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Weather & Monday Update:
If Monday looks gray out your window, hold on, because the week gets better fast. Showers ride through this morning into early afternoon as a front clears, with a high near 80 before temperatures slip back to the mid 70s behind it. Tuesday is the pick of the week, sunny and 83 with the humidity wrung out. Wednesday stays mostly sunny in the mid 80s as the mugginess starts creeping back. Thursday turns sticky again, partly sunny near 86 with a decent shot of afternoon showers and storms, so get outdoor plans in early that day. Keep track of it all daily on my weather page (3 updates each day).
Monday itself has more going on than a rainy start suggests. The Humane Society of Chittenden County tees off its Putts for Paws charity golf tournament at Vermont National in South Burlington, running 11 to 6:30. Downtown, there is a free community screening of The Alabama Solution at 6:30 in the Film House at Main Street Landing, the Academy Award nominated documentary, brought to town by a host who reached out to the filmmakers for permission to screen it. Anime fans convene at Anime Group at Pathways Vermont's Morgan's Place from 6 to 8, Spanish speakers of every level get Spanish Chat Mondays at 7, meeting this first Monday at Ben & Jerry's on Church Street, and trivia people can take their pick in Winooski, where the Monkey House and McKee's Original both run free games at 7.
Tuesday belongs to Essex Junction, where the police department hosts National Night Out at Essex High School starting at 5, a free community night of safety demos, youth events, exhibits, music and a hot dog cookout. Early birds can hit the first Tech Breakfast of a new monthly series at Zero Gravity from 8 to 10, or the networking coffee for women at Hula at 8:30. In the evening, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas takes questions at a free conversation at Fletcher Free Library at 6:30, registration required. The Lake Monsters host Summer of Love Night at Centennial Field, tie dye jerseys on the field and a poster giveaway for the first 500 fans, first pitch 6:35. And Ohio folk trio Oliver Hazard plays the Showcase Lounge at 8, a band that won a Facebook raffle to record one song and cut their whole debut album in a single take instead.
Wednesday opens the big one. The 46th annual Sidewalk Sale takes over Church Street Marketplace starting Wednesday and running through Sunday, five days of deals up and down the bricks. Cyclists can join a 9 mile evening ride from Switchback [MEETUP] at 5:30, a flat out and back to Leddy Park that lands at the taproom for burger night. My weekly Pick-up Basketball [MEETUP] run goes 5:30 to 7:30 at Pomeroy Park, come get in a game. The South End Walk/Bike Forum runs 5 to 7 at Public Works on Pine Street, where the city and Local Motion want to hear what your walk or ride actually needs. At night, VTIFF screens the 1916 silent western Hell's Hinges with a live improvised score at 7 in the Screening Room at 60 Lake Street, and the Craftsbury Chamber Players continue a summer run they have kept up every year since 1966, at 7:30 at Elley-Long in Colchester.
Thursday is absolutely packed. Party on the Bricks pops up at Halvorson's from 5:30 to 8 with the Green Kettle Band, free dancing in the street in the middle of Sidewalk Sale week. Our group heads to Lake Monsters Baseball & Creemee Night [MEETUP] at Centennial Field, where the team becomes the Vermont Creemees for the night with creemee trucks on the concourse, first pitch 6:35. Williston gets a free Beatles tribute on the green at Maple Tree Place at 6, South Burlington runs SB Nite Out at Veterans Memorial Park at 5:30 with Jenni Johnson & The Junketeers, and crafters can bring whatever project needs finishing to Crafting in Community [MEETUP] in Essex Junction at 6:30. Curious types have a full menu too. Shelburne Farms hosts a free pasture walk with a UVM field naturalist from 5 to 7, the Media Factory teaches Camera Essentials at 6 for anyone stuck on auto mode, and Annie Caswell's retrospective opens with a reception from 4 to 7 at the Winemakers Gallery in Shelburne. Night owls can finish at VTIFF's screening of Spike Lee's debut She's Gotta Have It at 7, catch The Babies' improv variety show at Vermont Comedy Club at 7 ($5, students free), or settle in at Radio Bean for the Compa & Friends residency at 8:30. Early risers can even give back first, with the BTV Cleanup Crew meeting at Kru Coffee at 7:30 AM to sweep Church Street and the parks.
Scroll down to Events Section for full list of events Monday-Thursday.
Track it all week, with patio, swim, and sunset scores, at Burlington Right Now.
What an incredible weekend
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 5th @ 5:30 PM: Our new weekly outdoor run at Pomeroy Park, free as always, with games going from 10 to 35 players deep.
Lake Monsters Baseball & Creemee Night – Thursday, August 6th @ 6:15 PM: We are packing the stands for Creemees Night at Centennial Field, one of the last home games of the season. RSVPs are full, so see you there if you grabbed a spot.
BTown Coffee Club – Saturday, August 8th @ 10 AM: The Saturday standing date at Zero Gravity on Pine Street, usually 15 to 30 folks deep. Just show up.
Lake Monsters Baseball + Fireworks – Saturday, August 8th @ 5:45 PM: Round two of the baseball weekend, first pitch at 6 with fireworks after.
Other Upcoming Events:
Trivia at Four Quarters – Thursday, August 13th @ 6 PM: Team trivia at Four Quarters Brewing in Winooski, every other Thursday.
Tired of scrolling? Play the BTown Digital Arcade instead!
I keep on adding more games! The digital arcade is officially packed with 30+ free, Burlington-themed games like Church St Surfers, Flappy Champ, Where in Burlington and BTown Wordle. There are zero ads to skip and no apps to download, just a straightforward way to kill some time. I also added monthly leaderboards that reset on the 1st, and whoever is holding the top spots will get named right here in the Brief. Go claim your bragging rights and set a high score over at play.btownbrief.com.
The games are just the beginning! I’ve got about 20 other pages to follow.
The arcade gets the spotlight, but the pages I see people coming back to all day are the quieter ones. Burlington Pulse tracks what the town is talking about right now: the r/burlington threads taking off, plus headlines from every local newsroom, refreshed morning to night. My weather page covers what the forecast leaves out, like the lake temperature, which beaches say swim, whether tonight is a patio night, and a scored sunset forecast that says whether tonight is worth walking down to the water for. And Since You Checked remembers your last visit and only shows what changed in Burlington since, like road work, beach flips, city hall agendas, restaurant openings. One look over coffee and you're caught up.
The What Now page is the anti-feed. Open it and it hands you one good answer to "what should I do right now?" It checks the weather, the hour, and what's actually happening in town, then gives you a single idea instead of a list of forty. Don't like it? Tap again. And there's still more: live hours for 281 restaurants with a built-in dinner randomizer, every event in town pulled from 25 sources, every beach and swim spot on the shore with live statuses, what just opened and closed, the newest local job postings, every local property manager (or almost every) for when you need an apartment, a downtown walking tour with the history woven in, clubs to join or hobbies to take up, and 206+ things to do. Plus many, many more to browse through. All of it is free, and hub.btownbrief.com maps the whole thing.
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. If the Brief saves you time, or has introduced you to something new 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.
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Local News (All Links Clickable)
"We will never downplay the importance of community in all this," per Vermont Public.
Vermont Green beat the Flint City Bucks 2-1 in Flint on Saturday night to repeat as USL League Two national champions, the first club in league history to do it. The season ends 18-0-1, stretching the unbeaten run under coach Chris Taylor to 42 matches, with Final MVP Ryan Zellefrow burying the decisive penalty. More than 100 Vermont supporters made the trip to Michigan, and cofounder Patrick Infurna said seeing them there makes the players want to go the extra mile. With the college rosters scattering for fall, watch for the trophy to make appearances at UVM games.
"I think there is a strong sense of urgency in our community, and that has been reaffirmed by the outpouring of support I've received over the course of the past week," per Seven Days.
City council Democrats plan to bring their Burlington Forward public safety resolution to a vote tonight, over Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's public demand that they wait until August 24. The measure would crack down on open drug use, move homeless residents out of certain public spaces and add new harm reduction rules, and the mayor has sent four emails in six days accusing Democrats of trying to arrest their way out of a crisis. Council President Ben Traverse refuses to postpone and says she is mischaracterizing the resolution. Progressive councilors are largely opposed and a veto is on the table, so tonight's meeting is the one to watch.
"There's no option to use a keypad to enter what you want to, which has been the case with other telephone interactions I've had. So it's more of a talk to Burt or don't get your drugs," per VTDigger.
Kinney Drugs rolled out an AI phone assistant named Burt for refills in May, and nearly a dozen customers across Vermont and New York report delayed or wrong orders, lost accounts and missed pickup notifications. Customers get opted in automatically just by having a phone number on file, and the chain's policy allows protected health information to flow into AI tools, which has already cost it at least one longtime customer. Lawyers told VTDigger the technology is moving faster than the rules, since Vermont's new data privacy law does not take effect for two years. If Burt has mangled one of your refills, you are clearly not alone.
"It's nice to encourage walking, but I also think it's hard for people who live outside the city and need to come in for working or shopping," per WCAX.
The finished Main Street redesign traded diagonal parking for wider sidewalks, a protected bike lane, trees, seating and public art, and the math comes out to about 67 parking spots gone. The city counters that downtown still has roughly 3,000 spaces, added 40 new ones at Edmunds School and on South Champlain Street, and points to room in the College Street garage. Commuters from Williston and beyond say a spot now takes a few loops to find, while plenty of visitors think the tradeoff is worth it.
"Volunteers are so incredibly vital to what we do," per Seven Days.
Feeding Champlain Valley has taken over gleaning in Chittenden County from the Vermont Foodbank, harvesting surplus produce from farms like Diggers' Mirth in the Intervale and moving it to food shelves, Spectrum, UVM's Rally Cat's Cupboard and the Janet S. Munt Family Room. The timing matters, since its Old North End food shelf now serves about 500 people a week and moves up to a ton of food a day as federal food assistance tightens. Nearly 100 volunteers power the picking, and they are always looking for more hands.
"They really wanted to have a craft industry that's akin to our maple syrup, cheese and beer industry, and not dominated by large multi-state operators," per Vermont Public.
A gram averages $9.59 here against $3.87 in Massachusetts, and the gap is intentional. Vermont capped grow sizes to keep big multistate operators out and protect small growers, while Massachusetts let large operations flood their market and crash prices. The state has 110 retailers and 322 cultivators, but fewer than a third of towns allow dispensaries and regulators have stopped issuing new licenses in a saturated market. Wholesale prices are drifting down, though the board's own chair doubts Vermont ever matches its neighbor.
"Like this thing is older than my youngest daughter. And projects do tend to last, but not this long," per WCAX.
Exit 16 in Colchester is about to become Vermont's first diverging diamond, a design that briefly routes traffic to the left side of the road so nobody has to make a hard left across oncoming cars. Only about 200 exist nationwide. The bulk of construction wraps this fall, with landscaping finishing next spring and summer.
"This agreement is a vital investment in the hardworking city employees who actively keep Burlington running every single day," per Vermont Business Magazine.
The city and AFSCME Local 1343, which represents more than 300 municipal workers, signed a two year contract running through June 2028. It includes wage increases, benefit protections, a new early retirement provision and an unusual clause granting a limited right to strike for up to two days if a regional or national general strike is called. The mayor called it the product of fair bargaining through a third difficult budgeting year, and the union ratified it before the council signed off in mid July.
"The challenges facing higher education are real, and Saint Michael's is responding with a clear strategy and disciplined execution," per Seven Days.
The New England Commission of Higher Education sent St. Michael's a formal notation in June warning its accreditation could be in jeopardy, citing enrollment down 37 percent since 2018 and a $2.6 million loss last fiscal year. Moody's cut the college's bond rating again in April. President Richard Plumb points to the strongest fundraising year in over a decade and rising deposits, and the college expects to end this year with about $10 million in unrestricted assets, so the next few admissions cycles will tell the story.
"Our economic dependence on this single pillar is such that if it falters, it could create a tidal wave of economic distress," per VTDigger.
State economists told lawmakers Vermont's major funds beat projections by about $44 million last fiscal year and called the economy impressively resilient given federal headwinds from tariffs and immigration crackdowns. The warning label is that massive AI investment is the single pillar propping up national growth, with the gains flowing mostly to the wealthiest households. Gov. Phil Scott, who vetoed a data center regulation bill in May, called AI exciting in some respects and terrifying in others.
"A straight-A student, she excelled in history, science and especially art," per Seven Days.
Douglas Knapp, the 79 year old Burlington folk artist known as Dug Nap, has been cited for negligent operation with death resulting in the July 16 Pine Street crash that killed 16 year old cyclist Shiloh Skalka. He is due in court August 27. Skalka's family has set up a memorial fund through the Vermont Community Foundation that had raised more than $74,000 as of Friday, and her memorial service is set for August 7.
"We're going to welcome people regardless of the political environment in which they arrive," per Vermont Public.
Vermont expects more than 100 Afrikaans speaking white South Africans by the end of September under a federal carve out to the otherwise suspended refugee program, with about 50 already arrived and most headed to Chittenden and Windham counties. The state refugee office says its job is to welcome whoever arrives, while Rep. Becca Balint and Brattleboro volunteers note the door stays closed to refugees from Sudan, Afghanistan and Haiti. The arrivals also mean the resettlement agency in Brattleboro keeps its doors open after laying off half its staff.
"We are very pleased to close the door on this chapter of the short-term rental ordinance journey," per VTDigger.
Stowe's selectboard voted unanimously to cap short term rental licenses at 850 in a town that currently has about 1,450, getting there by attrition since licenses mostly cannot transfer when a property sells. Nonresident owners must register by September 15 or wait on a lottery that only opens once the count falls below the cap, while resident homesteads top out at two licenses and the big resorts are exempt.
QUICK HITS
Homeschooled brothers Malachi, Messiah and Jaleel McMillan are running Black Ice Premium Ice Cream on Park Street in Essex Junction, a stand their dad helped them build as a daily lesson in entrepreneurship, with acai bowls and dye free creemees on the menu.
Natalie Bailey has opened Jamaican Taste Cuisine at 177 Church Street with jerk chicken, oxtail stew, curry goat and patties, open Wednesday through Saturday until 8.
After the White House used American Cars in an Instagram post celebrating Michigan's auto industry, Kahan commented that he would never approve of his music being used in support of the administration.
Across the lake, a new passport program stamps your book at 20 local businesses, and a completed book could win you $1,000, with passports due August 28 at the first Fourth Friday event.
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 you can climb the monthly leaderboard, which resets on the 1st. 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 3, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Exploring the 8 Limbs of Yoga at Chace Mill, Burlington
9:00 AM: Trolley Tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington ($35 adults, $30 seniors/veterans, $15 kids under 12, under 5 free)
10:00 AM: 'Dinosaur Safari' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open at AO Glass, Burlington (Free)
11:30 AM: Industry Day at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington (Free)
11:00 AM: Putts for Paws Charity Golf Tournament at Vermont National Country Club, South Burlington
12:00 PM: Creative Co-Working at The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington ($30-$40)
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 adults, $15.99 kids 3-11, $4.99 infants)
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
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: Half Priced Wine at The Daily Planet at The Daily Planet, Burlington
6:00 PM: BHS/BTC Community Tours at 110 Institute Rd, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Novice Monday: Group MTB Ride at Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston
6:00 PM: Burlington Elks Bingo at Burlington Elks Lodge, Burlington (Various prices)
6:00 PM: Monday Night Open Mic at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction (Free)
6:00 PM: Anime Group at Pathways Vermont Morgan's Place Peer Support Center, Burlington (Free)
6:35 PM: Vermont Lake Monsters at Centennial Field, Burlington ($7.50-19.50)
7:00 PM: Madison Murphy Barney at Phoenix Books, Burlington (Free; preregister)
7:00 PM: Spanish Chat Mondays at Ben & Jerry's, Church Street, Burlington
7:00 PM: Play Dodgeball - Every Monday Night at Robert Miller Community Center, Burlington ($5)
Performances
6:30 PM: Free Community Screening of 'The Alabama Solution' at Main Street Landing - The Film House, Burlington (Free)
Live Music/DJ
7:00 PM: Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment at McKee's Original, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: Trivia with Craig Mitchell at Monkey House, Winooski (Free)
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Tech Breakfast at Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington (Free; cost of food and drink)
8:30 AM: August Networking Coffee for Women at Hula at Hula, Burlington ($13.39)
9:00 AM: Become a Cisco Certified Network Associate Training at 1068 Williston Rd, South Burlington ($2499)
11:30 AM: 802sDay at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington (Free)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne ($15)
11:30 AM: Zephyr Place at Zephyr Place, Williston
1:30 PM: House & Garden Tour at the Shelburne Farms Inn 2026 at Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne ($15)
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne ($20)
2:00 PM: Read with Officer B.! at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester (Free)
3:00 PM: Opening Day for the ONE Farmers Market at Dewey Park, Burlington
3:30 PM: Games Galore at Brownell Library, Essex Junction (Free)
3:45 PM: Lacrosse Summer Development Clinic at South Burlington High School, South 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: Half Priced Cocktails at The Daily Planet at The Daily Planet, Burlington
5:00 PM: Super Smash Tuesdays at Rí Rá Irish Pub, Burlington
5:00 PM: $10 Martini Tuesday at Doma Bar, Burlington
5:00 PM: National Night Out at Essex High School, Essex Junction
5:15 PM: Community Meditation at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Burlington (Free; donations accepted)
5:30 PM: Herbal Oil Infusions, Salves and Lotions at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne ($38.09)
5:30 PM: Mindful Yoga at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne ($12.83-$18.33)
5:30 PM: Recreation on the Go at Baycrest Park, South Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Tuesday Trail Running Series at Catamount OFC at Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston
6:00 PM: Local Dork at Foam Brewers 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: Conversation With Vermont's Secretary of State at Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free; preregister)
6:30 PM: Spanish Conversation Group at Location varies (Pingala / Miller Center / participants' homes), Burlington
6:35 PM: Vermont Lake Monsters vs Lowell Spinners: Summer of Love Night at Centennial Field, Burlington ($12 for adults, $6 for kids)
7:00 PM: August - The Tranky Doo! at North Star Community Hall, Burlington
7:00 PM: August Beginning Swing! at North Star Community Hall, Burlington
7:00 PM: Dads' Night Out: Board Game Night at The Guild Hall, Burlington (Free; preregister)
7:00 PM: All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy at The 126, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Honky Tonk Tuesday at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10; 21+ after 9 PM)
Performances
7:00 PM: Adison Eyring, Evan Lazarus at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10)
Live Music/DJ
6:00 PM: Tracheotomy, Scythe of Grim, Rotting in the Chapel & Putrifact Indulgence at First Republic Brewing Company, Essex Junction ($16.05)
7:00 PM: Trivia Tuesdays at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
7:00 PM: Vermont's Freedom & Unity Chorus at Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael's College, Colchester (Free)
8:00 PM: Oliver Hazard w/ Abbie McAllister at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington ($25; doors 7:30 PM)
8:00 PM: Dead Is Alive with Dobbs' Dead at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington ($15)
9:00 PM: Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
General Events
10:00 AM: Sidewalk Sale at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: A Visit to Public Works! at Brownell Library, Essex Junction (Free)
10:30 AM: Baby Time at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
11:00 AM: Wild Card Wednesday at Bay & Brisket, Colchester
11:30 AM: Free Bike Repair Clinic at Winooski Library at Winooski Memorial Library, Winooski (Free)
12:30 PM: YSO Celebration at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Summer Zentangle Workshop at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester (Free)
2:00 PM: Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity: Community Partners Desk at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Pub Hour at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington (Free)
3:30 PM: Tending Rock Point - Biweekly Volunteering at Rock Point (20 Rock Point Rd), Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Wednesday $10.00 Burger Night at Hotel Champlain Burlington, Curio Collection by Hilton, Burlington
5:00 PM: Burger Night at The Daily Planet at The Daily Planet, Burlington
5:00 PM: South End Walk/Bike Forum at Burlington Public Works Department (645 Pine St), Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Summer Sketchbook Club at Daydream Art Supply, Burlington
5:00 PM: Switch It Up! at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Yarn Crafters Group at Must Love Yarn, Shelburne (Free)
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)
5:30 PM: 9-mile Bike Ride @ Switchback at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Scrabble Night at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Sharing Lived Experiences as a Healing Community at The Double E Performance Center, Essex Junction (Free)
6:00 PM: Champ Masters Toastmasters Club at Dealer.com, Burlington (Free; preregister)
6:00 PM: Community Cooking at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Recovery Dharma at First United Methodist Church, Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Citizen Cider Trivia Night at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington (Free)
6:45 PM: July and August Open Practice at North Star Community Hall, Burlington
7:00 PM: Bow Wow, Soulja Boy & Fat Joe at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction
7:00 PM: The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam at Lily's Pad, Burlington (Free)
7:15 PM: Astrology Circle at Chace Mill, Burlington (donation)
8:00 PM: Deathcat w/ silverlined at Radio Bean, Burlington
8:30 PM: Standup Open Mic at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington (Free)
Times Vary: Take-Along-Teddy Wednesday Workshop! at Vermont Teddy Bear, Shelburne
Times Vary: Burgers & Business at Rice Lumber Company, Shelburne
Performances
7:00 PM: Coached Ensembles at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington (Free)
7:30 PM: Craftsbury Chamber Players at Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael's College, Colchester ($10-25; free for kids 12 and under)
Live Music/DJ
6:30 PM: Bluegrass & Pizza at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: House Trivia Night! at Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Musical Silents: Hell's Hinges at The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing, Burlington ($10-20)
7:00 PM: Emily Day at The 126, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: A2VT (Africa to Vermont) & DJ Lucas & Flywlkr & Frank Hurricane at Monkey House, Winooski
8:00 PM: Karaoke in the Alley at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
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 6, 2026
General Events
5:45 AM: Sculpt HIIT & Flow - Thursdays at SoulShine Power Yoga Downtown, Burlington
7:30 AM: South Burlington Rotary Speaker Meetings at South Burlington Senior Center, South Burlington
7:30 AM: BTV Cleanup Crew: Litter Pickup Thursdays at Kru Coffee Collective, Burlington (Free)
7:30 AM: BTV Clean Up Crew at Top of Church St., Burlington (Free)
9:45 AM: Baby & Me Class at Greater Burlington YMCA, Burlington ($10; free for members)
11:00 AM: Bay & Brisket Trivia Thursday at Bay & Brisket, Colchester
11:00 AM: Silent Book Group at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
11:00 AM: Mandarin Conversation Circle at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Italian Conversation Group at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Hot Dog & A Can Thursdays at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington
12:00 PM: Adult Craft: Tie-Dye T-Shirts (Session 2) at Burnham Memorial Library (Colchester Meeting House), Colchester (Free)
12:00 PM: Out to Lunch - Thursdays - Have Lunch with Someone New, Burlington
12:30 PM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club, Williston ($6)
1:00 PM: Friendly Game of Bridge at Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Burlington Electric: Community Partners Desk at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
3:45 PM: Lacrosse Summer Development Clinic at South Burlington High School, South Burlington
4:00 PM: Free Wine Tasting at La Reprise, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Martini Night at The Daily Planet at The Daily Planet, Burlington
5:00 PM: Pasture Walk With UVM Field Naturalist at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne (Free; preregister)
5:00 PM: Burlington Hardware Meetup at Generator Makerspace, Burlington (Free; preregister)
5:30 PM: Come Dream With Us: A Wanderful Vintage Travel Party at Bar Renée, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: SB Nite Out at Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington
5:30 PM: Pop-Up Happy Hour at Lincolns, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Women's Pickup Flag Football at UVM Rugby Field, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Social Thursday: Guided Mountain Bike Ride at Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston
6:00 PM: Camera Essentials 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)
6:00 PM: Learn & Play Spirit Island at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:15 PM: Lake Monsters Baseball & Creemee Night at Centennial Field, Burlington — MEETUP.com
6:30 PM: Vibrant Visions: Canvas Painting + Sound Healing Experience at Spiral House Collective, Burlington ($45)
6:30 PM: Crafting in Community at Ladies Social Group, Essex Junction — MEETUP.com
6:35 PM: Vermont Lake Monsters vs Worcester Bravehearts: Creemees Night at Centennial Field, Burlington ($12 for adults, $6 for kids)
7:00 PM: Michael Freed-Thall | The Queen of New York at Phoenix Books, Burlington (Free; donations accepted; preregister)
7:00 PM: Thurs Night Figure Drawing w/ Emanata Art Collective at Queen City Lodge Oddfellows Hall, Burlington
8:30 PM: Compa & Friends Summer Residency - Rob Compa, Cotter Ellis & Chuck Jones at Radio Bean, Burlington
10:00 PM: Thirsty Thursday at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington (Free)
11:00 PM: Thursday Night Social Club - Kate Kush at Radio Bean, Burlington
Performances
7:00 PM: Cum One, Cum All - The Babies are Back! at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($5; free for students)
7:00 PM: 'She's Gotta Have It' at The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington ($6-12)
Live Music/DJ
10:30 AM: First Thursdays: Music & Movement With Miss Emma at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Party on the Bricks at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Thursdays by the Lake: Sonido Mal Maïz at Union Station, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Maple Tree Place Free Concert on the Green: Britishmania at Maple Tree Place, Williston (Free)
6:00 PM: Blues Jam at Sparky's Bar & Grill at Sparky's Bar & Grill, Essex Junction
6:00 PM: Trivia at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington (Free)
7:30 PM: Benefit Concert for the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project at Monkey House, Winooski ($10-$20)
8:00 PM: Fruition at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington (doors 7:30 PM)
8:00 PM: Country Karaoke hosted by Sean Hood at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski (Free)
9:00 PM: Funk Jam at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Here are some of my favorite BtownBrief links:
See what Burlington is talking about at Burlington Pulse. It gathers the liveliest local threads a few times a day, which should be busy ones with tonight's council vote.
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
18 free Burlington-made games, one address: The BTown Arcade
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 another one. Soak up that Tuesday sunshine, wander the Sidewalk Sale at least once, and save an inning for the Creemees on Thursday. If the Brief brightens your week, you can keep it running with a coffee on ko-fi or Venmo (@btownbrief). 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.
Missed an edition? Every Brief ever written is searchable.
