The Best of Charlotte 2008

Local newspaper Creative Loafing has published its 21st edition of "Best of Charlotte 2008" in the categories of City Life, Media, Consumer Culture, Arts & Leisure, Food & Drink and After Hours.

Some of the Readers' 2008 favorites:

LOCAL HERO Mayor Pat McCrory
LOCAL ZERO Nick Mackey
BEST LOCAL CHARITY Habitat for Humanity
BEST NEW SLOGAN FOR CHARLOTTE “Bank On Us”
BEST MEMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Mayor Pat McCrory
WORST MEMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Mayor Pat McCrory
PUBLIC OFFICIAL MOST IN NEED OF TASERING County Commissioner Bill James
BEST USE OF TAX MONEY Light Rail
BIGGEST WASTE OF TAX MONEY Uptown Sports Arenas
BEST LOCAL ATHLETE Carolina Panther Steve Smith
BEST NEWCOMER TO THE CHARLOTTE SCENE Charlotte Roller Girls
BEST THING TO SHOW OFF TO OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS U.S. Natl Whitewater Center
BEST NEW BUILDING/ATTRACTION EpiCentre
MOST MISSED OLD BUILDING Charlotte Coliseum
WORST EYESORE The Arlington (aka “The Pink Building”)
BEST HOTEL The Westin
BEST MUSEUM The Mint Museum of Art
BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN CHARLOTTE Plaza Midwood
BEST PRE-GAME HANGOUT DOWNTOWN Fox and Hound Smokehouse & Tavern
WORST INTERSECTION Trade and Tryon streets
BEST FESTIVAL Festival in the Park
BEST PLACE FOR OUTDOOR EXERCISE Freedom Park
BEST PLACE TO GET BACK TO NATURE U.S. Natl Whitewater Center
BEST PLACE TO PEOPLE-WATCH SouthPark Mall
BEST GOLF COURSE Quail Hollow Country Club