The Skinny 01.07.10 through 01.13.10
Friends of the Pancake….
well, I must admit: I’m excited to start this new year! We have a lot of “new beginnings” in 2010. For starters, we will begin hosting Green Drinks in Montpelier on the second Tuesday of each 
month. The first one will be this Tuesday, January 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the “Mini-Skinny”, 89 Main St. There will be 50 drinks available at no cost to you, courtesy of our sponsors.
Sponsors? Yup! Each month, Green Drinks Montpelier will have a different monthly sponsor from the Environmental Collaborative for each month of 2010. We will also have ongoing support from the Green Drinks sustaining sponsor, Seven Days (www.7dvt.com/)
This month’s sponsor will be the Vermont League of Conservation Voters (www.vlcv.org/): “The Vermont League of Conservation Voters 
(VLCV) serves as the non-partisan political voice of the state’s environmental community. VLCV seeks to make environmental protection a top priority for elected officials, candidates and voters.” Come learn more about the VLCV and enjoy a drink on our sponsors at Green Drinks Montpelier this Tuesday, January 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the “Mini-Skinny”, 89 Main St. While you’re at it, you can meet, mingle & network with other environmentally minded folks who just happen to like beer too…
Oh yeah…come visit us on one of the three Tuesdays following Green Drinks Montpelier each month between 6-8 pm and we will donate 5% of your purchase towards the monthly sponsor!!!
Specials at the SP this week…
Sass-Squash (Montpelier): Curried Pete’s Organic Squash with Champlain Orchard Apples, VT Chevre, and Organic Baby Spinach in a Gleason’s Whole Wheat Crepe. $8.50
Cabin Fever Reliever (Burlington): Lemon infused Crepe with 2 scoops of Wilcox Vanilla Ice Cream drizzled with house made Raspberry Coulis Sauce and topped with Cabot whipped cream. $9.00
Ken Meter in Vermont:
Ok, I’ll admit it: I don’t know much about this guy. But he is holding three events in the area this week and there have been a number of emails ping-ponging & plugging him…so why not join the club…
What I do know about him: “Ken Meter is one of the most experienc
ed food systems analysts in the United States. He consults with food initiatives in 45 regions in 20 states and also manages the national review panels for USDA’s Community Food Projects Grant.”
THEÂ EVENTS:
“Evaluating Local Food Systems,” A brown bag lecture by Ken Meter. Thursday, 01.07.10, Noon to 1:30 p.m. UVM, Jost Foundation Room, Davis Center Room 422, UVM Campus. More info: Rachel Schattman, rschattm@uvm.edu or 802-656-9140.
NOFA-VT Direct Marketing Conference: Saturday January 9, 2010 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. South Royalton, VT. NOFA Vermont holds an annual Direct Marketing Conference to provide a networking and educational opportunity for farmers market managers and vendors and farmers marketing through Community Supported Agriculture and farm stands. This year Ken Meter is the conference keynote speaker and, in addition to excellent in-depth marketing workshops, we will host roundtable and networking sessions. For more information and to register, visit www.nofavt.org/annual-events/direct-marketing-conference or call 802-434-4122.
“Building Resilience and Recovery through Regional Foods.” Thursday, January 7th, 7 pm. Vermont College of Fine Arts Chapel (off College Street, upstairs from the Wood Art Gallery), Montpelier. “Ken Meter will discuss how local food networks thrive, how local officials can help strengthen economies, and how regionally-grown foods can help reduce public health costs. His recent study of the Minnesota Food Economy, “Mapping the Minnesota Food Industry,” found that community-based food businesses build a more resilient
future by forming strong relationships of trust.”
Still reading? Maybe you’re wondering about the plural in “new beginnings” I wrote about up top?
Well, there is a localvore wine &Â cheese pairing in the works as well as plans to start a monthly screening of local food documentaries. We’re also developing our second annual food forecast based on an audit of all the food we purchased in the prior year. It is our hope and intention that we will be better able to use this forecast in 2010 to offer reliable demand (and orders) for local farmers. Of course, that’s not all…we’ve got a BIG project developing in Burlington…but since I want you to keep reading “the Skinny,” we’re going to keep this cliffhanger hanging… 
MUSICÂ THISÂ WEEKÂ ATÂ THEÂ ’CAKE:
Thursday, 01.07.09
Abbie Barrett (Indie/Folk/Rock-Pop)
***$5 suggested donation)
www.myspace.com/abbiebarrett
Abbie Barrett makes her only Vermont appearance at the ‘Cake on Thursday night. Lucky us to show case this bright talent from Boston. Really, listen: www.myspace.com/abbiebarrett.
Abbie performs regularly in the New England area as a solo artist as well as with her full band. Her music has been featured on WXRV The River, a host of local and college stations, as well as in American Songwriter and Performing Songwriter magazines.
“New Englander Abbie Barrett’s debut is brimming with life … a stellar first release and the launch of a sure-to-be long and healthy career.” Performing Songwriter, Mar/Apr 2009
“Abbie Barrett’s (Runner-up award winner at the 4th Annual IAMA)…music and lyrics show depth and maturity far beyond her experience. Abbie shows a lot of promise.” RATING: **** (4.5 out of 5 Stars)
-International Acoustic Music Awards
Friday, 01.08.09
Ramblin’ Red (folk/bluegrass)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/ramblinredmusic
Ramblin’ Red is a folk-bluegrass from Portland Maine. I don’t know what they put in the water up there, but Portland is a hot-bed for great music, especially folk artists.
From their site, “Ramblin’ Red takes you down original folk roads with old-time twists and bluegrass turns, in funky dance-off shoes”.
Brilliant multi-instrumentalists & unrivaled harmonies, driven in part by soulful singer-songwriter Anna Maria Tocci, and Sorcha Merrill www.sorchastudio.com, a performing songwriter and guitarist whose voice packs a luscious punch from wails to whispers. Sorcha’s folk roots are infused with blues, jazz, and funk and her lyrics explore themes of both personal and social significance.
“Her groovin’ guitar playing and luminous voice were the two driving forces behind her jazz-folk sensibilities.” - Lou Grassi, Portland Press Herald
“One particularly impressive performer was Sorcha Merrill. Armed with her acoustic guitar, Merrill drew a large group of listeners to the stage [at the 2005 Old Port Festival]. She performed original songs and demanded the audience’s attention with her strong vocal rhythms and spicy stage presence.” - Jessica Dafni, Good Times Magazine
Saturday, 01.09.09
Harrison Shulman Quartet (jazz)
***$5 suggested donation
http://website…what’s that?
Jazz on Saturday night with the Harrison Shulman Quartet. The HSQ features Harrison Shulman on guitar, Phil Zuckerman on bass, Jordan Lewis on piano, and Brian Reid on drums. Coming from the UVM jazz department, the group has been playing a wide range of both standards, and originals in the Burlington area.
In the pipeline…
Thursday, 01.13.10
Nicole Carey (indi/folk)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/nicoleerincarey
Friday, 01.14.10
Sarah Wallis (Pop/acoustic/indi)
www.myspace.com/sarahwallis
Greta Frost (Soul/Blues/Electronica)
www.myspace.com/gretafrost
***$5 suggested donation
Saturday, 01.15.10
Maryse Smith & Seth Gallant (Indie/Folk/Americana)
***$5 suggested donation
www.myspace.com/marysesmith
www.myspace.com/sethgallant