Ice Sports University [340]

1/25/14: The first Annual Ice Sports University weekend was held at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee last weekend. Guests took classes in curling, pond hockey, Nordic skating, ice fishing, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Eva tried Nordic skating and curling for the first time and only hit the ice twice.

Music: La Strada, New Home, "Go Forward"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was made possible by Hotel Vermont and Vermont Tourism.

Bagpipes at the Boathouse [318]

7/17/13: For the first time ever, the sound of bagpipes rang through the air at the Auer Family Boathouse (AKA Charlie's Boathouse) in Burlington on Wednesday night. St. Andrew's Pipe Band of Vermont, the longest continuously operating pipe band in the state, brought the entertainment and the neighborhood turned out to listen. Charlie Auer and his sister Christine Auer Hebert were on hand to welcome the visitors and even a rainstorm or two didn't dampen the fun.

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

The Return of the Bike Ferry [314]

6/15/13: This Saturday at the "cut" in the Colchester-South Hero causeway section of the Island Line Trail, Local Motion supporters gathered to celebrate the reopening of the bike ferry. Record flooding in 2011 severely eroded the trail and put the bike ferry out of commission for 2 years. After the repairs, the causeway connecting Colchester and South Hero is back and better than ever, and the bike ferry has an extended season.

Community members and businesses gathered on a sunny morning to celebrate the success of The Big Fix campaign and take a short ferry ride across the cut. Eva rode her bike out to experience this one-of-a-kind Vermont trail with breathtaking views.

Music: Kangaroo, Demos, "Waters of the World"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Revolutionary War Reenactment [313]

6/8/13: This weekend The Warner Regiment, AKA The Green Mountain Boys, set up camp at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Burlington in honor of Ethan Allen's 275th birthday. Eva travels back in time to 1776 to see the militia in action as they train to reinforce the American forces in Canada during the Revolutionary War.

Music: Fort Ticonderoga Fife and Drum Corps

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

South End Truck Stop [312]

5/31/13: Hundreds of people crowded into the parking lot behind 400 Pine Street on Friday evening to sample the food, drinks and art at the 2nd South End Truck Stop hosted by ArtsRiot. This weekly food truck rally will be held every Friday from 4:30-9pm through November. The event was so popular that long lines led to long waits for vittles but the organizers promise to provide more food trucks next week.

Read Kathryn Flagg's story here.

Music: The Burlington Bread Boys

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Can/Am Con XI [307]

4/13/13: The 11th Annual Can/Am Con (short for Canadian-American Contest) was held at Camels Hump Middle School in Richmond on Saturday - the first time it's been held in Vermont. Model makers from across New England, NY and Canada competed for prizes and bragging rights.

Music: Rick & The Ramblers Western Swing Band, What Goes Around, "My Bonnie"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

VT All-Day Sacred Harp Singing [304]

3/23/13: Singers from Vermont and Canada met at the Irasburg Town Hall in Irasburg on Saturday for the Annual VT All-Day Sacred Harp Singing. Eva drove through a snowstorm to hear their sweet harmonies.

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival [298]

1/27/13: The 5th Annual Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival was held at Bolton Valley on Sunday.  Almost 100 skiers participated in this fundraiser for the Catamount Trail Association which included instruction as well as some backcountry adventure. Eva strapped on some skis and explored a portion of the Catamount Trail, a 300 mile winter-use trail which runs the length of the state.

Music: La Strada, New Home, "Go Forward"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

First Night Burlington [294]

12/31/12: First Night Burlington celebrates its 30th year with 95 groups, hundreds of performers, 15 venues and 11,000 attendees. Eva rings in the New Year with some resolutions.

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

The River of Light Lantern Parade [292]

12/8/12: The Third Annual River of Light Lantern Parade filled the streets of Waterbury with light, creativity and some visitors from outer space on Saturday.  Students from Thatcher Brook Primary School, artists and community members carried their 400+ homemade lanterns fashioned into sea creatures, a gigantic dragon and objects from our solar system in a magical parade through town.

Music: Sambatucada!

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

The Hobbit Turns 75 at Phoenix Books [284]

 9/22/12: Costumed revelers gathered at Phoenix Books in Essex to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Wizards, hobbits, and elves toasted Bilbo Baggins' birthday with a reading from The Hobbit and a preview of the upcoming film.

Music: Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com, "Industrial Music Box," &"Fairytale Waltz"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Hardcore Punk in a Burlington Basement [282]

8/26/12: Five hardcore punk bands (4 of them from VT) played in Jim Lockridge's basement early Sunday evening. Hunger recently returned from a European tour and was celebrating the release of a 7", The Worst Five Minutes of Your Life was reuniting after 9 years and the underground scene felt very much alive and well in this Burlington basement.

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Sun Boxes in Vermont State Parks [274]

7/7/12: Artist Craig Colorusso has traveled the country with his solar-powered sun boxes.  When the sun is out, each of the 20 speakers emits a different note. When the sun goes away, they are silent.

Colorusso brings this sound installation to the Green Mountains with Sun Boxes in Vermont State Parks.  Eva caught up with them at Elmore State Park in Lake Elmore.  Their next stop is Grand Isle State Park from July 13-15.

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Dear Pina, [271]

6/17/12: Dear Pina, is a dance/theater tribute to German choreographer Pina Bausch created by Vermont choreographer Hannah Dennison. Featuring 30 Vermont dancers and a 'tall, dignified couple' and set in the majestic Breeding Barn at Shelburne Farms.  The show runs June 25-30 and Eva caught a dress rehearsal.

Read more about Dear Pina, in Megan James' "Barn Dance."

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Montpelier Fashion Show [270]

6/2/12: The 8th Annual Montpelier Fashion Show drew crowds on Saturday, despite the rain.  12 downtown businesses and 4 Vermont designers displayed their duds on the runway with the help of over 60 models. This year's theme was "Wildlife" and the Nongame Wildlife Fund was on hand to bring awareness to Vermont's declining bat population - and yes, even Batman walked the catwalk.

Music: Joshua Panda, "Come on up to the House"
Let's Whisper, The Shortest Days, "Meet Me on the Dance Floor"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

CompostFest [266]

4/28/12: Green Mountain Compost celebrated its new Williston location with CompostFest on Saturday.  Attendees enjoyed tours of their state of the art facility, composting workshops and activities for kids involving large trucks.

So where does all the organic material for this compost come from? Eva visited one source at Essex Elementary School during lunch time and talked to 1st graders about why they separate their food scraps after eating.

Music: Red Hot Juba

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

 

Our Body: The Universe Within [264]

WARNING: Contains graphic images

4/13/12: A new exhibit, "Our Body: The Universe Within," opened this weekend in the brand-new Lakeside Pavilion at ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington. Actual human bodies and organs are on display after undergoing a polymer impregnation preservation process, revealing the mysterious inner workings of our bodies to the general public.

Music: Carrigan, Young Men Never Die, "Chin Music"

 

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

VT State Science & Math Fair [262]

3/31/12: The 52nd annual VT State Science & Math Fair was held at Norwich University in Northfield last Saturday. 170 students in grades 5-12 were awarded prizes and college scholarships that add up to almost 1 million dollars.  Eva spoke to the young leaders of tomorrow about their research projects and results.

Music: The Noisebelt, "Tweaklepuss," "8bit Porch"

 

Cash Mobbing Waterbury [259]

3/4/12: Sunday afternoon, a cash mob descended on Bridgeside Books in Waterbury. This new national trend has made its way to Vermont just in time for National Cash Mob Day on March 24th. 

Like a flash mob, cash mobs happen quickly and involve an element of surprise but in this case, the goal is to support local businesses and build community. 

Sunday's cash mob consisted of about 29 people, much to the delight of proprietor Hiata DeFeo who estimated her profit at $850.

Follow this local group on Twitter @CashMobVermont

Music: Cave Bees, Cave Bees, "Kick the Can"

 

Ice Fishing in the NEK [258]

2/26/12: Eva heads North to Newport for the 8th Annual Northeast Kingdom Ice Fishing Derby organized by Wright's Sport Shop.  She talks to fishermen on the South Bay of Lake Mephremagog as they compete to win the $1000 cash prize for the biggest fish.