Burlington's serving up another slice of summer pie this October Monday, with temperatures soaring into the low 80s under brilliant sunshine. We're talking record territory here, folks. The warmth parade continues Tuesday morning before clouds roll in during the afternoon, bringing some much needed rain Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning. Most of us will see between half an inch to an inch of precipitation, which won't solve our drought issues but certainly helps. The real plot twist arrives Wednesday when temperatures plummet back to reality with highs in the 50s. Thursday stays crisp and sunny in the low 50s, then we ease back into proper fall weather for the weekend with sunshine and 60s returning.

Speaking of tonight, the City Council meets at 6 PM with Public Forum starting at 6:30. They're tackling some meaty topics including the Mayor's Tax Fairness Working Group findings, a financial disclosure requirement for local candidates that's already causing a stir among School Board volunteers, and updates on the 2025 legislative session in Montpelier. If you're feeling more on the athletic side instead, head to CP Smith Elementary at 7 PM for pickup dodgeball. Yup, adults playing dodgeball on a Monday night is exactly as therapeutic as it sounds, and at five bucks, it's cheaper than therapy too. For those craving live music tonight, The California Honeydrops bring their retro soul to Higher Ground at 8 PM, channeling everyone from Booker T to Sly Stone with their improvisational magic.

Tuesday's absolutely packed from dawn to dusk. Start your morning at 11:15 AM with Flow Singing at Heineberg Community Senior Center, where you can learn songs by ear without performance pressure. American Flatbread hosts their CCS Benefit Bake from 4 to 10 PM, donating $3.50 from each large flatbread sold to Champlain Community Services. Spectrum's Empty Bowl Dinner at UVM Davis Center runs 5 to 8 PM, where you'll choose a handmade ceramic bowl and fill it with local restaurant soups while supporting youth facing homelessness. Queen City Indivisible meets at 5:30 PM at Queen City Brewery for poster making ahead of October 18's No Kings Day marches. Literature lovers can join the Banned Books Week Read In at 6 PM at Winooski Memorial Library. Cycling enthusiasts should pedal to Cochran's at 6:30 PM for films featuring Olympian Lea Davison, complete with optional group rides and Preppi burritos. The Moth StorySLAM happens at Burlington Beer Company at 7 PM with this month's theme of "Masks," while Pierre Bensusan brings his world renowned guitar mastery to Shelburne at 7:30 PM. Cap off the evening with Amy Grant at The Flynn at 7:30 PM, the contemporary Christian music icon who's sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

Wednesday and Thursday keep the momentum going despite the cooler weather. Wednesday afternoon offers community connection at the Winooski Library's Knitting Group from 1 to 3 PM, where Jean Robert teaches knitting for scarves to warm yourself and unhoused neighbors. Get your boots scooting at On Tap Bar & Grill in Essex Junction from 6 to 8 PM for line dancing suitable for beginners and pros alike. Thursday morning's early birds can join the Peace & Justice Center's BTV Clean Up Crew at 7:30 AM outside Kru Coffee. Thursday evening features PechaKucha Night Burlington at Main Street Landing starting at 6 PM, where ten presenters share visual stories in the unique 20x20 format. Night owls can close out the week at Emo Night Brooklyn at Higher Ground at 9 PM, screaming along to all your favorite emo and pop punk classics.

Today is a warm outlier (closer to early-September vibes) before a sharp cool-down midweek. Over the next four days, expect highs roughly 8° above normal while lows hover only ~2° above, a quick swing from record-flirting warmth to seasonable chill.

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We’ve got an official Meetup group for Burlington! The city’s packed with things to do.. Btown Brief highlights it, and Btown Brief IRL gets you out experiencing it with people.

Big thanks to the 10+ people that came out for the Saturday Coffee Meet-up! It stays active week after week. It was great hearing people trade stories about local spots, favorite restaurants, and weekend plans. Moments like that remind me how much this community can connect when we get together. Plus, last Saturday was a great reminder about what kind of content locals really want to see. So stay tuned, more awesome, new content coming to the newsletter/website soon!!

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Burton and Red Bull host film premiere in Burlington

The snowboard film, two years in the making and shot in Japan, Alaska, and British Columbia, premiered Friday night before its official New York debut. It features Olympic athletes and pro-snowboarders including Brock Crouch, who's been sponsored by Burton since age 8. The collaboration between Burton and Red Bull gave riders resources to showcase death-defying runs and avalanche dodging. You can stream it November 7th on Red Bull TV.

ICE plans to boost its surveillance on social media using contractors in Vermont

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to hire a dozen contracted workers at its National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston's Industrial Avenue business park. These contractors would use social media platforms and government databases to track people targeted for deportation, including gathering information about their associates and family members. The ACLU of Vermont's James Duff Lyall warns the expansion warrants scrutiny given its surveillance of "large swaths of the general public."

Mass. man spits at firefighter, drives down Church St., leads police on chase through city

Friday evening's chaos started when Jaffe-Suggs allegedly blocked a fire truck, spat on a firefighter, then led police on a wild chase that included driving down the pedestrian-only Church Street while it was busy with people. Officers deployed tire deflation devices but he continued onto I-89 before finally pulling over at Exit 13 when his tire came completely off the rim. He's facing multiple charges including assault with bodily fluids and is being held on $10,000 bail.

Burlington police seek to identify person accused of defacing new mural downtown

The vandalized mural was designed by a local artist and commissioned by the building owner and parents from Edmund's School. Surveillance images show what appears to be "SALO 1" tagged on the artwork. Burlington Police are asking anyone with information to call 802-540-2321. The timing is particularly frustrating given the community investment in beautifying that stretch of Main Street.

Crews battle fire on Brownell Mountain in Williston

A Montana-based helicopter nicknamed the "Skycrane" flew in from New Hampshire to help battle the Saturday fire, dropping thousands of gallons of water to contain it to less than an acre. Vermont State Wildland Fire Specialist Devin Healy says it was most likely human-caused, not lightning. The fire is now fully contained, but Healy warns Vermonters to be extra vigilant during the statewide debris burn ban, checking everything from trailer chains to chainsaw sparks.

Businesses on South Hero reflect on summer lake tourism

Apple Island Marina worker Jeff Woods reports they've replaced six boat propellers this season after boaters ignored warnings about record-low water levels. Despite having to move docks deeper and remove some boats early, both the marina and The Rest Stop food truck report strong summer business. The drought brought nothing but sunshine, keeping customers coming, and Canadian tourism remained steady enough to help local businesses thrive.

Most municipalities try to curb graffiti. So why is Brattleboro commissioning it?

While Burlington deals with vandalized murals, Brattleboro just hosted a $12,000 "Graffiti Jam" that brought 15 professional aerosol artists from as far as Slovakia to transform downtown buildings. Organizer Will Kasso Condry, winner of multiple Vermont arts awards, distinguishes between unauthorized tagging and sanctioned production murals. The Vermont Community Foundation-funded event aimed to educate spectators about graffiti as a respected global art movement while mentoring young artists properly.

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!

Monday, October 6

Tuesday, October 7

Wednesday, October 8

Thursday, October 9

Help Fight Hunger with Feeding Champlain Valley
Feeding Champlain Valley works to make sure no one in our region goes hungry; and they need volunteers to keep that mission moving. From packing groceries and stocking shelves to greeting neighbors and delivering food, there are plenty of ways to help out across their sites in Burlington, Colchester, and Middlebury. Shifts are flexible, usually around two hours on weekdays between 6:30 AM and 4 PM, and volunteers must be 18 or older. It’s hands-on, community-driven work that directly supports families across Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties.

To get started, fill out the volunteer application or email Volunteer Coordinator Ansley Laev at [email protected] with questions.

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

Experimenting with the idea of a shorter newsletter for your email viewing pleasure. Planning on adding third day for the newsletter to give you even more Burlington content. In the meantime, instead of a full section normally reserved for these, here are some go-to links for you to check out:

Full list of 202+ activities to do at anytime is always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do

Full list of restaurant reviews here.

Soon to be updated with even more Burlington food deals. View the full list of food & drink deals here.

Stay warm out there while you can, and don't forget your umbrella for Tuesday evening. Keep those event tips and neighborhood updates coming our way!

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