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VT
Winter EDITION 2014-15
FREE TAKE ONE
ART // CULTURE // FOOD // MUSIC // PEOPLE
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
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VT
fall EDITION 2014
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ART // CULT URE // FOOD // MUSIC // PEOPLE
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WINTER // 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
PUBLISHERS/EDITORS HOLLY JOHNSON GREG FORBER COPY EDITOR SADIE WILLIAMS ADVERTISING SALES MOLLY TREVITHICK SUSAN ALDEN DORI SHARP DESIGN GREG FORBER CRAIG THOMAS AMANDA HOLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHEA WATERS EVANS DARCY AND DALE CAHILL SADIE WILLIAMS LIN STONE PHYL NEWBECK PAMELA HUNT
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CONTENTS WINTER // 2014-15
Photo by Lynn Clauer
CALENDAR......................... 6 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.........................12 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH SKI BARS.........................14 ELLO.........................18 JIM NOBLE.........................21 MALISA GARLIEB.........................22 CHRIS AND TERI.........................24 LAKE CHAMPLAIN WHEN IT’S FROZEN.........................26 BURLINGTON’S EDIBLE HISTORY.........................30 CHURCH & MAIN.........................32 PUZZLE.........................35 WINTER // 2015 Destination VT
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Ongoing Events ECHO LAKE AQUARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER, BURLINGTON ECHO
is Vermont’s world-class attraction on the Burlington waterfront. Discover the Ecology, Culture, History and Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake Champlain basin at the ECHO center: Every day is an adventure with daily animal feedings and demonstrations, 70 species of fish amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles; more than 100 interactive experiences; changing and permanent exhibits; seasonal events; and the multimedia Awesome Forces Theatre. Hungry? Relax on the upper deck and grab a bite to eat in the ecology themed Think! Café for local fare and lake and mountain views. www.echovermont.org
VERMONT BACKROAD TOURS, RUTLAND, LUDLOW, KILLINGTON Tour
the beautiful winter countryside by van or bus. Choose from a variety of tours to suite your needs. All tours are two hours at $30 per person. www.vtbackroadtours.com
December NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31
Winter in Vermont Exhibit, Brandon The Brandon Artist’s Guild’s annual members show features fine and mixed media works centered on the theme of winter. The show features a variety of styles and media including framed original art, prints, jewelry, wood, clay, and glass. www.brandonartistsguild.org
BILLINGS FARM & MUSEUM, WOODSTOCK Visit this National Historical Park,
owned since 1919. This cooperative includes 1,200 farm families throughout New England and Upstate New York. The Creamery Cooperative offers a cheese making tour that is educational, friendly, and chock full of cheese. There are also Cabot Annex Stores in Waterbury and Quechee. www.cabotcheese.coop
FULL MOON SNOWSHOE DINNER TOUR, WAITSFIELD Discover the beauty
of snowshoeing by the full moon on this hike through scenic Mad River Valley to a secluded log cabin in the woods. Waiting for you there will be a warm fire, and delicious local fare at Lareau Farm. Reservations required. $95 per person, 5pm. www.clearwatersports.com
ROCKET-SHOEING ADVENTURE, WAITSFIELD Come and try out the infa-
mous Mad River Rocketsled. Snowshoe up the Green Mountains along the Lincoln Gap road, which is closed during the winter due to the many curves and steep terrain, then rocketsled the whole length down. This fun and safe adventure will make you feel like an Olympic champion. $55 per person, includes snowshoes and sleds. 11am-2pm. Advanced reservations required. www.clearwatersports.com
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DECEMBER 6
Holiday Stroll, Vergennes Chat with Santa over breakfast, fill your gift bag with local crafts, and enjoy songs and music with friends. Various locations in Vergennes. www.addisoncounty.com
DECEMBER 6
working dairy farm, and a museum of Vermont’s rural past offering a great variety of year-round programs and activities indoors and out. First hand sampling of actual farm work and animals: Jersey cows, sheep, horses, oxen, and chickens. A gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage. www.billingsfarm.org
CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE, CABOT Cabot Creamery has been farmer
DECEMBER 6
Coolidge Holiday Open House, Plymouth Notch Return to a simpler time at Plymouth Notch, the birthplace and boyhood home of Calvin Coolidge. Winter exhibits at the Museum & Education Center, Aldrich House, Plymouth Cheese Fac tor y, and 1924 Summer White House office. Baking demonstration and book signing by Gesine Bullock-Prado. Sleigh rides, old-time music, craft demonstrations, lunch at the Wilder House Restaurant, special cancellation at the historic Plymouth post office, and children’s holiday activities. www.historicsites.vermont.gov
Christmas in Weston, Weston From sleigh rides to the arrival of Santa Claus, the whole town jumps on board. Visitors will enjoy caroling, unique gifts, raffles, local artists and vendors, and live music. Children enjoy face painting, ornament making, a petting zoo, and crafts. 10am-5pm. Free. www.westonvt.com The South End Holiday Art sHOP is a festive event that features the work of over 50 local artists and businesses. Photo by Steve Mease
DECEMBER 5 AND 6
Warm up your winter with Groennfell Mead!
South End Holiday Art sHOP, Burlington The South End Arts & Business Association would like to welcome all to visit the 7th Annual South End Holiday sHOP event. Over 50 businesses, studios and artist markets will be open for holiday shoppers looking for those one-of-a-kind, locally-made gifts. Music, transportation, food, and entertainment abound! www.seaba.com
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
Craft Mead brewed in Colchester, Vermont www.groennfell.com
FALL 2014
CALENDAR
DECEMBER 6 AND 7
Christmas at the Farm, Woodstock Billings Farm and Museum brings Christmas back to the late 19th century. Enjoy treats made on the woodstove in the cozy kitchen, make holiday ornaments, and enjoy other special programs. 10am-4pm. www.billingsfarm.org
DECEMBER 7
There’s no shortage of good food and good times at Brewfest, a two part annual event put on by Smugglers’ Notch. Photo by Aaron Rhode
DECEMBER 6
Brewfest Part 1, Smugglers’ Notch Sample the finest in local and regional beers with music, munchies and prizes. A DJ spins the tunes and the Resort’s Mountain Grille puts on a tasty appetizer buffet. Ages 21 and over. Brewfest Part 2 will take place March 28, 2014. 6-10pm. www.smuggs.com
DECEMBER 6
The Toys Take Over Christmas, Burlington The play has become a Vermont tradition, and has been performed at the Royal Tyler Theatre for 24 years. Enter the magical toyshop where the rag doll Sunny and friends attempt to warm the heart of the master toymaker, who selfishly wants to keep all the toys for himself. 10am, 2pm, and 6pm. www.uvmtheatre.org
RÍ RÁ SANTA 5K, Burlington Vermont’s only all-Santa race! A 5K run or walk through historic Burlington – while wearing a full Santa suit. Participants receive a great Irish breakfast after the race at Rí Rá Irish Pub. 10 am. www.events.runningroom.com
DECEMBER 12
A Christmas Carol, Burlington The Flynn Mainstage hosts Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s beautifully staged rendition of the Dickens classic. Featuring a 24-member cast, a live orchestra, colorful costumes, spirited dancing, and show-stopping special effects, A Christmas Carol is a perennial Flynn holiday favorite. Tickets $15-42, 7pm. www.flynncenter.org
DECEMBER 12, 13, AND 14
Wassail Weekend Billings Farm and Museum welcomes you to a tour of the festively decorated 1890 farmhouse. Make a holiday ornament to commemorate your trip and, weather permitting, take a horse drawn sleigh ride on Sunday. 10am-4pm. www.billingsfarm.org
Actors from Nebraska Theatre Caravan perform “A Christmas Carol,” a winter staple on the Flynn Mainstage.
DECEMBER 13
Holiday Pops, Burlington The Vermont Symphony Orchestra brings the spirit of the season to the Flynn Mainstage w ith this festive selec tion. E xcer pt s from Messiah and the Nutcracker appear along the way, as do shepherds, traditional carols, a sing-along, and a celestial harp. $15-52, 7:30pm. www.vso.org
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DECEMBER 20 AND 21
Elf Express, Manchester This whimsical holiday train takes riders on a one-hour enchanting journey through the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Passengers will be entertained with holiday melodies and dance routines by the elves of the theater and dance program of Burr and Burton Academy. Refreshments will be served. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will make a surprise visit to provide every child with a special gift. $20 for 12 and under, $25 for 13 and above. www.manchesterlionselftrain.com
DECEMBER 20 AND 21
Vermont’s Own Nutcracker, Burlington The Flynn Theater welcomes the Vermont Ballet Theater for its tenth season of their beloved production of “The Nutcracker.” Follow the delightful adventures of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they conquer the evil Mouse King and travel on a mystical journey to The Land of Sweets. www.flynntix.org
DECEMBER 13
Victorian Holiday and Open House, St. Johnsbury The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium rings in the holiday season with carolers, cookies and crafts. Make ornaments to give as holiday gifts and enjoy the sparkling Victorian gallery. Free, 1:30-3pm. www.fairbanksmuseum.org
DECEMBER 13
Touch of Vermont, Montpelier Montpelier’s City Hall is transformed into a market full of locally made holiday gifts. Spread the word about the amazing products made in Vermont by giving them to your family and friends. 9am-4pm. www.touchofvt.org
DECEMBER 13
An Irish Christmas in America, Stowe Enjoy traditional Irish music, history, and dance with performances by award winning group Téada and Sony-recording vocal group Lumiere at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe. 7pm. www.sprucepeakarts.org
DECEMBER 13 AND 14
Polar Express, Burlington/White River Junction This annual tradition brings the story alive for families and children. Passengers are encouraged to wear pajamas. Each child is asked to donate a new or gently used children’s book to Santa’s sack. Hot cocoa, cookies, a conductor-lead sing-along, a reading of “The Polar Express” and a visit from Santa! $25, every hour from 12 to 7pm. www.vtchildrenstrust.org www.hartfordvtpolarexpress.com
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E V ERY S AT UR DAY BEG INNING DECEMBER 13
Bolton After Dark, Bolton Bolton Valley Resort gets down every Saturday night of the season with $19 tickets starting at 4pm. Once you’re properly exhausted from countless laps out on the hill, head over to Fireside Flatbread from 4-8 pm for a mini-party complete with food and drink specials and a public screening of a ski movie by Meathead Films, a local film studio based in Williston. It’s the best way to relax and unplug after a long week and a leg-burning day on the slopes. www.boltonvalley.com
DECEMBER 17 THROUGH 22
VSO Brass Quintet with Counterpoint, Warren/ Jay/Grafton/St. Johnsbury/Manchester/Brandon The Counterpoint Chorus joins the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet for another heart-warming celebration of the holiday season. Dec. 17 at 7:30pm: Warren United Church, Warren Dec. 18 at 7:30pm: The North Church, St. Johnsbury Dec. 19 at 7:30pm: Jay Peak Resort, Jay Dec. 20 at 5pm: The White Church, Grafton Dec. 21 at 4pm: The Manchester 1st Congregational Church, Manchester Dec. 22 at 7pm: The Brandon Congregational Church, Brandon www.vso.org
DECEMBER 20 AND 21
Holiday Artisan Showcase, Stowe The third annual craft show at the Stowe Mountain Lodge returns this year with over 25 specialty craft and food vendors from Vermont. Stock up on seasonal gifts for all your holiday needs. www.stowe.com
DECEMBER 21
Santa Sunday, Bolton What’s better than one Santa Claus going skiing? A whole pack of them partying it up at one of Vermont’s favorite mountains. All skiers and riders who arrive dressed head-to-toe in official Kris Kringle attire will ski and ride free. Guests must be dressed in the complete Santa package to earn this early holiday gift! www.boltonvalley.com
writers B rn
the
Santa suited skiers and snowboarders pose for a photo at Bolton Valley Resort on Santa Sunday last year. Photo courtesy of Bolton Valley Resort
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FALL 2014
CALENDAR
NEW YEARS EVE
First Night, Burlington The 2015 celebration will feature nearly 100 performances and activities at 18 venues. There will be arts events for audiences of all ages, from children and families to teens and adults. Get ready for acts such as the Appalachian Gap String Bad, Circus Smirkus, Gregory Douglass, Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band, Myra Flynn, and many more. www.firstnightburlington.com
January JANUARY 5 THROUGH END OF MARCH
Winter Sample Tour, Manchester Center Don’t feel like taking to the slopes? Experience the real Vermont with an afternoon of skiing or shopping! Ride in the warmth and comfort, escorted by a local tour guide. The tour includes sweeping mountain/valley vistas of pristine, country backroads, a visit to an international woodworking factory and retail kitchen store, and the oldest marble quarry in the U.S. $35 per person, 1-3pm. www.backroaddiscovery.com
JANUARY 9 THROUGH 11
Jane Austen Weekend, Hyde Park Sense and Sensibility comes to life at the Governor’s House in Hyde Park. Immerse yourself in the book; enjoy a talk over dessert, afternoon tea, dinner with a book discussion, sleigh rides, and
Photo by Jeffrey Trubisz
the company of fellow Austen lovers. Dress in whichever century suits you. www.onehundredmain.com
JANUARY 10
Winter Trails Day, Bolton/Craftsbury Winter Trails Day offers children and adults new to snow sports the chance to try snowshoe-
ing and cross-country skiing without fees. Discover the great fitness and social benefits with these easy-to-learn winter sports. The event includes almost 100 resorts and Nordic Centers nationwide and gets 11,000 kids and adults on the snow each year. Visit the website for a map locations. www.wintertrails.org
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JANUARY 25
JANUARY 17-25
Winterfest, Shelburne Shelburne Farms Enjoy a day of w inte r y a c ti v i ti e s: s l e d d i n g , s n o w p l a y, a n d t a s t y treats. There will be face painting, popcorn ball making, live bird programs with OFES, sled dogs, and sleigh rides. Bring your warm clothes and your winter spirit. 12pm-3pm. www.shelburnefarms.org
Stowe Winter Carnival, Stowe Stowe Winter Carnival kicks off it’s the 41st anniversary with the hilarious Stowe Squares Revival at The Rusty Nail. Events throughout the carnival include carnival games for kids, snowgolf, karaoke, ice carving demonstrations, and much more. www.gostowe.com
JANUARY 20
JANUARY 27 AND 28
Dr. Dog, South Burlington Touring with their seventh album, B Room, this six man band is better than ever and not one to miss. Head over to Higher Ground in South Burlington and warm yourself up with some good music on what is bound to be a cold night. Yellerkin opens. Doors 7pm, show 7:30pm. $25. www.highergroundmusic.com
Lotus, South Burlington Touring with their newest full length studio album, the Gilded Age, Lotus delves into organic instrumental rock at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. Inspired by the term coined by Mark Twain, the fivesome takes listeners to a place where “the brain starts reflecting on reflections and mixing together dreams and realities.” Doors 8:30pm, show 9pm. $22 advance, $25 day of show, $40 two day pass. www.highergroundmusic.com
JANUARY 24
15th Annual NICA Ice Carving Competition, Stowe Don’t miss pros and amateurs from around the country turn ice into masterpieces in the Spruce Peak Plaza of Stowe Mountain Resort. www.stowe.com
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February FEBRUARY 1-28
The magic of Swan Lake comes to life at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center.
JANUARY 31
Swan Lake, Stowe The State Ballet Theatre of Russia performs this classic ballet at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center. 7pm, $65. www.sprucepeakarts.org
JANUARY 31
Earth and Space Day, Norwich Celebrate science, the wonders of the earth, and our place in the universe. Museum education staff and special guests will provide a full day of activities for learners of all ages covering topics from what’s up in tonight’s sky to activities exploring the large scale process that drive our planet’s systems. www.montshire.org
JANUARY 31
34th Annual Craftsbury Marathon, Greensboro/Craftsbury The Craftsbury Outdoor Center hosts a 25/50k of the best classic skiing in Vermont. This year the marathon is part of the 2015 Masters National Championships. Registration closes on January 28. www.craftsbury.com
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SEE PAGE 35 FOR PUZZLES
Atlantic
Romantic Valentine Night Away, Vergennes The Strong House Inn gives you a chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day all month. Bring your significant other any time during the month of February and celebrate with a bottle of wine and chocolates in your room, a lavish candlelit dinner, and a full country breakfast. $195. www.stronghouseinn.com
FEBRUARY 6-8
Winter Lights, Burlington Celebrate the season of ice and snow on the Church Street Marketplace with winter events and activities, ice sculptures and snow games. There will be an opening ceremony at 5pm on Friday, then the festivities will continue through the weekend. www.churchstmarketplace.com
FEBRUARY 6-8
Vermont Knit and Fiber Winter Retreat, Groton The Vermont Knit and Fiber Camp hosts this retreat at the Seyon Lodge, a beautiful state-run bed and breakfast that is a part of the state parks system. Bringing your spinning, carding, knitting, crocheting, or any type of fiber activity. $164.59. www.vtknitcamp.wikispaces. com
FEBRUARY 7
Joshua Radin, South Burlington Known for his meditative, wistful music, Joshua Radin’s songs have been used more than 100 times in various television shows and movies. Hear him at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. Doors 7:30pm, show 8pm. Tickets $20 advance, $22 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
FALL 2014
CALENDAR
FEBRUARY 7
The Taste of Vermont, Stratton Come to the Stratton Mountain Resort where local favorite restaurants, caterers, wineries, liquor, and beer distributors present tastings of their finest products. 7pm. www.strattonfoundation.org
FEBRUARY 7
Penguin Plunge, Burlington Join Special Olympics Vermont for the 19th Annual Burlington Penguin Plunge at Burlington’s Waterfront Park. Invite your friends, co-workers, family or classmates to brave the icy waters of Lake Champlain with you to raise awareness and funds for the athletes of Special Olympics Vermont. www.specialolympicsvermont.org
FEBRUARY 12-15
Wright’s Northeast Kingdom Ice Fishing Derby, Newport Fishing in the winter? You bet! Observe or compete to catch the big one. Hook awards in the salmon, trout, walleye and pike categories. www.wrightsports.com
FEBRUARY 13 THROUGH 22
Brattleboro Winter Carnival, Brattleboro Fun for all ages at locations all across town: kids’ activities, live music, sporting competitions, comedy, pancakes and other comfort foods, skating, skiing, sleigh rides and more. www.brattleborowintercarnival.org
FEBRUARY 14 AND 15
Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition, Brattleboro Other than Lake Placid, Harris Hill is the only Olympic-size, 90-meter ski jump in the Northeast, and in 2012 it hosted the first ever FIS Cup Tournament in the United States. Concessions, a beer tent and event souvenirs will all be on-site. www.harrishillskijump.com
Photo by Jeffrey Trubisz
FEBRUARY 15-23
Sleigh Ride Week, Woodstock Billings Farm and Museum offers horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides, (weather depending), jack jumper sledding, tours of the dairy farm and farmhouse, and a variety of other activities. 10am-3:30pm. www.billingsfarm.org
FEBRUARY 20
Caroline Rose, South Burlington Caroline Rose continues to wrangle audiences with her incredible voice, poetic lyrics, and all around adventurous music. Rose wrote and arranged all the songs on her newest album, “American Religious,” while band-mate Jer Coons mixed and engineered the whole thing. Check out this incredible local artist at High Ground Showcase Lounge. Doors 8pm, show 8:30pm. $20 advance, $12 at door. www.highergroundmusic.com
FEBRUARY 22
Stowe Derby, Stowe The challenge is the same today as it was at the Derby’s inception in 1945 – a race from the top of Mt. Mansfield to the historic village of Stowe. Attracts recreational skiers and professionals alike! www.stowederby.com
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 21
Magic Hat Mardi Gras, Burlington Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace comes alive with costumes and color for this annual celebration. Join the revelry with thirty floats, music, beads, moon pies, candies, and treats for a weekend of bountiful bacchanalia and splendiferous philanthropy. www.magichat.net
FEBRUARY 14
Igloo Build, Norwich Experience Igloo Build, one of the longest-running traditions at the Montshire Museum. Learn how to build an insulated, sturdy house, strong enough to support the weight of a polar bear. www.montshire.org
FEBRUARY 15
Stowe Mountain Film Festival Held in the outdoor paradise of Stowe, this eagerly-anticipated event is a celebration of mountain sports and culture. Each year, the newest releases from the outdoor film industry’s top production companies, along with submission from promising amateur filmmakers, converge on the Green Mountain. The result is adrenalinepumping action, stunning cinematography and intense documentaries that remind us why we love Vermont and our shared outdoor community. Proceeds benefit the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. www.vtssm.com
Annual Burlington Penguin Plunge. Photo by Ben Sarle
WINTER // 2015 Destination VT
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The Other Side of the Mountain Cambridge, Jeffersonville, and Smugglers’ Notch
Words // Chea Waters Evans Photos // Craig Thomas Glorious skiing and snowboarding? Check. Swanky ski resort with fun for the whole family? Check. Mellow, easygoing town with everything you need nearby? Check. Crazy-chic scenesters at the bar with wild après action and gridlocked traffic? Not so much. Smugglers’ Notch Resort and the nearby towns of Cambridge and Jeffersonville offer all the fun of a Vermont ski adventure without any of the ski-scene hassle. Well-known for its spot-on family activities and entertainment, Smugglers’ Notch has carved its own niche into Vermont’s outdoor-sports domain. Located on the north side of Mount Mansfield, the mountain towns and the resort itself are easily accessible to visitors, offering opportunities to appreciate Vermont’s natural beauty and innate charm without the tourist glut common on the other side of the hill. Cambridge boasts a population of fewer than 4,000 folks, and its town center, the village of Jeffersonville, hovers around 700 citizens. Though they may not be big, these towns have everything a visitor needs to feel right at home, whether he’s passing through for a day or staying for a while. A four-season destination, Smuggs, as it is affectionately known, has made itself the go-to resort for families. It provides all the challenge of great ski and snowboard terrain, but realizes that with a family in tow, shredding down triple black diamond slopes isn’t always in the cards. In addition to skiing and boarding and the lessons that go along with them, the resort also offers tubing, crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, airboarding, and snowmobile tours. Once these possibilities have been exhausted, guests who aren’t tired out yet can enjoy a huge indoor pool, hot tubs, and the FunZone, which has an arcade, a bouncy house, an enormous indoor slide,
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obstacle course, and lots of other activities and games to keep kids, teens, and fun-loving adults busy. And just because there aren’t tons of people packed into a few crazy bars, it doesn’t mean there isn’t nightlife at Smuggs; Bootlegger’s Lounge and the Black Bear Tavern at the base lodge provide ample opportunity to loosen those boots and toast your day on the slopes. They often feature après parties, special events, live music, sports on TV, and nightly entertainment. Independent of the resort, the Lamoille River and surrounding valley provides a stunning backdrop for hikes, ice climbing, and many other winter sports. It’s worth another trip later in the year to experience summer time in the area; the natural landscape offers a plethora of opportunities for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. While the flashier ski towns in Vermont may get more attention, the village of Jeffersonville and the surrounding town of Cambridge hit a sweet spot for locals and visitors alike. The family-owned and operated Vermont Maple Outlet, on Route 15 in Jeffersonville, has every kind of syrup, candy, or maple treat imaginable, plus a wide selection of other Vermontbased foods and gifts. For those interested in the opposite end of the spectrum, the Smuggler’s Notch Distillery on
Main Street in Jeffersonville welcomes visitors to taste their small-batch vodka, gin, rum, and bourbon, and take home a bottle, or a few, for later. The short but sweet Main Street hub also features several art galleries and jewelry shops as well as a grocery. 158 Main Restaurant and Bakery in Jeffersonville, and the upstairs Jeffersonville Pizza Department, feature breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner downstairs, as well as a bakery; upstairs has pizza, pasta, calzones, and other standard Italian fare. Chef Jack Foley recently opened the new El Dorado Tavern nearby, branching out into innovative Mexican dishes. Heading out to the surrounding area of Cambridge, the region’s peaceful beauty is showcased no matter what the season; a visit to the Boyden Valley Winery is essential. Open daily, they offer tours of their wine-making facility and tastings of their many varietals of wine, as well as a Vermont apple hard cider. People return again and again to Cambridge, Jeffersonville, Smugglers’ Notch, and the reason is the warmth, friendliness, and laid-back attitude of the place. Welcoming families, serious skiers, and non-athletes alike, there’s something for everyone at this hidden treasure on the “other side” of the hill.
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smugglers’ notch ski bars Words // Darcy and Dale Cahill PHOTOS // CRAIG THOMAS After the last run of the day, it’s time to enjoy a warm, noisy bar and a cold beer with a bunch of other tired skiers. The Austrians started après ski long ago in the Alps and it has spread to ski areas all over the world. Every skier has their favorite après ski bar whether they are in Aspen, Mont Tremblant, or the quaint little town of Jeffersonville, Vermont where skiers from Vermont’s third largest ski resort, Smugglers’ Notch, gather at the end of a ski day.
The ski bar closest to the action is the Black Bear Tavern located downstairs at the Sterling Mountain Base Lodge. Never dependent on ski conditions or temperature, the atmosphere in the Black Bear is constant. From when they open their doors at ten o’clock till closing they are what après ski is all about. Five days a week you will be greeted by William Fletcher, or “Fletch” as he is known to the locals. Fletch has been bartending at The Black Bear for 23 years. He is also gifted and may well be the most skilled and graceful skier on
the mountain. Fletch is quick to serve a cold Long Trail or a hot chocolate with a smile. Resort guests and locals alike count on seeing him behind the bar each year. One year Fletch took a guest skiing, providing him with skis, boots, poles, gloves, helmet, and lift ticket. After a full day, their last run was a freshly groomed trail called FIS, the guest told Fletch it had been the best day of his life. The
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Black Bear revs up its’ après ski buzz with live music, drink specials, trivia contests and more. They serve food and offer a heated glassed-in porch where you can sit and watch skier’s bombing down the Madonna lift-line.
Just what the doctor ordered after a cold day on the slopes. The Hearth offers an extensive wine selection and a knowledgeable staff that can help you choose a great pairing of wine with food or your mood.
bar since the 70s. The Brewster is also one of the few bars to offer live music every weekend. They hire local bands and are open late into the night. Après Ski at The Brewster can turn into a full night of drinks, dinner, and dancing.
Also at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, downstairs at the Hearth and Candle, there is a cozy nook with only six stools at the bar, where locals gather to enjoy five star cuisine and catch up with Scott Thompson, the Hearth’s bartender. Scott is also an excellent downhill skier but favors alpine touring and the back country. Owner Akash Parikh’s special infused vodkas, which he makes himself, make wonderful mixed drinks and shots. A favorite of ours is the pepper infused shot served cold with a dill pickle slice or a pickled fiddle head. It never fails to warm from the inside out.
Just across the road from Smugglers’ Notch Resort is the Stella Notte Restaurant which serves up great Italian food. Owners Jamie and Kirsten also offer great pizza and drink specials in the lounge downstairs.
New on the block is El Dorado’s Tavern where owner Jack Foley intends to spice up the local ski crowd with the taste of Mexico. Boasting a full bar with margarita specials, he hopes that generous portions and a late night menu will appeal to his guests.
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Less than five hundred yards down the road is The Brewster River Pub and Brewery where new owners Billy and Heather Mossinghoff have turned the old Brewski into a Brew Pub where ski school instructors, Ski Patrols, and lifties rub shoulders with tourists and locals alike. This has been a hard core ski
Further down 108 in the town of Jeffersonville is another ski bar that has catered to the Smugglers’ Notch ski and snowboard crowd since the 70s. The Jeffersonville Tavern is where Jeff Minton, longtime proprietor and avid skier, holds court. It is rare not to see him
moving around the restaurant, saying hi to friends, and making sure the food is to everyone’s liking. The Tavern is “where it’s at” from four to eight. Try the Burger in a Bowl and a cold Fiddlehead IPA for the perfect après ski combination. Jeffersonville’s limited number of bars ensures that a lively crowd of locals, tourists, resort employees, and other out of towners will all be enjoying their evening together. Pool and foosball tables, darts, Jenga, trivia contests, and live music provide something for everybody every night of the week. Every Friday there is a locals’ race and après race party. Each of the local bars hosts the race party in turn. Free food and drink specials and prizes make up an evening that everyone enjoys. Have fun, ski safe, and drink responsibly!
Photo by Darcy Cahill.
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VT BUSINESS
Ell :
A Vermont business with Vermont values WORDS AND PHOTOS // SADIE WILLIAMS
E
llo is at heart a Vermont company. Founded by Paul Budnitz of KidRobot and Budnitz bikes, the new social media network is clean, simple, and completely user driven. However unlike other networks such as Facebook and Twitter, Ello has promised to never sell ads or user data. In fact, Ello was conceived in an effort to bypass the idea of turning users into commodities to be bought and sold, a sentiment specifically written into their manifesto. “We believe there is a better way. We believe in audacity. We believe in beauty, simplicity, and transparency,” reads the Ello manifesto, published four months ago when the company went public. And the site certainly is beautiful with its clean white background, monochromatic palette, and Atlas Typewriter font. It has the air
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of an empty gallery; a typical profile houses a curated collection of images and musings. The comparison gains foothold in the fact that in a random assortment of profiles, the majority belong to artists, designers, writers, photographers, and other creative types from all over the world. But how did a website now boasting a roster of international artists, designers, and the like come out of Vermont, of all places? It all started almost a year ago, when Budnitz was hanging out with his friends Todd Berger and Lucian Fohr, graphic design partners based in Boulder, Colorado. Discouraged by social networks chock full of ads and boosted posts, the trio thought “why don’t we just make our own?” According to Budnitz, “we all thought [it] was a pretty dumb idea, so we did.” And with that, Ello was born.
For a year Budnitz, Berger, and Fohr built and ran the site, bringing on Mode Set, a team of web developers based in Denver. They shared Ello with about a hundred of their friends. “We did it just for ourselves,” said Budnitz, “The only problem was after a year there were a couple thousand people wanting to get on, so we put up a manifesto and decided to make the program our own.” That was last March. In August, they released Ello to the public. By October, it was rumored that there were over 1 million users and 3 million people on the waiting list. And that’s with the site still in Beta, basically the last phase of production in the release of a website. And Ello will be in Beta until the end of the year, according to Budnitz. That means after the massive surge in users, the Ello team had to continue working on
Paul Budnitz at Ello’s new headquarters, shared with Budnitz Bikes, on Pine Street in Burlington.
glitches, developing features, and creating the best possible version of the site. Never one to rush, Budnitz and his team raised $5.5 million in venture capital in October to ensure that they had the time to do it right. Any concern over their inability to create returns on such sizable investments can be quashed by one simple fact. Ello is now a Public Benefit Corporation, or B Corp, meaning they are not at the beck and call of stockholders. Although investors can expect returns, the primary responsibility of a B Corp is to balance those financial interests while fulfilling its stated public benefit and protecting the interests of the people it impacts. In plain terms, that means that regardless of who owns the company, their commitment to never selling ads or user data is set in stone. “We’ve put
a stake in the sand,” declared Budnitz. And there’s no uprooting that one. They announced the change on October 23, but Budnitz says “it was [our intention] from the start.”’ While they operate off venture capital for now, early next year Ello will begin selling additional features, giving users the ability to customize their experience. “Everyone can kind of make Ello their Ello,” mused Budnitz. “It’s a little bit like the bikes I sell. There are specific models but then you can customize them to be just like what you want.” Additional features will be cheap, but if a network of over a million literally buys into the idea, sales will most likely ensure Ello’s longevity. Regardless of how many users are needed to make that happen, Budnitz doesn’t seem concerned. Ello isn’t on a mission to sign up the world, in fact, they
would rather not. “We just want to make something awesome,” declared Budntiz, “we don’t need to sign up every person on earth.” Interestingly, in that way Budnitz sees a connection between Ello and Vermont. The Green Mountain State doesn’t generally appeal to people who hate the snow, just like Ello won’t appeal to people who care more about their profile picture than the integrity of the content they post. Vermont doesn’t allow billboards, and Ello doesn’t allow advertising. The similarity even comes across in their approach to business. “I’m really very careful and deliberate in what we’re doing and we’d rather, you know, do it well rather than do it fast. Work hard and do a good job.” If that’s not Vermont, I’m not sure what is. And although Vermont is primarily known for pastoral landscapes, tradi-
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tional red barns, and agriculture, it shouldn’t be surprising to see a tech company like Ello blooming in the rocky soil of the Green Mountain State. In fact, last year Techie.com named Burlington as one of the ten most promising tech hubs in the country. The criteria for the study they based their results on included low-cost office space, the presence of incubators and accelerators, and the “support of city government with innovative programs designed to promote tech startup growth.” Budnitz cited all of those criteria as reasons why he likes doing business in Vermont, and expressed admiration for Mayor Miro Weinberger’s involvement in creating opportunities for tech startups. The feeling is mutual. When asked to comment in mid-November, Mayor Weinberger said “I think Ello is great, we’re excited that they’re based in Burlington. I think it’s done a lot al-
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ready to wake up the country, and the world, to Burlington being a great tech place and a place to start up business.” And while admitting the challenges that many Vermont startups face in acquiring investors, he pointed to recent initiatives such as BTV Ignite, the new Generator space, and the rising number of collaborative workspaces across the city as indicators of Burlington’s progress. BTV Ignite is a collaboration between US Ignite, a nonprofit dedicated to growing new business opportunities in the tech sector, and the City of Burlington. The Generator is a business incubator, classroom, and art studio that aims to “foster activity that creates a fertile environment for innovation, creativity and idea fulfillment,” according to their website. Weeks after Ello exploded across the internet, a number of articles surfaced
claiming that the new company had reached its pinnacle, that the initial interest had faded, and that it could never compete with behemoths such as Facebook and Twitter. Some even claimed that becoming a B Corp was a weak attempt to solidify their claim, and that Ello would eventually be forced to sell ads or data. Budnitz calls the latter type of naysayers paranoid. I call them off base. If they applied logic, or whatever system they use in its place, to any other business, maybe they would be right. But Ello will crumble before it goes back on the promise they have made to their users. They are, however, right about one thing. Ello will never compete with Facebook. And that’s not a bad thing. Just like Vermont, Ello is not for everyone, but for the people who love it, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.
VT PEOPLE
Jim Noble WORDS // SADIE WILLIAMS Jim Noble has produced an incredible portfolio of influential works. His pieces don’t hang on the walls of galleries, rather, they fly across television and computer screens and gleam from the pages of magazines. Noble, who has lived in Shelburne since 2008, is a freelance copywriter and creative director whom his former clients applaud as a creative storyteller, strategic thinker, and a tireless worker. His resume includes well-known brand names such as Kia, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cisco Systems, Toyota, Lucas Learning, and many more.
Rebecca may have picked up her love of film from her dad. When Noble isn’t working, he has a lot of downtime. “I go to the Palace 9…I see almost everything, it helps me in my career. It really is a twofold thing, loving movies: editing, music, film styles, [they’re] crucial when you’re creating stuff.” Noble devours media, whether it’s music, film, or literature. His voracious appetite speaks to a desire to never
Noble has an energy that’s hard to ignore, and that translates effectively to his work. Whether darkly humorous, as in a print ad for Alcatraz Island that reads “Solitary confinement. Barbed wire fences. Shark infested waters. Bring the in-laws,” or heartwarming, like a tear inducing, family centered Thanksgiving television ad for Publix, Noble consistently hits the mark. From copy to color choice, and page to screen, his final products always tell a story, and they tell it well. As for his own history, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Noble describes his dad as “Don Draper,” referencing the hit series “Mad Men,” set in the cutthroat advertising jungle of 1960s New York. John Noble was “a tall handsome big shot in New York,” a well-respected copywriter for the equally respected advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach. Noble’s two younger brothers also work in creative fields. One is a producer in Hollywood, the other a creative director in Boston. As for Noble’s kids, his son Oliver is studying auto mechanics at Sierra College, and his daughter Rebecca is studying film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the most prestigious and challenging film schools in the world.
become complacent, to always be up to date, and to have the knowledge necessary to compete in a constantly changing industry. It’s that appetite, and intensive work ethic, that has given him the opportunity to work around the world with some of the most exciting names in media. Noble has filmed on every continent except Australia, and between January and August of this year spent 97 nights in Florida hotels while working on the Buffalo Wild Wings ad. Not to mention, he has worked with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, Charlie
Sheen, Kirsti Ali, and George Lucas to name a few. For fans of Lucas and his work, Skywalker Ranch is a commonplace name. For the uninformed, the 4,700 acre ranch in Marin County, Calif. is where Lucas, best known as writer of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, often works. Noble found himself at the ranch when he was working on special effects for Owens Corning. He was concepting with the team in the living room when Lucas himself casually descended the stairs in his bathrobe to get a glass of milk. He had been upstairs writing “Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace.” If that anecdote does nothing to raise the hairs on your arms, or accelerate your heart rate, replace George Lucas and Phantom Menace with Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, Beethoven and Symphony No. 9, etc. Noble’s casual brush with greatness in that living room is one to be envied, to say the least. When he’s not meeting George Lucas, admiring the landscape of Vietnam, or eating phenomenal steak in Buenos Aires (all for work, of course), Noble also works with Place Creative in Burlington. He has assisted them with advertising for large local accounts such as Darn Tough Vermont and Lake Champlain Chocolates. Continuing in that vein, he’s hoping to do more work with companies close to home. As much as he loves his big clients, “travelling is hard,” especially when you spend close to a third of the year living out of hotels. It’s hard to imagine that a man with a portfolio as versatile and successful as Noble’s, not to mention his infectious energy and charisma, could want for work in Vermont. So here’s to swapping a sleeper seat that “feels like your living room” on a flight to Seoul for a lounge chair next to the fire.
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VT AUTHORS
Malisa Garlieb The title of poet Malisa Garlieb’s debut collection, “Handing Out Apples in Eden,” alludes to Eve handing the apple to Adam and to the poet’s own marriage. Images of “the fall” from paradise are woven throughout the pages and according to Garlieb, Eve’s temptation and risk are tied to evolution. “Without her daring, humanity would have been denied the freedom of choice and the joys of learning. Without my personal falls out of relationship, I would have known much less about myself and of what I am capable. “Many of the poems in ‘Handing Out Apples in Eden’ were written after losing two very important relationships. They were written out of emotional imperative and there’s a vulnerability in them. If the personal can be written to include the reader then they can stand as art. “I did not set out to write a book, but when I’d amassed a certain quantity of poems, enough to fill a slim volume, I began to look for the overlapping themes and saw how my biography was providing a loose narrative arc. At that point I set a number of poems aside that did not fit the vi-
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sion of the book and began writing new poems to fill in the story for a reader. Those newer poems tended to be more overtly autobiographical, more explicit, and riskier in what they revealed. “The writing community I was now a part of also encouraged that new voice. Finding the Writer’s Barn and Daniel Lusk’s poetry workshop was pivotal in dedicating myself to writing. Having assignments, deadlines, and readers helps me stay productive. A few years ago, I also made a conscious decision to become ‘a poet,’ no longer having writing on the side, but bringing it to the fore and pursuing both refinement and expansion in my poems, and also getting them into editors’ [and readers] hands.”
When did you start writing poetry? “I was raised in a working class suburb of Milwaukee and as a child lived only a block away from the public library, which had profound influence on me. It was one of the few places I was allowed to go to alone as a child, and I spent many hours among the stacks. All the librarians knew me and I lived for the summer reading program. I’d wait outside of the locked doors on the first day of the pro-
gram, just to be the first to sign up. I usually had 20 books checked out at a time-the maximum you were allowed. I read the classics, like The Little Princess and The Diary of Anne Frank, but also the pulp romances from the adult section, the books on rock collecting, and about making your own potpourri and perfumes. I had eclectic reading habits. “I started writing poetry in second grade. I’d write down little rhymes and show them to my teacher. Unfortunately, also at this young age, I tried my hand at plagiarism and tried to pass off a poem I found in Cricket Magazine as one of my own. My teacher tracked the poem down and called me out, but at least I learned that lesson early. “It was my senior year in college when I came back to poetry in earnest. In my last semester before graduating, I took my only creative writing class, a poetry seminar… It was a little sad to me that I’d found this path of writing just as I was about to embark on a teaching career, and I put it on the back burner as I earned my “teaching legs” in elementary classrooms. But I never dropped it completely and over the next ten years I managed to have ten or so poems published in literary journals.”
find an audience who’ll give you close readings, and submit…One of my take away lessons in writing this book was about resiliency. Art has many purposes, but I experienced how it gives form to what seems too large to capture. Art seems to be a medium that can hold the human experience with a sense of grace. I hope readers sense that grace that in my book.
“I’d advise other emergent poets to write consistently, read at least a book a week,
“It takes commitment. And a smidge of grace.”
Handing Out in Eden
POETRY
Girls I Never Married ~ a memoir ~
DANIEL LUSK
In Praise of Usefulness
ANGELA PATTEN
A Collection Celebrating Vermont Literature and Libraries
MALISA GARLIEB
Wind Ridge Books Celebrates
the Voices of Vermonters
Edited by Angela Palm
SHELAGH CONNOR SHAPIRO
Shape Sky of the
A Concise History of Hip Hop (in sonnets)
—POETRY—
STEPHEN CRAMER
Can you tell readers about your opening words in the poem, “A stutterer introduces herself?” and share your ending words of advice to other emergent poets?
Please Do Not Remove
Apples
FROM THE HIP
“I moved from Wisconsin to Vermont twelve years ago. At that time, I had just completed my master’s degree in Waldorf education and was looking for a well-established Waldorf school to teach in. I was lured to Vermont by its loveliness, the political leanings that matched my own, and because it’s a great place to raise a child. When I first moved here, I’d often be driving and have to pull over because a gorgeous new landscape had just opened up before me… In Mary Oliver’s poem, ‘When I am Among the Trees,’ she writes that trees ‘save [her], and daily.’ I feel the same about beauty. I think you find [that] leaning in my book [too]. Handing Out Apples in Eden contains poems about some very hard times in my biography, but in loss there is truth, which has its own brand of beauty.”
“As a person who stutters, one of the hardest social interactions can be the introduction. There’s no way out of it or around your name – the word must be said – and it can become very stressful. The poem holds a reader in that awkward moment, but through fairground imagery. At the end, however, it does release into flow.
From
th e cise A Con
Hip
red Barn books o f v e r m o nt
writers B rn
the
What brought you to Vermont?
Wind RIDGE books o f v e r m o nt
Hop of Hip Hist ory (in sonn ets)
STEPHEN CRAMER
For more information contact Lin Stone at 985-3091 or Lin@windridgebooksofvt.com WINTER // 2015 Destination VT
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VT ARTIST
Tari Swenson and Chris Curtis
Veneration in Ahhh and AWE Words // Lin Stone Photos // Provided by Tari Swenson and Chris Curtis
S
towe’s West Branch Gallery cofounders, sculptor Chris Curtis and calligrapher/painter Tari Swenson, are partners in life and in work. The Stowe couple has collaborated to create art, curate a gallery, and raise a family. A self-taught painter and calligrapher, Tari has been using words as visual images since 1977. She releases her balletic brushstroke gestures onto rice paper, softly pulls oil skylines across canvas horizons, or drafts calligraphic collaborations that are made of or carved in stone. Chris’s majestic sculptures are frequently found as public or privatelyowned art in city squares, businesses, parks, and plazas, on school campuses, as well as the lawns of patrons unafraid of sixteen-foot, 16,000 pound prismatic shapes of sinewy stone and silver steel. “The first significant collaborative piece, except for our two children,” quipped Tari, “was a large calligraphic stone gesture called Hope. It was made following the 9-11 tragedy and the symbolic shape – an open suggestive spiral – was chosen to represent movement forward – nothing stuck or stagnant – and a whole world without end. “So much of any artistic process is a matter of collaboration,” she continued. “First, the artist collaborates with the materials – paper, ink, brush, canvas, paint. It’s also a collaboration with the artist’s body and mind, along with the universe’s many moments of startling interruptions, such as when you’re midbrushstroke and the telephone rings. You have to work with that, even though I might be yearning for a world of simplicity and calm. I think that my personal aesthetic and all of my work strives to express that.
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“I love the words and work of artist/ teacher Robert Henri, author of ‘The Art Spirit.’ He said to look for the spirit line in everything. If you look, it’s always there – the place that the eye is directly drawn to – that line means it’s full of emotion and that’s exactly why it caught your attention; finding that spirit line is collaborative too.” “I consider the gallery an expression of our creative spirit too. I think it’s important. We collaborate with anyone that comes through the door and I want people who enter our space to feel a sense of calm and uncluttered acceptance. I hope they heave a sigh of relief when they walk through our gallery doors: Ahhh… I think that if they enter and exhale with a few moments of pleasure and relief, then that is the gallery’s spatial spirit line too.”
later in the evolutionary scheme of things. Blue green algae do not see: they behave in direct response to what they feel and encounter in their environment. Our tactile response to the world is ancient. I like that. I’d say that a great deal of my sculpture and artistic statement is about our place in the world in the context of time. Stone embodies materials one-half a million years old and will be around a long time after we’re all gone. Part of my artistic message is a celebration that we get to be around as sentient beings and human flesh when odds are better that we would just be carbon.”
“Sculpture is different,” said Chris. “To make large public sculptures, you first have to deal with some very practical parameters and collaborators. These initial concerns and partners seem to have little to do with art: zoning boards and committee approvals, weather resistance, budgets, graffiti, weight, strength, permanence. Further, public sculpture can’t be considered an ‘attractive nuisance,’ meaning it can’t appeal or entice people to climb or throw things…and then you consider the process of a committee reviewing 200 proposals in combination with seeking all of the necessary board approvals – it can take a good two years. Public sculpture always has to please a whole lot of people. That’s a lot of collaboration!
Chris continues, “I love stones, but I also enjoy the contrast of working with ancient material and archetypal shapes along with newly-engineered materials such as steel or bronze. Some of the modern industrial materials and innovations are exciting because they have very useful attributes that allow me to make very large public pieces: durable, rustproof, non-porous, tough, and much lighter than stone. It helps sculptors to work big. Sculptors love big. Why? Something big happens that is unachievable small. Think of the pyramids. Easter Island. Small... now, think big…AWE! When you contemplate these places and stones and human’s anthropogenic changes to such ancient half a billion-year-old material, it’s incredible. It is an existential fluke that you stand here alongside these monumental ancient stones and breathe the joie de vivre of existence and of being alive. It lends perspective. You become slightly less concerned with this year’s police budget.”
“I make a 3-D digital model for these presentations because I think that you have to put something in their hands. People are tactile. Touch is a primal impulse and part of evolution – vision came much
To learn more about Tari and Chris’s collaborations, visit the West Branch Gallery at 17 Town Farm Lane in Stowe, call (802) 253-8942 or go to www.westbranchgallery.com.
Chris Curtis
Top left: “Flying Springs” is an example of Tari Swenson’s large brush calligraphic paintings. Sumi ink, oil, and wax. Tari Swenson’s calligraphy was the original inspiration for the collaborative stainless steel sculpture “A Piece of Hope,” above. The concept was part of the artistic outpouring that arose from the September 11 tragedy. It expressed their desire to concentrate on hope rather than despair.
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What to do when Lake Champlain is Frozen
Words and Photos // Phyl Newbeck
L
ots of people flock to Lake Champlain in the summer for swimming, fishing and boating. What those people may not realize is there are a number of activities which are just as much fun when the lake is frozen. There are organized events in Grand Isle, a Pond Hockey tournament in Colchester, and a wide variety of other activities which keep people on the frozen surface all winter long. A few words of caution need to be inserted here. The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife warns that any new ice surface less than four inches thick is not considered safe. At four inches, a person can walk or skate on the ice, at five inches they can use a snowmo-
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bile or ATV, at eight they can drive a car or small truck on the surface, and when ice is a foot thick, they can take a medium-sized truck out. These figures only hold true for new ice. Refrozen ice is significantly less stable.
breathable outer shell. Insulated boots, hats and gloves are also recommended. Most fishermen wear micro-spikes or other cleats on their boots and carry an auger to cut a hole in the ice and a yardstick to measure the ice thickness.
lean back in their seats with their heads a foot and a half off the ice, travelling up to 60 miles an hour. Lake Champlain has been the site of numerous sanctioned DN races including six North American and/ or World Championship regattas.
So what are those winter activities? Well one is almost identical to a summer pastime – ice fishing. Even in winter, fishermen and women can find landlocked salmon, lake trout, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, and crappie. The only difference is you’ll have to cut a hole in the ice to get your dinner. The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife suggests wearing layered clothing starting with a moisture-wicking base, an insulated, wind-resistant middle layer, and a
Another activity which bears at least a passing resemblance to its summer counterpart is ice boating. There are several different kinds of ice boats on the lake, but the most common is the DN boat which is named after a competition sponsored by the Detroit News in 1937. DN boats are twelve feet long, twenty-one inches wide, weigh 100 to 150 pounds, and have a sail area of 60 square feet. The boats have two side runners and one front runner for steering. Racers
For some, the best way to experience our Almost Great Lake is on skates. Although regular figure, hockey, and speed skates can be used, skaters who are interested in travelling long distances on the lake tend to use Nordic skates which consist of cross-country ski boots with removable blades. The blades are as long as speed skate blades but thicker and therefore more suitable for variable ice conditions. Because the blades are removable, skaters can switch back and
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forth between micro spikes (for unskateable ice, often near shore) and blades. Nordic skaters generally carry poles with sharp tips which allow them to poke the ice surface to gauge the thickness, as well as to provide assistance when crossing pressure cracks or skating into the wind. They also carry “ice claws” around their neck. If a skater falls through the ice, they can pull the sharp tips out of their sheaths and slither their way back onto a solid surface. Because of the potential for these unanticipated swims, many Nordic skaters carry a spare set of clothes in a water-tight bag in their knapsacks and some wear either wet suits or dry suits. The winter of 2013-14 was a great one for Nordic skaters. It was the first time in seven years that the broad section of Lake Champlain (Burlington to New York) froze over, allowing skaters to glide across the seven mile distance which usually has at least some open water. Of course, not everyone is interested in skating for distance. For some, an oldfashioned game of pond hockey will suffice. The Lake Champlain Pond Hockey Classic, now in its fourth year, will take
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place from February 13 to 15. Organizer Lou DiMasi said preparations for the event begin as soon as the ice is thick enough to hold people. Volunteers clear the surface whenever there is more than an inch of snow and the ice is flooded for additional thickness. This year, DiMasi is expecting roughly 100 teams with 700 to 750 players and thousands of observers. The action will take place on ten 150 by 75 foot rinks. The Pond Hockey Classic is co-ed and participants range from those who played youth hockey to former NHL players. Last year, only a third of the teams came from Vermont with others travelling from as far as Colorado, Florida and the Carolinas. Although the weather doesn’t always cooperate, after three years, organizers are prepared for whatever nature throws at them. “Every year there are weather challenges,” admits DiMasi “but we’ve gotten to a point where we feel we can handle most situations and still put on a great event. The tournament is for players 21 and over but there are family friendly events taking place alongside the games. “Whether you’re 21 or 71,” said DiMasi “it brings you back to
when you were 12. We’ve done an incredible job of having everyone participating, whether they’re players or family members taking part in the public skating.” Another annual event is Great Ice in Grand Isle which will take place on
two consecutive weekends, February 7/8 and 13/14. Conceived nine years ago as a way to prove that this summer venue can also be fun in winter, the festivities have proven quite popular. Although this year’s
schedule has not been set, previous events have included free public skating and pond hockey outside Hero’s Welcome in North Hero, a kids’ fishing derby, dog sled rides, skating races, ice bike racing and the ever-popular Frozen-Chozen Regatta which features a variety of ice-worthy wheeled contraptions. Off ice activities such as a pancake breakfast, Christmas tree bonfire, sweetheart’s dance and chili cookoff have complemented the on-ice events. Lake Champlain is beautiful in the summer, but there’s plenty to do in winter, as well. Come on out and enjoy the fun.
Ice fishing: www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_icefishing.cfm
Ice safety: www.lakeice.squarespace.com
DN races: www.theneiya.org
Nordic skating: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/VTNordicSkating
Pond Hockey Tournament: www.pondhockeyclassic.com/lakechamplain
Great Ice at Grand Isle: www.champlainislands.com
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Burlington’s Edible History: The O
Tour leader Elise Guyette (center) discusses a historic photograph with Burlington Edible History Tour participants Catherine Brooks (left) and Debbie Paige (right).
Words // Pamela Hunt Photos // Alison Redlich
V
ermont has a reputation of being one of the least diverse states in the country. However, the history of immigration in Burlington, the Green Mountain State’s largest city and economic hub, reveals a different story, one in which each successive wave of newcomers has shared its individual culture and food traditions. For those who settled here, the farm-to-table movement wasn’t just a fad: It was a way of life. Eager to learn more about this culinary syncretism, I joined two local researchers and educators, Elise Guyette and Gail Rosenberg, on their newly launched Burlington Edible History Tour. As we wended our way around Burlington’s downtown, the women told the stories of families learning to get by in their new homeland. We started our journey at Sugarsnap, inside the ECHO Lake Aquarium and
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Science Center. As we sampled a fresh, herby salad featuring the three sisters of Native American agriculture—squash, beans, and corn—Elise reminded us that our almost Great Lake was once an inland saltwater sea. As the glaciers retreated, the land rose, dumping the saltwater north into the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Native Americans who lived in the area had to adjust their foodways to the changing landscape, and fast—some scientists hypothesize that this change from saltwater to freshwater took just ten years. When the Europeans arrived, few were prepared for farming and hunting in foreign conditions. The Abenaki, who descended from the original residents, shared their knowledge and, at the same time, took in some of the European traditions, which led to the creation of a new “Yankee” culture.
As we headed out into the drizzle to follow the bike path to Union Station, Gail relayed the story of the Irish who ventured to Burlington. The Irish were the first to arrive in large numbers in the 1850s. Many set up taverns and boarding houses to feed and shelter their fellow countrymen. Elise explained that in the post-Civil War years, the French Canadians flowed down from the northern border in even larger numbers. Some called them the “Chinese of the East,” mirroring the massive Chinese settlements in the West. With the wind picking up a bit, the next food stop beckoned—Maglianero Café. It wasn’t exactly summery weather, but we nevertheless enjoyed our “ice cream” sandwiches—courtesy of Little Sweets of the award-winning restaurant, Hen of the Woods. The homemade buckwheat
Original Farm-to-Table Movement
Burlington Edible History Tour participants (left to right) Robyn Schenck, Matt Dykas, Kathleen Shiman, Angela Patten, and Daniel Lusk relax at the final stop at Juniper, which served Lake Champlain perch and samples of Vermont beer or wine.
biscuits surrounded a square of tart and tangy lime frozen yogurt, a nod to the Lebanese families who once resided in this neighborhood, including the Fayette and Handy families—surnames that are still common in the city today. After a short walk onward, we found ourselves shaking off umbrellas and doffing damp raincoats to settle up to the bar at Church & Main. We celebrated the Greek immigrants through fallapart-in-your-mouth roasted pork loin drizzled with tzatziki sauce and savory orzo salad studded with Kalamata olives. Gail pointed out the “Candy Shop” stained-glass windowpane on the wall— a holdover from the former Greek-run sweets store. So we didn’t get the idea that Church Street in the 1940s and ‘50s offered only moussaka and spanakopita, she clarified that although much Hellen-
ic food could be found at family celebrations, the Greek-run restaurants served good-old American-style meals. After a quick stop for slices of ciabatta topped with house-made mortadella and fennel marmalade at Pascolo, the Italian branch of the Guild family of restaurants, we meandered up the pedestrian corridor. Proving that everything old becomes hip again, Gail described the first food cart from the turn of the last century. From one of these “owls”—so the carts were nicknamed because they held nighttime hours to serve late-shift workers—Latvian immigrant Samuel Bergman likely sold hard-boiled eggs and sandwiches: a far cry from the pulled-pork soft tacos and organic kettle corn that vendors hawk today on Church Street. While devouring fresh-from-the-lake fried perch at Hotel Vermont’s Juniper,
the group conversed about the stories we heard that day and remarked how communities worked together to help new immigrants, whether by providing free food or by hiring those in need of work. Though the city doesn’t have nearly the population of foreign-born residents that it did in the early twentieth century (14 percent in 1900 versus 4 percent today), people from such far-flung origins as Somalia, Bhutan, Serbia, and Peru now call the Queen City home. Perhaps these newcomers will continue the tradition and create their own mix of new cuisines and culture. The Burlington Edible History Tour will resume in May 2015 and run through October. For information go to www.burlingtonediblehistory.com
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT CHURCH & MAIN WORDS AND PHOTOS // SADIE WILLIAMS When Church & Main opened its doors in October of 2010, owner Ned Church knew he was bringing something different to Burlington’s restaurant scene. Positioned on the corner of Church and Main Streets, the restaurant offers delicious food, expertly prepared drinks, and live entertainment to casual shoppers, movie and theater goers, and late night revelers alike. Although their menu changes every three months, the great minds at work in this corner restaurant never fail to keep things fresh and interesting while fulfilling their mission of creating a unique and enjoyable dining experience for all their patrons. In their newest menu revolution, Church and his team members have introduced a plethora of small plates meant for sharing. Executive chef Trevor Smith shared his excitement at the change, saying, “I’ve always wanted to do a menu in this manner.” What’s the draw? Both Church, Smith, and manager Daniel Caudle cite flexibility as a primary motivator. “My hope, my aim is to evolve into a spot where you can spend a half hour or two hours, where you’re not locked down,” Church divulged in an interview. “I want to create a flexible atmosphere.” The new menu format with its array of raw and cured meats, small plates, salads, and large plates is certainly is flexible. But so is the layout of the restaurant itself. The 30-seat cherry bar provides ample space for casual diners catching a bite or a drink before a show. The dining room, separated from the bar by floor to ceiling curtains, provides a cozier dining experience ca-
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Local pan seared mushrooms, duxelles in a baked parmesan nest, and grilled crostini.
pable of accommodating large and small parties comfortably. I was able to experience just how flexible Church & Main is with two very different dinner experiences. Last week my dad and I popped into the restaurant on a weekday around 7pm. He was situated at the bar when I arrived, so we decided to eat there. The bartender, Forrest, gave my dad excellent wine recommendations and was equally helpful in my quest for the perfect after work cocktail. I first tried the Protagonist, a deliciously lemony rye drink with a smoky scotch float, while we ordered a few small plates off the new menu. During our interview, Church told me “what’s unique [about our bartenders] is
that they really enjoy their practice.” Interested to see if that was true, I mentioned to Forrest that I would like to try something a little spicier, perhaps with one of their tequila infusions (of which there are many). After inquiring as to a few other flavor preferences, he set about making what is now one of my all-time favorite cocktails. Served in a martini glass with a cayenne sugar rim, the combination of spicy jalapeno, red bell pepper, and cilantro infused tequila, cucumber infused tequila, lime juice, and Solerno was literally to die for. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that Forrest enjoyed every second of making that drink, he certainly put a lot of care and attention into the process, and seemed genuinely pleased that I enjoyed the results of his labor.
Slow roasted pork belly with Brussels sprouts over blended apples and a Dijon thyme béarnaise.
Of course the great flavors don’t stop at the bar. We ordered the foraged mushrooms, pork belly, lobster and crab cake, and octopus salad. Each dish was artistically plated, impeccably delicious, and better yet, left me feeling satiated but not bursting. A few days later, I was invited out by a friend and her family, visiting from Pittsburgh. They had reserved a table for 10 in the main dining room. Luckily they were very interested in the new menu and ordered a round of small plates before considering entrees. Everyone sampled a different cocktail or wine while plates were passed around the table. After two and a half hours of good food and stimulating conversation, everyone left feeling not only satisfied, but stimulated by the entire experience. With the combination of flexible dining options and enthusiastic service at the bar and table, there’s nothing not to like about Church & Main. And they don’t stop the fun with dinner. The kitchen may close for dinner service at 10pm, but the bar stays open until midnight. Passing by on a Friday it’s not uncommon to see people packed into the back room listening to a DJ, or enjoy-
Butter braised lobster and fresh lump crab cake over a raft of bacon and asparagus with caper tartar.
ing a quieter dose of musical ambiance with singer/songwriter Iris Downey on Wednesdays and Sundays. Next time you’re downtown, stop by Church & Main. Whether it’s for a casual cocktail, a bite to eat before a night on the town, or
an intimate dinner, you’re sure to have a good time. The dining room is open Tuesday through Sunday from 4-10pm, closed Mondays. For more information about nightly music, visit their Facebook page. For reservations call (802) 540-3040.
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Great Vermont Holiday Gift Ideas WILD WOOD VERMONT LLC
THE ORANGE OWL SHOP LLC
Wild Wood Vermont currently offers wood travel mugs, soda blasted travel mugs, wood cocktail shakers, and custom engraving.
The Orange Owl began with two basic ideas. One, provide allnatural, handmade products that leave you feeling extraordinary, and secondly, to do that in an eco-friendly and socially conscious way. The Orange Owl is more than just a brand, it’s a commitments to quality without compromise.
Created by Vermont artisan Sean Murray, these 16oz wood travel mugs are not only beautiful, but incredibly functional, durable, and pleasant to hold. Murray starts with a solid block of cedar which he hand turns on a lathe, coaxing the mugs from the wood as he goes. They also feature a stainless steel liner and lid and a natural oil finish. And of course, these mugs fit into any standard cup holder, so you can sip your morning java in style without worrying about spills. Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/wildwoodvermont Facebook: www.facebook.com/wildwoodvermont You can also find Wild Wood products for sale at the following shops and galleries: Trinkets, Burlington; Common Deer, Shelburne; Artisan’s Hand Craft Gallery, Montpelier; Good Times Café, Hinesburg.
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Worried about harsh chemicals? Have no fear. You won’t find any parabens, dyes, silicones, phthalates, sulfates, fragrance oils, or petroleum products here. The packaging is green and all products are vegan. Currently the Orange Owl offers five product lines: soaps, lip balms, body butters, bath salts, and body scrubs. A list of locations where you can find their products is available on their website. And remember, do good, smell good, and feel good. That’s what the Owl is all about. Web: www.theorangeowlshop.com
PUZZLES & STUFF CROSSWORD
THEME: WORLD CAPITALS
DOODLES BY JAMES LASELL MORSE
Coincidence is love’s strongest inducement. 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. *Hula dancers wear skirts made of this 6. Automated teller 9. Grain in “The House That Jack Built” 13. Send in payment 14. Indochinese language 15. Juan or his wife Evita 16. Administer oil to, often in religious ceremony 17. Make a choice 18. Fancy tie 19. *Big band music dance 21. *Distinctly urban dance 23. Do needlework 24. His alter ego was a doctor 25. Ship pronoun 28. “I’m __ __ you” 30. Rubber gaskets 35. *Dance to a ballerina 37. Chows down 39. Motionless 40. Aware of 41. *Tony Manero’s dance 43. Purse to go with evening gown 44. Searched, often used with “around” 46. *Ballet move 47. Well-deserved reward 48. Matured 50. Lend a hand 52. “The Catcher in the ___”
53. “____ we forget” 55. Beluga yield 57. *Montparnasse dance 60. *May Day dance prop 64. Fair market _____ 65. *Meryl Davis’ and Charlie White’s turf 67. Lowest deck on a ship 68. Real estate broker, e.g. 69. Driving hazard 70. Upholstery choice 71. Nessie’s Loch 72. Drug approver 73. _ ____ or a spy
22. Altar avowal 24. Uncomfortable position 25. *East Coast or West Coast dance 26. Kind of roll 27. Having an irregular edge 29. Peacock’s pride 31. Bookkeeping entry 32. Fertilizer ingredient 33. Sticky 34. *Electric _____ 36. Was aware of 38. Healing sign 42. Performed at Teatro alla Scala 45. Pleasing to the ear 49. Cause of fairytale princess’downfall 51. “Let’s Go Places” vehicle DOWN 54. Use nose as detector 1. Tennis great Steffi ____ 2. She is a former U.S. Attorney General 56. Erasable programmable read only memory 3. Used for charging 57. *Where dancer performed in 4. River clay deposits Whisky a Go Go 5. Three-dimensional sound 58. Guinness and such 6. A bunch 59. Women in habits 7. *Soft-shoe 60. Large, prefix 8. Like an eaten blanket? 61. Assortment 9. Mosquito net fabric 10. a.k.a. Atlantic Richfield Company 62. Take it easy 63. “All for one, one for all” sword 11. *Ice dancer’s jump 64. *MGM song-and-dance star, 12. Dynamite ___ Johnson 15. School assignments 66. Atlantic catch 20. Had title to
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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.
FARMHOUSEG R O UP.COM 36
www.destinationvt.com THE FARMHOUSE TAP & GRILL / EL CORTIJO TAQUERIA / GUILD TAVERN / PASCOLO RISTORANTE