Take a Break from Winter—Get out in Burlington

With a population of close to forty thousand, the greater part of which is composed of college students, one thing is clear about Burlington—its people love to find and have a good time. This is an amazing town to be active in, make new friends, and see what the Great White North has to offer. Vermont is not as isolated and back-woods as many people would like to think. Mixed in with the natural splendor of the Green Mountain State, Burlington has evolved into a bustling hotspot for nightlife and all things fun. In this wonderful city of ours, a thriving community of life, culture, and entertainment is ever expanding and always hopping.
Take, for instance, Manhattan Pizza and Pub, one of the most fun yet underrated spots in the downtown area. While most people prefer the fame and flair of Nectar’s, Manhattan offers its own menagerie of live music in addition to delicious pizza slices. Open Mic Night occurs every Wednesday, and its popularity has only grown with each week that passes. On Saturday nights, when the music is fronted by acts scheduled to appear rather than composed of those artists who simply walk up to the microphone when the opportunity knocks, one is hard pressed to find a seat. Needless to say, it gets packed in Manhattan. There are also many chances to watch a skateboard or snowboard video premiere on certain nights, attracting an especially large crowd. If skating or music isn’t your thing, they also have a pool table, Big Buck Hunter, delicious local microbrewery selections, and some of the best pizza in Burlington. Whatever your preference in entertainment may be, Manhattan isn’t limited in its capacity to please the masses.
Manhattan’s might have a website which people can visit to figure out who’s playing when, but there’s another way the public can find out what’s going on there, as well as in all the other venues around Burlington. That way is through Broke In Burlington, a new networking organization determined to give the citizens of Burlington the best time they can afford. As the name suggests, Broke In Burlington is designed for those who don’t have a lot of cash to throw around. Headed by Brian Kwasnieski and Leslie Merinoff, former students of Champlain College and UVM, respectively, its popularity has grown exponentially since inception to the public eye in August of last year. Kwasnieski and Merinoff built the organization, which is virtually a business now, from the ground up. They are sponsored by several venerable liquor companies, such as Grey Goose and Southern Comfort, and the Broke Team, as they’re called, spreads the word on new promotions those companies might usher to the public. The Broke Team host events in various bars throughout Burlington, and Kwasnieski and Merinoff can be spotted at Nectar’s every Wednesday night for True-School Hip-Hop.
As February is here, Mardi Gras is only a couple weeks away, and that means the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade is close to rolling down Church Street. Magic Hat is celebrating its annual winter bash on February 27th this year, it and it sure to be the biggest parade yet. As this is the 15th year of the parade, Magic Hat has a few surprises in store, all of which they have divulged because the brewers are so excited about Mardi Gras. Music, games, a kids area where the little ones can have just as much fun as the adults (though under very different circumstances), a costume contest—the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade is one of the premiere events of the season. It symbolizes a return to life for the citizens of Burlington and beyond, thawing out the ice that has trapped the people for so long. It’s also working to promote the greater good, for all the profits made from the parade are in support of the Women’s Rape Crisis Center. Each necklace and mask purchased by parade-goers is given to WRCC, and last year they were able to raise almost $27,000. As this is the fifteenth year of the parade, attendance and profits are expected to break records.
One of the greatest things about covering these stories was getting to know the variety of people who want to get out and experience the best of what Burlington has to offer. Manhattan, for example, is a perfect mixing bowl for people of all ages to come and mingle, from families of four to young couples to a herd of college-aged skateboard fanatics. Magic Hat’s Mardi Gras Parade is one of the biggest events of the season, not only for the brewery but for Burlington itself. Magic Hat has become synonymous with Burlington, and the parade is an emblem of Burlington’s vibrant culture. Broke in Burlington definitely caters to the college crowd, but no one is barred from joining the Broke Team at any of the events they host or sponsor each week. Being on top of the best Burlington’s nightlife has to offer (at the most reasonable prices) is the Broke Team’s job, and they draw a large crowd no matter where they post for the evening.
There are plenty of other things to occupy one’s time with in this glorious gem of a small city, but these three places, events, and organizations are both ongoing and upcoming. Open Mic Night at Manhattan is a weekly event; Broke In Burlington has several events scheduled throughout the month; and the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade is an annual event, one not to be missed this February 27th. Whichever of these routes—but by no means are they the only ones—a person might choose, there will be no disappointment in the ensuing pleasure.
Anthony Carace