The Skinny 12.17.09 through 12.23.09
H
owdy folks,
we’re in the home stretch now…for the holiday season & the year. My how time flies…….Since you surely don’t have enough to keep you busy this weekend (insert comment about the frantic nature of the holiday season here:_____), we thought it would be most joyous to toss yet another yule log on the burning desire that is your agenda for this coming weekend…in two acts:
ACT I: HOLIDAY THEATRE…
One for Montpelier/Barre:
The Green Mountain Nutcracker
At the Barre Opera House
www.barreoperahouse.org/
Can’t make it to George Balanchine’s production of the Nutcracker at the famed New York City Ballet? Fret not, friend! The Granite Center of the World (Barre) has a production that is sure to rival the competition in innumerable ways (starting with the price). This production features dancers of all ages from 16 Vermont communities. One of our very own Montpelier Crepe Makers performs in this seasonal classic.
Saturday – December 19, 7PM
Sunday – December 20, 2PM
From the Production Company: “A wooden nutcracker comes to life at midnight! A little girl visits the Land of the Sweets. For the third year running, Moving Light Dance Company will, once again, present the Green Mountain Nutcracker on December 19th and 2oth at the Barre Opera House.
And another for Burlington:
National Marionette Theater’s Hansel and Gretel
In the Main Street Landing’s Black Box
http://www.nmtshow.com/Home.html
Raise your hand if you’ve actually seen a master puppeteer in action, let alone two….right, didn’t think so. Here’s your chance…bring your kids. Support an old art form. Oh, and you can drop by the ‘Cake before or after…check out any of the following times:
Friday – December 18th @ 7 p.m.
Saturday – December 19th @ 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Sunday – December 20th @ 2 p.m.
From the Production Company: In our newest production, two master puppeteers bring the most famous of the Grimm Brother’s stories to life. Featuring exquisitely crafted marionettes, scrolling scenery and the beautiful music of Engelbert Humperdinck, Hansel and Gretel is sure to delight audiences of all ages!
Intermission: Skinny Specials this Week at the ‘Cake…
Ham On It (Burlington): Winding Brook Farm Ham and fresh Broccoli wrapped in a Gleason’s Grains Whole Wheat Crepe and topped with Grafton Smoked Cheddar Cheese Sauce. $8.25
Chicken & “Dumplings” (Montpelier): Misty Knoll Chicken in a rich gravy with Pete’s Carrots and Onions and VT Shitake Mushrooms over 2 Savory Crepe “Dumplings”. $9.50
Act Two: MicroLocal Markets for your shopping pleasure…
The Burlington Center for the Arts Holiday Artist Market
Contois Auditorium (inside City Hall)
http://www.burlingtoncityarts.com/events/
Friday, December 18th from 12PM to 8PM
Saturday, December 19th from 10AM to 6PM
Remember that drum I was beating…”buy local.” Apparently some people got bored of it as we saw the unsubscriptions spike in the past two weeks. Well, I don’t mind burning social capital for the cause…so here is yet another plug to BUY LOCAL this holiday season.
- As the BCA aptly observes on their website, these are “truly unique local, handmade gifts. Artists from the BCA Summer Artist Market in City Hall Park join with other high quality local artists for a truly unique holiday shopping experience!” It just doesn’t get much better than that for the localvore dork in us all….
The Burlington Winter Farmer’s Market will also be held this weekend on Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00 pm in Memorial Auditorium.
The Montpelier Farmer’s Market:
www.montpelierfarmersmarket.com/
Saturday, December 19th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pmMontpelier’s got Burlington “beet”…about twice over. In Burly, there’s one winter farmer’s market a month (always the Third Saturday). In Montpelier, they’ve got it going every first & third Thursday at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Does that mean that the Capitol City has twice the demand with 1/4 the populace? If so, would it suggest that the average Montpeliarian consumes 8x the winter veggies than his/her Burlington counterpart….really? Well…there’s some fuzzy logic in there, but it is food for thought….
As Seven Days describes it: “Root veggies, honey, fresh mesclun and more change hands at a biweekly, off-season celebration of locally grown grub, accompanied by live music and crafts.”
- This week in music at the Skinny Pancake:
So busy…we’re all sooooo busy this time of year….oy! Well, maybe you finish your day and you want to do something…not to keep busier, but to relax…if so, this weekend’s line-up is quality. Its a solid music-making line-up for the warn-out workin’ man and lady…so come for a visit, kill two birds with one stone…feed your soul through your ears and your stomach through crepes.
Thursday, 12.17.09
Damn Yankee String Band (Old-Time/Hill Billy Jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
dysb.home.att.net/.
The Damn Yankee String Band is based in Montpelier, Vermont, and consists of Sarah Hotchkiss on fiddle, banjo and vocals, and John Mowad on fiddle, guitar, banjo and vocals. Playing old time mountain music, vintage country and “hillbilly jazz”, a hybrid mix of string band, country and swing music, much of it featuring John’s tasty guitar pickin’ along with a new genre to the repertoire: R&B (Rhythm & Banjo)!
Friday, 12.18.09
Chris Velan (Singer/Songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/chrisvelanmusic
AHHHHHHH!!!H!H!H!!! DID I GET YOUR ATTENTION? GOOD!
Chris Velan is amazing. I hope we don’t use that superlative so much as to cheapen its’ meaning when it matters. I stumbled into Chris’ last performance at the SP to find this one guy in bare feet playing to a packed room, looping his own instruments into a thick tapestry of sounds,
He was first trained as a classical guitarist at age 9. He grew up influenced by folk classics Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson, and Van Morrison, his sister’s early 80’s New Wave cassettes, and his uncle’s extensive reggae vinyl collection. After college, he was deeply involved with the “discovery” of the Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars. And now he is a one-man band…very refined songwriting, Chris is a master-musician who puts out a clean performance with world, folk & rock influences.
From his website: His involvement with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars (he produced their album and often performs with them) showed him that there is power in music that transcends even the law and put him literally on the road to making a career as a singer/songwriter.
Chris Velan’s current album (his third), Solidago, is a stunning culmination of influences. From the folk-rock of his youth to the reggae of his college days to the echo of his time in Africa, Chris has created a unique collection of songs that invite listen after listen. Not often will you find a record that juxtaposes the horror of sectarian strife with the hopeful musings of errant love. Solidago achieves this seemingly without effort. The jarring lyrical content of “Wobbly Bones” is brilliantly offset by the lilting dirge that draws the listener to the stark reality of man’s cruelty to man without causing them to look away. Few songwriters working today would be able to make the point without contrivance. Followed by “Oldest Trick”, a sly skewering of our technological world, Solidago reveals itself to have a gravitas missing from most contemporary efforts. Capped by the starkness of “May Your Soul Get to Heaven”, Solidago is an album that begs for a follow-up.”
Saturday, 12.19.09
Grass Gypsies (folk duo)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/thegrassgypsys
This poetically cultivated acoustic duo The Grass Gypsys http://www.myspace.com/thegrassgypsys return to the Burlington ‘Cake!
An independent, acoustic fusion band from Boston with a signature sound fueled by the power of two. Husband & wife musical duo, Justin and Colleen Kleya, blend styles from American Roots music: Jazz, Blues, Rock n’ Roll, Folk, R&B & World; into their catalog of original music and cover songs. They have been compared to Tuck & Patti, Nora Jones, & Fleetwood Mac. Colleen’s rich and charismatic vocals and Justin’s expressive, finger-style guitar playing create a sound that is fresh and entertaining for all ages.
The Grass Gypsys have been described as “…a joy to witness…” “…soul and serenity…” and “…consummate musicians.”
- In the pipeline…
- Saturday, 12.26.09
Paul Cataldo (singer/songwriter)
***$5 suggested donation
www.paulcataldo.com
- Thursday, 12.31.09
NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION WITH
- JOSH PANDA & Company!!!!!
- The local legend will help us pass into the new year in his infamous glamfolk soulrock style…come down for the fireworks and drop in on the music!!!
- Please note: there will be a $10 cover for this event.