This Week on
Nantucket
June 18 - June 25
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– In This Issue – • Island Calendar • Let’s Eat! The Seagrille • MusACK:Timbear • Walk with Neil: Stargazing
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The Inquirer and Mirror
This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Thursday, June 18 Nantucket Film Festival
Through Monday, various locations around town. The 31st annual salute to screenwriting hosts five days of documentary and narrative films and signature programs like Late Night Storytelling, Morning Coffee With. . . and its Screenwriters Tribute Awards. Tickets and complete schedule at www.nantucketfilmfestival.org
Plein Air Nantucket
Through June 18. The Artists Association of Nantucket hosts its 15th annual outdoor painting festival. Freshly painted works will hang daily for sale at the Johnson Gallery, 8 Federal St. The event culminates in the Frank Swift Chase Awards ceremony at 4 p.m. June 18 at the Johnson Gallery.
Ecologist in Training: Turtle Trapping
9 a.m. Linda Loring Nature Foundation, 110 Eel Point Road. LLNF staff lead this workshop that explores the research and techniques used to study fresh-water turtles and their habitats. Register on calendar page of www.llnf.org
This Week On Nantucket
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Island Calendar Feeding Frenzy at the Aquarium
9 a.m. Monday-Saturday, Maria Mitchell Aquarium, 32 Washington St. Join MMA aquarists and staff as they feed the ever-hungry creatures at the aquarium and learn about their feeding behaviors. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Plein Air Painting Workshop
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Artists Association of Nantucket Visual Arts Center, 24 Amelia Drive. Instructor Tim Horn leads this plein-air painting workshop for advanced beginner and intermediate students working in oils. Register at www.nantucketarts.org
Ravenous Reptiles
9 a.m. Monday-Saturday, Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk St. Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry animals at the museum and learn about the adaptations of turtles, frogs, snakes and more. $20. Registration recommended on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Marine Storytime
9:15 a.m. Monday-Saturday, Maria Mitchell Aquarium, 32 Washington St. An MMA educator will read a marine- or
THURSDAY, PAGE 20
Courtesy of Artists Association of Nantucket
The Artists Association of Nantucket’s Plein Air Nantucket week-long outdoor painting festival wraps up Thursday, June 18 with the Frank Swift Chase Awards.
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Lights, camera, action: 2026 Nantucket Film Festival
“The Invite” opened the 31st Nantucket Film Festival Wednesday. It screens again Saturday at the Dreamland Theater. By Joshua Balling jballing@inkym.com The 2026 Nantucket Film Festival is back in town last week with a packed lineup of more than 50 narrative and documentary films from around the globe. The 31st festival opened Wednesday with “The Invite,” directed by and starring Olivia Wilde. Written by NFF honorees Rashida Jones and Will McCormack and also starring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, the film follows a couple whose marriage is on thin ice as they host their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party that spirals into unexpected places. This year’s centerpiece selection is ESPN’s upcoming 30 for 30 documentary “Give
“As we celebrate our 31st edition, we are honored to recognize storytellers who continue to push the boundaries of their craft. Paul Feig’s distinctive vision has reshaped modern comedy. We’re proud to celebrate their achievements with our festival community.” – Mystelle Brabbée Executive Director, Nantucket Film Festival Me the Ball!” directed by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff, detailing tennis icon Billie Jean King’s story and her transformative impact on sports and society. Closing the festival will be a special presentation of the “The Five Star Weekend,” based on the novel by Elin Hilderbrand and centered on Hollis Shaw, a famed cook and best-selling author known for her delicious recipes, impeccable taste and warm demeanor, who suffers a devastating loss.
Filmed on the island last fall, the streaming series stars Jennifer Garner and features festival honoree Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan and Regina Hall. Honorees This year’s Screenwriters Tribute, hosted by Michael Ian Black, will honor award-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, producer and author Paul Feig with
IMDb
the Visionary Storyteller Tribute, recognizing his career and storytelling across film and television. Feig’s work has helped shape modern comedy, from creating the cult classic television series “Freaks and Geeks” to box-office hits including “Bridesmaids,” “Ghostbusters” and “Spy.” His latest film “The Housemaid,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, became the top-grossing film of his career and he is currently in pre-production on the sequel, “The Housemaid’s Secret.” Presenting to Feig will be Academy-nominated actress Rose Byrne, who has previously worked with the director on “Bridesmaids,” celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and “Spy.”
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This Week On Nantucket
ELLEN GRIESEDIECK
Tennis great Billie Jean King is the subject of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Give Me the Ball!” screening this week at the 2026 Nantucket Film Festival. Past recipients of the award include Noah Baumbach, Tony Gilroy, Nicole Holofcener, Barry Jenkins, Nancy Meyers and Judd Apatow. “As we celebrate our 31st edition, we are honored to recognize storytellers who continue to push the boundaries of their craft. Paul Feig’s distinctive vision has reshaped modern comedy. We’re proud to celebrate their achievements with our festival community,” said Mystelle Brabbée, executive director of the Nantucket Film Festival. The festival will also honor the duo of Jones and McCormack with the Special Achievement in Screenwriting award for their years of collaboration on films including “Jesse & Celeste Forever,” “Toy Story 4” and the upcoming “The Invite.” In addition to their writing partnership, Jones and McCormack directed the 2024 short documentary, “A Swim Lesson,” which was short-listed for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. McCormack also directed and wrote the Academy Award-winning short film “If Anything Happens I Love You,” executive produced by Jones. Their production company, Le Train Productions’ credits across film and television include “Sunny,” “Quincy,” “Claws,” and “Kevin Can F**K Himself.” Sevigny, who will be attending the festival on behalf of two projects, will be honored with the Compass Rose Award for Career Achievement. The documentary she produced, “Summer Tour,” about the enduring community of fans of the Grateful Dead, will screen at this year’s festival followed by a post-screening conversation with Sevigny. Additionally, she stars in “The Five Star Weekend,” co-starring and executive pro-
duced by Garner. The festival will screen the first episode, followed by a Deep Dive Conversation with Sevigny, creator, executive producer, showrunner and writer Bekah Brunstetter and Hilderbrand. Sevigny recently earned an Emmy Award nomination for her role in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” She received an Academy Award nomination for her work in “Boys Don’t Cry” and won the Golden Globe for “Big Love.” Previous recipients of the award include Meg Ryan, Molly Shannon, Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga and John Turturro. “Rashida Jones and Will McCormack bring depth and authenticity to their screenwriting. Chloë Sevigny’s fearless, enduring career makes her a true embodiment of the Compass Rose Award,” Brabbée said. Signature programs The festival will host a series of additional Deep Dive Conversations, following select film and episodic presentations including the premiere of “Mighty Mary,” directed by Mary Mazzio. The film follows the first all-women’s sailing team to contend for the America’s Cup, the pinnacle of international yacht racing. A late addition to the program is HBO’s new documentary series “Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult,” which will premiere its first episode at the festival. The series follows Hoyt Richards, who summered on Nantucket, from trotting the globe for campaigns with fashion powerhouses including Versace and Ralph Lauren, to becoming entangled with the Eternal
NFF26, PAGE 30
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Timbear brings live-looping one-man show to the island By Kendall Graham kgraham@inkym.com Portsmouth, N.H.-based musician Tim “Timbear” Daley has built a reputation around New England as a one-man-band performer whose live shows blend singer-songwriter storytelling with the technical wizardry of live looping.
MusACK Layering guitar, vocals and rhythmic elements in real time, Daley creates the sound of a full ensemble while performing solo, a style that has made him a regular presence at festivals, concert series and community arts events throughout the region. Daley will make his way to Nantucket for a week-long residency, performing sets at Cisco Brewers and the Brotherhood of Thieves from Monday through Sunday. “This will actually be my first time out to Nantucket,” Daley said. “I’ve been performing at the other Cisco Brewers locations in Boston and they thought I’d be a great fit.” For Daley, music has long occupied a central place in his life, beginning with childhood dreams of performing and eventually becoming the career he now calls deeply fulfilling. “Music is one of, if not, my biggest passion,” he said. “I feel elevated by it and have always felt it deeply. Since I was a kid, there was always the fantasy of and draw to being on stage.” Like many artists, however, Daley’s path to a full-time music career took an unexpected turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It wasn’t until the pandemic that I decided it was now or never to see if I could possibly sustain myself through music,” he said. “I took the time the pandemic provided to refine my skills and to get my head around approaching the business. It’s been one of the best decisions of my life as now it’s not only sustaining me but it’s bringing me to places like Boston and Nantucket and has been extremely fulfilling, personally.” But the seeds of performing were planted much earlier. “I had been in bands since I was younger and also played sports my whole life, so in a way performing has always been in my life,” Daley said. The looping aspect of his act, though, emerged much later. “The looper really found me at the end of COVID and as I began performing in local bars and restaurants, I’d use it to allow me to play underneath a solo or important melody,” he said. “But I quickly found how versatile a tool it
MUSACK, PAGE 29
Tim “Timbear” Daley uses a live digital looper to create the sound of a full ensemble while performing solo.
Courtesy of Tim Daley
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This Week On Nantucket
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
The Seagrille: Where locals go for great seafood By Francesca Giangiulio fgiangiulio@inkym.com
Let’s Eat!
There are not too many restaurants left on Nantucket still run by the original chef-owner. That’s what EJ Harvey, founder and longtime chef of The Seagrille, told me when we sat down last week, and I tend to agree with him. Plenty of restaurants on the island have become icons, whether they’re still serving or not. Far fewer can say they’ve remained true to the same vision for 35 years. Ownership often changes hands more times than you can keep track of. And every few years, a new generation of chefs lands on island, looking to make their mark on our world-famous (and bountiful) shores. But as the Seagrille celebrates its 35th anniversary, the story isn’t simply that it’s survived. It’s that after three and a half decades, the same family is still showing up every day, still welcoming guests and still serving the kind of seafood-focused meals that first made people fall in love with the restaurant three and a half decades ago. What Harvey and his family have built is something increasingly rare: a restaurant that has managed to evolve with Nantucket while never losing sight of what made it spe-
cial in the first place. The Seagrille is – at its core – a family business. “I’ve always liked to fish,” Harvey said. “I’m always digging clams and fishing and stuff, so it just made sense.” For Harvey, hospitality came naturally. He grew up in the restaurant business, following in the footsteps of his father, who managed food service operations, catered events and owned bars. By his teenage years, Harvey was already working long shifts in restaurants before attending culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America. After making a name for himself on Nantucket at the Jared Coffin House and later operating EJ Harvey’s Island Restaurant, he eventually took over the mid-island space that would become The Seagrille in 1991. “The goal for the restaurant was I had three children, a house that I had to pay for, so how am I going to make money to survive,” Harvey said with a laugh. “It was really a do-or-die situation.” The restaurant that guests know today didn’t happen overnight. It has evolved bit
Photos by Francesca Giangiulio
The linguica-crusted cod with lobster mashed potatoes.
Photo by Francesca Giangiulio
Top: The swordfish frites, a coastal take on the French classic. Bottom: Seagrille appetizers, clockwise from top left: Fried green tomatoes, lobster bisque, Point Judith calamari and caviar tots.
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by bit over the years, just like the island itself, Harvey said. That meant dozens of renovations, upgrades and improvements. Yet despite those changes, the heart of the restaurant has remained remarkably intact. The best example of that might be the wall mural of photographs in the hallway behind the bar. Spend a few minutes looking through the collage and you’ll find decades of memories: staff members, family celebrations, longtime regulars and moments from seasons gone by. It’s like a family scrapbook, a visual reminder that the Seagrille’s history isn’t measured in years but in relationships. The best way to describe the Seagrille is by its original slogan: “Where all the locals go for great fish and excellent seafood.” That sense of community is impossible to miss. Even on an early weeknight, the dining room buzzed with conversation. Families filled the large booths. Friends lingered over dinner. Servers greeted guests with the familiarity of people who genuinely know many of the customers walking through the door. Part of that atmosphere comes from the Harvey family itself. Today, the next generation plays a major role in leading the restaurant. Harvey’s daughter Kari Harvey Lindsay manages the dining room. Her husband, Zack Lindsay, oversees operations and the beverage program.
This Week On Nantucket
Harvey’s son Tucker now serves as executive chef, working alongside his father while bringing fresh techniques and ideas to the menu. “It’s obviously a great feeling to have the kids involved. They’re proud of what they do,” EJ said. “I kind of warned them not to get involved, it’s a hard business, but they didn’t listen.” The generational transition is particularly meaningful given the legacy of Robin Harvey, EJ’s late wife, who helped build the restaurant alongside him and became a beloved figure within the Nantucket community. Her commitment to giving back continues through the Harvey Foundation, started by her daughter Adriene, which supports scholarships, youth programs, the annual Run for Robin and more. Giving back to the community was always a critical part of the Seagrille philosophy, EJ said. “When we first started, pretty much the community helped us out and got us going. Robin and I always wanted to give back to the community that was so open to us,” he said. Even if they couldn’t help financially in those early days, they were always willing to give back with their time or other resources like donating Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, giving people the opportunity to gather and eat as a community with the help of Nantucket Elder Services.
EAT, PAGE 28
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The iconic bread basket is complimentary for every table.
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Photo by Francesca Giangiulio
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Dark sky watch: Stargazing at Altar Rock
Sankaty Head Light beneath a crimson and orange sky just before darkness descends on the island. By Neil Foley I&M Columnist I love happy coincidences, serendipitous moments that let you know you are in the right place at the right time. Each month I participate in light readings of Nantucket’s dark skies as part of Nantucket Light’s Sky Quality Monitoring Team. Our team, guided by forecasts from the astronomy team at the Maria Mitchell Association, disperses across the island on a clear night to record how dark the sky becomes and the relative concentration of light pollution. On the chosen night for our survey this month, we were greeted with a special celestial phenomenon. Talk about luck. There is something magical about head-
Photo by Neil Foley
Walk with Neil ing out into the wilds of Nantucket at night. Moths flitter into the beam of my headlights as they bounce on a sandy road which resembles a lunar landscape. The heat of the day has faded and the chill wind pushes through my open window. I roll along the rugged road through the corridor of shrubs, grateful for the season of driving with the windows down. Suddenly the landscape opens and the sky above me widens, giving me a great view of the Sankaty Lighthouse off to the East. My survey site is the top of Altar Rock, giving me a perfect reason to take in a panoramic view of the stars on the fourth
WALK, PAGE 27
Photo by Neil Foley
The Jupiter and Venus conjunction in the western sky above the glow of town.
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This Week On Nantucket
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Hospital proposes $69M housing and clinical complex
Physical therapy and cardiac rehab space, 48 apartments in plans By Kaie Quigley kquigley@inkym.com
This Week on
Nantucket
May 21 - May 28
Photo by Kaie Quigley
GIVING MOOD: Nantucket Saves founder Tom McCann with Kimberly Kozlowski at the Nantucket Red Cross blood drive Tuesday at the VFW post on New South Road. Organizers were hoping to collect 380 pints over the two-day drive that wrapped up yesterday. See story, page 4A, and log on to www.ack.net for more photos.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
The 2.4-acre lot at 18 Vesper Lane where Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s new clinical and housing complex would be built. the University of Massachusetts-Boston in May 2021 for $2.6 million. Provided the hospital is able to successfully navigate the regulatory process in the coming months, the intent is to break ground sometime later this year, Glowacki said. He estimates the project would take 18 months to finish once construction starts. The Planning Board is set to review the proposal for the first time at its June 8 meeting. Design plans will also need to be approved by the Historic District Commission. Two separate structures, each proposed to be two-and-a-half stories in height, would sit on the lot in Gouin
Stranded visitors had nowhere to turn until Our House stepped in Island man in coma after dgeddes@inkym.com
Nine visitors from Florida arrived on the island Saturday for what was supposed to be a half-day trip. By nightfall, after a late-spring nor’easter canceled all ferry service, they said they had been turned away from or unable to find help everywhere they turned: hotels, short-term rentals, the Steamship Authority ferry terminal, police, fire, a restaurant and even Nantucket Cottage Hospital. They offered to pay. Still, no one had a place for them. With cold rain blowing across the island and no way off until morning, they said they were minutes away from spending the night on benches outside the downtown Nantucket Regional Transit Authority bus terminal. Until around 9:30 p.m. when Pauline Proch, director of the Our House teen and young adult center, heard of their plight and offered all nine shel-
HOSPITAL, PAGE 4A
being pulled from harbor
By Dean Geddes
– In This Issue – • Memorial Day Weekend Calendar • Let’s Eat! The New Fairgrounds • MusACK: Ian Biggs • Walk with Neil: Almanack Pond
Nantucket Cottage Hospital is moving forward with a $69 million plan to build a 48-unit apartment building and a new clinical facility on a largely-vacant lot it owns off Vesper Lane, across from its existing Prospect Street campus. The 2.4-acre parcel at 18 Vesper Lane has long been eyed as a location that could be developed to help meet the hospital’s growing needs for employee housing and more clinical space, Chris Glowacki, vice president of strategy and community development at the hospital, said Friday. “There’s always been some longterm planning going on in the background to more fully develop that property back there for both housing and clinical needs,” he said. The hospital acquired the land from the town in December 2023 for $2.8 million, according to property records. The town had previously purchased it from
By Kaie Quigley kquigley@inkym.com
Courtesy of Pauline Proch
From left: Island visitors Dennis Perello, Mario Coto-Santos, Margo Christie, Charles Perello, Juana Perello, Ingrid Gremer, Patty Garcia, Eddie Garcia and Steve Gremer, in the living room of Our House Saturday. ter from the storm. Their experience appears to point to a gap in the island’s response to stranded visitors during busy weekends. How can travelers have nowhere to stay during a storm on an island that relies on tourism and reg-
ularly has weather-related travel cancellations? “The only thing I thought of, I told everybody, I think the best thing we could do is go back to the tour place where they have the free buses,” Pat
STRANDED, PAGE 5A
An island resident is in a coma at a Boston hospital after being found unresponsive in Nantucket Harbor Monday afternoon. Farruh Nunuzov, 48, a carpenter originally from Uzbekistan, was found unconscious in the harbor near the town pier by passing boaters Monday afternoon. He had been kiteboarding, a family friend told The Inquirer and Mirror Tuesday. Nunuzov was found floating in the harbor around 3 p.m. Monday by a boat crew made up of Carl Bendiksen, Ethan Mcarrow and off-duty firefighter Ray DeCosta, fire chief Michael Cranson said Tuesday morning. It is unclear exactly what incapacitated
Courtesy of Sunnatilla Arifdjanov
Farruh Nunuzov
Nunuzov, Cranson said. Bendiksen, Mcarrow and DeCosta immediately called 911 and brought Nunuzov to the town pier, Cranson said. Soon after, they were joined by
HARBOR, PAGE 8A
New venues for Independence Day readings this year By Kaie Quigley kquigley@inkym.com
MAILING LABEL
The annual readings of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights will still take place on Independence Day on Nantucket this year, one way or another. Two new venues
Published by
The Inquirer and Mirror
are on the table following the Unitarian Universalist Church’s decision to not host the tradition as a political protest. St. Paul ’s Church has offered to host the readings, and the town’s office of Culture and Tourism has also offered organizers the opportunity to host the readings on Main Street. St. Paul’s Rev. Max Wolf said someone had contacted him after the UU’s decision earlier this week and he immediately offered to host the event, which had taken place at the UU Meeting House on Orange Street for the last 25 years. “I didn’t know a lot of details, but offered right away to host it at Saint Paul’s, because it’s important that we gather together in community and face issues, certainly ones that upset us,” Wolf said.
“I find our historic documents aspirational, that we aspire to these truths, we aspire to liberty and justice for all. And I think gathering with the readings and music, we can help better reach that goal.”
FOURTH, PAGE 5A
kgraham@inkym.com 1851-175 Years Ago A ship was discovered Saturday afternoon from the tower of the Unitarian Church, aground on the South Shoal, with her sails set. As soon as possible, after her arrival from New Bedford, the steamer Massachusetts was dispatched to her assistance, and reached her at about 9 in the evening, when the ship was found to be the Jacob Westervelt, 1,400 tons and 23 days from Liverpool, bound to New York with 800 passengers on board. The Massachusetts reached the ship while she was yet aground, and was about getting a line to her when she floated and started from the Shoal. The weather was fine and the sea very smooth Saturday afternoon, consequently the ship escaped from her dangerous situation before she sprung a leak. 1876-150 Years Ago George Coffin, of Tuckernuck Island, while engaged in setting bluefish nets Wednesday night, saw a school of the fish close inshore and swept about it with his seine. He succeeded in capturing about 500, which weighed 2,400 pounds. That is the wholesale way of securing fish, and a paying one, too. 1901-125 Years Ago The practice of reading aloud at regular intervals is of great benefit to anyone affected with a chest complaint. In all cases of lung trouble, it is important to indulge in those exercises by which the chest is in part filled or emptied of air, and reading aloud, singing and whistling are three of those exercises. There are many who cannot sing, and we do not expect the fair sex to whistle, but reading aloud can be practiced by all. Care must be taken not to overdo it, of course, and the body should be in such a position as to allow the chest to have free play. 1926-100 Years Ago A thousand boys each with a harmonica, last Saturday, stormed the State House and serenaded Governor Fuller and other state officials. A shining mass of silver and gold harmonicas flashed into the startled eyes of onlookers. At a signal from their leader, 13-year-old John Pardy of East Dedham, champion of all New England, martial airs and sentimental spring songs came streaming from the thousand eager youths.
File photo
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has offered to host this year’s Independence Day readings of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.
The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, Mass.
Section B
Island in Bloom: A Walking Tour By Debi Lilly I&M Columnist Happy June, friends. It’s time to take a big, beautiful flower walk through town. Grab your dog, your neighbor and prepare to be wowed.
You’re Invited There are some places that simply know how to celebrate flowers, and in June, Nantucket is one of them. Who are we kidding? We nailed it for April with millions of daffodils as well. Before the hydrangeas steal the show a bit later this summer, June belongs to the roses, peonies, foxgloves and wildflowers that soften every corner of this charming island. The air is fresh with salt and sunshine, blue skies abound and cottage gardens are starting to burst with color. Is it just me, or does every walk feel just like stepping into a fairy tale postcard? Lucky me, we’ve spent months now waking and walking a 5K through town. We do this with neighbors and friends every morning at 8:15 a.m., as the island is just waking up and coming to life. It is such a happy habit, you’ve just got to give it a try. There’s something so special – like the opening scene in “Beauty and the Beast” – walking down Main Street and repeating “good morning, good morning” over and over to all the same joyful island faces. Here is my favorite f lower-filled route for a big dose of Nantucket in bloom.
Restaurant 2026Guide The Premier Guide to Dining Out
Historic downtown Begin your morning wandering the cobblestone streets of the Old Historic District. It’s a wisteria wonderland last week – and we’re calling it — it’s peak week. I beg you, I’m shouting from the weathered shingled rooftops, to stroll down Fair Street and soak in the view
INVITED, PAGE 8B
Photo by Debi Lilly
The front yard of the “wedding cake house” at the corner of Fair Street and Martin’s Lane, blooming with lilacs.
Sauvignon Blanc: Freshness, a fruity funk and the perfect summer glass By Peter McEachern I&M Columnist
1951-75 Years Ago The 83-foot patrol boat based at the Brant Point Coast Guard station responded to an emergency call, on the holiday, and left port at 10 a.m. The call came from the New Bedford sea-scalloper Marie Catherine, 20 miles northeast of Nantucket Shoals Lightship. The patrol boat took off Philip Rockerick, of New Bedford, stricken with a serious stomach ailment, and rushed him to the Marine Hospital at Vineyard Haven, where they arrived at 7:35 p.m. 1976-50 Years Ago After months of searching for the best site, the Youth Activities Committee (YAC) got the go-ahead last Friday to construct the teen center on school property. Approval for the site was the final step in the process prior to actual construction which began when Selectmen honored a request from the YAC to file an application with the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Grant-in-Aid program designed to help communities obtain public facilities. In September, both the School Committee and Selectmen approved the concept of placing the building on school property.
– Rev. Max Wolf St. Paul’s Church Unitarian Rev. Erin Splaine told The Inquirer and Mirror earlier last week that the church would not host the event on America’s 250th anniversary in light of current events, such as the recent Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana vs. Callais that weakened the voting rights of racial minorities.
Compiled by Kendall Graham
2001-25 Years Ago Last week, three isolated wetland “pools” in Squam were officially certified by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program as vernal pools. These three are the first state-certified vernal pools on Nantucket. Vernal pools are subject to special protection due to their designation as a wetland resource area. The pools contain a number of wildlife species, including freshwater fairy shrimp, a species which depends on the seasonal wet and dry cycles of vernal pools for its survival. Vernal pools provide critical habitat for a number of vertebrate and invertebrate species, said Land Council resource conservationist Cormac Collier.
There is a moment – if you have experienced it, you know exactly what I mean – when you lift a glass of great Sauvignon Blanc and the wine announces itself before it reaches your lips.
Wine Cellar: The Noble Grapes
Photo by Leonid Andronov
A vineyard in Chinon in the Loire Valley of France.
It hits the nose like a cold breeze off a river: grapefruit, cut grass, a flash of something almost mineral and flinty, and then a green, herbal thread that is either thrilling or alarming, depending entirely on where the wine comes from. My daughter Isabelle describes the best examples as smelling like “someone opened a window to a very good kitchen.” That is exactly right,
CELLAR, PAGE 4B
Nantucket natural: native plant pros and cons By Lucy Apthorp Leske
Gardening by the Sea
I&M Columnist Imagine a past when native woodlands on Nantucket were filled with dogwood, American holly, Eastern red cedar, beech, tupelo and blooming orchids; when fields were so thick with bird’s foot violet that swarms of fritillary butterflies gorged on their nectar and swallowtails stopped in by the thousands each September to feast on New England blazing star; when wood and Turk’s cap lilies lit up the landscape like chandeliers. These native plants and the organisms they fed were once so abundant, it is hard to accept their scarcity today. Imagine also a past when there was no Japanese bamboo or giant reed clogging Nantucket’s ponds, no bittersweet or Japanese honeysuckle or
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multiflora roses choking hedgerows, no Japanese or pitch pine, no rosa rugosa on the dunes, no hydrangeas or privet hedges or bluegrass lawns. For better or worse, none of these plants are native to Nantucket. We wish some would go back around the point where they came from, while others are now iconic emblems of quintessential Nantucket landscapes. Would we banish them today if, in trade, we could have it all back the way it once was? Some might wish that future for us. Others simply want us to stop the flood of non-native species to the island and choose native plants instead.
GARDEN, PAGE 8B
Photo by Lucy Apthorp Leske
Native pink Joe Pye-weed and its relative, white-flowered boneset.
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Thursday, June 18, 2026
The greatest, most misunderstood white grape in the world
Courtesy of Peter McEachern
The sun rises through the mist over a vineyard along the Rhine. By Peter McEachern I&M Columnist
Wine Cellar: The Noble Grapes
I want to make an argument, and I’m not going to hedge: Riesling is the greatest white grape in the world. Not the most popular – Chardonnay owns that title, and not the most immediately pleasurable – Sauvignon Blanc has a claim there. But the greatest, in the sense of producing wines of extraordinary complexity, the widest stylistic range on Earth and the capacity to age so that a great Riesling at 25 years can be one of the most profound white-wine experiences available to a human being. I have tasted enough of them to say this without qualification. Over many years of traveling through
Germany’s wine regions, I have been fortunate to taste these wines where they are made: in the cellars, from the barrels and with the people who grow them. Isabelle and I have visited three producers whose names belong in any serious discussion of what Riesling can become: Steffen Christmann at A. Christmann in the Pfalz, Thorsten Melsheimer on the Mosel and the Thanisch family at Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch in Bernkastell, custodian of the legendary Doctor vineyard. Each visit reshaped my understanding of this grape. Together, they make the case more convincingly than any book. But first, the reputation problem. Riesling
carries more baggage than almost any other noble variety: the ghosts of Blue Nun and Black Tower, the cloyingly sweet German wines that dominated export markets in the 1970s and 1980s and convinced a generation that German white wine was fundamentally unserious. That reputation is 40 years out of date. The finest German Rieslings today are dry, mineral and structured with architectural precision, placing them in conversation with Burgundy’s greatest whites. In their sweeter expressions, they are the most perfectly balanced dessert wines made anywhere on Earth, the residual sugar always in equilibrium with acidity so pronounced that the wine never tastes heavy. The trick is knowing which bottle you are holding.
What makes Riesling Riesling The grape’s defining characteristic is acidity: a pronounced natural tartaric content that keeps even the sweetest Rieslings fresh rather than syrupy. This acidity is the structural backbone that makes great Riesling agreeable: it preserves the fruit, integrates the sugar and keeps the wine alive for decades. Paired with Riesling’s extraordinary aromatic range – from the pure lime and slate of a young Mosel Kabinett to the lychee, mango and rose petal of a mature Alsatian vendange tardive – this acidity yields wines of almost infinite complexity. The German classification system organizes Riesling by harvest ripeness, from
CELLAR, PAGE 24
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Vineyards overlooking Bernkastel-Kues, Germany.
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Photo by Marie Martin.
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Activities: Absolute Sport Fishing 19 Straight Wharf (508) 325-4000 ACK Surf School 64 Nobadeer Ave (508) 246-7872 Albacore Charters Slip 1010, Straight Wharf (508) 228-5074 Altar Rock & The Moors 50 Altar Rock Rd Althea K Sport Fishing 50 Easton St (508) 325-2167 Ara’s Tours 6 Fair St (508) 228-1951 Bamboo Forest 52 Madaket Rd Barrett’s Tours 25 Federal St (508) 228-0174 Bill Fisher Outfitters 20 N Cambridge St (203) 962-8867 Captain Tom’s Charters F St, Madaket (508) 228-4225 Cisco Beach Hummock Pond Road Cisco Brewers Tours 18b Federal St (508) 325-5929
Cook’s Cycles Nantucket 6 S Beach St, Ste B (508) 458-8042
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Just Do It Too 1013 Straight Wharf (508) 228-7448 Linda Loring Nature Foundation 110 Eel Point Rd (508) 325-0873
Nantucket Fishing Hither Creek (508) 325-1575 Nantucket Historical Association 15 Broad St (508) 228-1894
Critter Cruise Straight Wharf, Slip 1018
Lisa Lynn Charters Town Pier, 34 Washington St (508) 221-6124
Nantucket Information Bureau 25 Federal St (508) 228-0925
Cross Rip Outfitters 26 Mizzenmast Rd (508) 221-1201
Lost Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Hummock Pond Rd (508) 228-9208
Nantucket Island Tours 42 Straight Wharf (508) 228-0334
Discover Nantucket Tours 77 Easton St (917) 716-5973
Masquetuck Reservation 15 Quaise Pasture Rd (508) 228-2884
Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge 107 Wauwinet Rd (978) 443-4661
Discovery Playground at Hinsdale Park 54 Old South Rd
Mass Audubon’s Sesachacha Heathlands Barnard Valley Rd (508) 228-9208
Nantucket Tug Company 34 Washington St (831) 251-8018
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge 107 Wauwinet Rd (508) 228-5646
Easy Riders Bicycle Rentals 65 Surfside Rd (508) 325-2722 Endeavor Sailing Adventures Straight Wharf, Slip #1015 (508) 228-5585 Gail’s Tours, Inc. 28 Longwood Dr (508) 257-6557 Herbert T Sport Fishing Slip 14, Straight Wharf (508) 228-6655 Island Bike Company Inc. 25 Old South Rd (508) 228-4070 Island Experience Transportation Nantucket, MA (508) 221-4590
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Nantucket Bike Shop 4 Broad St (508) 228-1999 Nantucket Bike Tours 77 Easton St (917) 716-5973 Nantucket By Water Slip 1011, Straight Wharf (508) 228-7037
4 Winter St. 508-228-6600 www.nantucketcommunitysailing.org Nantucket Conservation Foundation 118 Cliff Rd (508) 228-2884
Nantucket Walkabout 15 Washington St (508) 422-7466 Next Level Watersports 24 Washington St (508) 680-3343 Sandy Pedals Bikes 65 Surfside Rd (508) 680-4497 Sanford Farm 118 Madaket Rd (508) 228-2884 Sconset Bluff Walk 27 Bank St, Siasconset Sea Nantucket Paddle Sports Rentals and Tours 76 Washington St (508) 228-7499
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Your Destination for all things Nantucket Seabilly Fishing Charters Public Pier, F St (617) 943-1990
Young’s Bicycle Shop 6 Broad St (508) 228-1151
Pete’s Fresh Fish Prints 17 Old South Wharf (508)325-1842
Collective Wellness 35 B Old South Road (978) 771-8857
Serengeti Nantucket Tom Nevers Rd (508) 228-2884
Galleries:
Pierce Galleries Inc. 5 S Water St (508)228-1789
EZIA Athletic Club 117 Orange Street (508) 901-9251
Smith’s Point Madaket, MA
Artists Association of Nantucket Gallery 8 Federal St (508)228-0294
Starr Fish Charters 34 Washington St, Slip 71 (508) 221-0298
Cavalier Ebanks Galleries 10 Federal St (508)325-4405
Steve Tuna’s Beach Fishing Adventures Nantucket, MA (508) 325-5587
East End Gallery 3 Old North Wharf (508)228-4515
Swain’s Travel Inc. 35 Old South Rd, #2 (508) 228-3201 The Creeks Preserve 2 Milestone Road (508) 228-7240 Topspin Fishing Charters Town Pier, 34 Washington St (508) 246-6210 Tupancy Links 157 Cliff Rd (508) 228-2884 Val’s Cab and Tours 5 Fairgrounds Rd (508) 228-9410 Windswept Bog 301 Polpis Rd (508) 228-2884
Eric Holch Gallery 5 Pine St (508)246-7653 G.S. Hill Gallery 40 Straight Wharf (508)228-1353
HOSTETLER GALLERY 42 Centre St. 740-571-8180
hostetlergallery.com John Rugge Antiques Shop 5 India St (508)332-4256 Marcus Foley | Thomas Macy Gallery 12 Straight Wharf (508)332-9833
Quidley & Company Fine Art Galleries 26 Main St (508)228-4300 Samuel Owen Gallery 40 Centre St (508)680-1445
508-228-2689 • fairwindscenter.org
Sylvia Antiques 15 Main St (508)228-0960
Glistn Nantucket 5 Old South Road (774) 485-9605
The Gallery at Four India Street 4 India St (508)228-8509
Great Harbor Yacht Club 96 Washington Street (508) 325-5200
The Scrimshander Gallery 38 Centre St (508)228-1004
Health Imperatives Nantucket 20 Vesper Lane #3 (508) 228-9189
Vanderbilt Gallery 18 Federal St (508)325-4454
Health & Wellness: ACK Infusion (469) 235-7864
Island Chiropractic Dr. Nicholas Ouellette, DC, PSP Chiropractic Physician 4 Bartlett Road • 508-325-4777 Primary Spine Practitioner nantucketchiropractic.com
Proudly serving the Nantucket community for over a decade, Ouellette provides comprehensive, compassionate ACK Natural CannabisDr. Dispensary 19 Spearhead Drive Chiropractic care that goes beyond pain relief.
6 W. Creek Rd. • 508-332-3382 (508) 901-5225 • Expert whole body joint and soft tissue care lavenderfarmwellness.com • Doctor-guided nutritional consultations & protocols • Professional-grade supplement dispensary • Tailored exercise prescription • Custom-scanned orthotic inserts • Ergonomic assessments for you and your business. Supporting your body’s ability to heal, move, and thrive — naturally.
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
MAST 49 Fairgrounds Road (508) 534-8378
The Westmoor Club 10 Westmoor Lane (508) 228-9494
Glistn Nantucket 5 Old South Rd (774) 485-9605
On Glaze 8 West Creek Rd (508) 228-6245
Nantucket Aesthetics 1 Hooper Farm Road (508) 221-4705
Salons & Spas:
Hair Concern 35 Old South Rd, Unit 4 (508) 228-4864
Rachel Dixon LLC – Massage & Wellness 4 Bartlett Rd (508) 364-2380
Nantucket CBD 110 Pleasant Street (508) 825-9100 Nantucket Cycling & Fitness 25 Youngs Way (508) 901-5230 Nantucket Energy Therapy 35 Old South Road (508) 901-3558 Nantucket Healing Arts 16 B Amelia Drive (203) 628-5827 Nantucket Health Club 10 Youngs Way (508) 228-4750 Nantucket Holistic Health 37 C Old South Road (508) 228-7577 Surfside Somatics 6 Holly Street (508) 901-9608 The Copper Rose 16A Amelia Drive (508) 221-5023 The Green Lady Dispensary 11 Amelia Drive (774) 333-3875
A Cut Above 14 Macys Ln (508) 228-4288 ACK Beauty & Barbershop 57 Old South Rd (508) 680-1188 BE ACK Salon 19 Washington St (508) 901-9630 Beauty Bar 3 Hanabea Ln (508) 228-1905 Color Up Nails & Spa 31 Old South Rd (508) 825-5505
RJ Miller Salon & Spa 6 Amelia Dr (508) 228-3446
13C Amelia Dr. • 508-221-5412 Huna Bodywork with Allison 6 Toms Way (774) 812-8999 Island Glow Nantucket 2 Sanford Road (508) 680-4715 L and R Barbershop 7A Hanabea Ln (774) 325-6836
Daiva Salon 56 Pleasant St (508) 325-4091 Darya Salon & Spa 7 South Beach St (508) 228-0550 Emma Ross Hair & Beauty 19 North Beach St (508) 228-0436 ES Beauty Lounge by Gen 35B Old South Rd (844) 666-0878 Gigi Hair Studio 35C Old South Rd (508) 680-1394
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6 W. Creek Rd. • 508-332-3382 lavenderfarmwellness.com Monarch Face & Body 37 Old South Rd (508) 680-1416 Nantucket Holistic Health 37 Old South Rd C (508) 228-7577
Scissorhands 68 Old South Rd (508) 901-1417 Sisters’ Salon & Spa 117 Pleasant St (508) 228-7720 Suzanne’s Hair Design 78 Surfside Rd (508) 228-7444 Valero Salon & Spa 68 Old South Rd (508) 221-1648 White Elephant Spa by Darya 50 Easton St (508) 638-3440 Wilbert Barber Shop 15 Amelia Dr (508) 208-7477
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Ocean Day Spa at The Nantucket Hotel 77 Easton St (508) 272-7703
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DAY IS DONE: A forgotten dinghy half filled with water rests among the reeds as the sun sets over Miacomet Pond last summer.
Page 17
Photo by John Seip
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
“Continental Drifter” a graphic memoir full of emotion By Sierra Hurd Contributing Writer Juvenile graphic novel memoirs are such a powerful way to explore the inner worlds of young people, and all the thoughts and reckonings that come with navigating family, friendships and change. “Continental Drifter” by Kathy MacLeod is a graphic novel about 11-year-old Kathy, who “lives in two different worlds.” Born to a Thai mother and an American father, she spends most of the year in Bangkok with her parents and older sister. There, she attends an international boarding school where the official language is English. Her Thai social circle is small, and she feels more aligned with American culture: the version she sees through TV shows. Her family lives on their “own islands,” keeping to themselves at home, and Kathy writes and draws about another world where she imagines she’ll feel less lonely and more at home: a tiny seaside town in Maine, where her family spends their summers. She heads to summer camp excited to make new friends and be part of American culture, but is met with questions she doesn’t know how to answer. “Do you ride elephants to school?” a camper asks her while they play tetherball. “No, I take the bus,” she replies. While canoeing on a lake, another camper asks, “Why did your dad marry a Thai woman? Why didn’t he marry an American woman?” She answers, “I don’t know.” Faced with these questions, Kathy begins to worry she will never fit in. She realizes she doesn’t ask her parents these things either, because they don’t talk about “why.” She knows very little about their story, and the past is not something discussed in her family. Away from them, she becomes more aware of everything she has kept inside: “a secret little room has grown inside of me, of thoughts and feelings. I don’t want anyone in my family to see . . . everything that makes me, me.” After camp ends, Kathy reunites with her family for two weeks of vacation in Maine. Her sister doesn’t share much about her own camp experience, and Kathy keeps her sadness and loneliness to herself. In a quiet but meaningful turn, however, Kathy learns that her sister has also been struggling with her own longing to feel American and to fit in. At that moment, Kathy feels less alone. These stories, told through illustrations and
Graphic Panels from “Continental Drifter,” by Kathy MacLeod.
Good Reads text, reflect an important part of growing up: understanding that our inner worlds and relationships shape us, and that they are worthy of being told. As MacLeod writes in the afterword, “For two years 11-year-old Kathy was always with me. Whenever I drew her sitting alone or sad, or jumping for joy, I would feel those things too. My biggest hope for this book is that it will reach someone who feels the same way I did as a kid, someone who might need a hug right now.” Continental Drifter is one of many juvenile graphic novels in the Weezie Library for Children that explore identity through new experiences with peers over summer break. “Be Prepared” by Vera Brosgol and “A First Time for Everything” by Dan Santat are other great reads exploring the same theme for young readers. Sierra Hurd is head of the Weezie Library for Children at the Nantucket Atheneum.
Kathy MacLeod
Photo by Aaron Joel Santos
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Island Calendar
Sip and Stitch
(Thursday, continued from page 3)
6 p.m. Erica Wilson, 25 Main St. An evening of creativity, conversation and community. All are welcome, whether you’re a seasoned embroiderer or threading your first needle. Free.
science-themed book, introduce one of the MMA’s animal friends and finish with an activity related to the book. $15 per child, chaperones free. Registration recommended on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
“Eureka Day”
7 p.m. Bennett Hall, 62 Centre St. Theatre Workshop of Nantucket presents “Eureka Day,” in which a mumps outbreak at a progressive school in Berkeley, Calif. forces parents and administrators to confront a crisis they never imagined. Through June 20. Visit www.theatrenantucket.org for tickets and additional dates and times.
Dance Party in the Garden
9:45 a.m. Atheneum garden, 1 India St. Cory Morgan leads an energetic, joy-filled dance time with songs, silly dance moves and challenges like Freeze Dance and the Cha-Cha Slide. Weather permitting. Bring a blanket.
Tech Tips for iPhone Users
Live Music: Connor Cox
10:30 a.m. Saltmarsh Senior Center, 81 Washington St. Janie Hobson-Dupont teaches seniors how to use their iPhones, offering tips and tricks to make your phone experience easier and smoother. Call (508) 228-4490 to register.
8 p.m. Brotherhood of Thieves, 23 Broad St. Boston singer-songwriter Connor Cox will perform. Second show Tuesday. Additional show Saturday.
Owl Prowl
Historical Walking Tour
8 p.m. Maria Mitchell Association, 4 Vestal St. MMA field ornithologist and I&M columnist Ginger Andrews leads this search for owls and other nocturnal animals and birds. Intended for adults and children 8 and up. $30. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
10:45 a.m. Monday-Saturday, Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad St. Monday-Saturday, Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad St. Walk through historic downtown Nantucket with a museum guide and discover the unique history of the island. The tour transports visitors on a journey through Nantucket’s past and tells the story of the rise and fall of the whaling industry, the rise of tourism and the impacts the island’s economy had on social and racial development on Nantucket.
Nighttime Marine Ecology Field Trip
8:30 p.m. Maria Mitchell Aquarium, 32 Washington St. Aquarium staff discuss the fish, squid, crabs and other creatures that come out at night to feed in the shallow harbor waters. Intended for adults and children 10 and older. $35. Register on calendar page or www.mariamitchell.org
Mini Movers
11 a.m. Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk St. Young children and their caregivers are invited to wiggle, dance and explore the animal kingdom through movement, music and hands-on discovery. $15. Additional session Saturday. Registration recommended on calendar page of www. mariamitchell.org. Additional session Tuesday.
Live Music: Elephant in the Room
10 p.m. The Chicken Box, 6 Dave St. Boston party band Elephant in the Room will perform. 21 and over. Additional shows Friday and Saturday.
Live Music: Harvey Street
Kids Metal Detecting 101
2 p.m. Maria Mitchell Aquarium, 2 p.m. Metal detectorist Nikoline Bohr leads this hands-on adventure just for kids. Learn the basics of metal detecting while searching for treasure on the beach. $30. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org. Additional session Tuesday.
Nurturing Future Generations
2 p.m., online at www.nantucketatheneum.org. Storyteller and popular blogger Ted Page discusses his journey to bring together the stories and wisdom of grandfathers from all walks of life. Register on calendar page of www.nantucketatheneum.org
File photo
The Sconset Trust will host its annual tour of Sankaty Head Lighthouse Saturday. See listing, page 21, for details.
Frank Swift Chase Awards
4 p.m. Artists Association of Nantucket Cecelia Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery, 8 Federal St. The AAN will present the Frank Swift Chase Awards recognizing excellence in its annual Plein Air Nantucket painting festival.
Live Music: Little Stranger
4 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Charleston, S.C.-based alt-indie hiphop duo Little Stranger will perform. Tickets at www.ciscobrewers.com
Evening Art 5 p.m. Maria Mitchell Association Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk St. Artist Nikoline Bohr instructs participants on how to create a personal work of art inspired by Nantucket’s iconic lighthouses and resident animal ambassadors in the museum’s collection. Intended for adults. $45. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. Raleigh, N.C. indie rock band Harvey Street will perform. 21 and over. Second show Friday.
Friday, June 19 Juneteenth Absolom Boston Monument Dedication
9 a.m. North Mill Street off Vesper Lane. A monument dedicated to Black maritime pioneers, African-American whaling Captain Absalom Boston and Hannah Cook Boston in the Historic Coloured Cemetery will be dedicated. All are welcome.
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Island Calendar
Courtesy of Dharma Yoga
Dharma Yoga hosts regular sessions throughout the summer in the Hayloft at Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm. See listing below left for details.
Dharma Yoga
10:15 a.m., Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm, 33 Bartlett Farm Road. Joanne Burnham of Dharma Yoga leads this session to strengthen and lengthen, enliven and invigorate, soothe and calm. Visit www.dharmayoganantucket.com to register or for additional dates and times.
Live Music: Connor Cox
of the Middle Moors or Ram Pasture. Space is limited. Helmet and mountain bike suitable for rough roads. Register on events page of www.nantucket conservation.org
Live Music: Sean Lee
8 a.m. Handlebar Café, 15 Washington St., and Jetties Beach, Bathing Beach Road. The Nantucket Clean Team meets Saturdays from spring through fall to pick up trash around the island. Pickers and bags provided.
4 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Boston singer-songwriter Connor Cox will perform. Second show Tuesday. Additional show Saturday.
Book-Signing: Sarah Vacchiano
6 p.m. The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water St. Nantucket singer-songwriter Jacob Butler will perform.
Intro to Mah Jongg
10 p.m. The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water St. Channel your inner rock star on The Rose & Crown stage.
10:30 a.m. Mitchell ’s Book Corner, 54 Main St. Author Sarah Vacchiano will sign copies of her book, “Soft Launch.” 1:15 p.m. Saltmarsh Senior Center, 81 Washington St. Learn about this ancient Chinese tile game from volunteers excited to share their interest.
Wines & Rinds
3:30-5 p.m. Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm, 33 Bartlett Farm Road. A relaxed, guided pairing of the farms favorite wines and cheeses.
Karaoke
Saturday, June 20 Guided Bike Tour
a.m. Starting point provided upon registration. Cyclist and Nantucket Conservation Foundation trustee Jim Meehan leads this bike tour over the trails and dirt roads
Nantucket Clean Team
Farmers & Artisans Market
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cambridge Street, between Federal and South Water. Sustainable Nantucket hosts a market of fresh local produce, island cottage-industry artisans and food. Weather permitting.
NanPuppets
9:30 a.m. Something Natural, 50 Cliff Road. Lizza Obremski brings her puppet friends for a half hour of education and fun. $10, kids under 1 free. Bring a blanket.
Growing from Clippings Workshop
10 a.m. Sustainable Nantucket Garden, 168 Hummock Pond Road. The Nantucket Flower Collective’s Sally Obremski leads this free workshop on growing plants from clippings.
Juneteenth Block Party
10 a.m.-3 p.m. African Meeting House, 27 York St. Celebrate a day of music, culture, history and community with live performances, Black artists and makers, family activities and local history exhibits while honoring freedom, resilience, creativity and connection.
Lighthouse Open Day
10 a.m. Sankaty Head Lighthouse, end of Baxter Road. Explore and take in the view from the top of Sankaty Head Lighthouse during the Sconset Trust’s annual Lighthouse Open Day. Space is limited. Children must be 7 or older and accompanied by an adult. Reservations required at www.sconsettrust.org
SATURDAY, PAGE 22
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This Week On Nantucket
Island Calendar
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Photo by Brian Cox
Everclear, the popular 1990s alt-rockers who played The Muse last summer, return to the stage at the Surfside Road nightclub Sunday. See page 23 listing for details. (Saturday, continued from page 21)
Maria Mitchell and the Daring Daughters of Nantucket
10 a.m. Mitchell House, 1 Vestal St. Jascin Leonardo Finger, curator of the Mitchell House, leads this walking tour examining the lives of Nantucket’s famous and infamous women. $15. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Family Connections Tour
10:30 a.m. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad St. Museum guides bring the NHA’s 2026 exhibit, “The Wider World and Scrimshaw,” to life with visual and tactile elements. Concludes with a take-home craft activity in the Discovery Room. Free with museum admission. Register on calendar page of www.nha.org
“The Five Star Weekend” Pop-up
11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Mitchell’s Book Corner, 54 Main St. A pop-up event celebrating the upcoming “Five-Star Weekend”
television adaptation, on Peacock, of island author Elin Hilderbrand’s 2023 novel of the same name.
Read with a Buddy
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mitchell’s Book Corner, 54 Main St. Join Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals’ pet partner therapy teams for a fun, relaxed and non-judgmental way to become more confident and enjoy reading. All ages welcome.
Bartlett Farm Walking Tour
Horseshoe Crab Solstice Walk 9 p.m. Madaket Harbor, 27 Massachusetts Ave. Maria Mitchell Association director of astronomy Jackie Milingo and aquarium manager Chelsea Patrick lead this walk on the beach in search of horseshoe crabs while observing constellations and discussing how marine organisms may use Earths’ magnetic fields to navigate the ocean. $45. Register on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org.
Karaoke
11:30 a.m. Meet in front of farm market, 33 Bartlett Farm Road. A free, 30-minute behind-the-scenes journey into 200 years of agricultural history on this farm owned by the same family since the early 1800s.
10 p.m. The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water St. Channel your inner rock star on The Rose & Crown stage.
Live Music: Doug & Co.
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. Nantucket’s own alt-country band Buckle & Shake will perform. 21 and over.
4 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Nantucket’s own jam band, Doug & Co., inspired by the Grateful Dead, will perform.
Live Music: Buckle & Shake
Sunday, June 21 Nantucket Bird Walk 7:45 a.m. 4 Vestal St. Island bird guide and Inquirer and Mirror birding columnist Ginger Andrews leads this exploration of birding landscapes and hidden nooks. Loaner binoculars available. Dress for the weather. $35. Register on calendar page of www. mariamitchell.org
All Levels Yoga Flow 9 a.m. Location provided upon registration. A 60-minute class moderately paced with mindful, controlled movement and breath with an emphasis on lengthening postures, fluid breathing, smooth transitions and cultivating focus. Register on events page of www.nantucketconservtion. org
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Island Calendar
File photo
The Nantucket Clean Team meets on Saturdays from spring through fall to pick up trash around the island for an hour.
Live Music: The Slips Noon, Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Island classic rock cover band The Slips will perform.
Live Music: Matt & Zack
3 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Road. Florida folk-pop-reggae duo Matt Walden and Zack Couron will perform.
Beginner’s Ukulele
5:30 p.m. Nantucket Community Music Center, 56 Centre St. No instrument? No problem. Ukuleles availa5ble. All ages welcome. Free.
Live Music: Everclear
8 p.m. The Muse, 44 Surfside Road. Alternative rock band Everclear, which climbed the charts in the 1990s, will perform. Tickets at www.musenantucket/shows.
Live Music: La Tulipe
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. Nantucket vocal duo La Tulipe performs a versatile repertoire ranging from classic rock covers to dance hits.
Monday, June 22 En Plein Air
10 a.m. Maria Mitchell Association Out-
door Classroom, 33 Washington St. Artist Nikoline Bohr leads this class that guides participants through the techniques of creating art directly in nature. Intended for adults. $45. Register on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Bug Bonanza
11 a.m. Mill Hill Park, off Prospect Street. Maria Mitchell Association staff lead this exploration of the insects and small creatures that live in the grasses, flowers and trees of Nantucket. Intended for children 4 and up and adults. $20. Register on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org. Second session Wednesday.
Drop-in Craft Gam
2 p.m. 1800 House, 4 Mill St. Have an unfinished chair, basket, beading or stitching project? Bring any project and work in the company of other creative people. Free.
Outdoor Art
2 p.m. Maria Mitchell Association Classroom, 33 Washington St. Outdoor art invites participants to slow down, observe and connect with the natural world through closeup drawing and artistic exploration. $45. Register on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
ISLAND CALENDAR, PAGE 26
Page 24
This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Cellar: Riesling, the greatest, most misunderstood white wine in the world (Continued from page 12D)
Kabinett (lightest) through Spätlese and Auslese (progressively riper) to Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese, where individually selected botrytized berries produce wines that can age for 50 years or more. Across this hierarchy runs the dry/sweet distinction: a Spätlese Trocken is dry, while a Spätlese with no further designation may retain significant residual sugar. Isabelle, who has navigated this with the focused efficiency of someone preparing for an examination, keeps a laminated card in her wallet. She is not embarrassed. Neither should you be. Three visits, three lessons • A. Christmann, Gimmeldingen, Pfalz: Where Riesling meets the Pfalz’s warmer climate and emerges with power, precision and a seriousness that redefines what the region can do. The Pfalz is Riesling at its most generous: warmer than the Mosel, with longer growing seasons and a fuller-bodied style that has historically been underrated compared with its northerly neighbor. Steffen Christmann changed that. Former president of the VDP – Germany’s leading association of wine estates – and one of the most influential winemakers of his generation, Christmann crafts Rieslings of extraordinary precision and age-worthiness from grand cru-equivalent sites in Gimmeldingen and Ruppertsberg, which stand alongside anything on the Mosel. Isabelle and I tasted the entire Christmann lineup – from the estate Riesling to the single-vineyard Grosses Gewächs bottlings from Idig and Mandelgarten – and what struck us immediately was the wines’ structural discipline. These are not soft, approachable wines designed to win over skeptics with early charm. They are austere in youth, built on mineral precision and steel-edged acidity that demands time and rewards patience with complexity that unfolds over years. The Idig Grosses Gewächs, from a limestone and sandstone site that Christmann has farmed biodynamically for decades, is among the most compelling dry Rieslings made anywhere in Germany: a wine Isabelle described, after a long silence following her first taste of the 2018, as feeling like “standing at the edge of something very large.” I have thought about that description many times since. The visit also made clear how much the Pfalz’s warmer climate gives Christmann’s Rieslings richness and fruit weight that the Mosel rarely achieves, without sacrificing the minerality and acidity that make them worth cellaring. The wines occupy a middle ground between the Mosel ’s steely elegance and Al-
Natural lawn mowers in a German vineyard. sace’s fuller style, and in the best vintages are more interesting than either. • Melsheimer, Reil, Mosel: A family estate on a bend in the Mosel where the slate soils produce Rieslings of extraordinary purity, and where Thorsten Melsheimer is one of the most thoughtful and generous guides you will find in any cellar. Melsheimer is the kind of winemaker who, within minutes, makes you understand that wine for him is not a career but a vocation. He walked Isabelle and me through every wine in the cellar with a patience and precision that made the tasting feel less like a professional appointment and more like a private seminar. By the end of two hours, we both felt we understood the Mosel – its geology, its microclimates, its particular relationship with Riesling – at a level no book or classroom had achieved. The Melsheimer estate is centered in Reil, on a bend in the Mosel where the river turns sharply and the south-facing slate slopes catch as much sunlight as possible in a cli-
Courtesy of Peter McEachern
mate where sunlight is not guaranteed. The slate – Devonian blue slate, the geological material that defines the Mosel ’s identity – retains heat during the day and releases it slowly at night, fully ripening Riesling in a climate that would otherwise be too cool for serious viticulture. Thorsten walked us up the Reilener Mullay-Hofberg, his principal site, on a morning when the river below was still shrouded in mist and the vines were coming into flower. He explained the relationship among slate depth, slope angle and the character of the wine with a clarity I found genuinely moving. The wines are among the most precise and transparent expressions of Mosel Riesling I have tasted. Thorsten makes both dry (Trocken) and traditionally off-dry styles with equal conviction and the complete lineup – which we worked through over two sittings because there was too much to absorb in one – demonstrates the full range of what this grape and this place can produce. The Kabinett is weightless and electric: pure lime, wet slate, residual sweetness so
perfectly balanced by acidity it functions as texture rather than sugar. The Spätlese Trocken has the mineral depth of a great Burgundy. The Auslese, in the best years, is close to perfection: honeyed, racy, alive with the tension between richness and acidity that great Riesling maintains more convincingly than any other wine in the world. Isabelle, tasting the 2019 Auslese from the barrel, set down her glass and said, “I understand now.” I knew what she meant. • Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch, Erben Thanisch, Bernkastel, Mosel: One of the great names of the Mosel, custodians of the legendary Bernkasteler Doctor vineyard and a cellar visit that traces the entire history of German Riesling in a single afternoon. Some wine estates carry history in a way you feel physically when you walk through the door. Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch is one of them. The family has been making wine in Bernkastel since 1636, and their holdings in the Bernkasteler Doctor – a steep blue-slate slope rising directly above the medieval town of Bernkastel-Kues, one of Germany’s most famous and most expensive vineyard sites – appear in the cellars of every serious Riesling collector in the world. Isabelle and I arrived for a 90-minute tasting and stayed for four hours. The family did not seem to mind. What the Thanisch tasting made possible – and what you cannot replicate by opening bottles at home – was tasting the complete portfolio across multiple vintages in sequence, with the estate’s history and philosophy woven through every wine. We worked through the village Bernkasteler wines first. The premier cru-equivalent sites, and finally the Doctor itself – Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, ending with a mature Beerenauslese – were opened for the visit. The progression was like a single argument, rising in intensity, each wine a more concentrated version of what this slate, this climate and this grape can produce together. The Bernkasteler Doctor Spätlese is the wine I keep returning to in memory: not the most complex of the afternoon, but the one that most clearly articulated what makes great Mosel Riesling unlike anything else. It was pure, precise and almost impossibly delicate, with lime zest, white flowers and wet slate on the nose, and a palate that moved from sweetness to mineral to acidity and back in a loop that seemed to have no resolution, only continuation. By this point, Isabelle, who had tasted perhaps 30 wines, said it was the one she would think about longest. A year later, I believe she still does. The estate also produces wines from other Bernkastel sites – Badstube, Lay, Graben – that offer accessible entry points into the
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Thanisch style without the Doctor’s price premium. These wines are among the most honest and characterful village Mosel Rieslings available. The lineup, tasted in sequence with the family’s guidance, is one of the great wine-education experiences available anywhere in Germany. If you are planning a trip to the Mosel, it belongs on the itinerary.
A final word
What to buy All three estates ship to the United States and offer wines at multiple price points. At Christmann, the estate Riesling Trocken ($28–$35) is the entry point: a precise, mineral dry Riesling that drinks beautifully at two to three years. The Idig Grosses Gewächs ($85–$110) is the age-worthy choice, needing at least five years to reach its peak and rewarding 10. At Melsheimer, the Reilener Mullay-Hofberg Spätlese ($35–$45) is the wine that converts people, the balance of sweetness, acidity and mineral depth that makes Mosel Riesling singular. For the cellar, the Auslese from a great vintage ($65–$85) is a wine to open at 10 years with someone who deserves to share it. At Thanisch, the Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese ($45–$55) offers the Thanisch character and Mosel slate without the Doctor’s premium, developing beautifully over five to eight years.
The Mosel loop near Bremm, Germany in summer. The Doctor itself ($150–$200 for Spätlese) is a wine for significant occasions and patient cellaring. It will not disappoint either. Drink it with Dry Riesling – the Trocken and Grosses Gewächs styles from Christmann and the drier Melsheimer bottlings – pair with the food of its region: roasted pork, schnitzel, Mosel trout and white asparagus in spring. It also works magnificently with Asian
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cuisine – Thai, Vietnamese, Szechuan – where its acidity and aromatic intensity cut through spice and richness as few other white wines do. The off-dry styles – Kabinett and Spätlese – are Germany’s great seafood wines: oysters, crab, lobster and the simple river fish have been eaten alongside Mosel Riesling for centuries. Isabelle’s standing recommendation is a Thanisch Spätlese with fresh crab and nothing else on the table. She is, as usual, correct.
If you have never drunk a great German Riesling – not the supermarket Pinot Grigio’s German cousin, but an actual Mosel Spätlese from a serious producer, or a dry Pfalz Grosses Gewächs at six years old – you have a significant pleasure ahead. The grape rewards curiosity more generously than almost any other variety. It offers a range broad enough that somewhere between a Christmann Trocken and a Thanisch Beerenauslese, there is a Riesling that will change the way you think about white wine. Isabelle found hers in a mist-covered cellar in Reil, with Thorsten Melsheimer pouring from a barrel of wine from a vineyard he had farmed with his own hands. I found mine earlier, but the discovery felt the same: like understanding something important that had been there all along, waiting to be tasted. Next Thursday, June 25: Viognier, the seductress of the southern Rhône, heady with peach and apricot, a grape that nearly went extinct in the 20th century and has spent the last 30 years reminding the wine world what a catastrophe that would have been. Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie, Paso Robles. Don’t miss it. Peter McEachern is the general manager of the Nantucket Yacht Club. He has been buying wine, creating wine lists and running wine tastings since 1983. He can be reached at peter@nantucketyachtclub.org
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This Week On Nantucket
Island Calendar (Continued from page 23)
Somatic Yoga
12:30 p.m. Atheneum gallery, 1 India St. Forty-five minutes of slow, focused movement concluding with full-body relaxation that will leave you feeling relaxed and recharged. Registration required on calendar page of www.nantucketatheneum.org
Live Music: Timbear
4 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. New England indie soul singer, songwriter and acoustic looping artist Timbear will perform. Second show Tuesday.
Introduction to Amateur Radio
Golden Age Films: “Casablanca”
5:30 p.m. Atheneum Learning Lab, 1 India St. Members of Nantucket’s amateur radio club will introduce people of all ages and backgrounds to the hobby of amateur radio and demonstrate how to make contact with people on the Cape, across New England and even around the world with nothing more than a small electronics box and some wire over a tree branch. Free.
1:30 p.m. Dreamland Theater, 17 South Water St. The Dreamland will stream 1943’s “Casablanca,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Free for seniors. Tickets at www.nantucketdreamland.org
Adult Metal Detecting
2 p.m. Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium, 32 Washington St. Metal Detectorist Nicoline Bohr leads this hands-on introductory course intended for adults interested in exploring the world of metal detecting. $40. Additional session Wednesday. Register on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Holly Near: “Music Connected Me to the World”
6 p.m. Atheneum Great Hall, 1 India St. Singer-songwriter, actress and social activist Holly Near, whose career has spanned more than five decades, will discuss more than 50 years of working as a singer-songwriter, her world travels and lessons learned. Free, but registration required on calendar page of www.nantucketatheneum.org
Simple, Sustainable and Powerfully Delicious Meals
2 p.m. Online at www.nantucketatheneum.org. Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy, authors of “The Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook,” will discuss their business and share recipes adapted from India and Sri Lanka’s family spice farms.
Live Music: Mark Carapezza
8 p.m. Brotherhood of Thieves, 23 Broad St. Nantucket’s Mark Carapezza will perform.
Live Music: Jimmy Eat World
8 p.m. The Muse Nantucket, 44 Surfside Road. Rock band Jimmy Eat World, which made a name for itself in the 1990s, will perform. Tickets at www.musenantucket/shows
Stargazing at the Observatory
9:30 p.m. Loines Observatory, 59 Milk St. Join Maria Mitchell Association astronomers for a tour of the night sky, including the moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae and other galaxies. $27 for adults, $17 for children. Register on calendar page of www.mariamitchell. org. Additional session Wednesday.
Karaoke
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. The Gaslight kicks off its summer of karaoke with Yolo Joe. 21 and over.
Tuesday, June 23 Birding Field Trip
8:30 a.m. Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, 158 Polpis Road. Nantucket Conservation Foundation ecologist and birding expert Neil Foley leads this exploration of the abundant bird life in the unique ecosystem of Folger’s Marsh. Free, but registration required on events page of www. eganmaritime.org.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Photo by Beowulf Sheehan
Best-selling island author Elin Hilderbrand will sign copies of “The Academy,” the novel she wrote with her daughter Shelby Cunningham, Wednesday at Mitchell’s Book Corner. See listing, next page, for details.
Pick Your Own Veggies
8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm, 33 Bartlett Farm Road. Step aboard the Bartlett’s Farm hay wagon, journey into the heart of its produce fields and witness first-hand what’s fresh and in-season. They’ll provide you with a bag to fill with farm-fresh vegetables to take home.
Music in the Morning
9:45 a.m. Atheneum garden, 1 India St. Island musician and teacher Cory Morgan invites babies and children to explore rhythm, sound and music through clapping, instrument play and music games. Free. Weather permitting.
Little Riders and Lasting Connections
10 a.m. Tuesdays through June 9. The Creeks Reserve, 2 Milestone Road. A stroller walking group for parents and children eight weeks to five years. Meet new people, enjoy the outdoors and support community wellbeing. Call (508) 957-7423 to register.
Shellfish Hatchery Tour
11 a.m. Brant Point Shellfish Hatchery, end of Easton St. Tour the town-operated facility that produces Nantucket bay scallops to supplement the wild population in Nantucket and Madaket harbors. Register on hatchery page of www.nantucket-ma.gov
NanPuppets
11:30 a.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Lizza Obremski brings her island puppet friends to the brewery. Fun for all ages. Free, but donations welcome.
Suicide Prevention Training
Noon, Atheneum Learning Lab, 1 India St. Instructors certified by the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Institute, in partnership with Community Solutions for Behavioral Health, will discuss how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help. Free, but registration encouraged on calendar page of www.nantucketatheneum. org
All About Turtles
2:30 p.m. Linda Loring Nature Foundation, 110 Eel Point Road. The Linda Loring Nature Foundation hosts this nature exploration in search of turtles in collaboration with the Saltmarsh Senior Center. Call (508) 228-4490 to register.
Open Arts Night
6:30 p.m. Atheneum Great Hall, 1 India St. The stage and mic are still open for any and all, but the library has added an arts a crafts component so people may feel free to come and work on any kind of art project while watching the stage show. This session of Open Arts Night will have a special focus on Pride Month. Free.
Holly Near in Concert
7 p.m. St. Paul’s Church, 20 Fair St. Singer-songwriter, actress and activist Holly Near will perform and share stories, lessons and insights from her 50-plus-year career. Free.
Live Music: Timbear
8 p.m. Brotherhood of Thieves, 23 Broad St. New England indie soul singer, songwriter and acoustic looping artist Timbear will perform. Additional shows Wednesday and Thursday.
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Island Calendar Night at the Aquarium
8:30 p.m. Maria Mitchell Aquarium, 32 Washington St. Discover what Nantucket’s fishy friends do when the sun falls below the horizon and the moon fills the sky. $20. Registration required on calendar page of www. mariamitchell.org
Live Music: New Found Glory
9 p.m. The Muse, 44 Surfside Road. Punkrock band New Found Glory, which got radio play in the early 2000s, will perform.
Live Music: Andy Frasco & the U.N.
10 p.m. The Chicken Box, 6 Dave St. Los Angeles-based genre-blending rock band Andy Frasco & the U.N. will perform. 21 and over. Tickets at www.thechickenbox.com. Second show Wednesday.
Live Music: Chaparelle
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. Austin, Texas-based alt-country and Americana band Chaparelle will perform. 21 and over.
Wednesday, June 24 Birding Field Trip
7:45 a.m. Linda Loring Nature Foundation, 110 Eel Point Road. Explore Nantucket’s birding hot spots and observe birds in
their natural habitat. Binoculars, a spotting scope and field guides available to borrow. Free, but registration required on calendar page of www.llnf.org
Ecology Excursion: Windswept Bog
9 a.m. Location provided upon registration. Nantucket Conservation Foundation plant research ecologist and botanist Kelly Omand will discuss her work studying the plant life of the Windswept bog, before and after its restoration into a natural wetland. Register on events page of www.nantucketconservation.org
Crafts in the Courtyard
10 a.m. Atheneum courtyard, 1 India St. Children are invited to make a cute dinosaur nightlight with a glass jar and a tea light. Younger children might need adult assistance.
Book-Signing: Elin Hilderbrand
11 a.m. Mitchell’s Book Corner, 54 Main St. Best-selling island author Elin Hilderbrand will sign copies of “The Academy,” the novel she wrote with her daughter Shelby Cunningham. The first 100 in line will get a ticket. No pre-purchase is required but only books purchased at Mitchell’s Book Corner or Bookworks will be signed. Line opens at 10 a.m.
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WEDNESDAY, PAGE 28
Walk: Stargazing at Altar Rock
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highest point of the island. I drive up to the top of the hill, passing the VOR beacon on the way. Turning all lights off in my truck, I take my light sensor out, letting it rest on my tailgate to acclimate to the outdoor temperature and humidity. It takes about five minutes to adjust, so I take the time to let my eyes adjust and observe the sky and stars around me. I think back to the dark nights spent on Coatue in my early years as a Conservation Foundation ranger. Being so far from sources of light pollution allowed me to see more stars than I’ve ever experienced. When you live off the grid, you learn to fully embrace the dark and turn off any power-draining lights. It is a habit that I try to carry with me now that I have trimmed the hermit beard and rejoined civilized society. This month I was graced with the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, a cosmic kiss in the western sky that will not be seen this close again until 2028. Nearby the heavenly “will-they-won’tthey” I can see the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, watching their mythological father in flagrante delicto.
Also showing off on this lovely June night is Cassiopeia in the northern sky, both dippers (or Ursa Major/Minor for the specialists), and Scorpio slightly obscured by clouds above the southern horizon. I gaze at the wide assortment of starbound shapes and wish I could name more. All the more reason to practice my star chart. A glow of yellow and orange light emanates from town and mid-island, masking a portion of the sky behind a gentle haze. It may not seem like a lot, but on an island that regularly has some of the darkest skies on the East Coast it leaves an impression. Especially when the whisp of Milky Way over my head could stand out more with a reduced intensity of up-lighting. My timer rings, telling me the sensor is ready to start the recordings. I take my place, mark the exact location on the app and hold the sensor high above my head. I breathe deeply, appreciating the chance to participate in this worthwhile monitoring program on the same night as such a unique planetary dance. Serendipity is on my side tonight. Neil Foley is the interpretive education coordinator and ecologist at the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.
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57 Old South Road • 978-766-7415
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Island Calendar (Continued from page 27)
Reader Advice
11 a.m. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India St. Annye Camara of the Atheneum’s Readers’ Advisory Group will help you find books tailored to your interests.
Children’s Chess Club
Game Night
5:30 p.m. Atheneum Great Hall, 1 India St. Tabletop board and card games, including Mag-ACK The Gathering and drop-in Dungeons and Dragons. Intended for adults and teens. Free.
Nantucket During the Revolution
3 p.m. Atheneum courtyard, 1 India St. Young chess players of all abilities are encouraged to check out the Atheneum’s new Chess Club. Learn the basics or challenge your friends to a game. For grades two to six. No registration required.
5:30 p.m. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad St. Author Julie Folger O’Leary will discuss how the first years of the American Revolution reshaped life on Nantucket, from the pressures of being neutral in a time of war to the struggles of food shortages, a hard winter and attacks on the island. Free.
Behind the Scenes at the NHA Collections Center
Suicide Loss Support Group
4 p.m. Gosnold Center, 89 Bartlett Road. The Nantucket Historical Association curatorial team leads this behind-the-scenes tour or its special collections of paintings, furniture and Nantucket artifacts not on display to the public. Members-only event. Visit www.nha.org to become a member.
Live Music: Layton Meacham
4 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Charleston-based reggae, roots, R&B and soul performer Layton Meacham will perform.
5:30 p.m. Location provided upon registration. A safe and supportive space for suicide loss survivors. Connect with others who understand. Led by Sharing Kindness and Fairwinds, this group is tailored for those 18 and above, providing a space to share, heal and find solace together. Register at https:// sharingkindness.org/
Trivia Night
8 p.m. The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water St. Test your general trivial knowledge. First place wins a $50 gift card.
Live Music: Foggy Roots
tended for adults. $45. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Thursday, June 25
4 p.m. Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Road. Nantucket’s own jam band Doug & Co., inspired by the Grateful Dead, will perform.
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. Nantucket’s own roots reggae band Foggy Roots will perform. 21 and over.
Dance Party in the Garden
9:45 a.m. Atheneum garden, 1 India St. Cory Morgan leads an energetic, joy-filled dance time with songs, silly dance moves and challenges like Freeze Dance and the Cha-Cha Slide. Weather permitting. Bring a blanket.
Tech Tips for iPhone Users
10:30 a.m. Saltmarsh Senior Center, 81 Washington St. Janie Hobson-Dupont teaches seniors how to use their iPhones, offering tips and tricks to make your phone experience easier and smoother. Call (508) 228-4490 to register.
Evening Art
5 p.m. Maria Mitchell Association Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk St. Artist Nikoline Bohr instructs participants on how to create a personal work of art inspired by Nantucket’s iconic lighthouses and resident animal ambassadors in the museum’s collection. In-
Live Music: Doug & Co.
Owl Prowl
8 p.m. Maria Mitchell Association, 4 Vestal St. MMA field ornithologist and I&M columnist Ginger Andrews leads this search for owls and other nocturnal animals and birds. Intended for adults and children 8 and up. $30. Registration required on calendar page of www.mariamitchell.org
Live Music: The Barn Boys
10 p.m. The Chicken Box, 6 Dave St. Cape Cod born, Austin, Texas-based indie rock band The Barn Boys will perform. Additional shows Friday and Saturday.
Live Music: Morrissey Boulevard
10:30 p.m. Gaslight Nantucket, 3 North Union St. New Bedford-based indie rock and soul funk band Morrissey Boulevard will perform.
Eat: The best seafood, family owned and operated for 35 years (Continued from page 9)
The reason people keep coming back to the Seagrille is because they feel like family, Harvey said. “We treat people very well. I think they feel welcome. I think they feel warmth that they’re being appreciated,” he said. After spending an evening there, I understand exactly what he means. Dining at the Seagrille feels less like visiting a restaurant and more like being invited to a very large family dinner. The meal began with one of my longtime favorites: the Point Judith calamari. The squid is paired with sweet drop peppers and a calabrian chili aioli that delivers just enough heat to keep you coming back for another bite. The breading is light and crunchy on every piece, and the hint of fried basil throughout adds a light herbiness to the dish. The iconic lobster bisque was equally impressive. Rich without being heavy, it features generous chunks of lobster beneath a buttery pastry top. Fresh herbs brightened the soup, creating a bowl that felt luxurious but never overwhelming. One of the evening’s specials, fried green tomatoes, ended up being among my favorite dishes of the night. Think of it as a summer-
The Seagrille’s fried green tomato salad. time meeting point between a Caprese salad and classic Southern comfort food. It was my first taste of Bartlett’s Farm tomatoes this season and I wouldn’t have wished it any other way. The tomatoes were perfectly crisp, layered with sharp manchego cheese and a bright green-pepper pesto. Then came the caviar tots. As our server set them down, a couple walking past our table stopped and enthu-
With the cod, I was blessed once again to taste the bisque-like broth with lobster mashed potatoes and shredded carrots and leeks. It’s a great balance between rich textures and bright, summery flavors. The light cod, crusted with flavorful linguica, creates a similar taste that is simultaneously comforting and refined. The swordfish delivered something entirely different. Charred from the grill and paired with hand-cut fries, it ate almost like an ocean-inspired steak frites. The fish was meaty and flavorful, while the fries were wonderfully crisp and properly salted. By the end of the meal, I was completely full: exactly as Harvey intended. “I want people to feel treated really well,” he told me. “And also leave full.” Photo by Francesca Giangiulio Mission accomplished. Thirty-five years after opening its doors, siastically informed us that they were “the the Seagrille continues to offer something that can’t be replicated through design best thing on the menu.” trends, marketing strategies or carefully After one bite, I couldn’t argue. The perfectly cubed tots were buttery and crafted concepts. It offers history, the kind that lives on crisp, topped with caviar and finished with a silky crème fraîche and island chives that through families, staff members, regular provided just enough oniony bite to balance customers and generations of meals shared around the same tables. the richness. The Seagrille, 45 Sparks Ave., (508) 325For entrees, we sampled both the cod and 5700, www.theseagrille.com swordfish.
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MusACK: Timbear’s one-man show coming to Cisco, Brotherhood (Continued from page 6)
is and, within a short time, was using it to incorporate percussion, bass lines and eventually I discovered I could replicate a full band sound and could essentially play every part that makes up the songs.” For audiences unfamiliar with looping, the process can seem almost like magic. In practice, it is a highly technical, real-time act of creation. “Essentially what looping is, is real-time live-recording and immediate playback,” Daley said, “which allows me to play a line from a song and have it immediately, continuously repeat so I can then add the next layer of the song that will be played back and repeated.” The process builds piece by piece until a solo musician begins to sound like an entire ensemble. “This allows me to record multiple instrumental lines in a row to mimic a full band and allows me to overdub melodic lines and harmonies so there is a symphony of sound happening, coming from one single source,” Daley said. Though songwriting is a primary element of what he does, Daley is also known for his inventive covers and mashups, which are all his own original arrangements, blending multiple songs and styles that listeners
W EN E N OP OW
would hardly expect to hear side by side in one performance. “It’s a lot of fun, one minute you’re singing a Prince song, and then all of the sudden you’re in an REM song. It’s exciting, people like the familiar tunes in mixed-up, new arrangements,” he said. “I’ve got a bunch of new mashups that people have really been responding to, like my White Stripes/Madonna mashup,” he added. “That one tends to be a head-turner.” That spirit of improvisation carries over into the way Daley approaches every show. Rather than treating performances as a preplanned set, he sees them as collaborations with the audience. “Every show has a different set list and vibe,” he said. “A performance is a two-way street and the crowd always informs the tone of the night which I then meet them at and interpret musically. Some nights people are loving the originals, other times the mashup-fun vibe takes the night.” The looper itself has become more than a piece of equipment. For Daley, it is an instrument of experimentation and creative discovery. “The looper is amazingly simple but versatile technology,” he said. “I first saw (comedian and musician) Reggie Watts use it to build full hip-hop tracks and I knew that I would be a more effective performer with
it, but I never knew what it would unlock in me, creatively.” “It allows me to improvise all the time and because of this I’m still constantly finding new avenues within looping and am still absolutely enjoying the process of discovery and exploration. I think people enjoy watching that process unfurl as well.” As for what audiences can expect from his current work, Daley describes his original music as atmospheric and transportive. “My originals have always had a drifty, beachy vibe and my current stuff is no different,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of songs that are ‘journey and travel songs’ that can be hypnotic and bring you to a place within yourself. I often picture them as audible scenes or sonic paintings.” It’s perhaps fitting that an artist whose songs often evoke travel and drifting landscapes is arriving on Nantucket for the first time. For Daley, the journey from local bars and restaurants to making a living entirely through music has been built the same way he constructs his performances: one layer at a time. Tim “Timbear” Daley performs from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23 at Cisco Brewers; and from 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 through Sunday, June 28 upstairs at the Brotherhood of Thieves. No cover.
Courtesy of Tim Daley
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026
NFF26: 31st festival closes with special “Five Star Weekend” event
From left, D’Arcy Carden, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Jennifer Garner and Gemma Chan in “The Five Star Weekend.” (Continued from page 5)
Values, a cult that exerted control through a disorienting mix of affection and manipulation. Following the screening, director Chris Smith, producer Ryann Fraser and Richards will discuss the series and its ties to the island. This year’s Spotlight program will showcase Josephine Decker’s “Chasing Summer,” which follows a woman who returns to her hometown where friends and flings from a fateful high school summer turn her life upside down; “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” which follows a Midwest bride as she travels to Hollywood to pursue her own celebrity encounter after her fiancé uses their “celebrity pass” agreement; Jay Duplass’ “See You When I See You,” which fol-
lows a family as they work through a tragic loss; and previous festival honoree Alex Gibney’s “Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie,” following Rushdie’s recovery after he was attacked in 2022, capturing both physical healing and renewed hope. Following the screening of “Sweet Story,” filmmakers Sarah Justine Kerruish and Matt Maude will discuss food systems, sustainability and island life. The festival will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with filmmaker Ken Burns to discuss his six-part, 12-hour documentary series, “The American Revolution.” Directed by Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, the series delves into the nation’s founding struggle and the eight-year war for independence. Following a selection of clips will be a discussion of the series and this year’s historic anniversary.
Emerging filmmakers The festival also honors emerging filmmakers through its Tony Cox Screenplay Competitions, which offer winners a total of $5,000 in cash and a mentor brunch with a prominent screenwriter. Past mentors have included Noah Baumbach and Nancy Meyers, among others. The winner of the Feature Screenplay Competition is also invited to attend a month-long writers’ retreat on Nantucket in October through the festival’s sister organization, Almanack Screenwriters. This year’s jury for the feature section includes Erin Siminoff (executive vice president of production, Fox 2000), Ethan Alter (deputy editor and New York bureau chief at Gold Derby) and filmmaker Annie J. Howell (“Claire in Motion,” “Small,” “Beautifully
Seacia Pavao/Peacock
Moving Parts”). The episodic jury includes producer Gina Kwon (“Day Out of Days,” “Chronic”), Benjamin VanHoose (senior news editor of TV at People Magazine) and documentary producer Annabelle Dunne (“Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold” and “Ask E. Jean,” which is featured in this year’s festival program). Three decades going strong The Nantucket Film Festival was founded 31 years ago by brother and sister Jonathan and Jill Burkhart, who grew up on the island, as a celebration of screenwriting and storytelling. “This year’s slate of films continues to celebrate bold and independent voices close to home and across the world,” senior programmer Basil Tsiokos said.
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“Mighty Mary,” screening at the Nantucket Film Festival. “We invite our audiences to explore a wide range of work that honors the power of storytelling and, in turn, our shared humanity over the course of our six-day, highly curated festival.” This year’s narrative features include Josephine Decker’s “Chasing Summer,” written by and starring Iliza Shlesinger; Cédric Klapisch’s “Colors of Time” and Kade Atwood’s “Edie Arnold is a Loser;” Hossein Keshavarz and Maryam Ataei’s “The Friends House is Here;” “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” written by Ken Marino and David Wain; Rich Spirit’s “Hot Water,” written by Ramzi Bashour; “Late Fame,” directed by Kent Jones and written by Samy Burch and Arthur Schnitzler; Nicola Rinciari’s “A Mosquito in the Ear;” Jay Duplass’ “See You When I See You;” Liz Sargent’s “Take Me Home;” Adam Meeks’ “Union County” and “Yesterday Island,” written and directed by Sam Voutas. Documentary features include Ivy Meeropol’s “Ask E. Jean;” “Cookie Queens” directed by Alysa Nahmias; “The Cycle of Love,” directed by Orlando von Einsiedel; “Everybody to Kenmure Street,” directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra; Judd Ehrlich’s “Jane Elliott Against the World;” Rachael J. Morrison’s “Joybubbles;” Alex Gibney’s “Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie;” “Nuisance Bear,” directed by Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman; Sam Green’s “The Oldest Person in the World;” “One in a Million,” directed by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes; “Summer Tour,” directed by Mischa Richter; National Geographic’s “Time and Water,” directed by Sara Dosa and Anna Fitch and Banker White’s “Yo (Love is a Re-
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DINING OVERLOOKING NANTUCKET SOUND. Enjoy fine dining in our intimate dining room or a relaxed experience on our deck. In summer months, cruise to lunch or dinner aboard the Wauwinet Lady. Nantucket’s only AAA 5-Diamond restaurant.
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Hoyt Richards bellious Bird).” Returning signature programs include Late Night Storytelling, hosted by Ophira Eisenberg, which features a group of handpicked storytellers sharing personal tales highlighting this year’s theme, “Crossing the Line;” Morning Coffee With . . ., where festival audiences begin their day with writers, actors and directors; Afternoon Tea With . . ., a new program featuring conversation with industry voices reflecting on the ideas shaping what we watch now; and In Their Shoes conversations with Feig, Jones and McCormack, and Burns. Festival passes and ticket packages are currently on sale on the NFF website, www. nantucketfilmfestival.org
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This Week On Nantucket
Thursday, June 18, 2026