Best of Burlington - Spring 2021 by Coffee Table Publishing

SPRING 2021

VOLUME 14 NO 2

CAFE MAMAJUANA AND POPPY CAFE A COOPERATIVE APPROACH TO THE NEW WORLD OF DINING

PURPLE SAGE A PLACE OF RESPITE IN AN UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD

SPECIAL SECTION

Lumina Med Spa is closing its doors and Bare is welcoming Lumina's patients to the BareBeauty Club! We will be extending our hours and adding additional staff to accommodate everyone. Bare will continue to offer the top-notch service we have always been known for.

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Unique pieceS and exquisite raritieS

At Ardesh Finds & Furnishing you will find a wide range of 18-20th Century home decor.

Do you have high quality, unique items that you are ready to part with?

Currently seeking new inventory ARDESH is over 10,000 square feet of unique furniture and ‘finds’ to complement a wide range of decorating tastes and styles. Owner Danial ARDESH is constantly on the hunt for well-made, fun and interesting items to bring into the store. Our many loyal customers have come to appreciate Danial’s knack for finding truly special pieces. We welcome you to come and explore ARDESH Finds & Furnishings. With a constantly changing inventory of unique items, no two visits are ever the same!

OPEN MON-SAT 10-5, SUNDAY 11-4

Ardesh.com | 802-497-3342 | 3093 Shelburne Rd | Shelburne VT

Sprimg features

Contents 34 PURPLE SAGE

A place of respite in an upside-down world.

BY CASSIE HORNER

64 CAFÉ MAMAJUANA AND POPPY CAFÉ

A cooperative approach to a new world of dining.

BY PAM HUNT

Thinking about building a custom home? Our new model home in Underhill is open for tours.

his modern home features an open floor plan, wood wall accents, custom built-ins, breathtaking mountain views, and much more. f ciency ermont certifed ompletely solar powered.

igh erformance.

chedule a tour and complimentary consulation with om today.

www.tommoorebuildervt.com | 802.899.2376 Custom Homes • Remodeling • Distinctive Cabinetry

56 33 SPECIAL SECTION

24 19 PUBLISHERS’ NOTE 20 ONLINE HUB 24 GATHERINGS Outdoor dining.

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

34 PURPLE SAGE 38 CHROMA OPTICS 40 RADIANCE MEDICAL AESTHETICS AND WELLNESS SPA 44 SAIL BEYOND CANCER VT 46 GLOWAESTHETICS MEDICAL SPA + BEAUTY BOUTIQUE

28 ART SCENE Spotlighting topographical jewelry. BY MOLLY RITVO

70 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Meet Jay Wahl, Executive Director at the Flynn. BY MOLLY RITVO

72 MONEY MATTERS Tax considerations for 2020. BY JOHN W. DAVIS, CPA

50 GET UP, STAND UP: PADDLEBOARDING

76 HAPPENINGS

52 SPALON EUPHORIA

79 ADVERTISERS INDEX

54 TOTAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT

80 LAST GLANCE

28 44

A calendar of events.

56 SPA AT THE ESSEX 58 NURSEGROWN ORGANICS 60 FIRE BIRD HEALING

16 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Contents departments

the art of stone crafting

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

PUBLISHERS

Robin Gales John Gales CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Deb Thompson COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Goss Duby ART DIRECTION/DESIGN

Robbie Alterio ADVERTISING DESIGN

Robbycat Design 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, ©2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Best of Burlington accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

18 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

Rebirth! Renewal!

SPRING IS HERE!

fresh start. hat’s hat sprin is all about. hat’s hy e ery sprin you’ll find our focus on health and ellness options a ailable in the hamplain alley. e’re e cited to i e you a pee into the inno ations ne technolo y treatments and approaches o ered such as the salt ca e at urple a e in sse hich features 2 pounds of imalayan salt and ero ra ity chairs. e i e you a quic loo at t o places to en oy dinin or drin s outside as the eather be ins to arm or not. otel ermont or ero ra ity on ine treet ha e you co ered. n the local arts scene e’re happy to introduce you to ay ahl the ne ecuti e irector at the Flynn. pea in of introductions read about ail eyond ancer ermont here patients and their care i ers family and friends can e perience the healin po ers of ind ater and sail. elcome sprin

elcome a fresh start

John and Robin Gales ublishers

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

@bestofburlingtonmag Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 19

ONLINE HUB

SPRIN

G 2021

WWW.BESTOFBURLINGTONVT.COM VO LU

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

NO 2 ME 14

NA AJUA E MAM F TO H CAFEPOPPY CPA ROAC P A D E AN PERATIV OF DINING O A CO W WORLD E THE N

AGEE IN LE S IT PURP F RESP WORLD CE O N A PLA SIDE-DOW P AN U

A LEAFY GREEN SUPERFOOD

If you’re thinking kale, think again. Watercress is even more nutritious. Learn more at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

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For eyelash extensions, hair services, permanent makeup, and much more, check out Fringe Salon and Lash Bar. Stay tuned for their second location opening this spring in Burlington. Learn more at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

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12 APR

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

Thank you for trusting our team with your real estate transactions in 2020. 3 Highland Avenue Randolph, VT 70 Perpetual Lane Richmond, VT TBD Stebbins Road Cambridge, VT 3097 Stage Road Jericho, VT 16 Bittersweet Lane Burlington, VT 209 Pearl Street Essex, VT 0 Crossett Hill Road Duxbury, VT 820 Dakin Road Ferrisburgh, VT 188 White Cap Road Colchester, VT 48 Foxwood Circle Williston, VT 9 Ashford Lane Waterbury, VT 99 Fairmont Place Burlington, VT 21 Villmarksauna at SN Drive Cambridge, VT 716 Marjorie Drive Eden, VT 90 Cottage Grove Burlington, VT 414 Browns Trace Road Jericho, VT 93 Labounty Road Pomfret, VT 84 Red Oak Drive Colchester, VT 183 Bingham Shore Road St. Albans Town, VT 20 Northshore Drive Burlington, VT 21 Greenfield Road Essex, VT 181-185 Washington Street Barre City, VT 13-17 Warren Street Barre City, VT 20 Greenfield Road Essex, VT 258 Monument Road Highgate, VT 45 Central Street Essex, VT 556 Zephyr Road Williston, VT 58 Nason Street St. Albans City, VT 130 River Street Barre City, VT 18 Woods End Drive Essex, VT 68 Barrett Street South Burlington, VT 84 Avon Drive Bethel, VT 1301 Brand Farm Drive South Burlington, VT 81 South Main Street Bethel, VT 172 Deer Lane Colchester, VT 155 Austin Drive Burlington, VT 53 Twin Oaks Terrace South Burlington, VT 195 River Road Essex, VT Lot 8 Colchester Pond Road Colchester, VT 884 Richmond Road Hinesburg, VT 193 North Jefferson Road South Burlington, VT 64 Russell Street Winooski, VT 22 Kimball Avenue South Burlington, VT 156 Whispering Pines Road Colchester, VT 8 Hiawatha Avenue Essex, VT 138 High Street St. Albans City, VT R2 Grandview Drive South Burlington, VT 7 Pine Street Swanton, VT 19 Twin Court St. Albans Town, VT 5 Church Street Richford, VT 167 South Bay Circle Colchester, VT 321 O'Brien Farm Road South Burlington, VT 25 Logan Court Shelburne, VT 5 Wolff Drive Essex, VT 258 Moretown Heights Moretown, VT 81 Gardiner Lane Bolton, VT 283 Jericho Road Richmond, VT 288 South Main, Unit D Street Stowe, VT 536 Beartown Lane Williston, VT 37 Edson Street Burlington, VT 5 Wrisley Street Essex, VT 185 Fairview Street Barre City, VT 54 Tyler Place Jericho, VT 4 Lafayette Drive Jericho, VT 146 Malletts Bay Avenue Winooski, VT 348 North Fayston Road Moretown, VT 1788 Fairfax Road St. Albans Town, VT 5675 VT Route 12 North Brookfield, VT 88 Ardec Lane Bolton, VT 1093 Ballard Road Georgia, VT 36 Dunbar Drive Essex, VT 74 Saybrook Road Essex, VT 23 Laurentide Lane South Burlington, VT 114 Heineberg Road Burlington, VT

97 South Street Essex, VT 00 Mead Farm Road Hinesburg, VT 124 Jasper Mine Road Colchester, VT I10 Grandview Drive South Burlington, VT 26 East Spring Street Winooski, VT 49 Stanbury Road Burlington, VT 101 Manhattan Drive Burlington, VT 18 Orchard Terrace Winooski, VT 5829 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT 9 Strawberry Lane Barre Town, VT 59 Windy Ridge Monkton, VT 92 Goodrich Drive Williston, VT 37 Hawley Road Fairfax, VT 33 Marshall Lane Waterbury, VT 3 Wildersburg Common Barre Town, VT 296 Chickering Road East Montpelier, VT 77 West Country Club Drive Bolton, VT 1869 Stebbins Road Cambridge, VT 22 Kimball Avenue South Burlington, VT 182 Airport Road Barre Town, VT 182 Giffin Court Colchester, VT 133 Malletts Bay Avenue Colchester, VT 46 East Avenue Burlington, VT 61 Ila Lane Highgate, VT 1721 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 693 Woodbury Road Springfield, VT 100 West Canal Street Winooski, VT 15 Grandview Terrace Montpelier, VT 160 North Main Street St. Albans City, VT 4 Meridian Street Burlington, VT 26 Steeplechase Lane Milton, VT 1002 Flat Rock Road Charlotte, VT 105 Park Street Burlington, VT 123 South Jefferson Road S. Burlington, VT 5C Woodland Drive Jericho, VT 32 High Street Winooski, VT 67 Union Street Winooski, VT 519 Shore Acres Drive Colchester, VT 98 Hemlock Road Milton, VT 453 Westview Circle Williston, VT 77 Hill Street Montpelier, VT 1503 King Road Bakersfield, VT 46 Thacher Road Bolton, VT 48 Sherry Road South Burlington, VT 955 Airport Road Fayston, VT 481 Weeks Hill Road Stowe, VT 69 Gazo Avenue Burlington, VT 94 North Winooski Avenue Burlington, VT 43 Dunbar Drive Essex, VT 491 Nottingham Drive Georgia, VT 170 Ferguson Avenue Burlington, VT 80 Coyote Lane Williston, VT 366 Meadowrun Road Williston, VT 27 Forrest Street Randolph, VT 00 Briggs Hill Road Bristol, VT 46 Densmore Drive Essex, VT 32 South Main Street St. Albans City, VT 2260 South Road Williston, VT 8 Mountain View Road Jericho, VT 222A Ledgewood Lane Georgia, VT 145 N Twin Oaks Terrace South Burlington, VT 11 Sunset Drive Brandon, VT 2110 The Terraces Shelburne, VT 615 Thayer Beach Road Colchester, VT 26 Oak Creek Drive South Burlington, VT 3997 VT Route 15 Cambridge, VT 2920 VT Route 110 Washington, VT 47 Camire Hill Road Barre Town, VT 87 Morgan Parkway Williston, VT 171 North Twin Oaks Terrace S. Burlington, VT 120 White Street South Burlington, VT 537 Old Creamery Road Williston, VT 606 Mill Pond Road Colchester, VT 41 Merchant Street Barre City, VT

388 Brenna561 Gilbert Road Williamstown, VT 100 Maple Street Essex, VT 1704 Fairfax Road St. Albans Town, VT 24 Clifford Drive Milton, VT 24 Kettle Pond Lane Williston, VT 18 Algird Street Burlington, VT 32 Ponderosa Drive Colchester, VT 138 Foster Street Burlington, VT 5 Cano Drive Barre Town, VT 473 Ruby Brace Road Starksboro, VT 30 Lincoln Hill Road Huntington, VT 24 Hayes Avenue South Burlington, VT 63 Sugar Hill Underhill, VT 88 Ardec Lane Bolton, VT 26 Green Acres Drive Burlington, VT 3122 North Avenue Burlington, VT 0 Peth Road Braintree, VT 128 Slate Avenue Northfield, VT 138 Rocky Road Richmond, VT 12 Crescent Lane Barre Town, VT 299 Wentworth Road Bolton, VT 25 Greenwich Street Swanton, VT Lot #2 Place Road West Hinesburg, VT 54 Heather Circle Colchester, VT 116 Cattail Lane Monkton, VT 88 Musket Circle Georgia, VT 179 Piney Woods Road Ferrisburgh, VT 5 Sunset Avenue Montpelier, VT 35 Cherry Street Burlington, VT n Woods Drive Williston, VT 49 Wildersburg Common Barre Town, VT 65 Balsam Circle Williston, VT 115 East Shore South Road Grand Isle, VT 78 Sand Hill Road Essex, VT 239B Ledgewood Lane Georgia, VT 41 Village Lane Bolton, VT 1 Abnaki Avenue Essex, VT 44 Washington Terrace Chelsea, VT 461 Twin Peaks Road Waterbury, VT 1639 VT Route 104 Cambridge, VT 630 Blakely Road Colchester, VT 4302 Bolton Valley Access Road Bolton, VT 20 Greenfield Road Essex, VT 179 Biscayne Heights Colchester, VT 88 Red Pines Estates Morristown, VT 211C West Street Winooski, VT 230 Anna's Court Colchester, VT 31 Saybrook Road Essex, VT 212 Rye Circle South Burlington, VT 137 VT Rte 15 Jericho, VT 17 Beverly Court St. Albans City, VT 161 Lauras Lane Bristol, VT 291 North Jefferson Road South Burlington, VT 100 West Canal Street Winooski, VT 144 Aurielle Drive Colchester, VT 140 Rye Circle South Burlington, VT 48 Colonial Road Fairfax, VT 159 Crispin Drive South Burlington, VT 1484 Elmore Mountain Road Morristown, VT 83 Bridges Resort Warren, VT 745 Connecticut Corners Braintree, VT 83 Landing Avenue Colchester, VT 62 Ardec Lane Bolton, VT 1 Hawthorne Circle South Burlington, VT 785 Forest Road St. George, VT 253 East Allen Street Winooski, VT 20 Greenfield Road Essex, VT 136 Hayes Avenue South Burlington, VT 135 Main Street Essex, VT 413 Westview Circle Williston, VT 14 Audry Lane Westford, VT 68 Delma Drive Milton, VT 38 Grey Birch Drive Colchester, VT 10 Lang Drive Essex, VT 573 Coon Hill Road Colchester, VT

Moving in 2021? Call us at 802-540-8300 or visit us online at www.vermontrealestatecompany.com 431 Pine Street, Suite 118, Burlington, Vermont 05401 56 College Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602

Discover the Distinctive Details

10 Thayer Beach Road, Colchester, VT

RARE OPPORTUNITY ALONG LAKE CHAMPLAIN A private, serene setting for your future home with 558 feet of sandy beach, 18.5 acres and views of the Adirondack Mountains. COLCHESTER, VT | $3,999,000 | MLS# 4774335 MARY PAT PALMER | C: 802.238.3325 DIANE ARMSTRONG | C: 802.735.7535

BEAUTIFUL LOCATION AND PEACEFUL SETTING

Located on a quiet country hillside in Walden, Vermont, this stunning five bedroom, four and a half bath home offers endless space inside and out. Outside, you have 21+ acres of field and trails to explore year-round. WALDEN, VT | $549,000 | MLS# 4837011 RANDY SNELLING | C: 603.359.0583

HISTORIC HOME WITH AMAZING VIEWS

Offering 125 acres, including an apple orchard, a multitude of trails, magnificent vistas, extensive stone walls, and an in-ground pool. Come see a true piece of Upper Valley history. LEBANON, NH | $1,600,000 | MLS# 4846077 EVAN PIERCE | C: 201.401.4934

HISTORIC VILLAGE HOME

Historic Shelburne Village home built in 1855 with original detail throughout with multiple porches, three levels of living space, a carriage barn with apartment just under one acre. SHELBURNE, VT | $899,000 | MLS# 4837283 NANCY WARREN FARLEY | C: 802.734.5024

HISTORIC PROPERTY

This updated 1850s home sits on 3.2 acres at the corner of Ferry/Greenbush Road. Enjoy views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks from the west facing back of property. CHARLOTTE, VT | $799,000 | MLS# 4833012 JAY STRAUSSER | C: 802.578.2094

ENJOY SIMPLE LIVING AT TREETOPS

This seventy-five unit complex is close to Dartmouth College, as well as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Highly insulated and energy efficient one and two bedroom units available. LEBANON, NH | MULTI-PRICED UNITS | 1 & 2 BEDROOMS EVAN PIERCE | C: 201.401.4934

Under Contract!

PRIVATE THREE-LOT COMMUNITY

Ready to build 15.9 acre lot. Access to downtown Burlington. Permits in place, underground power at site. SHELBURNE, VT | $250,000 | MLS# 4801372 MARY PAT PALMER | C: 802.238.3325 DIANE ARMSTRONG | C: 802.735.7535

GOOSE POND FOREST PRESERVE

An exclusive enclave of 13 waterfront lots set amidst a 700 acre preserve. Located just 15 miles from downtown Hanover and Dartmouth College. Goose Pond is a 625 acre crystal clear lake. CANAAN, NH | MULTI-PRICED | WATERFRONT LOTS EVAN PIERCE | C: 201.401.4934

EXCEPTIONAL CONDO

Tastefully designed with a thoughtful modern open floor plan and attention paid to every detail. Many fine architectural features and custom craftsmanship throughout. GEORGIA, VT | $260,000 | MLS# 4846966 KAREN BRESNAHAN | C: 802.310.0447

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME

Exceptional building lot lot #3 in Shelburne on .98 acres with 4 bedroom septic design. Extraordinary opportunity to build your dream home! Lot #2 is also available. Call for details. SHELBURNE, VT | $179,900 | MLS# 4848334 KAREN BRESNAHAN | C: 802.310.0447

EXPERIENCE VERMONT

Live your dream and soothe your soul with the serenity of the mountains in one of Stowe’s most distinctive neighborhoods! Approved building site for a 5 bedroom 3500+ square foot home. STOWE, VT | $595,000 | MLS# 4847060 KAREN BRESNAHAN | C: 802.310.0447

IN THE HEART OF HINESBURG

A rare opportunity to own 140 acres of agricultural lands/forest. This was part of a $3 million project to conserve 600 acres to improve wildlife habitats and to protect land/water. HINESBURG, VT | $800,000 | MLS# 4840432 MARY PAT PALMER | C: 802.238.3325

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GATHERINGS

Outdoor Dining

JUNIPER AT THE HOTEL VERMONT 41 Cherry Street Burlington, VT (802) 650-0080 hotelvt.com/eat-drink /juniper

ZERO GRAVITY TAPROOM 716 Pine St Burlington, VT (802) 497-0054 zerogravitybeer.com

he pandemic continues to keep many eateries and craft brew outlets closed to on-premises service. With a vaccine becoming available, a return to normal operations is on the horizon. In the meantime, diners are looking for ways to get together for a drink or a meal and still be relatively safe. Outdoor dining is the perfect solution. Too cold, you say? This is Vermont. When did a little cold stop us? Throw in a wood fire or a patio heater and e’re olden. ere’s a pair of eateries that ha e stepped up to the plate to provide a place for intrepid Vermonters eager to gather together for food, drink, and friendship.

JUNIPER AT THE HOTEL VERMONT Located in downtown Burlington near the shores of Lake Champlain, Hotel Vermont combines rustic and modern to create a uniquely Vermont home-away-from-home. With three great eateries mere steps from the hotel, the Cherry Street dining scene provides locally sourced cuisine, indoor two-hour free parking, and a vibrant atmosphere for drinks, dinner, and dessert. uniper o ers diners the ambiance of 24 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

a ood fire either in the open hearth by the bar or out on the terrace overlooking a e hamplain. hey’re open for ta e out seven nights a week and Wednesday through Sunday for indoor dining and drinking. You can get cozy either inside or out, and enjoy an evening of comforting food, tasty cocktails, beer, and wine. Their beer program is built on relationships with brewers, maltsters, and those ho lo e beer. uniper o ers its uests what it considers to be the best beers in the world. From crisp lagers brewed on Pine Street to juicy New England IPAs only found at the restaurant, beer is a highlight of the Juniper experience. ZERO GRAVITY TAPROOM Zero Gravity Craft Brewery opened in May 2004 in Burlington inside a restaurant known as American Flatbread Burlington Hearth. One of the distinguishing elements of the beers at Zero Gravity is adherence to the qualities of the classic beer styles that make those beers great. When production maxed out at Flatbread, the South End location opened in 2015. The new space allows for a 30-barrel brewhouse, along ith a full cannin line. his location o ers a spacious taproom, retail shop, and patio. Outdoor seating is available, with 12 tables in the outdoor, heated, and dogfriendly patio section. There are seven additional tables in the unheated area. Hours of operation are noon to 8pm, daily. Takeout and curbside pickup also available.

PETS AND PEOPLE SPONSORED BY BEVS

WARM-WEATHER SAFETY TIPS

With the change of season, we’re ready to tackle spring cleaning, yard work, and many other projects around the house. But before you start, review these cautions from aspca.org.

SPRING CLEANING

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Many of us look forward to a sparkling clean home and are eager to wash away winter’s dust and grime. As you pull out mops, brooms, and cleaners, take care to keep household products away from pets. Bleach, carpet fresheners and shampoos, and floor and toilet cleaners can cause stomach upset or worse. Even all-natural cleaning products contain chemicals that may be harmful to pets. Dispose of unused or dirty solutions as soon as you’ve finished the job, and always read and follow label directions for proper use and storage.

The fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides that keep our plants and lawns healthy and green may be dangerous if your pet ingests them. Always store these products in out-of-the-way places and follow label instructions carefully.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Products such as paints and solvents can be toxic to your pets and cause severe irritation or chemical burns. Also be cautious of building or remodeling hazards including nails, staples, insulation, and power tools. Consider confining your dog or cat to a closed-off room during home improvement projects. 26 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

PEST PARADE Warmer weather brings some not-so-welcome visitors—bugs! Make sure your pet is on year-round heartworm preventive medication as well as a flea and tick control program. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a plan for your pet.

HEADING OUT Warmer weather means more trips to the park, longer walks, and more chances for your pet to wander off. Make sure your dog or cat has a microchip for identification and wears a tag imprinted with

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Most of us have heard that the adoption of dogs and cats has increased during the pandemic. But families are also looking for not-so-furry friends, including turtles. If you need help naming your new pet, bhg.com came up with 50 favorites. Of those, here are our top picks: 1. Bentley 2. Bolt 3. Bowser 4. Flip (or Flipper) 5. Howard 6. Lightning 7. Madge 8. Squirtle 9. Tank 10. Turbo

your home address, cell phone, and any other relevant contact information.

GOING FOR A RIDE? Pets riding in cars should always be secured in a crate or wearing a seatbelt harness designed for them. Although most dogs love to stick their heads out the windows of moving cars, it is dangerous. Flying debris and insects can cause inner ear or eye injuries.

ONLINE EXTRA For a list of household products toxic to pets, go to www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

IN CASE OF A PET EMERGENCY... COUNT ON BEVS TO BE THERE FOR YOU AROUND-THE-CLOCK.

1417 Marshall Avenue • Williston, VT 05495

802.863.BEVS (2387) • bevsvt.com

Emergency/Critical Care • Dentistry • Internal Medicine Oncology • Radioiodine (I-131) • Rehabilitation • Surgery

Vermont’s only specialty & 24/7 emergency animal hospital Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 27

ART SCENE BY MOLLY RITVO

Burlington Artist Brings Landscapes to Life

Spotlighting

Topographical Jewelry

ourtney Reckord is not your typical jewelry designer. A cursory glance at her website and products might lead one to believe that Courtney simply creates interesting jewelry. However, there is a lot more to the story: Courtney makes 28 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

data-driven jewelry. Each piece she creates is an accurate representation of a di erent landscape or a topographical map. For the past 13 years, Courtney has been ma in one of a ind pieces specifically for daring people. “I create jewelry for

adventurous people and the places they love,” she says. y e elry is a con uence of my love of the outdoors and my background in both environmental science and the arts, and of course my love of maps.” CAPTURING LOCAL AND GLOBAL SCENES Courtney uses recycled metals and responsibly sourced stones and works with small, often local, manufacturers to help her customers carry a physical piece of an important place with them. Her bestselling pieces include silhouettes of Camel’s Hump and Mount ansfield that are placed on pendants

“My jewelry is a way for people to carry positive memories of moments. Everyone has a place that is meaningful to them, such as where they grew up, went to college, or got engaged,” says local artist Courtney Reckord, who creates data-driven topographical jewelry.

cu in s rin s nec laces and bracelets. lot of people connect to these places because they ha e hi ed these mountains or see them from their homes she says. hile her bestsellin pieces sho case ermont she has also created topo raphy e elry from locations all o er the orld includin a paper ei ht of eath alley a eddin rin for a couple in ri an a and a rin of a ri er in iberia. y e elry is a ay for people to carry positi e memories of moments. eryone has a place that is meanin ful to them such as here they re up ent to colle e or ot en a ed. ourtney’s process is a bit comple . he creates e elry usin hino a modelin soft are. he first imports the nited tates eolo ical ur ey data into the soft are and manipulates it to create distincti e e elry desi ns. er files are then e ported to a hi h resolution printer. cast the prints usin a a castin and then the pieces are finished. ometimes add stones such as diamonds arnets and sapphires she e plains. FROM ETSY TO DATA VISUALIZATION ARTIST ourtney is a former art teacher ho has been creatin art for most of her life. he credits her o cial entry ay into entrepreneurial e elry ma in hen she opened a shop on tsy.com more than years a o. he no sees herself as a full time data isuali ation artist and helps companies ith this process as ell. ata isuali ation is the process of analy in data and then creatin raphics that accurately and clearly represent the findin s ourtney e plains. t can be in the form of an illustration bar chart or a sculpture. he has or ed ith some interestin Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 29

Top: Courtney and her husband Adam at the New England Made Trade Show. Above: Birch leaf ring, sterling silver. Right: Camel's Hump silhouette necklaces with a variety of precious stones.

30 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

companies, such as The Neighborhood Design Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and helped them visualize their stormwater remediation pro ects to benefit the hesapea e ay. In 2012, Courtney was teaching a class on metalsmithin at a local hi h school. s she carved a mountain ring out of wax, she as struc by the idea that she could use actual data to create e elry she recalls. had been hi in the ee end before. he mountain ring was just a stylized version of a mountain and the science nerd in me ondered if this as possible. urns out it is possible! It is also a rewarding, although tedious, process and one that has allowed ourtney to de elop ne s ills. he hardest part of my or is doin the mundane thin s li e orderin supplies and mana in finances she says. o e er the most fulfillin by far is hearin the stories of people who have purchased my jewelry and learning about the stories behind why they selected the piece and discovering why it’s so special to them. er fa orite pieces to create are the custom ones because each one brings a ne challen e. FINDING LOCAL SUPPORT Courtney is honest about the struggles of entrepreneurship. spent se eral years a in up at 5am so could spend an hour or in on my jewelry because I was too tired when I ot home from teachin she recalls. here were many points when I was just about to i e up thin in about ho many hours had spent on trying to create something that I was not e en sure anyone else ould appreciate. But the slightest bit of progress would bolster my spirits and help me to eep oin . he also encoura es local artists to see out community support from local resources. ermont o ers so many resources to entrepreneurs. he enter for omen in nterprise o ers classes and mentoring, and The Generator is a group of creati e people ith many di erent inds of resources for learnin she says. y ad ice to artists is to persist. reatin somethin unique doesn’t happen o erni ht. Courtney’s jewelry can be found at the urlin ton Farmers ar et as ell as at various stores in Chittenden County, including innia ommon eer hiry dd ermont ift arn ysa and the rt ound allery. o learn more about ourtney ec ord isit courtneyrec ord.com. ✿

L ANDSCAPE A RC HI T EC T URE

P H OTO : D E R R I C K B A R R E T T

802.522.0676

C Y N T H I A K N AU F.C OM BURLINGTON, VT

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 31

CHROMA OPTICS FIRE BIRD HEALING NURSEGROWN ORGANICS SAIL BEYOND CANCER VERMONT SPALON EUPHORIA SPA AT THE ESSEX TOTAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT WND&WVS

PURPLE SAGE GLOWAESTHETICS MEDICAL SPA RADIANCE MEDICAL AESTHETICS

BY CASSIE HORNER

A place of respite in an upside-down world

PURPLE SAGE KIM SCOFIELD

eeling and looking good spiritually and physically is an important part of life’s journey. Purple Sage salon and spa in Essex Junction was founded on that belief and the dedicated professionals there work with clients to have a successful experience that lasts long after people walk out the door back into their regular lives. “Beauty comes from the inside out,” says owner Kim cofield. t is about bein a beautiful human bein ho is lo in and ind. he sta members here are part scientist part artist part therapist, part friend.”

A RANGE OF SERVICES urple a e o ers a ide ariety of e periences in its beautifully appointed, spacious headquarters. Clients come to the hair salon, the spa with its four treatment rooms, the far infrared booth, and a boutique selling products such as hair and skin products, clothing, crystals, and salt lamps. A popular service is sitting in zero gravity chairs in the healing 400-square-foot Salt Cave designed with 2 pounds of imalayan salt. t epitomi es the e perience of Purple Sage with its restful atmosphere, ambient light, and

34 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

meditative music. The spa treatments include facials, body waxing, massage, and holistic treatments such as reiki and cord pulling. “It’s about being healthy, happy and whole,” Kim says. “I love what we do. I love being here. My job is joyfully observing beauty.” LOOKING BACK She opened Purple Sage in 2008. The name originated from her time living in Arizona, home to the o erin plant here she attended culinary school. She has worked a lot with food and botanicals. “I love herbs and do a lot of botanical healing,” she says. urple sa e ith its or eous o ers is Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 35

clearing, cleansing, and purifying. It is very representative of what we do in this business.” Kim grew up wanting to be a hairdresser. Forty-one years ago, after high school, she went to school and got her license. For many years she worked in Burlington, Stowe, and then in Cape Cod, where she took over the small Chatham Salon. It was a great business, but she recalls, “My world fell apart.” She and her husband did not stay together and she moved back to Vermont with her children. Her life’s 36 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

journey later took her to Arizona and to a job opportunity at Miraval Life in Balance, the destination spa and resort in Arizona. That was in the early 2000s and she also worked as an educator at the cosmetology school in Tucson. “I loved teaching my craft. I loved seeing the awe in students in those ‘aha’ moments when

they understood the science and logic. It was really fun to watch them come into their own talents,” Kim says. BACK TO VERMONT When she returned to Vermont, she carried on her teaching at The Salon Professional

Academy in Williston. The school teaches the Summit Salon system of running a salon business, but there were only two of them in the state. “I thought, why not buy my own salon,” she recalls. She started with the Essex Hair Gallery, transforming it into a Summit Salon. She downsized but then grew to the point where she took advantage of an opportunity to relocate to her current 7,500-square-foot shop in the Essex Experience building where she has ro n the business to include sta members. “They are amazing,” she says. “They support me 110 percent and I take care of them. “Our industry is very beautiful and very loving,” Kim says. In the midst of a pandemic, this is especially important. “Everything in the world is upside down now. We as cosmetologists see all of this in everyday life with our clients.”

Purple Sage 21 Essex Way, Suite 224 Essex, VT (802) 879-1160 purplesage.com

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 37

BY JENNIFER GOSS DUBY

CHROMA OPTICS Introducing Ethan Jones, OD, Chroma’s newest optometrist

hroma Optics in Burlington, home of eye care specialist Dr. Dora Sudarsky, is looking forward to an exciting new change coming in spring of 2021. Dr. Dora—as her patients call her—is a licensed optometrist who has been operating her own eye care facility since 2015. She began her practice with an emphasis on utilizing advanced technology that has become available in eye care medicine, and as her practice grew over the years it became clear that there was a need for another pro ider in the o ce.

ENTER DR. ETHAN JONES When Dr. Dora began her practice, her son Ethan was a junior in college. Knowing that he wanted to go into medicine of some kind, he began working at Chroma, learning the basics of eye care and what goes into operating an optometry o ce. t the time he as a communications disorders major (think speech patholo y and audiolo y . s it turned out optometry really clic ed ith him. fter taking an extra undergrad year to complete the prerequisite coursework for optometry, Ethan began working toward a doctorate in optometry at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. 38 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Part of his motivation to go into medicine was the self-knowledge that he enjoyed helping people. He looked forward to a career of makin a di erence in people’s li es. What he discovered in working with people in an eye care setting is that he was moved by the connections he was able to make with people. Faced with patients who have vision problems that interfere with their ability to do their ob or en oy fulfillin acti ities than thri ed on bein able to directly find a solution

to those problems, thereby improving their quality of life. “I really enjoy that interaction with people, trying to make sure all their daily activities are accounted for,” says Ethan. “It can be a little bit of a puzzle, and you need to put the pieces to ether in order to fi ure out what the underlying issue is.” EVERCHANGING TECH Ethan will graduate as Dr. Jones in May and will then join Chroma Optics as the second eye

care specialist in the practice. Ethan is excited about the way technology is moving in the optometry field. here’s somethin ne every year that changes the way we work with people he says. ust in the fi e years than has been studyin the field a lot has chan ed. Experienced optometry patients will remember the e er startlin pu of air test hich measures intraocular pressure (IOP) and is a predictor of ris of laucoma. nother ay to test IOP is to apply yellow dye to the eye via eye drops and scan the eye with a special blue li ht. ut no there’s an e en ne er and faster method of testin that in ol es a handheld sensor.

Jamie Two-CoatS’ ToY ShoP 54 Falls Road Shelburne, VT

In the

l of Shelburne

HOURS: 10AM–5PM MON-SAT, 11AM–4PM SUN | 802-985-3221

WHY VISIT AN OPTOMETRIST? Many people visit an optometrist only hen a problem crops up. hey fail their eye test at a routine dri er’s license e am or notice that it’s ettin a lot harder to see things up close. But Ethan points out that it’s orth isitin a ood optometrist more than once e ery years. ny number of health problems can be re ealed throu h e amination of the eye such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or dry eye from screen use. any such issues should be addressed sooner rather than later. t’s important to find a practice that respects you as an individual and is willing to tell you the truth about your eye health,” observes Ethan.

Chroma Optics 370 Shelburne Road Burlington, VT (802) 497-1676 www.chromaoptics.com

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 39

BY KENDALL BEISWANGER MARKETING AND BUSINESS DIRECTOR AT RADIANCE

RADIANCE MEDICAL AESTHETICS AND WELLNESS SPA Maintaining skin health through the pandemic and beyond

e’ve blown out the candles on the one-year anniversary of the shutdown caused by the global pandemic, and a lot of people are feeling hemmed in, dull, and ready for a fresh start. In a time where we can’t get away from the mirrors at home or we see ourselves on video meetings, it’s all too easy to notice the toll that the stress of the shutdown has taken on us. How we feel on the inside is displayed on the outside. A dull mind shows up in dull skin. It is human nature to pick ourselves apart rather than boosting ourselves up. Dr. Parker and her team encourage you to show some self-love and remember that we don’t have to bemoan where we are in order to want to impro e. s they say self care is not selfish and investing in your physical appearance can reap benefits in a sense of mental ellbein .

SKIN AS AN ECOSYSTEM Think of your skin as an ecosystem. It needs a ariety of di erent elements or in to ether in order to thrive. If an ecosystem lacks one of its essential elements, it will struggle. This concept is the same for our skin. 40 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

essential for our skin to maintain its youthful appearance. n order to combat these e ects medical grade skincare is important. The purity and high quality of skincare that is based in medical science is a critical tool in the fi ht a ainst dull a ed s in. ut it is not the only tool e have at our disposal. Skincare products are but a small slice of the whole pie and are not designed or intended to accomplish everything. Combination therapy, or the use of multiple modalities of skin care treatments, is the best way to maintain overall healthy skin. At adiance e recommend and treatments along with your other skincare maintenance. ur s in ecosystem is the first line of defense protecting our bodies, and it puts up with a lot. The sun’s rays, pollution, lifestyle choices, and aging—to name a few—are some of the o enders that cause dama e. ime and exposure to sun and pollution results in skin taking on a dull appearance and developing wrinkles and loss of collagen. Slowing down the breakdown and degradation of collagen is

HALO What is HALO? It is a type of laser therapy that creates collagen and elastin in the skin, resulting in continuous improvement over time. t is e ecti e in reducin the appearance of wrinkles and pore size, diminishing sun damage and discoloration, and increasing skin re ecti ity. n short it ma es your s in loo fresh and younger.

Opposite: Radiance patient before and after one treatment of Halo + BBL. Above: Esthetician and licensed electrologist Autumn Noble provides a relaxing chemical peel for a patient.

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 41

Above: Dr. Colleen Parker, owner and physician, provides a HALO treatment on a patient. HALO is a comfortable procedure without painful or long recovery compared to similar laser treatments. Below: BBL can treat pigmentation on not only the face but also on the neck, chest, arms, hands, and back. Opposite: Radiance before and after of two HALO + BBL treatments. Best results are seen with combination therapy of two treatments spaced four weeks apart.

BBL BBL stands for broad band light and is a therapy that uses short bursts of hi h intensity li ht to treat s in. t is e ecti e at treatin frec les a e spots and ascular issues such as blood essels and rosacea. t or s on a enetic le el for healthier and youn er loo in s in. has been scientifically pro en to alter ene e pression hich is directly related to the a in process of the s in. BASED ON SCIENCE t adiance e stand by science based technolo y and treatments. ur e perience sho s that treatments li e and don’t ust help you loo better they help you feel better. ery day e see our patients de elop more confidence and inner stren th. hey learn hat e no hen e feel better e become better. ncreased confidence 42 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

is re ected in ho e are in our e eryday life leadin us to be the best ersion of oursel es. ur oal is not ust impro ed s in health and appearance but o erall patient ellness and health o er profit.

Radiance Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Spa 5399 Williston Road, #101 Williston, VT (802) 777-7300 Radiancevt.com

ONLINE EXTRA Get ready for the sun with tips from Radiance at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 43

STORY AND PHOTOS BY WHIT WALES

n the darkest moments, what brings peace? What is the value of that peace? These are questions that Suzanne Johnson asked 10 years ago as a single mother when she faced the diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer. Her answer to those questions brought life to Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont, a local program dedicated to honoring those who are challenged by cancer through harnessing the healing powers of wind, water, and sail. Now as a survivor, Suzanne shares, “With diagnosis and treatment comes tremendous fear, self-doubt, and stress. The value of peace with cancer? It means everything. I have come to believe that sailing, particularly in these aters o ers an opportunity to find that peace.” ON THE WATER For three hours, a patient and their care i ers family and friends are a orded the opportunity to leave behind the land along with their cares and concerns to go for a free three-hour sail on beautiful Lake Champlain. 44 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

A longtime sailor and USCG licensed captain, Suzanne observes, “When you turn o the en ine you’re left ith the sound of nature. You can take the helm and feel the

power of the sail pulling you forward, with mountains beside you. For many people, when they can’t find the stren th to al to the mailbox, this is transformative.”

SAIL BEYOND CANCER VT

Let the wind, water, and waves do their magic cientists no confirm the importance of diminishin stress related cortisol in our bodies in battlin disease as it encoura es healin and fosters resilience. hris on rapp one of the olunteer captains puts it another ay his ill free your mind it ill li hten the load. here is communion for family friends and care i ers as ell. For the roup it pro ides a touchstone of tranquility in a memorable settin . u anne is oined by an acti e board a olunteer roup of o er captains and scores of ell trained cre from ithin the local community. ll ha e been touched by cancer. ll possess a passion for sailin . ays u anne heir commitment to ma in a di erence one sail at a time continues to humble me. BENEFITS GALORE he ratitude from patients is deep and heartfelt. te e ili ia from outh

urlin ton a self proclaimed cancer arrior says he ind that filled those sails filled me. be arrison from inoos i echoes ou are i en a feelin of freedom and po er that ill contribute so much to your healin . nd inda urns of urlin ton hose breast cancer dia nosis only ust preceded her dau hter’s says simply t’s a olden opportunity. ou ill lo e it and you ill remember it al ays. he latest research sho s that one out of e ery three amon us has already had or may e pect to recei e a dia nosis of cancer durin our lifetime ma in these a e hamplain outin s all the more meanin ful and rele ant. n the broad and some ould say most beautiful part of the la e this is a unique and ery special e perience for anyone you may no ith cancer. t is as u anne understood it years a o a ift of peace.

ail eyond ancer ermont o ers multiple sails each day of the summer season. o to the ebsite and nominate a friend or relati e currently in treatment. ou may e en nominate yourself. o learn more about ho to olunteer nominate or donate to ail eyond ancer ermont o to their ebsite .sail beyondcancer.or .

Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont PO Box 4068 Burlington, VT (802) 825-WIND (9463) www.sailbeyondcancer.org

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 45

BY ALANDRA DE LA CUESTA

GLOWAESTHETICS Medical Spa + Beauty Boutique

Introducing the Emsculpt NEO to Vermont

hen considering noninvasive body contouring, Vermonters previously had to choose between toning muscle or losing fat. Now there’s an innovative solution that can build muscle and eliminate fat in the same 30-minute session. Emsculpt NEO is your opportunity to say goodbye to fat and hello to muscle without having to lift a weight. The Emsculpt NEO is clinically proven to reduce fat by 30 percent and increase muscle by 25 percent on average after a four-session cycle. New for 2021, Glowaesthetics Medical pa eauty outique brou ht the first and only msculpt to ermont. WHAT IS IT? The Emsculpt NEO is a groundbreaking treatment that improves overall strength, wellness, and body contour. Emsculpt NEO is the only body sculpting device to simultaneously treat muscle and fat. Sessions dramatically change the tone and appearance of the treated area. You can sculpt, tighten, and build strength in your abdomen, buttocks, arms, thighs, and calves. Unlike other body contouring devices, the Emsculpt NEO allows you to get the results you want without spending hours at the gym or undergoing invasive procedures. The 30-minute session is equivalent to 20,000 crunches or squats, and four sessions are equivalent to 12 to 16 weeks of high-intensity interval training. THE NASA CONNECTION Believe it or not, the technology of the Emsculpt NEO has ties to NASA. Astronauts are often in low- or zero-gravity environments for extended periods, causing them to develop muscle atrophy or muscle weakness. NASA collaborated with BTL (Emsculpt’s parent company) to combat this problem. BTL created a device that would increase muscle growth and strength in a short amount of time. Technology developed for astronauts is now available for anyone looking to increase muscle and/or lose fat. HOW DOES IT WORK? The Emsculpt NEO treatment process is easy, quick, and comfortable with no preparation or downtime required. Some call it “lunchtime lipolysis.” The synchronized radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity focused

46 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

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BEFORE

AFTER Above: A man receives an Emsculpt NEO abdomen treatment. Left: Before and after results three months after the last treatment on the Emsculpt NEO treatment cycle.

electromagnetic (HIFEM+) energies are emitted simultaneously through applicators placed on the treated area. The radiofrequency heats muscle tissue and fat cells, preparing the muscles for exposure to stress, similar to a warm-up activity before any workout. In less than four minutes, the temperature in subcutaneous fat reaches levels that cause lipolysis.

Lipolysis is the breakdown of fat, which is then removed from the body through the lymphatic system. In addition to its fat-burning capabilities, radiofrequency also improves the tone and laxity of the skin in treated areas. At the same time, HIFEM+ energy is contracting the muscle fibers in the area, bypassing brain restrictions to produce

contractions at intensities that are not achievable during voluntary workouts. The muscles adapt, increasing the number of muscle fibers and cells. During the treatment, you will feel some warmth and muscle contractions, but you will not experience pain. There is no downtime; once the procedure is complete, you can immediately get back to your daily routine. Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 47

BEFORE

GLOWAESTHETICS Medical Spa + Beauty Boutique 41 IDX Drive, Suite 230 South Burlington, VT (802) 338-9599 www.glowmedspavt.com

48 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

AFTER

WHO CAN BENEFIT? Many clients seek to improve the appearance and strength of their core. In addition, Emsculpt NEO has been proven to treat diastasis recti. Diastasis recti is the partial or complete separation of the rectus abdominis or “six-pack” muscle. This condition is very common in women over 35, following pregnancy, and in men who were previously obese. “An Emsculpt NEO treatment cycle can improve diastasis recti by 19 percent on average by strengthening the core muscles,” explains Dr. DiMeola, medical director at Glowaesthetics. Overall, Emsculpt NEO is a beneficial and result-focused treatment. Emsculpt NEO is designed for anyone with a BMI of up to 35 looking to gain muscle, lose fat, and improve strength and overall wellness. The treatment offers a variety of applications: it can help jumpstart a new wellness regimen or be an enhancement for active individuals desiring to improve their athletic performance.

Above: Emsculpt NEO paddle is placed on the abdomen for treatment. Opposite: Before and after results one month after the last treatment of the Emsculpt NEO treatment cycle.

AN ARRAY OF TREATMENTS Glowaesthetics Medical Spa + Boutique in South Burlington celebrates its third anniversary this spring and takes great pride in providing excellent care and a concierge experience for its clients. he spa sta is proud to be a Platinum Allergan provider and the number one Hydrafacial provider in the state. At its private location, Glowaesthetics Medical Spa + eauty outique o ers a ariety of aesthetic and cosmedical services including but not limited to msculpt oto ysport dermal fillers Kybella, Vivace Microneedling with RF, plateletrich plasma (PRP) therapies, liquid rhinoplasties, hair restoration, B12 vitamin shots, painless laser hair removal, electrolysis, Hydrafacials, VI chemical peels, and lash enhancements. Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 49

BY MARK AIKEN

GET UP, STAND UP

Paddleboarding, that is!

day at the beach doesn’t have to be just sandcastles and catching sun rays. Standup paddleboarding (or SUP-ing) on Lake Champlain is an emerging sport that can be as e citin as surfin ocean a es or as peaceful as meditatin in front of a silent sunset. he hole family can et into it says e in omersley ho mana es pro surfers and acts as ambassador for urlin ton’s a shop dedicated to all thin s atersports related. e ability le el balance none of that matters. 50 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

in has se eral disciplines surfin waves, racing, practicing yoga, and touring. (Kevin and other members of Burlington’s SUP community will gather at Thompson’s Point in Charlotte and paddle 16 miles to the Burlington waterfront when 40-mile-per-hour south winds, common in autumn blo . i erent boards have distinctive qualities: SUP tourers can paddle 15 times on a side without turning on a long displacement board, narrow racing boards slice through water, and wide boards provide a stable platform for yoga. “You name it, there’s a board for it,” says Kevin. WND&WVS and Burlington Surf Club, (which was founded by WND&WVS owner uss cully o er ntro to lessons by appointment into fall. Lessons include boards, paddle, PFDs and—for cooler days—a wetsuit. There is a proven novice progression: on land instruction first on nees on the board in shallow water, then standing up. For quic studies there are di erent s ill sets and specialized boards to play with. Adventure watersports don’t end with SUPin . here’s also itin ind surfin and e en e foils ater’s ersion of an e bi e . atersports are great for peace of mind; they’re a form of meditation says e in. t’s about fitness cross training, and being out in nature.”

Love Your Outdoors

WND&WVS 688 Pine Street Burlington, VT (802) 540-2529 www.wndnwvs.com

ONLINE EXTRA Find tips for beginners at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

Create a peaceful getaway in your own landscape. Our experienced team is ready to help you enrich the life you live outdoors.

802.425.5222

ChurchHillLandscapes.com

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 51

BY JENNIFER GOSS DUBY

SPALON EUPHORIA A discovery journey to well-being

ou could be forgiven for thin in that palon uphoria is sta ed by a eet of beauty and ellness practitioners ud in by the o erin s on their ebsite. But the truth is that the combination spa and salon is a one oman sho . s o ner olly inc ler puts it raduated from beauty school in 99 . lon the ay ’ e accumulated a fe di erent s ills. fe is ri ht. From facials and lash or bro tintin to manicures and pedicures to a in massa e and body sculptin treatments olly is able to o er a full ser ice spa and salon e perience to her clientele. ut she on’t ha e to do it alone for lon . he e pects to brin on a second practitioner soon to provide skin care a in and body treatments allo in Spalon Euphoria to provide their services to more ermonters.

WHAT IS BODY SCULPTING? odern technolo y o ers a number of options for people ho ant to minimi e fat and improve the appearance of their skin and body. ollecti ely called body sculptin these technologies and techniques are ideal for people see in nonin asi e nonsur ical treatments. he core treatment olly o ers is ultrasound ca itation hich oes by the name of a i ipo. his nonsur ical nonin asi e treatment uses ultrasound to cause vibration of the fat cells hich rupture and disperse their fat. he body can then use that fat for ener y in e ercise or e pel it as aste. side from a sli ht rin in sound in the ear durin the treatment there are no unpleasant do nsides to the treatment. t is not only pain free but pretty rela in olly’s patients say. 52 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

olly o ers an a ordable e ecti e bundle of body sculptin modalities that or ell for her clients. he treatment session ill include most or all of the modalities dependin on the needs of the indi idual client. aser lipo uses red li ht therapy and infrared to shrin fat cells and build colla en. esotherapy and ampoules apply in redients such as itamins e tracts or en ymes into a deeper layer of the s in in order to ti hten s in or minimi e cellulite or the appearance of stretch mar s. adiofrequency and ultrasound ca itation are t o di erent ays to help brea do n un anted fat. acuum F therapy brea s up cellulite poc ets and ushes fat into the lymphatic system for elimination. nd lymphatic massa e stimulates the lymphatic system. For best results from body sculptin treatments olly ad ises her clients to drin a lot of ater before and after ards. nd post treatment e ercise helps the body metaboli e the fat that has been released. olly finds that the clients ho benefit the most from these treatments are indi iduals ho are already taking steps to improve their health and appearance throu h diet and e ercise. hey may feel that they ha e already done the or and they are ninety percent of the ay to here they ant to be. ody sculptin helps them et the rest of the ay. NOT JUST CLIENTS, BUT GUESTS eople are so busy says olly. hey don’t al ays ta e the time to find out hat they really need. he recommends a consultation called a isco ery ourney. his is an assessment of the issues the client is ha in hat their concerns are hat their current routine is and

Spalon Euphoria 145 Pine Haven Shores Road Suite 2022 Shelburne, VT (802) 276-5275 www.spaloneuphoria.com

what products they use. The session concludes with some recommended solutions, products, or services, as well as what they can do at home to help. The consultation takes a minimum of 30 minutes, but can take up to two hours for an in-depth assessment. Most importantly, Molly wants her clients to feel a sense of relaxation and pampering. “When they’re here, I want them to feel like a guest.” THE REWARDS Working with her guests can be very rewarding, but sometimes that reward is delayed. For some treatments that take multiple sessions, the results are not instantaneous. And because treatments continue to work for 72 hours after the client leaves, even a single appointment may not sho the final result. olly ill obser e a gradual change over a course of appointments but doesn’t et to see the final chan e. ne client, so pleased with her results, sent pictures so Molly could see, saying “It’s so amazing!” Asked how it makes her feel to know she has helped someone achieve not only their desired appearance but that sense of well-being that comes with it, Molly says, “I love it.”

DREAM CREATE BUILD THRIVE PLAY COWORKING, WITH PLENTY OF SPACE TO… MOVE HULALAKESIDE.COM

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 53

BY NANCY CONDIT

KEEPING VERMONTERS FIT DURING THE PANDEMIC

Total Fitness Equipment can do it

hen the world shut down at the start of the pandemic, I began receiving phone calls from people saying they just got shut out of cardiac rehab. They needed to continue their recovery and needed help fi urin that out. t the same time as receiving calls from people who had been undergoing physical therapy but were now unable to continue. That’s when I realized that as a source of fitness and physical ellness equipment we were “essential.” lthou h our store as closed to the public we continued to sell, assemble, and even deliver equipment including bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and weights. With gyms closed, the demand for strength equipment—weights, bars, and dumbbells—exploded. People knew 54 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

that if they had their own weights to maintain their strength at home, they would be able to get their cardio workouts outside as the weather warmed up through the spring. Working out at home replaced gym workouts as people stru led to maintain their fitness not to mention their mental health. We would take credit cards over the phone and put weights outside the door for them

to pick up. What was happening in our area with the increased demand for weights was happening all across the country. It didn’t take long for the country’s inventory to dry up. For months, we would see very inconsistent and limited deliveries of strength products. t this point in the pandemic e are startin to see some improvements in the supply chain, but there are still quite a few products that are

for days while anxiously awaiting COVID tests—has meant that we haven’t always been able to maintain the high level of customer service we pride ourselves on. But through it all, Total Fitness Equipment has continued to serve our customers.

hard to come by. It will be months before our shelves are stocked the way they used to be and people can once again walk in and purchase anything they want. WORKING OUT AT HOME After the restrictions relaxed in early summer, many people tried to return to working out at gyms but felt uncomfortable. People began to realize that the disruption to life due to the pandemic was going to go on for much longer than anyone anticipated. In order to continue to maintain their health fitness and sanity fitness enthusiasts needed to prepare a home workout plan beyond just lifting weights. Sales for treadmills, ellipticals, rowers, and bikes went through the roof and the inventory for cardio equipment began to thin out dramatically. Home gyms also were high in demand. People were realizing that they could find ood quality equipment for the home that

paralleled what they were using in the gym, and they were ready to wait for what they wanted. It has been a crazy time. No one could predict how long things would be on backorder. Many customers waited, sometimes for months, for their equipment to come in. But as with strength equipment, the inventory for cardio equipment is starting to come back around. We are startin to be able to fill in the sho room oor so e can sho people the possibilities. DEDICATED STAFF Through it all, Total Fitness Equipment has stayed open during the pandemic. We’ve worked hard to help everyone maintain some sense of normalcy in their fitness and personal recovery routines. Sometimes it has been overwhelming. The incredibly increased demand combined ith our o n sta tryin to dodge the virus—sometimes having to pause

PANDEMIC HOURS The store is “open” from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, but we are primarily open by appointment. That means that we are in the store, but the door is locked. If someone drops by to shop and there are no other customers in the store, we will let them in. But the best way to visit the store in a safe and relaxing manner is to make an appointment. This way people have time to e plore all of the fitness options ith minimum exposure. We are doing our best to accommodate all, even giving our personal cell phone numbers for information and scheduling. As the former owner of Personal Fitness Interiors and Women’s Source for Sports and now manager of Total Fitness Equipment, I have had the great fortune to help people reach fitness oals reco er from physical in uries and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle for the last 30 years. I appreciate the opportunity given to me by current owner of Total Fitness Equipment, on alles to continue to be part of the fitness conscious community in Vermont. I invite people to come and explore the quality fitness equipment o ered in our sho room. e understand fitness here. en if someone is unsure of what they are looking for or would like to know about all the options a ailable for their home fitness facility e are here to help, and we encourage them to try the equipment out. We deliver, install, and service everything we sell, all over the state of Vermont and across the lake.

Total Fitness Equipment 10 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT (802) 860-1030 www.totalequipment.com

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 55

BY VIRGINIA DEAN

SPA AT THE

ESSEX Powering up with self-care

t Spa at The Essex located in Essex, clients begin their journey in a tranquil setting surrounded by warm wood and natural stone, attended by the extraordinary spa sta . pa uests also ha e access to the fitness center pools hot tub and rela ation loun es. e place an emphasis on li in a clean healthy lifestyle,” says Spa Director Jamie osta. e’re committed to offerin our clients treatments that incorporate only products ith safe in redients. amie’s ision is to create a spa e perience that consistently deli ers the latest most effecti e treatments. “Our clients come to us seeking relaxation, restoration, and to be educated on new ways they can care for their bodies she notes. For that reason, staying on top of wellness trends and learning about new treatments, products, and amenities is a top priority. stay acti ely in ol ed in a ariety of industry associations to ensure that ’m able to e ecti ely brin that le el of e pertise to our spa.

INCLUDE THE FAMILY pon arri al clients present their pa ay ass to the des at the pa. he pass is alid for in-and-out usage during operating hours 56 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

on that day only. inter spa hours are from am to pm daily ith pool and fitness center hours from 6am to 9pm Sunday–Thursday and am to pm Friday and aturday. asses are a ailable for purchase online. Clients who want to spend time relaxing with family members can enjoy the spa facilities for the day ith the Family ay ass. he pass is alid for t o adults and t o children and includes access to the indoor heated pool, outdoor hot tub, seasonal outdoor pool, as well as the fitness center. Families also recei e 2 percent o dinin in the a ern or unction. unction is an interacti e dinin e perience that allows guests to spend time together while maintainin safe social distancin . TAKE YOUR POWER BACK As inspirational writer Lalah Delia says, “Selfcare is ho you ta e your po er bac . Schedule a 50- or 80-minute massage or facial and ta e your o n po er bac . pa at he sse o ers a number of facial treatments includin ud asque eto or ltimate en.

Tranquility seekers can choose from Purifying, Ageless, or Signature massages as well as Reiki treatment. nhance the e perience ith the addition of a soak, hot stones, CBD, or an eye mas . pa at he sse is a ydraFacial pro ider. ydraFacial uses patented technolo y to cleanse and hydrate s in. he pa also o ers manicure pedicure and hair ser ices for both men and omen. pecial pac a es include ll bout ou alf ay selectin bet een t o 5 minute ser ices of one’s choice otal e u enation Full ay selecting one 50-minute and one 80-minute ser ice For o 2 hours of ouples i nature assa e and Facial duo and other to e 2 hours of a 5 minute personali ed prenatal massa e follo ed by a 5 minute facial . “Being a culinary-centric resort, we focus on nourishing the body, mind, and spirit,” says amie. ll of our menus from the pa lunch to a ern to unction chan e seasonally based on the freshest local Vermont ingredients a ailable includin those ro n in the resort’s or anic e etable and herb ardens.

Spa at the Essex is the only full-service, freestanding spa in the Burlington area. roducts are o ered by ydraFacial e in Murphy, Caudalie, and Comfort Zone for a high-end spa experience. For safety reasons the hot tub ill be closed and co ered hen outdoor temperatures reach ero de rees or belo . he outdoor pool is seasonal and ill be open eather permittin from emorial ay throu h abor ay. he auna and Steam Room are closed due to Vermont State Guidelines until further notice.

The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa 70 Essex Way Essex, VT (802) 878-1100 www.essexresort.com

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 57

BY JESSILYN DOLAN

NURSEGROWN ORGANICS

Proud to offer CBD products you can trust

ave you ever considered trying CBD? Or maybe you’ve been curious what all the fuss is about but don’t know how it might help you? What even is CBD?

BENEFITS OF CBD CBD stands for cannabidiol and is one of the many, many (think hundreds) of the chemicals that are found in the cannabis plant, the plant used to make marijuana. The other cannabisrelated abbreviation you might be familiar with is . he di erence to remember bet een these two chemicals is that THC gets users high but CBD does not. So, what does it do then? To know what CBD does, we need to know a bit about our body systems. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of receptors in the body that plays a crucial role in regulating numerous vital 58 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

functions such as sleep, mood, pain awareness, memory appetite and in ammation. cientific research and anecdotal patient reports have shown that CBD supplements could be supportive for many conditions regulated by the ECS. LOOK FOR A QUALITY PRODUCT You’ve probably seen CBD products sold in many places—seems like you can get them just about anywhere these days. But is all CBD the same? How do you know the quality of the product you’re buying? NurseGrown Organics was founded after years of research and not bein able to find products that were both transparent and met the appropriate and in-depth lab testing and formulation standards necessary to ensure consumer safety. NurseGrown Organics is proud to be

ermont’s first lean reen ertified Farm. Clean Green is a nationally recognized certifier for the cannabis industry and promotes responsible, sustainable, and organic agriculture. Consumer safety is a priority. All of the NurseGrown Organics products are full-panel lab tested, nurse- and herbalistformulated, and are made in Vermont with their o n hole plant hemp o er e tracts.

NurseGrown Organics PO Box 4 Underhill, VT (802) 800-2021 nursegrown.com

A TOPICAL LINE OF VERMONT HEMP AND CBD Experiencing sore, tight, and overworked muscles? Vermont’s dry winter got your skin dry, cracked, or itchy? Topical balms and oils can help. NurseGrown Organics full spectrum hemp balm ith certified or anic oils essential oils, and Vermont beeswax, may be what you need to help soothe and heal. All ingredients are carefully selected to work synergistically ith for ma imum therapeutic benefit. rnica is ell no n for its anti in ammatory properties and may help with bruising, sore muscles, and arthritis. Frankincense essential oil has sho n promise as an anti in ammatory and antimicrobial, while helping to improve and support skin health. The company’s massage oils combine certified or anic sun o er o oba and sa o er oils into a deeply nourishing blend that won’t clog pores or leave skin greasy or sticky. Their Deeply Rooted blend combines organic essential oils of rosemary, lavender, and black spruce with the Rise UP blend which is packed with organic cardamom and mandarin essential oils. The full spectrum hemp o er e tract adds the po er of pro idin ust the ri ht addition to any healing modality and regimen.

A NURSEGROWN TWIST ON CLASSIC CBD The human body may have an easier time digesting and accessing CBD when lecithin is added, so NurseGrown infused its 1500mg CBD:CBDA 5:1 Full Spectrum Hemp Oil ith sun o er lecithin to help ma imi e bioavailability. A top seller is berry-tastic ElderberryBlueberry Vegan Chewable supplement. These little melt-in-your-mouth gummy delights are pac ed ith a deep rich berry a or ith all the benefits of elderberry blueberry and their own full spectrum hemp CBD. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has a long history of being used as a medicine during times of colds and u and is often used as a pre entati e agent. Elderberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants, as well as being rich in anthocyanins, which help tone cardiovascular tissue. Blueberries are loaded with vitamins and nutrients, high in antioxidants, and support weight loss and heart and digestive health. The mission of NurseGrown Organics is to educate, support, and empower consumers while promoting sustainable, organic a riculture throu h a ordable premium Vermont hemp products. Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 59

BY VIRGINIA DEAN PHOTOS BY RIPTIDE PHOTOGRAPHY HC

FIRE BIRD HEALING

Providing modalities of healing despite the pandemic

espite the trials and tribulations of the current pandemic, Maria Carvalho Sandoval of Fire Bird Healing in Burlington continues to serve the community “with love and devotion, in ceremony with the elements, my guides, ancestors, and Great Spirit,” explains Maria. “I look forward to receiving you in my healing studio in the Old North End,” Maria says. “Fire Bird Healing is a space for clients to feel safe, process unresolved experiences, release blocka es and recei e an in u of life force ener y. ach session is tailored to meet your specific needs, and your body always leads the way.”

CRYSTALS AND HERBS AUGMENT HEALING Clients may choose to have a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Prenatal Massage, Reiki healing, joint rotations, or breathwork. For every massage, Craniosacral and Reiki are included as well 60 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

as a special crystal grid under the massage table. The studio is full of crystals, plants, tapestries from around the world, handmade art, treasures from nature, candles, sacred objects, and dried herbs. Maria uses homemade herbal-infused body oils with plants she grows herself for massage, including CBD to help with pain relief. A HEALING SANCTUARY “I’ve created a sanctuary where people feel safe to relax, release, and receive,” says Maria. “I allow ample time before and after the session to check in with my clients and really listen to them. o er any insi ht messa es or isions that I receive during their time on my table. My clients describe walking into the room as a healing experience in itself. It’s alive with magic, light, protection, and beauty.” Maria is also a jewelry designer and has

worked with crystals for over ten years. She be an seein clients fi e years a o and has continued with trainings every year to deepen her skills. “I work with the crystals in healing sessions, sometimes placed on a client’s body, and always in a special formation under the massage table,” she said. “Lomi Lomi guides e erythin do in my o ce. his is li e a sacred dance with the elements, especially water.” he massa e be ins ith lon o in strokes up and down the body to help soothe

Fire Bird Healing For more information and to schedule appointments, visit www.FireBirdHealing.com.

Top: Maria gives a Lomi massage, which is a Hawaiian healing modality that releases stagnant energy, helps the lymphatic system flow, and soothes the body, mind and soul. Above: Maria shares Reiki energy with her prenatal massage client. Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing practice of channeling life-giving energy. Opposite: Maria holds her client's hand during a massage while channeling Reiki energy and offering prayers of strength and peace for a healing journey.

and calm the client, Maria explains. Every touch is intentional, respectful, and intuitive. “I weave in gentle joint rotations to help unwind buried tension,” she says. “I include Reiki and Craniosacral Therapy into every massa e i e. also o er sound healin with singing bowls, rattles, bells, drumming, and chanting to aid in the process. Guided visualization is used as well, especially during breath or . n the healin sessions o er dra from all of the modalities I have been trained in.” ALL ARE WELCOME Maria describes her practice as being “queer-friendly, trauma-informed, and heart-centered.”

Due to COVID-19, only one to two clients are seen per day in order to maintain a safe environment. Maria and her clients wear mas s. he uses an air purifier and cleans deeply bet een clients. n person hands o sessions are available if a client needs that, as well as distance healing for those who are unable to come to the o ce. Appointments require a deposit. However, a sliding scale payment plan is available for those who need healing care but are unable to pay the full amount. Special prices are also available for Black and Indigenous people, people of color, and trans folks, “Because I want to support you amidst the oppressive systems of our world,” says Maria.

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BY PAM HUNT PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CAFES

Café Mamajuana and

Poppy Café A COOPERATIVE APPROACH TO THE NEW WORLD OF DINING

n the late fall of 2020, a new cooperatively owned restaurant space opened at 88 Oak Street in the Old North End. In any other year, this news wouldn’t have been particularly surprising—restaurants open in Vermont all the time. But when Café Mamajuana and Poppy Café opened their door for business in November, Vermont—as well as the rest of the world—was nine months into living with a pandemic, with the old ways of eating out completely transformed. Abby Portman, co-owner of Poppy Café, cites the innovative business model they used to purchase the building as a driver of their successful emergence onto Burlington’s dining scene. “The community support we have received from the start has been incredible,” she says. “Not only is the building owned by 75 members of the community, the shared nature of the space has

easily.” Abby concurs. She and her co-owner sister Emily reworked their initial menu plans to focus on sandwiches: “The perfect to-go food,” she explains. “In many ways, we were lucky,” Abby continues. e did not ha e to quickly react and change our business model; we were able to preempti ely alter our plan to fit the current restrictions.”

been a strong and important support network.” Because of the restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the pandemic, indoor dining as o the table. e didn’t plan for such a take-out-centric menu,” says Maria LaraBregatta, owner and chef at Café Mamajuana. e adapted so that the food carries out

BEGINNINGS Maria at Café Mamajuana grew up in the restaurant business—“three generations, including myself,” she says. She learned about not only the hard work and dedication it takes to run a restaurant but also the pleasure such work can bring. “It was all hands on deck—I have very fond memories of those times,” she says. After seeing the lack of options for Latin American cuisine in the Queen City while Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 65

attendin she decided to start o erin the foods from her childhood through pop-up dinners and homemade salsas sold at local shops before teaming up with the Portmans to open Café Mamajuana and Poppy Café. The Portmans also had experience in the food industry, both in restaurants and in food production. Their dream of opening a place to ether finally found its moment. e had always talked about it casually,” says Abby, 66 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

but a fe years a o e decided that this as the moment to take the leap.” Both Café Mamajuana and Poppy Café o ered pop up sales throu hout the summer which helped to build interest and awareness of the two restaurants. The tantalizing social media posts of o erstu ed sand iches and roasted por definitely ot urlin ton diners’ attention. The two restaurants share the space: Poppy Café serves the breakfast and lunch crowd, hereas af ama uana o ers dinner. he Oak Street Cooperative was designed to allow for this common space and may welcome additional food producers in the future. e do have a large freezer we hope to rent out to

new businesses who require more refrigeration, storage, and a means of collaboration,” Maria says. WHAT’S TO EAT? oth restaurants chan e up their o erin s on a re ular basis. tend to s itch the menu up hen thin urlin ton is ready to try a ne ominican staple and can find the ingredients to execute it,” says Maria. Many of the typical Dominican dishes, such as mofongo (a mashup of fried plantains, garlic, and chicharrón [pork cracklings]) and fried red snapper, require special orders from her distributors. She also serves up fusion dishes, such as the Dominican/Quebecois tostones

Far left, top: The fazool: herby parmy cannellini beans, prosciutto, giardiniera, spicy tomato aioli, garlic focaccia breadcrumbs, and bitter greens on Trent’s Bread. Far left, bottom: The Ode: jammy egg, feta, pickles (carrots/ beets/ onions), herby caper aioli with arugula and fresh herbs on house-made focaccia. Left: Abby and Emily outside their home in the Old North End after a summer pop-up. Above: The reina: avocado, orange, feta, lettuce, arugula, corn nuts, pickled golden beets and red onions, cilantro, scallions, and a basil/ tarragon aioli on focaccia.

poutine with perníl (slow-cooked pork), as well as the ever-popular golden-crisp empanadas. “A rotating menu keeps things fun and interesting to us,” Abby says. The sisters change out one or two menu items each week. They get ideas from experimenting ith ne a ors and cuisines and stri e to buy ingredients from local producers whenever possible. “A lot of our sandwiches are reinventions of dishes from our childhood, meals we’ve had traveling, new takes on old favorites,” Abby says. They combine une pected fi in s such as the harissa eggplant, hummus, cabbage, pickles, and preser ed lemon of the ubbe sand ich into culinary takeaway delights. “We like to push people’s preconceived notions of what a sandwich can be,” Abby adds. WHAT’S NEXT? Café Mamajuana’s liquor license was granted in anuary and aria has been o erin takeaway wine, beer, and cider to accompany her meals. She has also experimented with some ominican a ors the uayaba our

SPRING EXHIBITIONS

ON DISPLAY THROUGH MAY 15, 2021

G A L L E R Y HOUR S W E D - S A T: 1 2 - 5 P M 2021 EXHIBITION YEAR PRESENTED BY

B U R L I NGT O NCI T Y ART S.O RG

Burlington City Arts is supported in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 67

Clockwise from above: Be in the pink with a Guava Whiskey Sour. Avocado & Smoked Paprika Deviled Eggs are a catering option. Ceviche de Camarones (Shrimp Ceviche) consists of fresh seafood cured in citrus juices and accompanied by fresh produce such as onions, peppers, and garlic. Rachel Averitt House Empanadas, featured on the menu daily.

a creamy Ponche de Chinola, and the Mezcal Coco Loco. And she’s making a batch of the restaurant’s namesake drink: Mamajuana—a mix of rum, red wine, and honey that’s cured in a bottle with various herbs and bark.

SIT BACK AND RELAX. Some retired people want to hang ‘em up, and some are just getting warmed up. The people at Wake Robin are definitely in the latter camp. They’re busy, curious, and part of a dynamic Life Plan Community in Shelburne, VT. Come see for yourself. Wake Robin. It’s where you live.

WakeRobin.com 802-264-5100 68 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

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As the weather eventually warms and outdoor dining returns to Vermont for the summer, visitors to 88 Oak Street will be able to enjoy their meals outside in a small seating area. “I long for the days we can kick back and enjoy a drink on premises,” says Maria. ✿

Café Mamajuana 88 Oak Street Burlington, VT (802) 316-8128 www.cafemamajuana.com

Poppy Café & Market 88 Oak Street Burlington, VT www.poppyvt.com Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 69

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT BY MOLLY RITVO

MEET JAY WAHL,

Executive Director at the Flynn A vision for the arts in Vermont during and after COVID-19

hile many local organizations are coming up with innovative ways to survive and possibly pivot during the pandemic, the Flynn has found a way to thrive. In December of 2020, the Flynn board of directors announced the organization’s newest executive director: Jay Wahl, a charismatic and down-to-earth arts aficionado ho is thrilled to be in Vermont. As he settled into his new home in downtown Burlington fresh from a move from Pennsylvania, Best of Burlington had a chance to connect with him. This interview has been edited for clarity and space. BEST OF BURLINGTON: What do you love most about the arts? JAY WAHL: The arts have really unique magical powers. It transports the audience and allows us to connect with a part of ourselves we have forgotten, or perhaps a part of ourselves that we overlook. The arts remind us of ays to find acceptance and for i eness within ourselves and others, and hopefully with strangers in the audiences together. I think that COVID or not, the arts still do that, and still have a responsibility to do that, and still have the power to do that. BOB: How has the pandemic changed the performin arts hat ill be di erent hen audiences can gather? JW: I think we’ve all become a little more sensitive and aware that the words of our lives in the past year have been words of 70 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

restriction. We’ve thought about places we can’t go, or behaviors we can’t do, or things that won’t happen, or quarantines we have to maintain. The arts have often been about ways in which we break through restrictions. I think one of the best gifts that COVID gave us all is an appreciation for public space and the ways in which the places that we can gather—or even be alone

I look forward to providing tools for people to have access to emotions that are hard to access. —Jay Wahl in public space—and how important those places are to us. COVID is showing how the arts have a way of catalyzing public space to create dialogue. Because we haven’t been having those kinds of dialogue, there’s something missing. And so, we’re sort of searching for that.

BOB: There has been so much anger and misunderstanding in our world over the past four years, in addition to COVID. How do the arts help us navigate such uncertainty and unrest? JW: The arts have been my place to learn about other people, to learn about stories that aren’t my story, and to legitimize the experience of other perspectives and other bodies. I watched somebody get on stage and tell their story, and then, the moment that they do that, I cannot deny that they have humanity. And when we stop sharing those stories, due to COVID or whatever other reason, it’s easier to deny other people’s humanity, because we’re caught in our own little bubbles where we don’t really encounter other perspectives and we don’t have to watch another body. I’m not trying to be political in that sense, but it’s not accidental that when governments historically are trying to limit thinking or limit behaviors of populations one of the first thin s they do is restrict the arts. BOB: What do you think Vermonters need now, in terms of art? JW: I’ve been thinking a lot about what we need. One of the things we need right now are opportunities for collective mourning, what I’ll call grief rituals. We’re bereft of that at the moment because we can’t gather, we don’t have funerals. The things that we do as a society, to support each other, many of those tools are sort of missing. The arts have ot to find a ay to fill that because e need that. We need collective mourning, we need to acknowledge what we’ve lost and who, and how heartbreaking that is. This sounds dark, but I do look forward to providing tools for people to have access to emotions that are hard to access. Also, we need fun!

BOB: You worked as the artistic director at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts for 11 years. Can you share a highlight of your work there? JW: I really thought about ways that we could connect the arts, and people, and community, and stories without fear of restriction. I plan to do the same at the Flynn. A highlight during my tenure at the Kimmel was starting a jazz residency program and helping create the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, which was a citywide art festival that brought all sorts of partnerships together. My methodology was always to partner an international artist with a local artist and try to help that mentorship happen with an audience. I brought the Indigo Girls to play with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. BOB: Public space is important to you. How have you used public space to create art? JW: Art in public space is something I care deeply about. I really am interested in the

intersection between art and civic dialogue. I had this real belief around the democracy of arts and how that one of the challenges with concerts often is that some people have good seats, and some people do not, and that really bothers me. So I was able to have a whole band perform from a crane above the street and 200,000 people saw a concert and all had the same view.

Reserve your space now for the

Home Section

BOB: Until Vermonters can gather at the Flynn, what is your hope for our readers? JW: I hope many of us have been able to rediscover things they like because that just helps us reconnect to ourselves. The arts have this magical power ability to connect us to ourselves.

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts 153 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 863-5966 www.flynnvt.org

For best placement call or email John Gales at coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net

(802) 558-2719 Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 71

MONEY MATTERS BY JOHN W. DAVIS, CPA DAVIS & HODGDON ASSOCIATES

Q&A BY JENNIFER KRAUSE

MARKETING MANAGER, DAVIS & HODGDON

tax return Considerations for 2020 AN EXPERT ANSWERS KEY QUESTIONS

efore filing your income tax return for 2020, review some important information that you may not be aware of.

ARE THERE ANY IMPORTANT COVID-RELATED ISSUES TO CONSIDER FOR MY 2020 TAX RETURN? 72 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

The pandemic has impacted nearly e eryone both personally and financially. Your 2020 tax return could also be impacted. You may have had a relatively straightforward tax return in the past, however, as a result of the pandemic, it might be necessary to adjust the way that you report income or you might have to pay

additional income taxes that you had not planned for. Here are a couple of important considerations: DO I HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

es unemployment benefits are ta able at the federal and ermont state le el. enefits must

JOHN W. DAVIS, CPA, CFP®, CEPA, CVA has over 40 years

Help is here.

of public accounting experience focused largely in the areas of taxation, financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, and business consulting. In 1990, John Community Outreach Team

founded what is now Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs. Davis & Hodgdon assists individuals and businesses throughout Vermont and New England. You may reach out to the firm

We help people and communities thrive by providing supports and services to address mental health, substance use, and developmental needs. Community Outreach serves Colchester, Essex, Hinesburg, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Richmond, Williston, and Winooski.

to talk with a tax professional and create a strategy to fit your specific needs.

802-488-6000 howardcenter.org

HowardCenter_2021-02-01_Best-of-Burlington.indd 1

2/1/21 2:31 PM

be reported as gross income on your federal and state income tax returns. DO I HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON MY ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS?

No, the stimulus checks aren’t considered to be income and you do not have to pay taxes on them. There have been two rounds of stimulus payments made, and the amount received was based on the adjusted gross income reported on your most recent tax return (2018 or 2019). With that said, there are some people who didn’t receive a check and others who did not receive a large enough payment resulting from income limits or an unexpected life event (unemployment, birth of a child). So, if you didn’t receive enough and are owed more money from those two rounds of stimulus, you can claim the full amount in your 2020 tax return, and the IRS will send it to you via your tax refunds. Conversely, if your income was higher in 2019 or 2020 compared to the previous tax returns (used to calculate your payments), you may have received more than you were actually entitled to. If that is the case, the Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 73

IRS cannot ask for any of that money back from you. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN STILL DO TO MAXIMIZE TAX SAVINGS FOR THE 2020 RETURN?

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• Consider a Health Savings Account (HSA) HSAs allow you to pay for certain medical expenses on a pretax basis. If you meet certain requirements for 2020, your HSA contribution can be up to $7,100 for family coverage and $3,550 for single coverage (plus an additional $1,000 if you’re 55 or older) and can be made regardless of your income level. These contributions are 100 percent tax deductible above-the-line, so you benefit e en if you don’t itemi e or are sub ect to hi h income itemi ed deduction phaseouts. You can then take tax-free withdrawals to pay for uninsured medical expenses. A provision of the CARES Act now allows withdrawals to be made tax-free to pay for the cost of over-the-counter medications, retroactive to January 1 of 2021. • Retirement account contributions Consider increasing contributions to your Roth or traditional IRA. The maximum contribution limit is $6,000, or $7,000 if you are age 50 or older. You may also be eligible to still make contributions to other self-employed retirement savings account such as a SIMPLE or SEP. Contributions to these type accounts can be made through April 15, 2021. The SEP contribution can be made any time up through the extended filin deadline.

WHAT CAN I DO NOW TO PUT MYSELF IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION FOR 2021?

There are certain actions that you can begin taking right now to prepare for your 2021 tax return. • Life events Consider the implications of expected life-changing events in the coming year. For instance, if you are planning on getting married or having a child in 2021, you should make the necessary adjustments to your withholdings. • Maximize your retirement account deferrals Contribute as much as possible to your employer’s retirement plan up to the allowed limits. If you are 50 or older by the end of 2021, your plan may allow you to make additional (catch-up) contributions. By doing so you can reduce your taxable income. In addition, you may qualify for the retirement savings contributions credit which could reduce your federal tax liability. • If available, maximize your flexible spending account contributions There are new rules for 2021 that will allow you to roll over any unused balance, so it is no longer a use it or lose it proposition. • Maximize contributions to and distributions from Section 529 Education Savings Plans Vermont allows a 10 percent tax credit on up to $2,500 contributed to a beneficiary’s 529 plan. For a married couple the credit is maxed at $5,000 in contributions or a $500 credit per beneficiary. • Tax savvy charitable giving With the much higher threshold for the standard deduction, it may make sense to bunch your charitable contributions for a two-year timeframe all in one year. Alternatively, you may want to look at other options such as qualified charitable distributions from your required minimum IRA distributions if you have them or through the use of a DonorAdvised Fund (DAF).

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SPRING HAPPENINGS | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

153 Main Street, Burlington (802) 86-Flynn www.flynnvt.org

Please see website for details on exhibits and streaming events. TUESDAYS, MARCH 2–APRIL 6

Online Burlesque Learn the fun and sensual dance style of burlesque while toning your body at home with Doctor Vu. This body-positive class caters to all previous dance and fitness experiences. All genders welcome! 6pm. Ages 18 plus MONDAYS, MARCH 1–APRIL 5

Online Tap for teens, adults Are you aching for a little exercise and creative outlet? Join the Flynn online tap class! Tap is an exciting, challenging and easily accessible art form that developed out of African polyrhythms during America’s Jazz Age. In this online tap class, taught by Elisa Van Duyne, students will learn a combination of “hoofing,” or rhythm tap, as well as elements of classic and Broadway-style tap. Tap II introduces more complicated combinations and assumes a strong working knowledge of the basic tap steps. Level 1 at 5:30pm, Level 2 at 6:45pm MARCH 6–APRIL 17 THURSDAYS, MARCH 4–APRIL 8

Online Musical Theater Dance Do you love musical theater and are looking for a fun way to exercise? Join instructor Elisa Van Duyne, a Broadway veteran, from your home to dive head first into the wonderful world of musical theater! Explore Broadway dance choreography while belting your heart out in your living room. Teens and Adults, 6:15pm

Online Show Choir Our Online Show Choir program focuses on skills in singing, acting, and dance, inspiring students while building community and making friends. The program focuses on artistic collaboration between students and faculty to create both individual and group pieces for the virtual stage. Students are asked to submit an audition video prior to the first rehearsal if possible. Juniors and Teens, Saturdays 10am

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Please see website for details on exhibits and streaming events. MARCH 27

Music for days like this

VSO’s newest project serves the present moment with streamed chamber ensemble performances, and our March offering is a unique combination of classical and jazz music, visual art, and poetry by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) artists. Reuben Jackson, known for presenting VPR’s Friday Night Jazz and curating the Smithsonian Institution’s Duke Ellington collection, serves as our host and fellow poet alongside readings by US Poet Laureate Rita Dove.

2 Church Street, Burlington (802) 864-5741 www.vso.org 76 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

BURLINGTON CITY ARTS Please see website for details on exhibits and streaming events.

Lavender Aqua, 2020

MARCH–MAY 15

Meg Lipke: In the Making Meg Lipke questions conventional notions of painting with her colorful, shaped abstractions. Working directly on canvas or cloth, the artist may cut, stain, or sew her materials to create compositions that project from the wall or rest upon the floor. The space around and between each form is as much the artist’s subject as her final creation. Many of these soft, pliable paintings imaginatively conjure up aspects of the body—disembodied limbs or arms—seemingly animate and poised to leave the space. MARCH 1–MAY 15

Pivotal Moments Pivotal Moments: Select Works by Diane Gabriel features the expressive imagery of one of Vermont’s most celebrated artists and educators, Diane Gabriel (1947–2017). Always experimenting, Gabriel incorporated found or refashioned materials and elements of nature as she investigated themes of memory, childhood, and spirituality. Featuring approximately 20 works the exhibit highlights transformative periods from over three decades of Gabriel’s creative practice. Pivotal Moments demonstrates how personal experience and artistic discovery coalesce to create art that is both intensely intimate and universal.

145 Church Street, Burlington (802) 865-7166 www.burlingtoncityarts.org Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 77

SPRING HAPPENINGS | CALENDAR

VERMONT COMEDY CLUB Please see website for details on more upcoming and streaming events. THURSDAYS, 7:30PM

No Idea! Vermont Comedy Club challenges improvisers from another city to battle. This improvised game show will pit the best comedic minds against one another using audience suggestions. Donations appreciated. View online. www.facebook.com/vtcomedy/videos www.youtube.com/channel /UCMcbXRBvJFYEFT2dHa5ELTg www.twitch.tv/vermontcomedyclub FRIDAYS, 7:30PM

QUARAN-Team Game Night Vermont Comedy Club mainstage improv team, The Unmentionables, may be quarantined at home but that can’t stop them from having fun! Donations appreciated. To join the fun, view online. www.facebook.com/vtcomedy/videos www.youtube.com/channel /UCMcbXRBvJFYEFT2dHa5ELTg www.twitch.tv/vermontcomedyclub

101 Main Street Burlington, VT www.vermontcomedyclub.com

78 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

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Inside Back cover Red House Building ...........................................................................11 Sail Beyond Cancer ..........................................................................19 Shelburne Tap House ......................................................................79 Slate .....................................................................................................49 Spalon Euphoria ................................................................................69 The Automaster.................................................................................. 4 The Carriage Shed .............................................................................51 The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa .......................8, 74 The Spot on the Dock ......................................................................78 Timeless Designs ............................................................................. 57 Tom Moore Builder ...........................................................................15 Total Fitness Equipment.................................................................. 73 Vermont Cabinetry .............................................................................5 Vermont Handcrafted Furniture ..................................................... 6 Vermont Kitchen Design by Bouchard-Pierce Wolf ................ 67 Vermont Real Estate Company ......................................................21 Volansky Studio Architecture & Planning ...................................18 Wake Robin ........................................................................................68 Weston Design ..................................................................................13

Spring 2021 | Best of Burlington | 79

LAST GLANCE

Spring is a series of tiny miracles. Notice them.

80 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

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