New Year's Eve traditions run deep. For many, the holiday wouldn't be complete without a countdown, a glass (or three) of Champagne and a smooch at the stroke of midnight. Last year, the Queen City launched a new custom: Highlight, a citywide celebration featuring artsy and family-friendly entertainment.
Last year, the National Center for Arts Research listed Burlington among the top 10 "arts-vibrant medium communities" in America — notable for making the arts "integral" to the city's development, urban design and livability. It's true that Burlington brims with innovative and artsy types, and the most concentrated cluster of creativity is in its South End.
If winter's dark days get you down, Steve Conant can shed some light. The founder of Conant Metal & Light doesn't just craft original lighting and decorative metalwork out of his Pine Street studio and showroom — he's one of the city's brightest lights himself in terms of creativity, community and character.
