LIFE IN THESE PARTS
Best politician
Winner: U. S. Senator Bernie Sanders
Runner-up: State Representative Daryl Pillsbury
Reader quote: “Who are you kidding! There ain’t no such thing!”
Best unsung local hero
Winner: Larry Bloch – Common Ground restaurant, WVEW, Save the Corporations
Runner-up: Rob Hinrichs
Quotes and honorable mentions:
“Pat the Bunny – for helping bring so much live music into the community and fostering a relaxed and accepting atmosphere at the Tinderbox.”
“Don Anderson – who feeds cats and birds in the Riverview Restaurant parking lot.”
“Cathy Siggins – early childhood educator and children’s advocate.”
“The Brattleboro firefighters.”
Best preschool program
Winner: West Bee Nursery School
Runner-up: Winston Prouty Center
Best public restrooms
Winner: River Garden
Runner-up: Vermont Welcome Center
Best teen hangout
Winner: Boys and Girls Club
Runner-up: Harmony Parking Lot
Best first date place
Winner: Adagio Trattoria
Runner-up: Peter Havens
Best place to get married
Winner: Brattleboro Commons
Runner-up: Quality Inn & Suites
Honorable mentions:
Las Vegas, Nevada
“Wherever your hearts desire”
Putney Mountain
Chapel of the Snows, Stratton
Best local product
Winner: Maple Syrup
Runner-up: Grafton Cheese
Honorable mentions:
Spelt bread from Common Loaf Bakery
Mocha Joe’s coffee
McNeill’s Brewery beer
Tom & Sally’s Handmade Chocolates
Curtis’s BBQ sauce
DINING OUT
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Best new restaurant
Winner: Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub
Runner-up: Max's new location on Putney Road
Most romantic restaurant
Winner: Peter Havens
Runner-up: TJ Buckley's
Honorable mention:
“Riverview Café on the roof in the summer.”
Best Italian restaurant
Winner: Adagio Trattoria
“The front room is so beautiful, very romantic. Eric and Dave make it happen in the kitchen – good job, guys!”
Runner-up: Max's
“Max’s is not your spaghetti and breadstick type of Italian restaurant. The food is second to none!”
Best Chinese/Asian restaurant
Winner: Panda North
Runner-up: Panasian
Best Indian restaurant
Winner: India Palace
Best Mexican restaurant
Winner: Chelsea Royal Diner
Runner-up: Slow Fire Grill
Best chain restaurant
Winner: Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub
Honorable mentions:
Bickford’s
Wendy’s
Best seafood restaurant
Winner: Gillies
“Gillie’s – really friendly staff and the seafood is second to none!”
Runner-up: Marina
Best steakhouse
Winner: The Steak Out
Runner-up: The New England House
“Amazing food. The chef really knows how to make you feel like you are spoiling yourself every time you go there.”
Best restaurant, period
Winner: Peter Havens
Runner-up: Chelsea Royal Diner
Honorable mentions:
Thai Garden
The Steak Out
TJ Buckley’s
Our Place
Four Columns Inn & Restaurant
Adagio Trattoria
Best breakfast
Winner: Chelsea Royal Diner
Runner-up: Backside Café
Best brunch
Winner: The Marina
Runner-up: Chelsea Royal Diner
Best lunch
Winner: Riverview Café
Runner-up: Chelsea Royal Diner
Honorable mention:
“Anon’s at the Wednesday farmers’ market”
Best burger
Winner: The Marina
Runner-up: Riverview Café
Best fries
Winner: Riverview Café
Runner-up: The Marina
Best pizza
Winner: Frankie's Pizzeria
Runner-up: Village Pizza
Best Barbeque
Winner: Top of the Hill Grill
Runner-up: Curtis Bar-B-Que
Best sushi
Winner:Panda North
Runner-up:Shin La
Honorable mention:
Panasian
Best wings
Winner: Rick's Tavern
Runner-up: Ninety-nine Restaurant & Pub
Best vegetarian food
Winner: Common Ground
Runner-up: Brattleboro Food Co-op
Best desserts
Winner: Amy's Bakery
Runner-up: Friendly's
Best late night food
Winner: Frankie's Pizzeria
Runner-up: Wendy's
Friendliest pub
Winner: McNeill's Brewery
Runner-up: Mole's Eye Café
Best sports bar
Winner: Sportsmen's Lounge
Runner-up: Beacon Barn & Billiards
Best beer list, restaurant or bar
Winner: McNeils's Brewery
Runner-up: Flat Street Bar & Restaurant
Best wine list, restaurant or bar
Winner: Windham Wine Gallery
“The one on Main next to the Latchis.”
“Marty and Frank are a great addition to Brattleboro.”
Runner-up: Peter Havens
Best cocktail menu, restaurant or bar
Winner: Metropolis Wine Bar
Runner-up: Adagio Trattoria
Best bartender
Winner: Gina Staats at the Weathervane
Runner-up: Amy Howe at Adagio Trattoria
Honorable mentions:
Alan Blackwell at Metropolis Wine Bar
Kerry at the Colonel’s Cabin
Aubrey at McNeill’s Brewery
Denis Fagen at Adagio, “even though he likes the Yankees!”
Best restaurant or pub with live music
Winner: Weathervane
Runner-up: Mole's Eye
RETAIL FOOD
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Best bakery
Winner: Amy's Bakery Arts Café
Runner-up: Vermont Country Deli
Best health food
Winner: Brat Food Coop
Best seafood store
Winner: Adams Seafood Co.
Runner-up: Price Chopper
Best farm stand
Winner: Walker's Farm
Runner-up: Dutton Farm Stand
Best takeout food
Winner: Panda North
Runner-up: Top of the Hill Grill
Best liquor store
Winner: Discount Beverage
Runner-up: NH State Liquor Store in Hinsdale
Best wine selection, retail
Winner: Windham Wines
Runner-up: Price Chopper
Best beer selection, retail
Winner: Price Chopper
Runner-up: Discount Beverage
Best supermarket
Winner: Hannaford's
“Dependable pricing and the Stars rating system really help to make smarter choice during a fast shopping trip.”
Runner-up: Price Chopper
Best bagels
Winner: Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery
ELECTRONICS
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Best video store
Winner: First Run Video
“Best video store anywhere I’ve ever lived!”
“Knowledgeable staff and carries a wider variety than what is hot this month.”
Runner-up: Blockbuster
Best records/CDs
Winner: Turn It Up
Runner-up: In the Moment
Best audio/electronics
Winner: Radio Shack
Runner-up: BRW Electronics
Best computer store
Winner: 2 Wired Guys
“Expert, affordable, always available, and easy-to-understand assistance!”
Runner-up: Brown Computer Solutions
Honorable mention:
Optima Computers
Best cell phone service
Winner: Verizon
Runner-up: Unicel
HOME AND GARDEN
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Best antiques
Winner: Twice Upon a Time
“A great place to browse – it’s hard not to go there and come out with something you just have to have!”
Runner-up: Townshend Auction Gallery
“If you have not been yet … go! It is a fun place to spend a Saturday!”
Best appliance dealer
Winner: Cocoplum
Runner-up: Central Appliance
Best housewares
Winner: Brown & Roberts
Runner-up: Kitchen Sync
Best wedding gifts
Winner: Vermont Artisan Designs
Runner-up: Verde
Best hardware store
Winner: Brown & Roberts
“Hands down!”
Runner-up: Fireside True Value
Best home improvement center
Winner: Home Depot
Runner-up: Perkins Home Center
Best garden shop/center
Winner: Agway
Runner-up: Walker Farm
Best drug store
Winner: Hotel Pharmacy
Runner-up: Brooks Pharmacy
Best florist
Winner: Windham Flowers
Runner-up: Carley's Florist
“When I need an emergency bouquet or just a rose on the way home, Carley’s is there for me.”
Best art gallery
Winner: Through the Music
Runner-up: Gallery in the Woods
Honorable mentions:
Windham Art Gallery
Vermont Artisan Designs
Gallery Northstar
Best furniture store
Winner: Emerson's
Runner-up: Candle in the Night
“Love the owners and the staff. Really a great place to furnish your home.”
Best picture framing
Winner: Zephyr Designs
Best carpeting/flooring
Winner: Damian Flooring
Runner-up: Lawton Flooring
Best mattress place
Winner: Mattress Outlet
Runner-up: Emerson's
Best plumbers
Winner: Fleming Plumbing & Heating
Runner-up: Jewett Plumbing & Heating
Best electricians
Winner: Dompier Electric
Runner-up: A.L. Tyler & Sons
Best heating contractors
Winner: Fleming Oil Co.
Runner-up: Sandri
Best general contractor
Winner: GPI Construction
Runner-up: Brunelle & Son
Best cleaning service
Winner: Mastaler Cleaning Service
Best landscape/yard service
Winner: Black Mountain Landscape
Runner-up: Thompson Maintenance
Honorable mention:
J & J Greenscape
Ginseng Hill Nursery
PROFESSIONALS
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Best Insurance
Winner: Richards Group
Runner-up: Dorner Agency, Allstate
Best teacher
Winner: Brenda Siegel, Flow Yoga & Dance
Runner-up: Moriah Oldham, West Bee
Comment
“Each teacher is the best to someone!”
Best travel agency
Winner: Gateway Travel
Runner-up: Lyon Travel
Best lawyer
Winner: Timothy J. O'Connor
Runner-up: James Maxwell
Best financial planner
Winner: Daniel S. Allen, Metlife
Runner-up: Joe Little, Park Place
Best bank
Winner: Brattleboro Savings & Loan
Runner-up: River Valley Credit Union
Best real estate agent (individual)
Winner: Chris Lewis, Brattleboro Area Realty
Runner-up: Robert Doyle, Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country
Best real estate agency
Winner: ERA Masiello Group Stepping Stone Real Estate
Runner-up: Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors
Best photographer
Winner: Kate Thompson
Runner-up: Hyam Siegel
Best copy shop
Winner: Lotus Graphics
Runner-up: Staples
Best hotel/B&B
Winner: Colonial Motel
Runner-up: Meadowlark Inn
Best radio station
Winner: WTSA
Runner-up: WVEW-LP
Best DJ
Winner: DJ Rafael Hulme
Runner-up: John Ashley, WTSA
Honorable mentions:
Fish, WKVT
Larry Bloch, From Ear to There, WVEW
Josh Jonas, the Sunday Train Ride, WVEW
Best newscaster
Winner: Tim Johnson, WTSA
Runner-up: Fish, WKVT
THREADS
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Best vintage clothing
Winner: Boomerang
Runner-up: Twice Upon a Time
Best bridal shop
Winner: Pamela Moore
Best women’s clothing
Winner: Altiplano
Runner-up: Peebles
Best men’s clothing
Winner: Miller Brothers Newton
Runner-up: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Best shoe store
Winner: Shoe Tree
Runner-up: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Best tuxedo rental
Winner: Vermont Artisan Designs
Best place to buy lingerie
Winner: Life's Little Luxuries
Best dry cleaner
Winner: Lawton Dry Cleaning
Runner-up: Custom Laundry
CRITTERS
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Best veterinarian
Winner: Vermont New Hampshire Veterinary Clinic
Runner-up: Dr. Trudy Matt
Best pet boarding
Winner: Puppy Acres Boarding Kennels
Runner-up: Windham Veterinary Clinic
Best pet grooming
Winner: Paws To Claws
Runner-up: Pawsitively Purrfect
Best pet supply store
Winner: One Stop Country Pet Supply
Runner-up: Agway
Best place to get a pet
Winner: Windham County Humane Society
Runner-up: One Stop Country Pet Supply
Best place to see a cow
Winner: Retreat Petting Farm
Runner-up: Strolling of the Heifers
WHEELS
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Best car wash
Winner: Burton Car Wash
Best new car dealer
Winner: Auto Mall
Runner-up: Stacy Subaru
Best used car dealer
Winner: John McKay's
Runner-up: Auto Mall
Best place to buy a motorcycle
Winner: Ray's Cycle Center
Runner-up: Lynde Motorsports
Best auto repair
Winner: Richmond Auto Repair
Runner-up: Fletcher's Auto Repair
Best tire dealer
Winner: Chesterfield Tire
Runner-up: Brattleboro Tire
Best oil change
Winner: ASAP
Runner-up: Monroe Muffler
MIND AND BODY
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Best chiropractor
Winner: Dr. Marcy Jones
Runner-up: Woodcock Chiropractic Clinic
Best dentist
Winner: Dr. Frank Illuzzi
Runner-up: Dr. Janet Zinter
Best optician
Winner: Dr. Robert J. Cotter, Brattleboro Family Eye Care)
Runner-up: Dr. John C. Duff
Best place for yoga
Winner: Flow Yoga and Dance
Runner-up: Solar Hill
Best place to get a massage
Winner: Watercourse Way
Runner-up: Forest Heaven
Best place to get a tan
Winner: Supreme Fitness
Runner-up: Scissor Masters
Best tattoos
Winner: Art for Life
Runner-up: Silver Moon Adornments
Best beauty salon
Winner: Salon Jacque
Runner-up: Flatter Me
Best barber shop
Winner: Mac's Barber Shop
Runner-up: Harold & Son’s Place
Best manicure/nail salon
Winner: K N Nails
Runner-up: Whitman's Hair Design
SPORTS, HOBBIES, RECREATION
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Best musical instruments
Winner: Maple Leaf Music
Best bicycle shop
Winner: Burrow Specialized Sports
Runner-up: Brattleboro Bicycle Shop
Best health and fitness place
Winner: Outer Limits Health Club
Runner-up: Supreme Fitness
Best place to buy fishing tackle
Winner: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Runner-up: Walmart
Best place to buy skis
Winner: Burrows Specialized Sports
Runner-up: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Best place to buy a kayak or canoe
Winner: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Runner-up: Burrows Specialized Sports
Best snowboard shop
Winner: Burrows Specialized Sports
Best downhill skiing
Winner: Mount Snow
Runner-up: Stratton Mountain Ski Resort
Best cross-country skiing
Winner: Grafton Ponds
Runner-up: Brattleboro Country Club
Best golf course
Winner: Brattleboro Country Club
Runner-up: Mount Snow
Best mini-golf
Winner: Hidden Acres
Runner-up: Twinkle Town
Best outdoor gear/camping store
Winner: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Best bowling alley
Winner: Brattleboro Bowl
Best horseback riding
Winner: Flames Stables
Runner-up: West River Stables
Best sporting goods store
Winner: Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
Runner-up: Burrows Specialized Sports
CULTURE
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Best museum
Winner:
Brattleboro Museum and Art Center
Best historical attraction
Winner: Estey Organ Museum
Runner-up: Covered bridges
Best kids’ entertainment
Winner: Kidsplayce
Runner-up: New England Youth Theatre
Honorable mentions:
Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center
The Bromley slide
Best live theatre
Winner: New England Youth Theatre
Runner-up: Vermont Theatre Co.
Best concert venue
Winner: The Tinderbox
Runner-up: Hooker Dunham Theatre
Best movie theatre
Winner: Latchis Theatre
Runner-up: Kipling Cinemas
Best bookstore (new)
Winner: Everyone's Books
“Everyone’s books is the place to find what you’re looking for.”
Runner-up: Book Cellar
Best bookstore (used)
Winner: Brattleboro Books
Runner-up: Everyone's Books
Best local band/musician
Winner: Love Bomb
Runner-up: Sugar House
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