Best of Burlington - Fall 2019

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FALL 2019

VOLUME 12 NO 4

OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE A FAVORITE DESTINATION

GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA A NEW, LARGER SPACE IS ON THE HORIZON

A HEALTH CARE JOURNEY BCBS GUIDES THE WAY










Discover, Dine, Stay & Shop

Shelburne, Vermont Dutch Mill Family Restaurant and Catering 4309 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT

Shelburne Museum

Shelburne Tap House

6000 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT

2989 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT

www.shelburnemuseum.org

(802) 985-4040 www.shelburnetaphouse.com

(802) 985-3568 www.dutchmillvt.com Mon–Sun 7:30am–2pm

Explore Shelburne this Autumn!

Village Wine and Coffee

Yoga Roots

5288 Shelburne Road #1 Shelburne, VT

Daily Yoga • Workshops Teacher Trainings

(802) 985-8925 www.villagewineandcoffee.com

Shelburne & Williston, VT (802) 985-0090 www.yogarootsvt.com

Mon–Sat 7am–6pm Sun 8:30am–4pm

Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery

A Little Something

Custom Framing • Fine Art Restoration • Gifts

Gifts, Jewelry, and More!

86 Falls Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3848 www.fsgallery.com

Shelburne Bay Plaza 2989 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-9909 www.alittlesomethingvt.com FB: A Little Something (Gifts)

Jamie Two Coats Toy Shop 54 Falls Road In the of the Village Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3221 Open daily 10am–6pm





fall features

Contents 34 OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE

An outdoor enthusiast’s favorite destination.

BY MARK AIKEN

68 A HEALTH CARE JOURNEY

Integrated Health department at BCBS guides the way.

BY MARTA TURNBULL

74 GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA

After 85 years, a new, larger space is on the horizon.

BY RACHEL CLOUTIER



20 66 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Autumn Outings Shopping and fun things to do in the local Burlington area.

8 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

82 28

Shelburne, Vermont Discover, Dine, Stay & Shop

17 PUBLISHERS’ NOTE 18 ONLINE HUB 20 GATHERINGS A little friendly competition.

22 PETS & PEOPLE News, products, and furry facts.

24 ART SCENE Lyric Theatre Company.

BY PAM HUNT

28 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Sweetwaters: Committed to the community.

BY PAM HUNT

82 GREAT FINDS Fellowship of the Wheel.

BY PHYL NEWBECK

88 IN THE KITCHEN

Burlington

HOME 43 BURLINGTON HOME SECTION 44 VERMONT FURNITURE DESIGNS 46 TINA’S HOME DESIGNS 50 CLOSE TO HOME 52 PEREGRINE DESIGN/BUILD 54 SLATE 58 CULLIGAN 60 BURLINGTON MARBLE & GRANITE 62 WAGNER HODGSON 64 WINDOWS & DOORS BY BROWNELL

Culinary adventures.

90 HAPPENINGS A calendar of events.

96 ADVERTISERS INDEX

Contents departments

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Coffee Table Publishing, LLC 32 Hermit Thrush Lane South Burlington, VT 05403 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

PUBLISHERS

Robin Gales John Gales Bob Frisch CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Deb Thompson COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Goss Duby ART DIRECTION/DESIGN

Robbie Alterio ADVERTISING DESIGN

Hutchens Media, LLC WEB DESIGN

Locable ADVERTISING

Robin Gales (802) 299-9086 John Gales (802) 558-2719 coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net Keep us posted. Best of Burlington wants to hear from our readers. Correspondence may be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Best of Burlington, 32 Hermit Thrush Lane, South Burlington, VT 05403. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing ctpublishing@comcast.net or coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net. Best of Burlington is published quarterly by Coffee Table Publishing, LLC, ©2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Best of Burlington accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

Make the Most of Fall

W

ith the arrival of fall, the Champlain Valley is transformed into a swath of colors as we welcome the incoming crisp air and countless falling leaves. Find a beautiful spot outdoors to relax and spend some

time with our fall issue. We talk to the staff about the new YMCA facilities on College Street in Burlington and discover its fascinating history, and we introduce you to the Fellowship of the Wheel, a mountain biking organization dedicated to maintaining trails in the area. We’re also spotlighting Sweetwaters on Church Street and their Sweetwater Cares nonprofit effort, and when we drop in on Outdoor Gear Exchange, we learn that working there is something very special. Our Burlington Home section is dedicated to home buiders, designers, and landscapers and the services they offer, from beautiful windows to modern bathrooms, and we’re also including a look at Tina’s Home Design in Burlington. We hope that you enjoy your autumn as much as we do. Be sure and stop at a local farm stand to stock up on mums, squash, pumpkins for carving and pie, and everything else the fields have yielded during this amazing harvest season. We wish

John and Robin Gales you a fabulous fall!

Publishers

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CLICK ON our online calendar to see local events happening in our community, and you can add your own event free!



GATHERINGS

A Little Friendly

COMPETITION

CHOOSING THE BEST CHOWDER

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A favorite in our area, chowder has many variations, and chowder lovers have definite ideas about which chowder is the “right” chowder. Some swear by creamy New England Clam Chowder while others prefer the tomato-based Manhattan Clam Chowder. Then there’s the lesser-known, broth-based Rhode Island Chowder. Weighty variables include bacon or no bacon, or whether to thicken with a roux or thicken with crackers. Potatoes or no potatoes. Fish chowder, corn chowder, clam chowder. How to choose? How about with a chowder throwdown? For the ninth year in a row, the Williston Chowder Challenge will be held on the Williston Village Green on Sunday, October 6, from 12pm to 3pm. A group of contestants consisting of local restaurant chefs, caterers, and other culinary adventurers will vie for bragging rights when they submit their best chowder for appraisal at this fundraiser that puts the emphasis on fun and friendly competition. CHOWDER FOR GOOD CAUSES The annual competition is the primary fundraiser for two important humanitarian organizations in Williston. Entirely volunteer-run, the Williston Community Food Shelf is dedicated to the elimination of hunger in the towns of Williston, Richmond, Essex, and St. George. With over 1,600 families served so far in 2019, the Williston Community Food Shelf is a nonprofit that partners with the Vermont Food Bank and local service organizations to provide support services and nutritious food to people in need in the Williston community. The second beneficiary of the Chowder Challenge, the Williston Police Officers Association, is a nonprofit that uses its funds to make annual donations to local fundraisers, especially the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Another important part of their philanthropic mission is to provide gifts to members during times of need, such as mourning or medical expenses, as well as special events, such as births. With an admission ticket, chowder enthusiasts receive a ballot listing the four judging categories and the entrants in each. Traditional and non-traditional chowders each have their own category, and chowders with the best presentation will be judged in Best Display. The Municipal Throwdown pits various town organizations, such as the Williston Fire Department and the Williston Central School—both past winners—against one another. With a number of activities aimed at kids, like face painting, Big Blue train rides, a bounce castle, and building workshops, this early autumn celebration of community is a great way to spend an afternoon. Tickets are available online at willistonchowder challenge.org.



PETS AND PEOPLE SPONSORED BY BEVS

Great Pumpkins

Be Happy—Like Your Dog Statistics show that 40 million American adults live with anxiety disorders. Author Tom Baker found relief from worry by watching his dog Mango and then sharing his observations in his book One Dog’s Faith: How My Dog Helped Me Trust in God and Overcome Chronic Worrying, most of which is told from Mango’s point of view. Here’s what Tom’s learned: • “She lives for today. She lives for now. If a chew toy breaks, she puts it down and finds another one. So what?” • As a human, “I hold on to yesterday. Dogs can care less. That was the numberone secret—just get out of yesterday, get out of tomorrow, and enjoy today. Today . . . may have its struggles, but it is an adventure and it is ours to enjoy.” • Dogs don’t wait for all the pieces to come together before taking action. When it’s time to play, to eat, to go, dogs don’t have excuses or let “buts” get in the way. • When we’re worried, “we focus so much on the problem or the struggle and forget to stick our head out the window and just look.” • Dogs look for the best in people. “They’re looking for love, while we’re looking for ‘What can you do for me?’” • Dogs are always ready to move on to the next thing. “If one thing brings the tail down, they look for the next thing that makes it wag.” • Dogs are honest. “We put on all these facades, and that is stressful in itself, to try and impress others with what we’re not. Dogs just say, ‘Here I am, take it or leave it. Pet me, please.’”

Pumpkin, both raw and canned, is safe for dogs, provided your pet is not suffering from a chronic condition such as kidney disease or diabetes. As far as our healthy pets go, seeds and flesh of fresh, raw, or cooked pumpkins are safe. If you choose to go with canned, make sure it doesn’t have added sugar or sweeteners. And don’t forget to roast pumpkin seeds in the oven for tasty dog treats.

Doggie Day Care

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLAYDOGPLAY

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Is your best furry friend lonely and bored while you’re at work all day? Drop him off at Play Dog Play’s Doggie Daycare at 668 Pine Street in Burlington or 1725 Williston Road in South Burlington. Puppies three months or older can attend, and the first step is to schedule an interview so the staff can evaluate your pup’s behavior and match him with an appropriate play group. Your pet will enjoy mental and physical stimulation provided by dedicated handlers, of course, and if you need additional services, the staff has you covered. Schedule an appointment for a shampoo, clip, or nail trim while your dog is there, and keep his shots up to date with the periodic vaccination clinics the facilities offer. For more information, call (802) 540-0545, or visit the website at www.playdogvt.com/doggie-daycare.


Thanksgiving Treats? While you’re preparing and savoring your Thanksgiving feast, be aware that your canine pals should not partake. The stuffing most likely contains sage and other herbs, and the cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices in sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie can cause stomach upset in your pooch. What about turkey? While you may find the golden skin of the bird delectable, the seasonings, butter, and salt it contains are not good for pets. But do feel free to give Rover a small bite of that juicy turkey breast. Yum!

Where Has My Lost Pet Gone?

BEVS

An ASPCA survey of 1,000 pet owners found that 15 percent had lost a dog or a cat in the past five years, and that 74 percent of lost cats and 93 percent of lost dogs were recovered. Methods of recovery reported are: • Forty-nine percent of dog owners found their dog by searching the neighborhood, and 15 percent of the dogs were recovered because they were wearing an ID tag or had a micro-chip. • Fifty-nine percent of cat owners found their cat because it returned home on its own; 30 percent found their cat by searching the neighborhood.

Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 23


ART SCENE BY PAM HUNT PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYRIC THEATRE COMPANY

LyRic TheAtre

Company

A COMMUNITY THEATER COMPANY BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS

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L

yric Theatre Company has long been a mainstay in Burlington’s arts scene. Its mission of bringing Broadway-style shows to the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts is brought to life by the company’s numerous volunteers and supporters. Going into its 46th year, the organization still buzzes with “startup energy,” says newly appointed executive director and Vermont native Erin Evarts. She credits this energy not only to the general enthusiastic vibe of the volunteers—both those whom audiences see on stage and those who perform the multitude of behind-the-scenes work for each production—but also to the fact that they’re in their new space on Green Tree Drive in South Burlington,


Opposite: The finale of Lyric’s spring production of Mamma Mia! Above: The Lyric creative space for set building and painting. Left: Lyric members Kim Nowlan, Chris Brown, and Julia Sioss in dance rehearsal in the new rehearsal space.

complete with a full-size rehearsal stage. “It’s been a long time coming,” Erin says. “We just finished our multiyear capital campaign, so this is kind of the fruits of our labor.” A NEW SPACE The organization has slowly been moving into the new building but just celebrated its grand opening in June 2019. All of the renovation has been done by Lyric volunteers, so construction and design occurred between work on the stage productions. The new spacious set-building room initially stood in as a rehearsal space when the company first moved into the building. Now, however, the performers have a brand-new rehearsal studio, designed to be the same size as the Flynn Center’s MainStage. “We have rehearsed over Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 25


Above: Costume storage in the creative space. Right: Executive Director Erin Evarts. Opposite: The Addams Family logo created by Lyric member Jane Burchard.

the years in daycares, schools, and gymnasiums,” Erin says, including one space that had support poles in the middle of the room—not very conducive to practicing choreography. CREATING THE SHOWS Work has long been underway for this fall’s show, The Addams Family. The prop room is filled with a wild assortment of items: foam ice cream cones and giant foot-long ice cream sandwiches that will never melt, an old-time telephone, and a multitiered foam cake, complete with a strap attached to the bottom of its platter to ensure the performer who will hold it can move around the stage without dropping it. “It’s amazing, the people who make this stuff,” Erin says. “These are people who don’t build props for a living, but they do it for fun. That’s one of the most beautiful things about this organization.” Work begins on a show up to two years before opening night, though auditions aren’t held until about three months out. “It’s funny,” Erin says, “when we cast, so many people are like, ‘Oh, we’re starting the show!’ but there have already been hundreds and hundreds of hours put in by dozens of people by the time 26 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

we get to auditions.” Once the cast is selected, however, the timetable speeds up. For example, the costume makers may have selected patterns, fabrics, and other accessories, but the real work starts only when the actors are cast and their measurements are known. Then the wall of sewing machines whirs into action. Some shows require more costume and design work than others, but Lyric volunteers

are up to the task. When the troupe put on Les Misérables in 2014, the designers went above and beyond, according to Erin. “They made all of the pants period appropriate, so there were no zippers. Was that necessary? No. Was it authentic? Yes. That attention to detail, those little pieces—nobody beyond the fifth row is going to see that, but as an actor, you know it’s there, and it makes a difference.”


As summer winds down, the volunteer team working on The Addams Family kicks into high gear, but other groups of volunteers will also be working on Burlington Does Broadway—the Lyric Theatre’s collaborative New Year’s Eve show with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra—as well as next April’s show, Matilda: The Musical. The importance of the company’s volunteers isn’t lost on Erin; she had been a volunteer for Lyric for 20 years. “Every person plays their part,” she says. “That’s one of the beautiful things about community theater—there isn’t a star credit on the marquee. It just says, ‘by Lyric Theatre,’ and in that sense, we all get the same amount of credit.” Erin’s experience with Lyric over the years has been a positive one, and one that she wants to share with others. “Once you’re part of this community, you want to stay involved. That’s one of the things I want to continue to work on. I’ve always found a home with Lyric, and I want to make sure other people have that same experience.” ✿

Lyric Theatre Company 7 Green Tree Drive South Burlington, VT (802) 658-1484 lyrictheatrevt.org Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 27


COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT BY PAM HUNT PHOTOS COURTESY OF SWEETWATERS

FRESH AND LOCAL FARE IN A HISTORIC BUILDING

Sweetwaters Committed to the Community

For nearly 40 years, Sweetwaters American Bistro has been a mainstay on Church Street. The building itself has played a role in Burlington’s marketplace since the 1880s. Starting its life as the Burlington Trust Company, it became a men’s clothing shop and a woodworking studio over the years before opening as an eatery in 1981. The original owners, Tony Perry and the Perry Restaurant Group, renovated the building to bring it back to the former glory of its heyday. Current owners David and Terri Melincoff took over the gastronomic landmark in 28 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

2002. Since then, the pair have continued Perry’s commitment to good food and good deeds, while also making changes to reflect their vision. KEEPING THINGS FRESH The Melincoffs tweak Sweetwaters’ menu regularly, both to satisfy diners’ changing preferences and to reflect the evolving food scene in Vermont. “We’ve tried to go more local, like a lot of other restaurants,” Terri says. “It’s valued in this community.” She cites the ever-popular


Left: Bar area. The wrought iron grates are from the days when the building was a bank in the late 1800s. Below left: One menu item that has been consistent through the years is some variation on grilled tuna. Below: Thanksgiving Day volunteers are all ages.

burger as an example. “We use Boyden beef. That’s something you wouldn’t have seen 15 or 20 years ago. And to be honest, we’ve never had a better burger.” Another change the Melincoffs have seen in the local dining community is the steadily rising cost of eating out. “It’s a lot easier for a pricier restaurant, which doesn’t have to sell as many covers, to make a profit,” Terri says. “But we feel that there’s a need in Burlington for a restaurant at our price point.” The addition of a smoker around five years ago allowed Sweetwaters’ chefs to include several savory dishes with house-smoked meats. “We smoke our own brisket, chicken wings, and pork,” says Terri. “You can sit at the bar or outside at Sweetwaters, and you can get poutine or an order of wings, and, you know, our pulled pork nachos are pretty good.” Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 29


Clockwise from right: Featured appetizer during Vermont Restaurant Week. One of Sweetwaters’ bartenders prepares a craft cocktail. David (left) with Bernie and Jane Sanders and some of their family members, who are frequent Thanksgiving volunteers. Dessert display for the Thanksgiving Community Dinner. Many desserts were made and donated by local families, including a baking group from Stowe called Hunger is Hard/Baking is Easy.

THANKSGIVING FOR ALL Along with all of the day-to-day meals Sweetwaters serves, one meal means the most, both to the Melincoffs and their guests: the annual Thanksgiving Day dinner. This holiday event started 30 years ago, when the restaurant was still under the Perry Restaurant Group. “The restaurant was closed on Thanksgiving,” Terri says. “The manager, Tony Cochones, had the idea to serve a free meal. It started on a smaller scale, but as time went on, it took on a life of its own.” “It’s a community-building event,” David adds. For the first couple of years, the majority of people coming for the free meal were the homeless, and the event drew a couple of 30 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

hundred people. “Over time, we realized there was a need around the holidays, not only financially but emotionally as well,” David says. For people who have lost loved ones or who live alone, or even local college students who can’t get home for the holiday, Sweet­ waters’ Thanksgiving meal is a place to go. “We changed it to the Thanksgiving Community Dinner. It’s for the whole community,

and we open the doors to anybody. And even tourists—there are plenty of tourists who say there’s no place open downtown on Thanksgiving, and they can come in and get a free meal as well.” David says that for many, it’s not just about the food. “There are so many people who are not financially privileged, and they’ll tell you that the only time they’ve eaten in a restau-


rant where they sit down and get waited on is at Sweetwaters. In that moment, everyone’s equal,” he says. “It’s so much different than just going through a line, like at a soup kitchen.” CARING WITH COATS The free meal isn’t the only way Sweetwaters assists those in need on Thanksgiving. “About 10 or 15 years ago, we noticed a lot of people waiting in line didn’t have coats, so we added the coat drive component,” Terri says. “We give out about a thousand coats a year now.” The restaurant collaborates with the Best Western Windjammer Inn to run the coat drive. Numerous volunteers work tirelessly the day before Thanksgiving to sort and hang the coats on racks, which are donated by local businesses like Michael Kehoe, Outdoor Gear Exchange, and Patagonia. “By 8am on Thanksgiving Day we have the coats on Church Street, and they’re gone before we open the doors for the meal at 10,” Terri says. Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 31


Clockwise from top: Customers enjoy outdoor dog-friendly patio seating. Friendly service staff is ready to serve you. Bistro Steak with Frittes.

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The Melincoffs are grateful for the support they receive from local businesses to put on the dinner. Food from regional producers such as Misty Knoll Farms and Sam Mazza’s, as well as supplies from White River Paper and Foley Linen Service, help to make the day a success. The kitchen serves up 1,500 pounds of turkey, 100 pounds of cranberry sauce, 400 pounds of stuffing, 600 pounds of mashed potatoes, and 100 pies, along with other sides and beverages. CHARITY ISN’T JUST FOR HOLIDAYS Sweetwaters also helps the local community throughout the year through a program called Dinners with Love, through the hospice caregiving community, Bayada. “People who are in hospice are able to pick out restaurants that they would love to have a meal from with their families,” says David. “We make the dinner, and Bayada has someone who picks it up and brings it to the hospice.” As both a longtime favorite restaurant, as well as a local business that gives back, Sweetwaters shows what it means to support the local community. ✿

Sweetwaters American Bistro 120 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 864-9800 www.sweetwatersvt.com Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 33


BY MARK AIKEN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

OGE staff enjoy a beautiful evening car camping in Vermont.

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An Outdoor Enthusiast’s Favorite Destination

Head to Outdoor Gear Exchange for equipment and expert advice Vermont’s unique physical characteristics—the rivers running through it, mountains rising above it, and forests covering it—encourage every form of outdoor activity. Vermonters (and our visitors) will be found running, walking, biking, hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, ice climbing, caving, sailing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, skiing, snowboarding, and telemarking. Vermont’s outdoor enthusiasts are passionate, active, and motivated to get out and go. Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 35


Clockwise from above: Upon entering OGE for the first time, customers are greeted with a dizzyingly vast selection of outdoor equipment. Ethan Garceau, Director of Marketing, hangs out in the climbing section. OGE knows that sometimes function comes before fashion—Crocs are a longtime trail favorite! Photos by Mark Aiken.

Outdoor activities require gear—some more than others. And Vermont, which cherishes— along with its natural resources—all things local, homegrown, and independent, has this covered also. Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE) is located in the old Woolworth’s building on Burlington’s Church Street. OGE has the selection, the people, and the energy to outfit Vermont’s outdoors set—and the shop supports organizations that steward, and protect access to, Vermont’s natural surroundings. THE RIGHT STUFF “I wanted to create a shop I would want to shop in,” says Marc Sherman, founder of Outdoor Gear Exchange. Marc first opened OGE as a one-room consignment shop (he describes it as “closet-sized”) on Main Street in 1994. Soon thereafter OGE began complementing the consignment inventory with new gear and, soon after that, began outgrowing their space. Now in its fourth location (all within the downtown Burlington area), OGE expanded within its current building last year. 36 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


“I just don’t know where you’ll find a better selection of outdoor gear in New England,” says Pete Osler of Burlington, a former Appalachian Trail through-hiker and current four-season hiking leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Boston chapter. For example, maybe you’re looking for hiking boots. Plenty of shops have hiking boots. But how many carry new boots by Asolo, Columbia, Five Ten, Garmont, Hoka, Keen, La Sportiva, Lowa, Mammut, Merrell, Salewa, Salomon, Scarpa, Tecnica, Teva, The North Face, and Vasque? This list doesn’t even include boots that might be found in the shop’s used consignment area, which continues to occupy the store’s entire basement floor. THE RIGHT PEOPLE One would not describe the inside of OGE as neat and orderly. Gear isn’t just displayed on shelves and racks; backpacks hang from poles, clothing dangles off ropes, bicycles sway from hooks on the walls, and canoes hover from the rafters. Loud signage proclaims sales, closeouts, and seconds. Gear-laden mannequins sneak up on you from around corners. However, once customers get used to the initial visual onslaught, they sense a down-home atmosphere in the shop. Yes, it’s cluttered. After all, there is a lot of stuff in there! But there is something about OGE that makes customers feel at home, like they are being welcomed into someone’s living room. It could be that many of OGE’s 130 employees view the shop as a sort of second home. Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 37


From above: Ivan Tighe and Anna Gutwin, longtime OGE employees, explore a nearby bouldering field. Don’t be intimidated by OGE’s massive selection of packs and footwear—their expert staff will guide you toward what suits your needs and budget. Miguel Reda and Eliza Maas enjoy a day hike in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Photos top right and bottom right by Mark Aiken.

“Most everyone here is passionate about the outdoors,” says Ethan Garceau, OGE’s director of marketing. Ethan, an avid rock climber who got his start at OGE working the sales floor 12 years ago, was attracted to the shop for the same reasons as many of his colleagues. “I wanted to meet like-minded folks, and I didn’t mind the discounts on gear,” he says. It is a regular occurrence for him to interact with colleagues at work and to leave totally inspired to check out a new climbing route. “Most employees are more than proficient in their chosen activity,” Ethan says. “We have through-hikers, mountain bike racers, and climbers who put up first ascents.” If anyone has experience with the gear in OGE, it’s the OGE staff. “We’re not going to try to upsell or spin it,” Ethan says. “We believe that honesty is the best policy.” 38 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


PHILANTHROPIC MISSION Meanwhile, OGE cares about the employee experience: the company employs predominantly full-time staffers with full-time benefits and offers a “Living the Dream” bonus after the fifth consecutive year of employment. Employees follow guidelines as to how they can use the bonus, like investing in a business (including some who have become employee owners of OGE), taking a trip of a lifetime, paying off college loans or personal debt, buying a home or property, or offsetting child care costs. “It’s been a meaningful incentive program,” says Marc. Outdoor Gear Exchange is also involved in supporting the community, having launched its Charitable Grant Fund in 2013. “The outdoors is important to us personally, and the outdoors sustains this business,” says Marc. Consigners elect to donate a percentage of their gear sales Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 39


OGE’s bike department continues to expand. They offer daily commuters and specialized mountain bikes along with a highly trained service team. Photo by Mark Aiken.

to the fund, and OGE matches the gift. Twice a year, grants are awarded to organizations that protect access to, steward, or otherwise take care of Vermont’s natural areas. The fund has donated over $30,000 in grants to organizations like CRAG Vermont, Cochran’s Ski Area, Richmond Mountain Trails, and King Street Center—over 40 organizations so far. “Grants go to organizations with a specific and tangible project or program in mind,” says Marc. “Things like installing bike racks at the sailing center or building a parking area at a trailhead.” The deadline for Fall 2019 grant applications is October 1, 2019. Outdoor Gear Exchange is an authentic Vermont outdoor gear shop. Located in Vermont’s largest city, it is staffed with people who choose to live here because of their love for the outdoor pursuits Vermont offers. The shop has a vast range of products from top-of-the-line new to 40 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

used and consigned. Staffers are eager to share and hear adventure stories and help match enthusiasts with the right pieces of equipment. Do you have plans for your next outdoor adventure? You might want to visit Outdoor Gear Exchange. ✿

Outdoor Gear Exchange 37 Church Street Burlington, VT (888) 547-4327 www.gearx.com

ONLINE EXTRA Find upcoming trail biking events at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.




Burlington

HOME BUILD, REMODEL, DECORATE & LANDSCAPE

PHOTO BY SUSAN TEARE COURTESY OF CUSHMAN DESIGN GROUP


Burlington

HOME

BY LIA VENNER

vermont furniture designs T he clean lines and timeless elegance of the pieces at Vermont Furniture Designs do not happen by accident. They are a product of the craft, passion, and experience of the skilled artisans who create these heirloom-quality pieces. Time-tested methods of craftsmanship combined with classic styles produce furniture that is known and respected across the country. Mission, Shaker, arts and crafts, and mid-century modern styles are all faithfully represented in Vermont Furniture Designs’ production line. Each item is crafted by a small team of highly skilled artisans working in native walnut, maple, and cherry. The artisans at Vermont Furniture Designs use the traditional joinery techniques such as the mortise and tenon joint that is then glued and clamped overnight to create a strong, rigid joint. After a detailed level of sanding, each piece is finished with an oil and wax that is based on linseed oil. This natural finish does not produce any VOCs and brings out the color, grain, depth—and natural beauty—of the wood. When co-owners Adam Blaisdell and Rob Bachand took over the business in 2017, they launched Vermont Handcrafted Furniture

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under the Vermont Furniture Designs umbrella. While VFD stayed true to traditional forms, Vermont Handcrafted Furniture allowed the business to push the boundaries of style and design. Collaborations with local artisans working in stone, metal, fabric, and other materials result in exciting new offerings but with the same dedication to quality. The craftsmen and -women at Vermont Furniture Designs take pride in being a continuation of the long Vermont tradition of working by hand to create beautiful, premium quality furniture.

Vermont Furniture Designs 4 Tigan Street Winooski, VT (802) 655-6568 www.vermontfurnituredesigns.com



Burlington

HOME

Complete Coordination Look to Tina’s Home Designs for the “wow” factor

You can buy just about anything online nowadays, from dainty earrings and ball bearings to a bedroom set or even a granite bench—for every aspect of life, anything is available to us with the click of the mouse. BUYER’S REMORSE? But what happens when the item is delivered? Does that dress fit? Are the replacement tent poles the right size for your tent? Is the color of your new area rug what you expected? 46 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


Opposite top: Silhoutte Window Shadings. Opposite bottom: Sonnette Cellular Roller Shades. Right: Detail of Silhoutte Window Shading.

Many people, eager for a new look at home, purchase everything from furniture and paint to rugs and draperies online. But once the paint is dry and the furniture, draperies, and rugs are in place, they may realize that it isn’t quite what they had in mind. The greige wall paint has the wrong undertone to match the fawn-colored drapes, and the patterned couch competes with the rug instead of complementing it. Now what? Home decorators are returning to brick and mortar shopping as a way to be certain about how their purchases look and feel before they put down the money. “In-home consultations for draperies, area rugs, runners, and window coverings are the most important part of our business,” says Chris Gregoire, general manager and design consultant at Tina’s Home Designs in Burlington. Tina’s features a “try before you buy” take-home policy in their rug department. “There is nothing like seeing any of our 1,000 in-stock rugs in your own lighting and with your own furniture,” says Chris. Seeing rugs in your home avoids costly mistakes and shipping and return hassles. “Consumers and designers love this policy, as selecting the right rug becomes the foundation for decorating any room,” Chris explains. BENEFITS OF SHOPPING LOCAL Started as a fabric store in 1961 by Tina Gregoire, Tina’s Home Designs is a family business. Tina and her husband Maurice ran the store for more than 20 years before their son Chris took over. “Design is becoming more important,” says Chris. “People want someone to put together a look for them.” And Tina’s Home Designs can do just that. With four design consultants on staff, the store offers customers professional advice to help them bring the home they envision to reality. Sometimes, “people don’t even come in,” explains Chris. “They call us and arrange an in-home consultation.” Once in the home, the design consultant can tell the customer what would work with the furniture

already in place, the architecture of the home, the windows and lighting, and not least, the customer’s lifestyle. THEY DO WINDOWS Tina’s specializes in both hard window coverings such as blinds, shades, and shutters

as well as soft goods like draperies, cushions, pillows, and upholstery. As a designated Hunter Douglas Window Blinds Gallery Dealer, Tina’s offers an extensive selection of the company’s products, along with a competitive pricing structure. Tina’s caters to both residential and commercial customers, with free in-home Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 47


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TINA’S HOME DESIGNS 21 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 862-6701 www.tinashomedesigns.com

Opposite top: Newstyle Hybrid Shutters. Opposite botttom: Tina’s designers Paula and Carol. Above: Detail of Parkland Wood Blinds.

measuring and consultations. Tina’s also offers a blind repair service at the Church Street location. The design team at Tina’s specializes in bringing everything together in one place, from furniture to rugs to window treatments, plus design expertise, to provide a seamless look for your home.

ONLINE EXTRA

What are the top interior paint colors? Find out at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 49


Burlington

HOME

Baths Go Modern

T

Check out the latest at Close to Home

he bathroom continues to be a focus of the home as it provides a healthy sanctuary and peaceful space to prepare for the new day or unwind at day’s end. Choices for high-quality, well-designed faucets and fixtures continue to grow, and now a well-established European bath line has entered the US market. Crosswater London has landed on our shores with a select portfolio of faucets and fixtures that eloquently capture styles from traditional to country to modern. Crosswater London owner and driving force David Hance started the company from his car trunk in 1998 with a small loan from his mother. Having developed his vision into a major bath force in Europe, the company is now building strength in the United States. Keeping with the growing trend of the industrial modern style ethos, Crosswater has introduced the “Union” series of faucets. Italian artistry and innovation are the trademark of this line, which offers various metal finishes and a bold red lever thrown into the 50 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

mix for a splash of fun. The single-lever wallmount basin faucet is especially eye-catching with its simple hose bib design. As the shower continues to be a major part of the spa-like bath experience, Crosswater has introduced innovative new shower technology entitled “Dial” that precisely controls the temperature and flow of water. A simple push of the handle adjusts water flow and the temperature can be changed easily with a twist of the dial. The result is superb precision showering all from one well-designed and gorgeously crafted control set. Close to Home is proud to be one of the select Crosswater showrooms in the US. Stop by soon to see this cutting-edge collection of faucets, fixtures, and accessories.

CLOSE TO HOME 10 Farrell Street South Burlington, VT (802) 861-3200 www.closetohomevt.com

ONLINE EXTRA Find the latest bathroom trends at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.



Burlington

HOME BY RACHEL CLOUTIER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PEREGRINE DESIGN/BUILD

Share your wish list with

PEREGRINE

DESIGN/BUILD

Small changes create major impact

BEFORE This kitchen had a set of hanging cabinets and a wall dividing it from the rest of the living space. Removing them created an updated kitchen in this condo.

I

f you have been paying attention to the real estate market in our area, you know that a shrinking home inventory and pent-up buyer demand have forced homeowners, including condominium owners, to stay put. With nowhere to go, people are thinking about how to make their current situation more livable; how they can make their home a true reflection of themselves. Peregrine Design/Build has been fortunate to work with various condominium owners recently to help them achieve their vision of updating their living spaces.

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES One project (shown above) was for a retired couple that recently moved to the

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area. Their condo worked for them but by simply taking down one wall, it became their dream home. The wall enclosed a small kitchen and blocked a lake view. By removing it, the room opened into an expansive area for entertaining. With a huge interest in design, a young professional bachelor came to Peregrine with a wish list of modern upgrades for his downtown condominium (shown opposite, top). He wanted an urban vibe for entertaining. In went a bar and custom storage, plus a contemporary fireplace façade, and an upgraded kitchen completed the look. The last two featured projects on the facing pages show similar design concepts of opening up spaces and upgrading finishes.

Maybe your dream home is right where you currently reside. Making small renovation changes and upgrades can give you contentment in a tight real estate market. Look around. . .maybe that wall goes, or that one— opening up endless possibilities for you and your family.

PEREGRINE DESIGN/BUILD 49 Commerce Avenue, Unit 1A South Burlington, VT (802) 383-1808 www.peregrinedesignbuild.com


BEFORE Clean lines and built-in storage updated this condominium for a young client.

Changing the kitchen cabinets to a more modern style can have a huge impact on the space. Adding details like a sleek stone backsplash or a waterfall counter can also make a big difference to an existing space.

BEFORE

BEFORE Adding an island to an existing kitchen can offer an open feel—great for entertaining and creating additional storage. Summer 2019 | Best of Burlington | 53


Burlington

HOME

SLATE

Create a Unique Home

F

Style galore, from local to international

urnishing and decorating a home— whether it’s a spacious home on acres of green lawn or a snug loft in downtown Burlington—is like creating a story. To bring everything together as a whole requires finding just the right pieces to tell the story of who the home’s inhabitants are. Slate, on Church Street in downtown Burlington, “was founded on the idea that every item has a story, and we’re here to give it a voice,” says Operations Manager Heather Babin.

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FROM FURNITURE TO ACCESSORIES Slate opened in the fall of 2017 and offers a wide array of home décor and furniture plus an extensive selection of lifestyle products. Stylishly arranged throughout the store are displays of jewelry and handbags, furniture, hand-carved wooden kitchen implements, baskets, bath and body accoutrements, candles, books, and more. Merging culture with timeless simplicity, Slate offers furniture and décor by brands such as Cisco Brothers, Libeco, and Chilewich as well as Sawyer Mason hardwood flooring. As a small

business, Slate takes pride in supporting local artisans by providing an outlet for their products. Locally made handbags by Ma & Pembum are not just stylish, half the profits from the sale of each handbag goes to organizations that fight human trafficking. And the store’s ambience is enhanced by local artwork that is also for sale. If the style and feel of Slate moves you, take advantage of their interior design services. They can help with a simple one-room accessory overhaul or take you all the way with a full furniture revamp.


ketplace’s Shop & Sip events, where shoppers purchase a tasting glass and visit participating stores to try samples from local distilleries, craft breweries, and wineries. With their selection of locally made as well as internationally sourced home goods, Slate celebrates globally inspired design for the modern home in order to promote the value of connections between people, stories, and different worlds.

SLATE COMMUNITY IS KEY Slate is an active participant in Burlington’s vibrant downtown community. They are part of Shop Local’s First Friday, an event that encourages shoppers to patronize local shops. And they participate in Church Street Mar-

89 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 540-6850 www.slatehome.co Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 55


Burlington

HOME We found some of our FAVORITE items at SLATE to help you create YOUR unique HOME Understated yet bold, this 40-inch smoked oak mirror pairs perfectly with a matching dresser or stands out as a centerpiece in any entryway.

This lamp features a handcrafted, textured ceramic base with an offwhite glaze. Due to the method of construction, each piece is unique. Linen shade is included and helps to give off the perfect light to bring warmth to any room.

This lounge chair is a classic take on the Adirondack chair. Featuring a solid oak frame and luxurious top-grain leather, it is the perfect addition to any living or lounging area. Also available in a distressed black frame with black leather.

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For use either indoors or outdoors, this teak framed chair adds a modern twist to your traditional dining area. The all-weather wicker seat adds texture and interest. Also available in gray teak frame, as well as bar- and counter-height chairs. Sophisticated Belgian linen pillows meant for everyday living are ecologically made, producing no waste, and are 100 percent biodegradable and recyclable. The linen is durable, washable, and available in a wide range of classic neutrals.

Sustainably built and thoughtfully crafted, Cisco Brothers sofas can be upholstered or slipcovered in a wide variety of ethically sourced fabrics. The frames are 100 percent solid wood and guaranteed for life. Pictured here is the Radley sofa in an organic cotton fabric.

Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 57


Burlington

HOME

O

ne of the most significant but often overlooked sources of cost savings runs right through our everyday lives. It’s a resource we rely on for bathing, washing, and running appliances: water. Nearly 90 percent of US homes have hard water, according to the United States Geological Survey. When not properly treated with a water softening system, hard water is not only a nuisance—it’s a drain on the wallet. Hard water naturally contains dissolved minerals such as magnesium and calcium. A deposit of these minerals, called scale, on the insides of water-using appliances can damage equipment and lead to premature replacement. Using softened water increases the lifespan of appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. Consider these additional benefits of water softening systems.

WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY Gas storage tank household water heaters that run on hard water have as much as a 48 percent loss of efficiency, whereas those operating on soft water can maintain their original efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. 58 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Soft water Good for Your Budget

LOWER ENERGY BILLS Cooler water is required for clothes washing when the water is softened, so consumers can now wash their clothes in 60-degree versus 100-degree water temperatures, decreasing the energy required to heat water for successful stain removal.

drains, and constricts the rate of water flow from showerheads. Soft water keeps pipes and drains open and prevents the need for costly plumbing repairs.

DETERGENT SAVINGS Soft water requires less soap and cleaning aids to wash laundry, dishes, hair, and body. Save on detergent purchases while getting even cleaner results.

HEALTHIER PLUMBING Scale buildup caused by hard water not only attacks appliances but also clogs pipes, slows

154 Brentwood Drive, Suite 1 Colchester, VT (802) 865-0000 culligan4u.com



Burlington

HOME Expertly meeting your countertop needs

BURLINGTON MARBLE & GRANITE

Burlington Marble & Granite (BM&G) began 16 years ago with old-school craftsmen using traditional methods to fabricate stone. Working with premier builders, architects, and kitchen and bath designers, BM&G has manufactured and installed fine handcrafted stone countertops all across northern Vermont. 60 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


This marble slab shower consists of more than 60 different pieces, carefully cut using Vein Match software so all of the veins match perfectly. There are half-inch stainless steel flat bars accenting the horizontal joints between each panel. All of the return pieces into the niche shelves are mitered to create a seamless design. Photo by www.renaudtileandstone.com. Builder: www.birdseyevt.com.

LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS The craftsmen of Burlington Marble & Granite work in natural and man-made countertop surfaces, including granite, marble, engineered stone (quartz), quartzite, limestone, soapstone, and slate. With materials available from slab importers throughout the Northeast, they stock up to 50 colors of full slabs in varying materials at their warehouse in Shelburne. The process begins with an estimate based on stone selection and drawings or a site visit. Once the project is finalized, a template of the site and its surface configuration is created. The template is laid out on the selected stone, which is then cut with a CNC saw. From there, the slab is installed with a team of skilled craftsmen doing the final fitting and trimming. STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY Holding true to their slogan “The Art of Stonecrafting,” Burlington Marble & Granite brings their old-school ethic into the 21st century with a completely digitalized work environment. In 2016, BM&G moved to their current location in Shelburne and transformed into a fully digital shop complete with a laser templating system, two CNC machines, and a high-definition slab layout station. This stateof-the-art station allows these professionals to sit with customers and carefully lay out every inch of their countertops, ensuring a precise fit.

BURLINGTON MARBLE & GRANITE 4740 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT www.burlingtonmarbleand granite.com Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 61


Burlington

HOME

MAD RIVER CONTEMPORARY

N

estled in the woods of the Mad River Valley, this contemporary home is situated to take advantage of the sun and the natural character of the site with its surrounding forest, streams, and wetlands. Landscape architects Wagner Hodgson worked closely with the home’s designers, Flavin Architects, to marry the design of this vacation home with its environs. The steep topography of the site acted as both asset and constraint in the landscape design, driving the locations of the main house

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS MARRY THE EXTERIOR TO THE INTERIOR

and guest house as well as how to create exterior living spaces, integrate stormwater management, and develop a driveway turnaround. Additional phases of the project included the creation of a pond on the property and trails running throughout the surrounding woodland. INTEGRATING ARCHITECTURE WITH LANDSCAPE The landscape of native plants and natural stone walls complements the architecture’s use of natural materials and creates a sense of


The main house orients out to the wooded hillside across a small seasonal creek. An outdoor fireplace and terrace extend the inside living to the outside. Landscape lighting highlights river birch planted along the stream.

place. Stone walls terrace the site to accommodate the outdoor spaces and seamlessly integrate the architecture into the landscape. Large module bluestone terraces at the house extend the elegant and modern language of the home into the exterior rooms for family gathering, entertaining, and quiet reflection. Exterior rooms include a custom fireplace with log holder as well as a spa. Native plants and trees such as ferns, grasses, red twig dogwood, river birch, and maples were used to blend the site into the existing woodland and are highlighted by low-level accent lighting. NATURAL AND ELEGANT SOLUTIONS Adjacent a steep slope of boulders at the back of the house, river rock and native plantings were used to create a natural stream bed to direct water away from the house. The stream bed features a natural stone bridge and acts as an elegant solution to stormwater management. Rainwater is collected from the roof and directed to a metal gutter leading to a corten steel planter with river rock and native grasses. During rain events this feature works to manage roof water runoff while also acting as a compelling water feature. The simple and understated language of the landscape creates a perfect backdrop for the architecture while answering all the program requests of the client.

WAGNER HODGSON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 7 Marble Avenue Burlington, VT (802) 864-0010 wagnerhodgson.com Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 63


Burlington

HOME WHAT’S NEW People want spaces that are filled with light

in Windows

— Christine Marvin, Director, Corporate Strategy + Design, The Marvin Companies

LONGEVITY IN DESIGN In 2019, design experts are expecting a fresh focus on quality and timelessness. Recently, there have been trends toward sustainable elements and heirloom pieces, and as styles continue to become more eclectic, this trend will continue. More and more, homeowners are willing to invest in pieces that will last, and quality and craftmanship will continue to be important as buyers select quality pieces that will stay in the family for years. As Domino Magazine puts it, “The idea of investing in key, standout pieces that will pass the test of time, be it decoratively or simply for quality, is an approach we can definitely get behind.”

CLEAN LINES, BIG GLASS Last year saw a trend toward narrower frames, bigger glass, contrasting colors, and simple hardware that transform traditional-looking windows into architectural statements. Expecting this trend to continue, Marvin Windows & Doors made the commitment to contemporary design with the recently introduced Marvin Modern product line. “Today’s lifestyles are about removing encumbrances and opting for simplicity. People want spaces that are filled with light while taking the eye beyond the boundaries of home and into the outdoors,” says Christine Marvin, director of corporate strategy and design.

In 2019, we spend most of our time indoors, and areas designed to connect us with light and views, to enable us to rest and recharge, will become more commonplace as a way to improve our physical, social, and emotional wellbeing in our homes. In 2018, Marvin noted the “increasing importance of the art and science of light in the way a space feels,” and this focus is expected to continue and grow.

CONNECTING TO THE OUTDOORS

BOLD BLACK

The concept of Biophilia, introduced in 1984 by Edward O. Wilson, is the innate desire to connect with and look at natural forms and elements. 64 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Last year’s move toward mixed finishes and dark interior window frames is continuing. Matte black is showing up on kitchen

appliances, accent walls, and bathroom fixtures, making it the right time for Marvin to expand black interior finish options. Going forward, look out for monochromatic black palettes to make a showing on walls, tiles, and floors.

Marvin Design Gallery

By Windows & Doors By Brownell Williston, VT West Lebanon, NH Plattsburgh, NY www.wdbrownell.com (800) 773-4803


Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 65


Shopping & Fun Things to do in the Burlington Area! Morse Farm Whether you’re sharing the taste of Vermont with friends and family across the country or across the street, Morse Farm has a selection of the finest Vermont products in gift combinations for any budget. Stop by or shop online. Sure, there’s the finest Vermont maple syrup you’ll ever taste, but there’s also so much more to choose from. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area, stop by with the whole family for sugarhouse tours, the woodshed theater, maple trail, and more. 1168 County Road Montpelier, VT (800) 242-2740 maple@morsefarm.com www.morsefarm.com

Istanbul Kebab House Offering Burlington’s only rooftop dining, Istanbul Kebab House in downtown Burlington takes you to Istanbul and back with every bite. Delicious and healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and takeout, all made with 100 percent fresh Turkish ingredients. A truly authentic Turkish dining experience. 175 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 857-5091 www.istanbulkebabhousevt.com

ECCO Clothes Boutique ECCO, Burlington’s original designer boutique, has been your favorite store with top brands for over 30 years! From denim to dresses, boots to stilettos, ECCO has it all! Premium denim lines like J Brand, AG, Paige, Mother, DL1961, and Citizens of Humanity; tops by Velvet, Bella Dahl, and Greylin; basics by James Perse and Michael Stars; dresses by French Connection, Adrianna Papell, Susana Monaco, and Amanda Uprichard; shoes from Steve Madden, Seychelles, and Dolce Vita; and handbags by Hobo and Day & Mood. From basic to anything but, ECCO has you covered including a great selection of denim for men too! Visit ECCO on the Church Street Marketplace in the heart of Burlington. 81 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 860-2220 www.EccoClothesBoutique.com


SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Williston Chowder Challenge Sunday, October 6th Noon–3pm Sample some chowder for a good cause! The Williston Chowder Challenge is a friendly competition to let the public and culinary experts pick their favorite chowder. Chowder Masters get bragging rights, publicity, and exposure. Prizes will be awarded in two categories: People’s Choice and Best Display. All proceeds benefit the Williston Community Food Shelf and the Williston Police Officers’ Association. Williston Village Green Williston, VT www.willistonchowderchallenge.org

Shelburne Vineyard Winery and Tasting Room

Join us for a taste and tour and let us share our adventure growing grapes and making wine in Northern Vermont. Then watch the harvest from the patio or loft with a wine and cheese pairing or a glass of your favorite wine. While you’re here you can ask about our wine club and about holding your personal or corporate event with us, then come back often and keep up with our concert and event schedule on the web or Facebook. 6308 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8222 www.shelburnevineyard.com Open 7 days a week all year Nov–Apr 11am–5pm May–Oct 11am–6pm

Petra Cliffs Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School focuses on climbing and mountain-related education and recreation, accessible to all ages and abilities. We offer premium instruction and services through experience-based education in an inspiring atmosphere for families and friends to gather for a challenge and fun. Petra Cliffs is also home to an indoor ropes course for birthday parties, teams, and groups. 105 Briggs Street Burlington, VT (802) 657-3872 www.PetraCliffs.com

Vermont Singing Drum A meditation drum for everyone, artfully crafted to perfection in both sight and sound. These musical pieces of art are handmade, hand finished, and hand tuned. Choose from the Zen Drum, a traditional steel tongue drum with tank drum overtones, or the Bliss Drum, made from heavier steel with a dreamy sound and clear, crisp tones. Visit our workshop and showroom in the heart of Burlington’s Art District. 4 Howard Street Burlington, VT (802) 448-4223 www.vermontsingingdrum.com


BY MARTA TURNBULL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BCBS OF VERMONT UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

A Health Care Journey Integrated Health department at BCBS guides the way

When Danielle De Longis and Dawn Tatro see each other for the first time, the warmth between them is palpable. “It’s you!” Dawn says as soon as she hears Danielle’s voice, and the two hug like old friends. Although Dawn and Danielle have never before met face-to-face, they have been part of each other’s lives for four years. Danielle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Case Manager in the Integrated Health (IH) department at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. Dawn is a 68 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


Opposite: Blue Cross member Dawn Tatro and Integrated Health Case Manager Danielle De Longis. Right: Blue Cross headquarters in Berlin, Vermont.

Blue Cross member. She was offered Danielle’s assistance after her daughter Jenna required treatment for opioid use disorder. OFFERING SUPPORT “I got a letter telling me that Danielle would be my case manager, and I left it on my counter,” Dawn says with a laugh. “At the time, I didn’t know what a case manager was!” But as Jenna’s substance issues persisted, the family’s need for information and resources grew. Eventually, Dawn called Danielle for help and

“Integrated Health is here to help guide members who need assistance in navigating the complex system of agencies and services that encompass health care today.” together they navigated one of the most difficult journeys of Dawn’s life: her daughter’s long and ultimately fatal struggle with opioid addiction. The Integrated Health department at Blue Cross is staffed by skilled health care providers: doctors, nurses, social workers, mental health clinicians, even an in-house pharmacist. Those who work directly with members have completed specialized training and education to become Certified Care Managers, a national certification for those who help individuals navigate the sometimes complex—and for many people, intimidating—world of health care. There are special IH programs dedicated to navigating pregnancy and birth (called Better Beginnings), transitions of care (such as transitioning from intensive inpatient care

back to an outpatient setting), mental health and substance use disorders, cancer and other chronic conditions, and end-of-life care. “It’s an amazing team,” Danielle says. EACH PERSON MATTERS IH’s care navigation assistance is customized to the needs of each member. One person’s

case might be resolved within a single phone call while someone navigating a more involved health care journey, like Jenna, might need guidance and support for months or even years. These members might be receiving care across a number of facilities and providers; IH’s case management services can help patients improve coordination between those care locations and Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 69


Above: Saint John’s Church will become a recovery center in Johnson. Right: Jenna and Dawn Tatro. Photos this page courtesy of the Tatro family.

bridge any unintended gaps that might occur while moving between multiple facilities and providers. “Integrated Health is here,” says Kate McIntosh, MD, Senior Medical Director and Director of Quality at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, “to help guide members who need assistance in navigating the complex system of agencies and services that encompass health care today. We help inform them of services and opportunities, and we empower them to ask the questions they need to ask of their providers and care facilities along the way.” In certain situations, as in Jenna’s case, a member of the department might reach out to offer individual assistance. But Dr. McIntosh is quick to point out that any Blue Cross member who needs help with their health care is welcome to use IH’s services—all they have to do is call. Some members connect with IH before a big event, like a planned surgery; some reach out after a new diagnosis, like kidney disease or diabetes; still others just need a hand finding a nearby primary care physician. The team welcomes them all. 70 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

“Anybody can come to Integrated Health!” she says. “We’re here for any Blue Cross member who feels they need help navigating the system. It’s not about the severity of the diagnosis. It’s about the member. There’s no judgment.” Dawn remembers running through a long list of questions and concerns on that first phone call with Danielle. “I was asking, ‘Can you help with this? Do you help with that?’” To her disbelief, the an-

swer to each of her questions was “Yes.” “This is what we do,” says Danielle. “Our job is to get you the help you need, no matter what your health issue.” “Danielle made a plan for us,” Dawn says. “She found us resources, doctors, facilities that I didn’t even know existed. I could spend hours looking for certain numbers. Danielle knew the way to the resources.” “When Jenna was really struggling, we’d


Integrated Health by the Numbers IH assisted 3,500 Blue Cross members in 2018 MOST COMMON ISSUES: Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and congestive heart failure Acute and catastrophic injuries such as head injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and multiple traumas Cancer Mental health and substance use disorders Transgender services Terminal illness Hospital discharge planning Pregnancy and postnatal wellness Neonatal complications IH case management is highly personalized to the needs of each individual member and their unique health care situation, but on average, most members work together with a Certified Care Manager for one to three months.

have team meetings to figure out what we could do, what we could offer to keep her alive,” Danielle says. “That was the goal.” She recalls an instance when Jenna called her from out-of-state, in crisis, on a Friday, and the whole team stayed late securing authorizations and approvals, racing the clock to get her admitted to a treatment facility before offices closed for the weekend. Dawn remembers the day well. “With Danielle, Jenna always knew she was more than a number,” Dawn says. “They care. They understand that each person and situation is unique. They go above and beyond. I tell everybody that.” “As a health plan, we have a uniquely broad view of the member as a whole—of their entire journey,” Dr. McIntosh says. “That vantage Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 71


point makes us distinctly well-suited to the work of helping an individual manage the complexities of their care.” “Because we have the ability to see the whole picture of an individual’s care,” adds Sara Korrow, a Clinical Operations Manager for Integrated Health, “we can meet you exactly where you are—in mind, body, and spirit—and help you get the care you need.” Before the relapse that led to the end of her life in early 2019, Jenna was sober for almost 60 days. During that time, she told Dawn that she wanted to help others who were struggling with addiction. “She knew how lucky she was,” Dawn says. “She knew that other people didn’t have the same resources she did.” GIVING BACK Dawn and her husband Greg have pledged to carry on that work in Jenna’s memory. Together, they founded Jenna’s Promise Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting people in recovery. They decided to purchase St. John’s Church in the heart of Johnson village and turn it into a recovery center. It was the

72 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


Jenna Tatro. Photo courtesy of the Tatro family.

family’s church for many years, and the space remains deeply meaningful to the Tatros. “We want to give it back to the community,” Dawn says. She describes the foundation’s vision for the space, which includes hosting sober events and providing affordable office space to mental health counselors and other care providers. There are plans underway to offer job and life skills trainings. The Tatros’ long-range vision includes employment programs, sober housing, and transportation assistance to help people in recovery in the rural area reach treatment appointments and support services that are often located many miles away. “We want to break down barriers and stigma and bring people in recovery together with the rest of the community,” Dawn says. “You need to have community. You need to have support. “What you gave me,” she says, turning toward Danielle, “I want to give that back.” Learn more about the Jenna’s Promise Foundation at jennaspromise.org. Learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s Integrated Health services at bcbsvt.com. ✿

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont 445 Industrial Lane Berlin, VT (800) 247-2583 www.bcbsvt.com Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 73


BY RACHEL CLOUTIER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA

The Y’s new home, shown in this architect’s rendering, will open in early 2020.

After 85 years, a new, larger space is on the horizon 74 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

O

n a hot afternoon, in the heart of downtown Burlington, sounds of laughter and the notes of a ukulele drift out of the front entrance of the YMCA. A line of little ones, smiling and holding hands, streams through the narrow lobby on their way to afternoon swim. This is one of the many things happening this afternoon in the YMCA’s current building—a building that has served the community for 85 years. Doug Bishop, Director of Communications, took some time out of his day to show me around the building that they have clearly outgrown and to talk about the future of the Y and their plans for a new home that will open in early 2020. If you haven’t been in the Y,


it’s a labyrinth of narrow hallways, stairs, and small rooms—something I quickly learned on my tour. LOOKING BACK Our Greater Burlington YMCA was founded in 1866, with the Y’s current home opening in 1934. The Y, and their building, have gone through many transformations. It has served the community well over the years, but the original space is not being used as intended. Changes

in the workplace, fitness, and child care over the years have certainly challenged the current building. Do you think that they envisioned a need for a spin class or yoga room in the 1930s? Or that more women would be entering the workforce in the 1970s and the need for child care would skyrocket? Providing high-quality, affordable child care has become one of the largest services the Y offers, and one of the greatest challenges. In its current location, space originally designed for other purposes has Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 75


Clockwise from above: A good read holds the attention of Y preschoolers. The Y’s new facility will bring 50 new child care spots to the community. Fitness classes will move from the gym to studios specifically designed for group exercise in the Y’s new building. The Y has long been synonymous with swim lessons and water safety, a service that will remain central to their mission going forward.

become classrooms, and it lacks the space needed for the demand in child care. Did you know that the Y is the largest child care provider in Vermont? Beyond Burlington, it also provides child care in an additional 12 communities in four counties—with over 2,600 kids cared for through various programs. Rooms were constructed to serve single men in the community, then became housing for GIs returning from World War II, and later dorm space for Champlain College students. The small, dorm-style rooms on the third and fourth floors reflect these now outdated uses. Repurposed, they now serve as offices for the current staff. It may sound like there is ample space, but on my tour of the building with 76 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


Doug, it was clear that every nook and cranny is being utilized. We meandered down the narrow stairs and winding hallways (I was thinking I should have brought breadcrumbs) to the original basketball court with an elevated track. Doug mentioned that the space is so tight, the elevated track also served as a makeshift bleacher for spectators to basketball tournaments that once took place in the gym. Descending another flight of stairs, we reached the fitness center, where equipment packed every available space, including an area that used to house a bowling lane! The original and first indoor pool in Vermont is still in use. Both it and a lap pool that was built with the support of generous community members in 1984 are packed with kids. A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY The Y’s pools, although aging, have long served a very important mission. They are a place where 1,000 kids learn to swim annually and a place where water safety classes are held for anyone who needs to gain the skills and confidence to be safe around water. Annually, the Y puts on Camp Splash, focused on serving low-income and new American communities. For the past two years, after several local drownings, the Y Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 77


Above: Y services have expanded in recent years to meet changing needs in area communities, including day or overnight camps in six locations. Archery is among the many engaging activities offered. Below and right: Reading, STEM activities, and keeping physically active are just some of the ways Y summer camps help kids combat the “summer slide� while out of school.

has partnered with the City of Burlington to offer Swim and Water Safety Nights. By opening up access, the Y helps ensure that water safety and life-saving skills reach the most vulnerable children. Active older adults also form a large part of the Y family. These seniors count on the Y to keep them fit mentally and physically. They look to the YMCA as part of a big extended family. Doug mentioned that they often look 78 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


after one another and if someone doesn’t show up to class or isn’t seen for a few days, inquiries are made. The YMCA prides itself on being a welcoming place for all. Part of the way that they express that is by assisting community members in need. They offer discounted rates to community caregiving partners, such as Howard Center, Lund, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, and COTS. The Y also provides financial assistance—$470,000 in 2018—to help ensure everyone has access to fitness, child care, camp, and swim opportunities. This is happening every day at the Y. People are coming together to exercise, socialize, learn, and connect to their community. Everyone is welcome and all are encouraged to be a part of something bigger. It is clear that the YMCA is a part of the heart of downtown and it’s very clear that it has outgrown its home. With an eye to the future, a new home is being built just steps away from the old location. Doug commented that “The Y has always remained true to the heart of downtown Burlington.” In its new facility, the Y will be better able to serve the community it cares so deeply for. There will be 50 more new child care spots Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 79


80 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


Opposite: Wellness has evolved and expanded well beyond Y traditions such as basketball to include yoga, Zumba, and much more. Below: Taking the helm in 2016, Y President & CEO Kyle Dodson is leading the organization through its most transformative period in more than 85 years.

open—a service that has seen tremendous growth. Classrooms will be designed for children. There will be a drop-in child care center for parents who are working out, an elevator for those who need the accessibility, an indoor track that creates a sense of community by winding through common workout spaces, dedicated group fitness studios, and two state-ofthe-art pools with a water play area. A sign along the tour really summed it up: “For our future, for a better us.” Here’s looking forward to another 150 years of community, and living the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility as the YMCA prepares to enter its new home. ✿

GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA 266 College Street Burlington, VT (802) 862-9622 Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 81


GREAT FINDS BY PHYL NEWBECK PHOTOS COURTESY OF FELLOWSHIP OF THE WHEEL

Fellowship of the Wheel

PHOTO BY PHYL NEWBECK

Building trails, building community

F

ormed in 1995, the Fellowship has built and/or maintained trails at Carse Hills and Hinesburg Town Forest in Hinesburg, Mobbs Farm in Jericho, Mud Pond in Williston, Saxon Hill in Essex, Sleepy Hollow in Huntington, and Sunny Hollow in Colchester. They also partner with the Catamount Outdoor Center in Williston. All in all, that’s roughly 130 miles of trails.

82 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Tom Kupfer joined the board of directors five years ago and now serves as president. He says the organization began when Hans Jenny, a Hinesburg mountain biker, started building trails for his kids in places like the Hinesburg Town Forest and Saxon Hill where ATVs and dirt bikes had previously been active. “He built single track trails that were called ‘rake and ride,’” Tom says. “The trails became popular and became part of the


There’s a lot more to the Fellowship of the Wheel (FOTW) than just a bunch of mountain bikers riding around the woods. The organization describes its vision

The Fellowship helps trail users navigate sinuous trails with arrow markers like the one pictured. Below: Fellowship trail director Mickey Stone works with numerous volunteer groups from schools and businesses to engage the community in trail stewardship practices. Opposite: Mountain bikers ride an articulating bridge in Williston’s Mud Pond Country Park.

as making Chittenden County the best place to live and bike. In doing so, they have developed a threepronged mission statement: • To provide mountain bike and multi-use trails for everyone in Chittenden County • To advocate for mountain biking and sustainable trail-based recreation • To invite the whole community to come outside

Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 83


Right: Student volunteers help rough-in a new section of sustainable multi-use trail. Below and bottom: Riders enjoy the technical trail features found at Sleepy Hollow in Huntington. Both photos by Ashley Rosemeyer.

community. A lot of his work is still around, although the trails have been modified to be more sustainable.” Under the subsequent leadership of Steve Fischer, the Fellowship became one of the first chapters of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA). A GROWING SPORT Today, FOTW has 1,400 members. “We are growing 10 to 15 percent year after year, with more and more people getting into the sport,” Tom notes. “It’s a great way to get outside and have fun. The bikes are improving and there is more variety in the trails being built. The sport is growing and it’s an exciting time.” The mountain bike season starts in May and runs until October or November. The organization’s website (fotwheel.org) lists trail conditions and indicates when riders should avoid particular areas because of excess water, storm damage, or other issues. 84 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


A NEW DIRECTION FOTW has three staff members who build and maintain trails five days a week from April to October, led by Mickey Stone of Huntington. Mickey started building trails with Hans Jenny back in 2001 and five years later was hired to continue his work in an official capacity. Mickey says that from 2001 to 2010, the goal was to create trails, but starting around 2010, the crew switched to maintenance of existing ones. “We weren’t as educated in the beginning,” Mickey admits, “so we went back and rerouted some trails and renovated others. We took out roots to make the beginner trails easier, upgraded expert trails to make them more challenging, and added berms for the people who like their trails flowy. These days we’re also adding some features for those who like to catch air.” Most of the Fellowship trails are on townowned land, and as the trails have become more popular, the organization has signed memoranda of understanding with the towns. “That takes us to a new level,” Mickey says. “The towns have regulations and often there are forest plans in place. Sometimes you also have to collaborate with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Act 250, or the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation for archaeological issues. You can’t just walk in there. It’s almost like building a commercial property.” Mickey notes that FOTW has been lucky to have a great base of volunteers who help with trail maintenance but adds that it’s important that they be assisted by those with experience and proper equipment. A FRESH PERSPECTIVE In April of 2018, Rosy Metcalfe was hired to be FOTW’s program director. Rosy has a background in social work and health, but her passion is mountain biking. “When I saw that there was a mountain bike public service job, I knew I had to apply,” she says. After VMBA became a chapter-based organization in 2014, chapters like FOTW were freed from some of the more tedious administrative work. Rosy can now spend more time as an advocate for her sport, meeting with municipal governmental bodies and others to help promote mountain biking. “Our goal is for anyone in Chittenden County to be able to bike, rather than drive, to a trailhead,” she says. In furtherance of that goal, the Fellowship has been assisting the Burlington Bike Park Coalition in trying to establish a bike Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 85


86 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


Riders enjoy a beautiful fall day on the trails. Opposite: The Fellowship’s Pro Trail Crew repairs a puncheon bridge at Carse Hills, one of hundreds of bridges they maintain.

park in Burlington. “That’s consistent with our mission of having mountain biking available for everyone,” Rosy says. Tom would love to see the addition of new trails but recognizes this is difficult because of the growing population of Chittenden County. “There isn’t much room for growth because of the established boundaries,” he says. “Most of our networks are in residential areas, and you want to be respectful. You want to make the trails as nice as possible, but you have to balance that with infrastructure constraints like a small parking lot.” “There are so many things I like about mountain biking,” Tom says. “I’ve always enjoyed sports you can do solo and at any time. I like the isolation you get from mountain biking, being away from distractions, enjoying the forest and being enthralled in what you’re doing. With a wide diversity of trail networks and terrain and a great community of riders, the Burlington area is the perfect place to be a mountain biker.” ✿

Fellowship of the Wheel PO Box 1566 Williston, VT www.fotwheel.org

Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 87


IN THE KITCHEN

Learn the basics or hone expert techniques

CULINARY ADVENTURES

T

he Essex Resort and Spa is well-known as a beautiful location for a wedding, an indulgent weekend away, and a convenient home base from which to explore northern Vermont. But it is also a renowned culinary resort that offers cooking adventurers, whether expert or neophyte, COOKING WITH VERMONT BEER SEPTEMBER 13 AND 20

Vermont is known for its local brews, and this class capitalizes on that excellence in a delicious way. • Balsamic Beer French Onion Soup • Beer Braised Chicken • Fluffy Buttery Mashed Potatoes & Bacon Beer 88 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

the opportunity to expand their kitchen skills. The Cook Academy at The Essex offers hands-on classes for cooks at any level in an encouraging environment. With classes offered virtually every night of the week, guests interested in The Essex culinary experience have a lot to choose from.

Brussels Sprouts • Chocolate Stout Cake with Salted Caramel Glaze

cooks. In this class, each participant creates their own apple pie to take home. OH MY SQUASH

EASY AS PIE

OCTOBER 15 AND 17

OCTOBER 2 AND 4

A staple of Vermont late-summer gardens, the squash is versatile and delicious, fitting easily into any course of a well-planned meal.

Simple but not easy, the basic pie dough that results in a perfect crust can be elusive to many


• Romaine Salad with Pumpkin Seed Dressing, Vermont Goat Cheese, and Cranberries • Butternut Squash Risotto, Seared Scallops with Sage Brown Butter Sauce • Brown Sugar Roasted Acorn Squash • Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Warm Rum Sauce

The Essex Resort and Spa 70 Essex Way Essex, VT (802) 878-1100 www.essexresort.com /burlington-vt-restaurants /cooking-classes/ Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 89


FALL HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FLYNN THEATER 153 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 86-Flynn www.flynncenter.org

PHILIP GLASS

PINK MARTINI SEPTEMBER 8

OCTOBER 23

MainStage, 7pm

MainStage, 7:30pm

Dancing with the Stars SEPTEMBER 14

Tracie Spencer FlynnSpace, 7pm

SEPTEMBER 23

Philip Glass Ensemble MainStage, 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 26

One Man, Two Guvnors Palace 9 Cinemas, 2pm

OCTOBER 5

Randy Rainbow Live MainStage, 8pm

OCTOBER 9

Dog Man: The Musical

Pink Martini OCTOBER 26

Nick Offerman, American Humorist in All Rise MainStage, 7 & 10pm

OCTOBER 27

Elvis Costello and The Imposters MainStage, 7pm

NOVEMBER 1

Much Ado About Nothing FlynnSpace, 10am

NOVEMBER 5

Go Home Tiny Monster

Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe, 10am

NOVEMBER 7

MainStage, 9:30am See website for additional times

Rhapsody in Black

OCTOBER 10

NOVEMBER 11

Diary of Anne Frank MainStage 10am

OCTOBER 11

Walk Two Moons

Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 10am

OCTOBER 11

The Office! A Musical Parody MainStage, 7:30pm

OCTOBER 14

David Sedaris, New York Times Best-selling Author and Humorist MainStage, 8pm

90 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe, 11am

Joe Bonamassa MainStage, 8pm

NOVEMBER 14

Swan Lake Russian Ballet MainStage, 7:30pm

NOVEMBER 15

Steven Wright MainStage, 8pm

NOVEMBER 20

Dance Theater of Harlem MainStage, 10am

DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM’S INGRID SILVA


VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SHARON ROBINSON & CHRISTIAN STEINER SEPTEMBER 21

BRUBECK FOR TWO, Opening the September season, special guest conductor Sarah Hicks Flynn Center for the Arts 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 26

The VSO joins leaf-peepers on the road in late September, visiting intimate and historic venues across the state with their “Made in Vermont” chamber orchestra tour. Please see website for more details. Castleton University Fine Arts Center, 7pm

SEPTEMBER 27 Brattleboro Music Center, 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 28 Middlebury, Mahaney Arts Center, 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 29 Derby Line, Haskell Free Library and Opera House, 3:00pm

OCTOBER 10 Randolph, Chandler Music Hall, 7:30pm

OCTOBER 6 Greensboro, Highland Center for the Arts, 3:00pm

OCTOBER 26 South Burlington, Higher Ground, 7:30pm

2 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 864-5741 (800) VSO-9293 ext. 10 www.vso.org Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 91


FALL HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SHELBURNE FARMS

AUGUST 29

Raptors in Residence 1pm

AUGUST 30

Sun to Cheese Tour 1:45pm

SEPTEMBER 2

Historic House Tour 2:30pm

SEPTEMBER 5

House and Formal Gardens Tour at the Inn 2:30pm

SEPTEMBER 7

Farm to Medicine Plant Walk 10am

SEPTEMBER 8

Wild Mushroom Foray 9:30am

1611 Harbor Road Shelburne, VT www.shelburnefarms.org

SEPTEMBER 21

41st Annual Fest 10am

OCTOBER 4–7

Draft Animal Power Field Days All Day Events

92 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com


135 Church Street Burlington, VT www.burlingtoncityarts.org

BURLINGTON CITY ARTS SEPTEMBER 11

Art & Conversation 9:30am

SEPTEMBER 12

Artist at Work with Sarah Amos 6pm

SEPTEMBER 14 & 15

Printmaking Workshop with Sarah Amos 10am

SEPTEMBER 28

Family Art Saturday 11am

CHURCH STREET MARKETPLACE SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER The BCA Fall Artist Market creates a vibrant and contemporary outdoor market in the heart of downtown Burlington every Saturday from 9am–3pm for the Fall season.

OCTOBER 27

Trick or Treat NOVEMBER 29

Small Business Saturday, Shop local all day Starts at dusk 5pm

NOVEMBER 29

Santa Parade and Lighting on Christmas Tree Noon and 5:30pm

Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 93


FALL HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Shelburne Museum 6000 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT www.shelburnemuseum.org

SHELBURNE MUSEUM

THE TENDERBELLIES SEPTEMBER 6

OCTOBER 5

5–7:30pm

Enjoy a special evening to support the Museum’s education programs. Featuring fun activities, food stations, a silent auction, raffle, and a live auction to benefit the Museum’s many education initiatives. 7–10pm

Celebrate the farm families who own Cabot SEPTEMBER 6

Dan Snow and Jonathan D. Ebinger

Two featured sculptors in the outdoor exhibition In Their Element discuss their work and answer questions at their site-specific installations on the grounds. 5:15pm

SEPTEMBER 6

The Tenderbellies

The Vermont-based acoustic quintet put their own spin on everything from rowdy bluegrass and heart-wrenching blues to jazz standards and rock and roll. 6pm

SEPTEMBER 14

Joel Barber & the Modern Decoy Demonstration 1–3pm

SEPTEMBER 22

Out of My Head—Vermont premiere!

A special screening of a film which follows the filmmaker’s efforts in seeking treatment for her daughter’s migraine attacks, and why a confounding neurological disease, a devastating condition that afflicts nearly a billion people worldwide, remains so deeply misunderstood. Followed by an audience/filmmaker Q & A. 4pm

SEPTEMBER 27

Joel Barber & the Modern Decoy Art at Hand 9:30am

94 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Destination Education! Gala

OCTOBER 13

Conversation with the Curator: Kory Rogers and Joel Barber & the Modern Decoy 2pm

OCTOBER 27

Haunted Happenings Museum Grounds, 10am–1pm

NOVEMBER 9

Time Lapse: Contemporary Analog Photography Opening 2pm

NOVEMBER 17

The Million Dollar Duck documentary 2pm

DECEMBER 7–8

Deck the Halls

Celebrate the creative spirit of the holiday season! Museum Grounds, 10am–3pm


VERMONT COMEDY CLUB Friday Shows at 7pm Saturdays and Sundays 7pm & 9:30pm

SEPTEMBER 5–7

Cameron Esposito SEPTEMBER 12–14

Jermain Fowler SEPTEMBER 19–21

Dan St. Germain SEPTEMBER 25

Marcella Arguello 7pm, One night only

JO FIRESTONE SEPTEMBER 26–28

Jo Firestone OCTOBER 3–5

Matteo Lane OCTOBER 10–12

Laurie Kilmartin OCTOBER 17–19

Nikki Glaser,

All shows 7pm & 9:30pm

OCTOBER 24–26

Joe List

NOVEMBER 14–16

Michael Ian Black NOVEMBER 29–30

Ms. Pat

101 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 859-0100 www.vermontcomedyclub.com

Fall 2019 | Best of Burlington | 95


ADVERTISERS INDEX A Little Something.................................................................... 8, 89 Ann Roche Casual Furniture........................................................ 71 Bare Medical Spa............................................................................... 1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont............................................ 41 Burlington City Arts...................................................................... 39 Burlington Country Club.............................................................. 86 Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Services.................... 23 Burlington Furniture..........................................Inside Front Cover Burlington Harbor Hotel.............................................................. 96 Burlington Marble and Granite................................................... 15 Burlington Mattress...................................................................... 77 Burlington Paint and Sip.............................................................. 27 Burlington YMCA.......................................................................... 33 Catamount Physical Therapy..................................................... 33 Chroma Optics................................................................................ 71 Church Hill Landscapes............................................................... 37 City Market..................................................................................... 32 Close to Home................................................................................ 51 Culligan Water Services.............................................................. 59 Cushman Design Group.............................................................. 93 Davis and Hodgdon Associates................................................. 65 Dear Lucy......................................................................................... 13 di Stefano Landscaping................................................................. 19 Donahue Associates..................................................................... 87 Dutch Mill Restaurant and Catering............................................ 8 Ecco Clothes.............................................................................. 3, 66 Fleming Museum of Art................................................................ 31 Flynn Theater.................................................................................. 40

96 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact John or Robin Gales at (802) 558-2719 or email coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net.

Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty.............................7 Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery............................................................ 8 Green Envy Boutique/Mirror Mirror............................................5 Hickock and Boardman Real Estate...........Outside Back Cover Inspired Closets............................................................................. 37 InTrack Investments..................................................................... 39 Istanbul Kebab House.................................................................. 66 Jamie Two Coats Toy Shop............................................................. 8 Jess Boutique..................................................................................... 9 Karlise Fine Jewelers.................................................................... 72 Kiss the Cook.................................................................................. 85 Knauf Landscape Architecture.................................................. 49 Landshapes..................................................................................... 95 Lyric Theatre.................................................................................... 16 Marketplace Fitness..................................................................... 95 Mater Christi.................................................................................. 87 Morse Farm..................................................................................... 66 Northfield Savings Bank.............................................................. 45 Outdoor Gear Exchange.............................................................. 85 Pauline’s Café................................................................................. 27 Peregrine Design/Build................................................................ 73 Petra Cliffs....................................................................................... 67 Pines Senior Living........................................................................ 73 Play Dog Play................................................................................... 81 Red House....................................................................................... 93 Renewal by Anderson Window Vermont................................... 4 Shelburne Museum................................................................... 8, 91 Shelburne Tap House............................................................... 8, 61

Shelburne Vineyard Winery and Tasting Room..................... 67 Slate .................................................................................................. 16 Spalon Euphora............................................................................... 81 Stern Center for Language and Learning.................................. 17 Sterling College............................................................................... 10 The Automaster.................................................................................2 The Essex Resort and Spa............................................................ 21 The Perfect Shoe............................................................................ 48 The Residents at Quarry Hill/Shelburne Bay........................... 11 The Spot Restaurant..................................................................... 79 The Williston Chowder Challenge............................................ 67 Tina’s Home Designs....................................................................... 6 Tom Moore Builders..........................................Inside Back Cover Total Fitness Equipment............................................................... 91 Vermont Furniture Design........................................................... 42 Vermont Real Estate Company.................................................. 79 Vermont Kitchen Design by Bouchard-Pierce Candlelight. 63 Vermont Kitchen Design by Bouchard-Pierce Wolf............. 49 Vermont Singing Drum................................................................ 67 Vermont Symphony Orchestra.................................................. 55 Village Wine and Coffee.......................................................... 8, 77 Wake Robin..................................................................................... 65 Whim Boutique............................................................................... 63 Windows and Doors by Brownell................................................61 WND&WVS..................................................................................... 31 Yoga Roots......................................................................................... 8



COFFEE TABLE PUBLISHING, LLC 32 Hermit Thrush Lane South Burlington, VT 05403


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