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Weather & Weekend Rundown:
Bundle up and stay close to home if you can, Burlington. This afternoon stays stubbornly stuck in the teens, and by late afternoon and into the evening, snow squalls could roll through with quick, heavy bursts that reduce visibility and slick up the roads. Skies clear overnight, but that's when things get serious: Saturday morning will greet us with temperatures plunging to 10 to 20 below zero, with wind chills in the negative 20 to 30 range. Frostbite becomes a real concern within 10 to 20 minutes of exposure, so limit your time outdoors. Saturday's highs barely crawl into the single digits, and Sunday isn't much better. The real story beyond this weekend? A major winter storm is brewing. Snow moves in Sunday afternoon and becomes heavy and widespread Sunday night into Monday, with current projections suggesting 8 to 12 inches for much of the Champlain Valley. Keep checking back as this storm develops, and stay warm out there.
Friday night in Burlington is stacked. Senator Bernie Sanders hosts a town meeting on Vermont's health care crisis at 6 PM at the First UU Church on Church Street, featuring UVMMC CEO Dr. Stephen Leffler. Given the ongoing public sparring between Blue Cross Blue Shield and UVM Medical Center, this forum offers a rare chance to ask pointed questions about the future of healthcare access in the state. Meanwhile, music lovers have options: The Rustics bring their acoustic Americana to the St. John's Club in Lakeside from 6 to 8 PM (free and open to the public), Nico Suave & the Mothership delivers a Led Zeppelin tribute at Higher Ground starting at 7:30 PM, and The Wedding Smashers take over Foam Brewers at 8 PM for a free show of party covers that'll make you feel like you crashed the best reception ever. Over at the Flynn, Pulitzer finalist Dael Orlandersmith performs Forever, an autobiographical piece exploring family and artistic legacy as part of the snap First Person Arts Festival. And if you want some Latin psychedelia, Sonido Mal Maíz plays The Monkey House starting at 8:30 PM.
For those seeking variety tonight: Emil Wakim, the first Lebanese American cast member of SNL, performs at Vermont Comedy Club with shows at 6:30 and 8:30 PM (he's back Saturday too). Salt Season brings burlesque, drag, pole, and circus artistry to Contois Auditorium from 8 to 11 PM. And if you want to support a good cause while dancing, Shuffle + Shred at the SEABA Center benefits Talent Skatepark and Musicians On Call, with live performances starting at 7:30 PM for $15. Then come back the next day, Saturday, for Los Songoros for their Burlington based band blending traditional Cuban and Brazilian rhythms.
Speaking of, Saturday has plenty to get you out despite the cold. The Rock Point Center Grand Opening runs from 10 AM to 2 PM, unveiling a new trailside visitor center featuring exhibits on local wildlife and the Champlain Thrust Fault. The Burlington Winter Farmers Market sets up at Lumière Hall from 10 AM to 2 PM with 40 vendors offering local food and artisan crafts. At Burlington City Arts, Family Art Saturday offers free drop in artmaking from 11 AM to 1 PM, and it's your last chance to see the exhibition "Do We Say Goodbye?" Over in Shelburne, the Herbs and Spice workshop at Shelburne Farms lets families create tea bags and sachets from 10 AM to noon. For book lovers, the Burlington Brewery Book Club [MEETUP] discusses Coram House at Switchback Brewing at 2 PM, and our own BTown Coffee Club [MEETUP] meets at Zero Gravity at 10 AM for a casual Saturday morning hangout. Also Saturday: a free bird walk at Rock Point Center at 10 AM, an Introduction to Zen Buddhism workshop at Vermont Zen Center in Shelburne, a free invasive species lecture at St. Michael's at 2 PM, snap Stories at the Flynn at 6 PM, Madaila at Foam at 8 PM (free), The Venetian Noir Jazz Experience in the South End, a Texas Hold'em tournament at Pearl Street Pub in Essex at 2 PM, Gimme Gimme Disco at Higher Ground, a Family Silent Disco in South Burlington from noon to 2 PM, and Pop & Plop Cornhole at The Pop in South Burlington from 6 to 8 PM, which is their first cornhole event! Over in Colchester, Open Cupboard offers free shelf stable food from 9 to 10:30 AM at Malletts Bay UCC.
Sunday brings a few more options before the snow rolls in. The Burlington Silent Book Club [MEETUP] meets at Howl Bier in Winooski from noon to 2 PM. Bring whatever you're reading and enjoy some quiet companionship. City Councilors Sarah Carpenter and Evan Litwin host a virtual Zoom with Councilors from 6 to 8 PM if you'd rather stay warm and chat city issues from home. The Flynn's SNAP Story Slam at Contois Auditorium at 2 PM offers free open mic storytelling. City Market hosts a Tree ID and Natural History Tour of Red Rocks Park from 10 AM to noon. And Pups & Pints at Switchback runs from 1 to 5 PM, benefiting Therapy Dogs of Vermont, so bring your pups and enjoy a pint.
Why Support the Brief?
The Btown Brief is coming up on 1 year in February! To celebrate, I created a website to easily flip through the archive of past news stories, and photos found in the newsletter. You can get lost for hours fully taking in what Burlington has been up to. Check it out here.
The Btown Brief Meetup group is now FREE to join. I made the decision to open it up because I want this community to keep growing. What started as friend mixers, then casual coffee meetups has become something real since we're now regularly bringing 10-30 people together every week for different events. And I want to take that further. There are so many cool events happening around Burlington, and I want to bring the Btown Brief crew to them. So help me create/host more regular events by checking out the list of events I really want to try hosting, or showing up to together, in 2026: Google Form. There's ideas like Co-Working Wednesdays, Climbing Gym Night, Film Screenings, Board Game Night, Btown Walks, Hikes, a day trip to Montreal, and way more, so check it out. And be sure to join the Meetup.com group, where I’ll send you the groupchat link to chat so you can make plans with other Btown Briefers. Last night we had over a dozen of us at Trivia Night in Winooski.
But here's the honest truth: opening up the Meetup group means I'm losing the support of over 20 members who were contributing $3.50/month. For an operation that already doesn't make much money while I pour hours into creating this newsletter and hosting weekly meetups, that's a significant hit. Right now I have 9 supporters at $64/month, and Beehiiv costs $70/month just to reach nearly 2,500 subscribers (all organic, no ads, just referrals and r/burlington). So yeah, I’m paying to do this. So why haven't I monetized after a year? Because that hasn’t been my focus. I genuinely love keeping people informed and connected. Having a small local influence feels amazing, and with a 70%+ open rate every week, I know the Btown Brief is becoming part of people's routines. That's the goal, and it’s worked so far. Everything else comes after that!
So I'm asking: if you've found value in what the Btown Brief brings to your inbox, or if you've enjoyed meeting people at our coffee gatherings, consider becoming a supporter.
What You're Actually Supporting
How many sites are you constantly checking? No single news outlet covers everything. But who has time to check 12 different sites just to know what’s happening in their own community?
That's what I do for you. Every week, I pull news from: Google News (Burlington), Seven Days, VT Digger, VT Cynic, Community News Service, The Other Paper, WCAX, WPTZ News, Vermont Public, Vermont Biz, MyChamplainValley, and UVM Athletics.
And the community calendar? That's a whole separate beast. I'm aggregating events from: Seven Days events section, Facebook events, Front Porch Forum community calendar, Hello Burlington events, Meetup.com, Eventbrite, The Flynn’s calendar, Church Street Marketplace events, Vermont Comedy Club’s calendar, Higher Ground’s calendar, Fletcher Free Library events, and UVM Athletics for home games.
That's 12 news sources and 12 event calendars, all distilled into one email so you don't have to do the digging yourself. But it’s not easy, and as you can imagine it takes hours of my time, on top of starting to do more group things activities with the Btown Brief Crew. So here’s what you can do to keep the project going and growing:
How to Support
Become a Monthly Supporter (NEW: via Beehiiv - no fees taken unlike Ko-fi.com!)
$5/month — You're keeping the lights on and the motivation running. Thank you!
$10/month — Even more support. Plus, you get a Btown Brief t-shirt at the 6-month mark, then every 12 months after that.
$20/month — Champion Supporter. You get a new Btown Brief t-shirt every 6 months. I’ll be redesigning my t-shirts every so often to keep things fresh.
One time donations → here
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Want to put a face to the newsletter? Check out my About Me page from my website BtownBrief.com
Thank You to My Current Supporters
Seriously. These nine people keep this thing running. Thanks so much for your ongoing support:
Dan, Sally Mae Bees, Alex, The Space Gallery, Jason, Doma Bar, Patricia, Chris, and Doreen.
Found this piece of ice that reminded me of those fall leaves
Local News (All Links Clickable)
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"We cannot continue to prop up a failing system at the expense of other priorities, and we cannot ask Vermonters to continue to pay more while providing less and less for our kids," Scott said, per Seven Days.
The governor's $9.4 billion budget proposes a record $105 million to reduce property tax increases, but even that may not prevent an average 6 percent hike. Scott is conditioning his support on school districts keeping budgets in check and lawmakers continuing education reforms under Act 73. The budget also proposes ending the pandemic-era motel program for homeless individuals, shifting those funds toward treatment and new housing construction. House Progressives criticized the approach, with caucus leader Rep. Kate Logan saying Scott is "holding us hostage" on education.
"This is the coldest that we have experienced or witnessed in years," said Sarah Russell, the emergency services director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, which will staff the pop-up shelter, per Seven Days.
The Robert Miller Community Center will serve as an emergency overnight shelter from Friday through Tuesday morning, accommodating roughly 100 people. That's about half the number believed to be living outside in the greater Burlington area. The timing is significant: the annual Point-in-Time Count happens January 29, and this weekend's dangerously cold temperatures underscore just how dire the situation has become. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak honored Perry Thornley, a member of the local homeless community who died earlier this month, at Thursday's Homelessness Awareness Day vigil.
"This has been a deeply personal and values-driven decision for Erin," said Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. "Immigration justice has always been her passion, and at this moment in our state and country, that work is urgently needed," per Vermont Business Magazine.
Jacobsen will leave City Hall on February 6 to return to immigration law through a fellowship with the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. She played a central role in building the Mulvaney-Stanak administration from the start. Kara Alnasrawi, currently director of CEDO, will step in as interim chief of staff while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
"I do want to get out of the way immediately what I believe is probably the biggest question on everybody's mind, and that is that the budget that I am presenting to you today does represent 31 reductions in force at the Agency of Transportation," Secretary Joe Flynn told lawmakers, per Vermont Public.
Nineteen Vermonters will lose their jobs under the plan to address a $33 million deficit in the transportation fund, driven by stagnating gas tax revenues. This marks the second round of layoffs in four months. The governor also wants to redirect $10 million in sales tax revenue from the education fund to transportation over the next five years, a move Democratic lawmakers say would put more pressure on property taxes.
"I wanted to make sure that it didn't go away," said Michael DeSanto, co-owner of Phoenix Books, per Seven Days.
The 55 year old community paper, which the Coopers grew from 4,000 readers to 17,000 over their 25 years of ownership, will soon be renamed Burlington Community Newspaper. DeSanto, co-owner of Phoenix Books, plans to preserve its "goodnewspaper" identity, perhaps adding a poem or book review here and there. Rachel Fisher of Onion River Press will take over as editor and publisher. Look for the first issue under new ownership on February 6.
"You want to talk about 'let's build homes' in South Burlington? Look out the window. We've done it," said council chair Tim Barritt, per The Other Paper.
The council tabled a resolution to formally support Let's Build Homes, the pro-housing advocacy group led by former Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. Some councilors and residents argued South Burlington is already doing its part, pointing to tax increment financing, form-based zoning, and the city's significant share of new Chittenden County housing. Others worried about potential conflicts with the city's environmental policies. Cities like Winooski and Rutland have already joined the coalition.
"We are going to do our job with whatever we encounter, wherever we encounter it," said Robert Garcia, the Swanton Sector's chief patrol agent. "Because Border Patrol agent authority is everywhere," per Seven Days.
After historic highs in 2024, monthly Border Patrol apprehensions in the Swanton Sector have dropped 92 percent. But enforcement has intensified: those caught crossing are now almost universally detained and prosecuted, and agents have expanded operations into Vermont's interior, arresting roofers and construction workers miles from the border. The sector plans to double its roster of about 300 agents in coming years. The lengthy feature details the human toll on both sides of the enforcement equation, from migrants facing felony smuggling charges to longtime Vermont residents detained in workplace raids.
"I think this is a real opportunity," said Alex Farrell, commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, per Seven Days.
State agencies have identified about 140 properties that could potentially be sold or leased to housing developers, including a former prison in Windsor, the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes, and a former National Guard armory in Waterbury. Governor Scott's executive order calls for an expedited disposal process with preference given to homebuilders, and allows land to be sold below market value. Burlington is pursuing a similar strategy, with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's housing plan proposing development on parks, parking lots, and underutilized city parcels.
"Burlington has always dared to imagine a city where housing serves people, not just markets," Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak said, per the City of Burlington.
The three-pronged strategy aims to put Burlington on track to create 7,000 housing units by 2050. It includes modernizing the city's inclusionary zoning ordinance and housing trust fund, helping residents and small developers actually use the Neighborhood Code to build infill housing, and leveraging public land through partnerships like the South End Coordinated Redevelopment Project, which envisions more than 400 homes across two phases. The city is also launching a new interdepartmental initiative to address blighted and problem properties.
"The journey was incredible and the people truly made the place special," per the bar's Instagram announcement, reported by ABC22/FOX44.
Drink, the cocktail bar on Saint Paul Street across from City Hall Park, announced its closure Thursday evening. The spot was known for live music, comedy nights, and trivia. Originally founded in 1999 as Wine Works, it had rebranded several times over the years. Still, quite impressive being there for over a quarter of a century. I’ll definitely miss one of my favorite quiet, low-key bars.
"It would be life changing," said Bay Colony Estates resident Eve Ackil, speaking on behalf of families whose children would love to bike to school, per the Shelburne News.
The town approved two new scoping studies for bike and pedestrian infrastructure along Bay Road and across the LaPlatte River near Shelburne Bay Park, building on similar studies from 2010 and 2017 that never moved forward. Previous proposals met resistance over cost and property concerns. The selectboard also voted to drop the speed limit on Bay Road from 35 to 25 mph. Whether the town will actually act on whatever these studies recommend remains an open question.
"Previous policy decisions made in this building prioritize ideology over results," Scott said in his budget address this week, per WCAX.
The governor wants nuclear power reclassified under Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard, which requires the state to source all electricity from renewables by 2030. Vermont utilities already draw about 20% of their power from out of state nuclear plants, and the administration argues reclassification could save ratepayers around $5 million annually. The proposal would also repeal the legislature's authority to approve or deny new nuclear plants, a power it gained after Vermont Yankee closed in 2014. Environmental groups, including VPIRG, remain firmly opposed.
Quick Hits
Several local names are moving forward in the 2026 James Beard Awards. Leslie McCrorey Wells (Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia, Sotto Enoteca) is up for Outstanding Restaurateur. Café Monette in St. Albans is a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. Kate Wise of Juniper Bar in Burlington is nominated for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. And three Vermont chefs are semifinalists for Best Chef: Northeast — Tiara Adorno (The Crooked Ram, Manchester), Max Vogel (Ondis, Montpelier), and Paul Trombly (Fancy's, Burlington).
A Thursday evening fire on Peru Street in the Old North End left one person dead and another injured. Crews responded around 5:10 p.m. to find flames on the second floor extending into the third story. One person was safely removed from the stairwell; another was found unconscious on the third floor and later pronounced dead at UVM Medical Center. Two pets were rescued. Fire marshals are investigating the cause.
The Chittenden County Homeless Alliance held a vigil in City Hall Park on Thursday, marking Homelessness Awareness Day and urging action ahead of this weekend's dangerous cold. Vermont ranks fourth in the nation for homelessness per capita, with nearly 700 homeless families in Chittenden County alone. The city's emergency warming shelter at the Miller Center opens this weekend.
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 Teams Split Mid-Week Action; Skiing and Soccer Make Headlines
The Vermont men’s basketball team split a pair of road contests this week. On Thursday, the Catamounts defeated UMass Lowell 77-68 behind a career-high 30 points from TJ Hurley. Hurley shot 10-for-19 from the field and scored nine of the team's first 11 points in the second half. This victory followed a 75-68 loss to UAlbany on Monday, where Gus Yalden led the team with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Back at Patrick Gymnasium, the women’s basketball team rolled past UMass Lowell 82-46 in the annual Classroom Game. Nikola Priede scored a game-high 31 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. The 36-point win marked the Catamounts' largest margin of victory over a conference opponent since 2010. Keira Hanson added 18 points, connecting on four three-pointers.
On the slopes, the alpine skiing team completed day one of the St. Lawrence Carnival in second place with 625 points. Sara Stiel paced the women’s squad with a season-best fourth-place finish in the giant slalom, while Oskar Gillberg led the men in 15th place.
In other news, Head Coach Adrian Dubois announced that Travis Brent has been named Associate Head Coach for men’s soccer. Brent arrives in Burlington after guiding Franklin Pierce University to the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship as head coach.
(Fri ⦁ 7:00pm) Jan 23: 2025-26 Men's Hockey vs. UMass
(Sat ⦁ 2:00pm) Jan 24: 2025-26 Women's Basketball vs. Bryant
(Sat ⦁ 7:00pm) Jan 24: 2025-26 Men's Hockey vs. UMass
Events:
Friday, January 23, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Weekly Meditation Sit at Outright Vermont (Free)
10:00 AM: Library Outreach Specialist Office Hours at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center ($20-23)
12:00 PM: BCA Center Exhibition: How to Say Goodbye at BCA Center
1:15 PM: Royal Wedding (1951) Screening at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
1:15 PM: Mindfulness Meditation at Pathways Vermont (Free)
4:00 PM: Meet Ward 7 Candidate Bill Standen at Gordon H Paquette Ice Arena (Free)
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain
4:30 PM: Downtown Lights: Snow Ball at 135 Church St (Free)
5:30 PM: Winterdeep at Meach Cove Farms Gathering Space ($10-20)
6:00 PM: Tween Sibshop #1 at Spare Time Colchester & City Sports Grille
6:00 PM: Gentle Yoga & Pranayama at Chace Mill
6:00 PM: Sen. Bernie Sanders Town Meeting on Health Care Crisis at First UU Church (Free)
6:00 PM: Gone Guys Film Screening & Panel Discussion at Essex Cinemas (Free)
6:30 PM: Friday Night Ballroom at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
6:45 PM: QCC January Contra Dance at Shelburne Town Hall ($5-12)
7:00 PM: Queer Country Line Dance at Four Quarters Brewing ($15)
7:00 PM: Film: 'My Undesirable Friends: Part I' at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center ($6-12)
8:00 PM: Ru Paul's Drag Race Viewing Party at Einstein's Tap House (Free)
8:00 PM: Karaoke Friday Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill (Free)
9:00 PM: Karaoke with DJ Big T at McKee's Original (Free)
Performances
4:00 PM: Young Artist Showcase Recital at Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Free/Donations)
6:30 PM & 8:30 PM: Emil Wakim (Stand Up Comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club ($20)
7:00 PM: snap Festival: Forever by Dael Orlandersmith at The Flynn Space ($22.50)
7:00 PM: Man Up: Cynthia Miller-Idriss on Misogyny and Violent Extremism at Phoenix Books ($3)
8:00 PM: Salt Season at Contois Auditorium ($25-35)
Live Music/DJ
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell Blues Jam at Red Square
5:00 PM: Lincoln Sprague (Piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge (Free)
5:00 PM: Charlie Rice (Covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
5:30 PM: Moonbird (Covers) at Switchback Brewing Co. (Free)
6:00 PM: Josh Panda Fridays at Burlington Beer Company (Free)
6:00 PM: The Rustics at St. John's Club (Free)
6:00 PM: Owl Stars at Vermont Cider Lab
6:00 PM: Blowtorch, Star Farm (Punk) at Radio Bean ($10)
6:00 PM: Eric George (Folk) at the Skinny Pancake (Free)
6:00 PM: Dan Parks (Covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
6:00 PM: Milton Busker & the Grim Work (Americana) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling (Free)
6:30 PM: Bluegrass & BBQ at Four Quarters Brewing (Free)
6:30 PM: Ryan Osswald Trio, Paddy Reagan, Matt Saraca Duo (Jazz) at Monkey House ($10)
7:00 PM: The Wedding Smashers (Rock/Pop) at Foam Brewers (Free)
7:00 PM: Nico Suave & the Mothership (Led Zeppelin Tribute) at Higher Ground ($15-19.94)
7:00 PM: Portittor, Tabarnak, Cellar Door (Emo/Punk) at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
7:00 PM: Heloise & the Savoir Faire with DJ Cooley (Punk/Dance) at Standing Stone Wines ($18)
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski (Free)
7:30 PM: Shuffle + Shred Benefit Bash (DJ) at SEABA Center / ArtsRiot ($15)
7:30 PM: Vitaly Starikov, Van Cliburn Silver Medalist (Piano) at UVM Recital Hall ($5-37)
8:00 PM: Sonido Mal Maïz (Latin/Psych) at The Monkey House ($10)
8:00 PM: Sticks And Stones (Rock) at The Old Post (Free)
8:00 PM: Josh Panda (Singer-songwriter) at Citizen Cider (Free)
8:30 PM: Two for Flinching at Last Stop Sports Bar
9:00 PM: IncaHoots (Covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
9:00 PM: Rap Night Burlington (Hip-hop) at Drink ($5)
10:00 PM: DJ NewCity at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room (Free)
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10/15)
11:00 PM: Rose Asteroid (Funk, Rock) at Radio Bean ($10)
Saturday, January 24, 2026
General Events
7:30 AM: THCo. - PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION at 298 James Brown Dr, Williston
9:00 AM: Conversation with Councilors Fitzgerald & Smith at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
9:00 AM: Introduction to Zen Buddhism Workshop at Vermont Zen Center
9:00 AM: Open Cupboard Food Shelf at Malletts Bay UCC (Free)
10:00 AM: BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity Brewery (Free) [MEETUP]
10:00 AM: Vermont Sports Card & Collectible Show at 155 Dorset St, South Burlington
10:00 AM: Intuition and Reiki 1 at First Congregational Church of Essex Junction
10:00 AM: Rock Point Center Grand Opening at 20 Rock Point Road (Free)
10:00 AM: Weekly Bird Walk at Rock Point Center at Rock Point Center (Free)
10:00 AM: Herbs and Spice and Everything Nice! at Shelburne Farms ($8)
10:00 AM: Family Playshop at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
10:00 AM: Library Outreach Specialist Office Hours at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
10:00 AM: Burlington Winter Farmers Market at Lumière Hall / Burlington Beer Co (Free)
11:00 AM: Family Art Saturday at BCA Center (Free)
11:00 AM: Stand Up for Democracy Demonstration at Colchester Shopping Plaza (Free)
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
12:00 PM: Family Silent Disco at 180 Market Street, South Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: ICE Out of Williston Demonstration at Maple Tree Place (Free)
12:30 PM: Vermont x Strong Girls United Event at Gucciardi Fitness Center (Free)
1:00 PM: CVSC Challenge Cup at Leddy Park
1:00 PM: HU Chant: Ancient Mantra for a Modern World at South Burlington Public Library (Free) [MEETUP]
1:00 PM: Conscious Touch Workshop at Chace Mill ($115)
1:00 PM: The Poetry Experience at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
2:00 PM: Coram House Book Club at Switchback Brewing Co. (Free) [MEETUP]
2:00 PM: Texas Hold'em Tournament at Pearl Street Pub
2:00 PM: Cooking for the Chinese New Year at Faith United Methodist Church
2:00 PM: LOMI HA Breathwork Journey at 100 Church St ($110)
2:00 PM: Invasive Species Lecture at St. Michael's College (Free)
2:00 PM: Puzzle-Palooza at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
3:30 PM: Beary Magical Lights Tour! at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory ($10)
5:00 PM: Tinis + Weenies Bar at Adventure Dinner Clubhouse (Free RSVP)
6:00 PM: January Club Meeting - Homebrew and Cheese Pairing! at 36 Drew Ln, Shelburne
6:00 PM: Pop & Plop! Cornhole Round Robin at The Pop
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park (Free)
8:45 PM: Revival Halaqah at 400 Swift Street, South Burlington
Performances
12:00 PM: Winter Concert Series: VSO Duo at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
6:00 PM: snap Festival: Stories at The Flynn Space (Free)
6:30 PM & 8:30 PM: Emil Wakim (Stand Up Comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club ($20)
7:00 PM: Sunny Jain's Wild Wild East at Flynn Main Stage ($29)
Live Music/DJ
5:00 PM: Jesse Agan (Covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
6:00 PM: Reid Parsons (Singer-songwriter) at Shelburne Vineyard (Free)
6:00 PM: Lloyd Tyler Band at Vermont Cider Lab
6:00 PM: silverlined, Wet Denim (Indie) at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
7:00 PM: Racing Mount Pleasant, Charles Martin (Indie Folk) at Higher Ground ($23.05)
7:30 PM: Wampahoofus Presents Act 1: Rap at Odd Fellows Lodge ($10)
7:45 PM: Quiltro w/ DJ Tonybonez (Indie) at The Monkey House ($10)
8:00 PM: Kotoko Brass (Afrobeat) at Einstein's Tap House ($15)
8:00 PM: Madaila (Indie Rock) at Foam Brewers (Free)
8:00 PM: The Venetian Noir Jazz Experience at Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
8:00 PM: Los Songoros (Latin/Psych) at SEABA Center ($15/20)
8:00 PM: Elkamista (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10/15)
8:30 PM: Gimme Gimme Disco (ABBA Dance Party) at Higher Ground ($26.68)
8:30 PM: MJT w/ Comatose Kids (Indie Rock) at Radio Bean ($15/20)
9:00 PM: Magnetic Horse (Covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Goddess at Standing Stone Wines (Free)
10:00 PM: DJ CRE8 at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room (Free)
10:00 PM: Kiki Freaky (Reggaeton) at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
10:00 PM: Matt Payne, DJ Raul at Red Square Blue Room (Free)
Sunday, January 25, 2026
General Events
8:30 AM: INTRO CLASS for everyone at Williston R.E.C. Zone
8:30 AM: MISFITS GRADUATES ONLY at Essex, VT
10:00 AM: Royal Tea Party & Play at University Mall Burlington
10:00 AM: Beginner Nordic Ski Clinics at Catamount Outdoor Family Center
10:00 AM: Kids Dance Party Benefit for ELC at Foam Brewers ($10-20 donation)
10:00 AM: Tech Sundays: Learn Google Email at Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch (Free)
10:00 AM: Tree ID and Natural History Tour of Red Rocks Park at Red Rocks Park ($10-15)
10:30 AM: Downward Dog Workshop at Chace Mill
10:45 AM: Adult Bible Study and Sunday School at 1560 Williston Rd
11:00 AM: All-levels Yoga Fundraiser at YogaSix South Burlington
11:00 AM: North End Food Pantry Clothing & Food Drive at Queen City Lodge Odd Fellows Hall (Free)
11:00 AM: Weekend Clean Up Crew at Top of Church St (Free)
12:00 PM: The Amazing Puzzle Race at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe
12:00 PM: Silent Disco at 180 Market Street, South Burlington
12:00 PM: Silent Book Club at Howl Bier, Winooski (Free)
12:00 PM: Sunday Funday (Games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex (Free)
1:00 PM: Winooski Senior Center at Winooski Senior Center
1:00 PM: Pups & Pints at Switchback Brewing Company (Free)
1:00 PM: Sunday Football at Burlington Beer Company
1:30 PM: Queer Reads Book Club at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
2:30 PM: New Year Self-Care Workshop at Chace Mill ($65.87+)
3:00 PM: NFL Playoffs at Citizen Cider at Citizen Cider
4:00 PM: Drop-In Tech Support at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
6:00 PM: Virtual Door Knocking with Councilors Carpenter & Litwin on Zoom (Free)
6:30 PM: Sunday Skates at Gordon H. Paquette Arena
Mommy and Me Cake Decorating at Glow Nutrition (time not specified)
Performances
2:00 PM: Snap First Person Arts Festival: Story Slam at Burlington City Hall Auditorium (Free)
7:00 PM: snap Festival: Caterpillar Soup at The Flynn Space ($22.50)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont (Free)
1:00 PM: Matt Hagen (Singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers (Free)
4:00 PM: Young Artist Showcase Recital at Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Free/Donations)
5:00 PM: Slow Burn Sunday at Venetian Soda Lounge
5:00 PM: VT Synth Society Meetup at Community of Sound (Free)
7:00 PM: Sweet Tooth, Ides of Marge (Rock) at Monkey House ($5)
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!
Stay warm this weekend. The cold is no joke, and neither is that Sunday night storm heading our way. If you venture out, take your time on the roads, dress in layers, and maybe grab a hot drink while you're at it. We'll be back Monday with more.
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.
