I have somehow been labeled a big Halloween lover in recent years, despite my complete ineptitude for all things scary. But alas, with such expectations set, I once again checked off many traditional Halloween boxes: carving a jack-o’-lantern with friends, shrieking through the M.V. Screenprinting Haunted House, crafting a fire for my oversize witch’s cauldron (seen on Main Street on Halloween day), and visiting each Charter School scarecrow around town.
And with that, another Halloween has come to a close. Thank you to Bella for another incredible Halloween Puppet Parade, with her beautiful, larger-than-life puppets, accompanied this year by the Upis Land Band. Thank you to the volunteers that made another VisitVH Costume Contest successful, DJ Smooth B for keeping the party going until after dark, and everyone who put so much work into their incredible costumes and showed them off trick-or-treating through our town.
Last week I made it to “The Museum of Unnatural History,” a group show running at the Workshop Gallery at 32 Beach Road through Nov. 29. Reporting back: iI lives up to the hype. Led by local stained glass artist Liz Ragone, this exhibition features well-known Island artists alongside first-time creators. Traditional price tags are replaced with specimen labels, and all sorts of unexplained curiosities are on display for this limited time. Open Thursday through Sunday, with new artwork still arriving each weekend.
A new show is opening at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse this week. With hopes of becoming a new annual tradition, this group exhibition explores the theme of what “harvest” means to each artist and our community. The reception promises the spirit of Friendsgiving celebrations, so gather for a potluck, live music by Mark & Molly, and great art this Friday, Nov. 6 from 6 to 8 pm.
Also this Friday at the M.V. Hebrew Center is the Shabbat dinner with conversations around “Celebrating the Harvest in Wampanoag and Jewish Culture.” Brad Lopes from the Wampanoag tribe and Rabbi Caryn Broitman will be in conversation about the meaning of the harvest, and sharing harvest rituals and celebrations in their cultures.
The community climate discussions continue with the next segment on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Oak Bluffs library. Focusing on managing our forests for climate resilience, this event is hybrid, so if you can’t make it in person, join the Zoom from 1:30 to 3 pm.
Thursday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 7 pm at the V.H. library, join the Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District as it shares upcoming plans for the December First Friday VH, ’Tis the Season events throughout December, and this year’s First Night event on New Years’ Eve.
Another seasonal closure is added this week, with Mad Martha’s ice cream now hibernating until next spring.
Biggest bunches of birthday balloons to Alex Wright this Saturday on Nov. 7, and to M.V. Potluck Prints creator M-C Lamarre on Nov. 9. Do you have an upcoming birthday, event, or just something you want shared in a future Tisbury column? Email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail.com with your own stories of our town, or upcoming events you’d like to see spotlighted here.
