Soulful Expressions Portrait # 3 - Dr. Jessica B. Harris an icon of American culinary scholarship and lifelong Oak Bluffs summer resident. Author of 20+ books, including 12 cookbooks, a memoir and her book turned into Netflix series “High on the Hog.”
Jessica has spent summers in Martha’s Vineyard from childhood brought by her parents who sought a loving and welcoming place for their family vacations. She faithfully and happily returns to the Victorian cottage her parents purchased in Oak Bluffs when she was just 8 years old.
She is a professor emerita at City University of New York earning her PhD from NYU. She was named Time Magazine “Most Influential People” and won the coveted James Beard Lifetime Achievement award. Her work provides profound understanding of the intersection of food, history, and identity. She transports us on a culinary odyssey, celebrating the vibrant flavors and enduring traditions of the African Diaspora.
On a summer evening walking through Oak Bluffs (if you are lucky) you may hear her laughter and lively conversations drifting through the neighborhood often fueled by her rich stories and “real talk” wisdom that is as effervescent and potent as the flowing sparkling rose on her porch.
A sage elder, a global trailblazer, a world renowned scholar, a cultural historian, a treasured neighbor, and a dear friend.
She has shown us that our most treasured inheritance is our connection to the shared heritage found on the plates and tables right in front of us.
The lens of captures her warmth, her wit, her generosity and her determination.
In honoring Dr. Jessica B. Harris, we pay homage to a luminary whose soulful expressions illuminate the path towards a more inclusive and flavorful world.
Soulful Expressions, “Embodied Flavors” Portrait 3 of 20. Taken on location: Jubilee MV, Juneteenth Weekend 2023. Photographer: Lynsey Weatherspoon, Juneteenth Artist in Residence.
02/07/2024
We are so proud to present this beautiful portrait of Richard & Kathy Taylor! This comes from our Juneteenth portrait series "Soulful Expressions" taken over Juneteenth weekend in 2023 on location at Jubilee MV.
10/29/2023
Halloween stroll on circuit avenue ❤️
09/09/2023
The last days of summer vibe…. the end of summer is a hard transition for me as it means letting go of being barefoot in the garden, exuberant beach gatherings, impromptu porch sundowners, reunions with old friends, meeting amazing new people, watching beach yogis greet the sunrise, chanting polar bears, moonrises over the ocean, stirring sermons at Union Chapel, beachfront walks and bike rides.
But most of all, above all else, will miss the summer community that comes together and lifts, supports and inspires to realize our individual and collective dreams.
Relishing the last days of summer to carrying those special feelings with me into the next season.
08/20/2023
Last night was an explosion of talent blew it up on The Tabernacle stage. Powerful, heartwarming, teary at times and inspiring. His show “Harlem to Hollywood” was all of that. And the singing….
08/19/2023
Yes the peacock and large silver hoops are BACK on! Thanks to everyone who rolled through today - an amazing day at the store. So grateful for the love and support.
08/16/2023
We ❤️ having the cutest and most adorable member of the family on our porch this week. Here is to many more carefree beach days, relaxing porch swings and the precious memories of summer.
Met this wonderful entrepreneur (and her mom) at the natural hair festival yesterday and her products are in my store today! Natural beauty and home products available now. They will sell out soon. Her very first customer was my neighbor Dana who bought her products before we could even load them into the system ;). Body butter, body oil, room fragrances, beard oil.. all natural it smells delicious and good for body and spirit. Another great partner for Jubilee is born.
08/13/2023
Union Chapel overflowing this morning with many standing in the rain to hear the word and gather in spirit. Welcome to Sunday morning in Oak Bluffs.
08/13/2023
The closing night of film fest … yes left my crocs at home. Congrats to the team for another great festival 21 years and counting
08/09/2023
Proud to welcome candles to the store today. We had not even put them into inventory and our first customer bought 3 “Inkwell” candles. Thanks to .arringtonbaldwin for believing Jubilee MV was the best place on the island for your beautiful scents. Check out their Black Beach Leisure collection a limited edition available now at Jubilee MV @ 42 Circuit Avenue Oak Bluffs.
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It is a simple question. “Why did you buy a B&B on Martha’s Vineyard?” Most people would give a simple answer. Our answer is not simple or short. The journey to buying this Bed and Breakfast in the Autumn of 2018 was a long and winding path that spanned over decades, countless island visits, a few continents and being admiring neighbors before we became innkeepers.
I remember the first time I walked by the house. I don’t remember exactly where I was going, only that my direction was circuit avenue and my pace was typical Oak Bluffs stroll. The OB stroll gives you just enough time to nod and greet the people on the passing porches, you appear to have forward motion but you generally do not have a fixed destination. It is the stroll that could end in many destinations - The handmade ice-cream shop, the Harbor to watch the boats, an MV campground visit, an hour long porch conversation with a complete stranger. Sometimes, the stroll ends at a concert at Union Chapel or Kites fly at Ocean Park.. the stroll is not limited by distance, destination or time. It is full of possibilities.
Oak Bluffs is a unique community. The beauty of Oak Bluffs is that we are a beach town, we are an outdoor victorian cottage museum, we are a handmade ice cream vortex, we are a fun bustling harbor. We are all of these things wrapped into one wonderful walkable town. The hidden gem, and the most precious thing about Oak Bluffs, is the community. It is a true community where we greet each other with genuine warmth and respectful manners. A few were born here, some are wash-a-shores who came and never left, others are lifetime long-term summer residents and many are visiting for a few brief days.. All of us become a part of this community as long as you share the same relaxed, friendly, respectful town spirit.
So on one of my beach to town strolls, most likely with sand in my hair from spending the day at the Inkwell beach, I remember the first time I saw the Narragansett House. The double cathedral doors were swung wide open and a big man was standing next to the door with a woman was sitting next to him - and they were both laughing. It was one of those big, loud belly laughs the kind where you don’t care if you are laughing too loud or who is watching you. In the middle of his big laughter, the man noticed me (perhaps I was gawking a bit) and he gave me that classic vineyard nod acknowledging me and welcoming me into his moment of joy. I clearly remember thinking in that moment - I wonder who lives in that big beautiful house because their guests seem to be having so much fun. It became my new favorite street to walk down on my way to and from town. Every time I walked by, I would notice people sitting on the porch, relaxing on the lawn and looking at home. So much so, that I thought it was a family home for many years not realizing it was a business. In fact, it was a place for gathering, it was a place to recharge and a place for people to leave their worries from the mainland.
It would be another few decades before we signed the papers and walked onto that porch as a family and the new owners. We feel a responsibility of taking care of one of the oldest inns and homes in Oak Bluffs - the Narragansett House is entering its 139th season this year. We want to maintain its beauty while investing in the property and the house to bring guests more comfort.
I am writing this as we are just a few weeks away from opening and there are several things that are changing with the B&B this year. We opened up the lobby to allow guests to relax in the living area. We also had to reinforce the walls, ceilings and cables to ensure the NH would be in good standing for the season. We expanded two of our guest rooms downstairs rooms to create a family suite. (Rooms 12 & 14) We purchased all new bedding and linens, painted 6 bedrooms and put A/C in 6 rooms that were without air-conditioning. We also redesigned a new breakfast / snack bar area that will allow guests more options for breakfast.
At the moment, there is dust everywhere with open walls and floors as we work hard to make the B&B ready for Summer Season 139. I am keeping the pictures on our newly created FB page so we can all look back and remember how it all looked. We still have much to do to be ready for our first season - and our opening weekend on Memorial Day. This is a journey that we will take together with our guests as a family. We thank you for your patience in advance and welcome suggestions on how to become better.
Our ultimate hope is that when you come to visit it feels like your island home away from home. We appreciate all of our guests - old and new - who are on this journey with us. We love Oak Bluffs. All are welcome on our porch - to laugh, to ponder, to connect, to daydream. We look forward to experiencing the vineyard with you this summer.
