BURLINGTON
BEST OF
Summer 2014
L I F E A N D C U LT U R E I N T H E C H A M P L A I N VA L L E Y
VOLUME 7 NO. 3 $4.95
SUMMER FUN
Champlain Valley Fair Burlington Coast Guard Station Lake Champlain by Ferry
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Contents
FE AT U R E S
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Burlington Coast Guard Station
Over
100 search and rescue missions a year.
by DEAN WHITLOCK
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South Village
A
traditional neighborhood in the heart of Spear Street.
by SARAH ZOBEL
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Lake Champlain by Ferry Connecting
two states for two centuries.
by MARK AIKEN
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Outdoor Living
Make your
surroundings spectacular. Cover photo by Chris Ashby 10 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
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de p artments
82
71 15
Editor’s Note
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Contributors
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Online Hub
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Gatherings
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Art Scene
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Celebrate food, music, and community at Summervale. by pamela Hunt
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by nancy fontaine
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Spotlight
Champlain Valley Fair.
Ain’t no cure for the summertime brews.
by tom brandes
by Stephen Morris
28 Hot Spot
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Get Smart Aristelle: Find the perfect fit.
Saint Michael’s Playhouse. by jennifer rose smith
What’s Hot
Dining & Entertainment Guide
Bright Ideas
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Nautically inspired dinnerware.
91 Happenings
by sarah tuff
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A calendar of events.
100 Burlington Buzz Spencer Welton, president of the Burlington Farmers’ Market. by mike morin
Special Advertising Section
46 Sweet Summertime Shopping and fun things to do in our local Burlington area.
BEST OF
BURLINGTON Coffee Table Publishing, LLC PO Box 1460, Quechee, VT 05059 (802) 295-5295 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com Publishers
Robin Gales John Gales Bob Frisch editor
Deborah Thompson ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Kristy Erickson Copy EDITOR
Elaine Ambrose Art direction/Design
CW Design Solutions, Inc. advertising design
Hutchens Media, LLC web design
Locable advertising
Robin Gales John Gales (802) 295-5295 coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net Keep us posted Best of Burlington wants to hear from our readers. Correspondence may be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Best of Burlington, PO Box 1460 Quechee, VT 05059. Or email editor@bestof burlingtonvt.com. Advertising inquires may be made by emailing ctpublishing@comcast.net or coffeetable publishing@comcast.net. Best of Burlington is published quarterly by Coffee Table Publishing, LLC,Š 2014. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Best of Burlington accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.
SFI-00665
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SFI-CS-A-HC
editor ’ s note
Celebrate Summer If you’re as happy as I am to welcome summer, you’ll want to fill the season with lots of fun things to do and places to go. From a patriotic 4th of July picnic and fireworks to the thrilling Champlain Valley Fair during the last week of August (page 28), mark your calendars now so you don’t miss any of the excitement. While you’re out and about, why not hitch a ride on one of the Lake Champlain Ferries and enjoy a day exploring New York across the lake? Writer Mark Aiken delves into this interesting company beginning on page 64 and learns about the ferry named for his great-grandfather. On Thursday evenings during July and August, head out to Intervale to enjoy local food, friends, and music at Summervale (page 58). The folks at Saint Michael’s Playhouse have some spectacular shows lined up for the season (page 24), so consider taking in the classic Arsenic and Old Lace or reminiscing with the music of Johnny Cash in Ring of Fire. We’re also visiting South Village, a new development offering much more than just beautiful homes (page 50). Most of the acreage will not be developed but will feature fields for growing crops, preserved wetlands, walking trails, and a solar array. Residents love the sense of community and the idea of living in a planned, environmentally friendly neighborhood. Last but not least, we know you’ll like reading about the good work of the personnel at Burlington’s Coast Guard Station (page 38). Whatever you do this summer, the rest of the staff and I wish you many happy days filled with sunshine. Enjoy!
Deborah Thompson Editor editor@bestofburlingtonvt.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ Best-of-Burlington-Life-and-Culture-in-theChamplain-Valley-Magazine/185081471716
TWITTER: @BurlingtonVTmag
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B ES T O F B U R L I N G T O N
Contributors Mark Aiken Mark writes about a wide range of topics and especially enjoys covering recreational pursuits. His work has appeared in the New York Times, 32 Degrees, and Eating Well. When he’s not writing, Mark teaches skiing at Stowe, trains for marathons, and plans bigger and better vacations.
Nancy Fontaine Writer, editor, and librarian Nancy works at Dartmouth College. She is also a book blogger and website manager and has been writing about the Connecticut River Upper Valley for the last several years. She lives in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, with her husband, and her hobbies include reading, quilting, skiing, and snorkeling.
Natalie Stultz Natalie is a portrait and lifestyle photographer whose editorial and commercial work appears nationally. She blends her unique sense of place and enjoyment of people into every assignment. Her photographs create interest and enthusiasm for business and personal branding.
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Tom Brandes Tom is a New Hampshire native now living in Plymouth, Minnesota, where he writes on a variety of subjects including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, sustainability, and more. His work has appeared in a number of publications, including New Hampshire Wildlife Journal, Auto Magazine, Fire Chief, and Urban Land. He enjoys hiking, biking, and canoeing during annual visits to New Hampshire with his family.
Stephen Morris Stephen is the publisher of Green Living: A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment. He is also a novelist whose most recent work, Stories & Tunes, is set in Vermont. It is available at area bookstores and online booksellers. He lives in Randolph, Vermont.
Dean Whitlock Dean cut his creative teeth on journalism, tech writing, marketing, and fiction before hanging out his shingle as a freelance writer. From his home in Thetford, he has made forays into topics that range from banking and boating to running a youth circus. He has published two young adult novels and loves to lead workshops for budding authors in local schools and libraries.
ONLINE HUB
www.bestofburlingtonvt.com Online Exclusives Summervale Find a listing of musical guests and events for this favorite venue, and enjoy a gallery of extra photos from the article in this issue.
Enter to Win! Go online to become the lucky winner of a Family 4-Pack of tickets to the Champlain Valley Fair.
Outdoor Living Expert advice on how to make your space work for you and your family, featuring the latest selections from Ann Roche Casual Furniture.
Gallery Extra! Enjoy more photos of the Burlington Coast Guard Station.
CHECK OUR August ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN EVENT FREE!
We’re looking forward to hearing from you! DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!
www.facebook.com/bestofburlingtonvt
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Gatherings ENJOYING EVENTS AROUND TOWN
Burlington Wine & Food Festival The Burlington Wine & Food Festival pairs prized local foods with world-class wines for a delectable experience. Celebrate with an exciting lineup of events in the days leading up to the festival on June 21. Winemakers from around the world will team up with some of the best chefs in Vermont to create unique menus highlighting their creativity and showcasing innovative food and wine pairings. See the schedule of events at www.burlingtonwineandfoodfestival.com. 4
Send photos of your event to editor@bestofburlingtonvt.com. 20 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
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Gatherings ENJOYING EVENTS AROUND TOWN
Williston Kids Day Williston Kids Day is a community event designed to give parents and children in Chittenden County a free day of fun—just as cabin fever reaches its peak. This year’s event was held Saturday, March 22, at the Williston Central School. Activities included arts and crafts, Lyric Theatre songs and games, sports contests, a photo booth, bouncy castles, face painting, balloon animals, and more! Williston Kids Day 2015 will be held in mid March.
Send photos of your event to editor@bestofburlingtonvt.com. 22 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
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ART SCENE S P O N S O R E D B Y V er m on t ener g y by j enn i f er rose s m i t h P h o t os C O U R T E S Y O F S A I N T M i c h ae l ’ s P l ay h ouse B Y A N D Y D U B A C K
Saint Michael’s Playhouse a loyal following Saint Michael’s Playhouse opens in June, but for the summer theater faithful, the season kicks off when the box office opens on May 1. “They come earlier every year,” says artistic director Chuck Tobin. “This year, people who showed up at 6:45am found there was already a line. Next year, they’ll be here at 6:30am.” Chuck is moved by their enthusiasm and welcomes theater goers to the yearly ritual with a handy stack of folding chairs for them to wait in, wrapped up like a present with a big red ribbon. 4 24 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
Top row (from left): Fiddler on the Roof, Almost Maine, Always Patsy Cline, and producing artistic director Chuck Tobin. Middle row: Barnum, The Drowsy Chaperone. Bottom row: Boeing-Boeing, The Drowsy Chaperone.
Art Scene is sponsored by Vermont Energy
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Left, from top: Barnum, Over the Pub, Always Patsy Cline, The Drowsy Chaperone. Opposite: Fiddler on the Roof, Over the Pub, Rumors.
That early morning gathering is a testament to the quality and longevity of the professional theater company, whose productions take place in a two-month frenzy of four plays and countless rehearsals. Like Vermont’s summer, the season is short, but for Chuck Tobin and Saint Mike’s theater lovers, it is very, very sweet. The theater is in its 67th season and has had only a handful of artistic directors; many of whom spent their careers developing the Playhouse. Chuck, who is the company’s only year-round employee, has been involved with the Playhouse since his time as an undergraduate theater major and worked closely with his predecessors, Don and Joanne Rathgeb, for many years.
An Exhilarating Experience Don and Joanne’s time at Saint Michael’s spanned 30 years, starting in 1955. They were an inspiration to Chuck when he was a student and their passion for theater launched him into professional acting and theater work in New York City and Washington, DC, where he gained experience in almost every part of the working theater. As producing artistic director of the Playhouse he is now responsible for bringing together a professional company each year, and creating an environment in which they can do great work. “It’s really important to me to create a setting that’s nurturing for those who come to work here,” Chuck says. “Producing high-quality professional theater is an enormous undertaking, and it’s extremely important to provide a positive environment.” That creative, collaborative atmosphere of professional theater artists is an exhilarating experience for a small, handpicked group of interns from college theater programs who work alongside some of the best actors, directors, and designers in the business. Observing the interns’ growth is something that Chuck treasures. Every year, he says, “the
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interns enter the Playhouse nervous and timid, and come out at the other end with a new understanding of what it takes to work in the professional theater.” And assembling tight-knit teams of professional theater artists is only part of the puzzle. Chuck also strives to select shows that work well together, so that each season has a unique, memorable quality. He’s especially excited about 2014’s offerings, which combine to create an energetic series that he describes as “gutsy and muscular.” It’s bookended by big names, starting with Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein and finishing with Ring of Fire, based on the life and music of Johnny Cash. “I like to start with a bang,” he says, “and leave the audience with something that they’ll remember all winter.” In between are two comedies: The classic Arsenic and Old Lace and the new Fox on the Fairway. While they might not have Mel Brooks’ marquis appeal, they’re both comedies, which always play well with the Saint Mike’s audience. Fox on the Fairway is a farce, which Chuck sees as an appealing challenge. “A farce has to move quickly, to get to a certain pace, and then maintain it,” he says. “It’s a thrill to see an audience swept away by a show.” With an office overlooking the stage, he can watch the audience as they react as a group. “When a laugh happens, they all move forward. When there’s a two-part joke, it’s like seeing two
waves move through the room. It’s like an ocean of laughter.” It has become another ritual for him to watch the season’s final show from that office, raising his blind at the final curtain call so the cast can see him. It’s an emotional time, and when the set is struck and the actors go home, the theater feels very empty after the buzzing activity of summer. “At the end of the season, the last show closes, everyone leaves, every year,” Chuck says. As the professional actors return home and the students arrive, his office once again looks out over a playhouse full of thespians in training. But when spring arrives again, so will the professional company and Saint Michael’s Playhouse’s loyal following of theater lovers. And Chuck Tobin will be waiting, red ribbon in hand. w
Saint Michael’s Playhouse is located on the campus in Colchester. For more information, call (802) 654-2281, or visit www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org.
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See You at the Fair! g r e at F u n a n d a g r e at va l u e
Mark your calendar now, and plan on one last fun summer
fling at the
Champlain Valley Fair, August 22 through August 31, in Essex Junction. From its first modest four-day run 92 years ago, more than 200,000 visitors are expected this summer, making it Vermont’s largest fair. The fair offers a broad range of attractions for all ages, from agricultural and historical exhibits to midway rides, food booths, and shopping. Take in extreme motorcycles or a demolition derby, visit the animals at Old McDonald’s Farm, or enjoy a concert on the Xfinity Stage—this fair has something for everyone. 4 28
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Hot spot by Tom brandes P h o t o s b y St e v e M e a s e , Chris Ashby, and Rich Lewis
Clockwise from top left: Rides provide thrills and chills. Oxen from Billings Farm in the daily parade. Blue Ribbon vegetables from the gardening competition. Early-morning chores in the cow barn. A painted pony in the Show Horse Center.
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Check Out This Summer’s Best Shows Over the years, hundreds of stars have performed at the Champlain Valley Fair, including Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Alabama, Chubby Checker, Reba McEntire, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Britney Spears, Keith Urban, and others. The 2014 Bud Light Music Series is coming to the Xfinity Stage at the Champlain Valley Fair. Be sure to check out these acts and see why they call this fair the 10 Best Days of Summer! n Fri, Aug 22: Dierks Bentley with special guest Eric Paslay n Sat, Aug 23: Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry n Sat, Aug 30: Disorderly Conduct n Sat, Aug 30: Jeff Dunham n Sun, Aug 31: Hunter Hayes
150 Acres of Fun “We pride ourselves on being a great value, and we’ve worked to maintain a high-quality fair while raising admission prices only once in the last 10 years,” says Chris Ashby, director of marketing and communications. “For about the price of a movie, you can stay busy all day watching free shows, exhibits, and demonstrations. It’s a phenomenal value for 150 acres of fun and new things to explore each year.” The admission price includes five stages with shows throughout the day. This year’s lineup includes a Wild West show, a comedy and magic show, Wild World of Animals, a hypnotist, cooking demonstrations, and Vermont’s Music Showcase. There are also hundreds of competitions to participate in, from horse pulling to home crafts, art, culinary, gardening, and much more. Where else can kids win a ribbon in the Ugliest Cake Contest? And what would a Vermont fair be without a maple competition in the sugar house? Quiz the experts on everything maple and enjoy maple coffee, cookies, donuts, creemies, and cotton candy.
Keeping It Fresh, Paying It Forward “We work to make the fair fresh by adding new features while keeping the things our guests look forward to seeing every year,” says Chris. “As part of our mission, we connect our guests to Vermont’s agricultural past through 30
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Opposite: Caramel and candy apples are just one of the many treats available at the fair. Draught horse getting ready for the competition. People of all ages enjoy the rides at the fair.
Caption
Heritage Village, and we’re working to bring more delicious Vermont farm products to the fair for our guests’ enjoyment.” As part of the nonprofit Champlain Valley Exposition, all money raised goes back into hosting more than 100 festivals and events on the fairgrounds throughout the year. The fair also partners with other nonprofits by collecting more than 5,000 pounds of food for the Vermont Food Bank, raising awareness of breast cancer, and partnering with the Veterans Administration for Military Appreciation Day to honor and thank veterans for their service. Adjacent to the fairgrounds, the 130-acre Champlain Valley Fair Campground offers a relaxed, park-like environment. The campground is a great option for guests and exhibitors who spend multiple days at the fair. The Champlain Valley Fair offers discounted admission tickets to help enable everyone who wants to visit. Buy advance discount tickets and ride bracelets, and save up to 25 percent. These are available at all Price Chopper stores in Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire from August 5 through August 21. Advance tickets and three-day and ten-day passes are also available at the fair’s ticket office August 19 through August 21. Other special price promotions include Six after Six Weekdays ($6 fair admission after 6pm weekdays); Kids Day, August 26 ($4 admission for kids all day); Senior Day, August 27 ($3 discount for guests over 55); Carload Special Day (entire carload in seatbelts receives parking, admission, and a ride bracelet for only $60 with a coupon from Maplefields); Feed Your Neighbor Day, August 28 (a can of food before 2pm earns free admission; after 2pm, receive a $3 discount. A second can earns $10 savings on a ride bracelet). “We have unique food vendors, rides, games, shopping, exhibits, and competitions— truly something for everyone to enjoy,” says Chris. “We hope to see you at the fair!” w To learn more about events and discounts, or to buy tickets for the Champlain Valley Fair, visit www.champlainvalleyfair.org.
Win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to the fair. Enter online at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.
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Sails Force 32
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BRIGHT IDEAS by SARAH TUFF
south burlington’s aimee marti l a u n c h e s n a u t i c a l ly i n s p i r e d s ta r b o a r d ta b l e t o p w a r e
N
“Nothing tastes better than something on the boat,” says Aimee Marti of the pleasures of dining al fresco on Lake Champlain. But if a sudden tack tips your guacamole, or a capricious wind capsizes your margarita, things can go south quickly. That’s why Aimee, a longtime South Burlington resident and sailor, recently developed the Starboard line of dinnerware. Inspired by her family’s sailing in Vermont and beyond, the colorful products with non-slip bases are tops for the tipsy tables of the nautical lifestyle—and as well suited to landlubbers as mariners. 4 Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
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Ready to dine aboard boats Salsa and Sophie at the Lake Champlain Yacht Club.
Necessity Begets Innovation “People love the red, white, and blue,” says Aimee of the ideal Independence Day color scheme, which is also a nod to the fact that the Starboard line (also made in a canvas shade) is made in the US. Frustrated with tossing paper plates in the trash or fumbling with mass-market melamine pieces that would tip and break on excursions in Shelburne Bay, Basin Harbor, or in farther-flung locations such as the Caribbean and South Pacific, Aimee decided in 2012 to create her own line. “I never thought I would own a business,” says Aimee, who took the idea from initial sketches to actual products on store shelves with the help of local mentors, along with an engineer and packaging experts. “I’m very excited to have seen Starboard grow and reach the first milestones on the way to success.” 34
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Indeed, the reusable and recyclable pieces have been flying out of the warehouse since their launch this spring, thanks not only to their sustainability but also to their practicality (the bowls, trays, and plates float; can go into the dishwasher and microwave; and remain shatterproof, even when dropped on concrete docks). “The biggest challenge right now,” says Aimee, “is that so many people are interested in us.” Thousands of gourmet retailers along with national and regional press including the Los Angeles Times, Cruising World, and Design New England have already given the Starboard Collection the right of way. Around Burlington, the current Starboard Carina collection, ranging from $40 for the four-piece appetizer set to $59 for the 21by-14-inch tray, is typically stocked at The Green Life, Shelburne Shipyard, and other stores. 4 Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
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Pieces stack easily and feature “Made in America” colors.
In the Moment Aimee, who prefers to cast off with salads, cheeses, and fruit grown or produced in Vermont and sold at the Burlington or Farmers’ Markets, points out that local purveyors can make prep work a one-stop shopping excursion. And thanks to the fact that the plates and bowls are stackable, backyard barbecue goers and boaters alike can carry everything in one easy trip. That means more time for living in the Starboard Collection’s tagline—“Truly in the moment.” Aimee (whose own crew includes her husband and two children ages 12 and 14) explains further. “Everything is put aside,” she says. “You don’t need to worry about anything; you’re unplugged from everything, and you’re just focused on the sail and the wind.” And maybe the chips and dip in a bowl that won’t blow away in the breeze. w
Available locally at The Green Life, Burlington; Shelburne Country Store, Shelburne; Shelburne Shipyard, Shelburne Point; Malabar and Basin Harbor Club, Vergennes; and Saba Marine, Colchester. www.starboardcollection.com 36
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Burlington Coast Guard Station
OVER 100
search and rescue missions a year
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O
n a summer evening
in 2012, a distress call came in to the 911 center at the Burlington Coast Guard Station. The caller and a friend were clinging to the capsized hull of a sailboat somewhere in the broad lake. They didn’t know the names of the islands they could see and couldn’t recognize any landmarks on shore. Their cell phone was at one bar, and the battery was dying. So was the daylight. 4
by dean whitlock Photos by Paul Boisvert
Left: Station Burlington with the 49-foot buoy boat moored in front. Above: Petty Officer Kain Foglesong (Operations) at the controls of the 49-foot buoy boat. Below: The 25-foot response boat under way.
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Petty Officer Jordan Hess was Officer of the Day and took charge of the mission. Working with Seaman Renee Gaspar in the communications room, he contacted the Vermont State Police. Together they managed to triangulate on the cell phone signal and get a rough position on the sailboat, somewhere north of Juniper Island. Minutes later, the cell phone connection died. Hess sent out the station’s RB-S—a 25-foot rigid inflatable rescue boat with an enclosed cabin and a pair of 225-horsepower Honda engines—to start a search pattern with boats from the Vermont State Police and the Colchester Police Department. But conditions were dangerously rough. Seaman Andrew Barresi, one of the crew on the RB-S, noted a 25-to-30-knot wind and five-foot waves. They could easily pass within 50 feet of the capsized hull and never see it. With sunset approaching, Hess called for a helicopter from the New York State Police.
A Federal Presence for a Federal Waterway Senior Chief Dan Murray, current commander at the Burlington Coast Guard Station, says that over the years a number of people have asked him, “What in the heck is the Coast Guard doing on Lake Champlain? It’s 200 miles inland—there’s no coast there.” True enough, but Lake Champlain is the border between two states, neither of which has full jurisdiction over its shoreline. This makes the lake a federal waterway that also extends into Canada. The foreign border, good neighbors notwithstanding, requires a federal presence. There has been a Coast Guard Station in Burlington since 1948, originally to maintain the aids to navigation. But there’s the length of the lake, the depth and width of its waters, its changeable weather, and the number of people who venture out on it in all seasons—sometimes ill prepared. Today, the Coast Guard
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Clockwise from top left: Petty Officer Kain Foglesong discusses current operations with Auxiliarist Lynn Enny and Seaman Brad Cole. Petty Officer Justin Lujan takes charge of organizing the buoy yard. Chief Jon Porter, Petty Officer Mark Zwick, and Seaman Andrew Barresi get the 26-foot TANB ready for operations. Crew member secures buoys to the pier by tying them to a piling.
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crew in Burlington averages over 100 search and rescue missions a year. Most of them occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but there are still plenty in the rougher conditions of spring and fall, not to mention rescues on the ice during winter (happily, a relatively small share of the action). Many of these rescues are interagency operations, even those close to shore. Murray recalls a case where a young man fell from the Red Rock Cliffs into shallow water and was injured. The Coast Guard crew took on a pair of EMTs from the Burlington Fire Department, navigated the shoals to pick up the victim, and then beached the boat at the nearby swimming area where an ambulance was waiting to take over. “The interagency partnerships on Lake Champlain are the best I have ever seen in over 20 years of Coast Guard service,” Murray says, going on to list the 18 local, state, and federal agencies they have worked with just recently.
“Education, not Violation” The Coast Guard is also assisted in its boating safety mission by a large, active auxiliary. On Lake Champlain, 140 volunteers, men and women of all ages and walks of life, make up four flotillas that cover the entire lake. Some of the auxiliary help out at the call center in the Burlington station; others give boating safety courses; others offer courtesy safety inspections at dockside, pointing out problems with life jackets, flares, lights, and other required safety equipment.
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Top row, from left: Petty Officers Tim O’Leary and Mark Zwick conduct morning checks on the 25-foot response boat. Senior Chief Dan Murray reviews reports in his office. Seaman Chris Graves assists with serving lunch to the crew. Center: Petty Officer Alex Green serves healthy meals to the crew. Bottom: Lunchtime for the crew.
“Education, not violation” is a catch phrase in the Coast Guard, at all levels. The regular patrol from the Burlington station can stop and inspect any boat at any time and issue citations if necessary, but they would much rather take advantage of such teachable moments to point out minor lapses and give warnings. Dan Murray maintains that education reduces the number of rescues every year, but not all of them, so the auxiliary augments the regular patrols, primarily on weekends. They provide their own boats (about 10 to 15 of them, equipped and certified for the purpose) and are capable of performing search and rescue operations on their own. They will call in the Burlington station’s crew when the situation demands it. There are also a few private pilots who fly aerial patrols in all seasons to watch for people in trouble on the water or the ice. Boaters and pilots are reimbursed for their gas and paid a stipend for maintenance, which Dan Murray says is a small price to pay for the work they do. 4
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Stretching a Nickel The Coast Guard has never had the budget allocated to the other military services. The auxiliary represents just one way they are adept at “stretching a nickel into a dime,” Dan explains. “They provide good eyes and ears for us and great value for what we spend. It’s the best bang for the buck in the Federal government.” The other primary mission at STANT Burlington (its official designation) is maintenance of the buoys, lighthouses, and other aids to navigation on Lake Champlain. STA stands for “search and rescue station,” while ANT is for “aids to navigation.” In addition to the RB-S and a small inflatable dinghy used for ice rescues, the station has a 26-foot Trailerable Aids to Navigation Boat (TANB) and a 49-foot Buoy Boat, Stern Loading (BUSL). While the open-cockpit TANB can also be used for patrol and rescue missions, the BUSL is strictly an ANT boat. It can go out for four or five days at a time, using its stern-mounted derrick to haul in big buoys with up to 3,000-pound sinkers for biannual maintenance. Some of the aids can stay out all winter, but many of the smaller ones are hauled out in fall and reset in spring, work that keeps the station’s crew of 25 active-duty regulars and 10 reserve personnel quite busy. Then there’s the constant training, as the men and women of the crew learn new skills and advance up the grades. Among them are Boatswain’s Mates, Coxswains, Machinery Technicians, an Electronics Technician, a Food Service Specialist, and a Storekeeper. Burlington is one of many Coast Guard units that are commanded by enlisted men rather 44
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Left: Auxiliarist Lynn Enny trains Seaman Brad Cole on proper communications watch standing skills. Below (front row, from left): Petty Officers Ian Nelms, Kain Foglesong, Seaman Lindsay Patchett, Petty Officers Nichole Burgio and Tim Burns; (back row): Seaman Andrew Barresi, Petty Officers Justin Lujan, Nick McGowen, Jordan Hess, and Mark Zwick.
than officers. Part of their training includes learning how to assess conditions and make decisions on their own, particularly in fast-paced rescue situations. Which brings us back to the capsized sailboat, the five-foot seas, and sunset. The nearest Coast Guard helicopter is based on Cape Cod, so the New York State Police chopper was critical to this mission. “Our public safety partners are professional and cooperative, and never hesitate to assist when needed,” Dan Murray says. “I’m always thrilled by how well it works.” As the sun was dipping behind the Adirondacks, the chopper’s crew spotted the capsized hull and stood position overhead, directing the RB-S via radio. Seaman Barresi and the crew helped the bedraggled boaters on board and carried them to safety in Burlington Harbor—a very good reason to put a Coast Guard Station on Lake Champlain. w
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Sweet Summertime
Shopping & fun things to do in our local Burlington area!
Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery For more than 20 years, FS Gallery has been a destination for discerning art lovers seeking the finest in original art, museumquality custom framing, and restoration services. We also offer an eclectic and affordable selection of handmade and fair trade crafts and gifts. Original artwork can be taken home on a trial basis before purchasing. 86 Falls Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3848 www.fsgallery.com
Spellbound Spellbound is a fashion-savvy new store on Church Street. Formerly known as Salaam & The Men’s Store, Spellbound is your place to buy the locally made Salaam line. You’ll also find a fantastic selection of clothing, jewelry, and accessories for men and women. Brands include Desigual, Alternative, Lucky Brand, Matix, and Ben Sherman. 106 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 658-8822 www.SalaamClothing.com
Lake Champlain Ferries Three ferry crossings on Lake Champlain: • Grand Isle, VT to Plattsburgh, NY: Open 24 hours daily. • Burlington, VT to Port Kent: Open June 12 to September 28. • Charlotte, VT to Essex, NY: Open all year, ice conditions permitting. Public cruises and private charters available during the summer season. Visit www.ferries.com for more information. 1 King Street Burlington, VT (802) 864-9804 www.ferries.com
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Boutiliers Fine Art Materials and Custom Framing A fixture in downtown Burlington since 1925, we offer on-site professional custom framing and the largest selection in the area of the finest art supplies from around the world. Come discover the artist in you! 139 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 864-5475 www.boutiliersart.com Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun 12–5pm See us on Facebook.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
PHYSICAL Rx
ECCO Clothes ECCO, Burlington’s original designer boutique, has been dressing Vermonters in top brands for over 20 years! From denim to dresses, boots to stilettos, ECCO has it all! Premium denim lines like J Brand, AG, Paige, and Citizens of Humanity; elevated basics by James Perse, Splendid, and Michael Stars; blouses by Ella Moss, Bella Dahl, and Velvet by Graham & Spencer; dresses by ABS, Laundry, and BCBG; shoes by Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, and Seychelles, handbags by Hobo and Liebeskind. From basic to anything but, ECCO has you covered. For big-city style with a small-town feel, visit ECCO on the corner of Bank Street and Church Street in the heart of Burlington. 81 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 860-2220 www.eccoclothesboutique.com
Jamie Two Coats A magical place in the heart of Shelburne Village filled to the brim with your favorite things! Beautiful dolls, wonderful wooden toys, fun dress up, creative art supplies, Lego, Playmobil, and Bruder trucks. A great place to pick up that last-minute party or birthday gift. 54 Falls Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3221 Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun 11am–5pm
Mason Brothers Offering a wide selection of reclaimed and antique building materials, Mason Brothers’ Architectural Salvage Warehouse’s 13,000-squarefoot warehouse is filled with fireplace mantels, stained and beveled-glass windows, lighting, hardware, columns and pillars, marble and pedestal sinks, clawfoot tubs, windows, furniture, and unique artifacts.
Landshapes Landshapes has been providing exceptional landscaping services to the greater Burlington area for over 20 years. Our services include complete landscaping design and architecture, lawn and garden maintenance programs, limitless varieties of hardscapes, beautiful stone walls, walkways, gardens, pools and water features, as well as woodlands management and commercial services. Our highly skilled year-round staff of professional horticulturists, stone masons, and equipment operators are trained to perform any landscaping challenge. We’re a cut above the rest when it comes to the creativity that we can provide. 88 Rogers Lane Richmond, VT (802) 434-3500 www.landshapes.net
11 Maple Street Essex Junction, VT (802) 879-4221 www.greatsalvage.com
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Stella Mae
Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School focuses on climbing and mountain-related education and recreation, accessible to all ages and abilities. We offer premium instruction and services through experiencebased education in an inspiring atmosphere for families and friends to gather for a challenge and fun. Petra Cliffs is also home to an indoor ropes course for birthday parties, teams, and groups.
Find this season’s hottest trends at Stella Mae. Located on the Church Street Marketplace, Stella Mae carries a carefully selected shoe, clothing, and accessory collection. Brands include Frye, Sam Edelman, Coclico, Donald Pliner, Jeffrey Campbell, Alternative, Miz Mooz, Dolce Vita, and Chaser. We also offer an online experience at stella-mae.com.
105 Briggs Street Burlington, VT (802) 657-3872 www.petracliffs.com
96 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 864-2800 www.stella-mae.com
Petra Cliffs
Shelburne Vineyard Winery and Tasting Room Join us for a taste and tour, and let us share our adventure growing grapes and making wine in Northern Vermont. Stay a while to stroll among the vines and enjoy a glass of your favorite wine on our canopied patio overlooking the vineyard. Visit our website or Shelburne Vineyard on Facebook to learn about concerts and events, and don’t forget to ask about planning your own special event here! Gift baskets and certificates available. 6308 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8222 www.shelburnevineyard.com Open 7 days a week, all year. 11am–6pm May–Oct; 11am–5pm Nov–April
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Morse Farm Summertime means creemees! And the best creemee, according to Yankee Magazine, is one from Morse Farm in Montpelier—it made the “Editors’ Choice” list for Best Maple Creemee. Morse Farm is an eightgeneration maple farm. Come see the sugarhouse, woodshed theater, maple trail, and a huge gift shop with mail ordering and free tasting. 1168 County Road Montpelier, VT (800) 242-2740 www.morsefarm.com Open daily 8am–8pm during the summer
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by sarah zobel Photos by tom Waters
W A working organic farm is the central feature of South Village.
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When Shelly Rayback and her husband, Herve Mahe, were looking to move out of their condo and buy a house last year, they wanted to stay close to Burlington yet be part of a community where they felt comfortable letting their seven-year-old son go out the door in the afternoon and play with kids his age. Shelly, a UVM biogeography professor, and Herve, a professional chef, also longed to live somewhere they and their son could maintain an easy connection to nature. What they really wanted, she says, was “an early 1900s kind of idyllic community.� In the end, they had to go only as far as Spear Street in South Burlington to South Village, a so-called traditional neighborhood development, and the first of its kind in the state. 4
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South Village
a traditional neighborhood in the heart of spear street
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Clockwise from top left: Farm-to-table communities, or agri-hoods, are a viable resource for local food. Residents of South Village can participate in the on-site CSA or pick-your-own options. Current greenhouse expansion allows for bountiful seasonal harvests. Three preferred builders at South Village offer custom design/ build options with a continuity of traditional rooflines and New England style architecture. One hundred and fifty acres of preserved land allows for agricultural space and for wildlife to move through a natural habitat.
A traditional neighborhood development (TND) is a planned community within a defined area that includes a variety of residences and land uses, with an emphasis on pedestrian accessibility. South Village is sited on what was once the 220-acre Calkins dairy farm, though the last cows left some 30 years ago. When the Calkins family decided to sell, they were determined that the land not be turned over to a developer who would then build a series of huge homes on five-acre plots. Will Raap, founder of Gardener’s Supply, suggested instead the idea of an ecologically sensitive site that would welcome residents in all stages of life.
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Creating Community “The question was how does an old dairy farm reinvent itself to become a new and better suburbia, with food and energy production as part of the whole development,” says Will. “Because what we’ve done with suburban development for the last 70 years isn’t going to be what we can do in the future.” When South Village is complete, that will translate to 334 residences in 159 buildings, a mix of single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums, and rental buildings with no more than 12 units in each. “It flies in the face of normal suburban thinking,” says Will, “which is that everyone gets their half-acre and a lawn.” Instead, in South Village each single-family home lot is limited to approximately an eighth of an acre, with the bulk of the acreage freed up for common and protected land. Of the 220 acres, construction will be limited to 72, with the remainder maintained as wetlands, a preserve, trails, a farm, and a solar array. “You begin to encourage thinking about nature within a suburban development,” says Will. 4 Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
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In addition to the environmental benefits, that approach has allowed for a very real sense of community; Shelly says that neighbors routinely report on activity in the marshes and woodlands behind their houses, noting turkey flocks, bobcat sightings, and the arrival of a variety of birds. “These seem like small things,” she says, “but they connect people.” On-site there’s also a 13-acre farm, which is run by Reese Baker and a small staff. It produces enough fruits, vegetables, eggs, and honey for a 70-person CSA (community supported agriculture, in which members pay a flat fee and receive weekly shares of whatever’s in season). South Village residents are invited to take advantage of it, but nonresidents also participate—in fact, says Will, roughly twothirds of the CSA’s customers live outside South Village.
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Benefits for Residents and Others The farm has also served as a resource for the South Burlington school district, whose Common Roots program brings students out to plant seedlings and harvest produce that they then cook and serve to their schoolmates. Finally, there are raised beds for use by homeowners with more ambitious gardening plans, and a pickyour-own garden whose flowers and herbs are available for CSA members. And there are bees and chickens. Although helping to raise the chickens has always been an option for residents— Herve and his son were part of a crew of seven households that rotated chicken-care duties last summer, bringing home the eggs on the days they were in charge— soon there will be an even bigger flock, with 300 to 400 laying chickens arriving this year. They’ll live within the confines of the fence that surrounds the solar array, on an acre that’s so wet, jokes Will, it could otherwise be used only for growing rice. The solar array currently feeds back into the Green Mountain Power grid but someday might create enough energy to power up to 75 homes as the technology evolves. With the addition of the chickens to that
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Above: The walkable streetscape is bordered by front porches—a celebrated haven to relax and connect with neighbors. Right: The South Village CSA is a resource for the South Burlington school district’s Common Roots program.
acre, says Will, there’s a second beneficial use for a plot that otherwise wouldn’t have been productive. Such environmental sensitivity is further reflected in developers’ efforts to retain storm water on-site, rather than having it flow to Lake Champlain, through the careful contouring of lots and narrowing of streets—in fact, runoff today is decreased from the property’s days as a farm. Those narrower streets also serve a trafficcalming purpose and keep the community pedestrian and child friendly. Garages are built behind residences and are accessed
through alleys, which reinforces the safety aspect but also emphasizes that “the person is more important than the car,” says realtor Kelly Fiske. Research shows that, in general in the United States, people like to come home from work and take a five- or ten-minute walk, says Kelly; with walking trails, in addition to winding sidewalks, South Village offers its residents plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs. There are more than 300 TND communities in the United States, but South Village is one of only 30 that include an
agricultural component. Kelly says new residents tend to come in from rural outlying communities, ready for a break from the commute and the demands of property care—South Village residents enjoy snow removal, lawn care, and trash services—or are downsizing or, like Shelly Rayback and her family, are looking for a sense of community. At South Village, neighborhood potlucks are routine; a block party is also in the works for this summer. As in an old-fashioned village, says Kelly, it’s being independent yet connected that’s most satisfying to residents. 4
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The Place Is Humming That also translates to the structures themselves. The commonality of the houses is a New England style of architecture, with traditional rooflines, window styles, and design details, but beyond that, virtually anything goes. The heterogeneity is made possible through three preferred builders: Gristmill Builders, Sheppard Custom Homes, and Sterling Construction were assigned lots, with S.D. Ireland overseeing development. Potential residents may choose a lot and work with the designated builder, or choose a builder and find an appropriate lot. The firms all offer standard plans but are equally amenable to creating whatever meets a potential homeowner’s needs, taking into consideration a given lot size and its location within the development. Almost all are Green certified to some standard. Although the project’s 2008 groundbreaking—just as the housing market collapsed— was ill timed, it has rebounded, and now, says Sterling Construction President Bart Frisbie, “the place is humming.” Sterling has built some 30 residences to date and is currently working on a half-dozen more, including duplexes and triplexes. “The diversity makes for a wonderful streetscape,” says Bart. “It also allows for a variety of price points, so the neighborhood works for people who are looking for different things.” Will echoes that, noting that residents come from all different ages, incomes, and stages of life, and Shelly agrees. “It’s a community where parents look out for other kids. You get a warm day, and everybody’s out there,” she says, adding that it’s not just families with kids, but retirees, single people, and residents walking by with dogs—everyone stops to chat. “Within two or three months of moving in, we were absorbed into the neighborhood,” says Shelly. “I feel very grateful every day that I’ve had the opportunity to live in this wonderful community.” w
For more information, contact Kelly Fiske at (802) 861–7600, or email her at Kelly@KellyFiske.com.
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Celebrate Food, Music,
“the most vermont thing happening in burlington”
After a long, bleak winter, Vermonters like nothing more than to get out and celebrate the vibrancy of summer. What better place to do so than at Summervale? Every Thursday during July and August, area residents head out to enjoy this family event featuring local food, farms, and music. According to Joyce Cellars, Community Relations Manager at the Intervale Center, the festival is “the most Vermont thing happening in Burlington.” The Intervale Center has hosted this weekly event since 2010. It originated when employees from the Intervale Center, Gardener’s Supply Company, and American Flatbread decided to create a community gathering to support and show their appreciation for Intervale farmers. From an informal group of 50 people, it’s grown into a true celebration of local food, farms, and friends, with up to 1,000 attendees some evenings. 4
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W HAT ’ S HOT by pamela hunt Photos by ellen ross, except as noted
and Community at Summervale
Festival goers relax on picnic blankets while enjoying the evening’s musical guests. Opposite: Showing off a freshly planted seed.
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A Bounty of Delicious Offerings Choices abound when it comes to food and drink. How about a couple of pizza slices fresh from American Flatbread’s portable wood-fired oven and a Zero Gravity beer? A juicy LaPlatte River Angus burger from Farmhouse Tap & Grill and a not-too-sweet Rookie’s Root Beer? Maybe a golden samosa, filled with vegetables grown just a mile or so away in the gardens of New Farms for New Americans? Don’t forget dessert. Who can pass up a refreshing raspberry popsicle from Adam’s Berry Farm? A scoop of ice cream from Lake Champlain Chocolates won’t last long enough to melt in the summer evening warmth. For those seeking a more decadent treat, Skinny Pancake’s Nutella-filled crepe, topped with a dusting of powdered sugar, might just hit the spot. Each week also features guest vendors, such as Aqua Vitea, the Bristolbased brewers offering their tart, thirstquenching kombucha in a variety of flavors. Tomgirl Juice Company mixes 60
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up organic fresh-pressed aguas frescas, and Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery offers cheese to please every palate. Joining the edibles group this year is the Burlington School Food Project. Program and Development Manager Jenn McGowan got her start at the
Intervale Center in 2002, when she developed and then managed the Healthy City Youth Farm. Now she’s back at Summervale to share her organization’s mission of empowering young people to grow and cook with fresh food. “Our hands-on programs mostly en-
Shayne Lynn Photography Shayne Lynn Photography
Clockwise from top left: Enjoying a refreshing beverage. A sampling of leafy greens. Waiting for crepes at Skinny Pancake’s cart. Picnickers lounge on a warm evening. Sweet decadence from Lake Champlain Chocolates. Another pie out of the oven at American Flatbread. Tasty treats featuring summer’s berries.
gage middle and high school students, and a lot of the families at the Summervale series are young. But we’re excited to get more older students down there. We run a Food Fighters club at Burlington High School—they garden, grow starts in the greenhouse, take
field trips, and run awareness events. They are smart, savvy food renegades,” she says. Students from Burlington High School will prepare and serve “fair food”—made with local ingredients, of course—from the group’s food truck, A Fork in the Road. 4 Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
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What to Bring y B ikes, skateboards, tricycles, unicycles: Summervale parking is extremely limited. If you can bike, walk, skate, or Rollerblade to the event, please do! y Seats or blankets: Stake out a great spot and get comfortable. y Utensils, plates, and water bottles to fill at our water cooler: Help us keep waste to a minimum by bringing reuseable dishes! y Cash: Please remember that vendors are cash only. It’s helpful to have small bills ($5 and $10) on hand. With your change, you can make a donation to the Intervale Center!
What NOT to Bring y D ogs, cats, and other furry friends: We love them too, but for the enjoyment and safety of everyone at the event, we ask that you please leave pets at home. (If you are bringing a service animal, please check in at our admissions cart.) y Alcohol: No BYOB. We encourage guests ages 21 and older to purchase beverages from Summervale vendors, who offer delicious local beer, cider, and wine, and donate a percentage of proceeds to the Intervale Center. Our vendors also offer a wide variety of nonalcoholic thirst quenchers.
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Fun for Everyone While some celebrants lounge on the grass and enjoy the energetic atmosphere, others are looking for things to do. For them, numerous kiosks inform visitors about local food with activities for young and old alike. For example, Slow Food Vermont features weekly tastings to introduce people to lesserknown foods or new aspects of old favorites. A recent one saw visitors learning how a small pat of butter cuts the heat of a fresh radish; another display showcased the resurgence of using lard and schmaltz in cooking. Two local grocery stores get kids and parents involved in hands-on fun. City Market hosts zany activities, such as using a wooden post to pulverize cabbage in the first step to making sauerkraut, and pedaling a bikepowered blender to make watermelon agua fresca—activities that encourage children to make fun, healthy foods from scratch. At Healthy Living Market’s craft table, kids can create collages from dried beans, construct drums from coffee cans, or if they can sit still long enough, get their faces painted. Guests seeking a contemplative moment can wander through a self-guided tour of the traditional Abenaki Heritage Garden. The “three sisters”—corn, squash, and beans— intertwine to form a synergistic growing environment. As summer progresses, children make a game of finding the pumpkins hiding among the cornstalk, bean plant, and squash vine jungle. Several Vermont-based groups, such as the Vermont Beekeepers Association, Rural Vermont, and Hunger Free Vermont, participate in Summervale to increase awareness of their activities. Charlie Nardozzi, gardener extraordinaire, has shared his green-thumb knowledge with the crowd. In previous years, Local Motion provided free bicycle valet service during one of the season’s events. This year, thanks to a generous anonymous donation, visitors can leave their cars at home and bike to the Intervale every week.
the Afrobeat vibe of Barika and the jazzy rhythm of Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band. The bands are both a focal point—with revelers dancing in the soft grass—and a background, setting a warm, relaxed atmosphere where Burlingtonians can celebrate summer and the bounty of food and community it brings. “We’ve discovered that our community is hungry for more ways to connect with farms and good food—and we think this is a great opportunity to share the love,” says Joyce. w
Intervale Center 180 Intervale Road (802) 660-0440 www.intervale.org.
Find a list of this summer’s musical guests and events online at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.
What’s a Festival Without Music? While guests visit vendors’ tables or sprawl on picnic blankets, enjoying food and drink, the music flows. Genres range from the folk/ country/soul sound of Josh Panda and the Hot Damned and the eclectic, vaudevilleesque tunes of The Vermont Joy Parade, to Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
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by mark aiken photos by heather forcier Courtesy of Lake Champlain Ferries
connecting t w o s tat e s f o r two centuries
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Bryan Higgins lives in Vermont and works in Plattsburgh. You’d think that having the seventh-largest lake in the United States between work and home would pose a problem, but it doesn’t. As they have for nearly two centuries, Lake Champlain Ferries connect Vermont and New York. 4
This page and opposite, top: Lake Champlain Transportation’s southernmost crossing, Charlotte, Vermont to Essex, New York, is not only a year-round crossing open for commuting traffic (ice conditions permitting), but also provides some spectacular views of scenic Lake Champlain as well as the Green Mountains and Adirondacks. The boat shown in both images is the M/V Governor Aiken, named for the great-grandfather of the article’s author, Mark Aiken. Opposite, bottom: The M/V Vermont traveling eastbound at the Grand Isle, Vermont and Cumberland Head, New York crossing. This is a 24-hour, 365 days a year crossing.
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The M/V Evans-WadhamsWolcott (top) and M/V Vermont (bottom) are both boats that LCT engineers dismantled to transit the Lake Champlain canal through several low bridge clearance points to arrive at Lake Champlain.
“There are a significant number of workers making the commute in both directions,” says Bryan, a geography professor at SUNY–Plattsburgh. The ferry ride from Grand Isle to Plattsburgh takes 15 minutes. “Do it for any length of time and you become very aware of the weather, the clouds, the Adirondacks, and the Greens,” Bryan says. “It makes you more aware that it’s not so much Vermont and New York as it is the Champlain Valley.” This makes sense, as the lake has played a central role in shaping this region—our ecosystems, our local economies, and our recreational pursuits. And the ferries have played a major role in the lake’s history.
A Part of Champlain’s History Ferry Captain Lee Ann Barrows is proud to work for a company that has been around for nearly 200 years. Although that barely skims the surface of 66 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
the history of Lake Champlain when you think in geologic terms (geologists believe the formation of the lake began 200 million years ago as a result of shifting continental plates), think of what was happening when the Champlain Transportation Company, as it was originally called, was incorporated. “It was a decade after the end of the War of 1812 when the lake was a strategic battleground,” says Captain Barrows. Returning to the present (fast-forwarding through several name and ownership changes, a civil war, the Great Depression, and two world wars), Lee Ann Barrows reflects on what it means to work for a company with this sort of longevity. “It’s like sharing the history of the lake with people,” she says. People like Bryan Higgins, who says that, as a result of his daily commute, he is much more aware of the lake’s effects on the region surrounding it. Ray Pecor Jr. purchased Lake Champlain Transportation (LCT) in 1976, and his son Ray “Trey” Pecor III assumed ownership in 2003. The company has always been a do-it-yourself sort of organization. For example, while the company doesn’t build its own boats, it typically drives them to Lake Champlain from their places of origin. This usually means coming up through the Champlain Canal—the route that connects Lake Champlain with the Hudson (speaking of historic routes). Because of low clearance at several points along the canal, LCT engineers have had to dismantle several ferries (the Pecor, the Evans-WadhamsWolcott, the Vermont, and the Cumberland) on their ways north and then reassemble them. “We like to care for our boats ourselves,” says
Heather Stewart, ferry captain and operations manager for the ferries. To this end, LCT employs engineers, welders, woodworkers, painters, and every other kind of tradesmen and women needed to maintain vessels of this kind.
On the Job Lake Champlain Transportation employs 100 year-round employees and adds 145 seasonal workers in the summer. Captain Barrows originally worked for the ferries as a deckhand; hoping to instill a little independence in her kids, she looked forward to a job where she couldn’t be reached for periods of time (this, of course, before cell phones became widespread). “Within my first week, I wanted to be a captain,” she says. Today, of the 31 captains, just five are women. But this did not deter Lee Ann; she approached a captain that first week and asked how one goes about getting licensed. “The captain was very matter-of-fact,” she says. It was Heather Stewart. She began pursuing her goal immediately. First she logged hours on the boats in accordance with Coast Guard mandates. Then she studied for a year before taking a nautical course in Portland, Maine’s Casco Bay, at the end of which she took a test, emerging with her license as a 100-ton inland master. Her journey, however, was only half done; remember, LCT is an organization that approaches all matters—especially big ones like training and safety—in house. 4 Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
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Lee Ann spent the next two years going through the stringent in-house training checklist for new ferry captains, including serving under the supervision of other captains. The entire program is geared toward preparing them for anything that might happen on a lake where anything can happen. Fortunately, Lee Ann found help and guidance along the way. “The company as a whole has a mentoring and supportive culture,” she says. “We’re lucky.” Today, Captain Barrows drives ferries at the Charlotte–Essex crossing in the winter. In summer, she captains the Northern Lights, a 115-foot cruise boat built to look like steamships of another era but outfitted with the most updated technology. “She’s a Cadillac,” says Lee Ann. “Everyone comments on the beauty of the boat with its oak and mahogany and its parlor feel,” she adds. “Other than its appearance, though, everything about it is modern; you see the mahogany wheel and you think old-fashioned. But it has modern hydraulic steering, and I monitor everything from the pilothouse.”
Getting Across While the main purpose of Lake Champlain Transportation is to connect Vermont and upstate New York at three ferry crossings (two of which, Grand Isle–Plattsburgh and Charlotte–Essex, remain open year-round), the business has diversified. The Northern Lights is one example; the boat makes regular tours and can be booked for private parties or weddings. Lee Ann enjoys captaining the Northern Lights because it allows her to “get off the cables” and venture around the lake more. She has picked people up in Basin Harbor in Vergennes and circled Valcour Island in New York. The company partners with Gobeille Hospitality to cater these cruises. Gobeille also runs the Breakwater Café and Grill in a building owned by LCT on the Burlington waterfront. “Everyone loves the Burlington crossing,” says Heather Stewart, from tourists who like to approach the Queen City over water to the ferry captains who want to work this rotation for its scenery and its one-hour duration (compared to 30 minutes at Charlotte and 15 minutes at Grand Isle). Simply getting across is what concerns most people, as it has for almost two centuries. When Bryan Higgins started commuting 68
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The Adirondack The 101-year-old Adirondack is the oldest American, in-service, doubleended ferryboat. Built in 1913, she’s seen service under four different monikers on Florida’s Saint John’s River, the Delaware, New York’s East River, and in Chesapeake Bay. Lake Champlain Transportation purchased her in 1954 after her steam and coal-fired engines were replaced with diesel. Like other Lake Champlain ferries, the upper deck had to be disassembled for passage through the Champlain Canal and reassembled in Burlington. The Adirondack has served the Burlington–Port Kent crossing every summer since 1954.
in 1982, it was because he had a steady job in Plattsburgh, but his wife found work in Grand Isle. The ferry enabled both to continue working. And he loves the mode of transportation. He keeps an inexpensive late-model Chevy on the Plattsburgh side, so he walks onto the ferry. “You don’t have to pay attention,” he says. For 15 minutes, some people chat on cell phones or work on laptops and tablets. “I fit more into the meditation/daydreaming/watch-the-clouds crowd,” says Bryan. Bryan’s not the only one appreciating the beauty of lake transportation. “This is my office,” says Lee Ann. “And believe me, we still bring our cameras.” For commuters and employees alike, the lake just doesn’t get old. w Freelance writer Mark Aiken was interested in one ferry in particular: the Governor Aiken, named for his great-grandfather. “It was our first boat with off-centered housing, so trucks love it,” says Heather Stewart, operations manager for Lake Champlain Transportation. “And it’s a very reliable boat.”
Lake Champlain Transportation (802) 864-9804 www.ferries.com Lake Champlain Cruises (802) 864-9669 lakechamplaincruises.com
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Get smart by nancy fontaine Photos by natalie stultz
Find the Perfect Fit
Enter the storefront at 61
Owner Andrea King.
Church Street, and you’ll find a bright, spacious store sporting a white stamped ceiling, small white chandeliers, track lighting, a wall of exposed brick, and a worn wooden floor. Colorful socks will catch your eye to the left, and a bright-pink table straight ahead displays a camisole. Bras adorn the wall to the left, vividly colored bathing suits to the right. Welcome to Aristelle, Burlington’s bra fitting and fine lingerie boutique. 4
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Aristelle has corsets to hold you in all the right places to create an hourglass silhouette.
Owner Andrea King helps a customer with her infant daughter in a sling around her shoulders. Andrea is very attentive to the customer, talking to her and bringing her bras to try on. “Bra fitting takes time,” she says. “It’s such a service business. We’re consultants on bra fittings.” Andrea thinks almost every woman could use her services. “The statistic out there is that 85 percent of women are in the wrong size, but I think it’s more like 90 to 95 percent. It’s so rare that someone comes in wearing the right size.” Wearing a correctly sized bra is not simply a matter of fashion. For instance, a band that is too loose puts stress on the straps, which causes shoulder tension and neck pain. An ill-fitting underwire bra can cut into the breast tissue and be very uncomfortable. While general clothing stores carry the standard band and cup sizes, Aristelle stocks over 150 different sizes. And if it’s not in the store at the moment, no problem; the staff do special orders often. “We’re going to find a size that fits you rather than fitting you into a bra.”
Experience Creates Inspiration The inspiration for her store was experience. When Andrea moved to Burlington from London in 2011, she was seven months pregnant and had trouble finding a place to shop for maternity bras. She knew what she was looking for: a boutique like Le Boudoir, where her mother works back home, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Having studied entrepreneurship in graduate school, she had always planned to work for herself. “I hadn’t even considered a retail business before,” she says, but after her bra-hunting experience, “it all made sense.” The idea for a store was born. The name “Aristelle” is derived from the Greek “aristos,” which means the best, an inspiration from Andrea’s undergraduate days as a philosophy and Russian literature major. “It was one in the morning, and we were trying to find a name we liked and could get the web address for,” she explains. 4 Summer 2014/ Best of Burlington
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In addition to bras, Aristelle offers sleepwear, bridal, maternity, and swimwear.
To learn her trade, Andrea spent a week of 12-hour days at Le Boudoir and took courses in New York and London given by bra manufacturers. “I could teach you in an hour how to do a general fitting, but it takes heavy brand knowledge to know where a bra doesn’t fit and what the solution is. We get constant training from the brands. We also try the products on to see how they fit.” Andrea sees it as part of her mission to educate her customers as well. “I want every single person who comes here to know what it means when we say ‘the band is too 74
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loose,’” she says, and she checks in with her staff to make sure they are “doing the educating part.” New staff train for three to four weeks before they are ready to do fittings on their own. “We emphasize being honest,” Andrea continues. “I don’t want people to leave with a bra that doesn’t fit. But a properly fitting bra may feel snug in the band at first. If it feels too tight, and you’re not going to wear it, why buy it? We’ll try something a size larger, so they can get used to the feeling.” Her aim is for the customer to say a bra is the most comfortable they’ve ever tried. “That’s what I love to hear!”
Feeling Comfortable and Confident Aristelle welcomes shoppers with many preferences. However, Andrea says, “While we have gorgeous sexy lingerie, we sell a lot of basic, everyday bras. And our focus is on making the woman feel confident in her body, regardless of whether she wants to share her new purchase with someone else or not. We carry socks, stockings, and some nursing supplies, but that’s about it for accessories.”
Andrea carries the idea of Aristelle being a business for real women into her advertising, where she uses local residents of different sizes and different ages. “We get a lot of response from the ads. The majority of my customers are between 45 and 60, and I want to show them in the underwear.” She’s also thinking of the larger picture, trying to break down that stereotype of what is attractive and what is acceptable in ads. “I want to help women feel comfortable with their bodies. Positive body image can be hard for women at any time in their lives. Having daughters makes it especially important to me to break down the stereotypes of what’s acceptable and what is considered attractive.” Another way Andrea keeps the big picture in mind is in business. “I need both day-today and long-term goals to be happy,” she says. “My goal is to have 10 stores in the next five years.” She’s off to a good start. The Burlington store is doing well, and she was able to open a second store in Portland, Maine. “I look forward to helping more women feel better about themselves through brands that provide support and comfort, and great design as well.” w
Aristelle 61 Church Street Burlington, VT (202) 812–5464 www.aristelle.com
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courtesy of broadleaf
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“We are minimalists. We like simple landscapes,” says Jeff Hodgson of Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture. “We like to extend the architecture of the house into the site to give the landscape structure so that it is cohesive in relation to the home.”
courtesy of broadleaf
Photo by Susan Teare courtesy of Di Stefano landscaping
Outdoor Living Make Your Surroundings Spectacular
F
or the past several years, many homeowners have chosen to invest their dollars in making their backyards a retreat the en-
tire family can enjoy rather than spending money on a vacation far away from home. Consider these ideas from local landscape designers and architects, and enjoy a “staycation” while adding value to your property. 4
Photo by Jim Westphalen COURTESY OF Wagner Hodgson
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Jim Westphalen Photo courtesy of Wagner Hodgson landscape architecture
“Editing is important!” says Jeff Hodgson of Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture. “Sometimes with existing homes we remove a lot. It may be as simple as limbing trees to let more light in and provide more space under them. We like simple, clean palettes that let you think about what the plants are really doing for the landscape.” courtesy of Di stefano landscaping
“You enjoy your outdoor living and entertaining earlier in the spring and later in the fall with a fire pit,” says Chris Di Stefano of Di Stefano Landscaping. “A fireplace or fire pit adds a great focal point and gathering place for grilling, roasting marshmallows, or just enjoying a drink while stargazing. Who doesn’t like to gather around a fire? People use them even in the wintertime.” “We’re seeing a lot more swimming pools and swimming ponds,” says Jason Leduc of Landshapes. “Most of our installations have fully automated systems. From your phone or tablet, you can control your pool, lighting, and other features. If you’re on your way home and want to heat up your spa, you can turn it on and it’s waiting for you.” Photo by Susan Teare courtesy of Landshapes
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“Your outdoor space can be your retreat, a relaxing space with an oasis kind of feel with a fire pit and soothing surroundings,” says Eric Mootz of Trowel Trades Supply Company.
PHOTO BY CAROLYN BATES COURTESY OF CYNTHIA KNAUF
“For one homeowner with a 4,100-square-foot, steeply sloping backyard, we designed two level terraces and created a private sanctuary with a sunny outdoor room for lounging, secluded morning coffee spot, shady perennial garden retreat, and an intimate vegetable garden space with convenient raised beds.” —Cynthia Knauf, Cynthia Knauf Landscape Design
Photo by carolyn bates courtesy of Cynthia Knauf
Photo by Susan Teare courtesy of trowel trades supply company
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COMFORT AND FUNCTION “There is no better way to expand your square footage than to create beautiful and comfortable living and dining spaces in your own backyard,” says Ann Roche of Ann Roche Casual Furniture. “The trend is to use the same principles of interior design and utilize furnishings, fire, cooking, and even watching TV amongst the trees and the flowers!”
Photos this page courtesy of Ann Roche Casual Furniture
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“Rain and unusually hot heat from the sun can prevent you and your family from enjoying the outdoors,” says Cheryl Bodette of Otter Creek Awnings. “Retractable awnings provide instant relief from the elements, while a stationary canopy provides an around-the-clock benefit, no matter what the weather.” New glass shades are catching on, Cheryl reports. “Whether you live on Lake Champlain or in the mountains, the glass shade will protect you from wind and weather while providing a clear view, or choose frosted for privacy.”
Read about Anne Roche’s approach to outdoor living at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.
Photos this page courtesy of Otter Creek Awnings
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S POT L I G HT by Stephen morris
t
th
e
A i n’
u re f o
r
C o N
T IM E R E M S U M BR EW S
Thank Goodness! Drinking beer used to be simple. You sat around in a dirty tee shirt, put your feet up on the hassock or whatever, and turned on the boob tube to watch the game. You did not have to think much about your beer because the only choices were container type (can versus bottle) and package size. The beer all looked the same (yellow) and tasted alike (bland and fizzy). Even with the advent of “lite” beers, the choice was between nuances of yellow, bland, and fizzy. You didn’t have to worry about supporting your local brewers because there were none. 4
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Drinking beer is not simple anymore. If you want to become a cicerone (a certified expert, the beer equivalent to a wine sommelier), you will need to have the right credentials and pass an exam. It’s a process that takes several years and costs many six-packs. Even if you just want to enjoy a good brew, you need a quick course in frothy education.
How to Speak Beer There are three terms you will need to know to speak fluent beer. “ABV” stands for “alcohol by volume” and is a measure of beer strength. Below 5% means you can probably handle more than one. Above 7%, hold on to your barstool. “OG” stands for “original gravity,” referring to the soluble sugars that are in the “wort,” the word for 84
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beer prior to fermentation. After the yeast works its magic, these sugars are partially converted to alcohol. Those that are not give the beer body and flavor. Finally, “IBU” is the acronym for “International Bittering Units,” the flavoring contributed by the hops. Be forewarned—today’s craft brewers really love their hops, so be prepared for more bitterness than you’d get with a scorned lover.
Brews in the News Vermont now boasts at least 29 craft brewers, with another half dozen under development. That’s the number participating in the Passport program of the Vermont Brewers Association (vermontbrewers.com). Almost all these enterprises make multiple beer types, including seasonal specialties, and many have facilities that welcome visitors. Before setting off on a beer-drinking odyssey, however, check with the individual brewers. At least one company (The Alchemist) had to discontinue retail operations because their popularity with visitors was interfering with their ability to make enough beer to satisfy the market. There are a number of beer-sampling events that facilitate tasting a variety of exotic concoctions. The beers are often served by brewery representatives, so the samples are fresh and served at the proper temperature by people who can answer your questions. One of the biggest events is the Vermont Brewers Festival, held on the Burlington Waterfront July 18 and 19. But there are plenty of others put on by individual
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breweries and ski areas. Stowe, Killington, Mount Snow, and Mad River all stage beersampling events. You can find a summary of events at the website vtbeer.org, which posts the latest news from area brewers. Vermont brewers have been very active in the news of late. The Alchemist of Heady Topper fame (named the nation’s best beer) has announced plans for a second brewery. Tiny Lawson’s Liquids in Waitsfield raised over $10,000 for charity in their annual sampling event. A movement is under way to form a cooperative brewery in breweryrich and cooperative-crazy Burlington. Learn about the Burlington Cooperative BrewPub Project by checking BTVBEERCOOP on their Facebook page. If you are too lazy to get up and actually go to a brewery or a festival, you can always use your mobile device to check out sites where other beer drinkers rate and describe their beers. The aforementioned Heady Topper, for example, has been rated by more than 6,000 beer drinkers and reviewed by more than 1,000 on the BeerAdvocate.com website. You are welcome to record your own thoughts, but it might be difficult to find something new to say. Whether you like your beer in cans, bottles, on draught, in 64-ounce growlers, or 32-ounce growlettes, it promises to be an exciting summer for adventurous beer drinkers. Here a few local brews not to be missed. Don’t worry—this is just the tip of the iceberg. Elder Betty (Magic Hat): A Weiss-style ale with bready malt flavor balanced by a touch of hops and complemented by the tart berry flavors of elderberry. 2nd Fiddle (Fiddlehead): Just another delicious Double IPA. Big aroma. Lots of hops. Citrusy, smooth, and juicy. Saison de Cassis (Bobcat Café, Bristol): This Belgian farmhousestyle is brewed with barley from Belgium, hops from the US and Germany, and yeast cultivated 86
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from a difficult-to-obtain Belgian yeast. The resulting fermentation delivers a crisp and very dry beer with esters/aromas of earthiness and fruitiness. However, the standout flavor is attributed to Vermont-grown black currants that offer a subtle tart finish. Slow-Fermented Brown Ale (Switchback): This is a beautiful, chestnut-brown beer. It is fermented at an unusually cool temperature, which slows down fermentation. These conditions stress the yeast, resulting in a slow and methodical fermentation in which the resultant flavors are clean, somewhat like a lager, with the added characteristic of
Caption
Stephen Morris is the author of The Great Beer Trek, a book that describes the journey he made in 1978 to visit every operating brewery. At that time there were only 42 in America. Now there are 2,500 and counting. T IM E S U M MEBRREWS
a creamy smooth mouthfeel. This brown ale has a rich, roast-caramel flavor, with a subtle sweetness in the finish, delicately balanced with hop undertones. Grand Slam Baseball Beer (Vermont Pub & Brewery): A light-bodied American pale ale dry-hopped with Fuggles hops. This was the brainchild of original brewer Greg Noonan. He had said privately that he felt he had nailed the style for what he had planned and hoped for. As a side note, the inspiration for the name of this beer came from an eight-year-old girl named Jenny, about 25 years ago! The name and style stuck. Go figure. w
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special advertising section
Summer 2014 Dining Guide Great places to eat in and around Burlington.
Pauline’s Café Chef owned, featuring American cuisine, from casual to fine dining, local and wild food, and our famous crab cakes! Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Private dining rooms. Open daily. Lunch, dinner plus Sunday brunch. $–$$ 1834 Shelburne Road South Burlington, VT (802) 862-1081 www.paulinescafe.com
Guild Fine Meats Burlington’s neighborhood delicatessen & specialty meat shop. Chef Tom Deckman & Master Butcher Frank Pace transform fine Vermont meats into sausages, deli meats, marinated steaks, trussed chickens, seasoned chops, burgers, and more. Housemade sandwiches and subs, breakfast sandwiches, poutine & fry bar, party platters, and more. $ 111 St. Paul Street Burlington, VT (802) 497-1645 guildfinemeats.com
J Morgans Steakhouse Vermont’s cutting-edge steakhouse featuring over 20 steaks aged and hand cut in-house, 12 daily seafood dishes, and an award-winning Sunday brunch. Located on Montpelier’s historic State Street. $$ Key to Symbols $ most entrées under $10 $$ most entrées $10 to $25 $$$ most entrées over $25
100 State Street Montpelier, VT (802) 223-5222 jmorganssteakhouse.com
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Beyond the Menu
special advertising section
dining guide for burlington and the surrounding area
Guild Tavern
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
El Cortijo
Wood-fired grill featuring dry-aged, locally sourced beef, pork, and poultry. Casual tavern fare, classic steakhouse entrées, seafood and vegetarian options, innovative cocktail program, awardwinning wine list, and weekly specials. $$
Dedicated to showcasing local farms and food producers, our menu features award-winning burgers, comfort entrées, artisan cheeses, vegetarian options, and nightly innovations. The Tap Room delivers highly prized and rare beers. “Special Happenins” Wed nights. $$
A vibrant atmosphere featuring tacos, soups, salads, and entrées prepared with local ingredients and expressed as traditional Mexican fare. Fresh-squeezed margaritas and handcrafted cocktails. Late night menu until 1am, Fridays and Saturdays. $–$$
160 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 859-0888 www.farmhousetg.com
189 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 497-1668 CortijoVT.com
1633 Williston Road South Burlington, VT (802) 497-1207 guildandcompany.com
`
The Spot
Prohibition Pig
Enjoy our surf-style ambience and delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées. Conveniently located on Shelburne Road in Burlington. Free parking, free Wi-Fi. $–$$
Located in Waterbury, the food and beverage crossroads, we feature New England’s largest & best curated selection of craft beer, proper cocktails, and eclectic wines with a full menu featuring barbecue, vegetarian, and cozy American fare. $–$$
210 Shelburne Road Burlington, VT (802) 540-1778 www.thespotvt.com
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23 South Main Street Waterbury, VT (802) 244-4120 prohibitionpig.com
Windjammer Restaurant
Featuring American fare, vegetarian, & gluten-free options, as well as an extensive salad bar. Specialty cocktails, craft beers, & a Wine Spectator wine list complement both the restaurant & pub menus. Supporting VT farms, producers, and businesses since 1977. $–$$ 1076 Williston Road South Burlington, VT (802) 862-6585 windjammerrestaurant.com
Happenings
Calendar of Events
SUMMER 2014
June 28
The Lucinda Williams Band MainStage, 8pm
FLYNN2CENTER December
FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
July 12
An Evening with Gordon Lightfoot
153 Main Street Burlington, VT Tickets: (802) 863-5966 Info: (802) 652-4500 www.flynncenter.org
MainStage, 8pm July 15
Natalie Merchant MainStage, 8pm
July 2
July 17–20
Neko Case 444
Carrie, the Musical
MainStage, 8pm
FlynnSpace, 17, 7pm; 18 & 19, 2 & 7pm; 20, 2pm July 31–August 3
The Mystery of Edwin Drood FlynnSpace, 31, 7pm; 1 & 2, 2 & 7pm; 3, 2pm Happenings is sponsored by the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
July 4
The Chieftains MainStage, 8pm
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HAPPENINGS
SHELBURNE FARMS 1611 Harbor Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8442 www.shelburnefarms.org Hours: 9am–5:30pm daily June 24, 26, July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31, August 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 & 28
Tea & Formal Gardens Tour at the Inn 2:30–4:30pm July 4
Vermont Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm ; gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking.
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STEPHEN STRAUB
July 9–August 27, Wednesdays
Community Evenings at the Farm 5:30pm July 14–17
Project Seasons for Young Learners: Cultivating Joy & Wonder 9am–4:30pm July 19
Shore Explore 9am–4pm July 20
Vermont Cheesemakers Festival 11am–4pm
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HAPPENINGS Shelburne Farms (continued) July 21
The Art of Fermentation—An Evening with Sandor Katz 7–9pm July 22–23
Two-Day Fermentation: Intensive Workshop with Sandor Katz 9am–5pm July 26 & August 14
Farm to Table Dinners Along the Shores of Lake Champlain 6pm July 26
Green Mountain Draft Horse Field Day 11am–2pm July 31–August 3
Earthtime: Living Practice/Practice for Living August 3
18th Annual Vermont Fresh Network Forum 4–7:30pm August 25–29
Lake Champlain Watercolor Workshop with the Shelburne Craft School 8am–5pm
Other Noteworthy Summer Events June 21
Burlington Wine & Food Festival Info: www.burlingtonwineandfoodfestival.com Waterfront Park June 21
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Ja Rule Info: highergroundmusic.com Shelburne Museum, 5pm June 28–29
Webby’s Art Studio: Hoot Hoot Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm June 28–29
Abenaki Heritage Weekend Info: www.lcmm.org Lake Champlain Maritime Museum June 30–July 6
Webby’s Art Studio: Miniature Masterpieces Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm
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bill jalbert
VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Summer Festival Tour Beautiful music in beautiful venues throughout Vermont. June 26
Mountain Top Inn, Chittenden, 7:30pm June 27
Okemo Mountain Resort, Ludlow, 7:30pm June 28
Suicide Six Ski Area, South Pomfret, 7:30pm July 2
Riley Rink, Manchester, 7:30pm July 3
Grafton Ponds, Grafton, 7:30pm July 4
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, 7:30pm July 5
Three Stallion Inn, Randolph, 7:30pm July 6
Trapp Concert Meadow, Stowe, 7:30pm Please check the VSO website at www.vso.org or call (800) VSO-9293, ext. 10 for additional information.
July 3
SMArt Families—All American Afternoon Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 3–7pm July 3
The Big ShaBANG: Food, Fireworks & Fun Info: www.lcmm.org Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 6:30pm July 3
Burlington Fireworks Waterfront, 5–11pm
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HAPPENINGS
July 4
Independence Day Commemoration Info: www.lcmm.org Lake Champlain Maritime Museum July 7–13
Webby’s Art Studio: Picture Perfect Star Bursts Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm July 10
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: John Hiatt & Robert Cray Info: highergroundmusic.com Shelburne Museum, 6pm July 14–19
Webby’s Art Studio: Animated Animals Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm July 18–19
Vermont Brewers Festival Info: www.vtbrewfest.com Waterfront Park July 19–September 29
Exhibit: 1812 Star Spangled Nation Info: www.lcmm.org Lake Champlain Maritime Museum July 20
Family Day: Circus-palooza Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 10am–4pm July 21–27
Webby’s Art Studio: Fabulous Flowers Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm
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July 13
Challenge Race
Info: www.lcmm.org Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
July 25
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Nickel Creek Info: highergroundmusic.com Shelburne Museum, 5:30pm July 28–August 3
Webby’s Art Studio: Creative Clutter Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm July 28
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Cannibal Corpse Info: highergroundmusic.com Shelburne Museum, 5pm July 29
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Old Crow Medicine Show 4 4 4
Info: highergroundmusic.com Shelburne Museum, 5pm
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HAPPENINGS ECHO LAKE AQUARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER/ LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN 1 College Street, Burlington, VT (877) ECHOFUN, www.echovermont.org Through September 1
July 3
Exhibit: KEVA Planks: The Fusion of Art and Science
Celebrate the Lake Party
June 21, 22 & 28
July 9
Wildlife Movie 12:30pm June 25
July 31
4 4 4
Wacky Wednesday: Build for Wind Challenge Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Band of Horses Info: highergroundmusic.com Shelburne Museum, 6pm August 1–3
Festival of Fools Info: www.burlingtoncityarts.org Church Street Marketplace & City Hall Park
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12:30pm June 29, July 5, 6, 19, 20, 26, 27, August 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 & 31
ECHO Exclusive Wildlife Movie 12:30pm July 2
Wacky Wednesday: Build a Tall Tower 12:30pm
5:30–11pm
Wacky Wednesday: Build a Symmetrical Structure 12:30pm July 16
Wacky Wednesday: Build a Unique Structure 12:30pm August 2–10
ChampFest! 10am–5pm
BEST OF
BURLINGTON
August 16–17
Rabble in Arms
Info: www.lcmm.org Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
advertisers index
1-800-Got-Junk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Liebling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A&N Stoneworks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lunaroma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Acme Glass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Mason Brothers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Adirondack Audiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Morse Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Ann Roche Casual Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Old Spokes Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Aristelle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Otter Creek Awnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
August First Bakery & Café. . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
PT 360. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Birdseye Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Pauline’s Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 & 89
Blodgett Bath Showplace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Peregrine Design/Build. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Boutiliers Fine Arts & Custom Framing. . . . 46
Petra Cliffs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits. . . . . . . . . . 90
Piecasso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Broadleaf Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
PierVana Hair & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Brown & Davis Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Prohibition Pig. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 & 97
Burlington College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Ramsey Gourd Architects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Burlington Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Red House Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
August 4–10
Burlington Marble & Granite. . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Rice Lumber Kitchen Design Center. . . . . . 88
Webby’s Art Studio: Over and Under
Catamount Restaurant Group. . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Saba Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Champlain Valley Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Shelburne Meat Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
City Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Shelburne Vineyard Winery. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
City Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
South Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Close to Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Spellbound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Colchester Dental Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sportstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Conant Metal & Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Stella Mae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 & 48
Contemporary Dental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Stowe Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 12–4pm August 6–8
Church Street Marketplace & Downtown Sidewalk Sale Info: www.churchstreetmarketplace.com Church Street Marketplace & Burlington Town Center
Co-op Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Stowe Mountain Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
August 7
Cushman Design Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Stoweflake Balloon Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
SMArt Families: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Cynthia Knauf Landscape Design. . . . . . . . 37
Sugarbush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 5–9:30pm August 13–14
SMArt: Vermont Shakespeare Company, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Info: www.shelburnemuseum.org Shelburne Museum, 5–8pm
DiStefano Landscaping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
The Automaster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ECCO Clothes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 & 47
The Craftsmen Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Echo Lake Aquarium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill. . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
El Cortijo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
The Lighting House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Frog Hollow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
The Optical Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
The Spot Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 & 92
Grand Isle Art Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
The Woodlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Guild Fine Meats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Timberlane Dental Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Guild Tavern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Tom Moore Builders . . . . . . Inside front cover
Hannoush Jewelers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
University Mall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Hickock & Boardman. . . . . . . . . . . Back cover
Vermont Bed Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
J Morgans Steakhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Vermont Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Jamie Two Coats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Vermont Frame Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Jay Peak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside back cover
Vermont Paint Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Jess Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Vermont Tent Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Jim Westphalen Photography. . . . . . . . . . . 94
Windjammer Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Kitchen Design by Becky White . . . . . . . . . 69
Window World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Koenig Cedar Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Windows & Doors by Brownell. . . . . . . . . . 44
Lake Champlain Ferries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
WND & WVS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Landshapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 & 56
For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact John or Robin Gales at (802) 295-5295 or email coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net.
Summer 2014 / Best of Burlington
99
BURLINGTON BUZZ BY MIKE MORIN
A Moment with
Spencer Welton
President of the burlington fa r m e r s ’ m a r k e t
products to have a better story to go along with the high-quality ingredients they purchase and use. For the producer, it’s about getting the direct feedback from customers, whether it is praise or suggestions for improvements. Explain the role of the Northeast Organic Farming Association in the Vermont farming community. NOFA is an organization that provides support for the organic farming community. Some of the vendors at the Burlington Farmers’ Market are certified organic and some are not. Both groups of farmers are very conscientious about the methods they use to grow and raise their products. This is another way that the face-to-face interaction the market provides benefits both producer and buyer. The farmers get the chance to convey the thoughts they put into every step of the growing process, and the buyers get to ask questions they may have about how something is produced.
Mara and Spencer Welton. Photo by Jessica Bongard.
There seem to be many younger faces participating in the Burlington Farmers’ Market as vendors. How is this generation of Vermont farmers different from those of the previous generation?
that they produce. Many younger vendors come to this vocation through a very winding path and end up at the market as a result of following their passions and pursuing their dreams.
I think that the younger vendors come into the market driven by an enthusiasm for sharing their products with a broad audience. The agriculture vendors are very interested in talking about enjoying food and how best to prepare and eat the vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, honey, or maple syrup
How important is it for farmers to meet their buyers face to face? The market offers a great opportunity for face-to-face meetings and provides benefits in both directions. Food tastes better when it has a good story behind it, and meeting the farmers allows those who eat their
100 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com
You and your wife Mara operate a farm in Burlington. When you do get some time away, what do you like to do? We are enthusiastic cooks, and we like to talk about food, look up new recipes, try different restaurants, find exciting vegetables, read cookbooks, and share food with friends. We are involved with Slow Food Vermont, the local chapter of Slow Food USA, and this allows us to do all those things with food enthusiasts around the country and around the world. We also have two miniature dachshunds that keep us entertained as we work on farm projects in the summer and house projects through the winter months. w
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