Carve takes center stage as an exciting new fine dining restaurant in Stratton Village. STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNERPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CARVE In the heart of Stratton Village, an intriguing new culinary gem beckons discerning travelers and local residents looking to enjoy a taste of the good life. Open since December 2023, Carve is an upscale steakhouse that offers elegant dining and après ski fare in a welcoming atmosphere. Emerging after the closure of Stratton Village’s beloved fine dining establishment, Verde, Carve is poised to elevate the culinary landscape at Stratton Mountain Resort. Res ..read more

Bennington County Habitat for Humanity builds homes,  stability, and strength for Southern Vermont families. STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNERPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BENNINGTON COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY It’s a crisp and bright afternoon in Manchester, and a crowd has gathered in front of a beautiful home on Jennifer Lane for an inspiring home dedication ceremony. A closely-knit family of four stands next to their newly-built house, grateful to be welcomed in by their friends, their loved ones, and the volunteers and staff members from Bennington County Habitat for Humanity. It’s the 34th home that ..read more

World Champion freeskier and Stratton Mountain School alumnus, Mac Forehand,  speaks on his gravity-defying stunts,  passion for freeskiing,  and deep ties to Stratton.  STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY RED BULL In the world of freeskiing, few names resonate as profoundly as Mac Forehand’s. His journey from a young, emergent skier to a respected World Champion is an inspiring tale of heartfelt dedication and indomitable spirit. Forehand, a Connecticut native, first found his calling in the snowy mountains of Vermont. His early years on the slopes at Stratton Mo ..read more

STORY BY NIKI CONTEPHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXANDER VINCENT If there ever was a project that felt like home to me, this was it. The house I grew up in (for the first 18 years of my life) had an eerily similar layout to the one my clients had just purchased. Built-in the 1980s, it was a contemporary style A frame with the same cedar colored wood siding, the same brown casement windows, and the same great room setup. It was all so familiar – and clearly needed a lot of updating. Luckily for me, my clients had some great ideas about what they wanted to accomplish, and they wanted to touch every single s ..read more

STORY BY MEGAN DEMARESTPHOTOGRAPHY CRAIG LIGHT Watson Wheeler Cider in Shaftsbury combines a generational history of hard cider-making with a hip, refined design, and a strong foundation for the future of their business. Cider making is a long-held tradition, not only in Vermont, but all over the world where apple trees grow. The history of recorded cider making traces back to the Roman era, circa 55 BCE. Apple trees grew all over Asia and Europe, and eventually the seeds traveled across the ocean to the new colonies. In colonial America, cider was often a safer alternative to water, which co ..read more

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNERPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY VON BARGEN’S JEWELRY Von Bargen’s Jewelry offers beautiful, timeless pieces and expert style recommendations in the heart of Stratton Village A Holiday trip to Stratton Mountain Resort doesn’t just provide an opportunity to enjoy incredible winter recreation – it also offers a chance to explore the intriguing jewelry pieces at Von Bargen’s Jewelry. In the center of Stratton Village, Von Bargen’s stands at the intersection of quality craftsmanship, creativity, and fashionable finery. Founded in Southern Vermont, they have earned a stellar reputation ..read more

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER PHOTOGRAPHY CRAIG LIGHT & COURTESY ARMSTRONG FARM The owners of the beloved Armstrong Farm farmstand in Pownal share how their colorful and distinctive gourds are grown. On Route 7, just south of Bennington in Pownal, the Armstrong Farm farmstand holds a special place in the hearts of many visitors and lifelong Vermonters—especially during the height of the Fall season. The vibrant foliage on the surrounding trees creates a breathtaking backdrop behind the on-site shop, which is well-stocked with maple syrup, maple cream, and other Vermont-made products. A gently-s ..read more

World Championship Freestyle Skier Avital Carroll and her family members reflect on the pivotal role that Stratton played in her athletic journey When Avital Carroll claimed her well-deserved Bronze Medal in Moguls at the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia, her mother, Deborah Shimko, was standing close by and proudly watching. It was a hard-earned personal triumph that was decades in the making, and the years that Carroll and her family spent at Stratton played a pivotal role in her athletic journey. Born Avital Shimko, Carroll began training at ..read more

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNERPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY SEESAW’S LODGE Five years after the grand reopening of Seesaw’s Lodge, the owners share how they preserved its magical atmosphere while building their beautiful new vision Strolling through the grounds of Seesaw’s Lodge, the scenery and ambience is absolutely remarkable. It’s easy to see why the gorgeous destination lodge’s namesake, Ivan Sesow, chose to open the Wonder View Log Pavilion there in 1924. Looking southward, picturesque mountain vistas stretch as far as the eye can see, conjuring feelings of timeless romance. The rapturous elation insp ..read more

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER Lyman Orton partners with Bennington Museum and Southern Vermont Arts Center with a magnificent exhibition of Vermont art Lyman Orton, pictured in 2022, with a selection of the art of Vermont he has collected since the mid-1970s. The Orton Collection includes works of art by artists, men and women who resided in the state, or by seasonal painters. Works date from the mid-19th century throughout the 20th century. The first large public showing of part of this private collection is slated for July through October 2023 at Bennington Museum and Southern Vermont Arts Center ..read more