Btown Brief, Burlington, VT (2026)

08/21/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Friday, August 21st, 2026:

-Podcast: The BTown Brief Arts Podcast landed a big one!! Kwame Dankwa sat down with Grammy nominated dance star HAYLA at Ilesoniq in Montreal to talk her rise from cruise ship singer to the voice behind "Escape" with Kx5, plus her brand new album DARK. Full interview on YouTube, link in the newsletter.

-Weather: Perfect weekend to be outside! Friday is wall to wall sunshine with a high near 79, bone dry air, no rain in the forecast, and the lake flat at around 73 degrees. Saturday stays dry and warm near 80, though clouds fill in through the afternoon, so the morning is the brighter half. Sunday opens dry and partly sunny, then showers and thunderstorms are likely from early afternoon on with a humid high near 80, so get the Sunday plans in before lunch. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: Starting today the waterfront Skinny Pancake bar becomes a Lawson's Finest tap takeover that runs through foliage season. Burlington hosts Vermont's first ever Navy Week starting Monday with harbor patrol demos and free brass concerts downtown, and Winooski chef Harmony Edosomwan won the Miss Black USA crown along with a full ride to law school. In the biggest story of the week, the man charged in the killing of Deng Dau turned himself in and pleaded not guilty, this after a violent weekend downtown that also saw the state police pull their extra patrols. Grand Point North returns in September as a nonprofit festival, the Burlington Business Association is closing after nearly 50 years, Bernie Sanders rallied with the Teamsters to reopen the idled St. Albans Creamery, South Burlington took its first vote on banning e-motos from shared use paths, and Jay Peak brought in a herd of goats and sheep called the Chew Crew to clear its trails. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter

-Events: Tonight brings Modest Mouse at Shelburne Museum, Angélique Kidjo at the Flynn, Gary Gulman at Vermont Comedy Club, the South End Get Down on Pine Street, and free Dancing in the Streets on the Skinny Pancake patio. Saturday packs in the Burlington Farmers Market, the new BHS campus block party, First African Landing Day at the Intervale, the Net Zero Energy Festival at Waterfront Park, and Vermont Reggae Fest on the waterfront meadow. Sunday eases in with Sunday Classical at the BCA Center, the Blessing of the Animals on Church Street, Hidden Brain live at the Flynn, and Mad Caddies at Higher Ground. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story:
BTownBrief.com

08/17/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Monday, August 17th, 2026:

-Weather: Aim your outdoor plans at the morning today. Scattered showers give way to a more organized line of showers and likely thunderstorms this afternoon into the evening, with a high near 80, plenty of humidity, and nothing severe in the forecast. Tuesday is the rebound, mostly sunny and drier with a high around 82. Wednesday stays warm at 82 with some light showers possible after 2, far from a washout, and Thursday clears out mostly sunny near 79 with crisp nights arriving behind it. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: The new Burlington High School building opens with a ribbon-cutting this Saturday, five years after PCBs pushed students into the old downtown Macy's, and the district is running free public tours. Amanda Janoo won the Democratic primary for governor on the strength of huge margins in Burlington and Winooski, Sneakers Bistro is adding a nighttime cocktail lounge called Sneakeasy, three teenage brothers are running their own creemee stand in Essex Junction, and the Lake Champlain Chamber launched a new Downtown Business Alliance. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Tonight brings a potluck gathering in Essex Junction and $5 Spider-Man at Essex Cinemas. Tuesday has a 5K from Folino's on dollar wing night, an enduro race at Sleepy Hollow, free Streetcar Named Desire at Main Street Landing, and H***y Tonk Tuesday at Radio Bean. Wednesday packs in the Mountain Goats at Higher Ground, the Wine Down market at Shelburne Vineyard, the Church Street Passeggiata, and pick-up basketball at Pomeroy Park. Thursday is stacked with Summervale, a Bubble Run 5K, a creemee relay race, Bark & Brew at the Humane Society, and Charles Wesley Godwin at Higher Ground. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
BTownBrief.com

08/14/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Friday, August 14th, 2026:

-Weather: The weekend finally behaves itself. Friday is sunny and 78, with dew points down in the 40s giving the air a crisp September feel. Saturday is the pick of the weekend, wall to wall sunshine, another 78, and the lake sitting at 76 degrees for what might be the best beach window left this month. Sunday starts sunny and warms to 81, then clouds build through the afternoon with showers likely by evening, so get the outdoor plans in early that day. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: Amanda Janoo narrowly won the Democratic primary for governor and Sarah George held on as Chittenden County State's Attorney, with turnout climbing to about 22 percent statewide. The Williston ReStore reopens Saturday morning after April's fire, some 500 cyclists rode Wednesday in memory of 16 year old Shiloh Skalka, healthcare workers are picketing UVM Medical Center today, and Church Street's MK Clothing has been sold to Rutland's McNeil & Reedy. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Tonight brings comedian Kurt Braunohler to Vermont Comedy Club, free Dancing in the Streets on the Skinny Pancake waterfront patio, the Mad Robin Contra Dance back downtown after a 7 year hiatus, and G. Love and Special Sauce out in Essex. Saturday packs in the Burlington Farmers Market, the Old North End Repair Cafe, Bookstore Romance Day at Phoenix Books, outdoor wrestling at Switchback Brewing, Raving for Recovery in City Hall Park, and the Water Lantern Festival at sunset. Sunday eases in with the Winooski Farmers Market, a 20 mile Island Line bike ride, Bob Wagner's album release at Flynn Space, and a country line dancing cruise on the lake. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story:
BTownBrief.com

08/10/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Monday, August 10th, 2026:

-Weather: A comfortable start to Monday gives way to showers and storms late this afternoon and evening, then Tuesday and Wednesday shape up as the picks of the week, mostly sunny in the low 80s with the humidity dropping. Thursday is the washout, with showers and storms most of the day before a cooler, sunnier stretch arrives for the weekend. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Check out my latest webpage I created called The Pulse. Quit the doomscroll and find every headline worth diving into. Link in full newsletter.

-Headlines: Ray's Seafood in Essex Junction is closing after 74 years, with a last day of September 12, so there is still time for a farewell visit. Tuesday is primary day and only 3 percent of Vermont voters had returned ballots as of late last week, so hand deliver that absentee or vote in person. Mirabelles is taking over both former Kitchen Table locations, chef Micah Tavelli cooks his last Majestic service Saturday before leaving for Boston, and the DMV's enforcement division is becoming the Vermont Highway Patrol right as Super Troopers 3 hits theaters. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Lake Street Dive plays a sold out two night stand on the Shelburne Museum green Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday brings a one night screening of WTO/99 at Partizanfilm and $5 pickup dodgeball at the Miller Center. Tuesday has a 5K from Queen City Brewery, free beginner sewing on Pine Street, and all-you-like kava at Mesmer for $20. Wednesday stacks $5 improv at Vermont Comedy Club, free live music at the BCA Center, and trivia at the Venetian Soda Lounge. Thursday goes big with the Party on the Bricks season finale, SB Nite Out at Veterans Memorial Park, a free John Fogerty tribute in Williston, Hitchcock's Notorious for his 127th birthday, and opening night of Falsettos. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
BTownBrief.com

08/07/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Friday, August 7th, 2026:

-Weather: The soup is back today, hot and humid with highs near 90 in the valleys, mostly dry until showers and a few rumbles move in after dark. Saturday brings scattered morning showers, a midday lull, then more showers and storms in the afternoon with highs in the mid 80s. Sunday is the pick of the weekend, a lingering morning shower chance giving way to a mostly sunny afternoon in the low to mid 80s as the humidity finally breaks. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: The council's Democrats pushed Burlington Forward through 7 to 5 after more than 100 people spoke, now heading to four committees with reports due September 14. Vermont unveiled its first tourism brand, a hand drawn wordmark under the motto State of Inspiration, after a study found most travelers find Vermont appealing but few plan a trip here. Rental e-bikes are back years after the Bird Bike fiasco, locking to designated racks only. Sweetwaters reopened on Church Street four years after closing, and South Burlington's BETA Technologies is chasing up to $1 billion in new financing. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Friday brings the 46th annual Sidewalk Sale to Church Street through Sunday, a new South Burlington farmers market tonight, a truckload meat sale with 20 ribeyes for $40, and live music from 90 PROOF and Half Dead on the waterfront. Saturday is packed, with our own BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity, the Teddy Bear factory's birthday bash with a sunset drone show, MINC's Summertime Bash, the Vermont Comedy Awards, and Lake Monsters Baseball plus fireworks. Sunday closes with the 20th anniversary Dragon Boat Festival at Waterfront Park and ska act Save Ferris at Higher Ground as the humidity breaks. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story. BTownBrief.com

08/03/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Monday, August 3rd, 2026:

-Weather: Showers and a few downpours move through this morning into early afternoon as a front clears, topping out near 80 before temperatures slip to the mid 70s. Tuesday is the pick of the week, sunny and 83 with low humidity, and Wednesday stays mostly sunny in the mid 80s as the mugginess creeps back. Thursday turns sticky near 86 with afternoon storm chances, so front load that day's plans. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: Vermont Green FC beat Flint City 2-1 to repeat as USL League Two national champions, the first club ever to do it, finishing the season 18-0-1. Burlington's council Democrats bring their public safety resolution to a vote tonight over the mayor's objections, and a veto could follow. Kinney Drugs customers say the chain's new AI phone assistant is delaying and mangling refills, state economists warned Vermont's good numbers lean on a single AI pillar, and Stowe capped short-term rental licenses after years of debate. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Tonight brings a free screening of the Academy Award nominated documentary The Alabama Solution at Main Street Landing at 6:30, free trivia at both the Monkey House and McKee's in Winooski at 7, and the Humane Society's Putts for Paws golf tournament in South Burlington. Tuesday is National Night Out at Essex High with safety demos, youth events, music and a hot dog cookout, plus Summer of Love Night at Centennial Field and Oliver Hazard at Higher Ground. Wednesday opens the 46th annual Sidewalk Sale, five days of deals on Church Street, alongside a 9 mile social bike ride from Switchback and a silent western with live score at VTIFF. Thursday stacks Party on the Bricks at Halvorson's, a free Beatles tribute in Williston, SB Nite Out, Fruition at Higher Ground, and Creemees Night at Centennial Field. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
BTownBrief.com

07/31/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Friday, July 31st, 2026:

-Weather: The wet stretch finally breaks. Friday opens under patchy valley fog that burns off by late morning and turns into a genuinely nice afternoon in the low 80s. Saturday is the warm one at 85, partly sunny early with clouds building later on. Sunday goes humid and unsettled, so get your outdoor plans done early before showers and storms fill in through the afternoon. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: Gov. Phil Scott directed state troopers to patrol downtown through mid August, and the mayor found out about it indirectly. Burlington's Democratic councilors are bringing a resolution called Burlington Forward that would speed up police hiring, move faster on encampments and put needle exchanges through more zoning review. GlobalFoundries signed a letter of intent for a $300 million federal award tied to work in Vermont and New York. Somebody in South Burlington is holding a $2.75 million lottery ticket and has not come forward. And after this week's storm closures, the city confirmed all the beaches are open again. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Festival of Fools owns Church Street and City Hall Park both days, free, with more than 70 performances. Tonight also brings Sylvan Esso to Waterfront Park, Jordan Klepper to the Flynn and Rosebud Baker to Vermont Comedy Club. Saturday stacks up with the farmers market, a $2 book sale on the Fletcher Free lawn, a 5K for Habitat for Humanity, The Head and the Heart on the waterfront, and Vermont Green playing for a national title live on WCAX. Sunday brings polo in Shelburne, Champ's Birthday Bash at Centennial Field, a q***r clothing swap on Church Street and a sold out Big Thief show. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
BTownBrief.com

07/27/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Monday, July 27th, 2026:

-Weather: Monday is the last clean day of this dry stretch, mostly sunny with a high right around 86 and a few pop up downpours over the higher terrain in the afternoon. Tuesday stays dry through the morning with scattered storms building after lunch, and Wednesday is the soggy one with periods of rain and highs sliding into the low to mid 70s. Thursday holds a few leftover showers before sunshine returns Friday. This rain is welcome after the dry run, so keep an umbrella handy and let the yard drink. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: Howard Center earned a new designation that unlocks higher Medicaid reimbursement and federal money, and plans to add at least 20 direct care positions. South Burlington is planning Vermont's first PFAS free synthetic turf field at Veterans Memorial Park, using wood chip pellets in place of crumb rubber. A federal assessment found Vermont is not meeting special education standards, the Catholic diocese wants to sell Rice Memorial High to supporters for $4.3 million, and the labor board certified the Healthy Living union. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Kaleo plays Higher Ground tonight at 8 and the Lake Monsters open a four game homestand at Centennial with 25 cent hot dogs. Tuesday brings a pasture walk and picnic at Shelburne Farms and a no drop ride out of Local Motion. Wednesday is the fullest day, with the Phil Abair Band at Sam Mazza's, Beach Bites and free skating at Leddy, and our own pick-up basketball at Pomeroy Park. Thursday is the marquee, Thundercat at Waterfront Park, SB Nite Out with Quadra and Cirque de Fuego fire performers, InCahoots free at Lower Bayside Park, and a Champ toothbrush holder bobblehead for the first 500 fans. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
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07/24/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Friday, July 24th, 2026:

-Weather: This is the weekend you save the good sunscreen for. Sunny and 84 today with low humidity, a warm and gorgeous 88 on Saturday, then 86 with nearly wall to wall sun on Sunday before storms finally return Monday afternoon. Evenings stay clear and comfortable in the 50s and 60s, perfect for every outdoor show on this week's list. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: A Colchester couple has documented more than 5,000 objects on the bottom of Lake Champlain and their images are stunning. The former Courtyard by Marriott is now The Harborvale after a $19 million renovation. Researchers pulled the last piece of a Revolutionary War cannon from the lake, the new V-GAN semiconductor hub opened in South Burlington, and Gov. Scott ordered the state to prioritize local media when buying ads. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Tonight Weird Al and Puddles Pity Party take the Midway Lawn at the Expo while Jordan Jensen headlines the Flynn. Saturday the Ramble fills the Old North End all day, markets pop up downtown and on Pine Street, the Greek Mini-Festival serves souvlaki on the church lawn, and Kevin McDonald of Kids in the Hall does two different shows at Vermont Comedy Club. Sunday brings Best Pooch in the Noosk to the Winooski Farmers Market and Shakey Graves with Dope Lemon on the green at Shelburne Museum. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
BTownBrief.com

07/20/2026

Today's Btown Brief is live! Here's what's happening around Burlington this Monday, July 20th, 2026:

-Weather: Monday is the gem of the week, mostly sunny with a high around 83, low humidity, and clean air. Tuesday turns humid with showers and thunderstorms likely by afternoon and gusty winds into the night, and Wednesday keeps the showers around through the morning before drying out. Thursday is the payoff, sunny and 79 with cool evenings behind it. Plan the outdoor stuff for Monday and Thursday if you can. (Full forecast in the newsletter)

-Headlines: Shelburne Museum is building its 40th building, a new Perry Center for Native American Art shaped by input from 120 Indigenous community representatives. Burlington City Council unanimously approved a 5 megawatt battery at McNeil to shave the city's priciest power hours. The Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage and half of Vermont's appointments over the next two weeks are still unfilled, so this is the week to roll up a sleeve. Plus Vermont's 235th birthday, the CVU turf fight, the wild Chittenden County sheriff primary, and more. (Full stories and many others in the full newsletter)

-Events: Tonight brings Skirack's Run Club, a novice mountain bike ride at Catamount, and our own sunset paddle at Shelburne Bay. Tuesday is Gillian Welch and David Rawlings on the Shelburne Museum green, plus the Pomeroy Park playground grand opening. Wednesday has Trombone Shorty, a free Sam Mazza's concert in Colchester, and our pick-up basketball at Pomeroy Park. Thursday goes wall to wall with Party On The Bricks, SB Nite Out, Shelburne Summer Nights, Molly Kearney at Vermont Comedy Club, a loon talk in Williston, and Kurosawa at VTIFF. Plus way, way more to look through in the full newsletter.

Don't just get the headlines, get the whole story.
BTownBrief.com

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