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Sunset over Burlington Harbor

Today ·

The BTown Brief

Everything I made
for Burlington

A newsletter that got out of hand: an arcade, a live city guide, and a pile of free things for the people who live here. Start anywhere.

The Festival of Fools banner over Church Street at night, shops lit behind it

Open right now

— places

Live hours, patios, late-night kitchens

 Sun through a break in storm clouds over Lake Champlain

Right now

—

full forecast

 A street festival crowd under the trees, tents and a band down the block

Things to do

204+ ideas

the local's list

 A crowd under the string lights on Church Street

Tonight

— events

pulled from 26 sources

 People on the waterfront docks watching the sun set over Lake Champlain, a sailboat in the harbor

Sunset

—

scored forecast · where to watch

What are you
here for?

I want something to do.

What Nowone good answer, then put the phone down Events26 sources · one calendar Things To Do206+ · the local's list The Briefthe latest issue — what's on this week

I'm hungry.

Open Right Nowlive hours for 281 places Food & Drink Dealshappy hours, specials Small Bitesevery menu near Church Street Openings & Closingsevery entry sourced

What's it like out?

Burlington Weather & Lakewith Steve's read Tonight's Sunsetscored forecast Lake & Beachesswim statuses

What's the news?

The BriefMon & Fri · read the newsletter Burlington Pulseevery 20 min · local + national wire Since You Checkedwhat changed since your last visit Civic Meetingsagendas, packets, video News Quizdid you actually read this week's Brief? The Archivesfind the story you half-remember

What am I checking every day?

Morning

Weatherwith Steve's read The BriefMon & Fri — start with the newsletter Eventswhat's on today Things To Dothe local's list — pick one for today

Through the day

Burlington Pulseevery 20 min · local + national wire r/burlingtonsorted by new — what the town's saying What Nowone good answer, then put the phone down The arcadea daily game or two Dibshold your block of the city Church Street Skatereal downtown Burlington, in 3D

Evening

Open Right Nowlive hours — where to eat tonight BTown TVnightly · one curated page of video Pulse LIVEheadlines rolling on their own — lean back Lake Breaththe 8:02 · two minutes with the lake

I'm looking for my people.

The MeetupBtown Brief IRL · 600+ members Up For Itsay what you'd go to — five taps and a host picks it up Who's Playingfind a partner — tennis, pickleball, pickup Community Chatthe Telegram group Clubs & Groupsrun clubs, board games, book clubs

I want to play something.

On your phone

The arcadefree, no accounts Leaderboardsreset monthly · champions in the Brief Maple Scramblesixteen tiles, one sprint a day Church Street Skatereal downtown Burlington, in 3D

Out in the real world

Who's Playingfind a partner — tennis, pickleball, a run Dibsclaim a block of the real city Btown Challengeseat it, climb it, streak it — then prove it

We're hanging out — give us a game.

Table Talkprop a phone up at the table Stay Awhilespin, land, ask Maples to MaplesParty Mode — 3–4 phones, live Btown Partya whole room, one code

I'm new here — or my visitors are.

The Walking Tour14 stops · about 90 minutes Btown Out Loud49 stories · earbuds in, walk Burlington, Brieflya five-minute read Vermont Hobbies39 on-ramps

I need a job or an apartment.

Jobs This Week13 boards, one list Find an Apartmentevery property manager's email

It's evening. Wind me down.

Lake Breaththe 8:02 · two minutes with the lake BTown TVnightly · one curated page of video Pulse LIVEheadlines rolling on their own — lean back r/GoodBurlingtonthe good-news corner

I want to pitch in.

Buy me a coffeethe donation link — keeps all of this free Volunteerhelp this week, sized to your time Local Projectsother people's Burlington things Community Photossend one, it may run Community Playlistshare a song Caption Thisthe weekly caption contest — swipe or write

Who do I call for this?

Best of r/burlington232 answers — mechanics, plumbers, barbers, straight to the threads Find an Apartmentevery property manager's email Community Chatask a local right now

A few of my
favorites:

The ones I'd send you first. Keep scrolling right — there are more.

Everything
I made

77 pages and games, on ten shelves. If it isn't in a question above, it's here.

Right now

9
What NowThe anti-feed: one good answer, then put the phone down. Open Right NowLive hours for 281 places — patios, late-night kitchens. Events26 sources, one calendar — tonight, the weekend, beyond. Burlington Weather & LakeConditions, lake temps, can-I-swim — and Steve's read. Food & Drink DealsHappy hours, specials, the cheap-night standbys. Small BitesEvery menu near Church Street, one filterable list. Openings & ClosingsWhat just opened, what's gone — every entry sourced. Since You CheckedWhat changed since your last look: beaches, roads, agendas. Burlington PulseLocal headlines next to the national wire — and LIVE.

Evening

4
Tonight's SunsetA scored forecast, and where to watch it from. BTown TVOne curated page of video, nightly. Pulse LIVEHeadlines rolling on their own — the lean-back board. Lake BreathTwo minutes with the lake — the 8:02, together.

Go and do

7
Things To Do206+ — breweries, beaches, trails, the definitive top 100. Btown Out LoudEarbuds in — 49 stories the city tells you when you arrive. The Walking Tour1.7 miles, 14 stops, the history woven in. Lake & BeachesEvery swim spot, plus a 23-stop shore hunt. Vermont Hobbies39 on-ramps to what this place is built for. Btown ChallengesReal Burlington challenges — eat it, climb it, streak it. 🔷Dibs920 blocks. Stand in one, tap, it's yours.

At the table

4
🎡Stay Awhile273 questions worth staying at the table for. ☕Table TalkProp a phone up — same card on every phone. 🎪Btown PartyA whole room, one code — reveals land on the big screen. 🗳️Maples to Maples (Apples to Apples)One prompt, your best answer, the town votes weekly.

People

9
The MeetupBtown Brief IRL — showing up alone is normal here. Who's PlayingFind a partner, or the standing pickup game. Up For ItSay what you'd go to — five taps and a host picks it up. Community ChatThe Telegram group — there when you need it. Clubs & GroupsRun clubs, board games, book clubs, pickup. Community PhotosSend one in — it may run in the Brief. Community PlaylistShare a song, find Vermont artists. Local ProjectsOther people's Burlington things. Add yours. Caption ThisThe weekly caption contest — swipe or write.

Live here

7
Jobs This Week13 boards, one list — Mon · Wed · Fri. Find an ApartmentEvery property manager, contacts included. Civic MeetingsEvery public meeting — agendas, packets, video. Best of r/burlington232 settled arguments, linked to the threads. VolunteerHelp this week, sized to the time you've got. The Gift GuideEvery gift from a local shop or maker. 👕MerchBurlington shirts — the entire marketing budget.

Reading

5
The BriefThe newsletter itself — Mondays & Fridays, free. The ArchivesEvery issue ever written, searchable. Burlington, BrieflyThe city's whole story in five minutes. r/GoodBurlingtonThe good-news corner of Burlington Reddit. About MeIt really is just one guy. And the dog.

Daily puzzles

9
🟩BTown WordleA Burlington word every midnight. 🔠Maple Scramble16 tiles, one sprint, the same board for the whole town. 📍Where in BTown? (GeoGuessr)One photo, one guess, 74 spots. 🪜Trivia LadderOne wrong rung and you fall. 🗞️News QuizDid you actually read this week's Brief? 📰Real or FakeReal headline, or did we make it up? ⏳Earlier or LaterWhich moment in Burlington history came first? 📊Higher or LowerOne stat, then another — keep the streak. 🔢Rank What You KnowPut Burlington things in order. It isn't easy.

Arcade

9
🏃Church Street RunnersDodge dogs, grab creemees, down the Marketplace. 🗄️FILED!Survive the World's Tallest Filing Cabinet. 🐉Flappy ChampFlap Champ through the schooner sails. 🐦Champlain GliderRide the sunset across Vermont, outrun the night. 🍁Tap the Maple (Knife Hit)Tap taps into the maple — don't hit the taps. 🍦Creemee DropStack Vermont soft-serve to the sky. 🕳️Pothole PatrolPatch the streets before mud season wins. ☃️Snowball SlingerSling snowballs at squirrel forts in 3D. 🛹Church Street SkateSkate real downtown Burlington in 3D.

Board & card

14
🚣Four in a Rowboat (Connect 4)Line up four across the lake. ♛Queen City ChessPass the phone, or race a friend. 🔴Church Street CheckersOn the Marketplace bricks. No mercy. ⛵Battle on the Lake (Battleship)Hide your fleet on Champlain, sink theirs. 🃏Crazy Eights (Uno)Eights are wild on the Burlington deck. 👑Kings CornerShed your hand around City Hall Park. 🏔️Btown CribbageThe app does all the counting. 🌰Maple MancalaSow maple candies, capture the sweet side. 🁵Front Porch DominoesFirst to 100 wins the porch. ⭐North Star Hop (Chinese Checkers)Hop marbles under the northern lights. 🌳Sugarbush Squares (Dots & Boxes)Close a box, plant a maple, go again. 🍂Peak Foliage (Othello)Flip the forest green or red. 🔡Btown CrossingsOur own word-tile board — Church St doubles your word. 🏆The Leaderboards →Every game's best scores — reset monthly, champions in the Brief.

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