Posted By Rachel Elizabeth Jones on Tue, Oct 11, 2016 at 5:10 PM

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Rachel Jones

Mural by Jo Levasser, near Edmunds Middle School

Storm drains are generally pretty good at their job, which is to whisk rainfall away so that our cities don't become petri dishes of stagnant, standing water. This urban infrastructure is so good that most people hardly think about it — an error that the Chittenden County Stream Team seeks to correct through public art. 

Late last month, the Stream Team and four local artists fell upon Burlington storm drains, beautifying them with horizontal murals and, more importantly, making them known. 

Tags: conservation , public art , burlington , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 9:24 AM

It's Monday, which means it's time for your weekly dose of locavore levity: the Joke of the Week! This week's joke comes from Burlington's Alex Bonson. Take it away, Alex…

Heroin is a big problem in Vermont, no doubt about it. I was at Shelburne Farms recently and what did I find? A needle in the haystack.

About that joke

Says Bonson: "I wrote this joke to supplement a previous one I wrote about how I don't do the typical things Vermonters do, such as skiing and heroin. Having lived in the green mountain state all my life, I enjoy writing bits about local topics/concerns, especially those that have a bit of an edge to it. If I can take something unsettling and turn it into laughter, I feel like I've done my job as a comic." 

Tags: Alex Bonson , heroin , humor , jokes , Opioid Crisis , standup , Image , Web Only

Posted By Amelia Devoid on Fri, Oct 7, 2016 at 6:30 AM

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Amelia Devoid

Nick Zammuto has a fascination with Rubik's Cubes.

We made it through another week, you guys! In case you missed my debut post last week, welcome to Playtime. Each Friday I'll be writing about my offbeat local music obsessions. If you're feeling especially drained today, your eyes sore from data entry, your wrists strained from milk-steaming, back thrown from box-lifting, I have the perfect sounds to pour some life back into you. Plus, a bonus local film that you can watch online for free! Say hello to Zammuto.

This is pretty much what its like inside my brain.

A video posted by Zammuto (@zammutosound) on Sep 4, 2016 at 7:56am PDT

Tags: Zammuto , Temporary Residence LTD , the Books , electronic , experimental , indie , Image , Video , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 2:59 PM

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Addie Juell

Andrew Bird

On his latest record, Are You Serious, Andrew Bird gets, well, pretty serious. The album, released in April of this year, came on the heels of a series of profound life challenges — the most significant being his wife's treatment for cancer. The songwriter/singer/violinist/whistler extraordinaire has long been known for a whimsical streak bordering on ethereal in his writing and composing. But Are You Serious represents some of Bird's most deeply personal and direct songwriting. It is beautiful and unsettling and reaffirming all at once.  

In his typically eloquent and insightful manner, Bird has spoken at length about the heavy circumstances surrounding the record. (Such as here. And here. And here.) So when Seven Days recently spoke with him by phone, we thought we'd digress to some (mostly) lighter topics. Maybe give the guy a break, y'know?

Ahead of his show at the Higher Ground Ballroom with Sinkane on Monday, October 10, we chatted with Bird about Muppets, whistling, his cool new Facebook Live video series “Live From the Great Room” and gun control — see: “(mostly) lighter,” above.

Tags: Andrew Bird , muppets , the Handsome Family , Charlie Louvin , Everytown for Gun Safety , Image , Video , Web Only

Posted By Andrea Suozzo on Wed, Oct 5, 2016 at 9:41 AM

Tags: interactive , Image , Web Only

Posted By Jordan Adams on Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 3:04 PM

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Vinny Marksohn

Louie Kiley and Vinny Marksohn of Bleach Day

Burlington's Bleach Day are set to release their debut LP, Where to Dream, on October 8 as part of North America's 2016 Cassette Store Day. Participating retailers will offer up scads of limited-edition cassette tapes from burgeoning and established artists. Inspired by the recent resurgence of cassette tapes, as well as the much-hyped Record Store Day, the event has been a yearly occurrence since 2012. Fullerton, Calif.'s Burger Records handles distribution for North America.

Tags: bleach day , cassette store day , music , cassette tape , analog music , Image , Video , Web Only

Posted By Sadie Williams on Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 11:07 AM

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Sadie Williams

Volunteers and coordinators, left to right: Clark Derbes, Noah Lagle, Derek Proulx, Mo Aveno, Mary Aveno

On a blustery gray Saturday, Noah Lagle grinned as he honked the horn atop an industrial steamroller at the entrance of Pine Street Studios in Burlington's South End. He then drove the massive machine into the open garage, over a carved woodblock covered with paper, which was nestled under a felt blanket under yet another piece of wood. It was an art sandwich, so to speak. 

Lagle, 25, is the artist behind Public Works Press, a small printing operation now in its second year of distributing an art CSA (Community Supported Arts & Culture). He is also one of the 16  local artists who received a grant from the Burlington City Arts Community Fund, a new program that supports local artists engaging the community with special projects. Such as this steamroller printing event. 

Tags: Art , steamroller printing , south end , Noah Lagle , Public Works Press , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 7:55 AM

Welcome to the debut installment of the Seven Days Joke of the Week! Every Monday, this space will feature a joke submitted by a Vermont comedian. This week's joke comes from New Haven's Katie Gillespie. Take it away, Katie  …

I'm not from Vermont so it took me a long time to learn that a creemee is not a sex act. But I do think that eating one in front of old dudes at the farmers market is the Vermont equivalent of doing porn. And I'm in the industry now.

About that joke

Says Gillespie: "I moved here from Chicago last summer, so I spend a lot of time thinking about the differences between big-city and small-town life!" 

Tags: Katie Gillespie , jokes , humor , standup , Image , Web Only