Reporting from the Nantucket Wine Festival: Culinary Marketplace

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I spent the morning at the Nantucket Wine Festival’s inaugural Culinary Marketplace event, which took place under the Culinary Tent on Children’s Beach and was filled with samples of some fantastic edibles from on- and off-island sources. Here’s what stood out to me:

  • Hand-pulled mozzarella and burrata from Petticoat Row Bakery.
  • The best coffee I’ve ever tasted: Jim’s Organic Coffee. It tasted so clean, just pure unadulterated coffee. Nothing more and nothing less. I bet it’s the whole no pesticides or GMOs deal.
  • Incredible quality beef from Creekstone Farms. “Now THAT is a steak!” I exclaimed to the guy serving the meat. I could eat that stuff for breakfast. (Since this was at 10 am, I guess I just did.) I can only imagine how delicious their beef would be with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.

New York Times Chief Wine Critic Eric Asimov gave a brief talk, and touched on prying the idea of wine-loving from the sole grip of the upper crust and pouring it onto the level of the everyday person. He emphasizes that wines needn’t have astronomical price tags to taste wonderful and interesting. Still, you can’t get away with just grabbing the first bottle you see that costs more than five bucks; quality wine is a far cry from the bladders of wine that many of us thought were just exquisite while we were in college. The most important part of learning about wine is learning what YOU like. Even the world’s top vintner cannot argue with that. “Wine is very much a personal journey,” Asimov said.

The juniors and seniors of Nantucket High School’s Culinary Arts program were bustling all around the tent as they assisted the visiting chefs who were doing demos throughout the day. They also served samples of their homemade jam that they crafted from Nantucket cranberries, which were donated by a local bog. NHS Culinary Arts instructor and program founder Chef Bob Buccino was looking quite proud of his students.

It was only $30 to get in, in part because—as opposed to the much pricier events—this event only offers food and (non-alcoholic) beverage samples. (Sorry, oenophiles.) At the same time, that means you can bring the kiddos and give them a taste of fine foods for much less than you’d pay for such a mishmash at a fancy restaurant.

The Culinary Marketplace opened at 10 am and didn’t close its doors ’til 4 pm this afternoon, giving guests a solid chunk of time to fill up on deliciousness and knowledge. Attendees were able to come and go as they pleased throughout that six-hour duration. If you missed it this year, fear not: I’m sure they’ll bring it back again. If only they’d hold it during non-working hours, it could be accessible to many of the working people of Nantucket, for whom they say this event was inserted into the program. It’s a great idea in theory, but the festival directors need to get acquainted with the people who live and work on Nantucket. I was not surprised to see that this event was not well-attended.

–Sarah Teach
Editorial Assistant, Yesterday’s Island / Today’s Nantucket

Island Weaves – Eye on Style

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Take a stroll down the white shell-lined lane of Old South Wharf and you will find unique shops and quaint art galleries nestled together along the harbor, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of town.  If you’re lucky you may just happen to catch local artist Karin Sheppard busy at her loom, weaving one of her gorgeous shawls, wraps, blankets, or rugs.  Her shop and studio, Island Weaves, showcases her handwoven items as well as beaded jewelry by Anne Terry, Sailor’s Valentine kits by Susie Black and paintings by Stacy Fusaro.

Island Weaves

Karin grew up on Nantucket and got her start weaving at a young age.  She would often join her mother, a talented seamstress, on trips to Nantucket Looms to drop off products she had sewn for the store.  It was during these visits that she became fascinated with the weavers churning out beautiful fabrics, and eventually began learning the craft at the store after school.  Karin left Nantucket for college, but soon after graduation she returned to the island and to Nantucket Looms where she worked for 20 years, up until 2000 when she went out on her own and opened Island Weaves from her home.

Island WeavesNow in its thirteenth year, Island Weaves has a location at 20 Old South Wharf, a bright and sunny seasonal spot with a water view.  One of Karin’s large floor looms sits in the back corner of the store where you can find her working on any number of designs.  The day I popped in she was weaving a cashmere baby blanket, something new for the artist.  This is the time of year where she can experiment with different projects, and has a little more freedom with her textiles.  The winter months are very busy, filled with custom orders from clients and from designers in need of handwoven upholstery fabrics.

Karin is happy to come to work each day, and considers herself lucky to be making a living doing what she loves.  She is passionate about her work and about Nantucket, and it shows in the pieces she produces.  Her items are casually elegant, with classic, clean lines and whitewashed colors that reflect island living.  The handwoven items are made to last, with an heirloom quality to them.  Her wraps and shawls have become increasingly popular, along with her well-known Madaket Mall rugs.  The rugs are made from recycled materials often found at the Take It or Leave It, anything from terrycloth towels to khakis to jeans.  Nantucket Reds have become a favorite yet hard-to-find material for the rugs, as people usually wear them until they are threadbare.  She most  recently made a rug out of neckties for a woman whose father was a lawyer and had worn a tie to the office everyday.

Island Weaves

Everything for sale at the shop can also be custom made, available in a wide variety of colors and natural fibers.  Her products make wonderful and meaningful gifts, or treat yourself to a Nantucket original handwoven accessory.  I, for one, would love to keep warm in one of her wraps or ponchos on these chilly May evenings. Island Weaves is located at 20 Old South Wharf.  You can also see examples of her work at www.islandweaves.com.

ACKupy Nantucket

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by Susan Yerkes Cary

When I was asked by the Yesterday’s Island owner if I would like to contribute a weekly column this year, I was flattered and honored. I have known the Daub’s for decades, our kids grew up together, and their love of this island and it’s people is immense. BUT…..my head spun around a couple times. Are they nuts? A column? Me? On what? What could I possibly contribute? I might be considered a chatterbox, but writer I am not. And then the names Carrie Bradshaw and Maureen Dowd came to mind. Yes, that’s it! A cross between feminine armchair advise and political junkie spouting. And what could be better than a platform to write a weekly Facebook status update longer than Mr. Zuckerberg allows.

That was when the negative cloud arrived overhead. 700 words? Not possible. And the horror of admitting my failures in spelling and grammar came to mind. And even worse, thinking that I could possible be censored or edited was like a sharp stick poked in my eye. My head stopped spinning long enough to learn that a column (or is it called an article?) on island life was the idea. Yes, I’ve been a year ’round resident almost 35 years, and was a summer person prior…..so the concept presented seemed somewhat plausible. Especially since my mind is in constant motion…..always looking at my personal gratefulness to be able to live on this spit of sand out in the Atlantic. Then, the other side of the coin presented itself, and I immediately wondered if it was a volunteer job, and if not, would the “position” be able to afford me a glass of wine out of the deal each week. I agreed to think about it.

It took me 3 minutes exactly to put conscious thought into words about this lovely topic. Because here’s the simple definition of island life. Those of us who live here year ’round are the VIP club members, and we know it. Oh, there are the occasional whiners……those who get that cabin fever and need their fix of the Cape Cod Mall and MacDonald’s….but even the whiners want to be living here, rather than Camden, New Jersey. Sorry, Camden…..(I just picked a name out of a hat.)……Nope, this column will not be a Chamber of Commerce plug….but visions of the slices of life that make our island living so special. If you are reading this, you must know what I mean. You are either a visitor to the island, a summer resident, or a “local”. That makes all of us special and bonded. And believe it or not, I was thinking of you last night as I sat in the island’s brewery warehouse on a cold windy stormy night here on the rock. I was thinking about how special it was to be with 50 or so people on winter potluck Friday, looking at beautiful shiny kegs, eating homemade comfort food, communally sitting with friends and neighbors and sharing antidotes about the winter storm that caused Nantucket to be severed from all boats and planes for three days. We all agreed that we loved the reality that we were “on our own”. Yes, I was thinking about all of you out there who were not seeing my island at that moment.

It was quite magical, really. I thought about how I was looking at a beautiful patchwork quilt of hardy, colorful, souls all brought together on this blistery night, with the wind howling outside, and the bluegrass music howling inside. There were hipsters, babies, kids, dogs, grandparents… all convened…..we were one. The base player was my daughter’s band leader in high school, the guitarist is another school instructor whose wife is a beloved bartender on the island, the harmonica player is a very talented local musician who was petting his dog with his foot as he played. And the food……Oh, the food!….bacon wrapped jalapenos, scallop pizzas, pork ribs, whoopee pies, cheesecakes…….it could not have a more perfect night for me, sitting with an accomplished fine artist, a carpenter, graphic designers, a bookkeeper, and an emergency room nurse. And that was only part one of this fun March evening. My night continued with the weekly trivia night at a local pub. Lucky me to be sharing Friday nights throughout the grey winters months with an ad guy, a computer guru, a thespian, a hairdresser, a doctor, and a Grammy winning musician.  (BTW, I love the color grey)…..A dissection of a roomful of geeks with heads full of useful and not-so-useful knowledge each Friday night in the winter could probably be fodder for another column. Remote we are in the winter. Bleak, we are not.

I think you catch my drift on how this column is going to work. I will do my best to be honest and thoughtful about how much I love living here. Not everyone wakes up and consciously thinks about how much they love the town where they live. You will read a myriad of reasons why you might want to pack your bags and become island dwellers. There will weekly glimpses of my “home and hearth”….and yes, there will be some outbursts at time regarding problems that plague us, too. That will just have to go with the territory. No place is perfect. But you will read more about perfection and happiness than discontent. And hopefully I will never be edited.

If you are reading this now, you might be traveling to Nantucket to enjoy our lovely Daffodil Weekend, or you might be on island opening your beloved summer home, or you might be a Nantucket year ’round laborer on his lunch break happy to finally be outside in the sunshine on a Main Street bench on a gorgeous spring day. OR you might be someone who loves the tranquility of January and February and March, and is dreading the onslaught of summer tourists. The commonality is that we all love Nantucket and are here because we want to be here. Not because we got off at the wrong stop. And for me, that makes it easy to live here. Warts and all. Or maybe I should say, cobblestones and all. I hope you peeps from Boston, Greenwich, and Hooper Farm Road on Nantucket all have a wonderful spring! And thank you for loving MY Nantucket so much, too.

Daffy Dressing

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One of our favorite things about the celebration of Spring on Nantucket that is the Nantucket Dafffodil Festival is the way that so many of the festival-goers dress up for the party.  Parents dress up their little ones in white and yellow, in flowers real and artistic.

The fun includes all ages and all genders — it’s as common to see men wearing elaborate Daffy Fest hats as it to see women wearing them.

Costume central during Daffy is Children’s Beach, where the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce (the masterminds behind and organizers of this weekend of fun) host the Children’s Parade and the Daffy Hat Pagent.  Participants start to gather as early as 10 am for the 10:30 am parade and the 10:45 am pageant.  Then everyone heads to Main Street for the Antique Car Parade.  Check our Calendar of Events for specifics about all the weekend events, and we’ll see you at Daffy Fest this weekend, April 27 and 28!

Vinegar & Spring Tasks

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“Spring cleaning” is a household name, and the chemicals involved are often harmful to Nantucket’s ecosystem. Regular ol’ undiluted white vinegar can be used in the same way as many household cleaners for tasks that range from cleaning food surfaces safely to clearing out a drain. For a natural and inexpensive way to tackle your spring to-do list, look no further than your grocery store and spend no more than a few dollars.

  • Use vinegar to clean your counter tops. The acidity gives vinegar antibacterial properties so you can keep your family’s food surfaces clean and safe! General “grime” can be cleaned from the places you don’t usually get to: the top of the refrigerator, the oven
  • Dirty microwave with baked-on gunk? Mix a half-cup of vinegar with a half-cup of water and nuke it ’til it boils heavily. Take it out, and you will be able to wipe your microwave clean!
  • Hard water buildup collecting on your shower head? Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and attach it to your shower head, with your shower head fully submerged in the vinegar. Leave it that way overnight, and viola!
  • Dishes not coming out of the dishwasher as sparkly as you’d like? Just pour a cup of vinegar in the soap compartment, and run the dishwasher for a full cycle – sans dishes.
  • Make everybody’s least favorite part of spring cleaning a little bit more pleasant by saving money and the environment. Mix 3/4 c. of vinegar and 1/4 c. of baking soda. Dump it in your toilet bowl and let it sit there for at least half an hour. Scrub-a-dub-dub, and you’re home free!
  • April is here, and will soon be gone to make way for those famous flowers of next month. Nantucket daffodils are already popping up, but unfortunately, so are weeds! Kill those pesky plants by pouring some vinegar in a spray bottle and squirting it on your weeds. Make sure you avoid spraying it on the plants you DO wish to keep, though, so choose a day that isn’t windy.
  • Make a go-to household cleaner by combining equal parts white vinegar and water and tossing in a couple drops of any pure essential oil (5 drops per cup of liquid used). When you need a little extra oomph, add some baking soda to your mixture!

Enjoy your smaller household cleaning products bill and carbon footprint! Happy spring, Nantucket!

Here Comes the Sun: a Nantucket Art Exhibition

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To herald the return of spring, the Artists Association of Nantucket (AAN) is pleased to announce the Here Comes the Sun exhibition, which will open with a reception on Friday, April 12, 5–7 p.m. in the Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery, 19 Washington Street. This exhibition runs concurrently with Junior Artists I, featuring work by students from the Nantucket Elementary School, Nantucket New School, and Nantucket Lighthouse School. Both exhibitions will be open to the public April 12–22.

The opening reception for Junior Artists I is Thursday, April 25, 3 to HereComesSunCardFront15:30 p.m.

“After the wintery weather, it’s exciting to have the gallery open for another season” said AAN gallery sales manager Peter J. Greenhalgh. “This first opening will showcase many new works completed by our artists during the off season.”

AAN includes over two hundred artist members, who showcase their work in changing exhibitions throughout the season. “This is an exciting time of year for our artists—seeing old friends and clients, while celebrating the return of spring on Nantucket,” added Greenhalgh.

Here Comes the Sun will be on display through April 22; the Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery, 19 Washington St. will reopen on April 11, and remain open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nantucket Island Resorts has provided generous sponsorship support for the Here Comes the Sun exhibition.

ReMain Nantucket is sponsoring the student show.

For further information about the AAN Gallery or the current exhibition, please call 508-228-0294.

The Starlight Meets Their Goal

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With 24 days to go, The Starlight Theatre & Cafe has met and exceeded their Kickstarter pledge drive goal of $92,500.00!

Mark Watson and Jeff Weiner sat down with us yesterday, with $5,100 still to go, to chat about their efforts to raise the money to upgrade to a digital projector for their small island theater.   Over the last few years the movie industry has moved away from 35mm films towards digital, and The Starlight has found it increasingly difficult to book movies. “They used to print thousands of copies of their movie on 35 mm; lately they’ve just been making about 500 copies … Why would [the distributors] send their film to a theatre like ours with just 90 seats when they can send it to a theater with 400 seats… And the studios say that by the end of this year, 35mm will no longer be available,” Mark explained.

Mark, Jeff, Deb, and Susan, the family who owns The Starlight, talked about ways to raise the tens of thousands of dollars needed to upgrade to digital.  It was islander Jimmy Agnew who suggested Kickstarter.

“Getting accepted by Kickstarter wasn’t easy,” Jeff explained, “we worked hard on it, got creative, and got approval.”  They weren’t sure how the campaign would go. “We launched it on the Friday that school vacation started,” Mark added, “Everyone left the island on the 5:30pm boat, and we launched at 6 pm.”

“That first night, we checked it at the end of the night and thought ‘this might just work’,”  Jeff commented. Their first donation was not the $5 or $10 they expected, it was $125.  With social media spurring on the campaign, it just snowballed.  “We even got donations from people who had never been here, but liked what we were trying to do,” said Mark. “It’s been overwhelming!”

“If we exceed our goal,” Mark said yesterday, “we’ll just keep improving the theatre to make it a better experience for our customers.”  Jeff and Mark both gave us a few hints on some fun and exciting ideas they have for The Starlight, but they swore us to secrecy.  We’ll just have to wait and see!  But for now, thanks to its many friends and fans, The Starlight movie theatre has been saved as a beloved island landmark.

Apply Now for the Junior Rangers

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Do you love the outdoors?  Join the committed staff of Junior Rangers as they explore the habitats of the UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station and work as part of the team collecting scientific data to be used in school and to help foster a greater understanding of the natural world.

Junior Rangers are asked to commit to two days a week (parent & student choose) Monday through Friday from 9 am to 12 noon.  One day will be devoted to assisting in guided nature walks; the other day will be devoted to pursuing data collection on a topic the Junior Ranger (along with parent and science stewardship staff) chooses.

Students are required to be able to work independently as well as in groups. This program is for students ages 9-13.

Students interested in applying for this program should write a one- or two-page essay “Why I think I’ll be a good Junior Ranger.”  Submit your essays via e-mail to lensir@hotmail.com.

The Junior Rangers program is one of several opportunities for kids to help out at the Nantucket UMass Field Station.  “Adopt a Pond” internships are available for advanced high school and college students who wish to assist with water quality research.  Junior Scientists work as lab or field volunteers.  To apply for these positions, visit the Field Station website.