Larkin Stallings, the owner of the Ritz Cafe in Oak Bluffs, realized his prospects of becoming a famous bass guitarist were grim shortly after opening his first music club.

The Hall family history of Island real estate ownership runs deep in all three down-Island main streets and beyond.

The Gazette set out to answer the question who, exactly, owns the downtowns? The analysis found that while ownership is varied and covers a wide spectrum, certain family names jumped out, among them Hall, Courtney and Hajjar.

Ladyfest, a music festival that benefits an Island domestic violence prevention program, received Oak Bluffs select board approval after an organizer promised to keep the festival smaller than years past.

A fire that started early Sunday morning has damaged Mikado, a restaurant that was planning to open this spring in the former space occupied by The Cardboard Box.

The Oak Bluffs select board signaled Tuesday that it plans to put an article to town meeting that would ban the sale of nip bottles.

Oak Bluffs, which boasts the largest nightlife scene on the Island, has seen thirsty revelers rush over from other towns after their restaurants and bars close.

Ryan Family Amusements will remain on Circuit avenue after the prominent building and neighboring property was sold to a pair of Oak Bluffs businessmen earlier this month.

Owner Marc Hanover has passed the torch on to Lisa and Winston Christie of Winston’s Kitchen, as he prepares to retire from the restaurant business.

The Oak Bluffs select board Tuesday took steps to mitigate jaywalking downtown by adding planters to the small island across from the booth. They also plan to repave the warped crosswalk.