New Wednesday Editions! Monday and Friday are reserved for news and events. Wednesdays are for everything else worth highlighting.

Wednesday evening's wrapping up with lingering snow showers, mostly sticking to the mountains where another 2–4 inches piled up today. Roads may still be slushy from last night's heavier stuff, so drive accordingly. Temps are sitting in the upper 20s to low 30s. Thursday dries out with some breaks of sunshine by the afternoon, though it'll be chilly in the mid-20s. Friday stays similar: upper 20s to low 30s with a mix of sun and clouds. A quick burst of snow rolls through Friday night into Saturday, but if you've got Valentine's Day plans, you're in luck: Saturday during the day looks dry with sun returning and temps in the upper 20s to low 30s. Sunday is where the warmup kicks in with low to mid-30s and dry skies. Presidents' Day Monday gets interesting with a wintry mix heading our way. Valleys could see rain with highs pushing into the upper 30s. By next week, we're looking at consistently milder temps in the 30s to around 40 with no major storms on the horizon.

Sometimes you don’t want to read, you want to listen. So if you enjoy local podcasts about Vermont, you might enjoy this recent episode:

Burlington’s favorite DJ, theKwameVibe just dropped a heartfelt episode, on behalf of the Btown Brief, aptly named Btown Arts Presents, and it hits different knowing this is the podcast's debut. Kwame sits down with Kyle Thompson, better known as DJ Fattie B, in his small-town Vermont home for a conversation that starts with a board game and ends up somewhere much deeper. Thompson, former frontman of Beliz Baja, graphic designer, and a legitimate fixture of Burlington's music scene for over 30 years, has created a card game called Drop the Needle, born out of his podcast Threesome, where local figures share stories behind three songs that shaped their lives. The game's premise is deceptively simple: read a prompt, answer with a song and a story, and let the room decide which one hits hardest. But what makes this episode land is how Thompson got there.

A few years back, a serious health scare put Thompson in a hospital bed at UVM, staring out a window at midnight, deep in a pity spiral he's honest enough to call exactly that. Then a message came through from a kid named Reese, a young fan with his own life-threatening heart condition, who had met Thompson once at a show and wanted him to know he was thinking of him. That moment broke something open. Thompson grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down everything he wanted to do if his time was running short. The collaborative album Gumbo came from that list. It won Vermont's record of the year. All proceeds went to Boston Children's Hospital, where Reese was being treated.

Now the game is next on the list, with plans to sell through mom-and-pop shops across Vermont and a partnership with Musicians on Call to bring Drop the Needle into hospital rooms where terminal patients can share song-driven memories with their families in their final days. But Thompson isn't stopping there. He casually reveals something nobody has heard yet: he's building an app called In My Own Voice, designed to let families record and preserve stories from loved ones before they're gone, modeled after an old-school 1980s answering machine. Record, save, send. Three buttons. Imagine asking your grandfather to tell you a story from junior high, and years later your whole family has a cloud full of those voices. The whole episode is a masterclass in what happens when a creative person almost loses everything and decides to stop waiting. Listen to this one here.

Today, News Talk WVMT's Morning Drive with Anthony and Dan sat down with Adam Locklin, the newly appointed District Director for the Vermont Small Business Administration, and the conversation turned into something of a public service announcement that every Vermont small business owner needs to hear. Right now the SBA has two open disaster recovery declarations for the 2025 drought covering nearly every Vermont county except Caledonia and Orange, offering loans up to $2 million at a fixed 4% rate with application deadlines running through late August and September. You don't have to have been directly hit by the drought to qualify either. If your business took a dip because of it, you might be eligible. The only businesses the SBA can't touch on this one are farmers and ranchers, who fall under the USDA.

But Locklin came with more than disaster relief numbers. He walked through the full scope of what the SBA actually does in Vermont, and it's broader than most people realize. Free training and events. Mentorship through SCORE, a corps of retired executives who've been in the trenches and can look at your blind spots. Federal contracting support. Export guidance for businesses drowning in tariff paperwork. And loans that go up to $5 million for businesses with as many as 500 employees, which stretches the definition of "small" further than you'd expect. Locklin pointed out that 99% of Vermont businesses are small businesses and that one in 11 jobs in the state is a manufacturing job. The SBA's recent lending in Vermont alone totaled around $83 million across everything from construction firms to, yes, a dolls and toys operation.

What really stood out was Locklin describing the SBA's Office of Advocacy, which is actively sending people into states like Vermont to run roundtables with manufacturers, meat producers, and small business owners, collecting unfiltered feedback on federal policies that are creating roadblocks, and routing it directly to the White House through the SBA's cabinet-level position. When Anthony and Dan pressed him on whether Washington genuinely wants to hear from a state like Vermont, Locklin didn't flinch. Even the uncomfortable stuff, he said. If you want in, reach out by searching "SBA Vermont" online. This one's worth the 19 minutes.

It's been a packed week across Vermont's podcast landscape. Vermont Edition delivered a full slate of meaty, 50-minute episodes: a conversation about raising happy, healthy boys in today's world paired with reporter Carly Berlin's look at a new state initiative to spur housing construction; a deep dive into what it'll take to finally build UVM a new athletic center now that college athletes can cash in on their name, image, and likeness; a timely examination of school boards reckoning with looming district consolidation; and a moving episode touching on Vermont's Olympic-bound athletes alongside the detention of Colchester asylum seeker Steven Tendo after his shift at the UVM Medical Center. Over on The Frequency, a run of digestible episodes kept listeners current, from measles virus detected in Washington County wastewater and what to watch for, cross-country skier Jack Young heading to the Milan Cortina Olympics, Capitol reporter Carly Berlin breaking down efforts to overhaul Act 250, possible changes coming to Vermont's cannabis industry, a faith community rallying behind a detained Ugandan pastor, and a Valentine's-timed look at love in all its forms alongside a new federal waiver nudging SNAP recipients toward healthier purchases. The Morning Drive on WVMT maintained its reliable drumbeat of newsmaker interviews throughout the week, welcoming SBA Vermont director Adam Locklin, state Rep. Rob North on land use rule changes and Act 181, the American Red Cross's Dan Dowling on a concerning blood shortage, Vermont Federal Credit Union's Peter Winch spotlighting the VFCU Foundation, Matt Cota with an energy and transportation policy update from Montpelier, legendary reporter Mike Donoghue discussing his latest stories, and a substantial sit-down with Lt. Governor John Rogers on the current legislative session. There's No "A" in Creemee brought a nearly hour-long conversation with young organizers Taylor Garner and Natalie Julow — equal parts inspiration and reality check on what the next generation can teach Vermont about its oldest problems. Vermont This Week gathered the state's top journalists with moderator Mitch Wertlieb to unpack Supreme Court nominees, a Rutland wrongful death lawsuit, and Governor Scott's push to ban junk food purchases with SNAP benefits. Load-in Through The Back celebrated its 99th episode with a conversation with the Infamous Stringdusters' singer and banjo player, and United In Green marked the arrival of new co-host Sara with a nearly hour-long discussion alongside journalist Meg Linehan about the Vermont Green FC women's team and the broader conversation around breaking the silence in women's soccer.

Find all the different podcasts by visiting this page I made of local Vermont podcasts

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Help Capture the Magic: Volunteer Photographer & Videographer Needed!

The Janet S. Munt Family Room is hosting its first major fundraising event on May 7 in Burlington, and they are looking for a professional photographer and videographer to help document the joyful evening. By donating your time and talent for just two hours, you’ll help showcase the community celebration that funds their free, family-centered programs.

If you (or someone you know) would like to help capture these special memories, be sure to reach out!

Contact: Laurie Keve at [email protected] or 802-440-0531.

Check out this volunteer page for links to find volunteer opportunities all around Burlington.

Someone in the r/burlington subreddit asked the question “Cheap eats?” and it received 67 comments. Rankings are based on the net upvotes of recommending comments. Here’s what I tallied:

Check out the post here for every answer: Reddit Post

Check out the previous polls I tallied: ”Best of” Btown Eats Polls Archive

Do you agree? If not, send me your favorite recommendation by replying to this email!

This Week’s Food & Drink Picks

View the full list of food & drink deals here.

Have corrections? Email me at [email protected]

Someone started this spreadsheet for the most up-to-date.

Help grow it! Add your deal here.

Five more to help you make the most of Burlington:

Start with a walk at Ethan Allen Park where the wooded trails and stone tower give you a quiet reset without leaving town. Stop into August First for a pastry and coffee and enjoy a slower pace while the cold settles in outside. Visit the South End and browse the Soda Plant’s small shops and studios for an easy indoor wander, plus their new collage exhibit is up. Take a short drive to Shelburne Bay Park for a brisk shoreline walk where the lake feels wide and calm this time of year. End the evening at Vermont Comedy Club for something warm, lively, and indoors while the sun sets early.

Full list’s always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do

Let’s look a little further out and see what events are worth keeping on your radar:

Valentine's Day Eat Pie & Ice Cream Event – Saturday, February 14th

For those seeking a sweet and casual way to celebrate, Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream is hosting a "Pie & Ice Cream" event at their Shelburne farm this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The farm is offering a special price of $8.50 for a serving of their signature ice cream paired with pie.. perfect for a non-traditional Valentine's breakfast, lunch, or snack. In addition to the treats, the event features a card-making station with supplies provided so you can craft a handmade note for your sweetheart. It’s also a great opportunity to pick up specialty items like their "Layers of Love" pints or fresh wellness syrups to take home.

Lane Series: Nella – Friday, February 13th

The University of Vermont Recital Hall welcomes Latin Grammy winner Nella this Friday at 7:30 p.m.. Known for her powerhouse vocals and "swoon-worthy" lyrics, the Venezuelan-born artist brings a soul-stirring performance that blends her native folklore with modern pop sensibilities. Tickets for this intimate evening of music range from $5 to $35.

Vermont Symphony Orchestra: "Love Notes" – Saturday, February 14th

Celebrate Valentine's Day at the Flynn Main Stage with a sweeping orchestral program titled "Love Notes". Grammy Award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh headlines a performance that bridges the gap between the Romantic era and modern American classics, featuring works by Philip Glass, Frank Zappa, and Georges Bizet. For those looking to elevate the date night, "sweetheart" add-ons are available, including Lake Champlain Chocolates, roses, and post-concert wine tastings. The concert begins at 3 p.m., with tickets starting at $9.

Mardi Gras Party – Tuesday, February 17th

Hotel Vermont is set to transform into a slice of the Big Easy next Tuesday evening from 7 to 10 p.m.. This high-energy celebration features live Cajun and Zydeco tunes from Yankee Chank and Mango Jam, paired with authentic Cajun snacks and plenty of room for dancing. Tickets are $15, making it an affordable way to catch the Mardi Gras spirit in downtown Burlington.

Burton Winter Jam – Friday, February 20th

Winter sports enthusiasts and spectators alike should head to Finney Quad for the Burton Winter Jam. Starting at 6 p.m., Champlain College students and community members (ages 14+) will compete in a ski and snowboard face-off for cash prizes. The event is free to attend, though competitors must preregister and wear helmets. It’s a quintessential Burlington winter scene, complete with high-flying tricks and community energy.

Wintervale – Sunday, February 22nd

The Intervale Center hosts its annual Wintervale festival on Sunday, February 22nd, offering a family-friendly escape into the snowy landscape. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees can enjoy a variety of free activities, including snowshoeing, wildlife tracking, and live raptor programming. To keep the winter chill at bay, the event also features a community chili cook-off. It is a perfect way to embrace the outdoors before the spring thaw begins.

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