It’s proving ever more challenging to drag a group of people into a movie theater to see a film that isn’t either a children’s movie translation of a video game, a Disney reboot of an animated classic that was better off the first time around, or the latest Marvel retread. But if there was a…

By James Kent RUTLAND—When Long Trail School junior Allston Kent told his dad the date of his annual school prom, his father knew it was time to visit the twins in downtown Rutland. The twins, of course, are the second-generation owners of McNeil & Reedy, Jim and John McNeil. McNeil & Reedy is a men’s…

By James Kent What began as a cozy wine-and-charcuterie hideaway tucked inside the Spa at the Woods building has blossomed into one of Killington’s most exciting new dining experiences. Since its opening in November 2024, the Killington Café & Wine Bar has steadily evolved its menu from simple small bites to elevated but approachable cuisine…

Maxie’s Deli at 93 State St. in Rutland is the place to go for subs when looking for a stacked sandwich at a fair price.  On this evening, sub-making gurus Aiden Farrell and Chris Wideawake stood ready to make two large steak-and-cheeses and a large spicy turkey sub for a hungry customer. Maxie’s is a…

Val Kilmer (December 31, 1959- April 1, 2025) is gone. While celebrities pass on, as do we all, sometimes a loss hits home harder than others. Why? It’s difficult to say. But for this filmgoer of a certain age, Kilmer was a part of that '80s experience. He left an impression, and although his health…

By James Kent Human rights, supporting veterans, free speech, democratic normalcy, defending the U.S. Constitution, rebuking the dismantling of essential federal services and programs, and sounding the alarm of a tariff policy that over two days destroyed many Americans’ retirement and college savings programs. On Saturday, April 5, an estimated 5 million Americans joined in…

By James Kent RUTLAND—On a night when earlier in the day the Vermont Symphony Orchestra announced its federal funding had been eliminated, the VSO’s Jukebox Quartet proved why music and art matter and why losing it would be a profound loss to American culture and society no billionaire can affix a price tag to. An…

By James Kent RUTLAND — Students at three Rutland-area schools will get a firsthand look—and listen—at the joy of live music when the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s Musicians in Schools program visits Rutland Northeast Primary School, Rutland Northwest Primary School, and Rutland Intermediate School on Friday, April 18. These special performances will feature the VSO’s brass…

By James Kent Saturday, April 12—RUTLAND — For music lovers, vinyl collectors, and early risers alike, Record Store Day 2025 is more than a Saturday—it’s a celebration. This year, it lands on Saturday, April 12, and downtown Rutland’s Mountain Music, located at 5 Center St., will open its doors at 8 a.m. sharp to welcome…

A friend of mine once said that shows like “Reacher” are "Doritos shows." You know, junk food that you can’t help but keep digging into the bag, even though you know you’re full, and all you’re eating is empty calories. Amazon Prime’s hit series “Reacher” resembles a bag of Doritos. Unfortunately, as Season 3 of…

Do you have your tickets yet for the hottest heavy metal concert of the season? VSO bad boy Matt LaRocca has assembled the formidable foursome, the Jukebox Quartet, for another go-around of rock-inspired musical entertainment. Who said classical music wasn’t kick ass? Well, it is, and if you find yourself in downtown Rutland on Friday,…

By James Kent If you found yourself at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland last Friday evening (March 28), you don’t need to read these words to know what a special time it was. For those who couldn’t make it out to see the Banjo Hall of Fame’s newest member Noam Pikelny put on a 90-minute…

By James Kent No adult enjoys hitting those milestone birthdays, and when Emmy-Award-winning actor Hank Azaria saw his 60th birthday approaching last year, he opted to do something to cheer himself up. Calling it a “gift of joy” to himself and his friends, Azaria decided to throw a birthday celebration. As part of this occasion,…

If you haven’t watched either season of AppleTV+’s “Severance,” this review probably isn’t for you. Let this serve as a warning and opportunity: If you haven’t yet watched “Severance,” why on earth would you want to read on and spoil the fun? If you haven’t dipped into the wild world of “Severance,” with its second…

“One of Them Days” is the first theatrical R-rated female-driven Black comedy since 2017’s “Girls Trip,” and that is a shocking statistic. Released in theaters in mid-January of this year, “One of Them Days” was a modest hit, making $49 million off a budget of $14 million. The movie’s high-concept premise, two friends/roommates have just…