Trattoria Delia Offers Romantic Dining For Valentines Day In Burlington, VT

If you are trying to decide on the perfect and romantic dining spot to take your loved one to for Valentines Day right here in Burlington, Trattoria Delia offers a unique and outstanding choice that will make your special someone very happy.

It starts with the cozy and relaxing romantic atmosphere of this authentic Italian restaurant, which is one of Vermont’s best. Although it is located on Saint Paul Street in a basement one block south of the City Hall park, and thus is a place you might walk right by, it surprisingly is actually a rather elaborate dining establishment once you enter through a heavy wooden door.

Trattoria Delia’s interesting decor is highlighted by delightful Italian music, Italian pottery, photographs which were taken in the “old country” and a magnificent fireplace made out of Vermont Panton stone.

High quality service is a major offering along with fantastic authentic cooked-to-order true-flavored Italian cuisine, which is a gastronomic journey based on traditional dishes from owner Thomas Delia’s family heritage in Oriolo, a small town in Calabria. Researching the recipes required numerous travels to Italy and assembling the dishes with the owner’s relatives’ input. These dishes have then been recreated using the finest imported ingredients together with fresh and wholesome locally grown foods.

Thomas and his wife, Lori, established this restaurant in 1993 in what had been the historic Vermont House, a turn of the century hotel. The interior was originally a working sugar house that was relocated to Burlington from New Hampshire.

Their extensive Italian wine list has been recognized by The Wine Spectator with an “Award of Excellence” since 1995. They also have an “Award of Distinction” from the Wine Enthusiast.

Experience these spectacular flavors of Italy at dinner served seven nights a week from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Start out with their always exceptional Antipastone, the house antipasti with a selection of meats, cheeses and bruschetta. For a main course, it will be difficult to choose between the various delicious pasta and other dishes.

Reservations several days in advance, accepted after 3:00 p.m. daily, are recommended, especially for an occasion such as Valentines Day, other holiday, birthday, anniversary or group get-together.

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Top 10 Best Selling Toys on Amazon.com for Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 is in the books and now retailers will have the rush of returns so people can get the gifts they really wanted.

If your kids still have a couple toys on their list, you might want to check online.

Here are the 10 best selling toys on Amazon.com for Christmas 2013:

10. Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit – This air-powered rocket is great for your elementary school-aged children. It does not require any fuel or batteries and can soar to heights of up to 100 feet.

9. Qwirkle Board Game – Qwirkle is a great board game that is fun and mind-stimulating for the whole family. It is perfect for ages six and up and has been given various awards from organizations such as Mensa and the National Parent’s Choice.

8. Crayola Marker Maker – This easy-to-use kit allows your children to create 16 markers of your own choosing, giving them a little scientific freedom in an accessible, safe, and fun package.

7. Snap Circuits – This toy is perfect for the engineer in your family. Suited for children 12 and up, Snap Circuits allows you to create your own electronics. It has the parts and instructions for creating a fire alarm, radio, doorbell, and more.

6. Spot It - The Spot It board game takes a new twist on the quintessential card-matching game. It comes with circular game pieces that with 50 variations in total and also includes various mini games that keep each game of Spot It different from the last.

5. LEGO Minecraft The Nether – This Minecraft LEGO recreation is perfect for the Minecraft lover in your family. Suitable for young children as well as old, the LEGO Minecraft The Nether is a sure way to please the LEGO lover in your family this holiday season.

4. Perplexus Maze Game – The Perplexus Maze Game is a game in which players must move a marble around an obstacle course inside a clear sphere. A unique take on the classic Labryinth game, Perplexus features a 3D experience that will not disappoint.

3. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker – VTech has developed a line of toys that allow both babies and toddlers to pay with because it can be used sitting or standing. Little ones can enjoy the toy on the floor, and as they grow the toy will still be a unique learning experience as they start walking with it.

2. Rainbow Loom - Rainbow Loom allows children to create their very own one-of-a-kind rubber bracelets. It is perfect for the constructive child in your family.

1. Cards Against Humanity – While the other toys on this list are suitable for children of most ages, Cards Against Humanity is not recommended for children under 17. This party game is sure to provide hours of hilarious entertainment for the older members of your family.

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5 Simple Ways to Relieve Holiday Stress at Home

The holidays are here, and with it can come unwanted stress. The good news is that there are simple ways that you can relieve stress from your own home. So when you start feeling overwhelmed from shopping, baking, cleaning and planning holiday parties, remember these tips to help you relieve some stress!

Set a Budget and Stick With It

Nothing stresses people out quicker than money. To be more accurate, it is the lack of money that stresses people. When it comes time to buying gifts this year, be sure to set yourself a reasonable budget. Determine how much you have and how much you are going to spend on the people for whom you need to buy gifts.

After setting a budget, remember to stick with it! After all, a budget is only as good as your ability to follow it.

Understand Your Limits

During the holidays, people love to give 110 percent. That being said, you also have to remember that everyone has limits, and you need to respect yours. By understanding your own limits, you can avoid reaching your breaking point.

When you become overrun by holiday tasks, ask others to lend a hand! It is the time of year for sharing, so share some of those responsibilities with others!

Try to Keep Things Small

At some point, everyone figured that the bigger their holiday party was, the more fun it was. The truth is that, the bigger the party, the more stress you are putting on yourself. Instead of trying to go all out this holiday season, try to keep your gatherings more intimate. Don’t worry about inviting all of your friends and every family member!

One year of not sending cards and spreading Christmas cheer is not going to ruin any of your relationships.

Don’t Become the “Yes” Man

Do not say, “Yes,” to every request that you get. During the holiday season, we tend to find ourselves saying, “Yes,” a lot more often than what we normally do. It is the holiday season, after all. However, saying, “Yes,” to every request that you get puts a lot of pressure on you, which raises your stress level. By turning down some commitments, you may find yourself with a little extra free time this holiday season.

Take Some Time to Listen to Music

There is nothing that is more relaxing than sitting back and listening to some music. It doesn’t have to be holiday music; it can be any kind of music that you find relaxing. Try setting up your own personal radio station on Rdio or Pandora. Listening to music while you are working or setting up a holiday party is a great way to stay relaxed and tension free.

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Pistou Restaurant Brings The Finest Parisian Cuisine To Burlington,Vt

Paris is world renowned as one of the world’s capitals of gastronomy. For centuries, people have traveled from near and far to sample the delights of Parisian cuisine. Vermonters are now lucky enough to have a restaurant right in the heart of Burlington where they can enjoy fine French food.

Pistou Restaurant offers Vermonters dining with French flair. The owners change their menus daily in order to best make use of what is locally available. The combination of French technique and fresh Vermont produce, meat and dairy products creates a truly delicious result.

Diners may choose from an a la carte menu with varied choices or sample the guided tasting menu where dishes are picked for them by Pistou’s chefs. A typical meal might begin with leeks in a delicate vinaigrette and garlic breadcrumbs or fire roasted beets with ricotta. After that, diners may choose to order steak tartare with fingerling potatoes or pork with polenta and mustard greens. Pistou also offers a selection of house made desserts and wine pairings.

Pistou also offers diners other dining options as well. The bar and lounge menu offers additional dishes to diners seated at the bar area or the high top table. Diners can expect such Parisian specialties as grilled octopus, a selection of cured meats and the opportunity to sample French cheeses. All food is offered with appropriate wines to help bring out the flavor even further.

The restaurant is also host to a very special Wednesday menu. Every single Wednesday, the owner seeks to bring Vermonters the chance to taste some of the new flavors of France and the French countryside. The Paris Sessions menu consists of a six course tasting menu arranged around the owner’s knowledge of French food. A recent menu began with peekytoe crab with sunchokes. The menu included coal roasted beets with marrow, scallops with celery root, squash gnocchi with radicchio, strip steak with eggplant and sugar roasted parsnip with hazelnut crumble.

Wine lovers can also flock to Pistou to find a carefully vetted wine list with an emphasis on French flavors and local growers. The owners provide guests with a selection of wines from many different regions of France including Corsica, Burgundy, the Loire Valley and the Rhone region.

Come visit Pistou. You’ll find a charming and elegant yet intimate taste of Paris right in the center of one of Vermont’s most exciting cities.

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Burlington’s Rainbow Institute Offers A Holistic Approach To Wellbeing

Whether you are a lifelong resident of Burlington, Vermont, or if you are new to the area, do not overlook the Rainbow Institute. It’s our very own unique and tranquil center for well-being, spiritual advancement, and conscious living. The Rainbow Institute is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

This healing and supportive center was founded on its guiding principals that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience and we must follow our own intuition to serve us on our personal path of growth, enlightenment and natural wellness. Here you will discover the many different modalities and teachers onsite, many of which are considered to be masters in their individual area of expertise.

If you ever have the chance to visit the space, don’t miss the opportunity to schedule a private appointment or attend a class or event. Their event schedule is packed with special offerings and classes that are sure to heighten your spirit and bring peace and joy to your day. Their current group class offerings include meditation, qigong, creative writing, reiki, nutrition and many other health and wellness classes. Some of the classes are free of charge or donation only. Their most up to date class schedule can be found on their website at www.rainbowinstitute.com.

The Rainbow Institute is also known for what it calls Intuitive Living Classes. These offerings include Soul Personal Development, Spiritual Healing, and a variety of specialty classes, such as; A Course in Miracles, Feminine Spirit of the Living, and Money is of the Soul. Private sessions are also available by appointment with any of the five practitioners onsite. They each offer a unique approach to healing using holistic methods. A private session can be made for an individual, couple or group and accommodations will be made whenever possible to meet your personal needs.

Within the center, there are also a wide variety of wellness books and retail available, including beautiful jewelry and eco-friendly gifts. Take some time from you busy day to browse the gift shop area and see what unique book or stone sparks your attention.

This local center is a wonderful place to visit to support your health and well-being. To learn more about all that the Rainbow Institute has to offer, you can visit them online at www.rainbowinstitute.com or call 1-802-671-4JOY.

Experience this special haven within Burlington, and you are sure to leave feeling renewed and rejuvenated.

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Fire Prevention Tips for Every Homeowner

As a homeowner, you will want to take the necessary steps in preventing a potential house fire. Fires can cause a great deal of damage not only to your property, but also to the many memories that you have made with your family in your home.

In addition, fires can be extremely dangerous for those who are in the house at the time that the fire starts. Every homeowner should take advantage of these fire prevention tips that will truly help you in preventing a fire within your home before it has the chance to start. Now you will have the peace of mind to know that you are safe in your own home.

Your Homes Electrical System

One of the most common ways that a house fire starts is from a faulty electrical system. Your electrical system should be checked by a professional annually to ensure that you are not experiencing any issues. Some things that will be checked on your electrical system include grounded receptacles, damaged wiring that may have been caused by pests chewing on it, circuit breaker damage, tripped fuses, power surges and more. By hiring a professional to look over your system regularly, you are preventing the risk of your system starting an accidental fire within your home.

HVAC Systems

Air conditioning and heating systems require semi-annual maintenance in order to ensure the safest home possible and to take the necessary steps in fire prevention. An overworked fan motor or a clogged filter can start a fire in just a matter of minutes. Air conditioning coils should be cleaned, filters should be changed and furnace burners should be cleaned before starting up the heat at the beginning of the winter season. Regular HVAC maintenance will help to prevent a fire from starting in your home.

Flammable Liquids

If you have any flammable liquids within your home, they should be stored in areas where there is no ignition source present. For example, you will not want to store paint cans, gasoline or other flammable materials near the stove, washing machine or dryer as this can start a fire easily. In addition to flammable liquids, it is important to keep your stove and other ignition starters clear of any garbage or debris such as paper which can catch on fire in just seconds.

Other fire prevention tips for every homeowner include proper maintenance of your fireplace, being careful when using space heaters, keeping your appliances clean and using caution when burning candles and oil lamps. Preventing a fire is simple when you take the proper steps for you and your homes ultimate safety.

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First Night Burlington Marks Its 28th Year This New Years Eve

First Night was introduced in Boston in 1976 and is now celebrated in more than 130 cities throughout the world. It is a one-day New Year’s Eve festival of the arts, is substance-free and features an unbelievable amount of entertainment including a vast number of singers, dancers, bands, a circus and other artists.

Burlington was the fifth city in the world to participate in the First Night concept. It has become Vermont’s largest one-day arts festival and provides an affordable New Year’s Eve celebration.

It is necessary to have a specific “First Night Button” to take part in the festivities. It admits you to all official events on a first-come first-served basis. There are more than 20 venues in downtown Burlington where activities and performances take place over a twelve hour period. The few exclusions which require an additional $4.00 ticket are the Circus Smirkus, Burlington Taiko, VYO and Bluegrass Gospel.

Regular Adult Buttons are $20.00 through December 30 and $30.00 on December 31. Kids Buttons for ages 3-12 are $5.00 every day. Kids under age 3 are free.

Parking and Shuttle: City-owned parking garages and meter parking are free after noon on December 31, and the overnight parking ban will be lifted on December 31. Or you can park free at the University of Vermont’s Gutterson Parking Garage from 11:00 a.m. on December 31 through 12:30 a.m. on January 1. Walk over to the Patrick Gym for shuttles that will pick up every 15 minutes. Drop off points along Main Street include the Flynn Center and Edmunds School.

Free with your First Night button is Cartoon Fest, 12 hours of classic Looney Tunes, at Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas from 12:00 Noon to 11:45 p.m. One of the most popular features of First Night, you take a seat with a beverage and popcorn and enjoy the show!

Christopher McBride is at Flynn Space from 10:00 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. In his fourth year at First Night, he will showcase his traditional sleight-of hand illusions. Video projection lets you enter a fascinating place of pure magic with a stage, lights, a pack of cards and more.

Circus Smirkus at the Memorial Auditorium from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. has a return of the big top when the young members of this Vermont-based, award-winning, internationally acclaimed youth arts organization perform aerial arts, wire walking, clowning, acrobatics and juggling.

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Top Tips To Help Burlington Residents Get Organized In 2014

The New Year will be here before we know it. That means that many of us will be making New Year’s resolutions. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get organized, then there are several things that you can do to meet this goal. Below are some tips for getting organized:

Set Small Goals

It is easier to break large projects into smaller goals. For example, if you want to organize all of your business files, then you can start by organizing one drawer at a time. You may also want to set a date for completing your goals. That will give you an incentive to stay on track.

De-Clutter Your Home

If you are like many people, then you probably have some items in your home that you probably do not need and no longer use. It will be a lot easier for you to get organized if you de-clutter your entire home. You should go through every room in your home and decide what you no longer need. You can sell the items that you do not need. You can also donate them to a charity.

Ask For Help

If you want to get your home organized faster, then you should not hesitate to ask for a family member or friend for help. You can even contact a professional to help you get organized. The National Association Of Professional Organizers has a list of compassionate and helpful organizers.

Schedule It

A calendar will make your life a lot less stressful. You should write down everything that you have to do. This includes things such as your work obligations, school events, exercise classes, birthdays and dates with your spouse. After you have written down everything that you have to do, you should schedule them on your calendar. It does not matter whether you use a paper calendar or an electronic organizer.

Keeping all of your important dates, appointments and events in one place is the most important thing. Multiple calendars do not work. It is always easier to keep up with things if you have them in one place.

Life will be a little easier if you are organized. Setting small goals, de-cluttering your home, creating a schedule and asking for help are some of the key things that you can do to get organized.

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The Very Merry Theatre Performs Year Round At Burlington’s 333 Stage

Burlington is a fantastic city full of things to do and see. While some residents love getting outside for hiking, biking or even camping, other residents love heading to the Very Merry Theatre. Though the acting group travels across the country, the group has its home base right in Burlington. The 333 Stage Performing Arts Studio in Old North End gives everyone the chance to see some of the best shows in the world without traveling to a big city like Los Angeles or New York City. Find out why some locals call this studio Burlington’s answer to Broadway with a trip to one of the numerous shows offered every year.

The Very Merry Theatre started life as a small group of devoted actors and producers who wanted to share their love of the stage with others. From its early roots as a performing arts group in Charlotte and Burlington to its current inception, fans know that these shows will touch their hearts. The group encourages young actors to find their own love of the stage, and many local schoolchildren audition for roles in upcoming productions every year. The Very Merry Theatre relies on the support of the community and the actors who come from local schools each year.

One of the best things about the Very Merry Theatre is that it offers productions on local elementary school stages every few months. In 2013 alone, fans had the chance to see several major productions of plays and musicals that they previously only saw on DVD or in a bigger city. In 2014, the Very Merry Theatre will showcase five big musicals and plays. Locals can enjoy seeing Jesus Christ Superstar, Frankenstein, Willy Wonka, Tom Sawyer or Annie. Those productions run through the end of May, and the Very Merry Theatre will then focus on preparing its actors for the summer season.

Located at 119 Spruce Street, the Very Merry Theatre sits right in the heart of the Old North End. Though it offers a few traveling shows that let kids and other actors experience life on the road, it also has its own 333 Stage Performing Arts Studio, which showcases a number of productions every year. The director of each production auditions children from local schools and surrounding communities, and some of those talented actors go on to do great things. Find out more with a ticket to one of the upcoming production this year.

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