A Page out of the blACKbook:
After washing ashore a decade ago, the island has enraptured me, leaving me seriously satisfied and settled here all year round. Still, I feel nostalgic for the way things were when I was fresh off the boat back in 2005. Every ounce of Nantucket was so new to me then. Leaving the island after that summer on the slow boat felt like something out of a teen movie. I threw that first penny at Brant Point as if my life depended on it. Since returning that next summer, island time has seeped into my blood and I always will hold all those first feelings near and dear to my little Nantucket red heart.
But this year, perhaps because of so much shifting, everything old seems new again. From restaurants to retail, there’s a real buzz of revamped rookies on the rock. So come with me as we take a tour down (the newly renovated) memory lane.
For the third time in four years, Marco Coelho has taken over another coveted restaurant space, this time putting his heart into remodeling the former Corazon Del Mar on South Water. Meanwhile in mid-island, the Bamboo won’t be dark anymore, as Aspen and New York City restaurateurs have come on island to replace Shannon’s with The Grey Lady. Right next door, Brandt and Gabrielle Gould have taken over the old Pazzo space where they will be opening Atlas BBQ & Fish House this June.
Back in town, The Bean has shifted its latte-tude from Centre Street to India. Following The Bean a little further down the road, Sweet Inspirations packed up their chocolate-covered cranberries and made a new home in Leslie Linsley’s former space.
On the wine and cheese front, the former space of Dupree & Company has become home to Sarah Powers’ shop called Table No.1. While the seasons will inevitably change, this spring, Orla and Michael LaScola passed the American Seasons torch to former Galley Beach chef Neil Ferguson and his wife Shelley. Ferguson’s departure from Galley Beach brought W. Scott Osif back as the restaurant’s executive chef.
So there you have it. My first taste and toast to 2015. I feel rejuvenated already. Let’s go sip and shop, and chat about the good new days!
