Our View: Hip - hip - hooray! Let’s all celebrate the Best of Charleston

At the Charleston City Paper, that means honoring more than 450 people, places, institutions and businesses around the region that tens of thousands of voters picked in hundreds of thousands of votes in our annual readers’ context.

Winners are highlighted in a special 144-page section of today’s newspaper. We encourage you to pick it up and keep it for the next year to help you decide on everything from where to find a great cocktail to a new restaurant to a new pet trainer. The issue also includes mini-profiles of more than 50 winners from longtime champs to folks and businesses that may be new to you.

Explore them to get better connected to what’s going on throughout the Charleston community.

Among this year’s winners were the familiar, such as Charleston Animal Society, Halls Chophouse, Guilty Pleasures, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, Home Team Barbecue, Holy City Brewing and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn.

But some new categories and winners might be the most fun. WCBD meteorologist Rob Fowler was named best weatherman and do-gooder, but also took home what may be the Charleston area’s most coveted new award: Best Charlestonian who is not Bill Murray or Darius Rucker! (Both of those guys won a lot in the past, so we thought we’d mix it up a little.) Also look for these winners, many new, some familiar:

Best Bathroom: Lobby of The Charleston Place
Best Sunset Spot: Folly Beach
Best New Restaurant: Sorelle
Best Cheap Meal: Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano
Best Local Author: Jonathan “Mookie” Morant
Best Local TV Anchor: Ann McGill, WCSC-TV
Best Drag Queen: Patti O’Furniture
Best Lawyer: Mark Peper
Best New Bar: Pinky & Clyde’s Arcade Bar
Best Florist: Roadside Blooms
To see a list and descriptions of all winners, pick up our special section or go online to charlestoncitypaper.com.

Finally, we surely can’t forget to mention the sponsors and friends who helped to put on a rocking winners’ celebration Wednesday night as the City Paper took over part of Citadel Mall in a tribute to late ’80s mall life. A special nod goes to Dr. Patrick O’Neill, honored as the best plastic surgeon. His company, O’Neill Plastic Surgery, served as premier sponsor of the annual event.

Thanks to everyone who voted in the Best of Charleston 2024 contest. The 2025 edition is just around the corner!