It could be argued that Madison as a whole has a difficult time making decisions. Witness, for instance, this year's controversy over the naming of a new far-west-side elementary school. It was, for Madison, a familiar scenario.

Yet on an individual basis, Madisonians have no trouble making up their minds. They know what they like and aren't shy about making their druthers known. This holds true for our annual Madison's Favorites poll, in which we ask our readers to confess their preferences, name names, and pick the top of the crop. We received over 1,600 ballots this year. And it turns out that Isthmus readers are not a terribly fickle lot. Many hall-of-famers continued to find themselves enshrined in the hearts and minds of the citizenry. Yet newcomers have also worked their way to the top -- even in categories other than "Favorite new band" and "Favorite new restaurant."

The poll, which collects opinions on everything from bike paths to beer, from bookstores to bands -- and a lot of other things that don't even start with "B" -- also dips into the zeitgeist, from what folks are wearing to the neighborhoods they want to live in. We thank you for letting us in on your passions, for better or worse. We now pronounce you...Madison's favorites, 2007.

• Arts and Entertainment
• Drinks
• Eats
• Multimedia
• Odds and Ends
• Recreation and Fitness
• Shopping