WHAT’S GOOD NOW IN AMERICA’S GAYEST RESORT
P’TOWN HACKS
17
NEW places to eat, drink, shop, stay, explore.
TOWLEROAD
57
Performers, shows, and stars in town!
SUMMER 2017
Welcome to Provincetown, the gayest place in America. Welcome to Provincetown and our fourth edition of P’town Hacks, our comprehensive and yet efficient guide to making the most of your time this summer of 2017 in America’s gayest resort.
WELCOME TO PROVINCETOWN!
This year’s guide is our largest ever and includes 17 new restaurants, boutiques, guest houses, and galleries along with new listings of the huge variety of Broadway stars, singer-songwriters, musical acts, comedians, and cabaret shows you’ll find in town this year. And because P’town is not just a summer destination, our brand new booking guide will assist you in finding a place to stay this Fall for Spooky Bear weekend, Holly Folly, First Light, or one of the many other great times to come visit from September through April. Thank you to all our new sponsors and readers. Last year’s Hacks was a huge success and sold out everywhere. If you don’t see P’Town Hacks somewhere in town, let them know to message us or to ask Terry Catalano, our excellent distributor. And follow us online on Instagram at @ptownhacks and on Facebook at facebook.com/ptownhacks. You’ll get more tips that you don’t get in the guide, plus great photos so you can follow what’s going on in Provincetown year-round.
@TLRD
We hope you have a great stay in the most wonderful vacation spot for LGBTQ people in the country. Tell your friends.
INSTAGRAM and TWITTER: Cover Model: David Maron, FACEBOOK.com/PTOWNHACKS IG:@davedavey; Photographer: Izzy Berdan, izzyberdan.com, Location: the schooner Hindu sailschoonerhindu.com.
TOWLEROAD.COM
NEW DINING IN 2017 Liz’s Cafe | Anybody’s Bar
A welcome addition to the west end from Liz Lovati, who runs the east end’s beloved Angel Foods. Liz promises casual food at reasonable prices in a charming space designed by Ken Fulk. You’ll also find classic and unique sandwiches and all-day breakfast. If you’re old enough to remember P’town favorite Gallerani’s, that’s the kind of vibe Liz is shooting for. Stop in for a drink and happy hour raw bar specials. 31 Bradford Street, 508-413-9131.
YolQueria On our short list for breakfast, Yolk has transformed itself this year into YolQueria, a tasty dual destination delivering big delicious breakfasts in the morning and authentic Mexican tacos in the afternoon! Benedicts, omelettes, quinoa pancakes, cinnamon french toast, fried chicken + waffles, premium coffee and cocktails in the a.m., and carne asada, chicken, and shrimp tacos in the p.m., with beer and margaritas of course. 8-3 daily. 401 1/2 Commercial Street, 508-487-0600 yolqueria.com.
Salʼs Place. This picturesque Italian eatery right on the water, which took the name of a longtime beloved restaurant on the same site, opened too late in 2016 to make last year’s P’town Hacks, but it’s a must-not-miss so we’re including it this year. This is amped-up traditional Italian - carbonara, fra diavolo, linguine with clams, burrata, and baked cod seafood stew were some of last summer’s favorites. A very focused menu and a perfect ambience. 99 Commercial Street, 508-487-1279, salsplaceprovincetown.com.
NEW DINING IN 2017 Pepe’s Wharf
A Provincetown institution under new ownership, Pepe’s has been taken over by the folks behind Patio American Grill. They’ve kept its name, design, and cuisine including favorites like Portuguese Cataplana, along with some new additions. It’s got a beautiful upstairs deck, a bar overlooking the sea and an indoor fireplace. 371 Commercial Street, 508-487-8717.
Mangia Pizza Filling a pizza gap in the Aquarium Mall building is this new pie shop from the folks behind Street Eats. It’s New York Style all the way here with additional items like meatballs in a cup, Stromboli, and garlic knots. 205 Commercial Street at The Aquarium Mall, 508-487-0303, facebook.com/mangiapizzaptown.
Ptown Cafe A steampunk-themed cafe decorated with goggles, top hats, and gadgets, Ptown Cafe serves its own coffee, rishi teas, espresso, and pastries, quiches, cookies, turnovers, and scones. Try the Coffee Madness Milkshake made with ice cream from P’town’s own Lewis Brothers. Across from town library at Angel's Landing. Open 7 days until the end of October. 353A Commercial Street, 508-999-9999. facebook.com/ptowncafe.
PARTY TIME
NIGHTLY HOTSPOTS: Tea Dance at the Boatslip (3-7), Paramount, The Wave Bar, and the Vault at Crown & Anchor, The Atlantic House, Purgatory and Porch Bar at The Gifford House, Velvet, The Underground, Shipwreck Lounge at Brass Key. SUNDAYS: Leather Night at Purgatory, Church at Grotta Bar, Rehab at Shipwreck . MONDAYS: Gesellschaft at Velvet, Marshmallow Mondays at Shipwreck Lounge. TUESDAYS: Tiki Tuesdays at Shipwreck Lounge. WEDNESDAYS: Fag Bash at Purgatory. THURSDAYS: Underwear Party at Purgatory. FRIDAYS: Weekly Man contests at Atlantic House, Retro Dance at Purgatory. SATURDAYS: Sunset Music Series by Far Land at Herring Cove, Underwear Party at Purgatory. SPECIAL WEEKS: Independence at Crown & Anchor (June 29-July 6, Bear Week at Crown & Anchor (July 8 -15), Carnival (2017’s theme is Gods & Goddesses) August 12-18
HUNGRY TRY THIS DISH
Fried chicken and lobster roll picnic catered by Liz’s Cafe. Photo: Matthew Hunt. Foodhunt.me
Pan Roasted Cod at The Red Inn. Fresh Tuna Sushi and Vietnamese Hot Honey Garlic Ribs at Saki. Quinoa pancakes (a.m.) and Carne Asada Tacos (p.m.) at YolQueria. Curried Octopus and Deviled Duck Eggs at Strangers & Saints. Lobster Mac and Cheese at Central House at the Crown. Sunrise b-fast sandwich, Butterscotch Haystacks, and Lean Machine at Relish. Lobster Roll at Native Cape Cod Seafood in the Aquarium Mall. Greek Pizza, Spiritus, hot and steaming at 1 am. Vongole Bianco at Ciro and Sals. Pale Ale Battered Haddock at Jimmy’s Hideaway. Duck Sliders at Joon Bar. Agent Dale Cooper and Dear RB at Pop + Dutch. Grilled Yellowfin Tuna at Ross’ Grill.
Salt Supply
NEW
IN 2017
Opened by the folks behind P’town’s Salt House Inn and Eben House, Salt Supply is a unique retail boutique offering specialized beach-related gifts and essential items to make your summer special like LED lanterns, woven tote bags, premium sunscreens, designer thermoses, baskets, greeting cards, jewelry, glitter beard and cocktail kits. 353 Commercial Street.
Arcadia New Yorkers (particularly those hailing from Chelsea) might recognize Arcadia, which started there on 19th street in 2000. The shop features handmade jewelry and accessories for men and women, plus ceramics and glass by American and Canadian artists, and a large selection of imported gifts. It’s located deep in the west end of town. 141 Commercial Street, arcadiaptown.com
The Gaslamp The Gaslamp is a Victorian-style 8-room boutique bed & breakfast opened by Jeff-Slater-Coté and Jim Coté, who recently relocated to Provincetown from San Francisco. You might remember the property as the somewhat flamboyant Romeo’s Holiday Guest House with its Barbie doll garden, but Jim and Jeff have brought a different flair to the property (now adorned with its own gaslamp). They also serve egg dishes, pastries, breads, and snacks, and offer a hot tub. 97 Bradford Street, gaslampptown.com
CUSP Gallery
NEW
IN 2017
A dynamic new addition to Provincetown’s art scene, CUSP Gallery was opened in May by Curtis Speer to showcase his own stunning photos and works by emerging artists. Speer, a P’town transplant from Orange County, California, showcased his own work in the first two exhibits, It Was Hopper All Along, images inspired by Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth, and American Conscience, a commentary on Speer’s impression of where we stand as a country. 115 Bradford Street, cuspgallery.com
East End Books With the increasing rarity of brick-and-mortar bookstores, it’s lovely to see this lovingly curated collection of books in print, audiobooks, vinyl albums, great magazines, and coffee. Events and readings are scheduled throughout the summer with writers including Robert Finch, Brad Gooch, and Patrick Dacey. 389 Commercial Street, eastendbooksptown.com
Kmoe Artist Karole Moe and her partner Karen Baker opened Kmoe, a retail boutique that sells unique art, leather, and lighting. Think leather and metal wrist cuffs, sconces of rope, metal, and wood, hanging pendant lamps made with repurposed traffic lights, and colorful patterned wall art. 397 Commercial Street, kmoe-ptown.com.
Charm Guesthouse
NEW
IN 2017
Formerly the Elephant Walk Inn, Charm’s 8 boutique bedrooms have been updated and renovated by Cory Conley and Curtis Helmus, who purchased it in 2016 and also own the Inn at 7 Central. Rooms feature Beekman 1802 products and their ‘Breakfast Bites’ service delivers early morning eats right to your door. 156 Bradford Street, charmprovincetown.com
Street Genes Street geneaologist Aaron Korch brings ancestry to P’town’s street scene, and will connect you to your roots from his booth which you’ll find in front of Town Hall (260 Commercial St) or House of LaRue (244 Commercial St) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. Get a 1/2 hour or full reading. streetgenes@gmail.com
The Captain’s Daughters A grand addition to the east end, it’s a tea shop, gallery, and retail boutique inspired (in name) by P’town’s fishing history. They serve exotic teas, host monthly art exhibitions, and sell clothing items and sundries. 384 Commercial Street, 774-593-3010, captainsdaughters.com.
Mama Matcha Green Bar Green tea lattes and Matcha drinks are the specialty at this healthy spot next to town hall. 258 Commercial Street, 508-487-0777.
Iconic hyper-local swag embracing everything that is Provincetown. Cool T-Shirts, Tanks, Muscle Shirts and Thermals. 349 Commercial Street
SHOPPING LIST Undersea sourced: The Shell Shop (276 Commercial St) Books: East End Books (389 Commercial St) Massage: Namaste Spa at Carpe Diem (12-14 Johnson St) A gift for your host: Urban Man Made (184 Commercial St) Wigs ’n’ things: House of La Rue (244 Commercial St) Liquor: Glass Half Full (191 Commercial St) Kitchen Basics: Utilities (393 Commercial St) Hyper-local t-shirts: Mate (349 Commercial) St.) Beard oils and special scents: Kiss and Makeup (244 Commercial St) Art, fine interior goods: John Derian Company (396 Commercial. back) Non-basic boutique: MAP (220 Commercial St) Second-hand drag: Ruthie’s (14 Center St) Accessoires: Yates & Kennedy (173 Commercial St) Essentials: Essentials (362 Commercial St) Haircut: Snip Salon (182 Commercial St) Bohemian Marine gifts: Loveland (120 Commercial St) Flowers / Kale: Town Hall Farmer’s Market (Town Hall, Sat) Lube: Toys of Eros (200 Commercial St) Leather Needs: Full Kit (192 Commercial St) Organic and Natural Groceries: 141 Bradford (141 Bradford St)
SHOWTIME
What’s on stage this summer (in order of appearance).
VENUES: AH - Art House (214 Commercial, ptownarthouse.com); CA - Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial, onlyatthecrown.com); EEB - East End Books (389 Commercial, eastendbooksptown.com) TH - Town Hall (260 Commercial). ALL SEASON Daily/weekly shows. Return to Grey Gardens - Jinkx Monsoon, Peaches Christ, Drag. Wed/Th, AH Scream Along with Billy - Billy Hough - Hates labels. Fri 11 pm Grotta Bar Far Land Sunset Music Series - FREE Live music. Wed & Sun 6 pm, Herring Cove Doug Repetti - Cabaret. Singalong. Central House Piano Bar, CA Kate Clinton - Knock, Knock Who’s There? Zombie Apocalypse! - CA Bobby Wetherbee - Singalong. Central House Piano Bar, CA 5 to 9 - Varla Jean Merman, Ryan Landry, Peaches Christ, Fri/Sat, AH Male Call - Burlesque. Tue-Sun 10 pm, Post Office Cafe Steve Grand Miss Richfield 1981 - Drag. 2020 Vision, Wed-Sun, CA Dina Martina - Comic Genius! Drag. Th-Sun, CA Illusions - Drag. CA Showgirls - Drag variety contest. Mon, Atlantic House Varla Jean Merman - Drag. Tues-Fri, AH Steve Grand - Singer. Songwriter. Tues-Thurs, AH Metamorphosis - Jul 12 - Aug 20, Provincetown Theater Chicago - Peregrine Theater, Wed-Sat, Fisherman Hall Greece - Gold Dust Orphans, Sun, Fisherman Hall Lip-Schtick, Scarbie - Thu-Sat UU Meeting House
Continues…
SHOWTIME
What’s on stage this summer (in order of appearance).
JULY (One night/week only) Brad Gooch - Author reading/signing. Jul 1, EEB Betty Who with DJ Citizen Jane - Live. Jul 2, TH Leslie Jordan - Comedy. Jul 8-9, CA Matt Alber Singer, songwriter. Jul 10-11, CA Bianca Del Rio - Drag. Jul 10, TH Eddie Sarfaty - Comedy. Jul 10-12, CA Peter Bisuito - Comedy. Jul 12, CA Ben De La Creme - Drag. Jul 13-18, CA Continues…
VENUES: AH - Art House CA - Crown & Anchor EEB - East End Books TH - Town Hall
SHOWTIME
What’s on stage this summer (in order of appearance).
JULY (One night/week only cont.) VENUES: Seth Sikes sings Judy - Cabaret. Jul 18, CA AH - Art House Jennifer Finney Boylan - Author reading. Jul 20, EEB CA - Crown & Anchor Well-Strung - Music. Men. Jul 23 - 27, AH EEB - East End Books Linda Eder - Broadway. Jul 24-25, CA TH - Town Hall Idol Worship - Mink Stole and Peaches Christ - Jul 25, AH Cape Dance Festival - World-class hip-hop to ballet. Jul 29 Province Lands Ampthter Confessions of a Mormon Boy starring Steven Fales - Jul 30 - Aug 8, CA The Generations Project, Histories of Ptown - Storytelling. Jul 31, CA AUGUST (One night/week only) Confessions of a Mormon Boy starring Randy Rainbow Steven Fales - Jul 30 - Aug 8, CA Grapefruit Sound Lab - Music. Aug 4, CA John Derian - Talk, book signing. Aug 4, EEB Courtney Love and Todd Almond, with Kevin Sessums - Aug 5, TH Brian Stokes Mitchell - Broadway. Aug 6, CA Megan Hilty - Broadway. Aug 6, TH Seth Sikes sings Liza - Cabaret. Aug 7, CA Baloney: Gay All-Male Revue, Aug 8, CA Randy Roberts - Drag. Aug 10-11, AH Molly Ringwald - Jazz Festival - Aug 10, CA Margaret Cho - Comedy. Aug 12, TH Randy Rainbow - Aug 13, Harbor Hotel Sutton Foster - Broadway. Aug 13, TH The Skivvies - Cabaret. Aug 13-14 CA
SHOWTIME
What’s on stage this summer (in order of
AUGUST Continued… Pam Ann - Comedy. Aug 14-15, CA Bob the Drag Queen - Drag. Aug 15-31 , AH Kim David Smith - Cabaret. Aug 16-17, CA Billy Porter - Broadway. Aug 19-20, CA Sally Field with Kevin Sessums - Aug 21, CA Grant Ginder - Reading, signing. Aug 22, EEB Linda Lavin - Broadway. Aug 26-27, CA Patti Issues - Ben Rimalower, Aug 28, AH Sandra Bernhard - Comedy. Aug 28-29, CA Unitard: House of Tards - Sept 1-2, AH
Billy Porter
Classic P’town Hacks Need to pee? There are public restrooms at the public library, the old fire station across from Spiritus Pizza, Town Hall, and Whalers Wharf. Go to the gym during Tea Dance if you aren't a drinker and prefer some quieter gym time.
Anyone can get a weekly parking pass at the Grace Hall parking lot (Prince St. and Bradford) for $75 (in and out. 7 days) or at the Jerome Smith lot (Shankpainter and Rte 6) for $50 (In and out. 7 days) It’s $275 for all summer parking in all meters or municipal lots as a non-resident. Make sure to get the cash you need at the beginning of a holiday weekend because the ATMs can run out. Look for parking on unmarked curbs on Bradford Street and Pleasant Street.
There is no line at Spiritus Pizza. After the bars close, you’ll see a huge line form out the door of the pizza place. Head inside and you’ll get your slice sooner. Need some perspective? Try checking out P’town from its highest vantage point: The Pilgrim Monument. Finished in 1910 to honor the Pilgrims’ first landing in Provincetown, at 252 feet it’s the tallest all-granite structure in the U.S.. Its design is based on the Torre Del Mangia in Sienna, Italy. It’s also got a great museum at its base.
The Cape Cod National Seashore is the great natural treasure of Provincetown and there are several beaches from which to choose. Herring Cove. A bay beach, and also the gay beach, it’s a bit rockier than the other beaches and also calmer (much of the time). The gay beach can be a bike and a hike, or park in the parking lot and when facing the water keep walking to the left until you find the men. Keep walking further and you’ll find the men without clothes. Race Point. The ocean beach, it’s more ‘family friendly’ (read: straight) and also further away. It can have its gay pockets as well, and wind can vary greatly between the two beaches. Hatches Harbor. If you’re adventurous, walk to the right about half a mile from Herring Cove parking lot. The tides shape this natural harbor. This beach may not open till August to protect the Piping Plover habitat.
BEACHES
MAP
To get to ‘Boy Beach’, bike down Bradford Street to Route 6 and park at the bike racks about a quarter mile from Bradford Street. Bring everything you need. You must hike to Boy Beach through the dunes. Prepare to wade through waist-high water at times and carry your belongings over your head. Great White sharks. Don’t swim alone at dawn or dusk, or around seals. Watch for whales. You can sometimes see their spouts from the beach. Bring bug spray. The flies get nasty. Poison ivy is plentiful and will ruin your vacation. There are no concessions stands at Boy Beach or Race Point Beach. Bring food and drink with you (but make sure to leave the beach as clean as you found it). All those dune shacks on the ocean side are not public or abandoned. Families here before the National Seashore arrived have 99-year leases. Envy the beauty, precarious construction and ascetic lifestyle, but respect privacy. Take a Dune Tour for more.
BEACH HACKS
BONFIRE
A bonfire at Herring Cove Beach on a perfectly still, warm summer evening with a few drinks and good friends around you is a night you’ll always remember.
Cape Cod National Seashore allows beach bonfires with a permit. Permits are limited and demand is very high in the summer. Go in person! To secure a permit you need to reserve three days in advance at the Province Lands Visitors Center. They start accepting reservations at 9 am from people who appear in person before accepting phone reservations. Reserved permits are then picked up the day of the bonfire by 3:30 pm.
BY LAND Art’s Dune Tours
ADVENTURES
Many people visit Provincetown without seeing much of the natural beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore. P’town’s beautiful beaches are only a small part of it. There are also majestic sand dunes, historic shacks where writers and artists like Eugene O’Neill and Harry Kemp found inspiration, and pristine landscapes of tall grass, dark pines, and red beach plums. You’ll see it all on Art’s Dune Tours along with the Cape’s own set of ruins: the Peaked Hill Life Saving Station that served as a base for shipwreck rescues many years ago. You’ll come away from this tour with a new sense of history and gratitude for all we have here. The Costa family has been running the hour-long dune tours, which take place in comfortable Suburban SUVs, since 1946. 1-800-894-1951 or artsdunetours.org
Eco Exploration Provincetown is home to the Center for Coastal Studies, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. They’ve got a big list of events on their site including kayak tours, seal walks (where you can observe grey and harbor seals in their ‘haul-out’ areas), tidal flats exploration, whale watches, and more. Visit coastalstudies.org/ category/events for more info.
National Seashore You can also visit the Province Lands Visitor Center at 171 Race Point Road off Route 6, approximately 1 mile from Provincetown center, open from May 1 through October 31 from 9-5. From the observation deck you can see a 360-degree view of the dunes, the Outer Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, Race Point Beach, and the Pilgrim Monument. You can also visit exhibits about local plants, animals, and history, and watch short films on the area.
Off-Roading Off-road vehicles (ORV) are allowed with a permit. The ORV corridor at Cape Cod National Seashore is comprised of miles of unspoiled beaches managed by the National Park Service to accommodate ORV enthusiasts and other beach goers. Bring 4-wheel drive and/or self-contained vehicle (SCV) to Off-Road Permit Station at Race Point Beach for a vehicle inspection between April 10 and November 15. Visit NPS.gov website for details.
Bike Trails You’re missing out if you’ve never been on a bike in P’town! The Cape Cod National Seashore provides nearly 10 miles of stunning, sometimes challenging, very hilly bike trails (red dashed lines on previous page) which loop from Herring Cove Beach to Race Point Beach and around to the lush ponds of the Beech Forest. It’s a great way to exercise and unwind at the same time! We recommend these great places to rent bicycles: Arnold’s Bikes, 329 Commercial, 508-487-0844; The Bike Shack, 63 Shank Painter, 508-487-0232; Gale Force Bikes, 144 Bradford St. Ext., 508-487-4849; Provincetown Bike Rentals, 136 Bradford Street, 774-447-4539; Ptown Bikes, 42 Bradford St., 508-487-8735.
ADVENTURES BY SEA
Fishing Charters If you’d prefer to catch a fresh meal rather than sit down at a fine restaurant we’d recommend a fishing charter aboard the Odysea with Captain Ralph, the fearless leader from Nat Geo’s Wicked Tuna. Striped bass, bluefish, and tuna trips are all available, as well as sunset cruises ranging from $300$1,500. 917-440-0934, odyseatuna@gmail.com odyseatuna.com
Sailboat Charters Charter an adventure at sea in the historic wooden sailing ship Hindu. Built in 1925, the Hindu has sailed the world over, assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II and now summers in P’town and winters in Key West. Sunset Charters, Harbor Tours, and Private Charters are all available aboard this one-of-a-kind beauty. Head to MacMillan Pier to book a trip, call 305-509-1771, or visit sailschoonerhindu.com.
Whale Watching Humpback, Fin, Northern Right, Minke, Sei, and Pilot whales share our waters along with dolphins, porpoise, and a variety of sea birds, seals, and even Great White sharks. For tickets, go to Provincetown Whale Watches at 800-225-4000 ptownwhalewatch.com, Dolphin Fleet at 508-240-3636 or whalewatch.com.
Seal Tours
NEW
IN 2017
Flyer’s Boat Rental offers 45-minute narrated mini-harbor tours to see our growing colony of gray seals. $25/ head - 2 person min., 6 max.
Paddleboard and Kayak Rent paddleboards and kayaks at Flyer’s Boat Rental (133 Commercial) or Provincetown AquaSports (333r Commercial). It’s a great way to see dolphins, seals, birds, and (if you’re super lucky) whales inside the harbor when waves are calm.
A Dog’s life (IN PTOWN)
DINE WITH DOG Bubala’s, Central House, Governor Bradford, Patio, Twisted Pizza, Joe Coffee, Bliss. VETS Herring Cove Animal Clinic 79 Shank Painter Rd 508-255-8948 508-487-6449 Provincetown Animal Hosp 9 Center St. 508-487-2191 24-Hour C.A.R.E. South Dennis 508-398-7575
OFF-LEASH: Town Beaches: 6-9am and 6-9pm. Pilgrim Bark Park (Route 6 and Shank Painter Road) ON-LEASH: Up to 6 ft length at Seashore (except lifeguarded areas, near nesting birds, and bike trails) SUPPLIES: Get food, toys, day care at the Provincetown Pet Resort, 79 Shank Painter Rd, 508-487-7900 BONUS CAT HACK: Keep them inside. Foxes (and dogs) are all over Photo: #MissFrida likes big dogs, but this is ridiculous.
1602 - British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold names ‘Cape Cod’ as he sails into what is now Provincetown harbor.1620 - The Pilgrims arrive, sign the Mayflower Compact. 1654 Plymouth colony purchases land from the Nauset tribe for 2 brass kettles, 6 coats, 12 hoes, 12 axes, 12 knives and a box. 1727 - Provincetown is incorporated. 1871 - The Atlantic House, nation’s oldest gay bar, is founded. 1898 - Charles Hawthorne opens Cape Cod School of Art. 1915 - Provincetown Players theatre formed. 1935 - Hans Hofmann opens school of art. 1936 - Tourism begins to compete with fishing as Provincetown’s main industry. 1940 - Tennessee Williams arrives. 1961 - Cape Cod National Seashore established by JFK. 1968 - Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, nationally recognized artists and writers colony, is formed, offering off-season residencies. 1970s - Provincetown starts to become the gay travel destination it is today. 1975 - ‘Whale watching’ tourism begins. 1983 Provincetown AIDS Support Group (PASG) established. 1989 - First Cape Air flight between Boston and Ptown 2004 - Ptown becomes gay wedding destination as marriage equality comes to Massachusetts. 2016 - Cabral’s Fishermen’s Wharf sold to private developer. 2016 Provincetown First Light New Year’s festival begins.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PROVINCETOWN
P’Town Hacks Fall Booking guide
September is Second Summer
S
Come again! Weather is great. Skies are dramatic; crowds are small; rates are low; reservations are easy. Hikes, nightlife, pop-up gastro pubs, and cranberry bogs. Swim4Life * Leather * Halloween* Holly Folly
“From Labor Day through Halloween, the place is almost unbearably beautiful. The air during these weeks seems less like ether and more like a semisolid, clear and yet dense somehow, as if it were filled with the finest imaginable golden pollen. The sky tends toward brilliant iceblue, and every thing and being is invested with a soft, gold-ish glow. Tin cans look good in this light; discarded shopping bags do. I’m not poet enough to tell you what the salt marsh looks like at high tide.” —Land's End: A Walk in Provincetown by Michael Cunningham
No Place Like Provincetown September is typically August without the crowds. October brings dramatic light, walks, comfort food, Halloween Nowhere else hosts LGBTQ holidays like Holly Folly. And New Year’s Eve at First Light Provincetown is already a thing after just a few years. Book Now: Visit some inns while in town, or click online, and book a Fall weekend or two. Rates are about 30-50% less than summer. Have a look at the P’town Hacks partners, with something for everyone: Anchor Inn, Carpe Diem, Crown & Anchor, Prince Albert, Queen Vic, The Red Inn, and Rose & Crown. Quick Links to guesthouses at: tlrd.net/hacks17
What’s On this Fall? SEPTEMBER 9 30th annual Swim4Life – Swim4Life.org 11-17 Afterglow Alternative Performance Arts Festival –AfterGlowFestival.org 14-17 National Gay Pilots Assn ngpa.org 15-17 Yankee Lambda Antique Car Show (Theme: Westward Ho) 21-24 Tennessee Williams Theater Festival 28- Oct 2 Mates Leather Weekend (Theme: “Fur”) matesleatherweekend.com OCTOBER 6-9 Columbus Day weekend 7 - PAAM Annual Gala 9-15 Women’s Week 15-22 Fantasia Fair 27-31 Halloween/Spooky Bear Weekend NOVEMBER 17-19 Mr. New England Leather 22 Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument 23 Thanksgiving 24 Drag Bingo 25 Lighting of the Lobster Pot Tree DECEMBER 1-3 Holly Folly. Events and shopping 28-Jan 2 First Light Weekend & Fireworks
Holly Folly Canteen’s Holiday Market Concerts Shopping & Deals Nightlife
Having Fun? Respect…and give back… 1. Don’t feed foxes, chase seals, bother plover. 2. Eat at fire-impacted The Coffee Pot 3. It’s a small wooden town. Don’t be a Jerk. Don’t play with fire. 4. Respect. It’s not a gay town nor a straight town. If it’s about you being you, go for it. If it’s really about provoking or not letting them be them, reconsider. 5. Give Freddie a cig if you can. 6. Weigh in: Should the town stay gay and keep reaching out to let LGBT visitors know they are welcome? It’s a big topic in town.
7. Basics: Don’t drink and drive. Get consent. Pick up trash. Bag dog poop. Do unto others. Slow down. Tip servers. Sunscreen…and tell them you saw it in P’Town Hacks 8. Donate to: Helping Our Women help women with disabling condition,helpingourwomen.org AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod Care, housing, prevention, testing asgcc.org Center for Coastal Studies Frees whales. Saves the ocean coastalstudies.org Camp Lightbulb Homeless LGBT youth summer camp. camplightbulb.org Soup Kitchen in Provincetown Hot lunch Nov-April. ptownsoup.org Provincetown Business Guild Keeping P’town Gay ptown.org June Fire Fund for those displaced and new fire fighting equipt. goo.gl/PZxYS4
PTOWN HACKS BOOKING GUIDE - EAST END 8 Dyer Hotel 8 Dyer Street 508-487-0880 info@8dyer.com Admiral’s Landing 158 Bradford Street 508-487-9665 info@admiralslanding.com
Queen Vic Guesthouse 166 Commercial Street 508-487-8425 queenvicptown.com
Aerie House & Beach Club 184 Bradford Street 508-487-1197 info@aeriehouse.com Bayshore & Chandler House 493 Commercial Street 508-487-9133 info@bayshorechandler.com
Benchmark Inn 6 Dyer Street 508-487-7440 mail@benchmarkinn.com Cape Colony Inn 280 Bradford Street 508-487-1755 gm@capecolonyinn.com
“In September, it’s the same tea parade. Lower rates. The Queen Vic still has the best front yard in town…with a glass of wine and the fire pit.”
Charm Guesthouse 156 Bradford Street 508-487-8855 info@charmprovincetown.com Christopher’s by the Bay B&B 8 Johnson Street 508-487-9263 info@christophersbythebay.com
Anchor Inn Beach House 175 Commercial Street 508-487-0432 anchorinnbeachhouse.com info@anchorinnbeachhouse.com Eastwood at Provincetown 324 Bradford Street 508-487-0760 Harbor Hotel 698 Commercial Street 508-487-1711 info@harborhotelptown.com Heritage House 7 Center Street 508-487-3692 facebook.com/heritagehouseptown lmogell@gmail.com Inn At Cook Street 7 Cook Street 508-487-3894 info@innatcookstreet.com Lotus Guest House 296 Commercial Street 508-487-4644 lotusgh@comcast.net
Provincetown’s most gracious “Beach House” on the water. Luxurious rooms, some with fireplaces, whirlpool tubs. Moffett House Inn 296A Commercial Street 508-487-6615 info@moffetthouse.com Ravenwood Guestroom, Apts, Cottage 462 Commercial Street 508-487-3203 ravenwood8@juno.com Roux Provincetown 210 Bradford Street 508-487-1717 info@rouxprovincetown.com Sage Inn 336 Commercial Street 508-487-6424 bethbonacci@sageinnptown.com Secret Garden Inn 300A Commercial Street 508-487-9027 information@secretgardenptown.com
PTOWN HACKS BOOKING GUIDE EAST END Somerset House Inn 378 Commercial Street 800-575-1850 info@somersethouseinn.com
WEST END
Beaconlight Guest House 12 Winthrop Street 800-696-9603 info@beaconlightguesthouse.com
Rose & Crown Guesthouse
Classic Cape Cod accommodation with a true 158 Commercial St family home feel. Quiet 508-487-3332 www.roseandcrownptown.com house, cozy, prime location. The Boatslip Beach Club Sunset Inn 161 Commercial Street 142 Bradford Street 508-487-1669 / 877-PTOWNMA 508-487-9810 sunset1@capecod.net info@boatslipresort.com Surfside Hotel and Suites Bradford Carver House 543 Commercial Street surfsidehotelandsuites.elaine@gmail.com 70 Bradford Street 800-826-9083 info@bradfordcarver.com Tucker Inn Brass Key Guesthouse 12 Center Street 67 Bradford Street 508-487-0381 508-487-9005 welcome@brasskey.com White Porch Inn Carl’s Guest House 7 Johnson Street 68 Bradford Street 508-364-2549 info@whiteporchinn.com 508-487-1650 infobg@carlsguesthouse.com
PTOWN HACKS BOOKING GUIDE - WEST END The Clarendon House 118 Bradford Street 508-680-4444 theclarendonhouse@gmail.com Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa 82 Bradford Street 877-276-9631
Gifford House 9 Carver Street 508-487-0688 / 800-434-0130 giffordhouse@earthlink.net Howards End Guest House 5 Winslow Street 508-487-0169
Prince Albert Guest House “Featuring beautiful gardens and large outdoor living 164 Commercial Street areas. Renovated guest 508-487-1850 rooms offer high thread princealbertguesthouse.com count linens, flat panel…” Enzo’s Guesthouse 186 Commercial Street 508-487-7555 Foxberry Inn 29 Bradford Street Extension 508-487-8583 foxberryinn@comcast.net The Gaslamp Bed & Breakfast 97 Bradford Street 508-487-6636 / 877-697-6636 thegaslampptown@gmail.com
Inn at the Moors 59 Province Lands Road 508-487-1342 / 800-842-6739 Land’s End Inn 22 Commercial Street 508-487-0706 info@landsendinn.com Masthead Resort and Cottages 31-41 Commercial Street 508-487-0523 mastheadresort@comcast.net
PTOWN HACKS BOOKING GUIDE - WEST END The Provincetown Hotel at Gabriel’s 102 Bradford Street 508-487-3232 info@provincetownhotel.com Revere Guest House 14 Court Street 508-487-2292 info@reverehouse.com Seaglass Inn & Spa 105 Bradford Street Extension 508-487-1286
Carpe Diem Guesthouse and Spa 12-14 Johnson Street 508-487-4242 carpediemguesthouse.com info@carpediemguesthouse.com
Shiremax Inn 5 Tremont Street 508-487-1233 shiremaxinn@verizon.net
The West End Inn 44 Commercial Street 508-487-9555 warren@westendinn.com White Wind Inn 174 Commercial Street 508-487-1526 info@whitewindinn.com Watership Inn 7 Winthrop Street 800-330-9413 info@watershipinn.com
“…adult-only oasis of tranquility…Our Namaste Spa was voted best spa in Upper Cape by readers of Cape Cod Magazine”
Women Innkeepers of of Provincetown P.O. Box 573 info@womeninnkeepers.com
#gayeverydayptown
GYM
Mussel Beach Gym 508-487-0001 35 Bradford St @ Conant 6am - 9pm 7 days a week Provincetown Gym 81 Shank Painter Rd 508-487-2776
HEALTH
Outer Cape Health Services 508-487-9395 Provincetown Medical Group (508) 487-3505
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TAXI
Jeffrey’s Car Service 508-487-4100 Mercedes Cab 508-487-3333 Cape Cab 508-487-2222 Black & White Taxi 508-487-7800 P-Town Taxi Service 508-413-9958
FERRIES
Bay State Cruises 617-748-1428 Boston Harbor Cruises 617-227-4321
CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE nps.gov/caco
AIR
Cape Air 800-CAPEAIR
Referral Service of Cape Cod Health Care (1-877) CAPE-COD