The time change this Saturday night isn’t the only reason to lose sleep in the upcoming week. The Island’s nonprofits, artists, libraries, museums and restaurants are offering so much to do, you’ll want to take it all in. If winter crafts are still on your to do list, join one of our local needlecraft nights. Or gear up for spring with a variety of nature and outdoors activities. It’s said that everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Prepare to celebrate the holiday with workshops on the secrets of making corned beef and Irish soda bread at the FARM Institute or an evening of songs, Irish fa ..read more

The shortest month is a little longer in 2024, thanks to leap year, the once-every-four-years phenomenon that adds a day to February. How how will you enjoy your extra day? Step out of your busy life and unlock your creativity by joining a Slow Stitching Circle at PathwaysARTS. Cook up some chicken and dumplings soup with Chef Chris Look at the Edgartown library. Pick up some acting and improv skills at Theater Fun for Adults at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse. Or just recover from a vigorous game of Millennial Pickleball the night before. Check The Complete Martha’s Vineyard Calendar for a f ..read more

Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck did their jobs last week, emerging from their burrows and greeting daylight. Both saw their shadows and there’s been much rejoicing at the prediction of an early spring. If you’ve been slow to indulge in wintertime pleasures such as movie nights, book clubs, or fiber arts, now’s the time! A note for music lovers: The Ritz Cafe will be tucking up for a short winter nap. The last night for music and revelry is Feb. 15 until the venue re-opens in March. During that hibernation, you’ve still got plenty of local music options, with jazz at The Sweet Life ..read more

Baby, it’s been cold outside! But with temperatures projected to rise, it’s a good time to get back outside and enjoy the Island’s beauty. Be a Beach Befriender and help clean up the Oak Bluffs waterfront on Sunday, Jan 28. Or go inland on Sunday, Feb. 4 when the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank staff leads a guided walk through Pennywise Path. Bundle up before you do! If you prefer to stay cozy indoors, you have a choice of venues to hear local musicians on Saturday, Jan. 27, including the Chilmark Potluck Jam, Black Dog Bakery Cafe and Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. Next week’s Restorative Sou ..read more

Almost two weeks into the new year, how are your resolutions going? Pollsters say Jan. 12 is the day on which most people abandon their annual pledges. Hang tough, Islanders! If healthy habits are on your to-do list, a Winter Wellness Workshop today at the West Tisbury Library offers support to stay motivated. You can meet exercise goals while experiencing some of the Island‘s prettiest places during winter walks at Squibnocket Ridge and Polly Hill Arboretum. Home cooks — or people who want to be — can learn to make healthy food through Chef Look Cooks and Brent Turner’s Home Madeseries. Perh ..read more

Let’s drink a cup of kindness as the old year passes! Enjoy Chef Deon’s delicious soups available today and tomorrow at the West Tisbury Public Library as part of the annual Community Soup and Bread Lunch or team up your family for Black Dog Trivia Night on Friday. Then ring in the new year by movin’ and groovin’ to live music on New Year’s Eve when Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish play The Ritz Cafe and Serendipity kicks things up at the Portuguese American Club. Starting at 10 p.m., DJ Smooth B will be spinning vinyl at The Ritz to ensure your 2024 comes in with great tunes. Check What’s Open on ..read more

After Monday’s walloping storm, the forecast looks calm and bright leading up to Christmas. That’s just the weather for outdoor walks with family and friends or a solo amble to reflect as the year comes to a close. Meander through Island Folk Pottery’s Sculpture Trail in Chilmark where you will find whimsical creatures in unexpected places. Or plan a reunion with Tom Maley’s playful sculptures at Field Gallery; those dancing ladies await your visit! Check The Complete Martha’s Vineyard Calendar for all the holiday (and non-holiday) festivities and activities. Some artisan markets are open for ..read more

Holiday shopping on the Vineyard is a special experience. Poking in and out of shops on Main Street or visiting a holiday fair is much more fun than sitting in front of a computer. Storefronts are decked out with greenery and twinkling lights, the scents of hot cider and wood smoke fill the air, and bumping into friends and neighbors is a given. Even better is the satisfaction you get from knowing you are supporting small businesses – keeping dollars in our local community and finding unique gifts at the same time. First things first: Mark your calendar for Christmas in Edgartown, Dec.7 -10 ..read more

You can ease into the holiday spirit this weekend with a concert or a decorating class – or go all in with fairs and festivals. The choice is yours. Our top picks include the Island Community Chorus annual holiday concert at the Old Whaling Church and the special edition of First Friday on the lawn of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. We’re also planning to head up to the Aquinnah Artisans Holiday Fair and we’ve got our eyes on that wreath-making class at The Farm Institute. For a gentle way to end the weekend, we might stop at the Chilmark Church for an Offering of Music and Light.In between? Th ..read more

Anyone with a connection to the Island has reason to be grateful this weekend. Maybe you’re thankful for the sight of a Squibnocket sunset, the electric thrill of a Dock Dance concert, the taste of Island-grown foods or the feel of handmade crafts. Whatever makes you glad to be on the land the Wampanoag people call Noepe, you’ll have a chance to celebrate that in the days ahead. Work off your Thanksgiving feast with a hike at the Brickyard or by dancing to Serendipity at the P.A. Club; get a jump on holiday shopping at the Island’s many artisan markets (below); or hang out with the herd at Is ..read more