Burlington

Seen (and overheard) about town today… A murmuration of joggers. A homeless man with an enormous bag of cans and bottles. He was walking up College Street and the only way he could keep the bag from dragging on the sidewalk was to hold it with his arms fully extended, elbows locked, above his head. A woman breaking up with her boyfriend over the telephone, at high volume, with a Bluetooth headset. ... Read more …

Seen about town today… Here’s the quote in context, from an interview quoted in The New Yorker: “Bosch and Brueghel were ahead of their time. They were fighting against enormous odds to make statements that might be seen as sinful. Looking at their pictures, I see these brown and red tones that seem to evoke history and madness at the same time, and I want to commend them for taking this plunge into madness. ... Read more …

Seen about town today… A fellow on UVM campus all decked out in lederhosen and a Tyrolian hat. I guess it must be October Oktober. One of the biggest red-shouldered hawks I’ve ever seen, swooping over University Heights. A Wednesday Addams doppelganger in Bailey-Howe Library. And… Forgive me for getting sappy about such things, but this evening the rising moon over the Green Mountains was so beautiful, and the sunset behind the Adirondacks across the lake was so beautiful, I got choked up. ... Read more …

Some graffiti seen about town today…

Seen and heard about town today… Tee shirts: I run my world I’m nobody. Who are YOU? The future is FEMALE A young woman who might have passed for a Hemingway grand-daughter, sitting at a sidewalk cafe. She drums the table and hollers “Where’s my poutine? Where’s MAH POOOTEEEEEN?” A fellow about my age dove on a cigarette butt the way a seagull might dive on a french fry. He snatched it up, inspected it carefully, grumbled, and tossed it aside. ... Read more …

Seen and heard about town today… Overheard at the Art Hop: “I don’t think they have any venues, just, like, places.” A nest of bees in a rotted out railroad tie in front of the Maltex Building. Best of show (IMHO): Two paintings leaning against the wall in Linda Jones’ studio—“Fungus Tree” and “Sticks”, both from 2010. An unusually large number of cute babies (I’m such a sucker for babies). ... Read more …

Seen about town today… An elderly couple: Wife: We need to move the truck, but I don’t know how we’ll find a parking spot. Where will we find a parking spot? We have to move the truck or we’ll get a ticket. Husband: Honey, we don’t have a truck. A young woman wearing a sweatshirt. There’s a picture of a golden trophy cup, with shining rays. In big bold letters, the caption: ... Read more …

Seen about town today… A couple in City Hall Park, dancing without any music. (I don’t know how to identify it, but there was a skip and a spin and holding of hands. Hank Dearden III would know.) A man with matted hair wearing bright yellow pants that might have been painted on. An old fellow, with a cane and about six teeth. He was bent over so far his beard was pressed against his sternum. ... Read more …

Seen about town today…

Seen about town today (well, OK, Essex)… A fellow driving a grey Nissan with the windows rolled down. He hangs his left arm out the window. On his forearm a prominent tattoo in large ornate letters… V O L K S W A G E N