Menemsha was filled to the brim for last Thursday’s sunset, with people making their way to the beach even minutes before the final moment to enjoy a dry, cool, perfect evening. Sunday sunset I ran into a couple of year-round Oak Bluffs ladies making their annual trek to the Galley for what they consider the best ice cream sundae on the Island. Also this year there are new sorbet flavors like pomegranate-raspberry, and my favorite cone dip, chocolate–peanut butter. I ran into Josh Aronie and his adorable son and asked how summer was going. Josh is holding up while cooking up a storm this summer at Home Port and the Beach Plum Inn. I love the fish tacos with mango salsa from the Back Door; remember you get 20 percent off with your Island Card.
All the Pasture Field softball players were thrilled to read Jack Shea’s piece last week in the Sports section. Sunday’s well-attended three games ended with a winning hit from my nephew Alex, age 11.
Less than a year after the birth of their sixth grandchild last November, Bonnie and Bob George of Quansoo are pleased to welcome No. 7, Eloise Byrd Neugeborn, born July 15 in New York City, to their daughter Emily and husband Ian Neugeborn. Congratulations to all.
If you missed Kara Taylor’s wonderful opening for “Storm Series,” her large oil and gold leaf paintings, some of the best work she’s ever done, stop by her gallery at 24 South Road on Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm. This show hangs until Friday, August 14.
Wendy Weldon not only celebrated her birthday on Sunday, but enjoyed a packed gallery opening at the Field Gallery, where her new work filled the middle room. I happily ran into Bobbie Norfleet, Monina Von Opel, and former Chilmarkers Paula Lyons and Arnie Reisman. Be sure to stop by and see new paintings by Jennifer Christy and Colin Ruel as well.
Enjoy the Spindrift Marionettes at the Grange, performing “The Leopard, the Hunter, and the Fox” and “Kalulu and the Lion” at 11 am, Monday, July 27, and the African Crafts sale from 10 am to 5 pm, in West Tisbury.
Come and celebrate “Poems From the Pond: The Writings of Peggy Freydberg” with wine, cheese, and Brooke Adams, Nancy Aronie, Geraldine Brooks, Laurie David, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Paula Lyons, Mary Steenburgen, Tamara Sloan, and others on Monday, July 27, from 5:30 – 7 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. Tickets are $10 at the door, or RSVP to poemsfromthepond@gmail.com.
Tuesday mornings at 8 am, meet at the Chilmark Community Center for Bird Walks, and join Susan B. Whiting, co-author of “Vineyard Birds” and publisher of “Vineyard Birds II,” along with other Vineyard birders who will lead the summer walks. Bring binoculars, insect repellent, and sunblock!
Oak Bluffs author Kevin Parham presents “The Vineyard We Knew: A Recollection of Summers on Martha’s Vineyard” at the Chilmark library on Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m. Kids, it’s not too late to sign up for the Summer Reading Program. Kristin would like to remind all of you entering 6th to 12th grade to enter a poem in the Elisa Brickner poetry contest by August 10. You might win $200! For more information, check the library website, chilmarklibrary.org, or call 508-645-3360.
On Thursday, July 30, at 7 pm, Liz Witham and Ken Wentworth screen three short films from their Sustainable Vineyard Documentary Series, followed by a conversation with some of the Island’s most visionary environmentalists. For tickets or to learn more go to ticketsmv.com/event.php?id=28106.
Mark your calendars for the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival opening Friday, July 31, at 5:30 pm at the Chilmark Community Center, featuring a dialogue between two high-profile journalists: Ta-Nehisi Coates, national correspondent for the Atlantic, and Michele Norris, National Public Radio host and founder of the Race Card Project. Coates’ new book, “Between the World and Me,” has thrust Coates to the center of our country’s dialogue about race, and the book has become an instant best seller. Coates writes for the Atlantic and its website. Saturday’s events take place at the Harbor View in Edgartown and Sunday, August 2, all the action is under the tents in Chilmark. If you want to know the lineup, see mvbookfestival.com. I can’t wait.