Stowe

Last week, a friend and I took the train up to Vermont to spend a long weekend. Staying in the town of Stowe, we made it there in time to enjoy the first substantial snowfall of the season.

The journey itself took up a large part of the trip. Intermittent cell phone service and spotty wifi meant that we sought much of our entertainment in books and passing scenery. Winter of the World felt appropriate for a number of reasons, and I periodically found myself lost in thought. Though the words were written to reflect a dark era of 20th Century history, they seemed all too relevant to our current one. And in the Northern Hemisphere at least, it is winter.

Our first stop was Big Picture Theater and Cafe in Waitsfield. Entering the alluringly ephemeral realm of local legends Bruce Sklar and Jeremy Hill's jazz duo, the music momentarily paused as Bruce came to the door to greet his daughter. Over dinner, I took in the singularity of the space. Tripling as a cafe, bar, and theater, it is truly unique.

The following morning, we wandered down to Stowe, re-charging at Black Cap Coffee & Beer (on coffee; beer to-go). We then meandered over to Cafe on Main for a delicious lunch before heading back. A lazy afternoon led to another evening of live music at Tap 25 Craft Beer, and a phenomenal meal at Plate. Live music in Vermont seems to be a thing.

On our last day there, we drove out to Morse Farm Ski Touring Center to cross-country ski. Although I hadn't been in over 20 years, I still vividly remembered a similar trip taken with my parents and brother. It's days like these I never forget.