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.