a very vermont thanksgiving

We have gone home to NY for Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. But this year was our first year celebrating in Vermont due to a sick baby so we made the best of it and tried to relax and enjoy a four day weekend.

Tom started off Thanksgiving brewing beer, we started drinking some beer at noon [traditions people, traditions] and because we're vegetarians we made some stuffing, with lots of veggies, from scratch and that's it! We did however go to 4 breweries on black Friday :)  Tom's sister came in on Friday so of course we made our brewery rounds - we started small business Saturday early ;) We also decided to brave the crowds [16,000 people!] and head to Killington for the World Cup on Saturday. We didn't stay long but it's cool to say we went, plus Finn's life was made riding a bus! Besides that we painted the entryway and just hung out. It was kind of nice but we definitely missed being around a big family and really celebrating - next year!

First stop, Foley Brothers Brewing. Faire Maiden is easily one of the best beers and none of their other brews every disappoint either!

We figured we were only 20mins from 3 breweries/ciders in Middlebury so headed up North. We stopped at Drop-In, Woodchuck and then Ottercreek before heading back to Rutland for dinner at Vermont Tap House.

Every brewery needs Hungry, Hungry Hippos and a massive bucket of Mr. Potato Head. Well done Drop-In, well done!

Always good and ended up taking home some cider/whisky reserve too.

Littlest helper knows what's good.

And Ottercreek just became their favorite brewery...

Finn was upset he couldn't ride the gondola and ski the World Cup...next year buddy, next year .

Now it just needs a second coat...

What's your Thanksgiving traditions?

Another Burlington Weekend [beer and cider included]

Why yes we were up in Burlington again for what seems like the millionth time this summer but we do love it and this time it was to meet up with family. My younger brother is starting a course at Yestermorrow Design/Build School so my parents swung over to Burlington after dropping him off to see us [aka the grandkids] before heading back to NY.

 

We, admittedly, have never been to Citizen Cider on Pine St. even though we pass it every time we come to Burlington and this time we decided to stop. We may have also only stopped because Declan was asleep so managing one kid at a restaurant/brewery is muuuch simpler than two so it was also out of convenience. Don't get me wrong, we love cider but we are first beer lovers so we are picky cider drinkers. Our problem with ciders is that we feel like they all taste the same even when they say they are all vastly different. Let me just say that Citizen Cider is a beer drinkers cider [they may or may not hate that I just said that] and each one tasted vastly different from the rest and I honestly liked each one and even loved a few. We always chose Citizen when we get cider at the store but usually just their flagship [which is amazing and we do get it very often] but we will for sure be venturing out and trying each and every one of theirs. They will also be on our "must stop while in Burlington" list from now on too!

Slept the entire time...

 

An open, family style tasting/restaurant room with some tables outside too.

 

We stayed the night at the Marriot [my dad travels for work and has points or else we'd be AirBnbing it] which by the way is an awesome location right next to Hotel Vermont on the water. On our way back to Rutland we stopped at the ReUse materials store on Pine St. [they have an actual store and a materials store] and found my dream sink for our new house. We also got all the hardware for our kitchen cabinets [$1 a piece I may add] and a few other things that would have cost us a couple hundred dollars brand new and instead cost us $20 and are exactly what I wanted. Below is our 1962 Kohler cast iron white enameled sink with drain tray that I love.

That's enough typing..below are some pictures from the weekend where we stopped at [in no particular order, just as I can remember them] Burlington Beer Co., Citizen Cider, Once Upon a Child Consignment shop, ate at American Flatbread, had a family run on the bike trail, and of course walked Church Street while eating pizza larger than our heads. Enjoy!


Burlington Beer Co. is a family favorite with tons of old school games that the boys love.

Finn pretending to be a beer maker - I have to brag that he knows the beer goes through a masher, aka the mash tun :)

Why We Transplants Love Rutland

I love lists so here's another one. It's an I love Rutland list similar to the one Steve Costello wrote that went viral a few months ago. Mine may not be as eloquent but here goes nothing.

 

 I love Rutland from the view of a transplant.

1. It's in Vermont. We love Vermont. Win win.

And now, in no specific order the rest of the list!

2. Downtown. To a native NYer it's quintessential VT with beautiful buildings. The businesses downtown have grown exponentially since we moved here 5 years ago and we try to frequent them as much as possible. It has everything you could want in a downtown and more.

3. Palms square cheese pizza extra crispy. Us NYers are picky pizza eaters and this is one of the best.

4. RRMC. It has provided my husband with a job that he loves. When we first moved here the HR dept was beyond helpful with helping us find housing and even helping me find a job. The hospital is a cornerstone of the community and just keeps getting better.

5. Roots the Restaurant Grilled Caesar Salad. I honestly dream about this salad daily it's so amazing. I am a vegetarian though and wacky salads are my thing, but then again so is ice cream and pizza. But this salad, yep, it's the best.

6. Hop n Moose. They may have beat us to the punch of being the first brewery in Rutland (owning a brewery is our pipe dream) but they have some stand out beers - my favorite is Head Doctor!

7. Dancing with the Rutland Stars. I may be biased since I'm on the committee but it is a fantastic event that raises funds for a fantastic organization (Kids on the Move). It is a sold out show that is guaranteed to entertain all!

8. Halloween parade. We've been going since before we had kids and it's easily the best parade we've ever been to.

9. Paramount Theatre. They have world class acts and each year is better than the last. I can't even begin to list all of the acts they've had that you wouldn't think would make it to little ole Rutland.

10. Friday night summer series. 3 Friday's in July Center Street is closed off and restaurants and bars open into the street and fantastic music acts perform. It's transformed over the years into more of an adult event but we take the kids down and have a quick bite and drink outside.

11. Art in the park. It's twice a year in Main Street park and all of the exhibitors are great. I've purchased some of my favorite jewelry there and have gone every year.

12. Killington summer concert series. Not the city but still Rutland County, this is a ton of fun and the kids love it since they can run around and dance and not bother anyone.

13. The Bakery. This addition to downtown has everything and the employees are amazing. Everything they make is sooo good and when I walk in every Monday the baristas always knows I need a red eye!

14. The parks. There are so many parks in Rutland and, at least for us, they are all in walking distance and our kids love them all.

15. Whites Pool. It's in the process of being rebuilt to open in 2017 and it's going to be like nothing else in Rutland. We took Finn there when he was a baby and it was always filled with kids and families and is just an all around great place.

16. Fruition Fineries and Raw Honey. My favorite dress and sweater come from Fruition and my favorite jeans from Raw Honey. Rebecca is beyond helpful whenever I'm in and always pulls exactly what I didn't know I wanted!

17. Rutland Rec Halloween 5k. So I kind of love Halloween especially now that we have kids and I can force my family to dress in ridiculous themed costumes. So this 5k is perfect and a ton of fun and a great course through the city.

18. Hops on Top. Again, I'm biased but I do have the backing of at least 500 people. A beer fest with a view and some of the best beers there are. It's seriously one of the best events in the area and is a step up for Rutland for sure. You will not want to miss it!

19. Veggie burgers at Table 24. Even if you aren't a vegetarian, these burgers are amazing. We travel a lot and have eaten our fair share of veggie burgers and nothing compares.

20. Hope. Super cheesy but the Young Professionals (I'm admittedly not a member of the official Rutland Young Professionals but this is directed at ALL YPs in the area) in Rutland have more hope and passion for our small city than anyone I know. They/we know how amazing Rutland is and want everyone else to feel it too. We know Rutland is kick ass, now everyone else needs to figure it out too!

Vermont Beer [Take 2]

Long Trail Brewery was our first Vermont Brewery experience when we moved here and has since become a staple on many weekends. We have watched Long Trail grow so much over the last few years and it just keeps getting better. It's always an experience whether we stop in for a drink or food too and summertime is by far our favorite time to go since it's one of the best outdoor spaces in the state!

They now have an outdoor patio where they serve food and cans of beer so you can casually hang out and walk down to the water. It's perfect for families so the kids can run around and play as you eat, making for a much less stressful dining situation. We'll be back there at least a few more time this summer since the boys loved it and I'm currently loving their Cranberry Gose...yum!

It should also be noted that it is now our family tradition to bring our newborn babies to Long Trail for our first family outing. Both boys started experiencing Long Trail at the rip ole age of 2 weeks!

Vermont Beer [Take 1]

Hops on Top - easily one of the best views in Rutland

Ok I may be biased since I'm on the Board of Directors and I helped coordinate the event, but Hops on Top may be one of the best events in Rutland! Not only does it bring a LARGE crowd and good beer, but it brings in a crowd that normally doesn't come to Rutland events which is exactly what our city needs.

There were some amazing breweries there like Rogue, 14th Star, Shipyard and so many more. We're planning a Vermont Breweries only Hops on Top for September 8 and I'm even more excited now to see how well it will go. Plus I'm super excited to not have to drive 2hrs for great beer and they will all be in one place too - win, win.