Today's fog lifted to reveal another gorgeous September afternoon, with temperatures climbing into the mid-70s under brilliant sunshine. The summer weather isn't done with us yet: Tuesday and Wednesday will push into the low 80s, with Thursday potentially reaching the mid-80s before reality sets in. A cold front arrives Thursday night, dropping us back to the 60s for the weekend with possible frost Saturday and Sunday mornings. The drought continues its unwelcome stay, and Thursday night's scattered showers won't bring enough relief to matter. Fire danger remains high, so save the backyard bonfires for another time.

Tonight at Mesmer Kava, the community gathers for Traditional Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, where $20 gets you all the kava you can drink from a communal bowl, South Pacific style. The mood lifting, non-alcoholic beverage offers a different kind of social lubricant for those looking to unwind without the hangover. Later this evening at 7 PM, Taco Gordo hosts its weekly Spanish Meetup, where language learners fumble through conjugations over tacos. Ian promises a cheat sheet and a "Hablamos Español" sign so you know where to find the group. Phoenix Books and the Vermont Italian Cultural Association wrap up Tuesday night with a conversation with Elettra Pauletto at 7 PM, discussing her translation of the Italian bestseller "La Portalettere."

Wednesday brings its own mix of opportunities, starting with the weekly Tai Chi class at St. Andrews Church in Colchester at 5:30 PM, though you'll need to reach out since registration closed September 5th. Downtown Burlington businesses get some networking love at Queen City BNI's Visitor's Day from 11:15 AM to 1 PM at The Flynn Theatre, promising no pitches or pressure, just conversations about supporting local commerce through the construction chaos. The evening offers two distinctly different ways to unwind: Meowditate with Cats at Queen City Cat Lounge at 6 PM combines Qi Gong with adoptable felines, while American Flatbread goes full Bavarian with their Oktoberfest celebration from 5 to 9 PM, complete with stein holding contests and polka tunes.

Thursday's warmth makes it perfect for outdoor activities, starting bright and early with the Peace & Justice Center's BTV Clean Up Crew meeting at 7:30 AM outside Kru Coffee on Church Street. Comedy legend Jim Gaffigan brings his Everything is Wonderful Tour to The Flynn at 7 PM, fresh off his Hollywood Bowl sellout and armed with eleven specials worth of dad jokes about Hot Pockets. South Burlington's Szymanski Park hosts Park Hop Brews from 5:30 to 7:30 PM with DJ Dakota, El Gato food truck, and a glow in the dark pickleball tournament that requires registration. The Burlington Baroque Festival kicks off its four day classical extravaganza at 7 PM, featuring Montreal's L'Harmonie des saisons through Sunday. Plant enthusiasts can swap their green babies at the Burlington Odd Fellows from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, while Night Zero rocks Einstein's at 8 PM. For those still awake Monday night, catch the Bills and Jets while demolishing all you can eat wings at Dumb Luck Pub in Winooski from 7 to 9 PM for $18.99 with purchase of a Sam Adams. Tuesday evening features Grooveasaurus at The Monkey House starting at 6:30 PM with opening sets by Olivia Deschenes and Izzy Rae Jones, while competitive pinball players can test their skills at The Pinball Co-op's Double Matchplay tournament tonight at 6:30 PM. Quilters with generous hearts meet for Helping Hands at Yankee Pride Quilts Tuesday from 1 to 4 PM, creating comfort for local charities. Star Wars nerds, your time has come: Original Trilogy Trivia Night at Switchback Brewing tomorrow at 7 PM, where knowing the difference between a womp rat and a wampa might finally pay off. Quick glance towards Friday and Saturday, there’s still time to buy tickets ($45) for Oktoberfest held at the South End Get spot. It’s THE spot for this celebration in Burlington with food, beer, music, carnival games, competitions, prize giveaways and Oktoberfest tradition!

Burlington’s “normal” for this date is a mild 73/53°F, but today lands warmer on the high end while the low sits right on par. The next few days look like a seasonally warm stretch—think sunny, late-summer vibes—running ~+7°F on highs and +3°F on lows compared to the long-term averages.

An official Meetup.com group for Burlington! READ ON:

Burlington has tons going on. Btown Brief highlights it; Btown Brief IRL gets you out experiencing it. Thanks to all 45 people that joined the group so far!

We run two types of events: Regular anchors (like Saturday Coffee Club - 5 showed up on Saturday with 5 already RSVP for the next one) and Member-picked events where your RSVP is your vote. I’ll have a poll in the newsletter each week. See a great community event you want go to? RSVP fast - first 5 commitments make it official. No committees, no maybe's, just "I'm in" or we move on. Think trivia takeovers, food crawls, volunteer days, whatever the group wants. Easy, low-pressure stuff where conversation flows naturally. Show up a few times and casually get to know your neighbor!

We're also looking for people who might want to host a regular anchor event like run clubs or trivia nights in the future. (If that ever sounds like you, just let me know!)

How it works: Each week features 3-4 possible events. RSVP to what you want. Hit the threshold of 5 by the deadline = it's on. Simple.

Think of membership as showing love for the newsletter while unlocking Burlington's social layer. Your $3.50/month on Meetup (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. Your attendance literally shapes what sticks.

New members: Check your Meetup messages for your welcome note and Telegram invite! We're keeping one main chat for now but will add age-specific groups (20s-early 30s and 30-40+) as we grow.

After answering the poll you should be redirected to the Meetup.com page to RSVP, but if not, click here to RSVP to the event. Remember, 5+ RSVP and its on! Otherwise click here to: Join Meetup group

Want a beautiful photo you took of Burlington, with your name, in front of thousands of email subscribers + 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.

Ticonderoga Celebrates 70 Years on Land

The 892-ton steamboat's journey from Lake Champlain to Shelburne Museum in 1955 took two months, moving no more than 250 feet per day on railroad freight cars. Preservation director Chip Stulen has spent 30 years battling moss, ferns, and 30 buckets worth of leaks to keep the vessel museum-worthy, constantly replacing everything from obsolete rubber floor tiles to wooden pillars with materials that will never quite match the original old-growth lumber.

Iconic Burlington Skate Shop Ridin' High to Close

Big John Van Hazinga has been living on a futon in the shop's basement without a shower, prompting his landlord to issue a termination notice for the end of October. The Battery Street fixture since 2003 survived Van Hazinga's near-fatal 2007 longboarding crash and his 2019 federal weed dealing indictment, but couldn't survive residential zoning violations. The tiny hut at Battery and Pearl has been a colorful cornerstone of Burlington's skate scene for over two decades, with Van Hazinga hoping to relocate the business to Montgomery Center.

UVM Men's Soccer Team Receives Championship Rings

The Catamounts celebrated their 2024 championship with rings at Halverson's Upstreet Cafe Sunday night, while launching a new "Cats Pride" subscription service for fans seeking special perks and team access.

Even With More Vermont Homes on the Market, Prices Are Still Rising

Despite 9% more homes selling in 2024 and inventory finally loosening from pandemic lows, the statewide median home price jumped to $353,000 last year, with Chittenden County hitting $500,000. The rental vacancy rate has climbed to 3% from under 1%, but Vermont's housing deficit remains deep enough that increased supply hasn't dented prices yet.

No. 13 Men's Soccer Secures 1-0 Victory Over No. 3 Akron

David Ismail's 48th-minute goal broke Akron's season-long shutout streak, marking Vermont's highest-ranked regular season victory in program history. Goalkeeper Niklas Herceg anchored the defense with three crucial saves to preserve the 1-0 upset during the Catamounts' Rally Around Mental Health game.

State Regulators Cut $88 Million From UVM Medical Center's Budget

The Green Mountain Care Board slashed the medical center's $2.4 billion budget, demanding reduced charges to commercial insurers and accusing the UVM Health Network of using inflated Vermont rates to subsidize its failing New York operations. The board also cut funding for a proposed 9% executive pay raise, calling the parent network an "ineffective layer of overpriced and unnecessary corporate bureaucracy."

Winooski Mayor Steps Down

Kristine Lott, mayor since 2019, is expecting her first child and navigating a career transition, with Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner serving as interim until March elections. Lott cited economic vitality, municipal infrastructure improvements, housing progress, and building an inclusive community as accomplishments during her six-year tenure.

After Nineteen Months, Burlington Business Owners Look Forward to Construction's End

Main Street businesses have shifted operations dramatically during construction, with Honey Road unable to set up outdoor seating and Burlington Wine Shop pivoting to email marketing as foot traffic plummeted. The irony of newly widened sidewalks appearing just as The Gryphon announced its closure isn't lost on anyone watching downtown's transformation.

UVM Extension Awarded Grant to Open Maple Testing Lab

The $199,942 Leahy Institute grant establishes quality testing at UVM's Proctor Maple Research Center, addressing concerns that some retail syrup doesn't meet Vermont Grade A standards.

Phase 2 of 'Diverging Diamond' Project Begins at I-89 Exit 16

Overnight construction from 7 PM to 6 AM Sunday through Friday will slow traffic through the popular shopping area, with the project now aiming for completion next summer after multiple delays. The innovative interchange design, which has faced setbacks due to the "economic climate" according to VTrans, will take a winter break before resuming in spring for what officials hope is the final push.

The Burlington Baroque Festival Returns

"Music took people out of the perceived horrors of everyday life then, just as it does now," per Seven Days.

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!

Be an English Language Tutor with Mercy Connections
Looking for a meaningful, one-on-one volunteer opportunity? Mercy Connections is seeking two compassionate and patient tutors to work with adult English language learners on Wednesday evenings (ending by 7:00 PM). One student is preparing for the U.S. citizenship test and speaks Spanish, while the other is a French speaker working to improve her reading skills. Both are eager to learn! You just need to bring your time and encouragement.

Tutors commit to two hours each Wednesday, plus a one-time training. All materials and ongoing support are provided by the program coordinators. If you’re interested in helping someone strengthen their skills and confidence, this is a great place to start.

If this interests you, contact Melissa Lang at [email protected]

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

Today’s picks:

Five more to keep your options open this week. Start with a morning walk through the Intervale where farmland and forest meet along the Winooski River. Head to Spare Time in Colchester for bowling and arcade games if you want something playful indoors. Visit the South End Arts District and explore the galleries and shops that make Pine Street a hub for creativity. Take a short hike up Mt. Philo for one of the best views in the Champlain Valley without a long climb. End your evening at Radio Bean where the cozy setting and live music make it easy to stay longer than you planned.

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.

Tucked into the former Maudite Poutine space at 156 North Winooski Avenue, Ichiban Asian Cuisine opened in October 2024 and has quickly become a reliable takeout option for Burlington's Old North End. It’s also one of the very fews places open until 1am!! Owner Jason Lin runs this spot alongside three other local restaurants, bringing a pan-Asian menu that spans from General Tso's chicken to tonkotsu ramen, tom yum soup to pad thai. The ambitious scope shows in nine soup categories alone, each customizable with different proteins and noodle types. Lin makes weekly trips to Boston and New York for specialty ingredients, and his housemade rice noodles add a personal touch to what could easily be just another takeout joint.

The mala spicy noodle soup stands out with its mushroom-based vegan broth and authentic Sichuan peppercorn heat, while portions across the board are generous enough that lunch specials often double as dinner. Prices remain genuinely affordable: entrées run $11-15, appetizers like scallion pancakes just $5. The small dining room features an electric fireplace and complimentary green tea, though most orders go out for delivery. Service is quick and functional.

Still, the everything-under-one-roof approach has drawbacks. While convenient, the menu's breadth means some dishes feel more successful than others; the ramen impresses, but standard Chinese-American offerings can taste generic. The sparse interior won't win atmosphere points, and those seeking authentic specialization might be disappointed by the fusion approach. Vegetarian options exist but could be more creative. For what it is (affordable, quick Asian comfort food without the downtown trek) Ichiban fills its niche competently if not memorably.

View the full list of restaurant reviews here.

Tomorrow brings another sunny day in the 80s before our brief taste of summer ends. Get outside while you can, support a local business struggling through construction season, or finally check out that event you've been meaning to attend. The community keeps rolling despite the obstacles, one taco, one kava bowl, one glow in the dark pickleball game at a time.

Got a tip or event for Thursday's edition? Send it our way. Until then, enjoy the evening sunshine while it lasts.

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