Vietnam Restaurant is wedged into a rectangular complex along with Riverside Glass and the Pearl Street Pub at 137 Pearl Street in Essex Junction. I had passed the unassuming eatery on a number of occasions, but the only thing about it that I really noticed was its simple yet elegant sign, which proclaims in bold uppercase red letters on a white plastic background: VIETNAM RESTAURANT.

Before I had discovered the wonders of Vietnamese cuisine, the sign could have said “Equestrian Shoeshine” or “Christian Science Reading Room” for all it mattered to me. It was just another sign announcing the existence of just another shop on one of Rte. 15’s most strip-mall-glutted stretches. But that was before I had ever wandered into the world of Vietnamese food, a world lush with verdant fronds of cilantro and basil, a world peppered with briny fish sauce, tangy tamarinds, and searing chilis, a world in which the delicacies of a cow or a pig’s body seemed to multiply endlessly, as if our American palate had all but neglected the hidden treasures of our slaughtered livestock.

For those of you who may not know me, I am the technical services librarian at the library.

Throughout the semester I have sent out lists of new books to the faculty and staff, and I have been asked to write a piece on new books. This is the first, and hopefully not the last, new book column.
The library staff looks at possible books for purchase on a nearly daily basis, and we aim to add current, quality materials to the collection that will support the college community’s research needs.

With the grocery store magazines showing zoomed in shots of celebrity cellulite on sandy beaches, and stick-thin heiresses spending daddy’s money, it’s tough to have a firm grasp on what is healthy. A size four isn’t necessarily healthy, and a size ten isn’t always unhealthy. Healthy, as described by dictionary.com means “possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality.” Like that’s helpful! You mean, being healthy means enjoying good health? Gettouta town! See, not even the dictionary can define what it means to be healthy. I certainly can’t tell you what being healthy means for you; that’s something that a doctor or nutritionist can decide. I can, however, tell you what is unhealthy. Here are just five things that are unhealthy:

OK, babies, let’s get this tree decked, lit and it’s gonna be a hit— Tape Martha into a chair, feed her a shot, and let’s get busy.

This is going to be pretty expensive, but it’ll be worth it - but we won’t need any ornaments or tinsel, so that’s a savings-

Special events only come around so often, so a visit to a restaurant other than a Chinese joint, French fry heaven, or local diner was in order for my one-year anniversary with Josh. We had planned on going back to 158 Main, but they aren’t open on Tuesday evenings. After some consideration and everyone and their brother saying “Go to the Winding Brook Bistro!” we gave in.

After digging the car out of the snow, and making the drive up Route 100C, we were greeted by a slew of hostesses and a woodstove. It was a great way to begin the evening: a nice waitress, a warm dining room, jazz music playing softly over the surround sound stereos AND the choice to sit wherever we chose.

Imagine that you want to get ahold of a book – and not just any book, but a really old, obscure book that hasn’t been published since Calvin Coolidge was president. You’ve trawled bookstores, thrift stores, eBay – all to no avail. Well, if this book was published before 1923, there’s a website that might be able to help. I obtained a copy of this issue’s selection in just such a way, and, although this is called “From the Shelves,” I believe that the Internet has earned its stripes as a book resource. That, and “From the Shelves” was the title I came up with after the editor told me I couldn’t call this column “Kevin’s Discount Book Bucket,” which was my first choice.