Follow us on IG & FB @BtownBrief
Table of Contents
***For best viewing experience, scroll all the way up in email and click Read Online***
Weather & Monday Rundown:
Good morning, Burlington! Presidents' Day is off to a quiet start weatherwise, though a few snow showers overnight may have left a light dusting across the Champlain Valley. Expect mostly cloudy skies today with the occasional stray flurry, and highs pushing into the low to mid 30s. Not bad at all for mid February. Tuesday looks even milder, with temps flirting with 40 under mostly cloudy skies and a few morning snow showers possible. The real story this week is Wednesday, when a storm system could deliver a burst of steady snow, especially if the track shifts northward. After a quieter Thursday, another round of light snow is possible Friday into Saturday. In short: enjoy the relative calm today and Tuesday before things get more interesting.
This evening kicks off with a couple of fun options. Over at the Elks Lodge on North Avenue, Monday Night Bingo opens its doors at 4:30 PM with a $1,000 jackpot and early birds starting at 6 PM. Meanwhile, pinball fans will want to head to the Pinball Co-op in South Burlington for the Valentine's Day Massacre 4 tournament, a locals-only competition (outsiders welcome too) with doors at 6 PM and play starting at 6:30. It's a group of four format across four rounds, with playoffs for the top eight. Entry is $20 plus a $20 door fee, though co-op members get that second fee waived.
Tuesday is absolutely packed. It's Fat Tuesday, after all, and Hotel Vermont's Mardi Gras Party is the headliner: live Cajun and Zydeco music from Yankee Chank and Mango Jam, a dance floor, Cajun snacks, and a cash bar from 7 to 10 PM at 41 Cherry Street. Costumes encouraged but not required, and proceeds go to support families with children being treated for cancer. Earlier in the day, the 2026 Vermont Dairy Producers Conference runs 8 AM to 4 PM at the DoubleTree in South Burlington, headlined by a Chobani keynote. At 4 PM, head to Hula on Lakeside Avenue for Hula Story Sessions, where Tino Rutanhira shares the story of building the Vermont Professionals of Color Network. At 5:30 PM, the Community Sailing Center on Lake Street hosts its Ice Breaker Speaker Series with Miguel Fernandez, who'll share tales of maritime archaeology from Baja to Chile, including work on Lake Champlain shipwrecks (available in person and online). Then at 6 PM, Pedal Parables returns to Old Spokes Home on North Winooski Avenue for its annual bike-themed storytelling night. Sign up to share a tale or just settle in and listen. And if you're a trivia buff, Queen City Brewery's February Trivia Night starts at 6 PM on Pine Street, with Pizza44 handling the food.
Wednesday brings a nice mix of culture and community. Burlington City Arts presents Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers as part of its Architecture + Design Film Series at City Hall, with doors at 6 PM and the screening at 6:30. It's free. Over in Winooski, Hard Scrabble brings bluegrass and acoustic covers to Four Quarters Brewing at 6:30 PM, also free. If you want to lace up your running shoes first, the 5K Run & Shoe Demo [MEETUP] at 1st Republic Brewing in Essex Junction starts at 6 PM with a Fleet Feet demo, though you'll want to bring running lights for the early darkness. Out in South Hero, Chirp and Slurp at the Worthen Library is a paint and sip workshop led by local artist Aprille Soons Palmer where you paint birds and enjoy nonalcoholic drinks. The South Burlington Library Puzzle Swap runs from 2:30 to 5 PM at 180 Market Street if you've got completed puzzles to trade (or want to pick one up for free). The Greek Conversation Group meets at the South End City Market cafe from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. And at Queen City Brewery on Pine Street, An Evening on the State of Housing in Vermont runs from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, featuring Vermont's Commissioner on Housing, Alex Farrell, followed by a panel with Miro Weinberger, Tim Sampson, Rachel Batterson, and Deanna Hartog. Attorneys can earn 1.5 CLE credits, and proceeds beyond event costs support the Vermont Bar Foundation. Also on Wednesday, the Best Day Ever: Burlington celebration at the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester marks 20 years of the Kelly Brush Foundation with drinks and a documentary screening from 6 to 9 PM.
Thursday has plenty going on as well. The Winter Veggie and Produce Distribution at the O'Brien Community Center in Winooski runs from 3:30 to 5:30 PM, with free local produce from the Intervale Center (bring your own bags, first come first served). At August First on South Champlain Street, All About Love starts at 3 PM with crafts and love notes, followed by a talk from Ferene Paris on bell hooks' book at 6:30 PM, plus special soups, bread, and Haitian Rhum Cake. The Thursday Happy Hour at Lincoln's [MEETUP] runs from 5 to 7 PM at the speakeasy off Church Street, hosted by Out in the 802. Yoga in the Greenhouse at Gardener's Supply in Williston is at 5:30 PM for a peaceful all levels session surrounded by plants (bring your own mat). At the Flynn on Main Street, there are two workshops starting at 6 PM: Auditioning Made Easy with Quinn Rol ($25, ages 16+) and the first session of Solo Performance Writing for Everyone with Gina Stevensen ($150 for the full four session series, ages 18+). Over at Higher Ground's Showcase Lounge, guitar phenom TAZ (Brandon Taz Niederauer) plays at 7:30 PM. He's 22, tours with Jon Batiste, and has shared stages with Lady Gaga and Stevie Nicks. The Silent Book Club meets at Bar Renée on Main Street from 6 to 8 PM: bring whatever you're reading, enjoy a quiet hour together, and chat before and after. No assigned reading, no pressure. And at Citizen Cider on Flynn Avenue, Mom's Night Out goes après ski themed with dinner at 6 PM and DJ Craig Mitchell spinning from 7:30 to 9:30 PM.
Support the Brief & Join the Crew
Why support? Every week, I scan 24+ local sources: 12 event calendars, some of those being Seven Days, Front Porch Forum, Facebook events, plus 9 others and 12 news stations, from VTDigger to WCAX to Vermont Public to Community News Service, plus 8 others, to keep you connected. If this lengthy newsletter saves you time, or has introduced you to new experiences in Burlington, please consider chipping in!
The Btown Brief IRL We’re now seeing 15–30 people at our weekly events! Be sure to stop by for our weekly Saturday Coffee meetup at Zero Gravity at 10am. Everyone is welcome! 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.
Oakledge Park fans know what’s pictured in this one
Have you taken any beautiful photos of Burlington? Show them off in front of thousands of email subscribers + Instagram followers! Reply to this email with the photos and your name.
Local News (All Links Clickable)
There’s a new 60 second Btown Brief News Quiz! Win monthly Btown merch by reading with intention.
"Our cases are the lowest they've been since I've been a prosecutor," said Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George, who has been a prosecutor for 15 years, per VTDigger.
Burlington's accountability court pilot, which embedded social workers in the legal system to help defendants dealing with housing instability, mental health issues, and substance abuse, has resolved 702 out of 972 cases since October. Gov. Scott now wants to spend $500,000 to bring the model to other counties. But Defender General Matt Valerio cautioned that the court's success was driven by social services, not lawyering, and not every county has Burlington's depth of support organizations. Some lawmakers also expressed concern about creating uneven justice if only certain counties get the program.
"We've just been seeing how ICE has been negatively impacting our community, especially families of people at our school, and it's just really saddening," said Kamaria Morris, 18, co-leader of South Burlington High School's Student Justice Union, per VTDigger.
Scores of students at South Burlington and Essex Junction high schools walked out of class Friday afternoon in a coordinated protest against federal immigration enforcement. The walkouts come in the wake of the detainment of a Somali taxi driver whose children attend South Burlington schools. Students lined Dorset Street and marched through Five Corners in Essex Junction, with district superintendents in both communities acknowledging the student actions while emphasizing school safety.
"We sought out Bear Den Partners as an equity partner because they share our belief that this resort is about families, employees, and community, not trends or shortcuts," owner Bill Stritzler said in a statement, per VTDigger.
After 29 years of independent family ownership, Smuggs is changing hands. Bear Den Partners, which purchased Burke Mountain last spring, will take over, though the Stritzler family will maintain a stake and daughter Lisa Howe will stay on as an advisor. Season passes will be honored and employees are expected to keep their jobs. Bear Den has signaled potential investments in lifts, snowmaking, and new trails, but says it intends to preserve the affordable, family-friendly identity that has long set Smuggs apart from the Vail and Alterra mega-pass resorts.
"It turns out, and this makes perfect sense, that it is really difficult to lease space for this purpose," said Rep. Rey Garofano, D-Essex, per WCAX.
A site the city had been seriously considering for Vermont's first overdose prevention center has been deemed not viable, and Burlington currently has no identified location. The city now plans to buy rather than lease a building, citing insurance difficulties and unwilling landlords. Of the $2.2 million allocated from opioid settlement funds, about $781,000 has been spent so far. The city's timeline envisions acquiring a building this spring and opening by fall, but that looks uncertain without a site in hand.
"Now more than ever in Vermont, we need to be empowering our students, given all the decisions being made around education in our state," said South Burlington High School student Isabel Harrington, per VTDigger.
A bill introduced by Rep. Leanne Harple, D-Glover, would require school boards operating high school grades to include one voting student member per grade, making Vermont the latest state to mandate student representation. The Vermont School Boards Association supports the intent but flagged practical concerns: would student members' emails be subject to public records requests? Would they sit in on executive sessions discussing personnel matters? Lawmakers are already planning amendments, including clarifying that students wouldn't have authority over hiring and firing decisions.
"To the extent that we are able, this bill is a step in the direction of protecting people in Vermont against masked, anonymous agents of the government," Sen. Nader Hashim told senators, per Seven Days.
The Senate passed S.208, which bans all law enforcement officers from wearing masks while on duty, and S.209, which prohibits warrantless civil arrests at "sensitive locations" like schools, hospitals, and polling places. Both bills were carefully written to apply to all law enforcement, not just federal agents, a distinction that matters after a similar California law targeting only federal agents was struck down by a federal judge last week. Both now head to the House.
"It was pretty labor-intensive," said Emmalee Cherington, Middlebury's director of engineering, describing times when workers had to shovel sludge from gummed up equipment at the town's treatment plant, per Seven Days.
The Agri-Mark dairy in Middlebury, where most Cabot cheddar is made, violated its wastewater pretreatment permit 15 times since 2022, sending excessive industrial waste to the town's treatment facility that ultimately discharges into Otter Creek. Agri-Mark has since added significant equipment upgrades and says it's been fully compliant since 2024. This isn't the company's first run-in with regulators; it paid $50,000 for a 2005 ammonia spill that caused a fish kill in the Winooski River.
"Every time people see us doing this, others realize they can also choose to stand up and exercise their rights," said Laura Simon of White River Junction, per VTDigger.
Eleven people, many of them older adults, were arrested on trespassing charges during a civil disobedience action at the Williston office park housing ICE's National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center. Protesters read names of people killed in ICE custody and called on the landlord to cancel the facility's lease. This was the second week in a row demonstrators occupied the building's atrium, and the town of Williston itself passed a resolution opposing ICE last month.
"It appears that we are on our own for now," Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas told the House Appropriations Committee, per VTDigger.
Vermont's federal election security funding dropped from $1 million annually to just $272,000 in 2025, and the Trump administration has also pulled support from the nationwide cybersecurity information sharing system that helps states detect threats to voting infrastructure. In an election year, Copeland Hanzas is asking state lawmakers for $650,000 to fill most of the gap, though it's far from certain the legislature can deliver given the broader crunch of federal funding cuts across state programs.
"This order from the Trump administration has nothing to do with making Americans healthier — it's about dismantling SNAP, causing families shame at checkout, and making it harder for them to access food," Treasurer Pieciak said, per Vermont Business Magazine.
The Scott Administration has sought federal approval to restrict what Vermonters can buy with 3SquaresVT (the state's SNAP program), following a Trump administration initiative encouraging states to limit benefits to "healthy" foods. About 67,000 Vermonters rely on the program. Pieciak pushed back forcefully, arguing that many families already face limited access to affordable healthy options depending on where they live and what their local stores carry. The National Grocers Association has estimated that such restrictions could cost food retailers billions, with those costs likely passed on to all consumers.
"Alexis Poulin, who'd been incarcerated since December 2022, was transferred from prison to the University of Vermont Medical Center in mid-January after experiencing a 'medical event,'" per Vermont Public.
Poulin, 28, died from cardiac arrest following complications from a necrotizing MRSA pneumonia infection while incarcerated at the Chittenden County Regional Correctional Facility. MRSA, a bacteria resistant to antibiotics, spreads more easily in crowded settings like prisons, though the Department of Corrections said no other MRSA cases were documented at the facility around the same time. State Police, the Department of Corrections, and the Defender General's Prisoner's Rights Office are all reviewing her death. Poulin had two children and had been serving a sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.
"I just feel like there's still so much to be had for women's clothing on the street," said Ava Stanley, per Seven Days.
The Burlington women's clothing shop that closed last spring when it merged into the now shuttered Dear Lucy is coming back to 62 Church Street this April under new ownership. Stanley, 27, who managed Whim from 2018 to 2021, is closing her children's clothing shop Olive & Ollie to relaunch the brand after original owner Melissa Desautels handed over the name, website, and customer list. It's a vote of confidence for Church Street at a time when the marketplace has lost several fashion retailers.
"Burlington is the big city, and this is a great location," said owner Suntarin "Boom" Henson, per Seven Days.
The spot at 36 Thorsen Way, tucked behind the Church Street Marketplace, is back in business as Thai in the Alley, replacing BKK in the Alley which closed last fall. Henson, who also owns Stowe Thai Cuisine, teamed up with chef Tokyo Asissara, whose menu spans regions of Thailand and includes creative offerings like pad Thai tom yum. The restaurant opened January 30 and serves lunch and dinner with takeout and delivery available. Thai-style cocktails are on the way once the liquor license comes through.
"What happens on the floor doesn't matter. It happens in committees," said Mike Fisher, Vermont's health care advocate, per Seven Days.
Seven Days takes a deep and detailed look at how committee chairs in Montpelier shape legislation long before it reaches the floor. The piece traces the contrast between House Education Chair Peter Conlon, who leaned on public school advocacy groups, and Senate Education Chair Seth Bongartz, who brought independent school perspectives to the table, producing the tension that shaped last year's education reform. The article also revisits how a former committee chair's decision to limit testimony during Abenaki tribal recognition hearings in 2011 excluded Indigenous voices and still reverberates today. It's a thorough read on the less visible mechanics of Vermont lawmaking.
"An investigation by multiple first-responder agencies determined a can of dog repellant burst or began leaking inside the USPS truck, causing irritation to the driver," per Vermont Business Magazine.
What initially looked like a suspicious package situation at the White Street post office turned out to be a can of dog spray that popped open in a delivery truck. The driver reported moderate ill effects and was treated and released. The incident prompted a significant emergency response including the State Police Bomb Squad and the Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team before the source was identified. Crews cleared the scene within about two hours.
"People are struggling right now between National Grid and gas prices, fuel oil prices, propane prices up and down," said Walter French, owner of Wacky Wally's Firewood Service, per WCAX.
With heating costs bouncing around and winter dragging on, more people are turning to firewood to heat their homes. French said some customers are buying double the wood they did last year, and new buyers keep showing up, sometimes with just enough to get through a night or a week. The report comes from northern New York but the dynamics are the same across the Champlain Valley. Safety reminder: clean your stoves and chimneys multiple times per season if you're burning wood regularly.
"More people should come to the greenhouse. It's so much fun," said junior Walt Regan-Loomis, per the Vermont Cynic.
If you're craving green in February, two conservatories inside UVM's Main Campus Greenhouse are open to the public on weekdays from 10 AM to 4 PM, featuring subtropical and tropical species from around the world. The broader facility houses over 400 plant species and supports everything from a 600-student biology course where undergrads grow their own corn to PhD research on red spruce hybridization and climate resilience. Students and staff say it's worth a visit just to sit on the benches and soak it in.
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!
And yes, there are PRIZES. Each month, we'll reward the top performers based on the best combination of Total Score and Average Score. That means playing consistently AND playing well will pay off. The more quizzes you complete with high scores, the better your chances of winning. I mean, who doesn’t want cool Btown Merch gear sent to them?
Ready to play? Click the link below, enter your name, and show us what you've got. Btown Brief Quiz
View the potential prizes on the Btown Brief Merch Store
UVM Athletics: Basketball Sweeps Bryant; Skiing Takes Second at Williams Carnival
At Patrick Gym, Men’s Basketball defeated Bryant 90-63 behind a dominant performance from Gus Yalden, who recorded a team-high 27 points and six rebounds while shooting 10-for-15 from the field. TJ Hurley added 19 points, and the Catamounts shot 57.7 percent from the floor. On the women's side, Women’s Basketball held off Bryant 52-45 to clinch a top-four seed in the America East playoffs. Keira Hanson led the effort with 15 points, while Nikola Priede posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The team hosts UMBC on Thursday, Feb. 19.
On the slopes, Vermont Skiing finished second at the Williams Carnival with 754 points. The men’s Nordic team placed first in the 3x5 CL relay, while Oskar Gillberg led the alpine squad with a fourth-place finish in the slalom. In track and field, the Catamounts competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, where Alina Staten finished 39th in the 1000m and Kate Kelly cleared 10.37m in the triple jump.
In ice hockey action, Women’s Hockey dropped their final home game of the regular season 3-2 to Merrimack despite two goals from Rose-Marie Brochu. Earlier in the weekend, the team secured an extra conference point with a shootout win over Maine following a 2-2 draw, with Lily Prendergast making 29 saves. The men's team fell at home as UMass Lowell topped Vermont 5-2, though Daniel Sambuco and Jack Malinski found the net for the Catamounts. The men's team returns to Gutterson Fieldhouse next weekend to host No. 7 Providence.
On the lacrosse field, Women’s Lacrosse fell 17-10 at UMass after the Minutewomen used a strong second quarter to pull away. Jane Trauger and Caitlin Haggerty each recorded hat tricks for Vermont. The Catamounts return home to welcome Iona to Virtue Field on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Meanwhile, Men’s Lacrosse lost 22-6 to No. 9 Duke in North Carolina, despite two goals apiece from Ethan Pearson and Kean Paré. Vermont returns home to face Dartmouth on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Feb 17: Women's Lacrosse Season 2026 vs. Iona (Tue ⦁ 10:00am)
Feb 19: 2025-26 Women's Basketball vs. UMBC (Thu ⦁ 6:00pm)
Feb 20: 2025-26 Men's Hockey vs. Providence (Fri ⦁ 7:00pm)
Feb 21: Women's Lacrosse Season 2026 vs. Marist (Sat ⦁ 10:00am)
Feb 21: Men's Lacrosse 2026 vs Dartmouth (Sat ⦁ 1:00pm)
Feb 21: 2025-26 Women's Basketball vs. NJIT (Sat ⦁ 4:00pm)
Feb 21: 2025-26 Men's Hockey vs. Providence (Sat ⦁ 7:30pm)
Events:
Monday, February 16, 2026
General Events
9:00 AM: Trolley Tours at Perkins Pier ($35 Adults/$15 Kids)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Included w/ admission)
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Library Closed – Presidents' Day at Fletcher Free Library
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain (Half-priced oysters)
4:30 PM: Downtown Lights at Church Street Marketplace
4:30 PM: Monday Night Bingo at Elks Lodge 916
6:00 PM: Kyle Stevens Open Mic at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction (Free)
6:00 PM: Monday Night Line Up (Beginner Level) at On Tap Bar & Grill
6:00 PM: Trivia Monday at Black Flannel Brewing, Essex (Free)
6:30 PM: Valentine's Day Massacre 4 at The Pinball Co-op
7:00 PM: Sopranos Night @ Bar Renée at Bar Renée (Free)
7:00 PM: Trivia with Craig Mitchell at The Monkey House (Free)
7:00 PM: Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment at McKee's Original, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: Spanish Chat Mondays at Three Needs (Free)
Evening: Mac & Cheese Bar at The Essex Resort & Spa (Menu pricing)
Performances
7:00 PM: Playmakers Series at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington (Free)
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: 2026 Vermont Dairy Producers Conference at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Burlington
9:00 AM: [MEETUP] Burlington Bitcoin Meetup at Zero Gravity Brewery (Free)
10:00 AM: Current Events Discussion Group at Brownell Library, Essex Junction (Free)
10:00 AM: Crafting Memory Books and Boxes at Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch (Free)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Library Outreach Specialist Office Hours at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
11:30 AM: Benefit Bake: Vermont Energy Education Program at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth
12:30 PM: New North End Drop-In Tech Support at Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch (Free)
1:00 PM: Tech Freebies at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
4:00 PM: Hula Story Sessions: The Vermont Professionals of Color Network at Hula (Free)
4:00 PM: Writing Circle at Pathways Vermont, Burlington (Free)
4:30 PM: Traditional Tuesday at Mesmer Kava ($20 flat fee)
5:00 PM: Super Smash Tuesdays at Rí Rá Irish Pub (Free)
5:00 PM: Pause-Café Mardi – French Conversation at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:00 PM: Taco Tuesday at Four Quarters Brewing
5:15 PM: Beginning Pole Dance 5-Week Series at Lines Vermont Dance Studio
5:15 PM: Community Meditation at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Ice Breaker Speaker Series: From Baja to Chile at Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (Free)
5:30 PM: Osher Whole Health Connect Series at Osher Center for Integrative Health, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Spanish Class at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
6:00 PM: Pedal Parables at Old Spokes Home (Donation/Sliding Scale)
6:00 PM: Queen City Brewery & Pizza44's February Trivia Night! at Queen City Brewery
6:00 PM: Vermont Figure Drawing Collective at Karma Bird House ($20)
6:00 PM: Crafters Drop-In at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
6:00 PM: Winooski City Council & Liquor Control Board Meeting at Winooski City Hall (Free)
6:30 PM: Spanish Conversation Group (Grupo De Español) at Robert Miller Community Center (Free)
6:30 PM: Open Studio at Expressive Arts Burlington (By donation)
7:00 PM: Trivia Tuesdays at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
7:00 PM: Mardi Gras in Vermont with Mango Jam and Yankee Chank at Hotel Vermont ($15)
7:00 PM: February – Beginning Swing at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
7:00 PM: Caribbean Tuesdays • Salsa & Bachata Dance Classes at South End Studio
7:00 PM: February Balboa – Building on the Basics at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
7:00 PM: Trivia Night: Global Winter Games at Switchback Brewing Company
7:00 PM: [MEETUP] Aquarius New Moon Sacred Sisters Circle at Kula Yoga (Free)
7:00 PM: Open Mic Night at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
7:00 PM: All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy at The 126, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Open Gym Basketball for Dads at Mater Christi School, Burlington (Free)
Evening: Poutine Night at The Essex Resort & Spa (Menu pricing)
Live Music & DJ
6:00 PM: Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes' Place, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Lily Talmers, Sam Weber, Cricket Blue at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10)
7:30 PM: Sub-Radio at Higher Ground
7:30 PM: NELL & FRIENDS LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION! at The Monkey House
8:00 PM: Dead Is Alive with Dobbs' Dead at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington ($15)
9:00 PM: Honky Tonk Tuesday at Radio Bean ($10)
9:00 PM: Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
General Events
10:30 AM: Therapy Dog Mick Visit at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
12:30 – 8:00 PM: Library Outreach Specialist Office Hours at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
2:00 PM: Community Partners Desk: Howard Center at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
2:30 PM: Jigsaw Puzzle Swap at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
4:00 PM: Friends & Family Weekly Takeout Dinner at The Mill Market
5:00 PM: LOGOS Kid's Night at College Street Congregational Church
5:00 PM: Reception: Susan Smereka at South Burlington Public Art Gallery
5:30 PM: [MEETUP] Greek Conversation Group at City Market – South End (Free)
5:30 PM: [MEETUP] Pick-up Basketball at Gutterson Fieldhouse ($10)
5:30 PM: Civic Reads Author Event: Tom Sullivan at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:30 PM: An Evening on the State of Housing in Vermont at Queen City Brewery
5:30 PM: Secure Your Future: Estate Planning Made Simple at 141 Harvest Lane, Williston
6:00 PM: [MEETUP] Scrabble Night @ The Boardroom at The Boardroom (Free)
6:00 PM: [MEETUP] 5K Run & Shoe Demo @ 1st Republic at 1st Republic Brewing Co (Free)
6:00 PM: Chinese New Year Celebration at A Single Pebble ($150)
6:00 PM: Chirp and Slurp at Worthen Library (Sold Out)
6:00 PM: Perfume Making Workshop at Mirror Mirror, Shelburne
6:00 PM: Bob's Burgers at Hotel Champlain
6:00 PM: Pingolf Season 25 at The Pinball Co-op
6:00 PM: Essex – Open Book: The Seas at Phoenix Books (Essex)
6:00 PM: Midweek Boot Scoot (High Beginner Level) at On Tap Bar & Grill
6:00 PM: Best Day Ever: Burlington at Elley-Long Music Center
6:00 PM: Winter Webinar: Who's Responsible for Waste? (Online – Free)
6:30 PM: Architecture + Design Film Series: Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers at City Hall/Contois Auditorium (Free)
6:30 PM: Trivia Night at Burlington Beer Company
6:30 PM: Hard Scrabble @ Four Quarters at Four Quarters Brewing
6:30 PM: Citizen Cider Trivia Night at Citizen Cider (Free)
6:30 PM: Cuban Dance Party! at 65 Cambrian Way, Burlington
6:30 PM: [MEETUP] A Sustainable Approach to Exercise in Midlife at 11 Pearl Street, Essex Junction (Free)
6:45 PM: February Westie Wednesday Lessons & Social at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
7:00 PM: House Trivia Night at Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
7:00 PM: Trivia Night at Rí Rá Irish Pub (Free)
7:00 PM: Kosha & Satipatthana: Combining Yoga Asana & Buddhist Mindfulness Practices at Kula Yoga (Donation)
8:30 PM: Standup Open Mic at Vermont Comedy Club (Free)
Evening: Smash Burgers at The Essex Resort & Spa (Menu pricing)
Evening: Wednesday $10 Burger Night at Hotel Champlain ($10)
Live Music & DJ
6:00 PM: Nathan Byrne at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth (Free)
6:00 PM: HiReelMusic – The Mothership Connection at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth
8:00 PM: Quick Fission, Fescue, Skrom at Radio Bean ($10)
8:00 PM: Karaoke Friday Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
8:30 PM: Jazz Night with Ray Vega at Hotel Vermont (Free)
9:00 PM: Jazz Sessions at The 126 (Free)
Thursday, February 19, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Policy Subcommittee Meeting at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
8:15 AM: [MEETUP] Shut Up & Write!® at Vivid Coffee Roasters (Free)
10:00 AM: Crafting Memory Books and Boxes at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Library Outreach Specialist Office Hours at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
12:00 PM: Italian Conversation Group at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
12:15 PM: Networking Lunch at Hula with the Network of Women at Hula ($41.93)
3:00 PM: All About Love at August First at August First
3:00 PM: Community Partners Desk: Burlington Electric at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
3:30 PM: Winter Veggie and Produce Distribution at O'Brien Community Center, Winooski (Free)
4:30 PM: Spanish Conversation at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:00 PM: [MEETUP] Thursday Happy Hour at Lincoln's at Lincolns (Free)
5:30 PM: Yoga in the Greenhouse at Gardener's Supply – Williston
5:30 PM: Spin Into Joy: All-Ages Hula Hoop Workshop at FlynnZONE (Free)
6:00 PM: [MEETUP] Learn & Play Vantage with Jared at The Boardroom (Free)
6:00 PM: [MEETUP] Mah Jongg at The Boardroom (Free)
6:00 PM: Moms Night Out at Burlington Beer Company
6:00 PM: Mom's Night Out: Après Ski Theme at Citizen Cider
6:00 PM: Fat Thursday – Guided Group Rides at Catamount Outdoor Family Center
6:00 PM: Trivia at the Cider Lab at Vermont Cider Lab (Free)
6:00 PM: Trivia Night at Four Quarters Brewing (Free)
6:00 PM: Music Bingo at The Essex Resort & Spa (Free)
6:00 PM: Workshop: Drafting Dances with Hanna Satterlee at Flynn Center ($100)
6:00 PM: Workshop: Auditioning Made Easy at Flynn Center ($25)
6:00 PM: Workshop: Solo Performance Writing for Everyone at Flynn Center ($150)
6:00 PM: Silent Book Club Meet-Up at Bar Renée (Free)
6:30 PM: Ward 5 NPA Meeting & Dinner at 645 Pine Street, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Thursday Night Figure Drawing at Queen City Oddfellows Lodge ($15–$20)
7:00 PM: Women's Pick-Up Basketball at Allen Brook Middle School, Williston (Free)
7:30 PM: Kizomba Thursdays • Beginner & Intermediate Dance Classes at South End Studio
8:00 PM: TRIVIA NIGHT at Einstein's at Einstein's Tap House
Performances
4:00 PM: Dead Man's Wire at Main Street Landing Film House ($6–$12)
7:30 PM: Murder on the Orient Express at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center
Live Music & DJ
5:00 PM: Lincoln Sprague Rhodes & Drums at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
6:00 PM: Country & Western Thursdays at The Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
6:00 PM: Devon McGarry Live at On Tap Bar & Grill
6:00 PM: Devon McGarry Unplugged! at On Tap Bar & Grill
7:00 PM: February Folk: Audrey Pearl & King Margo at Jericho Community Center ($18/$25)
7:30 PM: TAZ at Higher Ground ($30–$45)
7:30 PM: Gnomenclature (Danceable Funk-Rock Jam) at The Monkey House
8:00 PM: 3rd Thursday Hip-Hop at 4 Howard St, Burlington
10:00 PM: Karaoke Night at Rí Rá Irish Pub
Watch for Wednesday Editions!
I hope you’re enjoying those Wednesdays 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.
View the full list of food & drink deals here.
That’s All, Burlington!
Thanks for starting your Presidents' Day with the Btown Brief. If anything in here caught your eye, do the community a favor and share this with a neighbor or friend. And if you get a chance, click through and support the local organizations, venues, and businesses making Burlington the kind of place people actually want to live.
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.
