www.destinationvt.com
VT
fall EDITION 2014
FREE TAKE ONE
ART // CULTURE // FOOD // MUSIC // PEOPLE
Stay a while!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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 Rice Lumber Shelburne Supermarket The Automaster
2
www.destinationvt.com
Attractions & Activities
Palmer’s Sugar House Pierson Library Shelburne Beach7 Shelburne Craft School Shelburne Day5 Shelburne Farms Shelburne Farmers Market5 Shelburne Health & Fitness Shelburne Museum2 Shelburne Orchard Shelburne Players 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 Dee Physical Therapy Dr. John F. Guerriere PC Eating Well George and Linda Schiavone Hayes Sogoloff, OD Hope Johnson JD Design Jeff Kapsalis Joan Lenes Lake Champlain Waldorf School Majestic Landscaping Maple Leaf Carpet & Tile Cleaning Melissa Grealis Microprocessor Designs Network Chiropractic of VT Northeast Estates & Trusts Palmer Insurance Agency
People’s United Bank Perfect Circle Perkins Smith Praximity Consulting Group PT360° Reflections Salon & Spa Reveal VT Roots Consulting Selin & Selin Architecture Shelburne Nursery School Shelburne Pediatrics Shelburne Restorative Dentistry Shelburne-Vergennes Lock Svs Special Touch Hair Design Spillane’s Village Mobil Susan Martin Sweeney Designbuild TD Bank The Arbors The Terraces Titus Insurance Agency TJF Turnings Tom Mahar, CPA, PLLC Vermont Pure Financial SBPAVT.ORG Voice-Over Vermont Wind Ridge Publishing
KID
SM
ENU AVA ILAB
LE
Featured in al, eet Journ The Wall Str treal Gazette e, Mon Boston Glob le Pouce and Sur
2014 Winner of Six Daysies
“Best beer town in New England.” - Boston Globe
Located in Waterbury, the food and beverage crossroads, we feature New England’s largest & best curated selection of craft beer, proper cocktails, eclectic wines with a full menu featuring barbecue, vegetarian and cozy American fare.
24 TAPS
Including beers from Hill Farmstead, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, The Alchemist “Heady Topper”
and don’t forget about the beers from our very own brewery!
Open for lunch Friday-Monday
New outdoor seating!
23 South Main Street • Waterbury • Vermont prohibitionpig.com
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
3
FALL \
2014
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 for Vermont natives and transplants, daytrippers and vacationers, 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 advertising@windridgepublishing.com
MAKE VERMONT HOME Vermont offers a wide range of exciting business and job opportunities!
PUBLISHERS/EDITORS HOLLY JOHNSON GREG FORBER COPY EDITORS SADIE WILLIAMS DORI SHARP ADVERTISING SALES MOLLY TREVITHICK SUSAN ALDEN DORI SHARP DESIGN GREG FORBER CRAIGTHOMAS.NET
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (802) 828-4301
Let the Vermont Department of Labor connect you with Vermont’s great employers!
www.vermont joblink.com
JUST ONE CALL TO GET THEM ALL!
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA HUNT CHEA WATERS EVANS LIN STONE ANGI PALM TAMRA J. HIGGINS LUCY HIGGINS DARCY AND DALE CAHILL PHYL NEWBECK DAVID SCHERR CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS CRAIGTHOMAS.NET LINDSAY RAYMONDJACK DARCY AND DALE CAHILL ROSS BRYANT GARY BOUCHARD BETH HERDER BEN SARLE Printed by Dartmouth Printing Co. COVER IMAGE // craigthomas.net
SFI-00665
4
www.destinationvt.com
WEEKLY CIRCULATION OF 40,000 + OVER 100K TOTAL READERSHIP
(802) 985-3091 Call now to see how BANG advertising can work for you! Or email advertising@windridgepublishing.com
CONTENTS FALL // 2014
6.........................CALENDAR 12.........ROKEBY MUSEUM 14.......................STOWE 16.............JAKE AGNA 18...........ANGIE PALM 19...ASTHEN CRAMER 20...WATER JOURNEYS 22...SEVENTH GENERATION 24...............FORAGING VT 26....................FALL STATE PARKS 30........................................PASCOLO 32............................................................PUZZLE 33......................................................VIEWPOINT FALL // 2014 Destination VT
5
Ongoing Events
SHELBURNE FARMS, Shelburne Shelburne Farms is a 1400-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 10 am-4 pm. Please check in at the Welcome Center. www.shelburnefarms.org SHELBURNE VINEYARDS, Shelburne What better way to taste Vermont than with a tour of Shelburne Vineyard? Take in the beautiful views as you tour the winery and are treated to a tasting by their knowledgeable staff. Learn about the grapes, how the wine was blended, and the challenges of making wine in Vermont. www.shelburnevineyard.com
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
SIMON PEARCE, Windsor Windsor is home to quite a few hidden gems. After checking out the neighboring Harpoon Brewery or Silo American Spirits, wander over to Simon Pearce and watch master glassblowers and potters from the catwalk as they create the stunning masterpieces that have made Simon Pearce famous. www.simonpearce.com
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. Ongoing exhibitions displayed from May 12 to Oct. 31. www.shelburnemuseum.org
HISTORIC TOUR OF UVM, Burlington A 90-minute walking tour of the UVM campus, the fifth oldest university in New England. The tour meets at the statue of Ira Allen on the UVM Green and is led by Professor Emeritus William Averyt. 10am every Saturday. www.uvm.edu
NOW TO OCT 11
NOW TO OCT 19
SHELBURNE FARMS TOURS, Shelburne Enjoy one of the Farm’s four daily, 90 minute, guided tours of the historic buildings and landscape from a truck-pulled, open-air wagon. The Children’s Farmyard gives kids the opportunity to milk cows, collect eggs, spin wool and more! More than 10 miles of walking trails. www.shelburnefarms.org
NOW TO NOV 2
Map of the Path of Life Garden in Windsor
PATH OF LIFE GARDEN, Windsor The Path of Life is one of Vermont’s most well-kept secrets. This one-of-a-kind garden features 18 works of art that collectively illustrate the human experience. Many viewers find the experience of wandering the mazes and sculptures transformational. The garden is especially beautiful in late summer and fall. (802)674-9933 www.greatriveroutfitters.com
QUEEN CIT Y GHOST WALK , Burlington Choose from assorted themed tours and get all the history, mystery and spooky fun you could ask for. Visit the website for tour schedules and further information. www.queencityghostwalk.com
NOW TO NOV 29
VERMONT BACKROAD BREWERY/WINERY TOURS, Rutland This is the perfect fall activity for a large group. Choose from either “Northern” or “Eastern” tour, each stopping at four breweries and ending at the Bobcat Café in Bristol and the Peavine Restaurant in Stockbridge, respectively. www.vtbackroadtours.com
An Apple a Day ... at Shelburne Orchards
Open all year- 7 days a week
Visit www.shelburnevineyard.com 11am - 5pm Nov-April 11am 6pm May-Oct for concerts, art- shows and special events Visit www.shelburnevineyard.com for concerts, art shows and special events 6308 Shelburne Rd. (Rt. 7), Shelburne 802-985-8222
www.shelburnevineyard.com
6
www.destinationvt.com
Enjoy the apple harvest! Pick apples, have a picnic, or shop at the Cider House Farm Market. We grow locally so that you can buy locally. SEaSonal HourS (aug.-oct.) Monday-Saturday 9-6, Sunday 9-5 216 orchard road, Shelburne (802) 985-2753
www.shelburneorchards.com
FALL 2014
september NOW TO SEPT 5
FRIDAY WINE DOWN, Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven Swing by the tasting room to “wine down” after a long week. Live music, local cheeses, and other food available. Wine by the glass. 6-8 pm. www.lincolnpeakvineyard.com
NOW TO SEPT 7
VERMONT STATE FAIR, Rutland This 168-year-old family tradition features an old-fashioned Midway and agricultural contests and exhibits. Grandstand entertainment includes demolition derbies, tractor pulls, karaoke, harness racing and live music. Don’t miss the Great Little Bear Show! www.vermontstatefair.net
SEPT 1 TO OCT 13
KILLINGTON HAY FESTIVAL, Killington This five-week celebration of fall features larger-than-life animal structures carved out of hay. www.discoverkillington.com
CALENDAR
SEPT 5 TO 7
21st ANNUAL SOUTH END ART HOP, Burlington The South End’s art studios open up for a weekend of food and festivities. Local businesses are refit as art galleries and exhibition sites for the more than 500 participating artists – Vermont’s largest exhibition of visual art. www.seaba.com
SEPT 6 AND 2, OCT 4
SHIPWRECK TOURS, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes See a shipwreck – without getting wet! Take a tour boat to the site of one of the 300 historic shipwrecks, and go for a “dive” using a Remotely-Operated Vehicle. www.lcmm.org
SEPT 11 TO 14
THE TUNBRIDGE WORLD’S FAIR, Tunbridge Vermont Chamber of Commerce 2013 “Top 10 Fall Event.” In addition to numerous venues and vendors, there are also walk-around clowns! This year celebrates the Swine Show, the only swine show in Vermont with competitive shows, obstacle races and special events. www.tunbridgeworldsfair.com
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals perform at the Grand Point North music festival on Sunday, September 15, 2013. Photo by Ben & Jerry's
SEPT 12 TO 14
VERMONT SWING DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, Stratton Mountain The event comprises three days of dance lessons with world class dance instructors, dance competitions, and hours of social dancing. www.vermontwestcoastswing.net
SEPT 13 TO 14
GRAND POINT NORTH FESTIVAL, Burlington A weekend of music at the Burlington Waterfront featuring artists such as Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Trampled by Turtles, Lake Street Dive, Caroline Rose, Villanelles, and more! Saturday gates at 3pm, Sunday gates at 2pm. www.grandpointnorth.com
at 72, ben franklin
became minister to france.
what are your
retirement
travel plans?
INCOME FOR WHAT’S NEXT ™ Whether your retirement aspiration is to explore Europe – or just enjoy life close to home – you’ll need regular income. At Franklin Templeton, with over 65 years of experience, we’ve generated income for generations of investors.
Chef Owned • Local Vermont Foods Outstanding Quality Fine Food & Wine Lunch - Dinner - Sunday Brunch 1834 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, Vermont 05403 1.802.862.1081 www.paulinescafe.com
For information on our funds and helpful tools that you and your financial advisor can use to develop a retirement income plan, visit franklintempleton.com/whatsnext. You should carefully consider a fund’s investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. You’ll find this and other information in the fund’s summary prospectus and/or prospectus, which you can obtain from your financial advisor. Please read a prospectus carefully before investing. All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Investing in a Franklin Templeton fund does not guarantee one’s retirement income needs will be met. Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403 © 2014 Franklin Templeton Investments. All rights reserved.
FALL // 2014 Destination VT USEN_I4WN_EIFFELTOWER_4.77x4.65_DV_090114.indd 1
7
8/4/14 9:52 AM
SEPT 14 12-5PM
SEPT 27
PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL, Burlington The parade begins at the south end of Church Street and ends at Battery Park where the festival is held! Enjoy music, entertainment and food plus many community resources. 12-5 pm. www.pridevt.com
ZOMBIE RUN, Champlain Valley Expo Center, Essex Junction A 5K obstacle fun run for the end of times. But you’re not just running against the clock; you’re running from flesh-eating, virus-spreading, bloody zombies. www.zombierun.com
SEPT 19 TO 21
SEPT 27 TO 28
VERMONT LIFE WINE & HARVEST FESTIVAL, Mount Snow Valley Deemed a U.S. Top 100 Event by the American Bus Association, attendees experience a weekend of tastings, dinners, culinar y demonstrations, shopping, and entertainment. www.thevermontfestival.com
SEPT 20 TO 22
Bristol Harvest Festival
BURLINGTON BOOK FESTIVAL, Burlington Join literary luminaries from around the world – and just around the corner – for three days of author-ized activity: readings, signings, panels, workshops, exhibits, original theatre, family activities, and special events. www.burlingtonbookfestival.com
SEPT 26 TO 28
INDEPENDENT TELEVISION AND FILM FESTIVAL, Dover and Wilmington Hollywood goes Vermont at this festival for independent television and film content creators to showcase their work. www.itvfest.com
SEPT 27
BRISTOL HARVEST FESTIVAL, Bristol A free day of family fun with music, children’s activities, a craft festival and bandstand music. Don’t forget to enter the Best Ever Apple Pie Contest! 10 am-4 pm. www.bristolharvestfest.com
Be a
Smuggler! Winter 2014/15
A Smugg : S eоe o kn s i not j t a lift ride, but a ch to m t y epe f the aptly named Fr f . Join us this winter for the most affordable skiing & riding in Northern VT and 1,000 acres of terrain that will leave you screaming for your momma.
Buy early & SAVE! 1.800.523.2754 smuggs.com/skiride
8
www.destinationvt.com
VERMONT FINE FURNITURE, WOODWORKING & FOREST FESTIVAL, Woodstock The 11th annual celebration of Vermont’s forests and it’s bounty of wood products. Experience the story of how Vermonters care for our woods, from forest to finished product, and shop for the best Vermont-made wood products. Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Sunday 10 am-4:30 pm. www.vermontwoodfestival.org
SEPT 27 TO 28
STORY HACK V T, Burlington Teams will start at BCA and have 24 hours to create and execute a digital story, reconvening at ArtsRiot to present their projects. www.storyhackvt.com
FALL 2014
CALENDAR
October OCT 3 TO 5
18TH ANNUAL STOWE OK TOBERFE ST, Stowe The town of Stowe Events Field will be transformed into a Bavarian village for a weekend full of music, dancing and, of course, great beer. www.stoweoktoberfest.com
OCT 3, 4, 10, 11
DEAD NORTH – FARMLAND OF TERROR, Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville This year’s haunts includes wagon rides, a halfmile walk of terror through a haunted cornfield, and buildings including animatronics, the mostly-live residents of Dead North, and special effects. Plus, if you survive the walk, there are three buildings in the village which you may experience. 7:30 pm. www.vermontcornmaze.com
Marion McChesney surrounded by the natural forms of unglazed pottery she makes at her studio in Pawlet, Vermont.
OCT 4 TO 5
OCT 4 TO 5
VERMONT OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND, statewide Free self-guided tours of art studios across Vermont. Contact the Vermont Crafts Council for a Vermont Studio Guide, which contains maps, directions and contact information about par ticipants. www.vermontcrafts.com
VERMONT WOOL & SHEEP FESTIVAL, Tunbridge Now in its 25th year, this event features an animal barn with sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, and rabbits, a marketplace with more than 70 vendors, several shepherd workshops and fiber arts classes. www.vtsheepandwoolfest.com
OCT 5
HARVEST FUN RUN/WALK FOR SUSTAINABILITY, Intervale Center, Burlington Join the Sustainability Academy and City Market for their annual 1K/5K romp through farm fields and dirt roads. Pre-registration deadline, Mon, Sept 29. 9am-12pm. www.citymarket.coop/harvestfunrun
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 o me o f o ur a ut h or s:
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 o ic e s o f V er m o nter s
www.windridgebooksofvt.com Contact: 802-985-3091 or Lin@windridgebooksofvt.com
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
9
OCT 5
AUTUMN ON THE GREEN, Danville An award-winning showcase for artisans, crafters, cottage industries, and businesses amidst the spectacular views and color of autumn. Over 100 vendors offer items from whimsical to practical and feature Vermont specialty products and foods. 10am-4pm. www.autumnonthegreen.org
OCT 10-12
STOWE FOLIAGE ARTS FESTIVAL, Stowe Events Field 200 juried artisans exhibit and sell a wide variety of contemporary and traditional craft work, art, photography, sculpture, and food products. Grab a beer and a snack from the Vermont Beer Cheese and Sausage Tent, take in the live music, and enjoy the stunning fall foliage at its peak. 10am-5pm. www.craftproducers.com
OCT 11
FALL INTO WINTER CELEBRATION, Okemo Mountain Resort, Ludlow Switch gears and make the transition into winter a party. Enjoy live music, hay rides, pumpkin carving, a pie eating contest, apple bobbing, cider, delicious brews from the beer garden and great food options. Begins 1pm. www.okemo.com
OCT 11 TO 12
30TH ANNUAL HARVEST WEEKEND, Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock This traditional Vermont harvest celebration features a husking bee and a barn dance as well as a variety of 19th century harvest activities and programs for the entire family. Don’t miss out on the hot apple cider and homemade doughnuts! 10am-5pm. www.billingsfarm.org
SAVE THE DATE!
OCT 18 TO 19
32ND ANNUAL QUILT SHOW, Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction Incredible quilts, vendors, crafts, demos, raffles, and special displays. Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. www.cvqgvt.org
OCT 24 TO 25
VERMONT TECH JAM, Memorial Auditorium Looking for a tech job in Vermont? Want to scope out the local star t-up scene? This two day job fair and tech expo will gather dozens of Vermont’s most innovative companies and organizations all under one roof. www.techjamvt.com
OCT 24, 25, 26
VERMONT FALL ANTIQUE EXPO AND SALE, Champlain Valley Expo Center, Essex Junction This show brings established antique and vintage collectible dealers and individual sellers together. The Expo will be the s ame weekend as the 3 2nd Annual Fall Essex Craft and Fine Art Show. The two separate shows will be offered for one price, $8. Friday 12-6pm, S atur day 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. www.cvexpo.org
OCT 24 TO NOV 2
V E R M O N T IN T E R N AT IO N A L FILM FE STIVAL , Burlington A week-long presentation of gr oundbr e ak ing f il m s f r om across the globe. www.vtiff.org
Thank You to our Sponsors:
10
www.destinationvt.com
HAUNTED HAPPENINGS, Shelburne Museum Break out those Halloween costumes a couple days early for this trick or treat tradition on the grounds of Shelburne Museum. 10am-1pm. www.shelburnemuseum.org
NOV 7
WOODSTOCK DIGITAL MEDIA FESTIVAL, Woodstock Leaders and innovators in a broad spectrum of fields from across the country come together to share their work with each other and the public. Pre-registration required, free. 9am-5:30pm. www.woodstockdigital.com
NOV 8
MOONLIT WAGON RIDES, Shelburne Farms A moonlit evening is a great time to get outside and enjoy the Farms by horse drawn wagon ride. Celebrate this magical time of year with light snacks and activities back at the education center before or after your ride. 5:15 pm, 6:00 pm, 6:45 pm 7:30 pm. www.shelburnefarms.org
NOV 8
SHELBURNE VINEYARD 5TH ANNUAL WINE AND FOOD FEST AND FOOD SHELF BENEFIT, Shelburne Vineyard This remarkable benefit showcases 11 of Vermont’s best wines as well as specialty food products. Meet the people who create Vermont’s delicious delicacies and stock up on gifts for the holiday season. There will be vendor product raffles and free sampling throughout the day. 11am-5pm. www.shelburnevineyard.com
To Register, Sponsor or Volunteer visit
www.SarahRamseyStrong.com
SEE PAGE 32 FOR PUZZLES
www.SarahRamseyStrong.com
November
SAVE THE DATE!
OCT 26
To Register, Sponsor or Volunteer visit
OCT 28 TO NOV 24
SOUTHERN VERMONT SAMPLER TOUR, Manchester Center With your local guide you will discover the hidden gems of southern Vermont, from an alpaca farm to the first granite quarry in the state. Travel in a customized tour van and take in the spectacular mountain views. Daily, 1-4pm. www.backroaddiscovery.com
Thank You to our Sponsors:
FALL 2014
CALENDAR
NOV 15
VERMONT WEDDING AFFAIR, Shelburne Farms Vermont Vows hosts a wedding extravaganza in one of Vermont’s most beautiful locations. Surround yourself with romantic inspiration the show features everything from bouquets to spa treatments. www.vtvows.com
NOV 21 TO 23
CRAFT VERMONT, Sheraton Conference Center, Burlington An annual fine craft and art show. All products are handcrafted and produced in Vermont by Vermont Hand Crafter members. Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. www.vermonthandcrafters.com
NOV 28
CHURCH STREET SANTA PARADE AND LIGHTING CEREMONY, Burlington Santa makes a quick trip to the Marketplace during his busy season to kick off the annual Holiday Parade. The parade of jolly gift givers will commence at noon, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Following the presentation of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” at 5:30 pm, view the official lighting of the 50 foot holiday tree and all of Church Street. www.churchstreetmarketplace.com Church Street Santa Parade and Lighting Ceremony
NOV 28 TO 30
FESTIVAL OF TREES, Bennington Museum A community-created exhibit of uniquely designed and decorated holiday trees. Items from the museum’s collection are added to create a blend of modern design and historical elements. This year’s theme is “reflections.” www.benningtonmuseum.org
NOV 28 TO 30
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AT BILLINGS FARM & MUSEUM, Woodstock Discover how Thanksgiving was observed in the 1890 Farm House at the Billings Farm, from food to entertainment, and the critical and demanding
work of harvesting crops each fall. There will be “History of Thanksgiving” programs delivered in the parlor, horse drawn cart rides, cider pressing, and food harvest and preservation activities for all ages. 10am-4pm. www.billingsfarm.org
Old Mill Craft Shop Specializing in Vermont made gifts “Snowflake” Bentley prints and jewelry
4A Red Mill Dr. (off Route 15) Jericho VT 802 899-3225 jerichohistoricalsociety.org
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
11
Traveling the Undergroun WORDS // PAMELA HUNT PHOTOS // LINDSAY RAYMONDJACK
Vermont abolitionists, setting the stage for guests to understand how a thriving Merino sheep farm became a safe haven for slaves on the run. Letters written to and by Rowland T. Robinson, master of the house during the mid-1830s, as well as dramatized audio readings and a fifteen-minute reenactment of one slave’s experience at Rokeby “humanize and scale down slavery, so everyone can relate to the exhibit’s story not only intellectually, but emotionally as well,” says Williams.
Mention the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh to many Vermonters, and they’ll say, “Oh, I’ve driven by there for years. I should stop in someday.” From Route 7, the compound initially doesn’t draw much attention—just another old farmhouse set back from the road, with perhaps a stone building or two in the back. But to turn in the driveway and start up the path is to experience life through the words of a Vermont family during a critical time in Vermont’s, and the nation’s, history. A tour of the ninety-acre property, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997, begins at the brand-new Education Center. Thanks to grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a generous donation from the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, the 2,500-square-foot facility opened in 2013 after a decade of planning. The center supports the museum’s mission to “connect visitors with the human experience of the Underground Railroad and with the lives of the Robinson family,” according to the director, Jane Williams. A gift
12
www.destinationvt.com
shop and restrooms as well as space for special programs also reside in the new building. A permanent exhibit, Free & Safe, The Underground Railroad in Vermont, earned an award of merit from the American Association of State and Local History, a national membership association for heritage organizations. The display features a multimedia overview of the history of the slave trade and work of
Rokeby also features seasonal exhibits, such as 2014’s Rachel’s New York Postcards at 100. Rachel Robinson Elmer, granddaughter of abolitionist Rowland, was one of many Robinsons with artistic talent. Her Impressionist-style postcards, created in 1914, feature scenes from New York City, where she worked as a book illustrator. A stroll around the grounds between the Education Center and the main home paints a picture of what life was like for the Robinsons, who called Rokeby home from 1793 until 1961. Typical of the time period, the farm supported most of its needs onsite: a granary to store grains
nd Railroad to Vermont and to dry corn; a stone smokehouse to preserve meat; a creamery, which contains both the original ice house as well as a 1940s-era refrigerated room; a slaughterhouse, complete with a pulley and hoist suspended over a drain in the floor; and, last but not least, the threeseater outhouse. Visitors can wander in and out of the buildings, many of which contain tools and other items from the Robinsons’ days. Beyond the buildings, a trailhead awaits, with two paths wending through the back of the property. The trails, each less than a mile long, invite visitors to investigate this forest that took over former farmland. The museum provides interpretive maps that detail some of the features visible from the paths, including an old well used to water livestock and a seasonal waterfall. Knowledgeable volunteers lead tours of the main house, Friday through Monday, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. As is common with many homes that have survived since the eighteen century, the Robinsons’ house comprises the original building, with additions made throughout the years. The home, though sparely decorated—in ac-
cordance with the family’s Quaker lifestyle—contains numerous documents, books, and artwork that speak to the loves and interests of the family: faith, nature, and art. During the forty-fiveminute tour, guides bring the four generations of Robinsons to life, sharing anecdotes about the family and pointing out handwritten notes and sketches. Unlike other stops on the Underground Railroad, Rokeby doesn’t feature concealed rooms or secret hiding spots. In Vermont, the abolitionist movement was strong, and runaway slaves could live safe from arrest. Some stayed briefly before continuing on to Canada and freedom; others remained in Vermont, helping on farms. Rowland and his wife, Rachel Gilpin Robinson, were devout Quakers who believed that enslavement of another person was a sin. They took in fugitive slaves, taught them to read and write, and even boycotted slave-produced goods (i.e., cotton). When standing in the east chamber, tucked behind a chimney on the second floor of the original portion of the house, guests can gaze upon the same view from the window of what had likely been a fugitive slave’s room.
The museum offers learning and field trip opportunities to teach students about the Underground Railroad and Vermont’s role in helping to bring about emancipation. An education kit features an actor-read recording of a speech delivered by former slave Frederick Douglass in Ferrisburgh in 1843. The oration was part of the “Hundred Conventions,” a series of meetings that the American Anti-Slavery Society convened throughout New England the Midwest, with the Ferrisburgh gathering organized by Rowland T. Robinson. Whether to understand everyday life of early Vermonters, to learn about a piece of America’s history, or to just take a contemplative stroll through the forest, the Rokeby Museum shines as a hidden gem on a well-traveled path. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., from mid-May until the end of October.
ROKEBY MUSEUM 4334 Route 7 Ferrisburgh, VT 802.877.3406 www.rokeby.org
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
13
Stowe Old School Meets Modern in Vermont’s Most Famous Ski Town
WORDS // Chea Waters Evans PHOTO // CRAIGTHOMAS.NET With the cool vibe of a ski town, restaurants and nightlife that rival any big city, and the inexplicable yet undeniable character that only Vermont can offer, Stowe is New England’s hottest spot for vacationers, winter sports enthusiasts, and foodies alike. They may call Stowe the Aspen of the Northeast, but one day, they just might call Aspen the Stowe of the West. People always have and always will come here for the skiing. Locals began hitting the slopes a century ago, and since then, skiers and riders from all over the world have come to Vermont to experience the trails that accommodate everyone from a wobbly 2-year-old to Olympic athletes. If skiing isn’t your thing, for some old-school scary fun, sledding on Marshall Hill behind the town’s elementary school provides an actual cheap thrill. Speeding downhill isn’t the only way to enjoy that fluffy white stuff, though. The Stowe Recreation Path and the adjacent Quiet Path are perfect places to snowshoe, and
14
www.destinationvt.com
Trapp Family Lodge and Stowe Mountain resort both offer extensive crosscountry ski trails and rentals. For those who prefer to sit and take in the natural beauty and crisp air without breaking a sweat, there are several options for horse-drawn sleigh rides, including Gentle Giants, which operates out of the Topnotch Resort. The most taxing part of a Stowe visit is choosing what to do before and after all that activity. By carb-loading at the Dutch Pancake Café start the day out right. A stop at the Bear Pond bookstore on Main Street for some fireside reading material is a must; a skier must be prepared to be snowed in. Shopping can work up an appetite, and if lunch at the lodge isn’t your style, the Café on Main is a great stop for soup, sandwiches, and decadent baked goods. Right next door, The Stowe Mercantile is a perfect spot for souvenir shopping, Vermont art and craft items, and a wide selection of regional gourmet delights. The Vermont Ski and Snowbaord Museum next door exhibits everything from early pairs of Nordic skis to one of famed snowboarder Jeff Brushie’s dreadlocks.
Chain stores are off the map in Stowe; shopping on your day off from sporting is an adventure. Green Envy and Well Heeled, both on Mountain Road, offer chic clothing brands and luxury shoes and accessories that rival any Manhattan boutique. AJ’s Ski and Sports has rentals, equipment, and stylish ski wear, in case a little extra is needed for an après outfit. The Nordic Barn has gear for Nordic skiers, backcountry skiers, and telemarkers, and also has ski trails right out back. The Stowe Craft Gallery features work from Vermont artists, jewelers, and craftspeople. A little shopping, a little lunching, a lot of skiing, and then what? Better think about it over a cocktail. The Matterhorn is the quintessential après ski watering hole in Stowe, a place where locals and tourists happily co-exist. Downstairs is an upscale martini bar, and upstairs is a traditional bar with great food, lots of beer, and live music. The Rusty Nail is also a hot après and nightlife venue; city folks meld with ski patrollers in this big barn that features an all-seasons outdoor bar area, live music, and happy crowds.
YEAR-ROUND, FAMILY-FRIENDLY, ECO-ADVENTURES FROM SERENE TO EXTREME
ZIP LINE CANOPY
ADVENTURES Choosing a dinner spot can be even more daunting than choosing a pair of ski boots; every option seems better than the last. Plate, a new eatery on Main Street, is inspired by California cuisine but adds some local flavor. The popular—and delicious—authentic Italian offered by the charming Trattoria La Festa is a must-try. Piecasso is the go-to pizza spot in town, and just off Mountain Road, but worth the trip, is The Bistro at Ten Acres which has an eclectic menu, including Vietnamese grilled shrimp, steak frites, and everything in between, as well as an extensive selection of scotch and inventive cocktails. Stowe will never lose its charm or its easy, quirky Vermont style—New York chefs come to visit and never leave; skiers pop up from the city for a weekend and end up with a condo; Vermonters reconnect with their roots and move back with their kids. This blend of old and new, traditional and modern, is what has made this ski town such a draw for so many years, and will continue to do so for the century to come.
SMUGGLERS’ SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH, NOTCH, VT VT
(802) 644-9300 www.arbortrek.com
LESS THAN 20 MINUTES FROM STOWE & 45 MINUTES FROM BURLINGTON, VT
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
15
PEOPLE OF VT
Kids on the Ball and the Coach:
Jake Agna
words // Lin Stone
J
ake Agna had been coaching tennis to relatively affluent Vermont children for years when he and a colleague began a small tennis program for about 20 kids who could not afford to be on a team. They asked adult tennis club members to be sponsors and then called every local non-profit organization to see if they had any children that might want to play; Agna had enough kids for a team of 100 within a few days. That’s when he approached the King Street Center for help. The only qualification for a child’s participation was that he or she wanted to play tennis and came from a family of limited means. Agna discovered that many children wanted and needed to play, and like the Pied Piper, he and the children that followed him have been found on the courts, gyms, parks, and playgrounds, six days a week, year round, for the last five years. Kids on the Ball has received the Grassroots’ Tennis Program of the Year award from the US Tennis Association and serves 150-200 kids a week in both winter and summer programs. “I grew up in a small town in Ohio and both of my parents were physicians,” Agna said. “Even as a child I felt that I had some opportunities that weren’t always fair. We had a park in the center of town with a baseball diamond and tennis courts. Every day I would wake up, go out to the park, and play any kind of ballgame: basketball, baseball,
16
www.destinationvt.com
and tennis. Everybody came. That park was where I began to feel that some things could be fair and all kids— rich and poor—could meet in the middle and play together on even ground. “Playing ball with all of the kids was hugely important for me. I learned social skills. I learned from kids with varied backgrounds. I learned how much comfort there is in knowing and understanding the rules of the game and being able to play within those lines. I think all kids are drawn to the consistency inherent in games. And because kids-at-risk often live with a fair amount of chaos, they need safe, stable places where things are consistent and everyone is learning from each other.” “With ‘Kids on the Ball,’ I wanted to recreate the park where I grew up, had a lot of fun, and learned. When our team plays, we might have refugee children from Africa playing wealthy Vermont kids from Stowe. I love going.
How to Help Tax-deductible donations for the WRP Kids on the Ball challenge may be made online until Oct. 15 @ www. kingstreetcenter.org, or by check mailed to King Street Youth Center, PO Box 1615, Burlington, VT 05402; for more information please call Suzanna, Vicky, or Kelly at (802) 862-6736.
Everyone learns from each other. The Burlington Tennis Club or the Stowe kids have the opportunity to get off their cell phones and learn to be kind. The kids from challenged lives see other kids to emulate and act in more ordered ways. This can only happen with matches between very different neighborhoods.
“Here’s an example: one of my kids from a pretty beat-up environment was acting out. At first, my guy tried to cheat. The other boy from a more secure background called him to the net and said, ‘Let’s play the point again.’ My guy started to see the light and didn’t want to cheat again – he wanted to play again. He saw that it’s not a game if you don’t play by the rules – fairly and with kindness. You don’t often get eleven-year-olds delivering life lessons so patiently and respectfully.”
What’s next? “Our money is now running out, but with help from Wind Ridge Publishing (WRP) and some friends we hope to keep things going with a matching grant challenge. From now until October 15, WRP will match any gift to Kids on the Ball, up to $25,000, to provide scholarships and court time for six more years. I have a lot of kids right now and I don’t ever want to turn any child away.”
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
17
VT AUTHORS
An interview with poet Stephen Cramer
Hip Poems Pulse to Old World Beat “This book is not the greatest hits of hip hop; the poems are just the ones I found an entrance to when I came to write a sonnet. I started with Run DMC and the Beastie Boys and eventually, I discovered I had a relatively complete history. It proved to be an interesting narrative arc; for example, the Beastie Boys have seven pages in the book. It’s not that they are my favorite, it’s that they lasted three decades and have a specific and incredibly unique arc. When they began, all of their songs were about sex, guns, booze, and drugs. Later MCA, the lead singer, became a Buddhist and wrote songs about the environment, Free Tibet, Bush, and Middle East policies. There was a growing spiritual, global, and political consciousness. It shows how they and their music evolved through the decades from their more base animal nature and the lowest of chakras to see the world through a spiritual nature and the higher, more enlightened chakras.”
words // Lin Stone
S
unRidge Poetry, a new imprint from WindRidge Books of Vermont, has just released Vermont poet and University of Vermont English professor Stephen Cramer’s third collection of poems, From the Hip ~ A Concise History of Hip Hop (in sonnets). Students shout out online “Cramer’s the Man!” and fellow poets and colleagues decant that his love for the musicality of words is palpable. Cramer recounts a favorite story about former poet laureate Stanley Kunitz: “When he was a kid in Worcester, Mass. he would read the dictionary, find a word such as ‘fantasmagoric’ and go outside to the woods and shout it out just to hear the sound. I think if you’re going to be a writer you have to love the material you’re using. Just as painters must love the smell of paint and sculptors love the wet clay in their hands, a writer has to love the way words sound. For thousands of years before words were written they
18
www.destinationvt.com
were spoken – the air is their natural medium. In fact, Kunitz once said, ‘The page is a cold, cold bed.’ These words want to be spoken.”
Hip Hop and Sonnets? “My first two books, Shiva’s Drum and Tongue & Groove, revolve around jazz. Hip hop is a new vein. I wanted to give this music, the music I grew up with, a literary presence. I hope the sonnets appeal to one crowd, hip hop appeals to another, and that the two traditions bleed into each other and [the book] offers introductions. “The sonnet is an 800-year-old form that fits the English language so well. Right? Just like the minimalist haiku fits the eastern culture and mentality well. Sonnets fit the English. But every art needs the avant guard to keep it supple; just as Jack Kerouac wrote American haikus, some refer to these poems as ‘American sonnets’ because I played with the traditional form a bit. They are blank verse sonnets – fourteen lines and seven sets of rhymes – but I play with the lines, and the rhyme schemes vary.”
Stephen Cramer would likely define his book as most successful if readers took their copy out-of-doors and sang poems to the trees until leaves are swept from the limbs. Don’t be shy; it’s the way words are meant to be.
Please Do Not Remove:
In Support of Public Libraries BOUT THE
OOK
BOUT THE
UTHOR
Angela Palm is the editor of Please Do Not Remove. She owns Ink & Lead Literary Services. Her writing has appeared in or is forthcoming in apt, Paper Darts, Midwestern Gothic, ARDOR Literary Magazine, Little Fiction, Sundog Lit, Prick of the Spindle, Tampa Review Online, and elsewhere. Her essay, “The Devolution of Cake,” published in Little Fiction Big Truths and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Palm attended the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, 2013 and is a contributor at Book Trib. She lives in Burlington, Vermont, with her husband and two children and she is working on her first novel.
Wind Ridge Books donates 10 percent of the net profit from the sale of this book to Vermont Library Association.
Shelburne, Vermont 05482
$15.95 ISBN 978-1-935922-54-4
51595>
9 781935 922544
$15.95
A
Edited by Angela Palm
ing that past into something new, just as today’s libraries must do as their resources, roles, and priorities change. The collection is published by Wind Ridge Books of Vermont, a small press that focuses on creating charitable partnerships between the publisher, the author, and the author’s charity of choice. Ten percent of Please Do Not Remove’s net proceeds will benefit the Vermont Library Association as they support the state’s 183 public libraries—more per capita than any other state.
the Voices of Vermonters Handing Out in Eden
POETRY
Girls I Never Married ~ a memoir ~
DANIEL LUSK
In Praise of Usefulness
Please Do Not Remove
Apples
—POETRY—
SHELAGH CONNOR SHAPIRO
Shape Sky
Nothing Saved Us Poems of the Korean War
of the
ANGELA PATTEN
A Collection Celebrating Vermont Literature and Libraries
MALISA GARLIEB
Edited by Angela Palm TAMRA J. HIGGINS
writers B rn
STEPHEN CRAMER
Reid also notes the changing privacy laws that libraries must honor, reaclling the due date stamps “perched at the end of the librarian’s pencil when she checked out your books” and imagining the readers who’d previously borrowed
A Collection Celebrating Vermont Literature and Libraries
Wind Ridge Books Celebrates
A Concise History of Hip Hop (in sonnets)
Libraries are still places of discovery for minds both young and old, but they are changing as technology and community needs change. Marty Reid, director of Vermont’s Department of Libraries, notes the uncertain future of the role and landscape of libraries. “Ebooks and digital resources have an increasing presence in library collections. The library’s place as a community center for learning is nothing new, but now that learning includes digital literacy, use of mobile devices, WiFi, and ‘maker spaces.’”
FROM THE HIP
sk any of today’s librarians about their early memories of visiting libraries as children and most of them will tell you about the way their fingers crept along the bindings of books, discovering title after title, intrigue after intrigue. They may remember the strings of Dewey Decmial call numbers that flashed beneath the books’ thin, plastic coverings and the gleaming overhead lighting. The may recall roaming the stacks as if caught in a labyrinth, each turn looking oddly like the last and dead ends everywhere. Many of them will recall the colored checkout cards in each book’s front cover, inserted into slim manilla envelopes and removed only when a book was checked out. Often, these books’ cards were filled with signatures, penned by the hands of patrons in ink
or lead, while other books remained unborrowed for years, their check-out cards pristine.
the
words // Angi Palm
A similar curiosity and appreciation prompted me to create Please Do Not Remove, a collection of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction written by twenty Vermont authors. Each piece in the book is inspired by a specific library check-out card. Many works in the book incorprate elements depicted on the cards in full-page, color spreads. The book is a celebration of libraries and of literature, reminding us of the past and transform-
Please Do Not Remove
Edited by Angela Palm
Published by
A Collection Celebrating Vermont Literature and Libraries
Through twenty works poetry, fiction, and nonfiction inspired by old library checkout cards, Please Do Not Remove anthologizes voices of Vermont’s rich literary culture. Created, curated, and edited by writer Angela Palm, the book celebrates library ephemera and a love of literature. Characters in prose pieces may take the names of library patrons listed on the corresponding checkout card; a poem’s subject might develop from the book title featured on its paired card; other pieces reflect the time period stamped on the card; still other works embody more abstract elements of a card, such as repetition or silence. Each piece is different. The checkout cards shown herein have been carefully photographed by Nick Adams.
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
a book. Scanning that list of A B readers and stumbling upon the name of a friend, family member, or another acquaintance is no longer possible. Reid says that “today we have good laws in place that protect ourA personal reading history A from prying eyes (or surveillance!), but that doesn’t change the fact that we liked knowing who had read those books before we did. Even if you are not at an age where you have personal experience with these past practices, you can appreciate the appeal. The names on those book cards spoke to us with the message, ‘I read and enjoyed this book, too.’”
From
th e cise A Con
Hip
Water Journeys in ART & POETRY
Hop of Hip Hist ory (in sonn ets)
Poetry
POEMS by Mary Jane Dickerson ART by Dianne Shullenberger
red Barn books o f v e r m o nt
SUN RIDGE o f v e r m o nt
STEPHEN CRAMER
For more information contact Lin Stone at 985-3091 Lin@windridgebooksofvt.com
Wind RIDGE books o f v e r m o nt
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
19
VT ARTIST
Water Journeys
Words // Tamra J. Higgins
Journey to Jericho, Vermont and on an unassuming back road, you will find the art studio and workshop of Dianne Shullenberger. In the studio you will find water, captured in fabric collages, created by thousands of pieces of cloth and hundreds of yards of thread. Climb the stairs to the workshop and there you will find tables and cupboards overflowing with pools of material and drawers drowning in spools of the thread used to outline and accent each collage. Continue further through a low doorway, and you will discover the framing workshop where Dianne herself mats then frames each creation. Dianne began her professional career as an artist after moving from Chicago to Vermont in 1978. While her children were in school, she worked from10:00 to 3:00, drawing, painting, and quilting. Eventually, she found that the handiwork in quilting took time away from the creative process, so she began exploring, tearing, and layering the fabric in new ways. Before long, themes emerged in her material musings: fruits and vegetables, waves, reflections, and her latest collection, the migration of water.
20
www.destinationvt.com
Water seems to be everywhere Dianne is, whether she is in Vermont or at her summer cabin in Michigan. “Things I do,” she shares, “get me around water. I kayak, ski, hike, bike, and run.” Her outdoor activities, though, are not the only source of inspiration. “The idea of a journey of a stick or object thrown into the water was something I always asked my grandkids. I wanted them to imagine their water journey to the ocean.” To begin the process of capturing the journey of streams, marshes, and estuaries, Dianne sketches or photographs specific places. From these pictures, she recreates the image by pinning piece after piece of fabric in corresponding colors onto her work board until she has a realistic representation. After the piece is constructed, she removes the pinned collage and sews it together with myriad colors of thread. It is the thread, she explains, more than the fabric, that gives each piece its watercolor effect. “Many places I go, people can’t, so they experience them through my work. I take them along. If I do a good job, others will experience it, too.” Dianne would like others to understand “that all bodies of water migrate. A water habitat has
specific vegetation that distinguishes it from others.” As a means of sharing this message, she asked her friend of more than 25 years, Mary Jane Dickerson, to collaborate with her. To get to Mary Jane’s place, you journey a little further into the Vermont countryside. Arriving at her home in Jericho Center, you are immediately struck by the master flower gardens, the meticulously restored 1869 house, and inside, her office, where books line the walls and sit in stacks on chairs. Professor Emerita of the University of Vermont where she taught literature and writing for over 30 years, Mary Jane is a soft spoken and measured woman with the feistiness of her North Carolina farming roots lying just below her surface. Mary Jane’s journey to poetry, as she explains it, has been “two steps forward and one step back.” Her first couple of steps were indeed in the forward direction. As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she worked with poet Randall Jarrell who was kind and encouraging to an aspiring poet wanting to write about such things as beaver ponds or the North Carolina landscape. As her poetry developed,
Mary Jane became especially interested in how family intersects with regional, national, and world history and how these “connect in significant ways, how people signify.” Now in retirement, she explains her writing is a part of a new life she’s created, one that’s complementary to all that she has done. Having been commissioned to write a poem once before, Mary Jane agreed to write a collection of poems to accompany Dianne’s water journey fabric collages. “I said yes because I wanted the challenge; I wanted to do something out of the ordinary.” And so she began researching Vermont history and geology to better understand the journey of water.
Excerpt from The Language of Water must have resounded in the earliest words uttered by living things evolving from the watery sac lying deep within the womb of Whitman’s teeming “ocean of life” where that “fierce old mother” gives birth “out of the cradle endlessly rocking”
As month followed month, Dianne never pressured Mary Jane, never asked her how it was going, only waited patiently for the poet to get back to her. After several months, in January, which to Mary Jane is “the best writing month, the clearing house of the mind,” she wrote the initial drafts over three weeks. “I had to create a framework to work within and once I created the first poem, I could see the closing poem.” It is these two poems that bring habitants – people, mammals, birds, reptiles – into the waterscape and create a more personal connection for the reader.
to wriggling life always taking shape into being
“I was given a gift to work with Dianne. I wanted this project to matter.” And as one word led to another word, as one work led to another work, the estuary of ideas and collages became Water Journeys, a project that truly matters.
arterial-like into veins of leaves, wetland grasses,
with the ebb and flow of ancient tidal waters. Emerging life mimics the language of water with its own intricate web-like tributaries, estuaries flowing upstream, downstream bearing sustenance, combining air and water into sapwood of branches, limbs and trunks, the blood flowing, the great heart pumping.
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
21
seven GENERATION SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
WORDS // Lucy Higgins PHOTO // CRAIGTHOMAS.NET
F
or most cleaning companies, social responsibility is not nearly as important as making a decent toilet cleaner. Seventh Generation, based out of Burlington, VT, begs to differ. Creating a line of products that are plant-derived and toxic free, and they are also tackling larger social issues.
A major goal that Seventh Generation is currently tackling speaks directly to their “nurturing nature” initiative; the company aims to stop sending their waste to landfills by 2020 and will use completely renewable packaging materials to do so. They are already on track by producing only plant-based materials for their products.
operates on a sustainability-based curriculum, and Seventh Generation helped construct an outdoor classroom and donated $10,000 to help install a solar array system. Not only do the solar panels decrease wasteful energy consumption, but they also serve to offset Seventh Generation’s corporate electricity usage.
Founded in 1988 by Jeffrey Hollender and Alan Newman, Seventh Generation is based on an Iroquois law: consider the impact that your decisions will have on the following seven generations. Running a business with this mindset can be tricky in a capitalist economy. Yet Seventh Generation seems to be doing just fine. In 2012, Seventh Generation’s retail sales reached over $200 million, 10% of which is donated to non-profit organizations.
Seventh Generation prides itself on fair and inclusive treatment of employees, which takes form with an incentive program that awards those who come up with their own sustainable ideas. Employees also have 16 paid hours annually to volunteer within their community, and in 2013, the first year of the community volunteer program, the rate of participation was 100%.
The future for Seventh Generation is looking just as green as its past. Their biggest initiative of late is to buy Bobble, a reusable filtered water bottle brand, in an effort to address the problem of wasteful consumption of plastic water bottles (the Bobble website notes an estimate that 200 billion single-serve water bottles end up in landfills every year). The filters in Bobble water bottles can be used upwards of 300 times before needing replacement. This is Seventh Generation’s first acquisition of a business that is not within their realm of cleaning products, but given their success in social responsibility campaigns, let’s hope it’s not their last.
The bottom line is that Seventh Generation’s success is measured on more than just profits. The 2012 Sustainability Report highlights what those measurements are: “nurturing nature, enhancing health, building communities and transforming commerce.”
22
www.destinationvt.com
On a larger scale, the company follows its own suggestions to its employees and takes an interest in the Burlington community. In December 2011, Seventh Generation announced its partnership with The Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes Elementary School, located in Burlington’s North End. The entire elementary school
nth FALL // 2014 Destination VT
23
FORAGING SEASON Words and Photos // Darcy and Dale Cahill Many people believe that Vermont has only five seasons, summer, fall, winter, spring and mud. If you are a forager, seasons are defined by whatever wild edible is ready to pick. Vermont’s river banks and woods are loaded with all kinds of delicious food. When ramps start appearing on the forest floor, they signal the beginning of the foraging seasons to come for fiddleheads, ginger, nettles, dandelion greens, mushrooms, and wild berries, just to name a few.
24
www.destinationvt.com
Ramps, a bulb that tastes like a cross between garlic and an onion are a foraging favorite. They are easy to find as they grow in large groupings and are one of the first greens to appear in the woods. The ramp season lasts a good month, so for about thirty days in the spring foragers are busy digging. The bulbs are easy to clean, prepare, and cook. They also taste great with scrambled eggs or when pickled. Next comes the fiddlehead season. They tend to grow along river banks and are also easy to identify by the “v” shape that runs up their stem. In a densely populat-
ed river bank it takes only a few minutes to gather enough fiddleheads for a meal. Cattails provide a foraging season as well. Their pollen is ready for harvest when it turns a bright yellow, which lasts for about a week depending on wind and rain. The pollen is collected by shaking the cattail in a dry container. Collecting cattail pollen can be time consuming and it does require a good pair of waders or a canoe. Typically cattail pollen is used as a substitute for flour. Wild ginger grows close to the ground and can be harvested all spring and into the summer. In the spring it can be identified
by the shape of its leaf and the exotic maroon flower that hangs just under the leaf. It is extremely aromatic and can be used in any recipe that calls for ginger. Spring is also the time to forage for nettles. Although most times avoided at all costs, foragers with a good pair of gloves can safely harvest nettles without the sting. They are extremely unpleasant to the touch, but cooking them removes the sting and leaves behind an earthy tasting leaf. It can be made into tea and broths. The trickiest and most intimidating foraging is for mushrooms. Because some mushrooms have toxic doubles, it is important to go hunting for them with an experienced forager. While most foraging can be done using recycled plastic bags, mushrooms require ventilation and should be collected in a basket. In the spring Pheasant Tails are the most common and easiest to find. Later in the summer mushrooms like Morels, Chan-
terelles, Hen of the Woods, and the Lion’s Mane begin to appear. While most foragers are looking to add something wild and delicious to their own dinner table, for others foraging is a way to earn extra cash. Many local restaurants and health food stores and markets buy directly from the forager to pass on to their customers. City Market in Burlington is a good place to find foraged foods. They pride themselves on having freshly harvested ramps and fiddle heads each spring and they ask their foragers to sign a sustainability agreement. Many of Vermont’s restaurants run specials so that they can include freshly foraged food on their menus. Jeff Minton at the Jeffersonville Tavern serves fiddleheads in a salad each spring. The Skinny Pancake adds fiddleheads and ramps to their crepes, the Farmhouse pickles their ramps and Chef Cody Vasek at The Trapp Family Lodge adds ramps to his Kimchi.
Chef Joe Chmielewski at The Farmhouse likens foraging to going on a treasure hunt. “It is exciting to go out in the woods looking for food. Sometimes you find something delicious and sometimes you don’t but you’ve still spent the day exploring the woods.” He loves the opportunity of finding edibles that introduce him to new textures and flavors. Chef Joe lead a team of ten servers and kitchen staff to Bakersfield this spring to forage for their annual Resurrection dinner, a meal created to celebrate eating fresh food after a long winter. They spent the entire morning in the woods and along stream banks harvesting nine different edibles. Regardless of what is in season, a walk in the woods is always fun. So lace up those hiking boots, slap on some bug spray, and try some treasure hunting on your own. Bon appetite!
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
25
Best State Parks of the Fall WORDS // PHYL NEWBECK PHOTOS // COURTESY OF VERMONT STATE PARKS
26
www.destinationvt.com
S
ure, there are some Vermont state parks that are best visited in summer when the days are long and the water is warm. In fact, there are many that are only open in the summer, but there are others that shine in autumn. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures and the changing palette of the landscape and visit some of Vermont’s state parks this fall. Director of Vermont State Parks Craig Whipple noted that roughly half of Vermont’s campgrounds are open through Columbus Day, making about 1,000 campsites available for the fall. “The camping experience is noticeably different after Labor Day,” he said. “The weather changes dramatically. It can be a little chancier but the bugs aren’t as prevalent. It’s quiet so it’s perfect if you’re looking for outdoor camping with a little seclusion, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed.”
Autumn view, Elmore State Park, photo Ross Bryant
One park that stands out in the fall is just outside Burlington. “It’s hard to beat Mt. Philo,” said Whipple. “The views are breathtaking, the foliage is beautiful, and there are nice cool breezes on the mountain. Some people go specifically to see the hawk migration in the fall. It’s the iconic small destination.” Mt. Philo has a 10-site campground at the summit which includes three lean-tos, hot showers and flush toilets, as well as an indoor pavilion. The camping area can be reached via a foot trail through the woods or a paved road.
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
27
Lean-to at Coolidge State Park, photo Gary Bouchard
Fall Foliage at Coolidge State Park, photo courtesy of Vermont State Parks
28
www.destinationvt.com
John Frigault has been the ranger at Mt. Philo State Park for three years. “From my perspective, Mt Philo is a really magical place,” he said. “A lot of people don’t believe in magic but once you come up to the top of the park, the views are incredible.” Frigault noted that the park has an abundance of butterflies and, in addition to hawks, it’s a migratory route for more tropical birds like scarlet tanagers and warblers. “You hear these birds and if you find a niche or alcove and sit quietly, all these things come to you and you get a chance to entrench yourself in nature and rejuvenate and you get a brand new perspective on things,” he said. “That’s what keeps me coming back.” In the winter, Frigault lives in Costa Rica and watches the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. “The sunset at Mt. Philo is that or better, he said. “We have world class sunsets over Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.”
Whipple also recommends Elmore State Park, which has 45 tent/trailer sites and 15 lean-tos, as well as hot showers. The park also features water access from a large sandy beach and hiking trails to the fire tower atop Mt. Elmore. “The Elmore area is spectacular in the fall,” said Whipple “and the campground is fully operational.” Agnes Barsalo, now in her fourth year as Park Ranger at Elmore, touts the hiking trails as a perfect reason to visit the park in the fall. “Our trails are unbelievable,” she said. “From the fire tower you can see Stowe, Morrisville, Mt. Mansfield, and Camel’s Hump and to the east is the Groton State Forest. In the fall the air is clearer so you can see even further.” For those not able to hike the full route, there are beautiful reflective views in the lake at lower altitudes. Although Elmore never gets as busy as nearby Stowe, it’s even quieter in the fall. “You’re getting
Campers’ Beach, Grand Isle State Park, photo Beth Herder
a lot of peace and quiet,” said Barsalo. “I love this town. Everything about this area is great.” For a change of pace, step into history at Coolidge State Park, which is almost unchanged since it was founded in 1933 near Plymouth Notch, the birthplace of President Coolidge. The park has 36 lean-to campsites which have views of the Black River Valley and the Green Mountains. Visitors can fish for brook trout in several streams, as well as hike miles of trails. Wildlife at the park includes barred owls, moose and occasionally black bear. Lovers of history can search the grounds for the stone walls and foundations that are testament to previous inhabitants who tilled the land and raised sheep. The 70-person pavilion with electricity, grills, fireplaces and picnic tables is a great place for a party. “It’s high in the mountains with a few campsites with incredible views,” said
Whipple. “It’s a pretty cool place to be in the fall.” Ranger Ken Coucher agrees that most people come to the park because of the views. Eight of the lean-tos have open vistas of Killington Peak and the Black River Valley. In addition, there is a 15-acre clearing at a picnic area atop one of the hills. “Coolidge State Park is known for its vistas,” Coucher said. “You can’t get these types of views in a lot of places in Vermont without hiking. In the fall, people also come here for the beautiful foliage. We have a lot of great color with birch and maple trees.” Although Vermont State Parks are no longer fully operational after Columbus Day, that doesn’t mean they are complexly shut down. “They’re open and available all the time,” said Whipple. “Some of our areas are arguably as popular or more popular when they’re perceived to be closed.”
Mt. Philo State Park 5425 Mt. Philo Road Charlotte, VT 05445 802-425-2390
Elmore State Park 856 VT Route 12 Lake Elmore, VT 05657 802-888-2982
Coolidge State Park 855 Coolidge State Park Road Plymouth, VT 05056 802-672-3612
Come on out and enjoy the fall.
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
29
WORDS // David Scherr PHOTO // ben sarle Exactly halfway up Church Street, Burlington’s famed pedestrian thoroughfare, sits Pascolo, an excellent new Italianthemed restaurant and a strong addition to Burlington’s ever-expanding topquality culinary scene. Visitors walking by on a summer evening can’t miss the inviting outdoor seating, and those who decide on an inside seat will be pleased with the welcoming and well-appointed downstairs restaurant space.
of wood, stone, and brick. In a clever touch, even the sound-dampening cork on the ceiling is designed to look like an old stone construction.
Rustic stone foundation-style walls line parts of the restaurant, with soft red brick complementing the stone. The kitchen can be seen from the restaurant, separated by a brick wall with large arched windows. Along the bottom of the wall, just under the windows, cordwood is stacked for the huge wood-fired oven that can be seen within. The bar area has tasteful white tile underneath the wooden top, contributing nicely to the overall sense of stepping back into a simpler era
Diners looking to start with a cocktail have a number of excellent choices. As autumn approaches the Seconde Casa should be at the top of the list. Made with rye as a base, the flavor is lightened with a touch of lemon and a pleasant, but not overwhelming, dose of rhubarb flavor from house rhubarb bitters. An unique and imaginative drink, it will warm one up as the days get colder. Another smart drink option is the Ostrogoth, a gin drink with a clean, crisp flavor, sweetened
30
www.destinationvt.com
The Farmhouse Group, the individuals behind the wildly successful Burlingtonarea restaurants The Farmhouse, Guild, and El Cortijo, continues to expand its culinary empire with this new venture, a nicely executed new page in their remarkable portfolio.
slightly by honey and chamomile. A sage leaf garnish adds the contrasting hint of an earthy scent as one sips the concoction. Starting out the meal with appetizers is a must, and a diner would be crazy to miss the Caprese. Made with incredible heirloom tomatoes bursting with flavor and freshness, along with soft mozzarella, creamy basil and olive oil, the combination of flavors gives such an immediate and easy pleasure that it’s almost reminiscent of comfort food. The Finocchio dish, a salad that includes shaved fennel, cherry tomatoes and arugula, also benefits from the incredible freshness of the ingredients. The kitchen was smart enough to know that the produce, combined expertly, needed little else to show itself off—the ingredients are allowed to speak for themselves. Those eating dinner here will struggle to choose from the abundant menu, but don’t miss one of the pasta dishes with the house-made noodles. One excellent example is the Sugo Di Agnello, made with lamb ragu, basil, and a touch of mint. The dish does not skimp on the meat, and the sauce is rich. With impressive inventiveness, however, the dish does not taste or feel heavy. The house-made noodles are light, flavorful, thin, and perfectly cooked. The basil adds lightness, perfectly balancing the meat and sauce. Compounding the difficulty in choosing meals at Pascolo, the pizza menu is excellent and top-quality, cooked in the wood-fired oven. Made thin-crust style with quality ingredients, the Prosciutto pizza, for example, has soft, perfectly salted, melts-in-your mouth prosciutto slices along with fresh spinach leaves and just the right amount of cheese. These pizzas are not topped with ingredients that have been chopped half to death—instead a diner gets whole slices of prosciutto and whole spinach leaves, allowing a full appreciation of the topquality produce and meat that the restaurant uses. Both visitors to, and citizens of, the Burlington area should be grateful for this new restaurant. Wonderful ingredients, excellent service and attention to detail, and a great ambiance whether eating on Church Street or inside the restaurant, Pascolo is a welcome addition to the Burlington food scene.
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
31
PUZZLES & STUFF CROSSWORD
THEME: WORLD CAPITALS
DOODLES BY JAMES LASELL MORSE
It won’t be long before humans and computers merge and all hell breaks loose. 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. TV’s Donald Draper, e.g. 6. ___ of Good Feelings 9. Type of ski lift 13. *Yellow cheese eaten in Amsterdam? 14. No amount 15. *Rome’s Colosseum 16. *You use it to find your way to world capitals 17. Maltese or Havanese, e.g. 18. European finch 19. Blood infection 21. *Plato’s home 23. “The Joy Luck Club” author 24. Sound of bells 25. Maple syrup precursor 28. Computer application command 30. Old material, presented anew 35. Blue pencil mark 37. “____ of Eden” 39. WWII conference site 40. ____-a-daisy 41. Maneuvers 43. Bank claim 44. _____ Heep of “David Copperfield” 46. Church sanctuary 47. *Nobel Peace Prize capital 48. Talk rapidly and angrily 50. Mr. Potato Head?
32
52. Mai ___ 53. Duds 55. Bad-mouth 57. *U2’s Bono owns a hotel here 60. *Home to many great composers 63. Conical tent 64. Gone by 66. Chinese weight units 68. Keyboard key 69. Make a seam 70. Clear the blackboard 71. Above 72. “For ___ a jolly...” 73. Move a plant
DOWN
1. ___ Khan 2. Chewy treats 3. Drug smuggler 4. Make fit for 5. *Capital of Bahamas 6. “____ of the earth” 7. Spanish river 8. Pond buildup 9. Genealogist’s creation 10. *De facto capital of Switzerland 11. Anisette, for short 12. Campaigned
www.destinationvt.com
15. Olsen or Judd, e.g. 20. _____ circle 22. Feather glue 24. Has 25. *”Gangnam Style” capital 26. Love intensely 27. Ubiquitous ground songbird 29. Slap on 31. Saintly glow 32. CrËme de la crËme 33. Inscribed pillar 34. *Capital of Vietnam 36. Russian autocrat 38. Not permanent 42. *Riyadh is the capital of _____ Arabia 45. *His bunker was in Berlin 49. Hawaiian dish 51. Dr. Atkins’ follower, e.g. 54. Grind teeth 56. Animal catcher 57. Fender blemish 58. As far as 59. Car onomatopoeia 60. Wedding day promises 61. ____ tide 62. Additionally 63. *They drink a lot of it in London 65. Wow! 67. Exercise group
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 10
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” — Carl Bard
photo: CRAIGTHOMAS.NET
FALL // 2014 Destination VT
33
“we in the noRth countRy on both sides oF lake champlain have nothing else quite like the buRlington book Festival.” — Russell banks
present tHe 2014
ning it Scree l Benef Festiva an r Join us fo able Evening Unforgett with the
Star
Three days of authorized activity
of
september 19–21
: goiTredeSTaTveSidofaalmneSia
JayParini
downtown burlington
The Un
t 7:30pm t ug. 27 a wed., A 400 pine stree t• $20 Arts Rio tickets
Readings, signings, panels, film screenings, musical performances, workshops, exhibits, demos, original theatre & special events featuring literary luminaries from around the world — and just around the corner! For a schedule, list of participants or to volunteer, call 658-3328 or read all about it at burlingtonbookfestival.com
Katherine Paterson Kim Addonizio 2014 Festival dedicatee
Chase Twichell
Jessie Haas
Jennifer Haigh
Chris Tebbetts
Didi Jackson
David M. Shapard
Sarah Pekkanen
Alice B. Fogel
Leslie Jamison
Jeff Danziger
Vijay Seshadri Jessica Hendry 2014 Recipient of the Nelson pulitzer prize for poetry
Literally Made Possible by the Generosity of:
Co-produced by
With Special Thanks to the Amy E. Tarrant Foundation, Anonymous and Lois McClure
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.
To advertise call: (802) 985-3091 or email: advertising@windridgepublishing.com
DESTINATIoIoNVT
www.destinationvt.com
Summer EDITION 2014
FREE
TAKE ONE
ART // CULT URE // FOOD // MUSIC // PEOPLE
ART // CULTURE // TOURISM // PEOPLE // FOOD
SIMPLE, WHOLESOME FARE MADE FROM FINE VERMONT INGREDIENTS.
(+ an exciting selection of craft beer, wine & spirits, too!) DROP IN & SEE US AT ANY OF OUR BURLINGTON AREA RESTAURANTS! WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT.
FA R M H O U S E G R O U P. C O M 36 www.destinationvt.com THE FARMHOUSE TAP & GRILL / EL CORTIJO / GUILD FINE MEATS / GUILD TAVERN / PASCOLO RISTORANTE