How to walk into an art gallery
By Anita Rafael Yes—many people absolutely cannot do it! Perhaps they’re too shy, or maybe they feel inadequately conversant about art in general to go to a gallery or an exhibition opening. Good news: browsing art galleries and open studios is supposed to be nothing like retail shopping. No one expects you to pop in and buy something the first time, or even every time. Here’s what to do: Rustle up some curiosity and open the door. ...
Weddings in Southern Vermont: Your special day, our special place
Couples come from near and far to exchange their vows in Vermont. From intimate elopements to grand celebrations, Southern Vermont naturally inspires romance. Whether you prefer cozy country inns, rustic barns and farms, or grand resorts and mansions, it’s no wonder we’re one of the most popular wedding destinations. Who can resist a drive through charming historic villages, timeless covered bridges, perfect fall foliage or...
Winter Farmers’ Markets
Bennington Bennington Winter Farmers’ Market First and third Saturday, 10a–1p First Baptist Church on East Main http://www.benningtonfarmersmarket.org Brattleboro Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 10a–2p The River Garden, downtown http://www.brattleboroareafarmersmarket.com Dorset Dorset Winter Farmers’ Market Sundays, 10a–2p J.K. Adams Kitchen Store on Route 30 http://www.dorsetfarmersmarket.com Montpelier Capital City...
Top food trends now in Southern Vermont
By Nicole Colson Cuisine trends are always a hot topic, but social media, which emerged in full force over the past decade, has revolutionized the way we view the food we eat. Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, Urbanspoon, and Grubhub have created a generation of “foodies,” those who dine out as a hobby. Many leave online reviews; others just post photos of their favorite dishes. Because anyone can be a critic, social media has leveled the...
A toast: Popping the cork on a keeper
By Marty Ramsburg Happy 10th anniversary to SO Vermont Arts & Living. That the issue is centered on anniversaries makes writing about sparkling wine a natural choice. Sparkling wine has been associated with celebrations since 496, when a Champenois warlord named Clovis defeated the Romans, carving out a mini-state around Reims, one of Champagne’s principal cities.The wine served for that occasion was local. From that year forward,...
A fortunate life: Morning coffee with artists Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason
By Joyce Marcel In the summer, artists Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason live and paint in paradise: a blessed hillside in Southern Vermont. At 90, Kahn is a colorist; Mason, 85, is an abstract painter whose focus is color. The rest of the year the treasured members of the Windham County community live in New York City, where they each have a studio. They arrived in Brattleboro somewhat accidentally. In 1967, the couple began looking for a...
Scott MacDonald: A man, a plan, and lots of guitars
By Meg Brazill Imagine a cabin at the edge of a woods with everything at the ready, even freshly brewed coffee. Light filters in through a canopy of trees. Outside, it’s noisy with birdsong and the rustle of wildlife just out of view. Scott MacDonald, who makes and repairs guitars and stringed instruments, turned his dream to reality this year: he pounded the last nail in place and moved his luthier business of 25 years from Long...
Out of the studio: Craft tour artists talk about living with art
By Ann C. Landenberger Beautiful, functional and now local. Using handmade objects in the home continues to be a pleasure. Now with emphasis on the benefits of upcycled, recycled, and environmentally green artwork, careful selection allows us to be socially responsible too. The fact that buying from Vermont artists puts money back into the Vermont economy makes this an even better action for the homeowner, the artist, and the...
Wine Observed: Smitten by Grüner Veltliner, our introduction to Austrian wines
By Marty Ramsburg One of the great things about owning a wine shop is that we have to try a lot of different wines. (I must say here that the greatest thing about owning a shop—hands down—remains our terrific, interesting and loyal customers. I am sorry if it sounds like pandering, but it is nonetheless true). We first became enamored with Austrian wines in 2006 just after we opened Windham Wines. Until then, we drank wines made...
Design Observed: New theaters design the experience
It’s been a momentous year for two venerable Southern Vermont performing arts institutions. The Weston Playhouse Theater Company and the Brattleboro Music Center both embarked on ambitious building projects that resulted in state-of-the-art performing arts centers that recently opened, which will allow both facilities to expand their offerings, provide enhanced audience experience and take them into the future. By Katherine P. Cox...
Retail grace: Brattleboro merchants import goods with rich backstories
By Nicole Colson When we give businesses our patronage—in, say, grabbing a cup of coffee on the way to work, looking for a special gift, or picking out home decor—most of us probably don’t give much thought to the stories behind the products we buy. It might surprise us to learn that several downtown Brattleboro retailers help populations around the world land an education, feed their families, and make a decent wage for a better...
39th Annual Putney Craft Tour
Putney enjoys one of the most exciting concentrations of artists in the state. A wealth of artists came to the area in the 1960s and ’70s as part of the back-to-the-land movement and put down roots. Each year for three days at Thanksgiving many of these artists open their studios to the public as part of the Putney Craft Tour, the country’s oldest continuously run craft tour. If this isn’t part of your fall tradition yet it soon might...
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Southern Vermont Arts & Living chronicles the innovative culture and sophisticated country lifestyle of Southern Vermont.
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