Pssst…really great music lineup this weekend. Scroll to the bottom for details…
But first, drum roll please….

65.56%

65.56%….this is the percentage of the Skinny Pancake’s food spending at our Burlington location that went directly to VT farmers & VT value added food producers in September. Our Montpelier location was slightly lower at 65.04%. Combined, we spent over $34,000 into the local food economy in September alone!!! In our September 2008 food audit, this number was 55.44%. This substantial improvement is the result of several changes including the introduction of numerous new local meats!!!

It is core to our mission as a business to help build a stronger local food economy. Why? In short, to improve the “view”…the local food S.C.E.N.E: Security, Community, Environment, Nutrition, Economy. How? Well, we can’t donate (much of) our money away…its just a drop in the bucket. But we can exercise our substantial consumer power as a food buyer and direct that meaningful cash flow towards these local farms & value-added food producers. To that end, we also create an opportunity for you to exercise your consumer power by sourcing, receiving & preparing these foods to include in our reasonably priced menu.

Why not buy 100% local? Two big reasons: first, local food can be more expensive, so we balance price & purpose to deliver a product you can afford. Our goal is to make locally sourced food available without breaking the bank…to make it part of a daily diet, not a luxury. As we like to say, “localvore is not haute-couture!” Second, because food security means diversifying our food sources. In fact, if all of our food was produced locally, our food security would also be at risk. As Bill McKibben observed in his 2008 UVM debate with Russel Robert, trade & foreign food production is not inherently bad, but the pendulum needs to swing back towards more local food production.

What’s the difference between a farmer and a food producer? Well, we all know what a farmer is…I hope. Our local food producers make value added products: sodas (ex: Rookie’s Root Beer), hot sauces, cheeses, mill grain into flour, roast raw coffee beans, microbrew beers and much much more. While the raw ingredients for these value-added producers are not always from Vermont, they still improve the food S.C.E.N.E. by adding to the security, community, economy & at times the environment and nutrition too. In short, we believe they have a meaningful and positive impact here in Vermont and we support them with our consumer power as a restaurant!

The Swavory Crepe (Burlington): Boyden Farms Beef Meatballs cooked “the Swedish way” with a Light, Creamy, Onion & Beef Sauce. Served Over Gleason’s Grains Whole Wheat Crepe Noodles.  $10.00

The Brown Bird (Montpelier): Misty Knoll Chicken With Bacon and Cider Braised Mt. Eden Farm Pears, Taylor Farm Gouda, Caramelized Onions from Pete, and “Farmers Choice” Greens From Screaming Ridge in a Gleason’s Whole Wheat Crepe. $10.50

Pssst…don’t forget to scroll down to check out the super-duper califragilistic music line up this weekend…

Main Street Landing Presents
Green Drinks is a-comin’

Green Drinks has been growing each month this year, peaking last month with well over 100 people. And why not? There are 100 cold pints of Wolaver’s Organic Ales at no cost to you just for coming!!! Ok, so you like food with your beer? Great news: there is free food every single month too!!! Bite Me Organic Pizza has generously provided delicious pizzas in the past few months (and will surely do it again in the future)…and the Skinny Pancake puts out a spread of chips & dips too. On top of all that, Green Drinks is a gathering of engaging people with whom you can meet, mingle & network.

When & where does this incredible happening happen? Green Drinks Burlington is always held on the last Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Main Street Landing’s Lake Lobby (next Tuesday, October 27th). We are deeply grateful to our host sponsor, the Main Street Landing Company, for donating this wonderful space to us each month. MSL has spaces available for daily or long term rentals, you can learn more by visiting them at www.mainstreetlanding.com.

We have an exciting sponsor this month: CarShare Vermont. Here’s a bit about them:

CarShare Vermont is a local non-profit on a mission to provide an affordable, convenient, and reliable alternative to private car ownership that enhances the environmental, economic, and social wellbeing of our region and planet. Members get 24/7 access to CarShare Vermont’s entire network of cars parked around Burlington to go where they want, when they want and pay only for what they use.  Rates start at just $4.95 an hour and 25 cents per mile, and include gas and insurance.  As a nationwide movement, car-sharing helps some families get by with fewer cars, while helping others get around without owning a car at all.  Members save money, avoid the hassles of car ownership, and help to improve the environment.  Learn more by visiting www.carsharevt.org or call Karen at 802.861.2340.

Appreciation is also due for our two sustaining sponsors:

Seven Days Newspaper (www.7dvt.com/)

The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce (www.vermont.org/)

A quick note on the Burlington Food Council/Brighter Planet Grant:

For those of you who took the time to vote for the Burlington Food Council as per request in the last edition of “The Skinny,” our sincere thanks. We did not end up winning the grant…we faced remarkably stiff competition from New Orleans & West Virginia. Ultimately, the WV project won with “Sustainable Energy & Economic Diversification in the Coal River Valley.”

The Burlington Food Council may re-enter this competition in a future month. The process was fascinating & we learned alot. We have resolved to watch the competition for one or two months before re-entering.

For more information about this grant awarded based on voter-participation, visit brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects.

MUSIC THIS WEEK AT THE SKINNY PANCAKE:

Wow, there’s alot of content to get through before browsing this wonderful line-up of music. Hoping folks made the journey down the page so you can realize that this week’s line-up is worthy of your listening ears!!!!!

Thursday, 10.23.09
The New Familiars (9-10:15)
Joshua Panda (10:30-11:45)
***$8 suggested donation FOR BOTH ACTS
www.myspace.com/thenewfamiliars

From the foothills of Appalachia comes The New Familiars five gentlemen who combine an amazing passion for harmony with multi-instrumental talent and unusual storytelling abilities. A new musical combination grown from seeds of folk, blues, and bluegrass shaped by the undeniable power of rock and roll. More info is on our website at www.skinnypancake.com/proddir/prod/281/180 or theirs at www.myspace.com/thenewfamiliars. Also worthy of note is the HUGE amount of props Dan Bolles of the Seven Days gave this group:

“If The New Familiars sound, well, familiar, there’s a good reason. The Charlote, N.C.-based quintet represents the next wave of an increasing groundswell of hybrid Americana music. Blending pop and rock sensibilities with down-home flair, the band should appeal to fans of fellow crossover acts such as roots punk darlings The Avett Brothers, or even raucous grass-blazers the Old Crow Medicine Show.” NOW THAT’S A HOT ENDORSEMENT!!!

As for our buddy Joshua Panda: JOSH IS ONE OF OUR LOCAL GEMS. We’re honored that he chooses to play at our venue and I personally make a point of catching his performances TIME AND AGAIN!!! If you haven’t seen Josh yet…what’s your problem, dude? And if you have…sweet, see you tonight!

Friday, 10.24.09
Utah Green (folk singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/greenutah

Utah Green comes to the Skinny stage all the way from her home in Asheville NC.  Playing acoustic guitar, banjo and harmonica, Utah’s music is reminiscent of the folk sound of the Appalachians, yet is uniquely her own. Utah is a traveler and has performed in such diverse places as Ketchikan, Alaska; San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico; and Nof Ginosaur, Israel.  Listen here www.myspace.com/greenutah and join us Friday Oct 23rd. Utah will be performing with mandolinist, Billy Bones.

In her words, ” Its my mission to lift the spirits of the audience and invoke an appreciation for the curious and fantastical aspects of Life”.

In others words: “Utah Green sings like some kind of torn and frayed mountain angel born of a long forgotten backwoods American town.  Her music is quixotic and purely genuine; simultaneously modern and ancient. If you listen closely, it resonates and makes the outside world go quiet for a moment..”
-Kevin Calabro, Hyena Records

In others words #2: “Utah is a wordsmith and poet of the first rank. Her songs speak of life experiences take to profound and epic proportions, and strike to the very depths of one’s soul and fill the mind with vibrant and colourful images. She is a uniquely talented and prolific artist and a species unto herself. Our lives are enriched by her presence.” -David Shelton, writer

In other words, #3: “Every once in a while as we pass through life we stumble upon a musical treasure.  Such was the case for me a few years ago when I first met Utah Green.  She has a unique style that I’ve never heard before and doubt I will again.  She has a way with words any wordsmith would envy.” Smokey Joe Peoples, musician

Saturday, 10.25.09
Brown Bird (indi/folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/brownbird

Ladies and gentlemen, can I get a round of applause for Colleen Korniak for booking this incredible weekend of music? Gosh, I’m blushing…and hoping the uber-hip folks at the Monkey House don’t mind us stealing their thunder for the weekend Anyhow…here’s a bit about Brown Bird:

In the pipeline…

Thursday, 10.29.09
Nicole Erin Carey & The Dirty String Band (folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/nicoleerincarey

Friday, 10.30.09
Mary’s Lane (Celtic)
***$5 suggested donation

Saturday, 10.31.09
NO MUSIC…GO HAVE HALLOWEEN FUN!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen,

this is a rare edition of “The Skinny.” it is a call to action. The Burlington Food Council NEEDS YOUR HELP!!! This random act of kindness will only take you a few short minutes.

BFC is campaigning to win a $5000 online grant, awarded entirely based on voter participation. If 50% of the people on this list vote for the BFC THREE TIMES (YES YOU CAN!!!), the BFC will surely win this competition.

The process is extremely quick & simple. Below are instructions on how to vote followed by information about the Burlington Food Council. Please, take a few minutes and support this very worthy local cause. 

How to vote:

1. Click here to register to vote (brighterplanet.com/sign-up).
2. Enter an email address, a username & a password.
3. You will be directed to the homepage. Then click here or navigate through the “Project Fund” tab to the Burlington Food Council Project Page (brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/13)
4. Click on the GREEN “Vote For This Project” tab. YOU CAN VOTE FOR US THREE TIMES!!!
5. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR NETWORK (mailing list, facebook, friends, twitterites, etc).

Again, this grant is awarded entirely on voter participation, so THE BURLINGTON FOOD COUNCIL NEEDS YOUR HELP TO WIN!!! We are competing with applicants from cities whose populations are larger than the State of Vermont!!! We know we can win because we have a strong community, strong networks of support & because VERMONTERS VOTE!!!

If we win this monthly grant, we plan to maintain this voting block and support other Vermont-based initiatives. So please…help us win this grant, help us spread the word. VOTE FOR THE BURLINGTON FOOD COUNCIL AND FORWARD THIS REQUEST WIDELY.

Whew…that was intense!!! Ok, so what’s all the hub-ub about?

The Burlington Food Council is a city-recognized, open community group exploring ways to ensure that Burlington creates and nurtures a healthy, equitable and sustainable food system for all members of the community. The Burlington Food Council is dedicated to advocating, supporting and educating community members on the importance and accessibility of local food production and consumption.

What has the Burlington Food Council accomplished? The BFC was formed in 2003 and created the Burlington School Food Project which helps connect schoolchildren and their families with nearby farms by bringing more fresh local foods to cafeterias and more hands-on agriculture education to classrooms. Having successfully launched this nationally recognized program, the Burlington Food Council is now turning its attention to building local food appreciation and access for Burlington children, their families and the wider community beyond the school day.

What will the Brighter Planet Funding be used for? Funding from Brighter Planet will specifically be used to fund a part-time staff person at the Intervale Center to oversee Food Council management and administration. This person will be responsible for:

• Contributing to the maintenance of the Council’s “clearing house” website for local organizations and community members interested in learning more about local food systems and the role local and organic food has in mitigating climate change.
• Coordinating the Council’s member list.
• Organizing a community-wide speaker series to raise awareness about the local food movement and its connection to global climate change.
• Overseeing the management of the Council’s regular meetings.
• Developing and presenting projects to the Council that link its work to the initiatives outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan.
• Working with the Council’s strategic planning committee to identify and secure sustainable funding that will enable to Council to continue its educational mission for the next three years.

What is Brighter Planet? Great question! First, here’s the explanation in their own words on who they are and what they do: brighterplanet.com/about. In my words: Brighter Planet is a Middlebury, VT based company focused on helping individuals actually reduce their carbon footprint. They have a credit card that awards you carbon offsets instead of airline miles!!! The also have a remarkable website that helps, “measure their climate impact, discover tailored conservation tips to save energy and money, create emission-reducing strategies, and share their ideas and experiences.”

Why the heck are they giving away so much money? In their words, “The Brighter Planet Project Fund seeks to foster local leadership and seed worthy community projects that will help people fight or adapt to climate change.” In mine…well, they get your email address & they get you onto their website & using their impressive platform. Maybe you look around the site while you’re there and you decide to come visit them again…its kind of like their version of “Free Crepe Day.” The good news is that this is a great company with a great mission, so if they do pester you with emails the purpose of that pester is probably worth your while!!!

Food Specials at the ‘Cake this week:

CrePasta Stew (Burlington): Hollander Farm Venison Stew, made with Pete’s Greens carrots, rutabaga, carrots, and parsnips along with local Yukon Gold potatoes in a red wine beef broth.  Served over Ben Gleason’s whole wheat crepe noodles.  $11.00

The Pumpkin Pie Crepe (Burlington): pumpkin filling made from Foote Brook Farm pumpkins, Spiced With Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Raw Sugar. Wrapped In a Graham Cracker Batter Crepe. Topped With Trent’s Mother’s Secret Pumpkin Pie Cookie Frosting and a Strip Of Cabot Whipped Cream. $7.50

Stew Too (Montpelier): Greenfield Highland Beef “Stew” With local Carrots, Onions, and Parsnips, Petes Spinach, Grafton Smoked Cheddar on a Gleasons Crepe. $10.00

Speaking of Pumpkins…

The Second Annual Giant Pumpkin Regatta & Festival is this weekend!!! Specifically, it is on Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 10 am – 3 pm at the Coast Guard Boat Launch on the Burlington Waterfront

While it sounds both impossible and crazy, it is indeed a boat race, but the boats are giant carved pumpkins, which are decorated and placed into the lake with forklifts, and raced as if they were kayaks. Last year’s event was featured on MSNBC and spoofed on Saturday Night Live and made the Sports Illustrated “Most Ridiculous Competitions” list. Click Here to view.

The Giant Pumpkin Regatta & Festival is a benefit for PILOT (Program to Inspire Leadership, Opportunity, and Thought), a youth leadership program for area high school students run by Linking Learning to Life and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Music this week at the Skinny Pancake:

Hey folks…really solid line-up of acts this weekend. But don’t take it from me…click on the links and listen for yourselves!!!

Thursday, 10.08.09
Lady Lioness & Alex Greiner (avant-garde folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/alexgreiner
www.myspace.com/mysweetladylioness

Friday, 10.09.09
Tumbledown House (saloon jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/tumbledownhousemusic

Swing on down to the ‘Cake to catch the superbly swanky Saloon Jazz act Tumbledown House www.myspace.com/tumbledownhousemusic on Friday Oct 9th.

Tumbledown House is a songwriting duo often described as parlor music inflicted with the unspeakable, or Tom Waits in a cocktail dress. Having opened for such notable acts as The Dodos, The Devil Makes Three, and Laura Gibson, they are now touring the Northeast in support of their CD debut Tumbledown House.

Tumbledown House writes stories that revolve around shady characters down on their luck, brothels with an eccentric clientele, or a scorned woman out for revenge. These stories are delivered with sultry female vocals reminiscent of a bygone era and placed over tasty jazz guitar accompaniment.

You really can’t miss this one…

Saturday, 10.10.09
Paul Cataldo & The Moonlight Serenaders (folk singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/paulcataldo

Paul Cataldo www.paulcataldo.com is a singer-songwriter hailing from the Boston-area. This will be his second performance at the ‘Cake and joining him are The Moonlight Serenaders.

In the pipeline…

Thursday, 10.15.09
Garren Benfield (acoustic folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/garrinbenfield

Friday, 10.16.09
Ragged Glory (Neil Young Tribute Band)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/raggedglorytribute

Saturday, 10.17.09
The Willoughbys (acoustic folk/rock)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thewilloughbys

Hey folks,

happy Thursday. In fact, Happy Share the Harvest Thursday. In case you’re saying, “Huh?”, here’s the scoop:

Every year, NOFA-VT helps 1,400 low-income Vermonters afford the purchase of a CSA from their local farmers through their Farm Share program. This effort is primarily funded in a once-a-year event which is happening TODAY, Thursday October 1st as “eighty three great restaurants and food stores throughout the state volunteer to “Share the Harvest” by donating a portion of the day’s sales to our Farm Share Program.” The Skinny Pancake is participating in both Burlington & Montpelier….all you have to do is use your consumer power and eat out this evening. For a full list of participating venues, visit www.nofavt.org.

Need another reason to come to the ‘Cake tonight? Check out our food specials this week…

The Pizza Pizza Crepe (Burlington): House made Marinara with Local Tomatoes, Maplebrook Farm Mozzarella & Pepperoni from Vermont Smoke ‘n Cure or Local Green Peppers all wrapped in a Gleason’s Grain Crepe Shell…$7.75

The Foreignvore’s Dilemma (Montpelier):***100% local***Cidered Butternut Squash with Screaming Ridge Swiss Chard, Caramelized Onions and Grafton Smoked Cheddar on a Gleason’s Grain Crepe Shell….$10.00

What’s with this photo? This Michael Tonn image was used in last week’s Seven Days article, The Foreignvore Challenge. It was a great read, check it out for yourself: www.7dvt.com/2009foreignvore-challenge

And now, an anecdote from the procrastinator in us all…
From Crackers to Crepes:

The Charles H. Cross & Son Bakery was part of the Montpelier community for 151 years.  In the Very spot that we now sling crepes, The Cross bakery promoted its famous “Montpelier Crackers” and “Betsy Ross Bread.”  Cross crackers were quite frequently delivered in “cracker barrels”, each containing about 1,200 Cross crackers.  The Cracker barrel was considered the “water cooler” of its time as it often became a popular gathering spot amongst village markets and groceries.

Check out the Montpelier Framers market on Saturdays at 10 am for guided walking tours of downtown Montpelier, or the Montpelier Alive website at www.mdca.org for more info.

Music at the Skinny Pancake this week:

Thursday, 10.01.09
D Davis & Kevin Greenblott (folk double bill)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/dsdavismusic

***Please note: this show will begin at 8 pm as will most of our Thursday music this fall, winter & spring.

Friday, 10.02.09
Joshua Panda & Sarah Blacker (folk double bill…again!!!)
*****CD RELEASE PARTY!!!!******
***$5 suggested donation
www.sarahblacker.com
joshuapanda.com/

The Skinny Pancake is thrilled to host this rising star’s CD release party…Sarah Blacker brings her full band to the Skinny Pancake in celebration of their new CD release The Only Way Out is Through. Obscurely folkish, innately jazzish, all talent singer-songwriter…check her out www.sarahblacker.com

Described as “The perfect blend of Joni Mitchell and Ella Fitzgerald”, Sarah is a classically trained vocalist from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Sarah combines her signature voice with original, organic, guitar picking to deliver a diverse range of music that goes beyond the genre of singer songwriter. If you like notes that swoop, things that are jazzy, warm and round vibrato, raspy subtlety, accompanied by a fast strumming, staccato style guitar in many alternate tunings, then Sarah Blacker is the woman to see.

Also of note: local phenom Joshua Panda will be warming up the crowds for Sarah at 9 pm. Sarah’s set will go from 10-11:30.

“A Shining Light in the Local Music Scene. Sarah Blacker isn’t just another girl with a guitar. She’s got enough music knowledge and experience to back her up, so don’t take her lightly.”~ Kelly Cardoza, southcoast247.com

“Sarah Blacker is a bright light. Her performance is a wonderful combination of her varied musical talents and brilliant personality. She invites the audience in and treats them to an intimate musical connection.” – Anna Maria Tocci, Owner/Booking North Star Music Café

Saturday, 10.03.09
Skellig (celtic/world)
***$5 suggested donation
www.skelligmusic.com/

Thursday, 10.08.09
Lady Lioness & Alex Greiner (avant-gaurd folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/alexgreiner
www.myspace.com/mysweetladylioness

Friday, 10.09.09
Tumbledown House (saloon jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/tumbledownhousemusic

Saturday, 10.10.09
Paul Cataldo & The Moonlight Serenaders (folk singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/paulcataldo

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Hey folks,

well, it’s hard to believe it has been two years now, but we’re proud to announce…

~~Main Street Landing Presents~~
Burlington Green Drinks Two Year Anniversary Celebration!!!

From its humble beginnings in the fall of 2007 through its ever prouder heights, Burlington Green Drinks has had a great run of meet-ups and monthly sponsors…we’re thrilled to welcome this month’s non-profit sponsor, Smart Growth Vermont to this prestigious & ever growing list!!! Here’s the details:

Once again this month, we will have a full 100 drinks available to you at no cost from 5:30 to 7:30 on Tuesday, September 29th in the Main Street Landing’s Lake Lobby. There will be two types of cold, crisp Wolaver’s Organic Ales on tap as well as wine, non-alcoholic drinks & free food available.

Did someone say “Free food?” YUP! The Skinny Pancake will have our regular spread of chips & dips out for your enjoyment. Back by popular demand, Bite Me Pizza will be delivering a half dozen of their wild organic pizza combinations…also 100% FREE to you!!! All you need to do is show up between 5:30 & 7:30 next Tuesday, September 29th. Oh, and bring your friends!!!

Now, onto our non-profit sponsor of the month:
Smart Growth Vermont (www.smartgrowthvermont.org/).

From their website: Smart Growth Vermont is a state-wide 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to forging innovative solutions to the challenges facing Vermont.  We work with local officials, developers, non-profit organizations, political leaders and businesses to understand the factors that are changing our state, and to develop creative land use and development policies to increase our prosperity and protect Vermont’s distinctive landscape.

At Smart Growth Vermont, we believe that for Vermont to grow and thrive we need to carefully integrate growth, environmental protection and economic opportunities into our local planning framework.  This will require the participation of citizens, local and state officials, developers, business leaders and non-profit organizations.  Our future depends on careful analysis, dialogue, cooperation and leadership.

A Smart Growth Vermont Fun Fact: “The size of the average home has increased 55% while the size of the average family has decreased 13% since 1970 (Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Building the Case for Energy Smart Growth, July, 2005).”

As always, we are uniquely grateful to our Host Sponsor–The Main Street Landing Company–for generously sharing their wonderful space with us. You can rent their great spaces too…start by visiting www.mainstreetlanding.com.

We would also like to thank our sustaining sponsors:

Wolaver’s Organic Ales (www.ottercreekbrewing.com/wolavers.html):  Pssst: next time you head out for a pint or buy a six pack…show your appreciation for their ongoing generosity and choose Wolaver’s!!!

Seven Days Newspaper, Vermont’s Independent Voice (www.7dvt.com)

The Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce (www.vermont.org/)

Skinny Pancake Food Specials…
***100% LOCAL FOR THE LOCALVORE CHALLENGE!!!***

The Simple Sautée (Burlington): Sautéed local sweet corn, onions, and bell peppers & beets, sprinkled with shredded Cabot cheddar & wrapped in a Gleason’s Grain whole wheat crepe…$7.50. Localvore Carnivore? Add any of the following meats: ham, sausage, chicken, beef, bacon…ALL LOCAL!!!

Pete’s Pumpkin Crepe (Montpelier): Spiced Pete’s Greens Pumpkin Puree, Champlain Orchard Apples, Bee Haven Honey, Vt Chevre in a Gleason’s Whole wheat crepe. $10.00

What’s with the photo? Take a closer look at those peculiar kayaks!!!

Harvest Season Events:

Are you enjoying the harvest season? Surrounded by a cornucopia of local fruits & veggies last night including exotic local foods (is that an oxymoron?) like Vine Cherries & Tomatias, it occurred to me that we are just about at that peak time in Vermont produce…so make sure you take advantage of it while it lasts!!!

In keeping with the theme of “harvest,” there are a bunch of related events this time of year…making content for “The Skinny” easy to come by…of course, the slower days of late fall & winter are around the corner, so I’m trying to bone up on the self-stylin’ commentary again, have you noticed? In the meantime, here’s another great list of activities in the next week:

First, in keeping with the theme of Green Drinks…
SIPtemberfest, Mad River Glen
~~Saturday, September 26th~~

This Saturday, the Skinny festival crew will be serving up crepes along side Vermont’s top breweries at Mad River Glen’s 2nd Annual SIPtemberfest. Come join us in the Mad River Valley Saturday September 26th from 11 am to 5 pm for an afternoon of food, foliage chair lift rides, and of course–BEER–a plethora of local micro-brews on hand for your tasting pleasure. Try pairing our Green Mountain crepe (Champlain Orchard Apples and Cabot Cheddar) with the Alchemist’s Harvest Ale. Or how about a Cheesy Pesto crepe alongside a Long Trail Imperial Porter–yum!  Over seven brewers and over 30 crepes varieties to try at SIPtemberfest. For more information, visit http://siptemberfest.wordpress.com. and we look forward to seeing you there!

Next, hopping over to our state capital…
Montpelier Art Walk
~~Friday September 25th from 4 pm to 8 pm~~

Montpelier’s art venues will be hosting a Fall Foliage Art Walk this Friday. Art Walk is a self-guided tour starting at any of the twenty plus participating venues. Visit www.montpelieralive.org/art_of_action for more details on each venue, a list of artists, and other art projects downtown.

Featured at The Skinny Pancake for Art Walk (attached a photo) is the exhibit Zorn/Bissex Works. Local artists Sandy Bissex & Arthur Zorn meld mediums to create synergistic compelling forms.
Bissex photographs Zorn’s abstract impressionist paintings & creatively incorporates the images into her sumi brushwork collage.

Along with an opening reception for Sandy & Arthur, the SP will have a spread of “Jimmeny Crepeties” (crepe bites) and live jazz by Shane Hardiman & Anthony Santor from 5 pm to 7 pm. If the weather is nice, the music will be held on the patio and sent to waft through the center of the city.

Now, dropping down to Southern Vermont…
The Second Annual Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival
~~September 25th-27th in the Mount Snow Valley~~

This special Vermont Life event features “a weekend showcase for Vermont wines, Vermont specialty foods and artisans of all types celebrating the rich uniqueness, quality and ingenuity of Vermont producers. Set in the backdrop of our world renowned Vermont fall foliage; attendees will discover, savor and enjoy Vermont vintners, small specialty food producers, painters, publishers, cheese makers, potters, jewelers, chefs, photographers and farmers.” For more information, visit, http://www.thevermontfestival.com/

Finally, a Vermont-wide fundraiser for NOFA-VT
Share the Harvest
~~Thursday, October 1st, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE!!!~~

Share The Harvest is a NOFA-VT fundraiser held on the first Thursday of October. Participating restaurants pledge between 5-15% of their sales on the day of the event to benefit our Vermont Farm Share members. A full list of participating restaurants, including the Skinny Pancake, can be found here: www.nofavt.org/annual-events/share-the-harvest.

From their website: NOFA-VT is looking forward to the fifteenth annual Share the Harvest fundraiser for limited-income Vermonters on October 1, 2009.  This event raises funds for NOFA Vermont’s Farm Share Program. Since 1994, the Vermont Farm Share Program has made locally grown vegetables and fruits more accessible to limited-income individuals and families by helping to purchase “shares” in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, providing fresh produce to eligible individuals and supporting local farms.

Music this week at the ‘Cake

This week’s selection features one fresh face and two familiar acts to our scene. All three are great fits for our acoustic/folk atmosphere. We also have a number of exciting acts in the pipeline for October which you can see at www.skinnypancake.com/proddir/prod/281/178. One exciting show just outside our calendar postings to keep in mind: Brown Bird on 10.24.09, www.myspace.com/brownbird . Now, onto this week’s listings…

Thursday, 09.24.09
Phineas Gage
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/phineasgageproject

A lovely acoustic trio from the Mad River Valley, Phineas Gage, joins us at the Skinny Pancake, TONIGHT Thursday September 24th. Visit the link above…I just did and it sounds great!!! In fact, I’ll be there later tonight…come say, “hi!”

Here’s another familiar combo…two local singer-songwriters working hard to hone their craft…

Andrew Parker-Renga is well known about town as a singer/songwriter as well as the former talent buyer/booking agent for the Parima acoustic music series. Friday night he joins forces with local talent Zach DuPont for a dynamic set of indie, rock, folk, new genera yet-to-be categorized music.

Thursday, 10.01.09
D Davis & Kevin Greenblott (folk double bill)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/dsdavismusic

Friday, 10.02.09
Joshua Panda & Sarah Blacker (folk double bill…again!!!)
***$5 suggested donation
www.sarahblacker.com
joshuapanda.com/

Saturday, 10.03.09
Skellig (celtic/world)
***$5 suggested donation
www.skelligmusic.com/

Hey folks,

another week, another list of great activities to do around VT. Please note, the following four events are NOT listed in chronological order…

First, a plug for a fundraiser here at the Skinny Pancake in support of the Green Mountain Club:

The Skinny Pancake will be donating 10% of ALL proceeds from BOTH our Burlington & Montpelier locations to the Green Mountain Club this Tuesday, September 22nd. If you enjoy our food, atmosphere or company, please consider visiting one of our locations on Tuesday to help raise these funds to support the great work GMC does to maintain our state’s trail systems & shelters. Want to know more about the GMC? Just go for a hike in Vermont (or visit them at www.greenmountainclub.org). And then come eat at the Skinny Pancake this coming Tuesday, September 22nd!!!

The Montpelier Downtown Music Festival:

This Saturday September 19, 2009 downtown Montpelier comes alive when The Montpelier Downtown Music Festival begins at 3:00pm. The event will commence with family-friendly fare sponsored by The City of Montpelier, featuring clowns, street performance, puppetry and more, as well as performance art from central Vermont teens and a non-amplified busker style set from Montpelier based purveyors of invasive-acoustic music, Didymo. At 5:00pm, Julio’s Cantina and The Three Penny Taproom will open their beverage gardens, with Julio’s serving up their famous margaritas and other creative cocktail fare.

Le Tour De Farm:
Sunday, September 20th 2009

This event looks incredible…and I, for one, am planning to do it!!!

From the organizers: “Last year’s Tour de Farms proved so popular that organizers have scheduled another for Sunday, September 20, 2009. The Coalition, Rural Vermont, and ACoRN will again offer three routes (10, 25, and 30 miles) that depart from and return to Shoreham. Bicyclists will enjoy a variety of food samples from farms located along the routes. In 2008, samples included bread, cheese, chili, yogurt, cider, apples, and quiche. There will be some additions this year, including food and a celebration at the finish as riders arrive back in Shoreham.

More information and registration details can be found at www.ruralvermont.org

This week’s specials at the Skinny Pancake:

The Gord Man (Burlington): ***100% local***Mixed Local Squash & Blue Pumpkin from the Intervale’s Gord Man, Duclos & Thompson Farm bacon, local onions, mixed with Vermont Herb & Salad fresh herbs and Vermont Butter & Cheese Creme Fraiche.  Topped with a Salsa Verde of fresh local herbs and shallots. Wrapped in a Gleason’s whole grain crepe shell. $9.75

Green Mountain Meatloaf (Montpelier):***100% local***VT Grown Beef and Pork Meatloaf with Dog River Farm Blue Potatoes, Petes Brussles sprouts and Whole Grain Mustard Creme fraiche wrapped in a Nitty Gritty Grain Company Savory Crepe shell…$10.00.

The 31st Annual Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival
~~With Energy Fair by Green Mountain Power~~
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 19th 10:00 am – 4:00 pmFee: $8/adult; $5/child; Free to members & children <3

The Skinny Pancake is proud to be vending at this special annual event for the second year…

From the organizers: Celebrate the autumn traditions of Vermont’s farms and forests with musical entertainment (schedule), hay rides, demonstrations, farm-fresh food from Shelburne Farms and neighboring farmers, antique farm machinery and farm animals. And Green Mountain Power Energy Fair is joining us again with demonstrations and exhibits! Fun for the whole family. Want to volunteer? call 985-8686. Please no pets.

For more information, visit Shelburne Farms online at www.shelburnefarms.org/

MUSIC THIS WEEK AT THE SKINNY PANCAKE:

In the pipeline…

Thursday, 09.24.09
Phineas Gage
***$5 suggested donation
www.jameskinne.com/

Friday, 09.25.09
The Medicinals
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/themedicinals

Saturday, 09.26.09
Andrew Parker-Renga & Zach duPont
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/aprmusic
www.myspace.com/zackdupont

Howdy ‘Cake-Eaters,

Rumor has it that while I was gone on vacation, a mischievous employee broke into our listserv to send out some flattering malarkey about one “Benjy Adler.” I, Benjy Pancake, do not know said individual. What is poignantly clear, however, is that Head Chef Tim Collins & our two impressive GM’s—Heather Chadwick in Burlington, Jeremy Silansky in Montpelier—are worthy of complement for how thoroughly they’ve kept the monkey of my back while I tromped through the mountains of Northern California. As for the author of that “Benjy Adler” caracature, she was appropriately scolded for being “too nice.” Please rest assured that the password has been changed & your email addresses are safe with us.

Now, on to more pressing news…

With the height of our local foods coming to fruit each September, several Localvore organizations put forth their annual “Eat Local Challenge.“ In the Mad River Valley, the challenge is as follows:

• When: September 13 to 19, 2008
• What: Eat locally grown and produced foods for a meal, a day, or for the entire week – you decide what is a challenge for you.
• Exceptions: Marco Polo Rules apply (salt and spices that sailors could carry in their pockets for 6 months while at sea)
• Wild Cards: Choose from 0 to 5 wilds cards for foods that you will eat during the challenge that are not local.

Want to participate, register with the Mad River Localvores at www.vermontlocalvore.org/challenge/.

Here at the SP, we’ve got two challenges for ourselves!

1. Just like last year, we will be conducting an audit of our food costs. Last year, we found that 54.75% of the money we spent on raw produce and value added products was spent back into the local community. We have made a number of significant changes to our menu over the past year towards increasing this percentage, including permanent additions of multiple local meats, thus we are anxiously awaiting these results!
2. We hereby commit to providing localvores with a food special each week in September that is 100% local (allowing for Marco Polo rules as described above). While we do have a few products on our permanent menu that are 100% local, we want to make sure folks taking the localvore challenge this September have some fresh and fantastic options when you come to the Skinny Pancake.

Food specials this week:

Ladies and Gentlemen, you may want to take a seat or grab the nearest supportive rail…because we’re about to announce the overwhelmingly anticipated monthly Drop-n-Draw Sweepstakes Winner for Montpelier….

Claire Fitts of Butterfly Bakery
Hey Claire, you’ve just won a $20.00 Gift Certificate to the Skinny Pancake…
So come on down!!!


Claire is the owner of Butterfly Bakery of Vermont in downtown Montpelier. Using only natural, wholesome organic ingredients, Claire serves up delicious sweet goodness in the form of cookies, truffles, granola and the signature Nutcase Chocolate Spread. Visit Claire’s bakery at 87 Barre Street in Montpelier and online at https://butterflybakeryvt.com.

Music this week at the Skinny Pancake:

Thursday, 08.20.09
James Kinne (Original Acoustic)
***$5 suggested donation
www.jameskinne.com/

Fri 08.21.09

Saturday, 08.22.09

Howdy Friends!

Every Thursday like clock-work our homegrown newsletter The Skinny appears in your email inbox.  This always clever, often witty, and perpetually poignant piece of cake news is the compilation of our creative crepe leader Benjy Adler. Benjy wears many hats as the conductor of two brick and mortar restaurants, multiple mobile festival/event crepe units, and last but certainly not least the original crepe cart on Church Street in Burlington. He is the hub by which the Skinny Pancake turns full circle. This week our hardworking hero is off on a well deserved vacation (Insert applause here)! And while we miss him & wish him fabulous fun, all continues to run as smooth as melted butter on sweet local corn here in Vermont…with the exception of this late edition of the Skinny.

And truly it’s high summer here–the perfect time to take a dip in your favorite swimming hole then come enjoy crepes & the waterfront breeze on our Burlington patio or the sun and crepes with a city scape view from our Montpelier patio. Either way, we have delicious specials in both locations this week…

And in the cool of the evening, come check out our musical line-up in Burlington…

Friday 08.14.09 9:30p.m. Megan Callahan (Singer/Songwriter)

We are pleased to welcome back to the Skinny Patio, Megan Callahan! Her first show had an amazing turn out with passerbys drawn into the ‘Cake upon hearing her incredible vocals & fresh guitar pickin’.

“Dan Kase is making heads turn in Northeast Minneapolis” -Greater Twin Cities

Blues Music Society

Tuesday 08.18.09 Sunset Session 7-9p.m.

Dale & Darcy (Bluegrass/Old time Fiddle)

Joining us for another sunset session are local talents Dale Cahill (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Darcy Purinton (fiddle) and Neil Rossi (mandolin, guitar, fiddle) performing Bluegrass, Folk, and Old Time fiddling.

Wednesday 08.19.09 Sunset Session 7-9p.m.

That Toga Band (Electroacoustic/Jazz/Rock)

That Toga Band returns for another sizzling sunset session out on our waterfront patio!

In their own words, “An accomplished band that is never predictable, That Toga Band combines jazz, rock and latin influences together with creative composition, ambient sound and thoughtful instrumentation in order to create their own brand of music. Melding acoustijazz flimflam and spacey landscapes with rock solid beats, That Toga Band pursues organic explorations of a creative smorgasbord. Structuring sonic melodies from a strongly harmonic angle, That Toga Band maintains subtle oddity while juggling odd time signatures and key changes. Quirky antics and light hearted entertainment shape the band’s motto: “Invent yourself before you reinvent yourself.”

In other words…”That Toga Band is the artistic explosion of everything toga- toga being anything from pens to pencils, arms and legs and musical combinations of the above. Really, though, That Toga Band has been a question mark behind what is Burlington for a few years now. They have just taken a strong step forward into the main scene now that their experimental sound has become more confident and more mature.”-the Deli Magazine (May 27th, 2008).

You can hear them www.myspace.com/thattogaband and at the Cake in Burlington on Wednesday August 19th  7-9p.m.

In the Pipeline….

Fri 08.20 9:00p.m.
James Kinne (Original Acoustic)

Hey folks,

BIG NEWS FROM SEVEN DAYS…

The Skinny Pancake has been voted the 2009 Seven Daysies winner in the “Best Street Eats” category. Having honed our chops on our Church Street Cart for 7 years now, we’re psyched to be awarded this blue ribbon for our second consecutive year. But with little more than two years wearing our “bricks ‘n mortar” cap, we’re even more jazzed to have received the red ribbon for runner up as “the Best Place to Do Lunch.”

To all of the Fancakes, Friends, Family, Crepe Crusaders and regular ‘ole people out there that voted in support of us, THANK YOU. We’d also like to send out a big thank you to Seven Days Newspaper…it really is not possible to properly acknowledge the depth of their contribution to our community without surpassing your attention span…so we’ll just keep it simple: SEVEN DAYS, you’re good people…THANK YOU.

This week’s food special:

The Parm Farm: Pitchfork Farm Heirloom Eggplant Breaded with Red Hen Bread Crumbs, Fresh Marinara, Local Basil and Maple Brook Farm Fresh Mozzarella. Served in a Savory Parmesan Cheese Crepe. $9.00

Vermont’s largest agricultural fair always takes place during the first full week of August. Celebrating its 61st year, this family-oriented fair is a deeply rooted community tradition. From the 4H competitions to the Tractor Pull, the Demolition Derby to the Ferris Wheel, The Fair & Field Days is both wholesome & hopping…and it is absolutely the quintessential agricultural fair…so come one, come all August 4th (Tuesday) through August 8th (Saturday).

The Valley Stage Music Festival (www.valleystage.net)
Saturday, August 8th, Huntington, VT

Valley Stage takes place in Huntington with Camel’s Hump as the dramatic backdrop. Families, friends & people in the know come to this one day gem of a gathering to enjoy some of the best folk music you’ll find in one place in one day in Vermont. Four bands will take the stage with the headlining act, The Waybacks, starting at 7:00 pm.

The Northeast Kingdom Music Festival (www.nekmf.com)
Friday, August 7th & Saturday August 8th; Albany, VT

NEKMF was born in the same summer as the Skinny Pancake, 2003. Much like the SP, the organizers of NEKMF have learned, earned and grown through hard work, hard-knocks & heart. The event has grown in girth and now pulls a thousand people out of and/or into the population-not-so-dense Northeast Kingdom. This BYOB event is rowdy and ready to party through the night for two straight evenings. Look for a hot line-up on two stages, a massive bonfire, performances from the nearby Bread & Puppet compound & some wholesome activities for the kiddoes too. What makes NEKMF extra special? As organizers there often say, “You’ll never know, until you go.”

Thursday, 08.06.09
The Silver Dagger Bluegrass Band

Hailing from Ashville North Carolina, the uber-talented four-piece Silver Dagger Bluegrass Band joins the Skinny Pancake in Burlington on their Northeast tour. Check ‘em out: www.myspace.com/silverdaggerbluegrass and definitely come on down TONIGHT from 9-11p.m. to hear them in action!

From their site: A recognized act in today’s roots music scene, Silver Dagger brings together young and energetic talent from the country’s leading music programs. Alumni of East Tennessee State’s acclaimed bluegrass program, Grace Van’t Hof and Ricky Cooper, Berklee alumnus, Ashleigh Caudill, and national touring veteran, Matt Purinton, work a stage like old hands. Weaving in and out of their solos and vocal harmonies, the group rivals seasoned artists many years their senior. Their different backgrounds and four home states influence their unique instrumental styles. 2009 marks Silver Dagger’s first complete touring season.

“Silver Dagger is a dynamic acoustic band…and one of my favorites! They have great vocals that blend seamlessly with their controlled, powerful instrumental work. This fine group showcases a wealth of American and Bluegrass music…as well as expertly presenting the best of their own original songs. I look to these young folks to make important contributions to our music heritage for a long time!”-Marc Pruett (Kentucky Thunder, Balsam Range)

Friday, 08.07.09
Laslo Cameo (Roots, Rhythm & Blues)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/laslocameo

Saturday, 08.08.09
Qwill (roots/surf/soul)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/qwillmusic

This Saturday, clear your calendar and beat your feet down to the waterfront to catch Boston-based singer-songwriter Jesse Ciarmataro, who performs under the name Qwill. He has shared the stage with artists such as Kaki King, Richie Havens, Guster, The Samples, Better Than Ezra, and The Violent Femmes.

He joins our Burlington crepe venue for a solo performance on Saturday August 8, 2009 so check him out at www.myspace.com/qwillmusic and then come on down!!!

“If you haven’t had a chance to hear him you will soon enough.” --Keith Grieves (Not Your Average Folk)

“He writes dreamy roots music that rivals that of British star David Gray.” --Joanna Massey (The Boston Globe)

“We have a tight-nit family of musicians cultivating from the north shore of Boston and beyond, and Jesse is at the center of that family. He’s a master songwriter, a killer musician, and an amazing human being. Props to anyone out there who’s in the know.” -- Ryan Montbleau

Wednesday, 08.12.09

Sage Mayhew & Friends (folk)

***$5 suggested donation

***SUNSET SET, 7-9 pm***

Thursday, 08.13.09
Myra Flynn (soul/funk/r&b)
***$5 suggested donation
http://www.myspace.com/myraflynn

Friday, 08.14.09
Meghan Callahan (folk singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/megancallahanmusic

Saturday, 08.15.09
Lonesome Dan (1920′s & 1930′s R&B)
***$5 suggested donation
www.lonesomedan.com/

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Afternoon, folks…

Many curious customers have paused mid-crepe to inquire about the strange, sci-fi light zapping, plastic contraption used to clean the tables at the Montpelier Mini-Skinny. “What is that space aged gadget gun?” they anxiously inquire. Answer: it’s an active ion cleaner–General Manager Jeremy Silansky’s revolutionary answer to providing an environmentally friendly commercIal cleaning product.

So the question we keep getting is: How does it work? The Activeion is filled with tap water then uses an electrical charge to “activate” the water so that it attracts dirt & germs like a magnet, lifts them from the surface so they are easy to wipe away. By using the Activeion on our tables, we provide an eating surface that is free of chemicals, while also reducing waste as we no longer have to purchase individual cleansers in bottles. Further the Activeion website relays, “According to a new study, converting to just one Activeion Pro for general purpose commercial cleaning is equivalent to saving 93 gallons of gasoline and two barrels of oil.” Heck, yeah!

To learn more, visit www.activeion.com or the Skinny Pancake, Montpelier.

The Wrapatatouille (Burlington): 100% LOCALVORE!!! all veggies from the Intervale’s Pitchfork Farm!!! Sautéed eggplant, tomato, zucchini, green and red bell pepper, onion, garlic, fresh herbs & a sprinkle of Cabot cheddar, wrapped in a savory crepe shell.  $9.00

So last week I led with a plug for pick-your-own blueberries based on an email from Adam Hausmann (Adam’s Berry Farm). The next day I went down to check it out for myself…the abundance is incredible. The bumper crop of plump berries is a silver lining to the many rain clouds we’ve had this summer. One bush holds much more than enough big, fat, plump blueberries to fill a quart-sized container. It was almost too easy. I found myself saying, “self, if you’d only picked the bluebs before you wrote than newsletter, you could have exuded so much more enthusiasm…but as the old saying goes, “there’s no sense crying over spilled milk when the cow’s utter is swollen.” So with that said, if you are yet to go blueberry picking, now’s the time!!!

Festival of the Week: The Champlain Valley Folk Festival

This weekend marks the 26th annual Champlain Valley Folk Festival. It is also the first time the Skinny Pancake will set up there to feed pancakes to the people. Some may balk at this comment, but this festival seems like a “sleeper hit” to me. With modest promotions but a dedicated fanbase, EIGHT stages including a main stage, a dance tent and several “very intimate” options, onsite camping AND THE BEST FESTIVAL VENDOR THIS SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC, The Champlain Valley Folk Festival has alot to say for itself (or alot for someone to say for it). The event also takes place on the shores of Lake Champlain, which makes for an awefully swell venue. So if you haven’t gotten to a festival yet this summer–or you’re holding out for just the right one–visit their website at www.cvfest.org/ and consider going to the Champlain Valley Folk Festival this weekend.

Thursday, 07.30.09
Driftwood

Kim was a recent winner of the Lizard Lounge (Cambridge, MA) Open Mic Challenge. Check out her music ttp://www.myspace.com/kimdavidson and catch her show at the Burlington Skinny Pancake beginning at 9p.m.

Joshua Panda needs no introduction…if you don’t know him, you really should. He is the reigning king of Soul-Folk here in Burlington according to…ME! Josh is a consummate showman with “some serious pipes.” He breaks a hard-sweat as he puts the full force of his unabashed & talented effort forth at every gig he has. If you can’t make this show on Saturday, catch him TONIGHT (THURSDAY) at the Intervale’s “Thursdays at the Intervale” series at 6:30…you can enjoy some American Flatbread while you’re there too.

Wednesday, 08.05.09
Pete Wyndorf & Jamie Bright (folk duo)
***$5 suggested donation
***SUNSET SET FROM 7 pm to 9 pm***
www.myspace.com/petewyndorf

Thursday, 08.06.09
The Silver Dagger Bluegrass Band (bluegrass)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/silverdaggerbluegrass

Friday, 08.07.09
Laslo Cameo (Roots, Rhythm & Blues)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/laslocameo

Saturday, 08.08.09
Qwill (roots/surf/soul)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/qwillmusic

Hey folks,

it’s blueberry pickin’ season on the Intervale & beyond…so it must be mid-summer. Adam Hausseman (of Adam’s Berry Farm) writes:

They’re Blue! The blueberries never cease to amaze me and this year is no exception. Starting with their delicate bell shaped flowers in May to their small green fruit slowly forming and increasingly swelling with each summer rain and finally blushing blue in July. The shear amount of berries on each plant is a marvel in itself.  Some of the branches are bent to the ground!

Adam’s Pick-Your-Own hours are weekdays from 10-6 and weekends from 10-4. He also mentioned in his email that there are “a limited amount of summer raspberries for picking that will be open on weekends along with the blueberries.”  For more information about Adam’s operation, visit him online at www.adamsberryfarm.com/

The Dawn Beet Crepe (Montpelier): Dog River Farm beets with Green Mountain Gore”dawn”zola, VT Herb and Salad arugula, and caramelized onions. Wrapped in a savory crepe. $8.50

This week in music at the Skinny Pancake:

Wednesday, 07.22.09
The Goshen Ramblers (folk/rock)
***$5 suggested donation
HUMP DAY SUNSET SET….7-9 PM!!!
www.myspace.com/goshenramblers

The Goshen Ramblers are comprised of two young gentlemen: Mark Daly and Ethan West. Based on their sound, they are apparently folk-musical prodigies…seriously, click on the link above and listen. Hard-drivin’ instrumental skills, confident harmonizing, good songwriting…Ok, back from listening? Now set aside all your plans to come here these guys…if they keep it up, I’d expect to start seeing their careers grow quickly. Appearing for our Wednesday Sunset Session on July 22nd 7-9p.m. with special guest.

Thursday, 07.23.09
The Medicinals (bluegrass)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/themedicinals

One of our very favorite bands, The Medicinals, return to the Skinny Pancake in Burlington for a Thursday night performance. With a repertoire ranging from traditional bluegrass and newgrass to gospel and folk, The Medicinals deliver a serious & soulful acoustic sound that has been well received by audiences since their inception.

Friday, 07.24.09
Sarah Blackler (acoustic/folk/jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
www.sarahblacker.com

We’re pleased to welcome back Sarah Blacker to the Skinny Pancake. Sarah last joined us during Jazzfest.

Obscurely folkish, innately jazzish, all talent singer-songwriter…check her out www.sarahblacker.com

“Sarah Blacker is a bright light. Her performance is a wonderful combination of her varied musical talents and brilliant personality. She invites the audience in and treats them to an intimate musical connection.” – Anna Maria Tocci, Owner/Booking North Star Music Café

Saturday, 07.25.09
Shutters (roots/rock/electronica)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/emmett13

This Philadelphia band brings their original roots rock sounds to the SP on Saturday evening. The combination of traditional instrumentation & songwriting with an electric guitar-driven edge, filters, fuzzboxes and synths creates a dub-heavy and effects-washed spaciousness. Listen for yourself at the link above.

“Take the captivating intensity of Elliott Smith and roots rock feel of John Butler Trio and you have Newtown’s Emmett Lindsay….The listener is drawn in by Lindsay’s voice, which shifts between haunting spoken whispers and grooving melodies, making him a compelling and hypnotic storyteller. ” – The Deli Magazine, Philadelphia

In the pipeline…

Wednesday, 07.29.09
John Creech & The River People (Nu-Jazz)
7-9 pm HUMP DAY SUNSET SET
***$5 suggested donation

Thursday, 07.30.09
Driftwood (indi/folk/roots)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/driftwoodgroove

Friday, 08.01.09
Shane Murphey (singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/shanejmurphy