The weather may still have summer flavor, but the stores and restaurants up-Island are starting to shutter for the season. The Aquinnah Shop is already closed. The Outermost Inn, Chilmark Tavern, and Home Port will all close Columbus Day weekend, as will the Chilmark General Store. You know what that means: a 20-minute drive to the closest grocery store (if you count Alley’s as a grocery store; if not, 30 minutes to Cronig’s). This time of year is so bittersweet — I love the weather, the quieting down and the opportunity to connect with friends, but I find the mass exodus of our up-Island economy hard to take. Couldn’t everyone just stay open through the holidays? Think of how lovely that would be to be able to go out to dinner up-Island in November?! I know it’s a pipe dream, but it’s a good one.
The Living Local Harvest Festival is this Saturday at the Ag Hall. Sassafras, the Aquinnah camp run by David and Saskia Vanderhoop, will hold an open house there from 10 am to 3 pm. There are other events throughout the day, culminating in a community-supper pig roast from 5 pm to 7:30pm. You are encouraged to bring a dish to share made from at least one local ingredient, and please bring your own dishes and silverware, as this is a zero-waste event.
The Gay Head 10K is this Sunday at 10 am; you can still register online at savethegayheadlight.org. If you have already registered, you can pick up your packet on Saturday from 3 pm to 6 pm at Town Hall or Sunday from 8 am to 9:30am at the Gay Head Cliffs. Cycle Martha’s Vineyard is hosting two rides on Saturday, a 50K and a 100K; you can register for either of those rides at cyclemarthasvineyard.org, and the proceeds will benefit the M.V. Rotary Club and the Gay Head Light. Of course if you are like me, and are not going to run or ride either, you are encouraged to show your Lighthouse spirit and cheer people on at both events.
After you’ve run the race or taken in all the excitement, you may be in the mood to celebrate or just to spend some money; On the Cliffs, Adrianna’s store on the Gay Head cliffs, will be having their annual 50-percent-off sale from 3:30 pm to 5:30pm this Sunday. She has excellent taste, and there are always wonderful things to buy. Pandora’s Box 50-percent-off sale will be next Wednesday starting at 5pm.
The Aquinnah Cultural Center is open for another couple of weeks; stop in now if you haven’t been able to see their exhibits on Wampanoag life back in the day. Their hours are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 11am to 4pm.
ACE MV fall classes start the week of Oct. 6; you can register now online at acemv.org. There is a late fee for registering on the first day of class.
The Aquinnah Public Library will be closed Tuesday, Oct. 14, Thursday, Oct. 16, and Saturday Oct. 18, so that the floors can be refinished. They expect to reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
One of Aquinnah’s own, Aquinnah Witham, is among the artists whose wares will be offered for sale at a beautiful home and gallery sale next weekend in West Tisbury. The event is called “Shine,” and many artists from all over the Island will be represented there. A portion of all the proceeds will go toward finishing Len and Georgia Morris’ new documentary, “the sameheart.” The film offers some solutions to ending child poverty. You can get more information about the film and the sale at thesameheart.com. It will be held Oct. 12, 13, and 14 from 10 am to 8 pm at 129 Indian Hill Rd.
Back by popular demand, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum is once again celebrating the faces of Martha’s Vineyard with a second “Island Faces” portrait competition in collaboration with Featherstone Center for the Arts. Beginning Oct. 1, the museum will begin accepting entries for the contest. You can get all the information from marthasvineyardhistory.org or featherstoneart.org.
At the Aquinnah Library on Saturday, Barbara Lampson will host a make and bake tie-dye cupcakes. It begins at 1pm sharp and I know they’ll be delicious.