Winter travels typically take you to warmer climes. Perhaps somewhere to enjoy the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean, the arid, dry heat of the deserts of Arizona, or at least lounging poolside at some swanky resort in South Florida. What does Team Epernay do instead? We head to the Motherland of Champagne. It is one thing to travel to far off wine destinations in the bucolic fall or warm summer, but we thought of this adventure more like when people ask us, “What’s it like to live on Nantucket in the winter?” You try to describe it, but the words never really convey the message you want to share. Visiting Reims at the end of January was magical. First of all, it was very easy to get there by taking the TGV high-speed train directly from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in Paris. We were greeted by a light dusting of snow, very rare in this region, although it...Read More >
Attention all of you Grateful People who will be joyfully celebrating the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday on our beautiful island (after the Nantucket Atheneum’s Annual Turkey Plunge, of course). We all know that there will be plenty of food – and beverage – to be had that weekend. Someone spends all day roasting the turkey, preparing decades old family recipes for nostalgic side dishes, and look out pumpkin pie! Whether you are in charge of bringing delicious, easy snacks for pre-gaming (read: don’t expect any precious room in the oven), the hostess with most-ess who wants to ensure you don’t add anything else to your to do list, or were just raised better than to show up empty handed when invited to someone’s home, then you should keep reading. No one needs the added stress of figuring out what to bring to a party. Who wants to waste their precious time running around the store trying to find the perfect combination...Read More >
As you leisurely stroll down the cobblestone streets of Nantucket, one can only imagine what it was like during the life and times of the historic whaling days of the 19th century. A plethora of stores owned, managed and operated by women is not new to our island. This is evidenced by the history of the so-called “Petticoat Row” business area where many of the businesses on Centre Street between Main Street and Broad Street were established and ran by female proprietresses back in the day. Some might say that the Petticoat Row of Nantucket was a result of the need for survival. While men were out ‘on the whale,’ the women left behind needed to make a wage to support their families, but also create a financial security in the off chance that their husbands had an unprofitable voyage or, graver yet, the ill-fated were lost at sea. This opportunity offered the women a sense of community where they...Read More >
The most wonderful time of the year on Nantucket has arrived, and that means there is a lot to accomplish in the next few weeks. Restaurant week will soon be approaching to leisurely enjoy a repast at your favorite local dining establishment without the crowds. You look forward to hosting a festive cocktail party to celebrate and spend time with your friends and neighbors that you haven’t really seen much in the past few months. Before us is an opportunity to enjoy some of the finer things in life that our fair isle has to give in the last few weeks of summer. Advanced Sommelier Jenny Benzie offers a handful of perfect pairings for island indulgence as a reward for making it to other side of summer and into the next season. CHEESY MOMENTS We are always looking for the perfect pairing. The right shoes with that amazing dress, Mr. or Mrs. Right to spend the rest of your life...Read More >
