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DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • DON’T MISS EVENTS • GALLERIES• SHOPPING• HOME ON THE ISLAND

E IS S U E

EARLY SUMMER 2025

“Jaws” at M.V. Museum The Vineyard gets its closeup A Jaws ‘victim’ tells his story F I N D YO U R WAY:

P U L L- O U T M A P S F O R J U S T A B O U T E V E R Y T H I N G

gifts • stationery • bath+body glassware • toys • decor • linens candles • jewelry • accessories and more! two convenient locations:

66 MAIN STREET, VH 12 NORTH WATER STREET, EDG 508-693-1830 • RAINYDAYMV.COM

A MARTHA’S VINEYARD PUBLIC GARDEN

Explore the 72-acre horticultural and historical Island landmark. Be inspired by the globally recognized plants. Learn from the classes, programs and tours.

Grounds open sunrise to sunset year-round. Visitor Center & Plant Sales open seasonally. 795 State Road, West Tisbury

Pollyhillarboretum.org

508-693-9426

EARLY SUMMER 2025

contents

Inside 6 - 9 Don’t Miss

A sampling of must-do events.

11 - 13 The Summer of ‘74

Fifty years ago Martha’s Vineyard got its Hollywood closeup.

28, 29 Jaws Map

Make a day trip around Amity Island and see locations, firsthand.

30 The Shark is Broken Broadway play comes to the Island By Daniel Greenman

By Patrick Phillips

14 Jaws in Memoriam

34, 35 Art in Oak Bluffs

By Kate Feiffer and Nicole Galland

16 Jaws at M.V. Museum Preview of M.V. Museum’s events

By Abby Remer

18 Living in Amity

Sharks are worthy of reverence. By Ella Munely

20 - 22 Meet Alex Kintner

An interview with Jeffrey Voorhees By Nicole Galland

pg 18-19

Stroll O.B.’s galleries and studios

Two generations have passed, and we remember people who have too.

By Gwyn McAllister

30 This Was Then Selim Mattar’s Dreamland By Chris Baer

El Barco

Mexican Soul Food By Ashley Wheeler

40 Sweet Tooth Murdick’s Fudge – Still going strong. By Abby Remer

42 - 44 Dine index

pg 11

pg 28-29

Where to eat, buy groceries, and find ice cream.

pg 17

pg 30 The Martha’s Vineyard Times Corp. Box 518, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 PUBLISHER: Charles M. Sennott • MANAGING EDITOR, FEATURES: Patrick Phillips • FEATURES EDITOR: Allison Roberts CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristófer Rabasca • ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER: Dave Plath • SENIOR DESIGNER: Nicole Jackson ADVERTISING TEAM: Chesley Wiseman and Sharisse Scott-Rawlins • TO ADVERTISE: Email adsales@mvtimes.com or call 508-693-6100. ON THE COVER: Illustration by Dave Plath

publisher’s letter

A letter from the publisher

elcome to the Island. Whether you are a longtime summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard or a first-time day tripper, we hope you enjoy that feeling of being on the ferry and pushing toward our harbor and getting ready for the adventures that lie ahead for all visitors. The pressure of having summer upon us on a small island is very well captured in the classic Hollywood film, “Jaws,” which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its premiere with a host of events this summer that should not be missed. As you might remember – or perhaps you will see for the first time at one of the many opportunities to screen the film this summer – the movie is filmed on Martha’s Vineyard and is set in the fictional town of Amity Island as it braces for the 4th of July. Against a backdrop of a local, year-round population of Islanders serving eager tourists, the stage is set for the tensions on an Island where a 25-foot great white shark is lurking just off the beaches with an ominous soundtrack – a two-note theme that instills a sense of dread and fear when the shark approaches. In this issue of the Vineyard Visitor, which is published by the Martha’s Vineyard Times, we bring you a special edition dedicated to “Jaws” which will help you explore every angle of how the block-buster film was made and to see it through the eyes of those who were here back in the summer of 1974 when the film was shot by the then upstart and now legendary director Steven Spielberg. When the film premiered that following summer of 1975, it was an immediate blockbuster serving packed theaters and grossing $260 million in the U.S. and nearly $500 million worldwide in 1975 which was a record at the time. And, of course, we have all learned a lot since then about the true nature of sharks and the irrational fear they can produce, and you can take those lessons on board through a piece on living with sharks that seeks to dispel the negative image that “Jaws” did so much to create. You know those two, dreaded notes – dun, dun – which rise to a crescendo as the shark approaches and that reach a frenzy when it attacks. Of course, it was not a real shark, but a mechanized one fabricated by Spielberg and given the name Bruce. Still that signature music is there, and the foreboding it creates is very real. So what was it about the Hollywood blockbuster “Jaws” that so caught the attention of movie goers back then? I was 13 years old when the movie premiered and even as a teenager I can remember that pervasive sense of fear in the air that the film seemed to capture. In 1975 America, there was more than a mechanical shark lurking beneath the surface, there was a time of uncertainty coming at the bitter end of the war in Vietnam and the political violence and corruption that culminated in the Watergate hearings and the historic resignation of President Richard Nixon just the summer before. There was rising inflation, surging gas prices and a shift in the global economy that was impacting just about every home. Terrorism was defining the era with active campaigns by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the militant Marxists of the Weather Underground. There was campus unrest and a time of deep political division. Sound at all familiar? There certainly are comparisons between the year 1975 and 2025 that are worth pondering as you set out on the Island, but it is worth

noting that while the Island has changed since then, the spirit of a place that welcomes summer and wants to celebrate it and serve as a place to escape the dread of daily life is as true today as it was in 1975. We have beautiful beaches, a lively scene for music, art and theater and great restaurants from small fresh fish shops that serve lobster rolls on fishing crates off the docks in Menemsha to high-end gourmet dining with white table cloths and nationally known chefs in Edgartown and great middle ground restaurants and diners that know that fresh fish and chips can be an affordable form of artwork all its own. We hope that all our Island has to offer might help you get through all the stresses and challenges of the times we live in, and we hope this free magazine might serve as a guide to a great visit here on Martha’s Vineyard. If you end up in Vineyard Haven on Beach Road where our newsroom is located, please stop in from 10 am to 2 pm Monday thru Thursday and pick up a copy of the weekly print edition of the Martha’s Vineyard Times or get one in the many locations around the island. Or, if you are settling in for the summer, please find us online at www.mvtimes. com to stay up to date and please consider subscribing for delivery of our weekly print edition and become a member of the MVTimes which has always been guided by its founding slogan: Real News, for Real Islanders. Enjoy the summer, Charlie Charles M. Sennott Publisher

Island news daily

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don’t miss ‘The Shark Is Broken’

Don’t Miss Arts Featherstone Center for the Arts

A community art center offering year-round arts education and experiences for all ages and abilities. Galleries, studios and outdoor spaces provide creative outlets for visitors, students and artists. For more information on classes, shows, and events visit: www.featherstoneart.org or call 508-693-1850.

First Fridays, Vineyard Haven

First Friday is a free community-inspired outdoor event in Vineyard Haven. Be sure to celebrate the local art and culture of the Island each first Friday of the month. June 6, July 4, August 1, September 5, October 3, December 5 throughout the Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District. www.firstfridayvh.com.

Vineyard Artisan Festival

Our opening show of the season! Come and see all the 6

new work our Island Artists have been working on all winter, free parking and admission, catered food, many demonstrations, play ground for kids. Saturday, May 24, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, May 25, 10 am to 4pm. vineyardartisans. com/virtual/memorial-dayweekend-show.

Art Galleries Visit mvol.com/listing-category/artists-galleries for a list of art galleries on the Island.

The Yard

The Yard is a creation and performance platform for artists from around the globe, and they offer exhilarating, wide-ranging, and educational arts experiences through performances, residencies, and community activities. To check out their summer season visit: www.dancetheyard. org or call 508-645-9662.

Exhibits & Gardens Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club

Enjoy programs and activities that cover a wide range of gardening topics and offer handson experience. The M.V. Garden Club, provides an opportunity to meet other people with similar interests, to learn and share together, and to have fun. For the latest events and workshops, visit marthasvineyardgardenclub.org.

Island Folk Pottery & Sculpture Trail, Chilmark

Walk along a quarter-mile enchanting trail through the woods and discover whimsical sculptures on the way to an Island Folk Pottery shop. Created by artists Bill O’Callaghan and Heather Goff, the path is open daily from 9 am to dusk. Their pottery studio is open on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and on Sunday, 2 pm to 4 pm. To learn more, visit islandfolkpottery. com or call 508-955-9944.

Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury

Discover unique trees, cones, berries, and autumn leaves by taking a stroll through the beautiful historic grounds at Polly Hill Arboretum. Guided tours, scavenger hunts, and other activities are often available, and pamphlets can be picked up near the visitor center, which is on a bus route off State Road. For details, visit pollyhillarboretum. org or call 508-693-9426.

Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum is committed to collecting, preserving, and sharing all facets of the Island’s story, from the familiar to the untold. Check out exhibits, guest speakers, and community events at MVM. Explore maps, manuscripts, objects, photos, oral histories and more. Call 508-627-4441 or visit: mvmuseum.org

don’t miss

COURTESY SHARISSE SCOTT-RAWLINS

Farm Activities Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society, West Tisbury

Discover all kinds of workshops, classes, and events related to gardening, farming, and homesteading. Most of them are held at the Agricultural Hall, but also at other sites around the Vineyard. For the schedule, visit marthasvineyardagriculturalsociety.org.

Island Alpaca, Oak Bluffs

Spend some time with adorable and gentle alpacas and learn more about these curious creatures, including where they come from, their interesting behaviors, and why they are important. To find out what this unique farm has to offer, such as fun classes, events, and a gift shop, visit islandalpaca.com or call 508-693-5554.

Trustees’ FARM Institute, Edgartown

Find activities for the whole family at the Trustees’ 162-acre working farm in Katama, which has cows, goats, chickens, sheep, and other animals, plus a vegetable garden, pastures, a farm store, and a commercial kitchen. Programs include tours, cooking classes, yoga, and farm-to-table dinners. For details, visit thetrustees.org/tfi or call 508-627-7007.

Films and Theater The Strand Theater, Oak Bluffs The Strand Theatre, operated by Steve Capers, has pledged to

Island Alpaca

Shakespeare at the Amphitheater

Be sure to check out Shakespeare at the Amphitheater, presented by the Vineyard Playhouse, in July and August. MV Playhouse: mvplayhouse.org/ theater or call 508-696-6300.

Martha’s Vineyard Film Festivals

The 11th annual MV Environmental Film Festival will be held on May 22—25. The 9th annual SPECTRUM Film Festival will be held in June over the course of several weeks in recognition of PRIDE month. The 13th annual FILMUSIC Festival will take place from June 26—29. The 11th annual Documentary Week will begin on July 28 through August 1st. For more information visit: mvfilmsociety.com/festivals. 508696-9369.

Markets Tisbury Farmers Market

Founded in 1934 by Island farmers in response to the Great Depression. Revived in 1974 by a ragtag group of hippies, yankees and retired English teachers, the West Tisbury Farmers Market is Martha’s Vineyard’s oldest, largest, and finest open air market. MV Agricultural Hall. Saturdays, 9 am to noon. www.wtfmarket.org.

COURTESY ISLAND ALPACA

Take a mindful stroll along winding footpaths that are nestled among a uniquely designed, secluded garden with a tranquil pond. It includes pine and birch trees, flowering bushes, a bridge, benches, and a wooden shelter for quiet contemplation. 9 am to 5 pm. Visit: thetrustees. org/place/mytoi.

deliver a variety of entertainment that includes comedy, music, dance, speaker symposiums, workshops and movies. To see a list of upcoming events visit: https://strandtheatre-marthasvineyard.com, or call 321-576-4890.

Recreation Island trails and beaches, sunrise to sunset

Enjoy hiking or biking on trails, kayaking on ponds, walking on the beach, and other recreational activities on the protected properties maintained by the M.V. Land Bank, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Mass Audubon, The Trustees

of Reservations, and the state of Massachusetts. Learn more at mvtimes.com/island-trails and view an Island-wide map at vineyardvisitor.com. For more events and activities on Martha’s Vineyard, check out: vineyardvisitor.com, mvtimes.com/things-to-do-4-2, and mvy.com/events.

DAVE PLATH

Trustees’ Mytoi Japanese-style Garden, Chappaquiddick

Chilmark Flea Market

During the summer, the Chilmark Community Church sponsors the beloved Chilmark Flea Market, from 9 am to 2 pm, every Wednesday and Saturday – weather permitting. It is located at 142 North Road in Chilmark. chilmarkchurch.org.

Sunrise at Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway EARLY SUMMER 2025

don’t miss

JAWS EVENTS

June 19

Amity Sharks vs. Quint Navigators, Oak Bluffs Celebrate“Jaws” 50th with a ballgame, just like the cast and crew used to! Buy your limited edition Quints Navigator Jersey or Amity Shark Jersey and don’t forget your ticket! 6:50 pm to 9:50 pm

June 20 and 21

Visit Amity Library Stop by Edgartown Children’s Library to be fully immersed in Amity. The team there is excited to welcome you with a fun “Jaws”-themed craft. 10 am to 5 pm Free Screening of“‘Jaws’ @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story” 4:30 pm to 6 pm Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center Before the Exclusive Afterparty in Edgartown is the

Free Screening! National Geographic and Amblin Documentaries, in conjunction with the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce and Circuit Arts, is thrilled to present the premiere of “‘Jaws’ @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.” The authorized, upcoming documentary uncovers the behind-the-scenes stories of the bestselling novel and Steven Spielberg’s legendary blockbuster film along with diving into our enduring fascination with sharks.

June 21

“Jaws” 50th Anniversary Outdoor Screening, and “‘Jaws’: in Concert” Winnetu Oceanside Resort Celebrate the 50th anniversary with a screening of Universal Pictures’ “Jaws.” This is a unique opportunity to watch “Jaws” in concert, in the very

place it was originally filmed. This iconic outdoor screening set to the breathtaking score by John Williams and performed by the Cape Symphony, will transport fans straight back to Amity Island, where the legend began. 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

“Jaws” on the Water

Retired Edgartown Harbormaster Charlie Blair shares his experiences on the set of “Jaws,” advising filmmakers on tides and ocean conditions, ferrying Robert Shaw to set, and getting up close to “Bruce,” the mechanical shark, in action! Explore exclusive “Jaws” artifacts, including an exclusive edition of Tony Holland’s Shark Wind Vane from Quint’s shack in Menemsha and the original Amity National Bank Sign from Main Street. 10 am to 12 pm

June 23 - 29

Amity Books - also known as Edgartown Books - will be hosting“Jaws”-related writers on-Island during Amity Week, including Ryan Dacko, author of “The Book of Quint,” and Mike Smith, author of “Jaws 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel.”

June 29

Barks & Sharks: A “Jaws”–Inspired Doggie Costume Meetup Edgartown Lighthouse The Al Fresco Tails team is rolling out the red carpet (and the sunset!) at the Edgartown Lighthouse for a “Jaws”-themed dog costume extravaganza as we watch the sun set! Whether your pup is channeling Bruce the shark, a daring lifeguard, Chief Brody, or the island’s quirkiest fisherman Captain Quint, this event is sure to be a reel good time! 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

2025 SCHEDULE

JUNETEENTH

Asantewaa Oyo-Simon and Essence Taylor at the Juneteenth flag raising ceremony. JULIA GOUJIAMANIS

Juneteenth Martha’s Vineyard

is a multicultural celebration which includes music, speakers, music, delicious food and more. A celebration of freedom Juneteenth was recognized on June 19, 1865 — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — when the United States finally reached abolition of slavery. At the end of the 17th century, Martha’s Vineyard emerged as a port for maritime business. Though the Island is known to have been engaged in the slave trade, the community supported abolition as early as 1787. Former slave and preacher John Saunders, is credited with bringing Methodism to what is now referred to as Oak Bluffs. During the early 20th century, Oak Bluffs became a popular destination for middleclass Black families seeking a reprieve from segregation and discrimination. This tradition continues today, with Oak Bluffs serving as a cultural hub for African Americans.

don’t miss

Fashion show with Sharisse Scott-Rawlins. COURTESY SHARISSE SCOTT-RAWLINS

Events not to miss

MV Salads, 55 Circuit Ave, Oak Bluffs. In celebration of Juneteenth, MV Salads is turning their restaurant into an art gallery, literary space, and fashion runway. Free.

most notable icons from Harry Belafonte, Dr. Maya Angelou to Questlove and Colman Domingo. He delivers cutting edge art using a multimedia platform, specializing in transforming ideas into experiences.

Thursday, June 19

Friday, June 20

6 pm to 9 pm. Cocktail reception and Meet and Greet with the artists: Emmai Alaquiva and Sharisse Scott-Rawlins.

Thursday, June 19 – 21

The art work of Emmai Alaquiva Transference A Mixed Media Evolution” by Emmai Alaquiva is a multimedia experience that will be showcased at MV Salads. Alaquiva, once homeless, is now a four-time Emmy Award-winning film director/photographer for Roc Nation, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, CBS Sports Network, Brooklyn Public Library, AMAZON, BMW, and more. Additionally, he is a wellseasoned TEDx speaker and has worked with some of the world’s

Poetry Reading with Sharisse Scott-Rawlins This segment will feature the poetry of Sharisse Scott-Rawlins from her debut collection, Safe Space, releasing Summer 2025. Written on the sacred shores of Inkwell Beach, Safe Space is a deeply personal journey through two decades of poetic reflection. At the edge of ink and ocean, Sharisse found her rhythm—first as a young girl, then time and again as she grew into womanhood, returning each summer to write, heal, and evolve. The evening will include a selection of pieces, with a few soulful surprises along the way—featuring special guests curated to elevate the vibes and celebrate the spirit of creative communion. 6 pm to 9 pm

Saturday, June 21

Fashion show with Sharisse Scott-Rawlins This showcase is a celebration of youth, art, culture, and identity — Sharisse ScottRawlins will feature students from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School as models, placing the next generation at the center of this empowering moment. Through one-of-a-kind designs, the showcase honors the royalty within us and the richness that our diversity creates. It’s a vibrant community initiative — uplifting, unforgettable, and deeply rooted in purpose. Sharisse’s work celebrates confidence, individuality, and equality. As an inclusive designer, she creates pieces that make every person feel seen, celebrated, and uniquely golden. 6 pm to 9 pm Check out Sharisse’s website bySharisse.com and her Instagram accounts @bysharisse @sharisse.speaks EARLY SUMMER 2025

2025 SCHEDULE

MARTHA’S VINEYARD’S FAVORITE ICE CREAM SINCE 1971 EDGARTOWN

7 N Water Street

OAK BLUFFS

12 Circuit Avenue

OPEN DAILY 11 AM - 11 PM

VINEYARD HAVEN 24 Union Street

EDIE BLAKE

Things to do _ JAWS EVENTS

THE ‘AMITY ISLAND’ SUMMER OF ‘74

JAWS 50TH

Kids fleeing the water in response to a prank played by two boys with a floating shark fin.

The ‘Amity Island’

Summer of ‘74 How the real Martha’s Vineyard made it to Hollywood. BY PATRICK PHILLIPS

t’s been fifty years since Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” took over Martha’s Vineyard and transformed it into Amity Island. Back then, the summer before its 1975 Hollywood debut, the real Vineyard was a much simpler place. The yearround Island population, only about 4,800, swelled with tourists and seasonal residents over the

summer then as it does now, but it was much quieter. And, if a summer tourist season failed it could be a long, cold winter for locals. The makers of Jaws got that tension between the summer tourist season and the year-round locals who need to sustain long after the summer crowds have packed up and left. A Great White shark could indeed kill a summer.

But, just ahead of the 1974 season, 50 years ago in late April, as Memorial Day was fast approaching, Universal Studios with a mechanized shark named “Bruce” was actually pouring money into local coffers to make the movie. The making of “Jaws” could even be considered the Vineyard’s Hollywood ‘closeup,’ putting the Island on the map across America and

around the world. Locals lucky enough to become extras were getting up to $150 dollars a day as a cast member. When the word went out that they needed “a powerful [female] swimmer willing to swim nude,” as Crissie Watkins in the opening shark attack scene, local women stepped up. In that scene ominous music builds, and to this day haunts the minds of just about EARLY SUMMER 2025

JAWS 50TH

THE ‘AMITY ISLAND’ SUMMER OF ‘74

Onlookers in 1974 catching glimpses of “Jaws” filming in Edgartown. PHOTOS EDITH BLAKE

anyone who has seen “Jaws.” Universal spent big in that summer of ‘74 — $700,000 (1975 dollars) for the marketing budget alone, for the nationwide release. Jaws opened in over 400 theaters, and its global receipts were over $2.8 billion in today’s dollars. Martha’s Vineyard, a real place with real people, was on the map, and Amity Island, a fictitious place named for a town on Long Island, was born. (“National Geographic” is premiering a behind the scenes documentary “Jaws at 50” on at the Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs on June 20. See below.) Jaws is, at its core, a tourism and fishing story, a tale of the tensions that run through a small island where locals who have fished for generations contend with the rich and famous arriving for the summer to have fun. At that time the year round Vineyard was indeed a tourism, fishing (and farming) Island. 12

Turning the lens on local-people and their impact, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum starts the season off with their own “Jaws at 50,” opening May 24. MV Museum celebrates many of the on-screen and behind the scenes Islanders. “We really want this exhibit to be seen through the lens of the island,” says MV Museum’s curator of exhibitions Anna Barber. “This is where it happened. This is ground zero, and I hope that all the people who come leave with a better understanding of how the magic of that movie could not have occurred without the Island and its people.” The Museum’s exhibit will feature rare photographs, oral histories, original art, and movie props, showcasing how Martha’s Vineyard became the fictional Amity Island. We have a write up of the show in these pages. As an example of local impact, the film’s casting crew set up

shop in the Kelly house in March 1974 and offered Ozzie Fischer, a Chilmark farmer, a role he turned down, “I was running the Keith farm” in Chilmark. But, local photojournalist Jini Poole, wife of Menemsha fish retailer Everett

Poole, was hired to assist Shari Rhodes, the Jaws casting director. Jini cast local Peggy Scott as “Polly,” Chief Brody’s office manager. The real life Dr. Robert Nevin was cast as the Medical Examiner, Hershel West played Quint’s

Onlookers in 1974 catching glimpses of “Jaws” filming in Edgartown.

THE ‘AMITY ISLAND’ SUMMER OF ‘74

JAWS 50TH

casting call for Christie Watkins: needing a “strong swimmer willing to swim nude.” The opening shark attack scene starts with a classic Vineyard tradition of a nighttime fire on the beach, with long haired teens, guitar playing and Falstaff beer. Then it cuts into glances, flirtation, and Chrissie running easily across a dune, Tom Cassidy (played by seasonal resident Jonathan Filley) stumbling behind. Then to surprising nudity, Chrissie diving in and swimming, the water glistening in moonlight. And then it begins: the ominous music that would live forever in the minds of all of us who have seen “Jaws.” Then screams, being dragged back and forth across the screen — and silent disappearance. The whole scene takes less than 4 minutes. Just four minutes to shock a nation and be seared in our memories. The shock recedes fast when you see how the filming is done, when you know the story behind the story. There is a free premier of National Geographic’s “Jaws at 50” on June 20 at the Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs, and watch out for listings on how to see the film through the summer. Thanks in part to the ocean conservation and marine policy advocate work of Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws, and his wife Wendy Benchley, sharks, and Great Whites in particular, are now respected, even revered, instead of just feared. The documentary will feature footage and photography from the Benchley and Spielberg archives, as well as interviews from the worlds of film, literature, and popular culture. The event will wrap with an after party at the Harbor View Hotel. Then there’s poor Alex Kintner. He only asked his mom if he could go in the water one last time. He’s the second human to die in Jaws, just after the Black Lab Pippin disappears. Turns out, Alex Kintner is alive, sort of. In real life he was played by Jeffery Vorhees. Vorhees is the long-serving and recently retired manager of The Wharf in Edgartown. Be sure to read our

interview with Vorhees in this issue by the acclaimed Island writer, Nicole Galland, who was here with her family that summer as the film was being made. From June 20 through 22 The Wharf presents Jaws 50th, where you might have a “Kintner-sighting.” As part of this three-day event, a full scale model of the Orca will be docked at Nancy’s in Oak Bluffs, with its lifesize model of a Great White shark mounted outside. And again there is that music which lurks in the recesses of fear: Daah dum. Daah dum. Daah dum, dum, dum, dum … In Katama on June 21, Jaws’ musical score, by John Williams, will be played live under the stars by the Cape Symphony, accompanying an outdoor Jaws screening. It’s the kind of immersive cultural experience that might rekindle youthful beach fires of decades past, nighttime swims, and could knit new memories, very near to where Chrissie’s arm was found. These words, this issue of Vineyard Visitor, the big celebration of a significant, and in some ways transformative, moment in Vineyard history, wouldn’t have happened without locals, without beaches, without the ocean around us, without sharks. It would all have been a passing summer, on a tranquil and beautiful Island off the coast of Massachusetts. But, it did happen because this Island was this Island, seven miles from the mainland dock in Woods Hole. Imagine: It’s fifty years ago. There was no phone in your pocket, no internet. You’re at the bow of the Naushon, and the ferry is just pulling away from the dock. It’s June 30th 1975. July 4th is coming on Friday, and you’ve left the world behind. Ahead is your imagination. Standing at the bow of the Naushon you have no idea you’re about to be filmed by an unknown director for an unknown movie, and there at the Vineyard Haven dock will be shark paraphernalia for you to buy (including small jaws.)

Steven Spielberg, on set, directing “Jaws.”

“Jaws” opened in over 400 theaters, and its global receipts were over $2.8 billion in today’s dollars. Martha’s Vineyard, a real place with real people, was on the map, and Amity Island, a fictitious place named for a town on Long Island, was born. deckhand. Robert Carroll was the Amity town selectman. Poole also cast her father in law, Captain Donald L. Poole and John Alley, of Alley’s General Store fame, as well as her own children, Katharine and Donald, for the movie,” according to the Vineyard Gazette at the time. For more about “local characters” see the “In Memoriam” story in this issue. The first week of May, 1974, Jaws was set for filming and the Island caught glimpses. It was cold, and Spielberg and his team were shooting scenes for late June on hot summer days. For the scene, Crissie Watkins’ arm and

hand stuck up out of the sand, with seaweed and crabs crawling over it. And, out of sight, the owner of the arm lay on the sand, cold in a sleeping bag. Gerald Kelly wrote, “The prop man … poured warm coffee on the crabs … They wriggled … People joked … Can a severed arm have goose bumps?” Those “Technicolor” summer scenes had locals shivering off set and a bit steamed about the process. John Alley, an extra who walked ahead of Chief Brody on a dock, one day had had enough and quit. Larger than life local, Susan Backlinie responded to a

EARLY SUMMER 2025

JAWS 50TH

JAWS IN MEMORIAM

Lee Fierro, Mrs. Kintner Fierro, a former New York actress, had moved to Martha’s Vineyard to raise her family a few years before “Jaws” was filmed. Her role as Alex Kintner’s mother required her to famously slap Roy Scheider across the face; she was also supposed to swear at him, but begged out of using foul language. Lee remained an instrumental part of Island Theatre Workshop as a teacher, actor and director until a few years before her death. She died in 2020.

Roy Scheider, Actor, Amity’s Chief of Police Martin Brody According to Jaws lore, the much-quoted quip “You’re going to need a bigger boat” became a catchphrase during the problem-plagued production of the film and was not written in the script. While shooting, Roy Scheider improvised and used the line; director Steven Spielberg kept it in the film, and the rest is cinema history. Roy Scheider died in 2008.

Lee Fiero as mourning Mrs. Kintner, Alex’s mom, with Roy Scheider, Captain Brody, on set.

EDIE BLAKE

Robert Shaw & Craig Kingsbury, Quint & his inspiration Shaw was a refined, Oscar-nominated British actor; Kingsbury was the larger-than-life local fish-

Murray Hamilton – Mayor Vaughn of Amity Hamilton had been a versatile and successful character actor for decades before being cast in his career-defining role in Jaws. His Broadway acting career includ-

Jaws in MEMORIAM It took an Island. BY NICOLE GALLAND AND KATE FEIFFER

Robert "Doc" Nevin, Medical Examiner A beloved Edgartown native, Nevin was a dyed-in-the-wool country doctor who made house calls right up until the month before he died. He was the real-life medical examiner when Mary Jo Kopechne died (although he was on vacation and 14

his deputy was on call that night). Doc, as he was known to nearly everyone, was known for both his poker-faced (and often risqué) humor and his deep empathy and generosity toward his patients, accepting payment in barter when cash was tight. He died in 1997.

Barbara Nevin, Production Secretary

“Bobbie,” Dr. Robert Nevin’s wife, was coaxed into the position of production secretary and enjoyed casually introducing the film’s celebrity leads to her friends and family. A larger-than-life Island citizen herself, Nevin had a knack for hosting social events that brought together islanders from up and down the socioeconomic ladder. She went on to

open a high-end real estate agency. She wrote an (unpublished) novel, “Enisled,” based loosely on her experience working on “Jaws.” Nevin died in 2002. Susan Backlinie, Chrissie, the shark’s first victim In response to a casting request for strong swimmers willing to work nude, Backlinie submitted her photo; Spielberg hired her for the iconic, terrifying scene of the shark’s first attack – famously effective because it never shows the shark. Wearing cut-off jeans with ropes attached, she was actually being hauled through in open water by two groups of men – a dangerous stunt that she often spoke of with relish in interviews. Backlinnie died in 2024.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

erman hired to be his role model. “(Craig) was the purest version of who, in my mind, Quint really was,” Spielberg said. He requested that Shaw spend every possible moment with Kingsbury; clearly it paid off. Kingsbury also had a small role as a doomed shark-hunter – his rolling head is one of the film’s famous shock moments. Shaw died in 1978; Kingsbury, in 2002.

Susan Backlinie, known for her role in “Jaws” as Chrissie Watkins, died May 11, 2024, at age 77.

JAWS IN MEMORIAM

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Actor Chris Rebello played Chief Brody’s son, Michael, remembered for this iconic scene in the water under the “Jaws Bridge.”

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Chris Rebello, Actor, Michael Brody Chief Brody’s son Chris Rebello was in Priscilla Sylvia’s fifth grade class at the Oak Bluffs School when he got cast in “Jaws.” Filming began in May and his class got to walk to East Chop to visit him on the set and see his trailer. After Chris shot a scene in one take, Steven Spielberg was said to have commented,“I wish Robert Shaw had seen that.” Chris Rebello died in 2000. Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, Producers The team of Zanuck/Brown, fresh off the success of their Academy award winning film “The Sting,” bought the rights to Peter Benchley’s debut novel for $250,000, hired a young Steven Spielberg to direct, and in 1975 released what became the first summer blockbuster film. Amazing, yes, but it wasn’t easy. During filming, Zanuck and Brown had to

contend with an uncooperative shark named Bruce, significant budget overrides, and the complaints of cast and crew who were stuck filming on the Vineyard for months in often inhospitable weather. Richard D. Zanuck died in 2012; David Brown in 2010. Peter Benchley, Author “Jaws” “Jaws,” published in 1974 (Doubleday), was Peter Benchley’s first novel. The book became a breakout bestseller and the source material for the film that forever changed the movie industry and ocean swimming. Benchley, who co-wrote the screenplay with Carl Gottlieb, later spent decades raising awareness about the important role sharks play in the ocean’s eco-system and lamented in a 2015 interview that “there was a spasm of macho lunacy after ‘Jaws’ came out.” Peter Benchley died in 2006. Verna Fields, Film editor Veteran film editor Verna Fields won the Academy Award for editing “Jaws” in 1975. It was a particularly good year for films and other nominees included “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Dog Day Afternoon.” Verna Fields died in 1982.

Edith “Edie” Blake, Still photographer Most of the great photographs from the filming of Jaws came from Edie Blake’s camera. After meeting the filmmakers and warning them off against filming on Chappaquiddick, she was given exclusive access to the set. Her book “On Location… in Martha’s Vineyard: The Making of the Movie ‘Jaws’” was published in 1975. Edith Blake died in 2023.

Roger Kastel, Book cover and poster artist Kastel painted the shark and designed the cover for the paperback edition of “Jaws” — the cover of the hardcover edition was designed by Paul Bacon who passed away in 2015. Bantam Books gave Universal Studios the rights to use Kastel’s image on what became one of the most iconic movie posters ever created. Roger Kastel died in 2023.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

ed a Tony nomination; his TV credits ranged from Golden Girls to The Twilight Zone, and his movie career included four Oscar-nominated films including The Graduate, in which he played Anne Bancroft’s husband. He reprised his role as Mayor for Jaws 2. Hamilton died in 1986.

The iconic “Jaws” poster was created by Roger Kastel.

EARLY SUMMER 2025

JAWS AT 50

A DEEPER DIVE

“‘Jaws’ at 50 a deeper dive.” BY ABBY REMER

shark, reminding us of its ominous lurking presence signaled by the famed soundtrack. You can get up close and personal at this exhibit, staring straight into the creature’s mouth in a commissioned scale model that runs from the tip of its pointy snout to its gills. The model was sponsored by museum supporters Jennifer and Jonathan Blum. “It’s a way for people to come faceto-face with Bruce,” says Barber. Climb aboard a scale replica of the interior of the Orca that will be on exhibit from June 19–23 during the Museum’s Amity Homecoming Weekend festivities. Standing before the evocative black-and-white and color photographs, designs, and storyboard drawings transport us back to 1974 and reveal how various locations on the Island were transformed into the fictional Amity. The simply designed newsprint

poster for a “Jaws” showing at the Island Theater to benefit the M.V. Hospital reveals how the Vineyard capitalized on the film’s wild success to help its community.

“Jaws” memorabilia, such as a plastic souvenir cup with its distinctive logo, reminds us that Hollywood spent some $700,000 (over $4.2 million in today’s dollars) to market the movie, helping to bring a taste of our Island to countless fans across the globe. The show also investigates

shark science through interactive displays and conservation insights in partnership with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Barber says, “It’s about the awareness that we’re sharing the waters with great white sharks, both as life-imitating art and in appreciating how incredible sharks are.” While The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is doing a huge exhibition revisiting the film scene by scene, Barber reflects on the unique perspective the Museum is taking. “This is where it happened. This is ground zero, and I hope that all the people who come leave with a better understanding of how the magic of that movie could not have occurred without the Island and its people. Without this place, there would be no ‘Jaws.’” “Jaws” at 50: A Deeper Dive is on view at the M.V. Museum through September 27.

PHOTOS: COURTESY M.V. MUSEUM

entral to the M.V. Museum’s celebration of all things “Jaws” is its large-scale summer exhibition “‘Jaws’ at 50: A Deeper Dive.” The show illuminates the special role the Island and its people had in creating a film that took the world by storm – and still does. “We really want this exhibit to be seen through the lens of the island,” says curator of exhibitions Anna Barber. “We started from the place of not wanting it just to be about the movie, but about how Martha’s Vineyard became Amity and the people who helped to make that happen.” Barber and associate curator of exhibition Kate Logue bring the behind-the-scenes story to life through oral histories, fan art, movie props, film clips, and still images, including those taken by Vineyard journalist Edie Blake and Island artist Jackie Baer. “Edie and Jackie were capturing these moments. I think it’s important to bring people to the forefront besides Spielberg and actors who were part of it.” In addition to photos of locals, we get to see Bruce, the mechanical

JAWS at 50

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PHOTOS EDITH BLAKE

JAWS AT THE MUSEUM

“Quint” and “Matt Hooper” on set.

Bruce the mechanical shark.

MV MUSEUM T

he M.V. Museum is bursting with exciting programming around the summer’s “‘Jaws’ at 50: A Deeper Dive”. Laurel Redington reflects on devising the lineup: “You can easily and quickly become overwhelmed by the tidal wave of options and ideas. I started at square one with the first person who came to mind, Wendy Benchley.” Benchley, widow of “Jaws” author Peter Benchley, subsequently recommended the next person, who would recommend the next. The June Amity Homecoming Weekend features special events, guest speakers, family activities, behind-the-scenes insights, and an opportunity to connect with fellow fans. On Friday, June 20, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, research librarian, historian, and “Jaws” expert Bow Van Riper, who has authored 11 books on pop culture, will take fans on an in-depth exploration of what makes “Jaws” a masterpiece. Riper will use film clips and stills to dive into the source material, plot, characters, setting, and sus-

pense, contributing to the film's status as an enduring classic. On Saturday, June 21, from 1 to 2:30 pm, Christopher Shaw Meyers, Robert (“Quint”) Shaw’s nephew, will share firsthand stories in “Growing Up with ‘Uncle Quint’: Life on the Set of ‘Jaws’ and Beyond.” Redington says, “Chris will talk about what Robert was really thinking while filming his death scene, how he felt about Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfus, and if ‘Jaws’ is just a summer thriller or one of the greatest films of all time.” Later, from 4 to 5 pm, is “Wendy Benchley: Half Century Reflections from ‘Jaws’ to Ocean Conservation.” Benchley will reflect on her journey from the movie set on Martha’s Vineyard to the far reaches of the world, where she and her late husband, Peter Benchley, joined National Geographic on groundbreaking ocean research expeditions, bringing to life the challenges and triumphs of their advocacy for shark conservation. Redington says, “Wendy will discuss her five decades of scuba diving and the experiences that

fueled their efforts to advance marine policies and protect the world's oceans. She has this remarkable ability to intertwine history, personal experience, and global environmental advocacy.” “Meet Joe Alves: ‘Jaws’ and Beyond” will occur on Sunday, June 22, from 11 am to 12:30 pm. Biographer Dennis Prince will converse with Alves, the production designer of "Jaws," about his impressive 40-year career in film and television design, including “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” with a particular emphasis on “Jaws.” Emmy awardwinning actor-producer Jeffrey Kramer, Deputy Hendricks, presents “‘Jaws’: A Personal Journey” from 2 to 3:30 pm. Kramer will divulge personal stories with insider details about filming “Jaws” on the Vineyard and among the land sharks of Hollywood. The museum will offer additional programming throughout the summer. Two events in July include “Shark Smarts: Understanding Our Ocean Friends” on Tuesday, July 22, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Kristen Smith, commu-

nity engagement manager for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, will present young participants with true and false statements that address common misconceptions about sharks. These statements will cover the fundamentals of shark biology and local shark research in Massachusetts. From 5 pm to 6 pm, Smith will present an adult program titled “‘Jaws’ vs. Reality: The Truth About Great White Sharks,” which examines how “Jaws” shaped public perception of white sharks while addressing the myths and misconceptions it propagated. Smith will highlight current advancements in white shark research, including tracking technology and conservation efforts transforming our understanding of these apex predators. This program aims to differentiate fact from fiction, fostering a more informed perspective on one of the ocean’s most misunderstood creatures. More programming is in the works. For details and further information, visit: mvmuseum.org/events/ EARLY SUMMER 2025

JAWS 50th

LIVING IN ‘AMITY’ WITH SHARKS

Living with great whites requires habitat awareness.

Living in ‘Amity’ WITH SHARKS Greg Skomal teaches us how to coexist with the Atlantic great white. BY ELLA MUNNELLY

LIVING IN ‘AMITY’ WITH SHARKS

mity means “friendship,” and Dr. Greg Skomal believes we can coexist peacefully with the ocean’s great apex predator, the shark. After the 1975 global hit movie “Jaws”, and its “kill or be killed” message, this big fish has gained a lot of media attention over the years, and with it came a very bad rep. Skomal lived on the Island for 23 years, and is one of the leading shark experts in the country. He is an accomplished marine biologist and underwater explorer working to reveal the true nature of the ocean’s most charismatic and controversial predator, the Atlantic Great White shark. In recent years gray seals have returned to the Island’s surrounding waters, and along with them their natural predators. For the first time in centuries, these sharks can be found in large numbers along the beaches during the summer and fall months. “If we have sustainable populations of sharks you're going to have the potential for negative interactions between sharks and people, because of that there's a tendency for people to want to get rid of sharks but that would be bad for the ocean. We need to learn to live together,” said Skomal. In August 2012, the first confirmed white shark attack in almost 80 years occurred in the region, Tagging a great white. and since then there have been five more confirmed attacks. In response to this, some have called for shark culls, nets, drone surveillance, and other extreme solutions. On a statistical scale, these attacks are still very rare, but the sudden increase is something worth recognizing. Skomal believes, from a conservation standpoint, we need to know where, when, and how these sharks hunt their prey so that we can learn how to coexist with them. Skomals team uses three main technologies to track the behavior of the Great White. Satellite tags reveal that Great White sharks are not just a coastal species but they migrate offshore into deep ocean waters of the Atlantic, “We're talking about a species that's far more broadly distributed than we realized,” said Skomal. He also uses acoustic technology, which he said is “high frequency pings that are picked up through an array of receivers that we've put out throughout Massachusetts. We have a strong sense of when white sharks arrive, where they spend their time, and when they leave.” This technology has revealed that peak months are generally August, September, and October. They have also found that when it comes to Martha's Vineyard, the great whites nearby tend to be moving through, because the Island currently doesn't have a high density of seals. They also employ new camera tag technology to study behavior. “We put camera tags on white sharks and follow them around over the course

JAWS 50th

of a couple of days to get a sense of how they live. We're studying really fine scale behavior and getting high resolution data so we can see how the average shark spends its average day,” said Skomal. Skomal suggests that people look for the signs of sharks and seals in an area before swimming. “Keep in mind that the probability of a shark bite is really, really small,” said Skomal, “don’t swim alone, don't go out too deep, and don't swim in areas where there's seals.” When it comes to shark mitigation methods, Skomal said, “the bottom line is that there is really no 100 percent effective, fool-proof way that is going to guarantee your security in the ocean from a shark bite.” In 2021, the Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life was launched, which is a community-driven project of BiodiversityWorks and the Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation. The program is working to document the unique biodiversity of Martha’s Vineyard, and seeks to inspire and support nature enthusiasts, with the goal of a community that understands and protects the biodiversity of the Island. Luanne Johnson is the founder and director of BiodiversityWorks, an organization focused specifically on wildlife monitoring and research Great white named Turbo. across the Island. “We launched this atlas of life as an effort to bring all that information together and make the biodiversity of Martha's Vineyard available to the public in one place,” said Johnson. “Our work here is ensuring that the next seven generations of Islanders can witness and be in awe of the abundance of biodiversity that we have here on the Island. It's a shame how much we've lost already compared to when the first people were here, and we'd like to at least preserve what's here now,” said Johnson. Johnson shared that Skomal is a regular reader of the program's monthly newsletter, and after speaking with him about the increase in fish sightings, they invited him to come do a presentation for the Island about sharks. Skomal shared his research on the evening of June 17 at the Performing Arts Center at the Regional High School. In response to some extreme shark mitigation methods, Johnson said, “When you start taking out an apex predator you disrupt everything in a system. Nature does not produce any junk, it all has a purpose, it all has a niche in the environment, everybodies got their space in the ecosystem, predators and prey all fit into the beautiful web of life and it's all important.” We have come far from the era when the only good shark was a dead shark. As Matt Hooper would say, “That shark isn’t evil. It’s not a murderer. It’s just obeying its own instincts.”

PHOTOS COURTESY GREG SKOMAL

Skomal believes, from a conservation standpoint, we need to know where, when, and how these sharks hunt their prey so that we can learn how to coexist with them.

EARLY SUMMER 2025

JAWS 50th

MEETING THE DEAD ’ALEX KINTNER’

DENA PORTER

Jeffrey Voorhees on the beach where he (as Alex Kintner) asked his mom if he could go in the water one last time.

MEETING THE DEAD ’ALEX KINTNER’

JAWS 50th

Meeting the dead

‘Alex Kintner’ C

An interview with the Island’s own Jeffrey Voorhees. BY NICOLE GALLAND

all it fateful irony. go into town and ask people, ‘Want me to In 1974, the Voorhees family had shovel your drive?’ Kids don’t do that kind just moved to Martha’s Vineyard, of thing anymore.” and (by Island standards) weren’t Into this quiet small-town scene came even real Islanders, at least not yet. Stephen Spielberg and his Hollywood cast Then, as fate would have it, the middle and crew to make what would become one child, Jeffrey, 12, was chosen to be cast in a of the biggest blockbusters in the history of role that was, ironically, intended for a clas- cinema. “We lived on Upper Main Street sic “Island kid.” in Edgartown,” Jeff recalls, “so it was an Now, 50 years later, it is Jeffrey Voorhees easy walk down to the Kelley House (where who is publicly, and indelibly identified with the production office was). The Island was the Vineyard as Alex Kintner, the young boy buzzing with the news that locals could who begs his Mom, despite the shark warnwalk in, sign up, and get $40 a day to be ings, to go into the water with his yellow raft, an extra. When I showed up, they gave me becoming the second shark victim in “Jaws.” some papers with lines to read, and then Jeff says, “When we got here [to the told me I had a speaking part, which meant Vineyard], there were so many families with 20 or 30 cousins, and then Alex Kintner on his raft with the there was me and my shark below ... brother and sister, who didn’t have any cousins.” They had moved here from Connecticut because their mother’s boyfriend had family on Chappaquiddick. The Vineyard was very different then. “Most things closed for the season on Labor Day,” Jeff remembers. “The place became a ghost town. You knew everyone in the winter, and once the Dairy Queen closed, there was so little to do. There was no internet, of course, but sometimes COURTESY: JEFFREY VOORHEES you could hardly even get TV reception. It was fun growing up in that era because you I got $140 a day. I said yes, because that had no choice: you had to go out and find meant, hey, I could buy some new shoes.” something to do, so you really got to know Alex Kintner is the boy whose mother your friends and neighbors. It was tighter, reluctantly allows him into the water. He I think. We would do things, we’d offer to is paddling out in his raft as the ominous shuck scallops, or whenever it snowed, we’d soundtrack of peril which is the queue of

the shark begins a steady crescendo, and Alex Kintner ends up dying in an explosion of blood — the first actual gore in the film. The scene of the attack required five days to film, because it took hours between each take for all the fake blood to be swept away by currents. Vineyard waters famously take until early July to warm up; this was happening in June. Laughing about Spielberg’s direction, Jeff says, “Every time Stephen said I had to get back in I thought, ‘Oh, God, no!’” This is a sentiment shared, over decades, by the many locals who were extras in the beach scene and remember how frigid the water was as they filmed take after take. “Jaws” became a worldwide phenomenon the following summer. But that summer during the filming, most tourists were still most interested in a different and real-life scene of Vineyard tragedy: Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick. That is, of course, where the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy drove his car into the water after a late night of partying, killing Mary Jo Kopechne, a secretary for his brother Robert’s presidential campaign before he was assassinated in 1968. Jeff worked on the Chappy ferry as a kid, and recalls streams of visitors crossing over to the islet to see the bridge and to ponder the geography. But soon, tourists’ interest shifted away; and many came to the Vineyard to see where “Jaws” was filmed. Jeff, now 62, remained rooted here his whole life, working for decades (until retiring recently) as the manager of the Wharf, a restaurant on lower Main Street in Edgartown. EARLY SUMMER 2025

MEETING THE DEAD ’ALEX KINTNER’

"Alex Kintner’s last day at the beach."

As curious visitors began to hear “Alex Kintner is alive and well and working in Edgartown,” people gravitated toward The Wharf to catch a glimpse of him, and sometimes to ask for autographs. Eventually, people mailed him photos or posters to sign, and included money for return postage. He was happy to do it. This was just a glimmer of what became an explosion of “Jaws”-related fandom. As the movie attained its popular cult-favorite status, an entire industry developed around it. Its actors were invited to travel to events all over the planet, where they’d get paid to speak about the infamously challenging experience of filming “Jaws,” as well as sign autographs. Jeffrey avoided all the hoopla for a while –– until, in the 1990s, the internet changed everything. One of those mementos he’d signed and mailed back. He found it for sale online for $100. “Other people were making money off my signature!” So he signed on to the junkets, and found he enjoyed being flown, fed, and paid well (usually in cash) to sign his name 22

second victim.” He doesn’t do it only for the money. “It makes people so happy,” he says warmly. “Once there was an 11-year-old girl with a raft, crying because she didn’t care about meeting Richard Dreyfuss, she wanted to meet me. So she did, and I signed her raft, and she walked away with a big smile. That feels good.” His identity as “the dead Alex Kintner” has benefitted Jeff in other ways as well. Potential Key West landlords balked at renting to a pet owner (Jeff has a 150-pound St. Bernard), but “it turned out they’re big ‘Jaws’ fans, and they said, ‘If you sign a photo you can stay, and we won’t charge extra for the dog.’” Once, returning from a signing event in Europe with “more cash than you’re supposed to travel with,” he was held up by a grumpy customs and immigration agent, who softened when he learned he was detaining Alex Kintner, because his wife was a “Jaws” fan. He asked Jeff for his autograph, and let him go. As the 50th anniversary of the film’s release approaches, Jeff is preparing for a summer like no other. His schoolmate Dolores (DeeDee) Borza convinced him to ride along with the “Jaws”themed tours for her company, Homegrown Tours. At first he did it about four times a week, and visitors loved his spiel. He pulled back to doing just one tour a week, but for the fourday anniversary extravaganza, he’ll be doing two tours a day. These are already sold out, but for those of you on the Island at other times this summer, you can book a tour right here: www.homegrowntoursllc.com. Although Jeff spends his winters in Key West now, the Vineyard will always be home. “Yes, it’s become too expensive here,” he says, “and I feel for young families trying to buy houses. But this morning, I was running the dog down the beach where I got eaten –– that’s a good life!” PHOTOS COURTESY: JEFFREY VOORHEES

JAWS 50th

“The Island was buzzing with the news that locals could walk in, sign up, and get $40 a day to be an extra. When I showed up, they gave me some papers with lines to read, and then told me I had a speaking part, which meant I got $140 a day.” beside Susan Backlinie (who played Chrissy Watkins), Richard Dreyfuss, and others. Jeff is an entertaining and engaging raconteur. He has at least a dozen monologues, mostly about the trials and tribulations of the actual filming (although a fan favorite is his about his public reunion years later with Lee Fierro, who played his mother). But over the years he’s amassed anecdotes about these publicity events themselves. Until she passed away last year, he was usually placed next to Backlinie, whose autograph included “the first victim.” Jeff would then sign the same item, “the

Nicole Galland is a New York Times bestselling novelist, most recently of “BOY.” She grew up in West Tisbury, and has been known to direct and perform theater in sundry Island spots.

maps

PULL OUT MAPS Getting around the Island

Airports: Martha’s Vineyard Airport 71 Airport Rd., Edgartown, 508-693-7022; mvyairport.com Katama Airfield 12 Mattakesett Way, Edgartown, 508-627-0421; katamaairfield.com Auto rentals: A-A Auto Rentals Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, MV Airport, 800-627-6333; mvautorental.com Adventure Rentals 19 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1959; islandadventuremv.com AVIS Car Rentals 71 Airport Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2226 Budget Rent-A-Car Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, 508-693-1911; budgetmv.com DeBettencourt Enterprises 31 Circuit Ave. Ext., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0011 Hertz Rent-A-Car 72 Airport Rd., Edgartown, 508-693-2402; hertz.com Sun ‘N Fun Jeep Rentals 28 Lake Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-5457; sunnfunrentals.com

All Star Martha’s Vineyard Bike Rentals 5 Oak Bluffs Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0062; marthasvineyardbikerentals.com Anderson’s Bike Rentals 23 Circuit Ave. Ext., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9346; andersonsbikerentals.com Cycleworks 351 State Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6966 Edgartown Bicycles 212 Upper Main St., Edgartown, 508-627-9008; edgartownbicycles.com Island Hoppers 23 Lake St., Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9147 King’s Rentals 1 Circuit Ave. Ext., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-1887; mvmopeds.com Martha’s Bike Rentals 4 Lagoon Pond Rd., Vineyard Haven, 833-362-7842; marthasbikerentals.com MVeBike-Oak Bluffs Bike Rental 15 Circuit Ave Extension, 508-693-0515, mvebike.com Pedego Martha’s Vineyard (bike and electric bike rentals and sales) 9 Oak Bluffs Avenue, 508-693-0515 pedegomarthasvineyard.com Ride-on Mopeds 9 Oak Bluffs Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-1887; mvmopeds.com R.W. Cutler Bike Rentals 1 Main St., Edgartown, 800-627-2763; marthasvineyardbike.com

Bikes and Mopeds: Adventure Rentals 19 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1959; islandadventuremv.com

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#1 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd. #2 W. Tisbury–Vineyard Haven via Lambert’s Cove Rd., and Old County Rd. #3 W. Tisbury–Vineyard Haven via State Rd. #4 W. Tisbury–Chilmark– Menemsha via North Rd.

#5 W. Tisbury–Chilmark– Aquinnah via South Rd. #6 Edgartown–Airport–W. Tisbury #7 Oak Bluffs–Airport–Hospital via County Rd./Barnes Rd. #8 Edgartown–South Beach #9 Oak Bluffs–Hospital–Airport via Barnes Rd./County Rd.

#10 Tisbury Park-n-Ride #10 West Chop loop #13 Edgartown–Oak Bluffs– Vineyard Haven via Beach Rd.

For more information visit vineyardtransit.com

Sun ‘N Fun Rentals 28 Lake Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-5457; sunnfunrentals.com Wheel Happy Bikes 8 South Water St., Upper Main St., Edgartown, 508-627-5928; wheelhappybicycles.com

Martha’s Vineyard Tours and Excursions 508-654-0381; marthasvineyardexcursions.com MV Sightseeing 23 Lake Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-627-8687; mvtour.com

Ferries: Chappy Ferry 53 Daggett Ave., Edgartown, 508-627-9427; chappyferry.com. Year-round, vehicles and passengers, service between Edgartown and Chappaquiddick Island. Edgartown Ferry (Pied Piper) 508-548-9400; falmouthedgartownferry.com. Passengers only, departs from Falmouth May 24- Sept. 2. Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry 278 Scranton Ave., Edgartown, 508-548-9400; falmouthedgartownferry.com Hy-Line Cruises 800-492-8082; hylinecruises.com Passenger only, service between Hyannis and Oak Bluffs and Nantucket through October. Island Queen 508-548-4800; islandqueen.com Passenger only, departs from Falmouth and Oak Bluffs. Menemsha Bike Ferry North Rd., 508-645-5154. Passengers and bikes. Seasonal service between Menemsha and West Basin, Aquinnah. MV Tours and Transport 508-939-1359; mvtransportandtours.com Patriot 508-548-2626; Year-round, passenger service between Falmouth and Oak Bluffs. Seastreak 1 Seaview Ave., 1-800-262-8743; seastreak.com. Seasonal, passenger only, service between Boston, New Bedford, and Martha’s Vineyard. Steamship Authority Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven, 508-693-9130; steamshipauthority.com. Year-round, vehicles and passengers, service between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard. Vineyard Fast Ferry 401-295-4040; vineyardfastferry.com Passenger only, service between Quonset Point, Rhode Island and Oak Bluffs from May to October.

Gas Stations: Vineyard Haven Coastal 378 State Rd., 508-693-7786 Tisbury Shell 40 Beach Rd., 508-696-7275 Citgo/ Xtra-Mart 7 Beach Rd., 508-693-9316

Buses: Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority (VTA) 508-693-9440; vineyardtransit.com Public buses available at ferry terminals. The Lift (For elderly and disabled) 508-693-9440; disabilityinfo.org/records/the-lift

Oak Bluffs Cottage City Texaco 83 New York Ave., 508-693-0751; yellowpages.com DeBettencourt Nelson J. & Sons 83 New York Ave. Phillips 66/ Jim’s Package Store 27 Lake Ave., 508-693-0236; jimspackagestore.com Edgartown Chappy Service Station 219 Chappaquiddick Rd. 219 Depot Corner Mobil 141 Upper Main St., 508-627-1299 Edgartown Mobil 199 Upper Main St., 508-627-4715; exxon.com

Shell 3 N. Line Rd., 508- 338-7884

Up-Island: Aquinnah, Chilmark, West Tisbury Up-Island Automotive 5 Alley Way, 508-693-5166 Menemsha Texaco 60 Basin Rd., 508-645-2641 Taxis: Adam Cab 508-627-4462; adamcabmv.com Alpha Taxi 508-693-8399; yelp.com/biz/alpha-taxi-west-tisbury Atlantic Cab 508-693-7110 Bluefish Taxi 508-627-7373; bluefishtaxi.net Jon’s Taxi 508-627-4677 Lighthouse Taxi 508-645-6066; lighthousetaximv.com Martha’s Vineyard Taxi 508-693-8660; mvtaxi.com Stagecoach Taxi 508-627-4566; mvstagecoachtaxi.com

Your Taxi 508-693-0003; yelp.com/biz/your-taxi-oak-bluffs

EARLY SUMMER 2025

TRAILS

F1 Aquinnah Headlands Preserve B6 Bare Hill Preserve D7 Ben Toms Preserve B5 Blackwater Pond Reservation E4 Blue Barque Preserve B6 Brookside Ridge Preserve D7 Caroline Tuthill Preserve B4 Cedar Tree Neck C5 Child Farm East C5 Child Farm West

African American Heritage Trail sites

20 NAACP Martha’s Vineyard

21 Pioneer Educators 22 Dorothy West Home 23 Barber Hammond 24 George and Carrie Tankard House 25 Coleman Corners

26 Emma Maitland 27 Anne P. Jennings 28 Grace Church, Vineyard Haven 29 Federated Church, Edgartown 30 Edgartown Courthouse 31 E. Jacqueline Hunt 32 Nameless Trail 33 Esther’s Escape 34 Dunmere by the Sea 35 Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association 36 Eunice Rocker Home 37 Graves Machine and Tool Co. 38 Robert C. Hayden

13 Athletic Teams of the early 1970’s 14 Edward Jannifer 15 Wampanoag Tribe 16 Landladies of Oak Bluffs 17 Overton House 18 Edward Brooke 19 Cottagers’ Corner

B6 Ramble Trail Preserve B5 Ripley Field Preserve D4 Roth Woodlands B6 Sailors’ Burying Ground E5 Sepiessa Point Reservation D8 Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary C5 South Indian Hill Woodlands Preserve C6 Southern Woodlands Reservation D5 Square Field D7 Sweetened Water Preserve E4 Tea Lane Farm E4 Tiasquam Valley Reservation B5 Tisbury Meadow Preserve and The Good Farm G2 Toad Rock Preserve C6 The State Forest C6 Thimble Farm E9 Three Ponds Reservation B7 Trade Winds Preserve B5 Wakeman Center & Cranberry Acres C6 Wapatequa Woods Reservation D4 Waskosim’s Rock Reservation C6 Weahtaqua Springs Preserve A6 West Chop Woods A6 Wilfrid’s Pond Preserve B5 Wompesket Preserve

F4 Chilmark Pond Preserve C5 Christiantown Woods Preserve D5 Crow Hollow Farm F3 Englander Woods B7 Farm Pond Preserve C7 Felix Neck Preserve E4 Fulling Mill Brook Preserve F2 Gay Head Moraine D3 Great Rock Bight B5 Henry Goethals Conservation Restriction A6 Hillmans Point Preserve E8 Huckleberry Barrens C5 John Presbury Norton Farm E8 Katama Point Preserve B5 Kingsbury Fields C6 Little Duarte Pond Preserve D5 Little Field Preserve D6 Long Point Preserve C5 Manaquayak Preserve C6 Margaret K. Littlefield Greenlands E3 Menemsha Hills Reservation F3 Menemsha Neck Preserve E7 Meshacket Neck/Turkeyland Cove Park E4 Middle Line Woods Preserve E4 Middle Ridge Preserve E4 Middle Road Sanctuary D5 Music Street Fields E9 Mytoi Japanese Garden D5 Nat’s Farm E8 Norton Fields Preserve F4 Ocean View Farm Preserve C5 Old County Arboretum D8 Ox Pond Meadow E9 Packard Preserve E3 Peaked Hill Reservation C7 Pecoy Point Preserve D7 Pennywise Preserve A5 Phillips Preserve D5 Polly Hill Arboretum E9 Poucha Pond Reservation D5 Priester’s Pond Preserve F5 Quansoo Farm E8 Quammox Preserve

B4 Cedar Tree Neck Public D8 Chappy Point Beach Public C9 East Beach Public A7 Eastville Beach Public E7 Edgartown Great Pond Beach Public D8 Gardner Beach Public E3 Great Rock Bight Preserve Public B7 Joseph Sylvia State Beach Public B5 Lambert’s Cove Permit required D8 Lighthouse Beach Public D8 Little Beach Public F2 Lobsterville Beach Public F6 Long Point Reserve Public F3 Lucy Vincent Beach Permit required A7 Marinelli Beach Public E3 Menemsha Neck Preserve Public F2 Moshup Beach Public D9 North Neck Highlands Preserve Public F8 Norton Point Public B7 Oak Bluffs Town Beach Public F2 Philbin Beach Public E5 Quansoo Preserve Permit required F3 Red Beach Permit required B5 Seth’s Pond Public F7 South Beach Public G3 Squibnocket Beach Permit required A5 Tashmoo Beach Public E5 Tisbury Great Pond Beach Public F9 Wasque Public F2 Zack’s Cliffs Permit required

BEACHES

1 Rebecca Amos 2 Menemsha 3 Nancy Michael 4 William A. and Sarah Martin Homestead

5 William Martin Gravesite 6 John Saunders and Pulpit Rock 7 Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School

8 Bradley Square Memorial Church 9 Eastville Cemetery 10 Shearer Cottage 11 Gospel Tabernacle 12 Powell Cottage

2 15

1 24

BIKE TRAILS

W oo ds

Ho le -

Ferry Bluffs Oak

Vin eya rd H aven Ferry

le Ho ods Wo y err sF luff kB Oa s nni Hya

B 27

25 24 22

Oak Bluffs - Nan tucke t Ferr y

10 12

38 11 8 26 31

36 35 19 37 16

17 34

C 6

14 7 13

D 20 30

3 33

5 4

BEACHES & SHARED USE PATHS

of Island Martha’s

Vineyard

9 EARLY SUMMER 2025

D5 Owen Park E5 Stone Church G3 War Memorial Veterans Park A7 West Chop Lighthouse

E5 Captain Richard C. Luce House E4 Katharine Cornell Memorial Theatre G6 Martha’s Vineyard Museum E5 Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse

E6 Ocean Park F4 The Campgrounds F5 Union Chapel

A5 East Chop Lighthouse D6 Flying Horses Carousel D6 Memorial Statue 2

VINEYARD HAVEN (ALSO KNOWN AS TISBURY)

OAK BLUFFS 1

EDGARTOWN F4 Captain Pease House E7 Chappy Ferry D3 Daniel Fisher House C7 Edgartown Lighthouse E4 Federated Church C1 Memorial Park

D6 Memorial Wharf D6 Old Sculpin Gallery D3 Old Whaling Church D5 The Carnegie D3 Vincent House D4 Visitors Center

UP-ISLAND D6 Agricultural Hall G2 Beetlebung Corner A6 Christiantown Chapel B1 Gay Head Cliffs A4 Gay Head Lighthouse D6 Grange Hall

F1 Menemsha Village D6 Old Mill Pond C6 Polly Hill Arboretum D7 The Youth Hostel D6 West Tisbury Town Center

JAWS 50th 3

Then

Now

East Chop Drive East Chop Drive in Oak Bluffs. Not much has changed. I wonder if these homeowners know their first summer blockbuster. That’s right, Stephen Spielberg’s thriller was considered the first-ever summer blockbuster. “Jaws” was the first film to earn $270 million at the domestic box office.

Menemsha

Captain Quint (Robert Shaw) and his shark-chumming boat, the Orca, fished out of Menemsha. In this scene, 2 the boat is being pulled backward by “Bruce,” the stage name for “Jaws” shark.

North

Tisbury

WEST TISBURY

MENEMSHA

1 AQUINNAH

Aquinnah This scene was filmed near the Aquinnah lighthouse, even though it was depicted as South Beach. Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) resists closing beaches despite the pleas of Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) and oceanographer Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss).

2 CHILMARK

JAWS 50th 4

TISBURY

“Jaws Bridge”

Then Now

Some call it “Jaws Bridge,” but if you live around here, you know it’s Big Bridge. Did you know it was reconstructed about 35 years ago? Today’s Big Bridge sits about 17 inches higher than it did in the film. In a scene from the movie under the “Jaws Bridge,” actor Chris Rebello, who played Michael Brody, was terrified from the sight of Jaws.

Edgartown Harbor

4 OAK

BLUFFS

EST BURY

6 EDGARTOWN

Chappaquiddick

Captain Quint (Robert Shaw) and his boat, the Orca, passing through Edgartown Harbor. That’s the Edgartown Lighthouse in the back. The one pictured is Orca 1, but another one was made out of fiberglass, and is used in all the scenes where the ship is sinking or getting wrecked by Bruce, the 24-foot mechanical shark.

Then Now

7 6 Katama Islander Susan Backlinie responded to a casting call for a “strong woman swimmer willing to swim nude.” In the opening scene she goes for a moonlight swim and is devoured by the shark. Her hand and arm, complete with seaweed and climbing crabs, are found in a dune on South Beach in Katama.

Now

7 Then

Chappaquiddick Ferry Backlinie, died May 11, 2024, at age 77.

Ah, the Chappy Ferry. Still kickin’. These shots are from the Chappy side, looking toward Memorial Wharf in Edgartown.

EARLY SUMMER 2025

JAWS 50th

‘Jaws’ Broadway play Shark Is Broken” is coming to the Island “The coming to the Vineyard for the 50th anniversary summer of “Jaws.” BY DANIEL GREENMAN

U.K. staging: Ian Shaw (Quint), Dan Fredenburgh (Chief Brody), Ashley Margolis (Matt Hooper).

he Broadway play “The Shark Is Broken,” a comedy-drama based on the making of the movie “Jaws,” is coming to the Vineyard this summer in celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary. The play is currently touring the U.K. and Ireland, after showing from August to September 2023 on Broadway in New York’s John Golden Theatre. It will be on the Island amid the height of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the premiere of “Jaws” on June 20. The play will be presented in association with West Tisbury–based production company Circuit Arts. “The Shark Is Broken” is based on real events, and co-written by Ian Shaw — son of “Jaws” star Robert Shaw, who played Captain Quint. It covers the film’s main cast bickering and bantering during the notoriously difficult shooting process. The trio of actors — Roy Scheider (Chief Brody), Richard Dreyfuss (Hooper), and Shaw — air their frustrations aboard Quint’s boat, the Orca, including gripes about the film’s malfunctioning animatronic shark. The 90-minute play is coming to the Mar-

PHOTO MANUEL HARLAN

tha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center for two weeks starting July 5, thanks to Bill Hanney, owner of Edgartown Cinemas and a co-producer of the play. He told The Times this week that showing the play on-Island has been his goal since joining the production in 2019, before its first premiere. "Why I got involved in the Broadway show was only to have the rights to do it ... on-Island, where it all began,” he said. Hanney, who has been a part-time Island resident since he started building the Edgartown theater 30 years ago, says his childhood memories of seeing “Jaws” in theaters are still fresh — particularly his first glimpses of the shark, and the remains of Ben Gardner, a local fisherman who goes after the creature. “At least twice, I jumped out of my movie theater chair. The two scenes I remember vividly are the shark in front of Roy Scheider,

and the guy with the eyeballs got me.” Hanney said the play is a look into behindthe-scenes dynamics between the three stars, in part thanks to Shaw’s access to his father’s diary from the time. Throughout the play, the character of Robert Shaw struggles with the script of Quint’s famous speech about his survival of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis — the real-life tragedy in which hundreds of Navy sailors died, with somewhere from a few dozen to over a hundred killed by shark attacks. Viewers will also notice the play’s many references to the Vineyard. “[Ian] was there when he was a kid,” said Hanney. “Throughout the years, he would have a lot of Edgartown Cinemas’ information.” Bill Hanney at the play’s Though the Broadway premiere. younger Shaw played his father in the Broadway production, he will not play that role on-Island, as he is touring the play in the U.K. But Hanney hopes that Shaw will be able to come for the Island’s 50th anniBILL HANNEY COMPANIES versary festivities. The play will also contribute a float to the Edgartown Fourth of July parade, Hanney said — onlookers can expect to see a big shark pulled along behind a truck. Before showing on-Island, the play will be performed at Hanney’s North Shore Music Theater in Beverly. “The Shark is Broken” will open on July 5 at the Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs and show for two weeks. Ticket prices are still being worked out, according to Hanney. He added that the play may run for longer this summer, based on sales, and that there is a chance it might return for a limited run every summer.

VINEYARD LINGO

LEXICON

y l l a e r t o n ’s p o h c a n e h w : N . o g n i l d r LEXICO a y e n i V e r o m d n are a few of the . re e H . o g n li n w o a pork chop, a ad map ve our rd’s linguistic ro mmunity, we ha eya co As in any centric more common terms on the Vin

The Blinker/ The 4-way Stop/The Roundabout

CHOP?

See how the Vineyard is sort of a lumpy triangle with two apexes? Those are West Chop and East Chop. Culturally, each is known for a particular kind of well-heeled seasonal community. It would be indiscreet to comment further.

Five Corners The most congested intersection on the Vineyard. State Road turns into Beach Road near where the VH ferry traffic spills out. It’s a nightmare.

The Grange/The Ag Hall The Grange/The Ag Hall: The County Fair is held in West Tisbury each August. For most of its history it took place at the Grange Hall, which was always referred to as the Ag Hall (short for Agricultural Society, which sponsored the fair). The surrounding property, by extension, was called the Fairgrounds. Around the turn of the Millennium, a huge barn was assembled by volunteers in a field about half a mile from the Fairgrounds. This became the new site of the Fair and was titled The New Ag Hall, and the grounds, The Fairgrounds. For clarity, common usage has led to the Old Ag Hall being known now as The Grange.

The indigenous Wampanoags named the western chunk of the Island Aquinnah. White people renamed it Gay Head, to reflect the brightly colored clay cliffs making up the headland. A few decades ago, the Wampanoag Tribe succeeded in returning it to its original name, although a number of things (like the cliffs themselves) are still known as Gay Head.

Oak Bluffs’ Main Street. (Vineyard Haven and Edgartown both have Main Streets called, interestingly, “Main Street.” The up-Island towns are not town enough to require the equivalent of a Main Street.) Just to confuse matters, locals in OB often refer to Circuit Ave as “Main Street.”

Chappaquiddick, a rural sub-island that is intermittently attached to the Vineyard along a stretch of South Beach. Someday, maybe, people will stop associating it with Ted Kennedy.

Big Bridge/ Little Bridge

Two (non-draw) bridges along the sweep of Edgartown’s State Beach. These bridges, spanning man-made channels, are here partly to allow Sengekontacket to drain, but mostly so kids can jump off ‘em.

The Triangle Aquinnah/Gay Head

CIRCUIT AVE

The second-most congested intersection on the Island, where Beach Road cuddles up to the Vineyard Haven-Edgartown Road and turns into Edgartown’s Upper Main Street.

PY P A

The most hotly debated intersection in the history of American motoring. Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road meets Barnes Road near the center of the Island. For years, this intersection was marked by a blinker — red lights flashing one way, yellow the other. Then for safety and traffic-flow reasons, this was replaced – despite a great deal of hollering and upset – by a 4-way stop sign. A roundabout was finally constructed in 2013, much to the outrage of some vocal Islanders. Given historical precedent, locals will refer to this area as “The Blinker” until the 22nd century.

THE FORK? A fork in the road in southeastern Edgartown. The North Fork goes east and the South Fork also goes, pretty much, east. Both forks lead to the broad open sand-plains of Katama and South Beach.

AN “ISLAND CAR” A frequently old, beat-up jalopy (whether it be Land Rover or car-mutt) that nobody in their right mind would ever drive on off-Island highways. Many Island cars are “Island cars.” However, regular cars will work just fine for all the places described in this lexicon.

A reference to either the prevailing winds or to increasing longitude, “up” is west and “down” is east. Culturally, “up-Island” refers to the more rural towns of West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah, and “down-Island” to Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown. But it’s relative: Edgartown being the easternmost town, some Edgartonians refer to the rest of the Island as “up-Island.” EARLY SUMMER 2025

things to do w

CINEMAS Circuit Arts 1067 State Rd., West Tisbury Year-round nonprofit organization with documentaries, drive-in movies, a film festival, music events, and more. circuitarts.org, 508-560-2134 Edgartown Cinema 65 Main St., Edgartown Year-round film theater screening first-run movies with surround sound, concessions, and handicap access. yourneighborhoodtheatre.com, 508-627-8008. Strand Theatre 11 Oak Bluffs Ave., Oak Bluffs Restored theater, built in 1915, showing movies, stand-up comedy, music, and other events. strandtheatremv.com, 508-687-9681 Martha’s Vineyard Film Center Tisbury Marketplace, Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven Year-round independent theater, showing feature films, documentaries, film festivals, and more. mvfilmsociety.com, 508-696-9369

LIVE THEATER Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse 24 Church St., Vineyard Haven Professional year-round nonprofit theater producing solo shows, stage productions, outdoor theater, musical revues, film screenings, and more. mvplayhouse.org, 508-696-6300 Island Theatre Workshop Music Street, West Tisbury Community theater company with a major production every summer. itwmvy.org iMP (Improv for Kids) Alex’s Place at the YMCA, 111 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Theater education for all ages, with a summer program and an afterschool program. imp4kids.com

FARMS Allen Farm Sheep & Wool 42 South Road, Chilmark, 508-645-9064; allenfarm.com Bayes Norton Farm 223 Vineyard Haven-Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-696-5989. Beetlebung Farm 410 Middle Road, Chilmark, beetlebungfarm.org 32

HIKING AND BIKING TRAILS Blackwater Farm 40 Cottles Lane, West Tisbury, 508-693-9785. Breezy Pines Farm 164 Tiahs Cove Road, West Tisbury, breezypinesfarm-mv.com Flat Point Farm 164 Great Neck Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-2057; flatpointfarm.com FARM Institute 14 Aero Ave., Edgartown, 508-627-7007; farminstitute.org. Ghost Island Farm 27 Davis Look Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-5161; ghostislandfarm.square.site Grey Barn 22 South Road, Chilmark, 508-645-4854; thegreybarnandfarm.com The Good Farm 1056 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9641; thegood.farm Island Alpaca Company 1 Head of the Pond Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5554; islandalpaca.com Island Grown Farm Hub 80 Stoney Hill Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9062; igimv.org Mermaid Farm 9 Middle Road, Chilmark, 508-939-0140. Morning Glory Farm 120 Meshacket Road, Edgartown, 508-627-9003; morninggloryfarm.com Native Earth Teaching Farm 94 North Rd., Chilmark, 508-645-3304; nativeearthteachingfarm.org North Tabor Farm 4 North Tabor Road, Chilmark, 508-645-3311; northtaborfarm.com North Tisbury Farm 632 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-696-4664;northtisburyfarm.com Slip Away Farm 199 Chappaquiddick Road, Edgartown, 508-627-7465; slipawayfarm.com Slough Farm 15 Butler’s Cove Road, Edgartown; sloughfarm.org Tea Lane Farm 161 Middle Road, Chilmark, 774-563-8274; tealanefarm.com Whippoorwill Farm Old County Road, West Tisbury, 774-563-8197

BOAT AND FISHING CHARTERS Beamish Charters 617-869-9135; beamishcharters.com Capawock Fishing Charters 617-448-2030; capawock.com Conomo Charters Aquinnah, 508-645-9278 Cottage City Charters Oak Bluffs, cottagecitycharters.com Done Deal Charters Owen Park, Vineyard Haven, 508-737-5717; donedealcharters.com Fishsticks Charters 287 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-951-5288 or 508-645-2832; fishstickscharters.com Great Harbour Fishing Sportfishing Charters Edgartown Harbor, 508-627-2128; vineyardfishing.com Menemsha Fishing Parties Dutcher Dock, Menemsha, 508-645-2559; menemshafishingpartyboat.com My Brother Charters Oak Bluffs Harbor, 774-836-7465 North Shore Charters Menemsha Harbor, 508-645-2993; bassnblue.com Redhead Charters MV 610-639-6510; r edheadchartersmv.com The Skipper Oak Bluffs Harbor, 508-693-1238; mvskipper.com Tomahawk Charters 508-645-3201; tomahawkcharters.com Vineyard Boat Rental 1 Dock St., Edgartown, 774-310-1118; vineyardboatrental.com Wayfarer Charters Edgartown Harbor, 508-326-2031; wayfarercharters.com

TOURS Martha’s Vineyard Tours and Excursions Vineyard Haven, Edgartown, and Oak Bluffs 508-654-0381; marthasvineyardexcursions.com M.V. Sightseeing 23 Lake Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-627-8687; mvtour.com

The Trustees of Reservations Seven locations to discover: Menemsha Hills, Long Point Wildlife Refuge, the FARM Institute, Norton Point Beach, and Wasque, Mytoi Japanese Garden, and Cape Poge on Chappaquiddick. 508-693-7662; thetrustees.org Mass Audubon’s Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary 100 Felix Neck Drive, Edgartown, 508-627-4850; massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/felix-neck Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation The Nature Conservancy Manuel F. Correllus State Forest

INDOOR ACTIVITIES Barn Bowl & Bistro 13 Uncas Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9800; thebarnmv.com Featherstone Center for the Arts 30 Featherstone Ln., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-1850; featherstoneart.org Flying Horses Carousel 15 Oak Bluffs Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9481 The Game Room 19 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-687-9179; ryanfamily.com Martha’s Vineyard Museum 151 Lagoon Pond Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-627-4441; mvmuseum.org Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena 91 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-5329; mvarena.com Offshore Ale Co. 30 Kennebec Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626; offshoreale.com YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard 111R Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-696-7171; ymcamv.org

GOLF Edgartown Golf Club 71 Curtis Ln., Edgartown, 508-627-5343; edgartowngolfclub.com Farm Neck Golf Club 1 Farm Neck Way, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2504; farmneck.net Island Cove Mini Golf & Grill 386 State Rd., Vineyard Haven; 508-693-2611 Mink Meadows 320 Golf Club Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0600; minkmeadowsgc.com Riverhead Disc Golf Course 1.1 miles from the intersection of the Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road and Barnes Road

things to do Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links 36 North Neck Rd., Chappaquiddick, 508-627-2729; royalchappy.com Vineyard Golf Club 100 Clubhouse Ln., Edgartown, 508-627-8930; vineyardgolf.com

HORSEBACK RIDING Arrowhead Farm 174 Indian Hill Rd., West Tisbury, 508-693-8831; arrowheadfarm.net Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center 55 Misty Meadows Ln., West Tisbury, 508-338-7198; mvhorsecenter.org Pond View Farm New Lane, West Tisbury, 508-693-2949; pondviewfarmmv.com White Stone Equestrian 85 Red Pony Farm Rd., West Tisbury, 774-563-0220; whitestonemv.com

LIBRARIES Aquinnah Public Library 1 Church St., Aquinnah, 508-645-2314; aquinnahlibrary.org Chilmark Free Public Library 522 South Rd. Chilmark, 508-645-3360; chilmarklibrary.org Edgartown Public Library 26 West Tisbury Rd., Edgartown, 508-627-4221; edgartownlibrary.org Oak Bluffs Public Library 56 School St., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9433; oakbluffslibrary.org Vineyard Haven Public Library 200 Main St., Vineyard Haven, 508-696-4211; vhlibrary.org West Tisbury Free Public Library 1042 State Rd., West Tisbury, 508-693-3366; westtisburyfreepubliclibrary.org

ON THE WATER

SUGGESTED BIKE ROUTES

Aloha Paddle MV 3 Sandcastle Ln., Aquinnah, 808-640-6935; alohapaddlemv.com Island Spirit Kayak At the Little Bridge on State Beach in Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9727; islandspiritkayak.com Martha’s Vineyard Oceansports Oak Bluffs Harbor, 508-693-8476; mvoceansports.com Wind’s Up 199 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-4252; windsupmv.com.

BEACH ROAD BIKE PATH

IN THE AIR Classic Aviators Katama Airfield, Edgartown, 508-627-7677; biplanemv.com

THE KATAMA “TRIANGLE:”

TENNIS Farm Neck Golf Club 1 Farm Neck Way, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2504; farmneck.net Vineyard Tennis Center Workout 22 Airport Rd., West Tisbury, 508-696-8000; airportfitnessmv.com/tennis/ Island Country Club Tennis Beach Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-6574 Vineyard Family Tennis 618 Barnes Rd., Oak Bluffs, 508 693 7762; vineyardfamilytennis.org Edgartown Public Court 44 Robinson Rd, Edgartown, 508-627-3303; edgartown-ma.us/departments/parks Oak Bluffs Public Courts Niantic Park Courts, Wamsutta Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0072; oakbluffsma. gov/157/Parks-Recreation M.V. Regional High School 100 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., Oak Bluffs Vineyard Haven Public Court Boxberry Avenue off Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven

The 5,300-acre Manuel Correllus State Forest in the center of the Island has trails and paved paths.

STATE FOREST LOOP

WEST TISBURY CENTER TO THE AQUINNAH CLIFFS

MV TIMES

EARLY SUMMER 2025

galleries

ART LOVERS ARE IN FOR A TREAT

ak Bluffs bursts with creativity, especially in the summer. Strolling among the galleries, within easy walking distance of each other, is a glorious way to spend a few hours. “It’s more than a gallery” is Zita Cousens’s motto for her Cousen Rose Gallery. (71 Upper Circuit Ave) Founded in 1980, Cousens showcases many artists associated with the Vineyard. Meg Black paints with abaca, a fiber from the inner bark of the banana tree. “Abaca creates the textural surface in my work, which mimics the feel and wonder of the natural world.” Photographer Deb Loeb Bohren employs her camera as a paintbrush to create luscious abstractions. “Intentional camera movement and multiple exposures, layering up to nine exposures into a single image in-camera, are the primary tools of my alchemy.” Robert Fitzgerald combines beeswax, pigment, and tree sap to create encaustic images of the island. Bricque Garber fashions abstract assemblages by incorporating bits of paper and textured objects along with paint. Magi Leland states, “I am a scavenger on the hunt for inspiring subjects to paint,” referring to her Vineyard oil paintings. Steve London animates his catch of the day using the ancient Japanese print technique Gyotaku, traditionally employed by Japanese fishermen to

Oak Bluffs galleries from top left: Alison Shaw, Cousen Rose, Knowhere Art Gallery, Michael Blanchard.

Art lovers are in for a treat Oak Bluffs Arts Stroll. BY ABBY REMER

make prints of their catches. Robin Gottesman’s drone photographs of the Vineyard capture the solitude of nature from various heights. Mountains, sky, buttes, adobe architecture, gardens, and fields inspire Pat Littlefield’s collages. RAYHART’s vibrant acrylics balance abstraction and realism. Cousens will be open on Saturdays in June and will commence her renowned weekly artist and author receptions with live music from 6 pm to 8 pm in July and August. Alison Shaw’s evocatively alluring photographs of the sea and land celebrate the Island’s unique beauty. Sue Dawson, co-owner of

ART LOVERS ARE IN FOR A TREAT

Alison Shaw Photography (88 Dukes County Ave), remarks, “We just realized that this is the 20th summer at the Gallery. It’s also the 50th anniversary of Alison’s shooting on Martha’s Vineyard.” As such, visitors will find many of Shaw’s legacy works and some of her latest photographs, reflecting her ever-evolving vision from black-and-white editorial shots for the Vineyard Gazette to her current focus on color and abstract compositions. Shaw never tires of the Vineyard as a subject. “Living and working on such a small Island forces me to go deeper . . . [H]ere, surrounded by water, my territory is defined. This translates to almost a physical need to keep evolving, to grow as an artist, and to see ever deeper and wider. If I didn’t evolve as an artist, I’d get bored, and the creative spark would disappear. On the Island, it’s not about finding a new environment, as fun and adventurous as that can be. It’s about finding something within myself.” Michael Blanchard opened The Crossroads Gallery in 2017. (93 Dukes County Ave) Photography and the Vineyard are intimately intertwined with the artist’s well-being. “Photography, for me, is therapeutic. I focus on Martha’s Vineyard, which I consider my home in addition to a place of residence. The first day I set foot on the Island, I felt a spiritual connection and didn’t understand why — but later would learn. After a catastrophic collapse in 2010, my family, the

galleries

Island, and photography have been the keys to my recovery and sobriety of over eight years.” Blanchard practices a meditative form of contemplative photography known as Miksang, which means “good eye” in Tibetan. “When I make it to a Vineyard location at four in the morning to catch the sunrise, I use the camera and the moment to clear all problems of daily life and experience each sense to the fullest. Capturing the images of those moments becomes an expression of the happiness and serenity I feel in the absence of alcohol.” The sense of joy and wonder at nature’s bounty permeates Blanchard’s glorious images of the land, sea, and wildlife. Valerie Francis, founding director, and Ralph Groce, co-founder and CEO, have two exciting exhibitions. At the Knowhere Art Gallery (91 Dukes County Avenue) is “Women Rising... Where Women Gather, Power IS!” The show highlights the transformative strength of women when they unite in support and solidarity. Their art explores the profound power that emerges when women share space, stories, and creative energy. It also celebrates the diversity of these experiences, showcasing both the personal and political aspects of the journey toward gender equity and liberation. “Living Off the Wall” at the Center of Knowhere (73 Circuit Avenue) celebrates murals’ transformative power, featuring outstanding muralists who translate their large-scale public art into gallery settings with compelling narratives and artistic expressions. A season highlight is the cherished annual Oak Bluffs Art Stroll. On July 12 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Island artists, vendors, and musicians bring together multiple facets of the arts. But any time during the summer is truly perfect for soaking in the plethora of artistic visual abundance. For more information, visit: galaxygallerymv.org/art-strolls EARLY SUMMER 2025

historyname section

STORY NAME HERE

rothers and the Meek Mattar im- build the in largest concrete structure Oak in town, 1. Dreamland, Oak Bluffs Avenue. A sign thers Selim and Meek Mattar im-Selim build largest concrete structure town, a 1. Dreamland, Bluffs a Avenue. A sign advertises “Paul Velmar the Magician,” the stage migrated totwo-story the U.S. as teenagers, two-story buildingIttheyadvertises named Dreamland. It Magician,” “Paul Velmar the the stage igrated to the U.S. as teenagers, building they named Dreamland. for Leander Babcock of East Greenwich, about of 1890.was They were theater natives (first of floor) was aand movie theater floor) and dance hall of name name for Leander Babcock East Greenwich, bout 1890. They were natives a movie dance hall (first Dreamland, Oak Bluffs Ave. The Civil Conn. theofcity part thea popular (secondnightspot floor), and was aConn. popular nightspotOak intoBluffs 2. Dreamland, Ave. 2. The Civil e city of Beirut, then part the of Beirut, (secondthen floor), andofwas into War memorial pictured was moved to its present Ottoman Empire, and today the capital of Lebthe 1920s. It predated all three of the other wellWar memorial pictured was moved to its present ire, and today the capital of Leb- the 1920s. It predated all three of the other well3. Postcard of Dreamland, the location in 1930. 3. Postcard of Dreamland, the location in 1930. anon, but the Mattar brothers always referred to known Island theaters (the Island, Strand, and Mattar brothers always referred to known Island theaters (the Island, Strand, and Fellows Hall, two bowling alleys, and the Fellows Hall, two probowling Odd alleys, and the “Syria” — a termItonce used magicians, Capawock). It attracted magicians, dance e as “Syria” their — a birthplace term once as used Capawock). attracted dance pro- Odd Oakother Bluffs Ave. (The crowds and other Oak Bluffs Ave. (Thetrolley crowdsonand for allstretching the Mediterranean lands and stretching from and fessors, auctioneers,trolley and on was remembered diterranean lands from fessors, auctioneers, was and remembered vehicles were probably pasted in by the postcard vehicles were probably pasted in by the postcard to Egypt. Similarly, that light fordisplays the brilliant pt. Similarly, Turkey the records state that for the therecords brilliantstate electric on itselectric ex- light displays on its ex4. Postcard of Dreamland, probably publisher.) 4. Postcard of Dreamland, probably publisher.) theirpresumably native tongue was Syrian, presumably a diterior and roof. ngue was Syrian, a diterior and roof. taken from the top of the Tivoli. “Marie Huber” is taken from the top of the Tivoli. “Marie Huber” is alect of Arabic. Why the Mattars chose to settle Selim and Meek split their time between Oak . Why the Mattars chose to settle Selim and Meek split their time between Oak the featured attraction in the banner out front. featured attractionand in the banner out front. in Hot Springs, mystery, soon running Bluffs businesses and Hot Springs, running businesses , Ark., is a mystery, but they Ark., soon is aBluffs andbut Hotthey Springs, and the Note the rooftop lettering, perhaps added for Note the rooftop lettering, perhaps added for successful in “oriental goods” — managing sful dealers inbecame “oriental goods” dealers — managing properties in both. Soon, properties they had in both. Soon, they had the5. benefit of early air travelers. 5. Selim Mattar Selim Mattar the benefit of early air travelers. rugs and other textiles. Selim stores in New York City and Louisville, textiles. Selim became a naturalbranchbecame stores ainnaturalNew Yorkbranch City and Louisville, (1873–1947), as depicted on his 1924 passport. (1873–1947), as depicted on his 1924 passport. Ky., as well. n in 1902. ized U.S. citizen in 1902.Ky., as well. Mattar wasphoto about 51 years old when this photo Mattar was about 51 years old when this Why time they on soon began toInspend time on MarMarchgas 1913, on began to spend MarMarch 1913, a leakingInnatural pipea leaking natural gas pipe was taken, and had recently sold Dreamland. taken, and had tha’s Vineyard is equallyincurious. The brothers in the basement of theirwas Hot Springs rugrecently shop sold Dreamland. is equally curious. The brothers the basement of their Hot Springs rug shop 6. Dreamland Garage. Proprietor Cooper Gilkes 6. Dreamland Garage. Proprietor Cooper Gilkes firstabout show1904, up in when Island records 1904,The when caught a spark.killed The resulting explosion killed n Island records caughtabout a spark. resulting explosion (1879-1965) was a native of Barbados. (1879-1965) was a native of Barbados. began buying property Cottage City. Thismore, twoand men, injured many more, and Selim himself ing propertythey in Cottage City. This twoinmen, injured many Selim himself wasCharles the same year millionaire Charles Whitney and theaters.) But by 1924, the downwas blown through athe storefront. He grabbed a But year millionaire Whitney and Capawock theaters.) byCapawock 1924, the downwas blown through the storefront. He grabbed built as hisHedge red-roofed villa burning known as Hedge was converted burning keep himself from falling into ofed villa known Lee in stairs was converted into thestairs Dreamland Garage,into the Dreamland Garage, timber toLee keepinhimself fromtimber fallingtointo Vineyard Haven, and onthe Selim’s 1905but passport winter automobile storage for up to 50 basement, but the his hands werewinter burnedautomobile “to the offering en, and on Selim’s 1905 passport offering storage for up to 50 basement, his handsthe were burned “to filed from bone.” the Vineyard, cars,cars, and rental also providing used cars, rental cars, Hevisible soon scars recovered, butand bore visible scars used led from theapplication, Vineyard, Whitney cars, also providing cars, He soonWhitney recovered, bone.” but bore a statement attesting thathands he had andwas repair both of his life. ment attestingsigned that he had known gasoline, and repair service.gasoline, The garage runservice. The garage was run on both forknown the rest ofonhis life.hands for the rest Selimitfor 12through years. So perhaps it was through Barbados Meek become chronically ill —native probably ears. So perhaps was by Barbados Cooperby Gilkes, and native later byCooper Gilkes, and later by Meek had become chronically ill had — probably this enterprising connection that two enterprising — and spent years unsuccessfully Island Transport. n that these two Syri-these Island Transport. tuberculosis — andSyrispent tuberculosis years unsuccessfully an brothers came to Oaktrying Bluffs.to regain his health. He Throughoutsecond the 1920s, Dreamland’s second trying health.Throughout He died in 1914, and Dreamland’s me to Oak Bluffs. the 1920s, diedtoinregain 1914,his and In November 1905, passport in hand, Se-OakisGrove floor By was1925, still used buriedCemetery. in Oak Bluffs’ Oak Cemetery. r 1905, U.S. passport in hand, Se- U.S. floorGrove was still used for events. Oak for events. By 1925, Oak is buried in Oak Bluffs’ lim for Beirut to visit hisSelim mother. Bluffs High School’s Undeterred, expanding his holdand for Beirut toleft visitthe hisIsland mother. Bluffs High School’s basketball team used the up-basketball team used the upUndeterred, began expanding hisSelim hold-began But upon arriving at theings border, he Bluffs. discovered ings Oak Bluffs. In 1917, a building stairs——forrenamed Noepe Hall — for basketball ving at the border, he discovered in Oak In 1917, he in built a building stairshe —built renamed Noepe Hall basketball duelife to of a recent attempt on the life of Turk- and on Sea the View cornerAvenue of Pasquegames. and Sea games. In 1928, “more than a thousand spectacent attemptthat on the a Turkon the corner ofaPasque In View 1928, Avenue “more than a thousand spectaishbeen sultan, all foreigners had beenoccupied banned from — todayTavern occupied by the Lookout Tavern — as uptors” showed up for a boxing match foreigners had banned from — today by the Lookout — as tors” reportedly showed for areportedly boxing match entering the included Turkish dominion, which meeting ahall for the Odd Fellows, a popular thenow Antler’s Club at what was now called urkish dominion, which a meeting hall included for the Odda Fellows, popular run by the Antler’s Club at run whatbywas called Selim’s native exercised his organization. only Vineyard fraternal organization. After the lodge Dreamland city. So Selim exercised hiscity. onlySo Selim Vineyard fraternal After the lodge Dreamland Rink. Edgartown native Rink. GeorgeEdgartown native George option: He surrendered his new passport and continued eventuallytoclosed, Mattar continuedknockout to sell “oriSalvadore’s rrendered his new passport and eventually closed, Mattar sell “oriSalvadore’s win over Johnnyknockout Mello at win over Johnny Mello at entered as a Turkish subject. Unfortunately, this ental goods” and artwork from this building for Dreamland Rink one night launched a boxing urkish subject. Unfortunately, this ental goods” and artwork from this building for Dreamland Rink one night launched a boxing the U.S. many years. lead to his title as the return to thealso U.S.barred his return to many years. career that would eventuallycareer lead tothat his would title as eventually the Stuck, toSelim the U.S. also owned ran the Original Oriworld’s boxer. third-ranking welterweight boxer. appealed to the U.S. Selim consulappealed genalsoconsul ownedgenand ranSelim the Original Ori- andworld’s third-ranking welterweight Beirut, but was met with little of sympathy. ental Avenue, Palace ofwhere Art on Circuit Avenue, where Selim and his home wife maintained a summer home but was met eral withatlittle sympathy. ental Palace Art on Circuit Selim and his wife maintained a summer The U.S.that State that he had modeled Linda after Jean’shis is today, modeled after his Hot Seaview e Department ruled heDepartment had Lindaruled Jean’s is today, Hot on Seaview Avenue until on their deaths.Avenue Their until their deaths. Their abandoned hiswas American citizenship andHere was no Springs store.carpets Here he children sold imported children became art American citizenship and no Springs store. he sold imported becamecarpets art dealers and auctioneers in dealers and auctioneers in longer entitled to the rights of a U.S. citizen. His and “fancy goods,” and maintained an auction Arkansas and North to the rights of a U.S. citizen. His and “fancy goods,” and maintained an auction Arkansas and North Carolina. His building on Carolina. His building on recordsAmerican were marked American Al- house in the evenings. Oak Bluffs Avenue is still known Oak Bluffs is still known by its original marked “Renounced Al- “Renounced house in the evenings. by itsAvenue original legiance” and “Passport Destroyed.” In 1920, Mattar sold the Dreamland building name: Dreamland. “Passport Destroyed.” In 1920, Mattar sold the Dreamland building name: Dreamland. How he madeafter it backtoto the Vineyard after rantothe Michael Keegan (who ran the Pastime, Strand, de it back to the Vineyard Michael Keegan (who Pastime, Strand, Chris Baer that is a mystery. (When he successfully reapChris Baer teaches photography and teaches graphicsphotography and graphics ery. (When he successfully reapat Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. pliedalmost for a new U.S. passport almost 20 years at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. w U.S. passport 20 years His book, later, he claimed he “lost” his first one.) His book, “Martha’s Vineyard Tales,”“Martha’s contain- Vineyard Tales,” containclaimed he “lost” hissimply first one.) ingcolumns, many “This In 1907, the Mattar brothers purchased ing many “This Was Then” wasWas re- Then” columns, was rehe Mattar brothers purchased leased in 2018. a lot Oak Bluffs and proceeded to leased in 2018. Bluffs Avenue andonproceeded to Avenue PHOTOS OF LONG–AGO MARTHA’S VINEYARD PHOTOS OF LONG–AGO MARTHA’S VINEYARD

THISWASTHEN THISWASTHEN

Selim Mattar’s Selim Mattar’s D RDER AE MALM AL NADN D 12 36

SELIM MATTAR’S DREAMLAND history STORYhistory NAME HERE section name

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PHOTOS COURTESY CHRIS BAER

rothers Selim and Meek Mattar immigrated to the U.S. as teenagers, about 1890. They were natives of the city of Beirut, then part of the Ottoman Empire, and today the capital of Lebanon, but the Mattar brothers always referred to their birthplace as “Syria” — a term once used for all the Mediterranean lands stretching from Turkey to Egypt. Similarly, the records state that their native tongue was Syrian, presumably a dialect of Arabic. Why the Mattars chose to settle in Hot Springs, Ark., is a mystery, but they soon became successful dealers in “oriental goods” — rugs and other textiles. Selim became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1902. Why they soon began to spend time on Martha’s Vineyard is equally curious. The brothers first show up in Island records about 1904, when they began buying property in Cottage City. This was the same year millionaire Charles Whitney built his red-roofed villa known as Hedge Lee in Vineyard Haven, and on Selim’s 1905 passport application, filed from the Vineyard, Whitney signed a statement attesting that he had known Selim for 12 years. So perhaps it was through this connection that these two enterprising Syrian brothers came to Oak Bluffs. In November 1905, U.S. passport in hand, Selim left the Island for Beirut to visit his mother. But upon arriving at the border, he discovered that due to a recent attempt on the life of a Turkish sultan, all foreigners had been banned from entering the Turkish dominion, which included Selim’s native city. So Selim exercised his only option: He surrendered his new passport and entered as a Turkish subject. Unfortunately, this also barred his return to the U.S. Stuck, Selim appealed to the U.S. consul general at Beirut, but was met with little sympathy. The U.S. State Department ruled that he had abandoned his American citizenship and was no longer entitled to the rights of a U.S. citizen. His records were marked “Renounced American Allegiance” and “Passport Destroyed.” How he made it back to the Vineyard after that is a mystery. (When he successfully reapplied for a new U.S. passport almost 20 years later, he simply claimed he “lost” his first one.) In 1907, the Mattar brothers purchased a lot on Oak Bluffs Avenue and proceeded to

build the largest two-story buildi was a movie thea (second floor), an the 1920s. It pred known Island th Capawock). It at fessors, and auct for the brilliant e terior and roof. Selim and Mee Bluffs and Hot S managing prope branch stores in Ky., as well. In March 191 in 2the basement caught a spark. two men, injured was blown throu burning timber to the basement, bu bone.” He soon r on both hands fo Meek had beco tuberculosis — a trying to regain h is buried in Oak B Undeterred, Se ings in Oak Bluf on the corner of — today occupie a meeting hall fo Vineyard fraterna eventually closed 4 ental goods” and many years. Selim also own ental Palace of A Linda Jean’s is t Springs store. H and “fancy good house in the even In 1920, Matta to Michael Keega

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PHOTOS OF LON

Selim M DREAM

SUMMER 2022 EARLY SUMMER 2025 13 37

dining

EL BARCO 2 1

EL BARCO 4

Where the Island comes together. BY ASHLEY WHEELER

EL BARCO

l Barco translates as “the boat” from Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. Given its prime location overlooking the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven, the name is more than fitting for this new outdoor bar and restaurant that specializes in “tacos and tequilas,” and which is now open for its second season. The owner, Patrick Lyons, is expecting big crowds again this summer particularly around the events marking the 50th anniversary of Jaws, and referencing the famous line from the movie, he said, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat!” A pioneer of the bar and restaurant business in Boston and founder of the Lyons Group, Lyons has been a summer resident of the Island for more than 30 years. He was married here to Kristina Lyons, and their two grown children, Lucy and Wyatt, came of age here through summer and the shoulder seasons. With Patrick spending more and more time on the Island, 1. Fish tacos, chips and salsa, and the pork carnitas rice bowl. 2. Enjoying an ice-cold beverage under the roof. 3. The outdoor seating area at El Barco in Vineyard Haven. 4. Folks gather at the bar and around the tables at the new taqueria. 5. Watching the ferries come and go. 6. El Barco takeout window filled with dinner for happy customers. 7. The sign that welcomes visitors when they walk up the road from the Steamship. 8. Larry David, in his signature LD hat, says they're the best tacos out there. 9. Brothers Joe, foreground, and Tucko Cosgrove enjoy an afterwork brew. 10. Chef Dell Leandro, Erica Ashton, Erica Dorsey, Vincent Lombardi, and Patrick Lyons about to cut the ribbon. 11. Chips and guac, fried calamari, and chicken tacos fill the table. 12. The Cabral family enjoyed a family dinner at El Barco. 13. Delicious pollo flautas ready to enjoy. 14. You can see how El Barco makes for a good choice when you're meeting friends and family at the ferry. 15. Fried calamari with an icy salt-rimmed margarita.

he said he established El Barco because he saw a unique chance to create something that the Island did not have. He fell in love with the possibilities — and persevered through the municipal planning hurdles that came with repurposing the old Stone Bank property into something new. “There is not anything else like it on the Island: a place that has a good vibe and that is welcoming to all, from a family just arriving on vacation to a longtime Vineyard celebrity to a work crew just coming off the job,” he said last week at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening. “If there is one thing we need these days, it is a place where we can all come together,” he added. And El Barco lives up to that hope. For one thing, the prices are reasonable, and so you will not break the bank if you are taking out your family. You can get two tacos and a cold beer for $19, not including tax and tip. There are few places anywhere on the Island that can offer that. If you spend time there, you will likely see the classic family scene of parents picking up their kids and grandkids at the ferry and starting a summer vacation with an affordable night out. Or you might see some Hollywood wattage among the soft, sunset light that paints the bar in the early evening. Larry David, wearing his signature LD hat, was seen last week in the restaurant having a meal. His quick review, which was offered exclusively to The MV Times: “Best taco I’ve ever had.” And amid the din punctuated by the ferry’s whistle as it comes and goes, you might hear a work crew high-fiving over another Red Sox win on the two large-screen TVs. One night this week, seated at the same horseshoe bar where we saw Larry David, were two brothers, Joe and Tucko Cosgrove, watching the MLB Home Run Derby get underway after a long, hot day at work. Joe, 33, is a carpenter living in Woods Hole and working on the Island. His brother, Tucko, 26, who runs the TC Painting Co. out

of Edgartown, was dropping him off at the 7:15 pm ferry, and they had enough time to share a beer and two tacos each. Joe ordered a set of pork tacos with a Corona. Total price: $19. “The beer is perfect. Very cold, and that is crucial on a hot day like this,” said Joe, gripping the bottle with thick, calloused fingers. “You tell me anywhere you can get a beer and two tacos for under $20.” “Well, that is if you only order one beer,” quipped his kid brother, Tucko, with a smile and a few splashes of white paint on his hands. On this night, the place was hopping. Waiting for a big table for the whole family were the Cabrals, mother and father, their son Christian, and several grandchildren. They were next in line. “We love this place. The perfect spot for a family dinner,” said Christian Cabral, who grew up on the Island, and is working on the waterfront restoring a mainmast for the historic tall ship Alabama. I loved all these stories that one of my colleagues helped me track down, but truthfully I was pretty focused on my own chance to dine here. As a devoted fan of Mexican cuisine, I was thrilled to visit El Barco and explore its menu. As any true taco enthusiastknows, it's not just about the tacos themselves, but also the sides. From the Elotes ($9) to the Chicken Flautas ($14), I found myself genuinely torn on where to begin, a delightful challenge, to say the least. Luckily, arriving with a hearty appetite allowed me the opportunity to sample them all. I, of course, had to start my order with chips, salsa, and guac ($14), as it felt like a mandatory celebration of the essentials. As I sat there and enjoyed the starters over conversation, crunching, and laughter, I made a mental note that if the salsa and guac were an indicator of how the rest of the main courses would be, then I was on the verge of having some of the best Mexican I’ve ever had. Fortunately for me, my instincts were right, and when the main courses arrived, I was in food heaven. I am definitely in sync

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with Larry David on high praise for El Barco. And as appreciative as the Cosgrove brothers coming off a construction job for the reasonable prices. As our table for two slowly got smaller with all of the plates and baskets we ordered, I was smiling from ear to ear. Our table's main courses consisted of the Fish Tacos ($15), the Steak Birria Burrito ($16), and the Pork Carnitas Rice Bowl ($12). Perfectly fried and topped with a punch of citrus slaw, chipotle aioli, and pico de gallo, the fish tacos are a standout choice, and a wonderful balance of flavors and textures. I luckily got to have that dish all to myself, as I’m not a great sharer. Fortunately the guest at my table was nicer than me, so I was able to try everything. The servings were plenty, and even enough to take home and enjoy for lunch. The steak burrito overflowed with rice, black beans, lettuce, and pico de gallo, making any burrito enthusiast ready to place an order to go. Even when venturing beyond my usual choices, the pork carnitas rice bowl proved to be a delightful choice that brings every element of the burrito, but in a different font. For dessert, the Churros ($11), dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, provided a sweet finale that was impossible to resist. The friendly service and vibrant setting made every bite that much better, making El Barco not just a dinner plan but an experience worth revisiting. A must-try spot in the heart of Vineyard Haven Harbor, and an atmosphere filled with gorgeous sunsets, smiling people, and great food — what’s better than that? I find myself hoping that friends or family are going to ask me to pick them up at the boat, and I am definitely going to tell them I will meet them next to the ferry terminal, where they will find me at El Barco, and I will remind them to please try to arrive around dinner time!

El Barco, 16 Union St., Vineyard Haven. Open every day, 11 am to 10 pm. Call 508-684-5001, or visit its website, elbarcomv.com. EARLY SUMMER 2025

dining

MURDICK’S FUDGE

Customers enjoy stopping at Murdick's Fudge in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven.

Sweet tooth heaven

f you have a sweet tooth, Murdick’s Fudge is one of the Vineyard’s bestloved treats. Depending on demand, they make anywhere from 180 to 1,200 pounds of fudge each day. The Murdicks actually migrated here from another island — starting as a family business in Michigan on Mackinac Island in 1887. Henry and his son Newton Jerome (Rome) Murdick opened the first fudge store, calling it Murdick’s Candy Kitchen. The store was in a building where Henry made sails, and Rome made fudge using his mother Sara’s recipe. Fast forward to 1955, and a young entrepreneur, Bob Benser, Sr., arrived on Mackinac Island. He built and ran a Tastee Freeze ice cream shop next to Murdick’s Candy Kitchen. According to the store’s

website, Jerome and his wife Grace treated Bob like the son they never had. Bob stepped in to help Grace keep the business open when Jerome became ill. He learned how to make fudge — the exact cooking and shaping temperatures and the all-important fudge-paddle movements. Benser subsequently bought the business in 1969. The journey to the Vineyard began when his college friend Charlie Asselin came on vacation in the late 1970s. Seeing that the former Edgartown post office was for sale, he convinced Benser it would be the perfect place to start a fudge shop in another hotbed of summer tourism. Benser acquired the Edgartown store in 1979 and another in Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven soon after. The two friends became partners, and Asselin ran the stores

until 1993, when the current general manager, Mike McCourt, came from Michigan to take over. “I’ve been here ever since, so I guess it was a fit made to happen.” McCourt did a two-week boot camp at Murdick’s on Mackinac Island before arriving on our shores. “That was my introduction to fudge. I knew how to eat it; I just didn’t know how to make it. It was pretty sketchy when I left, but when I started operating the business and making fudge every day, I could handle my own after 31 years.” Murdick’s still makes the fudge using Sara’s 137-year-old recipe, passed down through the generations. Each batch starts in a copper kettle and is made with real butter, cream, sugar, and flavorings, creating about 30 pounds of fudge. The mixture

PHOTOS: DENA PORTER

Murdick’s Fudge — still going strong. BY ABBY REMER

MURDICK’S FUDGE

The Murdick family has been making fudge for over 130 years.

is poured onto their renowned marble tables, giving the candy a unique texture and providing a “stage” on which to show eager onlookers how the confection is made. Each batch starts in a copper kettle and is painstakingly created, paying attention to indoor, outdoor, and marble countertop temperatures, length of time, and the correct temperature required for cooking, boiling, stirring, cooling, and shaping into enormous loaves that are then cut into thick slices. “Temperature is key. That’s why we use marble,” McCourt explains. “It does two things. It helps cool the fudge down, but at the same time, it stores the heat in the table so that the cooling-off process is gradual. If it were sharp, the fudge would never set up. If you used cold stainless steel, it would suck all the heat out of the fudge, and it would never set. The store is set at 65-70 degrees to make sure not to suck the heat out of the fudge.”

Chocolate and fudge might seem synonymous, but, in fact, Murdick’s cooks up a wide assortment of enticing flavors in addition to plain vanilla and chocolate. There is butter pecan, chocolate peanut

dining

Michael McCourt is the general manager of Murdick's Fudge.

architecture is definitely different.” He wasn’t sure initially what he was getting into. “But like everybody who has visited the Vineyard or spent any time here, the place grows on you. It’s been a blessing being out here. I enjoy the people and the Island. And how concerned everybody is about everyone else and pitches in when somebody gets in trouble. I think it’s a very unique place.” McCourt is keeping the Murdick’s fudge tradition alive and the Island full of their treats. And one of the great things about the delicious indulgences — they are all gluten-free.

“Temperature is key. That’s why we use marble,” McCourt explains. “It does two things. It helps cool the fudge down, but at the same time, it stores the heat in the table so that the cooling-off process is gradual.” - Mike McCourt butter, cranberry, vanilla or chocolate pecan, chocolate walnut, peanut butter, rocky road, and smores. In addition, Murdick’s sells its justly famous Caramel Corn made with brown sugar and molasses, Cheese Corn with its tangy cheddar cheese and cream, and peanut and cashew brittle, and taffy. McCourt reflects on his adopted home, “When I first came, I didn’t know what to think. There are not too many buildings over 50 years old in the Midwest. Here there are a lot of buildings over 150 years old. The

Mudick’s Fudge locations: 21 N. Water St., Edgartown, 508-627-8047; 5 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2335; 79 Main St., Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7344; and Murdick’s Café at 19 N. Water St., Edgartown, 508-627-7605. www.originalmurdicksfudge.com. EARLY SUMMER 2025

dining

The Covington

52 Main St., 508-627-7678; thecovingtonrestaurant.com. Y

Cozy Corner Cafe

rom an on-the-go meal to a topnotch fine dining experience, we’ve got you covered. The Island musthaves — a lobster roll, bowl of chowder, local oysters, or a fresh fish sandwich are all available not only seasonally but year-round as

well. And if you’re in the mood for a good bucket of fried chicken, we have that too. Visit listed websites for menus, hours, reservations, and takeout options. Let us know if we don’t have your favorite restaurant here, and we will do our best to add it to the next issue of Vineyard Visitor.

38 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd., 508-939-3988; cozycornermv.com.

= Year-round S = Seasonal

EDGARTOWN

AQUINNAH S

Aquila Coffee House

17 Aquinnah Circle. S

Cliffhangers

Aquinnah Circle, 508-955-9163. S

The Gay Head Store

33 Aquinnah Circle, 508-955-9142. Y

Orange Peel Bakery & Pizza

22 State Rd., 508-645-2025; orangepeelbakery.net. S

The Outermost Inn

81 Lighthouse Rd., 508-645-3511; outermostinn.com.

The Beach Plum Inn & Restaurant S

50 Beach Plum Ln., 508-645-9454; beachpluminn.com. S

Chilmark General Store

7 State Rd., 508-645-3739; chilmarkgeneralstore.com. S

Chilmark Tavern

1435 State Rd., 508-645-9400; chilmarktavern.com. S

Homeport

512 North Rd., 508-645-2679; homeportmv.com. S

Iggy’s Bread

26 Basin Rd., iggysbread.com. S

Larsen’s Fish Market

56 Basin Rd., 508-645-2680; larsensfishmarket.com. S

Menemsha Fish Market

54 Basin Rd., 508-645-2282; menemshafishmarket.net. S

Menemsha Galley

515 North Rd., 508-645-9819; menemshagalley.com. 42

19 Raw Oyster Bar

19 Church St., 774-224-0550; 19rawoysterbar.com. Y

Alchemy

71 Main St., 508-627-9999; alchemyedgartown.com. Y

Al’s Package Store

258 Upper Main St., 508-627-4347. S

Among the Flowers Café

17 Mayhew Ln., 508-627-3233. S

Atlantic Fish and Chop House

2 Main St., 508-627-7001; atlanticmv.com. S

CHILMARK

19 Prime Cast Iron Steakhouse

19 Church St., 774-224-0550; 19primesteak.com.

Atria

137 Main St., 508-627-5850; atriamv.com. S

Bad Martha’s Brewery

270 Upper Main St., 508-939-4415; badmarthabeer.com.

Dairy Queen

242 Main St., 508-627-5001. S

Détente

3 Nevin Sq., Winter St., 508-627-8810; détentemv.com. Y

Dip 02539

241 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd., (at the triangle), 508-627-7725. Dock Street Coffee Shop

2 Dock St., 508-627-5232. S

The Dunes

31 Dunes Rd., Winnetu Oceanside Resort, 508-627-3663; winnetu.com.

Edgartown Meat & Fish Market

240 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., 508-627-6200; edgartownmeatandfish.com. Y

Edgartown Pizza

224 Edgartown Rd., 508-627-7770; edgartownpizzamenu.com. Y

Edgartown Seafood Market

138 Cooke St., 508-627-3791; edgartownseafood.com S

Espresso Love

17 Church St., 508-627-9211; espressolove.com. S

The Fish House

17 Airport Rd., 508-693-0055; thefishhousemv.com. Y

Great Harbor Market

131 North Water St., Harbor View Hotel, 508-627-3761; harbor-view.com.

11 South Summer St., iggysbread.com.

Blackbird Café

S Blackbird Chappaquiddick Food Truck

219 Chappaquiddick Rd., 978-263-7722; myblackbirdcafe.com. S

Black Sheep

17 Airport Rd., 508-338-7770; blacksheeponmv.com S

Chesca’s

38 North Water Street, 508-627-1234; chescasmv.com. Y

China House Restaurant

234 Upper Main St., 508-627-7272.

Murdick’s Fudge

21 N. Water St., 508-627-8047; originalmurdicksfudge.com. S

MV Botiga by MV Salads

15 Church St., 774-563-3423. Y

M.V. Wine & Spirits

17A Airport Rd., 508-627-7557. Y

The Newes from America

23 Kelly St., 508-627-4397; farawaymarthasvineyard.com/restaurant/newes-pub S

The Pelican Club

55 Main St.; 508-627-7747; theporthunter.com.

5 Dock St., 508-627-8735.

Murdick’s Café

Edgartown Diner

S Bettini Restaurant & Behind the View at the Harbor View Hotel

19 North Water St., 978-263-7722; myblackbirdcafe.com.

19 N. Water St., 508-627-7605; originalmurdicksfudge.com

65 Main St., 508-627-9337; edgartowndinermv.com.

46 Main St., 774-549-9123; btbmv.com.

Behind the Bookstore

120 Meshacket Rd., 508-627-9674; morninggloryfarm.com.

6 Kelly St., sevenrooms.com/reservations/ pelicanclubandpool.

199 Upper Main St., 508-694-6888, greatharbormarket.com.

Y Morning Glory Farm & MOGLO Food Wagon

Ice Cream & Candy Bazaar Iggy’s Bread Katama General Store

170 Katama Rd., 508-627-5071; katamageneral.com. S

Katama Kitchen

12 Mattakeesett Way, 508-939-4064; katamakitchen.com S

L’étoile

22 North Water St., 508-627-5187; letoile.net. S

Lucky Hank’s

218 Upper Main St., 508-939-4082; luckyhanksmv.com. S

MacPhail’s Corner Cafe

18 Dock St., 508-939-3090. S

Mad Martha’s Ice Cream

7 North Water St., madmarthas.com.

The Port Hunter Quarterdeck Restaurant

9 Dock St., 508-627-5346. Y Rockfish 11 North Water St., 508-627-9967; rockfishedgartown.com. Y Rosewater Market 20 South Summer St., 508-627-1270; rosewatermv.com. Y Rosewater Wine & Spirits 65 Main St., 508-939-4459; rosewatermv.com. S Roxy Pool Bar 131 North Water St., Harbor View Hotel; harbor-view.com. S Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium 22 Dock St., benandbillsmv.com. S The Seafood Shanty 31 Dock St., 508-627-8622; theseafoodshanty.com. S Slice of Edgartown 22 Dock St., 508-627-7641. Y Soigne 190 Upper Main St., 508-627-8489; soignemv.com. S The Square Rigger Restaurant 225 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., 508-627-9968; squareriggerrestaurant.com. Y Square Rigger by Nina’s 225 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., ninasmv.com. Y Stop & Shop 225 Upper Main St., 508-627-9522, stopandshop.com. Y Taco MV 32 Winter St., 774-549-6944. S The Terrace 27 South Summer St., 508-627-6227; theterracemv.com.

dining

Toccopuro Coffee

3 South Water St., 774-549-9381. Y

Town Bar & Grill MV

227 Upper Main St., 774-310-8696; townbarmv.com. S

Vineyard Scoops

56 Main St., 508-627-4736. S

Vintage Wine and Spirits

29 Winter St., 774-549-9287; vintagemvwine-spirits.com. Y

Wharf Pub and Restaurant

3 Main St., 508-627-9966; wharfpubmv.com. S

Wharf Wine & Spirits

8 Mayhew Ln., 508-627-9966. Y

Wicked Burger

258 Upper Main St., 774-549-9700, wickedburgermv.com. Y

Wolf’s Den Pizza

249 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., 508-687-9994; wolfsdenmv.com. Y

Your Market

249 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Rd., 508-627-4000.

OAK BLUFFS S

Aalia’s Coffee

16 Kennebec Ave., 508-687-9649; aaliascoffee.com. Y

Aquila at the Y

111R Edgartown Vineyard Haven Rd., aquilamv.square.site; 508-696-7171. S

The Alley

24 Kennebec Ave., thealleymv.com. S

Back Door Donuts & Bakery

5 Post Office Sq., 508-693-3688; backdoordonuts.com. Y

Bangkok Cuisine

67 Circuit Ave., 508-696-6322. Y

Barn Bowl & Bistro

13 Uncas Ave., 508-696-9800; thebarnmv.com. S

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium

20A Circuit Ave., 508-696-0008; benandbillsmv.com. S

Big Dipper Ice Cream & Deli

23 Lake St., 508-693-4845. S

Biscuits

26 Lake Ave., 508-693-2033; mvbiscuits.com. S

The Black Dog Dockside Café

12 Circuit Ave. ext., 508-338-2037; theblackdog.com. S

Black Joy MVY

7 Oakland Ave., blackjoykitchen.com. S

Carousel Ice Cream Factory

15 Circuit Ave., 508-696-8614. Y

Chef Deon’s Kitchen

14 Towanticut St., 508-627-0330; chefdeon.com.

Coop de Ville & Shuck Shack

Dockside Market Place, 508-693-3420; coopdevillemv.com. S

The Corner Kitchen

24 Circuit Ave., 508-693-1470. Y

Dos Mas

50 Circuit Ave., 508-687-9271; dosmasmv.com. S

Eleven Circuit

11 Circuit Ave., 508-687-9283. Y

Enchanted Chocolates

4 Chapman Ave., 508-693-8331; enchantedchocolates.net. S

Farm Neck Café

1 Farm Neck Way, 508-693-3560; farmneck.net/cafe. S

Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar

M.V. Chowder Co.

9 Oak Bluffs Ave., 508-696-3000; loftob.com. S

MV Salads

55 Circuit Ave., 508-338-7754; mvsalads.com. S

Nancy’s Restaurant & Snack Bar

29 Lake Ave., 508-693-0006; nancysrestaurant.com. S

Nauti Cow

28 Lake Ave. S

Nomans

15 Island Inn Rd., 508-338-2474; nomansmv.com. Y

Offshore Ale Co.

30 Kennebec Ave., 508-693-2626; offshoreale.com.

7 Circuit Ave., fatronniesburgerbar.com.

S Fishbones Grille & Waterfront Café

1 East Chop Dr., 508-693-3000, ourmarketmv.com.

Dockside Marina, 508-696-8227; fishbonesmv.com.

The Food Truck

(at the ice rink at the YMCA) 91 Edgartown Vineyard Haven Rd., 508-560-5883. Giordano’s Restaurant, Clam Bar & Pizza S

18 Lake Ave., 508-693-0184; giosmv.com. S

Jimmy Seas Pan Pasta

32 Kennebec Ave., jimmyseaspanpastas.com. Y

Jim’s Package Store

27 Lake Ave., 508-693-0236; jimspackagestore.com Y Michael’s (New this season) 25 Circuit Ave. S

Lobsterville Bar and Grille

8 Circuit Avenue Ext., 508-696-0099; lobstervillemv.com. S

Lookout Tavern

8 Seaview Ave., 508-696-9844; lookoutmv.com. S

Mad Martha’s Ice Cream

12 Circuit Ave., madmarthas.com. S

Midnight Mediterranean

6 Circuit Ave., Ext., (508) 338-7366. S

Midnight Taco

7 Circuit Ave., Ext., 508-560-3222. Y

Mikado Asian Bistro & Bar

6 Circuit Ave., 508-87-9119; mikadoob.com. S

Mocha Mott’s

10 Circuit Ave., 508-696-1922, mochamotts.com. Y

Mo’s Lunch at the P.A. Club

137 Vineyard Ave., moslunch.com; 508-687-9744. S

Murdick’s Fudge

5 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2335; originalmurdicksfudge.com.

Our Market

Pawnee House

20 Kennebec Ave., 508-338-2770; thepawneehousemv.com. S

Red Cat Kitchen

6 Circuit Ave., 508-696-6040; redcatkitchen.com. Y

Reliable Market

36 Circuit Ave., 508-693-1102; thereliablemarket.com. S

Rosie’s Frozen Yogurt

19 Circuit Ave., 508-687-0031, rosiesofmv.com. S

Sand Bar & Grill

6 Circuit Avenue Ext., 508-693-7111; mvsandbar.com. Y

Sharky’s Cantina

31 Circuit Ave., 508-693-7501; sharkyscantina.com. S

Stella Salumeria

6 Circuit Ave., 508-338-7457. Y

The Sweet Life Café

63 Circuit Ave., 508-696-0200; sweetlifemv.com. S

TigerHawk Sandwich Co.

12B Circuit Ave., 508-338-7306; tigerhawkmv.com S

Toccopuro Coffee

45 Circuit Ave., 508- 338-2463. Y

Tony’s Market

119 Dukes County Ave., 508-693-4799; tonysmarketmv.com. Vineyard’s Best Ice Cream and Coffee S

12 Kennebec Ave., 617-775-7601. S

Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine

7 Circuit Avenue Ext., 508-338-7077. S

Vineyard Wine Shop

38 Circuit Ave., 508-693-0943.

Winston’s Kitchen

1 East Chop Drive, 508-687-9572, winstonskitchenmv.com.

VINEYARD HAVEN S

9 Craft Kitchen & Bar

9 Main St., 9craftkitchen.com. Y

Ackee Tree Carribean

25 Beach Rd., 954-865-8972 S

The Attic at Waterside

82 Main St., 508-693-8899; watersidemarket.com. Y

Beach Road Restaurant

79 Beach Rd., 508-693-8582; beachroadmv.com. Y

The Black Dog Café

509 State Rd., 508-696-8190; theblackdog.com. Y

The Black Dog Tavern

Beach Street Ext., 508-693-9223; theblackdog.com. Y

Bobby B’s Seafood & Pizza

22 Main St., 508-693-8266; bobbybsmv.com. Y

Catboat Coffee Co.

79 Beach Rd., catboatcoffee.com. S

The Cove Golf and Grill

386 State Rd., 508-693-2611; covemv.com. Y

Cronig’s Market

357 Lower State Rd., 508-693-4457; cronigsmarket.com. Y

Delicious MV Bakery

22 Main St., 508-693-2223; deliciousmv.com. Y

El Barco

16 Union St., 508-684-5001; elbarcomv.com S

Fish MV

80 Main St., 508-693-6399; fishmv.com. S

Garde East

52 Beach Rd., 508-687-9926; gardeeast.com. S

The Ice Box

79 Beach Rd., 508-693-8182; sites.google.com/view/mvicebox. Y

Island Fresh Pizza and Subs

395 State Rd., 508-338-2764; islandfreshpizza.com. S John’s Fish Market & Sandy’s Fish & Chips

5 Martin Rd., 508-693-1220; johnsfishmarket.com. Y

La Choza

4 Main St., 508-693-9050. Continued on page 44 EARLY SUMMER 2025

dining

Continued from page 43 Y

The Larder MV

342 State Road., 508-687-9641; thelarder-mv.com. S

Mad Martha’s Ice Cream

24 Union St., madmarthas.com. Y The Maker Pasta Shop

339 State Rd., 508-687-9794; themakerpastashop.com. Y

Mikado Asian Bistro

76 Main St., 508-338-7096, mikadomv.com. Y

Mocha Mott’s

15 Main St., 508-693-3155; mochamotts.com. S

Murdick’s Fudge

79 Main St., 508-693-7344; originalmurdicksfudge.com. Y

342 State Rd., 508-338-7830. modeldelimv.com.

La Strada

65 Main St., 508-338-7397. Y

Y Nina’s on Beach Road

61 Beach Rd., 212-470-1115, ninasmv.com.

Nat’s Nook

38 Main St., 508-338-2340; natsnookmv.com. Y The Net Result 79 Beach Rd., 508-693-6071; mvseafood.com.

Pie Chicks Bakery

395 State Rd., 508-693-0228; piechicks.com.

Y Porto Pizza

29 Main St., 508-687-9314; tisberrymv.com.

36 Water St., 508-693-6200; portopizza-mv.com.

Tisberry Frozen Yogurt

Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine

Quitsa Kitchen

13 Beach St., 508-338-4094.

455 State Rd., 508-338-7787; quitsakitchen.com.

Rocco’s Pizzeria

14 Beach Rd., Tisbury Marketplace, marthasvineyardpizza.com. Y Salvatore’s Ristorante Italiano 20 Union St., 508-687-9457; salvatoresristorante.com. Y Scottish Bakehouse 977 State Rd., 508-693-6633; scottishbakehousemv.com. Y S & S Kitchenette 48 Main St., 508-338-2392; sskitchenette.com. Y Stop & Shop 50 Water St., 508-693-8339; stopandshop.com. Y Sweet Bites 32 Beach St., 508-684-8585; sweetbitesmv.com.

63 Circut Ave., Oak Bluffs sweet_life_mv | 508-696-0200 sweetlifemv.com 44

The Model Deli

Vineyard Grocer

294 State Rd., 508-693-2000; vineyardgrocer.com. Y

Waterside Market

82 Main St., 508-693-8899; watersidemarket.com. Y

Wolf’s Den Pizza

Cronig’s Market

469 Upper State Rd., 508-693-2234; cronigsmarket.com. Y

Plane View Restaurant

71 Airport Rd., 508-693-1886; mvyairport.com. Y

State Road Restaurant

688 State Rd., 508-693-8582; stateroadrestaurant.com. Y

Vineyard Take Out

479 State Rd, 508-500-8634; vineyardtakeoutmenu.com. S Woods at Lambert’sCove Inn 92 Manaquayak Rd., 508-422-8051; lambertscoveinn.com.

45 Beach Rd., 508-687-9112; wolfsdenmv.com. Y

Woodland Variety & Grill

455 State Rd., Woodland Marketplace, 508693-6795; woodlandvarietyandgrill.com.

WEST TISBURY S

7a Foods

1045 State Rd., 508-693-4636; 7afoods.com. Y Alley’s General Store 1045 State Rd., 508-693-0088.

Let us know if we don't have your favorite Vineyard restaurant listed here and we'll do our best to add it to the next Vineyard Visitor. Send us a line at calendar@mvtimes.com.

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mistymeadowsmv.org 55 Misty Meadows Lane, West Tisbury | info@mistymeadowsmv.org | 508-338-7198 MistyMeadows.MV MistyMeadowsMV

State Road, Vineyard Haven · 508-693-4457 Group Experiences |MistyMeadows.MV Youth, Adult, and Therapeu mistymeadowsmv.org MistyMeadowsMV 55 Misty Meadows Lane, West Tisbury | info@mistymeadowsmv.org | 508-338-7198 Mounted Archery | Special Even Healthy Additions · 508-693-7097 55 Misty Meadows Lane, West Tisbury | info@mistymeadowsmv.org | 508-338-7198 West Tisbury · 508-693-2234 mistymeadowsmv.org MistyMeadowsMV

55 Misty Meadows Lane, West Tisbury | info@mistymeadow EARLY SUMMER 2025

Quansoo Road Pond Front, Chilmark

Nestled along the tranquil shoreline of Tisbury Great Pond and surrounded by a breathtaking natural environment of water, sand and sky, this is an unparalleled beach house experience on the south shore of Chilmark. The five-bedroom home consists of a three-bedroom main house connected by walkways to a two-bedroom guest wing with studio space above. Walk down the private path to the sandy shore of the pond. Exclusively offered at $5,475,000.

Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs

Wonderful opportunity to reimagine this Victorian home located at the gateway of the Oak Bluffs Business district. Currently being run as a business with an apartment above, this historic building is filled with possibilities for a new owner. Exclusively offered at $2,500,000.

Edson Forest Road, West Tisbury

Exquisite home in a stunning location on four acres surrounded by conservation and agricultural lands and overlooking a neighbor’s private pond. This newly renovated home 3 bedroom, 4.5 bath home can support 6 bedrooms. Exclusively offered at $4,395,000.

504 State Road, West Tisbury MA 02575 · 508.696.9999 Beetlebung Corner, Chilmark MA 02535 · 508.645.2628 www.tealaneassociates.com

Waterfront Aquinnah Beach House

Waterfront beach house on Dogfish Bar in Aquinnah with rolling dunes, waterviews and immense sunsets! This reverse level 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home is one of only a few on this stretch of private and preserved beach. Meander down the path through the dunes to the sandy beach for some of the best swimming, sunsets, fishing, and boating on the island. The land has 3.4 acres and 198’ of pristine shoreline, sandy beach, and dunes. Exclusively offered at $3,950,000.

Waterfront, West Tisbury

Pond View Farm Road Waterfront. This exceptional 3.2acre waterfront property on Tisbury Great Pond offers unobstructed water views, a 4-bedroom main house, a 2-bedroom guest house, and a permitted private dock. Exclusively offered at $4,900,000.

North Abel’s Hill, Chilmark

This home and one-bedroom guest cottage is a rare opportunity to own in the iconic Abel’s Hill Association which offers private association south shore beach access, three tennis courts, and nearby walking trails. Exclusively offered at $1,900,000.

504 State Road, West Tisbury MA 02575 · 508.696.9999 Beetlebung Corner, Chilmark MA 02535 · 508.645.2628 www.tealaneassociates.com