The designation “close runner-up” indicates the runner-up received only one to ten votes less than the winner. While votes were courtesy of our readers, the reporting is by Linda Black, Susan Catling, Shelley Christiansen, Tom Dunlop, Jim Miller, Nicki Miller, Elaine Pace, Julia Rappaport, Brooks Robards, Joyce Wagner, and Michael West.
On the water
Best Beach: South Beach
Edgartown.
Runner-up: State Beach
Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.
South Beach is, quite simply, The One – the frontier beach that defends us from the Atlantic, one day thundered upon by twelve-foot combers, the next quiet enough to dip your toddler into a gentle swell. State Beach is the longest sheltered beach that’s open to everyone and just about everything – from tanning to bridge diving (against the law, for the record: Geronimo!).
Best Place to Kayak: Sengekontacket Pond
Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.
Runner-up: Lagoon Pond
Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs.
With easy access to parking and launches, this saltwater pond boasts the sheer bliss of some of the Island’s best views, plus Major’s Cove and an islet to explore. Access to Nantucket Sound, under Beach Road’s bridges, adds appeal for the adventurous. For explorations
of Vineyard Haven’s Hines Point and deeper into Oak Bluffs, try runner-up Lagoon Pond.
Best Fishing Spot: Menemsha
Chilmark.
Runner-up: Wasque
Chappaquiddick.
Want to catch the big four: striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore? Head to Menemsha, where the jetties are deep, or take your all-wheel vehicle onto Chappy and navigate the sandy shore at Wasque, where the big fish come in to trap bait in the shallows. Both are a fisherman’s dream!
Best Bait and Tackle Shop: Coop’s Bait and Tackle
147 West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, 508-627-3909.
Close runner-up: Dick’s Bait and Tackle
108 New York Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7669.
Down home and kid-friendly, Cooper Gilkes of Coop’s Bait and Tackle offers fish tales along with plentiful bait and tackle supplies. Steve Morris of Dick’s Bait and Tackle has his own following. Both shops hail from deep Island roots. You can walk into either with nothing and, within your budget, leave with everything you need to catch a fish.
Best Fishing Charter Boat: Skipper/Vineyard Sound Charters
On the bulkhead near the Island Queen, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-1238.
Close runner-up: Wayfarer Charters
Town Finger Piers, Edgartown, 508-326-2031.
Captained by John Potter or second-in-command John Nelson, the Skipper takes groups of up to forty for fishing trips, sunset cruises, or private parties – it’s as good for first-timers as for more experienced anglers. Captain Ed Jerome of Wayfarer Charters can take eight fishermen out of Edgartown on his thirty-two-foot Luhrs, and with thirty years of experience on Vineyard waters, he has knowledge to share.
Best Sailing Charter Boat: Mad Max Sailing Adventures
25 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-7500, www.madmaxmarina.com.
Runner-up: The Black Dog Tall Ships
Vineyard Haven Harbor, 508-693-1699, www.theblackdogtallships.com.
You’d be hard pressed to find more varied – or satisfying – experiences under sail anywhere in the country: the swift, gliding sleekness of the catamaran Mad Max out of Edgartown, or the heavy, timbered, sea-going authority of the traditional schooners Shenandoah and Alabama of The Black Dog Tall Ships in Vineyard Haven. Sailor’s choice!
The active life
Best Bike Rental: Wheel Happy Bicycle Rentals
8 South Water Street and 204 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5928.
Close runner-up: Martha’s Bike Rentals
Five Corners, 4 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6593.
When Phil Hughes bought Wheel Happy a few years back, he knew nothing about bikes. Now he’s considered just about the most affable, efficient, and encouraging bike salesman, repairman, and renter on the Island. This summer Martha’s Bike Rentals, located two minutes on foot from the ferry at Five Corners, celebrates its twentieth anniversary.
Best Fitness Center: Mansion House Health Club
9 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7400.
Runner-up: Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa
24 Airport Road, West Tisbury, 508-696-8000.
Looking for an indoor pool? Go to the Mansion House, where you can swim for fun or fitness, then move to the workout area, and finish the day with a massage. Prefer tennis? The Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa near the airport offers two courts, round robins, and private lessons. Staying in shape was never so easy.
Best Nature Walk: Menemsha Hills
North Road, Chilmark, www.thetrustees.org.
Close runner-up: Cedar Tree Neck
Off Indian Hill Road, West Tisbury, www.sheriffsmeadow.org.
Menemsha Hills boasts one of the highest viewpoints on the Island. Loop through this Trustees of Reservations, well-marked property and catch a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean or Vineyard Sound. For additional awesome views of the Sound, try Cedar Tree Neck Preserve, a Sherriff’s Meadow property, with its multiple habitats: woodland, seashore, and an elevated walk past a kettle pond.
Best Place to Fly a Kite: Ocean Park
Oak Bluffs.
Runner-up: South Beach
Edgartown.
Skies seem endless from Ocean Park’s grassy meadows and flower-rimmed walkways. Tie your kite string to a park bench, stretch out, and gaze at the gorgeous Victorian manses that ring the park. Ocean gusts, Frisbees, beach volleyball, and sunbathers add excitement to kiting at runner-up South Beach, but avoid piping plover nesting areas.
Best Yoga Class: Sherry Sidoti of FLY Yoga
Classes are at Rise Vineyard Performing Arts in the Woodland Business Center, Vineyard Haven, and Island Cohousing’s Common House, West Tisbury, 774-238-0176.
Runner-up: Megan Grennan
Teaches at a variety of locations, including the Yoga Barn in Chilmark; Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa in West Tisbury; and Vineyard Complementary Medicine in West Tisbury, 508-696-3884.
Sherry holds private and group classes as well as retreats. Expectant moms can try the prenatal class and then return for Baby and Me.
One workshop combines yoga with creative writing. Megan’s background as a professional dancer led her to hatha and vinyasa yoga.
She holds group classes, and she’s also available for private sessions.
On the town
Person You’d Most Like to Have Lunch With: Carly Simon
Runner-up: Walter Cronkite
And who wouldn’t! Carly is the grande dame of music and Walter – well, he’s a legend. We’d be happy to lunch with either – or both.
Best Bar/Pub: Offshore Ale Company
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626.
Close runner-up: The Newes from America
23 Kelly Street, Edgartown, 508-627-4397.
If anyone needs to know how to run a great Island pub, here are your role models. Offshore Ale? Great food, great location, great music, and you can’t beat the beer brewed from scratch, on premise. The Newes from America, in the historic Kelley House Hotel, is cozy in the winter and cool in the summer and serves great burgers and microbrews.
Best Place for Cocktails: Sharky’s Cantina
31 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7501.
266 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-6565.
Runner-up: Nancy’s
29 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0006.
Olé! Sharky’s is so good, it doesn’t fit in one location. With a selection of luscious margaritas, tame or spicy Mexican food, and a casual
atmosphere, it’s no wonder it tops the list. At Nancy’s, on the harbor in Oak Bluffs, sip cool and lovely drinks either indoors or on the deck while listening to the waves slap on the wharf – ahhh.
Best Place to Hear Live Music: Outerland
17 Airport Road, Edgartown, 508-693-1137, www.liveatnectars.com.
Runner-up: Offshore Ale Company
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626.
It looks like, with a change of hands, we won’t have to mourn the passing of a great venue as the music plays on this summer at the airport club, now under the name of Nectar’s (an offshoot of the club in Burlington, Vermont). Offshore Ale keeps the beat going year-round, with a live Irish-music jam session on Wednesdays, live jazz on Tuesdays in the off-season, and various live bands in the summer.
Best Live Band or Musicians: Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish
508-696-3007, www.johnnyhoyandthebluefish.com.
Runner-up: Vineyard Sound
866-VIN-SOUND (846-7686), www.vineyardsound.org.
The popularity of Johnny Hoy and his cohorts spills over from the Island and covers most of New England. Just try not to dance to the product of these bluesy troubadours. For just plain listening and watching, check out the ten a cappella singers in the Vineyard Sound; they are in their seventeenth year of entertaining on the Island.
Best Movie Theater, Festival, or Series: Entertainment Cinemas
65 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8008.
Runner-up: Capawock Movie Theater
Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-627- MOVY (6689).
Call for the recorded schedule at Entertainment Cinemas and hear manager Bob LaSala’s run down of what’s playing: Just by the enthusiasm he puts into his message, it’s obvious this guy is excited about movies. The historic Capawock is still a great old movie house.
Best Charity Event: Martha’s Vineyard Community Services
Possible Dreams Auction. August 3 at Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7900.
Runner-up: Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust’s A Taste of the Vineyard
June 11 on the lawn between the Old Whaling Church and Dr. Daniel Fisher House, Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-4440.
The Possible Dreams Auction, going on thirty-one years on the block, still draws huge crowds with its quirky and extravagant biddables. Watch for this year’s auction packages at www.possibledreamsauction.com. A Taste of the Vineyard Gourmet Stroll, held early in June, is always like a big, welcome breakfast to a waking Island.
Best Summer Event: Oak Bluffs Fireworks
August 21 at Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0077.
Runner-up: Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair
August 20 to 23, State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-9549.
Ooooh. Ahhhh. This free must-go event, sponsored by the Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association, seems to get better every year. Picnicking in Ocean Park and watching the kids march around the gazebo beforehand seems to shorten the wait till dark. The Ag Fair: pulled pork, skillet throw, woodsmen competition, Island crafts, strawberry shortcake. How could you not love it?
Best Off-Season Event: MVY Radio Big Chili Contest
Portuguese-American Club, 137 Vineyard Avenue, Oak Bluffs.
Runner-up: Christmas in Edgartown
Various locations, www.edgartownboardoftrade.com.
A benefit for the Red Stocking Fund (help to needy families), the Chili Contest packs ’em in every year as professionals and amateurs from on- and off-Island show off their legume-based wonders. And, as if the old village didn’t seem quaint enough, Edgartown evokes a cheerful yesterday feeling with tours of the vintage inns, performances, handmade crafts, edibles, and lots and lots of lights.
Best Place to Take Kids: Flying Horses Carousel
15 Oak Bluffs Avenue at the beginning of Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9481.
Runner-up: State Beach
Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.
Whee! A promise of a ride on the colorful horses with the old-fashioned brass rings is the Island’s official form of bribery for tired and/or misbehaving kids – and a reward for good ones. And, of course, if you can’t take the tots to State Beach due to inclement weather, you’ve got an option.
Best Rainy Day Activity: Movies
Runner-up: Flying Horses Carousel
15 Oak Bluffs Avenue at the beginning of Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9481.
Remember sitting in the cool dark, watching your favorite heroes and heroines being tested for courage and valor? Or some silly on-screen star making you laugh so hard you nearly spilled your popcorn? We can’t guarantee that rain won’t invade one or two days of your kids’ vacation, but, if it does, you’re covered. Twice.
Shopping
Best Antiques Store: Past and Presents
37 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-3992.
42 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-6686.
Runner-up: The Granary Gallery
636 Old County Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-0455.
Dress your old captain’s home in English finery and Island heirlooms. Two stores’ worth of items from very old to very new, make Past and Presents a Vineyard antiques destination. The Granary Gallery, while known mostly for its original artworks, also boasts a plethora of antiques – mostly primitives.
Best Art Gallery: The Granary Gallery
636 Old County Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-0455.
Runner-up: Dragonfly Gallery
91 Dukes County Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8877.
Consistently winning top honors, The Granary Gallery, though off the beaten path, is one popular place. Check out the impressive collection of Alfred Eisenstaedt photographs, usually kept in the back. The quaint and charming Dragonfly Gallery, in the Arts District of Oak Bluffs, is committed to the prodigious talent on the Island.
Best Bookstore: Bunch of Grapes
44 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2291.
Runner-up: Edgartown Books
44 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8463.
After last year’s devastating Fourth of July fire, Islanders are sighing with relief that new owner, Dawn Braasch, kept Bunch of Grapes going at a temporary location around the corner while the store was rebuilt. Edgartown Books, this year’s sponsor of the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival in Chilmark on August 2, is the place to stop on the way to the beach for that great summer read. Check out the staff favorites.
Best Gift Shop: Rainy Day
66 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1830.
Runner-up: The Lazy Frog
42C Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-HOPY (4679).
An unfailing winner in this category, Rainy Day continues to stock a whole summer’s supply of Island-themed and Island-made wares for home, patio, and beach. The Lazy Frog, in its new, larger, O.B. digs (it used to be on South Water Street in Edgartown), is even more chock-full of whimsical toys, clothing, and collectibles.
Best Jeweler: CB Stark Jewelers
53A Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2284.
27 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-1260.
Runner-up: Claudia
51 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8306.
34 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5465.
Once again, Cheryl Stark and Margery Melzer head the list of Vineyard jewelers with their Island-themed, high-quality pieces that give the seasonal visitors a great memento of their trip and the year-rounders a reminder of the beautiful place they inhabit. The classy, uncluttered windows will lure you into Claudia. It’s the same inside.
Best Package Store: Our Market
One East Chop Drive, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3000.
Runner-up: Jim’s Package Store
27 Lake Street (Circuit Avenue Extension), Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0236.
Close to the beach, Our Market is the place for stocking up on wine for a picnic or company cookout, or to pick up the makings for party cocktails. The parking lot is always jumping at Jim’s. For the health conscious, they now stock organics – wines, beers, even vodka! Both deliver.
Best Place to Rent Movies: Hollywood Video
244 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, Edgartown, 508-627-3533.
Runner-up: Island Entertainment
395 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7441.
If you’re looking for new releases or something for the kids to watch on a rainy day, pop into Hollywood Video. One of the few chain stores accepted on the Island, it’s got everything you’d expect from its off-Island equivalents. Island Entertainment is the film-buff store. Its 23,000-plus titles include art films, silents, classics, and pics you won’t find anywhere else.
Clothing
Best Store for Children’s Clothing: Kiddo’s
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5437.
Runner-up: Basics
22 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819.
Little fashionistas and fashionistos grab their garb at Kiddo’s, the cute-as-a-button emporium for the newborn-to-kindergarten set. And every newborn at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital receives a complimentary Kiddo’s onesie. For children of all ages, Basics stocks reliable and stylish essentials, ranging from jeans and jackets to flip-flops and fleece.
Best Store for Men’s Clothing: The Green Room
71 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6888.
Runner-up: Sundog
41 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5254.
The Green Room has clothing for a day at the beach, skateboarding, or an evening out. Sundog offers classic, stylish attire (think J. Peterman but without the stories), T-shirts with slogans for the literati, and jazz for your listening pleasure. For many men, it’s the only shop they’ll agree to enter.
Best Store for Women’s Clothing: The Green Room
71 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6888.
Runner-up: Basics
22 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819.
This downtown Vineyard Haven boutique with a downstairs surf and skate shop is a perennial readers’ favorite for its reasonable prices and great selection of designer jeans, cute bathing suits, and accessories to match. Basics is a great runner-up for, well, all the basics!
Best Store for Shoes: Basics
22 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819.
Runner-up: Brickman’s
8 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0047.
Funky, fun, and fabulous describe the variety of shoes at this mecca for cool summer footwear, whether it’s sandals, mules, or athletic shoes you’re in the market for in sizes ranging from infants to men’s size 14. Choose the runner-up for a wide selection of classic styles for everyone in the family.
Best T-shirt: The Black Dog
Some locations:
11 Water Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7381.
37 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9826.
11 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-6412.
Runner-up: Beetlebung Dry Goods
9 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-696-0006.
66A Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-1011.
24 Basin Road, Menemsha, 508-645-9950.
Travel anywhere in the world, and you might see one of these iconic tees. It’s a classic that tells the public the wearer has been to Martha’s Vineyard – also a way to strike up conversations with strangers in faraway places. Find organic cotton tees, some in designs by Island artist Dan Waters, at runner-up Beetlebung Dry Goods.
The best eats
Best Place to Get Breakfast: ArtCliff Diner
39 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1224.
Runner-up: Linda Jean’s Restaurant
25 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-4093.
It’s worth the wait (in the parking lot, congregating with Island neighbors) for an ArtCliff Diner breakfast experience, whether it’s a goat-cheese crepe that’s got your mouth watering or made-from-scratch hollandaise; same goes for Linda Jean’s, though you might cut the wait for that fresh-veggie omelette or grilled muffin by asking to sit at the counter.
Best Place to Get Lunch: Slice of Life
50 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3838.
Runner-up: Humphreys
455 State Road, at Woodland Market, Tisbury, 508-693-6518.
1 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-6890.
32 Winter Street, Edgartown, 508-627-7029.
Under new ownership, with chef Pete Smyth now at the helm of the business, Slice of Life continues to satisfy with scrumptious daily specials, menu favorites like the Asian salmon salad, and melt- in-your-mouth desserts. Humphreys in any town is a friend indeed, for made-to-order deli sandwiches or hot-off-the-press Cuban paninis to go.
Best Dinner Restaurant: Atria
137 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5850.
Runner-up: Sharky’s Cantina
31 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7501.
266 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-6565.
With a menu as hip and sophisticated as the ambiance, and featuring dishes inspired by the Island’s bounty, dining at Atria is an event – even for apps and nightcaps at the sexy Brick Cellar Bar. The always-festive Sharky’s Cantina is a sure bet for both family dining and after-office food and frolicking.
Best Family Dining: Sharky’s Cantina
31 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7501.
266 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-6565.
Runner-up: Giordano’s Restaurant
107 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184.
The appeal for parents – chile rellanos, chicken flautus, and pomegranate margaritas notwithstanding – is that Sharky’s gets kids, who leave with content bellies as well as a coloring book and surprise toy; and if Mexican isn’t on the bill, Giordano’s covers the gamut of classic Italian, from garlic bread and spaghetti to mmm, mmm, cheesy pizza.
Best Outdoor Dining: Nancy’s Snack Bar
29 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0006.
Runner-up: The Seafood Shanty
31 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8622.
You name it, Nancy’s Snack Bar’s got it – tasty delights from lobster rolls to fried clams, and the quintessential view from the tiki-hut shaded patio on the boardwalk in Oak Bluffs. The Seafood Shanty boasts one of the few water views in Edgartown, not to mention yummy sea fare from the kitchen or sushi bar.
Best Place to Get a Vegetarian Meal: Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Tisbury, 508-693-6633.
Runner-up: Slice of Life
50 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3838.
With an eclectic, scrumptious menu that includes quinoa burgers, fakin’ bacon breakfast sandwiches, and spicy peanut noodles, Scottish Bakehouse is a vegetarian heaven. Slice of Life will also satisfy the vegetarian palate with choices like the portobello sandwich and vegetarian pizza.
Best Year-Round Restaurant: Sharky’s Cantina
31 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7501.
266 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-6565.
Runner-up: Offshore Ale Company
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626.
Burritos and margaritas and nachos, oh my! Sharky’s keeps our hungry bellies full all year-round. The new Edgartown location adds even more spicy variety to our off-season lives. Offshore Ale keeps us going too with home-brewed beer and home-style fare plus two-for-one wintertime deals on Monday nights.
Best Burger: Offshore Ale Company
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626.
Runner-up: Alchemy
71 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9999.
For a delicious alternative to Martha’s Vineyard seafood, stop by Offshore Ale any time of year for one of its juicy hamburgers or cheeseburgers, and while you’re there, sample one of their award-winning microbrew beers. Or, if you are in Edgartown, drop into Alchemy, belly up to the bar, and savor their panacea for hunger.
Best Pizza: Giordano’s Restaurant
107 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184.
Runner-up: Lattanzi’s Pizzeria
19 Church Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9084.
The surest sign that winter’s gone for good is when your kids come home and tell you Gio’s is open for the season. Score a hit with the kids, pick up a yummy cheese pizza or a couple of slices. In Edgartown, it’s Lattanzi’s Pizzeria year-round for wood-fired, stone-oven pizzas with pizzazz, and maybe splurge on gelato for dessert.
Best Place to Get Coffee: Mocha Mott’s
10 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-1922.
15 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-3155.
Runner-up: Espresso Love
17 Church Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9211.
A good summer morning is best started with a slammin’ iced coffee and Mocha Mott’s serves it up best. Recipe for a great summer morning? Pair that coffee with one of Mott’s morning glory muffins and you’re in business. If in Edgartown, head to Espresso Love for your daily latté.
Best Place to Get Picnic Food: Humphreys
455 State Road, at Woodland Market, Tisbury, 508-693-6518.
1 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-6890.
32 Winter Street, Edgartown, 508-627-7029.
Runner-up: Soigné
190 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8489.
Nothing says beach day like a well-stocked picnic basket. So fill ’er up with massive sandwiches and delectable cookies at Humphreys. Thanksgiving lovers will adore the Gobbler; vegetarians should opt for the Treehugger. Us? We usually go straight for the buttercrunch cookies, though another fave are the peanut butter. The classy and tasty fare at Soigné is another fave for made-to-order picnics.
Best Takeout: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071.
Runner-up: Giordano’s Restaurant
107 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184.
The Net Result keeps us fueled all year long with their rolled to perfection sushi, lobster plates, and the best spicy shrimp sandwich we’ve tasted. Call ahead and sit on one of the picnic benches outside or take home for delicious dinner without the cleanup. If Italian’s what you’re after, head to Giordano’s to pick up pizza, pasta, and fried clams.
Best Caterer: Fella Caters
508-693-1572, www.fellacaters.com.
Close runner-up: V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons
508-693-6313, www.vhamlincatering.com.
From fancy weddings to casual barbeques, Fella serves up great meals. Can’t get enough? Find Fella’s garden salsa and barbeque sauce for sale at grocers. Jaime takes clambakes, cocktail parties, wedding receptions, and presidential birthday parties in stride. Imagine an entrée as elegant as lemon-marinated swordfish or a dessert as fun as a root-beer float.
Seafood picks
Best Chowder: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071.
Runner-up: The Black Dog
Vineyard Haven Harbor, 508-693-9223.
11 Water Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7381.
509 State Road, Tisbury, 508-696-8190.
There are several theories regarding the proper preparation of quahaug chowder, and beliefs are tightly held. Island institutions The Net Result (winner) and The Black Dog (second place) both offer tasty versions of the popular thickened style.
Best Clambake: Bill Smith’s Martha’s
Vineyard Clambake Co.
508-627-8809, www.mvclambake.com.
Runner-up: Fella Caters
508-693-1572, www.fellacaters.com.
Bill Smith’s takes the history and art of the clambake seriously. They are not fooling around, as evidenced by their unbroken streak of Best of the Vineyard awards stretching back to the beginning. Can runner-up Fella Caters upset them next year? You decide.
Best Fish and Chips: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071.
Runner-up: Sandy’s Fish and Chips at John’s Market
191 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1220.
For a quick and satisfying lunch or early dinner, nothing can beat fish and chips – cooked in the lightest, crispiest batter – with piping hot French fries, crunchy on the outside and super soft on the inside. At The Net Result, munch away contentedly in the sunny, salty Vineyard air, or head to Sandy’s to eat the tasty combo in a greener setting.
Best Fish Market: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071.
Runner-up: Larsen’s Fish Market
56 Basin Road, Menemsha, 508-645-2680.
If you’re in the market for seafood down-Island, swing by The Net Result – whether you want fresh fish or shellfish to cook yourself, some of Heshi’s sushi rolls to go, or a fully prepared lobster dinner to take to the beach at sunset. Up-Island, try Larsen’s on the Menemsha docks for the freshest possible fruits de mer.
Best Fried Clams: Giordano’s Restaurant
107 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184.
Runner-up: The Bite
29 Basin Road, Menemsha, 508-645-9239.
Fried clams are undoubtedly New England’s favorite guilty pleasure: those lightly fried clams with sweet, juicy bellies, served with tartar sauce, lemon, or a splash of vinegar – briny, sweet, and so delicious you dream about them all winter along. Be prepared to wait in line at Giordano’s in Oak Bluffs or The Bite in Menemsha. It’s worth it!
Best Lobster Roll: Grace Episcopal Church
36 Woodlawn Avenue, Tisbury, 508-693-0332. (Fridays, 4:30–7:30 p.m.)
Runner-up: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071.
Friday nights in the summertime wouldn’t be the same without a lobster roll from Grace Episcopal Church. The rolls are overstuffed by faithful church-helpers including the pastor himself. Still hungry? Try a piece of homemade pie. Just down the road is The Net Result, where you can eat lobster rolls at outdoor picnic tables while watching the ferries come and go.
Best Seafood Restaurant: Home Port Restaurant
512 North Road, Menemsha, 508-645-2679.
Runner-up: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071.
A month ahead is not too soon to book a table at the Home Port, the eighty-five-year-old icon of classic New England seafood. However, you can show up at whim for back door takeout and critique the sunset from the deck. Down-Island, score a picnic table outside The Net Result and order something splendidly fried, steamed, wrapped, chowder’d, or sushi’d to go.
Sweet treats
Best Bakery: The Black Dog
11 Water Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-4786.
509 State Road, Tisbury, 508-696-8190.
Runner-up: Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Tisbury, 508-693-6633.
Chocolate indulgences like mousse bomb and black-out square make The Black Dog a standout. But the Scottish Bakehouse can hold its own with intriguing offerings like congo bars and zapatistas. Yes, they both have breads, cookies, pies, and assorted sandwich offerings, but just try leaving without something chocolate.
Best Ice Cream Shop: Mad Martha’s
20 Union Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5883.
12 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9151.
7 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8761.
Runner-up: Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
20A Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-0008.
Mad Martha’s – the most famous name in Vineyard ice cream – revels in its no-nonsense New England atmosphere. Ben and Bill’s is more airy and festive, borrowing from the gilded-age spirit of Circuit Avenue. But when the frappes and sundaes are this good, who’s actually thinking about interior design?
For the home and garden
Best Place to Buy Flowers: Flowers by Donaroma
271 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8366.
Runner-up: Morrice Florist
149 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0392.
Donaroma’s pleases with ready-made arrangements or a custom blend of flowers for a special occasion. Morrice has offered flowers to the Vineyard for sixty-nine years and tempts with a flowering plant, a pretty pot, or a bouquet to say, “Thanks.”
Best Garden Center/Nursery: Jardin Mahoney
45 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3511.
Close runner-up: Donaroma’s Nursery and Landscape Services
271 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-3036.
Location, location, location! Jardin Mahoney sits near the center of the Island with easy access for all three down-Island towns. Paul and Linda Mahoney bring thirty years of experience to helping customers learn about gardening and plants, and get the best quality at reasonable prices. Top quality reigns at runner-up Donaroma too.
Best Landscape Company: Contemporary Landscapes
33 Kate’s Way, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6788.
Close runner-up: Garden Angels
144 Snake Hollow Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-696-7499.
Contemporary Landscapes designs everything from stone walls to planting beds; their work is on display at this year’s Decorator Show House in Edgartown. Garden Angels specializes in flower and herb gardens, from design to year-round maintenance.
Best Hardware Store: Shirley’s Hardware
374 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-3070.
Runner-up: Edgartown Hardware
47 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-4338.
Shirley’s has that nut you need. And the piece of weather stripping, and the lawn chairs you like. And picture frames and Fourth of July decorations. Shirley’s has it all. Second-place Edgartown Hardware is a smaller shop, but the personal service is second to none.
Best Contractor or Builder: Rosbeck Builders Corporation
20 East Line Road, Edgartown, 508-693-6300.
Runner-up: John G. Early Contractor and Builder
13 Breakdown Lane, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6177.
The Rosbeck family has been building custom homes with a high level of craftsmanship and teamwork for more than twenty-five years. John Early has been known for his fine homebuilding and community involvement on Martha’s Vineyard so long he’s even had a poem written about him by Island poet Dan Waters.
Best Electrical Contractor: Perry Electric
312 State Road, Tisbury, 508-693-6557.
Runners-up (tie):
Dolby Electric
Edgartown, 508-627-8778.
Powers Electric
Vineyard Haven, 508-696-6400.
Whether you need to have a new home wired or an old one rewired, a faulty heating system repaired or a new air conditioner installed, it’s Perry Electric to the rescue; with tied runners-up Dolby Electric and Powers Electric also providing all facets of electrical service and installation.
Best Plumbing Contractor: Walter Smith Plumbing and Heating Inc.
Edgartown, 508-627-5661.
Runner-up: Hart Company Plumbing and Heating
Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7227.
A plumbing emergency can be a nightmare of leaks, clogs, and back-ups. Walter Smith, in business since 1978, has twenty plumbers and covers the whole Island. The qualified staff at Hart Company also provide Island-wide service and can restore order quickly.
Best Store for Home Furnishings: Vineyard Decorators
835 Airport Road, Edgartown, 508-693-9197.
Close runner-up: LeRoux at Home
62 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0030.
Vineyard Decorators can furnish a whole house with their selection of indoor and outdoor furniture, custom fabrics and wallpaper, linens, and lingerie. LeRoux at Home concentrates on bed and bath offerings on the second floor with all the latest kitchen gadgets and necessities on the floor below.
Best Real Estate Company: Coldwell Banker Landmarks Real Estate
15 Church Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6866.
55 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-8266.
Runner-up: Sandpiper Realty Inc.
60 Winter Street, Edgartown, 508-627-3737.
What’s your dream? A vacation paradise near South Beach? A family homestead near the West Tisbury School? A two-week rental with tennis privileges? A ready customer for one of the above? The reputable agents of Coldwell Banker Landmarks help make dreams real. This year, Sandpiper Realty marks forty years of distinguished service in sales and rentals.
Services on-Island
Best Auto Repair Shop: Courtesy Motors
9 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5010.
Close runner-up: Bink’s Auto
29 Winthrop Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2168.
If your car dies on the ferry, you can practically coast into Courtesy Motors for a diagnosis and repair. Bink’s is a family-owned shop that’s been
in business since 1971 and is a Registry of Motor Vehicles Inspection Station.
Best Bank: Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank
Branches in Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, and West Tisbury, 508-627-4266.
Runner-up: Bank of Martha’s Vineyard
Branches in Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven, 508-696-4400.
No “stress test” needed here, just a strong commitment to customer service and the Island economy. Winner Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank is a locally owned bank, while runner-up Bank of Martha’s Vineyard, a subsidiary of Sovereign, has a friendly Island face.
Best Dentist: Hélène Schaeffer of Island Dentistry
823 Airport Road, Edgartown, 508-696-8426.
Close runner-up: Sanford Nadelstein of Lagoon Dental Associates
60 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5068.
It’s that every-six-months chore that we all like to avoid, but these favored dentists, doctors Schaeffer and Nadelstein – who were named winner and runner-up last year as well, and who’ve both been practicing here for more than a decade – will try to make it as pleasant as possible to polish those ivories.
Best Doctor: John Lamb, M.D.
1 Hospital Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3164.
Runner-up: Julia Stunkel, M.D.
1 Hospital Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0019.
Relative newcomers to full-time Vineyard life, internal medicine practitioner John Lamb and family medicine doctor Julia Stunkel were both long-time summer visitors before settling here to work at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. After more than three years, it looks like they haven’t been scared off by the quiet winters.
Best Hair Salon: Maggie’s Salon
31 Beach Road, 103A, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-CURL (2875).
Runner-up: Rosecuts
83 Causeway Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5362.
Owner Maggie Mae and her staff can do your ’do for a special occasion, perk up your coloring, or just trim your bangs, using a line of premium hair products. At Rosecuts, now in its twenty-ninth year in business, Rosemary Gambino is the ultimate professional when it comes to styling hair, and applying her expertise to makeup, nails, and waxing.
Best Spa Services: The Spa at Mansion House
9 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7400.
Runner-up: Bouclé
12 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-3853.
The Spa at Mansion House has it all, from your mani-pedi and massage to your full body slathering in Moshup’s Mud. You get carte blanche use of the health club too, so wind down on the treadmill – okay, make that the sauna. At Bouclé, feel like a princess in a luxury boutique setting. It’s a bridal-party paradise.
Best Taxi Service: AdamCab
Edgartown, 508-627-4462.
Runner-up: Your Taxi
Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0003.
AdamCab stands at the ready, to get you to the 6 a.m. ferry, pick you up from the party in the middle of nowhere, shuttle your wedding guests from the church to the reception, or customize an Island tour for Aunt Betty and Uncle Ed. The cab drivers are more like tour guides at Your Taxi too; they know their stuff and will get you where you need to go on the Island.
Best Veterinarian: Animal Health Care Associates
20 Airport Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-6515.
Runner-up: Dave Tuminaro of Caring for Animals
Edgartown, 508-696-5897.
From a lamb with an upset stomach or a cat allergic to wood smoke to an arthritic dog needing stem cell therapy, doctors Steven Atwood and Jennifer Everett at Animal Health Care treats them all. Mobile vet Dave Tuminaro drives all over to see his animal patients. It feels like vet care in a bookmobile, though the Caring for Animals van is an amazingly well-equipped mini clinic on wheels.
Where to sleep
Best Bed and Breakfast: Thorncroft Inn
460 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-3333.
Runner-up: Hob Knob
128 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9510.
Tucked away on the quiet end of Main Street, the Thorncroft offers hot tubs, whirlpools, fireplaces, and breakfast in bed, making it hard to imagine why a visitor would ever leave. Guests at the luxurious Hob Knob can enjoy a spa treatment and then relax on a sunset cruise aboard the inn’s Boston Whaler.
Best Hotel: Harbor View Hotel and Resort
131 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-7000.
Runner-up: Mansion House Inn
9 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2200.
Nothing beats the Harbor View’s location on Edgartown harbor: Guests can sightsee on one of the motorboats or just take in the view from the wraparound porch. The Mansion House entertains guests from top to bottom with a rooftop cupola deck, street-level restaurant, and an indoor pool, health club, and spa on the lower level.
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