S
everal years ago, in anticipation of a pilot shortfall, Cape Air joined forces with travel partner JetBlue and established an innovative pilot training initiative. The Gateway Program is a career path that begins with several years of intensive training and flying at Cape Air and concludes with a JetBlue job interview. The pilot shortage—many of you have heard, read or perhaps experienced firsthand the current lack of pilots, not only at Cape Air but across the entire industry. A variety of factors at work here include a major change on the requisites necessary to complete pilot training. Although safety is the primary goal of the new requirements, the regulations did result in fewer pilot candidates, Dan with former Gateway Program graduate Cape Air Captain and now JetBlue First Officer, Aaron Hryciw at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. and eventually an overall lack of pilots to meet the current demand. In one of those amazing serendipitous events, one of our first Gateway graduates was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat for his very first scheduled JetBlue flight at the same time I was boarding the flight from Boston to Washington. As I walked to my seat I heard, “Hello Mr. Wolf,” from our former ramp agent, mail pilot, Cape Air Captain and now a JetBlue First Officer, Aaron Hryciw. It was a proud moment. All of us at Cape Air are doing everything possible to mitigate the impact on our passengers and I do thank all of you for your support, loyalty and understanding. Leaving our newest northeast destination, Block Island, Rhode Island as well as Providence, was not an easy decision. But in light of the pilot supply issue we were sadly left with no other choice. We remain optimistic that in the not so distant future, young men and women will experience the passion for the skies that came to me and to so many others in our industry. Our Gateway Program, along with one-on-one mentorships, help promote flight as an exciting and viable career. If you see First Officer Hryciw on you next JetBlue flight, please pass on a big hello from all of us at Cape Air. Dan
CEO and MA State Senator Dan Wolf Dan.Wolf@capeair.com *Make our customers happy and have a good time doing it. E A R LY
SPRING
2016
5
Photo: Elysse Magnotto
PASSION FOR FLIGHT
*Make our customers happy and have a good time doing it.
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
Photo: Eliza Magro
6
Michelle Haynes Executive Editor, Bird’s Eye View Michelle.Haynes@capeair.com
Photo: Chcuk Anzalone
F
or many of us, in all likelihood a generation of us, obsessed Captain Ahab is forever equated with Gregory Peck, harpooned to the flank of Moby Dick beckoning all to follow. Slogging thru Melville’s classic sent many a high schooler running to that life preserver—Cliff Notes. Who could have predicted that Melville’s gang is now hot, bordering on rock star hot, thanks in part to the Ron Howard film In the Heart of the Sea, based on the bestseller by Nantucket author Nat Philbrick. Group readings of the Melville classic happen annually in Nantucket as part of a townwide event and my hometown of Provincetown is getting into the act with a three-day Moby Michelle and the “crew” of the Pequod at the Provincetown Library Dick Readathon. In this issue, a preview of what is bound to be a singular event. “I thought I saw Miss Lucy a half a mile from here…” St. John’s Coral Bay is winning notice as the “must visit” section of the island. Enjoy pristine beaches, hiking trails and my favorite reason to go—Sunday brunch at Miss Lucy’s. A member of the Bird’s Eye View family, this locally-owned restaurant offers perfect Eggs Benedict with an island twist accompanied by tasty Mimosas and live jazz on the outside patio with a wondrous view of the Caribbean. Choose an outside table and settle in for a perfect island Sunday. Check out our preview of the yellow and green Always on a Sunday—Great food, Bloody Marys, live jazz and, if the mood strikes, dancing extravaganza about to happen in Nantucket. Set on the patio, welcome to St. John’s Miss Lucy’s, your go to place on Sunday. against the backdrop of a bazillion daffodils, this is one of the island’s largest celebrations of the year. And finally a story I have been wanting to do for years—the who and what behind one of the most powerful travel sites in the world, TripAdvisor. See what Bird’s Eye View writer Greg Melville came up with after a visit to TripAdvisor headquarters. “Hello There”... I saw a crocus peeking thru the Provincetown frost and echoed “The Martian,” when he spotted his first green shoot in his potato garden. Spring is a comin’—take some time and go somewhere.
E A R LY S P R I N G 2 0 16 Photo courtesy of White Elephant, Nantucket
Dance as if no one is watching-a carefree moment at Nantucket’s White Elephant Resort, a TripAdvisor award winner. PUBLISHER: Dan Wolf EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Michelle Haynes Michelle.Haynes@capeair.com CONTRIBUTORS: Rebecca Alvin, Susan Biemsderfer, Gayle Fee, Kim Corkran, Greg Melville, Wendy Solomon, Gene Smith COPY EDITOR: Jim Hanson DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Chuck Anzalone graphicsgroup@comcast.net Chuck Anzalone.com © Bird’s Eye View, 2016 Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Advertising rates are available upon request. 410.829.1101
E A R LY
SPRING
OUR TEAM: Kim Corkran Kimberly.Corkran@capeair.com Rosemary Dooley 508.274.6755 Bobbi Fawcett doitnow141@gmail.com Nancy Woods Nancy.Woods@ BirdsEyeViewMagazine.com Bird’s Eye View is published by Cape Air, 660 Barnstable Road Hyannis, MA, 02601
Sophia Aubin, publisher of the online travel website vinow.com had one of those, right time right place, moments at the St. Thomas Carnival when she caught our cover models, Chresha, the little girl to the left and N’kosi, the little boy on the right. “The music started and they looked to the ground, shy, and self-conscious and then all of a sudden they looked up, forgot about everyone else, started to dance and I captured the shot.” Thanks for sharing Sophia. The Bird’s Eye View team loves this image!
2016
10 Caribbean 36 Nantucket 44 Martha’s Vineyard 54 Provincetown 58 Boston 61 Maine 66 New Hampshire/ Vermont 72 Saranac Lake, NY 75 Block Island, RI
7
PHOTOGRAPHERS
“I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it.” — Author Unknown
From St. John’s sugar mill ruins to the beauty of early Spring on Nantucket, our loyal and über talented Bird’s Eye View photographers capture the drama and beauty of Cape Air’s destinations. The Bird’s Eye View writing team accepts the truth—passengers LOVE the photos and occasionally read the copy. Our sincere thanks to all of our dedicated “shutterbugs.”
“When I photograph a wedding, I enjoy how
time stops for a moment while capturing the magic between the couple, the love, and and the beginning of a new life together. Loving one another is a blessing, and capturing it is inspiring!” —Eliza Magro, U.S. Virgin Islands elizamagrophotography.com
“I
can’t imagine a better place to be a photographer than the Caribbean. We are blessed with so much natural beauty and smiles, as well as some of the most vivid colors on earth.” — Don Hebert, U.S. Virgin Islands, donhebert.com
“W
“M
artha’s Vineyard is like a painters pallet. I use the island’s colors and light. Sometimes I can actually taste the image. When everything falls into place, it is like a lobster dripping with butter!”— Tim Johnson, Martha’s Vineyard tjtj@capecod.net 8
hen I photograph family portraits and weddings, I include the Vineyard scenery as a frame. I want people to remember how they felt in that place at that time in that light on our beautiful and special island.” — Nicole Friedler Martha’s Vineyard, nicolefriedler.com
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
“Vieques is like a photographer’s
dream come true. Everywhere you look there is a photo and a story to tell.” —Kelly Thompson, Vieques viequesinsider.com
“I
have lived year-round and photographed on Nantucket since the mid 1970s. I have spent most of my Nantucket life photographing the island’s distinct seasons and people. This spit of sand plopped in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is as diverse as any place on earth if you understand subtlety. Nantucket is part of who I am.” — Cary Hazlegrove, Nantucket hazlegrove.com
“A
great way to improve your photography is to take lots of pictures. I often shoot with my iPhone. Its camera is so simple, it lets me concentrate on composition without having to think about all the settings on my professional 35mm gear. My phone is always with me, even when I’m running, so I never miss an opportunity to get a great picture.” —George Soules, Southwest Harbor, georgesoules.com
“T
he secret to a great shot is not to let them know you are taking the shot. I love candids and so far no one has punched me.” People usually love it when they see their photos pop up on the Nantucket Chamber website or in our guide book.”— Michael Galvin, Nantucket, nantucketchamber.org
“Design, light, color, composition — sometimes it all comes
together and you capture that special moment.”—Chuck Anzalone on Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor, Maine, ChuckAnzalone.com
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
9
E.P. Anderson Photography
VIEQUES
Marc and Sean getting hitched at the waterfront Blue Horizon Resort on the Spanish Virgin Island of Vieques. Photo: Kelly Thompson
10
“WEDDINGS
are huge in Vieques right now,” says Kelly Thompson, editor of the Vieques Insider. “It appears we are the cool hot spot and the wedding business shows no signs of slowing down. The island is easy to get to and I spoke to a couple recently who said they went price shopping for their sixty guests wedding and found Vieques’ prices less than LA and New York City.” Non-existent venue costs is one of the biggest reasons for the low price. “We have so many miles of beaches, open and free to everyone, that a wedding couple can easily find their own private spot for their ceremony,” Thompson says. Details and contacts for all things Vieques at ViequesInsider.com
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
VIEQUES
Photos: Kelly Thompson Hunting for seaglass on La Chata Beach
E A R LY
SPRING
View of Mt. Pirata —a great hiking spot in Vieques
2016
11
CULEBRA
Photo: Douglas Hodgkins
W
Flamenco Beach—A perennial favorite on the best beach list, The Discovery Channel dubbed it the Number two beach in the world!
hen nothing to do is pretty much all you wish to do the Spanish Virgin Island of Culebra awaits. Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean the tiny, seven miles long by three miles wide, island is as laid back as it comes. Rented golf carts are the major mode of transportation, a handful of B&B’s, one resort and a number of villa rentals are your choices for places to stay. A few waterfront restaurants and a small supermarket takes care of your appetite and if you need a movie head to the local library for their weekly movie night. Chances are the name Culrebra is new to most of you, but keep it in mind for a get away from it all tropical escape. If our brand new Culebra advertiser, Dog Gone Sailing Charters sounds familiar it may be because this fun sailing charter that welcomes dogs and their well behaved owners is usually found in our Provincetown pages. If you are looking for some fun on the water from now thru April hop on board. culebrasailingcharters.com
12
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Photo: © Christian Wheatley/ iStock
Salomon Bay, St. John E A R LY
SPRING
2016
13
S T. J O H N
Cavorting at Caneel Photos courtesy of Caneel Bay Resort
I
n the 1950s Laurance Rockefeller staked a claim near the crystal waters of St. John’s Hawksnest Bay and in short order the elegant waterfront resort known worldwide as Caneel Bay opened its doors to
14
a clientele who put a new spin on the words “rich and famous.” To ensure his high-end guests enjoy total privacy and endless views of the island’s natural beauty, Rockefeller donated hundreds of acres of neighboring land to the National Park Service. The 170 acres include a meticulously maintained landscape surrounding remnants of the island’s earlier era as a major sugar mill plantation, the award-winning ZoZo’s restaurant and a sigh-worthy, postcard perfect beach. The 166 guest rooms offer off-the-grid luxury. No phones and no televisions and if that is a scary thought, relax; you will never be at a loss for something to do. The National Park is outside your door with miles of hiking trails and the resort offers a water sports program with diving and snorkeling excursions, yoga classes, a full service spa or, for the rest of us, dozens of choices for those wanting nothing more than a prone position on the beach. All of this comes at a price but the next two months feature the resort’s lowest rates of the year, hovering around $400 per night. Think about bringing the kids. The resort’s children’s programs give you a lot of adult time. caneelbay.com B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Photos: © Eliza Magro
St. John’s Caneel Bay is a hugely popular wedding site and under certain circumstances, with certain photographers, including the Bird’s Eye View’s Eliza Magro, wedding couples who marry elsewhere are allowed use of the grounds for photos. In honor of Caneel’s 60th birthday the resort is partnering with fashion label Lily Pulitzer with a limited edition scarf sporting the familiar Lily pink and green accompanied by sea turtles and palm trees. Retailing for around $116, the cashmere/silk blend is large enough to use as a sarong or neck scarf, modeled by Denise at the resort’s Cololoba Boutique. Special for Caneel Bay guests— upon your Cape Air arrival at the St. Thomas Airport, walk over to the Caneel lounge for a whisk away to an exclusive ferry taking you directly to the Caneel dock. If you have ever tried to make your way across St. Thomas to the Red Hook ferry you know what a plus this is. E A R LY
SPRING
2016
15
S T. JO H N
Photo: © Eliza Magro
Cruz Bay, St. John—delectable, fall off the bone barbecue ribs, one- of a kind shopping and no shortage of people watching benches, Cruz Bay is your point of entry to St. John and despite the hustle/bustle, well worth your time.
16
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Most of St. John is located within the National Park and the Park headquarters are just around the corner from downtown Cruz Bay. It is a must visit for park info including free maps of the island’s many hiking trails.
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
17
S T. JO H N B I RD’ S E YE VI E W FAVO R ITE Photo: © Eliza Magro
When you book your air travel and hotel for your St. John escape be sure and reserve an outside table at La Tapa and hope you catch the steamed mussels with herbs, white wine, garlic, and lemon in light cream sauce ($17) or the crème brulee with banana and lemongrass ($10.) We include the prices to illustrate La Tapa is a fun and affordable date under the St. John stars.
W
Chef/owner Alex Ewald
hen vacationing amidst the tropical beauty of St. John it is mandatory that you spend at least one night dining under the stars. It is a three-fer at the glorious Bird’s Eye View favorite La Tapa located in the heart of downtown St. John where you can dine at an inside table, at the friendly bar or at an outside table, a perfect perch for the lively street scene. Foodie Alert—check the daily changing menu at latapastjohn.com. Chef/owner Alex Ewald has something for every palate. The choices are fun and imaginative with a few standbys to satisfy the meat and potatoes gang.
18
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
19
S T. T H O M A S
Music, Johnny Cakes and Dancing—Lots of Dancing Photos: Don Hebert
“Nothing is More Fabulous than Carnival in St. Thomas...”
A
CARNIVAL THEME FOR 2016
major reason to take a time out from your beach chair is one of the largest celebrations in the Caribbean—the St. Thomas Carnival, April 2nd–30th. What began in the early 1900s took a thirty-eight year break before returning to what is now a three-week, island-wide hoop-dee-doo celebrating the history, culture and Joie de vivre of St. Thomas. If you miss one parade have no fear; there is another and then another; in fact, you can count on almost non-stop daily street parades with costumes to rival Vegas. Do not pass up a sampling of local foods which almost always include the yummy Johnny Cakes, a delicious, not as sweet, donut, and the Martha Stewart favorite, Callaloo, a delicious dish made with greens from the local taro leaves. You definitely need a schedule to keep track of all the events. Vicarnival.com
20
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Photo courtesy of vinow.com Photo: Kendall Hebert Traditional Caribbean dish salt cod, callaloo and Johnny cakes.
St. Thomas food trucks offer locally prepared favorites at a great price.
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
21
S T. TH OM A S
22
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
23
S T. TH OM A S
ROCK BEAUTY, YELLOW CHUB, BLUE TANG— ALL AWAIT YOUR VISIT Photo: Don Hebert
24
W
hen your beach of choice happens to be steps away from a five-acre marine sanctuary, odds are your snorkeling excursion affords you a front row perch to a Technicolor spectacle of tropical fish —fish so used to people that they practically stop to pose. Your underwater show can be enjoyed in less than twenty feet of water, or, for more experienced divers, further out in the off-shore reefs. In either case, Coki Beach is a perfect choice for all levels of snorkelers and divers. Located adjacent to Coral World, about a $10 cab ride (per person) from downtown St. Thomas, Coki is one of those something for everyone beaches, offering every kind of rental imaginable from snorkeling equipment to beach chairs and towels. Popular with vendors, you can relax on the beach and get your island shopping completed all at the same time. In addition to a number of hand-crafted items, you can buy everything from beach towels to suntan lotion, or opt for a Bo Derek moment with a braiding session. If you prefer a more laid-back beach experience, there is enough sand to claim your own little corner of paradise, making Coki a great choice for couples, families, or singles. B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Photo: Douglas Hodgkins Coki Beach, St. Thomas窶年o need to schlep a thing. Jet Skis, lounge chairs, no shortage of food and snorkel rentals for some of the best off shore diving in St. Thomas.
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
25
S T. C RO IX
26
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
ST. CROIX By Wendy Solomon
“Equus Riding Tours—Steven O’Dea is known on St. Croix as the
“Cane Bay Cowboy.” His horses live in a beautiful pasture on the scenic North Shore of St. Croix. Each day he takes visitors and residents through historic ruins and onto the beaches in the area. Sure, there’s horseback riding, but in the water? The horses love it, the guests love it, and the editors of GoToStCroix.com loved it. Only Cowboy Steve has permission to take his riders up close and personal to one of St. Croix’s most beloved and historic sites—the sugar mill and factory ruins of Estate Rust Op Twist.”
Photos courtesy of GoToStCroix.com
“If you are looking for a short (but relatively intense) hike with incredible views, and a little historical value to boot, head for Ham’s Bluff. Located where St. Croix’s North Shore and West End meet, this 30-45 minute hike offers scenic vistas along the trail ending at the historic Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse, 360 feet above sea level. While the distance is relatively short, the hike to the lighthouse is all uphill. The good news is that the trail is partially shaded, and the hike back is all downhill. The best news of all is that this hike is totally worth the effort for the stunning view of St. Croix.” GoToStCroix.com Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
27
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Beyond the Beach in St. Croix
Photo courtesy of GoToStCroix.com Secluded and tucked away Jack’s and Isaac’s Bay beaches are the perfect choice for folks who want total privacy with their beach time. Accessible only by foot there is a bit of a hike involved and no amenities available so bring food, beverages, towel, sunscreen and enjoy your own “swept away” moment. Use Point Udall as your reference point on how to get there and find details at GoToStCroix.com.
T
By Michelle Haynes
he island of St. Croix has no bigger cheerleader then NYC transplant Wendy Solomon who has called the island home for the past 17 years. “You can find sun, sand and beautiful beaches on any Caribbean island but what I love to share is the amazing variety of things to do off the beach.” And share she does with her, something for everyone, list, “100 things to do on St. Croix.” “Yes, our beaches are beautiful but we want take you off the beach for adventures that are off the usual beaten path. We show you what makes St. Croix different from other islands and what it is about this island that keeps us all here. Our food, culture, nature, there is so much to see and do here” Says Solomon.
28
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
29
Photos courtesy of GoToStCroix.com
LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING at GoToStCroix.com AND PREVIEW A SAMPLING.
Labyrinth at Estate Mount Washington
T
Estate Mount Washington
he adventure category includes, a hike to Jack and Isaac Bays, up the Calendonia Waterfall and kayaking into the mangrove forest. A tucked away discovery even new to the “Go to St Croix” gang is a tucked away Labyrinth at Estate Mount Washington found on the west end of the island. “As you head north from Creque Dam Road, you will see a small yellow sign on the right hand side of the road at the base of a telephone pole, ‘Estate Mt. Washington, circa 1750. Estate Mount Washington IS private 30
property, but the owners kindly allow the public to enjoy the ruins of this centuries-old sugar plantation, the lush foliage covered sitting areas, and the labyrinth they have constructed. Let the sounds of the distant wind chimes, the chirping of the birds and the breezes through the palm trees lull you into a state of relaxation. As you walk, take in the sights of the crumbling sugar plantation ruins, the flaming red flamboyant trees and the many flora and fauna that surround you.” GoToStCroix.com
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
31
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Photos: Alastair Abrehart
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I CAN DO BETTER
A 32
THE TORTOLA TORTURE: APRIL 16, 2016
10K to a half marathon then on to a full marathon before moving on to Ironman and now the growing interest in a double Ironman: who are these people? “There is no question extreme sports are trending right now and show no sign of slowing down,” says Tortola cyclist Alastair Abrehart, one of the organizers of the aptly named “Tortola Torture,” a grueling road race across the steep Tortola terrain. “The views along the course are stunning,” say Abrehart, “but the hills are tough and it is hot, very hot making for a grueling 33.4 mile ultra marathon. It is already affectionately referred to as ‘The Torture’ by the participants in last year’s inaugural event due to the distance, the heat (ridiculous), the humidity (insane), and the approximately 12,000 feet of climbing and descending.” How tough is it? Of the seventy who competed last year, just 23 runners managed to finish, but in spite of the challenges a buzz is happening around the spring event which ends at party central Trellis Bay, directly across from Cape Air at the Beef Island airport. The finish line festivities include re-hydration of all sorts and an informal barbecue. tortolatorture.com B I R D’S E Y E V I E W
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
“We are extending the course that will add another 659 feet of climbing and 1.8 miles to the total distance. There will only be 7.5 miles of flat running for the entire course. At 33.4 miles, it is not long by ultra marathon standards but you won’t find these kinds of gradients in any other running event.” Alastair Abrehart, race organizer
Bridget Klein from St. Croix sweeping the men off the roads of Tortola, with a time of 5 hours, 25 minutes and 59 seconds.
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
33
Photo: Christian Wheatley / iStock
If you want to island hop in style, Antilles Helicopter Services offers personal aerial tours followed by breakfast, lunch or what have you on pretty much the island of your choice. This is a great way to experience the beauty of both Jost Van Dyke and the island of Anegada, the latter known for the tastiest lobster in all of the Caribbean. Photo courtesy of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board
I
f you want to truly drop off the grid for winter’s last gasp, grab your passport and book your Cape Air flight to the British Virgin Islands, (BVI) with nonstop service to Tortola and Virgin Gorda from the airline’s Caribbean hub in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tortola is the BVI’s business hub with a vibrant downtown shopping area and a wide array of places to stay. Check out the affordable Maria’s by the Sea Hotel and Fort Burt Hotel, both in the heart of the downtown action and steps from the ferry terminal. If you want more luxury, look no further than the award winning and elegant waterfront Surfsong Villa Resort, minutes from your Cape Air arrival.
Jost Van Dyke
Anegada They come for the water. Anegada is renowned for the tastiest Caribbean lobster and actually provides most of the lobster served in the British Virgin Islands.
34
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Photo courtesy of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board
Virgin Gorda Frolicking at the world-famous Baths of Virgin Gorda is the perfect day trip, for you can spend hours traversing the watery labyrinth, followed by lunch on the hillside. I guarantee you The Baths will be the highlight of your entire Caribbean vacation. E A R LY S PR I N G 2016
35
NANTUCKET
36
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
NANTUCKET
Photo: Cary Hazlegrove/Nantucket Stock
37
Not so Mellow Yellow
FOR NANTUCKET’S ANNUAL HARBINGER OF SPRING NANTUCKET DAFFODIL FESTIVAL APRIL 29 – MAY 1, 2016 Photo: Cary Hazlegrove/Nantucket Stock
Photo: Michael Galvin
“It’s all about the Yellow.”*
Maybe it’s the release of cabin fever, and Nantucket’s year-rounders are ready for an influx of new faces, or perhaps it’s an early case of Spring Fever and a longing for a little green from 38
Mother Nature; whatever the reason, the Nantucket Daffodil Festival is one of the most popular events in New England and beyond. Thousands of visitors make their way to the “Faraway Island” for a ritual that began over three decades ago and shows no signs of abating. “It is a celebration of spring and all things daffy and I mean both the plant and the attitude,” says the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Janet Schute. “This is a truly festive time with picnics, parades and so many events, I call it the equivalent of Halloween in Salem—costumes, food and fun.” For folks who eschew crowds, skip the “official” weekend and plan your island visit for before and after the festival weekend. The bazillion daffodils swaying in the Nantucket breeze are around for several weeks displaying more shades of yellow and white than one could ever find in the crayon box. Under the guidance of the Nantucket Garden Club, the daffodil plantings are carefully orchestrated. “From the first burst of yellow arriving in early spring, the garden club plants enough varieties to ensure weeks of continuous flowers for all to enjoy. The blooms start with the early yellow flowers and end with the later pink and white daffodils,” says the woman who knows her daffodils, the Nantucket Garden Club’s Mary Malavase, who is also an American Daffodil Society flower show judge. B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
NANTUCKET
Photos: Kim Corkran Too yellow, too white, not enough green—picking a winner in the daffodil contest is serious business.
Photo: Michael Galvin
“With the right hat, nothing else matters.” — La Paloma Hats Nantucket’s answer to the Royal Ascot, the Daffodil Festival
The festival is crowded as you are shoulder to shoulder with folks hailing from across the globe, but that in itself can be a lot of fun. The spring mood is contagious and there is no shortage of ways to be entertained including a Daffy Hat Contest, a 5K road race, and the highlight of the weekend, the antique car parade followed by a community tailgate picnic in ‘Sconset. Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines offers flights to Nantucket from Boston, Hyannis, New Bedford and White Plains, New York but no kidding about the festival’s popularity, so book flights, hotels and even your restaurant reservations right this minute. Flights at capeair.com and for all the rest let the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce point you in the right direction at nantucketchamber.org.
There is tailgating and then there is tailgating, Nantucket style.
*A tip of our daffodil hat to Grammy winner and Nantucket native Meghan Trainor— “All About that Bass” E A R LY
SPRING
2016
39
Photos: Cary Hazlegrove/Nantucket Stock
NANTUCKET WINE FESTIVAL: MAY 18–22
A
swirl of the glass, a sniff, a taste and ahhh… wine makers, wine lovers and others come together in the, see and be seen, event— The Nantucket Wine festival, May 18–22 Prices range from $50 for a Bloody Mary/Mimosa breakfast on Nantucket Harbor to the, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it, category. This annual homage to Spring, wine and fun is chock-a-block full of events with a preview at nantucketwinefestival.com.
40
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
Photo: Keith Wynns
NANTUCKET
AC K YAK !
Photo: Kim Corkran You never know what you will see coming off the Nantucket freight plane. Nantucket resident Anna McGuiness rolls her new tire from the plane to her truck.
F
rom medicine to lobsters to tools to lumber to loaves of warm French bread—when the air freight transport between the business hub of Hyannis on Cape Cod and the island of Nantucket some thirty miles out to sea came to an abrupt halt, the reaction was swift from those who depend upon that air service as a vital economic link. In a collaborative process that worked, airport and airline officials came together along with a number of business folks and in short order, Cape Air’s sister airline, Nantucket Airlines is now the official air carrier bringing freight of all kinds between the island and the mainland.
“Everything went well this morning. Handing off our bread shipment is so much better then dropping it in a van and hoping that it is handled and processed properly. You guys are a breath of fresh (Cape) air.” —Scott Cunningham, Pain D’Avignon
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
41
NANTUCKET
O
n “What’s my Line?”a popular TV show from back in the day— make that waaay back in the day—folks with unusual jobs wrote their unusual professions on a blackboard and blindfolded personalities would try to guess what they did for a living. “Dolphin herder” CT Harry of the International Fund for Animal Welfare is a perfect contestant for that show. Cattle, sheep or horse herders—all are pretty familiar—but a dolphin herder? “To be correct my official title is ‘Assistant Stranding Coordinator,’” says Harry, “but my actual job is to herd or guide stranded marine animals back into the open water.” Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines got into the act with a recent rescue mission when a female dolphin and her calf stranded themselves on Nantucket’s tidal flats, making it imperative that CT and his team get to the island as soon as possible. “We had to work quickly as we were losing the light and the quick flight between Cape Cod and Nantucket saved the day along with the collaborative efforts of a number of island groups 42
Photos courtesy of the International Fund for Animal Welfare
A MARINE ROUNDUP with a “Dolphin Herder” By Michelle Haynes
including the local environmental police, the Nantucket Animal Control Officer and whale watch Captain Blair Perkins, who allowed use of his vessel to herd the dolphins out to sea.” CT likens the operation to a border collie working the herd with a scientific instrument providing the substitute for the barking collie. “We use something called a pinger or an acoustic deterrent device. In no way does the pinger hurt the dolphins, but they do swim away from that sound, enabling us to herd them out to the open water.” The daylight held; the pinger did its job and eventually mama dolphin and calf made their way to the open water. “In our line of work that is the goal,” says Harry. The ocean holds a million stories—this has been one of them. B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
NANTUCKET
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
43
M ARTHA’ S VI N E YARD
44
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
MARTHA’S VINEYARD
Lucy Vincent Beach
N
Lucy Vincent Beach*, Chilmark, Martha’s Vineyard—open to one and all until May 31st.
othing brings cachet to an area more than “It is only open to certain people.” The, oh so private, Lucy Vincent Beach in the Martha’s Vineyard town of Chilmark is so exclusive that you can’t walk to it, bike to it or even swim to it, sans the proper paper work. “Therein lies the attraction,” says photographer Nicole Friedler Brisson. “Only Chilmark residents or those who live or rent certain neighboring properties are allowed beach access during the summer. In addition to the exclusivity, there is Lucy Vincent’s natural beauty with amazing cliffs that unfortunately are slowly eroding back to the sea. What used to be a full on cliff wall is now a few smaller obelisks.” Brisson also admits that a tucked away section of the beach is set aside for those who like to beach in the nude which is another added attraction (for some) and somewhat explains the need for E A R LY
SPRING
2016
Photo: Michael Brisson
privacy. The early spring chill is not conducive to taking off many clothes but the good news is that right now the beach is open to everyone, so go take a selfie with the rapidly disappearing cliffs, have a picnic and enjoy. Directions, maps and lots more info at mvy.com. * Landowner Lucy Vincent, Martha’s Vineyard’s longest serving librarian (1924-29 and 1945–1962)
45
M ARTHA’ S VI N E YARD Photos: Tim Johnson
The Ospreys and Pinkletinks Herald Spring on Martha’s Vineyard
C
ape Air’s Tim Johnson, the Bird’s Eye View’s own Euell Gibbons, (under 40 look it up) says there is no more sure sign of spring on Martha’s Vineyard than the sounds of the pinkletinks, tiny (about an inch long) frogs thriving in ponds who, come spring, raise their voice in an incessant chorus. “As soon as I hear the pinkletinks singing I know the buds of spring are not far behind,” says Johnson. “Our other surefire sign that spring is upon us are the ospreys. It is always a thrill for me to catch a photograph of these beautiful birds that had left the island for a while, but thankfully, it now appears they are regular Vineyard visitors.” The pinkletinks are usually known by their other more mundane moniker of tree frog and they are not singular to Martha’s Vineyard. Since hearing is understanding, log on to TBA ? Tim can you give us the web site with the sounds) and your likely reaction will be, “Oh those!”
46
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
M ARTHA’ S VI N E YARD
47
2016
SPRING
E A R LY
Foodie Alert for Martha’s Vineyard MV WINE FEST MAY 12–15
Tara Zanett of TLZ Photography
The fourth annual MV Wine Fest has something for every category with a lineup that includes a number of known chefs from across the Vineyard along with: • Matt O’Neill of The Blue Ox in Lynn, MA—former ESPN ‘Cooking Coach’ and most recently featured on The Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” • Dan Whalen of the popular food blog, The Food in My Beard and author of “Stuffed: The Ultimate Comfort Food Cookbook” • Christopher Viaud, private & sous chef in Boston, formerly of Deuxave Restaurant & Bar
R
emember when it was Julia, Martha, “Yan can Cook” and the “Frugal Gourmet”? These days there is a Chef du Jour for every taste and they enjoy enormous cachet, especially for those who live and love to cook, those who like to watch others cook, and perhaps the biggest category—those who like to eat.
48
In addition to watching the masters ply their trade, the event features a series of wine dinners in private homes as well as cocktail competitions, beer challenges, and a Grand Tasting event with samplings from hundreds of wineries, breweries, and local Martha’s Vineyard restaurants. “We’ve doubled the amount of events, but kept the list of smallproduction wines uniquely curated and handpicked. Our big move to hosting the Grand Tasting in historic downtown Edgartown supports the ever-growing local community and gives us a chance to be more involved in Edgartown this year,” said Mr. John Clift, founder of the MV Wine Fest. The Grand Tasting event happens at the Kelley House, steps from the Edgartown waterfront. Grand Tasting tickets start at $100. themvwinefestival.com
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
M ARTHA’ S VI N E YARD
49
2016
SPRING
E A R LY
U P O N F U R T H E R R E V I E W S: The explosive growth of TripAdvisor and its user-generated content has turned it into a travel powerhouse. creation the chef is preparing for the main dish. Food is free, just like the craft beer flowing from the taps after work in the game room, where there are also ping pong and pool tables, and X-Box stations beneath the giant, flat-screen TVs. TripAdvisor was largely motivated to create such a welcoming office environment in order to compete against Web titans like Amazon and Google for the best young talent. Sadly, none of those three words: “best,” “young,” or “talent,” apply to me. “We wanted a place where people would be excited to come to work each day,” Barbara Messing, the company’s chief marketing officer told me during my visit. They’re in constant competition for the right kind of employees, who she describes as “smart problem-solvers prepared for a Happy at their work at TripAdvisor fast-moving environment.” By Greg Melville To maintain its breakneck growth, f I were able to hold a steady job, or had any marketable skills whatsoever, fend off its many competitors, and I know where I’d send my resume (also sometimes known as my greatest adapt to the constant changes in comwork of fiction): to TripAdvisor. Founded 16 years ago in a room above munication technology, TripAdvisor a Boston-area pizza joint, it’s now a billion-dollar Internet-based entity constantly seeks ways to innovate, that arguably holds more sway with the traveling public than any other single re-invent, and expand—incorporating resource in the galaxy. And that’s not fiction. methods that succeed, and quickly TripAdvisor features more than 290 million reviews, written by regular tossing aside those that don’t. “We test, people, on 5.3 million resorts, restaurants, and attractions around the world, we learn, we move on,” Messing said. with the numbers growing daily. Its maximum rating of five green circles, and Yet despite TripAdvisor’s efforts to the awards it bestows—like the Certificate of Excellence—have become the evolve, its greatest asset remains the hospitality industry’s Holy Grail. same: the credibility of its user-genTripAdvisor also seems like a pretty incredible place to work. I recently visited erated content—a fragile entity that its swanky, new 282,000 square foot headquarters building in Needham, MA. the company goes to great lengths to Imagine this for your regular weekday: Upon reaching the TripAdvisor office protect. The company has a team of in the morning, you head to the company’s 3,000-square-foot fitness center for employees, several hundred strong, a quick exercise class. Then you—and your dog, if you want, because dogs are whose sole aim is to ensure the inallowed—head to your desk, which is stand-up adjustable and illuminated tegrity of its reviews from fraudulent mostly by natural light. You’re wearing comfortable casual clothes, of course, contributions. and you’re never too warm or too cold because the air inside the building is TripAdvisor’s screening system controlled at a constant 75 degrees. seems to work effectively enough for If you—and dog, maybe—need to take a break or get some fresh air, you people to trust its content, which is can saunter onto the balcony and sit on one of the Adirondack chairs. Lunch changing the nature of travel for vacaat the office is always an adventure. You know that wood-fired pizza and cold- tioners, and just as importantly, hotels cut sandwiches are always available, but you’re never quite sure what gourmet and resorts around the world.
I
50
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
Meal time at the TripAdvisor offices
“It used to be that if you wanted to go to a resort, you would read a magazine review,” says Mark Snider, owner of the Nantucket Hotel and Resort. “The business was more in control of what was said to the marketplace. Now the customer is in control.” Kate Stephenson, the general manager of Surfsong Villa Resort, in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, says she keeps in mind the following Maya Angelou quote when trying to please guests. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I’ve personally relied upon TripAdvisor reviews many times in recent years, but I’ve never submitted one of my own. If were to change my ways, I’d start by reviewing the company’s headquarters, and giving it the maximum five green circles— even if I keep ignoring my padded resume. Nantucket’s sumptuous waterfront hotel The White Elephant Hotel is a TripAdvisor award winner. E A R LY
SPRING
2016
51
Surfsong in Tortola is ranked #11 in TripAdvisor’s 2016 Traveler’s Choice list of top 25 small hotels in the Caribbean. Stephenson considers the site’s guest reviews as an opportunity to better know what her customers’ needs are—even for little things, like offering beach chairs that can be taken off-property to visit some of the local beaches. “We’re constantly looking to improve the facilities and services, and these details help.”
Colleen Doumeng, of the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas, says “Customers looking for midrange accommodations with great service and lots to do will read reviews from past guests and feel reassured this is a place they’ll like,” Doumeng says. If they’re looking for a posh, five-star resort, they’ll probably look elsewhere. Bolongo Bay earned a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor and is rated the #1 hotel on the South Coast of St. Thomas.
The Palms at Pelican Cove, in St. Croix, is a Certificate of Excellence winner and the #1-ranked hotel in the town of Christiansted. Its assistant general manager, Marc Mullins, says, “Most resorts have come to understand how vital user-generated reviews can be in driving, or potentially turning away business. Yet even though customers may now have a louder megaphone than they did in the past, the owners of this property haven’t changed their mission for The Palms at Pelican Cove.
52
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
Little Anthony and the Imperials
R
CAPE COD
ock and Roll Hall of Famers Little Anthony and the Imperials bring their R&B/soul/doo-wop to the Provincetown Town Hall on April 16 at 7:30 pm. Tune into YouTube and it is evident these 60’s recording artists remain at the top of their game defining harmonies along with the distinctive falsetto of lead sinter Jerome “Little Anthony” Gourdine. Thank-you Payomet Performing Arts Center for bringing this musical treat to Provincetown where we will be on our feet movin’ and groovin’ to the music of our mothers, sisters, and, for many of us, ourselves. Also on the bill is Cape Cod native and American Idol finalist, Siobhan Magnus. Tickets start at $42 ad go up to $125 which gives you a meet and greet with the stars. payomet.org.
Tunes for the ages: Tears on my Pillow, Going Out of my Head, Hurts so Bad
Photo: Barry M. Miller
Singer, songwriter and “American Idol” finalist and Cape Cod native Siobhan Magnus is the opening act for Little Anthony and the Imperials.
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
53
54
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
PROVINCETOWN
“There is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of man.” —Herman Melville, Moby Dick
Photo: Stephen Borkowski
“The three-day readathon is a natural fit for us. Moby Dick is the most articulate book ever written about an industry that truly defined 19th century America and Provincetown played a huge part in all of that, well into the 1920s.” Actors Adam and Ben Berry, on board the a half scale replica of the fishing schooner the “Rose Dorothea,” built inside the Library. Photos: Chuck Anzalone
T
A practice run with the Executive Director of the Provincetown Library Matt Clark and Library Trustee Stephen Borkokwski
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
—Provincetown Library Trustee Stephen Borkowski
ownspeople and local actors will celebrate Provincetown’s rich whaling history with a three-day event at the Provincetown Public Library, a marathon reading of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. “Like most folks, I was forced to read the book in school,” says Matt Cark, Executive Director of the Provincetown Library, “but after seeing the book read at a similar event at the Whitney in New York, I realized not only the intense power of the novel but the humor.” Say what! Moby Dick funny? “Yes, funny,” Clark emphasizes, “there is a long section in the book about Ishmael’s fears about sharing a bed with a cannibal (that would be Queequeg) and comical passages about shrunken heads. Seeing and hearing Moby Dick read live creates an entirely different element to the size and scope of the book.” One and all are invited to the three-day event that will also include a theatrical interpretation of certain passages by local actors. The Moby Dick marathon begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 22nd at the historic Provincetown Public Library. provincetownlibrary.org 55
PROVINCETOWN
56
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
PROVINCETOWN
Photo courtesy of The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
T
RAGNAR RELAY RACERS RETURN TO PROVINCETOWN: MAY 13–14 he nationwide relay race known as Ragnar brings thousands of racers and those who love them to the Cape tip town of Provincetown where the 200 mile race finishes with a fun celebration. Bring a picnic and enjoy one of the best views on Cape Cod from atop the largest all-granite structure in the Unites States. The Pilgrim Monument proudly symbolizes the first landing of the Pilgrims. (Provincetown not Plymouth)
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
57
Dorothy, Toto, Glinda and rest of the gang land In Boston The Wizard of Oz at Boston’s historic Wang Theatre APRIL 12–24
“Well bust my buttons!” The largest stage in New England is a fitting setting for one of the most beloved classics of all time. This new production of The Wizard of Oz is revamped with the most memorable songs of any movie musical ever produced. Added bonus with this show are new songs by the award winning duo Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tickets range from around $30 on up. Citicenter.org
58
Cape Air’s Art in Flight Cape Air’s Cessna 402s by famed airbrush artist Jürek
S
PIE AND MORE FOR NANTUCKET, BOSTON AND NEW YORK PASSENGERS Photo: Dan Cutrona
pring brings Oprah’s favorite pie shop to the Barnstable Municipal Airport in the heart of Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Years ago La Winfrey (pre-spokeswoman days for Weight Watchers) tasted the chicken pot pie at the Centerville Pie Shop and declared it to be the best. Life has never been quite the same for owners Laurie Bowen and Kristin Broadley who are bringing their homemade pies and lots more to the airport. “We are thrilled to be able to provide this great service to our passengers,” says Suzanne Kennedy with the Barnstable Municipal Airport. In addition, we have arranged parking that allows others to stop in to enjoy a meal at the restaurant so it works for those flying in and out as well as folks in the area.” We send a special welcome to the Centerville Pie Company for not only are we especially crazy over the “Mixed Berry” but they are also long time members of the Bird’s Eye View family. A preview of what’s in store at CentervillePies.com. For those living elsewhere they do ship.
Centerville Pie Shop owners Laurie Bowen and Kristin Broadley
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
59
You’re Invited.
MAINE
Monhegan Blow Dryer‌
207.596.0371 www.islandinnmonhegan.com
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
61
SNOWMOBILING, HIKING, SNOWSHOEING AND FAT BIKING IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK Photo: George Soules
A view of Long Pond from the Beech Mountain West Ridge Trail.
A
By Michelle Haynes
cadia National Park—America’s first national park on the east coast with land donated entirely by private citizens. It bears noting the citizens in question happened to be Rockefellers, Morgans, Astors, Vanderbilts; you get the picture. During the early 1900s these citizens lived the good life as summer folks in what they referred to as cottages, and the rest of us call mansions. To their credit, these rich and influential people realized the potential of their magnificent surroundings and the absolute need to keep the land protected. Thus, Acadia National Park is open and accessible to all, encompassing close to fifty thousand acres including the majestic peak of Cadillac Mountain, rising into the clouds at 1,530 feet. Bikers and walkers can enjoy 45 miles of carriage roads, considered to be the best example of broken stone roads in the United States. We can extend a tip of the hat to John D. Rockefeller as he oversaw the planning, funding and construction of the park’s carriage roads with the work lasting from 1913 thru 1940.
62
One of the newest way to explore a few of these unique carriage roads is the nation’s newest trend, known as in “Fat Tire Biking,” specially-designed bikes with fat tires allowing for easier navigation on the snowy trails. Yes, New England weather can be quirky but snow and Maine are pretty much a duo thru April. You can pedal to Seal Cove or make the trek up Cadillac Mountain for a snowy view and picnic lunch. Bicyclists should reference the park snowmobile map as a guide for where one is allowed to fat tire bike in the park. Bike rentals can be found minutes away from the park in downtown Bar Harbor. barharbormaine.com B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
MAINE
Photo: Barry Gutradt Fat Tire Biking in Bar Harbor
A FOODI E ALE RT
E
at your way thru Taste of Bar Harbor and work it off in nearby Acadia National Park. With so many places to walk and bike, no need to turn away from Maine’s epicurean event of the year, Taste of Bar Harbor, May 19th–May 22nd. Enjoy the Chef ’s Table, Pub Tour, Dessert Night as well as cooking classes and wine tastings. A full schedule at barharbormaine.com. E A R LY
SPRING
2016
63
A Troubadour Always: Don McLean
Photo: ©Howie Motenko
The world knows the song by the opening line..”Starry Starry Night but Mainer Don Maclean’s other hit is actually titled, “Vincent,” an homage to Van Gogh’s painting, The Starry Night.
D
By Susan Biemsderfer
on McLean is where you’ll often find him—on the road. He’s talking with Bird’s Eye View Magazine from Nashville, Tennessee, where he’s “getting a few tunes in the can” and wrapping up album number twenty-something, Botanical Gardens. There’s takeout being delivered soon, but he can talk for now.
64
The longtime Knox County, Maine resident is known worldwide for his fabled ballad, “American Pie.” The landmark 1971 single ranks fifth on the “Songs of the Century” list sanctioned by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Recording Industry Association of America. McLean’s fans circle the globe, still swarming to hear “American Pie,” as well as favorites like “Vincent” (aka “Starry Starry Night”.) His five decades of credits include hits such as “And I Love You So,” covered by Elvis Presley and made into a Grammy-nominated bestseller by Perry Como. And speaking of covers, McLean’s rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” topped the charts in the 1980s and prompted Orbison himself to call McLean “the voice of the century.” B I R D’S E Y E V I E W
As for the song and those lyrics? Music wonks have feverishly debated how much “American Pie” was specifically about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson in a 1959 plane crash—“the day the music died.” Theories abound on the extent to which the words are autobiographical. McLean concedes being weary of talking about it, but also that the song is about more than one moment in time. “I’ve lived long enough to understand the lyrics better than when I was young. Sure, the song’s about an end of a certain era, E A R LY
SPRING
2016
MAINE
So what keeps that storied voice still touring with his acoustic guitar, drawing large audiences in the U.K. and in Australia? “I make music, that’s what I’ve always done.” Besides, “I like getting out of the house. I’m 70 years old! I don’t want to be shuffling around somewhere.” “The house” comes with 175 sprawling acres in Camden, Maine, just outside of Rockland. No shuffling on the estate; just hiking, riding horses, and working on the next tune that bubbles up. “It’s hard to explain” he says, tipping the delivery guy, “but there’ always something new to write. I don’t do genre or repeat structures. I just do what I do. And I’m lucky; a lot of nice things have been happening for me.” In fact, more than a million nice things happened for McLean last year when Christie’s sold his original “American Pie” lyrics sheet for just over $1.2 million dollars, said to be the third highest auction price fetched for an American literary manuscript. The environment has always been close to McLean’s heart. He lists Acadia National Park on Maine’s Mount Desert Island as a beloved place, and goes for a little run outside almost every day—“helps with the breath control.” McLean, his wife Patrisha, and their two now-grown children were regulars for years at the nearby Snow Bowl, a haven for skiing and other outdoor sports.
but it goes beyond that.” His lyric notes that sold for a bundle reportedly say that it’s a “morality song” of sorts, acknowledging life is becoming “less idyllic.” And although McLean is reluctant to say more, he would rather talk about “American Pie” than most of the new music he hears today. “Not a lot of melody going on out there. Not a lot of lyrics. So there’s really not much left to listen to.” (For more on his life and outlook, McLean recommends the documentary Don McLean: American Troubadour, available on Amazon.) Adding melody to his story: McLean is a ballad-maker in more ways than one. By all accounts, the lyrics to the Grammy-winning Roberta Flack hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song” are based on a poem written by a young recording artist after she heard McLean perform. And if you really want to impress a music geek, throw in that at the 1974 Grammys, Flack’s song won out over the Perry Como rendition of McLean’s “And I Love You So.” By all of that, he is “humbled.” Of course there’s more to say—“there’s always more to say.” But for now, the takeout must be getting cold; it’s time to get back to work, finish that album. No wasting time; no wasting words. A troubadour’s work is never done. McLean’s 2016 calendar includes a rare appearance in Hyannis, Massachusetts on April 24th at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center. capecodshows.com 65
NEW HAMPSHIRE/VERMONT
Photos courtesy of Okemo Mountain Resort
Grab the Sunscreen and head to the Slopes Spring skiing is on!
T
By Gayle Fee
he calendar will say spring is coming soon but New England skiers know that March and early April are the most fun months to hit the slopes! “The atmosphere changes as the days get longer and the sun gets warmer,” said Okemo Mountain spokesgal Bonnie MacPherson. “There are more people hanging on the decks at lunch. There’s music in the air and everyone’s a little lighter and a little happier as the seasons change.” Okemo has a full slate of fun events lined up for spring skiers beginning with the AMP Energy Light the Night Rail Jam. Okemo is lighting up the snow on Bull Run for skiers and riders of all ages to show off their best moves with $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. Once the maple sap starts running, Okemo is filled with the sweet sounds of music at the Sugar Daze Concert Series. The free shows culminate with a huge outdoor concert extravaganza in the Jackson Gore courtyard. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the family with an on-mountain Scavenger Hunt & Après Ski Party. Cut-out shamrocks will be hidden along Okemo’s trails for the kids to find. When they bring the shamrocks to the Clocktower Base Lodge Resort Services desk, the little scavengers get a special prize bag filled with goodies. A St. Patrick’s Day Party for the grown-ups during Happy Hour features musical guests Gypsy Reel and Guinness on draft in the Sitting Bull Bar & Restaurant. The party continues at The Killarney with more Celtic music and more Guinness on draft. What’s not to love? On April 9th it’s the end-of-the-season fave, the AMP Energy Slush Cup. Costume-clad Slush Cup competitors schuss toward an 80-foot slushy pond and try to make it across without falling in. It’s a chilly spring dip for those who don’t make it.
E A R LY S PR I N G 2016
“Spring skiing is so much fun and we have a lot of crazy spring events,” MacPherson said. “And it’s always great to watch the transition of the snow as the day progresses. It turns from the frozen stuff from overnight to ‘corn snow’ until it’s almost like skiing on little ball bearings” The sun is warm, the grills are fired up and the snow is soft. Okemo is just 25 minutes from your Cape Air arrival at the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport. okemo.com 67
VE R MONT— HAPPY 6 0TH BIRTHDAY! Photos courtesy of Woodstock Inn & Resort
H
Woodstock Inn’s Suicide Six Resort circa 1941
By Gayle Fee
itting the slopes at Suicide Six sounds like a dangerous proposition, but don’t be fooled by the name. The South Pomfret, Vermont resort is one of the most family-friendly mountains in Vermont—and one of the oldest ski resorts in the country. “Sometimes people think the name gives the mystique that it is extremely challenging, but the area offers much more beginner and intermediate trails than the name would suggest,” said Courtney Lowe, marketing director at Woodstock Inn, which owns Suicide Six. The resort’s name dates back to the 1936 when Wallace “Bunny” Bertram, who operated the ski area from the 1930s to 1961, installed a tow on Hill Number 6. Bunny noted that it would be suicide to ski straight down the face, hence the name Suicide Six. Nestled in Vermont’s Green Mountains, Suicide Six has an impressive heritage. America’s first rope tow was built there in 1934. The resort also is host to the longest-running ski race in North America, the FISK Trophy Race. First held in 1937, the race is a rite of passage for serious eastern ski racers. Past winners include Bode Miller, Jimmy Cochran, Chip Knight and many other Olympians and U.S. Ski Team members. In 1982 Suicide Six was one of the country’s first resorts to allow “snurfing”—the sport that would morph into snowboarding. 68
The resort has terrain for skiers of every ability, but it is especially geared to families. The size of the mountain allows for all rails to funnel to one gathering area, so it’s almost impossible to lose your mini Bode Miller. “Skiing at Suicide Six is fun, peaceful, with small-to-no lift lines,” Lowe said. “Sipping on spirits at the ski area’s Out of Bounds restaurant is a perfect place to watch the skiers come down the mountain, [visible] through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows.” Suicide Six is just 30 minutes from the Cape Air counter at the Lebanon, N.H. airport. Celebrate New England’s ski heritage at Suicide Six this spring—it only sounds scary! woodstockinn.com/ski-area B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
NEW HAMPSHIRE/VERMONT
69
2016
SPRING
E A R LY
VERMONT/NEW HAMPSHIRE
Around the Corner & Around the World
Woodstock • Spacious 5BDRM/ 4BA custom designed Yankee Barn home on 12.95+/-acres. Located midway between Woodstock Village and the charming hamlet of South Woodstock in a neighborhood of attractive country homes. $985,000
Reading • 4BDRM/5BA contemporary on 11.48+/-acres designed to integrate indoor and outdoor living spaces. Beautifully appointed with the finest of materials and craftsmanship throughout. Sweeping long range views. $949,000
Pomfret • Privately sited 4BDRM/ 3BA home on 20.02+/-acres. Home is located on Old River Road which the State has designated as a scenic byway, with handsome historical homes and Billing’s Farm & Museum, VT’s only National Park. $1,395,000
Willamson-Group.com • 802.457.2000 Successfully Selling Real Estate For Over 40 Years 24 Elm • Woodstock VT • Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
70
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
VERMONT
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
71
Taking the Cure By Rebecca Alvin
Courtesy of the Adirondack Collection, Saranac Lake Free Library
T
A cure that worked—Breathing the cold: Tuberculosis patients spent 24 hours a day in the freezing Saranac weather, circa 1886.
he stunning Adirondack Mountain vistas and small-town charm of Saranac Lake, New York, are obvious, but aside from this picturesque backdrop, even a casual walk around town will put you in direct contact with Saranac’s unique history. The man who started it all was Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau, a sufferer from the brutal lung ailment often referred to as “consumption” and more popularly known as Tuberculosis or TB. Trudeau came to Saranac Lake in 1873 to cure himself of the disease that had earlier killed his brother. At the time, the area was sparsely populated, but he came to realize that the atmosphere of the Adirondacks had a healing effect, especially when he exposed himself to the cool mountain air, even sleeping outside, round-the-clock on a “cure porch.” Realizing the positive effects, Trudeau began to bring patients to Saranac for treatment and from the time he opened his Adirondack Cottage Sanatorium in 1885, until 1900, the town’s population went from under 200 to over 2,500, and continued to grow exponentially for decades. What were known as “Cure Cottages” developed all over Saranac, each with its own style. The cottages shared the common features of wraparound porches in front—some open-air, but many enclosed by epic windows attached to bedrooms. Patients were encouraged to stay in the open-air as much as possible, shielded from the below-zero temperatures only by the glass windows and heavy blankets. “There was an enormous pool of talent here because everyone had TB,” said Amy Catania, Executive Director of Historic Saranac, a key organization 72
for preserving this town’s unique history. She cites William Coulter, a renowned architect who was in Saranac recovering from his own case of TB who went on to build several cure cottages and camping facilities in town. Author Robert Louis Stevenson came to Saranac for the cure, as well. Indeed, so many people had the disease that if you can believe it fashion trends were inspired with women striving for the pale, thin TB look. The collective desire for a cure led to numerous private and institutional cure cottages, as well as several sanatoriums opening in the area. Along with the Saranac Laboratory Museum, which houses Dr. Trudeau’s actual lab, as well as an array of related artifacts and information, Historic Saranac operates a Cure Cottage Museum, which although a private home, can be toured at scheduled times throughout the year. B I R D’S E Y E V I E W
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
“It is in the air! Out of the darkness of the TB epidemic Saranac Lake and the majestic Adirondacks emerged as a major center for health and wellness that continues today. The range of outdoor activities is somewhat endless and extends year round including hiking, boating, yoga or a quiet sit in the chair named after the geography. Specifically designed for TB patients, the “cure chair” reclined back so patients could easily move from laying to sitting. The chair also featured wide arm rests to provide a place for a book, cup, plate etc. Something to keep in mind when you recline in your “cure chair” now called the Adirondack chair.
Photo: ROOST/adirondacksusa.com
In addition, Stevenson’s cottage is open to visitors during the summer months. A drive around this small Adirondack town yields stunning evidence of its past. Trudeau’s original cure cottage, known as “Little Red,” sits on the grounds of the Trudeau Institute, and his original sanatorium, which is more like a town unto itself (complete with its own post office), can also be seen. Originally run by the National Vaudeville Artists, the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital has now been converted into a senior independent living community, but the main Tudor revival building still looks the same as it did in its sanatorium days. “We have a total of 230 structures on the National Register of Historic Places,” Catania boasts. On Sunday, April 3 as part of the “Cabin Fever Sunday Series,” Catania will join Mary Hotaling, author of the upcoming biography A Rare Romance in Medicine: The Life and Legacy of Edward Livingston Trudeau, for a presentation which includes a screening of the new documentary on the Will Rogers Hospital, Hotel Hope. A book signing will follow the presentation at the Adirondack Museum from 1:30 to 4:00 pm.
SARANAC LAKE, NEW YORK
Courtesy of the Adirondack Collection, Saranac Lake Free Library
TB patient Robert Lewis Stevenson’s home is now a museum where visitors can see his bed and breathing apparatus as well as scrapbooks of both “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Kidnapped.”
73
THE ADIRONDACKS, NEW YORK
Photo: Dewey Mountain Recreation Center—John DiGiacomo
The Adirondacks—Acres of trails but where and how to start? Look no further than the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center for everything from snow shoes to skis and the guides to go with them. A perfect choice for a family getaway. adirondackoutfitters.com.
74
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
BLOCK ISLAND
Block Island’s Southeast Lighthouse
Photo: Gary Patronek
A Cape Air farewell, for now, to Block Island, Rhode Island
W
Photo: Joe Donlavey
By Michelle Haynes ith hopes of someday returning Cape Air service to the mystical island located twelve miles off the Rhode Island coast, Cape Air sends a bittersweet, “goodbye for now,” to Block Island. Bird’s Eye View regulars are familiar with my island raves for, within minutes of my first visit, I fell in love with the look, feel, ebb and flow of serenely beautiful Block Island. Underscore serene, for unless you choose to join the July throngs, when the island literally bursts at the seams, Block Island’s miles of bike and hike trails offer plenty of room to breathe and unplug from your “regular life,” sans the crowds. Avid cyclist, photographer and island-lover Gary Patronek says, “The lack of cars and crowds immediately dials down the energy and the winding roads invite you to slow down and enjoy the beautiful vistas. Around every turn you have miles of stone walls, the ocean and open grassy fields.” Despite the faraway feel, the getting there part of your Block Island escape is secure with the year-round Block Island Ferry from Point Judith, RI and daily year round air service with New England Airlines from Westerly, Rhode Island. Blockislandferry.com — Block-island.com
Cyclist/Photographer Gary Patronek
76
The Bird’s Eye View team sends a sincere thank you to Kathy Szabo and her team at the Block Island Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Willi at the Block Island Tourism Council and all of our supportive advertisers. We loved working with all of you in your singularly beautiful island. B I R D’S E Y E V I E W
RHODE ISLAND
Photos: Gary Patronek A beach around every bend when biking on Block Island.
Wine and nibbles offered every afternoon to guests at Block Island’s 1661 Inn.
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
77
BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND Close To Home, A World Away
BLOCK ISLAND 800-383-2474 • blockislandinfo.com
Just 12 miles off mainland Rhode Island sits the perfect island getaway. Relax, eat, shop, swim, kayak, fish, bike. That’s life on Block Island.
Cape Air flights easily connect T.F.Green Airport (PVD) to Block Island Airport (BID) seasonally
@blockislandinfo
78
/blockislandtourism
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
INDEX
In all likelihood you are reading this enroute to a Cape air destination. Perhaps it is business, maybe vacation, a wedding, or family gathering, whatever it is at some point you will want to eat, book a place for a present or future stay and have some fun—this page is for you. Please call upon our loyal family of advertisers for they are the folks that make the Bird’s Eye View possible and without this to read what in the world would you do during your Cape Air flight. We thank them for advertising and you for flying. Call it our Cape Air “Circle of Life.”
BLOCK ISLAND, RI Ballard Hall Real Estate .................... 78 Block Island Tourism ........................ 78 Phillips Real Estate ........................... 77 Sullivan Real Estate .......................... 78
Nantucket Inns ................................ 41 Nantucket Stock .............................. 43 Nantucket Windmill Auto Rental.......................................... 43 Nobby Clothes Shop .................... 36
BOSTON
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Boston Harbor Hotel ....................... 60 Macdonald & Wood Sotheby’s, Duxbury .................... 59
Martha Diebold Real Estate ......... 66
NEW YORK
Centerville Pie Co. ........................... 53
Ampersand Bay Resort................. 74 Guide Boat Realty ........................ 74 Hotel Saranac .............................. 75
MAINE
PROVINCETOWN/TRURO
The Country Inn .......................... 61 Fiore Olive Oils & Vinegars .......... 65 The Island Inn, Monhegan ........... 61 Lisa Hall Jewelry .......................... 61 Red Sky Restaurant...................... 61 Tea House 278 ............................ 63
Crown & Anchor ............................. 54 Provincetown Tourism Board........... 54 The Red Inn ................................. 56 Seashore Point Provincetown....... 56 Yolk Restaurant ........................... 56
MARTHA’S VINEYARD
Marble West Inn.............................. 70 The Red Clover Inn & Restaurant ............................... 69 Three Stallion Inn......................... 71 Vermont Horse Country Real Estate .............................. 69 Williamson Group Sotheby’s Realty. ..................... 70
CAPE COD
Breakwater Real Estate ................ 47 Casavant Select Properties, Inc. ... 49 Harbor View Hotel....................... 47 Harborside Realty ........................ 44 Homes on Martha’s Vineyard....... 44 Kelley House................................ 47 Martha’s Vineyard Buyer Agents........................... 44 Martha’s Vineyard Museum ......... 49 MVY Broker................................. 49 Vineyard Harbor Motel ................ 46
NANTUCKET Capt. Tom’s Charters ................... 36 Faregrounds & Pudley’s Pub ........ 43 Harborview Nantucket................. 36 Maury People Sotheby’s Realty...... 2 Michael Kane Lightship Baskets ........................................ 43 Nantucket Health Club.................... 40
E A R LY
SPRING
2016
VERMONT
CARIBBEAN: CULEBRA
THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ST. CROIX Arawak Bay ................................. 29 The Buccaneer ............................. 31 Calabash Real Estate .................... 26 Cane Bay Dive Shop .................... 31 Chenay Bay Beach Resort ............ 29 Cottages by the Sea..................... 29 Crucian Gold ............................... 26 Palms at Pelican Cove ..................... 26 Rattan Inn........................................ 29
ST. JOHN 340 Real Estate Co. ..................... 16 Arawak Expeditions, Inc............... 19 Islandia Real Estate ...................... 17 La Tapa Restaurant ...................... 17 Miss Lucy’s Bar & Restaurant ....... 16 Perfect Day Yacht Charters .......... 17 Seaview Vacation Homes ............. 19 St. John Ulitimate Villas ............... 19 Vacation Vistas Villa Rentals......... 18 Wish Upon A Star Charters ............ 4
ST. THOMAS Bolongo Bay Beach Resort ........... 23 Calypso Realty ............................. 23 Coki Dive Center ......................... 22 Dohm’s Water Taxi ...................... 25 Emerald Beach Resort .................. 22 Inter Island Boat Sevices .............. 22 Miller Manor Guest House........... 25
Dog Gone Sailing Charters........... 12
VIEQUES THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS BVI Tourism Board ....................... 83 BVI Villa Rental ............................ 84 Fort Burt Hotel & Marina ............. 35 Plum Rose Restaurant ..................... 35 Sol Y Sombra Villa ......................... 3 Speedy’s Ferry ............................. 35
Black Beard Sports ....................... 11 Vieques Flowers & Gifts ............... 11
79
CAPE AIR EVERYWHERE
80
B I R D’S
EYE
VIEW
Everyone loves a bargain, especially when it comes to airfares. Do not miss the latest and greatest when it come to Cape The best way to hear about special airfares andAir/Nantucket promotions isAirlines to join fare Capesales. Air’sLog on to capeair.com and click on ...check out details at capeair.com E A R LY
SPRING
2016
81
EarthView FA M I LY A F FA I R S By Jim Wolf, Director of Sustainability
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART (AND THE ROOFTOP SOLAR) IS
M
For us, For us, nothing but nothing green skies.but
an-made climate change is real. In December, every country Since then I have lost count of how on earth approved the historic Paris Agreement demonstrating many Cape Air employees have had global commitment to reducing the greenhouse gases that are home energy audits, improved the warming our planet. We’ve been pursuing our own carbon efficiency of their homes, and are reduction goals at Cape Air since 2010, when we commenced our Greening investigating or installing solar Initiative. The idea was to take a good look at our facilities and our flight panels on their roofs. In the spirit operations and take steps that would have positive environmental impacts. of Earth Day, let’s consider lead We did our research and then we dug in, investing in energy efficiency and Cessna 402 instructor Joe Saulnier solar power at our facilities, and modernizing our Cessna 402 fleet. and family. Joe and spouse Gretchen One of the interesting things about an employee-owned company is that just welcomed their first child, Aurora, every employee has an “ownership mentality”. Everyone had to tolerate a into this world, right around the time lot of disruption during our energy renovations and solar installations at of the signing of the Paris Agreement. headquarters. Cape Air’s HQ consists of a building that is part aircraft In January, the solar panels Joe and A fuel-efficient Cessna 402 proclaims our commitment to sustainability. maintenance hangar and part offices. A senior manager can take ten steps Gretchen had been planning for two out of the office and be “on the floor” with the mechanics. It can truly be years went201up 2 EPAon the roof. That’s what RENEWING said that we are all in this together! I call a true 21st century birthday As project manager, I was getting a lot of questions. What amazes me is that present for young Aurora! REDUCING A fuel-efficient Cessna 402 proclaims our commitment to sustainability. over those couple of years, not one question was asked about when construction would end. People wanted to know how much we were going to be 12 EPA RENEWING PARTNERING 20 reducing our carbon footprint, and how much electricity our new solar panels would generate. After answering as best I could, I always received a pat on the CONSERVING back and some follow up questions about how similar moves could be made REDUCING ta Committed to Sustainability. l M e ri t A w at a person’s home. People wanted the facts to share with friends and families! SUSTAINING 82 B I R D’S E Y E V I E W
green skies.
En
v ir o n m e
intosolar energy to power our corporate headquarters, along with Creative partnerships are part of whatOur makeinvestment our approach sustainability unique. We work with airports, communities, other and our employeesin onroofing, a wide range of localand lighting controls, bring us ever closer to efficiencies insulation goals, from Farm to School agriculturenet-zero programs to electricusage. vehicle initiatives. electricity
n
We support it at work and at home through recycling, waste reduction, sustainable Sure, airlines consume we’re product sourcing, and various green initiatives designed to excitefuel. and But inspire our committed to reducing the burn—both in the skies and on the ground. Combined new technology and flight procedures equally committed employees.
significantly reduce the fuel consumed in our super-efficient fleet of Cessna 402s.
PARTNERING
We fly to some beautiful places and want to help keep them that way. To “green” our planet and have a good time doing it. That’s our commitment. Creative partnershipsBecause are partweofrecognize what make our approach to sustainability unique. that our own ability to thrive hinges on the health of our natural environment.
We work with airports, communities, and our employees on a wide range of local goals, from Farm to School agriculture programs to electric vehicle initiatives.
We’re investing in tomorrow,
CONSERVING
d W ner in
l M e ri t A w
ar
n
ar
v ir o n m e
ta
Sure, airlines consume fuel. But we’re committed to reducing the burn—both in the skies and on the ground. Combined new technology and flight procedures significantly reduce the fuel consumed in our super-efficient fleet of Cessna 402s.
d W ner in
En
Our investment in solar energy to power our corporate headquarters, along with other efficiencies in roofing, insulation and lighting controls, bring us ever closer to net-zero electricity usage.