SUMMER 2016
VOLUME 9 NO 3 $4.95
Savor the
Summer HealingWindsVermont Helps cancer patients set sail
Farm to Ballet Celebrates farm culture through the seasons
FEATURES
38 Simply Summer It’s berry-picking time. by Phyl Newbeck
46 Hope Floats
HealingWindsVermont gives new life to cancer patients. by Sarah tuff dunn
54 Farm to Ballet
Celebrating Vermont’s farm culture through the seasons. by jen rose smith
Contents 12 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Contents DEPARTMENTS 17 Publishers’ Note 18 online hub 20 contributors
38
22 Gatherings 24 cheers Summer sipping. by jen rose smith
75
28 art scene Vermont Comedy Club. by Pamela Hunt
34 community spotlight The Vermont Brewers Festival.
62 Hot spot Mirror Mirror. by sarah tuff dunn
70 Bright ideas Learning to fly at ArborTrek. by mark aiken
76 Dining guide
70
79 Happenings A calendar of events.
83 Advertisers Index 84 last glance
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
52 summer escape Shopping and fun things to do in our local Burlington area.
14 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
62
Coffee Table Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 1460, Quechee, VT 05059 (802) 295-5295 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Publishers
Robin Gales John Gales Bob Frisch Associate Editor
Kristy Erickson copy editor
Elaine Ambrose Art Direction/Design
Robbie Alterio Advertising Design
Hutchens Media, LLC Web Design
Locable Advertising
Robin Gales John Gales (802) 295-5295 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, P.O. Box 1460, Quechee, VT 05059. 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, Š2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Best of Burlington accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.
16 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Publishers’ note
Summertime
Fun T
here are few things as vibrant, exciting, and beautiful as summer in the Champlain Valley. The lake, mountains, festivals, outdoor music, food, and more are all within traveling distance. We hope that when reading our summer issue, you’ll share our view—what a great place to live, and what a great season to enjoy! Who knew ballet and farms could go together? But they do! And nicely, we might add. You’ll agree after reading about Farm to Ballet. Speaking of farms, summer means ripe, juicy berries. Dust off your berry-picking bucket and check out our feature on berry farms, including locations. Making it a family affair guarantees great memories, so round everyone up and start picking. Be sure to try the recipes as well. We are so fortunate to have Lake Champlain as our playground. It’s soothing, relaxing, and a welcome getaway. It’s in that spirit that we introduce you to HealingWindsVermont, a sailing reprieve for those affected by cancer. This is a truly special organization offering sailboat excursions on the lake for those fighting cancer as well as their families and caregivers. With summer’s heat comes the necessity to cool off—and there’s no better way to chill than with a cold local craft brew. The Vermont Brewers Festival brings together many artisan brewers and their products all in one place. Be sure to check them out in our pages. Cheers! Looking your best all summer is easy with a visit to Mirror Mirror. What a treat to know that they put local first in the products and services they offer, from skin care to the latest in cosmetics. Their professional and talented staff love what they do, and you’ll love the results. You’ll leave looking and feeling like you’re ready to take on all that summer offers. These are only a few of the fun and informative things you’ll discover in this issue. Get out, enjoy, relax, and take in everything that summer has to offer in the Champlain Valley.
Happ� summer! John and Robin Gales
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 17
ONLINE HUB WWW.BESTOFBURLINGTONVT.COM
ONLINE EXTRAS
FLY THROUGH THE TREES
First-time zip liner? ArborTrek has you covered.
MEET LOCAL BREWERS
Some of Burlington’s finest artisanal breweries will be at the Vermont Brewers Festival.
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CONTRIBUTORS BEST OF BURLINGTON
20 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Mark Aiken
Sarah Tuff Dunn
Mark is a freelance writer from Richmond, Vermont. He teaches skiing in the winter and trains for marathons in the summer. Together, he and his wife are involved in another endurance sport: parenting.
Sarah writes on health, fitness, travel, and more for a variety of regional and national publications. She lives with her husband and their two young children in Shelburne, Vermont.
Pamela Hunt
Phyl Newbeck
Pam is a freelance writer and editor in South Burlington, Vermont. When she’s not working with words, you can find her with her husband bicycling on Green Mountain byways, skiing through the trees, or meandering up and down the hills of Burlington with their two dogs.
A former flatlander from New York City, Phyl lives in Jericho, where she has learned to stack a mean pile of firewood. When she’s not skiing, skating, bicycling, swimming, or kayaking, she writes for several local publications. Phyl is the author of Virginia Hasn’t Always Been for Lovers: Interracial Marriage Bans and the Case of Richard and Mildred Loving.
Jen Rose Smith
Natalie Stultz
Jennifer is a freelance writer, baker, and assistant sugarmaker. She writes about food, travel, and culture, and her work has appeared in Best of Burlington, Vermont Magazine, and Local Banquet. She lives in Burlington.
Natalie is a Vermont photographer whose editorial and commercial work appears nationally. Her photographic stories reflect a spirited and vivid sense of place.
GATHERINGS PHOTOS BY DARIA BISHOP
VNA Spring Blooms! Fashion Show
RAISING FUN AND FUNDS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE
More than 200 people joined the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties (VNA) on April 14 to celebrate 110 years of caring for children and families in our community at the Spring Blooms! Fashion Show and Dinner. This year’s fundraising event raised $30,000 to benefit the work of the Janet S. Munt Family Room, VNA’s Parent-Child Center, which offers free programs to over 400 families and their children from birth to age six. Fashions from SportStyle, Ecco Clothes, Spellbound, and more were modeled by friends of the VNA, including Eileen Whalen and Dr. Claude Deschamps of UVM Medical Center, Brian Boardman of Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty and his daughter Lilly, and Family Room preschool parent Kendra Barber-Smith and her son Jonesy. Mayor Miro Weinberger, who modeled with his daughters Li Lin and Ada, received the 2016 VNA Cares for Children Award, created to recognize individuals and organizations who demonstrate a commitment to bettering the lives of our community’s children. Mayor Weinberger has promoted and led efforts to improve support for parents and children in Burlington, including his Early Learning Initiative. The VNA is a 110-year-old nonprofit home-health and hospice agency caring for people of all ages. Visit www.vnacares.org for more information about VNA services and programs. i 22 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Clockwise from the top: Kendra Barber-Smith and her son Jonesy, a Family Room family, strut the runway at the 2016 Spring Blooms! Fashion Show. Mayor Miro Weinberger and his daughters Li Lin and Ada model fashions from Orvis, Carter’s, and OshKosh. John Maitland, VNA board chair and attorney with Downs Rachlin Martin, is joined by his niece Julia as they model fashions from Orvis and OshKosh. Mayor Miro Weinberger received the VNA Cares for Children Award at the 2016 Spring Blooms! Fashion Show. He poses for a photo with VNA President Judy Peterson. Brian Boardman, realtor at Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty, and his daughter Lilly model fashions from Orvis and SportStyle.
CHEERS BY JEN ROSE SMITH
Summer Sipping While away the hours with a signature cocktail
Summer lands in Vermont with a buzz as we celebrate the season with outdoor parties, festivals, and trips to the river. In gardens and farms across the state, berries ripen and flowers bloom during the long, northern days, and the Burlington Farmers’ Market overflows with heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn. It’s an exhilarating time, but the most lingering impressions of Vermont’s warm months can be of a deep stillness—evenings when the warm air softens every sound, trails are shaded by thick foliage, and that midsummer moment when time slows down for a week of unbroken heat. We asked our favorite Burlington-area bartenders for a few seasonal recipes, and they shared cocktail ideas for summer’s two sweet sides. Blending bottles of Vermont-made spirits with locally grown fruit, bright citrus, and aromatics, these are flawless signature cocktails for a summery garden party or a lakeside picnic, but they’ll be just as sweet sipped on your front porch as you watch the first stars appear on a warm, quiet evening.
24 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Ale Tale
MATTHEW MARRIER, THE ARCHIVES, BURLINGTON
1½ oz Barr Hill Gin O oz pale ale ¼ oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur ¼ oz simple syrup O oz fresh grapefruit juice Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Double strain (combining a traditional cocktail strainer with a fine-mesh sieve) into an old-fashioned glass, and garnish with a maraschino cherry. Matthew uses the super-rich brandied cherries from Luxardo.
Sage Daiquiri
NEIL GOLDBERG, MAD RIVER DISTILLERS, BURLINGTON
2 strawberries 3 sage leaves O oz simple syrup 2 oz Mad River Distillers First Run Rum 1 oz fresh lime juice Muddle strawberries and two sage leaves with the simple syrup in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, then add rum, lime juice, and ice. Shake for 30 seconds and double strain (combining a traditional cocktail strainer with a fine-mesh sieve) into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with the remaining sage leaf.
Back to the Garden
MICHAEL DUNN, MISERY LOVES COMPANY, WINOOSKI
1½ oz Stonecutter Spirits’ barrel-aged gin 1 oz cucumber-celery syrup (see recipe on next page) ½ oz lemon juice Soda water Combine the gin, syrup, and lemon juice in a tall glass filled with ice. Top with soda water (or tonic) and garnish with a cucumber wheel.
Summer Gimlet NIALL MCMAHON, THE GRYPHON, BURLINGTON
2 oz Smuggler’s Notch vodka or gin 1 oz fresh lime juice 1 oz simple syrup 2 slices of cucumber 2 basil leaves Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, and gently muddle the cucumber and basil. Add ice and shake for 30 seconds, then double strain into a chilled martini glass.
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 25
CucumberCelery Syrup 4 cups sugar 4 cups water L cup celery seed 4 Kirby cucumbers or 2 English cucumbers, peeled and cubed Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Add the celery seed, remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature. When cool, strain the celery seeds out of the syrup, and then blend with cucumber until smooth. Store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. i
DIY! Summer Cocktail Tips from Behind the Bar Use produce in season: Fresh herbs and flowers are a great way to enhance an otherwise simple cocktail. MLC’s Mike Dunn regularly uses mint, tarragon, basil, sage, cilantro, hyssop, verbena, and oregano. Experiment with savory elements: Juiced asparagus, fennel, peas, carrots, and beets can all be exciting elements in drinks and are year-round stars of the MLC cocktail menu. Prolong the life of seasonal items: Bartenders enjoy summer flavors year-round with sweet syrups made fresh from the garden. The Archives’ Matthew Marrier loves chili, cucumber, grapes, and hops, while Neil Goldberg opts for fresh herbs and flowers. Update a classic: If your favorite drink is a gin and tonic or mint julep, Mike Dunn recommends substituting or adding something you have on hand to the classic recipe. Don’t be afraid to fail: Good bartenders mix up plenty of flops—but once you’ve found a great recipe, you can serve it with pride. 26 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
ART SCENE by Pamela Hunt
A Community of
Comedy Bringing laughter to Burlington
28 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
When Vermont Comedy Club opened on Burlington’s Main Street in November 2015, some visitors weren’t sure what to expect. Would it be like the Comedy Zone, the weekend-only shows from over a decade ago in the former Radisson Hotel’s lounge? Or maybe it would resemble Levity, the 40-seat café and comedy spot that struggled for a year and a half on Center Street.
A
s VCC cofounder Nathan Hartswick says, “I get this backhanded compliment all the time. People will come to the show, and I hear, ‘I had no idea— it’s like a real comedy club.’” He adds that his cofounder, business partner, and wife Natalie Miller has overheard patrons exclaim, “Ooh, fancy!” when she personally seats each customer before the show begins. Since its opening weekend, which kicked off the “Vermont’s Funniest Comedian Contest,” the club has seen consistently sold-out performances on Saturday nights. Nathan and Natalie’s success in drawing crowds to VCC didn’t come overnight though. They have worked tirelessly, building the local comedy community one joke at a time.
Building the Business Nathan and Natalie were living in Burlington, she teaching voice lessons, he doing freelance marketing while dabbling in standup and teaching comedy. Realizing that consolidating their efforts would be more efficient, they rented a small space and began teaching classes. And that’s when creative incubator Spark Arts was born. “Our mission was to create a place to pull creative people together,” Nathan says. They offered a variety of workshops, from dance to music to comedy. In addition, they ran improv sessions, where like-minded comedians could “drop in and play games together,” Nathan says. As the comedy side of Spark Arts grew, Nathan and Natalie honed their focus on comedy education and created a booking agency called Vermont Comedy Club. “We started doing a standup open mic at Nectar’s Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 29
Vermont Comedy Club owners Nathan Hartswick and Natalie Miller on stage at the club’s grand opening in November 2015. Right: Standup Level I student Rick Blount makes his comedy debut on the VCC stage at a performance for family and friends. Bottom: Natalie and Nathan stand outside of the club at 101 Main Street, Burlington—the old armory at the corner of Main and Pine.
and improv jams. All these things were aimed at growing the comedy community and market in Vermont,” says Nathan. Kathleen Kanz, a comedian from Central Vermont and founder of the Green Mountain Comedy Festival, was overjoyed with the changes that Spark Arts brought. “Once Nathan and Natalie started offering improv and standup workshops, the comedy scene in Vermont exploded,” she says. “The comics who came out of those classes were hungry to perform as often as possible.” After seeing the community blossom, the couple knew it was time to take the next step—a dedicated space for comedy. “We didn’t want to take that risk until we felt like the market was there for it, and we had a local scene that could support it,” says Nathan.
The Club Vermont Comedy Club fills the 6,000-square-foot basement of the former armory, the erstwhile home to previous entertainment venues. The culmination of years of planning shows in every detail, from the fixtures and the layout of the bar to the whimsical bovine unicorn statue that graces the stage and is also the club’s logo. The 150-seat theater is small by metropolitan club standards, but according to Nathan, “that’s part of the fun and the magic of it. We wanted people to be able to sit in an intimate environment and see somebody professional close up.” Nathan and Natalie have worked hard to keep the performances at a professional level while maintaining a reasonable ticket price. “We set the price at $15 a ticket on the weekends,” Nathan says. “I don’t want to be a place that makes people have that conversa30 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
tion—‘Do we have $100 to drop on this?’” For well-known acts, however, higher prices are inevitable. But as Nathan says, “Most people understand that. Nobody blinked at the $25 tickets for Gilbert Gottfried [who performed in January 2016].” Kathleen echoes Nathan and Natalie’s excitement about the club’s success. She describes a coworker’s glowing review of her experience at a Friday night show, from the low cost to the funny performance to the high-quality food and drinks. “She was beaming,” says Kathleen. “For real—this is fantastically exciting.”
Learning to Make Others Laugh The classes that originated with Spark Arts are alive and well at VCC. In fact, Nathan and Natalie integrated teaching into their plans for the club. “The thinking behind that was people would come to the club and see that we teach classes, and we didn’t want to send them somewhere else,” says Nathan. They currently offer four levels of improv classes and a couple that focus on standup routines. Though some students definitely have a goal of performing, Nathan says the classes attract all kinds. “People with standup on their bucket lists, people who need to do public speaking, people who have always been told they were funny—the classes are very supportive. It’s like a safety net.” The students build a short set of material over six weeks, capped off by a performance for family and friends.
Playing Games Improv performance plays a special role at VCC. Each Thursday, a jam session opens the evening, and anyone is welcome to join in. Then the two improv groups that call the club home take the stage. The first, Napoleon, follows a short-form style, à la Whose Line Is It Anyway? with props and audience suggestions guiding the show. Nathan likens the second team, The Unmentionables—which includes himself and Natalie—to a troupe from Second City or Upright Citizens Brigade. This longer show is based on an interview the comedians hold with a selected guest. “We talk about their job, about the jobs they’ve Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 31
held, and then we send them back to their seat and we build an entire play on that interview.”
Celebrating the Community The pair helps to put on two events each year. In addition to Vermont’s Funniest Comedian, which takes place every November, Nathan and Natalie are part of the summertime Green Mountain Comedy Festival. When Nathan and Natalie came on board to help founder Kathleen, they transformed it from a handful of performances into a more walkable, downtown Burlington event, with a couple of shows in Central Vermont. “The philosophy of the festival,” says Nathan, “is we want Vermonters to find out how great the community is here. Many of the shows feature Vermont talent, and then we have a couple of really high-level headliners to draw attention to the festival. That’s how Kathleen began it, and we’ve tried to stick to that vision. It’s about the community and giving it more exposure.” Looking back over their first year with the club, Nathan admits, “I’m not surprised that we’ve gotten audiences—I kind of counted on that. I’m pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm and the number of people who are coming. It felt like a real validation once we opened and every weekend we get these big crowds of people.” i
Vermont Comedy Club 101 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 859-0100 vermontcomedyclub.com 32 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 33
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Celebrating artisan craft beers and those who brew them
On July 15 and 16, more than 40 artisanal breweries will be represented at Burlington’s Waterfront Park. Festival goers will enjoy samples of beer, educational events, and delicious local fare.
Vermont Brewers Festival The craft brewing movement is growing in Vermont, and what better way to learn more about the world of artisanal brewing than by sampling some of the finest beers and ales on the planet while enjoying scenic views of Lake Champlain? On July 15 and 16, lovers of local beer will head to Burlington’s Waterfront Park for the Vermont Brewers Festival. With more than 40 breweries represented, including 14th Star Brewing Company, Fiddlehead Brewing Company, Frost Beer Works, Harpoon, Long Trail, Magic Hat, Otter Creek, Prohibition Pig, Queen City Brewery, and Switchback Brewing Co., the festival brings together some of the most interesting brewers in North America and 34 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
promises to be a fun and informative event for anyone who appreciates hand-crafted beer.
Educational Programs While the opportunity to sample local beers is the event’s main attraction, the Vermont Brewers Festival offers much more—like tips on which tasty foods go best with your beer. This year, brewmaster Christophe Gagné of Hermit Thrush Brewery and cheesemonger Joe Green of Grafton Village Cheese will present an exploration of sour beer, cheese aging, and pairings galore, including cellared reserve beers and new beer-washed cheese experiments. Lake Champlain Chocolates will be pairing their amazing confections with a selection of craft beers. Festival goers will also enjoy other special presentations and panel discussions.
Have a Plan There will be four separate four-hour tasting sessions. The Vermont Brewers Association, Inc., which organizes this event, recommends planning your tasting agenda. There are more than 150 beers to choose from, so save time by making your tasting decisions before you arrive. A beer list will be posted on the festival’s website. Each three-ounce sample will be poured into an official 2016 souvenir glass. Arrive early to enjoy delicious local food and check out the exhibitors. The festival takes place rain or shine—bring sunscreen or a rain coat depending on the weather. There will be tented areas for seating, so there’s no need to bring tents or lawn chairs. Leave Fido at home too. For more information and to see if tickets are still available (they sell out quickly, so if you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets this year, mark your calendar for next year), visit vtbrewfest.com. i
Vermont Brewers Festival July 15 & 16, 2016 Waterfront Park Burlington, VT vtbrewfest.com
online EXTRA! For more information on the festival, visit www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 35
by Phyl Newbeck
Simply Summer berry-picking time
38 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Sometimes the simple things are what define a season. For many people, one of the best things about the summer months is the chance to go out and pick fresh berries in the sunshine. Here in Chittenden County, we have a number of The Beatty family sells honey from Champlain Valley Apiary, whose bees help pollinate Charlotte Berry Farm.
locations where berry picking can be an enjoyable family affair. Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 39
Pick your own strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and more at Charlotte Berry Farm. Opposite: After picking berries, cool off with a creemee made with farm-fresh blueberries.
Charlotte Berry Farm The Charlotte Berry Farm is a perfect example. Years ago, Russ and Melissa Beatty took their kids to pick blueberries at the farm off Route 7. Back then, Melissa’s job kept her from spending as much time with her boys as she liked, so she and Russ decided to buy the four-decades-old farm in 2013. Now, their high-school sophomore and fifth grader work and play alongside their parents at the pick-your-own operation. “I get to see them more often,” Melissa says. “We thought it would be a great family change of pace, and it has been.” Charlotte Berry Farm is open from June through August with strawberries, blueberries, black raspberries, fall raspberries (a heartier breed), blackberries, and pumpkins. During the week, most of the berry pickers are local, but on the weekends out-of-staters visit, including an annual group of blueberry fans from Canada. A number of day-care facilities and after-school programs make the farm a regular part of their summer calendars. In addition to the pick-your-own operation, the Beatty family sells honey from Champlain Valley Apiary, whose bees help pollinate the farm, and maple syrup from a local sugarmaker. None of their product is wasted, as they sell pumpkin puree, homemade jams, and creemees using whichever berries are in season. Melissa admits the farm is more work than she expected, but she’s still pleased with the family decision. “We’ve learned a lot,” she says. “It’s brought us together as a family, so the goal has been met. It’s a lot of sweat and a lot of education.”
Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm As the name implies, Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm in Richmond is a one-berry operation. Pat Weaver and her husband Larry Copp 40 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
run the farm with Jon and Pat Downer, a couple they met in graduate school at the University of New Hampshire. The foursome decided they wanted to return to Vermont and do something land based. In 1979 they purchased their Richmond land after Pat Downer, the group’s resident horticulturist, determined that it had the best soil of any of the locations they had looked at. Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm is more than a place to pick berries. In the mid 1980s, the families employed an accountant who also played the bagpipe with the St. Andrews Pipers. They invited him to play for their guests, and he brought along several of his colleagues. Soon, the farm was hosting twice-weekly concerts. These days, there are musicians every Tuesday night with a rain date of Thursday from mid July to late August. Music ranges from blues and rock to Dixieland and jazz. “We get a good mix of different kinds of music for a broad audience,” says Pat Weaver. “People want to enjoy a cool evening, blueberries, and a picnic. It’s something they can do as a family.” Concerts last roughly one and half hours and allow customers to go home while there is still light and before the mosquitoes come out in full force. “It’s really wonderful,” Pat says. “We’ve done this for 35 years, so we’re seeing children of children who used to come here. They’ll introduce themselves and say their parents brought them when they were six. It’s the same with our employees. Now we’re hiring the kids of kids who used to work for us. It’s a really nice cycle.” Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 41
Blueberry picking is fun for the whole family at Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm. Below: Enjoy live music at Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm every Tuesday night from mid July to late August.
Isham Family Farm A more diversified operation is Isham Family Farm in Williston. The farm grows Christmas trees and produces maple syrup, but in the summer the action is in the fields with pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries. Mike Isham started the pick-your-own part of the business in 2010. “I was looking for 42 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
something to do in the summer and I wanted to diversify” he says. One of the attractions on the farm was born out of necessity. The Isham Family Farm isn’t certified organic, but Mike wanted a way to rid his fields of pests without pesticides, so he bought some chickens and discovered that visitors love to watch the
birds peck away at the insects and aerate the soil. This year he plans to add a few ducks to the mix. Mike also gets bull calves from local farms for a miniature petting zoo, which is very popular with youngsters. Mike wants his farm to be a place where families can spend some quality time, so he has hiking trails, a small sunflower maze in the summer, and a corn maze in the fall. “People like to come and visit to see what an old-fashioned farm looks like,” Mike says. “I think my target audience is kids between 4 and 12. It’s a safe space, away from the road, and there are picnic tables behind the sugarhouse.” In 2002, Mike and his family conserved his farm through the Vermont Land Trust, and he thinks that may increase the appeal of his operation. “Visitors like to know that it has been conserved,” he says, “so in future years they can still come back and they won’t see condos or development.” Mike has one acre of blueberries and half an acre of raspberries but has no interest in increasing those areas. “When something works, you keep it,” he says. “I’d rather maintain the small-town feel than turn it into something commercial.” i
Blueberry Popsicles Recipe by Melissa Beatty | Makes 6–8 |
2 cups blueberries ¼ cup sugar 1 cup water 1 tsp lemon juice 1. Boil all ingredients together and then let the mixture cool. 2. Divide the cooled mixture into your favorite molds or cups with popsicle sticks, and place them in the freezer for 6 to 8 hours before serving.
Charlotte Berry Farm
Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm
Isham Family Farm
4702 Ethan Allen Highway Charlotte, VT (802) 425-3652 www.charlotteberryvt.com
263 Blueberry Farm Road Richmond, VT (802) 434-3387 www.owlsheadfarm.com
3515 Oak Hill Road Williston, VT (802) 872-1525 ishamfamilyfarm.com
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 43
Blueberry Scones Recipe by Melissa Beatty | Makes 6–8 |
1½ cups flour (Melissa uses King Arthur) 2 cups rolled oats ¼ cup sugar 4 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 1 egg ½ cup melted butter L cup milk ½ cup blueberries, rinsed and dried (or whatever berry is in season) 1. Preheat over to 425° for 15 minutes. 2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. 3. In a small bowl, beat 1 egg until frothy and add ½ cup of melted butter and a L cup of milk. Add to dry ingredients, mixing only until moistened. Don’t overmix. 4. Gently fold in the berries, and then use a ¼ cup measuring cup to drop the mix onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to make 6 to 8 scones. 44 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 45
BY SARAH TUFF DUNN PHOTOS BY PAUL BOISVERT
46 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Hope Floats HealingWindsVermont
gives new life to cancer patients It’s a bluebird day at the Shelburne Shipyard, where seagulls circle overhead, a light wind ruffles Lake Champlain, and an O’Day 28.5-foot sloop named Jubilee rests in her cradle with braces labeled “Healing Winds.” Though the boat has yet to be lowered into the water for the season, she has already lifted hundreds of spirits through the work of HealingWindsVermont, a nonprofit founded in 2014 by breast cancer survivor Suzanne Johnson to take cancer patients and their caregivers out on Lake Champlain. “Sailing onboard Jubilee is a much-needed respite from the stresses and anxiety of all the challenges that cancer brings,” says Suzanne, who’s busy clearing off cobwebs and unbuttoning covers on this sunny spring afternoon. “It provides an opportunity to be together on the water—with the patient and the entire family—moving together while on the healing powers of the water.”
The Missing Piece Suzanne knows a thing or two about healing, having survived stage-two breast cancer. She was diagnosed in 2010, shortly after she sold Tilley’s Café in Burlington. During chemo and radiation treatments, she met many extraordinarily kind individuals but found that there was something missing. “When you’re battling cancer, the focus is so much on fighting the disease—logistics and testing, taking endless types of medication, analyzing, and relying on Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 47
HealingWindsVermont founder Suzanne Johnson aboard Jubilee with members of the volunteer team. Right: Moving through the waters of Lake Champlain under sail provides a great opportunity for quiet conversation and family bonding.
medical experts to determine your sense of well-being. Ultimately, that can be very disempowering.” Having grown up sailing, Suzanne knew that the missing piece to healing from cancer might just be a boat. Not a soccer ball or a fly-fishing rod, which require the patient to be more mobile. Anybody can sit on a sailboat. Even the weakest patients, explains Suzanne, can experience Jubilee. “We make sure they’re comfortable in the cockpit with blankets and cushions,” she says, while the rest of their group can be running around the boat. Everyone’s happy!” That includes Lead Captain Glen Findholt, who knows Lake Champlain and sailing bet48 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
ter than almost anyone after delivering boats up and down the East Coast and providing tours of Vermont’s inland sea. “Glen, who lost his wife to brain cancer in 2013, says, “HealingWindsVermont has changed my life and the lives of many of our volunteers. I’ve often said that I do this work because it gives me a great feeling. I’ve met fascinating people, and possibly helped them in some small way—but the fact is, I do it for me.”
The Community Steps Up Lake Champlain is an ideal resource for the program, thanks not only to the lake itself but also to the world-class hospitals with excellent cancer programs, say Suzanne and Glen, who are now working to expand HealingWinds to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Burlington’s community, they say, has stepped up to take more than 300 people sailing in the past 24 months and to give HealingWinds 50 percent year-to-year growth, with support from such corporations and organizations as Symquest, Pomerleau Real Estate, PuroClean, Rotary Clubs, and Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer. They’ve collaborated with the Visiting Nurse Association, hospice programs, Hope Lodge, the UVM Medical Center, and Dartmouth Cancer Centers, among others. Glen also serves as the chair of the eight-person board that oversees HealingSummer 2016 | Best of Burlington 49
WindsVermont’s fundraising efforts; he points out that because all the outings are provided free to patients, they rely heavily on donors and sponsors. Online forms allow anyone (friends, family members, or the patient) to nominate (anonymously, if preferred) a potential HealingWinds recipient. There are also forms for volunteers to serve as crew for Jubilee or provide boat maintenance, social media, public relations, fundraising, and administrative help the program also relies on heavily.
Creating Lasting Memories But whether they’re dusting off cobwebs at the Shelburne Shipyard on a Sunday afternoon to prepare for the season or tackling unpredictable gusts on the lake, Suzanne and Glen say it’s worth every effort, especially when they have guests like the group of 10 from Barre that Glen recalls. “A year ago, we received a phone call from a woman who had sailed with us along with her siblings, including a woman with terminal cancer,” he says. “She was calling to tell us that her sister had passed away that very morning, and she wanted us to know that what they were talking about was what a wonderful experience their sail with HealingWindsVermont had been. It reinforced for me the importance of helping to build lasting memories for family members and loved ones.” Sails on HealingWindsVermont depart from Perkins Pier throughout the summer and last three hours. The impact on cancer patients and their families, however, clearly lasts much longer. “You cast off a line, and you have to be present,” says Suzanne. “It gives everybody a time out—there’s no blood type, no next treatment. Just a moment to give them memories that last, and to be thankful.” i
HealingWindsVermont Operating Location: Slip #56, Perkins Pier Burlington, VT (802) 739-9463 (WIND) www.healingwindsvt.org
online EXTRA! Learn more about the Jubilee and her voyages at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com. 50 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
At 28.5 feet long, Jubilee is small enough to be handled by a captain and one crew member but large enough to allow guests freedom to move around.
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 51
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
summer escape Stella Mae Located on the Church Street Marketplace, Stella Mae carries a curated selection of footwear, clothing, and accessories. Brands include Frye, Dolce Vita, FreeBird, Kork-ease, AS98, Danner, For Love and Lemons, Mink Pink, Chaser, and Gentle Fawn. We also offer an online experience at Stella-mae.com. Warner Supply, our lifestyle store for men that also features gifts, will be opening in our basement soon.
Shopping & fun things to do in our local Burlington area!
Petra Cliffs Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School focuses on climbing and mountain-related education and recreation, accessible to all ages and abilities. We offer premium instruction and services through experience-based education in an inspiring atmosphere for families and friends to gather for a challenge and fun. Petra Cliffs is also home to an indoor ropes course for birthday parties, teams, and groups. 105 Briggs Street Burlington, VT (802) 657-3872 www.petracliffs.com
96 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 864-2800 www.stella-mae.com
Shelburne Vineyard and Wine Tasting Room Spend a summer afternoon enjoying a tasting and tour as we share our adventure growing grapes and making award-winning wines in northern Vermont. Then stay a while with a glass of your favorite wine and a cheese plate on the patio, or return for one of our festive evening events. Go to www.shelburnevineyard.com or visit us on Facebook to see our schedule of concerts, storytelling, and special events or to contact us to plan your own special event here. 6308 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8222 www.shelburnevineyard.com Open 7 days a week all year May–Oct 11am–6pm Nov–Apr 11am–5pm
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Morse Farm Summertime means creemees! And the best creemee, according to Yankee Magazine, is one from Morse Farm in Montpelier— it made the “Editor’s Choice” list for Best Maple Creemee. Morse Farm is an eight-generation maple farm. Come see the sugarhouse, woodshed theater, maple trail, and a huge gift shop with mail ordering and free tastings. 1168 County Road Montpelier, VT (800) 242-2740 www.morsefarm.com Open daily 9am–8pm during the summer www.facebook.com/themorsefarm
Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Have mini bottles of SND bourbon, vodka, gin, wheat whiskey, or rum on hand for Vermont-inspired hospitality baskets, hostess gifts, and table favors at your reunion, corporate retreat, or wedding! Along with full-sized bottles, embossed shot and rocks glasses, bourbon peach jam, bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, and flasks, they are ideal gifts to keep your family, colleagues, friends, or wedding party in great spirits! Barrel House Tasting Room 2657 Waterbury Stowe Road Waterbury Center, VT Distillery Tasting Room 276 Main Street Jeffersonville, VT (802) 309-3077 www.smugglersnotchdistillery.com Open daily at both locations 11am–5pm
ECCO Clothes ECCO, Burlington’s original designer boutique, has been dressing Vermonters in top brands for over 20 years! From denim to dresses, boots to stilettos, ECCO has it all! Premium denim lines like J Brand, AG, Paige, and Citizens of Humanity; sweaters by Velvet, Vince, and Theory; basics by James Perse and Michael Stars; dresses by Susana Monaco, BCBG, ABS, and Laundry; shoes from Steve Madden, Seychelles, and Dolce Vita; and handbags by Liebeskind, Hobo, and Tano. From basic to anything but, ECCO has you covered. Visit ECCO on the corner of Church Street and Bank Street in the heart of Burlington. 81 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 860-2220 www.eccoclothesboutique.com
Farm to Ballet Celebrating Vermont’s farm culture through the seasons
54 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
BY JEN ROSE SMITH PHOTOS BY NATALIE STULTZ
Before the first lilacs bloomed, when Green Mountain peaks were still cloaked in snow, spring was arriving— over and over—in a small dance studio in South Burlington. Beating migratory birds to the mark, dancers ushered in the change of season as a flock of delicate geese, their arms rising and falling to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Ballerina “bees” floated from flower to flower while Vivaldi’s Spring rang out fresh as new buds.
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 55
Apple Tree Blossoms and Bees in spring. Opposite: The Weathervane Rooster looks over the farmyard.
By the time the members of Vermont’s Farm to Ballet company perfected each pas de deux and plié, the summer heat would be here in earnest, and the dancers would trade their practice space for green grass on farms around the state. Their performance spans a full year of Vermont’s seasons, with farm-themed interpretations of classic ballet interspersed with routines created by director Chatch Pregger for the concertos in the Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The performance is a celebration of the seasons and of farming in Vermont, and it’s Chatch’s attempt to root the classical ballet he’d been performing as a professional 56 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
dancer in the pleasures and rhythms of his home state. “I had a farm share, and I’d been going to burger night at Bread and Butter Farm, and I realized this is how I want to see art,” he says. Chatch had been teaching ballet since returning to Vermont and thought that a farm-based ballet could be a novel way to connect Vermonters with the farming culture the state depends on.
Interpreting the Rhythms of Farm Life He combed through his favorite classical pieces, looking for dances that could be adapted to farm- and seasonal-themed performances. Tchaikovsky’s swans became northbound geese, and a pas de deux from later in the ballet seemed like the perfect way to interpret the vibrant energy of planting season. The sensual scarf dance from Ludwig Minkus’s La Bayadère was adapted for dancers covering their plants with weed-deterring Reemay fabric. A joyous garland dance from Sleeping Beauty incorporated salad greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers for a lush display of the year’s first harvest. While the adaptation presented some challenges—Chatch notes that pirouetSummer 2016 | Best of Burlington 57
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Bees search for pollen. Opposite: The Weathervane Rooster perches on the barn. The Farm to Ballet audience explores the farm as well as the local food scene.
ting on grass invites sprained ankles—the subject matter of classic ballet is not always so far from the farm. At the time that many great classical ballets were written, “everything was a bit more rural,” Chatch explains, “and the agricultural aspect of peoples’ livelihoods was a little closer to their minds than a lot of people in this country, where we’re more separated.” And many of the original ballets contain agricultural tableaux. Chatch uses scenes from the opera Giselle that are set during the grape harvest, and a chicken dance is taken directly from La Fille Mal Gardée, where the original performance featured a strutting rooster with a flock of hens.
But even if classical ballet audiences were familiar with the rhythms of agricultural life, Chatch explains, that doesn’t mean they knew about life down on the farm. “A lot of the older ballets were made as a way to express the poor to royalty in a way that was acceptable,” he says. And that romanticized, sanitized version of farm life couldn’t be farther from Farm to Ballet’s production, which weaves in the challenges of negotiating unpredictable weather, stubborn farm animals, and the sheer hard work of farming. As he created the ballet, Chatch spent time talking with farmers in his community and wove their experiences into each movement. The ballet’s planting season is joyful but Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 59
Chatch Pregger as the Weathervane Rooster.
frenetic, and as spring becomes summer, the lead farmer ballerina desperately tries to coax rain from her playful rooster weather vane. Like farmers across the state, she lays down irrigation hoses while wishing for a downpour, and when the weather finally arrives, it’s with the thrashing power of a summer storm, both blessing and destructive force.
A Deeper Knowledge of Food and Farming That blend of bounty and danger is a constant part of life for farmers, and Chatch hopes that audiences will leave Farm to Ballet performances with a heightened awareness of how local food is produced. Each of the shows will be held at a farm, from the 400-acre Philo Ridge Farm to the elegant lakeside fields at Shelburne Farms. And while the company is enthusiastic about deepening audiences’ knowledge of food and farming, Chatch knows that the average Vermonter is already more in touch with the rhythms of agricultural life than most Americans. “I hope this project can grow beyond Vermont,” Chatch says, “because there are ideas 60 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Summer 2016 Performance Dates in Vermont JULY 17 Flynn Center’s 20th Anniversary Garden Tour The performance will take place in one of six gardens in Hinesburg. JULY 16 Philo Ridge Farm, Charlotte JULY 30 Golden Well Farm & Apiaries, New Haven JULY 31 Earth Sky Time Community Farm, Manchester AUGUST 6 Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock AUGUST 7 RAFFL Benefit Hosted by GMC Cerridwen Farm, Poultney AUGUST 14 Shelburne Farms, Shelburne AUGUST 20 The Retreat Farm, Brattleboro AUGUST 21 Von Gal Farm to Benefit Rural Vermont, Essex Junction Visit www.farmtoballet.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
in Vermont that we do want to spread about sustainable agriculture and how to care for our environment while caring for ourselves.” In the meantime, though, their work is here, and Farm to Ballet is dancing its way across the state, celebrating Vermont’s vibrant farming culture one leaping bee, swooping lettuce, and prancing goat at a time. i Learn more about Farm to Ballet’s performances and dancers at www.farmtoballet.org. Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 61
HOT SPOT BY SARAH TUFF DUNN PHOTOS BY NATALIE STULTZ
Mirror Mirror WALL ON THE
s
Feel like the fairest of them all
W
ho can forget that awkward moment when mom took us to the Clinique counter to help cover up those teenage blemishes? Some of us still have the frosted, yellowing tubes of Dramatically Different moisturizer stashed in the back of our makeup cabinet, and that includes Lindsay Chisholm. “I remember being 13 with acne and going to the Steeplegate Mall,” she says. “It was very intimidating, sitting there bare-faced, and I ended up wearing the wrong color foundation, a pancake batter, for a decade!” As co-founder of Burlington’s Mirror Mirror, however, Lindsay now ensures that the only thing dramatically different is a customer’s experience with makeup and with the concept of beauty in general. “It’s all about making it comfortable for everyone,” she says. “We don’t place a makeup chair in the front of the store; we have natural light instead of fluorescent light, and we have quality products to match all lifestyles.” On a recent Friday morning, the beauty boutique is buzzing with a visit from a Boston-based Trish McEvoy team, brushing lips and sharing tips from the renowned makeup artist. It’s just one of 95 national lines carried at Mirror Mirror, a 3,400-square-foot space that Lindsay opened in 2005 with her stepmother, Joanne Aja. 62 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Mirror Mirror’s Tata Harper cosmetics and skin care products are 100 percent natural and handmade in Vermont.
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 63
64 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Opposite: Maria Gould with the Tata Harper line of products. Makena Couture samples a scent. Mirror Mirror co-founder Lindsay Chisholm.
Making People Feel Great “When we first started, it was a different time; women wanted to come in and have the no-makeup look, very natural,” she says. “Now, Burlington women have such a unique style. You can walk into City Market and see a woman with a bold red lip.” With the hubbub up front, Lindsay is sipping iced tea in a back room that speaks to Mirror Mirror’s other side—a day spa that offers everything from lash tints and fullbody spray tans to Moroccan Oil pedicures and Swedish massages. Also taking a break from the beauty routine is longtime staff member Maria Gould, whose spray-tanning techniques and warm, graceful approach to facials make one feel radiant. “There’s a certain amount of vulnerability when you take off your makeup, even for a facial or getting your eyebrows done, so you want to enjoy the experience,” says Maria. “For me, it’s instant gratification—I love making people feel beautiful and feel good about themselves.” Maria is part of a 15-employee team that Lindsay is quick to credit for the store’s success.
It’s All About Quality The foundation for Mirror Mirror, however, is in Lindsay’s own experience with customer service and creativity. A Southern twang speaks to her years in Concord, North Carolina, where she went to college before working in corporate retail and developed a passion for the local businesses and more creative freedom. While visiting a friend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, she spotted a shop called Making Faces and saw that Vermont could use a makeover. While Joanne works on the bottom line doing the books, Lindsay remains focused on the fine lines that make up a customer’s complexion—typical clients are in their 30s and 40s, she says. “It’s a woman who Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 65
Amber Balistreri applies makeup to Erica Tamayo. Below: You’ll find Bobbi Brown cosmetics among other lines at Mirror Mirror. Will Landry helps a customer in the background.
wants to look good and feel good with quality products,” says Lindsay, who lives in South Burlington and has three children. People open up when they get pampered, she says. “When you sit someone down in the chair, it’s like therapy.” You also go through 1,000 Q-tips a week, says makeup artist Will Landry, who applies various magical potions from Laura Mercier and Barcelona-based NaturaBissé as, in the background, the Kings of Leon play. The former photographer and Colchester resident is the encyclopedia of the place; 66 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
he knows everything about every product from every line, including Vermont’s own Tata Harper. This summer is also wedding season, which keeps the team on its toes while they help to protect Queen City residents from the effects of the sun that follows winter in a very dry, cold climate. “Antioxidant serums are the number-one thing for the summer,” reports Maria. “And vitamin C does wonders.” Reflecting on Mirror Mirror’s past and present, Lindsay promises “no smoke and Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 67
Maria Gould gives Erica Tamayo a facial using steam and an LED mask.
mirrors,” instead touting the down-to-earth vibe in this very vivacious, very colorful spot on Burlington’s bay. It’s been 11 years since the store began making faces and changing lives. “I don’t know what the future holds,” says Lindsay. “But I can only hope that we are able to continue empowering the women of Vermont one lipstick at a time!” i
Mirror Mirror 3 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 861-7500 www.mirrormirrorvt.com 68 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
bright ideas by mark AIKEN
A happy and confident family spans one of ArborTrek’s suspension bridges.
70 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Learning to Fly Adventures happen near the Notch at ArborTrek It’s not every day you find yourself in this situation. I’m standing in an Eastern hemlock, wearing a helmet and shoulder and waist harnesses, and clipped to a halfinch steel cable. The cable is all that connects me to my ultimate destination—a tiny unseen platform halfway up another tree. My guide, Jamie, explains that all I need to do is step off the platform where I stand, and I’ll hurtle 800 feet through the air at nearly 35 miles per hour. “When you’re almost there, look for Josh, the other guide,” says Jamie. “He’ll give you the brake signal.” I’m at platform number three on the ArborTrek Canopy Tour at Smugglers’ Notch in Jeffersonville, Vermont, near the town of Stowe. What is a canopy tour, you wonder? It’s feeling the cool, dark quiet of a hemlock forest, seeing views of Mount Mansfield and the Notch, and getting the adrenaline rush of an amusement ride. It’s learning to trust your guides, your equipment, their setup . . . and yourself. Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 71
An ArborTrek guide delivers a natural history lesson to a group. Right: Another guide descends the zip line toward a platform with a waiting group.
Meeting the Locals For a more technical definition of “canopy tour,” here’s ArborTrek founder and president Michael Smith’s definition: “It’s a series of zip lines and bridges under the canopy of the forest,” he says. In the case of the Smuggs tour, it is eight zip lines, two suspension bridges, and two rappels out of trees. After studying wilderness leadership as an undergrad at Arizona’s Prescott College and earning a master’s degree in management and training from Oakland University in his home state of Michigan, Michael spent most of the first decade of the millennium leading adventure programming for schoolkids, writing rock-climbing guidebooks, and building canopy tours—often worldwide. Michael founded ArborTrek Canopy Adventures in 2010, and now the company operates two sites year-round. His other company, AdventureSmith, provides services to other companies. The operation at Smugglers’ Notch employs 40 to 50 people in the peak seasons—summer and autumn—and fewer than 10 during the more scaled-back, slower times. For Michael, the interactions he has with his staff and customers are reason to continue to grow the company. “We hire people who are passionate about what they do. It’s infectious, and our customers see that,” he says. Another operator might not have gotten to know the locals as well, but Michael sourced nearly all of his construction labor and supplies locally. “We spent a lot of time getting to know the location of this tour. And we hired all local people when we built,” says Michael. He was surprised and impressed with the level of talent and knowledge among the locals. “They were climbers and arborists . . . 72 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
but none of them had ever been on a zip tour before!” he says. The same was true when he went through the permitting process; nobody had ever worked on a project of this kind. It was steep learning curve for everyone involved. “I can’t say enough about the local nature and flora,” he says.
A Perfect Match When Michael first started looking for a place to build a canopy tour, he knew he was looking for a ski resort. But which one? He met with resort managers nationwide, but there was always a sticking point. “I would ask them ‘What is your core business?’” Michael says. “Over and over, they would say skiing.” Not a satisfactory answer, says Michael. Then he met with Bill Stritzler, managing director of Smugglers’ Notch. Bill made no mistake about his company’s mission: “Our purpose is to exhaust people’s children.” For years, Smuggs has focused on families—and children in particular. “It was clear from the beginning to me that Smuggs’ focus and purpose was very consistent with the kind of business that I wanted to build,” Michael says. A partnership was born. The ArborTrek operation at Smugglers’ Notch is located in a quiet forest of hemlocks and sugar maples—not on the extreme top of Madonna Mountain (where weather and difficulty might limit the operation). There are three tour options that depend on guests’ ages and interests: There are three tour options that depend on guests’ ages and interests: 1) the Canopy Tour filled with zip lines, sky bridges, rappels, and adrenaline rushes; 2) the Treetop Obstacle Course with more than 70 obstacle elements with increasing height off the ground and difficulty levels, beginning with the Apple Creek section of the obstacle course which offers challenges to families with children as young as four years and culminating with the Eliminator, a moving series of hanging steps that require roped-in participants to jump from step to step and challenges even the most experienced athlete; and 3) The Climbing Adventure, a series of vertical tree climbs and climbing obstacles that range from easy to extreme. “They are novelty experiences,” says Scott Walters, manager of ArborTrek at the Smuggs operation. “But I measure success by our repeat business and the numbers Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 73
of people who come back.” What makes people return? It’s not, says Michael, the biggest zip line or the biggest thrill. “With us, it’s about programming,” he says, “having great guides and forging great connections.”
Stepping Off “What differentiates an average tour from an extraordinary tour?” Michael asks. “An extraordinary tour has a story to tell; it’s not just a thrill ride.” ArborTrek goes to great lengths, then, to train staff— not just in the safety features and necessities inherent to activities like zip lines and adventure courses. Guides expound on local and natural history. One guide told his group about the invasive woolly adelgid, a tiny, punctuation-mark-sized insect that threatens all Eastern hemlock forests. Guides can be gentle and understanding in ways that can make the difference between participating and giving up for a nervous guest. “That we have the best technology and we meet safety standards . . . all of this is important and expected,” Michael says. “Where we excel is that we do it in a more local, more family-friendly way.” Make no mistake. ArborTrek runs a lot of people through their program. “Sure, it can get tedious,” Scott admits. But he points to the training that the staff goes through and what motivates the staff to work here in the first place. “They’re outdoorsy, and they’re ‘people’ people,” he says. And ArborTrek puts staffers through 60 to 80 hours of training.
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Arbor the Frog visits the Treetop Obstacle Course. “You never know when Arbor will show up,” says Michael Smith. Opposite: A family poses with their guide for a group photo after completing Ground School and before entering the canopy tour.
“We have Scenario Days, Practical Days, and a written test,” he says. Scott pauses as he thinks back to when he first joined the ArborTrek team after stints as a physical education teacher and years in sales and marketing. “I’ve never felt better prepared for a job than when I started here,” he says. Back out in the woods, I stand next to my guide Jamie at the edge of my platform. Just step off, he reminds me, keep my body straight by gently turning my arms, and look for Josh on the far platform for the brake signal. I check my helmet and inhale deeply, smelling the fresh scent of hemlocks and a Vermont forest in springtime. I leap off and feel the wind in my face. I hear the whine of the cable increasing as I fly across the zip line toward the other side. i
ArborTrek Canopy Adventures Smugglers’ Notch/Stowe, VT (802) 644-9300 www.arbortrek.com
online EXTRA! Check out the latest adventures happening at ArborTrek at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com. Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 75
special advertising section
Dining Guide
Summer 2016 Key to Symbols
$ most entrées under $10 $$ most entrées $10 to $25 $$$ most entrées over $25
Bistro de Margot
Pascolo Ristorante
Cactus Cafe
Classic French cuisine with a modern twist. Seasonally inspired menu. Wine list features small French wineries, many of them organic. Classically trained French chef/owner. A perfect place for dinner with family and friends or an individually tailored private event. A Vermont Fresh Network member. $$–$$$
Handmade Italian cuisine, featuring fresh pastas, wood-fired pizza, house salumi, Northeast seafood, and homemade gelato sundaes. An exciting Italian wine menu complements the casual fare, celebrating everything from the subtle complex wines of Piemonte to the bold beauties of Italy’s Southern regions. $–$$
Celebrate the flavors of Mexico and the American Southwest in our warm adobe atmosphere. Delight in our imaginative approach to sizzling fajitas, tacos, fresh guacamole, salsa, and more. Handmade 16-oz. margaritas featuring over 34 tequilas. Dinner nightly from 4:30pm. $–$$
126 College Street Burlington, VT (802) 863-5200 www.bistrodemargot.com
83 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 497-1613 www.PascoloVT.com
2160 Mountain Road Stowe, VT (802) 253-7770 www.thecactuscafe.com
Windjammer Restaurant
A classic steak and seafood restaurant with an extensive salad bar. Specialty cocktails, craft beers, and a Wine Spectator wine list complement both the restaurant and pub menus. Supporting Vermont farms, producers, and businesses since 1977. $–$$ 1076 Williston Road South Burlington, VT (802) 862-6585 www.WindJammerRestaurant.com
Guild Tavern
Wood-fired grill featuring dry-aged, locally sourced beef, pork, and poultry. Casual tavern fare, classic steakhouse entrées, seafood and vegetarian options, innovative cocktail program, awardwinning wine list, and weekly specials. $$ Key to Symbols 1633entrées Williston Road $ most under $10 Southentrées Burlington, VT$25 $$ most $10 to (802) 497-1207 $$$ most entrées over $25 www.GuildTavern.com
The Spot
Enjoy our surf-style ambience and delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées. Conveniently located on Shelburne Road in Burlington. Free parking, free Wi-Fi. $–$$ 210 Shelburne Road Burlington, VT (802) 540-1778 www.TheSpotVT.com
dining guide for burlington
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
Dedicated to showcasing local farms and food producers, our menu features award-winning burgers, comfort entrées, artisan cheeses, vegetarian options, and nightly innovations. The Tap Room delivers highly prized and rare beers. “Special Happenins” Wed nights. $$ 160 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 859-0888 www.FarmhouseTG.com
J Morgans Steakhouse
Vermont’s cutting-edge steakhouse featuring over 20 steaks aged and hand cut in-house, 12 daily seafood dishes, and an award-winning Sunday brunch. Located on Montpelier’s historic State Street. $$ 100 State Street Montpelier, VT (802) 223-5222 www.JMorgansSteakHouse.com
El Cortijo
Farm-to-taco experience in the historic 1950s’ Oasis Diner. Tacos, burritos, and Mexican-style entrées made with local ingredients and expressed in fun, fresh ways. Fresh-squeezed margaritas and handcrafted cocktails served in a lively, vibrant atmosphere. Full menu available all day. Lunch, dinner, and takeout. $–$$ 189 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 497-1668 www.CortijoVT.com
Beyond the Menu
summer 2016 | calendar of events July 13
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Lindsey Stirling
153 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 863-5966 www.flynncenter.org
July 14
Colvin & Earle
August 3
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
July 1, 2
July 14
James & the Giant Peach Jr.
Colvin & Earle
FlynnSpace, 4 & 7pm
MainStage, 8pm
July 1
July 17
Michael McDonald
20th Annual Flynn Garden Tour
MainStage, 8pm
Gardens located in Hinesburg, 10am
MainStage, 7:30pm
July 6
July 21
August 24
Brian Wilson
National Theatre Live: The Audience
MainStage, 8pm
Palace 9 Cinemas, 2 & 7pm
July 13
July 22
Lindsey Stirling
Norah Jones
MainStage, 8pm
MainStage, 8pm
Celtic Thunder
July 14–17
July 28–31
MainStage, 8pm
Lucky Stiff
Spring Awakening
August 31
FlynnSpace, 14 & 15, 7pm; 16, 2 & 7pm; 17, 1 & 6pm
FlynnSpace, 28 & 29, 7pm; 30, 2 & 7pm; 31, 1 & 6pm
MainStage, 8pm
August 3
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival Wednesday FlynnSpace, 7:30pm
August 24
Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 79
calendar of events
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Please visit www.vso.org or call (800) VSO-9293, ext. 10 for additional information.
Summer Festival Tour: Picnics, Pops & Fireworks June 30 Mountain Top Inn, Chittenden, 7:30pm
July 1 Suicide Six Ski Area, South Pomfret, 7:30pm
July 2 Hunter Park, Manchester, 7:30pm
July 3 Grafton Ponds, Grafton, 7:30pm
July 4 Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, 7:30pm
July 8 Okemo Resort, Ludlow, 7:30pm
July 9 Three Stallion Inn, Randolph, 7:30pm
July 10 Trapp Meadow, Stowe, 7:30pm
June 20
Gregory Alan Isakov with the VSO Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, 8pm
July 27
Symphony on Tap Switchback Taproom, 5pm 80 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
summer 2016 | calendar of events Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms
1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8686 www.shelburnefarms.org June 30, July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28, August 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 House & Formal Gardens Tour at the Inn 2:30–4pm
July 4, 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Historic Barn Tour 2:30–4:15pm
July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Community Evenings at the Farm 5:30pm
July 7 Farm to Medicine Cabinet Plant Walk with Guido Mase 6–7:30pm
July 9 Garden Tea Party at the Inn 1–3pm
July 11 North Porch Tastings: Farm to Fork Charcuterie, Cheese Pairings 6–8pm
July 12 An Evening of Bats 7:30–9pm
July 15 Bats in the Barn 7:30–9pm
July 16 Shore Explore 9am–4pm
July 17 Vermont Cheesemakers Festival 10am–4pm
July 18 Moonlit Campfire – Night Noises 6:30–8pm
July 20, August 17 Sun to Cheese Tour 1:45–3:45pm
July 25 Farm to Medicine Cabinet Plant Walk with Lani Courtney 5–6:30pm Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 81
summer 2016 | calendar of events July 30 Green Mountain Draft Horse Field Day 11am–2pm
August 6 Farm to Medicine Cabinet Plant Walk with Rachael Keener 10–11:30am
August 7 20th Annual Vermont Fresh Network Forum Dinner 5–8:30pm
August 14 Fermentation Workshop with Sandor Katz 9am–5pm
August 14 Farm to Ballet Performance 6:30pm
August 15 Moonlit Campfire – Animal Defenses
August 15–21 Vermont Open Farm Week August 20 Farm to Medicine Cabinet Plant Walk with Kate Elmer 10–11:30am
August 28 Wild World of Mushrooms 10am–12pm
6:30–8pm
Other Noteworthy Events Through September 11 Exhibit: Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, www.echovermont.org
Through October 20 Exhibit: Grandma Moses: American Modern Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org
Through October 31 Exhibit: Wind, Waves, and Light: Kinetic Sculpture by George Sherwood Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org
Through October 31 Exhibit: Dominique Ehrmann: Once Upon a Quilt Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org
June 30–July 3 Webby’s Art Studio: Colorful Pinwheels Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org 11am–3pm
July 3 The Big ShaBANG: Food, Fireworks, and Fun! Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, www.lcmm.org
July 4 Independence Day Commemoration Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, www.lcmm.org
July 4–10 Webby’s Art Studio: Gnome on the Range Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org 11am–3pm
July 9–10 Rowing and Racing Weekend Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, www.lcmm.org 82 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
summer 2016 | calendar of events July 17 Family Day: Circus-palooza Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org
July 18–24 Webby’s Art Studio: Reflective Sculpture Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org 11am–3pm
July 25–31 Webby’s Art Studio: Fabulous Flowers Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org 11am–3pm
July 28–30, August 5–7 Vermont Shakespeare Company Presents Julius Caesar 28–30, Shelburne Museum, 6pm; 5–7, Royall Tyler Theatre, 5 & 6, 7:30pm; 7, 2pm
July 9–January 22 Exhibit: Papering the Town: Circus Posters in America Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org
Advertisers Index Ann Roche Casual Furniture...........................................68 ArborTrek...............................................................................4 Aristelle...................................................................................9 Baystate Financial..............................................................16 Bennington Potters North............................................... 26 Bistro de Margo................................................................. 76 Bouchard Pierce........................................................... 31, 65 Burlington Country Club.................................................. 45 Burlington Harbor Hotel.................................................. 45 Burlington Marble & Granite........................................... 15 Cactus Cafe........................................................................ 76 Catamount Restaurant Group............Inside Back Cover City Market......................................................................... 42 Clear Choice MD...............................................................80 Country Club of Barre....................................................... 26 Davis & Hodgdon Associates......................................... 33 Dear Lucy............................................................................ 65 Ecco Clothes...................................................................3, 53 El Cortijo.............................................................................. 77 Farmhouse Tap & Grill...................................................... 77 Four Seasons Sotheby’s Real Estate...................... 36, 37 Frog Hollow.........................................................................60 Grand Isle Artworks...........................................................41 Green Mountain Camera................................................. 27 Guild Tavern........................................................................ 76 Haven Design and Build.....................................................11 HealingWindsVermont . .................................................60 Hickock and Boardman Real Estate.............. Back Cover
July 11–16 Webby’s Art Studio: “Here Comes the Circus” Posters
online EXTRA! For more summer events, visit www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.
Shelburne Museum, shelburnemuseum.org
For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact John or Robin Gales at (802) 295-5295 or email coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net. Inside Out Gallery............................................................. 67 Inspire Kitchen and Bath Design.................................... 51 Interior Design by Keeping Good Company...............49 J Morgan’s Steakhouse.................................................... 77 Jacob Albee Designs...........................................................7 Jess.........................................................................................19 Kiss the Cook...................................................................... 77 Landshapes.........................................................................50 Liebling.....................................................................................1 Little Citizen.........................................................................16 md Cosmetics Medical Spa..............................................8 Massage Envy....................................................................50 Mirror Mirror.........................................................................5 Mitra Designs..................................................................... 59 Morse Farm......................................................................... 53 Outdoor Gear Exchange.................................................. 35 Overhead Door of Burlington......................................... 23 Pascolo Ristorante............................................................. 76 Peregrine Design/Build..................................................... 17 Petra Cliffs........................................................................... 52 Pine Computer................................................................... 57 Pine Senior Living............................................................... 31 Planet Hardwood................................................................81 Red House...........................................................................68 Rodd Roofing...................................................................... 78 Saint Michael’s Playhouse............................................... 73 Shelburne Meat Market................................................... 33 Shelburne Vineyard and Wine Tasting Room............ 52
Smugglers’ Notch Distillery............................................ 53 SportStyle . ..........................................................................41 Stella Mae....................................................................... 11,52 Stowe Association ...........................................................49 Stowe Mountain Resort......................................................6 Stoweflake........................................................................... 73 Sugarbush Resort.............................................................. 32 Sweeney Design Build...................................................... 74 The Automaster.................................................................. 21 The Cushman Design Group.......................................... 35 The Grass Gauchos........................................................... 75 The Optical Center............................................................ 67 The Spot Restaurant.................................................... 61,76 Timberlane Dental Group................................................ 61 Tom Moore Builders............................Inside Front Cover University Mall................................................................... 59 University of Vermont Medical Center........................ 69 Vermont Bed Store/Wendells Furniture......................10 Vermont Comedy Club....................................................44 Vermont Furniture . .............................................................2 Vermont Mortgage Company........................................44 Wake Robin......................................................................... 75 Windjammer Pub.............................................................. 76 Windows and Doors by Brownell.................................. 57 WND&WVS....................................................................... 32
Summer 2016 | Best of Burlington 83
LAST GLANCE
We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if we only seek them with our eyes open. — Jawaharlal Nehru
84 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
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