor Chapel Hill, Lark Home Apparel, Whilden, Womancraft Gifts
Best Women’s Boutique in Wake County: Possibilities Boutique
1247 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, possibilitiesboutique.com
Finalists: Fifi’s of Cameron Village, Little Details, Petersons’ Consigning Design
Best Yarn Store in the Triangle: Great Yarns
1208 Ridge Road, Raleigh, greatyarns.net
Finalists: Freeman’s Creative, Hillsborough Yarn Shop, Warm ‘n’ Fuzzy
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