Fair and impartial reporting is the rule here at Seven Days. But, just this once, we've decided it's OK to play favorites. As we prepared to release the results of our annual Seven Daysies readers' choice competition , we were inspired to reflect on a few of our own picks for the "bests" of life in Vermont. What's so great about the Green Mountain State? The restaurants, bars, shops, services, artists, entertainers and natural wonders awarded in the Daysies cover many bases. But the more you look, the more gems there are to mine. We're accustomed to digging for stories; this time, we're unearthing some staffers' faves. Read on for our picks of what's weird, wonderful and worthy of your attention. Best Recent Political Action That Rekindled Our Faith in Democracy March for Our Future, January 20, 2018 On a dreary Saturday afternoon in January, a crowd of 3,000 demonstrators, many of whom were too young to vote or even to be left home alone, took to the streets of Montpelier and reminded us what democracy in action looks like. They carried signs that read, "Youth know what's up,""We were served a lemon but will make lemonade" and "Girls just wanna have fun-damental human rights." The first-ever March for Our Future highlighted Vermont's politically engaged young people and the issues that mobilize them, from racial equality to gender-neutral bathrooms to global warming. Speakers included 8-year-old youth organizer Sophie Freebern of Richmond and Ethan Sonneborn, the 14-year-old Bristol boy who's running for governor. (Read more about him.) The event also featured performances by spoken-word artists Muslim Girls Making Change and African hip-hop musicians A2VT. In a speech, Greta Solsaa, 16, of Rutland cited youth role models from around the world and told the crowd, "These young people are no different than us. They've just taken action on what matters to them. Progress does not happen overnight." She added, "But if we continue to use our voice, our power, there will be change ... Never forget that we are the future, and we have something to say about it."— Ken Picard Best Celebrator of Things That May Be Gone Tomorrow Photographer Jim Westphalen Here in Vermont, old-timers give directions using landmarks that aren't there anymore. "Go down the county road," they'll say, "past where the dump used to be; turn right at the old Martin farm, and it's…
Fair and impartial reporting is the rule here at Seven Days. But, just this once, we've decided it's OK to play favorites. As we prepared to release the results of our annual Seven Daysies readers' choice competition , we were inspired to reflect on a few of our own picks for the "bests" of life in Vermont. What's so great about the Green Mountain State? The restaurants, bars, shops, services, artists, entertainers and natural wonders awarded in the Daysies cover many bases. But the more you look, the more gems there are to mine. We're accustomed to digging for stories; this time, we're unearthing some staffers' faves. Read on for our picks of what's weird, wonderful and worthy of your attention. Best Recent Political Action That Rekindled Our Faith in Democracy March for Our Future, January 20, 2018 On a dreary Saturday afternoon in January, a crowd of 3,000 demonstrators, many of whom were too young to vote or even to be left home alone, took to the streets of Montpelier and reminded us what democracy in action looks like. They carried signs that read, "Youth know what's up,""We were served a lemon but will make lemonade" and "Girls just wanna have fun-damental human rights." The first-ever March for Our Future highlighted Vermont's politically engaged young people and the issues that mobilize them, from racial equality to gender-neutral bathrooms to global warming. Speakers included 8-year-old youth organizer Sophie Freebern of Richmond and Ethan Sonneborn, the 14-year-old Bristol boy who's running for governor. (Read more about him.) The event also featured performances by spoken-word artists Muslim Girls Making Change and African hip-hop musicians A2VT. In a speech, Greta Solsaa, 16, of Rutland cited youth role models from around the world and told the crowd, "These young people are no different than us. They've just taken action on what matters to them. Progress does not happen overnight." She added, "But if we continue to use our voice, our power, there will be change ... Never forget that we are the future, and we have something to say about it."— Ken Picard Best Celebrator of Things That May Be Gone Tomorrow Photographer Jim Westphalen Here in Vermont, old-timers give directions using landmarks that aren't there anymore. "Go down the county road," they'll say, "past where the dump used to be; turn right at the old Martin farm, and it's…