Seven Days, December 18, 2019 by Seven Days

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Short fiction by Erik Esckilsen

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Booksellers’ best reads of 2019

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WEEK IN REVIEW DECEMBER 11-18, 2019 COMPILED BY GILLIAN ENGLISH, SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY FILE: THOMAS JAMES

UPROOTED

The man who dealt weed out of a Church Street head shop got 29 months in prison. Derek Spilman’s former store is now a tattoo parlor.

LIGHT SHOW

A pilot flying over Charlotte reported that someone on the ground aimed a laser pointer at the plane. That’s a federal crime.

HOEHL IN THEIR POCKET A prominent Vermont family’s foundation has accused a longtime financial adviser of secretly funneling its funds into a failing business, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court last week. The Hoehl Family Foundation, which is controlled by relatives of the late IDX Systems cofounder Robert Hoehl, filed the suit in Burlington. It claims that Ronald L. Roberts siphoned more than $20 million in secret loans and investments from the Hoehl family’s business empire to help prop up a struggling sports equipment company, G-Form, to which he was financially connected. The payments included a $1 million investment from the Hoehl Family Foundation, which filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court of Vermont. “Mr. Roberts invested the Foundation’s money in G-Form because he had already loaned or invested tens of millions of dollars of his personal assets and his other clients’ assets into G-Form, which was having significant cash flow shortfalls,” the complaint says. Roberts, who was the foundation’s treasurer, allegedly hid the financial moves for years, running the foundation afoul of federal tax laws and exposing it to potentially hefty penalties, according to the suit. The family says it cut ties with Roberts and his New Hampshire firm, Eideard Group, after the dealings came to light earlier this year.

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That’s how much two Brooklyn brothers are suing the NYPD for after cops seized their 106-pound shipment of legal Vermont hemp and arrested one of them.

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TWEET STORM

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BTV police scandal deepens

STUCK IN VERMONT: Eva Sollberger shares viewer feedback, travels around the state and discusses some changes ahead for her almost 13-year-old video series in this week’s 600th episode of Stuck in Vermont.

MISCHIEF MAKER

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Short fiction by Erik Esckilsen

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Booksellers’ best reads of 2019

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MAGNIFICENT MAGNI MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

SATURDAY 21

In Step In addition to dancing in pairs to lively jigs and reels, Montpelier Contra Dance participants can get a workout and make community connections. Beginners, singles and folks of all ages are welcome to move to the music of Dave Langford and Colin McCaffrey at the Capital City Grange in Berlin. All dances are taught, and Lisa Greenleaf calls the steps. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 51

COMPILED BY KRISTEN RAVIN

THURSDAY 19

Pizza Party Who could resist the call of piping hot slices of specialty cheesy, saucy pies? On the first and third Thursday of each month, Greensboro’s Highland Center for the Arts hosts New Pizza Pop-Ups in its Hardwick Street Café. Friends compete for prizes in rounds of trivia while digging into mouthwatering pizza and select café dishes. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 49

FRIDAY 20 & SATURDAY 21

MAKING A SPLASH

Holiday tunes get a Celtic makeover on Bostonbased band Scottish Fish’s new EP, Tidings. Playing fiddle and cello, the group’s young members specialize in traditional and contemporary Scottish and Cape Breton music. The instrumentalists serve up unique arrangements and original compositions at concerts at the Burlington Violin Shop and Radio Bean. SEE CALENDAR LISTING AND CLUB DATE ON PAGES 50 AND 66

FRIDAY 20

Rocking Around Bar, restaurant and concert venue ArtsRiot gifts Burlington music lovers an epic night of live tunes. The free Holiday Extravaganza features more than 20 bands playing what the club calls “stocking stuffer-sized sets.” Catch local favorites such as Clever Girls, Hammydown, PREECE and the Pyros at this show for all ages. SEE SOUNDBITES ON PAGE 61

ONGOING

On Beeing What’s all the buzz about the “Let It Bee” art exhibition at Montpelier’s Garage Cultural Center? Designed to raise awareness of the plight of the honeybee and other pollinators, the show includes mixed-media works by Vermont artists Dona Mara Friedman, Jan Sandman and Peggy Smith, who employ the encaustic technique of adding color to melted beeswax. Read on for a review by Susan Larson.

SATURDAY 21-MONDAY 23

SEE REVIEW ON PAGE 70

Christmas Abroad Since 1975, community arts nonprofit Revels North has transported audience members to faraway places by way of its Christmas Revels stage show. This year, The Christmas Revels: An English Celebration of the Winter Solstice focuses on a small Northern England town and its resilient textile mill workers who celebrate the season despite a controlling factory owner. Experience it at New Hampshire’s Lebanon Opera House. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 52

SUNDAY 22

Bright Lights Chabad of Vermont goes big with its Hanukkah celebration on the University Green at the University of Vermont. At Light Up the Night, friends and families witness the illumination of a giant menorah — Chabad of Vermont claims it’s the state’s largest — and enjoy music, latkes, doughnuts and hot drinks. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 54

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

news

MORE INSIDE

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VERMONT ELDERCARE, INC.

LEGAL

PAGE 18

LUKE AWTRY

Mayor Miro Weinberger at Monday’s press conference

Chief Concern

POLITICS

Can Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger survive a social media scandal within his police department? BY C OU RT N E Y L AM D I N

urlington Mayor Miro Weinberger had a spectacularly bad Monday. In a span of hours, he employed three different chiefs of police. The first, Brandon del Pozo, resigned after acknowledging that he created an anonymous social media account and used it to troll a critic. The second, Jan Wright, admitted she’d done something similar only after Weinberger named her acting chief. Before taking the job, the third, Jon Murad, “confirmed explicitly … that he has never engaged in anonymous social media posting,” Weinberger said in a statement announcing his appointment. An hour earlier, a dozen protesters assembled at city hall, armed with signs bearing slogans such as “Privilege 12

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Protecting Privilege” and chanting demands that Weinberger step down. They funneled inside for a City Council meeting, where they charged that the mayor covered up for his lying police chief and is just as culpable for not informing councilors of del Pozo’s bad behavior. As the bizarre social media scandal deepens, public attention and scrutiny has turned to the mayor, who was first elected in 2012. Four years ago, Weinberger brought del Pozo from New York City to Burlington. He stuck by the chief throughout his tenure, even in instances of intense public pressure. That loyalty could be Weinberger’s undoing.

“I just can’t imagine how any members of the public can trust him,” Jaz Mojica, a member of the police accountability group BTV CopWatch, said of the mayor at Monday’s council meeting. “He never would have come out with this information unless he was directly asked.” Weinberger and his political allies, though, maintain that he deftly handled a uniquely challenging situation. “I’ve done my best throughout,” Weinberger said. “It’s all out there for Burlingtonians to evaluate.” At Monday ’s press conference announcing del Pozo’s resignation, Weinberger appeared near tears at times as he CHIEF CONCERN

» P.16

Del Pozo Didn’t Disclose Fake Twitter Account in Legal Filings B Y DER EK B R OU WER

Attorneys for men claiming excessive use of force by Burlington police contend that Brandon del Pozo lied under oath in written testimony related to their civil litigation. The former Burlington police chief resigned Monday after revelations last week that he used an anonymous Twitter account to mock a critic. Del Pozo is a defendant in pending federal lawsuits brought by black men who allege excessive force by Burlington cops in two separate incidents last year. During legal discovery, the plaintiffs’ attorneys asked del Pozo questions about his social media accounts, including which ones he’d used and whether he had deleted any. In an October 30 response, in which del Pozo “swore to the truth of the information,” the chief did not disclose the since-deleted @WinkleWatchers Twitter account he used in July and wrote that none of the accounts he used had been deleted, according to court documents made public Monday. Deputy Chief Jan Wright and the city attorney’s office assisted in preparing del Pozo’s responses, according to the filing. City Attorney Eileen Blackwood wrote in an email to Seven Days that an assistant city attorney who was unaware of del Pozo’s Twitter “account issue” was involved. Wright did not return phone messages for comment. Mayor Miro Weinberger named her acting chief Monday but hours later announced she would not serve in that role because she had operated a Facebook account under an alias to discuss police business with citizens. Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the excessive force suits, Evan Chadwick and Robb Spensley, asked the judge to issue default judgments in favor of their clients based on what they characterized as the city’s false answers. “It is a fraud perpetrated on the Court when a chief law enforcement officer, with a masters degree in criminal justice and with assistance from counsel, including the City of Burlington legal department, knowingly provides false answers under oath to legitimate discovery questions,” they wrote. Contact: derek@sevendaysvt.com

‘He Kept Banging on the Window’ Vermont inmate claims fellow prisoner was denied care before death

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Kenneth Johnson

or hours before he died in a northern Vermont prison this month, Kenneth Johnson struggled to breathe and begged for medical attention, according to a fellow inmate who was with Johnson that night. “He kept banging on the window for the nurse to do something about it — and they didn’t,” said the other inmate, Raymond Gadreault. Johnson, Gadreault and a third prisoner spent the night of December 6 in a locked infirmary at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport. According to the Vermont Department of Corrections, Johnson was transferred to a hospital before dawn and pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m. In a press release issued that afternoon, the department said that Johnson’s “cause of death appears to be natural causes.” But according to Gadreault, prison medical staffers could have done more to save him. The 60-year-old man — an accused sex offender — had been having trouble breathing for more than a week before his death, Gadreault said. By December 6, Johnson’s condition had apparently worsened. Gadreault’s wife, Nikki, said she spoke with her husband five times that night and heard him describe the situation as

Northern State Correctional Facility

it unfolded. During one call, she said, Gadreault moved the phone closer to Johnson. “He’s gasping for air,” she said. “All the sudden I hear it.” Seven Days relayed questions to Gadreault through his wife. He responded by email and in a video chat that she recorded and played for the newspaper. Gadreault has been charged with abusing a vulnerable person in his custody. According to Gadreault, Johnson spent at least four hours that night “knocking on the window, telling the nurses he was having trouble breathing and needed to go to the hospital.” Instead, he said, nursing staff ignored Johnson and then threatened him. Not long before he died, according to Gadreault, a nurse entered the room and “ordered him to lay down with his feet up in the air and keep quiet and stop bothering them because he was faking it.” The nurse threatened to move Johnson to a cell without a bed in another part of the prison, Gadreault said. At around 2 a.m. on December 7, he said, he got up to use the bathroom and realized he couldn’t hear Johnson breathing. When Gadreault checked on him, he appeared to be dead. “I banged on the window to get the PRISONER DEATH

» P.15

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news Tip of the Iceberg

Got a tip about the Vermont Department of Corrections? Send it our way. We’ll keep your identity confidential: prisons@ sevendaysvt.com; 802-222-0363; Paul Heintz, c/o Seven Days, 255 S. Champlain St., Ste. 5, Burlington, VT 05401.

In the two weeks since Seven Days published an investigation into alleged wrongdoing at Vermont’s only prison for women, the newspaper has received dozens of tips about the state Department of Corrections. Some tipsters have reconfirmed or elaborated on the findings of the original investigation: that DOC employees preyed upon current and former inmates; female officers experienced rampant sexual harassment; and those who spoke out were ignored or faced retaliation. Other tipsters argued that the problems identified at South Burlington’s Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility exist throughout the state prison system. Seven Days plans to continue pursuing these story leads. For now, here is a sampling of what we’ve learned.

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

‘It was very uncomfortable.’

In June 2018, a female caseworker at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield was standing in a hallway chatting with three colleagues. All of a sudden, something unexpected happened. “I felt someone grab my right buttock area,” she later reported to the prison’s assistant superintendent. “I turned and looked to see who had touched me.” It was her direct supervisor, who is also a woman. The supervisor allegedly slid her hand up the caseworker’s body and linked arms with her. “Then she started to laugh about it. I yanked my hand away from her,” the caseworker told Seven Days. “She said, ‘Did I offend you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, you did,’ and I walked away.” The caseworker, who requested anonymity because she still works for the state, immediately reported the incident, and the state Department of Human Resources launched an investigation. But as it dragged on over the next six months, the woman who had grabbed the caseworker continued to supervise her — and, the caseworker alleges, turned their colleagues against her. “They allowed her to remain in her position of supervisor during the whole investigation — allowed her to cause a toxic, disgusting work environment for me,” she said. “It was very uncomfortable.” The supervisor did not respond to requests for comment. In December 2018, according to a letter the caseworker provided Seven Days, prison superintendent Michael Lyon informed her that investigators “discovered evidence sufficient to establish that you were subjected to discrimination.” The caseworker was surprised to see the incident described as “discrimination” — not harassment or assault — and was disappointed to learn that her supervisor had been transferred to a sought-after job at the DOC’s local probation and parole office. Though the supervisor was moved to a lower pay grade, she retained her old salary, according to Human Resources Commissioner Beth Fastiggi. “Our union contract typically permits that,” she said. The caseworker’s takeaway? “If you are in a position to have power, you can pretty much do whatever you like, because they’re not gonna do anything,” she said.

‘It’s not easy to talk about sexual violence.’

As Seven Days reported in its original investigation, at least five Chittenden Regional officers have been charged with sexual misconduct since 2011. Few have spent time behind bars. One former guard, William Savaria III, was charged in 2014 with sexual exploitation of a female inmate. She claimed he plied her with gifts and later penetrated her with his hand. He denied it but admitted they had a sexual relationship after she was released from the women’s prison and remained under DOC supervision. A jury acquitted Savaria in 2016. Later that year, prosecutors filed new charges against him alleging that he performed similar acts with two additional inmates. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges for reasons that remain unclear. Both women later died of overdoses.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

The three women aren’t the only ones who say they were victimized by Savaria. That raises the prospect that he could face additional charges. “Detectives have reached out recently to a number of inmates regarding allegations of any possible crimes at the facility,” said Vermont State Police spokesperson Adam Silverman. According to former Chittenden Regional inmate Melissa Gaboury, Savaria entered her cell in a segregated unit of the prison in 2014, ostensibly to search for contraband. “He grabbed me and kissed me and stuck his hands down my pants,” she said. “He molested me.” Gaboury said she reported the incident to her caseworker. According to Brittany Sweet, then a guard at Chittenden Regional, Gaboury also described the encounter to her at the time. Sweet said she reported the matter. Gaboury said that police investigators contacted her in 2017 and again recently, but she has been reluctant to discuss the alleged abuse with authorities. “I’m a victim of sexual violence,” she said. “And it’s not easy to talk about sexual violence — especially with men, particularly men in control.” William Savaria III Savaria, who resigned from his job in 2015, declined to comment. Another former Chittenden Regional inmate recently told Seven Days that Savaria repeatedly asked her to bare her breasts for him. “He would ask if I would show him my tits,” she said. “I never did. I was like, ‘Nah.’” The former inmate requested anonymity because she remains under DOC supervision and fears retaliation. She said the officer also sought to convince her to perform for him. “He would try to do things like tell me he would let me go in someone else’s room if I would, like, make out with the girl in there, and he could watch,” the woman told Seven Days.

‘I felt extremely sexually harassed.’

In the year and a half Honestie Hensley has spent at Chittenden Regional, she estimates she’s been strip-searched more than 100 times. Officers conduct the procedure whenever inmates return from court, move to other units or visit with their children. But one search, in May 2019, is seared in Hensley’s memory. It was initiated when guards said they smelled drugs near Hensley and two other inmates. A pair of female officers ordered her to strip in a nearby shower room. As the junior officer conducted the search, Hensley said, the senior officer took a more aggressive approach.

“[She] kneels down with a flashlight and put it about an inch from my vagina and told me to spread my vagina lips open to see inside of it,” Hensley told Seven Days. “Touching genitals is not how you’re supposed to do a strip search.” At one point during the search, male officers were present, Hensley said. The inmate filed several complaints to prison officials. In one, she wrote, “I felt extremely sexually harassed and embarrassed, as the entire Foxtrot unit heard her giving me the aforementioned demand.” But according to Corrections Commissioner Mike Touchette, the search complied with DOC procedures. In a July letter to Hensley, he wrote that such searches “are a valuable and necessary means to promote safety and security” in prison. “I encourage you to work with Facility Mental Health providers to address your thoughts and feelings you have expressed,” he wrote. “Your appeal is denied.” Countered Kelly Green, Hensley’s lawyer, “I don’t care what the policy is. I don’t care what the law is. They have an obligation here to be especially sensitive.” Hensley, who said she is gay and a victim of sexual assault, called the event “very triggering.” She believes the officer was attempting to humiliate her. “I feel like she does it because she’s showing that she’s in power, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it,” Hensley said. Though the officer in question remained on duty after Hensley lodged her complaints, she was put on administrative leave earlier this month, according to Hensley and a state official with knowledge of the situation. Deputy Corrections Commissioner Judy Henkin said she could not confirm the officer’s status.

‘I don’t think employees feel safe.’

Last week, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith announced that his office had established a new hotline for state employees to report “sensitive concerns related to DOC.” Calls would be fielded by the Department of Human Resources, he said. The Vermont State Employees’ Association quickly cried foul at the notion that staffers were expected to report wrongdoing to Human Resources, which investigates and disciplines state workers. “I don’t think employees feel safe,” said VSEA president Dave Bellini. “If you lie or you misspeak, you could be fired. So how could you go there?” Bellini said the employee hotline ought to be housed outside of the executive and legislative branches. The union’s weekly member newsletter pitched another approach: “VSEA President Dave Bellini, himself a DOC employee, is advising VSEA Corrections [staffers] to take Seven Days reporter Paul Heintz up on his offer to listen to any and all tips, as opposed to taking them to DHR … Heintz is promising confidentiality.” The message ended with Seven Days’ contact information, which is shown on this page. PAUL HEINTZ

Prisoner Death « P.13 nurses’ attention, and an older nurse came in and started CPR,” Gadreault said. According to Corrections Commissioner Mike Touchette, nurses at the facility “had fairly frequent interactions” with Johnson in the hours before his death. “I think that the nursing staff was having conversations with him throughout the night about some level of uncomfortableness that he was having,” the commissioner said. Touchette also said Gadreault knocked on the windows at one point to get the nurses’ attention, prompting them to check on Johnson. He said he was unsure when that took place. According to Touchette, all inmate deaths trigger an internal review as well as external investigations by the Vermont State Police, the Prisoners’ Rights Office and the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care. He said his department had not yet received a death certificate from the state medical examiner. It would state a cause and manner of death. State police spokesperson Adam Silverman said his agency is still investigating. “Initial indications are that the death was due to natural causes,” he said.

According to Gadreault, the state police detective who interviewed him soon after Johnson’s death did not seem interested in his account. “He refused to listen to what happened even though I tried several times,” Gadreault said. “I got some out and then he ordered me back to my cell.” Silverman explained that the detective was seeking only “to determine whether a crime had been committed, such as an assault, that contributed to the inmate’s death.” He added, “Whether internal procedures were followed to ensure the inmate received care is a question for Corrections.” Gadreault was subsequently transferred to Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. “I was shipped here because of what I said and saw,” he told Seven Days. Last Friday, the leaders of the Newport prison — superintendent Joshua Rutherford and assistant superintendent Scott Martin — were put on administrative leave. “I cannot comment on specifics, but a credible report was made that warrants further assessment,” Touchette said at the time. The commissioner and his boss, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith, later told Seven Days that the investigation of Rutherford and Martin was unrelated to Johnson’s death. “It’s a review of whether Corrections

administrative procedures were violated,” Touchette said. At the time of his death, Johnson was awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking and sexual assault of a minor. In September 2017, police accused him and another man of luring a 15-year-old girl to a Lyndon motel and providing her drugs, cash and other gifts. Over the course of a month and a half, police wrote in court papers, the men repeatedly assaulted her. At one point, according to the authorities, they attempted to entice the girl to move to New York City to engage in sex work. Johnson pleaded not guilty to the charges. During a hearing at the Caledonia County Courthouse two months before his death, Johnson expressed displeasure with his court-appointed attorney and asked that the lawyer be replaced, according to the Caledonian Record. After the hearing, he complained of chest pains and was taken to a hospital. The court then postponed his trial. Seven Days could not identify Johnson’s family. The Department of Corrections and its health care contractor, Centurion,,have ·� .'•• previously faced scrutiny over the medical services they provide inmates. In February,

the estate of inmate David Bissonnette sued both, alleging that they had contributed to his November 2016 death by placing him in a segregated unit at Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton while he suffered from opioid withdrawal. During his short stay in prison, according to the lawsuit, Bissonnette yelled from his cell, “I can’t breathe,” and complained of chest pains. A medical provider responded by giving him a book of word search puzzles “to help distract him from his perceived ‘anxiety,’” according to the suit. Days later, Bissonnette died of bacterial endocarditis. Three Vermont inmates held at a Pennsylvania prison died in late 2017. One of them, Roger Brown, suffered from metastatic cancer, which apparently went untreated. Brown’s diary, which was obtained by VTDigger.org and Vermont Public Radio, suggested that he repeatedly sought treatment from prison authorities to no avail. Gadreault believes that Newport prison officials should have treated the situation more urgently. “Alls they had to do was come in and help him, give him some oxygen,” he said. “He should’ve been rushed to the hospital.” m Contact: paul@sevendaysvt.com

,·� .'••

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3328 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 802.985-8411 I www.TheAutomasterHonda.com 3328 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 802.985-8411 I www.TheAutomasterHonda.com Untitled-41 1

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news JULY 4: Burlington police chief Brandon del

Pozo creates an anonymous Twitter account, @WinkleWatchers, and fires off tweets at a critic, Charles Winkleman. The chief said he deleted the account after about an hour, but Winkleman takes screenshots of the messages. JULY 23: Seven Days reporter Courtney Lamdin asks del Pozo whether he created the account. He repeatedly denies it. JULY 28: According to Mayor Miro

Weinberger, del Pozo comes to his home and admits he created the account and lied to Lamdin about it. JULY 29: Weinberger takes del Pozo’s

gun, badge and phone and places him on administrative leave. AUGUST 1: Del Pozo begins a family and medical leave of absence. AUGUST 2: Weinberger’s chief of staff announces that del Pozo has taken a family and medical leave of absence. SEPTEMBER 16: Del Pozo returns to duty. His absence is not fully explained. DECEMBER 9: On his website, Winkleman lays

out his evidence that del Pozo was behind the @WinkleWatchers account. DECEMBER 12: Weinberger admits to Lamdin that del Pozo was behind the @WinkleWatchers account and blames an “underlying medical condition.” Less than two hours later, del Pozo admits he created the account and apologizes for lying to Lamdin. Seven Days publishes a story. DECEMBER 13: Del Pozo tells reporters he

won’t resign. The mayor promises to give him a second chance. That evening, Seven Days publishes six and a half minutes of audio from Lamdin’s July 23 interview with del Pozo. It shows that the chief lied at least a dozen times about the account. DECEMBER 16: 11:52 A.M.: Attorneys file a motion in an

excessive-force lawsuit alleging that del Pozo failed to disclose the @WinkleWatchers account when asked a direct question under oath in legal discovery proceedings. NOON: At a press conference, Weinberger

announces that del Pozo has resigned. As the event begins, del Pozo tweets his resignation letter. 6:30 P.M. Protesters rally at city hall, calling for

Weinberger to be held accountable for failing to act in July. 6:54 P.M. Weinberger’s office announces that

acting chief Jan Wright, who replaced del Pozo, was removed from the post after she admitted to discussing the department using a Facebook account with the name “Lori Spicer.” 7:30 P.M. At a city council meeting, residents and councilors alike question Weinberger’s role in the del Pozo incident.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Chief Concern « P.12 extolled the former chief ’s progressive policing initiatives. The mayor had been willing to give del Pozo a second chance, he said, because the former chief’s actions were caused by an underlying medical condition. Weinberger’s disciplinary actions “were informed by compassion,” he said. This wasn’t the first time Weinberger had del Pozo’s six. In April, the two were criticized for attempting to influence the state medical examiner’s finding that a Burlington cop’s punches led to the death of resident Douglas Kilburn. Councilor Ali Dieng (D/P-Ward 7) called del Pozo and Weinberger’s actions “unethical” and noted that “no one is above the law.” In May, the council questioned del Pozo for more than two hours after learning from the media — not Queen City leadership — that Burlington cops had knocked two black men unconscious eight months earlier. Weinberger stood by his man, telling the council, “We were right to place our confidence in this chief.” It was in July that del Pozo told Weinberger about the anonymous Twitter account he used to troll activist Charles Winkleman, a former chair of the Burlington Progressive Party. Weinberger initially placed del Pozo on administrative leave before the chief took a six-week family and medical leave of absence; Weinberger informed only a handful of people of the reason. City Councilor Max Tracy (P-Ward 2) thinks these decisions show that the mayor has a pattern “of hiding bad conduct from the council.” Weinberger campaigned on a platform of transparency and as a practical alternative to former Progressive mayor Bob Kiss, who diverted $17 million of taxpayer money to bail out Burlington Telecom and hid it from the council, Tracy noted. “I find it incredibly hypocritical for him to have done that and now similarly withhold information,” said Tracy, who cochairs the Burlington Progressive Party. “You don’t get to have it both ways.” City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) disagreed that this scandal is on par with Burlington Telecom. She said it’s “ridiculous” to suggest that Weinberger should resign because he did not inform councilors that he’d placed del Pozo on administrative leave in July and taken the chief’s badge and gun. “This does not nearly rise to that level,” Shannon said. “No elected official would resign over something that is a judgment call. We can all evaluate that judgment call, but that’s what it is.” Shannon, a city councilor since 2003, said Weinberger’s administration is far

COURTNEY LAMDIN

KEY EVENTS IN THE TWITTER TROLLING SCANDAL

Charles Winkleman at City Hall

more transparent than others. The mayor has her full support because, Shannon said, “I really believe that he is a person of integrity.” Attorney John Franco has sparred with the Weinberger administration several times over the years, often in court. The Progressive Party stalwart thinks the mayor’s excuses for keeping quiet about del Pozo’s actions are bunk. He said Weinberger’s team “operates in complete secrecy as much as possible” and that the mayor told a “half truth” by disclosing that del Pozo was on family and medical leave days after the chief was placed on administrative leave. It was, Franco said, a cover-up.

I JUST CAN’T IMAGINE HOW

ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN TRUST HIM. JAZ MO J IC A

“Bob Kiss paid the ultimate political price,” he said. “Miro Weinberger should, as well. This is egregious.” It remains to be seen whether the Progressives will benefit from the backlash against Weinberger, the city’s top Democrat, but the politicking has already begun. Hours before del Pozo’s resignation was announced, the Burlington Progressive Party issued a press release demanding that the chief resign and that Weinberger “be held accountable.” “I thought it was in poor taste on such a sad and significant day that there was an attempt to seek political advantage like that,” Weinberger said. “There’s plenty of time in the campaign context for that to be sorted out and debated.”

The mayor himself is not up for reelection until 2021. Council seats in all eight wards are up for grabs on Town Meeting Day in March, however. Nathan Lantieri, a Progressive candidate in Ward 5, said Weinberger’s handling of the del Pozo situation only solidifies his plans to run on a platform of transparency. “This is actually a pattern,” Lantieri said, adding, “I think [Weinberger’s actions] will continue to be a part of the story that a lot of Progressives are telling.” Lantieri, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Chip Mason, expects there will be some blowback at the polls come March. “That really will be as great a condemnation as anything,” he said. In the meantime, Weinberger has vowed to hire an outside investigator to look into social media use by members of his police department. And he said he’ll work to strengthen a draft social media policy meant for all city employees. That document has been a long time coming. Without one, there were no repercussions in 2017 when del Pozo posted on the Facebook page of a young woman who had accused Burlington police officers of touching her inappropriately during an arrest. At the time, Weinberger also promised that a social media policy would be published soon. “In general, we receive overwhelmingly positive feedback about Chief del Pozo’s use of social media and general accessibility to the public,” Weinberger wrote in an email at the time to Seven Days about the incident. “In the few cases where we have received complaints, we have addressed them with the chief.” m Contact: courtney@sevendaysvt.com

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Vermont considers how to make cash by letting forests grow

FREE TOWING and TAX DEDUCTIONS

BY KEVIN MC C ALL UM

n the summer of 2018, the Nature who want to participate in carbon Conservancy announced it had found markets. Vermont should lead by example a way for polluters in California to by enrolling one of its own forests in a fund forest conservation in Vermont. carbon-offset program, she said. The environmental group had acquired At first glance, the opportunities seem the 5,500-acre Burnt Mountain property huge. in northern Vermont and was planning California’s cap-and-trade program, to sell carbon offsets tied to the tract’s launched in 2013, has become one of the millions of trees. biggest sources of cash for green projects The idea was that big California in the nation. The state requires its largest companies would pay good polluters, including power money — an estimated $2.4 plants, factories and large million over a decade — to dairies, to ratchet down balance their greenhouse their emissions each year gas emissions by paying to or pay to offset them. protect trees, which pull carbon from the That money — $1.7 billion last year atmosphere, from logging. alone — is now helping to protect grassBut last month, consultants reached lands from development in Colorado, a surprising conclusion: The Vermont capture methane from mines in Wyoming forest doesn’t store enough carbon to and allow redwood trees to sequester cover the project’s costs because the carbon in California. trees are smaller than expected. In the Not a dime of this windfall has made cold, nutrient-poor hills north of Hazen’s its way to Vermont. Shallow hoped the Burnt Notch, trees grow more slowly than elsewhere. Mountain project could “It’s a hard life for a tree change that. The property in northern Vermont,” said near Long Trail State Forest Jim Shallow, the Conserin Montgomery was owned vancy’s director of strategic by Atlas Timberlands until conservation initiatives. 1997, when a partnership Trees remove carbon that included the Nature dioxide from the atmosphere Conservancy acquired it as through photosynthesis and part of a larger purchase. store it in their branches, A 2017 timber assesstrunks and roots. Protectment showed the previously logged parcel had higher ing forests to help them accumulate more carbon is than average timber stocks. increasingly seen as vital to The group hoped to boost offsetting the human-caused those stocks over time with carbon emissions that drive a “forever wild” easement climate change. to permanently ban logging. The setback illustrates Selling the forest’s ability to how difficult it is proving for sequester and store carbon Vermont — one of the most would provide an alternate heavily forested states — to source of revenue. MIKE SN YDE R tap emerging markets for However, a detailed analforest carbon storage. In ysis commissioned by their response, some legislators are proposing San Francisco-based carbon consultant, that the state address the conundrum. Bluesource, showed the math didn’t quite “I do not think that selling forest work. The property had less carbon than carbon offsets is the be-all and the end- anticipated, meaning fewer credits could all solution to climate change,” Sen. Ruth be sold. Hardy (D-Addison) said. “But I think we Selling the credits would carry signifishould be doing everything we can, and cant expenses. There’s the upfront cost for some forest property owners, this may of the carbon analysis, for which forestbe a really good opportunity.” ers measure a sampling of trees down Hardy serves on a group studying how the state can support property owners CARBON CENTS » P.20

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Untitled-56 1

9/18/19 2:48 PM

IF THE CARBON PROGRAM THAT EMERGES IS, YOU DON’T CUT ANY TREES,

I DON’T THINK THAT’S GOOD FOR THE WOOD-USING PEOPLE.

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news

CAREPETBAGGERS

Eldercare is becoming big business in Vermont. Seniors don’t always come first

n paper, Spring Village at Essex was a local endeavor. The developer of the planned eldercare home was South Burlington-based BlackRock Construction. Local business leaders vouched for the company’s integrity when it sought a state license for the home in 2016. But BlackRock had no say over the quality of care provided to the seniors who would live there. Its plan was to sell Spring Village to a Florida investment firm as soon as it was built. That firm would contract with yet another out-of-state company to operate it. “This is an odd situation that this office has not seen,” the state’s eldercare home licensing chief, Pam Cota, wrote about the project. A majority of the 133 residential care and assisted living homes in Vermont have fewer than 20 residents and are not owned and operated by out-of-state groups. The industry’s continued connection to its rural “boarding house” roots is a point of pride for the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Commissioner Monica Hutt said. “It’s really Vermonters taking care of Vermonters,” she said. Increasingly, though, arrangements like BlackRock’s have become common nationally as investors eye aging baby boomers as a potential profit center. Now corporate interests have turned their attention to the Green Mountain State. Out-of-state owners have built or bought at least 580

About This Series

To report and write the Worse for Care series, Seven Days and Vermont Public Radio joined forces to analyze five and a half years’ worth of state inspection reports and complaints involving Vermont’s 133 residential care and assisted living facilities. Seven Days data editor Andrea Suozzo created the Vermont Eldercare Navigator, a searchable online database that details what state inspectors found at these homes. It’s available at eldercare.sevendaysvt.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

eldercare beds here since 2014, an investigation by Seven Days and Vermont Public Radio found. That’s roughly 15 percent of Vermont’s residential care and assisted living beds. The rush to cash in has led to fierce competition; managers face immense pressure to fill facilities and control costs. When problems at large investment properties arise, they have affected dozens, even hundreds, of seniors. Spring Village was built to house 56 residents with dementia, making it one of the largest residential care homes in the state.

OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS HAVE BUILT OR BOUGHT

AT LEAST 580 ELDERCARE BEDS IN VERMONT SINCE 2014. BlackRock sold the property in November 2016 to an Orlando, Fla.-based real estate investment trust called Sentio Healthcare Properties. The sale was worth $11 million, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosures. Sentio contracted with WoodBine Senior Living, a Maryland eldercare management company, to operate the Essex facility and four others in its $500 million senior housing portfolio. By early 2017, Spring Village wasn’t even half full, but complaints began pouring in to DAIL, which regulates Vermont’s residential care homes. Inspectors investigated the home four times between March and September of that year and issued 44 citations: for neglect, short staffing and admitting residents without assessing their medical condition. One new resident arrived with an infected bedsore and exposed bone, contrary to state rules that restrict who may be admitted to an eldercare home. As violations went uncorrected, the state cited Spring Village’s upper management in August 2017 for failing to ensure

that local leadership followed DAIL regulations. The very next day, Sentio sold Spring Village and the rest of its eldercare holdings to real estate private equity behemoth Kayne Anderson in a deal valued at $825 million. DAIL took a rare step the following month: It barred Spring Village from admitting new residents and fined the facility for each day the problems w e n t uncorrected. Fines eventually topped $70,000 — by far the largest the state has imposed in recent years. The crackdown got the new owners’ attention. Kayne Anderson, one of the largest senior housing owners in the country, dropped WoodBine in the spring of 2018 and brought in a Massachusetts-based group called HallKeen Management. The home rebranded as Maple Ridge Memory Care. Citations have waned since. “We worked directly with the state to repair what concerns there were,” HallKeen spokesperson Greg Anderson said. The level of dysfunction at Spring Village was remarkable given that the home served seniors who could pay monthly prices exceeding $10,000. But to its far-off owners, Spring Village was one line on a balance sheet. “Too often, the model of the corporate franchises is to return the investment of the investors and not to keep the funds within the local facilities,” said attorney Emily Joselson, of Langrock, Wool & Sperry, who represents residents’ families in civil cases against eldercare homes. When facilities are owned by out-ofstate corporations — and half of the state’s 20 largest ones are — poor management can quickly become a major crisis. That’s what happened in the dramatic nearcollapse in 2018 of three South Burlington and St. Albans homes known as the Pillsbury communities. East Lake Capital Management, a Texas private equity firm led by Andrew White, bought the facilities from their local owners in 2017. White’s company didn’t cash residents’ rent checks. Nor did it pay bills. The situation got so bad

BY DEREK BROUWER

Looking for info about a specific home?

Find the Vermont Eldercare Navigator at eldercare.sevendaysvt.com.

Got a story to share?

Tell us what’s happening at your eldercare home at eldercare@ sevendaysvt.com.

Have a complaint about an eldercare home? Alert state regulators at ahs.dailscintake@vermont.gov.

Want to report elder abuse?

In an emergency, call 911. You can also reach Adult Protective Services at aps@ vermont.gov or by calling 1-800-5641612 or visiting dail.vermont.gov.

Audio stories are available at vpr.org. that staff were driving to grocery stores to buy food for residents with their own money. State officials took a rare step and went to court in November 2018 to have the homes placed in the hands of a temporary outside manager called a receiver. As the Pillsbury homes descended into disarray, White and his wife were evicted from a $6,300-a-month Dallas apartment in June 2018 because a delivery driver reported being assaulted by White. He also “became aggressive” with a building concierge and made harassing calls to the landlords, the company wrote in an eviction petition. A judge in a separate case in Delaware took the extraordinary step in June of dissolving the East Lake entity that owned the Vermont homes and two others in Oklahoma. White narrowly avoided arrest over his lack of cooperation in the case. When he did testify, his comments were “rambling,” “distorted,” and at times “incomprehensible,” the judge wrote. White did not respond to requests for comment. He has denied claims of mismanagement. The Delaware suit was brought by an international investment firm, GMF Capital, that had acquired a minority stake in East

SEAN METCALF

Lake in 2017. Now, GMF is poised to assume ownership of the Pillsbury homes, previously unreported court records show. Last month Vermont Superior Court Judge Mary Miles Teachout approved their sale from the court-appointed receiver to a subsidiary of GMF in a deal worth around $31 million. The receiver, Mark Stickney, selected GMF over the only other bidder, the Burlington housing nonprofit Cathedral Square, which had managed the Pillsbury homes for a period during the receivership. The decision came down to dollars and cents. Though the local nonprofit offered to match GMF’s purchase price, Stickney wrote in court filings that Cathedral Square’s bid did not qualify because it did not agree to cover certain costs related to a sale and was contingent upon securing financing.

“We tried to work with Cathedral Square on the financing end,” Stickney told Seven Days. “They couldn’t get there.” Stickney said he thinks GMF will provide a “long-term solution” for the troubled homes and noted that DAIL did not object to the sale. GMF’s contracted operator, Maryland-based Meridian Senior Living, is currently managing the facilities. But the approved sale could prove a missed opportunity to expand the affordable options that Cathedral Square provides, communications and outreach director Deb Bouton said last week. The nonprofit put forward its best offer but was “dismayed that the court approved a bid process that made it virtually impossible for a nonprofit to qualify,” she said. More than 400 mostly Medicaid-reliant seniors are on Cathedral Square’s waiting

list for its 51 assisted living and memory care beds in the Burlington area, Bouton said. The nonprofit also manages around 1,000 units of senior housing. Yet many of the state’s expensive, private-pay facilities have vacant apartments that marketers work aggressively to fill. Vermont does not require that developers of new residential care and assisted living facilities prove their services are needed, though it does require it of nursing homes. Nor does Vermont require that homes accept residents who pay through Medicaid. Lynn Vera’s late partner, Pam Gale, spent six months at the University of Vermont Medical Center while waiting to find a long-term care facility that would take in a dementia patient who relied on Medicaid. The 69-year-old

woman deteriorated dramatically during her prolonged hospital stay, Vera said. Gale was finally able to secure an apartment at Memory Care at Allen Brook, an all-Medicaid facility in Williston run by Cathedral Square. Vera said Allen Brook’s high-quality care and therapeutic environment gave Gale “some of her dignity back” before she died eight months later. Vera criticized policymakers for not doing more to address the shortage of beds. “These private-pay, out-of-state-owned, corporate beds — why do we not require these facilities to set aside a percentage of beds for Medicaid, the way we require housing to be set aside as affordable?” she asked. The Village at White River Junction, a cutting edge, amenity-rich assisted living and dementia home in the Upper Valley, has rented half of its 80 units after nearly a year of operation, local codeveloper Brooke Ciardelli said. The facility’s owners are local, though it contracts with national operator Life Care Services to manage the care. The Village has already won national awards for its architecture and design, part of its strategy to appeal to discerning baby boomers. But leasing started slowly as Life Care Services searched for ways to sell it to Vermonters, whose “sniff test for authenticity is very high,” Ciardelli said. Hundreds more eldercare units are planned for the coming years — though there’s no guarantee they’ll put a dent in waiting lists for affordable care. Developer Heidi Eichenberger plans to break ground next year on a retirement community in Newport that will include more than 67 assisted living apartments. A senior housing project planned inside the Berlin Mall will reportedly include assisted living and memory care units. Kayne Anderson, owners of the rebranded Maple Ridge Memory Care, will soon construct an adjacent assisted living building. Then there’s the Florida family that owns the historic Cortina Inn near Killington. The Bhaktas bought the defunct motel out of bankruptcy a decade ago and reopened it. The refreshed business was still “barely breaking even,” so they are now converting it to what Ravi Bhakta believes will prove to be a more lucrative use: 65 units of assisted living and memory care. The hotel-to-eldercare formula has worked for Bhakta in Texas and Massachusetts. Vermont, he expects, will be no different. m Data editor Andrea Suozzo contributed reporting. Contact: derek@sevendaysvt.com SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

news to an inch in diameter. Consultants like Bluesource also get a cut to cover sales and marketing expenses. In addition, property owners need to pay monitoring expenses — for 100 years. Those costs, when balanced against the lower expected revenue, showed the project was not cost-effective, Shallow said. To date, just one Vermont property owner, Middlebury College, has figured out a way to get paid for not cutting its trees. The 2,100 acres of forest surrounding the school’s Bread Loaf Campus were conserved in 2015 and forever protected from most logging. The school sells carbon offsets to people and organizations voluntarily looking to blunt the climate impact of their carbon emissions. This fast-growing voluntary market is less regulated than California’s mandated cap-and-trade program. The college expects to earn $1.4 million from sales of its offsets by 2022. The possibility that other Vermonters could get paid for letting their trees grow, instead of — or in addition to — chopping them down for lumber or firewood holds great promise, according to Nick Richardson, president of the Vermont Land Trust. In theory, if all the carbon being added to the state’s forests every year were monetized through carbon markets, landowners could reap $45 million to $90 million a year, Richardson said. “In my view, the forest carbon opportunity is where the solar opportunity was about 15 years ago,” Richardson said. Barriers exist, however, including the relatively small size of Vermont’s forest parcels. Nearly 80 percent of the state’s 4.5 million acres of forestland is privately held. The average size of the 15,000 private properties registered as state timberland is just 155 acres — too small to make it practical to participate in the carbon markets. That was one reason Hardy introduced legislation earlier this year to have the state enroll some of its own 350,000 acres of forest in carbon markets. She hoped that would demonstrate environmental leadership and generate state revenue. Her bill hit a few snags. Michael Snyder, commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, urged legislators to look before leaping. “I’m all for monetizing the power of Vermont forests,” Snyder said. “I want to get it done right. I want it to be successful.” The Senate Agriculture Committee reduced the initiative to a pilot program. Then, after further testimony in the House, lawmakers agreed only to create a 10-member study group. 20

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COURTESY OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

Carbon Cents « P.17

Burnt Mountain

“I was surprised they wanted to slow it down,” Hardy said. Snyder, who chaired that group, said he wants to help owners of the state’s increasingly fragmented forestlands keep them intact, but he’s not sure whether property owners or the middlemen would be the real beneficiaries. “That’s why I’m kicking the tires,” he said. “It’s extremely complicated, and it’s untested here. We have a lot to learn.” After five sparsely attended public meetings and a crash course in carbon markets, the panel has drafted recommendations. They include developing information for landowners about how carbon markets work, exploring whether to help enroll state and town properties, and creating a public-private partnership between the state and environmental groups to make it easier for landowners to participate. The group’s final report is due by January 15. One of the key issues that emerged during the meetings was whether participating in carbon markets is compatible with existing timber harvests. A growing forest removes more carbon from the atmosphere than a forest that is cut down or regularly logged, according to the theory behind forest carbon credits. Sales are meant to incentivize that growth. But some question whether owners who had no intention of logging their land in the first place should be able to participate. “Why should people get paid for something they’re already doing?” asked forester Robert Turner, who served on the panel. “That’s a core ethical question.”

Snyder, who had a long career as a county forester, said the vast majority of Vermont’s forests already benefit from a “higher standard of stewardship and care and management than any forests on the planet.” That makes him wonder how much extra value landowners might receive for reducing the size or frequency of timber harvests, as well as what doing so might mean for the state’s wood products industry.

THE FOREST CARBON OPPORTUNITY IS WHERE THE SOLAR OPPORTUNITY WAS

ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO. NIC K R IC H AR D S O N

Proponents like Shallow say it’s possible for properties to generate income from carbon credits for “improved forest management practices” even while their timber is still harvested. Snyder said he’s heard this claim before but notes that the two carbon projects furthest along in the state — Middlebury and Burnt Mountain — ban or severely limit logging. “If the carbon program that emerges is, you don’t cut any trees, I don’t think that’s good for the wood-using people,” Snyder said. Shallow said it is unfortunate the logging restrictions in those two projects may leave some with the impression that

managing a forest for timber-cutting and carbon storage are incompatible. A pending Vermont Land Trust carbon project in Cold Hollow near the Canadian border will provide additional income from carbon credits to property owners while still allowing sustainable logging, Shallow said. “The message here should not be, to do carbon, you can’t harvest,” Shallow said. Despite the setback on the Burnt Mountain project, the work will help prepare the land for the growing voluntary carbon market, said Josh Strauss, vice president of Bluesource. More and more private companies and organizations are pledging to make their operations carbon neutral, and they need offsets to do that, he said. “I really do believe that right now, forest carbon is a completely undervalued asset that is just on the cusp of really turning a corner,” Strauss said. Though the voluntary market is likely to generate about $500,000 less for the conservancy over the 40-year life of the project, Shallow said the group is committed to making it work. He understands that such setbacks may deepen skepticism of carbon markets. But Shallow said he hopes that state leaders will remain open to new tools to support forests. “This climate emergency demands of all of us to be more innovative, and that’s what we’re going to continue to try to do,” he said. m Contact: kevin@sevendaysvt.com

lifelines lines OBITUARIES

Spike Clayton NOVEMBER 27, 1958DECEMBER 13, 2019 HINESBURG, VT.

Stephen “Spike” Haskew Clayton — beloved husband, father and Skirack co-owner — passed away at his home in Hinesburg on Friday, December 13, after an “active and outdoor” year-and-ahalf-long battle with gastric cancer. Born in Manchester, Vt., on November 27, 1958, as the son of Rev. Robert Leslie Clayton and Ruth Elizabeth Haskew, he grew up skiing Bromley Mountain, racing with the Yankee Pedlars and riding with the Dorset Training Group. He attended high school at Burr and Burton Academy and went on to race with the varsity Alpine ski team at the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in economics. Following graduation, he pursued a professional cycling career, traveling across North America with his Stowe-Shimano team. Among countless wins, one of his most notable results was being a ninth-place finish in the 1984 Olympic trials. He started working at the Skirack in 1984 and later became co-owner. Spike was passionate about his work; his mission was to introduce outdoor activities to as many as possible, and he contributed to the industry by serving on many national boards. His greatest teammate was his wife, Katherine Kjelleren. The joys of their relationship were training,

racing and devoting time to their family. They built their present home together and were married in 1989. Their sons Thomas and Kameron followed shortly after. Spike loved spectating and coaching his children’s sports. Through his quiet and humble presence, he imparted his wisdom: to be positive, work hard and never give up. He will be missed by his wife, Katherine Kjelleren; sons Thomas Clayton and Kameron Clayton and his wife, Grace Zebertavage; brothers Robert and Thomas “Pepper” Clayton; loving mother-in-law Lorelei Palmer Kjelleren; aunt Fran Wurlitzer; sister-in-law Julia Clayton; brothers-in-law Gary and Don Kjelleren; cousin Stephanie Conner; nieces Haley, Danna, M., Kew, Bel and Sarah; nephews Hayden, Ben and Omar; and countless other loving family and friends. A celebration of his life will be held at Sleepy Hollow Inn at 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 22. His family welcomes you to join them for a memorial cross-country ski prior to the service at 8:30 a.m. Memorial gifts may be made to Little Bellas at littlebellas.givingfuel. com/spike-clayton.

Anthony Wharton

1949-2019 “Moving right along.” Born and raised in New York City, Anthony L. Wharton graduated from Seward Park High School, and thereafter worked many years setting up stages at fashion houses in Manhattan. “Tony” loved his mother, Shirley, whom he cared for until she passed away. He also loved his nephews and nieces very much. Tony moved to Vermont

around 1995 for a slower life and enjoyed friends, Lake Champlain and socializing with his neighbors on North Street. Tony is survived by his cousins, Allen and Constance Jackson, and his local “family,” Ben Luna (“Mr. B”) and Kim McCrae. A memorial celebration will be held this Saturday at the Olde Northender Pub, 23 North St., Burlington, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Barbara Beals OCTOBER 31, 1928NOVEMBER 7, 2019 BURLINGTON, VT.

Barbara A. Beals of Burlington passed away on November 7, 2019, at the age of 91. She was born to Albert and Vina (Rugg) Beals in Fargo, N.D., on October 31, 1928. “Babs,” as her loving family called her, obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont and master’s degree in social work from Boston University. Babs worked for the State of Vermont for many years. Her greatest joys were her cats and being a DIY homeowner. Barbara is survived by her sister, Nancy Beals Wolfe of North Carolina; and cousins Gail Taylor of California and Lynn Stacey of Texas. A memorial service will be planned for late June. The family would like to thank her neighbor and friend, David Bissonette, for all he did for Babs over the past couple of years. For more information, contact KJM Guardianship at info@kjmguardianship.net.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT On December 7, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Ashley Marie Daniels and Kyle Matthew Bradish welcomed a girl, Rosalyn Grace Bradish.

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Feedback « P.7 Buying wood to heat our homes and businesses, whether in woodstoves or wood pellet boilers, is one way to help provide that financial benefit for those landowners who need the income and who prioritize careful long-term and sustainable management over short-term profit. We can all benefit when our forests are managed for birds, and those benefits can include harvesting some trees out of our forests to heat our homes. David K. Mears

MONTPELIER

Mears is executive director of Audubon Vermont.

TAKE IT FROM AN LNA

There is more than meets the eye in “Worse for Care” [November 27]. I was a licensed nursing assistant for more than 10 years and moved from one bad place to another, looking for something better. I did home care, worked in a nursing home and

finally settled on private care. Working on my own was far more rewarding. First, there was a lot of turnover in staff, from director to head nurse to nutritionist. Also, a steady stream of LNAs in and out the door. The average LNA was female, young and already a single mother with a GED and a lot of debt from credit cards to make ends meet. The LNA course was easy and usually paid for by the facility that hired you. But the pay was poor, and the work hard and endless. The facility would overstaff during the week and understaff on the weekends, with even less staff on the holidays. Rules were always changing and not well understood. Also, speed was required, with six minutes to get someone up, washed, dressed and ready for the food line. This necessitated shortcuts and careless speed from us, demanding the impossible from old people who were incapable of rushing. Taking your time put you behind and got you a reprimand or a write-up. Really, much depended on state inspections, which were few and far

between. When I first started, the ratio of residents to LNAs was about 10 to one; at the end, it became 20 to one, an impossible task. If people cared and demanded better, it would all change for the better. But it’s all about the money. Low-end care facilities are poor, while high-end, $100,000-a-year places are better. It’s time for a change. Paul Falcone

MONTPELIER

LEAVE FARMWORKERS ALONE

On April 5, 2017, Paul Heintz of Seven Days wrote an article about the collaboration between the Department of Motor Vehicles and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [“Vermont DMV, State Police Play Nice With ICE”]. In spite of laws ensuring that every police agency in Vermont adopt fair and impartial policing policies, Mexican farmworker Luis Ulloa was required to provide an ID by the Chittenden County Sheriff ’s Department and held by the side of the road until Border Patrol arrived and detained him [Off Message:

“Migrant Justice Plans Protest After Farmworker Is Detained,” December 2]. Why does this continue to happen even when the sheriff ’s department has a policy that states, “Members of the Chittenden County Sheriff ’s Department shall not initiate or prolong stops for the purpose of enforcing civil immigration matters, such as suspicion of undocumented status, nor shall they prolong stops for the purpose of allowing federal immigration authorities to conduct such investigation”? Farmworkers in the dairy industry are between a rock and a hard place. Our broken immigration laws do not provide immigrant dairy workers a pathway to obtain legal status and residency. To continue to be a needed labor force for Vermont farmers, they are here at continued risk of deportation. When collaboration between state agencies and Border Patrol leads to continued profiling of brown-skinned people, there is no justice for any of us, least of all for this vulnerable population. Joey Corcoran

BURLINGTON

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PHOTOS: MARGARET GRAYSON

Jessica Hébert at Artexte

God Save the Zine: Exploring Indie Artistry in Montréal B Y M AR GA R ET GR AY SON

hile the classic lie, “The internet is forever,” might help discourage young people from sending nude selfies, it’s still a lie. The modern internet is littered with broken links and abandoned URLs, the ghosts of forgotten blogs, and entire news sites that have been swallowed by the everrising tide of new content. When archivists digitize documents, they constantly update the formats to keep up with technology. Even the average laptop user must stay ahead of the curve to avoid the perils of CD-ROMs and other outdated tech. As early as the 1990s, computer scientists were warning us about this trend: “The current generation of digital records therefore has unique historical significance; yet our digital documents are far more fragile than paper,” wrote Jeff Rothenberg for Scientific American in 1995. “In fact, the record of the entire present period of history is in jeopardy.” It’s interesting, then, to contemplate the oft-repeated assertion that print is dead — because so much print is still here, literally, on shelves, in desks and in recycling bins. 24

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Winter Reading Issue

Louis Rastelli and a Distroboto zine vending machine

Montréal is a city in which to embrace print, and the zine might be its calling card. While the city is notable for its art and music scenes, it’s also home to many bookstores, archives, presses and publishers — and to Expozine, an annual small-press fair. Nearly 300 vendors gathered at the fair in

November to sell their wares, most of which were zines. A zine is the modern-day version of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pamphlet — a readable printed work that is easily shared. These informal, self-published documents are usually created in small

numbers and take many forms. Zines are stapled or stitched with thread or folded like accordions. Some come in their own boxes or bags. They might be composed entirely of words, photos or drawings, or a combination thereof. Some are even cut-and-pasted bits and pieces from other publications. Zines were once heavily associated with the music scene, sold in record stores and packed with album reviews. Today, a zine might exist to share art or identity, discuss politics, or showcase creative writing. What matters is that they’re not precious. Zines are designed to be made and shared, to physically exist in the world and in the reader’s hand. I set out on a recent Thursday to learn more about Montréal’s zine makers and independent presses. Given that I don’t speak French, I only contacted people who publish in English. Yet I quickly felt like Alice down the rabbit hole, because zine makers and enthusiasts seem to be all over Montréal. What follows is just a toe dip into the city’s zine world. My day began at Librairie Drawn & Quarterly, the storefront of a comics publishing house by the same name, which put out 23 new books in 2019. The shop is small and intimate (the bathroom is literally a closet) with a curated selection of comics and standard fiction, nonfiction and poetry. One shelf is dedicated to zines. At the store I met Kate Lavut, an artist and writer who publishes her own and others’ comics through her company, Paper Dog Press. Lavut stumbled across zines in her neighborhood, Saint-Henri, when a small group of residents was distributing them door-to-door. They called themselves Walking Distance Distro. (A “distro” is a zine distribution service or location.) An artist since childhood, Lavut began donating her work to the distro — and when they told her that one of her comics was a best seller, she figured she’d better start selling them herself. “Because zines are so easy to make, anyone can have a zine,” Lavut said. “I’ve found that more and more people know about them.” For her, a big part of the appeal is that the works are informal. Zines can be riddled with misspellings or printing errors. Lavut uses the medium to teach her daughter that art doesn’t have to be totally perfect. “When you make a mistake, you turn it into something else,” she said. Lavut’s goal isn’t to live off her work — she doesn’t think that’s really the point of zines. “It’s bite-sized, and that makes it affordable,” she said. But she has taken the opportunity to turn her zine, CHiCO, into a full-length graphic novel, and she hopes to teach a zine-making workshop soon.

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Lavut said mini-comics, a type of zine, I saw more of Aquino’s work at my are often a way for artists to break into last stop of the day: Artexte, a nonprofit the publishing industry. Julie Doucet is a dedicated to documenting and preservwell-known underground cartoonist and ing contemporary art. Librarian Jessica printmaker who got her start creating a Hébert pulled out two large plastic tubs zine with a photocopier, Lavut said. full of zines. In them was a series Aquino For the next stop on my tour, I met with created called The Life and Times of Louis Rastelli, the unassuming godfa- Butch Dykes, miniature illustrated ther of Montréal’s zine scene, at a biographies of women including Audre brewery called Le Cheval Lorde, Judith Butler and Blanc. Mounted on the Chavela Vargas. Last month, wall was a cigarette Microcosm vending machine — but instead of Publishing in cigarette packs, Portland, Ore., its little shelves released the work were full of zines as a 256-page hardand art. Rastelli cover book. walked in with a Aquino and Jenny box full of zines Lin, a print media instrucwith which to tor at Concordia Univerrestock the machine, called sity, operate B&D Press, a Distroboto. which publishes their Rastelli is cofounder own works and those of and director of ARCMTL, others. Lin creates zines a nonprofit created in and detailed, sculptural 1998 to preserve the city’s pop-up books. underground culture. Hébert believes that The founders were zine zines are an important part makers in the 1990s, and of contemporary art. Rastelli had a particularly “They’re an art form successful one called Fish in themselves,” she said. Piss that sold at Tower “Even if you have a very KATE L AVU T Records stores. He and his low budget, you can make zine community saw the need to archive something and distribute it … They show their material as they were creating it. that contemporary art doesn’t have to be “In the late ’90s, we felt like the ’80s really stiff and really serious.” material was disappearing,” he said. He Hébert makes zines of her own with noted that larger archives and librar- another Artexte employee under the ies are “just starting to wake up” to the moniker Stellar Zinery, including risoimportance of preserving posters, fliers graph photo zines and cut-and-paste and other ephemera. ARCMTL has been stories told from the perspective of a doing it for years. pigeon in her neighborhood. She was ARCMTL’s goal is to both promote attracted to zines as a casual art form, a and preserve independent culture — not way to get out of her own head and just just zines but also books, posters, photos, create something, she said. vinyl and cassettes. In addition to operatSifting through the Artexte collecing the archive and keeping four Québec tion — which anyone can view without Distrobotos stocked and maintained, the an appointment — is magical, like paging organization runs the Expozine, which through a shoebox full of old photos or has grown annually since 2002. Rastelli browsing the knickknacks at a yard sale. said it started with about 60 vendors and I would have spent hours if not for the now draws nearly 300, as well as hordes of darkening sky and the call of the road back browsers. ARCMTL also started separate to Vermont. fairs for art books and posters as Expozine So much of my world exists on a phone grew. screen. It was a marvel to consume biteI put a $2 coin into the Distroboto and size thoughts that demanded a physical pressed A5. Out came a booklet produced form — and a pleasure to hold the tiny by ARCMTL that outlines how zine works of art in my hands. makers can incorporate augmented reality into their work. It was accompanied by Contact: margaret@sevendaysvt.com a tiny abstract print by Noelle WhartonAyer, a visual artist based in Québec City. INFO Rastelli gave me a copy of Pajubá, a tiny Learn more at mtl.drawnandquarterly.com, yellow zine by Eloisa Aquino of B&D Press paperdogpress.com, distroboto.com, that describes a distinct language used by arcmtl.org, banddpress.ca, artexte.ca and transgender people in Brazil. stellarzinery.ca.

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BOOKS

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Songwriter Kristina Stykos Releases Debut Poetry Book BY D AN BOL L E S

A POEM SHOULD BE

PRETTY STRIPPED DOWN. K R IS TINA S TYKO S

Stykos never logged on to Facebook specifically to write poems, she explained. Rather, her motivation was “the immediacy of being able to share [ideas] with people then and there.” Her posts spurred conversation, “which is important because I live in the middle of nowhere,” she said.

“And if I didn’t have that immediate kind of gratification, I probably would not be writing poetry.” When Stykos did finally sit down to write her book, she went through her Facebook posts, picked out the ones that interested her most and began whittling them into poems. The 100-poem structure of Ridgerunner is modeled on books of translations of ancient Chinese and Japanese poetry by the late American poet Kenneth Rexroth: One Hundred Poems From the Chinese and One Hundred Poems From the Japanese.

FILE: SARAH PRIESTAP

RISTINA STYKOS is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and a versatile multi-instrumentalist whose last album, River of Light, released on her Thunder Ridge Records label, was a 2018 highlight. She’s a sought-after record producer whose off-the-grid Pepperbox Studio is highly in demand. She’s also an entertaining radio host and an ace landscaper. With the release next week of her debut book of poetry, Ridgerunner: One hundred poems and photographs from rural Vermont, the multitalented South Washington-based artist adds another bullet point to her ever-growing résumé. Ridgerunner comes out on Monday, December 23, from Shires Press, the indie imprint of NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE in Manchester. It’s available in a hardcover version, with photographs taken by Stykos accompanying each poem, and in a less expensive, poems-only paperback. The books’ publication, made possible in part through a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, marks the conclusion of a years-long process fraught with delays and revisions. Along the way, Stykos may have stumbled onto yet another accomplishment, albeit a curious one: She discovered a productive use for Facebook. “I’d hate to be considered the poster child for using Facebook well,” Stykos said with a laugh in a recent interview. “But, yeah, I think I did.” Every poem in her book is based on something she’s posted on the social network. “I have a pretty busy life, and most of my writing energy has gone into songwriting,” Stykos explained. “But, oddly, whatever [energy] I’ve had left over has gone into Facebook, as stupid and goofy as it sounds.” Stykos traces the origins of Ridgerunner to 2009, when she started using Facebook. “I was determined to post something different, not just pictures of my dinner — stupid stuff,” she recalled. “So I just started being poetic with what I put there.” At first her posts were just stream-ofconsciousness musings about her day: observations from walks through her woods, existential reflections on long drives into town. As her interest in photography grew, she began adding images to her posts. Before long, Stykos realized she was building “a sort of journal of thoughts and experiences. “As a writer, you want to have raw material,” she continued. “So you get used to just saving stuff, because sometimes it’s a small fragment that can take you on a wonderful journey and end up as song or as poem.” The social network offered Stykos something more than the digital equivalent of a writer’s notebook: instant feedback.

SINK The old road no one wanted, the trees bent into it right, left, we climbed over things making for the brook, into muck, and clumps of violets, captured by spring’s delicacies, not sure what to make of kitchen fixtures, so far from home.

“I thought that sounded like a cool way to do it: Take this arbitrary number of 100 and see if we can hit the mark,” Stykos said. “Those books have been some of my favorite poetry books and something I aspire to in my own writing — the simplicity and the use of images to convey something that’s easily graspable by the reader.” Much as in her songwriting, in poetry Stykos favors simple language. Her poems are generally short and direct, evoking a rustic charm and reverence for her surroundings. “Boots,” for example, is just three lines long: “Stone cold water / pours into my boots / a spring surprise.” A photo of broken tree limbs in a murky pool, perhaps beside a muddy and swollen riverbank, accompanies the poem. “A poem should be pretty stripped down,” Stykos said. “It’s like with a song, where sometimes you have the motivation to write it but you don’t really know what it’s about yet.” In both poetry and songwriting, it’s through the process of exploration and revision “that you finally get to an ending point,” she added. For the past few years, Stykos has suffered from spasmodic dysphonia, a debilitating vocal disorder. She said she finds poetry in some ways more creatively liberating than songwriting. With the latter, Stykos observed, “you might think of some great words, but then if you can’t sing it, you’ve gotta ditch the words.” Writing poetry, she said, “is so different because you can keep whatever you want. “Plus,” she added, “I don’t have to be able to sing it.” m Contact: dan@sevendaysvt.com

INFO Ridgerunner: One hundred poems and photographs from rural Vermont by Kristina Stykos, Shires Press, 203 pages. $45. A paperback version without photos is available for $15. northshire.com

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COLORFUL TABLE LINENS BENNINGTON POTTERY DECORATIVE sister, Fan, becomes a pawn. ACCESSORIES Clinch achieves a convincing GLASSWARE pastiche of Dickens’ style: baroque VT MADE, descriptions of foul urbanscapes, FAIR TRADE exhaustive lists, colorful verbiage and & RECYCLED in-jokes. At the same time, strategic OPTIONS alterations convey a modern feel. Present tense and short chapters CANDLES give us a sense of taking brief, bracing GREETING plunges into the foggy morass of early CARDS 19th-century London. BAKEWARE While not as expansive as HOLIDAY his Dickens counterpart, Clinch’s DECORATIONS omniscient narrator offers plenty FUN of deadpan wit to keep things from getting too grim: “Now that STOCKING Scrooge and Marley are STUFFERS fully occupied with ruining FURNITURE each other, their personal MUCH MORE

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QUICK LIT: MARLEY LIVES It’s time to bust out those copies of A Christmas Carol — or at least to watch one of the bastardized versions of Charles Dickens’ classic that clog the Hallmark holiday lineup. Or, this year, you could get a darker kind of almostDickens fix. Southern Vermont author JON CLINCH gave Huckleberry Finn’s dad a backstory in the acclaimed Finn (2007). His new novel, Marley, takes on a different iconic character to relate precisely how Ebenezer Scrooge became an archetype of a money-grubbing buzzkill. A Christmas Carol opens thus: “Marley was dead, to begin with.” Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s late business partner, appears only briefly as a chain-dragging ghost. Yet he’s key to Dickens’ whole conceit, personifying the “[i]ncessant torture of remorse” that Scrooge will face in the afterlife if he continues to spurn his fellow humans in favor of ruthless acquisition. Despite its title, Marley is the story of Scrooge and Marley. Clinch traces their business partnership from their adolescence to Marley’s death, fleshing out aspects of Scrooge’s life that Dickens left in sketch form. He imagines the two men as complements of each other. While Scrooge is an “automatic counting machine,” Marley is a confidence man who multiplies the pair’s income using shell companies, forgeries and aliases. These chameleon skills come in handy when England outlaws the slave trade, which has been a chief source of the pair’s wealth. Clinch faces a hefty challenge: how to give his characters meaningful development without contradicting Dickens’ text, which presents them as having spent their lives in a rut? His solution is to show us young Scrooge making an abortive attempt to change his life during his courtship of the Dickens-canonical Belle Fairchild. When Belle’s father refuses to let her wed a participant in the slave trade, Scrooge is spurred to clean up his business. His less-scrupulous partner is having none of it. Like Dickens’ ghostly Marley, Scrooge has forged his own chains, chief among them Marley himself. When Scrooge tries to disentangle himself, a ruinous cat-andmouse game ensues and Scrooge’s

relations have grown more friendly than at any time before.” Overall, Marley is a brisk, inventive read, sure to provoke lively book-club chat. Yet it never engages us emotionally to the extent that A Christmas Carol does. For all Clinch’s efforts, the principals lack the color and gusto of Dickens’ best caricatures. Belle and Fan are sympathetic enough, but powerless (and often clueless). While the original Scrooge reveled in his misanthropy, this young Scrooge is more of a waffler — and perhaps more despicable for it. Marley is a one-dimensional schemer until a change of heart that seems motivated mainly by mortality. The real star of Marley may be the author himself, as he finds sly ways to make A Christmas Carol relevant to the 21st century without betraying its Victorian essence. Viewed slightly askance, Clinch’s numbers-obsessed Scrooge could be a tech bro who disclaims responsibility for the things his algorithms do. The shape-shifting Marley could be an online scammer or propagandist. Their disdain for everything but their own profits still walks among us. And Clinch doesn’t need to remind us that modern-day Scrooges and Marleys know how to co-opt the Christmas spirit to their own ends.

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Why Have Two Historic Vergennes Buildings Sat Empty for Decades?

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

KEN PICARD

n the southwest side of Vergennes, at the intersection of Main and Canal streets, stand two white, industrial-looking buildings from the 19th century that have been vacant for decades. One need not be a developer to see that they’re prime real estate opportunities in Vermont’s smallest city. Located along heavily traveled Route 22A and overlooking scenic Otter Creek and Vergennes Falls Park, the buildings are connected by a second-story skywalk across Canal Street. Though the site has clear redevelopment potential as housing, retail or office space — easy accessibility, beautiful views, walking distance to downtown — the structures sit empty and run-down, with broken windows and peeling paint. Currently, Vergennes appears to be on the verge of a housing boom. The city is one of Vermont’s 25 federally designated opportunity zones, with projects in the works to add at least 50 senior housing units. And considering that a similar historic structure at the north end of town — the Kennedy Brothers factory — has already been successfully rehabbed and repurposed, why have these two buildings remained shuttered for so long? In a word, economics. Redeveloping historic buildings is costly, and the return on investment is anything but guaranteed, particularly on a site with so many moving parts. At least, that’s Matthew Chabot’s assessment. He’s operations manager with Burchfield Management of Vergennes, which has been trying to redevelop the buildings for years. Though several previous efforts failed, a new one appears to be making progress, despite appearances to the contrary. Some background: The three-story Haviland Shade Roller Mill and its onestory Annex, which are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places, were built in the late 1880s. According to a June 2019 environmental corrective action plan prepared by Waterbury-based engineering firm Weston & Sampson, the larger, riverside building went up on the site of a grist mill dating back to at least 1878. The larger building was occupied by the Nevins & Haviland Shade Roller Company, which manufactured window coverings there from about 1885 until 1926. According to the engineering report, the building’s layout appeared to have changed sometime between 1892 and 1910, possibly due to fires that destroyed parts of it.

KEN PICARD

Vacant 19th-century buildings

In or around 1926, the report continues, the property was purchased by the Vermont Hydroelectric Company — which eventually became part of Green Mountain Power — and was used primarily for storage. Weston & Sampson engineers also determined that portions of the site were later leased to nearby airplane parts manufacturer Goodrich Aerospace (formerly Simmonds Precision), which used the structures for manufacturing jet fuel regulators until 1999. In 2004, Green Mountain Power sold both buildings to prominent Vergennes property owner and Burchfield Management president David Shlansky and his firm, Shenandoah, which has owned them ever since. Fifteen years later, why haven’t these buildings been redeveloped? The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation designated the 1.5-acre property a brownfield site due to contamination from its numerous industrial uses over the years. According to the Weston & Sampson report, the contaminants include a veritable alphabet soup of noxious nastiness: trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, semi-volatile organic compounds and polychlorinated

biphenyls, as well as heavy metals including mercury. Federal litigation over who was responsible for the cleanup was concluded in 2012. Nevertheless, making the site safe and habitable for humans won’t be quick, cheap or easy. As Chabot explained via email, the project’s $3.45 million budget is only a “rough estimate,” and large historic rehabs like this one can easily run over budget by as much as 20 percent. Still, remediation is “on deck” for the next few months, he said. As for funding, Chabot noted, “We are working on it.” Even with $330,000 in secured state and federal tax credits, he estimated that they’ll still need to raise $600,000 to $800,000 in additional debt or equity to begin construction. “The tax credits are necessary, every dollar. Even with them,” he added, “it is far from a layup.” Assuming Burchfield Management can make the numbers work, Chabot explained, the company plans to create a total of 23 housing units: 19 in the main building, which is roughly 16,000 square feet, and another four in the annex, which is 3,000 square feet. They would range in size from studios to two-bedroom apartments.

“We want to make these units very high quality,” Chabot wrote, “and that means spending money.” Publicly filed documents estimate that the project will be complete in October 2020. Chabot, who’s also Vergennes’ outgoing city manager, admitted that a fall completion date is “aspirational, but there is a lot of aspirational thinking required on this project!” Nevertheless, this project has progressed further than any previous plan for the site, and all of the major permits are in place. By this time next year, new occupants could be vying for waterfront views. But they shouldn’t bank on direct access to the falls; the developers deemed it too dangerous. On the upside, the plan preserves the skywalk across Canal Street. If the developers added a coffee shop to the Annex, residents could get a morning cup of joe without taking off their slippers. m Contact: ken@sevendaysvt.com

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/6/19 10:40 AM

11/14/19 4:56 PM

A Bit of Harmless Mischief

Winter Reading Issue

A short fiction story B Y E R IK ESCKIL SEN

y office is a busy place during final exam week, when students imagine, wrongly, they can negotiate making up the work they’ve failed to do all semester. Still, I was surprised to see a third-year student named Rebecca Page standing in my office doorway on Friday, the very last day of the fall semester. “Becca,” as she’s known, wasn’t my student. I knew her through the volleyball club. I’d served as the club’s coach since joining the faculty the previous academic year. “Hi, Becca,” I said, lowering my laptop screen halfway. “Want to come in?” With a portentous sigh, Becca entered, reaching my desk in long, ungainly strides that reminded me of the tall girls on the volleyball team. “Dr. Gwen,” she said breathlessly, and plunked herself down. Her round, wire-framed eyeglasses were so fogged with condensation that I wasn’t sure she could see me. “He did it again.” She held back her blond dreadlocks to remove her glasses, then snagged a tissue from the box on my desk, almost knocking over my coffee with the sleeve of her hay-colored overcoat. “He effing did it again.” I closed my laptop. “Who did what again?” Becca dried her lenses and took a deep breath. “Carlile.” “Oh. British Lit?” Becca nodded and slipped her glasses back on over blazing green eyes. “The N-word. He used it again.” She huffed. “Unbelievable.” “When was this?” “Last Friday. Our last class. I’d have come sooner, but I was waiting — we all were — for an apology. And then, you know, exams. Anyway, I’m here now. And I’m not happy.” “I can tell. Any context for why he might’ve used—” “Not might. Did. We’re studying Othello.” “OK,” I said. “There’s a racial theme in the play.” “But no one uses the N-word in the play.” “True.” “Carlile was talking about offensive language, you know, the things characters in the play call Othello. And he said, ‘That would be like using the N-word today. Except he — Carlile — used the word. A bunch of us walked out. All three students of color plus me and a guy who’d been on his tablet the whole time and thought class was over because some people got up to leave.” “I see,” I said. I turned to look out the window. The steady snowfall made a gauzy white curtain, as if to draw the semester to a close, mercifully. Alas. I didn’t know what to say next. A part of me wanted to defend Carlile, another part wanted to condemn him, but mostly I felt like I didn’t know enough to do either. “Can you do something?” Becca said. “Like, talk to the provost?” “I can talk to the dean. I think she’s in her—” “No. This is strike two for Carlile. The provost.” 30

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

“Fine. The provost. But you realize you can also speak to the provost.” “It won’t have enough impact. Remember last time?” I stared into the blank white canvas out my window and recalled the time to which Becca referred. Right around Halloween, the college provost, Dr. Aaron Fenster, had sent out a campus-wide email about a “bias incident,” as we call them here. The incident referred to “racially insensitive terminology” that an unnamed teacher had “reportedly” used in a class discussion. No consequences were noted, just a reminder to students to “appreciate the full context within which charged language is used.” At volleyball club that afternoon, I heard Becca and some other students call out Carlile as the culprit. I think his class had been reading Dickens’ Bleak House, in which the objectionable word appears in Old English form. According to the gossip, Carlile had mistakenly translated the word into its contemporary American epithet for his students. “Will you please do something?” Becca said, her tone softer. “I mean, you seem to get it, Dr. Gwen.” I took that as a compliment, though I wasn’t sure how I’d earned it. While it’s true that one of the academic concentrations in my interdisciplinary training was African American studies, the others were art history and media studies. I doubted that anything in my professional or personal background — I’m as white as Becca — had given her the impression I was qualified for this task. Maybe she was just stroking my ego by considering me an ally. In any case, it worked. “I’ll do something,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what that would be. “Thank you,” Becca said and stood. “I’m very sorry this happened. I hope you have a relaxing break,” I said. “One more exam to go.” “Try to put this out of your mind so you can focus on the exam.” Becca let out an acrid little huff. “Won’t be easy,” she said. “It’s Carlile’s exam.” I considered my options. I could’ve done nothing, since the semester’s end was mere hours away, and then everyone would scatter for winter break. But that seemed cowardly. I had no reason to doubt Becca. But I was also compelled, for whatever reason, to give my elder colleague the benefit of the doubt. So I walked upstairs to Carlile’s office. Through his halfopen door I saw him standing at the window facing the quad and the lake. Our building, Scullin Hall, is perched at the city’s highest elevation, and the view from Carlile’s window in the topmost office had to be among the best in town. To the

west, he could see the lake. To the east, he could take in the stately architecture on the nearby state university campus. Not even the provost had west- and east-facing windows. Something seemed to be troubling Carlile as I nudged the door open. He was shaking his head of impressive, bleachwhite hair and muttering under his breath. One hand was in a pocket of his wool trousers, and the other cradled a coffee mug. As I stepped into his office, he raised the mug, took a delicate sip and winced. “Doug?” I said softly, not wanting to startle him. He gestured out the window with his mug. “They want to knock down the statue of our founder,” he said. “He wasn’t our founder,” I said. “Just our namesake.” “Precisely.” Carlile took another sip. “And what was his crime, again? He lived 400 years ago. That was his crime.” “Well, there’s a bit more to it than—” Carlile turned his head abruptly. His angular jawline came to a point at his chin, which seemed to take aim at me. “Shakespeare lived 400 years ago. The ogre. Imagine the audacity of the man to have lived 400 years ago!” Carlile looked out the window again. “Speaking of Shakespeare,” I said, “I had a student in my office a few minutes ago.” “The students,” Carlile groused. “Such disappointments. Forgoing, year after year, the opportunity to effect a little prank, a bit of harmless mischief. Look at that statue. Why, he just cries out for a lacy brassiere. Maybe a big sombrero. No, instead the students want to tear him down. I ask you, where’s the fun in that?” I paused to craft carefully the phrase forming in my mind, which included the terms “patriarchy,” “power structures” and “colonialism.” A knock on Carlile’s door, and in stepped Wilton McKelvie. He’s the college’s only Canadian studies expert, a title he broadcasts by wearing a hockey jersey every day of finals week. With his florid face and curly red hair, he cut a more convincing figure of a maniacal Toronto Maple Leafs fan than of a professor. “I heard you were serving tea,” McKelvie said. He crossed to a small table wedged between two bookcases where Carlile’s Mr. Coffee machine belched like a dragon preparing to burn down the building. “Fancy a cup, Gwen?” “I’m good,” I said. “Go Leafs.” McKelvie poured a cup and sat in Carlile’s desk chair. He opened the bottom desk drawer, pulled out a whiskey bottle and spiked his drink. “What time’s your exam, Doug?” “At 3:30,” Carlile said. “The scholars will record, for posterity, their breathtaking ignorance of King Lear.” McKelvie nodded at me. “You finished, Gwen? Any exams?” “No exams,” I said. “Just some papers to grade.” “And then we party like it’s 1999,” McKelvie added.

LOOK AT THAT STATUE. WHY, HE JUST CRIES OUT

FOR A LACY BRASSIERE.

“Sorry?” “It’s a Prince song—” “I know the song — shoot. The department party’s today, isn’t it? I forgot.” “Well, don’t miss it,” McKelvie said. “Fenster’s stopping by. Says he has a big announcement.” “About the statue?” McKelvie shrugged and sipped his coffee. Over at the other window now, Carlile began to cackle. “Ah, Witherspoon, you magnificent, cheeky bastard,” he said. McKelvie arched an eyebrow over his mug. “‘It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe a troop of horse with felt,’” Carlile said, and cackled again. “Well done, Witherspoon. You prankster. You Puck. Ah, but I’ll even the score.” McKelvie shot me a concerned look. “Doug, you all right?” he said. “They’re cocky, those Andover boys. But they leave themselves open to attack. They’re rather proud of their new

JIM AL DUV

Zamboni, wouldn’t you say? The latest model, Witherspoon bragged.” Carlile stepped away from the window. “Be a shame if someone…” He hesitated, seemingly puzzled by our presence, as if we’d snuck in on him. McKelvie pushed his chair back and rose. In that instant, I saw that Carlile’s fly was unzipped. McKelvie walked over to Carlile, blocking my view. He said something to the elder man that I couldn’t hear. Carlile muttered something incomprehensible in response. “See you at the party, Gwen?” McKelvie said. “Right,” I said and turned to leave. “See you then.” Back at my office, I still couldn’t figure out what to do — the interaction with Carlile hadn’t helped. He was oldfashioned to a fault, an irascible preppy of another era — the era of off-the-cuff Shakespeare quotes and a nip of whiskey in one’s afternoon coffee. Was that a crime? The man was pushing 80 years old. I knew this because I’d looked up his CV on the college website before my campus interview for the job. Carlile had chaired the search committee that hired me.

Not that any of this mattered now. A student had come to me with what sounded like a valid complaint. She trusted me to do the right thing. So I emailed Fenster, asking for a quick meeting. His reply coincided with footsteps thumping down creaky staircases as my colleagues rushed to their 3:30 exams. I shut off my computer, put on my parka and headed for the provost’s office. I took my time, following a route that wound past the statue of the college namesake. I stopped in front of it, imagining how I’d vandalize the object if I were in a mischievous mood. I tugged at my scarf, as if to yank it free to drape around the neck of the old bronze colonialist dog. “Dr. Gwen!” someone called from across the quad. I turned to see Becca plodding toward me. “You’re not going to believe this,” she said. “He didn’t.” “What? No, not that. Here’s what he did, though: He gave us our exam — on King Lear!” “And?” “We never read that play! The exam was supposed to be on Othello Othello.” “Yes, I remember,” I said. “So, did you speak to him?” “I tried. We all tried. But he wouldn’t listen. First, he yelled at us. Called us insulin.” “Insolent. Go on.” “And, then—” Becca took out her phone and held it up. “I showed him the syllabus. I showed him where it says ‘final exam on Othello.’ He just laughed.” “Laughed?” “Yes, laughed. A kind of creepy laugh. He said, ‘Oh, you Andover boys, I’m onto your tricks.’ When I tried to show him the syllabus again, he walked out. Just, like, left.” I looked toward Weare Hall, where a few students were clustered near the doorway as if waiting out a fire drill. “What do we do?” Becca said. “I’m not taking that exam. This is so weird.” “It sure is.” I started for Scullin Hall. “Dr. Gwen, aren’t you going to talk to the provost?” Becca called. “I will, yes. I have to do something else first.” I felt foolish jogging across campus on nothing more A BIT OF HARMLESS MISCHIEF SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

» P.32 31

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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A Bit of Harmless Mischief « P.31 than a hunch. But when I reached Scullin Hall and saw that Carlile’s office lights were out, I was pretty sure I knew where to go. I ran to the parking lot and got in my car. Just as I was pulling up in front of the university’s hockey rink, a police cruiser pulled in next to me. My stomach clenched. The cop behind the wheel was a woman I recognized from the gym. I gave her a nod and a fake smile as I got out of my car. I walked briskly toward the building, hoping to avoid chitchat. As I yanked open a door, I heard the officer’s radio squawk, “Man’s got a shovel.” “Stand back, give him some space,” she responded. Inside, I jogged to the garage at the far end of the arena. There I encountered a stocky middle-aged guy in a blue staff windbreaker standing 20 feet or so from a gleaming white Zamboni. The machine threw off a thin aura of steam, and water dripped down its slick sides into a grate in the cement floor. Carlile stood at the rear of the Zamboni, gripping a snow shovel with both hands, baseball-bat-style. “Doug,” I said. Carlile whipped his head toward me and drew the shovel back. It dinged off the side of the machine. “Damn it all,” the middle-aged guy grumbled. “He’s harmless,” I said. “Maybe. But tell him that rig cost a quarter million dollars.” “Doug,” I said. “Come on. Put the shovel down.” “That’s right,” said a voice behind me. The cop strode ahead and stopped, hands on her hips, facing Carlile. “Sir, drop the shovel, please. Then I’m going to ask you to stand with your feet apart and your hands on the Zamboni.” Carlile searched our faces, wide-eyed, as if looking for someone familiar. “Sir, please,” the officer said. “Shovel down. Hands on the Zamboni.” Carlile lowered the shovel to the floor. “I caught him trying to let air out of the rear tire,” the guy in the windbreaker said. “He wouldn’t back off.” “A harmless prank!” Carlile shouted and let the shovel fall to the ground with a clang. The cop flinched. “Officer, it’s OK,” I said. “I know him. He’s not dangerous, just confused.” “Can you get him to step away from the Zamboni?” “I’ll try,” I said. “Come on, Doug. It’s me, Gwen.”

Carlile stared at me for a long moment, then cocked his head, eyes narrowed. After a few seconds, I stepped toward him. He didn’t recoil. “This would’ve been a prank for the record books,” I said. “Just imagine the looks on their faces, the Andover boys.” A faint smile broke across his face. When I was close enough to touch Carlile, I rested a hand on his shoulder and pulled him gently toward me. He didn’t resist. “‘Jesters do oft prove prophets,’” he said and chuckled. No one said anything as I ushered him out of the garage. A couple minutes later, as I was driving us back to campus, Carlile rolled down his window and let the chill evening air blast through. “‘This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen,’” he said, shouting to hear his own voice over the wind’s roar. I hit the child safety lock. Carlile closed his eyes, leaned back in his seat and let the wind buffet him. He seemed serene, as if we were aboard a sailboat and not in a Subaru fording frost heaves and potholes. I couldn’t ask him about what he’d said in his British literature class. I wasn’t sure where he was. We rode without speaking at all. “Do you know why we hired you?” he finally said, his voice sounding so lucid that it startled me. Scullin Hall had just come into view. “Because my doctorate is in interdisciplinary studies. That’s what the ad in the Chronicle of Higher—” “Pah! I’m not sure I even know what interdisciplinary studies are. No, we hired you because you’d done some volunteer work. In that prison.” One little line near the bottom of my CV describes two years of GED prep work I did in the Ohio Reformatory for Women, in Marysville, between my undergraduate and graduate years. Carlile smacked the dashboard. “I said to the committee, ‘All the candidates have good ideas. They’re brilliant intellectuals — to a man! Well, what about hiring someone with some humanity?’” He smacked the dashboard again. “Huh. The prison,” I said. “I haven’t thought of that place in a while. That was a tough gig.” “Some rough sledding, as we say.” As we left the parking lot on foot, our colleagues were visible in the brightly lit formal lounge of Scullin Hall. “Looks like there’s a party going on,” Carlile said. “I hope it’s for me.” I refrained from reminding him that we’d discussed the party an hour or so earlier in his office. I was just

happy to have him back on campus — in time, I hoped, for the provost’s big announcement. Fenster was the first person to catch my eye as Carlile and I stepped into the room. He smiled a thin smile. Next to him stood an older woman I’d never seen but who was unmistakably related to Carlile — the neat bob of snow-white hair, the angular jawline and prominent chin. She wore an elegant mohair topcoat and black leather gloves, which she began tugging off at the sight of Carlile. Carlile left my side and approached her, shambling the last few steps as if to tumble into her embrace. A student waiter offered me a glass of Champagne. I took it and crossed to the French doors facing the quad. I’d hoped not to talk to anyone just yet, but the provost himself peeled away from Carlile’s table and caught me midway. “I received your message,” Fenster said, leaning in close enough that I could smell honeyed peanuts on his breath. I took a half step back. “Maybe we could talk after?” I gestured toward Carlile, who was in the midst of telling a story to McKelvie and the woman in the mohair coat. She must have been his sister. “No need,” Fenster said. “Your student Becca Page briefed me.” “I see.” Blood rushed to my face. The provost drew back and surveyed the room, as if to see who might be listening. “We’ll reiterate our bias policy with a message in January,” he said. “A more strongly worded message than last time.” “And what about Carlile?” Fenster smiled coyly. “Hold that thought,” he said and returned to Carlile’s table. Outside the French doors, the dusk had dimmed to smoky darkness, but in a light-post glow across the quad I could sense the outlines of our college namesake standing stalwart. I imagined snow piled upon his shoulders like epaulets on a military uniform. Tapping on crystal shushed the room’s murmuring as the provost cleared his throat. “First, I want to congratulate you all on making it to the end of a challenging semester,” Fenster began. His voice faded to background as I strained to see the statue more vividly in my mind’s eye. I didn’t care for the statue, aesthetically speaking. But what would go in its place if it were removed?

I caught sight of my reflection in the French doors — standing in leisurely repose, Champagne glass in hand, as I snobbishly bemoaned the ugly contours of a statue. Already, it seemed, I’d moved on from pondering objects and words that might cause our students pain. How quick I’d been to cut a doddering old white guy some slack just for being doddering and old. A part of me still wanted to — another measure, I knew, of my distance from the kinds of experiences that hurt others. As if that had nothing, really, to do with me, a lowly assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies. Whatever that even meant. Fenster’s white-noise monologue took shape around the words “34 years.” Applause. I leaned away from the window, as if the noise might shatter the glass. In the reflection I saw Fenster shake Carlile’s hand. The woman in the mohair coat pulled Carlile close. McKelvie began singing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” So that was the big surprise: Carlile would go. Not the statue. I wondered how long Carlile and Fenster had been keeping this secret. Whose decision had it been? The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I made my way toward another student waiter, this one holding a tray of the food-service samosas for which I’d developed a taste. I helped myself to three. The provost was right: It’d been a challenging semester, and it wasn’t over yet. I still had papers to grade, grades to calculate and then the inevitable student complaints to address about their grades. I didn’t face as messy a chore as Carlile’s botched Shakespeare exam, but I had my own version: an apology due Becca Page. I’d start there. On this, apparently Carlile’s last day, I felt strangely kindred with him. He was a half century my senior, but we were both aging into an alien world in which the questions were more complicated than they’d ever been — and in which the easy answers were almost always wrong. The gathering, led by McKelvie’s warbling tenor, was singing, “…Which nobody can deny! / Which nobody can deny…” Carlile’s sister wiped a tear from the old man’s cheek. m

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/16/19 6:15 PM

The Fantastic Ms. Fawkes

Winter Reading Issue

Cartoonist Glynnis Fawkes’ two-book year B Y M ARG A RET G RAYSON

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

LUKE AWTRY

n a letter in 1837, poet laureate of England Robert Southey declared, “Literature cannot be the business of a woman’s life. The more she is engaged in her proper duties, the less leisure she will have for it, even as an accomplishment & a recreation.” The recipient of that letter was 20-year-old Charlotte Brontë, a member of the now-famous literary family and future author of Jane Eyre. She’d written Southey seeking feedback on her poetry. She reads his crushing reply in the opening pages of Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre, a graphic novel by Burlington cartoonist Glynnis Fawkes. The words may be Southey’s, but Fawkes’ accompanying illustrations make the scene. The reader watches Charlotte’s penciled expression grow increasingly miffed as she reads his words, until the letter concludes and Brontë is left fuming by candlelight. This is a theme of Brontë’s early years, as Fawkes depicts them: a mismatch of ambition and circumstance. The author’s childhood was marked by tragedy, with the deaths of her mother and two of her five siblings. As a young adult, she helped support her family as a teacher and governess, jobs that made her miserable. All the while, Brontë occupied the worlds of her own imagination with gusto, dreaming of making a living as a writer. To convey that inner life, Fawkes fills her panels with excerpts from Brontë’s correspondence, such as an 1836 passage in which the author speaks of “the dreams that absorb me, and the fiery imagination that at times eats me up … I keep trying to do right, repressing wrong thoughts — but still every instant I find myself going astray … I go on confidently seeking my own pleasure — pursuing the gratification of my own desires.” It isn’t the only reflection on a woman’s creative ambition this year from Fawkes, 50, whose second book was released in October. In Persephone’s Garden, a collection of shorter comics from 2012 to 2018 depicting her own life and family, she explores some of the same conflicts that troubled Brontë nearly two centuries ago. At one point in the book, Fawkes, who’s

Glynnis Fawkes

married to University of Vermont classics department chair John Franklin and has two kids, depicts moving her family to Jerusalem. In a comical contrast to Instagram-perfect family travel narratives, Fawkes is honest about her kids’ reactions to international living — their refusal to be homeschooled, their disdain for the food. “Well kids, how did you like your time in Jerusalem?” she asks in one panel. “Hated it,” her son responds. Fawkes’ Roz Chast-like humor should ring true for any parent trying to give their children enriching experiences, only to find them less than grateful. Both Brontë and Fawkes balance their love and obligation to their families with their creative callings. In Persephone’s Garden, a woman asks Fawkes if she wants more kids. She replies with a resounding no: “I have so many other things to do!” The book is an honest window into the allconsuming nature of motherhood, with all its joys and frustrations. Like Brontë’s, too, Fawkes’ artistic ambitions ran in the family. She grew up in Portland, Ore., with artist parents: Her father, Tom Fawkes, is a painter who taught for years at Pacific Northwest College of Art, where his daughter would later attend art school. Her mother, Judith Poxson Fawkes, created intricate lineninlay tapestries.

After art school and an MFA in Boston, Glynnis Fawkes spent time in Cyprus on a Fulbright fellowship and became an archaeological illustrator. “I was always interested in antiquities and stories,” she said in an interview in her home studio in South Burlington, “and I didn’t find that in Portland.”

SOMETIMES I FEEL SUCH PRESSURE

TO GET THE STORIES OUT THAT I WANT TO TELL. GLYNNIS FAW K E S

She taught in Lebanon, met her future husband in the Mediterranean, and lived in Australia and on Cape Cod before settling in Vermont in 2006. At first, Fawkes felt isolated. Her husband’s career was thriving, while her own confidence was in decline as she cared for her two small children. “He was the fancy scholar and I was the mom,” Fawkes recalled. “I was used to being the one with the Fulbright.” Around 2010, she had an epiphany: She wanted to devote herself to making

comics and exploring the independent comics scene. Those explorations made her world bigger, especially connecting with the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, where Fawkes started teaching this fall. Charlotte Brontë is part of a series of biographical graphic novels published by Disney called Center for Cartoon Studies Presents. “Figuring out that comics are where I want to be, and then aiming for that and then having that happen, has been amazing,” Fawkes said. Today, with her kids in middle and high school, she works on the upper floor of her house in a corner room overlooking the street, surrounded by books. Persephone’s Garden came about after Leon Avelino, copublisher of the comics imprint Secret Acres, expressed interest in a collection of Fawkes’ work. She had had comics featured on the New Yorker’s website and had self-published a few collections, but they were all out of print. She sent Avelino a collection of comics last winter, once her Brontë book was finished, and he curated and arranged them into chapters. The book feels like a disparate collection at first, combining diaristic drawings of everyday life and childrearing with longer narrative comics, such as one in which Fawkes imagines taking Brontë to yoga class with her. But a thesis emerges at the end, when Fawkes returns to her childhood home and her mother, who is slowly disappearing as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. Judith died this summer, making Fawkes’ two-book year also a year of mourning. Judith wasn’t the only member of Fawkes’ family to suffer from memory loss, and Fawkes said she is fairly certain she will contract the disease as well. This prospect brings the collection into greater clarity, revealing to readers that the everyday moments Fawkes depicts are precisely what she fears losing. “Sometimes I feel such pressure to get the stories out that I want to tell,” Fawkes said. “There’s a slight obsessiveness, and then a worry that I’m not obsessed enough.”

In the book, she writes: “The daily interactions of humans, so unremarkable, so unmemorable in themselves, accumulate over a lifetime. What do all these moments amount to when there is no memory of them?” Fawkes draws connections between the ancient pottery she sketched in Greece; her mother’s tapestries, now left to Fawkes and her sister to preserve; and, of course, her own drawings, her cartoon ledger of life. Without them, she wonders, how would anyone in the future know we were here? The story of losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s is one to which Fawkes wants to return. To be motherless is to be a perpetual Persephone, searching, she

suggests. That theme will reappear in her upcoming middle-grade graphic novel, set in the Bronze Age, which is her first work of fiction. “It’s a personal story mapped onto a historical catastrophe,” Fawkes said. After that, she might work on an archaeology memoir, she said, or start drawing and recording memories of her family during her childhood. Her own children have forbidden her to do any further drawings of them, she said. She’s OK with it, wanting to give them the space to remember their own experiences how they wish. (They do still emerge as side characters here and there: In a recent series of comic sketches Fawkes posted on Instagram, her

daughter disapproves of her attempt to wear the newly fashionable incarnation of “mom jeans.”) As if on cue, as Fawkes discussed her kids with Seven Days, her middle schoolage daughter, Helen, swished into the room swaddled in a bright purple sleeping bag. She retrieved her iPad, then headed back the way she came. Fawkes asked how she planned to get back downstairs in the sleeping bag. “I’ll just fall,” Helen said. A few thumps and a small moan, and she was back on the ground level, leaving her mother chuckling and shaking her head upstairs. It’s Helen who offers one of the wisest lines in Persephone’s Garden, during a

conversation with her mother about archaeology: “But even if someone a million years from now found this cup — they’d never know how good this foamy milk chai is right now.” Her mother agrees that art can never entirely capture the details of our lives. But what greater purpose is there than to try? m Contact: margaret@sevendaysvt.com

INFO Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre by Glynnis Fawkes, Disney-Hyperion, 112 pages. $17.99. Persephone’s Garden by Glynnis Fawkes, Secret Acres, 272 pages. $21.95.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/12/19 11:39 AM

Take a Page Vermont booksellers offer their reading picks for 2019

B Y D A N BOL L ES, MARGARE T GRAY SON , MARGOT H AR R IS O N, K E N P IC AR D , PAME L A P O L S TO N & E L IZABE T H M . S EY L ER

hen you’re buying a book, which would you rather ask for advice: an algorithm or a human being who spends most of their waking hours around books? If you live in Vermont, you have options, because the state’s independent bookstores are hanging tough. One of them, the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury, just celebrated its 70th year in business. Meanwhile, to the east, the Norwich Bookstore is creeping up on its 30th birthday — and founders and co-owners Penny McConnel and Liza Bernard are looking for a buyer. “We have made a promise to our community that we will wait until we find the right person to take over the bookstore,” Bernard tells Seven Days. The torch has already been passed —twice — at the former Misty Valley Books, a Chester institution for 33 years. After a few years as Phoenix Books Misty Valley, the store was sold again in August and is now Blair Books & More. Over the state line, Hanover, N.H., is getting a brand-new bookstore — this one with libations. According to its Facebook page, the staff of Still North Books & Bar is frantically shelving in preparation for a soft opening (books first, food and beverages to follow) on Thursday, December 19. While they’re busy with that, we asked a bunch of local booksellers for their top five recommendations published in 2019. If you’re working on your winter reading list or wondering what to get your favorite bookworm, these folks have you covered, with plenty of locally authored titles in the mix. And they won’t push “sponsored products” at you. M.H.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

CLAIRE BENEDICT

Co-owner and book buyer, Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, bearpondbooks.com

Feast Your Eyes by Myla Goldberg (Scribner). The first novel in nearly a decade from the New York Times best-selling author of Bee Season is the life story of a woman who sets out to become a photographer in 1950s New York City. The twist is that the novel is framed by the catalog cards of photos from the artist’s first show at the Museum of Modern Art; each card is tied to a story or anecdote. “It’s hard to describe, but very effective and really well done.” Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed, by Lori Gottlieb (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Everyone from Katie Couric to Bustle to the Washington Post has raved about psychotherapist and columnist Gottlieb’s hit memoir, which is being turned into a series for ABC. In it, Gottlieb starts seeing a therapist to work through personal trauma, “and her experience with her clients mirrors her experience with her own therapist. It’s a well-told story and a page turner.” Trust Exercise by Susan Choi (Henry Holt). A 2019 National Book Award winner, Choi centers her novel on interpersonal drama at a performing arts high school in Florida in the 1980s. “But it’s really about how our memories and our experiences

LIZA BERNARD & PENNY MCCONNEL

Owners, Norwich Bookstore, norwichbookstore.com

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri (Ballantine Books). A family is forced to flee their home in war-torn Syria in this novel. “In recounting the daily brutality, as well as the glimmers of beauty, this novel humanizes the terrifying refugee stories we read about in the news,” Bernard says, calling it “a beautiful rumination on seeing what is right in front of us — both the negative and the positive.” Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (Riverhead Books). Bernard calls this novel from the 2014 National Book Award winner “a spare, probing look at four generations of two families thrown together by a teenage pregnancy … A powerful, poetic novel.” Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare (Margaret Ferguson Books). “I don’t understand how John Hare can telegraph emotions without drawing a face, but he does!” Bernard writes of this debut picture book for ages 4 to 8. “In this wordless story, a young astronaut gets left behind on a field trip to the moon. But he is

shape us far into the future. It’s about how our past ripples through our lives in ways we don’t realize.” The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday). Benedict calls Whitehead “just a brilliant, brilliant writer.” The Pulitzer Prize winner’s latest novel is set in the Jim Crow South of the early 1960s and based on the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a very real, and very brutal, Florida reform school. “Whitehead takes a gut-wrenching chapter of American history and manages to convey devastation and injustice while imparting warmth and humanity.” Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Ballantine Books). Fans of the Cameron Crowe movie Almost Famous will find a lot to love about Reid’s hairy tale of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Written as an oral history of the rise and fall of a popular 1970s rock band — think Crowe’s Allman Brothers Band stand-in Stillwater, Benedict suggests — “It’s really good, gossipy, peak-era rock and roll.” D.B.

not alone. Saying more would spoil the story! You have to read it for yourself.” The Salt Path by Raynor Winn (Penguin Books). McConnel recommends this memoir in which a homeless couple in their fifties sets out to walk the South West Coast Path in England with “limited financial means, a tent and two sleeping bags.” She calls Winn’s debut “one of the more uplifting and positive books I have read in quite a while … Ray and Moth walk through a magical and challenging landscape to come out the other side. I felt privileged to walk with them.” Right as Rain, by Lindsey Stoddard (HarperCollins). This second middlegrade novel from a Norwich native author is “another marvelous story for readers interested in something other than fantasy,” McConnel says. “Our heroine, Rain, and her family have recently moved from Vermont to Brooklyn to start over after a family tragedy … This is a gentle yet strong and heartfelt story about family, change and friendships.” P.P.

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Black Is the Body: Stories From My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time, and Mine by Emily Bernard (Knopf ). Bluemle calls the University of Vermont prof’s memoir-in-essays “a miraculously honest, beautiful book for anyone who is a parent, has a parent, and/or is trying to navigate the thorny and sometimes subtle issues of race in our state and our country.” Copeland says it’s “so intimate that there is no way to leave that book without feeling as though you know Emily Bernard personally.”

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Suddenly You Are Nobody: Vermont Refugees Tell Their Stories by Jared Gange (Huntington Graphics). Gange gathered stories from 30 new Vermonters from 16 nations, Bluemle says. “There is no better way to turn strangers and neighbors into friends than by sharing stories and starting to know one another. Filled with lively and powerful stories and chock-full of beautiful color photographs from homelands near and far, this book is a Vermont treasure.” All About Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice by Molly Stevens (W.W. Norton). The Burlington-area author does dinner in a book “filled with delicious recipes,” Bluemle says. She loves Stevens’

cookbooks because they teach method in addition to recipes, and “They’re wellwritten cookbooks, which makes them a delight even for the non-cook.” On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (Penguin). Bauman sums up the premise of this best-selling debut novel: “What do you write to your mother who’s illiterate?” “It’s just one of the most spectacular books … as an avid reader and a quick reader, I couldn’t move through it quickly; I had to read parts out loud to myself, it was just so lovely.” Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry (Beacon Press). Bauman recommends this to readers of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me; like Coates, Perry addresses her fears and hopes for young African Americans in a racist society through a letter to her children. “It was an homage to them that I felt privileged to be reading, and also exploded my mind with her beautiful writing … her insight and her tenderness with her voice.”

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Take a Page « P.37

TOD GROSS

Manager, Phoenix Books Burlington, phoenixbooks.biz

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff (Avid Reader Press). “You can really tell the impact that this book had, because we got responses from people all over the country,” Gross says of this oral history from the Montpelier-based author and journalist. “I know that this book has gone a long way to healing for a lot of people.” Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre by Glynnis Fawkes (Disney-Hyperion). This graphic novel in the Center for Cartoon Studies Presents series tells the story of Charlotte Brontë’s early years. [See page 34 for more on the Vermont author.] “I love

JACKIE HOY

Manager, Crow Bookshop, Burlington, crowbooks.com

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown). The author of five New York Times bestsellers, Gladwell’s “got a huge following,” Hoy says. Here, he unpacks our interactions with strangers, spanning the realms of pop culture, politics and violence. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (Riverhead Books). This literary thriller about a recluse trying to solve a murder mystery is the most recently translated book from the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize

the drawings, the kind of pen and ink. A lot of conversation. It’s not text heavy, it’s conversation heavy. Looking at her formative years is just a brilliant idea.” Black Is the Body: Stories From My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time, and Mine by Emily Bernard (Knopf ). “It’s 12 essays, and it’s really about her experiences being a black woman in America. It’s a fabulous, honest, well-written collection of essays.” Suddenly You Are Nobody: Vermont Refugees Tell Their Stories by Jared Gange

(Huntington Graphics). “A lot of these people are highly educated and had well-respected careers, and suddenly you come to this country, and you’re nobody,” Gross says of the self-published compilation. All About Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice by Molly Stevens (W.W. Norton). “The recipes are just amazing. They’re not complicated, they’re just really, really good. She is teaching technique as well as telling stories about her family and her life.” Gross singles out Stevens’ flourless dark chocolate cookies as particularly delicious.

in Literature. “She’s just a really beautiful writer,” Hoy says. “Very meditative, a little bit philosophical.” The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World). This first novel from the acclaimed journalist and nonfiction writer is about a slave in the pre-Civil War South who uses superhuman powers to work on the Underground Railroad. Sophia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (Harry N. Abrams). The Questioneers picture-book series features kids exploring different

careers in the STEM fields; other titles include Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect. “They’re really neat,” Hoy says. Half Baked Harvest Super Simple: More Than 125 Recipes for Instant, Overnight, Meal-Prepped, and Easy Comfort Foods by Tieghan Gerard (Clarkson Potter). “I have cooked some of her recipes, and they’re very good,” Hoy says. “Some friends of mine bought this right when it came out and are cooking their way through it. They say there are very few that they haven’t really loved.”

M.G.

JENNY LYONS

Bookseller and marketing manager, Vermont Book Shop, Middlebury, vermontbookshop.com

The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America’s Elite Alpine Warriors by Maurice Isserman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). The founders of the 10th Mountain Division included elite skiers who brainstormed the idea of an alpine unit while sitting around the Charles Orvis Inn in Manchester, Vt., after a day of skiing at Bromley Mountain. “Anyone with an interest in skiing, climbing, mountaineering and/or military history will really like this book.” Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl (Milkweed Editions). Lyons calls this collection of essays by a New York Times opinion writer a “small and beautiful package” that includes collage illustrations by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl. Filled with observations of nature, which serve as settings for anecdotes of family, ancestry and heredity, “it’s a very contemplative book.” Made Holy by Emily Arnason Casey (University of Georgia Press). “Her writing is really remarkable. I would give this [book] to anyone who likes memoirs,” Lyons says of this essay collection by a

KARI MEUTSCH

Co-owner, Yankee Bookshop, Woodstock, yankeebookshop.com

ANDREA JONES

Co-owner, Galaxy Bookshop, Hardwick, galaxybookshop.com

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (Doubleday). “It’s pure magic. I’ve never read anything like it in my life.” The author of The Night Circus follows it up with this tale of a Vermont graduate student who is compelled on a journey to a library hidden far underground; his odyssey involves lost cities, love notes passed across time and stories spoken by the dead. The Innocents by Michael Crummey (Doubleday). A brother and sister are orphaned for years in a remote part of Newfoundland and survive through fierce loyalty to each other. “Some parts are bleak and some are harsh, but it’s gorgeous. He writes about people and place in a way that captures the soul.” 38

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell (Wednesday Books). This young adult novel “reads like grown-up Harry Potter fan fiction.” The sequel to Carry On, it follows Simon Snow after he has beaten the villain. On a road trip, he and his friends encounter lots of ghoulish trouble and get very lost. “It’s just fun.” A Woman’s Guide to Cannabis: Using Marijuana to Feel Better, Look Better, Sleep Better — And Get High Like a Lady by Nikki Furrer (Workman Publishing). “Now that recreational marijuana is legal in Vermont, we get a lot of people asking for cookbooks, growing books, and

books on health and wellness.” This “practical, user-friendly, readable” guide offers everything from advice on how to navigate a typical dispensary to recipes for brownies. The Grammarians by Cathleen Schine (Sarah Crichton Books). This “novel for word lovers” is about identical twins. As youths, they speak their own secret language, but as adults, “One takes a very hard-core approach” to language, “and the other a more colloquial approach.” Their sparring makes for a “funny, clever, smart” read. E .M.S .

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey (Tor Books). This first full-length novel from a Nebula and Hugo Award finalist is “like grown-up Harry Potter with a noir detective feel.” The heroine “gets hired to solve a mystery at a magic school. So you’re kind of watching her figure things out, and figure out how to be a better human, but you get all the fun of being inside a magic school again.” Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo (Flatiron Books). “This is the book that I always wanted from Leigh Bardugo,” Meutsch says of the best-selling YA author’s first adult fantasy, about a young woman who is “recruited to be part of this magic law enforcement society at Yale … Again, it has that noir feel to it. Leigh builds these awesome worlds, and this one is rooted in reality.” Wilder Girls, Rory Power (Delacorte Press). This debut YA novel takes place at a remote boarding school where a group of

Vermonter. “A good bit of the subject matter is about struggling with addiction and coming to terms with events that happened in your childhood.” Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (Knopf ). Shortlisted for the National Book Award, Phillips’ debut novel is set among the reindeer herders of Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula. “It’s filled with these insights into human nature. While the book may take place on the other side of the world, you feel uniquely connected to these characters and their riveting story. And it exposes you to a people and culture that you may not even have known existed. It’s a great read for the mystery lover.” Marley by Jon Clinch (Atria Books). The Vermont author expands on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol with this prequel starring Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge’s deceased business partner who is doomed to wander the earth in chains for his selfishness and greed. “Scrooge is almost created by Marley. They corrupted each other. It’s very entertaining — and very dark — and apropos to the season.” [See page 17 for more on Marley.] K. P.

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girls has been quarantined with a mysterious disease that can cause “grotesque mutations.” The novel has been praised as a work of body horror and a timely parable. “It’s the one book this year that I finished and I thought immediately, I need to see this movie.” The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (Doubleday). “[Morgenstern] builds this very vivid world and just throws you into it … As I was reading it I was torn because I wanted to rush through it to know what was going to happen, but I also wanted to savor every line.” Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt). Meutsch has “been waiting on pins and needles” for the sequel to Adeyemi’s best-selling YA fantasy Children of Blood and Bone. “It’s set in Africa and pulls from West African mythology. So the magic system is based on mythology that you can go read about … Anyone who loves mythology would love this book.”

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food+drink

Raw Goodness A Moretown mom offers Nude Food to health-minded sweets lovers B Y CA ROLYN SHA PIRO JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

iza Semler concocts desserts without refined sugar, dairy products, eggs, gluten, grains, additives or preservatives. And she doesn’t bake any of them. So, a traditional sweets lover might wonder, how could they possibly taste good? They do. More than that, they taste rich and luscious, even decadent. Yet they’re actually — though Semler doesn’t like to use the word — healthy. Using nuts, coconut and dates as a base for her crusts and doughs, Semler crafts raw, plant-based delicacies laden with omega-3s, unsaturated fats, fiber and protein. She uses dates and maple syrup for minimal sweetening. She soaks cashews and almonds until they turn milky and churns them into cream. Semler, 36, started her Moretown company Nude Food earlier this year to make treats that she feels good about feeding to her two young daughters for a snack. Though her business is still small, with sales limited to local markets and special orders, its flavors are big. Semler’s doughnut-hole-shaped Bliss Balls, made of Medjool dates and ground walnuts, are surprisingly dense and cake-like. The chocolate-y Holy Cacao version is rolled in hemp seeds, packing an extra nutrient and protein punch. And you could pit Semler’s Cheezecakes against their dairy-based counterparts for their intense flavor and creaminess. A pumpkin-spice recipe that she created for Thanksgiving orders combines the depth of pumpkin pie with the velvety lightness of mousse. Semler produces all of her selections in her home kitchen, where Seven Days recently joined her. With no culinary training other than a one-day workshop in 2014 in Australia with the makers of Rawsome Treats, she went through nearly five years of trial and error to tweak the flavor and texture of Nude Food to perfection, she said. Georgia Ayers remembers Semler pulling out some Bliss Balls one day when they met at the park for their kids to play. The two moms work together in Waterbury at Prohibition Pig, where Ayers is now a manager. “I just remember my mind exploding,” Ayers said of the snack. “They were so good.” Semler isn’t dogmatic about plant-based or raw eating. She considers herself an omnivore. But creeping pain in her neck and shoulders and other health troubles prompted her to change her diet. After ditching sugar and processed foods, she felt much better. “I’m massively interested in gut health,” she said. None of her Nude Foods carry the labels “vegan,” “gluten-free” or “low sugar.” She doesn’t want to scare away

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its building at 112 Lake Street, co-owner JON FARMER told Seven Days. The phrase is what the folks at Foam have called their neighborhood near Waterfront Park since before the brewery opened, he said. It describes “the identity of this place,” Farmer added. “The deep city: below and

The building’s landlord, Karl Miller, said Proffitt “had a wonderful vision for that place.” The closing of Down Home Kitchen is sad, he said, “but there’s a new beginning. It’s a prime, beautiful location — a magnificent space just waiting to blossom once again.” “The thing I’m most proud of [is], this restaurant is based on an authentic expression of love for the women in my life,” Proffitt said. Through December 31, Down Home Kitchen will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day but Christmas. At noon on January 1, after the restaurant closes for regular service, Proffitt will prepare and host one final meal there — this one for people who are homeless.

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DOWN HOME KITCHEN, the Southern-style restaurant at 100 Main Street in Montpelier, will close at the end of the year, owner MARY ALICE PROFFITT told Seven Days. Proffitt, 39, opened the restaurant in September 2015 in the corner building that previously housed Rivendell Books & Games. Known for its big breakfasts and communal dining table, Down Home Kitchen serves eggs Benedict with collard greens and fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and fried chicken and waffles. The dishes are rooted in Proffitt’s Southern upbringing and have ties to her family. “I feel like I’ve met all of my initial goals with this project,” Proffitt said. “I wanted to honor my mother and grandmother. … I was able to take time to work on a small business, and I gained a tremendous amount of skills over the last five years.” Down Home Kitchen employs 15 to 30 people depending on the season, Proffitt said. The leased restaurant space, which she calls a “happy place,” is available for rent and in “top condition,” she added. “I’m ready for somebody who wants to enjoy this space and move into it and have the next creative idea,” Proffitt said. Even as she plans to close, Proffitt said she’s open to selling her business or welcoming a restaurateur who wants to launch a new business there. “I want to find somebody who I think has a chance [for success],” she said. “I’ve learned a lot in five years, and if I’m able to share that with the next person, that would make me happy. I live here, and I hope to eat here.”

Gift certificates, too! Deep City executive chef Christina Scifo

412 PINE ST, BURLINGTON 658-6016 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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Raw Goodness « P.40 customers who might think her treats are flavor-deficient or meant for people with food restrictions. “The divisiveness of having a very particular stance on food, I think, keeps people from trying something that’s delicious,” Semler said. “I’d rather remain neutral, so more people are trying it and experiencing it, than turning people off by putting it in a box with a label on it.” On the wide, granite-topped island of Semler’s kitchen, half-gallon Ball jars hold walnuts, shredded coconut, cacao powder, dried blueberry powder and other staples. Behind her on a shelf, a food processor was pulverizing walnuts and dates into a pasty batter. Semler pulled a pot from her double boiler and stirred the contents: a melted, chocolate-like mix of cacao powder, coconut oil and maple syrup that would coat her tahini-date energy bars. She thinks of them as an alternative to Snickers, with a distinct nuttiness that fills the mouth. “I am actually a total savory person,” Semler admitted. “It’s so easy to satisfy my sweet tooth. I could have a little chunk of dark chocolate, and I’m like, Yes, done.” Yet she loves the challenge of turning traditional sweets into Nude Food. “I did a Cherry Garcia cake this year because I like Cherry Garcia ice cream,” she said of the popular Ben & Jerry’s flavor. Semler’s Cheezecake version has a vanilla-cashew base, a cherry cream layer and cacao nibs. Cacao, the unprocessed seed of the cocoa plant, is high in minerals and antioxidants. “I try not to put anything in that doesn’t have some kind of nutritional purpose,” Semler said. Making lemon-blueberry Cheezecakes, Semler poured a layer of lemon-infused cashew-cream batter into a tray of metal cylindrical cups that she had already prepped with the bottom crust. Next came the top layer, whose stunning deep-violet hue came from the blended blueberries that she’d picked at Knoll Farm in Fayston earlier in the year and frozen for the winter. With a cone-shaped pastry tube, she

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Lemon-blueberry Cheezecakes

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Liza Semler in her kitchen

squeezed a dollop of fluffy cashew-cream icing on each small cake and sprinkled dried blueberry powder over it. All of her cakes go into the freezer to set but can be eaten at room temperature. These round lemon-blueberry minis are a popular Nude Food offering that Semler makes yearround on request. While she gets her nuts and dates from afar, Semler tries to buy local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. The pumpkins for her seasonal Cheezecake come from the Roots Farm Market in Middlesex. Her mother owns a maple farm and harvests the sap, then sells it to a sugarhouse that boils it into the syrup Semler uses. Semler uses only organic ingredients, which adds to the expense. Her whole cakes, serving 16 to 18 people, cost $60. Individual cakes are $5 each, and Bliss Balls cost $3 each or four for $10. People who look for products like hers, she said, tend to be willing to pay more for the organic designation.

Semler grew up in Middlesex and studied anthropology and documentary photography at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Before, during and after college, she traveled the world — visiting 15 countries, by her last count. In South Africa, she met her future husband, who is Australian. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Semler joined him in 2009 in Perth, on the western coast of his home country. During their five years there, Semler worked as a professional photographer, at an art gallery and at a café called Delicious Fingers. One day, the owner of Rawsome brought in boxes of raw vegan desserts for the café staff to try. Semler was surprised at how scrumptious they tasted. “It’s so nutrient dense,” she says of the kind of plantfueled tidbit that Rawsome inspired her to develop herself. “It’s so fat-filled and low sugar that it keeps you satiated.” Those first bites led her to take a workshop with the Rawsome team. In 2014, soon after she and her husband had their first child, they moved to Vermont to live closer to Semler’s family. They eventually found a house with an open kitchen spacious enough to house a home food business. At first, Semler continued doing photography, but she wanted a job she could incorporate into her life as a parent. She began to experiment with recipes. Bliss Balls were her first try. “I’ve definitely made balls that are just — they’re either too oily or too gooey or too dry,” she said. Eventually, Semler figured out how to master the qualities of the best fresh-baked goods. She found, for instance, that soaked almond pulp would add more moisture, while ground almonds would bring out the oil. After those five years of experimenting, Semler finally felt ready to expose Nude Food to the public last spring at the Waitsfield Farmers Market. Ayers invited Semler to bring Nude Food to 18 Elm Street, the Waterbury events venue that Ayers owns with her husband, his cousin and his cousin’s wife. Their summer pop-up brunch, the Waterbury Breakfast Club, gathers artists and other creative types to convene with visitors. “I just felt like more people should have it in their life,” Ayers said of Semler’s treats. “People loved them because they’re unique and they’re gorgeous ... It’s very clean food.” With the summer markets over, Semler is now producing exclusively special orders, of which she has several over the holidays. And she still has her steady gig at Pro Pig. Because Nude Food does less than $10,000 a year in sales and sells directly to consumers, it doesn’t require a commercial kitchen license from the state. That allows Semler to test the viability of her concept without a major investment in equipment or renovations, she said: “It’s just a much lower risk of trying out the market and seeing if your products are well received.” Semler has spoken with other food producers about the possibility of sharing manufacturing space, but for now she wants to stay small. She doesn’t have to worry about the demands of a big wholesale order or packaging or keeping her products shelf-stable. “The scale that I’m at allows me to make everything totally fresh,” Semler said. “Because my stuff is made in such small batches, I can just focus totally on flavor and nutrient density and having as many great ingredients in there as I can.” m

INFO Liza Semler can be reached at nudefoodcovt@gmail.com or on Instagram: @nude.food.co.

food+drink Apple crêpe at the Skinny Pancake

FRENCH ONION SOUP PUMPKIN CHOWDER

Side Dishes « P.41 cocktails in addition to beer and wine. Executive chef CHRISTINA SCIFO plans to develop a menu that will change with seasonal availability. “We want to keep it fun, not stagnant,” she said. A “focal point” of the kitchen will be food prepared on a wood-burning grill. “Vegetables will be done in a really cool way,” Scifo added, “to keep vegetarians interested and engaged.” Scifo is a Florida native and 2006 graduate of the NEW ENGLAND CULINARY INSTITUTE who lived and worked in New York City for about five years before moving to Burlington in June. She was executive chef of Manhattan steakhouse Maxwell’s Chophouse and opened about half a dozen restaurants with different concepts over two and half years as part of her job with a consulting group, she said. In Vermont, Scifo has been teaching cooking classes at the ESSEX CULINARY RESORT & SPA. She’ll start her job at Deep City early next year. “I’ve always been a fan of good beer,” Scifo said. “I got turned on to that when I first came here for college.”

She praised “the amount of amazing food that’s in Vermont: everything from cheese to bread to beer to produce and meat. The plan for Deep City is really just to use as much local ingredients as possible, good-quality stuff.”

Skinny Grows THE SKINNY PANCAKE TO OPEN IN STOWE

The SKINNY PANCAKE, the crêperie that started as a food cart, will open its 11th branch in the spring in Stowe, co-owner BENJY ADLER told Seven Days. The newest Skinny will be at 454 Mountain Road, the former site of McCarthy’s Restaurant, which closed in the fall after 45 years in business. “It’s pretty cool,” Adler said. “They’re passing the torch.” The Skinny Pancake purchased the restaurant space and commercial equipment, Adler said. The Stowe restaurant will have a fireplace, a kids’ play area, a bar and a seasonal patio. It will serve four meals seven days a week — breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, Adler said. “We’re a modern-day diner,” he added.

Skinny’s roster includes three seasonal locations: Stowe Mountain Resort, Sugarbush Resort and the University of Vermont. Some former employees of McCarthy’s who have joined Skinny’s staff are working at the ski resort venue until the Mountain Road restaurant is renovated and opened, according to Adler, who owns the restaurants with his brother, Stowe resident JONNY ADLER. The Skinny Pancake was conceived in a dorm room at Middlebury College, where Benjy Adler majored in music. It launched in the summer of 2003 as a Burlington crêpe cart and opened its first restaurant on that city’s waterfront in 2007. One of the Skinny Pancake’s priorities is sourcing its food locally. In October, 74 percent of food purchases at the original Burlington Skinny Pancake were local, according to the company’s audit. m

YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT… (IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR)

CHURCH & COLLEGE • BURLINGTON 863-3759 • www.leunigsbistro.com THE PANACHE OF PARIS AND THE VALUE OF VERMONT, IN THE CENTER OF BURLINGTON Untitled-122 1

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burlington

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Open NYE for Dinner! ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR PARTIES OF 4 OR MORE.

Serving Lunch & Dinner

CONNECT Follow us for the latest food gossip! On Twitter: Sally Pollak: @vtpollak. On Instagram: @7deatsvt.

restaurantpoco.com| 802.497-2587 W-F 11am-10pm|Sat 3-10pm|Sun Brunch 10am-2pm 4t-poco121819.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/10/19 2:51 PM

PHOTOS: JORDAN BARRY

Maple, apple and butternut bisque with the Vermonter sandwich at the Garden of Eatin’ Café

Lunching With Nature

Wholesome fare soothes shoppers at the Garden of Eatin’ Café BY J O R D AN BAR RY

ardeners have the power to save the world. They grow food for the hungry, provide habitat for threatened pollinators and help reduce our carbon footprint. Recently I discovered that the Garden of Eatin’ Café has the power to save the holidays — or, at least, my sanity while holiday shopping. I’d had a stressful morning in the big-box stores, whipping through

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

the aisles of soulless shelves, making lists, checking them twice and trying to get the heck out as quickly as possible. If I didn’t eat soon, I was likely to be involved in this year’s version of a Tickle Me Elmo brawl. My husband, always a patient shopper, was trying valiantly to convince me that the hot dogs at Home Depot are “really pretty good” when I remembered that Gardener’s Supply has a restaurant next

to the lush greenhouse at its Williston outpost. It was a Christmas miracle. Garden of Eatin’ has been open since 2003, offering a menu of sandwiches, homemade soups, frittatas and salads that changes daily. Everything is under $12. I ordered a soup-and-sandwich combo ($9.95): a cup of maple, apple and butternut bisque and half of the Vermonter, which consists of turkey, Granny Smith

apple slices, red onion, cranberry spread and cheddar on whole wheat bread, pressed on the grill. My husband, quickly forgetting the hardware-store hot dog idea, went for a full Vermonter ($9.95). The café’s 25 seats were surprisingly full on a Thursday afternoon, so we took a few minutes to look around at the wellcurated (and well-decorated) gift selections while waiting for lunch. I had almost

food+drink

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Gardener’s Supply in Williston

IF I DIDN’T EAT SOON, I WAS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN

THIS YEAR’S VERSION OF A TICKLE ME ELMO BRAWL.

Entrance to the Garden of Eatin’ Café

convinced myself to return everything I’d bought earlier in the day in favor of gifting seeds and shovels when my name was called. We grabbed a seat at a hefty wooden table and dove right into our hotpressed sandwiches. The Vermonter, with its turkey, apple and onion, reminded me of the massive eponymous sandwich at the Red Onion in downtown Burlington. It had the same hint of sweetness and bite

from the onion, but without the bacon; a tart cranberry spread supplanted the sun-dried-tomato mayo. I love the Red Onion sandwich and was happy to try a reasonably sized riff. The bisque was piping hot and stickto-your-bones thick. A healthy shake of black pepper tickled my throat, while the apple notes gave tang to the maple and squash. I’m not always a soup person, but this bisque made me want to go back and try the rest of the café’s homemade options — especially if it offers a split pea. Happily refueled, I found that the good food and welcoming, green atmosphere of Gardener’s Supply had washed away my bah-humbugs. Composting my soup container and spoon, I thought, Maybe holiday shopping isn’t so bad. I even bought a wreath on the way out. m

We will be closed on the 24th & 25th.

24 Main Street, Winooski • 655-4888 • Closed Tuesdays TINYTHAIRESTAURANT.NET 6h-tinythai121918.indd 1

12/11/18 2:32 PM

This article originally appeared in Dining on a Dime, a Bite Club blog series at sevendaysvt.com. Contact: jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

INFO Garden of Eatin’ Café, 472 Marshall Ave., Williston, 872-7687. Untitled-58 1

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calendar WED.18

film

KELLEY MARKETING GROUP BREAKFAST MEETING: Professionals in marketing, advertising, communications and social media brainstorm ideas for nonprofit organizations. Room 217, Ireland Building, Champlain College, Burlington, 7:45-9 a.m. Free. Info, 864-4067.

ALMOST THERE: MOVIES ABOUT THE FUTURE: A nerdy health-food store owner is cryogenically preserved in 1973 and revived two centuries later. Call for title. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

business

community

THE RACIAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE #CHANGEVERMONT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA: In a public forum, the Racial Justice Alliance and bill sponsors present a 2020 legislative agenda focused on dismantling systemic racism in the state. First Congregational Church, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 532-3030.

crafts

KNITTER’S GROUP: Crafters share their latest projects and get help with challenging patterns. All skill levels are welcome. South Burlington Community Library, University Mall, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

etc.

MEMORABLE TIMES CAFÉ: Those living with mild to moderate memory loss and their care partners convene for casual social time. Refreshments are provided. Vermont History Center, Barre, 1:30-3 p.m. Free. Info, 476-2681.

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

‘EARTH FLIGHT 3D’: Revolutionary aerial techniques and state-of-the-art 3D cameras take viewers on a journey across the world on the wings of birds. 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, $11.50-14.50; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘INCREDIBLE PREDATORS 3D’: Advanced filming techniques expose the planet’s top hunters on land, under the sea and in the air. 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, $11.50-14.50; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘SPACE JUNK 3D’: A growing ring of orbiting debris is at the center of an out-of-thisworld film showing natural and man-made collisions. 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, $11.50-14.50; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

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 SUBMISSION FORM AND GUIDELINES AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT. LISTINGS AND SPOTLIGHTS ARE WRITTEN BY KRISTEN RAVIN AND DAN BOLLES. 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. WHEN APPROPRIATE, CLASS ORGANIZERS MAY BE ASKED TO PURCHASE A CLASS LISTING.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Everyone has their own perception of reality. What if we could perceive a scenario from another person’s point of view? In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, playwright Tom Stoppard gives audience members the story of Hamlet through the eyes of two minor characters from William Shakespeare’s original tragedy. Actors from Vermont Stage’s Senior Company, a group of budding teen artists enriching their skills through weekly classes and rehearsals, star in a Burlington production of Stoppard’s Tony Awardwinning comedy. Vermont Stage advises that the show is appropriate for ages 10 and up.

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DEC.20-22 | THEATER

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: An immersive film reveals the astonishing lives of the smallest of animals — think chipmunks and grasshopper mice. 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, $11.50-14.50; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: Players have fun with the popular card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 9:15 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

health & fitness

ALL-LEVELS ACROYOGA CLASS: The mindfulness and breath of yoga meet the playful aspects of acrobatics in a partner practice. No partners or experience required. Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 7-8 p.m. Donations. Info, 798-2651. CHAIR YOGA: Whether experiencing balance issues or recovering from illness or injury, health-conscious community members drop in for a weekly low-stress class. Waterbury Public Library, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. RESILIENCE FLOW: Individuals affected by traumatic brain injuries engage in a gentle yoga practice. Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 3:304:30 p.m. Donations. Info, 448-4262.

WED.18

‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’

COURTESY OF LINDSAY RAYMONDJACK PHOTOGRAPHY

D E C E M B E R

Another Point of View

Friday, December 20, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 21, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 22, 2 p.m., at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, in Burlington. $10-15. Info, 862-1497, vermontstage. org.

A Walk in the Woods This fall, Nika “Early Bird” Meyers set the unsupported female record for hiking the Long Trail. The 2007 Woodstock Union High School graduate traversed the 272-mile footpath that runs from Williamstown, Mass., to North Troy, Vt., in six days, 11 hours and 40 minutes. (For comparison, the Green Mountain Club estimates that an average end-toend hike takes 20 to 30 days.) With the aid of photos and videos, Meyers shares the lows — fear, discomfort and sleep deprivation — and highs of her journey in the talk “Rugged Happiness: Setting the Unsupported Female Record on the Long Trail.”

NIKA ‘EARLY BIRD’ MEYERS Friday, December 20, 7-8:30 p.m., at Green Mountain Club Headquarters in Waterbury Center. $5-8. Info, 244-7037, greenmountainclub.org.

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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 local theaters in the movies section and at sevendayst.com/movies.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the music + nightlife section and at sevendaysvt.com/music. All family-oriented events are now published in Kids VT, our free parenting monthly. Look for it on newsstands and check out the online calendar at kidsvt.com.

DEC.20 | TALKS

COURTESY OF ABIGAIL FELDMAN

DEC.21 & 22 | HOLIDAYS

SPIRIT OF THE STATE D

rawing inspiration from The Nutcracker, Montpelier’s Moving Light Dance offers a unique variation on the Christmas ballet, infusing it with a healthy dose of local flavor. The story of a young girl’s journey through a magical land gets a Vermont twist in The Green Mountain Nutcracker. Set in 1970s Vermont, this 13th annual production swaps a Maple Sugar Fairy for the usual Sugar Plum Fairy, loggers for Russian dancers and moose for sleigh-pulling

reindeer. A cast of 60 professional company dancers and local students move to original music by local songwriter Colin McCaffrey along with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s original score. ‘THE GREEN MOUNTAIN NUTCRACKER’ Saturday, December 21, 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 22, 2 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $15-28. Info, 476-8188, barreoperahouse.org.

Gather ’Round Let’s be honest: Dashing through the snow isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. For indoorsy types, winter provides the perfect opportunity for gathering with friends and swapping stories. On the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, community members come together for Stories for a Winter’s Eve, a program of music and storytelling to warm hearts and hands. Vermont writers Kathryn Blume and Mark Nash share original tales of friendship and generosity, and musicians Patti Casey and Pete Sutherland fill the air with Americana strains. Advance tickets are recommended for both shows.

DEC.21 | WORDS

STORIES FOR A WINTER’S EVE Saturday, December 21, 3-5 & 7-9 p.m., at the Old Meeting House in East Montpelier. $10-50. Info, 249-7071, oldmeetinghouse.org.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

calendar

LAST MINUTE GIFTS?

We’ve got you covered

WED.18

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YOGA4CANCER: Meant for anyone affected by the illness, this class aims to help participants manage treatment side effects and recovery. Sangha Studio — North, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Donations. Info, 448-4262.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: Birdwatchers tally feathered fliers as part of an international effort. See vt.audubon.org for locations around the state. Various locations statewide. Free. Info, 434-3068.

SLATE

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‘CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT’: After lying about being the perfect housewife, a food writer must keep up her image as her boss joins her for a traditional family Christmas in a 1945 romantic comedy film. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600. GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: Volunteers cover presents in paper. Proceeds benefit ANEW Place. University Mall, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Cost of service. Info, 729-0133. ‘MESSIAH’ SING: Community members are welcome to join the Burlington Choral Society in singing the Christmas choruses of Handel’s composition. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Donations. Info, bcssingers@comcast.net. RING, CHRISTMAS TOWER BELLS!: Sounds of the season ring out from giant bronze instruments to the delight of passersby. Trinity United Methodist Church, Montpelier, 11:58 a.m. Free. Info, 229-9158. ‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’: Actor Jason Lorber interprets David Sedaris’ essay about his stint as a cynical Macy’s elf during the holidays in this oneperson show. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20-23. Info, theoffcenter@ gmail.com. ‘STORIES FOR THE SEASON’: Favorite Lost Nation Theater artists deliver dramatic readings of holiday and seasonal stories from across cultures. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, 229-0492.

MORE COMFORT. MORE SPACE FOR EXPLORING. MORE OF WHAT MATTERS.

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT CHORUS: Classic seasonal works and a carol sing-along round out this blend of instruments, voices and good cheer. The Grange Theatre, South Pomfret, 7:30 p.m. $30. Info, 457-3500.

language

BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE/ ADVANCED ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES: Learners take communication to the next level. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7211. GERMAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Community members practice conversing auf Deutsch. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7211.

74 Champlain Drive | Shelburne, Vermont 05482

802.985.8482 | miniofburlington.com 48

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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LUNCH IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: SPANISH: ¡Hola! Language lovers perfect their fluency. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

lgbtq

GAYME NIGHT: Friends bond over contests such as Cards Against Humanity, Jenga Giant and Scrabble. Bring or borrow a game. Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812. LUNCH WITH BOI CHAPLAIN: Those questioning, seeking or needing spiritual friendship drop in for a chat with minister in training Danielle. Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

music

Find club dates in the music section. BURLINGTON TAIKO: Japanesestyle drummers pound out thunderous rhythms. Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. $4. Info, 748-2600. OLD NORTH END NEIGHBORHOOD BAND TEEN MUSIC JAM: Be they accomplished or beginner musicians, young players find harmony in the traditional music of Burlington’s past and present immigrant groups. Boys & Girls Club, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 881-8500. SONG CIRCLE: Singers and musicians congregate for an acoustic session of popular folk tunes. Godnick Adult Center, Rutland, 7:15-9:15 p.m. Donations. Info, 775-1182.

talks

CURRENT EVENTS CONVERSATION: Newsworthy subjects take the spotlight in this informal discussion. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918. TEDX BROWNELL LIBRARY: Lifelong learners watch TED Talk videos centered on the topic “Positive Thinking.” Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

tech

TECH HELP WITH CLIF: Electronics novices develop skill sets applicable to smartphones, tablets and other gadgets. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, noon & 1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6955. TECH SUPPORT: Need an email account? Want to enjoy ebooks? Bring your phone, tablet or laptop to a weekly help session. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. TECH TUTOR: Techies answer questions about computers and devices during one-on-one help sessions. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

theater

‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’: The hills are alive in Northern Stage’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic tale of a nun who became a singing nanny in pre-World War II Austria. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 2 & 7:30 p.m. $34-69. Info, 296-7000.

words

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 local theaters in the movies section and at sevendayst.com/movies.

music + comedy Find club dates at local venues in the music + nightlife section and at sevendaysvt.com/music. All family-oriented events are now published in Kids VT, our free parenting monthly. Look for it on newsstands and check out the online calendar at kidsvt.com. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

ELIZABETH THOMPSON, ERIC SORENSON & ROBERT ZAINO: A slide show familiarizes folks with the book Wetland, Woodland, Wildland: A Guide to the Natural Communities of Vermont. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 229-6206. WRITING CIRCLE: Words pour out when participants explore creative expression in a lowpressure environment. The Pathways Vermont Community Center, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 888-492-8218, ext. 303.

THU.19

community

BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Members of the public stay upto-date on the status of the BHS ReEnvisioning Project. Cafeteria, Burlington High School, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 324-4885.

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crafts

MOUNT MANSFIELD SCALE MODELERS: Hobbyists break out the superglue and sweat the small stuff at a miniature construction skill swap. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0765.

film

food & drink

COMMUNITY LUNCH: Gardengrown fare makes for a delicious and nutritious midday meal. The Pathways Vermont Community Center, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 888-492-8218, ext. 309. NEW PIZZA POP-UPS: Specialty pies please palates as friends compete for prizes in rounds of trivia. Hardwick Street Café at the Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, pizza, 5-8 p.m.; trivia, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 533-9399.

games

CHITTENDEN COUNTY CHESS CLUB: Checkmate! Strategic thinkers make calculated moves as they vie for their opponents’ kings. Shaw’s, Shelburne Rd., South Burlington, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5403.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA WITH SANGHA STUDIO: Supported poses promote health and wellbeing. Champlain Senior Center, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 448-4262. COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS: A 20-minute guided practice with Andrea O’Connor alleviates stress and tension. Tea and a discussion follow. Winooski Senior Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 233-1161.

SEED CLINIC: Small magnetic beads taped to acupressure points offer support for those experiencing difficult or stressful times. Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Donations. Info, clinicseed@ gmail.com. YANG-STYLE TAI CHI: Slow, graceful, expansive movements promote wide-ranging health and fitness benefits. Wright House, Harrington Village, Shelburne, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 735-5467. YOGA: A Sangha Studio instructor guides students who are in recovery toward achieving inner tranquility. Turning Point Center, Burlington, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 448-4262.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18. GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: See WED.18. ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: James Stewart stars in Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic about a man saved from despair by his guardian angel. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600. RING, CHRISTMAS TOWER BELLS!: See WED.18. ‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’: See WED.18. VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS HOLIDAY ‘OFFICE’ PARTY: Members of the business community reflect on the past year amid food, drinks and merriment. Study Hall Collective, Burlington, 6 p.m. $20-25. Info, mieko@ radiancestudiosllc.com.

language

music

Find club dates in the music section. KATHY LIGHT & RICK WINSTON: A pair of central Vermont musicians serves up klezmer music in honor of Hanukkah, as well as selections from the Celtic traditions. Bag lunches are welcome. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-12:45 p.m. Donations. Info, 223-3631.

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talks

ADAM KRAKOWSKI & JEFF S. BAKER II: History buffs and beer hounds find common ground in the Third Thursday talk “Burlington Brewing: A History of Craft Beer in the Queen City.” Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 479-8500. LUNCH & LEARN: Barbara Johnson, Ithaca College professor emerita of anthropology, shares her research into “The Songs of an Ancient Community of Jewish Women in Cochin, India and Israel.” Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington, noon. $6. Info, 863-4214.

theater

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‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’: See WED.18.

FRENCH CONVERSATION: Speakers improve their linguistic dexterity in the Romantic tongue. Bradford Public Library, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 222-4536.

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BALLROOM & LATIN DANCING: Singles, couples and beginners are welcome to join in a dance social featuring waltz, tango and more. Williston Jazzercise Fitness Center, 8-9:30 p.m. $10. Info, 862-2269. ECSTATIC DANCE VERMONT: Inspired by the 5Rhythms dance practice, attendees move, groove, release and open their hearts to life in a safe and sacred space. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. $10. Info, fearnessence@gmail.com. PLANTS VIBE: Dance and herbal concoctions with Lauren Larken and Stephen Scuderi nurture and uplift spirits. Instruments are welcome. Railyard Apothecary, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. $5-20. Info, 777-0626.

etc.

CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING JAM: Daring individuals perfect skills ranging from juggling to tight-rope walking with CAMP Burlington members. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Donations. Info, burlingtoncamp@gmail.com. SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: Two planetarium shows — “Season of Light” and a graphic art version of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” — mark the change of seasons. Northcountry Planetarium, SUNY Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. $8-10. Info, 518-564-3168.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the movies section. ‘EARTH FLIGHT 3D’: See WED.18.

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FAMILY MOVIE: Popcorn and drinks augment an all-ages flick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955. ‘INCREDIBLE PREDATORS 3D’: See WED.18.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

CHAIR YOGA: Students with limited mobility limber up with modified poses. Sangha Studio — North, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Donations. Info, 448-4262.

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‘FLYING NUT: ‘TIS THE SEASON’: NECCA’s annual holiday spectacle features circus artists from the school’s recreational classes, youth performance troupes and professional training programs in a reimagined version of The Nutcracker. New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 254-9780. GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: See WED.18. PEACHAM CORNER GUILD HOLIDAY SHOP: Small antiques, handcrafted gifts, specialty foods and Christmas decorations beckon buyers. Peacham Corner Guild, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 592-3332. QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST HOLIDAY LIGHTS BUS TOUR: History enthusiasts start a new holiday tradition by taking a journey into Burlington’s past with Thea Lewis. The author tells of local customs and shares family-friendly ghostly tales. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 7 p.m. $25. Info, 324-5467.

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health & fitness

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AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18.

food & drink

BRIDGE CLUB: See WED.18, 9:15 a.m.

ADIRONDACK REGIONAL THEATRE’S ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIFE RADIO PLAY’: A guardian angel saves a hopeless man from despair in Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic, which comes to life before a live studio audience. Strand Center Theatre, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. $15. Info, 518-563-1604, ext. 105.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.18.

games

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holidays

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

‘SPACE JUNK 3D’: See WED.18.

PUBLIC CUPPING: Coffee connoisseurs and beginners alike explore the flavor notes and aromas of the roaster’s current offerings and new releases. Brio Coffeeworks, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 777-6641.

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MEDITATION PROGRAM: Stress, be gone! Students in this bimonthly gathering unlock a sense of calm through breath work and balancing chakras. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

GONG MEDITATION: Sonic vibrations lead to healing and deep relaxation. Yoga Roots, Williston, 7:30-8:30 p.m. $18. Info, 318-6050.

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

film See what’s playing at local theaters in the movies section and at sevendayst.com/movies.

RING, CHRISTMAS TOWER BELLS!: See WED.18. ‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’: See WED.18, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $22. Info, 382-9222. TWELVE TWENTY-FOUR: Holiday music gets a hard edge thanks to this high-energy rock band that includes a string section and several vocalists. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $39. Info, 775-0903. VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT CHORUS: See WED.18, United Church of Newport, 7:30 p.m. $10-24. Info, 864-5741. WINTER CAROLS: Friends and neighbors come together for audience sing-alongs and instrumental and choral performances. First Universalist Church and Society, Barnard, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 234-1645.

music

Find club dates in the music section. KIND BUD & NUG: On the jam band scene since 2004, the skillful guitarist sings and plays lead over looped backing parts created on the fly. Topnotch Resort, Stowe, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 253-8585. SCOTTISH FISH: Youthful enthusiasm, unique arrangements and original compositions earn the Boston-based fiddle and cello group new fans. Burlington Violin Shop, 6-8 p.m. $20; preregister; limited space. Info, mark.sustic@ gmail.com.

talks

NIKA ‘EARLY BIRD’ MEYERS: Using photos, videos and stories, the hiker recounts her journey toward setting the unsupported female record on the Long Trail. See calendar spotlight. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-8. Info, 244-7037.

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theater

‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: Tom Stoppard’s play, performed by Vermont Stage’s Senior Company, turns Hamlet on its head. See calendar spotlight. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10-15. Info, 862-1497. ‘SNOW QUEEN’: Eye-catching costumes and new music enliven a Vermont Youth Theater production of the tale of a faithful girl seeking to save her friend from an icy monarch. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 454-1286. ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’: See WED.18, 7:30 p.m.

SAT.21 activism

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY MEETING: Activists gather with the goal of advancing human rights. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, champvalleyai@gmail.com.

cannabis

dance

MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: Lisa Greenleaf calls the steps at a traditional social dance with high-energy music by Dave Langford and Colin McCaffrey. Capital City Grange, Berlin, introductory session, 7:45 p.m.; dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-15. Info, 225-8921. SACRED CIRCLE DANCING: Participants join hands for easy-to-follow dances set to international music. A potluck follows two hours of dancing. Bobbin Mill Community Center, Burlington, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 777-4701. USA DANCE VERMONT BALLROOM DANCE: Folks cut a rug in a relaxed setting that celebrates the art of ballroom dance. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, open dance, 6:30-7 p.m.; instruction, 7-8:30 p.m.; social dancing, 8:30-11 p.m. $515. Info, 482-2896.

etc.

LEGAL CLINIC: Attorneys offer complimentary consultations on a first-come, first-served basis. 274 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 383-2118.

SUNSOIL CBD 2 CENTS/MG REFILL EVENT: Sunsoil offers refills of its organically grown, naturally extracted, unflavored CBD oil tincture at two cents per milligram. Buffalo Mountain Food Co-op & Café, Hardwick, noon-4 p.m. Info, 472-6020. Rutland Area Food Co-op, noon-4 p.m. Info, 773-0737. Middlebury Natural Food Co-op, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 388-7276. Free.

SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: See FRI.20.

community

YULETIDE CEREMONY: Folks join the Green Mountain Druid order to celebrate darkness, rebirth and community. Bring evergreens, a stick for the fire and drums if you play. Burlington Earth Clock, Oakledge Park, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, fearnessence@ gmail.com.

QUEEN CITY MEMORY CAFÉ: People with memory loss accompany their caregivers for coffee, conversation and entertainment. Thayer House, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 656-4220.

STUNT KITE FLIERS & ARCHERY HOBBYISTS MEETING: Open to beginning and experienced hobbyists alike, a weekly gathering allows folks to share information and suggestions for equipment, sporting locations and more. Presto Music Store, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 658-0030.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the movies section. ‘EARTH FLIGHT 3D’: See WED.18. ‘INCREDIBLE PREDATORS 3D’: See WED.18. ‘SPACE JUNK 3D’: See WED.18. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.18. ‘A TUBA TO CUBA’: A 2018 picture played as part of the Woodstock Vermont Film Series documents New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band on a musical journey from the Big Easy to the shores of Cuba. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 & 5:30 p.m. $6-11. Info, 457-2355.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS MARKET: More than 30 stands overflow with seasonal produce, prepared foods and artisan wares. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, burlingtonfarmers market.org@gmail.com. CAPITAL CITY WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Meats, cheeses, crafts and more change hands at an off-season celebration of locally grown food. Caledonia Spirits, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 279-7293.

health & fitness

NEWBIE NOON HOT YOGA: First-timers feel the heat as they get their stretch on in a (very) warm environment. Hot Yoga Burlington, noon. Free; preregister. Info, 999-9963.

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INSPECTIONS

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Seven Days and Vermont Public Radio joined forces to analyze five years’ worth of state inspection reports and complaints involving residential care and assisted living facilities in Vermont. Seven Days data editor Andrea Suozzo created the Vermont Eldercare Navigator, a searchable online database that lets you see what state inspectors found at these homes.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18. ‘THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER’: When the six mischievous Herdman kids take over the annual holiday spectacular, they put a new spin on the traditional story. Starring Northeast Kingdom talent. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7-9 p.m. $8-10; free for kids under 6. Info, 533-2000. SAT.21

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YOUR LOCAL HOME? Start investigating at sevendaysvt.com/eldercare

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: Families celebrate the holidays 19th-century-style with ornament making, baked treats and period activities. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $4-16; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 457-2355.

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‘THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: AN ENGLISH CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: Against long odds, resilient textile mill workers in a small northern England town celebrate the season with music and magic in the 45th annual presentation of the Christmas Revels. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 2 & 7 p.m. $847. Info, 603-448-0400.

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‘FLYING NUT: ‘TIS THE SEASON’: See FRI.20, 3 & 7:30 p.m. GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: See WED.18.

LAST-MINUTE MARKET: Procrastinators snag pottery, jewelry, body products and more from local makers. The Hive on Pine, Burlington, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, tenderwarriorco@gmail.com. ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ TEA & SECOND ACT EXTRAVAGANZA: Families join Clara and the Nutcracker in watching vibrant dances celebrating the sweet sides of the season. A tea buffet opens this Arabesque Etc. Dance presentation. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 12:30-3 p.m. $16-20; free for kids 3 and under. Info, 383-8468. ONION RIVER CHORUS: Conducted by Larry Gordon, 70 singers lift their voices in “A Child Is Born: A German Christmas.” Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $17-20; free for ages 18 and under. Info, 477-3922.

‘THE GREEN MOUNTAIN NUTCRACKER’: Moving Light Dance puts a local twist on this holiday classic boasting boisterous loggers and a maple sugar fairy. See calendar spotlight. Barre Opera House, 7 p.m. $1528. Info, 476-8188.

PEACHAM CORNER GUILD HOLIDAY SHOP: See FRI.20.

HEATHER PIERSON JAZZ TRIO: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” includes a rich variety of originals, jazz and blues standards, and interpretations of works by the late jazz composer Vince Guaraldi. York Street Meeting House, Lyndon, 7-9 p.m. $10-15; free for kids under 13. Info, 473-4208.

‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’: See WED.18.

HOLIDAY COOKIE WALK: Folks take the stress out of holiday baking by stocking up on homemade treats. United Church of Hinesburg, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $8 per pound of cookies. Info, 482-3352. JINGLE & MINGLE: Clad in ugly sweaters, suds lovers sip craft brews and enjoy holiday tunes. 1st Republic Brewing Company, Essex Junction, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 857-5318.

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 local theaters in the movies section and at sevendayst.com/movies.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST HOLIDAY LIGHTS BUS TOUR: See FRI.20. RING, CHRISTMAS TOWER BELLS!: See WED.18.

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT CHORUS: See WED.18, Grafton Community Church, 5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-5741. ‘VERMONT’S OWN NUTCRACKER’: For the 15th year, Vermont Ballet Theater portrays the fantastical world within a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream. Flynn MainStage, Burlington, 2-4:30 & 7-9:30 p.m. $22.50-39. Info, 863-5966.

lgbtq

PRIDE YOGA: LGBTQ individuals and allies hit the mat for a stretching session suited to all levels. Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 5-6 p.m. Donations. Info, 448-4262.

SATURDAY KARAOKE: Amateur singers belt out their favorite tunes. Burlington VFW Post, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Free. Info, 864-6532. SOCIAL BAND: The Burlington choral group combines ancient and modern-day selections in the program “Deep Midwinter: Songs From Winter’s Heart.” United Church of Hinesburg, 7:30-9 p.m. $15-18. Info, 355-4216. SWING NOIRE: An intimate show performed in the spirit of Django Reinhardt channels the early days of American hot swing. Brandon Music, 7:30 p.m. $20; $45 includes dinner; BYOB; preregister. Info, 247-4295.

sports

PUBLIC SKATING: Active bodies coast across the ice. Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse, N.Y., 1-2:30 p.m. $2-3; additional cost for rentals. Info, 518-564-4270.

theater

‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: See FRI.20, 2 & 7:30 p.m. ‘SNOW QUEEN’: See FRI.20, 1 & 6 p.m. ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’: See WED.18, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

POETRY EXPERIENCE: Writers share original work and learn from others in a supportive environment open to all ages and experience levels. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7211. STORIES FOR A WINTER’S EVE: Original short stories by Vermont raconteurs and tunes by Patti Casey and Pete Sutherland warm hearts. See calendar spotlight. The Old Meeting House, East Montpelier, 3-5 & 7-9 p.m. $1050. Info, 249-7071.

SUN.22

music

community

EMMA BACK: Vocal percussion, melodic storytelling and jazz- and klezmer-inspired violin riffs meld in the live-looping artist’s program “Light in the Dark: A Winter Solstice Concert.” Montgomery Center for the Arts, 6:30-9 p.m. Donations; preregister. Info, mca programingdirector@gmail.com.

film

Find club dates in the music section.

FLYNN SHOW CHOIRS: More than 80 of Vermont’s best young singers, actors and dancers deliver a powerhouse performance of Broadway favorites and pop hits. FlynnSpace, Burlington, 4 & 6 p.m. $15-18. Info, 863-5966. JOHN PIZZARELLI: All hail the king. The celebrated jazz guitarist and vocalist tours in support of his latest album, For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $22-55. Info, 760-4634.

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: Sessions in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh include sitting and walking meditation, a short reading, and open sharing. Evolution Physical Therapy & Yoga, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@ gmail.com.

SUN.22

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Help Build Community One Story at a Time. Have you lost a loved one to opioid-use disorder? Please consider submitting their story to All Our Hearts, Seven Days’ online opioid-crisis memorial. Your remembrances can educate, change minds, awaken empathy — and inspire action.

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Making a Difference IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD

SEEKING THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENTS & RESPITE PROVIDERS FOR VERMONT YOUTH NFI Vermont, Inc. is currently seeking therapeutic respite providers and foster parents to provide a structured, well-supervised nurturing home for children ages 6 - 18. Teach socially appropriate behavior in a family setting, promote situations that enhance self-esteem and positive life choices and encourage constructive problem solving. Full-Time therapeutic foster parents receive a tax-free stipend of $1950 per month, a team of professionals and 24-hour support system. For more information please call Jodie Clarke at 802-363-7578 or jodieclarke@nafi.com

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WARREN MILLER’S ‘TIMELESS’: Skiers and snowboarders get stoked on the upcoming season with the release of the latest edition of the long-running winter-sports film franchise, which this year features Vermont native Jim Ryan. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $10-17. Info, 760-4634.

games

GAME ON!: Folks bring games and snacks and settle in for some friendly competition. First Congregational Church, Cornwall, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 532-3030.

Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season.

Celebrate

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CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See SAT.21. ‘THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: AN ENGLISH CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: See SAT.21. ‘FLYING NUT: ‘TIS THE SEASON’: See FRI.20, 1 p.m. GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: See WED.18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ‘THE GREEN MOUNTAIN NUTCRACKER’: See SAT.21, 2 p.m. LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: The spirit of Hanukkah shines at a grand menorah-lighting complete with latkes, doughnuts and hot beverages. University Green, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 658-5770. ‘MESSIAH’ SING: String players are welcome to strike up as friends and neighbors give voice to Handel’s holiday favorite. The Congregational Church of Middlebury, 2-4:15 p.m. $5-20. Info, 989-7355.

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art

See what’s playing at local theaters in the movies section and at sevendayst.com/movies.

PLUS

hundreds of other great gift ideas!

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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‘EARTH FLIGHT 3D’: See WED.18.

PEACHAM CORNER GUILD HOLIDAY SHOP: See FRI.20. ‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’: See WED.18, 2 p.m. SHINE A LIGHT SERIES: A member of the Beth Jacob Synagogue community lights a menorah to illuminate LGBTQ rights. J. Langdon, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 229-9429.

‘THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER’: See SAT.21, 2-4 p.m.

film

*various colors available

ONION RIVER CHORUS: See SAT.21, 4 p.m.

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT CHORUS: See WED.18, First Congregational Church of Manchester, 4 p.m. $20-24. Info, 362-2709.

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

$99.99!!

350Vermont, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, btvnode@350vt.org.

SOCIAL BAND: See SAT.21, Charlotte Congregational Church, 3-4:30 p.m.

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‘THE NUTCRACKER’: Students of Miss Lorraine’s School of Dance glide across the stage in this holiday favorite set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 1 & 6 p.m. $25-35. Info, 775-0903.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18. 4/11/19 12:21 PM

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calendar

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

‘VERMONT’S OWN NUTCRACKER’: See SAT.21, 1-3:30 & 6-8:30 p.m.

language

‘DIMANCHES’ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Parlez-vous français? Speakers practice the tongue at a casual drop-in chat. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, steve norman@fastmail.fm.

lgbtq

LGBTQ FIBER ARTS GROUP: A knitting, crocheting and weaving session welcomes all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations and skill levels. Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

music

Find club dates in the music section. FLYNN SHOW CHOIRS: See SAT.21, 1 & 3 p.m. UKULELE MÊLÉE: Fingers fly at a group lesson on the four-stringed Hawaiian instrument. BYO uke. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7211.

theater

‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: See FRI.20, 2 p.m. ‘SNOW QUEEN’: See FRI.20, 6 p.m.

MON.23 crafts

HANDWORK CIRCLE: Friends and neighbors make progress on works of knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and other creative endeavors. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

environment

350VERMONT BURLINGTON NODE MEETING: Environmentally conscious individuals deepen their involvement in issues related to the climate crisis.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the movies section. ‘INCREDIBLE PREDATORS 3D’: See WED.18. ‘SPACE JUNK 3D’: See WED.18. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.18.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: See WED.18, 6:30 p.m. MAGIC: THE GATHERING — MONDAY NIGHT MODERN: Tarmogoyf-slinging madness ensues when competitors battle for prizes in a weekly game. Brap’s Magic, Burlington, 7-11 p.m. $8. Info, 540-0498.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA WITH SANGHA STUDIO: Supported poses promote health and wellbeing. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 10:45-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 448-4262. COMMUNITY HERBAL CLINIC: Supervised clinical interns offer guidance and support to those looking to care for themselves using natural remedies. By appointment only. Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, Montpelier, and Railyard Apothecary, Burlington, 4-8 p.m. $10-30; additional cost for herbs; preregister. Info, 224-7100. GUIDED GROUP MEDITATION: In keeping with the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, folks practice mindfulness through sitting, walking, reading and discussion. Zenbarn Studio, Waterbury, 7:158 p.m. Free. Info, 505-1688.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18. BOLSHOI BALLET IN CINEMA: ‘THE NUTCRACKER’: In an on-screen performance, one of the oldest ballet companies in the world breathes life into the enchanted tale of dancing snowflakes and dolls that come to life. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 3 p.m. $10-17. Info, 7604634. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $6-18. Info, 748-2600. CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See SAT.21. CHRISTMAS CAROLING: All are welcome to join members of the East Middlebury Historical Society in lifting their voices in songs of the season. Cookies and hot chocolate follow. Waybury Inn, East Middlebury, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, revcpn@ gmail.com. ‘THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: AN ENGLISH CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: See SAT.21, 2 p.m. GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: See WED.18.

FIND FUTURE DATES + UPDATES AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/EVENTS

GRAND HANUKKAH PARTY: SANDTASTIC HANUKKAH: Families witness the sculpting of a sand menorah and the lighting of the second candle. Latkes, doughnuts, music and crafts round out the experience. Chabad of Vermont, Burlington, sculpting, 4 p.m.; menorah lighting, 4:45 p.m. Free. Info, 658-5770.

crafts

RING, CHRISTMAS TOWER BELLS!: See WED.18.

SWING DANCING: Quick-footed participants experiment with different forms, including the Lindy Hop, Charleston and balboa. Beginners are welcome. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, 448-2930.

SHINE A LIGHT SERIES: A member of the Beth Jacob Synagogue community lights a menorah to illuminate racial justice. The Quirky Pet, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 229-9429.

language

PLATTSBURGH CONVERSATION GROUP: French speakers maintain their conversational skills in a weekly meet-up. Plattsburgh Public Library, N.Y., 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, ajobin-picard@cefls.org.

music

Find club dates in the music section. SAMBATUCADA OPEN REHEARSAL: Burlington’s own samba street percussion band welcomes new members. No experience or instruments required. 8 Space Studio Collective, Burlington, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 862-5017.

sports

PUBLIC SKATING: See SAT.21, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

talks

STATE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS: Activist Sandy Baird leads an open forum reflecting on and analyzing current events in a nonjudgmental setting. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7211.

tech

COMMUNITY CRAFT NIGHT: Makers stitch, spin, knit and crochet their way through projects while enjoying each other’s company. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7211.

dance

etc.

GENEALOGY QUEST: Family-tree enthusiasts get amped up about ancestry at a monthly meeting. Waterbury Municipal Building, 7 p.m. Free. Info, jlattrell@gmail. com.

film

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

games

BRIDGE CLUB: See WED.18, 7 p.m.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY HERBAL CLINIC: See MON.23, Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. REIKI CLINIC: Thirty-minute treatments foster physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. JourneyWorks, Burlington, 3-5:30 p.m. $10-30; preregister. Info, 860-6203. TUESDAY GUIDED MEDITATION: Participants learn to relax and let go. Stillpoint Center, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 318-8605.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18.

TECH HELP WITH CLIF: See WED.18.

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See SAT.21.

theater

GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER: See WED.18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher and a full Broadway ensemble put a fresh spin on the beloved 1964 musical about a Jewish father’s efforts to preserve his culture and traditions. Flynn MainStage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25-95. Info, 863-5966. ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’: See WED.18, 2 p.m.

TUE.24

community

COMMUNITY DROP-IN CENTER HOURS: Wi-Fi, games and art materials are on hand at an open meeting space where folks forge social connections. GRACE, Hardwick, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 472-6857.

RING, CHRISTMAS TOWER BELLS!: See WED.18. SHINE A LIGHT SERIES: A member of the Beth Jacob Synagogue community lights a menorah to illuminate women’s equality. Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co., Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 229-9429.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more in an informal gathering. Hartland Public Library, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 436-2473. ‘LA CAUSERIE’ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Native speakers and learners say it all in French at a social conversational practice. Red Onion Café, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 540-0195.

T I S T H E S E A S N

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Frenchlanguage fanatics meet pour parler la belle langue. ¡Duino! (Duende), Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 430-4652.

music

Find club dates in the music section. BURLINGTON SONGWRITERS SONG-SHARING & FEEDBACK MEETING: Area songsters trade constructive criticism. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 899-1139.

sports

FREE AIKIDO CLASS: A one-time complimentary introduction to the Japanese martial art focuses on centering and finding freedom while under attack. Open to prospective students. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington, 6:15-7:15 p.m. Free. Info, 951-8900.

For family and friends, good health and happiness, sleigh rides and extra marshmallows in your cocoa.

theater

Happy holidays. cbna.com

‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’: See WED.18, 2 p.m.

words

BURLINGTON FREE WRITE: Aspiring writers respond to prompts in a welcoming atmosphere. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 999-1664.

WED.25 film

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

games

NONCOMPETITIVE BOARD GAME COMPETITION: Whether or not Christmas is a holiday they celebrate, strategic thinkers face off in tabletop pastimes. Bring a peanut-free vegetarian potluck dish. Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 253-1800.

holidays

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: See WED.18. CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGALONG: Joyful voices fill the air as Kind Bud and Kitty lead community members in classic holiday favorites. The Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 282-4625.

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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.

dance DANCE STUDIO SALSALINA: Salsa classes: nightclub-style, group and private, four levels. Beginner walk-in classes, Tue., 7 p.m. $15/ person for one-hour class. No dance experience, partner or preregistration required, just the desire to have fun! Drop in anytime and prepare for an enjoyable workout. Location: 32 Malletts Bay Ave, Winooski. Info: Victoria, 598-1077, info@salsalina.com,

the training session. Equipment: Prusa MK3, 8” x 8” x 9” build volume; Prusa PLA. Wed., 6-8:30 p.m., Jan. 15 or Feb. 19 or Mar. 25 or Apr. 29 or Jun. 3. Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@generatorvt. com, generatorvt.com.

CARVE A WOODEN SPOON : Branch to utensil! Have you ever seen a branch and wondered what you could make with it? In this class you will learn how to see the spoon in the branch, then using simple tools like straight and hooked knives you will coax the form from the fibers. We will be using the Swedish Sloyd tradition, using green wood straight from the tree. The instructor will cover several different knife grips and grasps, as well as important information about safety, sharpening and tool maintenance. You will also leave with your very own set of caving tools and knives and a handcarved spoon! Sat., 10-4 p.m., Feb. 15 or May 30. Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@generatorvt.com, generatorvt.com.

drumming JOIN OUR TAIKO PARADE GROUP!: Free workshops Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22, 1-3 p.m. Also Tue., Dec. 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. adults & kids aged 10+. Come once, and you’re in. HighLight is our next parade! Adult plus kids & parents Taiko & Djembe classes continue Mon., Tue., Wed. this month. New sessions start in Jan.! Drums provided. Schedule/register online. Location: Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Info: 999-4255, burlingtontaiko.org.

fitness SPIRAL ENERGETICS: A luxurious and fun low-mount aerial silk practice that works with the body’s natural inclination to swing, bounce, writhe, roll, push, pull and grip to regulate all systems and processes. Learn how to use both “hammock” and “twin tail” suspensions, aerial and floor poses, and intuitive sequencing. $15 special: silkswingstudio.com/ plans-pricing. Wed. & Fri., 6 p.m.; Thu. & Sat., 10:30 a.m.; Sun. 4 p.m. Cost: $35/person; $15 firstclass pass avail. online. Location: Silk Swing Studio, The Soda Plant, 266 Pine St. (above Tomgirl), Burlington. Info: Robin Lawson, 662-0012, silkswingstudio@gmail. com, silkswingstudio.com.

Generator

3D PRINTER TRAINING: Learn the basics of 3D printing and how to use the Prusa MK3. Students will: learn how to prepare a 3D design file, learn how to use the equipment properly and safely, review rules and policies of using the 3D printers. Students will make a small print (1” cubed) to take home after the print run (usually ready next day). An open discussion of 3D printing follows

bottom of your favorite hill in a toboggan you made on your own! Do you wish your child could safely learn the basics of timeless craft in a state-of-the-art woodshop? Then this class was designed for you and your family. Under the close supervision of a woodworking professional, your child will be guided through the creation of their own toboggan, including training on how to safely use hand tools and select power tools and to steam bend your pieces of wood. The excitement of bending wood that was once unbendable without breaking is amazing! You will leave class with a lifetime play toy. Wed., 3:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 29-Mar. 11 (no class Feb. 26). Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@generatorvt.com, generatorvt.com.

BUILD A CHERRY WOODEN TABLE : Come learn the skills to build your own table in the Generator wood shop! Coffee table, Shaker table or end table made of beautiful cherry wood. You will learn your way around Generator’s state-of-the-art wood shop to gain familiarity with tools, including table saw, bandsaw, compound miter saw, planer, joiner, drill press, sanders, vacuum bag press, and manual hand tools such as block planes and scrapers. This class is perfect for the beginner wanting to get involved and also someone wanting to learn the next step! You will leave with an amazing piece of furniture, as well as the skill to keep creating. Tue., 5:30-8:30 p.m., Mar. 24-Apr. 14. Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com. BUILD YOUR OWN TOBOGGAN: Ages 9-12. Get off the couch, feel the wind in your face, the speed of the snow as you race to the

EVENING JEWELRY CLASS: Includes tool training. Over our sessions, students will learn basic jewelers’ techniques. No experience is needed, just bring a desire to learn and you’ll be off and running using the torch, jeweler’s saw, special hammers, polishing wheel and more. Each week there will be several demonstrations, including sawing, drilling, piercing, riveting, annealing, forming and soldering. We will complete a series of practice pieces out of copper, brass, nickel before designing and creating a wearable finished piece of art out of sterling silver (included with class). Tue., 6-8 p.m., Mar. 3-24. Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com. INTRO TO GARMENT SEWING: Students will focus on learning to read and follow a sewing pattern, take body measurements to choose a size, trace the pattern, prepare the fabric for cutting, cut the fabric, and transfer any pattern markings. In the second class students will sew the garment on a sewing machine. Students will leave with a wearable garment at the end of the class. Mon., 6-9 p.m., Feb. 3-10. Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague,

540-0761, education@generatorvt. com, generatorvt.com. MATERIAL EXPLORATION ON THE LASER CUTTER : This class will guide you through the creative process, from concept sketches to laser cutting the finished piece with a 60 watt CO2 laser. This class will focus on safety and tool training, along with conceptualizing and sculpting projects (using glass, wood, plastic, metal and paper). Each week will focus on a new material. Create personalized wooden boxes. Learn Rotary Tool on glassware or rod (wood or plastic). After feeling confident on the laser cutter and materials, you will create your own final project with the help of the instructor. You will have a strong understanding of the laser cutter as each week goes on, including lots of tricks and tips the instructor has learned along the way. Includes laser training. Thu., 6-8:30 p.m., Feb. 6-Mar. 5 (no class Feb. 27). Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com.

Brazil. A five-time Brazilian National Champion; International World Masters Champion and IBJJF World Masters Champion. Accept no Iimitations! Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

meditation LEARN TO MEDITATE: Taught by qualified meditation instructors at the Burlington Shambhala Meditation Center: Wed., 6-7 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-noon. Free and open to anyone. Free public meditation: weeknights, 6-7 p.m.; Tue. and Thu., noon-1 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-noon. Classes and retreats also offered. See our website at burlington.shambhala.org. Location: Burlington Shambhala Center, 187 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 658-6795.

language ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE: WINTER SESSION: Our six-week session starts on January 13. We are offering French classes for adults. We serve the entire range of students from the true beginners to those already comfortable conversing in French. Please go to aflcr.org and read about all of our offerings. 6 weeks beginning Jan. 13. Location: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, 43 King St., Burlington. Info: Micheline Tremblay, 881-8826, education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org. ANNOUNCING SPANISH CLASSES: Join us for adult Spanish classes this winter. Learn from a native speaker via small classes, individual instruction or student tutoring. You’ll always be participating and speaking. Lesson packages for travelers, lessons for young children; they love it! Our 14th year. See our website or contact us for details. Start week of Jan. 13. Cost: $270/10 weekly classes of 90+ min. each. Location: Spanish in Waterbury Center, Waterbury Center. Info: 585-1025, spanishparavos@gmail.com, spanishwaterburycenter.com.

martial arts THE BLACKSMITH’S KNIFE: The blacksmith’s knife is a forged blade, handle and all, from a single piece of steel, often incorporating twists, curls and other flourishes, created to practice basic smithing techniques while producing a useful tool. These knives are unique and offer many options for personal touches during the forging process. The students will get hands-on experience with tools like the forge, hammer, anvil and belt grinder. Wed., 6-9 p.m., Mar. 25-Apr. 15. Location: Generator, 40 Sears Lane, Burlington. Info: Sarah Sprague, 540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com.

VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: Brazilian jiujitsu is a martial arts combat style based entirely on leverage and technique. Brazilian jiujitsu self-defense curriculum is taught to Navy SEALs, CIA, FBI, military police and special forces. No training experience required. Easy-to-learn techniques that could save your life! Classes for men, women and children. Students will learn realistic bully-proofing and self-defense life skills to avoid becoming victims and help them feel safe and secure. Our sole purpose is to help empower people by giving them realistic martial arts training practices they can carry with them throughout life. IBJJF and CBJJ certified black belt sixthdegree instructor under Carlson Gracie Sr.: teaching in Vermont, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro,

performing arts VERMONT BURLESQUE FESTIVAL CLASSES: Want to improve your stage presence? Learn from experienced performers about the art of show business, standup comedy, burlesque dancing and how to prepare for a burlesque competition. All skill levels welcome. Read more about the classes online at sevendaystickets.com. Jan. 18. Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 101 Main St., Burlington. Info: Vermont Burlesque Festival, Cory Royer, 2766362, cory@vtburlesquefest. com, sevendaystickets. com/organizations/ vermont-burlesque-festival.

pilates PILATES MATWORK: Ongoing pilates classes. Tue.: Pilates/ Stretch, a flowing mat-work class that includes deep stretching. Thu.: Therapeutic Pilates, a mindful approach to pilates mat work. 5:15-6:15 p.m. Cost varies. All levels of ability welcome. No class Dec. 24, 26 & 31, and Jan. 2. cost varies. Location: Burlington Acupuncture and Therapeutic Pilates, 215 College St., #2C, Burlington. Info: Sharon, 522-3992, sharon@ burlingtonacupuncture.com, pilatesburlingtonacupuncture. com.

well-being 200-HOUR AYURVEDA INTEGRATION PROGRAM: Join us in learning and immerse yourself in the oldest surviving preventative health care system. This program is ideal for yoga teachers, counselors, therapists, bodyworkers, nurses, doctors, wellness coaches, herbalists, etc. VSAC approved and payment plans available. Can transfer hours to Kripalu’s Ayurveda Health Counselor program. More WELL-BEING

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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WELL-BEING

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and “twin tail” suspensions, pain-relief poses, and intuitive sequencing. $15 special: silkswingstudio.com/plans-pricing. Wed. & Fri., 10:30 a.m.; Thu., 6 p.m.; Sat., 4 p.m.; Sun., 10:30 a.m Cost: $35/person; $15 first-class pass avail. online. Location: Silk Swing Studio, The Soda Plant, 266 Pine St., above Tomgirl, Burlington. Info: Robin Lawson, 662-0012, silkswingstudio@gmail.com, silkswingstudio.com.

information at ayurvedavermont. com/classes. 2020 schedule: Feb. 8-9, Mar. 7-8, Apr. 4-5, May 2-3, Jun. 6-7, Jul. 11-12, Aug. 15-16, Sep. 12-13, Oct. 17-18, Nov. 14-15. Cost: $2,795/person. Location: The Ayurvedic Center of Vermont, 34 Oak Hill Rd., Williston. Info: Allison Morse, 872-8898, ayurvedavt@ comcast.net. GOOD GRIEF: THE ART OF GRIEVING: Have you experienced loss of a loved one, relationship, life transition or cultural/ancestral grief? Talking isn’t enough? Art-making provides color and texture in a time when life feels heavy/dull. Explore the art of grieving though music, art, movement, writing, and notice the shift that happens. No prior art experience required. Jan., 12, 19 & 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $240/person; $200/person if paid by Jan. 6; all materials incl.; Venmo @topazweis. Location: Expressive Arts Burlington, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3A, Burlington. Info: Topaz Weis, 343-8172, topazweis@gmx.net, expressiveartsburlington.com. HEALTH FOR HERSELF WOMEN’S WELLNESS GROUP: The Women’s Room, BTV. Need a health “reboot”? Whether your goals are to improve mental or physical health, capacity for stress management, or all of the above, this group covers it. Led by Kate

yoga Sherman, licensed counselor, health educator and fitness instructor, participants get tools to live and feel well! Starts Jan. 7, Tue., 6-7 p.m. Cost: $150/person for 4 weeks, or insurance may be used; sliding scale may be avail. Location: Soul Strength VT at Women’s Room @ Chace Mill, 1 Mill St., Suite 236, Burlington. Info: Kate Sherman, 734-9153, soulstrengthvt@gmail.com, soulstrengthvt.com/services. SWING YOUR PAIN AWAY: A luxurious and fun low-mount aerial silk practice that works with the body’s natural inclination to swing, bounce, writhe, roll, push, pull and grip to regulate and restore all systems and processes. Learn how to use both “hammock”

CHRISTMAS EVE CORE FLOW: Core Flow is a vigorous flow class that focuses on building core strength. Sequences are active and creative, often including sun salutations, arm balances and inversions. Core Flow is great for students looking for a stronger flow-style class, specifically focused on the core while still moving through a whole-body experience. Tue., Dec. 24, 12:30 -1:30 p.m. Cost: $10/suggested donation. Location: Sangha Studio-Pine, 120 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Taylor Downs, 448-4262, taylor@sanghastudio.org, sanghastudio.org. EVOLUTION YOGA: Practice yoga in a down-to-earth atmosphere with some of the most experienced teachers and therapeutic professionals in Burlington. All

are welcome. Try our Beginners Series, Tuesdays, November 5 to December 17. We are all beginners. This is your invitation to enjoy learning the basics and start exploring the benefits of a yoga practice. Daily drop-in classes including $10 community classes, Yoga Wall and Yoga Therapeutics classes led by physical therapists. Dive deeper into your practice! $10-$15/class; $140/10-class card; $10/community class. New students $100/10-class card. New! Student Monthly Unlimited just $55/mo. Location: Evolution Yoga, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: 864-9642, evolutionvt.com.

LET IT FLOW CHRISTMAS EVE YOGA: Join Sangha Studio for a balanced all-levels flow yoga class this Christmas Eve. Class will incorporate gentle breath work, moderate movement linking breath with movement, and a sprinkling of holiday cheer! Tue., Dec. 24, 4-5 p.m. Cost: $10/ suggested donation. Location: Sangha Studio-Pine, 120 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Taylor Downs, 448-4262, taylor@sanghastudio. org, sanghastudio.org. SANGHA STUDIO |: NONPROFIT, DONATION-BASED YOGA: Sangha Studio builds an empowered community through the shared practice of yoga. Free yoga service initiatives and outreach programs are offered at 17 local organizations working with all ages. Join Sangha in both downtown Burlington and the Old North End for one of their roughly 60 weekly classes and workshops. Become a Sustaining Member for $60/month and practice as often as you like! Daily classes. Location: Sangha Studio, 120 Pine St. & 237 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 448-4262, info@sanghastudio.org, sanghastudio.org. SLOW MASSAGE FLOW & RESTORE: Join Sangha Studio this Christmas Eve for a slow flow & restorative yoga practice designed to leave you refreshed for

the holiday ahead. Class will begin with a gentle yoga sequence to stretch and release tension before transitioning into comfortable restorative yoga postures. Beginners & all levels encouraged. Tue., Dec. 24, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Cost: $10/suggested donation. Location: Sangha StudioNorth, 237 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Taylor Downs, 448-4262, taylor@sanghastudio. org, sanghastudio.org.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/9/19 11:53 AM

LUKE AWTRY

music+nightlife

Stepping Out Jazz singer Thea Wren leans into pop-soul on new EP In Between BY JOR D AN A D AMS

ynthia Braren once worked as a singing telegram. She says she was “literally jumping out of cakes” at age 15, singing tailor-made ditties to “middleaged men on their birthdays.” If pressed, she can still sing some of the silly tunes she wrote back then. Current cultural standards aside, she looks back on those days fondly. “That was such a release for me,” she says in the conference room of a Burlington brand strategy company. Currently a small-business consultant, Braren studied music and dance all through her youth in Iowa. She got a professional start in both fields early on. Her home life left much to be desired, so she turned to the creative arts for validation and acceptance. “It was all I wanted to do,” she says. The 54-year-old artist has brilliant, chin-length silver hair and a youthful aura. She laughs frequently with infectious charm. Recently, she’s found new zest for her musical craft. A Vermonter for 16 years, Braren is known mostly for fronting the Cynthia Braren Trio. But the tried-and-true jazz standards and similarly groovy originals for which the group is known just weren’t satisfying her creative itch of late. After garnering some new connections in the local rock scene, Braren says she’s finally making music that’s truly representative of her inner self. She uses the stage name Thea Wren, an abstraction of her own name (cyn-THEA bra-WREN). Her brand-new debut record, In Between, showcases what’s on the other side of her transformation:

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

a pop-soul powerhouse with an eloquent point of view. She and a full band celebrate the EP’s release on Friday, December 27, at ArtsRiot in Burlington. In 2003, Braren relocated to Vermont from the Midwest with her husband and two young sons. As many transplants do, they sought a life in a more “relaxed” locale. Now a divorced empty-nester, she’s found room in her life to pursue a new creative direction with her music.

I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT

WHAT’S MISSING IN MY MUSIC. C YNTH IA BR AR E N

The road to In Between began when Braren met and began gigging with drummer Ezra Oklan. He’s known for his work with Kat Wright and as the front person of pop-rock outfit Matthew Mercury. “I really liked his sound,” she recalls. “I said [to Oklan], ‘I’m kinda done just standing behind the microphone. I want to move. I’m very familiar with using the whole stage, and I don’t do that right now.’” Braren felt psychologically and almost physically restricted by the safe music she played in the Cynthia Braren Trio. “I started to think about what’s missing in my music,” she says. “What is it about that tune right there that makes me want to move and play it over and over again? How come I don’t feel like that about my own music?”

Braren refers to Oklan as a “musical encyclopedia.” “He’s been the articulator for me of the ideas I couldn’t articulate myself,” she says. Thus began a process of working out the kinds of sounds, riffs, licks and tones — essentially all of the foundational building blocks — that define In Between. “She brought [me] rough demos that kind of sounded like jazz tunes,” Oklan says by phone. After recording basic tracks, Braren and Oklan brought in sonic wizard Jeremy Mendicino, a Burlington native known for his work at Lane Gibson Recording and Mastering. Mendicino also plays with Oklan in Matthew Mercury. “Ezra has a really great feel for overarching decision making,” he says, noting that his own strengths lie in the project’s fine details. “It’s a lot of asking questions and seeing what comes back.” Most of Braren’s closest musical associates appear throughout In Between’s seven tracks: trumpeter and host of Vermont Public Radio’s “Friday Night Jazz” program Ray Vega, saxophonist Bryan McNamara, keyboardist Peter Krag, and the Nth Power’s Nick Cassarino, to name a few. Together, they provide a dynamic and robust foundation for Braren’s songwriting. Most indicative of Braren’s headspace is the EP’s title track. A bit of modern, blue-eyed soul in the vein of Amy Winehouse and other Mark Ronson-produced late-aughts pop, “In Between” frames Braren as a person strong STEPPING OUT

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GOT MUSIC NEWS? JORDAN@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

FILE: MATTHEW THORSEN

B Y J O R D A N A D A MS

Jimmy T. Thurston (left) and Jamie Lee Thurston

End Times

Welcome to the beginning of the end — of Soundbites in 2019. The last weeks of the year are always a bit tricky. Next week’s column (spoiler alert) is dedicated to recapping some of the year’s most interesting and memorable newsy bits, and therefore doesn’t leave space to talk about New Year’s Eve. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to cover some December 31 happenings a little bit early. But before we do…

R.I.P.p.e.d.

I’d like to take a moment to honor the life of JIMMY T. THURSTON, one of the Vermont music scene’s most colorful characters. The outlaw rocker, father of country singer-songwriter JAMIE LEE THURSTON and fixture in local rock since the 1960s passed away earlier this week at the age of 78. (Full details of his death were not available at press time.) I didn’t know the elder Thurston personally, but looking over some of his recent work — namely, his wonderfully corny 2014 music video for a tune called “Homegrown Weed” — I’m disappointed I never got the chance to meet him. Seriously, anyone who would put that much effort into a novelty song about smoking weed is a hero in my book. Stream his latest work, the 2014 album Welcome to My Country and the 2016 EP VT’s #1 Outlaw, on Spotify. And check sevendaysvt.com for updates.

Last Words

A quick word on this week’s theme, Winter Reading: Earlier this year, singer-songwriter BEN ROQUE sent me a copy of his book The Midnight Cabaret just after Seven Days reviewed his new album, Amuser. It’s literally been sitting on my desk right next to my computer keyboard since I received it this summer, and I thought it might make for a bit of light — er, dark — reading during the upcoming bleak-AF winter months. Though not explicitly tied to his 2019 release, the book of short stories plays with the same kinds of wicked characters and gloomy situations heard on Roque’s 10-track record. Following the format of our recurring literary feature Page 32, in which we quickly summarize local books, here's an excerpt from the tome’s 32nd page: “The darkness took a firm grip upon Luna’s coronary arteries — as if they were a bouquet of flowers — and squeezed.” Yikes! Reach out to Roque via Instagram to obtain a copy for yourself.

Holly Jolly

Before Kris Kringle, Jesus, family gatherings or your new Disney+ account dominate all of your time next week, you might want to blow off some steam with a couple of fun, holiday-centered events this week. First and foremost is ArtsRiot’s

Holiday Extravaganza on Friday, December 20. It sounds like it’s going to be the second coming of Radio Bean’s annual birthday bash. That is, the Extravaganza boasts a huge lineup of eclectic bands and artists, each taking the stage for only a brief moment to deliver “stocking stuffer-sized sets.” Covering many bases, genre-wise, the night’s entertainment touches on indie rock (CLEVER GIRLS, PAPER CASTLES), indie pop (FRANCESCA BLANCHARD, COUCHSLEEPERS), country (EASTERN MOUNTAIN TIME, DANNY & THE PARTS), punk/garage rock (the PYROS, PREECE), soul (IVAMAE, HONEY & SOUL), and even some hard-to-classify music (the DEAD SHAKERS). Just like the Bean’s B-day celebration, the Extravaganza is a great way to get to know a bunch of the area’s choicest musical acts. Also preparing to warm your soul and stimulate your brain’s pleasure centers, Burlington standbys SWALE host their annual yuletide concert, Another Very Hairy Swalemess, on Saturday, December 21, at the Light Club Lamp Shop in Burlington. The four-piece rock group always has something special in store. For hints about what to expect, check out the band’s 2015 holiday EP, Kiss Mess. You can stream it for free on Bandcamp.

Blow It Up

And then comes New Year’s Eve — which lands on Tuesday, December 31, in case you hadn’t checked. Of note, Higher Ground doesn’t have a major music headliner holding down the Ballroom this year. Instead, the annual New Queers Eve celebration, which in past years has served up decadent fun in the adjacent Showcase Lounge, has moved into the larger space. That’s a noteworthy win for the queer community, given that the Ballroom’s capacity is more than double that of the Lounge. Ubiquitous drag queens EMOJI NIGHTMARE and NIKKI CHAMPAGNE host the event, which features hella performances from a gaggle of queens. Plus, Burlington carnival-punk outfit MIKU DAZA lay down a nightmarish set, as do mix masters DJVU and DJ RI-MIX. SOUNDBITES

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TUE 104.7 The Point welcomes 12.31

Soule Monde The High Breaks

FRI 12.20

Colin Quinn: Wrong Side of History

SAT 12.21

Motown for Kids

SUN 12.22

104.7 The Point welcomes

SUN 12.29

Moon Hooch

TUE 12.31

104.7 The Point welcomes

FRI 1.10

Matisyahu Mihali

Billy Dean Thomas

New Queers Eve

Kiss The Sky: The Jimi Hendrix Re-Experience Tribute

FRI 1.17

Dead Sessions

FRI 1.17

Troy Millette

SAT 1.18

Big Top feat. Don. Rico

MON 1.20

Atmosphere

2.21 3.14 3.20 4.14

Pattern Addict, Issac French

Boys Cruise, Pons

The Lioness, Nikki Jean, DJ keezy

Hey Nineteen: Tribute to Steely Dan Against Me! Dopapod Trevor Hall

1214 Williston Road, South Burlington 802-652-0777 @higherground @highergroundmusic SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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THE BEER FOR

UNDbites

C O NT I NU E D F RO M PA G E 6 1

OCCASIONS C

CMY

Daby Touré

Of course, the area’s biggest nightclub wouldn’t send you off into 2020 without a proper music show, albeit on a much smaller scale than in past years. RAY PACZKOWSKI and RUSS LAWTON (TREY ANASTASIO BAND) take over the Lounge with their funk-fueled project SOULE MONDE, with support from surf devils the HIGH BREAKS. Asses will surely be danced off. Capital City-bound folks might be interested to know that renowned bluesman DAVE KELLER is ringing in 2020 with a concert at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier. Keyboardist and longtime Keller collaborator IRA FRIEDMAN joins the soulful singer-songwriter. If you’re in the Burlington area and Higher Ground’s double whammy doesn’t suck you in, you’re probably planning to check out Highlight, the Queen City’s sprawling New Year’s Eve program. The Burlington City Arts- and Signal Kitchen-sponsored event replaced the long-standing First Night in 2018. Similarities exist between First Night and Highlight — namely, varied cultural events at numerous locations downtown, entry to which is covered by the purchase of a button. The biggest difference is that much of Highlight’s programming comes directly from proposals submitted by the public. As organizers pointed out at a press conference in November, this process makes Highlight even more community focused, as its agenda is not created by a closed-door planning committee. Though there’s much to see and do throughout the day, here are some top picks. The Nightshade Kitchen (see background info in our review of GUTHRIE GALILEO’s 3103 on page 65) takes over the BCA Center, with Mauritanian singersongwriter DABY TOURÉ headlining.

He’s been compared to artists such as YOUSSOU N’DOUR and HABIB KOITÉ. Folks in search of a heartwarming, low-key NYE can do no better. Blues trio DWIGHT & NICOLE have cooked up a mysterious event at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington called “Sound & Color.” A series of collaborations with special guests, the show is a must-see for lovers of rootsy, soulful jams. Check out highlight.community/ schedule for all of Highlight’s haps. And finally, Club Metronome hosts the homecoming of formerly omnipresent turntablist DJ SVPPLY. Now based in New York City, the party starter returns to the city that gave him his training wheels for another round of Move B*tch, the 2000s hip-hop-themed dance party. As always, please be safe and responsible this holiday season. Unless that gets in the way of your fun. I’m not your mom, for fuck’s sake.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

FROM THE EMPLOYEE-OWNERS OF SWITCHBACK

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EMERALDROSE GROWS has that perfect gift, Lights, Tents, Books, all kinds of soils and amendments, as well as gift certificates and of course our novelty seeds selections

Listening In If I were a superhero, my superpower would be the ability to get songs stuck in other people’s heads. Here are five songs that have been stuck in my head this week. May they also get stuck in yours. Follow sevendaysvt on Spotify for weekly playlists with tunes by artists featured in the music section. WESLEE, “Peaches” USHER, “U Got It Bad” LOU REBECCA, “Tonight” GEORGIA, “Started Out” PRINCESS NOSTALGIA, “Podium Playground”

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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CLUB DATES

music+nightlife

NA: NOT AVAILABLE. AA: ALL AGES.

live music

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WED.18

Chi Girl

Abby Sherman (folk) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8 p.m. Free.

— that never felt like a compliment. That

Burlington Songwriters’ Holiday Celebration (singer-songwriter) at the Double E Lounge at Essex Experience, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

always felt like work,” jokes

The Chicago-based comedian begins her hourlong program by discussing “black

Eva Kinnebrew and Will Davis (folk, soul) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

excellence” and her inclination to be just “aaiight.” She’s a master of such

Loose Ends (Americana) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free. Mike Martin and Geoff Kim (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Berklee American Roots Night at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free. Blackwolf (blues, Americana) at Edson Hill Dining Room & Tavern, Stowe, 6:30 p.m. Free. Chris Lyon (Americana) at Parker Pie Co., West Glover, 7 p.m. Free. Duncan MacLeod Blues Band at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Paige Thibault and Mom Tessner (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Swimmer, King Margo (jam) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $8.50.

Light Club Jazz Sessions and Showcase at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. Free.

Roy and the Wrecks (Americana) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Marty Fogel Quartet (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Schiller Duo (jazz, funk) at Sweet Melissa’s, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Vermont Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet & Counterpoint Chorus (classical, holiday) at Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall Restaurant, Stowe, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Out in the Valley Happy Hour at the Skinny Pancake, Hanover, N.H., 6:30 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (blues) at Tap 25, Stowe, 7:30 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams WED.18

Bluegrass Session at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free. Irish Sessions at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. John Lackard Blues Jam at Sweet Melissa’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Old Time Sessions at Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co., Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

Dana and Sue Robinson (folk) at Highland Lodge Restaurant, Greensboro, 6:30 p.m. Free.

around the world. Franklin performs

The Hot Pickin’ Party (bluegrass) at the Daily Planet, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Shane Hardiman Trio (jazz) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

ARTS NEWS + VIEWS

Brass Balagan (global, klezmer) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Discotick (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

THU.19-SAT.21 // MARINA FRANKLIN [STANDUP]

Guthrie Galileo Plays Ursha Baby (Usher covers) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 8 p.m. $8.

Bombay (rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

screen credits, and at comedy festivals

Club in Burlington. CHARLES MCBEE opens.

First Taste: Greaseface, David Chief (punk) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $1.

Katie Lyon (singer-songwriter) at 1st Republic Brewing Company, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Dark Star Project (Grateful Dead tribute) at Monkey House, Winooski, 5 p.m. Free.

19 through 21, at the Vermont Comedy

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free.

Bob Gagnon (jazz) at El Toro, Morrisville, 7 p.m. Free.

staff writer on the HBO comedy

Thursday through Saturday, December

Savage Hen, Kiefcatcher (metal) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Jonah Salzman: Love Songs and Hate Songs (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Chris Powers (rock covers) at Gusto’s, Barre, 5 p.m. Free.

on the sketch comedy series “Inside

The Ray Vega Latin Jazz Sextet at Juniper, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Bob Cotton (singer-songwriter) at the Tap Room at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

self-deprecating humor. A former

Amy Schumer,” among other on-

Nico Suave’s Improv Surprise (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Band at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 9 p.m. Free.

The Brevity Thing (folk-rock) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 6 p.m. Free.

“Divorce,” she’s made appearances

The Mosaic Band (jam, funk) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5/8. 18+.

Andrew Kaneb (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MARINA FRANKLIN

in her standup special “Single Black Female.”

Dale and Darcy Band (bluegrass, Celtic) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.19

“Strong, black woman

Astrocat, Preece (disco-grunge) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. $5.

FRI.20 Andy Hoadley (Americana) at Twiggs — An American Gastropub, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Sam Whitesell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Seafood, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Good Noise (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10-20. Heartless (Heart and Led Zeppelin tribute) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. $5. The High Breaks (surf) at Hostel Tevere, Warren, 9 p.m. Free. Holiday Extravaganza (eclectic) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jack in the Pulpit (covers) at Sweet Melissa’s, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.21

THU.19

Open Mic with Alex Budney at Localfolk Smokehouse, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.22

Mike Brinkman’s Open Mic at City Limits Night Club, Vergennes, 8:30 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue at Red Square, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free.

Southern Old Time Music Jam at Bagitos Bagel and Burrito Café, Montpelier, 10 a.m. Free. Traditional Pub Sing-Along at Radio Bean, Burlington, 3:30 p.m. Free.

MON.23

Roan Yellowthorn, the Mountain Carol (indie pop) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (solo acoustic blues) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Seth Yacovone Band, Pen Hits (rock, blues) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $6.

SAT.21 Angelikah Fahray (soul) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Another Very Hairy Swalemess (rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Big Hat, No Cattle (Western swing) at Sweet Melissa’s, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

Jeff Wheel (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Seafood, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Christmas Blues Jam at the Double E Lounge at Essex Experience, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Red Admiral (rock, country) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Friday Morning Sing-Along with Linda Bassick & Friends (kids’ music) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free.

Tom Caswell Blues Jam at Hatch 31, Bristol, 7 p.m. Free.

Irish Session at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Phil Abair Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Robin Gottfried Band (rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Irish Session at Bagitos Bagel and Burrito Café, Montpelier, 2 p.m. Donation.

The Big Pick (open bluegrass jam) at Hatch 31, Bristol, 8 p.m. Free.

Paydirt (country, rock) at Stone Corral Brewery, Richmond, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Especially Cowboys (bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.20

LUX the Band (funk, soul) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

REDadmiral (rock, Americana) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Austtin at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Coffee Corner Jam Session (acoustic) at Bagitos Bagel and Burrito Café, Montpelier, 7:30 a.m. Free.

Lloyd Tyler Band (rock) at Tap 25, Stowe, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Emma Back presents She Sings Out Loud Showcase featuring Emma Cook, Fern Maddie and Amerykanka (folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5-10.

Honky Tonk Happy Hour with Mark LeGrand at Sweet Melissa’s, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free.

For up-to-the-minute news about the local music scene, read the Live Culture blog: sevendaysvt.com/liveculture.

Kind Bug and Nug (jam) at Topnotch Resort, Stowe, 4:30 p.m. Free.

Family Night (open jam) at SideBar, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.21

» P.66

Open Mic at SideBar, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Open Mic Night with Kyle Stevens at the Double E Lounge at Essex Experience, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.25

Open Mic with Austtin at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

GOT MUSIC NEWS? JORDAN@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

REVIEW this Guthrie Galileo, 3103 (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Guthrie Galileo is the biggest Usher fan in Vermont. Not only does the Burlington R&B singer-songwriter and impresario host an annual Valentine’s Day concert of all-Usher songs, but he just released an album composed entirely of Usher covers called 3103. Real name Guthrie Stoltzfus, the 26-year-old artist is primarily known for cultivating the Nightshade Kitchen, a low-key concert series that combines food, drink and music. Out of that grew the Nightshade Festival, a yearly twoday excursion that highlights local and regional music talent, as well as the culinary chops of many up-and-coming local chefs. And now he’s doing A&R for Charlotte-based record label Cumbancha as well as for Putumayo. Busy guy. While artists sometimes make tribute albums as a goof or novelty, 3103 doesn’t come off like something Stoltzfus did on a whim. The eight tracks comprise a

Dino Bravo, Blind by Midnight (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Dino Bravo are, first and foremost, a party waiting to happen. The Burlington-based rock band has won a loyal following with lunatic live shows and self-deprecating humor. After honing its catalog in front of crowds for close to a decade, the quartet released a debut LP, Blind by Midnight. It is an all-killer, no-filler affair. Matthew Stephen Perry has both the name and the pipes for the leading-man gig. His shoutbox has the kind of gritty charisma rock absolutely needs. The singer might not be David Lee Roth-ing every note through a brick wall here, but he’s got the energy and chops to sell every song. And he does it while holding down a mean rhythm guitar. This, perhaps, is the band’s secret sauce. You see, for all their howling fury, Dino Bravo are like an exceptionally controlled explosion. The interplay

highly developed, gorgeously appointed homage to the artist’s musical hero. Stoltzfus arranged and performed nearly every sound heard, and he also mixed and mastered the project. He mainly picks from Usher’s midcareer albums, plucking tracks such as “You Make Me Wanna” from the Atlanta-associated crooner’s 1997 album My Way. (That was before Usher stopped using the y and o in the word “you.”) Three tunes come from the similarly titled 8701. But what’s the connection? The numbers in Usher’s album, 87 and 01, represent the years between when he first sang in public (1987) to the year the album came out (2001). Coyly, Stoltzfus keeps a tight lip as to what his numbers mean. Meandering back and forth between faithful covers and complete reinventions, Stoltzfus finds a healthy balance. Indeed, 3103’s version of 8701’s “Hottest Thing” is true to the source material, its light new-jack-swing beats skittering under Stoltzfus’ smooth vocals. But on “Twork It Out,” he revitalizes

a fairly forgettable deep cut as a dramatic, piano-led ballad that flirts with tropical beats. Stoltzfus’ take seethes with sex and urgency. While Usher puts his vocals up front on “U Got It Bad,” Stoltzfus puts thunderous piano chords and a vortex of clacking beats in the forefront. But then the floor drops out, leaving only the singer’s layered harmonies as he sings, “I’m your man / You’re my girl / I’m gonna tell it to the whole wide world.” His take on “You Make Me Wanna” is fuller and thicker than the original, adding in trumpet and saxophone courtesy of Margot Van Horne and Avery Cooper, respectively. The throbbing banger opens with loose handclaps before unfurling its full sound. Stoltzfus’ fascination with Usher is itself rather fascinating. Usher’s songs overflow with emphatic sexuality and romance without treading into the dangerous waters of misogyny, as is all too easy in hypersexual music. Here, Stoltzfus absorbs and reconstitutes the work of a true romantic. 3103 is available at guthriegalileo.bandcamp.com. Guthrie Galileo performs on Thursday, December 19, at ArtsRiot in Burlington.

between Perry and lead guitarist Chris Farnsworth — a regular Seven Days contributor — is careful and precise, propelled by a top-notch rhythm section: Joshua Shedaker on bass and backing vocals — and occasionally keyboard — and Jeff Labossiere on drums. It’s also clear that, beneath their rock animal shtick — their name is taken from a pro wrestler, after all — Dino Bravo are earnest students of the game. They pillage from a wide array of sources, as much Ric Ocasek as Randy Rhoads, and they know how to synthesize all that, too. Album opener “The Aerialists” hits like a ton of bricks, but it’s also a melodic track that hearkens back to the 1990s heyday of alternative-rock bands such as Screaming Trees or Dinosaur Jr. — especially when that lead guitar solo starts to soar. A rock band that harmonizes decades of subgenres and scenes into a muscular, musical hybrid winds up sounding … well, very ’90s. The decade was really the high-water mark for that sort of thing, and Dino Bravo do an expert job of capturing that aesthetic here.

Nowhere is the band’s ’90s sheen more obvious than on “Pop Music,” which could have been an honest-toGod college-radio hit 25 years ago. It’s a tightly written, catchy tune with real bite. The album closes with “Past the Mark,” an extended suite of pure, burning power. The shifting dynamics and tight turns make for a fun ride on headphones, but this is clearly meant to be experienced live, at an uncomfortably high volume. And that’s really the best possible outcome for a rock band’s debut, no? Blind by Midnight is essentially a 22-minute advertisement for Dino Bravo’s live show. It’s also another professional piece of work from the prolific Ryan Cohen of Williston’s Robot Dog Studio. He’s been a hardworking, integral part of the BTV scene for years, but his mixing game has notably improved in recent years. Everything here sounds fantastically full and pure. I’d normally wrap up by urging you to check out this album — you can listen at dinobravo1.bandcamp.com — but the reality is, you have no choice. None of us does. Eventually, Dino Bravo are going to find you and convert you. Beware.

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED:

JORDAN ADAMS

JUSTIN BOLAND

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

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

COMEDY

music+nightlife

5 NIGHTS

A WEEK

live music

THIS WEEKEND:

SAT.21 CONTINUED FROM P.64

THU 19 | FRI 20 | SAT 21

Blackwolf (Americana) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 9 p.m. Free. BON/FIRE (AC/DC tribute) at Tres Amigos & Rusty Nail Stage, Stowe, 9 p.m. $8/12. Carter Glass (rock) at Hostel Tevere, Warren, 9 p.m. Free.

MARINA

Cash Journey (Johnny Cash tribute) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

FRANKLIN NEXT WEEKEND: FRI 27 | SAT 28

PHIL

HANLEY LOCAL STANDUP SHOWCASE:

FANNY PACK COMEDY! SUNDAY, DEC 29 @ 7PM

Chris and Erica (rock, country) at Smitty’s Pub, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Dana and Sue Robinson (folk) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free. Django Soulo (singer-songwriter) at the Old Foundry at One Federal Restaurant & Lounge, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Electrolads, Gagu & Jawz, Nowhere Washington (live electronica) at Positive Pie, Montpelier, 10:30 p.m. $5. ELEVEN (rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free. Everyone’s Invited (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5.

CLUB DATES

comedy WED.18

Open Mic at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.19

Marina Franklin, Charles McBee (standup) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15. Very Improv Xmas at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5.

FRI.20

Colin Quinn: Wrong Side of History (standup) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 9 p.m. $35/38. Marina Franklin, Charles McBee (standup) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9:30 p.m. $20/27.

SAT.21

Marina Franklin, Charles McBee (standup) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9:30 p.m. $20/27.

The Flycatchers (country) at El Toro, Morrisville, 7 p.m. Free.

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Fred Brauer (rock, country) at Twiggs — An American Gastropub, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Lloyd Tyler Band (rock) at Stone Corral Brewery, Richmond, 8 p.m. Free.

Glass Onion (rock) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9:30 p.m. Free.

Marshall Dominguez and Friends (jam) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Good Noise (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10-20.

Green Kettle Band (bluegrass) at 8v-vtcomedyclub121819Edgewater 1 Gallery 12/13/19 10:35 AMRadio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Grippo Funk Band at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $7.

WINTER WORKSHOP SERIES

Handsome Hound Holiday Hullabaloo at the Skinny Pancake, Hanover, N.H., 7 p.m. Free. Honey & Soul, Marcie Hernandez (soul, folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:45 p.m. $5/10. 18+. Jack Schroeder (singer-songwriter) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Motown for Kids at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, noon. $15. The Path, Doom Service, No Soul, Comrade Nixon (punk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $5. Ricky Golden (rock covers) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free. The Rough Suspects (rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Scottish Fish (traditional Scottish) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 3:30 p.m. Free. SixFoxWhiskey (funk, jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

FRI.20 // BRASS BALAGAN [GLOBAL, KLEZMER]

Red Letter Fixtures at public protests, the Waking Windows music festival and other arty local gatherings, Burlington

collective BRASS BALAGAN are impossible to ignore. Perpetually clad in bloodred jumpsuits, the polyphonic, horn-heavy ensemble specializes in global folk music. Specifically, its repertoire centers on the styles stemming from Eastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula, an area known as a cultural crossroads. With a righteous attitude and infectious energy, the group makes a lasting impression. Brass Balagan perform on Friday, December 20, at Radio Bean in

SAT.21

» P.68

Burlington.

JANUARY 17th -19th

MATT BROWN

djs

Introduction to Japanese Color Woodblock Printmaking

- $525 per student -

FEBRUARY 15th Kitchen Table Art

- $180 per student MARCH 7th - 8th

WED.18

DJ Disco Phantom (open format) at Finnigan’s Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (eclectic vinyl) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $5.

DJ Two Sev (open format) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

DJ Pilaf (hip-hop) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

THU.19

D Jay Baron (open format) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

ROBERT O’BRIEN

Painting the Winter Landscape

DJ A-RA$ (open format) at Red Square, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

- $260 per student APRIL 4th

SAGE TUCKER KETCHAM Imaginary Landscape

- $195 per student -

For more information call 802.458.0098 or visit edgewatergallery.com One Mill Street | Middlebury, VT 802.458.0098 | www.edgewatergallery.com

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DJ Hatrixk (house) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11:59 p.m. $5.

Chromatic (hip-hop) at Half Lounge, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

JANE DAVIES

DJ Craig Mitchell (open format) at Ruben James, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019 12/12/19 11:39 AM

DJ Abby and Friends (vinyl DJs) at Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. DJ Bay 6 (hits) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free. DJ Bodel (hip-hop, R&B) at SideBar, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

FRI.20

¡Baila Baila Baila! Latinx Dance Party with DJ Raul and DJ JP at Club Metronome, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. DJ ATAK (open format) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. DJ Craig Mitchell (open format) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. $5. DJ Disco Phantom (open format) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

godpaco (house) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (eclectic vinyl) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $5. No Scrubs ’90s Night with DJ Two Sev at Club Metronome, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.22

SAT.21

Disco Brunch with DJ Craig Mitchell at Misery Loves Co., Winooski, 11 a.m. Free.

DJ 2 Rivers (open format) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Pablo (open format) at Tres Amigos & Rusty Nail Stage, Stowe, 9 p.m. $5.

DJ A-RA$ (open format) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. $5.

Open Decks at Half Lounge, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ ATAK (house) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. $5.

MON.23

DJ Earl (hits) at City Limits Night Club, Vergennes, 9 p.m. Free. DJ Kaos (hits) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9:30 p.m. $3. DJ Raul (Latin) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Jack Bandit and Friends (EDM) at Half Lounge, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Motown Mondays with DJs Craig Mitchell and Fattie B at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. Free.

EVENTS ON SALE AT SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM Vermont Burlesque Festival Classes

The SantaLand Diaries

OVER A DOZEN TO CHOOSE FROM — SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS SAT., JAN. 18 HILTON GARDEN INN, BURLINGTON

WED., DEC. 18; THU., DEC. 19; SAT., DEC. 21; SUN., DEC. 22 OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS

Vermont Womenpreneurs Holiday “Office” Party

Kids in the Kitchen: Fire It Up!

WED., JAN. 22 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

THU., DEC. 19 STUDY HALL, BURLINGTON

Queen City Ghostwalk’s Ghosts of Christmas Past Holiday Lights Bus Tour

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

New Year’s Eve Celebration

Teton Gravity Research Roadless Premier

TUE., DEC. 31 HOTEL VERMONT, BURLINGTON

THU., JAN. 23 OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE, BURLINGTON

New Year at the Opera

Spice on Snow Winter Music Festival

THU., JAN. 23 — SAT., JAN. 25 DUDLEY H. DAVIS CENTER, BURLINGTON

FRI., DEC. 20; SAT., DEC. 21 345 PINE STREET, BURLINGTON

SAT., JAN. 4 MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER — BLACK BOX THEATER, BURLINGTON

FRI., JAN. 24 — SUN., JAN. 26 VARIOUS VENUES IN MONTPELIER — SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

Pierogi Making Workshop

Family Night Out

WED., JAN. 8 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

SAT., JAN. 25 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Winter Wildlife and Tracking: UnSchool at Audubon

Tricky Tracks: Family Tracking Program

Date Night January

Winter Wilderness Skills: UnSchool at Audubon

SAT., FEB. 1 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN AUDUBON CENTER, HUNTINGTON

THU., JAN. 9 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN AUDUBON CENTER, HUNTINGTON

FRI., JAN. 10 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

THU., FEB. 13 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN AUDUBON CENTER, HUNTINGTON

Ethiopian/Eritrean Pop-Up Dinner

Date Night February

SAT., JAN. 11 O’BRIEN COMMUNITY CENTER, WINOOSKI

FRI., FEB. 14 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Ethiopian Cooking Class: Meat and Veggie Sauces

Date Night March

FRI., MAR. 13 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

TUE., JAN. 14 RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

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12/13/19 1:01 PM

music+nightlife live music SAT.21 CONTINUED FROM P.66

CLUB DATES

Karaoke with DJ Jon Berry & DJ Coco at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

SUN.22 // MATISYAHU [ROCK]

Trivia at Hardwick Street Café at the Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 6 p.m. Free.

Sixth Finger of Jazz at the Double E: T10 Listening Room, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. $15/20.

Trivia Mania at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Spencer Lewis Trio (folk-rock) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night with Dave Williams at Babes Bar, Bethel, 7 p.m. Free.

The Sugarsnap Trio (folk) at Tap 25, Stowe, 7:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.20

Western Terrestrials (Americana) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Happy Hour Tunes & Trivia with Gary Peacock at Monopole Downstairs, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

SUN.22

Karaoke at JP’s Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Ben Balivet with John Summa (folk-rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Dave Bourgea at Burlington St. John’s Club, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Glass Onion (rock) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Dave Williams at Babes Bar, Bethel, 7 p.m. Free.

JC Sutton & Sons (bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

SAT.21

Marcie Hernandez (folk, Latin) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Mike Lambert at Park Place Tavern, Essex Junction, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Matisyahu, Mihali (rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $28/30.

SUN.22

Matt Hagen’s Murder Ballads (folk) at Hostel Tevere, Warren, 4 p.m. Free. Old Sky (Americana) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, noon. Free. Old Sky and Friends (Americana) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Groove Is in the Heart Matthew Paul Miller, better known as

Karaoke with Samantha Dickey at Ruben James, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. MATISYAHU,

has been a prominent

force in the jam and jam-adjacent communities since the early 2000s. His music, a blissed-out blend that touches on reggae, funk, EDM and hip-hop, exudes a strong sense of spirituality. Throughout his career, Miller has teamed up

MON.23

with numerous industry heavy hitters, from the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean to pop superstar Ariana Grande. With music that's

Erin Cassels-Brown (indie folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 5 p.m. Free.

danceable as well as contemplative, the artist is particularly known for electrifying live performances. Catch Matisyahu

MAD (synth-pop, rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Pattern Addict (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Sarah King (singer-songwriter) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free. Seth Yacovone at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 7 p.m. Free. Share the Light: A Hanukkah Party featuring the VT Klezmer Ensemble at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 5:30 p.m. $47.

on Sunday, December 22, at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. Local singer-songwriter and Twiddle front person MIHALI adds support.

WED.25 Kind Bud and Kitty (holiday) at the Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe, 11 a.m. Free. The Ray Vega Quartet (jazz) at Juniper, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

MON.23 ‘The Family Stone’ (film screening) at Babes Bar, Bethel, 7 p.m. Free. Karaoke with Rob Jones at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free. Lamp Shop Lit Club (open reading) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.24

trivia, karaoke, etc. WED.18 The House of Madam presents Winter Wonderland Prom Drag Bingo at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke at JP’s Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Karaoke with DJ Amanda Rock at City Limits Night Club, Vergennes, 9 p.m. Free. Trivia Night at Parker Pie Co., West Glover, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Night at Stone Corral Brewery, Richmond, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Tim Rouselle at Mill River Brewing BBQ & Smokehouse, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.19

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (film screening) at Babes Bar, Bethel, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia with Top Hat Entertainment at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke at Hatch 31, Bristol, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.25

Karaoke at JP’s Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night at Parker Pie Co., West Glover, 7 p.m. Free. m

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Stepping Out ÂŤ P.60 enough to go with lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flow without being swept away by it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So what if I am afraid? / Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gonna do its own thing anyway / I find comfort in the loss / Of me always trying to be the boss,â&#x20AC;? she sings over saxophone crescendos and snappy snares. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think she picks interesting subject matter,â&#x20AC;? says Krag. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her lyrics are personal, [and] the subject matter is different from what you might hear on pop radio.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trees Standing Still,â&#x20AC;? a dreamy, synthdriven number with shuffling beats and a wild, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s hair-band guitar solo courtesy of Cassarino, hints at the bittersweetness of watching children grow into independence.

Best

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lyrically, her songwriting is really [based] in the present,â&#x20AC;? Oklan posits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s singing about things that are really important right now.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anyway,â&#x20AC;? a gently swung slow jam with a heart-wrenching Vega trumpet solo, hints at the indignities women experience on a daily basis. Though its theme is heavy, the song is one of the recordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catchiest, transitioning from a 6/8 time signature to a peppy 4/4 in a spiraling R&B breakdown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel like thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an aspect of dark music thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really moving,â&#x20AC;? Braren says. If things had gone according to plan, In Between would have been completed nearly a year ago. But a car accident, which left Braren with a temporary neurological disorder called post-concussion syndrome

as well as other health concerns, delayed the process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the record pulled me through,â&#x20AC;? she says. Brarenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lyrical vulnerability only bolsters her real-life confidence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The liberating part is when sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s able to share that with a group of musicians,â&#x20AC;? says Krag. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gets elevated to a new plane.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a star quality,â&#x20AC;? says Mendicino. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a powerful human being. Though sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only starting out on this chapter as a professional musician, she has a confidence and ease about life because sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s raised kids and [accomplished] a lot.â&#x20AC;? As part of In Betweenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rollout, Braren released a live in-studio video for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Just Me,â&#x20AC;? a funk-lite jam with a sweeping hook.

In one continuous shot, Braren emphatically leads her band with the mastery of someone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been making this type of music for years. She exudes not just confidence but control as calculated body movements accentuate key lyrics. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tantalizing preview of what to expect live. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wrote this album feeling very in between,â&#x20AC;? Braren admits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the time it was done, I was like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not there anymore.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? m Contact: jordan@sevendaysvt.com

INFO Thea Wren performs on Friday, December 27, 8 p.m., at ArtsRiot in Burlington. AA. $8. artsriot.com

RIVER

LOCAL INGREDIENTS, FAMILY RECIPES & OUR VERY OWN CRAFT BEER

Â?Â?Â? Â?Â Â Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201A;

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8/6/19 2:27 PM

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/16/19 6:53 PM

Everybody’s Beeswax

art

“Let It Bee,” Garage Cultural Center B Y S U S A N L A R SO N

crinkled waxed paper and various fabrics to remove some of the layering and create texture in her paintings. “It’s so rich in the ways I can explore what I’m putting down and what I’m taking off,” Sandman said. “I love it.” She has 12 paintings in the exhibit. “All were completed in 2019, when I’ve been focused on creating a body of prayer for how the world will move forward in a good way, because we’re in such a tenuous place,” Sandman said. “I felt they were naturally the ones to choose, given the theme of the exhibit.” Her painting “Creation” showed its true nature only after a long process. “If only we could peel it back and see all the

REVIEW

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

COURTESY OF GARAGE CULTURAL CENTER

"Saving the Bees" by Peggy Smith

layers underneath,” she said. “Each underpainting has its own story and informs the painting that comes on top of it.” Smith’s photo-encaustic paintings also have stories, which come to her as she works. She begins with a photo, which has its own meaning. Encaustic transforms it into something else. Smith, who has been working with encaustic for a year, discovered the medium through a photography group to which she belongs. “Encaustics called to me the minute I saw how one could turn a photograph into a three-dimensional piece, with the light coming from the inside reflecting out due to the wax,” the Stowe resident said. COURTESY OF GARAGE CULTURAL CENTER/ DOROTHY KOVAL

odi Kelly had been thinking an exhibit of encaustic works and was about the pollinator crisis intrigued by how the quality of luminosfor several months when she ity was different from other surfaces I’d decided to curate an exhibit to seen,” she said. Friedman took multiple promote the protection of bees. It fit the workshops to learn both hot and cold wax purpose of the Garage Cultural Center, methods. which she and her husband, Dan Kelly, The Rupert resident, who has 15 paintopened in Montpelier ings in the exhibit, said surface quality and in May. “It’s a space materiality have always interested her. where the community “Every kind of material you use creates a can come together to kind of surface of its own,” she said. create, educate and inspire each other,” For her painting “Upside Down,” Friedshe said. “What better way than to man used molded papers she found that address a crucial topic through art?” were originally meant for use in modular Kelly contacted the Vermont Crafts building construction. She added encausCouncil and the Vermont Center for tic in many layers. “As I worked and turned Photography and told them she wanted the piece, it looked like bowling pins right to bring awareness to the plight of the bee side up, wine bottles upside down and a with an exhibit of encaustic and other landscape on its side,” she said. “There was wax-based works. this form that was coming through, and “It’s an ancient form of art that few I was accentuating the differences with people know anything about,” she said. “I coloration.” wanted people to experience it.” As with Friedman, Sandman’s work in Kelly’s research led to Vermonters wax also was inspired by an exhibition. Dona Mara Friedman, Jan Sandman and After seeing abstract artist Helen ShulPeggy Smith, the featured artists in “Let man’s cold wax paintings, Sandman took It Bee.” a workshop from the painter three years Encaustic was a common technique ago. She hasn’t stopped working in the in ancient Greek and Roman painting; medium since. modern users have included artists “Cold wax has the sense of being sculpJasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. tural, because it’s thick, and it’s applied A mixture of beeswax, dammar resin with tools like palette knives, silicon scrapand paint pigment are kept molten on a ers and your hands,” said the Montpelier heated palette. The temperature must be resident. She also uses materials such as regulated closely, as the mixture gives off toxic fumes if heated too high. "Upside Down" by Dona Mara Friedman Cold wax was first developed as a protective coating. Made from beeswax, mineral spirits and a hardener, it gave paintings a cleanable surface, Friedman explained. With either hot or cold wax, an artist can build up the textural surface of an artwork, but the finished surface of each is different. Cold wax produces a matte finish, while encaustic produces a luminous one. It was the latter that first drew Friedman to the art form. “I saw

ART SHOWS

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

"Creation" by Jan Sandman

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IT’S SO RICH IN THE WAYS I CAN EXPLORE

WHAT I’M PUTTING DOWN AND WHAT I’M TAKING OFF. JAN SANDMAN

“I am a sculptor, and the encaustic is like sculpture to me,” Smith continued. “I layer wax and colors, and then print the image on tissue paper, which embeds it into the wax, giving it a photo-transfer look. If I don’t like it, I can just heat it and take all or parts of it off. It’s exciting to see it come together. I love the mystery of it.” In “Saving the Bees,” one of Smith’s 10 works in the exhibit, she began with a photograph of a bee taken by her friend Dorothy Koval. “I thought, How do we save things? We put things in jars — food, honey, marbles, etc.,” Smith said. “It became a metaphor for saving bees. They are precious. People save their precious things in jars. That’s how the story came to me.” All three artists and the curator appreciate the cohesiveness of the

exhibit. “I feel all the paintings resonate with each other,” Sandman said. “The beeswax, colors and sensibility create a feeling of harmony throughout. It’s beautiful.” “The conversation Jodi is offering the public is fabulous,” Friedman said. “She wants people to enjoy and love the pollinators and understand there is a problem. That’s part of my narrative as I work. I love nature and draw from it, while also being very disturbed by what is happening to our natural environment. The disturbance to nature includes all of us.” m

INFO “Let It Bee” is on view through January 12 at the Garage Cultural Center in Montpelier. garageartsvt.com Untitled-8 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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art NEW THIS WEEK northeast kingdom

f MWANGA WILLIAM: “From Uganda to Vermont,” paintings by the native Ugandan and Newport resident. Reception: Friday, December 20, 5-7 p.m. December 20-January 25. Info, 323-7759. The 99 Gallery and Center in Newport.

ART EVENTS COMMUNITY ART OPEN STUDIO: A self-guided art-making event for all ages. Many art materials to choose from. (No class December 25 or 26.) Expressive Arts Burlington, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Thursdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Donations. Info, 343-8172. PETER MILLER: Photographs of Vermont taken over 60 years, as well as autographed books of portraits and text about rural Vermonters by the award-winning photographer and author. Also open weekends and by appointment. Peter Miller Photography, Waterbury, Thursdays, 11:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Info, 272-8851. PHOTO CO-OP: Lens lovers gather to share their experience and knowledge of their craft. Gallery at River Arts, Morrisville, third Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m. $5. Info, 888-1261. TRICE STRATMANN STUDIO SALE: The Vermont artist opens her ceramic studio to holiday shoppers. Trice Stratmann Pottery, South Burlington, Sunday, December 22, 1-3 p.m. Info, ta.stratmann@gmail.com.

ONGOING SHOWS burlington

ALEXEI DMITRIEV: Multimedia installation marrying footage from classic films with the new music of Zelany Rashoho. Through December 31. Info, 391-4083. The Gallery at Main Street Landing in Burlington. ATHENA PETRA TASIOPOULOS & KATRINE HILDEBRANDT-HUSSEY: Collage and mixed media in 2D and 3D by the Vermont artists. Through January 31. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington. BRENDAN BUSH: “A Cross Section,” artwork with intersecting colors, interrupted visual patterns and imperfect lines, reflecting the artist’s attempts at love and acceptance of self. Through February 29. Info, 859-9222. Speeder & Earl’s Coffee in Burlington. ‘CONTRAST’: A new exhibition by the Art Tribe — Melanie Brotz, Annie Caswell, LaVerne Ferguson, Kara Greenblott, Billie Miles, Lynne Reed, Kelley Taft and Beth Young — who are dedicated to supporting and encouraging each other in making art. Through December 27. Info, 598-7420. MELANIE BROTZ: “Visions of the Camino de Santiago,” a series of paintings inspired by the artist’s recent walk across Spain. Through December 24. Info, mel@burlingtontelecom. net. Flynndog Gallery in Burlington.

‘CREW NECK’: New artwork from 12 artists using T-shirts as their canvas: Annemarie Buckley, Noah Butkus, Aaron Draplin, Cody Hudson, Marin Horikawa, Scott Lenhardt, Sarah Letteney, Zak Jensen, Byron O’Neill, Tyler Stout, Jackson Tupper and Ty Williams. Proceeds from sales will be used to provide art classes for children. Through March 5. Info, 2332943. Safe and Sound Gallery in Burlington.

‘TRANSITIONS’: A group exhibition of some 16 artists represented by the gallery, marking the change of ownership from founders Joan Furchgott and Brad Sourdiffe to longtime employee Lara Maloy. Through January 31. Info, 985-3848. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne.

‘TRANSCENDENT: SPIRITUALITY IN CONTEMPORARY ART’: A group exhibition of nationally recognized artists who explore or evoke themes of spirituality through their work, reflecting on questions of human nature, cultural identity and sanctity in everyday life. Artists include Anila Quayyam Agha, Leonardo Benzant, Maïmouna Guerresi, Shahzia Sikander, Zarina, and Vermontbased artists Sandy Sokoloff and Shelley Warren. Through February 8. Info, 865-7166. ‘TRAVIS SHILLING: TYRANNOSAURUS CLAN’: The Canadian Ojibwe painter debuts a new series of work that explores the environmental impact of industry and the threat of extinction to the animal realm and indigenous culture. Through February 8. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.

‘200 YEARS—200 OBJECTS’: In the final celebratory year of the university’s bicentennial, the museum exhibits a curated selection of artifacts, documents and images from the school’s collections. Through December 21. Info, 485-2886. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University in Northfield.

chittenden county

‘HOPES AND FEARS’: Inspired by an article in the Atlantic about a similar exhibit in a New York art gallery, the library put out red boxes to collect comments about patrons’ hopes and fears, and now has them displayed in the Kolvoord Community Room. Visitors can continue to add their own comments. Through December 31. Info, 878-6955. Brownell Library in Essex Junction. ‘JOEL BARBER & THE MODERN DECOY’: The first major exhibition to explore the life, collections and artwork of Barber (1876-1952), with objects including decoys, drawings, photographs and watercolor paintings from the museum’s collection. Through January 12. Info, 985-3346. Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education, Shelburne Museum. JUDITH LERNER: Vividly colored landscape paintings by the Vermont artist. Through December 20. Info, 660-8808. Dorset Street Dermatology in South Burlington. MICHAEL STRAUSS: Acrylic paintings by the Vermont artist. Through December 29. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho. ‘THIS LAND’: A group exhibition of images by 33 photographers, including six from Vermont, that reflect their connectivity to the world around them. Selected by juror Craig Blacklock. Through January 12. Info, 777-3686. Darkroom Gallery in Essex Junction.

‘THE BRILLIANCE OF PASTELS’: Pastel paintings by 14 local artists. Through January 11. Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. ‘CELEBRATE’: Three floors of fine art and crafts created by more than 80 SPA member artists, including decorative and functional items for the household, ornaments, jewelry, cards and more. Through December 27. Info, 479-7069. JIM DODDS: “Psychedelia,” 12 inkjet prints of original drawings from the 1970s influenced by psychedelic art and art nouveau, in the Quick Change Gallery. Through January 27. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre. ELLIOT BURG AND ATHENA PETRA TASIOPOULOS: Photographs from the streets of Havana, Cuba, and mixed-media collages, respectively. Through January 3. Info, 262-6035. T.W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier. ‘I AM…: EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A VERMONT ARTIST’: More than 20 artists present 2D work, music and sound, spoken word, poetry, dance and movement within a digital compilation. The exhibition is the culmination of a yearlong “I Am a Vermont Artist” e-newsletter series documenting how artists’ creative expressions reflect their experiences of ethnicity, gender identity, religion, disability or age. Through December 20. Info, 828-3291. Spotlight Gallery in Montpelier.

‘LET IT BEE’: Mixed-media encaustic works by Dona Mara Friedman, Jan Sandman and Peggy Smith. Programming about colony collapse disorder and other threats to pollinators throughout the month, as well as workshops and a film. Through January 12. Info, 738-3667. The Garage Cultural Center in Montpelier. ‘NORMAN ROCKWELL’S ARLINGTON: AMERICA’S HOME TOWN’: An exhibit chronicling Rockwell and other artists who lived in Arlington, as well as many local residents who posed for the scenes of everyday life they portrayed. A collaborative effort of the Canfield Gallery and the Russell Collection of Vermontiana. Through January 31. Info, 479-8500. Vermont History Museum in Montpelier. ‘SHOW 36’: Recent works by the membership of Montpelier’s sole collective art gallery. Friday through Sunday or by appointment. Through January 1. Info, info@thefrontvt.com. The Front in Montpelier.

f ‘SPILT MILK: THREE VERSIONS OF WORLDLY UPSET’: Multimedia work including video, sculpture and work on paper by Susan Calza, Ginger Pearl Irish and Nina DuBois that responds to the theme. Artists on-site for informal discussion in conjunction with Montpelier Art Walk. Reception and artist talk: Sunday, January 19, 2-4 p.m. Through January 26. Info, 224-6827. Susan Calza Gallery in Montpelier.

stowe/smuggs

BRIAN FEKETE: “Quixotica,” an exhibition of five large-scale oil paintings on canvas that explore abstraction, gesture and color. Through December 20. Info, 881-0418. 571 Projects in Stowe. ‘CHASING LIGHT’: A group exhibition featuring the work of John Bonner, Galen Cheney, Dominique Gustin, Charlie Hunter, John Moyers, SamTalbot-Kelly and Jim Westphalen, curated by Kelly Holt. Through January 19. Info, 760-4634. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort. HEARTBEET LIFESHARING FIBER ARTS: Collaborative works of fiber artists and the therapeutic woodworking studio at the lifesharing communities in Hardwick and Craftsbury that include adults with developmental disabilities. Through December 27. Info, 888-1261. JENNIFER HUBBARD: “The View From Here,” landscape paintings featuring scenes from Lamoille and Orleans counties. Through December 27. Info, 888-1261. River Arts in Morrisville.

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ANGIE FOLLENSBEE-HALL & MARY-JO KROLEWSKI: Follensbee-Hall shares works in mixed media, transforming rope, paper, paint, plant fibers and botanicals into jewelry, journals and fiber art; Krolewski, a soft-sculpture artist, displays mostly food-inspired pieces. Through December 31. Info, 223-1981. The Cheshire Cat in Montpelier.

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

Talk to someone who understands.

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ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL: “Anatomy of a Pond,” acrylic paintings and drawings, including larger fine-art paintings and small natural history armature illustrations. Through December 31. Info, 229-6206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

OLDER? LONELY? ANXIOUS? GRIEVING?

barre/montpelier

JANIE COHEN: “Rogue Cloth Work,” hand-stitched pieces of old cloth combined and transformed into new textile assemblages with new contexts. Through December 27. Info, 828-0749. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier.

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ART SHOWS

Richard Weis Manchester’s stART Space has a new name — Ellenbogen

Gallery, after owners Michael and Carolina Ellenbogen. The couple is marking the

gallery’s reboot and second anniversary with an artist whose history is much longer. Richard Weis earned his MFA at American University in 1973, along with a prize for painting; he went on to teach at four colleges in as many states. Along the way he received three Fulbright awards and residencies in South Korea and Wales. In 1989, Weis arrived in Vermont to teach at Green Mountain College, which he did until 2010. In tandem with his academic career, Weis has continued to paint bold

often begins with a brief moment, an observation, a smell carried on the wind, a touch, an encounter, seemingly out of nowhere,” he writes in an artist statement. “The process of working in the studio allows me to recapture those

‘SEASON OF GIVING’: A holiday show featuring gift-able works by gallery members in a variety of mediums. Through January 3. Info, 775-0356. GINGERBREAD CONTEST SHOWCASE: Sweet creations by locals of all ages, with first, second and third prizes plus people’s choice award. Through January 3. Info, 775-0356. Chaffee Art Center in Rutland.

moments, sparking memories and clarifying ideas.” His exhibition, suitably titled “Beyond Words,” is on view through March 14. Pictured: “Dancing for Matisse.”

mad river valley/waterbury

‘BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL’: Juried paintings by members of the Vermont Watercolor Society illustrate diverse styles and techniques. Through December 21. Free. Info, 496-6682. Vermont Festival of the Arts Gallery in Waitsfield. ‘CELEBRATING THE SMALL: A GROUP SHOW’: Artworks in a variety of mediums that measure 10 by 10 inches or less, priced at no more than $100. Through December 24. Info, 244-7801. Axel’s Gallery & Frame Shop in Waterbury. JANE BRIGGS & LEE YOUNGMAN: Hand-knit shawls by the co-owners of Waterbury’s Yarn, for display and sale. Through December 20. Info, 244-7036. MIMI CLARK: “The Summer of 2018,” watercolor paintings that depict life around the Winooski River. Through December 31. Info, 244-7036. Waterbury Public Library.

middlebury area

12TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW: Original, handmade and hand-printed art and fine crafts from 25 regional artists, including pastel drawings by Judy Albright, woodblock prints by Ray Hudson, bee quilts

SMALL WORKS: A curated exhibition of new and favorite small-scale works by the gallery’s established and emerging artists, with featured guest artist Cristine Kossow. Through December 31. Info, 458-0098. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury.

DONA ANN MCADAMS: Acclaimed Vermont photographer and activist Dona Ann McAdams’ expansive oeuvre features historic black-and-white portraits of avant-garde performers, pioneers of queer liberation, portraits of people living with schizophrenia, Appalachian farmers, cloistered nuns, race track workers, and luminous images of horses, oxen and goats. Through January 4. Info, 579-9501. Castleton University Bank Gallery in Rutland.

a special place, or a memory

‘WINTER IS HERE’: Photographs of the season by Orah Moore, Dorothy Koval and Ross Connelly, members of the River Arts Photo Co-op in Morrisville. Through April 23. Info, 253-2691. Plate in Stowe.

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‘CELEBRATE WITH ART’: All-member, all-media holiday gift show. Also, the debut of three new artist-members: Catherine Palmer (colored pencil), 16t-vcam-weekly.indd 1 Winslow Colwell (photography on kite forms), and Michael DiMeola (photography). Through January 28. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild.

of endless potential. “The work

‘ORIGINS: SKIING AND RIDING IN VERMONT’: “Green Mountains, White Gold” is a photographic journey through Vermont’s ski history, and “Surfing Snow: Vermont Inspired Boards” tells the story of snowboard technology with examples from Burton’s archives, curated by VTSSM Hall of Famer John Gerndt. Through October 31. Info, 253-9911. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

CHANNEL 15

NANCY CUSTER CARROLL: “The Garden Series,” small oil paintings from life. Through January 31. Info, 349-5213. Lincoln Library.

rutland/killington

abstractions — for him a genre

MEMBERS’ ART SHOW & SALE AND FESTIVAL OF TREES & LIGHT: Elena Rosen and Alexa Sherrill curated an exhibit of works by gallery member artists. Also, evergreen trees decorated with ornaments handmade by master artisans and a Hanukkah display of menorahs, games and dreidels. Through December 28. Info, 253-8358. Helen Day Art Center in Stowe.

Baird, Brenda Myrick, Anne Cady, Hannah Sessions, Pamela Smith and Reid Boehner in a range of media, including English porcelain, watercolor and oil painting. Through December 29. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.

by Hope Johnson and more. Through December 31. Info, 382-9222. Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. 21ST ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION: A competition of sweet creations open to individuals of all ages and abilities and to organizations, school groups and businesses. This year’s theme is “Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.” Visitors can vote for their favorite entry to receive the “People’s Choice” award. Through December 20. Info, 388-4964. CORRINE YONCE: “Somewhere Between Place and Home,” a multimedia exploration of three projects by the community organizer, artist and documentarian that considers what it means when one’s primary residence is something other than fully home. Through February 29. Info, 388-4964. Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury. ‘CONJURING THE DEAD: SPIRIT ART IN THE AGE OF RADICAL REFORM’: Photographs and original drawings acquired by Solomon Wright Jewett (1808-94), a Vermont farmer, legislator and spiritualist who claimed supernatural powers, including bringing back the deceased. Through January 11. Info, 3882117. DANA SIMSON: “The animals are innocent,” mixed-media/ceramic sculptures and paintings featuring animals that address loss of habitat and food sources, among other perils. Through January 11. Info, 388-2117. LIONEL TRAINS: Multilevel Lionel train tracks running through artist-made settings and operated by volunteer ‘engineers’ through the holiday season. See henrysheldonmuseum.org for schedule. Through January 11. Info, 388-2117. MINIATURE CHRISTMAS TREE RAFFLE: Sixteen one-of-a-kind trees decorated by local artisans to be raffled in support of the Museum’s children’s activities. Through December 20. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury. ERIN DAIGLE: A dozen plein air oil paintings of downtown Vergennes storefronts, restaurants and street scenes, all of which will be featured in a 2020 calendar. Through February 29. Info, 324-7140. Kennedy Brothers Building in Vergennes. ‘MORE LIGHT 2019’: The gallery’s fourth annual small works show, featuring new art by Bonnie

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SANDY MAYO: “On the Surface,” a solo exhibition of mixed-media paintings by the local artist. Through January 20. Info, the77gallery@gmail.com. B&G 16T-AsktheRev061919.indd 1 Gallery in Rutland.

upper valley

COLEEN O’CONNELL: “Feathers, Ferns and Fish,” prints using a variety of techniques by the ecologically minded local artist. Through December 31. Info, 295-4567. JENNA RICE: “Guitar Tattoos,” pyrographic artwork on musical instruments by the Weathersfield artist and musician. Through December 31. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery & Gifts in White River Junction. ‘ELEMENTS OF GLASS: FROM THE WORKSHOP OF SIMON PEARCE’: A collaborative exhibition with the renowned Vermont glassmaker explores the transformation from sand to glass, from design to finished product. Through March 31. Info, 649-2200. Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich. HOLIDAY SHOW: Member artists offer works in a variety of styles and techniques. Through December 31. Info, 295-5901. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction. SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY SHOW: An exhibit of small-scale artworks, including a “mini exhibit”: a wall of 50 panels measuring 50 square inches each. Through December 21. Info, 457-3500. ArtisTree Gallery in South Pomfret.

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SONJA OLSON: Paintings and drawings of Rajput Indian imagery. Through December 31. Info, 4572295. Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock. WENDY KLEMPERER, MIRANDA THOMAS & JACKIE PADICH: Paintings and sculpture that incorporate natural imagery. Through January 5. Info, 3595000. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center in Quechee.

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northeast kingdom

THE 99 FACES PROJECT: Photographic portraits, without labels, featuring people on the bipolar or schizophrenia spectrum and those who love them. Through March 2. Info, 748-7313. Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury. NORTHEAST KINGDOM SHOWS

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art “Chasing Light” That’s exactly what northerners are doing these

days. And, praise Mother Earth, this week brings the winter solstice, after which the calendar will grant us incrementally more sunshine. Meantime, Vermonters can take a gander at how artists chase light — and capture it in photographs, paintings and other works — in a group exhibit on view at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe. The featured artists are John Bonner, Galen Cheney, Dominique Gustin, Charlie Hunter, John Moyers, Sam Talbot-Kelly and Jim Westphalen, and the collection is curated by Kelly Holt. Through January 18. Pictured: “Chasing Light” by Holt.

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW: Guest and member artists present a variety of wares, including paintings, pottery, woodwork, clothing, kitchen items and more. Through January 4. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury. ‘COME TOGETHER’: Paintings, digital work, photography, prints and more by Northern Vermont University art faculty. Through January 18. Info, 626-6459. Quimby Gallery, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon in Lyndonville. ‘GLACIERS’: Photographs by Chip Troiano and paintings by Elizabeth Nelson. Through January 21. Info, 525-3366. Parker Pie Co. in West Glover. ‘THE PIVOT AND THE BLADE: AN INTIMATE GLANCE AT SCISSORS’: A collection of objects that conveys the long human relationship to scissors and explores their design and myriad professional, creative, superstitious, violent and domestic uses. Through December 31. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover. ROBERT MALLORY KLEIN: “The Character of the Kingdom,” paintings of the villages and hamlets of the Northeast Kingdom by the retired diplomat turned artist. Through December 22. Info, 5339075. Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. STUDENT ART SHOW AND HOLIDAY SALE: An exhibition of artwork by animation and illustration students, as well as jewelry, textiles, paintings, illustrations, drawings and other art for holiday shopping in the Satellite Gallery. Through January 6. Info, 626-6459. Northern Vermont University-Lyndon in Lyndonville. VANESSA COMPTON: “Sisters of the Dune,” collages by the Vermont artist. Through February 26. Info, vanessa_compton@yahoo.com. Bread & Butter in St. Johnsbury.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘ALCHEMY: METAL, MYSTERY AND MAGIC’: A group show featuring sculptures and painting by Jeanne Carbonetti, Sabrina Fadial, Alexandra Heller, Peter

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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Heller, Pat Musick, Dan O’Donnell, Gerald Stoner and Johnny Swing. Through February 29. Info, 258-3992. The Great Hall in Springfield. DOUG TRUMP: “By Rail,” 12 oil and mixed-media works on repurposed wood. Through February 9. Info, 257-0124. FAFNIR ADAMITES: “Interfere (with),” a sculptural installation created with felted wool and burlap that focuses on intergenerational trauma and generational emotional turmoil. Through March 7. Info, 257-0124. GORDON MEINHARD: “The Lives of Tables,” modernist still life paintings of tables that appear to become more animated as the series progresses, by the cofounder of the museum. Through March 7. Info, 257-0124. MARÍA ELENA GONZÀLEZ: “Tree Talk,” an installation that uses rubbings and tracings of birch bark as templates for laser-cutting paper piano rolls. Through February 9. Info, 257-0124. THELMA APPEL: “Observed/Abstract,” a survey of the career of a cofounder of the Bennington College Summer Painting Workshop, whose work now centers on the tarot. Through February 9. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

manchester/bennington

‘COLOR FIELDS: 1960S BENNINGTON MODERNISM’: An exhibition of works by Pat Adams, Anthony Caro, Paul Feeley, Helen Frankenthaler, Ruth Ann Fredenthal, Patricia Johanson, Vincent Longo, Kenneth Noland and Jules Olitskies that illustrates the centrality of the college in the development of midcentury modernism. Through December 30. Info, 447-1571. ‘VISIBLE IN VERMONT: OUR STORIES, OUR VOICES’: A multigenerational photo and story exhibition highlighting the experiences of people of color living in or attending school in Vermont. Through December 30. Info, 447-1571. ASA CHEFFETZ: VERMONT WOOD ENGRAVINGS: Works by the late printmaker (1896-1965). Through December 30. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum. RICHARD D. WEIS: “Beyond Words,” a solo show of paintings by the Vermont artist. Through March 14. Info, 768-8498. Ellenbogen Gallery in Manchester.

ART SHOWS

randolph/royalton

18TH ANNUAL ARTISANS HOLIDAY MARKET: Fine art, crafts and products created by area artisans and local food producers. Through December 28. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Gallery in Randolph. JORDAN LAURA MCLACHLAN & MORTON BARTLETT: “Family Matters,” a special exhibition of outsider art, in association with Marion Harris Gallery in New York City. Through February 29. Info, 767-9670. BigTown Gallery in Rochester. KATE EMLEN: “Breathe the Wind,” paintings large and small, inspired from immersion in nature. Through December 20. Info, 498-8438. White River Gallery in South Royalton. KATE REEVES: “My Winter World,” a solo show of acrylic and watercolor paintings by the Barnard artist. Through February 18. Info, 889-9404. Tunbridge Public Library in Tunbridge Village.

outside vermont

2019 MEMBERS HOLIDAY SHOW: This annual exhibition and sale includes works by gallery members in a broad variety of mediums. Through December 27. Info, 518-563-1604. RON NOLLAND: Nature-focused photography by the featured artist, along with other member artists, in the cooperative gallery. Through December 27. Info, 518-563-1604. Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh, N.Y. ALAIN PAIEMENT: “Bleu de Bleu,” 32 videographic, photographic and sculptural elements that document the artist’s public-art installation between Trudeau International Airport and downtown Montréal. Through January 5. Info, 514-847-6226. FRANCIS ALYS: “Children’s Games,” a collection of 20 short videos of children at play around the world. Through January 5. Info, 514-847-6226. GISELE AMANTEA: Ink-jet prints that combine photographic documentation of the MAC Rotunda with drawings inspired by Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s 18th-century etchings. Through January 5. Info, 514-847-6226.

HOT OFF THE PRESS This book is Rick Sharp’s personal account of the amazing metamorphosis of the Burlington waterfront from ugly industrial wasteland to the Bike Path and Waterfront Park we all enjoy today.

JANET WERNER: A survey of the last decade of “fictional portraits” by the renowned Montréal painter. Through January 5. Info, 514-847-6226. LUIS JACOB & SERGE TOUSIGNANT: “Je vois ce que tu regardes,” images and sculptures by the Canadian artists that, respectively, encourage viewers to contemplate and reconstruct relationships or act directly on viewers’ experience of the exhibition space. Through January 5. Info, 514-847-6226. WILLIAM KENTRIDGE: Two short animated films, “Second-hand Reading” and “Learning the Flute,” by the South African artist, who is known for philosophical reflections on time, violence and resilience in the context of colonialism and revolutionary politics. Through January 5. Info, 514-847-6226. Montréal Museum of Contemporary Art. ‘EGYPTIAN MUMMIES: EXPLORING ANCIENT LIVES’: An international exhibition created by the British Museum combines arts and science to tell the stories of six people who lived along the Nile in ancient times. Through March 29. Info, 514-2852000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. HOLIDAY EXHIBITION: Unique gifts ranging from artwork in all mediums to handmade ornaments and fine jewelry. Through December 24. Info, 603-448-3117. MARGARET DWYER: The AVA watercolor instructor and studio tenant showcases her multimedia artwork in the Carter-Kelsey building lobby. Through December 28. Info, 603-448-3117. MEMBERS’ GALLERY EXHIBITION: An inaugural display of artwork by AVA members. Through December 28. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. ‘IMAGINE VAN GOGH’: An immersive installation presented by Paul Dupont-Hébert and Tandem that brings viewers inside large-scale 3D versions of the painter’s famous works, accompanied by music from composers Saint-Saëns, Mozart, Bach, Delibes and Satie. See imagine-vangogh.ca to make appointment for visit. Through February 2. Info, 514-931-9978. Arsenal Contemporary Art in Montréal. m

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Drink Good Tea

Heal Your Soul

Heal The Planet

CALL TO ARTISTS ‘2020 VISION: SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH TECHNOLOGY’: We are now accepting applications for our partially crowdsourced exhibit on Vermont innovation and technology in our Local History Gallery as part of this statewide project. Details and application at vermonthistory.org. Deadline: February 28. Vermont Historical Society, Barre. Info, 479-8500. ‘THE ART SHOW’: All sizes and mediums of artwork accepted, one piece per artist, to this monthly non-juried exhibition. $10 cash entry fee. Drop-off time for artwork is every First Friday of the month 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Opening reception is 6-9 p.m., with people’s choice awarded a mini-grant. The Gallery at RL Photo, Burlington. Info, publicartschool@gmail.com. BOAT SAIL DESIGN: The Lake Champlain Basin Program is seeking an artist to design a boat sail with artwork related to aquatic invasive species to help draw the public’s attention to preventing their spread. It will be incorporated into the fleet at the Community Sailing Center in Burlington in 2020. Up to $2,500 available. Request for proposals info at lcbp.org/grants. Deadline: January 7. Lake Champlain Basin Program Office, Grand Isle. Info, 372-3213. CALL TO ARTISTS: ‘QUIET TIME’: Established and emerging artists are invited to submit one or two pieces of artwork on the theme “Quiet Time” in any medium; must be ready to hang. Exhibition will be January through April. For info and registration materials, email catherine.mcmains@gmail.com or visit jerichovt.org. Deadline: December 20. Jericho Town Hall. Info, catherine.mcmains@gmail.com. CALL TO ARTISTS: THE PARADE IS COMING!: This show (July 7-August 22) includes work in a variety of mediums and installations that depict the excitement, content and colors associated with parades, as well as more solemn processions and marches. In addition to works on the walls, we’ll assemble a parade involving a group of artists’ sculptural works. Deadline: April 24. Info at studioplacearts.com/ calls-to-artists.html. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, 479-7069. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THROUGH AN ARTIST’S EYE: The Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District and the Memphremagog Arts Collective are looking for artists of all types to submit work around the theme of ecosystem services and agriculture. The juried exhibition will open on April 3, at the MAC Center for the Arts in downtown Newport. More info at vacd.org/conservationdistricts/orleans-county or emily.irwin@vt.nacdnet.net. Memphremagog Arts Collaborative, Newport. Through December 31. Free. Info, 624-7022.

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gift certificate A gift everyone will love — a great night out this holiday season! For every $100, receive an additional $20 Offer ends Christmas Eve.

‘HEARTFULLY YOURS’: GHCC is seeking submissions of 2D, small 3D and artwork with text for an exhibition that expresses and interprets the Valentine theme. Deadline January 11; drop-off January 20. Grange Hall Cultural Center, Waterbury Center. Free. Info, 244-4168.

Fire & Ice

ICE SCULPTURE FOR GREAT ICE FESTIVAL: We are looking for ice-sculpting artists for this North Hero festival on February 14, 15 and 16. Email greentaraspace@gmail.com with a proposal of how you’d like to participate. Deadline: January 6. GreenTARA Space, North Hero. Info, 355-2150. ‘THIS IS NOT MY AMERICA’ CALL TO ARTISTS: All mediums, including performance, accepted for this exhibit opening January 17. Email 2creativecommunity@gmail.com. Deadline January 8. 2Creative Community, Winooski. Free. Info, 718-415-7135.

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11/27/17 1:58 PM

movies

FEUD FOR THOUGHT Shults’ latest serves up a mostly bland smorgasbord of angst, addiction and dysfunction.

Waves ★★★

rey Edward Shults is two for three since making it to the majors. The filmmaker’s 2015 debut, Krisha, offered a powerful contemplation of family dynamics and addiction issues. It Comes at Night (2017) dealt with family dynamics in a dystopian context. The film was inspired by conversations Shults had with his father on his deathbed. The father had addiction issues. In his latest, the filmmaker experiments with a more impressionistic style to tell another story hinging on family dynamics and addiction issues. The more Shults addresses these matters, the less he has to say. What Waves lacks in coherent, compelling narrative, the writer-director attempts to make up for with camera acrobatics, thundering music cues and strobe-y explosions of color. It’s like he watched Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers several thousand times to prepare for making a family melodrama. The pyrotechnics initially prove distracting. Eventually they just annoy. To make matters more self-consciously experimental, Waves was constructed as two movies in one. Both focus on an upper-

REVIEWS

middle-class black family in Florida. The first follows 17-year-old Tyler, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. His is a tragic, if not entirely credible, arc. Tyler is a star wrestler with a vivacious girlfriend (Alexa Demie). He also has a secret. His doctor has informed him he’s sustained a dangerous muscle tear requiring surgery and advised him to refrain from all physical activity. For reasons never explained, Tyler instead works out strenuously with his drill sergeant of a father (Sterling K. Brown), continues to compete and washes lots of Oxy down with vodka to dull the pain. These and other questionable choices result in the aforementioned tragedy. Among the reasons this part of the story strains credulity: The boy’s a minor. A family doctor diagnoses a “very serious” injury but doesn’t mention it to the family? And the Oxy? It’s Dad’s (he has a knee problem). There’s even a scene in which Dad asks his wife (Renée Elise Goldsberry) whether she took pills from his stash; when she denies doing so, he drops the issue. Huh? Credulity-straining-est of all, no reason is offered for why Tyler doesn’t simply tell his parents he needs to stop wrestling. He’s that afraid of his old man? This isn’t a Tennessee Williams play.

The second section is less angsty. It features Tyler’s sister, Emily, played by Taylor Russell. She falls for a sweet-natured white schoolmate named Luke (Lucas Hedges), and, this being a Shults film, the two bond over a visit to the deathbed of Luke’s father. Who — are you sitting down? — has a history of addiction issues. Luke knows how to show a girl a good time. Waves did not need to be two hours and 15 minutes long. While the movie includes a few interesting performances and the occasional memorable moment, its director indulges an impulse to go all kitchen sink. It’s as though Shults got the idea this was

going to be his last chance to make a film, so he needed to throw in every tangential thought or observation he’s ever had about anything. The story goes down an awful lot of dead ends before arriving at its hopeful, if ambiguous, closing sequence. Some in the black community have taken issue with the white filmmaker’s appropriation of the African American experience. It’s not for me to say whether what he’s done is right or valid. I only know I sat through considerable sound and fury. You know what that usually signifies. RI C K KI S O N AK

Jumanji: The Next Level ★★★

ny movie that features Awkwafina impersonating a cantankerous Danny DeVito can’t be all bad. The young comedian with the crusty old voice is a perfect match for the veteran. And the body-swapping conceit of the Jumanji 2.0 movies gives her a chance to do her best old coot, her mouth tugging into a sour upside-down “V” as she demands to know what she’s doing inside a video game. What are we doing inside a video game? Jumanji (1995) was a kids’ adventure film about a board game that unleashed jungle-themed havoc on its players. By 2017, the magic had mutated to keep up with the times, sort of. In Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, teens found themselves sucked into an old-school video game where they played out a jungle-themed quest in the bodies of avatars straight from an Indiana Jones knockoff. But the real raison d’être of the holiday hit was comedy — specifically, stars playing comically against type. In the Jumanji world, the high school dweeb, Spencer (Alex Wolff ), finds himself in the body of two-fisted adventurer Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson). The football star (Ser’Darius Blain) becomes a diminutive sidekick (Kevin Hart); the beauty queen (Madison Iseman) must wear the physique of Jack Black; and the wallflower (Morgan Turner) is a kick-ass stunner (Karen Gillan) specializing in “dance fighting.” Wackiness ensues and, by the end, everybody’s learned a little lesson about exploring their potential. 76 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

LEVELING UP Awkwafina gets in on the game with Johnson and Gillan in the new installment of the adventure-comedy franchise.

The Next Level follows the same template, with one exception: This time around, director Jake Kasdan and his cowriters, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, add a grumpyold-men subplot. Home from college for the holidays, Spencer has to put up with his invalid grandpa (DeVito), whose favorite pastime is grousing at his best frenemy (Danny Glover). When Spencer flees into the world of

Jumanji, his friends go in search of him, and the battling boomers get sucked in, too. This setup occasions some reshuffling of real-world characters and their in-game avatars, plus patient explanations of the game’s mechanics to seniors (actually aimed at audience members who missed the first installment). Otherwise, the story proceeds in familiar fashion. Once again, the characters must

complete a generic quest in a series of generic settings enlivened by ferocious digital beasts (ostriches, mandrills, a toothy hippo). Once again, each player has just three lives to lose in various gross ways. Once again, adult viewers may find their minds wandering during the boilerplate action sequences. And once again, the comedy of actors acting absurd is the movie’s high point. Only Johnson and Awkwafina (as a thief avatar called Ming Fleetfoot) get really juicy bits this time, but they savor them, and the snarking on clichés of the action-adventure genre keeps the time passing enjoyably enough. If the lessons learned aren’t quite as poignant this time around, at least they’re a reminder that people can evolve at any age. The Next Level enticed a record number of holiday shoppers into theaters last weekend, rendering further levels of Jumanji inevitable. Will we ever learn what sort of sadist designed this magical, morphing game (which survived being smashed at the end of the previous film) to trap unwary youngsters and oldsters? Will we ever see anyone perma-die, or must that be reserved for the R-rated gritty Jumanji reboot? Just how intensely can Dr. Bravestone (whose official skill list includes “intense smoldering”) smolder before he explodes? For this franchise, it’s clearly not game over, even if the replayability leaves something to be desired. MARGO T HARRI S O N

MOVIE CLIPS

NEW IN THEATERS 12/20 BOMBSHELL: Charlize Theron plays Megyn Kelly in this ripped-from-the-headlines docudrama about the women who brought down Roger Ailes at Fox News, also starring Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and John Lithgow. Jay Roach (Trumbo) directed. (108 min, R. Capitol, Majestic, Roxy)

CATS: Tom Hooper (Les Misérables) directed this adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about fancy felines with heavenly aspirations, starring Taylor Swift, Francesca Hayward, Idris Elba, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen and a metric ton of disturbing digital effects. (102 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Stowe) STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER: The Resistance and the First Order face off as the third trilogy of this space-opera saga draws to a close. With Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, Billie Lourd and Keri Russell. J.J. Abrams directed. (141 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Roxy, Palace, Playhouse, Stowe, Welden)

NEW IN THEATERS 12/25 (FOR COMPLETE BOOKINGS, CHECK UPDATED SHOWTIMES AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM)

1917: Director Sam Mendes brings us a one-take World War I movie about two privates tasked with carrying a crucial message across enemy lines. With Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch and Richard Madden. (118 min, R) JUST MERCY: Michael B. Jordan plays civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson in this drama about his fight to free a death-row prisoner. With Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson. Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) directed. (136 min, PG-13) LITTLE WOMEN: Director Greta Gerwig offers her take on the Louisa May Alcott novel about four spirited young New Englanders weathering the Civil War, with Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen as the March sisters. (134 min, PG. Capitol) SPIES IN DISGUISE: Transformed into a pigeon, a superspy (voice of Will Smith) must figure out how to save the world in this family animated adventure, also starring Tom Holland and Karen Gillan. Nick Bruno and Troy Quane directed. (101 min, PG. Capitol) UNCUT GEMS: Adam Sandler plays a New York jeweler with a high-stakes gambling habit in this acclaimed drama from directors Benny and Josh Safdie (Good Time). With Julia Fox and Idina Menzel. (135 min, R. Savoy)

NEW IN THEATERS 12/27

FANTASTIC FUNGIHHH1/2 This documentary that the New York Times called “informative and kooky” suggests that mushrooms might be the cure for what ails us — and the planet. Louie Schwartzberg directed; Brie Larson narrates. (81 min, NR) FORD V FERRARIHHHH Matt Damon and Christian Bale play the team behind the Ford race car that challenged the Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. James Mangold (Logan) directed the fact-based drama, also starring Catriona Balfe and Jon Bernthal. (152 min, PG-13) FROZEN IIHHH1/2 Royal sisters Anna and Elsa must find the source of Elsa’s icy powers to save their kingdom in the sequel to Disney’s animated mega-hit. With the voices of Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Idina Menzel. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee again directed. (103 min, PG; reviewed by M.H. 11/27)

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JOJO RABBITHHHH Everybody has an opinion on this anti-Nazi satire from Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), in which a young follower of Hitler (Roman Griffin Davis) makes discoveries that change his world. With Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson. (108 min, PG-13; reviewed by R.K. 11/13) JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVELHH1/2 Teens caught in a virtual-reality game face yet more dangerous challenges in this sequel to the 2017 comedy-action hit Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, again directed by Jake Kasdan. Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Awkwafina star. (123 min, PG-13; reviewed by M.H. 12/18) KNIVES OUTHHHH1/2 Daniel Craig plays a detective investigating the death of a crime novelist in writerdirector Rian Johnson’s dark comic riff on Agatha Christie-style mysteries. The all-star cast includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson and Toni Collette. (130 min, PG-13; reviewed by M.H. 12/4)

RICHARD JEWELLHHH1/2 Clint Eastwood’s bio-drama tells the story of a security guard (Paul Walter Hauser) who became a victim of irresponsible reporting after foiling a terrorist bombing in 1996. Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell star. (129 min, R)

NOW PLAYING

WAVESHH1/2 The turbulent relationship between a high school wrestler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and his girlfriend has repercussions for his whole family in this drama from writer-director Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night). (135 min, R; reviewed by R.K. 12/18)

DARK WATERSHHH A lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) takes on DuPont for polluting West Virginia farmland in this fact-based drama from Todd Haynes (Carol), also starring Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper and Tim Robbins. (126 min, PG-13; reviewed by R.K. 12/11)

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THE IRISHMANHHHH Retired labor union official Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) remembers his past as a hitman — and his role in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) — in this crime drama from Martin Scorsese, also starring Anna Paquin, Jesse Plemons and Joe Pesci. (209 min, R; reviewed by M.H. 12/11)

CLEMENCY: Alfre Woodard gives a powerhouse performance as a prison warden preparing for the execution of an inmate in this drama from director Chinonye Chukwu (alaskaLand), with LaMonica Garrett and Aldis Hodge. (113 min, R)

BLACK CHRISTMASHH1/2 This horror flick about sorority pledges stalked by a campus killer sounds less like a remake of the 1974 schlock classic than an attempt at a #MeToo twist on it. With Imogen Poots, Cary Elwes and Lily Donoghue. Sophia Takal (Always Shine) directed. (92 min, PG-13)

GIFT CARDS

HARRIETHHH1/2 Cynthia Erivo portrays Harriet Tubman, who escaped from slavery to become an activist and organizer of the Underground Railroad, in this biopic directed by Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou). With Leslie Odom Jr. and Joe Alwyn. (125 min, PG-13)

QUEEN & SLIMHHH1/2 A couple’s first date turns into a desperate run from the law after a routine traffic stop goes wrong in this drama from director Melina Matsoukas (“Insecure”). Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith and Chloë Sevigny star. (132 min, R)

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODHHHH A cynical journalist (Matthew Rhys) learns lessons from children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) in this fact-based drama. Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) directed. (108 min, PG; reviewed by R.K. 11/27)

WELLNESS

THE GOOD LIARHHH A con man (Ian McKellen) finds himself falling for his rich mark (Helen Mirren) in this thriller-ish drama directed by Bill Conden (Mr. Holmes). With Russell Tovey. (109 min, R; reviewed by M.H. 11/20)

APPARITION: Contacting the dead? There’s an app for that, at least in this movie. Young folks explore an abandoned castle in this horror flick directed by Waymon Boone (Sunrise in Heaven) and starring Mena Suvari and Kevin Pollak. (83 min, rating N/A)

THE AERONAUTSHHH Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne play Victorian hot-air balloonists attempting an unprecedented ascent in this adventure drama from director Tom Harper (Wild Rose). With Himesh Patel and Tom Courtenay. (140 min, PG-13)

STRESS FREE HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING

6H-oldspokes121819 1

12/12/19 11:45 AM

ratings

H = refund, please HH = could’ve been worse, but not a lot HHH = has its moments; so-so HHHH = smarter than the average bear HHHHH = as good as it gets

Join the conversation at frontporchforum.com

RATINGS ASSIGNED TO MOVIES NOT REVIEWED BY RICK KISONAK OR MARGOT HARRISON ARE COURTESY OF METACRITIC.COM, WHICH AVERAGES SCORES GIVEN BY THE COUNTRY’S MOST WIDELY READ MOVIE REVIEWERS. 4T-FPF121119 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

12/9/19 10:31 AM

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LOCALtheaters (*) = NEW THIS WEEK IN VERMONT. (**) = SPECIAL EVENTS. FOR UP-TO-DATE TIMES VISIT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/MOVIES.

BETHEL DRIVE-IN

gift certificates available

48 Carroll Rd. (off Route 100), Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info

wednesday 18 — thursday 19

No evening shows on December 24.

Closed for the season.

BIG PICTURE THEATER

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Jumanji: The Next Level friday 20 — thursday 26

<MENS ROOMVT.COM > 1 0 6 M A I N S T. 802.864.2 0 8 8 LA D IE S IN V IT E D

190 Boxwood St. (Maple Tree Place, Taft Corners), Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com

Closed Mondays.

wednesday 18 — thursday 19

First Congregational Church 11/28/16 3:13 PM BIJOU CINEPLEX 4 of Essex Junction Route 100, Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com

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wednesday 18 — thursday 19

A welcoming community, accepting and serving all in the Spirit of Christ. Join us to celebrate Christmas Eve on Dec 24th with an inclusive, progressive church.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

5PM: Family Service 9PM: Lessons & Carols 11PM: Carols & Communion

1 CHURCH STREET, ESSEX JUNCTION 878-5745 • FCCEJ.ORG

In winter, do you wish you were here? DO YOU: Want to hibernate? Feel fatigued and down? Change your sleeping and eating habits? You may be eligible to participate in a research study on seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Diagnostic assessment and treatment consisting of a light therapy box or cognitive-behavioral “talk” therapy will be offered at no charge. Eligible participants will be compensated up to $530 for completing study-related questionnaires and interviews. Volunteers, 18 or over, please call 802-656-9890 or visit our website at uvm.edu/~sadstudy

Ford v Ferrari Frozen II (Wed only) Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out (Wed only) *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Thu only) friday 20 — tuesday 24 Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

CAPITOL SHOWPLACE 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com

wednesday 18 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Dark Waters Ford v Ferrari Frozen II Knives Out thursday 19 — wednesday 25

*Bombshell *Cats Frozen II (Fri-Tue only) *Little Women (Wed only) 12/2/19 11:08 AM *Spies in Disguise (Wed only) *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2D all days; 3D Thu, Sat & Sun only)

WINTER BLUES STUDY

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

MAJESTIC 10

Jumanji: The Next Level *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

No evening shows on December 24 or matinees on December 25.

Open-caption screenings on Wednesdays (first evening show) and Sundays (first matinee). No evening shows on December 24 or matinees on December 25.

ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER

21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

wednesday 18 — thursday 19 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Black Christmas Ford v Ferrari Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level (2D & 3D) Knives Out Playmobil: The Movie Richard Jewell *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Thu only; 2D & 3D) **Studio Ghibli Fest 2019: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (subtitled: Wed only)

Black Christmas

friday 20 — tuesday 24 Black Christmas *Cats Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out Richard Jewell *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2D & 3D)

36 Bethel Drive, Bethel, betheldrivein.com

movies

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Black Christmas Ford v Ferrari Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out Last Christmas Midway Richard Jewell *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Thu only; 2D & 3D) friday 20 — tuesday 24 Black Christmas *Bombshell *Cats Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out Richard Jewell *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2D & 3D) No late-evening shows on December 24.

MARQUIS THEATRE

65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com

wednesday 18 Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level thursday 19 — thursday 2 Jumanji: The Next Level *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

PALACE 9 CINEMAS

THE SAVOY THEATER

wednesday 18 — thursday 19

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Black Christmas Ford v Ferrari Frozen II The Good Liar Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out Richard Jewell *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Thu only)

Fantastic Fungi (Wed only) The Irishman (Wed only) Queen & Slim (Thu only) Waves

10 Fayette Dr., South Burlington, 864-5610, palace9.com

friday 20 — tuesday 24 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Black Christmas *Cats Ford v Ferrari Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out Richard Jewell *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker No late-evening shows on December 24.

PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com

wednesday 18

STOWE CINEMA 3 PLEX 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com

wednesday 18 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out thursday 19 — monday 23 & wednesday 25 — sunday 29 *Cats Jumanji: The Next Level (2D & 3D) *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2D & 3D)

SUNSET DRIVE-IN

Open-caption screenings on Wednesdays (first evening show) and Sundays (first matinee).

wednesday 18 — thursday 19

No evening shows on December 24 or matinees on December 25.

Schedule not available at press time.

Open-caption screenings on main screen on Mondays.

thursday 19 — thursday 26

MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS

friday 20 — tuesday 24

The Aeronauts (Wed & Thu only) **Elf (Sat only) Fantastic Fungi **Fiddlin’ (Thu only) Queen & Slim (Fri-Tue only) *Uncut Gems (Wed & Thu only)

Closed December 24.

Jumanji: The Next Level *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2D all days; 3D Sat, Sun & Thu 26 only)

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Dark Waters Harriet Jojo Rabbit Jumanji: The Next Level Knives Out Queen & Slim *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Thu only)

friday 20 — thursday 26

Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level

No evening shows on December 24; closed on December 25.

222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net

26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE

11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com

wednesday 18 Ford v Ferrari thursday 19 — sunday 22 & wednesday 25 — thursday 26 *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

LOOK UP SHOWTIMES ON YOUR PHONE!

GO TO SEVENDAYSVT.COM ON ANY SMARTPHONE FOR FREE, UP-TO-THE-MINUTE MOVIE SHOWTIMES, PLUS NEARBY RESTAURANTS, CLUB DATES, EVENTS AND MORE.

155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com

Closed for the season.

WELDEN THEATRE 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com

wednesday 18 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Jumanji: The Next Level thursday 19 — tuesday 24 Frozen II Jumanji: The Next Level *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 18-25, 2019

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL DECEMBER 19-25 your mottoes in 2020, Aries. I have a rather expansive vision of your capacity to accomplish great things during the coming months. And I also think that one key to your triumphs and breakthroughs will be your determination to cultivate a well-honed aplomb, even audacity.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

In 1933, Sagittarian artist Diego Rivera was commissioned to paint a huge mural in one of the famous Rockefeller buildings in New York City. His patrons didn’t realize he was planning to include a controversial portrait of former Soviet Communist leader Vladimir Lenin. When the deed was done, they ordered him to remove it. When he refused, they ushered him out and destroyed the whole mural. As a result, Rivera also lost another commission to create art at the Chicago World’s Fair. In any other year, Sagittarius, I might encourage you to be as idealistic as Rivera. I’d invite you to place artistic integrity over financial considerations. But I’m less inclined to advise that in 2020. I think it may serve you to be unusually pragmatic. At least consider leaving Lenin out of your murals.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The English word “hubris” means prideful, exaggerated self-assurance. In the HBO TV series “Rome,” the ancient Roman politician and general Mark Antony says to his boss Julius Caesar, “I’m glad you’re so confident. Some would call it hubris.” Caesar has a snappy comeback: “It’s only hubris if I fail.” I’m tempted to dare you to use that as one of

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For years I’ve lived in a house bordering a wetland, and I’ve come to love that ecosystem more than any other. While communing with reeds and herons and muddy water, my favorite poet has been Taurus-born Lorine Niedecker, who wrote about marshes with supreme artistry. Until the age of 60, her poetic output was less than abundant because she had to earn a meager living by cleaning hospital floors. Then, due to a fortuitous shift in circumstances, she was able to leave that job and devote more time to what she loved most and did best. With Niedecker’s breakthrough as our inspiration, I propose that we do all we can, you and I, as we conspire to make 2020 the year you devote more time to the activity that you love most and do best. GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): In the English language, the prefix “re” comes at the beginning of many words with potent transformational meaning: reinvent, redeem, rediscover, release, relieve, redesign, resurrect, rearrange, reconstruct, reform, reanimate, reawaken, regain. I hope you’ll put words like those at the top of your priority list in 2020. If you hope to take maximum advantage of the cosmic currents, it’ll be a year of revival, realignment and restoration.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I won’t be sur-

prised if you’re enamored and amorous more than usual in 2020. I suspect you will experience delight and enchantment at an elevated rate. The intensity and depth of the feelings that flow through you may break all your previous records. Is that going to be a problem? I suppose it could be if you worried that the profuse flows of tenderness and affection would render you weak and vulnerable. But if you’re willing and eager to interpret your extra sensitivity as a superpower, that’s probably what it will be.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Does the word “spirit” mean anything to you? Or are you numb to it?

Has it come to seem virtually meaningless — a foggy abstraction used carelessly by millions of people to express sentimental beliefs and avoid clear thinking? In accordance with astrological omens, I’ll ask you to create a sturdier and more vigorous definition of “spirit” for your practical use in 2020. For instance, you might decide that “spirit” refers to the life force that launches you out of bed each morning and motivates you to keep transforming yourself into the ever-more beautiful soul you want to become.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “There are people who take the heart out of you, and there are people who put it back,” wrote author Charles de Lint. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, your heart will encounter far more of the latter than the former types of people in 2020. There may be one wrangler who tries to take the heart out of you, but there will be an array of nurturers who will strive to keep the heart in you — as well as boosters and builders who will add even more heart. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Composer Igor Stravinsky was born a Russian citizen but later in life became a French citizen, and still later took on American citizenship. If you have had any similar predilections, Libra, I’m guessing they won’t be in play during 2020. My prediction is that you will develop a more robust sense of where you belong than ever before. Any uncertainties you’d had about where your true power spot lay will dissipate. Questions you’ve harbored about the nature of home will be answered. With flair and satisfaction, you’ll resolve longrunning riddles about home and community. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Friendship is

a very taxing and arduous form of leisure activity,” wrote philosopher and educator Mortimer Adler. He was exaggerating a bit for comic effect, but he was basically correct. We all must mobilize a great deal of intelligence and hard work to initiate new friendships and maintain existing friendships. But I have some very good news about how these activities will play out for you in 2020, Scorpio. I expect that your knack for practicing the art of friendship will be at an all-time high. I also believe that your close alliances will be especially gratifying and useful for you. You’ll be

well rewarded for your skill and care at cultivating rapport.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “People mistake their limitations for high standards,” wrote Capricorn author Jean Toomer. In my astrological opinion, it’s crucial that you avoid doing that in 2020. Why? First, I’m quite sure that you will have considerable power to shed and transcend at least some of your limitations. For best results, you can’t afford to deceive yourself into thinking that those limitations are high standards. Secondly, Capricorn, you will have good reasons and a substantial ability to raise your standards higher than they’ve ever been. So you definitely don’t want to confuse high standards with limitations. AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Historians once thought that 14th-century Englishmen were the first humans to track the rhythms of the planet Jupiter using the complicated mathematics known as calculus. But in 2015, researchers discovered that Babylonians had done it 1400 years before the Englishmen. Why was Jupiter’s behavior so important to those ancient people? They were astrologers! They believed the planet’s movements were correlated with practical events on Earth, like the weather, river levels and grain harvests. I think that this correction in the origin story of tracking Jupiter’s rhythms will be a useful metaphor for you in 2020. It’s likely you will come to understand your past in ways that are different from what you’ve believed up until now. Your old tales will change.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): China produces the most apples in the world. The United States is second. That wasn’t always true. When Europeans first reached the shores of the New World, crab apple was the only apple species that grew natively. But the invaders planted other varieties that they brought with them. They also imported the key to all future proliferation: honeybees, champion pollinators, which were previously absent from the land that many indigenous people called Turtle Island. I see 2020 as a time for you to accomplish the equivalent, in your own sphere, of getting the pollination you need. What are the fertilizing influences that will help you accomplish your goals?

CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES & DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES: REALASTROLOGY.COM OR 1-877-873-4888

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