Fall is in the air!!

Fall is in the air!!

Lots of activities are in the local area. One of my favorites is Sculpturefest which continues through the Foliage Season and even into Winter (if you want to snowshoe the farms!). It’s an outdoor exhibit of various artists unique sculptures covering two farms. It’s free and a wonderful place to walk, enjoy and have a picnic in the beautiful countryside. Find directions on their website: www.sculpturefest.org

From Fall until Spring The Billings Farm in Woodstock offers a selection of films – check them out on https://billingsfarm.org/filmfest/

Oct. 14 – Woodstock, VT – Peak to Peak hike to a scenic viewpoint on Mount Peg or Mount Tom from the Woodstock Green, 10-2:30pm

Oct. 14 – Barnard, VT – Annual Oyster Stew Supper, East Barnard Community Club, 5324 Broad Brook Rd., 5-7:30pm

Oct. 14 – Hartland, VT – Turkey Supper, Hartland UU Church on Brownsville-Hartland Road, 4:30 and 6:30 seatings

Oct. 14-15 – Woodstock, VT – Autumn Wagon Ride Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-5pm

Oct. 14 -15 – Vermont – Annual All Day Open Studio Weekend, for more info and a map: www.vermontcrafts.com

Oct. 21 – Woodstock, VT – Farm House/Manor House Tours, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical park, 1pm, meet at the 1890 Farm House

Oct. 21 – Hartland, VT – Turkey Supper, Hartland UU Church on Brownsville-Hartland Road, 4:30 and 6:30 seatings

*Oct. 21-28 – Windsor, VT – Haunted Halloween Maze – Artisans Park (where Harpoon Brewery is) -Wednesday – Friday 12p – 6p and Saturday – Sunday 10a – 6p (Closed Monday and Tuesday)

Oct. 22 – Woodstock, VT – Glad Rags Sale, Masonic Hall, 9-12 and 1-3pm

*Oct. 27-28 – Windsor, VT – Haunted Halloween Maze Evening Event – Artisans Park – 5-8pm

Oct. 28 – Quechee, VT – Hoots and Howls, VINS Nature Center, 10am

Oct. 28 – Woodstock, VT – Bentley’s Restaurant, Halloween Costume Party, until 10pm

Oct. 28 – Hartland, VT – Turkey Supper, Hartland UU Church on Brownsville-Hartland Road, 4:30 and 6:30 seatings

Oct. 29 – Woodstock, VT – A Family Halloween, Billings Farm Museum, fun for all ages, 10-5pm

Oct. 29 – Woodstock, VT – The Fretless performing at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 4pm, www.pentanglearts.org/music

Nov. 10-12 – Woodstock, VT – Wagon Ride Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 12 – Woodstock, VT – Adaskin String Trio, Woodstock UU Church, 2-3pm, www.northchapelvt.org

Nov. 18 – Barnard, VT – 1st Annual Barn Festival, Barnard Inn Restaurant and Max’s Tavern, 2-6pm

Nov. 23 – Woodstock, VT – Turkey Trot. 5K through the village, 8:30am, www.zacksplacevt.org

Nov. 24-26 – Woodstock, VT – Thanksgiving Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, entertainment, activities, horse drawn wagon rides, 10- 4pm

Nov. 24-26 – Killington, VT – Audi FIS Ski World Cup, www.killington.com/worldcup

December weekends – Woodstock, VT – Christmas at the Farm, Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Dec. 2 – Plymouth, VT – Coolidge Holiday Open House, sleigh rides, old-time music, craft demos, Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, 10-4pm

Dec. 8 – Pomfret, VT – BarnArts Holiday Cabaret at ArtisTree, 7:30-10pm www.artistreevt.org

Dec. 8 – 10 – Woodstock, VT – Wassail Weekend, Billings Farm and Museum, 10 -4pm, horse drawn sleigh/wagon rides (weather permitting) – additional activities in the village of Woodstock detailed below

Dec. 9 – Woodstock, VT – Breakfast with Santa, Little theater, 8-11am

The Ten, Acapella men’s choir, Congregational church

Cello by Candlelight, North Universalist Chapel Society

Holiday House Tour, 9:30 – 2pm, starts at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre

The Wassail Parade, 2pm, horses, dogs, Victorian era costumes, around the Village Green

Lighting of the Memory Tree, Bon Fire And Carol Sing on the Village Green, 3pm

Lighting of the 400 Luminaries on the Village Green, 4pm

Christmas with Celts concert, Woodstock Town Hall, 8pm

Dec. 10 – Woodstock, VT – Community Messiah Sing, Our Lady of the Snows Church, 4pm

Dec. 14-16 – Woodstock, VT – A child’s Christmas in Wales, www.artistreevt.org/theatre

Dec. 14-17 – Hanover, NH – The Christmas Revels, a Nordic celebration of the Winter Solstice, www.revelsnorth.org/Christmas-revels/

Dec. 15 – Barnard, VT – BarnArts Annual Winter Carols, First Universalist Church, Barnard, Rt. 12

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 – Woodstock, VT – Horse drawn sleigh/wagon rides (weather permitting), Billings Farm and Museum

Feb. 3 (?) – Hartland, VT. – Tiki Torch Trek – fun event…..more to come

Feb 16-18 – Woodstock, VT – The Vermont Flurry: Woodstock Snow Sculpture, on the Green, 10am-10pm

March 10 – Barnard, VT – Annual Masquerade Jazz & Funk Winter Music Carnival, 5:30-10:30pm, www.barnarts.org

New last year is the Ascutney Outdoors organization. They have worked to make Ascutney Mountain in Brownsville, VT a place for all to enjoy various activities.In addition to all the Winter activities held there the trails are great for biking and hiking. There is no charge to use the trails. Check out their website for events planned and future improvements. www.ascutneyoutdoors.org/new-events/

Below are places of interest – dining – touristy – entertainment:

Some fairly new restaurants in the area! Check it out:

New in downtown Woodstock are these restaurants:

Mangalitsa restaurant (for dinner) and Soulfully Good Cafe (for breakfast and lunch).

The Hartland Diner in Jessup’s Plaza at Hartland 3 Corners – open 7 days a week for lunch and breakfast (served all day!).

The owners of the former Stella’s restaurant have opened a restaurant in Windsor at the railroad station (Windsor Station Restaurant and Barroom)serving dinner with lots of music events as well!

Opened in Quechee, Singleton’s Market and Jake’s Market with food items, deli, Vermont products and clothing. It has almost everything you could need from fresh fish, homemade sausages, wine, beer…the list is endless!

Another popular restaurant in Woodstock – The Worthy Kitchen where the Eastender used to be (on the East end of Rt. 4)! Very casual atmosphere, limited menu but the specials change and the food is great (highly recommend the steak!). Draft Beer choices are endless and there is also a token wine selection. The bartenders/wait staff are great fun too!

Another new restaurant on the West end of Woodstock on Rt. 4 is the 506 Bistro in the fancy On the River Inn. In Quechee, The Public House, near the putt-putt golf, offering food and craft beers and they have also just opened the Public House Diner in Quechee. A new restaurant in White River Junction is Piecemeal Pies serving English savory pies.

If you are returning to the area from previous visits please note there are lots of restaurants in the area you may wish to try: Trap Door Bakery and Deli in Quechee, and in Woodstock: Melaza Bistro, Pi Brick Oven Trattoria and Pi Martini Tapas Bar(with Jazz music every Wed. at 7pm), Anchor Wat and Mon Vert Cafe. Of course, many of my “old” favorites are still there: Kedron Valley Inn and Tavern(S. Woodstock)-every Sun. is Burger and Beer night; Keeper’s (Reading), The Black Rock Restaurant (Springfield), Long Trail Brewery(Bridgewater) for lunch, Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Simon Pearce restaurant and The Parker House Inn(Quechee) and many more!! The Kedron Valley Inn is only 3 mi. from the cabin. Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock offers dancing to their DJ on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm. Harpoon Brewery (at Artisan’s Place in Windsor) is open some evenings for dinner – check first as their schedule changes. In the summer there is often Oven-Fired Pizza offered outside.

Another food “establishment” which has garnered a big following is the “elevated food truck” called Chef Brad’s Crazy Side. The food truck has relocated from Hartland to Rt. 4 near the Fat Hat on the way to Quechee. They now have an actual building which is open after October when they close up the food truck. It will reopen inside Nov. 1 for lunch 11:30-2:30. Brad is a fantastic chef, thus the big following. You can follow the restaurant specials on his Facebook site. People rave over his fish in a basket. I personally like his hamburgers or lamb-burgers and sweet potato fries. When the temperatures are cool I always try one of his homemade soups.

Harpoon Brewery – Windsor – don’t forget live music on Thurs. evenings. And visit Farmstead Cheese (Sustainable Farmer) next door! They offer lots of local products. During the summer they have oven fired pizzas for sale to eat on the picnic tables outside. Also in the same complex there is the Silo making Vermont’s own Vodka/Gin/Whiskey/Moonshine. Often the Silo and Farmstead Cheese team up with some local musical talent and hold a special event at the Silo, serving cocktails and food bites. These places are located in Artisan’s Park in Windsor off Rt. 5 – home to many other interesting places such as Simon Pearce outlet store and Great River Outfitters who feature a lot of Water Activities – check out their calendar as well as an adjacent hiking area called Path of Life Garden http://greatriveroutfitters.com. Sometimes in the winter dog sledding is there – check with www.braeburnsiberians.com

Brown’s Tavern is also open for dinner at the Ascutney Resort in nearby Brownsville, along with their Maple Kitchen restaurant which features Prime Rib on Thursday nights.

If you stop at Mike’s Mobil just off Rt. 91 on Rt. 12/5 you’ll find some hot foods to choose from as well as deli sandwiches made to order, to keep you from needing to cook that first meal at the cabin! Large selection of beer,wine, and coffee. It’s also the closest place to get diesel and wi-fi.

Montshire Museum in Norwich, VT gets top marks for it’s displays for young and old including the outside grounds www.montshire.org

I recommend a visit to Sugarbush Farm (www.sugarbushfarm.com) where they have a wonderful educational display and video on sugaring, an animal petting area and a wonderful cheese and maple syrup tasting room with of course a gift shop full of goodies to take home or buy for gifts.

The Windsor Station Restaurant(Windsor, VT) has live music every Tuesday and Friday. Harpoon Brewery (Rt. 5 Windsor) has live music every Thursday and first Saturday. Browns Tavern (Ascutney Resort, VT) has Live music every Sunday. Skunk Hollow Tavern (Hartland 4 Corners) has live music every Wednesday and Friday. For details of who is playing check the links below.

For Windsor area entertainment information:
Windsor Station: http://windsorstationvt.com/live-music
Harpoon: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor
Brown’s Tavern: http://brownstavern.webs.com/apps/calendar
Skunk Hollow: http://www.skunkhollowtavern.com/Entertainment.aspx

For info on what’s happening at the Woodstock Town Theatre then check out: www.PentangleArts.org

For more cultural activities in the nearby area check out these sites:

http://www.woodstockvt.com/woodstockvt/events

The nearby Billings Farm Museum has an activity going on most of the weekends.

Home

www.hop.dartmouth.edu Hanover, NH

www.TupeloHall.com White River Junction, VT

www.ClaremontOperaHouse.com Claremont, NH

www.OperaNorth.org Lebanon, NH

www.NorthernStage.org White River Junction, VT

www.ArtistreeVT.org Woodstock, VT2016

Fall/Winter in Vermont! What’s not to love!

Fall/Winter in Vermont! What’s not to love!

It’s a wonderful time to be in Vermont!

FLASH! FLASH! Prince & Pauper Restaurant in Woodstock is offering a Prix Fixe special Sun thru Thurs. Nov. 1 to Dec. 17th. $39 for appetizer, salad and entree.

Some fairly new restaurants in the area! Check it out:

The Hartland Diner in Jessup’s Plaza at Hartland 3 Corners – open 7 days a week for lunch and breakfast (served all day!).

The owners of the former Stella’s restaurant have opened a restaurant in Windsor at the railroad station (Windsor Station Restaurant and Barroom)serving dinner with lots of music events as well!

Opened in Quechee, Singleton’s Market and Jake’s Market with food items, deli, Vermont products and clothing. It has almost everything you could need from fresh fish, homemade sausages, wine, beer…the list is endless!

Another new restaurant in Woodstock – The Worthy Kitchen where the Eastender used to be (on the East end of Rt. 4)! Very casual atmosphere, limited menu but the specials change and the food is great (highly recommend the steak!). Draft Beer choices are endless and there is also a token wine selection. The bartenders/wait staff are great fun too!

Another new restaurant in Woodstock is Ruth’s Table on main street where the Daily Grind used to be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the West end of Woodstock is another new restaurant, On the River Inn.

Opening in Sept. 2015, The Public House in Quechee, near the putt-putt golf, offering food and craft beers.

If you are returning to the area from previous visits please note there are lots of restaurants in the area you may wish to try: Trap Door Bakery and Deli in Quechee, and in Woodstock: Melaza Bistro, Pi Brick Oven Trattoria and Pi Martini Tapas Bar(with Jazz music every Wed. at 7pm), Anchor Wat and Mon Vert Cafe. Of course, many of my “old” favorites are still there: Kedron Valley Inn and Tavern(S. Woodstock), Keeper’s (Reading), The Black Rock Restaurant (Springfield), Long Trail Brewery(Bridgewater) for lunch, Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Simon Pearce restaurant and The Parker House Inn(Quechee) and many more!! The Kedron Valley Inn is only 3 mi. from the cabin. Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock offers dancing to their DJ on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm. Harpoon Brewery (at Artisan’s Place in Windsor) is open some evenings for dinner – check first as their schedule changes. In the summer there is often Oven-Fired Pizza offered outside.

I recommend a visit to Sugarbush Farm (www.sugarbushfarm.com) where they have a wonderful educational display and video on sugaring, an animal petting area and a wonderful cheese and maple syrup tasting room with of course a gift shop full of goodies to take home or buy for gifts.

Harpoon Brewery – Windsor – don’t forget live music on Thurs. evenings. And visit Farmstead Cheese (Sustainable Farmer) next door! They offer lots of local products. During the summer they have oven fired pizzas for sale to eat on the picnic tables outside. Also in the same complex there is the Silo making Vermont’s own Vodka/Gin/Whiskey/Moonshine. Located in Artisan’s Park in Windsor off Rt. 5 – home to many other interesting places such as Simon Pearce outlet store and Great River Outfitters who feature a lot of Water Activities – check out their calendar http://greatriveroutfitters.com. Sometimes in the winter dog sledding is there – check with www.braeburnsiberians.com

Brown’s Tavern is also open for dinner at the Ascutney Resort nearby. Ascutney Mountain is no longer a ski resort but trails have been opened for biking and hiking.

If you stop at Mike’s Mobil just off Rt. 91 on Rt. 12/5 you’ll find some hot foods to choose from as well as deli sandwiches made to order, to keep you from needing to cook that first meal! Large selection of beer,wine, and coffee. It’s also the closest place to get diesel.

Montshire Museum in Norwich, VT gets top marks for it’s displays for young and old including the outside grounds www.montshire.org

The Windsor Station Restaurant(Windsor, VT) has live music every Tuesday and Friday. Harpoon Brewery (Rt. 5 Windsor) has live music every Thursday and first Saturday as well as brick oven-fired pizzas on the weekends(Summer and Fall). Browns Tavern (Ascutney Resort, VT) has Live music every Sunday Skunk Hollow Tavern (Hartland 4 Corners) has live music every Wednesday and Friday. For details of who is playing check the links below.

For Windsor area entertainment information:
Windsor Station: http://windsorstationvt.com/live-music
Harpoon: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor
Brown’s Tavern: http://brownstavern.webs.com/apps/calendar
Skunk Hollow: http://www.skunkhollowtavern.com/Entertainment.aspx

For info on what’s happening at the Woodstock Town Theatre then check out: www.PentangleArts.org

For more cultural activities in the nearby area check out these sites:

http://www.woodstockvt.com/woodstockvt/events

http://www.thevermontstandard.com

The nearby Billings Farm Museum has an activity going on most of the weekends.

Billings Farm and Museum

www.hop.dartmouth.edu Hanover, NH

www.TupeloHall.com White River Junction, VT

www.ClaremontOperaHouse.com Claremont, NH

www.OperaNorth.org Lebanon, NH

www.NorthernStage.org White River Junction, VT

www.ArtistreeVT.org Woodstock, VT

Must see activity: Sculpturefest 2015 which starts in June and last through the Fall Season. Free outdoor display of unique sculptures from various artist. Check out info and directions (just outside of Woodstock) at www.sculpturefest.org

Here’s a few of the recently advertised activities in the area:

Prince & Pauper Restaurant in Woodstock is offering a Prix Fixe special Sun thru Thurs. Nov. 1 to Dec. 17th. $39 for appetizer, salad and entree.

Nov. 4 – Woodstock, VT – Of Mice and Men, Pentanglearts.org, Town Theatre, 7:30pm

Nov. 6-8 – Hartland, VT – Laughter on the 23rd Floor, www.artistreevt.org, Damon Hall

Nov. 7-8 – Woodstock, VT – November Wagon Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 7 – Woodstock, VT – Wrensong A small group choral acapella, with a particular focus on the vocal treasures of the Renaissance. Norman Williams Public Library, 2pm

Nov. 7 – Hanover, NH – Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, Spaulding auditorium, 8pm

Nov. 7 – Woodstock, VT – Annual Red Flannel Hash Supper, Woodstock Unitarian Universalist Church, 5-7pm

Nov. 7-8 – Woodstock, VT – November Wagon Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 13-15 – Hartland, VT – Laughter on the 23rd Floor, www.artistreevt.org, Damon Hall

Nov. 14-15 – Woodstock, VT – November Wagon Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 17 – Hanover, NH – Handel Society of Dartmouth College, performing Messiah, Spaulding auditorium, 7pm

Nov. 21-22 – Woodstock, VT – November Wagon Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 26 – Woodstock, VT – The Turkey Trot, 5K run through Woodstock Village, www.zacksplacevt.org

Nov. 27-28 – Woodstock, VT – The Woodstock Inn Holiday Fair, perfect place to buy unique Christmas gifts from VT artists and crafters, free, 10-4pm

Nov. 27-29 – Woodstock, VT – Thanksgiving Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum, 10-3:30pm, horse drawn wagon rides

December weekends – Woodstock, VT – Christmas at the Farm, Billings Farm & Museum, 10-4pm

Dec. 5 – Plymouth Notch, VT – Coolidge Holiday Open House at the President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, 10-4pm, craft demos, traditions, sleigh rides weather permitting, www.historicsites.vermont.gov

Dec. 11-13 – Woodstock, VT – Wassail weekend in Woodstock, numerous events, a special Winter weekend in Woodstock, google on you-tube to see past Wassail celebrations in Woodstock, to see a list of the events go to www.woodstockvt.com

December 11, 5:00pm-7:00pm,Wassail Open House,Woodstock History Center,hot cider, seasonal treats, Celtic harp music, and more. Free!

December 11-13, 10:00am-4:00pm,Wassail Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum,horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides (weather permitting).

December 12, 9:30am-2:00pm,Pentangle’s 12th Annual Holiday House Tour,Starts at Woodstock Town Hall, www.pentanglearts.org

December 12, 12:30pm, A reading of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Norman Williams Public Library
December 12, 2:00pm, Wassail Parade,Woodstock Village Green, Delight in the jingle of sleigh bells and the clip-clop of hooves as riders dressed in Victorian-era costumes ride through the village and around the Woodstock Village Green

December 12, 3:00pm,Lighting of the Memory Tree,Woodstock Village Green,Carol sing and Wassail bonfire on the Woodstock Village Green

December 12, 3:00pm & 4:30pm, Performance by The Ten – a cappella men’s choir, free, The Congregational Church
December 12, 4:00pm, Lighting of the Luminaries, Woodstock Village Green

December 12, 7:30pm, Pentangle Arts Wassail Weekend Featured Concert, Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org

December 13, 4:00pm, Annual Messiah Sing, Our Lady of the Snows Church,www.pentanglearts.org

Dec. 18 – Barnard, VT – Annual Winter Carols, holiday concert as well as audience sing-a-long in candle-lit church, First Universalist Church, 7pm, www.barnarts.org

Dec. 18-21 – Hanover, NH – The Christmas Revels, celebration of the Winter Solstice, Hopkins Center for the Arts, tickets at www.hop.dartmouth.edu/revelsnorth.org

Dec. 26 – Jan. 3 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Museum, horse drawn sleigh or wagon rides weather permitting

Jan. 16-18 – Woodstock, VT – Sleigh Ride Weekend, Billings Farm & Museum, 10-4pm

Feb. 11-15 – Woodstock, VT – The Vermont Flurry: Woodstock Snow Sculpture Festival, on the Green

Feb. 11-21 – Woodstock, VT – Sleigh Ride Week, Billings Farm & Museum, 10-3pm

Mar. 26-27 – Woodstock, VT – Maple Madness, Village Green, 11-1pm

Mar. 26-27 – Vermont – Maple Weekend, Open House at Maple Sugar Producers throughout Vermont

Winter is just around the corner in Vermont!

Winter is just around the corner in Vermont!

The Holidays are starting! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and then there’s Wassail weekend in Woodstock and Christmas and New Year’s and Feb. school Holidays! Let the fun begin! Check out the Nov. issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine for a wonderful article on the beauty of Woodstock, VT. Also a great article on Woodstock in the Equestrian Quarterly Magazine – it even has a picture of yours truly on her horse in the Christmas Wassail parade! 🙂 The Woodstock Wassail celebration has been featured in numerous magazines in the past – it is truly a special weekend of events that will truly get you in the Christmas mood!

Some fairly new restaurants! Check it out:

The Hartland Diner in Jessup’s Plaza at Hartland 3 Corners – open 7 days a week for lunch and breakfast (served all day!).

The owners of the former Stella’s restaurant have opened a restaurant in Windsor at the railroad station (Windsor Station Restaurant and Barroom)serving dinner!

Opened in Quechee Singleton’s Market with food items, deli, Vermont products and clothing. It has almost everything you could need from fresh fish, homemade sausages, wine, beer…the list is endless!

Another new restaurant in Woodstock – The Worthy Kitchen where the Eastender used to be (on the East end of Rt. 4)! Very casual atmosphere, limited menu but the specials change and the food is great (highly recommend the steak!). Beer choices are endless and there is also a token wine selection.

If you are returning to the area from previous visits please note their are lots of restaurants in the area you may wish to try: Trap Door Bakery and Deli in Quechee, and in Woodstock: Melaza Bistro, Pi Brick Oven Trattoria(with Jazz music every Wed. at 7pm), Anchor Wat and Mon Vert Cafe. Of course, many of my “old” favorites are still there: Kedron Valley Inn and Tavern(S. Woodstock), Keeper’s (Reading), The Black Rock Restaurant (Springfield), Long Trail Brewery(Bridgewater) for lunch, Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Simon Pearce restaurant and The Parker House(Quechee) and many more!! The Kedron Valley Inn is only 3 mi. from the cabin. Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock offers dancing to their DJ on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm. Harpoon Brewery (at Artisan’s Place in Windsor) is open some evenings for dinner – check first as their schedule changes.

Taftsville Covered Bridge has reopened. It’s been closed since “Irene” and it is a great relief to have that access to River Road re-opened!

I recommend a visit to Sugarbush Farm (www.sugarbushfarm.com) where they have a wonderful education display and video on sugaring, a animal petting area and a wonderful cheese and maple syrup tasting room with of course a gift shop full of goodies to take home or buy for gifts.

Harpoon Brewery – Windsor – don’t forget live music on Thurs. evenings. And visit Farmstead Cheese (Sustainable Farmer) next door! They offer lots of local products. Also in the same complex there is the Silo making Vermont’s own Vodka/Gin/Whiskey/Moonshine.

Brownsville General Store at the base of Ascutney mountain offers a daytime deli and most Friday night a special dinner offering, often burgers (eat in or take out) from 5-7pm.

Brown’s Tavern is also open for dinner at the Ascutney Resort nearby.

If you stop at Mike’s Mobil just off Rt. 91 on Rt. 12/5 you’ll find some hot foods to choose from as well as deli sandwiches made to order, to keep you from needing to cook that first meal! Large selection of beer,wine, and coffee.

Montshire Museum in Norwich, VT gets top marks for it’s displays for young and old including the outside grounds www.montshire.org

Artisan’s Park in Windsor off Rt. 5 – home to many interesting places such as Harpoon Brewery, Sustainable Farmer (cheese making and other VT products), Simon Pearce outlet store, The Silo (manufacturer of Gin, Vodka and Whiskey) and Great River Outfitters who feature a lot of Water Activities – check out their calendar http://greatriveroutfitters.com

The Windsor Station Restaurant(Windsor, VT) has live music every Tuesday and Friday. Harpoon Brewery (Rt. 5 Windsor) has live music every Thursday and first Saturday as well as brick oven-fired pizzas on the weekends(Summer and Fall). Browns Tavern (Ascutney Resort, VT) has Live music every Sunday Skunk Hollow Tavern (Hartland 4 Corners) has live music every Wednesday and Friday. For details of who is playing check the links below.

For Windsor area entertainment information:
Windsor Station: http://windsorstationvt.com/live-music
Harpoon: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor
Brown’s Tavern: http://brownstavern.webs.com/apps/calendar
Skunk Hollow: http://www.skunkhollowtavern.com/Entertainment.aspx

For info on what’s happening at the Woodstock Town Theatre then check out: www.PentangleArts.org

For more cultural activities in the nearby area check out these sites:

www.hop.dartmouth.edu Hanover, NH

www.TupeloHall.com White River Junction, VT

www.ClaremontOperaHouse.com Claremont, NH

www.OperaNorth.org Lebanon, NH

www.NorthernStage.org White River Junction, VT

www.ArtistreeVT.org Woodstock, VT

Outdoor activities at Saint Gaudins, Cornish, NH www.sgnhs.org

During Fall – Pomfret, VT – King Farm portion of the annual Sculpturefest opens – www.sculpturefest.org

November – Woodstock, VT – Every Sat. and Sun is Wagon Ride Weekends at the Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 14 – Claremont, NH – Bob Marley, Claremont Opera House, 7:30pm

Nov. 15 – Nov. 30 – Rifle Deer Hunting Season – fluorescent vests in the basement for your walk in the woods!

Nov. 20 – Woodstock, VT – Sayon Camara: The Drums of the Malinke Culture, Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 10am

Nov. 21 – Woodstock, VT – Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery tasting! Woodstock Farmer’s Market, www.woodstockfarmersmarket.com, 4-6pm

Nov. 22 – Woodstock, VT – Indoor Farmer’s Market, Masonic Hall

Nov. 23 – Woodstock, VT – Farmhouse Truffle display – CHOCOLATE! Woodstock Farmer’s Market, www.woodstockfarmersmarket.com

Nov. 27 – Woodstock, VT – Turkey Trot 5K run/walk to benefit Zack’s Place, Woodstock Elementary School, 10am

November 28-30 – Woodstock, VT – Thanksgiving Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-3:30

Dec. 4-6 – Lebanon, NH – Clara’s Dream – a nutcracker story, Lebanon Opera House, citycenterballet.org, Dec. 4 (7pm), Dec. 5 (7pm) and Dec. 6 (1pm & 4pm)

Dec. 6 – Brownsville, VT – Christmas Bazaar, Town Hall in Brownsville

Dec. 12 – Woodstock, VT – Hot Club of San Fancisco presents Cool Yule, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org

Dec. 12-14 – Woodstock, VT, Wassail weekend

Dec. 18-21 – Hanover, NH – The Christmas Revels, Hopkins Center for the Arts, www.RevelsNorth.org

Dec. 20 – Woodstock, VT – Indoor Farmer’s Market, Masonic Hall

Fall is lovely in Vermont!

Fall is lovely in Vermont!

Early Fall in Vermont can have chilly evenings and early mornings so always bring along a little jacket or sweater so you can enjoy the outdoors during those times. It’s a busy time in Vermont during Fall Foliage. There are often bikers, runners and horse riders on the roads so please drive slowly and carefully. Relax and enjoy this lovely state!

Big News for Mountain Bikers – Woodstock’s first mountain biking trails have been opened on Mt. Peg! There are lots of regular biking routes in the Woodstock area through Taftsville and Quechee. Didn’t bring a bike there are plenty to rent from the bike shop in downtown Woodstock.

New restaurants! Check it out:

The Hartland Diner in Jessup’s Plaza at Hartland 3 Corners – open 7 days a week for lunch and breakfast (served all day!).

The owners of the former Stella’s restaurant have opened a restaurant in Windsor at the railroad station (Windsor Station Restaurant and Barroom)serving dinner!

Opened in Quechee Singleton’s Market with food items, deli, Vermont products and clothing – check it out on Facebook. It has almost everything you could need from fresh fish, homemade sausages, wine, beer…the list is endless!

Firestone’s Restaurant in Quechee is now closed but River Stones restaurant is open in the same location with a lot of the old favorites on the menu as well as some new delicious sounding items.

Another new restaurant in Woodstock – The Worthy Kitchen where the Eastender used to be (on the East end of Rt. 4)! Very casual atmosphere, limited menu but the specials change and the food is great (highly recommend the steak!). Beer choices are endless and there is also a token wine selection.

Chef Brad’s Crazyside is a Food Truck with a great menu and delicious food. It’s located on Rt. 12 in Hartland. Take the Hartland-Brownsville Road to Rt. 12 at Hartland 4 Corners turn left on Rt. 12. Go 3.5 miles and take a left on Damon Rd. and immediately go up the driveway on the right to the Food Truck at the top. It’s hard to see from the road but it’s worth exploring. Open for dinner Wed-Sun and Open for lunch Sat. and Sun. Eat-in or Carry-out. BYOB – CLOSES AFTER COLUMBUS DAY!

If you are returning to the area from previous visits please note their are lots of restaurants in the area you may wish to try: Trap Door Bakery and Deli in Quechee, and in Woodstock: Melaza Bistro, Pi Brick Oven Trattoria(with Jazz music every Wed. at 7pm), Anchor Wat and Mon Vert Cafe. Of course, many of my “old” favorites are still there: Kedron Valley Inn and Tavern(S. Woodstock), Keeper’s (Reading), The Black Rock Restaurant (Springfield), Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Long Trail Brewery(Bridgewater) for lunch, Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Simon Pearce restaurant and The Parker House(Quechee) and many more!! The Kedron Valley Inn is only 3 mi. from the cabin. Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock offers dancing to their DJ on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm

Kedron Valley Inn restaurant, S.Woodstock

Keeper’s Cafe in Reading, VT

Taftsville Covered Bridge has reopened. It’s been closed since “Irene” and it will be a great relief to have that access to River Road re-opened!

I recommend a visit to Sugarbush Farm (www.sugarbushfarm.com) where they have a wonderful education display and video on sugaring, a animal petting area and a wonderful cheese and maple syrup tasting room with of course a gift shop full of goodies to take home or buy for gifts.

Harpoon Brewery – Windsor – don’t forget live music on Thurs. evenings. And visit Farmstead Cheese (Sustainable Farmer) next door! They are expanding into cheesemaking at this location as well and offer lots of local products. Also in the same complex there is the Silo making Vermont’s own Vodka/Gin/Whiskey/Moonshine.

Brownsville General Store at the base of Ascutney mountain offers a daytime deli and a special dinner offering, often burgers (eat in or take out) from 5-7pm most Friday night.

Brown’s Tavern is also open for dinner at the Ascutney Resort nearby.

If you stop at Mike’s Mobil just off Rt. 91 on Rt. 12/5 you’ll find a lot of hot foods to choose from as well as deli sandwiches made to order, to keep you from needing to cook that first meal! Large selection of beer,wine, andcoffee.

Montshire Museum in Norwich, VT gets top marks for it’s displays for young and old including the outside grounds www.montshire.org

Artisan’s Park in Windsor off Rt. 5 – home to many interesting places such as Harpoon Brewery, Sustainable Farmer (cheese making and other VT products), Simon Pearce outlet store, The Silo (manufacturer of Gin, Vodka and Whiskey) and Great River Outfitters who feature a lot of Water Activities – check out their calendar http://greatriveroutfitters.com

The Windsor Station Restaurant(Windsor, VT) has live music every Tuesday and Friday. Harpoon Brewery (Rt. 5 Windsor) has live music every Thursday and first Saturday as well as brick oven-fired pizzas on the weekends. Browns Tavern (Ascutney Resort, VT) has Live music every Sunday Skunk Hollow Tavern (Hartland 4 Corners) has live music every Wednesday and Friday. For details of who is playing check the links below.

For Windsor area entertainment information:
Windsor Station: http://windsorstationvt.com/live-music
Harpoon: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor
Brown’s Tavern: http://brownstavern.webs.com/apps/calendar
Skunk Hollow: http://www.skunkhollowtavern.com/Entertainment.aspx

Often there is live music at RiverStones restaurant in Quechee, VT – Friday night at 8pm

For info on what’s happening at the Woodstock Town Theatre then check out: www.PentangleArts.org

For more cultural activities in the nearby area check out these sites:

www.hop.dartmouth.edu Hanover, NH

www.TupeloHall.com White River Junction, VT

www.ClaremontOperaHouse.com Claremont, NH

www.OperaNorth.org Lebanon, NH

www.NorthernStage.org White River Junction, VT

www.ArtistreeVT.org Woodstock, VT

Outdoor activities at Saint Gaudins, Cornish, NH www.sgnhs.org

During Fall – Pomfret, VT – King Farm portion of the annual Sculpturefest opens – www.sculpturefest.org

Aug. 1 – Sep. 21 – Woodstock, VT, Annual Quilt Exhibition, Billings Farm Museum

Sept. 6-7 – Woodstock, VT – Art Festival on the Green, 10 -5pm

Sept. 13 – Woodstock, VT – Big Sam’s Funky Nation, jazz performance at Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org

Sept. 13 – Quechee, VT – Autumn Cheese Festival, VINS, 5:30-7:30pm, local cheese makers, VINS raptor exhibits, and a live bird program, www.vins.org

Sept. 14 – Windsor, VT – Vermont Mac & Cheese Challenge, Artisans Park, Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co., 11-3pm, www.vtmacandcheese.com

Sept. 20 – Plymouth, VT – Plymouth Cheese & Harvest Festival, Pres. Coolidge State Historical Site, 10 – 4pm

Sept. 27 – Old Time Fair and Silent Auction, Woodstock History Center, 1-4pm

Sept. 27-28 – Woodstock, VT – 11th Annual Vermont Fine Furniture Woodsorking & Forest Festival. Sat. 9:30-5pm; Sun. 10-4:30pm, Union Arena, Rt. 4 E of Woodstock

Oct. 1 – Woodstock, VT – Market on the Green, 3-6pm

Oct. 3 – Woodstock, VT – Chili Cook-off, on the Green

Oct. 4 – all of Vermont, Open Studio weekend, to find locations go to www.vermontcrafts.com

Oct. 4 – Woodstock, VT – Autumn Foliage Walks, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Farm, 10:30

Oct. 4 – Hartland, VT – “A Night of Music and Laughter”, 7:30, Hartland UU Church. order tickets at 738-0149

Oct. 5-6 – Vermont – Open Studio weekend, www.vermontcrafts.com

Oct. 8 – Woodstock, VT – Market on the Green, 3-6pm

Oct. 9 – Woodstock, VT – Autumn Foliage Walks, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Farm, 2pm

Oct. 10 – Windsor, VT – Autumn Moon Festival, 5-11pm, something for everyone! www.autumnmoonfest.com

Oct. 9-12 – Pomfret, VT – Ibex outdoor clothing Annual Tent Sale at Suicide Six, $25 entry fee

Oct. 11 – Woodstock, VT – Autumn Foliage Walks, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Farm, 10:30

Oct. 11 – Woodstock, VT – Annual Turkey Dinner w/ all the fixings, 4-8pm. Masonic Lodge

Oct. 11 – Hartland, VT – Roast Beef Supper, Hartland Congregational (Brick) Church, 4:30-7pm

Oct. 11 – Woodstock, VT – Woodstock Emergency Services Open House, 10am, fire truck rides, dunking booth, chicken BBQ at 11:30 for $10

Oct. 11-12 – Woodstock, VT – Apples & Crafts Fair,10-5pm, Rt. 4 East, Bailey’s Meadow

Oct. 11-12 – South Woodstock, VT – Annual Pancake Breakfast, S.Woodstock Fire Assoc. (next to GMHA), 7-11(Sat.),8-11(Sun.)

Oct. 11-12 – Windsor, VT – Harpoon Octoberfest, Harpoon Brewery, Artisans Place on Rt. 5, noon – 6pm but doors close at 4:30pm, http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/festivals/872/2014-harpoon-octoberfest-vermont

Oct. 11-13 – Woodstock, VT – Autumn Foliage walk at Marsh-Billings Rockefeller Park, 10:30

Oct. 17 – Woodstock, VT – Jazzmeia Horn, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org

Oct. 18 – Woodstock, VT – Peak to Peak hike, 10 am at the Woodstock Green

Oct. 18 – 19 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Wagon Ride weekend

Oct. 24 – Nov. 2 – Woodstock, VT – Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org

Oct. 25 – Quechee, VT – Hoots and Howls, VINS, www.vinsweb.org

Oct. 26 – Woodstock, VT – Spooky Woodstock Cemetery Tour, www.woodstockhistorical.org

November – Woodstock, VT – Every Sat. and Sun is Wagon Ride Weekends at the Billings Farm Museum, 10-4pm

Nov. 22 – Woodstock, VT – Indoor Farmer’s Market, Masonic Hall

Nov. 27 – Woodstock, VT – Turkey Trot 5K run/walk to benefit Zack’s Place, Woodstock Elementary School, 10am

November 28-30 – Woodstock, VT – Thanksgiving Weekend, Billings Farm Museum, 10-3:30

Dec. 12 – Woodstock, VT – Hot Club of San Fancisco presents Cool Yule, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org

Dec. 12-14 – Woodstock, VT, Wassail weekend

Dec. 18-21 – Hanover, NH – The Christmas Revels, Hopkins Center for the Arts, www.RevelsNorth.org

Dec. 20 – Woodstock, VT – Indoor Farmer’s Market, Masonic Hall

August activities – can summer be almost over already??

August activities – can summer be almost over already??

ALL SUMMER through August – Woodstock Inn & Resort Golf Club is offering a New England Lobster Bake on Saturday evenings – $35 plus tax and tip (1 1/4 lb Lobster or Rib Eye Steak or BBQ Chicken & Ribs) Reservations: 802 457-6665

Fairway Grille – Woodstock Golf Course – Open for lunch all summer – sit inside or outside under the umbrellas – great menu and views!

Woodstock Inn & Spa – Wednesday specials – call for info and reservations 802 457-6697

All SUMMER through August on Sundays – Harpoon Brewery serves up hand crafted pizza and hand crafted beer from 5-9pm. The restaurant is not open then but pizza is available from the mobile copper clad, wood fired pizza oven using fresh local ingredients including local milled flour. Off Rt. 5 on the way to Windsor
Thru Sept. 26 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Museum – Wagon Ride Wednesdays
Thru Sept. – South Woodstock, VT – 1848 Green Mountain Perkins Academy Museum, Rt. 106, Open Saturdays 2-5pm, free
August programs at Opera North – Lebanon, NH www.operanorth.org, 603 448-0400
The King and I – Aug. 3,8,11,16,17
The Elixir of Love – Aug. 7,10,15,18
Mozart’s The Impresario and Janacek’s Cunning Little Vixen – Aug. 14, 2pm
July 24-Aug. 21 – White River Junction, VT – Tramp & Hobo Thursdays, Enjoy lunch,board the train, meet “Boxcar Bertha” and listen to her spin tales of the Great American Hobo and her life on the rails. Reservations 1-800-707-3530, www.rails-vt.com

Aug. 1 – Sept. 23 – Woodstock, VT – Annual Quilt Exhibition, Billings Farm & Museum, 10-5pm

Pick your own Blueberries!! – Moore’s Orchard, 802 457-2994

Aug. 1 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s market on the Green, 3-6pm

Aug. 2 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag concert on the Green with the Legendary Strafford Blues Band, noon

Aug. 3 – Hartland, VT – Farmer’s market on the Library grounds across from Mike’s Sunoco, 4-7pm

Aug. 4 – Plymouth, VT – Old Home Day, Calvin Coolidge, 10-4pm

Aug. 4 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s Market on Mt. Tom, 9:30-12:30

Aug. 4 – South Woodstock, VT – Boots & Bling, food and horse entertainment, Green Mtn. Horse Assoc. – check out the details at www.gmhainc.org

Aug. 5 – Norwich, VT – Norwich Sunday Outdoor Craft Fair, Rt 5 S. of Norwich, 10 – 3pm

Aug. 5 – Pomfret, VT – Annual Ox Pull and chicken BBQ, Suicide Six parking lot, 10am, live music

Aug. 6 – South Woodstock, VT – Newmont Military Band, Green Mountain Perkins Academy, Rt. 106, 2pm

Aug. 6-12 – South Woodstock, VT – 3 day horse event, Green Mtn Horse Assoc., dressage, cross-country jumping and stadium jumping

Aug. 8 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s market on the Green, 3-6pm

Aug. 9- Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag concert on the Green with Rick Klein & Peter Macfarlane from Atlantic Crossing, noon

Aug. 10 – Hartland, VT – Farmer’s market on the Library grounds across from Mike’s Sunoco, 4-7pm

Aug. 11 – Woodstock, VT – Taste of Woodstock, 10-8pm, food,drink, music, check out the details on www.woodstockvt.com

Aug. 11 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s Market on Mt. Tom, 9:30-12:30

Aug. 15 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s market on the Green, 3-6pm

Aug. 16 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag concert on the Green with They Might Be Gypsies, noon

Aug. 16 – South Woodstock, VT – Hunter Derby horse event, Green Mtn. Horse Assoc.

Aug. 17 – Hartland, VT – Farmer’s market on the Library grounds across from Mike’s Sunoco, 4-7pm

Aug. 17 – 19 – South Woodstock, VT – Hunter/Jumper horse show, Green Mtn. Horse Assoc.

Aug. 18 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s Market on Mt. Tom, 9:30-12:30

Aug. 18 – Hartland, VT – Under the Tree 5K and 10K road race, fundraiser for the Hartland Christmas Project, 9am, www.signmeup.com

Aug. 19 – Woodstock, VT – Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4pm

Aug. 22 – Woodstock, VT – Back Porch Concert Series, ArtisTreevt.org/music, Chris Bakriges & Jenine Hamilton, 6-8pm, bring a blanket and BYOB, outdoors weather permitting or indoors in case of rain

Aug. 22 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s market on the Green, 3-6pm.

Aug. 23 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag concert on the Green with Chad Hollister, noon

Aug. 24 – Hartland, VT – Farmer’s market on the Library grounds across from Mike’s Sunoco, 4-7pm

Aug. 24-26 – South Woodstock, VT – Combined Driving Horse event, Green Mtn. Horse Assoc.

Aug. 24-26 – Woodstock, VT – Woodstock Annual Sidewalk Sale

Aug. 25 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s Market on Mt. Tom, 9:30-12:30

Aug. 25 – Quechee, VT – Annual Quechee Scottish Festival and Celtic Fair, music, food, athletic events, piping, dancing and sheep dog trials, 8-4:30

Aug. 26 – Woodstock, VT – Annual Mozart Festival, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 4pm

Aug. 28 – Woodstock, VT – Irene Anniversary Recovery Picnic on the Green, free community dinner, 5:30-7:30, Music and food and photos of the Irene damage at 7:30 at Town Hall, a sample of the damage in S. Woodstock can be seen in this video by Ian Ford, http://vimeo.com/28330251

Aug. 29 – Woodstock, VT – Farmer’s market on the Green, 3-6pm

Aug. 29 – Woodstock, VT – Back Porch Concert Series, ArtisTreevt.org/music, Jennie Johnson & the Junketeers, 6-8pm, bring a blanket and BYOB, outdoors weather permitting or indoors in case of rain

Aug. 30 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag concert on the Green with Gerry Grimo & the East Bay Jazz Ensemble, noon

Aug. 31 – Hartland, VT – Farmer’s market on the Library grounds across from Mike’s Sunoco, 4-7pm

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 – South Woodstock, VT – 3 day 100 mile competitive horse ride, watch out for horses on all the nearby roads

Sept. 1 through Foliage Season – Woodstock, VT – Sculpturefest, annual outdoor sculpture exhibit, amazing – www.sculpturefest.org

Sept. 1-2 – Plymouth, VT – The Plymouth Folk and Blues Concert, www.plymouthfolk.com, 2-5pm

Sept. 5 – Woodstock, VT – Back Porch Concert Series, ArtisTreevt.org/music, Bow Thayer, 6-8pm, bring a blanket and BYOB, outdoors weather permitting or indoors in case of rain

Sept. 8-9 – Woodstock, VT – Woodstock Art and Wine Festival, The Green, 10-5 (Sat) and 10-4pm (Sun.)