the vineyard blog

You might think it’s all fun and games, beach days and lounging by the pool when you visit Martha’s Vineyard! And sure, we definitely love that about the Vineyard; but we’re also a destination for education. Whether you want to learn to cook with local Island products or discover a new art project, the Island offers that and more. Though the year-round opportunities for classes and education on Island are vast, these grow substantially in-season with addition of summer camps for kids and learning experiences for adults. For now, we’ve listed just a sampling of what’s available year-round on-island. 

ACE Martha’s Vineyard
If you’re looking for continuing your education and workforce training that’s geared towards Martha’s Vineyard residents, ACE MV is the place to be. They offer a wide range of courses in education, business and administration, technical and trades, energy, health care, agriculture, computer literacy, languages, leadership, and more, along with providing opportunities to earn a certificate, license, or degree in a number of economic sectors, without having to leave the Island. 
 
Course offerings vary, but some of the current ones include: public speaking, first aid, email marketing, Microsoft Basics, photography fundamentals, Intro to Finance, Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class A Training, and so much more!

Catherine Walthers Cooking 
Award-winning chef and cookbook author Catherine Walthers dives into the world of culinary arts with her classes. It’s a fabulous experience for the foodies in your family or group of friends.
 
“Based in the heart of Martha’s Vineyard, the West Tisbury Kitchen Lab offers cooking and cocktail classes of all kinds, geared toward seasonality, local ingredients and great food. This is a great activity if you love to cook or enjoy good food plus want to learn more and improve skills from chefs, instructors and cookbook authors who share their experience. On the Vineyard, during the summer they might tour an heirloom tomato garden or visit a local farmer and cook with the produce. They offer classes in knife skills, ancient grains, vegetarian cooking, soup making, tequila tasting, and much more. Classes can be scheduled for kids and young adults.”

Featherstone Center for the Arts
There are so many ways to describe what Featherstone achieves but we’ll let them describe it in their own words:
 
“Featherstone Center for the Arts is a vibrant community art center offering year-round arts education and experiences for all ages and abilities on Martha's Vineyard. Galleries, studios and outdoor spaces provide creative outlets for visitors, students and artists. Through our wide range of programming and collaborations we strive to make art accessible to all. Scholarship/tuition assistance is available for all classes at Featherstone for adults and children as well as Children's Summer Camp!” 
 
Classes vary throughout the year and include: ceramics, drawing, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, literary arts, art therapy, mixed media, music, painting, printmaking, technology, and more!

Pond View Farm Equestrian Lessons
On Island for over 50 years, this farm has been the longest continually operating riding facility on Martha's Vineyard. Situated on the shores of the Tisbury Great Pond, it is a part of Vineyard history! For the horse lovers in your group, this is a great learning experience – whether you’ve signed on for the kids summer camp or just a few riding lessons to bring back memories. 
 
“Pond View Farm's summer camp is designed to give children of all ages and abilities an opportunity to explore their love of horses beyond the boundaries of a riding lesson. With a combination of mounted and dismounted instruction, children will have the opportunity to learn to properly care for and handle their horse. Everyday experiences and careful instruction, tailored to the age and experience of the campers, teach general stable and grooming routines, as well as safety, grooming, tack care, and horse health. The fun really begins when they play gymkhana games with the horses, go on a trail ride, or make horse treats!”

Seastone Papers
Seastone Papers continues to expand its classes which offer a variety of paper making and book making practices. The classes are designed to explore paper as art. In addition to those listed on their website, Seastone Papers will design private teaching sessions for individuals and groups. Open studio for those with paper making experience is scheduled once a week! A sampling of what Harvest Paper making is like in the fall:
 
“Fall is a great time to harvest fibers for paper making. Local plant fibers which include bast, leaf, and grass fiber plants will be prepared, cooked, and beaten for sheet forming. These plants include corn husk, iris leaves, gladiola leaves, and ornamental grasses. This is an opportunity to experiment. You will learn how to process fibers, create sheets of paper, and explore interesting fiber combinations with inclusions.”
 
We have only listed five out of the dozens of classes available on Martha’s Vineyard. To view a full list of classes, check out this list put together by the Martha’s Vineyard Times or check our MVY Directory. 

Martha’s Vineyard is home to dozens of hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts — but many of its visitors want the comforts of home along with the space and amenities it provides. Whether you’re traveling as a couple or a family, or a group of friends in town for a wedding or special occasion, we’ve rounded up 10 summer rental homes on Martha’s Vineyard that you’ll definitely want to check out. Got a boat? There are beachfront houses with private docks. Want a pool? We’ve got those too. Happy house hunting! ​

Modern Farmhouse Compound With Pool & Party Barn, offered by Point B Realty 
Location: Katama, Edgartown
Beds: 4
Baths: 4.5
Sleeps: 12
Rate: $7,000–$14,500/week

​This luxurious new Katama Compound features a 4-bedroom Main House, a Party Barn, a separate work/office building, and a heated pool. The Main House features a modern open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, wide plank floors and kitchen, living, and dining areas. The dining area opens to the gourmet kitchen which has a large, center island/breakfast bar, stainless appliances, and granite counters. All four bedrooms have en suite baths making it the perfect place to stay with a large group while still maintaining privacy. The home is convenient to Katama General Store and offers easy access to South Beach and Edgartown Village via a bike path across the street.

Darling Downtown Edgartown Cottage, offered by Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate
Location: Downtown Edgartown 
Beds: 3
Baths: 2
Sleeps: 6
Rate: $2,200–$3,000/week
 
This precious three bedroom and two bath cottage is located within walking distance to downtown Edgartown. Carefully renovated with attention to the character of the house. The first floor offers a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room, two sitting rooms, an adjacent bedroom, and laundry area with shower bathroom. The second floor has two bedrooms and a full bathroom. Tastefully furnished. The backyard is a generous size, nicely landscaped and the patio area offers lots of space for outdoor dining and relaxing. A great property on which to enjoy your Vineyard vacation.

Spectacular South Beach Home with Wrap Around Deck, offered by Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate
Location: Katama, Edgartown
Beds: 4
Baths: 3
Sleeps: 8
Rate: $2,500–$4,800/week
 
This beautiful home is located in the popular Katama South Beach area and two miles to downtown Edgartown. The home offers a large wrap-around deck and a nicely landscaped yard. Oak Flooring and oak staircase; high ceilings and glass wall allow the sunlight to enter the home. There are ceiling fans throughout the house. A private balcony deck is located off the master bedroom, and the home is very nicely furnished and decorated. Conveniently located near the bike path. 

Post & Beam Beauty Nestled in the Woods, offered by Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate
Location: South Shore of West Tisbury 
Beds: 4
Baths: 3.5
Sleeps: 8
Rate: $2,700–$3,900/week
 
A newer post and beam home with large great room and gas fireplace. Enjoy a very sunny and private area with grass lawn located on a wooded lot with access to West Tisbury beaches, including coveted Lambert’s Cove Beach. The home offers two master suites with private baths, and an open kitchen and dining area with seating for eight. Featuring new furniture with a mix of antiques; hardwood floors in main living area, screened in porch and outside shower. House is equipped with central air conditioning and a deck, whether you want to beat the heat or soak up the sun. 

Sun-filled Katama Beach House with Waterviews, offered by Point B Realty
Location: Katama, Edgartown
Beds: 4
Baths: 3.5
Sleeps: 8
Rate: $3,500–$7,500/week
 
This immaculate sun filled Katama beach house is a short walk from South Beach and enjoys distant views of the Atlantic Ocean from its multi-level decks. The main living areas on the second floor are framed by a wall of sliding glass doors that open to a large wraparound mahogany deck with room to dine, entertaine, and relax. The modern floor plan features a living area with vaulted ceiling and fireplace, open dining area, and a gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances and breakfast bar. A sliding door from the living area opens to a separate sunroom with additional entertaining space. A converted garage that connects to the first floor, provides additional hangout space. The private master bedroom suite occupies the entire third floor and three other bedrooms are located on the first floor with sliding doors that open to a covered deck. Outside, the professionally landscaped grounds include large front and backyards, and English style perennial gardens. There is easy access to the bike path and South Beach.

Historic Captain’s Home on Edgartown Harbor, offered by Point B Realty 
Location: Downtown Edgartown
Beds: 6
Baths: 3.5
Sleeps: 14
Rate: $5,000–$24,000/week
 
Designed in the style of a classic captain’s house, this recently renovated waterfront home fronts on prestigious North Water Street which offers sweeping water views across Edgartown Harbor, Katama Bay, Chappaquiddick, and out to Nantucket Sound. This home boasts a fresh, coastal color design-style throughout and both the living room and dining room open out to a large harbor-facing deck, delightful for outdoor dining and entertaining large groups. Enjoy a well-equipped, eat-in gourmet kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances, perfect for making your own meals or hosting one of the Island’s personal chefs. Outside, a large grassy yard stretches from the home all the way to the harbor's edge, where guests enjoy a shared private sandy beach. Guests may also take advantage of the deep-water dock available in August (for a fee and by special arrangement with the landlord), as well as a rooftop widow's walk, with panoramic views across the harbor and village. All of downtown Edgartown–with its restaurants, shops, harbor and lighthouse–is literally steps from the front door.

Historic Captain Morse House, offered by MV Seacoast Properties 
Location: Downtown Edgartown
Beds: 12
Baths: 7
Sleeps: 25
Rate: From $5,000
 
The Captain Morse House, at the corner of Morse and North Water streets, is one of Edgartown's finest homes. This fully renovated and exquisitely detailed home is perfect for your dream Vineyard vacation. Included is central air-conditioning, though you will hardly need it as the home is just up the street from the harbor. The home features 11 bedrooms, a sleep loft, seven full baths on three floors, a formal living room and dining room, a family room, a game room, and a new gourmet kitchen. All is tastefully decorated with period furnishings and artwork. Enjoy all Edgartown village has to offer right outside your door!

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Close to Edgartown Village, offered by MV Seacoast Properties
Location: Edgartown
Beds: 3
Baths: 1
Sleeps: 6
Rate: From $2,000
 
Located within walking distance of the Edgartown Village this cozy 3-bedroom home provides all the basic amenities one could ask for! No need for a car with this property. The grocery store, restaurants, and attractions are all within walking distance. Want to go to State or South Beach? You can easily catch the bus which takes you right to it. Enjoy Wi-Fi and an outdoor shower after a long day exploring Martha's Vineyard!

Mid-Century Chilmark Beach House, offered by AirBnB and VRBO 
 
Location: Chilmark 
Beds: 4
Baths: 3
Sleeps: 8
Rate: $5,400–$12,000/week
 
This mid-century house offers resort-type elegance as well as a relaxed beach house vibe. The location is totally private but near world-class beaches and the much-adored Menemsha fishing village. Chilmark is simply magical and you will build memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy four bedrooms, three baths, a large living area, and large master bedroom with bath. Fully equipped kitchen/dining overlooks the pool; quality linens throughout. Outside, a 4-foot-deep spa pool invites you to exercise, lounge or play…or just enjoy its shimmer all day long. The house is bathed in sun and dramatic sky with miles of conservation trails just steps outside the door. Besides exclusive access to white sand beaches, this secluded end of Martha’s Vineyard offers a wide range of activities from art and culture to fishing and fine dining

Nautically-Inspired Luxury Retreat New South Beach, offered by Point B Realty
Location: Katama, Edgartown
Beds: 4
Baths: 3.5
Sleeps: 8
Rate: $7,900–$12,000/week
 
This architectural gem is tucked away in the prestigious Beach Plum Meadows area of Katama. The large gambrel-designed luxury home features three floors of grand living and entertaining space, with close proximity to the sandy shores of South Beach. The second floor features a magnificent, light-filled great room with two-story high vaulted gambrel ceilings, and open-design living and dining areas with a gas fireplace, large screen TV, and fully-equipped chef’s kitchen with large prep island/breakfast bar, granite counters, and commercial stainless appliances. Sliding doors open to a large screened porch and decks for outdoor dining, grilling, and entertaining. The third-floor deck has distant seasonal water views of South Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as year-round views across the meadows and fields of the Farm Institute and surrounding conservation land. The deck opens from a "Crow’s Nest" Office/Work Area, that sit amid  great room balconies and walkways. The property is located less than one mile to South Beach and offers easy access to the bike path and Edgartown Village.

​Be sure to check out all our Real Estate rental agencies to find the perfect rental home for your needs!

Winter is in full swing on the Island and by now we’ve grown used to the colder temperatures. But we’re also loving the fact that there’s still plenty to do on Martha’s Vineyard, even in the middle of winter. Today, we’re showcasing some of our favorite winter late night dining spots. We know the first question you’ll ask is: what do we consider to be “late night” dining? We took a few considerations into play - since darkness still comes early, for the purposes of this blog we’ll consider anything after 8 pm to be ‘late night’ dining. Although the short days and still-early sunsets lead some of us to dine out earlier, there remains a large segment of the population that still wants to dine later in the evening - whether by preference, for a special occasion, or any other reason. So… without further ado, here’s our list!

EDGARTOWN
Bettini Restaurant, Edgartown
Wednesday - Sunday until 9pm
Treat yourself to some chef-inspired items like upside down chicken pot pie using local Island chicken. Heads up - always get the Rainbow cookies for dessert!

Sharky’s Cantina, Edgartown
Sunday - Thursday until 10pm; Friday and Saturday until 11pm
In Edgartown, it’s the same menu but closed a little earlier than Oak Bluffs. Try any of their specialty tacos or ask the bartender what his/her favorite is.

The Newes From America Pub, Edgartown 
Open daily until 9pm
Enjoy some late-night fish and chips at this historic pub in Edgartown!

The Wharf Pub, Edgartown
The Pub is normally open until 9-9:30pm
Note: Closed until March 13th, 2020 for winter break. 
A true classic, the Pub is where you hang out with Jade at the bar while having some of the best stuffed quahogs on the Island!

Town Bar & Grill MV, Edgartown
Sunday – Thursday until 10pm; Friday – Saturday until 11pm
Note: will be closed February 17, 2020 to March 1, 2020 for winter maintenance and improvements and will reopen March 2, 2020.
A new late-night dining option on Island, Town has bar snacks, flatbreads, and entrees - a little something for everyone!

OAK BLUFFS
Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Company, Oak Bluffs
Sunday - Thursday until 9pm; Friday and Saturday until 10pm
Aside from their award-winning chowder, this spot is known for its delicious appetizers. With a new chef this season, the food is surely delicious! 

Ocean View Restaurant, Oak Bluffs
Sunday - Thursday until 9:30pm; Fridays and Saturday, 10pm 
Hungry for a blend of New England and Italy? Ocean View is your go-to place for that! Their pasta entrees really hit the spot late at night. 

Offshore Ale Company, Oak Bluffs
Friday and Saturday until 9:30pm
Who doesn't want to dive into a hot bowl of chowder before bed? It’s not just us - and Offshore has that and more! 

Sharky’s Cantina, Oak Bluffs
Open until 1am, seven days a week
Craving some Tex-Mex goodness and some of the best nachos on Island? Sharky’s is your go-to for that Mexican meal!

Bangkok Cuisine, Oak Bluffs
Open daily until 9:30pm
Craving some authentic Thai food? Then this is the spot to get it - we recommend everything on the menu but their curries are delightful and their crab rangoons are out of this world!

Dos Mas, Oak Bluffs
Open daily, weekends until midnight and weekdays until 11pm
The guys over at Dos Mas, with their hand-pressed tortillas and delicious margaritas will have you saddled up to the bar until at least midnight during the weekends!

The Cardboard Box, Oak Bluffs
Open daily except Sundays, until 10pm
Lounge and enjoy music while eating deliciously local and thoughtful food here. Make sure to try their cocktails, so creative! 

VINEYARD HAVEN
Copper Wok, Vineyard Haven
Open daily until 10pm
Craving some late night Asian? Everything from sushi to fried rice, plus the in-between of some of your favorite authentic Chinese entrees. It’s also a great place for takeout!

Mikado Asian Bistro, Vineyard Haven
Open daily until 9:30pm
Now and again we’re craving late night sushi and Mikado is just the spot!

While many people think of Martha’s Vineyard as a playground for the rich and famous, there are places for every taste and budget, and frugal finds all around if you know where to look. That’s right, you can actually spend a day discount shopping and scoring great deals all over Martha’s Vineyard, without ever having to pay full price. From scouring our local thrift stores to salvaging unwanted goods and discovering brand name labels at bargain prices you’ll be amazed at how much you don’t have to spend shopping on Martha’s Vineyard. Here’s a list of some of our favorite spots to save big and score big.

Martha’s Closet, Vineyard Haven 
Conveniently located in the Tisbury Marketplace in Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Closet is the only consignment shop on Martha’s Vineyard. You’ll find a plethora of women’s clothes, shoes, and accessories as well as a few finds for men too. Don’t be surprised if you pick up a North Face jacket or a pair of Frye boots. While the selection varies from day to day there are always gems to discover. Not only can you go to Martha’s Closet to shop, but you can sell your clothes there too (depending on the season and space available). Just bring in your unwanted goods and a sales associate will determine what they will try to sell. 60% of the sale price reverts to you as store credit or cash once sold. So clean out your closet or suitcase and head on down to Martha’s Closet to find your new favorite piece today.  

Trader Fred’s, Edgartown 
Martha’s Vineyard’s only true discount store, Trader Fred’s is a treasure trove of name brand clothes and accessories located at the Edgartown Triangle. It’s all about the hunt here, and you’ll never know what you’ll find at this quirky store that’s always filled to the brim with things you might need and things you never knew you needed. From clothes to shoes, beach umbrellas, sunglasses, sporting good equipment and even cigars, you’ll want to head to Trader Fred’s if you’ve forgotten a vacation staple or just want to take home some bargain souvenirs. It’s worth browsing the store just for fun, but chances are you won’t leave empty handed. 

Chicken Alley Thrift Shop Supporting Martha’s Vineyard Community Services
If you want to make a day of it shopping for a cause then you’ll want to be sure to get to Chicken Alley Thrift Store too. This beloved shop is one of the largest streams of ongoing financial support for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, which provides a variety of programs and services for adults and children, including Island Community Counseling, CONNECT to End Violence, disability services and early childhood programs. Chicken Alley is a beloved hidden gem amongst Islanders and visitors alike. It is considered a social gathering place as much as it is a store. Many people visit multiple times a day and the inventory is always moving and changing. So go for the deals and stay for the camaraderie. From bargains and treasures, to unexpected finds Chicken Alley should be your go-to spot before ever paying full price. Not only do they carry clothes, shoes, accessories, homegoods, and appliances but they sell large furniture and jewelry too. Plus, they’re always accepting saleable clothing, furniture, kitchenware and the Art and Collectibles Sale which takes place annually on the second Sunday of August is a can’t-miss event.

Second Hand Store Benefiting The Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club, Edgartown 
Want to shop and give back to the local Martha’s Vineyard community? You’re in luck - The Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club Second Hand Store generates funds to support the programs of the MV Boys and Girls Club, which provides quality programs, education, and services to the Island-wide youth population. For this cause the Second Hand Store accepts tax-deductible donations of quality used goods including (but not limited to): furniture, art, clothing, jewelry and housewares. These donations are sold at reasonable prices and the proceeds benefit the boys and girls of the Island. Now that’s a shopping spree you can feel good about!

Dumptique, West Tisbury
You know what they say, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” and this couldn’t be truer than at Dumptique, the Island’s only free ‘store.’ That’s right, everything at Dumptique is free for the taking! Located at the West Tisbury Transfer Station, where it’referred to as the ‘recycling shed,’ Dumptique is packed with books, small household items, clothes, shoes, linens and more. Dumptique is also the place to go if you have items to donate, and the volunteers working are generally more than happy to accept most things that come their way. Good finds don’t last long here so be sure to go early if you’re on a treasure hunt and hours are limited so plan accordingly. Discover something new-to-you without paying a dime? Now that’s the ultimate deal. 

Estate Sales and Yard Sales
Martha’s Vineyard is a very transient place, and people are always coming and going, which means their stuff is too. There are also a lot of people with very expensive taste that are often looking to pass it on, which means you’re in luck! For some of the best bargains on-Island you’ll want to hit local estate sales and yard sales where you might just find some incredible deals straight from the person parting with them. Not to mention you might just get to explore amazing (and sometimes quirky!) homes in the process. For a round-up of yard sales in high season check out the MV Times classified page here. 
 
​Great deals await, happy hunting!

Temperatures are getting colder by the minute, as the days are getting longer. It’s what living in New England feels like - a variety of weathers all in one week. But since we know it’s mostly cold, we wanted to showcase some of our favorite culinary delights this season: soups, stews, and chowders! 
 
First let’s get technical:  What's the difference between soup and stew? Our friends over at Taste of Home say: In theory, a soup is a combination of vegetables, meat or fish cooked in liquid. A stew is any dish that's prepared by stewing – that is, the food is barely covered with liquid and simmered for a long time in a covered pot. Now how about chowders and bisques? Simple! Bisques and chowders are simply two types of thick soup; bisque is generally smooth while chowder is chunky.
 
It’s essential to know the difference when cooking them, but since we’re going to be sharing all the spots where you can eat them without dirtying dishes - let’s move on! 

Edgartown Clam Chowder by Bettini Restaurant in Edgartown
Nothing better than a hot bowl of creamy chowder and when you’re at Bettini Restaurant at the Harbor View Hotel, you get just that. Chef Patrice Martineau even creates a house-made oyster cracker to accompany the chowder and it’s one for the books. 
 
“Bettini’s fresh take on Vineyard style sets the stage for chef-inspired menus that showcase the season’s freshest offerings from local farms, fishing boats, foragers and markets. Expansive windows reveal a magnificent coastal view that reinforces the kitchen’s relationship with the local landscape, creating a seamless Island-to-table dining experience.”

Quahog Chowder by The Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven
Known for being topped with buttery croutons, this Quahog Chowder at The Black Dog Tavern is a local favorite. Want to recreate it at home? We found the recipe over on Recipe Girl.

Lobster Stew by The Cardboard Box in Oak Bluffs
Indulge in this Lobster Stew at the Cardboard Box and rejoice at all the goodness that is good food. Made with sweet potato, roasted onion, smoky bacon, basil, and a lobster cream that’s to die for, this Oak Bluffs spot deserves a place on your list when looking for creative food that you will love. 

French Onion Soup by The Newes Pub in Edgartown
French Onion Soup is such a classic and one you can always find at this historic pub in Edgartown. This soup is broth-y and full of delicious, caramelized onions, topped with bread and broiled cheese for that perfect spoonful every time. 
 
Named by Travel & Leisure as one of the best places to eat on Martha’s Vineyard, the Newes serves American and British pub food that pays respects to the variety of fresh, local ingredients the Island has to offer. 

Soup to Go by Waterside Market in Vineyard Haven
We love this option at Waterside Market! Packaged in glass mason jars, the culinary team at the Market has ready to go soups - they vary from daily specials to the chef’s classic chili, but you can almost always find a delicious option to bring home and reheat to your liking. We commend and applaud Waterside Market’s initiative of using less plastic in their day to day productions! 
 
Fresh ingredients, organic and local when possible, innovative recipes made from scratch daily including soups, salads, and killer sandwiches. Tuck into the house-roasted, hormone-free meats, breakfast (served until 4 pm!) and Stumptown Coffee. Make sure to check Waterside out when in Vineyard Haven - it’s a great spot to wait for your ferry or grab a quick meal before heading back home. 

Black Bean Soup by The Wharf Pub in Edgartown
If you’re heading to Edgartown for lunch, a stop at the Wharf Pub at the bottom of Main Street is a must. The menu is focused on tasty New England food with creative twists and this Black Bean Soup is one of them. Pair it with some Chowder Fries (New England clam chowder, bacon, green onion, jack & cheddar cheese) and you’ve got a delicious winter meal!
 
Looking for inspiration to create soups at home this winter? Below are links to some of our local favorites from Island writers:
Udon Noodle Soup with Miso-Glazed Vegetables and Chicken via Martha’s Vineyard Magazine 
Butternut Squash Soup by Food Minded Fellow
Winter Soups from The Martha’s Vineyard Times