By James Kent RUTLAND CITY—Not even the rain on a drizzly Tuesday morning could dampen the mood of the small crowd gathered at 76 Baxter Street, a once-condemned property in Rutland City. This day was one of celebration. Collaborative efforts between multiple community, city, and state officials, led by local developer Stephen Box, have transformed…

“Wicked,” the global musical sensation based on author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, arrives in theaters some 20 years after its Broadway debut. Even if you haven’t seen the musical, you know about it, and chances are, you knew this movie was coming out around Thanksgiving. It would be near impossible not to know because the…

By James Kent Walter and Lynn Manney, owners of Mendon’s Maple Sugar & Vermont Spice and Rutland’s Jones' Donuts, like to go out to eat on Monday nights. There’s only one problem: a lack of options in downtown Rutland. Some restaurants are open in Rutland on Monday evenings, but not enough. The Manneys devised a…

By James Kent The Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) will brighten the holiday season with its beloved Holiday Pops concert series on Dec. 8 from 3-5 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 30 Center St., in Rutland. This cherished annual tradition will feature the VSO orchestra alongside its 70-voice chorus, delivering a blend of sacred holiday classics,…

The Town Hall theater in Middlebury was the happening scene for ski and snowboard enthusiasts of all ages on Wednesday, Nov. 20, for a special roadshow screening of “Warren Miller’s 75.” Now, if you’re like me-a person who gets queasy the moment I step off a ski lift, or if  the mere mention of the…

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about “The Apprentice,” where actor Sebastian Stan had to put on the mask of an egomaniac for two hours. Here I am, a couple of weeks later, reviewing another film where Sebastian Stan has to wear a mask of sorts. This time around, the film, "A Different Man,"…

The smash Broadway musical “Wicked” makes its long-awaited film debut in movie theaters this weekend. The film, which stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, premieres in two local area cinemas. The Woodstock Town Hall Theater begins showing “Wicked” on Saturday, Nov 23., with a special 11:30 a.m. show, including a costume…

By James Kent RUTLAND—On Saturday evening, Nov. 16, the place to be was at The Paramount Theatre. For those in attendance at the sold-out performance of the VSO’s Jukebox Quartet, the vibe was one of a secret club that you felt honored to be a part of, for this was no ordinary concert, not even…

By James Kent There is such an excitement and enthusiasm to Matt LaRocca’s voice that after speaking with him for a few minutes, one can’t escape the feeling that they know him, have been friends for years, and can’t wait to hang out and talk again. LaRocca curates The Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s (VSO) Jukebox series,…

By James Kent Anora is an exotic dancer at a Manhattan strip club. She dabbles in sex work on the side if the money’s right, and she’s interested enough in the man. At the club, she meets a young, immature son of a Russian oligarch. Anora, who goes by Ani, gets the assignment because she…

By James Kent A day of action is planned to support nurses at Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC). The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 6, which represents the nurses, has stated that it’s in contract negotiations with the hospital nurses ahead of their ongoing negotiations with RRMC.  The event will be held…

By James Kent Hair stylist and manager Katelyn Stewart and owner Peggy Campney moved their thriving hair salon and boutique from Ludlow to Killington last year after the July 2023 floods made it impossible for their business to continue in their current location. When the opportunity presented itself to Stewart and Campney, they exchanged one…

There is a moment that comes in the second half of Iranian film director Ali Abbasi’s film, “The Apprentice,” or as I call it, “Trump: The Prequel,” where Donald Trump, played by actor Sebastian Stan, has his manhood called into question by his wife Ivana, played by Maria Bakalova. The Don, hopped up on too…

By James Kent By the time comedian Nurse Blake arrives in Rutland for his Nov. 21 performance at the Paramount Theatre, he’ll have performed nearly 180 shows of his “Shock Advised Comedy Tour.” The tour, which began in 2023 and has taken Nurse Blake around the country and to places as far away as Australia…

Ellen Kuras’ film reminds that someone higher up holds the strings to freedom of the press. This past week, two billionaires, who also own two of the most influential newspapers in the United States, showed that money can buy many things, but it can’t buy courage. The Washington Post’s motto is “Democracy Dies in the…