Hi, Friends. This Sunday, June 21, is the Summer Solstice, our longest day and shortest night of the year. It’s also Father’s Day. If your dad, husband, grandfather, or father figure loves music, why not treat him to the kick-off concert for Taconic Music’s 10th annual Summer Festival this weekend? There’s nothing like sharing live music with friends and family; to me, these types of experiences are the greatest gifts. Photo by Brooke Champine, courtesy of Taconic Music This

Photos by Megan Demarest, courtesy Green Mountain Media Group Hi, Friends! This is a big week for our colleagues at the Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) in Manchester. The 104 year old institution just added a major expansion to the Yester House, celebrated this past Sunday, June 7 at their Grand Opening and Ribbon-cutting ceremony. I had a sneak peak of the Yester House before the big event, and I was blown away by the new space from top to bottom, inside and out. My phot

Hi, Friends. June is Pride Month and there will be events over the course of the next few weeks that celebrate the spirit of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. I remember nearly 11 years ago, on June 26, 2015, same sex marriage was legalized on the federal level. It was a joyous day for all of us who believe that “love is love.” It was also my 10th wedding anniversary. My husband and I proudly celebrated the long-awaited national triumph alongside our friends and family.

Hi, Friends. It’s always exciting and inspiring to me when I see dormant buildings get new life and become active parts of their communities again. Sometimes, it takes a short while for the transformation, and other times, it can take decades. The Bennington Mill building is a long vacant gem that has now been transformed as a destination for the arts, shopping, and housing in Bennington, VT. Owner Vance Chatel has spent the past year transforming this space, ensuring that bo

Hi, Friends! It's that time of year again — the time when the caps and gowns get donned and the band plays “Pomp and Circumstance” while a procession of proud students take their seats. Graduation season is here, and this week we tip our hats to the Classes of 2026 at our local schools. On the college front, Vermont State University Castleton held its commencement on May 16, sending another class of Spartans out into the world. Bennington College celebrates its 91st commence

Hello, Friends! The myriad shades of green in our fair part of the world are just getting greener by the day, aren’t they? As silly as it sounds, all these luscious, vibrant green colors inspired me to bake this past weekend. I wanted something bright, tart, and green. Key Lime Pie hit all the marks! Don’t worry if you can’t find key limes or key lime juice; regular, Persian lime juice will do just fine. Key limes are smaller and more tart, but Persian limes are certainly tar

Hello, Friends! Last year, I got rather sentimental for Mother’s Day, and while this year is no different, I’m turning my focus to the fun side of the Sunday holiday that celebrates the mother figures in our lives. Mother Myrick’s Confectionery / Inns of Dorset Mother Myrick’s Annual Kids’ Cakes for Mom is a sweet, fun ,and creative way to celebrate! Mother Myrick's Confectionery invites children 4 to 8 years old, with an accompanying adult, to create a wonderful, delicious

Photos courtesy of the Manchester Business Association Hi, Friends! If you haven’t yet made your Memorial Day Weekend plans, don’t worry, it’s not too late! To those of you reading from afar, there’s a lot going on in the Manchester area that weekend to keep you happy and fulfilled. And to my neighbors in the Shires, a staycation is a beautiful option when you live in a place that has so much to offer! Often viewed as the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day Weekend in Ma

Hi, Friends. Earth Day is today, April 22. This reminds me of the many Vermonters I've recently interviewed for our upcoming Summer magazine issues. A recurring theme in our conversations—and not for the first time—is "stewardship." Whether it's the owners who lovingly maintain historic properties, feeling a sense of both pride and duty to preserve our state’s history, or our local farmers cultivating the land, there is an ever-present commitment to preservation that runs dee

Photos by Patrick McCormack, courtesy of MMF Hi, Friends! I’m continuing to enjoy the arrival of spring and all it brings to us, including the season announcements pouring in from our local and regional cultural institutions. Every time I receive one, I think about how lucky we are to live in a place that values and supports the visual and performing arts. The Manchester Music Festival has an incredible line-up for us this summer with an expanded season inspired by the 250th

Hello, Friends! How many of you love to escape within the pages of a good book, one that transports you to another place, another time, another reality? If Utopia is an imagined place or state of ideal perfection, then Booktopia is its literary counterpart. Booktopia, however, isn’t an unrealized dream; it truly exists. And it’s right here in Manchester, VT! You are cordially invited to the Northshire Bookstore Festival: A Weekend in Booktopia, May 1 through May 3, for an in

Hi, Friends! Today is the first day of April, also known as April Fool’s Day. Much as I love a harmless, practical joke, I prefer to think of today as the beginning of National Poetry Month, a time when we celebrate the artform by reading, writing, and sharing poetry.

Hello, “Friends, Romans, and Countrymen. Lend me your ears…” That’s a line from William Shakespeare’s Ides of March classic, Julius Caesar. Most of you know that I am a theatre nerd, through and through. This Friday, March 27, is World Theatre Day, which was inaugurated in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). It’s a day that celebrates the value and importance of the art form all over the world, and acts as inspiration for communities and governments to invest i

Hello, Friends! There are so many things to enjoy about March. Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day. Did you celebrate? My snowdrops are in bloom, and the Vernal Equinox is coming up this Friday, March 20, which just happens to align with the annual Maple Open House weekend across the state of Vermont!

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, Friends! St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17, and yes, I celebrate that, too, because I celebrate all things! By the way, I know that “top o’ the morning to ya” is a cliche thing to say, but I’m corny and I think Irish dialects are fun (ask me in person, and I’ll demonstrate mine), so I can’t help myself! Please forgive me.

Hi, Friends! How many of you are looking forward to warmer weather this spring (the Vernal Equinox is March 20) and all the exciting events that come with it? I sure am! If you’re planning ahead for (or daydreaming about) this upcoming season, here’s a great idea for Memorial Day Weekend, the late spring respite that many view as the official start to summery weather.

Hi, Friends. For many years now, my team has had the privilege of highlighting the work of the Stratton Community Foundation (SCF) across all our publications, most recently in Stratton Magazine Winter ‘26 when we introduced Meredith Morin, the new Executive Director, and shined a spotlight on one of its founders, Kimet Hand. It was an honor to meet both these women and share this connection with our readers.

Hey, Friends! Congratulations to Vermont’s own Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, which was recently designated the #2 Tasting Room in the United States by USA Today. This family-owned business operates several tasting rooms throughout the state, in Jeffersonville, Stowe, Burlington, Waterbury, and right here in Manchester. I had the pleasure of experiencing a tasting recently at the Manchester location, and it was clear to see why these spirits are indeed award-winning.

Hi, Friends! If you’re like me, you celebrate as many holidays and special occasions as possible. Most of them involve celebratory food of some kind (admittedly, this might be one the primary reasons I celebrate everything!) With Galentine’s Day & Valentine’s Day on the horizon for this weekend, I specifically have dessert on my mind, and that brought me back to our dessert feature in Manchester Life Magazine Holiday ‘25/Winter ‘26. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to sample any

Hi, Friends! This past Saturday, my husband and I found ourselves in the rare position of having a free night alone together. Time for a Date Night! We are always up for trying something new, and our culinary curiosity led us to Manchester.