I made it back to Vermont this week, for the first time since I've been back east, which I guess really hasn't been that long. Route 89 is a long, lazy drive, but as soon as you pass Williston and you start cruising down the hill into the heart of Champlain Valley, you're home.

I headed up to BTV to catch a weekly dinner that my friends put together on Mondays and then meet up with some folks around Stowe and Waterbury the next day. I wasn't in town for long, but I had enough time to hit most of the good spots for at least a second and get at a sampling of the Queen City to get me by until I'm back in town (I didn't get to the Burton Bowl, which will have to wait until next week).

Every Monday night Family Dinner goes on in Burlington. There's a big crew that rotate in attendance based on schedules, but the recurring theme of each week is that the food is outstanding. Seriously, see picture below.

Steak Tartar = raw steak. Straight gourmet. Made by Derek and Graham and really delicious.

Even on a Monday, Burlington nights are pretty fun. College kids are back in town and were running around trying to locate fake ids and sneaking into bars.

This is one of the best and worst bars in BTV all in one. No night downtown is complete without it.

The next day I went and skated my favorite mini in Vermont with Ron and Zach from Rome. It may not look like the most awesome mini, but it is.

Ron "insert caption about feeble attempts" here.

Zach.

Early evening tailstall.