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New Wednesday Editions! Monday and Friday are reserved for news and events. Wednesdays are for everything else worth highlighting.
Just launched my new webpage, The Btown Hub.
Just launched my new webpage, The Btown Hub. On this webpage, you’ll find the ultimate digital toolbox for Burlington living. It’s designed a one-stop shop designed to keep you connected to the pulse of the city, with the Daily Feed front and center, so you can come back everyday to the links worth visiting. From there we have Weekly Feed, News/Events, Food, Essential Instagram Roster, Favorite Newsletters.
Whether you're looking for real-time local news feeds and city council summaries, hunting for the best happy hour deals on Church Street, or wanting to jump into our community group chats and daily news trivia, everything in the Btown universe is now in one place. It’s built to cut through the digital noise and give you the essential links you actually need to own your week in this beautiful little city. I’m super proud of its progress. Check it out here.
On top of that, also welcome my very own Btown Basketball League (BBL):
I’m incredibly excited to announce the official launch of the Btown Basketball League (BBL)! Starting April 29th, we are kicking off a 6-week, low-cost ($20) Wednesday night league designed for serious, competitive full-court 5v5 runs. To make sure everyone gets plenty of playing time, we cap rosters at just seven players and carefully balancing teams based on skill level, with everyone battling it out for a championship pizza party and free tees. But beyond the Wednesday night standings, my real vision is to build a vibrant, inclusive summer community right here in Burlington. I want to create a space where people can bring food, hang out with friends, and genuinely enjoy a great night around the courts, even if you're just watching from the sidelines grilling up hot dogs. Best of all, you don't need to commit to an official league roster to be part of this. We've set up a dedicated citywide group chat specifically to organize casual pickup runs all week long, ensuring that everyone has a chance to hoop, connect, and soak in the summer atmosphere. Check out the homepage here: Btown Basketball League (BBL).
Instagram Pickup Groupchat here: https://ig.me/j/AbYIB0NbclLYE1f5/
Now onto the regularly scheduled programming:
Podcast Picks of the Week:
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:
Vermont Public's listener-driven podcast Brave Little State tackled a question that's something of a third rail in the Northeast Kingdom: what's the deal with that massive asbestos mine on Belvidere Mountain? Reporter Burgess Brown digs into the full arc of the Vermont Asbestos Group mine, which at its peak was the only domestic source of asbestos in the country, employed hundreds of locals across three shifts, and was eventually bought by its own workers in the 1970s when the original owners decided new safety regulations weren't worth the investment. That detail alone is staggering. These miners knew the risks were mounting and bought the operation anyway, because the jobs were that important to communities where there was basically nothing else.
But the real tension in this episode isn't about the mine's heyday. It's about what happened after it closed in 1993, leaving behind 30 million tons of asbestos-laced tailings on the mountainside. When the state Department of Health released a study in 2008 linking proximity to the mine with elevated cancer risk, residents in Eden and Lowell were terrified and furious. Then the department admitted the study had errors and walked back its major finding on lung cancer. A local resident named Leslie White personally combed through death certificates in surrounding towns and testified before the Legislature, helping to show that every asbestosis death the state cited could be traced to occupational exposure, not to living nearby. The damage to community trust was already done. As one resident put it at a packed public meeting, it was "like yelling fire in a theater" without proving there was a fire.
The episode lands in a place that's honest and a little unsettling. The EPA's stopgap measures from two decades ago are holding for now, keeping the tailings in place and the community safe. But the site manager admits plainly that nobody knows if this is a forever solution. Proposals to repurpose the land, like building a solar farm, run into the same wall: you can't do much without disturbing those piles, and that would take the kind of money and cleanup effort the towns already voted down. It's a story with no tidy ending, and at about 27 minutes, it's well worth the listen.
Local Podcast Roundup
This week in Vermont podcasting, the fallout from the March 11 ICE enforcement action in South Burlington has dominated the airwaves: The Frequency has been tracking the story almost daily, from a judge ruling that immigrants' due process rights were violated, to police-activist clashes on Dorset Street, to revelations that ICE initially pursued the wrong man, while also delivering a sports check-in, a Capitol Recap on lawmakers' efforts to curb property tax hikes, a report on three women accusing former Rep. Hooper of unwanted touching, and a lovely segment on singing with Bread and Puppet Theater. 802 News with Mark Johnson devoted over ninety minutes to state and local police defending their roles in the raid, a commitment of time that matches the weight of the story. Vermont This Week gathered the state's top journalists to unpack law enforcement scrutiny alongside health care legislation and transportation funding. Over on There's No "A" in Creemee, Joanna and Andy sat down with Molly Gray to discuss the lieutenant governor's race, the ICE crisis, and a maple syrup heist, and also shared a short clip with Seven Days reporter Alison Novak on Vermont education reform. Vermont Edition covered remarkable range, from the new Vermont National Guard leader's stance on unlawful orders, to the future of GLP-1 weight loss drug coverage as insurers pull back, to a charming At Home visit with Guster frontman Ryan Miller in Williston, plus features on local Arabic-to-English translation efforts at the Upper Valley's new Commonsense House imprint, Vermont's Irish immigrant history for St. Patrick's Day, and Senate leader Phil Baruth reflecting on his upcoming retirement. The Morning Drive on WVMT kept its steady rotation of newsmakers, hosting Governor Phil Scott for his monthly check-in, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Republican Party Chair Paul Dame, Vermont Healthcare 911 Chair Chris Pearson on reference-based pricing, state employees' association director Steve Howard, legendary reporter Mike Donoghue on the latest stories, and legislators Brenda Steady, Doug Bishop, and Rob Roper on the session and election integrity. The Octagon welcomed the founders of Green Mountain Distillers, who shared how they went from head brewers at The Shed in Stowe to launching their own craft spirits operation. And for soccer fans, United in Green broke down Vermont Green FC's dominant USOC performance against Portland Hearts of Pine in a lively hour-plus episode.
Find all the different podcasts by visiting this page I made of local Vermont podcasts
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“Best of” Burlington Eats: Best Pancakes in Chittenden
Someone in The Dine In/To Go Tour Facebook group asked the question “looking for the best place to have pancakes in chittenden county” and it received 40 comments. Rankings are based on the net upvotes of recommending comments. Here’s what I tallied:
Top Recommendations:
JP's Diner And Deli: 13
Palmer's Sugarhouse: 9
The Dutch Mill: 9
Athens Diner: 9
Firebird Cafe: 6
Erica's Village Diner: 5
The Pinwheel: 3
The Friendly Toast: 2
Sneakers Bistro: 2
Check out the post here for every answer: The Dine In/To Go Tour pancake post
Just turned the list beautiful! Check out the news webpage!!
”Best of” Btown Eats Polls Archive
Eating Out On A Budget (Food & Drink Deals)
This Week’s Food & Drink Picks
Monday: ½ price burgers at Skinny Pancake and half-off wine bottles at The Daily Planet.
Tuesday: BOGO 50% off traditional wings at Buffalo Wild Wings and $5 full draft pours at Black Flannel.
Wednesday: $6 select sushi rolls at City Market and $5 Zero Gravity beers at The Monkey House.
Thursday: $10 for two slices of pizza and a Pilsner at Burlington Beer Co. and $1 off Fiddlehead pints at Church Street Tavern.
Friday: $2 oysters at Hen of the Wood (4–5 PM) and $5 Fiddlehead drafts at Shelburne Taphouse.
Saturday: 91¢ wings and a $5 burger at RJ's (4–8 PM) and $5 Michelob Ultras or Bud Lights at Church Street Tavern.
Sunday: A $10 patty melt at May Day and $2 Lite Beers at Onion City Chicken & Oyster.
Just turned the list beautiful! Now I just need to work on calling each and every restaurant. View the 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.
202+ Things to Do in Burlington
In the works: expanding it to 1,001 things to do in Burlington/surrounding area. It’s in the works! Til then, enjoy the new webpage I call, The Hub.
In the meantime, five more to match that right-before-spring energy when things start to open back up: Start with a walk through Oakledge Park where the paths begin to clear and you can finally linger by the water again without rushing back inside. Stop into Burlington Farmers Market while it’s running indoors and get a feel for the season starting to shift in terms of produce available. Visit the South End and wander Pine Street where shops, studios, and breweries feel a little more alive as people come out of winter mode. Head to the Intervale for a quick loop and look for the first signs of green pushing through. Finish with a sunset at Battery Park where the air is still cool but the longer daylight makes it feel like spring is right there.
Full list’s always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do
Double Reminder: Just launched my new webpage, The Btown Hub.
Just launched my new webpage, The Btown Hub. On this webpage, you’ll find the ultimate digital toolbox for Burlington living. It’s designed a one-stop shop designed to keep you connected to the pulse of the city, with the Daily Feed front and center, so you can come back everyday to the links worth visiting. From there we have Weekly Feed, News/Events, Food, Essential Instagram Roster, Favorite Newsletters.
Top Recent Reddit Posts this Week:
Check out my new Yard Sign in the background. That’s big money right there!
Further Out Events To Keep on Your Radar:
I had a bunch of readers send in their events this week. Here’s what they sent:
Events Coming Up Soon:
Celebrate maple season this Thursday at Bar Renée with a special Maple-Themed Listening Party! Organized by the Vermont Folklife Center, this unique audio event is the perfect mid-week excuse to grab a great drink and immerse yourself in the rich, sweet history and stories of Vermont's favorite export.
Rock Point School is opening its doors for a free, two-day celebration of student creativity. Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. features a campus-wide visual and digital art exhibition where you can meet the student artists and enjoy light refreshments. If theater is more your speed, head back on Saturday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for original ten-minute plays completely written, acted, and designed by students in collaboration with the Vermont Young Playwrights' Project. Good luck Abbey BK!
Further Out Events To Keep on Your Radar:
Get ready for some laughs at the Light Club Lamp Shop next Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. New York-based comedian Nick Viagas (a finalist in the New York Comedy Festival’s "New York's Funniest" competition) is bringing his stand-up to Burlington. Tickets are just $10 for an all-ages evening of top-tier comedy.
Get your hands dirty at Mudcraft Studio in Colchester this April! They are hosting a beginner-friendly "Pottery Date Night" on Friday, April 3rd from 6 to 8 p.m. ($110 per couple) where you can learn to throw on the wheel. They are also hosting "Paint-Your-Own Giving Plates" on select Thursdays (April 1, 8, and 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon). For $25, you can decorate a handmade ceramic plate designed to be passed along to a neighbor or friend in need of some extra care.
If you're passionate about protecting Vermont's trails and love chatting with fellow hikers, the Green Mountain Club is looking for Trailhead Stewards! Volunteers take flexible 4-hour shifts at the Lincoln Gap trailhead or the Mount Mansfield Visitor Center to help orient hikers and protect endangered alpine plants. If you'd rather get your hands dirty, they are also hosting group trail work days on weekends throughout May to help prep the trails for the summer season.
Here is the newly updated and expanded Burlington City Pulse! I combed back through the feed to ensure we didn't miss any of the niche local drama, community questions, and hidden gems from the past 6 days.
Burlington City Pulse:
The locals on r/Burlington had a lot to say this week. Here’s the ultimate round-up of what the community has been talking about over the last 6 days:
🌦️ Weather, Safety & City Operations
Snow & Slush Sabotage: An afternoon snow burst caused chaos this week, leading to flooded intersections and beltway closures. Naturally, this sparked PSAs to clean off your car roofs and complaints that people drive better drunk than in the snow.
BTV Airport Chaos: Travelers are fed up with insane early morning TSA lines, prompting folks to debate whether to fly out of BTV or Boston. Rumors swirled about the airport potentially shutting down, and someone else is asking what sounded like a 5:19 AM shuttle launch taking off from the runway. Amidst the chaos, there's a Food Drive going on for TSA workers.
Local Menaces & Mysteries: Watch out for the Parking Witch with ear muffs on St. Paul street, and pedestrians are warning each other about a white Tesla with tinted windows aggressively stopping and flooring it at crosswalks. Meanwhile, the whole county was wondering if they drove past a massive skunk or if someone was just smoking loud between SB and Essex.
🗳️ Civic & Political
ICE Raid Fallout: Tensions are high following a recent ICE raid in South Burlington. The community is buzzing with Rake's coverage of local police involvement, questions about who can legally charge ICE agents, and messages of solidarity coming all the way from Buffalo.
City Council Watch: Monday's city council meeting covered a packed agenda including withheld body cam footage. Residents are rallying each other to show up and demand accountability.
Political Allegations: A news article was circulated detailing allegations of unwanted touching against former Rep. Bob Hooper by three women.
Housing & Slumlords: It's the ultimate battle of the slumlords (Bove vs. Handy). Meanwhile, Champlain Housing Trust residents are questioning where a reported $10M surplus is going, and Redstone Management is taking heat from frustrated renters.
🏘️ Community News & Milestones
Highway Hopes: After literal decades of waiting, the Champlain Parkway is reportedly opening in a few months.
State of the Lake: It's time for the Champlain State of the Lake meeting, tackling everything from sea lampreys to water quality.
Childcare Investigation: Locals are searching for answers after DCF closed the Frog and Toad childcare center for an investigation.
Checking In: A resident is checking in to make sure Tim, the former night worker at Old North End Variety, is doing okay after noticing he no longer works there.
🍔 Local Eats & Business Buzz
Pizza & Asian Eats: The hunt is on for the best slice of pizza to go and the most crispy, spicy General Tso's chicken in the area.
Restaurant Rumors: Is Zachary's on Williston Rd closing, or just the game room? Has The Shopping Bag survived its new ownership? Why did Gadues seem to urgently close at 3pm? And everyone is anxiously awaiting the openings of Cafe Napoli and Pizzeria Corinna.
Nectar's Mystery: The lights have been spotted on inside Nectar's, sparking hopes and rumors of renovations or a reopening.
Curio Pool: Guests and locals are trying to figure out if the Curio Lake Champlain pool is closed for renovations.
🎭 Events & Things To Do
Maple Everything: It's Maple Open House Weekend across the state, and Church Street is celebrating Maple Madness.
Mixers, Markets, & Conferences: Check out the Connections at The Venetian singles mixer or the Sapphic / wlw community events. Shoppers hit the Vintage Clothing Market at the Umall, and the NextGENerator Youth Maker Market is coming up on March 28. Also, register for the upcoming ReuseApalooza Conference!
Sports & Sights: Locals were asking where to watch the UVM women’s basketball game and plotting World Cup viewing parties. Keep your eyes to the sky, because Northern lights might be visible in Vermont!
Punk, Cinema, & Arts: Odd Fellows is hosting a massive Indie/Emo Punk show, cinephiles are rallying people to go see "Dance Freak" at Partizanfilm, and there's a Red Hat Knitting Circle happening at Generator.
🗣️ On People's Minds
Medical Sticker Shock: A local vented about a jaw-dropping $650 charge for routine bloodwork at UVM.
Road Rules: A genuine debate kicked off asking why runners choose the road/bike lane over the sidewalk.
Finding Community: Folks are looking to connect, including calls for Art Friends for the 30's+, bi-racial trans parents seeking community, a 25-year-old couple moving to town asking for tips, and someone looking for a buddy to help train their leash reactive dog.
🔍 Lost & Found / Community Bulletin
Cat Watch 2026: It's a busy week for felines. Locals are trying to identify cats on King Street, George/Peru St, and wandering the South End.
Lost & Found: Keep an eye out for a missing baby doll named Tony in the South End. On the plus side, someone found and turned in an iPhone in the North End.
Missed Connections: Someone is hoping to reconnect with a fellow traveler from an ORD-BTV flight (even though they gave them a concussion?).
Favors & Freebies: Someone is trying to secure a Trader Joe's lavender tote bag, someone is giving away a slightly defective acrylic tub, Nick Offerman tickets are up for grabs, and a local barber is offering free haircuts to help a new employee practice.
❓ Highly Specific Local Q&A
Locals are desperately seeking:
Recommendations for a teen's belly button piercing after getting weird vibes that Yankee Tattoo stopped doing them.
An arcade that has the classic "Stacker" prize game.
An affordable dentist for someone without insurance.
A local place to buy postage stamps and places that give out birthday freebies.
A Registered Dietician outside the UVM network and a doctor who treats MCAS.
📋 Resources & Opportunities
Calling all Artists & Makers: Generator Makerspace is hiring a Jewelry Instructor, and Muse Gallery in Barre is putting out a call for submissions from art teachers.
Summer Camps & Skills: There's a Roller derby camp for kids this summer, and Zero Gravity is hosting a FREE Bike & Gear Repair Series starting in April.
Share this newsletter with everyone you know that’s interested in all things Burlington! 5 referrals gets you your own shoutout on the newsletter.
