The Vine Holiday Gift Guide - 2022

Features

13 2022 Holiday Gift Guide Shop local to find something for everyone on your list, from crafters and sportsters to kids and cooks.

BY ELIZABETH BENNETT, THOMAS HUMPHREY AND SUSIE MIDDLETON

20 A Wreath of Your Own Island florists have you covered with holiday wreaths in every style, not to mention wreath-making classes and wreath-making kits.

BY THOMAS HUMPHREY

25 Holiday Pop-Ups & Fairs

Departments

Cover photo: Mark and Bernie Crossland in Ocean Park. Photo by Jeanna Shepard.

From the Editor

Illumination

Our enthusiasm for holiday lights on this Island knows no bounds. You can’t blame us, really. In a place where darkness falls by 4:30 p.m. during most of the holiday season, luminosity isn’t just cheerful, it’s essential. Being a creative bunch, we’re not content with ordinary lights, either. We decorate our lighthouses until they glow for miles. Atop rigging in the harbor, a star shines. We make holiday trees out of lobster pots and wrap them tightly with strings of colored lights. A complete team of Santa’s reindeer pranc es across one lawn, Frosty comes to life on another.

And Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs, thanks to Mark and Bernie Crossland of Cross land Landscape, is the pièce de resistance, with 74 wire trees strung with lights – and synchronized music to go along with the show. On page 10, Sissy Biggers finds out how the Crosslands have made it work for nearly 20 years.

Lights alone won’t sustain us through the season, though. We need to gather, eat, sing, stroll – and deck the halls, of course! Find a wreath of your own (page 20) and a gift for everyone on your list (page 13). Shop an artisan fair (page 25) and most of all, take comfort and joy from being part of a small community at holiday time.

– Susie Middleton

THE VINE

EDITOR Susie Middleton

ART DIRECTOR Jared Maciel

CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Bennett, Sissy Biggers, Chris Burrell, Ray Ewing, Nicole Fullin, Laura Holmes Haddad, Thomas Hum phrey, Jeanna Shepard

PUBLISHER Jane Seagrave

BUSINESS MANAGER Sarah Gifford

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Skip Finley | sales@mvgazette.com

SALES TEAM Frederica Carpenter, Garrett Burt, Carrie Blair, Serena Ward

MARKETING MANAGER Alessandra Hagerty

AD PRODUCTION Jane McTeigue, Jared Maciel, McKinley Sanders

Copyright 2022 by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

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Vineyard Gazette Media Group P.O. Box 66, 34 So. Summer Street, Edgartown, MA 02539 thevine@mvgazette.com | 508-627-4311

Three for the Winter Win

Thanks to three Oak Bluffs restaurants, your winter take-out game is strong.

BY LAURA HOLMES HADDAD • PHOTOS BY RAY EWING

Every winter, Islanders love to complain about limited options for dining out or getting takeout. And yes it’s true that the up-Island food landscape is pretty dim in the off-season. But this year, instead of complaining, why not head to Oak Bluffs, where three restaurants with live ly international and American menus are planning to stay the course through the off-season?

Bombay Indian Cuisine bombaymv.com 508-338-2666

7 Oakland avenue, Oak Bluffs

Open 7 days, 1 - 9 p.m.

Instagram @bombaymv

Order by phone or through website

Grande and his partner Sydney Scannell have found a permanent location in the former Sea Smoke BBQ building on Oak land avenue.

Austin’s dishes are based on tradition al Indian recipes and inspired by flavors he tasted on a research trip to India. Chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, saag, samosas and aloo gobi are on the menu, as well as traditional sides such as mango chutney and raita, with a healthy dose of spice. Everything is made from scratch by Austin, who is committed to authentic flavors.

The complex and bright flavors of Indian food will liven up the Island this winter with the opening of Bombay In dian Cuisine in Oak Bluffs. After losing their lease at the airport business park over the summer, chef/owner Austin

“The food is grounded in classic In dian food but we’ve made the dishes our own,” he says, with lemon ginger lobster rangoon being just one example. Another culinary goal of his is to make the korma sauce more velvety than the version often found in the U.S.

Obstacles such as the weather af fecting the rise of the naan dough and ever-present staffing issues have not stopped this couple from opening their doors seven days a week. A Tandoori

oven is on their wish list but for now they are focusing on an application for a liquor license and a potential indoor bar area.

The generous portions are worth not ing (this writer easily made two meals out of one order), something Austin says is intentional. “I know you can provide

great food in a good quantity,” he says. While there is no traditional table ser vice, customers are welcome to sit down and enjoy their meal in the spacious dining room. Before you grab a table, be sure to order one of their authentic Indi an beverages such as the Mango Lassi or Chai Masala.

Austin Grande and Sydney Scannell plan to keep Bombay Indian Cuisine open all winter for take-out or self-service dine-in in their new location on Oakland avenue in Oak Bluffs.

NINA'S AT THE RITZ WINSTON'S KITCHEN

Nina’s at The Ritz

The Ritz Café, 4 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs theritzmv.com

Instagram @ninasdinendash 508-693-9851

Open Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m., Friday and Satur day, 11:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Order through the website or by phone

If you’re heading to The Ritz to listen to music, you can now enjoy a taste of Brazil along with your beverage. Sandro Silvio’s Brazilian food spot Nina’s at The Ritz is open year-round at the bar, with a takeout menu as well.

Sandro is dedicated to serving the best of his native cuisine. He originally moved to the Vineyard to run the Gold en Bull Brazilian Steakhouse in 2020. Be fore opening Nina’s at The Ritz, he used

kitchen space at Ben DeForest’s Card board Box (before it closed) to develop his menu. Then, after the departure of Dilly’s Taqueria from The Ritz, Larkin Stallings offered Sandro the opportunity to operate out of the space. Now, in ad dition to The Ritz, Sandro is opening a year-round food truck called Nina’s Dine ‘n’ Dash, in the area at 61 Beach Road in Vineyard Haven where Chef Amy oper ated her truck.

Standard bar food gets a step up at Nina’s at The Ritz: truffled french fries, fried cheese balls, coxinha (chicken croquettes), Brazilian kibe (beef and bulghur meatballs), and sausage and yucca are all authentic and perfect for lunch, dinner, or as snacks. Chef Elimar Coelho is currently at the helm of Nina’s kitchen.

Sandro hopes diners will also try the classic South American dessert, churros with dulce de leche. “Once you try our food, you can’t go back,” he says.

Winston’s Kitchen

1 East Chop Drive, Oak Bluffs winstonskitchenmv.com Phone 508-338-2666

Facebook @WinstonsKitchenMV

Instagram @winstonskitchenmv

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)

Order by phone or through website (daily specials posted on social media)

Chef Winston Christie and his wife Lisa are no strangers to restaurants and their dedication to bringing year-round dining to the Island has paid off. Win ston’s background in cooking and bak ing (including Chesca’s and Back Door

Donuts) means a varied menu. From breakfast (sandwiches and muffins) to lunch and dinner (12-inch subs and daily soups), flavors from Winston’s Jamaican childhood such as jerk spice combine with Italian and American influences in a wide variety of homemade dishes. Don’t miss popular favorites, including the steak sandwich, meatloaf, and fried chicken.

“We always want to offer good food at a good price,” says Lisa.

Winston’s food will be available in another location starting January 1: Win ston and Lisa will be taking over Linda Jean’s on Circuit avenue. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served and Winston plans to add a few new dishes to the menu. But fear not, loyal customers: Winston’s Kitchen isn’t going anywhere.

Owner Sandro Silvio (top right with chef Elimar Coelho) opened Nina's at The Ritz this fall. He will serve Brazilian specialties such as coxinha - Brazilian chicken croquettes - year round.

Winston and Lisa Christie (top photo) operate Winston's Kitchen year-round on the Oak Bluffs harbor and will be taking over Linda Jean's restaurant on Circuit avenue in January.

Keeping the Lights On

AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK AND BERNIE CROSSLAND

BY SISSY BIGGERS • PHOTOS BY JEANNA SHEPARD

Ocean Park has been one of Martha’s Vineyard’s most beloved landmarks since the days when side-wheel steam ships docked within sight of the iconic bandstand. Today one of the commemo rative bricks that encircle the bandstand is engraved with the inscription “Cross land Landscape, Loving Caregivers of Ocean Park 2003 – ” with the end date intentionally left blank.

For nearly 20 years, Mark and Bernie Crossland, with the help of sons Kyle, Keith and Kane Crossland and daugh ter Zoe Shanor, have kept this important gathering place verdant and flowering. And every year, not long after the park flowerbeds are put to bed, the Crossland Landscape elves get to work installing a sparkling light display, complete with syn chronized music, that brings a much-an ticipated holiday magic to Ocean Park. This year the light show will kick off on Saturday, Nov. 26, between 12 and 8 p.m.

as part of a new town event called Light Up Oak Bluffs.

BERNIE: It was called The Lighthouse. It was a non-denominational group that gathered at Cottagers Corner in Oak Bluffs.

Q. Bernie, did you have a background in gardening?

B: Heck no! I went to college to be an elementary school teacher but I grew up at my grandfather’s house and he was an amazing gardener. Back then I could have killed a spider plant – and that’s hard to do!

look of a cottage garden along the paths. That’s my style.

M: When we took over, there were only four flowerbeds and now there are 16.

Q. No pressure, tending probably the most photographed location on Martha’s Vineyard?!

MARK: Actually, it started with an elec tric mower, a bicycle and my trimmers –they weren’t electric, just scissors – that I kept at a client’s garage.

M: Really, she married into it. Mahoney’s used to be my nursery, so she worked there.

B: I started doing flower arrangements and worked when nobody else was avail able, because the buck stopped with me and Mark. Soon enough I was doing everything while raising four small chil dren in a house in the back.

B: I’ll tell you, those beds became my babies. I designed and placed every sin gle one of those plants. If my employees didn’t plant it where I wanted it, I got pretty upset! On Sunday mornings be fore church, I’d spend two to three hours deadheading and weeding anything my crew might have missed.

M: There were just four of us: me, Mike Donaroma, Rod’s Flower Shop in Vine yard Haven and Tea Lane Nursery.

M: We were married in 1988 after we met at church.

Q. Bernie, tell me about your original vision when you became the caregivers of Ocean Park in 2003.

B: There were good bones in the beds on Ocean Park, such as the big hostas and daylilies. I created the free-flowing

Q. What has been the response to your more recent project on Circuit avenue, landscaping with new trees, flowering buckets and hanging baskets?

M: They love it. It gives a more 3D expe rience on the avenue.

B: I can tell you there was a bit of contro versy about getting rid of the trees, but Mark planted a type of lilac that should be beautiful.

Q. Before we get to the season at hand, tell me how the company started.

Q. What was the competitive landscape of the landscaping business in 1975?

Q. When did Bernie come on the scene? Where did you meet?

Q. Will you be involved in the next phase, the renova tion of Healey Square?

M: It’s official and our company will start work in January. I have talked to the town and contractors to let me transfer the or namental trees in post office square that the Friends of Oak Bluffs paid for to oth er parks around town. It’s a win-win.

Q. Now, onto the big event: Light Up Oak Bluffs. When did you begin doing illumi nations?

M: In 2005 we started by stringing up

the lampposts, making trees from the lampposts.

B: It was really Mark’s idea. He’s the Christmas buff in the family. He takes Christmas very seriously.

Q. In 2005 did the bandstand have enough juice to power the installation?

M: It’s about three weeks with a four-per son crew. We have around 74 wire trees we store at my shop. The staff knows where to place the different heights and colors in the park after all these years. It’s about 400 hours when you add in the crew work on evergreens and arbors at the entrances.

M: The town electrician put in a larger panel with 400-amp circuit breakers and a lot of plugs. All the trees are wired into a computer for the light and music show. In 2017 after I saw a couple of Christmas specials about synchronized music and light shows I thought, “Hey! I can do that!”

M: Fixing and checking the wires and checking connections on probably three miles of extension cords. But the big gest challenge is people walking into the trees and breaking the strands.

B: I go nuts!

M: The families walk into the trees to get pictures and they break a strand. And if you break one strand, they all go out.

B: It’s frustrating.

M: But it’s all part of it.

B

M: I put each of eight or nine colors on separate circuits and set up for synchro nizing around 14 lights at a time. I could do up to 32, but that would make people crazy! I built an antenna – which I can do because I have an FCC license as a ham radio operator – to broadcast on 88.5 FM. You can sit in your car and tune in or you can listen to the P.A. system in the park

M: Thanks to Larkin Stallings and the Oak Bluffs Business Association we are teaming up to light the park and the Christmas tree in Healey Square, all on the same day. There are plans in the works for carriage rides, hot cocoa, a Santa visit, a sweater contest and more surprises.

B: We love this town and we want this year to be the merriest of all!

Sissy Biggers is a regular contributor to the Vine and writes frequently for Martha’s Vineyard magazine.

Q. How long does it take to set up?

Q. That conjures up images of Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Have you been compared to Clark Griswold?

: No! (Laughing) Mark is an entity unto himself!

Q. How do you set up the broadcast of the synchro nized music and lights?

for an in-person experience.

Q. What’s the biggest challenge once the lights are up?

Q. I understand that this year the illumination on the Saturday after Thanksgiving will be an even bigger event.

Since 2003, Mark and Bernie Crossland, their kids and the crew of Crossland Landscape have been caring for Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. In 2005, Mark debuted the now-famous Ocean Park holiday lights. In 2017 he added synchronized music.

Holiday Gift Guide

BY ELIZABETH BENNETT, THOMAS HUMPHREY AND SUSIE MIDDLETON

Making a list and hopping on the internet is one way to go about holiday shopping. But it’s not very satisfying or especially festive. It doesn’t lift your spirits. Far better to wrap up in a warm scarf, pull on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and head into town, where that tiny spark of childhood holiday glee we all hold onto might just stand a chance of reigniting.

Bells jingle on shop doors. Window boxes are stuffed with holly, winterberry and pine. Fairy lights glow in storefronts. The voices of carolers, the clatter of horse hooves, the greetings from

friends you run into – all together, these sights and sounds make old-fashioned Vineyard holiday shopping a true joy.

Perhaps not every last Scrooge can be cheered by a cup of hot cocoa, a few stolen minutes in the bookstore or the toy shop, or a visit with a friendly alpaca.

But even Scrooge can get behind keeping his or her hard-earned coin right here in our own community.

In that spirit, we hope our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide will lure you into town – and to festivals and fairs all over the Island. (For a complete list of fairs, see p. 25.)

2022

Jeanna Shepard

Gifts for Kids

1. EXPLORER PACKS

Encourage a young nature lover while also supporting one of the Island’s most family-friendly wild life sanctuaries by giving a Felix Neck Explorer Pack. Each kid-sized shoulder bag is assembled by local naturalists. It’s filled with a Felix Neck wildlife guide, identification tools, crayons, a stuffed animal, bin oculars or a magnifying glass and games. Choose from a Seashore, Insect or Birds theme and prepare for outdoor adventures.

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary 100 Felix Neck Drive, Edgartown massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/ wildlife-sanctuaries/felix-neck

2. MARTHA’S VINEYARD PAJAMAS AND ONESIES

$50 to $54

The Vineyard will be on your little one’s mind as they drift off to sleep in these pajamas and onesies dec orated with favorite Island places. Send them off to bed with visions of the Flying Horses, lighthous es, gingerbread cottages and the Chappy Beach Club cabanas. Joy Street creates these colorful single and two-piece sets from 100 percent Peruvian pima cotton.

Rainy Day

66 Main street, Vineyard Haven joystreetkids.com/collections/ marthas-vineyard

3. BIG AND LITTLE SEA OTTER PUSH TOY

$24.99

The smiling otters nestled together in this adorable wood-carved toy will make a great set of new best friends for your toddler. The otters can roll along together or be safely pulled apart by young hands to be played with separately. These are water creatures to be enjoyed all year long.

Alley’s General Store 1045 State Road, West Tisbury

5. MAKALA SOPRANO

UKULELE

$39.99 to 54.99 each

Kala brand ukuleles are a great gift for musicmakers of any age. The manageable size and soft mahogany wood of the Makala soprano ukulele is perfect for kids who want to strum away an afternoon. Available at Island Music in bright, eye-catching colors such as Loch Ness, Grasshop per, Magenta and Blue.

Island Music 58 Main street, Vineyard Haven islandmusicmv.com

4. LEGO SETS

From $14.99 to $29.59

Kids won’t want to put down these Lego sets of their favorite superhero characters and Minecraft scenari os. The Lazy Frog game store has a large selection of characters, buildings and scenes to help build imagination and motor skills for kids ages 3 and up.

The Lazy Frog 42 Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs lazyfrogmv.com

Gifts for Island Lovers

1. SIGNATURE TOWN SOY

CANDLE

$11.95, 4-ounce tin

Gift the scent of the Vineyard to fam ily or friends anywhere in the world with these Island-inspired candles hand poured by Vineyard Wick & Bath. Choices include Edgartown Dunes, West Tisbury Wildflowers, Aquinnah Coastal Cliffs and Chilmark Sunset.

Martha’s Vineyard Made 29 Main street, Vineyard Haven marthasvineyardmade.com

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2. MARTHA’S VINEYARD COFFEE COMPANY ISLAND BLEND COFFEE

$20.00 per 12 oz., whole bean

A medium to dark roast coffee blend, hand selected and small-batch roasted right here on Island, the Island Blend is a popular offering from Martha’s Vineyard Coffee Co. The specific coffee formula is chosen each season; it is currently a blend of Brazilian and Columbian beans.

Available at Katama General Store, Black Sheep, Beetlebung Farm and Edgartown Meat & Fish Market. marthasvineyardcoffeeco.com

3. VINEYARD COLORS COLLECTION

$125-800

Share your love of Martha's Vineyard with a medallion from CB Stark’s Vineyard Colors collection. Each medallion features the Island’s iconic profile elevated on a background of one of six different gemstones. Neck laces, earrings, and bracelets come in gold, silver and two-tone.

CB Stark Jewelers 53 Main street A, Vineyard Haven cbstark.com

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4. VINEYARD LANDSCAPE PRINT

2 5

$55

The unique papercraft artwork of Island artist Taylor Stone – in print or puzzle form – is the perfect Vineyard scene-setter for everyone on your list. Taylor also accepts commissions (from $900) to create an original work of a personal Island scene.

Night Heron Gallery

58 Main street, Vineyard Haven nightherongallery.com taylorstoneillustration.com

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5. MARTHA’S VINEYARD MOLDED CHOCOLATE LOLLIPOPS

$3

Seventy-percent dark chocolate in Enchanted Chocolates’ own custom Vineyard molds forms this iconic chocolate pop, generously sized at 3 ½ inches wide from Aquinnah to Edgartown. Lighthouse, starfish, scallop and mermaid molds are also available. Can you say stocking stuffer?

Enchanted Chocolates

4 Chapman avenue, Oak Bluffs enchantedchocolates.net

Gifts for the Cook

1. ARAUJO WOODWORKS

CUTTING BOARDS

Starting at $105

These cutting and serving boards from Araujo Woodworks are works of art as well as culinary tools. Woody Araujo makes the boards from maple, walnut and cherry sourced primarily on-Island as well as black cherry and other exotic woods not found here. Available in 8.5" x 11", 24" x 24", and custom sizes, with or without a map of the Island burned into the wood.

Aquila

17 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah

3. PEUGEOT TAHITI SALT & PEPPER $75

From the French manufacturer of au tomobiles and tools for the kitchen comes a colorful duo for the dining table. With the classic Peugeot steel grinding mechanism and a lifetime guarantee, the Tahiti set of salt and pepper grinders sports bright colors such as the coral and peach in this set. Le Roux carries a wide variety of Peugeot salt and peppermills.

4. SERVING TRAY, NAUTICAL MAP OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD

$28, $46

With a birchwood veneer and melamine coating, these serving trays are custom made for Stefanie Wolf and feature local NOAA charts of Martha’s Vineyard. Two sizes: small – 11" x 5"; large – 16 ½" x 12 ½".

Stefanie Wolf 37 Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs stefaniewolf.com

6. CARR’S CIDERHOUSE CIDER SYRUP $20

Not just for pancakes and waffles, this tangy, deeply flavorful cider syrup (essentially boiled down apple cider) from Carr’s Ciderhouse in Hadley, Mass., is delicious as a glaze for pork, whisked into pan sauces, and drizzled over yogurt or ice cream.

The Grey Barn and Farm 22 South Road, Chilmark thegreybarnandfarm.com

2. WORLD COCKTAIL

ADVENTURES: 40 DESTINATION-INSPIRED DRINKS $23

The illustrations alone – reminiscent of vintage travel posters – are worth snagging a copy of Loni Carr and Brett Gramse’s cocktail book, but mixologists and armchair travelers alike will revel in the recipes, stories and tips in this little gem.

Bunch of Grapes

23 Main street, Vineyard Haven bunchofgrapes.indielite.org

Le Roux at Home 62 Main Street, Vineyard Haven lerouxkitchen.com

5. FAIR TRADE COTTON APRONS $32

Crafted by a women’s artisan cooperative in San Juan la Lagu na, Guatemala, these 100-percent cotton aprons are made from fabric hand-woven on traditional treadle looms. They are available in several handsome patterns, and with two deep pockets and long ties, they will fit all your favorite cooks.

Olive Branch Fair Trade 459 State Road, Vineyard Haven olivebranchfairtrade.org

Gifts for Crafters

1. HYPATIA BOOK ARTS HANDMADE PAPER BOOKS AND JOURNALS

Starting at $68

Your gift recipient will know they’re special when a uniquely crafted, handbound book or journal is put into their hands. Among the many styles and bindings to choose from are the rag wrap blank journals; multi-purpose leatherbound museum quality sketchbooks, albums and journals; and the Sherwood Forest Storyteller or Audubon Storyteller, decorated with wildlife motifs. All books have pages of handmade paper and are truly one of a kind, the perfect prompt for creating an elegant memory book.

Night Heron Gallery 58 Main street, Vineyard Haven and Vineyard Artisans Festival hypatiabookarts.com

2. HEY CLAY

MODELING CLAY

$6.95 to $22.95

You may wind up with a gift of your own after giving canisters of Hey Clay Modeling Clay. The clay air dries, so it’s not sticky. Each box kit — size small with five canisters or large with 18 canisters — has a variety of colors to use to build caterpillars, dinosaurs or aliens. Or buy the kit and make your own creation. While you’re at Tisbury Toy Box, pick up some watercolor paint pods, cray ons, finger paints and poster paints and brushes.

Tisbury Toy Box

79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven (in Tisbury Marketplace) tisburytoybox.com

3. WINSOR & NEWTON OIL PAINTS

$6.99 to $39.19

Encourage the artist in your life by giv ing them the tools to paint with. Tubes of acrylic and oil paints are great gifts themselves but are also compact and sturdy enough to be used as stocking stuffers. During daRosa’s holiday sale, get 20 percent off all non-sale items in the store.

daRosa’s – Martha’s Vineyard Printing Company 46 Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs darosasmv.com

5. SUPERFINE YARN FROM ESSENTIAL LUXURIES $34 to $39 per bundle

4. FABRIC BY THE YARD

$4.99

to $11.99 per yard

Know someone who loves to quilt or sew? Granite Five & Ten at the Triangle has the basics every fabric lover needs. Cottons are sold by the yard and are cut to order. Stock ing stuffers for your favorite sewer include buttons, sewing and quilting tools, ribbons, appliques and other decorations.

Granite Stores of MV 242 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Edgartown granitestores.com

The soft texture of 80 percent alpaca and 20 percent wool will feel luxuri ous when your favorite knitter works with skeins created by Essential Lux uries and sold at Knitworks. The wool is hand-dyed on the Island in colors such as MV Quahog, Aquinnah Cliffs at Sunset and Burnt Orange to evoke favorite local places and moments.

Knitworks

10 State Road, Vineyard Haven vineyardknitworksmv.com

Gifts for the Nester

1. CHAMBRAY PILLOWS

$85-128

Up the style and comfort level of any Vineyard room with a chambray pillow from Salte. Made in India, these blue linen pillows are 100% machine washable and available in three styles – solid blue, striped and color-blocked.

Salte

6 South Water street, Edgartown Saltemv.com

3. BURGON & BALL JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGING BOWL $15.95

Designed for the Japanese flower arranging art of Ikebana, this kit is sure to inspire any aspiring florist with a burst of new creativity. The bottom of the bowl is fitted with a flower frog, a disk of vertical pins that allows for elegant minimalist arranging.

Middletown Nursery 680 State Road, West Tisbury middletownnurserymv.com

4. JWDA PORTABLE TABLE LAMP $229.95

A lamp rooted in history but not in the wall, this minimalist and charge able table lamp can go anywhere, inside or out, with a design inspired by traditional oil lamps and updated for the modern era.

Lennox and Harvey 53B Main street, Vineyard Haven lennoxandharvey.com

6. ALLEN FARM TEA

AND TOTE $22, $42

TOWELS

The iconic Allen Farm baby lamb peers out from these 100 percent cotton tea towels (26” x 26”) and generously-sized market tote bags. Hanging on a towel bar or on a mudroom hook, either makes a perfect up-Island memento for those longing for summer days on the Vineyard.

Allen Farm Sheep & Wool Co. 421 South Road, Chilmark allenfarm.com

2. HANDMADE JAPANESE

PAPER ORNAMENTS

$16 or $22

A perfect way to jumpstart a new family’s Christmas decoration arse nal, these ornaments are handmade on-Island by Ingrid Goff and crafted from Japanese paper. They come in two sizes and a variety of shapes.

Tending Joy

697 State Road, West Tisbury tendingjoy.com

5. PINK ANTHURIUM $24.95

If your favorite gardener is dreading a winter indoors, give them a piece of nature they can bring inside. This low-maintenance houseplant (nicknamed the flamingo flower for its long-lasting pink blooms) is appropriate for even those lacking a green thumb.

Jardin Mahoney 541 County Road jardinmahoneymv.com

Gifts for Yourself

1. JADE YOGA FUSION AND XW FUSION YOGA MATS

$90.25 to $212.45

Give someone (or yourself!) the gift of flexibility of body and mind. Yoga Barn sells Jade Yoga’s high quality, durable mats in varying lengths, lev els of thickness and calming colors. Even better: there’s no mark-up from what you’d pay online, so save your self the shipping cost and head to the beautiful studio on South Road. A gift certificate for classes would make a great accompaniment.

Yoga Barn

1 Red Barn Road, West Tisbury marthas-vineyard-yoga-barn.com

2. SOLAR RECOVER SKIN AND HAIR CARE

$12 to $26

Solar Recover products are all about hydration. The essential oil based skin and hair sprays, lip creams and exfolliants protect and repair sun and saltwater damage. Scents include sesame, lavender and geranium.

Tangerine 42 Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs solarrecover.com

4. FLAT POINT FARM SOAPS

$5 to $17.50

It’d be hard to find a bath product with deeper Vineyard roots than these soaps made from the goat milk gathered at Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury. The goats are milked at the West Tisbury farm; soaps are formed on-site in a solar studio; and every bar is hand-packaged, wrapped in pastel-colored papers or soft felt cov erings. Choose from scents such as honeysuckle, rosemary mint, sandal wood, sweet fig and Meyer lemon.

Available at Morning Glory Farm, Martha’s Vineyard Made, Morrice Florist, Stefanie Wolf and online. flatpointfarm.com

5. TINCTURES AND ELIXIRS FROM VINEYARD HERBS TEAS AND APOTHECARY $16.95

Prevent or treat everyday ailments with a few drops of award-winning herbal medicines made by Melissa Larsen at Vineyard Herbs & Tea. The small-batch remedies are mixed by hand from plants and herbs at an apothecary in Vineyard Haven. Each bottle is a compact tool to fight sinus congestion, support immune function and aid in digestion – naturally.

Vineyard Herbs Teas and Apothecary

Available at Martha’s Vineyard Made in Vineyard Haven and online Vineyardherbs.com

Keep your skin protected all winter long with Island Bee Company’s emolient. The portable containers are full of goodness: coconut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, shea butter and beeswax from Island Bee’s hives across the Vineyard. With ingredients like orange, lemon or lavender, they smell wonderful, too.

Island Bee Company

Healthy Additions, Martha's Vine yard Made, Black Sheep, Rainy Day islandbeecompanymv.com

Gifts for the Outdoorsy

1.

WANAKOME CASCADE HOODIE

$99

Here's a warm, sturdy sweatshirt perfect for a stroll through the woods in late autumn or as a layer when the colder weather comes. This style has the brand’s signature high neck cowl designed for extra warmth – no scarf necessary.

The Green Room 71 Main street, Vineyard Haven greenroommv.com

2. LOST HORIZONS HANDCRAFTED MITTENS

$50

These charming 100 percent wool, fleece-lined mittens will keep your hands nice and toasty all winter long. Handcrafted in Nepal, each pair is a certified free trade item. Different patterns are available.

The Beach House 30 Main street, Vineyard Haven thebeachhouseofmv.com

3. SEASONS OF THE STRIPER

$55

If the fisherman or fisherwoman in your life isn’t getting any bites, cheer them up with a book that regales the catches of others! Perfect to peruse when planning for the next striper season.

Bunch of Grapes 23 Main street, Vineyard Haven bunchofgrapes.indielite.org

4. NOCS PROVISIONS WATERPROOF BINOCULARS

$95

Here’s a compact, durable and waterproof set of binoculars ready for an Island birding adventure, available in two colors: flat earth brown and poppy orange. This 8x25 set boasts a 357-foot field of view, perfect for spotting plovers or cormo rants out on the great ponds.

Backwater Trading Co. 6 Main street, Edgartown backwatertradingcompany.com

SHOP LOCAL

In addition to visiting retail stores in all six of the Island towns, you'll also want to hunt for one-of-a-kind artisan and Island-made gifts at the wide range of holiday pop-ups and fairs beginning this week and running through Christmas. Turn to page 25 for a complete list of fairs during the holidays.

A Wreath To Call Your Own

Island florists have you covered with holiday wreaths in every style, not to mention wreath-making classes, wreath-making kits and even holiday wreath fairs.

BY THOMAS HUMPHREY

There is a story that Island floral design er Mariko Kawaguchi likes to tell about the history of holiday wreaths. The wreath’s origin lies, she says, in medieval Europe, before the streets were named and the houses numbered. In those days a family would hang their own unique bit of greenery upon their door, giving each house an individual character. “I’m the third house on the left, with a sprig of heather on my door,” you might say.

Nowadays, a simple sprig no longer cuts it. On an Island of 20,000-plus peo ple, you’ve got to be a tad more creative

to make your mark. But the fundamen tal soul of the wreath – its expression of seasonal individuality – remains.

“Each one is like a snowflake,” Mariko says. “It’s perfect for just that person.”

Whether you want to make a wreath yourself or commission an expert to do it for you, there are no shortage of ven ues to find your own green snowflake on Martha’s Vineyard this holiday season.

Of course, to make sure that all the wreaths get made by the time the holi days swing around, planning for wreath season begins early. On a warm Novem

Larry Glick

Ray Ewing

Ray Ewing

Jeanna Shepard

Jeanna Shepard

Ray Ewing

ber morning, in the sun-kissed pews of the West Tisbury Congregational Church, the wreath ladies held their first meeting. The limited wreath run this group of six parishioners produces for the church’s annual Christmas fair are some of the Island’s most coveted winter goods.

Along with planning the many other aspects of the upcoming fair, the ladies mapped out plans for this year's classic evergreen designs. Dinny Montrowl will take the lead in greenery procurement. An expert pruner, she has permission to collect a variety of botanicals from Polly Hill Arboretum. Dinny will also collect boxwood clippings from one of their congregants, a task that long time wreathmaker Ruthie Schaffner, who died last year, used to perform.

“We will miss her sunny disposition and her expert touch with the boxwood,” said Libby Fielder, another fair planner.

Mariko, who manages the yearly wreath making workshop at Donaroma’s Nursery, where she has been crafting beauty for almost 40 years, also has her team prepping for the winter wreath making well in advance. “Fall does de serve its due,” she says, and so they set up their “Santa’s workshop” alongside the corn tassels and pumpkins.

Their goal every year, Mariko says, is to get the right mix of ingredients and decorations to express each wreath-mak er’s own style, from rustic and classic to glitzy and shiny.

“We have a gazillion ribbons,” she says, having not yet determined whether buffalo plaid or classic velvet will be the big thing this year. Along with a wealth of evergreens and ribbons, Donaroma’s has secured a variety of “doodads and bobbles” to add flair to each wreath. Among the most unique are dried arti chokes, oranges and pomegranates, each one “lovingly impaled,” as Mariko says, on a wooden stick.

But as exciting as these bobbles might be, no good wreath can succeed with out a solid base. Along with the classic grapevine frame, Mariko says they also prepare a special frame construction meant to extend wreath freshness: a wire frame, stuffed with wet sphagnum moss and wrapped in green floral tape. Pieces of evergreen puncture the tape, suck ing up the moisture and staying green throughout the holidays.

Emily Coulter, owner of Morrice Flo rist, also emphasizes the importance of base construction in her wreath making.

“If you don’t have good mechanics, you are doomed from the start,” she says.

In addition to grapevine, Emily also

THE ARTIST AT WORK: Mariko Kawaguchi has been making beautiful decorations and ar rangements at Donaroma's for nearly four decades. She also leads a holiday wreath-mak ing workshop during Christmas in Edgartown where all the materials for success – includ ing "doodads and bobbles" like dried pomegranates and artichokes – are at your fingertips.

Photos by Jeanna Shepard

extolls the virtues of smilax, aka green brier, as a wreath making base. Smilax is a common plant on the Island and one that Morrice uses to provide greenery at the weddings they decorate starting in September. After the wedding tents come down, the smilax is recycled into her wreaths.

Emily’s personal style is unique, tend ing towards more muted, natural colors. “I try to make them like little pieces of art, loose and whimsical,” she says. “You let it form before your eyes.” This year she’s excited to work with the new, in teresting foliage and flowers of dried banksia plants, along with dried lavender from The Grey Barn in Chilmark.

If you’re more of a do it yourself kind of wreath-er, the Island has several op tions for you. Morrice Florist sells its own DIY wreath making kits, complete with base, wiring, botanicals and rib bons. They also plan to start posting wreath making tutorials for their cus tomers on Instagram @morriceflorist.

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary’s an nual Fall Festival (Friday, Nov. 25) offers another opportunity to make your own locally-sourced wreath. Their wreath bases are made from bittersweet, which has the added benefit of removing an invasive plant from Island ecosystems, says Felix Neck education manager Jo sey Kirkland. Along with bittersweet, volunteers collect pitch pinecones, American holly, cedar sprigs and scal

lop shells from Felix Neck’s forests and beaches, and members donate dried flowers from deadheading their gar dens.

“It’s so fun to see everybody’s creative ideas,” Josey says of the annual event, now in its 41st year.

There is also Donaroma’s annu al wreath making workshop, usually held on one day during Christmas in Edgartown (Dec. 8-11 this year) and run by Mariko. Participants can make traditional grapevine wreaths or those made with the sphagnum moss base, or they can craft miniature Christmas trees made from boxwood cuttings. Some makers have been returning to the workshop for more than 25 years, Mariko says, not for the instruction but for the comraderie.

“Tourists, natives and washashores all join in the pleasure and heartache of creating a finished project,” Mariko said. “There is a lot of goodness in wreath making.”

Thomas Humphrey is a reporter at the Vineyard Gazette.

Editor’s note: Wreaths can also be found at Middletown Nursery, Jardin Mahoney, Vineyard Gardens, Morning Glory Farm, and at artisan pop-ups and fairs around the Island. For a complete list of holiday fairs, turn to page 25.

AT MORRICE FLORIST, owner Emily Coulter has a whimsical wreath style, making use of Island native plants as well as dried flowers and seed heads. Morrice also sells everything you need to make your own wreath, including grapevine frames and dried flowers.

Holiday Pop-Ups & Fairs

In addition to shopping at Island retail stores this holiday season, you can visit a range of seasonal fairs, shows and pop-up shops for all manner of Island-made artisanal products. Here’s a listing of events by date.

WORLD MARKET HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOP

November 11 to December 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Capawock Theatre 43 Main street, Vineyard Haven

HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW

November 14 to December 18, noon to 4 p.m.

Featherstone Center for the Arts 30 Featherstone Lane, Oak Bluffs

ISLAND MADE HOLIDAYS

November 18 to December 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Heather Gardens 377 State Road, West Tisbury

VINEYARD ARTISANS

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

November 25 and 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Hall 35 Panhandle Road, West Tisbury

HOLIDAY OAK BLUFFS OPEN MARKET

November 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs

CHRISTMAS FAIRE AND SILENT AUCTION

December 10, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

First Congregational Church of West Tisbury 1054 State Road, West Tisbury

HANDMADE FROM THE HEART

December 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dr. Daniel Fisher House 99 Main street, Edgartown

29TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN EDGARTOWN ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL December 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Edgartown School 35 Robinson Road, Edgartown

PLUM HILL SCHOOL ANNUAL ELVES FAIR December 10, 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Federated Church 45 South Summer street, Edgartown

AQUINNAH ARTISANS

HOLIDAY FAIR December 10 and 11 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Aquinnah Town Hall 955 State Road, Aquinnah

VINEYARD ARTISANS

HOLIDAY FAIR December 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grange Hall 1067 State Road, West Tisbury

ONLINE

NORTHEAST INDIGENOUS ARTISTS HOLIDAY MARKET

November 21 to December 21 Facebook.com/ groups/687045065550767.

DINNER IS SERVED

BY NICOLE FULLIN • ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS BURRELL

400

AND ALL THE FIXIN’S. In 2021, chef Deon Thomas teamed up with the Island Food Pantry and the Vineyard’s community meals program to prepare and distribute some 400 Thanksgiving dinners.

100 Families

FEEDING FAMILIES. The Good Shepherd Parish’s food pantry, open on Tuesdays, serves about 100 families and close to 300 household members.

THEMED POP-UPS

MEALS ON WHEELS. Morning Glory Farm’s new food truck took dinner to the next level with 5 different themed pop-ups (includ ing a German Oktoberfest) during their fall season.

700 Pies

WHEN PIES FLY. On average Pie Chicks bakery in Vineyard Haven makes 700 pies every Thanksgiving.

IT'S CHRISTMAS

IN

EDGARTOWN!

30+ crêches (or small tableaus) donated for “No Room at the Inn” fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. 3 chances to catch a holiday concert. 18 opportunities to ride a horse-drawn carriage. 41 years of Christmas in Edgartown celebrations.

@vineyardgazette

To more than 30,000 followers – many of whom love the Vineyard from a distance — @vineyardgazette is a daily dose of Island inspiration. It’s not surprising, then, that many of the most popular shots of 2022 are dreamy photos of harbors and beaches, snow-covered streets and wildlife in nature. But followers love to know what’s happening here, too. If you haven't already, be sure to add @vineyardgazette to your Instagram feed, where you'll find quick news updates, a glimpse of people in the news and a preview of more to come in the paper.

Migrants from Venezuela and Colombia received an outpouring of support from the Vineyard community after unexpectedly arriving on the Island in September.

Larry Glick (@larryglickphotos)

Tim Johnson (@timmjaws)

Ray Ewing (@ray.ewing)

Aidan Pollard @aidan.pollard.12

Larry Glick (@larryglickphotos)

Mark Alan Lovewell

(@markalanlovewell)