Category Archives: People in the News

Where the focus is on individual Bricklynites, including Gloria Vanderbrick’s “People in the News” articles and interviews.

“Pastries by Patsy,” a New French-Style Bakery / Café, Now Open Downtown

Updated: October 26, 2023

by Gloria Vanderbrick, People in the News Correspondent.

A huge crowd of Bricklynites came to celebrate the opening of “Pastries by Patsy” in front of the Southeast Corner Building downtown today.

A crowd gathered outside the Southeast Corner Building, now the ground floor home of Pastries by Patsy. Speakers holding croissants at the opening day ceremonies included, from left to right: Bill Tiler French of the Bricklyn Alliance Française; Tom Brickorti, CEO of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce; Patsy Brickerson, avatar of the real Patsy; and Hilma Plater-Zybrick, President of the Federal Council.

The new store replaces a pizza shop, and adds a touch of “le français au centre-ville,” as Bill Tiler French, board member of Bricklyn’s chapter of The Alliance Française, put it.

Photo of the real Patsy on opening day of her café. Because of privacy concerns, any Outlander in Bricklyn (including Outlanders who own businesses in Bricklyn), must have their images digitally altered.

The real Patsy was in attendance for the festivities, along with her Bricklyn avatar, Patsy Brickerson. The real Patsy was thrilled, but stunned, by the number of Bricklynites cheering on her new café.

“C’est incroyable de voir autant d’habitants de Bricklyn ici aujourd’hui. Nous allons faire de notre mieux pour élargir la variété des pâtisseries disponibles, et nous aurons aussi notre propre version des beignets de Bricklyn!”

Michel Tiler Brioche, rumored to be under consideration for the position of sous-chef at Patsy’s. Some say he looks a lot like the Muppets’ “Swedish Chef”?

Et la vraie Patsy d’ajouter : “Je vais aussi avoir besoin d’embaucher un sous-chef très rapidement.”

Translation: “Its incredible to see so many Bricklynites here today. We’re going to do our best to expand the variety of pastries available, and will also have our own special take on Bricklyn’s time-honored donuts.” As the real Patsy added, “I’m also going to need to hire a sous-chef very quickly.”

📍Editor’s Note: Bricklyn’s Avatar Law requires that any Outland business owner must have an avatar representing them in Bricklyn, and can only employ citizens of Bricklyn in their business.

The Bricklyn Eagle’s original March 10, 2023 news story about Pastries by Patsy and interview of the real Patsy follows below:

➤ In light of the resolution of the “Great Donut Debate,” we were especially excited to learn that Patsy, a Burlington VT Outlander, will be opening a French-style bakery / café downtown. Gloria Vanderbrick, our “People in the News” correspondent, interviewed Patsy to learn more about her plans.

Bricklyn Eagle: What got you interested in opening up a bakery in downtown Bricklyn, and will this be your first foray into operating a bakery?

Patsy: I have been operating the bakery as a home-based business in the Outland city of Burlington, VT, for many years. When a prime location opened up in the desirable and nearby Inland community of Bricklyn, I seized the opportunity.

Pastries by Patsy will be on the ground floor (by the brown canopy) of the historic Southeast Corner Building, also home to the Bricklyn Natural History Museum on the second floor, and around the corner from the new Space Flight Park.

Bricklyn Eagle: We’ve heard your bakery will be replacing the pizza shop in the historic Southeast Corner Building. What appealed to you about that location?

Patsy: My realtor, a certain Mr. xxxxxx (who, I might add, received a considerable commission on the transaction!) convinced me that this is the perfect location for my bakery, being near transit and on the bike-pedestrian pathway.

It’s also immediately below the Bricklyn Natural History Museum, which I heard is a very popular attraction.

Making the deal even better, I was able to purchase the pizza shop’s ovens, which are in very good condition, at a quite reasonable price.

Sal Brickfour, owner of the now closed PizzaBrick shop, showing Patsy Brickerson the inside kitchen layout of what will soon be Pastries by Patsy.

Note: As required by Bricklyn’s “Avatar” law, all Outland persons owning businesses in Bricklyn must be represented by an “avatar minifigure” — so here, the real Outland Patsy is represented by her Bricklyn avatar, Patsy Brickerson. For reasons of privacy and security, only a very few Bricklyn officials in the Office of Consular Affairs are aware of the actual identity of the Outland owner / operator of a Bricklyn business.

I should add that Mr. Tim Brickedy of the Bricklyn zoning and planning office was very helpful in facilitating the permitting process.

Bricklyn Eagle: Will you be offering sit-down service inside, and/or on your patio?

Patsy: We will have seating for 12 indoors, where patrons can watch the baking in process, and additional seating for 12 on the patio, with views of the Bricklyn bike and ped path, looking out towards the historic, tree-lined Northside Square neighborhood.

Bricklyn Eagle: Can you give us a preview of your menu, and tell our readers what they have to look forward to?

Patsy: Here is a copy of our menu, which I think will whet everyone’s appetite. You will notice that the menu includes beignets au cidre de pomme to please doughnut-loving Bricklynites!

📍Note: Patsy’s spelling of donuts as “doughnuts” indicates her north-of-the-border Canadian roots.

Bricklyn Eagle: We know you are aware of Bricklyn Eagle Editor Brickman’s unfortunate — and, I might add, completely out of character — comments about donuts and croissants. We also know that he has apologized and offered an explanation to our readers. What is your reaction to these recent events?

Patsy: Initially I was insulted and deeply wounded. However, Walt Brickman apologized and wrote a beautiful ode to croissants. It is the most beautiful poem I have ever read! I have accepted Mr. Brickman’s apology, and I am confident that he will learn to appreciate the true beauty of French pastries when he visits Pastries by Patsy.

Bricklyn Eagle: We have heard that you are a member of your home region’s chapter of the Alliance Française. Members of the Bricklyn chapter have told me they are looking forward to meeting you. Is there anything you’d like to share with our readers about the role an Alliance Française can play in fostering French-oriented businesses?

Patsy: Did you know that the Alliance Française has generously offered to teach Bricklyn business owners and their employees how to speak French and use the subjunctive mood correctly? The classes will be held at Pastries by Patsy.

Bricklyn Eagle: Finally, as you know there are many passionate donut lovers in Bricklyn. Do you believe that coexistence of croissants and donuts is possible?

Patsy: My beignets au cidre de pomme, which are baked rather than fried, demonstrate that croissant and doughnut lovers can more than just coexist, then can live happily together!

Bricklyn Eagle: So apparently, Just as the farmer and the cowman should be friends, so should the doughnut and the croissant lover!📍 What a delightful note to end our conversation on. Best wishes, Patsy, for your success, and we look forward to your opening this Spring. ✥

📍Note from Gloria: I just couldn’t resist that allusion to one of my favorite musical numbers. If you haven’t heard it in a while, take a listen!

➤ If readers have any questions or comments about Pastries by Patsy, please email us and we will forward them on to Patsy.

Bear Sightings Proliferate in Bricklyn

Excerpt from recent story in South Burlington’s the Other Paper, October 12, 2023.

October 17, 2023

by David Plater Blue, Metro Desk Reporter

The “bear problem” in Vermont — including South Burlington (the outland city within which Bricklyn is now located) — has made its way into the Tripartite Realm of Bricklyn. Numerous sightings of a strange looking bear have been reported.

Here are some photos that Bricklyn residents have sent in to The Bricklyn Eagle.

In response to the various bear alerts that have sent screeching warnings to Bricklyn cellphones, we are now able to report the identity of this so-called “comedic bear.” Called “Fozzie Bear,” this banana loving bear, whose bad jokes defy any known sense of humor is part of the family of “Muppets.”

A team of our talented reporters are investigating how this Fozzie Bear came to be in Bricklyn. This includes possible linkages with the recent appearance of Rowlf the Dog,” one of the principals of the Muppets clan. The Eagle has also received reports from Bricklynites of a chubby pink pig with long blonde hair and a skinny green banjo-toting frog near the Southwest Corner building downtown. Are they connected to the Fozzie bear sightings? Our inquiring readers want to know. ✥

Strike Ends! Bricklyn Eagle to Resume Publication

September 28, 2023

Bricklyn Eagle newspaper strike ends after 206 days. Shattered record for longest strike in Bricklyn history!

Hilma Plater-Zybrick

Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick calls for assistance from “Gang of Four” (GOF) in resolving strike, noting GOF’s success in defusing last Winter’s “Great Donut” crisis.

Photo of Plater-Zybrick on left. Photo of Gang of Four not available. Note: as part of the “mediators’ oath,” mediators do not allow their photos to be taken.

Fortunately, the Bricklyn newspaper strike did not reach this level of strife!

IStock.com photo credit, Aalter, Belgium – the painting “la liberte” displayed with lego figures.

GOF succeed in resolving long-standing labor dispute, addressing increased vacation time; limitations on use of AI; and implementation of daily donut allowance for all workers.

GOF members explain that “throwing away the key” and “locking both sides in a second floor office of the Exchange Building for 24 hours with only FOX News available” led to resolution of all key issues.

Photo of Exchange Building.

Newspaper Guild President  Thomas J. Brickify, Jr (below right wearing pressman’s attire) and Bricklyn Eagle CEO Jeff Brickzos (below left wearing shades) share donuts together after signing new three year agreement. Newspaper deliveryman cheers labor settlement.

Bricklyn Eagle Editor Walt Brickman says Eagle’s dedicated team of reporters and columnists “will catch readers up on important Bricklyn events and news that occurred over the past seven months.” Eagle set to resume publication the first week of October.

Loyal Outland readers rejoice: no longer “stuck with reading The New York Times and Washington Post every day,” and can now return to the “far more interesting news of Bricklyn,” long-time Bricklyn Eagle reader declares.

In honor of the Gang of Four’s Invaluable help in resolving the newspaper strike, Bricklyn Eagle Editor (and aspiring poet) Walt Brickman penned the following:

Photo of Editor Walt Brickman.

They Found Common Ground

In the bustling city, where printers once roared, A newspaper strike, a labor discord, But from the ashes, a new dawn unfurled, With stories untold, in a changed newspaper world.

Hail to the Gang of Four, heroes so bright, In the chaos of headlines, they brought us light, Their voices united, their message so clear, “We’ll end this ordeal, dispel all your fear!”

Together they stood, four pillars of grace, With empathy, wisdom, they’d win the race, They bridged the divides, they forged the accord, In the heart of the storm, their voices restored.

Through ceaseless negotiation, they found common ground, A pact was established, the lost trust was found, They fought for their rights with hearts full of rhyme, And ended the strife with more vacation time.

Limitations on AI, a thoughtful decree, To preserve our humanness, to let us be free, In a world of machines, we found our own way, In the poetry of print, where our hearts could sway.

No longer confined to the newsroom’s tight coil, Reporters now bask in their new found free soil, More hours of leisure, the gift of the day, To savor life’s pleasures in their own special way.

But that wasn’t all, for donuts then arrived, A daily delight, a treat so contrived, To sweeten the deal, to mend the divide, In sugary circles, our rifts set aside.