Welcome to Daysieland! For the 2019 Seven Daysies, we’ve tumbled down the rabbit hole — à la Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — to discover the wonders of Vermont. These awards, selected by Seven Days readers, provide a guide to much of what’s great about this state. As the Cheshire Cat said, “We’re all mad here” — about food, drink, arts and entertainment, shopping, services, and outdoors and recreation, that is.
So, which locals and landmarks are the queens of your hearts? This year, 24,937 discerning Vermonters cast 530,031 total votes to determine the Daysies winners. First, they submitted nominations during a write-in voting round. Then we narrowed it down to the top finalists in each category — when possible, dividing them into “inside Chittenden County” and “outside Chittenden County” — and invited readers to vote again.
Here we present their top picks, from murals, museums and mountaintops to barbershops, blues singers and beyond. The people and places represented here make Vermont feel like home. The Daysies are our way of saying thanks.