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Weather & Monday Rundown:
May the Fourth be with you! A few showers greeted the region overnight and may linger into early this morning, but don't write off the day. By afternoon, expect partly sunny skies with a gusty southwest breeze pushing temperatures into the upper 50s to mid 60s in Burlington. Tuesday is the one to watch where highs could reach the mid 70s, easily the warmest day of the week, though scattered showers and a possible thunderstorm may interrupt things during the afternoon alongside wind gusts up to 35 mph. A slow moving cold front parks itself over us Wednesday, delivering a steady, soaking rain. Thursday looks mostly cloudy with scattered showers and cooler temps back in the 50s. Friday and Saturday stay unsettled and chilly in the 50s as well. On the bright side, Mother's Day Sunday is trending dry with more sunshine and highs around 60.
Today's got more going on than you might expect for a Monday. If you've got a dusty sewing machine you've been meaning to deal with, there area few spots left for Let's Set Up Your Sewing Machine at the Soda Plant at 10 AM. This afternoon, the Shakespeare reading group picks up Henry VI Part 1 at Fletcher Free Library from 4 to 5:30, and no experience or prep is required. Over in South Burlington, professionals and small business owners can grab a free LinkedIn headshot and make connections at BBB Headshots & Handshakes at the South Burlington Public Library from 4:30 to 6:30. If you've been thinking about biking more this season, Local Motion kicks off a three session Smart Cycling Workshop tonight at 6 at their Trailside Center on Steele Street, covering rules of the road, route planning, and eventually group rides around Burlington. The South Burlington City Council meets at 6:30 PM with a packed agenda including pickleball at Symanski Park, the 2025 Rental Registry report, and policy presentations spanning bike infrastructure to natural resources. Feeling more like moving your feet? Head to On Tap Bar & Grill in Essex Junction for a beginner friendly Monday Night Line Up line dance from 6 to 8. And minyan802 is celebrating Lag Baomer tonight at 7:45 on South Williams Street with a bonfire gathering hosted by Chabad Burlington. It's a laid back evening around the fire with good food and friends, and you're encouraged to bring your own instruments to play.
Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo, and the area is leaning into it. Fiddlehead Brewing in Shelburne celebrates with a limited release of their Mexican style lager "Juan Ricardo," brewed with lime, corn tortillas, and agave. The beer is available in 8 packs to go, there will be complimentary snacks while supplies last, and a piñata drops at 5:55 PM (21 and over for that one). Switchback Brewing on Flynn Ave hosts a Latin Dance Night put on by Snowmotion Dance, starting with a beginner salsa class at 5 and rolling into a dance social from 6 to 9. No partner and no experience needed, so there's really no excuse not to try it. From what I saw, this seems like a blast! But the holiday isn't the only reason to get out. The morning starts early with Tech Tuesdays Breakfast [MEETUP] at Zero Gravity on Pine Street from 8 to 10, a casual gathering for founders, developers, and creatives with waffles and coffee and zero slides. Right around the same time, May Networking Coffee for Women at Hula gets going at 8:15 with guided networking and complimentary drip coffee from Brio. At noon, the city's Parks, Arts & Culture Committee meets at Burlington City Arts on Church Street with updates on the Fletcher Free Library renovation, downtown festivals, urban reserve cleanups, and ash tree removals. Later in the afternoon, take advantage of Tuesday's warmth with an Early Spring Wildflowers walk at Shelburne Farms from 5:30 to 7 led by ecologist Leslie Spencer. The Meet & Greet 5K Run/Walk [MEETUP] at Leddy Park at 5:30 is free and totally flexible: run the full 5K with the group or walk your own distance and meet up at the end. Either way, there's a post activity social with free non alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing (21 and over to grab one). Over in Williston, the Catamount Outdoor Family Center holds its annual meeting at 6 with a look back at 2025, a preview of 2026 trail plan upgrades, and a sneak peek tour of this year's race courses by mountain bike or on foot afterward. And the evening wraps up at Tuesday Trivia at Higher Ground's Showcase Lounge at 7:30. It's all ages, first come first served, and the categories range from music to pop culture, so bring a well rounded crew if you want a shot at prizes and bragging rights.
Wednesday's rainy forecast won't slow the calendar down. Vermont Public in Colchester hosts Spring Gardening with Charlie Nardozzi from 11:30 to 1:30, a live studio audience taping of Vermont Edition's annual gardening show with host Mikaela Lefrak, followed by a seed and seedling swap. Back in Burlington, Best Day Ever screens at Hula starting at 5, a film following adaptive mountain bikers in Vermont's riding community, with hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and a Q&A with filmmaker Berne Broudy ($15 tickets). Pick-up Basketball [MEETUP] runs from 5:30 to 7:30 at Pomeroy Park. The 30 plus crowd can unwind at Golden Hour at Last Stop Sports Bar in Winooski from 5:30 to 9, a 90s and 00s throwback party put on by the Golden Hour Social Club. Think drink specials, DJ Talena spinning the hits, and prizes, all wrapped up early enough that you won't ruin your Thursday. Their motto is "party before bedtime." In Williston, First Strides Vermont kicks off its 12 week run/walk program for women and gender expansive individuals at 5:45, with registration available at firststridesvermont.com for $45. The evening brings three strong options downtown. Carmina Burana on the Rocks at the Venetian Soda Lounge at 7 is a casual, cocktail friendly listening party where VSO Music Director Andrew Crust and composer James Stewart walk you through Carl Orff's iconic piece with historical context, musical analysis, and visual examples, all designed to get you ready for the VSO's season finale. Nibbles are included, cash bar on site, and sliding scale pricing starts at about $16. Down the street at Phoenix Books, Dangerous Characters at 7 dives into the true crime story of Williston's most sensational murder, the 1865 killing of Sally Griswold. Author and researcher tells the tale of Delia and Charlie Potter and their alleged exploits spanning robbery, draft desertion, counterfeiting, bootlegging, and more, all woven into the backdrop of the Gold Rush, Civil War ambivalence, and small town family drama. And at 8 PM, the Moth GrandSLAM takes over the Flynn MainStage. Ten winners from previous StorySLAMs compete for the city Grand Champion title, each telling a tale on the theme of Great Expectations. The audience picks the winner, so your vote genuinely counts.
Thursday rounds out the week with a nice range. The Essex Art League meets from 9 to 11 at the First Congregational Church in Essex Junction, featuring watercolorist and wildlife conservationist Claire Payne. At noon, catch the free Eleanor Freebern harp recital at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on Cherry Street, a Cathedral Arts showcase featuring a regional high school musician performing on the Celtic harp before she heads to Scotland for college this fall. Happy hour options include Thursday Happy Hour at Lincoln's [MEETUP], Burlington's speakeasy tucked off Church Street near Red Square, from 5 to 7, hosted by Out in the 802. Over at ECHO, Café Sci brings together presenters from UVM for an open conversation about AI and medicine starting at 5:45, with free appetizers and a cash bar. Phoenix Books hosts Understanding Cannabis with Dr. Riley Kirk at 6, a discussion and Q&A celebrating the release of Reefer Wellness. Kirk and VTSU Castleton professor Dr. Philip Lamy will cover how to personalize your cannabis experience, from strain selection to consumption methods, and copies of the book will be available for purchase. For live music fans, Higher Ground has Sparks the Rescue in the Showcase Lounge with doors at 6:30 and the show at 7. The pop punk band first formed back in 1999 and spent years touring relentlessly, including a stint on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour, before stepping back. And the Flynn closes out the night with The Price Is Right Live! at 7:30. It's the full interactive stage show where contestants are randomly selected from the audience to play classics like Plinko, Cliffhangers, and the Big Wheel for a chance to win appliances, electronics, vacations, and a new car.
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Local News (All Links Clickable)
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"We should be increasing student scholarships — not spending it on a basketball stadium," said Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, per VTDigger.
The Senate passed its $9.4 billion budget with a plan to direct $12 million from the state's Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund toward UVM's proposed 5,000 seat multipurpose center, which would host basketball and concerts. To offset the draw, the bill would funnel 20% of the state's cannabis excise tax into the trust fund going forward, which supporters say would replenish it in three to four years. An amendment to strip the arena funding failed 23 to 7, but disagreements between the chambers make a conference committee all but certain. The bill also includes a provision to cut compensation by 30% for any state's attorney not licensed to practice law, a pointed measure given Addison County State's Attorney Eva Vekos' recent license suspension.
"I love to get up and do things in the morning. I like the energy around it," said owner Leslie McCrorey Wells, per Seven Days.
Alimentari opened April 1 at 196 St. Paul Street, filling the former Café Saint Paul space with housemade mozzarella, espresso, pastries, and an all day sandwich menu alongside pantry goods from Italy and beyond. Wells, a James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalist who also co-owns Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia, and Sotto Enoteca on the same street, built this one as a solo venture with daytime hours (8 AM to 7 PM). The sandwich lineup, developed by team members John Hayes and Dan Cervantes, riffs on Italian deli classics with ingredients like pistachio aioli, housemade giardiniera, and Jasper Hill Farm cheese on fresh focaccia.
"It's like a nostalgic food, like an adult chicken nugget," said sandwich maker John Hayes of the Milanese sub, per Seven Days.
Pizzeria Corinna opened in February at Essex Towne Marketplace with a compact menu of seven pizzas, salads, and Italian subs named after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters. Owner Shane Corbett modeled the shop on the neighborhood pizzerias of the late '80s and early '90s, and baker Olivia Clemons turns out 60 loaves of seeded semolina bread daily for the subs, which are loaded with meats like prosciutto, hot soppressata, and bourbon ham. The shop has already built a following with locals and industry folks alike, especially for Friday night pies and lunchtime slices.
"Vermont Principals' Association officials denied Mid Vermont Christian School a public benefit available to all other schools in Vermont just because it stood by the widely held, biblical belief that boys and girls are different," per VTDigger, quoting Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel David Cortman.
The settlement ends a legal battle that began in 2023 when Mid Vermont Christian forfeited a girls' basketball game rather than compete against a team with a transgender player, prompting the VPA to bar the school from state athletics. The VPA says it settled to avoid the cost of continued litigation and denies any wrongdoing, but the payout marks a notable win for the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian conservative legal group with a growing footprint in Vermont courts. The same firm is also challenging Act 73, Vermont's education reform law, arguing it discriminates against religious independent schools receiving public tuition dollars.
"It's not my role to tell Galvion who they should or shouldn't be selling their equipment to," said Newport Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase, per VTDigger.
Galvion, a defense manufacturer in Newport and one of the Northeast Kingdom's largest employers with 238 workers, produces ballistic helmets for the U.S. military and NATO. VTDigger's investigation matched the company's helmet designs to headgear worn by federal agents at high profile immigration operations, including the March standoff in South Burlington. The story captures a tension that runs deep in rural Vermont where Orleans County's unemployment rate sits at 5.9%, more than double the state average, and Galvion's jobs are genuinely vital to the community, even as the company's products show up in some of the most controversial federal enforcement operations in the country.
"We're impacting the entire state of Vermont by having the airport be this strong, and certainly we're counting on just growing and growing and growing," said airport director Nic Longo, per Seven Days.
Burlington's $68 million north concourse, funded entirely without debt thanks in part to a Leahy earmark, gives the airport flexibility to handle larger modern aircraft and bigger passenger loads. BTV is on track for 755,000 departing passengers this year, nearly matching its 2008 record, and United Airlines will add nonstop Houston service next month, bringing direct routes to 19 destinations. Canadian travelers remain a concern though, as their share of BTV fliers has dropped from an estimated 20 to 25 percent before the pandemic to roughly 10 percent now. Longo is already eyeing an $80 million south terminal project he hopes to put before Burlington voters in 2028.
"What ultimately convinced me that I wanted to be involved long term is not that we just need to save the bees, but that the bees are telling us that we need to save the rest of the bugs," said Curtis Mraz, per Seven Days.
Curtis Mraz, 31, took over as fourth generation president of Vermont's oldest apiary in late 2022, steering a business founded by his great grandfather in 1931 through an era of devastating colony losses. Annual die offs have averaged 50 to 70 percent over the past two decades, largely attributed to neonicotinoid pesticides, compared with the 10 percent losses his great grandfather might have seen in a bad year. A 2024 Vermont law phasing out neonic treated seed by 2029 has given the family enough hope to break ground on an ambitious new headquarters in New Haven. The company's second lifeline is its position as the only producer of injectable honeybee venom for pharmaceutical use.
"If people can't reliably access healthy, affordable food, how can we expect them to learn and thrive?" said Jenn Hayden, assistant director of the Office of Culture and Institutional Excellence, per Vermont Business Magazine.
The grant comes through Hannaford's "Fuel Kids at School" initiative, which has funded food pantries at over 200 schools across New England and New York but had never been tapped by a Vermont institution until Hayden applied. Four of VTSU's five campuses sit in areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food, and some nearby food shelves have closed due to lack of funding. The money will go toward refrigerators, freezers, and storage to stock fresh produce, meat, and dairy at campus pantries, a significant upgrade from the shelf stable basics most campus food resources offer.
"It helps us move power across the system more intelligently, maximizing the use of existing assets rather than building more costly infrastructure," said VELCO communications manager Shana Louiselle, per VT Community News Service.
VELCO began upgrading its electric substation at Sand Bar State Park in Milton on April 1, installing twelve SmartValves that act as a kind of traffic controller for electricity, directing power flow away from overloaded lines to free ones. The roughly $13 million project, funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant, makes VELCO the first Vermont utility to deploy these grid enhancing technologies, which bypass the lengthy permitting and land use requirements of building new infrastructure from scratch. Heavy construction starts May 11, with completion expected by summer 2027.
"A mayor of a town told us, 'I didn't even know I had a role in disaster recovery,' and it was like, 'If you don't, who does,' right?" said UVM researcher Christina Barsky, per VT Community News.
UVM's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is tackling flood resilience on two fronts; Barsky's recently published research on how rural communities weather natural disasters, and the Ecological Planning Laboratory's ongoing partnerships with Mad River Valley towns to manage invasive knotweed and restore native plant communities along waterways. The research, drawn from Montana's 2022 flooding, found that rural areas face a basic disconnect when federal agencies try to apply urban scale resources to isolated communities. This summer, the lab will employ six UVM interns to lead more than 50 volunteers in managing knotweed and planting over 800 native trees in Waitsfield, Warren, and Fayston.
"Golf supports jobs and economic activity that complement the state's ski industry and help sustain employment and local economies across seasons," said Melanie Boese, owner of Brattleboro Country Club, per Vermont Business Magazine.
A new statewide study found that Vermont's 68 golf courses support 5,376 jobs and $212.1 million in wages, generating more total economic impact than maple syrup production or craft brewing. The industry drove more than 190,000 golf related trips and $121.9 million in direct visitor spending, while facilities hosted over 700 charitable events raising $12.4 million for Vermont nonprofits in 2024. The report also highlights the environmental side where those courses manage 10,880 acres of green space with water quality, habitat, and energy conservation practices.
Seven Days staffers and contributors shared their favorite unexpected corners of Montréal, from a nonprofit circus in a converted 1864 Anglican church to Leonard Cohen's grave on Mount Royal.
With the border just 90 minutes north and summer travel season approaching, this is a fun guide for anyone looking to go beyond the usual Old Port and rue Sainte-Catherine loop. Highlights include La Sala Rossa, a crimson walled music venue in a former Jewish community center on boulevard Saint-Laurent, the Westmount Conservatory's hidden Jazz Age gardens, and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the F1 racetrack on Île Notre-Dame that doubles as a cycling and skating path outside of race weekend. Worth bookmarking if a Montréal day trip is on your summer list.
Quick Hits
Burlington City Council awarded a three year lease to Sabah's House, an Iraqi food and catering business that has operated as a food cart downtown for the past few years. The kiosk will serve Arabic coffee, cardamom tea, shawarma sandwiches, and familiar café staples. The lease starts August 1 and runs through 2029.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington earned Hilton's Award of Excellence for 2025, recognizing top performance in service quality and guest satisfaction across the global portfolio. The hotel also just completed a major expansion, adding 70 new rooms to bring its total to 324, with renovated existing rooms unveiled on April 29.
IT’S MAY!! The winner of April’s news quizzes is: Runrabbit17!
You were incredibly sharp this month, putting up 20 points and never scoring below a 3/5! Plt and Ylime had slightly higher scores, but since they've already taken home titles for January and March, we’re passing the torch to you for April. If this is you, shoot me an email at [email protected] with your requested shirt design and size!
Quick shoutout to the following players that came in the top 5 overall this month! Keep playing for your chance to win free merch!
Plt, Ylime, Autumn Moen, dahliaaa, & Nikki Laxar!
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: Lacrosse Championship Heartbreaks, Awards, and Track Prep
The top-seeded University of Vermont women's lacrosse team experienced a busy postseason stretch, highlighted by securing major America East Conference honors ahead of the playoffs. Ayla Shea earned Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, and Sarah Dalton Graddock won Coach of the Year, alongside six other Catamounts who earned All-Conference nods. On the field, the team advanced to the America East Championship Game after defeating No. 4 UMBC 10-7, fueled by a hat trick from Lydia Doraz. However, the Catamounts ultimately fell short in the title match, losing 13-11 to second-seeded UAlbany despite Jane Trauger netting a game-high four goals.
The third-seeded UVM men's lacrosse team also reached their conference title game but fell to top-seeded UAlbany 14-11 in New York. Sean McCeney and Tristan Whitaker led the Catamounts' offensive efforts with three points apiece, but a 4-2 fourth-quarter scoring run by the Great Danes secured the victory and the NCAA Tournament bid for UAlbany.
In other athletic news, the UVM track and field teams completed their championship preparation at the Jay Carisella Invitational in Dedham, Massachusetts. Rachel Barba highlighted the meet for the Catamounts, clocking her best 800m time of the spring to finish in 2:11.58 as the teams gear up for the upcoming America East Championship meet.
Upcoming Home Games
Vermont Green FC Men’s Home Opener: Friday, May 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM (Home vs. Albany Rush)
Events:
Monday, May 4, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Healthcare Lecture: Family Caregivers at UVM Medical Center (Free)
9:00 AM: Magdalena Energy Sessions at 373 Blair Park Rd, Williston
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Trolley Tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington ($35/$30/$15)
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: AO Glass Factory & Storefront Open at 416 Pine St, Burlington (Free to watch)
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Art Gallery: "Echoes of a Flying Jewel" at McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael's College (Free)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Sewing Machine Setup & Troubleshooting Workshop at The Soda Plant, Burlington
Scenic Cruises: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III on Lake Champlain
Ongoing: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
3:00 PM: Dine to Donate Night! in Williston, VT
4:00 PM: Shakespeare Reading Group: Henry VI Part 1 at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Fighting Game Community Biweekly at Lumière Hall / Burlington Beer ($5)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain (Half-priced oysters)
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM: BBB Headshots & Handshakes at South Burlington Public Library ($0–$55.20)
4:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Public Monday Night BINGO at Burlington Elks Lodge
5:00 PM: Author Book Signing in Burlington, VT
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Mac & Cheese Bar at The Lazy Goat Tavern, Essex ($20/bowl)
5:45 PM: Skirack's Run Club at 85 Main St, Burlington
6:00 PM: Monday Night Line Up Beginner Level at On Tap Bar & Grill
6:00 PM: Open Mic with Kyle Stevens at Pearl Street Pub (Free)
6:00 PM: Trivia Monday at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Anime Group Meetup at Pathways Vermont Morgan's Place (Free)
6:00 PM: RAR Spring Tune Up Series (WTNB) at Old Spokes Home, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Smart Cycling Workshops with E-Bikes at Local Motion, Burlington
6:30 PM: South Burlington City Council Regular Meeting – Remote/Zoom (Free)
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Dragon Boat Racing Info Session at Community Sailing Center (Free; preregister)
7:00 PM: Pickup Dodgeball at Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center
7:00 PM: Trivia with Craig Mitchell at The Monkey House
7:00 PM: Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment at McKee's Original (Free)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Casual Spanish Conversation Meetup at Ben & Jerry's, Church St, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: South End Community Singing Circle at 208 Flynn Ave, Burlington (Free; donations accepted)
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: [MEETUP] Community of Poets Sharing Circle with Darlene Witte – Location TBD (Free)
7:45 PM: minyan802 Lag Baomer Night Out at 57 South Williams St, Burlington
Performances
7:30 PM: Student Vocal Studio Recital at UVM Recital Hall (Free)
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: [MEETUP] Tech Tuesdays Breakfast at Zero Gravity Brewery (Free)
8:15 AM – 9:30 AM: May Networking Coffee for Women at Hula ($13.39 / Free for members)
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: [MEETUP] Burlington Bitcoin Meetup at Zero Gravity Brewery (Free)
11:30 AM – 10:00 PM: Old North End Farmers Market Benefit Bake at American Flatbread, Burlington (Free admission; food for purchase)
12:00 PM: City Council Parks, Arts & Culture Committee Meeting at Burlington City Arts / Zoom (Free)
12:00 PM: Juan Ricardo Cinco De Mayo Celebration at 6305 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne
12:00 PM: Zephyr Place at Zephyr Place
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Drop-In Tech Support at Fletcher Free Library NNE Branch (Free)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Media Workshop for Ages 60+ at CCTV Channel 17 Studios (Free; preregister)
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Writer's Circle at Pathways Vermont Morgan's Place (Free)
4:00 PM & 7:30 PM: Lag B'omer Celebration at Chabad of Vermont (Free; preregister)
4:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Traditional Tuesday at Mesmer Kava, Burlington ($20 unlimited)
5:00 PM: Latin Dance Night – Cinco De Mayo! at Switchback Brewing Company
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Poutine Night at The Lazy Goat Tavern, Essex ($14+)
5:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Super Smash Tuesdays at Rí Rá Irish Pub (Free)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Pause-Café Mardi – French Conversation at Burlington Bay Market & Café (Free)
5:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Community Meditation at First Unitarian Universalist Society, Burlington (Free; donations accepted)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Early Spring Wildflowers & Plant Adaptation at Shelburne Farms ($12)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Somatic Practice for Emotional Support at Lakeside Massage & Bodywork, Burlington
5:30 PM – 6:45 PM: Cookbook Club at South Burlington Public Library (Free; preregister)
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Spanish Class at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Champlain Valley Quilt Guild Meeting at Holy Family Parish Center, Essex Junction ($10)
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: [MEETUP] Meet & Greet 5K Run/Walk at Leddy Park, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Catamount Outdoor Family Center Annual Meeting at 592 Governor Chittenden Rd, Williston
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Open Art Studio at Expressive Arts Burlington (By donation)
6:30 PM: Three Rivers District Committee Meetings at First Congregational Church, Essex Junction
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: All-Levels Spanish Conversation Group at Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Queen City VT Indivisible Monthly Brainstorming at Queen City Brewery, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: May Lindy 1 at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
7:00 PM: May Beginning Swing at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
7:00 PM: Trivia Tuesdays at 4 Park St, Essex Junction
7:00 PM: Trivia Tuesday at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
7:00 PM: All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy at The 126 (Free)
7:00 PM: Vermont's Freedom & Unity Chorus Rehearsal at Saint Michael's College (Free)
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Dad Guild Open Gym Basketball at Mater Christi School (Free)
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Dads' Night Out: Board Game Night at The Guild Hall (Free; preregister)
7:30 PM: Tuesday Trivia at Higher Ground (Free)
Vermont Figure Drawing Collective – Time TBD
Performances
7:30 PM: Ghostlight Residency: "Iteration 5: Your Attention Please" at Main Street Landing ($34–$44 sliding scale)
Live Music/DJ
6:00 PM: Bashment Tuesday DJ Night at Akes' Place (Free)
7:00 PM: Griffin Brown, Greg Davis, St. Silva at Monkey House ($5/$10)
7:00 PM: Coyote Queen at Radio Bean ($10)
8:00 PM: Dead Is Alive with Dobbs' Dead at Einstein's Tap House ($15)
9:00 PM: Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River at Radio Bean ($10)
9:00 PM: Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride at The 126 (Free)
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
General Events
11:00 AM: "Business Builder 2026 – Clarity Makes Clients" at NBT Bank, 150 Bank St 3rd Floor, Burlington
11:00 AM & 6:00 PM: The Next Step in the Reappraisal Process – Town of Essex Offices / Zoom (Free)
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM: Live Studio Audience: Spring Gardening Show & Seed Swap at Vermont Public, Colchester (Free; registration required)
5:00 PM: Author Talk: Danilyn Rutherford at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
5:00 PM: "Best Day Ever" Documentary Screening at Hula, Burlington ($15)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Bon Voyage for Rowan's Last Day at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Cut Flower Gardening with Vermont Garden Network at Fletcher Free Library (Free; in-person registration required)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Yarn Crafters Group at Must Love Yarn (Free)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Yarn & Yak Knitting Club at Milton Artists' Guild (Free)
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM: The All Inclusive Dyke-Tacular at Doma Bar (Free; cost of food/drink)
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Smash Burgers at The Lazy Goat Tavern, Essex ($14+)
5:30 PM: Golden Hour – Happy Hour at Last Stop Sports Bar, Winooski
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: [MEETUP] Pick-up Basketball at Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington ($10)
5:45 PM – 7:00 PM: First Strides Vermont: Run/Walk Program at Village Community Park, Williston ($45 for 12-week program)
6:00 PM: Bob's Burgers at Hotel Champlain
6:00 PM: Midweek Boot Scoot High Beginner/Intermediate at On Tap Bar & Grill
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Recovery Dharma at First United Methodist Church (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Community Cooking at Pathways Vermont Morgan's Place (Free)
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Champ Masters Toastmasters Club at Dealer.com (Free; preregister)
6:30 PM: Trivia Night at Burlington Beer Company
6:30 PM: History Talk: J. Kevin Graffagnino at Arrowhead Senior Citizen Center (Free)
6:45 PM: May Wednesday Lesson & Social at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
7:00 PM: House Trivia Night at Venetian Soda Lounge
7:00 PM: By Donation – Mantra & Mythology with Eliza Kuchuk at 100 Dorset St, Suite 5, South Burlington
7:00 PM: Carmina Burana on the Rocks – VSO Pre-Concert Listening Party at Venetian Soda Lounge ($12/$18 sliding scale)
7:00 PM: Trivia Night at Rí Rá Irish Pub (Free; $100 gift card for 1st place)
7:00 PM: Author Talk: Elizabeth A. Allen – "Dangerous Characters" at Phoenix Books, Burlington ($3; preregister)
7:00 PM: The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam at 1999 North Ave (Free)
7:00 PM: Citizen Cider Trivia Night at Citizen Cider
Wednesday $10 Burger Night at Hotel Champlain
8:00 PM: Karaoke Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill (Free)
8:30 PM: Standup Open Mic at Vermont Comedy Club (Free)
Friends of Fletcher Free Library Spring Book Sale at Fletcher Free Library (Time not specified)
Performances
7:00 PM: VTIFF Musical Silents: "The Unknown" (1927) at The Screening Room @ VTIFF ($10–$20; live score by Wren Kitz & John Flanagan)
7:00 PM: $5 Improv Night at Vermont Comedy Club ($5 / Free for students with ID)
7:30 PM: 'WHITE' Theater Production at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($14–$35)
7:30 PM: Ghostlight Residency: "Iteration 5: Your Attention Please" at Main Street Landing ($34–$44 sliding scale)
8:00 PM: The Moth GrandSLAM at The Flynn ($46.48–$49)
VTIFF Musical Silents: "That Night's Wife" (1930) at The Screening Room @ VTIFF
Live Music/DJ
6:30 PM: Bluegrass & Pizza at Four Quarters Brewing (Free)
8:00 PM: Frail Talk w/ Izzy Jones at Radio Bean ($12 adv / $15 dos; 18+)
8:30 PM: Jazz Night with Ray Vega at Hotel Vermont (Free)
9:00 PM: Jazz Sessions at The 126 (Free)
Thursday, May 7, 2026
General Events
7:30 AM – 10:00 AM: BTV Clean Up Crew at Top of Church St (Free)
9:00 AM: Substance Use 101 at Delta Hotels, South Burlington ($50–$100)
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Essex Art League Meeting & Watercolor Presentation at First Congregational Church, Essex Junction (Free)
10:00 AM: Tamron Spring Demo Day at Green Mountain Camera
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Mandarin Conversation Circle at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Italian Conversation Group at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
12:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Hot Dog & A Can Thursdays at Citizen Cider ($10)
12:30 PM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club ($6)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Friendly Game of Bridge at Heineberg Senior Center (Free)
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Knit for Your Neighbors at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Whole Health Connect: Justin Morgan-Parmett at Osher Center for Integrative Health (Free)
4:00 PM & 7:00 PM: VTIFF Screening: "Blue Heron" (2025) at Main Street Landing Film House ($6–$12)
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Legal Services Law Line Open House at Legal Services Law Line of Vermont (Free)
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Spanish Conversation Group at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:00 PM: Thursday Happy Hour at Lincoln's, Burlington
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Volunteer & Mates Orientation at Community Sailing Center (Free; preregister)
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Solarpunk Book Club & Game Night at Peace & Justice Center (Free)
5:30 PM: Revamp the Garden at 128 Intervale Rd, Burlington
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Pop-Up Happy Hour (LGBTQ+) at Lincoln's (Free)
5:45 PM: Café Sci: "AI + Medicine" at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain ($10 suggested donation)
6:00 PM: Understanding Cannabis with Dr. Riley Kirk at Phoenix Books, Burlington ($3–$4.43; preregister)
6:00 PM: Trivia Night at 1st Republic Brewing (Free)
6:00 PM: Trivia at Einstein's Tap House (Free)
6:00 PM: Trivia Night at Four Quarters Brewing (Free)
6:00 PM: Trivia at Vermont Cider Lab, Essex (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Give–Eat–Love: Family Room Fundraiser at O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington ($65; preregister)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Mary Jane Owens Art Reception at Saint Michael's College (Free)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Peer Support Dungeons & Dragons at Morgan House (Free)
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Braver Angels Chittenden County Welcome Conversation at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
7:00 PM: Comedy Open Mic Night Part V at Frost Beer Works (Free)
Music Bingo at The Lazy Goat Tavern, Essex
Performances
7:00 PM: Kingdom Kids Show & Jam at Vermont Comedy Club ($5 / Free for students with ID)
7:30 PM: 'Rhinoceros' by Vermont Stage at Main Street Landing ($34–$54 sliding scale)
7:30 PM: 'WHITE' Theater Production at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($14–$35)
7:30 PM: The Price Is Right Live! at The Flynn ($38.36–$274.45)
Live Music/DJ
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Eleanor Freebern, harp at Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Dan Parks at On Tap Bar & Grill
7:00 PM: Sparks the Rescue with Taken Alive & Major Moment at Higher Ground, South Burlington
7:00 PM: Songs In The Key Of Crisis: Bob Dylan & Bruce Springsteen (Dustin Lowman) at Pierson Library, Shelburne (Free)
8:00 PM: The Suitcase Junket at Light Club Lamp Shop / Radio Bean ($15 adv / $20 dos; 21+)
8:00 PM: Karaoke Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill (Free)
10:00 PM: Thirty Thursday DJ Night at Rí Rá Irish Pub (Free)
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!
That's your week, Btown. Plenty to get into whether you're dodging raindrops or soaking up Tuesday's warmth while it lasts. If something in here caught your eye, do the folks putting it on a favor and show up. And if you read the full articles linked above, even better.
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