Mahon About Town Nantucket Blog

The 2007 David O. Nauss Boston College Memorial Scholarship Beach Volleyball Tournament & Picnic is scheduled for Friday, July 6, at Nobadeer Beach from 11am - 3pm, benefiting The Nantucket Boys and Girls Club Special Needs Programs, in Memory of Scott Harman. Later that day, the 10th Annual David O. Nauss Memorial Scholarship Benefit Fundraising Dinner & Fashion Show, with an auction, Cheryl Fudge Fashion Show, open bar sponsored by Cisco Brewers, 888 Distillery, and Nantucket Vineyards, lobster bake dinner with music and dj dancing, moves to the Jetties Beach Pavilion from 6 to 11. Sponsorships & ticket information here, or by calling Spencer Nauss @ 617-367-9647 / email: stnpfs@msn.com.

The dramatic 44-minute film, “Autism Every Day“, co-produced by Milestone Video, will be shown at the Nantucket Film Festival (June 13-17), time and date to be announced, after its world premiere in January at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Recognized for its signature unscripted, documentary-style approach, Milestone Video has captured the emotion and passion of its subjects in this film. A brief version of the film, which began as a fundraising video for Autism Speaks, can be viewed at the Milestone Video web site. The film has drawn praise from the autism community for its accurate portrayal of a day in the life for children with autism and their families.

The Prince of Nantucket, a new novel with Nantucket as its backdrop will be released on Tuesday. I thought I’d pass along this note I received from the author.

Hi Gene, Great to hear from you.
I visited the island on five occasions as I was writing THE PRINCE OF NANTUCKET and have been coming there every summer for the past decade with my wife Bonnie and, since her birth, our six year-old little girl, Shira. Though I grew up in Vermont, I really discovered Nantucket for myself after going through a divorce and coming on island for a visit where it became a place of healing for me. When I met Bonnie I couldn’t wait to show her this beautiful setting and we have felt bound to it ever since. We love July 4th on island and I included a scene from Main Street festivities in my novel. During my research, Bonnie and I went on bike rides to find just the spot and the house in Sconset that would serve as the Mathison summer home where one of the main characters, renowned artist Kate Longley Mathison, has composed many of her paintings.

I find the rugged beauty and the people on island to represent the individuality and authenticity that is the best of America. The drama and romance and humor in THE PRINCE OF NANTUCKET is drawn from the island and one of the key characters who confronts our protagonist and serves as his potential love relationship, is a Swain, born on island and a photographer who is crucial to the novel’s emotional journey. The scene where they meet in downtown Nantucket is a celebration of how I see the real pwer and allure of Nantucket women. An important scene between Teddy Mathison, who returns to his summer home to deal with his mother’s Alzheimer’s and confront a family secret, has a key scene with his troubled daughter, Zoe, at the Even Keel cafe. I have been biking the island for some fifteen years and adore the Madaket to Sconset route, the bookstores (Mimi’s and Wendy’s) the Atheneum, cottages at the Summerhouse when we can swing it, and the glorious water fight at noon on July 4!

Thanks for the interest. Please click on http://jangoldstein.com/ecard for a media trailer, if you haven’t yet. If I can answer anything else, let me know.

Cheers, Jan

Plot summary:

Teddy is a successful Los Angeles lawyer whose charm and formidable political skills have made him the leading candidate in the race to become the new U.S. senator from California. But behind the golden public persona lie some darker truths: his teenage daughter, Zoe, has barely spoken to him since his divorce from her mother and he has long been bitterly estranged from his own mother, a world-renowned painter. So when his sister asks Teddy to come back to Nantucket to spend some time with their ailing mother before Alzheimer’s steals her mind entirely, Teddy balks. But his campaign manager sees the perfect opportunity for a mother-son photo op that will jack up his weak family values poll numbers, and Teddy reluctantly agrees to the trip.

Once on Nantucket, Teddy is forced to confront feelings he’d long repressed. As he struggles with his mother’s illness and his daughter’s disdain, he learns some stunning truths - about the father he once idolized and the shocking extent of his daughter’s pain. And when he meets a woman who challenges everything he thought he understood about relationships, he unexpectedly finds the life he never knew he wanted.

Jan Goldstein is an award-winning novelist, poet, playwright, and screenwriter whose first novel, All That Matters, was a Los Angeles Times bestseller. He is a well-known human rights activist and the father of five.

On Sale April 24, 2007
Published by Shaye Areheart Books
Support island bookstores

Jan will speak at the Atheneum on Monday, July 2, and will sign books at Mitchell’s and Bookworks around the same time.

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www.nantucket-appraiser.com

Click on The
Nantucket Restaurant Guide for a complete
and up to date downloadable listing of all
open Nantucket restaurants and take out
spots. Thanks to Nantucket Visitor Services,
David and Kate, for the restaurant list
updated weekly. And don’t forget for guest
room availability for your friends showing up
at the last minute, call Visitor Services at
228-0925.

Denise, aka Kitty Kat, has joined Michelle as a winetender at “The 41“, the new wine bar at Arno’s.

The Third Annual Charity Brunch at the Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant will take place on Sunday, May 6th. This year’s charities are the Boy Scouts of Nantucket, Girl Scouts of Nantucket, and NCMC/Nantucket School of Music. New items on the dinner menu this year at the BPG include: Kobe Beef Meatballs with Glazed Shitake Mushrooms, Thyme Madeira Jus, and Arugula Leaves, Wood Grilled Lemon Sole from the Fire Cone Grill, and Slow-Cooked Pork Shank with Spring Pea Puree, Lemon Spaetzle, and Tempura Soy Peas.

New bartenders at the Brotherhood: Ali Taylor, Charles Corkern, and Martha Hutchins. The kitchen will roll out new menu items in May. From Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day Weekend, the ‘Hood will add a late night menu. An awning will cover the patio, open until 11 p.m. this summer. Neal Hennessey, formerly with the Pacific National Bank, is the new assistant manager.

At Cambridge Street Victuals, Anthony Roach returns as executive chef. Evan Ross and owner Meghan McCutcheon are returning as head bartenders.

Panos Kakaviatos, formerly a writer for the Nantucket Independent, will be the new wine steward at the Chanticleer. Opening for the season on May 13th.

Jean-Luc Matecat is the new executive chef at Cinco, and has already added new menu items such as: chorizo and manchego cheese croquettes with a pequillo pepper mayonnaise (getting great reviews): creamy black bean soup with cilantro, chipotle creme fraiche and chili threads; beef tartare with capers, shallots, lemon peel, anchoy and baguette toast; wild king salmon with caramelized salsify, crispy leeks, and pedro ximinez reduction; and salt cod fritters with romesco sauce.

Even Keel continues their 2 for 1 dinner specials Thursdays through Saturdays.

The Harbor Wok at Harbor House Village will open and close a month later this year: July 1st through Sept 30th.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Topper’s at the Wauwinet is serving a $20 prix-fixe lunch menu for the month of May. Reservations are recommended. Lunch is 12 to 2. 228-8768.

American Seasons has added an outdoor heated lounge area, serving cocktails and tapas. Carla Nordby and Alyssa Billings share bartender responsibilities for at least the spring. Natasha Misanko is the pastry chef, and Shaun Hussey is back as Michale LaScola’s sous chef.

21 Federal bartenders this year will be Johnie B and Carl Lindval.

Alice’s Restaurant, the new place at the airport in the location formerly occupied by Hutch’s, will open most likely sometime in June, under owners Linda Peterson-Muise, Richard Bailey, and Gary Simanson, with an outdoor patio dining area.

Pick up the latest edition on N Magazine on the stands for Daffodil Weekend, with much more restaurant news in my Hot Dish column.

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Overfishing of sharks may endanger bay scallops, researchers reported in “Science” journal. Sharks eat skates and rays, which eat bay scallops. Fewer sharks and more skates and rays equals fewer scallops. Fewer scallops means fewer scallop seeds, and the result could be a significant cause of the decline of the industry. However, the Associated Press reports that the director of scientific programs at the National Marine Fisheries Service said that “links between the large sharks, medium size rays and bay scallops were ‘tenuous,’” and that other factors also need to be considered. (Thanks to Zelda for her post on YACK for this tip.)

The Washington State legislature is considering a bill that would make it a crime to cut into the line of cars waiting for a ferry.

Delta Airlines will join JetBlue in providing service between Nantucket and JFK airport beginning in June.

Country Village Real Estate reports that “there are currently 447 properties on the market, with 46 under contract (approximately 9%). All the properties under agreement are under $4,000,000, except for one, the “East Brick” which has an asking price of $11,850,00. The most expensive house in Sconset is now 27 Main Street with a list price of $6,500,000.”

The total value of Nantucket property is now $20.38 billion, 4th highest in the state behind Boston, Cambridge and Newton. The average tax bill for Nantucket is $2569, 32% less than the $3801 average bill for the state.(Source: Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror, 4/12/07)

I’m looking for stories of old Nantucket in the 60’s and 70’s, especially involving characters who are alive today, Opera House and Roadhouse stories, and anything involving Felix Pappalardi who had a house on the Polpis Road until his untimely death. Please send your best stories to me at emikeman@nantucket.net. This one comes from Jack Hobson.

In 1969, when I was a young buck with a rock band, I took my electric guitar to a tiny storefront in Manhattan to get some work done on it. I came back a week later to pick it up, and while we were waiting for a techie in the back room to finish an adjustment, I asked to see the custom Gibson Les Paul guitar hanging on the wall behind the counter. It was a magnificent guitar, with a custom scrolled headstock, taken from a mandolin of all things. Inlaid in abalone on the fretboard was the name, “Eric Clapton” in large, cursive letters. I asked how much it cost, and the sales clerk behind the counter said, “Two thousand dollars. You interested?”

I had blanched at the price, though that would be cheap in today’s dollars for such an instrument. I replied, “Nah. I mean, it’s a nice enough guitar but I wouldn’t want the thing.”

There was another customer in the store - it could only accommodate the two of us - and he asked me, “Why the hell not?!”

“It’s got Eric Clapton’s name on the fretboard.”

“So???”

“I wouldn’t want an axe with some other guitar player’s name in big letters on it. That’d be like having a chick with some other cat’s name tattooed on her chest.”

For some reason, this seemed to anger the guy. He brushed up to the counter, pulled out his wallet, and took out a thousand dollars and plunked it down. “I’ll buy it, then. I’ll be back later in the week with the rest of the money,” he said, then stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

“What the hell was that all about?” I asked the clerk.

He said, “Don’t you know who that was? That was Felix Pappalardi!”

That hardly explained the incident, but I just left it at that, paid for my guitar repair, and split.