|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
 |
 September 19, 2007
Winnetu's Vineyard Haven
Beach views notwithstanding, the Winnetu's location on the Vineyard can be less than ideal for car-less guests hoping to explore the island. Although it's in Edgartown, the resort is on the outskirts in the Katama area. To reach the center of town, it's a pleasant three-mile bike ride or a challenging walk. The resort does provide an occasional shuttle, and there is a bus line that stops nearby, but the schedule is limited outside of the mid-summer window. There is a charming one-way water shuttle that operates some evenings as well. With no other options, taxi fares could really start adding up.
The staff helps distinguish the Winnetu from the average hotel. With a total of 53 suites (the Winnetu also offers townhouses and homes at its neighboring Mattakesett Properties), the inn's staff members are able to be on a first-name basis with guests and are great at chatting them up throughout their stays. General manager Roderick Anderson, with his cheerful, doting nature, takes a personal interest in all guests and sets the friendly, welcoming tone. Getting to the Vineyard is part of the adventure. The Winnetu has an arrangement with the passenger-only New England Fast Ferry from New Bedford (a quick 55-minute journey) and will make reservations as well as provide transportation to and from the island dock. Winnetu Oceanside Resort The writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing the inn. While it has not influenced this review, ExploreNewEngland.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. Photos: ©Arthur Levine, 2007. Licensed to Boston.com. September 13, 2007
Set sail for the North Shore
On the water side of the offerings, there will be whale watches and schooner sails in Gloucester, river cruises in Essex, and kayak tours in Newbury. Some events will focus on food, including a tour of the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory in Salem to learn about aquaculture, a visit to Valley View Farm in Topsfield to see how goat cheese is made, and a wagon tour of Arrowhead Farm in Newburyport to talk with the folks tending the crops, poultry, and beef cattle. Among the many other Trails & Sails things to do, some will explore architecture, the area's Great Marsh, and Colonial-era history. Essex County Trails & Sails: A Weekend of Walks and Water Photo: Arthur Levine, 2006. Licensed to Boston.com September 10, 2007
Go behind WGBH's front line
WGBH Open House Photo: WGBH Boston September 7, 2007
Eat, drink, and be corny at fall food festivals
    This blog is a feature of explorenewengland.com. It is not produced by
writers and editors of The Boston Globe. Questions or comments? E-mail us.
|
Unlike the smaller, more staid Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard has a broader and richer palette of personas. It's a short distance from Edgartown to Oak Bluffs, but the elegant, tidy captain's homes of the former feel a world apart from the honky-tonk arcades and bars of the latter. The Vineyard's patchwork character becomes even more apparent when you toss in its whimsical gingerbread houses, the dramatic Aquinnah Cliffs, Menemsha's busy fishing port, and the funky Taylor/Simon musical vibe. Similarly, the Winnetu Oceanside Resort is hard to pin down. Sure, it's an upscale hotel with spacious suites, stunning ocean views, and a sophisticated dining room. But any illusions that it is a stuffy, hushed place are quickly shattered when a vintage fire truck, complete with a crew of squealing kids, comes barreling through the property. The Winnetu is equally adept at pampering discriminating vacationers and engaging the Pampers set.
Frankly, even if the resort weren't particularly adept at anything, its location would still make it a draw. (In fact, the Katama Shores Inn, which used to occupy the property before the current owners razed it and built the Winnetu in 2001, was fairly pedestrian.) The ocean-facing rooms offer striking vistas of South Beach and its grassy dunes. Guests can't quite roll out of bed and into the rolling surf, however. That's because it's a good five-minute walk to the beach. But, what a beach. The three-mile shoreline and sparkling water seem to extend indefinitely in all directions. The resort does provide wagons to cart gear down to the beach.
With all that it has to offer, guests may not want to venture away from the Winnetu. Amenities include massage treatments, tennis (including an onsite pro and complimentary clinics), and a well-appointed fitness center that includes guided exercise classes. For children, there is a parent/toddler program, a playroom, and scheduled activities such as the aforementioned fire truck rides and face painting. A life-size chess set on the inn's courtyard contributes to the fanciful atmosphere.
Guests may not want to venture far from the inn's restaurant, Lure, either. Presided over by Mark Goldberg, who comes to the Winnetu by way of Boston's Mistral, the restaurant focuses on fresh Vineyard ingredients. As you'd expect, that means lots of seafood. What you might not expect, that also means poultry and produce from the adjacent Katama FARM Institute. The kitchen features herbs grown in gardens located throughout Winnetu's property as well. Lure's focaccia, featuring just-picked rosemary and scallions, was heavenly. The restaurant is pricey with main courses (everything is served a la carte) averaging about $35. In keeping with Winnetu's family-friendly mission, the dining room includes a partitioned area where parents can enjoy the gourmet food, and their kids can play without disturbing the other patrons. During the shoulder seasons, the inn offers complementary breakfast. This is far from muffin-in-cellophane fare. Cooked-to-order omelets feature options such as caramelized onions and homemade salsa (yum!), and the generous buffet also includes freshly baked treats.
With its rich history, beckoning coastline, and many sights, there are scads of fun things to do throughout the towns north of Boston. Don't believe me? Skedaddle to the area from September 28 to 30 and you will indeed discover scads--over 150, to be exact--of events during the annual Trails & Sails celebration. Dozens of organizations, in conjunction with the Essex National Heritage Commission, will be presenting a wide variety of events loosely based on the theme, "A Weekend of Walks and Water." Best of all, none of the events will cost you scads of cash; in fact, through the generosity of the participating organizations and sponsors, they will all be free. 
WGBH, the folks that deliver public television to Massachusetts (and make never-ending pleas for donations; how many tote bags and umbrellas can one viewer possibly use?) has a new home in Brighton and will be throwing open its doors for a public open house this Sunday. It's a rare opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes of the PBS powerhouse that not only broadcasts public TV, but produces an incredible array of renowned programs such as "Antiques Roadshow," "Nova," "American Experience," and "Frontline." It is also the home of WGBH Radio and its eclectic mix of news, jazz, classical music, and other programs. The open house, which is free, will include guided tours of the TV and radio studios, meet and greets with Curious George, Arthur (the cartoon character, not me), Buster, and Ruff Ruffman, refreshments, and plenty of live entertainment. The swanky new complex will include a 30-foot-tall jumbo screen on the side of its building that will display video images and messages to distract drivers along the Mass Pike. Hmm. Do you think WGBH might insert subliminal donation pleas?
Summer is unofficially over, so it's time to put away the flip flops, boogie boards, and sand pails and return to serious...eating. There are a number of festivals around the state geared to a variety of gustatory delights. Want to indulge in some sweet corn on the cob? (And hasn't the local corn been especially savory this season?) How about some finger-lickin' ribs? Or, perhaps your tastes run more to scallops? Hit one of these events and gorge yourself on a favorite food; or hit all of them and think of it as one huge, never-ending buffet.
Do you think you know Latin music? If your knowledge of the genre runs from Charo to Ricky Martin, then you don't know coochee-coochee. Maybe it's time to go to school. The whole la vida loca of Latin music will take center stage when Northern Essex Community College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of concerts and special events. The fun kicks off on Friday, September 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. with Mango Blue (what a delicious name for a group!). The band will perform what it describes as Afro-Latin and World music. The eight-member group (pictured) plays its own compositions and blends a spicy brew of jazz, R&B, funk, and, of course, Latin rhythms.
