Town Meeting Chaos, Ferry Lines, and the Season That Won't Quit Starting

May 5, 2026 · ACK Deals

So Town Meeting happened, and somehow we voted to spend $137 million moving Our Island Home after rejecting it last year. Classic Nantucket — we'll debate a crosswalk for three years but drop nine figures on a nursing home relocation like it's a Cisco beer run. The athletic field renovation passed too, which means Vito Capizzo Stadium gets a glow-up while the rest of us figure out how to afford groceries.

Meanwhile, the seasonal opening shuffle continues its beautiful chaos. Straight Wharf is "mid-May maybe," TOPPER'S is back serving $45 entrees to people who complain about $8 coffee, and Brant Point Grill is open for those who want to eat breakfast while watching private jets land. The ferry lines are already getting spicy — 9:15am departure from Hyannis is packed with day-trippers who didn't realize Memorial Day weekend starts the madness early.

The Wine & Food Festival hits May 27-31, which means downtown will be wall-to-wall people Instagram-ing charcuterie boards while locals hide at the Chicken Box. At least the LORAN barracks repair got voted down — apparently $5.4 million doesn't buy what it used to around here.

Between now and Memorial Day, grab what you need from our local vendors before the summer prices kick in and a beach chair costs more than your car payment. Because if Town Meeting taught us anything, it's that we're really good at spending money we don't have on things we're not sure we need.

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