A Place at the Table: Bellows Falls’ Popolo Restaurant Feeds the Future
By Nicole Colson In the case of Popolo, it truly did take a village to open a restaurant. The neo-rustic Italian farm-to-table eatery in downtown Bellows Falls, named for the Italian word for “people,” came into existence because of the people who wanted a stake in the future of their community. “We went door to door asking people if they wanted to participate,” said Gary Smith, one of the restaurant’s three founding partners. The...
Impeccable pedigree: Windham Antiques Center puts Bellows Falls on the map
By Katherine P. Cox It’s a classic story: visitors to Vermont stop in a small town or village and are smitten with its charm and beauty. Next thing you know, they’ve left their old life behind and moved here for good. It was a simple stop for gas that changed Michael Bruno’s life. Some 10 years ago, Bruno, 35 who grew up on Long Island, N.Y., was working as a gemologist for Tiffany & Co. in Manhattan. Passing through Bellows...
Mountains of art: Autumn hiking along the Long Trail and West River Trail
By Jen Williams Chasing along the spine of the Green Mountains, southern Vermont towns that were once primarily farming and ski communities are today some of the state’s most vital arts and outdoors hubs. Indeed, it is the land itself that has both inspired and fully integrated the arts into its environment. Here, you’ll find the best of both worlds: a nature escape and cultural immersion. Visit vibrant villages with enriching arts....
Wine Observed: An Apple a Day
By Marty Ramsburg Eleanor Leger dropped by our shop, Windham Wines, with a bottle of the first vintage of Eden Ice Cider eight years ago. I took one sip and knew that we would be cheerleaders. Eden Ice Cider was delicious then and its new iterations have raised the high bar even higher. Ice cider is a dessert wine based on the same concept of ice wines: freezing the berry or, in the case of apples, the cider, to crystallize the water...
Masterworks maker: Frances Alford’s lifetime of creativity
By Meg Brazill Seated in her sunny living room, Frances Holliday Alford asks lots of questions before talking about herself and her work. When she does, it’s clear that making art and the process of finding a path to art making affect her deeply. She is inquisitive and insightful—and always on the lookout to extend her community. Piecing a Narrative Alford is an internationally known fiber artist who makes her home in Grafton, a few...
Open Studios
38th Annual Putney Craft Tour, Top Ten Vermont Winter Event Various locations around Putney http://www.putneycrafts.com Nov 25-27: Spend Thanksgiving weekend at our craft, culinary, and stage event, meandering our back roads, purchasing one-of-a-kind crafts, eating fabulous food, drinking local wine, and taking in a performance at two at our local theaters. For the third year running, the Putney Craft Tour is voted one of Vermont’s...
Columbus Day
Honora Winery Grape Stomp Honora Winery, Jacksonville honoragrapestomp.com Oct 8: Bring the kids and enjoy the harvest feeling. Demonstrations and sales from local farmers, craft makers, artisans, and food vendors; banjo and washboard music; crisp fall air and amazing views of southern Vermont from the vineyards of Honora Winery. Sip wine created at our boutique right on the property. Live music both days. 12-5p. Stratton Columbus Day...
Pumpkin Fests
32nd Townshend Pumpkin Festival Townshend, on the Common http://www.townshenvermont.org OCT 15: The Pumpkin Festival is a country fair with a craft show, pumpkin decorating contest, Halloween costume parade, best pumpkin pie contest, food vendors, and free pony rides for kids during Vermont’s foliage season. Buy pumpkin pie whole or by the piece. Manchester Pumpkin Festival Equinox Valley Nursery, Manchester...
Festivals
Brattleboro Bacon Fest Fairgrounds in Guilford http://www.facebook.com/brattleborobaconfest Sept 17: Enjoy all things bacon! There will be bacon beer, samples from many different vendors, Brattleboro Baconfest, “Bacon, Blues, and Brews,” and brought to you by Classic Hits 92.7 WKVT and the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce. 11a. River Valley Kids Fair Brattleboro Common http://www.windhamchildcare.org Sept 17: Family-fun events,...
Farmers’ markets
Saturdays Brattleboro Farmers’ Market Western Avenue (just west of Creamery Covered Bridge), Brattleboro 9a-2p, http://www.brattleborofarmersmarket.com Norwich Farmers’ Market Route 5 south in Norwich 9a-1p, http://www.morwichfarmersmarket.org Bennington Farmers’ Market Bennington Station, 10a-1p 802 442-8934 Londonderry-West River Farmers’ Market Routes 11 and 100, 9a-1p 802 824-4492 Rutland Downtown Farmers’ Market Depot Park, 9a-2p...
Spotlight: Southern Vermont Arts Center
Southern Vermont Arts Center 930 SVAC Dr., Manchester 802-362-1405 Tues-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 12p-5p http://www.swac.org Under the leadership of Hadrien Redouin, the new Gallery Manager at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, the galleries and museum-size exhibition spaces has become southwestern Vermont’s newest destination for both cutting-edge and more traditional contemporary art. The Wilson Museum and Galleries currently...
At the galleries
Chaffee Art Center 16 South Main St., Rutland http://www.chaffeeartcenter.org, 802 775-0356 Oct 1-Nov 6: Politics: Political Cartoons and College Art. Featuring historical political cartoons from Jon Stewart’s collection and new cartoons by current artists. Nov 9-Dec 9: Surface Expressions. Featuring the fiber arts of Surface Design Association members. Nov 12-13: Rutland Garden Club presents a Standard Flower Show: Inspirations,...
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