Seven Days, November 29, 2023 by Seven Days

HATE CRIME?

Triple shooting shocks BTV PAGE 15

CHRISTMAS IN CANADA Visiting Québec’s holiday markets VE RMO NT ’S INDE PEN DENT VO IC E NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023 VOL.29 NO.8 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 36

BY THE WAYSIDE Digging a classic Montpelier diner PAGE 40

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WEEK IN REVIEW

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NOVEMBER 22-29, 2023 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY The flooded basement of Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen in Barre

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LOOKING FORWARD

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THURSDAY 30, FRIDAY 1 & SUNDAY 3

La Musica de la Noche The talented teen singers of Youth Opera Company of OCM present From Spain With Love at Waterbury Congregational Church, Faith United Methodist Church in Burlington and Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury. The show features spirited selections from the Spanish operetta genre zarzuela, set to piano and classical guitar.

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPI L E D BY EM ILY H AM ILTON

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

FRIDAY 1

Thrill of the Bass Bobby Dean Hackney, a member of legendary Detroit punk band Death, celebrates the publication of his authorial debut at Phoenix Books in Essex. Vermont Reggae Fest: The Power of Music: The First Five Years in Burlington, Vermont tracks the birth of Burlington’s onetime signature shindig, from its founding by Hackney in 1986 to its growth into a record-breaking gathering.

FRIDAY 1

HARPING ON Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane live again when the Brandee Younger Trio makes its Vermont debut at the Mahaney Arts Center’s Robison Concert Hall at Middlebury College. Last year, its swift-fingered star became the first Black woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award for best instrumental composition. Younger’s original works fill out a program of beloved jazz standards.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

SATURDAY 2

Spoiled for Voice New York a cappella group Naturally 7 take the stage at Fuller Hall at St. Johnsbury Academy for a night of fantastically fun vocal flourishes. Incorporating influences from gospel, doo-wop, barbershop and Boyz II Men, the singers re-create the sounds of everything from drums and electric guitars to harmonicas and trumpets. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

SATURDAY 2 & SUNDAY 3

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. COURTESY OF ERIN O’BRIEN

ONGOING

Photo Finish Vermont photographers Don Ross and Caleb Kenna present “Double Vision,” a doublebilled show at the Caleb Kenna Studio in Brandon. The longtime friends share an interest in travel photography, Green Mountain State landscapes, nature, city scenes and striking colors. From left: Photographs by Caleb Kenna and Don Ross

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Keeps On Giving Holiday hounds hit up the Good Trade Makers Market at Burlington’s Hula for an exemplary shopping experience. Independent makers and manufacturers from around the country converge lakeside to offer food, clothing, jewelry, perfume, ceramics and more, and every guest gets a complimentary cocktail, beer, coffee or ice cream. SEE ART LISTING ON PAGE 56

TUESDAY 5

Currying Favor Have you made it to the South Burlington Public Library Cookbook Club yet? Potlucks and book clubs collide at this monthly meeting where attendees cook and share recipes from the same book. This month’s group is making flavorful curries and sticky sweets from Rambutan: Recipes From Sri Lanka by Cynthia Shanmugalingam. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Breaking News So much for a relaxing holiday weekend. For Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, three college students visiting Burlington, it ended with senseless, life-altering violence on Saturday night, when the 20-year-old men were shot while walking on North Prospect Street. I knew something terrible had happened when I saw an email from Seven Days reporter Derek Brouwer at 9:20 p.m. with the subject line: “post up on triple shooting in U district.” The “U” indicated it was near the University of Vermont. Derek had been 10 hours into writing a cover story for next week’s paper when he saw the Burlington Police Department advisory. He texted deputy news editor Sasha Goldstein, who was out to dinner with family in Connecticut, and offered to cover it. Derek went to the crime scene to glean what he could for an online story. Sasha edited the post and published it on our website at 9:44 p.m. Readers who subscribe to our Know It All email newsletter got a bare-bones account of the triple shooting in their inboxes first thing Sunday morning.

WITH A STORY OF THIS NATURE, WE DID NOT WANT TO REPORT OFF SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE DIDN’T WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL BACK LATER. M AT T H EW R OY

Derek woke up to reports on social media about the victims. As soon as he discovered that all three were of Palestinian descent — two are U.S. citizens; one is a legal resident — he knew the incident had an important new dimension and would attract international attention. A post from their former West Bank school identified the three young men, all students at East Coast colleges, and suggested the vicious attack might be a hate crime. Still, Derek waited to get confirmation from their families, as well as information from Burlington police. “With a story of this nature, we did not want to report off social media,” said news editor Matthew Roy, who was in the Berkshires visiting his in-laws when the news broke. “We didn’t want to put something out that we would have to pull back later.” For example, NBC published an early story that had some mistakes. “It said all three were wearing kaffiyehs, a patterned scarf that is a symbol of Palestinian identity. Only two were,” Matthew explained. “It also said they were being harassed at the time of the shooting, and that turned out not to be true.” On Sunday morning, Matthew texted the entire news team to ask who else was available to help Derek. Shocked and moved by the brazen brutality of the crime, reporters Courtney

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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COURTESY OF WAYNE SAVAGE

COURTNEY LAMDIN

First responders at the North Prospect Street shooting scene

DEREK BROUWER

A rally outside Burlington City Hall on Sunday

Burlington police at the scene of the triple shooting on North Prospect Street

Lamdin and Colin Flanders raised their hands. Colin knocked on doors in the neighborhood. Courtney and Derek made calls from the Seven Days office, alternating writing and reporting. On his way back to Vermont from Massachusetts, Matthew stopped to edit their work, our second online story, from a metal picnic table in front of a Stewart’s outside Hoosick Falls, N.Y. Courtney, Colin and Derek all went to the pro-Palestine solidarity rally in front of Burlington City Hall that evening, then moved to a coffee shop, where they worked on additions to the story until they were politely told to leave at 7 p.m. By the time they got home, news outlets around the country had reported even more information about the

victims, so they kept updating, citing other outlets’ reporting, until just before 9 p.m. Sasha got back to Vermont before Matthew, so he took a last look at their hard work late on Sunday. On Monday morning, Sasha reported a third online story: The alleged shooter, Jason J. Eaton, had been arrested. Colin went to the arraignment and shared the affidavit with Sasha, who added the charges — three counts of attempted seconddegree murder — and other details to his piece. Courtney and Colin attended the subsequent press conference at Burlington City Hall while Derek was back in the office, working the phones, trying to find out more about Eaton. That’s the kind of shoe-leather reporting it

takes to deliver responsible, fact-checked breaking news. Unlike in the social media posts people love to share, every claim has to be substantiated. While they rarely credit local media outlets like Seven Days, regional and national outfits such as the Boston Globe and the New York Times rely on our coverage to get theirs. So my in-laws can text from Barcelona: “On CNN: shooting in Burlington!” Vermonters in Chittenden County are fortunate to have multiple media outlets doing good work. That’s not the case in many places around the state, and the country, where newspapers have closed or become “ghost” papers that publish rehashed national news devoid of local reporting. According to the most recent report from the Local News Initiative, a project of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, “Since 2005, the country has lost more than onefourth of its newspapers and is on track to lose a third by 2025.” As long as there are reporters willing to cut short their holiday plans to get the story, we’ll do everything we can to bring it to you. Read our coverage of this evolving story in print on page 15. And note the byline on it is not one but four names.

Paula Routly If you value the dedication and skill of our news team, support its efforts by becoming a Seven Days Super Reader. To make a contribution, look for the “Give Now” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

For more information on making a financial contribution to Seven Days, please contact Gillian English: VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

news

MORE INSIDE

INTERNATIONAL

BTV DEMS BIG CHOICE MAIL WOES IN MONTPELIER

Welch Calls for Cease-Fire in Gaza

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B Y CO LI N FL AN D ER S colin@sevendaysvt.com

TIM NEWCOMB

FILE: JAMES BUCK

BUSINESS U.S. Sen. Peter Welch

Moon Shadow

Northern Vermont gears up for a once-in-a-lifetime total eclipse of the sun in April B Y A NNE WAL L A CE ALLE N • anne@sevendaysvt.com

teve Wright, president of Jay Peak ski resort, was shocked when a visitor called four years ago to reserve a room for viewing a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. At the time, Wright wasn’t aware that the moon will pass between the sun and the Earth for a few minutes on that day, giving Vermont its first total eclipse since 1932. The next one isn’t until 2106. Then a friend in Idaho, whose ski area fell into darkness during a 2017 eclipse, warned Wright there might be thousands of visitors on eclipse day because Jay lies in the path of total darkness, or “path of totality.” “He said, ‘Get ready for this,’” Wright recalled. Thanks to the warning, Jay Peak is ready. The 900-room resort is almost fully booked, though nightly charges for Monday, April 8, and the preceding weekend are nearly double the usual April rate of around $250: $500, including ski tickets. The eclipse is expected to yield a brief but intense burst of attention and visitor 14

dollars all along the narrow path of totality, from western Mexico to eastern Canada. Vermont has taken note. In Vermont’s most populous city, Burlington City Arts has secured a quarter-million dollars from the city for security, portable toilets and other infrastructure to go along with arts

SHE SAID, “I WANT TO SEE AN

ECLIPSE BEFORE I DIE.” WE ND Y MO NNINGE R

programming for the weekend before the eclipse. The University of Vermont is canceling classes that day, and in Burlington, classes will close midday. The partial eclipse begins at 2:14 p.m. in Chittenden County, and total darkness descends at 3:27 p.m. While that will last only a few minutes, the partial eclipse will be visible until 4:37 p.m., according

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

to Burlington City Arts, which is taking the lead on the city’s event planning. The state, for its part, is ordering thousands of cardboard eyeglasses that make it safe to view the eclipse without retina damage. The glasses will be distributed to towns and community organizations so they can be handed out for free. In the Americas, the 100-mile-wide path of eclipse totality starts in Mexico and heads northeast, passing over Dallas, Indianapolis and Buffalo, N.Y. The central line of the eclipse clips the northwestern corner of Vermont, passing over Middlebury, Burlington and Montpelier. This will be the only total solar eclipse to travel across Mexico, the United States, and Canada in the 21st century, according to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, which is going all out with educational programs based on the event. The museum, long the host of robust weather reporting, will present 90 minutes of live minute-by-minute commentary by MOON SHADOW

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U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is calling for the fragile cease-fire in the IsraelHamas war to be extended indefinitely, citing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and deepening divisions in the U.S. The senator cited not only the mounting death toll for Palestinians but also violence in America directed against people of Palestinian descent. “This weekend in my home state of Vermont, three Palestinian-American students were senselessly shot by a stranger as they walked to a family gathering,” he said in a written statement. “This cycle of fear, intimidation, and violence must end.” He joins U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), who expressed support for a cease-fire earlier this month, leaving U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as the only member of Vermont’s delegation not to make such a declaration. Sanders called for a “significant, extended humanitarian pause” in an opinion piece published last week in the New York Times. Welch has supported Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas militants in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds more kidnapped. And though he has expressed unease with the ferocity of Israel’s counteroffensive, signing a letter earlier this month in support of a short-term “cessation of hostilities,” he has fallen short of calling for a prolonged cease-fire — until now. “Israel’s enemy is Hamas, not the Palestinian people,” Welch wrote. On Tuesday, Welch described the temporary truce between Hamas and Israel that began last Friday as the “first glimmer of hope” since the October 7 attack. He said it would be a “grave mistake” for the U.S. to condone the resumption of Israel’s bombing campaign, knowing what it does about the collateral damage. An estimated 14,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been injured and some 1.5 million people are without homes. “I fully support Israel’s right to pursue those who ordered and carried out the attacks of October 7th,” Welch wrote. “But Israel must not do so in a way that leads to massive civilian casualties and the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza. This will only incite more enemies against Israel and the U.S.” ➆

‘A Hateful Act’

The Burlington shooting of three young men from the West Bank reverberates around the globe

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From left: Tahseen Ali Ahmad, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Hisham Awartani

our gunshots fired on a quiet Burlington street over the weekend changed the lives of three college students of Palestinian descent, shocked residents and thrust the city into the international spotlight. Now investigators must determine whether the suspected shooter, a city resident, committed a hate crime when he carried out his unprovoked attack. Local, state and federal officials — including President Joe Biden — condemned the spasm of violence. The three young men who were wounded — Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ali Ahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid, all 20 years old — are childhood friends who grew up in the West Bank. They now attend colleges

I AM BUT ONE CASUALTY

IN THIS MUCH WIDER CONFLICT. H I S H AM AWAR TANI

on the East Coast and were visiting Burlington for the Thanksgiving holiday. All are expected to survive, though Awartani may be paralyzed, his mother told NPR. By Monday morning, a suspect had been arrested and arraigned on three charges of attempted second-degree murder. Jason J. Eaton, 48, appeared in Vermont Superior Court by video from prison, where he was being held without bail. Surrounded by officials later on Monday at a city hall press conference, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger

described the shooting as “one of the most shocking and disturbing events in the city’s history.” “This horrific, unprovoked attack was a tragic violation of the values and character of this welcoming, inclusive community,” he told a crowded room of reporters. In interviews with investigators, the victims described a low-key visit to Burlington. They’d arrived on November 22 and mostly hung out at Awartani’s grandmother’s house on North Prospect Street and took walks around the neighborhood. On Saturday, the college students went to a bowling alley birthday party for Awartani’s 8-yearold twin cousins. Later, around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, they were walking on North Prospect Street, speaking a mix of English and Arabic. Two of them were wearing kaffiyehs, a distinctive patterned scarf that is a symbol of Palestinian identity. A man matching Eaton’s description approached from a nearby apartment building, pulled out a gun and, without saying a word, started firing, court filings say. Abdalhamid later told investigators he’d never seen the shooter before. Five people who live near the shooting scene told Seven Days they didn’t hear any commotion before the shots rang out. One neighbor ran out and covered two

CRIME

‘A HATEFUL ACT’

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COURTNEY LAMDIN

of the victims with blankets before police arrived. Abdalhamid was shot in a gluteal muscle, according to the court documents, while Ali Ahmad was struck in his upper right chest. A bullet lodged in Awartani’s spine, the court filings say. Awartani’s mother, Elizabeth Price, spoke to NPR on Monday from her home in the West Bank. She said she and her husband hadn’t wanted their son to come home for the holidays because they thought he’d be safer in the U.S. than in Ramallah amid the Israel-Hamas war. “The doctors are currently saying it’s unlikely he’ll be able to use his legs again,” Price told NPR. “He’s confronting a life of disability, a potentially irreversible change to his life and what it means for his future.” The victims all had attended the Ramallah Friends School, a Quaker school in the West Bank. Now, Awartani is a student at Brown University in Providence, R.I.; Abdalhamid studies at Haverford College outside Philadelphia, Pa.; and Ali Ahmad is at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. On Sunday afternoon, a man who gave his first name as Sulaiman and said he is Palestinian placed a lemon cypress tree on the front steps of a home near where the victims were shot. He was visiting Burlington from Philadelphia but said he used to live in the neighborhood. “This very easily could have been me,” he said. “I’m sick to my stomach.” On Sunday evening, before Eaton’s arrest had been announced, more than 250 people gathered in front of Burlington City Hall to condemn what they called a hate crime. The demonstrators lit candles for the victims and vowed to press the Palestinian cause even more vigorously. “We will not be silenced,” said Ashley Smith, a local pro-Palestinian activist and organizer. The activists charged that pro-Israel and anti-Palestine rhetoric from local, state and federal leaders has created a climate that leads to violence against Palestinians. But their intimidation, Smith said, “will only make us raise our voices ever louder.” Among the speakers at the gathering was Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, who said he stood in solidarity with the activists but urged them not to let their anger lead to more violence. “We can’t return that pain with pain for others,” he said. At Monday’s press conference, local and federal authorities said they were still investigating Eaton’s motive and whether the shooting was a hate crime. Under state law, hate crimes carry additional punishments but must be proven

Police Chief Jon Murad speaking at Monday’s press conference

beyond a reasonable doubt. “Although we do not yet have evidence to support a hate crime enhancement, I do want to be clear that there is no question this was a hateful act,” Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George said. Law enforcement officers, including agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, spent Saturday evening and Sunday canvassing the neighborhood for evidence and interviewing people who lived nearby. “I’ve been waiting for you,” Eaton told an ATF agent who knocked on his door Sunday afternoon, court records say. He refused to identify himself but came out with his palms up and asked for a lawyer. Asked whether there were guns inside his apartment, Eaton told the agent he had a shotgun. Eaton was subsequently detained. A search of his apartment turned up ammunition and four guns, including a Ruger .380-caliber LCP pistol, and a loaded magazine containing five rounds of ammunition with red tips matching the brand of rounds found at the scene. Ballistics testing later connected the pistol to the fired rounds, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. Eaton bought the pistol in April at a gun store in Williston, according to court records. Murad said Eaton appeared to have moved to Burlington from Syracuse, N.Y., over the summer and was living in an apartment at 69 North Prospect Street. The shooting occurred in front of Eaton’s building. Inside Eaton’s home, investigators discovered several cellphones and a backpack of computer hard drives. Police didn’t share any insights about Eaton’s motivations or beliefs, but his mother, Mary Reed, told the Daily Beast on Monday that her son is “a very religious person” who often reads the Bible. “He, like all of us, thinks the world is a mess,” Reed told the outlet. “He is a spiritual person.”

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

Reed did not return an interview request from Seven Days on Monday. Online, Eaton posted content from a Unitarian Universalist church. In a statement to Seven Days, the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington confirmed that Eaton had volunteered there for “a short time” but had never been a member of the congregation. “As a faith tradition, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. We pray for the recovery of these young people and that their families and loved ones will know comfort and support,” the statement said.

NO PERSON SHOULD WORRY ABOUT BEING SHOT AT

WHILE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES. P R E S ID E NT J O E BIDEN

Eaton’s mother also told the Daily Beast that her son has dealt with depression and “other mental health issues” but was in a good mood when she saw him on Thanksgiving. Eaton didn’t bring up the Middle East at dinner, Reed told the Daily Beast. The shooting has garnered international attention amid the brutal war between Israel and Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and conducted a surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people last month. Israel has responded with a bombing campaign and ground invasion that has killed an estimated 14,000 people. For the past few days, the sides have abided by a tenuous cease-fire agreement, and Hamas has returned dozens of the 240 hostages it took during the October 7 attack. “This is a dangerous time in America if you are associated with a group that is involved in these conflicts,” Price, Awartani’s mother, told CNN. “There is

too much hate speech against all sides. In that toxic context, people take action on their own with devastating consequences.” On Tuesday, a pro-Palestine student group at Brown University posted a statement attributed to Awartani on Instagram in which he described the attack as part of a “larger story.” “This hideous crime did not happen in a vacuum. As much as I appreciate and love every single one of you here today, I am but one casualty in this much wider conflict,” Awartani wrote. Had he been shot in the West Bank, where he grew up, the Israeli army would have likely withheld medical services from him, he wrote, and the soldier who shot him would have never been convicted. “I understand that the pain is so much more real and immediate because many of you know me, but any attack like this is horrific, be it here or in Palestine,” he wrote. He added that he hoped to be thought of as not just “as an individual, but rather as a proud member of a people being oppressed.” In a written statement, President Biden said he was “horrified” to learn about the shooting and was praying for the victims’ recovery. He said he’d spoken with Mayor Weinberger and offered help from federal authorities. “While we are waiting for more facts, we know this: there is absolutely no place for violence or hate in America. Period,” the president said. “No person should worry about being shot at while going about their daily lives.” At the press conference, Weinberger expressed his sympathies to two of the victims’ uncles, who were in attendance. Richard Price, Awartani’s uncle and a Burlington resident, said people often ask him whether he’s worried about the safety of his relatives in the West Bank. “The reality is, as difficult as their life is, they are surrounded by an incredible sense of community,” he said. That the young men were ultimately less safe in Vermont — “tragic irony is not even the right phrase,” he said. “It speaks to the level of hatred that exists in some corners of this country. It speaks to a sickness of gun violence that exists in this country.” Radi Tamimi, Abdalhamid’s uncle who lives in San Francisco, came to the press conference directly from the Burlington airport. Both he and Price said their families understand that the investigation will take time. But they said they suspected their nephews were victims of a hate crime. “To imagine, with everything that’s happening, that this was just a random act?” Tamimi said. “It doesn’t feel that way.” ➆

Safety First

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Creating a Community of Readers

he vibes were decidedly different at the campaign kickoffs of the three women vying for the Democratic nomination to become Burlington’s next mayor. City Council President Karen Paul’s (D-Ward 6) polished and professional event in late October led with speeches from party bigwigs: former governor Howard Dean and Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central). A week later, Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) held a veritable pep rally on the back steps of city hall, where her cheerleaders shouted out her campaign slogan, “All hands on deck!” C D Mattison’s mid-November launch was more laidback. After her speech, she exchanged hugs and high-fives as DJ Craig Mitchell spun the Bill Withers tune “Lovely Day.” Pomp and circumstance aside, all three candidates framed the race around the same issue: public safety. On the campaign trail and in interviews with Seven Days, each candidate pitched herself as best able to address rising homelessness, crime and public drug use in Burlington. “Our city is in crisis,” Mattison said. Burlington has “enormous challenges” with crime, Shannon said. Many residents “don’t feel that sense of safety,” Paul said. Each woman is hoping to succeed Mayor Miro Weinberger, a four-term Democrat who is calling it quits after 12 years in office. (Weinberger won’t say whom he’s supporting in the race.)

Democrats will meet on December 10 to choose their nominee for the March 5 Town Meeting Day ballot. So far, only one Progressive — Vermont Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (P/D-Burlington) — is running, though more candidates could emerge before that party’s December 4 caucus. Republicans hope to nominate someone on December 19, while independent candidates have until January 29 to get on the ballot. Paul and Shannon said they will drop out of the race if they don’t receive the party’s nomination. Mattison wouldn’t commit either way, saying she’s “focused on the caucus.” Shannon and Paul have long records as elected public officials that provide a picture of their respective styles and insight into how they’d approach some issues. Shannon joined the council in 2003. Paul was elected in 2008 as an independent, then won as a Democrat in 2014. Paul represents the city’s Hill Section and the east side of the South End. Shannon’s South District seat includes both the Hill Section and the west side of the South End. The two had never gone headto-head until a 2013 contest for council president. That vote ended in a deadlock, until Paul bowed out of the race and thencouncilor Jane Knodell switched her vote to Shannon. Knodell, a Progressive who lost her Central District seat in 2019, is now advising Shannon’s campaign. Mattison, 58, has positioned herself as the antiestablishment candidate, up

TOWN MEETING DAY

SAFETY FIRST

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against two party heavyweights. A Black biracial gay woman, Mattison has said she wants to appeal to people who feel unheard by city government. “This is our Burlington,” she writes on her website. “Let’s build it together.” She is a tech consultant who also lives in the city’s South End. On one of her recent daily walks downtown, she posted a selfie-style Instagram video to encourage people to shop and dine there — a response to recent commercial vacancies that some have attributed to rising crime. Mattison’s approach appeals to Cara Chigazola Tobin, chef and co-owner of Honey Road restaurant at Church and Main streets. “She’s so connected to the community and really hears the concerns that people are expressing,” Tobin said. Paul, 63, has embarked on her own listening tour by hitting the phones, knocking on doors and meeting with small groups of residents at her supporters’ homes. A certified public accountant, Paul has been talking up her financial know-how, including her 11-year stint on the council’s powerful Board of Finance. Paul, who lives in the Hill Section, has support from at least one of her colleagues: Councilor Sarah Carpenter (D-Ward 4), who, like Paul, grew up in the Queen City. Carpenter said Paul can work with people of all political persuasions. “We need her in the mayor’s office to help that happen,” Carpenter said. Other council Dems haven’t publicly endorsed a candidate, but Councilor Mark Barlow (I-North District) is with Shannon. He recently helped organize a meet and greet in the New North End, just one of Shannon’s public appearances in recent weeks. She also hosted a sold-out fundraiser at the St. John’s Club in her South End neighborhood and last week led a mini parade of supporters to the city’s annual tree lighting on the Church Street Marketplace. Shannon, 59, a real estate agent, says she’s raised $54,000 from 300 donors since her kickoff on November 2. (Paul wouldn’t say how much she’s raised; Mattison says she’s raised nearly $6,700.) Shannon supporters say they appreciate that she speaks her mind, even on politically fraught topics. In 2021, her opposition to a proposed police oversight board spurred a flurry of prank phone calls that interrupted a council debate. She reported the pranksters to the police, earning her a scathing mention in the leftist online publication the Rake Vermont, which said Shannon used “countless hours of government resources … to punish and silence these activists.” That same year, Shannon’s vocal support for closing a sprawling homeless 18

encampment on Sears Lane inspired her critics to wear T-shirts emblazoned with “Fxck Jxxn Shxnnxn” to city council meetings. That sentiment is a lasting one: A passerby lobbed the curse at the councilor during her campaign launch on the back steps of city hall last month. Shannon sees her outspokenness as a strength that distinguishes her from Paul. “You often don’t know where she is [on an issue] until she votes,” Shannon said of her colleague. “I’m much more likely to communicate that in advance, give people an opportunity to persuade me that I’m wrong — or to know that they don’t have to waste their time with me.” Paul, for her part, chalked this up to a difference in style, not substance. “I bring an ability to really listen intently and authentically,” she said. “Not to say, ‘This is my position’ and then ask people how they feel, but to … form my opinions based on what I hear.” In the end, Shannon and Paul have nearly identical voting records, but one difference could divide some Democrats. In June 2020, Shannon voted against a successful Progressive-led resolution to slash police staffing through attrition. Paul voted in favor. More than a dozen officers subsequently left the department, and many residents have connected the exodus to an increase in crime. The Burlington Police Officers’ Association has also repeatedly slammed the council vote. This week, the union endorsed Shannon, saying her vote shows she is “the only mayoral candidate to unwaveringly support the Burlington Police Department and its officers.” Shannon’s stance has resonated with some voters, too. Hill Section resident Walter Judge, an attorney who attended Shannon’s St. John’s Club fundraiser, said he’s voting for Shannon because she refused to bow to political pressure in 2020, when anti-police sentiment was high following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. “She just said no,” Judge said. “That’s it for me.” Paul says her position was more nuanced. She notes that at the same meeting, she voted against a second resolution that she described as taking a more draconian approach to reducing the police force. More importantly, Paul said, she’s led efforts to rebuild the ranks. In 2021, she said she convinced two council Progs to break with their party and vote to raise the roster cap to 87 officers, an effort that had failed twice before. Paul also takes credit for whipping a nearunanimous vote to approve a new police union contract, which gave members a 20 percent base pay increase over three years, in July 2022. “That was something I did,” Paul said.

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FILE: COURTNEY LAMDIN

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City Councilor Joan Shannon

“Anybody could have done it, but only one person did.” Commercial real estate magnate Ernie Pomerleau said he’s supporting Paul despite believing the police cut was the “worst single decision” ever made in Burlington. Paul erred in voting for the resolution, Pomerleau said, but she backs the department “100 percent.” He recently donated $50,000 to the city after Paul proposed matching it with the same amount in local coronavirus recovery funds to improve safety downtown during the holidays. City officials haven’t decided how the money will be spent but have suggested it could go toward hiring private security to protect businesses. “[Karen] is now fully engaged and fully prepared to put public safety as her No. 1, 2 and 3 priority,” Pomerleau said. “I’ve seen her plan. I think she knows this is a crisis.” Burlington has indeed been struggling. Since the pandemic, the city has seen an influx of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that causes recalcitrant wounds. Discarded needles litter public spaces, and overdoses are at

an all-time high. Many more people are sleeping on the streets. All of these factors have combined to create a sense of unease in the city — and urgency. Last month, city councilors passed a resolution declaring the drug crisis to be Burlington’s top public health and safety issue. In recent weeks, more than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling on elected officials “to urgently take new and expanded actions to turn the tide of this crisis.” The letter is being circulated by residents Andy Vota and Knodell, the former councilor and Shannon’s campaign treasurer. Knodell said the effort predated the mayoral race and isn’t affiliated with Shannon’s campaign. All three candidates have signed the petition. The candidates also share similar views on how to address the problem. They all believe Burlington would be safer with more police and better-funded social services, such as street outreach teams. They all want to create more shelter beds and build more housing to get people off the streets. They all think the state needs to invest in a better long-term mental health care system.

EACH CANDIDATE PITCHED HERSELF AS BEST ABLE TO ADDRESS

HOMELESSNESS, CRIME AND PUBLIC DRUG USE IN BURLINGTON. Paul, she does not give specifics. She wants to work with citizen groups that recover stolen property, such as the BTV Stolen Bike Report and Recovery Facebook group, which boasts nearly 4,000 members, dozens of success stories and a feature last year in the New York Times. Partnering with the groups, the plan says, would “enhance the effectiveness, safety, and professionalism of their efforts.” Shannon’s plan also mentions building “supervised housing” for people in recovery. Mattison, meantime, has suggested deploying mobile methadone clinics to lower barriers to addiction treatment and offering job training programs to people exiting homelessness. She also proposed reopening the Mayor’s Youth Office, a Bernie Sanders-era creation that spawned the now-shuttered 242 Main teen space, to engage kids who may otherwise get into trouble. And she said Burlington hotels should charge a “tourist tax,” which would feed into a public safety fund. Mattison said she didn’t support the police cuts in June 2020. “I think we can all agree that what we’ve been doing for the last 10, 15 years hasn’t been working,” Mattison said. “We’re stuck, and we need to change.” Ward 3 resident Maia Gawor-Sloane is confident Mattison can deliver that change. Gawor-Sloane, who was part of the cut-the-police movement, said she appreciates that Mattison’s plan focuses

on helping people who are struggling instead of supporting the police. Giving cops bonuses and renovating their headquarters won’t address public safety challenges, Gawor-Sloane said. “The solution is more nuanced,” she said. Mattison “wants to listen to everyone and find a way to put everything on the table.” The candidates have plenty of longerITH OFF W term initiatives, but they also realize their D A IS TH constituents want immediate action, particularly on the drug crisis. Burlington leaders have generally favored harm reduction, believing that substance-use disorder is an illness that can’t be treated with incarceration. As drug use becomes more visible, though, some have suggested VISIT OUR STORE! 16 Kilburn St, Burlington, VT Monday-Saturday the city’s stance is too permissive. Shannon worries that public drug use 6h-SKIDA112923 1 11/27/23 9:19 AM is becoming the norm. She thinks the city should intervene — first with social workers, then with police if the behavior continues. “The expectation if someone is arrested is not that they go to prison, but rather they are offered treatment,” she said. “At a minimum, their day is interrupted so they can’t keep doing what they were doing.” Mattison has a different plan. She says arresting people won’t help and suggested that simply deploying more cops downtown could deter people from using in public. She also said the city needs to consider the root causes. “It takes a lot for someone to end up in that place,” she said. “Public safety isn’t just about law enforcement. It’s a community responsibility.” Paul agrees that the city can’t arrest its way out of the problem, but she also didn’t offer another approach to it. She said the city plans to hold two forums about the drug crisis next month, which will inform her opinion on the matter. THE BMW X5. With less than two weeks before the vote, each of the candidates is making a big push to boost turnout of her supporters at the caucus, which will be conducted using You can turn left. You can turn right. Or if you’re behind the wheel of the BMW X5, you can decide not to turn at all. a regular ballot; the winning candidate has The 2016 GLA, starting atX5. just $32,500. The GLAenhanced delivers thrills from the momentdriving you hitcomfortora the ignitionsportierdriving button. WithTHE an available mighty 456-horsepowerengine, suspensionforabsolute BMW to get 51 percent of the vote. As of Tuesday, style, and a fully redesigned interior, themakes BMW X5 always ready, no matter challenge ahead. A racing-inspired dual-clutch transmission forissmoother shifting, while the its advanced engineering delivers more than 800 people had registered for breathtaking SUV performance no matter what road you’re on. All that inside of a sleek, muscular design makes Learn more the BMWvehicle—for X5, and enjoy exceptional offers at price. The Automaster BMW. the event. Party chair Adam Roof said he the 2016 GLA oneabout extraordinary an equally extraordinary MBUSA.com/GLA expects this year’s attendance to exceed the 1,300 people who participated in the The Automaster BMWSTARTING AT THE 2016 You can turn left. You can turn right. Or if you’re behind the wheel of the BMW X5, you can decide not to turn at a 3328 Shelburne Rd.$ last contested Democratic caucus, ahead * With an available mighty 456-horsepowerengine, enhanced suspensionforabsolute driving comfortora sportierdrivin GLA Shelburne, Vermont 05482 of the 2012 election. style, and a fully redesigned interior, the BMW X5 is always ready, no matter the challenge ahead. 802.985.8482 Councilor Hannah King (D-Ward 8), theautomasterbmw.com Learn more about the BMW X5, and enjoy exceptional offers at The Automaster BMW. the party vice chair, hasn’t backed a candi©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. date, citing party bylaws that prohibit her from publicly endorsing one before the The Automaster BMW caucus. But King said she’s excited by the 3328 Shelburne Rd. contenders, all of whom supported her 3328 Shelburne Rd. Shelburne, Vermont 05482-6849 Shelburne, 05482 3328 Shelburne Rd.|Vermont | Shelburne, Vermont 05482-6849 802.985.8482 campaign last March. 802.985.8482 | TheAutomasterMercedesBenz.com 802.985.8482 | TheAutomasterBMW.com “We’re very, very lucky to have three 2016 GLA250 shown intheautomasterbmw.com Polar Silver metallic paint with optional equipment. *MSRP excludes all options, taxes, title, registration, transportation charge and dealer prep. Options, model availability and actual dealer For more information, call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES, or visit MBUSA.com. incredible candidates,” she said. “I think price may vary. See dealer for details. ©2015 Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers ©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. Dems are incredibly strong.” ➆ 20% off coupon in-store only expires 12/9

But their platforms also differ, or at least give priority to different strategies. Paul’s six-page “action plan” calls for upgrading the police station and says that offering retention bonuses to police officers would be one of her “top budget priorities” next year. She also wants to revamp the city’s trespass ordinance to make it easier for businesses to deal with shoplifters — though she declined to explain how that would be accomplished because the proposal is still being vetted by city attorneys. Shannon’s plan also focuses on theft, including a promise to advocate for stronger laws to more effectively hold perpetrators accountable — though, like

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ontpelier residents still have no post office nearly five months after the federal building that housed it at 87 State Street was flooded, and they are directing their ire at the U.S. Postal Service. A temporary location two miles from downtown recently closed. Now people with post office boxes have to travel six miles to Barre to pick up mail. That’s fueled criticism of the federal agency’s post-flood recovery efforts and raised questions about its commitment to restoring services to the Capital City. Paul Montague, the head of the local postal workers’ union, noted that Montpelier, famed for being the only state capital with no McDonald’s, might get comparable distinction for lacking a post office. It’s been a sore spot for residents and businesses who have worked mightily to repair the homes and businesses devastated by the July flooding. It’s not just the 800 or so post office box holders who are affected. Residents in and around Montpelier who receive notices that a package requires a signature or who need other counter services also must travel to Barre for the foreseeable future. “The whole thing just seems very chaotic and not managed well on any front,” Montpelier photographer Karen Hanron told Seven Days. The fact that the situation has persisted into the holiday gift-giving season has frustrated local residents and businesses and rankled Vermont’s federal delegation. In an October 31 letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) called the situation “completely unacceptable.” They demanded a timeline for a new postal location that is “safe, heated, electrified and indoors” by November 3, and for the opening of a temporary location in Montpelier “agreed upon with the American Postal Workers Union” by November 13. Neither of those things happened, nor did DeJoy answer a number of specific questions in writing by November 17, as requested. The delegation responded to that snub with a scathing critique of postal service leaders last week. It called the delays and lack of communication with local

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GOVERNMENT

The empty federal building that housed the post office in downtown Montpelier

leaders and the public a “complete and total abdication of their responsibilities and emblematic of the nationwide crisis and total failure of leadership of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.” A Republican fundraiser appointed by former president Donald Trump, DeJoy has been a polarizing leader of the USPS. The owner of a logistics company, DeJoy had no experience with the postal service when he got the job, and many of his costcutting efforts have been sharply criticized. Postal officials say an “aggressive search” is under way for a temporary location while the federal building is repaired. The State Street location won’t be able to operate until late 2024 “at the earliest,” spokesperson Steve Doherty said. “The Barre Post Office offers full retail services and is not seen as a permanent fix but is the best option until a new Montpelier location can be secured,” Doherty said.

The option the agency used until November 17 involved two postal trucks in a parking lot two miles from downtown. The makeshift location allowed residents with post office boxes to pick up their mail and packages, but it drew criticism over the poor working conditions for workers, especially as winter approached. Staffers there were not the only postal workers facing difficult conditions. Postal clerks such as Montague, who do most of the behind-the-scenes mail sorting, have been toiling for months in what he called a “very cramped space” in the National Life Building. They’ve got about a fifth of the 10,000 square feet that they had downtown, Montague said. The biggest problem, however, is that postal managers can’t seem to figure out how to get a temporary location up and running in Montpelier or communicate their efforts effectively, Montague said.

“Every second, it’s changing what the plan moving forward is,” he said. One idea was to move into a vacant commercial space next to an auto parts store on River Street, where the trucks had previously been parked. Then came reports of a temporary location under contract on Granite Shed Lane east of the Hunger Mountain Co-op. (The owner of that property, Connor Contracting, declined to comment.) Managers also floated plans for a retail space on Main Street near the Skinny Pancake, Montague said. While he doesn’t doubt the difficulty of finding a new temporary home in a city whose downtown was inundated by floodwaters, Montague said the delays and communication lapses point to an organization in crisis mode that is indifferent to its employees and customers.

THE WHOLE THING JUST SEEMS VERY CHAOTIC AND NOT MANAGED WELL ON ANY FRONT. K A R E N HANRON

“I think they don’t want to deal with it, truthfully,” he said. “I think they don’t really care about the inconvenience and hardship they create for people.” Montpelier City Manager William Fraser said restoring a downtown post office is a high priority, and local officials have suggested a number of alternative locations, so far to no avail. In a November 17 post on Front Porch Forum, Fraser wrote that the postal service had not revealed short-term plans for a retail location nor information about the flood-damaged federal building. Doherty, the post office spokesperson, said he didn’t know whether the postmaster general had replied to the delegation. It would be premature to announce anything else, he said. “Until our real estate office secures a lease on a new facility, at which time we can talk about a proposed opening date, it doesn’t really make sense to update the public on the fact that we have nothing to update them on at this time,” Doherty said in an email to Seven Days. Dougherty noted that the General Services Administration runs the federal building. GSA spokesperson Paul Hughes said the flood damaged critical systems in the building’s basement, including its electrical and heating system. Temporary repairs are under way. The building has housed federal

offices, including the Highway Administration, Small Business Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Sen. Welch’s staff. It’s not clear how many people were actively working in the building before the flood. Realtor Tim Heney said he heard occupancy was down significantly since the pandemic, raising questions about the best long-term use of a building in the heart of downtown. Heney said having to use the temporary P.O. box locations — first at the trucks in a parking lot and now in Barre — has been “very difficult” because of the daily trips required by staff. Real estate transactions are time sensitive, so timely delivery is crucial. The entire mail delivery system in the city has slowed, according to Heney, who is a Montpelier city councilor. Delivery delays are so bad that many in the real estate industry have resorted to hand delivering time-sensitive documents, he said. “What used to take a couple days can now take a couple weeks.” Finding a temporary space that could provide customers retail access while meeting the postal service’s needs for tasks such as truck deliveries is a challenge, but a number of vacant buildings downtown could do the trick, Heney said. As for the federal building itself, which was built in 1964: Last week, the walls where the post boxes had stood remained shorn of drywall and portable heaters occupied the empty sorting space in the rear. As resident Lynn Wild strolled down State Street last week, she said the building’s location in the heart of downtown and low occupancy rate cry out for something different. She said the city should take the opportunity to rethink the prime downtown space. Housing, parking, gardening and recreational facilities such as a pool would better serve “a whole bucket of needs” compared to what’s there now, she said. “Let’s get some creative people with a willingness to jump and make a splash!” she said. Hughes said it’s too soon to say whether the General Services Administration would be open to other uses of the building or location. Heney agreed with Wild that it might be time for the city to consider what is the best use of the entire block. Some of the neighboring parcels, including several large parking lots, could also be better utilized, he said. “It’s probably the most significant redevelopment opportunity the city would face in my lifetime,” Heney said. ➆ 2v-ChurchStreetMarketplace112923 1

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news planetarium director Mark Breen and Jane Lindholm, host of NPR’s “But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids.” That commentary will play live on Vermont Public. The museum is offering additional activities and live-stream video from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well. “Rain or shine, this will be an event to remember,” the museum promises. Sky watchers are not the only ones preparing. Many lodging owners have hiked room prices sharply. At Hotel Vermont, the daily rate is about $289 right now but jumps to $729 in early April for a king or two-bed room on the nights before and during the eclipse. A three-night stay at eclipse time at the Topnotch Resort in Stowe, also in the path of totality, will set guests back more than $1,000 a night. Some hotels are requiring a two- or three-night minimum. Smaller mom-and-pop operations are seeing a boost in activity, too. Wendy Monninger, owner of the 10-room Marshfield Inn & Motel, got her first room reservation for the eclipse weekend in March 2021. “She said, ‘I want to see an eclipse before I die,’” Monninger said of the guest. When she opened up bookings for April, the inn, which is usually almost empty at that time of year, filled up quickly. Monninger said the bookings came in so fast that it didn’t occur to her to raise room prices — about $135 per night — for the eclipse weekend. “I’m not going to pricegouge people,” she said. In Burlington, City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) has long pushed to regulate short-term rentals, but at an October 23 council meeting, she noted that the eclipse offers an unusual chance for residents to make some extra money. Places that normally rent for about $150 per night are now going for as much as $1,000 — and most are sold out. “I know I’m kind of known as the antiAirbnb person here, but this is a good opportunity for anyone in Burlington to rent out a room,” Shannon said, noting that the city allows anyone to do this for up to 14 days. At Jay Peak, Wright has hired a Pink Floyd cover band to play the band’s classic 1973 The Dark Side of the Moon album as darkness settles over the mountains in the midafternoon. He’s planning to shut skiing down early so nobody’s left on the mountain when it goes dark and to provide tram rides to the summit so visitors can view the eclipse from on high. He expects thousands of people to hike to the top of the mountain that day; there’s even a wedding planned on the peak during the eclipse. He’s come around to the idea that people will travel 22

ANNE WALLACE ALLEN

Moon Shadow « P.14

Wendy Monninger at the Marshfield Inn & Motel

Bangor Burlington Buffalo

Path of the Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024

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from afar to see the moon cast a shadow over the Earth. “Nobody balked at the room rates when we put them out there,” he said. The expected financial boon comes at a chilly, leafless time of year when the weather is unpredictable and tourism is spotty. Some tourism operators are uncomfortably aware that if clouds are forecast in Vermont, eclipse tourists might decide at the last moment to go elsewhere.

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory says there is just a 25 percent probability of cloudless skies over Vermont on April 8. Its report says ominously that “viewing the eclipse can be completely spoiled by the presence of a single cloud or other dense, haze-producing atmospheric components.” “It could be snowing. It could be sunny,” said Zach Williamson, festival and event director for Burlington City Arts. “April is not a normal tourist time in the state.”

Williamson recently attended a presentation by a consultant who had organized activities around the 2017 eclipse in Wyoming. “We learned that people who are traveling to the eclipse are quite savvy and will go where they think they have the best shot of seeing it,” he said. The eclipse presents an unparalleled opportunity to show people what Burlington has to offer and prompt them to return, Williamson said. He noted that during the 2017 eclipse out west, the small city of Idaho Falls drew 300,000 visitors from all over the world. Last month, he flagged the opportunity for the Burlington City Council. “There is quite a balloon effect on the community when they’re fortunate to have this happen in their area,” he told councilors. Hans van Wees, general manager of Hotel Vermont, expects to be busy on the day of the eclipse. The hotel is hosting a party for guests on an outdoor deck with a clear view of the sky and has purchased its own supply of viewing glasses. He plans to take in the once-in-a-century event from the deck, too. “I think we’ll all take a break when it happens,” he said. ➆

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As an American, I was deeply saddened and ashamed to read of the unprovoked shooting of Palestinian Americans [“Three Victims in Burlington Shooting Were of Palestinian Descent,” November 26]. This tragedy is unacceptable and demonstrates how our “leaders” and media are polarizing us to the point that we are shooting and killing each other just as in the Middle East. We live in America, not the Middle East. We live in a democracy where you have the right to be “wrong” and the right to express your own opinion. We live in a society where you have the right to express and celebrate your cultural heritage without the fear of persecution. I hope that the authorities find the deranged fanatic who perpetrated this outrageous hate crime. Let’s not devolve to Hamas’ level. We are better than this! I wish for a speedy recovery of the victims. Michael Pravica HENDERSON, NV

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How could those with a tradition and a religion rich in the wisdom of Hillel; compassionate in the spirit of tikkun olam (repairing the world); and infused with the moral principles of justice, kindness and the sanctity of life do as they are doing in Gaza and still claim to be Jewish? Impossible. This is a betrayal and a hijacking of the goodness of the tradition I grew up with. Israel suffered a terrible horror on October 7. “Nazifying” the Palestinian people in response, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing, and weaponizing the holocaust to justify the violence raining down on Gaza is reprehensible. If you want to grow antisemitism, follow the Israeli government’s playbook. Cast millions of innocent Palestinian people (half of whom are children) as human animals, bomb them into dust, dislocate them en masse, deprive them of food and shelter, and then throw up your hands to the world and ask, “Why do they hate us?” and declare, “We have to do this, or they will drive us into the sea.” As Friedrich Nietzsche said, “You yourself will always be the worst enemy you can encounter.” The greatest threat to Israel is Israel itself.

I’d like to thank you for writing the profile Ron Koss of photographer Paul Rogers in your MONTPELIER November 22 issue [“The Novemberist: Vermont Photographer Paul Rogers Embraces Transition Time”]. As an UNFAIRLY TAGGED amateur photographer, I am always Maybe the local businesses characterized looking for inspiration as blighted by Seven Days to get outside with [“Blight Sites,” November my camera and take 1] wouldn’t suffer that pictures. November, moniker if it weren’t for the suffice it to say, is layers of graffiti, much of not a month I look which is the derivation and forward to for creative cause of the “blight.” Other inspiration. Paul’s than the graffiti, some of beautiful photography these buildings look no represented in his worse than others in the “Stick Season” online city, such as the former gallery was just the dilapidated Champlain SPICE OF LIFE ADVANTAGE PLAY nudge I needed to look Transmission shop and RURAL DISQUIET at our beautiful home its adjoining trashed lot at state in a new way and, the corner of Archibald Street quite literally, in a new light. and North Winooski Avenue, owned by Robert Coleburn Golden Junk, LLC, which also owns the neighboring Junktiques Collective. FERRISBURGH It’s unfair that businesses owned by longtime local job and housing providers ISRAEL’S ‘BETRAYAL’ the Handys and the Boves — some of their [Re “Hundreds Rally in Burlington in business buildings ruined by graffiti that Response to Israel-Hamas War,” October is not their fault — are constantly targeted 15]: Think of those who suffered the for criticism by Seven Days and the city. Holocaust, those who carry the trauma Yet the city, a part owner of Memorial from one generation to the next of being Auditorium, escapes its own wrath and discriminated against and subjected to fines for allowing the auditorium to sit in every kind of indignity. How could the disrepair as a constant eyesore. Jewish state of Israel, of all entities, Dan Cohen execute the indiscriminate killing and BURLINGTON terror that is occurring in Gaza? NOVEMBER 3-12

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Francis Nicosia 1944-2023 MIDDLEBURY, VT.

Francis “Frank” Raymond Nicosia passed away peacefully at the University of Vermont Medical Center on November 21, 2023, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Throughout his illness, he was always in the company of family members. Frank was born and raised in Philadelphia. After graduating from Penn State University, where he also spent a semester abroad in Spain, he became a Peace Corps volunteer in a small desert village in Libya and then taught English and history in a German high school in a small town in southern Germany. He received an MA in modern European history from Georgetown University and a PhD in German and Middle Eastern history from McGill

University. He was a history professor at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt., from 1979 until 2007 and then taught at the University of Vermont, where he was the Raoul Hilberg Distinguished Professor of Holocaust Studies until he retired in 2018. He was a prolific scholar who focused especially on the Holocaust and the need for deep historical understanding to make sense of the present. Amongst his many

Brennan Martin

JUNE 17, 1988-NOVEMBER 4, 2023 CASTLE ROCK, COLO. Brennan Martin, 35, passed away suddenly on November 4, 2023, in Santa Barbara, Calif. The past few years we watched a struggling young man become humbled … striving to right his wrongs, help others in recovery and build character. Born to Karola Wigness and Peter Martin on June 17, 1988, in Burlington, Vt., Brennan attended the Family School and the Hyde School and was a star athlete in track and cross-country skiing. Brennan was an active member in the AA community and was seen as a leader among his peers. Like many who are in the recovery community, Brennan returned to the support of AA, rehab and other sober living communities at various times throughout his life. He had a charismatic personality and a natural ability to connect with others through humor and adventure. Brennan had an affinity for travel that brought him to live across the

works was Nazi Germany and the Arab World, Zionism and Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, and The Third Reich and the Palestine Question. He coauthored the textbook The Columbia Guide to the Holocaust, coedited six books and edited three volumes of documents. He published numerous articles in English and German in scholarly journals and collections. He received many grants and fellowships for his research in Germany, Israel, England and the United States. Despite his scholarly contributions, Frank always maintained that the most wonderful thing about working as an academic was the continued relationships with young people, who gave him hope. In 2000, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education named him Vermont Professor of

country, including in Florida, Texas, California and Colorado. He had a passion for flying, boating, riding motorcycles and trying new things. Brennan was working toward his pilot’s license at the time of his death, a passion that he inherited from his father, who predeceased him when Brennan was 11 years old. Brennan aspired to complete his sober program in Denver, Colo., and earn his pilot’s license. Brennan is survived by his mother, Karola Wigness; his younger sister, Andréa Martin; his maternal grandparents, Ruby Brezinsky and Bob Wigness; his paternal grandparents, Allen and Nancy Martin; his cousins, Justin (Brooke) Small and Matthew (Mikayla) Small; his second cousins, Sadie and Mercy Small; and his aunts and uncles, Kris and Katie Wigness and Gary and Karin Small In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to americanflightschools.com/product/ brennan-martin-memorial-scholarship to help support other aspiring pilots in need of financial assistance.

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the Year, and in 2014 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Holocaust Educational Foundation at Northwestern University. In addition to his teaching at UVM and St. Michael’s, he also served as a visiting professor at the Center for Research on Anti-Semitism of the Technical University in Berlin and at the Humboldt University in Berlin. He served several stints as the interim director of the Carolyn and Leonard Miller Center for Holocaust Studies at UVM. Frank always enjoyed hiking, snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing in fall and winter and perennial flower and vegetable gardening in spring and summer. He produced bumper crops of garlic in his backyard garden! Along with his wife, Ellen, and sisterin-law, Nancy, he was an avid opera fan, enjoying live performances from Middlebury

to New York and Saturday radio broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera. He was also a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan and took enormous joy in watching their 2023 postseason run. Frank and Ellen worked together advocating against militarism and for health care for all, as well as going door-to-door canvassing during progressive political campaigns. Frank’s kindness, good nature and brilliance will be forever missed. He was an extraordinary scholar, teacher, father, husband and citizen. He was loved by many, especially his sons, Alex Nicosia of Middlebury, Vt., and Tim Nicosia of Westwood, Mass., to whom he was deeply devoted, as well as his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Nicosia; his grandchildren, Maeve, Patrick and Joey; and his wife, Ellen Oxfeld. Frank and Ellen married in 2000 and were happy every day they were together.

Kevin Michael

DECEMBER 7,1965-NOVEMBER 16, 2023 FITCHBURG, MASS. Kevin “K-Don” Michael passed away on November 16, 2023, after surviving a battle with COVID-19, only to succumb to severe bacterial pneumonia. His family and friends are devastated by the tragic loss of their beloved son, brother, uncle and dear friend. Kevin was a powerful force in the reggae world, spreading the roots of Rastafari, reggae and dancehall culture throughout Vermont, Boston, Jamaica and beyond. Kevin’s playfulness shouted “Music! Love!” He was an artist, musician and producer whose knowledge of reggae was deep and legendary. Kevin’s creativity knew no limits and was expressed publicly through visual and performing arts; personally in his home, garden and kitchen; and at his workplace, Berklee College of Music. An incredible conversationalist, he was enthusiastic to share his vast and diverse interest in music, history, genealogy and documentaries. He was an authentic man, humble and

He is additionally survived by his brother Joe Nicosia and sister-in-law Janet Nicosia of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; his sister, Frances Nicosia, and her husband, Michael Volpe, of Philadelphia, Pa.; his brother Michael Nicosia and his wife, Patricia Tierney, of West Chester, Pa.; his sister-in-law Nancy Oxfeld of West Orange, N.J.; and his mother-in-law, Edith Oxfeld, of South Orange, N.J. Donations in Frank’s memory may be made to either the Center for Holocaust Studies at UVM, the Democracy Now! radio show or Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts. As he struggled to overcome health obstacles in his last months, Frank always looked forward to connecting to the world through Democracy Now! and to pure beauty through the Saturday opera broadcasts. A celebration of his life is planned for spring 2024.

gracious. A gifted, loving and generous soul, Kevin cherished his brother and their inseparable bond. His interactions with family delighted us all. Kevin Folger Michael was born in Concord, Mass., and spent his early years in Acton, Mass., and teen years in beloved Vermont before moving to the Boston area. He is survived by his mother, Gail Wheeler, of South Burlington, Vt.; his father and his wife, David and Rusty Michael, of Enfield, N.H.; his brother, Karl Michael, his wife, Nasse’ Salhi, and his daughter, Naila SalhiMichael, of Burlington, Vt.; his sister, Lori Roberts, of Colchester, Vt., her children, Matthew, Danielle and Kyle Bombardier, and their spouses and children, all of Chittenden County, Vt.; the Berklee College of Music family; and, of course, the global reggae community. A celebration of his amazing life will be held in Vermont in spring 2024. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to your favorite charity in Kevin’s memory. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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IN MEMORIAM

OBITUARIES

Ruth Beaudin

JANUARY 5, 1933-NOVEMBER 16, 2023 SHELBURNE, VT. Ruth Beaudin, adored mother, grandmother and wife, died at home in Shelburne on November 16, 2023. She was 90 years old. Ruth was born in Boston on January 5, 1933, to Paul and Fanny (Green) Kaplan. She graduated from Jeremiah E. Burke High School in 1950 and received a bachelor’s degree from Forsyth Dental School in 1952. Ruth was a gifted athlete, an excellent tennis player and golfer. She played bridge and mah-jongg and, in later years, was a wiz at Wii bowling. Ruth loved the sun and the beach, and, while water was a theme throughout her life, she preferred to be by the water rather than in it.

As a young girl, Ruth spent her summers at Nantasket Beach on the south shore of Boston. It was there that she met her first husband, David Binch, with whom she had two daughters, Sheryl and Beth. The family moved to Vermont in 1960, where they frequently boated on Lake Champlain. In 1998, Ruth married Marcel Beaudin, a native Vermonter and competitive sailor. Together, they traveled around the world, including numerous sailing trips in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. On board, as in life, Ruth was a first-rate first mate. Ruth worked briefly as a dental hygienist and, in later years, worked at Preston’s and Lippa’s jewelry stores in Burlington. She volunteered at her children’s schools, was a member of the Ohavi Zedek Hadassah and served

Barbara Peters Reardon APRIL 13, 1928NOVEMBER 10, 2023 WATERVILLE, VT.

Barbara Peters Reardon, 95, passed away peacefully in the arms of her granddaughter, Marie Hamilton, and Marie’s husband, Mat Forget, on November 10, 2023. The hours before her death were a shared circle of music and song with her daughter, Liz Reardon; her sister, Eileen Peters Collins; her niece, Maura Campbell Brigham; and the Lamoille Valley Home Health & Hospice chaplain, Danny, who accompanied Marie’s Irish harp with his guitar. Barbara was a gifted artist, a brave adventurer, an empathetic counselor and the epitome of a tough Irishwoman. Her heart was open to the world, and her presence blessed those who knew her. Barbara was born in Troy, N.Y., on April 13, 1928, to Marie Moore Peters and William Peters. Her family subsequently moved to Glens Falls, N.Y., where she made lifelong friendships and which she always considered her hometown. Like any other teenager, she had a crush on a

handsome basketball player, Ed Reardon, who played for the Fort Edward, N.Y., “Flying Forts.” (This was World War II.) He went into the U.S. Navy after graduation, and she went to the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. They reconnected at a Christmas Eve dance after the war, and they were together from then on. Ed and Barbara moved to Washington, D.C., upon their marriage, and their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, arrived nine months later. In the middle of joy were the seeds of tragedy — Ed was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma shortly after his daughter was born. After her husband’s death, Barbara returned to Glens Falls and the sheltering love of her family. She had a tough row to hoe as a young widow in the late

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

on the association board at the Landings in South Burlington, where she lived on the shores of Lake Champlain for 30 years. Ruth had an emotional quotient like no other. She was an astute judge of character and a valuable sounding board for friends and family members, quietly offering sage advice, always without an ounce of judgment. Even as her memory faded, she was able to offer profound pearls of wisdom in the moment. Ruth is survived by her husband of 25 years, Marcel Beaudin; her daughters, Sheryl Shaker (Ted) and Beth Alpert; five grandchildren, Molly, Grace, and Will Shaker, and Sam and Rebecca Alpert; and four stepchildren, Adam Beaudin, Rebecca Beaudin (Christopher), Paul Beaudin (Wendy) and Jeb Beaudin. Also surviving are her brother’s children, Barry Kaplan and Arleen Noller (Rob), and two stepgrandchildren, Jonah and Aaron Beaudin. A private burial was held at Shelburne Village Cemetery. Contributions in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or American Heart Association.

’50s, but she forged a new future at Le Moyne College, a Jesuit School in Syracuse, N.Y., where she started as a housemother in the freshman dorm, Tekakwitha Hall, and progressed to dean of women. Her neighbors and friends were future senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and future firebrand Father Dan Berrigan. During this time, she attended Boston College, where she obtained her post-master’s certificate in counseling, commuting on weekends back to Syracuse. In 1962, she was recruited by the Queensbury, N.Y., school district to serve as the first guidance counselor for their newly built high school. Barbara took the opportunity to raise her daughter among family and friends, and for the next 26 years she mentored and supported so many young people and their families who still are grateful for her wisdom. In 1972, she took a sabbatical and joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps for a year on the Colville Reservation in Washington State, where she took care of the eighthgrade girls in a residential school and was recruited by the tribe to work with them as the school was returned to the community. She decided that she needed to be back home with her own and kept

her family close for the rest of her life. She held room in her heart for her son-in-law, Bill Hamilton, and joyously welcomed her grandchildren, Daniel and Marie. After Bill’s death in a car accident in January 1993, she became “Barbie,” the loving, caring and occasionally grumpy grandma. In her retirement, she developed her vision and skills as an artist. Her horizons expanded to the Canadian Maritimes, where she became a member of a small fishing community on an island off the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick. She was a longtime resident of Lakeview Park in Shelburne and spent her last year in Waterville, Vt., where she was lovingly cared for by Marie and Mat, with the assistance of the wonderful staff from Lamoille Home Health & Hospice. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 9, 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls, N.Y., with interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery in South Glens Falls, N.Y. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Barbara’s name to Lamoille Home Health & Hospice, 54 Farr Ave., Morristown, VT 05661.

Elinor Yahm

1943-2023 A memorial to celebrate Ellie Yahm’s life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 10:30 a.m., at the Burlington Friends Meeting House. All are welcome. To attend via Zoom, contact her daughter at rebecca@openpath homeschooling.com. In lieu of flowers, you may donate in her honor to the American Friends Service Committee.

Nicolette “Nicki” Poulin NOVEMBER 22, 1982JANUARY 6, 2019 Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation. —Rumi

Want to memorialize a loved one in Seven Days? Post your remembrance online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/lifelines. Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com or 865-1020, ext. 10.

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James Sturm at the Center for Cartoon Studies

Novel Approaches From the Center for Cartoon Studies to Watership Down, James Sturm can’t stop creating worlds 30

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

ROB STRONG

B Y D AN BOL L ES • dan@sevendaysvt.com

ames Sturm needs a break. At least that’s what his pal, New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, thinks. “I just want him to slow down,” Bliss said. As he is wont to do, Bliss was joking. But also kind of not. “I have nothing but praise for James and nothing but good things to say about him,” Bliss went on. “I just wish that he would stop working so much.” He has a point: By any measure, Sturm’s 40-year career has been a breakneck series of successful creative endeavors. In Vermont, the 58-year-old cartoonist is best known as the cofounder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, a oneof-a-kind college for cartoonists that he dreamed up and brought to life almost 20 years ago in what was then the dilapidated railroad town of White River Junction. In the years since, the school has produced a stream of artists who have gone on to stellar careers making and teaching comics. All the while, Sturm has forged a glittering comics career of his own. He has written and drawn cartoons for Slate, the New Yorker and the New York Times. He was in at the ground level of two profoundly influential publications: innovative satire outfit the Onion and Seattle alt-weekly the Stranger. He has won an Eisner Award, aka “cartooning’s Oscar,” for writing a Marvel Comics miniseries called The Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules. His epic, three-volume historical fiction book James Sturm’s America: God, Gold and Golems drew widespread praise for its Howard Zinn-like excavation of the sort of U.S. history that’s rarely taught in schools. His collaboration on the seven-volume-and-counting Adventures in Cartooning series has helped guide a new generation to the craft. Yet it’s his latest work that may stand as his crowning artistic achievement: a graphic novel adaptation of English author Richard Adams’ 1972 fantasy classic Watership Down. Released last month, the adaptation, conceived and written by Sturm with illustrations by artist Joe Sutphin, has been hailed as a brilliant interpretation that hews to the tone and scope of the original more faithfully than any previous adaptation. Sturm and Sutphin’s version is immersive from the opening page. The hefty 384-page hardcover book unfolds with minimal narration, relying instead on art and dialogue to unspool the epic journey of a ragtag colony of freedom-seeking rabbits led by Hazel and Fiver, a rabbit with a precognitive sixth sense. To slip into the pages of Watership Down as envisioned by the American artists is to be transported to a world of dark and mysterious mythology, adventure, and, of course, talking rabbits.

From The Golem’s Mighty Swing

“It’s a lot of rabbits,” Sturm said wryly. For Sturm, the book marks a creative milestone and yet another example of his uncanny ability to bring unwieldy and perhaps unlikely concepts to life. Whether crafting a rich adaptation of a beloved work of fiction, explaining complex and fraught topics through comics, or fostering a vibrant community of artists at his school, Sturm builds worlds through the sheer force of his creativity and ambition. “He’s really good at coming up with the big idea and then finding ways to execute it,” said Jarad Greene, a cartoonist and Center for Cartoon Studies alum who now works at the school. “Not many people have both of those skills.”

ORIGIN STORY

COURTESY OF DRAWN & QUARTERLY

Sturm is tall and slim, with close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair that rings an otherwise bald scalp. He dresses casually, speaks thoughtfully and carries himself with an unpretentious, intellectual air that coexists with — and is perhaps softened by — a cartoonist’s witty subversive streak. (When asked what he thought he could bring to a graphic adaptation of Watership Down, he responded, dryly, “Pictures.”) Even after more than 20 years of living and working in rural Vermont, he wouldn’t be mistaken for a homesteader. But he does seem at ease in his surroundings. He shares a cozy house in Hartland with his wife, artist and printmaker Rachel Gross, and two dogs; it has the lived-in feel of a cabin in the woods and is where they raised their two daughters. Sturm credits Watership Down, one of the first books he borrowed from the Hartland library, with helping him embrace living in the middle of nowhere after spending his life until then entirely in cities. “I had heard about it and thought, Maybe this will help me adjust to my rural lifestyle,” Sturm said of the novel. “It inspired me to be more focused in the place that I was and [taught me] that amazing narratives can be found everywhere, even rural Vermont or, in that case, the English countryside.” Sturm grew up 30 minutes north of New York City before attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he befriended the Onion cofounder Tim Keck and drew comics for the satirical newspaper. Next came an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, earned while he worked as a production assistant at Raw, the alternative comics anthology coedited by Maus cartoonist Art Spiegelman and his wife, Françoise Mouly, who is now art editor of the New Yorker. After graduation, Sturm followed Keck to Seattle, and in 1991 they cofounded the

Stranger, a publication that helped set the standard for alt-weekly newspapers — including this one. While he was there, he met Gross. All the while, Sturm was producing comics and making a name for himself, especially in underground circles. In 1991, Seattle’s Fantagraphics published the first book in his Eisner-nominated Cereal

Killings series. On its face, the offbeat murder mystery concerned out-of-work cereal box mascots who were targeted by a serial killer. But like a lot of Sturm’s work — and the alt-comics of the era — that goofy premise concealed a deeper commentary. The series was inspired by Wendell Berry’s 1977 book The Unsettling of America, which probes how diet shapes American society. By 2000, Sturm and Gross were living in Georgia, where Sturm taught in the sequential art department at Savannah College of Art and Design. He was still working on comics, including what would be his breakthrough 2001 graphic novel, The Golem’s Mighty Swing, the final installment of the trilogy that became James Sturm’s America. “That book put me on the map,” Sturm said. Time magazine’s Best Comic of 2001 also led to bigger opportunities, including drawing a New Yorker cover and realizing a boyhood dream of writing for Marvel. Although his career was flourishing, he and Gross had soured on life in Savannah and wanted a change. Meanwhile, Gross’ parents’ small summer house in Hartland, Vt., stood empty. So the couple and their 1-year-old daughter moved north.

Within a year, Sturm and Gross welcomed a second daughter, and while Sturm was still drawing comics, and accolades, he needed a steadier income. Leaning on the experience he gained in Savannah, he decided to try teaching comics. On a map, he drew a circle with a 100-mile radius around Hartland and pitched every college in the area. “When I say there was no interest, I mean there was no interest,” Sturm said. A few schools in Vermont and elsewhere offered to let him teach a drawing course, but none seemed keen to take cartooning seriously. “I didn’t want to go to a place where I had to convince people that comics were important,” Sturm said. So he started talking with friends about the idea of an independent cartoon school. Soon his thoughts turned to the DIY ethos of the underground comics he fell in love with as an undergrad in Wisconsin while he was penning his first regular strip for the student-run Daily Cardinal, “The Adventures of Down and Out Dawg.” “The credo of underground comics was about self-publishing and doing it yourself,” Sturm said. “That was the mindset of the group of auteur cartoonists I was in in the 1990s. So the thought was: Can we take that mindset and apply it to higher education for comics?”

APPLYING HIMSELF

In the early 2000s, White River Junction was notable mostly for its bus station and as the place where northern New Englanders returned their Netflix DVDs. Its once-thriving downtown was largely deserted, its Main Street haunted by the ghosts of shuttered mom-and-pop businesses. With its seedy reputation, the River City was not the kind of place most sensible folks would stop for lunch, let alone a master’s degree in fine arts. But as he’s made a career of doing, Sturm saw things differently. “You had all this underutilized infrastructure, boarded-up buildings that were empty or needed work,” Sturm said. “So we were able to find cheap places to move in.” Sturm found a partner in his friend Michelle Ollie, a graphic designer with an MBA and experience as an academic administrator. They cobbled together a hodgepodge of funding, including donations from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cocreator Peter Laird and Jean Schulz, widow of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz, for whom the Center for Cartoon Studies’ massive Schulz Library is named. Two of Sturm’s friends and mentors also NOVEL APPROACHES

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Novel Approaches « P.31

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The lab has tackled some weighty subject matter, from mental health to climate change. Its next book, a collaboration with Harvard University’s Prison Studies Project, is on mass incarceration. If that doesn’t quite sound like a lighthearted jaunt through the Sunday funnies, it’s not. But to Sturm, that’s precisely why nonfiction comics are effective vehicles for breaking down fraught topics. “That’s just comic book stuff, right? Something you laugh at,” he said, summing up a would-be reader’s mindset. “I think that’s the strength of it — that people don’t take it seriously. You might pick it up, get inside it, and the next thing you know, you’re absorbing information, learning stuff.”

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE

My way of understanding the world is through comics. JAME S S TUR M COURTESY OF MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING GROUP

raised money for the school: Spiegelman and the late Vermont-based New Yorker cartoonist Ed Koren. Sturm and Ollie welcomed their first students in fall 2005. They’ve never looked back. “I think timing had a lot to do with the success of the school,” said Bliss, who lives in nearby Cornish, N.H., and, through the school, hosts an annual monthlong residency for visiting cartoonists at his home. “White River needed the school. And comics were kind of breaking out.” According to Greene, the school’s administrative and development coordinator who earned his MFA there in 2016, “A common trait of cartoonists is having a bit of a rebel spirit.” Sturm, he opined, “really embodies that.” Sturm is quick to share credit for the center’s success with Ollie and allies in state and local government. He wondered aloud how many other states would agree to designate a cartoonist laureate every three years, as Vermont has done in conjunction with the school. (The answer, in fact, is none.) “Not to undersell my own contributions,” Sturm said, “but all of these conditions had to align for this to work.” And it has worked. The school offers a two-year master of fine arts degree program, one- and two-year certificates, and summer workshops. It routinely meets its enrollment numbers — between 14 and 20 students each semester — and has produced a parade of successful cartoonists, including AP Sports “Daily Draw” creator Dan Archer, New York Times bestselling author Andy Warner, DC Comics illustrator Robyn Smith and current Vermont cartoonist laureate Tillie Walden. Dan Nott graduated from the school in 2018 and now teaches a history of comics course there. His debut nonfiction graphic novel, Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day, was long-listed this year for a National Book Award in Young People’s Literature. He said the school offers more than just an education in cartooning. “Some people come here and maybe have never even met another cartoonist,” Nott said. “Comics is often a pretty solitary endeavor, and I think a lot of the reason people come to the school is to find that community.” And it’s a diverse community. Students come from as far away as Australia and from a variety of backgrounds. “We definitely have an eclectic mix of students who come to CCS, and that interesting mix of people is making White River more interesting,” Greene said. It’s also making White River more money. Students who come to the school

rent apartments, shop at the Upper Valley Food Co-op, and work (and eat and drink) at spots such as the Tuckerbox Turkish café and the Wolf Tree cocktail bar. Ollie estimates that in its first years, the school injected $800,000 annually into the local economy. That figure is up to around $2.5 million now, she said, and may even be higher. For all the good the school has done in White River, its latest endeavor, conceived by Sturm, is an attempt to make the rest of the world a better place, one comic book at a time. In October, the center christened its Applied Cartooning Lab, where students and faculty work with outside organizations on mission-driven, community-based nonfiction comics, such as its collaboration with the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office last year on Freedom and Unity: A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont and Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide to Mental Health. Applied cartooning has always been part of the school’s curriculum and mission in one form or another, Sturm said, but the new lab formalizes the program and its myriad projects. “It’s a place for us to put it all under one banner,” he said.

From Adventures in Cartooning: Characters in Action

Sturm first read Watership Down when he was trying to understand what it meant to live in the woods. He read it again for each of his daughters when they were children, sharing with them the tale of a small band of rabbits who face a series of dangers as they seek a new home after destruction of their warren. Later, he read the novel with a class of Cartoon Studies grad students as a sort of impromptu book club. His torn and tattered copy of Watership Down was still on his bookshelf when his agent called in 2018: The estate of Richard Adams was looking for a cartoonist to adapt the book as a graphic novel. First published in 1972, Watership Down follows the adventures of Hazel, Fiver and their friends as they evade death at the hands of humans and predators, rescue themselves from captivity by an authoritarian band of enemy rabbits, and triumph in a final, epic battle. The story has been adapted many times — most notably in a 1978 animated film and a 2018 animated Netflix series. But due to a controversy over who owned the rights to the novel, Adams had little input on those projects. The graphic novel is the first adaptation since the book’s rights were restored to the Adams estate in 2020. Sturm had tried reading Watership Down as a kid but only made it as far as Adams’ page-and-a-half-long opening description of a meadow before putting it aside. When he returned to the novel 30 years later, though, he wished he’d stuck with it because the book brought him back to the comics he loved in his youth. “It’s this kind of motley crew of outsiders. They have to flee their home. They have to learn to work as a team to overcome, like, all manner of dangers and supervillains,” he said. “One’s super fast, one’s super smart, one’s super strong, one has psychic abilities — it’s like describing, like, the X-Men or the Avengers.

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GIFT CARDS of Depression-era artist Denys Wortman. Sutphin’s similar realistic style and love of drawing the natural world seemed perfect for the adaptation. Sturm’s proposal to the Adams estate and Adams’ two daughters, Rosamond Mahony and Juliet Johnson, promised a graphic novel that would remain faithful to the story and spirit of Watership Down. “Ros and I wanted to preserve the hope and the uplift of the story in the graphic novel,” Johnson wrote in a recent email to Seven Days. “James and Joe absolutely got this.” Sturm and Sutphin also got the gig.

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STRANGERS IN THE FIELD “There was that aspect of the book that felt like the comic books I loved as a kid,” he continued. “So actually making Watership Down into a comic book was exciting.” Sturm wanted the job — but despite his decades of work at the drawing table, he never considered illustrating the book himself. For one, he said, he’s too slow. For another, his simplistic style would have been an odd fit for the book. Sturm was “mesmerized” by Marvel Comics in his youth but said he never developed the hyper-detailed style of illustration signature to superhero comics. Part of what drew him to underground comics in the 1990s was that they embodied the idea that cartoonists needn’t be artistic savants. While he’s no slouch with a pencil — Bliss calls him “one of my favorite living cartoonists” — Sturm’s earnest, more alternative style “would not have made sense” for Watership Down, Sturm said. So he recruited Sutphin, a children’s book illustrator with whom he shared an admiration for the softly drawn penand-grease-pencil newspaper cartoons

Johnson explained that while she and her sister understood that elements of the story would be lost in the translation to a graphic novel, they hoped Sturm and Sutphin would “convey the beauty and lyrical quality of the Hampshire countryside.” That was a potential problem. While Sturm’s home in the Upper Valley town of Hartland is a stone’s throw from New Hampshire, it’s roughly 3,000 miles from the rolling meadows of Hampshire, the English county where Adams wrote and set his novel. And Sutphin lives in Ohio. How then, could Sturm and Sutphin sweep readers away to that landscape, as Adams had done in his lovingly rendered descriptions, without themselves being immersed in the English countryside? “That was one of the big questions,” Sturm recalled one October afternoon in the kitchen of his home as he prepared shepherd’s pies for a dinner party he was hosting for Bliss and other cartoonist colleagues that evening. “One of the things I love about the book is the nature writing; Richard’s descriptions are so beautiful. How could we do that justice?” He gestured to a picture window above the sink. Beyond it lay a meadow of NOVEL APPROACHES

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Novel Approaches « P.33 wildflowers and ferns that rolls to the edge of a forest. Particularly on this drizzly day, it wasn’t hard to imagine the scene outside as a stand-in for Adams’ English countryside. Sturm had often done just that while reading and rereading the book — which gave him an idea. In an early meeting with their editors and Adams’ daughters, Sturm suggested: “What if we set the story in Vermont instead of England?” Adams could probably have described in rapturous prose the crickets that greeted Sturm’s suggestion. “I knew it was about the dumbest thing I could have said as soon as it left my mouth,” Sturm recalled. Suffice it to say, Adams’ daughters were unimpressed. A few days later they invited Sturm and Sutphin to visit their Hampshire. The sisters walked with the two men along the real-life Watership Down, a sloping hillside that is indeed home to a multitude of rabbits, and the locations that inspired their father. Sturm and Sutphin took hundreds of photos along the way, at times crawling on their bellies to get a “rabbit’s-eye view” of the place. In the book, Adams sometimes spends pages just describing the surroundings. In the graphic novel, Sturm and Sutphin could set scenes in just a few panels. “This is a visual medium, so you can show those things,” Sturm said. “And I think one of the brilliant aspects of the book is just how beautifully the English countryside is depicted. The forest, and how lush it is — it’s really quite stunning to look at what Joe accomplished.” Back in the States, Sturm mapped out the story’s flow, chose the dialogue and selected the scenes to be illustrated. He wrote a script and then drew thumbnail sketches for every panel — a few thousand in all — essentially creating a storyboard, on which Sutphin based his artwork. One of the challenges was how to tell all the rabbits apart. Adams’ daughters were adamant that the animals look like real rabbits and not be Disney-fied. Here, Sturm took a lesson from his old boss, Spiegelman, who encountered a similar challenge with the mice in Maus, a graphic novel about his father’s Holocaust experiences. Spiegelman used staging and subtle visual cues to distinguish his mice. He also used his mice’s names in dialogue as much as possible. Sutphin explained that when rabbits in Watership Down are seen at a distance, they look like wild rabbits. But for close-ups, he gave them expressive, almost human eyes to convey emotion. The clairvoyant Fiver, for example, is often seen with wide, 34

Oh, I Oh, would I would never never leave leave my little my little Come Come on, Fiver, on, Fiver, let’s just let’senjoy just enjoy the evening. the evening. brother brother behindbehind to fendto for fendhimself. for himself. Fiver...? Fiver...?

Oh, Hazel, Oh, Hazel, that queer that queer feelingfeeling I had Iathad theatwarren... the warren...

It’s clear It’s to clear metonow. me now.

It’s something It’s something terrible, terrible, like thunder... like thunder...

It’s coming It’s coming closer.closer. We can’t We can’t stop it.stop it. Look, Look, Hazel Hazel ... ...

Fiver,Fiver, what what is it? is it? Fiver...? Fiver...?

Above: From Watership Down

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

searching eyes. Bigwig, the soldier, sees the world through a narrower focus. Those tricks were especially important for Sturm and Sutphin, as their version of Watership Down is largely free of narration. Images and dialogue, often taken directly from the novel, tell the story. “It’s an adventure story,” Sturm said, adding that exposition would be jarring and pull the reader out of the tale. “I tried to keep the text pared down so that the pictures tell the story and you’re moving right along with the rabbits.”

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

As the legend goes, Adams began telling his young daughters the tale that would become Watership Down to keep them entertained on long car rides. It evolved over many years and countless retellings before he finally, at the urging of his daughters, wrote the version the rest of the world came to know and love. While he invented the fable for his children, and its stars are talking animals, Watership Down isn’t exactly for kids. It’s long and at times dark and violent, with complex themes beyond the scope of most children’s books — even if Adams never intended the story to convey them. Over the years, the book has been interpreted as an allegory for the Holocaust, a Christian parable and a cautionary environmental tale. It’s been championed as a rebuke of communism in some corners and as pro-Marxist in others. To his dying day in 2016, at age 96, Adams maintained that Watership Down was not allegorical and contained no deeper meaning or social or political commentary. While Sturm is suspicious of that position — “I don’t buy it,” he said — as he adapted the novel, he channeled Adams and focused solely on telling the story. “I’m not putting my thumb on the scales with the parables or metaphors,” Sturm said, “because there’s a lot of stuff

Joe Sutphin

in there that can be read differently. And I don’t feel like it’s for me, in any sense, to weigh in on that. Just tell the story how he told it.” With apologies to Adams, it’s hard not to ponder deeper meaning in the pages of Watership Down. Even if he didn’t mean for any to be there, generations of fans have gone looking and found … well, something. And with Sturm and Sutphin’s help, new generations may, too. Much as applied cartooning can introduce unsuspecting readers to new ideas and lower the barrier to entry for engaging with complex topics, Sturm thinks the

WATERSHIP DOWN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, BY RICHARD ADAMS; ADAPTED BY JAMES STURM AND ILLUSTRATED BY JOE SUTPHIN; PUBLISHED BY TEN SPEED GRAPHIC, 2023

you can youexpect can expect to be to in be theinOwsla the Owsla If I ever If I get everinto get the intoOwsla, the Owsla, I’ll treat I’ll treat Well, Well, one Hazel. day, Hazel. That’sThat’s more more than Ithan I outskirters outskirters like uslike withus some with some decency. decency. one day, can hope can for. hope for.

Tribal Licensed graphic novel might similarly offer new readers a bridge to Adams’ story. “I think what this graphic novel adaptation can do is ... introduce this book to some young readers who might be intimidated by the book,” he told Vermont Public’s Jenn Jarecki during an October press junket. “My hope is that it kind of leads people back to the original text.” What readers will find in Sturm’s Watership Down is anyone’s guess. But if history is an indication, the story’s themes will continue to resonate. “It’s a universal story, of course, seeking the promised land,” Adams’ daughter Johnson wrote of the book’s lasting appeal. “And there are a lot of messages about hope in adversity, good and bad leadership, and comradeship. Dad wrote from the heart, having been marched off to war aged 20. So he was also saying something about being young, and being placed in an almost hopeless situation. I think a lot of people relate to that.” It’s also possible — likely, even — that the meaning of the story will change for a reader over time. As Sturm pored over his dog-eared, taped-together copy in 2020, the world was plunged into darkness. Adams would surely bristle at his book being made a pandemic parable, though at least one passage does a pretty good job of encapsulating the consuming fear — and hope — of that era: “All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.” “Suddenly this book I’m living in, it was really quite a source of comfort,” Sturm said. “And it felt like the things I needed to keep reminding myself of were the things I was reading and adapting.”

THE WORK OF ART

Sturm doesn’t disagree with Bliss about his extreme work habits — at least not entirely. It’s just that sometimes he can’t help himself. “I’m really curious about things,” he said, “and my way of understanding the world is through comics.” Whether it’s working on comics about strung-out cereal box mascots or mental health, or reimagining a literary classic, he loses himself in the process. “It becomes an immersive experience where I engage with folks and I learn a lot,” he said. “And oftentimes, even as an editor, I feel like I’m in the front row to something really cool.”

But his compulsion to work is not solely about chasing a creative high. It’s also born of necessity. “I’m an educator and an artist,” he noted. “And these are things that are not highly valued or well compensated in our society. So you have to have a lot of balls in the air to make it work.” Still, he does worry about spreading himself too thin. “I can’t help but think of that question as a criticism,” he said. “And I think it’s a fair one that I ask myself sometimes: Am I giving projects the attention and depth that they need?” The continued success of his Cartoon Studies students and his adaptation of Watership Down — currently the top-selling graphic novel on Amazon — suggests that he is.

A common trait of cartoonists is having a bit of a rebel spirit. JARAD GRE E NE

Of course, Sturm has more projects coming — he always does. The Applied Cartooning Lab’s book on mass incarceration is nearing the finish line and should be published next year. He’s collaborating on another nonfiction project, about plant-based diets. And he’s working on a graphic version of Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking. The 1985 book by David Bayles and Ted Orland has achieved a sort of cult status among artists for demystifying and, more importantly, humanizing how and why we make art. It was hugely influential on Sturm. As Bayles and Orland wrote, “Art is hard because you have to keep after it so consistently. On so many different fronts. For so little external reward … You have to find your work.” Sturm seems determined to do exactly that. “If I won the lottery or something and I got $10 million tomorrow, I think 90 percent of what I’m doing is what I’d want to be doing,” he said. “I don’t know how much I would change.” ➆

INFO Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by Richard Adams, James Sturm and Joe Sutphin, Ten Speed Graphic, 384 pages. $35. Learn more about the Center for Cartoon Studies at cartoonstudies.org.

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QUÉBEC

Christmas à la Québécoise

hristmas brings holiday markets to much of Europe: open-air bazaars under galaxies of twinkly lights that dispense a potent blend of mulled wine and nostalgia. Some Christmas markets in Germany trace their origins to the 15th century, and in recent decades Euro-inspired versions have appeared in cities from Tokyo to Toronto. Across Québec, such events are now a fixture of the season, albeit with distinctively French Canadian twists. “We have vendors that sell whiskey sweetened with maple syrup, we have la tire [sugar on snow], we have beaver tails — a lot of specialties of Québec,” said Line Basbous, executive director of La Lutinerie, a nonprofit that organizes Montréal’s two biggest holiday markets. “But mostly you come to Christmas markets for the atmosphere, the vibe,” she said, adding that bundling up for cold-weather shopping is all part of the fun. No matter which market you visit, you’ll also find plenty of vin chaud — that’s mulled wine en français — along with local artisans, performances and the occasional Santa cameo. Ready to venture north of the border? Read on for the best Christmas markets (and some seasonal extras) in Québec this year.

Heading north for mulled wine, raclette parties and Père Noël pop-ups

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BY J E N R O S E S MITH

Québec City’s Place d’Youville skating rink

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

MOSTLY YOU COME TO CHRISTMAS MARKETS FOR THE ATMOSPHERE, THE VIBE. LINE BASBOUS

Winter markets in Montréal

IF YOU GO For more on Le Grand Marché de Noël, Village de Noël, the Montréal Raclette Party and the Knack Party, visit noelmontreal.ca. Find more on Luminothérapie and Atwater Market at mtl.org. Admission to McCord Stewart Museum is $15-20 and free for youths 17 and under. musee-mccordstewart.ca

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Montréal’s main holiday installation is Le Grand Marché de Noël, an ephemeral cluster of wooden “chalets” housing artisan shops and vendors, running through December 30 on rue Jeanne-Mance. Free musical performances at the market span chorales and Cajun quartet Les VilleMarie Playboys, while the surrounding Quartier des Spectacles neighborhood is a hub for season-long programming. On the Quartier des Spectacles’ Place des Festivals, the 14th edition of Luminothérapie, a yearly installation of illuminated art, kicks off November 30; there’s free outdoor skating at the nearby Esplanade Tranquille rink, where ice dance events with professional skaters draw crowds on Friday and Saturday nights. (BYO skates or rent a pair for CA$10 for kids and $13.05 for adults.) A 15-minute walk northwest is the excellent McCord Stewart Museum, whose holiday programming through January 7 includes an exhibition of the sweetly vintage mechanical Christmas window displays crafted by Montréal department store Holt Renfrew Ogilvy since 1947. Smaller and more family-focused is the Village de Noël, open through December 24 outside the 1933 art deco Atwater Market in Saint-Henri, a buzzy

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neighborhood southwest of downtown. There will be free photos with Santa — that’s Père Noël to francophone Québécois — on Saturdays and Sundays all season long, as well as musical performances and themed gourmet events each Friday evening. December 1 brings the seventh annual Montréal Raclette Party. Crowds will celebrate the Alpine delicacy by snacking on mild Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser raclette cheese melted over boiled potatoes with cornichons, ham and sausage. (Reserve vegetarian or non-vegetarian raclette in advance for $18.40 or $23 per plate, respectively.) Cultural organization Les Alsaciens de Montréal will host a Knack Party at Village de Noël on December 8 highlighting culinary specialties from France’s German-influenced Alsace region, including sauerkraut, pretzellike breads known as “bretzels,” and smoked pork-and-beef knack sausages. (Reserve plates of knack, potato salad and bread for $15.)

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The market’s more than 90 stands For cozy continental vibes, it’s hard to beat the Marché de Noël Allemand de are spread across five locations Québec, which runs through December within the compact, UNESCO World Heritage-listed neighborhood of Old 23 in Québec City and channels the Québec, which goes all out for the spirit of German Christmas markets, holidays with massive which are the oldest in Europe. (It’s not open lights displays decked IF YOU GO every day, so check the above its 17th-century cobblestone streets. Also website for details.) Learn more about Marché de Noël within Old Québec: a German-style mulled Allemand de wooden slide built in wine called glühwein, Québec at mnaq.ca. 1884 at Dufferin Terrace traditional German cakes that becomes a startlingly and an ocean of German beer sustain crowds that high-speed sled run by mid-December (ticket to ride: $4). Just come for free programming, including outside the city walls, and illuminated Bavarian folk music and the horned by a giant Christmas wreath, is the free yuletide boogeyman Krampus. There Place d’Youville skating rink (on-site are also Santa photo events for pets, plus skate rentals are $10 for adults and $5 a kids’ zone with crafts, games and a puppet theater. for children).

Communities across the border-hugging Eastern Townships stage their own, more low-key holiday markets, many of which showcase the wines, cheeses, ciders and beers for which the region is known. The biggest of these is Marché de Noël de Sutton, continuing on December 2 and 3, with Marché de Noël de Sutton seasonal music, a small Christmas train and local producers selling IF YOU GO everything from fir-tip Learn more about Marché de Noël de Sutton honey to ice cider. at tourismesutton.ca, Festif Bromont at The December 2 and tourismebromont.com and Les Rendez-vous Agroalimentaires des Fêtes at marchepublicgranby.ca. 3 Festif Bromont in Old Bromont features bonfires, activities, 30 vendors and tastings from vintners along the Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route. More than 60 producers come together for agricultural holiday market Les Rendez-Vous Agroalimentaires des Fêtes, which will be in Granby December 1 to 3 and Saint-Joachimde-Shefford on December 10. Find a full list of Eastern Townships Christmas markets at easterntownships.org — and joyeuses fêtes (happy holidays). ➆

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P R O D U C E D B Y 7 D B R A N D S T U D I O — PA I D F O R B Y P O M E R L E A U R E A L E S TAT E

hen Kelly Deforge’s youngest son was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at age 6, the principal of his public school told her, “We’re taught to teach. We’re not taught mental health.” By the fifth grade, her son had a breakdown and could no longer attend public school. Deforge turned to Howard Center for assistance. Her son was enrolled at the Baird School, one of three independent schools operated by Howard Center that serve students with different learning needs. Unlike at his public school, the schools serving students through Howard Center have access to a large, fully integrated, multidisciplinary team of social workers, special educators, speech language pathologists and other professionals. “There was just more understanding when he got to school; if he couldn’t do it, they made it work,” Deforge said in a video testimony for Howard Center. “They figured out what he needed to be successful that day.” The independent school Deforge’s son attended is just one of the many programs under Howard Center’s very large umbrella. The sprawling nonprofit helps more than 19,000 Vermonters a year. It operates 50-plus outpatient, outreach and residential programs — including employment support and counseling, criminal justice services, and family respite, to name a few — in 60 different locations around the state. In many cases, Howard Center steps in when no one else can or will. It fills in the gaps in care, helping keep Vermonters from falling through the cracks. “We are deeply embedded in the fabric of our community. It would be a much less supportive community without our services,” said Denise Vignoe, Howard Center’s Director of Development and Communications.

Baird School students in a classroom

Howard Center’s Many Missions

From mental health to recovery, from street outreach to family support, Howard Center is making a difference

REDUCING THE STIGMA

The Howard Center Street Outreach team

FROM CIVIL WAR WIDOWS TO RESETTLED REFUGEES Howard Center’s history dates back to 1865. Its initial mission: to support Civil War widows and orphans. It started as the Home for Destitute Children in Burlington, located on 38

mental health agency serving Chittenden and southern Grand Isle counties. In 1994, three agencies that served diﬀerent parts of Chittenden County met to discuss how they could best help people in the area in need. As a result, Howard Center for Human Services, the Baird Center for Children and Families, and Champlain Drug and Alcohol Services all merged. This larger organization, known as Howard Center, now serves three primary functions: supporting mental health, providing substance-use and recovery services, and serving people with developmental disabilities. In addition to all the work Howard Center does independently, it also partners with other organizations to assist communities in need. Over the past decade, the agency has made an increasing commitment to diversity, equity and belonging. For example, Howard Center has learned how to use its community partnerships to better serve the immigrants and refugees who relocate to Vermont. Just this past year, Howard Center hired several cultural liaison staﬀ to provide support, improve access to services and enhance resources for refugees who do not speak English. “A lot of those refugees come from traumatic experiences, such as war and leaving their home countries,” said Thato Ratsebe, a board member at Howard Center and the Associate Director and Programs Manager for the Association of African Americans Living in Vermont, a Howard Center community partner. As the AALV helps connect refugees with housing and employment, it can also direct them to Howard Center programs that could help them. “To do this job, you have to have heart,” Ratsebe said.

Shelburne Road where the Market 32 is now. In the 1950s, Howard Center began employing psychiatric social workers to help the children and

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

families in its care and formed a department for counseling services. In 1966, Howard Center was designated by the Vermont Department of Mental Health as the community

Last month, Kelly Devine, Executive Director of the Burlington Business Association, was walking through downtown Burlington when she saw someone passed out on the sidewalk. “I didn’t want to call the police,” she said. Instead, Devine dialed Howard Center’s Street Outreach team. They’re the ﬁrst call she makes, she said, and she educates businesses downtown to follow suit.

The Home for Destitute Children in Burlington

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“Howard Center staffers have training in dealing with de-escalation and mental health, so they’re my go-to when I see situations downtown that aren’t illegal but just don’t look right,” she said. The team has helped 4,261 contacts in the past year and made 478 referrals for services within Howard Center and to other programs in the community. “We try to reduce stigma, and our staff does that on the front lines every day,” said Bob Bick, Howard Center’s Chief Executive Officer. Tammy Boudah, the team leader, hits the bricks of Church Street every weekday morning checking on people who slept outside. From there, she walks around, gets to know people, and responds to calls from concerned merchants, community members and families. “We offer substance-use treatment and help with housing searches, but my job is more about figuring out what these people are looking for and what they need,” Boudah said. Once she knows that about a person, she can help them make a plan. The Street Outreach team was formed in Burlington over 20 years ago with assistance from United Way, the University of Vermont Medical Center and the Burlington Business Association; the BBA helped gather the initial funding. After its first year, Howard Center surveyed its clients and found that many of them saw the staff as “folks that were trying to help them out.” “There was no patient-to-provider or we-they barrier,” Bick said. Howard Center opened the state’s first methadone treatment center in 2002 with just 70 clients.

Today it serves about 2,000 people with opioid-use disorder across several programs. Dr. John Brooklyn, the clinic’s Medical Director, was the first to conceive of the pioneering Hub and Spoke system, a model for the country for treating opioid-use disorder. Howard Center introduced the state’s first “hub,” the Chittenden Clinic, which offers daily support and medication for patients with addictions. The “spokes” offer services that are integrated into the patients’ general health care and wellness.

‘WE’RE THE HELPERS’ Katherine Connolly, Board Member and Chair of the Board Human Resources Committee at Howard Center, has a son who has been a client since he was diagnosed with mental illness and developmental disabilities at age 9. Now at 33, he is stable, employed part time and lives in a supported home environment. “We have learned over time that structure and stability are crucial,” Connolly said. When COVID-19 began in 2020, her family lost their son’s caregiver and tried unsuccess-

HELP IS HERE. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, we graciously accept donations of any size to support our critical and life-saving work. Visit our donation page at howardcenter.org to make a contribution. WANT TO BE ONE OF THE HELPERS? Check out Howard Center’s job openings at howardcenter.org/career-opportunities. It includes positions at every skill and experience level. Many programs operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making “nontraditional” schedules available.

The Howard Center’s Safe Recovery program is a part of what it does to reduce stigma. When Jess Kirby worked there, she said, “I get to be there for people at the hardest times in their life and often get to see them get better.” Kirby gave Narcan training in the community and helped people get the supplies they needed. Kirby is in recovery herself, and the services she provided are ones that she once used. “It felt awesome to be that for someone else,” she said.

fully to find a replacement for three years. The difference was startling, she said. Her son’s eating and sleeping patterns changed, and he started showing up to work late and having mood swings. Not having access to care affects his entire life. In February, they successfully found a caregiver, and he returned to what Connolly calls a “normal existence.” But they will never get those three years back. Connolly’s son is not alone. The demand for services has never been

higher as more and more Americans struggle with their mental health. At the same time, the services they’re leaning on are stretched thinner than ever. “While having sufficient funding is a perennial problem, staffing is now the primary issue we face as an organization,” Bick said. Currently, Howard Center has nearly 200 open positions, which is about 15 percent of its workforce. “We have an incredible staff here who want to do the work, but it’s challenging and disheartening when we’re not at full capacity,” he added. “We know we are not alone. Virtually every community-based agency is struggling to find staff.” Since the pandemic, Howard Center has seen a decrease in applications and employee retention — the work is demanding, and more than half of the employees it hires will leave within two years. Because the organization depends largely on state and federal funding, it often serves as a training ground for staff entering the field who then move on to higher salaries offered in the private sector or to organizations that have significant private insurance income. “It takes a special kind of person to spend most of their waking hours working with people who are struggling or suffering,” Vignoe said. Vignoe recalled what Mister Rogers once said about finding hope in a crisis by looking for those who are helping others. “We’re the helpers,” she said.  COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR BY

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

food+drink

RESTAURANTS

Becca Harley taking an order at the Wayside Restaurant

Wayback Machine At Montpelier’s Wayside Restaurant, a good meal goes beyond good food B Y B R E A NA L A I KI L LE E N

arlier this fall, my husband and I loaded up our 2-year-old twins in our farm truck to buy transom windows off an old maple sugar shack in Cabot. “These windows are impossible to find for this price in good condition,” my husband said. “Plus, it’ll be an adventure.” It takes a very good deal to convince me to take squirmy toddlers on a three-hour round trip, but who was I to quash the excitement of an antique score? I quickly packed a lot of snacks. The three rectangular windows turned out to be as sturdy as we had hoped, but my lasting memory of that day is the meal we had at the Wayside Restaurant, Bakery & Creamery in Montpelier on our return trip. In my 11 years of living in Vermont, I’d never heard of the Wayside. This is particularly embarrassing, as my whole life revolves

around food: I work as a food writer and recipe developer and own a farm. Yet a diner that serves 1,000 meals a day had never made it onto my radar, nor that of many of the selfproclaimed foodies I know. Sometimes we are too easily obsessed with the latest shiny new restaurant opening when true gold is right under our nose. What could be more appealing than a century-old, certified-green diner that still serves liver, gin distilled with Vermont honey just down the road and the most incredible pillowy dinner rolls, accompanied by precious squares of salted Cabot butter? The Wayside Diner is older than most living Vermonters. It opened in 1918, when Effie Ballou rolled up the garage door on the Barre-Montpelier Road to serve her

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Deep City Closes ‘for Now’ in Burlington DEEP CITY, the Burlington waterfront restaurant owned by the FOAM BREWERS team, closed on November 22. In a post on social media, the owners called the closure a “goodbye for now, not forever.” Foam Brewers’ taproom, which shares the building at 112 Lake Street, remains open as usual. “We’re hoping that it’s temporary,” Foam co-owner and creative director JON FARMER told Seven Days on Monday. “But we have to close now, and we don’t know when we will reopen or what that will look like.” Deep City launched as a takeoutonly spot in March 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S. Later, as restaurants opened up again, it became a dinner destination for folks looking for Foam beers on tap, natural wines, burgers, vegan poutine, and

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— as of this spring — meats and local veggies cooked out back on a hand-built smoker. Yet the challenges that accompanied Deep City’s opening have lingered. The difficulty of staffing the kitchen has led to recent day-of closures, Farmer said. “It’s a very, very sad time, but we felt like it’s the right move, rather than limping along and patching holes,” he added. The team will use the Deep City space during Foam’s annual Holiday Maker’s Market, which continues on Wednesday, November 29, and again on New Year’s Eve as part of Burlington’s Highlight celebration. Farmer said they plan to determine the restaurant’s future over the next few months.

second location by mid-December at the rear of 80 Church Street. The entry will be at 179 Bank Street, as it was when DOBRÁ TEA operated there before moving last year to 125 South Winooski Avenue. The storefront has been redone with full glass windows and doors. Married couple WEN DONG and MEI YU opened their original Always Full market at 1128 Williston Road in South Burlington in July 2019. They named it

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Wayback Machine « P.40

Country-fried steak with onion rings

Manager Jeff Virge at the counter

wasn’t met with the glare from the host I often face when bringing my little ones to a restaurant. Instead, she cheerfully ushered us to a booth with crayons in hand and asked if we needed something to drink. We soon had a glass of wine, a Mad River Distillers bourbon Manhattan and two milks. We then ordered fish and chips ($11.95), mozzarella sticks ($6.95), a cheesy broccoli pasta special ($10.95), sweet potato tots ($5.95), and applesauce ($2.50). As we messily chomped through our meal, what struck me was how unpretentious and comforting the food was, as if

we had been served straight from someone’s home kitchen. Almost everything is still made from scratch at the Wayside — including all the desserts, the ice cream, the famous rolls, sandwich bread, coleslaw, French fries and onion rings. And the restaurant sources many ingredients locally, such as corn from Paquet Farm in Barre and butternut squash from Dog River Farm in Berlin — though many farm vendors struggled this year due to flooding. But what keeps people coming is the homestyle comfort food, thoughtful service PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

famous pies and doughnuts, among many other classic homestyle dishes. Since 1945, two other families — each spanning multiple generations — have continued the tradition of maple cream pie and Yankee pot roast. The parents of the current co-owner, Karen Zecchinelli, bought the business in 1966. Karen and her husband, Brian, took over the Wayside in 1998 and are now working with Chris Moore, whom they’ve brought on as a managing partner. In 2011, the Wayside became the first restaurant in Montpelier to be certified green by the State of Vermont for its efforts conserving water and energy, reducing waste, and composting. The owners may have changed, but the people who come to the restaurant have not. Multigenerational families line the booths and tables, while the often-single seniors take prime seats at the U-shaped bar. The diners aren’t the only ones who tend to stick around: 10 employees have each worked at the restaurant for more than 25 years. “Our manager, Jeff Virge, has been here over 43 years. His mother worked here, and now his son does, too,” said Moore, an industry veteran but relative newcomer to the Wayside, with only two years under his belt. Moore quickly learned the names of regulars, including one who eats three meals there daily. “Some of our customers are just like family to us,” he said. Devoted Wayside diners go for the buttery, tangy hollandaise generously draped over eggs Benedict ($10.95); the $4.95 quarter-pound burger; tomatoeysweet and meaty barbecue pork ribs ($14.95); and Sunday turkey dinners ($11.95) served with gravy, mashed potatoes and tart cranberry sauce. Part of the appeal is the extensive menu; odds are

whatever you’re craving is on it, from hash and eggs ($9.95) to country-fried steak ($12.95). But the allure of restaurants, as the pandemic made clear, extends far beyond the food. A meal doesn’t taste quite as good when you’re eating it from a takeout container at home in your PJs as it does in the companionable vicinity of nonfamily members, with a server refilling your drink and delivering dishes you don’t have to plan, cook or clean. Walking into the Wayside after our trip to Cabot, a twin clinging to each hand, I

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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food+drink and the fact that the Wayside serves up salt, fat, sweet and crunch that I see in a slice of history at reasonable prices. fancy restaurants. The country-fried Some dishes have faded away, such steak had a generous crispy coating as the salt pork and milk gravy, but you with a blanket of peppery gravy. The will still find liver and onions ($11.95) lobster salad’s creamy mayonnaise and fried honeycomb tripe ($15.95) on dressing was enough to coat the greens the menu. While Moore without needing to add says these aren’t the more dressing, though most popular dishes, as we all poured on a little a Chinese American who more of the salad’s blue grew up eating tripe and cheese dressing for an extra kick. The chocobeing told it was gross by late cream pie’s deep friends, I was thrilled to see it offered on a menu cocoa flavor and velvety J E SSIE PRICE at the same price as a texture scored high sirloin steak. among the desserts. “I love places like this. It’s like they Affordability is a pillar of the Wayside. The second time I ate there, bake nostalgia into every dish,” my with two former food magazine friend Jessie Price said as she sipped colleagues, we plowed through hand- her Smugglers’ Notch Vodka-spiked cut onion rings ($5.95), spring greens Bloody Mary ($8.45). “Plus,” she added, with a lobster salad scoop ($13.95), “those rolls are heavenly.” country-fried steak ($12.95), chicken I’d probably return for the rolls Parmesan with spaghetti ($16.95), a alone, which are baked fresh daily by half-rack of ribs ($14.95), Grape-Nuts the hundreds. But the Wayside’s appeal custard pudding ($3.95), New York lies in being a home away from home style cheesecake ($4.50) and chocolate — where you’re not eating in your pajacream pie ($4.50). Our feast added up mas, but you feel like you could be. ➆ to less than $80. Nothing was overly seasoned or INFO spiced, nor was it perfectly composed Wayside Diner, 1873 Route 302, Montpelier, with the now-overdone mélange of 223-6611, waysiderestaurant.com

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Dong said the couple aim to reach a new customer base of walk-in shoppers and downtown workers and residents with the Burlington store. He hopes to work with local restaurants to offer grab-and-go lunch foods such as bánh mì sandwiches and sushi. A small café counter in the corner of the roughly 1,500-square-foot store

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will be up and running within two or three months of the store’s opening, Dong said. It will serve Asian-style drinks, such as bubble and milk teas and chilled jackfruit and pineapple juices. Melissa Pasanen

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Barking Up the Right Tree New owners reopen Barkeaters in Shelburne

S TO RY & PHOT OS BY J ORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

ulie Finestone and David Zeidler have had a busy fall. The Essex couple got married on October 21, took a honeymoon to New Orleans, got home, prepped an entirely new kitchen staff and reopened Barkeaters restaurant on November 7. The cozy lunch and dinner spot near the shopping center in Shelburne operated for 13 years before closing at the end of August due to short staffing in the kitchen. Finestone, 36, was Barkeaters’ bar manager for six years; now she and her husband are its new owners. Previous owner Jenn Sinclair, who also owns Splash at the Boathouse on Burlington’s waterfront, approached Finestone when she decided to scale back to one business. “She said, ‘I can see this as a future for the two of you,’” Finestone recalled. “We never considered the possibility of owning our own restaurant, but when [Sinclair] started Barkeaters, people took a chance on her, and it really changed her future. When she was selling it, she wanted to do that for someone else.” Zeidler, 42, is new to Barkeaters but not to restaurants: This is the fourth opening he’s experienced in his 22-year front-of-house career. So far, he said, it’s the smoothest, even though the couple are first-time owners. “We only comped two things in the first week we were open,” he said proudly. The couple haven’t changed the essence of Barkeaters — named for the English translation of “Adirondack,”

Finestone explained. The many regulars will still find their favorite dishes on the menu, and the $12 burger-and-a-beer special on Wednesdays is still the best deal in town. Décor such as oars, antlers and wooden canoes retains the restaurant’s cozy, Adirondack-inspired feel. But Finestone and Zeidler have their own long-term vision for the restaurant

— a Vermont-centric one that they formulated while touring the state as members of the 251 Club. They started hitting all of Vermont’s towns and cities during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, following Zeidler’s extensive notes on farms, producers and places to eat. “I think we both started to feel a lot more connected to the state,” he said.

“And we checked off a lot of restaurants along the way.” Back in the car after each meal, the couple debriefed on things they liked and didn’t, from atmosphere to charm to food to service. Now, with a restaurant of their own, they draw inspiration from favorite places such as SoLo Farm & Table in South Londonderry and Broken Fish and chips

RESTAURANTS Korean fried chicken wings

David Zeidler and Julie Finestone at Barkeaters

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

food+drink

GIFT GIVING. SIMPLIFIED. Hearts Burger and Samurai Soul Food “The first night we opened, it felt in Fairlee. like somebody rented the restaurant out Sourcing every component on the for a private party,” Zeidler said. “We’re menu from local producers isn’t feasi- very regular-heavy here.” ble for Barkeaters’ bottom line — not “That’s always been Barkeaters,” yet, anyway, Zeidler said. But bringing Finestone added. “We have the most in ingredients here and there is a step regular regulars, and they all know each in that direction, such as kimchi from other.” Flack Family Farm in Enosburg Falls That kind of atmosphere brings for the kimchi ranch dressing with the certain expectations, the couple said, Korean fried chicken wings. And the especially when it comes to the menu. Shelburne spot has long celebrated its To keep longtime customers happy immediate community on Wednesday during the ownership transition, nights with that $12 deal on the LaPlatte they’ve opted to keep old favorites and River Angus Farm smash burger and a let Robinson “level them up with his beer. technique,” Zeidler said. “I’ve always said, if you get the burger Robinson’s tempura-style batter, for with a Fiddlehead IPA, it’s the most local example, yields super-crisp fish and meal you could get,” Finestone said. “It’s chips ($24), and the smoked cheddar almost one square mile to have dinner.” fritters ($12) are now as light as air. The Now, diners can menu-staple chicken have a Shelburnewings ($12) have a Korean-style twist based dessert, too, with Sisters of Anar— breaded, tossed chy’s ice cream sandin chile sauce and wiches. Barkeaters’ topped with sesame n e w c h e f , Pe t e r seeds, scallions, Robinson, slices the lemon zest and honey J U LIE FINESTONE gingerbread-molasd r i z z l e. B i g a n d ses cookie and vanilla ice cream sand- crunchy, they almost resemble pieces wich and plates it on top of silky crème of fried chicken more than a traditional anglaise. wing appetizer. Robinson recently moved to ChitRobinson is also experimenting tenden County from the Mount Snow with specials such as ahi tuna-avocado area, where he worked at high-end bombs ($18) and pork ragu with houserestaurants such as the Hermitage made gnocchi ($29). Inn and Cask & Kiln Kitchen. With Despite spending his whole career his help, Finestone and Zeidler have at the front of the house, Zeidler gets implemented small changes, whether to credit for the most popular new menu speed things up on a busy burger night item: the shawarma bowl ($25). The or jazz up Barkeaters’ standby dishes. avid home cook brought the idea for the “There are things that people genu- dish of seasoned chicken thighs, veggies inely love about both working at this and couscous to Robinson, who streamrestaurant and coming to this restau- lined its many components. rant, and we’re going to keep those and “It was a nervy experience, because amplify them,” Finestone said, noting I’ve never trained professionally [as a that most of the front-of-house staff cook],” Zeidler said. “But [Robinson] returned after two and a half months made it something we can actually do.” for the reopening. “If it ain’t broke…” Judging by the number of people I she added with a laugh. saw tucking into shawarma bowls on If the busy dining room on the Tues- that busy Tuesday, Barkeaters’ regulars day before Thanksgiving was any indi- are embracing the restaurant’s fresh cation, Barkeaters definitely ain’t broke. start. ➆ By 5:30 p.m., the bar was full and the tables nearly so — when folks weren’t INFO getting up to chat with friends across Barkeaters, 97 Falls Rd., Shelburne, 985-2830, the room, that is. barkeatersrestaurant.com

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culture

The Wait Is Over

Comedian Alonzo Bodden and panelists from NPR’s “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” hit the road

BY CHR IS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

or comedian Alonzo Bodden, getting the call to be a panelist on NPR’s nationally syndicated hit game show “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” worked out perfectly, in that he had never heard of the show. “I had no idea what it even was, never listened to it,” Bodden said. “It took months for me to figure out it was this big thing that people loved so much. So I was lucky in that respect — I wasn’t smart enough to be nervous.” It turned out to be a career-altering opportunity. After winning the third season of the NBC reality show “Last Comic Standing” in 2004, Bodden joined “Wait, Wait…” in 2010. He soon became a fixture on the game show, which averages around 6 million weekly listeners. Hosted by humorist Peter Sagal, it features a panel of comedians, along with ever-changing listenercontestants, being quizzed about current headlines. Now Bodden is hosting a group of comedians who have appeared on the show for the Wait, Wait Stand-Up Tour. He and fellow comics Emmy Blotnick, Hari Kondabolu and Faith Salie each perform a set, free from the constraints of the audio program. “This is not like the radio show,” Bodden clarified. “This is live and uncensored, no FCC in sight and no quizzing.” The tour swings by the Flynn in Burlington on Friday, December 1. Ahead of that show, Bodden hopped on the phone with Seven Days to talk “Wait, Wait…,” the quirks of telling topical jokes and why jazz musicians have it easier than comedians. (He was mostly kidding about that last one.)

COMEDY

Alonzo Bodden

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

COURTESY OF TODD ROSENBERG

You first started doing comedy after training airplane mechanics for Lockheed Martin. Did a gig like that prepare you for being on a show like “Wait, Wait…”? No, not really — there’s no preparing for “Wait, Wait…” [Panelists] Roxanne [Roberts] and Faith have notes when they show up for a taping, which is just crazy to me. The only thing I know ahead of a show is that there will absolutely be at least one thing that I have no idea what they’re talking about, which is where all the fun happens. Peter will ask me about some naked guy in a German supermarket, and I’m just like, “You know, Peter, believe it or not, I actually missed that story.” What the teaching job did do was show me I could do comedy. It felt so natural to get everyone laughing that I realized, Hey, I can do this.

You don’t shy away from politics in your standup routine. Does that give you an edge on the show, or is it something you have to keep in check? Well, the show tries to be a break from the normal news that NPR is doing all day. So we tend to look for lighter stories. We actually instituted a “one Trump joke” rule on “Wait, Wait…” because it just would have been so easy to make the whole show about him. Which would have been awful for a number of reasons, not the least of which is he would have loved that — he wants everything to be all about him. After I did “Last Comic Standing,” I switched it up from telling more personal stories and jokes to be much more of a topical comedian — I started finding the world more funny than me. But the frustrating thing about being a topical comic is, you really, really wish the topics would change.

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NO FCC IN SIGHT AND NO QUIZZING. AL ONZ O BODDEN

I can imagine that mining jokes from headlines might be a drag sometimes. I wish I didn’t have to do another bit on racism or mass shootings or crazy politicians. And I’d be fine with us going the other way and for our government to behave like grown-ups, but if they don’t? Look, I have tattoos of the jester, because the jester was the only one who could speak truth to power and the only one allowed to make fun of the king. You’ve been at the comedy game for a while. Does being a topical comedian help keep things fresh? Was it a natural evolution? Evolving as a comedian is all about developing your voice. There are definitely some people who come out as fully formed characters and are ready to hit the stage, but most of us need time to hone the craft. For sure, it helps to be a topical comedian because there’s always something fresh happening, but you can never rest on your laurels in comedy. I work with and love so many jazz musicians. I think they’re some of the most creative people in the world. But I do joke with a lot of my musician friends, and I’ll say, “Hey, you can play

something Miles Davis wrote in 1958 and be considered a genius.” But that doesn’t work in comedy. I can’t just give you a little Eddie Murphy from 1987 or Steven Wright from ’91. That’s certainly true. But it does feel like comedians are getting bigger and bigger billings, playing arenas and stadiums these days. One hundred percent, yes. What’s different now than when I was starting out is that the stars of comedy have essentially become rock stars. Which is great, but my timing was awful. Too young for Johnny Carson, too old for YouTube. [Laughing.] To be honest, social media plays a big part. These days, if you have a big social media following, you can bring those people to the club and provide your own audience. In that sense, yeah, comedy has become much bigger. But the stadium thing is a little weird. Don’t get me wrong — if you know anybody booking, hey, I’m ready! But I talked to Bill Burr about it after he played one of those huge shows. He said the power and spectacle was amazing, but it’s not something most comedians would want to do every Friday night. The greatest comedy room is 175 people in a 125-seater. That’s when the energy is unreal. Touring behind an institution like “Wait, Wait…” must be a little different than your usual comedy tours. Do you get a lot of fans who are just NPR nerds more than comedy fans? Absolutely. NPR nerds are great. I love them. It takes a while to get them on board, but once they decide they like you, they’re with you for life. Which works out really well because, look, people tend to think of NPR as this inherently liberal thing, but in reality, NPR is a very conservative entity. If they have something that works, they don’t touch it, man. That’s why “Car Talk” lasted until they retired. Does the same logic apply to “Wait, Wait…”? That show will never end! “Wait, Wait…” will just keep going on and on, because I’m pretty sure that Peter will never retire. ➆ This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO The Wait, Wait Stand-Up Tour, Friday, December 1, 8 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. flynnvt.org

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11/27/23 9:17 AM

FILM

Still from the team led by Caley Gervais, featuring Emoji Nightmare as Woody and Katniss Everqueer as Buzz Lightyear

Making a Scene Hundreds of amateur filmmakers contribute to a crowdsourced version of Toy Story

COURTESY OF THE MEDIA FACTORY

BY K E N P IC AR D • ken@sevendaysvt.com

Still from Chelsea Lisaius’ family’s scene, featuring Coco and Estella

Still from Pete Wyndorf’s scene, with Ed Shepard as Buzz

WE PICK THESE POPULAR MOVIES ...

BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH ABILITY TO RIFF ON THEM.

COURTESY OF THE MEDIA FACTORY

ixar Animation Studios has produced some creative and quirky movie scenes over the years. But the executives at the Hollywood blockbuster machine couldn’t imagine what a pair of Burlington drag queens have done with their Toy Story. Earlier this year, Caley Gervais heard that the Media Factory, the Burlington nonprofit that promotes community-made radio, TV and film projects, was inviting local amateur filmmakers to contribute scenes to a full-length, crowdsourced version of the 1995 animated classic. Her response: “Yes! I need to do it!” Gervais, 33, is an early childhood educator by day and a radio host and burlesque performer by night. Though she had no previous experience in film production, Gervais reached out to her friends Justin Marsh and Kat Redniss, aka local drag performers Emoji Nightmare and Katniss Everqueer, and said, “Hey, you guys are weird, and this is a really strange idea. Would you be down to do it?” Indeed they were. So one night, the three pulled together costumes, sets, lighting and sound effects to film what Gervais called a live-action, “dragified” scene from Toy Story: the one in which Buzz Lightyear and Woody get trapped in Sid the sadistic neighbor’s bedroom with a gang of cannibalistic toys. The scene, which the trio shot with an iPhone and edited on a laptop, is only one minute and 20 seconds long. But it’s one of 32 other scenes that were produced by more than 200 other Vermonters that comprise Crowdsourced Toy Story. The finished product premieres on Thursday, November 30, at Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas in Burlington and Friday, December 1, at Manchester Community Library. “I’m so excited to see it all put together and how other people interpreted their scenes,” Gervais added. This is the fourth crowdsourced movie organized by the Media Factory, a South End community media center that provides equipment, studio space, and technical training and support. According to community engagement manager Gin Ferrara, the Media Factory launched its first crowdsourced film project during the 2020 lockdown, when the pandemic forced community media centers around the state to cancel their usual summer camps for kids. Instead, the Media Factory worked with 36 teams of amateur filmmakers from around Vermont to remake Cast Away, the 2000 isolation drama starring Tom Hanks. “You only needed one actor and a volleyball,” Ferrara said, “so it was very easy for people to join in.” Since then, the Media Factory and its partners have produced three more

COURTESY CALEY GERVAIS

culture

GIN F E R R AR A

crowdsourced movies: Jurassic Park in 2021, Star Wars in 2022 and this year’s Toy Story. The idea came from two media centers in Massachusetts — Northampton Open Media and the Brookline Interactive Group — that have been making crowdsourced movies for 12 years. For these community-driven projects, Ferrara explained, any Vermonter could participate, regardless of age or experience level. For the Toy Story film,

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

33 scenes were assigned randomly. Some were produced by one person, others by duos and larger teams, such as families, camps and neighborhood groups. Participants’ ages ranged from toddlers to people in their sixties. Though the Media Factory offered guidelines, equipment and technical advice, Ferrara said, nearly all the decisions on how to re-create each scene were made by the participants themselves.

The only unbreakable rule was that the filmmakers couldn’t use any copyrighted material, including images, stills, graphics or sound effects. Aside from the storyline and dialogue, everything had to be created from scratch or downloaded from royaltyfree sources. For the first time this year, the Media Factory received grants totaling $3,000 from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts to cover its postproduction and exhibition costs. This enabled organizers to hire a professional editor, Ken French, and a composer, Jonathan Seward of the band Steady J., to score original music. For obvious reasons, continuity is never a concern in crowdsourced filmmaking. In one scene, the characters may be portrayed by live actors; in another, they’re Claymation or animated Lego figurines. Scenes might shift stylistically to resemble film noir, a silent movie or a slasher flick. “Part of the reason we pick these popular movies is because there’s so much ability to riff on them,” Ferrara said. “They’re in the public consciousness and we know what’s supposed to happen, so everyone can follow along.” At least half the participants in Crowdsourced Toy Story were returning filmmakers from past years, Ferrara noted. They included Daniel Lyons of Bristol; his 14-year-old son, Sawyer Visco-Lyons; and six of his son’s friends. Last year, the same team re-created an iconic scene from Star Wars in which Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi says, “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” Though Lyons said he helped with some of the editing, he mostly supervised and kept the kids on task. The Bristol team would watch 10 to 15 seconds of the original scene, Lyons said, then figure out how to re-create it. They built Buzz Lightyear and Mr. Potato Head out of cardboard boxes, used a salad bowl for Buzz’s helmet and raided the family’s costume bin to devise other looks. The boys also made their own sound effects using a toy buzzer, a cap gun and other household objects. “It was really ingenious how they came up with ways to re-create that scene,” Lyons added. “When they got into character, they really did an awesome job ... The fun they were having was the best part for me.” ➆

INFO Crowdsourced Toy Story premieres on Thursday, November 30, 7 p.m., at Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas in Burlington. $12 suggested donation. sevendaystickets.com. Also screens on Friday, December 1, 5:30 p.m., at Manchester Community Library. mediafactory.org/crowdsourcedvt

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Oskar Werner in Fahrenheit 451

FILM

Brattleboro Film Series Features Adaptations of Banned Books B Y H AN N AH F E U E R • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

When Brattleboro Literary Festival execuRouse said, because there are so many to choose from. And the number of books tive director Sandy Rouse heard schools under fire continues to grow: The first half across the country were banning books, of the 2022-23 school year saw almost she immediately thought of Fahrenheit 1,500 instances of schools banning 451 — the 1953 Ray Bradbury novel about books across the country, according to a dystopian society where books are the Index of School Book Bans compiled illegal. by PEN America, a New York City-based Bradbury turned out to be “prophetic,” nonprofit that champions the freedom of said Rouse, who sees eerie parallels in his expression. book to modern-day book bans in schools. Proponents of book banning seem to Compelled to draw attention to the “fear exposing children to the perspectives practice of book banning, she teamed of other people,” Mohr said. “It’s an attack up with Jamie Mohr, director of the against imagination and empathy.” nonprofit Brattleboro arts organization Rouse and Mohr are also hoping to Epsilon Spires. The two are cohosting a schedule speakers to accompany each film series featuring movie adaptations film. Among the potential of banned books — starting guests is Lt. Gov. David with the 1966 film version Zuckerman, who for five of Fahrenheit 451, screening months has been reading at Epsilon Spires on Friday, from banned books at December 1. Admission is bookstores and libraries free for anyone who presents across Vermont as part of a copy of Bradbury’s book at a “banned books tour.” the door or shows a library At the screening on card from Brooks Memorial Friday, local screenwriter Library in Brattleboro. Tim Metcalfe and journalist While Fahrenheit 451 is Tom Bedell will introduce not currently banned in any Fahrenheit 451. Metcalfe, schools, it has faced several JAMIE MOHR a former Hollywood writer challenges over the years. In and Brattleboro resident, is known for 2006, the book came under fire at a high the Revenge of the Nerds comedy series, school in Conroe, Texas, for its profanity about a group of outcasts who fight back and use of God’s name in vain. In 2018, against their bullies, and Kalifornia, the a parent in Santa Rosa County, Fla., filed story of a journalist and his photographer a formal complaint against the classic girlfriend traveling cross-country to novel’s inclusion in the required eighthresearch serial killings, starring Brad Pitt. grade curriculum. Metcalfe and Bedell will speak about “It’s ironic, because it’s a censored book Bradbury’s inspirations for the novel and that’s about censorship,” Mohr said. “So it’s its reception around the world. absolutely perfect to start the series with.” “It will be a really fun movie but also Rouse said the two hope to hold offer a lot to talk about in our current monthly screenings as part of a yearlong political situation with censorship and series, though they haven’t yet finalized anti-intellectualism,” Mohr said. “It’s interthe roster of films. They’re considering A esting how science fiction from decades Clockwork Orange, which follows a gang ago foresees things in the future.” ➆ leader’s experiences in a violent dystopian society, and The Kite Runner, the story of INFO an unlikely friendship in Afghanistan amid Fahrenheit 451, Friday, December 1, 7 p.m., political turmoil. Both films are adapted at Epsilon Spires in Brattleboro. $15; free from books of the same name that are with a copy of the book or a library card. frequently censored. epsilonspires.org Picking the movies will be difficult,

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/28/23 8:19 AM

culture The Call of Kinnaru

COURTESY OF JOHN FRANKLIN

Classics Rock

John Franklin

Concert benefits an endangered UVM program B Y M ARY A NN L I CKTE IG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

COURTESY OF MARCO SCIASCIA

lthough ancient Greek dramas Knight rounding out the program. “Songs were set to music, their scores of Greek Mythology” is a benefit for the have virtually all been lost. So Ambrose Graduate Fellowship in Classiclassics scholar John Franklin cal Languages, the fund Franklin credits — who’s also a keyboardist in a yacht rock with keeping the advanced study of Greek band — re-creates them with his band the and Latin alive at UVM after the university Call of Kinnaru, in which he plays lyre. slashed its funding. Burlington audiences will have a chance During a major restructuring, to hear the “new ancient music” when the announced three years ago, classics was band performs at Main stripped of its departStreet Landing Performment status and became ing Arts Center on a program in the newly Saturday, December 2. created School of World The sound has elements Languages and Cultures. of ’70s prog rock and Funding for graduate contemporary experiteaching assistants was mental music, said eliminated, Franklin Franklin, director of the said. In the past five Z. PHILIP AMBROSE classics program at the years, the faculty has shrunk from seven University of Vermont. “But it’s really its own thing, because the people to four, and their offices and semirhythms we’re doing are those of the origi- nar room, formerly housed under one nal plays [by] Euripides and Aristophanes.” roof at 481 Main Street, are now scattered Those rhythms come from the texts, among three different buildings. which did survive. “We’re not compos“It feels like we were kind of shoved into ing something corners that we should not be in,” graduate elaborate out of student Annaliese Holden said. our own minds,” Professor emeritus Z. Philip Ambrose Franklin said. watched in disbelief as UVM withdrew “We’re interpreting something that is support for what the institution itself calls surviving and then providing melodies “the original and quintessential liberal arts and chords to go along with it according degree.” to ancient principles.” “I was horrified at the treatment of the The Call of Kinnaru will play selections classics department, which has had a long from Euripides’ Helen and Aristophanes’ history at the University of Vermont,” he The Clouds on Saturday, with Brooklyn- told Seven Days last week. Ambrose joined based indie-folk duo Gawain and the Green the department in 1962 and served as its

I WAS HORRIFIED

AT THE TREATMENT OF THE CLASSICS DEPARTMENT.

EDUCATION

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

chair for 25 years before retiring in 2006. “And so I just, in the middle of this sleepless night, decided that I could assure that the graduate program could continue.” Ambrose is the sole contributor to the Ambrose Graduate Fellowship fund, which provides free tuition and a teaching stipend to two new graduate students each year for five years. Retaining the two-year classics master’s program ensures that UVM can continue to offer undergraduate majors in Greek and Latin, Franklin explained, because graduate students and upper-level undergraduates take many of the same classes. Without grad students, the program would struggle to meet the 10-student minimum enrollment UVM requires to offer a class. Now in its second year, the Ambrose fellowship has provided “a five-year stay of execution” for advanced Greek and Latin studies, said Franklin, who is trying to raise $2 million to keep the fellowship going. At $10 a ticket, the concert he has

organized won’t go far toward meeting that goal, he acknowledged. “This is sort of more about raising public awareness.” The Call of Kinnaru formed as a pit band for the 2018 UVM classics department production of Helen and has since done gigs at universities, museums and conferences. Besides Franklin, its four members are Rachel Fickes on aulos, a double oboe common in the ancient world; lead singer Julia Irons, who played Helen in the 2018 production; and frame drummer Jamie Levis, who performs with Franklin in Burlington yacht rock band the Full Cleveland. Their “Songs of Greek Mythology” set will start out acoustically, with a sort of Renaissance faire reenactors’ sound, Franklin said, “and we gradually kind of morph into a more Spinal Tap, you know, rock version of ancient music. Not super loud or anything, but, you know, we have lights and a fog machine and projections.” The latter are by Franklin’s wife, cartoonist Glynnis Fawkes, whose work has been featured in the New Yorker. Gawain and the Green Knight, composed of married couple Alexia Antoniou and Mike O’Malley, will sing about Greek gods and heroes, then join the Call of Kinnaru for a couple of rebetiko songs. Rebetiko, known as the Greek blues, was popular among Greece’s urban working and lower classes in the early 20th century. The bands will do a free matinee for high school students on December 2, ensuring that audiences both young and old will get a taste of classics. Ambrose, Franklin and their students are enthralled by the field of study — and want UVM to continue it. If a state school doesn’t teach classics, Franklin said, “they’ll just become the preserve of elite institutions.” Greek and Latin graduate student Holden, 22, is a beneficiary of the Ambrose fellowship. She graduated from UVM in the spring with majors in ancient Greek and classical civilization. The classics program is small but strong, Holden said. She noted that students from other colleges are shocked when they hear she wrote prose in Greek as an undergrad: “‘They offer prose composition, and they offer it to undergrads?’” The opportunity “is awesome,” said Holden, who teaches elementary Latin at UVM. Her 24 students are mostly freshmen and sophomores, she said. “I look at them, and I would think, I really wish they could have this opportunity as well. But I don’t know that they will.” ➆

INFO “Songs of Greek Mythology,” Saturday, December 2, 7:30 p.m., at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, in Burlington. $10. sevendaystickets.com

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/22/23 3:10 PM

on screen COURTESY OF MGM AND AMAZON STUDIOS

Saltburn ★★★

ou might remember Irish actor Barry Keoghan from his scenestealing, Oscar-nominated turn as a rural lout in last year’s The Banshees of Inisherin or his chilling performance as a vengeful teen in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer. He’s one of those supporting actors who make a lasting impression, but he hasn’t had a high-profile lead role — until now. Keoghan is top billed in Saltburn, the second feature from Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), a film in a genre that might best be described as “If you can’t eat the rich, join them.”

REVIEW

The deal

Oliver Quick (Keoghan) is a first-year scholarship student at Oxford University who struggles to stand out among his upper-class peers. But after he does a good turn for Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), crown prince of the campus elite, Felix takes Oliver under his wing. Oliver is mesmerized by everything about Felix, while Felix is titillated by Oliver’s tales of a drug-dealing dad and squalid home life. When the story takes a tragic turn, Felix expresses his sympathy by inviting Oliver to spend the summer at his family’s palatial country estate, Saltburn. There Oliver quickly endears himself to Felix’s spacey, titled parents (Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant) and his troubled sister (Alison Oliver). A harder nut to crack is Felix’s American cousin (Archie Madekwe), who sees Oliver as a threat to his status as the designated poor relation. Tensions heat up as Oliver worms his way deeper into the heart of the lush estate and its dysfunctional owners.

Will you like it?

Saltburn proves that a film can remind you of a dozen good movies and still not be a good movie. It has all the ingredients of a transgressive, class-conscious, boundarybreaking erotic thriller, including a big midpoint twist and at least two outrageous scenes that are sure to pop up in amateur online montages. But, much like the infamous Nicolas Cage remake of The Wicker Man, Saltburn ends up being more fun to meme than to watch. What went wrong? Shot on Kodak film by Oscar winner Linus Sandgren, 52

Barry Keoghan gets a star turn in Emerald Fennell’s gorgeous but muddled social satire.

the movie certainly looks good. The boxy Academy aspect ratio may evoke the days of watching movies on VHS, but the reds and greens are oil-painting sumptuous, and the smoky dorm rooms and cafeterias have a lived-in quality. (The film is mostly set in 2006, just far enough in the past for indoor smoking to be the norm.) When the Cattons stage elaborate dinner parties or a fête with the theme of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we share Oliver’s yearning to partake of their privilege. The performances are uniformly strong, too. The role of Oliver might as well have been written for Keoghan; it gives him a chance to showcase his wide range, from awkward and self-loathing to sly and shifty to preening and sinister. Elordi incarnates golden-boyness; now that he’s played Elvis, that might as well be his brand. As Sir James and Lady Elspeth, Pike and Grant underplay deliciously and get laughs with tossed-off lines. (My favorite of these cleverly scripted bits is Elspeth’s narcissistic theory that she was the inspiration for Pulp’s depiction of the clueless rich in the anthem “Common People.”) Even Carey Mulligan is in the mix, as a houseguest to whom Elspeth refers as “Poor Dear Pamela” while trashing her ruthlessly behind her back. But here’s where signs of trouble

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

appear, because Poor Dear Pamela has no purpose in the story except mild comic relief. She’s there and then gone without affecting Oliver’s trajectory. As the movie lurches into its second half, the wealthy characters begin to feel less like people and more like placeholders. Their motivations make little sense; their antagonism is token and easily overcome. As any meaningful source of conflict disappears, Saltburn becomes dull to watch — except when it’s being deliberately outré. It’s hard to explain why the film’s story falls flat without spoiling the midpoint reversal. Suffice it to say that Fennell turns one hackneyed narrative inside out only to reveal a second hackneyed narrative, and her script never digs any deeper. We’re asked to be shocked by developments that are, to be frank, predictable, and in the process, any pretense of meaningful class satire goes out the window. With its tagline “We’re all about to lose our minds,” Saltburn’s marketing suggests that the Cattons’ lifestyle is an absurdist bacchanal, half Barry Lyndon and half Midsommar. Actually, it’s pretty chill — I would hang out with these people in their beautiful house, even if they are allergic to normal human emotion. The movie is about surfaces, just like the Cattons’ life. There’s no core of unruly passion in those

meme-worthy scenes, nothing to connect to. What looks like a banquet of excess turns out to be a little stale. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY... THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999; MGM+,

Paramount+, rentable): If there’s one movie that clearly influenced Saltburn, it’s this Oscar-winning adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, but Ripley digs far deeper into the psyche of its protagonist. THE SERVANT (1963; BFI Player Clas-

sics, rentable): Saltburn also draws on tropes of the British art-house cinema of the swinging ’60s, which often involved upstairs-downstairs clashes and erotic power games. Dirk Bogarde stirs up an aristocratic household in this Harold Pinter adaptation. WITHNAIL AND I (1987; Max): Watch-

ing a restrained, patriarchal Grant in Saltburn made me nostalgic for this cult film in which he chews the scenery as a down-on-his-luck actor taking a country holiday infinitely less glamorous than the one in this movie.

COURTESY OF SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

tis the season

Next Goal Wins

NEW IN THEATERS DREAM SCENARIO: Nicolas Cage plays a man who finds himself suddenly appearing in other people’s dreams in this horror comedy from director Kristoffer Borgli (Sick of Myself). With Lily Bird and Julianne Nicholson. (102 min, R. Roxy, Savoy) GODZILLA MINUS ONE: This new Godzilla film from Japan, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, goes back to the monster’s origins in the aftermath of the atomic bomb. Minami Hamabe and Sakura Ando star. (125 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic) RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCE: Beyoncé takes her turn with a concert film, shot on her Renaissance World Tour. (150 min, NR. Thu-Sun only: Essex, Majestic, Roxy) THE SHIFT: A man finds himself transported into a dystopia and struggles to return to his own world in this sci-fi film directed by Brock Heasley. With Neal McDonough and Kristoffer Polaha. (115 min, PG-13. Essex, Paramount) SILENT NIGHT: All a grieving father wants for Christmas is vengeance on a brutal gang in this action flick from John Woo, starring Joel Kinnaman and Catalina Sandino Moreno. (104 min, R. Majestic)

CURRENTLY PLAYING THE HOLDOVERSHHH1/2 Paul Giamatti plays a grumpy prep school teacher forced to spend the holidays with his least favorite student in the acclaimed comedy-drama from Alexander Payne. (133 min, R. Capitol, Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 11/22) THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKESHH1/2 This prequel to the blockbuster dystopian series explores the youth of villain-to-be Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth). With Rachel Zegler and Viola Davis. (157 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Welden) THE MARVELSHH1/2 Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) must work with Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) to save the universe in the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry. Nia DaCosta directed. (105 min, PG-13. Majestic) NAPOLEONHHH Joaquin Phoenix plays France’s emperor and Vanessa Kirby is his beloved Josephine in this historical epic from Ridley Scott, also starring Tahar Rahim and Rupert Everett. (158 min, R. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Stowe) NEXT GOAL WINSHH Michael Fassbender attempts to coach the notoriously losing American Samoa soccer team to glory in this fact-based comedy from director Taika Waititi. (103 min, PG-13. Capitol, Playhouse) SALTBURNHHH Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) directed this dark comedy/thriller about an Oxford University student (Barry Keoghan) spending the summer with his wealthier friend’s family. (127 min, R; Essex, Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 11/29) TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOURHHHH Fans who didn’t score tickets can catch this cinematic version of the pop star’s concert. (168 min, NR. Thu-Sun only: Essex) THANKSGIVINGHHH Turkey Day gets its own slasher movie about a killer on the loose in Plymouth, Mass. Patrick Dempsey and Gina Gershon star. Eli Roth directed. (107 min, R. Majestic)

TROLLS BAND TOGETHERHH1/2 The third installment in the animated musical family series reunites Justin Timberlake’s character with his boy band brethren. With Anna Kendrick and Zooey Deschanel. (92 min, PG. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Welden) WISHHH1/2 A young girl (voice of Ariana DeBose) calls on the power of a star to save her kingdom in this Disney animation, also starring Chris Pine and Alan Tudyk. (95 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Welden)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Santa arrives Friday, December 1 at 11am!

Holiday Hours

THE ABYSS (Essex, Wed 6 only) ELF (Bijou, Wed 29 & Thu) HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (Essex, Sun & Wed 6 only)

November 27–December 23 Monday–Saturday: 9:30am–8pm | Sunday: 10am–7pm

LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND (Savoy, Thu only)

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24: 10am–5pm

METROPOLITAN OPERA: THE MAGIC FLUTE (Essex, Sat only)

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11/22/23 4:39 PM

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (48 1/2 ANNIVERSARY EDITION) (Essex, Sun & Wed 6 only) UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP (Savoy, Fri only)

OPEN THEATERS Catamount Arts’ theater is currently closed until further notice. (* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time) *BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info *BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com *CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com

A Festive Community Market in City Hall Park

*MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com

Nov. 18-Dec. 23

PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com

Fridays: 2-6 pm Saturdays: 12-6 pm Sundays: 12-4 pm

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com *STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com *WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com

SEE ROTATING WEEKLY VENDORS AT: BURLINGTONCITYARTS.ORG GG1T-BCA112223 1

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/15/23 9:33 AM

11/27/23 6:36 PM

art Birdsey View

Clay sculpture by Ginger Birdsey

Ripton couple open Mountain Hounds Studio B Y PA M EL A POL ST O N • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

POLS

Tal Birdsey and Rose McVay

TON

I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP A ROTATING STABLE OF

DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT. TAL BIRDSEY

GALLERY PROFILE of different people coming in and out,” Birdsey said. “We know enough people who produce stuff who aren’t active in promoting themselves, and we have some students we’re encouraging, as well as friends who do incredible photography.” For now, Mountain Hounds Studio will host just two exhibits a year. “The second show will be in the summer,” Birdsey said. “Then people can enjoy the light.” The studio was born in 2007, he said, when “we tore down a garage and built an apartment for our parents from Atlanta to visit.” Burlington landscape architect H. Keith Wagner designed the structure, he added; Alex Carver of Ripton’s Northern Timbers Construction was the builder. Birdsey and McVay live in a nearby house, surrounded by flower and vegetable gardens and a couple of ponds. Both teach at the North Branch School just up the

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

PAMELA POLSTON

PAM ELA

asper and Ladybird were nowhere to be seen last week during a visit to their upcoming art gallery. They were probably snoozing by the fire up at the house, said their “mom,” Rose McVay. If not exactly namesakes, the pair of canines inspired the moniker Mountain Hounds Studio, which opens in Ripton this weekend. Jasper and Ladybird, who have a tendency to howl, will not be invited. Located on a steeply sloping property off a dirt lane off Lincoln Road, Mountain Hounds Studio is a bit obscure, but it’s just a couple minutes’ drive from the Ripton Country Store. McVay and her husband, Tal Birdsey, share a workspace on the ground level — she makes elegant stained-glass panels; he paints warmly hued abstract compositions on paper and canvas. The second floor of the natural-wood building, which is slightly cantilevered over the first, holds a high-ceilinged yet cozy apartment. It’s where Birdsey’s mother, Ginger Birdsey, stays when she comes to visit. It’s also now home to the Mountain Hounds Studio gallery. Though it’s not typical for a gallery to include a kitchen, a comfy seating area and a bed, this 36-by-18-foot room practically cries out for art. Abundant natural light bathes the white walls. A rounded kitchen island and other surfaces serve as pedestals for small sculptures. Suspended works, if challenging to hang from 14 feet, have ample airspace overhead. McVay and both Birdseys — Ginger makes expressive ceramic heads with elaborate adornments — are exhibitors in the debut show. So is Tal’s son, Henry Birdsey. He’s a metal fabricator, composer and recording engineer based in New Haven, Conn.; his contributions are snippets of scores somehow transmogrified into white-on-black pictorial forms. In addition, Mountain Hounds Studio is showing two-dimensional works by Viscaya Wagner of Burlington, Lizzy Chemel of New York City and Ben Junta of Los Angeles, as well as kite-inspired constructions by Win Colwell, a Ripton neighbor. Tal Birdsey said they’re easing into their gallery venture with friends and family and will likely broaden their scope in the future. “I would like to keep a rotating stable

road; the nonprofit, independent school, which Birdsey cofounded, serves middle schoolers and emphasizes experiential and outdoor learning. Why turn a private space into a public gallery? “I was accumulating a lot of artworks and had no place to put them. I thought I’d just hang stuff there,” Birdsey said. “Rose had accumulated a lot of glass pieces, as well. Somehow we thought, Let’s just shove some art in there and have some shows. My mom already treats the place like a canvas, anyway.” If that origin story sounds cavalier, Birdsey and McVay are earnest about the nascent gallery’s mission. “When we were first talking about this, we [decided] we wouldn’t be making any money except from our own sales,” McVay said. “We just want to give the artists

Untitled painting by Tal Birdsey

money.” She added that a percentage of the profits will be donated to three groups: NAMI Vermont, WomenSafe and 350.org. (The latter, climate-focused nonprofit was cofounded by another Ripton neighbor, Bill McKibben.) “It’s a learning curve,” McVay said of the gallery. “We’ll figure out what works. We came up with the name last year and finally got it together.” ➆

INFO Mountain Hounds Studio is open Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, 6-9 p.m., at 114 Whitman Road in Ripton. The exhibit can be viewed by appointment through Sunday, December 10. mountainhoundsart.com

ART SHOWS

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS ‘ALTERED LAYERS’: A winter exhibition featuring paintings by Elizabeth Nelson, along with works by 11 other area artists. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-7 p.m. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery, Shelburne, December 1-January 31. Info, 985-3848. ANNA HELD AUDETTE & SUZANNE NOTHNAGLE: “Ruins: Poems and Paintings of a Vanishing America,” landscapes of modern industrial ruin and poems that explore the individuals whose lives and losses underpin those industries, respectively. Reception and talk: Friday, December 1, 4-8 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, December 1-January 20. Info, 262-6035. ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBITION AND SALE: An exhibition featuring works by Vermont and New Hampshire artists in all six galleries. Open house: Saturday, December 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., with artist reception and holiday celebration 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., through December 30. Info, 603-448-3117. ANNUAL SMALL WORKS ART SHOW: An exhibition of artworks sized under 12 inches by more than 100 local artists. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-9 p.m. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington, December 1-January 19. Info, spacegalleryvt.com. ART AT THE MALTEX: New works in a variety of mediums by Matt Larson, Linda Blackerby, Katherine Coons, Linda Finkelstein, Greg Nicolai and Sharon Radtke. Maltex Building, Burlington, through March 31. Info, 865-7166. DENVER FERGUSON: Colored pencil drawings by the self-taught artist based in West Lebanon, N.H., who is inspired by Caribbean/Yoruba culture, 20thcentury science fiction and contemporary comic book characters Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-8 p.m. Kishka Gallery & Library, White River Junction, December 1-30. Info, 347-264-4808. DIANE HULING: “Strands — Stories, Music and Meditations,” an exhibition of nature-inspired oil painting by the classical pianist and teacher. Reception: Saturday, December 2, 2-4 p.m. First Congregational Church of Berlin, December 2-31. Info, 522-7649. ‘EIGHT ALUMNI ARTISTS 2006-2021’: An exhibition of artworks in a variety of mediums by Bangwei Bao, Miles Chapin, Phebe Macrae Corcoran, Yining Ge, Bronwyn Maloney, Isabel Rodriguez, Olaf Saaf and Jingting Wang. Meet the artists: Friday, December 1, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Michael S. Currier Center, Putney School, through December 17. Info, 387-6258. GALLERY ARTISTS RETROSPECTIVE 2023: Works in painting, photography, mosaic, sculpture and more by nine artists who have exhibited through the year. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-7 p.m. ART, etc., Randolph, December 1-January 29. Info, artetcvt@ gmail.com. HOLIDAY MARKET & SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER: A market featuring handmade mittens, scarves, ornaments, pottery, toys, craft food items and holiday cards, plus an auction to benefit the gallery’s arts education for youth and adults. Reception: Friday, December 1, 4-8 p.m., in conjunction with a birthday gala and exhibit opening. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, December 1-28. Info, 262-6035. LANDA TOWNSEND: “Dragonfly Habitat at the Edges of Weatherhead Hollow Pond,” an exhibition of prints in the Japanese mokuhanga technique. Artist talk: Thursday, November 30, 6-7 p.m. Pierson Library, Shelburne, through November 30. Info, landa@landatownsend.com. MATTHEW MAZUR: Oil paintings by the Vermont artist. Reception: Friday, December 1, 6 p.m. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, December 1-January 31. Info, info@mainstreetmuseum.org. MEMBERS’ HOLIDAY PRINT SHOW: Matted original prints and handmade cards by studio artists. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-7 p.m. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, December 1-January 30. Info, 295-5901. MICHAEL GAC LEVIN: “Yellow Brick Road,” paintings about parents, parenthood and reflections on

mortality. Reception: Friday, December 1, 4-8 p.m. Hexum Gallery, Montpelier, December 1-January 12. Info, hexumgallery@gmail.com.

New Tees on Sale Through Dec. 8!

MOUNTAIN HOUNDS STUDIO OPENING: The new studio and gallery opens its first exhibition featuring artworks in painting, clay sculpture, stained glass and mixed media by Tal Birdsey, Rose McVay, Ginger Birdsey, Henry Birdsey, Win Colwell, Lizzy Chemel, Viscaya Wagner and Ben Junta. On view by appointment through December 10. Open house: Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, 6-9 p.m. Mountain Hounds Studio, Ripton, December 1-10. Info, tal.birdsey@gmail.com.

MICHAEL GAC LEVIN

Yellow Brick Road

‘RAW’: A pop-up exhibit featuring paintings and mixed-media works by Nick Thabit and Aleyna Feinberg. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-8 p.m.; closing event: Sunday, December 3, 4-6 p.m. new new art studio, Burlington, December 1-3. Info, 363-5497.

DEC 1st - JAN 12th

Montpelier Art Walk Opening Reception Friday, Dec. 1st, 4-8 pm

‘REFLECTIONS’: A juried exhibition of 2D and 3D works by 23 emerging artists from around the U.S. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-6:30, with announcement of first-, second- and third-place winners. Edgewater Gallery on the Green, Middlebury, December 1-31. Info, 989-7419. ‘SEARCHING FOR VERMONT’S LOST SKI AREAS’: Part one of an exhibition featuring photographs, memorabilia and a large-format map resulting from 20 years of research into the state’s former, and current, small lifts. Reception: Friday, December 1, 5-8 p.m. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, Stowe, December 1-October 14. Info, 253-9911. SHOW 58 AND UNDER $100: A group exhibition and holiday market of paintings, drawings and sculptures by gallery members. Reception: Friday, December 1, 4-7 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, December 1-31. Info, marjkramer@gmail.com. TIM FARRELL: “Leave the Light On,” an exhibition of digital and analog photography that traces the artist’s journey from postpartum depression to hope and clarity. Reception: Saturday, December 2, 5-8 p.m. December 2-24. Info, 609-744-0742.

11 FABRIC COLOR OPTIONS AVAILABLE:

16 State St, 2nd Floor, Montpelier hexumgallery@gmail.com hexumgallery.com Instagram: @hexumgallery

sevendaysvt.com/store

Want to keep rolling this winter?

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ART EVENTS

HEXUM Gallery

1 11/16/23 8v-HexumGallery112923.indd 11:29 PM

Join us for a

Winter Riding Workshop

‘DANCE, PAINT, WRITE!’: A meditative flow of movement, painting and writing while listening to an inspirational soundtrack. Accessible to all adults and teens, regardless of mobility, and open to all skill levels. In person or via Zoom. Expressive Arts Burlington, Wednesday, November 29; Wednesday, December 6 and 20; and Wednesday, January 3, 9:30 a.m.-noon. $25 per session. Info, 343-8172.

Wednesday Dec. 6, 6:00 to 7:30 PM

LIA ROTHSTEIN: NONTOXIC ART PRACTICES: The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 2023 climate change artist-in-residence talks about her experiments using bioplastics as art materials. Online, Thursday, November 30, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124.

at Old Spokes Home 331 North Winooski Ave in BTV

200TH BIRTHDAY GALA: A celebration of the gallery’s namesake, with a custom cocktail by Barr Hill and birthday cake, in conjunction with an auction and holiday market. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Friday, December 1, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 262-6035. BTV WINTER MARKET: A European-style outdoor market featuring a rotating group of 20 local artists, makers and food vendors. Burlington City Hall Park, Fridays, 2-6 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-6 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-4 p.m., through December 23. Info, 865-7166. HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIOS: Multiple artists celebrate the season with open studios featuring paintings, fiber arts, jewelry, beeswax candles, botanical soaps and other artful gift options. The Fire Exit Gallery is also open with featured holiday artwork. Reception: Friday, December 1 , 5-9 p.m. Greenhouse Building, Burlington, Friday, December 1, 5-9 p.m. and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m., through December 16. Info, wildblossomdesigns@gmail.com.

11/27/23 7:16 PM

Free and open to all!

We’ll cover gear, attire, and the best ways to keep riding in comfort when things get cold and snowy.

Brought to you by:

MOKUHANGA DEMONSTRATION: Jericho-based artist Patty Hudak shows how the Japanese woodblock printing technique is done. In conjunction with the reception for the holiday print show. ART EVENTS

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/20/23 5:48 PM

FIND ALL ART SHOWS + EVENTS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

art NOV. 29-DEC. 6

CALL TO ARTISTS

PROFILE

GINGERBREAD CONTEST: Bakers, schools, organizations, businesses, families, individuals and young people are invited to submit their imaginative gingerbread creations to the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland. Theme: holiday magic. Entrants should preregister; drop-off is December 6 and 7 or by appointment. Info, 775-0356.

At the Sheldon Museum, a New Director Aims to Connect Past, Present and Future B Y PAM E L A P O L S T O N • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

ART EVENTS

« P.55

Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, Friday, December 1, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 295-5901. POP-UP ORIENTAL CARPET BAZAAR: Tribal rugs, vintage carpets and kilims from Syria, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Iran presented by Mouawia Bouzo and Deborah Felmeth of Oriental Rug & Carpet. Northern Daughters, Vergennes, Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. BURKLYN ARTS WINTER FAIR: The 54th annual craft fair offering jewelry, woodworking, pottery, holiday-themed items, soaps, candles and more by local artisans. Catamount ArtPort, St. Johnsbury,

Moseley said she feels “a deep connection” to Vermont. That concept recurs in her first letter to the public as Sheldon director. “It is this work of connection that I’m most excited about cultivating together at the Museum,” she writes. Even the toy train exhibit is contextualized with community connections past and present: Posters about Middlebury’s railroad history line the walls, while a toddler-height play table encourages the littlest museumgoers to get involved. With a youngster of her own, Moseley said she’s interested in elevating educational programming for kids. “But for now,” she said, “the museum is in holiday mode.” ➆

INFO “Holiday Trains: 30 Years Rolling Down the Tracks” is on view through January 13 at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury. Free open house on Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. henrysheldonmuseum.org

GOOD TRADE MAKERS MARKET: A marketplace featuring more than 90 independent makers and manufacturers from across the country. Hula, Burlington, Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3, noon-6 p.m. $5-8. Info, 540-0761. OPEN HOUSE: The museum invites the public in for a tour of the collections, as well as the holiday trains. Includes Christmas trees and wreaths raffle. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 388-2117. POP-UP EXHIBITION & NATARAJASANA RAFFLE: Stop by to browse unique gifts and enter a raffle for a framed, limited-edition print of the Winooski

PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY FRIDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

WATERCOLOR PAINTING WITH PAULINE NOLTE: Instruction in the medium from the Vermont artist; no experience necessary to attend. Register to reserve a spot. Waterbury Public Library, Mondays, December 4 and 11, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com. ‘DANCE! PAINT! WRITE!: A workshop that includes movement, painting and writing while listening to an inspirational soundtrack; open to teens and adults of all mobility and skill levels. In person or via Zoom. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesdays, 6:30-9 p.m., through December 19. $25 per session. Info, 343-8172. ➆

Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, burklynarts40@gmail.com.

GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE!

Coco Moseley at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History

PAMELA POLSTON

Last Friday, the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury was animated, as if the normally decorous 19thcentury artifacts had just come in from a sledding party. Visitors were admiring a display of twinkly Christmas wreaths, but the real excitement was on the second floor. The model trains had returned, and so had a visibly delighted audience of all ages. Apparently, everyone loves watching Lionel O-Gauge trains tootle through tunnels, across a working drawbridge and past miniature wonderland scenery. “Holiday Trains: 30 Years Rolling Down the Tracks” is the title of this year’s iteration, indicating exactly how long the tiny choo-choos have been a seasonal attraction. It’s the first year for Coco Moseley; she’s scarcely a month into her new job as the Sheldon Museum’s executive director. And the model train exhibit illustrates the kind of enthusiastic engagement she hopes to galvanize year-round. “This is a community museum,” she emphasized in an interview. “I’m really interested in how a museum can be a place where people can make connections to themselves and to others.” Adjourning to the quieter quarters of the museum’s StewartSwift Research Center, Moseley gestured at the library-like environs. The Sheldon “holds archives for Middlebury and Addison County,” she noted, acknowledging the work of archivist Eva Garcelon-Hart. Though recordkeeping itself is a worthy endeavor, Moseley doesn’t think those records should just sit on a shelf. “I’m passionate about participatory history,” she said. “We all play a role in looking at the past, understanding the stories of those who came before us and having conversations about it. And who’s telling the story now?” Her view is au courant. Museums worldwide have been soul-searching in recent years, and the Sheldon is no exception. In an exhibition last year, for example, artists employed archival materials to locate stories of underrepresented locals, including a Jewish shopkeeper and a Black female poet. In a virtual lecture series titled “The Elephant in the Room,” a variety of invited thinkers explored the future of museums. Moseley pointed to “racial reckoning, a changing climate and wealth disparities” as considerations in “the role the museum can play going forward.” At its very best, she suggested, a museum helps us understand our histories in order to envision a better future. Fifteen years ago, Moseley moved to Vermont from Madison, Wis., with a master’s degree in “gender and women’s studies with a focus on science,” she said. She worked for a youth services agency in Washington County and, for the past few years, served as director of Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. She lives in Lincoln with her husband and 5-year-old daughter. Citing ancestors who operated a dairy farm in Bellows Falls,

River dancer sculpture, “Natarajasana,” taken before July flooding swept it away. PHarrigan Fine Arts, Burlington, Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, ph@pharriganstudio.com. IAA WINTER MARKET: Arts and crafts vendors, live music by the Tenderbellies and Tyler Bolles, food, a bake sale, raffle items, and a silent auction. Integrated Arts Academy, Burlington, Sunday, December 3, noon-4 p.m. Info, 864-8475.

But wait, there’s more!

105 additional art listings

are on view at sevendaysvt.com/art. Find all the calls to artists, ongoing art shows and future events online.

SMATTERINGS ARTIST MARKET: A diverse selection of crafts, art and specialty goods by local vendors, with refreshments and live music. Burlington Beer, Sunday, December 3, and Sunday, December 10, noon-4 p.m. Info, smatteringsvt@gmail.com.

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

ART LISTINGS ARE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POLSTON. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

Let it snow!

Dwight & Nicole command the HCA lawn with soul and blues this weekend in Greensboro. Swing into late 91 MAIN STREET91 , SM TOWE VTREET ILLAGE 802.253.3033 ~ STOWE@FERROJEWELERS.COM AIN S , S~TOWE VILLAGE • 802.253.3033 .COM TOWE ~ LIKE.COM US ON ACEBOOK .COM.COM /FERRO.Jsummer EWELERS with this dynamic trio while enjoying picnic fare FERROJEWELERS @F/S ERRO JEWELERS • FFERRO JEWELERS STOWE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.COM/FERRO.JEWELERS P FERRO_JEWELERS_Sfrom TOWE the HCA Café. 91 MAIN STREET, STOWE VILLAGE ~ 802.253.3033 ~ STOWE@FERROJEWELERS.COM FERROJ1EWELERS.COM/STOWE ~ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.COM/FERRO.JEWELERS 9/27/23 3:47 PM 6h-ferro112923.indd

Kongero

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market

Saturday,December 2 | 11 am - 3 pm Celebrate the magic of the season with a festive, Saturday, December 4 | 11 AMholidays - 3 PM indoor/outdoor market. Shop local for the Saturday, June 3 | 7PM from over 60 artisans from around the region! Warm up by a toasty ﬁre, take a sleigh ride, delight in live music with Brass Balagan Band, enjoy a show with No Strings Marionette Company, and try unique eats. Rain Date: Dec 3 | 11AM - 3PM

DEC 8 | 7PM

Highland Holiday Concert DEC 16 | 7PM

HIGHLANDARTSVT.ORG

802.533.2000 2875 HARDWICK ST, GREENSBORO, VT 6h-HCA112923 1

Burklyn Arts Council’s

54th Juried Winter Craft Fair

11/27/23 9:09 AM

WonderArts Holiday Market

Saturday, Dec. 2, 10am-5pm Catamount Arts’ ArtPort Located at the Green Mountain Mall

2000 Memorial Dr, St. Johnsbury, VT

All profits go to supporting art programing in our schools and community.

www.burklyn-arts.org

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11/22/23 12:25 PM

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/27/23 12:45 PM

music+nightlife Mr. Sun

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene B Y C HR I S FA R N S WO RT H

Suite Sounds: Darol Anger Reimagines Ellington’s Nutcracker I’ll never forget the first time I saw a live production of The Nutcracker. Or, more accurately, I’ll never forget forgetting The Nutcracker. My parents, aggrieved by my assertion that the only Christmas song worth a damn was RUN-D.M.C.’s “Christmas in Hollis,” decided to (almost literally) drag my 11-year-old ass to downtown Burlington to catch a touring production of the ballet at the Flynn. PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY’s classic tale of a child’s imagination running wild on Christmas Eve struck little me as ironic, as the show had quite the opposite effect on me. In fact, I was dead asleep before the Mouse King even showed up in Act I. I know, I know. I fell asleep during a massive battle scene with giant rodents kicking the shit out of soldiers under a towering Christmas tree. But for all the color and spectacle, I was hopelessly bored with the music. (Don’t @ me. That’s one of the reasons we have the wonderful AMY LILLY handling most of our classical music coverage: I’m an uncultured lout.) Turns out I wasn’t the only one who thought the soundtrack needed a remix. In 1960, jazz composer extraordinaire DUKE ELLINGTON and his longtime collaborator BILLY STRAYHORN 58

gave Tchaikovsky’s music a makeover on The Nutcracker Suite. They turned the ballet into a hard-swinging hot-house jazz record full of playful reinterpretations: “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” became “Sugar Rum Cherry,” and “Dance of the Reed-Pipes” morphed into “Toot Toot Tootie Toot.”

“Honestly, if you wanted to sort of ‘get’ Duke Ellington in one record, The Nutcracker is the one,” DAROL ANGER told me by phone from his home in Nashville. The violinist and founding member of jazzy bluegrass groups such as the DAVID GRISMAN QUINTET, the TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET and MONTREUX has more than a

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

passing interest in Ellington’s take on the Christmas classic. Together with his band MR. SUN, Anger has transmogrified Ellington’s transmogrification of Tchaikovsky by recording a new version of The Nutcracker, this time for an acoustic string band. He and Mr. Sun have plotted out a holiday tour to perform their take on the ballet, including stops at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph and the Richmond Congregational Church next month. “Duke’s version just swings so hard,” Anger said. “Like, a million times harder than the original. But people forget how revolutionary those sounds were in 1960 — it sounded like jazz from Jupiter.” Mr. Sun’s interpretation was hatched by mandolin player JOE K. WALSH, who heard some of Ellington’s album on the radio and brought it in for the group. Blown away by the bold arrangements and the stellar playing of virtuoso saxophonists PAUL GONSALVES and JOHNNY HODGES, the group seized on the idea of adapting the record for string music. That was no easy feat, according to Anger. He and the other members of the band, including Walsh, guitarist GRANT GORDY and bassist AIDAN O’DONNELL, spent the better part of a year hashing out new

arrangements and figuring out how to translate Ellington’s famously hard-todecipher sounds. “You have to have ears of steel, man,” Anger said with a rueful laugh as he recalled the arduous task of transcribing Ellington’s music. Fortunately, the band had a secret weapon in O’Donnell, whom Anger described as a “heavy jazz cat.” After he graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK, one of O’Donnell’s first gigs was touring America and performing Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite. “Aidan is such a quiet dude, though,” Anger recounted. “He didn’t mention that for the first two months!” Taking the various horn parts on the record and matching them up with the right stringed instruments was a large part of the battle. Some of the solos on Ellington’s album are both incredibly powerful and notoriously difficult, such as LAWRENCE BROWN’s trombone solo on “Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers).” “We gave that solo to JERRY DOUGLAS, who came in for us to play it on the dobro,” Anger said of the legendary bluegrass musician and 15-time Grammy Award winner. “He was like, ‘Oh, great, I get to play the guessing stick solo,’ because trombone can be so hard to figure out where the notes are. But he absolutely nails it.” Anger was quick to point out that Mr. Sun could take on such a timeconsuming project only with the help of a grant from the FreshGrass Foundation. The nonprofit organization partners with institutions such as MASS MoCA and Berklee College of Music to curate the creation of world-class performing arts. It holds the FreshGrass Festivals in North Adams, Mass., and Bentonville, Ark., and publishes the music journal No Depression and online resource Folk Alley. “There’s no way we could have done any of this stuff and spent all this time on a project like this without them,” Anger said of FreshGrass. “They’re one of the only orgs left still commissioning new string music — not to mention providing a top-notch studio for us to record in.” To me, someone whose first job was in retail, the idea of having to listen to holiday music all year round sounds like a level of hell in Dante’s Inferno. But it’s all part of the job for Anger, who has recorded his share of Christmas albums in his career — many of them tracked in Vermont for the Windham Hill Records label at WILL ACKERMAN’s Imaginary Road Studios in West Townshend. That’s not Anger’s only Vermont tie. Mr. Sun got their name while playing

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

a show more than a decade ago in Richmond. “We were standing near this children’s library, and there was a giant picture of a sun with a face on it,” Anger recalled. “Someone just said ‘Mr. Sun’ aloud, and it stuck. So it’s pretty cool to come back and play Richmond, especially with a project like this.” When I told Anger that my first attempt at getting through the ballet ended with me sleeping through most of it, he laughed and revealed that he had only very recently seen the original for the first time. “I’d just never had a chance to catch the ballet, so my girlfriend said, ‘Screw it, let’s just go,’” he said. “Did you stay awake?” I couldn’t help but ask. “Oh, my God, it blew my mind,” he replied. “It was amazing and so, so bizarre. Much weirder than I was prepared for — there’s an acid quality to it all.” So maybe I’ll go see two versions of The Nutcracker this holiday season, Tchaikovsky help me. I’ll just have to remember to bring a Red Bull to the Flynn. Mr. Sun play the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph on Saturday, December 9, and the Richmond Congregational Church on Sunday, December 10, as part of the “P.M. Sundays” concert series. Visit chandler-arts.org and valleystage. net for tickets.

Listening In (Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “BIG CITY” by conswank,

PhiloSofie, Chase Murphy 2. “HOUNDSTOOTH AND GLITTER”

by Jaded Ravins 3. “WORLD IN DISGUISE” by Death 4. “YOUR HEART”

by Dutch Experts 5. “WATER POP”

by Rebecca Ryskalczyk 6. “PAINT A NEW LIFE TOGETHER”

by Dave Keller 7. “HOME AGAIN”

by Transitory Symphony

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

188 MAIN STREET BURLINGTON, VT 05401 | TUE-SAT 5PM-1:30AM | 802-658-4771

LiveAtNectars.com

WED 11.29

21+ The Thing FREE $10 18-20

THUR 11.30

Trivia Night (6:30pm)

Double You (9pm) w/ Up & Orange FRI 12.1, SAT 12.2

Karina Rykman w/ Coyote Island SUN 12.3

The Q-Tip Bandits w/ Lunch Erin Bentlage

TUE 12.5

PRESENTED BY FIDDLEHEAD

Grateful Tuesdays w/ Dobbs’ Dead

On the Beat

Montpelier has had a rough go of it lately. Between floods and fires, some of the Capital City’s businesses have taken a beating in 2023. Even before the natural disasters, the city has had a guitar-shaped hole in it since GuitarSam shuttered its doors in May. With the only musical instrument shop in town out of business, central Vermont musicians were left with nowhere to buy, sell or trade their gear. Fear not, for the Naive Melody Instrument Exchange is here! Launched by area musicians NATE INGHAM, MANDY PRZYBYLAK and JEFF THOMSON, the business aims to fill the void and become a brick-and-mortar consignment-based outlet for the scene’s musical community. “We are still some ways out from opening our doors,” Ingham wrote in an email. “In the meantime, we’re looking for people with instruments to sell — guitars and basses are welcome, but we’d love to see some orchestral, folk or exotic instruments come through as well!” If you have gear to consign, email the folks at Naive Melody at naivemelodyinstruments@gmail.com and help them get up and running. Just in time, too — my partner is starting to glare at the pile of gear in our basement. I wonder if they want a beat-up B.C. Rich guitar with a faded SLAYER sticker on it? While singing the praises of Vermonters NOAH KAHAN and U.S. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS for snagging Grammy noms, I missed

WED 12.6

FREE 21+ $10 18-20

one! Jericho’s own ERIN BENTLAGE, a member of the Los Angeles-based jazz vocal group SÄJE, has been nominated for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for the track “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.” The tune is a collaboration of säje and singersongwriter Jacob Collier and appears on säje’s self-titled debut LP, which was released in August. I’m not going to lie: I’ve checked out on paying much attention to the Grammys in recent years, but I’m enough of a homer to tune in come February to see if Vermonters can go three for three. Good luck, Erin!

Workingman's Wednesdays

It’s the holiday season, so even as the rest of the world grapples with Kat Wright and MARIAH CAREY’s seasonal Brett Hughes godesshood, Vermont has its own winter classics. Few are as redoubtable as the Kat & Brett Holiday Show, featuring vocalist KAT WRIGHT and guitarist BRETT HUGHES. Now going strong in their 10th year, the two musicians have made a tradition of doing a mini Vermont tour throughout December, singing nondenominational holiday tunes, many of which Hughes wrote himself. Joining the duo are longtime bassist TYLER BOLLES (ROUGH FRANCIS, SWALE, approximately 549 other bands) and, new this year, luthier WILL SEEDERS on pedal steel, fiddle and banjo. The tour kicks off at Next Stage Arts Project in Putney this Friday, December 1, and runs nearly all the way to Christmas Eve with a performance at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater on December 22. ➆

Moondogs w/ Clive, Scram

THUR 12.7

Comatose Kids & Blackwater FRI 12.8

Weird Phishes w/ Middle Ages SAT 12.9

TAUK w/ Telula Sundays: NFL Football Food Specials & $3 Bud Light

Mi Yard Reggae Presented by Kona

WED 12.13

(FREE)

FRI 12.15

(FREE)

Wed. Nectar’s Comedy Show

Seth Yacovone Band SAT 12.16

FRI 12.22

Nico Suave & the Mothership SAT 12.23

Jason Corbiere’s Blue Christmas Bash SAT 12.9

Y2K Pop w/ D Jay Baron THUR 12.14

Full Melt Thurs: Copycatt w/ P A T H, Vusive, KAZM, Warco FRI 12.15

Talking Heads Night w/ Tad Cautious SAT 12.16

Singles Night w/ D Jay Baron SAT 12.30

Emo Night NYEE w/ Malachi SUN 12.31

DJ Svpply's New Years Bash

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023 4v-nectars112923 1

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music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

COURTESY OF STEPH PORT

live music WED.29

Bent Nails House Band (blues, rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

4. LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO, February 20, at the

Barre Opera House 5. JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT, February 26, at the State Theatre in Portland, Maine

Jazz Jam Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

6. SASHA VELOUR, March 3, at the Flynn in Burlington 7. MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES, April

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

12, at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland

Karl Woods-Lucas (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Tall Juan, Lily Seabird, Kyle Avallone (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10/$12.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SAT.2

The Thing (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Ceiba, Greaseface, Rockin’ Worms (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

Dark Side of the Mountain (Pink Floyd tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$25.

The Communicators (covers) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.1 & SAT. 2 // KARINA RYKMAN [ROCK]

The Conniption Fits (covers) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Wild Ride Bassist

KARINA RYKMAN has earned a reputation as an ace backing

musician, laying down the low end in jam heavyweight Marco Benevento’s band. Now she’s

Double You, Up & Orange (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

striking out on her own as a singer-songwriter with her debut LP, Joyride. Coproduced by

Earthworm, Super Blue, Armanodillo (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Rykman’s pop tendencies, as well as the jam-rock chops she’s mastered touring relentlessly

Frankie and the Fuse (indie) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Greenbush (jam) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. GRG Trio (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. The Middle Ages (hip-hop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10. Nathan Byrne (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Stowe, 6 p.m. Free. Shellhouse (R&B) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free. Wormdogs & Pappy, Emerald Rae (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

FRI.1

AliT (singer-songwriter) at Stone’s Throw Pizza, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free. All Night Boogie Band (blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $10/$15.

2. TRAVIS SCOTT, January 9, at the Bell Centre in 3. LUCIUS, January 30, at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington

Family Junket, Scram!, Barn Cat (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

THU.30

1. TINA FRIML, January 5 and 6, at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington

Montréal

Bob Gagnon (jazz) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Seven Shows to Watch Out For

Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, who also rips a solo on the title track, the record shows off with her power trio and Benevento. Rykman has hit the road in support of the record and rolls through Burlington for a two-night stop at Nectar’s on Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2. Indie-folk act COYOTE ISLAND open the shows.

D. Davis (jazz) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Get Together 3: Dave Matthews & Huey Lewis Experience (rock) at Double E Performance Center’s T-Rex Theater, Essex, 8 p.m. $35. Info, 878-4200.

Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Jackson Garrow (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Dave O (singer-songwriter) at Stone’s Throw Pizza, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

Jeff & Gina (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Dirty Looks (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

John Geno Solo (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Cleary Gagnon Saulnier (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Donna the Buffalo (roots) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $30/$35. Dub Apocalypse (dub, reggae) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 9 p.m. $20. The Faux Paws (folk) at Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. $25.

Karina Rykman, Coyote Island (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $17.

The Owl Stars (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. Petite League, Burning Sun, Bruiser and Bicycle (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Phil Abair Band (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Pink Talking Fish, the Giant Country Horns, Lazy Bird (tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25/$29. Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

The Lloyd Tyler Band (folk, rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Rob Compa, Max Higgins (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $8/$10.

Mean Waltons (rock) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Sanctuary (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Nikki and the Barn Boys (rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

The Q-Tip Bandits (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. $12/$15. Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

TUE.5

Another Michael, JODI, No Fun Haus (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$18. Big Easy Tuesdays with Back Porch Revival (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

DiTrani Brothers, Roses & Rye (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$12.

Chad Hollister (singersongwriter) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Jaded Ravins, Chris Lyon Duo, Erin Cassels-Brown (Americana) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m. $10.

Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20.

Jerborn & Axe (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Jon Wagar & Friends (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. Karina Rykman, Coyote Island (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $17. Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free. Mitch & Devon (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Moondogs, the Hive (indie rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15. Phantom Airwave (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Red Heron, Lilith (roots) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $5/$10. Steve Blair (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Erin Cassels-Brown (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with the Hogtones (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. The Mountain Goats, Stephen Steinbrink (indie rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $45/$49.

WED.6

Bent Nails House Band (blues, rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free. Jazz Jam Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Mikaela Davis, Maybird (folk rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $20. Nathan Byrne (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

LIVE MUSIC

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

» P.63 61

music+nightlife

REVIEW this The Mountain Goats, Jenny From Thebes (MERGE RECORDS, CASSETTE, CD, DIGITAL, VINYL)

One of indie rock’s masters offers up his most eloquent and cinematic work to date with the release of Jenny From Thebes. The 22nd and newest album from the Mountain Goats prospers on John Darnielle’s songwriting wisdom and hears his band thriving across a fresh collection of thematic compositions. The seasoned and intellectual Darnielle has been making albums under this moniker for more than 30 years, as it has evolved from his DIY tape-recording project to one of the most respected literary vehicles in live and recorded music. He’s still the band’s guitar and piano player and, of course, its songwriter — as well as the successful author of three novels. Many of the characters who populate his songs have come and gone. But on the newest Mountain Goats release, a captivating figure named Jenny returns to center stage for an emotional “rock opera” that was written as a sequel to the album on which she first appeared, 2002’s acclaimed All Hail West Texas.

Rebecca Ryskalczyk, Say It Back (SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Rebecca Ryskalczyk is best known for fronting Brooklyn indie-rock outfit Bethlehem Steel. The band formed at the State University of New York at Fredonia and later relocated to New York City, where it established a gloriously fuzzy yet indie-pop-adjacent sound. Following a breakout performance at the 2016 SXSW festival, Bethlehem Steel received the coveted “indie darling” tag and soon populated influential blogs and hipster playlists everywhere. The band is only one of Ryskalczyk’s musical endeavors, however. The Buffalo, N.Y., native, who moved to Bristol last year, also fronts DAMP, an indie-rock supergroup of sorts featuring members of Washer and Pile.

Released in late October on Merge Records, Jenny From Thebes plays out as an epic across 12 songs, a thoroughly composed inspection of self and community and the perils of running from one’s own problems while helping others overcome their own. It follows Jenny as she opens her ranch house as a haven for those seeking safety, much to the dismay of some in her West Texas town. A saga of sacrifice for the greater good, the album effuses admiration for selfless generosity, even if such kindness turns out to be problematic. Tormented by something or someone that remains obscure to the listener, Jenny edges toward calamity in this ambitious dramatization, which represents a marked change of course from the attack and reprisal of the Mountain Goats’ 2022 album Bleed Out. Embellished by Darnielle’s impassioned lyricism, these tracks grant sanctuary and approach reconciliation through onward-and-upward melodies and

savory jams from a talented group with an opulent sound. The glistening opener “Clean Slate” and the sly “Ground Level” showcase the Mountain Goats in various styles early in the album. Featuring bassist Peter Hughes, drummer Jon Wurster and multi-instrumentalist Matt Douglas, who’s responsible for the essential horn and string arrangements, the record is bolstered by contributions from guitarist Alicia Bognanno (Bully) and vocals from Matt Nathanson and Kathy Valentine. Even as Jenny From Thebes shows the Mountain Goats expanding their sound in jazzed-up pieces such as “Cleaning Crew” and the bustling “Murder at the 18th St. Garage,” the album clearly highlights Darnielle’s proclivity for vivid storytelling. On “From the Nebraska Plant,” for example, he foretells Jenny’s brutal fate, describing her custom Kawasaki sport bike as “somewhere in the wreck yard now” and a “flak jacket full of holes,

Kevlar-coated and dusty black.” On “Same as Cash,” he amplifies his voice at a critical juncture as Jenny breaks down and trades her sedan for the Kawasaki: “Two fingers to the temporal vein / In your car with your head in your hands / at the far end of the Walmart parking lot / trying not to buckle under the strain.” The story’s arc culminates with “Jenny III,” a sobering piece in which a close observer shares their take on Jenny’s inevitable escape. On the next track, “Going to Dallas,” she bids farewell on her sport bike before finding deserved reprieve in the drifting, groovy “Great Pirates.” Perhaps the most defined recent project from Darnielle, an artist who in his early days relished spontaneous boom box recordings, Jenny From Thebes triumphs as a lasting presentation by this visionary bandleader and his skilled associates. Jenny From Thebes is available on all major streaming platforms and can be purchased on vinyl, CD and tape at mergerecords.com. The Mountain Goats play a sold-out show at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on Tuesday, December 5.

These days when she’s on her own, Ryskalczyk’s music tends to push toward a more synth-heavy, dark-wave sound. Her latest release, Say It Back, simmers with an undeniable undercurrent of seething frustration throughout, starting with album opener “Be the Light.” “My body isn’t mine / If I have no say over my insides / So tell me what I like / You’ll decide it either way,” she sings over a soft electronic beat and waxing and waning guitar riffs. That’s not to say that Ryskalczyk’s punk influences don’t come to the fore at times. The title track is a driving, doomladen rocker that serves as an anthem of boiling-over tension and eroding patience in the face of tragedy. “Well, I’d rather have big feelings than

a giant fucking hole inside my chest,” she sings almost deadpan, “that you try so hard to fill with all the people you’ve oppressed / Say it back: Will things get better?” That track is something of a thesis statement for Ryskalczyk, who originally planned on releasing Say It Back as a series of singles over months. In an email, she said she ended up dropping the whole album on November 14 because she didn’t want to “play the game of putting singles out or taking up more space right now while we are watching a genocide in real time,” referring to the Israel-Hamas war currently raging in the Middle East. “The track ‘Say It Back’ is exactly how I feel right now,” she wrote. “I do hope that this track might help some of you

who get told ‘You can’t save them’ feel less alone. Maybe we can’t, but at least we’re fucking trying.” For all the album’s righteous anger, there are also some flirtations with outright dance music. “Water Pop” is an accurately named slice of indie pop on which Ryskalczyk eschews the hushed vocals of the darker tracks and lets her voice soar. She goes full-throated crooner on “Carousel Mall ft. Katie Morey” before channeling the slow-exploding grandeur of the Jesus and Mary Chain on “Oh,” ready to shift lanes almost effortlessly at any moment. Say It Back is a thrilling, dark, angry and often beautiful collection of music. Say It Back is streaming now at rebeccaryskalczyk.bandcamp.com. The new Vermonter will celebrate her release with a show on Sunday, December 10, at the Monkey House in Winooski.

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: 62

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

CASEY RYAN VOCK

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

ARE YOU A VT ARTIST OR BAND? SEND US YOUR MUSIC! DIGITAL: MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM; SNAIL MAIL: MUSIC C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 S. CHAMPLAIN ST., SUITE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Old-Time Rhymes A midlife crisis can be a silly thing, but that’s no

live music

problem for the tongue-in-cheek Burlington hip-hop outfit the MIDDLE AGES. The husband-

WED.6 CONTINUED FROM P.61

and-wife team of Dan (MC Booty Call) and Taraleigh Weathers (MC Hot Tea) decided to

Odie Leigh, King Strang (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$18.

form a rap duo rather than, say, terrorize the local PTA or shell out for a sports car. A sharp

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

MC Hot Tea rapping over MC Booty Call’s acoustic guitar and a live drummer. They bring

Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Workingman’s Army, the Garcia Project, Phantom Suns (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

djs THU.30

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

sense of humor and a steady flow underpin their sound, which in concert often features their niche brand of minivan rap to Burlington’s Radio Bean on Thursday, November 30. THU.30 // THE MIDDLE AGES [HIP-HOP]

Dan Soder (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $35. Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams WED.29

DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Tad Cautious (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9:45 p.m. $7/$10.

SAT.2

Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free. DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. DJ Rice Pilaf (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, noon. Free. DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. HAVEN (DJ) at MothershipVT, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

4H-HaganAssVTPub11223 1

SAT.2

THU.30

Open Mic (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Open Mic Night! (open mic) at Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.4

Open Mic (open mic) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free. Open Mic Night (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.5

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Positive Pie Tap & Grill, Plainfield, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.6

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free. Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Depths of Wikipedia with Annie Rauwerda (comedy) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $22/$35. A Holiday Comedy Show Extravaganza! (comedy) at Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. $35.

SUN.3

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

MON.4

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.30

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

WED.29

TUE.5

Free Stuff! (comedy) at Lincolns, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Karoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

WED.6

SAT.2

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

‘Spectacular Spectacular’ (talent show) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, noon. $7/$10.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

Drag Brunch (drag) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. $20.

Jon Rudnitsky (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $20. Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.30

Dan Soder (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $35. Highlight Launch Party with Kendall Farrell, Tracy Dolan, Carmen Lagala, Tina Friml (comedy) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Dan Soder (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $35. The Wait, Wait Stand-Up Tour (comedy) at the Flynn, Burlington, 8 p.m. $56.75 - $109.25.

Improv Class Show (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.29

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Karaoke (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

Green Mountain Cabaret (drag) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free. Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.4

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7-9 p.m. Free. Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.5

Karaoke with Motorcade (karaoke) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke Tuesdays (karaoke) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.6

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free. Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. ➆

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/16/23 3:16 PM

SATURDAY, December 3, at noon HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM • SOUTH BURLINGTON

3 1 2

1. Adim Benoit 11, Montpelier

Playing “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson on the piano

2. Andre Redmond 11, Essex Junction

Singing “I Can’t Help Myself” by Four Tops

2 0 2 3 TA L E N T S H O W F O R

V E R M O N T ’ S R I S I N G S TA R S

3. Anne Single 11, Burlington

Introducing

Singing “There’s a River Flowing in My Soul” by Rose Sanders

R A L U C A THE SPECT

4. Blake von Sitas 12, Fairfax

Playing and singing an original song called “Blue”

5. Bojan Harris 16, Starksboro

Rapping an original song called “Dreams”

6. Caroline Clayton 11, Colchester

ur panel of judges had an incredibly difficult time selecting the final lineup for this year’s Kids VT Spectacular Spectacular, but we’re excited to welcome 21 acts to the stage at Higher Ground! Among this year’s performers, ages 9 to 16, are singers, dancers, songwriters, a contortionist and a ventriloquist. We can’t wait to see them in person so we can say we knew them way back when. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 on the day of the show. Scan this QR code to buy them at highergroundmusic.com.

Singing an original song called “I’ll Be Waiting” and playing ukulele

7. Cristian Arhiri 11, South Burlington

Playing an excerpt from a piece by Claude Debussy on piano

8. Georgia Kunkel 13, Vergennes

Singing an acoustic cover of “Love” by Lana Del Rey.

20 SPONSORED BY:

MEDIA SPONSOR:

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

8 7

9. Holden Latimer 9, Alburgh

16. Elise Mical 9, Middlebury

Hip-hop dance to the song “Butter”

Doing a ventriloquist act

10. Marin Walsh 15, Shelburne

17. Grace Mical 12, Middlebury

Contortion routine to the song “Greek Buddha Dance”

Singing “Think of Me” by Andrew Lloyd Webber from Phantom of the Opera

18. Kaylie Dusablon 13, Colchester

11. Mira Biggs

Solo dance to “In Between Breaths” by SYML

10, Underhill

Singing “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars

19. Graham Long 15, South Londonderry

12. Niko Vukas

Playing “Mood for a Day” by Steve Howe on guitar

12, Monkton

Singing and playing “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons on ukulele

13. Nolan Smith 14, Northfield

Playing guitar and singing an original song called “At the Tone”

14. Piper Hall

20. Ridgeline

A band featuring Avery Ryan (16, East Montpelier), Mayla Landis-Marinello (15, Middlesex) Rowan Landis-Marinello (13, Middlesex), Caleb Rockcastle (16, Montpelier), Isak Duncan (16, East Montpelier) 12

Playing the song “Epic Reel”

21. Cady Murad & Sara Conner

14, East Hardwick

Playing guitar and singing an original song called “Right Direction”

15. Riley Ayer

12 and 12, Burlington

Singing a duet to “Love Is an Open Door” by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

13, Bolton

Playing the beatbox and tambourine and singing “Come Together”

19 17

Visit sevendaysvt.com/talentshow for more details! SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

calendar

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

WED.29 business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and beyond. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

dance

THE GLOBAL BODY IN CONFLICT: MOVEMENT MATTERS SERIES WITH TATIANA DESARDOUIN: A master class from the hip-hop artist explores race, Black culture, immigration and colonization through dance. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-2808. WESTIE WEDNESDAYS DANCE: Swing dancers lift and spin at a weekly social dance. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 802westiecollective@gmail. com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: Viewers learn the true story behind one of our most iconic — and misunderstood — predators. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake

Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: Sparkling graphics and vibrant interviews take viewers on a journey alongside NASA astronauts as they prepare for stranger-than-sciencefiction space travel. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: Scientists dive into the planet’s least-explored habitat, from its sunny shallows to its alien depths. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: Through the power of special cameras, audiences are transported into the world of the teeniest animals on Earth. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X’: Filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera, this groundbreaking work by American composer Anthony

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE! All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. Listings and spotlights are written by Emily Hamilton. Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

food & drink

COMMUNITY SUPPER: Neighbors share a tasty meal at their local library. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581. WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: Aspiring sommeliers blind-taste four wines from Vermont and beyond. Shelburne Vineyard, noon-6 p.m. $15. Info, 985-8222.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Northern Stage brings Charles Dickens’ classic story of redemption and community to life in an original adaptation. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $19-69. Info, 296-7000. FESTIVAL OF TREES: A week of festive fun features such delights as a masquerade gala and a cookie decorating in Santa’s workshop. See vtfestivaloftrees. com for full schedule. Various St. Albans locations, 6 p.m. Free; fee for some activities. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@gmail.com. HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: Local vendors from potters and artists to woodworkers and candlemakers take over the brewery and Deep City restaurant for two evenings in a row. Foam Brewers,

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

Davis dramatizes the life of the Civil Rights Movement leader. Star Theatre of St. Johnsbury, 11 a.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600.

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

= ONLINE EVENT

Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 399-2511.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celtic-curious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

lgbtq

ADULT QUEER READS: LGBTQ readers ages 18 and up discuss this year’s Vermont Reads pick, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

montréal

spaces available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. SYDNEY LEA: The former Vermont poet laureate celebrates the publication of his 16th collection, What Shines. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

THU.30 crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: All ages and abilities are invited to knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. All materials are provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

dance

‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: Jake Epstein, famous for his role in Degrassi: The Next Generation, presents a one-man musical chronicling the ups and downs of a life in showbiz. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 1 & 8 p.m. $25-68. Info, 514-739-7944.

THE GLOBAL BODY IN CONFLICT: MOVEMENT MATTERS SERIES: TATIANA DESARDOUIN: The hip-hop dancer gives an artist talk on how she explores social issues in her work. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-2808.

outdoors

film

INTRODUCTION TO WINTER HIKING: The Green Mountain Club teaches trekkers how to stay safe when the trails get snowy. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

seminars

‘LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND’: Two teens try to make some extra cash by live streaming to the alien invaders fascinated by human romance in this new flick adapted from the novel of the same name by award-winning Vermont author M.T. Anderson. See calendar spotlight. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 229-0598.

TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR A SAFER ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE: Students learn how to protect their personal and financial information as they browse and buy. Presented by CVOEO and Technology4Tomorrow. 5-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 860-1417, ext. 112.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

SUMMER JACK: A costume designer teaches what it takes to bring garments to life onstage in the presentation “Bringing the Past to Life: Historical Research and Theater Costume.” Franklin Environmental Center at Hillcrest, Middlebury College, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-4008.

words

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN: Writers participating in National Novel Writing month gather to put pen to paper and offer each other encouragement. Teen and adult

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.29. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.29.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.

food & drink

ARE YOU THIRSTY, NEIGHBOR?: A special discount cocktail menu sparks conversations and connections over cribbage and cards. Wild Hart Distillery and Tasting Room, Shelburne, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@wildhartdistillery.com. FREE WINE TASTING: Themed wine tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game with an extra wrinkle. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7223.

health & fitness

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, elizabetharms56@gmail.com.

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.29. FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.29, 6-8 p.m. A FOREST OF LIGHTS: The VINS forest canopy walkways and surrounding woodlands transform into a twinkling winter wonderland open for strolling. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 5-7 p.m. $7-12; free for kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000. ‘THE SOFTER SIDE OF CELTIC: A GATHERING OF CELTIC & CHRISTMAS’: Musician Jeff Snow plays traditional holiday tunes from the British Isles on the autoharp, guitar and bouzouki. Waterbury Public Library, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. WINTER LIGHTS: Buildings and gardens glow in multicolored illuminations for the holiday season. Shelburne Museum, 5-8 p.m. $10-15; free for kids under 3; preregister. Info, 985-3346.

montréal

‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: See WED.29. GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: Shoppers traverse the Quartier des Spectacles in search of oneof-a-kind gifts. Grand Marché de Noël, Montréal, 3-9 p.m. Free. Info, 514-550-7646.

music

EK DUO: Original tunes and cover songs get the funky treatment via arrangements on the bassoon, percussion, piano and electronics. York Street Meeting House, Lyndon, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 748-2600. PATTI CASEY AND COLIN MCCAFFREY: Two Vermont natives lend their smooth vocals and skilled picking to a folksy concert. Willey Memorial Hall, Cabot, 7-9 p.m. $12-15. Info, 793-3016. PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: Student drummers keep the beat to works from Brazil, Japan and Ghana. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

talks

CHRIS HERREN: The former Celtics superstar tells his personal story of recovery from substance-use disorder. North Country Union High School, Newport, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 624-3844.

theater

‘THE CURIOUS SAVAGE’: A widow’s greedy stepchildren commit her to a sanatorium, where she finds unexpected community in this University Players THU.30

» P.68

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages. • Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun. • Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

FAMILY FUN

DEC. 2 | FAMILY FUN

burlington

‘RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL’: Everyone’s favorite flying friend takes to the stage and ushers in the Christmas season. The Flynn, Burlington, 7 p.m. $45-77. Info, 863-5966.

chittenden county

BABYTIME: Caregivers and infants from birth through age 1 gather in the Wiggle Room to explore board books and toys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. COMICS CLUB: Graphic novel and manga fans in third through fifth grades meet to discuss current reads and do fun activities together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. KIDS GAME ON!: Kids get together to play video games such as Mario Kart and Overcooked on the library’s Nintendo Switches. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

northeast kingdom

TWEEN BOOK CLUB: Book lovers ages 10 through 14 share their favorite recent reads at this monthly meeting. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

THU.30

burlington

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Emily from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads little ones in songs, movement and other fun activities. Ages 2 through 5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403. MASON JAR EXTRAVAGANZA: Crafters of all ages learn how versatile glass jars can be. All materials provided. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library,

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: New and experienced players join in a monthly game of one-shot adventures. Ages 13 through 18. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

RUG CONCERT: Vermont Youth Orchestra enthralls its youngest concertgoers with an interactive hour of music and meet and greets. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 655-5030.

FAM JAM!: Vermont Folklife hosts a tuneful get-together for musicians of all ages and skill levels. BYO instruments. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:307:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4964.

TODDLER TIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones 12 through 24 months. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

DINOMAN: DINOSAURS!: Reptilian footprints lead audiences of all ages to an educational show full of magic and mayhem. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

LITTLES D&D: Kiddos learn to play Dungeons & Dragons and build their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Ages 6 through 8. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

WED.29

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

KIDS BOOK CLUB FOR K-2 AND THEIR PARENTS: Little bookworms and their caregivers learn to love reading together through sharing, crafts and writing activities. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. STORY TIME: Little ones from birth through age 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. TEEN: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Local wizards and warlocks ages 12 and up play a collaborative game of magic and monsters. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Energetic youngsters join Miss Meliss and friends on the lawn for stories, songs and lots of silliness. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos 3 and younger to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

‘FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE’: The teen singers of Youth Opera Company of

SATURDAY STORIES: Kiddos start the weekend off right with stories and songs. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

A Claus Call Kids from 1 to 92 meet up with Santa Claus himself at an all-out breakfast featuring pancakes, French toast, home fries, coffee, hot cocoa, bacon and beyond. Hosted by Monkton’s Queen Bee Snack Bar, which recently suffered a devastating electric fire, the brunch raises funds to help the proprietors build back better. The event also features a wish list drop-off box, crafts and face painting, and arrival times are staggered by the hour. Once their bellies are full, families can head to any of the many events around town that make up Vergennes’ annual Holiday Stroll.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Saturday, December 2, 8 a.m.-noon, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Vergennes. $9-15; free for kids under 2. Info, 989-8607. OCM perform selections from the Spanish operetta genre zarzuela, set to piano and classical guitar. Waterbury Congregational Church, 6-7 p.m. Donations. Info, 999-2357. JUBAL HARP & SONG: Judi Byron plays folk ditties, rhymes, and counting and movement songs for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to sing and dance along to. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Games, activities, stories and songs engage 3through 5-year-olds. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

FRI.1

chittenden county

‘FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE’: See THU.30. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington. LEGO BUILDERS: Each week, children ages 8 and older build, explore, create and participate in challenges. Children ages 6 to 8 are welcome with an adult. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. MUSIC TIME!: Little ones sing and dance with local troubadour Linda Bassick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

‘THE LITTLE PRINCE’: StoryTown Theatre presents the classic story of a boy who travels from planet to planet, performed by kids in grades 4 through 6. St. Johnsbury School, 6:30 p.m. and December 2, 2 & 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600, ext. 109.

SAT.2

burlington

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Kids from birth through age 5 learn and play at this school readiness program. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY WISH LIST WITH TED: The Vermont Teddy Bear mascot supervises a letter-writing session to Santa featuring hot cocoa and other holiday treats. The Tinkering Turtle, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 391-8699.

SATURDAY STORY TIME: A special storyteller reads to little ones. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1010:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

middlebury area

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The big man himself makes an appearance at this cheerful pancake brunch hosted by Queen Bee’s Snack Bar. See calendar spotlight. St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Vergennes, 8 a.m.-noon. $9-15; free for kids under 2. Info, 989-8607. HOLIDAY STROLL: Families get festive during a full day of fun with Santa at the Vergennes Opera House, Bixby Memorial Free Library and Vergennes City Park. Various Vergennes locations, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 877-1163.

upper valley

CLIMATE CAFÉS: Parents get together in small groups to share their feelings about raising kids during the climate crisis. Childcare available for ages 2 through 12. Participating families receive free admission for the day. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10-11:30 a.m. & 1-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 649-2200.

northeast kingdom

‘THE LITTLE PRINCE’: See FRI.1, 2 & 6:30 p.m.

outside vermont

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL: New York International Children’s Film Festival presents award-winning shorts from around the world for little cinephiles ages 5 through 10. Loew Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. $5. Info, 603-646-2422.

SUN.3

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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calendar « P.66

COURTESY OF MGM

THU.30

production. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $5-10. Info, universityplayers@ uvm.edu.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.29.

‘POLAROID STORIES’: Ancient and modern mythology collide in this reimagining of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Seeler Studio Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $8-15. Info, 443-6433.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.29. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29. ‘UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP’: In honor of World AIDS Day, Pride Center of Vermont screens a 2012 documentary about a groundbreaking activist movement. Discussion follows. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 6 p.m. $8-10. Info, 229-0598.

FRI.1

activism

ALZHEIMER’S ADVOCACY IN ACTION: VIRTUAL LUNCH: Local author Nancy Stone joins this online meeting to discuss the art of haiku and her caregiver experience. Presented by Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 316-3839.

crafts

FIRST FRIDAY FIBER GROUP: Fiber-arts fans make progress on projects while chatting over snacks. GRACE, Hardwick, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, info@ruralartsvt.org. LEARN HOW TO KNIT: Novices of all ages pick up a new skill. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

dance

‘SEASONS: WINTER’: Avant Vermont Dance performs original ballet works set to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Woodbury Courtyard, Springfield, 5-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, info@avantvt. com.

FRI.1

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Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

NOV. 30 | FILM

art

Best-Laid Planets

‘LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND’

FAMILY FUN

burlington

MASKS ON! SUNDAYS: Elderly, disabled and immunocompromised folks get the museum to themselves at a masksmandatory morning. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-1848. REINDEER LIVE: Vermont Reindeer Farm brings its antlered charges along for an up-close visit. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 & 1:30 p.m. Regular admission, $14.50-18; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. SENSORY-FRIENDLY HOUR: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the youth area to themselves. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

middlebury area

‘FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE’: See THU.30. Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Middlebury, 2-3 p.m.

MON.4

burlington

BTS BINGO: National Bingo Month and Jin’s birthday coincide for a perfect opportunity for K-pop fans to come together. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. STORIES WITH SHANNON: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

READ TO A DOG: Kids of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Rocko the therapy pup. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918. READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary is super excited to hear kids of all ages practice

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

fairs & festivals

In Landscape With Invisible Hand, the alien invaders come in peace; the only thing they want is an inside look into human love. Based on the 2017 book by Vermont-based author M.T. Anderson and starring Asante Blackk and Tiffany Haddish, the new film follows two teens whose scheme to live stream their dates to the aliens begins to unravel their actual relationship. Anderson, whose 2002 young adult dystopia Feed was nominated for a National Book Award, makes an appearance at this screening alongside fellow local writer Howard Norman.

SUN.3

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FOMO?

Thursday, November 30, 7 p.m., at Savoy Theater in Montpelier. $15. Info, 229-0598, savoytheater.com.

SAT.2

with the 1966 version of Ray Bradbury’s classic story about a dystopian future where firemen are deployed to burn all literature. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $5-15 suggested donation. Info, info@epsilonspires.org.

their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TINY TOTS STORY TIME: Tiny tykes have fun, hear stories and meet new friends with Ms. Cynthia. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

TUE.5

burlington

AWKWARD TALKS: A BOOK CLUB FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS: Family nurse practitioner Celia Bird prepares grown-ups for conversations with their kids about bodies, consent and how babies get made. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403. SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

HUNTINGTON FIRST FRIDAY: A maker fair, live porch show and beer tasting next door make for a fun, family-friendly evening. The Fuller House, Huntington, 4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, huntingtonvalleyarts@gmail.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘FAHRENHEIT 451’: A new screening series focusing on adaptations of banned books kicks off

chittenden county

PLAYGROUP & FAMILY SUPPORT: Families with children under age 5 play and connect with others in the community. Winooski Memorial Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little ones enjoy a cozy session of reading, rhyming and singing. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

ILLUMINATION NIGHT: Hot cocoa and holiday songs pave the way for an annual lighting ceremony, live music and a student art show. Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 866-934-8232.

WED.6

burlington

ART EXPLORERS: Kids dig into art history and creative expression in this homeschooler-friendly program with an educator from Davis Studio. Ages 5 through 14. Fletcher Free Library,

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 540-2546. STEAM SPACE: See WED.29. TODDLER TIME: See WED.29.

chittenden county

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY: LEGO & BOARD GAMES: Blocks and boards make for a fun, creative afternoon. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. BABY TIME: Parents and caregivers bond with their pre-walking babes during this gentle playtime. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. PLAY TIME: See WED.29.

mad river valley/ waterbury

QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youth get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036. TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. K

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Former World Cup mogul skier Dr. Kelsey Albert, has joined our team! Triple Board certified and a national & international teacher and innovator in Interventional Orthopedic Medicine, Dr. Fenton has been treating patients in Vermont for 30 years.

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/20/23 6:25 PM

calendar « P.68

games

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

COURTESY OF MARGARET MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

FRI.1

DEC. 2 & 3 | MUSIC

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.29.

‘A CHRISTMAS CHAOS’: A production of A Christmas Carol goes wrong in this hilarious holiday play-within-a-play by the Essex Community Players. Essex Memorial Hall, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $16-18. Info, 871-5026.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.29. MOTHERSHIP MONTHLY FILM FEST SCREENING: Filmmakers screen their work based on a monthly theme. MothershipVT, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, mothership monthlyfilmfest@gmail.com.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC NIGHT: Carols and readings warm up a winter evening. United Reformed Church, New Haven, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 989-4139.

FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES: A tree lighting, community carol sing-along, fireside photos with Santa and other family-friendly activities make for a special weekend. Governor Hunt House & Community Center, Vernon, 4-8 p.m. $5. Info, govhuntcc@gmail.com. A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.30. HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’: Lisa Jablow conducts the Vermont

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT 70

MEDITATION AND BUDDHIST DISCUSSION: Readings and reflections follow a half hour of mindfulness. Refreshments served. Shambhala Meditation Center, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Info, 658-6795.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.29.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.29, 6 p.m.-midnight.

etc.

film

holidays

COMMON SPIRIT HOLIDAY MARKET: A festive winter farmers market features a tree lighting and a visit from Santa and benefits the Veterans’ Place. Northfield Town Common, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 485-8586.

MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: Dancers balance, shadow and dosi-do the night away to live tunes by River Road and gender-neutral calling by Lisa Greenleaf. Capital City Grange, Berlin, beginners’ lesson, 7:40 p.m.; social dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29. Philharmonic in Mozart’s woodwind-forward orchestration of the jubilant baroque oratorio. Barre Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $520. Info, 476-8188. LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY GRAND OPENING: Community members bring ornaments to decorate the trees at this holiday shindig featuring refreshments and a raffle. Aldrich Public Library, Barre, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 476-7550. SANTA ON THE MARKETPLACE: Kids get in the holiday spirit by saying hello to Santa. Homeport, Burlington, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, jgarrett@burlingtonvt.gov. WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.30.

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.30, 3-9 p.m.

music

BIG BAND SCHOLARSHIP GALA: Alexis Cole lends her soulful strains to a swinging show celebrating the 20th anniversary of the VJC Big Band. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $3166. Info, 254-9088. BRANDEE YOUNGER TRIO: The first Black woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award for best instrumental composition brings her trio to Vermont for a night of jazz standards and original works. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $5-25. Info, 443-6433. THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW: Kat Wright and Brett Hughes present their annual extravaganza of honky-tonk holiday cheer. Live stream available. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:309:30 p.m. $10-25; cash bar. Info, 451-0053.

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

Three Cheers Vermont chamber group Heliand welcome winter with a whirlwind of music from around the world. The trio, comprising oboist Katie Oprea, pianist Cynthia Huard and bassoonist Rachael Elliott, takes audiences in Middlebury and Plainfield to the American south via the lively tunes of Florence Price; to Argentina with a vivacious milonga by Astor Piazzolla; to France and the elegant music of Clémence de Grandval; and to Australia via the evocative compositions of Padma Newsome.

‘WHEN THE SNOWS FALL’ Saturday, December 2, 7:30 p.m., at Middlebury Community Music Center. Donations. Info, 989-7538, mcmcvt.org. Sunday, December 3, 4 p.m., at Plainfield Town Hall Opera House. $20 suggested donation. Info, 393-4585, plainfieldartsvt.org. MICHAEL ARNOWITT: The pianist presents a program of imaginative works. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15-25. Info, 864-0471. THE PITT CREW: Rollicking renditions of 1960s and 1970s blues and soul classics ring out. Adamant Community Club, 7-9 p.m. $10. Info, 454-7103. SCHOOL OF BOSSA NOVA: Student musicians jam out to Afro-Brazilian jazz. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5877.

talks

MICHAEL LIPSON: A clinical psychologist and Zen practitioner gives a lecture titled “The Tao and the Way.” The Old Meeting House, East Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. $15-25; preregister; limited space. Info, 793-9055.

tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in

one-on-one sessions. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

SAT.2

theater

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WRITE FOR RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: Local activists write letters in support of people unjustly imprisoned around the world. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 879-4057.

‘THE CURIOUS SAVAGE’: See THU.30, 7-9 p.m. ‘THE FOREIGNER’: The Lamoille County Players close out their 71st season with a deliriously goofy comedy. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 888-4507. ‘POLAROID STORIES’: See THU.30.

words

BOBBY DEAN HACKNEY: The musician launches his new book, Vermont Reggae Fest: The Power Of Music: The First Five Years in Burlington, Vermont. Phoenix Books, Essex, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111. FRIENDS OF THE RICHMOND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: Bookworms browse a selection of fiction and nonfiction titles, CDs, and DVDs. Richmond Free Library, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

activism

business

VERMONT ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARDS GALA: The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce throws a gala to recognize the accomplishments of women in business over the past year. Barre Elks Lodge, 5:30-9 p.m. $65; preregister. Info, 229-5711.

dance

FIRST SATURDAY WESTIE SOCIAL: Beginners, new members and experienced West Coast Swing dancers are welcome. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, lessons, 7 p.m.; social dance, 8-10:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 488-4789.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘BREAKING THE NEWS’: A new documentary tells the story of the female and LGBTQ journalists who founded the 19th, a newsroom inclusive of women and people of color. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of seasonal stands overflow with produce, artisanal wares and prepared foods. Burlington Beer, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

games

BEGINNER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Waterbury Public Library game master Evan Hoffman gathers novices and veterans alike for an afternoon of virtual adventuring. Teens and adults welcome. Noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS: An all-levels session offers a weekly opportunity to relax the mind and rejuvenate the body. Wise Pines, Woodstock, 10-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 432-3126. STRENGTH IN UNITY: Women and LGBTQ folks get the gym and the pool to themselves. Greater Burlington YMCA, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $5; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

SAT.2

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Holiday a Greetings! ay

With heartfelt thanks to our Community, sponsors, & the businesses of The Essex Experience

Josh Panda & The Grift

The Samples w/Evan Jennison

Friday, December 1 Doors 7 PM | Music 8 PM

Saturday, December 9 Doors 7 PM | Music 8 PM Please bring an unwrapped toy to benefit Troy’s Toy Drive

Plattsburgh Gospel Choir Unity Through Song. Harmony Through People. Sunday, December 10 Doors 7 PM | Music 7:30 PM

Champlain Trio Saturday, December 16 Doors 4 PM | Music 5 PM

Purchase Tickets at essexexperience.com 21 Essex Way, Essex, VT 802.878.4200 1t-EssexExperience112923 1

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/28/23 1:26 PM

calendar

Paws At Home Mobile Veterinary Hospice & End of Life Care

SAT.2

« P.70

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.29, noon & 7:30 p.m. ‘A CHRISTMAS CHAOS’: See FRI.1, 2-4 & 7:30-9:30 p.m. CHRISTMAS FAIR: S’mores and hot cocoa sustain shoppers as they browse antiques, baked goods, crafts and wreaths. First Congregational Church, Burlington, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 862-5010. FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES: See FRI.1, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.30, 5-7 p.m.

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HOW’S THE RIDE FEELIN’?

9/7/23 11:54 AM

Let us keep the wheels rolling along with your mojo! Call for an appointment today!

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HOLIDAY CARD WRITING: Neighbors sip cider while writing merry missives to loved ones. BYO cards or use the provided ones; BYO stamps. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: Neighbors shop local from a rotating roster of crafters and farmers. Kraemer & Kin, Alburgh, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, 796-3586. HOLIDAY PET REMEMBRANCE SERVICE: A tender get-together commemorates dearly departed furry friends. Registration includes a personalized ornament with the pet’s photo. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 4 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, diana@awrfh.com.

QUALITY CAR CARE, DELIVERED WITH RESPECT.

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10/27/23 3:38 PM

EASILY REMOVE POMEGRANATE SEEDS!

READ BETWEEN THE VINES: DON’T PANIC HOLIDAY EDITION: Grown-up bibliophiles lean into their Scholastic Book Fair nostalgia while picking up gifts for all the readers in their lives. Putnam’s vine/yard, White River Junction, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114. SANTA ON THE MARKETPLACE: See FRI.1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. VERMONT HOLIDAY MARKET: The Blue Ribbon Pavilion hosts more than 175 jewelers, potters, woodworkers, artists and other craftspeople. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10; free for kids under 12. Info, 778-9178. WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.30.

Handmade in Vermont

POMEASY.COM

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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WINTERMARKET: Families enjoy a bustling Bavarian market, carols, unique eats and good cheer during the darkest days of winter. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 533-2000. WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP WITH SARAH GRAVES: Evergreen branches get repurposed into one-of-a-kind decorations. Bringing special additions — such as feathers, dried flowers or foraged pinecones — is encouraged. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 2 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 426-3581.

montréal

‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: See WED.29. 11/7/23 11:56 AM

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.30, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

music

HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’: Erik Kroncke conducts the South Burlington Community Chorus in the jubilant baroque oratorio. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 6:30-9 p.m. $10; free for students. Info, 324-5056. LERNER & MOGUILEVSKY: An Argentinean twosome brings its unique blend of klezmer, jazz and tango to the stage. Live stream available. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 387-0102. MICHAEL ARNOWITT: The pianist presents a program of imaginative works. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 2 p.m. $1045. Info, 728-9878. NATURALLY 7: A thoroughly modern a cappella group combines influences from gospel, doo-wop and barbershop styles. Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 7-9 p.m. $16-58; free for students. Info, 748-2600. ‘SONGS OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY’: New York City-based folk-rock duo Gawain and the Green Knight and Burlington band the Call of Kinnaru update ancient tunes and set stories to song. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10. Info, 656-3210. THE SOUND INVESTMENT JAZZ TENTET CONCERT: Music lovers enjoy the best of jazz with music from Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9:15 p.m. Free. Info, 802-443-3288. SPENCER LEWIS: A musician makes beautiful, meditative music using only a violin, a guitar and a looping pedal. Seven Stars Arts Center, Sharon, 7-9 p.m. $20. Info, 763-2334. VA-ET-VIENT: The francophone fiddlers lead a warmhearted night of music and sing-alongs. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222. VERMONT FIDDLE ORCHESTRA 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT: String players celebrate two decades of folk excellence in a concert benefiting Barre and Montpelier flood relief. Barre Opera House, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, 476-8188. THE VERMONT MANDOLIN TRIO: Jamie Masefield, Will Patton and Matt Flinner play everything from Bach to bluegrass, joined by bassist Pat Melvin. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. $0-25. Info, 349-3364, burnhampresents@ gmail.com. ‘WHEN THE SNOWS FALL’: Chamber trio Heliand perform seasonal works by Chick Corea, William Grant Still, Florence Price and others. See calendar spotlight. Middlebury Community Music Center, 7:30 p.m. Donations. Info, 989-7538.

talks

FREDERICK WISEMAN: A paleoethnobotanist discusses the long history of Abenaki culture, language and technology in Vermont. Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, noon-4 p.m. $5-10; free for Abenaki tribal citizens. Info, 479-8500.

theater

‘THE FOREIGNER’: See FRI.1. ‘POLAROID STORIES’: See THU.30, 2-4 & 7:30-9:30 p.m. ‘TRAP DAY’: Family secrets and the ripple effects of climate change erupt in this staged reading of Lisa Becker’s play. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 8-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, lbecker2468@gmail.com.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RICHMOND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

SUN.3 crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.29, 1-3 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.29. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.29. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29. WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘BREAKING THE NEWS’: See SAT.2.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators are always welcome to join this weekly practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

Booking holiday parties at our exclusive venue: Hahn. Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com. KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, mollyzapp@live. com.

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.29, 2 p.m. ‘A CHRISTMAS CHAOS’: See FRI.1, 2-4 p.m. FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES: See FRI.1, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’: See FRI.1, 2 p.m. HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: See SAT.2. KIDS’ TRAIN: Youngsters get on board for a magical tour around the top block of Church Street, with an up-close look at the festive towering tree. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 11 a.m.3 p.m. Free. Info, 598-9296. OLD NORTH END HOLIDAY MARKET: More than 25 local and international vendors display their wares, while Mulu’s Kitchen and Hajiya Nuriya serve Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali food. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, info@honeybeeheather. com. SANTA ON THE MARKETPLACE: See FRI.1. VERMONT HOLIDAY MARKET: See SAT.2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. VT TROMBONE CHOIR: Fourteen high-grade horn players, led by former Vermont Symphony Orchestra principal trombonist Robert Wigness, ring in the holiday season. Vergennes Opera House, 2 p.m. $5-15. Info, 877-6737. WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.30. WORCESTER CRAFT FAIR: Live music, more than 20 vendors and a bake sale make for a cozy town market. Worcester Town Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 829-8623.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB: Francophones of all ages and skill levels gather over coffee for an approachable conversation. Kraemer & Kin, Alburgh, 11 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 976-3586.

montréal

‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: See WED.29. GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.30, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

music

CITIZEN’S CONCERT BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT: St. Albans’ concert band kicks off the yuletide season with holiday favorites and a carol sing-along. First Congregational Church, St. Albans, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4555.

COMMUNITY CHORUS FALL CONCERT: Recent alum Ronnie Romano conducts student singers in their end-of-semester show. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rromano@middlebury.edu. SUNDAY MUSIC SERIES: CHLOE BRISSON AND EVAN ALLEN: The longtime collaborators perform reimagined Americana classics for piano and voice. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 899-4962. ‘WHEN THE SNOWS FALL’: See SAT.2. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, 393-4585. WINE & JAZZ SUNDAYS: Sixpiece band In the Pocket invite special guests to sing alongside vocalist Taryn Noelle each week. Shelburne Vineyard, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

talks

OLLI LECTURE SERIES: EMILY MONOSSON: An author and toxicologist discusses emergent fungal pathogens and how we can prevent future pandemics. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 10:30 a.m.-noon. $8; $20 for series pass; preregister. Info, 451-0053.

theater

‘THE FOREIGNER’: See FRI.1, 2 p.m.

MON.4 film

games

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: Discounted wine by the glass fuels an evening of friendly competition featuring new and classic board games, card games, and cribbage. Shelburne Vineyard, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

health & fitness

ADVANCED TAI CHI: Experienced movers build strength, improve balance and reduce stress. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@skyrivertaichi.com. BEGINNING TAI CHI (SUN SHORT FORM): Newbies learn how gentle movement can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, 10:30-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@ skyrivertaichi.com. LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Pathways Vermont,

�eCHo·

Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, chrisn@pathwaysvermont.org.

LEAHY CENTER

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, elizabetharms56@gmail.com.

FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

holidays

‘THE SONGS I’VE LIVED: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS’: Colchester native and denizen of the Great White Way Merritt David Janes leads a program of talented performers bringing Broadway to the Green Mountains, with a festive twist. Colchester High School, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $20-35. Info, 264-5700.

catering & bar services

montréal

‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: See WED.29. GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.30.

words

ADDISON COUNTY WRITERS COMPANY: Poets, playwrights, novelists and memoirists of every experience level meet weekly for an MFA-style workshop. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jay@zigzaglitmag.org.

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community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

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crafts

LEARN HOW TO CROCHET: Novices of all ages pick up a new skill. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

210 COLLEGE STREET BURLINGTON, VT

dance

MORRIS & MORE: Dancers of all abilities learn how to step, clog and even sword fight their way through medieval folk dances of all kinds. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 6 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

thetinkeringturtle.com

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. Champlain Club, Burlington, beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m.; social dance, 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

Saturday, December 2 10 am - 5 pm Shopping & hot cocoa 11 am - 1 pm Photos with Ted

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.29. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.29. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29. TUE.5

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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food & drink

COOKBOOK CLUB: Readers choose a recipe from Rambutan: Recipes From Sri Lanka by Cynthia Shanmugalingam to cook and share with the group. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

AN EVENING OF STILLNESS: River Buffum leads a meditation designed to quiet the nervous system, accompanied by Judi Byron’s harp playing. Waterbury Public Library, 6:30-7:15 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.29, 7:30 p.m. VIENNA BOYS CHOIR: Members of the world-famous singing group dating back to the late Middle Ages lift their angelic voices in a seasonal concert. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $3579. Info, 863-5966.

language

GIFTS FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE GUY

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

montréal

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DAARA: DISABLED ACCESS AND ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability rights measures. 8:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.29.

activism

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.29.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM: Representatives post up in the main reading room to answer questions and provide resources. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

crafts

JEWELRY MAKING WITH CASEY: Crafty folks string beads together to create teardrop earrings. Ages 7 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.29.

dance

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.30.

film

COMMUNITY SINGERS: A weekly choral meetup welcomes all singers to raise their voices along to traditional (and notso-traditional) songs. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 7:30 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB: Readers digest recommendations by other club members over lunch. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

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language

WESTIE WEDNESDAYS DANCE: See WED.29.

words

Canghsan Kita 2pc Starter Set WAS $160 NOW

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‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: See WED.29, 8 p.m.

music

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holidays

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.

health & fitness

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Association. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: LAURENCE STERNE: Readers analyze the author’s 18th-century experimental novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman over eight weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ nereadersandwriters.com. RAELEEN D’AGOSTINO MAUTNER: Listeners learn the tenets of la dolce vita from the author of 45 Ways to Live Like an Italian: ItalianInspired Self-Care Traditions for Everyday Happiness. Presented by Phoenix Books and the Vermont Italian Cultural

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.29, 7:30 p.m.

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.29.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

montréal

‘BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY’: See WED.29, 1 & 8 p.m. GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.30.

music

LUNCHTIME PIPE ORGAN SERIES: HENRY DANAHER: The Dartmouth College music director goes hard on the historic Estey organ. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, noon-1 p.m. Donations. Info, info@epsilon spires.org. STUDENT RECITAL: University of Vermont music students prove their chops in a variety of genres. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

politics

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.29.

2023 ANNUAL WINTER MEETING: The Vermont Council on World Affairs lets loose at a public, catered reception and silent auction. Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 557-0018.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.29.

sports

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.29.

‘OUR AMERICAN FAMILY’: Mountain Lake PBS screens this 2021 documentary about a Philadelphia family grappling with the generational effects of addiction. Strand Center Theatre, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 518-563-9770.

talks

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.

food & drink

COMMUNITY SUPPER: See WED.29. WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: See WED.29.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.29. HEARING HEALTH: FREE HEARING EXAM: Dr. Jordan McShane tests locals’ ear acuity. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

VHS VIRTUAL SPEAKER SERIES: ANDREW LIPTAK: The author of Cosplay: A History examines why we love dressing up as our favorite superheroes and space explorers. Presented by the Vermont Historical Society. noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 479-8500.

words

VERMONT READS BOOK DISCUSSION: Jim Schley leads locals in a conversation about Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338. ➆

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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

11/16/23 4:00 PM

CLASS PHOTOS + MORE INFO ONLINE SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

art LAYERS: A SELF-PORTRAIT WORKSHOP: This unique collage self-portrait workshop will teach you how to create a visualized self-portrait comprised of self-constructed shapes and dynamic composition using a contemporary approach. You will explore and hone your technique using materials such as paper, paint, ink, pencil, marker and glue. 18-plus. Sun., Dec. 3, 11 a.m. Cost: $150. Location: The Kingdom Room, 444 S. Union St., Burlington. Info: devotion.vt@ gmail.com, sevendaysvt.com.

craft EVERGREEN WREATH WORKSHOP: Join us in a beautiful space for community, connection and seasonal wreath making!

You’ll create your own full-size wreath with all the berries, bells and whistles. Instruction and materials will be provided by Silver Spring Farm. We hope to see you there as we welcome the winter months together. Tue., Dec. 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $90. Location: The Ponds at Bolton Valley Resort, 3233 Bolton Valley Access Rd., Bolton. Info: Karey French, 734-3968, kareyanni@ silverspringfarmvt.com, silverspringfarmvt.com.

culinary HOLIDAY HOUSES WORKSHOP: In this workshop, we will get extra creative in decorating a holiday house. You get to decide if it will be a gingerbread or sugar cookie kit. Children must have the supervision of an adult. The ticket form includes options for plus-ones/

helpers/guardians to attend without a kit. Sun., Dec. 17, 4 p.m. Cost: $60/decorator; $12 for plusone. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com. POLISH POTATO PIEROGI WORKSHOP: In this workshop, we will learn how to make Polish pierogi just like my Babcia taught me! You’ll get the full recipe, some to eat during the class, and a package to take home and cook up that weekend or freeze for a later date. Thu., Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m. Cost: $55. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm Street, Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets. com. REINDEER CAKE DECORATING WORKSHOP: In this workshop, we will get extra creative in decorating a 4-inch reindeer cake. You get to decide between a few holiday flavors. We will make the fondant decorations together and pipe on the reindeer fur and eyes. I will demonstrate the filling of a model cake for the class. Tue., Dec. 12, 6 p.m. Cost: $50. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets. com.

VIRTUAL BAKING WORKSHOP: HOMEMADE EGGNOG: Join Janina in making this holiday classic to ring in the season! After the class, Janina and the Red Poppy Cakery team will follow up with the recipe for you to reference again and again. Note: This recipe is gluten-free and can be dairy-free but not egg-free. Wed., Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Cost: $15. Location: Online. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

language ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE WINTER SESSION: Join us for online or in-person adult French classes this winter. Our seven-week session starts on Jan. 8 and offers classes for participants at all levels. Please go to our website to read all about our offerings or contact Micheline. Location: Alliance Française, online or in person at 43 King St., Burlington. Info: Micheline, education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org.

Wed. Kids & Parents, 4-5:30 p.m. Adult Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m. Conga Beginners, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Location: Taiko Studio, 208 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: Stuart, 999-4255, classes@ burlingtontaiko.org.

well-being FACING CHANGE: LIFE’S TRANSITIONS & TRANSFORMATIONS: From the joys of births and weddings to the sorrows of death, illness and divorce to grappling with relocation, family struggles, identity issues, job changes, trauma and loss, change can leave us feeling unmoored and powerless. Facing Change is a small group experience focusing on embracing the transformative power of change. Wed., Dec. 6, 4 p.m. Cost: $5-25.

Location: Online. Info: 825-8141, sevendaystickets.com. HOLIDAY OPEN MEMORIAL: REMEMBERING IN COMMUNITY: Join this virtual space to come together in remembrance of those we love who have died. Join together in music, poetry, and ritual. Attendees have the option to share about the loved one they are remembering. This is not a religious memorial. People of all spiritual and secular worldviews are welcome. Wed., Dec. 13, 4 p.m. Cost: $5-25. Location: Online. Info: 825-8141, sevendaystickets. com.

music TAIKO & DJEMBE CLASSES: Taiko, Tue. and Thu.; Djembe, Wed. starting Dec. 4, Jan. 3 and Feb. 6. Drop-ins welcome. Kids & Parents Taiko, Tue. and Thu., 4-5:30 p.m. Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m. Accelerated Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Fourweek classes. World Drumming,

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

= TICKETED CLASS

Vermont Independent Radio pointfm.com 76

SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 6, 2023

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Humane

Society of Chittenden County

Totoro AGE/SEX: 2-year-old neutered male ARRIVAL DATE: October 27, 2023 SUMMARY: Say hello to bouncy, goofy Totoro! He loves his people — don’t be surprised if he politely nudges you to let you know that you aren’t paying him quite enough attention, thanks very much! If you’re into fetch-playing, leash-walking, monitoring for squirrel activity, and loving on this sweet boy and his silly ears, then drop what you’re doing and come say hi to this handsome man.

DID YOU KNOW?

HSCC can facilitate dog-to-dog introductions! If you’re interested in adopting a dog and you already have one at home, we can introduce your dog to a potential new pal at HSCC to see if they get along before you take them home.