Vermont Business Magazine Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, has published the winners of its annual Daysies competition, in which readers vote for their favorite local restaurants, stores, performers, destinations and service providers.
The winners are collected in All the Best, a 68-page guide at the center of this week’s issue of Seven Days; it’s also available online at sevendaysvt.com/daysies.
The Burlington-based weekly launched its first annual Daysies issue in 2003. Voters nominated their faves in 103 categories. Over the decades, the Daysies have blossomed. The contest now features 234 categories and two rounds of voting instead of one.
Some things change, but others stay the same — namely, the Daysies’ mission to shine a light on what’s great about Vermont. As cofounders Pamela Polston and Paula Routly wrote way back when, “Thanks to the Seven Days readers who took the time to pick our first-ever Daysies. And thanks to all the great Vermont businesses, people, places and things that provide so many options. Without you, we have no flower power.”
The historic flooding across the state last month was a reminder: It sadly impacted many Daysies winners and finalists. As All the Best went to press in mid-July, some businesses were still closed. It’s possible some may never reopen.
But it was heartening to see all the love poured into these Daysies votes spilling over into real-life community action. As recovery efforts began, Vermonters were lending a hand, loaning industrial-strength fans to their favorite local bookstore and shoveling silt at their go-to bike shop. “We are overwhelmed (in a good way) by all of your support!” Daysies winner Onion River Outdoors of Montpelier posted on social media.
Seven Days typically donates the proceeds from ticket sales to the Daysies party to the winner of the Best Nonprofit Daysie, but this year’s winner, the Humane Society of Chittenden County, is giving that contribution to the Vermont Community Foundation's VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund. Seven Days will support the Humane Society by providing the organization a comparable value in advertising.
The introduction to this year’s All the Best ends with this timely reminder: “As we celebrate this year’s Daysies, let’s continue volunteering, donating and shopping local to get our beloved businesses back on their feet.”
Attachment: Cover art for All the Best, by Jeff Drew and Diane Sullivan.
About Seven Days
Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, was founded by Pamela Polston and Paula Routly in 1995 and is now owned by Routly and 15 other employees. The Burlington-based company also produces the Stuck in Vermont video series and events such as the Vermont Tech Jam. Seven Days has been named Business of the Year by both the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Burlington Business Association. In 2019, the Greater Burlington Industrial Corp. presented the local media company with the C. Harry Behney Economic Development Achievement Award.
Source: 8.2.2023. Burlington, Vt. - Seven Days
