Nantucket Magazine
N
late spring 2010
NATHANIEL PHILBRICK
Beyond Nantucket CLAIRE MURRAY from local to global
SWIMMING AGAINST THE REAL ESTATE TIDE Elisa Allen's secrets to success
SMART POWER ON NANTUCKET Becoming Energy Independent
A TASTE OF TUSCANY in Tom Nevers PUMPKIN POND FARM Growing Organically
THE HOME ISSUE
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SQUAM 4VMZEXI [EPO XS FIEGL MRGPYHIW QEKRM½GIRX FIHVSSQ LSQI 4SSP GEFERE ½VITMX ERH PE[R EPP SZIVPSSOMRK XLI %XPERXMG 3GIER $17,950,000
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$% $ !#$!
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spring
N Magazine
N
Chairman and Publisher
Bruce A. Percelay Creative Director
Nathan Coe Copy Editor
Cris Farley Art Director
Paulette Chevalier Contributors
Kate Coe Terry Pommett Chip Webster Bryce Pearson Orla Murphy-LaScola Catherine Foster Photographers
Gene Mahon Terry Pommett Jeff Allen Cary Hazlegrove General Manager
Jeanette Garneau Advertising Director
Fifi Greenberg
CLAIRE MURRAY
HAND - HOOKED RUGS • HOME ACCESSORIES • DINNERWARE • TABLETOP • GIFTS
Advertising Sales
Rebecca Becker Publishers N, LLC
®
Chairman: Bruce A. Percelay President: Thomas L. duPont Vice President: Lynda A. Levy Secretary: Franklin Levy
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Nantucket Times 17 North Beach Street Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1515
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duPont REGISTRY 3051 Tech Drive St. Petersburg, FL 33716 800-233-1731 TM
©Copyright 2009 Nantucket Times. Nantucket Times (N Magazine) is published seven times annually from April through December. Reproduction of any part of this publication is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Editorial submissions may be sent to Editor, Nantucket Times, 17 North Beach Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. We are not responsible for unsolicited editorial or graphic material. Office (508) 228-1515 or fax (508) 228-8012. Artco Printing, Canton, MA.
Celebrate Nantucket with Claire’s new Rainbow Fleet Collection. NANTUCKET • 16 FEDERAL STREET • 508-228-1913 Shop online at www.clairemurray.com
Editor’s letter Welcome to N Magazine’s Late Spring issue where, for the first time in 2010, you can pull up a deck chair and read through our articles with the sun on your back! Creative Director — Nathan Coe
We have a most ambitious lineup of features including an exclusive interview with Nathaniel Philbrick by our publisher, Bruce Percelay. The cover portrait of Nat was shot by Cary Hazlegrove who beautifully captured our hometown author outside the Atheneum. The timing couldn’t be better as his latest work, “The Last Stand,” was released this month. In this, our HOME issue, we offer a photo essay of one of Kathleen Hay’s most recent residential renovations exquisitely shot by Jeff Allen. We also highlight Elisa Allen, a designer who has achieved remarkable success in a challenging real estate environment. With the approval of the offshore wind farm this past month, guest writer Chip Webster shares energy-generating ideas with home solar and wind technology. Chip suggests a myriad of ways to reduce our impact on the Island environment with innovations as substantial as geothermal heating systems or as simple as kitchen counter tops made from recycled paper. For something a little ‘meaty,’ we surveyed Island realtors and bankers in our “Glass Half Full, Half Empty” feature, who weighed in with honest and diverse opinions on whether the real estate market is finally on the up or still under water. We get quite European in our N’Tertain feature as a group of guests, all professionals working in the home industry, are treated to an Italian feast with passionate and talented chef Evan Marley, owner of Pi Pizzeria. And Evan shows off on the ultimate home-cooking amenity-an oudoor brick oven! Terry Pommett focuses his lens on Pumpkin Pond Farm, the new certified-organic venue with his wonderful images of this quaint and highly anticipated farm created by Sconset Gardner, Marty McGowan. And we continue our N’Style feature this issue, as Kate Coe selects all things chic and fabulous for the home. Finally, N’s new copy editor, Cris Farley, interviews Dan Wolf, founder, president and CEO of Cape Air for our “Sand Dollar” feature. He also visits with Claire Murray for an intriguing read on how, from one tiny store on South Water Street, Claire followed her dream to become an international success story. I am thrilled to be a part of Nantucket Magazine and we’re very excited about these coming months, delivering lively subjects with a fresh, new style that we hope you are all going to love. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend
Nathan Coe
N magazine |
Creative Director
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★
★
★
carolyn thayer I N T E R I O R S
The personalized interior design center that comes to your Nantucket home
carolynthayerinteriors.com
| N magazine
508 257 4443 carolyn@carolynthayerinteriors.com
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Success in September...
begins this summer. From ABCs to SATs,
The Nantucket Learning Group can help any student get caught up, get ahead, or simply enjoy summertime enrichment. This year, we’re also proud to launch Sankaty Sitters, the island’s premier in-home childcare service… Fun for kids, inspired by teachers!
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N magazine |
The Nantucket Learning Group
childcare
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Late Spring 2010
N’Side this issue 16
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16
A Grand Tour of a Grand Home
An Interview with Claire Murray
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62 N’Tertain
28 Smart Energy on Nantucket
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Island Furniture Makers
68 Interior Design with Kathleen Hay
Renewable energy on Nantucket is increasingly popular due to mounting energy costs and our fragile environment. Guest writer Chip Webster shares with us his expertise on energy options.
A stunning photo essay by Jeff Allen on one of the Island’s most spectacular homes situated in Shawkemo.
72 Nathaniel Philbrick
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Half Empty or Half Full
74 Foggy Sheet
44 N’Style
Sand Dollar
76 What’s the Dish? The power tables of Nantucket
Cover Swimming Against the Real Estate Tide
NATHA PHILBRNIEL
Beyond N ICK antucket
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Nantuck et Magazin e late spring 2010
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56
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CLAIRE
Pumpkin Pond Farm
from loc MURRAY al to globa l
SWIMMIN G AGAINS THE REAL ESTATE T TIDE secrets to success SMART PO Becoming WER ON NA NT Energy In dependen UCKET t A TASTE OF TUSC ANY in To m Nevers PUMPKIN POND FA RM Elisa Allen 's
nantucke
Growing Organicall y
tfoggysh
eet | peop
THE HOME ISSUE
le & part
ies
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One North Beach Street Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
Great Point Properties
58 Center Street — Dining Room — Before
R E N TA L S
★
SALES
508 228 2266
800 998 0890
TOLL FREE
58 Center Street — Before
Cliff views
| N magazine
Heirloom offering in a truly exceptional location on highly sought after Lincoln Circle perched on the Cliff with views over the harbor’s entry to Great Point and beyond. This over-sized property runs from Lincoln Avenue down to Jefferson Avenue which ensures open views and outdoor space rarely available in this neighborhood.
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$12,900,000 Edward Sanford Laura Fletcher Stuart Reid Nichole Marks
Bill Liddle Cam Gammill Tracy King AmandaTosch
Greg McKechnie Julie Gasco Carl Lindvall Phil Witte
Wayne Howington Dawn Holdgate Debbie Deeley Culbertson Nina Hallowell Liddle
Barbara Joyce Sam Parsons Liz Finlay
www.greatpointproperties.com
what was once a much-loved club became a barren clubhouse and a quintet of disintegrating courts, where the only shots dropping were clams launched by the seagulls.
Enter Tom Johnson and Andy Levene, two Delaware friends and businessmen
NEWS | TIDBITS | ITEMS OF INTEREST
Double Servings in Madaket
N’Sider
N’Sider
news l tidbits l items of interest
whose young families visited Nantucket, fell in love with it, and soon became Millie’s second floor looking eastward towards the bar
summer residents. When their Island travels eventually led them past Tristram’s,
Anyone heading out to Madaket this
the second floor, and the stately fireplace
spring will, no doubt, happen upon
that used to dominate the dining room is
two exciting projects – one the total
now gone, leaving an unobstructed 360-
renovation of a Madaket landmark;
degree view.
"Andy and I began this project with the goal of creating an easy-going,
the other, demolition that precedes the rebirth of a once-loved club.
the seeds of a dream were planted.
family-friendly club in a relaxed, “Cal-Mex,” a diverse, seafood-taco menu
tranquil environment,” Tom recalls now.
made popular in the San Diego area will The renovation is happening at the site
be featured, and the four partners are
of the old Westender restaurant, clearly
betting the concept will work out there
a favorite over the past several decades
where the blazing sun sets over the
to locals and “out-of-town” diners looking
Atlantic. The return of the Madaket
for a stunning sunset and a refreshing
Mystery alone should get the party
Madaket Mystery. Over the past decade
started once again.
Demolition of the old clubhouse will take place before the summer construction moratorium sets in, but Tom and Andy will refurbish the existing tennis courts and offer them to the community throughout this summer
the Westender fell victim, first to an
without charge to anyone willing to
uncertain and shifting culinary concept
make the trip out to Madaket. Total
and ultimately, in 2007, to the economy.
replacement of the courts with Har-Tru surfaces, as well as construction of a lowAll that will change as “Millie’s” opens
key, one-story clubhouse, a family and
for business this June. The name, of
children’s pool and restoration of the
course, pays homage to maybe Madaket’s
now-overgrown Goose Creek Pond will
most celebrated denizen. But it also
begin in the fall. It is in that low-key
marks a return to the cozy, casual dining
spirit that memberships will be kept
experience reaching back to her heyday that Bo Blair and his partners, David Scribner, Tom Scott and Luke Russert, are looking to create for the Summer of 2010.
affordable and family-oriented. Exsisting tennis courts
About half a mile east of Millie’s, nestled in a hollow off Madaket Rd., lies the vestigial remains of what was once
untouched; it’s the inside that is
Tristram’s Landing Tennis Club.
stay true to the tradition and narrative of Madaket and Nantucket,” says Tom. “Both this summer and when the club opens, we hope it will become an
completely re-built. The small upstairs
integral part of what we all treasure
bar has given way to a long bar which
By the late 1990’s, however, time and
stretches across the entire east side of
inactivity took its toll on Tristram’s, and
about spending time here.”
N magazine |
The exterior of the building remains
“We believe the Island Raquet Club will
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A New Home for
Claire Murray
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Interview by Cris Farley
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Portrait by Kindra Clineff
N Mag: There’s a saying, “Living the Dream,” that
shops. I developed something I called “learning vacations” and I
describes how people might feel when they’ve found
brought women from all over the world to those. They were booked
their way to their fantasy life. Is that an accurate
solid for 10 years. I just think women, sometimes they just have to
description of your connection to Nantucket?
come up with innovative ideas.
CM: Absolutely!, Absolutely! You know, I discovered Nantucket in the late ‘70’s. I’d been living in New York for several years, I was studying
N Mag: And that’s what you did.
art at the National Academy, and I found myself single, basically
CM: I sure did.
looking for a place that would be a safe and friendly environment to raise a child in. That’s what really led me to Nantucket, because we’d been living in the City, and we’d actually gotten mugged in Central Park (she laughs) and I thought, ‘You know what? This isn’t the best place for a little girl.’ At that time New York was a lot scarier than it is now.
N Mag: How did you happen upon the store that became “Claire Murray”? CM: Oh! Well, again, the thing about being an entrepreneur is that you have to be brave enough to make certain decisions when the time comes. And what was happening was that I was going to lose
N Mag: How did you find your way to Nantucket?
my yarn supply. Nantucket Needleworks and Nantucket Looms were
CM: I wanted to find a place that was a safe environment for her, and
at one time the same company. It was called the Nantucket Cloth
it wasn’t just Nantucket that I went to. I decided that I would open an
Company. I mean, this goes way back to when Walter Beinecke first
inn someplace and that way I could be there. Obviously, I wanted to
started developing the Island, and it was Walter’s wife who had
find a way to support myself and her also, and I ended up going to
started Nantucket Needleworks. So Nantucket Cloth Company split
several places in New England, I went out to Block Island, and then
into two totally different businesses. The Looms stayed on Main
I discovered Nantucket. I’m not from the East Coast. I’m from the
Street where Ralph Lauren is now, and Nantucket Needleworks of
Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, right across from Vancouver
course started at 11 South Water Street. Now, I was going to lose my
Island, so I was totally unfamiliar.
yarn supply because at that time the couple who owned Nantucket Needleworks and produced
N Mag: What was your impression of the Island when you
these wonderful yarns were
first arrived?
retiring. I think they were in their
CM: Well, I fell in love with Nantucket, to be perfectly honest with
80’s. So I ended up buying it for
you. I loved it. I felt it had a…now this is going to sound a little
no other reason than I needed to
strange, I guess…but for me at that time I found a very strong
protect that yarn, because I was
feminine influence on the Island. And I figured it was because the
hooking rugs (again, laughter)
whalers had all been out to sea and their wives were probably
and I needed it. This was in
running the Island. You had beautiful gardens and rose arbors which
1986, I think, and so I ended up
I thought were just so welcoming. I found it to be a very peaceful place,
with a retail store. And that store
and very safe. It turned out to be a wonderful place to raise a child.
on South Water Street became
Photo Terry Pommett
the first Claire Murray store.
N Mag: The “feminine” influence you describe, that’s kind of a
N Mag: That was the very first Claire Murray Store?
CM: It’s a wonderful compliment! I fell in love with Nantucket and
CM: Yes it was. I started my whole company on Nantucket Island at
made it my year-round home for 10 years. I opened an inn and that’s
that location.
what I did. During those 10 years I also had seminars and work-
N magazine |
compliment you’ve offered us about Nantucket, isn’t it?
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N Mag: You might be one of the only nationallyknown artists who ever started their career by opening a little store on Nantucket. CM: I know it! What’s interesting is that now I have another company, a publishing company, which I started about seven years ago. And the reason I started La Vie Claire was because my stores were only on the East Coast, and I wanted to bring people into my stores, the most prominent of which is my Nantucket store. And they’re going to be surprised this year because we’re no longer at that location!
N Mag: This year you’re going to open your doors at a brand-new location. Can you describe the emotions that must be running through you as you prepare for this new chapter in your Nantucket story? CM: Well, I’ll tell you something interesting. I didn’t get out there until Daffodil Weekend, that Saturday just as the parade was starting. And I actually went there with some trepidation because after 23 years at the same location, and having started my company at that location, I thought it was going to be kind of emotional to see somebody else in that store. And as it turned out, I absolutely love my new store. I’m not saying that the location is necessarily better, but in the building I’m in now, we’re able to showcase the products in a much better way.
N Mag: What new Claire Murray inspirations can visitors expect to see this year?
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CM: Now, I’m a person who’s constantly inspired, especially by my
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surroundings. And last summer, I was out with some friends in the middle of sailboat race week, and I just couldn’t believe the colors of that rainbow fleet. You know, it used to be a few colors. Now it’s stripes and polka dots, and I got so inspired that this winter I worked on a very extensive, brand-new rainbow fleet collection.
Above and Left Portraits: Vanessa Rogers
N Mag:
N Mag: You said that you had classes back
have classes making sailor’s valentines, and
And will the
when you had your inn here. In your new
I’m thinking we may want to start offering
rainbow fleet
location will you still be teaching students?
those classes here as well.
be available in the store?
N Mag: There’s no question that
CM: Not only
you’ve been an inspiration in so
that, and
many ways to all on Nantucket.
again this
Thanks for sharing a bit of your
goes back to
life here with us.
inspiration, I just expanded to be able to distribute right in the U.K. and I decided I wanted to do a line that was kind of celebrating my new U.K. program, CM: Absolutely. We still continue
available at the Nantucket store. So if you can
that because we have a lot of
imagine the English chintz from the past in a
people, including men, by the way,
new rug collection. And it turned out
who like to make these rugs
absolutely gorgeous. The woman who’s over-
themselves. We’ll have classes in
seeing the program there lives in Chelsea, so
rug hooking, of course, and in all
Claire’s new rainbow fleet line of rugs.
I called this line Chelsea Gardens.
the needle arts. And on the Cape we
©Claire Murray
N magazine |
so I did a chintz line of rugs, which will also be
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| N magazine
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N magazine |
508.228.6611
BOSTON . NEW YORK . NANTUCKET . NEWPORT 21
A Touch of Tuscany by the Sea Written by Cris Farley Photography by Nathan Coe
Evan Marley spinning his crust
It’s a hazy, late-afternoon spring day, and we’re out in Tom Nevers anxious to enjoy an alfresco picnic, Mediterranean-style. Our hosts for the feast are summer residents, the Schmidt family, Wendy and John, and children Tom, Ali and Mike, who have offered us their spectacular hideaway set just yards across protected conservation land from the south coast of the Island.
| N magazine
The Schmidt family in Tuscany 2008
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‘Tertain
Purchased in 2004, the Schmidts treated their summer house to a major renovation starting in 2008. Tonight will be the initial gathering to take place on their new stone poolside patio. It will feature the first outdoor wood-fired brick pizza oven ever created for a residence on Nantucket. Son Tom Schmidt, amateur pizza chef, health food aficionado and third-year law student was the motivating force in the Schmidt decision to create this unique venue for outdoor food that’s healthy and fun.
other Mediterranean culinary
not only built the patio, oven and the adjacent Tuscan grills
delights have increasingly
(which are top-heated flat-brick surfaces designed as
worked their way into the ‘dining-
Southern Europe’s answer to the Weber grill) but he also
out rotation’ on Nantucket since
shepherded the approval process for
Evan and Maria Marley opened
this new type of pizza oven through
Pi Pizzeria on West Creek Rd. in
the Historic District Committee last
2007. Who better, then, to be
fall. So everybody’s excited to be
our guide in this epicurean
along on this maiden voyage.
adventure but Chef Evan himself?
Once a comfort food found in the
“I spend half my time explaining
frozen food section of the supermarket
to people that burned crust
or delivered from Domino’s to your
doesn’t mean ruined pizza,” Evan explains as he breaks out his
front door, gourmet pizza as well as
cooking tools, dough, the secret Pi Pizza marinara, condiments,
N magazine |
Lindsay Congleton, owner of Atlantic Landscaping Company,
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| N magazine
N
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‘Tertain
Roy Weeden, Chris Kling and Chip Stahl
seasonings and, most uncharacteristically for this low-key food master, his chef’s garb. “It’s a monkey suit, but I’ll wear it,” says the chef.
It is 5 o’clock and the guests are about to arrive, but the oven has been stoked and burning wood since noon, the Tuscan Grills since 3 p.m. “You need it at 800 degrees and that takes us four or five hours in the restaurant,” Evan has instructed, and so flames have been lapping out the door and smoke has been billowing up the chimney all afternoon. Quite the production, but if you appreciate wood-fired pizza or other grilled delights, it’s clearly a labor of love - almost
clams in their shell, Sicilian salt capers,
While pizzas are cooking in the oven, the
fresh garlic, oregano, Evan’s marinara sauce
Tuscan grills are now ready to receive food,
like a ritual.
and into the oven it goes.
and Evan doesn’t disappoint. Over burning
And 90 seconds later, out
‘Sconset Woodsman logs set just an inch
Guests this evening include Chris
it comes, steaming,
below the grill, arrive two T-bone steaks,
Kling and Laura Fletcher, realtors at
bubbling, black-crusted
dusted with Montreal seasonings. Next go the
J. Pepper Frazier and Great Point
veggies. Cleaned and tossed in olive oil,
Properties respectively, Roy Weeden from
they will be seared and served within
Maury People and Chip and Karli Stahl,
minutes, to be eaten with the steaks or
home builders and interior decorators
simply picked up by hand, the perfect
who have recently relocated here from
picnic appetizer.
Rochester, N.Y. The steaks quickly give way to rosemary First up are the pizzas, the dough for which Evan
and brimming
red potatoes, diced, blanched and
swirls into the air above his head. A real crowd-
with an aroma
sprinkled with olive oil. Once pan-
pleaser, but Evan is critical of his own show. “You
only wood-fired
seared in their cast iron skillet, they
do that and the dough recoils and gets harder to
cooking at 800
are positioned at the oven’s mouth, its
work with,” he confides. “Small little pushes
degrees can inspire. As the guests grab the
coolest part but still hot enough to keep
around the edge, that’s what you want.”
eight tapas-like slices of pie, in slides Evan’s
them warm and tasty. The finale is saved for
Evan serving up his pi
Laura Fletcher
Evan starts work on what a guest refers to as a mini-pie. “That’s not a mini,” Evan corrects, “it’s the classic 12-inch pie they serve And he should know since he and wife Maria spend every Nantucket off-season in Naples and on the Amalfi Coast of southern Italy. The first classic pie is prepared with Manila
the Tuscan grill. Evan has prepared two
shell and local baby squid over marinara.
whole red snappers by stuffing them with
Quickly there follows a classic margarita pizza,
bunches of thyme and rosemary, and he’s
with marinara, fresh Italian mozzarella (“It’s
scored the skin, inserted seasonings and
called ‘Fleur de Latte’ in Naples”), fresh basil
sprinkled olive oil, salt and pepper. The
and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. The
snapper is placed right on the grill, and
EVOO gives it that crispy, blackened crust
again the wood seasoning infuses the fish
people learn to love at Pi’s.
with an unexpected, savory, tang.
N magazine |
in Naples where everyone gets their own pizza.”
next creation; native Nantucket mussels in
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‘Tertain
It’s no surprise that in an alfresco environment such as this, there are no formal courses and nobody sits. Food arrives and people congregate, sipping wine, grazing the table for the next course, enjoying a spring evening gathering overlooking the Atlantic.
CHRISTOPHER
And it has been a wonderful opportunity to experience a Mediterranean feast executed by a chef who clearly loves his work, and who
OBERG
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ph: 508.325.6300 www.christopheroberg.com email: christopheroberg@comcast.net
is a master of this classic genre.
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“The enthusiasm of citizens and businesses eager to contribute to the creation of an affordable green home here was inspiring. “
| N magazine
– Chip Webster
28
Becoming
ENERGY INDEPENDENT Written by guest writer Chip Webster
on Nantucket
Where grey was once the predominant color that served as the backdrop to life here, it is “green”, as in “green living,” that will drive us as we face a brave new world of energy independence.
But what does that mean for Nantucket and why is it important? Because we are important and our survival depends upon how we embrace this brave new world. Historic preservation has long been one of Nantucket Island’s highest priorities and serves as a model for many other communities nationally. Still, we have been able to upgrade the efficiency and air quality of our restored homes by disguising systems while improving system performance. The Historic District Committee has been notably accommodating in allowing owners to incorporate these alternative energy systems.
A group of Nantucket High School Students embarks on a project to raise their own windmill into the
The Island’s enthusiasm for sustainable new building has become
wind-strafed Island sky but they
increasingly evident. Small Friends School on Nobadeer Road is
are wary watching to see what
Nantucket’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
happens out at Bartlett’s.
Design) certified building using passive heating and cooling. The Worden family home on Esther Island is powered by wind and solar energy. Numerous homes across the Island incorporate green technologies.
Many in the building trades recently contributed Island “ecoconsciousness” to this year’s Habitat for Humanity home, another example of our community in action. The enthusiasm of citizens and home here was inspiring. Opposite page stock image, Above image by Nathan Coe
N magazine |
businesses eager to contribute to the creation of an affordable green
29
Using less energy is one of the mantras of the green movement. On Nantucket there are many technologies such as solar hydronic, solar photovoltaic, wind power, geothermal, and air-sourced heat exchangers that can be utilized to conserve our precious energy resources.
One of my favorite systems is solar hydronic. The concept is simple; use the sun to heat water. The hot water can then be used either to heat the house through a radiant tube system, or to provide hot water for showers, washing and other domestic uses. Energy studies have shown that peak hot water production here is for our showers in the summer, which means that solar hydronic is a no-brainer for families on Nantucket.
Despite our growing pains, we will see more and more wind turbines
| N magazine
on the Island. They come in all shapes and sizes and can provide
30
Above: Stock image Left: Island home using wind and solar generators
power for an entire community or a single house. One example is the
Nantucket voters recently adopted zoning regulations allowing
Worden residence on Esther’s Island, which utilizes a vertical axis
wind turbines island-wide. While in most communities there are
turbine. Although they are a bit less efficient than horizontal axis
substantial boundary setback requirements for wind turbines,
turbines, vertical axis turbines offer a number of other advantages.
usually equal to at least the height of the tower, on Nantucket the
They take up a smaller footprint, are able to handle a larger range of
only setback requirement is whatever already exsits within that zoning
wind speeds, and do not have to reposition themselves when the wind
district, so we may be seeing increasing numbers of turbines for
direction changes.
single homes.
Bartlett’s Farm recently installed a mid-sized horizontal axis turbine.
Of course, sun and wind come from the sky, but there are other eco-
Students at Nantucket High School are in the process of installing
friendly energy systems that spring from the earth. One of the most
one, and there are studies in place for turbines at the town landfill.
common is geothermal. The concept for geothermal is to use the earth
The Cape Wind project, which has been garnering necessary approvals
as a giant battery, drawing heat from the earth when you need it, and
for a number of years, proposes to utilize a number of large turbines,
putting it back in when you don’t. This is accomplished by running
all of which would also be horizontal axis models.
fluid through pipes that go into the earth. Once you descend below five feet, the earth’s temperature is a constant 55 degrees year-round.
N magazine | 31
Countertop made of 100% recycled paper
When the air temperature is below 55 degrees, you can capture the heat from the earth, compress it into a higher temperature, and heat your home. In summer, the system provides cool air by running in reverse and returning heat into the earth.
There are many options for providing green heating and cooling for our homes and creating energy in ways that are far more friendly to the earth than burning old dinosaurs and other fossil fuels. Nantucket may be small, but we have green goals and sustainable living practices already in place. And as did the Nantucketers of yore, we are staying ahead of the times by being resourceful and conscientious. Let us
| N magazine
continue to stay the course.
32
Call Janet today!
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N magazine |
The Insider’s Guide to Nantucket only on Plum TV and streaming live on plumtv.com.
WE’RE AT THE AIRPORT – WE’LL MEET THE BOAT!
33
N Mag: You have become such an iconic figure on Nantucket
N Mag: Do you feel that the portrayal of whaling was
that everyone thinks you were born here, but you’re actually
glorified to the exception of its darker side?
from Pittsburgh.
NP: I think that a lot of aspects in America’s history were presented
NP: I did grow up in Pittsburgh but it was (my wife) Melissa’s
that way to the succeeding generations. In fact, whaling was so
job that brought us here. In 1986, I was home with the kids, a
romanticized it almost seemed that a harpoon would go into
freelancing journalist, and she was working at a law firm in
the air, hit the whale and “poof” it would become whale oil. A
Boston. Foley Vaughan and Kevin Dale were looking for an
lot of my motivation for some of the chapters in “In The Heart
associate and she
of the Sea” was
came down and
to show just how
interviewed. It was
bloody a business
a leap of faith, but
it was. And it
it proved to be a
was bloody.
terrific place to raise kids, and
N Mag: What is
I fell in love with
most remarkable
the Island’s history.
about the work
| N magazine
that you do, is
34
N Mag: Relative
that you take
to Nantucket’s
stories that have
history, this
previously
island had one
received much
of the most
attention, and find
successful
an entirely new
economies in the
twist on them.
world during the
Indeed, you’re
heyday of whaling
almost a forensic
despite an economy
historian. Does
of physical size
that make you suspect a lot of the history that we are fed as
and population. How do you explain this remarkable
being the gospel truth?
success measured against how small Nantucket was?
NP: Yes, but one of the things I have found is that what happened
NP: Islands bred extremes, extremes in failure and extremes
in the past is a lot like today. It is messy and complicated. No
in success. The people who came to Nantucket wanted to be
one really knew what was going on and people had all sorts of
left by themselves. They were surrounded by an extraordinary
ambiguous motives. And so, I am suspicious of views of the
resource: whales, and had no other alternatives. The soil
past that see it as a great inspirational jumping-off point
wasn’t good for farming, they were way out at sea and so
toward what we would become. The more you look into how
they launched into whaling with a single-minded intensity
squishy the evidence is, the more you begin to look at it with
that no one else could match.
a cocked eyebrow as ‘hmm, what really did happen?’
with Nathaniel Philbrick Interview by Bruce A. Percelay
N Mag: Your new book is called
ended up having immense respect for
“The Last Stand.” It‘s quite a leap from
the position that he took as leader of his
Great Point to Little Bighorn. What drew
people at that difficult time.
you to this piece of history and this part
Portrait by Cary Hazlegrove
of the country?
N Mag: You are a prolific writer, yet it
NP: Well, growing up in Pittsburgh, I saw
took you four years to research and
“Little Big Man” when I was a freshman
write this book. Do you work on books
in high school and it blew my socks
simultaneously, or how do you devote
off. I have been fascinated with
so much time to one book and still
Custer and that battle ever since. And
write so many?
after “Mayflower,” which ends with a
NP: I work at it book by book and work
cataclysmic native English battle, I
seven days a week. I am always working
thought, you know,’ Where does it lead?’
one way or another. I’m reading something
N Mag: So many of your books involve
Well, it leads to the Battle of the Little
related to it and I enjoy that.
leaders. Is it part of your approach to
Bighorn. Like “Mayflower,” it’s a story
I mean, it’s not only a job; I
look for characteristics
we all know, but what the heck do we
won’t say it’s how I relax, but
that are thematic of
getting itchy towards the end. I really wanted to get down to writing it, but I’m glad I waited because the background was very useful. I guess I’m sort of an at-home workaholic.
really know? And, on the other aspect,
these leaders in terms
I’ve been writing about the wilderness
of their personalities?
of the sea, as sort of the counter to the
NP: Yes, leadership is a
wilderness of the West that everyone
huge part of all my
knows. I finally wanted to explore the
books and really what
West in the context of how I had been
I’m looking for are
doing it by sea.
situations in which a small community,
N Mag: You are an historian, but in this
whether it’s a ship at
book did you feel a particular empathy
sea, whether it’s a
with either Sitting Bull or Custer?
regiment of cavalry or whether it’s a community like
it’s an element of
that all my preconceptions went out the
what I’m doing
Nantucket, is under stress. And
window, and I have to say I had more
every day. For
I want to see what that does to
sympathy for Custer than I ever would
this book I threw
people’s behavior; who emerges
have believed. But he was Custer and he
an extra year
as an effective leader, or not an
was a wild man. Sitting Bull was much
into it because
effective leader. That’s really a
more complex than I ever expected.
I was in new
theme through all of my books and
And, it is sort of the stereotype that
ground and really
usually it leads to all hell breaking
we have, that he refused to come in
wanted to spend
loose at one point or another.
and was the last of his tribe to surren-
a lot of time out
der. But, at the battle, he wanted to nego-
there. And I
tiate, he didn’t want to fight. And so I
found myself
Historical images clockwise Top Left: Libby Custer, Sitting Bull and Colonel Custer ©All Courtesy Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
N magazine |
NP: Yes, it really surprised me. I thought
35
N Mag: People tend to develop a gauzy
of build-up people are starting to see
picture of the past and thus the term
for this new book, will it be your
“the good ole’ days.” Would you rather
biggest yet?
be living today, or would you rather be
NP: I’m very superstitious, so I am not
living in a certain part of yesterday?
going to answer that question in any
NP: We all have this romantic feeling –
direct way. All I can comment on is that
yes, you go back, it was simpler, it was
the writing and research process were
more direct, it was better than now. But
some of the best four years that I’ve had
it was different, and the level of physical
in terms of working with the past and
discomfort was completely alien to
trying to write the book. I just found it
what we know. We have it so cushy.
really exhilarating and exhausting. This
Without central heating I think a lot of
process has aged me, you know. I can
us would end up in a fetal position.
really feel it, but it’s done and what happens, happens.
N Mag: In the 24 years you’ve been here the island has changed. Are you
N Mag: Can you give us any clue as to
worried about Nantucket, do you feel
any other projects that you have in your
that it has lost some of its soul?
sights right now?
NP: I’m fairly optimistic. When we
NP: I’m actually signed up for my next
came here in ’86 everyone was saying
one. It’s set in the American Revolution
“Change is a challenge, but part of what makes it exciting on this island is that we have change. It is part of life, and anyone who gets mad at the island for changing is holding it up to a standard that is not realistic. There is no place on earth that doesn’t change.”
that Nantucket wasn’t what it used
and, specifically, in Boston. As I said, I
to be, and I arrived and looked around
love communities under stress and this
and said ‘Wow, I haven’t seen places
is about the siege and occupation of
like this, this is pretty good’. And yes, it
Boston. I’ve always loved the city and
has changed, but it has changed in all
I’m really looking forward to giving it
generations. Change is a challenge, but
the ‘Nantucket’ treatment.
| N magazine
part of what makes it exciting on this
36
island is that we have change. It is part
N Mag: Well, you are without a
of life, and anyone who gets mad at the
doubt one of Nantucket’s great
island for changing is holding it up to a
treasures, and we look forward to
standard that is not realistic. There is no
your new book and many others to
place on earth that doesn’t change.
follow. Thank you very much.
N Mag: You have won numerous awards and were nominated for a Pultizer Prize in history. With the type
Minutes to Nantucket.
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N magazine | 37
Eric, Luca & Bettina Landt — Brant Point Grill Opening
Katie Kaizer and dad Peter — Brant Point Grill Opening
Photo by Fifi
Photo by Fifi
Joan Albaugh & Diane As
Mark & Joyce Goldweitz — Mahon About Town Party at The Pearl
Greg & Judy Hill, Kim Corkran — Mahon About Town Party at The Pearl Photo by Fifi
Photo by Fifi
Gene Mahon & Emma Hudson — Mahon About Town Party at The Pearl Photo by Fifi Susan Cary as Frida Kahlo — Corazon del Mar Opening Photo by Fifi
| N magazine
Bill & Deenie Westcott — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
38
Joanne & Steve Marcoux — Corazon del Mar Opening Photo by Fifi
Lindsay Minor, Jane Stoddard, Dan Ackroyd, Emily Berger — Corazon del Mar Opening Photo by Fifi
Christy Kickham, Eve Messing, Jessica Manning, Taylor Cullen — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
Jack & Anne Curlett — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset
Lyman Perry & Ladybug — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
Photo by Fifi
38
sche — Cary Hazlegrove Book Signing Photo by Fifi
Cary Hazlegrove with her new book — Cary Hazlegrove Book Signing Photo by Fifi
David, Kaede, Eliza (Newman) Silva — Mahon About Town Party at The Pearl Photo by Fifi
Barbara Toole, Susan Fisher — Corazon del Mar Opening Photo by Fifi
Wayne Howington, Judy Brownell, Dan Barber — Corazon del Mar Opening Photo by Fifi
Jeanne Hickes, Andrew Spencer & Jill Sandole — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
Joe Romanelli, Matt Hotin, Holly Finnigan, Kristen Kellog — Corazon del Mar Opening Photo by Fifi
Pam Murphy — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
Winkie & Peggy Kaufman — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
N magazine |
Carol, Ethan & Andrea Jarrett — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Gene Mahon
Tailgate Picinice 3rd Place - Nantucket Farms — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
39
Tailgate Picnic 2nd place - NHA Octopus' Garden — Team S Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
Tailgate Picnic 1st Place - Team Scallopini — Daffodil Tailgate in Sconset Photo by Fifi
Garth & Jean Grimmer — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi
Jeff & Emily MacKinnon — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi
Jerry & Suzanne Daub — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi Al & Jaqui Peterson — NCMC Dance at NYC Photo by Fifi
Dave and Kristen Provost — Artists’ Association
40
Donna Barnett, Kate Dunning, LuAnn Burton — Artists’ Association Photo by Gene Mahon
Edwin Rudd, David Lazarus, Howard Fraker — Artists’ Association Photo by Gene Mahon
Kyra White, Marjorie Harris, Mickey Danoff, Leah Danoff — Mickey Danoff fundraiser at the Rose & Crown Photo by Cristina Blank
N magazine |
| N magazine
Photo by Gene Mahon
Dan and Nancy Bills, Mary Saffell, Peter Boyce — NCMC Dance at NYC Photo by Fifi
40
Donna Salvo & Joe Ferrigno — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi
Scallopini —
Ann Fitzgerald, Lindsay Walsh, Bob Miller — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi
Marybeth Splaine & Jack Weinhold — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi Sheila Lyons & Mindy Todd — NPR Pub Night at Cinco Photo by Fifi
Barbara Elder & Susie Jarrell — NCMC Dance at NYC Photo by Fifi
Eva Miner & Kenon Gugere — NCMC Dance at NYC Photo by Fifi
Susan & Dan Balling — NCMC Dance at NYC Photo by Fifi
Molly Glazer & son Isiah — NCMC Dance at NYC Photo by Fifi
DaveRobertson, and Kristen Provost — Artists’ Karol Lindquist, Lauri Marsha Fader — Association Gene Mahon Artists’ Association Photo byPhoto GenebyMahon
N magazine |
Jaime O'Connell, Molly & Joe Manning — Artists’ Association Photo by Gene Mahon
Michelle Haynes, Sebastian White, Katchie Pritchett at Nantucket Comedy Fest night in New York — Gotham Party Photo by Fifi
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Kip and Lou Arsenault, Lynn Zimmerman, George Thomas — Artists’ Association Photo by Gene Mahon
Barry Thurston, Lynn
P
Chris Skehel, Lauren Jacobson — Iron Bartender Photo by Gene Mahon
Heather MacLeod , Geno Geng — Mickey Danoff Photo by Cristine Blank
Asta King, Michelle Starr — Iron Bartender Photo by Gene Mahon
Rocky Fox, Dave Lower — Iron Bartender Photo by Gene Mahon
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Anne & Julie Gifford — STAR fundraiser at the Box
Kathy & George Butterworth — Small Friends
Pam Vaughn, Richelle Beaudette — Small Friends
Photo by Nathan Coe
Photo by Gene Mahon
Photo by Gene Mahon
Bettina Landt, Adrienne Davis-Brody, Eric Landt, Sarah Newton, Bill Tramposch — NWF Boston Photo by Gene Mahon
N magazine |
| N magazine
Connor Gifford & Renee Gamberoni — STAR fundraiser at the Box Photo by Nathan Coe
Megan Smith, Carrie Fisher, Sarah Hawley and Lawrel Spera — Iron Bartender Photo by Gene Mahon
Andrew & Melissa Wing, John & Elisabeth Finlay — Small Friends Photo by Gene Mahon
42
Zimmerman — Beverly Hall Opening
Marjan Shirzad, Beverly Hall — Beverly Hall Opening
Photo by Gene Mahon
Photo by Gene Mahon
Rona Faulconer, Megan Ariagno, Christine Palmieri — Small Friends Photo by Gene Mahon
Judy Mattera, Henry Talberth, Juliana Kolson, Ellie O’Keefe, Neil Rosenberg, Stacey Talberth — NWF Boston Photo by Gene Mahon Karl and Nicole Gross — Mickey Danoff Photo by Cristine Blank
Neil Marttila, Claire Richardson, Mark Latter — Iron Bartender Photo by Gene Mahon
Aditi Ruhi, Anand Chopra-McGowan, Sarah Zaki — NWF Boston Photo by Gene Mahon
Vaughan Machado, Anne Lanman — Mickey Danoff Photo by Cristine Blank
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Meri Lepore, Sue Heffner — Small Friends Photo by Gene Mahon
Steve McCluskey and Bess Clarke — Small Friends Photo by Gene Mahon
N magazine |
Michelle Whelan, Adele Yelverton — Small Friends Photo by Gene Mahon
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magazine || NNmagazine
N‘
44 44
S t yl e
Design, concept and layout by Kate Coe with guest Karli Stahl
DriftWood octopus coral rope The Sea (in)Side NAUTICAL
1. Scott Potter Mini Tray available at Shreve, Crump & Low - 0 Main Street (508) 228-6246 2. Rope Lamp available at Nantucket Lightshop - 9 Sparks Avenue (508) 228-6633 3. Cotton Throw available at Nantucket Looms – 51 Main Street (508) 228-6451 4. Octopus Box available at The Lion’s Paw – 30 Main Street (508) 228-3837 5. Shell Pillar Candle Holder available at Anderson’s – 29 Main Street (508) 228-4187 6. Rope Mat available at Nantucket Looms – 51 Main Street (508) 228-6451 7. Gurgling Cod Pitcher available at Shreve, Crump & Low - 0 Main Street (508) 228-6246 8. Acrylic Nantucket Tray available at Blue Beetle – 12 Main Street (508) 228-3227 9. Caskata Bowl available at Anderson’s – 29 Main Street (508) 228-4187 10. Driftwood Balls available at Anderson’s – 29 Main Street (508) 228-4187 11. Wooden Cutting Board available at Trillium - 15 Washington Street (508) 228-4450 12. Octopus Candle Holder available at Best of the Beach - 2 Straight Wharf (508) 228-6263 13. Beaded Coral Votive Holder available at Trillium - 15 Washington Street (508) 228-4450 14. Hand-Pressed Sea Fan Pillow available at Anderson’s – 29 Main Street (508) 228-4187 15. Driftwood Lamp available at Best of the Beach - 2 Straight Wharf (508) 228-6263 16. Shell Tea Set available at The Lion’s Paw – 30 Main Street (508) 228-3837 17. Tall Ships Photo Box available at Blue Beetle – 12 Main Street (508) 228-3227 18. Anchor Frame available at Blue Beetle – 12 Main Street (508) 228-3227
19. Seashell Balls (and opposite page) available at Best of the Beach - 2 Straight Wharf (508) 228-6263 20. Octopus Pillow available at The Lion’s Paw – 30 Main Street (508) 228-3837 21. Woven Pillow available at Trillium - 15 Washington Street (508) 228-4450 22. Rope Napkin Rings & Napkins available at Nantucket Looms – 51 Main Street (508) 228-6451 23. Navy Rope Pillow available at Anderson’s – 29 Main Street (508) 228-4187 24. Braided Coasters available at The Lion’s Paw – 30 Main Street (508) 228-3837 25. Rope Door Stops available at Best of the Beach - 2 Straight Wharf (508) 228-6263
N magazine |
SEASHELLS
45
Written by Bryce Pearson Photography Courtesy of realtor Donna Barnettan
Elisa Allen Portrait by Nathan Coe
Elisa first came to Nantucket in 1988 and immediately fell in love with the Island. She then met and fell in love with her future husband, Mike Allen, then a young man who had just been
| N magazine
discharged from service in the Air Force. Elisa’s exposure to real estate on Nantucket first
46
came when she secured an apprenticeship for a local developer and, later, when she sold other people’s homes as a licensed real estate agent. But Elisa developed her greatest understanding of the real estate development business when she worked for builders Randy Sharp and Gwen Thorsen.
BEFORE 58 Center Street
According to Elisa, “These two individuals taught me everything I know and I apply their knowledge to my work on a daily basis.” She indicated that Randy Sharp was the best teacher she had ever met and taught her the value of finding the right mentor in one’s career. In 2004, Elisa set out to apply that acquired knowledge to her own development business. Starting with a single, small house which she purchased, renovated and sold, Elisa then applied her formula, one home at a time, to what is now five homes on the Island
AFTER
and, most notably, through some of the most
58 Center Street
difficult economic times in recent memory. In fact, regardless of the economy or the condition of the real estate market, Elisa believes that there will always be a buyer who wants something special, and it is for that one buyer that she creates only one special house at a time. This unique strategy has not only consistently succeeded, but has confounded many seasoned real estate and development professionals on the Island.
N magazine |
107 Madaket Road
47
A quick look at Elisa’s last three projects,
cold when the home quickly sold within 6%
over the last three years, proves the point. In
of her asking price. According to Robert
2007, she purchased a vacant lot on Madaket
Young of Killen Real Estate, "There were many
Road, just before the intersection of Cliff
people who scratched their heads when she
Road. Despite the commonly-held perception
was near completion of this project but her
that the lot did not lend itself to a large luxury
execution of the house and the feel of the
home, Elisa forged ahead with a 5,000
space were impressive."
square-foot compound with a pool and a full-scale, functional boat house in which
Fast forward to her next purchase on Millbrook
her husband Mike actually built boats. It was
road in 2008. This area offered higher property
a home they intended to live in and the
values but also presented challenges as the street changed from paved to mogul-like dirtroad conditions. On an oversized lot directly across from conservation land, Elisa began another ambitious project,
Between the time she undertook the project and the time she finished, the real estate market went from merely tepid to truly tortuous and it looked like, with an asking price of $5.8 million, this would be the project where her luck would run out. But betting against Alisa is not a winning strategy as she sold the property in early 2009 within 7% of her asking price against the backdrop of a brutal real estate market.
this time designing and building a
For her next project, Elisa tackled a classic Nantucket home, but this time with a twist.
Millbrook Road
Rather than building from scratch, Elisa purchased “Hunky Dory,” a quaint, landmark
amount of thought and care clearly
cottage on Centre Street. In typical fashion,
suggested a labor of love. The
she blew through the house like a surgical
home boasted exceptional attention
tornado and reconfigured the three-bedroom
to detail, a level of interior decorating
bungalow into another of her signature gems.
that many would envy, a basement
Elisa intended that, once again, she and Mike
with 9-foot ceiling for expansion, a
would live in the house and relax but, again
moat-like bridge over a tree-lined
at the very depths of the recession, she
culvert and the swimming pool. When she then decided to put the
107 Madaket Road
property on the market for $5.9 million, some quietly snickered at her lofty, and perhaps unrealistic, expectations in such
| N magazine
an uncertain market. Snickering stopped
48
“These two individuals taught me everything I know and I apply their knowledge to my work on a daily basis.”
Millbrook Road
6,000 square-foot home. Using her uncanny design and decorating skills, she built another unique and imposing home complete with a pool, extensive landscaping and a fully-finished guest house.
Millbrook Road
found a buyer. Elisa will tell you, modestly, “I just got lucky,” but looking at the quality of her work and her compelling sense of style, it is clear that luck had little to do with any of these recent success stories.
Asked if she is beginning to develop herself as a brand through her unique designs, decorating style and high quality, she said, "That is giving me way more credit than I deserve but, if it works, why not? I certainly am not afraid to spend money on the best materials, best decorating and best contractors. Ultimately, I believe that people appreciate quality." Not surprisingly, Elisa is once again on a stealth mission to find and acquire a new project. And despite the fact that there are over 500 homes now available on the real estate market, you can bet that the home created by Elisa Allen will be the one that someone will want to own, no matter the market.
MATTHEW SAPERA FINE HOMES
telephone: 508.332.0423
N magazine |
www.matthewsapera.com
D ESIGN | B UILD
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Going Organic Written and
photographed by Terry Pommett
The Essence of Pumpkin Pond Farm
The area west of town, along Hummock Pond Road, offers
is now open to the public for its second full year. For Marty,
some of the Island’s most frequently-visited attractions.
this is the culmination of a dream that started in 1974 with a
Among the hot spots found on the way to Cisco Beach
rake, a lawnmower, a strong back and a ’57 Chevy truck which
are Cisco Brewery, Bartlett’s Farm Market, Miacomet
grew to the 45-person summer workforce it is today.
Golf Course, East Coast Seafood and Seaside Gardens. And now there’s a new kid on the block. After
“It’s all about hard work and reinvestment,” Marty says
several years of land preparation, Pumpkin Pond Farm is
now. “But having reached our current size, I saw I had to
up and running.
consolidate. I was using a number of satellite locations to stockpile mulch, compost and plant products and needed
The brainchild of Marty McGowan, longtime owner of ‘Sconset
a single, organized property.”
Gardener Landscaping, the farm is fully-certified organic and
Owner, Marty McGowan
For years, McGowan had admired the land behind his home,
and minerals. And the ancillary benefit of this process would
an open field including a portion of Burnt Swamp, where deer,
be the resultant texture, succulence and savory flavor that
pheasant and rabbits ran rampant. The 9.5-acre tract had
flow to the fruits and vegetables harvested from organically-
been an agricultural area used for growing vegetables and hay,
prepared land.
but Marty envisioned an organic farm right alongside his nursery.
While gathering the necessary information for his applications, McGowan came upon an old
“I grew up working
Nantucket map which showed
summer weekends with
that the pond bordering his
my grandpa on his farm
new property was called
on Lake Ontario, and he
“Rotten Pumpkin Pond.” As
taught me a lot. I never
Marty tells it, “A farmer in the
forgot thinking then that it
late 1800’s had a wagon full
was supposed to be fun
of pumpkins that overturned
turning compost piles and
into the pond, which led to
filling in potholes and I
the name. I thought it was a
wondered why all the other
perfect name for my property,
kids weren’t doing it.”
minus the rotten part.” And an endearing name with a
But if farming back in
whimsical twist was created.
Marty’s youthful days was not for the faint of heart, he quickly learned that
McGowan family
Once past the inspection process, McGowan began
organic farming in the new millennium was even more
laying out the farm, with the focus on creating a visually-
intense. The agent in charge of the Federal Farm Bureau in
stimulating environment. And here, too, Marty excelled.
Hyannis gave McGowan a dose of reality when they met to
Entering the property, a visitor is drawn to his signature granite
discuss certification. “He was very helpful with suggestions,
post topped with a bright orange urn. It corners a 1.2-acre
pointing out that to be 100% certified was a large commitment.
organic garden where a variety of colorful greens and vegetables
He didn’t want me to think all I had to do was clean up the
form a mosaic of plantings interesting in both color and style.
soil and throw down some seeds.”
The area is divided by a stone causeway which Marty named
| N magazine
“The Appian Way.” Antique garden furniture, found-objects
52
Forewarned, Marty embarked on a series of applications for,
and garden elements are scattered randomly throughout the
and inspections of, his land by a US licensed third party, in
grounds, serving as flower beds or supporting climbing vines.
Marty’s case, the California Certified Organic Farmers, whose
It’s all naturally green and topped off with another touch of
goal was to help him build healthy, “living” soil. Mounds of
Marty’s whimsy.
vegetable matter and other natural renewable products were introduced into the soil over a period of time until it became
Bordering the garden are three greenhouses with large, wide-
increasingly resistant to disease and rich in natural vitamins
planked doors that open onto rows of colorful and exotic
plants and flowers. The first greenhouse
want to continue to work with them.”
is reserved for vegetables and flowers,
Last year, Company of the Cauldron,
the second is dedicated to tropical
Seagrille, The Bording House, Pi Pizzeria
plants and, in the third, one finds an
and American Seasons all featured
eclectic collection of other species of
Marty’s organic produce on their menus.
indigenous plants. Not surprisingly, an intensive effort is necessary to ensure
The future looks rosy for Pumpkin
an organic garden’s success. Constant
Pond Farm. Adding more acreage to
hands-on care and visual monitoring
the organic mix is a priority, but Marty
are essential to protect the vegetable
doesn’t take much to calendars and
plants. “We pick off the pests manually
schedules. “I set goals for myself, but
and do a lot of companion-planting to
not necessarily in a time frame that
keep them away. Dill planted near
can’t be broken. Right now, I’m thinking
cucumber, and horseradish next to potatoes keep the beetles away. We’re learning to stay away from varieties in groups that attract a lot of bugs.” Marty relies on his sister, Mary McGowan, to manage the farm and nursery, and Corrie Beleckie to oversee the greenhouses. “Without them, this place would grind to a halt. It’s a team effort.” So, how does Marty assess his first full year while looking forward to his second season as an organic gardener on Nantucket? “We’re a niche grower. We don’t have enough
| N magazine
Dmff!Qjmbuft
54
“A farmer in the late 1800’s had a wagon-full of pumpkins that overturned into the pond, which led to the name ‘Rotten Pumkin Pond.’ I thought it was a perfect name for my property, minus the rotten part.”
(volume of) product
- Marty MCGowan
right now to supply the general public on a regular basis.
about fixing up some antique water
Spnbob!Dfsujgjfe zpvs!ipnf!ps!pvs!tuvejp sfgpsnfs!ps!nbu
But we plan on having a farmstand at
coolers I have. I want to fill with them
least two days a week in the summer.
with cucumber water for the thirsty
Because of our size, we were probably
guests we plan on greeting this
:28/852/5863
the only farm whose workers could go
summer.” And off into Pumpkin Pond
dmfftzAnto/dpn
out and hand pick a customer’s
Farm goes The ‘Sconset “organic”
request on demand. A number of local
Gardener with an undeniably-
restaurants loved our greens and we
whimsical touch.
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NANTUCKET
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N magazine |
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55
A
GRAND HOME LOVINGLY FINISHED Written by Catherine Foster Photography by Nathan Coe
It sits like a sentry at 77 Main Street, one of a line of grand homes built for sea captains and merchants during the great whaling years of the mid-19th century. It resided for most of the 20th century in the ownership of Nantucket’s Mitchell family, before falling into the rental market and eventually, in 1984, back onto the real estate market. It happened that at that very moment Dorothy Slover, a summer resident from Washington D.C., was looking for just such a classic Nantucket whaling house to restore.
“I walked in the door and looked past what I was seeing; I knew right then that this was the house of my dreams,” she said as she looked back on that serendipitous meeting between house lover and house waiting to be loved. “I had studied at the ‘Isabelle O’Neill Studio for the Art of the Painted Finish’ in New York City, and I decided that I would restore every inch of it with my own hands.”
Applying the art of the faux finish she perfected under O’Neill, Dorothy created a masterpiece of color, texture and tone, each room or hallway resonating with her touch, both artistic and actual.
In the front sitting room, which Dorothy named the “Toile Room” because of the treatment of the walls, she created a fabric behind which she could place batting to give the walls each wall and, using interlocking slats originally used to affix fabric in commercial designs, clipped the edges flush to the vertical door and window trim, at once hiding the fasteners,
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a soft dimension. She then stretched the fabric to the edge of
57
creating a seamless effect all around the room. Dorothy then designed a fabric for her window treatments that incorporated the image of the window and the curtains right into the fabric’s pattern.
If that repetitive design hinted at the works of the great Dutch graphic artist, M.C. Escher, her meticulously hand-painted mosaic floor canvas spanning the Toile Room unmistakably honored Escher’s precise geometric patterns and propensity for optical illusion. Dorothy then painted the center hall floors, from the front of the house to the back, in alternating, interlocking diamonds, again carrying forward the Escher theme by incorporating the colors of black and white Escher
| N magazine
so often used in his designs.
58 Handmade streaks by Dorothy’s fingertips
“I walked in the door and looked past what I was seeing; I knew right then that this was the house of my dreams,” - Dorothy Slover
NANTUCKET MILLWORKS C USTOM D OORS | M ILLWORK N ANTUCKET C LAM C HAIR
C HRIS B OUQUE | S COTT J UBE
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."
Now compliant with the Hurricane Ratings for the 7th Edition Massachusetts State Codes.
N magazine |
81 Hinsdale Road Nantucket Massachusetts 02554 P H 5 0 8 2 2 8 0 5 5 1 | FA X 5 0 8 3 2 5 8 8 5 1 E M A I L nantucketmillworks@yahoo.com WEBSITE nantucketmillworks.com
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Dining room sconses blend with ornate candelabras to accentuate a feeling that is almost baroque, yet warm and inviting. Fireplaces in the dining room, as they do
throughout the home, enhance the warmth of this gathering place for family meals or parties. For the library and the bedroom walls, Dorothy employed many variations of glazing; the process of spreading an application of still-wet paint with cloth, brush or, as Dorothy often chose, with her ten fingers traced vertically down each wall to create a striped effect. Original color choices, such as pink, turned to lighter shades tending to white, or darker to mauve, literally under her hand.
For Dorothy Slover, the labor of love she undertook at 77 Main St. in 1984 is now complete. She leaves its charm and
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art to its next owner and to Nantucket history.
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Best of Nantucket 2009 Gold Ribbon Interior Designer
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interior design | rrenovation enovation planning | seaside rresort esort interiors nantucket windows coastal collection | life’ life’ss a breeze br eeze collection
Discover design solutions, inspiration, & shopping online! Br owse donnaelle.com or call 508.228.4561 Browse for a complimentary consultation
seaside living
YOGA with CAROLINA ·Vinyasa, Hatha, Kids and Prenatal Yoga ·Advanced and beginners ·Private or group classes ·All yoga supplies provided ·At your home or on the beach
415.572.8983 carelorenzo@gmail.com www.yogawithcarolina.com
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Come practice with me at Nantucket Ballroom (48 Main Street)
61
Island
F u r n i t u r e m a k e r s Nantucket is known for it’s carpentry and skillful building workforce. We decided to feature a handful of people often overlooked as artists in their own right and who create wonderful unique furniture all handmade right here. Written and photographed by Nathan Coe Unless otherwise credited
Stephen Swift
Count Philippe Senard
Image courtesy of Stephen Swift Furnituremaker
This family-owned business is now in it’s third decade as master
half-lap dovetails connecting legs to rockers all accomplished entirely
furnituremakers. Over the years, Stephen Swift Furniture has taken
by hand, with remarkable accuracy.
great pride and pleasure in creating both new and traditional designs for clients all over the
| N magazine
world. The craftsmanship is impeccable, the
62
Each piece of furniture is sanded to 320 grit
T
before entering the finishing room. Here it receives three coats of penetrating oil with 400
design and style timeless. With one person
grit sanding between each of them. A final thin
being responsible for each piece of furniture
coat of waterproof varnish is applied to create a
from start to finish, efficiency is forsaken in
soft oil glow but with the added protection of
order to create precise and painstakingly-
varnish that will not stain and is easily cared
detailed joints and finishes. The furniture begins at the design level
for. Each piece is signed and dated to add a final, handmade
and continues through to the building process with joints such as
custom touch.
To see more of their work visit stephenswiftfurnituremaker.com
Christopher Oberg
Count Philippe Senard
Christopher has always been into art and sculpture. His Dad is a teacher, his mother a fashion designer. After graduating from Cobleskill, Chris went to The Rochester Institute of Technology to study industrial design where he learned about materials and their processes. He is inspired by contemporary designers like Frank Lloyd Wright, Phillip Stark and his favorite, Santiago Clavatra. This furniture was inspired by some blow-molded chairs he saw in a catalog by Phillip Stark.
“I had this metal laying around that I used to fix mower trailers with and I thought it would be good to use for this concept of furniture design. Durable, porous, strong and flexible.” Chris uses epoxy primer for added durability and automotive paint for
I
the color and protective finish. The material is called expanded metal and it comes in 4'x8' sheets. First he draws concept sketches, then builds full-scale models with recycled cardboard he finds lying around. “I also do metal kinetic sculpture. I like my pieces to move with the trees, and grasses in the wind and morph into the landscape proof. Form follows function. Everything I buy I always end up modifying and making stronger.” To see more of Christoper’s designs visit christopheroberg.com
N magazine |
and become a part of it. I like to build stuff that lasts. Bomb-
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. . . . . . .
Barber Brothers
Nate and Beau Barber
The Barber family has had a 25-year history of quality workmanship. Mark and Holly, who operate the parent construction company, Barber and Sons Inc., founded the enterprise on traditional principles for building Nantucket houses. The company's two sons, Nate and Beau, formed Barber Furniture which, for eight years, has been designing and producing custom furniture. Barber Furniture was conceived after Beau attended the Masterpiece School of Fine Furniture in Mendocino, CA where he studied 17th and 18th century English furniture.
T
He specializes in case joinery, veneer, finishes, carving and turning. Nate is a local Firefighter/EMT and studied business at the Boston University School of Management. The two have been building furniture for clients and designers who intend to use the pieces in their homes. Their work is fully functional and built with longevity in mind. The
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joinery in each individual piece does not compromise quality for the
64
sake of production.
To see more of Barber Brothers Furniture visit barberblacksheep.com
. . . . . . .
Audrey Sterk
All images this page by Elisabeth O’Donnell Photography
After years spent designing innovative murals and wall coverings, Audrey Sterk has just released Audrey Sterk Home Collection. This new assortment of custom made furniture is currently featured on-air and online in the HGTV Green Home Giveaway 2010. The unique line is fun and sophisticated, with a touch of traditional form and function. Starting
T
with tables – coffee tables and end tables - each piece was designed to be used separately in conjunction with her other tables. Audrey created the unique array of finishes, including canvas finishes and hand-painted decorative finishes. The canvas finishes have been imprinted with elements from her original Coastal Grasses mural and a new, exciting geometric pattern that currently is featured in the Plymouth-based 2010 HGTV Green Home Series. The hand-painted decorative finishes are applied directly to the tables, in colors and patterns designed to be complimentary in tone. Audrey Sterk uses only water-based finishes for all of her designs, which is why her tables were chosen for inclusion in the
To see more of Audrey’s work visit audreysterk.com
N magazine |
HGTV Green Home collection.
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. . . . . .
Robert Sarkisian
Robert, with the assistance of his father, Sarkis, a retired engineer, designed what is considered to be the “ultimate beach chair.” It exudes comfort and style and feels more like an armchair than simply a beach chair. It is handmade to exacting specifications by son and father on Nantucket, in a factory within Robert’s home. Three sizes are available; the Children’s model, the Regular and the ‘daddy’ of all beach chairs, the High Tide. Each chair can be custom embroidered and comes in an array of different colors. Special features unique to the Nantucket Beach Chair are its built-in beverage holder, wide comfortable arms,
U
a handy storage pouch, foam leg and neck supports and a center of gravity built-in handle for easy carrying. The creative design also allows for flat packing for storage in the car or at home.
Built to last for years of fun and relaxing days at the beach, these
| N magazine
are stunning beach chairs that every family needs for the coming
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Nantucket summer. To see more of Rob’s work visit nantucketbeachchair.com
Robert with his father Sarkis
Although Vladimir Kagan’s furniture isn’t regularly made or sold on the Nantucket, no tribute to the Island’s furniture artists would be complete without honoring him and his internationally-acclaimed furniture designs created over a career spanning more than 60 years.
Vladimir Kagan V
Mr. Kagan’s Nantucket roots are strong, as his extraordinarily creative and talented family includes his wife Erica Wilson, their son Illya Kagan and daughters Vanessa Kagan Diserio and Jessica Kagan Cushman.
His works have been offered through art collectors around the world, and have been commissioned by the luminaries of Hollywood for over half a century. Marilyn Monroe, Xavier Cugat, Lily Pons, Gary Cooper, Sherman Fairchild of Fairchild Aviation, and Walt Disney all possess furniture designed expressly for them by Vladimir Kagan.
Born in Worms, Germany in 1927, Vladimir first started designing in 1946 and, by the mid-1950’s, his furniture had helped shape American furniture design, transforming it and raising it to a
of the 20th Century.
N magazine |
new artistic and visual level. Curvature and free-form seating is the Kagan signature, featuring
To see more of Vladimir’s work visit vladimirkagancouture.com
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ergonomic comfort executed within a pure, minimalist design. The New York Times recognized Vladimir’s contributions to his art form, naming him one of the most important furniture designers
Shawkemo Residence: Designed by Interior Designer Kathleen Hay (Kathleen Hay Designs) Landscape design: Ernst Land Design Builder: J. Brown Builders
Clean Living
Written by Nathan Coe Photography by Jeff Allen
the fresh designs of Kathleen Hay
Nantucket interior designer Kathleen Hay was retained to design a sophisticated retreat for a growing young family, using fabrics, furniture, and window treatments that would remain simple and comfortable for their summer residence.
Situated on over three acres of land, the property – which has sweeping views of the inner harbor and Coatue – features a pool, spa, two outdoor fireplaces, tennis court, orchard, running stream, koi pond, and a guest cottage with two-car garage. The house, which boasts over 12,000 square-feet of interior space, features seven fireplaces, a fully-equipped gym, a spa/steam room, a wine cellar, and a state-of-the art home theatre.
“Luxury is not necessarily a ‘thing’, a tangible object. Luxury is also an experience,” notes Hay. “This house is certainly the epitome of luxury.” Set in the Shawkemo area of the Island, its luxury is belied
| N magazine
by its simple shingled exterior.
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The balance between simplicity and elegent sophistication was achieved through clean-lined furniture styles along with durable and long-lasting fabric such as ultrasuede, faux leather, and chenille. Comfort was an important element, and the family wanted many
Entry: Sunlight falls on a collection of blue and white porcelain that lends a fresh note to the houses entry. Hay added the two columns to create a sense of division between the entry foyer and the adjoining living room.
Kathleen Hay
Staircase: The generous main staircase is complemented by a carved silver-leaf table and mirror and a custom round ottoman that finish the space.
Kitchen/Family Room: This kitchen is the ultimate gathering place, with comfortable sofas and a large table around which to gather at breakfast or lunch, or on more informal occasions.
Master bedroom: The master bedroom is all about serenity. With spectacular views of Nantucket’s inner harbor and space enough to accommodate its own living room with fireplace, this room is anyone’s dream of a master retreat.
places to gather with their guests. Hay designed the kitchen to include two large and inviting sofas which turned the spacious kitchen into a multi-use environment: a kitchen with a large eating area plus a family room with the addition of a flat-screen television over the fireplace. She also created an outdoor living area complete with outdoor kitchen, large dining table with an outdoor fireplace to warm the
| N magazine
area on chilly Nantucket nights, and several places to gather around
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the newly-designed pool and spa. The house earned Hay recognition as a finalist in the 2010 Interior Design Awards sponsored by Andrew Martin Co, London, UK. It will be featured in a book published later this year.
Limousine Services of Cape Cod
Corporate
Weddings
etc.
866-896-4445 508-896-4445 www.limousinecapecod.com
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Airports
71
Half Empty, Half Full? The economic mood in the country, and Nantucket in particular, has improved over the darkest days of the 2008 meltdown. The multimillion-dollar question, however, is “When will a meaningful recovery return to the Nantucket real estate market?” Lorem ipsum
Optimists’ view: A finite supply means a faster recovery
correction has made owning in
Unlike conventional real estate markets,
Nantucket dramatically less expensive
Nantucket’s supply has a limit. With
and offers the most value for the dollar
over 50% of the island under some form
since the market correction of the early
of conservation, the fact that Nantucket
1990’s.
cannot be dramatically overbuilt will keep values strong and will aide in the
Interest rates are at historic lows
market recovery.
When making large purchases small decreases in interest rates have a big
Wall Street bonuses are coming back
impact. With rates moving significantly
While the Nantucket market is not
lower, the cost of ownership has declined
based solely on Wall Street bonuses, if
markedly and the likelihood that rates
many on Wall Street fare better than
will stay this for a prolonged period is slim.
they have last year, hefty bonuses will find their way to the real estate market.
It may now be less expensive to buy than to build
Baby boomers are poised to buy
The quickest way to achieve market
Baby boomers represent a meaningful
appreciation is to burn off existing
part of the Nantucket buying market
supply. Because of the steep decline in
and could have a major impact. When
home prices and the relatively small
the economy stabilizes, a significant
decline in building materials, the cost
amount of pent-up demand from baby
differential between buying existing and
boomers will be unleashed.
building new may have swung in favor of purchasing existing properties.
| N magazine
The high end of the market has
72
demonstrated resilience
Nantucket will always be Nantucket
While some buyers of high end homes
The economy cannot change the fact that
have seen a diminishing of their net
Nantucket is unique and irreplaceable.
worth, many still have the means to buy
Like investing in rare art, Nantucket is not
luxury properties and, once they have
a commodity and people recognize that
more confidence in the economy, the
investing in items that are rare perform far
upper end of the market will snap back.
better over the long term than those that are plentiful.
Prices are at bargain levels Nantucket’s real estate market has seen a 25-30% pullback in values. This
Pessimists’ view: The oversupply of homes is at
that we are truly at a bottom, many
an historic high
buyers may hold onto their cash.
There is an excess supply imbalance. While there are 589 properties listed
Banks are more cautious on lending
currently, it is difficult to tell whether
for secondary homes
more homes will be put up for sale in the
While many would argue that caution
coming months thereby increasing the
by banks is long overdue and a positive
supply again. Under any circumstances,
sign, if you are at the receiving end of
we have more homes on the market on
their new-found restraint, then buying a
average than we have had since the early
home can be more difficult. Rates
90’s and until this inventory is brought
remain low for a bank’s best customers
down, it will be difficult to see price
but, for first-time buyers or those who
appreciation.
have numerous properties, lending is likely to be more restrictive than it has
Wall Street bonuses may be back,
in the past.
but for fewer people While many on Wall Street are still
Land values have been seriously impacted
profiting massively, given the number
Because there has been so little new
of layoffs there are now fewer people
construction on the island and there is
who are benefiting from the Wall Street
so much competing housing inventory,
recovery. And fewer bonuses means
the value of undeveloped lots, unless
fewer numbers of bonus-spenders for
oceanfront, will be under pressure until
homes on Nantucket.
the home inventory balances out.
Baby boomers buying habits may
You don’t have to own Nantucket to
have been changed in the aftermath
enjoy Nantucket
of the recession
The notion that home ownership is a
Many baby boomers are now starting to
certain path to riches has clearly
learn the lesson of their parents that
changed. As a result, renting has now
restraint may be a part of life. As they
become a viable consideration for many
approach retirement age, their desire to
more people who want the benefit of
have a second home may be tempered
second-home living without the year-
by the reality that they may need to live
round expense.
more prudently. Determining whether the optimists’ view Conspicuous consumption is out of
is a triumph of hope over reality, or
fashion which could impact the high
whether the pessimists’ view is simply a
end of the market
failure to see the bright side, will become
Mega-homes on Nantucket, like those
more apparent after this current real
in the Hamptons and other high-end
estate selling season. There is little
markets, could feel the impact of this
question, however, that those buying
new sense of restraint.
today will be spending less money for more house than in recent memory.
A bargain is not a bargain if something can be purchased more favorably the next day. Until people are convinced
And, there is only one Nantucket.
N magazine |
It’s only a bargain now if it goes up later
73
DW: What we say is that we are one of the largest independent regional airlines in the country. Which means that we’re not owned by one of the other airlines and we’re not publicly traded. In fact, the largest shareholder is our employee group, so that gives us a lot of latitude and freedom to grow as we want to grow. N Mag: Puns aside, few businesses have had more ups and downs than the airline business. What have been your greatest highs and lows? DW: We’ve ridden through every recession. There have been three since we started in 1989, and of course the huge, dramatic impact from 9/11.
. . .
. . . Dan Wolf Founder, President and CEO of Cape Air
N Mag: Tell us what happened to Cape Air then? DW: Well, of course, we were grounded for a week, and then there was a huge shock to the industry as the ridership went way down. And then we had the tremendous expense layered on as we followed the new regulations relative to safety and security. N Mag: How did that change your business plan? DW: It made us look for other ways to generate revenue. Right after 9/11 we started looking for new markets because the rest of our
Interviewed by Cris Farley
N Mag: Dan, what first interested you in flying? DW: Oh my God, I was a kid at the airport watching airplanes come and go, and every time they flew over it seemed like magic to me. It was a childhood passion. N Mag: What airport was that? DW: The Hyannis Airport. I was here when that airport grew because the Kennedys were going in and out when John Kennedy was president in the early 60’s. N Mag: So this was the job for you from the time you were a boy? DW: I never saw it as a job; I saw it more as a dream and a fantasy. Then, as I got older and realized that you could actually make a living being involved with airplanes, that certainly was a motivating force. N Mag: People might not realize how large your airline is today. Just how large is Cape Air? DW: Well, we have 62 airplanes and seven bases, as far away as the western Pacific. We have a base out in Guam, we now have a base in St. Louis, a base in Baltimore, Albany, here in Hyannis, Fort Myers and we have a base in San Juan in the Caribbean. And from those bases we currently serve 35
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destinations.
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N Mag: Would that make you one of the bigger commuter airlines in the country?
business was shrinking. That’s why you saw us branching out into these other geographic areas. N Mag: Fast forward now to the last two years. From a business standpoint, has the recession impacted Cape Air and, if so, what have you done to counteract that impact? DW: The recession’s been huge. Our core markets in the last two years, that would be Nantucket, Hyannis, Providence, New Bedford and Boston, have been off anywhere from 20% to 30% depending on the specific market. And, again, what we’ve done to compensate for that is that we’ve looked for opportunities in other regions such as upstate New York. Our vertical markets, our existing markets, have shrunk, and so what we’ve done is to grow horizontally. N Mag: Less people per market, but more markets? DW: Exactly. N Mag: Did you need to buy new aircraft or are you using the same planes? DW: We’ve increased the fleet by about 20%, going from 50 airplanes about three years ago, and now we have 62 planes, so we’ve been able to increase the fleet through this period. N Mag: One could say that you are in the ultimate service business. How do you motivate your employees to provide ‘taketheir-breath-away’ service in an industry where circumstances sometimes cause customers not to be so friendly? DW: The folks who work at Cape Air really do it because they
are a compassionate culture-driven
DW: The more engaged and part of the
running for the state seat that
group who really enjoy what they do,
company an employee feels he or she is,
Rob has vacated.
enjoy working with each other. And I
the more natural it is to provide great
think if people are happy working side by
service, to care about what the outcome is.
N Mag: If you win that seat, how would it change your role
side with people that they care for in a company that they like and understand,
N Mag: Did the recent increase in fuel
at Cape Air?
that translates to great service on the
prices play havoc with your business plan
DW: I’ll stay involved as CEO
front line.
and, if so, how did you manage it?
and make all of the strategic
DW: Hugely. I mean, two years ago,
long-term decisions, but Cape Air
N Mag: As president and CEO, how do
fuel prices were 30% higher, then they
has a wonderful management
you interact with your employees?
dropped way down, and now they’ve
team and that team is pretty much
DW: We have regular, what we call ‘town
come up almost to where they were
running the operation day in and
meetings’, with our employees. Last year we
then. And it does affect pricing because
day out, so there really is the
did about 30 of those in the different regions.
we have to pass along some of those
capacity for me to do this.
increases. The good news is that in our N Mag: Tell us what you do in
business, because of the nature of the
those meetings?
service we provide, fuel is actually a
N Mag: Any words of wisdom
DW: They’re very educational and
lower percentage of our costs than the
for entrepreneurs in the new
informative, and they’re interactive. We
larger airlines.
millennium?
reinforce the culture of the
DW: There’s a
company; we give in-depth
huge opportunity
financial presentations so there is real transparency about how the company is doing financially. We talk about what the future plans of the company are. We do a huge question and answer so that if employ-
“The more engaged and part of the company an employee feels he or she is, the more natural it is to provide great service, to care about what the outcome is.”
for entrepreneurs right now. When the economy is as volatile as it has been, it creates all kinds of opportunities. My only advice is, follow your
ees have questions or want
passion, because if you’re
to make comments or observations, we’re very open to hearing what people
N Mag: Do you still get the opportunity
passionate about something,
are thinking and how they feel. We also
yourself to fly?
keep your head down, stay
have a very interactive internal website,
DW: I do. And every summer I go through
engaged, be creative and you’ll
so employees can go there to see what’s
the Cape Air training, re-education program
be successful. People are worried about the economy,
going on, events we have planned, how we’re doing financially, what our strategic
N Mag: How are you doing in your own
but it’s an economy like this
plan looks like.
training program?
that creates opportunities.
DW: Let’s put it this way, I’ve passed N Mag: Is there some type of employee
every year so far.
N Mag: Thanks, Dan, for your time, and best of luck in
participation in the ownership of Cape Air? DW: Our employees right now own a
N Mag: We understand that you’re
significant part of the company and, in
entering into the political arena.
addition to that, every year that we’re
Can you tell us about that?
profitable we have a fairly aggressive
DW: Yes, Rob O’Leary is stepping
profit-sharing plan. Philosophically, I’ve
up to run for congress and I’m
the campaign.
always believed that employees should share in the success that they create.
with employees and translates to the service they provide?
N magazine |
N Mag: Do you see that that resonates
75
epicurean
: what’s the dish?
what’s the
dish?
Written by Orla Murphy-LaScola
No matter how your business ended
the better the season. If that's the case,
up last year on Nantucket, the stress
then we're in for a great summer because
and strain was evident everywhere
parking recently has been atrocious!
you looked. Perhaps this is why I'm as thrilled as the next person to say
So, ladies, dust off your Jimmy Choos
"Goodbye, 2009!" As my wise, old mum
and force your man back into his Lilly
says, "Let's draw a line under it and
Pulitzer pants; it's time to hit the
start again." Shall we? Summer 2010 is
Nantucket streets for dinner! Without
staring us in the face, and dammit, it's
question, Nantucket is a very social
going to be a great season!
town. We love to be out and about; some of us even do it for a living
As soon as the winter chill lifts, the
because we enjoy the eclectic mix of
talk around town at every bar and
people on the Island. Whatever your
counter is the same: How will this
reason, take comfort knowing that this
season fare compared to last year?
postage stamp-sized town affords you
Did you hear that rentals are up?
plenty of bars, restaurants and amazing
The markets are starting to move.
food. After all, you've spent the last year in hiding, lying low and not spending
You know you live on an Island when a pretty good indication of how business will be come summer is directly related
money for fear of alerting people that you have any. It's time for us all to go out and live a little!
N magazine magazine || N
hottest tables downtown. And so, presented here, is a guide to the best perches and power tables - in no particular order because that would be unseemly, wouldn't it? Disclaimer: I may not have sat at each and every one of these tables, but I've heard from the best that they are the best. And, armed with this insider knowledge, I now know
to the availability of downtown parking.
76
events by trying to score some of the
The rule of thumb says that the harder it
When on the town for a night of fun,
where to request my next reservation
is to find parking in the early part of the year,
add a new dimension to your night’s
(hint, hint).
The Chanticleer Lunch and Dinner 508.257.4499
epicurean
what’s the dish? :
If you find yourself in the bastion of all
Table 12 at American Seasons. Table 12
So there you have it: old-school
things 'classic Nantucket,' Le Languedoc
feels like home to so many that it is sure
Nantucket choices for a great night on
offers you a choice between Table 7 (my
to be taken for the night if someone parks
the town. But please, if you happen to be
personal favorite) downstairs, where you
there early. The other spot of prime real
seated at an unmentioned table in any
can enjoy hearing Jimmy's lyrical cackle,
estate at American Seasons is the small
of these fine establishments, take no
and Table 28 upstairs in the front room.
table in the corner of the bar, Table 101.
offense as none is intended. There's only
According to an informal poll, votes for
From here, you still feel like you're part of
one of these tables in each restaurant
split 50-50 on this one, so I offer both for
the action, watching all of the comings and
and unless you're up for sitting on
your consideration.
goings of the evening's service.
someone else's knee, you’ll just have to make do. I’m sure you’ll have a great
Without doubt, the primo people-watching
I would be amiss not to mention another
table downtown has to be the corner
of my personal
table on the patio of the Boarding House.
favorites: Table 72
Call Jane or Angela now and ask
at Straight Wharf.
time either way!
Nestle into this
“It’s time for us to all go out and live a little!”
table on the deck and you'll find yourself pretty close to heaven. And their table 41 tends to attract a
them for Table 22(I am showing restraint
who's who of
here by not giving you their cell numbers).
Nantucket so you may be out of luck.
There is a long waiting list, so you may have to pitch a good story to secure your
If there is a big
spot at table 5 in Lola.
event in town, then you will, without a
Another one to consider is the Galley’s Table 20. Oftentimes, securing this table for yourself comes second to securing a table in its sightline, as its occupants are so fun to watch. But you didn't hear that
a way to get Table 17 upstairs at The Pearl. They call it the spandex tableshould your party grow in size, it's always possible to
If you wander out of town and away from all the craziness, try to settle into
squeeze 'just one more' in.
N magazine magazine || N
from me!
doubt, want to find
77
N Magazine
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ADVERTISING DIRECTORY
78
21 Federal Restaurant 76 Anne Becker Design 6 Atlantic Landscaping 25 Blue Beetle 37 Boarding House 14 Brant Point Grill 9 Brooke Boothe Design 20 Carolyn Thayer 10 Carpets of Cape Cod 78 Chanticleer, The 76 Claire Murray 8 Clee Pilates 54 1Corazon del Mar 14 Current Vintage 55 Diane Firsten 20 Donna Elle 61 Dune 77 Egan Maritime Institute 36 Emeritus 49 Epernay 76 First Republic Bank 13 Geronimo's 55 Glidden's Island Seafood 76 Great Point Properties 49 Grey Lady Gardens 33 Heidi Weddendorf 10 Hy-Line Cruises 78 Jodi's Cakes 77 Kathleen Hay Design 5 Kerry Hallam 61 Legends 54 Letarte Swimwear 55 Limousine of Cape Cod 71 Little Miss Drama 55 Marina Clothing 71 Marine Home Center 27 Matthew Sapera Fine Homes 14 Maury People 2 Nalu 32 Nantucket Airlines 37 Nantucket Beach Chair 55 Nantucket Comedy Festival 60 Nantucket Learning Center 11 Nantucket Lightscapes 71 Nantucket Lightshop 4 Nantucket Millworks 59 Nantucket Restaurant Week 79 Nantucket Shipwreck/ Lifesaving Museum 36 Nantucket Tents 37 Nantucket Water Gardens 61 Nantucket Windmill Auto Rental 33 New Seabury 3 Nobby Clothes Shop 20 NPR Cape & Islands 33 Oberg Environmental Design 26 Ocean Breeze Cleaning 71 Pearl, The 14 Pi Pizzeria 77 Plum TV 33 Posh 61 Premier Home Systems 71 Quidley & Company 10 Sherburne Commons 32 Shreve, Crump & Low 7 Skinner Construction 60 Stephen Swift Furnituremaker 71 Stonewood 26 Thirty Acre Wood/Ron Winters 8 Tile Room, The 4 Topper's Deck at the Wauwinet 9 Victoria Greenhood 20 Vineyard Vines 80 Water Closet, The 4 Woodmeister 21 Yoga with Carolina 61 Zero Main 20
STAY C O N N EC T E D Depart Nantucket
Depart Hyannis
7:45 am
6:30 am
10:35 am
9:10 am
1:25 pm
12:00 pm
4:35 pm
3:15 pm
Straight Wharf, Nantucket
7:20 pm
6:00 pm
220 Ocean Street, Hyannis
10:00 pm
8:45 pm
^ĞƫŶŐ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ
(800) 492-8082
BOOK ONLINE at www.hylinecruises.com
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