I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Although summer may seem to be light years away, now is the time to start making your vehicle reservations with the Steamship Authority.  It may be hard to believe, but space is limited and to help guarantee you a spot now is the time to book!

Beginning on January 19, the Steamship Authority will be allowing customers to make pre-paid reservations for travel dates starting May 20, 2010 through October 30, 2010.  All of this can be done online at www.SteamshipAuthority.com. Once there, you are able to complete a vehicle reservation application and obtain any other  information you may need.

What better way to help pass the snowy days of winter than by starting to plan your Vineyard getaway! As always, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have on vacation rentals or questions regarding your Steamship Authority reservation.

Click here for more information on getting to Martha’s Vineyard.

Our hope, of course, is that you’ll come to the island and totally unplug. Things really do move slower around here, but we realize that it’s hard to disconnect completely sometimes. Luckily, many of our local cafes and such feature free WiFi. Here’s a list of some tops spots that are ‘connected’:

• Beetlebung Coffee House, Vineyard Haven, is close to the ferry and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
• Black Dog Cafe, Vineyard Haven, one of my favorite WiFi spots with big couches and overstuffed chairs as well as great coffee, baked goods and sandwiches.
• Mocha Mott’s, Vineyard Haven, classic coffee house right on Main Street, note: loud music.
• Espresso Love, Edgartown, with muffins so good even President Clinton couldn’t get enough of them, Espresso Love has indoor and outdoor seating, full bakery, lunch and dinner.
• Harbor View Hotel, Edgartown, one of the most beautiful hotels on the island, WiFi is available in the lobby, dining and hotel rooms.
• Offshore Ale Co., Oak Bluffs, good food and great entertainment right off of OB’s main strip.
• Steamship Authority Terminal, Vineyard Haven & Oak Bluffs, not only can you enjoy WiFi on the ferry, you can also use it in the terminal and in the standby line from your car!

Many of our rental houses have either wireless internet or cable hook-ups, just let me know if you have to have internet access…or if you’d rather not even be tempted!

Image courtesy of Jem

This week, I decided to stroll over to the other side of our Sandpiper office and talk to my colleague, Elaine Miller, about the state of the housing marketing – buyers, sellers, on the Vineyard and across the U.S.

Anne: What’s your take on the national housing market?
Elaine: The housing market escalated in a short period of time to extremely high values.  It was realistically necessary for it to plateau and moderate as it did before and as the same cycle in the stock market needed to be corrected.  The economic crisis exacerbated the downward motion of the real estate market and followed the spiral of everything else.

Anne: And the market on the island? Is it different or the same? How?
Elaine: We are a second home market and no one needs our product.  It is a luxury item and the easiest item a potential buyer can remove from their wish list.  On the other side of the coin is the fact that the majority of our owners are not financially required to sell their property and will either resort to renting it or waiting out the current low market.  Though we have a large inventory, our average reduction in value is approximately 15% whereas the balance of the state is experiencing a 30% to 40% value reduction.

Anne: What do you predict will happen with the market on the island this summer?
Elaine: I have increased the size of my crystal ball and it is still not providing me with concrete answers.  I do however feel that once the confidence level in our economy is stabilized, buyers will realize that they are experiencing the best values with the lowest interest rates that they may see again for a very long time, and that this is the time to make a purchase.  The low value reduction of 15% in one of the worst economic crisis the country has seen in several decades is a further indication of the strength of making an investment in real estate on Martha’s Vineyard while enjoying all the benefits of your investment.

Anne: We’ve all heard the rumor that the Obama’s will be joining us this season – either for the entire summer or just for a visit, do you imagine that will have an impact on the island’s economy?
Elaine: The Clinton’s constant visits to the Island gave it global panache.  When they left, some of that public awareness went with them.  If the Obama’s return to enjoy the pleasures of our great Island, their visits will highlight the beauty and desirability of Martha’s Vineyard.

Anne: Any advice for folks looking to buy or sell a home right now?
Elaine: If you are planning to sell your home get a realistic Opinion of Value from a real estate agent, have confidence in the office and agent representing you and be patient. If you are a buyer, this is the moment.  The inventory provides for a broad selection of wonderful homes and don’t let this opportunity pass.

Thank you, Elaine!

If you’re interested in buying or selling a home on Martha’s Vineyard, I’d be happy to connect you with Elaine!

If you’ve ever been to Martha’s Vineyard or even just seen pictures of the island in a magazine, I’m guessing that you’ve caught glimpses of some fantastic Vineyard Houses. The island tends to sprinkle its magic on just about everything here…but sometimes, it needs a little help. And when it comes to island homes, that extra sprinkle definitely comes from one my favorite interior designers, Annie Parr.

I invited, Annie of Island Interiors, to share with us all things home design and Martha’s Vineyard.

Anne Mayhew: What is your favorite thing about being an interior designer?

Annie Parr: Reading into a client’s life, lifestyle, interests, etc. and creating a space that not only defines, but supports and celebrates, or creates an experience for the lives of the people who occupy those spaces (or who may pass through those spaces).  It’s creating that experience that makes my design work similar to the theater….it’s all about setting the stage.

Anne Mayhew: I’m assuming you’ve designed other places in the world, what’s so special about doing it on MVY?

Annie Parr: While the interior of a home could fit (or be duplicated) in many other places in the world, there is a lifestyle here that is unique to the Vineyard.  I enjoy tying the two together—I love that you can’t find that anywhere else in the world.  My clients do travel the world and so it’s about being exposed to that architecture, materials, landscapes, experiences, inspirations, design, etc. that is essential to my business so I can bring a part of that into their island home – with the Vineyard twist of making it look like these details just fell into place naturally, and support our relaxed, yet sophisticated, carefree living.

Anne Mayhew: Are there trends that you notice clients asking you for?

Annie Parr: Trends always move along the lines of whatever will make their lives more comfortable, stylie, simpler, healthier, etc.  Unless a client’s budget allows them to make changes every time a hip new style trend comes along, I would caution them to make more classic choices for the things that cost a lot to redo (or locks them into a particular style) and to have more fun by “splurging” on a trendy piece or two as an accent in the room.  That way my clients still stay current with the times….AND it’s a lot easier to make a change again when the next new idea comes along.

It’s worth talking to a designer about the longevity of a trend if you think you want to jump on board with a new idea.  I also like to help the client find their own style….once that is defined it becomes very clear what trends they should pay attention to and what trends they can let come and go without giving it a second thought as to whether or not they’re missing out or falling behind the times.

Anne Mayhew: Are there certain fabrics, materials or colors that just work better on the island? Why?

Annie Parr: I find that every client consciously or unconsciously has a palette or style that they come to me with and that is what says “Martha’s Vineyard” to them.  Through my 25 years of experience, I can create that vision for them while guiding them through many cost saving, practical decisions that will hold up to island life—whether that is year round living or just the summer season.  The island does have sun, humidity, sand, etc issues that I can address—but a family may also have children, pets, lifestyle issues that I can make work on MV.  So, yes, there are smarter choices to make/invest in as far as fabrics, furniture etc….and it’s worth talking to a designer about this.

As a decorator it is not my style to pull out the “MV look”.  Every client, every house, and every room is different and has its own needs.  What may look great in one house may not work at all in the house next door (this is the biggest dilemma I deal with because clients don’t understand why a magazine picture or any decorating idea in general doesn’t always translate into their home environment).  Same thing goes for color.  BUT I can always translate the “feeling” a client is attracted to and make sure that shows up in their home.

Anne Mayhew: Where is your favorite spot on Martha’s Vineyard? Actually – tell us two – one that the ‘public’ knows about and one that only Islanders would know of…

Annie Parr: The island beaches, particularly on the south shore (most recently Lucy Vincent).  Aside from being beautiful, you have to be ready to love them as they are in that moment and trust that the ebb and flow will carry you to their next incarnation.  So cliché, but same goes for decorating….it’s an ongoing never ending process that should grow with you and be fun and enjoyable along the way.  If anything in decorating becomes too stagnant, it’s time to go to the beach!

So, to recap, last week, when I was looking for a rental property off-island for myself, I couldn’t find one. I could only find a site that listed millions of properties – but didn’t offer an actual person up for customer service, for an inside look.

That just doesn’t work for me. It’s so important to be able to rent from a 3rd party, and I’ll tell you why. An agent:

• …will have seen, personally, all of the houses that they list. They’ll be able to give you real details about size, feel, look, etc.
• …has the ability to get a group of houses in the same area, say if you only want Lambert’s Cove – they can gather them all up.
• …can be objective as a 3rd party and not the owner.
• …customizes your search for you. Will know all of the houses that meet your exact needs.
• …shares with you the benefits of geography of each of your rental choices (for example: This house has the perfect backyard, but it’s close to a main road).
• …realistically tells you if some of your needs just aren’t possible and then can help you come up with a real solution.
• …offers more choices.
• …mediates if there is a disagreement or issue between the renter and the owner of the property in terms of security deposit, cleanliness, damage, etc…

I love the internet…but my process of trying to find a vacation rental, from the renters side, left me craving a real person that could really help me! Off to search some more…

This summer, my kids will be lucky enough to do a very cool and very Vineyard thing. They’ll go sailing on the Shenandoah sailboat…as in a real live, old-fashioned, top-sail schooner – the only one in operation in the United States.

But, more on that later.

While they’re out on the high seas, my husband and I are headed off for our own little vacation. But, where to go when you live in one of the best vacation destinations around? I’m choosing Cape Cod…because I’ve spent very little time on the Cape and it’s close enough that we can get to the kids if we need to.

But, as I searched the web, I couldn’t find an actual vacation rental agent…and I couldn’t  find a site that showed me all of their listings in a way that I could search them on my own. I wasn’t able to view the best of the best all at once, and I was wasting my time going to all of these sites to find what I needed.

I even went to the 3rd and 4th page of search results. I know, desperation!

What I did find was CyberRentals. CyberRentals is a world wide rental site, and an incredibly popular one. And, I’m not knocking it – our agency, Sandpiper, even lists certain properties there for the exposure. But they list directly for sellers – there’s no objective party, no customer service, no one to help you out.

It wasn’t what I wanted. I want to be able to talk to the person who does NOT own the property. Stay tuned because my next post is going to tell you WHY after this good dose of what it feels like from the renter side.

For those of you that have been to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, you know that the process of bringing a vehicle along on your Vineyard vacation can be very trying if you don’t know the process!  Our island population goes from around 15,000 year round residents to 100,000 August visitors.  You really do need to take a ferry to and from the island.  It is a 45 minute ferry ride from the Cape.

Once you have booked your Vineyard vacation rental, you will need to work on making arrangements for getting here.  The Steamship Authority does not take reservations for the summer season until sometime in January.  This year they open reservations online and via mail on January 20th.  Mark your calendars!  They will open the phone lines up on January 27, 2009.

Sometimes it feels like you have won the lottery when you get just the right times for your reservations for your August vacation.   The process can seem unbearable much of the time but following are some tips that might help:

• Go online to the Steamship Authority and sign up for your profile number and pin prior to making your reservation.
• Go online as soon as you can on January 20, be patient as you may get bumped off the site due to high volume.
• Book any time you can on the day of travel or as close to the day of travel and request to be wait listed for your preferred times.

You should know that the wait list system does seem to work out for most travelers that are reserving their tickets this far in advance.   The steamship has represented in the past that they do not completely book all of the boats so they will have some flexibility.  Things do shift around but you may not know for sure right up until travel time.  They do also have a day of sail number you can call to try to change your reservation while you are on the road.

I once had a customer call and book a house one Saturday in August, drive down and get right on the boat and arrive at my office to pay for their vacation home and pick up their key, all in the same day.  This is not the norm and I do not recommend you wait to see if this works but, please realize that some of the systems that may seem very flawed can work well in the end!

I don’t know about you, but when I’m on vacation, I enjoy taking a break from cooking…and cleaning up the kitchen when the eating is done! But, part of the reason that you want to rent a house on Martha’s Vineyard, is so that you’ll have a kitchen and you won’t have to go out for every meal – as you would if you were staying in a hotel.

Private cooks and chefs are the answer and the Vineyard has some special chefs to offer. You can arrange for them to make a single meal or every meal for your entire stay – just for one, two or the whole family (and your friends). These women specialize in listening to your dietary needs and your taste bud desires!

Nisa Kontje Webster gets right to the heart of a true Vineyard meal. Born and raised on the island, she can turn anything into a gourmet meal and she’s a wonderfully calm and personable addition to any kitchen – you’ll hardly know she’s there and you won’t want her to leave! 508.566.0464

Elizabeth Germain is the slow food aficionado on the island focussing on foods made from scratch with original recipes – the antithesis to fast food (think McDonalds) with emphasis on local, organic and healing recipes. 617.5159279

Laura Silber specializes in coastal fusion pulling from many different coastal cultures uses all local ingredients but with Asian and French flairs. Clean and simple enough that you can eat it everyday.

Heather Gude
A little bit richer and a bit fancier than the rest, Heather’s fusion style has South American and Southeast Asian influences. 508.930.8519

Martha’s Vineyard is a prized destination for special events – weddings, anniversaries, reunions and more. And, of course, no celebration is complete without lots and lots of food.

The Vineyard has many incredible caterers. They know the island, the venues, the local fare. Here’s a quick list of some favorites and what makes them special. But, food is a personal thing so I highly recommend that you meet these caterers and taste test!!! Not a bad way to spend an afternoon…

Jan Buhrman, of The Kitchen Porch, highlights her New England country style. Seen in her menus and presentations, she goes for the fresh, local and abundant feel of a big old country meal. She’s also available for private cheffing.

Jamie Hamlin is known for both her catering to the stars and her aesthetics in the food and its presentation which is elegant from start to finish.

Dee Smith of Tea Lane Caterers is proud of the diversity and quality of the food she creates. Everything is made from scratch and is created to match your event perfectly. Dee also does private cheffing under the guise of the Phantom Chef.

Perry Ambulos of Truly Scrumptious Catering and Cafe is always a highlight at fundraisers around the island and known for his incredible hors d’oeuvres.

Annie Foley has been cheffing and catering for over 15 years, creating the perfect atmosphere for your event – from the traditional New England meal to the something more on the wild side.

Something you’ll notice when you vacation on Martha’s Vineyard is that we’re into saving the environment, protecting the island and sustainable living on the island. We invite and encourage you to do the same while you’re here – Martha’s Vineyard is a precious place! From alternative energy to buy local to organic farming to eco-friendly products, here’s your guide to a green Martha’s Vineyard.

Island Grown Initiative. IGI is a grassroots, non-profit organization that promotes locally grown food and the local farmers that grow it. They have built community and support for the farmers on the island and great awareness about the importance of growing local on the island and beyond. Also, they sell terrific shirts and sweatshirts.

The Bio Store. Found just before you go over the bridge from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs, EcoMV’s Bio Store is full of clothes, food, packaging, fabric, bodycare and cleaning supplies that are non-toxic, sustainable and biodegradable. They even have biodegradable to-go containers, cups, plates, and eating utensils – all made out of corn and used by many island eateries.

South Mountain Company. A building company with a big green heart that powers their offices with wind and builds solar and wind energy alternatives into many of their homes. They also use Clivus composting toilets whenever possible – saving the island’s water resources. Building materials are taken from sustainable woods and other creative places – recycled windshield wipers for shower tiles anyone?

CSA. Community Support Agriculture is a system where community members by shares of a farm ahead of time in return for farm goods – the community commits to supporting the farm ahead of time. Three MV CSA’s of note:
Whipporwill Farm provides good old farm produce – veggies, fruits and flowers.They aren’t certified organic, but use all organic farming methods.
Flat Point Poultry has an organic, free-range poultry CSA.
Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm is the first ever natural fiber CSA, selling shares in wool sheared from their Angora Goats, Cormo, Cotswold and Babydoll Southdown sheep. Recently written up in the Wall Street Journal.

Alternative Energy. Many islanders are using wind (including the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School), solar and sustainable pellets to energize their home. There are many resources on the island including: Vineyard Alternative Heating and South Mountain Company.

Recycling. Quite simply, Martha’s Vineyard recycles. Your rental house should provide information on what to do with trash and recycling for that particular property. Thanks for pitching in!