PLUS, SKI & SNOWBOARD LISTINGS
GIFT GUIDE SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX DECEMBER 10, 2010
WHAT TO BUY FOR YOUR LOCAL DRUG DEALER
GIFTS FOR PEOPLE WE HATE
SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS LAY DOWN THE LAW
PLUS: GIFTS FOR THE DRUNKS, HIPPIES, AND GEEKS IN YOUR LIFE
p 20
p6
WEATHER BEATERS
ROCK OF PAGES
TOYS TO KEEP YOU ON THE SLOPES
REALLY, REALLY BIG BOOKS
p 30
p 24
BOSTON WINE EXPO JANUARY 22-23, 2011 | Seaport World Trade Center
ANNIVERSARY
www.WineExpoBoston.com
MING TSAI Simply Ming Blue Ginger
JASPER WHITE Jasper White’s Summer Shack
GORDON HAMERSLEY Hamersley’s Bistro
AVA TRICLIMATE JACKET $279.00
The North Face Boston 326 Newbury St. Boston, MA 02115 617-536-8060
Mountain Edge Resort and Spa at Sunapee
Best Western Sunapee Lake Lodge
47 Luxury 1 & 2 Bedroom Fireplaced Suites Full Service Spa & Fitness Facility Rustic Fireplaced Tavern & Restaurant Indoor Family Pool & Resistance Lap Pool Indoor & Outdoor Hot Tubs & Sauna Free WiFi & Long Distance Service Saturday Fireworks, Arcade & Mountain Shuttle General Store & Ski Shop Adjacent
55 Rooms - Fully Refurnished - Fall 2010 Microwaves & Refrigerators In All Units Hot & Cold Breakfast Buffet Bar Family Indoor Pool & Exercise Area Free WiFi & Long Distance Service Ski Tuning Room & Mountain Shuttle Restaurant, Lounge, Arcade & Ski Shop Adjacent Ski & Stay Packages
NEW FOR 2010-2011 — Complimentary Lodging with lift ticket purchase on select dates - visit:
www.mtsunapeelodging.com or 1-877-468-3343 *Reflects typical travel time to Mount Sunapee Base Lodge.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX | GIFT GUIDE | DECEMBER 10, 2010 5
CONTENTS
GAIN YOUR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
B REAL GIFTS FOR REAL PEOPLE: SUBCULTURE STOCKING STUFFERS FOR YOUR WEIRD FRIENDS 8 THE HORROR FIEND
_BY MICHAEL NEEL You may oft have wondered: How do you shop for someone who prefers splatter in their eggnog? Fear not: we’ve got you covered.
10 THE DISCERNING LUSH
WARD JE NK I NS
_BY NINA MACLAUGHLIN To drink often and to drink well: such are dual pursuits of the imbiber whose eyes rise toward the top shelf. Here are gifts of good taste for the sophisticated palate.
12 THE GADGET GEEK
_BY JOHN BOWKER Whether they’re an old-school coder or just a slave to technolust, they’re probably the most difficult person on your gift list. But not anymore!
Develop skills at Emerson College and move forward with your media, marketing or creative writing projects. EVENING COURSES & CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
14 THE URBAN HIPPIE
COPYEDITING
16 THE AGING ROCK SCENESTER _ B Y
CULTURAL JOURNALISM
_BY LINDSAY CRUDELE Nothing captures that yuletide charm quite like an indoor compost kit. Presents for your kombucha-brewing, environmentally inclined loved ones. DANIEL BROCKMAN Any metropolis is crawling with them: perpetual scenesters who use the restorative powers of rock and roll to reverse Time’s endless trudge to oblivion. Behold our gift suggestions for a dying breed.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRUG LORD
18 _BY CHRIS FARAONE ‘Tis the season to vibe on all that nectar of supreme human benevolence, man — which includes showing love for your local Drug Lord. Peruse our list of possible presents.
B OUR 2010 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 20 GIFTS FOR PEOPLE WE HATE _ B Y S A N T A A N D M R S .
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION GRAPHIC NOVEL WRITING & ILLUSTRATION MARKETING & BRANDING PLAYWRITING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION SCREENWRITING
CLAUS
Remember: it’s the thought that fucking counts.
24 GIFT BOOKS: ROCK OF PAGES _ B Y
MIKE GOETZMAN, MICAH HAUSER, AND STEVE MILLER We’ve plumbed the literary depths, and surface with a heaping helping of coffeetable text to satiate the most ravenous of readers.
COMICS: FREEBASING NARRATIVE
26 _BY S.I. ROSENBAUM Hand someone the right graphic novel, and you’re likely to lose them as they gorge themselves on sequential art. Hear that? Utter silence: the sound of a present well chosen.
DVDS: SURETIES AND OBSCURITIES
28 _BY ROB TURBOVSKY Some people will tell you that the economy is frozen in a recession that may never thaw. That makes Blu-ray/DVD box sets more valuable than gold. And, gold, as Glenn Beck tells us, is more valuable than money. 30 SKI GEAR: WEATHER BEATERS
_BY GEOFFREY KULA For the powder junkies on your list, we’ve got ski and snowboard stocking stuffers that are sure to add a bit more EXTREME to the winter season.
B NEW ENGLAND SKI & SNOWBOARD LISTINGS 32 OUR ANNUAL GUIDE TO THE REGION’S BEST SLOPES
_COMPILED BY ALEXANDRA CAVALLO, ASHLEY RIGAZIO, AND MICHAEL C. WALSH From bunny hills and black diamonds to moguls and terrain parks.
GRADUATE-LEVEL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS ENTERTAINMENT LAW BASICS FOR MEDIA MAKERS WEB DEVELOPMENT FOR MEDIA MAKERS WRITING SHORT FILMS FOR MEDIA MAKERS
• Explore digital media and web development • Learn branding techniques to differentiate your products and services in today’s market • Update your grammar skills, learn style, and discover fact-checking methods to apply to your communications • Develop skills to write corporate communications or learn to create professional-level creative writing for film, stage, graphic novels, or the Internet Enroll in one or several courses, or complete a certificate program. Gain your competitive advantage. Program information www.emerson.edu/ce 617-824-8280 Join our community on Facebook www.facebook.com/ProfessionalStudies
Department of Professional Studies 120 Boylston Street I Boston, Massachusetts
6 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GUIDE TO THE SEASON | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
REAL GIFTS FOR REAL PEOPLE A HOLIDAY MANIFESTO
I
f Phoenix readers are weird, what’s that make their friends? The genius who answers that question deserves a Nobel Prize. But if we step out of the big picture for a moment, most would agree that — as a tribe — we’re gift-challenged. Which is not to say ungifted. Over-educated and chronically disgruntled, the thought of mandatory good cheer in a time bereft of holiday bonuses makes our lot not only cranky but anxious as well. Consider this a special present from the writers and editors of the Phoenix. It’s a fibrous injection of quasi-journalistic klonopin that is not only recyclable, but is already 50-percent recycled. As consumers, we seek transcendence. We reject the lame stereotypes of the merely materialistic. In an age of overdefined niches, we counsel courage. Don’t be cowed by delicate vegans, or intimated by geeks — no matter how cute. Seek communion with the beloved tech snobs in your life. Embrace the metropolitan hippie. Be one with horror fiends. And, above all else, stay away from those Kardiashian gift cards.
Fo dr spr a ug ec v deial ery al er
8 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
F$10–$50
CUSTOM HORROR T-SHIRT | $19.95 | Sure, you could buy the Horror Fiend a T-shirt with a plain old scary movie poster silkscreened onto it. But what’s the fun in that? He needs something original! Fright Rags goes the extra mile, offering up tees customdesigned with scenes ripped straight from his favorite macabre films. He’ll love a shirt with Creepshow’s “I’ve got my cake!” ghoul, or Zombie’s splinter-through-the-eyeball scene. And don’t forget Aylmer, the adorable cerebrum-munching critter from Brain Damage. One of these babies will have him impressing his friends and grossing out his enemies all year long. | fright-rags.com
THE HORROR FIEND _BY MICHAEL NEEL
E
veryone knows at least one Horror Fiend. He’s easy to spot: dressed in jeans and a worn T-shirt from some obscure scary movie and sporting a kick-ass tattoo of Freddy battling Pinhead on his forearm. He tries to bait you into arguments about which Jason is the scariest — the one from Part 2 or Part 4? (The answer: Part 2.) Unfortunately for the Fiend, you just don’t care. Sure, maybe you liked Paranormal Activity and The Ring, but when he brings up Cannibal Ferox and Slime City, you have no idea what he’s talking about. The prospect of buying a gift for this person is a daunting task. So how do you shop for someone who prefers splatter in their eggnog? Here are some helpful tips: f Avoid expensive jewelry. Exception: anything used by H.P. Lovecraft to bring ancient demons in to our dimension. f Anything autographed by someone who killed/was killed in a horror film = good. f If the item in question is so gory that it makes you want to hurl, it’s perfect.
F$50–$100
EXORCIST GIRL TALKING HEAD PUPPET I $79.99 | This little beaut — which includes a demonic voice module — should provide hours of holiday fun for the Horror Fiend. He can take Exorcist Girl caroling or dress her like Santa to freak out his 10-yearold cousin. And, of course, the Fiend will inevitably attempt his own morbid take on “Dick in a Box”: “Creepy Possessed Severed Head Attached to My Arm in a Box.” Which goes a little something like this: 1. He entreats his girlfriend to open the “gift.” 2. She finds a shrieking, Latin-gibbering manifestation of Satan. 3. If she doesn’t projectile-vomit or slap him in the face, he’s found his soul mate. Behold the magic of the season! | thehorrordome.com
A VERY ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS COMIC BOOK I $3.50 | Every Horror Fiend has wondered what Christmas would be like in a world overrun by the undead, and A Very Zombie Christmas is a great way for him to find out. He can spend the holidays the post-apocalyptic way: boarding up the windows, dimming the lights, gassing up the chainsaw, and cuddling up with this cheery holiday yarn. Why Christmas zombies? Hey, just because you die, come back to life, and wander the globe for eternity doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Jesus’s birthday. This comic delivers three terrifying tales to fill his heart with yuletide fear. | houseofmysterioussecrets.com
F$100+
STEVE WEIGL
FUNDER $10
VICTOR CROWLEY FIGURINE | $1600 | Hatchet is a great movie. I love it. You love it. But the Horror Fiend really loves it, and only one gift will suffice: a hyper-detailed 1/4-scale sculpture of the Hatchet killer himself, Victor Crowley. Sure, it costs a small fortune, but this meticulously made, impeccably accurate masterpiece is worth every penny. This baby took roughly 270 hours to create, and it shows: from each deformed bump on Victor’s forehead to the Dickies logo stamped buttons of his hand-stitched denim overalls. Looks like the Fiend will have to put his autographed Necronomicon in storage to make room in his trophy case — Crowley’s going to be the new prized possession of his collection. | horroridols.com
10 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
THE DISCRIMINATING LUSH _BY NINA MACLAUGHLIN
T
o drink often and to drink well: such are the dual pursuits of the discriminating lush, the drinker whose eyes rise toward the top shelf, who eschews Schlitz tallboys and whisky from the well in favor of the sophisticated, the rare, the premium, and the pricey. The unrefined boozer — the barfly, the professional — prizes quantity over quality, makes his medicine from boilermakers and Boone’s, fervently and without joy. Not so our discerning imbiber. And though this drinker favors the high-end and small-batch, there’s a decided lack of snobbery. It’s not about snottiness — to each his or her very own poison of choice! — it’s just about standards. And as we enter the dark season, some lines from the Greek lyric poet Alkaios echo: “Damn the winter cold! Pile up the burning logs/and water the great flagons of red wine;/place feather pillows by your head, and drink./Let us not brood about hard times . . . Drink deeply, drink.” Below, a few suggestions on gifts to intoxicate the sophisticated drinker.
21ST AMENDMENT BACK IN BLACK IPA | $10.99/SIX-PACK OF CANS | Show the discerning boozer in your life that you’re up on beer trends with a sixer of 21st Amendment’s Back in Black IPA. More and more craft breweries are foregoing fancypants bottles (stoat, notwithstanding) and opting instead for the trusty can. “There’s something so wonderful about drinking a great beer out of a can,” says Federal Wine and Spirits’ Nate Shumway. Located in San Francisco, the 21st Amendment brewery took inspiration from Paul Revere for this brew — rebelling against the British-style IPA, they “embraced the more aggressive American version.” Upscale cans for your upscale drinker. | Federal Wine and Spirits | 29 State Street, Boston | 617.367.8605 | federalwine.com.
F$50–$100
PEWTER FLASK | $59.95 | Understated and elegant, this lovely specimen — handcrafted by British company Alchemy — is kidney-shaped to slide into your pocket, no problem. According to the company web site, Alchemy pewter “belongs to the timehonoured body of master craftsman, ‘The Worshipful Company of Pewterers,’ who were granted a Royal Charter in 1474 by King Edward IV for the legal manufacture of pewterware throughout England,” so tippling with this flask also means tapping into some pretty serious history as well. | Leavitt & Pierce | 1316 Mass Ave, Cambridge | 617.547.0576 | leavitt-pierce.com.
F$100+
WARD JENKINS
FUNDER $10
NORPRO 399 CHURCH KEY CAN AND BOTTLE OPENER | $3.78 | People disagree about how a bottle opener came to be called a “church key.” Some argue it was an act of defiance when Prohibition ended, an old-fashioned fuck-you to the religious organizations that banned boozing in the first place. This model is as basic as you can get: traditional, functional, no needless bells and/or whistles. It’s a basic building block in any drinker’s life. You don’t need to be showy when you’re cracking open a bottle of BrewDog’s End of History beer ($765), at 55 percent alcohol, with a bottle encased in a taxidermied stoat carcass. No matter what you’re opening, this church key’ll help unlock the door to God. | amazon.com.
F$10–$50
MORTLACH 70 YEAR OLD | $21,000/750 ML | It’s the oldest bottled single malt whisky in the world, and according to Joe Howell, the manager of Federal Wine and Spirits, 21 grand is a steal: “They could’ve priced it at $100,000.” The appearance: “sun-bleached polished mahogany,” the Gordon & MacPhail site tells us. The smell involves wax and fruit, a thread of smoke, Madeira cake, flaked almonds, whin flowers. The taste: dried figs and tobacco notes, planed hardwood, light sweetness turning to pleasant sourness, with soot at the end. “I had one man in here taste it,” said Howell, “an accountant. He said he thought Jesus had just gone down his throat.” | Federal Wine and Spirits | 29 State Street, Boston | 617.367.8605 | federalwine.com.
12 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
F$25–$100
LACIE XTREMKEY ALL-TERRAIN USB FLASH DRIVE | $45 8GB, $77 16GB | If the marketing is to be believed, you can run one of these flash drives through the dishwasher, roll over it with a car, and then leave it in a snowbank until spring — and still be able to pull your files off it afterward. Not only is the LaCie Xtremkey crushproof, waterproof, and temperature resistant, the post-industrial brushed steel case designed by French sculptor Constance Guiset is a work of modern art, guys! It’s unlikely your giftee will ever need all of that durability, but that’s probably true of their sword cane and nightvision goggles as well. For the well-equipped geek, readiness is all. | LaCie.com; available at Amazon. com, NewEgg.com, and other online vendors of electronics and computer hardware
THE GADGET GEEK _BY JOHN BOWKER
T
hey replace their laptop more often than most people do their socks. Their toaster oven has Bluetooth. And it’s a tossup whom they love more — their spouse or their Android smartphone. Whether they’re an old-school coder or just a slave to technolust, they’re probably the most difficult person to buy for on your list. Never fear. At the core of every gadget lover there’s still a kid hoping for toys instead of socks on Christmas morning, the bigger and shinier the better. With that in mind, we’ve assembled a four-pack of suggestions that cover everything from your Secret Santa present for the office IT guy, to the gift of suborbital space flight for the evil genius who already has every gadget on Earth.
F$100–$250
SCOTTEVEST “REVOLUTION PLUS” WINTER JACKET | $200 | Even if they’ve got the best technology money can buy, they still need a good way to lug it all around. ScottEVEST has been solving this dilemma for the technical traveler for over a decade, and with the Revolution Plus they’ve created the killer app for the wintertime Boston commute. The insulated, waterproof, and breathable jacket conceals 26 pockets designed to comfortably and discreetly hold a cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera, sunglasses, water bottle and even an Ipad, along with an internal “personal area network” of wire management to hide the cables for earbuds, microphones, or power packs. If your friend loads it up right, they might never need a carry-on bag again. | scottevest.com
FUNDER $25
MAGNETIC BLACK HOLE SMART MASS THINKING PUTTY | $12.99 | It looks like the proverbial lump of coal, but really it’s a giant leap forward in toy chemistry. Like the Silly Putty of old, you can stretch it, bounce it, and sculpt it into vaguely inappropriate shapes. However, if you leave a glob near the included Neodymium magnet overnight, by the next morning the putty will have moved by itself, engulfing the magnet like a 1950’s movie monster. Good for hours of procrastinatory desktop experimentation, as an added bonus it might be just magnetic enough to “accidentally” wipe those embarrassing VHS family movies your mom hauls out every Christmas. | thinkgeek.com
GR ANT GILLIL AN D
F$200+
VIRGIN GALACTIC SUBORBITAL SPACE FLIGHT | Tickets $200,000; deposits $20,000 | No matter how hard you try, sometimes you can scour the planet looking for the perfect gift and come up empty. When that happens, there’s only one place left to look, and Virgin Galactic has made it easy. A $20,000 deposit (payable at www.virgingalactic.com or through any of their accredited space travel agents) reserves a seat on one of the company’s proposed suborbital-space-tourism flights. After three days of training, six paying passengers and two pilots will board a carbon-composite launch vehicle for a two-hour flight from VG’s New Mexico spaceport to 316,000 feet, promising epic views of Earth and a short period of microgravity playtime. Once your loved one returns to terra firma, they’ll have a nifty set of astronaut’s wings and a story that’ll score them free drinks for years to come. It’s the gift that keeps on giving — excellent news, since you might need some time to work up the additional $180,000 the flight will cost once Virgin gets the project off the ground. | virgingalactic.com
SPECIAL Buy Any Mountain Hardwear Jacket, Get a
FREE
Canmore Pack [$70 value] Valid December 1-14, 2010.
Limit one per customer, while supplies last. Valid at participating stores only.
Boston 1041 Commonwealth Ave. 617-254-4250
14 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
F$10–$50
ALPACA HAT | $36 | You’ve nested and moved out to a distant suburb, like Roslindale, and now you find yourself wondering: what will your four-month-old wear to the Jamaica Plain Lantern Festival? Look no further for the answer than Hatched, JP’s self-anointed “eco-baby boutique.” Beside the mother’s-milk-fortifying organic loose tea and hypoallergenic muslins, you’ll find this free-trade Bolivian alpaca knitted wool hat. With ears. You don’t need a kid or even a ticking biological clock to know that putting hats with ears on little kids is basically a public service. | Hatched | 5 Green Street, Jamaica Plain | 617.524.5402 | hatchedboston.com.
THE URBAN HIPPIE _BY LINDSAY CRUDELE
A
country hippie invited his college roommate, a city hippie, to visit. The city hippie cried out with dismay when the country hippie laid dinner on the table. “Poor roommate, your chocolate is not free trade, and your linens are synthetic!” The country hippie explained that his location necessitated a weekly drive to the big-box store an hour away, where supplies depended on what was delivered that week. The city hippie answered, “Please come stay with me where I live, and I will serve you humanely gathered exotic foods on a tablecloth woven from organic hemp.” The city hippie explained that though its concrete surface appeared to belie it, urban living made counterculturalism convenient. So, the country hippie set off to meet the city hippie, who lived a short bicycle trip away from his local CSA pickup at the cooperative market. The two attended a skillshare, where they explored reiki healing for pets, kombucha brewing, and landfill-salvage arts and crafts. And the following holiday season, the country hippie sent the city hippie these presents:
F$50–$100
ALL SEASONS INDOOR COMPOSTER KIT | $55; “BOKASHI” PROBIOTIC COMPOSTING MEDIUM | $11.50 | Composting slashes a household’s garbage output, reducing greenhouse gases and producing useful, nutrientrich fertilizer. For an apartment-dweller with limited space, the All Seasons Indoor Composter Kit can fit in the cabinet under the sink. By mixing in “Bokashi,” a blend of sawdust and probiotics, kitchen waste undergoes rapid anaerobic fermentation; you bury the pickled food scraps, while the tea-like runoff can be poured into plants or used as drain cleaner. The bin itself is 70 percent recycled plastic. (Many cities also offer subsidized backyard composters, known by names like “Earth Machine” or “Soil Saver” — worth checking into depending on your residency.) | Greenward | 1764 Mass Ave, Cambridge | 617.395.1338 | greenwardshop.com.
FUNDER $10
F$100+
RECLAIMED BARN-WOOD TABLE | $995 | Country living is great, if you like 4 am wake-up calls, the word “muck” used as a verb, and terrible dusty-hued stencil art. Acquire, a fun North End boutique that pairs mid-century modern with Sherlock Holmes, has just the thing to tickle your rural fantasies from a safe distance. This table is made from the salvaged wood of actual barn doors. Fifty years in the sun imparted a natural, weathered patina to the wood, atop casters also of vintage origin. | Acquire | 61 Salem Street, Boston | 857.362.7380 | acquireboutique.com.
TAN YA L AM
BIKE CHAIN KEYCHAIN | $6 | Resource Revival, a Portland, Oregon–based company, was founded when its owner’s bike tire went flat on the way to his recycling job. By those powers combined, Graham Bergh invented his line of what he calls “rebicycled” gifts made from recovered bike parts. He now wraps lengths of repurposed, previously discarded bike chain into bowls, picture frames, jewelry, and this here bottle-opener-keychain combo. The chains retain their flexibility, while sparing you the greasy souvenirs of a chain in use. | Magpie | 416 Highland Avenue, Somerville | 617.623.3330 | magpie-store.com.
16 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
THE AGING ROCK SCENESTER _BY DANIEL BROCKMAN
A
ny metropolis is crawling with them — the perpetual scenesters who use the restorative powers of rock and roll to reverse Time’s endless trudge to oblivion. What started out as an ironic trucker hat to wear at nuredneck O’Brien’s gigs a decade ago now hides an actual lack of hair. But hold your scorn, young whipper-snappers: this thirtysomething man is, perhaps, propping up what’s left of the music industry, thanks to his old-school tendency to actually spend money on music. From buying cassettes at gigs, to forking out for the vinyl box-sets of albums that the younger skinny-jeans set would download for free, this dude may be one of the last people who still gets music-related items as gifts. So whether you’re finding a coal replacement for his stocking, or getting ready to max out some plastic for something that will be on display in his living room (next to signed-andframed Funhouse LP), here are some suggestions for a dying breed:
ION AUDIO USB PORTABLE TAPE-TO-MP3 PLAYER | $49.99 | So a few years ago, your pal got one of those USB record players, with the intention of digitizing all of those vinyl rarities he always wanted to be able to rock out to on his iPod. But that shit’s a lot of work, especially when even the rarest rare vinyl has already been digitized by the blogerati, which means the next frontier of rarity-digitizing will be on cassette. With the last Walkman having passed through a factory floor, why not give your pal a boutique Walkman that will allow him to preserve all those sweet demos and beer-soaked practice tapes he’s been sitting on for decades? | Newbury Comics | 332 Newbury St, Boston | 617.236.4930 | newbury.com
F$50–$100
ORANGE JUICE, . . . COALS TO NEWCASTLE (6 CDs + 1 DVD) (Domino) | £45 — err, $69.99 | The way everyone keeps crowing about the recent digital unveiling of the Beatles discography, you’d think this shit was previously unavailable or something. But any cool music person needs a new Beatles collection like they need to be told that putting Trout Mask Replica on at a party will clear the room. Forget that noise, and instead invest in a one-stop-shop complete catalog blowout like the recently released box set containing all musical notes ever conceived by Scottish postpunk geniuses Orange Juice. OJ’s discography basically sounds like if got the chance to listen to the Smiths for the very first time again, which is basically the equivalent of Ponce de Leon discovering the Fountain of Youth for your average aging music fanatic. | amazon.com
FUNDER $10
F$100+
MARK POUTENIS
†‡† CD-R (DISARO RECORDS CDR034) | $5.00 | This holiday season, why not give the gift of witchhouse to someone you love? What’s great about this new special-characterdependent genre is that it involves cheap-o burned CD-R’s from labels that aren’t real labels and — that instantly sell out. Which means that, whatever record you order, it’ll be paydirt for your scenester pal when, a few months from now, his CD shelf is now stuffed with some honest-to-sold-out blog fodder: “Oh, you guys didn’t pick up the †‡† [pronounced “Ritualz”] CD back when it came out in November? You snooze, you lose!” Dude will thank you later. | Disaro, robertdisaro@gmail.com, myspace.com/ffdisaro.
F$10–$50
ELECTRICAL GUITAR COMPANY STANDARD GUITAR | $2200 | If this dude isn’t in a band, he either has been, or has been . . . in his mind. For gear aficionados, it’s no longer enough to have something that sounds and looks cool — the newest trend is in artisan equipment, made by hand in small batches for those who appreciate style and don’t want what everyone else has. In the world of guitars, the hottest star of one-at-a-time instrument-making is Electrical Guitar Company of Pensacola, Florida, where founder Kevin Burkett keeps busy making his all-aluminum guitars and basses for an everexpanding clientele of in-the-know rockers. If your pal wants to play a show and be bumrushed after his set by dudes wanting to know where he got his axe, drop a few G’s on an EGC. | Electrical Guitar Company | P.O. Box 17958, Pensacola, FL | 850.261.2514 | electricalguitarcompany.com.
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18 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRUG LORD
F$10–$50
GOOD WOOD MEDALLION | $15 AND UP | Now would be the time to put your Drug Lord onto Good Wood. He likes being ahead of the curve, and by this time next year, every twobit nick-bag street hustler will have a cobbled pot leaf or Tupac bust hanging from their necks. The New York– based wood jewelry company makes custom pieces but also offers a stock variety of such urban staples as a boombox, Polo bears, and angry Jesus Christ. For Drug Lord, we recommend the piece depicting the black Frank White himself, Biggie Smalls. Matching fourfinger rings not included (but are available). | At The Buzzer, 81 Harvard Ave, Allston | 617.783.2899 | goodwoodnyc.com
_BY CHRIS FARAONE
S
ince all he does is smoke weed, watch movies, and play video games, your Neighborhood Drug Lord already has an intense high-def entertainment system with surround sound. He’s also a king of media; you know not to call on Tuesday afternoons because he’s at Best Buy copping DVDs on the day they get released. As for gadgets, homeboy has a new smartphone every time you see him, which is sort of depressing since you spend $100 a week on shit and still have a Motorola flip with a cracked screen. Still, the Drug Lord is not difficult to shop for, since he’s always looking to show off new and interesting pop-culture kitsch to customers. Just about anything that’s Star Wars-, comic book-, or conspiracy-related will do, as will books and documentaries about drug culture and ill-gotten gains. If you do decide on a movie, though, just be sure that it’s something you like, since he’ll probably push you to watch it next time you swing by for a bag. And no matter what, don’t buy him a scale — you’ll just regret it when he uses it in front of you to weigh another gram you can’t afford.
KELSEY MARIE BELL
F$50–$200
15-POUND TURDUCKEN | $134.85 (PLUS $25 COOKED) | If there’s one thing the Drug Lord hates, it’s leaving the house. For anything. He gets entire pizzas delivered for himself instead of walking for a slice, and one time, he gave someone a freebie just for fetching his mail at the curb. So imagine how excited he’ll be when the Savenor’s van rolls up with a 15pound bird-insidea-bird-insidea-bird. Not only will the Jurassic turkey legs satisfy his self-styled kingpin image, but this is also good for you and anyone else who will be forced to stick around for some poultry and vaporizer hits. | Savenor’s, locations in Beacon Hill and Cambridge | 617.723.6328 | savenorsmarket.com
DESIGNER SURGICAL MASK | $1.49 FOR A BOX OF TEN | Drug lords always seems to be complaining about how about wired they get off coke fumes in the bagging process. You once suggested that he wear a surgical mask, only for him to snap back, “I’m not exactly mixing up a batch of meth in here.” However, if adorned with a cool enough pattern, he may be persuaded to sport the protection he needs. You’ll have to make this yourself, as there’s not much of a marketplace for designer surgical masks — except in like, Japan, where they have shit like Hello Kitty on them. If you’re really in the giving spirit, you can also throw in some latex gloves so his hands don’t get icky while breaking up those sticky nuggets. | amazon.com
K ARL STEVEN S
FUNDER $10
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CRUISE SHIP | $31 MILLION | After countless conversations with your local Drug Lord about how cool it would be to have a cruise line where everyone can just take drugs and fuck whores without fear of prosecution, you’ve decided to take the plunge and make his nihilistic dreams come true. Since new models are extremely pricey, the vintage yacht that caught our eye is a steel 1970 Finnish beauty with 538 cabins, a disco-casino, two swimming pools, and eight passenger decks. There’s also a workout gym that he won’t be needing, and which is perfect for the grow operation. | yachtingbrokers.com
“Night Club”
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20 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR PEOPLE WE HATE WHEN A LUMP OF COAL JUST WON’T DO _BY SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS
T
he North Pole has become the most depressing and perverted hole on Earth. We used to keep tabs on folks through snitches and grandparents, but these days — thanks to Facebook and flat screens — we can actually monitor everyone, everywhere. And it turns out, nobody deserves a damn thing. Santa knows when you’ve been sexting, and, we’re sorry, but even your grandma has a YouPorn account. Ho! Ho! Ho! As a result, standards have been dropped around here over the past few years. Everyone gets a gift now, no matter how many mentally retarded people they executed as the governor of Texas, or how many times they relapsed and drunk drove down Sunset. So, we’ve decided to start shopping from the heart, and to put the pleasantries aside this year to let people know how we really feel about their irksome ways. We suggest you do the same, and to show you how it’s done, here are a few of the contemptible fools we’re currently shopping for. Remember: it’s the thought that fucking counts. Sincerely, Mr. and Mrs. Claus
PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES
As nauseating as this lad’s postproposal press parade has been, it’s important to understand that Prince William just needs to sow some royal oats — and we have some fresh ideas about how we can assist him. Given the opportunity, it’s imperative to pimp William and his ride, crash his squeaky clean streak into a brick wall, and ensure that he returns to fiancee Kate Middleton with a crotchful of scabs and a mouthful of sores. FLAIR HAIR VISOR | $19.99 | FLAIRHAIR. COM | Phenomenal rugs for balding successors to any throne.
BALLER ON THE RISE GOLD-DIAMOND GRILL | $3,600/FULL SET | GRILLSBYPAULWALL.COM | What’s the use of having the only straight teeth in England if your grill ain’t icy? Offers a 10-percent discount to military personnel. SPEARMINT RHINO STAG PACKAGE | $1,557/GOLD LEVEL | SPEARMINTRHINO. COM | No other strip-club chain onearth is responsible for more premature ejaculations. Now servicing the United Kingdom in six locations.
DENNIS MILLER
Dennis Miller doesn’t need any more material wealth — he just needs to be reminded of three things: how hilarious he used to be; what he could have been; and that his old fans wouldn’t pay five bucks to watch his act now if Sarah Palin pole-danced in the background while John Lennon played “Let It Be” on a guitar whittled out of Old Man McCain’s carcass. AUTOGRAPHED DENNIS MILLER MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 8X10 | $42.50 | SPORTSMEMORABILIA.COM | Who ever thought this would make anybody feel nostalgic? DENNIS MILLER: THE HBO COMEDY SPECIALS | $26.99 | BARNESANDNOBLE.COM | From the days when Bush was a bad word.
TRUE FUN SKULL & BONES SNUGGIE | $14.95 | MYSNUGGIESTORE.COM | Don’t just carry water for industrial titans. Salute their college rituals while you sleep.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES
There’s no sloppier cabal of toxic whores than Bravo’s Real Housewives. Overdressed, excessively accessorized harpies who seriously believe they’re “down to earth,” they deserve — and will endure in time — the wrath of house-wrecking MILF-hunters. And plastic surgery. Until then, it’s best to remind them that beneath the powders, bronzers, gloss, and tantrums, they’re all just gold-digging dumbasses. THE MASTERBEATER | $200 | ETSY. COM | Two in the pink, safe in the sink. NOSE SHOWER GEL DISPENSER | $12.95 | GIFTS.COM | Makes your schnoz feel small, surgery-free. 18K YELLOW GOLD 5/8 CARAT LEO DIAMOND NECKLACE | $949.99 | JARED.COM | If you don’t like it, then you can go back to working poles, bitches.
THE TRACK GALS
Every big city tabloid employs a few gossipmongers with remedial writing skills. But in the Herald’s Track Gals, Boston has two truly abominable pop-culture leeches. In their column and namesake television show, Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa fancy themselves as observer-arbiters of the Hub’s A-list, recycling unsubstantiated rumors and second-hand sleaze with the grace and gusto of a zit-faced teenage social climber. Here’s what to buy two superficial, brownnosing trolls who wouldn’t
know a reliable source if it crawled out of Mark Wahlberg’s asshole. WINEY OLD BAGS | $15 | WINEYOLDBAGS. COM | Custom hand-made wine gift bags, and the perfect metaphor. BRAZA CAMEL-NOT | $5.99 | WARDROBESUPPLIES.COM | Camouflages this embarrassing women’s problem. Great stocking stuffer. THE SHAKE WEIGHT | $19.95 | SHAKEWEIGHT.COM | Great for jerk-offs with flabby arms.
JESUS CHRIST
We’re always running into that douchebag, Jesus. The last time we saw him, he was corn-holing the Pope into delivering a divine message that it’s all right for male prostitutes to wear rubbers. Before that, he showed up at this one party and turned a case of cider into Four Loko. Then there was the time he exposed himself to a life-size creche on Boston Common. Deep down, Jesus is really just a trustafarian trend whore. If he’d only stop bitching about how badly he gets screwed around the holidays, since his birthday falls on Christmas, we’d almost regret turning him on to black-tar heroin. Continued on p 22
22 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
TRA NSFORM YO UR BO DY WITH BOSTON’S BEST BOXING WORKOUT!
Continued from p 20
HERCULES HOOKS | $14.95 | ASSEENONTV. COM | All Jesus wants to do is hang around the house. Now he can — no tools required. VIBRAM FIVE FINGERS SHOES | $125 | SIMONSSHOES.COM | If they’re good enough for every hippie-athlete tool in town, they’re good enough for the Lord. Plus, better grip when you’re walking on water! RAKAA IRISCIENCE, CROWN OF THORNS | $14.97/CD | UGHH.COM | A hip-hop masterpiece to die for —much better than the sins of mankind.
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NO GIMMICKS
Why will homeless children starve this season? Why must hard-working Americans see their pension funds erode? What’s the deal with proven Wall Street failures earning multi-million-dollar bonuses while the rest of us eat Burger King? The answer to all of the above is Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, who caused the financial crisis, and escaped unscathed and paid. We’d like to give him a swift kick to his spit-shined melon, but for now these gifts will have to do. GRIFTOPIA, BY MATT TAIBBI | $26 | SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE | The story of how Lloyd Blankfein and his cronies impaled the planet. LEFROY BROOKS LA CHAPELLE MAHOGANY LAVATORY SEAT WITH ANTIQUE GOLD | $456.32 | HOMEPERFECT.COM | For rich assholes. SAVE THE CHILDREN SPONSORSHIP | $28/ MONTH | SAVETHECHILDREN.ORG | Even
nation-wreckers need a chance to feel good about themselves sometimes.
TOM BRADY
We don’t hate Tom Terrific that much, but either he or Justin Bieber had to fill our “pretty” quota, and we just love the Beebs more. Brady really does have everything a regular guy wants: model wife, trophy ex, geometric features chiseled by the Greek gods. But there are some things he needs that no one in his circle has the sack to give him, which is where we come in. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WOMEN’S ELASTIC HEADBAND | $9.99 | FANSEDGE.COM | For flamboyantly maned Patriots fans or star quarterbacks. BALLTRIMMER | $19.99 | BALLTRIMMER. COM | Who says there’s only room for one smooth Brazilian under that enormous roof? ROSETTA STONE: ENGLISH LEVEL 1 | $209 | ROSETTASTONE.COM | Those press conferences aren’t getting any easier.
SENATOR SCOTT BROWN
We know what you’re thinking: it was exciting to vote for the handsome underdog, and almost fun to watch entitled lefties squirm in the aftermath, but now we have to Christmas shop for this nitwit? Yes, we do. With a big election coming up, it’s important to help the distinguished himbo from Massachusetts show he’s learned a thing or two since upsetting the political establishment. A BATHING APE VILLAGE CAMO SNOWBOARD JACKET | $564 | US.BAPE.COM | Time to romance the urban demographic. “DON’T BLAME ME, I VOTED FOR MIKE CAPUANO” T-SHIRT | $16.40 | BETTERSHIRTS. SPREADSHIRT.COM | What do you mean, accountability? CHROME TRUCK NUTZ | $39.99 | TRUCKNUTZ.COM | Hey, Coakley. Kiss my Nutz. ^
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www.timbercreek-vt.com 800.982.8922
24 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
ROCK OF PAGES BOOKS THAT MAKE YOUR COFFEE TABLE LOOK SMART
_BY MICHAEL GOETZMAN, MICAH HAUSER, AND STEVE MILLER archeologist” Scott Jordan has spent the past 40 years t, diligently combing abandoned buildings, landfills, construction sites, and other generally charming areas of New York’s five boroughs, uncovering the cultural ephemera of a city teeming with a diverse and robust history. Past Objects showcases the exquisite, often creepy beauty of these recovered objects, like the 18th century antique bottle collections differentiated by color — from “lockport green” to “tones of amber” — as well as the meticulous obsession of their curator. Putnam’s gorgeous, reverent photographs do perfect justice to the items in Jordan’s collection, from pre-CivilWar-era ceramic plates used to teach children their ABCs, to nightmareinducing disembodied doll heads, all paired with a brief description and the location in which they were found.
T
here are books, and then there are deluxe books. They’re like normal books, but more badass. Hulking assemblages of essays, photographs, art, and comics are always a solid gift choice for anyone on your holiday shopping docket. To make wading through the waters of compendiumage easier, we’ve compiled a handy little list of the most deluxest of deluxe books. There’s something here for everyone; the sports fan, the McSweeney’s-reading hipster, the curious culinary adventurer, and the cratedigging vinylphile. This rundown will surely help you strike a few bookish friends off your gift-giving to-do list.
THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN | EDITED BY DAVID REMNICK | RANDOM HOUSE | 492 PAGES | $30 | Sports writing is not exactly what the New Yorker is most admired for, but in this anthology, editor David Remnick showcases over thirty brilliant, incisive, hilarious, and deeply moving sports essays from the magazine’s 85-year history. From Tiger Woods to dogsledding, Ted Williams to ping-pong, Rocky Marciano to Arctic swimming, the collection pieces together a stunning portrait of our national love for sports. New Yorker perennials Roger Angell and John Updike wax poetic on baseball courage, Don DeLillo gets all postmodern on football, and Malcolm Gladwell explains in excruciating detail the psychological terror of choking (spoiler alert: you can’t control it and it sucks). Icing on the cake: a generous sprinkling of sportsrelated cartoons from the magazine.
_Micah Hauser
BLACK COMIX | EDITED BY DAMIAN DUFFY & JOHN JENNINGS | MARK BATTY PUBLISHER | 176 PAGES | $45 | Despite the comics boom of the past 10 years, the African-American independent-comics community has, for the most part, been left in the cold. Black Comix, a visually stunning and masterfully organized casebound collection, brings together many of the leading voices in this community, showcasing their work — which ranges from airbrushed subway superheroes to mythical beings and domestic urban drama — while framing it in a broader social and political context. A foreword by Keith Knight addresses the American public’s continued discomfort with black cartoonists, and several essays discuss the Museum of Black Superheroes and the story of Brotherman, what happened to Tribe, the influence of manga. Kenjji Marshall, Afua Richardson, and Boston’s own Rob Stull are just three of over 50 contributors, all of whom are given full-page spreads that include their own artistic mission statement and a gorgeous collage of representative panels. A fantastic introduction to the uninitiated and great resource for someone interested in discovering new artists, Black Comix is, at its core, a veneration of contemporary, independent comics culture.
_MH PAST OBJECTS | BY SCOTT JORDAN, WITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. K. PUTNAM | MARK BATTY PUBLISHER | 128 PAGES | $27.95 | Pictures of animal skulls don’t generally make good holiday gifts, but self-proclaimed “urban
_MH
FUNK & SOUL COVERS | BY JOAQUIM PAULO | TASCHEN | 432 PAGES | $39.99 |Joaquim Paulo began collecting vinyl at 15, and he regularly flies to London, Paris, New York and São Paulo to add to his collection of over 25,000 LPs. Funk & Soul Covers is his compendium of 500 record covers, classics and rarities, that defined the golden era in African-American music. From the seminal stylings of Motown’s Marvin Gaye to Prince’s outré embrace of androgyny and the occult, Funk & Soul Covers chronicles the era through the often astounding album art that helped make the genre part and parcel of 20th century music history. This tome makes for a coffee-table boogie wonderland, featuring not only the art, but interviews with preeminent industry figures, detailed cultural context, and design analysis for many of the record covers.
_MG MCSWEENEY’S, ISSUE 36 | EDITED BY DAVE EGGERS | MCSWEENEY’S | 8 BOOKLETS | $55 | Get a load of the mug on this box-set. If Hulk Hogan and Dr. Phil had an inexplicably middle-aged square-headed kid, this is probably what he’d look like. But let’s not judge a box-set by its unequivocally freakish cover. Instead, let’s judge it for what it really is: a 275-cubic-inch treasure trove of literary grandeur that includes a 100page, annotated portion of Michael Chabon’s lost novel, new stories from John Brandon and Colm Toibin, Jack Pendarvis’s “Jungle Geronimo in Gay Paree,” and a play by Wajahat Ali — to only name a few. Containing eight engrossing booklets in all, Issue 36 outdoes preceding collections with hundreds of pages ripe for your perusing pleasure.
DECODED | BY JAY-Z | SPIEGEL & GRAU | 336 PAGES | $35 | The first question you need to answer is: Does the receiver of your gift (or perhaps you) need a book by Jay-Z? The answer, no matter what the circumstances, could be nothing but a hearty diamonds-in-the-sky “Yes!” In Decoded, the CEO of hip-hop follows his career trajectory from the Marcy Projects of Bed-Stuy to record-label boardrooms. Photo and lyrics are interspersed with narrative under characteristically Hovian subheads such as “Sensitive Thugs, You’ll All Need Hugs” Decoded provides a blue print of the Grammy winner’s struggles, successes and inner musings. Besides, who doesn’t to know what Mr. Carter meant by, “my shit is butter for the bread they wanna toast me”?
_Michael Goetzman
_Steve Miller DECADE | PHOTOS EDITED BY EAMONN MCCABE, TEXT BY TERENCE MCNAMEE | PHAIDON | 504 PAGES | $39.95 | Photographic collections are a dime a dozen. But this massive tome captures some of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, and defining images of the early 21st century. Photographs of everything from Katrina ravaged New Orleans to a turtleneck-clad Steve Jobs at the launch of Apple’s iPhone, highlight the ups and downs of an era. Every page is a new issue, a new portrait of contemporary existence. Flipping through the pages of Decade will take you back through the first exciting, and often turmoil-filled ten years of the new millennium.
_SM
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24 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
FREEBASING NARRATIVE GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMIC ANTHOLOGIES _BY S.I. ROSENBAUM
T
here’s something about getting a book as a gift that makes you not want to read it. Perhaps there’s a faint whiff of homework about it; perhaps it’s just all those daunting little black marks covering the pages. Comics are different. They are narrative in freebase form — the exact opposite of homework — and can be ingested in gulps. Give someone a big, hardcover, glossy graphic novel, and you’re likely to lose them for the next hour as they gorge themselves on sweet, sweet sequential art. THE SWEETER SIDE OF R. CRUMB | ROBERT CRUMB | NORTON | 110 PAGES | $17.95 | In the introduction to this slim, softcover book of sketches, Robert Crumb confesses his sins: as an underground cartoonist in the ’60s and ’70s, he says, “I vomited it all up on the page, all the black stuff that was inside me.” Those raw, balls-out comics became the work he’s known for. Of course, that tends to limit his audience to subterranean readers. The Sweeter Side, R. explains, was “cooked up by my wife, Aline, as a marketing gimmick” in hopes of attracting women to buy Crumb’s work. I have to say, I’m a chick, and I love Crumb’s
fucked-up, misogynist, anti-Semitic id-vomit. That said, the tamer drawings collected here — beautifully rendered street scenes from the South of France, pen-and-ink studies of oldtime jazz musicians — reveal what a master draftsman Crumb really is. PICTURE THIS | LYNDA BARRY | DRAWN AND QUARTERLY | 204 PAGES | $29.95 | On page 22 of Lynda Barry’s Picture This there’s a drawing of a child wearing a parka and huddled in a fetal position, above the caption get me my mom. No explanation; it’s a snapshot of a childhood misery that can be neither explained nor healed. But Barry knows that all art is, in a way, an attempt at a do-over — a reworking of some past humiliation. Picture This is an autobiography, a meditation on art, an activity book, and an artist’s notebook. Compiled of sketches, collages, original art, and found text, it features characters from Barry’s older comics as well as the author herself, and her muse, the near-sighted monkey. The book explores the ways in which art gets stifled, and the ways in which we all need it desperately. X’ED OUT | CHARLES BURNS | PANTHEON | 56 PAGES | $19.95 | Charles Burns wants to flip your shit out. The cover of his latest effort, X’ed Out, references a famous Tintin cover — but where Tintin was standing on a rocky shore staring in shock at a giant,
red-and-white mushroom, Burns’s unfortunate protagonist is knee-deep in debris beside a lurid green river, horrified by a sinister-looking redand-white egg. It seems the poor fellow has an unexplained head injury, and there’s a hole in his bedroom wall that leads to a creepy alien dimension (as you’d expect). There are noseless guys eating worms that have faces; there are fetal pigs in jars, an art-chick girlfriend who goes missing, and strawberry Pop-Tarts. X’ed Out is the first chapter of a larger saga. By the end you won’t know quite where Burns is going it — but you’ll want to find out. MAKE ME A WOMAN | VANESSA DAVIS | DRAWN & QUARTERLY | 176 PAGES | $24.95 | In Make Me a Woman, Vanessa Davis does what I would have thought impossible: she draws interesting and funny comics about being a young Jewish woman in the big city. I admit, I rolled my eyes at first; I may even have muttered, “God save me from another graphic memoir by a privileged white 20-something.” But Davis proceeded to kick my jaded ass down the street. Make Me a Woman starts with the story of Davis’s bat mitzvah (hence the title) and goes from there. Her pencil, ink-wash and watercolor comics frequently spill all over the page, yet they’re incredibly easy to follow. The stories they tell aren’t epic: a conversation in an elevator, a trip to the spa with mom, an on-and-off affair with an Israeli douchebag. But they’re all spot-on, and never take themselves too seriously. Perhaps nothing epic has happened to Davis yet, but she has a lot of fun telling you about that. THE LITTLE PRINCE | JOANN SFAR | ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL BY ANTOINE DE SAINTEXUPERY | HMH BOOKS | 112 PAGES | $19.99 | Joann Sfar is, hands down, my favorite cartoonist working right now. Only a few of his many books are available in English, but they’ll blow your mind: his art looks as if it’s alive and trying to crawl off the page, his characters veering from dot-eyed cartoons in one panel to crosshatched portraits in the next.
So I was thrilled when the estate of Saint-Exupery chose him to adapt this classic. In Sfar’s hands, the story is both familiar and unfamiliar. In the book, the pilot-narrator never describes himself, but here appears as a vulnerable version of Saint-Exupery himself. As the desert seethes and boils around the pilot and the little prince, the love story that emerges is just as strange and beautiful as it is in prose. INBOUND 5 | BOSTON COMICS ROUNDTABLE | 173 PAGES | $12.00 | The Boston Comics Roundtable has released five issues of INBOUND, its anthology of local cartoonists, and each one has gotten better. Number five is a beautiful little digest-size, 174-page book, a little like the old Top Shelf anthologies, and the theme is “food.” Thus, tales of stinky durian fruits, Native American corn myths, and an old man who eats himself down to the boot. Some of the art’s a little raw, but most is pretty tight, and the styles range from Chip Kidd-style vector graphics to scratchy crowquill. I love anthologies like this because they remind me, once again, of how many kinds of art comics can encompass — and how much talent there is in the Boston scene. RASL: POCKET BOOK ONE | JEFF SMITH | CARTOON BOOKS | 232 PAGES | $17.95 | Jeff Smith’s first comic-book epic, Bone, was probably the hugest thing in the comics world for a while. A kid-friendly fantasy adventure, it was hailed as proof of what comics could accomplish in the hands of a master. His follow-up, RASL, is very different. No cartoony homunculi here; it’s dark and grown-up and eerie.The protagonist, a guy who travels between dimensions with an African mask and a quartet of jet engines strapped to his limbs, can’t always tell what world he’s in — and if you tried to follow RASL as it came out in monthly installments, you were similarly confused. Now that the first seven issues have been collected, it may make more sense. Or not. Either way, it’s deliciously intriguing. ^
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28 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
SURETIES AND OBSCURITIES INVESTING IN ENTERTAINMENT WITH VIDEO BOX SETS _BY ROB TURBOVSKY
S
ome people will tell you that the economy is frozen in a recession that may never thaw. That makes Blu-ray/DVD box sets more valuable than gold. And, gold, as Glenn Beck tells us, is more valuable than money. We’re not sure of the math there, but stay with us because what we’re trying to say is that buying box sets is an excellent investment in your future. Or, rather, of your future . . . unto two or three hundred hours of TV viewing. So, skip film school and grab a few Criterion DVDs. Or, pocket the money you would’ve spent on Red Bull and vodka and emergency contraception and pick up Jersey Shore. From the Monkees to the Ramones, from Larry Sanders to Colonel Kurtz, there’s something for everyone this holiday season, making the DVDs you don’t want to keep ideal holiday gifts. THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES | $149.99 DVD | If you even vaguely enjoy laughing and don’t know The Larry Sanders Show, you’re a failure. A decade before 30 Rock, Garry Shandling mined the personal angst of a fictional latenight talk show host and his co-workers for meta-comedy with a surprising emotional core. Starring Shandling, Jeffrey Tambor, Rip Torn, and a seemingly endless parade of celebrity cameos, these 89 episodes make a strong case for Larry Sanders as the best — or at least most honest — comedy show ever. The Complete Series includes every minute of it, along with a trove of commentaries, interviews, and deleted scenes from the 2007 “best of” collection. If this isn’t essential, neither is breathing. AMERICA LOST AND FOUND: THE BBS STORY | $99.95 DVD; $124.95 BLU-RAY | The Criterion Collection performs more Christmas miracles than Santa Claus. Its release of the America Lost and Found Blu-Ray/DVD set brings together seven films made during the brief heyday of BBS Productions, an invaluable player in the late-’60s/early-’70s era of personal and frequently drug-fueled filmmaking. As usual with Criterion, the films range from acknowledged classics (Easy Rider, The Last Picture Show, Five Easy Pieces) to
difficult films overdue for popular rediscovery (The King of Marvin Gardens, A Safe Place) to pure weirdness (the Monkees film Head, co-written by Jack Nicholson plus Nicholson’s directorial debut, Drive, He Said). Rounded out with commentaries, interviews, and documentaries, the box will delight the whole family, particularly if the family also enjoys hallucinogens. MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: VOLUME XIX | $69.97 DVD | If Criterion catered exclusively to televisiondependant latchkey children of the ’80s and ’90s, they’d be Shout! Factory. Shout! is responsible for such lovingly assembled DVD boxes of TV gold as Freaks & Geeks, the surreal It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, and, now, 19 volumes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. In volume 19 Joel, Mike, and their Satellite of Love robot companions suffer through Ed Wood’s deliriously inept Bride of the Monster; the killer half-dinosaur/half-octopus Jaws rip-off Devil Fish; a film entitled Devil Doll that manages to make ventriloquism look even dumber; and Robot Monster, a ’50s sci-fi film whose titular moon monster looks suspiciously like a gorilla in a diving helmet. THE PROMISE: THE DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN STORY | $119.98 DVD; $139.98 BLU-RAY | Bad news, everyone; you missed Christmas. It came early — on November 16, to be exact — when Bruce Springsteen’s The Promise was released. Available on DVD and Blu-ray, The Promise is an exhaustive collection of everything you ever wanted to know but were too depressed to ask about Darkness on the Edge of Town, the Boss’s dark follow-up to Born to Run. Included here: the HBO documentary on the album’s recording; a full-length concert from the seminal Darkness tour; a live video
of the modern-day Springsteen and the E Street Band playing the album in its entirety; a re-mastered version of Darkness, and two full CDs of songs that never made it onto the original record. The Promise is so complete the only thing it doesn’t come with is a soul-crushing dead-end factory job. APOCALYPSE NOW: FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION | $59.99 BLU-RAY | The Vietnam War happened during a more innocent time in America. Tweeting was something birds did, vague foreign battles were stalemated in a tidy nine years, and when a member of the Sheen family went batshit insane, it was only in the movies. To revisit that simpler era, pick up Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure Edition on Blu-ray. Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam war epic is the closest any filmmaker has come to the brink of madness while managing to return with a masterpiece in his grasp. The set includes the theatrical film and Coppola’s 2001 re-edited, far longer Redux cut, along with Hearts of Darkness, the essential documentary about the film’s creation. With a crisp new transfer for Blu-ray, the image is so clear you’ll practically be able to smell that morning napalm in your living room. TOY STORY TRILOGY | $100 DVD/BLU-RAY COMBO | The creative elves at Pixar thread the needle of great filmmaking more consistently than just about any studio working today. From Finding Nemo
to Up to Toy Story 3, they invent worlds that are whimsical and entertaining enough for children, yet full of the meaty, depressing existential subtext that adults crave. For proof, pick up the 10-disc, extra feature-packed Toy Story Trilogy box set, which includes all three films on both Blu-ray and DVD in, appropriately enough, a toy box. The exponential improvement in CGI from part one to part three is actually one of the less striking developments. The real revelation is the expanding ambitions of Pixar itself, a company that has managed to elevate kids’ movies to real art, capable of making grown men cry at the drop of a single Randy Newman lyric. JERSEY SHORE: SEASON ONE AND TWO | $39.99 DVD | It’s startling to consider that we once lived in a world in which the cast of Jersey Shore was not famous. Together, Pauly D, Vinnie, the Situation, JWoww, Snooki, Ronnie, Sammi, and to a lesser extent, Angelina, function like one of those great inventions that you didn’t know you needed until you heard it existed. Jersey Shore filled a gaping hole in our collective psyches bigger than the ShamWow and the Shake Weight combined. The DVD two-pack is a seven-disc, Rosetta-Stone-like education in a new language — introducing us to terms like “grenade” (“unfortunate-looking female”), “creeping” (“courting”), and “smoosh room” (just don’t touch the sheets). Season two, which relocated the gang to Miami in (we’re guessing) an experiment to test the hardiness of the mid-Atlantic strain of Chlamydia in warmer climates, is arguably as incisive a look into the dark heart of the American dream as The Wire. ^
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30 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
WEATHER BEATERS
OUT ON THE SLOPES, WHEN IT’S YOU AGAINST MOTHER NATURE, THE LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE _BY GEOFFREY KULA
W
ith the passing of November’s turkeyinduced coma signaling the official start of the holiday shopping season, and Jack Frost awaking from his summer slumber only to send warm weather into hiding, winter-sports enthusiasts can finally rejoice. Colder climes bring with them the flaky powder and manmade snow skiers and snowboarders have been waiting all year for, and it will be time soon enough to hit the slopes. For the snow rider on your list, the following guide to ski and snowboard stocking stuffers will add a little bit more joy to the season.
PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS
Staying warm on the slopes is paramount. Otherwise, you’ll spend more time in the lodge trying to defrost your fingers and toes than out on the trails. And that’s not what you bought a lift ticket for, is it? HATS/NECK WARMERS/BALACLAVAS Confident enough in your skills to forego a helmet but don’t want to freeze your ears off by last run? Dig the Elmer Fudd look? Then the North Face’s Gunderson hat ($50 at rei.com) is for you. A polyester-fleece lining keeps your head warm and dry, while flaps protect your ears whether shredding the superpipe, sipping a PBR, or hunting rabbits. Less hipster-looking choices that readily fit under a helmet include Smartwool’s Basic Cuffed Beanie ($25 at ems.com) and Outdoor Research’s Peruvian Hat ($30 at ems.com). Pair one of these with Coal’s Nichols Neck Warmer ($24.95 at backcountry.com) or Buff’s Wool Buff ($29 at rei.com) for complete head-to-shoulder comfort. If the “slopeside ninja” look is more your style, try a balaclava. Each of the following: Outdoor Research Option Balaclava ($22 at rei.com), the Seirus Combo Clava ($29 at rei.com), and SmartWool’s Balaclava ($35.00 at rei.com) will serve you well while you bust a move on the mountain, or during your next stealth mission against a feudal overlord.
morning, boots are dry and ready to ride again. Not in that much of a hurry? The DryGuy Circulator Footwear Dryer Warmer ($29.95 at amazon.com) is an affordable home unit that uses the same technology to dry boots overnight and extend the life of your winter gear.
ACCESSORIES & GADGETS
Wide-Body Bootand-Glove Dryer BOOT/GLOVE/HELMET DRYERS There’s no bigger buzzkill than putting on a pair of soggy boots or gloves before hitting the slopes and having to deal with damp digits all day. DryGuy boot-and-glove forced-air dryers provide a quick, efficient, economical solution to this problem whether you’re at home or on the road. The Cadillac of DryGuy’s line-up, its Wide-Body Boot-and-Glove Dryer ($89.95 at amazon.com) features four air chambers that blast 99-degreeFahrenheit air into your damp garments for up to three hours (most clothes dry in just one). Keeping gear dry prevents the growth of bacteria and mold, which in turn eliminates a toxic cloud from forming every time you take off your boots. For those on the go, DryGuy’s AC/DC Boot/Shoe Warmer and Dryer ($24.95 at ems. com) provides an auto adapter that enables users to start drying their boots on the drive home. Once there, bring the unit inside, plug it into a wall outlet, and by the next
BODY ARMOR As you work your way up the line of tricks to stomping the landing of that 540 mute grab, you might have a crash landing or two along the way. And while the “No pain, no gain” mantra is as true here as in the rest of the world, wise skiers and snowboarders take steps to minimize the impact of the learning curve so they can get the most out of each season. PROTEC’s IPS hip pads for men and women ($54.95 at rei.com) cushion your hips, butt, and tailbone — often, a first point of contact in the event of a tumble. MULTI-TOOLS For fixing loose bindings or adjusting your stance trailside, these all-in-one pocket tools will make anyone a MacGyver of the mountain. DaKine’s Torque Driver ($10 at rei.com)
DaKine’s Super Tune 110volt Snowboard Tuning Kit
is a bare-bones screwdriver/wrench set, while Columbia River’s Get-A-Way Driver Tool and Flashlight ($14.95 at rei.com) illuminates the task at hand for night riders. Meanwhile, even the most advanced tinkerers will find that the Swiss Army SwissTool Spirit X Multi-Tool ($95 at rei.com) provides all the options they need for everything but on-site surgery. TUNE-UP KITS No matter where your skis or snowboard fall on the price spectrum, you’ll get peak performance with regular upkeep. For the DIY-er on your list, a tune-up kit is the perfect marriage of necessity and convenience. DaKine’s Super Tune 110-volt Snowboard Tuning Kit ($84.95 at amazon.com) is a portable maintenance shop, with scrapers, wax, an iron, edge sharpener, buffer, and brush. One Ball Jay’s Hot Wax Kit ($79.99 at amazon.com) is similarly outfitted, minus the edge sharpener. Fill this void with the Wintersteiger Quick Sharp Diamond Tool ($26.95 at rei. com), which comes with three stones. Looking to ditch the iron and travel a little lighter? The DaKine Deluxe Tune-Up Kit ($45 at rei.com) is the perfect, compact bundle for on-theroad care. SNOW/SKI DVDS Warren Miller, winter sports’ most acclaimed filmmaker, has been making ski-andsnowboard movies for more than 50 years, and his talent is virtually unmatched. You’d be hard-pressed to find fault with any of his titles — after all, he has access to the best athletes and terrain in the world — and recent releases like Warren Miller’s Playground ($29.99/Blu-Ray; $14.99/DVD) and Warren Miller’s Dynasty ($29.93/BluRay; $14.99/DVD) will amaze any snow rider. Of course, no ski-film list would be complete without director Savage Steve Holland’s hilarious ’80s cult fave Better Off Dead ($12.99/ DVD), which features John Cusack as Lane Meyer, a high-school skiteam racer whose heart is broken when his girlfriend dumps him, and who gets caught up in an intricate, absurd web of circumstances while prepping for a downhill competition that he hopes will win her back. ^
GET ON THE BUS! DIRECT FROM BOSTON! SATURDAYS
Henniker, NH
2 TRIPS!! MORNING & NIGHT*
ng Starti 5th 1 y r a Janu
MORNING TICKET
may be upgraded to Rental & Lesson Packages
*NIGHT TICKET includes Rental Equipment, Snowtubing (5-10pm) & Live Entertainment
Bus Trip & Lift Ticket Combo Only $59 per person (either trip) Departs from these locations Braintree-35 Roc-Sam Park Rd Comm. Ave/Warren Towers Ruggles T Station Roundabout Departs Pats Peak
AM PM 6:30am 11:30am 7:00am 12:00pm 7:30am 12:30pm 4:30pm 10:30pm
MUST PRE-BOOK: patspeak.com, enttours.com or (781) 849-0200
Text “thelodge”
to 41513 Bikers Welcome
for discounts
32 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
SKI + SNOWBOARD LISTINGS _COMPILED BY ALEXANDRA CAVALLO, ASHLEY RIGAZIO, AND MICHAEL C. WALSH
DOWNHILL MASSACHUSETTS BERKSHIRE EAST South River Rd, Charlemont | 413.339.6617 | berkshireeast.com | A variety of family-friendly terrain located alongside the Deerfield River. Berkshire East has two full-service lodges, a ski school, racing, and tubing. VERTICAL DROP 1180 feet TRAILS 45 total; 30 percent novice, 35 percent intermediate, 35 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two surface lifts, one double chair, two triple chairs, one quad HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4:30 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to
4:30 pm; night skiing Wed through Sat 4 to 10 pm RATES weekdays $35, seniors $25; weekends and holidays adults $55, juniors/seniors $35, students $45; half-day afternoon adults $40, juniors/seniors $25, students $30; night $25 all ages RENTALS skis full-day $30, half-day $20, snowboards full-day $35, halfday $25 INSTRUCTION group lessons (ages eight and up) $30 an hour; private lessons $60 an hour, $30 per additional person BLANDFORD SKI AREA 41 Nye Brook Rd, Blandford | 413.848.2860 | skiblandford.org | Operated by the Springfield Ski Club, 76-year-old Blandford is the oldest continuously run club-owned ski area in North America.
VERTICAL DROP 465 feet TRAILS 22 total; six novice, 11 intermediate, five expert SNOWBOARDING two terrain parks SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS three double chairs, one multilift, one magic carpet HOURS Fri through Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm, with night skiing in Jan and Feb RATES season passes $99 to $349; individual day rates $15 to $45, based on skier’s age, holiday/non-holiday, and area coverage RENTALS ski or snowboard package $24 adults, $19 juniors; skis only $15; snowboard only $17; ski boots only $7; snowboard boots only $8; poles only $3 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35, juniors $27; private lessons $65, $30 per
additional guest CATAMOUNT SKI AREA Rte 23, South Egremont | 413.528.1262 | catamountski.com | Half the lifts are in Massachusetts; the others are over the border in New York. Child care available. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 32 trails and park areas: 10 novice, 10 intermediate, and 12 expert, including half-pipe and park; 15 trails open for night skiing SNOWBOARDING snowboard park with 400-foot half-pipe, junior jib park, and boardercross with jumps SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS six lifts total: quad lift, triple lift, two double lifts, wonder carpet, handle tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 9 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $27, kids $10; week-
ends and holidays $59, kids $25 RENTALS used and new available, call for details INSTRUCTION private lessons $90 an hour; group lessons $35 for an hour and a half; Ski School $90 full day, $65 half day; STRIDE Adaptive skiing lessons available JIMINY PEAK 37 Corey Rd, Hancock | 413.738.5500 | jiminypeak.com | Call 413.738.7325 or 888.454.6469, or check Web site, for snow conditions. Amenities include a children’s center and a tavern. Also offers non-skiing activities like tubing and the Winter Mountain Coaster. VERTICAL DROP 1150 feet TRAILS 45 total, about one-quarter novice, half intermediate, one-quarter expert; longest trail is two miles SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks (two
664 US Route 3 • Exit 33,I-93 • Lincoln NH 03251 800-343-8000 • (603) 745-8000 www.indianheadresort.com • info@indianheadresort.com
Ski NH Anywhere, Anytime Lift Ticket Packages Save $10 - $16+ on weekend and holiday lift tickets. Tickets are fully-transferable, share with family & friends - packages start at 6 tickets
SKI & STAY!
Enjoy some of the Best Skiing in the East at
LOON • CANNON • BRETTON WOODS & WATERVILLE
AND Experience all that Indian Head Resort has to offer!
PLUS: ENJOY FREE USE OF ALL INDIAN HEAD RESORT FACILITIES INCLUDING:
Heated Outdoor Pool Open All Winter Heated Indoor Pool • Indoor & Outdoor Hot Whirlpool Spas 50” PLASMA HDTVs in all motel rooms! Saunas • Game Room • Gift Shop • In Room HBO® Movies Entertainment in our Thunderbird Lounge Near Area Attractions, Sightseeing and Tax Free Shopping
For complete details visit SkiNH.com or call 800-887-5464
LOON Mid-Week Ski & Stay CANNON Mid-Week Ski & Stay From $117.50 PP/DO*
From $97.50 PP/DO*
Loon Weekend Ski & Stay CANNON Weekend Ski & Stay From $142.50 PP/DO*
From $122.50 PP/DO*
*PLEASE NOTE: Not Valid Holidays or Feb. Vacation Weeks. Does NOT include Tax or Gratuities. Subject to Change.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX | GIFT GUIDE | DECEMBER 10, 2010 33
big, one small), one glade trail, mogul runs SNOWMAKING 96 percent LIFTS one six-passenger high-speed, two quads, three triples, one double, two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 10 pm RATES full day adults $59, teens $51, juniors/ seniors $44; half day adults $55, teens $47, juniors/seniors $40; twilight hours $39; holiday prices vary RENTALS ski or snowboard package $36 full day, $33 half day; helmets $10; wristguards free INSTRUCTION group lessons start at $44 for 90 minutes; beginner ski packages start at $74; private lessons start at $95, $70 per extra person NASHOBA VALLEY SKI AREA 79 Powers Rd, Westford | 978.692.3033 | skinashoba.com | Call 800.400.7669 for snow conditions. Ski school, tubing park, and ski and snowboard shop at base. Outlook Restaurant open for lunch and dinner Sun through Fri and for dinner on Sat. VERTICAL DROP 240 feet TRAILS 17 total; three novice, eight intermediate, six expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS three triples, one double, three rope tows, and two conveyors HOURS weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 10 pm RATES weekdays $36, kids under 12 $34, kids under five $20; weekends and holidays adults $46, kids under 12 $44, kids under five $20; halfday and night skiing is discounted RENTALS ski or snowboard package $32; demos $42; skis for children ages five and under $23; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION private lessons $80 an hour, $40 per additional person; group lessons $40 an hour; rental and lesson packages and race training also available SKI BRADFORD South Cross Rd, Haverhill | 866.644.7669 | skibradford.com | Just minutes from Boston and the North Shore, Ski Bradford has an uphill capacity of 9600 skiers per hour. Lessons for all ages and abilities, racing, complete rental shop, full-service snack bar, large base lodge, ample parking, and more than 80 hours of operation per week. VERTICAL DROP 248 feet TRAILS 15 total: three beginner, four intermediate, eight expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park with jumps, rails, boxes, and events and competitions throughout the season SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS three triple chair lifts, one T-bar, and three rope tows HOURS weekdays 8:30 am to 6 pm; weekends, school vacation, and holidays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; nights Mon through Sat 6 to 10 pm RATES weekdays and twilight hours $30; nights $26; weekends $43; discounts for half days and learners RENTALS ski or snowboard package $30, $25 half day or night; juniors $22, $18 half day INSTRUCTION group lesson $25; private lesson $70 SKI BUTTERNUT Rte 23, Great Barrington | 413.528.2000 | skibutternut.com | Call 800.438.7669 or check web site for snow conditions. Base includes a children’s nursery, clubhouse with locker rooms and cafeteria, upper lodge, sun deck, and ski rental, repair, and clothing shop. Also hosts a professional ski school and five-lane tubing center. Now offering private lessons for learning to ski on Telemark skis. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 22 trails total, eight novice, eight intermediate, six expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks for different abilities with jumps, rails, boxes, and pipes SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS 10 total, including three quads and four carpets HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:15 am to 4 pm; tubing center open Sat 10 am to 8 pm and Sun 10 am to 5 pm RATES weekdays $25, $20 juniors/seniors, $15 children; weekends $55, $45 juniors/seniors, $20 children; student discounts available; tubing $18 for two hours, any age RENTALS ski or snowboard package $35, $30 juniors, $20 children; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION group lessons $40; private lessons $90 an hour, $50 per additional person; private Telemark lesson $90 an hour (by reservation only) WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN 499 Mountain Rd, Princeton |
978.464.2300 | wachusett.com | Wachusett, located about an hour from Boston, features NASTAR recreational racing (complete with bronze, silver, and gold medals) and is accessible by MBTA commuter rail and free shuttle service. Call 800. SKI.1234 for ski conditions. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 22 trails total; 30 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING snowboard-friendly resort with diverse terrain for all abilities SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two high-speed quads, two triple chairs, three carpets, one pony lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, weekends 8 am to 10 pm RATES prime season weekdays $46, juniors/seniors $37, children $10; weekends $51, juniors/ seniors $37, children $10. Peak season $56, juniors/seniors $42, children $10 RENTALS full-day ski or snowboard package $32, $26 juniors/seniors, $20 children, $10 helmets; half-day $27 adults, $21 juniors/seniors, $15 children; $8 helmets INSTRUCTION group lessons $35; private lessons $70 an hour; semi-private $50 an hour
2010 / 2011
MAINE BIG SQUAW MOUNTAIN Rte 15, Greenville | 207.695.1000 | bigsquawmountain.com | A scenic mountain resort in the Moosehead Lake Region with glades and trails designed by renowned trail designer Sel Hannah. VERTICAL DROP 1750 feet TRAILS 33 total: 33 percent novice, 33 percent intermediate, 34 percent expert SNOWBOARDING no terrain park, but snowboarders are welcome SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS one triple chair, one double chair, one T-bar, and one pony lift HOURS Fri through Sun 9 am to 4 pm and during vacation weeks RATES adults $25, seniors over 69 and children under four ski free RENTALS ski or snowboard package $30 INSTRUCTION private lessons $30 an hour, group lessons $20 an hour BIGROCK 37 Graves Rd, Mars Hill | 207.425.6711 | bigrockmaine.com | Established in 1960, Bigrock Ski Area was purchased in 2000 by the Maine Winter Sports Center. Steps have been taken to make this family-friendly ski area ideal for learners. Its projected opening day is December 11. VERTICAL DROP 980 feet TRAILS 27 trails: 15 percent novice, 63 percent intermediate, 22 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 37 percent LIFTS one triple chair, one double chair, one poma lift, one carpet lift HOURS unavailable at press time; call for details RATES weekdays $25, juniors and seniors $20; weekends $30, $25 RENTALS ski and snowboard $20 INSTRUCTION group lessons $27, private lessons $20 CAMDEN SNOW BOWL Off Rte 1, Camden | 207.236.3438 | camdensnowbowl.com | The ski area overlooks Penobscot Bay and includes areas to skate and tube slide, as well as a toboggan chute. VERTICAL DROP 850 feet TRAILS nine total: two novice, six intermediate, one expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 45 percent LIFTS two T-bars, one double chair, one surface lift HOURS Wed through Fri 10 am to 8 pm, Sat and Sun 9 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $22, $20 for students; weekends $33, $25 for students. Half-day and night rates also available. RENTALS ski and board packages $25 INSTRUCTION group lessons $24 for an hour and a half; private lessons $50 an hour MOUNT ABRAM 308 Howe Hill Rd, Greenwood | 207.875.5000 | mtabram.com | Boasts 650 acres of trails and glades and also features the longest tubing park in Maine (1325 feet!). VERTICAL DROP 1150 feet TRAILS 44 total: 10 novice, 22 intermediate, 12 expert SNOWBOARDING four freestyle terrain parks SNOWMAKING 75 percent LIFTS two double chairs, one T-bar, one handle tow HOURS Thurs through Sun 9 am to 4 pm
Continued on p 34
New Wicked Long Ski Weekends at Waterville Valley turn your weekend into a mini vacation thanks to a wicked early 12:30p.m. Friday check in and extra late 3p.m. Sunday checkout. Ski and ride all you want in between. Add a Sunday Stayover? Add a Sunday night stay to any weekend Ski & Stay Deal for 50% off lodging. Monday is also 50% off adult lift ticket prices with the famous Wheel of Deals spinning (starts January 3, 2011). More Great Deals This Season! “SNOW”vember/December, Middle of the Week Escapes, Ring in 2011 & Kids Ski Free Weekends, MA School Break 3rd Night Free, NH School Break Kids Ski Free, and Spring It On. All Ski & Stay Deals include access to the White Mountain Athletic Club, skating at the indoor Waterville Valley Ice Arena, use of the shuttle bus and extra late Sunday checkouts. Ski & Stay Deals are not offered during holiday periods unless noted and are subject to availability
Book @ waterville.com or call 1–800–GO–VALLEY
34 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Continued from p 33 RATES adults $49, seniors/juniors six through 12 $37. Thurs is two-for-one, and on “Caravan Fridays,” everyone seat-belted into a vehicle receives a lift ticket for the flat price of $75 RENTALS adult package $30, seniors/juniors $23 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35, private lessons $60 an hour SADDLEBACK SKI AND SUMMER LAKE PRESERVE Rte 4, Rangeley | 207.864.5671 | saddlebackmaine.com | The 12,000-acre preserve includes Saddleback Mountain and Saddleback Lake. Glades and other “free” skiing opportunities challenge experts, but plenty of terrain is groomed and smooth for beginner and intermediate skiers. Backcountry cross-country trails available at no charge. Projected opening day is Dec 11. VERTICAL DROP 2000 feet TRAILS 66 trails and glades SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 85 percent LIFTS two quads, two double chairs, one T-bar HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $35; weekends $50, juniors seven through 18 and college students $39; seniors over 70 $5 and children under six free every day RENTALS adult ski or snowboard package $35, junior/senior ski or snowboard package $25 INSTRUCTION group lessons $39, private lessons $69 an hour SHAWNEE PEAK 119 Mountain Rd, Bridgton | 207.647.8444 | shawneepeak.com | Offers top-to-bottom night skiing on 19 trails, plus one of the largest pipe/park combinations in New England. VERTICAL DROP 1300 feet TRAILS 44 total: 25 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 25 percent expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe, two terrain parks, and grommet-garden beginner’s park, all equipped with night lighting SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS one quad, two triple chairs, one double chair, and one surface lift HOURS Mon 9 am to 9 pm; Tues through Thurs 9:30 am to 8 pm; Fri 9 am to 10 pm; Sat 8:30 am to 10 pm; and Sun 8:30 am to 4:30 pm RATES weekdays $39, juniors/seniors $32; weekends and holidays adults $56, juniors/seniors $42 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $34 INSTRUCTION semi-private lessons $50 an hr, $60 for 90 minutes, $105 for three hours; private lessons $55 an hour, $75 for 90 minutes, $135 for three hours; first-timer packages and kids’ programs also available SUGARLOAF 5092 Sugarloaf Access Rd, Carrabassett Valley | sugarloaf.com | Sugarloaf is four hours away from both Montreal and Boston. Its summit is Maine’s second-highest peak, and its vertical drop is the most continuous in New England. Resort includes hotels, boutiques, restaurants, and a health club. VERTICAL DROP 2820 feet TRAILS 139 total: 25 percent novice, 32 percent intermediate, 28 percent advanced, 15 percent very advanced SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks, one superpipe, one half-pipe, one snow-boardcross course SNOWMAKING 95 percent LIFTS two superquads, two high capacity quads, one triple chair, eight double chairs, two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 8:30 am to 3:50 pm; opens at 8 am on Sat and Sun RATES regular season $77, young adults $66, juniors/seniors $53; during “value season” (opening through mid-Dec and late March through close), $74, young adults $63, juniors/seniors $51 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $39, $26 juniors/seniors INSTRUCTION one-day first-timer’s ski or snowboard lesson $80, group lessons $35 for 90 minutes. Private lessons $100 an hr between 10 am and 1 pm or $85 per hour, per person before 10 am or after 1 pm SUNDAY RIVER 15 South Ridge Rd, Newry | 207.824.3000 | sundayriver.com | Giant resort with 671 acres and eight interconnected mountains. Entertainment center features a lighted half-pipe, lighted ice-skating rink, teen center, restaurant, and nightclub. VERTICAL DROP 2340 feet TRAILS 132 total: 25 percent beginner, 35 percent
intermediate, 40 percent novice SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks, a super-pipe, and a mini-pipe SNOWMAKING 92 percent LIFTS nine quad chairs (four high-speed detachables), four triple chairs, two double chairs, three surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm (subject to change) RATES adult $79; teen $67; junior/senior $55 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $39 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35 for 90 minutes; private lessons $85 an hour
NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT Rte 302, Bartlett | 800.223.7669 | attitash.com | This season, Attitash Mountain Resort has added Wildcat Mountain to its family, giving Attitash guests two resorts for the price of one. Interchangeable tickets allow skiers and riders to enjoy both resorts in one day - a combined 124 trails and 535 skiable acres. Attitash’s Bear Peak features 30 acres of marked tree terrain in seven different glades. Call 877.677.7669 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP Attitash, 1750 feet; Bear Peak, 1450 feet TRAILS 77 total; 33 percent novice, 47 percent intermediate, 20 percent expert SNOWBOARDING the terrain park on Thad’s Choice has more than 1700 feet of ramps, table tops, huge air hits, and jibs SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS three quad lifts (two high-speed detachable), three triple lifts, three double lifts, and one surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek adults $63, juniors (13 through 18) $48, seniors (over 65) and children (six through 12) $39; weekends adults $70, juniors $55, seniors and children $50; multi-day tickets also available RENTALS skis and snowboards $36 INSTRUCTION group lessons $30 for 90 minutes; private lessons $79 an hour or $270 a day BLACK MOUNTAIN 373 Black Mountain Rd, Jackson | 800.698.4490 | blackmt.com | A family-friendly ski area located in the Mount Washington Valley with activities, racing, and special events throughout the season. Call 800.475.4669 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 1100 feet TRAILS 44 trails and glades: 34 percent novice, 32 percent intermediate, 34 percent expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe and two terrain parks SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS one triple, one double, one platter-pull, one J-bar HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays, adults $35 and juniors/seniors $25 ($5 off after 12:30 pm); weekends, adults $45, juniors/seniors/students $30 (33 percent off after 12:30 pm); kids under six always ski free RENTALS ski or snowboard $30 adults, $24 juniors INSTRUCTION group lesson package $79 for adults, $69 for juniors (includes lift ticket and rentals); private lessons $55 an hour; semi-private lessons $50 an hour BRETTON WOODS Rte 302, Bretton Woods | 800.314.1752 | brettonwoods.com | This historic resort boasts more than 100 sprawling trails on two mountain peaks. Season begins in mid-November. VERTICAL DROP 1500 feet TRAILS 101 total: 25 novice, 29 intermediate, 31 black diamond, 16 double diamond SNOWBOARDING four freestyle terrain parks SNOWMAKING 92 percent LIFTS five quads, two carpets, one double chair, one triple chair HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends 8 am to 4 pm; night skiing 4 to 9 pm on selected dates (subject to change) RATES weekdays adults/seniors $68, teens $62, juniors $47; weekends and holidays adults $68, teens $55, juniors $41, seniors $25 RENTALS adult package $39; seniors/juniors $30 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35 for 90 minutes; private lessons $85 an hour CANNON MOUNTAIN 9 Franconia Notch, Franconia | 603.823.7771 | info@cannonmt.com | cannonmt.com | Cannon Mountain was the site of the first passenger
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rd
th th & JANUARY 3 -6 10 -13 SUPER CHEAP LIFT, LODGING & PARTY DEALS PLUS SPECIAL LODGING-ONLY PACKAGES FOR HIGHER ED PASSHOLDERS 5 days skiing/5 nights lodging plus nightly parties starting at $249 per person! *
Got 15 friends?
GET YOUR PACKAGE EVEN CHEAPER
GROUPS@MOUNTSNOW.COM
th
800.245.SNOW
•
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EVENTS CALENDAR MIX– IT– UP MONDAYS: Red Bull & Jägermiester party @ the Silo TUBESDAYS: FREE tubing 3:30 – 7 followed by a bonfire WIN– IT WEDNESDAYS: Mount Snow’s Minute to Win-it aprés party Free gates on Charlie’s Chase from 12 – 2 THIRSTY THURSDAYS: $29 LIFT TICKETS for all college students Bud Light concert @ the Snow Barn with $2 DRAFTS ALL WEEK LONG: All College Students can Learn to Ski or Learn to Ride for FREE at 9:30 & 11:30 Times and locations subject to change.
*Pricing based on maximum occupancy; does not include tax and service
2009/2010 Mount Snow & Carinthia Parks were named:
NOTE: Students must show a college ID or Higher Ed pass to receive a college week deal. Your College ID will also get you great deals around the valley. SPONSORED IN PART BY:
36 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Continued from p 34 tramway in North America and is the home of the New England Ski Museum. Call 603.823.7771 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 2180 feet TRAILS 75 total: 15 novice, 40 intermediate, 20 expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park open to skiers and riders SNOWMAKING 97 percent LIFTS one tram, three quad chairs, three triple chairs, one wonder carpet, one rope tow HOURS Mon and Fri 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm; closed Tues through Thurs RATES adults $67, college students/ teens $53, juniors/seniors $43 RENTALS ski/snowboard rentals $40, $29 for juniors INSTRUCTION group lessons $39; private lessons $65 an hour CRANMORE MOUNTAIN 1 Skimobile Rd, North Conway | 800.SUN.NSKI | cranmore.com | This affordable resort tucked away in downtown North Conway offers more than 200 skiable acres, as well as seven dining options, kids’ programs, tubing, night skiing, and entertainment and special events all season long. Scheduled to open on Nov 26. VERTICAL DROP 1200 feet TRAILS 43 total, with seven glades: 36 percent novice, 44 percent intermediate, 20 percent expert SNOWBOARDING freestyle terrain park with quarter-pipe SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS one quad, one triple chair, two double chairs, two carpets, one rope tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, Sat 8:30 am to 8 pm, and Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES adult $59, teen $49, kids/seniors $39 RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $35, $32 youth INSTRUCTION group lessons $59 to $125, private lessons $75 to $225; prices vary by age and length CROTCHED MOUNTAIN 615 Francestown Rd, Bennington | 603.588.3668 | crotchedmountain. com | Crotched Mountain has the highest snow-production capacity per acre in New England and offers Midnight Madness skiing from 9 pm to 3 am on Fri and Sat nights VERTICAL DROP 875 feet TRAILS 17 total: 28 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 22 percent advanced SNOWBOARDING Crotched Mountain Park is equipped with its own quad chair, and Zero-G terrain park features its own triple chair SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two quads, one triple chair, one double chair, one magic carpet HOURS Mon 1 to 9 pm (9 am to 9 pm holidays), Tues through Sat 9 am to 9 pm; Sun 9 am to 5 pm. Midnight Madness begins Jan 1 RATES weekdays $45, juniors/seniors $35; weekends $54, juniors/seniors $44. Midnight madness is $41 RENTALS $29 a day INSTRUCTION group lessons $29, private lessons $70 an hour DARTMOUTH SKIWAY 39 Grafton Tpke, Lyme Center | 603.795.2143 | dartmouth.edu/~skiway | This family-oriented ski area at Dartmouth is home to nearly 100 AllAmericans and more than 30 national champions. VERTICAL DROP 968 feet TRAILS 31 total: seven novice, 15 intermediate, nine expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS one quad, one double chair, one J-bar HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $25, children ages six through 12/seniors ages 65 through
79 $20; weekends $40, teens 13 through 18 $30, children/seniors $25 RENTALS adult ski packages and all snowboards $30, kids ski package $20 INSTRUCTION private lessons $60 an hour, semi-private lessons $35 extra for each additional person GUNSTOCK 719 Cherry Valley Rd, Gilford | 603.293.4341 | gunstock.com | Located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Gunstock has scenic views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the third-longest lift in the state. The Panorama High Speed Quad takes skiers over a mile to 1400 vertical feet in only six minutes.Tubing park has five chutes and is serviced by a hand-tow lift. The tentative opening date is Dec 3. VERTICAL DROP 1400 feet TRAILS 55 total: 12 percent novice, 61 percent intermediate, 27 percent expert; night skiing includes 21 trails and five lifts SNOWBOARDING all trails, freestyle terrain park, and wall SNOWMAKING 90 percent LIFTS one high-speed quad, two quads, two triples, one double, one conveyor, one handle tow HOURS Mon 9 am to 4 pm; Tues through Thurs 9 am to 9 pm; Fri 9 am to 10 pm; Sat 8:30 am to 10 pm; Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $59, teens $46, children/seniors $34; weekends and holidays $69, teens $56, children/ seniors $44; night and half-day skiing prices are discounted; Mon tickets are two-for-one RENTALS ski/snowboard packages $32, children/seniors $25; ski boots $15; snowboard boots $20; skis only $28; poles $5; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION group day programs $75 to $95; private lessons $65 an hour; semi-private, two-person lessons $120 an hour LOON MOUNTAIN 60 Loon Mountain Rd, Lincoln | 603.745.8111 | loonmtn.com | This resort located in the White Mountain National Forest is scheduled to open for the season on Nov 19. Loon’s Nordic and Adventure Center also hosts snowshoeing, ice-skating, indoor climbing, workshops, and Nordic rental/trail/lesson packages. Call 603.745.8100 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 2100 feet TRAILS 55 total: 20 percent novice, 53 percent intermediate, 27 percent expert SNOWBOARDING six terrain parks, an 18foot Superpipe, and a mini-pipe SNOWMAKING 97 percent LIFTS one gondola, three high-speed quads, one fixed-grip quad, one triple chair, three double chairs, two carpet lifts, and one handle tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8 am to 4 pm RATES adults $76, teens ages 13 through 18 $66, juniors ages six through 12 and seniors $56 RENTALS unavailable at press time; call for details INSTRUCTION unavailable at press time; call for details MOUNT SUNAPEE 1398 Rte. 103, Newbury | 603.763.3500 | mtsunapee.com | A familyowned and operated resort in southern New Hampshire. Season runs from late November to mid-April. Call 603.763.4020 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 1510 feet TRAILS 65 total: 17 novice, 32 intermediate, 16 expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks SNOWMAKING 97 percent LIFTS three quads (one high-speed), two triple chairs, one double chair, three carpet lifts, and two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8 am to 4 pm;
half-day rates start at noon RATES weekdays $66, young adults $50, juniors/seniors $40; weekends and holidays $70, young adults $58, juniors/seniors $44; half-day and South Peak only tickets available RENTALS ski or snowboard package $40, juniors $28; skis or snowboard adults $32, juniors $21; poles $8; snowboard boots$18; helmets adult $10, juniors $8; Telemark skis available INSTRUCTION private lessons $95 an hour, children ages three or four $65; group lessons adults $45 an hour; children’s programs vary by age and ability RAGGED MOUNTAIN 620 Ragged Mountain Rd, Danbury | 603.768.3600 | raggedmountainresort. com | Call 603.768.3971 for snow conditions. Out-of-bounds skiing is available if natural snowfall permits. Season opens Nov 26. VERTICAL DROP 1250 feet TRAILS 45 total: 30 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks, including a “learn to slide” beginners park SNOWMAKING 84 percent LIFTS one high-speed summit six-pack express, two triples, one double, and one surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $54, teens $40, juniors/seniors 65+ $30, seniors 75+ $20; weekends and holidays adults $64, teens $50, juniors/seniors 65+ $40, seniors 75+ $30; half-day tickets available RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $39, juniors $29; half-day ski or board $29; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION private lessons weekdays and Sun $59 an hour, Sat and holidays $64 an hour ($24 per additional person); group lessons start at $39 WATERVILLE VALLEY 1 Ski Area Rd, Waterville Valley | 1.800.468.2553 | waterville.com | Call 603.236.4144 for snow conditions. Waterville Valley is nestled in a natural snow pocket in the White Mountains and surrounded by other 4000 footers. It opens for the season on Nov 20. VERTICAL DROP 2020 feet TRAILS 52 total: 20 percent novice, 60 percent intermediate, 20 percent expert; intermediate and expert glades and mogul runs SNOWBOARDING terrain park and superpipe SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two high-speed quads, two triples, three doubles, and five surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES adults $69; teens $59; youth/ seniors $45; Sun kids under 12 ski free; Mon and Fri tickets two-forone RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $42, juniors $35, children under six $29; helmets $13 INSTRUCTION group lessons $42; “Learn to Ski/Ride Program” $75 a day; private lessons peak $99 an hour, off-peak $85 an hour WILDCAT MOUNTAIN | Route 16, Pinkham Notch | 603.466.3326 | skiwildcat.com | Recently acquired by Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat is across from Mount Washington and features the longest ski trail in New Hampshire. Lift tickets provide access to Wildcat and Attitash. On-site childcare available. Season begins in mid November. Call 1.888.SKI. WILD for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 2112 feet TRAILS 50 total: 25 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park and half-
pipe SNOWMAKING 90 percent coverage LIFTS one quad, three triples HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $63, teens $48, juniors/seniors $39; weekends and holidays $70, teens $55, juniors/ seniors $50; miltary discounts and half-day passes available RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $35; high performance skis $42; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION private lessons $55 an hour, $30 per additional person; group lessons adults $30, full-day childrens programs $89, half-day $69; lesson and rental packages available
VERMONT ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN RESORT 449 Ski Tow Rd, Brownsville | 802.484.7000 | ascutney.com | Includes an indoor sports center, ice skating, and tubing. The mountain also has nine Double Diamond slopes and the highest percent snow coverage in the state. VERTICAL DROP 1800 feet TRAILS 57 total: 30 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park and halfpipe SNOWMAKING 95 percent LIFTS one quad, three triple chairs, one double chair, and one magic-carpet surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekends $62, juniors and seniors $45; midweek $60 and $44 RENTALS ski or snowboard packages $35 INSTRUCTION two-hour group lessons $38, one-hour private lessons $85 BOLTON VALLEY 4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd, Bolton Valley | 877.9BO.LTON | boltonvalley.com | Full-service resort offering child care, dining, a sports center, and evening activities. VERTICAL DROP 1704 feet TRAILS 64 total: 27 percent novice, 47 percent intermediate, 26 percent expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks SNOWMAKING 60 percent LIFTS two quad lifts, three double chairs, and one surface lift HOURS Mon and Tues 9 am to 4 pm; Wed through Fri 9 am to 8 pm; Sat 8:30 am to 8 pm; Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekends $59, juniors and seniors $49; midweek $49 and $39 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $40, junior packages $29 INSTRUCTION call for details BROMLEY MOUNTAIN 1-63 Bromley Lodge Rd, Peru | 802.824.5522 | bromley.com | A family friendly resort with varied terrain and lots of sunshine. VERTICAL DROP 1334 feet TRAILS 43 trails and glades: 12 novice, 16 intermediate, 11 expert, four glades SNOWBOARDING three freestyle terrain parks and half-pipe SNOWMAKING 84 percent LIFTS two quad chairs, four double chairs, two Mitey-Mites, and one T-bar HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek adults and teens $44, junior $39; weekend adults $65, teens $55, juniors $39 RENTALS skis and snowboards $44, $34 for juniors INSTRUCTION group lessons $35 for 90 minutes; private lessons $85 an hour BURKE MOUNTAIN 223 Sherburne Lodge Rd, East Burke | 802.626.7300 | skiburke.com | Offers dining, shopping, and entertainment. The mid-Burke lodge and the Willougby and Poma lifts are slated to
open on Dec 12. All other services will open on Dec 19. VERTICAL DROP 2011 feet TRAILS 45 trails and glades on 250 skiable acres: 25 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks; all trails but one are snowboard friendly SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS one high-speed quad chair, one fixed-grip quad, one J-bar, and one POMA surface lift HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $64, students $48, seniors/ juniors $47; holiday periods $66, $50, and $49 RENTALS adult ski or snowboard package $35, juniors $28 INSTRUCTION private lessons $69 JAY PEAK 4850 VT Route 242, North Troy | 617.629.5383 | jaypeakresort.com | Jay Peak boasts an average 351 inches of snow annually. Three touring centers are nearby for cross-country skiers, as well as 100 acres of backcountry skiing. Guided tours are available. The projected opening date in Nov 26. VERTICAL DROP 2153 feet TRAILS 76 trails, glades, and chutes: 20 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 40 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks and a half-pipe SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS one 60-passenger tram, three quad chairs, one triple chair, one double chair, one T-bar, and one moving carpet for beginners HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES adults $69, juniors $49 RENTALS ski or snowboard packages $45, $35 for juniors INSTRUCTION private lessons $72 per hour; call about group lessons KILLINGTON 4763 Killington Rd, Killington | 802.422.6200 | killington.com | Killington, the largest ski resort in the East, consists of seven mountains, and lift tickets are also valid at Pico Mountain. It’s usually the first mountain open in the fall and the last one to close in the spring. Call 802.422.3261 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 3050 feet TRAILS 140 total: 28 percent novice, 33 percent intermediate, 39 percent expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks and a 430-foot superpipe SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS nine quads (five are high-speed), two gondolas, five surface lifts, four triple chairs, and two double chairs HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm (subject to change) RATES adults $86 on peak days, $84 weekend, $79 midweek; young adults/seniors $73, $71, $67; juniors/super seniors (70+) $60, $59, $55 RENTALS skis or board $39, juniors/ seniors $26; $41, $27 during peak times INSTRUCTION private and group lessons available; cost varies on time of day and season MAD RIVER GLEN 62 Mad River Resort Rd, Waitsfield | 802.496.3551 | madriverglen.com | This ski area at General Stark Mountain offers varied terrain and the country’s last surviving single chairlift. VERTICAL DROP 2037 feet TRAILS 47 total: 10 novice, 16 intermediate, 21 percent expert SNOWBOARDING no snowboarders allowed SNOWMAKING 15 percent, but the area gets plenty of natural snow LIFTS three double chairs, one single chair, and one handle tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm
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MOUNT SNOW 39 Mount Snow Rd, West Dover | 800.245. SNOW | mountsnow.com | Mount Snow includes four mountain areas: Main Mountain, North Face, Carinthia, and Sunbrook. VERTICAL DROP 1700 feet TRAILS 80 total, including tree terrain: 14 percent novice, 73 percent intermediate, 13 percent expert SNOWBOARDING 12 terrain parks, one superpipe, one mini-pipe SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS 20 total: three high-speed quad chairs, one fixed quad chair, seven triple chairs, four double chairs, one rope tow, and four magic carpets HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekends and holidays, adults $79, youth and seniors $62; weekdays $72 and $56 RENTALS adults $39, juniors $28 INSTRUCTION group lessons $48, private lessons $100 OKEMO 77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow | 802.228.4041 | okemo.com | Family ski area with day care and extensive children’s ski programs. Season begins in mid November. VERTICAL DROP 2200 feet TRAILS 119 total: 32 percent novice, 36 percent intermediate, 32 percent advanced SNOWBOARDING six terrain parks, one super-pipe, and one mini-half-pipe SNOWMAKING 96 percent LIFTS nine quad chairs (five high-speed detachables), three triple chairs, seven surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $74, teens and seniors $65, juniors and super seniors $50; weekends $81, $71, $55 RENTALS ski or board package $38, $28 for kids INSTRUCTION group lessons $55, private lessons $105 PICO 73 Alpine Dr, Killington | 802.422.6200 | picomountain.com | Pico offers the experience of a large mountain at a smaller ski area, with explorer and mountaineer programs. VERTICAL DROP 1967 feet TRAILS 50 total: 20 percent novice, 48 percent intermediate, 32 percent expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe and alpine park SNOWMAKING 75 percent LIFTS two quads, two triple chairs, two double chairs, and one surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES midweek $49, teens and seniors $42, juniors and super seniors $35; weekends $59, $49, $39; peak period $62, $52, $39 RENTALS adults $32, teens and seniors $25, juniors and super seniors $21 INSTRUCTION hour-and-a-half group lesson $35, peak $40; one-hour private lesson $85, peak $90 QUECHEE SKI HILL 3268 Quechee Main St, Quechee | 802.295.9356 | quecheeclub.com | Small ski club set to open on Dec 17, weather permitting. VERTICAL DROP 650 feet TRAILS 12 trails: 40 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 10 percent expert SNOWBOARDING none, but snowboarders are wel-
come to use downhill trails and terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS one chair, one T-bar, one handle tow, and one double chair HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $40, children $34; Sun mornings $34, $28 RENTALS skis or snowboards $35, children $24 INSTRUCTION group lessons $67, private lessons $92 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville | 802.644.8851 | smuggs.com | Varied terrain — including the East’s only triple black-diamond trail, The Black Hole — extending over the Morse, Madonna, and Sterling Mountains. VERTICAL DROP 2610 feet TRAILS 78 total: 19 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 31 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks (for skiers too) SNOWMAKING 62 percent LIFTS six double chairs, two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 8:30 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES adults $64, juniors and seniors $48; under five and super seniors free RENTALS adults $46, juniors $37 INSTRUCTION group lessons $45 for afternoons and $65 for mornings, private lessons $95 for peak times, $75 for off-peak times STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT 5781 Mountain Rd, Stowe | 800.253.4754 | info@stowe.com | stowe.com | The resort boasts 485 skiable acres and 39 total miles of skiing, as well as resort vacation packages and dog-sledding tours. VERTICAL DROP 2160 feet TRAILS 116 total: 16 percent novice, 59 percent intermediate, 25 percent expert SNOWBOARDING beginner park, mini-park, advanced-terrain park, and super-pipe SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS 13 total: one 10-person high-speed gondola, one eight-passenger gondola, three highspeed quad chairs, two triple chairs, four double chairs, and two surface lifts HOURS daily 8 am to 4 pm RATES during prime season adults $84, seniors $73, juniors $63; during peak season $89, $77, $66; early/late season $59, $58, $48 RENTALS adults $43, children $34 INSTRUCTION group lessons $46 for weekdays, $64 for weekends and holidays, private lessons $105 an hour weekdays, $145 weekends and holidays STRATTON SKI AND SUMMER RESORT Rte 30, Bondville | 800.787.2886 | info@stratton.com | stratton.com | This family-friendly resort boasts nearly 600 acres of skiing and riding with a sports center, spa, and slopeside village. VERTICAL DROP 2003 feet TRAILS 92 total: 42 percent novice, 31 percent intermediate, 27 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks and a half-pipe SNOWMAKING 90 percent LIFTS one gondola, four high-speed six-passenger lifts, three quad chairs, one triple chair, one double chair, two surface lifts, and four magic carpets HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek adults $72, teens and seniors $63, juniors and super seniors $56; weekends $82, $69, $59 RENTALS midweek $31; weekends $38 INSTRUCTION group lessons $45, private lessons $75 to $105 per hour, depending on day SUGARBUSH RESORT 64 Gate House Ln, Warren | 800.53. SUGAR | sugarbush.com | Skiing on six mountain peaks, all within Sugarbush North and South. VERTICAL DROP 2600 feet TRAILS 111 total: 20 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, 35 percent expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks and a regulation half-pipe SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS seven quad chairs, two triple chairs, four double chairs, and three surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $79, young adults seven through 18 $60, seniors $53; Sat and holidays $84, $66, $59 RENTALS call for details INSTRUCTION rates vary by time of day, date, hours of lessons, and age
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“Every sport has its Mecca; the stadiums, race tracks or ball parks against which everything else is judged... Skiing has them too... There’s an agelessness to the place. Mad River Glen is an institution...” Powder Magazine Photo credit: Michael Riddell
RATES midweek $39; weekends adults $65, juniors and seniors $49 RENTALS ski packages $30, juniors $25 INSTRUCTION private lessons $65, semi-private lessons (four people) $160 for two hours MAGIC MOUNTAIN 495 Magic Mountain Access Rd, Londonderry | 802.824.5645 | magicmtn.com | This area is known for its steep and challenging terrain, but beginners will find easier slopes on the mountain’s east side. VERTICAL DROP 1700 feet TRAILS 40 total: 33 percent beginner, 30 percent intermediate, 37 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS two double chairs, two surface lifts HOURS Fri and Mon 9 am to 4 pm, Sat and Sun 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekday lifts $39, $35 teens, $25 juniors/ seniors; weekends and holidays $59, $51 teens, $39 juniors/seniors RENTALS ski or snowboard package $35, $25 for kids INSTRUCTION private lesson $85 an hour, group lessons $40 for two hours
www.madriverglen.com
38 DECEMBER 10, 2010 | GIFT GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
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CROSS-COUNTRY MASSACHUSETTS NORTHFIELD MOUNTAIN CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AREA Rte 63 , Northfield | 800.859.2960 | firstlightpower.com/northfield/ccski.asp | Trails for both classical and freestyle Nordic skiing, ranging from beginner level to a challenging 800-foot vertical climb. HOURS Wed through Sun 9 am to 4:30 pm; weather permitting INSTRUCTION available in group or private setting; reservations required. Combo packages and season passes available TRAILS 25+ miles of groomed and tracked carriage trails RATES daily trail fees $12, $11 seniors, $6 juniors, free for those under seven and over 70; after 1:30 pm, $10, $9 seniors, $4 juniors RENTALS $14, $9 for juniors; after 1:30 pm, $12, $7 for juniors
MAINE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK Rte 3, Bar Harbor | 207.288.3338 | nps.gov/acad | The park is on Mount Desert Island, right off the coast. Skiers can hear and sometimes see the ocean. Free camping in the park, and plenty of lodging nearby. HOURS visitors’ center open daily 8 am to 4:30 pm INSTRUCTION none TRAILS 45 miles of carriage paths, nearly 32 of them groomed on a varying schedule, plus unplowed park roads RATES free RENTALS through Cadillac Mountain Sports; call 207.288.4532. CMS also rents ice skates and snowshoes RANGELEY LAKES TRAILS CENTER 524 Saddleback Mountain Rd, Rangeley | 207.864.4309 | xcskirangeley.com | This trail system in western Maine offers beginner trails around Saddleback Lake and more challenging treks on lower Saddleback Mountain. Natural snowfall in the area averages over 200 inches. HOURS ski any time; lodge and rental shop open daily 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION no instruction TRAILS 55 km RATES weekdays $12, youth $8; weekends and holidays $17, youth $9; seniors and children under seven free; half-day passes available RENTALS skis $13, children $10; boots $9, children $7; poles $5, children $4; ski package $18, children $14 SUGARLOAF OUTDOOR CENTER | 207.237.2000 | sugarloaf.com | The Sugarloaf Outdoor Center offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 90 km of groomed trails and ice skating on an NHL sized rink. Pricing was unavailable at press time; call for details. HOURS Sun through Fri 9 am to 5 pm, Sat and holidays 9 am to 8 pm TRAILS 90 km of marked, maintained, and patrolled trails SUNDAY RIVER XC SKI CENTER 23 Skiway Rd, Newry | 207.824.3000 | sundayriver.com | Features a 40-kilometer network trails for beginner to experienced skiers that wind through the woods, past picnic sites and a covered bridge. Also offers night skiing and snowshoeing for groups of eight or more, by reservation. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, weekends 8 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION call for details TRAILS 40 km, all groomed with tracks, some have skating lanes RATES full day $16, teens $12, juniors/ seniors $8; half day $12, $10, $6 RENTALS full day $20, juniors/seniors $14
NEW HAMPSHIRE
BRETTON WOODS Rte 302, Bretton Woods | 800.314.1752 | brettonwoods.com | The Bretton Woods Nordic Center is based on the sprawling grounds of the Mount Washington Hotel and the White Mountain National Forest. HOURS 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $18, juniors/seniors $15; private $30; semi-private $40 TRAILS 100 km ranging from novice to expert RATES adults $17, teens 13 through 17 $15, children under 13 and seniors $10; tickets two for $18 on Wed RENTALS ski packages adults $18, all other ages $12 CRANMORE MOUNTAIN LODGE 859 Kearsarge Rd, North Conway | 603.356.2044 | cranmoremountainlodge.com | A bed and breakfast member of the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Association. Guests of the lodge can enjoy free Nordic skiing at nearby Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch. HOURS unavailable at press time INSTRUCTION $15 per lesson TRAILS 40+ miles of groomed trails RATES free for guests RENTALS available at nearby locations EASTMAN CROSS COUNTRY CENTER Exit 13 off I-89, Grantham | 603.863.4500 | eastmannh.com | Winter activity center offering snowshoeing, sledding, and ice-skating. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION semi-private lessons $15, private $30, group clinic $10 TRAILS 36+ km; divided almost evenly between novice, intermediate, and expert RATES adults $12, juniors/students $8 RENTALS adults $18, juniors/students $13; snowshoes $15; ice-skate rentals $14, $12 FRANCONIA VILLAGE CROSS COUNTRY CENTER Rte 116, Franconia | 603.823.5542 | franconiainn.com | Horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skating, and tubing hill also available. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $40, private lessons $60 TRAILS 65+ km; terrain ranges in difficulty RATES trail fee $12 RENTALS adults $20, children $10; skis only $12; boots only $8; poles only $6 GREAT GLEN TRAILS AT MOUNT WASHINGTON | 603.466.2333 | mt-washington.com | Winter season begins in late Nov or early Dec, depending on snow conditions. Snowshoeing, climbing wall, and tubing also available. Prices subject to change. HOURS 8:30 am to 4:30 pm INSTRUCTION adult and senior lessons $45, juniors $30 TRAILS 40 km of trails, groomed with both double tracks and a skating lane RATES adults $18, juniors/seniors $12 RENTALS skis adults/seniors $20, juniors $14 GUNSTOCK 719 Cherry Valley Rd, Gilford | 603.293.4341 | gunstock.com | Backcountry cross-country ski tours and clinics offered throughout the season, as well as skijoring (cross-country skiing with your dog). The tentative opening date is Dec 3. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION private lessons $40 for 90 minutes TRAILS 50 km RATES adults/teens $17, children/ seniors $14 RENTALS adult/teens $17, children/ seniors $16; children five and under $10; call for snowshoe and other equipment rental JACKSON SKI TOURING FOUNDATION 153 Main St, Jackson | 603.383.9355 | jacksonxc.org | The nonprofit foundation is chartered to maintain the ski trails around Jackson and the
White Mountain National Forest. You must be a day or season member to use its trails. The base lodge offers a place for skiers to meet, obtain trail information, and get rentals and instruction. HOURS 8 am to 4:30 pm INSTRUCTION PSIA-certified ski school’s group lessons $16; private lessons $35 an hour, $25 per additional person TRAILS 154+ km of trails RATES $21 adults, $15 seniors, $10 juniors, children under 10 free; snowshoe tickets $10/day RENTALS adults $16, juniors/children $12; performance equipment $25; snowshoes $12 KING PINE 1251 Eaton Rd, Madison | 603.367.8896 | kingpine.com | The Nordic Center at King Pine features scenic trails on the grounds of Purity Spring Resort and through the pines of the New Hampshire Audubon Sanctuary. HOURS sunrise to sunset, weather permitting INSTRUCTION group lessons $28 TRAILS 28 km; 15 km are tracked and skate-groomed twice weekly RATES weekdays $6, juniors $4; weekends and holidays $9, juniors $6 RENTALS $14 per day, $9 per half day LOON MOUNTAIN 60 Loon Mountain Rd, Lincoln | 603.745.8111 | loonmtn.com | Loon’s Nordic and Adventure Center also hosts snowshoeing, ice-skating, indoor climbing, workshops, and Nordic rental/trail/lesson packages. Pricing was unavailable at press time; call for details. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm TRAILS 20 km; all except steeps are groomed and tracked for skating and classic skiing NORDIC CENTER AT WATERVILLE VALLEY Rte 49, Waterville Valley | 603.236.8311 | waterville. com/nordic | In addition to skiing, the Base Camp Adventure Area offers snowshoeing, winter hiking, skating, and sleigh rides. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends 8 am to 4 pm (subject to change) INSTRUCTION private lessons $48 an hour; PSIA-certified group lessons offered, call for details TRAILS 70 km RATES full day $19, youth/senior $14; afternoon (12:30 to 4 pm) $17, youth/seniors $12 RENTALS adults $19, juniors/seniors $16; afternoon and ski or boots only rentals available WOODBOUND INN 247 Woodbound Rd, Rindge | 603.532.8341 | woodbound.com | The 200-acre resort on Lake Contoocook offers skating, tobogganing, and skiing. HOURS daily dawn to dusk INSTRUCTION no instruction offered TRAILS 18+ km, all groomed RATES free and open to the public RENTALS no rentals available
VERMONT BLUEBERRY HILL SKI TOURING CENTER 1307 Goshen Ripton Rd, Goshen | 802.247.6735 | blueberryhillinn.com | The hill is at the foot of Romance Mountain, within the 22,000 acres of the Mossalamoo Region of the Green Mountain National Forest. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION group and private lessons available, call for details TRAILS 70+ km of groomed trails (classical and skating) RATES trail fees $20, $15 for teens 13 through 17 and seniors 60 and over; half-day $12, $10. Children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over ski free, and trail passes include free soup, served noon to 2 pm RENTALS adults $20, teens/children/ seniors $15. Snowshoes $15, teens/ children/seniors $10 BOLTON NORDIC CENTER 4302 Bolton Access
Rd, Bolton | 802.434.3444 | boltonvalley.com | This full-service resort offers child care, dining, a sports center, a spa, and evening activities. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION call for details TRAILS 100 km RATES trail pass $17 RENTALS Nordic packages $20, youth $10; backcountry equipment $25; snowshoes and skates available CATAMOUNT OUTDOOR FAMILY CENTER Rte 2, Williston | 802.879.6001 | catamountoutdoor. com | The Outdoor Family Center at Catamount features professionally designed, groomed cross-country trails, snowshoe trails, an outdoor skating facility, and a sledding hill. HOURS Fri through Mon 10 am to 5 pm; Tues through Thurs 10 am to 8 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $15; private lessons available by appointment, call for details TRAILS 32+ km RATES adults $18, seniors and teens 13 through 17 $7, kids seven through 12 $5 RENTALS adult skis $20, kids $10; snowshoes $15 CRAFTSBURY OUTDOOR CENTER 535 Lost Nation Rd, Craftsbury Common | 802.586.7767 | craftsbury.com | This center in northeastern Vermont is located on a high, rolling plateau and accumulates more natural snow than other areas. Also offers backcountry skiing through rugged terrain. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION private lessons $30, $45 for two people; three to eight $60 TRAILS 135 km RATES adults $10 per day, children and seniors $5; children under six free RENTALS complete classic ski set $15, students/seniors $10; snowshoes $5 HILDENE 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester | 802.362.1788 | hildene.org | This was the home of Robert Todd Lincoln (son of Abraham Lincoln) and his family for 75 years. Call ahead for conditions. HOURS daily 9:30 am to 4 pm, mid Dec through mid March, weather permitting INSTRUCTION $15 group, $50 private, semi-private for two $30 TRAILS more than 14 km of trails available, with varying levels of difficulty RATES adults $12.50, youth $6.50 RENTALS rental package $15 KINGDOM TRAILS Rte 114, (Exit 23 off I-91), East Burke | 802.626.5862 | kingdomtrails.org | A multiple-use, scenic trail system located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm; subject to change INSTRUCTION available with reservation TRAILS 60 km of groomed trails at two locations, catering mainly to beginning to moderate skiers with plenty of skating available RATES call for details RENTALS available at East Burke Sports in East Burke Village and Village Sports in Lyndonville MOUNTAIN MEADOWS CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA 2363 Rte 4, Killington | 802.775.7077 | xcskiing.net | Mountain Meadows is located in the heart of the Green Mountains. Its snow-making capacity allows it to have one of the longest ski seasons in New England. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $25, private lessons $50 TRAILS 30 km groomed for classical skiing and skating RATES adults $19, half day $16; seniors $16, $13; children six through 12 $8, $6; children under six free RENTALS adults $19, half day $16; children $9, $7 OKEMO VALLEY NORDIC CENTER 77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow | 802.228.1396 | okemo.com | The cross-country trails at Okemo feature the varied terrain of the Black River Valley. On-site amenities include a Nordic shop and a full-service restau-
rant and pub. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons are $30; private lessons $60 an hour, $30 per additional person TRAILS 22 km for cross-country, 13 km for snowshoeing, and 8 km of skating lanes RATES adults $24, seniors/young adults ages 13 through 18 $20, juniors ages seven through 12 $18 RENTALS $20, equipment/trail pass combos available OLE’S CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER Airport Rd, Warren | 802.496.3430 | olesxc.com | Connected to Round Barn Cross Country Center. Full retail shop, snowshoe races, tours, night skiing, carnivals, moonlight tours, and sleds available for rent during winter season. Pricing unavailable at press time; call for details. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm; weather permitting TRAILS 12 total: 45 km of tracked and groomed trails of varying difficulty SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville | 802.644.8851 | smuggs. com | The trail system extends over Morse, Madonna, and Sterling Mountains. Telemarking and snowshoe tours and rentals available. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm; conditions permitting INSTRUCTION group lessons $45 for 90 minutes; private lessons $60 an hour, $30 per additional person TRAILS 30 km total cross-country; all groomed and tracked, and 24 km of dedicated snowshoe trails RATES adults $14, youths ages six through 17 $8 RENTALS ski packages $19; snowshoes $18; skates $5 STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT CROSS-COUNTRY TOURING CENTER 5781 Mountain Rd, Stowe | 802.253.3000 | stowe.com/activities/nordic | Varied cross-country terrain, plus snowshoe, dog sled, and mountain tours. Alpine ski tickets honored. HOURS 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION weekdays and non-peak times: group $30, private $72; weekends and peak times: group $41, private $97 TRAILS 45 km of groomed trails, 30 km of backcountry trails; two novice, three intermediate, and five advanced RATES weekdays and non-peak times $18, half day $15; juniors/seniors $10, $7; weekends and peak times: $24, half day $19; juniors and seniors $14, $9 RENTALS weekdays and non-peak times $25, juniors $16; weekends and peak times $34, $22 STRATTON CROSS-COUNTRY CENTER Route 30, Stratton | 800.787.2886 | stratton.com | Season opens late Dec, weather permitting, and runs through early April. The center also offers snowshoe tours. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION none; guided tours available TRAILS 70 km total: 30 km groomed, 20 km woodlands in the Sunbowl wilderness area RATES adults $15, juniors $10 (subject to change) RENTALS adults $15, juniors $10 TOPNOTCH 4000 Mountain Rd, Stowe | 800.451.8686 | topnotchresort.com | Topnotch is a resort and spa with a trail system that links with Mount Mansfield’s and Trapp Family Lodge’s trails. Non-skiers can chill out at the spa, take a sleigh ride, or play indoor tennis. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION beginner group lessons $25 (includes trail pass); private guided tours available TRAILS 30 km RATES adults $14, children 12 and under $8, guests ski free RENTALS adults $20, kids $15
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