Tisbury Celebrates First Art Stroll

Vineyard Haven stayed open late Friday night for the first-ever Tisbury Art Stroll. The event, created by the Tisbury Business Association, was intended to call attention to Main Street’s many galleries and draw crowds to the shopping district after-hours.

Mission accomplished.

Art gawkers bounced from one gallery to the next, taking advantage of the extended hours and live music in the street, performed by Michael Haydn.

"It seems like people are having a good time," Haydn said.

Anthony Esposito tweaked the speakers and amplifiers to get the right sound for Haydn.

Esposito, a sound engineer and employee at , was happy to be a part of the first ever Tisbury Art Stroll.

"The people around here are great," he said.

This being the first-ever Tisbury Art Stroll, the event caught many by surprise.

"I was on my way to the post office," said Karin Stanley. "I stopped into and was amazed by the creative and affordable art." 

Others were there for food, or on assignment.

Sarah Banks was armed with her Canon camera taking photographs for a photojournalism course taught by gallery owner and photographer . 

"We take photographs of the sunrise, moonrise and everything in between," Banks said.

Still others were there to shop.

, the popular high-end jeweler that has a second store in Edgartown, took advantage of the crowds by staging a celebration all its own.

"We like having celebrations," said Cheryl Barbara Stark, who, along with co-owner Margery Meltzer celebrated their 45^th anniversary as partners in business and in life. "We're always trying to think of ways to give back to the community and customers.”

Stark was the first woman to have her own booth on the famous block of 47th Street in New York City's diamond district, and served big names like Cartier and Georg Jenson. 

Meltzer handed out coupons like candy to each and every person that entered the packed store during the stroll. The line snaked around the side of the building

"You wouldn't be able to tell,” said Metlzer, “but the air-conditioning is on.”