DESTINATIooNVT DESTINATI www.destinationvt.com
Summer EDITION 2014
FREE
TAKE ONE
ART // CULTURE // FOOD // MUSIC // PEOPLE
Stay a while!
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Enjoy a day or a week! This charming town offers shopping, dining, farmers markets, wine tastings, artisanal food and beer, museums, art galleries, access to Lake Champlain, and so much more.
Dining
Barkeaters Chef Leu’s House Cucina Antiqua O Bread Bakery Rustic Roots9
Shopping
Almartin Volvo Arabesque Burlington Foreign Car Parts Christmas Loft Elegant Floors Evan Webster Ink Furchgott & Sourdiffe In Full Bloom Jamie Two Coats K2 Slate & Metal Works Luxton-Jones Gallery4 Matthew Taylor Designs8 Mendy’s Clothing & Accessories Outdoor Living Spaces Pet Food Warehouse Shelburne Supermarket The Automaster
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Attractions & Activities
Palmer’s Sugar House Pierson Library Shelburne Beach7 Shelburne Craft School Shelburne Day5 Shelburne Farms Shelburne Farmers Market Shelburne Health & Fitness Shelburne Museum2 Shelburne Orchard Shelburne Shipyard Shelburne Vineyard3 Vermont Teddy Bear Co.6 Yoga Roots
Lodging
Barnhouse Bed & Breakfast Heart of the Village Inn Inn at Shelburne Farms1 Primma Dogga (pet lodging) Shelburne Camping Area T-Bird Motor Inn
Services
Acorn Marketing
Antoine Williams Financial Services Ark Veterinary Hospital B&R Electric Balance Chiropractic & Acupuncture Bill Root BNI Vermont Dr. John F. Guerriere PC Eating Well George and Linda Schiavone Hayes Sogoloff, OD Hope Johnson JD Design Jeff Capsalis Joan Lenes Lake Champlain Waldorf School Majestic Landscaping Maple Leaf Carpet & Tile Cleaning Microprocessor Designs Network Chiropractic of VT Northeast Estates & Trusts Palmer Insurance Agency People’s United Bank
Perfect Circle Perkins Smith PT360° Reflections Salon & Spa Reveal VT Roots Consulting Selin & Selin Architecture Shelburne Nursery School Shelburne Restorative Dentistry Shelburne-Vergennes Lock Services Special Touch Hair Design Spillane’s Village Mobil Susan Martin Sweeney Designbuild TD Bank The Arbors The Terraces Retirement Community Titus Insurance Agency TJF Turnings Tom Mahar, CPA, PLLC Vermont Pure Financial Voice-Over Vermont Wind Ridge Publishing
SBPAVT.ORG
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SUMMER // 2014 Destination VT
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SUMMER\
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Destination VT is a quarterly publication, produced in Shelburne, Vt. by Wind Ridge Publishing, Inc. along the shores of Lake Champlain. We strive to provide both Vermont natives and transplants, daytrippers and vacationers, with a snapshot of the Green Mountain State’s artistic and cultural landscape. Please direct all inquiries to: PO Box 752, Shelburne, VT 05482 (802) 985-3091 holly@windridgepublishing.com
PUBLISHERS/EDITORS HOLLY JOHNSON GREG FORBER COPY EDITOR LESLEY SNYDER ADVERTISING SALES MARK LUND KIMBERLEE HARRISON MOLLY TREVITHICK DESIGN CRAIG THOMAS GREG FORBER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LESLEY SNYDER LIN STONE CHEA WATERS EVANS PHYL NEWBECK DARCY AND DALE CAHILL DAVID SCHERR MOLLY STONE SADIE WILLIAMS
Changing lives MORE THAN 30 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OVER 40 STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS RICH CULTURAL OFFERINGS 20 VARSIT Y SPORTS
VISIT US ON LINE WWW.CASTLETON.EDU OR WITH A PERSONAL TOUR 800-639-8521 • 802-468-1213
MAKE VERMONT HOME Vermont offers a wide range of exciting business and job opportunities!
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS CRAIG THOMAS BEN SARLE JOHN DUNHAM MICHAEL MARRAFFINO STU HALL Printed by Dartmouth Printing Co. COVER IMAGE // WWW.CRAIG THOMAS.NET
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Let the Vermont Department of Labor connect you with Vermont’s great employers!
vermont joblink.com
CONTENTS SUMMER // 2014
6....... 12....... 14.. 15............... 16........ 19............ 22.............. 24................. 26.................... 28............................. 30................................ CALENDAR
WATERFRONT
NANCY MEANS WRIGHT
KINSHIP
GREGORY DOUGLASS
PLEIN AIR FESTIVALS
ROSALYN GRAHAM
MAPLE INFUSIONS
FJORDS & FRIENDS
CAVING JUNIPER
SUMMER // 2014 Destination VT
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Ongoing Events
MAY 30 TO JUNE 8 BURLINGTON DISCOVER JAZZ FESTIVAL, Burlington
SHELBURNE MUSEUM, Shelburne One of the country’s most diverse museums of paintings, folk art, quilts, and textiles. Over 150,000 works are exhibited in 39 buildings, 25 of which are historic and were relocated to the 45-acre museum grounds, first established by Electra Havemeyer Webb in 1947. The state-of-the-art Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education is the Museum’s new year-round facility. www.shelburnemuseum.org BILLINGS FARM & MUSEUM, Woodstock Visit this National Historical Park, working dairy farm, and museum of Vermont’s rural past. Billings offers a great variety of year-round programs and activities indoors and out. Try your hand at real farm work with animals such as Jersey cows, sheep, horses, oxen, and chickens. It’s a gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage. www.billingsfarm.org LOCAL MOTION’S ISLAND LINE BIKE FERRY, South Hero/Colchester Connecting Vermont’s spectacular 14-mile Island Line Trail along Lake Champlain. www.bikeferry.org
Photo courtesy of Michael Worthington.
SHELBURNE FARMS, Shelburne Shelburne Farms is a 1,400-acre working farm, National Historic Landmark, and nonprofit environmental education center. The Farms welcomes visitors to enjoy its spectacular landscape, historic buildings, Children’s Farm Barn, inn, and restaurant on the shores of Lake Champlain. Walking trails are open year-round, weather permitting, from 10am-4pm. www.shelburnefarms.org
FRIDAY, MAY 30
Long Trail Live Church Street Marketplace, 7:30pm Regina Carter Flynn MainStage 8pm
SATURDAY, MAY 31
Big Joe Burrell Day City Hall Park, noon-5pm Tony Bennett Flynn MainStage, 8pm Grégoire Maret Quartet FlynnSpace, 10pm
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
Dawn of Midi FlynnSpace, 6pm Ron Carter Trio and Benny Golson Quartet Flynn MainStage, 8pm
HALL HOME PLACE 4445 Main St., Isle La Motte, VT 802-928-3091 • www.hallhomeplace.com
Mon-Fri 7:30-2:30 Sat & Sun 8:30-2:30
Try our new Panini’s along with many favorites
HALL’S TASTING HALL
DAILY 11-4 SAMPLE OUR ICE CIDERS & APPLE WINE! ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMER SPECIALS!
CHECK US ON FACEBOOK FOR SPECIALS AND EVENTS
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MONDAY, JUNE 2
Linda Oh FlynnSpace, 8pm
TUESDAY, JUNE 3
Julian Lage FlynnSpace, 8pm
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
Geoffrey Keezer Trio FlynnSpace, 8pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
Maceo Parker with Fredericks Brown Doors and Nectar’s VT Grill at Waterfront Park Tent 5pm, Music 6pm Warren Wolf and Wolfpack FlynnSpace, 8pm
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
WPTZ NewsChannel 5 Block Party: Josh Panda Church Street Marketplace, 5pm Big Chief Donald Harrison Flynn MainStage, 8pm
SATURDAY, JUNE 7
Belizbeha 20th Anniversary Reunion Show Doors and Nectar’s VT Grill at Waterfront Park Tent 4:30pm, Music 5:30pm Cécile McLorin Salvant FlynnSpace, 8pm and 10pm
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
Jerry Bergonzi Quintet FlynnSpace, 6pm Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band Flynn MainStage, 8pm www.discoverjazz.com
WZXP
97.9 fm The
Album Station
musicheads.us
Radio for people who know music.
SUMMER 2014
CALENDAR
june JUNE 1 TO JULY 12
NORTHERN VERMONT ARTIST ASSOCIATION JUNE JURIED SHOW, Jeffersonville Join the Northern Vermont Artist Association’s (NVAA) for their 83rd annual June Juried Show at the Visions of Vermont Fine Art Gallery June 1 from 3-5pm. The show will feature a vast array of high quality artwork from the many talented artists of Northern Vermont. Hors d’oeuvres and drink will be provided. The show will be exhibited through July 12. www.northernvermontartists.org
JUNE 6 TO 8
STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS PARADE & WEEKEND, Brattleboro A weekend of fun and education for the whole family, built around the world famous, agriculturally-themed Strolling of the Heifers Parade. It’s all related to the mission of sustaining family farms by connecting people with healthy, local food. www.strollingoftheheifers.com
JUNE 7
WORLD’S LONGEST CONTRA DANCE LINE, Rutland With nationally-known caller Will Mentor, Perpetual E-Motion and Giant Robot Dance will play for the record attempt of 2,210 dancers at The College of St. Joseph. A large evening dance will follow. www.guinnesscontradance.com
JULY 12 AND 13
OPEN FARM AND STUDIO TOUR, Champlain Islands Over 40 artists and agriculture producers in Grand Isle County will open their businesses for tours and sales from 10am-5pm. www.openfarmandstudio.com
JUNE 14 AND 15
KIDS PIRATE FESTIVAL, Vergennes Come in costume to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and enjoy exciting, pirate-themed activities; live performances with juggling and stilt-walking; singalongs; dramatic play; and make-and-take crafts. www.lcmm.org
at 63, ben franklin
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Courtesy of the Strolling of the Heifers, Photo by Kelly Fletcher, www.kellyfletcher.smugmug.com
charted the gulf stream. Like us
WRI TE HERE!
Open Studio Hours for Writers and Professional Meeting Space
The Writers’ Barn in Shelburne offers an affordable shared workspace where writers and other professionals will find the quiet of a library, and the focus and convenience of a daily office in the center of the village. Inquire about monthly memberships, punch-card passes, and daily rates for meetings.
Weekend and Evening Winter Workshops for Writers
Visit our website and Facebook page for our newest workshops: poetry, memoir, children’s picture books, young adults, and fiction! For information and registration
contact Lin Stone (802) 985-3091 Lin@windridgebooksofvt.com www.windridgebooksofvt.com
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“wow” RANKED #1 neve “wow” “wow” “wow”has has has hasnever never never been eas been been beeneasier. easier. easier. history and heritage organizations offer fascinating exhibits sharing community history from all over the state. Artists, artisans, musicians, authors, crafters, and genealogists complete this history-filled heritage extravaganza. www.vermonthistory.org/expo
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VSO’S TD BANK SUMMER FESTIVAL TOUR, Statewide The Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Dunhaime. Photo courtesy of Ali Kaukas. proudly presents “Let’s Dance.” Bring a picnic, kick off your shoes, and join the VSO for music from the 120260_Ad_Slick_CK 4/16/13 8:18 22 AM Page Page 11 JUNE 13 TO 15 JUNE 19 8:18 TO 120260_Ad_Slick_CK 4/16/13 AM world of dance. The 1812 Overture, marches, and QUECHEE HOT AIR BALLOON CRAFT AND MUWANDERLUST FESTIVAL, Bondville The fireworks conclude the show. Visit the VSO website SIC FESTIVAL, Quechee It’s the 35th year of the renowned yoga and music festival returns for tour dates and locations. Experience beautiful beautiful beautiful coverage coverage coverage in inhalf in half half longest continuously-running Hot Air Balloon Experience toExperience Stratton Mountain. Wanderlust is a mix www.vso.org TM TM TM Festival in New England! Featuring over 20 hot the ofthe yoga classes, guided meditations, live time the time time with with with new new new Clark+Kensington Clark+Kensington Clark+Kensington air balloons, the event boasts continuous music, music, dance parties, and events for fans JUNE 27 TO 29 paint + primer + yoga, primer + primer in inone. in one. one. entertainment, and fine art for all ages. Festival paint ofpaint music, and environmentallyand VERMONT QUILT FESTIVAL, Essex Junction New food, a beer and wine garden, Balloon Glow, spiritually-conscious living. England’s oldest and largest quilt event returns to STARTING AT and more – all on the Quechee Village Green. www.wanderlust.com Champlain Valley Exposition. Shop the colorful array $ www.quecheeballoonfestival.com of wares offered by over 80 vendors. Fabulous classes, JUNE 21 lectures, quilt appraisals, gallery talks, and demos. JUNE 14 AND 15 BURLINGTON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL, www.vqf.org VERMONT HISTORY WEEKEND, Montpelier Burlington Local meets global. Hundreds of wines from around the world paired with Crafters, hobbyists, specialists, collectors, perJUNE 28 AND 29 live music and food preparedBY by Vermont’s formers, artists, and displayers unite at the Morse DITCH PICKLE Swanton LakeOur ChamA LEADING Your know-ho Exclusively available atCLASSIC, yourinspiration. neighborhood Farm Maple Sugarworks. Features Vermont Civil top chefs – and it all happens along the plain’s premier catch and release fly fishing tourCONSUMER MAGAZINE. shores of Lake Champlain at Burlington’s nament. The weekend-long tournament is open to War Hemlocks, overnight encampment, artillery 120260_Ad_Slick_CK 4/16/13 4/16/13 8:18 8:18 AM AM Page Page 11 120260_Ad_Slick_CK Apply Today! Today! Visit www.acerewardsvisa.com/ar93110 www.acerewardsvisa.com/ar93110 Waterfront Park. The firing, and period uniforms and equipment. The best best tools tools for for saving saving money. money. Apply Visit anglers of all ages and skill levels. Visit acehardw acehardw or see see your your local local participating participating Ace Ace Rewards Rewards Visit or for store store servic FIND US ON: for retailer for for more details. details. www.burlingtonwineandfoodfestival.com www.dawnlandpromotions.com www.DPCVT.com retailer more hours, directio S U P E R FIND P US RON: EMIUM Q U Aservic LI hours, direction The creditor and issuer of the Ace Rewards Visa Card is U.S. Bank
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LIFETIME May 2013 May 2013
St. Albans 527-7007
SUMMER 2014 JUNE 29 TO AUG 16
SMIRKUS BIG TOP TOUR, Statewide It’s all hands on deck as we dive into another season with Circus Smirkus, the awardwinning international youth circus. The summer 2014 tour theme is Anchors Away for Atlantis! Discover maritime merriment when the crew docks in Greensboro, St. Johnsbury, Essex Junction, and Montpelier. www.circussmirkus.org
july JULY 6
MAD MARATHON, MAD HALF, AND RELAYS, Mad River Valley “The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon.� Take it easy or take it tough; there’s a race for every runner at any level. www.madmarathon.com
JULY 10
JOHN HIATT AND THE COMBO, THE ROBERT CRAY BAND, Shelburne Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum features singer-songwriter John Hiatt. Gates 6pm, show 7pm. Children 12 and under are free. Please carpool as parking is limited.   www.highergroundmusic.com
CALENDAR
JULY 11 TO 13
STOWEFLAKE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL, Stowe More than 25 hot air balloons will soar through the sky above Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa. There’s a children’s corner and an array of activities for the kids – and don’t forget the beer and wine garden for the parents. Live music and delicious food for all! www.stoweflake.com
JULY 11 TO 13
VERMONT MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL, Brownsville Vermont Mountain Bike Association and Darn Tough of Vermont team up for a weekend of guided rides, bike demos, live music, raffles, and more. The Sports Trails of the Ascutney Basin will host a field full of vendors, over 300 riders, and on-site camping and hotels. www.vmba.org
JULY 15
NATALIE MERCHANT, Burlington Higher Ground presents an evening with multiplatinum singer Natalie Merchant at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. Doors 7:15pm, show 8pm. www.flynntix.org
JULY 20
VERMONT CHEESEMAKERS FESTIVAL, Shelburne Over 40 award-winning cheesemakers pair their wares with more than 200 products to sample and purchase at this popular annual event at the Shelburne Farms Coach Barn. The 6th annual event offers cooking and cheesemaking demonstrations, wine tastings, and seminars. www.vtcheesefest.com
SEE PAGE 34 FOR PUZZLES
JULY 18 TO 19
VERMONT BREWERS FESTIVAL, Burlington Celebrating artisan craft beers and the brewers who brew them on Burlington’s Waterfront Park. www.vtbrewfest.com
Montstream  Studio &  Art  Gallery
Located at 129 St. Paul Street, on City Hall Park in downtown Burlington, Vermont.
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JULY 25 TO 27
BOOKSTOCK LITERARY FESTIVAL, Woodstock Regional authors and hundreds of bibliophiles join to celebrate a love for the written word at the sixth annual festival in central Vermont. The weekend boasts workshops, readings, a juried exhibit of book art, a three-day vintage book sale, and more. All events are free! www.bookstockvt.org
JULY 25 TO AUG 3
DEERFIELD VALLEY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL, Mount Snow Berries, vintage cars, music, and food. If it’s blue, it’s probably happening in the Mount Snow area towns of Wilmington, Whitingham, and Dover. www.vermontblueberry.com
JULY 29
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, Shelburne Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum features the string band Old Crow Medicine Show. Gates 5pm, show 6pm. Children 12 and under are free. Please carpool as parking is limited. www.highergroundmusic.com
august AUG 1 TO SEPT 1
VERMONT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, Mad River Valley This month-long celebration of the arts features exhibits, performances, workshops, and demonstrations. Events include the Great Vermont Plein Air Paint-Out, the Taste of the Valley, and much more. www.vermontartfest.com
AUG 1 TO 3
SOUTHERN VERMONT ART & CRAFT FESTIVAL, Bennington Over 150 artists and artisans exhibit and sell a wide range of contemporary and traditional craft work as well as original art, demos, and specialty foods. www.craftproducers.com
AUG 1 TO 3
FESTIVAL OF FOOLS, Burlington Enjoy street theater in celebration of circus arts, music, and comedy for family audiences, featuring the best international street performers from around the globe. Four main stage locations surround the Church Street and City Hall Park www.vermontfestivaloffools.com
AUG 3
ANTIQUE TRACTOR DAY, Woodstock Tractors made between 1930 and the 1960s will be displayed at Billings Farm & Museum from 10am-3:30pm by the proud and talented folks who restored them. The tractor parade at 1pm includes restoration details and historical information. There are tractor-drawn wagon rides and tractor activities for children, including the popular tractor sandbox. www.billingsfarm.org
AUG 5 TO 9
ADDISON COUNTY FIELD DAYS, New Haven Vermont’s largest agricultural fair features a children’s barnyard, cattle judging, tractor pulls, kiddie rides, crafts, exhibits, pony and ox pulling, midway, parade, youth activities, and a Vermont products dinner. www.addisoncountyfielddays.com
AUG 7 TO 10
LAKE CHAMPLAIN MARITIME FESTIVAL, Burlington Celebrate Lake Champlain’s past, present, and future at this Top 10 Summer Event! See hundreds
of exhibits throughout sites on the Burlington Waterfront, as well as the Antique and Classic Boat Show on Saturday, Pirate 5K Run/Walk, four music concerts by nationally-acclaimed artists, and much more. Aug. 7: Umphrey’s McGee, 6:30pm Aug. 8: The Offspring with Bad Religion, Pennywise, and the Vandals, 6pm Aug. 9: The Avett Brothers, 8pm Aug. 10: Buddy Guy, 7pm www.lcmfestival.com
AUG 9 AND 10
ART IN THE PARK FESTIVAL, Rutland Fine arts and crafts fair held in Main Street Park with music, food, and custom crafts – and roughly 10,000 attendees. www.chaffeeartcenter.org
AUG 9 TO 17
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK, North Hero/Shelburne/Burlington Vermont Shakespeare Company presents A Midsummer Nights Dream. Visit the VSC website for performance dates and locations. www.vermontshakespeare.org
Red Barn Books offers authors its professional support services to successfully produce custom-designed and high-quality books for entrepreneurial and personal publishing endeavors.
S ome of our aut hors:
The Bach Road to Boston
Queens
Never Make Bargains
I L e f t M y S o l e i n Ve r m o n t
Atlantic
LOVESONG A NOVEL
Nicole Grubman A Wa l k e r ’s J o u r n e y a n d G u i d e T h r o u g h C e n t r a l Ve r m o n t B a c k R o a d s
Bill Mares “A truly delightful and moving book, from a deeply accomplished writer (and singer, and runner!)” — Bill McKibben
NANCY MEANS WRIGHT
G. J. SUPERNOVICH
Professional publishing services for independent authors
T he V oi ces of Ver monters
www.windridgebooksofvt.com Contact: 802-985-3091 or Lin@windridgebooksofvt.com
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SUMMER 2014 AUG 16 AND 17
VERMONT VINEYARD & WINERY OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND, Statewide Join the VT Grape and Wine Council for tours, tastings, and sales starting at noon. Special events at several of the participating vineyards across the state. www.vermontgrapeandwinecouncil.com
AUG 20 TO 24
AUG 13 TO 17
VERMONT CHALLENGE, Southern/ Central Vermont A bicycle challenge that offers short and long rides over four days in the forests and valleys of Central and Southern Vermont. Are you up for the challenge? www.vtchallenge.com
AUG 13 TO 17
ORLEANS COUNTY FAIR, Barton A grand historic county fair nestled in the Green Mountains, which has been the center of the community since 1867. This agricultural event
features local food vendors, animal exhibits, antique tractors, judging shows, and more. www.orleanscountyfair.net
AUG 15 TO 17
CELEBRATE VERMONT FESTIVAL, Stowe Celebrating Vermont’s farms, food, forests, crafts, music, art, and unique sense of place on the Stowe Events Field. Includes cooking demos, seminars, marketplace tent, craft demos, and music. www.celebratevermontfestival. com
CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR, Lyndonville The oldest fair in Vermont, featuring a Midway, cattle show, demolition derby food, exhibits, and more. www.vtfair.com
AUG 22 TO 31
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR, Essex Junction Vermont’s biggest fair, with amusement rides, contests, exhibits, and concerts at the Champlain Valley Exposition. The Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry headline. www.champlainvalleyfair.org
AUG 23
VERGENNES DAY, Vergennes Enjoy family-friendly activities like the pancake breakfast, Little City 5K and 10K road races, car
CALENDAR show, and Rubber Duckie race. It’s a quintessential small town fair with 80-plus crafters and vendors! www.addisoncounty.com
AUG 23
QUECHEE SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AND CELTIC FAIR, Quechee Visit the Quechee Polo Field for all things Scottish. Enjoy the Pipe Band Competition, children’s games, Highland athletics, and more. www.quecheescottishfestival. com
AUG 24 TO 31
LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Burlington/Colchester Join Artistic Director Soovin Kim, Composer-in-Resident David Ludvig, and a line-up of other stars for a week-long presentation of Poetry in Music, exploring the relationship between words and their musical settings. www.lccmf.org
AUG 29 TO SEPT 7
VERMONT STATE FAIR, Rutland Join Vermonters in this 169-year tradition with rides, food, games, agricultural contests, and exhibits. www.vermontstatefair.net
Voted Best Chinese Food in Northern Vermont
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New, Rare & Used Books
70 North Main Street St. Albans, VT 05478 802-527-7243 books@TheEloquentPage.com
gourmet supplies • cooking classes private parties Kitchen goods for the food obsessed 65 Falls Road, Shelburne (802) 497-3942 Open Tues-Sun
www.chefcontos.com SUMMER // 2014 Destination VT
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Like a Duck Takes to Water words // Chea Waters Evans photo // Craig Thomas The Vermont state song, “These Green Mountains,” sings, “These green hills and silver waters are my home; they belong to me.” Fortunately for visitors, Vermonters are happy to share the silver waters of Lake Champlain with all who set foot on its shores. Whether you’re the active sort who wants to spend the day boating, swimming or biking, or someone who’s more inclined to spend the day fishing, relaxing, and taking a leisurely stroll, Vermont’s largest lake has something for everyone. The Champlain Islands, located in northern Vermont, offer great stretches of lakeshore and several state parks with opportunities for all kinds of leisure. Lake Champlain’s largest island, which includes the towns of
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South Hero and Grand Isle, is the home of Grand Isle State Park. This 226acre mecca for campers is the most popular of all of Vermont’s parks, and is an ideal location not only for serious campers looking for a long-term site but also weekend warriors who only have a night or two to sleep under the stars. With a nature center, recreation courts, beaches, and accommodations for everything from tents to RVs, the park is an ideal location for a traditional camping experience. A pass to Grand Isle State Park includes entry to two nearby state parks on the island, Knight Point and Allburg Dunes. At the southern tip of South Hero is the start of the Island Line Trail, a 14-milelong pedestrian and bike path that stretches all the way south across the Colchester Causeway to the Burlington Bike Path. A former railroad track that stopped service in 1961, the line winds
its way over the waters of Lake Champlain. The ten-foot-wide gravel path seems to float on the water, allowing visitors to experience the true serenity of the lake and its gorgeous views in an unhurried fashion. Two bike ferries operate from June 14 to Sept. 1, connecting the Island Line Trail at two different points and allowing continuous travel from Burlington to South Hero. There is ample fishing access on the Causeway and dogs are welcome, as well as duck hunters in season. The restaurants, shops, and nightlife of Burlington must be experienced, but sometimes a little nature is in order. Not far from the bustle of city life, Burlington boasts beautiful sandy beaches and plenty of opportunity to experience Lake Champlain’s open waters. North Beach is a popular destination for sunbathers and swimmers, with restrooms, a picnic pavil-
Get HO OKED on Lake Champlain ion, ample parking, and a snack bar. There is also a 45-acre campground with 137 campsites for tents, RVs, and trailers. Not far from North Beach, and accessible by the Burlington Bike Path, is the Burlington Community Boathouse, which offers restaurants, boat rentals, docks and moorings, and a waterfront park which regularly hosts events – everything from the finish line of the Vermont City Marathon to rock concerts to the Vermont Brewers Festival. The nearby Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center rents sailboats, dinghies, kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. In addition to several state parks that offer camping on or near the water, there are also many quiet public beaches up and down the lake where visitors can swim, picnic, kayak, paddleboard, sail, and even launch a motorboat; most charge a small
fee for parking. Red Rocks beach in South Burlington boasts a jogging path, scenic viewpoints, and swimming. The public beaches in Charlotte, Cohen Beach in St. Albans, and the Ferrisburgh town beach also have access points, playgrounds, and restrooms available for day travelers who want to take a quick dip or enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Adirondack Mountains across the lake. If sunbathing and paddling isn’t your thing, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife department offers some lake activities that will float your boat. With over 90 species of fish, including varieties of perch, sunfish, bass, and pike, the waters of Lake Champlain are easily accessible with many boat access points. One popular spot is at Shelburne Bay Park, which also features nearby hiking trails that run along the water. The boat access, which is main-
tained by Fish and Wildlife, allows fishing enthusiasts to hit the lake at large, while various spots around the park are perfect for casting from the shore. A little farther north is Burton Island State Park, which is accessible only by boat or ferry and offers fantastic fishing and camping for those who just can’t go home until they’ve caught the big one. Fishing licenses can be purchased at a variety of locations around the state or online at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website. Whether you’re an expert fisherman or just want to dip your toes in the water, you’ll want to dock your boat at Lake Champlain. Easily accessible for residents and visitors alike, it offers everything from fun, crowded summer beaches to quiet, private places to relax. The only problem you might have is figuring out which activity you want to do first.
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Feisty heroines - no mystery words // Lin Stone photo // Craig Thomas
Q
ueens Never Make Bargains is Nancy Means Wright’s newest title and twentieth book, a historical novel published by Red Barn Books of Vermont. Fellow Vermont author, Alison Kirk, offered praise worthy of applause, “Nancy Means Wright has created a compelling multigenerational drama worthy, in breadth of historical and social setting, of a Masterpiece Theatre.” She continued, “The gallery of sympathetically drawn characters will stay with readers long after the final moving page, as certainly will the tales of the three passionate and resolute Scottish-American women who, each in her own way and in keeping with the calamities and constraints of her own generation, staunchly refuses to ‘bargain’ away the integrity of her innermost self.”
Wright, a prolific writer and second generation Scot, says, “I always write. I wrote my first so-called novel in fourth grade. It was a thinly veiled manuscript about my pesky older brothers.” Perhaps disappointingly, the manuscript escaped publication when discovered by her mother and promptly thrown out. Although Wright claims to have been a shy child, “I was too frightened to ever open my mouth,” she began a study of brave smart heroines by carefully reading Nancy Drew stories where the female protagonist figured her way out of every predicament and solved every mystery. A Vassar graduate, Wright continued a lifetime of putting passions to pen and wrote her first published novel, The Losing, which was later followed by what she referred to as “her bestseller,” Make Your Own Change, a humorous memoir about running a craft shop and its verity cast of quirky characters.
Wright’s prompt to author her own mystery series followed reading a newspaper story about two elderly farmers, distrustful of banks, who kept their money waddled up in barn rafters and mattresses. The farmers were burgled, beaten, and left for dead. The brothers survived, and the burglars were caught when the money they proffered rabblerousing in bars left behind the telltale odor of a barn. Inspired by such an iconic Vermont true whodunnit, Wright began her own place-based mystery series with a smart female heroine and amateur sleuth, Ruth Willmarth. Wright holds an Agatha Award for best children’s young adult novel, The Pea Soup Poisonings, and was an Agatha finalist for The Great Circus Train Robbery. A longtime teacher and actress, Wright now lives in Middlebury, Vt. with her spouse and two Maine Coon cats. She welcomes visitors at: www.nancymeanswright.com
purchase at
windridgebooksofvt.com or in local bookstores
Queens
Never Make Bargains
NANCY MEANS WRIGHT
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KIN
ship: a Celebration of Art & Poetry LEFT: Winners left to right: “Mud People,” watercolor, by Linda DiSante; “Meditation,” by Raven Schwan-Noble; and “Not so Lonely the Life of the Fire Watcher,” by Vanessa Compton.
BELOW: Burlington City Arts hosted April’s gathering of artists and writers. Top corner, right, Wind Ridge Books of VT Publisher Holly Johnson presents the $500 Grand Prize to Victoria Compton; center left, Raven Schwann-Noble accepts both the Poet’s Choice and People’s Choice Awards from author Daniel Lusk, and event co-sponsor Tamra Higgins of Sun Dog Poetry.
words // Lin Stone photos // Craig Thomas The evocative images from Vermont poet Daniel Lusk’s newly released book, KIN, leapt off the page and onto the walls of Burlington City Arts (BCA) in a juried art exhibit and competition, KINship: a Celebration of Art & Poetry. Collaboratively sponsored by Wind Ridge Books of VT, Sundog Poetry, and BCA, Lusk’s poems issued a call of the wild to artists in celebration of the natural world where the northern wilderness stands as kingdom, caves as castles, and all inhabitants are related in a kinship royal and holy. Artists responded with more than forty paintings, collages, photographs, and sculpture created in response to their favorite poem from the collection, and ten pieces were chosen for exhibition. Vanessa Compton won Jury’s Choice Best in Show and the $500 prize for her collage entitled “Not so Lonely the Life of the Fire Watcher,” inspired by Lusk’s poem “The Bear’s Carol”; Poet’s Choice and People’s Choice awards both went to Raven Schwan-Noble for her photograph, “Meditation,” inspired by the poem “Beaver”; Publisher’s Choice went to Linda DiSante for her watercolor painting, “Mud People,” inspired by the poem “Rain.” Next year’s collaborative arts celebration of poetry is slated to be crafts-inspired by the forthcoming book of poetry by Irish-born, Vermont-landed poet Angela Patten, In Praise of Usefulness, to be published by Wind Ridge Books of VT’s newest imprint, SunRidge Poetry.
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Gre Dou interview // Molly Stone photos // Craig Thomas Gregory Douglass might be a fresh face on the Vermont music scene, but don’t be fooled; this well-seasoned songwriter is currently working on his ninth self-produced album. We met up with him at the Inn at Shelburne Farms to film an exclusive performance of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and talk about his experience carving a new and independent musical path.
You’ve released eight full-length albums under your own independent label, Emote Records. Tell me about your most recent album, LUCID. Why was this an important record for you to make? “LUCID is a dream-themed concept album that I’ve had brewing in my head since I was in high school. I’m a huge Kate Bush fan, and she’s always dealt with prominent dream themes throughout her music,
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~
ory lass
and her writing style has been a heavy influence ever since. Her album The Dreaming was particularly influential for me in high school and that really set the stage for LUCID to someday be realized. I didn’t want to take that project on until the time was right though, and it was over a decade later when I finally felt compelled to make it happen. I’m proud of every album I’ve made as each one represents a different time in life, but I’m particularly proud of this one as it’s my fi rst self-produced album. I really got experimental with this one.”
college. I figured if this “starving artist” routine didn’t pan out, I could always go back to school for something else. My model consisted of incessant touring and self-releasing of albums, and that’s how I really built a strong indie following and sustainable living over the years. It made sense to start my own label so folks would take me more seriously as an indie, and I wanted to keep as much creative control as I could as a ‘niche’ artist.”
What made you decide to start your own label and produce your own work?
On your previous record, BATTLER, you collaborate with other well-established Vermont musicians like Grace Potter and Anais Mitchell. What did you enjoy the most about creating and collaborating?
“Ani DiFranco was really pioneering the way for many budding artists like myself back in 1999, so the DIY movement seemed really promising at that time. I actually went to a college prep school and was the only one in my class who didn’t proceed to
“I think Anais said it best at one point – we’re all neighbors. We’re all fellow Vermonters and grew up in the same local music community, so collaborating with each other is like giving your neighbor a hand stacking his wood or something.
There’s a very prominent feeling of mutual respect that we all have for each other because I think we all realize how much talent there is right in our own backyard!”
What are your favorite types of venues and shows to play in Vermont? “I love performing at Higher Ground. Those guys are like family to me, and I’ve always been welcomed and treated with such respect as a local artist. I also love the intimate nature of Signal Kitchen and have really enjoyed performing there in the past. I’m a sucker for any room that transitions nicely into a good ‘listening room’ because I often like to perform as a duo with my electric cellist and dear friend, Monique Citro.”
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Producing your own records in rural Vermont is no easy feat. Your last few albums were almost completely funded by online pre-orders. Tell us about your newest Kickstarter program for your next album. “Crowdfunding has truly allowed me to continue recording and releasing new music throughout most of my career. I could not afford to keep producing without the support of my fans, friends, and family, and I can’t stress that enough. It’s great to see platforms like Kickstarter in the mainstream now, and I think every new campaign helps educate folks on how things have really changed for many musicians and creative entrepreneurs. For example, the revenue stream for music sales has dwindled down to nothing, but the expenses associated with recording and production costs remain sky high. They have to be paid for somehow, so I love this model of fans being able to take ‘ownership’ of a new project ahead of time and become an intimate part of the process, instead of paying for the music after it’s released. It’s a win-win for everyone involved, and I hope more people become hip to this approach. “Thanks to the incredible support of many for my latest Kickstarter campaign, I’ll once again be able to fund my forthcoming album and set the stage for other possibilities that might come with the territor y.”
Any hints on what’s in store for your ninth album? “In true Kate Bush-fashion, I’m working with another collection of conceptual work here. My co-producer and drummer, Matt Bogdanow, said it best: ‘It’s an album about idolizing the antagonist and the ensuing struggle and
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See Gregory Douglass Perform Live www.destinationvt.com
decision of whether to see that through or to jump ship.’ Matt also mentioned that there’s a lot of Shakespearean-type stuff in these lyrics, and that it would be fairly easy to write an actual plot, so I’m very curious to see how things develop with this collaboration. Matt was the drummer on my last two albums, BATTLER and LUCID, and I’m thrilled to have him on board as my co-pilot this time around.”
We read that at your high school graduation, your principal publicly encouraged you to forgo college and strictly pursue music. What advice would you give to other young songwriters? “I would absolutely give the same advice
to other young songwriters today! In fact, I would give the same advice to any young person fresh out of high school. I think there was a lot of power in ‘living in the real world’ straight out of high school … For young songwriters, it’s much more productive today to find your ‘niche’ audience and follow your passions – no matter how outlandish. There is a market for everything now thanks to the internet; it’s just on a smaller scale than what the music industry used to be able to sustain. The good news is that niche artists can make a fabulous living from niche audiences because they are the ‘forever’ kind of fans.” Kickstarter link: http://kck.st/1iYdaZA
P
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lein Air
Art Festivals
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A Breath of Fresh Air words // photos //
Phyl Newbeck (Left) Michael Marraffino (Right) Stu Hall
Some landscape artists do most of their work in a studio, relying on memory or photographs to recreate images from the great outdoors; they don’t know what they’re missing. In Vermont, a number of artists prefer to do their painting outside. Many of these “plein air” (French for “open air”) painters will make their way to Jericho and Waitsfield this summer for two festivals which draw artists from well beyond the borders of the Green Mountain State. Barbara Greene, one of the organizers of the Jericho Plein Air Festival, reports that outdoor painting events are becoming more popular across the country. Many are competitive with stringent requirements for participation, but both the Jericho and Waitsfield festivals are more inclusive. Neophyte painters are encouraged to take part along with their more established counterparts, and art lovers are invited to come and watch the works in progress. The Jericho Plein Air Festival was conceived in 2011 by a volunteer committee consisting of a gallery
owner, an artist, and a non-profit business consultant with an artistic past (who has since rediscovered her love of painting). Since artists frequently work alone, the goal was to bring them together for a day of painting outdoors. That first year, 77 artists set up their easels on the Green in Jericho Center, and an annual event was born. This year’s festival will take place July 19. Some changes have taken place since the first festival. Although most of the artists still work on or near the Green, at least seven locations additional locations have been added. Maps are available to help participants choose among the sites. Artists will meet at the Emile Gruppe Gallery at 7am for a complimentary breakfast and then return at 3pm with their finished products. After an opening reception at the gallery on July 20, the works will be displayed through Aug. 10. However, if a member of the public sees a particular painting they like while it is being created, there is nothing to stop them from making a purchase right there if the artist is willing. The Jericho festival caps participation at 75, and there is usu-
ally a waiting list for those who missed the deadline. Participants come from across Vermont, as well as New York and New England; one year, a Colorado artist took part in the event. The artists range in age from high school students to octogenarians. Emilie Alexander of the Gruppe Gallery recalls one local man who spent the first two years helping direct traffic and watching the painters before finally getting the courage to take part. His painting hung first at the Gruppe Gallery and then at an exhibition at Jericho Town Hall. In Waitsfield, the Great Vermont Plein Air Paint-Out began as a test run in 2011 with a dozen local artists spread out around town. Karen Nevin, executive director of the Valley Arts Foundation and Vermont Festival of the Arts, said that in 2012 they decided to focus the event on Bridge Street, which had just begun to recover from the flooding of the previous year. The plan was to combine the festival with promotions by area businesses; thirty-five artists attended from across the state. This year’s festival will take place on Aug. 15 and 16 as part of the Vermont Festival of the Arts. Artists will practice their craft from 9am to 5pm each day in locations throughout Waitsfield Village. The 2012 event was such
The Green Mountains Turn Art Studio a boon to local shops that it was extended to two days the following year in the hope of also providing a boost to restaurants and hotels. Almost 50 people attended one or both days with one artist coming from California and several from New York State.
still on the green, mesmerized by the paintings. On the second day of the festival, the artists are encouraged to frame their finished products, place the canvases across a white picket fence, and sell their work. “You can buy the freshest art around,” said Nevin.
Nevin said one advantage to the Waitsfield event is that all the painters are within walking distance of one another. She recalls visitors stopping by and telling her they could only stay for 20 minutes, but two hours later she found they were
Many plein air festivals are artist-driven, but Nevin said the Paint-Out is more about the community. The goal is to have an event that is not intimidating to first-timers. She was gratified that one neophyte painter enjoyed
herself so much she began travelling to other regional events. A children’s tent was added in 2013, providing 30 youngsters with paint sets. The hope was that they would paint alongside the grown-ups for two hours, but the kids spent the entire day engrossed in their work. “It has become a family day of being surround by art,” said Nevin. Whether you’re an artist or just an art lover, these are two events that are not to be missed.
Jim Gallugi painting at the Barber Farm.
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PEOPLE OF VT
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interview // Lesley Snyder photo // Craig Thomas osalyn Graham could talk about Shelburne Farms until the cows come home – and we’d listen. After spending 25 years involved with the Shelburne News ffrom rom its “mimeographed newsletter days to a ‘real’ newspaper,” she says, and volunteering in varying capacities at the Farms, the journalist transitioned into the role of development of community relations for the nonprofit education center in 2003. She beams, “What could be more satisfying, gratifying, and fun than working for an organization that is held in such high esteem in its community – whether that community is defined as Shelburne, Chittenden County, Vermont or beyond?”
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What was your experience as a young female journalist?
agement team that moved here to establish Hayward Tyler Pump Company.”
“When I graduated from college in 1963, the typical job for a girl in journalism was in the women’s department writing weddings and social events. I knew I didn’t want to do that, so I looked for a newspaper with an opening for a reporter in its newsroom. I moved 1,000 miles from home to become a reporter for the Saint John Telegraph-Journal and Evening Times Globe where I covered general news and then became the police beat reporter. That was fun and exciting.
What is your favorite place or program at the Farms?
“From Saint John, I moved to Moncton, New Brunswick to be an information officer in the public relations office of Canadian National Railway’s [CN] Atlantic Region, and then to Montreal to CN headquarters as editor of promotional material. Then [I relocated] to Cambridge, Ontario where I was editor of the Cambridge Times, a weekly, and to Shelburne in 1976 …when my husband was part of the man-
“I grew up on a dairy farm in southern Ontario, so I have to say that my favorite places on the Farms are the Dairy, with its Brown Swiss cows (who combine excellent milk production with pleasant temperament and very photogenic faces), and the Children’s Farmyard. Not too long ago everyone had a grandfather who had a farm, and they knew that milk came from cows and hens laid eggs and farmers were important to our welfare. Those days are gone, and it is at the Children’s Farmyard that the Shelburne Farms educators who can, in an informal and entertaining way, recreate that link between the land, the farmer, and the quality of our lives.”
How do you incorporate the Farms’ philosophy of environmental responsibil-
ity and sustainability into your own life? “I’m fortunate that my job at Shelburne Farms involves talking to a broad spectrum of the public, local people, and visitors, and so I can include stories that illustrate environmental responsibility and sustainability. And at home it’s as basic as composting, buying local, and driving a Mini.”
If you ever have free time, how do you prefer to spend it? “I’ve been involved in lots of other local and regional projects and organizations, including the Champlain Housing Trust Board of Directors, the Charlotte Shelburne Rotary, and the founding of Shelburne Village Dog Park. [I also spend time with] lots of dear friends and my wonderful family – husband Tom, son Andrew, and daughter Lesley – at our home on Shelburne Point with our dogs, Nico and Stella.”
R GRAHAM OSALYN
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t n o m r e e V l p p u a r y S n a th
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words // Sadie Williams photos // Craig Thomas Vermont has long been known for its maple syrup, but recent years have seen an upswing in the production of other maple products, namely maple syrup and sap beverages. From maple liqueurs to water sourced from maple sap, the maple products hitting the shelves today are far from sticky sweet and are sure to please both maple connoisseurs and rookies alike. Maple liqueurs are made by adding pure maple syrup to a distilled spirit (an alcohol base). Liqueurs are traditionally syrupy, sweet beverages used as cocktail components or as a stand-alone aperitif or digestif. While these beverages are certainly closer to maple syrup in their pure flavor and sweetness, they are arguably much more versatile than straight syrup. Timothy Danahy of Green Mountain Distillers suggests using their Organic Maple Liqueur in a Maple Manhattan, replacing the vermouth with an extra large shot of the liqueur. Danahy co-founded the distillery in 2002 with Harold Faircloth III, and both continue to operate as master distillers. When they introduced the maple liqueur in 2006, it was one of the only products of its kind on the market. A year later, Christian Stromberg of Saxtons River Distillery in Brattleboro introduced his own version. Stromberg’s family immigrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century, fleeing Czarist-controlled Lithuania. One of the traditions they held on to was the making of flavored liqueurs. In 2007 Stromberg began producing Saxtons’ signature Sapling Maple Liqueur, and he didn’t stop there.
Continuing and expanding upon his family tradition, Stromberg began selling Sapling Maple Bourbon and Rye in 2013. Of his decision to expand, Stromberg says, “I started seeing fake maple whiskeys out there, and I needed to respond.” The decision was a good one. From his beginnings distilling in his barn on Saxtons River in Cambridgeport and selling locally, Stromberg now has one full-time and one part-time employee and sells his products in nine states.
beers. He was approached by Andy Kovlos of the Vermont Folklife Center shortly after he opened in 2011. Kovlos asked Cohen if he had ever heard of sap beer. Since Cohen hadn’t, Kovlos sent him the audio clip of the interview with Edgar Dodge. Intrigued by this unique piece of Vermont’s history, Cohen began experimenting and came up with the Frog Run Sap Beer, a beverage inspired by history yet simultaneously geared toward the modern palate.
Stromberg may have pulled on his Lithuanian roots in the making of his maple liqueur, but other brewers are drawing on traditions that originate closer to home. Sap beer is a beverage that was once commonly made at the end of the sugaring season by farmers and set until the fourth of July when haying began. Most of what we know of the beverage comes from oral history, in particular a 1992 interview with Edgar Dodge by the Vermont Folklife Center.
Most alcoholic maple beverages are made by adding sap or maple syrup during some point of the fermentation process. One Vermont company is making a beverage that does the reverse. TreTap is a non-alcoholic beverage made by extracting water from sap and then adding organic flavors such as cranberry and cucumber. The product was launched two years ago when Aaron Harris and Gene Branon met. Branon’s family has been making syrup for seven generations. A decade ago, he realized when he boiled down sap into syrup, he was essentially “taking the purest, most organic form of water known to mankind and just throwing it down the drain.” TreTap aimed to solve that problem. In May 2014, Branon and Harris will launch VT Tap, a pure and unedited version of TreTap. What makes a bottle of VT Tap unique? “It’s filtered through the maple tree, not through the ground, and it’s probably the most pure source of water out there,” Branon explains. “No other water comes from a tree.”
Sean Lawson, founder of Lawson’s Finest Liquids, was one of the first people to begin brewing sap beer commercially in the state of Vermont. Ever since he began homebrewing in 1991, he has been interested in maple beers. In fact, his first beer was a maple wheat, inspired by a recipe from Vermont Pub and Brewery. It wasn’t until 2007 that he began experimenting with sap beer, which he eventually introduced to the public under the name Maple Tripple Ale. The ale is brewed solely with maple sap, barley, hops, and ale yeast. And just for that extra maple kick, Lawson uses barrels from Stromberg’s very own Sapling Maple Liqueur. Matt Cohen of Fiddlehead Brewing Company in Shelburne has also delved into sap
There are a variety of maple beverages made in Vermont on the market right now. While no two are alike, they all have one thing in common: an appreciation of tradition, craft, and innovation.
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Wind Ridge Fjords and Friends
words // Holly Johnson photos // Craig Thomas It was the epitome of serendipity. There was a barn with an indoor, heated riding ring that was quiet and unused. There were two friends and a conversation about a grandchild with Down syndrome who had participated and thrived in an equine program in Rhode Island until its funding was cut off. Then a light bulb went off – why not start an equine program in this unused, perfect place in Shelburne, Vt.? And so began Wind Ridge Fjords and Friends. Research into the best horse for a program helping children with physical and mental challenges kept bringing Fjord ponies to the forefront. Fjords, originally from Norway, have been bred to be calm and docile, developing quite a name for themselves in their ability to help students with disabilities. The Fjords are strong enough for heavy work yet light and agile enough to be a good riding horse. They are also surefooted, and their generally mild temperament and small size make them suitable for children and beginners. Recently, Fjords and Friends came to the rescue of a miniature donkey
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named Charley. He is now a peaceful friend of the non-profit, along with Lucy the yellow lab, StellaLuna the English bulldog, Curtis the French bulldog, and Tigger and Lisa the house cats. The mission of Fjords and Friends is to enhance the quality of life of youth by empowering them in their efforts to reach their unique potential through equine, barn, and friends interactions in a warm, safe, compassionate environment. The purpose of the non-profit is to use a total equine experience as a means to provide skills that will promote an individual’s empowerment through emotional and developmental growth. The barn is run with help from UVM students, and word of mouth brings an array of interested volunteers and brainstormers. Hannah Doesschate, a Champlain College student, heard about Fjords and Friends and decided to present her senior Capstone project on the development of a 12-week program for kids. Hannah, as well as other interested Champlain and University of Vermont students, meet once a week for dinner at the farm to strategize and design the program.
Tristan Petrosino and his mom Heidi Smith have been coming to the barn once a week for over a year. Tristan was diagnosed with autism in 2010 on the same day his father was diagnosed with ALS. Tristan’s parents wanted to get him involved in a program that would encourage physical development and build confidence. The first day at the barn, Tristan refused to get out of the car or acknowledge anyone. He now looks forward to his weekly visit. Tristan participates in the dinner discussions and shares his adventures at Fjords and Friends with his family and classmates. He will run out in the field and bring one of the ponies back to the barn to groom and ride. He rides bareback, scampers with the dogs, hugs everyone hello and goodbye, and all who know him (including his school teachers) are amazed by his transformation. Fjords and Friends is a registered Vermont non-profit and its application as a 501C is pending. In order to raise funds, the organization offers Fjord pony lessons at $45 an hour to offset the cost of the animals’ care. Please visit the website, www.windridgefjordsfriends.com, or contact 802-985-3715 for further information.
‘'Grace Happens!’' (Far right & below) Fjords have developed a type of movement that works well for students that need to make improvements in gross motor skills and core muscle strength. Much of this is due to the rough terrain the breed was originally bred to work on. This range of movement creates a steady gait with a lot of threedimensional movement, which mimics the natural human gait. Fjords are very people-orientated and seek out human attention. They are charming and intelligent, kind and gentle, but also very hardy and willing to work. They tend to think a bit before reacting to stimuli. They are known to be very smart and tractable, cooperative, dependable, and calm. These are all key characteristics of a successful therapy horse. (Top left) Charley, the miniature donkey, came to Fjords and Friends in April. He was never treated by a veterinarian and was living on compost garbage. He was worm-filled and physically depleted. His buddy had passed during the winter, and he was depressed and sickly. Charley is being slowly nurtured back to health by the Fjords and Friends staff, as well as being overseen by a vet. Because of Charley, Fjords and Friends has decided that in addition to its initial mission, it will also become a foster home for barn animals in immediate, desperate need.
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A Leap in the D
The Underground Culture of Verm words // Dale and Darcy Cahill photo // John Dunham When people visit Vermont, they tend to think of above-ground activities like skiing, hiking, sailing, drinking craft beer, and roaming around farmers markets. Not many visitors come to the Green Mountain State to crawl around underground. However, there is an underground caving culture in Vermont – pun totally intended. This group of spelunkers work quietly to find caves, map them, and protect them. Cavers are part environmental activists and part speleologists. Rick Pingree, former president of the Vermont Cavers Association (VCA), has been caving in Vermont since the 70s. He describes the state’s caves as “narrow, wet, and small. A lot of them begin with a vertical drop which requires ropes and know-how.” Weybridge Cave in Addison County is one of Vermont’s most publicized caves. But its easy-to-find entrance is deceptive and is not an invitation for the inexperienced. Just last fall, Pingree and fellow cavers performed an 11-hour rescue of a man who was just poking around in the cave with friends, broke his ankle, and then got stuck. Pingree cannot stress enough the importance of caving with someone who knows not only what they are doing but also all the safety measures necessary for successful subterranean exploration. So what is the allure of caving? Like a birder who is thrilled when they spot
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a Bobolink or Scarlet Tanager, cavers experience a similar burst of adrenaline when they find an undiscovered cave that needs to be mapped or when they get the opportunity to explore a known cave for the first time. Brothers Mark and Steve Pakulski like to think of themselves as homegrown cavers. In the late 70s, they went caving with some friends one weekend, and since then they have all been hooked. For the next eight years, they got together every Fourth of July to explore a new cave, most often one that they’d heard about over the winter. Instead of wearing helmets, using head lamps, and dressing in clothing specifically designed not to snag, the guys would grab a six pack of beer and head out in sneakers and one-piece coveralls. Mark says, “I can’t believe that we didn’t kill ourselves! One of the first caves we explored began with a 30-foot drop. We tied a rope to a log that we suspended over the hole and, like an idiot, I said I’d go down first. As I lowered myself down the narrow shoot, it got darker and darker and it occurred to me that
there could be animals at the bottom. That is when I shouted up to the guys, ‘Send down the Coleman lantern!’” All four of them eventually gathered at the bottom of the drop, got on their hands and knees, and started crawling in the direction of the running water. They spent about two hours underground. Mark recalls, “It was super quiet, and I couldn’t see the hand in front of my nose.” When I asked him why he returned time and again to shimmy down long narrow pipes and around tight dark bends in the tunnels, it was clear that he loved the unknown. “In one cave, we crawled, hands-and-knees, into a room that opened up and had a lake with albino fish swimming around in it. Another time we found a waterfall that spiraled up toward the surface. It was beautiful,” he recollects. “In another cave we all heard an unfamiliar hissing noise and suddenly over 100 bats took off out of the cave. Each time we end up back outside the cave covered head to toe in mud.” It is impossible to talk about caves and
“The Vermont Cavers Association recommends caving softly and safely, using the appropriate gear – helmet, three sources of light, gloves, kneepads, sturdy boots – and treating the caves with care – not damaging or marking the walls and formations and staying away from bat caves during hibernation months.” — VCA Vice-President John Dunham
Dark
The entrance to Cave of the Winds in Northern Vermont
mont Caving not mention bats, one of the reasons many have little interest in crawling around underground. In 2006, whitenose syndrome was discovered in bats in neighboring New York State, and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Association saw it quickly spread to Vermont bats, accounting for a 90-percent decrease in Vermont’s most common bats – the Little Brown bat and the Northern Long-Eared bat. The disease spreads from bat to bat, and occasionally cavers unknowingly transfer the fungus from one cave to another. National Speleological Society is well aware of the relationship between bats and cavers, and they are actively working to report erratic bat behavior with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and to spread the news about how to best decontaminate caving cloths. Cavers see themselves as stewards of Vermont’s caves, and so their concern for the spread of white-nose syndrome comes naturally. The National Speleological Society states that cavers “are bound together by their love of caves and caving and their desire to learn about the underground wilderness and protect it for future generations.” Unlike the Luray Caverns in Virginia and Lost River Caverns in Hellertown, Pa. where visitors are given guided tours, a boat ride, and stop by the gift shop on the way out, Vermont’s 150 caves are scattered across the state and are not advertised or listed on spelunking sites. In order to find them, it is essential to know a local caver or to contact the VCA.
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BAR & RESTAU Juniper
words // David Scherr photos // Ben Sarle
I
t is increasingly hard to stand out in Burlington’s thriving culinary scene, where another excellent and inventive restaurant or eatery seems to spring forth in or around the city with every passing season. Older establishments have been forced to step up their game, and the newer ones are competing for the increasingly fortunate and discerning palates of diners in the region. Juniper Bar and Restaurant, located in the Hotel Vermont in downtown Burlington, stands out from the Chittenden County culinary crowd with tasteful “Vermont-modern” décor and tasty, excellently prepared, and locally-sourced food.
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AURANT Juniper’s bar and restaurant area flows into the lobby space but feels nicely delineated from the welcoming area. As one would want in a Vermont hotel or restaurant, a big, warm wood-burning fireplace greets guests and diners through the winter. Contrasting stone on the walls in the restaurant area, some dark and flat, others lighter with the natural bumpy look of an elegant stone wall, provides a nice contrast. The restaurant space achieves a sleek, modern look without losing the cozy, wood-ensconced feel a diner might associate with old New England. There is plenty of rustic, Vermontstyle wood, and some especially creative split-log columns that divide a seating area from a passage for foot traffic. The bar is made of solid copper with wonderful, varying coloration from the many drink glasses occupying the welcoming space. And the drinks in those glasses include wine, excellent local beer, and cocktails that are inventive and prepared to tasty perfection. A diner would not go wrong to prepare the palate with a Lemon Ginger cocktail. This vodka drink has a pleasantly, not overpoweringly, sour lemon flavor balanced with a hint of ginger and sweetened with honey. For the spice-inclined, The Pocket Knife tequila cocktail is a peppery surprise with lime undertones; a weary diner will perk right up with this imaginative creation. For a starter dish, a diner would be remiss if he or she didn’t try the house-made tortellini. The tortellini is not a simple dish, but it is as warm, welcoming, and homey as one would want tortellini be. A comfort food, yes, but the ricotta cheese, greens, and hazelnuts bring this far from the realm of simplistic home cooking. The hazelnuts and ricotta add wonderful flavor and texture, and those two ingredients are nicely harmonious together. The menu has good variety, including both vegetarian and meat options to please most any diet. If diners are looking to start with a shared dish – the menu includes a “Share” section, essentially appetizers for two – they would be well-advised to try the Roasted Eggplant. This dish is a mashed, surprisingly light and refresh-
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ing mixture of roasted eggplant along with some onions, olive oil, and all nicely spiced. The ingredients are simple and smooth, but the eggplant skins give great texture to complement the seasoning. For a main dish, the Juniper restaurant rightfully prides itself on the Duck Confit. Excellently cooked, retaining its tenderness, the seasoning complements the meat’s flavor without drowning it. A creamy, light lentil stew served as a base under the duck cuts the salt of the meat and provides an unexpected and delicious contrast. As is obligatory for any self-respecting new Vermont restaurant, Juniper includes a locally-sourced burger that should not be missed. Incredibly flavorful beef is combined with aged local cheddar and served with nicely crisped fries worthy of the burger’s perfection. Juniper does the burger exactly right. Juniper Bar and Restaurant should not be missed; with its excellent food and unusually well-designed space, anyone visiting Burlington – or living there – would be depriving themselves if they didn’t walk toward the waterfront and indulge at this excellent, new destination.
V
ermont TreTap blends the pristine water released during the maple sugaring process with all-natural cranberry, blueberry and cucumber essences to create a delicately flavored water that is tre-mendousely low in sugar as well as calories. TreTap water is locally sourced from Branon's West View Maples, on oranic, family owned farm that has been sugaring in Vermont for over a century. Harvested only in the springtime, TreTap captures the revitalizing spirit of the season while providing pure and honest refreshment that you can trust.
802-527-2430 www.treetapvt.com 709 West Street, Fairfield, VT 05455
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“‘There is a place in the soul that neither time, nor space, nor no created thing can touch.’ … Your identity is not equivalent to your biography. And that there is a place in you where you have never been wounded, where there’s still a sureness in you, where there’s a seamlessness in you, and where there is a confidence and tranquility in you. And I think the intention of prayer and spirituality and love is now and again to visit that inner kind of sanctuary.” —Poet John O’Donohue quoting Meister Eckhart, 14th-century mystic
photo // Craig Thomas
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PUZZLES & STUFF CROSSWORD
THEME: BALL GAMES
DOODLES BY JAMES LASELL MORSE
How do we know there is any difference between dreaming and being awake? Jim Morse has lived in Vermont since 1958 and resided in Charlotte since 1971. He has been married for 47 years and has two daughters and five grandchildren. A Vermont Supreme Court justice for 14 years, Jim captures life’s Zen, irony and wit in observations and sketches on topics from art to war. His sayings are philosophical, skeptical, practical and funny.
SUDOKU
ACROSS
1. Similar to but smaller than giraffe 6. OB-GYN test 9. Cry like a baby 13. Howard Hughes was one, among other things 14. Biochemistry abbr. 15. Luau greeting 16. Maker of premium electric vehicles 17. It’s hot in some people? 18. Sega hedgehog 19. *Tennis return 21. *Game of goals 23. Yang’s opposite 24. Michelin product 25. Fluffy accessory 28. *Batting ____ 30. A group or set of 9 or IX 35. Tolkien creatures 37. “Sixteen ____,” song 39. Allegro or lento 40. Paper holder 41. Deserving of respect? 43. Orange peel, e.g. 44. New York’s _____ Island 46. German female title 47. Small amount of residue 48. Like “Odyssey” 50. Doctrines
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52. Sigma Alpha Epsilon 53. *Mark left by hit by pitch 55. Degree type, pl. 57. *Court contest 60. *Kevin Durant’s target 63. Battle royal 64. Rock in a drink 66. Equestrian’s attire 68. Torn down 69. Scheduled to arrive 70. Make amends 71. Iditarod ride 72. Always, in verse 73. A gossip, Yiddish
15. *Legal blocked shot, when basketball is on its ______ 20. Related on the mother’s side 22. Miner’s bounty 24. Found on a vine 25. *Ball game of Italian origin 26. Lowest deck 27. Raspberry drupelets 29. *Happy Gilmore’s game 31. Dork 32. Middle Eastern V.I.P.’s 33. Sleeper’s woe 34. *Avoid the ball 36. Design detail 38. Sinbad’s seven 42. Cuban dance DOWN 45. Showed a sign of sleepiness 1. Make a choice 49. Oahu greeting gift 2. Capital of Ukraine 51. Move sideways 3. “The Sun ___ Rises” 54. Digression 4. Tom Sawyer’s aunt 56. Winter glider 5. Right-leaning character 6. Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, ____, 57. Blue hue 58. “If all ____ fails ...” Love” 59. Versus want? 7. Tropical American cuckoo 60. *Drunk at the old ballgame 8. Zoroastrian 61. Very dark black 9. Coalition 62. Windshield option 10. First-class 63. ___ Robinson 11. Blender sound 65. *Pool tool 12. Varnish ingredient 67 “High” drink
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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 9
DestinationVT
D
estination VT hit shelves in 1999 as a monthly publication supported by the Burlington International Airport. Undergoing a 21st-century transformation, Destination VT became a quarterly magazine in 2013, providing both Vermont natives and transplants, day-trippers and vacationers, with a snapshot of the Green Mountain State’s artistic and cultural landscape. Each issue features local restaurants and activities, talented artists and writers, as well as socially-responsible Vermont companies. The magazine meets its readers from Vermont’s Welcome Centers; lobbies of area hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets; BTV Airport; and 24/7 via www.destinationvt.com, Twitter, and Facebook.
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DestinationVT WINTER 2013
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WINTER EDITION 2013-14
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BURTON SNOW BOARDS SOCIALLY RES PONSI BLE BUSINESS
CHIEF DON ST EVENS
& THE NULHE GAN ABENAK I
ARTSRIOT
DESTROYING
NT VERMO013-14 R2 WINTE NTS EVE AR D CALEN E! INSID
APATHY
CAMI DAVIS
VERMONT ART IST
ARTS // CULT UR
E // TOURISM
// PEOPLE //
FOOD
ART // CULTURE // TOURISM // PEOPLE // FOOD SUMMER // 2014 Destination VT
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