New outdoor market
July 7 will mark the opening of Stone Wall Market Place in Vineyard Haven. Located at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Spring and William Streets, the market will offer local flowers, crafts, jewelry, books, pottery, white elephant items, and snacks. Stone Wall Market Place will occur weekly from 10 am to 2 pm through August. Vendor spaces, available on a first-come, first-served basis, are either to be reserved weekly or in advance. Contact Doug at 781-664-4266 to reserve a space.
Return of WIMP Comedy Improv
WIMP, a local young adult improvisational comedy group, will give the first show of their annual series this Wednesday night. Recognized as “one of the best teen troupes in the country” by the executive director of the Chicago Improv Festival, WIMP delivers both short and long form improvisational comedy based on audience suggestions. WIMP will perform every Wednesday from July 11 to August 29 at the Historic Grange Hall Theater in West Tisbury. Doors open at 7:30 pm for the 8 pm show. Tickets will be available at the door or at ticketsmv.com. For more information, call 508-939-9368.
Boston Children’s Chorus to sing, share message
The Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC) will give a concert at the Campground Association’s Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs on Saturday, July 7. Members of the chorus represent a diverse set of racial, religious, ethnic, and economic backgrounds throughout Greater Boston. In addition to their performance, the group will spend the weekend working closely with local communities on the Island in hopes of creating meaningful friendships.
“The singers look forward to introducing island residents and tourists to the BCC,” BCC Artistic Director Anthony Trecek-King explained, “A critical part of our mission is to bring together children across all socioeconomic levels. We firmly believe that it is only through this intermingling that our communities overcome social barriers.”
The concert begins at 8 pm and is free.
Charlotte Benjamin in Concert
On July 6, Charlotte Benjamin, a young singer and guitarist, will perform at the YMCA’s Alexandra Gagnon Teen Center (8 pm, $5). Ms. Benjamin, daughter of musician Mike Benjamin and dancer Sandy Stone, will play an extended set that will feature popular acoustic songs. Special guest Sarah Shaw Dawson will provide accompaniment on certain songs. Teens 13 to 18 are welcomed, as well as adult friends of the performer. The concert will be followed by live DJs and dancing.
For high school writers
The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing (MVICW) High School Writers Collaborative is a summer writing camp for students in 9 through 12 grade that runs from July 9-13 at the Martha’s Vineyard Charter School.
Students between 13-19 years old will come together to learn poetry and prose alongside university professors and published writers.
The Collaborative meets from 9 am – 1 pm and students participate in both fiction and poetry workshops. The Collaborative is open to all students – no experience is necessary – just a love of creative expression.
“MVICW High School Collaborative is great because it forced me to try new things, take my writing seriously, and share my ideas with people,” said former and returning student Kendra Mills.
Scholarships are available and full registration information can be found at MVICW’s website http://mvicw.com or by calling 954-242-2903.
Faculty include:Poet Marcus Wicker: 2011 Ruth Lilly recipient for poetry, whose first book, Maybe the Saddest Thing is forthcoming from Harper Collins. He teaches creative writing at Southern Indiana University, and has worked with high school students in Detroit’s award winning Inside Out Literary Arts Program.
Short Story Author Alexander Weinstein: Award-winning author and the director of The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. He is a professor at Siena Heights University and a graduate of Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.
Mathea Morais: Author of the children’s book: I’m Lucy: A Day in the Life of a Young Bonobo. Mathea has taught Creative Writing to high school students for over 10 years on Martha’s Vineyard and in Boston. Currently, she runs the High School Writing Lab at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School.
