A: The best the Skinny Pancake has to offer via Rob Williams and Co.

The Phineas Gage Project: James Kinne, Erica Stroem, and Rob Williams

If you’re lost, allow us to explain.

The last Thursday of every month, VT’s finest bluegrass band, The Phineas Gage Project plays at the Skinny Pancake.  Their stickers make the claim they are “music for happy brains, ” and the PG Project ain’t lying. You’ve never heard a more cheerful version of Toto’s Africa than you will when James Kinne, Erica Stroem, and Rob Williams pick up their djembe, mandolin, and guitar. This local favorite plays bluegrass versions of songs you can sing along with and dance to, right up until last call at each and every gig.  The band’s namesake is one of VT’s favorite oddities, the foreman of a crew cutting a railroad bed in Cavendish, Vermont in 1848. Gage was wounded by a railroad tamp after a premature detonation launched the iron spike through his head, veritably blinding the man in the left eye. He remained conscious, went to the doctor to have the spike removed, and went on to travel the country as a side show more cantankerous than previously but fully functional. Now, he lives on in the name of the fresh and fun bluegrass band, The Phineas Gage Project.

Railroad Foreman, Phineas Gage with Tamping Iron

In addition to providing toe-tapping tunes Rob delivers the meat, the yak meat! He’s one of the farmers in the VT Yak Co in Waitsfield, Vermont. Throughout the year, The Skinny Pancake offers specials featuring local Yak raised in the hills of the Mad River Valley.

The Phineas Gage Project can be found at the Skinny Pancake the last Thursday of every month.

Next Phineas Gage Gig:  Thursday, September 29th

This series will be anchored by an old-timey session every week featuring Katie Trautz, Kathleen Moore & Tom Mackenzie from 4 – 6 pm. Everyone is welcomed to listen, intermediates on up are invited to join in! As soon as the weather will allow, we’ll move the music outside to our patio & a second rotating gig will be scheduled from 6 – 8 pm!

Along with this weekly music session, the Montpelier mini-Skinny’s hours will be expanding to 8 pm on Sunday nights!

Burlington Green Drinks is next Tuesday!

As always, Green Drinks is on the last Tuesday of the month (03.29.11) from 6 – 8 pm in the Main St Landing’s Lake Lobby. As always, the first 125 pints of delicious Wolaver’s Organic Ales are bought by our wonderful sponsors.

This month’s sponsor is 1% for the Planet (www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/).

Below is a bit about them…but first, here are THREE great reasons to come to Green Drinks this month (other than the beer & the people):

1. Pirogi Union will be hockin’ their delicious wares. Learn more about Burlington’s only pirogi-genius here.
2. Jenn O’Connor of Sustainable Wellness Massage will be giving FREE MASSAGES during Green Drinks. Learn more about Jenn’s business here.
3. 1% for the Planet will be showing a 15 minute film at the end of Green Drinks: “a beautiful documentary follows 4 businesses — a bike shop, a musician, a brewery, and an organic blueberry farmer — that share a unique commitment to the planet. Each year, they send 1% of their sales to the environmental charities they love.”

A bit about our sponsor: “1% for the Planet is a growing global movement of 1419 companies that donate 1% of their sales to a network of 2423 environmental organizations worldwide.” Their mission: “1% for the Planet exists to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet.”

And here’s what they say in the about us section of their website: ”To be perfectly honest, it’s not about us. It’s about businesses recognizing that industry and ecology are inherently connected. It’s about realizing the positive effects of connecting businesses, consumers and nonprofits through philanthropy. And it’s about understanding that the true cost of doing business can be mitigated by a simple pledge to the planet. Since 2002, 1% for the Planet has inspired members of the business community to contribute 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world. In return, this growing alliance of companies is given the opportunity not only to see their self-worth rise, but their net worth climb as well.”

A deep and sincere thanks to our sustaining sponsors:

BTV YPG Burlington Young Professionals is celebrating it’s 1^st Anniversary on April 6^th at 156 Bistro: It’s been one year of our existence…come celebrate BTV YPG Year 1 at 156 Bistro on April 6! Music, food, beverages, mysterious guest speaker, and 100 young professionals kicking it semi-formal style. Tickets are $20 and includes all the food you can eat and a drink. $5 ypg specials after. Help us reach our goal of 100 pounds of food items for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf! More info here.

Green Drinks Burlington loves Seven Days (www.7dvt.com). Seven Days brings you the Daily 7 – Vermont’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.  Get the day’s most compelling stories across all media – print, radio, TV and web.  Sign up today: http://www.7dvt.com/daily7

Wolaver’s Organic Ales (www.ottercreekbrewing.com/wolavers.html) helps keep Green Drinks going in a big way. For the uninformed, Wolaver’s is: “One of the nation’s original certified organic breweries, Wolaver’s is committed to producing the best beer in the most ecologically sound way.”

Front Porch Forum goes out to 15,000 ppl in the area daily including more than 40% of Burlington! If you’re not already getting it, sign up today! Learn more about our community’s groundbreaking, remarkable & innovative resource Front Porch Forum at frontporchforum.com/about/.

Message of the month from The Main Street Landing Company:
“Although it looks to most of us as if our World is falling apart:  Japan, nuclear meltdowns, earthquakes, tsunami’s, poverty, climate change, slow economic growth, high unemployment, increased gasoline prices, wars, corporate greed, ….and the list goes on and on and on – That said, Vermont is in a really great place:   We have land, mountains, clean air, fresh water, local food, terrific non-profits,  good schools and colleges, great hospitals, companies with social responsibility in their mission, a strong arts community, and a thriving business climate.  We don’t have political division between our parties, and our folks know how to work together for the betterment of Vermont. Vermont is in a good place, folks, and that’s because of all of us doing our best to help make people, planet, and profit prosper.    Keep up the good work and never stop fighting for what’s right – your voice is your power.” -Melinda Moulton, CEO

Miso Brazen (Montpelier): Red Miso Braised Greenfield Highland Beef Brisket with roasted Shitake mushrooms and pickled shallots wrapped in a scallion crepe.  Served with a side of organic greens. $11.95

The Purple Yak (Burlington): Champlain Valley Apple and Spiced VT Yak Co Sausage, Purple Turnip Gratin with Cabot Cheddar, Organic Sautéed Cabbage, and Winding Brook Farm Bacon Lardon wrapped in a Savory Crepe then garnished with scallions and Mushroom Ketchup. $11.95
Two extra special food notes:

This is the last week for our winter long $25 prix fixe dinner for two (two soups or salads, two entree crepes, one dessert crepe). If you’ve enjoyed it and want to get your ‘fixe’, come on down Sunday – Wednesday in Burlington & Sunday – Thursday in Montpelier. Available starting at 5 pm.

On Wednesday, April 6th, the Burlington SP will be hosting a Wine Dinner featuring California’s Russian River Valley Winery, Hook & Ladder. Wine maker & owner Michael Deloach will be there. He will be talking throughout the wine dinner to guests about both the complimenting flavors, the wines and his product. Mark your calendars now…menu to follow next week!

It’s growing! We have had TEN submissions, all of which will be posted on our website by April 1^st. At that time, we invite & encourage you to vote for your favorite project. The project with the most votes at the end of the month will win the $500 grant!!!

What’s a crop mob? It’s a work party on a farm helping out on a big project while enjoying each other’s company and getting to hang out with a really cool farmer! Adam, who grows us great blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, needs many hands helping to pull big sheets of plastic over top of his two strawberry hoop houses. We’ll have free warm drinks and muffins to keep our spirits high. This Saturday, March 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Rain date Sunday, March 27.) To sign up, email Meg at mklepack@citymarket.coop.

Thursday, 03.24.11
Phineas Gage (Folk/Americana)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/gagephineasgage

Cheekily described as “music for happy brains,” Phineas Gage is an Americana folk band who borrows its name from Phineas P. Gage, a courageous Vermont railroad worker who amazingly survived a large iron rod driven straight through his head. A mystery to the world of medicine and a celebrity to his state in the mid-19th century, the music of tonight’s modern local band titled in his honor is one who has commandeered its sounds from the woods and front porches of men playing upbeat ditties at a county fair in 1848. With a few guitars and a mandolin, expect to hear upbeat back-country classics that sound like the harmonies of workin’ men and pretty ladies. Indeed, the ghost of Phineas Gage sure is going to make your noggin do a dance. Get a listen of the stuff we’re howlin’ about right over here.

Friday, 03.25.11
Bohemian Blues Quartet (gypsy jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.facebook.com/pages/Bohemian-Blues-Quartet/107789129270284

Armed with an arsenal of songs the Bohemian Blues Quartet spreads the music of Django Reinhardt, Oscar Marcelo Alemàn, and others. What once started as a simple love of gypsy jazz has grown to a full out celebration of the style of music. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes and a friend when you come see The Bohemian Blues Quartet.

BBQ is comprised of violinist Asa Sourdiffe, guitarist Greg Evans, bassist Corey Beard, and guitarist Matt Harpster.

Saturday, 03.26.11
Aaron Flynn (Rock ‘n Roll)
***$5 suggested donation
www.aaronflinn.com

When you hear someone who is meant to make music perform, the impact is certain and powerful. This is the experience that comes with listening to Aaron Flinn (solo or with his band Salad Days). The music is meant to be and anyone who takes the time to hear it will be stronger for it.

Aaron Flinn plays anything he can get his hands on and writes, engineers, records and performs most of the material that you’ll hear. Aaron also loves hitting the studio or stage with a long list of incredibly talented characters: poets, prophets, beats, bastards, wizards, fairies, family and friends.

Elements of folk, indie rock and classic pop combine with powerful vocals, poetic lyrics and finger-picking guitar. An eclectic group of rock and folk rock songs, with an emphasis on lyrical substance and performance from the soul. Aaron began playing and writing in high school. He won numerous competitions in performance and writing throughout his time at UVM and Berklee College of Music (where he graduated Magna Cum Laude – for what it’s worth). He has gone onto release an impressive body of original work, all the while touring such hallowed venues as Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Great American Music Hall and many House of Blues and working with the likes of The Samples, Gov’t Mule, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Don McLean and Tragically Hip to name but a few.

ESPRESSOGANZAPALOOZA

Come to the Burlington Skinny, the Montpelier Mini-Skinny or the Chubby Muffin & get

ANY SPECIALY COFFEE  DRINK FOR FREE!!!

Drop in any time on the following two days (Thursday & Friday March 3 & 4) and get 50% off a specialty coffee drink.

Pure insanity? We hope so.

In an effort to ratchet the “panda-monium” up to absurdly caffeinated heights, we’re throwing a BIG log on the fire:

The Joshua Panda Band
‘The double-shot of espresso in the mug of Burlington’s music scene.’

Back by popular demand after his screamin’ four week Vermont Winter Waltz Residency…same time, same place, Wednesday, March 2, 8:00 -10:30 at the Burlington SP…and maybe later depending on how wired everyone is…

VYCC is hosting their wonderful annual event, Bolton To the Barns, on Saturday, March 5th: “The Bolton to the Barns ski tour is a mid-winter Nordic event for experienced backcountry ski enthusiasts where skiers will have a great opportunity to spend a day in the hills of Vermont and help the VYCC create opportunities for young Vermonters wishing to play an active role in conserving the Vermont landscape.” More info on the event can be found here: www.vycc.org/home/ski.html.

The Skinny Pancake just loves Rob Williams and the Vermont Yak Company. You might know Rob from such extraordinary ventures as: Phineas Gage (playing the Burlington Skinny P  Thursday, January 27th) or The Vermont Commons (the bi-monthly journal) …

but have you heard of the VT Yak Co.?

If you missed James Beard Award-Winning author, Rowan Jacobsen, give a rave review on VPR— you can check out the web episode of this weeks VPR Table: Yak to the Future.

Think you need a visual? Eva Sollberger gets up close and personal with Waitsfield’s one and only VT Yak Co, in Stuck In Vermont: Episode 191 .

Not sold on yak yet? Come in to the Burlington Skinny Pancake for this weeks special: The Wintervore’s Crepe: Chioggia Beets, Spinach, and Boucher Blue cheese wrapped in a Gleason’s Grains whole wheat crêpe & topped with a Scotch Egg (a hard boiled egg surrounded by Green Mountain Smokehouse Yak sausage, breaded & deep fried) & a Blood Orange Reduction. $12.95

Can’t get enough Vermont Yak?  You could if you invested in a CSA from VT Yak Co — Here’s The Low Down:

Invest in local grass-fed Vermont yak.
The planet’s greenest red meat.
Become a Vermont Yak Company “Community-Supported Agriculture”
charter shareholder for 2011.
The “yak pack” $100 CSA share
4 pounds of lean ground meat.
4 pounds of yak sausage
(maple breakfast, hot Italian,
sweet Italian, and beer bratwurst).
$30 worth of yak steak/assorted cuts.
What are the benefits of eating grass-fed local yak meat?
Yak meat has…
1/6 the fat of grain-fed feedlot beef.
40% more protein than grain-fed feedlot beef.
Fewer grass-fed calories per pound than grain-fed feedlot beef.
and yak meat tastes DELICIOUS!
How does our “Yak Pack” CSA shareholder system work?
- You buy as many $100 “yak pack” CSA shares as you’d like by mailing us a check, made out to:
98 Wallis Woods Road, Waitsfield, Vermont 05673
“Vermont Yak Company”
by March 1, 2011
- You pick up your meat at Steadfast Farm, home to Vermont Yak Company, in late June when we notify you.
It’s that easy. Contact Rob at rob@vermontyak.com / 802.279.3364 (yak mobile) with any further questions you
may have. Yak to the future, we go!

VT has the 5th lowest unemployment rate in the country. While there are surely a number of explanations for this great fact, I like to think it is in part because of our commitment to buying local. For example, the Skinny Pancake spent approximately $46,000 into the local food economy in September of this year…and we’re just one business.

So as this holiday season approaches, look to buy your food & gifts locally…it makes a big difference!!! Below are a list of events this weekend where you can…if you miss these events, come to the Chubby Muffin starting after Black Friday. Our next art display will be a collection of affordable arts, crafts & clothing from local movers, makers & shakers.

Sunday, 11.21.10, 10 am – 2 pm
Garden Work Day, Riverside Neighborhood Garden

Come help erect the post-and-beam pavilion at the Riverside Neighborhood Garden! They’ll need a bunch of people to raise the heavy cedar bent! Check out photos of the pavilion in progress from last week’s work day at  http://www.growteamvt.com/volunteer.html

Tuesday, 11.23.10, 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Growing Roots book talk at City Market
By Glenn McRae

“Next Tuesday, November 23, take a break from your Thanksgiving shopping and discover the next generation of sustainable farmers! The Intervale Center and City Market are hosting a book talk for the amazing new book Growing Roots: The Next Generation of Sustainable Farmers, Cooks, and Food Activists, widely acclaimed by the likes of Michael Pollan and Alice Waters. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the sustainable food movement around the country and to get inspired by stories and recipes. Author Katherine Leiner will give a reading from the book, followed by a Q&A and book signing. The event is at 4:00 p.m. and takes place in the City Market conference room. Kids’ activities and snacks provided!

Speaking of Glenn McRae…BIG NEWS FROM THE INTERVALE!!!

Mr. McRae (the current Executive Director of the Intervale Center) is stepping down from his position to “return to a long-dormant project of developing model hospital and health-clinic practices that aim to reduce pollution without compromising care” (Seven Days, 11.17.10). The Intervale’s Director of Programs, Travis Marcotte, will be taking the E.D. role in January. Congrats to Travis & thank you to Glenn for your years of hard work here in Burlington!!!

$25 Prix-Fixe Dinner for Two:

Two soups or any choice of 1 group munchie
Your choice of two savory classics*
Your choice of one of a selection of dessert crepes.
Available Sunday – Wednesday 3 pm – Closing
*excluding Localvore’s Dream
**Not combinable with other offers

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 Plants 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 the 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.  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.  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.

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

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 SP in Burlington:

Thursday, 04.22.10
The Sleepwells (Indi-Folk-Rock)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thesleepwellsmusic

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 & 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.

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

Montpelier ‘Cake springs into the season with a farm fresh Brunch Menu!

Beginning April 10th, our cozy Main Street Crêperie will offer a new brunch menu featuring local egg dishes, meats and cheeses, as well as seasonal side salads.

The Brunch Menu is “Local, Really” as its wholly inspired by Vermont seasons, local foods and producers.

There will be a Brunch Special of the day in addition to staple selections such as the Crepe Quiche made with seasonal local veggies, baked in a crepe shell and served with a salad of local greens as well as Crepes Benedict featuring Winding Brook Farm Canadian Bacon, two sunny side up eggs, served over two savory crepes with hollandaise sauce and a salad of local greens. More than a side, poutine fans will love this variation on the Quebecois fare–Brunch Poutine: A plate of fresh cut fries with Maple Brook Farm Cheddar cheese curds, served with delicious chicken and bacon gravy and a Sunny Side up egg. YUM!!

Pair your brunch dish with Farnham Hill Hard Cider or go for a coffee creation from the full espresso bar brewed with Vermont Coffee Company Roasts. A cup of green, black, or herbal tea from the extension Vermont Love & Tea selection is always recommended!

While one can still order “Breakfast All Day”, Montpelier General Manager Jeremy Silansky finds Brunch to be a hardier meal and suggests, “While adding variety, the new brunch menu is a playful breakfast take on items that may cross categories as a breakfast and lunch items.”

The Brunch Menu will be available Saturdays & Sundays from 11am-2pm beginning Saturday April 10, 2010. Of course, ya’ll can still order your favorites from the full menu.

The Skinny Pancake, Montpelier is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, dessert and now BRUNCH! Located at 89 Main Street in Montpelier, Vermont, in the center of town. The patio is now open & ready for the sun!

Howdy folks,

we’ve got even more big news to announce this week:

The Skinny Pancake on the Burlington Waterfront will be CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS for 12 days starting Monday, March 22nd.

Whew! I’ve been waiting a long time to make that announcement…

If all goes according to plan, we’ll be back open on Saturday, April 3rd.  The good folks at the Main Street Landing Company (our wonderful landlord) have consistently bolded and underlined their verbal statement of “if all goes according to plan.” Here’s to hoping…and to diligently trying.

What gives? Well…after last summer, we took a very serious stock of our performance with the ravenous determination to become a world-class semi-service establishment. We found that at peak volumes, the shortcomings of our physical space sometimes frustrated staff & patrons alike…so we very deliberately set out to fix those problems.

While we are not expanding our footprint, we will be improving our kitchen layout to help get the food out faster and altering the seating arrangement to remove some pesky bottlenecks. We will also be adding a 10′ bar, two more beer taps, a wine cooler and a customer water spigot!!!

Please note: if you or anyone you know experiences symptoms of withdrawal from your crepe addiction, we strongly encourage you to visit our Montpelier location.

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This week’s specials:

The St Patty Fatty (Burlington): Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage on a Whole Wheat Crepe. $9.00.

Just Ducky (Montpelier): Labelle Farm Duck Confit with VT Cranberry Co. Chutney, Local Spinach from Screaming Ridge Farm and Candied Walnuts on a Gleasons Whole Wheat Crepe. 10.00

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Saturday, 03.20.10
Lokum Trio (world/indi/roots)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/lokummusic

Burlington’s own Lokum performs as a three-piece poly-rhythmic Baltic percussion powerhouse. They joined us for jazzfest as a 9 piece and had people dancing in the streets.

The word lokum literally translates as a Turkish delight and this nine piece band is certainly sweet. Lokum performs music of the Balkans, Turkey and Armenia using authentic instruments and oriental modes (makams). The upbeat, dramatic tone of their music is driven by beautiful, complex melodies artistically woven through tight percussion. Lokum masterfully puts a fresh contemporary spin on traditional world music. Check ‘em here www.myspace.com/lokummusic and come on down, it will be sweet!

RENOVATIONS!!!!
At our 60 Lake St location in Burlington
Monday March 22nd through Friday, April 2nd
Planned re-opening: Saturday, April 3rd.

tomorrow (Thursday, 02.25.10) marks the start of a new tradition…the Farm to Fork Film Series debuts at 7 pm at the Montpelier Mini-Skinny, 89 Main St.

Here’s the scoop: there are a slew of great localvore films out there…but nobody is actively airing them and its not likely that you’re going to go out and buy them. SO…we thought we’d help spread the good word and generate conversation in the process. Thus, we will be showing one or more “Localvoriented” films on the final Thursday of each month starting tomorrow!!!

Locavore, Local Diet, Healthy Planet new documentary about the inevitable return to the local diet. Less than a generation ago human beings worldwide traveled less than 10 miles to obtain the majority of the food they ate. Today the average conventionally grown vegetable has traveled more than 1500 miles by the time it has reached your pantry. Our food today is over processed, stale, and lacks nutrition. This new film, featuring some of the neo-pioneers of the Locavore movement will educate, inspire, and revitalize bringing health to our bodies AND our communities.

February Thaw (Burlington): BBQ Misty Knoll Chicken, our new and improved Rookies Root beer BBQ Sauce, Cabot Cheddar, on a Butterworks Cornmeal Crepe. $9.00.

This week in music at the Skinny Pancake:

Thursday, 02.25.10
Mohanty-Krag Duo (Jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/katemohantysax
www.myspace.com/peterkrag
http://www.myspace.com/themohantykragduo

Saturday, 02.27.10
Shane Hardiman Trio (Jazzin’ up Mardi-Gras)
***$5 suggested donation

Shane…friend of Burlington. Please accept my apologies for burying your plug beneath the art above. Well…at least it was for a good cause.

For the uninformed: Shane Hardiman is a staple in the Burlington jazz scene. He’s an eminently talented pianist and a very understated guy. Take, for example, the fact that he does not have a myspace page and this is the only photo I could find of him on the internet. Thanks for keeping it real, Shane.

Thursday, 03.04.10
Phineas Gage (acoustic/bluegrass)
***$5 suggested donation
www.reverbnation.com/phineasgage

Friday, 03.05.10
Jim Seem & Melissa Hyman (R&B/Soul/Acoustic/Bedroom Pop)
***$5 suggested donation
www.reverbnation.com/jimseemandmelissahyman

Saturday, 03.06.10
Holy Ghost Tent Revival (Dirty Jazz/Thrash-Grass/Roots)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/hgtr

well, the Skinny didn’t write itself last week. There were fits & starts, technical obstacles, unanticipated tasks and ultimately other priorities. The good news is that this publication is free.

Having said that, let’s get right into it:

Main Street Landing Presents…

Green Drinks is TODAY, Tuesday, February 23rd from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Lake Lobby of Main Street Landing.

Please spread the word: bring your friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, connections, teammates, partners…the more the merrier!!! The Lake Lobby has a capacity of 220 people…that’s alot of connections to be made!!! Speaking of connections, you can join the Burlington Green Drinks facebook page here.

As always, there are 100 pints of Wolaver’s Organic Ale generously provided by the sponsors & awaiting your thirsty conversations. Of course, there is also free food.

This month’s sponsor: NOFA-VT (www.nofavt.org/): While they hardly requires a formal introduction, below is a bit of boilerplate about our buddies at NOFA-VT. We strongly encourage you to come out and meet them in person as their passion for VT agriculture is infectious and comes across even better in person than in print…

“NOFA Vermont was founded in Putney in 1971, making it one of the oldest organic farming associations in the United States. Today, we are proud to have over 1200 members throughout the state and to certify over 525 farms and processors to the USDA National Organic Program Standards. We are passionate about increasing the acreage of certified organic land in Vermont while also increasing the access of local organic food to all Vermonters. All our programs strives to meet these goals, whether it involves working with schools to bring local foods into the cafeteria or providing business planning services to farmers to ensure their businesses stay viable. Whether you are a Vermonter who gardens, farms, eats local food, or enjoys our rural communities, NOFA Vermont welcomes you.”

Appreciation is very due for our sustaining sponsors:

Green Drinks Burlington loves Seven Days (www.7dvt.com) for their sustaining support & help in getting the word out!!!

Wolaver’s Organic Ales (www.ottercreekbrewing.com/wolavers.html): One of the nation’s original certified organic breweries, Wolaver’s is committed to producing the best beer in the most ecologically sound way. Our craft ales are brewed using the finest organic malts, hops, our special house yeast and pure Vermont water.

The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce (www.vermont.org/): if it were not for the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, this monthly meet-up would be lucky to have half the turnout it has each month. Thanks to all the hard-workin’ folks over at LCRCOC!!!

February Thaw (Burlington): BBQ Misty Knoll Chicken, our new and improved Rookies Root beer BBQ Sauce, Cabot Cheddar, on a Butterworks Cornmeal Crepe. $9.00.

Locavore, Local Diet, Healthy Planet new documentary about the inevitable return to the local diet. Less than a generation ago human beings worldwide traveled less than 10 miles to obtain the majority of the food they ate. Today the average conventionally grown vegetable has traveled more than 1500 miles by the time it has reached your pantry. Our food today is over processed, stale, and lacks nutrition. This new film, featuring some of the neo-pioneers of the Locavore movement will educate, inspire, and revitalize bringing health to our bodies AND our communities.

This week in music at the Skinny Pancake:

Thursday, 02.25.10
Mohanty-Krag Duo (Jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/katemohantysax
www.myspace.com/peterkrag
http://www.myspace.com/themohantykragduo

Saturday, 02.27.10
Shane Hardiman Trio (Jazzin’ up Mardi-Gras)
***$5 suggested donation

Shane…friend of Burlington. Please accept my apologies for burying your plug beneath the art above. Well…at least it was for a good cause.

For the uninformed: Shane Hardiman is a staple in the Burlington jazz scene. He’s an eminently talented pianist and a very understated guy. Take, for example, the fact that he does not have a myspace page and this is the only photo I could find of him on the internet. Thanks for keeping it real, Shane.

Thursday, 03.04.10
Phineas Gage (acoustic/bluegrass)
***$5 suggested donation
www.reverbnation.com/phineasgage

Friday, 03.05.10
Jim Seem & Melissa Hyman (R&B/Soul/Acoustic/Bedroom Pop)
***$5 suggested donation
www.reverbnation.com/jimseemandmelissahyman

Saturday, 03.06.10
Holy Ghost Tent Revival (Dirty Jazz/Thrash-Grass/Roots)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/hgtr