Martha's Vineyard Life

Tony Shalhoub

Not only was the weather Vineyard perfect, not only did the island pull out all the stops events-wise (read Fair, Fireworks, Illumination Night) but Plum hosted our own big weekend of star-studded morning shows from the Black Dog Wharf. On Saturday filmmaker Doug Liman talked about his upcoming film and the veggies he entered in the Ag Fair (his cukes won a red ribbon!) Tony Horwitz discussed his latest book, and director Keith Quinn was on board with some Illumination on his documentary with Matt Damon.

On Sunday - Plum's own fireworks started with actress Jennie Allen Feiffer discussing her one-woman show at the Playhouse, followed by Brooke Adams talking about her art show at Dragonfly and the acting couple's involvement with the Vineyard Playhouse. And for the grand finale - Tony Shalhoub sat down with John Clese and settled the question once and for all - Tony's not all that Monk-like in real life. It didn't hurt to finish up our live weekend programming with a couple of songs by Plum favorite Ben Taylor. Stay tuned - all these blocks and more will be on the website!

A winner's been declared! Despite some canine controversy, the rightful Dog of the Month owner will be awarded the prize. The half month pooch may surprise some. The two front-running dog owners have worked things out amicably and there will be two dogs on our show on Sunday.

Stay tuned as the Dog of the Month drama unfolds. Who will capture the crown? - watch Plum TV on Sunday at 8, 3 and 8 on channel 76. A real life drama inside the high-powered world of poochy politics unfolds live - ONLY ON PLUM!

Ocean Park was the place to be yesterday as the Martha's Vineyard Festival lived up to (and beyond) the months' long anticipation. From one o'clock on, crowds trooped over to the transformed Oak Bluffs' landmark and the excitement mounted throughout the day. Local acts warmed up the early Festival goers and filled Oak Bluffs with music and buzz - from State Beach to Circuit Ave.

Sunbathers forfeited a perfect beach day - drawn off the beach by the calypso strains of Entrain, while crowds on bustling Circuit Ave streamed toward the park to catch Willy Mason on dual giant video screens. The Festival hit its stride a little later in the day when Steel Pulse took the stage and got people off their butts and dancing. Charismatic to the extreme, the reggae favorites rocked the house. Next up, Kate Taylor's otherwordly strains ushered in a picture perfect Vineyard sunset.

By the time headliners, the Neville Brothers took the stage, the park was packed. Bill Murray was right up front dancing, cheering and looking worshipful as Aaron Neville serenaded the crowd and a gorgeous 1/2 "Yellow Moon" hanging over the park like a prop.

The Pops - up next - well what can you say about the Boston Pops that hasn't been expressed by far more eloquent voices? The 1812 Overture on a consummate Vineyard evening with an appropriately dramatic sky - does life getting any better?

Yes it does - thanks to 15-year-old local girl Katie Anne Mayhew belting out Sondheim to her home crowd! Now how do you follow that kind of crowd pleasing act? Only Gladys Knight - looking sizzling at sixty - could possibly pull off that feat. As Midnight Train to Georgia closed out the superstar's energetic set, the crowd screamed for more. But the 11 o'clock train out of Oak Bluffs departed with thousands of $75-$1,000 a head patrons thrilled with the ride.