Today in Montpelier

Montpelier’s BIPOC female-led small businesses

March 29, 2024

There is so much that can be highlighted about Montpelier’s female community leaders and small business owners that one can create a whole series on the topic (and we just may do so!).    By providing opportunities for wealth creation and economic advancement in minority communities, BIPOC businesses play a critical role in bridging the economic divide which in the long-term, contributes to a more equitable and just society. There are a plethora of amazing female-owned or led businesses in Montpelier to choose from, but to wrap up this Woman’s History Month, we are proud to feature a few of the BIPOC

Member Highlight: Emerge with Amy LePage

March 20, 2024

  Tell us about Emerge with Amy LePage’s offerings: First off, I’m excited to be in my new office/studio space right downtown at 15 State St. (shared with The Everything Space). I hope you’ll join me at my Open House for Free Classes, snacks & tea, and raffles. It’s this Sunday, March 24th from 1:30 - 7:15 pm. Here’s class times and “stop by & say hi” times.   All of my offerings involve guiding people to better understand their body and nervous systems while they move, breathe, interact, respond and navigate life’s moments and world around them.    I have two main focal points of

Member Highlight: Kim Bent and Kathleen Keenan at Lost Nation Theater

March 13, 2024

How did Lost Nation Theater get started in Montpelier, and what motivates you to create your annual programs at City Hall?   Lost Nation Theater incorporated as a professional non-profit Vermont theater company in Bristol, Vermont, in 1977, when 6th generation Vermonter and Founding Artistic Director Kim Bent came back home for the 5th time and made peace with the idea that if he wanted to make Theater his life’s work, he would have to do it in Vermont because that’s where his heart was! LNT started out as a touring company dedicated to the creation of exclusively original work, so we relocated

Member Highlight - Chris McDonald at Capital Kitchen

March 05, 2024

Tell us a bit about Capital Kitchen and how you came to own the store. 

I had known Jess Turner, the former owner, for years when I heard that she was ready to move on. I have to admit I had been eying the shop for quite some time--I love anything food related, so much so that it became a running joke at Bear Pond Books, my previous gig, that food was all I ever talked about. While Bear Pond was a fantastic place to work for my roughly 20 year tenure there, I was ready for a project entirely my own. So I approached Jess about buying Capital Kitchen and she was immediately receptive. We started the process in summer of 2021 and she turned over the keys at the end of the following March. Both she and Northfield Saving Bank, from which we secured the loan, were an absolute dream to deal with.

Celebrate the total eclipse in downtown Montpelier!

March 05, 2024

April isn't the most popular in Vermont...but it's full of hidden surprises. This year, thousands are expected to descend upon Montpelier for the once in a lifetime total eclipse on April 8th. The last time the Green Mountain State was in the path of totality was 1932; it won't happen again until 2106!   Downtown businesses are excited to have this boost of visitors. One of Montpelier's biggest assets is its compact, walkable downtown, with a unique mix of locally-owned and truly delicious cafes and restaurants, as well as shops, movie theaters, and the beautiful State Capitol building. Not to mention the

Why Post Offices are crucial to the landscape of a healthy downtown

February 15, 2024

On January 8th, 2024, Ben Doyle, chair of the Montpelier flood of 2023 Commission and Montpelier’s congressional delegation called for a rally to restore its downtown post office, after the building which housed it was devastated during last summer’s historic flooding. Community members spanning all ages demonstrated their needs and frustrations in order to bring federal attention to the impact of this essential, yet missing public service. Montpelier’s downtown - being the downtown of the State’s Capital - is the economic, cultural, and civic center of Vermont. The lack of convenient access to a post office has far-reaching implications on a myriad of levels which

Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience works to create a more resilient community for all

February 08, 2024

Washington County’s July flood impacted much of the Winooski River Watershed (This watershed begins in the town of Cabot and flows 90 miles to Lake Champlain in Colchester.) The watershed drains approximately 1,080 square miles in central Vermont, encompassing all of Washington County, along with other Vermont counties and is the largest tributary watershed to Lake Champlain. It includes almost 10% of the land area of Vermont. In addition, the river has seven major tributaries, most of them, North Branch, Dog River,  Stevens Branch, Little River and Mad River are located in Washington county (source from Friends of the Winooski

Montpelier looks ahead to 2024

January 07, 2024

Montpelier Alive is excited to enter 2024 with many hopes and visions for a brighter year, following a challenging year. We look forward to all our downtown businesses reopening and new ones setting up shop in the empty storefronts. One such new opening is Naive Melody Instrument Exchange at 95 State Street. Stay tuned for their grand opening. Other businesses devastated by the floods are reinventing themselves in new locations (stay tuned!). Restaurants Namaste and Filibuster are tentatively opening this month; we’ll announce all these changes in our weekly newsletter and on social media.  Our city closed 2023 with a bang, including

Celebrate the season in Downtown Montpelier!

December 02, 2023

No matter how you celebrate the holiday season, downtown Montpelier offers something for everyone throughout December, culminating in a “uniquely Montpelier” New Year’s Eve celebration. During the darkest month of the year, downtown lights up the evening (or afternoon, at 4pm!), with holiday lights, greens, and festive window displays. Local artists display their artwork in storefronts yet to open from the summer floods, as part of  the City’s Renewal Project.

Flannel Friday 2023

November 10, 2023

Show a little love to downtown Montpelier, shop local! Flannel Friday starts off the holiday season on Friday, November 24th, the day after Thanksgiving. Montpelier's unique and locally-owned businesses offer a wide variety of unique gifts and they could all use extra love after recovering or still recovering from the July flood.  Come downtown in your flannel attire on Flannel Friday because if you're spotted by the Flannel Fairy, you can win prizes and gift cards from downtown businesses!  On November 25th, Small Business Saturday, is a day to celebrate and support our downtown businesses and all they do for our community. It's

Celebrate Halloween the Montpelier Way!

October 23, 2023

Celebrate Halloween the Montpelier Way! This year downtown celebrates Halloween with something for everyone, from trick or treating to karaoke.    Trick or treating from 4:00 - 5:00 pm starts off the evening for the youngest crowd, followed by a Halloween costume parade and jamboree (including costumed pets) with a special guest! Parade meets up at 5:00 pm, at the corner of State and Elm (Filibuster Cafe corner), and goes around the block, ending on Langdon Street Bridge. The bridge will be lined with carved pumpkins - vote for your favorite one at Bent Nails Bistro.    After the Parade, Zombies take over Langdon

Moonlight Magic Returns to Downtown Montpelier to Support Flood-Impacted Businesses

October 16, 2023

Montpelier, VT - Local shoppers can get started on their holiday shopping while supporting downtown Montpelier’s recovery at Moonlight Magic, powered by VSECU, on Friday, October 20 from 5-9pm. Nearly a dozen recently reopened businesses will offer deals and festivities and stay open late that evening to welcome shoppers and thank the community for their support after the July flooding, and shoppers will enjoy fun performances downtown. Participating businesses include Althea's Attic Boutique, Artisan’s Hand Craft Gallery, Bailey Road, Capital Kitchen, Capitol Stationers, The Cheshire Cat, The Getup Vintage, Grian Herbs Apothecary, Notion Fabric & Craft, Splash Naturals, and Zutano Outlet. Events

The Taste of Montpelier Food Festival Returns to the Capital City October 7th

September 27, 2023

  The Taste of Montpelier Food Festival, presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op, returns for its third year. This year it’s the main event of Montpelier’s Reopening Celebration! Taste features food trucks, vendors and artisans, chef demos, beer and cocktail gardens and street performers - this year’s Taste of Montpelier has it all!    The main attraction, The Great Taste runs from 1-5pm on Saturday, October 7th on Langdon Street and State Street from Main to Elm. It features over 20 food trucks and artisan foods. The demo tent features four different presentations ranging from a high school student teaching how to make tamales,

Visiting Montpelier after the July 2023 Flood

September 14, 2023

On July 10th, devastating rains resulted in the North Branch of the Winooski River cresting more than 20 feet, filling business basements and retail spaces with floodwaters. More than 4,000 volunteers came to town to help businesses clean up and recover, with the goal of enabling our restaurants and retail stores to reopen as quickly as they can. The community came together to organize benefit concerts, festivals and other fundraisers to support our downtown to bring back a more resilient Montpelier! As our City recovers and businesses reopen, there are plenty of reasons to visit Montpelier this fall, and parking is

Guitar Sam reminisces after 42 years in Montpelier

June 23, 2023

Guitar Sam, a business that opened in 1981, closed this year, after 42 years in business! Carolyn Grodinsky met with Kevin Crossett recently and learned about how the store and how the downtown has changed over these years.   Kevin opened Guitar Sam when he was 25. He had previously worked in retail but wanted to work for himself. He said people thought he was crazy, and he got lots of pushback, as well as folks telling him that they hope it goes okay. “I’d say after 42 years, I guess it was okay.”    Over those years, Kevin moved the business four times

Free and Local Outdoor Summer Music in Montpelier

June 22, 2023

Summer officially kicked off last week and we’re incredibly lucky to have a vibrant music scene throughout Central Vermont... and so much of it is free! This article focuses on music in Montpelier, but to learn what’s happening throughout Central Vermont, check out the free music series in surrounding towns over the summer in the text box.

What's Make Music Day all About?

June 16, 2023

We interviewed Jolynda Burton, Music Education Director at the Monteverdi Music School about the first upcoming coordinated Make Music Day in Montpelier.   What is Make Music Day and how did it get started:  Make Music Day began back in 1982. The first World Music Day was organized by the French Minister of Culture as a celebration of the joy of music. The story goes that a cultural study showed that roughly half of French citizens played a musical instrument. This inspired Monsieur Lang to create an event where people would share their music with the world. Thus, Fêtes de la Musique (“Festival

Wrightsville Beach Offers More Than Just Swimming

June 08, 2023

From Kayaking to Disc Golf: Wrightsville Beach Offers More than Just Swimming Wrightsville Recreation District is known for its easy access and sandy beach, but it’s not just about swimming. Located in Middlesex just five miles from downtown Montpelier, the reservoir and recreation area offers a breadth of outdoor activities from kayaking to disc golf, bird watching, picnicking, or just lying on the beach. Last year, 17,000 people used the park during its main season.  Wrightsville’s 88 acres includes the beach; picnic areas; 18-hole disc golf course (which draws disc golf tourists from the Northeast, other states, and Canada); a recreation field;

Montpelier Alive announces its Grant Awards for Downtown Events Program!

May 23, 2023

Montpelier Alive’s mission is to create a vibrant and livable Montpelier, including hosting downtown events, such as July’s Independence Day celebration and September’s Taste of Montpelier food festival. Other organizations also enhance our downtown in holding creative and diverse events. Montpelier Alive supports a number of them through its Downtown Events Grant Program. These funds come in part from the DID (Downtown Improvement District) and the City of Montpelier. This year’s grant program offered a total of $10,000, with a maximum award of $2,000 for any single event that promotes and enhances the vibrancy of downtown Montpelier.  Montpelier

All Around Adventure

April 19, 2023

Montpelier is a hub for outdoor recreation, and is nestled in a valley where The North Branch and the Winooski rivers converge and public lands connect multiple networks of trails. Access to nature couldn’t be easier, from the Hubbard Park trails behind the Golden Dome to the mountain bike trails in North Branch Park. Montpelier is making its mark in the world of outdoor recreation and tourism, and we can’t wait to celebrate that!

Montpelier's Inspiring Women

March 17, 2023

March means Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women and the myriad contributions they make to society. Montpelier’s woman-owned small businesses run the gamut from Althea’s Attic Boutique to Zutano. There are also Montpelier mavens breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. Show your support for all women by giving them your business this month—and every month.

Reuse, Recycle and Repair

March 13, 2023

When I first moved to Montpelier 30 years ago, I repaired my shoes at the Cobbler's Leather Shoppe, at 67 Main Street, where Splash is currently located.  When the store closed a few years later, I remember the owner, Charlie Baril, telling me no one repairs shoes anymore. I was disheartened, but in researching this blog, I learned many downtown businesses still repair and refurbish. With only one landfill in Vermont, and all the benefits of keeping items in circulation as long as possible, Montpelier Alive wanted to feature these diverse shops in town, helping us to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Sledding in Montpelier

January 19, 2023

The city of Montpelier was built in a valley surrounded by the Green Mountains. The various hills and slopes that make up the valley provide locals and visitors alike an opportunity to experience some of the best sledding in Vermont. From the trails of Hubbard Park to the newly opened slopes of the Elks Club, to the warm delicious food and beverage served downtown, Montpelier offers people of all ages a fun sledding experience.

Why Shop Local?

December 22, 2022

I especially enjoy our downtown during the holiday season - the beautifully decorated historic buildings, the diversity of our downtown stores, the unique products they offer, and the delicious foods at cafes, restaurants, and bakeries to stay warm and visit with friends. Additionally just outside downtown, shoppers can enjoy skiing, sledding, hiking… in our incredible parks and outdoor spaces. Topping off this season, parking is FREE, up to two hours, through Christmas eve!

Barre Street Eateries

December 15, 2022

Downtown Montpelier is renowned for its wide variety of dining options, but step just outside of the mainstreet area, and find plenty of other amazing eating places. One neighborhood, along Barre Street and Stonecutters Way, offers fare that highlights farm to table, senior focused fare, or meals to help those in need.

Montpelier: A Hub for Downhill Skiers

December 01, 2022

When people think of Vermont, they imagine maple syrup, colorful leaves, and skiing. Vermont’s ski mountains are some of the best in the Northeast with resorts such as Sugarbush, Mad River, and Bolton; all of which are under an hour's drive from Montpelier. While not having a mountain of its own, Montpelier’s central location offers residents and tourists a reasonable drive to most of Vermont’s alpine ski resorts. Montpelier's ski shops and opportunities are guaranteed to give anyone a great experience skiing in Vermont.

Halloween in Montpelier

October 27, 2022

The fall season in Montpelier is full of things to do and see. The turning of the leaves paired with the brisk Autumn weather brings in many new people. The month of October in Montpelier is a combination of Foliage festivities, later being outnumbered by Halloween-themed events. Halloween is a favorite holiday locally, but some events tend to fall under the radar. You may ask yourself, what kinds of Halloween celebrations happen in Montpelier that are so special?

Top 10 Local Favorite Outdoor Adventures in Central Vermont

October 06, 2022

Montpelier, in the heart of Central Vermont, is surrounded by adventure. Right from downtown you can access hiking, mountain biking, gravel biking, nordic skiing, swimming, paddling, and amazing parks for walking. To add to that, Montpelier is just a short drive from dozens of outdoor recreation destinations in all seasons. From world class mountain biking to the northeast’s best ski resorts, Central Vermont is the perfect place to plan your next adventure. Here are some of the best local favorites from our region.

Learn from the experts: Chefs share their secrets!

September 08, 2022

The Taste of Montpelier Food Festival is unlike any food festival you've been to before. Forget about those stuffy events with $100 tickets off in the middle of a hot field. Join us in the heart of Montpelier's downtown to get a true taste of what we're all about. Fun, approachable, delicious.

A Unique Flavor: Entertainment at The Taste of Montpelier

September 06, 2022

Montpelier Alive’s Taste of Montpelier, presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op is so much more than a food festival. Unlike any other food festival of its kind, featured entertainment includes fantastical shows of juggling, acrobatics, yo-yo tricks and vaudeville skits. Foodies and arts enthusiasts alike will find something to savor at the festival’s main event, The Great Taste on Saturday, September 10th from 1-4pm on State Street.

Hunger Mountain Co-op Brown Bag Concert Series

August 04, 2022

During lunch-hour on weekdays, Montpelier’s streets are bustling! Between lawmakers, lawyers, business owners, and tourists, everybody enjoys taking a break and frequenting the abundance of eateries downtown. As people wander and search for a place to sit and relax in the Vermont summer weather, they might hear melodies drifting from the Christ Church Courtyard, where live musicians take the stage every week in August and early September. The Hunger Mountain Co-op Brown Bag Concert Series, hosted by Montpelier Alive, features excellent music from across the region. These free and fun noon-time concerts brighten everyone's day, even if just passing by. Check out this year’s line-up, curated by Fred Wilber, past owner of Buch Spieler Records.

Vermont Mountaineers: Community Summer Baseball at its Finest

August 02, 2022

Montpelier is unique for so many reasons, including the endless recreation opportunities in and around the city. One of the many hidden gems in this town includes the historic grandstand and baseball field at the recreation area on Elm Street. The Mountaineers are proof that small towns can dream big!