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Weather & Monday Update:
Get your outdoor errands done early today. Monday starts comfortable and partly sunny with a high near 83, then scattered showers may roll in through the late afternoon and turn likely in the evening. Tuesday is the reward, mostly sunny and drier with a high near 82. Wednesday keeps the good thing going with sunshine, lower humidity and a high near 83 before a stray evening storm chance creeps back. Thursday is the washout of the week, showers and storms most of the day with a high near 80, and behind it comes a cooler, sunnier stretch into the weekend. Track it all week, with patio, swim, and sunset scores, at Burlington Right Now.
Monday itself has some quiet gems. Partizanfilm on College Street runs a one night only screening of WTO/99 at 6:20, an archival documentary on the 40,000 strong 1999 Seattle protests against the World Trade Organization. Language lovers can drop into Spanish Chat Mondays at Three Needs from 7 to 8, all levels welcome. If you'd rather move than talk, pickup dodgeball runs 7 to 8:15 at the Miller Center for $5 a game, no team needed. Readers can join the Book Club For Curious Women [MEETUP] in Essex Junction at 6:30, where the whole month's homework is two chapters. And the Collage Collective gathers at Expressive Arts on Flynn Ave from 6:30 to 9, by donation, beginners welcome.
Tuesday is primary day in Vermont, so vote before you play. Polls run all day, and if an absentee ballot is still sitting on your counter the advice at this point is to hand it to your town clerk in person rather than mail it, more on that in the news below. The big musical event of the week also starts Tuesday, with Lake Street Dive opening a two night stand on the Shelburne Museum green at 7. Both nights are sold out, so this one is for ticket holders and wait list optimists, and kids 12 and under get in free without a ticket. Otherwise Tuesday leans social. Runners can lace up for the 5K at Queen City Brewery [MEETUP] at 5:30 with a beverage waiting at the finish, early birds can try the free morning networking hour at Hula at 8:30 with coffee on the house, and beginners with a sewing machine gathering dust can bring it to the free Sandbox sewing class on Pine Street from 4 to 5:30. Traditional Tuesday at Mesmer Kava pours all-you-like kava shells for a $20 flat fee from 4:30 to 8, Super Smash Tuesdays takes over RíRá from 5 with free play and a $10 smash burger, and French speakers get Pause-Café Mardi at Burlington Bay from 5 to 7.
Wednesday stacks up nicely. Lake Street Dive plays night two at Shelburne Museum, and downtown answers with Art Amplified, Burlington City Arts' free evening of live music with Troy Millette and the Fire Below and Collin Hagood at the BCA Center from 5. Comedy people have a full evening at Vermont Comedy Club, with the $5 Improv Night at 7 featuring Big Green Couch and an open jam after the show. Also on Wednesday, Local Motion is hosting the Ride for Shiloh at 5:30. The community Critical Mass ride will meet at the memorial on the corner of Pine and Locust Streets to honor the 16-year-old BHS student whose tragic passing we’ve already covered. It’s a chance to support her family, remember her legacy, and stand together in support of safer streets for everyone. The Media Factory runs Audio Recording 101 from 6 to 8, a free hands-on tour of microphones and recording basics. Trivia lands at the Venetian Soda Lounge on Pine Street at 7, and artists can bring a sketchbook to Daydream Art Supply's Summer Sketchbook Club on Church Street from 5. Our own Pick-up Basketball [MEETUP] runs at Pomeroy Park from 5:30, free and outdoors, come get a run in.
Thursday is the fullest day on the calendar, so keep half an eye on the sky with storms in the forecast. Party On The Bricks throws its season finale on the Leahy Block from 5:30 to 8 with Ali T playing outside Ken's Pizza and Pub, free and open to all. South Burlington's SB Nite Out fills Veterans Memorial Park with food trucks and live music from 5:30 to 8, Williston gets a free John Fogerty tribute on the Maple Tree Place green at 6, and cyclists can head to the Bivo Summer Bash at Cochran's in Richmond from 5 to 8:30, with group rides followed by live music, sourdough pizza and Frost beers. Film lovers can celebrate Alfred Hitchcock's 127th birthday with Notorious at the VTIFF Screening Room at 7, and theater people get opening night of Falsettos ($14-35) at the Black Box Theater at 7, running through August 23. Music bingo plays at Sparky's in Essex Junction at 6:30, the Odd Fellows hall on North Ave hosts figure drawing with the Emanata Art Collective at 7, and night owls can two-step into the Thursday Night Social Club ($10, 21+) at Radio Bean, a 10:30 show from Americana six piece Andrea Maddox & The Hey Y'alls. We'll also be at Trivia at Four Quarters [MEETUP] in Winooski at 6, come early and help us hold a table.
Scroll down to Events Section for full list of events Monday-Thursday.
The Btown Brief IRL - Burlington Social & Activities
We’re now seeing 20–30 people at our weekly events! Thanks to everyone helping host events with me. And thanks to those that show up to make it worth it. Be sure to stop by for our weekly Saturday Coffee meetup at Zero Gravity at 10am. It’s a great place to talk about weekend events too, along with news and life updates. So come find things to do this weekend together:
Join the Meetup (It’s FREE): Join Meetup group | RSVP here
Join the Telegram Group Chat: [Telegram Link] – Plan casual hangouts with other Briefers, or just another way to find us for our Saturday coffee event. Download Telegram before clicking link.
This Coming Week:
Pick-up Basketball – Wednesday, August 12th @ 5:30 PM: Outdoor runs at Pomeroy Park in the Old North End, always free, all levels welcome.
Trivia at Four Quarters – Thursday, August 13th @ 6 PM: Our every-other-week trivia night moves to Four Quarters in Winooski, and it was packed last round, so come early and help us grab a table.
BTown Coffee Club – Saturday, August 15th @ 10 AM: The Saturday morning standing date, coffee and easy conversation, new faces always welcome.
Support the Brief to Keep it Running!
Why support? Every week, I sort through TONS of local sources: Seven Days events, Front Porch Forum calendar, Facebook events, Hello Burlington, Meetup.com, Eventbrite, Church St Marketplace calendar, Flynn, Higher Ground, Vermont Comedy Club, and then news stations like VTDigger, Seven Days, WCAX, WPTZ, Vermont Public, Community News Service, VT Cynic, The Other Paper, Vermont Business Magazine, Williston Observer, MyChamplainValley, The Charlotte News, to keep you connected. It takes a long time to curate and write about all this local content, so if this lengthy newsletter saves you time, or has introduced you to new experiences in Burlington, then definitely consider chipping in!
Become a Monthly Supporter: [Here] – Tiers start at $5. $10+ tiers get fresh Btown Brief merch!
One-Time Donation: [Here] – Buy me a coffee for the late-night editing sessions. Can also choose ANY monthly donation amount here.
Shop the Merch Store: [Here] – 15+ cool, Burlington-inspired designs on Comfort Colors tees.
I put a lot of work into this one! The idea was, how can I doomscroll with more satisfaction? I watched a video recently where the argument was that the social internet isn't cigarettes, it's food; some of it junk, some of it genuinely nourishing, and the hard part is that the junk is engineered to be irresistible. True. I can't fix the whole internet, but I can at least stock one shelf with the good stuff. So I built out a page I've dubbed The Pulse, and the idea is pretty simple: every headline worth knowing, local and national, on one screen. So you want to come back throughout the day. There isn't enough local news to sustain that, so why not add national headlines to the list? Seven Days, VTDigger, WCAX and r/burlington are some of the ones holding down the local side, the big national outlets like NYT and others run underneath, and the page refreshes itself every 10 minutes all day long, so whatever you're looking at is what's happening right now. I’m talking 1,500 headlines so far in the catalog. It goes deeper than headlines too. I've added a tab for Reddit, one for local podcasts, one that shows you other worthy newsletters, and a YouTube tab with 78 hand-picked channels covering Vermont, news, science and food, so there's always something to watch when the reading runs out. Swipe a headline right and it saves for you to read later, swipe left on a story you wish had more coverage (if enough of you do, I'll dig into it for tomorrow) hold one down to mute a source you're tired of, and Focus Mode clears out everything you've already scrolled past so each visit starts fresh. No account, no app, no signup, no nothing and it just works in your browser. It pairs nicely next to whatever you check with your morning coffee. Bookmark it! Click the link below:
Local News (All Links Clickable)
"August is a time of, you know, summer vacation and family trips and relatives from out of town, and it's a hard time for people to tune in," per VTDigger.
Tomorrow is primary day, and as of late last week only 3 percent of registered Vermont voters had returned a ballot. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is publishing early turnout numbers for the first time as a nudge, with Shelburne among the few towns beating the average. The practical part for Monday readers is that it is now too late to trust the mail, so hand your absentee ballot to your town clerk or just vote in person Tuesday.
"We would not be able to do this without her skill set and talents," per Seven Days.
Both Kitchen Table spots closed earlier this month, and Mirabelles is taking over the pair, the restaurant in Richmond and the market on Williston Road in South Burlington, with reopenings targeted by the end of September. The Richmond spot will likely become 'Belles on the River, serving casual dinners Wednesday through Sunday plus weekend brunch with the popovers along for the ride. One thing worth watching is that Beta Technologies bought the building housing the current Mirabelles bakery, so that location's long-term future is open.
"Everyone has a legal right to ride their bikes on these streets, and motorists need to be aware of that and respect that," per NBC5.
Local Motion held its first walk-bike forum steps from the Pine Street memorial for 16 year old Shiloh Skalka, who died in July after being struck while riding her e-bike. Neighbors marked dangerous intersections on city maps and pitched fixes like new crosswalks, with Councilor Becca Brown McKnight calling the moment a wake-up call and saying the city is not doing enough. The driver has been cited and is expected in court in late August, and the Department of Public Works says the input feeds directly into long-range street planning.
"People underestimate our athletes a lot of the time," per Seven Days.
The Vermont Ninja Warrior Training Center moved into its own 7,200 square foot gym in Essex this spring, and three of its own are on the current season of American Ninja Warrior, including comanager Amir Malik of Essex Junction, who made the National Finals. About 300 students train there weekly, with kids starting as young as 4 and a 44 athlete competitive team that has traveled as far as Barbados for championships. The sport joins the Olympics in 2028, so the pipeline running through Corporate Drive suddenly has a very big ceiling.
"Used to come here and bring my parents here years ago, they enjoyed it... So we'll miss it because it's really good," per WCAX.
Ray's Seafood in Essex Junction announced this weekend it will close after 74 years, with the last day of service set for September 12. The family business started as a wholesale seafood provider 74 years ago and gave no reason for the decision. There is a month left to get a final basket of fried clams, and if you have a gift receipt the ask is to use it before the doors close.
"It's so much easier to just get from here right onto the highway. So, yeah, it's been fantastic for us," per WCAX.
Five weeks in, drivers love how fast the Parkway gets them to the highway, and Pine Street is paying for it with new backups. The top complaint is the missing left turn arrow where the project swapped four-way stops for signals at King and Maple, with waits of up to three light cycles at peak times. DPW is collecting signal data and owes the City Council findings and recommendations within six months.
"This is a full restaurant kitchen where it's done just like it's done in the restaurant. So that sets us apart from a lot of different dinner trains," per Community News Service.
Community News Service rode along in the kitchen car of the Champlain Valley Dinner Train, where four cooks plated nearly 170 three course dinners on a single evening run. The train now rolls all the way to Middlebury on a three hour round trip from Burlington, with Rutland's Southside Steakhouse catering as it has since 2018 and servers logging up to 25,000 steps a shift. The season runs through October if you want the moving-dining-room experience yourself.
"Burlington's got issues that we need to work on, but it definitely feels like people are looking for a scapegoat," per Seven Days.
The downtown safety fight has narrowed onto harm reduction, after the council's Burlington Forward resolution passed 7 to 5 with zoning language aimed at keeping syringe programs and the planned overdose prevention center out of downtown. The flashpoint is Vermont CARES' expanded Bank Street exchange, which opened July 1 with state backing after the Howard Center's Clarke Street program closed under a neighborhood lawsuit. Business owners and developers are lining up behind the Democrats while Progressives and the pastor who rents to Vermont CARES argue the exchanges are being scapegoated for a drug trade that predates them. Council committees take the measure up next, with a full council look in September, so this one is far from settled.
"What I hope you see in this budget is not business as usual, not more of the same," per Vermont Public.
UVM Health is back before the Green Mountain Care Board with a message of contrition, pointing to a new CEO, executive cuts, paused bonuses, a 12 percent price reduction in its BlueCross contract and dozens of layoffs. The system still projects a $14.7 million loss next year, with the Burlington flagship down $43 million, and its proposed expense growth remains more than triple what regulators suggested. The board's overseer wants another $50 million cut, and budget orders are due by September 15.
"Seven months into 2026, the housing market is showing signs of unwinding from the pandemic-era frenzy that drained supply, pushed prices to record highs, and brought activity to a standstill," per the Caledonian Record.
The mid-year Redfin numbers show the Burlington market finally exhaling, with the median sale price down 4.2 percent from last year while the national figure rose. Active listings are up 19.4 percent, homes now sit a median 48 days before selling, and the share going above asking has slipped. Nobody would call $466,000 affordable, but after years of frenzy, more choices and longer decision windows are a real shift for buyers.
"I don't think I'd be the man or the chef I am today if not for living and learning here," per Seven Days.
Micah Tavelli, the James Beard semifinalist behind the stoves at Majestic in the South End, is leaving to run the kitchen at a Danny Meyer group restaurant opening in Boston's Seaport. His last day is this Saturday, so the week ahead is your window for one more Tavelli-era dinner. Dan Schloemer, his former sous chef, takes over with the menu expected to hold steady through the fall.
"There's no evidence for any of this, and this is sort of the same tactic that we see a lot of the time when some entity doesn't like what's going on, and they accuse everybody of being an outside agitator," per The Other Paper.
Healthy Living has filed a roughly 700 page appeal asking the national labor board to throw out its workers' 105 to 69 April union vote, alleging a coordinated infiltration campaign by organizers. Two of the named baristas were fired the day before a union press conference, which the company attributes to guest complaints and the workers attribute to organizing. Salting is legal and protected under labor board precedent, and a decision could take three months or more.
"It feels like a family reunion," per VTDigger.
The fifth annual Coming Together, There is Hope summit drew an estimated 2,000 people to the Champlain Valley Expo at the end of July, including the lieutenant governor and a federal judge speaking on addiction in her courtroom. Vermont carries some of the highest substance use rates in the country, and about 70 percent of people incarcerated here receive medication assisted treatment. The message from organizers, both in long-term recovery themselves, was that recovery is a community project rather than a solo one.
QUICK HITS
The narrow former Cosmic Grind storefront at 104 Church is aiming for a mid-August opening as Artemus Café and Burlington Art Mini Museum, pouring Brio coffee and selling local art on a sliding scale commission.
More than 100 speakers kept the council's public forum going past three hours before the safety resolution passed, with the mayor pointing at a lack of state leadership on homelessness and mental health.
Austen Hamel, a 19 year old from Vergennes, screens his 30th film The Wanted Part II for one night at Essex Cinemas on August 12, doors at 5:30, with his younger brother in the lead.
A $72,000 ribbon of corten steel called LoopDeeLoop won the pick for the planned pocket park at Williston Road and White Street, spiraling from bench to 16 foot arch and back by mid-2028.
The DMV's enforcement division is being renamed the Vermont Highway Patrol for clarity on the road, and the timing lands squarely on Super Troopers 3, now in theaters with showtimes in Williston and Essex.
How good of a reader are you? Think you’re keeping up with Burlington news? It's time to prove it. Every Monday and Friday, we're dropping a quick 5-question quiz covering the local news you just finished reading. You've got just 60 seconds to answer them all. No looking back allowed. Use the same unique name each time you play so everyone can track your stats in our Hall of Fame, where you'll compete for titles like Sharpshooter (highest accuracy), Speed Demon (fastest average time), and Streak Leader (most consistent player). Make your name (or cool nickname) known to Btown!
Ready to play? Click the link below, enter your name, and show us what you've got. Btown Brief Quiz
Events:
This is the curated cut. The full calendar, 25 sources refreshed twice a day, lives at Burlington events.
Monday, August 10, 2026
General Events
12:00 AM: Dream / Mộng : Veronica Pham at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
12:00 AM: Color & Scale: Leah Barranco at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open !! at AO Glass, Burlington (Free for all, come on in!)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne
11:30 AM: Industry Day at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Creative Co-Working at The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
1:00 PM: Health Evolution Summit | August 10-14, 2026 at Burlington, Burlington
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
3:30 PM: Graphic Novel Book Club: 4th - 6th graders at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
4:00 PM: Inside Scoop with Becca Balint at Oakledge Park, Burlington, VT, Burlington ($25 adults / $10 kids suggested donation)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
5:00 PM: Vermont Adult Learning Book Club at 77 College Street Suite 100, Burlington
6:00 PM: Guided Mountain Bike Rides: Novice Mondays and Social Thursday, Williston
6:00 PM: Burlington Elks Bingo at Burlington Elks Lodge, Burlington (Various prices.)
6:00 PM: Anime Group at Pathways Vermont Morgan's Place Peer Support Center, Burlington (Free)
6:20 PM: One Night Only: WTO/99 at Partizanfilm at 230 College Street, Burlington, VT, Burlington
6:30 PM: Collage Collective at Expressive Arts Burlington, Burlington (By donation)
6:30 PM: Book Club For Curious Women at Ladies Social Group, Essex Junction — MEETUP.com
7:00 PM: Spanish Chat Mondays at The Three Needs, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Community of Poets Sharing Circle with Darlene Witte August 10 2026 7 PM, Burlington — MEETUP.com
7:00 PM: Monday Night Live at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free; donations accepted.)
Performances
7:00 PM: Play Dodgeball - Every Monday Night! at Robert Miller Center, Burlington ($5/game)
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
General Events
12:00 AM: Dream / Mộng : Veronica Pham at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
12:00 AM: Color & Scale: Leah Barranco at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
7:00 AM: North End Food Pantry Donations at Ward 4 Polls at Burlington VT Elks Lodge 916, North Avenue, Burlington, VT, Burlington (Free)
7:00 AM: Ward 4 Poll BAKE SALE at Burlington VT Elks Lodge 916, North Avenue, Burlington, VT, Burlington
8:30 AM: Morning Networking at Hula, Burlington (Free; preregister)
9:00 AM: Business Analytics Certification (CBAP) Training in Vermont, VT at 300 Interstate Corporate Ctr, Williston
9:00 AM: Become a Certified Data Analyst in Burlington, VT at 1068 Williston Rd, South Burlington
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
9:00 AM: Burlington Bitcoin Meetup - @ Zero Gravity at Zero Gravity Brewery, Burlington — MEETUP.com
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open !! at AO Glass, Burlington (Free for all, come on in!)
10:30 AM: First Time Kindergarteners at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
11:00 AM: Neighborhood Planning Assemblies: Community Partners Desk at Fletcher Free Library — Main Reading Room , Burlington (Free)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne
12:00 PM: Emergency Blood Shortage!, Colchester ($20)
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
1:00 PM: Health Evolution Summit | August 10-14, 2026 at Burlington, Burlington
1:30 PM: House & Garden Tour at the Shelburne Farms Inn 2026 at Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
3:00 PM: Opening Day for the ONE Farmers Market at Dewey Park, Spring St, Burlington, VT, Burlington ($10)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Sandbox - Free Sewing Class for beginners at 688 pine street. Burlington- VT 05401, Burlington (free)
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
4:00 PM: Writer's Circle at Pathways Vermont Morgan's Place Peer Support Center, Burlington (Free)
4:30 PM: Traditional Tuesday at Mesmer Kava, Burlington
5:00 PM: Super Smash Tuesdays, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Volunteer Night at Old Spokes Home at Old Spokes Home Community Workshop 664 Riverside Avenue, Burlington, VT, Burlington
5:15 PM: Community Meditation at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Burlington (Free; donations accepted.)
5:30 PM: 5K Run @ Queen City at Queen City Brewery, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Tuesday Trail Running Series At Catamount OFC, Williston
6:00 PM: Local Dork at Foam Brewers on a Tuesday at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Vermont Figure Drawing Collective at Karma Bird House, Burlington ($20 (cash))
6:00 PM: Bashment Tuesday at Akes' Place, Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Spanish Conversation Group, Burlington
7:00 PM: August- The Tranky Doo!, Burlington
7:00 PM: August Beginning Swing!, Burlington
7:00 PM: All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Times Vary: Free Acupuncture for Primary Voters! at 366 Dorset Street suite 10 South Burlington, VT 05403, South Burlington (Free)
Times Vary: 802SDAY (Aussi ton Mardi) at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington (Free)
Performances
Live Music/DJ
11:15 AM: Flow Singing at Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Jordan Smart at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
7:00 PM: Trivia Tuesdays at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
7:00 PM: Lake Street Dive at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne (Sold out.)
8:00 PM: Dead Is Alive with Dobbs' Dead at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington ($15)
8:30 PM: Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
9:00 PM: Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
General Events
12:00 AM: Dream / Mộng : Veronica Pham at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
12:00 AM: Color & Scale: Leah Barranco at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: 'Generative Conflict: A Workshop for Leaders' at Hula, Burlington (Free; preregister)
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
10:00 AM: Nature Journaling at Rock Point Center, Burlington (By donation; preregister.)
10:00 AM: 🦖🎉🦕DINO FEST at ECHO at 1 College Street, Burlington, VT, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open !! at AO Glass, Burlington (Free for all, come on in!)
11:00 AM: Take-Along-Teddy Wednesday Workshop!, Shelburne
11:00 AM: Wild Card Wednesday, Colchester
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne
11:30 AM: Are You a Contractor/ Tradesperson? at NBT Bank, Bank Street, Burlington, VT, Burlington
12:00 PM: BHS/BTC Community Tours! at 110 Institute Rd, Burlington
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
1:00 PM: Health Evolution Summit | August 10-14, 2026 at Burlington, Burlington
1:30 PM: House & Garden Tour at the Shelburne Farms Inn 2026 at Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne
2:00 PM: Knitting Workshop: Adult Session at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
2:00 PM: Steps to End Domestic Violence: Community Partners Desk at Fletcher Free Library — Main Reading Room , Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Pub Hour at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington (Free)
3:30 PM: Crafternoon at the Winooski Library at Winooski Memorial Library, 65 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski, VT, Winooski (Free)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
4:00 PM: Wednesday $10.00 Burger Night at Hotel Champlain Burlington, Curio Collection by Hilton, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Summer Sketchbook Club, Burlington
5:00 PM: The All-Inclusive Dyke-Tacular at Doma Bar, Burlington (Free; cost of food and drink.)
5:30 PM: Pick-up Basketball at Pomeroy Park, Burlington (Free) — MEETUP.com
5:30 PM: Spanish Class at Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free; preregister)
6:00 PM: Rest, Relax, Recharge: Guided Meditation with Aromatherapy at Ladies Social Group, Essex Junction
6:00 PM: Local Resources Advisory Board Meeting at Winooski City Hall, West Allen Street, Winooski, VT, Winooski
6:00 PM: Scrabble Night @ The Boardroom at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Cribbage at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Audio Recording 101 at The Media Factory, Burlington (Free; donations accepted; preregister.)
6:00 PM: Toastmasters of Greater Burlington at Generator Makerspace, Burlington (Free; preregister.)
6:00 PM: Recovery Dharma at First United Methodist Church, Burlington (Free.)
6:00 PM: Community Cooking at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free.)
6:30 PM: FFL Book Discussion Group: The Wilderness at Main Library, Burlington (Free)
6:45 PM: July and August Open Practice, Burlington
8:30 PM: Standup Open Mic at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington (Free)
Performances
2:30 PM: Jeff & Gina play at Mansfield Place, Essex Junction
7:00 PM: VCA Presents: $5 Improv Night! at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($5 (free for students))
8:00 PM: Repertory Wednesday Series: 'Pursued' at Partizanfilm, Burlington ($9.50-12.)
Live Music/DJ
5:00 PM: Art Amplified featuring Troy Millette and the Fire Below with Collin Hagood at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Campfire Jack at Halvorsons Upstreet Cafe, Burlington (Donations)
7:00 PM: House Trivia Night! at The Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington (Free!)
7:00 PM: Lake Street Dive at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne (Sold out.)
7:00 PM: Tom Pearo & Friends at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10/$15)
7:00 PM: Trivia at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington (Free)
7:30 PM: Chamber Music Series Continues Wednesday at Elley-Long Music Center - Ethan Allen Avenue, Colchester, VT, Colchester ($25)
7:30 PM: Silverlined, Dolly Sods, Brunch at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Kiley Latham, Flint & Steale at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10)
8:30 PM: Jazz Night with Ray Vega at Hotel Vermont, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Jazz Jam at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Thursday, August 13, 2026
General Events
5 to 8:30 PM: Bivo Summer Bash! at Cochran's Ski Area, Richmond
12:00 AM: Dream / Mộng : Veronica Pham at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
12:00 AM: Color & Scale: Leah Barranco at BCA Burlington City Arts, Burlington (Free)
5:45 AM: Sculpt HIlT & Flow - Thursdays at SoulShine Power Yoga Downtown, Burlington, VT, Burlington
7:30 AM: South Burlington Rotary Speaker Meetings at 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT, South Burlington
7:30 AM: BTV Clean Up Crew at Top of Church St., Burlington (Free.)
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
9:45 AM: Baby & Me Class at Greater Burlington YMCA (Burlington), Burlington ($10; free for members.)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open !! at AO Glass, Burlington (Free for all, come on in!)
11:00 AM: Bay & Brisket Trivia Thursday, Colchester
11:15 AM: Read to Theo the Therapy Dog at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne
12:00 PM: Out to Lunch - Thursdays - Have Lunch with Someone New at Burlington, VT, Burlington
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
12:00 PM: Hot Dog & A Can Thursdays at Citizen Cider, BURLINGTON
12:00 PM: Italian Conversation Group at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Health Evolution Summit | August 10-14, 2026 at Burlington, Burlington
1:00 PM: Friendly Game of Bridge at Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington (Free.)
1:30 PM: House & Garden Tour at the Shelburne Farms Inn 2026 at Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne
2:00 PM: Fizzical Fairytales presents: Finding Rhymes as Diggy Digs at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
3:00 PM: Pub Hour at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Burlington Electric: Community Partners Desk at Fletcher Free Library — Main Reading Room , Burlington (Free)
3:30 PM: A Gardener’s Tour of the Formal Gardens at Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne
4:00 PM: Mitch Downey at Burlington Farmers Market, Burlington
4:00 PM: Free Wine Tasting at La Reprise, Burlington (Free!)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
4:30 PM: Hula Story Sessions: Conservation Law Foundation at Hula, Burlington (Free; preregister)
5:00 PM: Adventure Dinner Tomato Fest Aug. 13 at 70 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester, VT, Colchester (Free)
5:00 PM: Solarpunk Book Club & Game Night at Peace & Justice Center, Burlington (Free.)
5:30 PM: SB Nite Out at Veterans Memorial Park, Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT, South Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Butler Farms Culvert Replacement – Public Meeting at City Hall Auditorium (180 Market St), South Burlington
6:00 PM: Trivia at Four Quarters at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Blood on the Clocktower Beginners Night at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Wingspan Lovers Unite at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Studio Production Training at The Media Factory, Burlington (Free; donations accepted; preregister.)
6:00 PM: Peer Support Dungeons & Dragons at Morgan House, Burlington (Free.)
6:00 PM: Vinyl Thursdays at Hotel Vermont, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Thurs Night Figure Drawing w/ Emanata Art Collective!, Burlington
10:00 PM: Thirsty Thursday at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington (Free)
Performances
6:30 PM: VIP: Patreon Party & Comedy Show w/ Kurt Braunohler! at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington
7:00 PM: Notorious at Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington ($6-12)
7:00 PM: 'Falsettos' at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington ($14-35)
Live Music/DJ
5:30 PM: Party On The Bricks at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Thursdays by the Lake: Mango Jam at Union Station, Burlington (Free.)
6:00 PM: The Maple Tree Place Concert on the Green Presenting The John Fogerty Tribute Project at Maple Tree Place, Williston (FREE)
6:00 PM: Maple Tree Place Summer Concert Series at 28 Walnut St, Williston
6:00 PM: Summer Concert Series, Williston
6:00 PM: Old Time Jam at Radio Bean, Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Music Bingo, Essex Junction
7:00 PM: Flow Singing at Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Rick Maguire (of Pile) at Radio Bean, Burlington ($15)
8:00 PM: Karaoke in the Alley at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Funk Jam at The 126, Burlington (Free)
10:30 PM: Thursday Night Social Club - Andrea Maddox & The Hey Y'alls at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
Here are some of my favorite BtownBrief links:
The full list of things to do around town, always waiting for you when you need a plan: Things To Do in Burlington
Every restaurant and bar in town, with their real hours, so you can see what's actually open right now: Open Right Now
Every happy hour, daily special and cheap-night I've gathered so far: Food & Drink Deals
And if you'd rather just have one link for all of it: the guide, the arcade, the whole lot hub.btownbrief.com
That’s All, Burlington!
That wraps the start of the week. Get outside Tuesday and Wednesday while the sun holds, get your ballot in, and save some energy for Thursday's stacked evening before the rain crashes it. If the Brief makes your week a little easier to plan, you can support it at ko-fi or Venmo @btownbrief, and it genuinely helps keep this thing running. Got a tip, a favorite haunt, or an event we should have on our radar? Send it our way, we are always listening.
See you later, Burlington.
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