Yesterday's Island/Today's Nantucket, Vol. 55, Issue #13, August 14 - 20, 2025 by Yesterday's Island Today's Nantucket

photo by Suzanne Daub

photo by Burton “Spruce” Balkind

photo courtesy New England Aquarium

photo by Sarah Morneau

‘Rainbow Reflections’

Pendants P Gold

A Nantucket Rainbow Reminiscence

by John J. Hale Grandson of Clarence Gennett

“The Rainbow Fleet should sail this summer sixteen strong.” The year was 1922. Clarence Gennett, Vice-Commodore of the Nantucket Yacht Club was beginning to realize his dream. Gennett was one of three brothers who, with their father, Henry Gennett, owned the Starr Piano Company and its subsidiary, Gennett Records. The company laid the cornerstone for the recording of American jazz, blues, and country music.

During the early 1900s, Clarence Gennett and his brothers traveled with their mother each summer from Richmond, Indiana to Monument Beach. On several occasions they took the steamer over to Nantucket. Gennett fell in love with Nantucket, and in 1915 he purchased “Driftwood” on the harbor at Brant Point. Then one of the largest houses on-island, the imposing property on the harbor was comprised of three acres, stable, (the present “Boathouse”) bath house, dock with gazebo, tea house, washhouse/shop, grass tennis court, and small building for equipment.

Gennett had four children, three girls and a boy, Augusta, Martha Ann, (my mother) Eloise, and Clarence Jr. He was insistent they all learn to sail.

Commodore Breckinridge Long put his Vice-Commodore in charge of designing a suitable craft that would be very safe for children to learn to sail and race, while challenging adults. Gennett was the obvious choice for this assignment; he had grown to love sailing and had considerable experience with promotion from his family’s company. W.J Allen, a Nantucket boat designer and Clarence’s close friend, shared Gennett’s interest in sailing: he also loved the catboat. Gennett shared Allen’s love of the catboat, as it reminded him of time spent on Monument beach as a youth. He loved the general design in that it offered so much room for so small (in length) a boat.

all that these sister islands have to

ferry

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Vintage Fashion Meets Fine Wine on Federal

by Suzanne Daub

In the heart of town on Federal Street, Commonwealth Nantucket has carved a distinctive niche in Nantucket’s retail landscape. What began nearly a decade ago as a carefully curated vintage clothing and accessories boutique has evolved into a dual-concept store where luxury fashion meets fine wine.

Born from owner’s lifelong passion for second-hand shopping and the thrill of discovery, Eileen Harkness founded Commonwealth Nantucket in 2017 and opened her doors on Nantucket in May of 2018. “I’ve always loved second hand shopping—it is more sustainable, and I love the hunt for unique treasures,” she explained. Her philosophy was simple: create a highly curated shopping experience featuring only like-new condition pieces from designer, trendy, and unique labels.

This season, Commonwealth Nantucket moved to a space at 16 Federal Street. continued on page 18

Discover Upstairs at 4 India Street Mon-Sat 10a-5p & Sundays 12-4p thegallerynantucket.com 508-228-8509 • @thegallerynantucket

NO PLACE LIKE 4 INDIA GALLERY

A Dedicated Ranger Making Our Isle Better

by Steve “Tuna” Tornovish

I’ve started my days this week fishing from a bridge in Salem, MA as cars and trucks cruised by me at 30 or so MPH, scaring me to death. Yeah, this was not first choice, but at least it allowed me to catch some fish and clear my head out a bit. Another thing that it did was to help me to better appreciate the beauty of Nantucket, particularly Great Point. I’ll be home soon enough and will have some sand between my toes shortly thereafter.

So what’s so great about this Great Point anyway? Well, for one thing, it’s home to some of the best beach fishing in the world. There’s a variety of places to go out there, so you can generally find a spot to fish regardless of conditions. And it’s well managed. The people who work for the Trustees of Reservation do a fantastic job of maintaining the large expanse of conservation land. They keep the beach pristine and open, at least more open than the Town of Nantucket beaches (or perhaps birds just hatch and fly quicker on the eastern side of the island?). Finally, there’s Spruce.

Spruce is Burton Balkind: he is one of the dedicated rangers working for the Trustees. The rangers help keep beachgoers safe and the reservation enjoyable and accessible. These days, he’s often providing tours for folks who otherwise might not get to experience the beauty of Great Point. I’ll see him with his group in the extended pickup truck (complete with outdoor seating – the Mosquito Express!) as they poke around Great Point. Spruce never fails to stop and introduce me to his tourist group, something that always brings me great joy. Yeah, Spruce is a Nantucket treasure.

“I came to Nantucket with a backpack and a bike! Everyone lifted me up, this college kid with dreads—I came from Montana, where I was attending Montana State in Bozeman. I was a fanatical fly fisherman out there. I fished mostly for brook trout. I was a poor college kid living on 75 bucks a week, so I was fishing for sustenance! I had this neat five-piece Eagle Claw pack rod. I would hike into a hidden mountain pond or stream and catch trout for dinner. Add a bag of rice, a tin can and tin foil— I was in business! Stillwater River was my favorite.”

Spruce grew up in Plymouth, MA. I asked him how he became to be known as Spruce (a funny question coming from a guy known as Steve Tuna, right?). “I worked for an old Yankee Quaker who had a field in Marion MA. He grew all kinds of plants and gave all his workers nicknames. And that was that. I came to Nantucket with two of my buddies who were landscaping for Donnie Holdgate. Started with one job (Holdgate), then jumped in at Foooods For Here and There (remember Mark Arnold?), and then at the India House doing prep cook stuff. Three jobs is the Nantucket thing. I was working 90 hours a week, hoping to save up a little ching to head west for the winter.”

Nantucket fit him well. Spruce loves to surf and he quickly became a fixture amongst the south shore surfing community. He discovered that Nantucket was much more than the nightlife in the summer. He worked hard and played hard. I met Spruce when we were on the same hockey team when Nantucket Ice came into being. “I played hockey as a kid in Plymouth. I jumped into the roller hockey league when that was going on at Tom Nevers. When the ice rink opened, I was really happy. Hey, I got to skate and surf with Ken Linseman (former Boston Bruins center)!”

Spruce ran his own landscaping business for 27 years. It was time for a change. “I had a hip redone one winter. Landscaping was wearing me down. I learned that Diane [Lang, the manager of the Nantucket division of the Trustees of Reservations] was looking for some people to work at Great Point. She reached out, asking, ‘Hey, do you want to drive around Great Point?’ I wasn’t sure: after all, there’s no surf at Great Point! I stepped into a role as a part-time ranger, and I began doing the beach tours as Barry [Thurston, a long-time Trustees fixture] was phasing himself out.”

The fit was perfect. “Who else has an office like ours? Who do you see that’s mad out at Great Point? It’s a happy place! People from everywhere are smiling and waving when they’re out there. It’s a different world for them! It’s like there’s some magic pixie dust that transforms them. I learn something new every day out there. I have books about shells, about birds and Peter Brace’s book Nantucket – A Natural History. Peter also has a book about Nantucket walking tours. Both are so worthwhile!”

Spruce embraces every minute he spends out at Great Point. It suits him perfectly. “Today I took out a group of elders on a tour. I loved listening to them and picking their brains. They have so much institutional knowledge! We had Coatue to ourselves and we drove up to the Coskata Pond opening. There were birds every-

NANTUCKET WALKING TOURS

Providing Quality Tours Since 1998

NANTUCKET GHOST WALK

Voted “Best Walking Tour on Nantucket” 3 years in a row! The most popular walking tour ever on Nantucket!

Choice of 2 Different Tours

The Town Route: An eerie, 80 min, 1 mile evening stroll featuring the most haunted restaurant and most haunted house on Nantucket. August 15th, 16th, 17th, & 18th starting at 8pm.

Cemetery Route: A 1 1/3 mile, 90 min walk featuring the Old North Burial Ground, Oldest House, Mary Abby Swain, & the island’s 2 most haunted hotels.

August 14th, 19th, 20th & 21st starting at 8pm.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the starting times at Centre and Main (top of Main) in front of the bank.

THE LUNA WALK (aka Fabulous Mansions)

H H H

A 2 1/2 mile, 1 hour, morning exercise walk - with historic commentary - past some of our most spectacular summer homes on Nantucket. Please arrive 10 minutes early at Centre and Main beside the bank steps.

August 15th at 10am, August 18th & 20th at 8:30am

HISTORIC MANSIONS OF MAIN ST. & AMERICA’S OLDEST WINDMILL

A 1.8 mile 45-50 minute morning exercise walk - with historic commentary - past the whaling-era mansions and America’s oldest windmill, and back downtown. Please arrive 10 minutes early at Centre and Main beside the bank steps.

August 19th & August 21st at 8:30am, August 16th at 10am

PRICES FOR ALL TOURS:

$25 for adults (20-64)

$20 for seniors (65+)

$15 for teens

$10 for kids 6-12; under 6 free CASH ONLY. NO RESERVATIONS NECESSARY.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 to 11 AM - Nantucket by Water Whaling History Tour

Learn what life was like in the late 1800’s during the Whaling Era, and see some remaining historic landmarks. Call 508-228-7037 or book at nantucketbywater.com

10 AM to 1 PM - Seafarer Thursdays at the Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum

Today’s family activities focus on water & sailing skills,: cork boat building, knot tying, sea shanties, life jacket evolution, & buoyancy. Join staff at Nantucket Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum at 158 Polpis Rd. for this fun learning experience included with museum admission. EganMaritime.org/museum.

10 AM to 5:30 PM - Glamourpuss Trunk Show

The Susan Lister Locke Gallery, on the waterfront at 28 Easy Street, is presenting a trunk show featuring Glamourpuss founder exhibiting her modern collection of unique clothing and accessories. SusanListerLocke.com ~ 508-228-2132.

10 AM to 6 PM - Sara Campbell Sidewalk Sale

Don’t miss the deep discounts offered at this sidewalk sale at Sara Campbell’s, 5 South Beach Street. Today through Sunday, August 17.

10:15 AM to 4:30 PM - Hands-On-History: Oldest House Kitchen Garden

Family programming in the Discovery Center: Learn how people preserved & cooked their food in the 17th century. Using dried beans & seeds, create a work of art in clay. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. nha.org

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:30 to 11 AM - Family Tours at the Whaling Museum

Interactive, family-friendly tour that will spark conversation, invite curiosity, and engage children of all ages as you explore a world of history, artifacts, and art with NHA Museum Guides. Join the NHA for fun, facts, and conversation! nha.org

10:30 to 11:30 AM - An Introduction to Scientiﬁc Illustration

Discover the art of scientific illustration in this hands-on class led by Nikoline Bohr using real specimens from the Maria Mitchell Assn’s collections. Learn to observe and illustrate plants, animals, & more. Registration required: MariaMitchell.org

10:45 AM - Historic Downtown Walking Tour with NHA

Walk through Nantucket town with an NHA Museum Guide & hear the story of the rise and fall of whaling, the beginnings of tourism, and social & racial development on-island. Again at 1:30pm Rain or shine. Tickets at nha.org.

11 AM - Pick Your Own Veggies Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

A guided tour of Bartlett’s Farm produce fields to see what’s fresh and in-season. Stop at key spots, fill a provided bag with farm-fresh veggies, and enjoy the best of the harvest. 33 Bartlett Farm Rd. Tickets at BartlettsFarm.com.

11 AM - Stain Glass Art! with Barnaby’s Nantucket $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 to 11:45 AM - Nature Storytime for Ages 3+

Spark your child’s curiosity with a story, a live animal introduction, & a hands-on activity. Held at the MMA Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street. Pre-register at mariamitchell.org; walk-ins welcome if space allows. mariamitchell.org

11 AM to 5 PM - Thom Browne Made-To-Order Knit Event

For Thom Browne tailoring devotees, presenting a selection of classics such as the 4-bar cardigan in cashmere (with 21 colors available), pullover sweater (with 15 colors on offer), & a vest style. Customers are able to select from a range of styles in knit, cashmere or merino, along with tabs, trims, & buttons. Embroidered initials are available in tonal thread. Serenella 9 S. Beach Street ~ info@serenellausa.com ~ 508.228.3400 ~ www.serenellausa.com

The Nature of August

We’re halfway into August, and it starts to feel a touch like fall. There’s a slight crispness to the air in the early mornings, and the humidity of July has waned. The August Blues Fishing Tournament, which I love to participate in, has me thinking about August blues—I mean the kind of feeling that has less to do with bluefish and more to do with disappointment at the end of something. Of course, I’m reading way too much into the name of a fishing tournament, but there is an element of sadness that summer might soon be coming to a close.

It’s that “Sunday feeling” when you worry about Monday before it’s even arrived. People are planning for college drop-offs, making boat reservations, packing up for the season. We still have the air conditioner on, but we’re also shopping for back to school. My son, now in high school, has fall sports starting well before school begins: a harbinger of things to come after Labor Day. That August feeling is that we must hurry to get everything checked off our summer bucket list—pack it all in while we can. I try to remind myself to slow down, relax, and take it all in. Let’s live in the moment. Let’s stay in summer. It’s something we wait for all year, so why rush to give it up?

As a plant ecologist, I want to say, “it’s still summer, just look at the plants!” If I’m really honest with myself, the plants are changing, too. The pink petals of summer roses yield to yellow golden rods and small white asters of early fall. Many of our native shrubs are at the peak of fruit production: arrowwood, dewberries and blackberries, beach plum, and black cherries. The fruit buffet helps the birds that are getting ready to migrate. Many of the migrating songbirds gorge on the feast before heading out. I’ve even seen a few V-formations of geese, and I know the Osprey will soon start their migration south, but I’m not ready to pack away summer just yet.

Heading out for a walk with my dog this morning, the first thing I noticed was the sound. It’s the dog-day cicadas reminding me that we are still in the dogdays of summer. The water temperatures are warm, we can go for a swim, wear shorts, and the sun still sets after 7:30.

What else does August nature have to offer? August in nature, in the wilds

of Nantucket, is noisy! Yes, the cicadas are calling. When you think of a hot, August day out on the moors of Nantucket, the calling cicadas are the soundtrack you’re hearing. Their song varies in pitch and intensity based on temperature cues. Cicadas like heat and do their most spirited singing during the hotter hours of a summer day, in a roughly 24-hour cycle. In some cases, the din is enough to throw off avian communication and disrupt their group hunting behavior. Keep that in mind when you hear their calls: audio defense!

By this time, the katydids can also be heard calling in the wooded areas. I can hear their low whine/hum from my back deck, which looks out on a stand of pitch pines. The sound is produced by rubbing two parts of their front wings together: one part is the file or comb, which has rough ridges, the other part is the plectrum used to produce the vibration. This is the males calling to the females—they mate during late summer.

Another noisy contribution in August are our baby birds, rather “teenage” birds. OK, they’re not actually teens, but they remind me so much of the notquite-adults. These are the newly fledged chicks that are learning to be adults. Many of them look almost like adults, but still act like big babies. They can and should fend for themselves, but they squawk and cry in hopes of being fed. In my yard this is mainly catbirds, eastern towhees, cardinals, and chickadees. At the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, one of the fledged osprey young keeps hanging around the nest, hopeful someone will bring him/her a fish. They chirp and whine like only an osprey can. They are able feed themselves, so there is no need to worry. They just don’t want to.

Walking some of our conservation trails around the island, a deliciously sweet smell wafts through the breeze this time in August. It’s not the heavy rose scent of July but the sweet, delicate fragrance of August: sweet pepperbush. Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) is a tall shrub that grows on the edges of wetlands. It likes having its “feet” wet, but not in water. The spike of white flowers bloom from

continued on page 23

Bicycle Rentals

Sail Endeavor

Summer Visitors in Nantucket Waters

by Alicia Wolfram

They don’t sip CRUcumbers at CRU or wait in line at Juice Bar, but they’re back every summer. A month ago, on Friday July 18, just in time to kick off Shark Week, a 1,653 pound great white shark pinged 50 miles east of Nantucket. Named “Contender,” he is the largest male white shark ever tagged by research group OCEARCH in the Western North Atlantic. While well offshore, his appearance is a timely reminder that sharks, too, summer on Nantucket.

But despite the great white’s celebrity status, it’s not the species beachgoers are most likely to encounter on Nantucket. According to local shark researcher and Ph.D. student Caroline Collatos, that distinction belongs to the sandbar shark — also known as the brown shark.

“They’re the shark you’re most likely to interact with if you’re on our shoreline,” she said.

Sandbar sharks are abundant in Nantucket’s nearshore waters during the summer, especially around Great Point, where Collatos conducts much of her fieldwork. She credits the calmer currents and unique underwater topography on the inside of Great Point—shallow flats that drop off to 40 or 50 feet close to shore—for drawing the sharks.

“I find them much more dense in their numbers there than I do around other portions of the island,” she said. “I must have seen 30 today driving along the beach.”

The slower water movement on the west side of Great Point—in contrast with the strong currents along the south shore—makes it an ideal spot for these energyconscious predators, who, unlike other fish such as tuna, do not feed constantly and need to maximize energy efficiency.

“For sharks, the name of the game is energy conservation,” Collatos said. “They’re not eating every day, every hour.”

8:40am 6:10am 7:10am 9:55am 10:55am 8:30am 9:30am 11:10am 12:10pm 9:30am 10:30am 12:50pm 1:50pm 11:20am 12:20pm 2:15pm 3:15pm 12:45pm 1:45pm

4:10pm 5:10pm 2:25pm 3:25pm 5:45pm 6:45pm 4:15pm 5:15pm 7:05pm 8:05pm 5:40pm 6:40pm

*9:20pm 10:20pm *8:00pm 9:00pm Through September 1, 2025

Barrett’s Island TOURS

Experienced Guides for Fully Narrated 1-1/2 Hour Historic Tours with the oldest tour company on Nantucket Private Tours & Charters Available Book online: BarrettsTours.com 508-228-0174 Daily Departures at 10:30am, 1:30pm, & 3:30pm From 25 Federal Street (across from Visitor Services)

*Changes to 8:40pm and 10pm on Fridays Nantucket Chocolate Covered Cranberries The Courtyard, 16 Straight Wharf Call 508-228-1017 or Order online www.auntleahs.com As seen in Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Magazine, Phantom Gourmet and on Chronicle, Channel 5

Another Week to See this Smash Hit

Theatre Workshop of Nantucket’s electrifying hit show for 2025, Million Dollar Quartet, is on stage in Bennett Hall through August 23. The play takes place on one unforgettable night in 1956, when music legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley came together for a once-in-a-lifetime jam session. That legendary moment becomes a rock ‘n’ roll celebration like no other in this Tony-nominated smash hit that’s taking the island by storm.

Curtain goes up at 7pm most nights, with a 5pm show on Sunday, August 17. Buy your tickets now at TheatreNantucket.org.

photo by Bill Hoenk

Events & Entertainment

Events are updated daily, year-round at Nantucket.net from page 6

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

Join friendly & knowledgeable guides for a 75-min. tour of historic sites in Nantucket Town, Sconset, & more. See The Oldest House, The Windmill, Sconset Village, Sankaty Head Lighthouse & more. Tours daily at 11:15, 1, & 2:45. Tickets $45. Book at 42 Straight Wharf, at nantucketbustours.com or at 508-228-0334.

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

Relax on a narrated tour of the inner harbor while you enjoy ice cream with friends & family. Departs again at 1, 2:15, & 4 pm. One-hour; daily cruises. Call 508-2287037 or book online nantucketbywater.com.

11:45 AM - The Westender Tour with Island Tours

Visit historic sites in Town and the Village of Madaket. Also enjoy stops at Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm & at Cisco Brewers where you can enjoy libations & food vendors. The experience lasts about 2-1/2 hours. Tickets $85. Book at 42 Straight Wharf, at nantucketbustours.com, or at 508-228-0334.

12:45 PM - Linda Loring Nature Foundation Hike with Nantucket Walkabout LLNF’s publicly accessible property has easy trails thru sandplain grasslands, coastal shrublands, & along the North Head of Long Pond in sight of an active osprey nest. 110 Eel Point Road. 508-422-7466 WalkNantucket.com

2 to 3 PM - Read to a Buddy with R.E.A.D. Dogs for Ages 6-12

Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D) are certified therapy dogs trained to be good listeners. This is a fun, relaxed, nonjudgmental way to become more confident & enjoy reading. Registration required at NantucketAtheneum.org.

3 PM - Sconset Tour with Nantucket Preservation Trust

Join Exec. Director Mary Bergman for a 75-min. tour of Siasconset, exploring historic whalehouses, its resort-era boom, & ties to the actors colony. Meet at 1 New St. Tickets: nantucketpreservation.org/events/walking-tour/

3 to 4 PM - Free Children’s Chess Club for Grades 2 to 6

All skill levels are welcome to learn the basics or challenge friends to a game. Hosted by Teen Advisory Board volunteers. Bring your own board or use one of ours. No registration required. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street.

3 to 5 PM - Island Tours Elin Hilderbrand Blue Book Tour

This new tour is straight from the pages of Elin’s “Must See, Can’t Miss, Won’t Forget” Guide to Nantucket: The Blue Book. Led by Elin’s sister, Heather Thorpe, the tour highlights Elin’s favorite shops, restaurants, & beaches, & showcases island spots prominent in her novels. Tickets $100. Book at 42 Straight Wharf, on line at nantucketbustours.com, or at 508-228-0334.

3:30 PM - The Nantucket Project One-Day Special Event

The Nantucket Project at The Dreamland Theatre for one special day of storytelling, short films, and candid conversations with special guests The Dreamland, 17 S. Water Street. NantucketDreamland.org

4 PM - Beading Bonanza with Barnaby’s Nantucket For All Ages

Explore the art of beading. From bracelet and necklace to keychain making, kids can choose from a large variety of beads to design and create their own jewelry. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

4 to 7 PM - Live Music by Trousdale at Cisco Brewers

Head to the brewery at 5 Bartlett Farm Road for live local bands. Tables are firstcome, first-served: no reservations. Ciscobrewers.com

5 to 7:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Lynx

See an amazing sunset onboard a piece of history! Nantucket’s longest and most affordable Sunset sailing. Highly recommended by anyone who has sailed on Lynx Tickets at TallShipLynx.org

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

6 PM - Live Music in Rose & Crown

Enjoy tunes by Jacob Butler as you enjoy dinner and libations at The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water Street: celebrating their 50th anniversary!

6 PM - TGIT for Kids with Barnaby’s Nantucket for Ages 5+

Thank God It’s Thursday! Parents get a night out while we entertain your kids, who will make 2 different projects: slime, creating wood art, beading, painting, or clay, & more! Snacks, pizza, + drinks incl. $95: register at BarnabysWorld.com.

6 to 7 PM - ELL Beginner & Intermediate English Class

Learn basic conversation or improve English skills. Class in English; details: 508228-1110 x113. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. NantucketAtheneum.org

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

Nothing beats a Nantucket Sunset. Grab your favorite beverages & snacks and c’mon aboard for one of the best shows in town! Departure time will vary with

sunset. Call 508-228-7037 or book online nantucketbywater.com

7 to 8:30 PM - Buyer & Cellar presented by Theatre Workshop of Nantucket Starring Robbie Simpson, this award-winning solo comedy follows struggling actor Alex More, who lands a bizarre job in a superstar’s Malibu basement. Hilarious & heartfelt, Buyer & Cellar explores fame, fantasy, & the quirks of celebrity life. Tickets at TheatreNantucket.org ~ 508-228-4305

7:30 PM - Theatre People or The Angel Next Door by ACK Theatre Company

Young writer Oliver Adams is on the brink of success with his novel turned stage play starring his secret crush, Margot Bell. But a weekend in Newport with the cast & creative team unravels secrets & sparks chaos. Can love & theatre save the day? Tickets at NantucketPerformingArts.org ~ 508-680-0003. Use code YESTERDAY to save $10 off tickets. Nantucket Performing Arts Center, 5 North Water St

7:45 to 9:15 PM - Owl Prowl for Ages 8+

Experience the mystery of the night with MMA Field Ornithologist Ginger Andrews: listen for nocturnal bird & animal calls and watch for owls. While sightings aren’t guaranteed, the night promises fascinating encounters. Register: MariaMitchell.org

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Cemetery Route

A 1-1/3 mi, 90 min eerie stroll featuring Old North Burial Ground, Oldest House, & 2 haunted hotels. Led by original guide. $25; $20 seniors(65+); $15 for teens; $10 for ages 6-12. Cash Only. No reservations necessary, Meet at Main & Centre by the bank steps 15 min early. whjamieson@gmail.com

8:30 to 9:30 PM - Night at the Aquarium for Ages 5+

Join MMA aquarists for an after-hours adventure. Discover how sea creatures adapt to the night with traits like night vision & half-brain sleep. Meet animal ambassadors & explore the aquarium after dark. Register at MariaMitchell.org

10 PM - Live Music with Local Notes

Live music by this local band as you enjoy dinner and libations at The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water Street: celebrating their 50th anniversary!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15

8 AM - Smooth Hummocks Hike with Nantucket Walkabout Smooth Hummocks is Nantucket’s version of the Midwest’s prairies complete with rare wildflowers and grasses that thrive in sandy, nutrient-poor soil. Smooth Hummocks is a fascinating island ecosystem with many things to teach us. 508-4227466 WalkNantucket.com

8:30 AM - Pick Your Own Flowers Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

Spend a morning in the certified organic flower fields at Bartlett’s Farm, picking blooms & creating lasting memories with family. We provide clippers & guidance to help you craft a perfect bouquet. Senior & youth pricing available. Bartlett’s Farm, 33 Bartlett Farm Road. Tickets at BartlettsFarm.com. Again at 10 am

8:30 AM - The Luna Walk (A.K.A. “Fabulous Mansions”)

You’ll be over the moon after going on this 3-mi, 75-min, non-stop exercise walk with historic commentary that follows in the footsteps of Luna (Nantucket’s most physically fit dog) thru Lily Pond Park, past the Oldest House, & by fabulous mansions of the Cliff & Brant Point. Arrive 10 min. early at corner of Centre & Main, by the bank steps. $25 Cash Only. No reservations necessary. wjamieson@gmail.com

8:30 to 10 AM - Marine Ecology Field Trip for Ages 10+

Help collect, identify, & release marine life Meets at Hither Creek Beach Access near 25 Massachusetts Avenue. Pre-registration required at mariamitchell.org

9 AM - Guided Tour of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

A rare chance to see gorgeous, unique habitats: salt marshes, beaches, forests, & the wildlife that inhabits them. Tour lasts about 2 hours: memories of this wild beauty last a lifetime. Tickets: thetrustees.org/content/coskata-coatue-faqs/#tour Tours Depart at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM

9 to 9:45 AM - Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Assn. Aquarium

Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens. Fun for all ages. Registration required Registration Required.

9 to 9:45 AM - Ravenous Reptiles with MMA for Ages 4+

A tour + animal feeding at the Natural Science Museum: learn about unique adaptations of turtles, frogs, snakes, & more while interacting with educational animals. Pre-registration is recommended at MariaMitchell.org

9:30 AM - Build & Create with Magna-Tiles for Ages 2-6

Children get a set of 25 Magna-Tiles + a set of special tiles they can design using glitter, charms, gems, & beads, creating their own unique structure accessorizing with their glitter tiles. A great take-home project that your child can use again & again! $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 to 11:30 AM - Earth Story Walk & Talk for Curious Adults

Join Dr. Rich Blundell for a journey through Earth’s 4.6 billion-year story, exploring key moments in geologic time & their impact on our world today. Pre-registration required at MariaMitchell.org

10 to 11:30 AM - Climate Change Impacts at LLNF - Nature Walk with Dr. Sarah Bois

Join Dr. Sarah Bois for a free guided walk at LLNF exploring how climate change is impacting the island. Learn to spot environmental indicators, explore vulnerable habitats, and discuss local efforts to adapt. LLNF.org

10 AM to 12 PM - Free Pokemon Card Game Workshop for Ages 6+

A fun, family-friendly game workshop : learn to play, practice skills, & battle other fans. Bring a deck or borrow one. Registration required: NantucketAtheneum.org

10 AM to 6 PM - Sara Campbell Sidewalk Sale

Don’t miss the deep discounts offered at this sidewalk sale at Sara Campbell’s, 5 South Beach Street. Today through Sunday, August 17.

10:15 to 10:45 AM - Hands-On-History featuring Nanpuppets

Laugh & learn with Lizza & her Nanpuppets for a fun-filled show at the Whaling Museum’s Discovery Center, followed by a hands-on craft. Included with museum admission. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. nha.org

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:30 AM - Free Friday Fundays

Weekly arts and crafts for children of all ages. Family-friendly events and activities. Presented by Town of Nantucket at Children’s Beach, Harbor View Way. 10:45 AM - Historic Downtown Walking Tour with NHA

11 AM - Back to School Pencil Cases x Patches + Beading for Ages 6+

Kids choose from a variety of pencil cases for back to school & decorate them with multiple patches! Each child will also be able to make a beaded wrist strap for their pencil case and a matching bracelet! $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 AM to 5 PM - Thom Browne Made-To-Order Knit Event

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

1 to 3:30 PM - Day Sail Aboard the Tall Ship Lynx

Enjoy a lovely day on the water standing on a piece of history! Nantucket’s longest hourly and most affordable sailing event you can do. Highly recommended by anyone who has sailed on Lynx. TallShipLynx.org

2 PM - Stump Swamp/Norwood Farm Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

A mashup of island terrain; forest, upland meadows, small ponds, a former cranberry bog, & one of the island’s true flowing streams. A 90-120 min. dual property hike, depending on group interest. Book at 508-422-7466 or WalkNantucket.com

2 to 3:30 PM - Free Hands-On Lifesaving Demos at Shipwreck & Live Saving Museum

Drop by for interactive demonstrations of historic life saving methods: visitors can try using equipment to rescue our mascot, Marshall, with the breeches buoy. Enjoy coloring activities or picnic by the beautiful Folgers Marsh. 158 Polpis Road

2 to 3 PM - Bug Bonanza with Maria Mitchell Assn. for Ages 4 +

Discover what insects & small creatures live in the grasses, flowers, & island trees with MMA Natural Science Museum. Collect insects like a scientist & learn about their traits & behaviors. Registration recommended: MariaMitchell.org

2 to 3:30 PM - Free Hands-On Lifesaving Demos at Shipwreck & Live Saving Museum

4 PM - Open Studio with Barnaby’s Nantucket for Ages 5+

This 1-hour class offers a variety of mixed media options which will get your child’s creativity flowing: painting on canvas, working with clay, or making wood art. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

6 PM - TGIF for Kids! with Barnaby’s Nantucket - Ages 5+

Thank god it’s Friday! Parents get a night out while we entertain your kids! Kids do 2 projects: making Slime, beading, Fairy Houses or make Nantucket T-Shirt or

Baseball Cap! Snacks, pizza, and drinks included! $95: register at barnabysworld.com.

6 to 8 PM - Tween & Teen Game Night

Teens and tweens play a selection of Nintendo Switch games like Just Dance and Mario Party and many more! The games are first-come, first-served. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. NantucketAtheneum.org

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

6:30 PM - Dreamland Comedy x Nantucket Crisps Present: Kevin Nealon

Don’t miss comedy legend Kevin Nealon live at The Dreamland for one night only! Two shows at 6:30pm and 9pm. The Dreamland, 17 S. Water Street. 508-332-4822 NantucketDreamland.org

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

Nothing beats a Nantucket Sunset. Grab your favorite beverages & snacks and c’mon aboard for one of the best shows in town! Departure time will vary with sunset. Call 508-228-7037 or book online nantucketbywater.com

7 to 9:15 PM - Million Dollar Quartet presented by Theatre Workshop

Re-live the legendary night that Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, & Carl Perkins jammed at Sun Records. A show packed with rock ‘n’ roll hits performed live, Million Dollar Quartet is a high-energy musical celebration. Buy your tickets at TheatreNantucket.org

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Town Route

A 3/4-mi., 75-80 min. evening stroll thru historic Nantucket Town to 5 of the most haunted locations. Led by the original guide: this is the most popular walking tour ever on Nantucket. $25; $20 seniors(65+); $15 for teens; $10 for ages 7-12. Cash Only. No Reservations necessary. Meet at Main & Centre by the bank steps 15 minutes early. whjamieson@gmail.com

9 to 9:45 PM - Open Night: Stargazing at Loines Observatory

Join MMA astronomers at Loines Observatory—view the night sky through telescopes & learn about current research, weather permitting. Pre-registration recommended at MariaMitchell.org

10 PM - Friday Night Karaoke

Join the fun and sing along at the Rose & Crown, 23 S. Water Street. 508-2282595 TheRoseAndCrown.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

8 AM - ACK Clean Team

Help clean up Nantucket. The Clean Team supplies everything you need, including grabbers. Meet at The Handlebar Cafe, 15 Washington St. or outside of Town meet: End of South Shore Road - access point to the shoreline.

8 to 10 AM - Morning Breeze & Breakfast Treats Aboard the Lynx

Set sail aboard the historic Tall Ship Lynx for a family-friendly morning adventure! Enjoy breakfast treats, take in stunning harbor views, and experience the thrill of sailing a classic privateer. Kids: $65| Adults: $125 Book at EganMaritime.org

8:30 AM - Pick Your Own Flowers Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

9 AM - Guided Tour of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

See gorgeous, unique habitats: salt marshes, beaches, forests, & the wildlife that inhabits them. Tour lasts about 2 hours: memories of this wild beauty last a lifetime. Tickets: thetrustees.org/content/coskata-coatue-faqs/#tour Again at 1pm

9 to 9:45 AM - Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Assn. Aquarium

Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens. Fun for all ages. Registration required Registration Required.

9 to 9:45 AM - Ravenous Reptiles with MMA for Ages 4+

9 AM to 2 PM - Artists Assn of Nantucket Sidewalk Art Show

A beloved tradition dating back to 1930, the sidewalk art show is the oldest of its kind in the U.S. and is a wonderful opportunity to meet a bevy of Nantucket’s finest artists. Atheneum Library Garden, 1 India Street.

9:15 to 10 AM - Marine Storytime - Ages 3+

A marine-themed story, a live animal intro, & a related activity in MMA Aquarium, 32 Washington St. Register: MariaMitchell.org. Walk-ins welcome if space allows.

9:30 AM - Slime Sundaes! with Barnaby’s Nantucket

Get ready for mess-filled fun as your child creates “Slime Sundaes” with sprinkles, glitter, charms, gummy bears, and more! Plus, they’ll learn the science behind slime while we handle the cleanup $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

continued on page 13

NANTUCKET • NEWPORT • NEWBURYPORT

Visit The Love Shack to see all the new LOLA jewelry, apparel, scents & more for the 2025 season.

10 Old South Wharf | 774-325-5982 | loveshacknantucket.com

from page 3

Allen worked for the Port Jefferson Marine Railway, and was commissioned to draw up plans for a 16 foot Cape Cod Cat. The plans were approved on January 22, 1922 by the Commodore and Vice-Commodore—the first seven were delivered early that season. The specifications were: length 16 ft.; beam 7 ft. 9 in.; mast 18 ft. 2 in.; boom 20 ft. 3 in.; sail area 230 square feet.

Vice Commodore Gennett’s dream didn’t stop here. In 1922, the predominant small boat in Nantucket Harbor was the catboat. Gennett wanted something to set these boats apart from the other catboats of the time. He decided that each sail would take on a color of the rainbow, thus be easily identifiable when racing. He named the newly designed class The Nantucket Rainbow Fleet. Little did he know back in 1922 that he would leave the legacy of these multicolored crafts on postcards and posters, on the canvas of countless Nantucket artists, and even on tee-shirts sold to tourists and taken home as gifts. Little did he know that the picture of “Rainbows” rounding Brant Point would be the only image of Nantucket many people would ever have. The credit for all this is well-deserved by the ViceCommodore.

In the winter of 1922 he made a record asking the members of the Yacht Club to buy one of these Rainbows. To my knowledge this is the first time an audio recording (phonograph) was used as an advertising vehicle. This was not as difficult as it might seem, given the year and the family business.

The first “Rainbows” delivered were: “Blue Devil” (H. Lang), “Flapper” (Clarence Gennett), “G.W.G.” (B.F.W. Russell), “Luan” (Ann Donald), “Margie” (Leeds Mitchell), “Moby Dick” (Everett Crosby), and “Nancy” (Henry Shaw). Their sail colors were respectively: blue, light yellow, green, tan, red, deep yellow, and old rose.

In 1923 the fleet was joined by three others, built by the Nantucket Boat Works. They were named “Dede” (H.W. Davis), “Surge” (J. Metcalf), and “Wolverine” (A. E. Smith). Their sails were orange, light blue, and coffee colored.

The “Rainbow” was designed primarily for sailing close to the wind, and did this very well. She did have a number of weaknesses. With a strong weather helm, she was difficult for an adult, let alone a child, to control. While running free,

continued on page 17

Events & Entertainment

Events are updated daily, year-round at Nantucket.net from page 11

9:30 AM to 4 PM - Grab & Go Bag: Ojos de Dios Yarn Craft

Create colorful patterns out of yarn that you can hang on a wall. If you like, you can create a nature scavenger hunt to find twigs to use as a frame for this craft! (Popsicle sticks provided). Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India St. NantucketAtheneum.org

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 AM - Historic Mansions of Main Street and America’s Oldest Windmill

A 1.8 mi, 45 min. exercise walk with historic commentary past whaling era mansions & back downtown. Cash only; $25; $20 seniors (65+) ; $15 for teens; $10 for ages 6-12. Meet at Main & Centre by bank steps 10 min early. whjamieson@gmail.com

10 AM to 6 PM - Sara Campbell Sidewalk Sale

Don’t miss the deep discounts offered at this sidewalk sale at Sara Campbell’s, 5 South Beach Street. Today through Sunday, August 17.

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:30 AM to 1 PM - Nantucket By Water Oyster Tours

Tour a working Oyster Farm & learn what goes into growing the perfect Nantucket Oyster. Call 508-228-7037 or book online at nantucketbywater.com Again at 1pm. 10:45 AM - Historic Downtown Walking Tour with NHA

11 AM - Pick Your Own Veggies Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

11 AM - Nanpuppets with Lizza at Children’s Beach

Free puppet show that little ones will love. This is one of the family-friendly events presented by the Town of Nantucket at Children’s Beach, Harbor View Way.

11 AM - Art Deco Cream Jewelry Cake Box, Mirror, & Frame Decorating This trendy new Barnaby’s Class is all the rage! Kids will enjoy decorating a Jewelry Box and mirror using whipped clays and charms, mimicking the look and feel of frosting! $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 to 11:45 AM - Nature Storytime for Ages 3+

11 AM to 5 PM - Thom Browne Made-To-Order Knit Event

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

1 to 3:30 PM - Day Sail Aboard the Tall Ship Lynx

2:45 PM - Lost Farm Sanctuary Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

The area is within Nantucket’s oldest outwash plain of sandplain grasslands and contains pitch pine forests and a cattail-choked inlet over which a small walkway passes. Hike is close to Cisco Beach & Cisco Brewery. Book at WalkNantucket.com

4 PM - Paint your Own Squishies! with Barnaby’s Nantucket for ages 4+

Who doesn’t love a squishy! Your child will enjoy painting, creating, and squeezing their way through class! $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

4 to 7 PM - Live Music by Nikki & The Barn Boys at Cisco Brewers

Head to the brewery at 5 Bartlett Farm Road for live local bands. Tables are first-

come, first-served: no reservations. Ciscobrewers.com

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

6 PM - Shawkemo Hills Sunset Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

A hike through a part of the island dramatically shaped by the last glacier to cover most of N. America. See & learn about the formation of Coatue, Great Point, the Haulover, Nantucket Harbor + inner harbor shores. Book at WalkNantucket.com

6 PM - TGIS for Kids! with Barnaby’s Nantucket - Ages 5+

Thank goodness it’s Saturday! Parents get a night out while we entertain your kids, who will make 2 different projects: slime, creating wood art, beading, painting, or clay, & more! Snacks, pizza, + drinks incl. $95: register at BarnabysWorld.com.

6 PM - Live Music in Rose & Crown

Enjoy tunes by Jacob Butler as you enjoy dinner and libations at The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water Street: celebrating their 50th anniversary! theroseandcrown.com

6 to 11 PM - Tim Russert Summer Groove Fundraiser

The Nantucket Boys & Girls Club’s fundraiser is an elegant evening that honors the generosity of those who make our mission possible giving brighter futures to our community’s youth. Tickets: nantucketboysandgirlsclub.org/summer-groove

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

7 to 9:15 PM - Million Dollar Quartet presented by Theatre Workshop

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Town Route

A 3/4-mile, 75 to 80 minute evening stroll through historic Nantucket Town to 5 of the most haunted locations. Led by the original guide this is the most popular walking tour ever on Nantucket. $25; $20 seniors(65+); $15 for teens; $10 for ages 7-12. Cash Only. No Reservations necessary. Meet at Main & Centre by the bank steps 15 minutes early. whjamieson@gmail.com

10 PM - Karaoke at The Rose & Crown

Join the fun and sing along at the Rose & Crown, 23 S. Water Street. 508-2282595 TheRoseAndCrown.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

STORY WALK: SHOW US WHERE YOU LIVE, HUMPBACK

This lyrical picture book celebrates the bond between children & whales, with fun facts about humpbacks. All month in the Nantucket Atheneum Garden, 1 India St.

7 AM - Sports Fishing on the Herbert T Capt. Fred Tonkin is an experienced fisherman who will take you to where the fish are biting. All equipment provided. Memorable for the whole family. Reservations: 508-228-6655 (evenings: 508-257-4176). Trips at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm 7:45 to 10 AM - Nantucket Bird Walk with Ginger Andrews for Ages 8+ Explore Nantucket’s diverse bird habitats with Ginger’s wit, island history. See local & migratory birds. Pre-registration required: MariaMitchell.org

8 AM - Gardner Farm-Lost Farm Loop Hike with Nantucket Walkabout This 2.5 mile hike explores plant succession on globally threatened habitat know as sandplain grasslands. These former vegetable farms are now dominated by pitch pines; their groves & small forests have meadows of wildflowers. Book at 508422-7466 or WalkNantucket.com

9 AM - Guided Tour of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

9 AM - Rainbow Fleet Parade Begins

Gather on the beach at Brant Point Lighthouse to watch the iconic and colorful Rainbow Fleet Parade that heralds the start of the Opera House Cup. Insider Tip: arrive early (8:30 am or earlier) and bring coffee + croissants and blankets or chairs to sit on. Parking is very limited, so plan to walk to the beach.

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 to 11 AM - Nantucket by Water Whaling History Tour

Learn what life was like in the late 1800’s during the Whaling Era &see some remaining historic landmarks. Call 508-228-7037 or book at nantucketbywater.com

Events & Entertainment

Events are updated daily, year-round at Nantucket.net from page 13

AM - Opera House Cup Regatta

The Opera House Cup Regatta is a cherished tradition held on the third Sunday of August on Nantucket. This Regatta was the first all-wooden, single-hulled classic boat race on the East Coast, and, as a result, it attracts some of the finest sailboats in the country. Spectators gather in the morning at Brant Point.

10:30 AM - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:30 to 11:30 AM - Painting Pottery Palooza! with Barnaby’s Nantucket for ages 4+

Painting pottery is always a favorite! Children will choose from a variety of ceramic pieces that they can paint & glaze. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 AM to 5 PM - Last Day of Sara Campbell Sidewalk Sale

Don’t miss the deep discounts offered at this sidewalk sale at Sara Campbell’s, 5 South Beach Street.

11 AM to 5 PM - Thom Browne Made-To-Order Knit Event

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

2 PM - Polpis Harbor Hike with Nantucket Walkabout Festooned with salt marshes populated with nesting & fishing shorebirds, Polpis Harbor also has beautiful meadows overlooking the east cove. Part 2 of this hike is a closer look at Nantucket Harbor from an inner harbor coastal bank. 508-4227466 WalkNantucket.com

3 to 5 PM - Island Tours Elin Hilderbrand Blue Book Tour

3 to 6 PM - Live Music by Nikki & The Barn Boys at Cisco Brewers Head to the brewery at 5 Bartlett Farm Road for live local bands. Tables are firstcome, first-served: no reservations. Ciscobrewers.com

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

5:30 PM - Smith’s Point Sunset Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

See an amazing sunset at the westernmost extremity of Nantucket in sight of Tuckernuck Island. Walk back on the beach under the rising moon & stars, and maybe take a dip in the ocean if you’re game. 508-422-7466 WalkNantucket.com

6 PM - Children’s Beach Bandstand Concert: The Dunbars

Live concert at Children’s Beach, Harbor View Way, presented by Town of Nantucket. Bring a blanket or chairs for sitting.

6 PM - Live Music by Julia Newman

Live music as you enjoy dinner and libations at The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water Street: celebrating their 50th anniversary! TheRoseandCrown.com

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Town Route

10 PM - D.J Chad Banks at The Rose & Crown Join the fun at the Rose & Crown, 23 S. Water Street. 508-228-2595 TheRoseAndCrown.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 18

8 AM - Gardner Farm Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

This hike is within Nantucket’s oldest outwash plain of sandplain grasslands and contains pitch pine forests with a walkway over a cattail-choked inlet. This hike is close to Cisco Beach & Cisco Brewery. 508-422-7466 WalkNantucket.com

8:30 AM - The Luna Walk (A.K.A. “Fabulous Mansions”)

8:30 to 10 AM - Marine Ecology Field Trip for Ages 10+

Help collect, identify, & release marine life. Meets at Hither Creek Beach Access near 25 Massachusetts Avenue. Pre-registration required at mariamitchell.org

9 to 9:45 AM - Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Assn. Aquarium

Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens. Fun for all ages. Registration required Registration Required.

9 to 9:45 AM - Ravenous Reptiles with MMA for Ages 4+

9 AM to 1 PM - Nantucket Blues: Indigo Shibori Dyeing Workshop

A hands-on experience producing an indigo vat & using it to create a Shibori piece. One large tea towel provided for designing the shibori pattern of your choice. Nantucket Historical Assn Decorative Arts Program: register at nha.org

9:30 AM - The Stars That Guide Us Event: Women Leaders Leading on Nantucket

Join author Denice Kronau at The Dreamland for a unique book launch of The Stars That Guide Us, featuring a panel of Nantucket’s women leaders. Enjoy breakfast and a powerful discussion on leadership, empathy, and the themes behind her Stars Trilogy. Tickets at NantucketDreamland.org

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Mondays with Magic Mark

Join us at Children’s Beach this summer for free, family-friendly events and activities, all season long. No registration required. Children’s Beach, Harbor View Way.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 AM to 1 PM - Maker Mondays at the Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum Today’s family activities focus on crafts such as Morse code, knot bracelets, model lighthouses, rubber stamp quarter boards. Join staff at Nantucket Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum at 158 Polpis Rd. for this fun learning experience included with museum admission. EganMaritime.org/museum.

10:15 AM to 4:30 PM - Hands-On-History: Mindful History - Portraits

Hands-on family programming at the Whaling Museum Discovery Center, Practice “See, Think, Feel” to explore historical portraits in a new way. Craft: Watercolor Portraits. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. nha.org

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:45 AM - Historic Downtown Walking Tour with NHA Walk through Nantucket town with an NHA Museum Guide & hear the story of the rise and fall of whaling, the beginnings of tourism, and social & racial development on-island. Again at 1:30pm Rain or shine. Tickets at nha.org.

11 AM - Patches x Sweatshirts + Beading with Barnaby’s Nantucket for Ages 6+

This popular Barnaby’s class lets kids design their own sweatshirt with fun, colorful patches and create custom bracelets or necklaces for a full hour of fashion fun. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

continued on page 15

11:45 AM - The Westender Tour with Island Tours

1 to 4 PM - Class to Make a Woven Basket Round Tote Bag

Weave in the Nantucket Basket tradition a useful and fashionable purse tote bag. Class is good for beginner and experienced weavers. Nantucket Historical Assn Decorative Arts Program: register at nha.org

2 PM - Sankaty Bluff Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

On this hike, walk south down the beach from the Hoicks Hollow Road public way to see examples of & learn about Nantucket’s geological past. Book at 508-4227466 WalkNantucket.com

2 to 3 PM - Bug Bonanza with Maria Mitchell Assn. for Ages 4 +

4 PM - Make your Own Nantucket Tic-Tac-Toe Board with Barnaby’s Nantucket $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

6 PM - Head of The Plains Sunset with Nantucket Walkabout

Experience the Head of the Plains at sunset on a guided dusk walk through Nantucket’s rare sandplain grasslands. Watch night herons, owls, and deer emerge as the sky glows and stars begin to shine. Includes transportation to and from downtown. Book at 508-422-7466 or WalkNantucket.com

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Town Route

9 to 9:45 PM - Open Night: Stargazing at Loines Observatory Join MMA astronomers at Loines Observatory—view the night sky through telescopes & learn about current research, weather permitting. Pre-registration recommended at MariaMitchell.org

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19

STORY WALK: SHOW US WHERE YOU LIVE, HUMPBACK

This lyrical picture book celebrates the bond between children & whales, with fun facts about humpbacks. All month in the Nantucket Atheneum Garden, 1 India St. 7 AM - Sports Fishing on the Herbert T Capt. Fred Tonkin is an experienced fisherman who will take you to where the fish are biting. All equipment provided. Memorable for the whole family. Reservations: 508-228-6655 (evenings: 508-257-4176). Trips at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm

8 AM - Smooth Hummocks Hike with Nantucket Walkabout Smooth Hummocks is Nantucket’s version of the Midwest’s prairies complete with rare wildflowers and grasses that thrive in sandy soil. Smooth Hummocks is a fascinating island ecosystem with much to teach. Book at WalkNantucket.com

8:30 AM - Historic Mansions of Main Street and America’s Oldest Windmill

9 to 9:45 AM - Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Assn. Aquarium

Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens. Fun for all ages. Registration required Registration Required.

9 to 9:45 AM - Ravenous Reptiles with MMA for Ages 4+

9 AM to 1 PM - Pincushions: Plain and Fancy

Make several cushions of different styles, both a freeform shape and using a vessel as the holder. Fabric and a variety of vessels are supplied to use to create your pieces. Nantucket Historical Assn Decorative Arts Program: register at nha.org

9:15 to 10 AM - Marine Storytime - Ages 3+

A marine-themed story, a live animal intro, & a related activity. Held at the MMA Aquarium, 32 Washington St. Pre-registration encouraged: MariaMitchell.org Walkins welcome if space allows. 508-228-9198 MariaMitchell.org

9:30 AM - Beading Bonanza with Barnaby’s Nantucket For Ages 2-6

Explore the art of beading. From bracelet and necklace to keychain making, kids can choose from a large variety of beads to design and create their own jewelry. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

9:30 to 10:30 AM - Kids’ Metal Detecting with Nikoline Bohr

A fun, hands-on beach adventure just for kids! Learn how to use a metal detector to hunt for hidden treasures along Nantucket’s shore. Pre-registration at MariaMitchell.org Repeats at 11am

9:45 to 10:30 AM - Free Music in the Morning

Local musician Cory Morgan performs for toddlers thru early elementary age. Bring a blanket to sit on: Atheneum Garden, 1 India St. NantucketAtheneum.org

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 AM to 1 PM - Navigation Tuesdays at the Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum Today’s family activities focus on nautical-themed fun: scavenger hunts, decoding, semaphore flag communication, or fog fun. Join staff at Nantucket Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum at 158 Polpis Rd. for this fun learning experience included with museum admission. EganMaritime.org/museum.

10:15 AM to 4:30 PM - Hands-On-History: Whale Ecology

A hands-on family programming at the Whaling Museum Discovery Center. Discover the difference between toothed whales and baleen whales. Craft: Scratch Art Scrimshaw Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. nha.org

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:45 AM - Historic Downtown Walking Tour with NHA

11 AM - Pick Your Own Veggies Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

11 AM - Build & Create with Magna-Tiles! with Barnaby’s Nantucket for Ages 2-6

This new Barnaby’s class is sure to be a huge hit! Your child will be given a set of 25 Magna-Tiles and a set of special tiles that they can design using glitter, charms, gems, and beads, creating their own unique structure accessorizing with their glitter tiles. This is a great take-home project that your child can use again and again! $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 to 11:45 AM - Nature Storytime for Ages 3+

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

11:30 AM to 12 PM - Free NanPuppets at Cisco Brewery

Join Lizza Obremski for fun & stories with her amazing animal friends. For ages 27. Cisco Brewery, 5 Bartlett Farm Road.

11:45 AM - The Westender Tour with Island Tours

12:30 to 1:15 PM - Somatic Yoga at the Atheneum

Practice that focuses on slow, mindful movements. Space is limited! Register at NantucketAtheneum.org

1 PM - Trivia Tuesdays

Weekly family trivia fun: one of the many free, family-friendly events & activities presented by the Town of Nantucket at Children’s Beach, Harbor View Way.

2 PM - Beechwood Farm Loop with Nantucket Walkabout

This property in Polpis shares elements of maritime or coastal heathlands habitat: native tree species, meadows, & wetlands. You’ll feel you’re exploring Yoda’s home swamp planet of Dagobah from Star Wars. Book at WalkNantucket.com

2 PM - Tony Tuesdays at Shipwreck & Live Saving Museum

Join Collections Manager Tony Dumitru for a weekly artifact “show-and-tell” for teens & adults (curious kids also welcome). Tony shares fascinating stories behind unique pieces from the museum’s collection. 158 Polpis Road

MAP of DOWNTOWN NANTUCKET

brant point Lighthouse ▲

● NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION PROPERTIES

whaLing museum: 13 Broad Street Hear the story of Nantucket over 4 centuries with rotating exhibits in 9 galleries. Daily programs, films, & a stunning view of town from the rooftop. Open from 10am.

oLdest house: 16 Sunset Hill Built in 1686; restored in 1990. 11am-4pm Wed.-Sat. June 14-Sept. 4.

greater Light: 8 Howard Street Built in the 1790s & transformed into a stunning whimsical summer home in the 1920s, this is home to the NHA Decorative Arts Program. 11am-4pm Wed-Sat. June 14-Sept. 4.

hadwen house: 96 Main Street This Greek Revival mansion built in 1846 is the only mansion of its era onisland open to the public. Exhibits include Nantucket Lightship Baskets, maps, and decorative arts. Open 11am-4pm May 27-Sept. 4.

oLd miLL: 50 Prospect St The oldest functioning mill in the USA, built in 1746. 11am- 4pm Wed.-Sat. June 14Sept. 4.

oLd gaoL: 15R Vestal Street Constructed of massive oak timbers with iron bolts & iron rods across the windows. The heavy wooden doors are reinforced with iron. 11am- 4pm Wed.-Sat. June 14-Sept. 4. Please visit nha.org for hours, tours, ticket prices, and additional information.

shipwreck & Lifesaving museum: 158 Polpis Road eganmaritime.org Learn the dramatic history of Nantucket’s shipwrecks, lifesaving, and rescuers. Family activities. Free shuttle to the museum from Visitor Services downtown runs June 23-Oct. 3.. Beautiful property at Folger’s Marsh open for picnics. Open through October 13.

▲ OTHER HISTORICAL POINTS OF INTEREST

brant point Lighthouse: 2 Easton St First erected in 1746, America's second oldest lighthouse and at 26 feet tall, the shortest in New England.

nantucket atheneum: 1 India St The island’s public library was built in 1847 and is filled with art & artifacts as well as books, periodicals, digital materials. Children’s section, reading room, & public garden. Open Mon.-Sat. pacific cLub: Lower Main St Built in 1772 by whaling merchant William Rotch, this is the only 18th century brick building still standing on-island. Quarterboard on the front lists names of 3 notable ships of Rotch: 2 in the Boston Tea Party and

the first ship to fly the American flag in London. first congregationaL church: 62 Centre St Built in 1725 & moved to this site in 1765. Open for services. Climb the tower for a view of town & the harbor. st mary’s church: 3 Federal St Built in 1897. Open for services.

unitarian church: 11 Orange St Built in 1809. Houses the town clock & 1810 Portuguese Bell. Open for services. three bricks: 93, 95 & 97 Main Street Identical brick mansions built 1836-38 by whaling merchant Joseph Starbuck for his sons. Now privately owned.

soLdiers & saiLors monument: Upper Main Street Built in 1875, this obelisk bears the names of 73 island men who died in the Civil War.

st pauL’s church: 20 Fair St Founded in 1838. Rebuilt in 1901 with Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows. Church is open daily for visits and for Sunday services. methodist church: 2 Centre St Built in 1831. Open for services.

african meeting house: 29 York Street Built in 1827, the only public building constructed & occupied by African Americans in the 19th century still standing on-island.

Rainbow Reminiscence

from page 12

she had a pronounced tendency to root and plunge, and with a following sea one had to take care, lest her bow go under. I remember a story the family laughed about every time we got together: My mother had a sailing date with a young man and was trying very hard to make an impression. They took the “Flapper” (Gennett’s Rainbow) out for an afternoon sail. Mother wore a fashionable, albeit inappropriate outfit; a very white wool dress and white wool tennis sweater. It seems they had a fine time sailing down-harbor before a prevailing southwest wind. At some point they must have attempted a jibe and turned turtle. I guess the sight of my mother sitting atop the upturned bottom of the craft dressed in white wool must have indeed been memorable to her rescuers…none other than the Nantucket Coast Guard, over-equipped in a self-righting surfboat. Adding insult to injury, the red bottom paint from the “Flapper,” had spread itself all over Mother’s very fashionable outfit.

I can’t be sure what specifically went wrong during my mother’s cruise, but if all the aforementioned problems were not enough, there were constant troubles with board, rabbit, and keelson. Before launching in the summer, caulking problems usually made it frustratingly easy to look through her garboard planking to her keel.

My family loved the “Flapper” and all the children raced her during her years, including Gennett himself. On good days they all would climb aboard the little beamy craft and head out to second point or pull up on Coatue for a picnic lunch and lots of swimming. It was not unusual to catch an errant bluefish while trolling lazily outside the jetties.

Over the years the “Big Rainbows” as they came to be called, proved much too much trouble to maintain, and a bit inflexible to the many conditions Nantucket weather could muster. As Robert Minshall put it: although she had her defenders, her detractors outweighed and outnumbered them, and her death knell was sounded with the introduction of the “Beatle Cat” or “Baby Rainbow.”

Editor’s Note: This Sunday morning, August 17, spectators can watch the Nantucket Rainbow Fleet sail close to the shore at Brant Point. The “parade” begins around 9 am, but we recommend you arrive early.

barnaby’s is a toy store & art studio for kids of all ages!

Summer Art Classes Daily! Check out our class schedule at barnabysworld.com

Drop-in and create any time of day!

Great toys & gi s! Activities for beach, park, playground, & home! open daily

12 oak street • 508-901-1793

barnabysworld.com info@barnabysworld.com

Tall Ship LYNX

America’s Privateer

The Lynx is where history and tradi on meet today’s world, an adventure for all genera ons of friends and family. Nantucket's Tall Ship Lynx, a na onal treasure here in our harbor.

Sail with us and experience days gone by!

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Provide: • An experienced certified captain

• All tackle, equipment and bait

• Lessons, if needed

Vintage Fashion Meets Fine Wine

“Edwin [Claflin] and I had an opportunity to buy 16 Federal and we jumped at the chance. It’s a beautiful building on one of Nantucket’s best streets. We love the space, and we’re getting better foot traffic.” And it has the space to include Mór Wine within the shop.

The vintage side of Commonwealth continues to thrive on its selective curation process. “We are fortunate that our clientele has excellent taste!” Harkness notes. “We are selective about what we take in order to create a very curated shopping experience for our clientele.” Currently, the store features a standout piece that exemplifies this approach: a Hermès Birkin bag in Chevre Mysore “which has an amazing texture and is a very hard-to-find Hermès leather.” The timing was ideal, as Jane Birkin’s original bag went up for auction with Sotheby’s in Paris in July, “which I think makes this bag very of the moment.”

The addition of Mór Wine represents an well-paired expansion that transforms Commonwealth from a single-focus boutique into a lifestyle destination. The concept emerged from a partnership with Edwin Claflin, a longtime friend and fellow business owner who proposed the idea in 2023.

“He and I have been friends for a long time. We have watched each other grow our businesses over the years, and we have a mutual respect for how we operate our businesses and how we strive to contribute to our community,” explained Eileen. “I think it was easy to look at how beloved and successful Current Vintage was and imagine that we could give the community a similar shopping experience.”

Their collaboration follows a “divide and conquer” approach, with each partner bringing their expertise to different aspects of the business while maintaining collaborative decision-making. Edwin and Eileen, now business partners, “have worked hard over the last year to make it happen! We are technically operating two shops within one space.”

Mór Wine focuses on bringing a unique selection of wines and liquors to the island, positioning itself as a destination where customers can “seek out favorites but also try something new.” Claflin selects the wines, whiskeys, and bourbons,

continued on page 19

Sports Fishing on the “Herbert T” Slip 14, Straight Wharf, Nantucket, Ma. Day Time: 508-228-6655 Evenings: 508-257-4176

• Your catch, cleaned, packaged and ready to take home.

Four Trips Daily - 7am, 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Fully Licensed - Fully Insured

$150 per person (2 person minimum) FishNantucket.net

Private Charters Available $650 - up to 6 persons

Island Treasures Consignment & Thrift

Clothing for Women, Men, Kids Housewares | Art | Linens

Jewelry - New & Vintage Nantucket Photos, Posters, Art, Books, and Memorabilia

Open Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm Saturday 10am-2pm

128 Old South Road

Convenient bus stop nearby 508-228-0789

as that is where his experience lies. Even though they bring different expertise to the shop, Harkness added,”we are a team and do consult each other on most things...We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback. People are excited!”

Commonwealth strives to maintain its identity as a fun, energetic, and distinctive place to shop while accommodating both fashion hunters and wine enthusiasts. The goal is to create an environment where customers might come in with interest in one area but discover something unexpected in the other. “We've had a lot of husband-wife couples coming in and saying, ‘I love it! Something for me, something for her,’” highlighting how the dual concept serves diverse interests within the same store.

The store’s event programming reflects its dual nature and commitment to community engagement. Wine tastings every Friday from 4-7 pm provide regular opportunities for customers to explore new selections, while “sip n shop” popups with other local businesses and organizations create collaborative experiences throughout the summer season. This Friday, August 15, the tasting will feature Sauvignon Blanc & Sancerre.

Looking ahead, plans are in the works to host some wine dinners at Òran Mór Bistro, where Edwin Claflin is Chef/Owner, that will highlight the connection between Òran Mór and Mór Wine.

As a seasonal operation running from April through December, Commonwealth Nantucket and Mor Wine have time to assess and adapt their concept based on customer response and community needs. “Edwin and I have a lot of ideas about how to grow it and how to have some fun with some different concepts and various events,” Harkness revealed “I think we will see what people are looking for over the next year or so, and that will influence what direction we go.”

By combining two distinct but complementary retail experiences under one roof, Commonwealth offers “all your favorite things in one place”—a dual experience concept that is resonating strongly with locals and visitors to the island.

and released more than 200 sandbar sharks, and her tagging studies reveal patterns of habitat use and residency, providing insights into why these sharks are drawn to certain parts of the island and how long they tend to stay.

Collatos’ research on sandbar shark movement and behavior may also provide cues about shifts in the local ecosystem. If ocean temperatures in the Nantucket Sound continue rising over the next five to ten years, she suggests their migration matters could change—with sharks arriving earlier, staying later, or traveling farther north. In a recent article for On the Water magazine, she describes sandbar sharks as “valuable bioindicators of the health and stability of our local marine environment.”

Warming waters are already beginning to influence which species appear near Nantucket, according to Chisholm, with sightings of typically southern sharks like spinners and black tips becoming more common.

Using rod-and-reel techniques that mirror those used by recreational anglers, Collatos can also assess how the sharks fare after being caught and released. This helps researchers better understand post-release mortality, a critical factor for conservation in areas with heavy recreational fishing activity.

This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is conducting a population survey to assess the current status of the species.

Sandbar sharks were heavily overfished in the ‘80s and ‘90s, primarily for their fins, Collatos explained, leading to an 80% population decline. Federal protections enacted in 2008, which banned retention of the species once caught, helped initiate a slow but steady recovery. This year’s stock assessment is expected to provide a clearer picture of how far they’ve come.

White sharks, too, have seen a rebound over the last 10 to 15 years, according to Ashleigh Novak, Research Coordinator at AWSC.

She points to a combination of protections that made recovery possible: federal listing of white sharks as a prohibited species as well as the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which helped gray seal populations rebound and restore the sharks’ food supply.

“It’s a conservation success story,” Novak commented.

Despite their often-misunderstood reputation, sharks play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ocean ecosystem. As apex predators, they keep mid-level fish populations in check and support the stability of species further down the food chain.

And while sandbar sharks are at the top of the marine food chain, they are not known to be aggressive to humans. “They are not affiliated with unprovoked at-

continued on page 24

Order an Island Tradition... Cakes & cupcakes for all occasions! Or stop in for cookies, muffins, donuts & more!

Open Monday 6:30am-1pm Tuesday-Saturday 6:30am-4:30pm

17-1/2 Old South Rd nantucketbakeshop.com 508.228.2797

A Dedicated Ranger

from page 5

where—plovers, sanderlings, willets—it was so cool!”

Spruce is an accomplished photographer. Great Point serves as a perfect artist pallet for him. “As a kid I had a 110 camera. Remember those, with the funny little film packs? Next was a starter Pentax 35 mm. As I got older, I wasn’t into the nightlife as much as getting up early and taking pictures. Now it’s birding and photography that do it for me!”

There’s a hidden side to Spruce that he doesn’t much talk about but I sure will. When things get tough, Spruce is one of the first people to step up and help out. He’s been the point man for a lot of the Red Cross events on the island. Spruce will get things set up quickly if a storm results in evacuations. He works tirelessly to help out those in need. He is quick to donate a photography shoot for a charity auction. As a great former Nantucket resident Fred Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’

To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers, so many caring people in this world.” Burton Balkind is one of those helpers. He makes the fabric of Nantucket so much stronger.

Spruce remains an adventurer. He has a ten-day trip to Cook Inlet, Alaska scheduled for this September. “Alaska is my 50th state to visit!” He’s also contemplating a drive out west for some snowboarding “…for a month or two.” Last year, Spruce took his snowboard

Urgent Access

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Urgent Access at Nantucket Cottage Hospital provides walk-in medical care for non-life-threatening conditions.

Urgent Access is located in the Anderson Building on the hospital campus at 57 Prospect Street, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Visit nantuckethospital.org/urgentaccess for more information.

and travelled to Japan. “I was lucky, lucky, lucky to go there. I went to Hokkaido, an island in the northern part of Japan. It’s the least populated and has the most nature. You know how islands are! Japan was amazing. The food was so affordable. I ran into a bunch of Nantucket kids, and we got together for an amazing dinner. It cost $84 for the entire group! I rented a car and went around on my own. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip!”

Spruce told me, “I have roots on Nantucket but branches everywhere else. Montana, Costa Rica, everywhere.” Nantucket is a better place for having Spruce here. He embodies another Fred Rogers quote: “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” Based upon this scale, Burton Balkind has achieved ultimate success. I’m glad to know him. He makes Nantucket a better place.

Steve “Tuna” Tornovish is a Nantucket native who has spent his life fishing from the beaches of his beloved island. He loves to introduce clients to the joy of fishing with his Nantucket Island Fishing Adventures: stevetuna.com

photo by Burton “Spruce” Balkind

The Nature of August

from page 7

base to tip with a pungent sweet smell. Loved by pollinators, the drone of bees accompanies the fragrant air. Pepperbush grows along the edges of many of our island trails. See if you can smell it before you see it.

On the drier side, sweet fern is also at its most pungent. This small shrub is actually not a fern at all, but it’s leaves resemble fronds. Walking along a sweet fern-lined path in the moors, the scent is in the air, especially when disturbed by my dog’s snout. As the name indicates, it’s a little spicey and sweet.

Another scented plant I love in August is our common bayberry. The leaves smell when crushed, but the nutlets (the bayberries themselves) are ripening now and carry the scent of bayberry with them. These tiny nutlets are an important food source for migratory birds like Tree Swallows and YellowRumped Warblers. The gray/blue “berries” will hold on into the late fall and early winter, as long as they aren’t eaten and are, thus, an important resource as other late summer fruits are gone. The Bayberry’s waxy coating has also been used traditionally to make and scent candles. Remember that you have to look for the female plant for the berries; Bayberries are dioecious, meaning there are male plants and female plants, with only the females bearing fruit.

Continuing a walk into woodlands this weekend, I noticed more than a little red in the color palette. The summer drought continues on-island and, now that it’s August, some species have decided to go dormant early. Rather than waiting for fall for the color show, some deciduous species like Virginia creeper,

poison ivy, and low bush blueberry have begun to turn red now, likely dropping leaves in early fall. It’s a way for a woody plant to deal with drought stress. It can be an “eye spy” along a trail as you look for crimson leaves.

Hopefully we’ll get some rain soon to extend our season. It’s a great time to go for a walk and see nature in August. Hold on to it as long as you can! I, for one, am going to try and enjoy August and savor rather than mourn these waning days of summer.

Low bush blueberry photo by Sarah T. Bois

tacks,” said Collatos, explaining that ‘unprovoked’ refers to cases where a person is simply swimming and not interacting with the shark in any way.

“You just look at how many people are in the water every year, every day during the summertime, and how few incidents we do have,” said Chisholm. “But that being said, we have had incidents, and people have to respect that they're going into the sharks’ world when they go in the water, and they need to take appropriate measures to make sure they’re safe.”

He said one of the biggest misconceptions is that sharks are actively looking to bite humans. “And they’re really not—they’re for the most part not interested in us at all,” he added.

New technologies are helping scientists get a shark’s-eye view of what really goes on beneath the surface. AWSC uses camera tags attached to the sharks’ musculature that record underwater footage and movement via accelerometer.

“Ninety-five percent of the time, they’re just swimming,” Novak said. “They’re not mindless eating machines out there.”

Being “shark smart” means checking the Sharktivity app, avoiding areas with visible baitfish or seals, swimming in groups close to shore, and avoiding excessive splashing. If a shark is spotted, lifeguards follow strict protocols.

Nantucket harbormaster Sheila Lucey explained that when a shark is confirmed within the swim zone, the beach is closed for two hours, and if the shark is outside the swim zone, the beach closes for one hour. The shark flag is raised, alerts go out via ATVs to other unguarded beaches, and notifications are issued through social media and local radio.

During the month of July, a number of beach closures have occurred due to confirmed sightings. With 60 lifeguards rotating across the island’s beaches, coverage is strong.

“They’re asking you to get out of the water for your own safety,” Lucey said, “and we’re just trying to keep everyone safe.”

Advances in technology are transforming tagging data into concrete safety insights, helping researchers and the public better understand how to coexist in shared waters.

“One of the tagging technologies showed that when [great white] sharks are here and present, they’re spending about 50% of their time in water 15 feet or less,” said Novak.

This kind of information is crucial for developing effective beach safety guidelines and educating the public about when and where sharks are most likely to be present.

On July 16, OCEARCH teamed up with the Nantucket Triathlon and Cisco Brewers to host the White Shark After Party—an event for the local community to support important research, complete with live music and craft beer.

“We’ve had the privilege of working alongside the Nantucket fishing and marine communities for years. Their support has been invaluable to our research, particularly in understanding the migratory patterns and behavior of white sharks in the North West Atlantic,” said Chris Fischer, OCEARCH’s founder, who was present at the event.

Jay Harman, CEO of Cisco Brewers, shared in a statement the inspiration behind the collaboration: “Years ago, we wanted to create something special that honored OCEARCH’s incredible work in shark research, and Nantucket’s role in this scientific journey,” explained Harman. “Our Shark Tracker Light Lager was born out of that vision—celebrating the sharks that visit our waters and the people dedicated to protecting them. We’re thrilled to continue this partnership with OCEARCH and the Nantucket Triathlon to bring the community together for this important cause.”

NANTUCKET ISLAND

Nantucket Island is just about 14 miles by 3-1/2 miles, and there are miles of bike paths to nearly every area. This means that riding a bicycle is one of the best ways to get around our island. Follow the QR code to discover miles of bike paths, where to rent bikes, biking tips, and where to ﬁ nd water stations along the way.

NANTUCKET ISLAND BEACHES

NORTH SHORE AND HARBOR BEACHES

40th Pole: Great for families and young children, but no lifeguards. On Nantucket Sound; warm water during July, August and September inspired nickname “The Bathtub” for area nearby. Parking. Best access via 4WD vehicle.

Dionis: 3 miles from town by bike on the north side of Eel Point Rd off Madaket Road. Look for the boulder marked “Dionis.” Sheltered by dunes, calm waters for swimming, safe for children; restrooms, & parking. Beachgoers can take NRTA shuttle bus to Eel Point Rd stop & walk.

Steps: Between Dionis and Jetties beaches; access from Cliff Road. No lifeguard, no facilities, very little parking. Gentle surf; sandbar. Many steep steps must be descended to get to the beach.

Jetties: Easy bike ride from town, or take the shuttle bus. Great beach for families. Lifeguards, changing rooms, playground, volleyball nets, restrooms, showers, public phones, restaurant and take-out food service. Concession and restrooms handicap accessible; boardwalk to the beach. Tennis. Windsurfing, sailboat, and kayak rentals. Shuttle service from town to Jetties Beach is available seasonally.

Brant Point: Easy walk or bike ride from town. No lifeguard. Strong current; experienced swimmers; beach drops off suddenly under the water. Scenic beach with Brant Point Lighthouse; nice to sit and watch the boats rounding the point. Here is where to go to wave goodbye to friends and family departing on the Steamship.

Children’s: Harbor Beach, an easy walk from town down So. Beach Street and off Harbor View Way. Flotation devices are not permitted within the guarded area. Ideal for small children; park, playground, and bandstand; lifeguard, restrooms, showers, food service, picnic tables. Food, playground, and rest room are all accessible. Activities sponsored by Park & Recreation Commission are often held at this beach during the summer.

Francis Street: Five-minute walk from Main Street. Calm harbor waters for swimming; no lifeguard. Jungle gym, kayak rentals, bathroom.

SOUTH SHORE - OCEAN BEACHES

Cisco Beach: Four-mile bike ride to end of Hummock Pond Road. Heavy surf; lifeguard. No facilities. Parking. Rip currents can be strong.

Ladies Beach: To access, turn left at the end of Bartlett Farm Road. No facilities; no lifeguard. Limited parking. Rip current can be strong; heavy surf.

Miacomet Beach: at the end of Miacomet Road. Some parking. Surf and rip currents can be strong on the ocean side. No facilities or food service. This beach is near Miacomet Pond, but the pond is currently closed due to harmful algae.

South Shore Beach: at the end of South Shore Rd. Limited parking; difficult to access beach, 4WD is advisable. No lifeguard; no facilities.

Surfside: Located at the end of Surfside Road, a three-mile ride on paved bike path or take the shuttles. Easy to park. Plenty of surf, wide beach is good for picnics, beach games, and surfcasting. Kite flying west of Surfside Beach is acceptable; for safety reasons, please do not fly kites east of Surfside toward the airport. Due to the number of people who frequent Surfside Beach during the day, it is inadvisable to fly kites during the peak beachgoing hours. Lifeguard, restrooms, showers, public phones, food service. Shuttle service from town to Surfside Beach is available seasonally.

Fisherman’s Beach: Located between Surfside Beach and Nobadeer. No parking; Beach access via steep wooden steps. Plenty of surf, wide beach is good for picnics, beach games, and surfcasting. No lifeguard; no facilities.

Nobadeer: Located near the airport. Limited parking; difficult to access beach. Plenty of surf, wide beach is good for picnics, beach games, and surfcasting. No lifeguard; no facilities.

Madequecham: Land Bank property at the end of Madequecham Valley Road; rough sand road. Parking. No facilities; no lifeguards. Rip current can be strong; heavy surf.

Tom Nevers (“Pebble Beach“): Surf can be heavy; very coarse sand. No lifeguard; no facilities. Good for fishing. Strong rip currents; heavy surf. Access to the beach can be difficult.

WESTERN SHORE - OCEAN BEACHES

Madaket: As far west as you can go, six-mile bike ride on scenic, paved bike path, or take the shuttle bus. Heavy surf, lifeguard, restrooms. Famous for its incredible sunsets.

EASTERN SHORE - OCEAN BEACHES

Siasconset: Regular shuttle bus service or seven-mile ride on paved bike path. Surf can be heavy; lifeguard. Food available in nearby village of ’Sconset. Low Beach: 4WD access. Surf can be heavy; no lifeguard.

BAY & POND BEACHES

Miacomet Pond: This fresh water pond is currently closed due to harmful algae. Pocomo Beach: Great for kayaking and to learn to windsurf. Just west of the Head of the Harbor. Good for children. No lifeguards, no facilities.

Eel Point: Good for fishing and watching the sunset. No lifeguard; no facilities. Limited parking. Rip currents can be strong.

Coskata-Coatue and Great Point: at the end of Wauwinet Road, past The Wauwinet Inn. Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge managed by Trustees of Reservations; beach sticker required for vehicles from Trustees of Reservations. Great for fishing and for seeing Great Point Lighthouse up close. Rolling dunes, bayberry, beach plum, heather, and beach grass. Salt marsh and maritime shrubland. The largest red cedar savanna and woodland in New England. Gray and harbor seals. Public restrooms available at the lighthouse Memorial Day-Columbus Day. Sections of the refuge are sometimes closed to protect nesting shorebirds. Dogs permitted only from Sept. 16 thru March 31 and must be leashed at all times. Guided tours with Trustee naturalists offered in-season. Seasonal hunting permitted. For more details, go to www.TheTrustees.org Property Lookup.

Sesachacha Pond: off Polpis Road. Great for families; warm water; no facilities; no lifeguard. Parking. Near the Audubon Sesachacha Heathlands and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Leave only footprints...

BEACH SAFETY

•Learn to swim. If you can’t swim an overhead stroke for at least 15 minutes you should not be in the ocean. •Never swim alone. Always swim with a buddy, and swim near a lifeguard whenever possible. •Stay out of the “surf zone” where the waves break at the shoreline. Waves are at their greatest force here, and even a small wave can lift you up and throw you headfirst into the sand. •Never run from the beach into the water and dive headfirst into the waves. Sandbars that cannot be seen from the surface may be present and/or the water may be too shallow. •Don’t jump or dive into the water from a pier or rock jetty. From a pier or jetty, water appears much deeper than it really is. What looks like 10 or 20 feet of water may only be 2 to 3 feet deep. Diving in could be fatal. The same applies for jumping headfirst into the ocean or a wave from a surfboard – don’t do it! It’s not a risk worth taking. •If you are body surfing or boogie boarding, always keep your arms out in front of you to protect your head and neck. •A rip current will pull you away from the shore, but it will not pull you under. If you’re caught in a rip current, do not swim toward the shore! Instead, swim parallel to the shore, until you’re out of the rip current. Then, swim in to shore. •Never drink alcohol or use drugs at the beach. It clouds your ability to make wise decisions, and that could be fatal! •Take direction from lifeguards at all times.

Island Fun & Shopping

Adventure / Eco-Tours

Nantucket by Water

A Variety of Boat Tours for All Ages

look … see you soon! Don’t miss our SIDEWALK SALE with deep discounts — August 14-17: Thurs.-Sat. from 10 am to 6 pm & Sun. 11 am to 5 pm. shop.saracampbell.com

Serenella Nantucket

508-228-7037

Straight Wharf, Slip #1011

Call or visit us on Straight Wharf for your Island Adventure NANTUCKET by WATER (formerly Shearwater Excursions) is a local family-run company dedicated to providing unique tours and cruises to individuals and families of all age groups. From small kids to grandparents, NBW has trips that cater to your needs and taste for adventure. Whether you take a leisurely tour around Nantucket Harbor, or a longer adventure exploring the wildlife sanctuary of Coatue or visiting the unique 5th Bend Oyster Farm, Nantucket By Water promises an exceptional experience. nantucketbywater.com

Nantucket Walkabout

see website for hikes & times

Book online & meet at Handlebar Cafe, 15 Washington St

Daily Guided Wilderness Hikes on Nantucket

508-228-3400

Open for the 2025 Season 9 South Beach Street Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Fine Jewelry

Heralded by Elle Magazine as one of the top 50 boutiques in the world and consistently voted Best of Boston, SERENELLA offers the best of ready-to-wear, accessories, and fine jewelry from around the globe. For the 2025 season, we are pleased to welcome the world of Thom Browne presented exclusively at SERENELLA, featuring the house’s innovative and distinctive designs. In addition, experience a curated selection from established and emerging designers for women, including Balmain, Barrie, Carolina Herrera, Dubini, Giambattista Valli, God’s True Cashmere, High Sport, Kiton, Orly Marcel, and more. serenellausa.com

Artists & Galleries

Artists Association of Nantucket

508-422-7466

Explore Nantucket’s wilderness with “Walking Nantucket” and “Nantucket: A Natural History” author and naturalist Peter Brace, and learn how the last glacier formed the island. Experience wildlife and rare plants. Learn about Nantucket’s conservation efforts, ecology and the Native Americans that lived here. Adults $65-80; children ages 13 & younger $30. Private hikes available. Apple Pay, Android Pay, MC, Visa, Amex, & Discover accepted. Get details & make reservations at nantucketwalkabout.com or 508-422-7466. nantucketwalkabout.com

Apparel & Accessories

Blue Beetle

508-228-3227

Open Daily 12 Main Street

Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, Gifts

Located at 12 Main Street, BLUE BEETLE reflects the playfulness and elegance of island living. We strive to provide a collection of carefully curated clothing, jewelry, gifts and accessories that portray the summer lifestyle on Nantucket. The boutique is filled with modern, chic, and contemporary fashions to suit every occasion. We proudly sell Joules, Jude Connally, Captiva Cashmere, Lilla P and MZ Wallace. Known for our Nantucket Jewelry, there is something for everyone; beads to fit Pandora, rings, bracelets and of course our charm bar, where you can create your own unique island necklace. Shop year round in store or visit us online at BlueBeetleNantucket.com

Commonwealth

508-228-0294

Sidewalk Art Show 2: Aug. 16 In-Person Gallery & Online Exhibits 10x10 Exhibit thru Sept. 1 at Federal Gallery

Hale Juried Exhibit thru Aug. 25 in Big Gallery

The mission of the ARTISTS ASSOCIATION OF NANTUCKET is to foster the visual arts on Nantucket. They create a vibrant arts community by promoting, supporting, and encouraging the work of Nantucket artists, providing educational programs in the arts, and preserving the legacy of Nantucket artists. AAN has two in-town galleries: the new Federal Gallery at 8 Federal Street, where you can see a range of works, including oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, mixed media, ceramics, and photography. Through September 1, this gallery exhibit is 10 x 10. In The Big Gallery, upstairs at 12 Straight Wharf, you can see the Hale Juried Exhibition through August 25. In VAC on Amelia Drive, Champion Showcase #5 will be on display thru August 29. Stay in touch at nantucketarts.org for a schedule of downtown Gallery Exhibits. Visit AAN’s online gallery at sales.nantucketarts.org to view regularly changing exhibitions of fresh, original artwork from iconic Nantucket artists. nantucketarts.org

G. S. Hill Gallery

508-228-1353

Open Daily 10 am to 5 pm 40 Straight Wharf Oils, watercolors, prints, and note cards by G. S. Hill

G. S. HILL’s one-man gallery is open daily. For more than three decades, Greg’s original oil and watercolor paintings have captured the image, spirit, and soul of Nantucket. The gallery also offers giclees and miniatures, plus exclusive American-made gifts designed by Greg and Judi Hill. Stunning porcelain china dinnerware, hand-pressed glass and ornaments are only a few of treasures you will find. gshill.com

Gallery at Four India

508-680-1399

Open Daily. Visit us in the store & online! New Location at 16 Federal Street Fabulous Resale. Fresh Finds.

COMMONWEALTH is a unique resale boutique where we believe even clothes deserve a second chance. This eclectic little shop on Oak Street specializes in curating quality gently used pieces from your favorite designers. Come in to find preloved gems or bring in your gently used items to turn your closet into cash! Commonwealthnantucket.com

The Love Shack by Lola

774-325-5982

Open for the 2025 season 10 Old South Wharf Layer. Collect. Gift.

THE LOVE SHACK is located right in the heart of Nantucket’s boat basin and it is home to our entire collection of LOLA jewelry. Here you can see, touch and layer all of our pendants, chains, and bracelets that LOLA offers. It is also our inspiration for our Love Shack apparel and home goods which include t-shirts, candles, hats, glassware – everything you need that is perfect for your very own Love Shack! lolacompany.com

The Rainbow Fleet

508-680-1159

Open Monday-Saturday 10am to 5pm 167 Orange Street

Clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories

508-228-8509

Open Daily Open Daily upstairs at 4 India Street

A fine selection of art & art glass thegallerynantucket.com

THE GALLERY AT FOUR INDIA is an exhibition gallery that offers the collector an tranquil space to browse through fine collections of art. The Gallery also represents some of the finest contemporary artists known for their traditional realism. Stroll upstairs and see the new artists and works in the gallery for 2025. Opening exhibition features renown Steampunk artist Bruce Rosenbaum through May 30. THE GALLERY AT FOUR INDIA is open daily.

Susan Lister Locke Gallery

Open daily

Art and Inspired, Creative Jewelry

508-228-2132 & 508-221-0531

28A Easy Street

Banking

Cape Cod 5

888-225-4636

Open Monday-Saturday Locations at 112 Pleasant Street & Zero Main Street

We at CAPE COD FIVE are deeply committed to the communities we serve. Our dedication to serving our neighbors and local businesses and earning our customers’ trust every day has remained the same since our founding in 1855. We focus on continuously evolving to be our customers’ trusted financial partner in a rapidly changing world, offering digital tools, accessibility and sound guidance and insight to help our customers navigate their unique journeys. capecodfive.com

@therainbowfleet

Shop sustainably at THE RAINBOW FLEET, Nantucket’s year round women’s consignment boutique located mid-island near the rotary. We carefully select the best vintage, modern and designer pieces from over 450 island consignors, and steam-clean them into new life daily! From clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories to one of a kind finds from local artists, you can find your own style in our relaxed atmosphere—complete with outdoor covered shopping, dressing rooms, and, yes, ample parking! We aim to provide sustainable and affordable fashion options for all… great for the planet and your wallet too!

Sara Campbell

Open for the season

SIDEWALK SALE August 14-17

Celebrating Made in the USA every day!

508-680-1626

5 South Beach St.

SARA CAMPBELL is a women’s fashion brand rooted in timeless, feminine style, and American craftsmanship. We are a small business with a big vision—creating mindful collections in limited quantities, made in the USA. With our customers and community at the heart of everything, we believe in style that endures. Visit SARA CAMPBELL at 5 South Beach to find the perfect

Bike Rentals

Cook’s Cycle

Open Daily

Bicycle Rentals & e-Bike Rentals

508-228-0800

6 So. Beach Street, next to Affordable Rentals

Nantucket’s bike shop for all of your vacation needs here at Cook’s Cycles Nantucket we have all of the latest bikes and accessories for your beach runs, brewery tours, and beyond. Our selection of new bicycles & e-bikes in a convenient downtown Nantucket location (just a 2-minute walk from Steamboat Wharf) is great for a day of cycling. Nantucket is known for its

Island Fun & Shopping

Affordable Rentals

Car Rentals

508-228-3501

Open daily 6 South Beach Street

Cars, jeeps, mopeds

cookscyclesnantucket.com

many bike paths and trails. Whether you want to ride to Jetties Beach for a swim or take in the sights of the Sconset Loop, Cooks Cycles has the bikes for you and your family. Moped & Jeep rentals, too!

Easy Riders Bicycles

508-325-2722

Open Daily 65 Surfside Road

Bike Rentals, Sales, Service AND Electric Bikes easyridersbikerentals.com

EASY RIDERS BICYCLE RENTALS offers rentals, sales, and service, plus island-wide free delivery on all rentals and usually within an hour or so. With advanced on-line reservations, it’s the easiest way to experience Nantucket! Offering low prices and discounts on multi-day, weekly, monthly, and group rentals of top quality, new GT and Easy Riders bicycles, as well as retrostyle Schwinn Cruisers, and accessories in a variety of styles...They have the right bicycle for all of your adventures. We have electric bikes. Check out our Easy Riders brand ebikes at erbikes.com. EASY RIDERS has a safe & convenient bike path location at 65 Surfside Road.

Young’s Bicycle Shop

508-228-1151

Open daily in season 6 Broad Street

“The Cycle-logical Way to See Nantucket Island”

Harvey A Young’s Bicycle Shop started on Nantucket in 1931. When Harvey sold the business to his son, Roger, it became YOUNG’S BICYCLE SHOP. Now with over 90 years in business, the 4th generation is running YOUNG’S. The Young family and their staff provide you with the ideal rental bike for Nantucket. Their fleet of CANNONDALE and TREK bikes are well maintained, so you and your family can have a safe and enjoyable bike ride around the island. YOUNG’S also rents cars and Jeeps. Check out their website, give them a call, or stop in to see their friendly, knowledgeable staff, so they can share with you “The Cycle-logical Way to See Nantucket Island”. Reservations & delivery services available. youngsbicycleshop.com

Books & Publications

CALL NANTUCKET

508-228-9165 ext. 110

FREE DOWNLOAD - Nantucket’s searchable phone book app CallNantucket.com

The island’s “Little Black Book”

CALL NANTUCKET is the fully searchable app version of The Nantucket Directory: the island’s phone book. Not sure who to call? Browse our Yellow Pages to choose the best company for your needs! Town information in our newly redesigned White Pages. Our CALL NANTUCKET app is FREE TO DOWNLOAD. CallNantucket@gmail.com

Yesterday’s Island/Today’s Nantucket

508-228-9165

Guiding Visitors on Nantucket for 55 Years Box 626, Nantucket, MA 02554

In print & online + eNewsletter

Visit our online publication to see more articles, more photos, enter contests, and to share your impressions of Nantucket. For more than half a century, YESTERDAY’S ISLAND/TODAY’S NANTUCKET has been the best source for planning your leisure time on Nantucket Island. From Daffodil Festival through Christmas Stroll, you can pick up our print editions, available everywhere, or you can visit us online at YesterdaysIsland.com. After you leave your favorite island, you can stay in touch with the happenings here — find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram @nantucket_insider, and sign up for our free Nantucket eNewsletter — look for the link at the top of Nantucket.net Yesterdaysisland.com

Bookstores

Mitchell’s Book Corner

508-228-1080

Open Daily 54 Main Street

See the calendar for our upcoming book signings

MITCHELL’S BOOK CORNER prides itself on a long tradition of personalized attention to its customers for more than 50 years. Visit nantucketbookpartners.com for any book in print, preorders, signed copies, e-books, audio books, gift cards, staff picks, and more. If the book is “on our shelves now” we can offer next business day island home delivery for a small fee. If the book is not on-hand we can either ship it to you or order it for you. We are also happy to ship books to anywhere in the US. MITCHELL’S is open daily. nantucketbookpartners.com

Nantucket Bookworks

508-228-4000

Open Daily: books, gifts, chocolate 25 Broad Street Books, chocolates, & unique gifts

NANTUCKET BOOKWORKS is our quirky little shop chock full of books, gifts, and goodies. Visit nantucketbookpartners.com for books and nantucketbooksworks.com for the very best of Bookworks online. We have Nantucket gifts, puzzles, games, toys, art supplies, party accessories, stuffed animals, greeting cards, kids items, and so much more. And we have an enticing nook filled with amazing chocolates to buy and savor as you read your new books. We also are happy to ship anywhere in the US. For books, shop nantucketbookpartners.com. Order online or stop in to browse. BOOKWORKS is open daily. nantucketbookpartners.com

AFFORDABLE RENTALS can help make your visit on Nantucket more complete. With their cars, 4x4s, vans, and mopeds, you will have access to all parts of the island: Great Point, Wauwinet, Coatue, Squam, ‘Sconset, Madaket, and more. Explore to your heart’s content in a vehicle from AFFORDABLE RENTALS, open daily at 6 South Beach Street. Call ahead for reservations. All major credit cards accepted. affrentals.com

Young’s Bicycle Shop

Open daily in season

“The Cycle-logical Way to See Nantucket Island”

508-228-1151

6 Broad Street

Harvey A Young’s Bicycle Shop” started on Nantucket in 1931. When Harvey sold the business to his son, Roger, it became YOUNG’S BICYCLE SHOP. Now with over 90 years in business, the 4th generation is running YOUNG’S. The Young family and their staff provide you with the ideal rental bike for Nantucket AND YOUNG’S also rents cars and Jeeps. Check out their website, give them a call, or stop in to see their friendly, knowledgeable staff, so they can share with you “The Cycle-logical Way to See Nantucket Island”. Reservations & delivery services available. youngsbicycleshop.com

Charters - Sailing & Boating

Endeavor Sailing Excursions

508-228-5585

Private Charters. Per Person Fares Slip 1015, Straight Wharf Pleasure sailing

“Captain James Genthner shares his love of the Island with visitors aboard his sloop ENDEAVOR”—Ted Reinstein, CBS Good Day! Featured in Yankee Magazine’s Best of New England: “A cruise aboard the Endeavor is a lesson in beauty and local history.” “No one has done more to make sure that Nantucket’s maritime traditions are alive and well than Capt. Jim Genthner,” Nat Philbrick, author In the Heart of the Sea. The ENDEAVOR sails daily at 10 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and at sunset. They offer private charters, public sails. Gift certificates are available. Call for information and reservations. endeavorsailing.com

Nantucket by Water

508-228-7037

A Variety of Boat Tours for All Ages Straight Wharf, Slip #1011 Oyster Cruises, Ice Cream Cruises, Cocktail Cruises, Sunset Cruise, & more NANTUCKET by WATER (formerly Shearwater Excursions) is a local family-run company dedicated to providing unique tours and cruises to individuals and families of all age groups. From small kids to grandparents, NBW has trips that cater to your needs and taste for adventure. Whether you take a leisurely tour around Nantucket Harbor, or a longer adventure exploring the wildlife sanctuary of Coatue or visiting the unique 5th Bend Oyster Farm, Nantucket By Water promises an exceptional experience. nantucketbywater.com

Tall Ship Lynx

Nantucket’s Tall Ship Lynx, a national treasure here in our harbor Traditional Sailing & History in Nantucket Sound

Public Day Sails & Sunset Sails - Fun for all ages!

978-479-2197

Nantucket’s Tall Ship LYNX is offering day sails and sunset sails from Nantucket Harbor through September. They also offer charters, weddings, educational and special groups sailings. Looking for a unique venue to gather? LYNX is available for private charters... treat your family, your friend, or your colleagues to a very special day or evening: it’s an adventure for all! Nantucket’s Tall Ship LYNX is a national treasure here in our harbor. For details and reservations, contact the office @ 978.479.2197 tallshiplynx.org

Children’s Toys & Art Classes

Barnaby’s Toy & Art Shack

508-680-1553

Open with fun workshops for kids 12 Oak Street Downtown toy store & art studio for kids of all ages

BARNABY’S TOY & ART SHACK, located downtown at 12 Oak Street, just what you want fo all the kids in your life. They have a fantastic selection of crafts, books, toys, and so much more! Children can drop-in & create every day, all day! And BARNABY’S offers classes & workshops for children ages 2-13 years. All of Barnaby’s classes are taught by professional artists & educators who will guide your child’s technique and processes in our inspirational space in downtown Nantucket. For details or to register, visit BarnabysWorld.com or call 508-680-1553.When you are in Boston, visit us at our Beacon Hill location. BarnabysWorld.com

Classes & Workshops

Artists Association of Nantucket

508-228-0722

Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm Visual Arts Center, 24 Amelia Drive Classes & Workshops for all ages

The ARTISTS ASSOCIATION’s Arts Program offers year-round educational programs for adults and children. Our spacious workshop on Amelia Drive hosts a wide variety of classes and work-

Island Fun & Shopping

shops in many media including oil painting, watercolor, pastel, life drawing, ceramics, printmaking, textile art and mixed media. Our instructors are resident artists, AAN artist members and a variety of visiting artists who work in a range of mediums and bring a wealth of talent and experience to the program. Classes are designed for all levels of experience, from the novice to advanced and for all ages. nantucketarts.org

Maria Mitchell Association

508-228-9198

Summer Programs for All Open Nights at Loines Observatory, Walks, Workshops, Lectures, Storytime & more Science center, aquarium, museums, & programs for all Join MARIA MITCHELL ASSN professional astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky. MMA staff will guide you in viewing astronomical objects through our historic 8inch Alvan Clark refractor and our modern 24-inch research telescope. Get a chance to view the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and even other galaxies! In addition, MMA experts offer classes, workshops, nature tours, and so much more! mariamitchell.org

Confections

Aunt Leah’s Fudge

Open daily

Made fresh on Nantucket

508-228-1017

The Courtyard, 16 Straight Wharf

AUNT LEAH has been making her award-winning homemade fudge for three decades on Nantucket. Her fudge has been voted “the best fudge in the world” year after year. Once you try her fudge, you’ll see why it is always rated the best! AUNT LEAH makes it daily in her shop, using the freshest and finest ingredients. She has more than 40 scrumptious flavors. Her most popular fudge flavor is chocolate peanut butter, which has a layer of rich peanut butter fudge on the bottom, topped with a layer of decadent chocolate fudge. AUNT LEAH also has her famous chocolate-covered cranberries. The cranberries come in both milk and dark chocolate or a mixture of both. Both the fudge and chocolate-covered cranberries make unique island wedding favors or gifts for special events. auntleahs.com

Consignment & Thrift Shops

Commonwealth

508.680.1399

Visit us in the store and online! New Location at 16 Federal Street

Fabulous Resale. Fresh Finds.

Island Treasures

Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm & Sat. 10am-2pm

New & used clothes, housewares, jewelry, & more

508-228-0789

128 Old South Road

Looking to expand your wardrobe on a budget or need some items for your home at affordable prices? ISLAND TREASURES is the perfect place to shop! Here you’ll find a great selection of new and gently used clothing for women, men, and kids, jewelry, housewares, small furnishings, books, art, beach toys, kids toys, and so much more. There’s an ever-changing variety, so visit often — you never know what treasures you may discover. Find us in Hanabea Shopping Center, off Old South Road. There’s a convenient NRTA bus stop nearby!

The Rainbow Fleet

Open Monday-Saturday 10am to 5pm

Clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories

508-680-1159

167 Orange Street

Island Fun & Shopping

Contests

ACK Happy Summer Contest

Win a $100 gift card to Cisco Brewers Instagram.com/nantucket_insider

ENTER TODAY: Deadline is August 27, 2025

YOU CAN WIN $100 gift card to spend at Cisco Brewers.

~ Follow us on Instagram.com/nantucket_insider

~ Like the new ACK Happy post

~ Comment what you like about Nantucket

~ Tag 3 Friends

Enter each time you see the ACK Happy post to increase your chances of winning!

NANTUCKET PHOTO CONTEST

508-228-9165

Deadline is Sept. 12, 2025 - CASH PRIZES Box 626, Nantucket, MA 02554

See winners & entries online at Nantucket.net

ENTER EARLY & OFTEN! This annual photo contest is a popular way to share your photos of Nantucket with the world. Winners of previous contests are online at The Insider’s Guide to Nantucket: nantucket.net. The 2025 Contest has begun: DEADLINE TO ENTER IS SEPTEMBER 12, 2025. We accept copyright-free images of Nantucket present and past. Email your high resolution photo entries to ACKPhotoContest@gmail.com or mail us a CD or thumb drive with electronic images from your digital camera. Please make sure your digital images are highresolution. Visit Nantucket.net to see a great selection past entries and winners. nantucket.net/photo-contest-entry

Copying, Mailboxes, Shipping

The UPS Store

508-325-8884

Open Monday - Saturday 61 Old South Road Locally owned and operated Nantucket’s UPS STORE is in spacious quarters at 61 Old South Road and offers a variety of products and services to make your life easier: personal mailboxes, mail forwarding, UPS shipping and receiving, overnight delivery, and more. THE UPS STORE offers a wide variety of copy and print services, including b&w and color copies, output from disks, wide format printing, laminating, collating, and a full range of finishing services. You can even go there for notary services, passport photos, and mail boxes. THE UPS STORE makes high quality, full color banners and posters! Plenty off-street parking. THE UPS STORE: let them help you!

Employment

TSA Is Hiring

at Nantucket Memorial Airport

Join TSA and earn a sign-on bonus! TSA is hiring for Nantucket Memorial Airport. U.S. citizenship required. Positions start at $32.20 per hour and include great Federal benefits, including health insurance, shift differentials, retirement plans, paid on-the-job training, and more. Apply now at jobs.tsa.gov or click the QR code in our display ad. jobs.tsa.gov

Family Fun

Family Activities @ Children’s Beach

508-228-0925

Activities & Fun at Children’s Beach thru mid-August at Children’s Beach Fun & games for children and families

Children’s Beach, located at the end of Harbor View Way, is the perfect park for families and children. Through mid-August, the Town of Nantucket’s Culture & Tourism department sponsors fun for everyone. Free NanPuppet shows with Lizza Saturdays at 10 am, and live music! See our display ad, check the events calendar, and visit our website for details. nantucket-ma.gov/childrensbeach

Fishing Charters

Herbert T. Day: 508-228-6655

Daily: 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm. Call for Reservations Slip 14, Straight Wharf

Trolling “Catch those Blues and Bass!”

Make sure you don’t miss the fishing while you’re here on Nantucket! The HERBERT T sport fishing boat will take you to where the blues are biting. Captain Fred Tonkin is an experienced fisherman and will provide you with all the equipment for up to six people to fish at one time. He takes four 2-1/2-hour trips a day: 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm, and the fishing starts just 15 minutes from the dock. The HERBERT T is fully licensed and insured and is fully equipped electronically. While you’re on Nantucket, do as the islanders do - catch some blues! $150 per person (minimum of 2 people). Private charters are also available for $650 - up to 6 persons. fishnantucket.net

Gifts

Hill’s of Nantucket

508-228-1353

Open Daily 10 am to 5 pm. 40 Straight Wharf

Unique & Original Nantucket Theme Gifts

Established in 1981, HILL’S combines the best of Nantucket for the art and gift seeker. G.S. Hill Gallery and Hill’s of Nantucket offer fine art by Greg Hill and wonderful speciality gifts designed by this husband-and-wife team. Nantucket theme prints, note cards by Hill are their main focus. American made; that hard-to-find gift is here waiting for you! Treat yourself to a unique gift gallery from HILL’S. gshill.com

It’s A Shore Thing

Open Daily

Distinctive Nantucket Gifts

508-680-1901

30B Main Street

At IT’S A SHORE THING, we are proud to carry products made in New England. Come in and browse through our wide selection of gifts including lotion, soaps, jewelry, pottery, antiques, housewares, tote bags, art, and home decor. You can find unusual gifts at all prices in A SHORE THING that you’ll find nowhere else! shorethinggifts.com

Museum Shop at the Whaling Museum

508-228-1894, ext. 138

Open during museum hours: 10am-5pm in the Whaling Museum, 11 Broad Street NHA exclusives, gifts, apparel, books, home decor

The Nantucket Historical Association has been a steward of Nantucket’s cultural history since 1894. Don’t miss the MUSEUM SHOP at the Whaling Museum, where you will find unique gifts, books, prints, maps, and objects of art inspired by Nantucket history. Many items are exclusive to the MUSEUM SHOP, and NHA members get special discounts. 100% of all purchases support the Nantucket Historical Association and its mission to tell the inspiring stories of Nantucket through its collections, programs, and properties. nantucketmuseumshop.org

Health Care

Cottage Pharmacy

508-825-7300

Open daily 10 Vesper Lane

New community pharmacy servicing Nantucket Nantuckethospital.org/pharmacy NANTUCKET COTTAGE HOSPITAL continues to expand its services provided to the residents and visitors of Nantucket. Located just across the street from the hospital, this new pharmacy will provide patients with greater convenience and continuity of care while sustaining an important community resource. Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s new community pharmacy—the Cottage Pharmacy—is open to everyone in the community, not only patients of NCH. Nantucket Cottage Hospital

508-825-8100

24-hr emergency services, hospital care, lab, rehab 57 Prospect St NANTUCKET COTTAGE HOSPITAL has been caring for our island community. In addition to excellent physicians and nursing staff, the hospital has a 24-hour Emergency Department, full laboratory, physical therapy, cardiac rehab, chemotherapy, surgical services, imaging services, maternity services, and much more. Through Mass General Brigham, NANTUCKET COTTAGE HOSPITAL offers high-quality virtual urgent care services for many conditions and minor injuries daily. Nantuckethospital.org

Home Decor

Icarus + Co

Open Daily 19 Old South Wharf

Jewelry and Home Decor

Discover unique sculptural jewelry by local artists. We interpret nature through wearable art, handmade in small batches using uncommon and precious materials – including our exclusive collection of Nantucket beach stone jewelry. Follow along on instagram for a behind the scenes look: @icarusandco + @nantucketbeachstones. icarusandco.com

It’s A Shore

Thing

Open Daily

Distinctive Nantucket Gifts

508-680-1901

30B Main Street

shorethinggifts.com

At IT’S A SHORE THING, we are proud to carry products made in New England. Come in and browse through our wide selection of quality items for your home, including pottery, antiques, housewares, serving plates & trays, pillows, art, decorative wall hangings, and much more. You can also find unusual gifts at all prices in A SHORE THING that you’ll find nowhere else!

Petty Folk Art & Carving

508-332-9925 or 508-619-7554

Formerly Nantucket Carving & Folk Art serving the Cape & Islands for 16 years

Folk artist Jean Petty and her brother David Perry specialize in custom handcarved quarterboards, business signs, & house numbers. They are responsible for many of the beautiful signs visitors see plus 100s of quarterboards that adorn the homes on Nantucket. They offer restoration of quarterboards, signs, and ship models. Restored the carving “Going on a Whale” at the Nantucket Whaling Museum in 2015. Gift certificates available. Visit them at pettyfolkartandcarving.com, see their show schedule and take a virtual tour: youtu.be/c95SYBE5RVg of some of their artwork available. Call or email all inquiries to jean@pettyfolkartandcarving.com pettyfolkartandcarving.com

Island Fun & Shopping

Respoke

Respoke.com

Open for the 2025 season 41 Straight Wharf

Iconic designer scarves repurposed

RESPOKE repurposes iconic designer scarves into one-of-a-kind products featuring handcrafted Spanish made espadrilles. Experience a world of unique footwear, ready-to-wear, fine art, furniture, and accessories. Each piece carries more value and self-identity than its original form. Respoke was founded by best-selling author Michael Tonello, whose memoir, Bringing Home the Birkin, recounts the highlights of his years as a reseller of all things Hermes. Visit their Nantucket shop at 41 Straight Wharf and see what’s new for 2025! Respoke.com

Inter-Island Ferry

Hy-Line Cruises

that portray the summer lifestyle on Nantucket. The boutique is filled with modern, chic, and contemporary fashions to suit every occasion. We proudly sell Joules, Jude Connally, Captiva Cashmere, Lilla P and MZ Wallace. Known for our Nantucket Jewelry, there is something for everyone; beads to fit Pandora, rings, bracelets and of course our charm bar, where you can create your own unique island necklace. Shop year round in store or visit us online at BlueBeetleNantucket.com

Icarus + Co.

Open Daily 19 Old South Wharf

Jewelry and Home Decor

Jewelers’ Gallery of Nantucket

508-228-3949

Travel inter-island to Martha’s Vineyard Straight Wharf

High-Speed, Passenger-Only, Inter-Island Ferry Service

See all that these sister islands have to offer! Ge there quicky and easily with HY-LINE CRUISES high-speed inter-island ferry service. In a little over one hour, you can hop on over to the Vineyard...and we can’t wait to take you there! GET A 20% DISCOUNT on the inter-island ferry using promo code YESTERDAY. hylinecruises.com

Internet Guidebook

Insiders Guide to Nantucket

Beaches, Events, Museums, Biking, Classifieds, & More

Visit us online & follow us on Instagram @nantucket_insider

Visit Nantucket before & after you visit Nantucket!

508-228-9165

Visit NANTUCKET.NET for a biking page, lighthouse page, festivals page, photo galleries, maps, parks & trails, and guides to lodging, dining, real estate, recreation, and much more! Our Calendar of Events is the most complete and is updated several times a week, year-round. Looking for a beach? Our Beach Listings have photos, videos, and info about all the best island beaches and where to find them. And our classifieds are ever-changing. Visit Nantucket before, during, and after you visit Nantucket by going to Nantucket.net and follow us on Instagram @nantucket_insider Nantucket.net

Island Apps

Call Nantucket

Your telephone book for Nantucket FREE download for IOS and Android

Know who you want to call but need their phone number? Search by name on CALL NANTUCKET. Know what you want but not where to get it? Search by category on the up-to-date and locally produced CALL NANTUCKET app. This app is free to download and easy to use. Both white pages and yellow pages are included. callnantucket.com

Island Wildlife Refuge

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

508-228-5646

pen Daily 9am to sunset. Permits Required. Visit Nantucket’s best beaches! Call ahead to check conditions:508-228-5646 #2 thetrustees.org/ccwr

Visit the best beaches on the island at the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. The greater coastscape, which includes the federally owned Great Point Lighthouse and Nantucket Conservation Foundation land, is a double-fingered peninsula jutting northward between the Atlantic Ocean and Nantucket Sounds is so much more: a blend of sandy beach, rolling dunes, and forest uplands both rugged and serene. The refuge provides multiple habitats for an array of coastal plant and animal species, including heather and beach plum, a maritime oak forest & savannah of red cedar – the largest of its kind in New England – which offer shelter to deer. At the beachfront, watch for horseshoe crabs advancing in extremely slow motion, seals basking in the sun, and shorebirds skittering above the surf line. Over-sand vehicle permits are required: you can purchase them online at thetrustees.org/permits. Rental jeep day passes available at the rental site & day passes available for personal 4x4 vehicles.

Jewelry

Blue Beetle

Open Daily

Jewelry & Gifts

508-228-0229

Open daily 21 Centre Street

Fine Antique & Estate Jewelry

JEWELERS’ GALLERY offers Nantucket’s largest collection of antique and estate jewelry, including pieces by Tiffany, Cartier, Webb, and more. Stop in to see our classic period pieces. We specialize in diamond, sapphire, and emerald engagement and anniversary rings. We also carry exquisite island classics, including the Turk’s Head braided bracelet, Nautical Cable Collections, gem-set Sailors’ Valentines, and handwoven gold lightship basket jewelry. Also featured at JEWELERS’ GALLERY is an outstanding collection of beautifully designed jewelry by leading American goldsmiths: Diana Kim England, Louis Reyes, Thomas Kruskal, and more. Each unique piece is skillfully crafted in platinum, 18K, or 14K gold and will be a treasured keepsake from historic Nantucket. JEWELERS’ GALLERY: serving Nantucket since 1971. jewelersgallery.com

Katherine Grover Fine Jewelry

646-896-4013

See her exquisite collections online & in Sylvia Antiques, 15 Main Street

Exquisite Custom Jewelry by Katie Grover

Inspired by the ancient 24 karat gold jewelry found in temple treasuries, buried hoards, and tombs, KATHERINE GROVER’s custom designs have a character and quality all of their own. Her iconic designs make perfect gifts that are destined to become treasured heirlooms. Grover’s designs are drawn from history, architecture, Nantucket, and the natural world and made using age-old techniques and tools. Her designs are available on Nantucket in SYLVIA ANTIQUES, 15 Main Street. Join Katherine at a special TRUNK SHOW on Aug. 21 and 22 from 11am to 5 pm in the Macy Warehouse, 12 Straight Wharf. Reach her by text or call at 646-896-4013 and shop online at katherinegroverfinejewelry.com katherinegroverfinejewelry.com

The Love Shack by Lola

Open daily

Handcrafted sterling pendants, bracelets, jewelry, & more!

774-325-5982

10 Old South Wharf

THE LOVE SHACK is welcoming back customers to their shop on Old South Wharf. AND your favorite items are also available online at lolacompany.com. LOLA™ designs and creates beautiful sterling jewelry with inspirational messages on the back marking important moments in peoples lives. With more than 30 pendant designs varying in size and gorgeous colors, creating your own look is endless and addicting. THE LOVE SHACK is home to our entire jewelry collection and is inspiration for our apparel, candles, hats, and more. Everything you need for your very own Love Shack! lolacompany.com

Nantucket Estate Jewelry and Fine Arts

508-228-0272

Open with New Selections for 2025 1 Orange Street Jewelry, Lightship Baskets, Art, Scrimshaw, & more

We feature fine estate jewelry in all price ranges - antique, vintage, and contemporary - including designers such as Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari, Roberto Coin, and David Yurman. We also sell sterling silver jewelry and flatware and hollowware. We also carry a large assortment of Nantucket baskets and carved Nantucket purses, as well as a fine selection of antique scrimshaw. We stock an assortment of quality art work, including antique paintings, nautical items, maps, and island works by local artists. Follow us @Nantucket_Jewelry Nantucketestatejewelry.com

Nantucket Pearl Company

508-228-1353

Open Daily 10 am to 5 pm online & in the G.S. Hill Gallery, 40 Straight Wharf

American made, hand-strung pearl jewelry

Authentic American-made jewelry from quality pearls at affordable prices. Jewelry designer Pam Freitus creates stunning one-of-a-kind jewelry from hand-selected pearls, stones, leather, crystals and glass. On some pieces, pearls are interspersed with turquoise and crystals or sapphire and diamond bling enhances the soft shimmer of the pearl’s whiteness. On others, the Ying & Yang of black and white is featured. Look for Pam’s signature: a small red bead that identifies the piece as hers. NANTUCKET PEARL COMPANY jewelry is available exclusively at Hill’s of Nantucket, 40 Straight Wharf. nantucketpearlcompany.com

Susan Lister Locke Gallery

508-228-3227

12 Main Street

Located at 12 Main Street, BLUE BEETLE reflects the playfulness and elegance of island living. We strive to provide a collection of carefully curated clothing, jewelry, gifts and accessories

508-228-2132 & 508-221-0531

28A Easy Street Inspired and Creative Jewelry

Inspired by the ocean that surrounds her, be it in her Gallery on Nantucket or her winter home in Palm Beach Florida, Jewelry Designer, Susan Lister Locke creates highly sought after, unique jewelry using beautiful, and oftentimes rare, gemstones set in high karat gold & platinum. Her creations – from classic signet rings to one-of-a-kind necklaces – offer a fresh perspective on timeless jewelry, with the ultimate goal of always being highly wearable. Susan Lister Locke designs for all of life’s beautiful moments – the big and small, the ordinary and extraordinary. Follow @susanlisterlockejeweler susanlisterlocke.com

Island Fun & Shopping

The Trinity Collection

Open for the summer season

508-228-7557

50 Main Street Classic timepieces: vintage & contemporary

THE TRINITY COLLECTION. Our shop offers an extensive collection of fine timepieces—classic designs with superb Swiss watchmaking. We specialize in fine watches such as: Franck Muller, Patek Philippe, Vacheron & Constantin, Cartier, Chronoswiss, Audemars, Graham, Panerai, Ulysse Nardin, Pierre Kunz, U Boat, and Rolex—vintage and contemporary. We also offer fine jewelry, contemporary and estate. We take trades and are always looking to purchase timepieces. Follow us @palmbeachnantucket

Library & Public Programs

Nantucket Atheneum

508-228-1110

Open year-round. Books, Programs for All Ages, Concerts, & More 1 India Street Nantucket’s Free Public Library & Gathering Place

THE NANTUCKET ATHENEUM, our island’s public library is a vital community hub. We are open year-round and offer materials and services for all ages. More than 170,000 people come through our doors annually, where they have free access to 1.6 million books and a large collection of CDs, and DVDs. In addition, we offer many web-based services, a digital library, free computer use, WIFI, and more than 1,300 educational and cultural programs a year. Our historic building, which opened in 1847, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and filled with beautiful art and artifacts that celebrate our maritime heritage and the history of Nantucket. nantucketatheneum.org

Maritime Education & Events

Egan Maritime Institute

Maritime Education, History, Museum, Events & more

508-228-2505

EGAN MARITIME INSTITUTE members enjoy many benefits: unlimited admission to the Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, access to historic and educational programs, and unique opportunities to sail aboard the Tall Ship Lynx. Sea of Opportunities is one of their offerings: a diverse offering of education and outreach programs available to every Nantucket student at multiple points throughout their education. It seeds the maritime workforce of tomorrow and opens

doors for local youth to opportunities that will enhance their futures and our coastal community. eganmaritime.org

Mental Health Services

Fairwinds

Call or text

508-228-2689

Emergencies: 508-221-3315 or 911 20 Vesper Lane, L-1 Gouin Village Nantucket’s Counseling Center

FAIRWINDS provides equal access to confidential, quality, professional care to all on Nantucket who seek mental health and addiction services, regardless of ability to pay. Contact us today at (508) 228-2689 to schedule an intake, or to get more information about any of our services. Same-day appointments are available. fairwindscenter.org

Mortgages

Cape Cod 5

888-225-4636

Open Monday-Friday 112 Pleasant Street and Zero Main Street We’ll make your dream come true!

CAPE COD FIVE will give you more than just a mortgage... they’ll help make your dream come true! Fixed Rate, Adjustable Rate, Jumbo Loans, Affordable Housing, Construction & Land Loans for first time home buyers. Our knowledgeable, experienced mortgage loan officers are available to help you. Call Beth Ann Meehan at 508-247-1709 or Lauren Ard at 508-247-1795 or visit our website at CapeCodFive.com capecodfive.com

Movies, Concerts, Celebrations

The Dreamland See Our Website for Films & Events Nantucket’s Film & Cultural Center 17 South Water Street Films, Concerts, Celebrations, & Events

THE NANTUCKET DREAMLAND is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural and intellectual life of Nantucket by providing year-round films, educational programs, and a venue for community activities that engage Nantucket in the evolving world of entertainment and education. Films are shown in our 314-seat Main Theatre, in our 110-seat Studio Theatre, and seasonally at our Drive-In at 7 Nobadeer Farm Road. Tickets are available at NantucketDreamland.org. Become a member and get special access, special pricing, and even free tickets! Check our schedule for film showings, Dreamland Stage productions, special concerts & events in the DREAMLAND’s Harbor View Room. NantucketDreamland.org

Museums & Sites

Maria Mitchell Association

Summer Programs for All Science center, aquarium, museums, & field trips

508-228-9198

The Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell who believed in “learning by doing.” The MMA operates 2 observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and historyrelated programming is offered through the year for people of all ages. mariamitchell.org

Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

“Risk, Rescue, & Recognition: Nantucket’s Heroes of the Sea” drive or take a free shuttle to 158 Polpis Road

Daily Family Activities, Museum Talks & Tours

508-228-1885

Discover Nantucket’s unwavering human spirit: The NANTUCKET SHIPWRECK & LIFESAVING MUSEUM is devoted to the history of Nantucket lifesaving, famous shipwrecks and rescues around the island, life-saving equipment, daily routine at life-saving stations, and the United States Coast Guard. Family-friendly programs & displays appeal to all ages. The Museum shares the fascinating stories through permanent and changing interpretive exhibits, drawing on a collection of over 5,000 objects including period surfboats, beach carts, Fresnel lenses from Brant Point & Great Point lights, vintage photographs, short movies and more. This summer, The Monaghan Gallery will showcase The US Coast Guard and Its Nantucket Missions of Rescue, Environmental Protection, and Maritime Law Enforcement. And the newly renovated boathouse will feature a new exhibit: Risk, Rescue, & Recognition: Nantucket’s Heroes of the Sea. Find many special events at: eganmaritime.org/shipwreck-lifesaving-museum. The Museum is an affiliate of the Egan Maritime Institute. eganmaritime.org

Nantucket Whaling Museum

Admission $25; $23 seniors; $10 ages 6-17; under 6 free

508-228-1894

Island residents & NHA members admitted free 15 Broad Street

Your portal to Nantucket history.

No trip to Nantucket is complete without a trip to the NANTUCKET WHALING MUSEUM . In this top-quality exhibition venue, visitors can see a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a restored 1847 candle factory, exquisite collections of scrimshaw, artwork, artifacts from centuries of Nantucket life, and a fully accessible rooftop observation deck with an unmatched panoramic view and cozy seating. Discover treasures from Nantucket’s cellars and attics in the newly redesigned, artifact-rich Hadwen & Barney Oil & Candle Factory. Don’t miss the film “Nantucket,” directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ric Burns. Showcasing the island’s natural beauty

Island Fun & Shopping

and its significant role in global history, this 51-minute film is a feast for the eyes, offering a transformative experience for islanders and visitors alike. All this and more can be found at the Nantucket Whaling Museum. nha.org

NHA Sites

Your portal to Nantucket history

508-228-1894

15 Broad Street Historic Sites, Classes, Talks, & more

The Nantucket Historical Association preserves, interprets, and shares the diverse stories of Nantucket with all audiences through its collections, properties, programs, and research. In addition to the Nantucket Whaling Museum, the public is invited to visit THE OLDEST HOUSE, built in 1686 and believed to be the oldest residence on Nantucket still on its original site; THE OLD MILL, said to have been built in 1746, this is the only surviving mill of 5 that once stood overlooking Nantucket town; THE HADWEN HOUSE, a Greek Revival mansion built in 1846; GREATER LIGHT, a stunning and unique home that was built as a barn in 1790 and renovated & repurposed in the 1930s into a home that illustrates the era of Nantucket’s art colony days. Learn more about these sites and the others that the NHA keeps open for visitors at NHA.org nha.org

Quarterboards & Signs

Petty Folk Art & Carving

508-332-9925 or 508-619-7554

Formerly Nantucket Carving & Folk Art serving the Cape & Islands for 17 years Folk artist Jean Petty and her brother David Perry specialize in custom handcarved quarterboards, business signs, & house numbers. They are responsible for many of the beautiful signs visitors see plus 100s of quarterboards that adorn the homes on Nantucket. They offer restoration of quarterboards, signs, and ship models. Restored the carving “Going on a Whale” at the Nantucket Whaling Museum in 2015. Gift certificates available. Visit them at pettyfolkartandcarving.com, see their show schedule and take a virtual tour: youtu.be/c95SYBE5RVg of some of their artwork available. Call or email all inquiries to jean@pettyfolkartandcarving.com pettyfolkartandcarving.com

Shoes

Respoke Respoke.com

Open for the 2025 Season

Iconic designer scarves repurposed

41 Straight Wharf

Special Events

Boston MedFlight

Donations accepted: Every dollar raised stays with the island Your Life. Our Mission. BOSTON MEDFLIGHT is a nonprofit organization that provides transport to the sickest of the sick, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. For 4 decades, Boston MedFlight has been the region’s primary provider of critical care medical transport by air and ground, caring for more than 6,100 patients annually, including the most critically ill and injured infants, children and adults. As a nonprofit organization, we provide over $7 million annually in free and unreimbursed care to patients in need with little or no medical insurance. Bostonmedflight.org

Family Night at the Museum: Pirate Takeover

August 14 from 3 to 6 pm Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

This year, the Egan Maritime Institute’s annual end-of-summer BBQ is being taken over by pirates! The event will feature pirate-themed lawn games, face painting, scavenger hunts, and sea shanty tug-of-war. Arrive hungry: Island Kitchen will be on deck with a mouthwatering end-of-summer BBQ to satisfy landlubbers & young buccaneers. Tickets at eganmaritime.org/events/family-night-at-the-museum-a-pirate-takeover. Adults: $40; Youth: $15—includes unlimited BBQ, an ice cream sundae bar, and unforgettable family fun.

Island Voices: Maritime Music & Poetry

August 28, 2025 from 5:30 to 7 pm at Children’s Beach Free family-friendly concert

Egan Maritime Institute and the Nantucket Historical Association are partnering for a 3rd summer to present a free, family-friendly concert celebrating Nantucket’s maritime traditions. Gather on the lawn at Children’s Beach for an evening of sea-inspired music and poetry showcased by local musicians and artists. Bring a picnic and lawn chairs and enjoy a melodic night of works once heard aboard ships and along the shoreline— brought to life by voices from our island community. Families and dogs are welcome!

Katherine Grover Fine Jewelry

646-896-4013

See her exquisite collections at a TRUNK SHOW on August 21 & 22 from 11am to 5 pm in Macy Warehouse, 12 Straight Wharf

Exquisite Custom Jewelry by Katie Grover

NHA Hands-On History 2025

508-228-1894

Fun Activities for Families during August in the Whaling Museum Discovery Center

Details in the calendar of events

No trip to Nantucket is complete without learning about our island’s history with the NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. During July and August, families can learn while having fun at the NHA’s Tactile Talks & Crafts with special guest performances on Fridays! These sessions change each day of the week and are ideal for kids and families. Stop by the Whaling Museum Discovery Center on Broad Street Monday through Friday from 10:15 am to 4:30 pm.

Join the NHA as a member and save! nha.org

Sidewalk Art Show

508-228-0722

August 16, 2025 from 9 am to 2 pm Atheneum Garden, 1 India Street featuring more than 20 artists

The ARTISTS ASSOCIATION of Nantucket offers two outdoor art shows every summer. A beloved tradition dating back to 1930, the Sidewalk Art Show is the oldest of its kind in the U.S. and is a wonderful opportunity to meet more than twenty of Nantucket’s finest artists. The conversations will be memorable as you stroll past rows of fine art, under blue skies and a canopy of green in downtown Nantucket in the Atheneum Park. nantucketarts.org

Stand Up Comedy with Ladies of Laughter Tour

508-228-0722

Friday, August 22, Show starts at 7:30 pm in The Dreamland Theatre

Tickets at NantucketDreamland.org

Love live comedy? Love women in comedy? Come to the Dreamland Theatre on Friday, August 22nd to see the Ladies of Laughter winners: hilarious CT mom Jane Condon (the AP calls her “an upper-crust Roseanne”), summer resident and former lawyer NY’s Ellen Feeney and hysterical, RI-based Poppy Champlin (HBO, Oprah, Showtime).

Tim Russert Summer Groove

August 16, 2025 from 6-11pm Nantucket Boys & Girls Club

The Tim Russert Summer Groove is the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club’s premier fundraising event—an elegant evening that honors the generosity of those who make our mission possible. Held in August at the Club, the Groove brings together supporters, Trustees, and friends to celebrate our impact and ensure a bright future for Nantucket’s youth. Every dollar raised empowers more than 1,300 children & teens at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club. Tickets at nantucketboysandgirlsclub.org/summer-groove nantucketboysandgirlsclub.org

Theatre

Theatre Workshop of Nantucket

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET through Aug. 23

508-228-4305

Coming in September...SYLVIA and MISERY Tickets at theatrenantucket.org Nantucket’s Longest Running Professional Theatre

THEATRE WORKSHOP of Nantucket has been the island’s live theatre company since 1956. On stage through August 23, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, is an electrifying, toe-tapping, heartpounding musical event of the season that tells the story of an unforgettable night in 1956 when Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley came together for a once-ina-lifetime jam session. Get your tickets today at theatrenantucket.org! TWN: Where Nantucket Meets Broadway! theatrenantucket.org

Thrift Shop

Hospital Thrift Shop

508-228-1125

Open Mon., Wed., Fri 10-12:30 & 1-3:30, Clothing, housewares, furniture & more Tues. & Thurs. 1-3:30 & 5:30-8 pm, & Sat. 10-12:30 17 India Street

In 1929, a small group of dedicated women volunteers established the Thrifty Shop, selling affordable, recycled men, women and children clothing, household items and furniture to benefit the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Now incorporated as THE HOSPITAL THRIFT SHOP this store has donated millions to the NCH. Shopping hours in May are Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 10 am to 12:30 pm & 1-3:30 pm + Tuesday & Thursday 1-3:30 pm and 5:30 to 8 pm + Saturday 10 am to 12:30 pm. hospitalthriftshop.org

Island Fun & Shopping

Seconds Shop

Open Daily 10-4, closed Wednesday

Call about making donations

Proceeds benefit Fairwinds - Nantucket’s Counseling Center

508-228-6677

32 Sparks Avenue

Looking to expand your wardrobe on a budget or need some items for your home at affordable prices? SECONDS SHOP, open at 32 Sparks Ave (between On Island Gas and Cumberland Farms), is the perfect place to shop! Here you’ll find a great selection of gently used clothing, jewelry, house wares, small furnishings, books, and more. There’s an ever-changing variety, so visit often — you never know what treasures you may find. Donations of saleable items in good condition are accepted daily. And your shopping is helping a worthy island cause: proceeds benefit Fairwinds: Nantucket’s Counseling Center. Bring in the display ad in this publication for $5 off your purchase of $25 or more. secondsshop.org

Tours

Bartlett’s Farm Tours

Reserve your spot at BartlettsFarm.com

508-228-9403

Bartlett Farm Road

Immersive PYO Veggies & Flowers Tours bartlettsfarm.com

Step aboard the Bartlett Farm hay wagon as they take you on a journey to the heart of their produce or flower fields, where you can witness first-hand what’s in-season. You’ll have plenty of time to stop at multiple points of interest along the way, and they’ll provide you with a bag so you can fill it up with farm-fresh vegetables to take home or with the clippers and instruction to make your own bouquet. Dates, times, and reservations at bartlettsfarm.com/farm-tour

Tours - Bus & Van

Barrett’s Tours

508-228-0174

1-1/2 hr tour; departs daily at 10:30am, 1:30 pm, & 3:30 pm departs from 25 Federal St Private charters available BARRETT’S TOURS is the oldest tour company on Nantucket. With years of experience in the industry, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional service & unforgettable experiences. BARRETT’S offers 1-1/2 hour historic tours with experienced guides daily from 25 Federal Street (across from the Visitors Center) at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm. Our team of professionals is committed to ensuring your comfort, safety, and satisfaction. Whether you’re exploring the historic scenic beauty of Nantucket, celebrating a special occasion, or planning your dream wedding, we have the perfect transportation solution for you. Trust Barrett’s Tours to make your travel experience truly remarkable. For more information and reservations, please call 508-228-0174. BarrettsTours.com

Gail’s Tours, Inc.

508-257-6557

Departures at approx. 10 am, 1 pm, & 3 pm Call for reservations & pickup Pickup at 25 Federal St, across from Information Bureau

Personal scenic Island tours: voted “Best of Nantucket”

GAIL’S TOURS, tours of Nantucket guided by native islander Gail Johnson who has been giving tours for more than 25 years, gives you a look at the Island with a personal touch. Gail leads tours in her 14-passenger van with comfortable individual seats, AC, huge windows, and leg room! She’ll pick you up at 25 Federal Street approximately 10 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm every day. The tour lasts 1-3/4 hours to 2 hours, and passengers are welcome at any time during Gail’s tour to get out to take photos. Private charters are available. Call for reservations: if Gail is on a tour, she’ll call you back.

Nantucket Island Tours

3 Great Tours - Don’t miss our NEW Elin Hilderbrand Blue Book Tour

508-228-0334

42 Straight Wharf Nantucket’s Premiere Transportation Company

NANTUCKET ISLAND TOURS is the largest provider of tours, charters, & transportation services on-island. For more than 70 years, Nantucket Island Tours offers daily tours May-October, corporate charters, wedding & event transportation. Air-conditioned buses & experienced local guides. We offer multiple tours daily May-October: the new Elin Hilderbrand’s Blue Book Tour a 2-hour tour on Wed., Thurs., & Sun. featuring iconic island spots in Hilderbrand’s novels, led by Elin’s sister ~ the 75-minute Signature Tour which departs 3 x a day ~ the longer 2-1/2-hour Westender Tour offered Mon.-Thurs. Learn the history of our diverse island, from the founders, the Whaling Days through the present. See the Oldest House, The Old Mill, The African American Meeting House, ‘Sconset Village, Sankaty Lighthouse, The Shipwreck Museum...and many more beautiful sights. Departures are from Straight Wharf. Buy tickets in advance at nantucketbustours.com, with your HyLine ferry ticket or in-person at 42 Straight Wharf. Tours sell out daily: advance reservations recommended. nantucketbustours.com

Tours - Over-Sand Vehicles

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

508-228-5646

Open Daily 9am to sunset. Permits Required. Visit Nantucket’s best beaches! Call ahead to check conditions:508-228-5646 #2 thetrustees.org/ccwr

Tours - Walking

Guided Walking Tours with NHA

508-228-1894

Walking Tours offered by Nantucket Historical Assoc. from Whaling Museum, 15 Broad St. Departs at 10:45 am & 1:30 pm Mon.-Sat.

Take a walk with the Nantucket Historical Association. Explore the ambiance of Nantucket’s cobbled streets and architecture with NHA guides trained in Nantucket history on the Downtown Tour at 10:45 am and at 1:30 pm. Tours begin at the Nantucket Whaling Museum Monday-Saturday from June 2-Sept. 30, rain or shine. Tickets: $25 adults, $5 for ages 6 to 17; under 6 free. Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. Walking tours are offered daily. nha.org Nantucket Walkabout

508-422-7466

Daily Guided Wilderness Hikes on Nantucket see website for hikes & times Book online & pickup at Handlebar Cafe, 15 Washington St nantucketwalkabout.com Explore Nantucket’s wilderness with “Walking Nantucket” and “Nantucket: A Natural History” author and naturalist Peter Brace, and learn how the last glacier formed the island. Experience wildlife and rare plants. Learn about Nantucket’s conservation efforts, ecology, and the Native Americans that lived here. Rated 5 out of 5 on Trip Advisor. Adults $65-80; children ages 13 & younger $30. Private hikes available. Apple Pay, Android Pay, MC, Visa, Amex, & Discover accepted. Get details & make reservations at nantucketwalkabout.com or 508-422-7466.

Nantucket Walking Tours

774-325-8972

Ghost Walks, morning exercise walks + afternoon tours. Call for Private Tours See calendar for times & where to meet Explore Nantucket: No reservations necessary The ORIGINAL NANTUCKET GHOST WALK is the most popular walking tour ever on Nantucket. A fascinating evening stroll to five of the island’s most haunted locations, led by the original guide. See Calendar of Events for date & times & descriptions. Meet the guide 10 min. early at the corner of Main & Centre sts, near the bank steps. Discounts for groups of 10 or more. Cash only. No reservations necessary. Private tours are available for all walks. It’s a great way to see and enjoy springtime on Nantucket. whjamieson@gmail.com

Transportation Boat

Hy-Line

508-228-3949

Travel daily; see schedule for times Make your reservations online Straight Wharf High-Speed, Passenger-Only, Ferry Service from Hyannis Year-round, High-Speed Ferry Service between Nantucket and Hyannis. Seasonal, High-Speed Inter-Island Ferry Service between Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. With our convenient, daily departures all summer, let us whisk you away to the Cape, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard! While onboard, enjoy freshly-made food from our snack bar also featuring local beer, wine, and spirits. Visit us online for schedules, reservations, helpful blog posts, and more! hylinecruises.com

Steamship Authority

508-228-0262

Reservations: steamshipauthority.com 1 Steamboat Wharf

Watches

Trinity Collection

508-228-7557

Open for the summer season 50 Main Street

Classic timepieces: vintage & contemporary

Crosswinds Restaurant & Bar

Dining Guide

Bakeries

Nantucket Bake Shop

508-228-2797

Mon.: 6:30 am to 1 pm & Tues.-Sat.: 6:30 am to 4:30 pm 17-1/2 Old South Road

The delicious freshly baked treats & bread you love + Gluten-Free goodies!Interested in enjoying an authentic bit of Nantucket? You still can in the NANTUCKET BAKE SHOP. Here you’ll find genuine Portuguese bread & rolls. Be tempted by our world-famous almond macaroons and Magees. For breakfast, try our egg sandwiches, fresh donuts, native cranberry & blueberry muffins, scones, flaky croissants, & danish accompanied by a steaming cup of Green Mountain coffee. We bake decorated cakes, fresh fruit tortes, cheesecake, chocolate velvets, and pastries. Everyday favorites include cookies, fruit squares, turnovers, fudge squares, pies, cupcakes, & more! Our traditional baked goods are preservative free and hand batched on Nantucket Island. Most of our cookies and our granola are gluten free. Take our Portuguese bread home so your friends can enjoy a bit of old Nantucket. For mail order, visit our website. Nantucketbakeshop.com

Brewers

Cisco Brewers

Open 7 Days a Week

Home of Cisco Brewers, Nantucket Vineyard, and 888

508-228-6005

Open daily 6 am to 9 pm all year 14 Airport Road at the Nantucket Airport

Biggest portions & great food at the best prices; Free & Easy Parking

The Faregrounds

Lunch, dinner, & late night menu Tues-Sat. from 11:30 am.

CrosswindsNantucket.com

508-228-4095

Indoor Dining & Great Patio Bar 27 Fairgrounds Road

Delicious & affordable.

One of Nantucket’s favorite restaurants, THE FAREGROUNDS offers their menu items for takeout. Try their tasty Off-Shore Nibbles, their amazing BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos, one of their chargrilled specialty burgers, or indulge in some of their sensational seafood dishes! They have hearty hot and cold sandwiches and salads, and their pizzas are a favorite with patrons! There’s plenty of parking; major credit cards accepted. Visit thefaregrounds.com to see the menus and call FAREGROUNDS at 508-228-4095 to order your takeout. Closed Sunday & Monday

Nantucket Bake Shop

508-325-5929

5 Bartlett Farm Road

CISCO BREWERS is Nantucket’s first & only craft brewery and prides itself on celebrating a deep-rooted New England island heritage through its portfolio of approachable, sessionable, and coastally-inspired beers. Founded near Cisco Beach in 1995 by hard-working, entrepreneurial islanders, CISCO BREWERS has gained a cult-like following across the Northeast. Visit its open-air beer garden while on Nantucket to enjoy a laid-back, good times atmosphere, live music, and a refreshing pint or two or a craft cocktail made with our own 888. Private tours may be arranged in advance. Table seating is first-come, first-served — reservations are not accepted. Family & dog-friendly. ciscobrewers.com

Light Food & Take-Out

45 Surfside Bakery & Cafe

Breakfast & lunch daily

Take out or eat in our dining room or outdoor patio

TheFaregrounds.com

508-228-2797

Mon.: 6:30 am to 1 pm & Tues.-Sat.: 6:30 am to 4:30 pm 17-1/2 Old South Road

The delicious freshly baked treats & bread you love + Gluten-Free goodies!

Interested in enjoying an authentic bit of Nantucket? You still can in the NANTUCKET BAKE SHOP. Here you’ll find genuine Portuguese bread & rolls. For breakfast, try our egg sandwiches, fresh donuts, native cranberry & blueberry muffins, scones, flaky croissants, & danish accompanied by a steaming cup of Green Mountain coffee. Everyday favorites include cookies, fruit squares, turnovers, fudge squares, pies, cupcakes, & more! How about an all white meat chicken pie or fresh spinach quiche for a quick supper? Take our Portuguese bread home so your friends can enjoy a bit of old Nantucket. For mail order, visit our website.

Siam to Go

774-333-3981

45 Surfside Road

Enjoy award-winning pastry chef/owner Rebecca Moesinger’s delicious pastries, hearty breakfasts, and tasty lunches at 45 SURFSIDE BAKERY & CAFE. You can enjoy breakfast & lunch daily from 6:30am until 2pm in their air-conditioned dining room or on their outdoor patio. In addition to burritos, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and hot & cold subs and wraps, they serve bubbly delights and refreshing smoothies. Order online from the QR code in our ad. 45 SURFSIDE BAKERY & CAFÉ is located along Surfside Road on your way to the beach. We have plenty of parking and are a few steps from an NRTA bus stop. 45Surfside.com

Bartlett’s Farm

Open Daily, Year Round

Nantucketbakeshop.com

508-228-SIAM (7426)

Open Monday-Friday from 4 to 8 pm at The Hive, 5 Amelia Drive

Thai Cuisine made with fresh ingredients at reasonable prices

SIAM TO GO offers an appealing selection of authentic Thai cuisine that is light, fresh, and traditional. The menu includes Thai curries, noodle and rice dishes, and house specialties, offered with a choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, fried tofu, or vegetables. The Create Your Own Curry section of the menu allows you to pair a protein with any of their delicious curries. The entree section of the menu is especially tempting, with dishes like General Tso’s Chicken, Drunken Noodles, and Orange Chicken. While the menu is extensive, every dish is prepared well and fresh to order, so order online to enjoy a taste of Thailand that you can enjoy at home, on the boat, at the beach...anywhere on Nantucket. siamtogonantucket.com

Live Entertainment

The Brotherhood of Thieves

508-228-9403

33 Bartlett Farm Road Farm Grown Produce | Garden Center | Groceries | Beer & Wine Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner To Go

A 7th generation family farm growing fresh vegetables on 200 acres of historic Nantucket farm land. Find our full service grocery store onsite with specialty items like quality meats, artisanal cheeses and dairy, olive oils, organic snacks, and more. Order groceries and made to order foods online at Bartlettsfarm.com. Peruse our selection of ‘well-farmed’ wines, craft beers and ciders. Our FARM KITCHEN offers take-out breakfast sandwiches, muffins, pastries, coffee and tea…for lunch we have sandwiches, lobster rolls, clam chowder...and delicious dinner specials. Grab lunch on your way to the beach, or food and beverages for your BBQ on the way home. Bartlett’s Farm, Who’s Your Farmer? bartlettsfarm.com

Cook’s Cafe

Open Daily for Takeout

Healthy Take Out — Wraps & Smoothies

774-325-5812

Open 7 days a week 11:30 am to midnight 23 Broad Street Good food. Good drinks. Good company.

Cisco Brewers

508-228-8810

6 South Beach Street

COOK’S CAFE is the way to eat healthy while you’re on Nantucket. Start your day right with one of their breakfast wraps, a toasted bagel, and a cup of freshly brewed coffee or a refreshing breakfast smoothie. Their Mermaid Magic Smoothie is a great way to start your day! For lunch or later, order one of COOK’S hearty wraps—there are more than 15 to choose from in two sizes, and they also have vegan specialties! All wraps are affordably priced. Go international with the “Bangkok Chicken Wrap,” the “Tokyo Curry Wrap,” the “Napoleon,” or try one of their tasty Bowls. They also have some classics: Italian, Turkey, Tuna Salad, Buffalo Chicken, and more! COOK’s smoothies make a terrific afternoon snack. You can call in or order online at cookscafenantucket.com

508-325-5929

Open 7 Days a Week 5 Bartlett Farm Road

Live Entertainment Is Back - check website for schedule

Rose & Crown

508-228-2595

Open daily from 11:30 am 23 South Water Street

Come for the Food, Stay for the Fun! Theroseandcrown.com

THE ROSE & CROWN is a favorite among locals and visitors. We are Nantucket’s only Downtown Nightclub. Whether it’s live local music, guided paint nights, house DJs, big screens for games, or our notorious karaoke competitions, we have your entertainment needs covered. In-season, we have entertainment 7 days a week, with early and late-night options, so everyone has a chance to enjoy the fun. Check our website for off-season entertainment listings.

The Chanticleer

Dining Guide

Markets

Bartlett’s Farm

Open Daily, Year Round

Farm Grown Produce | Garden Center | Groceries | Beer & Wine Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner To Go

508-228-9403

Bartlett Farm Road

A 7th generation family farm growing fresh vegetables on 200 acres of historic Nantucket farm land. Find our full service grocery store onsite with specialty items like quality meats, artisanal cheeses and dairy, olive oils, organic snacks, and more. Order groceries and made to order foods online at Bartlettsfarm.com. Peruse our selection of ‘well-farmed’ wines, craft beers and ciders. Our Farm kitchen offers take-out breakfast sandwiches, muffins, pastries, coffee and tea…for lunch we have sandwiches, lobster rolls, clam chowder...and delicious dinner specials. Grab lunch on your way to the beach, or food and beverages for your BBQ on the way home. Bartlett’s Farm, Who’s Your Farmer? bartlettsfarm.com

Restaurants

The Brotherhood of Thieves

508-257-4499

Lunch & Dinner Tuesday-Sunday 9 New Street, Siasconset Reservations available on resy.com or 508.257.4499

Originally opened as a small tea house at the turn of the century, THE CHANTICLEER is now one of the premier restaurants on Nantucket. One of the most romantic destinations on-island, you may linger here over an intimate lunch in the Rose Garden or come together with family and friends for a convivial dinner in one of our personal dining rooms: al fresco on warm evenings. The lush gardens produce organic herbs, flowers, berries, and seasonal vegetables for the kitchen. An extensive wine list features some of the finest wines in the world. Reservations are available on resy.com or by calling 508-257-4499 chanticleernantucket.com

Crosswinds Restaurant & Bar

508-228-6005

Open daily 6 am to 9 pm all year 14 Airport Road at the Nantucket Airport

Biggest portions & great food at the best prices; Free & Easy Parking

“Fly into CROSSWINDS...where huge portions & delicious daily specials will keep your pockets full and your spirits soaring!” Join us at the Nantucket Memorial Airport, home of the classic “Wings” television series. We have something for everyone on our fun & diverse menu which spans breakfast (6 am-1:30 pm), lunch, and dinner with extensive beer, wine, and cocktail selections. Bring the kiddies with you—we also have a complete children’s menu. Whether you’re waiting for a plane or just want to relax with a tasty and filling meal at a great price, Crosswinds is the place to go. Our friendly, courteous staff will give you a casually elegant dining experience at Crosswinds. CrosswindsNantucket.com

The Faregrounds

774-325-5812

Open 7 days a week 11:30 am to midnight 23 Broad Street Good food. Good drinks. Good company.

Whether you are a first-time or returning visitor to Nantucket, THE BROTHERHOOD OF THIEVES, 23 Broad Street, must be on your To Do List! This landmark island eatery, offers 4 concepts to enjoy—a downstairs pub echoing a 1840s Whaling tavern, a second floor Cisco Kitchen & Bar with a surf shack vibe and live music, the Notch Whiskey Bar, and a Beer Garden on their patio— all in the heart of downtown Nantucket. THE BROTHERHOOD’s different menus feature fresh salads, sushi, hot & cold appetizers, nachos, hearty burgers & sandwiches, their famous curly fries, and entrees featuring fish, chicken, and steak. To accompany your meal, THE BROTHERHOOD serves Cisco & other craft beers on draft, wines by the glass & by the bottle, and more than a dozen signature cocktails. brotherhoodnantucket.com

508-228-4095

Lunch, dinner, & late night menu Tues-Sat. from 11:30 am. 27 Fairgrounds Road

Indoor Dining & Great Patio Bar Delicious & affordable. FAREGROUNDS is one of Nantucket’s favorite year round restaurants (and we are sports fanatics, with 15 HDTVs)! Choose between the Pudley’s Pub, the cool ocean breeze while you enjoy outdoor dining, and the quiet of FAREGROUNDS dining room! Our affordable fare is complemented by daily specials. We are THE perfect place to satisfy everyone in your party! FAREGROUNDS is the right place to reunite with friends, enjoy a beer and cheer on your team; or gather the family and savor a great meal while enjoying those who matter. Closed Sunday & Monday TheFaregrounds.com

Rose & Crown

508-228-2595

Open daily from 11:30 am 23 South Water Street

Indoor & Outdoor Dining ~ Takeout Available

THE ROSE & CROWN is a perennial favorite of islanders and visitors. Stop by for one of the largest draft Craft Beer selections on the island and our scratch made Eclectic Pub Fare. We offer everything you could desire, including nachos and wings, sandwiches and our famous burgers, lobster rolls, local seafood, and mouth watering steaks, plus gluten-free and vegetarian options. Always family friendly with a children’s menu. Eat indoors or at our sidewalk tables. And you can order online for takeout. Check theroseandcrown.com for current hours, menus, & daily specials. theroseandcrown.com

Wines & Spirits

Mór Wine

Curated selection of wines & spirits

Open 10 am to 9 pm 16 Federal Street

This new boutique bottle shop founded by Edwin Claflin, chef & owner of Oran Mór Bistro, in partnership with Eileen Harkness, proprietor of the resale boutique Commonwealth Nantucket. Their goal is to enrich the island’s wine scene by offering a curated grower champagnes, unique spirits, and small-producer wines. From wine to whiskey, they have that bottle you’ve been looking for as well as the one you didn’t know you wanted. morwine.com

Nantucket Vineyard

508-325-5929

ciscobrewers.com 5 Bartlett Farm Road

Stop by to taste our delicious wines. Located next to Cisco Brewers and Triple Eight Distillery. Ask about our wine dinners and events. Call for more information or to book a tour.

Events & Entertainment

Events are updated daily, year-round at Nantucket.net from page 15

3 PM - A Walk Down Main Street with Nantucket Preservation Trust

A 75-minute walking tour of historic Main Street, exploring its whaling-era homes, early residents, and architectural styles. Includes a copy of A Walk Down Main Street Meet at 11 Centre St. Tickets: nantucketpreservation.org/events/walking-tour/

3:30 to 4:30 PM - Youth Chorus Ages 8+

A fun beginner music program to get kids used to singing in groups. Nantucket Community Music Center, 56 Centre St.. 508-228-3352 NantucketMusic.org

4 to 5 PM - Adult Metal Detecting 101

Join expert metal detectorist Nikoline Bohr for a hands-on beach adventure. Learn the basics of metal detecting in a relaxed setting. Register at MariaMitchell.org

4 to 5 PM - Make your Own Pot Holders with Barnaby’s Nantucket Ages 5+

Children will enjoy this classic summer craft of making their own Pot Holders! A perfect activity for after the beach! $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

4 to 7 PM - Live Music by Wires & Wood at Cisco Brewers

Head to the brewery at 5 Bartlett Farm Road for live local bands. Tables are firstcome, first-served: no reservations.

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

5:30 PM - Lecture: Nantucket Brands

Moderated by NHA Chief Curator & Obed Macy Research Chair Michael Harrison, representatives from iconic Nantucket textile and clothing brands Erica Wilson, Murray’s Toggery, & Nantucket Looms discuss the histories of these companies & their impact on Nantucket. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. nha.org

5:30 to 6:30 PM - Mindfulness Meditation

A short talk, a guided meditation, and time for reflection or questions. No experience needed. Open to all. Registration encouraged at NantucketAtheneum.org

6 PM - Dreamland Comedy Nights: Jimmy Tingle (Documentary & Talkback)

Jimmy Tingle: The “Radical” Middle blends comedy, politics, and hope as Jimmy shares his journey from stand-up to public service. This film offers a witty, heartfelt take on today’s challenges & the power of humor to inspire change. Tickets at NantucketDreamland.org

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

6:30 to 7:30 PM - Book Talk with Elin Hilderbrand and Jennifer Weiner

Hear two accomplished authors discuss their works and their craft in the Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. The event is free: no ticket required. Seating is first-come, first-served. Book signing with Jennifer to follow.

6:30 to 8:30 PM - Free Open Arts Night

The Open Mic Night stage is open to all, and now you’re invited to bring your own creative projects. Knit, embroider, color, wrap gifts, or enjoy the show in the acoustically stellar Great Hall. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India St. NantucketAtheneum.org

6:30 to 8:30 PM - Free Stitching Workshop with Bee Shay

Printmaker Bee Shay will teach adults how to stitch a meditation journal in the Artists Association’s Visual Arts Center, 24 Amelia Drive. Materials provided; no experience necessary.

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

Sunset Cruise/Live Music with the Shanty Singers. Come enjoy a Nantucket Sunset Cruise while you listen to fun old time shanty tunes. Sing along or listen with a smile as you enjoy your favorite beverage with family and friends. Straight Wharf Slip #1011 508-228-7037

7 to 9:15 PM - Million Dollar Quartet presented by Theatre Workshop

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Cemetery Route

8 to 9 PM - Night at the Museum - Ages 5+

Join MMA naturalists to uncover secrets of the natural world, learn natural history facts, see museum specimens, experience a touch table, & more, plus various arts & crafts activities! Pre-register at MariaMitchell.org

10 PM - Late Night Trivia at the Rose & Crown

Enjoy fun and libations at The Rose & Crown, 23 South Water Street: celebrating their 50th anniversary!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20

7:45 to 10:30 AM - Free Birding Field Trip

Explore Nantucket’s birding hotspots & observe birds in their natural habitats. Binoculars, spotting scope, & field guides available to borrow. All experience levels welcome. Registration Required at llnf.org

8 AM - Smith’s Point Hike with Nantucket Walkabout Nantucket’s westernmost sand extremity is a great hike to see nesting piping plovers, least terns, & American oystercatchers during the summer & glimpse Tuckernuck Island. Book at 508-422-7466 or at WalkNantucket.com

8:30 AM - Pick Your Own Flowers Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

8:30 AM - The Luna Walk (A.K.A. “Fabulous Mansions”)

8:30 to 10 AM - Marine Ecology Field Trip for Ages 10+

Help collect, identify, & release marine life. Meets at Hither Creek Beach Access near 25 Massachusetts Avenue. Pre-registration required at mariamitchell.org

9 to 9:45 AM - Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Assn. Aquarium

Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens. Fun for all ages. Registration required Registration Required.

9 to 9:45 AM - Ravenous Reptiles with MMA for Ages 4+

9:30 AM - Unicorn Snot Slime With Barnaby’s Nantucket $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10:15 AM to 4:30 PM - Hands-On-History: Sheep, Wool, & Textiles

Learn about materials that make your clothes and the tradition of raising sheep on Nantucket connecting to the Behind the Seams summer exhibition, and make a fluffy sheep to take home. Nantucket Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. nha.org

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:30 AM to 1 PM - Nantucket By Water Oyster Tours

Tour a working Oyster Farm and learn what goes into growing the perfect Nantucket Oyster. Call 508-228-7037 or book online at nantucketbywater.com Departs again at 1pm

11 AM - Fairy House Wonderlands! with Barnaby’s Nantucket for Ages 5+

This class will focus on designing and creating all the miniature elements that come together to build a child’s very own special, little world using mixed media, recycled, and raw materials. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 AM to 12 PM - Book Signing with Elin Hilderbrand & Jennifer Weiner

Meet two authors: Elin Hilderbrand, author of The Blue Book, along with Jennifer Weiner author of The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits at Mitchell’s Book Corner, 54 Main Street. The first 100 in line at Mitchell’s will get a ticket. No pre-purchase is required. You can start lining up at 10am. Only books purchased at Nantucket Book Partners can be signed.

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket Join friendly & knowledgeable guides for a 75-min. tour of historic sites in Nantucket Town, Sconset, & more. See The Oldest House, The Windmill, Sconset Village, Sankaty Head Lighthouse & more. Tours daily at 11:15, 1, & 2:45. Tickets $45. Book at 42 Straight Wharf, at nantucketbustours.com or at 508-228-0334.

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

continued on page 38

Events & Entertainment

11:45 AM - The Westender Tour with Island Tours

1 to 3:30 PM - Day Sail Aboard the Tall Ship Lynx

2 PM - Shawkemo Hills Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

Hike a portion of the island dramatically shaped by the last glacier to cover most of North America. See & learn about the formation of Coatue, Great Point, the Haulover, Nantucket Harbor, & inner harbor shores. Book at WalkNantucket.com

2 to 3 PM - Bug Bonanza with Maria Mitchell Assn. for Ages 4 +

2 to 4:30 PM - Drop-In Craft Gam with No Instruction

Bring any project you are working on to this open session & work in the company of other creative people to share knowledge & learn from others. Open to all levels. No instruction is provided but basic tools available for use. 1800 House, 4 Mill Street. Decorative Arts: nha.org

3 to 5 PM - Island Tours Elin Hilderbrand Blue Book Tour

4 PM - Slime Sundaes! with Barnaby’s Nantucket

Mess-filled fun as your child creates “Slime Sundaes” with sprinkles, glitter, charms, gummy bears, and more! They’ll learn the science behind slime while we handle the cleanup $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

4 to 5 PM - Behind the Scenes at the Collections Center

Curious about what’s behind the scenes at the NHA? Join our curators for a private tour of special collections: paintings, furniture, & unique Nantucket artifacts not on public view. Gosnold Collections Center, 89 Bartlett Rd. Register at NHA.org

4 to 7 PM - Live Music by Buckle & Shake at Cisco Brewers

Head to the brewery at 5 Bartlett Farm Road for live local bands. Tables are firstcome, first-served: no reservations. Ciscobrewers.com

5 to 7:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Tall Ship Lynx - Sip, Sketch, & Sail

Set sail for an evening of art & inspiration aboard the historic Tall Ship Lynx. Guided by AAN artists, enjoy wine, sketching, and coastal views, perfect for all skill levels. Supplies & wine provided. $120 for Egan Maritime & AAN members. NonMember: $150. Tickets at EganMaritime.org

5:15 to 6:15 PM - Nantucket by Water Cocktail Cruise

Escape the summer crowds & enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise around Nantucket Harbor with family & friends. On board music. BYOB. Book at nantucketbywater.com or 508-228-7037.

5:30 to 7 PM - Teen Trivia for Teens 13+

Join the Atheneum for an evening of trivia at the library, just for teens! Bring a friend or come alone and test your knowledge. Snacks will be provided. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. NantucketAtheneum.org

5:30 to 8:30 PM - Game Night (with Mag-ACK the Gathering)

A night of board games, card games, and Mag-ACK The Gathering. Free for adults and teens 13+ Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. NantucketAtheneum.org

6 PM - Polpis Harbor Sunset Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

As the sun sets over Nantucket Harbor & Coatue, learn from Guide Peter Brace how geological forces formed Nantucket & Polpis Harbors & about salt marsh ecosystem in the harbors & conservation efforts. Book at WalkNantucket.com

6 to 8 PM - Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club For Ages 13-18

Explore dungeons, battle monsters, & let your inner warrior out in our beginnerfriendly Dungeons & Dragons club. Bring is your imagination & a hunger for adventure. All levels welcome. Register by emailing shurd@nantucketatheneum.org. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. NantucketAtheneum.org

6:30 PM - Sunset Sail Aboard the Endeavor

Enjoy a stunning sunset from the water. Reservations at EndeavorSailing.com or 508-228-5585. Departs from Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Departure times change as time of sunset changes.

7 to 8:30 PM - Nantucket by Water Sunset Cruise

7 to 9:15 PM - Million Dollar Quartet presented by Theatre Workshop

7:30 PM - Zeus 4: Free Staged Reading by Nantucket Performing Arts Center

“Zeus 4” is a new play about a group of devoted dog owners in Boston who stumble on an unexpected community. Cast includes Judith Ivey, Jeremy Shamos, Nina Hellman, Mark Shanahan, Lucas Papaelias, Brian D. Coats, Jo Mei, & Mehr Dudeja. On the NPAC stage, 5 North Water Street.

8 PM - The Nantucket Ghost Walk - Cemetery Route

9 to 9:45 PM - Open Night: Stargazing at Loines Observatory

Join MMA astronomers at Loines Observatory—view the night sky through telescopes & learn about current research, weather permitting. Pre-registration recommended at MariaMitchell.org

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21

7 AM - Sports Fishing on the Herbert T

Capt. Fred Tonkin is an experienced fisherman who will take you to where the fish are biting. All equipment provided. Memorable for the whole family. Reservations: 508-228-6655 (evenings: 508-257-4176). Trips at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm

8 AM - Gardner Farm-Lost Farm Loop Hike with Nantucket Walkabout

This 2.5 mile hike explores plant succession on globally threatened habitat known as sandplain grasslands. These former vegetable farms are now dominated by pitch pines; their groves & small forests have meadows of wildflowers. Book at 508422-7466 WalkNantucket.com

8:30 AM - Pick Your Own Flowers Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

8:30 AM - Historic Mansions of Main Street and America’s Oldest Windmill

9 AM - Guided Tour of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

9 to 9:45 AM - Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Assn. Aquarium

Join MMA staff as they feed the hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens. Fun for all ages. Registration required Registration Required.

9 to 9:45 AM - Ravenous Reptiles with MMA for Ages 4+

9 AM to 1 PM - Stenciling on Fabric: Tea Towels & Aprons

Learn how to stencil your favorite island, whales, & other nautical imagery on textiles. You can embellish the clean, sharp images with embroidery or inked details. Nantucket Historical Assn Decorative Arts Program: register at nha.org

9:15 to 10 AM - Marine Storytime - Ages 3+

9:30 AM - Unicorn or Dinosaur Habitats for Ages 3+

Your child will be in heaven as they create their very own unicorn habitat. Class offers endless creativity as your child chooses from a variety of materials to plan & design a special home and environment. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

9:45 to 10:30 AM - Dance Party in the Garden

Fun songs and singing games for youngsters: bring a blanket to sit on. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street. NantucketAtheneum.org

10 AM - Endeavor Sailing Excursions with Captain Jim

Learn Nantucket’s maritime history & see waterfront sights. Reservations encouraged. Slip #1015, Straight Wharf. Tickets at 508-228-5585 or EndeavorSailing.com. Repeated at 1:30 & 3:30 pm.

10 AM - Gail’s Tours of Nantucket

Daily in-depth van tour of Nantucket with 7th generation native as your guide. Intown pickup. To reserve a seat, call 508-257-6557. Tours again at 1 & 3 pm

10 to 11 AM - Nantucket by Water Whaling History Tour

Learn what life was like in the late 1800’s during the Whaling Era &see some remaining historic landmarks. Call 508-228-7037 or book at nantucketbywater.com

10 AM to 1 PM - Seafarer Thursdays at the Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum

Today’s family activities focus on water & sailing skills,: cork boat building, knot

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Island/Today’s

tying, sea shanties, life jacket evolution, & buoyancy. Join staff at Nantucket Shipwreck & Life Saving Museum at 158 Polpis Rd. for this fun learning experience included with museum admission. EganMaritime.org/museum.

10 AM to 1 PM - Drop-in Transcription Time with NHA

Join fellow volunteers in a social setting. A research associate can assist with everything from signing up to tricky handwriting. Current projects include 19thcentury letters, Obed Macy’s journals, and whaling log books great for beginners and experienced transcribers alike. Research Library, 7 Fair Street. nha.org

10:15 AM to 4:30 PM - Hands-On-History: Oldest House Kitchen Garden

10:30 - Barrett’s Tours

Historic tours offered daily departing from 25 Federal St., across from the Visitors Centre. Reservations: 508-228-0174. Offered again at 1:30 & 3:30 pm

10:30 to 11 AM - Family Tours at the Whaling Museum

10:30 to 11:30 AM - En Plein Air with Nikoline Bohr

An outdoor painting & drawing class led by Nikoline Bohr. Learn plein air techniques while sketching beaches, gardens, and historic scenes perfect for beginners & experienced artists. For adults. Materials provided. Register at MariaMitchell.org

10:30 AM to 12 PM - Book Signing with Josh Dawsey

Meet the author of 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America at Mitchell’s Book Corner, 54 Main Street.

10:45 AM - Historic Downtown Walking Tour with NHA

11 AM - Pick Your Own Veggies Tour at Bartlett’s Farm

11 AM - Patches x Bags + Beading! with Barnaby’s Nantucket for Ages 6+

This trendy, new Barnaby’s class is all the rage! Kids decorate a bag of their choice with patches! They’ll also make a beading chain to attach to their special Nantucket bag. $58: register at barnabysworld.com.

11 to 11:45 AM - Nature Storytime for Ages 3+

11 AM to 5 PM - Katherine Grover Fine Jewelry Trunk Show

Stop by the Macy Warehouse at 12 Straight Wharf to see new and classic designs by jewelry artist Katherine Grover.

11:15 AM - The Signature Tour: a Traditional Historic Tour of Nantucket

11:15 AM - Nantucket by Water Harbor Tour & Ice Cream Cruise

11:45 AM - The Westender Tour with Island Tours

3 PM - Sconset Tour with Nantucket Preservation Trust

3 to 4 PM - Free Children’s Chess Club for Grades 2 to 6

3 to 5 PM - Island Tours Elin Hilderbrand Blue Book Tour