Cover Story
What’s Good 2016: An Intro to Your Intro to Burlington
Excuse me, but are you new here? I know, I know. It totally sounds like I’m hitting on you. It’s just that I don’t think I’ve seen you around, and … well, it’s Burlington. Live here long enough, and eventually you’ll hit on, er, recognize everyone in town. So, yeah. You’re definitely new here. Welcome!…
Top 7 Outdoor Gear Stores in Burlington
Outdoor Gear Exchange 37 Church St., Burlington, gearx.com If what you need involves outdoorsy sports, Outdoor Gear Exchange has got it. For two decades, OGE has been the go-to shop for in-the-know local kayakers, hikers, skiers, climbers and camping enthusiasts. Its friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you navigate the huge inventory — check the…
Top 7 Romantic Restaurants in the Burlington Area
Pizzeria Verità 156 St. Paul St., Burlington, pizzeriaverita.com Whisk your date away to Italy — kinda, sorta — at this dimly lit pizzeria. It’s always packed, for good reason, so mosey up the block to subterranean Sotto Enoteca for a glass of wine while you wait for your table. Then take your seat and let…
Top 7 Burlington Parks
Waterfront Park 10 College St., Burlington The crown jewel of Burlington’s shoreline district is Waterfront Park, a sprawling, grassy destination for sunbathers, Frisbee and kite enthusiasts, or those who simply want to stroll the scenic boardwalk for a view of the Adirondacks. Major bands headline tented concerts here from spring to fall. Grab yourself a…
Who’s Good: Mover and Shaker Luis Calderin
Age: 41 Occupation: vice president of marketing and creative, Rock the Vote; former director of arts, culture and the youth vote, Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign Town: Burlington Young voters were both the fuel and fire sparking the recent unlikely presidential run of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). And the man charged with inspiring America’s youth…
Top 7 Spots for Winter Fun Near Burlington
Stowe Mountain Resort 5781 Mountain Rd., Stowe, stowe.com Vermont’s preeminent alpine resort boasts unrelenting verticals, a fully stocked terrain park, a fancy lodge and a first-rate performing arts center. It’s also located in Stowe, one of the cutest — and ritziest — ski towns in New England. They don’t call it “Aspen of the East”…
The X Factor: Nonalcoholic Fun In and Around BTV
You don’t necessarily have to belly up to the bar to socialize or unwind in Burlington — there’s more to Queen City nightlife than creative cocktails and craft brews. Whether you’re straight-edge, sober, underage or just need a night off from the bar scene, the greater Burlington area offers plenty of booze-free fun. Read on…
Top 7 Spots for Summer Fun Near Burlington
Mt. Mansfield vtstateparks.com At 4,393 feet, Mt. Mansfield is the tallest mountain in the state. It’s also one of only two areas in Vermont with alpine tundra — the other is Camel’s Hump. There are numerous climbs to the summit from virtually all sides of Mansfield. We prefer the Sunset Ridge Trail from Underhill State…
Who’s Good: Chef George Lambertson
Age: 36 Occupation: chef/partner, ArtsRiot Town: Burlington George Lambertson comes from a fine-dining background, having cooked for some of the area’s best restaurants. But when he took over the kitchen at the South End cultural hub ArtsRiot in 2014, it was the first time the Burlington native had complete creative control of his menu. It…
Top 7 Cocktail Bars in Burlington and Winooski
The Daily Planet 15 Center St., Burlington, dailyplanetvt.com Live in Burlington long enough, and you’ll have at least one first date at this downtown landmark. It’s almost a rite of passage for singles in the Queen City. Winner of best cocktails for two years in a row in the Seven Daysies readers’ picks awards, the…
Who’s Good: Muralist Mary Lacy
Age: 25 Occupation: artist Town: Burlington Muralist Mary Lacy’s sweet ride isn’t a convertible or an SUV; it’s a bucket truck — a van with an extendable cherry picker mounted on the roof. She used it to paint a 28-foot-tall hummingbird on the side of the American Flatbread building at the corner of St. Paul…
Top 7 Art Galleries in Burlington
Local art is everywhere in Burlington — from the walls of your favorite brunch spot to the halls of the University of Vermont Medical Center. And we’re not just talking about paintings of rustic barns and covered bridges. Whether you’re into abstract sculptures or Egyptian mummies, the galleries and museums listed here offer exhibits guaranteed…
Top 7 Global Cuisine Restaurants in the Burlington Area
Taverna Khione 5573 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, tavernakhione.com Named for the goddess of the snow, this taverna serves contemporary Greek cookery in a cozy, farmhouse-style room — you won’t find street-style falafel or gyros here. Sample chef Marc Provencher’s lamb and goat dishes made with local produce and house-grown Hellenic herbs. Celebrating something? Pair your meal…
Top 7 Sports Bars in the Burlington Area
Ruben James 159 Main St., Burlington, rjsburlington.com At night, RJ’s is a sweaty dance club. But during the day and into the evening, it’s one of the liveliest sports bars in town. It’s especially popular on Sundays during the NFL season, and with good reason: You’ll find any game you want on one of several…
Top 7 Comfort Food Restaurants in the Burlington Area
Bluebird Barbecue 317 Riverside Ave., Burlington, bluebirdbbq.com Above the swirling eddy of Salmon Hole, a famed fishing spot on the Winooski River, Bluebird Barbecue invites diners to “meat here” for down-home brisket, pulled pork and ribs, slow-smoked on the premises seven days a week. There are also traditional sides — from creamy mac and cheese…
Top 7 Bars to Drink With Burlington Townies
Esox 194 Main St., Burlington, 862-7314 Barflies, punks and hipsters coexist peacefully around Burlington’s most awkwardly placed pool table. The bartenders here don’t force small talk — and that’s part of the appeal. Named best place to go if you have resting bitch face in the 2015 Seven Daysies readers’ picks awards, this relaxed bar…
Figure It Out: Summing Up Vermont by the Numbers
The Green Mountain State is the sixth smallest in land mass and second smallest in population. But size isn’t everything. Here are some other digits that matter in these parts. 802 It’s Vermont’s lone area code, a source of state pride. You’ll see it emblazoned on T-shirts, sweatpants and bumper stickers. We’re less proud of…
Top 7 Live Music Clubs in the Burlington Area
Nectar’s/Club Metronome 188 Main St., Burlington, liveatnectars.com For more than 40 years, iconic Main Street hot spot Nectar’s — aka the House That Phish Built — has offered “Fresh music served daily.” (Also gravy fries.) Seven nights a week, the nightclub hosts lively and diverse local, regional and national acts, and it’s served as a…
Top 7 Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants in Burlington and Winooski
Mirabelles Café 198 Main St., Burlington, mirabellescafe.com Enter this sunny Main Street bakery-café — a BTV staple since 1990 — and you’ll be greeted with a buttery scent. The tantalizing aroma is just one of Mirabelles’ many charms. The crowds come for the sweets stacked in tiered trays and glass cases — croissants, cinnamon buns,…
Game On: A Playbook to Spectator Sports in Vermont
We’ll be honest: Vermont isn’t exactly a hub for spectator sports. Sure, we’re a sporty bunch, and options for being active abound. However, when it comes to actually watching local sports, the pickings are slim. What follows are some of your best bets for taking in the old ballgame — or roller derby bout, etc.…
Top 7 Neighborhood Restaurants in the Burlington Area
¡Duino! (Duende) 10 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, duinoduende.com Friendly vibes flow through ¡Duino! (Duende) and the adjacent Light Club Lamp Shop — funky, homespun storefronts also connected to the Radio Bean coffeehouse and music venue. This low-key community stronghold — away from the crowds of Church Street — is a true taste of Burlington. Global…
Who’s Good: Vermont Politico Rachel Feldman
Age: 32 Occupation: chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Phil Scott Town: Montpelier Summer camp is what first drew Rachel Feldman to Vermont; the New York native attended Farm & Wilderness in Plymouth as a kid. She earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University and moved to Vermont in 2006; her first jobs were as…
Seven Getaways Close to Burlington
Burlington punches above its weight in arts, culture, food and nightlife. But it’s also small, as cities go. So sometimes it’s nice to get away, even for a night. Fortunately, there are 250 other towns in Vermont, many of which make for enjoyable little outings. Here are seven of our favorite destinations. Montpelier The smallest…
Who’s Good: Pro Snowboarder Luke Haddock
Age: 26 Occupation: professional snowboarder (winter); assistant manager of house-painting crew (summer); maple syrup producer (sugaring season) Town: Richmond Native Vermonter Luke Haddock started snowboarding when he was in the third grade; he turned pro in 2011. On behalf of his sponsor, Technine, he travels to competitions and events all across the country and shows…
Who’s Good: Fashionista Hiroka Nakahira
Age: 39 Occupation: sales associate at Old Gold Town: Burlington Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Hiroka Nakahira discovered Vermont while reading a magazine article about unique schools around the world; it featured Goddard College in Plainfield. She applied and spent five years there studying liberal arts while also learning about protesting, cult movies and moose.…
Meal Deals: Dining and Drinking Specials by the Day, 2016
Note: This guide is out of date, but you can check out the 2017 version for current food and drink deals. Burlington is many things. Sadly, cheap ain’t one of them. Eating out, especially, can bust your wallet as easily as your gut. That’s why we’ve rounded up some tried-and-true specials offered at local bars and…
Who’s Good: DJ and Musician Craig Mitchell
Age: 45 Occupation: DJ Town: Burlington In Burlington, Craig Mitchell is synonymous with house music. The affable Michigan native is a globally renowned house DJ and a fixture behind the decks at numerous local clubs, where he has become something of a guru in the vibrant electronic dance music scene. He is also a terrific…
#art802: Burlington Art That’s Outside the Box
Independent politicians, snowboarding icons and counterculture ice cream barons all call Vermont home. Not surprisingly, freethinking artists are also part of our mix. You can view their work in local galleries and museums, of course — click here for our top seven spots. But look closely, and you’ll start to realize that art is all…
Who’s Good: Live Music Maven Ali Fogel
Age: 30 Occupation: manager, the Monkey House; Waking Windows Presents Town: Winooski Live in BTV long enough, and you’ll hear Winooski referred to as “Burlington’s Williamsburg.” There’s some truth to that nickname. The up-and-coming Onion City (“Winooski” is the Abenaki word for “onion,” BTW) is a trendy alternative to the larger Queen City. And people…
Get Connected: Plugging Into BTV’s Innovation Economy
Burlington, Vt.: home of stunning lake views, charming farm-to-table restaurants — and one of the country’s fastest fiber-optic networks? You read that right. Internet connectivity and cellphone service is spotty throughout most of Vermont, but in the Queen City, the signals are strong. Burlington residents can access broadband from multiple sources, including city-owned Burlington Telecom,…
Ask Athena: Answers to Your Questions on Love and Lust in Burlington
Where can I discreetly get it on in public? — Getting Down All Around Ooh, fun! Public restrooms are a classic spot — and the mirrored, low-lit lavatory at Light Club Lamp Shop is pretty spacious, just sayin’. Just lock the damn door. If the thrill of being caught appeals to you, try getting frisky…
Good Buy: An Oddly Specific Primer on Local Shopping and Services
If you want a comprehensive guide to Burlington’s best shopping and services, check out the Seven Daysies readers’ picks. Once a year, Vermonters vote on everything from best furniture store to best shoe shop. Those locals’ favorites cover a lot of ground. But they don’t tell you where to go if you need a lamp…
Rock On: A Playlist of Local Tunes
We’ll go out on a limb and guess you’ve probably heard of Phish, Grace Potter and Anaïs Mitchell. But there’s a hell of lot more to local music than our most famous exports. In fact, we’d put our scene up against any in the Northeast — though we concede that Brooklyn is pretty rad, too.…
Humor Us: Vermont Comedy Hits the Funny Bone
What do you get when you cross a cow and a unicorn? A creature whose moo, according to an eyewitness, sounds like a million angels. JK. The mythical “unicow” is the mascot for the new Vermont Comedy Club, which opened in the fall of 2015. When you see its likeness on the brick building at…
WTF, Burlington? A Photographic Tour of Local Weirdness
We’ll be the first to admit it: The Green Mountain State is a strange place. They don’t make those “Keep Vermont Weird” shirts for nothin’. Vermonters march to the beat of their own didgeridoos, and that’s a big part of what makes living here so awesome. When you first arrive, no doubt this quirkiness and…
What’s the Buzz? Sip Your Way Through Burlington’s Breweries — and a Cidery
Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state in the U.S. But one sip of the award-winning suds from Hill Farmstead Brewery, the Alchemist or Lawson’s Finest Liquids will prove that we hopheads value quality as much as quantity. Thirsty? Whether you’re looking for smoky lagers, bitter IPAs, puckering sours or rich, roasty…
Top 7 Restaurants for Outside Seating in the Burlington Area
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill 160 Bank St., Burlington, farmhousetg.com Sitting at a picnic table in the backyard beer garden at this gastropub, surrounded by growing herbs and flowers, you’d never guess that the previous restaurant in this spot was … a McDonald’s. These days, 160 Bank Street serves local burgers, homemade charcuterie, comfort food…
