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Spring Is Here & the Maple Syrup Is Flowing!
Hello, Friends! There are so many things to enjoy about March. Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day. Did you celebrate? My snowdrops are in bloom, and the Vernal Equinox is coming up this Friday, March 20, which just happens to align with the annual Maple Open House weekend across the state of Vermont!
The Guide's Grab Bag
6 days ago1 min read


🍀Sláinte!🍀
Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, Friends! St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17, and yes, I celebrate that, too, because I celebrate all things! By the way, I know that “top o’ the morning to ya” is a cliche thing to say, but I’m corny and I think Irish dialects are fun (ask me in person, and I’ll demonstrate mine), so I can’t help myself! Please forgive me.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Mar 102 min read


The Inaugural Manchester Food & Wine Festival!
Hi, Friends! How many of you are looking forward to warmer weather this spring (the Vernal Equinox is March 20) and all the exciting events that come with it? I sure am! If you’re planning ahead for (or daydreaming about) this upcoming season, here’s a great idea for Memorial Day Weekend, the late spring respite that many view as the official start to summery weather.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Mar 33 min read


Supporting Children & Families in Southern Vermont
Hi, Friends. For many years now, my team has had the privilege of highlighting the work of the Stratton Community Foundation (SCF) across all our publications, most recently in Stratton Magazine Winter ‘26 when we introduced Meredith Morin, the new Executive Director, and shined a spotlight on one of its founders, Kimet Hand. It was an honor to meet both these women and share this connection with our readers.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Feb 243 min read


Award-winning Taste
Hey, Friends! Congratulations to Vermont’s own Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, which was recently designated the #2 Tasting Room in the United States by USA Today. This family-owned business operates several tasting rooms throughout the state, in Jeffersonville, Stowe, Burlington, Waterbury, and right here in Manchester. I had the pleasure of experiencing a tasting recently at the Manchester location, and it was clear to see why these spirits are indeed award-winning.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Feb 172 min read


For the Love of Chocolate
Hi, Friends! If you’re like me, you celebrate as many holidays and special occasions as possible. Most of them involve celebratory food of some kind (admittedly, this might be one the primary reasons I celebrate everything!) With Galentine’s Day & Valentine’s Day on the horizon for this weekend, I specifically have dessert on my mind, and that brought me back to our dessert feature in Manchester Life Magazine Holiday ‘25/Winter ‘26. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to sample any
The Guide's Grab Bag
Feb 102 min read


Date Night at Lola
Hi, Friends! This past Saturday, my husband and I found ourselves in the rare position of having a free night alone together. Time for a Date Night! We are always up for trying something new, and our culinary curiosity led us to Manchester.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Feb 33 min read


Something to Warm Your Heart
Hi, Friends! For the past several years, we have had the pleasure of celebrating Manchester Merriment and all it brings to this area over the holiday season. I was so happy to hear that one of Manchester Merriment’s anchor events, the Shires Holiday Inn Tours, just recently hit a fundraising milestone.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Jan 263 min read


Comfy Cozy
Hi, Friends! Today, I’m thinking back to 10 years ago when I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark with two of my best pals, Kim and Gina. The three of us were celebrating our 40th birthdays and we thought, “let’s go to Scandinavia in the winter time!” What can I say, tickets were on the cheaper side for that time of year! We traded the typical tropical beach celebration for a cozy, winter wonderland, and it did not disappoint.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Jan 202 min read


Beyond the Long Weekend
Hi, Friends. Each January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day arrives with a kind of quiet gravity — a pause in the bustle of winter that asks us to listen more closely to one of the most enduring voices in American history.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Jan 132 min read


Meet Jen & John Paterson
Hi, Friends! In our March 19, 2025 issue of The Guide, you met my colleague, John Paterson. As you now know, John and his wife, Jen Kane Paterson, are the founders of Green Mountain Media Group and now the proud owners of The Guide, Manchester Life Magazine, Stratton Magazine, and Vermont Magazine. Jen, John, and the team have spent the very beginning of 2026 digging into production and laying the groundwork for an exciting year to come!
The Guide's Grab Bag
Jan 61 min read


Auld Lang Syne
Hello, Friends. Last week, we shared a big announcement about our publications. In case you missed it, Jen Kane Paterson and John Paterson of Green Mountain Media Group are now the proud owners and stewards of VERMONT Magazine, Stratton Magazine, Manchester Life Magazine, and The Guide.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Dec 31, 20253 min read


A New Chapter
I’m a physician. And I can tell you that there is no greater compliment in life than for a patient to, literally, put their life and trust in your hands. It is the highest compliment – and of course, a great responsibility. In a way, being a publisher is very similar. It’s a great compliment that readers trust you to share the community’s stories accurately and with care. And it is an equally great compliment when advertisers trust you with their hard-earned (and often scar
The Guide's Grab Bag
Dec 22, 20255 min read


Holiday Sweet Tooth
Hi, Friends! Hanukkah is here! The first day of the Festival of Lights began on Sunday, December 14 at sundown. I didn’t grow up in a Jewish household, but I have enjoyed so much learning about Hanukkah traditions with my husband’s family, and one of my favorites is singing the Hebrew prayer while lighting the candles on the menorah each night. Baruch atah adonai…
The Guide's Grab Bag
Dec 16, 20253 min read


A Chat with Broadway Composer David Yazbek
Hi, Friends! Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting in on a chat between Tony Award® winning composer, David Yazbek, and Old Mill Road Media CEO and Publisher, Dr. Joshua Sherman. David is the composer of smash hit Broadway musicals like The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Tootsie, and The Band’s Visit, which won a whopping 10 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical and Best Score.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Dec 9, 20259 min read


Golden Jubilee
Hello, Friends! I’ve arrived at an important milestone in my life. This Sunday, December 7, is my birthday. I’ll be 50 years old.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Dec 2, 20253 min read


Happy Thanksgiving!
Gobble, Gobble, Friends! OOPS! Did something derail your Thanksgiving Day plans? Bad weather, flat tire, broken oven…whatever the culprit, if you’re finding yourself in a pickle, there are still some fantastic holiday meal options for you in Manchester and the surrounding area!
The Guide's Grab Bag
Nov 25, 20252 min read


Le Creuset: 100 Years of Culinary Heritage
World-renowned brand, Le Creuset, commemorates a century of design innovation and culinary expertise with its signature, colorful cast-iron cookware, widely regarded as a kitchen essential by both professional and amateur chefs across the globe.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Nov 24, 20257 min read


Manchester Merriment
Hi, Friends! Thanksgiving Day is next Thursday, November 27, and you all know what that means… Photos courtesy of the Manchester Business Association Manchester Merriment is almost here! Manchester’s season of festivities kicks off on November 29 with several events, including the Holiday Tree Lighting at Factory Point Green, which features caroling, Santa & Mrs. Claus, and sweet treats at the Manchester Visitor’s Center. The Annual Taconic Music Thanksgiving Concert is ea
The Guide's Grab Bag
Nov 18, 20251 min read


‘Tis the Season
It’s also the time when our holiday magazines start popping up in your mailboxes, at your local shops and libraries, and all around the Shires and Mountain Towns! It’s just in time to start getting excited about all the festivities to come, no matter how you celebrate.
The Guide's Grab Bag
Nov 11, 20251 min read

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The Vermont News Guide, originally launched in 1954 as The Shopping Guide, was then called, “THE GUIDE", and most recently, The Vermont News Guide. It is now being rebranded (again) as “The Guide” and serves as the weekly digital e-blast for Manchester Life Magazine.
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