From Kristina:

Greetings everyone!

Wow! I don't know if I can remember ever seeing such incredibly stunning fall foliage. I hope you are all enjoying it. If the trees aren't on fire where you are, come visit us in our neck of the woods - and of course have a meal at Claire's. :)

Music News: This week's Thursday music is Jeff Nicholson. He is a singer-songwriter from around Stowe parts. He has just released a CD which should be available at the show. You can hear some of his newly recorded tunes at www.jeffnich.com. Music starts at 7:30.

Also, we will be having Third Thursday acoustic music jams at Claire's beginning in November. They will be hosted and coordinated by the man behind the Greensboro Blues Jam Ted Donlon. So, all you musicians out there, get excited and come down and play with us.

Great news - the Highfields Institute benefit dinner at Claire's has sold out and has a waiting list! It should be a great night - diners will enjoy local food donated by local farmers and bakers and prepared by Claire's chef Steven Obranovich and great conversation with Bill McKibben. Although the dinner is full, you can still come out to hear Bill at the Hardwick Town House. He will speak from 5:30 to 6:30. This Wednesday, October 1. Contact the Highfields Institute for more information at 472-5138 or visit their website at www.highfieldsinstitute.org.

And, this is not to be missed - from the Galaxy Bookshop and Claire's:

Mad Farmer Poets
Tuesday, October 28 7:00 PM
At Claire's Restaurant

A celebration of farming and poetry! The Galaxy Bookshop and Claire's Restaurant invite you to join us for a special evening featuring some of the Hardwick area's own farmers, reading poems from Wendell Berry's new book, Mad Farmer Poems.

"During the otherwise quiet course of his life as a poet, Wendell Berry has become "mad" at what contemporary society has made of its land, its communities, and its past. This anger reaches its peak in the poems of the Mad Farmer, an open-ended sequence he's found himself impelled to continue against his better instincts. These poems can take the shape of manifestos, meditations, insults, Whitmanic fits and ravings--and are often funny in spite of themselves. This edition is illustrated with beautiful etchings by Abigail Rover. The book is a wonderful testimony to the power of anger and humor to bring even the most terrible consequences into a focus otherwise impossible to obtain."

Cooking on Main Street: For you vegetarians and even you omnivorians, Steven's Warm Greens, Grains, Seeds and Sprouts - all stuffed into some kind of vegetable (tomato, pepper, squash - depending on the night) and smothered with mozzerella cheese - is a must try dish. It has been getting rave reviews from some of our regulars who have it every time they come in! It's always a little different to keep things interesting.

That's all for now. We look forward to seeing you soon.

peace.

kristina