Expert: David Beckett - 8/28/2006

Question
I grew up in Brooklyn, lived in Boston, Montreal, Pittsburgh and for the last 20 years in ex-urbia Sparta, N.J. I thrive on beautiful nature and am an artist who loves museums, concerts etc. I get into NYC a few times a month and use it for just that. My husband would like to get out of the"rat race" and being a native Montrealer he loves Vermont. I have a good feeling for Vermont too but wonder if I'll find enough cultural stimulation. Thanks...
                                       Linda

Answer
Hi Linda!

You've asked a terrific question. The short answer is that yes, if you move here, even though we're not Boston, Brooklyn or Montreal, I think you'll find plenty of arts and culture here. Your love of Nature suggests you'll be happy here too.

Way back in 1988, Burlington won an award from The United States Conference of Mayors. The award was a tie for first place for cities under 100,000 which made the arts and culture available to ordinary people. One of the striking things about this our mayor was neither a Democrat or a Republican - yet Burlington got the nod from all the other mayors.

Since that time, Burlington has continued to invest heavily in the arts - and in nature too. Here are a few examples: The new Waterfront Theatre, an intimate new venue for stage plays right near Waterfont Park, The Burlington Bike Path and Colchester Causeway - and The (recently expanded) Flynn Center For The Performing Arts.

The South End Art Hop, Flynnspace, (our recently added 150 seat modular black-box theatre which offers theatre and live music) The Firehouse Gallery on Church Street (which itself won The Great American Main Street Award) which is full of sidewalk cafes and restaurants.

-Boston is 3.5 hours by car
-Montreal is well under 2 hours - the scenic route, through The Champlain Islands
-Jet Blue flies direct to NYC

I could go on and on and on, but let me share some links with you in the hope you'll come visit soon!
Let me know ehen you're coming to visit or relocate. I'd love to show you around!
David Beckett
david@askdavidbeckett.com
1 802 578 6361


www.flynncenter.org
http://www.burlingtoncityarts.com/
www.discoverjazz.com
http://www.art-hop.com/nonflash/get_hopping.html
http://www.uvm.edu/~fleming/

And here's a list of awards from recent years which should give you a sense of the thriving arts and culture environment here - as well as our outdoor recreation and natural stewardship!

“The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America”: “One of America’s Top 10 Hippest Arts Towns”

Author John Villani: “One of the 100 Best Art Towns In America”

Inc.com: The Sixth-Best Small City for Doing Business (25th Best Overall)



Inc. magazine: One of the top 10 best small cities in which to do business

National Geographic Traveler magazine: Number six in the world for Destination Stewardship

Primacy Relocation: One of the best small-market cities for relocating

Morgan Quinto Press: “Second smartest city in the country”
2003

Men’s Journal magazine: The Northeast’s “Best place to live”

National Geographic Traveler magazine: The “Perfect small city”

Runner's World magazine: Host to one of America’s Top 10 Marathons

SELF magazine: The Healthiest City in America
2002

Job-seeker Web site monster.com: One of America’s best places to live 2001

Zero Population Growth: America’s most “Child-Friendly City” 2000

Maturity magazine: One of America’s “50 Best Places to Live”

Health magazine: One of America’s “10 Fittest Cities for Women” 1999

The Arts & Entertainment Network: Number One in “Top 10 Cities to Have it All”

Worldwide ERC & Primacy Relocation: “One of the Best Cities for Relocating Families”
2004

“Princeton Review: The Best Colleges”: One of the “10 College Towns Worth a Visit”

Outdoor Explorer magazine: Number One for “Families That Love Outdoor Sports”  1998

U.S. News & World Report: Discover Jazz Festival “One Of The 10 Best Festivals In The Country”

Walking Magazine: “One of 15 Best Walking Cities in America” 1997

Parenting magazine: “One Of 10 Great Places To Raise A Family”

U.S. Conference of Mayors: “One of the 25 Most Livable Cities in America” (populations under 100,000)

National Trust for Historic Preservation: “Great American Main Street Award”

Utne Reader: “One of America’s 10 Most Enlightened Towns”
1996

Child magazine: Vermont - “Third-Best State in the Nation to Raise Fit Kids”

New Choices magazine: One Of America’s Seven Best Retirement Cities

And Linda - Please let me know if you'd like to see what's in the local MLS. I can send you a single link which shows you data and photos of everything every R.E. office has on the market in whatever price range you're curious about. This info isn't available to the public in this format on the www.

Regards,
David Beckett