What’s Good 2019-20
The Annual Field Guide to Burlington (Meticulously Researched & Compiled by Our Pals at Seven Days)
See for Yourself 2019: A Stuck in Vermont Playlist
What does Vermont look like from the basket of a hot air balloon? From the passenger seat of a race car at Thunder Road? From the frozen surface of Lake Memphremagog? Eva Sollberger knows. Seven Days’ senior multimedia producer has spent the past 12 years documenting every corner of the Green Mountain State for her…
Field Guide: Brian Nagle
Age: 33 Occupation: DJ, talent booker and festival architect Lives in: Winooski All Brian Nagle wants to do is make you dance. Known to local music fans and club kids as DJ Disco Phantom, the Winooski-based mix master is one of the most popular in the area. He dazzles audiences with his selection and skills,…
Budget Bites: Making Dollars and Sense of Burlington Dining
In any 28-day span, there are cycles: the moon, the ocean tides, the national American political crisis of the month. But for many of us, few cycles are felt more keenly than the one in our wallet: It’s skinny at the beginning of the month (grr, rent check), fat a few weeks later (party time!)…
Rock Out: Live Music Hot Spots in and Around Burlington
Light Club Lamp Shop 12 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, radiobean.com The Light Club Lamp Shop is among the most beautifully appointed spots in Burlington. While you’re enjoying everything from folk quartets to spoken word poetry to experimental cabaret, it’s perfectly natural to be distracted by the club’s dazzling display of lamps, sconces and chandeliers —…
Candid Cameras 2019: Seven Local Instagrammers to Follow
Vermont is a pretty place — except during mud season — and Vermonters are a creative bunch. The state’s robust Instagram community captures it all. If you’re looking for foodie inspiration, cute animals, colorful art or nature shots, look no further than these seven local accounts. (And hey, don’t forget to follow Seven Days at…
Let’s Dance: Vermont Music You Should Be Listening To
For a town of its size, Burlington is home to a ridiculous number of musicians, each with their own unique style and energy. Practically any night of the week, you can catch jazz cats, indie rockers, gritty bluesmen, rap superstars, bumpin’ house DJs — you get the picture. The Queen City music scene, and Vermont’s…
A Tasting Tour of Burlington’s Soda Plant
A century ago, the Soda Plant in Burlington’s South End housed exactly what you might expect: a bottling plant for Venetian Ginger Ale. For the last two decades, the building at 266 Pine Street was home to ReSOURCE, a used home-goods store. Then, in 2018, the Soda Plant was transformed once again, this time into…
Field Guide: Caitlin Pascucci
Age: 30 Occupation: Founder and executive director of Sangha Studio Lives in: Burlington Caitlin Pascucci may be way into yoga, but she’s definitely not one of those more-flexible-than-thou types with green juice in her veins. The founder of Sangha Studio believes that when it comes to yoga, the best practice is the one you can…
Perk Up at These Burlington Coffee Shops
Nomad Coffee South End Station 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3, Burlington, nomadcoffeevt.com Andrew Sepic and Nicole Grinstead began their Vermont coffee enterprise as a drive-by coffee truck in Essex Junction in 2016. Two years later, they put down roots with a brick-and-mortar location in Burlington’s hopping South End. On weekdays, find the couple’s exquisitely curated…
Hit the Trail: When It Comes to Hiking in Vermont, We Summit Up
The Green Mountains do more than give Vermont its name. Our ranging peaks are as much of a defining characteristic as the ocean is to Rhode Island or bad drivers are to Connecticut. And they sure are pretty to look at. Views of Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield are among the most sought after in…
Good Buys 2019: Where to Shop on Church Street
SLATE 89 Church St., Burlington, slatehome.co Stepping into Slate feels like slipping into the pages of an Anthropologie catalog — in a good way. Do your new Burlington digs need some playful flair? This lifestyle and home décor store stocks hip, sustainable options from artisans near and far. Yes, you can splurge on a navy chesterfield…
Wake Up With These Burlington Breakfast Spots
Mirabelles Café & Bakery 198 Main St., Burlington, mirabellescafe.com Open since 1990, Burlington’s first gourmet bakery crafts a dizzying array of crave-worthy sweets. Key lime tarts, maple old-fashioned chocolate cakes and handmade spins on Little Debbie treats are all displayed in tiered trays and glass cases near the door. But don’t let those stop you…
Hot Stuff: Summer Fun in and Around Burlington
Center Chains Disc Golf Course 116 Maple St., Waterbury Center Disc golf courses are popping up all over Vermont, but the links at Center Chains are the gold standard. This 18-hole spread was one of the first courses in the state, and it remains one of the most popular and best maintained. The mountain views…
Sense and Sensimilla: Cannabis Is Legal in Vermont … With Some Restrictions
On July 1, 2018, Vermont legalized recreational cannabis and thus embarked on its Great Weed Legalization Experiment. So far, the reviews have been mixed. Some folks, of course, think cannabis should have remained verboten. Others worry that the current law, which allows adults 21 and older to possess and grow their own weed but not…
Field Guide: Steve Hadeka
Age: 40 Occupation: Drummer, woodworker and owner of Pleasant Ranch Lives in: Burlington Steve Hadeka is a rock star — in the local music scene and among Vermont craftspeople. The Castleton native splits his time between jigs and gigs: During the day, he crafts one-of-a-kind wood furniture, kitchenware and home décor under his Pleasant Ranch…
Stay Cool at These Vermont Winter Destinations
Sugarbush Resort 102 Forest Dr., Warren, sugarbush.com Great grooming makes Sugarbush’s varied terrain a cut above. Catch some amazing views on Snowball, Jester, Troll Road and Domino. Plus, the ‘Bush semi-secretly offers one of the best lift-pass deals around: On $30 Thursdays, ski Mount Ellen at a deep discount — then spend the savings at…
Gather Round: A Guide to Community Centers in Burlington
Fletcher Free Library 235 College St., Burlington, fletcherfree.org Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library has been lending out books since 1873 — but its current collection goes far beyond the written word. Today, it also circulates ebooks, museum passes, gardening tools, cake pans, a portable air compressor and a ukulele. (Yes, you read that right.) The library’s…
Our Picks for Burlington Lunch Restaurants
Bluebird Barbecue 317 Riverside Ave., Burlington, bluebirdbbq.com The wood-fired smokers run 24-7 outside Burlington’s only dedicated barbecue joint. For years, the place was open only for dinner, but in 2019 owner Sue Bette pulled the trigger on lunch. Now, visitors can mix and match brisket and ribs with beans and mac all the live-long day.…
Adult Recess: Seven Offbeat Vermont Activities
Get Air Trampoline Park 25 Omega Dr., Williston, getairvermont.com Everybody had that one friend with a trampoline when they were a kid, right? Well, Get Air is what happens when that friend grows up, buys a warehouse and fills it with thousands of square feet of trampolines. You can bounce for hours. But why not…
Take This Quiz to Find the Events You Don’t Want to Miss in Burlington
New in town and looking to live it up like a local? Take our quiz, and we’ll lead you to some of the area’s biggest and best annual events. For more can’t-miss happenings in Burlington and beyond — from September’s Pride Parade to January’s Vermont Burlesque Festival to July’s Old North End Ramble — check the…
World Eaters: Global Cuisine in Burlington
Maya’s Kitchen & Bar 1130 North Ave., Burlington, mayaskitchenvt.com At first glance, the menu at this New North End Himalayan joint may look familiar enough: crisp veggie pakoras, steamed momos, Indian curries and Nepali chow mein. But married owners Maya Gurung-Subba and Suk Subba offer specialized plates from some of the more remote reaches of…
Shape Up at These Burlington Gyms and Yoga Studios
Evolution Physical Therapy + Yoga 20 Kilburn St., Suite 120, Burlington, evolutionvt.com How many cities do you know that have a yoga room at the airport? The Queen City does, and it’s operated by Evolution, which is among the most respected of Burlington’s many, many yoga studios. At its South End headquarters, you’ll find classes…
Field Guide: Ren Weiner
Age: 33 Occupation: Baker, food activist and owner of Miss Weinerz lives in: Burlington Ren Weiner didn’t start life as a crunchy eater. Growing up in Westchester County, N.Y., the self-described “Skippy and Wonder Bread girl” discovered veganism as a teen, in part to help relieve symptoms of Lyme disease, which she contracted at age…
Dinners (and a Movie): Where to Go in Burlington on Date Night
Sunset Drive-In 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, sunsetdrivein.com So, the main attractions at this summertime spot are the movies projected onto four screens, rain or shine. But the cheap dinners from the snack shack go way beyond popcorn. Old-fashioned burgers, fries, hot dogs and ice cream will keep you and your date from nodding off…
Field Guide: Erin McCormick
Age: 33 Occupation: Founder and blogger of Travel Like a Local: Vermont; chief operating officer of Hergenrother Realty Group at Keller Williams; and part-time Vermont real estate agent Lives in: Colchester Erin McCormick isn’t very good at keeping secrets. At least, not the kind that deserve sharing. In her blog, Travel Like a Local: Vermont,…
Good Buys 2019: Where to Shop off Church Street
Pure Pop 115 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington, purepoprecords.com Is your alter ego John Cusack’s character in High Fidelity? If yes, you’ll want to spend some time digging through the crates at Pure Pop, a blast from the musical past. Just walking down the poster-lined staircase below street level feels a little punk, and the selection…
What’s in Store: Burlington Shopkeepers on Where They Browse and Buy
Shopping in Burlington isn’t just retail therapy. Talk to Anya Huneke, owner of Main Street consignment store Dirt Chic, and she’ll point out that your purchase power is “an important part of keeping the community alive.” How so? “Aside from the financial benefits of shopping locally” — that is, keeping your dollars close to home — “stores…
Curious Destinations That Keep Vermont Weird
Vermont is famous for its pastoral scenery, friendly people and rustic Yankee charm. In other words, it’s quaint AF. But the Green Mountain State has a weirder, darker side, too. It’s worth getting off the beaten path to discover a very different Vermont from the idyllic paradise you’ve seen in tourism mags. Read on for…
Good Look: Seven Artists to Watch in 2019
The Queen City is a hub of creativity in Vermont. Indeed, it’s hard not to encounter work by local artists, whether you’re roaming the South End Arts District or getting a bite to eat at City Market, Onion River Co-op. Here are seven artistic movers and shakers dedicated to making things happen in Burlington and…
Cheers to These Top Burlington Bars
Mandarin 22 Main St., Winooski, mandarinvt.com At night, globe lights bathe this corner eatery in warm violet, making the place glimmer with a clubby lounge look. Sure enough, DJs pop in for weekend residencies. On the bar top, glass jars stocked with dried fruits and flowers evoke a wizard’s workshop while nodding at the Chinese…
Road Trips for Your Vermont Bucket List
Museum of Everyday Life 3482 Dry Pond Rd., Glover, museumofeverydaylife.org We know, we know: Museums are borrrrring. And what could be more mundane than one devoted to “everyday life,” right? Believe it or not, this little shop of curios is well worth the long trek to the Northeast Kingdom. Housed in a dilapidated barn next…
Frame of Mind: A Guide to Burlington Art Galleries
Soapbox Arts 266 Pine St., Suite 119, Burlington, soapboxarts.com Gallerist and curator Patricia Trafton (pictured) opened Soapbox Arts in the spring of 2019 with one main goal: to connect first-time and longtime collectors alike with engaging new voices in contemporary art. In the South End’s newly revamped Soda Plant, the white-cube gallery offers consultations, virtual…
Field Guide: Christy Mitchell
Age: 38 Occupation: artist; founder and manager of S.P.A.C.E. Gallery; and executive director of SEABA Lives in: Burlington From its origins as a largely industrial section of the Queen City, Burlington’s South End has become the town’s thriving arts district. Over the last couple of decades, restaurants, breweries, shops and galleries have popped up all…
Center Stage: Raising the Curtain on Burlington Performing Arts Spaces
Flynn MainStage 153 Main St., Burlington, flynncenter.org Patti LaBelle, Jay Leno, Joe Biden, Ballet Hispánico and Cirque Éloize are just a handful of the names that have appeared on the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts’ Main Street marquee in the last year. The art-deco theater opened in 1930 as a place to see vaudeville…
Guiding Lite: An Intro to Your Intro to Burlington
Whenever you’re trying something for the first time, it’s good to have a friend who can show you the ropes. That’s true whether you’re learning a new hobby, starting a new job or, I don’t know, eating your first lobster — trust us, it can get messy. And it’s especially true when exploring a new…
Field Guide: Ali Dieng
Age: 37 Occupation: Burlington city councilor (D/P-Ward 7), family outreach coordinator and Parent University manager for the Burlington School District Lives in: Burlington Ali Dieng knows better than most the challenges of trying to find one’s place in a new city. A native of Mauritania who grew up in Senegal, Dieng arrived in Burlington in…
What’s the Word? An Unserious Glossary of Vermont Lexicon
Vermont is weird. That’s generally a good thing, but when you’re new to town it can sometimes make life confusing. To help you get acclimated, we’ve compiled this handy glossary of Vermonty things, written in one of the state’s primary dialects: snark. 1. Andy A_Dog Williams Skatepark: A wonderful spot to watch skateboarders trip over…
Burlington Civic Life, From Politics to Parking Tickets
When you think Burlington politics, you probably think “lefties.” You wouldn’t be far off. The city is, after all, the birthplace of Vermont’s Progressive Party — to the left of the Democrats — and it’s the home of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Donald Trump won a mere 11.7 percent of the vote here in the…
Cultured Clubs: Beyond Live Music at Burlington Nightspots
Burlington’s bustling live music scene is the stuff of legend — turn to page 70 for more on that. But our nightlife goes beyond killer tunes. And let’s face it: Sometimes you crave a band-free alternative. Read on to discover another equally entertaining side of the Queen City — one that’ll make you laugh, think,…
