Falmouth Living by the Sea | Fall 2022 Issue

PERFECT IS CLOSE ENOUGH

Global Luxury Awards

William Raveis Wins 2022 Global Luxury Awards

Lifestyle Awards name Estate Agency

2022

William Raveis Wins 2022 Global Luxury

The global luxury experts at Luxury Lifestyle Awards name

The global luxury experts at Luxury Lifestyle Awards

William Raveis Best Luxury Real Estate Agency

William Raveis Best Luxury Real Estate Agency

In Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida

over 60 countries competing, 14th Annual Award for:

LLA receives thousands of nominations and with over 60 countries competing, William Raveis wins Luxury Lifestyle Awards 14th Annual Award for:

among such world-renowned brands as top Luxury Lifestyle Awards from the luxury clients to superior international and 10,000 goods.

receives thousands and with 60 countries as a as Chanel, Luxury worldwide brands and 400 categories and

LLA receives thousands of nominations and with over 60 countries

William Raveis wins Luxury Lifestyle Awards 14th Annual

Recognized as a leading luxury real estate company among such world-renowned brands as Chanel, Dom Perignon, and Ferrari, William Raveis wins three top Luxury Lifestyle Awards from the worldwide organization whose mission it is to connect luxury clients to superior international brands and services across 400 categories and 10,000 goods.

Recognized as a leading luxury real estate company among such world-renowned Chanel, Dom Perignon, and Ferrari, William Raveis wins three top Luxury worldwide organization whose mission it is to connect luxury clients to brands and services across 400 categories and 10,000

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Luxury Awards

Awards name

Agency

countries competing, Annual Award for:

MASSACHUSETTS

world-renowned brands as Luxury Lifestyle Awards from the to superior international 10,000 goods.

contents

FEATURES

120

32 G IFTS FROM THE SEA

A local shellfish cooperative pools efforts to deliver Sippewissett Oysters to your table.

40 A PATH TO HAPPINESS

The Shining Sea Bikeway is a 10-mile scenic trip through some of Falmouth’s prettiest land- and seascapes.

50 FALL FRESH

Cooler weather calls for layered outfits from local boutiques.

66

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

A quintessential pairing for holiday celebrations, oysters and Champagne shine any time of year.

74 HOT KITCHENS

Achieve your dream kitchen with the expertise and guidance of local professionals.

84 WINTER GREENS

Fill your outdoor spaces with artfully crafted container plantings, or bedeck your mantel with festive foliage.

90 WISHES UNWRAPPED

Get a jump on holiday shopping with this treasure trove of items from Falmouth stores.

10 2 INN SEASON

For a cozy home-away-from-home experience, these bed-and-breakfast inns check all the boxes.

114 H OLIDAY ON ICE

Curlers at Falmouth’s newly renovated club are rock stars.

12 0 W INTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

Right here in Falmouth, there are lots of great ways to ease the transition from summer to fall and winter.

on the cover: Nobska Lighthouse.

Photo by Betty Wiley

We invite you to come explore

Main Street @Botello’s cabinetry showroom. Where inspiration comes alive.

Main Street @Botello’s showroom showcases the newest in cabinetry designs for every room in your home. Our award winning showroom boasts trending styles and innovative ideas to add function to your space. Be inspired by our expansive design showroom where you can meet one of our expert in-house designers and get started on the living space of your dreams. Visit MainStreetBotellos.com to view our showroom experience.

Let Main

Stepping Into Autumn!

Fall is such a spectacular time of year to cherish and embrace! You just can’t beat the beauty of the striking, multihued foliage, and the crisp air is exhilarating. Falmouth is unique, with its everchanging landscape against the backdrop of the ocean.

The holidays come with excitement for all those who seek the season’s joy. Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart, especially for its family gatherings. The spirit of Christmas and other end-of-the-year holidays we celebrate come alive with festivities that make the holidays a memorable time for all.

Thank you to our contributors, advertisers, readers, followers, the Falmouth community and my magnificent team.

Don’t forget to follow and tag us on Instagram @falmouthliving.mag and Facebook @flivingmag to keep up to date on everything Falmouth has to offer. To receive Falmouth Living delivered to your home, you may subscribe by visiting our website, falmouthlivingmag.com. Please drop us a note by email, as we look forward to hearing from you.

Join us as we explore and discover why Falmouth is such a special place to live, work and visit.

I wish you a glorious holiday season!

Suzanne Ryan Publisher Falmouth Living

suzanne@falmouthlivingmag.com

PHOTO BY MICHAEL PETRIZZO

Wrapping Up Another Year

When I joined publisher Suzanne Ryan and photographer Derrick Zellmann in August to shoot our Champagne and Oysters story, I realized once again just how much of a community pulling together Falmouth is. At our first stop, Water Street Kitchen in Woods Hole, chef/owner John Wilson rushed to meet us after dropping his daughter off at camp, even though the restaurant was closed to the public that day. Water Street Kitchen serves Sippewissett oysters, which are the subject of a different story in this issue. Later that afternoon, executive sous chef Ricky Smith welcomed us to Eli’s Tavern at the Coonamessett Inn, enthusiastically sharing his knowledge about oysters as he deftly pried some open for Derrick to photograph.

Producing this magazine twice a year is all about cooperative efforts like these among our staff, readers and advertisers, all in the same boat, rowing together.

Besides our coverage of oysters—how they’re harvested and where to eat them—this issue salutes the end of the year in Falmouth with stories on B&Bs, fashion, the Shining Sea Bikeway, holiday decorating, curling and kitchen design. You’ll want to check out our gift guide for suggestions on where and what to buy locally, and please consult our winter survival guide for fun and educational ways to pass the time between October and spring, a season whose start date is always elusive on the Cape.

We wish you all a joyful holiday and a happy, healthy new year!

Thank you for being a part of the Falmouth Living family,

Janice Randall Rohlf Editor Falmouth Living

Janice

CHRIS KAZARIAN is a freelance writer who enjoys telling stories about people who are making an impact nationally, regionally and here on Cape Cod. His writing has appeared in Hemispheres magazine, the Boston Herald, and the Providence Journal among others.

BETTY WILEY is a well-known freelance photographer and instructor on Cape Cod who specializes in landscape and nature photography. Her work has appeared in numerous local magazines and guidebooks.

ELIZABETH SAITO has worked as a reporter for both the Falmouth Enterprise and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station. Her latest book, Notes from a Pandemic: A Journal of the Plague Year, a collection of personal essays documenting the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, is available for purchase at Eight Cousins Bookstore on Main Street in Falmouth.

DERRICK ZELLMANN is a commercial and editorial photographer based between Boston and Cape Cod. His passion for portraiture has brought him diverse opportunities to photograph a wide range of subjects including celebrities, artists, professional athletes, heroic firefighters, Academy and Emmy Award winners, and models.

LISA CAVANAUGH grew up in Massachusetts and Connecticut and spent most of her summers on Cape Cod. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she became a Hollywood story editor, producer and writer. She now lives in Yarmouth with her husband and writes stories about the lifestyles, occupations and interests of Cape Codders.

ABIGAYLE GRATTAN is a photographer with a focus on architecture and interiors. She shoots for notable architects, builders and designers throughout New England and beyond. Her work is frequently featured in numerous publications throughout the region. She also serves as the creative director for Christie’s Atlantic Brokerage.

SARAH E. MURPHY is a freelance journalist, who studied English and writing at Bridgewater State University. She currently teaches creative writing for women at The Cosmic Cod in Mashpee Commons. Sarah and her husband, Chris Bennett, live in Falmouth with their rescue cat, Stallone.

BILL HIGGINS is an award-winning former newspaper sports editor and writer who has covered everything from World Series, Super Bowls, Stanley Cups and NBA championships to the Masters golf tournament, Boston Marathons, America’s Cup yacht races and World Cup soccer matches. Beyond fun and games, Bill’s most memorable and proudest moments have been with his family.

MICHAEL AND SUZ KARCHMER are a Harwich-based husband-and-wife photography team who love to capture the people and places of the Cape. They share a particular fascination with photographing theater and musical performances. The Karchmers were also early adopters of the iPhones for serious photography and were popular instructors.

VOLUME 3 ~ ISSUE 2 FALL/WINTER 2022

PUBLISHER

Suzanne Ryan suzanne@falmouthlivingmag.com

EDITOR

Janice Randall Rohlf janice@falmouthlivingmag.com

ART DIRECTOR Alison Caron

Alison Caron Design alison@falmouthlivingmag.com

COPY EDITOR

Nan Fornal

ADVERTISING

Suzanne Ryan

WRITERS

Lisa Cavanaugh, Bill Higgins, Chris Kazarian, Sarah E. Murphy, Elizabeth Saito

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Abby Grattan (Grattan Imaging), Michael and Suz Karchmer, Betty Wiley, Derrick Zellmann

here & there

SANDY SNEAKER

Runners picking up their numbers for the 50th Falmouth Road Race in August were greeted by this jaw-dropping sand sculpture created by world-renowned 3D street artist Sean Fitzpatrick and his team. The giant sneaker took 16 hours to build, but you can see the entire process in time-lapse video on Instagram @fitzysnowman.

CORRECTION

On page 56 of our Spring/Summer 2022 issue, we mistakenly identified Elena Rodriguez, shown here with her grandfather, Jerry Lynch, left, and her father, Chris Lynch.

BEHIND THE SCENES

It takes a village to produce the fashion spreads featured in Falmouth Living. For this issue, photographer Derrick Zellmann worked his magic at Highfield Hall & Gardens, with two models wearing fall and winter styles from three of Falmouth’s finest clothing boutiques. See page 50.

DERRICK ZELLMANN

Architect: Hutker Architects

| Photographer: Michael J Lee

OUR TOWN

Tavern Tunes

Irish musician Kevin McGeough found a second home at Grumpy’s, and the patrons love him back.

“I’ve been in love with America for a long time,” says musician Kevin McGeough, a native of Ireland who now lives in Falmouth. “When I first saw Evel Knievel jump over a pile of buses in the 1970s—I must have been four or five—I thought to myself, I want to go to the land of the free.”

McGeough pauses, his Irish accent hanging in the air. While the singer, guitarist, husband and father of three has been a Cape Codder since 2009, it hasn’t taken away his brogue, nor his love of Guinness; he enjoyed a pint during an interview on a warm August evening inside Grumpy’s Pub.

Gritty. Raw. Authentic. Grumpy’s Pub is all of these,

and when McGeough first stepped into the iconic Falmouth establishment, there was an immediate connection. “I was a complete stranger, but I knew I’d found a great place,” he says. “It’s one of the best bars you will ever frequent, with live music, good people and great staff. They made me feel at home.”

And at home he will feel this fall, performing on stage and joined by musicians Ben Paterson, Skip King and Tim Kane, playing traditional Irish songs mixed with bluegrass, part of Grumpy’s popular Whiskey and Stout Wednesdays.

At Grumpy’s Kevin can return to Ireland simply by picking

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS KAZARIAN

up his guitar and singing. “It’s a helping hand,” Kevin says of the power of music. “It’s a way to remove the visual aspect we have in our lives. As [late singer-songwriter] John Prine said so succinctly, ‘Blow up your TV.’”

Music is also a tie to the past, forever connecting Kevin with his father, Harry, who died two years ago at 73 in County Armagh, Ireland. “I looked up to him and watched him play music as a kid. My dad was very much influenced by the music of the United States; he was into Glen Campbell, John Denver, Neil Diamond. And he traveled the United States to play music. He’d been to San Francisco and to Vegas.”

Nature or nurture? In the McGeough household in Northern Ireland, it was the latter that won the age-old battle. Kevin has one brother, who plays the guitar, and four sisters, one of whom plays the ukulele; all were raised on music.

It was music—Pete St. John’s 1979 classic “The Fields of Athenry,” to be specific—that eventually led Kevin to the land of the free. The adventure started in 2003 at a pub in Ireland named Damper Murphy’s, where his future wife, Tami, while on vacation, stumbled upon a group of 13 musicians of all abilities, learning and playing and entertaining.

“She asked me to sing ‘The Fields of Athenry,’” he says. “I did.”

How was it? “Perfect,” he says, raising his glass, before continuing. “She was absolutely beautiful. This blonde, blueeyed American, tan, beautiful girl walks into an Irish bar and asks me to sing ‘The Fields of Athenry.’ She was literally sitting

on her own amongst eight or nine 70-year-old Irish guys. And our eyes met. That was it.”

The power of music. It transcends generations. It bridges cultures. And it’s where love stories begin.

Over the course of two years, Tami and Kevin kept in touch the old-fashioned way, through phone calls and handwritten letters. In 2005, Tami returned to Ireland, marrying the man who won her heart with an Irish folk ballad.

In Armagh, they had two sons—Oisin, 17, and Teaghan, 15—before they relocated to Falmouth, where Tami, currently a teacher at the Bridgeview Montessori School in Bourne, landed a job. By then, Kevin was in a band called The Black Stuff, named after his favorite drink, that was touring all over Ireland.

“The band got really successful. I was gone five nights a week. I had two sons at the time, and my wife gave me a stark choice— you can either stay in Ireland and be a rock star or come over to America and be a dad,” he says. “I chose to grow up.”

While his rock star days are behind him—he welcomed a third son, Caoimhin, in 2010—there’s a joy Kevin gets in playing gigs in this seaside community that has become home. “Falmouth is one of those towns. It is very special because Falmouth absolutely promotes bands and artistry,” he says. “It is wonderful to walk around and see local art. It is wonderful to go into a local bar like this and see local music. I have to tell you, in my travels, this has got to be one of the best places I have ever been. There is a vibe here, really. Really.”

McGeough entertaining the Grumpy’s crowd at a Wednesday Whiskey & Stout night, where local musicians play a mix of Irish/Celtic tunes with folk, bluegrass and rock songs mixed in.

SomethingSomethingOld,New

An esteemed children’s clothing store celebrates its 50th year in business, while the new owners of a beloved bowling alley embrace the latest trend in fun.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

CALINE FOR KIDS

“We always say our customers reproduce themselves!” says Wendy Ghelfi, owner of Caline for Kids, about the many generations of Falmouth families that shop at her store. “I can’t tell you the number of people that come in and say they used to shop for their kids here and now they are shopping for their grandkids, even their great-grandkids. It is a great aspect of the business.”

Since 1972, the Main Street boutique has been offering children’s clothing, shoes, gifts, and accessories to visitors and residents of Falmouth who appreciate the consistently high quality of the merchandise. Ghelfi, who took over in 2006, says some of the most popular products are bathing suits and back-to-school clothes, with baby

Back in the day, the building that has housed Caline for Kids for 50 years lacked the lively Main Street ambience it now enjoys.

footies being the number-one item. “People love to shop for babies. It’s such a happy time in their lives.”

Open year-round and with only three owners in 50 years, the store has a steadfast appeal. Longtime customers still remember the founder, Mrs. Longyear, and while there is some mystery as to precisely who Caline was, Wendy surmises that it was most likely a relative of Mrs. Long. “Someone special, I’m sure.”

Wendy says that interacting with people is one of the most gratifying parts of her job. “I have long-term employees who are like family, and I know all the customers really well, so the best part is definitely the relationships I have made,” she says. “We are fortunate because we deal with pretty happy people all the time. It’s a lot of fun.”

TIMBER AXE BAR & BOWL

Earlier this year, Falmouth firefighter Mike Mueller joined forces with his friends, developer Mark Bogosian and businessman Jacob Avakian, to reopen the bowling alley at the former Ryan Family Amusements Town Hall Square location—with a twist. “I had tried axe throwing when I was out of town, so I told them we need something like that around here!” says Mueller.

In renovating the space, the trio kept 12 lanes of candlepin bowling, a perennial favorite on the Cape,

and then added 35 axe-throwing lanes. “We have 33 double lanes with two targets, so you can throw alongside your companions, and we have two single lanes as well,” says Mueller, adding that while bowling is great fun for all ages, axe throwing is an 18-andolder-only recreation.

Timber is open all week, year-round, and has a full bar featuring specialty cocktails, some with cheeky axe- or bowlingthemed names, such as Rum to Spare and the Logger’s Old Fashioned. Hungry bowlers and throwers can enjoy a selection of tasty bar menu items including nachos, lobster rolls, pork sandwiches and chowder. Mueller says he and his partners have plans for DJ and live music performances as well as hosting trivia nights.

Overall, he hopes visitors will find that Timber is a perfect place to spend an evening or even just part of one. “I grew up here in Falmouth, and I know that having a place to go have fun after dinner with your friends, or maybe hang out while waiting for a table at a busy restaurant on Main Street, is an awesome idea.”

In axe throwing, players stand behind a foul line and throw axes into a target for points, similar to playing darts. The dangerous-sounding but very safe recreational activity can be traced back to logger and lumberjack competitions of the 1940s.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIMBER AXE BAR & BOWL

Art Stealth Orb Trestle Table by Dick Kiusalas made from Antique Pine stairway image boards with custom inlays. 90" X 41" X 30"

Trestle Table made from Live Edge Black Walnut sourced from Orleans, MA. 110" X 40" – 47" X 30"

Books can be ordered through Amazon, Nancy Nolan’s website, mrmunsonsitvice.com, or by calling the author directly at 952-215-2211.

Eight Cousins in Falmouth and Market Street Bookshop in Mashpee carry some copies as well.

It’s Elementary

A young readers’ book series by local author Nancy Nolan brings a light touch to hard lessons.

BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF

When Nancy Nolan worked as a school counselor in Minnesota, she championed an easy flow of communication between the elementary-level students and their teachers and other adults on the staff. To this end, she placed a little mailbox outside her office door containing a notepad and pencil, and encouraged the children to put notes in it. One of the messages she received had a particularly indelible effect on her.

“Dear Mrs. Nolan,” read the note, “I need some itvice.”

“Itvice”—a first-grader’s phonetic spelling of advice—became the impetus for a three-book series Nolan wrote several years later: Mr. Munson’s Itvice, Mr. Munson’s Itvice on Friendship and Mr. Munson’s Itvice on Bullying, published between 2013 and 2019. The character of Mr. Munson is based on Nolan herself.

“Students felt comfortable writing to me because I was visible in the building,” says Nolan, who now lives in North Falmouth with her husband. She had been a teacher before transitioning to counseling. “I stood in front of the foyer every day greeting students as they arrived at Pickle Pond Elementary School, and I went into every classroom. The students knew me, so writing a note to me was a nonthreatening experience.”

Friendship—how to be a friend, how to make a friend, how to keep a friend—was one of the first lessons Nolan taught as a school counselor, so it came naturally to incorporate that theme into a fictional first book on friendship skills. “The six-year-old girl was a very bright student, but in the first few weeks of school she just didn’t see where she fit in that friendship circle,” shares Nolan. “So she came right to me and asked for some itvice .”

Nolan’s second book, on bullying, is based on an experience she had with a new student, a quiet young boy whom others picked on. The student came to her office asking for advice. “I remembered your lesson [on bullying]. I tried some of the things you said, and they didn’t work. What else

can I do?” she says he implored. Nolan gave him a suggestion, he took it and it ended up helping the situation.

The third book, on decision making, introduces two best friends as the main characters. They are faced with an awkward decision, which may hurt or even end their friendship. The lesson that Mr. Munson teaches their whole class brings clarity to their dilemma.

While Nolan says the reading level of her books is just above second grade and the topic level a bit older, the lessons conveyed are timeless and as appreciated by adults as they are appropriate for children. “Many grandparents and parents have felt that the lessons are ones they can read and re-read,” says Nolan. “One person told me his son was a reluctant reader but was enthralled with the Mr. Munson books.”

The whimsical, bright-colored illustrations in the Mr. Munson books—as compelling as the story lines—are by Nolan’s sister, Kathryn Scadden, who lives in Woods Hole and who has suggested the two collaborate next on a book for toddlers or preschoolers. Ever the elementary school counselor, even in retirement, Nolan has two other book ideas in mind: “One on respect and one on responsibility,” she says.

Author Nancy Nolan, left, and her sister, illustrator Kathryn Scadden, enjoy collaborating on book projects.

SUZANNE RYAN

FromGiftsthe Sea

A local shellfish cooperative pools efforts to deliver Sippewissett Oysters to your table.

BY ELIZABETH SAITO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETTY WILEY

ON A FRIGID AFTERNOON IN LATE JANUARY, Pete Chase and Mary Murphy, business partners in the shellfish cooperative Sippewissett Oysters, meet on a small ridge above the Falmouth DPW headquarters on Gifford Street, where hundreds of oyster bags are stacked in tidy rows inside a fenced enclosure. Murphy points to a dozen bags thrown haphazardly in a corner, turns to Pete and proclaims her innocence: “That was not me!”

Chase smiles. “I’m a little crazy because I’m very neat.” Murphy rights the jumbled containers, then backs up her truck and begins unloading empty ones from a recent harvest.

A decade ago, Chase, Murphy and Eric Matzen, who were all working separate shellfish plots in Great Harbor and Buzzards Bay, banded together to grow and market their oysters as a cooperative. “So it wasn’t always on just one of us,” Chase explains. “If a restaurant put in an order for 800 oysters, I could call Mary and she would contribute a couple hundred.”

Sippewissett Oysters has one employee, and all three partners in the cooperative also work full-time jobs. “This is a side hustle for all of us,” says Chase, who works for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in Woods Hole monitoring wild fish stocks. He tends his oyster beds early in the morning—“as soon as there’s sunlight”—before his day job begins.

Jenna Lyons holds a perfect specimen. The ideal size for oysters sold into the raw bar market is 2.5 to 3 inches.

Eric Matzen dumps oysters out of a mesh growing bag.

Chase enjoys the challenge of oyster farming. “There’s always a problem to solve, more efficient ways to do things,” he says. “It’s kind of addictive.”

And there were plenty of problems to solve when the trio began managing a new growing site in the Eel River in Waquoit Bay two years ago. The site is part of Falmouth’s efforts to permit and encourage more shellfish farming to help clean up the town’s eastern estuaries, which are polluted with an overabundance of the nutrient nitrogen, which leaches in from septic systems and lawn fertilizers. Oysters are filter feeders; as they grow, they suck nitrogen out of the water column, which improves water clarity and reduces the chance of harmful algal blooms. A plump, juicy oyster means less nitrogen mucking up coastal waters.

Growing in the river, as opposed to the deeper waters of Great Harbor and Buzzards Bay, posed new challenges. “In the river, slipper shells become an issue if you don’t stay on top of them,” says Chase. Slipper shells grow in shallow water by attaching themselves to a hard substrate, including oyster shells. “Last year, we spent a lot of time scraping them off by hand before sending the oysters to market,” he says. “This year we are handling the oysters much more frequently, selling more earlier in the season before the slippers have set, and we will brine-dip or otherwise treat the oysters as needed before the slippers get too big.”

“There’s a lot of on-the-job training,” Murphy remarks wryly.

Like his day job, Chase’s dawn job supports ocean health. Unlike many forms of farming (such as clearing forests for pasture for methane-producing cattle, which contributes doubly to climate change), growing oysters is good for the local economy and good for local ecosystems.

“It cleans the water, it provides food, it provides jobs,” he says. “Everybody wins, which is a unique situation when it comes to food production.”

Another surprise about farming in the river was how fast the oysters grew in the shallower, nutrient-rich water. “They exploded in August,” says Chase. The ideal size for oysters sold into the lucrative raw bar market is 2.5 to 3 inches. Oysters are still tasty when they reach 4 inches long, but they are “more intimidating” to the consumer.

At the Eel River site, the oysters are grown in floating bags where they are exposed to the heavy currents coming in from Vineyard Sound. The result is a distinctly clean, briny oyster.

Growing oysters to market size takes two years. Tiny seed oysters are put out in the spring and grow in their floating cages through the summer and fall. They’re then retrieved and put in cold storage for the winter. The following spring they’re put back in the water, then harvested through the summer and into the winter.

“That’s a refrigerator,” Chase says as he and Murphy walk over to a giant gray insulated trailer. Every winter the oysters are hauled onto land, dumped out of their cages into tote bags, and packed into the trailer, which is then blown full of ice with an ice-blower truck.

“It’s literally what it sounds like,” says Murphy. “A big truck that shoots ice.”

“You stand there with a tube over your shoulder,” Chase explains, “blasting ice.”

The trailer is then sealed up until spring. This is one of the most labor-intensive parts of oyster farming and has to be done quickly. Chase’s three children and wife, Amy, all help out. The kids get paid in pocket money and Munchkins.

“We couldn’t do this without the support of our families,” Chase says. “Mary’s husband, Steve, Eric’s wife, Katie, they help a ton.”

In the summer, Sippewissett Oysters sells around 10,000 oysters a week. Most of that goes to wholesalers, but they do sell to a few local restaurants, including Water Street Kitchen in Woods Hole. Customers can also order directly through the cooperative’s website: sippewissettoysters.com

Pete Chase tends his oyster beds early in the morning before heading to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in Woods Hole, where he monitors wild fish stocks as chief of the Ecosystems Surveys Branch.

The Matzen family: Eric, Katie and little Theo.

Ready for Your Next Move?

A Path to Happiness

Whether you’re cycling, running, rollerblading, walking or cross-country skiing, you’ll discover virtually every aspect of Falmouth’s character and culture on the Shining Sea Bikeway, all on your own time.

BY SARAH E. MURPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETTY WILEY

Walkers in the fall keep a brisk pace in the vicinity of Oyster Pond.

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE SUMMER ON CAPE COD, BUT LOCALS WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU, THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT FALMOUTH IN THE FALL.

Since the best way to really get to know any place is on two feet, or two wheels, the best way to explore the landscape and local history of Falmouth is the Shining Sea Bikeway. The Bike Path, as it’s more commonly known, winds through town, following the route of a former railroad, spanning four of the eight villages. It’s easy to understand why Victorian tourists flocked to the area to escape the city heat as you travel the 10.7-mile trail, for it boasts spectacular, ever-changing views along each stretch.

It doesn’t matter where you begin or end, but the shady, treelined backdrop of County Road in North Falmouth is the ideal place to start, and Wing Pond is one of many hidden gems to explore. Home to wildlife such as ducks and turtles, there’s also a cranberry bog, painting the quintessential Cape Cod picture. While summer is synonymous with the succulent strawberries of East Falmouth and Hatchville, nothing says autumn like cranberries. Bucolic Bourne Farm harkens back to Falmouth’s agricultural history, with its rustic stone walls, and woodlands, trails, and orchards.

The West Falmouth stretch features Great Sippewissett Marsh, where’ll you happen upon common terns that, like most Cape Cod visitors, are hesitant to depart for their next destination. Bring your binoculars, especially in winter months, for Great Blue Heron can be spotted.

Two boys halt their bike ride to toss pebbles into the water at Great Sippewissett Marsh.

Bourne Farm, North Falmouth

Autumnal colors paint a pretty scene at Little Sippewissett Marsh.

A charming boathouse straddles the water at West Falmouth Harbor.

Chapoquoit Beach is one of Falmouth’s crown jewels, and locals will probably tell you it’s even more alluring when summer days give way to fall and winter. Known for its sparkling, aquamarine shoreline facing Buzzards Bay, “Chappy” also produces impressive wind and waves, making it a haven for artists, photographers, and kite boarders. It’s also one of the best places to watch the sunset on the Upper Cape, for the seemingly never-ending ocean creates an expansive canvas to showcase

the peaceful pastels and bold primary colors that compose the palette of a Chappy sunset.

Continue on the path to Falmouth Village for a visit to the past. Like the summer visitors of yore, you’ll reach Falmouth Station as you head into town. The former railroad station houses the Peter Pan Bus terminal for local and offCape destinations. Following a recent renovation, this historic building has become an invaluable resource, thanks to its

Mostly flat for its entire 10-mile length, Shining Sea Bikeway appeals to cyclists of all ages and abilities.

location directly on the Bike Path. Inside you’ll find The Station Grill, a charming café, where you can fuel up with breakfast or lunch while admiring local art. An outdoor art installation awaits at Bud’s Stop in the Depot Avenue trailhead. Spearheaded by Falmouth

High School art teacher Jane Baker, the project features large murals, by FHS students, depicting the history of the Bike Path. There’s also a handy fix-it station at the pavilion, with tools for minor repairs, courtesy of the Falmouth Bikeways Committee.

Locust Street leads you to Elm Road, running parallel to Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries, a must-see for birdwatching and quiet reflection, including Salt Pond and Oyster Pond. The sweet smell of summer’s rosa rugosa is replaced by a pungent carpet of crisp, fallen leaves on the grassy path. The cacophony of conversing crows is often the loudest or only sound. Fall is also the ideal time for exploring New England graveyards, and the Old Burying Ground on Mill Road is a resting place to many town settlers.

These silent spots contrast with Quissett Beach’s breaking waves, which lead to Trunk River, a public but rather rocky beach, so bring water shoes if you want to cool off with a quick swim. The final leg of the Bike

A lone runner appreciates the stunning view near Trunk River Beach.

Jean La Sala with her dog, Emmy, pause at an Oyster Pond overlook.

Shining Sea Bikeway hugs the coast, winding in and out of wooded areas, from Falmouth to Woods Hole and then beyond to North Falmouth.

Path offers peaceful shading along the woodlands of Quissett before opening to the expansive view of Vineyard Sound and Little Harbor in Woods Hole, leading to the Steamship Authority ferry terminal. Biking is a fun and stress-free way to explore this tiny yet bustling village, home to world-renowned science and an eclectic community of artists and fishermen. With a name inspired by the line from America the Beautiful, penned by Falmouth’s famous daughter, Katharine Lee Bates, Falmouth boasts the only Bike Path on Cape Cod that travels along the ocean, “from sea to shining sea.”

IF YOU GO…

For more information about the Shining Sea Bikeway, including directions and trail maps, visit falmouthma.gov/402/Directions-to-theShining-Sea-Bikeway

Cycling toward iconic Nobska Light at dusk, the golden hour, is magical.

Fall Fresh

Dressing for fall and winter is fun! Layering tops and bottoms, sweaters and coats, jewelry, shoes and bags inspires creative choices and ways to personalize your very own look.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

DERRICK ZELLMANN

MODELS: BRENNAN PEPPARD AND EMME AIGUIER

HAIR STYLED BY RYAN LANGMAN-KIRTLEY OF THE KEEP

MAKEUP BY LACEY STRONG

STYLED BY LISA SUE SMEDBERG, STORY.

JEANNIE & HADLEY DOMBROWSKI, GREEN EYED DAISY

EMMA NOYES, MAXWELL & CO.

NEDA SULLIVAN, FALMOUTH JEWELRY SHOP

DENISE & MEAGHAN QUINN, THE GILDED OYSTER

LOCATION COURTESY OF HIGHFIELD HALL & GARDENS

Brushed silk printed dress by Tandem; blue knit cashmere cardigan by F Cashmere; oversized wool coat by Tandem; leather top-handle bag by Henry Beguelin; chunky-heeled leather boots by Officine Creative; pendant necklace with precious stones by Miles McNeel. All available at Maxwell & Co

Komarov dress, made in America; Komarov shawl, made in America; Lola Cruz velvet and crystal kitten heels. All available at Green Eyed Daisy. Baroque pearl and sterling silver three strand chain necklace with white topaz set pendant bail. Matching dangling earrings by Imperial Pearl available at Falmouth Jewelry Shop

Beaded skirt by Dries Van Noten; shimmer layering top by Majestic Filatures; beaded blouse by Dries Van Noten; water-resistant reversible silk and cashmere coat by Kiton; oversized sweater with sequins by Dries Van Noten; toggle necklace with diamonds by Liza Beth Jewelry; fleur-de-lis chain necklace by Soffer Ari; shiny leather clutch by B. May; shearling mid-calf boots by Henry Beguelin. All available at Maxwell & Co.

Cashmere sweater with stripe details by Purotatto; floral print skirt by Marni; cashmere cable knit cardigan by Maxwell & Co.; felted wool coat by Fedeli; horsehair mid-ankle sneakers by Golden Goose; bag with gold hardware by Marni; chain necklace by Bittersweet Designs. All available at Maxwell & Co

Mixed fabrication cocktail dress with asymmetrical hem by Azulu. Available at story.

Multi-strand pearl station necklace, two-tone constellation chain, and paper clip chain. All in 14K gold. Available at Falmouth

Jewelry Shop

Cotton/spandex Oxford stripe button-down top with lace side panels by In Earnest. High-rise boot-cut jeans in dark rinse by Fidelity Denim. Both available at story. Exclusive sterling silver oyster shell bracelet with 14K yellow gold accents. Celtic "Window to the Soul" teardrop sterling silver and gold necklace. Both available at The Gilded Oyster.

at story.

18K gold "Orchard" earrings with comfortable omega backs. Set with diamonds and pink and orange sapphires by Alex Sepkus New York. 18K "Ocean" ring with white diamonds. Both available at Falmouth Jewelry Shop

Fleece cascade cardigan by Henriette Steffensen; cotton pullover top by European Culture; straight-leg winter white jeans by DL1961; waterproof rain boot handcrafted from natural rubber with lace-up detail by Ilse Jacobsen. All available

Hutch Designs vegan fur jacket; Italian silk camisole; Allison NY paisley midi skirt; Streets Ahead handmade in America leather belt adorned with vintage hardware; Italian leather backpack; Lola Cruz leather zipped boots; vintage gold-tone necklace and earrings. All available at Green Eyed Daisy

Hutch Designs floral satin dress; Hutch Designs plaid coat; vintage Hermès brooch; Lola Cruz crystal kitten heels. All available at Green Eyed Daisy. 14K gold two-strand hand-wound cable necklace accented with two diamond bars, by The Touch. Available at Falmouth Jewelry Shop

Sheer striped oversize blouse with lace collar and cuffs by In Earnest. Layered netting and lace camisole with adjustable straps by In Earnest. High-rise boot-cut jeans in dark rinse by Fidelity Denim. All available at story.

Coast GoldWorks exclusive 14K yellow gold blue topaz "Clear Water Necklace.” This vivid blue topaz is said to rival the incredible hues of the sea. Available at The Gilded Oyster

Luna Luz fine corduroy draped skirt, made in America; Luna Luz white silk blouse, made in America; Allison NY cardigan coat; Streets Ahead handmade in America leather belt adorned with vintage hardware; Lola Cruz crystal hiking boots; Italian leather chain clutch; French Kande pearl necklace, made in America. All from Green Eyed Daisy.

“Jamaica” sterling silver hammered earrings by E.L. Designs for Ed Levin Studio from The Gilded Oyster

A Match Made in

Heaven

A quintessential pairing for holiday celebrations, oysters and Champagne shine any time of year.

BY SARAH E. MURPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DERRICK ZELLMANN

WWhile oysters are a year-round culinary staple on Cape Cod, they add a festive touch to any holiday menu, particularly when paired with Champagne. Whether you’re hosting a party at home, or celebrating the season at one of Falmouth’s many diverse restaurants, this simple yet decadent combination creates a medley of flavors, enhancing the experience.

Science chalks it up to the fact that Champagne and oysters both possess elements of umami, the savory flavor characteristic of cooked meats and broths. Therefore, they complement each other, working in harmony. But like any partnership, it’s all about balance, making some pairings better suited than others.

What’s in a name? According to Peter Cvitan at John’s Liquors in Falmouth, when it comes to Champagne, everything.

“A product can only be considered

Champagne if it’s from the Champagne region of France. If it isn’t, then technically, it’s not Champagne, it’s sparkling wine,” he says.

Ruinart is the favorite at John’s, a family-owned business and a fixture in the heart of Falmouth for the past 70 years, where Peter has worked for the past three decades. John’s is known for personalized service, in addition to bartending services for large-scale events to small, private functions.

Peter credits former John’s employee Aliya Zarei for introducing Ruinart to the store, based on her own penchant for the product. The oldest established Champagne house, Ruinart has been producing Champagne exclusively since 1729.

Aliya’s former position at John’s is one of many hats that make her well suited to her latest role as a Massachusetts Seafood Ambassador. The goal of the program is to support ecosystems,

Oysters served at Coonamessett Inn include Black Magic from Malpeque Bay, PEI; Stormy Bay from New Jersey; Pearly Whites from Rhode Island; Indian Summer from Mashpee; and Conway Cup from Cascumpec Bay, PEI.

fishermen and small businesses by educating and inspiring the public to buy, prepare and consume local seafood. Aliya shares on Instagram (@thespicegirl) her own eye-catching and mouthwatering recipes, with inspiration from her native Malaysia, showcasing locally sourced seafood, ingredients and beverages.

The Champagne/oyster combination is one of Aliya’s favorites, and she underscores the importance of selecting the right bubbly in order to enhance but not overpower the shellfish. She opts for the low-to-medium acidity of Ruinart, particularly the Blanc de Blancs. However, she stresses Ruinart’s rosé shouldn’t be overlooked.

“Some Champagnes have very high acidity, and the tang in the end is something that I don’t appreciate. But Ruinart is like

liquid gold, it’s like butter. It’s so soft and so elegant, just like oysters,” Aliya says. “They both have a fair amount of minerals, so they don’t fight for attention, making for a more fulfilling meal.”

When she’s not cooking up inspiration in her own kitchen, her go-to is Epic Oyster in North Falmouth, and her favorite variety is Washburn Island Oysters.

Sippewissett Oysters are the only ones you’ll find at Water Street Kitchen in Woods Hole, known for its inventive, locally sourced menu, curated by chef and co-owner John Wilson.

Raised by member farms of the Falmouth Shellfish Cooperative, Sippewissett Oysters have a reputation for a clean, briny taste and firm texture, fruits of the salty but never stagnant waters in which they are grown.

A festive meal at Water Street Kitchen in Woods Hole includes locally farmed Sippewissett Oysters, JM Sélèque Champagne and Bailly Lapierre sparkling wine from Burgundy.

Lighthouse Station is a rare opportunity to own prime water view property in the vibrant, year-round community of Woods Hole. Thirty-nine, two and three-bedroom residences are now available for pre-construction sale. Each home includes 9 ’ ceilings, high-end mill work, a modern, open-concept floor plan, a gourmet kitchen, and a spa-inspired bath.

For more details, call 774 238-7507 to schedule a private appointment.

Views of Vineyard Sound, Martha's Vineyard & Elizabeth Islands

One & two-level floorplans available.

Brokers Welcome

Artist Rendering

If you go…

“We buy our oysters directly from the fishermen who farm them, and they deliver them right to our door. We think that’s pretty awesome,” says co-owner Molly Wilson.

The sea-to-table experience of oysters can be enjoyed yearround, grilled or raw on the half shelf, and it’s also one of the stars of the Feast of Seven Fishes tasting menu, an event that’s held the week before Christmas. Past highlights by Chef John have included oysters with a pomegranate/Champagne vinegar mignonette.

Champagne offerings at Water Street Kitchen are JM Sélèque Brut Solessence and Roederer Collection 242. Bailly LaPierre, a Crémant de Bourgogne similar to Champagne, is poured by the glass, with pomegranate seeds added for a festive holiday touch; it’s also a Wilson family favorite.

The oyster menu is ever-changing at The Coonamessett Inn, showcasing farms from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, and the Thursday evening Buck-a-Shuck offers an economical way to sample the vast array all year long.

For those seeking an education along with an experience, executive sous chef Ricky Smith will host “Oysters and Bubbly,” a prix-fixe, four-course dinner with champagne pairings, on Wednesday, October 5. Each dish will showcase one or both ingredients, and attendees will get a mini lesson about why they work well in tandem.

Chef Ricky explains that while “terroir” refers to the flavor profile of fruits and vegetables based on soil, climate and other factors, “merroir” is the equivalent for the ocean and region’s effect on oysters’ taste and texture. Local oysters are more savory than those from colder waters, such as Prince Edward Island’s Black Magic, which are sweeter in comparison.

Duxbury Oysters are the chef’s favorite, for both cooking and indulging.

“They’re really plump, so the shell is perfect for preparing dishes like Oysters Rockefeller,” he says. “In my opinion, Duxbury Oysters give you the most bang for your buck.” John’s

729 Main Street

Falmouth

508-548-2287

johnsliquors.com

56 Water Street, Woods Hole

508-540-5656

waterstreetkitchen.com

311 Gifford Street

Falmouth

508-548-2300

larkhotels.com/thecoonamessett

70 County Road

North Falmouth

508-563-3742

epicoyster.com

HOT

KITCHENS

LIGHT AND BRIGHT

While trends in home design are usually quick to evolve, homeowners on Cape Cod are just as likely to stick to the tried-and-true. “The trend in kitchens, especially on the Cape, is still white Shaker cabinetry,” says Mid-Cape Home Center kitchen designer Becky Stolz of the classic style that’s defined by a five-piece cabinet door with flat recessed panels and no bevel on the frame. “People here want light, airy, beachy; they realize that it won’t go out of style.”

Geoff Bright, owner of Synergy Home Improvements, based in Falmouth, agrees: “Most people choose white for the way it lightens up the room.” Incorporating lots of windows is another surefire way, logically, to up the illumination factor. If a full-scale renovation is in your future, adding skylights and/or larger windows and doors is a good idea.

BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF

One Cape homeowner addressed her kitchen in phase two of a wholehouse renovation. In phase one, she added to the kitchen French doors that open onto a spiffed-up outdoor space. During phase two, the front entrance

This kitchen’s architect-homeowner worked with Main Street at Botellos to achieve an elegance through minimalist features without going excessively modern.

Whether you’re planning to build a new kitchen, renovate or just want to update your cabinets or countertops, there are local design/build professionals who can help you achieve the look you’re after.

was relocated to the kitchen. “By centering the door and creating a grander portico-style entrance into the new kitchen, the flow within the home changed,” explains Donald Dunham of deMartin Dunham Builders.

When it came to selecting this project’s cabinets and countertops, deMartin Dunham partnered with Mid-Cape Home Centers, whose five Cape and Islands locations include Falmouth. The homeowner wanted to put a fresh spin on the blue and white kitchen popular on the Cape. “That’s why we came up with the hutch piece, which is more like stand-alone furniture,” says Stolz, adding that they pulled from the Omega cabinetry line and painted it lapis. “Then we incorporated the stained island and bar, which goes with a lot of other furniture throughout the rest of the house.”

“By having some stained wood along with the blue hutch and the white perimeter, we introduced a few different colors that all tie together,” says Dunham.

While white may still reign supreme, there are ways that homeowners and kitchen designers are adding a little spice to the kitchen. One design preference that has emerged in recent years is painting the island an offset color—blue is popular on the Cape, as noted above, along with gray and dark green. A contrasting kitchen island allows you to introduce new color and texture into a white or other neutral-colored room in an understated yet impactful way.

Top and bottom: An eye-catching feature in this remodeled kitchen, a lapis blue hutch brings color and function to the sunny room, which also features a contrasting stained-wood island.

PHOTOS: GRATTAN IMAGING

GOODBYE, DINING ROOM

This house is an example of another popular trend, namely to eliminate the dining room in favor of using the kitchen as a home’s main gathering and eating space. Here, the partition between the two rooms was removed, which resulted in a front-to-back flow: From the front door you can see straight through to the porch.

Homeowners want “open sightlines and to maximize space as much as possible,” says Synergy’s Bright.

A textbook example of open-concept living where the kitchen is the focal point is a Martha’s Vineyard house

recently built by The Valle Group. “The house is centered around the kitchen,” says homeowner Molly Valle, whose father, Joe, and mother, Joan, were instrumental in its construction and interior design, respectively. “We tried to build something according to how my husband and I live our lives, and we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Everyone gravitates to the kitchen, no matter how big or small it is.”

The first piece of furniture Molly bought for the house was a red loveseat that has pride of place in the kitchen. “I love having a couch in there for someone to sit on while I’m cooking, and we sit there for our morning coffee.”

This Martha’s Vineyard house built by The Valle Group embraces openconcept living with the kitchen as the hub.

ROBERT GOTHARD

PERSONAL TOUCHES

A popular way to make a statement in the kitchen is to hang pendant lighting above the island, which can be used to illuminate work surfaces or accentuate architectural features.

Range hoods, too, are a way to personalize a kitchen. The space above the stove that in the past was a popular place for a microwave oven is now being used more and more for a range hood. Synergy’s Bright says that in his work “it’s fun to use completely different ones from one location to the next, whether it’s a custom-built range hood pocket, hammered copper, stainless steel or a rare species of wood trim. Appliance applications like range hoods vary widely.”

In a kitchen designed by Kristen Shaw of Longfellow Design/Build, the range hood is made of maple with a “French Roast” stain, which matches the island cabinetry.

Texas and Cape Cod influences inspired this kitchen from Longfellow Design/Build. Right: A hammered copper range hood lends personality to this kitchen from Synergy Home Improvements.

Currently popular, engineered wood floors look just like real wood. They are extremely durable, can be sanded and refinished, come in a wide range of species, grades and finishes, and are easy to install. Plus, they expand and contract less than solid wood floors.

The homeowners are a wife who has Cape Cod roots, and a husband from Texas, the site of their primary home. This kitchen, says the Longfellow team, successfully melds the two styles: Cape Cod and Texas.

Compared to state-of-the-art range hoods and statement lighting, flooring may not be the sexiest part of the kitchen, but choosing what’s right for you also boils down to form and function. Hardwood? Tile? Vinyl? According to Silvia Carnevali of Selection Floors, engineered oak is by far the most popular wood floor right now, and it comes in a multitude of finishes and colors, just like a traditional wood floor.

A VISIONARY VIBE

While they may be few and far between, there is a cadre of aesthetically intrepid Cape homeowners who, when it comes to their kitchens, are marching to the beat of a different

drummer. Andrea Waite, a designer for Main Street Kitchens at Botello Home Center, singles out one of her clients, an architect, whose new-construction house in Falmouth veers away from traditional without crossing into the ultramodern category. “We’re seeing a lot more of this simple, contemporary style,” says Waite, citing the Botellos-supplied cabinetry, semi-custom Dura Supreme frameless with full overlay doors. “There are tab pulls on all the doors and drawers, so it’s very minimal,” says Waite of the streamlined hardware on the flat-panel cabinets.

Similarly, clients of Rachel McBrien shied away from visual clutter. “They had a desire for a very clean and modern aesthetic,” says project manager McBrien of Kaplan Thompson Architects, who teamed with The Valle Group on this passivesolar house. In fact, the kitchen cabinetry has no hardware at all. “The client really loved the idea of push-to-open drawers and doors, which went with their minimal look.”

This kitchen in a passive-solar home on Cape Cod eschews all white in favor of darker tones and materials, like the statement marble wall that echoes colors and forms in nature.

PHOTOS: DAN CUTRONA

With black granite countertops and gray cabinets, the kitchen is a moody reflection of the slate-colored exterior of the house and also takes cues from the site, from nature. McBrien’s and the homeowner’s spin on a Cape Cod aesthetic is embodied by the commanding marble backsplash. “This outstanding piece brings in the organic nature of the stone with its beautiful textures and colors you’d see at the ocean,” observes McBrien. “Sometimes there’s one special piece in a room and the others are quiet and supportive.”

As this talented group of design/build professionals has shared, achieving a look you love for your kitchen is a matter of finding the right recipe: the right materials, the right colors, the right lighting, the right accents and, most important, the right people to guide you along the way.

GET THE LOOK

Longfellow Design/Build

774-255-1709

longfellowdb.com

Main Street at Botellos

508-477-3132

mainstreetbotellos.com

Mid-Cape Home Centers

800-295-9220

midcape.com

Selection Floors

508-477-4080

selectionfloors.com

Synergy Home Improvements

508-564-1247

synergyhomeimprovements.net

The Valle Group

508-548-1450

vallegroup.com

In this kitchen designed by Main Street at Botellos’ Andrea Waite in collaboration with the homeowner, an architect, form meets function in a clean-lined, efficiently organized way.

Winter Greens

Summer may be over, but you can still fill your outdoor spaces with artfully crafted container plantings or bedeck your mantel with festive foliage. Two Falmouth garden professionals share their secrets for decorating with plants in fall and winter.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRATTAN IMAGING

Autumn is a busy time at Gardens by Barbara Conolly. After a full season of working with her clients on sustainable garden designs and renovations, Conolly and her team immediately begin planning their winter creations. “We have to order our greenery in September,” says Conolly. “We get everything in by early November, and then we begin treating the plant materials with antidesiccants to slow down transpiration and allow them to last throughout the holiday season.”

Conolly’s first step in winter design comes from knowing her clients. “We take our cues from the aesthetic of the person and their home.” She considers whether the home is traditional or modern, if the client is looking for something formal or more whimsical, and if they want mantel pieces, wreaths or containers. We really key in on the individual to do something really special for them.”

She looks at the structure of the spaces, both interior and exterior, and creates arrangements to reflect them. “We work with the architecture and the needs of the space,” she says. “We may fill in areas near an entryway to create visual interest, or actually design things that are in the ground, if that’s what the client wants.”

For both outdoor containers and interior displays, she starts with a suitable vessel or platform and then fills it with winter-friendly plants and accessories, such as extra-large pine cones, dried locust flowers, willows, red or yellow twig dogwood, and white birch branches, in addition to

Opposite: A mantelpiece in a cozy library is filled with lotus pods, birch bark, berries and nuts to reflect the earth tones in the painting.

evergreen boughs. “We also can add in stars, bows, ornaments or other elements to suggest Christmastime, or we may design something without a particular theme,” she says. “Someone may be celebrating different holidays or just want something that is wintry and pretty to greet them at the door when they come home.”

She also likes to incorporate a sense of place in her work. “We often will put in shells or starfish or some other kind of nautical feature,” she says, “Just a suggestion that says, ‘this is the Cape,’ and to maximize that special Cape Cod holiday feeling.”

Coming at the end of the year, after taking care of plants, trees and shrubs during the high season, the winter design projects are almost a kind of therapy, Conolly says, and she and her team enjoy a last bout of creativity before getting some time off. “It’s a really nice wind-down as we’re putting these things together,” she says. “Working on them in the studio, we get to chat about the year and all that’s happened. It’s a lot of creative fun, and we have great conversations before everything goes into a period of dormancy for a few months.”

Another nursery and garden professional with inventive fall and winter designs is Terry Soares, who has been making custom garden creations for 26 years. Her business, Soares Flower Garden Nursery, offers a variety of pre-planted window boxes and container gardens, operates a nursery for retail sales and presents workshops.

“Thanksgiving is all about exploring a different color palette,” says Soares. “We try to get people to think outside the box. Instead of just mums, we bring in different fall-blooming flowers, like late-season pansies and petunias, and perennials that will last through the season.”

One of her most popular autumn items is a charming succulent/pumpkin arrangement made by customers themselves at one of the nursery’s workshops. “We take a variety of sizes of pumpkins, usually small to medium, and glue moss and succulents on the top of them,” says Soares. “A lot of people use those as centerpieces, hostess gifts, or place them right on the dinner plates for their holiday table.”

The blue of the rocker is reflected in a container arrangement meant to last into the new year. Traditional greenery is highlighted with glass beads and flower stems made from shells. Silver-painted lotus and white silk flowers add contrast and a cheery touch.

Fruit, nuts and seed pods adorn a dining room mantel.

Conolly’s mantelpieces attempt to pull out the colors and details in neighboring artwork. Here, red silk roses nestle amid gold and red baubles to reflect the florals suggested in the painting above.

Mingled with sprays of mixed greens, gold, red and brown ornaments bring out the colors and textures in the mirror frame. A touch of gold paint on the lotus and bright red florals nod to the room’s decor. Left: For a container, the edges are rimmed with soft pine boughs, then fir and other greens are added to create the shape and fill. Red-twig dogwood and birch branches add height and texture, while seed pods, berries, balls and a bright red cardinal lend color and a festive tone.

The succulent/pumpkin workshop is one of Soares’s most well attended do-it-yourself events. “They are quite fun to make. Everyone gets to go home with really adorable decorations.” Also part of her regular schedule is a fall patio/porch class and a winter container workshop. “We supply a whole selection of different cut greens and twigs, and if needed, a standard container, all ready for them to create their own outdoor container that can last until February or even March.”

Soares and her team make many custom evergreen arrangements in attractive cementlike vases or other unusual outdoor containers, and her shop has items available at various price points. Her winter container gardens often include red twig dogwood and curly willow. “We love sticks around here! They make a really beautiful vertical aspect for larger outdoor containers on a deck or a patio,” she says. “When the snow falls on them, especially the red twigs, they just really pop.”

Soares finds that colorful ornamental kales and cabbages are perfect for incorporating into container gardens or as centerpieces. “The ornamental kales and cabbages actually get deeper in color as the winter goes on, so we pull out the floral things and then substitute them with greens later in the winter. Clients get to continue to enjoy that little pop of color to accompany the evergreens.” Soares’s favorite greens to work with include the deep emerald-colored Hinoki cypress, which has a beautiful sculptural leaf, golden cypress, golden arborvitaes and rustcolored junipers.

She believes the appeal of the winter garden designs lies in the need to see life during our coldest season. “We’re looking at bare trees and bare ground for five months out of the year,” says Soares, “so to be able to have a beautiful pot that greets you when you come into your house or that you can see from your dining room on your outdoor patio feels like you still have a garden, and that’s wonderful.”

Gardens by Barbara Conolly

774-302-4876

gardensbybarbaraconolly.com

Soares Flower Garden Nursery 508-548-5288

soaresfgn@gmail.com

Inspired by ocean blues, this mantelpiece combines washashore items and other finds. Below: Simple touches of artificial beach finds add a Cape Cod feeling to this mixed greens wreath. Pairing formal gold leaves with the undersides of magnolia leaves creates a timeless charm.

Wi SHES Unwrapped

For all those people on your “Nice” list, we help you get a jump on holiday shopping with this treasure trove of items from local stores.

Ring in the New Year

Meticulously handcrafted Bora Jewelry is oxidized 925 sterling silver accented with bronze or gold. Unique pieces depict strength with delicacy, inspired by history, rooted in centuries-old tradition. Green Eyed Daisy, greeneyeddaisy.com

Furry Feet

Danish-designed Ilse Jacobsen recycled and vegan shearling slippers—comfort, style and coziness with a conscience. Green Eyed Daisy greeneyeddaisy.com

All That Glitters

Exclusive 14K yellow gold textured oyster shell pendant on a chain. Also available in sterling silver. The Gilded Oyster thegildedoyster.com

Wick-ed Nice

Light your life, room and soul with organic candles inspired by nature. Green Eyed Daisy, greeneyeddaisy.com

Seaside Sparkle

14K yellow gold and diamond seashell band. Available at The Gilded Oyster or online at CoastGoldWorks.com (Also available in white or rose gold and platinum with diamonds or sapphires.) The Gilded Oyster thegildedoyster.com

Surf ’n’ Turf

Maple and mahogany steak board features chrome-plated brass whale handles and an ample 3/4-inch juice groove. Available in two sizes. Village Trading Company, villagetradingcompany.com

Sweet Dreams

Cape Cod organic cotton two-way zipper footies in sizes 3 months to 9 months; also available in 2-piece PJs in sizes 12 months up to 10. Caline for Kids calineforkids.com

Best Bar None

North South Confections are handmade small-batch chocolate bars made with exotic flavors from around the world. North Falmouth Cheese Shop, northfalmouthcheese.com

Carte Blanche

The recipient of a Mashpee Commons gift card can choose from fine dining, one-of-a-kind shops, wellness studios and entertainment for the whole family. Mashpee Commons, mashpeecommons.com

O Tannenbaum

From sapling-sized to stunningly stately; brilliantly clear or dusted with snow; wrapped, dappled or silvered: Simon Pearce glass trees are a joy to collect and display. Village Trading Company villagetradingcompany.com

Pretty Little Things

Handcrafted and one-of-a-kind sea glass art in shadow boxes. Glass Art Studio, glassartstudio2.com

Puppy Love

Fun, fashionable and functional dog toys from Lulubelles by Huxley & Kent. Falmouth Pet Center falmouthpet.com

Sing the Blues

Round gemstone cluster earrings have sapphire and blue topaz stones accentuated by a round brilliant diamond and crafted in 14K yellow, white and rose gold.

Falmouth Jewelry Shop

falmouthjewelryshop.com

Beautiful Bauble

Blown-glass ornaments available in various colors and sizes.

Glass Art Studio glassartstudio2.com

Soft & Snuggly

Super cozy fleece beanie and handwarmers from Henriette Steffensen, Copenhagen. story. storyfalmouth.com

It’s a Wrap

Luxurious cashmere/bamboo blend scarf imported from Italy by StudioM Style. Available as shown and in other colors. story., storyfalmouth.com

Pearly White

This beautiful Akoya pearl’s warm hues gently blend with the classic 14K yellow gold cable necklace accented with white diamonds.

Falmouth Jewelry Shop falmouthjewelryshop.com

Preppy Puppy Treats

Made locally in Wareham, these biscuits have human-grade ingredients that dogs go crazy for!

Falmouth Pet Center falmouthpet.com

Lobstah Laughs

Peruvian cotton back-zip lobster sweater, in sizes 6 to 24 months, available in pink and blue.

Bumblebee Boutique, bumblebeeboutiquecapecod.com

Beautiful Bags

Exquisitely crafted in Mexico, genuine leather Consuela bags come in unique, colorful designs and patterns. October Gulls, octobergulls.com

Bejeweled

From the Navarra Collection, rings and bangles handcrafted in Italy in18K yellow or white gold and diamonds.

Roberto Coin

Diamonds Are Forever

Sienna, Roberto Coin’s newest collection, is handcrafted in Italy out of 18K gold and diamonds. Also available in white or yellow gold, and in necklaces, rings, earrings and bangle bracelets. Roberto Coin robertocoin. com

Feline Fun

Kitties will love these playthings from Yeoww, fully stuffed with 100% USA organic-grown catnip.

Falmouth Pet Center, falmouthpet.com

Stocking Stuffers

People rave about Terrapin Ridge Farms’ dips, sauces, jams and mustards. North Falmouth Cheese Shop northfalmouthcheese.com

Guide to Good Things

Author Eileen Crowley Sullivan’s book is a collection of fun places to visit in Falmouth and other Cape towns. Available to purchase at Cape Cod Winery, Celebrations, Eight Cousins and Little Anchor in East Falmouth.

The Bee’s Knees

A sweet necklace featuring a 14K yellow gold honeycomb adorned with a honey bee represented by two citrines and seven full-cut diamonds.

Falmouth Jewelry Shop

falmouthjewelryshop.com

Hi-yo Silver!

Handcrafted genuine leather Scout tote bag from lara b. designs. story. storyfalmouth.com

Nibble & Nosh

For tucking in stockings, Wicked Walnuts are locally made on Cape Cod. North Falmouth Cheese Shop, northfalmouthcheese.com

Simon Pearce Trees

Inn Season

For a cozy home-away-from-home experience, these bed-and-breakfast inns check all the boxes.

As we all know, Falmouth is a summer vacation paradise. Fall and winter are welcoming for different reasons. With refreshing weather and fewer crowds, it’s the perfect time to book a stay at a B&B, known for intimate size, personalized attention and, last but not least, amazing homecooked breakfasts and snacks. These four B&Bs extend a warm welcome all year long. They hope to see you in person but if a visit is out of the question, each one has kindly shared a favorite recipe for you to enjoy at home.

BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRATTAN IMAGING

Festive touches lend warmth to Inn on the Sound’s public spaces even while the ocean outside churns with winter waves.

Inn on the Sound I

f a water view is what you’re after, you can’t beat Inn on the Sound, perched on a low bluff overlooking Vineyard Sound. Understated and serene, the living room and most guest rooms face the vast ocean, which is as tantalizing in fall and winter as it is in summer. For the holidays, common areas are tastefully decorated and include the living room with a boulder fireplace, oversized windows and modern white couches. Served in the bistro-like breakfast area or in the privacy of your own room, delicious gourmet breakfasts feature homemade granola and dishes like salmon soufflé, followed by cakes, croissants and breads. Plus, guests have access to a fully stocked fridge with soft drinks and more homemade treats. One guest commented that “while sitting beside the inn’s roaring fire and gazing out to sea may seem out of place, it feels elemental and satisfying.” innonthesound.com

Eight of Inn on the Sound’s 12 spacious rooms offer straight-on water views, and several offer private balconies. Guests enjoy homemade breakfasts like almond croissant bread pudding and roasted vegetable frittata in the light and airy dining room.

PHOTO: SUZANNE RYAN

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 2 cups pumpkin purée

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

DIRECTIONS:

• To make the cookies, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well

combined. Add pumpkin purée and whisk until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to whisk until well combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated. The consistency should look like something between that of batter and dough. It won’t be stiff like regular cookies.

• Using a small ice cream scoop that has a release (or a couple of spoons), drop heaping tablespoons (about the size of golf balls) of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about one inch apart. Transfer to oven and bake cookies until a toothpick inserted into the center of each one comes out clean, about 12 minutes. The tops should look set and fully cooked, but the cookies will look moist. Let cool completely.

• To assemble the whoopie pies, pipe or spread a large dollop of the cream cheese frosting on one cooled whoopie cookie and then press that together with another cookie. After assembling the cookies, refrigerate for at least 30

minutes. However, if the frosting is somewhat chilled, it shouldn’t be a problem eating the cookie sandwiches as is without the refrigeration. Assembled cookies will last refrigerated for up to three days.

Cream Cheese Frosting

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon grated orange peel (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and orange peel, if using; beat just until smooth.

Palmer House Inn

Tom von Zabern and Billy Brown bought Palmer House Inn in May 2018, but the charming Queen Anne Victorian has been a well-loved mainstay in downtown Falmouth for more than a century. The building continues to emanate a Gilded Age aura of elegant family living and unhurried holidays by the sea. Guests need only stroll down the block to enjoy the classic holiday decorations adorning the Village Green, and it’s also an easy walk to the bustling shops and restaurants dressed in their holiday finest and full of tantalizing merchandise and good cheer.

Hearty and delicious, breakfasts at Palmer House Inn fortify you for a full day of exploring Falmouth and Woods Hole or venturing farther afield on the Cape. Upon returning to the inn, settle in the cozy front parlor for a sip of sherry and a plate of gingersnaps or another homemade treat. With a nod to their fluffy, friendly and, as von Zabern says, “princelike” Leonberger, Brody, designated rooms are dog-friendly, as is the Henry David Thoreau Cottage (two bedrooms with a private deck and kitchenette). Or maybe the Theodore Roosevelt room (king-size mahogany four-poster bed, gas fireplace, whirlpool tub) is more to your liking. palmerhouseinn.com

At Palmer House Inn, holiday decorations include a train chugging around a miniature village, wreaths and nutcrackers. Brody, a gentle-natured Leonberger, greets guests, extending an especially warm welcome to those with dogs.

Holiday Gingersnaps

INGREDIENTS:

• ¾ cup shortening

• 1 cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup molasses

• 1 egg

• 2¼ cups sifted enriched flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ginger

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1½ teaspoons cloves

• Granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

• With an electric mixer, cream together the first four ingredients until fluffy. Sift together the next six ingredients and stir into the molasses mixture. Form the dough into 1-inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place the balls about two inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for about ten minutes. Allow to cool and remove from the pan.

Woods Hole Inn

First erected in 1887, the inn—at the very center of Woods Hole—has commanding waterside views of Great Harbor, teeming with sleek modern research vessels, colorful houseboats, oceangoing commercial fishing boats and busy Martha’s Vineyard ferry traffic, departing from the same spot where the trains used to whistle in. Having evolved from a whaling village and merchant industrial hub, Woods Hole—today a cradle of marine science— hasn’t strayed far from its roots. Woods Hole Inn offers a tale of two eras. With restored vintage hardwood floors, refinished cast iron tubs and pedestal sinks, the best of the old was combined with the best of the new: gleaming glass rain showers, marble subway tiles, original artwork and modern décor. The four-story gabled building, known early on as the Avery House, has 14 rooms, all updated, creating vibrant, welcoming spaces. New bathrooms and graciously proportioned rooms were most recently added upstairs, with private decks looking over Great Harbor, the Eel Pond and the Martha’s Vineyard ferry landing.

Homemade breakfasts may include sausage, onion and cheddar quiche, Greek yogurt topped with home-baked granola, and fresh fruits, or flaky, buttery croissants, banana bread and blueberry muffins, all accompanied by delicious, locally roasted coffee. The inn’s most popular package, the “Vineyard Soundly” package, includes a bottle of prosecco at check-in and two ferry tickets to Martha’s Vineyard. “Bubbles, Blossoms & Bites” is another popular package that includes a bottle of prosecco, a beautiful bouquet of flowers and handmade chocolates from local chocolatier Ben & Bill’s. woodsholeinn.com

Like the village spread out at its feet, Woods Hole Inn has the charm of an earlier era combined with the comfort of modern amenities.

Cinnamon Rolls

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup white sugar

• 1½ tablespoons cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 4 tablespoons soft butter

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 2 sheets puff pastry

Drizzle

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• 2 tablespoons melted butter

• 4 tablespoons cream

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir into a mixing bowl 1 cup chopped nuts, ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of white sugar, 1½ tablespoons of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of soft butter and set aside. Roll out the 2

sheets of puff pastry flat on the counter, then spread 1 tablespoon of soft butter and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour evenly over both. Spread the prepared cinnamon/sugar mixture evenly over the two puff pastry sheets entirely. Once the filling has been evenly spread to all sides of the sheets, lift one side of the puff pastry sheet and carefully roll it into a cylinder. Cut the roll into individual pieces and place them into a non-stick or greased muffin tin then place in the oven. Remove the cinnamon rolls from the oven after about 20 minutes and let them cool. While cooling, mix in a smaller bowl 2 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and 4 tablespoons of cream; mix until smooth. Drizzle the sugary topping on each cinnamon roll and enjoy!

MORE PLACES TO STAY IN FALMOUTH:

Woods Hole Passage

508-548-9575

woodsholepassage.com

Treehouse Lodge

508-548-1986

mytreehouselodge.com

Beach Breeze Inn

508-548-1765

beachbreezeinn.com

Red Horse Inn

508-548-0053

redhorseinncapecod.com

Captain’s Manor Inn

Just across the Village Green from Palmer House Inn, The Captain’s Manor was the first summer home built in Falmouth, in 1849, by sea captain Albert Nye, who built it as a wedding gift for his New Orleans–bred bride, Henrietta Forbes. Indeed, the style of the home—Southern plantation with Greek revival accents—reminds one of a tiered wedding cake, with a coating of winter snow standing in for a dusting of sugar. Innkeepers Randy and Pattie Laubhan pull out all the stops at the holidays, when Pattie festoons the inn from top to toe with a treasure trove of seasonal decorations she’s collected over the years.

Sit and read by the fire in the elegant, recently refurbished living room complete with the original black marble fireplace and impressive plantation-style windows that open onto a wraparound veranda, or stop by the kitchen café for an afternoon treat. Breakfasts in the sun-drenched breakfast room might include sweet fruit crêpes or Grand Marnier French toast as a main course. Once your belly is full, step out the door and join the locals for some window shopping, or more, at downtown Falmouth’s enticing boutiques and eateries. captainsmanorinn.com

Fresh Blueberry Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS:

Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1½ teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• ½ cup milk, room temperature

• 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon zest

• 2 cups fresh blueberries; do not use frozen

Topping

• ½ cup sugar

• ¼ cup flour

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Lemon Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Grease a 9-inch springform pan and dust with flour.

Topping:

• Mix ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup flour together. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter. Set aside.

Glaze:

• Beat together 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Set aside.

Cake:

• Beat ½ cup melted butter with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in room-temperature eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla (use high-quality vanilla) and 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon zest. Finish the process by adding room-temperature milk to the mixture.

• Mix the 2 cups flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt with a whisk in a separate bowl. Add to the wet ingredients and mix; do not overmix. Fold picked and cleaned blueberries into the batter along with the lemon zest, spread in the pan and sprinkle the topping on top.

• Bake for 45–50 minutes, until cake tester comes out clean. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes, remove ring of springform pan and drizzle cake with the glaze.

Photos by Murphy Foto Imagery

Photo by Jon Caron Art

Nathan Adam crouches as he watches Ellen Bailey and Jim Kelly sweep his shot down the ice.

including in Orleans and Nantucket. Lemcke was honored in 2018 with induction into the United States Curling Association Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.

Last July, a sultry summer day, it seemed perfect for sinking your toes into the sand at Old Silver Beach. Instead, down the road a crowd gathered inside the club near Highfield Hall & Gardens. Some were bantering at tables. Others were watching through a glass wall as heavy stones slid along sheets of ice. One woman was wearing gloves and doing stretching exercises.

A bonspiel, or curling match, was about to break out.

This was the club’s Summerspiel, one of its signature events. Curlers from around the country and Canada—more than 500 in all, including guests—were here for competition and camaraderie … and perhaps some sea and surf.

“Curling and Cape Cod in the summer, it’s a nice combination,” says Kent McKenzie, wearing a jersey emblazoned with “Eat, Sleep, Curl, Repeat.” He is a member of the Windy City club of Villa Park, Ill. “I was here on my honeymoon

32 years ago and when I saw we could come back and curl—and eat seafood—perfect!”

Lemcke didn’t compete at the tournament, which included matches for mixed teams, men, ladies and wheelchairs, but was ever present, a friendly, familiar face to many.

“What I really enjoy is the compatibility of curling,” says Lemcke. “Your competitor is your friend. There’s mutual respect. Before a match, we wish everyone ‘Good curling.’ When we’re finished, we shake hands and the winners buy the drinks.”

The Cape Cod Curling Club was founded in 1969 at Falmouth Ice Arena by Dr. David Dewees and his wife, Anne, their curiosity sparked by seeing the sport in Brookline. With help and financing from the J.K. Lilly family (of Lilly Pharmaceuticals), the current facility opened in 1975.

The club includes three rectangular sheets in the Ice Shed rink, where matches are contested. There’s the spacious Warm Room to watch the action, locker rooms and a full kitchen,

Mike Ferrari and Ellen Bailey sweep the stone while Kerry Bissonnette and Doug Jones wait for it to arrive in the house.

bar and seating for dining.

There are nearly 250 curlers in the club and dozens more who are social members. The season runs October to March with leagues and curling seven days a week. The club hosts an annual Bogspiel in October and “friendly” matches with other clubs in the region, capping off the year with the club championship in March. There are also open houses and learnto-curl sessions held often and programs for local schools, teaching rules and etiquette to youngsters.

Curling involves two teams of four players taking turns

sliding 42-pound stones toward a target consisting of four rings, known as the house. The rock’s path and speed can be changed by two teammates sweeping in front. Points are scored based on positioning in the house. Matches consist of ends, like innings in baseball.

“It’s sort of a combination of shooting pool and playing chess. You need to understand angles and be thinking ahead two and three shots,” said Lemcke. “There is a finesse, not necessarily strength, to good curling. It’s a sport for everyone. We have curlers in the club from 5, 6 years old to 80s and 90s.”

Phil Bruce, club president, poses next to the jacket belonging to the late Dave Dewees, Cape Cod Curling Club founder.

There are also accommodations and equipment for players with physical limitations and a division for wheelchair curlers. Club members Meghan Lino and David Palmer have been on Team USA at wheelchair world championships and Paralympic Winter Games.

The coronavirus pandemic shut the club in March 2020, but members took advantage of the downtime, banding together to spruce up their home. Upgrades and repairs to

the building, mechanical equipment and systems were already under way. Led by Dave Benton and many volunteers, the Warm Room was transformed during the closure.

When curling resumed in the fall of 2021, members returned to a freshly painted, bright room with comfortable furnishings and a large trophy case displaying much of the hardware won by the club in its proud history. The renovation, with hundreds of hours dedicated to the effort, was an example

Levi Gorrell, Deb Sawka, Matina Heisler and Mike Gavin are ready to serve dinner.

Candace Teixeira delivers a stone.

of the spirit of the club, says Lemcke.

Curling was first played in the 16th century on frozen ponds and lochs in Scotland. Its popularity has surged with television exposure, especially during the Winter Olympics. Curling became a medal sport in 1998 at the Nagano Games, and the U.S. men won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea.

In the parking lot of the club last summer several cars had bumper stickers displaying their passion: “Curling is cool” and “If hell freezes over, I’ll curl there too.”

Curling has been described as the “Roarin’ Game,” with the noise of the rock over ice. No argument from Lemcke. The sport still stirs him.

“The sense you get, that sound you hear, the roar … you feel it in your hand and all over. Wow! It’s wonderful! You gotta do it!”

You might say it’s all enough to give you chills. Good curling indeed. Rock on.

Perched behind the glass, onlookers take in the action on the ice. Left: Longtime club member Jeanie Yaroch, who says, “Curling is easy to learn but hard to master.”

Winter Survival Guide

Accept it: Summer doesn’t last forever. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With the change of seasons comes an adjustment to our pace and a shift in the ways in which we want to occupy our time. Just as long-simmering stews replace slapdash salads at mealtime, engaging our minds and bodies takes over from lolling at the beach. Right here in Falmouth, there are lots of great ways to ease the transition from summer to fall and winter. Here are several suggestions to get you started.

Take a Hike

Break out your hiking shoes and explore Falmouth’s inland escapes and scenic trails. Beebe Woods and Peterson Farm, Coonamessett Greenway Heritage Trail, Long Pond and Falmouth Town Forest, The Moraine Trail and Bourne Farm offer a variety of vistas, from quiet woods and water views to bucolic farmland.

Creative Cure-all

Exercise the right side of your brain at Falmouth Art Center, which offers a tantalizing array of activities— from exhibits to workshops—for artists and art lovers during the winter months. falmouthart.org

FALMOUTH ART CENTER

For the Birds

Join the Audubon Society’s Great Backyard Bird Count, February 17–20, 2023, when the world comes together to watch, learn about, count and celebrate birds. It’s easy to participate and fun for the whole family. birdcount.org

Let’s Get Physical

Swap your outdoor routine for fun and restorative group or individual workouts at these local fitness clubs. Fitness Directions, fitnessdirections.com Sweat Studio Cape Cod, facebook.com/sweatstudiocc Uptown Body, uptownbodycapecod.com

MIKE TUCKER

Eat Out!

Break up with your oven and explore Falmouth’s eclectic restaurant scene. If Mexican is your jam, Anejo’s offseason Taco Tuesdays offer à la carte tacos for $3 at lunch and dinner, eat in or take out. anejocc.com Quicks Hole Tavern is another destination for Taco Tuesday. quicksholewickedfresh.com And if seafood is more to your liking, check out the Buck-aShuck Oysters ($1 oysters all day) every Thursday at Eli’s Tavern at the Coonamessett Inn. Eli’s is also the place to go for Wine Down Wednesday: Get two entrées, a bottle of wine and a shareable dessert for a set price! elistavernfalmouth.com

Take the Plunge

The aptly named Freezin’ for a Reason polar plunge to benefit Gosnold Inc. takes place Saturday, February 11. Check the website for further details.

https://gosnold.org/upcoming-events

Pamper Yourself

Say ah to the spa! Plan a “me” day or grab some girlfriends and indulge in self-care. All manner of facials, waxing, massages, manicures and pedicures are available at Relax & Renew Day Spa, while The Beauty Barracuda offers facials, brow and lash design and bridal services.

relaxandrenewdayspa.com

thebeautybarracuda.com

Gallery Hopping

If you’re looking for inspired paintings, pottery, sculpture, photography and more—to purchase or simply to admire—you won’t find a better art scene and gallery destination than Falmouth.

Shop ’Til You Drop

In need of some retail therapy? Falmouth offers a delightful variety of options for everyone, from fabulous designer attire to casual and cozy togs, all waiting to be accessorized at the town’s jewelry stores and niche boutiques.

Culinary Can-Do

Expand your kitchen repertoire at Highfield Hall & Gardens. Sign up for a cooking class, don an apron, and learn the ins and outs of party food, French pastry or even North African cuisine. highfieldhallandgardens.org

HIGHFIELD HALL & GARDENS

Java and Joe

Meet a friend at Falmouth’s equivalent of Central Perk: Coffee Obsession, in Queens Byway and Woods Hole. More than coffee shops, both locations are warm and welcoming community gathering spots, where teachers, musicians, scientists, students and local politicians gather for cappuccinos and muffins with a side of stimulating conversation. coffeeobsessioncapecod.com

Cultivate Your Inner Farmer

When it’s cold and dreary, do you drool over seed catalogs and plot gardens in your head? Meet likeminded souls by getting involved with Farming Falmouth, a nonprofit that supports local agriculture. Lots of fun volunteer opportunities as well as workshops and special events. farmingfalmouth.org

COFFEE

Book It!

Catch up on all that pleasure reading you’ve been stockpiling for the quiet months and expand your social circle at the same time. Falmouth Library offers a variety of book groups for different genres like Fact & Fiction, Virtual Mystery and Narrative Nonfiction, which meet in person or virtually. falmouthpubliclibrary.org

Or select titles for kids or adults from the well-curated selection at beloved family book shop Eight Cousins. eightcousins.com

Media Madness

For a small fee, become a member of FCTV and choose from a long list of classes, many of them free. Learn skills like smartphone videography, podcasting, video game streaming and field production. The technologically challenged can choose from a host of intro classes. fctv.org

See a Show (or act in one)

Since its first production in 1958, the Falmouth Theatre Guild has offered entertaining community theater, with plays now staged at Highfield Theatre. Be a member of the audience or audition for a play, with roles available for adults and children alike. The current season includes The Bridges of Madison County, A Christmas Carol, Harvey and Something Rotten! falmouththeatreguild.org

LISA

JO RUDY

Menu Highlights

Escape to Greece right here on Cape Cod

APPETIZERS

GRILLED OCTOPUS

Imported Mediterranean sushi grade octopus, char-grilled with Ladolemono sauce - Awarded best of Cape Cod

SAGANAKI OPA

Pan fried Kefalograviera cheese served with cognac flambé tableside with an authentic “opa!”

GRILLED LAMB LOLLIPOPS

Marinated with fresh herbs, ladolemono sauce and served with tzatziki

DOLMADES

Beef and rice rolled into grape leaves, topped with egg lemon sauce

ENTRÉES

PASTITSIO

Layered spiced ground beef, Greek macaroni, topped with Béchamel

MOUSSAKA

Layered spiced ground beef, potato, eggplant, parmesan, topped with Béchamel

SPANAKOPITA

Spinach, scallions, feta, layered with phyllo dough

SEAFOOD ESTIA

Sautéed shrimp, calamari, swordfish, salmon, cod, little neck clams, basil and Kalamata olives in an Estia tomato sauce, served over rice or linguine

Also featuring coal fired pizza, kabobs and more!

Falmouth Eats

EAST FALMOUTH

BAD MARTHA FARMER’S BREWERY

876 E. Falmouth Highway 508-372-6740

Craft beer, sandwiches and brick oven pizza. BREWERY badmarthabeer.com/ falmouth-brewery

CAPE COD WINERY

4 Oxbow Road

508-457-5592

Offering nine different varieties of wine. Come sit by the fire and enjoy live music and pizza from Wolf Pizza. WINERY capecodwinery.com

GOLDEN SAILS CHINESE RESTAURANT

143 E. Falmouth Highway 508-548-3521

Family-owned, serves authentic dishes from family recipes. CHINESE goldensailschinese restaurant.com

GREEN POND FISH MARKET

767 E. Falmouth Highway 508-548-2573

Offering fresh catches, fried clams, seafood specials and platters. SEAFOOD greenpondfish.com

JOSH’S AT DAVISVILLE

339 E. Falmouth Highway 774-255-1178

Freshly prepared seafood, steaks, ribs, chicken, pasta and salads with a full bar. AMERICAN joshsatdavisville.com

LE BON JOUR

420 E. Falmouth Highway 774-612-3967

Freshly prepared made-to-order salads, soups, burritos and international bowls. INTERNATIONAL lebonjourcuisine.com

PAPA JAKE’S PIZZA

146 Sandwich Road 508-457-7272

Casual sports bar and restaurant with pizza, wings and sandwiches. PIZZA

PIZZA 1 & SUB 2

735 E. Falmouth Highway 508-457-1212

A large menu of pizza and subs, known for its standout Steak Bomb. PIZZA pizza1subs2.com

PRIME TIME HOUSE OF PIZZA

338 E. Falmouth Highway 508-540-3595

One of two Falmouth locations serving quality pizza, subs, calzones and more. PIZZA

SMITTY’S HOMEMADE

ICE CREAM

326 E. Falmouth Highway 508-457-1060

Homemade ice cream, waffle cones, banana splits, root beer floats and ice cream cakes to order. ICE CREAM smittysic.com •

THAI KITCHEN

258 Teaticket Highway

508-444-6660

Casual eatery with authentic Thai cuisine. THAI falmouththaikitchen.com

THE CAPE GRILLE AT THE CAPE CLUB RESORT

125 Falmouth Woods Road

508-540-4005

An upscale, fine-dining experience for dinner, featuring steaks, seafood and pasta. AMERICAN capeclubresort.com/dining

FALMOUTH

ANCHOR HOUSE

100 Davis Straits

508-299-8200

Classic fried seafood, steaks, burgers and more. AMERICAN anchorale.com

ANEJO MEXICAN BISTRO & TEQUILA BAR

188 Main Street

508-388-7631

Contemporary Mexican cuisine and select tequilas with an outdoor patio. MEXICIAN anejomexicanbistro.com

BANGKOK CUISINE

291 Main Street

508-548-1728

Traditional Thai food made with fresh ingredients. THAI bangkokcapecod.com

BEAN & COD

145 Main Street

508-548-8840

A specialty grocery store featuring quality sandwiches and deli favorites. MARKET

BEN & BILL’S CHOCOLATE EMPORIUM

209 Main Street

508-548-7878

Handmade chocolates and ice cream available at this sweets shop. ICE CREAM benandbillsfalmouth.com

BETSY’S DINER

457 Main Street

508-540-0060

A Falmouth icon, retro-style diner serving breakfast and lunch. DINER betsys-diner.business.site

BLUEFINS SUSHI AND SAKE BAR

291 Main Street

774-763-6421

Authentic sushi with a focus on fresh, locally sourced seafood coupled with local farm ingredients. SEAFOOD bluefinsfalmouth.com

C SALT WINE BAR & GRILLE

75 Davis Straits

774-763-2954

Modern American cuisine with continental influences, open for dinner and Sunday brunch. AMERICAN csaltfalmouth.com

CAPE COD BAGEL CAFÉ

419 Palmer Avenue

508-548-8485

Serving fresh bagels, plus a full menu of signature sandwiches and salads. CAFÉ

CASA VALLARTA

MEXICAN RESTAURANT & TEQUILA BAR

70 Davis Straits

508-299-8177

Traditional Mexican cuisine in a casual dining atmosphere with top-notch margaritas. MEXICAN casavallarta.us

COFFEE OBSESSION

110 Palmer Avenue

508-540-2233

Known for excellent coffee, lattes and baked goods. COFFEE coffeeobsession.com

CONFERENCE TABLE

205 Worcester Court

508-540-7136

Offering great meals for lunch and dinner. AMERICAN theconferencetable falmouth.com

When hunger strikes, Falmouth’s restaurants come to the rescue! Whatever you’re craving—from fast casual to fine dining—you’ll find it here. Check out our listings to discover your perfect meal.

COUNTRY FARE RESTAURANT

319 Main Street

508-548-9020

A cozy spot for breakfast; customers rave about the French toast and sausages. BREAKFAST

CRABAPPLES

553 Palmer Avenue

508-548-3355

Casual dining offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. AMERICAN crabapplesrestaurant.com

DANA’S KITCHEN

881 Palmer Avenue

508-540-7900

A casual spot serving wraps, sandwiches and salads. CAFÉ danas-kitchen.com

DEVOUR EATERY

352 Main Street

508-540-5900

An artisan eatery serving breakfast, creative sandwiches, rice bowls, salads and more. Always fresh. CAFÉ devoureatery.com

DILLY’S TAQUERIA

281 Main Street

774-763-2066

Build-it-yourself Mexican fare. Homemade meat marinades, freshly roasted veggies, countless toppings and hot sauces. MEXICAN dillystaqueria.com

DJ’S FAMOUS WINGS

872 Main Street

508-457-9464

Original-style Buffalo wings and much more. AMERICAN djsfamouswings.com

DOGGZ & HOGGZ

781 Main Street

508-548-3663

Serving specialty gluten-free, 100-percent beef hot dogs, pulled pork and St. Louis-style ribs. AMERICAN doggzhoggz.com

DYNASTY BUFFET

28 Davis Straits

508-548-6689

Cantonese restaurant with favorites like coconut shrimp, General Tso’s chicken and crab Rangoon. CHINESE

ELI’S AT THE COONAMESSETT INN

311 Gifford Street

508-548-2300

Offers Sunday brunch, daily lunch and dinner with an exceptional wine list. AMERICAN elistavernfalmouth.com

ESTIA

117 Main Street

508-548-3300

See expanded listing at right. GREEK estiacapecod.com

EUGENE HENRY’S GASTRONOMICAL DELIGHTS

141 Main Street

508-388-7764

A curated collection of curious confections, concoctions and comestibles to tantalize your taste buds. DELIGHTS

FALMOUTH RAW BAR

56 Scranton Avenue

508-548-7729

Fresh seafood, raw bar classics and homemade clam chowder with waterfront views. SEAFOOD falmouthrawbar.com •

GHELFI’S CANDIES OF CAPE COD

228 Main Street

508-457-1085

A variety of delectable chocolates including fudge and truffles, with gift baskets and wedding favors available. SWEETS/CANDY shipchocolates.net

GOLDEN SWAN INDIAN CUISINE

323 Main Street

508-540-6580

Traditional Indian food from channa masala and fish curry to homemade garlic naan. INDIAN GRUMPY’S PUB

29 Locust Street

508-540-3930

Offering traditional pub fare and live music. AMERICAN PUB •

HOMEPORT SUSHI & KITCHEN

316 Gifford Street

508-540-0886

Fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner.

JAPANESE homeportsushiandkitchen.com

Estia

117 Main St., Falmouth, 508-548-3300

26 Steeple St., Mashpee, 508-539-4700 estiacapecod.com

A Greek taverna located in downtown Falmouth that serves authentic and traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist. Serving popular favorite dishes like coal-fired pizza, spanakopita, pastitsio and moussaka. This sophisticated and lively atmosphere captures the essence of the Cape. Like us on Facebook @ facebook.com/estiacapecod and follow us on Instagram @ instagram.com/estiacapecod GREEK

ITALIAN GOURMET FOODS – SLICE OF ITALY INC.

797 Main Street

508-495-1106

An Italian market with imported goods, as well as a deli and bakery. ITALIAN

JACK IN THE BEANSTALK

800 Gifford Street

508-548-1300

Delicious deli sandwiches and homemade soups, produce from local farms, wine, beer and gourmet goods. MARKET jackinthebeanstalk.com

JACKS RESTAURANT & BAR

327 Gifford Street

508-540-5225

American-style dinners from burgers to seafood, and live music. AMERICAN jacksrestaurantfalmouth.com

JIM’S CLAM SHACK

227 Clinton Avenue

508-540-7758

Classic fried seafood with outdoor dining overlooking Falmouth Harbor. SEAFOOD •

JONES TAVERN

291 Jones Road

508-299-4030

A classic American tavern that offers sandwiches, burgers and cocktails. AMERICAN PUB

LA CUCINA SUL MARE

237 Main Street

508-548-5600

Authentic Italian cuisine serving fresh pasta, seafood and a vast wine selection. ITALIAN lacucinasulmare.com

LIAM MAGUIRE’S

IRISH PUB

273 Main Street

508-548-0285

A favorite pub serving traditional Irish fare with a full bar. IRISH PUB liammaguire.com

LIMANI

824 Main Street

508-444-6740

Serving Greek cuisine in a casual atmosphere. GREEK limanifalmouth.com

MAISON VILLATTE

267 Main Street

774-255-1855

Authentic French bakery offering fresh croissants, baguettes, tarts, pastries and cakes. BAKERY

MARY ELLEN’S PORTUGUESE BAKERY

829 Main Street

508-540-9696

A favorite breakfast and brunch spot featuring Portuguese bread and pastries. BAKERY

MOLLY’S TEA ROOM

227 Main Street

508-457-1666

A full-service tearoom with a selection of sandwiches, salads and quiche. TEA mollystearoom.net

NEW PEKING PALACE

452 Main Street

508-540-8204

Serving Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine. FUSION newpekingpalace.com

OSTERIA LA CIVETTA

133 Main Street

508-540-1616

Authentic Italian cuisine with homemade fresh pasta, seafood and wine. ITALIAN osterialacivetta.com

North Falmouth Cheese Shop

402 N. Falmouth Highway, 508-356-3666 northfalmouthcheese.com

North Falmouth Cheese Shop offers domestic and imported cheeses, charcuterie meats, pâté, crackers, olives, oils, jams, sauces and sweet treats. Locally made items include Maison Villatte French breads, Bee Well raw honey, Chequessett craft chocolate bars, Beanstock coffees, Robin’s Toffee & Wicked Walnuts. Gourmet frozen items for easy entertaining include appetizers, stuffed pastas and desserts. Follow and like us on Facebook @facebook.com/NorthFalmouthCheeseShop: Open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.– 6 p.m., Closed Sundays & Mondays. CHEESE SHOP

PAUL’S PIZZA AND SEAFOOD

14 Benham Road

508-548-5838

A hometown favorite that has 32 toppings for your pizza. PIZZA paulspizzacapecod.com

PEEL PIZZA COMPANY

31 Teaticket Highway

774-763-6603

Thin-crust pizza, calzones, wings and salads. PIZZA peelpizzaco.com

PERSY’S PLACE

40 N. Main Street

508-540-3500

Best known for their large breakfast menu. BREAKFAST persysplace.com

PICKLE JAR KITCHEN

170 Main Street

508-540-6760

Known for homemade pickles, specialty sandwiches and beverages served in Mason jars. CAFÉ picklejarkitchen.com

PIER 37 BOATHOUSE

88 Scranton Avenue

508-388-7573

Popular spot on Falmouth Harbor for lunch, dinner, full bar and live music. AMERICAN falmouthpier37.com •

QUAHOG REPUBLIC

97 Spring Bars Road

508-540-4111

A self-proclaimed dive bar, known for homemade stuffed quahogs, lobster rolls and clam chowder. SEAFOOD quahogrepublic.com

QUARTERDECK RESTAURANT

164 Main Street

508-548-9900

Serving delicious steak and seafood in a casual setting. AMERICAN qdfalmouth.com

SEAFOOD SAM’S

356 Palmer Avenue

508-540-7877

The freshest seafood, quality lobster rolls, fried seafood and homemade chowder. SEAFOOD seafoodsams.com/falmouth •

SHIVERICK CAFE & BAR

285 Main Street

774-255-1514

Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. CAFÉ shiverickcafebar.com

SIMPLY DIVINE PIZZA CO.

272 Main Street

508-548-1222

Enjoy a creative selection of hand-tossed, Neapolitanstyle pizza made with fresh ingredients. PIZZA divinepizza.com

STEVE’S PIZZERIA & MORE

374 Main Street

508-457-9636

Pizza, dinner plates, grinders and more for dining in, picking up or delivery. PIZZA stevespizzeriaandmore.com

THE BLENDED BERRY

56 Davis Straits

508-388-7121

Serving healthy and delicious handcrafted Açaí bowls, smoothies, and fresh juice. DELIGHTS theblendedberry.com

THE CLAM MAN

15 Boxwood Circle

508-548-6044

A retail fish market that offers fresh fish, shellfish and chowder. MARKET theclamman.com

THE FLYING BRIDGE RESTAURANT

220 Scranton Avenue

508-548-2700

Waterfront dining on Falmouth Harbor serving fresh seafood and full bar. SEAFOOD flyingbridgerestaurant.com

THE GLASS ONION

37 N. Main Street

508-540-3730

Contemporary American cuisine featuring Washburn Island oysters with an extensive wine list. AMERICAN theglassoniondining.com

TIGER RAMEN

587 Main Street

774-392-6621

Serving Ramen noodles with fresh ingredients. ASIAN tigerramen.com

• These restaurants are seasonal. Call to confirm.

WINDFALL MARKET

77 Scranton Avenue

508-548-0099

Fresh bread made from scratch, assortment of cheese, pastries, pizza and deli platters available at the bakery. MARKET windfallmarket.com

FALMOUTH HEIGHTS

SHIPWRECKED

263 Grand Avenue

508-540-9600

Right across from the beach and Vineyard Sound, this pub offers craft beer, burgers and seafood. AMERICAN PUB shipwreckedfalmouth.com

SOPRANO’S CASINO BY THE SEA

286 Grand Avenue

508-548-7800

Serving Authentic Italian Cuisine with a beautiful view of Vineyard Sound. AMERICAN PUB sopranosfalmouth.com •

THE BLACK DOG HEIGHTS CAFÉ

465 Grand Avenue

508-540-4409

Freshly prepared breakfast, sandwiches, salads, burgers, soups and much more. CAFÉ theblackdog.com

NORTH FALMOUTH

BUCATINO RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR

7 Nathan Ellis Highway

508-566-8960

Authentic Italian cuisine, including pizza and pasta dishes with an extensive wine list. ITALIAN bucawinebar.com

EPIC OYSTER

70 County Road

508-563-3742

Housed in an old railcar offering fresh seafood and a variety of oysters shucked to order. SEAFOOD eatepicoyster.com •

NORTH FALMOUTH CHEESE SHOP

402 N. Falmouth Highway

508-356-3666

See expanded listing on page 134. CHEESE SHOP northfalmouthcheese.com

PRIME TIME HOUSE OF PIZZA

286 Old Main Road

508-563-1900

One of two Falmouth locations serving quality pizza, subs, calzones and more. PIZZA

RED’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE AT THE SEA CREST BEACH HOTEL

350 Quaker Road

508-356-2136

Waterfront dining serving fresh local seafood, steaks and much more. AMERICAN seacrestbeachhotel.com/ dine/reds

SILVER BEACH PIZZA & SEAFOOD

557 N. Falmouth Highway

508-563-5000

Casual dining with just about everything from pizza to pasta. PIZZA

silverbeachpizzacapecod.com

SILVER LOUNGE RESTAURANT

412 N. Falmouth Highway

508-563-2410

Serving seafood, steaks, sandwiches and cocktails. AMERICAN silverloungerestaurant.com

TALK OF THE TOWN DINER

362 N. Falmouth Highway

508-563-3041

Hearty comfort food, breakfast omelets and Belgian waffles; for lunch, wraps and sandwiches. DINER

RESTAURANT

WILD HARBOR GENERAL STORE

200 Old Main Road

508-563-2011

This general store has a bakery, deli, beer, wine, and more.

MARKET

TEATICKET

EAST END TAP

734 Teaticket Highway

508-444-8677

A local pub serving lunch and dinner with live entertainment.

AMERICAN PUB eastendtap.com

FALMOUTH FISH MARKET

157 Teaticket Highway

508-540-0045

A retail fish market that offers fresh fish, chowder, lobster rolls and fried platters to go.

MARKET freshfishcapecod.com

PIES A LA MODE

200 Teaticket Highway

508-540-8777

Pies, quiches and pasties, all made from scratch with fresh local ingredients. PIES

SUPREME PIZZA & SUBS

147 Teaticket Highway

508-548-4200

Friendly service and quality pizzas, subs and salads. PIZZA falmouthsupreme.com

SWEET RICE

167 Teaticket Highway

508-444-6616

Southeast Asian cuisine.

FUSION sweetricecapecod.com

WAQUOIT

MOONAKIS CAFÉ

460 Waquoit Highway

508-457-9630

Favorites for breakfast and lunch, try the burgers, wraps or paninis. CAFÉ moonakiscafe.com

MOTO PIZZA

500 Waquoit Highway

508-388-6888

Pizza, subs, salads and more.

PIZZA moto-pizza.com

West Falmouth Market

623 W. Falmouth Highway, 508-548-1139

A beloved community institution since 1902, West Falmouth is a full service country market, event caterer and so much more. This friendly neighborhood spot offers everything from fresh produce, coffee and scrumptious deli sandwiches or wraps to an old-time butcher shop, pizza, homemade soups, bakery and wine and beer as well as prepared gourmet meals and catering services. Visit us online, westfalmouthmarket.com Follow us on Instagram @westfalmouthmarket and like us on Facebook, facebook.com/ thewestfalmouthmarket. MARKET

WEST FALMOUTH

CHAPOQUOIT GRILL

410 W. Falmouth Highway

508-540-7794

From Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to wood-fired, brick-oven pizza. MEDITERRANEAN chapoquoitgrillwest falmouth.com

EULINDA’S ICE CREAM

634 W. Falmouth Highway

508-548-2486

Located right by the Shining Sea Bike Path, this is a great stop for a frozen treat. ICE CREAM •

WEST FALMOUTH MARKET

623 W. Falmouth Highway

508-548-1139

See expanded listing above. MARKET westfalmouthmarket.com

WOODS HOLE

CAPTAIN KIDD RESTAURANT

77 Water Street

508-548-8563

Waterfront dining with stellar ocean views, local seafood, steaks and full bar. AMERICAN thecaptainkidd.com

COFFEE OBSESSION

38 Water Street

508-540-8130

Known for excellent coffee, lattes and baked goods. COFFEE coffeeobsession.com

JIMMY’S OF WOODS HOLE

22 Luscombe Avenue

508-540-6823

Directly across from the Martha’s Vineyard ferry, a full menu of burgers and sandwiches along with delectable ice cream. CAFÉ jimmysclassiceats.com •

LANDFALL RESTAURANT

9 Luscombe Avenue

508-548-1758

Rustic waterfront dining serving fresh local seafood, full bar and much more. AMERICAN landfallwoodshole.com •

PIE IN THE SKY

10 Water Street

508-540-5475

Handmade baked goods, coffee, fresh sandwiches and more. CAFÉ piecoffee.com

QUICKS HOLE TAQUERIA

6 Luscombe Avenue

508-495-0792

Enjoy Baja California–inspired cuisine with outdoor seating while listening to live music. MEXICAN quicksholewickedfresh.com/ taqueria •

QUICKS HOLE TAVERN

29 Railroad Avenue

508-495-0048

A nautically inspired spot, known for “wicked fresh,” creative farm-to-table dishes. AMERICAN quicksholewickedfresh.com/ tavern

SHUCKERS WORLD FAMOUS RAW BAR & CAFÉ

91 Water Street

508-540-3850

Causal waterfront eatery offering seafood, known for its many ways of preparing and serving lobster. SEAFOOD shuckerscapecod.com •

WATER STREET KITCHEN

56 Water Street

508-540-5656

Waterfront dining serving inspired home cooking with fresh, local ingredients. AMERICAN waterstreetkitchen.com

WOODS HOLE MARKET & PROVISIONS

87 Water Street

508-540-4792

A full-service deli and gourmet bakery, as well as everyday groceries. MARKET woodsholemarket.com

• These restaurants are seasonal. Call to confirm.

Calendar

Celebrate fall and winter in Falmouth with dozens of things to do and see. We recommend that you check with the organization that created an event for guidance, reservations, restrictions and cancellations.

Cranberry bog in Hatchville.

Photo by Lisa Jo Rudy,

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

FALMOUTH CHORALE SEASON

The Falmouth Chorale’s mission is to inspire and educate singers and audiences through the presentation and celebration of fine choral music. As our 58th season begins, the Falmouth Chorale looks forward to singing together, and we are eager to resume our concert schedule of four performances throughout the year. This season will feature concerts led by artistic director Dr. Krishan Oberoi as well as special guest conductors. falmouthchorale.org

FALMOUTH THEATRE GUILD SEASON

Local musical theater at its best! The Falmouth Theatre Guild is a first-rate community theater that produces a broad range of theatrical presentations of the highest quality. The 2022–2023 season will include The Bridges of Madison County, A Christmas Carol, Harvey and Something Rotten. falmouththeatreguild.org

HIGHFIELD HALL & GARDENS

Highfield Hall & Gardens is a beautifully restored 19th-century estate nestled in a tranquil wooded setting overlooking magnificent gardens. We offer year-round programming for music, culinary classes, lectures, contemporary art exhibitions and special events. Highfield has also become known as one of the loveliest wedding venues on Cape Cod. highfieldhallandgardens.org

MUSEUMS ON THE GREEN

Come down to Falmouth Museums on the Green for several Fall & Holiday Events. Visit our website for more information. museumsonthegreen.org

WOODS HOLE THEATER COMPANY SEASON

This is a mighty little theater company inspiring audiences through the magic of the arts. Its purpose is to engage in and promote the cultural growth of the community of Woods Hole and vicinity.

WHTC operates year-round, producing a wide variety of plays at affordable prices. Its traditional home is the historic Woods Hole Community Hall of 1878. Check schedule for specific dates and performances. woodsholetheater.org

October, Thursdays

FALMOUTH FARMERS’ MARKET

Every Thursday, local farmers, bakers and culinary artisans sell fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, cheese, wine, bread and pastries, plants and flowers at Marine Park on Falmouth Harbor in Falmouth center. Noon to 5 p.m. falmouthfarmersmarket.org

October 1–31

FALMOUTH VILLAGE OF

SCARECROWS

Come to Falmouth Village and see the creativity and spirit of Main Street

merchants as they display imaginative homemade scarecrows in front of their stores and restaurants. Join the fun and support your local merchants! falmouthvillageassociation.com

October 21– November 6

T HE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

Based on the best-selling novel, and developed by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown. The Bridges of Madison County captures the lyrical expanse of America’s heartland along with the yearning entangled in the eternal question, “What if…?” Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Score and Orchestrations, this sweeping romance about the roads we travel, the doors we open and the bridges we dare to cross will leave audiences breathless. At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

FALMOUTH VILLAGE OF SCARECROWS

PHOTO BY SUZANNE RYAN

October 27

THE ALTSCHULER SUMMER MUSIC INSTITUTE CHAMBER

ENSEMBLE (ASMI)

Join us for an enchanting evening of music when The ASMI Chamber Ensemble performs as a collaboration between ASMI’s world renowned faculty and up-and-coming young artists. This trio performance includes pianist Thomas Pandolfi, cellist Allison Eldredge, and violinist Emil Altschuler. highfieldhallandgardens.org

October 29

FALMOUTH DOG PARK

HOWLIN’ GOOD TIME DOG COSTUME PARTY

Dress up your pet and join us for a costume parade around the dog park. Prizes awarded in many categories, including Most Creative. Sponsored by Xfinity. 2 p.m. falmouthdogpark.com

HOWLIN’ GOOD TIME DOG COSTUME PARTY

November–December

HOLIDAYS AT HIGHFIELD

Visit Highfield Hall & Gardens for a spectacular holiday season display with beautiful rooms full of inspiring design ideas. Shop the local artisan gift gallery with items ranging from fine crafts to hostess gifts. highfieldhall.org

November 6

42nd SHIPWRECKED

FALMOUTH IN THE FALL (SOLD OUT)

A classic local road race held each autumn since 1979. Now under the direction of Falmouth Road Race, Inc., the seven-mile race runs on the same seaside course as the ASICS Falmouth Road Race, offers cooler temps, fewer people, and a locally sponsored finish festival featuring local vendors. Follow FRR on FB and Instagram @falmouthroadrace. falmouthinthefall.com

FALMOUTH DOG PARK

42ND SHIPWRECKED FALMOUTH IN THE FALL

FALMOUTH ROAD RACE

SOLD OUT!

December 2 – 4

FALMOUTH HOLIDAYS BY THE SEA WEEKEND

Our flash of seasonal glitter starts with the Holidays by the Sea weekend in Falmouth. Begin the festive holidays singing carols at Nobska Lighthouse as the winter’s sun sets over Vineyard Sound. Greet Santa as he arrives by boat at beautiful Falmouth Harbor. Run in the 11th Annual Jingle Jog and Kids GhELF Run. Join in the caroling at the lighting of the Village Green. Enjoy the Main Street festivities of the Holiday Stroll, and get ready for the biggest small-town Christmas parade in all Southeast New England. falmouthchamber.com

December 2

HOLIDAY CAROL SING AT HISTORIC NOBSKA LIGHTHOUSE

Warm your heart and get ready for a fun evening by caroling with neighbors and the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce staff at historic Nobska Lighthouse. Join the carolers as they lead us in a festive seasonal sing-along of familiar holiday classics. Enjoy the nighttime vista of Vineyard Sound with hot chocolate and treats! Remember to dress warmly! falmouthchamber.com

December 3

SEAFARING SANTA

SAILS INTO FALMOUTH

Head to Falmouth Harbor, Marine Park on Scranton Avenue, to welcome Seafaring Santa! Candy canes for all!

December 3

11TH ANNUAL JINGLE JOG 5K AND KIDS “GhELF” RUN

Wear your wildest holiday “jingle bells’’ in

this festive and Holiday-themed road race! The half-mile “GhELF” Run for Children

12 and under starts at 3 pm. The Jingle Jog 5K starts at 3:30 pm. Race shirts for first 250 5K registrants and first 50 GhELF registrants and Jingle Bells for all! Awards for top finishers as well as prizes for “Most Festive” attire. All GhELF Run finishers will receive a chocolate Santa from Ghelfi’s Candies. Both races will start and finish at Martha’s Vineyard Bank, 84 Main Street on the Village Green. falmouthchamber.com

December 3

FALMOUTH VILLAGE HOLIDAY STROLL

See Falmouth Main Street transformed at night by the annual Holiday Stroll! Visit the many unique shops, services, and restaurants in the heart of Falmouth Village dressed in their holiday best. Enjoy the strolling entertainment and be on the lookout for all of your favorite holiday activities, including crafts, face painting, refreshments and music everywhere! Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic. falmouthvillageassociation.com

December 3

LIGHTING OF THE FALMOUTH VILLAGE GREEN

Oh, come all ye faithful to the annual lighting of Village Green for the Holidays! You can’t miss the one magic moment that transforms the Village Green to Santa’s wonderland and brings families together in festive high spirits to start the holidays. Be sure to enjoy the Main Street to Queens Buyway Stroll before and after the Lighting of the Green. falmouthchamber.com

December 4

59th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE

The parade steps off at noon from Dillingham Avenue and proceeds down Main Street to the Village Green. Known as Southeastern Massachusetts’ largest holiday parade, featuring theme-decorated floats, marching bands, live animals, costumed characters and Santa Claus! falmouthchamber.com

PHOTOS BY SUZANNE RYAN

November 26

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Small Business Saturday was founded to help businesses with their most pressing need—getting more customers. The day happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and encourages people to shop at the small businesses that help write the story of America. By shopping or dining at small businesses throughout the year, you’re showing your support for the small businesses in your neighborhood and reinvesting in the Falmouth community.

aren’t), engineer some novel audience participation while bravely contending with an intrusive PA system, and wrap their vocal cords and feet around two original, show-stopping songs. (from Concord Theatricals) At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

December 15

CHRISTMAS SEASONAL CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP

Learn how to create your own classic holiday centerpiece that begins with a hurricane globe and candle, embellished with a mix of evergreens, pine cones, berries, ribbons, fruit and ornaments. Sign up by December 10. Register online or call 508-495-1878 ext. 2. highfieldhallandgardens.org

January 20 – 29, 2023

HARVEY

at the sanitarium of his own volition, looking for Harvey. But it seems that Elwood and his invisible companion have had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors. Only at the end does Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn’t so bad after all. (from Dramatists Play Service, Inc.) At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

April 28 – May 15, 2023

S OMETHING ROTTEN

November 29–30, December 7

BOXWOOD TREE WORKSHOP

Learn how to create your own festive classic Christmas tree design using fresh boxwood branches with mini lights, ornaments and ribbon with a tree topper. Sign up by November 22. Register online or call 508-495-1878 ext. 2. highfieldhallandgardens.org

December 2–11

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

In a festive mood, the ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society mount another assault on the classics with their stage version of A Christmas Carol. They enthusiastically portray a dizzying array of characters from the Dickens favorite (and a few that

Elwood P. Dowd insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarrassment for her family—and especially for her daughter, Myrtle Mae—Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. At the sanitarium, a frantic Veta explains to the staff that her years of living with Elwood’s hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also, and so the doctors mistakenly commit her instead of her mild-mannered brother. The truth comes out, however; Veta is freed, and the search is on for Elwood, who eventually arrives

Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce Something Rotten. Created by Grammy Award–winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Something Rotten was lauded by audience members and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations and hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.” Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz. (from MTI) At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

BOXWOOD TREE WORKSHOP

HIGHFIELD HALL AND GARDENS

Fall and winter in Falmouth are seasons of both quiet beauty and seasonal storms. Walks on the beaches and in the woods bring moments of quiet and great photo opportunities such as shells on the sand, and wildlife and raptors that winter in the area. You never know what you might happen upon, and many times my camera is not ready, so I just enjoy the moment.” Mary Cuddy

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARY CUDDY