A peaceful harbor, softly falling snow, cozy fires & steaming cocoa, flaming plum puddings, holly, winterberries, festive greens and great art—all signs of the holiday season on Nantucket. And so is the Artists Association of Nantucket (AAN) annual Holiday Small Works exhibition. The exhibit opens on Friday, November 27, at […]
Author: Taryn McBryde
Myth of the Star & Truth of the Constellation
The great lid of winter has been sliding over the island. Over a few days, the last visitors of summer danced and tumbled, but then they slipped away and left us with the gray, the cold, and the damp. The leaves have fallen and blown into drifts and piles, then to be stomped, soaked, and frozen. Behind the bare limbs, the neighbor’s windows glow. They have a new TV set and, starting at 4:30 in the afternoon, Fox News dances through the glass and across the stone patio. The R months have emerged as the blossom and bloom of summer has fallen away; the brown and gray foundations reveal themselves again.
Holiday Cooking with Island Chefs
Since the beginnings of the pandemic restrictions in March, there’s been a surge in home cooking. From sourdough everything to complicated pies and homestead recipes for foraged harvests, island residents have been spending more time than ever in their kitchens, experimenting and sharing successes.
Winter Staycations
by Dr. Sarah Treanor BoisDirector of Research & Education at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation After a rather mild fall, Nantucketers have been spoiled with the unseasonably warm weather. As winter looms and truly sets in, many of us may be in the mood to hibernate. During typical winters, many […]
Never Miss a Beet
Celebrating their second summer season on South Water Street, Amy Young and Felino Samson have continued to create something superbly special. Featuring family-friendly, delicious dining in an easygoing atmosphere, their menu is filled with food that is as fantastic as it is fun. To put it simply: The Beet is not to be missed!
The Winners Are…
We’ve been holding our Nantucket Photo Contest for more than a quarter century, but never have we had a year like 2020! With fewer visitors, stay-at-home guidance, no major events, and people working longer hours with smaller staffs, we weren’t sure what number and type of photo submissions to expect. […]
Doing What They Do Best
The Artists Association of Nantucket has spent its 75th anniversary year doing what it does best: supporting local artists, teaching, preserving the legacy of Nantucket artists, and enriching all our lives by sharing art. Despite the many and unusual challenges of 2020, AAN has successfully pivoted to accomplish their missions […]
The Season of Change
Fall on Nantucket usually heralds the slowing down of life on-island. Businesses change their hours, restaurants close for a few days every week, and the ferries have reduced schedules. During a typical fall, the rhythm of the island shifts from the manic excitement of summer to school schedules, Friday night football games, and making plans for winter travel.
What the Heart Needs
In my early years on Nantucket, when cable was new, the movie theaters were closed, and the Internet was a rumor, dinner parties were an adult entertainment where you could talk to each other without shouting. We met on Thursday nights, when everyone was on-island and the chaos was coming to a close. Sarah and I made lasagnas, apple cakes, chowders, and any other page in the cookbook that is currently stained. Even in some tiny galley kitchens, tucked into guest houses and rental basements, Sarah and I made some nice meals.