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Weather & Weekend Rundown:
Bundle up, Burlington. We kicked off Friday morning with temperatures well below zero, and while we'll climb into the teens and twenties this afternoon, the wind will make it feel like single digits. Expect sunshine mixed with occasional clouds today, with overnight lows staying (mercifully) above zero this time. Saturday brings relief: highs in the low 30s under cloudier skies. Sunday looks pleasant enough to start, with sunshine giving way to clouds and a chance of light snow showers by afternoon into evening. Most of us should see just a coating to an inch, though the higher terrain could pick up a few more. Monday morning? Back to that bracing wake up call around zero. Classic December, really.
Tonight is packed. Church Street kicks things off with Festive Friday: Jingle & Mingle from 4 to 8pm, where you can stroll the Marketplace, vote on decorated windows, and enjoy the Shop, Sip & Snack event featuring Vermont drinks and bites at businesses along the way. Right at 5pm, UVM fans can gather at the holiday tree for Green and Gold Friday with giveaways and photos with Rally. Also at 5pm, Old Spokes Home on North Winooski hosts a (Second) Handmade Market until 9pm featuring upcycled goods, handmade items from local artists, and DIY screen printing activities. Over on Flynn Avenue, Green House Artists opens their studios from 5 to 9pm tonight (and again tomorrow 11am to 4pm) with watercolors, jewelry, candles, pet portraits, and more.
Comedy lovers have options: Wit & Wine at Shelburne Vineyard (doors at 7pm, show at 8pm, $13.39) features four Vermont standups including Mo Doukhi and E.J. Murphy, while Morgan Jay brings his musician/comedian hybrid act to The Flynn at 7pm. For live music, Tropidelic plays Higher Ground at 7:30pm, followed by Too Many Zooz at 8:30pm with their signature "Brass House" sound. The Pour House Christmas Party starts at 6pm with Quadra, food, and drinks. Over in South Burlington, Spark the Park launches tonight at Veterans Memorial Park from 6 to 8pm with s'mores, hot chocolate, and holiday lights. First 100 attendees get an exclusive 2025 beanie. And the Vintage Inspired Holiday Sale runs through Sunday at 10 Dorset Street in South Burlington with 60 vendors and 4,000 square feet of curated vintage treasures.
Saturday's warmer weather makes it ideal for market hopping. The Good Trade Makers Market takes over Hula with nearly 100 independent makers from 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday ($8 advance, $10 door, includes a drink ticket). Generator's Holiday Market runs noon to 4pm at 40 Sears Lane and it's free. The Annual Holiday Book Sale at Fletcher Free Library goes 10am to 5:30pm Saturday and noon to 5pm Sunday, offering beautiful gift quality books across every genre. The Railyard Apothecary Holiday Craft Fair brings nature based and art infused vendors to 28 Howard Street from 11am to 4pm. Bread & Butter Farm in Shelburne hosts their meat sale and holiday market from 9am to noon, and the Lake Champlain Waldorf School Winter Fair continues Saturday from 10am to 2pm with 40 plus artisan vendors and family activities (Friday night 6 to 9pm is adults only).
Music on Saturday: High Summer's Album Release Show at Foam Brewers at 8pm (free!) celebrates their new album "For The World" with their nine piece neo soul ensemble. Pink Talking Fish with Strange Machines plays Higher Ground at 7:30pm, fusing Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish into something gloriously weird. The VSO Holiday Pops at The Flynn (7:30pm) features Sleigh Ride, Nutcracker selections, a world premiere by Vermont composer Michael Schachter, and a reading of A Christmas Carol excerpts by author M.T. Anderson. Feeling sporty? The Pickle Party Fundraiser at The Pop in South Burlington runs 5 to 9pm with four hours of pickleball, music, snacks, and silent auction items benefiting Talent Skatepark ($33.85).
Sunday winds things down nicely. The Kids Train runs 10am to 2pm on Church Street, taking families on free rides around the 30 foot Christmas tree. The Good Trade Makers Market and book sale both continue, and Reggae Sundays at Orlando's keeps the chill vibes going from 8pm into the night.
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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
PC: @lifecassing Thanks, it’s absolutely incredible photo!
Local News (All Links Clickable)
Btown Brief rounds up our city’s City Council meeting. The City Council voted unanimously on Monday to authorize a contract with Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform to operate the city’s overdose prevention center, which will initially offer non-consumption support services before expanding to supervised consumption. To address oversight concerns, the council amended the agreement to ensure city officials have access to monitor compliance and designated the Board of Health to advise on community impacts. In a boost for social services, the council also approved funding for the Heineberg Senior Center to support older adults following the closure of the CORE program and formalized a $250,000 partnership with the Howard Center for downtown street outreach. Looking ahead to the 2026 state legislative session, the city endorsed top priorities including sustainable water infrastructure funding and a new request to use license plate reader technology for traffic enforcement. Finally, the council updated the parking ordinance to allow payment plans for outstanding fines, though some technical provisions regarding temporary restrictions were sent back to committee. Read the my full city council summary, as well as past ones, by going here.
"We've borrowed $159 million up to this point. The full ask was for $165 million. But we promised from the beginning that we would do everything in our power not to borrow the full $165 million. The project's not done yet but we are confident that we won't need to borrow that final $6 million," per WAMC.
This is genuinely good news for a project that has tested Burlington's patience. Students have been attending classes in a former Macy's since 2021 after PCB contamination forced the closure of the original building. Superintendent Tom Flanagan credits careful fiscal management of the bond and earning interest on borrowed funds while construction proceeds. The new school remains on track to open next fall, and while the $6 million savings won't dramatically change anyone's tax bill, it fulfills a promise made to voters when they approved the $165 million bond in 2022.
"If my scrappy little project is going to be talking a big game, being very public about it, filing lawsuits against Donald J. Trump as a defendant … We just need to have a clean house," per Seven Days.
Seven Days profiles seven Vermonters and organizations pushing back against the Trump administration. The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project has emerged as a particularly effective check, winning multiple habeas corpus cases to free detained immigrants despite having no previous federal court experience. Burlington's Terry Precision Cycling joined a lawsuit challenging tariff authority that reached the Supreme Court. Capstone Community Action in Barre has absorbed surging demand at its food pantry. And 62 year old Meg Wallace has spent hundreds of hours chalking pro-democracy messages on Burlington sidewalks, one letter at a time.
"We have come to the conclusion that … consolidation needs to happen. And the question is, 'How do you do it?'" per Vermont Public.
The tension here is real. A task force created by the Legislature to redraw school district maps came back with a different recommendation: voluntary mergers and cooperative sharing agreements instead of forced consolidation. House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth are pressing ahead anyway, arguing that Act 73's foundation formula funding system requires new district boundaries to cap spending. Task force co-chair Rep. Edye Graning counters that drawing lines on a map won't solve the cost problem. Meanwhile, the Department of Taxes projects property taxes rising 11.9% on average next year, which explains why everyone is in such a hurry.
"I've had a few little drop-offs, but I keep waking up because it's so freaking cold. I just keep thinking this is so inhumane," per WCAX.
That's Gina Anne Frattone Johnson, who has been trying to sleep at Burlington's bandshell for two days. The state set aside $1.5 million for faith based organizations to run emergency cold weather shelters, creating about 200 beds across seven locations. But only two were open Wednesday night despite temperatures dipping into single digits below zero. The shelters are required to open when it hits 10 below. Vermont Interfaith Action's Rick DeAngelis points to limited resources and capacity constraints, while advocates note many small communities simply lack the infrastructure to meet local need.
"When you are charged by majorities in the House and the Senate to do a task, and you accept an appointment to a body to perform that task, it's not up to you and it's not within your purview to say, 'No, we're going to do something completely different,'" per VTDigger/Vermont Public.
A deep dive from reporter Carly Berlin traces the rise and recent decline of halfway houses in Vermont. Of roughly 30 group transitional homes that existed as recently as 2019, more than a third have closed. The Department of Corrections shifted funding toward individual apartments under a "Housing First" philosophy, moving away from zero tolerance policies that often landed people back in prison after relapse. Dismas House in Burlington remains open, now with a less punitive approach to residents who slip. About 10 new recovery residences have opened statewide recently, though fewer options remain in Burlington than before.
"This is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to ensure that every student can learn and thrive in a safe and inclusive environment," per Seven Days.
The Vermont Human Rights Commission calls this the largest monetary settlement in its history. Two siblings at Leland & Gray Middle School alleged years of harassment based on race and sexual orientation that the Windham Central Supervisory Union failed to adequately address. Beyond the payout, the settlement requires the district to adopt a harassment prevention training program developed with the Windham County NAACP, which will be made available to all Vermont schools. The commission notes an uptick in race based discrimination complaints in Vermont schools, with 12 active investigations currently underway.
"In a perfect world, a student's identity would not be a predictive factor in how they're going to score," per The Other Paper.
South Burlington students are outperforming state averages in math and English, sometimes dramatically. Fourth graders hit 60% math proficiency compared to 34% statewide. But the district's Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Anti-racism and Social Emotional Learning, Monica Desrochers, is focused on the gaps within those numbers. Students from historically marginalized backgrounds and those qualifying for free and reduced lunch score significantly lower than their peers, a pattern that mirrors statewide data. Desrochers attributes the overall strong performance to experienced teachers but acknowledges the district still has work to do in serving all students equitably.
"We, across the expenditure budget and the revenue budget, built a five-year look back at what we've actually spent or actually collected, and we went line by line through where our draft budget was as compared to that expenditure or revenue collection," per The Other Paper.
South Burlington's proposed $37.2 million general fund budget represents a 2.87% increase with an associated 2.51% tax rate bump. For the average homeowner, that's about $60 more annually. City Manager Jessie Baker's team trimmed operating budgets nearly 5.1% from department requests by scrutinizing historical spending patterns. One notable pressure point: local option tax revenue projections are being held flat after hotels reported significant declines in business travel and Canadian tourism dropped 25%. Council has until January 12 to finalize the spending plan.
"No one owns a recipe. I'll give mine away freely, and I'll also take your ideas," per Seven Days.
A delightful piece of Burlington culinary history. Those beloved wings at Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup? They're actually a recipe Tim Elliott secretly copied from Jerry Weinberg's Five Spice Café back in the 1990s, despite Weinberg's heavy threats about recipe theft. The Indonesian sauce sat unused in notebooks for nearly a decade before Elliott dusted it off. When Weinberg's ex-wife and daughter first came in and saw the wings on the menu, Elliott hid in the dish area, terrified. They loved them. Stone Soup now sells about 1,000 wings a week.
"Practically speaking, we were sort of invisible as a band. We realized we needed to finally document our work. We had to have an enduring artifact," per Seven Days.
Eight years after launching from the Radio Bean stage, the eight piece groove and soul outfit finally has an album. "For the World" is a hybrid of studio tracks and live recordings cut at Tank Recording Studio with a small audience wearing headphones. Saxophonist Jacob Deva Racusin says the band simply wasn't ready before now, needing time to develop a unified sound among five songwriters. The release show is Saturday at Foam Brewers, and Racusin promises the follow-up won't take another eight years.
"It is really strange. It doesn't happen like this every night, but when you're there and it happens, it's phenomenal because it's super, super loud. Then it just gets deathly silent, and the thousands of crows all fly to where their final roost is," per Vermont Community News.
Naturalist Teage O'Connor explains why thousands of crows descend on Burlington each winter. They're not truly migratory but perform a daily migration from daytime foraging areas to nighttime roosts from October through late March. Burlington's appeal? The urban heat island effect keeps it warmer, and there are fewer predators like barred owls. The roost demographics skew young and unmated, making it something like a teenager mall hangout where juveniles show off and share information about resources. O'Connor sometimes leads crow viewing trips for the curious.
Quick Hits
UVM research highlights nitrogen's role in algal bloom formation — A new UVM study finds nitrogen, not just phosphorus, may be fueling cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Champlain. Researchers found Missisquoi Bay had double the nitrogen concentration of St. Albans Bay, possibly explaining differences in bloom size. The findings could shift how we approach watershed management.
UVM researchers contribute to first single-dose dengue vaccine — The world's first single dose dengue vaccine has been licensed in Brazil after more than a decade of research that included clinical trials at UVM's vaccine testing center. Brazil recorded 5.9 million cases and over 6,000 deaths last year.
Vermont Health Connect's first open enrollment deadline is December 15 — Vermonters need to enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. Financial assistance remains available despite federal subsidy cuts. An individual earning $40,000 could get a Gold plan for $77 a month.
Pizza 44 to add second spot in Shelburne — The Burlington pizzeria known for wood fired New York style and cast iron deep dish pies will open at 4066 Shelburne Road by mid-December, next to Archie's Grill and The Scoop, which share ownership.
Burlington School District responds to Trump's claims about Somali diaspora — Superintendent Tom Flanagan sent an email to parents condemning the president's remarks about Somali immigrants. "This community makes our schools and our city better," Flanagan wrote. "They are directly impacted by this dehumanizing language."
Bret Michaels, Night Ranger to rock Champlain Valley Fair — The Poison frontman and '80s rockers Night Ranger will close out the 2026 fair on September 6. Tickets go on sale December 11.
Btown Merch Dropping Soon:
I’ve always wanted merch that felt like high-quality streetwear capturing that local IYKYK (if you know, you know) vibes. Gear you actually want to wear for the design, not just a logo slapped on a generic tee to support the newsletter. Merch dropping soon, likely by next week. Working on a few more female-centric designs. Reply to this email and tell me what you think of my designs. Every piece hints at a part of Burlington’s story, see if you get the ‘inside joke’ in each one.
I wrote a snippet describing each individual design here: T-Shirts Page
Be sure to answer the poll below!
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UVM Athletics: Women's Soccer Seniors Selected for Regional Senior Bowl while Men's Basketball Falls to Oregon State
Three seniors from the University of Vermont women’s soccer program have been recognized among the top collegiate players in New England, while the men's basketball team dropped a road contest on the West Coast.
Lauren DeGroot, Sydney Remington, and Kylee Carafoli earned selection to the 2025 NEWISA Senior Bowl, a showcase of the top senior Division I athletes across the region set for December 7 at East Boston Memorial Field. Carafoli, named the America East Goalkeeper of the Year, finished the season ranked first in the conference in shutouts and third in goals against average. DeGroot led the Catamounts with eight goals, earning America East All-Conference Second Team honors, while Remington followed closely with seven goals and a spot on the All-Conference First Team. All three seniors were instrumental in leading the Catamounts to the America East Championship.
The Vermont men's basketball team suffered a decisive road loss, falling 80-58 to the Oregon State Beavers in Corvallis on Wednesday night. Oregon State established an early dominance, jumping out to a 24-8 lead and maintaining control to enter halftime with a significant 42-24 advantage. Despite the Catamounts' best efforts to mount a comeback in the second half, spurred by multiple three-pointers from Ben Johnson, the deficit proved too large to overcome, with the score standing at 66-51 at the eight-minute timeout. Gus Yalden led the Catamounts' scoring effort, contributing 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field, while Johnson added 12 points, all on three-pointers. Vermont did manage to outrebound Oregon State 33-31 and secured 28 points from its bench, but the team's overall field goal percentage of .350 was not enough to match the Beavers' .509. Vermont will remain on the West Coast for its next contest, facing Pepperdine University on Saturday, December 6, at 5 p.m. ET, which will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Dec 5: 2025-26 Women's Hockey vs Holy Cross Fri ⦁ 2:00pm
Dec 5: 2025-26 Women's Basketball vs. Bucknell Fri ⦁ 6:00pm
Dec 6: 2025-26 Women's Hockey vs Holy Cross Sat ⦁ 2:00pm
Events:
Friday, December 5
General Events
10:00 AM: Postcard Club at Daydream Art Supply (Free)
2:00 PM: Santa Claus Is Coming To The Country Christmas Loft at Country Christmas Loft (Free)
2:00 PM: UVM Women's Hockey vs Holy Cross at Gutterson Fieldhouse ($10-$15)
4:00 PM: Festive Friday: Jingle & Mingle at Church Street Marketplace (Free)
4:00 PM: Claude Lehman Pottery Annual Holiday Sale at 4 Howard Street (Free)
5:00 PM: Green and Gold Friday on Church Street at Church Street Marketplace (Free)
5:00 PM: Synchronized music and light show at 2025 Williston Rd, South Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: First Friday Finale at 4 Howard St (Free)
5:00 PM: (Second)Handmade Market at 331 N Winooski Ave (Free)
5:00 PM: Green House Artists Holiday Open Studios at 180 Flynn Avenue (Free)
5:00 PM: 'Fruition' Pop-up at New New Art Studio
6:00 PM: Spark the Park Kickoff Event at 1000 Dorset St, South Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Pour House Christmas Party at The Pour House (Free)
6:00 PM: Sacred Sound Sanctuary at 100 Dorset Street, South Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Magic The Gathering Cube Night at Old Town Cafe & Comics (Free)
6:00 PM: UVM Women's Basketball vs. Bucknell at Patrick Gym ($10-$15)
6:00 PM: Low Light and Cold: Pop-up art show at Hidden Pearl
6:30 PM: Friday Night Ballroom at Vermont Swings (Free)
6:30 PM: "worthless milk" Telemark Film Premiere at J Skis x Ski the East HQ ($0-$12)
7:00 PM: Safety Pin Shows: Øblivia, Peddle & Girls Night! at Burlington VT Odd Fellows (Free)
7:00 PM: Kiss Me Deadly (Film) at Main Street Landing ($6-12)
Performances (Comedy/Theater)
6:30 PM: Dulcé Sloan at Vermont Comedy Club ($25)
7:00 PM: Morgan Jay: The Goofy Guy Tour at The Flynn Center ($53-$125)
8:00 PM: Wit & Wine: Comedy at the Vineyard at Shelburne Vineyard ($13)
Live Music/DJ
11:00 AM: Clive at Radio Bean ($10)
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue at Red Square (Free)
5:00 PM: The Natural Selection Live at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
6:30 PM: Halyard at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
7:00 PM: Tropidelic at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($26.42)
7:00 PM: Dan Blakeslee’s Christmas Show at Radio Bean ($10)
7:00 PM: DJ Two Sev at Red Square (Free)
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe (Free)
7:30 PM: Yuletide - A Holiday Concert at Colchester High School (Free)
7:30 PM: Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill at UVM Recital Hall ($43.50)
7:30 PM: Bella Voce Holiday Concert at McCarthy Arts Center ($10-35)
8:00 PM: Leddy Moss w/ A Band Called Sundown at The Monkey House ($10)
8:00 PM: Barbacoa at Foam Brewers (Free)
8:00 PM: Phantom Suns | Last Pages | Goodnight Nobody at Community of Sound (Free)
8:00 PM: The boys are BACK at The Old Post (Free)
8:00 PM: Fisher Wagg, The Eyetraps, The Leatherbound Books at Light Club Lamp Shop ($15)
8:00 PM: Strange Synth Night at Standing Stone Wines ($10)
8:30 PM: Too Many Zooz at Higher Ground Ballroom ($32.06)
8:30 PM: Satyrdagg, COOP at Radio Bean ($10)
9:00 PM: Lixx at OnTap at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
9:00 PM: Rap Night Burlington at Drink ($5)
10:00 PM: DJ Two Rivers at Ri Ra Irish Pub (Free)
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10/15)
11:00 PM: Ron Stoppable at Red Square
Saturday, December 6
General Events
9:00 AM: Meat sale and holiday market at 200 Leduc Farm Road, Shelburne (Free)
9:00 AM: CREATE YOUR OWN WINTER CENTERPIECE at 65 Green Mountain Dr ($45)
9:00 AM: Board Game Brunch at Old Town Cafe & Comics (Free)
9:00 AM: First UU 90th Annual Holiday Bazaar & Luncheon at First Unitarian Universalist Society (Free)
10:00 AM: Good Trade Market Weekend at Hula Lakeside ($8/$10)
10:00 AM: Holiday Hugs Workshop! at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory ($60)
10:00 AM: Photos with Santa & his “reindeer” at UVM Horse Barn (Free)
10:00 AM: Santa Visits at Church Street Marketplace (Free)
10:00 AM: Vermont Holiday Market at Champlain Valley Exposition ($10)
10:00 AM: Annual Holiday Gift Book Sale at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
10:00 AM: Claude Lehman Pottery Annual Holiday Sale at 4 Howard Street (Free)
11:00 AM: Adoption Event at PetSmart Williston (Free)
11:00 AM: Holiday Fair at 332 Shelburne Hinesburg Rd, Shelburne (Free)
11:00 AM: Holiday Craft Fair at 28 Howard St (Free)
11:00 AM: Holiday Artisan Market at GreenTARA Gallery at 3275 U.S. 2, North Hero (Free)
11:00 AM: Green House Artists Holiday Open Studios at 180 Flynn Avenue (Free)
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
12:00 PM: Santa Claus Is Coming To The Country Christmas Loft at Country Christmas Loft (Free)
12:00 PM: Generator Makerspace Holiday Market at 40 Sears Ln (Free)
12:00 PM: The Parcel Project at Amy E. Tarrant Gallery (Free)
1:00 PM: VTH3 Trail #081: Krampusnacht vs. St. Nick at Manhattan Dr (Hash Cash)
2:00 PM: UVM Women's Hockey vs Holy Cross at Gutterson Fieldhouse ($10-$15)
3:00 PM: Annual GMAPA Toys For Kids Tournament!! at Vermont Pool and Bar (Free)
3:00 PM: The Night of the Hunter (Film) at Main Street Landing ($6-12)
3:30 PM: Beary Magical Lights Tour! at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory ($10)
3:30 PM: Singer's Circle: A Vocal Workshop with Ava Sophia at Fletcher Free Library (Donation)
4:00 PM: Permanent Jewelry Pop-Up at Eden Aesthetics (Free)
4:30 PM: Touch A Truck Christmas Toy Drive at 104 Maple St, Essex Junction (Free)
5:00 PM: Pickle Party Fundraiser at The Pop, South Burlington ($30)
5:00 PM: Women of Tibet: The Great Mother at Main Street Landing (Free)
6:00 PM: Vermont Professional Photographers Annual Holiday Party at 293 River Rd, Colchester (Free)
6:00 PM: Holiday Jasper Hill Fondue Night at Adventure Dinner Clubhouse ($75)
7:00 PM: Queen City Tango Holiday Milonga at Fusion 802 ($15)
7:00 PM: December Westie Saturday Social at Vermont Swings (Free)
7:00 PM: Touch of Evil at Main Street Landing ($6-12)
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park (Free)
8:45 PM: Revival Halaqah at 400 Swift Street, South Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Goddess at Standing Stone Wines (Free)
Performances (Comedy/Theater)
12:00 PM: Spectacular Spectacular at Higher Ground ($25)
6:30 PM: Dulce Sloan Tickets at Vermont Comedy Club ($25)
8:00 PM: A Masqued Murder at Main Street Landing Black Box ($20-25)
Live Music/DJ
3:00 PM: Concert Choir & Catamount Singers at UVM Recital Hall (Free)
5:00 PM: Just Me at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
6:00 PM: Small Change: A Tribute To Tom Waits at Shelburne Vineyard (Free)
6:00 PM: The Kat & Brett Holiday Show at Burlington City Hall Auditorium ($35)
6:00 PM: Vermont Blues Society Annual Meeting & Concert at Double E Lounge ($26.50)
6:00 PM: Acid Wash, Soundhound at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
6:00 PM: DJ Aras, Mr Cheng at Red Square (Free)
6:00 PM: DJ Raul at Red Square Blue Room (Free)
7:00 PM: Alchemy / No Son Of Mine / Airport Park at Community of Sound (Free)
7:30 PM: Bella Voce Holiday Concert at McCarthy Arts Center ($10-35)
7:30 PM: Pink Talking Fish w/ Strange Machines at Higher Ground Ballroom ($32.06)
7:30 PM: The Suitcase Junket at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($19.84)
7:30 PM: Holiday Pops - Burlington at The Flynn Center ($8-$62)
8:00 PM: High Summer Album Release Show at Foam Brewers (Free)
8:00 PM: PSP Karoake with DJ Dan at 137 Pearl Street, Essex Junction (Free)
8:00 PM: Ruminations at the Venetian Soda Lounge at Venetian Soda Lounge ($10)
8:00 PM: Moondogs, Guess Method at Einstein’s Tap House ($10)
8:00 PM: Morrissey Blvd, Comatose Kids at Radio Bean ($10)
8:30 PM: The Pyros, Remi Russin at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
9:00 PM: Charlie Mayne w/ Mysundrstood & Maari at The Monkey House ($10)
9:00 PM: On Tap presents Magnetic Horse at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
10:00 PM: Matt Payne at Red Square Blue Room
10:00 PM: DJ NewCity at Ri Ra Irish Pub (Free)
10:30 PM: Jensen Alley, Rose Asteroid at Radio Bean ($10)
10:30 PM: Kate Kush at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
10:30 PM: DJ Kanganade at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge (Free)
Sunday, December 7
General Events
9:00 AM: Masks On! Sundays at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Free)
10:00 AM: RCQ : MTG Spider-Man at Quarterstaff Games (Free)
10:00 AM: More Love for the Holidays Adoption Event at Heritage Toyota (Free)
10:00 AM: Kids Train at Church Street Marketplace (Free)
10:00 AM: Sundays with Santa at Hotel Champlain (Free)
10:30 AM: Tech Sundays at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
11:00 AM: Cake and sip at Glow Nutrition (Free)
11:00 AM: Claude Lehman Pottery Annual Holiday Sale at 4 Howard Street (Free)
11:30 AM: NFL Sunday Ticket @ Spare Time Colchester at Spare Time Colchester (Free)
12:00 PM: Mix & Mingle at The Boardroom (Free)
12:00 PM: ASL Silent Board Games at The Boardroom (Free)
12:00 PM: Friends of Fletcher Free Library Annual Holiday Book Sale at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
12:00 PM: The Yuletide Is Gay: Queer holiday art market at Spiral House Art Collective (Free)
12:00 PM: Sunday Funday at 1st Republic Brewing (Free)
1:00 PM: Annual Christmas Bingo & Giveaway at Broadacres Bingo ($60)
1:00 PM: Car Seats & Cookies: VBN Fall Tour at Vermont Doula Company (Free)
1:00 PM: Sunday Football at the Press House Pub at 180 Flynn Ave (Free)
2:00 PM: Selfies with Santa Paws! at 126 College Street (Free)
2:00 PM: Library Lounge at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
2:00 PM: Open House at The Essex Resort & Spa (Free)
3:00 PM: VT Sledcats Sled Hockey Practice (All Abilities) at Cairns Arena (Free)
4:00 PM: 2025 Banquet at Catamount Golf and Country Club (Free)
4:00 PM: Drop-In Tech Support at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
4:00 PM: Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum ($10-30)
4:30 PM: Williston Community Tree Lighting at Williston Village Green (Free)
5:15 PM: Community Meditation at First Unitarian Universalist Society (Free)
6:00 PM: KARAOKE NIGHT at Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
6:00 PM: New Leaf Sangha Mindfulness at Hot Yoga Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Sunday Skates at Leddy Studio at Gordon H. Paquette Arena (Free)
7:00 PM: Venetian Karaoke at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge (Free)
Performances (Comedy/Theater)
11:00 AM: Eleganza & Espresso: A Drag Brunch! at Vermont Comedy Club ($23)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont
11:00 AM: Music of The Grateful Dead + More For Kids at Higher Ground Ballroom ($20.88)
1:00 PM: Mary Ester Carter at Foam Brewers (Free)
3:00 PM: Bella Voce Holiday Concert at McCarthy Arts Center ($10-35)
4:00 PM: Vermont Youth Orchestra Association - OrchestraPalooza at The Flynn Center ($21-$24)
5:00 PM: Wine & Jazz Sundays at Shelburne Vineyard (Free)
5:00 PM: Advent Lessons & Carols at Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Free)
6:30 PM: Interplay Jazz Jam North at Faith United Methodist Church (Free)
7:30 PM: Great Lake Swimmers at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($32.06)
8:00 PM: Murray’s Law at Double E Performance Center ($24.39)
8:00 PM: Reggae Sundays at Orlando's at Orlando's Bar and Lounge ($7.68)
Watch for Wednesday Editions!
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.
That’s All, Burlington!
Stay warm out there tonight, and if you venture out to Church Street or any of these markets this weekend, say hi to a neighbor. These local vendors, artists, and musicians are the heartbeat of this town.
Got a tip, an event we missed, or just want to say hello? Drop us a line. We love hearing from you. See you Monday, Btown.
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.
**Dropping tasteful merch for the Btown Brief VERY soon, stay tuned!**
