Sowing Seeds

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On February 25, 2014 In Blog

Steve Maraboli, bestselling author of Unapologetically You, Reflections on Life and the Human Experience, suggests that “you’re frustrated because you keep waiting for the blooming of flowers of which you have yet to sow the seeds.” There may be some who suffer from the frustration Maraboli describes, but there are many others quietly out there sowing seeds that benefit others. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise it was a few weeks ago, to pull out of my neighborhood and discover the Champoux Landscape team busily digging and planting hundreds of daffodil bulbs along the new Cisco Bike Path. Their efforts were part of a donation made to Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket (PASCON), an organization devoted to assisting families facing life threatening illnesses. Watching the Champoux team work, I was struck by how this simple selfless act would bring joy to so many this spring and for years to come.

As I sat down to pen this last night, I found myself contemplating this “sowing seeds” concept on a deeply personal level. We laid my mother-in-law to rest yesterday afternoon and gathered family to celebrate her life in the home overlooking almost 15 acres of manicured lawn and gardens that she and my father-in-law lovingly tended for almost 40 years. Even on a frigid snowy winter day it was easy to see the years of love and investment that had been put into those gardens. It’s something she was able to enjoy during her lifetime, but it’s also something long standing…an investment that will be enjoyed by many others for generations to come.

Nantucket is famous for sowing seeds of all kinds. The town forefathers and local residents work tirelessly to help ensure that decisions and investments made today will both preserve the integrity and original design of the island, but also will help propel Nantucket forward…making it an ongoing place of prosperity and opportunity. There are multiple organizations, like PASCON, that sow seeds of a different kind.  They invest directly in the lives and the people of Nantucket…purposing to ease the burdens of friends and neighbors who aren’t able to sow their own seeds or who simply need assistance to do what they can. Still others quietly come alongside local organizations or individuals and extend a helping hand…volunteering, fundraising or sometimes just offering an encouraging word.  All of it making a difference.

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself on the Cisco Bike Path this spring when all those newly planted daffodil bulbs have wiggled their way through Mother Earth and are framing it in a sea of yellow…pause and consider what each of those flowers represents. The lives that were lovingly cared for by PASCON, the selfless efforts of those who planted the bulbs and the many friends, neighbors, island guests and complete strangers who will find joy in them for years to come.  Then join me in asking the big question – what seeds can I plant today that will make a difference in someone’s life tomorrow?

Sow and Reap

Shellie Dunlap

Moby-thon

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On February 11, 2014 In Blog
Moby-thon in the Atheneum’s Great Hall

“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.” These are words from the opening paragraph of Herman Melville’s legendary Moby Dick as recited by Nantucket’s own, Nat Philbrick to kick-off the Third Annual Moby-Dick Marathon sponsored last weekend by the Nantucket Atheneum and the Nantucket Historical Association.  Ninety-five additional readers took their turn orating the epic sea tale which references Nantucket and her whaling history.

As I quietly slid into an empty seat in the Great Hall of the Atheneum on Saturday afternoon, I felt a bit like an intruder into someone’s life drama. The storytellers were animated and believable and immediately drew me into the storyline. Words and sentences that seemed ironic or confusing as written words on a page, conveyed their deep meaning, emotional torment and in many cases humor when recited in passionate context. The atmosphere was casual with listeners welcome to come and go at their leisure or settle in for the twenty-five hour marathon. Many people were reading along with their personal copies of the classic…REAL books, not the electronic versions…while others took notes, some sat quietly listening intently and still others multi-tasked…knitting or crocheting as the plot unfolded.

Although I love to read books of all genres, I confess I’ve never been particularly drawn to the classics. But listening to the dramatic and complex tale this weekend has spurred my interest. I love Melville’s use of big words….nudging me to stop “skulking” and begin “ruminating” about why I should be thinking outside my “insular” surroundings, ignoring the “tempestuous” winds of change and stop fearing “leviathans.” I left the Atheneum feeling smarter somehow, empowered by Melville’s written word and connected in a new way to the island we all love.

Nantucket has been the setting for many a fictional character, but also for thousands of real life characters who arrived on Nantucket looking for opportunity. Those first few lines in Moby Dick bring to mind countless stories I’ve heard over the years of people with “little or no money” in their purse or wallet and “nothing to interest” them on shore who made their way to Nantucket…some for a season and some for a lifetime.

The next time you find yourself at a Nantucket social function be sure to ask fellow guests to share their Nantucket story. You’re likely to hear accounts as varied as ancestors who were local ship captains… to folks (like me!) who arrived on the island for a four day vacation and never left.  If you’re curious to hear an audible accounting of the lives of Ishmael, Ahab and Queequeg, plan to attend next year’s Moby Dick Marathon where you can pull up a chair next to fellow literary lovers and let Melville carry you away.

Whale tales…

Shellie Dunlap

Snowbound

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On January 28, 2014 In Blog


The Free Dictionary defines “snowbound” as “confined to one place by heavy falls or drifts of snow.” I wonder if the folks in the FD think- tank had a tiny little island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in mind when they inserted the word “confined” into their definition? There is no question, the rapid fire winter storms that have brought Nantucket one deluge of snow, wind and bitter cold after the next these past few weeks have had us all feeling a bit confined even while being captivated by the sheer beauty of our island all dressed up in her winter white.

On the worst day of storm Janus last week, as notices came across the news ticker and social media sites announcing all boats and planes were cancelled, many businesses and restaurants had closed and the town officials were admonishing residents to stay off the slippery snow and ice covered roads, I confess I felt a bit like a school kid again.  Delighted to have a “snow day,” I welcomed the opportunity to put a large pot of soup on the stove, grab a good book, throw another log on the fire and embrace Mother Nature’s fury.

There is something seductively eerie…and at once serene…about realizing you are huddled together with 10,000 or so other friends and neighbors watching it snow sideways and listening to the wind rattle the rooftops.  There is assurance that comes in knowing that once the storm subsides, the community will rally to help confirm everyone is safe and cared for. The island spirit shines bright on the sunniest summer day, but it is perhaps at its brightest during these stormy winter days as neighbor helps neighbor to ensure driveways are cleared, sidewalks are shoveled, frozen pipes are thawed and residents can quickly resume their daily activities.

When the blizzard winds finally calmed and the flakes stopped falling, it was amazing to see how the island had been transformed. The sand dunes at Cisco Beach were blanketed in billowing snowdrifts, hydrangeas that color splash the island in bright blue all summer sported frosty tufts of white, trails and paths filled with joggers and bicycles most of the year provided a great passage for snowshoer’s and cross-country skiers. Our little island known as a premiere summer beach destination was transfigured into a spectacular winter wonderland.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to hit the pause button on life…time to escape from the hectic pace of the daily grind…and are looking for a place that’s as tranquil in the winter as it is bustling in the summer…look no further than Nantucket Island. Bring along some warm boots for long walks along the icy creeks, your favorite mug for piping hot cocoa and a camera to capture it all for the memory books. Come let the island refresh you!

Chill out.

Shellie Dunlap

Two Pennies

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On January 14, 2014 In Blog

In his 2005 bestseller, “Through Painted Deserts,” a road-trip memoir about three months spent crossing the country in a Volkswagen camping van, Donald Miller concludes that “everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.” I am constantly amazed at how many “new reasons” I find to love Nantucket after returning from some time away. Every time…every single time…the ferry enters the channel bringing the harbor and downtown into full view, it takes my breath away and reminds me why it’s always hard to leave.

There is a time honored Nantucket tradition of tossing a couple of coins off the side of the ferry as it pulls around Brant Point and departs for the mainland. Island lore has it that doing so helps ensure one’s safe return to the island. “Two Pennies Overboard” is a beloved phrase that’s seen on paintings, house quarter-boards, boat hulls, book titles and inscribed on various keepsakes throughout Nantucket. It reminds us to preserve the tradition and keep plenty of pennies on hand for those trips off-island.

In many places, this type of local folklore is just propaganda for the tourists. Not on Nantucket! The locals here take their age-old customs very seriously. On any given departing Steamship or Hyline Ferry, you’re likely to find as many locals as visitors gathered on the outer deck to ceremoniously toss their coins together. Some ascribe to the “two penny” custom (like my daughter whose two pennies can be seen airborne in the photo above). Others (like my husband who does nothing in moderation), believe it’s best to leave nothing to chance and fling in all the coins in their pockets.

I am not certain when or how this tradition was born, but for me it’s less about wanting to ensure I return and more about staying connected with the place I love as I bid farewell. There is comfort in knowing that no matter where we’re headed or how long we plan to be away, when we board the boat for our journey back across the water, the island will be here waiting to welcome us home.

Whether you are leaving the island this winter and have the thrill of returning to a white blanketed wonderland (like I did last week!) or you departed this summer with no plans to return until the island is in full bloom again, you can be sure that the two pennies you tossed over as you pulled away were well spent. Upon your arrival on Nantucket, spend some time re-visiting all your favorite places, then go exploring to uncover any hidden secrets the island revealed in your absence and raise a glass at days-end to toast the Grey Lady and give thanks for your safe return.

Go overboard.

Shellie Dunlap

A Christmas Carol

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On December 17, 2013 In Blog

Photo courtesy of Theater Workshop of Nantucket

Ebenezer Scrooge was front and center on the Bennett Hall stage these past few weeks, but the mood was anything but “humbug” in the quaint Centre Street playhouse as the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket cast and crew wowed audiences with their heartfelt and rousing presentation of the Charles Dickens classic – A Christmas Carol. The sets, props, sound and special effects were at once eerie and spectacular. Sean McGuirk was brilliant as Ebenezer Scrooge and the additional adult cast (many of them local talent) were equally impressive in their various roles. But it was the children (all of them Nantucket youth!) who stole the show with their singing, dancing and stirring performances.

The underlying message from A Christmas Carol reminds audiences that the easiest way to overcome our “bah humbug” mentality is to take a page from Ebenezer’s script and review our lives through a threefold lens. Mr. Scrooge himself ultimately professed, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”

Nantucket is often referred to…particularly during the holiday season…as the quintessential Charles Dickens setting. It is, in many ways, the ultimate fusion of past, present and future. A visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past would likely be delighted to find so many organizations and governing bodies in place to help ensure our architecture and natural habitats are being protected and preserved…the people of Nantucket writing, speaking and teaching about the island’s history, descendants and lore as we all seek to pay homage to the island’s long standing traditions.

The Ghost of Christmas Present would find the island embracing…and passionately protecting…its rich heritage, while simultaneously seeking ongoing ways to modernize and improve its commerce, infrastructure and create new opportunities for those who visit or live on Nantucket. Then there is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. What will the Grey Lady look like fifty or a hundred years from now? Will our children and grandchildren remain as devoted to her preservation and sustainability as those who came before us? That charge, it seems, lies with each of us and the decisions, dedication and determination that we commit today to inspire our young people to invest in the island we all love.

If you’re lucky enough to be on Nantucket this holiday season, set aside some time to create your own Charles Dickens moments. Take a stroll up the cobblestone Main Street and pause in front of a historic home or storefront as you consider the past, embrace the present and look toward the future.

Bless us everyone.

Shellie Dunlap

Beholden

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On December 3, 2013 In Blog

Thanksgiving may be in the rear view mirror, but the spirit of thankfulness is still alive and well here on Nantucket. Many on the island (and around the country) took to their Facebook pages or Twitter feeds and spent November documenting their personal “30 days of gratitude.” Although I did not publicly join in the fray, I was moved by the accounts and reflections which caused me to pause and consider how many things (big and small) we all have to be thankful for. In her inspirational bestseller “Help, Thanks, Wow,” Anne Lamott imparts, “When you are aware of all that has been given to you, in your lifetime… and in the past few days… it is hard not to be humbled, and pleased to give back.”

Nantucket offers all of us countless daily reasons to give thanks.  Her sunrises and sunsets, pristine beaches and rolling dunes, charming storefronts and quaint cottages, historic landmarks and cobblestone streets…and the people, from then and now, who made it all possible. But somehow when we pause to consider all this, gratitude seems insufficient.  We owe a debt to the island. On this tiny body of sand in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, many have formed lifelong friendships, met their soul mates, raised children and grandchildren, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and family reunions. Long walks in Sanford Farm at dusk or along ‘Sconset Beach just as the sun crests over the water have brought clarity of mind, ignited untapped creativity and ushered peace and calm into life’s chaos.

As Nantucket summer residents, our home was a continuous revolving door of family, friends and visitors.  Our family discovered one of life’s hidden treasures…and knew the only response was to introduce the island’s charm to others. Now that we live here year round, our desire to share the island has not diminished, but simply been transformed as we welcome guests to the island during every season and reveal her hidden “secrets” gleaned from personal experience and long time local residents. Devotion to the Grey Lady is contagious and evident as we watch friends who were once summer guests purchase their own Nantucket homes and fill the calendar with visits from friends and loved ones because they too realize the island’s magic is something to be shared.

This holiday season, there are innumerable ways we can…and should… give back to the island that has given so much to us…countless great causes, organizations, people and businesses who need our support and involvement to ease their burdens or assist in their missions.  But perhaps the simplest way we can express our gratitude and “give back” to Nantucket is by sharing her with others…to throw open wide our island doors and invite friends, family and first time visitors to experience the calm…the history…the hospitality…and the inexplicable beauty that is Nantucket.

Share the moments.

Shellie Dunlap

Petticoat Row

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On November 19, 2013 In Blog

Merriam-Webster defines a petticoat as a garment characteristic or typical of women…a feminine article of clothing traditionally worn under a longer skirt. The modern day women of Nantucket, while no longer sporting petticoats, are at once feminine and edgy…smart and sassy…entrepreneurial and industrious.  In short, there is nothing “typical” about them. They are determined to honor the contribution and reputation of a long lineage of Nantucket women, while paving the way for a new generation of island businesswomen, merchants, entrepreneurs and successful moms.

I had the pleasure of attending an event this past week hosted by an organization aptly named “Petticoat Row.” From its earliest beginnings, Nantucket has relied on its women to not only manage the home-front, family and land while the men were at sea, but to literally “set up shop” and be creative in establishing and overseeing local businesses that contributed to the island’s vibrant economy. The most famous of these female entrepreneurs were the shopkeepers (Mary Nye and others) of “Petticoat Row,” located along Centre Street, in the heart of the Old Historic District. Taking a page from their ancestors playbook, this new consortium of Petticoat Row visionaries are passionate about women, commerce and all things Nantucket.

With a few hundred in attendance, the Nantucket Hotel ballroom was buzzing with local women (and a few men too!) casting their visions, updating each other on new endeavors and sharing both successes and difficulties they’re encountering along the way. My favorite part of the evening was the “all-star panel” facilitated by Holly Finigan, one of Nantucket’s newest entrepreneurial rising stars, who interviewed four long time successful island businesswomen. From Nalu to Susan Lister Locke Jeweler, Stephanie’s Nantucket to Jessica Hicks Jewelry Design, each woman told a piece of her story, encouraged us with her wit and wisdom and most importantly reminded us how critical it is for all of us…residents and visitors…to shop locally.  Nantucket can only sustain itself if retailers island-wide are successful.

With the holiday season approaching, why not make a plan to invest in the island we all love with a gift that’s uniquely Nantucket. What’s on your list? Perhaps a gift certificate for a salon treatment, dinner for two or a whale watching tour. Clothing, books, furniture, jewelry, art, gourmet food items or a Nantucket basket…island merchants can help you make your list and check it twice. If you’re unable to visit the island for Thanksgiving, Christmas Stroll or any time before the holidays, most merchants conveniently offer online shopping opportunities through their websites or will gladly ship if you prefer to place a phone order. If you’re lucky enough to be here in person, be sure to take a stroll up Centre Street during your shopping spree and pause to pay homage to Mary Nye and the hundreds of other entrepreneurs who paved the way on “Petticoat Row” for Nantucket’s flourishing economy.

Shop ACK!

Shellie Dunlap

Lions, Tigers and Bears

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On November 5, 2013 In Blog

Click photo to view Halloween gallery

Remember the scene from the Wizard of Oz when the Wizard presents a ticking red heart to the Tin Man and suggests that “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others?” If there is a sliver of truth to this, then Nantucket’s heart must be filled up and overflowing on a daily basis with so many people who love the Grey Lady and her traditions. This ubiquitous affection is never more present than during island-wide celebrations that give young and old, residents and visitors, seasoned revelers and first-time participants an opportunity to let their hair down and have some good old fashioned fun.

The “yellow brick road” (or cobblestone paved Main Street as it were) looked like a scene right out of Oz last Thursday night as hundreds of costume clad enthusiasts gathered downtown for the annual Trick or Treat parade and candy gathering festivities. The streets were brimming with creepy goblins, wart faced witches, green slimy alligators and a giant yellow banana…and yes folks, those were just the “grown-ups.” The kids were equally creative with appearances by Glinda the good witch, owls, dinosaurs, Mr. Blue Man and even a couple of Dorothy’s. The plastic pumpkins were overflowing with candy bars and lollipops and shouts of “Trick or Treat” and “Happy Halloween” resounded as the enthusiastic crowd paraded their way up Main Street.

As I watched the scene unfold from the steps of our Main Street office, I was reminded that while this island may not be Oz…there can be no denying we’re certainly not in Kansas…or Iowa…or anywhere on the mainland…anymore.  Nantucket is its own kind of Oz. It mesmerizes new visitors with its beautiful beaches, historic homes, delicious restaurants, unique shops and charming cobblestone streets. Those same magical qualities are at the core of why so many have chosen to put down roots on the island and for those who have been here for generations it’s why they’ve never left. But beyond the obvious…the beauty and charm, the good food and lovely homes…there is more – so much more. The people of Nantucket…the ones who don crazy costumes and those who prefer to tag along in street clothes…who close their businesses early to hand out candy or snap photos…who gather together whenever an occasion presents itself to share some laughs with fellow neighbors and celebrate island life…that is what is at the heart of this enchanted place and would no doubt have Dorothy clicking her red shoes three times because there really is no place like home.

If you missed the festivities on Thursday, be sure to add a Nantucket Halloween bash to your bucket list for next year. You can join the ranks of the Tin Man and Scarecrow on Main Street…or perhaps join fellow goblins and ghouls at weekend parties at Lola 41 or The Chicken Box. Wherever you choose to celebrate, you can be assured there will be no shortage of tricks or treats, lions, tigers or bears.

Oh my…

Shellie Dunlap

Family Affair

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On October 22, 2013 In Blog

For those of us in the Baby Boomer generation and beyond, the phrase “Family Affair” brings to mind the 1960′s sitcom of the same name.  The dashing and debonair Uncle Bill is charged with raising his brother’s three young children. A daunting task for a successful corporate bachelor, manageable only with the assistance of his “right hand man,” the robust and dignified, yet warm and sensitive Household Manager, Mr. French.  Cissy, Jody and little Buffy Davis (who was rarely seen without her beloved Mrs. Beasley doll) stole our hearts and made us feel like an extension of their family unit. This was our very early exposure to television’s depiction of the unconventional blended family and one whose weekly storylines reminded us that it truly does “take a village” to raise the children.

Nantucket has a long standing history of banding together as a community to nurture its families. In its earliest days, as the sea captains pulled up anchor and embarked on journeys that would leave them separated from their wife and children for months on end (sometimes years!), Nantucket and its people purposed to work together, neighbor helping neighbor, to maintain homes and businesses and provide loving care and education for the children. Today, those deep rooted family values and community efforts are still evident with a multitude of great schools (both private and public), terrific family focused organizations like the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, Mentoring Youth Nantucket, Nantucket S.T.A.R. and Community Network for Children (to name a few), all working in sync to provide a safe, healthy island haven where Nantucket families can thrive.

Perhaps most endearing are the family stories that unfold from time and experiences on Nantucket. I repeatedly hear accounts from people whose grandparents first brought them to the island decades ago and who continue to summer here with their own grandchildren. The island is steeped in history so there are countless narratives from those who have twelve generations of Nantucket tales to share of family successes and tragedies…dreams realized and others too soon dashed.  I’m a hopeless romantic so I am partial to the tales from couples who met here while working as young adults, married on the island and now have homes, careers and children in the Nantucket school system.

The stories are all unique, but the common bond is consistent…we all love gathering our family together on Nantucket. Little Cate in the photo above (who I encountered on the new Cisco Bike Path this summer) has discovered at an early age what we all know to be true – even something as simple as a morning bike ride is better when the whole gang comes along for the ride.

Make a plan now to organize a Nantucket family activity or reunion. Fly a kite on Coatue with the kids, host a clambake with three generations of cousins, go surfcasting in Madequecham with grandpa, take a Surfside Beach stroll with a sibling, bike through ‘Sconset with mom or organize a Madaket sunset sail for the whole crew. Enlist island friends and neighbors to help attend to the details or check the Nantucket Bucket for upcoming family friendly activities and keep it…

all in the family.

Shellie Dunlap

Happy Meal

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On October 8, 2013 In Blog

Click photo to view gallery of Restaurant Week Indulgence!

Anna Thomas, the highly acclaimed author of several cookbooks, including the popular “Love Soup” once said, “We all eat and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.”  When you’re lucky enough to visit or live on Nantucket the odds are incredibly slim you’ll ever stumble across a bad meal. Our little island boasts more high end eateries and brilliant chefs per capita than almost any place in the country (and possibly the world).  While they burst at the seams and book well in advance during the busy summer season, the local restaurants bring it home during the shoulder season when they showcase specialty prix fixe menus to encourage residents and visitors alike to answer the dinner bell and gather friends and family around the table for a happy meal.

This fall’s Restaurant Week was one for the record books (at least at my house). With a jam-packed summer work schedule that left us too busy (or too tired) to frequent many of the fabulous restaurants, my husband Dan and I made sure to snag prime tables at three of Nantucket’s finest eateries last week. We munched on Duck Confit Carbonara (doesn’t it just sound decadent?) at Le Languedoc on Tuesday, celebrated our anniversary with Wok Fried Lobsta (I wanted to lick the plate) at The Pearl on Thursday and wrapped up the week with friends savoring Pumpkin Chowda and an Apple and Burnt Cinnamon Galette (not your mama’s apple pie!) at Straight Wharf on Saturday.  Each dish and every meal was as good as the one before and each left me amazed and grateful to live in a place with such a wide variety of culinary talent.

The abilities and hearts of Nantucket’s chefs and restaurant owners extend beyond the walls of their beautifully decorated dining rooms. The Inquirer and Mirror this week reported that several of Nantucket’s restaurants (including Ventuno and Boarding House) foster camaraderie and teamwork by serving “family meals” to their staff before the doors open each evening. Several island chefs invest in the local youth by mentoring students of the Nantucket High School culinary program and participating in the Junior Chef competition that took place at Cisco Brewery this past Sunday. Just last evening, several of the island chefs joined forces to serve attendees a delectable three course meal with all proceeds going to benefit the Nantucket Food Pantry.  The masterful creations these culinary artists serve up are extraordinary, but the creative ways they find to utilize their talents to benefit Nantucket and “pay it forward” is equally impressive.

The Nantucket restaurant scene stays vibrant all year long with many of the restaurants remaining open through the winter and offering specials to entice the local residents and visitors to step “out to dinner.”  2 for 1 Sushi Sunday at Lola 41, $10 Chicken dinners from Pazzo, $5 burger night at Met on Main, 3 courses for $25 at Town and Queequeg’s and 3 courses for $15 at Fifty-Six Union are just a few of the options that help ensure Nantucketers and island guests will have a menu of affordable dining selections during the off-season.  If you missed this year’s restaurant week, or if you’re just in the mood for some fine Nantucket fare, make plans now to reserve a table someday soon at one of your favorite island bistros where you’re guaranteed to have a gastrointestinal extravaganza.

Worth the weight.

Shellie Dunlap

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