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I finally did it. I was up way, way too late finishing these Burlington-inspired tees for the Brief; and I’m not gonna lie, this one was some tough work. I even had to learn a some new code to pull it off.

Here’s what’s live today: 15 local designs, each with 3–7 color options, & choice of front or back print. A real “pick your vibe” situation (77!). We’ve got t-shirts, long sleeves, and cropped tees (for those still stuck in summer).

Expect subtle nods to Church Street, lakefront sunsets, and even those nasty little zebra mussels. None of that “I ❤️ Burlington” stuff in here. If you’ve ever wanted to rep Burlington in a way that doesn’t feel touristy… this very well may be your calling. And if you’ve ever wanted to support the Brief (3x/week) but didn’t really have a way to, this is the easiest one.

Shop the drop here: Btown Brief Merch

P.S. If you grab something, hit reply and tell me which design you picked. I’d love to see what people jive with most.
Bonus: If we hit 10 orders this week, I’ll refund one or more orders (I’ll announce the winner(s) in the next Friday’s Brief)

Friday's wrapping up with a mix of sun and clouds and temperatures in the low to mid 20s. If you're heading up to higher elevations, watch for slick roads from this morning's mountain snow showers. Tonight drops into the single digits and teens under cloudy skies. The weekend? Mostly cloudy with occasional light flurries Saturday and Sunday, though accumulation will be minimal around the city, just a trace to an inch at most. Highs hit the 20s Saturday before cooling into the teens and low 20s on Sunday. Monday starts the week cold, but temperatures should climb back toward the 30s by midweek, with some spots potentially flirting with 40 by Thursday.

If you're looking to get out today, tonight's the night. The Essex Junction Train Hop returns from 5:30 to 8pm with model train displays throughout the Five Corners, free shuttle rides to Maple Street Park for Winter Lights, and horse drawn wagon rides. Meanwhile, Festive Friday: Not So Silent Night fills Church Street with caroling from Burlington High School, CVU Madrigals, Colchester Middle School, and the Burlington Choral Society between 4 and 7pm, and many stores are staying open until 8pm for late holiday shopping. Over at Contois Auditorium, the BTV Winter Market runs 4 to 8pm with 30 local artists and makers setting up shop. For the music crowd, Mihalidaze brings reggae and rock vibes to Higher Ground at 7pm, while the Chris Von Staats Jazz Band performs their beloved Charlie Brown Christmas tribute at The Venetian Soda Lounge from 7 to 9pm.

Saturday is absolutely packed. The People's Skillshare continues at Lab B and Spiral House with community led workshops all day. The Winter Burlington Farmers Market sets up indoors at Burlington Beer Company from 10am to 1pm with around forty vendors offering farm fresh produce, prepared foods, and handcrafted goods. Coffee lovers with civic interests can catch State Reps Tiff and Bram at Zero Gravity from 8 to 10am to discuss education, property taxes, healthcare, and whatever else is on your mind. Bundle up and head to Mazza Farm in Colchester from 10am to noon where Santa himself pays a visit for cookie decorating in the greenhouse and Christmas wish list writing. The reindeer are back at ECHO from 11am to 2:30pm, with presentations at 11:30, 12:30, and 1:30 for an up close look at these cold weather specialists from Vermont Reindeer Farm. Hadestown hits The Flynn at 1pm, bringing the Tony winning musical's mythic underworld journey to Burlington. At Leddy Arena, The Gift holiday figure skating show runs 1 to 3pm benefiting the Boys and Girls Club. The Paul Winter Solstice Celebration offers two shows at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 3pm and 7:30pm, featuring the legendary consort with vocalist Theresa Thomason. Santa's Ho-Ho-Holiday Hang Out welcomes families to the Odd Fellows Hall on North Avenue from noon to 3pm for photos, face painting, ornament crafting, and hot chocolate, with proceeds benefiting the North End Food Pantry. There's also a Craft Fair at University Mall from 10am to 4pm, the Holiday Artisan Market at GreenTARA Gallery in North Hero from 2 to 7pm, and Glow Pickleball at The Pop in South Burlington from 6 to 9pm if you want to swing paddles under black lights. At 6:30pm, Krampus Burlington Year 9 gathers at City Hall for the annual march of everyone's favorite holiday monster up and down Church Street. Foam Brewers hosts the fourth annual Holiday Extravaganza from 4pm to midnight with local bands playing holiday covers. And TubaChristmas brings tubas from across Vermont to Church Street at 1pm for this free outdoor tradition, with rehearsal starting at 10am at Fletcher Free Library.

Sunday wraps up the weekend with the Ugly Sweater Run in South Burlington starting at 10am, featuring a three mile course, food, music, face painting, crafts, and of course an ugly sweater competition. The first 100 runners get a pom beanie hat, and bringing non perishable food items for the South Burlington Food Shelf earns you raffle tickets. The People's Skillshare closes out with an anti capitalist Barter Faire at Spiral House from noon to 4pm, first hour masked, where you can trade physical goods or service offerings. Over at At the Root in Winooski, learn to carve linoleum blocks and make your own holiday cards from 1 to 4pm. The WOKO Gigantic Indoor Flea Market takes over Champlain Valley Exposition from 8:30am to 2pm with tag sale items, crafts, antiques, and more for just $5 entry. Lyric Theatre's Annual Caroling gathers in front of Homeport on Church Street at 2pm for group singing.

Share this newsletter with everyone you know that’s interested in all things Burlington! 5 referrals gets you your own shoutout on the newsletter.

We’ve got an official Meetup group for Burlington! The city’s packed with things to do. Btown Brief highlights it, and Btown Brief IRL gets you out experiencing it with people.

Always a great turn out! Another coffee meetup this Saturday at 10am at Zero Gravity. It’s always great seeing familiar faces, and even better meeting new ones each week. We’ll chat about Vermont living, touch on a bit of local news, and share what’s worth checking out around town this weekend. Come hang, have a coffee, and join the conversation.

If you want to connect outside of coffee meet-ups, join the Telegram chat. It’s the easiest place to see what others are up to, share ideas, and make casual plans while I keep improving how these events run. Feedback is always welcome! It’s just a one-man team so any sounding boards are great.

Click here to: Join Meetup group | RSVP here | Support the Newsletter

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UVM Men's Soccer Coach, Who Led the Team to a National Championship, Steps Down

Rob Dow's departure for Penn State comes just weeks after the Catamounts' stunning upset loss to Hofstra in the NCAA tournament, ending what had been an undefeated season for the top seed in the country. Dow brought UVM its first national championship in any major sport last December, and his move to the Big Ten leaves associate head coach Brad Cole as interim leader. The timing stings, but Penn State's program and conference prestige likely proved too attractive to pass up.

Burlington Projects Another Multimillion-Dollar Budget Gap

This marks the third consecutive year of significant budget shortfalls, with the city facing a $10 to $12 million gap driven largely by rising personnel costs. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak is proposing a 5 cent increase to the police and fire tax, which would close about $3 million but leave the rest unresolved. For a homeowner with a $500,000 property, expect roughly $400 more annually in taxes. City councilors will discuss the budget Monday, and layoffs remain on the table as a last resort.

UVM Rugby Gears Up for National Semifinal

The Catamounts are in Houston for tonight's NCAA Division II semifinal against UNC Wilmington, carrying a 9-0 record and having outscored opponents by an average of 70 to 7. After a tough quarterfinal rally against Cornell, the team faces a physically imposing Seahawks squad with several players between 6 foot 5 and 6 foot 7. Vermont's best previous finish was third place in 2023, so a win tonight would put them in uncharted territory heading into Sunday's championship game.

New UVM President Tromp Gets High Grades — for Listening

Marlene Tromp arrived in July from Boise State, where she weathered years of political battles over DEI programs with Idaho's Republican legislature. The contrast with predecessor Suresh Garimella, who was seen as distant and inaccessible, has been stark. Tromp has been on a charm offensive, meeting with unions, students, lawmakers, and even throwing a Halloween party for the Vermont Cynic staff. Her experience navigating hostile political terrain may prove valuable as UVM prepares for potential pressures from the Trump administration, and she's already launched initiatives to strengthen ties with Burlington and address public safety concerns downtown.

After Fleeing Danger at Home, Refugees in Vermont Have Faced the Loss of Food Assistance

Over 140 noncitizen households in Vermont lost or saw reduced nutrition benefits following changes from July's federal budget law. New USDA guidance this week means refugees and asylees with green cards, plus Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders, should start receiving benefits again as early as next week with retroactive payments. But refugees like Juvenari Kambale, who arrived from the Congo last year and doesn't yet have a green card, remain ineligible. His application has been halted by a recent federal memo freezing such processing for refugees who arrived under Biden.

Art for Everyone: Burlington City Arts Cultivates Creativity and Connection

As Burlington faces budget pressures, BCA is feeling the squeeze and making the case for community support. The organization just unveiled "Anthology," an 11 foot tall sculpture on Main Street made with flowers collected from Burlington residents, one of six permanent public artworks coming by 2026. BCA's annual Highlight festival returns on New Year's Eve with 12 hours of concerts, circus acts, a Moth StorySLAM, and the burning of a wooden Champ sculpture. If you value free gallery access, affordable art classes, and public installations, now's the time to show up.

Thousands of Vermonters Face Skyrocketing Premiums as Senate Rejects Health Care Subsidy Extensions

Nearly 30,000 Vermonters who buy insurance through Vermont Health Connect benefit from federal subsidies that Congress failed to extend Thursday. Without action, premiums could double or triple for some families. State lawmakers may try to fill the gap through Vermont's premium assistance program, but resources are limited. The deadline to get coverage starting January 1st is this Monday, December 15th, so if you're shopping on the marketplace, don't wait.

With New South Burlington Café, the Kitchen Table Group Grows

Head pastry chef Sam La Croix and executive chef Craig Anthony have opened Kitchen Table Market & Café on Williston Road, sharing space with Chicken Charlie's. The menu pulls from both the Richmond restaurant and the chicken spot, with cross pollination like the Shorty Mac panini featuring braised short ribs and mac and cheese. The pastry case is the real draw, with sticky buns, cherry cream buns, and La Croix's signature Matilda cake. Take and bake pot pies and casseroles round out the offerings for those looking to stock the freezer.

Burlington's Push for License Plate Readers Could Revive Legal Questions About the Technology

City councilors unanimously approved pursuing legislative approval for automatic license plate readers to enforce speed limits and red lights. The technology was once common in Vermont, with over 40 departments using it a decade ago, but fell out of favor due to costs, regulations, and limited usefulness in solving crimes. Civil liberties concerns persist, and some councilors raised worries about data potentially being shared with federal immigration authorities. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak said her administration would only use the readers if they could ensure data wouldn't reach third parties.

Solidarity Not Charity: Free Food Offered on Market Street

A new Food Not Bombs initiative has been setting up on Market Street in South Burlington for three weeks running, offering free soup, canned goods, and winter clothes. Organizer Rae Beecher, who was homeless for two and a half years before relocating to Vermont, started the effort after noticing encampments popping up around the city. The group operates without a permit on city land, but City Manager Jessie Baker says the city is taking a collaborative approach rather than cracking down. Donations from neighbors have far outweighed any pushback.

The Chocolate Butcher Opens a Williston Store

Food industry consultant Jeffrey Mannion opened the Chocolate Butcher Chop Shop at 22 Merchants Row in Williston on November 22. The shop sells rough cut chocolate chunks, truffles, and snack boards pairing chocolate with pretzels and candied nuts. Mannion has been selling the chunks in grocery stores from Boston to New York for a decade, but this is his first dedicated retail spot.

Vermont Tourism Hits Record $4.2 Billion in Visitor Spending

A new study found 16 million people visited Vermont in 2024, spending a record $4.2 billion. The visitor economy directly supports almost 32,000 jobs, about 10.5% of the state's workforce, more than double the national average. Lodging led spending at $1.5 billion, followed by food and drink at $876 million.

Vermont Prevails in Suit Over Canceled Federal Disaster Funding

Vermont and 23 other states won a legal victory Thursday challenging the Trump administration's elimination of FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. The ruling restores funding for 36 Vermont projects worth over $5 million that help flood prone communities prepare for future disasters. A federal judge ruled the executive branch cannot refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress.

Comedian Nick Offerman to Perform at The Flynn

The Parks and Recreation star is bringing his "Big Woodchuck" tour to Burlington on Sunday, April 19 at 8pm. The show blends standup comedy, music, and Offerman's signature woodworking prowess. Public ticket sales start today, December 12.

New Scale Poké Bar; Burlington Black Cap Closed

Scale Poké Bar opens its third location at 286 Market Street in South Burlington with a grand opening tomorrow, December 13. Meanwhile, Black Cap Coffee & Bakery's Church Street location will close at the end of the year. Owner Laura Vilalta cited declining sales and a difficult downtown environment, while striking workers call the timing suspicious given ongoing union contract negotiations.

It was a battle, but I did it! Click the link to check out all the fun Burlington inspired designs I came up with; put that local knowledge to the test and see if you recognize ‘em all. Merch Drop

Significant changes are underway for the Vermont men’s soccer program following a historic season. Head Coach Rob Dow is stepping down to accept the head coaching position at Penn State University, concluding his tenure as the winningest coach in program history with a 109-41-21 record. Dow led the Catamounts to four America East regular season titles and the 2024 NCAA Championship. Associate Head Coach Brad Cole ’14 has been named Interim Head Coach effective immediately.

Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman thanked Dow for his "exceptional leadership" and noted that the program has reached "unprecedented heights" under his guidance. Cole, a former team captain who has served as Associate Head Coach for the last three seasons, will be considered for the permanent position as a search begins in the coming days.

In player news, goalkeeper Niklas Herceg has been named a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, an honor recognizing the most coveted individual award in NCAA Division I soccer. The 2025 America East Goalkeeper of the Year anchored a defense that recorded 10 shutouts, tying for the third most in a single season in program history. Herceg helped lead Vermont to a 14-0-5 record entering the NCAA Tournament, making them the only unbeaten program in the country at that time. Three finalists for the award will be announced on December 17.

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

I hope you’re enjoying those Wednedays editions! I have plans for a rotation of Food Deal highlights, Poll Questions, Top Reddit Posts, Volunteer Opportunities, Reader Photos, Restaurant Spotlights, Small Business Features, and Btown Explained (quick local deep dive). Or Dine Out Review, Podcast Pick, Pet of the Week (adoptable to user submitted), new local Job Highlights, a Burlington Throwback Photo or Fact, and a quick Burlington Game like “Spot That Location”, VT crossword, or unscramble popular Burlington terms.

Here are some of my favorite btownbrief links:

Full list of 202+ activities to do at anytime is always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do

Full list of restaurant reviews here.

Soon to be updated with even more Burlington food deals. View the full list of food & drink deals here.

Bundle up, get out there, and support your neighbors this weekend. Whether you're watching reindeer, running in your ugliest sweater, or trading goods at the Barter Faire, there's no shortage of ways to connect with this community. Read the full articles linked above to get the whole story on what's happening around town.

If you like what I do, help support the newsletter by buying me a coffee using the link below. Or, right to our Venmo @btownbrief. Or, buy an advertising spot for your business.