Seven Days readers know a good time when they have it. That’s why Higher Ground has ruled in the Best Music Venue category five years in a row. Ditto Club Metronome as the hottest place to shake your booty, and Discover Jazz as Best Vermont Festival. Burlington DJ A-Dog has awed late-night listeners pretty consistently, too. When it comes to local bands, in the last couple of years Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have broken the previous domination of Phish. This year we attempted to give someone else a chance by renaming the category Best Unsigned Band. And damn if Burlington’s own, inimitable Dirty Blondes didn’t rise to the occasion. But don’t feel sorry for Grace Potter, ’cause she won Best Vocalist — for the third year in a row.

Readers have been a little more fickle about picking a Best Instrumentalist, though, probably because there are so many great ones to choose from. This time Burlington saxophonist Dave Grippo stepped into the limelight. After nine years of Monday-night residencies at Red Square, memorable tours with Trey and a zillion other gigs, he’s clearly got, well, a grip.

Speaking of readers: Probably only J.K. Rowling, were she a Vermonter, could break the spell that Chris Bohjalian has cast over fiction fans ‘round here. The mild-mannered Lincoln novelist is certainly prolific — his latest is The Double Bind. Philip Baruth, Burlington novelist, VPR commentator and blogger (see next section), has suddenly slipped into second place, so check back next year to see if his magic puts him over the top.

Merrill Jarvis’ formula — a combo of mainstream and offbeat films — is working: His Roxy Theatre in Burlington has ruled the Best Moviehouse roost for four years. Doesn’t hurt that Jarvis hosts community events at the cinema, too, and rewards blood donors with free movie passes. Last week was a silly Simpsons event. Can you say D’oh-nuts?

A primo downtown location is surely one of the reasons Firehouse Gallery (Best Art Gallery) and Frog Hollow (Coolest Craft Gallery) can’t be beat. Or at least they haven’t been yet... Photographer Matthew Thorsen (Best Visual Artist) has the visibility thing down, too: In addition to his weekly contributions to Seven Days and frequent public exhibitions, he displays very, very large photos on the outside walls of his lower Church Street apartment building. Talk about in-your-face...

Down the road a ways, Creative Habitat at Ben Franklin (Best Arts-and-Crafts Supplies) is happily answering the needs of DIY types, while further south still, the Shelburne Museum (Best Museum) rules for those who just like to look. The place sure isn’t just for “folkies” anymore.

A brand-new category this year, Best Craftsperson, introduced us to Burlington jeweler Bella Bueno, who offers her work at Frog Hollow, jewelry house parties and other venues. Her mellifluous name reflects an interesting ethnic, and aesthetic, heritage: Born in Stockholm, she’s half Swedish and half Spanish. Fans apparently go, and come back for, the European look of her sleek silver-and-gemstone creations. Bueno, indeed.

When Seven Days readers have time to chill — or slide when the weather is chilly — Stowe is the number-one destination. Hard to tell whether voters mean the town, resort or mountain itself, but collectively the perennial winner of both Best Vermont Getaway and Best Slope rhymes with “way to go.” The resort’s brand-new golf course may lure some devoted duffers as well, but Chittenden County swingers who prefer public links picked Kwiniaska for the second year in a row. “Kwinny” offers rural recreation with spectacular wooded views, and a practice range for newbies.

Two-wheelers still love the five-time winning Burlington Bike Path with its spectacular lake views. When it’s time to strap on the cross-country skis, Seven Days readers are almost evenly divided between the Catamount Family Center in Williston and Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. This year, the one with the singing family values won out.