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    • Martha's Vineyard Blog

    Music on the Square Starts This Thursday — 6/20

    by admin, Jun 18 2013

    mikemic3

    Mike Benjamin singing at a local event.

    The sounds of music will soon be filling The Square again as the annual Thursday night Music on the Square begins this week.

    Sponsored by us here at Vineyard Square Hotel, and also the Eisenhauer Gallery, the weekly event has fast become a summer tradition on the island. Various artists will be playing throughout the summer (see the full list and dates here), but many weeks feature the fabulous Mike Benjamin.

    Over the years Mike has played with many renowned artists including Sue Tedeschi, Bo Diddley, The Temptations, Ben E. King, Bob Weir, James Taylor, The David Letterman Band, The Blues Brothers and more. He was also the lead guitarist and singer for the Boston Music Award winning band “Entrain.”

    Ten years as a professional singer and session musician in New York City enabled him to bring a high level of experience and professionalism to the bandstand. If you ar a local or visit the Vineyard often, you’ve  most likely seen Mike and his band somewhere — from a wedding reception to a beach party.

    Mike and his guitar are kicking off the season at The Square this Thursday from 6-8 pm. Come see him!

    Guest Post: A friendly hotel on a friendly island

    by admin, Jun 10 2013

    by Rick Conti

    Most people, even those too young to remember the show before it went into syndication, recognize those iconic lyrics from the theme song for the iconic Boston-based sitcom “Cheers.”

    Martha's Vineyard Beach

    It’s not just the beaches! The friendly vibe and sense of place keeps the author coming back to Martha’s Vineyard.

    Here’s the line in partial context:

    Wouldn’t you like to get away?
    Sometimes you want to go
    Where everybody knows your name,
    and they’re always glad you came.

    I have to tell you, that reminds me far more of Martha’s Vineyard than any watering hole.

    When I want to get away, that’s where I want to go.  Sure enough, one of the reasons is because, maybe not everybody but, enough people know my name.

    One of the many (many, many) great things about Martha’s Vineyard is its manageable size.  It might not seem so when you’re driving from Chappy to Aquinnah, but it’s a small island.  If you spend enough time there, you’ll get to know people: store clerks, business owners, waiters, residents, and, if you misbehave, the local police.  Get familiar with folks, be friendly, and people will get to know your name.  Then (unless you’re a jerk) they’ll be glad you came.

    What a great feeling when you walk into a business or other public establishment and people greet you as if you’re Norm from “Cheers”.  It’s as it you’re a celebrity in that little space.  They know you because you come in and you keep coming in because they know you.  That’s pretty cool for everyone involved from my perspective. I must confess I love it when Joanne greets me with her Scottish lilt every time I walk into Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites.

    So, I think I’ll keep going back – to the island and the hotel – getting to know more people each time.  Once everybody knows my name, I’ll move on to some other vacation spot, but not a moment before.

    If you run into me, make sure to say hello and introduce yourself.

     

    Martha’s Vineyard Kayak Deal

    by admin, Jun 4 2013

    Try your hand at paddleboarding and glow up the night while you’re at it!

    Nightime paddleboarding

    LED Paddleboards light up The Vineyard. Photo by Island Spirit Kayak.

    Island Spirit Kayak has added LED SUP boards to its roster of fun and they are offering a 2 for 1 discount before June 20. Pair that with our our June “Snack and Stroll” special and you’ve got an early summer sneak away vacation at a great price!

    High intensity LED lights illuminate the water under your board, making you look like a floating UFO and giving you a show of the sea life below! We can’t think of a better way to experience this popular water sport right off the shores of our gorgeous island.

    Designed for beginners and those just looking to have an awesome time, the tour is 1 hour and departs from different locations around the island.  The price will be $50 per person later this summer, but the outfitter is offering a preseason 2 for 1 discount!   Call and book your paddle before June 20, mention this deal, and paddle the night in LED style!

    Winners at “The Square”

    by admin, May 21 2013

    Regular guests at Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites don’t need to be told that the best cocktails in town are right here at “The Square.” There’s is nothing quite like sipping a classic spirit in a rocker on the porch! Screen Shot 2013-05-21 at 4.05.47 PM

    STILL, it’s nice that our tenant — the marvelous restaurant Chesca’s — was recognized in the “Best Cocktails” category this year by Cape Cod Life.

    Another winner from The Square is Eisenhauer Gallery. Truly a beautifully curated space, it won the Fine Art Gallery category.

    So proud of our winners here at Vineyard Square!!

    Guest Post: The ERC (also known as the Luxury Suites)

    by admin, May 8 2013

    by Rick Conti

    I was hanging around the lobby at Vineyard Square Hotel and Suites recently.  Suddenly, someone approached Joanne Sardini, the estimable manager of the establishment, and screamed, “This place is freakin’ awesome!”  I remember the words exactly because…well, I was the one who screamed them.

    Edgartown hotel suite

    The ERC (also known as Luxury Suites) at Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites

    It’s true.  Sometimes I’m so overcome with the awesomeness of my place on Martha’s Vineyard that it overflows into marginally anti-social behavior.  Even the words have a surreal sound to them: “My place on Martha’s Vineyard.”  How did that happen to this humble scribe?

    Simple.  The Edgartown Residence Club (ERC) — also know as the Luxury Suites to hotel guests — is the vacation home for people who don’t think they could ever own a vacation home.  This is not the first time I’ve gushed on the ERC. I’ve written about this in the past. Let me be clear — I am neither an employee of the hotel nor a commissioned salesman.  I am blessed to be a fractional owner of the ERC.

    What’s so cool about staying at the ERC?  Permit me to rip a page out of David Letterman’s book by giving you the…

     Top Ten Reasons Why the ERC Is So Freakin’ Awesome

    10) The world’s largest collection of decorative pillows east of the Whaling Church.

    9) Matching front and back deck furniture.

    8) Bathrobes are more plush than the contents of an entire Gund warehouse.

    7) If the wind is blowing in the right direction, I can smell the onion rings cooking at the Newes.

    6) Free loaner bikes with seats the size of a La-Z-Boy.

    5) The only vacation I don’t need a vacation to recover from.

    4) Different bath items every time I visit.

    3) I can read Chesca’s menu right from my deck.

    2) “Farm Boy” on call at the front desk.

    …and the number one reason the ERC is so freakin’ awesome:

    1) Two words: Free cookies!

    That’s a facetious list, of course.  The actual advantages to owning at the ERC are real indeed and would number far more than ten.  I stand by my previous claim that a stay at the ERC is the perfect stress-free vacation.  

    It starts with the staff.  For this entire crew, “above and beyond the call of duty” is standard operating procedure.  In fact, they’ve spoiled me silly.  The other obvious drawing card is the fact that it’s on Martha’s Vineyard.  ’Nuff said.

    My life is now divided into two parts: staying at the ERC and waiting to return to the ERC.  I’m in the process of figuring out how to maximize the former and eliminate the latter.

    I’ll let you know how that goes.

    Spring Activities on Martha’s Vineyard

    by admin, Apr 22 2013

    We love spring on the Vineyard. Every day boasts a restaurant or attraction re-opening for the season.  Unusual and “this time of year” only events, like Woodcocks and Whippoorwills: A Guided Birding Tour (April 25) and the Annual Alpaca Shearing (April 27) take place. Each day, more and more flowers bloom and more folks are out and about strolling the streets and shops.

    Martha's Vineyard hotel outdoor deck

    Balmy spring weather makes our Edgartown hotel’s outdoor decks more popular day by day.

    It truly is the ideal weather for many outdoor activities including bicycling, nature hikes, kayaking, fishing and bird watching. In addition, it’s the perfect seasons to experience the Vineyard’s historical attractions, events, art galleries, shops and boutiques.

    Here are some spring events happening over the next few weeks:

    April 27: The MV Museum invites you to a special program with beer historian and master brewer of Colonial and Victorian-era beers, Christopher Bowen. Learn about the brewing process and adaptations to changing tastes. Sample of classic beer recipes explore what styles of beer may have been popular on the Island in earlier times. 3:00 pm.

    May 4: 2103 Ride the Vineyard to benefit the MS Society. Choose from 15-, 30-, and 60-mile routes and enjoy the flavor of the island. All bicycle routes begin and end at Martha’s Vineyard High School. After the ride, riders are welcomed back with a cookout. 

    May 9-12: Martha’s Vineyard Wine Festival debuts. The 4-day event celebrates wine and food in homes and businesses throughout the Island.  Wine tastings, restaurant events and The Local Wild Food Challenge are just a few of the anticipated happenings. Proceeds to benefit Island charities. Check out our special package for this event.

     

    Guest Post: Train to Bus to Ferry to Bus — Mass Transit to The Vineyard

    by admin, Apr 8 2013

    By Rick Conti

    Back in the day, before everyone in the country had their own gas-guzzling vehicle, transportation was a community affair. Buses and trains provided much of our transport service. When we travel as individuals, we miss out on connecting with others and seeing our world. Plus, we waste a lot of fuel. Mind you, I’m not suggesting we deep six all our private vehicles. This is America, after all. I am suggesting, however, that we occasionally consider alternatives.

    Train to Boston

    Taking a train to Boston is one leg of a “mass transit” journey to Martha’s Vineyard.

    Here’s my personal experience doing so. My last trip to the island was mostly car-free. As a result, my travel was mostly care-free. It was also fun and productive. It started with a short drive – a couple of miles – to be dropped off at the nearest train station: commuter rail to North Station in Boston. Relaxing. Nota bene: This is not a trip to be taken without reading material. Fortunately, a book has been sitting in my to-be-read pile for a couple of months. It provided all the entertainment I needed for all my travels as well as my stay on the island. In the first three pages, my eyes welled up once and I laughed out loud once.

    When I drive, I usually just scream in anguish or terror. This mode of travel also provides optimal people-watching opportunities. As a writer, nothing feeds my imagination more than observing people and settings, inside and outside the train. Several thoughts were jotted into my writer’s notebook during this leg of my journey.

    The connection from North Station to South Station has its challenges but also its opportunities. Out of necessity, I hopped on the Green Line then transferred to the Red Line. On a better day weather-wise, the walk from one station to the other is a mere one and a quarter miles along the new Rose Kennedy Greenway – public art, fountains, park benches, trees, even food vans on the right days. (You paid for the Big Dig; you might as well enjoy it.) I’m still waiting for that long-discussed connection between the two stations. It’s not likely to happen in my lifetime, but I can dream.

    South Station is a fascinating place. You can go pretty much anywhere from there and you can meet pretty much any kind of person. Most important for my purposes, it’s where the Peter Pan bus departs, bound for Woods Hole. Look: You either like bus travel or you hate it. There must be some latent royalty in me, because I like being driven around. On this day, the weather was horrendous, so I let the driver worry about it while I continued with my book. The seats were plush enough that I drifted off once or twice. (Not recommended if you are the driver.) The best thing about the bus is that it drops me off steps from the ferry terminal.

    I love the ferry. (You can read my previous Ode to the Ferry here.) It, along with the other boat services, is the knothole through which all MV visitors must squeeze through. No bridge. No tunnel. No causeway. We all ride over on the boat. It’s the great leveler. May it live forever. The final piece of the travel puzzle is either a taxi or the terrific MV Transit system to your final destination. If you’re fortunate enough to own a unit at the Edgartown Residence Club, kind sponsors of this blog, you get picked up by a smiling member of their wonderful staff. Now, that’s the way to start a vacation!

    Next stop, home away from home. Bottom line: My experiment was a pleasant success and I will do it again whenever I have the chance. Was it the easiest way to travel? Not necessarily, but since when is easiest best? Besides, any route that takes me to the Vineyard is a good one.

    Your mileage may vary.

    Our Martha’s Vineyard Hotel “Springs Open” with New Beds!

    by admin, Apr 1 2013

    Spring is finally in the air here on Martha’s Vineyard. The Flying Horses Carousel has re-opened (yay!), robins have returned and seemingly the Lion of March is gone and the Lamb has arrived!

    Edgartown hotel new mattresses

    Our Edgartown hotel has all new mattresses for our 2013 spring re-opening!

    And, speaking of arrival, we look forward to yours as we re-open the full hotel in just little over a week on April 12, 2013. Bring your hiking shoes and watch the island’s spring gardens take shape. We are eager to welcome you back for the official season with brand new mattresses!

    Restful nights at Vineyard Square just got more restful. We have ALL NEW beds for 2013. Five of us test-drove (test-napped?) a bunch of brands and settled on the heavenly Serta Presidential Pillow Tops.

    Engineered with input from the National Sleep Foundation, we found these mattresses to be universally appealing to our backs (ranging in age from 22 to 65). Come enjoy a lovely night’s sleep on the loveliest of islands!

    Also check out check out Family Fun Getaway and “Spring Open” Specials – great deals for April and May!

    Dine at Lambert’s Cove Inn

    by admin, Mar 11 2013

    Lambert’s Cove Inn has re-opened its restaurant for the year, and it is a great spot to enjoy a wonderful meal during the waning days of the quiet season. With 4 fire places going and the sounds of Edith Piaf’s sultry French voice whispering in your ear, it is the perfect place to kick back and savor an evening.

    Martha's Vineayrd Dining

    Lambert’s Cove Inn restaurant dining room

    Don’t miss out on the restaurant’s Thursday night oyster extravaganza with 10 different types of oysters from hot to cold. Fridays you can enjoy a 3-course meal for $30. On Saturday nights, the inn offers dinner and musical performance. Dine to some the most talented artists on the Island — no cover, no minimum to buy — just the promise you’ll have fun!

    Guest Post: Spring Forth on the Vineyard

    by admin, Mar 5 2013

    by Rick Conti

    As has been opined in previous posts, the Vineyard in the off-season carries its own rewards.  One doesn’t have to wait for the peak season to appreciate its marvels.  For example, except during winter’s most aggressive cold snaps, when the air itself seems frozen solid, making the winds feel as if they’re trying to strip the skin from your cheeks, a walk up North Water Street and down the narrow path to Edgartown Lighthouse is a brisk pleasure year-round.

    Martha's Vineyard Spring

    Biking, blooming beaches and beds! three great reason’s to visit in the spring

    Just the same, I anticipate spring at least as much as the crocuses do.  Like those little bulbs, I spend much of the winter virtually underground.  When their buds break through the earth’s crust, they are as desperate to find the signs of spring as I am.  They don’t like cold and darkness any more than I do.

    On the Vineyard, clues to the beginning of spring evidence themselves everywhere I look.  And I’m looking hard indeed.

    Island handymen (and women) and landscapers mobilize like a peaceful militia readying homes and businesses for summer’s onslaught.  

    The “see you in the spring” signs and wide expanses of paper sheets that have blocked store windows and doors for the past few months are dropping like over-sized autumn leaves as shops and restaurants pop open at random times and locations like the aforementioned bulbs.  Some old reliables may not see the new season, but new possibilities always fill the void.

    Each ferry from the mainland carries a few more vehicles and visitors than the previous one.  The flow will increase exponentially until cooler heads and weather prevail several months from now.

    Each day, the sun ascends earlier, stays aloft longer, and shines warmer.  Illumination becomes not just one night in Oak Bluffs, but a spring-long celebration in the island sky.  Fear of foul weather, palpable and constant as the tides, dissipates like a morning fog at South Beach under a July sun.

    The air’s a little milder, the sea a little calmer.  The fireplace yields to the deck as the preferred spot to read a book.  April is imminent, not just a rumor.  

    So, take nothing for granted any time of year, but keep an eye out for those crocuses and look out for spring.  It’s at the door.  Open wide and welcome.