Arts+Entertainment

The Inn at Shelburne Farms

If there’s one thing we learned from voters’ responses to this section, it’s that we really ought to plan a trip to Burton Island. The state park, which is only accessible by boat, didn’t win this year’s Daysie for best Vermont park — that honor went to Burlington’s Oakledge Park and Montpelier’s Hubbard Park. But voters kept mentioning the island as if it were hidden gold. One person gave the vote to “Oakledge, because I don’t want people to know about Burton Island.” Sorry, folks, the secret’s out.

For a different kind of weekend getaway, we’re thinking of booking a couple nights at the gorgeous Inn at Shelburne Farms, which earned a Daysie this year for best Vermont inn or B&B. Really, we’d like an excuse to stay at any of the contenders in this category: the Willard Street Inn, the Essex, Green Mountain Inn and the Pitcher Inn.

Each year we wonder which it will be: beer or jazz? The Vermont Brewers Festival and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival have alternately won the Daysie for best Vermont festival over the last several years. This year, voters opted for beer — but just barely. Jazz Fest was only two votes behind. Outside Chittenden County, the Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans took home the gold, er, Daysie.

Congrats to Burlington’s hippest hangout, Radio Bean, which finally got some recognition for its live music. The North Winooski Avenue bar has never quite been able to beat Nectar’s — until now. Radio Bean pulled in almost 140 more votes this year to snag the Daysie for best small local-music hot spot. Outside Chittenden County, the honor went to Montpelier’s Black Door.

Singer-songwriter Joshua Panda has finally bested longtime Daysie darling Myra Flynn, who held onto her title as best up-and-coming musical performer long after she’d already up and come. But after she moved to New York City, Daysie voters finally let her go. “This is Panda’s show,” wrote Seven Days music editor Dan Bolles in a 2010 review. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a more compelling front man in Burlington at the moment. And, even given the leap he’s already made, it’s safe to say Joshua Panda is just getting started.”

Burlington hip-hop group Lynguistic Civilians, who seemingly came out of nowhere last year to snag both best unsigned Vermont band and best Vermont hip-hop artist/group, held onto both Daysies. But in the standup-comedy world, we’ve crowned a new king: Nathan Hartswick, with Alex Nief the runner-up.

The love affair with Burlington jeweler Jennifer Kahn continues. Not only did she hold onto her best local jewelry designer Daysie, she also snagged the title of overall best Vermont craftsperson. In the latter category, self-described mad scientist and clay artist John Brickels came in a close second.

When it comes to locally designed clothes, most voters turn to Salaam’s Andrea Miksic. But the runners-up are worth checking out: New Duds, Nicole’s Threads, Where Designs and Feisty Ink Designs.

—Megan James

Best large live-music venue

[W] Higher Ground
[RU] Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

Best small local-music hot spot

[W] Radio Bean
[RU] Nectar’s

OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
[W] Black Door
[RU] Bee’s Knees

Best up-and-coming Vermont musical performer

[W] Joshua Panda
[RU] Kat Wright

Best unsigned Vermont band

[W] Lynguistic Civilians
[RU] Vermont Joy Parade

Best Vermont hip-hop artist/group

[W] Lynguistic Civilians
[RU] Aztext

Best local record label

[W] Big Heavy World
[RU] State & Main Records

Best Vermont standup comedian

[W] Nathan Hartswick
[RU] Alex Nief

Best club DJ

[W] Craig Mitchell
[RU] DJ A-Dog

Best Vermont cartoonist

[W] dug Nap
[RU] James Kochalka

Best Vermont craftsperson

[W] Jennifer Kahn
[RU] John Brickels

Best local clothing designer

[W] Andrea Miksic (Salaam)
[RU] New Duds

Best local jewelry designer

[W] Jennifer Kahn
[RU] Timothy Grannis

Best art gallery

[W] BCA Center
[RU] Frog Hollow

Best movie theater

[W] Merrill’s Roxy
[RU] Majestic 10

OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
[W] Savoy
[RU] Big Picture Theater

Best Vermont festival

[W] Vermont Brewers Festival
[RU] Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
[W] Vermont Maple Festival
[RU] Rhinofest Music Festival

Best local theater company

[W] Lyric Theatre Company
[RU] Spielpalast Cabaret

OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
[W] Lost Nation Theater
[RU] Bread and Puppet Theater

Best performing-arts venue

[W] Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
[RU] Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center

Best free Wi-Fi hotspot

[W] Starbucks
[RU] Uncommon Grounds

Best Vermont park

[W] Oakledge Park
[RU] Waterfront Park

OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
[W] Hubbard Park
[RU] Groton State Forest

Best public golf course

[W] Rocky Ridge Golf Club
[RU] Kwiniaska Golf Club

Best ski/ride slope

[W] Stowe Mountain Resort
[RU] Smugglers Notch

Best cross-country ski area

[W] Trapp Family Lodge
[RU] Catamount Outdoor Center

Best in-state weekend getaway

[W] Stowe
[RU] Jay Peak

Best day trip with the kids

[W] The Pump House Indoor Water Park at Jay Peak
[RU] ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center

Best Vermont inn or B&B

[W] The Inn at Shelburne Farms
[RU] Willard Street Inn