Howdy folks,
and…HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! There’s a bunch of good stuff going on, so I’m just going to launch into it:
First: in the name of Earth Day, please mark your calendar for the 40th Annual Green-Up Day, Saturday May 1st. This statewide effort is a beautiful example of civic participation…come join the fun!!! Much more info at www.greenupvermont.org/.
Now, on to a number of great events happening this week:
1. Earth Day Celebration (Montpelier): Hunger Mountain Co-op hosts their annual Earth Day celebration today. Meet the people who make your environmentally friendly products, Take away free samples, Raffles, Great food demos, Coop canvas bag giveaways! Kids will get a chance to plant their own seedlings at the kids gardening table. For more information, please contact Krystal 223-8004 x 202.
2. Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Edible & Medicinal Wild Pl
ants of the Intervale (Burlington): City Market invites you to join naturalist, herbalist, and registered dietitian Melanie Putz Brotz for a Wild Plant Treasure Hunt in the Intervale. There are so many amazing edible and medicinal plants growing in this region; come join the adventure. Participants in this workshop traditionally uncover many delectable surprises, from Wild Pheasant Back mushrooms to Stinging Nettles, Burdock Root, Lambs Quarters, and invasively prolific and
delicious Garlic Mustard Greens. Meet at the small parking lot on the right after the dirt road begins, by the entrance to the Rena Caulkins trail. Sign up at the Customer Service desk. Free.
3. Art Walk (Montpelier): Montpelier hosts the annual spring Art Walk on Friday, April 23rd from 4 to 8 pm. Pick up a guide (available at th
e Skinny Pancake and other participating venues) for a list of exhibits, free artist receptions, and events. The Skinny Pancake hosts artist Christa Manns exhibit “She Falls to Pieces”, a mixed media display of collage, black and white photography and oil paintings.
4. Tree Planting (Burlington): this Sunday, the Skinny Pancake
will join forces with Grow Team ONE and Shelburne Orchards to plant two apple trees at the Riverside Community Garden. We will be planting a Cortland and a McIntosh, both about three years old.
A bit about these trees: Every McIntosh apple has a direct lineage to a single tree discovered in 1811 by John McIntosh on his farm in Dundela, a hamlet in Dundas County, Ontario, Canada. He discovered the tree as one of several apple seedlings while clearing a farm which he had just purchased. The Cortland is red with some yellow spots. Â This all-purpose apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York. Â As a result of crossing a McIntosh and a Ben Davis apple, the flavor is a bit sweeter than McIntosh and it’s considered to be a wonderful dessert apple.
Specials this week at the Skinny Pancake:
Folks…we’re in the heart of foraged fiddlehead & ramp season…get ‘em while you can, ‘cuz supplies won’t last!!!
Ramp It Up Lasagna (Burlington): Lasagna inspired layering of locally foraged Fiddleheads and Native Wild Mushrooms blended with a house made Ramp Pesto Ricotta and tied together with a béchamel sauce. Served with our classic side salad. $10.50
Rampage (Montpelier): Greenfield Highland Beef Sirloin with Herb Roasted Potatoes from Pete, Caramelized Ramps, and Green Mt. Blue’s Gore- Dawn-Zola on a Gleason’s Whole Wheat Crepe. 100% Local. $10.00
Music this week at the Skinny Pancake:
First, a quick plug for a hot show tonight in Montpelier:
The Low Anthem on TODAY at the Bethany Church. Doors open 6:30 p.m and show begins at 7:30p.m. The show is open to all ages and is $13 in advance or $15 for the day of the show. Order tickets online or by calling 510-888-7409. Tickets on sale now at Burlington Records or at http://nekmf.frontgatetickets.com.
The Low Anthem are one of the most dynamic, up and coming new-folk bands worldwide, coming off sold out shows across Europe, The Newport Folk Festival, Bonnaroo, and a recent appearance on the David Letterman Show. The church sanctuary where the show will take place has excellent acoustics and an austere atmosphere that is perfect for The Low Anthem’s exquisite music.
Now, onto music at the SPÂ in Burlington:
Thursday, 04.22.10
The Sleepwells (Indi-Folk-Rock)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thesleepwellsmusic
Phili based indie-folk rock quintet The Sleepwells www.myspace.com/thesleepwellsmusic stop by the Cake for a Thursday night of original music. 
Really folks, click on the above link &Â listen…sweet harmonies…!
From their site, “The Sleepwells have just performed 2 CD release parties to packed houses at The Bitter End (NYC) and Connie’s Ric Rac (Philadelphia), and are moving forward booking a tour and releasing new singles while promoting their newly released Somewhere Over the Radar. ” The album was recorded at the state-of-the-art Sine Studios in Philadelphia…
The Sleepwells were formed in 2006 after Barbato packed her guitar and left Boston, Massachusetts after a sold-out performance at the House of Blues, and regular rotation on WERS 88.9 FM and WBCN 104.1 FM – She moved down the coast to Philadelphia, and joined old friends Lawson and Teacher. The band made its debut performance on July 30th, 2006 on Gene Shay’s legendary radio show on WXPN 88.5 FM. Since then, The Sleepwells have been rocking the East Coast playing such venues as Club Passim and The Middle East in Boston, The North Star, The Tin Angel, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, and Pianos in New York City.”
Friday, 04.23.10
The Points North (folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thepointsnorth
Boston-based band The Points North www.myspace.com/thepointsnorth bring their creative acoustic folk to Vermont. Soulful vocals meld beautifully with flute, strings, accordion, tamborine. The Points North compose hushed minimalist New England-inspired folk songs, delivering a twenty-first century take on traditionalist country folk songs.
Boston Globe- “By turns somber and joyous, sturdy and delicate, this debut was a folk feast fashioned by the campfire and drawn from hearth-warmed living rooms. A tapestry of piano, mandolin, and wintry atmospheres made this one of ’09’s most enigmatic local releases.”
Call it Folk- “[The Points North] isn’t folk pop, or twangy sounding acoustic guitars with soundhole pickups, played unknowingly, by singer-songwriters singing banal little nothings about themselves. These songs are socially relevant to our times and speak to issues not often tackled by the progressive arts community…contrary to what the old timers think of as in-your-face protest music. This is more musically satisfying…a hauntingly brilliant performance.”
Performer Magazine- “[The Points North's] sound is cohesive and their vision of creating pure, traditional folk music is apparent. Light, beautiful vocals by Regina Peterson are grounded by Chris Alspach’s and Dylan Clark’s steady leads. Their instrumental arrangements – haunting mandolin, resonating bass drum, tambourine, occasional foot stomping and ethereal flute – flow together, weaving an intricate pattern of phonetic and auditory story telling.”
Saturday, 04.24.10
Birch Bones (acoustic/folk)
David Rhynhart (modern folk/americana)
***$5 suggested donation
http://www.davidrynhart.com
http://www.myspace.com/birchbonesband
Former Burlington resident (and short-term housemate of mine), David Rynhart returns!!! It’s been a few years since David departed for the West. But from ‘06-’08, he was a jewel of talent for the Burlington music scene….David was a regular at open mics, coffee shops &Â stages. A uniquely talented instrumentalist, I often felt David was in a league by himself. Come & help us fill the room & welcome him back to VT this Saturday.
“David Rynhart, serves up a full flavored dish expertly with taunt acoustic guitar playing that is finger plucking good as well down home but slick playing on banjo, piano and Irish flute.”
…All in all this an expertly played and cogently summing up of the American landscape in poetic pastiches that invite the listener to come along for the ride bumpy as that ride maybe but still pleasing to the season as David’s beautiful aching tenor runs roughshod over your initial skepticism. Certainly he seduced mine and reworked it so that I too am a believer. Two thumbs up.”-Nik Beat, Lipstik Indie Reviews
Opening this night is Birch Bones http://www.myspace.com/birchbonesband, a new acoustic, folk duo from Burlington. They’ll perform a 45 minute set.
In the pipeline…
Thursday, 04.29.10
Mandarax (formerly known as the Harrison Shulman Quintet) (jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
Friday, 04.30.10
Slick Martha’s Hot Club (gypsy jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.facebook.com/video/video.php
Saturday, 05.01.10
Patrick Coman (singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/patrickcoman
ve money, reduce air pollution and put your food and yard waste to work building healthy soils to grow healthy food right here in Chittenden Country. Starting tonight:
This week’s food specials at the Skinny Pancake:
Burlington Waterfront will be 
he Chubby Muffin.“Â For our regular readers, this is the big news to which we’ve been alluding…
As always, the first 50 drinks are bought by our generous sponsors and provided at no cost to you!!!…thanks to our sustaining sponsor Seven Days newspaper and this month’s non-profit sponsor, Vermont Clean Energy.
From VCE:Â ”VCE believes that Vermont’s economic growth depends on its environmental health & is fighting for the economic well-being of all Vermonters assuring appropriate use of our resources — our people, our land, our air and our water. We are united in the belief that Vermont’s future lies in conserving its clean, rural, small-town environment. We have joined together to pursue the common goals of encouraging economic development with minimal environmental impacts and preserving Vermont’s natural beauty. VCE is committed to providing facts and information so that people can make informed decisions.”
Thursday, 03.04.10
heir words: “Characterized as “explosively intoxicating,” Greensboro, NC’s Holy Ghost Tent Revival cannot be pigeonholed into any popular genre. Melding brass with banjo, guitar, bass, drums, and keys this six-piece ensemble boasts an eclectic mash of instruments and styles — a musical alchemy all their own…a sense of celebration and salvation; of a raucous party where everyone’s welcome…With a penchant for crafting thoughtfully playful lyrics and graced with exceptional musical skills, there are seemingly no boundaries for this group as they travel the country spreading the magic of their heart-throbbing, foot-stomping, good-time music.”
beings worldwide traveled less than 10 miles to obtain 
Shane Hardiman Trio (Jazzin’ up Mardi-Gras)