Afternoon, folks…
daylight may be dwindliong, but that doesn’t mean you need to hunker down too. In fact, an optimist might argue that every moment lost by day makes for more time to enjoy the evening. There’s plenty a-cookin’ at night around Vermont this week including film festivals, benefit events, theatrical mayhem, and a dash of local localvore reading. For example…
First up, TONIGHT, The Peace & Justice Center Presents: Black Gold, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
Join The Peace & Justice Center for the screening of the documentary Black Gold, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee on Wednesday October 28th at 7p.m. This 2006 Sundance film is an eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar coffee industry, and one man’s fight for a fair price. In their words, “As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee farmers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. If you only see one film about Fair Trade, see this one!”
Shown at The Film House – Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center Lake & College, Burlington.
At the screening you can purchase whole bean, Fair Trade coffee from Vermont Coffee Company and participate in a raffle to win a 10oz. bag of Julia Alvarez’s Coffee, Tres Maraposas. Visit the Skinny Pancake for a cup of Fair Trade Coffee from Vermont Coffee Company before or after the movie! Suggested donation of $5. For more information contact Kathy Bouton at (802)863-2345×9 and the Peace and Justice Center http://www.pjcvt.org/center.
Next up: The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival
Thursday, 10.28.09
A benefit for the Vermont Natural Resource Council.
Another opportunity for an evening of film & events, Thursday October 29th is the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival http://svr3.acornhost.com/~vnrcorg/wildscenic/ to benefit the Vermont Natural Resource Council. Join us for award winning adventure and environmental-based films and events at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington.
Opening reception begins at 5:30 p.m., films start at 7p.m. followed by a silent auction. In VNRC words, “mingle with friends and neighbors, munch on free Skinny Pancake finger foods, peruse displays of some of Vermont’s leading environmental, climate action and outdoor recreation leaders and bid on fabulous silent auction items, including a 2009-2010 season ski pass to Jay Peak, Patagonia apparel, amazing restaurant gift certificates, incredible art and much, much more. Do your holiday shopping at the Silent Auction and support VNRC at the same time! So bring your checkbook and an I.D. — tasty Skinny Pancake crepes and Vermont beer will also be available for purchase — and don’t miss this fun, fantastic event.”
TICKETS are $10.00 for the films and a raffle entry & $20.00 for the films, raffle and a 1-year membership to VNRC!
Visit www.vnrc.org and click on the Wild & Scenic logo for more info or to purchase tickets. Or visit the Flynn Box Office at https://www.flynntix.org/tickets/reserve.aspx?PerformanceNumber=5709
About VNRC: VNRC works from the grassroots to the Legislature to advance policies and practices that strengthen the foundation upon which Vermont’s economy thrives — vibrant communities and healthy downtowns, clean, abundant fresh water, working farms and forests, wild, majestic places, and a green energy economy.
This week’s spooky specials at Skinny Pancake…
All Hallowed Cheesecrepe (Burlington): Devilishly decadent pumpkin, hazelnut, and white chocolate double crusted cheesecake. Cheesecake consisting of local pumpkin mixed with white chocolate and hazelnuts with a traditional graham cracker/hazelnut crust set on a sweet graham crepe pie wedge. $8.50
Candy Corn Crepe (Montpelier):***100% local*** Candied Mazza’s Farm Sweet Corn with Bee Haven Honey, Cabot whipped Cream on a Gleason’s Cinnamon Wheat Crepe. $9.00
BOO! What to do for Halloween…
In addition to ghoulish stories, costumes, and candy, you can still find activities on the farm this time of year…for a festive fall drive, cruise to Northfield, Vermont for a spectacular display of pumpkin carvin’ prowess. By far, one of the best displays of the season is at Ellie’s Farm and Market, which boasts hundreds (I believe 700 this year) of lit jack-o-lanterns in the forest. Head South of Montpelier on Rt 12 to Northfield, you can’t miss this massive display. Ellie’s also presses their own cider so be sure to stop in the shop for some cider & apples, while you are there!
‘Festival of Pumpkins’ – Hundreds of glowing jack-o’-lanterns light the way for ghouls, ghosts and goblins –and other costumed characters–at this Halloween and trick-or-treat kickoff. Festivities begin at dusk. Friday, October 30, 7PM at Smith Park in Winooski. Free.
Queen City Ghostwalk - Adventurous souls stretch their legs around Burlington’s downtown, hearing haunted history and spine-tingling tales. Meet on the back steps of Burlington City Hall. Friday, October 30, 7PM at Burlington City Hall Park in Burlington. $13; call for reservations.
‘The Haunted Forest’ – Good-natured thrills and chills await visitors at this volunteer-run, too-scary-for-tots take on outdoor theater. (A tamed-down matinee version enthralls kids 7 and under at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 24 and 31.) Friday, October 30: 7PM, 8PM, 9PM at Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston. $8.50-$12.50
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As for October 31st itself..
The Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier presents the Edgar Allen Poe Spooktacular Benefit. From their site, “It’s spooky-kooky fun with that Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. LNT’s ensemble travels through the best of Poe’s stories & poems trying to solve a murder. This candlelit, atmospheric Poe performance is followed by a Costume Contest, the drawing for our raffle, and a Dance Party.”
Doors open at 7:30p.m. with Poe performance beginning at 8p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Admission includes dessert and coffee. Plus, there’s a cash bar, and the opportunity to have your fortune told. It all benefits LNT. Order ticket by phone 229-0492 or on the web. For more information: www.lostnationtheater.org/html/shows/poe.htm
FINALLY…for those who do decide to hunker in at home…
There’s nothing like home cooking with your fall harvest vegetables. To help guide you, we suggest this Vermont based Localvore Cook Book! Authors Diane Imrie and Richard Jarmusz have published a cookbook, called Cooking Close to Home; A Year of Seasonal Recipes www.cookingclosetohome.com
A bit about this culinary work: “In this time of intense interest around local and sustainable food, this cookbook is a must-have bookshelf addition for anyone who is serious about shifting their cooking habits to using foods that are found seasonally, in the northeast. The need to change to a healthier, more environmentally-friendly style of cooking is becoming more obvious, and this cookbook will be a guide to do so. Cooking Close to Home; A Year of Seasonal Recipes is a collection of over 150 original recipes as well as several recipes passed down from generations past. The recipes use ingredients that are available in Vermont and throughout the northeast in every season, as well as preserved ingredients. Throughout the book there are useful “Harvest Hints” that explain ingredients, how and where to purchase them and how best to store the harvest for the winter. The book is available for purchase at www.cookingclosetohome.com or directly from Amazon.com, for $24.95 plus shipping. Check the website for other locations around the Vermont where the book is for sale.
The authors are available for interviews and book signing events, and can be reached by phone or email as follows: Diane Imrie at 802-233-0610, or email at diane@cookingclosetohome.com Richard Jarmusz at 802-893-4138, or email at richard@cookingclosetohome.com
MUSIC THIS WEEK AT THE ’CAKE
Thursday 10.29.09 8p.m.
Nicole Erin Carey & The Dirty String Band (folk/old time)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/nicoleerincarey
Nicole brings her original indie folk rock back to the Cake along with special guests The Dirty String Band--Fiddle, banjo, washtub bass, guitar–from Johnson Vermont. Come out and enjoy this recent addition to the thriving Burlington music scene!
Friday 10.30.09 9p.m.
Mary’s Lane (Celtic).
***Suggested Donation $5.00 per person.
The Burlington-based Mary’s Lane is a 4 member band weaving the textures of Irish harp and guitar around and through the fiddle and accordion music of the Celtic lands. This Burlington-based ensemble covers a repertoire of old and new tunes, with the occasional addition of flute or voice.
Halloween is the New Year’s Eve of the ancient Celts – the turn of the season, when the spirit world and the material world converge. Come enjoy All Hallows Eve with Mary’s Lane.
Saturday 10.31.09: NO MUSIC. Join us for a cozy dinner or go have some Halloween Fun!
In the Pipeline…
Thursday, 11.05.09
Jim Osborn (Singer Songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.moosebearbuffalo.com
Friday, 11.06.09
Laura Cortese and The Firest Fires (Urban/Indie/Acoustic)
***$5 suggested donation
www.lauracortese.com
Saturday, 11.07.09
Megan Callahan (Folk Rock/Blues)
***$5 suggested donation
www.megancallahan.com/
one for our Capitol City and another in Big ‘Ole Burlington…both are great places to do your shopping for Thanksgiving!!!
together to help sponsor & host Burlington Green Drinks. Meanwhile, a collection of great people come together to attend it. The event is always held from 5:30 to 7:30 in the Main Street Landing’s Lake Lobby. 100 beers are paid for and poured by the sponsors, a free food spread is provided to all those who attend & an engaging monthly sponsor offers a topic for the month. Pretty sweet deal for the approximately 100 people who come to meet, mingle and network.
Thursday 11.19.09 8 PM!!!!
Mexicali Crunch (Burlington): Butterworks Farm Cornmeal Crepe Chips, Skinny Salsa, Jalapenos, Kalamata Olives, Melted Cabot Cheddar served with a side of Sour Cream and Homemade Guacamole. $8.25 Add Boyden Farm Beef Chili $2.00
Audrey Ryan and Richard Julian (Indie/Folk)
moustaches during the month of November. The event has been claimed to have been invented in 1999 by group of Australian men from Adelaide.” (Wikipedia)
Crepe (Burlington): Misty Knoll’s Turkey with Red Hen Baking Co Stuffing Wrapped in a Gleason’s Whole Wheat Crepe. Topped with Fresh Gravy, Cranberry-Apple Chutney, and a side of Pete’s Greens Brussel Sprouts. $12.00
A bit about the Yak…The Vermont Yak Company’s mission is “Raising and breeding grass-fed yak for organic meat and fiber to help build a more diverse and sustainable agrarian future for the greater Green Mountain region.” The SP sourced our Yak through VT Yaker & friend-of-the-pancake Rob Williams. To learn more about The Vermont Yak Company, visit 
Thursday, 11.05.09
Laura Cortese and 