Shopping

Antiques/Collectibles -- For exquisite Asian furniture, lamps, porcelains, and jewelry, visit All Things Oriental at 123 Beach Rd. in Vineyard Haven (tel. 508/693-8375). The treasures on sale here are handpicked in China by owner Shirley Seaton.

Arts & Crafts -- A new little art gallery cluster in Oak Bluffs, just beyond the "ginger bread" cottage colony, is worth a visit. On Dukes County Avenue, there are six interesting shops: Periwinkle Studio, an intriguing gallery; Alison Shaw Gallery, featuring the exquisite photographs of this artist; Pik Nik, a funky array of crafts, gifts, and clothing; Dragonfly Gallery, showing a range of mediums; Red Mannequin, with clothing, gifts and artwork; and Lucinda's Enamels, with fine art jewelry.

No visit to Edgartown would be complete without a peek at the wares of scrimshander Thomas J. DeMont, Jr., at Edgartown Scrimshaw Gallery at 43 Main St. (tel. 508/627-9439). In addition to DeMont's work, the shop carries the work of a number of the country's top scrimshaw artists. All the scrimshaw in the gallery is hand-carved using ancient mammoth ivory or antique fossil ivory.

The Chilmark Pottery, off State Road (about 4 miles southwest of Vineyard Haven), West Tisbury (tel. 508/693-6476), features tableware fashioned to suit its setting. Geoffrey Borr takes his palette from the sea and sky and produces serviceable stoneware with clean lines and a long life span. Summer pottery classes are available.

The Field Gallery, State Road (in the center of town), West Tisbury (tel. 508/693-5595), set in a rural pasture, is where Marc Chagall meets Henry Moore and where Tom Maley's playful figures have enchanted locals and passersby for decades. You'll also find paintings by Albert Alcalay and drawings and cartoons by Jules Feiffer. The Sunday-evening openings are high points of the summer social season. Closed mid-October to mid-May.

Don't miss the Granary Gallery at the Red Barn, Old County Road (off Edgartown-West Tisbury Rd., about 1/4 mile north of the intersection), West Tisbury (tel. 508/693-0455), which displays astounding prints by the late longtime summerer Alfred Eisenstaedt, dazzling color photos by local luminary Alison Shaw, and a changing roster of fine artists -- some just emerging, some long since "discovered." A fine selection of country and provincial antiques is also sold here. Open April to December, and by appointment only January through March.

Another unique local artisans' venue is Martha's Vineyard Glass Works, State Road, North Tisbury (tel. 508/693-6026). World-renowned master glass blowers sometimes lend a hand at this handsome rural studio/shop just for the fun of it. The three resident artists -- Andrew Magdanz, Susan Shapiro, and Mark Weiner -- are no slouches themselves, having shown nationwide to considerable acclaim. Their output is decidedly avant-garde and may not suit all tastes, but it's an eye-opening array and all the more fascinating once you've witnessed a work in progress.

Etherington Fine Art, 71 Main St., second floor, Vineyard Haven (tel. 508/693-9696), features estimable work like Vineyard- and Venice-inspired paintings by Rez Williams, nature collages by Lucy Mitchell, pastels and oils by Wolf Kahn, and the colorful iconographic sculptures by Sam Milstein that grace the front yard. Gallery owner Mary Etherington's selection is a giant step up from the usual seascapes and lighthouses offered by other Vineyard galleries.

Books -- Edgartown Books, Main Street (in the center of town), Edgartown (tel. 508/627-8463), has a lively presentation of timely titles highlighting local endeavors; inquire about readings and signings. Closed January to March.

Fashion -- The Great Put On, Dock Street (in the center of town), Edgartown (tel. 508/627-5495), dates back to 1969, but always keeps up with the latest styles, including lines by Vivienne Tam, Moschino, and BCBG. Dream Weaver at 1 S. Water St., Edgartown (tel. 508/627-9683), has a very fine collection of contemporary women's apparel. Sheila Allen Styles at 41A Main St., Edgartown (tel. 508/627-8868), is a fun store that sells accessories -- matching handbags, jewelry, and scarves in a range of colors -- all for $25 or less. Saffron at 65 Main St., Edgartown (tel. 508/627-7088), offers a hip selection of island ware. Katydid is another high-fashion option at 38 Main St. in Edgartown (tel. 508/627-1232).

Gifts/Home Decor -- The owners of Bramhall & Dunn, 23 Main St., Vineyard Haven (tel. 508/693-6437), have a great eye for the kind of chunky, eclectic extras that lend character to country homes. Expect to find the requisite rag rugs, rustic pottery, English country antiques, bed linens, and a large selection of sweaters.

My favorite place for gifts in Oak Bluffs is Craftworks, 149 Circuit Ave. (tel. 508/693-7463), which is filled to the rafters with whimsical, colorful contemporary American crafts, some by local artisans.

Carly Simon owns a shop called Midnight Farm, 18 Water-Cromwell Lane, Vineyard Haven (tel. 508/693-1997), named after her popular children's book. This home store offers a world of high-end, carefully selected, and imaginative gift items starting with soaps and candles and including children's clothes and toys, rugs, furniture, books, clothes, and glassware.

Third World Trading Co., 52 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs (tel. 508/693-5550), features well-priced clothing, accessories, and home accents gathered from around the globe.

Jewelry -- Stop by C. B. Stark Jewelers, 53A Main St., Vineyard Haven (tel. 508/693-2284), where proprietor Cheryl Stark started fashioning island-motif charms back in 1966.

Seafood -- Feel like whipping up your own lobster feast? For the freshest and biggest crustaceans on the island, head to The Net Result, 79 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven (tel. 508/693-6071). Run by the Larsen family, you'll find everything from shrimp, scallops, and swordfish to bluefish and tuna. If you're up-island, stop by Larsen's Fish Market, right on the docks at Menemsha Harbor.