Drive Slow and Don't Hit the Brakes

It's 9 degrees fahrenheit, and I can see snow in Stowe Village outside my window, with snow predicted to keeping coming right up through Christmas. It's snowing in Boston, in New York, and very possibly where you are. Which means that you're of one of two minds: You're really not happy, because you're cold, the roads are snowy, the walk needs shoveling, the windshield needs scraping.





















Or you may be of Mind #2. Snow is softly falling, it's peaceful and magical as Christmas approaches. A walk along Main Street in our village brings an encounter with someone you don't even know, but there's eye contact and recognition that this is a good thing, a lovely moment.

For those of Mind #1, we can help:

• The cold: Here in Winter Playland, we layer. Everything from those itchy, wooly, drop-seat long johns to silky, barely-there undies. Any of Stowe's outdoor shops can help you stay warm. Or sit in front of one of the dozens of fireplaces that our lodges feature. And lots of these fireplaces can be in your room. With you, drink in hand, lolling in front of it. Or, do as we do: Play in the snow! Make friends with winter by skiing, riding, snowshoeing, mushing with dogs, riding a horse. Try extreme sledding in Smuggler's Notch!
  
• Snowy Roads: Road crews in a resort town know which side their bread is buttered on, and boy are they diligent in keeping the roads plowed, sanded, salted. (one of my fantasy jobs is driving a plow truck--all cozy, music cranked, steamy cuppa joe in the cupholder, saving the day...) The best advice was imparted to me when I moved here years ago: Drive Slow and Don't Hit the Brakes. T'was told to me by the guy who is now the chief of the Stowe Fire Department, so I trust 'im.
  
• Shoveling Snow: Hire a kid, or shovel yourself and call it "cardio", or buy a snowblower. Or stay with us for awhile, and you won't even have to worry about it. Someone else can do it!
  
• Scraping Ice: No one likes this, there are no easy solutions (although there is a can of something in my car that I've never used, s'posed to work, maybe I should try it), you're on your own.

With all apologies to those of you in tropic climes (I lived in the Virgin Islands for 3 years, and at Christmas we cranked the AC to 55 and huddled around the absurdly-priced tannenbaum, singing songs of the season to get in the mood), Christmas is meant to be white! Everyone from Bing Crosby to Audrey Landers (Afton Cooper on DALLAS!) and Twisted Sister to John Schneider (Clark Kent's Pa and pilot of Duke of Hazzard's GENERAL LEE!) have sung that they dream of it, just like the ones they used to know, so it must be true. And looks like we'll have it.
A White Christmas.

The Snow Gods Awake!

(Photos: Main Street, Stowe Village, 10am December 12)

The Snow Gods conspired and concocted, and this morning Stowe awoke to nearly a foot of new snow. And it's still snowing, hard.


Oddly enough I get pretty psyched to get outside and clean off my car (the adult version of putting on your snowsuit, and just getting out there), and this morning required the use of The Snow Broom. Don't know where it disappeared to; maybe it was tired from a summer of sweeping pine needles off the deck, so I used the current household broom, which ended up looking like a frazzled kitchen witch. This exercise is all part and parcel of living in snow country, and today finds Stowe folks dancing like hamsters and high stepping like those nine- ladies-dancing that will be referenced this time of year ad nauseum.

The news that we want you ALL to know is: Stowe is snowy and up and running. And with the 10-day forecast heralding colder temps and snow, we're in great shape for that Currier & Ives holiday. That term is so overused, but it's accurately descriptive. You'll see.

Stowe Mountain Resort is open for awesome skiing and riding. Gondola opens this weekend on Mt Mansfield, and Sunny Spruce and Sensation Quad on Spruce Peak, too. And the brand-spanking-new Spruce Camp base lodge, which is, no joke, jaw-droppingly fabulous, is warm and will welcome you with open arms. My friend & associate at SMR, Jeff Wise reports that they expect six more inches from this storm, and anticipate 57 trails open tomorrow, with all three peaks open for business.

Dogsledding, xc skiing, snowmobiling (or 'chining, as in snowmachine...take your pleasure with either term) snowshoeing, extreme sledding, romantic sleigh rides--you can revel in it all now, as the snow keeps falling.

Take a shopping break and come see a few of my friends and I carol (yes!! 12 Days of Christmas is one of our greatest hits!) at Stowe Mercantile in the village. We're there on Sunday from 2-4pm. Kids can visit Santa there on Saturday, too, from 12-2, and they donate $10 to the food shelf for every child who visits Santa. Scads of holiday events are underway now, too, including our Shop Savor Sip Ski

New Stowe Dining & Shopping Guide!

Thanksgiving means, obviously, giving thanks--for family, friends and for our own individual list of personal blessings.

Thanksgiving also means food , and on that note we'd like to draw your attention to Stowe's brand new Winter/Spring Dining & Shopping Guide. When you're in Stowe, stop in to our Visitor Information Center and pick one up. They're distributed all over town, too, so look for one at your hotel.




Thanksgiving also means spending time with the people that you truly care about, and this year StoryCorps, an independent nonprofit that has helped more than 40,000 Americans record their personal stories, is advocating the day after Thanksgiving as National Day of Listening. As one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, StoryCorps's mission is to help people honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. The day after Thanksgiving is also National Day of Shopping, but you could put that off until Saturday or Sunday and avoid the considerable crush. (but don't forget our once-a-year, awesome Stowe shopping promotion,
Shop Savor Sip & Ski-great ski benefits!) Choose someone in your life to tell their story. StoryCorps suggests some questions to get you started:
What was the happiest moment of your life?
What are you most proud of?
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
What is your earliest memory?
How would you like to be remembered?

It stands to reason that we can be transformed by choosing to be grateful for the people in our lives--whether it's the loves of our lives, our family and friends, or the people that pass through our lives every day by chance.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Conditions to be Grateful For

Guns are firing on Mt Mansfield! Snow guns, guys. Stowe Mountain Resort's enormously prolific snow-making is readying for opening day of skiing and riding, TOMORROW! Snow reports from the hill put the snow-making trails average base depth at 24-54 inches. The quad lift is on track to be open, with 8 trails accessible. Weather guru (no kidding, he really is!) Roger Hill predicts dribs and drabs of snow for the next couple of days, and pre-Thanksgiving the clouds will be giving it up with accumulations of "several inches possible". Rumor has it that we're in a cold cycle that will guarantee the guns will be working overtime, piling up the good stuff. Rumor also has it that Spruce Peak will be open by Thanksgiving, and the Gondi by December 6.

A colleague paid a visit to the new and soon-to-open, state-of-the-art luxury Spruce Camp base lodge last week and reported it was "jaw-dropping". Services include a bar, indoor & outdoor fireplaces, restaurants, shops, rental shop, tickets, ski school and public lounge areas. With the new Over Easy inter-mountain transfer gondola, new trails, a new beginner area, new high-speed detachable quads and that amazing and fully-automated snow-making, Stowe is in grand shape this ski season.

And, not to be outdone: This just in from the Sultan of Snow-making, Nordic Style, Sam von Trapp, VP of Special Projects for Trapp Family Lodge. Sam is making good use of their brand new (last year) snowmaking guns, and says, "We plan to open with limited (very limited at the moment) XC skiing for Thanksgiving Day. Trail will be very short, but better than not skiing. Day passes will be at reduced rate."

The chatter right now is "how will the economy affect skiing?". We're pretty optimistic. Stowe is not only the premier ski destination in the East, but easily drive able for tens of millions of travelers: 3.5 hours from Boston, 6 hours NYC, a deuce from Montreal. Then there's the train! Wouldn't it be great to bring back the old Ski Trains? If you've got an extra day or two (high-speed rail remains a fantasy...) it's a super way to decompress while you roll along passing time with a good book or a movie on your laptop. Bonus? Amtrak powers through when the airlines are still contemplating take-off, especially in snowy weather.

Another tick in the affordability column: Stowe Mountain Resort offers discounts on lift tickets all season long, including holidays. Buy multi-day (from 2 days to 7 days) tickets at least 7 days in advance and you'll get 15% off, holidays included. Stowe's Vacation Rewards Program combines lift tickets with other on-mountain services and many Stowe area lodges package it with rooms. One stop shopping. And another budget-friendly tip: Shop Savor Sip Ski promotion nets discounted lift tix. See last week's blog for info.

Thanksgiving Day looms near. Stowe restaurants have some nifty specials for those who choose not to cook (me, me, me!) Drive safely, whether inbound to Stowe or outbound to family/friends. Think Thankful Thoughts.

How to Shop, Savor, Sip and Ski in Stowe

The term Black Friday seems to have originated in Philadelphia in 1975. This term for the purported biggest shopping day of the year, which is the day after Thanksgiving, is the day that merchants can make up lost financial ground and put their ledgers "in the Black". If you happen to be a fan of standing in line at 5am for a $5 DVD player that will conk out around the time the Christmas goose emerges from the oven, then I'm probably not speaking to you. However, if you're looking for fun, stress-FREE congenial shopping that reaps some pretty great rewards--like lower-priced and even free skiing-- then here's the Stowe Shop Savor Sip Ski skinny.

Spend at least $75 at any combination of participating shops from November 28 (yep, BLACK FRIDAY!) through January 4, 2009, and receive a Stowe Points Card offering discounted lift tickets all season long at “The Ski Capital of the East”, Stowe Mountain Resort. Plus, any purchases made at Stowe Mountain Resort earn points, and when you reach 450 you'll get a free unrestricted ski voucher. Earn points on lessons, merch, eats, rentals and more, plus the card comes with 75 points to get you started! The card also delivers year-round, on-mountain rewards, like golf and summer attractions, so you can earn even more points. (Stowe Points Cards can make great stocking stuffers, too)

During Shop Savor Sip Ski, holiday shoppers will also get coupons for free chocolate or candy cane at Laughing Moon Chocolates (the SAVOR!) and a free coffee drink (the SIP, obviously) at the Green Mountain Coffee Visitors Center & Cafe.

Adding to the shopping fun is the Golden Candy Cane Quest: find the Golden Candy Cane hidden in a participating shop and win prizes, like a one-night's stay in Stowe or other goodies!
And it gets better: each $75 spent is an entry in the Shop, Savor, Sip & Ski Grand Prize Sweepstakes (more winning!). You could spend three nights in a two-bedroom Stowe condo, and get one-day lift tickets for two adults and two kids. Plus, a Keurig coffee maker (more sipping!) and a year’s supply of chocolates (more savoring!)

Pretty good deal...cheaper lift tix and even free skiing plus lots of other perks, and holiday shopping that pays you back!

And with Stowe's nearly 70 unique and locally owned shops you can be sure that you’ll find the perfect gift for everyone this holiday season. And in the process discover the Art of Shopping. 'Cause after all, art is an expression of who you are...

Stuck in Stick Season Doesn't Mean the End of the World

Okay, I'm stuck. Stick Season is nothing to crow about, although if there is such a thing as an "off" season, I'd rather be in Stowe than anywhere else. We're quiet right now (a friend calls this the "serene season"), and a bit gray, although warm. Many visitors during this time of year love the tranquility, and the possibility that it could snow at any time (check out my blog of 10/29)--or that you can still jump on your bike and ride for miles, setting your mind free.

Hotel rates are at their lowest, so a weekend getaway from the big city is a distinct possibility. To be seriously considered and very much in order would be a day at the spa. We've got some great ones! Gas prices have plunged, and an audiobook makes your trip fly by. If you're from the Boston area, that's only 200 miles or so; NYC only about 300, and Montreal even closer.

A few of our scores of restaurants are closed for vacation/deep cleaning/regrouping before the holiday onslaught, but many of those open have great specials going on, and always a warm, welcoming ambiance. We're still all the things you love about Stowe, no matter what the season.


Election Day 2008 dawned unseasonably warm and bright earlier this week, and the atmosphere was positively Rockwellian. From my office I look down on the Town Hall polling place in the village, and it was hard to tear myself away from the window. I voted early this year, and then kicked myself for forgoing the warmth of community that pervades when voting in a small town. Even so, I moseyed over to visit with the pollsters and the voters, using the excuse that because I voted early I didn't get my "I Voted" sticker. Cliff Johnson, our recently retired Public Works Director was volunteering his time for sticker-duty and was happy to lay one on me: I VOTED!

The Queen Has Spoken

Susan Rousselle, our Sales Manager, and more importantly--at least this time of year--our Queen Leaf Peeper, has decreed that Thursday, October 2 at 5:17pm was absolute Peak Foliage Color this year. Notably, this is nearly two weeks earlier than last year, when Peak was October 14. The Queen states, "My AHA! moment was on Stagecoach Road. I was driving north, the lighting was spectacular. It honestly looked like a painting instead of real life; the color was brilliant. It's the moment when you know nothing could look prettier."

And so, we close the Stowe book on fall, and proceed to lifting the cover on Winter. To continue the metaphor (please bear with me, it's Friday...), the first page in this book is snow-covered. As of this writing, there are FOURTEEN inches of snow at Stowe Mountain Resort. Now that I write that, it seems rather paltry when I realize that HUNDREDS of inches fall in the heart of winter, but we're pretty psyched to have fourteen before the onset of November. Intrepid (and very fit...) skiers/riders are hiking up and sliding down. See some cool photos and be inspired! The Mountain opens on November 22.

LET IT SNOW - LET IT SNOW!

Yup. Snow in Stowe. Stowe Mountain Resort. And it's still coming at 2:30pm on Wednesday. Two words: WOO and HOO! We're off!

Remember: SMR kicks off the season on November 22.

Spooky, Snowy Stowe

Stowe has gone from Fire on the Mountain to Snow on the Mountain in pretty short order, folks. Wednesday morning found enough snowfall on Mt Mansfield to whet the appetite of winter sports buffs. Skiing/riding at Stowe Mountain Resort opens in just a few short weeks, on November 22nd. Starting November 1st, snowmaking will begin, adding to Mother Nature's lode. But the stuff--known as White Gold around these parts--has begun its descent. Last winter was epic in the amount of snowiness, and winter sports boomed. Snowshoers plodded happily along, dogsledders mushed at a rapid clip, snowmachines roared through the glades, skiers-- both Nordic and Alpine--swooshed. I think we deserve two great snow years in a row...we begin praying right about.....now.

However, should you have a hankering for fall color, it can still be found..but hurry. Some color is apparent in the hollows deep in the forest, and some on the hillsides. But officially, we're in Stick Season. Soon those sticks will be frosty and white, but for now they're rightfully recovering from their summer and fall glory. Well done, leaves!

Hallowe'en is what we're focusing on now. Stowe can be a pretty spooky place, if you look in the right places! We've got Emily's Haunted Bridge, Stowe at Night Lantern Tours, and a steady stream of wee characters roaming the streets in search of sugar-laden treats. Actually, Hallowe'en is a pretty cool day for kids. It starts with the Stowe Elementary School Ghost Parade on Main Street in Stowe Village. (FYI: the guy with the pumpkin on his head is Mr. Smiles, the principal...yes, our principal's name is Smiles, and he wears a pumpkin on his head every year). Our offices at the Stowe Visitor Info Center are right in the line of fire, so we load up on candy and put ourselves at the mercy of passing ghouls, goblins, skeletons, and more topical and timely costumed characters (let's bet on how many Sarah Palin/Tina Feys we see this year! Do I hear Heath Ledger/Joker?) We're alerted to the impending invasion by the sounds of the local radio station, WDEV-AM playing "Monster Mash", which resonates as a music worm in my head for many hours. Then kids go home and rest up for the Big Event: Trick or Treating on Main Street and the big party at the elementary school, all in the village.

Many years ago the idea was hatched that in order to have a safe place for sugar-solicitation, the cops would block off Main Street, the Boy Scouts would ask for candy donations and the candy would be distributed to the households that would be descended upon for trick or treat. From 4:30 to 6pm the elementary school Parent Teachers Organization hold the perfect Hallowe'en party. With games, food and free Glo Stick Necklaces from the Stowe PD, you can't go wrong. Having nurtured a Shy Little Kitten, a Killer Whale (I was up all night for that one), Calvin (w/ Hobbs), Waldo (as in "Where's ...?" --my total favorite) and countless others, I have a pretty good idea of how special Hallowe'en can be in Stowe.

Kids are ready to hit the hay by 7pm. Bring in the babysitter and Hallowe'en-oephile grownups can don their costumes and head out to revel the night away. It's a FRIDAY!

Bless You, Farmer Sue

Last Sunday, I stopped at the Stowe Farmer's Market, as I always do after my morning spin class. It's a great place to meander, mulling over whether to buy the tomatillos, and what the heck would I do with them. Truth-be-told, my sole purpose was to beeline for the late-season blueberries (4 bucks a pint, and so darned sweet), pick up a JinJi potsticker to sustain me post-workout, chat a few minutes with JinJi about our singing careers, grab some cilantro and move on out.

There are many times, especially when I have guests or am with a friend, that I'll mosey through, more of a "shopping" experience. But this time was not one of those.

I stopped for my cilantro at the last booth (or first, depending on whether you're coming or going...). This was Farmer Sue's booth. Since this was the second-t0-last Stowe Farmer's Market of the season, I asked her how business has been. Great, she said. She harvests acres of lettuce, garlic, peas and beans and beets of all kinds, zukes and cukes and broccoli and its cousin rabe, makes jelly and she pickles a bunch of the aforementioned veggies. She works 7 days a week, and gets help from her husband on Sundays. And, her week is made up of traveling to markets in South Hero (Wednesdays) , Jericho (Thursdays), Shelburne (Saturdays) and Stowe on Sundays.

I'm telling this tale to honor the work of these farmers. They are the backbone of Vermont. Stop and see them at the Stowe Farmer's Market and chat awhile. One last market coming up this Sunday, then they're done until May. Savor a real-life rural experience.

After you've stocked up on pumpkins, pickles and potatoes, keep moving up Mountain Road to the 26th Annual Stowe Foliage Art & Craft Festival in Topnotch Field. These guys have been putting this fest on for a long time, and they've got it just right. Two hundred artists and artisans will "represent the pinnacle of artistic quality in the region". Camelot-style tents are heated, just in case...And OH, wow, new this year: Vermont Cheese, Beer and Sausage Tent! With a picture-postcard-perfect fall vista as the background, you can shop, sup, listen to live music and shop yet again. Choose from elegant pottery, glimmering blown glass, fantastic furniture, svelte clothing, wondrous weavings, luxurious leather, original art, and fabulous photography. These are some of the finest crafts that you'll find in New England, all under one (or two) tents.

More and more and more great stuff in Stowe this weekend, too. Great Pumpkin? Boy, do we have it, smack in front of Town Hall on Main Street. Enter the Pumpkin Weight Guessing Contest here at the Stowe Visitor Center. If you can ascertain the weight of Jabba the Hut, you're in the ballpark. Corn Maze? Get here soon, 'cause the harvest is coming!

PS. Foliage is still brilliant, but visit this weekend for the best of the remaining color. Truly, some of the finest I've seen in a decade. If the finery of fall translates into white gold for winter, we're looking at another fine, fine winter sports season.

Out With the Brits; In with Deutschland!

Last weekend's British Invasion complete with British Block Party on Main Street and Beatles tribute band British Mania (how many times can you say "British" in one sentence??) was a huuuuuuge success, but the Brits have exited left and the Germans have entered right. (that may not be politically correct, but I'm a little weary of politics).

Stowe's Oktoberfest kicks off tomorrow and is the place to be in Stowe. Beer, 'wurst, oompah bands, dancing and "prousting!"and all for a great cause: Stowe Rotary. If you are a Rotarian, if you know a Rotarian, if you've ever benefited from the philanthropy of Rotary, you should be there. That would be most of the planet, btw. And if that guilt trip didn't get ya, this might. Desserts are provided by Trapp Family Lodge's esteemed pastry chef Marshall Faye. LINZERTORTE!

On a completely unrelated note--well, not really, 'cause you can't hoist the stein ad finitum:
I saw Stowe Theatre Guild's PRONOUNCING GLENN opening night, and laughed out loud a ridiculous number of times. In fact I guffawed and was completely entertained by this enormously gifted cast. This is a comedy (obviously…) written and directed by Carole Vasta Folley, who is originally from Hyde Park, VT and cut her teeth on the stage at the Hyde Park Opera House for the Lamoille County Players. (This 50-or so year-old community theatre organizationis presenting, appropriately enough in this election year, the musical 1776). Carole, who has directed and performed at the Stowe Town Hall Theatre, also acts in PRONOUNCING GLENN. This is an astonishing accomplishment for an artist, worthy of the support of all of us who support the performing arts. If you don't hoot, check your pulse. We all need a belly laugh these days…

(PRONOUNCING GLENN Photo above courtesy of Andrea Wolga Freeman)

Leaf Peepers Get in the Game

Stowe begins hosting our affectionately-dubbed Leaf Peepers from all over the world in earnest as we head toward the end of September. The question that we get most often this time of year is, of course "when is peak foliage??" Well, Stowe-ites have a good time guessing the exact time of this epic event, and to honor this tradition our staff is keeping their peepers open to determine just when that peak will be. And, we've decided to repeat the fun we had doing this last year, so viola! Contest time! Come into our Stowe Visitor Info Center on Main Street, fill out one of our really cool Leafy Entry Forms with your guess of the EXACT time and date of absolute/can't-get- any-better/reached our pinnacle/WOW-is-that-mind-blowing peak and you could win a Stowe Stay. Contest starts on September 19 and ends on October 19. How is peak determined, you ask?? By our own Queen Leaf Peeper, Susan Rousselle! Her Peak Prowess is legendary, and her resume in this area extensive. But seriously, there is a contest, and you could win a Stowe Stay.
For more Foliage Fun take guided scenic tours which offer journeys of a full day or just a few hours. Cruise back roads, passing through the haunted Emily’s Bridge (called thus due to star-crossed love, natch) one of a number of covered bridges. Stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill for free sips of good old-fashioned apple cider. Or take the only Vermont scenic drive selected by Yankee Magazine's fall foliage website, the 10-mile stretch of Route 108 connecting Stowe and Jeffersonville via Smugglers' Notch. Take the time to ride the Stowe Gondola to the top of Mount Mansfield to check out the view!
Visit during Stowe Oktoberfest this weekend, or the 26th Annual Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, October 10-12, the perfect place to do some early holiday shopping. Shopping, dining and fair weather outdoor activities will keep ya busy while you gaze.

Last week, on September 11, 2008, on a chilly New England morning we rang the bells of Stowe Village. As in many towns around the world, we stop what we're doing and become still, and some of us listen to the bells and some of us ring them. But we're still. In Stowe, our iconic Stowe Community Church, the Stowe Free Library/Helen Day Art Center and the Vermont Ski Museum join in harmony (I like that word), tolling away. We've done if for 7 years, and as we draw farther and farther away chronologically from the time of the horrific events, we may remember a bit less of what we felt on that morning, but still, we ring, and we contemplate.

Onward: In our town we're dolling up for Autumn. Little peeks of color are starting, the coaches of peepers are descending. Every day I walk to the post office in the village, and pass these visitors. It's such fun to answer their questions about where to eat lunch, where's the quilting shop, where to pick up some maple syrup. It reminds me in such a good way of how fortunate I am to live here and to be able to answer their questions. In the next few weeks our streets will get a little more bustling as we sweep into fall frenzy. Events and activities abound in the coming weeks. First up is the British Invasion and Village Block Party, referenced in my last blog. The village is dressing up for the window dressing competition, too. Our offices in the Stowe Visitor Info Center are going strawberry mad...as in Strawberry Fields, but hopefully not forever.

And why not fill up on all-things-British one day (9/19-21) and then skip a few gorgeous miles north for the Boyden Valley Winery Celebration of the Vine, September 20 & 21. The Stowe Oktoberfest is up the next weekend, and we top off leaf-season 2008 on October 10,11,& 12 with the 26th Annual Stowe Foliage Art & Craft Festival. As fall continues, the days shorten, temps drop, and our "serene season" kicks in. Until the snow flies, and considering that we're the Ski Capital of the East, that's an upcoming story!

For all of these groovy events in Stowe, just click away: EVENTS

England Swings...and Stowe, too

One may think it odd that Stowe, Vermont is hosting an event that "Celebrates and Salutes the Great British Motorcar and All Manner of Other Things British". Well, we are, after all, in New England, and we do entertain a ton of visitors from the United Kingdom. It's fitting, though, that the British Invasion is said to have started over a pint of ale, because one of the organizers, innkeeper Chris Francis is a legendary Stowe Brit. Five o'clock: off to the pub! Some traditions just don't change because you relocate across the Atlantic.

We're going full-Brit as we close Main Street in Stowe Village and restricting parking to English motorcars such as the Jaguar and the Morgan, this year's featured marques (that would be "make" in Yankee-speak). Shops will be open late and decked out in British window dressing as they compete for prizes, and we'll be jumping with tent sales, food, and of course British music. Not just any music will do, and to that end our street dance will be highlighted by British Mania, the "Official Beatles Tribute Band of Liverpool Tours". From the Cavern Club to Abbey Road, they'll be playing all the Fab Four hits, with authentic costumes and instruments rocking the...ummm...street. All on Friday, September 19 at 6:30pm.

So, here's the story so that you can get into the swing (like-a-pendulum-do): Chris Francis and his lovely wife Lyn moved to Stowe from England a couple of decades ago and bought and rehabbed an inn, naming it, appropriately enough, Ye Olde England Inne. Eighteen years ago they hit upon the idea of staging a British Invasion, one which would be a lot more fun than the original one probably was. And so, they were off and running, or ambling, or strolling, as the Brits are wont to do.

The 18th Annual British Invasion, September 18-21, features a plethora of events, including Back-seat Driving and Tailgate Picnic Competitions; auto judging in the Concours d’Elegance; a British Market; pub food; scheduled driving tours through the Champlain Islands and scenic Smugglers Notch, and much more. “The Invasion”, held in the Stowe Events Field, has been honored by the Boston Sunday Globe as their “number one choice for “Best Things to Do Within a Day’s Drive of Boston”, and recognized by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as one of their Top Ten Summer Events.

"Baby, you can drive my car!" Beep beep, yeah.

September Song

The past week has been hopping in Stowe! The weather has been beyond reproach, the street outside my window in Stowe Village is bustling. Just grabbed an ice cream cone from the Depot Street Malt Shop (the day, and our boss, cried for it! And he was treating.) and they were busy as can be at 2:30 in the afternoon. Owner Rachel told us that it's the mid-afternoon/end of bike ride or hike break for families who are just chillin'. Nice.

The license plates that we see are not only our traditional "drive markets" of Montreal, Boston, and New York, but farther flung locales, too. And the welcome ring of accents from countries across the pond (whichever pond you choose, east or west) brings a refreshing diversity to our community.

This, folks, is the hum and buzz of a very popular destination for families large and small as they get in one last frolic before it's time to go...back...to...school.

And now the time of year that recharges us all. Ahhhh, September. Yep, the perfect month in Stowe. September is the buffer that Mama Nature offers up; the assuager, the peacemaker. Takes the edge off the cold nights, which are creeping in. Hotel rates become more affordable, the flora and fauna is in full swing--flower gardens glory in September! Picnics and all the outdoor activities that we love continue to be options. How about a glider or hot air balloon ride? A soothing, mellow paddle down the river via canoe or kayak? And how about it all being bundled together into a great package? Check here:
http://www.gostowe.com/lodging/specials/

And fall foliage? It's a-creepin' in. Much as we love it, we're not quite ready to say farewell to summer. I'm tempted to say, as my mother once scolded, "Now, don't you start!"

But for now: September: Gloriosky! I'm outta here and onto my spokes.

Stowe Summer Music Festival=World Class FREE Music

August 10-16 brings incomparable music to Stowe, and it's all free. The 7th annual
Stowe Summer Music Festival brings world class performances from artists who are--- and it's not a stretch to call them this--brilliant

The organizers of the festival are committed to making the performances accessible, so there is no admission charge. The concerts will be held at Topnotch Resort and will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The "kick-off" celebration will be hosted at the Helen Day Art Center, on August 10th at 4:30, and features a collaborative art exhibition. The artist, Rafael Cauduro, is a highly acclaimed painter and muralist and one of Mexico's most prodigious and popular contemporary artists. Mexico's leading brass quintet, Metales 5 will make an appearance.

Metales M5 returns for a performance on Monday, August 11 at Topnotch Resort, the host property for the concerts. Highlights of a Metales M5 program range from Baroque to contemporary, from opera to pop and Mexican folk.

On Tuesday, Traditional music coupled with classical music is the hallmark of the Brasil Guitar Duo. And, theyre the VirtuososWinner of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild International Competition!

On Wednesday Spinto Tenor Jose Ortega is back by popular demand, offering a special evening of operatic arias and songs.

On Friday, Orchestre de la Francophonie Canadienne, directed by Jean-Philippe Tremblay takes the stage with some of the best and brightest young musicians from Canada, performing a program of music from classic movies.

On Saturday we're back at Helen Day Art Center for Stowe Festival 'Finale' Celebration. The Stowe Summer Music Festival will wrap up with a celebration of the Rafael Cauduro exhibition. Cauduro will be on hand to speak

Spend next week in Stowe revelling in great music--and it's all free, so you can splurge on dinner, drinks, and a great place to stay!

Rainy Days Don't Have to Get You Down! (but we can''t do much about your Mondays...)

It's no secret: Stowe and Vermont have been under seige from the Rain Gods. But while the rain can be a barrier to some activities, (but not all: I witnessed a lot of bikers outfitted for the elements and happily cycling along) I love the rain. Okay, not in overload, but here's what I love: The sound: better than counting sheep as a sleep aid; the Green Mountains of Vermont become greener than ever; the already incomparably clean air of Vermont is washed even cleaner.

And finally--the point of this blog today--there are so many indoor activities that beg your attention! Here are the high points of a rainy day in Stowe:

• Read a Book. Recall the joy of imagining as you get comfy with fiction or non, historical or modern, romance or mystery. See it in your mind's eye, and not on a screen. In Stowe we have options for accessing those reading materials. Pay a visit to Lackey's Variety Store for a selection of magazines second only to those in the big box stores. Buy the latest best-seller or children's book at Bear Pond Books on Main Street in Stowe Village. Browse the Stowe Free Library's Porch Book Sale. Or, grab a book or magazine from the library's stacks and make yourself at home. Kids love the Stowe Free Library, too, so check their website for info on programs for kids and teens. Mosey upstairs to the Helen Day Art Center for a viewing of their latest, "Without Boundaries" by Mexican artist Raphael Cauduro


• Eat. Drink. Stowe's dozens of restaurants are cozy and welcoming. Take your time, relax, savor the flavor. Take part in a wine tasting at Trapp Family Lodge. Nibble for free: cider samples at Cold Hollow Cider Mill, award-winning Cabot Cheddar Cheese at the Cabot Annex (or travel a wee bit longer to their factory tour in Cabot); chocolate at Lake Champlain Chocolates--all on Route 100 South. On the same route is Ben & Jerry's, where the tour is a couple of bucks, samples included


• Visit the Vermont Ski Museum, whose mission is to "Collect, Preserve and Celebrate Vermont's Skiing History".


• Shop without a purpose. See what great and distinctive merchandise in our shops strikes your fancy. Try on that great outfit at In Company or Well Heeled! Take the time to pour over the scores of types of penny candy at Stowe Mercantile. Check out the Flying Monkey at Shaw's General Stowe.


• Learn how to dip chocolates at Laughing Moon, blow glass at Little River Hotglass, paint pottery at the Painting Place.


• Spa it up! Luxurious destination spas Topnotch Resort & Spa and Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa are top options.


• Dinner, then a show? You have choices! Cinema or live theatre? We've got both. Stowe Cinema is now showing HANCOCK; MAMMA MIA! and the uber-est movie of all, THE DARK KNIGHT (Marvel at the acting skills of our U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy in a cameo) LIve theatre includes Stowe Theatre Guild's BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, Waterbury Players; ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS, and Lamoille County Players' GREASE .

Just a short list. When you're in Stowe stop in to our Visitor Information Center on Main Street, and one of our info specialists can help you explore more options. And remember, you're STILL in Stowe. A pretty special place to be, rain or shine.

In The Thick of The Arts in Stowe

We're in the thick of it: Stowe and summer arts. Everywhere you turn, there's the creative energy of actors, musicians, crafters, sculptors and other visual artists. Stowe is rife with creative types, and it's easy to find their wares, be it singing, dancing, acting, glass blowing, watercolor artistry, or jazz and blues guitar. Coupled with a perfect summer day or evening. the arts enhance the charm of Stowe. Here's your menu: (speaking of menu--dozens of places for a leisurely meal, a quickie cocktail, all of the above, and all al fresco, if you chose. I would so chose--summer, and life are short)

Starting with visual arts and crafts
EXPOSED! 2008 Outdoor Exhibition, presented by Helen Day Art Center, Stowe's non-profit arts organization. This is a walkable outdoor art exhbition that entertains and provokes the age-old question "what is art". Ho hum. Just enjoy. Their current indoor exhibition is Mexican master painter and muralist Rafael Caudero. Helen Day Art Center is also a part of one of the 4th Annual New Taste of Stowe Art Festival, This is a great culinary AND arts fest. Best of all worlds! Plus, 150 juried crafters--no junk here, folks--to quote their website, "All three dimensional media are represented including clay, glass, leather, jewelry, metal, wood, wearable and non-wearable fiber, sculpture, and other categories The ensemble makes for creative shopping and the region’s best art/craft show."



Little River Hotglass's Michael Trimbol is the creator of vivid and memorable blown glass art. You can see him at work here: http://www.littleriverhotglass.com/visit-process-video.html You can see Michael live and in person and puffing away by visiting the studio. Really fun for kids as they see bags of sand turn into something they can drink juice out of.



West Branch Gallery is an exceptional place. Right on the Little River, large scale sculpture to browse among, exquisite art from both emerging and established artists, both out and inside the indoor exhibition hall. Founders /owners Chris Curtis and Tari Swenson are enormously talented scultor andwatercolorist, respectively, and the heart and soul they bring to their art is apparent the moment you enter.

Lest you think that art is something that you hang and gaze upon, you may want to expand your knowledge at Cotswold Furniture Makers, where craftsman John Lomas makes your piece by hand. A sure-fire guarantee your heirs will end up with an heirloom.



Can't possibly omit Stowe Craft Gallery. Susan Bayer Fishman is an artist in her own right--breathtaking stained class is her medium. She and her husband Stephen Fishman are advocates and promoters of American craft, and their gallery is a testiment to that mission



Regional visual artists are featured at the Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery--you can definitely afford to invest in a collectible from a Vermont artist! Check out owner Sandra Noble's watercolors. Sandra and her husband Scott are also the driving force behind Third Thursdays gallery hop.



On to Performing Arts!

Since its humble beginnings in 1995, the Stowe Theatre Guild has presented oh, a zillion shows-- musical, comedy and a little Arthur Miller and Edward Albee for good measure. The Town Hall Theatre right in historic Stowe Village summer offers BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL; A DELICATE BALANCE (that's the Edward Albee part...), and an original comedy written and directed by Stowe Theatre Guild vet Carole Vasta-Folley.



Now this is REALLY historic: The Lamoille County Players began trodding the boards in 1954. This summer they will present GREASE and later this fall, 1776 (it's an election year! as director Dean Burnell qualifies).



New kid on the block Waterbury Festival Players consistently gives us first-rate comedies (sorry, but summer is made for laughing), including ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS; INDOOR/OUTDOOR, and later this fall WAIT UNTIL DARK. Wait...that's not a funny show. Oh, well.

The Vermont Mozart Festival gives you the opportunity to wine and dine in one of the most beautiful and music-friendly venues anywhere: Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow. Picnics underscored by fabulous music (or, music underscored by fabulous picnics...) are a huge summer tradition in Stowe. BTW, Beethoven RULES this summer.

Stowe Performing Arts is our non-profit arts presenter, and now that their Trapp Family Lodge Music in the Meadow concerts have run their course they've moved on to the smaller village venue, The Gazebo on the Helen Day Memorial. Picnics again are encouraged, and you can't miss a New England tradition, the Morrisville Military/Waterbury Community Combined Bands. Our friends and neighbors from the towns both north and south of Stowe bring a concert of favorites. And, because the Stowe Free Library shares the Helen Day Memorial Building, you can browse the hugely popular Porch Book Sale! A total of four concerts in the Gazebo, all presented by Stowe Performing Arts and The Friends of Stowe Free Library.

Cheers, and seize the summer!

Books? Big Art? Win a Coffee Maker?

Stowe's summer is well underway, and it's so great to see the evolution of events that happen every summer. For locals and frequent visitors, these events are a harbinger of settling into the summer rhythm. And for first-time visitors to Stowe they're obviously must-sees!

First off is the Stowe Free Library Porch Book Sale. Browse, browse, browse. Stroll over to the library on the green in the village after dinner, or before seeing a performance of Stowe Theatre Guild's BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL. Shameless promotion: I'm in it. And I'm probaby the least talented of all these amazingly gifted performers, and I do consider myself somewhat capable. And I'm definitely the oldest--by decades. The creative team are all in their early twenties and profoundly professional. See http://www.stowetheatre.com/ to buy tix.

But back to the book sale. Thousands of books are both donated and culled from the library's stacks, and there are categories too many to even begin mentioning. A great way to build a kid's library too. Oh, and did I mention they're really inexpensive?

Another of the signs of mid-summer is the Helen Day Art Center's EXPOSED! Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Wander the village and Stowe Recreation Path, turn a corner and BOOM! You might say "WHHAA??? You may marvel. You will be intrigued.

This weekend is also the annual Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa Hot Air Balloon Festival. If you've never seen a hot air balloon launch it's loads of fun, especially the early morning ones, like 6am. http://www.stoweflake.com/ Evening launches feature lots of food and fun actitivies on the Stoweflake Events Field, too.

UNCOVER OUR SECRET is our theme this summer, and we're running the SECRETS OF STOWE SWEEPSTAKES. Just visit www.gostowe.com/uncoveroursecret and you're eligible to win a 5-night stay in Stowe or dinner for 2, or a $50 gas card or a Keurig Coffee Maker from Green Mountain Coffee. Go try your luck! Contest ends the first day of Autumn, which is September 22.

Still time to plan a visit to Stowe for the 51st (that's FIVE ONE!) Annual Stowe Antique & Classic Car Meet, August 8-10. And this is the second year that we'll close off Main Street in Stowe Village for the Oldies Street Dance & Block Party. Closing Main Street is a very rare occurrence, so this is really a big deal. Our great Stowe Police also clear the street of modern vehicles and they're replaced by vintage ones. Think 57 T Bird convertibles. The owners love to show them off, too, and will gladly engage in automobile repartee.
The dance is Saturday night, August 9, and earlier that afternoon is the antique car show parade.
And speaking of cars: Stowe really is a car-show intense. for good reason. Cruising Vermont back roads is a recreational activity that is really popular. Our scenery is exceptional, and you set your own pace. See here for some self-guided tours: http://www.gostowe.com/thingstodo/sports/drives/ . More upcoming car events include Cobras in the Mountains http://www.cobrasinthemountains.com/ and the British Invasion http://www.britishinvasion.com/, with featured marques Jaguar and Morgan.

And of course for all of Stowe's events and other info our website is invaluable: http://www.gostowe.com/

Slow This Summer Down!

PLLLLLLLLLLLEase, won't someone make summer slow down! How did we get to the July 4 weekend so darned fast? No matter...can't stop the clock or the calendar from rolling on, so do as we do here in Stowe. Embrace the summer! (Carpe summer?) Our summer season is so short, we revel in it intensely. Concerts in the Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow (Presenters are Stowe Performing Arts and Vermont Mozart Festival) are a must. This weekend marks the first, and there is an opportunity to experience great music throughout the summer in this incomparable performance venue. Just don't forget your picnic...and your wine. Great opportunity for kids' first concert-going experience, too. Here is the key: plunk your blanket on the periphery of the seating area, and when you're kids get ansty take them away from eye and earshot and let them run around. But risk the glare of your neighbors if you make a ruckus while they're trying to enjoy their Beethoven al fresco.

July 4 in Stowe is a hoot--check it out: The World's Shortest Parade in Moscow, VT, which is actually a part of the town of Stowe. The main street is so short that the parade has to turn around and come back the same way! Here are a few fun facts that make this parade NOT your ordinary tramp down the asphalt:

• Particpants aren't allowed to begin creating their presentations until the morning of the parade. The trampers often interpret both local and national political themes--hmmm....Clinton/Obama/McCain anyone? Think oil prices and the economy with make a show?
• Music is provided by boomboxes strategically placed in the villagers windows--local AM station WDEV plays the Sousa marches, etc.
• Last residents who move to Moscow clean up after...well, whatever makes a mess.

Parade is on Friday, July 4 at 10am.

July 4 sales are a tradition in Stowe, too. This is the time, believe it or not, to stock up on skis and skiwear! (Last year I got a great deal on ski boots) And not just cold weather goods, but arts & crafts, clothing, and many other items. This Independence Day will mark the first “7 Miles of Sales Independence Day Sidewalk & Tent Sale” on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5. Shop owners have joined together to deliver an ideal experience for shoppers, who can feel good about declaring their independence from chains. Stores in Stowe are unique and independent and sized to become part of their neighborhoods, staffed by locals who are enthusiastic about the goods they sell. Shops will be decked out in Red White and Blue, beckoning you and your debit card with some eye-popping bargains! Look for the balloons, tents, and sidewalk displays on Route 108 and Route 100.

And did you think a grand ole' historic town like Stowe (214 years and counting...) would forget Fireworks? We've got 'em; festivities start at 5:30pm. Fireworks at dusk. All at the Stowe Events Field. On the 4th, of course. All of Stowe's events for the summer, in case you want to plan ahead before it's GONE:
http://www.gostowe.com/thingstodo/calendar/

Check Out Stowe Garden Fest's "Growing Green"!

Cool in Stowe right now, but expecting some nice warmer weather next week. And while it's difficult to predict the weather for June 27-29, we DO know that Stowe will become garden-centric that weekend as the Stowe Garden Festival comes to town. I'm not a big gardener, but even I can tell that some of these events are pretty intriguing. I definitely plan to head up to Stowe Mountain Resort's Stowe Mountain Lodge on Saturday, June 28 because I've been dying to check out the new restaurant, Solstice, at the opulent and mucho impressivo new hotel at Spruce Peak. This is a great (and affordable!) opportunity, because the Garden Fest is sponsoring the "Farm to Table" Dinner, in keeping with their "Growing Green" theme at Solstice. For sixty bucks (plus tax, tips and drinks) you can have a 3-course dinner of sublime Vermont-y foods at the hottest new hotel and restaurant in Vermont, and maybe in all of New England.
But the complete experience would include attending the very, very, very exclusive Stowe Mountain Club Golf Course's workshop "Habitats in the Landscape at Stowe Mountain Club Golf Course". Led by course superintendant Kevin Komer, the discussion will be all about the creation and maintenance of the course that is solely for guests and members. This Bob Cupp-designed mountain course was named one of Golf Magazine’s Top Ten New Courses for 2008, and is the first Audubon International Signature Sanctuary, a role model of sustainable development and environmental protection.
After the course tour, you can head to the hotel's bar, Hourglass (named for one of Stowe Mountai Resort's backcountry ski trails) and get primed for the dinner by attending an Organic Cocktail Party (Don't you love Vermont? Organic spirits!) with creative hors d'oeuvres. Cash bar, but the nibbles are free. Here's the catch: A Stowe Garden Festival Pass must be purchased for entrance to these events. Weekend passes are $25, 2-day passes are $15 and 1-day are $10. You can buy passes at The Garden Central, Golden Eagle Resort on the Mountain Road/Route 108.

BUT! With your passes you'll also have access to some other pretty cool events, like:

• Rain Gardens at Ten Acres Lodge
• Growing Shiitakes (the leader of this workshop is Eric Swanson, owner of a company which has probably one of my favorite manufactured words ever: Vermush)
• Spiritual Gardens, led by the authors of Sacred Gardens, Judy & Michel Marcellot
• Where are the Birds at Trapp Family Lodge
• Beautiful Gardens with Minimal Intervention
• Create Your Own Spa Treatment at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa. After you stroll the meditative seven-circuit flower and herb labyrinth you'll be able to create our own home treatments
• Tour the gardens of Trapp Family Lodge, Stoweflake, Golden Eagle, Cactus Cafe. And don't forget the Private Home Garden Tour and Tea, always a huge hit (and $25 extra)
• Learn to make wine from weeds at Grand View Winery
• Learn to cook with fresh herbs in Mediterranean and Italian cuisine at Trattoria La Festa (an extra $15 gets you in)
• More, more more...all the info is here: http://www.stowegardenfestival.com/index.htm

To complete your Stowe weekend (all kinds of info on Stowe here: www.gostowe.com) you can see a performance of the musical ANNIE at the Town Hall Theatre in Stowe Village and stay over on Sunday night for a concert in the incomparable Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow. And check that Stowe website for Stowe Garden Festival Lodging Packages.

Easy Travel Decision: Do the Math!

I've just returned from a travel trade show promoting international inbound travel, and the good news is that the international traveler is coming to the USA in droves, thanks in part to the devastatingly low US $ and the extremely high Euro and British Pound Sterling. And they think our gas is CHEAP!


But the domestic traveler? They're looking for hassle-free, affordable travel. AFFORDABLE is definitely the key; let's face it, it's on everyone's minds. We want to travel, we NEED to travel, to get away, to bond, to explore, to REST and to ZONE OUT. And here in the Northeast, as in other cold weather climates we need to be able to pay our heating bills come winter.


There are an estimated 80 million people in the Northeast Corridor from Washington, DC to Montreal, QC, and Stowe should be on everyone's short list 0f "backyard" vacation spots. Ideal for a simple 2 night refresher or a longer stay (during which you actually unpack you bag and use the dresser drawers provided!) Here are the simple mathematical facts, keeping in mind that in college I majored in theatre . . . not math. (BTW, I've never found an occasion to use algebraic
equations in MY lifetime)


So, here goes the math, based on 15 mpg (if your auto gets that minuscule mpg you may want to think about making a change) and $4.25/gallon--can't believe I just wrote that. The airfares are the lowest found on Kayak.com today, for weekends in August, to Burlington International Airport, which is 35 miles from Stowe. Be sure to add rental car and that ornery fuel cost to these totals, too.


Here are some examples:

Miles from Boston, 410 miles Round Trip to Stowe=$116 PER CAR vs $250 PER PERSON Airfare

Miles from NYC: 650 RT=$184 PER CAR vs $204 PER PERSON Airfare

Miles from DC: 1,074 RT=$305 PER CAR vs $149 PER PERSON Airfare

Miles from Montreal: 280 RT=$79 PER CAR vs $636 PER PERSON Airfare

Miles from Providence: 498 RT=$141 PER CAR vs $382 PER PERSON Airfare

Miles from Hartford: 440=$125 PER CAR vs $590 PER PERSON Airfare



So, for a family of four, your total would be...well, you can see the equation. We are talking about maybe hundreds as opposed to thousands of dollars. Stowe is affordable, and that's the bottom line. No, the bottom line is that we're the anti-stress, chill place where you can call your own activity shots: Active or Not. In a magnificent landscape. Simple, and hey, it's your right. Call our central reservation folks at 1-800 467-8693 or go online to http://www.gostowe.com/ and check rates at our hotels--we have so many affordable options. Restaurants run the gamut, too, and we have some of the most awesome picnic spots anywhere, including the Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow, where you can sip your vino, break your bread, load it with Vermont artisan cheeses, and soak up some culture at at a concert. (you will have to pay for your ticket, though)



But PLEASE don't ask me to do any more math. Sing: yes, math: no.

Begin to Uncover Our Secret!

Stowe is inviting you to "Uncover Our Secret" this summer. Those of us who live here or visit have discovered that Stowe offers so many singular experiences and evokes so many feelings. Peace. Tranquility. Freedom from stress (yes! it can be done!) Togetherness and the urge to cocoon with loved ones. The rush of finding that perfect picnic spot, or nailing the trail on your mountain bike. A concert in the Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow at dusk lulls you into an utopian stupor. Bliss. Your secret is your own, and there are so many to uncover in Stowe. And, BTW, since Stowe is within driving range of millions of people (Boston: 200 miles; NYC: 300 miles; Montreal: 140 miles) we're probably in YOUR backyard!





To get you started..well, food. Really, really good food. As only Vermont can offer, with our state's rich culinary heritage. What do you think all this fresh air and green, green grass is for? Our cows, goats, and sheep partake of the aforementioned air and grass and offer forth cheeses that have gastronomes salivating and critics raving. Have you ever done a Cheese Run? Neither have I...but the opportunity presents itself during the Vermont Culinary Classic at Stowe on June 15th. This is just one of the many foodie events that will have us all anticipating very happy taste buds. Or gorge yourself on pancakes in the name of fun (?) and earning some great prizes. Vermont maple syrup makes 'em go down really well.


The week-long Culinary Classic Big Event, The Bounty Festival is on Saturday, June 14 and will be great for all ages. Grown-ups will savor tastings, view cooking exhibitions-including the Pro and Amateur "Mystery Basket Competitions". And kids can learn where their food actually comes from in the Kids' Zone.


You can learn to cook with ramps. Did you know you could cook with ramps? Here's the skinny on these springtime delectables: http://southernfood.about.com/cs/ramps/a/ramps.htm Vermont's Chef of the Year Michael Kloeti, chef/owner of Michael's on the Hill, will teach you how to make Potato Ramp Vichyssoise and other yummies. And let's see if I can just cut to the chase and sum up the entire week's worth of edible entertainment: Make a bagel...toss some pizza dough...make Linzertorte at Trapp Family Lodge (their bakery, open to the public, is DEFINITELY a secret to uncover!)...taste some brews...make some brews...Farmers' Lunch overlooking the world from the top of Vermont's highest mountain....taste some wines...sample chocolates...sing some Karaoke and compete in the Culinary Pub Quiz (you can't eat all the time)...drink martinis...


http://www.vermontculinaryclassic.com/


You'll be too satiated to drive home...so spend the night in Stowe. We've got great Eat n' Stay Packages starting at $63 per room per night. And the next day you can get up and start all over again! (or opt for some of our renown physical activity, like hiking, biking, kayaking, etc)





Come back later in the month for the Stowe Garden Festival. The theme this year is timely: Growing Green, and like the Culinary Classic, is loaded with a weekend's worth of experiental workshops. Explore Stowe's new Community Garden; discover the joys of organic gardening with your own laying hens (fringe benefit: those organic eggs!); tour a ton of sumptuous gardens. And if you just didn't quite have enough to eat on your previous Stowe visit, do not, DO NOT miss the "Farm to Table Dinner" at the brand-spanking new 5 star hotel Stowe Mountain Lodge's Solstice restaurant. This 3-course tasting of the season's finest locally grown produce is exclusively for Gardenfes participants. http://www.stowegardenfestival.com/ Special lodging packages for this one, too. For ALL Stowe info: http://www.gostowe.com/

Stowe Weekend of Hope Hosts Hundreds of Cancer Survivors

As happens the first weekend of every May in Stowe, we hosted the 8th Annual Stowe Weekend of Hope. As far as we know, there is no other event that a.) Offers complimentary hotel rooms for first-time attendee cancer survivors and their families/loved ones; b.) Is an event that involves people challenged by any kind of cancer (in fact, there were an astounding 46 different types of cancer represented) c.) Involves an entire business community led by Stowe Area Association and working with a regional hospital (Fletcher Allen Health Care) in the planning and execution.

Nearly 1,000 cancer survivors (called survivors because we believe that if you're living with cancer, you're a survivor!) and their companions took advantage of the free workshops facilitated by specialists from around New England and organized by The Vermont Cancer Center. Visitors to Stowe from both far and near attended the inspirational events, with 21 states, the US Virgin Islands and Canada represented. This year's program celebrated diversity, with packed houses at Equine Therapy, Macrobiotic Cooking, and Writing to Heal seminars as well as Signs of Spring Nature Walks-just to list a few. Experts expounded on Health Benefits of Yoga, Reiki and Massage as well as instructing on diet, reading pathology reports, empowerment, healing, new technologies, stress and connecting—again, just to list a few.



Getting a jump on the proceedings were the passengers of the Amtrak Train of Hope, which arrived on Thursday evening. Amtrak donates an entire car of The Vermonter, which runs from DC to Stowe along the Eastern Seaboard. (We LOVE Amtrak! Take the train! Save energy and give ‘em a boost!) The Train of Hope started because of a need, in 2002, and every succeeding year Cynthia Werth from Stowe has been our official ambassador on the train. This year her two teen-aged kids, Adam and Emily joined her. Cynthia speaks to each and every passenger on the train, learning their story, their struggles and their hopes. She informs them about the weekend and what's in store. Stowe Area Association’s Chris Osmond also reaches out by phone and makes sure that each passenger’s needs are met

On Friday afternoon at our Opening Ceremony Governor Jim Douglas presented us with an official proclamation stating that May 2-3, 2008 is The Stowe Weekend of Hope. U.S. Congressman Peter Welch also offered warm words of welcome to the gathered crowd. Warm words were welcome indeed, because the Courtyard at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, our gracious hosts, turned chilly when the sun decided to take a powder. But, in truly hospitable style, Stoweflake offered up blankets to huddle in, and we lost nary a soul to the Vermont spring coolness. The crowd warmed further to the Keynote Speaker, larynectomee Marianne Koojiman from the Netherlands. Despite losing her vocal chords to cancer, Marianne has spoken internationally about the challenges she has overcome since being diagnosed in 1989. The audience was terrifically appreciative of Marianne's courage, jumping to their feet to applaud when she finished.

Attendees had the option of having their name tag labeled with the type of cancer they had, and were also offered the chance during the "Matchmaking" session, to connect with others with similar cancers. Networking at the Stowe Weekend of Hope should NOT be underestimated. Learning to reach out or allowing yourself to respond to someone reaching out to you is so important.

Saturday morning the attendees all got to work, educating themselves, buttonholing the experts, visiting the Health Fair and chatting up the vendors. Saturday evening we held the Chicken Pie Supper and Closing Ceremony at the iconic Stowe Community Church in the village. This all-volunteer effort (thank you, volunteer coordinator Leslie Anderson!) was undertaken for the Amtrak Train of Hope passengers, as they needed to leave on Sunday morning and would miss the “official” Closing Ceremony. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders visited us and spoke briefly. Bernie (as he is known in our little state) stopped by last year as well, but has never had time to sit and sup. Maybe next year, Bernie?

After doggedly monitoring the weather--with thanks to weather guru extraordinaire, Roger Hill, for all his help—we made the difficult decision on Sunday morning to stay indoors for our Closing Ceremony and Dedication of Flags of Hope and Healing. Six out of the past seven years we’ve been able to hold the ceremony in the glorious surroundings of the Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow. This year it was not to be. But hey, you know what? It really didn’t’ matter! Holding the ceremony inside the warm and cozy Stowe High School Auditorium was rockin’! As befits the close of an event with “HOPE” as the operative word, we went out with joy and celebration, thanks to our musical guests. Our “house band” Primitive Soul drives up from New Jersey every year and anchors the festivities. These are MAJORLY talented pros, who have played with the best. Vermont singer-song-writer Jon Gailmor joined us, bringing down the house with his completely appropriate song “Say It Now”, with the chorus:

Say it now, say it now, anytime, anyhow Grab the moment, while you got it. Let them hear it. Say it now! How you're feeling-just set it free. Don't wait till it's a eulogy
Right now, say it now, say it now!




As they do every year, the Dance Academy of Stowe’s T.R.I.P. Dancers brought their young energy, grace and talent to 3 numbers, exquisitely directed by Helena Sullivan. And making their debut this year was The Stowe Community Chorus, directed by Jane Harissis. Jane and her group learned the back-up vocals on Simple Minds’ ALIVE AND KICKIN’, and Primitive Soul led us all in a dance-inducin’, hallelujah-evokin’, spirit-elevatin’, soul-jubilatin’ life-lovin’ DANCE OF HOPE! (A nod to The Boss for that rant, and a side note of memorial to E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici, who succumbed to melanoma last month) With the annual reading of the Lakota Prayer of Healing to dedicate the Flags of Hope and Healing created throughout the weekend, we began to close in on the end of our time together. But not before Primitive Soul and all of our musical performers led the crowd in singing YOU RAISE ME UP. Tears, hugs, and an exchange of contact info, well-wishes, and lots of “We’ll see you next year: RIGHT??”

How is Stowe able to offer this? Well, it's probably no surprise that one in three people are living with cancer in one form or another, and cancer has certainly touched many of us here. Stowe also has a history of humanitarian giving. We offered R&R to emergency workers at Ground Zero directly after the horrific attacks. Our town has held fundraisers for community members in need over and over again. A small town in numbers, but a town with a big heart. We’re extremely fortunate to live here, and we don’t take it for granted. This gratitude translates into the action of giving

Oh, and the 9th Annual Stowe Weekend of Hope will be again the first weekend in May. Registration will commence at http://www.stowehope.org/ sometime in February.