Hot dog
Clifford the Big Red Dog has been entertaining kids young and old for fifty years. To celebrate Clifford’s longevity (and popularity), Norman Bridwell, who lives in Edgartown, has compiled the Clifford Collection featuring his six original stories. The book also includes a letter from Norman, the drawing of the lovable pooch that started it all, and the story behind the real Emily Elizabeth (his daughter). Whether you’re creating memories with a current Clifford fan or reminiscing about your own childhood, this collection will have you wishing Clifford was your dog. (Scholastic)
Island car décor
Goodbye, bumper stickers. Hello, chrome decals! Gone are the days of tacky bumper stickers to publicly display your affection for the Vineyard. Thanks to weathervane maker Tony Holand of Tuck & Holand Metal Sculptures in Vineyard Haven, there’s a fun way to rep the Island without feeling too touristy. These simple, classy Island-silhouette decals stick to your car like a bumper sticker but give an added shimmer of class. Available at Tuck & Holand, Shirley’s Hardware, and Brickman’s in Vineyard Haven, and at Sanctuary in Oak Bluffs. For $18, you can show your love of the Island, whether on or off the rock.
Nautica ensemble
It was a change of venue and season for the Vineyard Sound men’s a cappella singers when they traveled to Maine this summer for a photo shoot for the clothing brand Nautica. That’s right, the college-age crooners who grace the streets of the Island in brightly colored button-downs and ties traded their summer wear for a warm and cozy wintery feel. “When we arrived in Bar Harbor, we were dressed in khakis, shirts, and sweaters, and were asked to sing winter holiday carols,” second-year singer Ben Jacobs says. Despite the heat, the guys had a great time being photographed at the Bar Harbor Yacht Club – and later during a second shoot on good ol’ MV. Keep an eye out for them on Nautica’s website.
Hoisting the cup
To most mainlanders, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are just summer destinations. But once the cold weather descends and the vacationers leave, the two Islands prepare for a tradition that has lasted more than fifty years: the Island Cup. In James Sullivan’s new book, Island Cup: Two Teams, Twelve Miles of Ocean, and Fifty Years of Football Rivalry, he describes the intense competitiveness that affects not only players and coaches from the opposing teams, but their Island fans as well. By the end, you might be chanting Harpoon the Whalers! (Bloomsbury USA)
