The Sea and The Stars: Island Time, August 5

The Sea and The Stars: Island Time, August 5

August 5, 2021

Find a quiet spot this weekend to collect shells or sea glass, to have a picnic, to paddle a kayak or take an early morning swim. You’ll need to recharge in between all of the exciting events happening across the Island in the next few days – and weeks. The 2021 Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival Summer Series begins tonight, the 19^th annual African-American Film Festivalbegins tomorrow, and two distinguished American speakers, the Reverend Dr. Raphael Warnock and Revered Dr. Otis Moss III will preach from the Tabernacle and Union Chapel respectively this Sunday.

Speakers and festivals are only the half of it – art shows, comedy, live music and plenty of kids activities mean no one will be bored this weekend. Check The Complete Martha’s Vineyard Calendar to plan your schedule, and read on for more highlights.

Author Author!

This weekend, take a break from your summer reading list to actually hear from some of the country’s leading authors during the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival 2021 Summer Series. Tonight’s opening event is sold out, but tickets are still available for the Friday, August 6 talk at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. Titled Can Journalism Survive? and sponsored by the Vineyard Gazette, the talk will feature Jelani Cobb, Cecilia Kang and Andrew Marantz, with Don Baer as the moderator. A reception will follow.

There will also be various panels and discussions during the day on Friday at the Museum. Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8, the festival moves up-Island to the Chilmark Community Center. The all-star lineup of authors includes Elizabeth Kolbert, Sebastian Junger, Louis Menand, Sadeqa Johnson, Simon Winchester and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Cool Comedy

The tenth annual Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest is in full swing. That’s a great thing, because don’t we all need a laugh? Friday, August 6 is the last night you can catch Mark Curry, Drew Thomas and Dolla Bill. Then, on Monday, August 6 through Friday, August 13, Kym Whitley and Ralph Harris join Dolla Bill for even more good times. All shows take place at Flavors MV in Oak Bluffs and begin at 9 p.m.

That’s Impressive!

Metal sculptor Anthony Holand has been hard at work creating his largest project to date: an 11-foot copper sculpture of a seahorse. And this weekend – Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day – the public can visit during an Open Studio at his Vineyard Haven space to view the piece of work, plus learn about the process of creating the massive sculpture.

Dinner and a Show

Head up to the Orange Peel Bakery in Aquinnah on Tuesday, August 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. for an outdoor concert with the band Azro Cady. Featuring lead singer and rhythm guitarist Phillip Hoffman; Trina Hamlin on percussion, keyboards and harmonica; Mark Dziuba on bass; and Martha’s Vineyard’s own Flip Scipio on lead guitar and electric sitar, the band evokes the feel of downtown New York City in the 70s, combining hooky melodies with lyrics that stick.

Prior to the show, Orange Peel Bakery will make dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Guests can purchase tickets for both dinner and the show, or just the concert.

Cooking From the Heart

What defines American cuisine? How has the food media played a role in the narrative of home cooking? In a panel discussion titled The Changing Story of American Home Cooking, on Wednesday, August 11 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, those questions and others will be answered. Panelists will include Dawn Davis, Sam Sifton and Dr. Jessica B. Harris, with Susie Middleton as the moderator. Following the talk, there will be a box lunch and a toast to honor Dr. Harris on her James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award.

Seaweed’s

….and it’s August!

If you — like me — are holding on by the seat of your pants, and maybe feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation (and/or everyone else’s vacation), check out this short and sweet list of manageable, affordable and stress-free activities:

Topping my list of things to do to calm the nerves is a leisurely stroll through the Field Gallery, where this week’s show features Islander Max Decker, photographer Michael Stimola and photorealistic painter Benjamin Johnson (shown here). Down Island, the Gazette’s own Ray Ewing has a show of new photographs at The Workshop Gallery.

I’m also hoping to stick around Vineyard Haven for this month’s First Friday, the Island’s best block party with local art, food and live music.(Dock Dance plays Owen Park at 8 p.m.)

And if escaping into the movies feels right this weekend, be sure to find time for one or two screenings presented by the MV African American Film Festival. (This line-up of shorts looks great, and if you missed Summer of Soul the last time, you’ll have another chance on Sunday, this time with a Q&A with director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson himself!)

Finally, with the weekends so full I don’t normally stretch out to Tuesdays, but wanted to be sure to get Seaweed’s queer dance parties on your weekly radar. Each Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m., you’ll find DJs, good food and drink, and a safe and welcoming space for all (21+ with vaccines…bring your ID and proof of Covid vax.)

Keep breathing, keep swimming and keep dancing,

Alex