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Weather & Weekend Update:
Burlington's facing another round of "Triple H" weather today through the weekend, with hazy skies from Canadian wildfire smoke, temperatures soaring into the low 90s this afternoon, and humidity creeping back up after our brief respite. Friday brings scattered morning showers and afternoon thunderstorms, though most should clear out by evening. Saturday stays dry but smoky from Canadian wildfire, with temps in the mid to upper 80s, while Sunday looks cloudier and cooler with showers approaching, particularly for those south of Burlington.
Speaking of hot weather perfect for cold drinks and street dancing, Church Street Marketplace kicks off another Party on the Bricks tonight at 5:30pm featuring The Blue Dahlia's multicultural musical journey and Church Street Tavern's pub fare. Meanwhile, South Burlington's pulling out all the stops with their SB Nite Out #5 at Dorset Street starting at 5:30pm, complete with food trucks galore and stick around for the annual fireworks show. Car enthusiasts should cruise over to Switchback Brewing at 5pm for the Brew Hop, where beautiful vehicles meet craft beer in Burlington's Art District.
Friday is belongs to Vermont Green FC. They host a massive Eastern Conference Final against Virginia's Lionsbridge FC at Virtue Field Friday night, with the winner lifting the conference trophy and advancing to Sunday's National Semifinal. It's historic territory for the Vermonters in their first conference final appearance, facing a Virginia juggernaut making their third straight run. Luck to you if you were able to snag tickets, I hear they sold out in a mere minutes once again. Friday evening brings multiple ways to beat the heat: the South End Get Down returns from 5pm to 9pm with rotating food trucks and DJs, while South Burlington's Art in the Park at Goose Pond offers music from Rachel Ambaye, Ethiopian cuisine from A Taste of Abyssinia, and participatory tie dye from 5:30 to 7:30pm. CCTV's 24 hour telethon kicks off at 6pm Friday, running straight through Saturday's Ramble festivities, inviting folks to experience old school TV magic. Recharge Friday at Savu Sauna Lakeside is $35 a person and promises a sauna, cold plunge, N/A cocktails and DJ beats. Foam Brewers hosts Danny & The Parts' album release show for "Mona Lisa's Eyes are Blue" at 9pm, celebrating local Americana recorded right here on Pine Street during the pandemic years. Friday also has David DJ Chief and DJ ATAK at Red Square starting at 10pm with a Battle of the Beats, Old Skool vs New School! I know for sure that it’ll be an unforgettable dance party if you can make it!
Holy smokes (pun intended), Saturday is PACKED and belongs to the Ramble. Burlington's beloved Old North End festival celebrates 21 years with this year's theme of FLOW, and there's so much happening I can barely fit it all (seriously, check out the full event list and map here: The Ramble). Start your morning at Dilly's Coffee free flow and bindle-palooza from 8-10am with free coffee, their free store, and $5 mirrors all day. Tony Shull's art walking tour kicks off at 9:30am, followed by the relocated Ramble Field Day at Roosevelt Park from 10am-noon with sack races and freeze pops. Dan Siegel's Epic Pottery Sale runs 10am-2pm featuring pots from $5 up, plus the Old North End's Largest Bread Tag with free art gifts. The ONE World Market at ONECC brings 40+ artists, bouncy houses, and live music from 11am-3pm, while Decaturfest on Decatur Street serves free burgers and dogs while they last. Don't miss Ratsmission Bazaar's carnival games and yard sale, Jamba's wardrobe sale at Junktiques with DJs starting at 11:11am, or the Chalk Art Party at 12:30pm on Lafountain Street. The afternoon brings the Ramble Roller Disco at Pomeroy Park from 2-4pm supporting Migrant Justice, followed by the Epic Bike Ride starting at Old Spokes Home at 4:15pm. The Round Up at ONECC runs 5-10pm with performances by Chaz Royer, Diamond, Danny & the Parts, Emerald Ground Water and MAD, plus Fiddlehead's beer garden and treats from Moo Noit Market, Le Bon Goût, and Vermont Marshmallow Company. Late night options include Taco Gordo's Late Night Ramble with Tubtime until 2am and DJ Taka's 10-year anniversary spinning at Light Club Lamp Shop from 8pm-2am. Outdoor Gear Exchange also throws their 30th Anniversary Block Party on Church Street from 11am to 10pm Saturday, featuring live music all day, massive gear raffles, brand meet-and-greets, and special 30% off deals because what better way to mark three decades than with matching discounts?
Sunday offers a gentler pace after Saturday's festivities, though no less entertaining. The Boardroom hosts their Amazing Puzzle Race at noon, where teams of up to four compete to complete a 500-piece jigsaw in 4.5 hours for $40 per team and bragging rights. Come evening, Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge on Pine Street transforms Sunday scaries into spotlight therapy with their weekly karaoke night from 6 to 9pm, providing the perfect low-key wrap to a high-energy weekend.

Historically, July in Burlington averages around 81°F/62°F. Today’s 96°F high significantly exceeded both the monthly mean and the previous record of 95°F. Over the next few days, temperatures will moderate, averaging in the low‑80s with lows in the low‑60s to mid‑70s.
Burlington Table: Meet 5 Strangers at a Brewery (Monday, July 28th)
Burlington Table is a new way to meet real people around a real table. Just good conversation with 5 strangers-turned-friends (6 total) over drinks at a local brewery next Monday, July 28th at 6pm. Drinking is optional, not a requirement!
This is it… sign-ups for Monday's Burlington Table close tonight! We've got great interest so far (25+ sign ups), but I’d love even more people to create the perfect mix at each table. I'll be sending matched groups their table assignments and icebreakers tomorrow (Friday), so get your form in by sometime tonight. Can't make it by tonight's deadline? There's still a chance I can fit you in somewhere if you still sign up, no guarantees but some people cancel last minute, but I'll do my best! The more sign-ups, the better the matches, so if you've been on the fence, this is your moment.
Suggested $5–$10 Venmo @BtownBrief to cover organizing, but free if that doesn't work right now. Ready for some real connections? Your seat at the table is waiting. More info about it by clicking this link:
Sign up form is found here: Sign-ups
Local News (All Links Clickable)
"We really miss the Canadians," per Seven Days.
Comedy Central's Jordan Klepper hit Burlington over the weekend to film a segment about U.S. Canada relations, interviewing locals at the Vermont Brewers Festival and along the newly christened "Rue Canada" (formerly Church Street). The correspondent's visit was sparked by Burlington's efforts to woo back Canadian tourists amid Trump's tariffs and rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state. OGE cofounder Marc Sherman used his face time to emphasize opposition to the president's trade policies, while the brewers association highlighted their Canadian outreach efforts including discounted festival tickets. Burlington resident Karen Chickering, who made headlines for traveling to Canada to apologize for Trump, described her waterfront interview as "friendly, silly." The segment will air either before August 1 or in September, giving Burlington some national comedy spotlight. Plus, I managed to snag a photo with Klepper on Church Street:

He laughed at my electric unicycle and hanbenero peppers snackings. IASIP
"You can find the stories on the front window of the library, on the construction fence outside the library, on Main Street and at Leddy Park," per WCAX.
Fletcher Free Library has launched an innovative story walk program that transforms reading into an outdoor adventure across Burlington. The initiative places story pages in windows and on fences throughout the city, encouraging families to explore while they read. What makes this particularly sweet is the chance to win "tasty prizes" for participating, though the library hasn't specified what culinary delights await lucky readers. This creative approach to literacy combines Burlington's walkable neighborhoods with storytelling, getting kids moving while engaging with books in a fresh way that beats screen time any day.
"We still have a certain population of people who reside in a place with no cell service," per Seven Days.
Randolph electrical engineer Patrick Schlott is resurrecting pay phones for the digital age, installing free internet connected calling stations in cell service dead zones across central Vermont. His company RandTel has placed three phones so far in North Tunbridge, Thetford, and Randolph, each converting old pay phones into modern communication lifelines. The North Tunbridge General Store's phone sees daily use from stranded motorists and locals without cell service, while Thetford Academy parents specifically requested one at Latham Memorial Library for their kids who aren't allowed phones during school hours. Schlott covers the per minute calling costs himself and even staffs an operator line through his personal cell. His mission goes beyond connectivity; he's "fighting back against the society that forces us to own smartphones," offering a grassroots alternative that's proving essential in Vermont's hilly, signal challenged terrain. Each location provides the phone with electricity and internet while Schlott handles the technical magic of converting 1950s rotary dials and 1990s push buttons into functioning 2025 communication tools.
"We will be live on the air and welcome a studio audience from Friday 7/25 at 6 p.m. through the Ramble on 7/26 until 6 p.m.," per Vermont Business Magazine.
CCTV Center for Media & Democracy kicks off a 24 hour telethon tomorrow at 6pm to save 41 years of Burlington's community media archives currently stored on 11,000 VHS tapes and DVDs. The marathon broadcast, running straight through Saturday's Ramble festivities, features everything from Death to Intelligent Dance Music performances to local talk shows like "Tea Talks with Lydia Diamond." After losing federal grant funding, CCTV faces a preservation crisis for recordings documenting four decades of meetings, protests, celebrations, and conversations that shaped our community. Local philanthropists Orly Yadin and Bob Summers have pledged $10,000 in matching funds to jumpstart the archival effort. The telethon invites studio audiences to experience "old school TV magic" at their North Winooski Avenue location, with opportunities to run cameras or even get on air while supporting this crucial piece of Burlington's collective memory.
"It's really exciting to build something that you know is going to get a lot of use," per Seven Days.
After a decade of planning, Burlington's first bike park will break ground at Leddy Park this month with an October opening target, transforming an underused wooded area into 2,070 linear feet of jump lines and flow trails. The project started when Old Spokes Home mechanic Sean Melinn noticed kids buying BMX bikes then abandoning the hobby for lack of places to ride. His observation evolved into a true community effort raising over $146,000 through creative fundraising like OGE round ups and raffled bikes (won by someone named Leddy, fittingly). The Development Review Board unanimously approved phase one on July 1, with construction preserving all but four mature trees while creating trails accessible from both North Avenue and the bike path. Unlike a controversial 2009 disc golf proposal that neighbors torpedoed, the bike coalition did extensive outreach and designed trails north of walking paths to prevent collisions. The $125,000 first phase will be mostly grant funded with just $15,000 from city coffers, offering Burlington families a neighborhood alternative to driving to Essex or Richmond for mountain biking adventures.
"There were no injuries," per WCAX.
A small aircraft made an emergency crash landing at Burlington International Airport with two people aboard, though thankfully both walked away uninjured according to BTV officials. The incident, while dramatic, ended about as well as any crash landing can, with no injuries reported and emergency responders quickly on scene. Airport operations continued normally following the incident.
"You have no rights here," per VTDigger.
Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, a U.S. citizen since 2018, endured a five hour detention and interrogation at Houston's airport Monday while returning from visiting family in Nicaragua. Despite using Global Entry for years without issue, customs officials pulled him from line, separated him from his spouse, demanded his phone passwords, mocked his 15 year marriage, and threatened his job while denying him legal counsel or phone calls. When Chavarria asked about his constitutional rights, an official allegedly told him "you have no rights here" at the port of entry. The ordeal, which caused them to miss their connecting flight, ended with his Global Entry revoked without explanation Tuesday morning. This marks a disturbing escalation for the Chavarria family; his brother already self deported in April after the Supreme Court upheld ending temporary parole programs. The incident has sparked outrage from Vermont officials including Sen. Sanders calling it "unacceptable" racial profiling, Rep. Balint condemning it on the House floor, and the Winooski School Board demanding investigation of what they termed "deeply disturbing" treatment of their "exemplary leader." The ACLU refuted claims that citizens lose constitutional rights at ports of entry, while Chavarria now questions what he can tell Winooski's many immigrant families about safe travel: "It's not about immigration status really. It's about being Black and brown immigrants."
"It does not allow police to release any statements about the character, reputation, number of police involvements, or criminal record of a person," per WCAX.
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak rescinded her January executive order requiring mayoral review of police press releases, following the police commission's approval of an updated media policy Wednesday. The new guidelines specifically prohibit police from releasing statements about individuals' character, reputation, or criminal records, addressing the concerns that originally prompted mayoral oversight. The executive order came after former Chief Jon Murad's releases took on a "political tinge" targeting both the courts and Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, one of several incidents contributing to his non reappointment this spring. The policy change returns media autonomy to BPD while establishing clear boundaries on permissible public communications.
"We do not refer to it as 'the Pit' anymore," per NBC5.
Burlington Square's south tower opens in August, finally transforming the former mall site downtown after years as an eyesore nicknamed "the Pit." The $300 million two tower project features Vermont's first AC Hotel by Marriott occupying floors 2-7 with 161 rooms, while floors 8-11 house 53 apartments ranging from $1,950/month studios to $6,800 two bedrooms. Jitters Cafe claimed the first commercial lease, bringing a UVM alum owned Massachusetts eatery to the corner of Bank and St. Paul. Hotel franchisee Ankur Patel expects the downtown location will recapture business that's "gone out to Williston," while S.D. Ireland Properties' Kim Ireland hopes new residents will boost struggling downtown businesses. The LEED Gold targeted building includes high end amenities like a craft cocktail lounge featuring smoked Manhattans and AC Marriott's signature "gin tonic." Construction continues on the larger north tower with another hotel and 315 apartments including student and inclusionary housing, keeping the site active through 2027 as Burlington works to revitalize its urban core.
"10 displays make up 360 ft of art from paintings to photos wrapping the fence around the building," per NBC5.
Burlington has unveiled a 360 foot art installation wrapping around Memorial Auditorium's fence at South Union and Main Street, hoping creative displays will discourage graffiti tagging on the historic building. The project features 10 distinct displays ranging from paintings to photographs, transforming what was a blank canvas for taggers into a curated outdoor gallery. This creative approach to graffiti prevention follows similar successful initiatives in other cities where commissioned art tends to be respected by street artists who might otherwise tag blank walls. The installation both beautifies the streetscape and protects the auditorium's facade, turning a persistent vandalism problem into an opportunity for public art engagement.
It’s a packed newsletter this weekend! It’s a one man team out here, so if you appreciate what I do and want to keep it going, consider a small donation using the link below, or right to my Venmo @BtownBrief ! Now onto the next section!
Queen City Puzzle Hunt Club
I’m excited to introduce The Queen City Puzzle Hunt Club, a new interactive puzzle hunt hiding right here in your favorite newsletter! How It Works: Each Thursday newsletter includes a two-part puzzle: one you solve using clues from this issue and the last, and then an optional “Field Bonus” that sends you to a real spots in Burlington. Solve puzzles to earn points and climb the public leaderboard, where you can see how you stack up against others. Your points also count as entries into our monthly prize drawing. This month, you could win a $20 gift card to any local spot you love. Want the full rundown? Learn more.
Submit your answers to the puzzle here: Puzzle 1 Submissions
Come back and find the leaderboard here: Puzzle Hunt Leaderboard
The Queen City Puzzle Club: Puzzle #1
The city is buzzing and this week's newsletters were packed with info! You'll need a sharp eye and both the Monday and Thursday newsletters to crack this one.
PART 1: THE PUZZLE (20 POINTS)
To solve this puzzle, find the required pieces of information from this week's newsletters and combine them in order to form a single code word.
First: The first letter of the first name of the person who leads the OGE Fun Run last Monday.
Second: The first number for the number of years Outdoor Gear Exchange is celebrating at their anniversary block party.
Third: The first letter of the starting location (business) for Saturday's "Epic Bike Ride" during The Ramble.
Fourth: The final digit of the year Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria became a U.S. citizen.
Fifth: The first letter of the restaurant that offered $6 margaritas in Thursday's food deals.
Sixth: The last digit of the year that Pizzeria Verità opened its doors.
PART 2: THE FIELD BONUS (10 POINTS)
This week’s bonus sends you on a mini-tour of Church St.
1. Canada Street Surprise
Right at the corner of Church and Cherry St, a new red sign unveiled last Wednesday that reads Rue Canada St. But it’s not alone.
Your Task: How many total signs are now attached to that same pole (Rue Canada included)?
2. Firehouse Floral Count
The building next to City Hall Park once housed the Ethan Allen Engine Co. No. 4, a volunteer fire company founded in 1851. It’s now the home of the BCA Center.
Your Task: How many of those beautiful flower planters sit at the base of the building’s front entrance?
3. Paddleboard Mural Watch
Outdoor Gear Exchange is throwing an anniversary block party on Saturday and their iconic mural on the side of the building is worth a closer look.
Your Task: How many paddleboarders are in the mural on their building?
Submit your answers to the puzzle here: Puzzle 1 Submissions
Any questions reply to this email, or send to [email protected]
Events:
Thursday, July 24, 2025
General Events
All Day: RBH Jazz Camp - Vermont at Burlington, VT
All Day: Open Studio - Thursdays at 208 Flynn Ave, Suite #3A, Burlington
All Day: Ecology Camps: Fungi Week at 65 Green Mountain Dr, South Burlington
9:45 AM: Baby & Me Class at Greater Burlington YMCA, Burlington. $10; free for members.
10:30 AM: Family Story Time at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free.
11:00 AM: Grow Preschool Yoga at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Free.
12:00 PM: Blood Drive at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free; preregister.
2:00 PM: Knit for Your Neighbors at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free.
3:00 PM: Community Partners Desk at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Free.
4:00 PM: Teen Paint & Sip at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free.
5:00 PM: Brew Hop ~ Cars & Brew at Switchback Brewing Company
5:30 PM: SB Nite Out #5 - B-Town & Fireworks at 1000 Dorset St, South Burlington
6:00 PM: Trivia at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski. Free.
6:30 PM: Learn & Play Lost Ruins of Arnak with Jared at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe
6:45 PM: Beginner & Intermediate Kizomba at South End Studio
7:00 PM: 'Familiar Touch' Film Screening at Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $6-12.
7:00 PM: Paint & Sip with Jesse Snyder feat. DJ Grant Burton at Venetian Soda Lounge
8:00 PM: Trivia Thursday at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington. Free.
Performances
7:30 PM: KIN: A NEW MUSICAL at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $30.
7:30 PM: Tom Thakkar (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25.
Live Music/DJ
5:00 PM: On the Door Radio (DJs) at Coal Collective, Burlington. Free.
5:30 PM: Party on the Bricks: Dahlia Dumont at Church Street, Burlington
5:30 PM: Thursdays by the Lake: Soulshine Revival at Union Station, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Frankie & the Fuse (indie pop) at Red Square, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Old Time Jam at Radio Bean, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Summer Music Series: Eric George at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center
6:00 PM: Vinyl Thursdays at Hotel Vermont, Burlington. Free.
7:00 PM: Alex Stewart & Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington. Free.
7:00 PM: Three Piece Meal (funk, jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free.
7:30 PM: Nora Brown, Stephanie Coleman (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $29.53.
8:00 PM: Bill solo @ the Drink Bar at Drink Bar
8:00 PM: Burlington Electronic Department at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10/$15.
8:00 PM: DJ JP Black at Red Square, Burlington. Free.
9:00 PM: DJ Paul at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington. Free.
9:00 PM: Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington. Free.
10:00 PM: DJ Chaston at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington. Free.
11:00 PM: DJ Two Sev at Red Square, Burlington. Free.
Friday, July 25, 2025
General Events
All Day: 24-Hour Telethon at CCTV Channel 17 Studios, Burlington. Free; donations accepted.
9:00 AM: Funky Fridays Open Play! at University Mall Burlington
12:00 PM: Italian Conversation at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Free.
1:00 PM: Tech Freebies: Saving Money with Library Resources at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free.
1:15 PM: Mindfulness Meditation at Pathways Vermont, Burlington. Free.
3:00 PM: Lego Builders at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free.
4:00 PM: Champlain Valley Dinner Train 2025 at 1 Main St, Burlington
4:00 PM: Splash Dance: Matt Hagen at Burlington City Hall Park. Free.
5:00 PM: Friday Night Dinghy Racing at Community Sailing Center, Burlington. Free.
5:00 PM: South End Get Down (food trucks & DJs) at Coal Collective, Burlington. Free; cost of food and drink.
5:30 PM: French Social Hour at Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown. Free; cash bar.
5:30 PM: SBRP Art In The Park at Goose Pond, South Burlington
6:00 PM: 'Gone Guys' Film Screening at Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. Free; preregister.
6:00 PM: Sacred Remembrance at 1 Mill Street, Suite 208, Burlington
6:00 PM: Summer Slow Down: Restorative & Sound (at Chace Mill) at 1 Mill St, Burlington
6:30 PM: Edge of Eternities - Friday Night Prerelease at Quarterstaff Games
7:00 PM: 'Everybody Loves Touda' Film Screening at The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $6-12.
7:30 PM: Friday Recharge (sauna & cold plunge) at Savu Sauna Lakeside, Burlington. $35.
9:00 PM: Karaoke with DJ Big T at McKee's Original, Winooski. Free.
Performances
7:30 PM: 'KIN: A NEW MUSICAL' at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $30.
7:30 PM: Tom Thakkar (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25.
Live Music/DJ
12:30 PM: BCA Summer Concert Series: House of Hamill (folk) at Burlington City Hall Park. Free.
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell's Blue's Revue at Red Square, Burlington. Free.
5:00 PM: June Star, REDadmiral (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10.
6:00 PM: DJ CREB at Red Square, Burlington. Free.
7:00 PM: The Cobras (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington. Free.
7:30 PM: Bonny Light Horseman, Al Olender (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $37.24.
7:30 PM: Joshua Glass (singer-songwriter) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington. Free.
7:30 PM: Wheeland Brothers, Anthony Michael (reggae, pop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $26.42.
8:00 PM: Burly Bear presents Mid-Summer Black Party LBGTQ focused, DJzdcode (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington.
8:00 PM: Dark Entries: 80s Goth Club Night at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski. Free.
8:00 PM: Leddy Moss, Julia Randall (folk, jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10.
8:00 PM: Left Eye Jump (blues) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington. $10.
9:00 PM: Brandon Terzakis Quartet (jazz) at the 126, Burlington. Free.
9:00 PM: Dancing in the Streets -- a weekly Grateful Dead tribute night at Skinny Pancake
9:00 PM: Danny & the Parts (Americana) at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free.
9:00 PM: Fattie B (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski. Free.
9:00 PM: Rap Night Burlington at Drink, Burlington. $5.
9:00 PM: The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, Happy Spangler (indie rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington. $15.
10:30 PM: The E-Block (R&B) at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10/$12.
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington. $10/$15.
Saturday, July 26, 2025
General Events
All Day: The Ramble at throughout The Old North End (Click the link to see event list & map)
All Day: Senior Summer Slam Pickleball Tournament! at The EDGE
All Day: Two-Day Multi-pitch Rescue Intensive at 105 Briggs St, Burlington
Until 6:00 PM: 24-Hour Telethon at CCTV Channel 17 Studios, Burlington. Free; donations accepted.
8:30 AM: Sticky Kid Doughnuts! at Pomeroy Park
9:00 AM: Member Mornings Saturdays at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
9:00 AM: The Old Hag in Vermont at 25 North St, Burlington
9:00 AM: Imagine a pancake, Imagine a song! at 134 N Champlain St, Burlington
9:30 AM: Tony Tour! at 139 N Champlain St, Burlington
10:00 AM: Burlington Farmers Market- Summer! at Burlington Farmers Market
10:00 AM: Edge of Eternities - Saturday AM Prerelease at Quarterstaff Games
10:00 AM: Ramble Field Day at Roosevelt Park! at Roosevelt Park
10:30 AM: Kids Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free; preregister.
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall. Free.
11:00 AM: Lego Time at Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington. Free.
11:00 AM: 30th Anniversary Block Party at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington. Free.
12:00 PM: Ramble Crown Crafting, Cocktails & Oysters at 294 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington
1:00 PM: The Poetry Experience at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Free.
2–4 PM BTV Plant Swap and Share Plant Swap at Odd Fellows Hall, Burlington
2:30 PM: Splash Dance at Burlington City Hall Park. Free.
3:00 PM: Family Series - Skate Night at 1000 Dorset St, South Burlington
3:00 PM: Poolside Paws Yappy Hour at Hotel Champlain
6:00 PM: 30th Reunion! at The Spot on the Dock
7:00 PM: 'Era Oculta' Film Screening at The Screening Room VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $6-12.
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park, Burlington. Free.
8:45 PM: Revival Halaqah at 400 Swift Street, South Burlington
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Goddess at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski. Free.
10:30 PM: Late Night Ramble! at Taco Gordo
Performances
2:00 PM: 'KIN: A NEW MUSICAL' at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $30. (Also at 7:30 p.m.)
7:30 PM: Tom Thakkar (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. (Also at 9:30 p.m.)
Live Music/DJ
2:00 PM: Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington. Free.
4:30 PM: Cat Crash, Cricket!, Burly Girlies, Rangus (punk) at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10.
6:00 PM: DJ Raul at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Sundown Sessions: Marc Daly Folk Band at Coal Collective, Burlington. Free.
7:30 PM: Chris Peterman (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington. Free.
8:00 PM: Caring Less, Summer Arachnid, Reid Parsons (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski. $10.
8:00 PM: DJ Taka's 10th Anniversary Party at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington. $10.
8:00 PM: Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington. Free.
8:00 PM: Nicole Atkins (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $26.42.
9:00 PM: Bruno John Quartet (jazz) at the 126, Burlington. Free.
9:00 PM: Osage Orange, the Shady Trees (indie, folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free.
10:00 PM: Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington. Free.
10:30 PM: The Croaks, Jane Don't, Asher White, Fowl (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington. $15.
Sunday, July 27, 2025
General Events
9:00 AM: Climb a Multi-pitch Classic at 105 Briggs St, Burlington
9:00 AM: Paddlethon at Community Sailing Center, Burlington. $50-$100; preregister.
9:00 AM: Total Beginner Hip Hop 5-week series for adults at Lines Vermont Studio + Store
9:00 AM: Weekly Free Yoga at Hotel Champlain at Hotel Champlain
9:15 AM: Sunday Morning Fam Jams! at Vermont Comedy Club
9:30 AM: Divine Worship Service at 1560 Williston Rd, South Burlington
10:00 AM: Best Pooch in the Noosk at Winooski Falls Way. Free.
10:00 AM: Edge of Eternities - Sunday AM Two Headed Prerelease at Quarterstaff Games
10:00 AM: Winooski Farmers Market at Winooski Falls Way. Free.
10:15 AM: Ascension's Celebration of Baptism at 95 Allen Rd, South Burlington
10:30 AM: Tantra Flow (at Chace Mill) at 1 Mill St, Burlington
12:00 PM: ASL Silent Boardgames at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe
12:00 PM: The Amazing Puzzle Race 500 piece at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe
1:00 PM: Queen City Brewery's July Yoga Class! at Queen City Brewery
1:30 PM: Queer Reads Book Club at Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington. Free; preregister.
5:00 PM: VT Synth Society Meetup at Community of Sound, Burlington. Free.
6:00 PM: Venetian Karaoke at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge. Free.
6:00 PM: New Leaf Sangha Mindfulness Practice at Hot Yoga Burlington. Free.
Performances
2:00 PM: 'KIN: A NEW MUSICAL' at Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $30.
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: BCA Sunday Classical: Steve Klimowski Quartet at Burlington City Hall Park. Free.
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont, Burlington. Price not listed.
11:30 AM: Alternate Take at American Flatbread Burlington at American Flatbread Burlington
1:00 PM: Jack Caron (rock) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington. Free.
1:00 PM: Vermont Cello Duet (classical pop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free.
7:00 PM: 81355, Big Homie Wes, Kanganade (hip-hop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free.
7:00 PM: Argo and the Violet Queens, Lunch, Victoria Fearn (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski. $10.
7:00 PM: Burlington Concert Band at Battery Park, Burlington. Free.
7:30 PM: Jeffrey Lewis & the Voltage, the Grasping Straws, Trevor Robinson (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington. $20/$25.
8:00 PM: Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage at Nectar's at Nectar’s
8:00 PM: Robert Lester Folsom (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $32.06.
Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Burlington Community Justice Center
There are so many volunteer opportunities in Burlington! This week I choose to highlight:
Help support neighbors who’ve experienced harm by volunteering with the Parallel Justice program at the Burlington Community Justice Center. This role involves checking in with victims after police reports, helping them navigate the legal system, and connecting them with local resources. Whether or not someone is held accountable, you’ll be part of a community response that prioritizes healing and support. Volunteers must be 18 or older and bring empathy, professionalism, and a respect for confidentiality. Training is provided—your presence can make a real difference.
Check out this page for links to four great sites with volunteer opportunities all around Burlington: https://btownbrief.beehiiv.com/c/volunteer-burlington
202+ Things to Do in Burlington (Summer Activities)
Today’s picks:
Five more to keep your week feeling fresh and a little spontaneous. Walk the trails at Colchester Pond where the loop gives you a mix of open views and shaded paths with plenty of bird activity if you pay attention. Stop by Foam Brewers for a drink and sit outside near the lake where the vibe is relaxed and the people-watching is solid. Spend a quiet hour browsing records at Burlington Records or Pure Pop and let yourself pick something unexpected to bring home. Take a trip to the Vermont State House in Montpelier for a free self-guided tour and a walk through the surrounding streets that feel a little slower than Burlington. And if the weather turns, try a few rounds of axe throwing at Burly Axe for something fun and completely different.
Full list’s always waiting here when you need a plan: https://btownbrief.beehiiv.com/c/202-activites
Eating Out On A Budget (Food & Drink Deals)
Soon to be updated with even more Burlington food deals. Quick shoutout to Shawn, a Btown Brief reader who sees the value in finding restaurant specials that feel like a win for both the people and the businesses themselves. Thanks, Shawn! Updates to come… In the meantime, here are this week’s picks for deals:
This Week’s Food & Drink Picks
Thursday: Half-priced house-smoked wings at Switchback Brewing, a burger and a beer for $17 at Zero Gravity Beer Hall, and $6 margaritas at Despacito.
Friday: Half-price burgers at The Skinny Pancake, $5 fish & chips at Shalimar, and $5 Fiddlehead IPA drafts all day at The Daily Planet.
Saturday: BOGO half-off chicken sandwiches at Shelburne Tap House, a free share plate for parties of three or more at Gold (4-6 p.m.), and $5 Switchback drafts at Shalimar.
Sunday: A Switchbrat sandwich and a Citra Vista for $10 at Switchback Brewing, $0.75 wings at Barnyard, and $5 mimosa pints at The Daily Planet.
View the full list of food & drink deals here: https://btownbrief.beehiiv.com/c/food-drink-deals
This Week’s Restaurant Review: Pizzeria Verità
Pizzeria Verità has carved out a solid reputation since 2012 as Burlington's go-to spot for authentic Neapolitan pizza, complete with a wood-fired oven imported directly from Naples. The restaurant's commitment to traditional technique shows in every pie: hand-stretched dough with the signature puffy cornicione edge, quality San Marzano tomatoes, and fresh fior di latte mozzarella that's made in-house. Standout pizzas like the Mais, featuring fire-roasted Vermont corn with speck and crème fraîche, successfully bridge Italian tradition with local ingredients, while classics like the Margherita deliver the pure, simple flavors that define true Neapolitan style.
The lively, energetic atmosphere matches the open kitchen setup where diners can watch skilled pizzaioli at work, creating an engaging dining experience that feels both authentic and distinctly Burlington. Co-owners Leslie Wells and John Rao's dedication to the craft is evident: Wells trained in Italy and New York to master traditional techniques, and their emphasis on local Vermont ingredients through partnerships like the Vermont Fresh Network adds a meaningful community connection. The restaurant consistently ranks among Burlington's top dining spots, earning recognition in local "Daysies" awards and maintaining strong online reviews for both food quality and service.
However, Pizzeria Verità's popularity can work against it during peak times, when the bustling atmosphere tips into chaos and securing a table without reservations becomes tough. Prices run $15-20 per pizza, which can feel steep for some, but not bad compared to surrounding pizza places. The limited menu can leave some diners wanting more variety beyond the antipasti selection. The high-energy environment, while part of the appeal for many, can feel quite busy for those seeking a quieter meal, and service can become stretched thin when the restaurant hits capacity. Despite these drawbacks, Pizzeria Verità delivers on its promise of authentic Neapolitan pizza in a vibrant setting that captures Burlington's local dining scene.
View the full list of reviews here: https://btownbrief.beehiiv.com/c/restaurant-reviews
That’s All, Burlington!
Another packed weekend ahead in our fair city, from Thursday's street parties through Sunday's puzzle races and Venetian karaoke sessions. Whether you're dancing on Church Street, hunting for treasures at the Ramble, or just trying to stay cool in this hazy heat, there's no shortage of ways to connect with your neighbors and celebrate summer in Burlington.
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