The Vermonter stops at the Brattleboro Train Station placing you steps away from food, drinks, arts and culture. Whether it’s brick oven pizza, local flair or delectable Mayan cuisine, there’s something for your tastes within walking distance of the train and our inn. (Want to drop off the bags or freshen up before dinner? Call us, we’ll pick you up from the train at no charge.) There’s always action in downtown Brattleboro, but for you city folks who want to reconnect with nature (or the slopes), taking the Vermonter in the winter is still a great option.

From when the snow begins to fall until spring, Burrows Sports in downtown Brattleboro rents snow shoes and cross country skis. The Retreat Grounds and Solar Hill are minutes away from downtown with entry to intermediate level trails. Ever been ice fishing before? The retreat meadows are prime fishing grounds once the ice is thick enough, or your brave enough. Even better, you can see it from our backyard! Want to take the Vermonter and still hit the big slopes? The Moover (a bus painted like a cow) takes free daily trips to Mount Snow from Brattleboro.

If you’re like me, you might just stay where it’s warm and watch the ice fishing from our sun porch with a good book or enjoy a great local beer at our pub. Either way, taking the Vermonter to Brattleboro is an easy and dependable way to take a winter trip. Call us for reservations and more info about taking the train to Brattleboro.  And remember, as always, we are happy to pick you up and drop you off at the station for no charge.  Hope to see you in Brattleboro this winter!

Many studios will have live demonstrations with their art and crafts for sale.

Hand made tiles, ceramics, fabrics and even cheese makers will be represented this year at the Putney Craft Tour as well.  Plus you can experience all this while driving casually through the beautiful country side of southern Vermont, along side rolling rivers and stream, through the green mountains.  It’s a great way to pick up some locally crafted gifts for the holidays while taking some time for yourself.

So if you are “turkeyed out” after Thanksgiving and have dropped after your Black Friday shopping, come rest with us here at our Vermont B&B and take a few days and reconnect before you head back to work on Monday.  And be sure to pick up the Putney Craft Tour Map, which we will of course have available for our guests.

The Putney Craft Tour is held Thanksgiving weekend each year, but the participating studios change annually. Be sure to check www.PutneyCrafts.com for the most recent listings.

The picturesque farm is surrounded by majestic mountains, the perfect backdrop for a special sleigh ride. Guests are taken on the farm’s private trails, groomed especially for the sleigh, through forest and snow covered fields. The scenery and peace of the woods, animal life, and trails takes one back to nostalgic times.

Friesians of Majesty can accommodate up to four or five adults on the sleigh. The sleigh rides are typically forty-five minutes long unless guests opt to stop for vistas or wildlife. Your traditional sleigh is an ornate vis-a-vis hitched to an elegant friesian pair. The farm also offers the option of a farm tour after a sleigh ride. The farm tour includes cookies, hot drinks, a guided tour of the facilities, meeting the horses and a chance to play with the foals born last spring.

Friesians of Majesty is the only farm of its kind in Vermont to offer the public unique equine experiences in the winter. They are located in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains on a 650-acre full-service breeding and training facility. They are also the largest friesian breeding farm in the US dedicated to the promotion and development of the friesian horse and friesian crosses as modern sporthorses.

Friesians of Majesty, 185 Maggie Ladd Road, P.O. Box 527, Townshend, VT 05353
www.friesiansofmajesty.com
Email: robertlabrie@friesiansofmajesty.com
Telephone: (802)365-7526

The Cotton Mill is an old mill in Brattleboro, Vermont that has been converted into studio space for artist and performers. The first weekend in December the Cotton Mill opens to the public with demonstrations and art for sale, just in time to pick up some great holiday gifts. In this quick video we take a look at some of the artist studios and offerings in the Cotton Mill during the 2009 open studio sale.

From their release:

Where can you go to see potters, glass blowers, circus performers, musicians, painters, candlemakers, jam makers, jewelers, booksellers, dancers and more all under one roof, all while you get your holiday shopping done?

Announcing the 13th Annual Cotton Mill Open Studio and Holiday Sale at the historic Cotton Mill building in Brattleboro,VT.

Admission and parking are free.

2011 Time & Dates:
Friday, December 2 – 10 am to 7 pm
Saturday, December 3 – 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday, December 4 – 10 am to 5 pm

Location:
76 Cotton Mill Hill – Brattleboro, VT

This once-a-year celebration features the work of many artists and artisans and promises something of interest for all ages. Walk away with handmade crafts, candles, candy, handmade jewelry, freshly made Jam, garden sculpture, cool books and so much more. Meet the artisans in their studios as you find beautifully handcrafted gifts for the holiday season.
Explore a diverse array of entertainment and artist demonstrations. There will be trapeze and dance, glassblowing, ceramics, woodworking, painting, film, a free raffle and more.

This once-a-year celebration features the work of many artists and artisans and promises something of interest for all ages. Explore a diverse array of entertainment and craft work, from live music, demos, trapeze and dance to blown glass, ceramics, woodworking, painting, film, bodyworks, toys, a free raffle and more. Meet the artisans in their studios as you find beautifully handcrafted gifts for the holiday season and enjoy live music, entertainment and demonstrations.

Even if you miss the open studio, since the space is not usually open to the public, many of the pieces of art you see in this video can be purchased at the shops downtown including Gallery in the Woods and The Artisan Design.

If you would like to contact the artists in this video directly please find their information below:

Natalie Blake Studios
802-254-9761

T. Breeze Verdant
Marquetry & Inlay
802-258-9820

Solinglass
802-251-0389

If you would like to contact any of the performers in this video please find their information below:

Luminz Dance Studio
802-254-9200

John Hughes Music

And for information on Brattleboro and the surrounding area, please keep an eye on our website InnBrattleboro.com or spend a night with us at our Brattleboro Vermont B&B. Thanks for watching!

We always describe the uniquely odd (in a good way) Brattleboro culture, but Twice Upon a Time makes the case more so than any other store. It’s not just merchandise, but keepsakes, antique furniture, jewelry, dishware, decor, clothes and “stuff” with a story, many of which came from the characters living here in southern Vermont. Vendors stalls line the isles with pieces from 1 to 100 years old. I can’t think of a better place to get a Halloween costume or a store that has such an incredible selection, anywhere, much less in downtown Brattleboro. Twice Upon A Time has giant hats for Sunday brunch (feel free to bring yours) and Fiesta Ware to match. The shelves are stocked with books, cowboy boots, kimonos, vintage ashtrays – a tough find even at the flea market.

We moved to Brattleboro to buy our inn, 40 Putney Road, after months of looking for a fun and interesting place to live. Twice Upon a Time says it all. Brattleboro’s eclectic culture can be seen all over downtown in the people, the home goods, the clothes, the shopping, the food, the books and the art and architecture. Twice Upon A Time is one of our favorite consignment shops…. in the lower 48!  Stop by downtown Brattleboro and see for yourself.

The main courses are served with a salad which is – or was in my case – almost too pretty to eat. It was a work of art with carved vegetable and a vinaigrette dressing I still remember fondly. We had a choice of beef, fish (I think it was halibut), scallops or rabbit. The food was incredible. I had the scallops which were perfectly done. Not too well done which is what I usually find is the problem with scallops. The reason there is no printed menu is that the menu is new every day.

Something that is different but very appealing is the open kitchen where you can see the meals being created by the chef and sous-chef. The single server is always a few feet away (because of the size of the place but that doesn’t mean that you’re under any pressure or scrutiny. The tiny restaurant is oak paneled and slate-floored and the tables sport silver cutlery, vintage dishes and flower vases.

The meal is not cheap, but it is such an experience that $11 appetizers, $40 entrees, and $5 desserts are definitely not out of line for the overall experience that this turned out to be. And somehow the handwritten bill (with calligraphy none the less) seemed to make the experience complete. Oh – by the way, they only take cash and checks.

There was beer which we didn’t have (I know, shocker!) and the wine list was reasonable with prices in the $30 to $100 range. The open kitchen and the fresh flowers and the intimacy of the small tables, bathed in golden lights gave the sense of being in a dinner theater setting – where you were part of the theater in a cozy, “I-belong-here” kind of manner.

TJ Buckleys is located at 132 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301-3275, You can call them at (802) 257-4922 and be sure to tell them that Tim and Amy from Forty Putney Road B&B sent you!

Downtown Brattleboro book stores all have their own niche and are still surviving after years of growing competition from larger, bigger budget stores. Thanks to a thriving interest in keeping it local and a large population of book enthusiast and authors, downtown Brattleboro book stores hold their ground. Some hold events, books signings and reading for all ages year round. Although each book store has its own personality, they all have a well read staff. Each store presents an enthusiastic staff, who in many cases (like Mystery on Main), have read almost every book in the store. This is what they do and they love it! These aren’t the people you want to play Trivia with, trust us. But they are the people to recommend the best books for recipes on a dime, DIY home insulating, Joe Gunther’s greatest adventure, social justice or natural birthing in your home. You name it, one of the downtown book stores carry it.

What’s your flavor? Not sure? Check out our book stores just a few blocks from our inn in downtown Brattleboro to find out for yourself.

The Book Cellar
120 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-6810

Everyone’s Books
25 Elliot Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-8160

Brattleboro Books
34-36 Elliot Street, Brattleboro (802) 257-7777

Mystery On Main
119 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 258-2211

Baskets Bookstore/Paperback Palace
48 Harmony Place, Brattleboro (802) 258-4980

If there are other book stores you think we should include, comment! We’d love the feedback.

While from the outside, the restaurant seems a bit bland, it’s menu is anything but. The menu includes something for every taste, from light to hearty dishes, mild to hot sauces, from vegan to meat options.

We have been to Three Stones on several occasions in the past few months and have been able to sample many of the selections on the small menu.

The main options include home made corn tortillas, prepared in your choice of 3 ways: Uah which is essentially cooked on a griddle, salbute is deep fried and panucho which is is stuffed with refried beans first and then and pan fried. The panucho is traditionally served at festivals with shredded chicken and red onions blanched in vinegar. Three Stones proudly offers the traditional style panucho, but also offers the options of chicken or pork cooked in achiote, garlic, and banana leaf or seasoned beef. The same choices are available for the salbute and uah tortillas.

Additionally on the menu you will find traditional empanadas (which were fabulous), tamales and the mayan specialty, onzicil (toasted and ground pumpkin seeds). Each of the entrees comes with a fresh salad and of course rice and beans.

For desert, try the chocolate cake with chili, called Boca Negra – spicy, unique and delicious. Just like the rest of the menu.

Entrees at Three Stones will run you about $12 – $15, and they have a small beer and wine selection as well (no liquor though, so Margaritas will have to be had elsewhere). Overall a couple should expect to spend about $50 for dinner with tax and tip.

In the nicer weather, Three Stones offers a cute outdoor deck for dining, covered with an awning and surrounded by a variety of pepper plants. Indoors you will find a small dining room with seating for about 30 and an even smaller bar. The decor is trendy and simple and compliments the menu and atmosphere well.

Three Stones is open from Wednesday – Saturday from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm. Reservations can be made by phone and credit cards are accepted. The restaurant is just about a 15 minute walk from our Vermont Inn, and on street parking is available as well if you drive. Either way, be sure to tell them you heard about them from Tim and Amy and be sure to try the Boca Negra!

Three Stones – Oxppel Tunich
Mexican Mayan Cocina
105 Canal Street
Brattleboro, VT
802.246.1035
info@3stonesrestaurant.com

Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner (call about brunch), the Fairway Tavern menu supplies the basics from burgers and apps to soups and salads. Gourmet options are available on the weekends ranging from duck to fillets as well as seafood and pasta options. Their menu is seasonal and frequently changes so call in advance to check out the latest selection. Great outside dining in Brattleboro is hard to find, but the scenic view and deck at the Fairway Tavern makes this dining spot one of our favs!

Looking for an event venue or a spot for a reception after your wedding at our inn?  The Fairway Tavern hosts group events, conferences and weddings on the beautiful groundsoverlooking the 18 hole golf course here in southern Vermont. Tents flank the rear of the historic pub building providing both covered and open, outside dining options. Ample parking for guests, members, buses and golf carts sit next to the facility as well as the check-in spot for 9 or 18 holes of picturesque golf in southern Vermont. The challenging and historic golf course is just another great excuse to head out to the Fairway Tavern when there’s warm weather. For more information about the Tavern or the course, call 802-254-9864. And check out our website for golf and lodging packages in southern Vermont.   We look forward to seeing you outside on the deck (and hopefully at our beautiful inn for a night or two as well!).

Downtown Brattleboro has fared well through the storm.   The high water was concentrated to the area surrounding the normally tranquil Whetstone brook that runs through the bottom of downtown.    The brook was running furiously, carrying water (and the occasional lawn chair) out to the Connecticut river.    Much like pouring water too fast into a funnel, water backed up and saturated much of Flat Street, soaking basements of the Latchis Hotel and Flat Street Brew Pub as well as the shoe department of Sams.

However, in true Vermont fashion it was amazing to see how fast things began to clear up and clean up after the storm had passed.   Just the next day the sun was out, it was a pleasant 70 degrees (as if the weather itself were apologizing) and the streets were filled with people eager to help these places back on their feet.  As those who have been to Brattleboro know, the terrain (built on a steep hill, where one street is 3 stories higher than the next) helped prevent major downtown damage.

Even today, just 5 days later, Sams is already reopened (and talking of some good sales for the weekend), the Latchis Hotel is repairing the utilities that were damaged in the water and even Flat Street Brewpub is hoping to be open on the upper level quickly.  Take a look at this photo gallery from just yesterday.

We write this post today to help squash the fears of many past, future and potential visitors who have been sweet enough to call, email and post to our Facebook page their concern for us and the Town of Brattleboro.  Despite the portrayal by the media that Brattleboro was completely devastated and even removed from the map by the storm, most of the town is doing well and all of the town continues to need your support.

Brattleboro is open for business and there are still dozens of great places to eat, pubs to crawl, galleries to peruse and shops to browse in our vibrant downtown.  This Friday is gallery walk (as is every First friday of the month) where shops, galleries and restaurants will be open late and music and art will fill the streets, bringing a sense of Brattleboro normalcy back to our resilient town.

The roads to Brattleboro are open and clear (exit 1, 2 or 3 off Route 91) and we invite you to come discover the little town that could.

Thank you for all of your messages and concern, it’s times like this that you remember why you became an innkeeper.  We appreciate all of the kind thoughts and look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Cheers,

Tim and Amy
Forty Putney Road B&B