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Weather & Monday Rundown:
Snow is on its way back to Burlington. We're looking at a mostly cloudy evening with temperatures settling around 23°F and maybe a few flurries drifting through, but the real action arrives Tuesday. A Winter Weather Advisory kicks in at 7 a.m. tomorrow for most areas outside the Champlain Valley, with 3 to 5 inches possible in the higher terrain. The Valley itself should see lighter accumulations, perhaps an inch or two by Wednesday morning, but expect the Tuesday evening commute to get slippery as snow moves in during the late afternoon. Christmas Eve looks cold and cloudy with lingering flurries, highs near 28°F, and by Thursday we should have just enough on the ground to officially declare a White Christmas. Enjoy it while it lasts: Friday morning is shaping up to be brutally cold, with single digit temperatures and wind chills dipping below zero.
Fairly slow week event-wise in Burlington, but hey, if you’re trying to get out this week I still rounded up the events for you to check out! If you're looking to shake off the Monday blues tonight, Burlington's got options. The Kizomba Dance Class & Party at The Venetian Soda Lounge starts at 6:45 p.m. with a beginner class (no partner or experience needed), followed by open social dancing until 9:30. First class is free for newcomers. Over in Essex Junction, Monday Night Line Dancing runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at On Tap Bar & Grill for $10, welcoming dancers of all skill levels. And for the Spanish speakers among us, Spanish Chat Mondays returns to Three Needs from 7 to 8 p.m., a supportive space for all levels to practice conversational Spanish over cheap drinks. Feeling more competitive? Pickup Dodgeball at the Miller Center in the New North End runs 7 to 8:15 p.m. for just five bucks. No teams required, just show up ready to relive your elementary school glory days.
Tuesday brings the Cassarino/Grippo Holiday Revue to Shelburne Vineyard with shows at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., featuring Nick Cassarino and the legendary Dave "The Truth" Grippo in what promises to be a soulful, funky celebration of their musical partnership. Fair warning: it's almost sold out. Also Tuesday, Trivia Tuesdays returns to On Tap Bar & Grill starting at 7 p.m., and The Monkey House hosts a free night of local music from Luis Betancourt, Rixey, and Eric Bailey from 7 to 10 p.m. If you'd rather eat than compete, the American Flatbread Benefit Bake for Friends of the Fletcher Free Library runs from 4 to 10 p.m., with a portion of every flatbread sold going to support the library. And for those who celebrate Festivus, the Forever 38 group is hosting a Festivus gathering at The Whiskey Room from 6 to 8 p.m., free of charge and full of grievance airing opportunities, but be sure to RSVP.
Christmas Eve offers plenty of ways to mark the occasion. Dan Parks plays two sets at Pearl Street Pub from 6 to 9 p.m. The First Unitarian Universalist Society on Pearl Street has candlelight services at 4, 6, and 8 p.m., with the 4 p.m. featuring a no rehearsal nativity pageant perfect for families (the 6 p.m. is also livestreamed if you'd rather stay warm). Kingdom Life Vermont in Williston hosts a Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m., and Daybreak Church in Colchester offers a walk through nativity and Christmas party from 5 to 6 p.m. followed by a service until 7 p.m. The Weekly ICE Vigil continues its Wednesday gathering at 188 Harvest Lane from 3 to 4 p.m. for those called to meditative witness. And on Christmas Day itself, Laughing River Yoga is hosting a Holiday Flow class at Chace Mill (and virtually) from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., a gentle practice with Alex Devaux to center yourself amid the holiday whirlwind. I hope everyone is able to stay warm this Christmas, and spend it surrounded by your loved ones!
The Btown Brief merch store is live with 15 Burlington inspired designs, each with 3–7 color options and your choice of front or back print. T-shirts, long sleeves, and cropped tees. Printed on a personal favorite, Comfort Colors, for that vintage, lived-in feel.
The designs are subtle nods to the places and things that make this city what it is: Church Street, lakefront sunsets, and yes, even those invasive little zebra mussels. Steering away from the typical "I ❤️ Burlington" stuff. If you've ever wanted to rep the city without looking like a tourist, and support your very own Burlington city guide (me!), this is the easiest way to do it! Every purchase helps keep this thing going.
Shop here: [Btown Brief Merch]
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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.
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Local News (All Links Clickable)
"I really, truly, still feel a connection to those people and that community, and I'll probably watch Vermont Green games, until I die," per The Blazing Musket.
Reid Fisher, the physical center back who became a fan favorite during his summer in Burlington, was drafted by Toronto FC after impressing at the 2025 MLS College Showcase. He spent most of his rookie season with Toronto FC II, starting 24 games, and made three appearances on the first team bench. Fisher trained alongside Italian stars Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, crediting their tough love with accelerating his development. He joins a growing list of players who've used Vermont Green as a springboard to professional soccer, and says he plans to keep watching the club for life.
"Since 1999, punk-rockers Gogol Bordello have been playing high-octane shows around the globe, but lucky for us they're spending New Year's right here in Vermont," per Seven Days.
Seven Days' biweekly event roundup highlights the post-Christmas stretch, led by Gogol Bordello's New Year's Eve shows at Higher Ground (December 31 and January 1). Other picks include comedian Marina Franklin at Vermont Comedy Club on NYE, the Hunger Mountain Winter Bird Count in Waterbury on December 26, reindeer at ECHO on December 27, and multiple early countdown options for those who can't make it to midnight. First Night North in St. Johnsbury spans 18 venues, and the Green Mountain Mahler Festival rings in the new year with Beethoven's Ninth in Colchester.
"An MRI, for instance, costs the insurer $6,520 at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, while Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans charges $2,785. At an independent facility that same service would be $1,799," per VTDigger.
BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont has launched a new website, VT Affordable Care, essentially urging its customers to shop around and skip the state's dominant hospital system when possible. The move reflects years of tension between the insurer, which lost $62.1 million last year, and UVM Health Network, which controls nearly two thirds of hospital spending in Vermont. Vermonters already spend a higher percentage of income on health insurance than residents of any other state (19.6% compared to a national average of 7.9%), and the insurer is framing patient choice as one of the few levers available to bring costs down. Whether this campaign moves the needle or just airs grievances publicly remains to be seen.
"The great majority of those dams serve no purpose and are a public safety hazard, as well as bad for the river health and fish," per VTDigger.
Vermont set a record this year with nine dam removals, reconnecting 125 miles of river across the state. The push has gained urgency after the 2023 floods, when five dams failed and research increasingly shows that derelict dams can actually worsen flooding rather than prevent it. The Winooski River watershed alone has about 140 dams, but only a small fraction serve any active purpose like flood control, hydropower, or recreation. Getting dams removed is a slow process involving willing landowners, specialized contractors, multiple permits, and funding that's become less reliable under the current federal administration.
"Our whole mission is to keep clothing out of landfills anyway we can," per WCAX.
Sandbox VT on the Burlington waterfront has carved out a niche repairing everything from worn jackets to police uniforms to Skida hats, giving customers a way to extend the life of their favorite gear rather than tossing it. The shop also resells secondhand and fixed up items, and manager Molly Stone says she's seeing more customers seeking sustainable gifts this season, including "heritage" items like grandpa's flannel or childhood stuffed animals brought back to life. They're backed up about a month right now thanks to winter jacket season, but walk ins are still welcome.
"Three days left, and I realized Amazon can't get it there in time, so here we are," per WCAX.
The University Mall in South Burlington and Church Street in Burlington were both packed this weekend as last minute shoppers realized online delivery windows had closed. Local vendors reported one of their busiest weekends of the year, and several shoppers expressed pleasant surprise at seeing the mall so active. Church Street businesses, coming off a tough year with construction and public safety concerns, said the holiday rush has provided a welcome boost. Fair warning if you're still shopping: some stores are already running low on inventory.
"73.8% of Vermont's residents are homeowners, the fifth-highest in the nation," per Vermont Business Magazine.
A new study from Stage Properties Brokers ranks Vermont fifth nationally for homeownership rates, just behind West Virginia, Michigan, Mississippi, and Delaware. The data, drawn from U.S. Census figures through Q4 2024, showed Vermont's rate dipping slightly from a 75.1% peak in Q3 but remaining well above the national average. The Northeast as a region struggles with homeownership overall (New York ranks dead last at 51.3%), making Vermont something of an outlier. Of course, high ownership rates don't tell the whole affordability story, but it's a data point worth noting as housing debates continue.
"We watched doctors stand up on TV and say, 'cannabis has medicinal properties to it.' We've just been waiting so long to hear a doctor actually admit this," per WCAX.
President Trump's executive order encouraging the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III has Vermont dispensary owners cautiously optimistic. The biggest immediate impact would be tax relief: current federal law blocks cannabis businesses from taking standard deductions, creating what one Burlington business owner called "completely unmanageable" tax burdens that have sunk smaller operators. But some in the industry worry that rescheduling to pharmaceutical status could ultimately benefit big pharma over local shops. Vermont Cannabis Control Board Chair James Pepper noted that from a state regulatory standpoint, not much would actually change, since adult use products would remain federally illegal regardless.
"When water doesn't infiltrate the soil, it can't filter out pollutants. That's a big problem for Lake Champlain because it provides drinking water for around 200,000 people," per the Community News Service.
BLUE BTV, a nonprofit focused on stormwater mitigation, is offering Burlington homeowners up to $2,000 in rebates for projects like rain gardens and permeable driveways that help absorb runoff before it reaches Lake Champlain. Runoff from Burlington and its suburbs accounts for about 16% of the excess phosphorus fueling the lake's cyanobacteria blooms. The city's combined sewer system, which carries both stormwater and household wastewater, can overflow during heavy rain, compounding the problem. So far, BLUE has funded 38 projects across nearly 29,000 square feet of surface area.
"Since 2021, the nonprofit advocacy group PEN America has recorded more than 23,000 instances of book banning in the U.S.," per Seven Days.
Seven Days editor Dan Bolles makes a case that feels almost quaint in 2025: reading builds critical thinking, reduces stress, and fosters compassion for people and ideas outside your daily experience. Vermont schools and libraries have largely escaped the nationwide wave of book bans, but Bolles notes the trend is alarming given declining literacy rates and an incoming administration hostile to free press. This wee’s Seven Days issue includes staff picks from three Vermont indie bookstores, a short story from Burlington author Margot Harrison, and tributes to three Vermont poets who died in October.
"Whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else, bookstore staff picks are indispensable," per Seven Days.
Staff at The Eloquent Page in St. Albans, The Bookstore in Brandon, and Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne share their favorite reads of 2025, ranging from hard nosed journalism about drug trafficking at Fort Bragg to a lyrical middle grade fairy tale from Kate DiCamillo. Highlights include Sam Kean's exploration of experimental archaeology, a thriller about D.C. housing market obsession, and a possible future classic in Mia Araujo's "Afia in the Land of Wonders." If you're still looking for a last minute gift, these shops have you covered.
"The comfort wrought from a medley of ingredients thrown into a pot gives a home warmth. It is that feeling I aim for when writing poetry," per Seven Days.
Major Jackson, who taught at UVM from 2002 to 2020 and now splits time between Rochester, Vermont and Nashville, has a new anthology coming next fall from Storey Publishing: "A Bowl of Goodness: Nourishing Poems With a Side of Soup." The book pairs 65 poems with 24 recipes and reflections from writers like Ann Patchett and Michael Ruhlman, plus Rochester chef Jim Huntington of Maple Soul. Jackson's wife, poet Didi Jackson, contributes a poem about ribollita that accompanies a recipe for the Tuscan white bean soup. For Jackson, soup and poetry share a common purpose: both are gestures of kindness and nourishment.
Quick Hits
Ski resorts expect good conditions for Christmas week — Despite Friday's rain, Sugarbush reports one of their best starts to the season thanks to early natural snow and consistent cold temperatures for snowmaking. Mt. Ellen opened Saturday after a one day weather delay.
Shelburne receives $1M grant for wastewater treatment — The Northern Border Regional Commission awarded Shelburne $1 million toward ultraviolet light treatment technology for the town's upcoming wastewater facility upgrade. UV treatment is more environmentally friendly than the current chlorine based system, deactivating bacteria at the DNA level rather than killing it with chemicals that can harm aquatic life.
VTrans crews patch potholes on I-89 bridge near Exit 15 — Drivers flagged some significant potholes on the I-89 bridge over the Winooski River and VTrans crews have since filled them. If you spot a pothole that needs attention, you can report it directly to VTrans.
Gas prices edge down again in Vermont — The statewide average dropped to $3.06 per gallon, with Burlington averaging $3.16. Prices are trending toward some of the lowest seasonal levels in five years thanks to rising oil production and strong refinery output. The cheapest station in Burlington was $2.99 yesterday.
UVM Athletics: Women's Basketball Secures Road Victory; Men's Team Falls in Close Contest
It was a weekend of split results for Vermont basketball, highlighted by a strong road performance from the women's team and a hard-fought loss for the men's squad at Patrick Gymnasium.
The Women's Basketball team earned a 69–59 win over Drexel at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, improving to 10-4 on the season. Senior Nikola Priede powered the offense with 21 points and nine rebounds, falling just shy of a double-double. Sophomore Keira Hanson also played a pivotal role, scoring 20 points, while senior Jadyn Weltz added 12 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high six assists. Head Coach Alisa Kresge credited the team's preparation and physical play, noting their success in limiting turnovers. The Catamounts shot 51.0 percent from the field and used a 16–6 run in the third quarter to take control of the game.
In Men's Basketball, Vermont (8-6) took a four-point lead into halftime but ultimately fell to Iona 83–78. Gus Yalden led the Catamounts with 24 points (his fourth 20-point game of the season) and tied a season-high with seven rebounds. TJ Hurley contributed 16 points and corralled a career-high nine rebounds, while Sean Blake recorded 12 points and four assists. Despite a competitive effort that saw the lead change hands late in the second half, Iona closed the game on an 11–7 run to secure the victory.
Sunday 2:00pm Dec 28 2025-26 Women's Basketball vs. Dartmouth
Monday 6:00pm Dec 29 2025-26 Men's Hockey vs. Merrimack
Events:
Monday, December 22, 2025
General Events
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Trolley Tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington ($35 adults/$30 seniors & vets/$15 children)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Animationland Exhibit at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Free with admission)
4:00 PM: Sentimental Value Film Screening at Main Street Landing Film House ($12/$6 student)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain (Half-priced oysters)
4:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum ($10-30)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: [MEETUP] 5K Ugly Sweater Run at The Old Post, South Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Trivia Monday at Black Flannel Brewing, Essex (Free)
6:00 PM: Monday Night Line Up at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Crafters Drop-In at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
6:45 PM: Kizomba Dance Class & Party at Venetian Soda Lounge
6:45 PM: Beginner & Intermediate Kizomba Dance Classes at South End Studio
7:00 PM: Trivia Monday with Top Hat at McKee's Original, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: Trivia with Craig Mitchell at Monkey House, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: Spanish Chat at Three Needs, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Pickup Dodgeball at Robert Miller Center, Burlington ($5)
Gallery Hours: BCA Center Exhibition: How to Say Goodbye at BCA Burlington City Arts (Free)
Ongoing: Strike Out Hunger - Community Food Drive at Spare Time Colchester
Live Music/DJ
6:00 PM: Monday Night Open Mic at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction (Free)
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
General Events
8:15 AM – 9:45 AM: [MEETUP] Shut Up & Write! at Vivid Coffee Roasters, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Afternoon Tech Help at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall (Free; preregister)
2:00 PM: Saving Grace Family Ministries Street Outreach at The Salvation Army
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Pop-Up Holiday Dessert Sale at 40 Catherine St., Burlington (Free entry)
4:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Benefit Bake for Friends of the Fletcher Free Library at American Flatbread, Burlington
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Legendary Dinner with Santa at Texas Roadhouse, Williston
4:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum ($10-30)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Pause-Café French Conversation at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: December Lindy 1 at Vermont Swings
6:00 PM: [MEETUP] Festivus at Whiskey Room, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Vermont Figure Drawing Collective at Karma Bird House, Burlington ($20 cash)
7:00 PM: Trivia Tuesdays at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
7:00 PM: Caribbean Tuesdays - Salsa & Bachata at South End Studio
7:00 PM: December Beginner Swing at Vermont Swings
7:00 PM: December Special Topics at Vermont Swings
7:00 PM: Open Mic Night at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
Performances
7:00 PM: All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Live Music/DJ
6:00 PM: Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes Place, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: The Cassarino/Grippo Holiday Revue at Shelburne Vineyard ($20)
7:00 PM: Luis Betancourt, Rixey, and Eric Bailey at The Monkey House
8:00 PM: Dead Is Alive (Grateful Dead Tribute) at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington ($15)
9:00 PM: Honky Tonk Tuesday at Radio Bean ($10, 21+)
9:00 PM: Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve)
General Events
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Weekly ICE Vigil at 188 Harvest Lane, Williston (Free)
4:00 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington
4:00 PM: Christmas Eve at Kingdom Life Vermont at Kingdom Life Church
4:00 PM: Warming the Soul: Community Practice (at Home) at Laughing River Yoga
5:00 PM: Christmas Eve with Daybreak Church at Daybreak Community Church
5:00 PM: Christmas Eve - 5pm at First Congregational Church of Essex Junction
5:00 PM: Christmas Eve Services at First Church BTV at First Congregational Church of Burlington
5:00 PM & 7:00 PM: Christmas Eve Worship Services at Ascension Lutheran Church, South Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Holy Eucharist Christmas Eve Service at St. Andrew's Church, Colchester (Free)
6:00 PM: Dan Parks' Christmas Eve at PSP at Pearl Street Pub
6:00 PM: Burlington Christmas Eve Service at North Avenue Alliance Church
6:00 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 294 N Winooski Ave
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM: [MEETUP] Scrabble Night at The Boardroom, Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Candlelight Service at Trinity Baptist Church
6:30 PM: Trivia Night at Burlington Beer Company
7:00 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Community Lutheran Church
7:00 PM: Venetian Trivia Night at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
8:30 PM: Christmas Eve - 9pm at First Congregational Church of Essex Junction
Live Music/DJ
8:30 PM: Jazz Night with Ray Vega at Hotel Vermont, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Jazz Sessions at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Thursday, December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day)
****BE SURE THESE EVENTS ARE ACTIVE ON A HOLIDAY***
General Events
12:00 AM: A Moby Dick & The Sperm Whales Yule Log Christmas Jubilee!!! at Waterfront Park
11:00 PM (late service): Christmas Eve - 11pm at First Congregational Church of Essex Junction
12:30 PM: Holiday Flow at Laughing River Yoga (at Chace Mill & Virtual)
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Open Studio at Expressive Arts Burlington (By donation)
6:00 PM: Fat Thursday - Guided Group Rides at Catamount Outdoor Family Center
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: [MEETUP] Mah Jongg at The Boardroom, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Country & Western Thursdays at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
7:00 PM: Thurs Night Figure Drawing! at Odd Fellows Lodge
Check reservation: Christmas Horseback Trail Rides at Better Days Ranch, Addison ($60/rider)
Live Music/DJ
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Lincoln Sprague Rhodes & Drums at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
6:00 PM: Eric George (Folk) at The Skinny Pancake, Burlington (Free)
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 as the snow rolls back in, and if you're traveling for the holidays, give yourself extra time Tuesday evening. We'll be back later this week with more of what's happening around town.
If you like what I do, help support the newsletter by buying me a coffee using the link below. Or, right to our Venmo @btownbrief. Or, buy an advertising spot for your business.
