Vermont

New Year’s Eve Is Back in a Big Way in Burlington and St. Johnsbury

Published

2 years ago

December 21, 2022

Press Room

New Year’s Eve Is Back in a Big Way in Burlington and St. Johnsbury

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Courtesy Of Luke Awtry Images
Champ, constructed by Chris Cleary of Cirque de Fuego, watching fireworks on the Burlington waterfront

When the clock strikes midnight this December 31, many Vermonters are more likely to be out in town as a substitute of cozy on the sofa. After two years of digital and hybrid gatherings, two of the state’s signature New Yr’s Eve celebrations, in Burlington and St. Johnsbury, return to kind. When you’re seeking to welcome 2023 in good firm, these family-friendly occasions — that includes every thing from djembe drumming and artistic clowning in B-town to fiery antics and dance workshops in St. Johnsbury — promise to maintain your get together battery charged proper up till the ball drops.

Spotlight, Burlington’s official New Yr’s Eve bash, kicks into enjoyable mode at midday. Organized by Burlington Metropolis Arts and Sign Kitchen, the pageant is exclusive for its crowdsourced lineup: The Vibrant Concepts Venture invitations native artists and innovators to suggest occasions and points of interest. Together with meals vans, bonfires and an ice bar, revelers will likely be handled to as many as 40 acts downtown and on the waterfront.

In response to Zach Williamson, BCA’s pageant and occasion director, the purpose is to curate a “crowd-pleasing expertise.” Meaning there’s one thing for everybody, beginning with The Snowflake Man by Puppetkabob on the ECHO Leahy Heart for Lake Champlain. Within the present, puppeteer and Vermont Arts Council educating artist Sarah Frechette, who has current credit on Netflix’s Wendell & Wild, tells the story of Vermont photographer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley by means of marionettes and a pop-up e-book of watercolor surroundings.

Frost-proof Vermonters can head to Waterfront Park for various music. Afternoon performances by Jeh Kulu Drum and Dance Theater, psychedelic rock band Moondogs and Afro-Brazilian road music group Sambatucada give solution to night gigs by Ivamae, All Night time Boogie Band and others.

“There’s a lot great things, as in earlier years,” Williamson stated. What’s most vital, he emphasised, is highlighting artists in the neighborhood.

One occasion he is particularly enthusiastic about is “The Spirit of NYE” at ECHO. The brainchild of native musician Noah Schneidman, this Vibrant Concepts Venture brings collectively a few of Vermont’s greatest bands and nationally famend acts. Notable names embody New York Metropolis indie rockers Guerilla Toss and Brattleboro rocker King Tuff. These “extra into hardcore music,” Williamson prompt, should not miss Burlington punk band Tough Francis, who shut out the night time.

An occasion each Williamson and BCA communications director John Flanagan look ahead to is Tarot Taxi, offered by Future Ways at Foam Brewers. On the threat of spoilers, Seven Days gives readers Williamson’s cryptic teaser: “You name a taxi, and there is an in-person expertise available.”

On the BCA Heart, Burlington rock band Fever Dolls current The Lengthy White Line: An Interstate Fever Dream, which Flanagan calls a “quirky and enjoyable” “media-mashup” tribute to the U.S. freeway system. In the meantime, Queen Metropolis cellist Zoë Keating, heralded by SF Weekly as “swoon inducing” for her ingenious compositions, will ship a far-out electrical journey on the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington.

“Misplaced Objects From the Subsurface,” a video and sound set up by Vermont artists Sean Clute and Leif Hunneman, will play on loop from a big display hanging on the Moran FRAME. In response to Williamson, this would be the first occasion on the former Moran Plant, which ceased operation greater than 30 years in the past and was not too long ago remodeled right into a metal body that is the centerpiece of a public park.

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Cirque de Fuego at Highlight in Burlington - COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Courtesy Of Luke Awtry Images
Cirque de Fuego at Spotlight in Burlington

Amongst “probably the most talked about occasions” from final yr’s hybrid pageant, based on Spotlight, is Cirque de Fuego’s igniting of an enormous wood construction of Champ, the legendary lake monster. Williamson referred to as it “very Burning Man.” After 8 p.m. fireworks at Waterfront Park, the custom returns this yr with a good larger Champ. Following this managed burn, soul singer Kat Wright will give the group “one thing to speak about” with songs by Bonnie Raitt.

So, relaxation up. As Williamson stated, the night time will likely be one “nice swirl of nonstop programming.”

The swirl is not restricted to Burlington. St. Johnsbury’s First Night time North, produced by Catamount Arts, celebrates dwell for the primary time because the begin of the pandemic. This yr additionally marks the pageant’s thirtieth anniversary.

All of it begins at 4 p.m., with 180-plus artists, 70 exhibits and installations, together with “Winter Backyard,” a colourful Foremost Avenue mural of flowers painted by native residents of all ages. Ashley Van Zandt, First Night time North coordinator and Catamount Arts growth and communications director, acknowledged that the occasion “wouldn’t occur with out the assistance of the various community-minded sponsors.”

Households can head to the St. Johnsbury Faculty to go wild with development paper and glue on the Household Enjoyable Honest. For one thing funky, try Vermont didgeridoo grasp Pitz Quattrone within the auditorium. (Followers of “The Tonight Present” might recall host Jimmy Fallon gleefully roasting Quattrone in January 2021.)

The swirl retains going on the United Group Church, the place the Bob & Sarah Amos Band mix hypnotizing bluegrass and Americana vocal harmonies.

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Kingdom All Stars - COURTESY

Courtesy
Kingdom All Stars

One other fan favourite, Van Zandt famous, is the Kingdom All Stars, composed of 12 gifted teen musicians and vocalists who took first place within the statewide 2022 Beats for Good contest. They will rock out on the St. Johnsbury Faculty.

In case your merrymaking batteries begin to fizzle, head to the midnight dance get together on Foremost Avenue to recharge. The deejayed shindig begins at 11:40 p.m. and can encourage dancing and ribbon twirling to have interaction folks past “passively having fun with fireworks,” stated Jay Sprout, First Night time North’s veteran organizer.

Revelers will likely be in prime place for the lighting of the New Yr’s Eve ball on Foremost Avenue at midnight. This is not simply any previous ball. Created by the Foundry makerspace in Lyndonville, it is bigger than the one in New York Metropolis’s Occasions Sq., Van Zandt stated.

Hours of dancing, crafting and midnight cheering will little question go away folks peckish. Out there eats embody a pancake supper; Jamaican, Mediterranean and Filipino delicacies; the all-American scorching canine; and all issues fried and candy.

“How do I select?” Van Zandt requested when sharing the vary of occasions provided. Perhaps the reply is not vital. In any case, regardless of which occasions folks attend, we’re “celebrating collectively,” Flanagan stated.

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Vermont

Killington Women’s World Cup skiing returns to Vermont: 2 skiers with Western Mass ties to compete

Published

8 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Killington Women’s World Cup skiing returns to Vermont: 2 skiers with Western Mass ties to compete

This is a biweekly column about all things skiing and snowboarding in New England.

Since the FIS Women’s World Cup ski racing returned to the Northeast eight years ago, American Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated the slalom, winning six of the seven races and earning two bronze medals in the giant slalom.

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Vermont

VT wins big in USA Today’s 10 best ski and snowboard awards. Here’s a full list of winners

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

VT wins big in USA Today’s 10 best ski and snowboard awards. Here’s a full list of winners

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe opens for the season

Skiers and snowboarders flock to Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe on opening day 2024.

Planning a winter ski trip? Consider heading to the mountains of Vermont.

USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards just released its best of ski and snowboard rankings, and Vermont won a total of 11 awards. The annual 10Best awards highlight the best in travel, food and lifestyle, and winners are chosen by a public voting poll after being nominated by industry experts. This year’s best of ski and snowboard awards ranks lodgings, locations and services for the winter sports across the United States.

In addition to Stowe placing as the third best ski town in the country, Vermont ski accommodations placed in the following categories: best apres-ski bar, best ski restaurant, best ski shop, best place for snow tubing, best cross-country ski resort and best ski hotel.

Here’s what to know about the winners:

The Belfry

Housed in a former one-room schoolhouse, The Belfry is a charming pub just minutes away from Jay Peak Resort. Between a robust beer and wine selection and a menu full of pub classics like wings and burgers, The Belfry is the perfect place to grab a drink after a day of skiing – earning the sixth spot on the list of apres-ski bars.

The Belfry is open for thirsty skiiers every day except Wednesday, with hours from 4-9 p.m. on Friday-Saturday and 4-8 p.m. every other day.

Award: No. 6 in Best Apres-Ski Bar

Location: 14 Amidon Road, Montgomery Center, VT

Cliff House Restaurant

Cliff House Restaurant, one of the restaurants at Stowe Mountain Resort, offers a mountainside eating experience at the top of the gondola on Mount Mansfield. The restaurant is known for American cuisine with a rustic Vermont flair, serving classics like chicken sandwiches and New England clam chowder.

Stowe’s Cliff House is open for lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily once the season starts on Dec. 14. A valid ticket or season pass is required to ride the gondola to the restaurant.

Award: No. 8 in Best Ski Restaurant

Location: 7231 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT (top of the mountain gondola)

The INN Restaurant & Bar

Taking the third place spot for best ski restaurant is the restaurant at The INN, a quaint inn in Montgomery Center.

Guests have a choice of eating in the intimate dining room, lively tavern or riverside deck. The INN’s seasonal menus offer upscale comfort food made from fresh, local ingredients, completed with various craft cocktails.

The inn’s restaurant is open year-round on Thursday-Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended.

Award: No. 3 in Best Ski Restaurant

Location: 241 Main St., Montgomery Center, VT

Darkside Snowboards

Darkside Snowboards is a premiere snowboarding shop with locations in Killington and Ludlow. Just making the list of best ski shops at 10th place, this shop has everything a snowboarder could want, from performance and freestyle boards to boots, helmets, goggles and clothing for the sport. Darkside does also offer ski rentals, but mainly focuses on snowboarding equipment.

Hours for this snowboard shop are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in Ludlow and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in Killington, with extended late-night hours Monday-Wednesday.

Award: No. 10 in Best Ski Shop

Location: 1842 Killington Road, Killington, VT; 57 Pond St., Ludlow, VT

Skiology Ski and Sports

Right down the road from Downside Snowboards in Killington is Skiology Ski and Sports, USA Today’s second choice pick for best ski shop. The store offers a wide range of high-performance skis, from recreational to racing and all-mountain to powder, as well as daily ski rentals and professional tuning services.

Skiology is open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Award: No. 2 in Best Ski Shop

Location: 937 Killington Road, Killington, VT

Pinnacle Ski and Sports

Pinnacle Ski and Sports, a Stowe ski shop that has been open for over 35 years, took the top spot for ski shops in this year’s 10Best awards.

Along with a wide selection of equipment and apparel, Pinnacle offers custom boot fitting, ski and snowboard rentals, ski mounting and tuning, ski repairs and a delivery concierge service. The shop is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Award: No. 1 in Best Ski Shop

Location: 1652 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT

Mount Snow Resort

Ranking fifth for best snow tubing location is Mount Snow Resort, a slopeside resort in the southern Vermont town of West Dover. The resort’s tubing hill has eight lanes and a conveyor lift, with tickets for two-hour time slots available.

In addition to snow tubing, Mount Snow has 86 skiing trails, a halfpipe and large terrain park. For those who want to stay, the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, Mount Snow’s lodging property, has almost 200 guest rooms and amenities like a spa, a health club, a heated pool and many locations for dining and retail.

Award: No. 5 in Best Place for Snow Tubing

Location: 39 Mount Snow Road, West Dover, VT

Viking Nordic Center

Londonderry’s Viking Nordic Center has over 16 miles of woodsy ski trails through classic Vermont scenery along the West River. All levels and types of cross-country skiing are welcome, whether classic, skate or snowshoe. For those just starting, the resort also offers lessons and rentals.

On select nights during ski season, Viking Nordic Center lights about two miles of their trails with overhead lights and gas lanterns from the 1900s, creating a unique nighttime skiing experience.

Award: No. 8 in Best Cross-Country Ski Resort

Location: 615 Little Pond Road, Londonderry, VT

Bolton Valley Nordic Center

Located in Bolton Valley overlooking the scenic Lake Champlain, Bolton Valley Nordic Center is a mountain adventure resort with the highest elevation in the Northeast.

The backcountry terrain offers trails for Nordic skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts of all levels, earning the resort a fifth place ranking in best cross-country ski resort. Additionally, Bolton Valley has paths for alpine, night and backcountry skiing, totaling in 71 trails.

Award: No. 5 in Best Cross-Country Ski Resort

Location: 4302 Bolton Valley Access Road, Bolton, VT

Topnotch Resort

Topnotch Resort, a luxury resort and spa located in the foothills of Mount Mansfield, ranked sixth for best ski hotel. Cozy, sophisticated rooms come together with beautiful gardens and a contemporary restaurant for a charming New England stay.

Along with skiing and snowboarding through the Stowe Mountain Resort, Topnotch has over 100 acres of activities like hiking, biking and horseback riding. Amenities include a spa, a fitness center, three pools, a tennis academy and seasonal activities.

Award: No. 6 in Best Ski Hotel

Location: 4000 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT

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Vermont

We can be thankful for Vermont’s wild turkeys

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

We can be thankful for Vermont’s wild turkeys

One of our native wildlife species historically played an important role on Thanksgiving Day. North America’s native wild turkeys were the ancestors of the Thanksgiving turkey on our dinner table.

Originally found only in the wild, turkeys now exist as meat-producing domesticated varieties — the broad breasted white, broad breasted bronze, white Holland, bourbon red, and a host of other breeds – all of them descended from our native wild turkey.

More than 140,000 servings of Vermont wild turkeys are harvested each year – that’s 140,000 servings of free-ranging, wild and sustainably harvested protein.

Wild turkeys exist throughout Vermont today, but that was not always the case. Wild turkeys disappeared from Vermont in the mid-to-late 1800s due to habitat destruction when land was cleared for farming and only 25 percent of the state was covered by forest.

The wild turkeys we see in Vermont today originated from just 31 wild turkeys stocked in Southwestern Vermont by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in 1969 and 1970. Vermont’s forest habitat was once again capable of supporting turkeys. State wildlife biologists moved groups of these birds northward, and today Vermont’s population of turkeys is estimated at close to 50,000.

This is just one of many wildlife restoration success stories we can be thankful for in 2024. Funding for Vermont’s wild turkey restoration was derived from the sale of hunting licenses and a federal tax on hunting equipment.

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