Category Archives: Island Life

Tuesday Travel

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Shelter Island

How can it be that we only have two weeks left of summer?!?!? I hope you’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far. I know we have! This week, I wanted to share the highlights of one of our favorite weekend getaways to date… Shelter Island, which many refer to as the “Un-Hamptons.” Located about 150 south of Boston, Shelter Island is nestled between the North and South forks of Long Island, accessible only by boat. As an island girl, I was quite excited for this little adventure. And let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

We planned this getaway with our dear friends R + T and you can check out all our pics on Instagram #MRKTShelter.

Stay

stay

When planning a weekend getaway, the hotel options really guide my decision-making process. When I heard that David Bowd of Provincetown’s Salt Hotels was opening The Chequit last May, I knew it would be a place I needed to check-out. Fast forward to finding a summer getaway in-between Boston and NYC, Shelter Island rose to the top of the list. We booked this past April, right before the hotel received its acclaim on the Conde Nast Hot List. And well deserved honor indeed.

The restored hotel, built as a religious retreat in 1872, features 31 bedrooms, designed in a soothing palate of grey, pale pink and a splash of yellow {a favorite color combo}. The fixtures are brass, the floors adorned with beautiful Turkish throw rugs and they even provide you with a sun hat and blue Turkish towel for the beach.

After our stay at Salt House Inn last year, I knew we were in for a treat with the daily breakfast. Each morning, from 8 am to 10:30 am, the staff sets out an impressive breakfast buffet, including granola, yogurt, tea cakes, juices, coffee and a savory egg dish. It’s all so good.

Even better, the hotel offers a delicious restaurant {might I suggest the tuna tartare bites}, coffee shop, should you need a latte fix and a delightfully curated shop. I purchased the cutest tote {featured below #saltstyle}, a paddle board set for the beach and some new hair ties.

Do

SunsetBeach

I have a firm belief: If you’re on island time, you go to the beach! Luckily, we were able to purchase a beach parking pass at the hotel that allowed us to explore several. $40 for the week… what a deal.

We spent our afternoons lounging in the sun at Shell Beach and Hay Beach {our favorite} and checked out the Sunday scene at Sunset Beach, hotelier Andre Balazs’s St.Tropez-style hangout. For as chill as Shelter Island is, if you want the scene, go here.

Should you not love to hang at the beach for hours, make sure to check out the Mashomack Preserve for some great walking trails. But remember your bug spray. We sadly had to cut our walk short. Looking for a way to stay hydrated? Head over to Shelter Island Craft Brewing. My beer of choice was their Nude Beach, a plum ale featuring local beach plums, honey, lemon verbena and hops.

Eat

eat

The food on Shelter Island did not disappoint. Some of our favorite spots included:

Marie Eiffel Market – From the breakfast treats to the fish tacos, to the view on their back porch, Marie Eiffel is not to be missed. Jonathan Adler and Jerry Seinfeld are fans too! The perfect place to grab lunch before hitting the beach.

Vine Street Cafe – Shelter Island’s fine dining destination. Order the fried chicken. It’s amazing. Skip on dessert from the restaurant and go around the corner to their market for a brownie and coconut sorbet to go. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Maria’s Kitchen – Located next to the Shelter Island Craft Brewing, this little spot had some delicious tacos. The corn tortillas are amazing and so fresh.

Shop

shop

Sylvester Manor Farm Stand – Our favorite little farm stand on the island with beautiful views.

Dabney Lee – Across the street from Marie Eiffel, Dabney Lee has a beautiful collection of goods for the home and got you. Loved the Parrot Design Studio Shelter Island print.

Black Cat Books  – The best used book store ever. Don’t miss it!

Check back next Tuesday as I’ll be sharing some favorite spots we hit along the North Fork and throughout The Hamptons.

Found

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unnamed

I am rather excited to share today’s found item. The perfect beach towel, which I picked up last weekend at Bodega, my go-to island spot for all things home. For the last several summers, I’ve swore by my stylish and beautiful Turkish founta towels, straight from Istanbul. Lately, though, I’ve noticed they are just a bit too thin for my post swim/sun bathing activities.

These Kerry Cassill beauties are the perfect combination of fashion and function. Not only are they lovely to look at with a slight bohemian feel, one side is completely lined with terry cloth. Perfect for a post swim dry off followed by hours of sun bathing. Can you guess which one is mine and which one is K’s?

Enjoy the weekend, friends. I’ll be back on Monday kicking off a week of all things Boston. You won’t want to miss it!

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Island Time

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ACK

Happy Monday, sweet readers! Did you all do something fun this past weekend? We escaped to the island for a few days. Walking around Saturday morning, I was struck by how much has changed on my little island. Shops moving, new businesses opening their doors, and delicious new places to grab a bite. To help ease us back into the work week, I thought I’d share all the new places you need to know about as you plan your next trip on #islandtime.

atlantic

One of my favorites, Atlantic has moved up-town to Federal Street in the former C.Wonder space. With this larger space, Atlantic has expanded their offering of boho-chic pieces (I picked up the best summer dress seen here) as well as their collection of antiques and housewares. I am told that they will be opened longer into the off-season now too. Good news, indeed!

table1

The delightful Sarah Powers has opened Table No. 1 in the former Dupree & Co. space on Old South Wharf. Sarah continues to operate this space as a wine and cheese shop but has expanded offerings to include beautiful wooden cheese boards, colorful french cheese knives and even flowers from Flowers on Chestnut. Even better, she has wine barrels set-up outside the shop on the shell path along the wharf so you can sit back with a glass of rose and enjoy the terrific people watching. If you stop by, you must try the Pufrock cheese from Grey Barn on Martha’s Vineyard. Not only is the packaging superb but the smell and flavors of this cheese are to die for.

FullSizeRender

It seems to be all about the juice these days and I am pleased to report that a bright and cheery juice bar has opened in the former Bean location on Centre Street. Lemon Press offers a wonderful selection of cold-pressed juices {my favorite is the sweet green}, smoothies, raw bowls, open-faced sandwiches and frozen yogurt. In-town and need to grab a healthy lunch to take to the beach. Lemon Press is the spot. Oh and stop in to see their living wall too. It’s pretty great!

barcos

For those of you who have been coming to the island for some time, you know that it would take a lot to replace Tacos Tacos. I am pleased to report that the offerings at Barcos y Tacos do just that. My whole family went and the fish tacos were the crowd favorite. I opted to make my own tacos with sweet potatoes, black beans and Barcos signature chicken, which was cooked in tomatoes and had a wonderful flavor and texture. Located out of town behind The Sea Grille, I highly recommend Barcos y Tacos for an easy and affordable dine-in or take-out meal.

sevenseas

The art scene on Nantucket is thriving and although I haven’t been just yet, I hear Samuel Owen Gallery is the gallery of the summer. Housed in the historic Seven Seas building on Centre Street, this iconic spot was once home to Captain George Pollard of The Essex. This is the second gallery for owners Lee and Cindy Milazzo, who opened their first in Greenwich in 2004. These two are committed to exhibiting the work of emerging to mid-career artists. I am obsessed with the Antoine Rose beach photos. Breathtaking!

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A few more things to note: The Bean has moved into an expanded location at 4 India Street.  Grey Lady {with outposts in NYC and Aspen} has opened their third location in the former Bamboo Super Club near Stop & Shop. I hear the food is quite good. Nantucket Patsy Co. has rebranded to Nativ Made and continues to offer delicious juices {I like the Sconset loop} and baked goods. Atlas has opened in the former Pazzo space and Station 21 {sister restaurant to Lola 41} just opened in the former Corazon del Mar space. From what I’ve gathered on Instagram, the renovations are pretty incredible. And we have one more option for pizza on the island. Oath Craft Pizza,  at 44 Straight Wharf, is getting quite the buzz for their inventive toppings and ability to order half a pie.

For shops, Scrub Oak has moved to 10 Straight Wharf. Shift has moved from behind Lily Pulitzer to a prime spot on Main Street next to Vis-a-Vis. And Salt, a sweet little shop has opened at 19 Old South Wharf. There is a sign hanging in the shop that perfectly explains my love affair with this island of mine — it is just in me.

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy

In the Kitchen

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In the Kitchen
Yesterday after a long day at the catering kitchen, I decided to do a little something for me. I made my way over to Bartlett’s Farm, purchased a little blue quart container and walked through the strawberry fields. Item #1 on Summer Bucket List… done!

I had originally planned to make strawberry jam but when I read all the fine print about canning sterilization, I thought to myself, not tonight. So instead, I braved the grocery store at 5:30 pm (to my surprise, the parking lot wasn’t complete chaos) and got myself a baguette, some goat cheese and organic baby spinach. My thought was this: a simple spinach salad with fresh strawberries, cottage cheese and a little balsamic vinaigrette for dinner followed by a sweet crostini with goat cheese and balsamic macerated strawberries. So easy, so delicious.

Crostini

Strawberry Crostini
Here is what you will need:
– 4 1/4 inch slices of a baguette
– 2 Tbs. goat cheese (or more if you like)
– 1/2 cup thinly sliced strawberries (about 6 strawberries)
– 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (I recommend Ariston Balsamic. This stuff is amazing)

*Note: I made a very small batch. These measurements can certainly be doubled/tripled should you want to use the entire baguette.

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with tin foil.
2. Cut 1/4 inch slices of your baguette on an angel, which allows for more surface space.
3. Place bread slices on sheet pan and lightly brush with extra virgin olive oil.
4. Cook in the over for about 10 minutes, until lightly brown and crunchy.
5. While the bread is cooking, thinly slice strawberries and place in bowl with 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar and stir occasionally.
6. Remove the bread from the over, spread on a little goat cheese and arrange strawberries on top.
7. Enjoy!

And the good news, checked #2 off the Summer Bucket List as well. I’m on a roll!

Weekend

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Weekend
It’s Friday. Thank goodness. I’m not sure about you, but wow this was one long week. And since it will most likely be my last weekend of “freedom” before the craziness of summer catering kicks in, I have made sure to take advantage of every minute (always helps when a special someone is coming to visit too). Dinner tonight at American Seasons. I am torn between the salmon and the risotto. Hmmmmm. Hopefully crossing off #1 on the summer bucket list tomorrow morning, which also means getting #2 checked off as well. Taking in a little BBQ at B-ACK Yard BBQ tomorrow night. The reviews have been phenomenal. So excited. And finally a Nantucket Film Festival film. Oh and of course church and Sunday brunch.

What are your plans this weekend? Whatever they may be, I hope you have a great one!

Summer Bucket List

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Summer Bucket List
Truth be told, I completed very few things on last year’s summer bucket list. So I have added a few new ones and hoping that me and my girl(s) visiting this summer will be all the incentive I need to complete!

1. Pick strawberries at Bartlett’s Farm and/or Moors End Farm.
2. Experiment with a new recipe incorporating freshly picked strawberries. A few contenders include: this jam, this salad, and perhaps this dessert.
3. Go deep-sea fishing.
4. Finally, finally take a dip in the phosphorescence.
5. Rent a jeep and spend the day out at Great Point, which also means driving on the beach for the first time!
6. Surf lesson with ACK Surf.
7. Head over to Wellfleet Drive-in one Sunday night.
8. Get in a bike ride at least once a week.
9. Sleep on the beach (keep this one quiet… I believe it’s against the law).
10. Greet the sunrise.

Island Time

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Nantucket
Driving around my little island yesterday one thing was quite clear… summer is officially here! For all of you planning a getaway 30 miles out to sea, I wanted to provide a few updates to my Island Living guides.

First, a few things to note. Sadly, Trillium on Washington Street has closed up shop. But, you can find some of their product offerings, including my absolute favorite John Robshaw textiles at Bodega. And Sweet Little has moved from the wharf up to 40 Centre Street.

Now onto the new. Whenever planning a trip I always start with where I’m going to eat so let’s begin there.

B-ACKyard BBQ
Bourbon, beers and BBQ near the water… sounds too good to be true! Lucky for us, B-ACKyard BBQ opened their doors last week in the former Captain Toby’s space. I haven’t had a moment to try the food yet but have plans to do so on Saturday night. Just look at their sides… ranchero baked beans, cole slaw, a mason jar of pickled vegetables, and Vermont cheddar cornbread. Counting down the hours till Saturday night!

The Nautilus
Every year there seems to be that one new restaurant that captures all the buzz. A venture between 3 alums of the Boarding House/Pearl empire, The Nauitlus on Cambridge Street is “the place” this summer. The concept is a mix of classic and modern, small plates and feast selections all focused around the joy of sharing a meal and libations together. While The Nautilus prides itself on being a New England restaurant with a coastal/seafood base, their menu inspiration is rooted in Asian flavors and ingredients of the haute street food variety, with a major nod to the tapas style of Spanish cuisine. Tempura east coast oyster tacos. Why yes! Clinton Terry is the mastermind behind the bar and I must say, seeing this man make a cocktail is something else.

Meursault
One thing that is a constant in the summer is meeting friends visiting my little island for a cocktail. This little gem will be my new spot for just that. A charming wine bar in the former Cordillera Imports space on Broad Street, brothers Ethan and Jed Dupree have created an intimate place to grab a delicious class of vino and indulge in a few light bits of delicious cheeses and charcuterie. If you haven’t been to their wine and cheese shop on the wharf, it’s a must. Their toffee covered almonds tossed in powdered sugar are to-die for.

Handlebar Cafe
Since moving back to the island two years ago, there is one thing I have missed greatly… a wonderful coffee shop. When I heard that Jason Bridges and Courtney Nemeth of Nantucket Bike Tours were moving into the former Trillium space on Washington Street, right next to The Lovely and Parchment, I jumped for joy (literally). Although they aren’t open just yet, rumor has it that it will be any day now. My fingers (and toes) are crossed.

I think I have said this time and time again but I really believe that Nantucket has some of the best shopping around. From housewares, to clothing, to vintage to beauty… our little downtown certainly does pack quite a bit in. And lucky for all of us, a few new shops have made island roots this year.

Follain
I stopped into this beauty shop last week as I have been desperate for a new face moisturizer and in a brief 5 minutes, the owner Tara taught me oh so much. I left with an amazing face oil by Shamanuti, a petite jar of simple butter, which I have been using religiously on my cuticles, and a bottle of Follain liquid soap. And the best part, I made a 1-time deposit on this beautiful bottle that once I finish, I can just pop in and refill for less than $10. And even better, their flagship store is in Boston on Dartmouth Street, blocks away from my new apartment. What a great idea. Love a company that makes it easy to be green! And her makeup selection is spot-on. I am obsessed with my RMS un-cover cover-up.

CJ Laing
Truth be told, I’m not really a Palm Beach girl but when I drove by the window of CJ Laing, based in Palm Beach,and saw their beautiful ikat jackets, I instantly fell in-love. This beautiful little shop has a wonderful collection of jackets, embroidered tops, shorts, dresses, Stubbs & Wootton shoes and a killer jewelry selection. Looking for that perfect top to go with your white jeans, this is the place to find it!

Grey Clothing
While technically not a shop, you must check out Grey Clothing’s online store. Her products are all designed and hand printed on island. Love. And the tried and true tee… I can guarantee this is what I’ll be wearing on the 4th.

Sconset Gallery
I have been collecting Nantucket art since 2006 so when I hear a new gallery is opening, I get very excited. When I heard that Chandra and her husband Carlin, who have impeccable taste, were opening a gallery in Sconset, I was even more excited. A crisp white backdrop in an old Sconset cottage at 1 New Street… breathtaking. Art openings will take place every Thursday night from 6-8 pm and the gallery will be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Just one more thing to add to your list while you are exploring Sconset.

So there you have it. The places to add to your summer list. Do let me know if you are planning a trip to the island. Would love to see you and answer any questions you may have!

Found

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Found
The official start to summer is only 17 days away. Do you know how excited I am? Remember last year’s post on just what you will find in my beach bag? Well guess what… this week’s found item will be replacing an oldie but goodie: a new paddleball set from the one and only Terrain. Don’t you just love the design and color? Now I just need to find a matching bathing suit. Wish me luck!

Endings

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My girls
Friends… once again I apologize for my silence as of late. Last week was my last day at Nantucket Looms so as you can imagine my days had been a bit hectic making sure all the loose ends and little tidbits of information I acquired over the past 18 months were passed along. As with all transitions, I’ve been doing quite a bit of reflection of what I’m looking for in my next move. And while this summer I will be keeping busy in the catering kitchen, I’m excited for my upcoming move back to Boston. Finding an apartment, reconnecting with old friends, checking off all those things I never got around to the first time around (list forthcoming)… starting new.

I’ve been out of college for 13 years now, have worked at 6 different companies (4 law firms and 2 small island businesses), and have collected a few pieces of wisdom. As I begin to think about what’s next, I hope these will help guide me to that “near perfect” opportunity.

1. It’s all about team.
I have worked with some fantastic people along the way. My colleagues at Nixon Peabody and WilmerHale are still some of my closet friends. And at the Looms, I had the privilege to work side by side with the two ladies pictured above. Stephanie and Becky. Creative souls, amazing moms and business women who are carrying on the tradition of Nantucket Looms. Work is certainly work but to collaborate with those you respect, care for, can laugh with and generally like… that’s the key.

2. Work to live, not live to work.
The COO at Nixon Peabody use to always say this at our annual retreats. Of course we are employed to fulfill a certain set of tasks and job functions. But we have to work in-order to indulge and enjoy the things we enjoy in life. While I have loved every minute living on this little island, I have realized that the ability to do my weekend road-trips and impromptu travel is difficult. And for me, the ability to pick up and go is a must.

3. The bottom line.
The world lost an amazing voice today: Maya Angelou, who I believe said it best. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” Liking and believing in oneself has always been a struggle for me. Part of the reason I returned home was to heal and work on that piece. And today, I can confidently say, “I like myself.” And so the rest will hopefully follow. I like to do so many different things. I want to be creative but analytical. I want to write. I want to present. I want to tackle a project head on. And I want to work for a company I believe in. That has vision. That is a member of the community and believes that comes with some responsibilities. Hopefully when these things align, I will find success.

So here begins my search for what’s next. Endings are always hard but they lead to beautiful new beginnings. Beyond excited for this next chapter!

Possibility

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May

“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.”

My namesake month is here! I am overjoyed and oh so happy to say hello to May and again goodbye to winter, although the weather as of late has me wondering if spring really is here. I’m excited (and a bit sad) to share some exciting news with you. As you know, I returned back to island life nearly 24 months ago. I fondly called it “my time-out on life.” After many quiet days (and nights) and endless hours of soul searching, I have peace in my heart to let you know that I will be leaving my little island 30 miles out to sea. But please don’t worry, I won’t be leaving before summer. I mean, who leaves Nantucket before summer, right?

With this revelation, though, I have decided to return to managing an island catering company full-time. While I have loved nearly every minute of my time at Nantucket Looms and all the creative endeavors I have been a part of, I need to work my little tail off this summer to put away some hard-earned cash for this next chapter. Where will it be? I’m not sure just yet but as soon as I decide, I will let you know. And as Edwin Way Teale so beautifully reminds us in the quote above, anything is possible in May.

I have lots of fun plans to look forward to this month. Let’s see…

– I am off to Fryeburg, Maine and Hardy Farm this weekend to be celebrate the marriage of one of my nearest and dearest.
– Next Friday I will awake to my 35th year. More on that later.
– The weekend of May 15 is the 18th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival. A few Boston friends will be visiting so very much looking forward to yummy dinners and delicious wine, of course.
– The official start to summer is Memorial Day weekend (and the my last day at Nantucket Looms). I’m hoping to do a little weekend getaway for the thought of waiting in-line to dance at The Box with those Figawi sailors… no thank you!
– And I will end the month with a concert on the Boston waterfront with the one and only Ray Lamontagne (and two of the greatest friends a girl could as for). Can’t wait!