Posted By Jordan Adams on Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 12:43 PM

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Courtesy of Mike Nosek

Higher Ground's new stage at the Champlain Valley Exposition

Higher Ground announced a new drive-in events series on Tuesday, dubbed the Higher Ground Drive-In Experience, at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction.

According to a press release, a large stage is currently being constructed, and all proceeds from upcoming programming will benefit the Vermont Arts Council. Three local high schools — Champlain Valley Union High School, Essex High School and South Burlington High School — will hold graduation ceremonies at the Expo on Saturday, June 13.

Tags: Higher Ground , Champlain Valley Exposition , Alex Crothers , Web Only , Image

Posted By Margot Harrison on Mon, Jun 8, 2020 at 6:40 PM

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Courtesy of Lionsgate

Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs as childhood friends in Blindspotting

Where do we find entertainment these days? On our laptops and in our living rooms. The streaming options are overwhelming — and not always easy to sort through. So, in this weekly feature, I review a movie or series that might otherwise be easy to overlook.

The movie:
Blindspotting (2018)

Where to see it:
HBO Max, HBO Go; rentable on other services.

The deal:
In this explosive indie film from first-time feature director Carlos López Estrada, Daveed Diggs (Tony Award winner for Hamilton) and Rafael Casal play Collin and Miles, best friends who grew up together in Oakland, Calif. They work for a moving company, reluctantly facilitating the influx of affluent hipsters who are reshaping their beloved city. Together they banter, talk shit and freestyle about their frustrations.

But sometimes their concerns diverge. Collin is black; Miles is white. Collin is a convicted felon who is determined to stay out of trouble for the last three days of his year of probation. Miles is a fast-talking hothead who sometimes carries a gun.

Tags: Blindspotting , Daveed Diggs , Rafael Casal , Carlos Lopez Estrada , Web Only , Image

Posted By Jordan Adams on Thu, Jun 4, 2020 at 1:59 PM

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Courtesy of Anna Webber

Christian McBride

The Burlington ReDiscover Jazz Festival has released its full schedule of virtual and televised events. The 11-day series kicks off Thursday, June 4, and replaces the annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, which was canceled in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. The festivities run until Sunday, June 14.

Tags: Burlington Discover Jazz Festival , Steve MacQueen , Christian McBride , Marcus Roberts , Melissa Aldana , Web Only , Image

Posted By Margot Harrison on Mon, Jun 1, 2020 at 5:25 PM

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KC Bailey

Leah Lewis and Alexxis Lemire in The Half of It

Where do we find entertainment these days? On our laptops and in our living rooms. The streaming options are overwhelming — and not always easy to sort through. So, in this weekly feature, I review a movie or series that might otherwise be easy to overlook.

The movie:
The Half of It (2020)

Where to see it:
Netflix

The deal:
Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac offers an irresistible template for romantic comedies. What if the wordsmith who’s been hired to help a tongue-tied oaf win the girl of his dreams … is also in love with her?

An award winner at the Tribeca Film Festival, this fresh-faced update from writer-director Alice Wu is set in rural Washington. Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) is a bright, lonely teen who helps support her widowed dad (Collin Chou) by selling term papers to the popular kids. When football player Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) asks her to write a letter to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), who’s dating one of his teammates, Ellie initially refuses because she has a crush on Aster herself.

Tags: The Half of It , Alice Wu , Saving Face , Never Have I Ever , The Miseducation of Cameron Post , Web Only , Image

Posted By Kristen Ravin on Mon, Jun 1, 2020 at 12:36 PM

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Courtesy of Dan Casey

Barre Opera House

Barre-area patrons of the arts will have to wait a bit longer than expected to get their live performing arts fixes at the Barre Opera House. The historic, 650-seat Granite City theater will remain shuttered through the end of the year due to factors related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Barre Opera House director Dan Casey announced the extended closure in a press release on June 1, citing "uncertainty regarding COVID-19, restrictions on the assembly of large groups, and the ability and willingness of touring artists to perform on scheduled dates."

Tags: performing arts , music , comedy , Web Only , Image