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SUMMER // 2015 Destination VT
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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 for Vermont natives and transplants, day-trippers 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
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PUBLISHERS HOLLY JOHNSON GREG FORBER EDITOR SADIE WILLIAMS CALENDAR EDITOR JESSICA DUDLEY ADVERTISING SALES TERRY WETMORE MOLLY TREVITHICK SUSAN ALDEN DORI SHARP DESIGN GREG FORBER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHEA WATERS EVANS KEITH MORRILL SADIE WILLIAMS LETTIE STRATTON LIN STONE PHYL NEWBECK DAVID SCHERR CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS CRAIG THOMAS VERMONT PBS DIANE GABRIEL BEN DEFLORIO ANDY DUBACK MONIKA RIVARD TODD STOILOV BEN SARLE Printed by Dartmouth Printing Co. COVER IMAGE // Todd Stoilov
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CONTENTS SUMMER // 2015 Calendar 6 Montpelier 12 Ryan Miller 16 Diane Gabriel 18 VT Tech 20 Elizabeth Bluemle 22 Rebel Yell 24 Choose Your Own 28 Bryce Dance Company 29 Three Penny Tap Room 32 Puzzle 34
Photo by Monika Rivard
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SUMMER 2015
Wanderlust Festival. Photo by Brittany White
june JUNE 5 TO 7
STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS PARADE AND WEEKEND, Brattleboro Kick off the weekend downtown with the Friday Evening Street Festival and Gallery Walk, featuring live music, local food, craft vendors, street dancers, and more. The parade begins Saturday at 10am, led by the heifers. Be sure to stick around after for the Slow Living Expo where you can meet the cows and enjoy farm-fresh food and fun for the whole family. www.strollingoftheheifers.com
JUNE 5 TO 14
BURLINGTON DISCOVER JAZZ FESTIVAL, Burlington This 10-day Jazz Festival brings together live music lovers of all ages. Come be dazzled by top notch musicians including Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band, Grundlefunk, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and Mavis Staples. Musicians will perform throughout town at venues such as the Flynn Center for Performing Arts, City Hall Park, and Church Street Marketplace, and more. Come for one night, or come for them all! www.discoverjazz.com
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JUNE 6 AND 7
JUNE 13
29th ANNUAL ANTIQUE & CLASSIC CAR SHOW, Manchester Center Featuring timeless imports, domestics, and vintage motorcycles, this premier show promises to be an unforgettable kick-off to summer. Pull up a chair along historic Main Street and watch this fabulous parade stroll by. Stick around for the Awards Ceremony on Sunday at 2pm. There will be music, food, trivia, and much more. www.manchestercarshow.com
SUGARBUSH’S 5th ANNUAL BREWGRASS FESTIVAL, Warren Kick off the summer season with tasty local food, jammin’ bluegrass musicians, and a plethora of local beers and ciders, including Alchemist, Citizen Cider, Fiddlehead, Lost Nation Brewery, Trapp Lager Brewing, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Switchback Brewing Company, and so many more. www.sugarbush.com
JUNE 11
KIDS PIRATE FESTIVAL, Vergennes Arrive in costume at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and enjoy a number of pirate-themed activities including crafts, sing-alongs with Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate, the Great Pirate Tug-o-War, and much more! Don’t forget to meet the great Captain Jane Swallow. www.lcmm.org
PECHAKUCHA NIGHT, Burlington Designers, artists, and other innovators present narrated slides in a fun, fast-paced, informal presentation format at the Fleming Museum of Art. Drinks and snacks will be available. Begins at 6pm. www.flemingmuseum.org
JUNE 13
2015 CLOTHES EXCHANGE EVENT, Burlington Presented by the South End Arts & Business Association, this annual shopping fundraising event held at the Burlington Town Center will benefit The Vermont Foodbank. The sale will include great selections from national and local retailers. www.theclothesexchange.org
JUNE 13 AND 14
JUNE 15
DANIEL TOSH, Burlington Comedian Daniel Tosh, host of Comedy Central’s “Tosh.0,” will blow through town on his Great Nor’easter Tour for a hilarious night of black comedy, satire, and sarcasm. First show 7pm, second show at 9:30pm. www.flynntix.org
CALENDAR JUNE 16 TO 20
BURLINGTON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL, Burlington Enjoy live jazz by Triage and Gravel and stunning views of Lake Champlain while reveling in a variety of delectable farm-fresh foods and mouthwatering world-class wines. The succulent menu, inspired by top Vermont chefs, makes this an event to celebrate all week. www.burlingtonwineandfoodfestival.com
JUNE 18 TO 21
WANDERLUST FESTIVAL, Bondville Disconnect and allow yourself to engage in a number of activities to cleanse your mind, body, and soul. Practice yoga on the top of Stratton Mountain, under a brilliant starry night sky, or atop a paddleboard in the middle of Winhall River. Enjoy a sunset hike, eat a delicious local meal, run through the mountains, or enjoy an intimate music performance. You’re bound to find your true north at Wanderlust. www.wanderlust.com
JUNE 19
VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS BASEBALL, Burlington Be there for Opening Day as the Lake Monsters enter their 22nd season. Whether you’re in the newly renovated grandstand or clinging to the fence behind home plate, cheer on your VT Lake Monsters with Champ. For tickets call (802) 655-6611. www.milb.com
Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival. Photo by Jim Keefe
JUNE 26 TO 28
ROCKFIRE, Millstone Hill This stunning weekendlong event is back—bigger and brighter than ever! Featuring a unique combination of art, music, and fire on a monumental scale, Rockfire celebrates Central Vermont’s colorful granite heritage in Millstone Hill’s abandoned quarries and granite industry ruins. Don’t miss the centerpiece of this event, the Firewalk—a three mile long procession lit by thousands of candles, luminaries, and bonfires, all leading to a variety of firelit art installations and six live performance stages. www.rockfirevt.com
JUNE 26 TO 28
VERMONT QUILT FESTIVAL, Essex Junction Kicking off the festival is the Contest Awards Ceremony at 6:30pm, followed by the Champagne and Chocolate Preview where you can marvel at a wide array of gorgeous quilts, chat with the winners, and shop at over eighty vendor booths. Make sure to check out the free gallery talks, including curators Joe Cunningham and Joan Ford. www.vqf.org
JUNE 19 TO 21
36th ANNUAL QUECHEE HOT AIR BALLOON, CRAFT, AND MUSIC FESTIVAL, Quechee Come out and be amazed by balloons, Frisbee-catching dogs, jugglers, skydivers, and a variety of toe-tappin’ music, including live jazz, Middle Eastern dance, country rock legend Tim Charron, and much more. www.quecheeballoonfestival.com
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JUNE 22 TO 26
WELLNESS OUTDOOR WEEK, Smugglers’ Notch Reward yourself for enduring the long winter. This invigorating wellness adventure retreat is located at the picturesque Smugglers’ Notch Resort and is devoted to a week of wellness, fitness, empowerment, and fun. Activities range from kayaking the Lamoille River and hiking the magnificent Mount Mansfield to soaring through a zip line treetop obstacle course and enjoying an organic farm tour and dinner. www.yourpersonalbestlife.com
JUNE 26 AND 27
THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR., Burlington Journey “under the sea” with Ariel, Sebastian, and their aquatic friends. The Flynn Youth Theater Company, with a cast of young actors ages 10-14, will take the stage and transport you into a magical underwater kingdom of music and merfolk. Fun for the whole family! Shows at 3pm and 6pm on Friday, and 1pm and 4pm on Saturday. www.flynntix.org
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Photo courtesy of Circus Smirkus
TD Bank’s Summer Festival. Photo by Bill Jalbert
JUNE 27
SHOWTIME AT BATTERY PARK, Burlington First annual talent contest and summer festival overlooking the gorgeous Lake Champlain - this event will feature a youth talent show, local and international craft and food vendors, outdoor children’s games, face-painting, and much more. The event is free, however donations are appreciated and will benefit children’s programs at the Sara Holbrook Community Center. www.visitvt.com
JUNE 27 AND 28
DITCH PICKLE CLASSIC, Swanton Lake Champlain’s exclusive Catch-Photo-Release Fly Fishing Tournament returns to Swanton for another year. The tournament is open to anglers of all ages and skill levels. Stick around for the post-tourney BBQ Sunday afternoon and enjoy tasty food and the Weighin/Awards Ceremony. www.dpcvt.com
JUNE 28 TO AUG 15
CIRCUS SMIRKUS BIG TOP TOUR, Statewide It’s time to whet your appetite for another fun season of Circus Smirkus, the awardwinning international youth circus. This year’s theme is “Bon Appétit,” and the show will be featuring a saucy mix of juggling sous chefs, acrobatic hors d’oeuvres, and sweet and sour unicycles. The crew will be mixing up something spicy, with a pinch of silly, in Greensboro, Essex Junction, Saint Johnsbury, and Montpelier. www.circussmirkus.org
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july JULY 1 TO 11
VSO’S TD BANK SUMMER FESTIVAL TOUR, Statewide Vermont Symphony Orchestra proudly presents “Spellbound.” Pack a picnic, settle in, and enjoy a mesmerizing ensemble conjuring enchantments, wizardr y, and dreamscapes. The show will conclude with the 1812 Overture, marches, and fireworks. For tour dates and locations visit the VSO website. www.vso.org
JULY 5 TO 11
37th ANNUAL MIDDLEBURY SUMMER FESTIVAL ON-THE-GREEN, Middlebury Come out and enjoy this free family event at the Middlebury Recreation Park, featuring a week of mesmerizing evening performances, including Caroline Rose, The Bluegrass Gospel Project, and Heather Maloney. The lively Saturday night street dance, featuring the Vermont Jazz Ensemble, will cap the festivities. www.festivalonthegreen.org
JULY 10 TO 12
STOWEFLAKE BALLOON FESTIAL, Stowe One of the state’s most popular summer celebrations. Watch as over 25 balloons soar across the sky during stunning sunrise and sunset launches. Stick around for live music, the Food, Beer, & Wine Tent, a Spa Tent, children activities, and much more. www.stoweflakeballoonfestival.com
JULY 11 AND 12
7th ANNUAL OPEN FARM & STUDIO TOUR, Grand Isle “Discover the Heart of the Islands” at this magnificent weekend event, sampling delicious local food while meeting over fifty different artists and farmers. Observe demonstrations by local artists, and visit vineyards, artist studios, gardens, farmers’ markets, and more. www.openfarmandstudio.com
JULY 12
“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC, Burlington Biggestselling comedy recording artist in history and three-time Emmy-winning comedian, “Weird Al” will visit Burlington while on The Mandatory World Tour. Show at 8pm. www.flynntix.org
JULY 12
5th ANNUAL MAD RIVER MARATHON, MAD HALF, AND RELAYS, Waitsfield “The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon!” There are races for every runner at any level. Run (or walk) through the extraordinary rural communities of Mad River Valley on back and dirt roads with quaint villages, historic barns, covered bridges, and fields of Vermont cows. www.madmarathon.com
JULY 17 AND 18
VERMONT BREWERS FESTIVAL, Burlington This annual celebration welcomes over forty of the top brewers in the northeast to the Green Mountain State and features a premier line up of craft beers. Whether it’s a ginger wheat beer, a coffee-blasted chocolate stout, or hoppy IPA, there is something for everyone. www.vtbrewfest.com
CALENDAR
Vermont Cheesemakers Festival. Photo by Sabin Gantz
JULY 18
37th ANNUAL GOSHEN GALLOP 10K, Goshen Rated as “one of the toughest 10K in New England,” this exciting and challenging run takes you across the dirt and gravel roads of beautiful Goshen and up to elevations between 1800 and 2100 feet following the hiking and skiing trails of the Moosalamoo National Recreations Area of the Green Mountain National Forest. Stick around after for food, awards, and music. A 5K is also offered. Registration closes July 16. www.addisoncounty.com
JULY 19
VERMONT CHEESEMAKERS FESTIVAL, Shelburne With over 40 award-winning cheesemakers and over 200 cheeses, beverages, and foods to sample and purchase, it’s no wonder this event was voted as one of the “Top 10 Best U.S. Summer Food Festivals.” Spend a relaxing day along the shores of Lake Champlain at the historic Shelburne Farms sampling, learning, networking, and buying fine cheeses and local foods and wines. www.vtcheesefest.com
JULY 19
NEIL YOUNG + PROMISE OF THE REAL, Essex Junction Higher Ground is pleased to welcome the legendary Neil Young to perform at the Champlain Valley Expo. This will be Young’s first performance in Vermont. Gates at 6pm, show 7:30pm. www.flynntix.org
JULY 24 TO 26
BOOKSTOCK LITERARY FESTIVAL, Woodstock The Green Mountain Festival of Words returns for another fun year, featuring a diverse lineup of fine writers, poets and artists including Major Jackson, Mark Doty, Jeffrey Lent, Gary Shattuck, Bill Gifford, and many more. Be there for exhibitions on the green, writing workshops, book sales, and much more. www.bookstockvt.org
JULY 30
THE DECEMBERISTS, Shelburne Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum features indie folk rock band, The Decemberists. Children 12 and under are free. Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm. www.highergroundmusic.com
JULY 31 AND AUG 1
1st ANNUAL VERMONT JERKFEST, Killington Bring your friends and family to partake in this memorable event full of spice, music, and food. This Caribbean style festival features Jamaican jerk hot food, made by top local chefs, and the smooth sound of reggae music. The Rum & Brew Tasting kicks off the festival at 7pm. www.vtjerkfestival.com
Mad Marathon. Photo by Sandy Macy
JULY 31 TO AUG 2
VT MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL, Brownsville With over 75 miles of trails, daily guided rides, and kids’ rides, there is fun to be had by the whole family. Partake in a variety of contests and games and enjoy free onsite camping, live music, and plenty of food. Don’t miss the mountain bike Olympics, limbo, slow race, and huffy toss following Saturday’s BBQ. www.vmba.org
JULY 31 TO AUG 9
DEERFIELD VALLEY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL, Mount Snow “Do you love all things blue? Then the Blueberry Festival is the place for you!” Visit the Valley and experience the Big Blue Parade, the Blue Street Fair, jam making, blue music events, blue beer, and a spectacular blue car show. And don’t forget to pick your own blueberries. www.vermontblueberry.com
Old Mill Craft Shop Specializing in Vermont made gifts “Snowflake” Bentley prints and jewelry
JULY 31 TO AUG 2
FESTIVAL OF FOOLS, Burlington Four main stages surrounding Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park will feature continuous performances by the best international street performers from around the globe. This curated celebration of street arts devoted to community engagement is brought to you by Burlington City Arts. Don’t miss the grand finale on Sunday. www.vermontfestivaloffools.com
4A Red Mill Dr. (off Route 15) Jericho VT 802 899-3225 jerichohistoricalsociety.org
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Festival of Fools. Photo by Raychel Severance
AUG 1
THE AVETT BROTHERS, Shelburne Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum features bluegrass/folk rock band The Avett Brothers. Doors 6pm, show 7pm. www.highergroundmusic.com
AUG 1 TO SEPT 1
VERMONT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, Waitsfield With more than 100 quality arts-related events and activities, the Vermont Festival of the Arts is one of the most diverse festivals in New England. Events take place every day of the month of August and offer fun for every age. Check out the art shows, tours, mural paintings, picnics, world-class musical per formances, painting workshops, and much more. www.vermontartfest.com
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AUG 7 TO 9
HOPS IN THE HILLS BEER & WINE FESTIVAL, Ludlow Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Event! Hang out in the gorgeous courtyard at Okemo’s Jackson Gore Inn while enjoying live music, local food and goods from neighborhood crafters, and sampling over 50 craft beers,
over a dozen hard ciders, and over 20 wines. Don’t miss the Okemo Valley Chicken Wing Competition on Saturday as local restaurants vie for the title for the first time ever. www.okemo.com
AUG 8
HARPOON POINT TO POINT, Windsor Presented by National Life Group, this charity cycling event will benefit The Vermont Foodbank. Choose from three beautiful, fully supported rides: 25, 50, or 100 miles. The post-ride party at Harpoon Brewery features hot showers, BBQ, live music, and fresh beer. www.harpoonpointtopoint.com
SEE PAGE 34 FOR PUZZLES
August
AUG 6 TO 9
LAKE CHAMPLAIN’S MARITIME FESTIVAL, Burlington Bring the whole family and enjoy strolling along the shores from venue to venue, sampling local fare, listening to musicians, and celebrating the past, present, and future of Lake Champlain. There will be hundreds of exhibits, rides, and activities for the kids, a Vintage Boat Show and Parade, four concerts by nationallyacclaimed artists, and much more! Aug 6, Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, show 8pm; Aug 7, Twiddle with Soule Monde, show 6:30pm; Aug 8, Moe with Cabinet, show 6pm www.lcmfestival.com
AUG 9
TASTE OF THE VALLEY AND “IRON CHEF” COMPETITION, Warren Sample the finest culinary creations of local restaurants and food providers at the Lincoln Peak Village. Enjoy music inside and out. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite culinary master competing in the head to head second annual Iron Chef competition. www.vermontartfest.com
CALENDAR AUG 12 TO 16
THE VERMONT CHALLENGE, Stratton “Are you up for the Challenge? ” T he four th annual Vermont Challenge is a challenging bicycle tour that traverses gorgeous Southern Vermont over 2, 3, or 4 days, including the signature Saturday Gran, Medio and Piccolo Fondo, plus the “Ride Up” Bike Festival. There will be shorter tamer routes each day, so bring your family and friends to join in all the fun. www.vtchallenge.com
AUG 14 AND 15
GREAT VERMONT PLEIN AIR PAINT-OUT, Waitsfield A festival within a festival. Spend time in the historic Waitsfield Village for the Vermont Festival of the Arts and watch as 50 artists from all over New England dr aw, sketch, and paint the lovely local scenery, including the iconic covered br idge s , lush gardens, and quaint store fronts. Stick around for Saturday’s Sidewalk Art Show and Sale where you can see the final masterpieces and purchase one to take home with you. www.vermontartfest.com
AUG 19 TO 23
ORLEANS COUNTY FAIR, Barton This traditional Vermont fair dates back to 1867, and for all those years has offered fun and enter tainment for the entire family. Midway rides, irresistible fair food, a 50th Anniversary Tribute show honoring the Rolling Stones, the Black Cat Hell Dr ivers tr aveling stunt show, the Demolition Derby, and much, more. 3.5x2.3_UmallAd.pdf 1 www.orleanscountyfair.net
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AUG 22
QUECHEE SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AND CELTIC FAIR, Quechee Visit the Quechee Polo Field for all things Scottish! Enjoy authentic Scottish cuisine, a Pipe Band Competition, the Highland Dancing Competition, Scottish arts and crafts, the Kilted Mile Race, live Scottish music, and much more. www.quecheescottishfestival.com
AUG 28
LIVE AT THE FILLMORE: ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE, South Burlington Live at the Fillmore offers an exact reproduction of the live concert performances of one of the greatest bands of all time, the Allman Brothers Band as they sounded from 1969-1971. Doors at 8pm, show at 8:30pm. www.highergroundmusic.com
AUG 28
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK, North Hero/Shelburne/Burlington Enjoy an unforgettable evening in the park. The Vermont Shakespeare Company proudly presents “Romeo and Juliet.” Visit the VSC website for performance dates and locations. www.vermontshakespeare.org
AUG 28 AND 29
34th ANNUAL VERGENNES DAY, Vergennes Kicking off the festivities Friday night is the Vergennes Day Street Dance. Enjoy a range of fun activities for the whole family, including a pancake breakfast, the Little City 5K and 10K races, bandstand music, children’s venue, a car show, and much more. With over 70 crafters and vendors, this is the quintessential small 2/13/15 10:14town AM fair. www.addisoncounty.com
Shakespeare in the Park. Photo by Jan Nagle
AUG 28 TO SEPT 6
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR, Essex Junction Vermont’s largest fair at the Champlain Valley Exposition, with amusement rides, exhibits, contests, food, concerts, and more. Aug. 28, Jake Owen, show 7pm; Sept. 4, Meghan Trainor, show 7pm; Sept. 6, Little Big Town, show 7pm. www.champlainvalleyfair.org YEAR-ROUND, FAMILY-FRIENDLY, ECO-ADVENTURES FROM SERENE TO EXTREME
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LESS THAN 20 MINUTES FROM STOWE & 45 MINUTES FROM BURLINGTON, VT
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Good Things Come In SMALL CAPITALS
Words // Chea Waters Evans Photos // Craig Thomas
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Vermonters are famous for their streak of individualism, easygoing good vibes, and a desire for authenticity. Our beloved capital city, with its magnificent golden dome and kids playing on the lawn of the State House, reflects that culture. There’s a stubborn pride in the fact that it is the only state capital without a McDonald’s; there’s no need for one around here, because whether it’s slow or fast, Montpelier has dining and entertainment options to please any palate or mood. The main drag of downtown Montpelier consists of State Street and Main Street. Brick buildings with black shutters, colorful clapboard, and wide, clean sidewalks make for pleasant sights and easy walking. With boutiques and shops running up and down State and Main, there’s a lot to do, and when you’re tired and shopped out, the only thing that’s going to do you right is a cocktail and a bite.
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Located near the State House, J. Morgans Steakhouse in the Capitol Plaza Hotel isn’t your average steak joint. Forget dark wood panels, whispered backroom deals, and tired old fare; the menu here is as modern and fun as its décor. The outside patio is an ideal place to try one (or a few) selections from their “endless list of signature martinis,” and to share one of their many salads, appetizers, or enticing entrees, which include everything from pasta to fish to lamb to of course, steak. A short walk up State Street will bring you to the cozy and often crowded Wilaiwan’s Kitchen, where fresh, authentic Thai food gets rave reviews. They’re only open for lunch, and offer just three menu selections that change weekly. Recent offerings include Massaman curry, stirfried crispy pork, and Thai chicken soup with lemongrass and ginger. To cool off after some spicy food, head next door to Chill, a gelato shop offering homemade flavors like Irish cream, passion fruit, and tiramisu. Positive Pie calls itself a “cool, contemporary, comfortable, casual—yet always stylish—urban refuge from the ordinary.” The vibe is evident before you even walk in the door; funky music drifts out to the sidewalk along with the smell of bacon, and the long bar beckons through the big front windows. The space is a fun combination of rustic and modern, and the food fits the atmosphere perfectly. Specialty pizzas include The Carcass (so much meat!) and Nick the Greek; they also serve a variety of pastas, appetizers, and sandwiches. Outside seating and a ton of drink options will keep you lingering long after your meal is over. And once you’ve had time to digest, you can get up and dance to one of their regularly featured bands or musicians. Everything from blues to funk to a brass band to hot local DJs keeps the party going long into the night. At the intersection where State Street runs right into Main is Coffee Corner, a place where members of Vermont’s Congress rub elbows with locals and anyone else who needs a hearty breakfast any time of day, or a solid plate of grilled cheese and fries. On the same corner is the not-to-be-missed La Brioche Bakery and Café, operated by the New England Culinary Institute. Bakery and pastry students hone their craft on-
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site by baking artisan bread, delectable tarts, cookies, cakes, rolls, cupcakes, and pies—and they also serve lunch. If food isn’t on your mind but you’re feeling thirsty, Charlie O’s World Famous is the place to start—and if you don’t feel like getting up, it’s a great place to finish, too. The paint-chipped exterior and sign advertising “Good drinks and bad company” sums it up pretty succinctly, although the company is actually a friendly mix of folks. It’s the best kind of dive bar: a politician perches on a high-backed leather stool right next to a college student, who’s sitting next to a woman who looks like she hasn’t left the bar since the 70s, and everyone’s cool with it. Charlie O’s always has inexpensive drinks, pool tables, and often live, local music on weekends. Off the beaten path, Sarducci’s is worth the few blocks’ walk from the center of town. It’s situated on the Winooski River, and with the windows wide open in the summertime and the water rushing past below, there isn’t a better seat in town. They serve Mediterranean Italian, including a perfect antipasto selection and delicious traditional offerings like pasta Bolognese, veal Marsala, chicken piccata, and more. Their full bar and extensive wine list top off the experience. Other state capitals are bigger, have more glitz and glamour, and many have a separate political culture that leaves the regular citizens on the sidelines. But in true Vermont fashion, Montpelier has its own rhythm and culture: one that includes politicians, policemen, shopkeepers, schoolteachers, and just plain folks. Everyone enjoys good food, good drinks, and good conversation, and Montpelier is the right place to find it all.
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VT PEOPLE
Nice to Meet You Ryan Miller
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Words // Keith Morrill Photos // Vermont PBS Ryan Miller, front man of the alternative rock band Guster, had serious reservations about moving to Vermont. But Miller and his wife Angela, like many New York urbanites with kids, found themselves crammed into too little space with too many people. The move to the Green Mountain State was inevitable. Still, Miller feared the migration would leave him culturally bereft and he’d end up some sort of slack-jawed yokel devoid of culture, music, movies, and people. He had grown accustomed to a certain type of the latter, whom he dubs high functioning weirdos. “There are lots of people that do [stuff], and there are lots of people that are crazy, but the crazy people that do [stuff]—that’s my sweet spot,” Miller says. It wasn’t until a few years later during a chance conversation with Hilary Hess of Vermont PBS that Miller was presented with the opportunity to track down some of the state’s very own high functioning weirdos. Hess, the station’s digital media director, had been charged with creating fresh regional programming— something a little less Downton Abby and a little more uptown funk. The result was “Makin’ Friends with Ryan Miller,” a five to ten minute web show in which Miller interviews and befriends his creative kin. Makin’ Friends premiered in May of 2014 and has since run for two seasons. The show is lighthearted, quirky, and outright silly at times, much like Miller himself. For each episode, Miller ventures throughout the Green Mountain State to meet unique personalities on their own turf, to see how they live and learn what he can from them. And, of course, to make friends. He’s juggled with Circus Smirkus founder Rob Mermin, ridden bikes with Ello co-creator Paul Budnitz, and
licked tree bark with Wild Gourmet Food owners Nova Kim and Les Hook. “I just wanted the show to be fun and interesting for me,” explains Miller. “I mostly do it from a selfish point of view of helping [myself] to understand Vermont a lot better.”
While Guster’s touring schedule would certainly provide an opportunity to take Makin’ Friends on the road, Miller stresses that he isn’t looking for a career change anytime soon. “I don’t have ambitions; this isn’t a gateway job to being the host of a TV show. I just kind of like this.”
Moving forward, Miller hopes to expand his entourage of weirdos. A third season is being planned, though a few things remain in limbo. “We’ve still got to figure out what it is,” says Miller. “There’s not much about the show I’d want to change. I like the format.” There has, however, been talks about going national with PBS, but a staffing shakeup at the national level has cast doubt on whether that’s possible.
Five years post migration and many friends later, Miller has achieved a greater understanding of Vermont. “I get now that you can be crazy and creative even though there’s only half a million people in this state.” Miller explains that his views were a bit provincial in regards to creative types, that a metropolis may not be the only habitat for high functioning weirdos. “Sometimes, people just need their space.”
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VT ARTISTS
The Art by Which the Mind Stores and Remembers Information
Words // Sadie Williams Self Portrait // Diane Gabriel
Diane Gabriel was classically trained in the visual arts from an early age, and the New York City transplant has sculpted, drawn, photographed, and printed in Vermont since she moved here in 1970. On a warm spring evening I stopped by her Burlington home to see her work and learn more about the woman behind it. After brief introductions, Gabriel launched me on a tour of her house. Each wall and ledge held one of her many ceramics, photographs, sculp-
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tures, prints, or drawings. Flitting by each piece, accompanied by her stories and remembrances of their creation, it was hard not to firstly, be impressed by the artist’s deep connection to her materials and subjects, and secondly, to keep pace with someone who clearly had levels of energy and charisma that only accrue with age. As we entered the living room, I was struck by a large charcoal drawing of a single leaf. Thick, fisty lines hammered
A charcoal drawing, “Hair Shirt,” leans against an ironing-board-turned-drawing-station in Diane Gabriel’s Burlington home. Photo by Sadie Williams
A photograph of Diane Gabriel’s longtime subject Anna Rose lies on the artist’s worktable by a pile of drawing utensils. Photo by Sadie Williams
down with intensity gave it a sense of solidity, a raw emotion that was hard to comprehend. After all, it was just a leaf. “It’s a portrait of my father,” Gabriel said. “I’ll explain when we get upstairs.” There, Gabriel took me to a black and white photograph so small, I had to lean in to discern the subject. It slapped me in the face like a wet towel. The first of the twin towers was falling in a column of dust to the ground. “I took that from the balcony of the apartment where my father was dying,” she said. “Micro death and macro death.” The portrait of her father, the leaf, was drawn shortly after the towers fell. “I was standing outside, and this leaf comes falling down,” she gestured with her hands in a swooping, zig-zag descent, “in front of me. And I knew. It was him.”
The effect of those two pieces speaks to the core of Gabriel’s talent: an ability to capture and portray singular human emotions in universal visual forms that are both accessible and complex. Nowhere is that quality more apparent than in her images of children. For years she has photographed Anna Rose and her sister, Phoebe, whose grandparents live near Gabriel. In one photograph, a seven-year-old Anna Rose stares just below the gaze of the camera, a black cloth draped over her frazzled blond hair. It’s unsettling and dark, but also innocent. The image is part of a multimedia exhibit forty years in the making titled “Child’s Play.” “People hear child’s play and think ‘bah,’” Gabriel said with a wave of her hand. She doesn’t feel that way. Rushing through her in-house art tour, it was hard to pin down what “Child’s Play” meant to her. But clearly, it was important. I exited her home with the vague idea that I had witnessed something like the landscape of rusted bikes, lost shoes, decayed swim garments, and small animal bones one sees through
murky water while diving, clutching empty lungs, at the bottom of a pond. Later, I sat at home watching Gabriel on YouTube, giving a presentation at the Darkroom Gallery in Essex this past March. Something she said stuck with me. “I have vivid memories of experiences and emotions I had as a child,” Gabriel stated. “I want my photographs to be as honest, truthful, and faithful to my memories as possible. I’d like them to be courageous, not because I think I’m unique, but rather because I think my experiences and emotions were quite ordinary, and probably universal.” Capturing experience, translating emotion in clay, paper, and chemicals, is no small task. Gabriel speaks a lot about memory, using the word the way most of us do, referring to a recollection. But it also means “the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information.” Gabriel remembers her life through her art, and in that act creates objects which are memory itself, capable of being shared and experienced over and over again, so long as there is someone to look at them.
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VT BUSINESS
VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP
WORDS // LETTIE STRATTON PHOTOS // BEN DEFLORIO & ANDY DUBACK Photo by Ben DeFlorio
Vermont is no Silicon Valley, but it’s not just full of pitchfork-wielding, low-tech, back-to-the-landers, either. The Green Mountain State has been on the rise as an emerging technology hub for several years now, and Vermont Technical College is committed to keeping pace with that change. With campuses in Randolph and Williston, low tuition rates, and numerous degrees in agriculture, computer sciences, engineering, business, and more, the state college is giving students the skills they need to contribute to an increasingly tech-dependent landscape. With a post-graduation job placement rate of 96 percent, the college is clearly doing something right. “There are good jobs in the state of Vermont,” says President Dan Smith. “Our graduates are getting three or four job offers from Vermont entities in fields like applied science, energy, and agriculture.” Historically, Vermont is an agricultural state, and even today it tops lists of
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states with a commitment to sustainable agriculture and local food. But there is a skills gap. Older generations of farmers are aging and there simply aren’t enough interested and able young people to take over. For Vermont, a state with such deep ties to this vital business sector, that gap could be devastating. That’s why schools like Vermont Tech that offer degrees in agriculture are so important. The college even has a designated Institute for Applied Agriculture and Food Systems. Vermont Tech’s academic programs excel in other areas, too. Their computer science and software engineering programs are among the best in the state, and here’s the kicker — tuition is affordable. “I really do think that as people look at the expense of college, a school like Vermont Tech is going to be really appealing to a lot of farm kids and Vermont families,” Smith said. “We’ve dramatically expanded our financial aid going into
our next financial year, and our Board of Trustees is very committed to keeping tuition fees low.” Smith explained that a large portion of Vermont Tech’s student population comes from Vermont. By educating Vermont students and aligning them with in-state jobs after graduation, the college is supplying a great boost to the state’s workforce. “From a state perspective, the work this college does is important economically,” Smith adds. It’s important for plenty of other reasons, too. Vermont Technical College is not only recruiting and training the next generation of skilled workers, but also giving graduates incentive to stay in Vermont and apply their skills in the local environment. “One of the things that drives the appeal of young adults wanting to be in Vermont is the value of the working landscape,” Smith said. “We are training and educating the professionals who will run Vermont’s working landscape by working farms.”
Photo by Andy Duback
One way the college is bridging the skills gap in the agriculture industry is through its new partnership with Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC). “There’s interest in gap year experiences,” Smith explained. “Lot of kids may be interested in agriculture or conservation, but may not be ready to commit to a four-year program.” This will be the first year of the program and partnership between Vermont Tech and VYCC. Students will gain experience in dairy farming, vegetable production, forestry, plant science, and more. They will leave with a solid foundation that can be applied to future experiences in a number of ways, whether it be higher education or starting a job in one of Vermont’s deeply rooted industries. “We wanted to develop a certificate program using experiential learning,” Smith continued. “It’s a real opportunity to develop agricultural experience.” There’s an age-old stereotype that farmers are no good with technology - just look at the first line of this article. But that may be changing. “In the dairy and agriculture industries, you’ll see people with iPads out in tractors tracking plants and cropping,” Smith said. “Farmers can use GPS modeling on their iPad so they know where they’ve applied what.” Scenarios such as this are why Vermont Tech is working to create opportunities
Photo by Andy Duback
for students to conduct interdisciplinary projects. These projects, which are still in the works, will involve four or five students from different majors converging to work toward a common goal, like the application of technology and software to farm management, for example. By teaching students how to merge applied sciences with Vermont’s already established industries, like dairy and agriculture, the college helps promote further economic growth. Students at Vermont Tech work hard, but they know how to have fun, too. “We just bought a ski and snowboard press for a mechanical engineering project,” Smith said. He also recounted a recent rail jam the college hosted at its Randolph cam-
pus, for which students welded all the rails and jumps. And it’s not just full-time students who can get in on the fun. Smith said students who already hold bachelors or other degrees often come to Vermont Tech looking for a skill. “Short courses through the Institute of Applied Agriculture are easy for nontraditional students to access,” he said. You can sign up for a class in a subject like cheese making, distilled spirits, or craft beer. “We support that emerging hub,” Smith says of the latter. “Our role is to close the skills gap. Our students are awesome and the faculty are doing a great job. I’m really optimistic. I think we’re doing the right stuff.”
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VT AUTHORS
WRITING WITH LAUGHTER INTERVIEW // LIN STONE
Elizabeth Bluemle
E
lizabeth Bluemle has several things to sing about, and one in particular calls for a little tap dance in the rain. The author of multiple children’s books and coowner of Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Bluemle’s most recent book, “Tap Tap Boom Boom,” received a Charlotte
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Zolotow Honor Award, which is given annually to an author for outstanding writing in children’s picture books. “Tap Tap Boom Boom” also landed on the American Library Association’s list of Notable Children’s books, the New York Public Library’s 100 Best Children’s Books, and was an
editor’s choice and reviewed in the New York Times. And if that wasn’t enough accolade to make Bluemle burst into song and dance, the Wall Street Journal named the Flying Pig Bookstore one of seven bookstores around the country that help serve as anchors for their towns.
made up our own wokkawokkas. The way you dance or the way you move, the way you wokka-wokka, is unique, but it’s shared within the picture of your whole community.” What is the main ingredient in creating standout, funto-read children’s books?
“Tap Tap Boom Boom” is Bluemle’s fourth book for children, and in this case, one she didn’t set out to write. In fact, the inspiration for Tap Tap was a derailment of her original plan to spend a week in New York City writing a novel. “My trip into the city was briefly waylaid when I was caught in a thunderstorm and huddled on a subway station landing with my two suitcases and lots of other people waiting out the storm. But while standing there, I was struck by so many wonderful random moments that passed between complete strangers: I saw a welldressed woman hand off her umbrella to a rumpled passing student – without a word exchanged; I saw a great, big, orange-vested workman holding up a tiny yellow umbrella – one that might have been his four-year-old daughter’s. I witnessed a real sense of a city’s expression of community and togetherness between strangers. In Tap Tap, everything I wrote, I actually saw. Instead of writing a novel, I ended up writing the wonderful story of that storm.”
What is the best part of writing for children? “My favorite part of being a children’s book author is sharing my own love of language, reading, and creativity. Little ones [and I] love playful, nonsense language and rhythmic, dancey-jazzy books. In Tap Tap I had fun letting my word structure follow the rhythm of the rainstorm as it patters, builds, crescendos, falls, and peters out. “My goal in writing for children is to make kids bubble up and feel great about themselves and love life. I also love to write about the expression of individuality within a community; I think both of my last two books reflect that. “In ‘How do you Wokka Wokka’ that theme came about in response to my two-year-old nephew after he repeatedly asked us, ‘How do you wokka-wokka?’ We didn’t know what he meant. Finally, his tall, flamingo-like mother made a funny flapping arm motion that cracked him up. We all
“I think the best children’s books have a direct connection to the child within. When I was growing up my parents were pretty playful; we bonded through laughter. My mother was a good comedic actress. My father was a lawyer, a hobby magician and conjurer, punster, and a big kid. My parents had many funny friends and dinner parties were filled with the roar of adult laughter. I remember getting ready for those parties with my mother and laughing
until I cried. My father was a very quick wit, loved silly puns, and was always scanning the room for a joke. He was also into mentalism and was good at sleight of hand: quarters fell from elbows and ears. “My parents weren’t always angelic or easy, but they were always ready to laugh at any time – a big saving grace in life. I think staying connected to the child within is important in connecting with children and children’s book writing. Some writers forget how to access that and want so badly to teach a lesson that the magic and joy of reading and good literature are gone. I hope I always stay connected to the child within that bubbles up with laughter and with life.”
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Dave DeCristo
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HEED THE CALL OF THE
REBEL
YELL Words // Keith Morrill Photos // Monika Rivard
If a rock band descends upon the forest and nobody is there to hear it, will it make a sound? It might if the band is lucky enough to have found its way to a certain house cloistered amongst the trees in the Northeast Kingdom. This is Rebel Yell, an off-the-grid recording studio and artist’s retreat on 140 acres of land in Craftsbury. It’s the brainchild of Alex Lalli and Dave DeCristo, co-owners of Signal Kitchen, a Burlington-based marketing and design company.
Though Lalli and DeCristo have long been entrenched in the Burlington music scene with Signal Kitchen, Rebel Yell just opened its doors at the end of January. The project had been kicking around in their brains for a while, but didn’t come to fruition until the owner of the property, a friend from Boston, moved to California. DeCristo and Lalli recognized the potential in the house and acres of accompanying land, and pitched him the idea of forming a partnership. He was receptive, and Rebel Yell was born.
It’s no surprise he had faith in their concept: the pair has had great success with Signal Kitchen and, individually, extensive background in the music industry. Lalli attended Berkeley College with the intent of becoming a musician, but along the way discovered his passion was for production. DeCristo, a Vermont native, lived in Los Angeles for a few years where he built and ran a number of recording studios before moving back to his home state.
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Alex Lalli
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Villanelles
It took six months to hammer out plans for Rebel Yell and another year and a half to renovate the house and build the studio. The result is a space that allows musicians to live, work, and record new material in solitude. “Everybody was wondering why we were spending so much time in the woods,” says Lalli, “Now they know.” Although indie rock bands Into It Over It and Foxing, the former of Chicago and the latter of St. Louis, have each spent a month writing new material at Rebel Yell in the brief time it has been open, Burlington’s very own Villanelles were the first to record there. This past May, the indie rock band laid down five songs for an upcoming EP titled “No Drinks On Me.” The Villanelles laud the experience, citing everything from the acoustics
of the live rooms and DeCristo’s studio engineering wizardry to the heightened focus they experienced by ducking out on their day-to-day routines. “The space kind of forced us to finish stuff that wasn’t finished,” explains bassist John Rogone. “It’s nice to get out of Burlington for a couple days.” Lead singer and guitarist Tristan Baribeau echoes the sentiment. “The space lends itself to good sound…It’s the full package. It sounds awesome and it’s this beautiful remote spot.” The locale’s remoteness is part of the appeal, explains Lalli, and although the idea was originally built around the recording process, it has blossomed into something more. The plan is to eventually cater to other creative types — anyone from authors to visual artists. Elsewhere on the property,
the crew is renovating a small cabin which is destined to serve as another creative space with a Thoreauvian minimalism, and by 2017 to have several such cabins spread across the property. “You can’t really write it, or market it, or tell people what this feeling is that you get when you’re this far away from other people,” Lalli says. But he recognizes that most creative types share that feeling, that desire to isolate themselves and focus on the creative process. The hope is that the property becomes a refuge for artists; that the forest of the Northeast Kingdom will be filled with the echo of the Rebel Yell.
For more information on Rebel Yell, visit www.yellrebel.com. Find the Villanelles on Facebook or www.villanellesmusic.bandcamp.com.
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STORY OF SUCCESS
for a small town publisher Words // Lettie Stratton Photos // Chooseco LLC
Shannon Gilligan
There are several things you might already know about the small town of Waitsfield, Vermont. Rock diva Grace Potter hails from here, for example. And on a more sobering note, the town was frequently in the news after it was hit hard by 2011’s Hurricane Irene. But what you may not know about Waitsfield is that it is also home to Chooseco LLC, publisher of the wildly popular Choose Your Own Adventure gamebook series. Chooseco was started by R.A. Montgomery and his wife Shannon Gilligan in 2003. “Ray was the original series publisher and one of its first authors way back in 1976,” said Gilligan, who is the current publisher. Choose Your Own Adventure was re-launched commercially by Chooseco in 2005, and has since released new titles and even optioned the series film rights to Fox Films. The books, written in the second person, give “you,” the reader, the power to make decisions throughout the story that affect the narrative and, in turn, the ending. “There’s a lower intimidation factor cre-
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ated by a book that doesn’t demand you read all of it and in fact encourages you to read in a more exploratory, nonlinear way,” said Gilligan. The books aim to help readers develop decision-making skills through the strong interactive narratives. “This compulsive re-readability of the books is what drove the early success of the series,” said Gilligan. “It’s also always fascinated me that their popularity arose at same time as the personal computer. There was a large cultural shift going on. Choose was part of that.”
adapted for early computer and gaming systems, and we continue to be interested in new ways of porting our content onto new devices.”
The popularity of eReaders, online book buying from powerhouses like Amazon, and the overall trend toward a paperless society from print to web has greatly changed the publishing industry, and those who have survived the change have had to quickly adapt to the new era. “There are new technologies which make particular sense for an interactive brand that did not exist during the series’ first run,” said Gilligan. “Chooseco has a long history of working with versus against technological change. The stories were
And Chooseco doesn’t have to be in New York City to reach its enthusiastic and dedicated audience. “Much of the success of the company has been due to the power of the brand and its loyal fan base, who really view Choose Your Own Adventure as an important part of their childhood mindset, whether they are eight or 38,” Gilligan said. “We hope to continue making quality children’s literature, and also see what else this brand and company can do—the possibilities really feel infinite right now.”
New devices are one thing, but Chooseco isn’t looking to find itself a new home amongst the bigwig publishers anytime soon. The decision to stay rooted in Vermont is a deliberate one. “There are definitely challenges to a city job that exists in the country, but there’s also a lot of benefits to be had in that contrast,” explained Gilligan.
DANCING THROUGH LIFE
Words // Phyl Newbeck Photos // Todd Stoilov
Burlington-based dancer and choreographer Heather Bryce believes that anybody can dance. That’s why Bryce Dance Company includes a community component which features multi-generational participants. “I’m really attracted to creating works for people and bodies you don’t always see on stage,” she said. “Everyone can move and express themselves through dance, and it’s important to give people that perspective.” Bryce founded her dance company in Boston in 2006 when she mentioned to her fellow dancers that she had choreographed some works. “Suddenly I
had rehearsal space and four dancers,” she said. Within two years, Bryce Dance had grown to nine dancers and was performing throughout Boston. In 2008, Bryce relocated to Montpelier. She had only planned to spend the summer in the capital city, but fell in love with the Green Mountain State and decided to stay. Having no connections to the area, it took some time to get her troupe going, but by 2011 she had begun to work with other dance companies. In one of her early productions, Bryce organized, directed, and danced in a benefit for victims of Tropical Storm Irene.
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“Everyone can move and express themselves through dance, and it’s important to give people that perspective.” Bryce describes her company’s style as contemporary performance dance. “Part of our mission,” she said “is to bring performance to communities and gather stories and build that into our work.”
These movements were then incorporated into multi-media performances with dance, music, and video projection as well as oral histories of the residents as part of the sound score.
These days, Bryce is in the process of establishing non-profit status for her company with the help of a four-person board of directors. Bryce Dance has two parts: a seven-person touring group and a fifteenperson community company with dancers ranging in age from their early teens to sixties. The community troupe goes out and creates works based on the spaces in which they perform. In 2012, they visited Cathedral Square independent living facilities and the Brattleboro Senior Center, holding workshops in which they asked residents to come up with movements they associated with concepts like dignity.
This spring, Bryce initiated the Montpelier Project, in which she collaborated with local visual artists on a series of events designed to showcase what makes Montpelier unique. The monthlong festivities included twice-weekly performance pieces, Sunday morning site-specific dances, and a Tuesday night dinner series, all curated by Bryce. Over 50 artists participated and over 400 audience members took part.
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Bryce hopes to replicate the project on a slightly smaller scale in the Queen City next spring. The progression from dance and choreography to curating events like
the Montpelier Project—organizing and selecting artists much as a museum curator finds art for and plans an exhibit— was a natural one for Bryce. “I like building a community of artists from different disciplines who are interested in engaging each other,” she said. In 2015, Bryce Dance Company will take part in six different collaborations with other creatives including artist Alisa Dworsky, DJ Frank Grymes and body painting artist Kadina Dinash of The Human Canvas, composer and pianist Andric Severance, and more. Most will be in Central Vermont, but others will travel across the country. Bryce is particularly proud of a site-specific piece which will take place at Wrightsville Reservoir in Middlesex on August 15. The reservoir covers what used to be the town of Lone-
some Bend, and for the 80th anniversary of its creation, Bryce will develop a piece that calls attention to the history of the site and focuses on displacement and homelessness. Residents who have experienced homelessness or were temporarily displaced by Tropical Storm Irene will be invited to take part. Bryce likes to finish performances with a question and answer session, but in contrast to many such discussions, she is the one who asks the questions, often inquiring how audiences felt about a particular piece and what it meant to them. “Art has the potential to change lives and change people’s positions on issues,” said Bryce. “We have an interest in opening dialogue.”
For more information on Bryce Dance Company, visit www.brycedancecompany.com.
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Fresh Flavor on Tap at Three Penny Words // David Scherr Photos // Ben Sarle Any visitor or Vermonter interested in meeting some of the State’s top legislators, agency officials, and executive branch grandees could go on up to the Capitol building in Montpelier while the legislature is in session and wander its ornate hallways. Or, if he is also interested in excellent food and a top-notch, Vermont-centric beer selection, he could stop by Three
Penny Taproom—right on Main Street in Montpelier—and do both. On any given evening one might see members of the governor’s staff, the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, and other stars in Vermont’s political firmament. But regardless of political inclinations, Three Penny is must-stop destination in Vermont’s quaint capital. Embracing the best trends in localvore food and drink, the establishment brings exciting and delicious refreshment to the hungry and thirsty. Neatly divided between a bar area and a sit-down restaurant, the interior trends
• Chef Owned • Local Vermont Foods • Outstanding Quality • Fine Food & Wine
towards a modern-rustic look, with a wood paneled bar and benches and a pressed-tin ceiling. With design reliant on clean, straight lines, the interior has a contemporary feel. Any visitor to Three Penny would be remiss not to sample the extensive beer menu. Among the best local-beer bars in all of Vermont, Three Penny stocks drafts both famous and obscure. A true taste of Vermont (and the best that surrounding states have to offer) can be found on the menu. A thirsty diner would be pleased with the smooth and rich flavor of Crop Brewery’s Maerzan La-
“Sophisticated yet comfortable dining in a relaxed, cosmopolitan atmosphere.” Across from historic City Hall
156 Church Street 802-540-3040
Chef Owned • Local Vermont Foods • Outstanding Quality
Lunch • Dinner • SunDay Brunch
1834 Shelburne Road, South Burlington | (802) 862-1081 | www.paulinescafe.com 32
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Tu-Sat 4-11 pm | Sun 4-10 pm | Closed Mon @CHURCHANDMAIN
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The hollandaise burger, topped with an egg over easy and hollandaise sauce, accompanied by a Left Hand Brewery Milk Stout.
ger, brewed in Stowe, Vermont. The bar also has a nice selection of Hill Farmstead’s beers, the prize-winning, remarkable, and increasingly famous creations coming out of tiny Greensboro, Vermont. The beer is not-to-be-missed, but don’t leave without filling up on a great meal. In addition to the regular menu, be sure to ask for the specials, and listen carefully—Three Penny may well have a hidden treasure. On one recent evening it was a salad with fresh greens, shrimp and cray-
The special salad consisting of marinated shrimp, crayfish, roasted red pepper hefeweizen, pickled carrots, and vinagrette. Acompanied by Crop Bistro Marzen.
fish marinated in a roasted red pepper hefeweizen concoction, pickled carrots, and juicy beets, drizzled with a fine vinaigrette. The burgers are made with excellent local beef, cooked to perfection. On a recent visit, Three Penny featured a burger special topped with an egg over easy and a light hollandaise sauce that gave flavor without overwhelming the ensemble. The sesame-seared tuna is a featured classic and hard to pass up. The tuna is just right, cooked neither too much nor too
little, with a smooth texture that is nicely complemented by a sweet chili sauce with a slight spicy kick. The sesame ginger mayo adds a subtle ginger flavor that makes the dish stand out without overwhelming it. Come for the wonderful dining and stay for the local political celebrities, or perhaps the other way around. Either way, Three Penny Taproom is a local treasure in the heart of Montpelier, a destination worthy of its prime place in the state’s capital city.
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PUZZLES & STUFF CROSSWORD
THEME: THE ‘80s
DOODLES BY JAMES LASELL MORSE
Wherefore art? 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. Inhabitant of Aleutian Islands 6. “____ alive!” 9. William McKinley High School’s famous club 13. Caterpillar to butterfly 14. Ribonucleic acid 15. Members of Christian community 16. More so than fine 17. Banking convenience 18. Matter of debate 19. *Elected twice in the ‘80s 21. *Popular along with shoulder pads 23. *___ Zeppelin, broke up in 1980 24. Mountain lake 25. *Blake Edwards comedy with Julie Andrews 28. Editor’s oversight 30. Fate 35. Like a devoted fan 37. *1981 flick with George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton 39. Clingy one 40. Famous French couturier 41. Highest point, pl. 43. Greek god of war 44. Clown act 46. Japanese stringed instrument 47. Stretched ride 48. Twinings package
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50. Fill to excess 52. Goes with sin and cos 53. Argument 55. ____-been 57. *Often carried on shoulder 61. *19080s Olympic city 64. Sac enclosing embryo, pl. 65. Anger or wrath 67. Less wild 69. Soil for cultivation 70. Sailor’s assent 71. Clear the blackboard 72. Eye affliction 73. Albanian money 74. As opposed to owns
DOWN
1. *TV’s friendly alien 2. Den 3. Marine eagle 4. Relating to uvea 5. Walmart competitor 6. *Location of hostage crisis 7. *Ted Turner’s TV addition 8. Brazilian dance 9. Deep wound 10. *____ Whelchel of “Facts of Life” 11. Purse to match a gown 12. Ogler
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15. Woody polymer 20. Temples’innermost sanctuaries 22. Aggravate 24. At or near the top 25. *Assassinated Egyptian President 26. Sheep-like 27. Plants and animals 29. *”Brat ____” 31. Navy commando 32. Like Boy Scout’s badge 33. Organ swelling 34. *Youngest heavyweight champ 36. Small quantity, especially of a liquid 38. Stiff hair 42. Bantoid language 45. *”Rock the ____”by The Clash 49. Government Printing Office 51. Resurrection Sunday 54. Relating to axis 56. Close call 57. *”Harvey’s Wallbangers”were good with them 58. Bypass 59. *”For Your Eyes ____” 60. Dust allergy trigger 61. They will inherit the earth? 62. Middle Eastern sultanate 63. Used to be wild? 66. Marbled bread 68. Hi-___
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 10
DestinationVT
D
estination Vermont is distributed to over 20,000 residents and travelers each quarter. Vacationing couples pick it up where they dine and shop, in the lobby of their favorite hotel, after a flight into Burlington International Airport, and at rest areas across the state. Millennials sipping coffee in downtown cafes read it between classes. Young families browse the glossy pages before jumping into their car, boat, or hiking shoes for weekend adventures. Each issue features local restaurants and activities, talented artists and writers, socially-responsible Vermont companies, and a calendar of Vermont happenings that can also be followed online at destinationvt.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
To advertise call: (802) 985-3091 or email: advertising@windridgepublishing.com
DESTINATIoN VT www.destinationvt.com
SPRING EDITION 2015
FREE
TAKE ONE
ART // CULT URE // FOOD // MUSIC // PEOPLE
ART // CULTURE // TOURISM // PEOPLE // FOOD SUMMER // 2015 Destination VT
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PRIVATE EVENTS, WEDDINGS & MORE
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www.destinationvt.com
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