Burlington got a good soaking overnight with thunderstorms that rolled through until the early morning hours, delivering some much-needed rainfall before clearing out for a beautiful Friday afternoon. Today will start cloudy but turn into a stunner by midday with sunshine and temps reaching the low 80s, though you'll want to hold onto your hat with those southerly winds gusting up to 25mph. Saturday brings another round of beneficial rain with cooler temps stuck in the upper 60s and possible downpours throughout the day (we're looking at a solid inch or more of rain between tonight and Saturday), while Sunday delivers classic September perfection with mostly sunny skies and comfortable low 70s.

This weekend belongs to the annual South End Art Hop! But first, swing by UVM for the first fall EEE Lecture at 2 PM featuring Russ Scully discussing "The Origin of Hula and What It Led to" (and no, we're not talking about hoops). Tonight kicks off Art Hop weekend in earnest with BCA's grand unveiling celebration starting at 5 PM, where you'll witness the reveal of a new Pine Street Barge Canal mural and the ribbon cutting for their massive 270-seat Community Room, followed by an open house with DJ Le J until 8 PM and then a proper dance party with DJ Taka running until 11 PM.

Saturday's soggy forecast won't dampen Art Hop enthusiasm, with AO Glass hosting exclusive Graal bowl glassblowing demonstrations all day starting at 10 AM (plus a seconds sale that'll have people lining up early), while kids can shake it off at the Splash Dance with DJ Kwame from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at the Church Street splash fountain. There’s a Gen X Chat Group hosted by a Brief reader, Charlene, at Williston Library at noon. The evening brings Live from BCA featuring Hammy Down, Lily Seabird, Coven, and Narrow Shoulders rocking the new Community Room from 7 to 10 PM with Harmony's Kitchen feeding the masses. Grounded Earth Pottery's grand opening continues throughout the weekend at 257 Pine Street with their "Creating Connections" collaborative clay disc installation that anyone can contribute to. For those seeking something different, Houndstooth offers an Art Pup bead necklace workshop Saturday evening at 6:30 PM ($20, pre-registration recommended, and sorry, no actual pups allowed), while Sticks and Stones brings live music to Switchback Brewing from 5:30 to 8:30 PM alongside sculptures by Gerald K. Stoner.

The South End transforms into one massive creative playground this Art Hop weekend with experiences ranging from the contemplative to the completely wild. Green State Dispensary's Hop & Hang in their parking lot runs until 8 PM with El Gato serving tacos and margs, Amber Harvey painting live, and free samples of hemp-derived THC drinks flowing while bands play. Tonight alone you can catch a Samba Street Dance at 7 PM, the STRUT! 2025 Fashion Show at 7:30 PM, or lose yourself at the Art Immersion Party at Stvdio4 running from 6 PM to 11 PM. The Dad Guild keeps their doors open until 10 PM tonight for those wanting to check out their space, while SparklesKate will be adding hair dazzles at Jennifer Kahn Jewelry until 9 PM. Saturday's rain won't stop the fun with Pine Street Historic Walking Tours from 10 AM to 2 PM (perfect for history buffs with umbrellas), flower crown making at the same time for the crafty crowd, and martial arts enthusiasts can try Aikido workshops at 1:30 PM and 2 PM. Throughout the weekend you'll find ongoing installations including Andrew Dudka's Generator Artist-In-Residence Showcase, Emily Anderson's "Demons and Antidotes" (with interactive demon drawing on Saturday), the mysteriously intriguing "Tell the Flamingo Your Dreams," and Driven Studio's group show "Ctrl + Art + Del." Kevin Donegan invites co-creation all weekend, RIVEN Studio hosts a block party with Sonido Mal Maiz, and someone's doing something called Musical Chair Transformation that we're genuinely curious about. Check out the entire list of events, details, and links by checking out the official Art Hop program.

Sunday's gorgeous weather makes it perfect for the 25th Earth Charter Anniversary celebration at Shelburne Farms, a free all-day event starting at 9:15 AM featuring Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Bill McKibben, and an impressive lineup of speakers, musicians, and dancers (registration required, space limited). Burlington Electric Department hosts their 4th Annual Net Zero Energy Festival from 10 AM to 2 PM with CHAMP making an appearance, live radio broadcast from STAR 92.9, and all sorts of demos for heat pumps, EVs, and induction cooking. Jazz fans can catch the Bella Joan Jazzy Duet at The Venetian Soda Lounge Saturday from 6 to 8 PM ($10 cover), while those seeking louder vibes have 90 PROOF at The Old Post tonight at 7 PM or Goodnight Nobody with Peddle and Sad Turtle at The Monkey House tonight at 8 PM. Weekend shoppers should note the Fall RV Show at the Champlain Valley Expo running through Sunday and the somewhat melancholy Burlington Paint and Sip Studio's going out of business sale Friday morning from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Today nudges a bit warm versus the long-term normals, but it’s a brief blip before a cooler stretch. The next few days trend into “crisp outlier” territory, feeling more like early fall than peak summer.

An official Meetup.com group for Burlington! Decided to shift from Discord to a Telegram chat. I’ll be splitting it into two main group chats, 20-early 30s in one, and 30-40+ in another, and then a general one.

Burlington has tons going on. The Btown Brief highlights it; Btown Brief IRL gets you out experiencing it. The ideas is we meet for trivia takeovers, food crawls, walks, live music, board games, bowling, volunteer days, and more. Why limit ourselves to one activity like every other group?

These are easy, low-pressure activities where conversation flows and faces become familiar. Friendships happen through casual time together, consistently. Show up a few times and proximity does the heavy lifting.

Think of membership as showing love for the newsletter while unlocking Burlington's social layer. Your $3.50/month (after a free trial) keeps the Brief alive and gets you into a community that actually shows up; with Telegram access, event RSVPs, and input on what we do next.

Join free for the first month, RSVP to what sounds fun, then just show up. As we grow, we'll add more age-focused events alongside open meetups. Your attendance shapes what sticks.
[Join the Meetup group] • [Learn more] [Telegram group shared on signup]

Want a beautiful photo you took of Burlington, with your name, in front of 1,400+ subscribers & 730+ Instagram followers? Reply to this email with that info and I’ll post them, with credit to you! I’ve slowly running low on my relevant, spectacular pictures of this city.

Vermont Receives Disputed EV Funds

Vermont will receive all $15.8 million in federal electric vehicle charging infrastructure funds that were frozen by the Trump administration in January. The funds became a political flashpoint when Attorney General Charity Clark sued over the freeze while Gov. Phil Scott's administration chose not to cooperate with the lawsuit, arguing it was premature and could jeopardize relationships with federal highway officials who control over a billion dollars in infrastructure funding. While a federal judge unfroze funds for most states in June, Vermont had to wait until new federal guidelines were issued and resubmit its application. The money will fund 11 fast charging locations with about 60 charging ports along state highway corridors in towns including Burlington, South Burlington, and White River Junction.

Low water levels posing problems on Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain's water level sits at 93.36 feet, a full foot below the September average of 94.36 feet, creating headaches for boaters and recreational users across the region. Dock owners are running out of room to move their structures deeper as water recedes, with some facing the prospect of pulling docks entirely if levels drop further. The drought has created one unexpected silver lining: islands typically accessible only by boat can now be reached on foot from the causeway, though paddleboarders and kayakers face longer treks to reach navigable water.

Shelburne Cop Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Fatal Crash

Shelburne police sergeant Kyle Kapitanski avoided prison time after pleading guilty to negligent operation resulting in death, receiving two years probation for striking and killing cyclist Sean Hayes last November while streaming YouTube videos on his cruiser laptop. Prosecutors initially charged Kapitanski with felony gross negligence after investigators found he was driving 40-45 mph in a 35 mph zone while watching a video when he hit Hayes, who had dismounted to check his equipment on Shelburne Road at 2:30 a.m. The plea deal came after prosecutors acknowledged difficulty proving causation since a crash reconstruction expert concluded anyone driving that speed would have hit Hayes under those conditions.

La Di Da Pizza to Open in Burlington's Old North End

New York native Celine Eid will bring authentic NYC-style pizza to 294 North Winooski Avenue in mid-September, taking over the former Despacito space with seasonal pies featuring locally sourced toppings. After running a successful weekly pizza pop-up in New York City through 2023 and 2024 where she served everything from classic pies to creative toppings like squash blossoms and oyster mushrooms, Eid sees the Old North End as the perfect spot for her counter-service slice shop. La Di Da will offer beer and wine alongside its rotating menu, staying open for lunch and dinner five days a week as the neighborhood continues its transformation into a late-night dining destination.

As drought persists, livestock farmers in Vermont are hurting

Vermont's severe drought has forced dairy farmers like Jon Lucas to haul 5,000 gallons of water daily since June while George Foster spent $100,000 on additional feed after the drought decimated his corn crop, the first time his family farm needed to buy feed since 1965. With the entire state in moderate to severe drought and some water gauges at their lowest levels in 109 years of record keeping, dairy farmers face a brutal economics equation: cows need 50 gallons of water to produce 100-150 pounds of milk daily, production is down 10 pounds per cow due to heat, and farmers must buy expensive supplemental feed while milk prices remain fixed. The state would need six to eight inches of rain over a month to end the drought, and advocates are pushing for a Farm Security Fund that was whittled from $20 million to $1 million before being tabled entirely by lawmakers last session.

Regular walkers keep the University Mall alive

While the University Mall struggles with vacant storefronts and declining foot traffic, a dedicated community of senior mall walkers keeps the space alive, with some like Bruce and Sheila Bailey maintaining their half-mile lap routine for 24 years. The walkers form distinct social groups depending on time of day, from early morning regulars who once entered at 5 a.m. to the "divas" who arrive at noon, creating an unofficial neighborhood watch that knows security on a first-name basis. Despite the mall's financial troubles (sold for $60 million in 2022 after foreclosure) and the shift to online shopping, these seniors find the climate-controlled, level surfaces essential for safe winter exercise and social connection.

Will Burlington teen murder suspect be charged as an adult?

A 16-year-old South Burlington youth's case has been temporarily moved to family court after he and co-defendant Isaiah Argro were charged with second-degree murder in the August 11 beating death of Scott Kastner, who suffered at least 21 blows to the head in under two minutes. Video evidence shows the teen struck Kastner six times with fists and feet in the Church Street alley attack that left the victim with fatal brain bleeding. Judge Robert Katims will determine whether the teen qualifies for youthful offender status based on factors including mental health, substance use, education, and criminal history, a decision that could mean the difference between adult prison and restorative justice programs.

Poppy Café & Market in BTV Lands Historic Preservation Grant

The Old North End sandwich shop at 88 Oak Street scored $50,000 from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to renovate its century-old former corner market building. Owner Abby Portman, who opened Poppy in November 2020 as part of the Oak Street Cooperative that purchased the building with 70 members, will use the funds for structural improvements including siding repairs, window seals, an awning, and a winter vestibule. The space now houses Poppy's creative sandwiches by day, chef Paul Trombly's Fancy's restaurant in the evenings, and All Souls Tortilleria's production facility, creating a food hub in the historic building that Portman thought was a "long shot" for the competitive national grant.

State Regulators Urged to Cut UVM Medical Center's Budget

Former Human Services secretary Mike Smith's scathing memo accused UVM Medical Center of "spinning" the narrative about its proposed $2.4 billion budget, noting that despite claims of cost-cutting through layoffs and service reductions, the hospital actually projects increases in revenue, staff, and operating expenses with executive salaries rising more than the 4-5% average. The Green Mountain Care Board's staff recommended cutting $75 million from what the hospital charges commercial insurers and eliminating $465,000 earmarked for a 9% executive pay raise, challenging the hospital's claim that an 8% reduction in commercial rates represents real savings when it still projects collecting $45 million more from privately insured patients. The medical center would need to tap its large reserves or find additional cuts to cover these gaps, with president Stephen Leffler telling regulators "It's a lot to digest" ahead of next week's final vote on a budget that directly impacts Vermont's nation-leading health insurance premiums.

This twice-weekly deep dive into Burlington takes serious time and research, from tracking city council meetings to uncovering weekly events and meetups you won't find elsewhere. As a one-person operation, your support directly keeps this project alive. Consider becoming a Core Reader with a small monthly donation below, or send a one-time gift using that link, or straight to Venmo @BtownBrief. Every contribution helps!

Friday, September 5, 2025

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

Saturday, September 6, 2025

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

Sunday, September 7, 2025

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

Volunteer with Nightmare Vermont: Haunted House Kickoff!
Nightmare Vermont is a fully volunteer-run haunted house production; and they’re looking for new cast and crew to join the fun this fall. Whether you’re into acting, dancing, crafting, makeup, costumes, tech, or just love Halloween, this is your chance to get involved with a creative, welcoming group of spooky-minded folks.

Two kickoff sessions are being held: one on Thursday, September 4 from 7 to 9:30 PM at the UU Church basement in Burlington, and one on Saturday, September 6 from 3 to 5:30 PM in the Pickering Room at Fletcher Free Library. You only need to attend one.

At the kickoff, you’ll meet the team, hear about all the roles available—from scare acting to set building to behind-the-scenes help—and decide how much you want to participate. The shows run October 23–25 and October 30–November 1 at the Champlain Valley Expo, but there are volunteer opportunities all season long, especially on Saturdays during build and craft days.

No experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to play. RSVP or learn more at nightmarevermont.org/volunteering.

Check out this page for links to four great sites with volunteer opportunities all around Burlington.

Today’s picks:

Five more to keep things lively as summer winds down. Head to the Community Boathouse Marina where you can watch the boats, grab food at Splash, and take in the lake views. Visit the Ethan Allen Homestead trails for a peaceful walk along the Winooski River after a quick look at the historic house. Stop into the Light Club Lamp Shop in the evening for live music in one of the coziest venues around. Take a drive to Moss Glen Falls near Stowe for an easy hike that ends at one of Vermont’s most photogenic waterfalls. Wrap up the day with a maple creemee from Al’s French Frys for a sweet finish.

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

Soon to be updated with even more Burlington food deals:

View the full list of food & drink deals here.

Burlington’s dining scene just got a Turkish boost with Cappadocia Bistro, the new restaurant from the Oktay family (formerly of Istanbul Kebab House). In her recent Seven Days review, Melissa Pasanen spotlighted two stars of the menu: kumpir, a baked potato split open and mashed with butter and cheese before being loaded with toppings like garlicky yogurt, baba ghanoush, bulgur salad, and pickled cabbage; and the oven-baked flatbreads (lahmacun, pide, and stuffed bafra pide) that come blistered and fragrant from the 600-degree oven.

Melissa also noted the familiar meze plates (grape leaves, dips, and juicy chicken wings), the return of doner kebabs wrapped in fresh-baked rolls, and a pastry case that balances French-style Napoleons with traditional Turkish sweets like pistachio baklava. The bistro seats about 50 inside plus 25 outdoors, with the vibe leaning casual but full of color and energy.

Be sure to check out Melissa from Seven Day’s full review.

View the full list of restaurant reviews here.

Stay dry tonight, enjoy the sunshine tomorrow, and make the most of this Art Hop weekend before the rain returns Saturday. Remember, next week's looking like a string of perfect September days, so there's plenty more outdoor time ahead.

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