Charlotte Magazine - January 2016

In this issue

Our best restaurants issue is always one of the most popular issues we do. This one is sure to blow you away. For the first time, we expanded our list to 50 restaurants to help show the growth and development of Charlotte's food scene. Then we did one better: We ranked all 50. Led by food editor Kristen Wile, a team of eight writers explored Charlotte's restaurants throughout the year. They ate. They ate. And they ate some more. And then they argued and agonized over where each restaurant should be ranked. This list is the culmination of their efforts, and it will serve as the definitive food guide to the city for anyone who lives here.
Also, this month, we dive into the identity crisis of the neighborhood around Park Road Shopping Center. Everyone wants to know: What will they name the neighborhood? We take a look at the list of options. We also have this year's list of wackiest, wildest stories in our 2015 Cracked Crown awards; and educator James Ford writes an impassioned plea to reconsider the way we assign students to schools.