A captivating mural garners attention in this little known pocket park in downtown Dennis Port. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
by Jeff Shaw
Almost everything you may want or need is located in downtown Dennis Port. The only problem; downtown Dennis Port is another case of hidden in plain sight.
Many well-known downtowns on Cape Cod are long, bustling and often traffic snarled (Chatham Harwich Port, Hyannis, Falmouth, Ptown). Dennis Port’s downtown, on the other hand, is short [like one block, short] with both people and traffic flowing like a gentle off shore breeze. [Okay, okay, they’re probably moving briskly, especially in season.]
The Dennis Public Library cannot be seen from Route 28, but it is tucked away in downtown Dennis Port. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
It begins on the Harwich-Dennis town line at the aptly named, Division Street. Bare left at the fork into a cozy little downtown [don’t blink, or you may miss it] and grab a parking space on the street. None available; no problem, turn left onto Hall Street, where plenty of plaza and on street parking exist.
One of the newer, perhaps safer [rubber flooring], playgrounds on Cape Cod. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
From either parking area and in just a one block radius, you will find (in no particular order): a coffee shop, pet store, restaurant, home goods store, pizzeria, barber shop, ice cream shop, an arts and crafts store, as well as pocket park featuring local artwork and plantings (to enjoy that coffee or ice cream outside).
Look a little closer, you will find a village green, new-ish playground, town library, seafood market and another beautiful painted maritime mural on a brick building wall.
A hidden maritime mural off Hall Street in downtown Dennis Port. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
And if you are up for wandering up to two blocks, you’ll also find Cape Cod Theater Company/Harwich Junior Theater.
Now I wouldn’t suggest spending all day in downtown Dennis, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to hear if you did.
“Good drink, good food, good conversation,” pretty much sums up the year-round Orleans establishment named The Yardarm Restaurant. Half pub, half restaurant, “we pride ourselves as being the go-to meeting spot for locals in Orleans.” But outsiders – even those with young kids – are welcome, too.
Since 1972, the Yardarm Restaurant has been serving a mix of entrees, blue plate specials, sandwiches, gumbo, fried seafood baskets and of course, the prime rib special on select days (Thursdays and Sundays).
A Sunday visit did not disappoint. Prime rib, steak tips and the biggest hot dog we’d ever seen.
The restaurant is divided into sections, aptly named, the Channel, the Bullpen, the Pool Room. The décor of license plates and patches of first responders provides a festive and welcoming vibe.
So next time you’re cruising Route 28 through Orleans, or better yet, eyeing a Firebirds game [Eldredge Park is 0.5 miles from the restaurant], go Yard[arm]!
The lobster trap Christmas Tree in Provincetown. Photo credit: Ptown Tourism.
by Jeff Shaw
The holiday season is upon us! And Cape Cod is a wonderful place to experience authentic Christmas cheer, “where modern amenities and Victorian charm casually coexist.” (Boston Magazine)
So in an effort to spread some Christmas cheer, check out these holiday events on Cape Cod. You may just catch the holiday spirit!
Christmas by the Sea, Chatham
Christmas by the Sea weekend, December 13th – 15th, is full of events that have leapt right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The celebration kicks off on Friday night with a children’s light parade that escorts Santa down Main Street on a fire truck to the tree lighting ceremony at Sears Park (intersection of Seaview and Main Streets).
Activities continue in shops up and down Main Street as well as free horse & carriage rides and visits with Santa in the Chamber Information booth (next to Yankee Ingenuity gift shop). Saturday brings plenty more events in the businesses around town, including a special movie screening for the little ones at the Chatham Orpheum Theater and Breakfast with Santa.
Christmas Parades, Falmouth, Hyannis & Mashpee
Christmas Carolers in Falmouth. Photo credit: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
Gardens Aglow, Heritage Museum and Gardens, Sandwich
Gardens aglow! Photo credit: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
Gardens Aglow at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich celebrates the season with over nine miles of holiday lights. Stroll through the illuminated grounds, while also taking time to pose with Santa in a 1914 Ford Model T, take a ride on a vintage carousel, roast marshmallows, and participate in a reindeer scavenger hunt.
Drive through Sandwich and try to spot all of The Giants, over two dozen illuminated sculptures along 6A.
Polar Express, Cape Cod Central Railroad, Bourne & Hyannis
One of Santa’s little helpers. Photo credit: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
All aboard! Magic is in the air on the Cape Cod Central Railroad’s Polar Express, where passengers will sing carol over cookies and hot cocoa. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away for a festive trip to meet Santa.
Trains depart out of the Buzzards Bay depot from late November through December.
Lobster Pot [Christmas] Tree, Provincetown
There is quite possibly nothing more quintessential New England than a Christmas Tree made entirely out of lobster traps. Provincetown’s Lobster Pot Tree is made using over 100 of them – all borrowed from local lobstermen – and is accentuated by 3,000+ LED lights and colorful buoys. Visit Provincetown’s Lopes Square anytime during the holiday season.
The coolest coffee run image ever. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
by Jeff Shaw
Hungry and in a hurry? Desperate for a shot of [fresh] caffeine? Need a little nautical inspiration? In search of a cutesy gift for your weekend lodging host? All of these – and more – can be found at the Lighthouse Keeper’s Pantry.
The caesar and Cape Codder salads were excellent. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Yes, the Lighthouse Keeper’s Pantry in Yarmouthport has it all. The menu may be a tad limited, but the taste more than makes up for it. Scones, muffins, croissants in the morning; Caesar and Cape Codder salads in the afternoon.
Fun fact: the breakfast sandwiches are made on a stone griddle [and often sell out].
Pro tip: for lunch, opt for a salad; those crotons [at least in the Caesar salad] are nothing short of heavenly.
Stay to admire the tall ships artwork. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
The drip coffee ranges from light, dark and decaf, with the usually expresso, latte, mochas in cold or hot versions.
As for the vibe; it is inviting. Sit and sip in a private booth or stretch out in the gallery of tall ships on the high seas artwork.
A cozy booth to sip and sit. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Finally, as you might find in a rural General Store, there are plenty of jarred goodies, pre-packaged desserts, dish towels and other small trinkets that line the front facing windows looking out to Route 6A.
Word of caution, parking in the back lot is tight to say the least. Opt for parking along 6A in the parking spaces before the café.
A blank canvas which is the front parking lot at Marion’s Pie Shop (July 28, 2024). Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
I first wrote about Marion’s Pie Shop in August 2018, way back when this creative project first launched. In that post, I focused on the joy that is every bite, of the famed, freshly baked, cinnamon nut roll. I also couldn’t help myself joining in the chorus of [coffee] complaints about “just the Keurig.” [I still believe a big revenue-generating opportunity is being missed.]
Fast forward six years later, the summer of 2024, and a recently realized a handful of photographs on my cellphone reveal a fascinating, yet lesser known, story happening at Marion’s Pie Shop. Parking wars. Hold that thought.
The six years between 2018 (again, website launch) and 2024, a lot happened (COVID-19 pandemic, my children arrived, UConn won back-to-back national titles, you know, a lot). But more relatable to this post; in 2022 the owners of Marion’s Pie Shop listed it for sale.
The asking price was $2.9 million for the property, equipment and recipes, but no deal was made. Fortunately, Blake and Cindy Stearns, owners over the last 20 years, continue the near 75-year tradition of whipping up pastries and pies six days a week. The operation is expected to continue until a buyer is found.
Back to the parking wars.
Common “north-to-south”-style parking in the front parking lot (July 7, 2024). Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
As any patron knows, Marion’s Pie Shop is located on a busy stretch of Route 28 in West Chatham. Cars approaching from the West are often accelerating up a hill; and unless they are turning right down Ridgevale Road, have no reason to slow down in this mostly residential section.
Fortunately, traffic from the East (the side of the road of which Marion’s is located) tends to slow down thanks to regular right turns onto Sam Ryder Road to access the town transfer station.
A few things happening here (July 6, 2024). Note the street parking off the westbound lane as well as the “east-to-west”-style parking in the front parking lot. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
Regardless, pulling out of – or backing up from- Marion’s front parking lot in the high summer season is dicey. To make matters worse, cars, trucks, trailers, etc., car regularly parked along both sides of the road blocking your side vision while narrowing the ability for oncoming traffic to pass.
A few things are happening here (August 18, 2024). First, the green coupe broke down. Second, cars are parked on the street heading eastbound. Third, while hard to see, cars pulling into the front parking lot began to double park behind the cars already there. Desperate times, call for desperate measures re: tasty pastry. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
But the real battle; the lack of lines in the front parking lot (crushed shell surface) means choosing your own adventure when it comes to parking ‘spaces.’
I’m not really sure what’s happening here (August 17, 2024). Cars parked in every and all directions. Mayhem at Marion’s, mayhem! Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
I’ve often heard – and sometimes noticed – that people watching is entertaining. Well, so is car parking watching, but only, at Marion’s Pie Shop.
