Seven Days, February 26, 2014

SEVENDAYSVT.COM FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 05, 2014 VOL.19 NO.26 V E RMON T’S INDE P ENDE NT V OI C E

SEXPERT ADVICE

PAGE 38

Cabot counselors’ erotic ed

THE MUNCH BUNCH

PAGE 40

Charlie Eichacker gets knotty

APHRODISIAC EATS

PAGE 44

Dinner and desire in Montréal

CRAFT BEER

B i e r h au s s a D Street, Burlingto n, V hurch C 5 T 17

ECLECTIC WINE CLASSIC COCKTAILS

VT’s Best Beers Daily food/drink Specials Every Thursday =

LIVE MUSIC

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Half-price sandwiches. All-day.

SEASONAL ENTREES

&Trivia(7-9pm)

NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

Electric Sorce ry

Quiet Lion

For info on upcoming trivia nights, concerts, events and more, check out: facebook.com/DasBierhausVT Make RESERVATIONS &

book PRIVATE FUNCTIONS Online at: www.DasBierhausVT.com

DINE IN | TAKE OUT | DELIVERY

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Located in Waterbury, the food and beverage crossroads, we feature New England’s largest & best curated selection of craft beer, proper cocktails, eclectic wines with a full menu featuring barbecue, vegetarian and cozy American fare.

Wednesday, March 12th | 4PM

Tuesday, March 18th | 4PM

We are turning 2 and we’re “terribly� excited about it. To show our gratitude we will have absurd food and drink specials on offer.

An absolute pillar and innovator in the American craft beer community, we are tipping our hats to one of our favorite breweries.

It’s Our 2nd Birthday!

An Evening with

Join two Vermont comedians for a great night of laughter! Josie Leavitt has been performing stand-up for longer than she can remember. Getting her start in $4 Fernet draughts everyday New York City, she played at Stand-Up NY, Caroline’s, the Comic Strip and many other clubs. Sue Schmidt 23 South Main Street, Waterbury, Vermont • prohibitionpig.com ‰ † ÂŽ ÂŽ † ÂŽ Â… – performs comedy throughout the country, including SUMMER/FALL 2013 SEASON —  …Â?Â? Â?€ ‚˜ ­ ­ Â? ™ ­ Â’ ŠŽ • SUMMER/FALL 2013Florida SEASON Vermont, New Hampshire, and Anchorage,

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AT 7:30 P.M.

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TANGOFOXTROT

Join us fireside for an exploration of our favorite spirit: whisk(e)y. Pappy Van Winkle 20yr, Stagg Jr., WhistlePig Boss Hog, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project and a slew of white For tickets: SprucePeakArts.org dogs, too. Barley, Corn, Rye, Wheat & Peat. Rinse, repeat. ‰ † Ž Ž † Ž … – Box offi ce: 802-760-4634

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SEVEN DAYS

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THE LAST

facing facts

WEEK IN REVIEW FEBRUARY 19-26, 2014 COMPILED BY JEFF GOOD & TYLER MACHADO

Take and Give

O

MEET THE PRESS

n Friday, in the men’s locker room of Burlington’s Pomerleau Family YMCA, Seven Days staff writer Ethan de Seife noticed a sign on an adjacent locker. It read, verbatim:

Dear Wallet Thief, Thank for teaching me the lesson that I shouldn’t leave my belongings inside the locker room without locking it, even if I live in so called safest town. Now, I realize how important my wallet was, after its gone missing from Burlington YMCA man’s locker room on Feb. 17th between 6:00 to 7:30pm. I understand, you might had some need for it and I hope my Green Card, Driver’s License, blocked credit cards, and business cards will help you through your need. Also, there were some free coupons, which you might have used to get some food for yourself. If you need further support, you can even contact me and I will help you, my business card is in there! Good luck and May god forgive you!

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” ~ Bruce Lee

Gov. Peter Shumlin made the rounds with the national media while on Democratic Governors Association business in D.C. America’s next sweetheart?

IN CASE CANADA INVADES

The Vermont State Police got a “mineresistant, ambushprotected” armored vehicle from the Department of Homeland Security.

What for?

THE BUS STOPS HERE?

No one wants to see CCTA bus drivers strike — but no one wants sleepy bus drivers on the job for too long, either.

OPEN WIDE

Burlington’s new open-data website makes it easier for citizens to delve into municipal financial numbers, property data — even cityowned trees.

That’s how long sex lasts for most Vermonters on average, according to a sex-tracking app called Spreadsheets — we’re the third-fastest-to-finish state in the nation. (Then again, who uses an app to track sex? Or times their “sessions”?

Talk about a mood killer.)

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. Live Culture: “In Vermont, Even Righteous Anger Is Friendly” by Ethan de Seife. A Bhutanese refugee whose wallet was stolen at the YMCA left the thief a pretty fantastic note.

2. “How Officials in Rutland are Combining Forces to Fight Drug Abuse” by Mark Davis.

Rutland takes a communitywide approach to addressing the city’s drug problem.

3. “New Restaurant Planned for Winooski’s Waterworks Space” by Alice Levitt. A Pizzeria Verità co-owner plans to open a new restaurant in one of Winooski’s most scenic spaces.

4. Off Message: “South Burlington Councilor Decries ‘A Mockery of Democracy’” by Kevin J. Kelley. Rosanne Greco gave a dramatic farewell to the South Burlington city council last week.

5. Fair Game: “Conflict Resolution: Should Vermont Legislators Go to Work for Those Who Lobby Them?” by Paul Heintz.

Vermont lawmakers are taking another look at the revolving door between their own and the lobbying industry.

tweet of the week: @flynncenter Don’t fast forward through the next Mercedes Benz ad ... they are filming in #btv tonight under the Flynn marquee! (2/23) FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVEN_DAYS OUR TWEEPLE: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/TWITTER

02.26.14-03.05.14

Rule No 19

Champlain.edu/OnlineLearning 1/28/14 2:01 PM

WEEK IN REVIEW 5

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SEVEN DAYS

TO BE CUTTING EDGE, YOU NEED TO STAY SHARP.

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SEVENDAYSVT.COM

De Seife snapped a photo of the sign and posted it Saturday to Live Culture, the Seven Days arts blog. Within 48 hours, the story had more than 1,400 likes on Facebook and a mostly happy end. Jeetan Khadka, 24, the Bhutanese refugee who wrote the note, reported that his wallet was returned to him Monday. Apparently, the thief, after extracting currency and credit cards, had dropped Khadka’s wallet in a sidewalk mailbox, where postal workers found it and returned it to him.

The note’s tone of forgiveness was in no way ironic. Khadka’s generous spirit comes through not only in his chosen profession as a “young adult navigator” with the Chittenden County Youth in Transition grant program, but also in his sympathy for the unknown thief.

“Whatever decisions we make — poor or rich or whatever — they have to do with the situation that we’re living in,” he says. “The person who made that choice [to steal the wallet], maybe it was a good choice for them. I believe that this person is not really bad. We all influence each other.”

Khadka came to Vermont in 2008 after 17 years of living in a refugee Jeetan Khad camp in Nepal. His application for citizenship is currently in process, so ka he was happy to receive his green card back intact. Though his positive attitude toward Vermont has not been diminished by this incident, Khadka does admit that it’s probably time to purchase a padlock.

1 minute, 48 seconds

We’ll see you through.

RANDY DANDIES.

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Don Eggert, Cathy Resmer, Colby Roberts / Jeff Good   Margot Harrison   Xian Chiang-Waren, Mark Davis, Ethan de Seife, Charles Eichacker, Kathryn Flagg, Alicia Freese, Paul Heintz, Ken Picard   Dan Bolles   Corin Hirsch, Alice Levitt   Courtney Copp    Tyler Machado   Eva Sollberger    Ashley DeLucco   Cheryl Brownell   Steve Hadeka    Matt Weiner  Meredith Coeyman, Marisa Keller   Jenelle Roberge   Rufus

SM

DESIGN/PRODUCTION   Don Eggert   John James  Brooke Bousquet, Bobby Hackney Jr.,

Reach us:    

By phone at (800) 255-4550 Online at www.bcbsvt.com, by email at exchangeteam@bcbsvt.com, or In person at our headquarters in Berlin or at our new Information and Wellness Center at the Blue Mall in South Burlington

Aaron Shrewsbury, Rev. Diane Sullivan

SALES/MARKETING    Colby Roberts    Michael Bradshaw  

Julia Atherton, Robyn Birgisson, Michelle Brown, Emily Rose  &   Corey Grenier  &   Sarah Cushman  &   Ashley Cleare  &   Natalie Corbin BCBSVT_OurStory-2014.indd1 1 8v-bluecross020514.indd

2/3/2014 2/4/14 4:32:40 10:43 PMAM

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex Brown, Justin Crowther, Erik Esckilsen, John Flanagan, Sean Hood, Kevin J. Kelley, Rick Kisonak, Judith Levine, Amy Lilly, Gary Lee Miller, Jernigan Pontiac, Robert Resnik, Sarah Tuff, Lindsay J. Westley PHOTOGRAPHERS Caleb Kenna, Tom McNeill, Oliver Parini, Sarah Priestap, Matthew Thorsen, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

I L L U S T R AT O R S Matt Mignanelli, Matt Morris, Marc Nadel, Tim Newcomb, Susan Norton, Kim Scafuro, Michael Tonn, Steve Weigl

02.26.14-03.05.14

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FEEDback READER REACTION TO RECENT ARTICLES

BACK TO MATH CLASS

I believe that Kevin Kelley forgot to compound the taxes before coming up with the total rate increase for 20102015 [“Pass or Fail? Burlington Could Say No to a 9.9 Percent School Tax Increase,” February 19]. If you paid $100 in taxes in 2009 and used the 11.7 percent rate to determine your taxes in 2010, you paid $111.70. Then if you used the $111.70 and the rate increase of 3.4 percent, you paid $115.50. And so on. The result is the projected 2015 amount of $151.06. That is a 51 percent increase, not 43.1 percent. Remember, “compounded interest is the strongest force in the universe.”

population.” This de-densifying model does not fit the current needs of our modern population. Suburban, singlefamily homes do little to cater to the needs and lifestyles of single-parent families. Indeed, Duffy’s stigmatizing of affordable, well-maintained, peoplecentric residential development is unfortunate. Dense and well-maintained apartment housing promotes unity. As a Rutland native, I can tell you that my city is not the evil place people may think it is. In the words of urbanist Jane Jacobs, “crowded spaces are supplied with eyes” — and, in turn, enable community trust.

Andrew Fusco BURLINGTON

Tom Georgi

BRISTOL

Editor’s note: We actually did consider using the compound-interest angle but decided it would be too complicated to present in chart form.

THE PROBLEM WITH RUTLAND

[Re “All Hands on Deck,” February 19]: I am disheartened to learn that Brennan Duffy, executive director of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority, would claim that a key solution to improving “stability” in Rutland is to focus more on constructing singlefamily homes instead of “low-cost apartments that attract a transient

TIM NEWCOMB

MACKENZIE’S MESSES

[Re “The South Burlington City Council Chair May Have Violated Campaign-Finance Law; Could She Get Busted for It?” September 11, 2013; Fair Game: “Downton the Tubes,” January 22]. Pam Mackenzie, chair of the VPT board, is under investigation by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for allegedly conducting secret meetings. The staff is demanding her resignation. If I were writing for Seven Days, my headline would read, “South Burlington Council Chair Pam Mackenzie Ignores Residents, Favors Special Interests, Writes Off Airport Neighborhood and Refuses

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There was an error in the headline on last week’s school-budget story by Kevin J. Kelley. It read: “Pass or Fail? Burlington Could Say No to a 9.9 Percent School Budget Increase.” As the story made clear, it’s a 9.9 percent tax increase. The article also misstated pay raises for teachers; they will receive a 12 percent increase over three years. And an update: The same story stated that Mayor Miro Weinberger “isn’t” taking a stand on the spending plan and its 9.9 percent tax increase.

Later that day, however, Weinberger did take a stand — coming out in favor of the budget after he says school board members met his request for savings.

Live the High Life Pay a Low Price We find the deals, you get the savings

Delice, Delish

In a spotlight for Catherine Hall’s exhibit that appeared in last week’s paper, we inadvertently described the Castleton Downtown Gallery show as “three-piece.” In fact it is a three-room exhibit. Our apologies for the error; it has been corrected online.

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Save some Deaux Way better than your average affordable Bordeaux, Chat. Saint-Germain is full-bodied, richly fruited, and has just the right amount of tannin for a rewarding finish. A great value at $10.99.

Seven Days reserves the right to edit for accuracy and length.

at Red Square could be hazardous to your happiness...

Festivities start this Saturday at 10 AM FUNKWAGON 10AM DJ FRANK GRYMES 12PM DJ CON YAY 2PM DJ CRE8 2PM DJ CRAIG MITCHELL 5PM THE GOLD MAGNOLIAS 6PM DJ MAX COHEN 8PM DJ MASHTODON 10PM DJ REIGN ONE 11PM

Wine Tasting

Join us Saturday, 3/1, from 1-5pm as we try some new additions from our Natural Wine collection.

All over 21 welcome.

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• be 250 words or fewer; • respond to Seven Days content; • include your full name, town and a daytime phone number.

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I don’t know Pam Mackenzie, I’m not a South Burlington voter and I strongly disagree with the city council’s stand on the F-35s. But the recent public and personal sniping has been

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upsetting, because whether you agree with her or not, Pam Mackenzie obviously cares a great deal about her community. I have admired her efforts serving on the VPT board as well as the city council. I’ve worked with Kevin Dorn and was impressed the city council had the good sense to hire him, and as someone who has experience with nonprofits and witnessed the pervasive lack of board governance that impacts us all, I cannot help but admire any Pam Mackenzie board member of any nonprofit who takes action when they perceive it necessary.

I had to laugh at some of the supposedly negative commentary, because if the worst you can dredge up about someone includes appointing people they trust, disbanding committees they believe to be ineffective and not

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to Hold Meeting for Public Input on Interim Zoning.”

As a South Burlington resident for over 42 years, I am disgusted by Mackenzie’s shenanigans. Last year she funded the election of two friends.

Once elected, they voted her into the chair position. At that point she dismissed the proficient head of the Form-Based Code Committee and handed the position to Mike Simoneau, a commercial real estate broker. This year Simoneau wants his own council seat and is hoping to buy it with $10,000 of his own money [“Local Races Reveal the Escalating Cost of Campaigning in Chittenden County,” February 12]. Whoa! Enough!

Who will represent the honest, hardworking citizens of South Burlington without hidden personal agendas? Meaghan Emery and Tracey Harrington will. Emery and Harrington are well informed, well qualified and deserve our vote. Best of all, their ethics are unquestionable!

They’ll listen to the voices of the ordinary South Burlington taxpayers, not just the megaphones of the rich and powerful.

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contents

LOOKING FORWARD

FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 05, 2014 VOL.19 NO.26

This annual issue sure does arouse … curiosity. Ken Picard’s took him to prison, to visit a gay transgender inmate who’s suing to pursue his passion; and to Cabot, to query a couple who save marriages with sex therapy. Xian Chiang-Waren finds out why women are warming to boudoir photography, while Charlie Eichacker hangs with the kink crowd and learns some new rope tricks. Kathryn Flagg meets a Rutland man with a very big balloon fetish — and a YouTube video that really pops. Not least, Alice Levitt tries the turn-on foods at Átame Restaurant in Montréal. And what a perfect time for Dartmouth students to present Spring Awakening, starring raging hormones. Alex Brown reviews. Hope these stories leave you satisfied.

BY PAUL HEINTZ

16

In Burlington’s Old North End, a Longtime Resident Takes On a Titan

27

20

FEATURES 34

36

BY MARK DAVIS

38

Hanna Satterlee’s Dance Company Explores Its Inner ‘Animal’ in a Two-Year Project

40

A New Curator of African Art at the Hood Begins to Make His Mark

42

Pop Culture

44

locale this winter?

Stop in for all your warm

BY GARY LEE MILLER

weather footwear!

COLUMNS + REVIEWS 12 28 32 45 63 67 70 76 85

Fair Game POLITICS WTF CULTURE Poli Psy OPINION Side Dishes FOOD Soundbites MUSIC Album Reviews Art Review Movie Reviews Ask Athena SEX

SECTIONS 11 50 59 62 70 76

The Magnificent 7 Calendar Classes Music Art Movies

Sex: How a balloon fetish inflates one Rutland man’s sex life

The Taste of Others

Food: A Montréal aphrodisiac restaurant feeds more than one kind of appetite

BY ALICE LEVITT

48

Pause, Then Play

Music: After three years of self-imposed silence, Rachel Ries returns

Six-Legged Supper

Food: Entomophagy might fill your belly and save the world

BY ETHAN DE SEIFE

VIDEO SERIES

FUN STUFF

straight dope movies you missed edie everette dakota mcfadzean lulu eightball jen sorensen news quirks bliss, ted rall red meat rhymes with orange this modern world american elf free will astrology personals

31 79 80 80 80 80 81 81 82 82 82 82 83 84

PAGE 38

THE MUNCH BUNCH

PAGE 40

Charlie Eichacker gets knotty

APHRODISIAC EATS

PAGE 44

Dinner and desire in Montréal

COVER ILLUSTRATION PAT LEWIS COVER DESIGN AARON SHREWSBURY

flops, wedges, & flats from Birkenstock,

Rebecca Minkoff, Joie,

C-2 C-2 C-2 C-3 C-3 C-3

legals fsbo crossword calcoku/sudoku puzzle answers jobs

C-3 C-4 C-5 C-7 C-9 C-11

This newspaper features interactive print — neato!

Minnetonka, & more!

38 church street

SEVEN DAYS

vehicles housing services homeworks buy this stuff music, art

SEXPERT ADVICE

Cabot counselors’ erotic ed

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Master of Drone: Minimalist Composer Phill Niblock to Perform at Dartmouth College

Fit to Be Tied?

Sex: Exploring Burlington’s kink scene

BY KATHRYN FLAGG

BY KEVIN J. KELLEY

BY ETHAN DE SEIFE

Coming Around

Sex: Two Cabot ‘sexperts’ teach couples to tap into their core erotic themes

BY CHARLES EICHACKER

BY XIAN CHIANG-WAREN

26

Bedroom Eyes

Sex: A photographer finds a boudoir niche in Vermont

BY KEN PICARD

ARTS NEWS

24

Sex: A gay transgender inmate sues for the right to express passion in prison

BY XIAN CHIANG-WAREN

BY KEVIN J. KELLEY

24

Sex Cells

BY KEN PICARD

Order Up! An Old-School Deli Counter Is at the Heart of Burlington’s Changing South End Political Feuding Fuels South Burlington Council Races

62

BY ALEX BROWN

BY ALICIA FREESE

18

Dartmouth’s Student Thespians Deliver a Dark and Defiant Spring Awakening

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Capital Fireworks: Incumbent, Ousted Employee Spar in Montpelier Mayor’s Race

FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 05, 2014 VOL.19 NO.26

14

Taking a trip to a warm

VE RMON T’ S IN DEP EN DEN T V OICE

NEWS

Winter Break!

New arrivals daily!

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Stuck in Vermont: In this classic episode from 2013,

Eva Sollberger profiles Mountain Dog Photography, the husband-and-wife volunteer team who photograph animals up for adoption at the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

mon-thurs 10-7, Download the free layar app

Find and scan pages with the layar logo

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CONTENTS 9

Underwritten by:

2/25/14 9:29 AM

The Community Sailing Center is an important part of your waterfront

Our future depends on YOU. Vote YES on Ballot Question #2 March 4th, 2014

9:1 Leverage of the Municipal Investment

• TIF investments in our waterfront – including CSC, ECHO, and Waterfront Park – as well as New Moran and certainty on its future, accomplish community economic development objectives without raising municipal tax rates or putting city funds at risk.

• CSC will leverage an additional $4.5 million dollars of private philanthropic investment in a new public building and storage yard.

SEVEN DAYS

02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVENDAYSv

• Ballot Question #2 includes $500,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to the CSC Permanent Home project, providing site development for a portion of the Moran yard to build a modern facility for the CSC’s award winning programming.

Our Permanent Home.

• CSC founder and renowned architect, Marcel Beaudin, designed a state of the art facility to accommodate the CSC’s impressive growth over the past 20 years and capacity for its future. The Development Review Board (DRB) approved the Beaudin design in 2011 and CSC is eager to break ground.

• The new 10,000 sq. ft. building includes classroom space, offices, boat storage and maintenance facilities, and will enable the CSC to enhance its award winning programming.

Photo credit: M.P. Hogan Photography

Lake Access. Life Lessons. For ALL. • CSC is a community based non-profit organization that provides access, education, and recreation for the community on Burlington’s waterfront.

• CSC serves nearly 6,000 youth, adults, and families annually • Our Signature Programs, including those designed for school students, youth development and people with disabilities, enable the entire Burlington community to experience Lake Champlain.

10

• 90% of Signature Program participants and 40% of all users receive scholarships from the CSC Paid for by: Pomerleau Real Estate FP-lccsc022614.indd 1

WWW.COMMUNITYSAILINGCENTER.ORG 2/25/14 2:23 PM

LOOKING FORWARD

the

MAGNIFICENT MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

THURSDAY 27

On the Edge When Jeremy McGhee lost the use of his legs in a motorcycle accident, the extreme athlete refused to be sidelined. Fueled by a passion for the outdoors, he swims, surfs and skis using adaptive equipment.

This determination drives the San Diego native to tackle harrowing backcountry ski terrain in the documentary Drop In: Bloody Couloir.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 52

COMPI L E D BY COU RTNEY COP P

SUNDAY 02

Pivotal Moments Positive or negative, big or small, certain life events forever change us. Reuben Jackson, Mark Hage, Jeanine Bunzigiye, Ashley Smith, Ron Jacobs and Donna Stern recount their experiences at What Moves You? Part of a fundraising campaign for the Center for Economic Research and Social Change, these stories emphasize the importance of making one’s voice heard.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 56

SUNDAY 02

Piano Man Paul Orgel has made a name for himself as a pianist with far-reaching musical interests and a repertoire to match. Praised by the New York Times for his “rare pathos,” the UVM affiliate artist has performed on international stages and with top contemporary composers. In “A Program of Romantic Rarities,” Orgel interprets works by Ernest Chausson, Josef Suk and Max Reger.

CO

ONGOING

FRIDAY 28

A panel in TR Ericsson’s exhibit “Crackle & Drag: Film Index” explains that the show is a “haunting portrait of the artist’s mother,” who committed suicide in 2003. Personal artifacts such as vintage photographs, sculptures, film and wall-mounted objects — including a replica of his grandfather’s old axe (pictured) — serve as a multimedia ode to the past and its influence on the present.

Hailing from Brooklyn by way of South Dakota and Vermont, Rachel Ries masterfully mixes city sounds with country sensibilities. The resulting mashup of folk and alt-country comes to life via the singer-songwriter’s poignant lyrics and classical vocal training. Fresh off a three-year hiatus, the rising talent celebrates the release of Ghost of a Gardener at Signal Kitchen.

SEE REVIEW ON PAGE 70

Melody Maker

SEE STORY ON PAGE 62

Choo Choo Fest

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 54

While snow and ice prohibit the growth of most plant species, evergreens thrive in challenging northern climates including Vermont’s. Clinical herbalist Rebecca Dalgin leads Medicinal Plants of the Winter Landscape, an educational excursion dedicated to these hearty trees. Participants learn responsible wild-crafting practices, then warm up indoors with cups of tea.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 54

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 11

All aboard! Locomotive enthusiasts of all ages head to the Vermont Rails Model Railroad Show, where intricate track layouts complement more than 120 exhibitors and vendors. A wide variety of equipment and supplies delights hobbyists, while kiddos get in on the fun with a railroad clown and hands-on activities.

Versatile Vegetation

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Teachers’ Pet

early two months into the legislative session, the scene at the Statehouse remains unusually slow.

It’s the calm before the storm.

Next spring, if Gov. PETER SHUMLIN gets his way, the legislature will vote on a historic, expensive and politically perilous bill to finance the governor’s long-sought goal of providing universal health insurance.

But to get there from here, he’ll need a legislature that has his back. That’s why the state’s biggest union — the VermontNational Education Association — pledged last week to reinvigorate a dormant political advocacy group called Vermont Leads.

“Vermonters already support the creation of Green Mountain Care,” says Vermont-NEA spokesman DARREN ALLEN. “Our goal is to let lawmakers and the governor know there’s support for what they’re doing.”

They might need to hear it. After last fall’s rocky rollout of Vermont Health Connect — a byproduct of the federal Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare — some lawmakers may be hesitant to follow through on yet another major health care overhaul.

“I’m concerned that there’s not as much 11:10 AM support for this as you might hope, but it’s still early in the discussion,” says PETER STERLING, a veteran health care activist who recently resumed his duties as executive director of Vermont Leads. “My biggest worry is that the entire discussion becomes about a tax bill, as opposed to, ‘What does this tax bill do for Vermonters?’”

Along with losing the faith, Vermont Democrats could also lose some seats this November. The long-moribund Vermont Republican Party appears intent on recruiting better legislative candidates than usual, earlier than usual. State GOP political director BRENT BURNS says the party’s already signed up six challengers to run for the Senate — including former party chairwoman PAT MCDONALD in Washington County and 2012 runner-up DUSTIN DEGREE in Franklin County — and 22 for the House.

“For the financing plan to be passed in the next legislature, [Democrats] have to hold their ground or increase their majorities — and that is severely under threat,” says Vermonters for Health Care Freedom founder DARCIE JOHNSTON, a staunch opponent of single-payer. “That’s why you’re seeing these big, out-of-state unions step up to protect this agenda.”

In fact, those unions haven’t ponied up all that much — at least, not yet. As Vermont Public Radio’s PETER HIRSCHFELD first reported last week, the Vermont-NEA’s parent organization dropped just $80,000 to fund Vermont Leads for the next six

6/28/11 10:09 AM

OPEN SEASON ON VERMONT POLITICS BY PAUL HEINTZ

months. It also paid $35,000 for a poll to gauge popular support for single-payer.

But that might just be the tip of the iceberg.

“We fully expect other groups will lend their support to this effort,” Allen says, adding that his organization has had “conversations” with other unions about funding the effort.

One hint could be the recent addition of GEORGE LOVELL to Vermont Leads’ board.

Lovell serves as Vermont coordinator for AFCSME Council 93, which won an election last summer to represent more than 7,000 home-care workers. In September, he was elected president of the Vermont AFL-CIO.

VERMONT-NEA’S PARENT ORGANIZATION

DROPPED $80,000 TO FUND VERMONT LEADS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

Lovell says it’s “too early to comment” on whether AFSCME or the AFL-CIO will invest in Vermont Leads this election cycle. But, he says, “I can tell you there’s lots of support.”

Ironically, it was AFSCME’s unsuccessful opponent in the race to represent home-care workers, the Service Employees International Union, that actually founded Vermont Leads.

As it geared up in the summer of 2012 to fight for legislation allowing those workers to organize in Vermont, the out-of-state SEIU created the group to curry favor with local lawmakers. It spent more than $100,000 on pro-single-payer advertising that summer and another $50,000 that fall supporting candidates through an affiliated political action committee. After the SEIU lost its organizing bid, the union left the state and Vermont Leads went dark.

Sterling says he expects Vermont Leads to relanch its PAC, which could operate as an independent, expenditure-only “super PAC,” as it did last year, allowing it to raise unlimited sums from a single source.

That could turn out to be a very big deal if Democrats and Progressives face more than token opposition this fall. Or if deep-pocketed single-payer opponents — such as Burlington mega-donor LENORE BROUGHTON or out-of-state business groups — try to stop Vermont before it becomes a national example.

If the unions save the day, you can

POLITICS bet they won’t let their friends in the Statehouse forget it.

$14 Million Question

When Shumlin delivered his budget address last month, the governor promised for the umpteenth time that he would not raise broad-based taxes this year.

Of course, as reporters — and defenders of the English language — are fond of noting, “broad-based” doesn’t actually mean “broad-based” in governor-speak.

While the Oxford English Dictionary defines the term as “wide-ranging; general,” Vermont governors past and present have limited the definition of “broad-based taxes” to those targeting income, sales, rooms and meals.

And so it was that Shumlin felt he kept his promise last year, despite supporting a gas-tax increase most Vermont drivers surely felt was pretty broad-based. And so it is this year, now that Shumlin is attempting — for the second year in a row — to plug a hole in the state’s health care budget with a $14 million tax increase on healthinsurance claims.

As Shumlin noted in his budget — but not in his budget address — his administration hopes to double the 0.8 percent tax the state bills health insurance companies for every claim filed. But as critics point out, insurance companies are quick to pass that tax along to the broad-based public, who end up paying higher premiums.

“The logic of it doesn’t work for us,” says Rep. JANET ANCEL (D-Calais), who chairs the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. “If we’re trying to keep health care costs down — and particularly premium costs — why would we want to do something that would increase premiums?”

When Shumlin pitched a similar plan last year, Ancel’s committee rejected it.

This year, she says, “Though we haven’t taken a vote, I would say the general feeling really hasn’t changed.”

ROBIN LUNGE, Shumlin’s director of health care reform, says it’s true that, “On its own, [a claims assessment increase] would create new pressure on premiums because it does get passed on to consumers.” But the administration is also pushing to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to providers by 2 percent, which she argues will reduce a cost shift to consumers that also ends up being pretty broadbased. Enacted in tandem, she argues, the two changes would not hurt Vermonters.

Ancel’s counterpart in the Senate, Finance Chairman TIM ASHE (D/PChittenden), has yet another idea.

Ashe released a memo this week with the

“

Got A tIP for PAul? paul@sevendaysvt.com

title “‘Fair and Reasonable’ for Whom?” in which he argues that a broad base of taxpayers is unfairly subsidizing large employers that don’t offer health insurance to their employees.

When the legislature created Catamount Health in 2006, he writes, it required that employers pay a “fair and reasonable” amount for every employee to whom it didn’t offer health insurance. That rate now stands at $476 a year — less than a quarter of the $2,164 it costs the state to insure each Medicaid recipient. The balance, Ashe argues, is borne by taxpayers.

According to data Ashe acquired from the tax and labor departments, the 10 retailers and grocery stores that operate at least one store in Vermont with 100 or more employees pay a collective $904,000 through the employer assessment. Taxpayers foot the remaining $4.1 million billion to insure those 10 companies’ employees.

If the administration is looking for another $14 million to pay for health care programs, he says, he’s more inclined to ask the state’s largest employers.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” he says of Shumlin’s proposed claims assessment hike. “I believe that the growth in subsidized health care shouldn’t once again be paid for by all businesses and all taxpayers, but that maybe it’s time to look to the noninsuring employers to pay a more fair share of the cost.”

Ready, Aim … Vote

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Women’s March for Dignity: Paid Sick Days for All! Saturday March 8 at noon Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State Street, Montpelier Mark International Women’s Day by marching for dignity.

Women are the majority of workers in the industries and jobs that tend to lack paid sick days. By supporting paid sick days, we support equity and work with dignity for all.

Please sign the Open Letter to Governor Shumlin calling on him to support women by supporting paid sick days and learn more about the event at www.workerscenter.org.

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SEVEN DAYS

3

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Disclosure: Tim Ashe is the domestic partner of Seven Days publisher and coeditor Paula Routly.

I’m always confident it’s

SEVENDAYSVt.com

Could the results of Burlington’s vote next week on a trio of charter changes influence the statewide debate over Vermont’s gun laws?

Two groups fighting on either side of the issue sure seem to think so. Both Gun Sense Vermont and the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs have engaged in the Queen City duel, investing money and volunteers to make their respective cases.

At issue are three separate resolutions that would ban guns from bars, require them to be stored under lock and key and allow law enforcement officials to confiscate them from those suspected of domestic abuse.

Gun-rights supporters say the charter changes, which would have to be approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, would shoot a hole right through a 1987 state law barring municipalities from restricting gun rights.

“This is such an incredibly slippery slope,” says VFSC acting president Chris Bradley, who worries that other towns and cities could follow Burlington’s lead, thereby creating a “patchwork” of laws.

“There is a preemption clause, and there’s a reason for it.”

Gun-control activist ann Braden, who cofounded Gun Sense Vermont, agrees that next Tuesday’s vote “has statewide implications,” but for a different reason.

“We want to make it clear to the Statehouse that when voters are given the

chance to vote, they support this,” she says.

While Braden’s group had hoped to make a serious push for new gun laws this session, it now plans to hold off until next year, when Braden thinks recently reelected legislators will be less nervous about tackling such a hot-button issue. At that point, the group hopes to focus its energies on strengthening the state’s background check-laws.

For now, between 25 and 30 Gun Sense members are focusing on canvassing and phone-banking in support of Burlington’s ballot measures each weekend, according to organizer Marie adaMs. The group has raised $1,436 and spent $1,833 on its Burlington advocacy — much of it on advertising, including in Seven Days — according to a recent filing with the secretary of state’s office.

That’s far less than the $20,100 VFSC has raised and the $15,563 it’s spent. The pro-gun group has dropped $3,232 on lawn signs and more than $12,081 on radio ads, according to its filing.

Notably, one of the Sportsmen’s Federation’s biggest individual donors is an infamous sportswoman: conservative donor Lenore Broughton, who contributed $1,000 to the cause.

The Burlington Free Press has also joined the club, opining against the domestic violence-related charter change in a recent editorial.

“The change on the Town Meeting Day ballot is overly broad and allows confiscation without requiring formal charges or proof that the weapons present an imminent threat to persons,” editorial page editor aki soga wrote.

Burlington Mayor Miro WeinBerger sees it differently, calling the proposals “important steps to take for public safety in Burlington.”

But the mayor declined to put the might of his political action committee, called Partnership for Burlington’s Future, behind the measures, saying the PAC “was created to advocate and organize on fiscal issues and waterfront investment issues.” So far it’s spent $5,397 on Burlington’s non-gunrelated ballot initiatives.

Nevertheless, Weinberger says he’s been speaking out in support of the gun proposals in newspaper columns and neighborhood meetings, and he says his volunteers will help Gun Sense distribute their fliers this weekend.

Because the charter changes would require Statehouse approval, Weinberger argues that passage would initiate an important conversation in Montpelier that could set the table for Gun Sense’s proposed universal background check advocacy.

“I think that discussion is coming,” he says. “I think Burlington having a strong vote on these will impact that policy.” m

I serve great food—

localmatters

Capital Fireworks: Incumbent, Ousted Employee Spar in Montpelier Mayor’s Race B y Paul He i n tz

SEVENDAYSvt.com 02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVEN DAYS 14 LOCAL MATTERS

photos: jeb wallace-brodeur

T

he nation’s smallest state capital is gearing up for its biggest and most contentious election in recent memory.

Up and down the ballot, contested races abound — from park commissioner to city councilor. Generating the most light and heat is the race for mayor, which features the city’s recently fired planning director and the man she blames for her dismissal.

“The energy around these races is tremendous. It’s unprecedented,” says City Clerk John Odum. “It’s a bit concerning in some ways, in that there have been flare-ups and a degree of friction that Montpelier voters are simply not used to in municipal elections.”

Candidates and voters alike claim they want to talk about something else: the city’s proposed 10.2 percent spike in school taxes, say, or its chronically pocked roads. But the conversation inevitably returns to the firing of Gwendolyn Hallsmith and the role, if any, that Mayor John Hollar played in it.

“The whole thing is kind of toxic,” says city council candidate Page Guertin.

“We’re not talking about issues. We’re talking about, ‘What do you think about the situation?’ And I think that’s unfortunate.”

In one corner stands Hollar, a silverhaired lobbyist for Downs Rachlin Martin whose sharp suits and Oklahoma drawl make him a distinctive figure in the Statehouse and around town. Two years ago, the longtime school board chairman and father of three won an uncontested election to become Montpelier’s part-time mayor.

In making his case for reelection, Hollar points to the city’s recent progress advancing stalled infrastructure projects, including a transit center, a bike path extension and a district heating system that will connect a state biomass plant to downtown businesses. While keeping municipal taxes in check, he and the city council have also been reinvesting in Montpelier’s crumbling roads, Hollar argues.

“What’s this race about? It’s about running a city, improving the quality of life for people who live here,” Hollar says.

“Ideology hasn’t really played a role in the work the council has done.”

Hallsmith, his challenger, doesn’t see it that way.

In her view, a conservative cabal of wealthy property owners has taken over the city council and planning commission and imposed an “austerity agenda” on Montpelier. While that group calls itself Vibrant and Affordable Montpelier, Hallsmith derisively refers to it as the “Chai Party,” or a high-end Tea Party.

John Hollar

Its members, she says, have ignored the dictates of the city’s 100-year master plan and are “rewriting Montpelier’s zoning ordinance to suit private interests.”

“I think they’re working together behind the scenes to undermine what the people said they wanted for the city,” Hallsmith says. “Right now, the planning commission and the city council are treating [the master plan] like it’s yesterday’s news. That’s not how it’s done.”

Hallsmith has more than a passing interest in the matter. A published author and expert on community planning, her work with a network of nonprofits and advocacy groups has led to speaking engagements and planning gigs everywhere from Alberta to Johannesburg.

For seven years, the Colorado native and mother of one juggled that work with a full-time gig as Montpelier’s director of planning and community development. In the latter role, she says, she led the city’s 100-year planning project and obtained federal and state funding for many of the projects Hollar is now promoting.

But in that time, Hallsmith made more than a few enemies at city hall. Last November, after two months of tangling with City Manager Bill Fraser in private meetings, internal memos and on the pages of the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, she was fired.

Gwendolyn Hallsmith

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To say that the motivation for Hallsmith’s sacking remains in dispute is to vastly understate the matter. Both sides make their cases with passion, vitriol and reams of supporting documentation.

While mostly speculative, Hallsmith’s version of events is, by far, the most intriguing. The way she tells it, Hollar’s work as a lobbyist for Bank of America and Wells Fargo prompted him to crack down on her advocacy for a publicly supported state bank.

When Hollar failed to muzzle her, she claims, the mayor overstepped his authority and goaded Fraser into disciplining and then firing her.

To support her case, Hallsmith points to two emails Hollar wrote Fraser complaining about her extracurricular activities.

In the first, sent last March, the mayor forwarded the city manager an email from a fellow lobbyist at Downs Rachlin Martin summarizing a public banking advocate’s testimony to the legislature. Noting that “this is the issue that Gwen is closely affiliated with,” Hollar wrote, “I still don’t see how our city’s chief economic development officer can hold and promote views that are fundamentally anti-capitalist in nature.”

In the second, sent in September, Hollar forwarded Fraser an email jOhn between staff and board members of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency about a Town Meeting Day campaign one of Hallsmith’s groups was organizing to support public banking. Among the recipients of the email was Hollar’s wife, Jennifer, who serves as a VHFA board member in her role as the state’s deputy commissioner of housing and community development.

In his note to Fraser, Hollar asked “how Gwen manages to run her non-profit and pursue this initiative while maintaining her obligation to the city” and “how this campaign is consistent with the City’s economic development policies and her job description.”

“Gwen obviously can pursue interests on her own time, but as the city’s chief economic development officer, her position on these issue[s] can’t be distinguished from her official position with the city,” Hollar wrote. “Between this and the planning commission fiasco, this really can’t continue.”

A week later, Fraser informed Hallsmith by memo that she’d lost the trust of city officials. Fraser wrote that Hallsmith continued to “take public positions on political matters that may not reflect city policy,”

which he said, “diluted [her] credibility as a city official.” As a result, he removed a portion of her portfolio, put her under the CLOVER supervision of his deputy, and directed her CANYON to “refrain from involvement in external Add some political issues such as public banking spice to which may impact [her] effectiveness as a your life.

Montpelier City official.”

Though Fraser quickly rescinded the political gag order, Hallsmith maintains the message was clear.

“I can only look at the situation and think, They’re trying to destroy my professional reputation for speaking out on subjects that aren’t in alignment with certain officials’ views,” she told Seven Days in November.

Hollar now says he erred in sending the emails, which he admits “clearly created the appearance of a conflict,” and he has since recused himself from all public banking-related issues. But he and Fraser adamantly Colchester Burlington deny that Hallsmith’s (Exit 16) (Downtown) 85 South Park Drive subsequent ouster was 176 Main Street Pizzeria / Take Out Pizzeria / Take Out instigated by the mayor or Delivery: 655-5555 Delivery: 862-1234 motivated by his clients’ Casual Fine Dining M-Sa 10-8, Su 11-6 Cat Scratch, Knight Card Reservations: 655-0000 interests. Rather, they & C.C. Cash Accepted The Bakery: 655-5282 4 0                     say, it was the result of 8 0 2 8 6 2 5 0 5 1 Hallsmith’s chronic inwww.juniorsvt.com S W E E T L A D YJ A N E . B I Z ability to cooperate with elected officials and her own bosses. presents 1 2/25/14 3:54 PM “She’s had a series of8v-sweetladyjane030514.indd 1 2/21/148v-juniors022614.indd 4:07 PM conflicts with the planning commission, the city council, me, different members of the public,” Fraser says.

“This has been an ongoing OduM issue predating the current mayor, predating the current version of the city council.”

According to Fraser, Hallsmith’s accusations hinge upon a selective and misleading reading of the record. The way he sees it, the long-festering situation Monday, March 3 at 7:30 pm, MainStage came to a head in September, when the Presented in association with the Office of the Vice President for entire planning commission threatened to Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs through quit en masse because its members were the UVM President’s Initiative for Diversity. so tired of fighting with Hallsmith. Her Sponsor Media opposition to their zoning plans and her charges of ethical impropriety at one point led the commission’s chairman to refer to her as a “jihadist.”

“She keeps recasting this as being about John Hollar and big banking, but it’s not about that,” says Councilor Thierry Guerlain, an ally of the mayor’s. “The disSeason pute is between Gwen Hallsmith and her Sponsor Friday, March 7 at 8 pm, MainStage boss, who is Bill Fraser.”

Hollar’s September email, which Sponsors Hallsmith often invokes as evidence of mayoral meddling, actually came in reMedia sponse to a message Fraser had sent two hours earlier informing the mayor that he was “following up with Gwen today in writing” to “tell her to back off” on

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localmatters

In Burlington’s New North End, a Longtime Resident Takes On a Titan B y A l i c i a Freese

I

n the living room of a Shore Road home in Burlington’s Ward 4, a city council candidate is calling for more business growth and control of school spending.

Is it Kurt Wright, the self-described “centrist” Republican state representative seeking to reclaim the seat he held for 10 years before making a third unsuccessful run for mayor in 2012?

Nope, it’s Carol Ode, a first-time council contender who calls herself a “conservative Democrat.”

The two sound more alike than different in Burlington’s New North End, politically defined as Wards 4 and 7, which is the Queen City’s closest approximation to a conservative enclave. But the area’s politics have changed. Where four Republicans once represented the two northernmost wards on the Burlington City Council, more recently it’s been just one. The council’s sole Republican, Ward 7 City Councilor Paul Decelles, is not seeking reelection.

Wright, 58, is making his minority status a centerpiece of his campaign, saying he’ll restore “balance” to a council dominated by Democrats and Progressives. “There’s a real chance that if I’m not elected there will be no Republican voice whatsoever,” he points out.

Democrats say the New North End is outgrowing its conservative image and the area would benefit from representatives who reflect the new political reality.

“Wright fits Ward 4 like a comfortable old suit,” says Ward 7 Councilor Tom Ayres, a Democrat who after an unsuccessful run in 2012, clinched a city council seat in 2013. “Not to detract from Kurt’s service to this part of the city and to the city as whole, but it’s time for some fresh new perspective and fresh new eyes.”

“institutional knowledge,” Ode says she would bring “fresh ideas and new energy” to the council. At the same time, she says her views “track closely” with those of her opponent.

For instance: Both candidates point to the need for Burlington to grow its grand list of taxable properties by encouraging development and being business-friendly; the two support the waterfront development projects facing an up-or-down vote on Town Meeting Day; they

Carol Ode

SEVEN DAYS 16 LOCAL MATTERS

Underdog? ‘Oh, definitely!’

Ode, 58, and her husband, Paul, raised their four children in Ward 4. Though she never ran for partisan elected office during that time, Ode did get involved in the politics of education. For 10 years, Ode served on the city’s school board. She’s also spent six years on the state board of education.

Since her last stint on the school board ended 14 years ago, Ode held a variety of volunteer and paid gigs — from teaching water aerobics to helping high school students write their college essays to coordinating lobbyists for Downs Rachlin Martin, where her husband serves as CEO. Ode says people have prodded her for years to run for political office, starting with former governor Howard Dean. When he was a state legislator, Dean was impressed by a presentation Ode gave at a Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting, she recalls. He suggested she run for city council.

Ode doesn’t deny she picked a tough year to finally make a bid.

“Oh, definitely!” she responds when asked if she considers herself the underdog. But she also contends that her school board experience makes her uniquely suited to serve on the council, at a time when Mayor Miro Weinberger is pushing for more collaboration between the two entities.

While Wright is touting his “experience” and

They are both incredible campaigners,

so it’s going to be a really tight race J ea n O ’S u ll i van

also agree that the city’s underfunded pension system needs attention.

Asked about how she differs from Wright, Ode pauses for a full half minute before saying, “I’m not so much a political being.”

She does come across as more policy wonk than polished politico. In interviews and a candidate debate, Ode frequently turns to a notebook to retrieve figures about the school budget or city finances. And she shies away from saying anything overtly critical about Wright.

Her backers are less reserved.

“The benefit he brings to the table is more political than actual work,” says Jean O’Sullivan, a state representative from the New North End who served on the city council with Wright. Sullivan says that unlike Wright, who serves four months in the legislature each year, Ode wouldn’t have to juggle two jobs. She adds, “Having been both places, the hardest job I’ve ever done in politics is city council.”

Wright Stuff

If Wright wins his city council bid, he’ll represent his constituents in Burlington City Hall — and in Montpelier. He’s served both roles at the same time in the past, arguing that it’s “an additional benefit to have at least one member of the city council serve in the legislature.”

He’d been on the Burlington City Council for a decade when he left to run for mayor in 2012. But even after losing to Miro Weinberger — his third failed mayoral bid — he remained an almost ubiquitous presence in Burlington politics, attending city council meetings and neighborhood forums and continuing to participate in behind-thescenes policymaking.

Hartnett says Ode has “really been absent from the local issues,” and he questions her credentials as a fiscal conservative, pointing out that she, unlike Wright, is voting in favor of a proposed school budget that could raise taxes by almost 10 percent.

“Fiscally conservative would not be somebody who is supporting that budget,” Hartnett says, adding that Ode’s position puts her at odds with the majority of Ward 4 residents, who have voted against school spending increases in the past. Ode counters that voting “no” on the budget won’t do much to buffer Burlington taxpayers, because statewide factors are driving a significant portion of the property tax increase. “It’s unsustainable for the cost of education to rise faster than either the cost of living or the rate of inflation,” Ode said, but she thinks cost-curbing efforts should start at the state level.

Both Ode and Wright promise to address rising property tax rates — a particularly contentious issue in the New North End, where many own their homes and directly feel the

Kurt Wright

photos courtesy of alicia freese

02.26.14-03.05.14

SEVENDAYSvt.com

town meeting

“That shows commitment,” notes Jane Knodell, a Progressive City Councilor from Ward 2 and longtime political ally of Wright’s.

Last fall, during the council’s protracted discussion of redistricting, Wright summoned Knodell and the four New North End councilors to his house one Saturday, where he says he worked with them to hash out a compromise plan.

Dave Hartnett (D-Ward 4) was there, and he too is backing Wright. The two have known one another for 30 years, and Hartnett has served as Wright’s campaign manager.

But Hartnett says he is endorsing Wright — to the displeasure of other Democrats, he adds — simply “based on the fact that he’s done an incredible job representing Ward 4.”

Got A NEWS tIP? news@sevendaysvt.com

burlINGtoN’S bIG quEStIoNS

Please vote YES

Burlington voters will weigh in on guns, taxes and a dam next Tuesday on Town Meeting Day. They will also vote “yea” or “nay” on plans to redevelop the waterfront and reconfigure the city’s political wards. Here’s a primer:

for charter changes

March 4. Polls oPen 7 to 7

1. Paying for school: The biggest-ticket item is a perennial one: public school funding.

Voters will choose whether to approve a $66.9 million school budget for fiscal year 2015. That’s a spending increase of roughly 4 percent, which would push the propertytax rate up 9.9 percent.

 Police can confiscate

guns in domestic violence situations

2. Developing the waterfront: A “yes” vote would authorize the city to take on $9.6 million in debt to revamp key areas of the waterfront. That money would supplement large private investments in six different projects, from building a new marina to refurbishing the Moran Plant. The city’s contribution relies on tax increment financing, or TIF, which uses future increases in property tax revenue to pay off the debt incurred at the start of the project. The projects come as a package deal. An affirmative vote would also authorize the city to tear down the Moran Plant should the private developers fail to raise the required capital.

 no guns allowed in bars  safe storage of guns Statistics

3. raising city taxes: Voters will accept or reject a 3 percent increase in the general city tax rate. It’s been 10 years since the last increase. City officials say the additional money would let them make infrastructure improvements to city buildings, such as more energy efficient lighting, and create 10 new staff positions, two of which are IT jobs.

» 50% of Vt homicides using guns are domestic violence related. » Majority of suicides in Vt use guns

4. buying a dam: Voters will check “yes” or “no” on a plan to purchase Winooski One, the hydroelectric dam spanning the Winooski River, from its private owner. Price tag: $16 million. A “yes” vote would authorize the city to use bonds to borrow $12 million of that.

Money set aside decades ago for the McNeil Generating Station would make up the difference. The Burlington Electric Department estimates the 7.4-megawatt dam could supply roughly 8 percent of the city’s energy needs.

5. redistricting: To avoid running afoul of the U.S. Constitution, the city has to reconfigure its ward boundaries, adjusting for population changes, to give residents equal representation on the city council. In the current arrangement, seven wards each elect two councilors to the 14-member council. Under the proposed system, eight wards would send one councilor each. The wards would also be paired to form four larger districts, each of which would elect one councilor, for a total of 12 councilors. First voters have to agree to the new system; then the state legislature has to approve the change. The goal is to have it in place for the March 2015 election.

» Vt has the highest rate of gun deaths in new england Paid for by GunSenseVT.org

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SEVEN DAYS

He’s got an edge on fundraising, too.

According to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday, Wright has raised $5,500 to Ode’s $3,500.

Wright is trying to turn his last-R-leftstanding status into a selling point. Knodell articulates it as well as he could: “I think it’s important for the mayor to deal with a diversity of points of view, to have to put together coalitions to support his initiatives and not to have a guaranteed majority.”

Will Burlington’s New North End buy it?

“They are both incredible campaigners so it’s going to be a really tight race,” predicted O’Sullivan. Ayres had a similar assessment: “I do think it’s going to be close, and a lot closer than a lot of people are expecting.” m

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LOCAL MATTERS 17

Contact: alicia@sevendaysvt.com Two political newcomers face off in Ward 7 race. Read all about it on the Off Message blog at Sevendaysvt.com.

02.26.14-03.05.14

impact of rising tax rates. But Hartnett says it’s significant that Ode is supporting the budget, while Wright stands in opposition.

“I think it shows a very clear contrast between the two. He’s clearly more in touch with his constituents in the New North End.” Even Ode’s strongest backers concede that most people — themselves included — like Wright as a person and appreciate his service to Ward 4, where the candidate and his wife, Kim Nuttall, have lived for roughly 25 years. Ayres said he’s had to work to convince people that the outcome of the race isn’t a foregone conclusion. He recalls a recent conversation in which the other person insisted, “But Kurt is the ‘King of the New North End!’” Wright, however, is careful not to convey entitlement. “I’m working as hard as I have on any campaign,” he says, adding that he expects to have knocked on nearly every door in the ward before Town Meeting Day.

SEVENDAYSVt.com

6., 7., 8. locking up guns: Ballot item number six, if approved, would allow police to seize firearms if there’s a reasonable suspicion of domestic violence. The seventh measure would prevent people from bringing guns into any place that holds a liquor license; law enforcement and the owners of these establishments would be exempt.

The eighth item would require that all firearms be securely stored when not in use.

All of these restrictions, too, are subject to the legislature’s approval.

( ( (DISPATCH

Scene and Heard in Vermont

Order Up! An Old-School Deli Counter Is at the Heart of Burlington’s Changing South End B y M ar k D av i s

SEVENDAYSvt.com 02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVEN DAYS 18 LOCAL MATTERS

ashley conti

A

t lunchtime, the line at the Pine Street Deli counter isn’t a line at all. On a Thursday afternoon, a dozen people cluster in no discernible pattern, eyeing menus and waiting to be called forward. The group includes twentysomethings in hoodies, a man in loafers talking on his cellphone, a worker in stained overalls and two middleaged women in puffy coats.

On the other side of the counter, laboring between a sizzling grill and a shelf lined with cutting boards, are six people who are either members of the Alvanos family or have worked with them long enough to be considered part of the clan.

“What can we get for you?” they ask, again and again.

In the past seven years, the Greek family has lured a cross-section of customers to their bustling sandwich shop and convenience store in Burlington’s South End. On this day, the diversity of the neighborhood is on full display.

Nate Butala (Philly cheesesteak) is on a break from installing flooring at a nearby hotel. Mike Spencer (grilled chicken salad) makes his ritual stop as he commutes between home and his consulting office downtown. Sharon Holcomb (hotdogs with Michigan sauce) is heading home to her husband after a shift in the Fletcher Allen medical center billing office. Dan Voisin (meatball sub, hotdogs with ketchup) grabs a hot meal for himself and his crew. They’re drilling test wells at the rail yard.

“It beats Cumby’s,” Voisin says.

Michael Alvanos, 32, mans the grill, where provolone cheese bubbles on top of smoldering green peppers and shredded meat. A Burlington High School grad, Alvanos grew up working at the old Parkway Diner, which his parents used to own. He went to college in Nevada, returned home and went back to work for his parents when they opened the deli.

Alongside him, three twentysomething workers pile green peppers on top of yellow peppers on top of pickles and tomatoes and meat into sub rolls that somehow keep their shape under the burden. First Michael Alvanos hired one guy whose roommate also needed a job. Then another roommate got curious. Eventually, five of the pals wound up working together at Pine Street.

On the opposite end of the counter, farthest away from her son, Christine Alvanos spends much of the lunch rush urging her customers forward.

“Because of my white hair, people have a tendency to respect me more, so when

Christine Alvanos and a Pine Street Deli employee handle the lunch rush on Friday

I yell, ‘What can I get you?’ they come forward,” she says. “They’re more apt to respect an older woman yelling at them than one of the young guys. I can push them along.”

Her husband, George — “the big kahuna,” his son calls him — floats. He checks on a boiling pot of potatoes one minute, chats with a customer another.

He wants a visitor to know that his family offers more than just the traditional deli sandwich fare.

“We do specials, meatloaf every day, Philly steaks are really big,” he says in the thick accent of his native Greece. “We do homemade soups, chicken pot pie, that kind of stuff.”

What you won’t see anywhere on the menu are the words “organic,” “freerange,” “low-fat,” or “gluten-free.”

“If you’re going to want that stuff, I’m not sure that we’re the best place,” Michael Alvanos says. “It’s ultimately how we’ve been successful — just cooking food the way it’s supposed to be.

Home-style. We’ve tried, but Cobb salad doesn’t sell well.”

This is the same family that opened a second business last year, a diner in Colchester, and called it “The Guilty Plate.”

The Alvanos family ran the Parkway on Williston Road in South Burlington for years. But when their landlord demanded a steep rent increase seven years ago, they

bailed and looked for a new business. They found that Red Roberts, Pine Street’s predecessor on the northeast corner of Flynn Avenue, was on the market. The family saw potential in the neighborhood.

“Red’s,” a South End mainstay since the 1950s, used to get lots of customers from the old General Dynamics plant that opened in 1948 and employed 3,500 people at its peak. Now, Burton Snowboards and Dealer.com employ dozens along the Pine Street corridor; funky shops, studios and eateries are opening at a steady clip; and the South End Art Hop brings 30,000 visitors to the neighborhood on the weekend after Labor Day. For all the changes in the area, its appetite for old-school comfort food remains a constant.

By the time the Alvanos family bought the store, the lunch counter business at Red Roberts had slumped, which put more pressure on convenience store sales. The Alvanos family quickly turned that around.

They de-emphasized the cigarettes and soda and motor oil, made sure they had enough staff to fill orders quickly, and now make 75 percent of their money from the deli counter.

During peak hours, they move wordlessly around each other. When a frozen hotdog drops to the floor, it gets kicked in the direction of the trashcan; there’s no time to pick it up.

“Drop too many in one day, you’re fired,” Michael Alvanos says, sounding like a man who has never wanted to fire anyone.

Deli workers chat up regulars when they can. But at the lunch hour, most of the conversation is confined to the familiar staccato notes of ordering.

“No banana peppers or jalapenos.”

“White or wheat?”

“Here you are, honey.”

“Any herbs or spices?”

“I’ll do soup and sandwich.”

Around 12:30 p.m., the phone rings, nearly inaudible over the din. Pine Street’s most loyal customer is on the line, as he is every day at this time.

“This is Ray. I’m coming down.”

Ray Sibley works as a parts manager at the nearby Burlington Hyundai dealership.

The guys at Pine Street make his lunch — tuna sandwich, white onion, one slice of tomato, on whole wheat bread — and leave it, wrapped, in the same spot on the counter every day.

Sibley shows up a few minutes later.

Asked why he doesn’t pack a lunch instead of spending more than 20 bucks a week at the deli, he seems taken aback. Sandwich in hand, Sibley pauses, starts to speak, and pauses again. Finally, he settles on this: “I don’t see these guys if I don’t come down.” m Contact: mark@sevendaysvt.com

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the planning commission. In that email, Fraser clearly stated that he was preparing a memo informing Hallsmith of her curtailed responsibilities.

“So that didn’t come out of the blue,” Fraser says of Hollar’s email. “That was a response to me saying I’m going to do something about this.”

In an op-ed in the Bridge, Montpelier’s bimonthly newspaper, Hallsmith herself undercut her own argument that her firing was unexpected and largely inspired by Hollar’s corporate clients. In it, she quoted a summer 2012 email exchange between two city councilors who were clearly fed up with her.

“Fuck me. How do we get rid of this woman,” Councilor Andy Hooper wrote in an email to fellow councilor Tom Golonka.

“Apparently the only thing worse than a know-nothing/do-nothing Planning Director is a know-everything/do-everything Planning Director. Fuck.”

“I thought that was your #1 goal for the year…” Golonka responded. “We’ll have to craft the verbage [sic] a little more diplomatically in the press release.”

In the two months after Fraser put Hallsmith on notice in September, relations continued to deteriorate, as each wrote and sent memos accusing the other of a litany of offenses.

“How have my rights as an employee and a citizen been violated,” Hallsmith wrote in one to Fraser. “Let me count the ways.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Hallsmith took her case to the Times Argus, which cast the conflict as a freedom of speech issue.

Soon, the story was making headlines throughout the state.

Upset with the paper’s coverage, Hollar wrote to publisher John Mitchell to complain about what he called “numerous distortions and false statements.” Mitchell, apparently, agreed with the mayor. In an email to Hollar, the publisher said that if he had not been out of town, he “might otherwise have been more involved in this story sooner.”

“I admire your restraint on this matter, and, unfortunately, share your concerns, i.e. ‘tone, directions and implications,’ about how this story has been handled,” Mitchell wrote.

Times Argus editor Steve Pappas makes no such apologies.

“Stories such as this, where conflicts of interest are raised among public officials, have to be explored,” he says, noting that the paper has given just as much scrutiny to Gov. Peter Shumlin and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon. “We felt that we did our due diligence.”

Hollar wasn’t the only one to plead his case to a higher power. Ten days after Fraser placed Hallsmith on administrative leave in November, she wrote Shumlin and pleaded for him to intervene.

“Since municipalities are creatures of the state, I am turning to you for help,” she wrote. “There must be a way to intervene in a case where it appears in advance there will likely be a miscarriage of justice.”

Hallsmith’s letter to the governor did more than hint at a conspiracy.

“I have reason to believe that a search warrant and a computer forensics specialist might be able to uncover evidence that there was collusion between the mayor and the leadership of the Planning Commission, possibly as early as last year, to stall the work on the zoning revision and fabricate a ‘performance complaint’ about me as a cover for their efforts to stop me from talking about public banking and complementary currencies,” she wrote. “Could the state police be asked to investigate?”

Later in her letter to the governor, Hallsmith suggested that “a private word to the Manager and the Mayor about the possibility of a state police investigation” might save her job.

According to Shumlin spokeswoman Sue Allen, the governor did not respond to the letter or take any action.

“At what point is there a loss of rationality?” Fraser says when asked about the letter.

Explains Hallsmith, “I was very distraught at that point because I was realizing the city wasn’t going to give me even a hint of anything like due process in my termination.”

On November 26, Hallsmith was formally fired. After Fraser’s deputy denied her administrative appeal, Hallsmith filed suit in January in Washington County civil court, seeking to be reinstated. Soon thereafter, she declared her intent to run for mayor.

Asked at the time whether her candidacy was simply a reaction to her firing, Hallsmith said, “Well, if I was still working for the city, I wouldn’t be running for mayor. But I’m really deeply committed to the work I’ve done for the city. And I want to see it carried out. This is not about sour grapes or anything. This is about the energy the people of the city put into the planning process.”

So how would Hallsmith fare if she were elected mayor and charged with overseeing the work of the city manager who fired her?

Not well, Hollar suggests.

“You need to be able to work with people,” he says. “If you look at my opponent’s tenure here in Montpelier and preceding that, I think she’s had some difficulty working with others.”

Hallsmith disagrees.

“If [Fraser] were as attentive to me and what I ask him to do as mayor as he was to Hollar’s request to get rid of me, I’d be fine with it,” she says. “I have no problem working with him. I worked with him for seven years.” m

localmatters

Political Feuding Fuels South Burlington Council Races b y K e v i n J . K elle y

T

he politics have gotten so bitter in the run-up to South Burlington’s city council elections that even past allies are feuding. The acrimony that has roiled council deliberations for the past two years could linger long after voters pick two of their five representatives next week.

The verbal warfare is particularly intense in a three-way race for a three-year seat on the South Burlington City Council.

Retiring councilor Rosanne Greco, who lambasted three of her five colleagues in a February 18 farewell speech, is also attacking former councilor and current candidate Paul Engels. A self-described progressive,

integrity and courage, and Tracey has all those and Paul does not.”

Engels had asked for Greco’s endorsement in the race against Mackenzie, noting he had previously won election to the council and had announced his candidacy prior to Harrington’s entry into the race. She ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2012 under her former, married name — Tracey Tapley.

“You can continue to insult, demean and belittle me and encourage others to do so if you want, but I will not drop out of the race,” Engels wrote to Greco in an email he forwarded to Seven Days. “There are plenty of people who do not support you and your crowd or Pam and her crowd.”

contests through “a strategy of getting people who may not have participated before angry enough to vote for them.”

Turnout was above average in last year’s council elections. Two insurgent candidates routed a pair of incumbents — one of whom was Engels — in what could be read as a referendum on the then-Grecochaired council. As a result of the election, the council’s majority position on the F-35s flipped from opposition to support.

Ditto on other policies seen as friendly to local business interests.

In fact, the F-35 might have been a less important factor in last year’s races than was tumult on the council related to the

Mackenzie dismisses Harrington’s allegation. She says the state’s open meetings law refers only to sessions at which the public’s business is discussed.

For her part, Harrington acknowledges that this incident “may not be that big a deal,” but, she adds, “it leads us down a dangerous path” toward closeddoor decision-making by a faction of the council.

The city’s interim-zoning regulations, adopted by the council while Greco and Engels were both members of the body, have been another divisive issue in South Burlington. Simoneau, a commercial real-estate agent, was critical of what

Tracey Harrington

Pam Mackenzie

city manager’s tenure, the rejection of a benefactor’s offer to build an addition to the Cairns Recreation Arena and National Gardening Association’s departure from South Burlington. Those controversies are now in the past, Emery notes, arguing that voters will base their choice next week on each candidate’s vision for the city’s future.

But the present squabbling hasn’t stopped.

From the audience, Harrington intervened at last week’s council session to accuse Mackenzie and the two winners of the 2013 races — Pat Nowak and Chris Shaw — of violating the state’s open meeting law. Harrington claimed that the threesome had ignored a legal obligation to forewarn the public of their joint attendance at a meeting related to South Burlington’s effort to win an energy award from Georgetown University.

“That was an absurd assertion,” Simoneau says. “There’s nothing wrong with three councilors spontaneously deciding to go to a presentation about an energy prize.”

amounted to a two-year partial freeze on development that recently expired.

In concert with the development freeze, the city created citizen panels to study aspects of the city’s physical makeup and direction. Engels chaired one of those committees, which focused on formulating a zoning code that would put new emphasis on the appearance of buildings in relationship to their surroundings. He was ousted from that post in last year’s power shift, immediately after Mackenzie replaced Greco as council chair. The job went to Simoneau, a Mackenzie ally, in a move that still stings Engels and others.

“Pam talked about reconciliation after that election,” Engels said last week, “but her action was anything but reconciliation.”

You can continue to insult, demean and belittle me and encourage others to do so if you want, Paul Engels

but I will not drop out of the race.

20 LOCAL MATTERS

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Paul E n gels

Engels had sided with Greco on some contentious issues during their time together on the council. For example, the two had voted against basing the F-35 fighter-bomber at Burlington International Airport.

Greco’s hostility toward Engels, expressed on Facebook and in comments to Seven Days, was triggered by his refusal to drop out of the March 4 race for the three-year seat. Greco is supporting Planning Commission Vice Chair Tracey Harrington, who takes no position on the F-35, in a contest that also features Pam Mackenzie, the council’s current chair.

Mackenzie — fiercely criticized by both Greco and Engels — appears likely to win this three-sided battle. Her two challengers may split the votes of those against her and the more conservative faction she leads on the current council.

“Engels was never prepared for meetings and was generally uninformed on matters before the council,” Greco said in an interview when asked why she is backing Harrington. “To me, the most important qualities in a politician are compassion,

Fighting ‘Poisonous’ Politics

In the other council race to be decided on March 4, candidates Meaghan Emery and Mike Simoneau are speaking in generally civil terms as they vie for the second seat — with a two-year tenure — on the South Burlington City Council.

Describing the political environment of the municipal governing body as “poisonous,” Emery suggests that “a lot of people are tired of the negativity.” A former councilor, Emery adds that voters are “looking to elect candidates who will ensure better working relationships on the council.”

Emery’s opponent in the race for the open seat says his aim is to “marshal human resources to collaborate to meet the challenges of our community.” In order to reduce rancor on the council, Simoneau reasons, “you have to model the behavior you want other people to adopt. You have to listen, speak respectfully and acknowledge other people’s viewpoints.”

Simoneau asserts that Emery and Harrington — Greco’s preferred candidates — are aiming to win their respective

Money Plays Bigger Role

The bad blood thickened last year, when Engels asked the Vermont attorney general’s office to investigate whether Mackenzie had violated the state’s campaign finance law. She failed to file a postelection report on contributions to, and

Got A NEWS tIP? news@sevendaysvt.com

expenditures by, a political action committee she established to defeat Engels and another of Greco’s council allies.

Mackenzie gave an estimated $4,360 to her Pam PAC. She told Seven Days last year that she had filed a disclosure but was not able to locate a copy of it. Nor was the secretary of state able to locate it, and there has been no word from the attorney general on the results of any state investigation of Engels’ allegations.

The infusion of PAC money by a politician who was not herself on that year’s ballot signified a shift in how South Burlington conducts campaigns for a council whose members are paid $1,200 a year for their service.

Most of the candidates in the current election cycle have so far raised substantial amounts of money. The totals will be detailed in filings due 10 days prior to the

Burlington City Center — an area near the city’s high school that is intended to give the community a physical core. All five hopefuls also say it’s vital to address noise problems, and the attendant depopulation, of the neighborhood adjoining the airport.

The personal backgrounds of the candidates may prove a significant factor in some voters’ decisions.

Mackenzie, who runs a managementconsulting firm, touts her experience in the private sector, having managed as many as 500 employees at a cable TV company in Cleveland. The 63-year-old politician also seeks to distinguish herself by suggesting she’s the only candidate who has been involved in union negotiations.

Next year the council will be hammering out contracts for fire, police and city hall employees.

Harrington, a 33-year-old systems developer for the Vermont Department

town meeting

MEAGHAN

EMERY

Meaghan Emery

Mike Simoneau SEVENDAYSVt.com

election that have not yet been posted on

of Corrections, says her relative youth

the secretary of state’s website.Council and technological savvy give her a fresh o Burlington City In addition to lending his campaign perspective. She adds that she would

www.VoteForEmery.com

bring “a more gentle approach” to council deliberations.

Engels, a 66-year-old retiree, is positioning himself as the centrist in his race against Mackenzie and Harrington after his falling out with Greco. “I’m actually quite a moderate guy,” he says.

In the race for the two-year seat, Simoneau, a 62-year-old real estate professional, notes that he has lived in South Burlington for more than 30 years. He says he’s making an initial race for elected office in order to “give back” to the city.

Emery, 44, works as a professor of French literature and history at the University of Vermont. She notes that she’s a regular user of the local bus service and wants to improve conditions in the city’s parks. Citing her four years of work on the city council, Emery says she’s more knowledgeable about city issues than is her opponent. m

02.26.14-03.05.14

Experienced Accountable Independent

SEVEN DAYS LOCAL MATTERS 21

$10,000, Simoneau says he has raised about $2,500 so far. Emery puts her fundraising sum at $2,577, which includes a $1,000 donation from Greco that the candidate says was unsolicited. Greco also wrote a $500 check to Harrington’s campaign, which has raised about $2,000 in total, according to the candidate. Mackenzie says she has received $1,800 in donations on top of a $1,450 loan she made to her reelection bid. stands apart in refusing to seek Paid for byEngels VoteForEmery, Treasurer M.J. Reale campaign contributions. He says he’ll spend about $250 of his own money — “which is all that’s really needed,” he suggests. Engels has lawn signs and literature left over from his unsuccessful race last year, and he has already bought an ad in South Burlington’s local weekly, the Other Paper.

In debates aired last week on Channel 17 Town Meeting Television, the candidates voiced general agreement on principles they say are key to the city’s future.

All indicate a desire to balance open space and new development in the South

Contact: kevin@sevendaysvt.com 2V-SkiRack022614.indd 1

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file: Matthew thorsen

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publicizing meetings about sensitive personnel issues, I think Mackenzie must be upholding very high ethical standards. And I’m thankful whenever I encounter any politician with the courage of their convictions who is not afraid to go against public opinion; this country is better for it. I appreciated Seven Days’ great reporting on the city council meeting [Off Message: South Burlington Council Decries ‘A Mockery of Democracy,’ February 19]. In my view Rosanne Greco’s vitriolic speech reflects more negatively on her than anyone else, and the professional responses from her fellow council members made me think even more highly of them all.

Susan Robbins burlington

well-known Burlington heavyweights like Charlie Tipper, Jeff Glassberg, Bill Truex and Mayor Weinberger, among many others.

We go past Moran on our Segway tours of the waterfront and often have tourists ask us about this ugly industrial hulk. We recite the history of the plant and the attempts to renovate it over the years. I agree with Mayor Weinberger.

This is the last best hope for Moran. If this project doesn’t work, nothing will.

It’s time to tear down this eyesore. And, of course, that means demolition costs of at least $2 million and possibly the loss of TIF funds.

The Burlington bike path is the number-one attraction on TripAdvisor for Burlington. Let’s make New Moran number two. Vote yes on Number 2 on the March 2014 Ballot.

Rick Sharp

moRAN PlAN FAN

22 feedback

SEVEN DAYS

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I want to compliment Seven Days for your informative article on renovation plans for the Moran Plant [“Moran With a Plan,” February 12]. Of all the proposals I have seen for Moran over the past 30 years, this is by far the best and the most viable. My compliments to Tad Cooke and Erick Crockenberg for all the work they have done to bring together all the elements necessary for a successful project. They remind me so much of former governor Howard Dean and I in pursuit of the bike path in the early 1980s.

And that’s what it takes to make a project like this happen: two young spark plugs to put together a plan and doggedly pursue it in the face of all those who said it couldn’t be done. But this isn’t just two college students pursuing a dream. They have the support and invaluable advice and influence of 3V-OGE022614.indd 1

2/25/14 1:49 PM

colchester

Sharp owns Burlington Segways.

DAiRY DoN’t

[Re “Lake Champlain Is a Mess; Now Who’s Going to Clean It Up?” February 12]: So Vermont dairy farms were “bought out” in the 1970s yet they are still a major political power in the state.

Vermont is dairy cows; I get it. But if Lake Champlain is the sewer it is because of Vermont dairy, we need to fix it. I’d like to see an honest appraisal of the costs of dairy farming to Vermont: Is it profitable or is it a subsidized business that costs the state more than it generates?

Al Jette

south burlington

Mark your family’s milestones in

lifelines Memorialize your loved one by publishing their obituary in Seven Days.

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Let Seven Days help honor a special person who meant so much to so many.

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STATEof THEarts

DANCE

Hanna Satterlee’s Dance Company Explores Its Inner ‘Animal’ in a Two-Year Project

BY XIAN CHIA N G- WARE N

COURTESY OF JOE SHELLEY

Hanna Satterlee and co. in Animal

O

“

compositions to explore the animal-self in all of us,” Animal is a two-year series of public dance performances developed

by Satterlee, who said she’s eager to showcase local dance talent and up the number of performances in her area.

The project also has photographic and video components; Satterlee has tapped friends in various fields to record her and her dancers performing the movement piece in nature.

The artists have been developing Draft #1 since last August and plan to perform ever-evolving drafts in indoor and outdoor venues across the state in

the coming years, with a final performance slated for summer 2016. They will present an evening-length, fully produced performance for the first time this weekend in Montpelier.

As the dancers flapped, slithered and slunk their way around a makeshift stage, my brain went into overdrive trying to keep up with the different animals they were embodying. I didn’t realize at the time that my guess-the-creature game would have driven Satterlee nuts.

“It always makes me shudder when people say that we’re trying to be animals in this piece,” she told me after rehearsal,

A NEW CURATOR OF AFRICAN ART AT THE HOOD BEGINS TO MAKE HIS MARK B Y K EV I N J . K ELLEY Dartmouth College’s HOOD MUSEUM OF ART is recognized by specialists as having one of the most extensive African art collections of any teaching museum in North America. The Hood’s holdings of about 1900 objects from all corners of the continent will soon be better known to Upper Valley residents, while likely drawing visitors from afar, as well.

The collection began in 1772 with the acquisition of a stuffed zebra. Now it’s being juiced by the “electrifying” addition of UGOCHUKWU-SMOOTH NZEWI as curator of African art at the Hood, says museum director MICHAEL TAYLOR. Smooth, as he’s known to everyone, brings a full set of tools to the job he started six months ago. Born and raised in Nigeria, he’s a 35-year-old sculptor, exhibit organizer, scholar and connoisseur of contemporary African art.

Smooth also brings “fresh eyes” to the collection, Taylor says in a phone interview, sounding excited about the April opening of “The Art of Weapons: Selections From the African Collection,” the first Hood show assembled by the new curator. “We’ve hit pay dirt,” the director declares.

The show examines the aesthetics of ceremonial as well as deadly objects, and it will enable the museum to engage several of Dartmouth’s academic departments, Taylor notes. All the college’s students will have the opportunity to become acquainted with a segment of the collection that has never been in the spotlight.

“As an artist,” Smooth says in a phone interview, “I come to the collection with a different perspective.” He’s keenly attuned to the creative process and particularly interested in how today’s African artists relate to traditional culture and its aesthetic expressions.

Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, Africa’s brightest art star on the international stage, was Smooth’s teacher at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Smooth made art in Nigeria, trying his hand at pastels because, he says, he couldn’t afford the cost of a proper sculpting studio.

At that same time, “I came to realize I needed more knowledge, not only art historical, but also about the politics of the art

AS AN ARTIST, I COME

TO THE COLLECTION WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

UGO C H UK W U- S MO O TH N Z EWI market and institutions,” Smooth recounts.

He earned a graduate degree in museum and heritage studies at the University of Western Cape in South Africa. Recently, Smooth completed work on a PhD in art history at Emory University in Atlanta.

He’s already got a reputation as a curator in Africa. Smooth is a co-organizer of Dak’Art 2014, the 11th edition of a pan-African biennial that will open in Dakar, Senegal, in May. Last week, he was scheduled to jet off to Marrakesh, Morocco, to check out a North Africa-oriented biennial.

CALEB KENNA

24 STATE OF THE ARTS

SEVEN DAYS

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SEVENDAYSVT.COM

wl. Snake. Newt? Large feline.” Those were among the words I jotted in my notepad while hanging out on the sidelines of the CONTEMPORARY DANCE AND FITNESS STUDIO in Montpelier on a blustery afternoon last week. I was there to see a rehearsal of Animal (Draft #1), the solo choreography debut from studio artistic director HANNA SATTERLEE. It features Satterlee along with local movement artists MAURA GAHAN, MARLY SPIESERSCHNEIDER, AVI WARING and SHARYL GREEN. Billed as “an athletically inclined dance piece that uses various abstract

over chai in a nearby café. “Because we’re not trying to be any animal other than the one we already are.”

The goal of Animal, Satterlee said, is for her and her artists to get better in touch with the “intuition and instinct” that one associates more with the animal kingdom than with socialized humankind. But she initially took the task of “finding the animal within” fairly literally. The first segment of the piece is based on dancers giving form to the various stages of the spine as future humans evolved — from tadpoles to four-legged standing animals to two-legged ones.

“It was like verbatim, out of the book, this kind of spine to that kind of spine,” Satterlee explained. So when her dancers make cat movements onstage, they’re not pretending to be cats; they’re trying to find the memory of a four-legged existence in their human spine’s evolutionary past.

Satterlee found that her scientific research was a useful starting point — a “backbone,” if you will — for artistic exploration in a performance that is her first foray into solo choreography. From there, Animal becomes more abstract, even improvisational. It plays with flight instinct, pack behavior, power dynamics and intuitive physical reactions to external stimuli. Given the project’s extended time frame, Satterlee was able to encourage her dancers to find movements that felt authentic to them.

“The movement [in the piece] is so complex and inverted and strange, but so complex and clear on each body, because it was made based on them,” she

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said. “And they had pretty much 95 per- your impulses are. So they all came to cent input on how the dance was going [Animal] right away.”

“Three Sailors & 24 Hours in New York, to go. We structured it from point A to She also selected dancers of her “own New York, a Helluva Town!”

Saturday, 3/8: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. point B, and [made it about] how you get breed,” in her words — women taller than Sunday, 3/9: 12 to 5 p.m. there in your own physical journey.”

5-foot-10, with a similar physical form.

Town Hall Theatre - second floor of Akeley Soldiers Satterlee, a Montpelier native, began In part, that’s because, for Satterlee, the Memorial Building, 67 Main St., Stowe.

(CALLBACKS) 3/11: 6 p.m. in the Burlington area. dancing when she was young. She got show’s emotional center rests on strength SHOW DATES: her degree in dance and psychology at and physical prowess. It’s something of Wednesday to Saturday, 7/16–8/2.

Music by Leonard Bernstein, Goucher College in Maryland, then went a personal obsession for Satterlee, who Book & Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green on to teach yoga and dance credits her older brother Information/Audition Materials: professionally in New York with testing her strength at stowetheatre.com, or Artistic Director, and San Francisco. In 2010, an early age.

Steve Magowan, at smagowan63@gmail.com she returned to Vermont to For Animal, she wants take the artistic director poher dancers to “test their 16t-stowetheater022614.indd 1 2/25/14 sition at the Contemporary perceptions of their own Dance and Fitness Studio. strength” and to delve into Satterlee culled her the ways that strength Animal dancers from past plays out in movement. To collaborations and perforthat end, there’s “a lot of mances in the local dance crawling, a lot of specific scene, including ones with pathways [onstage], a lot of HAN NA SAT TERLEE the MONTPELIER MOVEMENT strength in the shoulders and articulation of the COLLECTIVE and Big Action Performance Ensemble (Big APE), which spine,” Satterlee explained. “There’s this has since moved from Middlebury to aesthetic of power and physical awareness and energetic phenomena. Just really Florida.

Jacob and Kristin Albee For her first choreography project, focusing on what we are not verbally and JacobAlbee.com . 802-540-0401 Satterlee said, she wanted to give the nonculturally, [when we are] just taken 41 Maple Street, Burlington, VT work time to develop, using an en- out of context, in physical form.”

Hours BY APPOINTMENT ONLY GoodStuff.xxx (not.com) semble of seasoned dancers who would embrace the immersive experience and INFO thematic exploration of the show.

Animal (Draft #1), choreographed by Hanna 2/25/1416t-goodstuff-122613.indd 2:00 PM 1 2/24/14 “With this group of dancers, I’m so Satterlee. Friday, February 28, 7 p.m.; Saturday,8V-JacobAlbee022614.indd 1 lucky. They’re so physically intelligent. March 1, 2 p.m.; and Sunday, March 2, 7 p.m.

They have a lot of history with training Film screenings on Saturday, March 1, 7 p.m.; their bodies, and most of them with and Sunday, March 2, 2 p.m. All events at the improvisation,” Satterlee said. “And Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio in the thing with improvisation is that it’s Montpelier. Suggested donation $10-20. The honing your instincts, finding out what venue is not handicap-accessible. cdandfs.com

WE’RE NOT TRYING TO BE ANY ANIMAL

OTHER THAN THE ONE WE ALREADY ARE.

Jacob Albee Goldsmith

9:49 AM

Good Stuff

Cabin Fever

Remedies

02.26.14-03.05.14

becoming less concerned with the legacy of colonialism — and the struggles against it — and began addressing the failures of postcolonial states.

Although he’s barely begun to put his imprint on the Hood’s collection, it seems fair to ask Smooth what he hopes he will achieve in, say, five or 10 years.

“I hope to organize exhibits that will draw lots of attention to the Hood and Dartmouth and cast new light on African art and traditions,” he responds. “I hope to present exhibits that will be remembered.”

Oh, and how’d he get that handle?

“I’ve been called Smooth since college in Nigeria,” he says.

Is that because he’s such a smooth guy?

“I’m really not able to say,” he replies with a laugh.

SEVENDAYSVT.COM SEVEN DAYS STATE OF THE ARTS 25

Smooth likes to schmooze with other artists. “I want to have an extended conversation with artists I meet,” he says.

“I want to have a drink with them and understand the space from which their art was created.”

His immersion in what’s happening right now in Africa may be the most potent juju Smooth confers on the Hood. Working with a “reasonable” acquisition budget, he says, he’ll be sure to collect work by emerging as well as established African artists.

Smooth also wants to expose the Hood’s constituents to what he calls “modern” African art — as opposed to the contemporary kind. He’ll launch that effort with a show next year that focuses on “key figures and movements” of the 1980s.

It won’t be an African edition of an ’80s nostalgia jag. Smooth identifies that decade as a “turning point” when many artists in Africa were

4:56 PM

INFO

“The Art of Weapons: Selections From the African Collection” opens on April 26. hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu 4t-aristelle022614.indd 1

2/25/14 9:25 AM

stateof thearts Master of Drone: Minimalist Composer Phill Niblock to Perform at Dartmouth College B y E tha n d e S e i fe

02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVEN DAYS 26 STATE OF THE ARTS

filmmaker who has, for nearly 50 years, been shooting scenes for what is essentially a single cinematic work, The Movement of People Working. Niblock, now 80, has long been fascinated by how people move their bodies while performing the routine tasks of their labor.

His films focus keenly on the dexterous movements of farmers, fishermen and linemen, often shot so as to emphasize their grace and efficiency.

Niblock takes the unusual approach of eschewing the careful synchronization of images and sounds. The music is not “accompaniment” to the filmed images; rather, audio and visual tracks

Cage, mentioning him more than once in conversation.

Niblock’s work has been celebrated all over the world, most recently in a massive, career-spanning retrospective in 2013 in Lausanne. The current year has also seen him working at an extraordinary clip: Between October 2013 and October 2014, he’ll debut no fewer than 10 new musical pieces — the most he’s ever completed in a single year.

At the Dartmouth show, four of

with visuals and sound, and has created images that related to the exploration of locations around the world,” Casas says.

He believes the concert venue, a chapel on campus, is ideal for Niblock’s performance because of its ritual qualities. “I would not say it is a religious experience, and Phill always hates when I speak about that,” says Casas in a phone conversation, “but for me it [the music] contains a lot of spiritual or nearspiritual research.”

Courtesy of PhiLl Niblock

SEVENDAYSvt.com

C

omposer Phill Niblock’s upcoming performance at Dartmouth College, presented by the Hopkins Center for the Arts, will almost certainly press the “reset” button on many an eardrum. The New York composer’s minimalist music pulsates and drones, enveloping listeners in lush waves of pure sound that are not only heard but felt — not least because Niblock believes that his artistic ideas are best realized by playing his work at high volume.

A fixture of the New York City experimental art and music scenes since the 1960s, Niblock is visiting Dartmouth for a weeklong residency. During his stay, he’ll speak in several classes and meet with students and faculty. Invited to the college by Carlos Casas, himself a visiting professor of film and media studies, Niblock will conclude his residency with a performance in the school’s Rollins Chapel on Thursday, February 27.

You could be forgiven for any preconceptions that avant-garde music takes itself a bit seriously, but Niblock’s work is both brainy and playful. As his soundscapes’ “microtones” shimmy from speaker to speaker and ear to ear, one gets the sense of sound waves frolicking about, using one’s auditory cortex as a playground. While this can be challenging, listeners who are able to turn off their minds, relax and float downstream stand a good chance of experiencing genuine musical transcendence at a Niblock concert.

“I’m interested in using microtones — notes that are very similar in pitch to other notes,” says Niblock by phone from his home in Manhattan. “I tend to put them, as much as I can, in opposite channels, so they meet in the [concert] space, not in the speaker.” The result is a brain-pan-rattling, up-from-the-depths drone that allows the composer to explore the complexities of barely different sounds in juxtaposition. In this way, Niblock’s music is akin to that of “drone metal” bands such as Sunn O))), whose guitarist-composer Stephen O’Malley is, in fact, a friend of his.

“My music … is very much a foreground music, not a background music,” Niblock says. “You’re really confronted with the music in the space. You can’t dissolve out of it very easily.”

The composer’s works are not solely sonic. He is also a well-regarded

SOUNDS

You’re really confronted with the music in the space. You can’t

dissolve out of it very easily.

P h i l l N i bl o c k

complement each other via Niblock’s minimalist approach to both media.

Just as his films avoid narration and careful montage, his compositions forgo some of the most fundamental components of music: melody, harmony, rhythm and even musical structure itself.

“Everything I do,” Niblock says, “is about stripping out a lot of the normal structure of the medium, whatever it is.”

The composer’s soundscapes employ no traditional instrumentation or arrangements. Niblock is a musical magpie, favoring no instrument over any other, and frequently inserting found sounds and electronically generated tones, with which he’s experimented for years. For his indefatigable musical exploration, Niblock was recently selected by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts to receive the 2014 John Cage Award. It’s apropos, as Niblock plainly admires

Niblock’s musical works, composed between 1995 and 2013, will be performed in conjunction with screenings of his moving images of Chinese workers, filmed in 1986 and ’87. The concert’s musical component combines prerecorded sounds with live performances by saxophonist and composer Neil Leonard and the Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute guitar quintet.

Casas has come to Dartmouth in part to coteach, with music professor Ted Levin, a course called Sonic Landscapes, which combines concepts from visual arts, music, ethnography and ethnomusicology. Niblock’s artistic approach harmonizes with the mission of the course.

“Phill is a unique artist who has worked

Indeed, Niblock is a down-to-earth fellow, just as happy to talk about his coffee habit and what he’s currently listening to (Eric Dolphy and Sergei Prokofiev’s piano sonatas) as he is about his droning microtones. Still, as local sonic adventurers now have the chance to discover for themselves, Niblock’s music is hard to describe without evoking some kind of out-of-body experience. m

INFO

Phill Niblock’s The Movement of People Working, with Neil Leonard and the Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute guitar quintet.

Thursday, February 27, 7 p.m., at Rollins Chapel, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. $17-25. hop.dartmouth.edu

GOT An arts TIP? artnews@sevendaysvt.com

Dartmouth’s Student Thespians Deliver a Dark and Defiant Spring Awakening B y Al e x B ro w n

R

THEATER

STATE OF THE ARTS 27

Spring Awakening, based on the play by Frank Wedekind, book and lyrics by Steven Slater, music by Duncan Sheik, directed by Jamie Horton, produced by Dartmouth Department of Theater. Through March 2: Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., at Moore Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. $10-15. hop.dartmouth.edu

SEVEN DAYS

INFO

02.26.14-03.05.14

strengths. Moritz can imagine no future now that he won’t be promoted in school and has earned his father’s disgust.

His song is interlaced with Melchior’s mother reading a letter in which she tries to console Moritz. While the letter offers fastidious, hollow comfort, the song lyrics convey adolescent frustration. The futility of communication rages in the contrast between a silky tune for the letter and the boiling intensity in Moritz’s solo. The production wraps him in a cone of molten red light, and the number ends with him counting out “another day of utter shit, and then there were none.”

Musicals have always used song to convey strong emotion, and Spring Awakening amplifies the convention.

For many numbers, the actors whip out hand microphones to perform, rock-star style, for the audience. And once they can strut, scream and pose, rock and roll supplies the courage to open their hearts.

Sheik’s score has the urgency of rock, slightly muzzled by pop’s desire to entertain. The songs emphasize attitude more than storytelling. In this production, the tunes are a jumping-off point for musical director Joel Mercier’s inventive scoring, which blends the precision of violin and viola with the dirty scrawl of rock bass and a contemplative cello with energetic jazz-rock guitar.

SEVENDAYSvt.com

The high-energy “Totally Fucked” is a full-cast number that rings with an exhilarating response to adult authority.

The percussion hops nimbly among all the idioms, while the keyboards deliver mood and coherence. A stew of successful juxtapositions, the music supports a show that constantly plays with contrasts.

Costumes by Laurie Churba Kohn start with the rigid fashion of the late 19th century. The boys wear infantilizing knickers and not-grown-up school jackets; then Churba Kohn tosses in rebellious Chuck Taylor sneakers to underscore the production’s taste for anachronism. The girls are ruffled and shiny, with skirt lengths that make them doll-like.

The tension between child and teenager is nicely captured with clothing that tries, and fails, to tame them.

Dan Kotlowitz deals a full deck of lighting effects throughout the show. The peak comes in a thrilling cascade in the high-energy “Totally Fucked,” a full-cast number that rings with an exhilarating response to adult authority.

The choreography, by Keith Coughlin, centers on the stomp. It’s as violent a movement as you can make in dance, and allows the kids to express their anger.

Their energy crackles and surges until the audience’s feet are tapping, too.

Today, we’re awash in validation of sexual desire, so the dark fears of a teenager may seem to belong to an earlier, unenlightened age. The fin-de-siècle setting of Spring Awakening seems overmatched, long vanquished. But historical repression is a clever metaphor for the doubt each teenager faces. Inside, each kid busting out of puberty asks dark and dangerous questions, hacking through the same fears, taboos and whispers that echoed in Victorian ears. And yet kids awaken, one by one. m Courtesy of Dartmouth Department of Theater

ock and roll is unequaled for expressing Ensemble in Spring Awakening sex, dreams and youth.

Authoritarian adults, especially the Victorian kind, excel at oppressing all of the above. Let the creative anachronisms begin: Spring Awakening superimposes rock music on Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play exploring teenage sexual stirrings in the repressive atmosphere of the German bourgeoisie. The mix is risky, but taking chances helped Steven Sater (book and lyrics) and Duncan Sheik (music) win eight Tony Awards and a Grammy in the musical’s 2006 Broadway premiere.

A Dartmouth Department of Theater production exploits the work’s dazzling contrasts and showcases a talented student cast. In the two main roles, Max Gottschall and Daniel Calano are polThe story of Moritz (Calano) is unished, powerful singers who are not only adulterated woe. He’s a so-so student at home onstage but capable of tackling and now so preoccupied with sexual the show’s complex themes. The entire fantasies he can’t concentrate in school. cast is impressive, from the four students The strict headmaster is keen to fail him, who play the grim and clueless adults to in keeping with the school’s reputation a large ensemble playing teenagers, who for selectivity. For Moritz’s father, his move nimbly from humor to rebellious- son’s grades are a social embarrassment. ness to yearning.

The teen staggers under the weight of adult opprobrium and considers suicide.

The story arcs are sorrowful, but the musical has outbursts of joy and exhilarating defiance. Director Jamie Horton excels at staging for pace and energy, and fully exploits the bi-level set designed by Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili. Horton is especially good at varying focus between the intimate and the big vista.

Horton does face the challenge of dramatizing — versus stylizing — moments of sexual fantasy, masochism, child sexual abuse and rape. Some choices It’s a story of parents and teach- are clever. A big nightgown allows for a ers letting kids down at every chance. hearty enactment of masturbation, and Wendla’s mother is too inhibited to give the contrast between polite, constrained her daughter a shred of sex education. movement and inner thoughts makes With that combination of ignorance “The Word of Your Body” a dark duet and innocence, Wendla (Haley Reicher) about the richest contrast of all: love stumbles into pregnancy, but not before hurts. Horton also sometimes lets abbeing overwhelmed with confusion straction replace enactment, such as in about her feelings for school paragon the jagged projections that powerfully Melchior (Gottschall). Wendla struggles represent a character’s recollection of with whether she wants to say no, and childhood sexual abuse.

Melchior pushes past her resistance; her The intensity of “And Then There consent remains ambiguous.

Were None” showcases the musical’s

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT by Corin Hirsch

Are there catamounts in Vermont?

B y Co ri n H i r s ch

Mountain lion

database that allows us to track sightings spatially and temporally, so that if we do get an emerging pattern, at least we should be able to predict, ‘Hey, we might have a mountain lion or two in that area.’”

All leads have run cold, though; many turn out to be “cases of mistaken identity,” says Bernier. For instance, the Canada lynx — an endangered species that seems to be making a comeback in the Northeast Kingdom — is often mistaken for a catamount, although the lynx is much more diminutive.

“If mountain lions [were here], there would simply be more definitive evidence,” Bernier notes, such as tracks, carcasses — via car accidents or hunters — or a definitive image from one of the thousands of game cameras around the state. “Vermont is not that large a state, and it’s not that rural,” he continues. “It’s crisscrossed by roads and human activity

© Ultrashock | Dreamstime.com

28 WTF

© Ultrashock | Dreamstime.com

SEVEN DAYS 02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVENDAYSvt.com

O

n February 18, a reader emailed Seven Days an intriguing photo: a cat slinking through snowy woods near Groton State Forest. A pretty large cat.

“I live in Cabot and was driving down my dirt road yesterday when I spotted a juvenile mountain lion in the road,” wrote the sender. “It ran in front of my car for 10 feet … It stopped to look at me, I grabbed my phone and was able to snap a quick picture of it before it bounded off into the woods.”

The reader seemed certain that what she’d seen wasn’t a bobcat or a lynx, but the creature that many Vermonters believe still roams the state: a mountain lion — or catamount, in local parlance.

Has the noble catamount returned to the state that still uses it as a sports mascot? WTF? Mountain lions are common in the western United States, but both the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service insist that the native Eastern puma is extinct, and may have been since the 1930s.

In Vermont, the last known mountain lion was shot near Barnard in 1881, ending an era when the predators were such a nuisance that the state offered a $20 bounty per pelt.

Yet dozens of Vermonters still claim to glimpse catamounts each year, from the Northeast Kingdom to Bennington County. In January, a New York television station fielded numerous reports of a mountain lion sighting in the Adirondacks.

“We get 50 to 75 [reported] sightings a year,” says Chris Bernier, VFWD’s wildlife biologist for fur-bearing animals and the go-to guy regarding catamounts.

When a purported sighting comes in, the staff logs it into their rare-animal-sightings database. Then it falls to Bernier to do the detective work to figure out whether a claim “is the real McCoy,” which might involve sending a biologist to collect tracks, scat or hair.

To dispel the widespread belief that the agency is covering up the presence of catamounts, Bernier says he spends a considerable amount of time following up on sightings — sometimes working from “photos of terrible quality, though your imagination could lead you to believe ‘this is a mountain lion.’”

“I would like people to understand that we do take these [sightings] seriously,” Bernier goes on. “We have a GIS

everywhere, with the possible exception of the spine of the Green Mountains. So really, a mountain lion existing in the area is just going to show its face if we have a resident population.”

By “resident,” Bernier means “reproducing.” Western mountain lion activity has been documented as close as Québec, and a cougar carcass was discovered on a Connecticut road in 2011, so Bernier says the agency doesn’t rule out the possibility that the cats are passing through Vermont. “We recognize the fact that mountain lions have the potential to occur in the state in a transitory nature,” he says. “The evidence is clear that mountain lions are widely dispersing animals.”

Genetics research determined that the mountain lion found in Connecticut originated in South Dakota — which means it could have passed through Bennington County, observes Bernier.

Despite his skepticism, he says he’s “psyched” by the prospect that a lead might pan out one day. “I would be as excited as anyone to have mountain lions in my backyard,” he says. “I would love to know we live in a wild place. There is some sort of purity to the notion that, if mountain lions can live here, we’re doing something right to manage our habitat.

Though maybe that’s my own delusional opinion,” Bernier allows. “Suffice [it] to say, I spend a lot of my time on mountain lions, considering I have 16 other species [to watch].”

The reader also posted her photo to a Facebook page called Vermont Mountain Lion Sightings. Its administrator, Annie Shafiroff, a South Burlington resident and devoted catamount enthusiast, had doubts. “I honestly do not think that this is a mountain lion at all,” she wrote in a comment on the posting.

“The shape of the face is that of a bobcat. Maybe it could be a lynx?”

Shafiroff added that lynx had been sighted in the vicinity.

Other posts on the page suggest ongoing sightings. In January, one woman wrote that she was “pretty positive” she saw a catamount near Charlotte. “It was huge and had a rabbit in its mouth,” she reported.

Of the photos she’s seen, Shafiroff tells Seven Days, many are “not genuine, because I don’t believe that many people out there can seriously tell the difference between a bobcat, lynx or mountain lion.” At an average weight of 150 pounds, a mountain lion is way larger than the 15-to-35-pound bobcat.

However, Shafiroff isn’t troubled by the lack of a definitive mountain lion picture, “because sightings happen so fast. They happen when we least expect them to occur,” she notes.

As for Bernier, he doesn’t miss a beat when he sees the reader’s photo. “That’s undoubtedly, 100 percent, definitely a bobcat, from its face to its posture to its size,” he remarks. “It’s a bobcat up to its belly, and it has no tail. If it was a catamount’s tail, they’d be holding it up out of the snow.”

And so the search continues. m

INFO Bobcat

Outraged, or merely curious, about something? Send your burning question to wtf@sevendaysvt.com.

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE BY CECIL ADAMS

Dear Cecil,

Pieber and Doris Dallinger, in the journal Angewandte Chemie (Applied Chemistry). ( Chemistry Having reviewed the literature and done some experiments, they report as follows:

T

radiation: (1) ionizing, the highenergy kind produced by nuclear bombs, radioactive elements and such; and (2) non-ionizing, the relatively low-energy type we encounter every day in the form of light, heat and radio waves.

Microwaves are located between radio and heat (infrared) on the non-ionizing end of things.

When, therefore, we speak of “nuking” something in the microwave, that’s not what we’re actually doing; it’s COMICAL EXAGGERATION FOR EFFECT, YOU FRICKING IMBE— Excuse me — trying day.

Microwave heating is different from conventional heating because, whereas infrared energy warms up pretty much any molecule it plows into, microwaves only affect molecules having polarity — that is, positive and negative ends, which rotate rapidly back and forth as the microwaves go by. A common type of polar molecule is water, which, happily for us, is distributed fairly evenly throughout many foods.

So while ordinary heat gets absorbed by the outer layer of a food and only slowly penetrates to the interior, microwave energy passes through most of the food as though it were transparent and heats up mainly the water, and to a degree the sorta polar fats and sugars, which in turn heat up everything else. The food thus cooks uniformly (more or less) and in much less time.

But let’s be clear: Heating is heating. The mainstream view is that microwaves basically do what conventional heating does, only faster. A few scientists, however, think there may be what are known as nonthermal microwave effects of possibly ominous significance. Since precision microwave ovens have become widely available in labs, an opportunity to settle this longstanding controversy is now at hand — or so it seemed in 2005.

Which brings us to the article cited above, published last year by three Austrian chemists, C. Oliver Kappe, Bartholomäus

Is there something you need to get straight? Cecil Adams can deliver the Straight Dope on any topic. Write Cecil Adams at the Chicago Reader, 11 E. Illinois, Chicago, IL 60611, or cecil@chireader.com.

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One article won’t end the argument. But I’m inclined to agree with Oliver, Bart and Doris: Mysterious microwave effects (and presumably their attendant dangers) are a myth.

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

he jury was still out, although if my eyes don’t deceive me they just filed back into the courtroom. More on that in a moment, but first a word. Next time you get some fragile eggshell mind telling you that “microwaving changes the molecular structure of food” (these exact words are always used), look them in the eye and reply as follows: “You’re 100 percent correct — it’s been scientifically proven that microwaving changes the molecular structure of food. THIS IS CALLED COOKING, YOU NITWIT.” Sorry, needed to vent. Back to the jury. Their verdict comes in the form of an article published last year titled: “Microwave Effects in Organic Synthesis: Myth or Reality?”

The answer, not to kill the suspense, is: myth.

To recap, people freak out about microwaves because they use (horrors!) radiation, failing to grasp that there are two kinds of

•Everyone agrees microwaves are far too low-energy to break molecular bonds and cause chemical reactions. (Cooking, whether done conventionally or with microwaves, unbends or “denatures” proteins, changing their shape much as one might unbend a paper clip, so in that sense it changes molecular structure. But it doesn’t turn the molecules into something else.)

• That said, laboratory microwave ovens do things that are difficult or impossible to replicate with conventional heating.

A reaction that might take five hours to complete if the starting mixture were simply boiled can be accomplished in one second using a microwave to superheat the stuff in a sealed vessel. The fact remains: These are still thermal effects.

• Claims of nonthermal microwave effects continue to show up in the scientific journals, but in the opinion of Oliver, Bart and Doris, these are mostly due to CARAMAN

I work at the deli counter at a natural-foods store and recently one of my customers chided me for suggesting she warm up her food by microwaving it. She said microwaving changes the molecular structure of food and makes it dangerous. Being skeptical, I researched this online, mainly by searching through your old answers. Your May 2005 column said the jury was still out on this question. Any new information?

Bet P., Charleston, S.C.

(a) chemists not really getting how microwaves work and (b) experimental error. A common problem is inaccurate temperature monitoring.

• For instance, a scientific team led by one Dudley reported it had heated a chemical mixture to 100 degrees Celsius using both conventional and microwave heating. However, after 30 minutes, the reaction in the conventionally heated mixture was only 25 percent complete, whereas in the microwaved mixture it was 90 percent.

Since the temperature of the two mixtures was the same, Dudley and friends contended, this was evidence of a nonthermal microwave effect.

• Kuhscheisse, riposted our three skeptics. Team Dudley had used sensors that measured the surface temperature, not the internal temperature of the mix. The Austrians reran the experiment using an internal probe and found the reactions in the microwaved and conventionally heated mixtures occurred at exactly the same rate.

POLI PSY

ON THE PUBLIC USES AND ABUSES OF EMOTION BY JUDITH LEVINE

Should Rape Victims Get Custody Rights?

32 POLI PSY

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A

t his sentencing, Ariel Castro — the madman who kidnapped, imprisoned and repeatedly raped three girls over 11 years — suggested he could file for parental rights to the child born of one of those assaults. The judge summarily quashed the fantasy. Any such arrangement, he understated, “would be inappropriate.”

Still, Castro was technically correct.

In Ohio, as in Vermont and about a third of the states in the nation, a biological father maintains presumptive parental rights, even if he inseminated the mother in an act of coercion or violence.

Vermont needs a law — or perhaps needs to repeal one — to bury this monstrous relic of patriarchy.

Is H.88 that law? The bill — which passed the House of Representatives this month and awaits Senate approval — awards the victim of a sexual assault “permanent sole parental rights and responsibilities” (Vermont’s term for custody), even absent a conviction, if clear and convincing evidence proves the rape occurred and the child in question was its fruit. H.88 would become Title 15 Section 665b of Vermont statute.

H.88 covers stranger and acquaintance rapists. But the law’s sponsors have another perpetrator in mind: the man (and they are mostly men, in spite of gender-neutral language) who has lived and parented with, while also abusing, the victim — sometimes for years.

“It is a very, very common tactic for abusive partners to continue to control, intimidate and threaten partners through court action” — for example, threatening to challenge a mother’s child custody if she reports abuse or tries to leave, says Michelle B. Fay (D-St. Johnsbury), one of the sponsors. Fay is also executive director of Umbrella, an organization that supports victims of domestic violence and their children.

“This law will provide some potential relief to survivors in violent intimatepartner relationships,” she says.

A righteous goal, but good intent does not always yield good law. “I don’t have any problem with the intent of this statute,” says Vermont Law School family-law professor Susan Apel. “But

it’s too broad. It would sweep within it situations we don’t want to have swept.”

Says Hardwick divorce and parentage attorney Jan Paul Johnson: “What appears to be not complicated at all at first blush turns out to potentially be quite complicated.”

The complications arise immediately after that first blush. Because, beyond granting the mother the prerogative to live with and make decisions for the child, the law kicks the alleged rapist out of the family altogether; the judge has no discretion in the matter. “The court shall not issue a parent-child contact order,” it reads; any shall existing order “shall be terminated.” Unlike a “termination of parental rights,” 665b would require the man to pay child support. It includes no right to counsel.

And a 665b order would be permanent and unchangeable.

“The basic right to parent is taken away forever based on clear and convincing evidence, with no attorney,” summarizes Patricia “Penny” Benelli, chair of the Vermont Bar Association Family Law Section. “That goes too far.”

(Benelli is speaking for herself, not the VBA.) Being shackled to your rapist through parenthood is an intolerable injustice. Losing your children without due process is equally intolerable and unjust. But the pain of adults is not the principal concern of the family court.

The fundamental principle of family law is to act in the best interest of the child.

H.88 says that dealing with a former assailant is so traumatic that the victim may be unable to parent well; thus, removing that assailant is in the best interest of the child. But critics have their doubts. “Where is the child here?” asks Benelli of the bill.

Judges must now consider, among nine factors, the safety and well-being of the adult victim in determining the child’s interest in custody decisions. Yet

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in all but the most dangerous situations, family courts do their utmost to help parents continue knowing and caring for their kids.

If parents are not equal to the task, the state helps them become so. If parents can’t cooperate with each other, the court independently arranges the visits. If one parent poses a threat to the child, the visits are supervised in a public place; if he endangers the other parent, they can proceed without her involvement.

When the spouse or child must be shielded from an abuser, the court can issue “relief from abuse.” But even this

is temporary, in hopes the abuse can be stopped and the child reunited with the parent.

“This statute equates the child’s interest with the mother’s interests,” says Benelli, noting the unspoken (and illegal) gender bias in H.88. “That doesn’t always work. What if the mother has substance-abuse issues or is mentally ill?” Under H.88, “every victim of sexual assault, proved by clear and convincing evidence, is automatically the one and only parent this child is ever going to know.”

Certain other unintended consequences leap to mind. For example:

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When Dr. Bradley Moved His Practice to CVMC I Followed Him There.

We had a success story in the works. When Dr. Bradley told me in 2012 that I “did not have a leg to stand on” he also asked me what I wanted.

My answer: to kneel and to cross-country ski.

His response: “ok - that’s reasonable.”

And so it began.

In March 2012 Dr. Bradley replaced my right knee in Cortland NY – my home town. It went perfectly and the pain from my arthritic knee was gone. I could genuflect. We scheduled surgery on the left knee but Dr. Bradley was recruited to CVMC. So I followed him. I’d be crazy not to. Surgery here was perfect and physical therapy at Woodridge is great. I have NO complaints. CVMC has highly skilled, wonderful people...not to mention good food and great comfort. And Dr. Bradley is a special person – a great physician. He’s one-on-one and very exact. He’ll tell you: That’s what I do. And again I can tell you: indeed he does.

I’ll be kneeling soon – and looking for my skis.

You have a great orthopaedic team with Dr. Bradley and the Physical Therapists at Woodridge at Central Vermont Medical Center.

I’m glad you are not farther away. Thank you.

Mike Stapleton, Cortland NY

Central Vermont Medical Center

SEVEN DAYS

conferring moral superiority on victimization.

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fit and better parent,” says Benelli. The law “empowers” women by conferring moral superiority on victimization.

Assuming the victim is good, H.88 builds in no safeguards against the potential destructiveness of the instrument it creates. Abusive relationships are struggles for power and control. Divorce exaggerates that struggle; even seemingly reasonable people make false allegations of child abuse in custody battles. H.88 hands a vulnerable woman a weapon as potent as the ones it aims to prevent her abuser from wielding. Why wouldn’t she try — or threaten — to use it?

Another irony of H.88 is that in challenging the genetic “right” of the inseminator, it reinforces the law’s already strong bias toward biological over social parenthood. This is the same bias that denies rights to nonbiological parents in same-sex couples or to adults unrelated by blood who have cared for children.

H.88 enshrines the meeting of two gametes as the defining moment in the life of the family — so important that its circumstances can obliterate a parental relationship of any quality or duration.

But forget how the law represents women, men, sex or marriage.

As Benelli asked, where are the children in H.88? Good judges take advantage of the fact that kids stubbornly love their parents. They bank on the power of parental love to move adults to change. H.88 forecloses — no, forbids — these possibilities.

By banishing fathers from fatherhood, H.88 buys justice for abuse victims with the grief of their children. That is too high a price, and surely the last thing the drafters had in mind. m

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poli psy is a monthly column by Judith levine. Got a comment on this story? Contact levine@sevendaysvt.com.

DR. MAHLON BRADLEY / 802.225.3970

Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at Central Vermont Orthopaedics 130 Fisher Road / Medical Office Building B, Suite 2-3 (on the CVMC campus) 3V-CVMCStapleton022614.indd 1

2/25/14 1:56 PM

poli psy 33

A minor woman and an older man have sex and produce a child. They break up.

The mother wants the guy out of her life.

She files for a 665b petition. The judge determines the parents’ ages at the time of conception. Although the relationship was consensual, the law calls it statutory rape. Would this be sufficiently clear and convincing evidence? Yes, says Apel, without hesitation.

Even some supporters of the law consider it unready for prime time. “It needs a lot more thought and redrafting,” says Apel.

Committee members I talked to have faith that the law will work as written.

Misuse? “The clear and convincing standard is a significant protection against any false claims succeeding,” Fay says. No statute of limitations?

(An alleged victim can come forward a month or 12 years later.) Time will fatally erode evidence. Belated accusations of statutory rape? That scenario “seems unlikely,” says Fay — though it describes the case LeClair v. Reed (2007), which illuminated the shortcomings of current law.

Anyway, says Vermont Law School professor and Vermont Public Radio commentator Cheryl Hanna, sensibly: “We don’t not pass useful laws because they might be misused.”

Even honestly used, though, H.88 is a law full of trouble. Unlike criminal prosecution or civil litigation, parentage rulings aim for peace, not justice.

They try to create stable situations where children and adults can get on with their lives.

Family law recognizes that families are complex, that a person can be hideous to a spouse and still do a decent job parenting, or vice versa. That perpetrator and victim are usually oversimplified ways to describe adults in a couple.

In assigning those labels, H.88 has a perverse effect. It conflates the legal innocence of victims with personal innocence — goodness. “The victim of any sexual assault is presumed to be a

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them once they’ve been released back into society.

The DOC doesn’t comment on pending litigation, but legal experts and even prisoner advocates contacted for this story concede that Morales’ suit has little chance of success; state and federal courts have consistently upheld bans on consensual sex behind bars.

Nevertheless, some observers say, the case raises valid questions about life in the correctional system. Is it realistic to expect inmates to remain completely celibate for years, or even decades? If it’s widely acknowledged that mutually consensual sex occurs regularly among prisoners, is there any way to allow, or even facilitate, healthy romantic relationships without falling down the slippery slope of permitting forced or coerced sex?

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Sex Cells

A gay transgender inmate sues for the right to express passion in prison

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or Martin Morales, life behind bars in Vermont isn’t always dreary and uneventful. At times, she says, it’s been a “beautiful experience of self-discovery” of her sexual orientation and gender identity — the ultimate in forbidden love.

Morales, a 24-year-old biological male who self-identifies as gay and female, describes romantic encounters that at times sound as innocent as a middle-school crush: an exchange of love notes in the library, mutual caresses under a cafeteria table, a surreptitious kiss during Bible study. Other activities would get an NC-17 rating: For instance, Morales recounts absconding with a lover into a bathroom, hallway or mop closet for a sexual tryst while another inmate keeps the correctional officers, or COs, busy.

But Morales, who’s serving a 12- to 25-year sentence for an armed home invasion in February 2011, insists she’s not into “casual sex or one-night stands.” Instead, she seeks out “emotionally and physically intimate” relationships with much older and “more mature” men. In fact, she credits several prison partners with teaching

her about “healthy” relationships that, for the first time in her life, don’t involve drugs, alcohol, self-mutilation, domestic abuse or shame.

Unfortunately for Morales, such sexual healing among inmates is strictly forbidden by the Vermont Department of Corrections, as it is in every correctional system in the United States. Under DOC policy, any “sexualized behavior” by inmates is considered a “major B” violation

that can result in disciplinary sanctions.

Such behavior is defined as kissing, touching, hugging, massaging, fondling or other physical contact “which produces or is intended to produce sexual stimulation or gratification.” For comparison, other major B violations include vandalism, forgery, missing a head count or tampering with another inmate’s food to cause harm.

(Major A violations include the most serious offenses, such as homicide, arson and rioting.)

Morales has received several disciplinary reports, or “DRs,” for her sexual pursuits, some resulting in segregation from the general prison population. She’s even been moved to other prisons — four times in the past three years — to keep her away from her love interests, some of whom the DOC considers potential sexual predators.

In response, Morales has sued the Vermont Department of Corrections and its commissioner, Andy Pallito, for the right to pursue her romantic endeavors while incarcerated. She seeks to have consensual sex without fear of disciplinary action being taken against her or her partners.

“I see this as a fundamental human right and a constitutional issue,” says Morales, who is representing herself in a federal lawsuit filed last August in U.S. District Court in Burlington. In a 79-page handwritten complaint, Morales contends that the DOC’s ban on all sexual activity among inmates is unconstitutional as it “doesn’t further a compelling government interest.” She says inmates should be encouraged, not punished, for learning “prosocial” relationship skills that will benefit

orales doesn’t fit any of the usual stereotypes of transgender individuals.

She shows up for her two-hour interview — conducted during normal visiting hours at the all-male Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport — looking not too different from other male inmates in the visitors’ room. She’s 6 feet tall, 215 pounds, with short, brown hair, hazel eyes and fair skin. On the morning of her interview, she’s dressed in a gray T-shirt under her beige, prison-issued uniform.

Morales hasn’t undergone genderreassignment surgery or hormone-replacement therapy — if she had, the DOC would have assigned her to an all-women’s prison — nor does she wear makeup, nail polish, women’s clothing or other feminine accessories.

“Gender is a social construct,” she explains. “I’m comfortable with my biological sex being male, but I believe my gender has both masculine and feminine components.”

On February 13, 2013, Morales pled guilty to attempted kidnapping, burglary, aggravated domestic assault and violation of an abuse-prevention order. Two years earlier, Morales had broken into the Winooski apartment of an ex-girlfriend and robbed her at knifepoint. Morales, who admits she did it to get money to buy cocaine, expresses remorse for her crime, which she describes as “horrible” and “atrocious.”

Still, there were extenuating circumstances. Morales claims that two nights before the attack — her only violent offense and criminal conviction — she confronted a Catholic priest from her hometown of Cairo, N.Y., whom she alleges sexually abused her from ages 7 to 14 while she was an altar boy.

“I wanted some power and control in a sick way over him,” Morales says about her 2011 confrontation with Father Jeremiah Nunan. “I wanted him to beg for mercy

as “therapeutic,” Morales says she is reluctant to tell her mental health counselor about her romantic encounters for fear of getting her partner, or herself, in hot water.

Despite the DOC’s official policy, Morales claims that many COs are aware of her sexual activities and, more often than not, turn a blind eye to them. While she won’t name names, she claims that some have even abetted her endeavors so that less-tolerant COs won’t discover them.

“Don’t get me wrong. There is some intolerance in here,” Morales says. “But I’ve met some good staff. They’ve said to me, ‘Marty, you are who you are. I’m not in any position to judge or deny you your right to love somebody.’”

David Turner, the DOC’s director of policy development, says the rationale for the no-sex policy in prison is obvious: COs and other law-enforcement agents rarely can determine whether a sexual encounter between inmates is truly consensual. According to Turner, one party in a seemingly consensual relationship could actually be strong-armed or blackmailed by threats against him or her, or against friends, partners or family members.

“Obviously, if we see two people that give the appearance of being in a relationship, whether it’s sexual or not, we’re going to keep our eyes on that,” Turner says. “We have certain obligations, based on the PREA directive, to make sure we keep everybody safe.”

I’m not going to pretend to be celibate for 12 years

while I’m in the sexual zenith of my life.

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Such concerns are well justified.

A 2012 report by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics found that more than one third of all gay and bisexual male inmates reported being sexually victimized by another inmate. By contrast, only 3.5 percent of hetero inmates reported such abuse.

Vermont is one of the few states that provide condoms to inmates on request. Dee Burroughs-Biron, the DOC’s health services director, explains that Vermont adopted the policy in 1987, not as a way to condone prison sex but to stop the Childhood photo of Martin Morales spread of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV. Burroughs-Biron says it would be “reverse discrimination” for corrections officials to allow gay inmates to pursue romantic and sexual relationships, as Morales is seeking to do, while banning

similar sexual activities among hetero inmates.

Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center, a prisoner advocacy group based in Lake Worth, Fla., calls such policies “ludicrous” and “absurd” because they equate sex with rape.

“They don’t come right out and say it, but basically they’re sending you to prison so you’re not able to have sex with anyone,” says Wright, who was himself incarcerated in Washington State in the 1990s and later became a legal advocate and watchdog of the American corrections industry. “Most prisons also have rules against masturbation,” he says. “If you think that one’s not being violated on a regular basis, denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.”

What sets the American penal system apart from others in the world, he says, is that “they try to destroy the ability of people to have relationships of any kind.” Wright, who married and fathered children while in prison, points out that most states have either discontinued their conjugal-visit policies, like Washington, or never allowed them, like Vermont.

Mississippi, which had allowed conjugal visits since the mid-1800s, ended that policy two months ago.

But it’s about more than sex, Wright adds. He points to the high cost of prison mail and phone services, restrictive visitation rules and the location of prisons far from urban areas as examples of how the penal system deprives inmates of the ability to maintain meaningful relationships with family and friends.

“If most prisoners are going to be getting out, how are you helping to make them better people from when they came in?” Wright asks. “If you accept the fact that relationships are a normal part of human existence, what are you doing to normalize that?”

For her part, Morales claims she’s been subjected to more than a dozen PREA investigations. During her initial intake in the Vermont correctional system, prison staff designated her as a “victim risk” for sexual assault due to her gender identity and sexual orientation.

Nonetheless, since she went to prison in February 2011, Morales claims she’s never once been raped or coerced into having sex. And, despite repeated efforts to keep her away from her lovers, Morales insists she won’t stop pursuing her jailhouse affairs.

“Just like anyone, I have biological needs, and I’m not going to pretend to be celibate for 12 years while I’m in the sexual zenith of my life,” she says. “Whether I prevail on the merits or not, I’m standing up for what I believe in.” m

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On the morning of her interview, Morales says, she ran into a former lover in the chow line. That inmate, who’s serving a life sentence for murder, was in a “foul mood,” so Morales sat by his side and caressed his hand under the table throughout breakfast. When they parted, she says, “He was all laughter and smiles.”

She describes it as “the healing power of intimate touch.”

The DOC views such behavior as far less innocent.

Corrections officials justify their zero tolerance for inmate intimacy by pointing to the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) passed by Congress in 2003. The act, which applies to all state and federal correctional facilities, is intended to detect and respond to sexual assaults behind bars, whether perpetrated by inmates or staff.

courtesy of Ivan morales sr.

and cry, feel what I had felt all those years — the anger, the fear, the shame.”

Morales isn’t the only one to have made such accusations against Nunan.

Her older brother, Ivan Morales Jr., a New York State trooper in Catskill, N.Y., has also publicly accused the parish priest of sexually molesting him when he was a boy.

Their sister, Maria, currently a cadet in the Vermont Police Academy, never reported any such abuse.

In April 2012, their father, Ivan Morales Sr., held a press conference outside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, N.Y., where he publicly denounced the priest for allegedly molesting both his sons, blaming him for Martin’s “downfall.” The elder Morales even provided reporters with photocopies of thousands of dollars in canceled checks, payable to Martin from Nunan’s personal checking account.

Martin claims that Nunan offered the money in exchange for sex so she could buy alcohol and drugs.

“I always knew their relationship was a little fishy, but I never put two and two together,” Ivan Sr. says in a recent phone interview. “I just thought he was a normal gay priest. It all makes sense to me now.”

The Moraleses’ accusations led to Nunan being placed on administrative leave — and not for the first time. According to published news reports from April 2012, Nunan was previously accused of sexually abusing a minor back in the late 1960s and early ’70s. Nunan denied the charges, which were never substantiated.

The district attorney’s office of Greene County, N.Y., never filed criminal charges from the Moraleses’ accusations, either.

Repeated phone calls and emails by Seven Days to the Catholic Diocese of Albany to inquire about Nunan’s current whereabouts and status within the church are unanswered as of press time.

Throughout her two-hour prison interview, Morales fidgets nervously with her hands and avoids most direct eye contact.

Her minor facial tics may be due to her diagnoses of anxiety disorder, mild autism and post-traumatic stress disorder, she says, the last of which she blames on years of sexual trauma.

But Morales says she’s been luckier than most gay and transgender inmates she’s met. Despite being raised in a very conservative Catholic household, she describes her parents and siblings as “nurturing and empathetic” individuals who “reacted with love and support” when she came out as gay two months before going to jail.

Since then, Morales claims, she’s had sex in every correctional facility she’s been in — six in all — and has some sort of “intimate physical contact” with another inmate every day. While she describes this

I

n the living room of a modest family home in Colchester, Michael Rork stares intently at his iPad, flipping through image after image of suggestively posed ladies in various states of undress. Clad in racy garter belts, demure negligées or pin-up-inspired sailor dresses, the women in the photographs pout, wink and smile from the screen.

Internet voyeurism? Nope. Looking at the implied erotic fantasies playing out in these pictures is all in a day’s work for Rork; he’s skimming the photos for artistic inspiration. He and his wife, Athena, own Winooski-based Zinfandel Photography, the lone photo business in Vermont specializing in boudoir. The word once referred to a woman’s bedroom or private dressing room; hence the photographs have a seduction theme, employing the soft, diffuse light of glamour shots.

Boudoir’s (usually) female subjects are often photographed in their actual bedrooms — or a studio made to look like one — and costumed and posed in ways that run the gamut from demurely sensual to overtly sexual. The idea of photographing women in underwear may call to mind the impossibly tall, long-limbed models in a Victoria’s Secret catalog. But Rork maintains that, with proper treatment, any women can look like a supermodel in her skivvies.

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It’s helping people feel the way they want to feel.

It’s so much more than “sexy.”

M ich ae l R ork

“When [women] look in the mirror, they only see themselves flat-on,” he says, and notes that a mirror’s unforgiving reflection is unflattering to just about everyone. “But when I put them in front of the camera, and I light them properly and I pose them properly,” Rork goes on, “they’re able to see themselves the way their husbands see them, the way their girlfriends see them.

They’re able to see themselves in a way that they don’t notice.”

At her home on a recent afternoon, Jenna Gonyo-Greenough is having her makeup done. For now, she’s casually dressed in jeans, her hair done up in curlers, and she’s chatting away with Meg Walsh, Rork’s makeup artist and photography assistant.

Gonyo-Greenough is what Rork calls a “curvy girl,” with the kind of voluptuous figure not normally seen in the pages of a fashion magazine. She’s recently divorced, and notes emphatically that the photos from this shoot are for her alone. (Boudoir

Bedroom Eyes A photographer finds a boudoir niche in Vermont B y X i an C h i an g- Wa ren

photographs are often intended as gifts for a significant other, Rork says.)

The appeal of a boudoir shoot, it seems, is as much about the experience as it is about the final set of images — and Zinfandel’s clients certainly get a full-day experience. Gonyo-Greenough, who works night shifts, was up at 10 a.m. to get her hair done. She spent another hour in Walsh’s makeup chair. Now she shakes her platinum-blond hair free of the curlers, loses the jeans, and slips into the purple-and-white negligée she bought for the shoot. She’s ready for about five hours behind Rork’s camera.

“Shoulder in a bit, drop it slightly, pull your chin in — yeah, like that — drop the chin a bit, great,” he instructs. “Open smile, closed smile, beautiful! Gorgeous, Jenna.”

In an age when Snapchatting risqué pics would hardly make a middle schooler blink, it may seem strange that there’s still a market for suggestive professional photography. And stranger still that Rork, a largely self-taught photographer, found such strong market demand in Vermont, where he and Athena moved in 2008 from their native California.

Rork initially launched Zinfandel Photography as a glamour and portrait

business. It wasn’t until a friend requested a boudoir shoot that he began exploring that genre’s lighting, poses and visual aesthetic. Rork added some examples to his portfolio. Then, he says, he began to notice that the boudoir images were getting the most attention — and generating the most requests.

Following this newfound passion, and his wife’s advice, Rork refocused Zinfandel on boudoir. Since then, the couple has seen such an upswing in clients that Athena quit her day job to help manage the business full time. Rork recently signed on as Green Mountain Cabaret’s in-house

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boudoir is similar to that of burlesque: Both offer an opportunity to be expressive, open and creative with clothing and costumes in a way that reveals, rather than disguises, her nature. “The person in the photos is more me than the person at the [cash] register,” she says.

Other clients uphold the tradition of giving a boudoir image to someone special for an anniversary or wedding, or to take overseas while serving in the military. But in the five years that Zinfandel Photography has been in the boudoir business, Rork says, some women have come to him for reasons he didn’t expect.

“One of my clients is a survivor of breast cancer, and one of the things she said that really stuck with me was that [after undergoing treatment] she didn’t think she could feel feminine again,” he recalls.

“That’s what it’s about. It’s helping people feel the way they want to feel. It’s so much more than ‘sexy,’ even though that’s what we focus on. Because that’s what boudoir is visually. But internally, it’s about feeling good about yourself.”

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL RORK

photographer, creating professional images for the burlesque performers.

Athena Rork has a straightforward explanation for boudoir’s marketing appeal.

“Every woman wants to feel beautiful, whatever that means to them,” she says.

“It’s self-validating because their spouse and their friends can tell them they’re beautiful all day long, but unless they see it and believe it for themselves, it doesn’t feel true.”

Michael Rork says that in his experience, women of all backgrounds — and all personalities, from shy to vivacious — can be attracted to boudoir. Some clients come to experience, and to embody, the allure that Hollywood pin-up glamour and boudoir photography gave to classic beauties such as Jean Harlow and Rita Hayworth.

Some of the Green Mountain Cabaret members have requested private shoots in addition to their cabaret head shots. One such performer is “Innocent Ivy,” who works by day as a cashier at Lowe’s and acknowledges that a shoot with Rork adds up to a paycheck. But she says the experience is well worth it. For Ivy, the appeal of

It’s a testament to Rork’s skill in putting his clients at ease, as well as his photography, that even a woman in trying physical circumstances can look like an ingénue in her images. One would hardly guess, for Traveling Oven at Lareau Farm example, that Jillian Kirby was suffering from a serious illness at the time of her Wood fired farm to table shoot: The young woman appears in Rork’s cusine promotional materials with red-lacquered lips and black garters, kicking her stilettos Simple to sublime over the headboard of a plush, softly lit bed.

Kirby, a Winooski resident, was suffering from a crippling bone marrow disease On and off premise catering at the time the Rorks were transitioning their business to boudoir. Athena Rork, a Craft beverage service friend of Kirby’s, offered her a free shoot if she would allow her images to be used on 2014 dates available Michael’s business cards and website.

“The boudoir shoot happened when I Enjoy pastoral VT along the was at my sickest,” Kirby remembers. “I Mad River was shuffling around in my pajamas, not feeling very awesome. And it was nice. It Traveling oven at the site of was a step outside of what I was normally your choice doing. And then,” she continues, “when I saw the photos, it was like a reminder lareaufarminn.com that I was still, like, a woman, and not just americanflatbread.com somebody who was sick.”

Kirby did recover — “That’s another events@americanflatbread.com story,” she notes wryly — but her medical 802.496.4949 experience was difficult in more ways than one. “Being in the hospital, you’re walking around in weird little gowns and changing and all that stuff in front of weird people,” 8V-AmFlatbread021214.indd 1 2/11/14 5:01 PM she says. “I had to drink this radioactive stuff, and people were literally seeing inside of me … You have to disengage from your body.”

Being in front of Rork’s camera, Kirby remembers, was empowering — a reclaiming of the dressing and undressing ritual. simple.

And she credits makeup artist Walsh with sensual. sophisticated. giving her tips to enhance her appearance during a time when she dreaded hearing the words “Oh, you look so sick.”

While his clients’ transformations may appear dramatic, Rork stresses that he relies very little on the trickery of Photoshop. Walsh, for her part, sticks mostly to natural looks. The outfits and costumes, too, are entirely a client’s choice — women are asked to bring whatever they feel comfortable wearing. Rork does bring along props, such as a white shag rug, a 1950s telephone, red roses and Champagne.

The point, after all, is to create a bedroom fantasy.

Fantasy has limits, though. At the end of the day, Rork says, “I want [the clients] to recognize themselves when they see the picture. I’m not opposed to using Photoshop to remove an untimely zit, or something that would go away tomorrow.

But if it’s a scar, or something else that defines you, I’d rather leave it. It’s a part of who you are.” m

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Coming Around

38 FEATURE

SEVEN DAYS

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W

hen a sexually stressed couple shows up at the Cabot homestead of Dr. Israel and Cathie Helfand, typically one of the pair is planning to leave the relationship. It’s not uncommon for that one to have a lover waiting in the wings for the union to tank, and to assume that couples’ therapy is just a way to let his or her partner down easy.

But often, much to their surprise, that couple leaves the Helfands’ Sexploration Retreat having rekindled their frigid sex life and saved the marriage. In fact, the Helfands say they have an 80 percent success rate with their intensive, threeday couples’ sex-therapy program. That’s impressive, given that they often deal with spouses who have bigger problems than just wanting to “spice things up.”

After more than 25 years in practice, the Helfands have pretty much seen it all.

They deal with the garden-variety sexual dysfunctions — sagging sex drive, erectile difficulties, performance anxiety, trouble achieving orgasm — as well as more complex issues, such as a bisexual spouse, the desire for a sexually “open” relationship or an interest in bizarre sexual practices.

Evidently, the Helfands are pros at treating them. Many of their clients travel from as far away as India; just last week, one couple flew in from Bali. Couples have come from Texas, California and British Columbia. Some are celebrities, including entertainers and professional athletes.

Others are individuals at the top of their careers — CEOs, doctors, therapists. The Helfands also see a lot of Southern Baptists and other fundamentalist Christians, they say, especially ministers. Why? “That’s easy,” Israel Helfand explains.

“They want to work with me because they know I’m Jewish and I won’t be judgmental.”

The Helfands’ “sexpert” consultations don’t come cheap — Israel will only say the three-day workshop runs “many thousands of dollars.” But to their clients, the advice can be invaluable in saving marriages that have been given up for dead.

Israel and Cathie Helfand offer Seven Days some unconventional insights about couples’ sexuality, including their thoughts on the fragile male libido, the reason spouses cheat and why so many women masturbate to “The Daily Show.”

SEVEN DAYS: What causes most sexual dysfunction in relationships?

the birth-control pill, because that changes her pheromones. It changes both how she tastes and smells as well as what she finds attractive in others’ tastes and smells.

SD: Woody Allen once said, “Men learn to love the woman they are attracted to. Women learn to become attracted to the man they fall in love with.”

CH: I disagree. I think there needs to be attraction first in order to endure a life.

People are living to be 80, 90, 100 years old. If the marriage is going to last 50 or 60 years, there needs to be sexual chemistry.

And I’m not even talking about how good the sex is. There has to be chemical attraction, because you can’t make that up. It’s one reason people have affairs. They married their best friend, someone they really liked; they had a lot in common and they travel well together. But all of a sudden he’s on a business trip, someone catches his eye and he can’t get her out of his mind.

IH: Sometimes, affairs happen as a way of trying to save the marriage. I can’t tell you how often I’ve said that and seen the tears roll down someone’s face. They’ll say to me, “I get everything else from my spouse that I want. The only area that’s not satisfying is the sex, so I got that elsewhere.”

guy says, “C’mon honey. Let’s do this.

It’ll spice up our life.” So she says, “OK,” and ends up falling in love with one of the people they’re fooling around with, and then there’s no turning back. It’s a Pandora’s box.

SD: What do you tell them?

IH: After I vindicate them a bit and say they’re not alone, that’s when we have to go into what is the core erotic theme in their life that they don’t know and haven’t shared with their spouse. We fall in love because of the things we see and like in each other. That’s obvious. But what you might not know is, what really cinches the deal in making the decision is not just the attraction to the traits and attributes we like. It’s the areas that feel familiar that we don’t particularly like but that are familiar because we’ve lived through them in our family of origin. That’s why, when marriage is done properly, it can heal our childhood wounds.

SD: Do you ever come out of the threeday retreat and tell a couple they’re just not sexually compatible?

IH: I’m usually there by the second day. I don’t wait until the third. Compatibility tends to be a big issue. So in interviews, I ask couples: “When you started having sex, were you attracted to each other’s tastes and smells?” That’s the biggest compatibility issue. The only thing that skews that answer is if the woman is on

SD: How so?

IH: Core erotic themes come from childhood experiences, and, more often than not, from traumatic childhood experiences. So, if it’s the guy who jerks off in the public restroom, chances are good that he has a story that goes something like this: “When I was 12 years old and started to masturbate, I grew up in a strongly ethnic family and my father never thought he should knock on doors because he thought

Two Cabot ‘sexperts’ teach couples to tap into their core erotic themes B Y KEN P IC AR D

ISRAEL HELFAND: Ninety percent of all the mishegas [craziness] in relationships comes from family of origin, culture, religion and background. Only 10 percent is born out of the relationship itself. When couples come in complaining about their relationship, what they’re not understanding is that they brought this problem into the relationship.

SD: You got started together in sex therapy in the 1970s, when open relationships were big. What’s your take on them now?

CATHIE HELFAND: For the majority of couples, it doesn’t work. There are some couples who are polyamorous and it works for them. But the typical scenario is, the

Cathie and Israel Helfand

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the house was his domain. And I would sneak a magazine into the shop to masturbate, but I was always vigilant that any moment someone might walk in.” So this guy began to set up a stimulus response of being hypervigilant, feeling the excitement of getting caught tied to his masturbation ritual. Something as simple as that translates into him later in life trying to recreate that excitement of getting caught.

SD: After 25 years, have you discovered any fundamental differences between the ways men and women think about sex?

CH: Obviously, there’s the stereotypical belief that women need to feel emotionally safe before they open up sexually. I don’t know for what percentage of women that’s true, because so much crosses gender and cultural lines. But I do think most people assume you have to have emotional intimacy.

IH: Research shows that in almost 100 percent of all sexless marriages — defined today as intercourse less than six times a year — it’s the man’s decision, not the woman’s.

SD: Your website says you treat chronic masturbation. Doesn’t that define most of the male population?

IH: It does. It becomes a pathology in the relationship when it interferes with your work and you’re getting fired because of it. You might be masturbating three times a day, but that’s normal because you’re 25 years old and need to masturbate three times a day. But if you’re married and you’re masturbating three times a day and don’t have the stamina to have sex with your wife, that’s a problem.

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SD: Are there behaviors you come across that still surprise or shock you?

IH: One of the things I still can’t get used to is people who get turned on by piercing and blood, women who like to have needles through their nipples. That still tweaks me out.

CH: This was about 10 years ago. We had this man who was called an adult baby, somebody who wears diapers. He wanted his wife to change his diaper for him.

He claimed there was no sexual turn-on there. I just can’t believe that’s not erotic.

At the time, we didn’t push him. We were more dealing with how she was handling HEl FAN D it. Today, I know we’d deal with it differently.

IH: What’s interesting about that case is that the couple were only a few months into their marriage, and she married him not knowing he was an adult baby and found out the hard way. It’s another example of how couples don’t talk to each other.

If men don’t feel desIred, that

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SD: Are there gender differences when it comes to extramarital affairs?

IH: This is a generality, but men tend to externalize them. They’ll say, “Well, of course I had an affair because I’m not getting it at home. She’s a beautiful woman and came on to me. What do you expect? I’m just a guy!” Whereas, women tend to internalize it and blame themselves. They’ll say, “I was weak. I was lonely. I was horny.”

SD: tell me about this theory you have about Jon Stewart.

CH: I often joke with Israel how I think Jon Stewart, on “The Daily Show,” uses words — and I don’t know whether it’s on purpose or not — that have double meanings. He uses sexy words but not in a sexual context. So it’s a very erotic show.

IH: There are a lot of women who masturbate to Jon Stewart. You should put that in your next sex survey: “Do you masturbate to a nightly TV show, and which one?” I bet Jon Stewart takes the cake. m

02.26.14-03.05.14

SD: Why? ISr AEl IH: Because men are more sensitive than women when it comes to sex, and here’s why. Men’s sexual organs are outside their body, so they can’t fake being aroused.

Either they have a boner or they don’t.

A woman can fake it. A woman can slap a little oil on and you’d think she has a puddle in her pants. Men tend to be more emotionally vulnerable because there’s that performance anxiety, which women don’t experience in the same way. On top of the actual performance, if men don’t feel desired, that registers negatively on the peter meter.

SEVENDAYSVt.com

registers negatively on the peter meter.

Fit to Be Tied?

Exploring Burlington’s kink scene

BY C H AR L E S E IC H AC K E R

40 FEATURE

SEVEN DAYS

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SEVENDAYSVT.COM

W

hen I first heard that members of Vermont’s kink scene gather for a monthly event known as the Twisted Munch, it didn’t occur to me that such a function could be, well, boring. Sure, the Munch’s organizers did advertise its non-X-rated nature. On a page created for the event at FetLife. com, a social networking site for fetish fans, they asked people to dress “street legal” and refrain from bringing alcohol.

But when I read such sly directives as “This is a brown bag event — the only face hole that needs to be stuffed is your own” and “If you’re entering from the rear (ha ha ha), go down the hallway and take a left,” I wondered if there wasn’t substance to the innuendo.

To my prudish relief — or maybe disappointment? — there wasn’t.

When I reached the Burlington venue that hosted the Munch on a recent Friday evening, I entered from the aforementioned rear and walked upstairs to a large room where about a dozen people were mingling and eating doughnut holes.

A few people seemed coy in my presence. Other would-be attendees, I later learned, hadn’t bothered to show up because they knew a reporter was coming.

“Magdala,” a slight, sandy-haired woman wearing jeans and a sweater, greeted me at the door. (Like everyone interviewed for this story, she didn’t share her real name, just her kink-scene moniker.)

“Some people are very protective about their privacy,” Magdala said.

“You may go to a cocktail party and ask, ‘Well, what do you do? Do you have any kids?’ You tend to not ask those questions here, because you like to protect their privacy … Some people cannot

SCAN THIS PAGE WITH THE LAYAR APP TO WATCH A VIDEO SEE PAGE 9

afford to have their employers know that they’re kinky.”

“Kink,” Magdala explained, can describe any sexual interest outside the mainstream.

Often the term refers to people who are into BDSM, an umbrella abbreviation for bondage and discipline, domi-

like that … So 12 years ago, I really started experimenting.”

If the Munch meeting seemed almost puritanical, that’s because it wasn’t meant to be a play event. Rather, these gatherings provide an open, safe space for kink-curious individuals to socialize. About

The term “Munch” comes from the tradition of holding such meetings in restaurants. But attendees met in an arts space on this particular Friday, lounging on couches around the room, clustering in groups and even using hula hoops. The off-color humor present in the event’s FetLife description was evident here, too; one woman could be overheard making an animated joke about the size of her penis.

VASE formed several years ago to educate people both in and outside the kink world (the outsiders are known as “vanilla”) about the risks of BDSM activities, Magdala said. It partners with the New England Leather Alliance, or NELA, an advocacy organization for people with leather fetishes, to arrange discussions and classes on topics such as yoga for kinksters, spirituality in kink, polyamory, flogging and wax play.

If I learned anything by asking the Munch attendees about fetishes, it’s that blanket statements don’t apply. While Magdala said she liked both tying and getting tied up in rope, Tony — a tall, bespectacled guy in a blue Oxford shirt and khakis who also sits on the VASE board — explained that he has no patience for knots. When it comes to bondage, he prefers handcuffs or Velcro.

A third member of the VASE board, a 23-year-old recent University of Vermont grad

MATT MIGNANELLI

nance and submission, and sadism and masochism. Kinky activities include everything from simple role-play to the use of ropes, knives, urine and electricity on partners.

“For me, it started with Nancy Drew, where she was always getting tied up in those ropes, and that always piqued my interest,” said Magdala, 48, the chair of the board of Vermont Alternative Sexuality Education (VASE), which organizes the Munch. “I remember every once in a while kind of thinking, I might sort of

20 people usually attend, Magdala said.

People can find out about the meetings by following the VASE Facebook page or signing up for FetLife. (“NedStark” — after the “Game of Thrones” character — was already taken, so I signed up under the username “NedStark69” instead.)

calling herself Rivers the Kitty, wore a dress, cat ears and a collar at the Munch.

One of her interests, she said, is pet play: acting like a cat while someone else plays her owner. Rivers, who works at a bookstore, has tabled for VASE at her alma mater because, she said, “there’s a huge drive for kink at UVM.” For better or worse, explained Lucius, a veteran kinkster at the Munch, more

.

PORARY C O N T E M E X Y. S CLE AN. RAG & BONE

people are getting interested in BDSM, playfully pointed out how the ropes in part owing to the popularity of the around her “ladypecs” made for some best-selling book Fifty Shades of Grey. “fun boobage action.”

That growing awareness helps, Lucius Then it was time for the students to tie said, because it brings kinky activities the same harness around a partner. My closer to the mainstream. neighbor was Magdala, But, he added, “I get the VASE chairwoman scared sometimes. There who had also come to the are people who are playtying class, and I decided ing who don’t know what to be gentlemanly and let they’re doing.” To give them guidance, her tie me up. Sitting cross-legged on Lucius teaches rope-bondage classes the ground and wearing the undershirt through Innovative Fiber Arts, a local I’d had on all day at work, I suddenly organization that offers tying sessions became aware of my failure to use deseveral times a month. odorant that morning.

Two weeks after the Munch, I caught Magdala tied the rope around my one of those evening classes myself. chest several times, positioning it above The event took place in a different part and below my manpecs. Then, under of Burlington, with instruction from 18 participants sitting Tracker, she used the in chairs arranged harness as a foundaaround a carpeted tion for the shrimp tie, room and Lucius an old samurai torture standing with two bind that left my arms other instructors at the behind my back and front. my chest tied to my I participated knees. It folded me in in Boy Scouts and half more like a clam wrestling when I was than a shrimp. growing up, and this I’m not sure I declass seemed like a veloped an appreciacross between the tion for the prisoner’s two. To start, Lucius lifestyle in that 10instructed everyone on minute exercise. It was “mAg DAl A” the importance of getrewarding at first, in ting consent from your the way an exhausting partner. He play-acted yoga stretch can be. doing so with another instructor named But after Tracker explained that people Tracker. stuck in the position for too long can “Whether it’s rope bondage or any pass out from the pressure it places on other form of kink play that we’re doing the lungs and diaphragm, I started feelhere, we’re all trying to push boundar- ing claustrophobic and welcomed the ies — whether they’re emotional, psy- chance to get out. chological, physical — in a way that’s Everyone else in the class listened oftentimes seen as taboo in our society,” closely as Tracker got to the last part of his Tracker explained after his role-play lesson. The couples in the room seemed conversation with Lucius. “The way to take particular note as he explained that we can navigate that with some how the top partner could lever the reasonable amount of safety is to make bottom onto his or her side, into a posisure that we’re on the same page with tion that provided “access to the naughty our partner.” bits because of this full exposure.”

The instructors worked through Maybe, I thought, I shouldn’t be so a few lessons in tying knots and coil- vanilla after all. m ing rope, acting as both drill sergeants and love gurus. After tying a mune INFo nawa chest harness around Lux — the For more info, email vtkink@gmail.com or third (consenting) instructor — Lucius visit fetlife.com or ifavermont.blogspot.com.

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eather or latex, high heels or “The word ‘fetish’ resonates with handcuffs — when it comes ‘dysfunctional,’ ‘illegal,’ ‘bad,’” says Golden, to fetishes, “You can attach “but it isn’t necessarily any of those things.” your erotic needs to just about Golden acknowledges that fetishes anything,” says Burlington clinical can cause problems, particularly when sexologist Gale H. Golden. they interfere with people’s work, life or For Chris Burney, “anything” happens relationships, or when a fetish becomes a to be balloons. And for years, Burney, who requirement for functioning rather than turns 30 this week, kept that kink a secret, an occasional turn-on. But in other cases, convinced that no one else could possibly she says, fetishes simply provide spice in find sexual pleasure in something as the bedroom. (Burney’s fetish falls into strange as inflating and popping a balloon. the second camp; while balloons provide a Turns out, he’s not alone. Now Burney source of pleasure, they aren’t mandatory is a regular in a vibrant online community for his sex life.) of self-proclaimed “looners,” and he’s “Who are you really harming if you speaking out about his fetish. want to masturbate in the privacy of your Fetishes “are such a taboo, and not home and are looking at panty hose?” many people understand,” Golden asks.

Burney says. “I don’t Pinning down the want other people to feel origin of fetishes is ashamed.” tricky. Researchers make Burney is what is careers out of trying known in the looner to understand desire. community as a “popper” “Sex really is a very, — someone who gets off very powerful thing on balloons popping. that is very elusive,” In footage shot for the Golden says. “Everybody Learning Channel’s show keeps trying to grab at “Strange Sex,” he appears it — ‘What is it, what is excited, breathless and a it, what is it?’ — but the C h r i s B u r ney bit nervous as he blows power of the erotic is just up an enormous orange overwhelming.” balloon. “That was awesome,” he says, Golden subscribes to the theory of giddy and shaking, after the balloon pops. “imprinting,” which holds that a fetish Doing it himself is enough to bring him takes root early in childhood. That’s to orgasm. But, as he explains in a YouTube certainly the case for Burney. He believes video called “Why I Have a Balloon Fetish,” his fetish evolved out of an early childhood he especially loves watching women blow fear of balloons; he remembers being up balloons until they burst. “deathly afraid” of them, particularly of If that strikes you as hard to understand, the loud noise of their popping. join the club.

By the time he hit 7 or 8 years old, “I still to this day don’t understand Burney says, the fear began to be tinged why it does it for me, but it makes me with an almost euphoric feeling — happy,” says Burney, who isn’t bashful nervousness, fright and excitement all about discussing the subject over coffee jumbled together. But he was ashamed of in a downtown Rutland café. He sports a the fascination. As a teenager, he’d shoplift goatee and close-cropped hair, along with to sneak balloons into his home, anxious lip and eyebrow piercings. At 6-foot-7, he’s lest his parents find out about his strange a soft-spoken, gentle-giant type, a big guy obsession. who, until a few years ago, had a big secret.

All the while, Burney says, he assumed A sexual fetish, by definition, is a he alone had this strange fetish; it wasn’t preoccupation with a particular material until he was 19 and watching late-night or body part. Someone with a fetish might HBO at a friend’s house that he learned get turned on by feet, or by the feel of silk about the larger fetish community. The or latex, or by the experience of wearing show made a brief mention of balloons. women’s underwear, explains Golden, Burney typed “girls with balloons” into an whose latest book, published in 2009, is online search engine, and his jaw dropped.

In the Grip of Desire: A Therapist at Work “I was shocked to find that there was an with Sexual Secrets. She’s emphatic about entire community. It was probably one of what a fetish is not: a disorder, at least in the most enlightened feelings I’ve had in most cases. my entire life, knowing that I wasn’t the

I still to this day don’t understand why it does it for me,

42 FEATURE

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but it makes me happy.

bigger, the better,” he says. While he calls the kink harmless, he does advise other looners, especially “poppers,” to wear glasses and earplugs as a precaution.

No shops cater specifically to looners, Burney says, but various specialty balloon manufacturers carry appropriate products. When he discovered them, he jokes, he thought they were all but designed with looners in mind.

Every looner goes in for a different kind of balloon, Burney notes: “It’s the color preference; it’s the way it looks; it’s the size of it.” He daydreams about someday opening up an online shop for looners, who often go through international sellers and pay hefty shipping and handling fees to obtain specialty balloons.

Currently unemployed, Burney aspires to be a photographer and filmmaker. So far he’s dabbled in amateur porn, uploading clips to the website Clips4Sale.com, which specializes in fetishist fare. His ex-fiancée

scREEnsHoT FRom Tlc’s “sTRAngE sEx”

only person out there that shared this,” Burney says. “And there were so many people! I can’t believe how many looners there are out there.”

Even after plugging into the online fetish world, Burney concealed his looner love from friends and family. That slowly changed in his mid-twenties, when Burney was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His father died six months into his chemotherapy treatment. Burney, who had briefly relocated to Pennsylvania, moved back to Rutland after the two hard blows. He says he felt increasingly that, at a terrible time in his life, it was important to be true to himself.

“I felt like I was lost, and this was the only thing I could do to branch out,” Burney says. He began outing himself to the other people in his life. His mother was supportive. Friends were a little confused or thought his revelation strange, Burney says, but it didn’t ruin any relationships.

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Next, Burney started speaking publicly took a starring role in many of those about his fetish. That included doing films; in one YouTube trailer, she appears an extended interview on an episode of surrounded by inflated balloons. She “Strange Sex” and starting a YouTube never took her clothes off, Burney says. channel. He now has more than 80 clips The couple’s clips still made money. on YouTube, and runs a Facebook group The two recently separated, but Burney called “Looner Mayhem” with more than says their breakup wasn’t related to his 900 followers. Burney also participates in fetish. He gives credit to his ex, who’s the online social networking site FetLife. still a friend, for being supportive. When com, which advertises itself as the world’s dating, he says, he takes the tack of telling most popular free social network for the women sooner rather than later about his BDSM, fetish and kink communities. unusual turn-on.

“People in the world are either very “And if they like it, then party on,” hateful towards me, or are like, ‘Wow, he jokes. If not? Burney isn’t interested you’re so lucky,’” Burney says. in hiding that part of his life, he says, YOUR SCAN PAGE Why lucky?

He THIS has a go-to kink that and would rather know early on that he knows will turn him on, he explains: a a potential partner TEXTisn’t down for the WITH LAYAR trick that never fails to bring pleasure. occasional balloon in the bedroom.

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The Taste of Others A Montréal aphrodisiac restaurant feeds more than one kind of appetite B Y A L I CE L EVI T T PHOTOS COURTESY OF ÁTAME

44 FOOD

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Attache-moi dessert plate

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aston Barcelo has tried it all: horny goat weed, muira puama, kava. He’s swallowed Viagra and Cialis for the cause.

In fact, the restaurateur says he’s experimented with more than 50 different substances known for aphrodisiac properties over the past three years. Barcelo has no problems with his own potency, he notes — he just wanted to make sure diners at his new restaurant wouldn’t, either. Átame Restaurant Aphrodisiaque debuted last October with a menu by executive chef Athiraj Phrasavath that bore the fruits of Barcelo’s research. A restaurant consultant and bartender by trade, Barcelo bills Átame as “the first aphrodisiac restaurant in North America.” That’s not quite true. A quick Google search reveals restaurants with a similar theme in California and Florida.

But Barcelo’s concept, executed by chef de cuisine and recent “Chopped

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Canada” competitor Pat Vasiliauskas, is evidently the first of its kind in Montréal, or Canada.

I’ve explored the louche side of Montréal dining for Seven Days before, with trips to a topless diner and a free lunchtime buffet at Club Supersexe. At Átame, I was ready for something titillating but a little more refined.

“You’re talking about sex; if you don’t do it the right way, it could be vulgar, it could be cheesy,” Barcelo acknowledges.

His goal for the restaurant-cum-cabaret-cum-art gallery is to create a sexy ambience for the over-30 crowd while avoiding those pitfalls.

My boyfriend of 10 years and I waded through the slush of rue LISTEN IN ON LOCAL FOODIES...

Saint-Denis on Valentine’s Day weekend to test Barcelo’s guarantee: “If you don’t get lucky, I’ll give you your money back.” We were greeted by an extremely muscular host in a too-tight shirt with a tie and skinny suspenders.

He looked like a WWE wrestler at a press conference.

The all-white room, plush enough to satisfy the stipulations of J.Lo’s concert rider, was filled with couples celebrating the holiday. Many looked 40 or older, though there was a wide mix of ages and races. I was surprised to see that all of the pairings appeared to be hetero. Átame squeezed nearly 500 people into its dining room on Valentine’s Day weekend, according to Barcelo. The new restaurant was an obvious choice then, but can Átame maintain the traffic? “It sounds lame, but it’s Valentine’s every weekend [here],” says Barcelo, who is well aware that he is walking a fine line between hot destination and

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punch line. “We tell the servers, ‘Keep in mind that these people are having a very special night. Keep in mind it’s none of your business, but these people are going to be making love two hours from now.’”

Was that what my server was thinking about me? More comfortable with French than my boyfriend, James, I did all the ordering from the four-course prix-fixe menu that Átame offered that weekend instead of its regular bill of fare.

That meant I was stuck telling our petite waitress that I wanted Je Te Mangerais Tout Cru (I’ll eat you raw) and Euphorie de la Chair (ecstasy of the flesh), actually beef carpaccio and a faux-filet in pomegranate sauce, respectively. When THE TASTE OF OTHERS

» P.46

More food after the classifieds section. PAGE 45

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more food before the classifieds section.

page 44

sIDEdishes by cOri n hi rsch & a l i ce l e v i t t

Golden Glugs

Oil & vinegar Dispensary tO Open in the capital city

— c. h.

Entrées & Exits

gOOD-bye in burlingtOn anD harDwick; hellO in ranDOlph

Bleu Horizons

seaFOOD anD argentine Fare heaDeD tO cherry street

The latest addition to Burlington’s mini Cherry Street restaurant row will arrive this spring, hopefully by the end of April, says chef Douglas paInE. Construction of BlEu northEast sEafooD is in progress at the MarrIott CourtyarD BurlIngton harBor. The restaurant will join JunIpEr, also helmed by Paine, and hEn of thE wooD, both located next door in hotEl vErMont. Westport Hospitality owns both hotels.

Paine already has an early version of the menu for Bleu, which will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and focus on regional seafood, much of it brought to Vermont by wooD MountaIn fIsh. Oysters will be a staple at all meals, served fried as part of a Benedict at breakfast and freshly shucked at dinner. The evening menu also includes rich seafood lasagna made with scallops, lobster, fresh crab, sea-urchin béchamel, handmade pasta and burrata.

There’s plenty for landlubbers, too. Steak frites and coq au vin grace the dinner menu. At breakfast, a Maine lobster frittata is balanced by croissant French toast and an egg-topped breakfast Reuben tartine. On weekends, a brunch buffet includes a Bloody Mary bar, a raw bar and prepared dishes.

Not to be outdone, Juniper will introduce a new treat this summer. Paine is currently having a parrilla, or Argentine open-fire barbecue, built for weekly asado nights. He says it was inspired by several the hotel’s owners saw during Westport Hospitality’s annual meeting in Argentina earlier this winter. A portion of each asado meal will benefit Argentine investor Eduardo Joly’s charity Fundación Rumbos, dedicated to making

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“It really kind of fits perfectly with Hotel Vermont,” Paine says. He’ll cook local beef, chicken and pork on the custom parrilla, then serve them family-style with salad, fresh bread and a range of sauces.

Tuesday, March 4 7:30-10:00pm

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with whipped parsnips and potatoes.

Niles says the 65-seat One Main will open daily for dinner at 4 p.m. and stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights — when live music may fill the room.

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FOOD 45

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“Yes, not exclusively, but the majority,” Niles says.

Diners will be able to choose from a range of small plates and pub fare with locally sourced ingredients, such as wings, salads, grass-fed-beef burgers and a shepherd’s pie spiked with herbs and topped

2/24/14 3:55 PM

02.26.14-03.05.14

Randolph’s dining renaissance continues. In midMarch, the town’s historic Union Block will become home to a new hangout when onE MaIn tap anD grIll opens at 2 Merchants Row. Owners shanE nIlEs and Josh nIEBlIng have collaborated on various businesses over the years. “This was just the best location, right in the center of town, and with huge windows,” says Niles.

They’ve completely renovated the former site of Patrick’s Place, opening up the interior for an “airy” feel and erecting an 18-seat bar and a 24-tap system.

Will local beers flow there?

Explore the cuisine of Italy here in Vermont

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Montpelier will soon gain a new taproom — but it won’t be pouring porters or IPAs. Instead, the owners of alla vIta plan to supply the Capital City with high-quality vinegars and extra-virgin olive oils when they open their retail shop and take-out lunch spot at 27 State Street next week.

Co-owner aDrIEnnE BrownlEE says she and her partner, ChrIs EBErsolE, have wanted to open a business together for years — and the idea of selling single-varietal oils and infused vinegars won them over. Some of the oils, Brownlee says, “have this great pungency and taste so peppery they might make you cough a few times.” The partners chose the name alla vita, meaning “to life” in Italian, because, says Brownlee, “the health benefits [of EVOO] are amazing.”

The oils are sourced on both hemispheres, then delivered “almost immediately” to alla vita and other retailers after pressing, Brownlee adds. (Burlington’s saratoga olIvE oIl Co. shares the same supplier.) Customers will be encouraged to sample the offerings freely before choosing the oils or vinegars they’d like the staff to bottle for them.

While extra-virgin olive oil alone may sate some, Brownlee and Ebersole also plan to offer gourmet salts, boutique wines and to-go lunches of a Mediterranean bent, including pressed sandwiches, chopped salads dressed with the store’s oils and vinegars, and a daily soup.

The store will open the week of March 3; Brownlee and Ebersole plan a March 22 grand opening with tastings and food samples.

Got A fooD tip? food@sevendaysvt.com

2/24/14 2:21 PM

food The Taste of Others « p.44

smell of rendering tallow gets me going, so biting into beef and tasting the hint of animal musk was a little closer to the goal.

Goat cheese may sound less than erotic, but the big crumbles on Le Jardin cOurtesy OF átame

it came to asking for Entre Mes Cuisses (between my thighs), I couldn’t help but giggle. “It’s fun to say, non?” asked the server in English.

She was right. But I wasn’t turned on yet. Neither was James. He said he was at “about a four” on a scale of one to 10.

Things improved a bit when MarcAndré Gautier took to the tiny stage just behind us. To cater to couples, Barcelo had replaced the usual burlesque entertainment with musicians. If talent is a turn-on, then the floppy-haired former child prodigy lit the room’s collective nether regions ablaze with his virtuoso violin work.

To the tune of Gautier’s Latininflected melodies, we dug into the “bécotements” (little kisses). A slightly chunky watermelon and strawberry soup came served in a Champagne flute, but beyond that, the dish didn’t seem particularly erotic.

Freshly cooked taro chips tossed in lightly spicy togarashi made me feel something, though it was more on my tongue than dans mes culottes — which

would be a great name for a dish at Átame.

The next course did the job better.

The dish described as beef carpaccio was actually seared slices of flavorful meat coated with crushed, vanilla-

Goat cheese may sound less than erotic,

but the big crumbles on le Jardin d’aphrodite made the salad the most stimulating dish of the night. scented tonka beans and cacao, then topped with microgreens. The three corners of the plate contained tiny piles of molecular Dijon “caviar”; Parmesan; and a sweet reduction of French shallots in white wine and honey, respectively. A dark swirl of Cabernet reduction dressed the whole plate. Was it sexy? I’ve always admitted that the

d’Aphrodite (Aphrodite’s garden) made the salad the most stimulating dish of the night. Tender, roasted peaches and sweet, crunchy hazelnuts over arugula provided enough variation in texture to make for a sensual experience already.

But the firm Chèvre des Neiges from local Fromagerie Alexis de Portneuf was a surprising treat, melting slowly with

the warmth of my mouth as it oozed creamy, goaty, slightly tangy flavor.

Sound like a weird romance novel? It tasted like one.

By that time, singer Shy Shy Schullie had taken the stage. The plump cabaret chanteuse sang in English with a pleasant purr, but I couldn’t help but fall prey to a giggling fit when she began lasciviously intoning “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins. How did that sweep get so lucky? Maybe he ordered Entre Mes Cuisses.

I love a nicely braised bite of chicken as much as (or probably more than) the next gal, but poultry isn’t one of my top turn-ons. So the chicken leg-and-thigh dish with that enticing name had to surmount hurdles to get me hot and bothered. Its chocolate sauce was delicious but ultra-thick.

Luckily, at this point a slim, suitwearing server entered to offer us a slug of truffle oil on each of our entrées. The earthy oil thinned the sauce on the chicken, but its greater accomplishment was lending its own erotic properties to the deep, dark chocolate.

A pair of heirloom carrot purées and a roasted pepper on top of the braise

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Want to be a key part of the “town that food saved” — author Ben Hewitt’s memorable phrase for Hardwick?

Groundbreaking communitysupported ClaIrE’s rEstaurant & Bar has been on the market

for a year, but the search for a new owner is more pressing now than ever. The restaurant, which opened in 2008, will close on March 4.

Current owner lInDa ramsDEll says that when

Faux-filet in red-winepomegranate sauce

Authentic, Fresh Greek & Mediterranean Food

The Vermont House spot GYROS • PANINI • SALADS was up for sale before Ramen moved in, Russo explains.

FALAFEL • BAKLAVA A potential investor who BOSNIAN GRILLED could have helped Russo and SPECIALTIES Maeda buy it dropped out, leaving them renters. Keith ESPRESSO DRINKS McManis of Appletree Bay BEER&WINE Property Management says the new owner will open his 17 Park St • Essex Jct. (near 5 Corners) own business in the space, 878-9333 but can’t reveal whether that DINE IN OR TAKE OUT will be another restaurant.

Tu-Th 11-8 • F & S 11-9 • Closed Su & M “[Ramen] wasn’t a Full menu www.cafemediterano.com failure,” says Russo, who maintains that new manageNo need to travel to Montréal, Boston or ment has made significant even Europe... we’re just minutes away! improvements to Ramen’s fare. “Expect it to return in a 12v-cafemediterano022614.indd 1 2/21/14 10:52 AM different incarnation.”

— A. L. & c .H .

coNNEct Follow us on twitter for the latest food gossip! corin Hirsch: @latesupper Alice Levitt: @aliceeats

We wound down our meal with a plate of not-too-heavy sweets. A chocolate-dipped fig and strawberry for each of us accompanied a single chewy chocolate brownie topped in salted caramel.

On the side, a fruity Amarula milkshake provided both a dip for the chocolate 112 Lake Street • Burlington treats and a cool sip on its own. www.sansaivt.com At $55 a head for the prix-fixe, we’d decided to skip cocktails. It was probably a bad decision. The Sultry Old12v-SanSai010913.indd 1 1/7/13 2:08 PM Fashioned might have done the trick with its combination of cucumberflavored Hendrick’s Gin, chai syrup, PIZZA BARRIO pineapple-and-orange bitters and NOW OPEN cinnamon, along with a dose of herbal remedy tribulus terrestris.

NIGHTS Instead, we ended the evening by Starting February 2014. getting hot chocolate to sip in bed back at our hotel room. Despite my wardrobe by La Perla and the meal at 1/2-off Átame, Korean barbecue and a stressbottles of ful week proved too much for James. wine every He was asleep moments after he hit the Wednesday mattress. But I won’t ask for my money night. back. Dinner was satisfying, even if I didn’t get lucky. m SEVENDAYSVt.com

stymie his goal to add a third “love bathroom.”

For now, Barcelo says, he won’t stop couples from having sex or making out in private areas. According to local laws, as long as Átame doesn’t promote or show the private moments, anything

SEVEN DAYS

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FOOD 47

goes, he says. “Boudoir” performances and Fifty Shades of Grey theme nights satisfy diners with a more voyeuristic eye. Bondage gear isn’t out of place at Átame, given that Argentina native Barcelo named the restaurant after his favorite movie, Pedro Almodóvar’s Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down (called simply Átame!, or “tie me up” in Spanish).

02.26.14-03.05.14

WEDNESDAY

cOurtesy OF ÁtAme

added sweetness, but I wish one of the ingredients had, instead, possessed sufficient tang to rip through the heavy sauce.

The heart-shaped steak earned its “fleshy ecstasy” name, though the tiny faux-filet was cooked to an unsexy medium-well. The touch of truffle lent a lingering roundness to the acidic wine-and-pomegranate sauce that dressed the meat. Tender carrots, mushrooms and crunchy chunks of potato made for a hearty dish, but it evoked a cold winter evening more than a torrid nighttime rendezvous.

Maybe it was our exhausting lunch of all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue, but James and I seemed to be riding the seduction short bus. A couple across the room had moved from holding hands to a full-on make-out session. Apparently, they hadn’t had the foresight to reserve one of Átame’s two private rooms, located in mirrored stalls near the bar.

Servers always knock at those doors before bringing the next course, Barcelo assures, and they’ve experienced some long waits. Since the private space is limited, he says he’s currently making sure there are no regulations that could

Burlington’s ramEn opened in July 2013. Last week, it closed its 131 Main Street location, but don’t count it out yet. The closure is “only a temporary inconvenience” caused by the loss of the restaurant’s space, says coowner ChrIs russo, also the man behind Burlington’s san saI JapanEsE rEstaurant and

BEnto, along with kazutoshI

maEDa.

802.862.2777

cOurtesy OF cOrin hirsch

cOnt i nueD FrOm PAGe 4 5

she bought out former co-owners mIkE BosIa and stEvEn oBranovICh in 2012, “I was clear that I considered myself a transitional owner, and I was looking for the right person who wanted Claire’s.”

This Thursday, the restaurant will celebrate its last days — for now — with a music night featuring popular band Granite Junction. “I’m really hopeful about what happens next,” says Ramsdell, also the owner of Galaxy Bookshop next door. “I’ve done what I can do.”

Reservations Recommended

sIDEdishes

Got A fooD tip? food@sevendaysvt.com

Six-Legged Supper

Entomophagy might fill your belly and save the world B Y E th AN D E S Eif E

02.26.14-03.05.14

Rachael Young preparing a bug dinner

Food & Bar Catering

SEVEN DAYS 48 FOOD

matthEw thOrsEn

SEVENDAYSVt.com

R

achael Young has been getting a lot of attention for her culinary explorations. But the founder of the pro-entomophagy organization Eat Yummy Bugs is, more than anything, a conservationist. “It informs everything I do,” she says.

Much of what Young does these days is spread the word that not only are insects delicious, but eating them on a large scale could have huge health and environmental benefits and open up profitable, sustainable avenues of commercial agriculture. The first step, she says, is to get past the cultural stigma attached to eating insects — a task for which she is well prepared.

Young, 33, knows that the revolution of insect eating will never arrive unless bugs can be prepared in tasty, non-icky ways.

Which is why she teamed up with chef Mark Olofson and the adventurous spirits at Burlington’s ArtsRiot to host a “bug dinner”: a showcase of just how tasty bugs can be.

A resident of Montpelier, Young grew up in Vermont and went to Prescott College in Arizona, a school known for its focus on environmentalism. It was there, she says, that “it really became clear to me that the way to save the world was to diversify our global protein.” She realized that the use of large land animals as protein sources was hugely resource-intensive, she says. So she turned to far smaller critters.

Helix aspersa, the common garden snail, is the species most commonly used to prepare

escargot. This invasive species flourishes out west, yet, as Young learned, most of the snails in the domestic escargot market are actually imported. So she started raising them herself.

“They’re high in protein and have negligible cholesterol,” Young says. “They’re a health food, and they reproduce exponentially. It’s an amazing agricultural model.”

Then she learned of David Gracer, a Rhode Islander who runs an organization called Small Stock Foods. Gracer had taken Young’s model to its logical end: not one slimy foot, but six chitinous legs. Entomophagy.

Bug eating. After contacting Gracer, Young knew that she’d found the ideal channel for her passion for conservation.

Young is passionate about the ways in which entomophagy can improve personal and global health. “When humans and livestock compete for landscape and eat the same types of crops,” she says, “food prices go way up. We want corn and they want corn.” She comes across as not outraged so much as astonished at the stupid decisions that have made factory farming disastrous.

Commercial fishing practices are just as bad, Young claims. She reviles in particular the most commonly eaten crustaceans.

“Shrimp suck,” she declares. “For every pound of shrimp, 10 pounds of nontarget species are hauled up and fed to the seagulls.”

Still, consumers continue to demand shrimp, and consumer demand drives the market.

So it’s not without a sense of ironic purpose that Young refers to crickets, one of the

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mainstays of her menus, as “land shrimp.”

And it’s true that, once they’re roasted and salted, crickets really do possess a briny snap similar to that of shrimp.

I know this because, when I sat down at ArtsRiot’s bar on Sunday night, Young popped out of the kitchen to offer me a small bowl of salty roasted crickets. I’d watched her earlier, rolling the dried insects between her hands. It’s her own method for removing their legs, which are just as edible as the rest of the bug, but which she finds texturally objectionable. Think of it like deboning a teeny-tiny chicken. The crickets were the first course in a meal that was both highly unusual and surprisingly … normal.

The 35 attendees of the bug dinner were prepared for an unconventional bill of fare.

In fact, probably the weirdest thing about the bug dinner was how nonweird it was.

While much of the conversation concerned, say, the fact that the salad dressing we had just consumed was made with puréed silkworm pupae, we mostly talked about the food’s flavors and freshness.

That mustardy vinaigrette possessed no discernibly “buggy” taste, but, then again, I’m not sure I could pinpoint the flavor components of bugginess. A certain starchy richness, for which I presume we can credit the silkworms, gave the dressing body, which enlivened the simple lettuce, carrot, onion and avocado salad.

They may have assumed a supporting role in the salad dressing, but those silkworms announced themselves with viscous fanfare in the next dish, a butternut soup

ridiculous concern, but, hey, I like to feel satisfied by my meals. The “bug pocket pie,” the third and heartiest course, put those worries We offer: breads, bagels, to rest. Even had it not contained proteinpizza crusts, muffins, rich mealworms, this muffin-size pot pie — stuffed with cabbage and turmeric-blasted cookies, decorated cakes potatoes and accompanied by two types of salty homemade (bugless) cabbage slaw — Preorders are appreciated. would have satisfied a hungry guy like me.

But the mealworms and the cricket-flour crust really amped up this dish’s heartiness.

34 Park Street For me, that cricket-flour dough, smooth Essex Junction but not flaky, was the ingredient with the 878-1646 greatest game-changing potential. Even though Olofson had cut it with regular unbleached flour, the cricket flour was rich, 16t-westmeadowfarm022614.indd 1 2/24/14 with a nutty, pleasant taste.

“It’s a good, high-protein flour, so you can do a lot of things with it, and it acts

Corn and silkworms

Mealworm polenta

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FOOD 49

pretty darn normal in recipes,” Olofson said.

It’s no surprise that a number of start-ups have recently hopped on the cricket-flour bandwagon. It has the potential to be the product that makes entomophagy palatable to a wide audience.

The final savory course of the night was dubbed “Cricks ’n Grits”: mealwormstudded, cashew-cream grit cakes garnished with spicy roasted crickets (“Chirp-otle”) and an avocado-tomatillo-lime dressing.

This one was just damned delicious. The creamy, mild cakes were balanced by the spicy, crunchy crickets, and the dressing tied everything together. I ate every last bug.

Looking around, I saw most other diners’ plates clean, too.

The cricket-garnished, mealwormlaced dark chocolate truffles, provided

by Nutty Steph’s of Middlesex, were all about the chocolate, not the bugs. The crunchy cricket atop each truffle could have just as easily (and tastily) been a roasted almond. No matter. It’s just as well that the little six-legged guy atop my truffle was more a symbol than a vital element in the dessert’s flavor profile.

This dinner was as much concerned with opening minds as it was with waking up taste buds. m

2/17/14 4:37 PM

02.26.14-03.05.14

with corn and green onions. In each bowl were about 20 soft pupae, which in their ringed plumpness looked like little Michelin Men. These were most assuredly bugs. And they were right there in the soup, just like in the old joke with the waiter.

Young informed the crowd that the Vietnamese term for the pupae is “ground cucumbers,” and, though they didn’t taste specifically cucumbery to me, they surely imparted a vegetable flavor. Texturally, they were indistinguishable from the plump kernels of corn that floated beside them in the mild, creamy butternut purée. A dash of cricket salt — the same stuff on the rims of the bar’s bug-salt margaritas — was not vital, but did brighten up the soup a bit.

Earlier in the day, I had mused aloud about whether a dinner of insects would actually fill me up. My wife thought this was a

16t-stowetheater021914.indd 1

SEVENDAYSVt.com

Gabby Puma, 21, a University of Vermont student, had eaten bugs before, in the form of a friend’s homemade “cricket trail mix,” and was ready to chow down on insects.

Before the meal, she said, “[The menu] looks really good. It looks like there’s a lot of things with really strong flavors, which is good, but I’m just hoping that you can really taste the bug aspects of it.”

Burlington residents Lisa Malmgren and Chris Radey, both 24, were intrigued by the growing popularity of entomophagy. Radey admitted that he shares with many Western eaters a bias against eating bugs, but he finds that bias “unjustified.” “If I didn’t try this food tonight, I’d feel like I’d be letting myself down,” he said.

Young was a constant presence during the meal, serving dishes, clearing plates and introducing each dish. Before the 35 novice entomophages tucked in, she announced that the purpose of the dinner — and indeed of her entire Eat Yummy Bugs project — was “to normalize insect protein here in my community.” This proved an important context, because it discouraged the “OMG I’M EATING BUGS” reaction (to which diners were already largely disinclined) and encouraged a consideration of the food qua food.

Information/Audition Materials: titleofstowe@gmail.com • 253-3961 (leave message) and stowetheatre.com

calendar

F E B R U A R Y

2 6 - M A R C H

WED.26 activism

AN ANARCHIST VIEW OF THE STATE: Attorney Sandy Baird considers the legal monopoly on international violence. Burlington College, 6:15 p.m. Free.

Info, 862-9616, sbaird@burlington.edu.

crafts

DROP-IN KNITTING: Needleworkers of all skill levels tackle current projects in a supportive environment.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 878-4918.

dance

'GIRL ON A BICYCLE': When a bus driver in Paris spots a beautiful woman pedaling through the city, his obsession with meeting her leads to increasing chaos. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. $4-8. Info, 748-2600.

VALLEY NIGHT FEATURING CHICKY STOLTZ: Locals gather for this weekly bash of craft ales, movies and live music. Big Picture Theater and Café, Waitsfield, 8 p.m. $5 suggested donation; $2 drafts. Info, 496-8994.

fairs & festivals

SNOWFLAKE FESTIVAL: Sleigh rides, a torchlight parade, skating, ski races and more delight festivalgoers of all ages. See lyndonvermont.com for details.

Various Burke & Lyndonville locations, 8 a.m. Prices vary. Info, 626-9696.

film

2014 ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINATED SHORTS: Gems from this year's animated category delight movie buffs. Lake Placid Center for the Arts, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $6. Info, 518-523-2512.

'NEBRASKA': A father-son road trip through the midwest takes unexpected turns in this comedy starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte and June Squibb.

Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $4-8. Info, 748-2600.

MAR.1 | MUSIC

food & drink

WEDNESDAY WINE DOWN: Oenophiles get over the midweek hump by pairing four varietals with samples from Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cabot Creamery and more. Drink, Burlington, 4:30 p.m. $12. Info, 860-9463, melissashahady@vtdrink.com.

WINE TASTING: Folks test the strength of their palates by comparing back-to-back vintages of Guy Breton's Morgon and Château Aney's Bordeaux.

Dedalus Wine Shop, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: Players put their strategic skills to the test in the popular card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 9:15 a.m. $6 includes refreshments. Info, 651-0700.

GAMES UNPLUGGED: Ben t. Matchstick leads players ages 8 through 18 in a wide variety of board games, including Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan and more. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

WED.26

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LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE IN WRITING AT NOON ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE PUBLICATION. FIND OUR CONVENIENT FORM AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT. YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US AT CALENDAR@SEVENDAYSVT.COM. TO BE LISTED, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE NAME OF EVENT, A BRIEF DESCRIPTION, SPECIFIC LOCATION, TIME, COST AND CONTACT PHONE NUMBER. 50 CALENDAR

Saturday, March 1, 8 p.m., at Town Hall Theatre in Woodstock. $46.5076.50. Info, 457-3981. pentanglearts.org

CALENDAR EVENTS IN SEVEN DAYS:

LISTINGS AND SPOTLIGHTS ARE WRITTEN BY COURTNEY COPP. 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.

MAR.1 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS Big Easy Bash New Orleans gets a northern makeover at the 19th annual Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade. Vermont’s version of Fat Tuesday festivities draws thousands of revelers to downtown Burlington, where Church Street transforms into a family-friendly fête. Things kick off at noon with a boatload of beads, live tunes by Sambatacada! and interactive performances from the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. The party continues at the King and Queen Costume Contest, where folks flaunt flashy threads. At 3 p.m., a procession of elaborate themed floats rolls down Main Street. These mobile works of art help support HOPE Works, a nonprofit devoted to ending sexual violence.

MAGIC HAT MARDI GRAS PARADE Saturday, March 1, noon-5 p.m., at various downtown Burlington locations. Free. Info, 658-2739. magichat.net

COURTESY OF MAGIC HAT BREWING COMPANY

BOOKS TO FILM SERIES: The Passion of Ayn Rand stars Helen Mirren as the eccentric author, who becomes romantically involved with a married man in this 1999 drama. A discussion with library director Richard Bidnick follows. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Info, 223-3338.

TOM RUSH

'DIRTY WARS': Covert U.S. military operations carried out in the name of global terrorism are exposed in Jeremy Scahill's award-winning documentary. A discussion follows. Reading Room, Bradford Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 222-4536.

education

ELEVATOR PITCH COMPETITION FINALS: Budding entrepreneurs have 90 seconds to present their ideas and win over celebrity judges at this meeting of the minds. Alumni Auditorium, Champlain College, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Info, 866-872-3603.

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

CINÉ SALON: Cinephiles screen the 1957 Academy Award-winning documentary Albert Schweitzer, about the life and legacy of the doctor and humanitarian. German with English subtitles. Mayer Room, Howe Library, Hanover N.H., 7 p.m. Free. Info, 603-643-4120.

'FULL METAL JACKET': Matthew Modine stars in Stanley Kubrick's gripping Vietnam War drama about a group of young Marines. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free; first come, first served. Info, 864-7999.

etc.

02.26.14-03.05.14

'BROOKLYN CASTLE': Katie Dellamaggiore's documentary profiles an inner-city school whose topranked chess team defies students' socioeconomic hardships. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

NORTH END FUSION: Tunes from DJ Scott Chilstedt get folks on the dance floor in this "anything goes" approach to partner dancing. North End Studio A, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5. Info, 863-6713, info@ vpal-us.org.

COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR MATHEMATICS: Longtime math educator Jim Callahan details Vermont's recently adopted curricula for grades K through 12. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 2-3 p.m.

Free. Info, 388-4095.

SEVEN DAYS

0 5 , 2 0 1 4

For the past 50 years, singer-songwriter and guitarist Tom Rush has perfected the art of memorable live performances. A gifted musician and storyteller, he burst onto the folk scene in the 1960s. In the decades since, he has made an impact on notable performers such as James Taylor, who claims that “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Known for infectious onstage humor and a lighthearted yet wellconsidered approach to his craft, Rush continues to shape the musical landscape. He brings his signature style to an evening of ballads and the blues.

COURTESY OF MICHAEL WISEMAN

Time-Tested Troubadour

MAR.5 | THEATER

COURTESY OF FLYNN CENTER

W

hen the Golden Dragon Acrobats perform, they tap into timehonored traditions tracing back more than 2,000 years. Widely regarded as China’s top touring acrobatic company, the awardwinning troupe’s dedication to high-quality productions is unrivaled.

Cirque Ziva is no exception. This all-ages show pairs the vision of renowned artistic director Danny Chang with his wife Angela Chang’s awe-inspiring choreography. Set to ancient and contemporary music, thrilling theatrics include dance, aerial stunts, human pyramids and stunning costumes. This celebration of Chinese culture reflects the Washington Post’s assertion that “there is a precision and beauty about everything these performers do.”

GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS Wednesday, March 5, 7 p.m., at Flynn MainStage in Burlington. $15-38.

Info, 863-5966. flynntix.org

Balancing Act

SEVEN DAYS

WINTERBIKE!

02.26.14-03.05.14

Rather than ski or snowshoe along Vermont’s vast trail network, adventure seekers at WinterBike! do so on two wheels. Kingdom Trails, Mountain Bike Vermont and Le Grand Fat Tour host a day of riding and revelry featuring bicycles specially outfitted with fat tires. Group rides welcome participants of all abilities, while cutthroat cyclists compete in the six-man downhill snowcross race. New to the sport? Demos and bike rentals introduce this unique outdoor activity to those looking to experience winter anew. If Mother Nature fails to provide ideal conditions, folks can look forward to alternate routes and plenty of hot toddies.

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Pedal Pushers

MAR.1 | SPORT

Saturday, March 1, 8 a.m., at Kingdom Trails in East Burke. $10-50.

Info, 626-6005. kingdomtrails.org

SEE PAGE 9 COURTESY OF RYAN THIBAULT/MOUNTAIN BIKE VERMONT

CALENDAR 51

SCAN THESE PAGES WITH THE LAYAR APP TO WATCH VIDEOS

calendar WED.26

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Intergenerational Wii Bowling: Players young and old vie for strikes in a virtual tour of the lanes. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-4 p.m.

Free. Info, 878-6955.

health & fitness

Gentle Yoga With Jill Lang: Students get their stretch on with the yoga certification candidate.

Personal mat required. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Montréal-Style Acro Yoga: Using partner and group work, Lori Flower guides participants through poses that combine acrobatics with therapeutic benefits. Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier, 6:307:30 p.m. Donations. Info, 324-1737.

Our Miraculous Human Body: Teacher and intuitive Eva Cahill examines gender, sexuality and physiology in a new light. Community Room, Hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier, 6-7:15 p.m. $57; preregister. Info, 223-8000, ext. 202.

sports

kids

Read to Coco: Budding bookworms share words with the licensed reading-therapy dog. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-4665.

SEVENDAYSvt.com

Bird Monitoring Walk: Adults and older children don binoculars and keep an eye out for feathered fliers on a woodland trek. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 8-9:45 a.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 434-2167.

talks

Moving & Grooving With Christine: Two- to 5-year-olds jam out to rock-and-roll and world-beat tunes. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

02.26.14-03.05.14

outdoors

R.I.P.P.E.D.: Resistance, intervals, power, plyometrics, endurance and diet define this high-intensity physical-fitness program. North End Studio A, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. $10. Info, 578-9243.

Meet Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate: Aargh, matey! Youngsters channel the hooligans of the sea with music, games and activities. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

SEVEN DAYS

Music Panel Discussion & Concert: Writers from Seven Days, the Burlington Free Press and Pitchfork consider ways for musicians to gain exposure in print. Performances by Maryse Smith and HOT Flannel follow. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m.

Free. Info, 865-1140, info@bigheavyworld.com.

Green Mountain Table Tennis Club: Pingpong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Knights of Columbus, Rutland, 6-9:30 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

ChampFest: Families celebrate Lake Champlain's beloved monster at this weeklong event featuring a "Believer or Skeptic" program, themed activities and more. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, Through March 2, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with admission, $9.50-12.50. Info, 877-324-6386.

Reading is an Investment: The Boy Who Harnesses the Wind and Lemonade in Winter teach children in grades 1 through 5 about positive financial choices. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Winter Story Time: Kiddos share read-aloud tales and wiggles and giggles with Mrs. Liza.

Highgate Public Library, 11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

lgbtq

LGBTQA Family Playgroup: Parents bring infants and children up to age 4 together for crafts and physical activities. Leaps and Bounds Child Development Center, South Burlington, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

montréal

Montréal en Lumière: One of the largest winter festivals in the world, this unique celebration features performing arts, fine dining, family activities and more. See montrealenlumiere.com for details.

Downtown Montréal, Québec, 11:30 a.m. Prices vary.

Info, 514-288-9955.

music

etc.

AARP Tax Prep Assistance: Tax counselors straighten up financial affairs for low- and middleincome taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9:15, 10, 10:45 & 11 a.m. Free; preregister for a time slot. Info, 878-6955.

Girl Develop It: Intro to Git & GitHub: Coders of all skill levels solve programming problems in a supportive environment. 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, maureen@girldevelopit.com.

fairs & festivals film

2014 Academy Award-Nominated Shorts: Gems from this year's live action category delight movie buffs. Lake Placid Center for the Arts, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $6. Info, 518-523-5812.

'American Promise': Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson's documentary tracks two African American boys from kindergarten to high school graduation at the predominantly white Dalton School. A panel discussion follows. Twilight Auditorium, Middlebury College, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 443-5867.

'Almost, Maine' Auditions: The Middlebury Community Players hold tryouts for the May production of John Cariani's romantic comedy about small-town antics. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, Through 7 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7432 or 735-8041.

'Drop In: Bloody Couloir': Jeremy McGhee ditches his wheelchair and tackles daunting backcountry terrain without the use of his legs in this compelling documentary. A Q&A follows. Proceeds benefit the UVM Adaptive Club and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Davis Center, UVM, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 786-4991.

'Tuesdays With Morrie': Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre interprets Mitch Albom's best-selling book about his former college professor's diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease. Brick Box Theater, Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $15.

Info, 775-0903.

'ELEMENTAL': Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee's awardwinning documentary follows the efforts of three leading figures in international environmental activism. Axinn Center, Starr Library, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5925, dmunroe@ middlebury.edu.

words

'Girl on a Bicycle': See WED.26, 5:30 p.m.

Big Ideas Dine & Discuss: Lit lovers join Ed Cashman for a shared meal and conversation about Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8:30 p.m.

Free; bring a southern dish to share. Info, 878-6955.

THU.27 business

SEO for Beginners: Small-business owners gain knowledge about search-engine optimization.

Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 5 p.m. Free.

Info, 373-2365, info@btvsearch.com.

Burlington Walk/Bike Council Meeting: Locals discuss ways to promote human-powered transportation and how to improve existing policies and infrastructure. Room 12, Burlington City Hall, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-5449.

Chili & Chowder Fest: Spicy flavors meet seafood at this ode to one-pot meals. Proceeds benefit the Bethel Community Forward Festival. Harrington House Inn and Restaurant, Bethel, 5-8 p.m. $10-15.

Info, 234-9515.

games

Open Bridge Game: Players of varying experience levels put strategic skills to use. Vermont Room, Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 388-4095.

kids

ChampFest: See WED.26.

Origami Club: Kim Smith helps artists in grades 3 and up fold and crease paper into magical creations. Younger children welcomed with an adult.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3-4 p.m. Free.

Info, 223-3338.

Read With Arlo: Bookworms pore over pages with the therapy dog and his owner, Brenda.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 4-5 p.m.

Free; preregister for a 20-minute time slot. Info, 223-3338.

language

Beginner Spanish Lessons: Newcomers develop basic competency en español. 57 Charlotte Street, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. $20. Info, 324-1757.

music

The Johannes String Quartet With Fred Child: The celebrated public radio host provides colorful narration for the group's "Mozart Magnified" performance. FlynnSpace, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $31-35. Info, 863-5966.

Montpelier Ukelele Group Concert: Local musicians bring the Hawaiian instrument to life in a lighthearted performance. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

sports

Kare Andersen Telemark Festival: Freeheelers unite! This daylong celebration of the sport features clinics, races, raffles and more. See bromley.com for details. Bromley Mountain, Peru, 9:30 a.m. $20-60. Info, 617-599-8170, tkerr311@ gmail.com.

Mad Dashes Indoor Bike Racing: Pedal pushers get their heart rates up on single-speed, stationary bikes in head-to-head 250m, 500m and 2,000m races. ArtsRiot, Burlington, registration, 7:30-8 p.m.; races, 8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 508-2464315, mattskiphoto@gmail.com.

talks

Buddhism Panel Discussion: Buddhist perspectives on life, death and freedom inspire an introspective dialogue. First Unitarian Universalist Society, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Donations. Info, 229-0164.

Deb Van Schaak: Step to it! The local high school counselor tracks her journey from the Long Trail to the Appalachian Trail. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

Kevin Thornton: The UVM history professor discusses Andrew Harris — UVM class of 1838 and the first African American college graduate to demand racial equality. Richmond Free Library, 3:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 434-3036.

Steve Daly: The ice expert weighs in on the far-reaching properties of frozen water — from the mundane to the mysterious. Bradford Public Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 222-4536.

health & fitness

theater

ow

T

community

food & drink

of

Vermont Venture Network Meeting: Paul Costello of the Vermont Council on Rural Development discusses the organization's evolution and business model. Hilton Hotel, Burlington, 8-9:30 a.m. $20 for nonmembers. Info, 658-7830.

'Nebraska': See WED.26, 7:30 p.m.

Forza: The Samurai Sword Workout: Students sculpt lean muscles and gain mental focus when performing basic strikes with wooden replicas of the weapon. North End Studio A, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. $10. Info, 578-9243.

Music With Mr. Chris: Singer, storyteller and puppeteer Chris Dorman entertains tykes and parents alike. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

Montréal en Lumière: See WED.26.

theater

Agnieszka Perlinska & Chip Chapados: The coauthors of The Conversation discuss how character impacts personal experiences of meaning, happiness and well-being. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

Lego Creations: Budding builders ages 5 and up construct unique structures with brightly colored pieces. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1:30-3 p.m.

Free. Info, 865-7216.

montréal

Snowflake Festival: See WED.26.

sy

Farmers Night Concert Series: 'The Music of World War I': The Bethany Baritones join forces with the Vermont Philharmonic Chorus to commemorate the "Great War." Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 828-2180.

Konrad Ryushin Marchaj: Zen Mountain Monastery's abbot presents "What is Death if There is No Self? Buddhist Perspectives On Living, Dying and Freedom." Abernethy Room, Axinn Center, Starr Library, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 229-0164.

White Privilege Discussion Group: Candid conversations examine issues surrounding the effects of systemic racism. Vermont Workers' Center, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, rightsnotpity@ gmail.com.

rte

Conundrum Commmunity Drum Circle: Experienced percussionists keep the tempo going at this family-friendly event. Tao Motion Studio, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $4-7. Info, 922-7149.

Greg Vitercik: In "Richard Wagner and the Revolution of Love," the Middlebury College professor of music explores German composer's legacy. Franklin Environmental Center at Hillcrest, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3168.

St. Albans Community Meeting: Representatives from the Vermont Workers' Center lead a dialogue centered on moving Vermont toward universal health care. Performing Arts Center, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, 861-2877.

Cou

52 CALENDAR

Heartbeat: Arab and Jewish performers ages 18 through 22 hit the stage as part of an international tour aimed at nonviolent Israeli-Palestinian relations. Ira Allen Chapel, UVM, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Info, bored@uvm.edu.

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Ha

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eater Fairy & Miniature Gardens Seminar: Kiddos tap into their imaginations and create whimsical horticulture designs. Gardener’s Supply: Williston Garden Center & Outlet, noon-12:45 p.m.

Free. Info, 658-2433.

National Theatre Live: 'War Horse': A broadcast production of this award-winning drama features a boy determined to reunite with his beloved steed, who is recruited to serve in World War I. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 2 & 7 p.m. $1017. Info, 382-9222.

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'Spring AwAkening': Jamie Horton directs this Dartmouth College production of the Tony Awardwinning musical about teenagers confronting different aspects of sexuality. Contains adult language and content. Moore Theater, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., 8 p.m. $10-15.

Info, 603-646-2422.

crAFTernoon: Students in grades 4 through 8 convene for a creative session. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

'Sweeney Todd': Madness and mayhem in 19th-century London drive Stephen Sondheim's chilling musical, staged by the Champlain Theatre.

Alumni Auditorium, Champlain College, Burlington, Through March 1, 8 p.m. $10-20; free for Champlain College students with ID. Info, 865-5494.

dungeonS & drAgonS: Imaginative XP earners in grades 6 and up exercise their problem-solving skills in battles and adventures. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

C eArLy bird MATh: Inquisitive minds explore mathematic concepts with books, songs, games and activities. Richmond Free Library, 11 a.m.-noon. M Free. Info, 434-3036.

Y

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MonTpeLier STory TiMe: Engaging narratives arrest the attention of budding bookworms up to age 6. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

MAggie'S T.g.i.F.F: 'ThAnk goodneSS iT'S Fiber FridAy': Veteran knitter Maggie Loftus leads fellow needle workers in a fireside crafting session. Main Reading Room, Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 6curly2@gmail. com.

Teen AdviSory boArd: Teens gather to plan library programs. Yes, there will be snacks.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free.

Info, 878-6956.

fairs & festivals

SnowFLAke FeSTivAL: See WED.26.

TournéeS French FiLM FeSTivAL: A journalist crosses the line when she becomes involved with a police officer in the acclaimed 2011 crime drama Polisse. Room 101, Cheray Science Hall, St. Michael's College, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 6542795 or 854-2835.

food & drink

games

bridge cLub: See WED.26, 10 a.m.

health & fitness

LAughTer cLub: Breathe, clap, chant and ... giggle! Participants decrease stress with this playful practice. Bring personal water. The Wellness Co-op, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 999-7373.

Acorn cLub STory TiMe: Little ones up to age 6 gather for read-aloud tales. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. chAMpFeST: See WED.26.

MonTréAL en LuMière: See WED.26, 11:30 a.m.

ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center

music

MichAeL chorney & hoLLAr generAL: A blend of folk, blues, rag, jazz and chamber music informs the group's take on Americana. FlynnSpace, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $18-20. Info, 863-5966.

@ECHOvt

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

ECHOVERMONT.ORG

pAuL neubAuer & Anne-MArie McderMoTT: The violist and pianist display their technical prowess and creativity in a program of works by Bach and Brahms. UVM Recital Hall, Redstone Campus, Burlington, pre-performance lecture, 6:30 p.m.; concert, 7:30 p.m. $15-25. Info, 863-5966.

FLYNN presents

DEJOHNETTE/ LOVANO/SPALDING/ GENOVESE

outdoors

winTer doe cAMp: Women ages 15 and up tap into the spirit of adventure with outdoor-skill development and classes ranging from fiber arts to gun safety. See voga.org for details. Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. $290 for all-inclusive weekend. Info, 425-6211.

sports

kAre AnderSen TeLeMArk FeSTivAL: See THU.27.

dick eLLiS: The local conductor recounts his experience as a touring musician during the Big Band era. Tunbridge Public Library, 7 p.m. Free.

Info, 889-9404.

theater

nATionAL TheATre Live: 'wAr horSe': See THU.27, 7 p.m.

'Sweeney Todd': See THU.27.

'The ToTAL ThiS And ThAT circuS: Spring 2014 ediTion': Bread and Puppet Theater debuts new characters — including resurrected blue horses and the anti-extinction angel — amid politically charged scenarios. Plainfield Community Center, 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 525-1271, breadpuppetlinda@gmail.com.

FRI.28

» P.54

THE SPRING QUARTET Monday, March 3 at 7:30 pm, MainStage

Presented in association with the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs through the UVM President’s Initiative for Diversity.

talks

pAM peArSon: The director of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative considers the impact of global warming on the earth's ice- and snow-covered regions. Conference Room, Johnson House, UVM, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 861-2343.

877.324.6386

Sponsor

Media poi

fm nt

Independent Radio 93.3 • 100.3 • 104.7 • 98.1 • 95.7 • 103.1 • 107.1

GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS

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TIM E

“CIRQUE ZIVA”

Season Sponsor

Wednesday, March 5 at 7 pm, MainStage Sponsor

Media

P E R F O R M I N G

CALENDAR 53

kids

montréal

SEVEN DAYS

AduLT yogA cLASS: YogaFit instructor Jessica Frost incorporates traditional fitness moves into stretching and breathing exercises. Cafeteria, Highgate Elementary School, 7 p.m. $7; preregister.

Info, 868-3970.

NOW - March 2

02.26.14-03.05.14

pASTA nighT: Locals load up on carbs topped with "G-Man's" famous homemade sauce. Live music by Leno and Young follows. VFW Post, Essex Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. $7. Info, 878-0700.

ChampFest!

SEVENDAYSVt.com

film

youTh coFFee houSe: Performers step up to the mic for 10 minutes to sing, dance, rap, deliver jokes and more. North End Studio A, Burlington, 8 p.m.

Free. Info, 863-6713.

Amitava Sarkar

Queen ciTy TAngo prAcTiLongA: Dancers kick off the weekend with improvisation, camaraderie and laughter. No partner necessary, but clean, smooth-soled shoes required. North End Studio B, Burlington, beginners lesson, 7-7:45 p.m.; informal dancing, 7:30-10 p.m. $7. Info, 877-6648.

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MAd robin conTrA dAnce: Folks in clean, softsoled shoes move and groove to music by the Free Raisins. First Congregational Church, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5-10. Info, 502-1251, madrobincc@gmail.com.

Teen Movie: A boy who must reconcile his extraterrestrial genes when members of his race invade Earth in Man of Steel. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:15-8:45 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

M

bALLrooM & LATin dAncing: Samir Elabd leads choreographed steps for singles and couples. No partner or experience required. Jazzercize Studio, Williston, introductory lesson, 7-8 p.m.; dance, 8-10 p.m. $14. Info, 862-2269.

CY

CMY

FA

'AniMAL': Abstract compositions explore survival mechanisms, pack behavior and evolution in Hanna Satterlee's athletically driven piece.

Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, Montpelier, 7 p.m. $10-20. Info, 229-4676.

MY

Carlos Pericias

dance

CM

Lanita Adams

crafts

Vacation & Summer Camps registration now open!

drop-in STory TiMe: Picture books, finger plays and action rhymes captivate children of all ages.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, every other Friday, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

James Adams

'TueSdAyS wiTh Morrie': See WED.26, 7:30 p.m.

a m PS

A R T S

www.flynncenter.org or call 802-86-flynn today!

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2/21/14 11:42 AM

12 years from now this LED bulb will still be saving you money.

calendar FRI.28

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health & fitness

'Tuesdays WiTh Morrie': See WED.26, 7:30 p.m.

saT. 01 'aNiMaL': See FRI.28, 2 p.m.

etc.

kids

'VerMoNT raiLs' ModeL TraiN shoW: Locomotive enthusiasts follow the tracks at the state's largest display of this popular hobby.

Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $1-5; free for kids under 6; $5 per family with active military ID. Info, 878-1135.

$4.99 *After $15 rebate

MagiC haT Mardi gras Parade: Live music, brightly colored beads and elaborate floats entertain revelers at this Big Easy benefit for HOPE Works. See calendar spotlight. See magichat.net for details. Various downtown locations, Burlington, festivities, noon; parade, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 658-2739.

PLay oN! sTory TheaTer saTurday: Budding thespians ages 3 through 7 bring a fairy tale or children's story to life. See northernstage.org for details. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 10-11 & 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $20-25. Info, 296-7000.

film

Qualifying products are reduced in cost through the Efficiency Vermont SMARTLIGHT program

'aNiMaL' sCreeNiNg: Choreographer Hanna Satterlee takes a multimedia approach to dance with an exploration of instinctual, animalistic behaviors. Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, Montpelier, 7 p.m. $10-20. Info, 229-4676.

RT 7 Shelburne Road • Shelburne, VT • 985-2204 www.TheLightingHouse.net • Open 7 Days A Week 4t-lightinghouse020514.indd 1

25% OFF HOME DECOR

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CABIN FEVER SALE

FEBRUARY 19--MARCH 10

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BurLiNgToN WiNTer farMers MarkeT: Farmers, artisans and producers offer fresh and prepared foods, crafts and more in a bustling indoor marketplace with live music, lunch seating and face painting. Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 310-5172.

MIRRORS

CaLedoNia WiNTer farMers MarkeT: Fresh baked goods, veggies, beef and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of "shop local" options.

Welcome Center, St. Johnsbury, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

Info, 592-3088.

CLOCKS

MiddLeBury WiNTer farMers MarkeT: Crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies and more vie for spots in shoppers' totes. Mary Hogan Elementary School, Middlebury, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 989-7223.

SHELVES RACKS

ruTLaNd WiNTer farMers MarkeT: More than 50 vendors sell local produce, cheese, homemade bread and other made-in-Vermont products at the bustling indoor venue. Vermont Farmers Food Center, Rutland, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 753-7269.

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127 C OLLEGE S TREET, BURLIN GTON , VERMONT M O N - S AT 10 - 6 , S U N 11 - 5 * 8 0 2 8 6 3 2 2 21 FREE GIFT WRAPPING * WE SHIP ANYWHERE * GIFT CERTIFICATES 4t-benningtonpotters_cabin-fever.indd 4t-bpn021914.indd 1 1

MoNTréaL eN LuMière: See WED.26, 11 a.m.

music

'sTriNg' PerforMaNCe: Broadway performer Heidi Blickenstaff leads an evening of excerpts from the winner of Weston Playhouse Theatre Company's New Musical Award.

Weston Playhouse, 8 p.m. Free.

Info, 824-8167, ext. 104.

ToM rush: The gifted musician draws on decades of stage time to deliver an evening of ballads and the blues. See calendar spotlight. town Hall Theatre, Woodstock, 8 p.m. $46.50-76.50.

Info, 457-3981.

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'rusT aNd BoNe': Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts star in Jacques Audiard's drama about a single father who falls in love with a beautiful woman after she loses her legs in an accident. In French with English subtitles. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, 3 & 8 p.m.

Free. Info, 443-3168.

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BLaCk hisTory MoNTh fiLM sCreeNiNgs: Cinema buffs screen preserved 16mm footage of the 1962 drama War Hunt, starring Robert Redford.

A discussion follows. Newman Center, Plattsburgh N.Y., 7 p.m. Free. Info, serious_61@yahoo.com.

sTory exPLorers: ChaMP: Does the famed lake monster really exist? Children learn about the kid-friendly mythical creature. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free with admission, $9.50-12.50. Info, 877-324-6386.

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FURNITURE

NeedLe feLTiNg CLass: Youngsters ages 8 and up use a needles, skewers and wool to create a potted toadstool. Brown Dog Books & Gifts, Hinesburg, 1:30-3 p.m. $25; preregister; limited space. Info, 482-5189. oPeN ToT gyM & iNfaNT/PareNT PLay TiMe: Slides, jump ropes and a rope swing help little ones drain their energy in a safe environment. A separate area for babies provides age-appropriate stimulation. Elementary School Gymnasium, Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax, 10-11:10 a.m. Free.

Info, fairfaxsx6@gmail.com.

sNoWfLake fesTiVaL: See WED.26.

*Supplies Limited

ChaMPfesT: See WED.26.

fairs & festivals

essex WiNTer CarNiVaL: Locals flock to a fun-filled day of music, food, storytelling, snow sculpting and more. Essex Middle School, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free to attend; nonperishable food donations accepted. Info, 878-1375.

We offer the area’s most complete selection of LED bulbs. Let our lighting experts help you select the right bulb for any application.

r.i.P.P.e.d.: See WED.26, North End Studio A, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. $10. Info, 578-9243. yoga for surViVors of sexuaL VioLeNCe: HOPE. Works presents a confidential, trauma-informed program focused on healing and resiliency.

Laughing River Yoga, Burlington, 1:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 864-0555, ext. 19.

dance

Value

geNTLe yoga WiTh JiLL LaNg: See WED.26.

2/13/14 4:40 4:15 PM

Mardi gras CasiNo NighT: Players try their luck and compete for prizes in rounds of blackjack, craps and roulette. Proceeds benefit the St. Ambrose Caring Community. St. Ambrose Parish, Bristol, 7 p.m. $20 includes $150 in gaming chips.

Info, 453-5599.

VerMoNT VirTuosi: Flutist Laurel Ann Maurer, clarinetist Karen Luttik and pianist Claire Black interpret works by Aaron Copland and others in "Winter Spirits." Bethany Church, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $5-10 suggested donation. Info, 881-9153.

outdoors

MediCiNaL PLaNTs of The WiNTer LaNdsCaPe: Clinical herbalist Rebecca Dalgin leads a stroll to identify native vegetation with healing properties. Meet outside the Wild Heart Wellness office.

Goddard College, Plainfield, 1 p.m. $5-15. Info, 552-0727.

WiNTer doe CaMP: See FRI.28, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

seminars

3d PriNTiNg, desigNiNg & sCaNNiNg WiTh BLu-BiN: Instruction in basic programs teaches attendees how to build digital models of their ideas. Blu-Bin, Burlington, noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 345-6030.

The arT & MysTery of MaPLe sugariNg: Sugar maker Craig Line demonstrates the process of transforming sap into liquid gold in a hands-on workshop. 287 Old West Church Road, Calais, 1-4 p.m. $10-12; free for kids under 18; preregister. Info, 223-8000, ext. 202.

FIND FUtURE DAtES + UPDAtES At SEVENDAYSVT.COM/EVENTS

Genetic GenealoGy: Part ii: Ancestry aficionados learn the various uses of autosomal analysis DNA testing. Vermont Genealogy Library, Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester, 10:30 a.m.-noon. $5. Info, 310-9285. intermediate microsoft Word: Students get tech-savvy with instruction in the word processor's advanced features and customization options.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, $3 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 865-7217.

sports

Bolton after dark: When the sun sets, skiers and riders explore Vermont's most extensive night-skiing terrain, then screen selections from Meathead Films. Bolton Valley Resort, 4-8 p.m. $19 lift tickets; $2 refreshments; cash bar. Info, 434-6804.

Junior national cross-country ski chamPionshiPs: Skiers hit the trails in this weeklong event showcasing the country's top athletes.

See jn2014stowe.com for details. Trapp Family Lodge Nordic Center, Stowe, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free for spectators. Info, kvtf@trappfamily.com.

WinterBike!: Cold-weather cyclists put their pedal power to the test and use extra-wide tires to navigate snowy trails and challenging terrain.

See calendar spotlight. Kingdom Trails, East Burke, 8 a.m. $10-50; preregister. Info, 626-6005, info@ kingdomtrails.org.

talks

JosePh Polisi: The Juilliard School president considers the creative process in “The Arts, Education and the Human Experience.” Concert Hall, Mahaney Center for the Arts, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3168, middlebury. edu/arts.

theater

dance laB: Amy LePage Hansen leads regional dancers in a study of restriction and expansion, and tension and ease. Capital City Grange, Montpelier, 1:15-5:15 p.m. $20. Info, 279-8836.

'mountain moments' oPen house: Skiers chat with Mad River Glen's staff naturalist about the wildlife and ecosystems on the mountain. Kent Thomas Nature Center. Mad River Glen, Waitsfield, 1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 496-3551. tiBetan neW year celeBration: Ven. Amy Miller leads a meditation, dharma talk and sutra reading honoring Buddhist traditions. Milarepa Center, Barnet, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister for lunch. Info, 633-4136.

fairs & festivals

montréal en lumière: See WED.26, 11 a.m. snoWflake festival: See WED.26.

film

food & drink

community Breakfast: The Ladies Auxiliary hosts a hearty start to the day for members and nonmembers alike. VFW Post, Essex Junction, 9-11 a.m. $3-6. Info, 878-0700.

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soul PurPose develoPment: liGht Body meditation: Cynthia Warwick Seiler helps attendees access their higher selves in a focused practice.

Rainbow Institute, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. $15 suggested donation. Info, 671-4569.

kids

chamPfest: See WED.26. homeWork helP: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science students assist first through eighth graders with reading, math and science assignments. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216. russian Play time With natasha: Kiddos up to age 8 learn new words via rhymes, games, music, dance and a puppet show. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

lgbtq

out for the oscars red carPet Gayla: Outright Vermont hosts an evening of glitz ’n glam featuring a screening of the Academy Awards, movie-themed costumes, hors d’oeuvres, games and prizes. Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25-30. Info, 865-9677.

music

allison, emma & Gaylen: The jazz trio melds top-notch vocals with bass and trumpet stylings for an afternoon of classic tunes. Main Reading Room, Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 2 p.m.

Free. Info, 899-4962.

dance

'animal': See FRI.28.

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texas hold 'em tournament: Poker-faced players compete at this benefit for the Vermont Family Theatre. Irasburg Town Hall, 1 p.m. $45-50 per buy-in. Info, 754-2187.

SUN.02

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PrintmakinG WorkshoP: Janet Cathey helps participants transfer drawings to foam, then use carving tools to create designs on cards. Chandler Gallery, Randolph, 1-3 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, 730-6992.

1/17/14 12:44 PM

SEVEN DAYS

extemPo: live oriGinal storytellinG: Amateur raconteurs have 5 to 7.5 minutes to deliver first-person tales from memory at this open-mic event. Espresso Bueno, Barre, 8 p.m. $5.

Info, 479-0896.

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Participants will receive all food for 8 weeks and $1000 upon completion of the study. For more information please contact Dave Ebenstein (debenste@uvm.edu or 802-656-9093).

Email is preferred.

SEVENDAYSVt.com

'Winds of chanGe' readinG: In House Productions presents Lesley Becker's drama, in which a folks must reconcile the construction of wind turbines in close proximity to their family farm. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 6 p.m.

Free. Info, 540-0882.

Healthy overweight women (18-40 yr) are needed for an 8-week NIH study of how the brain is affected by the type of fat you eat .

ski vermont sPecialty food tour: Skiers and riders take a break from the slopes and sample products from local food producers. Sugarbush Resort, Warren, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Prices vary.

Info, 223-2439.

health & fitness

vermont vaudeville: The Northeast Kingdom troupe brings live music, acrobatics and juggling to a cutting-edge variety show. Auditorium, FlynnSpace, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 863-5966.

2/24/14 11:49 AM

mardi Gras Benefit dinner: Foodies feast on a three-course meal of Big Easy eats at this fundraiser for the Brookfield Old Town Hall. Ariel's Restaurant, Brookfield, 5:30 p.m. $85; preregister.

Info, 276-3393.

'sPrinG aWakeninG': See THU.27.

'tuesdays With morrie': See WED.26.

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Overweight research volunteers needed for a nutritional study

'animal' screeninG: See SAT.01, 2 p.m.

games

'[title of shoW]' auditions: Stowe Theatre holds tryouts for Jeff Bowen's musical comedy about four friends struggling to create a show within a show. Akeley Memorial Building, Stowe, 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 793-4875 or 253-3961.

Call our contractor.

They did a great job on ours.

etc.

the met: live in hd series: Ildar Abdrazakov stars in a broadcast production of Alexander Borodin's famed opera Prince Igor. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, noon. $10-17. Info, 382-9222.

Paramount Theatre, Rutland, noon. $10-20. Info, 775-0903. 'sWeeney todd': See THU.27.

My roof is leaking!

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'Beef Jerky and Premium Talc': Accompanied by pianist Jun Matsuo, clarinetist Janine Scherline and saxophonist Todd W. Pray present works by Claude Debussy and others. Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall, SUNY Plattsburgh, N.Y., 2 p.m. Free.

Info, 518-565-0145.

Vermont Virtuosi: See SAT.01, First Baptist Church, Burlington, 3 p.m. $5-10 suggested donation. Info, 881-9153.

outdoors

Mt. Philo Inn Sledding Celebration: Sledders young and old hit the snow on modern and traditional equipment, then head inside for lunch and hot chocolate. Mt. Philo Inn, Charlotte, 1 p.m. Free.

Info, 425-3335.

Winter Doe Camp: See FRI.28, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Bridge Club: See WED.26, 7 p.m.

health & fitness

Laughter Club: Breathe, clap, chant and ... giggle! Participants decrease stress with this playful practice. Bring personal water. Turning Point Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 999-7373.

R.I.P.P.E.D.: See WED.26.

kids

Alice in Noodleland: Youngsters get acquainted over crafts and play while new parents and expectant mothers chat with maternity nurse and lactation consultant Alice Gonyar.

Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

'Mini Mud' Auditions: Budding thespians ages 7 through 18 show off their talents for consideration in the annual youth variety show.

Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, 1 p.m. Free; preregister for a time slot. Info, 728-9402, president@ chandler-arts.org.

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Trivia Night: Teams of quick thinkers gather for a meeting of the minds. Lobby, Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 651-5012.

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Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships: See SAT.01, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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FAT Ski-A-Thon: Athletes don skis 70mm or wider and complete laps to benefit the High Fives Foundation. See highfivesfoundation.org for details.

Sugarbush Resort, Warren, registration, 8-9 a.m.; event, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Donations; discounted lift ticket available. Info, 530-587-4453.

IL

Cocktail Walk: Distillers, producers and bartenders make Vermont-inspired libations with local spirits and bitters, then discuss their creations.

See vermontfarmtours.com for details. Various downtown locations, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. $45; preregister. Info, 922-7346.

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Paul Orgel: In "A Program of Romantic Rarities," the pianist explores compositions by Ernest Chausson, Josef Suk and Max Reger. UVM Recital Hall, Redstone Campus, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m.

Free. Info, 656-3040.

Sally Pinkas: The Hop pianistin-residence combines the work of Mozart, Schumann and Bostonbased composer Harold Shapero.

Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., 7 p.m. $21-27. Info, 603-646-2422.

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Northeast Fiddlers Association Meeting: Lovers of this spirited art form gather to catch up and jam. VFW Post, Hyde Park, noon-5 p.m.

Donations of nonperishable food items accepted.

Info, 728-5188.

Women's Ancient Ritual Sacred Dancing: Ladies learn international circle and line dances from centuries past. Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington, 5:15 p.m. Donations. Info, 978-424-1482.

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Key Winds Trio: A faculty recital features the musical stylings of Janine Scherline, Janice Kyle and David Carpenter. Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall, SUNY Plattsburgh, N.Y., 2 p.m. Free. Info, 518-564-3095.

Shakti Tribal Belly Dance With Susanne: Women get their groove on with this ancient and spirit-inspired improvisational dance form. Soul Fire Studio, Burlington, 5:30-6:45 p.m. $15.

Info, 688-4464.

rte

Karan Casey: Bassist Corey DiMario and guitarist Grant Gordy accompany the award-winning Irish vocalist as part of the After Dark Music Series.

Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $28-30. Info, 388-0216.

Phill Niblock With Neil Leonard & Guests: The filmmaker and composer hosts top regional musicians in a multimedia interpretation of his evocative film The Movement of People Working.

Rollins Chapel, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., 7 p.m. $10-25. Info, 603-646-2422.

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Boghos Taslakjian: The Middlebury College student performs a varied program for the flute. Concert Hall, Mahaney Center for the Arts, Middlebury College, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3168.

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Women's Pickup Soccer: Quick-footed ladies of varying skill levels break a sweat while stringing together passes and making runs for the goal.

Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. $3; for women ages 18 and up.

Info, 864-0123.

theater

'A Few Good Men' Auditions: Thespians showcase their skills for consideration in the St. Johnsbury Players' production of Aaron Sorkin's military-courtroom drama. South Congregational Church, St. Johnsbury, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 751-1175.

Music With Peter: Preschoolers up to age 5 bust out song-and-dance moves to traditional and original folk.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:45 a.m. Free; limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918.

Nature Tales Story Time: Environmental tales, songs and rhymes entertain good listeners ages 2 through 5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Reading Buddies: Eighth-grade mentors foster a love of the written words in little ones. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:45-4:45 p.m. Free; preregister for a time slot; limited space. Info, 878-6956.

The Spring Quartet: Drummer Jack DeJohnette and pianist Leo Genovese join Grammy Award winners saxophonist Joe Lovano and bassist Esperanza Spalding, for an eclectic program. Flynn MainStage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15-55. Info, 863-5966.

seminars

Craigslist Workshop: A lecture-based session details how to find jobs, apartments and more on the popular classified advertisements website.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4:30 p.m. $3 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 865-7217.

sports

Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships: See SAT.01, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

talks

Barnaby Feder: The former journalist presents "Fit to Print: Memories of 27 Years as a New York Times Reporter." Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2 p.m. $5. Info, 864-3516.

theater

'A Few Good Men' Auditions: See SUN.02.

words

Shape & Share Life Stories: Prompts from Recille Hamrell trigger recollections of specific experiences, which are crafted into narratives and shared with the group. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

TUE. 04 comedy

Laugh Local Comedy Open Mic: Jokesters take advantage of a lighthearted atmosphere and perform brief material before a live audience. American Legion Post 03, Montpelier, registration, 7:30-8 p.m; open mic, 8 p.m. Donations. Info, 793-3884.

dance

Intro to Tribal Belly Dance: Ancient traditions from a vast range of cultures define this moving meditation that celebrates the feminine creative energy. Comfortable clothing required. Chai Space, Dobra Tea, Burlington, 6:45 p.m. $12. Info, piper.c.emily@gmail.com.

'Tuesdays With Morrie': See WED.26, 2 p.m.

Advanced Spanish Lessons: Proficient speakers work on mastering the language. 57 Charlotte Street, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. $20. Info, 324-1757.

Swing Dance Practice Session: Twinkle-toed participants get moving in different styles, such as the lindy hop, Charleston and balboa. Indoor shoes required. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, 448-2930.

words

lgbtq

film

'Spring Awakening': See THU.27, 2 p.m.

What Moves You?: Reuben Jackson, Mark Hage and other local activists recount pivotal moments in their lives during an evening of live storytelling.

New City Galerie, Burlington, 5 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 490-3875, vermontiso@gmail.com.

language

Belly Dance: All genders, skill levels, shapes and sizes shimmy the evening away in a supportive environment. RU12? Community Center, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 860-7812.

Monday Night OUT!: Kitty Von Tease hosts this weekly gathering of games, libations and a viewing of "RuPaul's Drag Race." Drink, Burlington, cocktail hour, 8-9 p.m.; show viewing, 9-10 p.m. Free; for ages 21 and up. Info, 860-9463, melissashahady@vtdrink.com.

Peace & Popcorn: Like-minded cinephiles screen a flick as part of the Peace & Justice Center's socially conscious film initiative. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

games

Bridge Club: See WED.26, 7 p.m.

Gaming for Teens & Adults: Tabletop games entertain players of all skill levels. Ages 13 and under require a legal guardian or parental permission to attend. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

health & fitness

Create an Herbal First Aid Kit: Herbalist Sandra Lory presents ways to utilize regional plants for everything from aches and pains to bug bites. Community Room, Hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. $3-5; preregister. Info, 2238000, ext. 202.

kids

Homework Help: See SUN.02, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Preschool Story Time & Craft: Tales and creative projects centered on monkeys entertain little ones ages 3 through 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Reading With Frosty & Friends Therapy Dogs: Youngsters share a story with lovable pooches. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister for a time slot.

Info, 878-4918.

Story Explorers: Down Under: Who spends the winter underneath all the snow and ice?

Children learn about animals who seek cover from the cold weather. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free with admission, $9.50-12.50. Info, 877-324-6386.

Story Time With Corey: Read-aloud books and crafts led by store employee Corey Bushey engage young minds. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

Winter Story Time: See WED.26, 10 a.m.

language

French Conversation Group: Beginner-tointermediate speakers brush up on their linguistics.

Halvorson's Upstreet Café, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m.

Free. Info, 540-0195.

Intermediate Conversational Spanish Lessons: Adults sharpen their grammar skills while exploring different topics. 57 Charlotte Street, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. $20. Info, 324-1757.

music

Josh Ritter: The singer-songwriter lends his lyrical prowess to an acoustic show. Gregory Alan Isakov opens. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $26-36. Info, 603-448-0400.

The Spring Quartet: See MON.03, Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., 7 p.m. $25-40. Info, 603-646-2422.

sports

Green Mountain Derby Dames Fresh Meat Practice: Get on the fast track! Vermont's hard-hitting gals teach novices basic skating and derby skills. Skates, mouth guard and protective gear required. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 8:30-10 p.m. Free. Info, 203-675-0294.

Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships: See SAT.01, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

'American Promise': See THU.27, Herrick Auditorium, Castleton College, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 468-1119.

'Miss Representation': Katie Couric and Margaret Cho appear in Jennifer Siebel Newsom's documentary about the underrepresentation of powerful women in American media. Bentley Hall, Johnson State College, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 635-1408.

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Celebrating our milestone anniversary Look for our �loat in Burlington’s with a musical phenomenon Mardi Gras Parade!

Lyric Theatre Company presents a new production of BOUBLIL and SCHÖNBERG’S

April 4‐13, 2014 | Flynn MainStage TICKETS: $21‐$35

INSTANT-DECISION ADMISSION DAYS Makes Transferring as Easy as 1, 2, 3 Transfer to Champlain College during one of our Instant-Decision Admission Days. Send us your application and transcripts then make your appointment to receive your transfer admission decision for Fall 2014, which credits we’ll transfer, and what financial aid is available.

Sign up for your Instant-Decision Admission appointment before May 2nd.

802‐86FLYNN | �lynncenter.org

Residential & Commercial Realty Insurance • Financial Planning HR Intelligence • Retirement Solutions

~ Mature Themes ~

Info: lyrictheatrevt.org

Contact Shawn McElwain at 802.383.6644 or mcelwain@champlain.edu.

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FOR DETAILS VISIT: www.Champlain.edu/ Transfer-Days

2/25/14 8:14 AM

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T N E M E T I C X E

Activities include: Swimming Tennis Parisi Speed School Foreign Language Climbing Wall Zumba Soccer Cooking Music

openings at all three locations servicing over 10 schools! chrisg@edgevt.com

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KIDS & FITNESS INFANTS TODDLERS PRESCHOOL YOUR TEXT HERE

Essex | 879-7734 ext. 1113 So. Burlington | 658-0080 alexandrad@edgevt.com heatherh@edgevt.com 3v-edge(KIFF)020514.indd 1

Williston | 864-5351 micheller2@edgevt.com 1/31/14 4:22 PM

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$5 student/senior discount at some performances; group rates available

liSt Your EVENt for frEE At SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

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activism

52” HDTV SHRINE

Organizing tO COOl thE PlanEt: Maeve McBride of 350 Vermont shares stories related to Vermont's climate justice movement. Community Center Media Room, Goddard College, Plainfield, 3-4:30 p.m. free.

chili factory

art HABS FANS STAY OUTSIDE!

BRUINS paRapheRNalIa

Perhaps we can help. We’re a locally based non-profit offering Vermonters low-interest loans and the ability to choose a local lender. So go ahead, dream big, and give us a shout.

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WEDnESDay WinE DOWn: see WED.26.

COllEEn BOggS: in "The soul selects her own society: The Life and Work of Emily Dickinson," the Dartmouth College professor considers the bard's literary legacy. st. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7 p.m. free. info, 748-8291.

aChiEving hEalth gOalS: Clinical nutritionist Alicia feltus shares strategies for managing weight loss, blood pressure, sleep and more.

Community Room, hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier, 6-7 p.m. free; preregister. info, 2238000, ext. 202. gEntlE yOga With Jill lang: see WED.26. r.i.P.P.E.D.: see WED.26.

BRING-A-FRIEND SPECIAL: Bring a friend for Pineapple Pedis (brought back early by popular demand!)

SEVEN DAYS

02.26.14-03.05.14

SEVENDAYSVt.com

MOntréal-StylE aCrO yOga: see WED.26.

in March

thE PrESEnCE POint: Cultivating EMBODiMEnt anD Engaging in thE CrEativE PrOCESS: shambhala Buddhist practitioner sarah Lipton leads a meditation practice aimed at exploring different aspects of creativity. Bradford Public Library, 6 p.m. free. info, 222-4536.

kids

EvEning BaBytiME PlaygrOuP: Crawling tots and their parents convene for playtime and sharing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6-7:30 p.m. free. info, 876-7555.

MEEt rOCkin' rOn thE friEnDly PiratE: see WED.26.

havilanD SMith: The former CiA chief of counterterrorism weighs in on everything from drugs to drones in "Real and imagined Threats to the united states." Rutland free Library, 7 p.m. free. info, 773-1860. irEnE kaCanDES: The Dartmouth College professor presents "Lessons of Mortality from Great Literature." Congregational Church, Norwich, 7 p.m. free. info, 649-1184.

JulE EMErSOn: fans of the popular PBs series "Downton Abbey" learn about the period's fashion with the Middlebury College artist-in-residence.

Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, 7 p.m. free. info, 334-7902. kavita finn: The author and literary scholar presents "Richard iii: The Man and the Legend." ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 7 p.m. free. info, 388-4095.

theater

gOlDEn DragOn aCrOBatS: human pyramids, aerial stunts, contortion and more inform Cirque Ziva. see calendar spotlight. flynn Mainstage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15-38. info, 863-5966. 'gOOD PEOPlE': Carol Dunne directs this Northern stage production of David Lindsay Abaire's tony Award-winning drama about high school sweethearts who reunite decades later under less-thanideal circumstances. Briggs opera house, White River Junction, -8, 7:30 p.m. $10-60. info, 296-7000.

And you each get a free Jane Iredale Mineral Makeover!

MOving & grOOving With ChriStinE: see WED.26.

* $46 each!

COunt BaSiE OrChEStra: scotty Barnhart directs the vErMOnt authOrS 18-member orchestra in a COMMunity COnvErSatiOn performance reflective of SEriES: Local writers Jernigan Co William James "Count" Basie's uR Pontiac and Marc Estrin consider tE spirited approach to jazz and the sy A of B R their craft in a discussion led by fran A si E o R C h E s t blues. Colchester high school, 7-9 p.m. stoddard. All souls interfaith Gathering, $15-20; $55 per family of four; preregister. shelburne, 4-5 p.m. free to attend; donations acinfo, 264-5729. cepted. info, 985-8686. m

58 CALENDAR

166 Battery Street, Downtown Burlington 802.658.6006 • minispavt.com • Closed Tuesdays

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allEn kOOP: sharing the story of New hampshire's only World War ii PoW camp, the historian conveys how its location in the village of stark influenced residents. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. free. info, 878-6955.

food & drink

health & fitness

The

JuniOr natiOnal CrOSS COuntry Ski ChaMPiOnShiPS: see sAt.01, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

CECilia gaPOSChkin: Great Parisian cathedrals inform an examination of 13th-century Gothic architecture by the Dartmouth College professor.

Kellogg-hubbard Library, Montpelier, 7 p.m. free. info, 223-3338.

gaMES unPluggED: see WED.26.

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grEEn MOuntain taBlE tEnniS CluB: see WED.26.

Burr MOrSE: The author, sugar maker and Vermont icon muses on life in the Green Mountains and excerpts various works. Milton historical Museum, 7 p.m. free. info, 363-2598.

BriDgE CluB: see WED.26.

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sports

film

games

Rates are subject to change. Eligibility requirements and restrictions apply.

ESSEntial OnlinE tOOlS fOr nOnPrOfitS WOrkShOP: An open format with Rob fish helps local organizations utilize digital technology to meet specific needs. Johnson Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. free; preregister. info, 223-6091.

talks

DinnEr night With MCfaDDEn iriSh DanCErS: traditional dances from the Emerald isle entertain diners. Elks Lodge, Burlington, 5 p.m. Prices vary. info, 862-1342, bpoe916er@comcast.net.

vhfa.org /yourvision

seminars

thE rElEvanCE Of COlOr thEOry tO EvEryDay lifE: Renowned artist Lark upson breaks down the science behind color values and how the eye determines what is appealing. twinfield union school, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $10 suggested donation; preregister; limited space. info, 454-1298, jeanne@jeannehaskell.com.

Ciné SalOn: Cinephiles screen The Loves of Pharaoh, starring Emil Jannings and Paul Wegener. German with English intertitles. Mayer Room, howe Library, hanover N.h., 7 p.m. free. info, 603-643-4120.

What’s your vision for homeownership?

Call 800-339-5866

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WintEr StOry tiME: see WED.26.

music

words

POEtry CirClE: Wordsmiths share their work in a supportive environment. Bradford Public Library, 4 p.m. free. info, 222-4536.

CLASS PHOTOS + MORE INFO ONLINE SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $13.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

body ESSENTIAL CONNECTION W/ DR. JULIETA RUSHFORD, DC, AND ANNE CAMERON: Join Dr. Julieta Rushford-Santiago, network chiropractor, and Anne Cameron, certified clinical aromatherapist, for a workshop aiming to increase awareness and change our relationship to emotion.

Mar. 8, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $75/seat. Location: Vermont Center for Integrative Therapy, 75 San Remo Dr., suite 204, S. Burlington. Info: Tejbir Khalsa, 658-9440-211.

burlington city arts

Call 865-7166 for info or register online at burlingtoncityarts.org.

Teacher bios are also available online.

KIDS: FREE WHEELIN’: Come play with clay on the potter’s wheel and learn how to make cups, bowls and more in our clay studio. Price includes one fired and glazed piece per participant.

All supplies provided. Ages 6-12.

Apr. 5, 1-3 p.m. Cost: $25/person, $22.50/BCA members. Location: BCA Clay Studio, 250 Main St., Burlington.

PHOTO: ADOBE LIGHTROOM 4: Upload, organize, edit and print your digital photographs in this comprehensive class using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Importing images, using RAW files, organization, fine-tuning tone and contrast, color and white balance adjustments, and archival printing on our Epson 3880 printer will all be covered. No experience needed.

Weekly on Wed., Mar. 26-Apr. 30, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $250/person; $225/BCA members. Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

PRINT: MONOPRINT: Create unique, painterly images using a variety of tools and materials in this introductory monoprint class. Practice proper inking techniques, print registration and Chine-collé (thin colored paper that is glued to the print paper in the process of printing).

Experimentation with layering colors and textures creates truly one-of-a-kind prints. Weekly on Tue., Apr. 1-May 6, 6-8:30 p.m.

Cost: $180/person; $162/BCA members. Location: BCA Print Studio, 250 Main St., Burlington.

PAINTING: ABSTRACT: Explore the many exciting possibilities of abstract painting. Using the paint of their choice (water-soluble oils, acrylics or watercolor), students will be encouraged to experiment and try adding other mixed media as well. Students will learn from each other and will discuss techniques and ideas in supportive critique.

Weekly on Tue., Apr. 8-May 20, 6-8:30 p.m. Cost: $180/person; $162/BCA members. Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

PREPARING YOUR ARTWORK FOR EXHIBITION & SALES: Are you ready to hang your work in an exhibition but are unsure of how to prepare it for installation and sales? Learn the basics of professionally presenting your work with BCA staff Kerri Macon, Vermont Metro Gallery director, and Kate Ashman, coordinator of arts sales/leasing in this lecturebased workshop. Mar. 17, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $20/person; $18/BCA members. Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

craft

RESIST GLAZING: During this lecture-style workshop, Jeremy will cover the basics of resist glazing techniques. Resist glazing is a great way to highlight contrasts and similarities between glazes and clay bodies on your pottery. Several techniques will be demonstrated to create a variety of surface motifs on functional forms. Apr. 6, 1:30-3 p.m. Cost: $20/person; $18/BCA members. Location: BCA Clay Studio, 250 Main St., Burlington.

CLAY: EVERYTHING BUT THE WHEEL: Instructor: Jules Polk.

This hand-building class will focus on creating sculptural and functional pieces by manipulating extrusions and soft slabs.

Students explore texture and will create their own stamps and rollers. Slip and glaze application techniques will be individualized per project. 8 Fridays, Apr. 18-Jun 6, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $310/ person (member $243, nonmembers $270, + $40 materials fee). Location: Shelburne Craft School, 64 Harbor Rd., Shelburne.

SELLING YOUR WORK WITH ETSY: Ready to take the leap and open a store on Etsy, the largest handmade online market in the world? Laure Hale, owner of Found Beauty Studio, walks you through opening a shop, setting up policies, listing items and filling sold orders, as well as looking at various marketing tricks. Apr. 7, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $20/person; $18/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

SILKSCREEN SLIP TRANSFERS: Using silkscreen printing techniques to transfer slip onto your clay work can add aesthetic depth. In this lecturestyle workshop, Chris Vaughn demonstrates the possibilities of surface decoration using slip transfers on thrown and slabbuilt forms. He will also introduce basic silkscreen techniques using photo emulsion. Mar. 9, 1-3 p.m. Cost: $20/person; $18/BCA

SOUND ART: Learn the basics of field recording with digital audio devices and editing using Garage Band. You will be guided through making loops and using processors and will come away with a foundational knowledge of Sound Art. Students will work on building a cache of loops, sounds and compositional sketches.

Mar. 10-24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $80/person; $72/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

theshelburnecraftschool.org

985-3648

INTRO WOOD: SHAKER HALL TABLE: Instructor: Rachel Brydolf-Horwitz. A comprehensive introduction to woodworking, this course explores the basic principles of lumber selection, hand tool and machinery usage, milling, joinery and finishing. Students will build their own Shaker-style hall table, taking the project from blueprint through completion, learning to both organize and conceptualize a furniture project, and gain familiarity with the woodshop environment. 8 Mon., Apr. 21-Jun. 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

(No class May 26.) Cost: $405/ person (members $292.50, nonmembers $325, + $80 materials fee.) Location: Shelburne Craft School, 64 Harbor Rd., Shelburne.

MIXED-LEVEL WHEEL THROWING: Instructor: Rik Rolla.

This course is for all skill levels!

Beginners will be guided through the fundamentals of basic wheel-throwing techniques.

More experienced students will consider elements of form and style and receive individual instruction in functional or sculptural techniques. 8 Tue., Apr. 15-Jun. 3, 10 a.m.-noon.

Cost: $255/person (members $193.50, nonmembers $215, + $40 materials fee.) Location: Shelburne Craft School, 64 Harbor Rd., Shelburne.

dance B-TRU DANCE W/ DANIELLE VARDAKAS DUSZKO: B-Tru is focused on hip-hop, funkstyles (poppin, locking, waaking), breakin’, dance hall, belly dance and lyrical dance. Danielle Vardakas Duszko has trained with originators in these styles, performed and battled throughout the world. Classes and camps age 4-adult. She is holding a Hip-Hop Yoga Dance 200-hour teacher training this fall/winter. Kids after-school & Sat. classes.

Showcase at the end of May. Feb. & spring break camps ages 4-13 also avail. $50/mo. Ask about family discounts. Location: Honest Yoga Center, 150 Dorset St., Blue Mall, next to Sport Shoe Center, S. Burlington. Info: 4970136, honestyogastudio@gmail. com, honestyogacenter.com.

DANCE STUDIO SALSALINA: Salsa classes, nightclub-style, on-one and on-two, group and private, four levels. Beginner walk-in classes, Wednesdays, 6 p.m. $13/person for one-hour class. No dance experience, partner or preregistration required, just the desire to have fun! Drop in any time and prepare for an enjoyable workout! Location: 266 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Victoria, 598-1077, info@salsalina.com.

DSANTOS VT SALSA: Experience the fun and excitement of Burlington’s eclectic dance community by learning salsa.

Trained by world famous dancer Manuel Dos Santos, we teach you how to dance to the music and how to have a great time on the dance floor! There is no better time to start than now!

Mon. evenings: beginner class, 7-8 p.m.: intermediate, 8:159:15 p.m. Cost: $10/1-hr. class.

Location: North End Studios, 294 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington.

Info: Tyler Crandall, 598-9204, crandalltyler@hotmail.com, dsantosvt.com.

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CLASSES 59

PHOTO: B&W DARKROOM: Explore the analog darkroom!

Learn how to properly expose black-and-white film with your manual 35mm or medium format camera, process film

PHOTO: USING A FLASH: Explore flash power and exposure, flash effects with slow and fast shutter speeds, as well as on and off camera flash. Nikon and Canon off-camera lighting systems will be covered as well as aftermarket flash triggers and accessories. Prerequisite: Intro SLR Camera or equivalent experience. Mar 20, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $40/person; $36/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

members. Location: BCA Clay Studio, 250 Main St., Burlington.

SEVEN DAYS

DESIGN: ADOBE INDESIGN CS6: Learn the basics of Adobe InDesign, designing text and preparing digital and print publications. Students will explore a variety of software techniques and will create projects suited to their own interests. This class

KIDS: FASHION DESIGN: Spend the afternoon altering old clothing into new trendy styles using methods such as cutting, painting, resewing fabric and adding embellishments. Students will also learn quick and easy fashion design techniques to transform drab duds into something exciting. Bring old clothes or fabric to incorporate into your designs.

All other supplies included. Ages 8-12. Mar. 8, 1-3 p.m. Cost: $25/ person; $22.50/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

PHOTO: PORTRAITS: Improve your portrait-taking skills in this hands-on class. Camera techniques, composition, the use of studio and natural light, working with a model, and more will be covered. Bring your camera with a charged battery and memory card to the first class. Prerequisite: Film or Digital SLR Camera or equivalent experience. Weekly on Thu., Mar. 27-Apr. 17, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $175/ person; $157.50/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

PAINTING: ACRYLIC: This introductory class includes color abstraction, observational landscape (weather permitting), figure, portrait, still life, and working from photos. Paint on paper and canvas, gain experience with brush techniques, color mixing and theory, composition, layering, highlighting and shading. No experience necessary; lessons will be tailored to fit all levels of painters. Weekly on Thu., Mar. 27May 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $160/ person; $144/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

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ADOBE PHOTOSHOP: BATCH PROCESSING: Streamline your workflow and work more efficiently by learning how to simultaneously apply a set of adjustments to multiple photos.

Class will cover batch processing, automation and photo merge.

Bring a Mac-compatible flash drive with your images to the workshop. Prerequisite: basic Photoshop knowledge. Mar. 13, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $40/person; $36/BCA members. Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

KIDS: CLAY AND CRAFT: We will work on various individual and group craft projects and engaging clay projects, including a taste of the pottery wheel.

A great way to have fun with different kinds of media. There’s something for everyone! Space is limited, all materials are provided. Students must also bring a bag lunch and snack. Ages 6-12. Mar. 28, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $85/person; $76.50/BCA members. Location: BCA Clay Studio, 250 Main St., Burlington.

into negatives, and make prints from those negatives. Cost includes a darkroom membership. Bring a manual film camera to the first class. No experience needed. Every Mon., Mar. 24-May 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $215/ person; $193.50/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP LAYERS: Learn the role of layers and layer masking in Photoshop. Class includes layer blending modes, nondestructive editing and methods to remove and add elements to an image. Bring a Mac-compatible flash drive with your images to the workshop.

Prerequisite: basic Photoshop knowledge. Mar. 6, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $40/person; $36/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

is suited for beginners who are interested in furthering their design software skills. Mar. 25-Apr. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $205/ person; $184.50/BCA members.

Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington.

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $13.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

DANCE

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LEARN TO DANCE W/ A PARTNER!: Come alone or come with friends, but come out and learn to dance! Beginning classes repeat each month, but intermediate classes vary from month to month. As with all of our programs, everyone is encouraged to attend, and no partner is necessary. Private lessons also available. Cost: $50/4wk. class. Location: Champlain Club, 20 Crowley St., Burlington.

Info: First Step Dance, 598-6757, kevin@firststepdance.com, firststepdance.com.

TAIKO, DJEMBE & CONGAS!: Stuart Paton, co-founder and artistic director of Burlington Taiko Group, has devoted the past 25 years to performing and teaching taiko to children and adults here in the Burlington area and throughout New England. He is currently the primary instructor at the Burlington Taiko Space, and his teaching style integrates the best of what he experienced as a child growing up in Tokyo with many successful strategies in American education. Call or email for schedule. Location: Burlington Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., suite 3-G, Burlington & Lane Shops Community Room, 13 N. Franklin St., Montpelier.

Info: Stuart Paton, 999-4255, spaton55@gmail.com, burlingtontaiko.org.

flynn arts

60 CLASSES

SEVEN DAYS

02.26.14-03.05.14

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

drumming

BREATH AND CORE SUPPORT: This workshop series uses movement and metaphor to explore the expressive body, incorporating movement fundamentals as well as drawing and writing to explore the relationship between movement and personal expression. Our goal will be to facilitate a lively interplay between inner connectivity and outer expressivity to enrich your movement potential, change ineffective neuromuscular movement patterns, and encourage new ways of moving and embodying your inner self. Teens/Adults,

Mar. 7, 5:45-7:45 p.m. Cost: $22/ person. Location: Flynn Center for the Performing arts, 153 Main St., Burlington. Info: 652-4548, flynnarts.org.

SCENE STUDY: Work on paired scenes from a variety of genres in this collaborative and supportive class. Learn to examine the depth of possibility within the text, the story and your character. Class is open to bashful beginners, as well as those with more experience who want to refine their craft and sink their teeth into a rich character or dynamic conflict. Instructor: Mark Alan Gordon. Adult/teens 16+, Mar. 6-Apr. 10, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

Cost: $125/6 weeks. Location: Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, 153 Main St., Burlington.

Info: 652-4548, flynnarts.org.

gardening HELLSTRIP GARDENING: Kerry Mendez will spotlight some of the toughest, top-performing plants for those tough to garden areas including dry shade, slopes, poorly drained areas and hot, baking sites. These beauties will also thrive in less stressful locations. No matter where you put them, they will make your gardens beautiful. Mar. 1, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $10/person.

Location: Gardener’s Supply, 128 Intervale Rd., Burlington. Info: 660-3505-4, gardenerssupplystore.com.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR HOMEOWNERS: Are you an avid gardener looking for new inspiration? Want a better understanding of selecting and placing plants? Have the perfect spot but need some help expressing your vision? This 4-part series, led by professional landscape designers Silvia Jope and Forrest White, is the answer. Mar. 5, 12, 19 & 26, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $160/person.

Location: Gardener’s Supply, 128 Intervale Rd., Burlington. Info: 660-3505-4, gardenerssupplystore.com.

PERENNIAL GARDEN POSSIBILITIES: Join Richard Dube, an avid award-winning gardener, to learn his secrets about different planting and maintenance methods for various light and moisture conditions in your yard. From starting a new garden to renovating or expanding an existing one, you learn the basics for a beautiful, low-maintenance, full-season garden. Mar. 6 & 13, 6-8 p.m.

Cost: $25/person. Location:

CVU High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg. Info: 482-7194, access@cvuhs.org, cvuweb.cvuhs. org/access.

Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 253-8358, education@helenday.com, helenday. com.

ROSES IN VERMONT: Learn about the types of roses that can grow well in Vermont with little care. From old-fashioned fragrant beauties to modern shrub roses, Charlie Nardozzi will cover a whole range of easy to grow roses and review organic fertilizing and insect and disease control. Mar. 8, 9:30-11 a.m. Cost: $10/person. Location: Gardener’s Supply, 128 Intervale Rd., Burlington. Info: 660-3505-4, gardenerssupplystore.com.

PAINTING WATER IN WATERCOLOR: Join awardwinning artist Robert O’Brien and focus on the many moods and facets of painting water.

Learn painting techniques from rendering a simple reflective puddle to a swift moving mountain stream and everything in between. Bring your own materials. A materials list will be provided upon request. Mar. 22, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cost: $90/ members, $115/nonmembers.

Location: Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 2538358, education@helenday.com, helenday.com.

SUSTAINABLE FLOWER GARDENS: This eye-opening program includes practical design tips, maintenance and plant care practices, and plant selections that yield exceptional results, both for gardeners and the environment. Topics include soil care 101; organic fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides; water-saving practices; design ideas for extremely low-demand landscapes; plant “switcheroos”; native plants and more. Mar. 1, 9:30-11 a.m. Cost: $10/person.

Location: Gardener’s Supply, 128 Intervale Rd., Burlington. Info: 660-3505-4, gardenerssupplystore.com.

helen day art center

AWAKEN YOUR CREATIVITY: Are you ready to move into action on a creative project, but are feeling overwhelmed, blocked or unsure? In this interactive class, you will shift yourself to greater clarity and productivity by learning how to overcome common obstacles impacting your creative process and work. All materials included. Instructor: Marianne Mullen. Weekly on Wed., Mar. 19-Apr. 16, 6-8:30 p.m. No class Apr. 9. Cost: $95/ members, $120/nonmembers.

Location: Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 2538358, education@helenday.com, helenday.com.

BEYOND THE PENCIL: DRAWING II: Build upon foundational drawing skills and learn about new materials, techniques and media beyond the pencil to help take your drawings to the next level.

Students will explore pen and ink, ink, and watercolor washes, and will use line to add depth and detail. Materials are included. Instructor: Evan Chismark.

Weekly on Tue., Mar. 25-Apr. 29, 9:30-11:30 a.m. No class Apr. 15.

Cost: $100/member, $125/ nonmembers. Location: Helen

END TABLE WITH BIRCH TOP: Students will learn basic woodworking skills using basic hand tools, including handsaws, electric drills and sanders.

Workshops will cover sustainable harvesting, stock selection, design, layout, joinery and finishing. Students will take home a finished table. All materials included. Instructor: Greg Speer.

Mar. 8, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $110/ members, $135/non-members.

Location: 56 Turner Mill La., Stowe. Info, Helen Day Art Center, 253-8358, education@ helenday.com, helenday.com.

END TABLE W/ YELLOW BIRCH TOP: Students will learn basic woodworking skills using basic hand tools including handsaws, electric drills & sanders.

Workshops will cover sustainable harvesting, stock selection, design, layout, joinery and finishing. Students will take home a finished table. All materials included. Instructor: Greg Speer.

Mar. 29, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $110/ member, $153/nonmembers.

Location: 56 Turner Mill La., Stowe. Info, Helen Day Art Center, 253-8358, education@ helenday.com, helenday.com.

herbs HONORING HERBAL TRADITION 2014: Herbal Apprenticeship program held on a horse farm.

Covers: herbal therapies, nutritional support, diet, detox, body systems, medicine making, plant identification, tea tasting, plant spirit medicine and animal communication, wild foods, field trips, iridology, women, childrens, mens and animal health!

Textbook and United Plant Saver membership included. VSAC nondegree grants available. 1 Sat./mo. starting May 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $850/series. Location: Horsetail Herbs, 134 Manley Rd., Milton. Info: Horsetail Herbs, Kelley Robie, 893-0521, htherbs@comcast.net, horsetailherbs.org.

HERBAL INTENSIVE: Heart-Spirit Medicine for Turbulent Times: Herbal Allies and Timeless Wisdom with Chris Marano, RH(AHG). A look through the lenses of Chinese, Indian, Native American and Western healing traditions to better understand how the body-mind-heart-spirit continuum functions, especially under stressful circumstances.

Gain tools, from breath-work to nutrition and herbs, to best navigate these challenging times. Mar. 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $75/person; $65 for members; preregistration required.

Location: Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St., Montpelier. Info: Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 224-7100, info@vtherbcenter.org, vtherbcenter.org.

WISDOM OF THE HERBS SCHOOL: Currently interviewing applicants for Wisdom of the Herbs 2014 Certification Program, Apr. 26-27, May 24-25, Jun. 28-29, Jul. 26-27, Aug. 23-24, Sep. 27-28, Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 8-9, 2014. Learn to identify wild herbaceous plants and shrubs over three seasons.

Prepare local wild edibles and herbal home remedies. Practice homesteading and primitive skills, food as first medicine, and skillful use of intentionality.

Experience profound connection and play with Nature. Handson curriculum includes herb walks, skill-building, sustainable harvesting and communion with the spirits of the plants. Tuition $1750; payment plan $187.50 each month. VSAC nondegree grants available to qualifying applicants; apply early. Annie McCleary, director. Location: Wisdom of the Herbs School, Woodbury. Info: 456-8122, annie@wisdomoftheherbsschool. com, wisdomoftheherbsschool. com.

language ANNOUNCING SPANISH CLASSES: Join us for adult Spanish classes this spring.

Our eighth year. Learn from a native speaker via small classes, individual instruction or student tutoring. You’ll always be participating and speaking. Lesson packages for travelers. Also lessons for young children; they love it! See our website or contact us for details.

Beginning week of Mar. 31 for 10 weeks. Cost: $225/10 classes of 90+ minutes each. Location: Spanish in Waterbury Center, Waterbury Center. Info: Spanish in Waterbury Center, 585-1025, spanishparavos@gmail.com, spanishwaterburycenter.com.

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE SPRING SESSION. VIVE LE PRINTEMPS!: Eleven-week French classes for adults. New: Evening and

morning sessions available! Over 12 French classes offered, serving the entire range of students from true beginners to those already comfortable conversing in French. Descriptions and signup at aflcr.org. We also offer private and small group tutoring. Classes starting Mar. 10. Cost: $245/course; $220.50 for AFLCR members. Location: Alliance Francaise of the Lake Champlain Region, Colchester and Montpelier locations. Info: Micheline Tremblay, AFLCR French Language Center director, 881-8826, michelineatremblay@ gmail.com.

BONJOUR! FRENCH FOR BEGINNERS: Oh la la! Join this supportive, fun, beginning French class led by Madame Maggie. Experienced educator, fluent French speaker, lived in France and West Africa. Next time someone asks, “Parlezvous francais?” you can say “Oui!” Quebec is so close, wait no longer to learn this beautiful, widely spoken language. Tue., Mar. 4-Apr. 15, 9-11 a.m. Cost: $200/6 weeks, 2 hours per week.

Location: wingspan Studio, 4A Howard St., Burlington.

Info: wingspan Studio, Maggie Standley, 233-7676, maggiestandley@yahoo.com, wingspanpaintingstudio.com.

martial arts AIKIDO: This circular, flowing Japanese martial art is a great method to get in shape, develop core power and reduce stress.

Classes for adults, children and beginners 7 days a week. Visitors are always welcome. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St. (across from Conant Metal & Light), Burlington. Info: 951-8900, burlingtonaikido.org.

AIKIDO CLASSES: Aikido trains body and spirit, promoting flexibility and strong center within flowing movement, martial sensibility with compassionate presence, respect for others, and confidence in oneself. Location: Vermont Aikido, 274 N. Winooski Ave. (2nd floor), Burlington.

Info: Vermont Aikido, 862-9785, vermontaikido.org.

AIKIDO IN BALANCE: Learn how to manifest balance internally and externally. Move with grace and precision. Begin the study of observing your own mind. Tue. & Thu., 7-9 p.m. Cost: $10/class, $65 for monthly membership.

Location: Tao Motion Studio, 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: Aikido in Balance, Tyler Crandall, 598-9204, tyler@aikidoinbalance.com, aikidoinbalance.com.

VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIUJITSU: Classes for men, women and children. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enhances strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and cardio-respiratory fitness. Brazilian

class photos + more info online SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

Jiu-Jitsu training builds and helps to instill courage and selfconfidence. We offer a legitimate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu martial arts program in a friendly, safe and positive environment. Accept no imitations. Learn from one of the world’s best, Julio “Foca” Fernandez, CBJJ and IBJJF certified 6th Degree Black Belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor under Carlson Gracie Sr., teaching in Vermont, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! A 5-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Featherweight Champion and 3-time Rio de Janeiro State Champion, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mon.-Fri., 6-9 p.m., & Sat., 10 a.m. 1st class is free. Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 660-4072, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

massage

Miksang Contemplative Photography: Basic Goodness & Good Eye: Miksang is a Tibetan word that translates as “good eye.” The Miksang Society presents a form of contemplative photography that brings together the art of photography, the discipline of meditation and the Dharma Art teachings of the meditation master and scholar Chogyam Trungpa. 7:30 p.m., Mar. 20-4 p.m., Mar. 22. Cost: $360/ weekend workshop. Location: Karme Choling, 369 Patneaude La., Barnet. Info: 633-2384, registration@karmecholing.org, karmecholing.org.

pilates BARSCULPT/MAT PILATES CLASSES: Pilates Evolved! High energy barre classes use ballet barres and, like our Mat Classes, small hand weights and mats for intense one-hour workouts.

Change your body in just a few classes led by a friendly, licensed instructor. Build strength and cardio and create long, lean muscles and lift your seat. Daily.

Cost: $15/1-hour class. Location: Studio 208, 208 Flynn Ave., suite 3K, Burlington. Info: Burlington Barre, 862-8686, corestudioburlington@gmail.com, burlingtonbarrevt.com.

qi gong Qi gong for pain-free living: Come experience the relaxing and exhilarating power of qi gong healing techniques. Learn to believe in yourself and how to accelerate your body’s ability to heal. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced student, these classes are designed to be fun and exciting for a new life of comfort and ease. Classes are tentatively scheduled for Tue., noon-1 p.m., & 2-3 p.m. (Call for exact times.). Cost: $20/1 hour of class & healing knowledge.

spirituality DRUID TRAINING 2014: The Green Mountain School of Druidry announces our ninth annual Druid Training starting March 2014 in Worcester.

Druidry is a nature-based spirituality with an emphasis on self-transformation, creativity and awareness. Join our magical, loving community and become an empowered and skilled steward of the Earth. Starts Mar. 31. Cost: $1,800/1 weekend/mo. over 9 weekends/year. Location: Dreamland, address avail. at registration, Worcester. Info: Green Mountain School of Druidry, Ivan McBeth, 505-8010, ivanmcbeth@ aol.com, greenmountaindruidorder.org.

support groups Parents’ Eating Disorder Group w/ Bree GreenbergBenjamin: Does your child struggle with an eating disorder?

Is your family struggling to understand how to navigate this journey? Join us for an opportunity to voice your experience, questions and emotions. Part psycho-education, part support group, this class leaves plenty of room to attend to you, making this your journey, too. Weekly on Thu., Mar. 6-Apr. 10, 4-5:30 p.m. Cost: $250/series. Location: Vermont Center for Integrative Therapy, 75 San Remo Dr., suite 204, S. Burlington. Info: Tejbir Khalsa, 658-9440-211.

tai chi Snake-Style Tai Chi Chuan: The Yang Snake Style is a dynamic tai chi method that mobilizes the spine while stretching and strengthening the core body muscles. Practicing this ancient martial art increases strength, flexibility, vitality, peace of mind and martial skill.

Beginner classes Sat. mornings & Wed. evenings. Call to view a class. Location: Bao Tak Fai Tai Chi Institute, 100 Church St., Burlington. Info: 864-7902, ipfamilytaichi.org.

Tai Chi at VTCIT w/ Janet Makaris: Slow-moving, lowimpact exercise that has its roots in the martial arts. Both the process and goal of tai chi is conscious awareness, and the

Yang-Style Tai Chi: The slow movements of tai chi help reduce blood pressure and increase balance and concentration. Come breathe with us and experience the joy of movement while increasing your ability to be inwardly still. Wed., 5:30 p.m., Sat., 8:30 a.m. $16/class, $60/mo., $160/3 mo. Location: Mindful Breath Tai Chi (formerly Vermont Tai Chi Academy and Healing Center), 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: 735-5465, mindfulbreath@gmavt.net.

writing The Power of Place in Prose: This class examines treatments of place in works

by Virginia Woolf and Thomas Hardy, as well as those by contemporary writers: Amanda Coplin, Mary Miller, Matt Bell and Jo Ann Beard. We’ll work on image, language, and meaning as it relates to place and apply them to our own work. Sat., Mar. 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $50/3hour class. Location: Renegade Writers’ Collective, 47 Maple St., suite 220, Burlington. Info: Renegade Writers’ Collective, Jessica Nelson, 267-467-2812, renegadewritersvt@gmail.com, renegadewritersvt.com.

yoga Burlington Hot Yoga: Try something different!: Offering creative, vinyasa-style yoga classes featuring practice in the Barkan and Prana Flow Method Hot Yoga in a 95-degree studio accompanied by eclectic music. Ahh, the heat on a cold day, a flowing practice, the cool stone meditation, a chilled orange scented towel to complete your spa yoga experience. Get hot: 2-for-1 offer. $15.

Go to hotyogaburlingtonvt.com.

Location: North End Studio B, 294 N Winooski Ave., Old North End, Burlington. Info: 999-9963.

Evolution Yoga: Evolution Yoga and Physical Therapy offers a variety of classes in a supportive atmosphere: Beginner, advanced, kids, babies, post- and pre-natal, community classes and workshops. Vinyasa, Kripalu, Core, Therapeutics and Alignment classes. Become part of our yoga community. You are welcome here. Cost: $15/class, $130/class card, $5-10/community classes. Location: Evolution

Yoga, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington.

Info: 864-9642, evolutionvt.com.

Honest Yoga, The only dedicated Hot Yoga Flow Center: Honest Yoga offers practice for all levels. Brand new beginners’ courses include two specialty classes per week for four weeks plus unlimited access to all classes. We have daily classes in Essentials, Flow and Core Flow with alignment constancy. We hold teacher trainings at the 200- and 500-hour levels. Daily classes & workshops. $25/new student 1st week unlimited, $15/class or $130/10-class card, $12/ class for student or senior or $100/10-class punch card.

Location: Honest Yoga Center, 150 Dorset St., Blue Mall, next to Sport Shoe Center, S. Burlington.

Info: 497-0136, honestyogastudio@gmail.com, honestyogacenter.com.

Laughing River Yoga: Highly trained and dedicated teachers offer yoga classes, workshops, retreats and teacher training in a beautiful setting overlooking the Winooski River. Check our website to learn about classes, advanced studies for yoga teachers, class series for beginners and more. All bodies and abilities welcome. Now offering massage. $5-14/single yoga class; $120/10-class card; $130/ monthly unlimited. Location: Laughing River Yoga, Chace Mill, suite 126, Burlington. Info: 3438119, laughingriveryoga.com.

Yoga Roots: Flexible, inflexible, athletic, pregnant, stressed, recovering from injury or illness?

Yoga Roots has something for you! Skillful, dedicated teachers are ready to welcome, nurture and inspire you in our calming studio: Anusara, Gentle, Kids, Kundalini, Kripalu, Meditation, Prenatal, Postnatal (Baby & Me), Therapeutic Restorative, Vinyasa Flow, Heated Vinyasa, Yin and more! Beginner workshop w/ Andrea Trombley, Mar. 1, 2-3:30 p.m.; 7 Keys to Monetizing Your Creative Gifts w/ Rosine Kushnik, Mar. 5, 5:30-7 p.m.; The Birth That’s Right For You w/ Lisa Gould Rubin, Mar. 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Location: Yoga Roots, 6221 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne Business Park. Info: 985-0090, yogarootsvt.com.

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Contentment In Everyday Life: “Suffering is a result of roaming, the urge to keep looking for an external source of happiness. Much of our stress these days is caused by simple lack of contentment.”

--Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. An introduction to and deepening

Lovingkindness Meditation: Mettabhavana is a Buddhist meditation leading to the development of unconditional lovingkindness and friendliness.

Metta helps us rid ourselves of internal and external conflicts; overcome lacerating guilt; be open to loving acceptance of ourselves and others. Includes lectures, meditation instruction, practice periods and discussion.

Wed., Mar 5, 12, 19 & 26 & Apr. 2 & 9, 7-8 p.m.; 1st class ends at 8:30 p.m. Cost: $100/6 1-hour classes; 1st class is 1.5 hours.

Location: Vermont Zen Center, 480 Thomas Rd., Shelburne. Info: Vermont Zen Center, 985-9746, ecross@crosscontext.net, vermontzen.org.

photography

Traditional Chinese Qigong: May 2-6. Cost: $770. Location: Karme Choling, 369 Patneaude Lane, Barnet. Info: 633-2384, registration@karmecholing.org, karmecholing.org.

development of “qi”. Qi is neither matter nor energy, but the ignition point or spark between the two. The connecting factor is the breath. Weekly on Tue., Mar. 4-Apr. 22, 5-6 p.m. Cost: $120/series. Location: Vermont Center for Integrative Therapy, 75 San Remo Dr., suite 204, S. Burlington. Info: Tejbir Khalsa, 658-9440-211.

SEVEN DAYS

meditation

Learn to Meditate: Through the practice of sitting still and following your breath as it goes out and dissolves, you are connecting with your heart. By simply letting yourself be, as you are, you develop genuine sympathy toward yourself. The Burlington Shambhala Center offers meditation as a path to discovering gentleness and wisdom. Shambhala Cafe (meditation and discussions) meets the first Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-noon. An open house (intro to the center, short dharma talk and socializing) is held on the third Friday of each month, 7-9 p.m. Instruction: Sun. mornings, 9 a.m.-noon, or by appt.

Sessions: Tue. & Thu., noon-1 p.m., & Mon.-Thu., 6-7 p.m.

Location: Burlington Shambhala Center, 187 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 658-6795, burlingtonshambhalactr.org.

Birds and Birdwatching in Vt.: Over 200 species of birds nest in Vermont, and many more pass through our state. Learn to identify some of them along with fascinating facts about their behavior and habitat. Topics covered: bird communication, recognizing each other, winter visitors, attracting wide variety & more.

Gain a deeper appreciation for the birds that share our spring, summer and fall with color and song. Instructor: Maeve Kim. Mar. 10, 17, 24 & 31, 5-6 p.m. Cost: $55/person. Location: CVU High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg.

Info: 482-7194, access@cvuhs. org, cvuweb.cvuhs.org/access.

Location: Donnelly’s Martial Arts Center, 338 Dorset St., S. Burlington. Info: Wholearth Wisdom, Samuel Hendrick, 8399940, wholearthwisdom@gmail. com, wholearthwisdom.com.

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Ortho-Bionomy Phase 5: This class allows those newly interested in bodywork to learn a technique they can use after a single workshop and allows current massage therapists to be more effective while reducing stress to their hands and arms.

Through the practice of following and supporting subtle movement patterns, releases in muscle tension, increase in range of motion and reduction of pain is achieved. No prerequisites required. Oct. 6-7, Sat. & Sun., Mar 22-23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $285/ person; $265 if paid in full by Mar. 1. Location: Memorial Hall, Essex. Info: Dianne Swafford, 734-1121, swaffordperson@hotmail.com, ortho-bionomy.org/ sobi/dianneswafford.

Introduction to Zen: This workshop is conducted by an ordained Zen Buddhist teacher and focuses on the theory and meditation practices of Zen Buddhism. Preregistration required. Call for more info or register online. Sat. Mar. 22, 9 a.m.-1:15 p.m. (please arrive at 8:45 a.m.). Cost: $30/half-day workshop; limited-time price.

Location: Vermont Zen Center, 480 Thomas Rd., Shelburne. Info: Vermont Zen Center, 985-9746, ecross@crosscontext.net, vermontzen.org.

nature

SEVENDAYSvt.com

Asian Bodywork Therapy Program: This program teaches two forms of massage, Amma and Shiatsu. We will explore Oriental medicine theory and diagnosis as well as the body’s meridian system, acupressure points, Yin Yang and 5-Element Theory. Additionally, 100 hours of Western anatomy and physiology will be taught.

VSAC nondegree grants are available. NCBTMB-assigned school. Cost: $5,000/500-hour program. Location: Elements of Healing, 21 Essex Way, suite 109, Essex Junction. Info: Elements of Healing, Scott Moylan, 288-8160, elementsofhealing@verizon.net, elementsofhealing.net.

of meditation practice, with an emphasis on how the challenges of life can be met with gentleness, steadiness and humor. Mon., Mar. 17-Apr. 7, 7-9 p.m., + Sat., Apr. 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cost: $120/6 2-hour classes.

Location: Burlington Shambhala Center, 187 South Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Burlington Shambhala Center, Tracy Suchocki, 734-7724, tracy@cpro. cc, burlington.shambhala.org.

music

SCAN THESE PAGES WITH THE LAYAR APP TO WATCH VIDEOS OF THE ARTISTS SEE PAGE 9

Pause, Then Play After three years of self-imposed silence, Rachel Ries returns

BY GARY L E E MIL L E R

SEVENDAYSVT.COM 02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVEN DAYS 62 MUSIC

PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALIZE

WHAT A VISIONARY PRODUCER AND ARRANGER SHE IS.

COURTESY OF RACHEL RIES

I

n 2008, singer-songwriter Rachel Ries (pronounced “reese”) had most everything she thought she’d ever want. She had recorded two successful records, cut a new one, Country E.P., with Anaïs Mitchell, and was bringing more fans under the spell of her articulate, jazz-inflected folk. Which does little to explain why she walked away. Now, after three years of silence, Ries, 33, who at least temporarily has found a home in Vermont, has returned to her musical career with a sparkling new record, Ghost of a Gardener, and a new outlook on the career she once abandoned.

The child of Mennonite missionaries, Ries spent her early years in Zaire, then moved with her family to a Mennonite settlement in South Dakota, which she describes as “a very well-educated community of farmers and musicians and thespians and a very odd farming town.” of tea on the sofa of her Montpelier apartIn both places, music surrounded ment. “And they were doing it on this her. Following along in hymnbooks, she small, manageable real-life scale.” learned to read music before she could In 2003, Ries headed to Chicago, where read English. At age 5, she petitioned her she took the leap into the open-mic scene parents for a violin and spent the early and began to pursue her dream in earnest. years of high school She toured on her playing violin and own and with Mitchpiano and building ell, whom she had her vocal dexterity met at Kerrville. in choral groups.

“We played the The first fracweirdest, most ture in Ries’ musiamazing, tiny, outcal life came in her of-the-way places, mid-teens, when she country stores, decided that clashouse concerts, sical forms didn’t church basements, satisfy her need for for tips and wine and ANAÏS MITCHE LL personal expreshopefully a guest sion. She picked up room or a couch,” a guitar and started writing songs. After a Mitchell recalls in an email. brief stint at college (“It was apparent they Ries cut her first record, For You Only weren’t going to teach me what I needed (Waterbug Records) in 2005, followed by to learn,” she says), Ries plunged into in- a self-produced album, Without a Bird, in ternational rambling as she tried to figure 2007. out her next steps. She knew she wanted to Yet as Ries’ career blossomed, so did be a professional musician but had no idea her doubts. Simply put, the life of a rising how to realize her dream. star was beating the hell out of her.

During a sojourn in the Southwest, Ries “It all began to feel smaller, colder and dropped in on the legendary Kerrville Folk hungrier than I wanted,” she says. “I felt Festival, something she describes as a rev- like I wasn’t being a good person. I was elation. stressed, and my immune system was “I realized that there are people like shot.” me who are obsessed with … this humble But Ries’ health wasn’t the only reason art that matters,” Ries says, sipping a cup she walked away from music.

“I also fell in love,” she says. “I had been so in love with the music, and I didn’t love it anymore. So I decided to love a person instead.”

For three years, Ries didn’t do a show or even write a song.

“I worked in coffee shops,” she says. “I looked after kids. I cried a lot.”

And eventually, she came to the conclusion that life without music just wasn’t tenable. So she sat down and wrote a song.

The tune that ended the dry spell was “Words.” The second track on her new recording, it fittingly describes the devastating absence of her voice and the exhilaration of its sudden return. “unholy the days when I stood in their wake loneliest of hours but joyful and mad when they made it back to alight on my loosened tongue” Recorded in Chicago at Pieholden Suite Sound in the winter of 2012, Ghost of a Gardener brings together a number of longtime Ries collaborators. (Full disclosure: Ariel Bolles, sister of Seven Days music editor Dan Bolles, plays bass.) It was Ries’ first adventure in a big studio — the one founded by the late Jay Bennett of Wilco — and the first time she had fully taken charge of implementing her musical vision.

“I had the bravery and the balls to do what I wanted,” she says. “Before, I didn’t think I could do that … call the shots and trust myself to make the right call.”

The result is a record that’s lush, expansive and thrillingly changeable. Ries’ fluent vocal modulations form a center around which the instrumentation shifts like the weather, from the rising hope of the piano intro on the record’s opener to a hurricane of angsty guitar and synth on “I See It Coming.” As Mitchell points out, the record showcases not only Ries’ “exquisite” voice but another strength that often gets overlooked: her considerable compositional chops.

“People might not realize what a visionary arranger and producer she is,” Mitchell says. “Her songs are each a little journey, you don’t know where they’re gonna go.

There are always these bridges, these outros, these changes that are unexpected and feel exactly right.”

Lyrically, the record is remarkable for the interplay of loss and frustration, hope and redemption, death and rebirth. But for Ries, the central theme is determination.

“Yeah, I quit,” she confesses. “Maybe I messed up. But there is a lot of willfulness to reclaim my life, messy as that might be.”

Outside the record, Ries feels that her exile from music, although painful, was necessary.

“I think sometimes you have to rip something out of yourself to see if it really needed to be there,” she continues. “[Music was] all I ever wanted to do. I didn’t know what my identity was without music.

That can be pretty fragile ground.”

For now, Ries is heading out on a fourmonth tour, including a stop at Signal Kitchen in Burlington on Friday, February 28. And this time, she’ll be looking at her career with a new attitude.

“I am a complete and beautiful human without music,” she says. “It is now what I choose to do. I feel like it is right for me, like I have something to give.”

INFO Rachel Ries plays a record-release show at Signal Kitchen in Burlington this Friday, February 28, with Cuddle Magic and Maryse Smith, 8 p.m. $10. AA. rachelries.com

SCA WITH SEE

s

undbites

Got muSic NEwS? dan@sevendaysvt.com

www.highergroundmusic.com

B y Da N B Oll E S

COUrTESy Of CONSpIraTOr

WHITE DENIM

Sa 1

FEBRUARY We 26 We 26

DWEEZIL ZAPPA

AFTERNOON GUITAR MASTERCLASS

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EVENING PERFORMANCE BY DWEEZIL

We 26

IRATION

THE MOVEMENT, NATURAL VIBRATIONS Th 27

WINTER BREAK: GLOW PARTY GAGU, JAWS

Conspirator

The Usual’s Suspect

SOUNDBITES

» p.65

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JESSE DEE HIGHER GROUND & NECTAR’S PRESENT

OFFICIAL RATDOG AFTER PARTY

SETH YACOVONE BAND - AT NECTAR'S -

MARCH Sa 1

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104.7 THE POINT WELCOMES

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Th 6

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SECURITY PROJECT PLAYS PETER GABRIEL 104.7 THE POINT WELCOMES

STEPHEN KELLOGG CAROLINE ROSE

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PAMELA MEANS, DJ LLU, DJ PRECIOUS A BENEFIT FOR THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

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3/9 HANNIBAL BURESS 3/12 HOUNDMOUTH 3/13 START MAKING SENSE : TALKING HEADS TRIBUTE 3/14 MIDDLE CLASS RUT 3/15 JOHN VALBY AKA DR. DIRTY

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MUSIC 63

for up-to-the-minute news abut the local music scene, follow @DanBolles on Twitter or read the live Culture blog: sevendaysvt.com/liveculture.

Fr 28

SEVEN DAYS

for, well, as long as I’ve been writing this column. And looking back through the last seven years, I pretty much have, because Burlington’s Mardi Gras has pretty much remained the same, too.

And that’s too bad.

When the parade started 19 years ago, it was little more than a handful of Magic Hat employees and friends gleefully marching down Church Street in loud costumes and drawing funny looks from confused onlookers. It was audacious. It was silly. It had an element of counterculture. And because of those things, it was brilliant. Because it was brilliant, it took off.

Over the years, the parade has grown exponentially. It is now one of the city’s — scratch that, New England’s — signature annual events. People come from all over the country to attend. It’s become a critically important weekend for Burlington businesses, which receive a vital injection of cash during one of the slowest times of the year.

It benefits a wonderful organization, HOPE Works, which works tirelessly to combat sexual violence. It’s a muchneeded middle finger to the relentless harshness of winter. It’s a huge party.

Still, it’s grown a bit predictable.

When an event reaches such a grand

02.26.14-03.05.14

noodle dance-y fare is all a prelude to the main event the following afternoon.

Also as per usual, the festivities on Saturday afternoon get under way with local Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble sambutaCada performing on Church Street. They’ll be joined by the vaudeville-inspired variety troupe bindlestiff family Cirkus. Just prior to the parade, you can catch funky funksters sophistafunk — who play funk music — funking up the stage at the top block of the marketplace.

However, if you’d rather not brave the elements, there are numerous indoor entertainment options, pre-parade. For example, Nectar’s has live music all day long. Ditto Church Street watering holes Red Square and Rí Rá.

Then there’s a parade.

After that, New York City’s the london souls will take to the stage atop the marketplace for some rockin’ of the garage-blues variety. And after that, the entire city blacks out in a drunken stupor in preparation for livin’ clean during Lent.

You may have picked up on the idea that I’m a little less excited about Mardi Gras than I should be — after all, this paper is a media sponsor. I confess, it’s true. I can’t help but feel I’ve been writing the same column about the parade and surrounding music events

CONSPIRATOR, DOPAPOD

SEVENDAYSVt.com

This weekend, Burlington braces for the 19th annual Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade. If you’re new to town or otherwise have somehow missed the parade for each of its previous 18 years, here’s what you can roughly expect to see on the afternoon of Saturday, March 1, when thousands upon thousands of revelers descend on downtown Burlington. Ready?

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Also, “YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” And, “BLAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!” In other words — or, y’know, words — Mardi Gras in the Queen City is kind of a shitshow. Not on par with the debauched shitshow that is Mardi Gras in the Crescent City, of course. We’re far too observant of laws — and it’s far too cold — for that. And our version of Mardi Gras is relatively family friendly.

But it’s a madhouse nonetheless. And I suspect this year will not disappoint.

(Or depending on your tolerance for shitshows, I suppose it will disappoint.

It’s all relative, right?)

Anyway, as per usual, Mardi Gras weekend gets under way with a kickoff party at the Higher Ground Ballroom on Friday, February 28. And as per usual, the bash features nationally touring bands of the jammy variety — this year it’s live EDM outfit Conspirator and overly hyphenated jam-rock-funkelectro openers dopapod. But that

MAGIC HAT MARDIS GRAS KICKOFF PARTY

Fr 28

2/25/14 5:20 PM

music

CLUB DATES na: not availABLE. AA: All ages.

WED.26 burlington

ARTSRIOT: Shelter Series: CJ Chenier, (Zydeco), 6 p.m., $20/25.

RADIO BEAN: Cody Sargent & Friends, (jazz), 6:30 p.m., free. Shane Hardiman Trio, (jazz), 8:30 p.m., free. Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band, (soul), 11:30 p.m., $5.

halflounge: Funkwagon Karaoke, 8 p.m., free.

Wanted Wednesday with DJ Craig Mitchell, (house), 11 p.m., free.

RED SQUARE: Daphne Lee Martin, (singersongwriter), 7 p.m., free. Red Bull Red Party, (hip-hop), 10 p.m., free.

JP'S PUB: Pub Quiz with Dave, 7 p.m., free.

THE SKINNY PANCAKE (BURLINGTON): Eric George, (blues), 8 p.m., $5-10 donation.

JUNIPER: Ray Vega Quartet, (Latin jazz), 7 p.m., free.

chittenden county

LEUNIG'S BISTRO & CAFÉ: Mike Martin and Geoff Kim, (Parisian jazz), 7 p.m., free.

HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM: Gary Clark Jr., (soul), 8 p.m., $25. AA.

MANHATTAN PIZZA & PUB: Open Mic with Andy Lugo, 9 p.m., free.

NECTAR'S: VT Comedy Club Presents: What a Joke! Comedy Open Mic, (standup comedy), 7 p.m., free. Zach Deputy, the DuPont Brothers, (gospel ninja soul), 9:30 p.m., $10/15. 18+.

RED SQUARE: Hoptronica M3, (EDM), 8 p.m., free.

ZEN LOUNGE: Tropical Wednesdays with Jah Red, (salsa, reggaeton, dancehall), 8 p.m., free.

barre/montpelier

RADIO BEAN: Lotango, (tango, traditional French), 6:30 p.m., free. Irish Sessions, 9 p.m., free. Laugh Smack, (standup comedy), 11 p.m., free.

BAGITOS: Timothy Fitzgerald, (blues), 6 p.m., donation.

chittenden county

HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM: Dweezil Zappa Guitar Masterclass: Dweezilla on the Road, (guitar class), 3 p.m., $75. AA. Zappa Plays Zappa, (Frank Zappa tribute), 8 p.m., $30/33/65. AA. HIGHER GROUND SHOWCASE LOUNGE: Iration, the Movement, Natural Vibrations, (reggae), 8:30 p.m., $15. AA.

ON TAP BAR & GRILL: Blues Jam with the Collin Craig Trio, 7 p.m., free.

SEVEN DAYS

02.26.14-03.05.14

SEVENDAYSvt.com

barre/montpelier

THE BEE'S KNEES: Dan Liptak & Greg Evans, (jazz), 7:30 p.m., donation.

middlebury area

51 MAIN AT THE BRIDGE: DuPont Brothers, (indie-folk), 8 p.m., free.

CITY LIMITS: Trivia Night, 7 p.m., free.

TWO BROTHERS TAVERN: DJ Dizzle, (house), 10 p.m., free.

CHARLIE O'S: Trois Pommes Launch Party, (DJ, art opening), 8 p.m., free.

northeast kingdom

stowe/smuggs area

THE BEE'S KNEES: Jen Corkins, (folk), 7:30 p.m., free.

MOOG'S PLACE: Lesley Grant & Friends, (country), 8 p.m., free.

middlebury area

THE PARKER PIE CO.: Jeremy Harple, (singersongwriter), 7:30 p.m., free.

outside vermont

THU.27 burlington

CLUB METRONOME: Thirsty Thursdays, 7 p.m., free.

FRANNY O'S: Karaoke, 9 p.m., free. halflounge: Half & Half Comedy, (standup), 8 p.m., free. Disco Phantom, (future garage), 10 p.m., free. The Harder They Come, (dubstep), 10:30 p.m., free.

MANHATTAN PIZZA & PUB: BrickDrop, (rock), 9 p.m., free.

— Oliver’s bluesy songwriting and Chris’ progressive musicality — to forge a singular style of Americana. Touring behind a new album, The Muse, the Wood Brothers play the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington this Saturday, March 1, with songwriter Chris Kasper.

RED SQUARE: Live Music, 4 p.m., free. Kina Zore, (funk), 7 p.m., $5. Craig Mitchell, (house), 11 p.m., $5.

RED SQUARE BLUE ROOM: DJ Con Yay, (EDM), 9 p.m., $5.

RUBEN JAMES: Cooper & Lavoie, (blues), 6 p.m., free. DJ Cre8, (hip-hop), 10 p.m., free.

THE SKINNY PANCAKE (BURLINGTON): The Suitcase Junket, (one-man band), 9 p.m., $5-10 donation.

burlington

DRINK: Comedy Showcase, (standup comedy), 7 p.m., $7.

OLIVE RIDLEY'S: Completely Stranded Comedy Troupe, (improv comedy), 7:30 p.m., free. DJ Skippy All Request Live, (top 40), 10 p.m., free.

& Wood. When they finally joined forces in 2006, they fused their disparate strengths

FRI.28

northeast kingdom

MONOPOLE: Open Mic, 10 p.m., free.

blues-funk road warriors King Johnson and Chris with jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin

SIGNAL KITCHEN: Rachel Ries Album Release, Cuddle Magic, Maryse Smith, (indie folk), 8 p.m., $10. AA.

CITY LIMITS: Karaoke, 9 p.m., free.

outside vermont

Sibling Revelry

MONOPOLE: North Funktree, (funk), 10 p.m., free.

CLUB METRONOME: "No Diggity" ’90s Night, 9 p.m., free/$5.

THE PARKER PIE CO.: Trivia Night, 7 p.m., free.

sat.01 // The Wood Brothers [Americana]

stowe/smuggs area

BAGITOS: Mac Dates, (singer-songwriter), 6 p.m., donation.

SWEET MELISSA'S: Wine Down with D. Davis, (acoustic), 5 p.m., free. Carrie Cook, Peter Lind & D. Davis, (acoustic), 7 p.m., free.

YOUR TEXT HERE

CHARLIE O'S: WhiteGold, (rock), 10 p.m., free.

SCAN PAGES SCAN HERE The assumption with most sibling bands is that they’ve SWEET MELISSA'S: Bramblewood, (Americana), 8 IN THE MUSIC SECTION TO LISTEN TO p.m., free. been playing together all their lives.

And in many cases, that’s true. But not so the Wood TO WATCH VIDEOS TRACKS OF THE ARTISTS Brothers. Oliver and Chris Wood initially forged separate musical paths, Oliver with

MOOG'S SCAN HEREPLACE: Open Mic, 8 p.m., free.

RUSTYTO NAIL BAR & GRILLE: Funkwagon, (funk), 9 TO LISTEN p.m., $6.

TRACKS

ON THE RISE BAKERY: Open Bluegrass Session, 7:30 p.m., free.

64 music

HIGHER GROUND SHOWCASE LOUNGE: Winter Break: Glow Party with GaGu, Jaws, (EDM), 8 p.m., $20. AA. THE MONKEY HOUSE: Blunder, (hip-hop), 8:30 p.m., $5/10. 18+.

YOUR YOUR ON TAP BAR & GRILL: Bob Stannard Blues Band, 7 TEXT TEXT p.m., free.

HERE HERE ON THE RISE BAKERY: Open Irish Session, 7:30 p.m., donation.

THE MONKEY HOUSE: Winooski Wednesday: Squimley & the Woolens, (rock), 8:30 p.m., free.

18+.

courtesy of the wood brothers

NECTAR'S: Trivia Mania, 7 p.m., free. Blind Owl Band, (string band), 9:30 p.m., free/$5. 18+.

EAST SHORE VINEYARD TASTING ROOM: Clare Byrne, (singer-songwriter), 7 p.m., free.

FINNIGAN'S PUB: Craig Mitchell, (funk), 10 p.m., free.

FRANNY O'S: Cyn City, (rock), 9 p.m., free.

1/2 SPEAKEASY: Great Western, (alt-country), 7 p.m., free. Bonjour Hi!, (EDM), 10 p.m., free.

MANHATTAN PIZZA & PUB: Canopy, (jam), 9 p.m., free.

NECTAR'S: Seth Yacovone, (solo acoustic blues), 7 p.m., free. Ratdog Afterparty: Seth Yacovone Band, People's Blues of Richmond, (blues), 9 p.m., $5.

RADIO BEAN: Kid's Music with Linda "Tickle Belly" Bassick & Friends, 11 a.m., free. The Tenderbellies, (bluegrass), 7 p.m., free. Ben Cosgrove, (instrumental), 8 p.m., free. Sandrine, (indie-folk), 9 p.m., free.

Eastern Mountain Time, (alt-country), 10:30 p.m., free. Bless the Child, (hip-hop), midnight, free.

RÍ RÁ IRISH PUB: Supersounds DJ, (top 40), 10 p.m., free.

ZEN LOUNGE: Blue Pepper II, (Americana), 8 p.m., free. DJ Rob Douglas & Guests, (house), 10 p.m., $5.

chittenden county

barre/montpelier

BAGITOS: Jeff Lathrop, (indie folk), 6 p.m., donation.

CHARLIE O'S: Gorcrow, BBiggPig, Fat Attitude, (metal), 10 p.m., free.

POSITIVE PIE — (MONTPELIER): Electric Sorcery, (rock), 10 p.m., $5.

SWEET MELISSA'S: Granite Junction, (blues), 8 p.m., free.

stowe/smuggs area

THE BEE'S KNEES: Spider Roulette, (gypsy jazz), 7:30 p.m., donation.

MOOG'S PLACE: Tim Brick Band, (country), 9 p.m., free.

BACKSTAGE PUB: Karaoke with Jenny Red, 9 p.m., free.

RUSTY NAIL BAR & GRILLE: Bruce Marshall Band, (rock), 9 p.m., NA.

HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM: Mardi Gras Kick-Off Party: Conspirator, Dopapod, (live EDM), 8:30 p.m., $18/20. AA.

middlebury area

HIGHER GROUND SHOWCASE LOUNGE: Jesse Dee, (soul), 8:30 p.m., $10/12. AA. THE MONKEY HOUSE: North of Nashville, Bow Thayer, (Americana), 9 p.m., $5. 18+.

O'BRIEN'S IRISH PUB: Nerbak Brothers band, (rock), 8 p.m., free.

ON TAP BAR & GRILL: Malicious Brothers, (blues), 5 p.m., free. Slant Sixx, (rock), 9 p.m., free.

ON THE RISE BAKERY: The Glass Project, (alternative jazz), 7:30 p.m., donation.

PARK PLACE TAVERN: Ambush, (rock), 9:30 p.m., free.

VENUE: Justice, (rock), 9 p.m., free.

51 MAIN AT THE BRIDGE: Big Mean Sound Machine, (funk, rock), 8 p.m., free.

CITY LIMITS: City Limits Dance Party with Top Hat Entertainment, (Top 40), 9:30 p.m., free.

TWO BROTHERS TAVERN: Jam Man Entertainment, (house), 10 p.m., free.

northeast kingdom

THE PARKER PIE CO.: NEKaraoke, 7:30 p.m., free.

outside vermont

MONOPOLE: Formula 5, (rock), 10 p.m., free.

MONOPOLE DOWNSTAIRS: Happy Hour Tunes & Trivia with Gary Peacock, 5 p.m., free.

OLIVE RIDLEY'S: Big Eyed Fish, (Dave Matthews cover band), 10 p.m., NA. sat.01

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UNDbites

GOT MUSIC NEWS? DAN@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

C O NT I NU E D F RO M PA G E 6 3 COURTESY OF TIG NOTARO

the duo released via our compadres at Brooklyn Vegan earlier this week, “Carry the Oar.” The song is pretty freakin’ good, picking up where Parmaga’s Ghost Pops EP left off and traveling into some seriously spectral new territory. It’s intricately layered stuff that makes use of Parmelee’s delicate voice more as a piece of the larger, beat-driven soundscape than did Parmaga. But it still retains the melodic, hooky punch that made that band so entertaining. It’s quite an appetizer.

SUNDAY BLUEGRASS BRUNCH 12-3pm (Btown) IMPROV COMEDY JAM 7pm (Btown) OLD-TIMEY MUSIC 3:30-5:30 (Montp) FEATURED LIVE MUSIC 6pm (Montp)

$27 PRIX FIXE O DINNER FOR TW !

ON M & N SU

MONDAY KIDZ MUSIC

w/ RAPHAEL 11am (Btown)

WEDNESDAY HEADY HUMP DAY!

$5 Heady Toppers $2 off Heady Hotdogs

JOSH PANDA’S ACOUSTIC SOUL NIGHT 8pm (Btown) CAJUN JAM w/ JAY EKIS,

KATIE TRAUTZ & FRIENDS 6pm (Montp)

THURSDAY ERIC GEORGE 8pm (Btown) FRIDAY

scale, a little homogenization is to be expected. But that doesn’t mean you need to stop taking risks to make it better. I’m not sure what the fix is, to be honest. But with a year to prep for the 20th annual parade, an obvious milestone, I’d like to suggest to my old friends at Magic Hat that they throw out the old playbook and do something

they used to do better than anyone: Think outside the box. Be a little silly and audacious and brilliant.

BiteTorrent

COURTESY OF POURS

28

Halogen Electric Sorcery

Listening In

3

08

Quiet Lion with cricket blue

A peek at what was on my iPod, turntable, eight-track player, etc., this week.

3

14

Afinque

3

22

HOT NEON MAGIC

3

28

Midnite

4

01

Josh Panda & The Hot Damned

,

COLLEENS Wild Dreams

,

SECRET COLOURS Positive Distractions

Part 1

,

BECK Morning Phase

,

SEVEN DAYS

2

02.26.14-03.05.14

ST. VINCENT St. Vincent

,

ANGEL OLSEN Burn Your Fire for No

Witness

W W W . P O S I T I V E P I E . C O M 8 0 2 . 2 2 9 . 0 4 5 3

8v-positivepie022614.indd 1

MUSIC 65

In other news, I’m told this is supposed to be a music column. Who knew?

Anyhoo, local indie duo POURS, consisting of BRYAN PARMELEE from PARMAGA and CHRIS SHAR of SANTIGOLD and MAN MAN renown, have announced that their long-awaited self-titled debut album will be out in May. Personally, I’m a little disappointed, as I had hoped the record would be called Some Sugar on Me. (Wait for it.) But I’m happy to soothe my sorrows in the new single

MONTPELIER

SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Pours

Moving on, we have yet another sign of spring, this time courtesy of our funny pals from the Green Mountain Comedy Festival.

Earlier this week, organizers KATHLEEN KANZ and the Vermont Comedy Club announced the headlining act for the 2014 fest: TIG NOTARO. Notaro is a Grammy-nominated standup who has made the rounds on most of the late-night TV shows, Comedy Central and National Public Radio’s “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” to name a few career highlights. Other interesting notes from the GMCF announcement include an appearance by nationally touring standup MYQ KAPLAN, the return of improv troupes from NYC’s Upright Citizens Brigade and ImprovBoston and, of course, the roughly 100 local performers who will again provide the backbone of the festival.

The sixth annual GMCF runs May 21-25. Tickets go on sale April 1.

PRES

Tig Notaro

Last but not least, if you’ve ever THE SUITCASE JUNKET 8pm wanted a peek behind the curtain (Btown) at the music desk at Seven Days, SATURDAY swing by the next edition of Rocket MARDI GRAS BRUNCH! (Btown) Shop Live at Main Street Landing in $5 Hurricanes, bloodies & mimosas!

Burlington this Wednesday, February SOULSTICE 9pm (Btown) 26. I’ll be speaking on a panel alongside my Burlington Free Press colleague 60 Lake St, Burlington 540-0188 BRENT HALLENBECK and former Seven 89 Main Street, Montpelier 262-CAKE Days music editor CASEY RAE, now the executive director of the Future of Burlington International Airport Music Coalition in Washington, D.C. We’ll be riffing on the ins and outs of “getting press.” It’s an open forum 8v-skinnypancake022614.indd 1 2/25/14 6:03 PM during which we’ll try to shed a light on what does and doesn’t work when you’re trying to get media attention as well as to answer some common questions such as, “What makes a good press kit?” “What’s the best way to pitch a story?” and “Why are you guys such dicks?”

It should be fun and maybe even enlightening. And if not, you can stick around for free tunes by MARYSE SMITH and HOT FLANNEL afterward. You can’t lose.

2/25/14 4:02 PM

music

cLUB DAtES NA: not availaBlE. AA: all agEs.

courtEsy of cAyucAs

YOUR TEXT HERE

YOUR TEXT HERE

YOUR TEXT HERE

SAt.01 // cAYUcAS [INDIE]

Surf Wax Nostalgic

On CAYUCAS’ latest seven-inch, Swimsuit, the SCAN PAGES IN THESanta MUSICMonica, SECTIONCalif., band captures the hazy, bittersweet vibe of a late-summer evening TO WATCH VIDEOS spent around a beach bonfire. The record’s two tracks, “Cayucos” and the title cut, OF THE ARTISTS

SCAN HERE TO LISTEN TO TRACKS

exude a wistful, innocent charm that harks to 1960s beach-blanket pop while projecting a decidedly modern sensibility. Catch Cayucas at Signal Kitchen in Burlington this

SCAN HERE TO LISTEN TO TRACKS

Saturday, March 1, with HOW SAD. fri.28

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SAT.01

burlington

ARTSRIOT: Black tie masquerade mardi Gras Ball: the Superpowers, Disco Phantom, (Afrobeat), 8 p.m., $15.

4t-smalldog022614.indd 1

2/25/14 1:28 PM

PRESENTS

CLUB METRONOME: cabinet, (bluegrass), 1 p.m.

Retronome with DJ Fattie B, (’80s dance party), 9 p.m., free/$5.

DRINK: DJ Ryan olson, (house, techno), 9 p.m., free.

SEVENDAYSVt.com 02.26.14-03.05.14 SEVEN DAYS 66 music

WIN TIX! 4t-Hotticket-March.indd 1

Go to sevendaysvt.com

SCAN THIS PAGE WITH LAYAR TO WATCH A VIDEO SEE PAGE 9

and answer 2 trivia

questions.

RÍ RÁ IRISH PUB & WHISKEY ROOM: trenchtown oddities, (rock, reggae), 11 a.m., free. Pop Farmers, (rock), 4 p.m., free. The complaints, (rock), 10 p.m., free.

RED SQUARE: Funkwagon, (funk), 10 a.m., free. DJ cre8, (hip-hop), 2 p.m., free. The Gold magnolias, (rock), 6 p.m., free. mashtodon, (hip-hop), 11 p.m., $5.

RED SQUARE BLUE ROOM: DJ Frank Grymes, (EDm), noon., free. DJ con Yay, (EDm), 2 p.m., free.

DJ craig mitchell, (house), 5 p.m., free. DJ Raul, (salsa), 6 p.m., free. DJ max cohen, (EDm), 8 p.m., free. DJ Reign one, (EDm), 11 p.m., free.

RUBEN JAMES: craig mitchell, (house), 10 p.m., free.

SIGNAL KITCHEN: cayucas, How Sad, (indie), 8:30 p.m., $10. AA. THE SKINNY PANCAKE (BURLINGTON): Soulstice, (reggae), 9 p.m., $5-10 donation.

Or, come by Eyes of the World (168 Battery, Burlington).

ZEN LOUNGE: The Glass Project, (alt-jazz), 8 p.m., free. DJ Atak & Guests, (EDm), 10 p.m., $5.

Deadline: 03/14 at

chittenden county

noon. Winners no tified

by 5 p.m.

2/25/14 4:49 PM

VENUE: Saturday Night mixdown with DJ Dakota & Jon Demus, 8 p.m., $5. 18+. cassidy, the Vt Union, Dj Dakota, mecca, (hip-hop), 10 p.m., $25.

CHARLIE O'S: Dance Party, 10 p.m., free.

RADIO BEAN: Less Digital more manual: Record club with Disco Phantom, 3 p.m., free.

Wednesday, March 19

ON TAP BAR & GRILL: Zach Nugent & co., (acoustic), 5 p.m., free. Sticks & Stones, (rock), 9 p.m., free.

1/2 SPEAKEASY: Disco Phantom, (future garage), 3 p.m., free. 2KDeep, (EDm), 6 p.m., free. Argonaut & Wasp, (house), 8 p.m., free. Space Echo with Jahson Deejay, (dubstep), 10:30 p.m., free.

NECTAR'S: Big mean Sound machine, the chronicles, Richard James & the Name changers, the Whiskey Dicks, Four Legged Faithful, Gang of Thieves, (rock, funk), 11 a.m., free/$5.

SCAN THIS PAGE YOUR WITH LAYAR TEXT Higher Ground TO WATCH A VIDEO HERE SEE PAGE 9Showcase Lounge

THE MONKEY HOUSE: Wolvings, Sun Lions, (rock), 9 p.m., $5. 18+.

barre/montpelier

MANHATTAN PIZZA & PUB: Uncle Demus mardi Pardi, (reggae), 9:30 p.m., free.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are still surging forward with certified badassery” THE HORN, Austin, TX

HIGHER GROUND SHOWCASE LOUNGE: White Denim, the Districts, (rock), 8:30 p.m., $13/15. AA.

FRANNY O'S: Karaoke, 9 p.m., free.

JP'S PUB: Karaoke with megan, 10 p.m., free.

DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR.

HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM: The Wood Brothers, chris Kasper, (Americana), 7:30 p.m., $20/22. AA.

BACKSTAGE PUB: cousin Itt, (rock), 9 p.m., free.

BAGITOS: Irish Session, 2 p.m., donation.

Floorboards with Will Solomon and Liz, (acoustic), 6 p.m., donation.

SWEET MELISSA'S: mardi Gras Party: tallGrass GetDown, Spider Roulette, mark LeGrand, Blue Fox & mumbo, Andy Pitt, (bluegrass, country, gypsy jazz), 4 p.m., $5.

stowe/smuggs area

THE BEE'S KNEES: cody mIchaels, (acoustic), 11 a.m., donation. Leatherbound Books, (indie folk), 7:30 p.m., donation.

MATTERHORN: Joshua Panda and cadillac Style, (rock, soul), 9 p.m., $7.

MOOG'S PLACE: Eames Brothers Band, (mountain blues), 9 p.m., free.

RUSTY NAIL BAR & GRILLE: Bruce marshall Band, (rock), 9 p.m., nA.

mad river valley/waterbury THE RESERVOIR RESTAURANT & TAP ROOM: Lynguistic civilians, (hip-hop), 10 p.m., free.

middlebury area

51 MAIN AT THE BRIDGE: Gumbo YaYa, (funk), 8 p.m., free.

CITY LIMITS: city Limits Dance Party with DJ Earl, (top 40), 9:30 p.m., free.

northeast kingdom

THE PARKER PIE CO.: Live music, 8 p.m., $5.

outside vermont

MONOPOLE: Strange changes, (rock), 10 p.m., free.

Strange changes, (rock), 10 p.m., free. sun.02

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GOT MUSIC NEWS? DAN@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

REVIEW this John Daly Trio, John Daly Trio

(SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD)

John Daly would seem to be a quiet fellow, the kind of musician who prefers to let his music speak for itself. For example, his eponymous trio’s debut EP arrived at the Seven Days offices recently in a plain package containing none of the promotional fanfare typical of new releases — self-aggrandizing band bios, hyperbolic press clippings, etc. Hell, there wasn’t even a quick note introducing either himself or the record. There was only the album, itself presented as simply as possible: six songs, self-titled, with a picture of a kitten on the cover.

Daly’s music is likewise straightforward. Generally, he favors a succinct compositional strategy, rarely straying outside the time-honored boundaries of folk, pop and rock architecture — verse, chorus, verse,

1190 Mountain Road maybe a bridge here and there. His arrangements are modest, typically consisting of nothing more than bass, acoustic guitars and occasional duet vocal harmonies. Even his song titles are as direct as can be. Five of the six consist of a single word. The wordy oddball? “Plain Sight.”

For Daly, simplicity is not a limitation but a virtue. His spare approach provides ample room for his primary strength, his songwriting, to bloom. Daly has a natural gift for crafting hooks. And on his debut outing he sneakily layers sticky melodies on top of one another. Album opener “Yes” centers on an undulating acoustic progression. But his chorus, “I couldn’t give it away,” pries the listener from a hypnotic groove. “Lost” employs a similar tack, with Daly’s dusky rasp increasing in intensity at each chorus.

The following cut, “Father” is an honest admission of uncertainty and fear in the face of impending fatherhood. “I don’t

Stowe, VT

802-253-Nail

Rustynailvt.com know how to father, don’t know how to father you,” sings Daly at the gently swirling hook. As with most of his best moments — the moody “Angel,” for one — the blunt simplicity of his words and melody make his musings compelling.

When Daly’s bandmates, guitarist Dennis Derryberry and bassist Adam Tarmy, follow his lead and play with restraint, the results can be powerful.

However, there are times when excessive guitar noodling sours the mood and busy lines clutter otherwise serene scenes. Fortunately, such instances are the exception, making the John Daly Trio’s self-titled debut a quiet charmer.

John Daly Trio by the John Daly Trio is available at cdbaby.com.

DAN BOLLES

$5, 21+ 2/28

Bruce Marshall $6, 21+ 3/1

Bruce Marshall $6, 21+ 3/6

$5, 21+ 3/7

Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band

SEVEN DAYS

DAN BOLLES

AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST OR BAND MAKING MUSIC IN VT, SEND YOUR CD TO US! GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: IFDANYOU’RE BOLLES C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 SO. CHAMPLAIN ST. STE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401

MUSIC 67

retrospective of a beloved musical institution that captures the players as they were best experienced: live.

As its title implies, the 33 “very live” tunes presented over two discs includes selections from concerts spanning the length of the Plowboys’ illustrious career. Owing to the discrepancies in recording technologies over the past four decades, they vary in quality, from scratchy analog tapes to crystal-clear digital captures. They also have not been gussied up to cover for inevitable clams and flubs. Or, as “Banjo Dan” Lindner himself puts it in the album’s liner notes, “You’ll hear the occasional honker when some Plowboy reaches for an idea and just misses.”

That fluctuation in sound fidelity, as well as the “occasional honker,” lends the recording warm vitality. Whether rambling through traditional numbers, staples by the likes of Bill Monroe and Doc Watson, or grassed-up versions of pop songs — a Banjo Dan specialty and bankable crowd pleaser — it’s hard not

to get caught up in the band’s amiable energy. The record’s liveliness echoes the affinity the Plowboys have long had $6, 21+ for each other and for their audiences — and their audiences for them. And 3/8 there are some sublime performances Last Kid Picked throughout; potent reminders that not $8, 21+ only were the Plowboys among the first to play bluegrass in Vermont, they were SCAN THIS PAGE YOUR also among the very best.

TEXT WITH LAYAR Doors open at 7pm, 7pm Curiously, you won’t find many HERE SEE PROGRAM COVER Music starts at 9pm Plowboy originals in the mix, which is a shame. But Lindner hints that more historical excavations could be in the offing. Following the band’s farewell show, he mined some 40 live recordings to compile material for Caught in the Act! It seems impossible that treasure trove wouldn’t contain a gem rendition of “I’ll Take the Hills,” “Snowfall,” or any number of other Banjo Dan classics.

So maybe a sequel is in order. Until then, Caught in the Act! is a must-have for bluegrass heads, local music-history buffs and Banjo Dan fans alike.

Caught in the Act! Very Live Recordings 1975-2010 by Banjo Dan & the Mid-nite Plowboys is available at banjodan.com.

02.26.14-03.05.14

When Banjo Dan & the Mid-nite Plowboys called it quits in September 2012, they ended a 40-year career that likely ranks as the longest run of any band in Vermont history, bluegrass or otherwise. During that span, the Plowboys played all across the country, around the globe and at just about every club, Grange hall, band shell and town green in Vermont. They are regarded as the godfathers of Green Mountain bluegrass. And their 18 recordings — including various side projects and offshoots — make up a veritable encyclopedia of the genre’s history in the state. But for those who don’t have the time to sift through that voluminous canon, the band’s recently released double album, Caught in the Act! Very Live Recordings 1975-2010, provides an efficient crash course. More than that, it’s a wildly enjoyable career

Funkwagon

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Banjo Dan & the Mid-nite Plowboys, Caught in the Act! Very Live Recordings 19752010

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SUN.02 burlington

DRINK: Comedy open mic, (standup comedy), 8 p.m., free.

FRANNY O'S: Kyle Stevens Happiest Hour of music, (singer-songwriter), 7 p.m.

Vermont's Got Talent open mic, first sunday of every month, 8 p.m., free.

1/2 SPEAKEASY: B-Sides, (deep house), 7 p.m., free. Building Blox, (house), 10 p.m., free.

NECTAR'S: mI YaRDYOUR Reggae night with DJs Big Dog and TEXT Demus, 9 p.m., free.

HERE RADIO BEAN: Pete Sutherland & Tim Stickle's old Time Session, 1 p.m., free. Trio Gusto, (parisian jazz), 5 p.m., free. Tango Sessions, 7 p.m., free. Social Club: the Return, (downtempo), 10 p.m., free.

SCAN HERE RED SQUARE: outright oscars Party, 8 p.m., free. TO LISTEN TO TRACKS THE SKINNY PANCAKE (BURLINGTON): Bluegrass Brunch, noon, $5-10 donation.

Fat Laughs at the Skinny Pancake, (improv comedy), 7 p.m., $3.

SCAN HERE LISTEN TO ZEN LOUNGE:TO In the Biz with mashtodon, (hip-hop), 9 p.m., TRACKS free.

chittenden county BACKSTAGE PUB: Karaoke/ open mic, 8 p.m., free.

HINESBURGH PUBLIC HOUSE: Sunday Jazz with George Voland, 4:30 p.m., free.

THE MONKEY HOUSE: Caroline Smith, Doug Keith, (singersongwriters), 8:30 p.m., $10. 18+.

barre/montpelier

BAGITOS: Clare Byrne, (folk), 11 a.m., donation.

CHARLIE O'S: Extreme oscar Challenge, 8 p.m., free.

SWEET MELISSA'S: mass appeal Comedy Showcase, (standup comedy), 7 p.m., $5.

02.26.14-03.05.14

SEVEnDaYSVT.Com

PENALTY BOX: Trivia With a Twist, 4 p.m., free.

THE BEE'S KNEES: David Langevin, (piano), 11 a.m., donation.

MON.03 burlington

JP'S PUB: Dance Video Request night with melody, first monday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

chittenden county THE MONKEY HOUSE: Charlie messing & Friends, (blues), 7 p.m., free.

MOOG'S PLACE: Seth Yacovone, (solo acoustic blues), 7 p.m., free.

TUE.04 burlington

CLUB METRONOME: Dead Set with Cats Under the Stars, (Grateful Dead tribute), 9 p.m., free/$5.

1/2 SPEAKEASY: Funkwagon's Tequila Project, (funk), 10 p.m., free.

RADIO BEAN: Gua Gua, (psychotropical), 6:30 p.m., free. Laura Heaberlin, (singer-songwriter), 8:30 p.m., free. Honky Tonk Tuesday with Brett Hughes & Friends, 10 p.m., $3.

RED SQUARE: Craig mitchell, (house), 7 p.m., free.

chittenden county

THE MONKEY HOUSE: Storytelling BTV, 7:30 p.m., free.

ON TAP BAR & GRILL: Chad Hollister, (acoustic rock), 7 p.m., free.

barre/montpelier

THE SKINNY PANCAKE (MONTPELIER): Cajun Jam with Jay Ekis, Lee Blackwell, alec Ellsworth and Katie Trautz, 6 p.m., $5-10 donation.

YOUR TEXT HERE

SWEET MELISSA'S: Wine Down with D. Davis, (acoustic), 5 p.m., free. open Bluegrass Session, 7 p.m., free.

SUn.02 // CaRoLInE SmITH [SInGER-SonGWRITER]

A SCAN Natural Woman PAGES

CAROLINE SMITH

WHAMMY BAR: open mic, 7 p.m., free.

made a curious turn with

IN THE MUSIC SECTION ON TAP BAR & GRILL: open mic her latest record, Half About Being a Woman. The album saw the Minneapolis-based TO WATCH VIDEOS with Wylie, 7 p.m., free. songwriter move from her folk-informed early canon to a sound that fused 1990s New OF THE ARTISTS

stowe/smuggs area

THE MONKEY HOUSE: Winooski Wednesday, 8 p.m., free.

GREEN MOUNTAIN TAVERN: open mic with John Lackard, first Wednesday of every month, 9 p.m., free.

1/2 SPEAKEASY: Family night, (rock), 10:30 p.m., free.

NECTAR'S: metal monday, 9 p.m., free/$5. 18+.

YOUR RADIO BEAN: open mic, 9 p.m., TEXT free.

HERE THE SKINNY PANCAKE (BURLINGTON): Kidz music with Raphael, 11 a.m., $5-10 donation.

(singer-songwriters), 7:30 p.m., $22/25. aa.

Jack swing (yes, really) with indie rock. While perhaps jarring to longtime fans, the stylistic about-face is meant as a two-pronged statement of self-acceptance, according to Smith, as both an “unabashed fan of ’90s R&B, pop and neo-soul” and a “strong, confident, opinionated woman.” Smith plays the Monkey House in Winooski on Sunday, March 2, with songwriter DOUG KEITH. ON TAP BAR & GRILL: Trivia night, 7 p.m., free.

barre/montpelier BAGITOS: Karl mIller, (jazz guitar), 6 p.m., donation.

CHARLIE O'S: Karaoke, first tuesday of every month, 8 p.m., free.

SWEET MELISSA'S: Bruce Jones, (singer-songwriter), 5 p.m., free.

stowe/smuggs area

middlebury area TWO BROTHERS TAVERN: Karaoke with Roots Entertainment, 9 p.m., free.

WED.05 burlington

1/2 SPEAKEASY: Funkwagon Karaoke, 8 p.m., free.

THE BEE'S KNEES: Children's Sing along with Lesley Grant, 10:30 a.m., donation.

JP'S PUB: Pub Quiz with Dave, 7 p.m., free. Karaoke with melody, first Wednesday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

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MANHATTAN PIZZA & PUB: open mic with andy Lugo, 9 p.m., free.

stowe/smuggs area THE BEE'S KNEES: Lesley Grant, (country), 7 p.m., donation.

MOOG'S PLACE: Seth Eames & miriam Bernardo, (singersongwriters), 8 p.m., free. Lesley Grant & Friends, (country), 8 p.m., free.

PIECASSO PIZZERIA & LOUNGE: Trivia night, first Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m., free.

middlebury area

CITY LIMITS: Karaoke, 9 p.m., free.

NECTAR'S: VT Comedy Club Presents: What a Joke! Comedy open mic, (standup comedy), 7 p.m., free.

RADIO BEAN: mIx of Lydia, (folk), 7 p.m., free. Irish Sessions, 9 p.m., free. minor mIracle, (rock), 11:30 p.m., free.

RED SQUARE: mashtodon, (hip-hop), first Wednesday of every month, 11 p.m., free.

ZEN LOUNGE: Tropical Wednesdays with Jah Red, (salsa, reggaeton, dancehall), 8 p.m., free.

TWO BROTHERS TAVERN: Trivia night, first Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m., free.

northeast kingdom THE PARKER PIE CO.: Trivia night, 7 p.m., free.

outside vermont

MONOPOLE: open mic, 10 p.m., free.

OLIVE RIDLEY'S: DJ Skippy all Request Live, (top 40), 10 p.m., free. m

chittenden county HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM: Brett Dennen, Foy Vance,

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SEVEn DaYS 68 music

stowe/smuggs area

courtesy of caroline smith

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art

Past Forward TR Ericsson, BCA Center

O

ne way to approach Brooklyn artist TR Ericsson’s multimedia installation at the BCA Center is to consider what it is not. “Crackle & Drag: Film Index” is not the kind of exhibit that radiates instant accessibility. Instead of individual works of finished craft, the show is an “archive of personal artifacts” that are “deteriorating,” according to an introductory wall panel. (The accompanying catalog shows 379 artifacts, more than the exhibit contains.)

There’s something utterly familiar about this archive: Its vintage photographs and antique letter openers look like the collected memorabilia of any middle-class American family. But “Crackle & Drag” presents no obvious narrative, or even a chronology.

One almost doesn’t know where to begin looking. At the huge slab of polished black granite lying on the floor, engraved from top to bottom with the contents of a letter? At the wall-mounted arrangement of “carbon stained” antique objects?

Should one watch the two films being projected side by side on the opposite wall first? Or check out the ’zines full of old photos, displayed in vitrines in the back room?

“Crackle & Drag” might be approached as a series of connecting clues, beginning with its title. An explanatory panel says the show is “a haunting portrait of the artist’s mother” that’s named for a phrase in the final line of Sylvia Plath’s 1963 poem “Edge.” “Her blacks crackle and drag,” wrote the poet in what some have judged to be her covert suicide note. (BCA provides copies of the poem on request.)

The wall-mounted collection of blackened found objects — “poker,” “axe,” “Playboy Bunny license plate” and so on — belonged to one Lynn M. Robinson (1918-2001), according to a label. Lynn is presumably the man standing on a Harvard dorm roof in a framed newspaper clipping.

He was the artist’s maternal grandfather, one learns from reading the letter engraved on the floor slab. The letter, which appears to be to the artist from his mother, is transformed into a funerary object that echoes the wall-mounted items’ carbon staining in both color and associative meaning: grave marker, cremation.

“Pink and Yellow”

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SEVENDAYSVT.COM

REVIEW

Ericsson’s mother was Susan B. O’Donnell, one finally learns from her death certificate. That item appears twice in the show: in the series of stills that make up the projected movies, and as one of several covers the artist made for vinyl dub-plate recordings of his mother’s voice. According to the certificate, the Ohio resident committed suicide in 2003 by an “overdose of drugs.” She was 57.

BCA curator DJ Hellerman, who wrote the catalog’s introduction and gives group tours of the show, has watched Ericsson’s work progress over the past decade. The artist-archivist has mounted different iterations of the show while sorting through the material in the years since his mother’s death, including ones at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. In Hellerman’s opinion, the BCA show is the most successful yet. “For the slow [viewer], all of this work carries itself,” he opines.

Hellerman first encountered the artist, he says, while working as registrar in the art-acquisitions department of Progres-

THE SHOW IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE ARTIST’S MOTHER

BUT ABOUT THREE GENERATIONS — GRANDFATHER, MOTHER, SON. sive Insurance in Cleveland, where both men grew up. At that time, Hellerman helped the company acquire Ericsson’s 2005 work “Everyday Is Like Sunday” — a white porcelain sculpture in the shape of an ax printed with a blue toile pattern.

The item came in an edition of three; one hangs in “Crackle & Drag.”

For Hellerman, “Everyday” represents the exhibit in microcosm. He points out that the show is not just about the artist’s mother but about three generations — grandfather, mother, son. The porcelain ax is a duplicate of Lynn’s ax; its toile pat-

tern came from Susan’s curtains; and the piece itself is the work of Ericsson, who left his Cleveland family behind when he moved to New York.

That move incurred some guilt, the artist reveals in a phone conversation, the weight of which is represented in the 750-pound granite letter. The letter, in which his mother recorded Thanksgiving Day family dynamics in the form of a play, served to remind him of his absence.

“I was in New York not just for an art career but to escape something,” Ericsson admits.

But the letter is also “hilarious, outrageous,” he adds. Likewise, though prompted by a mother’s suicide, “Crackle & Drag” should be viewed “as an affirmation,” Ericsson insists, a celebration of the lives of ordinary Midwesterners. “So much of our culture comes out of New York or LA,” comments the artist, whose work has been collected at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art, among other institutions. “I tried to insert this middlebrow, middle-

Art ShowS

class culture into the narrative” to show that “these lives are really potent and relevant,” he goes on.

They are also disappearing before the viewer’s eyes. Yellowing photos contain crumple marks and scratches; those dub plates further deteriorate with each playing; and most of the “film index” will be subsumed in a film the artist is making — the next iteration of Ericsson’s archive.

Hellerman highlights the exhibit’s stills and quotes from experimental films that have influenced the artist, including Chris Marker’s 28-minute, black-andwhite “La Jetée.” Film for the artist is an “interesting language,” Hellerman sug-

NEW THIS WEEK burlington

JESSIca REmmEy: photographs that capture the beauty in ordinary settings. March 1-May 31. Info, 859-9222. The pine street Deli in Burlington.

f NaTaSHa SKy: Milk paint and acrylic

abstractions on cotton canvas in the K-vay style.

Reception: Friday, march 7, 5-8 p.m. March 1-31.

Info, 318-2438. Red square in Burlington.

f caRlEEN ZImBalaTTI: "plane Division/ sustained Mediation," works that explore the line in paint, print, dye, string, rubber, wood and metal.

Reception: Friday, march 7, 5-8 p.m. March 1-31. seABA Center in Burlington.

lEN davIS: "A Thousand Words," 22 8-by-5-inch collages incorporating drawing of faces on the pages of books, as well as debris and other objects.

March 3-April 14. Info, 468-1119. Christine price Gallery, Castleton state College.

TERRI SEvERaNcE: "According to Terri," mixedmedia paintings by the owner of Terri’s Morning Garden, a Waldorf-inspired preschool. Curated by seABA. March 1-May 31. Info, 859-9222. speeder & earl's (pine street) in Burlington.

northeast kingdom

maRcIa HIll & cINdy GRIFFITH: Landscape paintings in pastel and oil by the vermont artists.

Curated by seABA. March 1-May 31. Info, 859-9222. vCAM studio in Burlington.

chittenden county

f 'IcE SToRm, dEc. 2013': An exhibit of photo-

barre/montpelier

pETER FoRBES & NaTHaN BuRToN: photographic portraits from a 2013 performance by Forbes, and a collection of recent images by dancer/teacher/ photographer Burton. March 3-31. Info, 223-4712.

Contemporary Dance & Fitness studio in Montpelier.

f JENEaNE luNN: "Lights of Home," oil paintings on canvas by the vermont artist. Third Floor Gallery Reception: Thursday, march 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

March 4-April 5. f aNNE cummINGS: Carbonfootprint portraits, local food and climate change eco-art, using 100 percent post-consumer materials. second Floor Gallery. Reception: Thursday, march 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 4-April 5. f 'THE NITTy GRITTy': A group exhibit featuring nearly 20 vermont artists celebrates the industrial buildings, quarries, tools and people that have left an indelible imprint on the region. Reception: Thursday, march 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m., with a talk by granite sculptor Heather Ritchie at 5:45 p.m. March 4-April 5. studio place Arts in Barre.

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f 'poINTS oF vIEW': Watercolors, oils and sketches in a variety of styles by members of the Monday painters: Barbara Grey, Jenny Green, Joan Harlowe, Donna Marshall, Barbara Matsinger and Robin Rothman. Reception: Saturday, march 15, 3-5 p.m. March 4-April 26. Info, 535-5008. northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in st. Johnsbury. f 'mud SEaSoN' aNd Solo SHoWS: A group show inspired by vermont's leading artists featuring images of life between seasons, colored by light, shadow, earth, sky and water. solo exhibitions: evocative landscapes by Gerard natale and contemporary still lifes by Barbara Harshman.

Reception: Saturday, march 1, 2-4 p.m. March 2-23.

Info, 362-1405. southern vermont Arts Center in Manchester.

aRT EvENTS lIFE dRaWING claSSES: Classes work with professional models and focus on the long pose. preregistration advised. Black Horse Fine Art supply, Burlington, Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m. $15. Info, 860-4962.

Shop cloSing! check out all the great bargainS! 73 Main St. • Fair Haven, VT Open Wed through Sat, 1-5 or by appointment. Call today!

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TENZING RIGdol: The new York-based artist talks about his work and experiences as a Tibetan living 12v-fabiansales021914.indd 1 and working in the United states. In conjunction with current exhibit, “Anonymous: Contemporary Tibetan Art.” Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum, UvM, Burlington, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m.

ExpERImENTal FIlm NIGHT: Three short films from the 1960s and ’70s inspired and explore the themes in TR ericsson’s current exhibit: “La Jetée,” “nostalgia” and “Mass for the Dakota sioux.” BCA Center, Burlington, Friday, Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. Info, 865-7166.

2/18/14 10:40 AM

5th Anniversary Special

Stop in and register to win some great prizes during the month of March including Bruins tickets and a chance to win pizza for a year!

maRy lou maRcuSSEN: “Reaching Our peaks,” paintings in watercolor, acrylics and mixed media by the vermont artist. Music by seth evans-Diffenderfer of the vermont Commons school. Refreshments by pure energy espresso and smoothie Bar. Bring a nonperishable food item for the Williston Food shelf. peak performance, Williston, Friday, Feb. 28, 5-7 p.m. Info, 658-0949.

March Special

1 large, 1-topping pizza, 12 boneless wings and a 2 liter Coke product

camERoN vISITING aRTIST lEcTuRE: HEaTHER dEWEy-HaGBoRG: The interdisciplinary artist, programmer and educator explores art as research and public inquiry, traversing media ranging from algorithms to DnA. Her work questions assumptions about human nature, technology, and the environment. Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College, Tuesday, March 4, 4:30 p.m.

Info, 443-3168.

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gEt Your Art Show liStED hErE!

if you’re promoting an art exhibit, let us know by posting info and images by thursdays at noon on our form at SEVENDAYSVt.com/poStEVENt or gAllEriES@SEVENDAYSVt.com

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ART 71

art listings and spotlights are written by pAmElA polStoN. listings are restricted to art shows in truly public places; exceptions may be made at the discretion of the editor.

2/24/14 4:56 PM

manchester/bennington

ART evenTs

ViSuAl Art iN SEVEN DAYS:

(not.com)

SEVEN DAYS

“Crackle & Drag: Film Index” by TR ericsson, BCA Gallery in Burlington. Through April 12. screening of experimental films related to the exhibit, Friday, Feb. 28, 6:30 to 9 p.m., on BCA’s second floor. Free. burlingtoncityarts. org

f SHaNlEy TRIGGS: "view From Within," watercolors by the vermont artist. Reception: Sunday, march 9, 2-4 p.m. March 1-30. Info, 985-8222. shelburne vineyard.

Cabin Fever

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graphs by members of the Milton Artists' Guild documents their ice-laden community, and features a candid bald-eagle image by invited guests Bev and Walt Keating. Reception: Thursday, march 13, 5-7 p.m. March 1-April 30. Info, 893-7860. Milton Municipal Complex.

Good Stuff

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AmY lillY

rutland area

J.B. WoodS: Digitally enhanced photographs that depict vermont life. Curated by seABA. March 1-May 31. Info, 859-9222. ReTn in Burlington.

GRoup SHoW: On the first floor, works by Brian sylvester, Jane Ann Kantor, Kim senior, Kristine slattery, Maria Del Castillo, philip Hagopian and vanessa Compton; on the second floor, Holly Hauser, Jacques Burke, Johanne Durocher Yordan, susan Larkin and Teresa Davis. Curated by seABA. March 1-May 31. Info, 859-9222. The Innovation Center of vermont in Burlington.

gests, that allows him to “let go of the static, fixed object” — fixed, that is, in time.

In a beautifully considered essay for the catalog, titled “American Gothic,” art reviewer Arnaud Gerspacher deems a merely biographical reading of Ericsson’s exhibit “facile.” “Crackle & Drag” is also, at the very least, about time. The disappeared and disappearing past that an archive attempts to preserve, Gerspacher writes, is also “continually haunting the present and future.”

Hellerman agrees. “When I lost my grandpa, I realized this. When you lose something, or something ends — a prom, or a marriage — that thing is never over. It comes forward with you.”

paT muSIcK: "The Instant of It All," an exploration of the aging process by the environmental artist, using collage, wall sculpture and large-scale paper pieces. March 1-April 30. Info, 458-0098. edgewater Gallery in Middlebury.

f BRaNdoN aRTISTS GuIld mEmBER SHoW: “still Life & sculpture” presents works in multiple media, from contemporary painting, photography, ceramic and fiber art to a fresh twist on a medieval art form. Reception: Friday, Feb. 28, 5-7 p.m. Feb. 28-April 29. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild.

f GlEN NadEau: Geometric-inspired acrylic paintings on canvas by the vermont artist. Reception: Friday, march 7, 5-8 p.m. March 1-31. Info, 805-220-8097. stephen & Burns salon, spa and Boutique in Burlington.

“Untitled”

middlebury area

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art Call to artists 30 Under 30 Exhibit The Chaffee Art Center invites artists under the age of 30 from the New England and New York areas to submit applications for this juried show, to be held in May. $25 nonrefundable entry. Send six, high-quality digital images representing a cohesive body of work, along with a jury form, artist statement and resume. Download form at chaffeeartcenter. org. Deadline: March 15. Drop off application at 75 Merchants Row in Rutland, or email to info@chaffeeartcenter.org.

Make Art for Preservation!

Submissions wanted for art auction!

Proceeds benefit rehabilitation of the endangered Brennan barn in Williston.

All forms of media accepted. Email b.youngpreservation@gmail.com for details.

Get a head start on spring!

Established and emerging artists are invited and encouraged to submit one or two pieces in any medium (including but not limited to photography, painting, textiles, collage, etc.) on the theme “The Warm Seasons” for a show to be hung in the Jericho Town Hall from May through August 2014. The subject of all work submitted must have some connection to the town of Jericho. Deadline: April 15. Info, 899-2974. blgreene@myfairpoint.net Think square! Established and emerging artists who live and/or work in the Chittenden East Supervisory Union school district are invited to interpret the square in any medium (including but not limited to photography, painting, textiles, collage, etc.) and in any size, and to submit one or two pieces representing their interpretation for an exhibit to be hung in the Jericho Town Hall from September through Dec. 2014. Deadline: August 15. Info, 899-2974 or blgreene@ myfairpoint.net.

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SEVEN DAYS

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SEVENDAYSvt.com

AVA Gallery and Art Center is accepting proposals for sculpture in Kira’s Garden.

Submission deadline: April 1. avagallery. org/content/artist-opportunities. Margaret Jacobs, exhibition coordinator, 603-4483117 or margaret@avagallery.org.

Juxtapose: Photo Exhibit The composition of two or more elements within a photograph, emphasizing either the similarity or dissemblance between them.

Deadline: March 19. Juror: Kyohei Abe. darkroomgallery.com/ex55/.

Perilous Passages Birds of Vermont Museum seeks artwork for an exhibit commemorating the passenger pigeon.

Send one to three digital images (JPG) to museum@birdsofvermont.org by March 31.

Details: wp.me/p6b5H-sl.

High School Photo Exhibit Darkroom Gallery is calling for Vermont high school photography to exhibit in April!

Submit online at darkroomgallery.com/ ex54. Deadline: March 5. Sponsored by FotoVisura.

Creative Competition The Space Gallery is now hosting the Creative Competition!

Artists may drop off one piece of work, in any size and medium, that is ready to display or hang on the wall. Entry is $8, and work will be labeled with the title, medium and price. Drop off at 266 Pine Street from noon on Wednesday through noon on the first Friday of every month. The gallery will display the work during viewing hours for one week after the opening. Pickup/drop-off times, commission structure and location details can be found at spacegalleryvt.com/ call-to-artists.

art events

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Cameron Visiting Artist Lecture: David Sandlin: The Northern Ireland-born, New York City-based artist has focused on visual narrative since the 1980s, producing paintings, prints, large-scale hand-silkscreened artist books, illustrations and comics. While on campus, Sandlin will create a suite of prints with instructor Michael Jordan and students. Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College, Wednesday, March 5, 4:30 p.m.

Info, 443-3168.

ONGOING Shows burlington

Abby Manock: “What Ever It Takes,” an installation in which the Burlington artist has constructed costume interpretations of pop-culture icons out of common household materials. Through Feb. 28.

Info, 656-4150. Living/Learning Center, UVM, in Burlington.

'Alice's Wonderland: A Most Curious Adventure': A touring, interactive exhibit for all ages based on the classic Lewis Carroll tale. Through May 11. Info, 864-1848. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington.

'Anonymous: Contemporary Tibetan Art': Paintings, sculptures, installation and video by artists living in Tibet or in diaspora. 'Dorothy and Herb Vogel: On Drawing': A collection of drawings on paper represents the second half of the Vogels' gift to the museum, and focuses on new attitudes on the medium by artists over the past 40 years. 'EAT: The Social Life of Food': A student-curated exhibit of objects from the museum collection that explores the different ways people interact with food, from preparation to eating and beyond. Through May 18. Info, 656-0750.

Fleming Museum, UVM, in Burlington.

Antique Gambrels: A selection of curved wooden sticks used to hang slaughtered animals for butchering, from the collection of local artists Greg Blasdel and Jennifer Koch. Through Feb. 28.

Info, 488-5766. Vintage Inspired in Burlington.

James Vogler: Sophisticated abstract paintings by the Vermont artist. Through April 29. Info, 862-1001. Left Bank Home & Garden in Burlington.

Kasy Prendergast: Minimal abstract paintings by the local artist. Through May 2. Info, 578-7179.

Courtyard Marriott Burlington Harbor.

Kate Donnelly: “A Period of Confinement,” work created during a residency at Burlington City Arts, in which the 2013 Barbara Smail Award recipient explores the routines of everyday life through performance, sound and video. Through April 12.

TR Ericsson: “Crackle & Drag,” a portrait of the artist’s mother conveyed through photo-based work, sculptural objects and moving images. Through April 12. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.

Kate Gridley: “Passing Through: Portraits of Emerging Adults,” life-size oil paintings by the Vermont artist. Through April 12. Info, 652-4500.

Amy E. Tarrant Gallery, Flynn Center, in Burlington.

Katherine Lucas: Abstract paintings in graphite, acrylic, gouache and sheetrock tape on canvas.

Through March 31. Info, 324-9403. Maglianero Café in Burlington.

Kathy Hart: Vermont scenes in pastel by the local artist. Through March 29. Info, 658-1562.

Pompanoosuc Mills in Burlington.

Lydia Littwin: “Blind Contours,” works drawn from memory, or from direct observation, with eyes closed. Curated by SEABA. Through Feb. 28. Info, 859-9222. The Pine Street Deli in Burlington.

Maria Del Castillo: The Lima, Peru-born self-taught artist created these vibrant and meticulous geometric works to honor the labor of her immigrant mother in a sweat-shop clothing factory. Each piece contains thousands of tiny dots, in the same fabric paint as her mother used. Through Feb. 28. Info, 318-2438. Red Square in Burlington.

Matthew Douglass: The illustrator reveals his process and inspirations, including animators Don Bluth and Chuck Jones. Through Feb. 28. Info, 540-0406. ArtsRiot in Burlington.

‘The Naked Truth’: A group exhibit in which artists reveal the intimate side of their creative minds. Through Feb. 28. Info, 859-9222. SEABA Center in Burlington.

Nancy Tomczak: Avian watercolor paintings by the local artist and ornithologist. Curated by SEABA. Through Feb. 28. Info, 859-9222. Speeder & Earl’s: Pine Street in Burlington.

Peter Boardman: “Equanimities,” paintings inspired by Vermont’s natural scenery by the UVM art education graduate student. Through March 7. Info, DavisCenterArt@uvm.edu. Livak Fireplace Lounge and Gallery, Dudley H. Davis Center, UVM, in Burlington.

Rebecca Weisman: “Ethan Allen Nights,” a multimedia installation incorporating sculpture, film and sound that imagines the eve of the storming of Fort Ticonderoga and the Revolutionary War hero’s relationship with his abandoned wife, Mary.

Through Feb. 28. Info, 862-9616. Burlington College.

'Roadside Picnic': Large-scale leaf prints by Emiko Sawaragi Gilbert and an installation of sculptures by Midori Harima that reflect her experiences in Vermont. Through Feb. 28. Info, 363-4746.

Flynndog in Burlington.

'Textured': Contemporary works in two and three dimensions by Gowri Savoor, Mary Zompetti, Jennifer Koch and Karen Henderson. Through March 22. Info, 865-7166. Vermont Metro Gallery, BCA Center in Burlington.

Terry Ekasala: "Inside Out," abstract paintings by the Vermont-based artist. Through March 25.

Info, 735-2542. New City Galerie in Burlington.

chittenden county

Elizabeth Cleary: Acrylic paintings of beer glasses and mixed-media works. Through April 2.

Info, 399-2994. Fiddlehead Brewing Company in Shelburne.

Jared Katz: "Reflections on the World I See," photographs by the local artist. Through Feb. 28. Info, 434-2550. Mt. Mansfield Community Television in Richmond.

Jason Durocher: Five paintings from the Vermont artist's "12 Months" series exploring the forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Through June 30. Info, 324-2772. Comfort Inn & Suites in South Burlington.

‘The Art of the Center for Cartoon Studies’: Original artwork and publications by students, graduates and faculty of White River Junction’s cartooning school. Through April 30. Info, 6562020. Bailey/Howe Library, UVM in Burlington.

f Art’s Alive Open Photography Exhibit: A group exhibit of local photographers who responded to a call to artists with one to three works. Reception: Friday, March 7, 5-8 p.m.

Through March 30. Info, 660-9005. Art’s Alive Gallery in Burlington.

Courtney Mercier: “Escape,” photography that represents adventures in the here and now.

Curated by SEABA, including in adjacent RETN offices. Through Feb. 28. Info, 859-9222. VCAM Studio in Burlington.

'Craftucation': Shelburne Craft School Educators Original Works: Six artist-teachers exhibit their crafts in wood, ceramics, painting and more. Through Feb. 28. Info, 863-6458. Frog Hollow in Burlington.

Django Hulphers: Influenced by “California lowbrow art,” these acrylic and spray paintings and retouched antique photographs feature absurdity and odd juxtapositions. Through Feb. 28. Info, 540-0107. Speaking Volumes in Burlington.

Dostie Bros. Selections: Works in the private collection of Alex and Jeremy Dostie in their South End framing shop including Grace Weaver, Brooke Monte, Ric Kasini Kadour, Ben Peberdy and more.

Through March 31. Info, 660-9005. Dostie Bros.

Frame Shop in Burlington.

Elizabeth A. Haggart: “Wonder,” paintings made with Wonder Bread by the Vermont artist, on view during visiting hours in Pamela Fraser’s office.

Through March 12. Info, 656-2014. Office Hours Gallery in Burlington.

‘Love’ Love can be hard to put into words and even harder to convey in an image.

But in a juried exhibit at the Darkroom Gallery in Essex Junction, nearly 20 photographers

from around the world aim to do just that. Abstract or literal, the photographs project familial and romantic love, courtship and desire. The show concludes on Sunday, March 2, with a closing reception 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Pictured: “When I was Young…” ( juror’s choice) by Babak of Austin, Texas.

Art ShowS

this is my summer

High school students experience college at UVM

UVM courses give high school students the opportunity to earn college credit on campus or online. Take a course tuition-free under Vermont’s Dual Enrollment program and save 50 percent on additional courses.

Courses offered mid May - mid August | Registration is now open

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Jaime Laredo, Music Director

www.vso.org

PRESENTS

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Lorraine Manley Lorraine Manley’s impressionistic oil and acrylic

landscapes fairly burst with color. The scenes painted by the Milton-based artist feature the red barns and foliage that one expects from a Vermont landscape painter,

but her Vermont pops with impossibly vibrant lavender, golden and crimson hues. An exhibition of Manley’s works, aptly titled “Luminous Vermont,” is on display at the Festival Gallery in Waitsfield through March 31. The gallery calls the paintings “vibrant, colorful and warm — a perfect antidote to the bluster and cold of winter.” An artist’s

lin Warren: "Selections From the barns," abstract paintings in acrylic, oil and luster paint by the Shelburne artist. Through Feb. 28. info, 985-8222.

Shelburne Vineyard.

GRIEG Two Lyric Pieces

alec frost: “Houses, barns and bridges of Tunbridge,” a selection of photographs by the retired local architect. Through march 17. info, 889-9404. Tunbridge public library. first annual Group art shoW: Selected works from each of the local artists who have had solo shows at the library over the past year. Through march 8. info, 426-3581. Jacquith public library in marshfield.

SCHUBERT/STEIN Death and the Maiden

Jeff clarke: large-format, black-and-white images of Vermont, shot on film by the burlington photographer. Through Feb. 28. info, 828-3291.

Spotlight Gallery in montpelier.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

barre/montpelier

'interpretinG the interstates': Compiling photographs from state archives taken between 1958 and 1978, the landscape Change program at the University of Vermont produced this exhibit, which aims to illustrate how the creation of the interstate highway system changed Vermont's culture and countryside. Through April 26. info, 479-8500. Vermont History museum in montpelier.

8:00 pm at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington SPONSORED BY:

Bravo Society Members David and Barbara Wessel

2013/2014 CO-SPONSOR:

THE OFFICIAL LAGER OF THE VSO

MEDIA SPONSOR:

bARRe/monTpelieR

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Musically Speaking, 7:00 pm

Enrich your concertgoing experience with a free, lively and interactive discussion.

TICKETS: 802-86-FLYNN, flynntix.org or the Flynn Regional Box Office.

ORCHESTRAS FEEDING AMERICA DONATIONS WILL BE COLLECTED IN THE LOBBY FOR VERMONT FOODBANK. Masterworks4AdSevenDays.indd 1 1 3v-VSO(masterworks)022614.indd

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ART 73

'1864: soMe suffer so Much': With objects, photographs and ephemera, the exhibit examines surgeons who treated Civil War soldiers on battlefields and in three Vermont hospitals, and also the history of post-tramautic stress disorder.

Through Dec. 31. info, 485-2183. Sullivan museum & History Center, norwich University in northfield.

Jaime Laredo, conductor

SEVEN DAYS

f 'love': photographs that represent passion,

John snell: “Taking Time to See,” photographs inspired by the natural world and local environs.

Through march 31. info, 223-3338. KelloggHubbard library in montpelier.

romance and desire by nearly 20 artists. closing reception: sunday, March 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Through march 2. info, 777-3686. Darkroom Gallery in essex Junction.

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Tuba Concerto

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John BisBee: "new blooms," wall and freestanding installations made entirely from foot-long nails. The maine sculptor is the first-ever contemporary artist to show in the museum's new, year-round venue. Through may 26. 'supercool Glass': An exhibit that spans two centuries of glassmaking, with items from the museum's permanent collection and contemporary decorative and sculptural creations by Vermont and national artists. Through June 8. info, 985-3346. pizzagalli Center for Art and education, Shelburne museum.

ROSSINI Il Turco in Italia Overture

Takatsugu Hagiwara, tuba SEVENDAYSVt.com

reception is on Sunday, March 9, 3-5 p.m. Pictured: “Open Meadow.”

FEATURING

art shows

art « p.73

Ken Leslie: “Golden Dome Cycle and Other Works: Arctic and Vermont,” an exhibit of multimedia works on a variety of surfaces and shapes, including the 360-degree panorama showing the view from the top of the Statehouse over a year’s time. Through March 28. Info, 828-0321. Vermont Supreme Court Lobby in Montpelier.

Linda Pruitt: “Re-wilding,” shamanic, acrylic paintings by the local artist. Through March 30.

Info, 223-0043. Tulsi Tea Room in Montpelier.

'Making an Impression: Vermont Printmakers': Eighteen printmakers from around the state exhibit a wide variety of work that reflects the natural world, the process of aging, sacred geometry and the history of art. Through March 9.

Info, 728-9878. Chandler Gallery in Randolph.

Nancy Gadue: Window paintings by the local artist. Through Feb. 28. Info, 223-1981. The Cheshire Cat in Montpelier.

Ray Brown: "Retrospective: From Nature," oil paintings on canvas by the local artist. Through Feb. 28. Info, curator@capitolgrounds.com. The Green Bean Art Gallery at Capitol Grounds in Montpelier.

Regis Cummings: "Places and Faces on a Journey," paintings and multimedia works by the local artist.

Photo ID required for admission. Through March 28. Info, 828-0749. Governor's Office Gallery in Montpelier.

stowe/smuggs area

Claire Desjardins: Colorful and energetic abstract paintings. Through March 2. 'Surveillance Society': With works in a variety of media, artists Hasan Elahi, Adam Harvey, Charles Krafft, David Wallace, and Eva and Franco Mattes explore notions of privacy and safety, security and freedom, public and personal. Through April 20. Info, 253-8358. Helen Day Art Center in Stowe.

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Evie Lovett: "Backstage at the Rainbow Cattle Co.," photographs taken at a gay bar in Dummerston, along with audio interviews by Lovett and Greg Sharrows of Vermont Folklife Center. Through March 9. Kelly Holt: "Where," mixed-media abstract paintings. Through March 9.

Info, 888-1261. River Arts Center in Morrisville.

‘Kick and Glide: Vermont’s Nordic Ski Legacy’: An exhibit celebrating all aspects of the sport, including classic and skate skiing, Nordic combined, biathlon, ski jumping, telemark, and back-country skiing. Through Oct. 13. Info, 253-9911.

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

Victoria Zolnoski and Mark O'Maley: The JSC photography and art history instructor collaborates with the theater and dance prof from Franklin Pierce University in an exhibit that includes black and white, chromoskedasic and digital photography and video. Through March 15. Info, 730-3114. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Johnson State College.

William B. Hoyt: "Realizations," realistic paintings.

Through Feb. 28. Annelein Beukenkamp: In "A Body of Work," the Vermont painter long known for her floral and still-life watercolors explores portraiture and the human form. Through April 30. Info, 253-1818.

Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery in Stowe.

SEVEN DAYS

mad river valley/waterbury

'JUICE BAR' Winter Show: The annual rotating members' show features works by Virginia Beahan and Laura McPhee, Jessica Straus, Kirsten Hoving and Richard E. Smith. Through April 5. Info, 767-9670. BigTown Gallery in Rochester.

Lorraine Manley: "Luminous Vermont," vibrant, colorful paintings that capture the beauty of the artist's home state. Through March 31. Info, 496-6682. Festival Gallery in Waitsfield.

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middlebury area

Jim Borden: Watercolors by the late local artist.

Sales benefit Town Hall Theater and the James C. Borden Art Award. Through Feb. 28. Info, 382-9222.

Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, in Middlebury.

'Observing Vermont Architecture': Photographs by Curtis Johnson and commentaries

by Glenn Andres explore the state's diverse built environment, and accompany their new book, The Buildings of Vermont. Through March 23. Info, 443-5008. Middlebury College Museum of Art.

COURTESY OF VERMONT FOLKLIFE CENTER

barre/montpelier

'The Place of Dance': Ten images from faculty member Andrea Olsen's new book The Place of Dance, created with her colleague Carolyn McHose, feature faculty, alumni and current students.

Through May 8. Info, 443-3168. Davis Family Library, Middlebury College.

f Russell Snow: “Imagination in Motion,” wooden whirligigs from the political to the playful by the local craftsman. Artist talk: “The Wonderful, Wacky World of Whirligigs,” Saturday, March 1, 1:30 p.m. Through March 31. ‘One Room Schools’: Photographs from the 1980s by Diana Mara Henry illustrate the end of an era in many rural small towns in Vermont. In the Vision & Voice Gallery. Through May 10. Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury.

Stephanie Larsen: Colorful reverse paintings on the glass of old window frames. Through March 31.

Info, 453-3188. WalkOver Gallery & Concert Room in Bristol.

rutland area

Annual Student Art Show: An energetic exhibition of works by local schoolchildren, in tribute to their teachers. Through Feb. 28. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild.

Catherine Hall: “Plaster, Paper, Paint,” a multimedia exhibit intended to challenge the definitions and implications of each material. Through March 22. Info, 468-1266. Castleton Downtown Gallery in Rutland.

'Full House': An exhibit of works in a variety of media by regional artists Peter Lundberg, Skip Martin, Joshua Rome, Brigitte Rutenberg and Claemar Walker. Through Feb. 28. Info, 775-0062.

Chaffee Downtown Art Center in Rutland.

Russell Snow The word “whirligig” means literally “to spin atop,” and

across centuries and cultures, various incarnations of spinning toys have cropped up to entertain children. But to call award-winning craftsman Russell Snow’s whirligig

Tom Merwin: Abstract paintings by the Vermont artist. Through Feb. 28. Info, 465-4071. Brandon Music.

creations “toys” would be a massive understatement. The Waterbury-based artist makes

Toma Cernea-Novac: "Corpus Absolutus," paintings and a miniature house installation by the GMC student artist. Through March 7. Info, 287-8398. Feick Fine Arts Center, Green Mountain College, in Poultney.

subjects, ranging from the political to the nostalgic. Sixteen of Snow’s larger and more

Winter Art Mart: Local artists show photography, pottery, jewelry, painting, prints and more, and Divine Arts Recording Group offers CDs of rare recordings, classical music and rediscovered masterpieces. Through March 31. Info, 247-4295.

Compass Music and Arts Center in Brandon.

Wacky World of Whirligigs” on Saturday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m. Pictured: Russell Snow

upper valley

'Art That Celebrates Winter': A community art exhibit of works in a variety of media featuring the snowy season. Through March 31. Info, 457-2295.

Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock.

'Earth as Muse: Beauty, Degradation, Hope, Regeneration, Awakening': Artwork that celebrates the Earth's beauty while reflecting on tensions between mankind and the environment

by Fran Bull, Pat Musick, Harry A. Rich, Jenny Swanson and Richard Weis. Through April 4. Info, 258-3992. The Great Hall in Springfield.

'The Founder's Collection': A group exhibit of works by regional artists hand selected by the gallery's founders. Through March 2. Info, 875-1018.

Vermont Institute of Contemporary Arts in Chester.

"Making Visible": New works by Valery Woodbury, Michelle Woodbury and Nance Silliman in pastels, oils, watercolors and photography. Through May 3.

Info, 674-9616. Nuance Gallery in Windsor.

"Sustainable Shelter: Dwelling Within the Forces of Nature": An exhibition that examines new homebuilding strategies and technologies that help restore natural systems. Through May 26. Info, 649-2200. Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich.

intricate statues — yes, whose appendages move in the wind — inspired by various complex creations are on display at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury this spring in an exhibit titled “Imagination in Motion.” Snow speaks on “The Wonderful with a whirligig.

Tom Ball: The local artist creates landscapes and abstractions in woodburnings and paintings, some with Native American or sailing themes. Through March 10. Info, 763-7094. Royalton Memorial Library in South Royalton.

Tom Berriman: Bird photography from wildlife and management areas in Vermont. A portion of sales will benefit VINS' educational, conservation and rehabilitation work. Through March 31. Info, 359-5001. Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee.

brattleboro area

Pat Musick: "Our Fragile Home," sculptures and works on paper inspired by the words astronauts have used to describe seeing the Earth from space. Through Feb. 28. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

northeast kingdom

Sophia Cannizzaro: New photographs of nature by the local artist. Through Feb. 28. Info, 525-3366.

The Parker Pie Co. in West Glover.

Susan Goodby: Collages and paintings filled with color, emotion and atmosphere. Through April 13. Info, 472-7053. Claire's Restaurant & Bar in Hardwick.

outside vermont

f Best of the Upper Valley High School Exhibition: Teen artists from around the region exhibit their works in a variety of media. Reception and awards ceremony: Friday, Feb. 28, 5-7 p.m.

Through March 14. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. 'Evolving Perspectives: Highlights From the African Art Collection': An exhibition of objects that marks the trajectory of the collection's development and pays tribute to some of the people who shaped it. Through Dec. 20. 'In Residence: Contemporary Artists at Dartmouth': This exhibit celebrates the school's artist-in-residence program, which began in 1931, and presents works by more than 80 international artists who have participated in it since then.

Through July 6. Info, 603-646-2808. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Jules de Balincourt: A premier exhibit of contemporary paintings by the Franco-American pictural artist. Through March 13. Peter Doig: "No Foreign Lands," a major survey of contemporary figurative paintings by the Scottish artist. Through May 4. Info, 514-285-2000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. m

10

DAYS!

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3 Days to Kill ★★★

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ike many people who love movies, I’ve been thinking about Philip Seymour Hoffman a lot lately. What astonishing work. His death just this side of 50 left us with so many question marks about roles that might have been. A thought I had as I watched the latest from Kevin Costner, who’s just this side of 60, was, Might Hoffman eventually have made a Taken rip-off, too?

Ever since Liam Neeson reinvigorated his career with the 2008 Taken when he, too, was nearly 60, films in that vein have become standard career moves for aging actors. Nicolas Cage — whose career seems perpetually in need of reinvigoration — made his with 2012’s Stolen. Mel Gibson made his with 2010’s Edge of Darkness. Now Costner has made his. Looking back at Hoffman’s performance in Mission: Impossible III, it’s easy to envision him tweaking and toying with the trope, something I’d love to have seen.

Seeing Costner channel Neeson isn’t on the same order, but there’s something to be said for it. Namely, this: 3 Days to Kill is the weirdest movie he’s ever made. It checks off the Taken boxes, but it presents as an action film directed by Michel Gondry. You might chalk the Euro nuttiness up to the

involvement of wacky producer-cowriter Luc Besson. But Besson, remember, was Taken’s producer-cowriter, too.

No, something else is in the water when it comes to the story of Ethan Renner, a CIA assassin informed he has months to live.

He moves to Paris to make up for lost time with his teenage daughter, Zoey (Hailee Steinfeld), and his ex, Christine (Connie Nielsen), keeping his condition classified.

Sound heavy? Guess again. What it lacks in Albanian sex traffickers, the picture makes up for in bizarro comic flourishes and heartstring-tugging corn. I’ve seen Lifetime movies with more convincing existential drama.

Renner’s homecoming is naturally contingent on leaving spy life behind. So, just as predictably, he’s immediately faced with the need to do One Last Job. Amber Heard plays an agency femme fatale who promises to dole out jumbo gold syringes filled with the cure to what ails Ethan if he will eliminate the Wolf (Richard Sammel), a terrorist who’s in town. When Christine leaves Zoey with Ethan and departs on business, Zoey quips, “It looks like we have three days to kill.” Little does she know.

What makes the movie a borderline goofball blast is its roulette wheel of tones.

LAST TANGLE IN PARIS Costner plays a dying CIA operative who agrees to perform one final assignment in exchange YOUR SCAN THIS PAGE for an experimental drug that might save his life.

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One minute, Ethan’s teaching Zoey how to ride a purple bicycle beside the Eiffel Tower (the edifice photobombs every other scene). The next, he’s yanking duct tape off a henchman’s hairy armpits. A tender sequence in which father gives daughter a dancing lesson in preparation for her prom is followed by a brawl in which he turns a bistro’s panini press into a deadly weapon.

There are, of course, car chases, shootouts, explosions and a parent-principal school conference. Oh, and did I mention the scene where Dad pauses the enhanced interrogation techniques he’s using on the Wolf’s Italian accountant to get his favorite marinara recipe?

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Gloria ★★★★

M

ost of us know Laura Branigan’s 1982 hit version of “Gloria,” a perversely upbeat anthem for a woman with serious emotional issues. But the earworm tune originated in 1979 with Umberto Tozzi’s “Gloria,” a love song with lyrics that paid unironic tribute to its subject.

Tozzi’s is the version of “Gloria” heard in this Chilean drama from cowriter-director Sebastián Lelio, whose 58-year-old heroine is, naturally, named Gloria (Paulina García).

Yet the range of reactions the film provokes in viewers is as vast as the distance between the song’s two popular incarnations. Some critics have come away asserting that, like Branigan, Lelio puts his main character under a merciless microscope. Others see a celebration of Gloria’s spirit and resilience — a love song of a movie.

Perhaps these reactions to Gloria say less about the film than about the viewer, and specifically the viewer’s feelings about frank depictions of older people having sex on screen. Lelio’s camera is clear about its allegiance: It’s always close to Gloria, focusing where she focuses, ensuring that we see little more of her world than she does. The film is a showcase for García’s rich and varied performance. When it comes to finding meaning in Gloria’s story, though, Lelio leaves that up to us.

We first meet Gloria at a dance club for the older crowd, scoping out men. She’s

GOT YOUR NUMBER García is pushing 60 and looking for love in Lelio’s acclaimed drama.

single with two grown kids, an ex, a grandkid, a job and a crazy neighbor upstairs. When a hairless cat sneaks into her apartment, she evicts it self-righteously, as if suspecting the universe of trying to turn her into a cat lady.

To avert that outcome, Gloria embarks on a romance with soft-spoken divorcé Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández). Like Gloria, he’s eager to be part of his grown children’s lives. But while her kids have declared their independence, Rodolfo’s demand a degree of

attention and loyalty that compromises the relationship.

It’s a small, realistic conflict that Gloria handles with admirable straightforwardness.

(So, in fact, does Gloria the character.) Yet, as ordinary scene follows ordinary scene, viewers may find themselves frustrated with all this down-to-earthness. There’s nothing grand, tragic or special about Gloria’s goals: She wants human connection. She enjoys the sappy illusions of love songs, but

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The picture is all over the place; with its off-the-wall sensibility, it sometimes almost feels like a parody of the 2008 hit. Costner’s performance provides an appealing counterweight to the story’s flightiness, however. He has enough good, old-fashioned movie-star magnetism to hold the film’s disparate elements together and make it a better time than it has any right to be. It’s totally wacked. Nonetheless, there are dumber things you could do with your dough the next time you have a couple of hours to kill.

RI C K KI S O N AK

REVIEWS she’s reasonably skilled at the tools of real relationships: seduction, negotiation and compromise.

Only the voice of Gloria’s upstairs neighbor, ranting to no one about his existential crises, hints at the true stakes of her conflict. He appears to have succumbed to the fate of Branigan’s Gloria, a manic loneliness full of “voices in your head.”

Gloria’s shifting reactions to the neighbor — who remains invisible until the film’s final scenes — mirror ours to her. Everything she dreads for her future, she projects onto the stranger. Yet, when he appears at last, he’s no longer so frightening. Nor, perhaps, is the prospect of growing old without a partner, which Gloria confronts each time she questions her relationship with Rodolfo.

The audience’s own presumed fear of that fate is written into the film’s subtext; it’s certainly one reason we don’t see more movies about single women of Gloria’s age. (When we do, they’re generally frothy, fantasyland rom coms where everybody is rich.) By presenting Gloria without judgment, painting her as neither a triumphant standard bearer for sex at 60 nor a deluded youth chaser, Lelio creates a film that sneaks up on viewers much more artfully than the strident beat of “Gloria.” By the end, oddly enough, it’s almost as hard to get out of your head.

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new in theaters ANcHoRmAN 2: tHE lEgEND coNtiNUES: SUpERSiZED R-RAtED VERSioN: More of Ron burgundy and his friends than you saw in last december’s Pg-13 release of the adam McKay comedy starring will ferrell. (Running time n/a, R. Essex) NoN-Stop: how does liam neeson kick ass this time? he plays an air marshal trying to foil a high-tech, midair hijacking in this action flick from director Jaume collet-Sera (Unknown). with Julianne Moore and lupita nyong’o. (106 min, Pg-13. capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace) SoN oF goD: This inspirational retelling of the life of Jesus christ (diogo Morgado) is excerpted from the Mark burnett-produced history channel miniseries “The bible.” christopher Spencer directed. with amber Rose Revah and Sebastian Knapp. (138 min, Pg-13. bijou, capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, welden)

now playing 3 DAYS to killHHH director Mcg and cowriter luc besson team up on the action-packed saga of a government agent (Kevin costner) who must bring down a terrorist while trying to save his own life and bond with his teenage daughter. will audiences get Taken again? with amber heard, hailee Steinfeld and connie nielsen. (113 min, Pg-13)

AUgUSt: oSAgE coUNtYH1/2 tracy letts adapted his play about a dysfunctional Oklahoma family dealing with tragedy to the screen. Meryl Streep plays the matriarch; Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard, Julianne nicholson, Ewan Mcgregor, Juliette lewis, chris cooper, Margo Martindale and benedict cumberbatch have to put up with her. John wells directed. (121 min, R) ENDlESS loVEH1/2 The great 2014 Valentine’s day Remake fest continues with this do-over of the 1980 brooke Shields nonclassic about two young, pretty people (gabriella wilde and alex Pettyfer) whose first love crosses the boundary into obsession. Shana feste (Country Strong) wrote and directed. (103 min, Pg-13) FRoZENHHH1/2: In the latest disney animation, inspired by hans christian andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” a girl embarks on a quest to end the eternal winter enfolding her kingdom. with the voices of Kristen bell, Josh gad and Idina Menzel. chris buck and Jennifer lee directed. (108 min, Pg) gloRiAHHHH Paulina garcía won festival honors for her portrayal of a fiftysomething woman seeking love in the singles scene in this chilean drama from writer-director Sebastián lelio. (110 min, R) HERHHHHH In this near-future fable from writer-director Spike Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely man who finds himself falling in love with his computer’s sophisticated operating system, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. with amy adams and Rooney Mara. (126 min, R)

ABoUt lASt NigHtHHH first david Mamet’s frank play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, about two contrasting couples, was made into a cutesy 1980s romantic comedy. Then it was remade by director Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine). Kevin hart, Michael Ealy and Regina hall star this time around.

(100 min, R)

tHE lEgo moViEHHHH a lowly lego figure discovers he’s the chosen One who can defeat order-obsessed lord business (will ferrell) in this satirical family-adventure animation from directors Phil lord and christopher Miller. also featuring the voices of chris Pratt, will arnett and Elizabeth banks. (100 min, Pg)

AmERicAN HUStlEHH1/2 In the 1970s, an fbI agent (bradley cooper) enlists two con artists (christian bale and amy adams) to work undercover among Jersey’s high rollers. with Jeremy Renner and Jennifer lawrence. david O. Russell directed. (138 min, R)

loNE SURViVoRHHHH Mark wahlberg stars in the fact-based account of an ill-fated 2005 navy SEal team mission in afghanistan. with taylor Kitsch, Emile hirsch and ben foster. Peter berg directed. (121 min, R)

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

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MOVIES 77

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.

NEBRASkAHHHH bruce dern plays an aging heartlander who believes he’s won the sweepstakes and persuades his son (will forte) to take him to retrieve the prize in this drama from writer-director alexander Payne. (115 min, R)

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tHE moNUmENtS mENHH george clooney and Matt damon play members of a world war II platoon that rescues art treasures from the nazis in this drama directed and cowritten by clooney. with bill Murray, cate blanchett and John goodman. (118 min, Pg-13)

McCarthy Arts Center

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iN SEcREtHH1/2 Elizabeth Olsen plays Emile Zola’s Thérèse Raquin, an unhappily married young woman tempted by forbidden fruit, in this nth period adaptation of the classic. with Oscar Isaac, Jessica lange and tom felton. charlie Stratton directed. (107 min, R)

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12 YEARS A SlAVEHHHHH chiwetel Ejiofor plays a free man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the antebellum South in this drama from director Steve McQueen, based on a real slave narrative. with Michael fassbender and Michael K. williams.

(134 min, R)

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

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wednesday 26 — thursday 27 12 Years a Slave 3 Days to kill About last Night

pArAmouNt twiN ciNEmA 241 North Main St., Barre, 4799621, fgbtheaters.com

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StowE ciNEmA 3 plEX Mountain Rd., Stowe, 2534678. stowecinema.com

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wElDEN thEAtrE 104 No. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com

wednesday 26 — thursday 27 3 Days to kill The lego movie in 3D The lego movie ride Along robocop friday 28 — thursday 6 Full schedule not available at press time.

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tHE NUt JoBHH Will Arnett supplies the voice of a curmudgeonly squirrel named Surly who plans an elaborate urban nut-store heist in this family adventure. With the voices of Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson and Katherine Heigl. Peter Lepeniotis directed. (86 min, PG) pHilomENAH Stephen Frears directed this fact-based drama about a journalist (Steve Coogan) who helps a woman (Judi Dench) search for the son the Catholic church forced her to give up decades earlier. (98 min, R) pompEiiHH What could make an erupting Mt. Vesuvius more exciting? Gladiators and starcrossed love, that’s what! Anyway, that seems to be the thinking behind this ancient Roman spectacular directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil). With Kit Harington, Emily Browning and Kiefer Sutherland. (105 min, PG-13) RiDE AloNGHH In this action comedy, Kevin Hart plays a security guard who strives to prove to his beloved’s cop brother (Ice Cube) that he’s worthy of her hand by joining him on the ride along from hell. With Tika Sumpter. Tim Story directed. (100 min, PG-13) RoBocopHHH Joel Kinnaman plays the slain cop who rises again as a robot police officer in futuristic Detroit in this remake of the satirical Paul Verhoeven actioner from director José Padilha (Elite Squad). With Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Abbie Cornish. (118 min, PG-13) tHAt AWKWARD momENtH1/2 A romantic comedy from the guys’ perspective? Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Zac Efron play three best buds struggling with commitment issues in the first feature from writer-director Tom Gormican.

(94 min, R)

WiNtER’S tAlEH1/2 Mark Helprin’s fantastical, time-hopping novel about New York City comes to the screen with Colin Farrell in the role of a burglar who uses a supernatural power in the service of … wait for it … true love! With Jessica Brown Findlay, Jennifer Connelly and Russell Crowe. Writer Akiva Goldsman makes his feature directorial debut. (118 min, PG-13) tHE WolF oF WAll StREEtHHHH Leonardo DiCaprio plays stock swindler and party animal Jordan Belfort in director Martin Scorsese’s chronicle of his rise and fall, based on Belfort’s memoir. With Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill and Jon Favreau. (179 min, R)

new on video BlUE iS tHE WARmESt coloRHHHH1/2 A high school student comes of age when she finds herself falling in tumultuous love with another woman in this French drama from director Abdellatif Kechiche. With Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux. (179 min, NC-17) GRAVitYHHHHH Sandra Bullock and George Clooney play an astronaut and a medical engineer who find themselves adrift in space after their shuttle is destroyed. Alfonso Cuarón directed. (91 min, PG-13)

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NEBRASKAHHHH See description in “Now Playing.” tHoR: tHE DARK WoRlDHH1/2 The saga of the Marvel superhero universe continues as the Norse god of thunder (Chris Hemsworth) faces a threat too extreme for the denizens of Asgard to handle. Expect smiting. With Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Christopher Eccleston. Alan Taylor directed. (125 min, PG-13)

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We learn that crowding was one major reason for the fatalities. Several groups had reached Camp IV simultaneously, and all hoped to summit K2 on August 1...

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n early August 2008, 11 climbers died on K2 — the world’s second-highest mountain — in 48 hours. News of one of the world’s worst mountaineering disasters quickly traveled around the globe, prompting a lot of tut-tutting about inexperienced climbers with “summit fever.” But what really happened up there?

Director Nick Ryan interviewed the surviving climbers (those who agreed to talk) and pieced together a narrative.

In this documentary, honored last year at Sundance, he tells the story through interviews, reenactments with actors and footage shot by the climbers on the mountain.

02.26.14-03.05.14

We learn why climbing K2 is probably not a great idea.

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MOVIES 79

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NEWS QUIRKs by roland sweet Curses, Foiled Again

A man aroused suspicion by repeatedly calling a post office in Nashville, Tenn., asking if a package had arrived. When it did show up, postal workers inspected it and found it reeked of marijuana.

They alerted police, who arrested Terrell Mills, 24, when he came to claim the package, which contained 10 pounds of pot. (Nashville’s WSMV-TV)

Hard News

The federal government overpaid by $86.4 million to provide penis pumps to Medicare patients at twice the price private providers charge, according to the Health and Human Services Department’s inspector general. The IG report noted that the vacuum erection systems cost taxpayers nearly $175 million during the years 2006 to 2011 and that reducing the Medicare payment for the devices to the level of nonMedicare payers could save the federal government about $18 million a year.

(Washington Times)

Extreme Makeover

Hoping to distance aspiring middleclass Kazakhstan from its low-class neighbors, President Nursultan Nazarbayev suggested eliminating “stan” from its name. The word means “place” in Persian, but Nazarbayev said that it causes foreigners to lump the country with its economically less developed or more politically volatile neighbors. He suggested the name “Kazakh Yeli,” or “Land of the Kazakhs,” and invited public discussion of his proposal. (Economist)

Two boys working on a school science project involving model rocketry caused an explosion so powerful that it blew out several windows of their Seattle home, blasted open the back door and propelled debris into the backyard.

After the boys were hospitalized, one of the fathers said the boys had tried to start a fire in the fireplace and may have used some of the rocket fuel to get it going. (CNN)

The vacuum erection systems cost taxpayers nearly $175 million during the years 2006 to 2011.

After students at Reed College in Portland, Ore., rolled a 900-pound snowball, a pair of math majors seized it and started shoving it toward a city street. They miscalculated its trajectory, however, and it ended up plowing into a dorm and ripping apart a room’s wall. Maintenance workers spent 45 minutes cutting through the 40-inch thick icy globe. (Portland’s Oregonian)

B y H ARRY BL I SS

Alaric Hunt, 44, won a $10,000 literary prize from Minotaur Books and the Private Eye Writers of America for his crime novel Cuts Through Bone. The award includes a publishing contract for the author, a convicted murderer who has been in a South Carolina prison since 1988. Hunt said he assembled his view of the outside world for the novel from books he read and from episodes of television’s “Law and Order.” (New York Times)

Lesson Unlearned

Police who stopped Michael Heller, 21, for stealing a truck in Redding, Calif., said he told them he needed it to make a court appearance for stealing another vehicle. (Redding Record Searchlight)

Overnight Success

When Google announced it was buying Nest, a high-tech thermostat and smoke-detector company, for $3.2 billion, investors rushed to buy stock. The flurry caused the stock of Nestor Inc., which sells automated traffic enforcement systems to local governments and trades under the ticket symbol NEST, to surge 1,900 percent. Prior to the deal, Nestor was trading for less than a penny. After reaching as much as 10 cents, the price fell back to 3 cents.

(Business Insider)

previously unavailable ethnic cuisine: Chinese food. That is, Chinese food as served in the United States. Fortune Cookie is the brainchild of American entrepreneurs Fung Lam, 31, who grew up in New Jersey, and David Rossi, whom Lam met in a master’s program in hospitality management at Cornell University. The restaurant targets nostalgic Americans by offering General Tso’s chicken and other ChineseAmerican dishes, made with such staples as Skippy peanut butter, Mott’s applesauce, Heinz ketchup and Philadelphia cream cheese. “A lot of people called us crazy and were banking on us closing after six months,” Lam says, noting that February marked the restaurant’s eighth month. “It’s kind of embarrassing that you’re in China eating American-Chinese food, but it was spot on,” customer Megan EmeryMoore, who teaches art at Shanghai American School, said, noting the food makes her feel “calm,” “relaxed” and “like I’m at home.” (NPR)

Immigration Reform

Thomas J. Donahue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, declared that the United States needs more low-skill immigrants because U.S. workers aren’t “qualified” or “willing” to do such jobs. (Weekly Standard)

Coals to Newcastle

Thanks to a new restaurant in Shanghai, Americans living in the Chinese city of 24 million people can enjoy

ted rall

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“Make it snappy, I’m double parked.”

Write About What You Know

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REAL fRee will astRology by rob brezsny feb. 27-maR. 5

might be an accurate assessment for most people much of the time, but I don’t think it will be true for you in the coming days. on the contrary: you will have a special capacity to make contact and establish connection. you’ve heard of dog whisperers and ghost whisperers? you will be like an all-purpose, jack-of-all-trades whisperer — able to commune and communicate with nervous creatures and alien life forms and pretty much everything else. If anyone can get a pony to understand sanskrit, it will be you.

Pisces

(feb. 19-March 20)

Avery, a character in Anne Michaels’ novel The Winter Vault, has a unique way of seeing. When he arrives in a place for the first time, he “makes room for it in his heart.” He “lets himself be altered” by it. At one point in the story he visits an old Nubian city in Egypt and is overwhelmed by its exotic beauty. Its brightly colored houses are like “shouts of joy,” like “gardens springing up in the sand after a rainfall.” After drinking in the sights, he marvels, “It will take all my life to learn what I have seen today.” Everything I just described is akin to experiences you could have in the coming weeks, Pisces.

Can you make room in your heart for the dazzle?

gemiNi (May 21-June 20): Does Kim Kardashian tweak and groom her baby daughter’s eyebrows? They look pretty amazing, after all — elegant, neat, perfectly shaped. What do you think, Gemini? HA! I was just messing with you. I was checking to see if you’re susceptible to getting distracted by meaningless fluff like celebrity kids’ grooming habits. The cosmic truth of the matter is that you should be laser-focused on the epic possibilities that your destiny is bringing to your attention. It’s time to reframe your life story.

How? Here’s my suggestion: see yourself as being on a mythic quest to discover and fully express your soul’s code. caNceR

aRies

taURUs

art

(Jan. 20-feb. 18): sorry to report that you won’t win the lottery this week. It’s also unlikely that you will score an unrecognized rembrandt painting for a few dollars at a thrift store or discover that you have inherited a chinchilla farm in Peru or stumble upon a stash of gold coins halfburied in the woods. on the other hand, you may get provocative clues about how you could increase your cash flow. to ensure you will notice those clues when they arrive, drop your expectations about where they might come from.

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(oct. 23-nov. 21): In his song “4th of July, Asbury Park (sandy),” bruce springsteen mentions a disappointing development. “That waitress I was seeing lost her desire for me,” he sings. “she said she won’t set herself on fire for me anymore.” I’m assuming nothing like that has happened to you recently, scorpio. Just the opposite: I bet there are attractive creatures out there who

aQUaRiUs

CheCk Out ROb bRezsny’s expanded Weekly audiO hOROsCOpes & daily text Message hOROsCOpes: RealastRology.com OR 1-877-873-4888

Plan your art adventures with the Seven Days Friday email bulletin including:

• • • •

scoRPio

caPRicoRN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What words bring the most points in the game of scrabble? expert Christopher swenson says that among the top scorers are “piezoelectrical” and “ubiquitarianism” — assuming favorable placements on the board that bring double letter and triple word scores. The first word can potentially net 1,107 points, and the second 1,053. There are metaphorical clues here, Capricorn, for how you might achieve maximum success in the next phase of the game of life. you should be well-informed about the rules, including their unusual corollaries and loopholes. be ready to call on expert help and specialized knowledge.

Assume that your luck will be greatest if you are willing to plan nonstandard gambits and try bold tricks.

SEVEN DAYS

WE

writes rudy francisco, addressing a lover, “I’d write about how you have the audacity to be beautiful even on days when everything around you is ugly.” I suspect you have that kind of audacity right now, Leo. In fact, I bet the ugliness you encounter will actually incite

libRa (sept. 23-oct. 22): If you are the type of person who wears gloves when you throw snowballs, Germans would call you Handschuhschneeballwerfer. They use the same word as slang to mean “coward.” I’m hoping that in the coming days you won’t display any behavior that would justify you being called Handschuhschneeballwerfer. you need to bring a raw, direct, straightforward attitude to everything you do. you shouldn’t rely on any buffers, surrogates or intermediaries. Metaphorically speaking, make sure that nothing comes between your bare hands and the pure snow.

sagittaRiUs (nov. 22-Dec. 21): “some people say home is where you come from,” says a character in Katie Kacvinsky’s novel Awaken. “but I think it’s a place you need to find, like it’s scattered and you pick pieces of it up along the way.” That’s an idea I invite you to act on in the coming weeks, sagittarius. It will be an excellent time to discover more about where you belong and who you belong with.

And the best way to do that is to be aggressive as you search far and wide for clues, even in seemingly unlikely places that maybe you would never guess contain scraps of home.

02.26.14-03.05.14

(April 20-May 20): “Life is like sanskrit read to a pony,” said Lou reed. That

leo (July 23-Aug. 22): “If I was a love poet,”

ViRgo (Aug. 23-sept. 22): “you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” says hockey great Wayne Gretzky. In other words, you shouldn’t be timid about shooting the puck toward the goal. Don’t worry about whether you have enough skill or confidence or luck. Just take the damn shot. you’ll never score if you don’t shoot. or so the theory goes. but an event in a recent pro hockey game showed there’s an exception to the rule. A new york player named Chris Kreider was guiding the puck with his stick as he skated toward the Minnesota team’s goalie. but when Kreider cocked and swung his stick, he missed the puck entirely. He whiffed. And yet the puck kept sliding slowly along all by itself.

It somehow flummoxed the goalie, sneaking past him right into the net. Goal! new rule: you miss only 99.9 percent of the shots you don’t take. I believe you will soon benefit from this loophole, Virgo.

would set themselves on fire for you. If for some reason this isn’t true, fix the problem! you have a cosmic mandate to be incomparably irresistible.

SEVENDAYSVt.com

(March 21-April 19): The battles you’ve been waging these last 10 months have been worthy of you. They’ve tested your mettle and grown your courage. but I suspect that your relationship with these battles is due for a shift. In the future they may not serve you as well as they have up until now.

At the very least, you will need to alter your strategy and tactics. It’s also possible that now is the time to leave them behind entirely — to graduate from them and search for a new cause that will activate the next phase of your evolution as an enlightened warrior.

What do you think?

(June 21-July 22): The 19thcentury American folk hero known as Wild bill Hickok was born James butler Hickok.

At various times in his life he was a scout for the army, a lawman for violent frontier towns, a professional gambler and a performer in buffalo bill’s Wild West show. Women found him charismatic, and he once killed an attacking bear with a knife. He had a brother, Lorenzo, who came to be known as tame bill Hickok. In contrast to Wild bill, tame bill was quiet, gentle and cautious. He lived an uneventful life as a wagon master, and children loved him. right now, Cancerian, I’m meditating on how I’d like to see your inner Wild bill come out to play for a while, even as your inner tame bill takes some time off.

you to amplify the gorgeous charisma you’re radiating. The sheer volume of lyrical soulfulness that pours out of you will have so much healing power that you may even make the ugly stuff less ugly. I’m betting that you will lift up everything you touch, nudging it in the direction of grace and elegance and charm.

Men seeking Women

A bringer without directions I’m a tall guy, an educated professional in good shape and called good-looking, looking for a woman who cares more about confidence, health and a desire to be happy. charro62, 50, l

For relationships, dates and flirts: dating.sevendaysvt.com

Women seeking Women Passionate, Creative, Honest I’m a musician with a knack for animated storytelling, working in food systems education. Although I went to college in the area, I’m essentially new to Burlington. Looking for people to have fun with: hiking, biking, gardening, cooking, volunteering, catching a music show ... anything outdoors and/or low key. Quiet, cute, blond, petite. QueenRhymesies, 22, l

Soulful Blond Shredder I love intimate connections with people.

I like to be real and connect on an emotional level with others. I love with a big heart. I work hard at everything that I do, school being where my focus is right now as a student at the University of Vermont! I am petite with blond hair.

I have blue/green eyes. shreddergrl, 21

84 personals

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Whimsical artist seeking same I’m a poet and yoga lover. When I picture my partner, I see someone who fills me with calm and wonder, who can engage in flights of fancy but who also knows when it’s time to rain ourselves in, for I value groundedness and flight in equal measure. Let’s create together: I’ll write the lyrics and you can write the music. vocativecomma, 28, l Connections Vermont and my family are my roots but I love to discover new landscapes, people, food and adventures. I’m most alive when I’m active and/or playing.

Music moves me too. My work energizes me and allows me to see the world.

I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for other than great conversation, laughter and connections. fresca, 35 Feisty little thing I love doing martial arts and reiki. I love my job and coworkers. I love my friends to pieces. I love to smile. I’m looking for a little bit of everything good in someone. Aren’t we all? Anb140, 27, l

Women seeking Men

See where it leads Looking to find a fun guy to get to know and develop friendships with, see where it goes from there. I am an outdoorsy and adventurous type; enjoy swimming, beaches, nature walks/hiking and camping mostly. I like taking a road trip just to see what’s out there. I know what I want and will know when I find it. sherbear, 45 Professional yet crazy and silly Seriously tall woman, professional life, but love to laugh, be a little crazy and let her hair down. Education: yes.

Occupation: medical/dental. Looks: tall, in shape, athletic. Kids: three grown, successful kids. Dog: yes, one awesome black lab. Home: own my own.

Looking for: friends first, relationship if it’s meant to be. teeth32, 49

looking for fun guy If you want to laugh, be respected, enjoy good times, travel a bit and simply have a good friend: I am seeking someone respectful, stable.

Someone who has a curiosity about the world and a joyful passion for life.

I’m honest, don’t hold grudges and enjoy times outdoors as much I do the comfort of my haven. I’m keen on animals, children, music, camping, movies, dinners. babycakes, 53 interesting, energetic person Looking for an emotionally mature, smart, fit, financially independent man who wants to spend time together at the movies, at home, anything outdoors. Must really like independent women. ingridb, 70, l I’m your Brown-Eyed Girl Hoping for a lasting relationship. When I’m not chasing 8-year-olds around my classroom I enjoy Zumba, reading, snowshoeing and goofing around with my two beautiful children. I’m hoping to find someone who can laugh at themselves as much as I laugh at myself. Someone who can grow to appreciate all that I am and what I aspire to be. dollyteach26, 42, l A lady in the streets Are you easygoing, super-affectionate, laid-back and positive? That describes me. I have dark hair, blue eyes and I’m curvy. If you are looking for a sexual and emotional connection, if you’re a man who knows how to take care of his woman and wants to be spoiled in return, I’m your girl. Tall, rugged, country boys are my favorite. vermontgirl16, 38

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artsy craftsy laughing Living in the country and looking for a fun companion who is free to embark on all kinds of activities. studio41, 73 Affectionate, Adventurous, Active, Above Average Have a great life but looking for someone to share the journey. Although (to misquote Mr. Toad) “There is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about!” There is also nothing, absolutely nothing, so wonderful as sitting on a mountain ledge or swimming in a remote lake. Do you like dogs, sunsets and Christmas trees? Do you wash behind your ears and get along well with others? CountryCousin, 64, l Fun, outgoing adventurous I love people, family, horses, food, dancing, traveling and my independence. I am down to earth and try not to take myself too seriously. I love trying new foods and creating my own spin on more traditional dishes!

I have been blessed with a handful of great friends that I cherish. I grow and learn every day! Kendravt01, 30, l

Honest and open ... obviously Yes, I have herpes. And I swear that’s my only flaw because other than that I’m the whole package, just slightly damaged in transit! I’d love to find a wonderful woman who is accepting of that or who is similarly afflicted. I’m intelligent, funny, sincere and good-looking. I’m also in great shape, a good cook and a good listener. HSV2_GreatGuy, 45 Honest, soulful, loyal, funny, kind I am a warm, honest and loyal person.

I feel guilty, guilty even looking at another girl on a first date. Unless she’s looking too. I try to take life as it comes and would really like to find someone who understands me. I definitely want someone who likes a good sci-fi adventure, “Doctor Who” is a must! RaggedyMan, 39, l “Congratulations, today is your day” I love to smile, dance, laugh, kayak, work, bike, workout, go to the beach, vacation in Florida, Caesar salad with chicken or salmon, hair gel, red wine, massages, mani/pedi’s, thrift shops, beach volleyball, men’s softball, coaching, watching my son play hockey and lacrosse, getting my teeth cleaned, hiking, campfires.

Alltheplacesyougo, 45, l

non-pretentious country hipster 27, blond, green-eyed female. At home in city or country, generally outdoorsy type. Likes: New England, music, sketch comedy, horses and reading. If you enjoy the Daily Show, your humour level is in the right area. Dancing ability is a plus; being tall, dark and handsome?

A bonus. Enjoying food, books, movies and idle chatter a must. jill568, 27, l

Happiness Starts From the Inside Hello! I’m from Virginia and I’ve been in Vermont for about a year now.

I love my life and right now I’m as happy and grateful that I can be.

I have my degree, had a football scholarship, family oriented, and I love my career. Be honest, caring and kindhearted! Virginia37, 30

Sexy, Cute and Ridiculous I am a young person who dreams of changing the world, after college of course. I love to dance, but do not look good doing it. I am looking for something fun and upbeat. I am looking for someone who is incredibly suave.

Humor is my weakness and music is my passion. Renna_is_sweet, 19, l

quiet, honest, likable I’m a widower, who is quite lonely.

Looking for friendship first, then more. I enjoy golf, sports cars, riding motorcycles. I enjoy new experiences, will try most anything. I’m quite active for my age. I like to meet new people and see if we have anything in common. I love my pets and treat them as part of the family. 71124, 65, l

Livin’ just to find emotion I am an easygoing, active woman, who loves adventure and seeking out new experiences. But I also do enjoy spending a quiet night in with a good movie and take-out. If you think for a smile we could share the night, contact me. JustASmallTownGirl86, 27, l Adventurous, relaxed, passionate Love summer, the beach and warm nights. I’m a die hard rock and roll music lover, but not opposed to other types of music. You must love dogs!

I’m willing to try new things, foods and entertainment. I love to smile and have a great sense of humor!

I’m also known for being outspoken and blunt. Scorpio53, 53, l

Healthy passion for life!

Hello Vermont! I’m down-to-earth, funloving, very open-minded, and looking for the same in a woman. I love my family and the great outdoors. I enjoy daily walks with my dog and cooking mostly vegetarian meals. When the weather is right, I love to be outside in the garden. Teegre708, 34, l Down-to-Earth Trans Guy I’m a down-to-earth, honest (too much trouble remembering lies) trans man.

I was born in a female body but it just didn’t fit. I like all the Vermont things like hiking, kayaking, skiing, etc. I am a hobbyist beekeeper and an herbalist in training. Looking for someone to share with. EnjoyingMyself, 52, l

irreverent Brit seeking vivacious partner Me: outdoors, big sky, fresh air, summer and winter, wood fires, good brew and tunes, red wine and you. Feisty, artsy, cute, loves good conversation and wit, arts, theater, r&r, blues, jazz, classical, more. onlyrockandroll, 59, l True roughneck techno peace lover I like dirt, soil. Gauge my well-being by bruises. Love Vermont, lived all over it. Irishman with a hearty laugh, love singing, dancing, cooking. Loyal. Despise disingenuousness. Love freedom.

Long Trail every summer. Do things right or laugh at myself. Play sports, stay educated. Women who like being women, men who are men. Manners.

People who try. People who know, and share. wildblueyonder, 44, l Wild Rivers and Interesting People I try to treat life as a gift, to take risks and to learn. I love to read. I go out of my way to find interesting people who have done challenging things with their lives. I don’t care much if they are artists, wilderness protection activists or hedge fund managers. They make me think and question my preconceived notions. natureartist, 57, l Desperately seeking?

Well, here it goes. Best to honest on here. I’m 37. Been single too long. Been getting a bit lonely. In need of some company. Love to cuddle, watch movies, give massages, dance, love summer, winter ehhh. I’m not gonna say what I’m looking for in someone, except that I’m looking to date and possibly a LTR. You? Just be you. jeffy76, 37, l larger than average, muscular, 5’9” I am charming, educated, currently going to Springfield College at 55. I am looking for a petite, well-educated woman who would like a 5’9”, husky, older man to be with, until I suppose it gets old! tankerfa, 55, l Drummer75 Get busy living!

Drummer75. Not much of a computer guy and not into video games. I work and play. Trying to be more socially active with this online dating.

Never know! I am right minded for the city at times but I live beside a brook in the woods. dswag, 39, l Can’t hold me down I’m a carefree soul that has been told they need to take life a little more seriously sometimes. An eternal optimist, it’s hard to get me down. Full of energy, though I need someone to help me channel it and motivate me into endeavors. Velivolus, 27, l Genuine, respectful, loyal In my free time I enjoy watching movies, reading, cooking and spending time with family. I am very well-rounded and independent. Looking for a genuine friendship with the possibility of blossoming into loving and supportive long-term commitment. paul2, 31 Southern transplant I’m never good at describing myself. I’m a very laid-back person and take life as it comes. Just drop me a line if you’d like to know more. SterlingSixx, 28, l

For groups, bdsm, and kink:

dating.sevendaysvt.com

Women seeking?

Seeking Inexperienced Guys I’m a self-assured woman in my mid-30s who loves to help shy, kind guys gain confidence in the bedroom. trillianwithtowel, 35 Marathon Sex They say that women reach their sexual peak later in life than men. Let me just say that I’ve never been so horny!

When I people watch, all I can think about is having sex with this one or that one or both! All I can think about is sex! Do you have the stamina to match my drive? LaLaLoooo, 37, l winter blues playdate I would love to find a friend to have playdates with. Not looking for seriousness but companionship and fun. Cleanliness is a virtue and neccessity. I am classy, clean and kind. I appreciate discretion and spontaneous interactions. Tymeflies, 30, l classy kink I want a fit, professional man and/ or woman in a suit or cocktail dress for a classy night of drinks and hot sex. I am a fit, professional woman who is undersexed and seeking reawakening. thefortysecond, 24

Naughty LocaL girLs waNt to coNNect with you

1-888-420-2223

69

¢Min 18+

NSA Adventure seeker Looking for casual/NSA fun where looks, fitness and an interesting mind are everything :-). Burlington and areas south. LC1, 45, l

Men Seeking?

looking for more Looking for some casual/NSA fun. I have recently been going through a dry spell sexually, and that needs to change. AG1024, 23, l Passionate, Understanding, Complete I’m very independent and well-rounded.

Looking for genuine friendship with extra benefits. My hobbies are cooking, reading, watching movies and spending time with family. paul5, 31 A Notch Above Average I’m a very attractive, or so I’ve been told, bisexual s/w/m. 5’6” and 143 well-toned lbs. I’m extremely clean and drug and disease free. Had negative STD and HIV test 11/2014 and still have papers.

I’m looking for an attractive, height and weight proportionate couple. My endowment is above average and I have excellent stamina. Bobtheroofer, 45, l we’re all looking for the same thing We’re all looking to mingle and figure out what we want. I’m a pretty easygoing guy. kb1263, 24, l Open to new experiences Just thought I’d give this a try. Looking for some fine sex, no strings attached, great fun sex. If you are looking for a guy with a stable head on his shoulders that’s also got a good cock, then you have cum to the right spot ;). bringiton23, 25, l

Fit and mature Seeking couple (M/F) for “play.” I’m a mature, laid-back, very (very) fit older gentleman who is educated, articulate, polite. ISO “grown-ups” with like interests for, um, play. Single/unattached but cannot host. inshapemature, 51 milton discretion Looking for some fun hookups either in Milton or in the surrounding area.

Would like a regular playmate. I am a well-educated, established, average guy. Very shy at first so I need fun with someone just as shy or someone to show me the way ;). D&D is a must. Discretion is an absolute must. miltonfun, 25

Sexy TS I am a sexy, fit and fun TS looking for a fun couple to play with. I am very oral, love to have her do me with a strap-on while I have him in my mouth. thisgirlsforu, 40, l Sensuous, slow, hot and wet!

We are a committed couple in search of some sexy fun! We seek a sensual woman for me to play with — my man loves to watch me make love to a woman. We would also consider a couple.

I’m bi, my man is straight. I’m a smokin’ hot 40-year-old, very fit and sexy. I seek a pretty lady tease. Grizzly, 39, l Couple Seeking Fun My boyfriend and I are in a loving relationship but wish to expand sexually. We are seeking threesomes with males and females, as well as to bring in another couple. We are in a long-distance relationship, so being comfortable with putting on a show via webcam is a must! ;) Can’t wait to hear from you, sexyass people! Samazing20, 20 In love and lust Committed, happy couple madly in love!

Explore fantasies involving a woman playing with us. Just watching us/vice versa would be fun. Sexy talk or just go with what feels natural and see what happens. Fun and organic, then who knows? We love women of all shapes and sizes. Look for confidence, wit, charisma, spark. Healthy as possible mind, body, spirit. Sass. Sexinthecountry, 38, l

Sincerely,

Dear Walking,

Walking on a Tightrope

You’ve only met once? That’s a big deal in and of itself.

Herpes aside, the start of an intimate relationship between friends can be tricky, especially given the modern-day Love in the Time of Cholera kind of anticipation you two have got going. Wow, 17 years!

You say you want to be “friends with benefits,” but the concept is often, well, just that. It can be challenging to pull off without someone getting too attached, or hurt. You two have cultivated an impressively long friendship, and deciding to take it to another level should not be taken lightly. Sit down and talk honestly about what you both want and expect. Be aware that you could lose a friend while trying to gain a lover. What’s more important to you?

If you proceed with this, you’ll be getting to know each other physically, and the chemistry will be there or it won’t. The way she chews her bagels, for example, could end the relationship before it begins.

I recommend taking it slowly and trying not to be judgmental. And that includes your reservations regarding the herpes. After so many years of communicating, I would guess that door is wide open.

But keep in mind that sex with someone who has herpes does not have to be scary. There are many forms of protection: Using male or female condoms, dental dams and gloves can reduce the risk of getting infected through vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Learn how each product works, if you’ve never used it, so you can be as safe as possible, and avoid sexual interaction when she is having an outbreak.

Finally, take the time to understand herpes — About.com, among other sites, offers useful and expert information. Knowledge is power, whereas fear puts a damper on intimacy and pleasure. The more you know, the less afraid you’ll be, and the less afraid you are, the more fun you can have. Good luck and let me know how it works out!

Need advice?

Yours,

Athena

You can send your own question to her at askathena@sevendaysvt.com

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Someone to play with Looking for discreet fun! Open to most anything and very fun. sopretty, 39, l

always open-minded Here for a good time, not a long time. Looking for fun and someone as active as I am. BIG_D, 27, l

Happy, well-adjusted couple We’re both kind, compassionate, fun and intelligent professionals in our mid-30s.

Our sexual relationship is very open, and we’d like to bring another woman into bed with us for casual fun. Mostly she would satisfy and be satisfied by her, but intimacy with him as well is cool if desired. We believe there’s always more love to go around! openandkind, 37, l

My platonic friend and I have discussed becoming intimate. We have known each other 17 years, and I guess it was inevitable things would come to this.

We’ve only met once; our entire friendship has been through online chats, emails and phone calls. I would love to sleep with her, except that she has herpes.

I’ve told my friend that I’m worried about having sex with her, but I would like to be her friend with benefits. How do I handle this?

SEVEN DAYS

Fwb 5’4”, athletic, attractive professional looking for an NSA FWB. Must be athletic, attractive, professional and d&d free. Ideally this would be an ongoing thing. vtluna, 33

up for any questions. vtsingle34, 34

Other seeking?

Dear Athena,

02.26.14-03.05.14

Fetishes turn me on Looking for a relationship to build trust in therefore allowing for greater ability to explore deeper and wilder fetishes. Looking for someone who knows how to conduct themselves in public and when alone is a real fetish freak. I am discreet. I am sober, drug free, and STD clean and cautious. I prefer you have recent STD results before sex. DiscreetFetishFan, 26, l

Artist of love I’m an artist and sculptor. I’m sensitive and caring of my partner, and love to give pleasure. I’m disease free and take precautions to stay that way. I am not experienced in kinky sex, but am interested in learning more. Can you show me? I have a flexible schedule, but I’m more available days. Looking for a NSA or FWB relationship. TonyS, 51

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Das Bierhaus Beauty Such amazing energy, such a wonderful smile. My breath was taken away when I first saw you months ago and every time since. I was crushed when you told me you are leaving. One of many quiet broken hearts strewn wide in your wake, I have no doubt. So happy to have met you. Love life and enjoy. de When: Friday, February 21, 2014. Where: Das Bierhaus. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912022 slosheD Josh You: blue hat, dark hair, beardy, Mastadon shirt with the sweet Garbage Pail Kids tattoo. Me: green beanie, blue eyes, red hair, who had to tell you your ink made my day. Looked like you were in a hurry, and I was too shy to ask you out for a pint. If you don’t have have a girlfriend, I’m buyin’! When: saturday, February 22, 2014. Where: shaw’s on shelburne rd. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912021 uPs Driver in Btv You deliver to N. Champlain St. often and it always makes me smile to open the door and see you standing there. You’re tall with short, brown hair. I think you’re in your 30s, and you have an uncanny knack for figuring out when I’m home even when my doorbell is on the fritz. Thanks for being awesome! When: Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Where: old north end. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912020

a late valentine You are the most amazing person I have ever met 2/24/14 7:19 PM and I am so lucky to call you my boyfriend! I love that we have our own special holidays. I already had mine and now today is yours. Lover you to _____ and back. When: Friday, February 14, 2014. Where: in my heart. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912019

thinking

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Miss you BooB Miss your beautiful baby blues and hearing your sweet voice whisper in my ear. Being wrapped in your arms always made me feel safe. You will always have a special place in my heart and I will forever be your peaches. xo When: Thursday, February 20, 2014. Where: in my dreams. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912018 Big gigantic at hg FeBruary You: fun, inviting, game, in sync from the start, Windham. Me: long hair, dark clothes, happy to enjoy your company, Jennifer. We chatted, danced, smoked your new fancy cigarette holder.

Had to leave while you were outside, regretted not getting a way to get in touch. Thought you’d get a kick out of being spied. Contact me, let’s be friends! When: tuesday, February 18, 2014. Where: higher ground. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912017 BlonD BoMBshell You work at the Pour House, your eyes make me melt. Everything about you is perfect.

You like Henry’s and the Parkway Diner. Can’t wait to see you again! When: Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Where: Williston road. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912016 MuDDy Waters BlonD eMPloyee I saw you working in Muddy Waters on Valentine’s Day last Friday. Blond hair in a braid, fair skin and you were wearing a pink shirt with jeans. You looked at me briefly and then looked away quickly to attend to someone perhaps. Taken by your beauty, I decided to write you this. Romanticism is not dead. May this find you. When: Friday, February 14, 2014. Where: Muddy Waters, Burlington. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912015

Forever anD alWays!

To that blue-eyed, brown-haired hottie that took my breath away 15 years ago, the other part belongs to our three girls! Through the great and horrible times we stayed together strong, when the other was too weak, we carried the other through unimaginable heartache and we survived together!

To another 15 years as a happy and crazy family!

When: Thursday, February 13, 2014. Where: in my dreams! you: Man. Me: Woman. #912014 Barrio Bakery, sunDay MoMents?

Barrio Bakery, Sunday morning Feb. 16th.

Your face, your kindness, your wit lit up my morning, even more than the blinding sun.

Maybe you felt the same? Sean? A rare moment for me. You know where to find me. When: sunday, February 16, 2014. Where: Barrio Bakery. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912012 suBaru oF near DooM You showed off your mad driving skills on the way to Sugarbush last Friday. I gave you a high five for your efforts. Thank you for the nice note later on. Hope your Valentine’s Day was better than mine. Care to discuss snow tires over a drink some time? When: Friday, February 14, 2014. Where: sugarbush. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912011 you ... Me Could it be that I’ve figured out who you are? Maybe! But ... who knows. Well? When: sunday, February 16, 2014. Where: here and there. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912010 rainBoW sWirl PenDant at chiPotle You made my burrito today. I have to say, as a gay man, that you’re probably the prettiest girl that I’ve ever seen in person. On top of that, the burrito was perfectly folded. Thank you, pretty lady! When: sunday, February 16, 2014. Where: chipotle. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912009

Bank at shaW’s colchester To the cute brunette that I see at the bank in Shaw’s in Colchester when I’m shopping. Sometimes your hair is curly, sometimes it’s straight. All I know is you’re beautiful. We have made eye contact every once in a while when I’m in the store shopping. Is it just me or am I supposed to say something? When: Thursday, February 13, 2014. Where: shaw’s, colchester. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912002 the ecliPse oF venus You are the shadow cast by Venus, the void where starlight dares not venture. When: saturday, January 25, 2014. Where: in the candlelight. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912001 hannaForD PharMacy, north ave You came in and inquired about a pharmacy tech job opening. I chatted with you briefly before you met with our manager. I think you mentioned you worked at FAHC? I thought you were hot! I guess this makes it awkward if you get the job ;). Anyway, single? Would love to grab a drink.

When: Monday, February 10, 2014. Where: hannaford. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912000 cutie on Philly to Burlington You missed the Super Bowl to fly to Burlington (home?). You were four rows ahead on the plane and I caught your glance several times while waiting to deplane. You helped several women with their bags but you were gone before I could catch up. Drink? When: sunday, February 2, 2014. Where: us air flight. you: Man. Me: Woman. #911998 car stuck in snoW I got my car stuck last Thursday. You drove past, reversed your truck and came back. You saw my roommate and I about to put kitty litter down as traction. You helped me push my car out and said, “You’re not used to this much snow in D.C. are you?” Thanks so much, I really appreciate your kindness! When: Thursday, February 6, 2014. Where: driveway on hickok Place. you: Man. Me: Woman. #911997 i see you everyWhere But not lately. Could it be you figured out who I am? I do try to be good. What’s the worst that could happen you say? You will see my weakness.

When: Monday, February 10, 2014. Where: everywhere. you: Man. Me: Woman. #911996 MonDay aFternoon ski at intervale We crossed paths on the edge of one of the fields.

You were wearing some neon green, I had a red jacket. Just want you to tell Oscar he’s a cool canine! When: Monday, February 10, 2014. Where: intervale. you: Woman. Me: Man. #911995

cutie at Bruegger’s!

We struck up a conversation, then your phone rang and you were out the door before I could get your name. I would like to take you out anytime! When: saturday, February 15, 2014. Where: Bruegger’s, church st. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912008 singing on the Bus Happy Valentine’s Day to the girl that was on the Shelburne Road bus earlier this week. You were singing all the way in the back. I got off at the Shelburne Museum. Hope you have a good day ;). When: tuesday, February 11, 2014.

Where: bus. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912007 little B Happy Valentine’s little b. When: Friday, February 14, 2014. Where: adding letters. you: Woman. Me: Man. #912006 Best Wishes I’m happy that you’re happy. Be kind to her please.

Happy Valentine’s Day. When: Friday, February 14, 2014. Where: always in my shavasana, near water. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912005 Me ... you Happy Valentine’s Day! Never thought you would see my Ispy. Feeling stupid. See you around! When: Thursday, February 13, 2014. Where: here, there and everywhere. you: Man. Me: Woman. #912003

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