Our readers' favorite schools, realtors, nonprofits, and more.
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Finalists: Pulley Media, McKinney, The Splinter Group
Finalists: Ellen Cassily Architect, ARX Design Company, Duda Paine
Cara Gibbons - Jackson Law
Finalists: Billie Guthrie; Kendall Page; Pennington Brienzi Law, PLLC
Finalists: Leith Cars, Sport Durst Automotive, Anchor Auto Outlet
Finalists: Chapel Hill Tire - Woodcroft, Wasp Automotive, Payne's Service Center
Finalists: AutoLogic, Elite Auto Repair, Automotion
Finalists: Bimmer Performance Center, 64 auto, Garner German Garage, Reliable Import Service
Finalists: Coastal Federal Credit Union, Self Help Credit Union, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Finalists: Heights House, Arrowhead Inn, Teardrop Inn Hillsborough, The Inn at Bingham School
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery & Catering
Finalists: The Travelling Cafe, Rocky Top Catering, Indulge Catering
Finalists: Breathe Studio, Fred Astaire Dance Studio - Apex, Empower Dance Studio, Barriskill Dance Theatre School
Finalists: Dog Training Camp USA, Red Earth Thunder, Callas Wanderlust
Finalists: Dog Training Camp USA, Red Earth Thunder, Durham Dog Training Center
Finalists: Haven Dog Training, Dog Training Camp USA, Red Earth ThunderBest
Finalists: Harvest Learning Center, Primary Colors, Children First
Finalists: Learning Outside, The Lupine School, Childcare Matters
From 1-year-olds to Kindergarten, Temple Beth Or provides classes that encourage trust, confidence, communication, and independence. Class sizes are no larger than eight students per teacher to foster a tight-knit environment where all students have the chance to get one-on-one, specialized attention from teachers. As students get older, they will play with art materials and toys, learn basic scissor skills, draw and paint, and start to build on their growing literacy. Temple Beth Or’s classes aren’t restricted to Jewish students—they’re for anyone who wants their child to learn in a playful, inclusive environment.—HK
Finalists: Jordan Child & Family Center, Childcare Matters
Central Park School for Children
Finalists: Raleigh Charter, The Woods Charter School, Research Triangle High School, Expedition School
Finalists: Carrboro Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Thales Academy Raleigh
Finalists: McDougle Middle School, Martin, The Woods Charter School
Durham School of the Arts
Finalists: Emerson Waldorf School, Chapel Hill High School, Enloe Magnet High School
Finalists: NC Electric, NCHomeElectric.com, Alexander Services
Finalists: The Cotton Room at Golden Belt, The Pavilion at Nicks Road, Durham Arts Council
Finalists: Pavilion at Nicks Road, Coco Bistro & Bar, The Rigmor House
North Carolina Museum of Art
It’s everyone’s favorite Ben Stiller movie come true: the North Carolina Museum of Art can offer you your very own Night at the Museum. The museum is already a prime destination for a gallery walkthrough, concert, outdoor movie showing, or quaint picnic…but why not consider it for a major event or party? With its massive grassy area filled with life-sized and much larger than life-sized art installations, NCMA is a picturesque and peaceful place to share a special moment with friends, family, or significant others. The museum also has a large indoor venue for special events like weddings or bar mitzvahs, and the staff is accommodating and helpful—making you feel less like the host and more like a guest at your own party.—HK
Finalists: Pavilions at the Angus Barn, Dix Park, The Pavilion at Nicks Road, Chatham Station
Finalists: Dogwood Gatherings and Events, Tiffany Tan - Weddings by Tiffany, Folie a Deux Events
Finalists: 21c Durham Museum Hotel, The Durham, Unscripted
Finalists: Carpe Diem Cleaning, Ana's Cleaning Durham, Lucie's Home Services Inc.
Maria’s House Cleaning Services
Finalists: Go 2 girls; Amanda's Queens Cleaning Services, LLC; Shiny Clean
Finalists: Maria’s House Cleaning Services, Dust and Mop, Sunny Spot Cleaning Co.
Finalists: Gonzalez Painters & Contractors, Anderson Painting, Fresh Coat Painters - Cary, Hansell Painting - Durham
Finalists: Alternative Aire, Andrew's Heating and Air, Alexander Services
Amanda Hagood - State Farm
Finalists: Christine Walorz - Walorz Insurance, Burt Lawson, Ola Stinnett - State Farm
Finalists: Landscape Logic, Hensley’s Lawn and Landscaping, Thomas Babb Lawncare
Finalists: Hollow Rock Construction; Pope Builders, Inc.; Actual Size Builders
Finalists: BuildSense, G. Crabtree Spaces, Gateway Building Company
Finalists: Big Monkey Renovation & Repair, BuildSense, One Team Restoration, Artisan Quality Roofing
Rise, Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
Finalists: Duck Donuts, Neighborhood Barre
Finalists: Two Men and a Truck, Miracle Movers of Raleigh, Movin On Movers
Finalists: High Strung School of Music, Triangle Music School, Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts, Wall of Sound Music Center
Finalists: Book Harvest, The Community Empowerment Fund, Kidznotes
Finalists: Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary, Learning Outside, Our Wild Neighbors
SAFE Haven for Cats - Raleigh
Here at the INDY, we love our cats (and dogs, too, of course). So, it warms our hearts that readers chose this Raleigh institution as the best nonprofit in Wake County. The no-kill shelter is a beloved refuge for stray and abandoned cats, who receive full medical attention and all the tender loving care they deserve while the organization seeks to place the kitties in permanent homes. Aside from helping strays find new families, SAFE Haven also provides low-cost spay/neuter services through their specialty clinic, which has been benefiting our feline friends for over 25 years and counting.—GW
Finalists: Meals on Wheels of Wake County, Note in the Pocket, DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care
Camp Bow Wow - North Durham
Finalists: Sunny Acres, Eno Animal Hospital, The Pet Wagon
Finalists: Doggie Spa, Love Overboard, Cole Park Veterinary
Finalists: Happy Puppers, Dog Diggity
Finalists: Green Beagle Lodge, Eno Animal Hospital, Elliotte's Pet Spa
Finalists: Hair of the Dog, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming - Chapel Hill, Love Overboard
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Speaking for INDY Week’s personal office dog, Penny, Woof Gang Bakery deserves a round of a-paws. Not only do they give your pet a much-needed summer trim and have them prancing out in a stylish bandana, but they also sell pet supplies and food to make it a one-stop shop for their four-legged customers and their friends. With seven locations in Wake County, customers have options—but the care each groomer takes with your pet is consistent no matter which store you visit.—HK
Finalists: City Pet Grooming, Mosa Pet Spa & Resort, All About Pets
Finalists: Camp Bow Wow - North Durham, Bull City Pet Sitting, dogwalk
Finalists: Green Beagle Lodge; Rachel McNeil; Kimie's Kritters, LLC
Finalists: Happy Puppers, Furbaby Pet Sitters, The K9 Kabana
Finalists: SPCA of Wake County, APS of Durham, Hope Animal Rescue
Finalists: NCWaterHeaters.com, Greene Hunt, Alexander Services
Finalists: Martha Newport Realty Group - now alignmint, Core Realty Advisors, Debra Wynne
Finalists: Martha Newport Realty Group - now alignmint, Emily Jo Roberts, Charles Bulthuis - Reformation Asset Management
Finalists: Sivertsen Real Estate, Martha Newport Realty Group - now alignmint, Justin Burleson
Finalists: Sivertsen Real Estate, Martha Newport Realty Group - now alignmint, Chip Barker - Core Realty
Finalists: Soapbox Records, Osceola, Bunkersound Studio
Finalists: Carol Woods, Carolina Preserve, Cypress, Homes at Aversboro - Garner
Finalists: Museum of Life + Science, Piedmont Wildlife Center, Camp Shelanu
Carolina Friends School Summer Programs
Finalists: Piedmont Wildlife Center, Learning Outside, Schoolhouse of Wonder
Finalists: Camp Kanata, Piedmont Wildlife Center, New Life Camp
Finalists: Dogstar Tattoo Company, Welcome Tattoo, Sacred Mandala
Finalists: Eno Animal Hospital, Southpoint Animal Hospital, Carver Street Animal Hospital
Finalists: Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic, New Hope Animal Hospital, VCA Legion Road, Meadowmont Animal Hospital
Finalists: Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital, Care First Animal Hospital, Town and Country Veterinary Hospital
Correction: Temple Beth Or preschool is open to children from 1 year old to Kindergarten, not pre-K as originally written.
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