“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.
The renovated bar at the Wild Goose Tavern. Photo credit: Wild Goose Tavern.
by Jeff Shaw
There are numerous ways to see a place. Walking, running, biking, segway, tour bus, taxi, helicopter ride, whatever. An often celebrated, perhaps more likely urban pastime, is the fabled pub crawl.
My personal favorite – perhaps all-time – is the Running of the Santa’s [and Pub Crawl] in downtown Hartford in the mid-2000s. Proceeds raised money for the CT Children’s Medical Center. For a few years, the date was circled on everyone’s calendar and bolstered the season giving with a ton of laughs and shenanigans.
Somehow that brings me back to Chatham, downtown, the fabled Main Street. So here’s an idea for the 21 years old+ crowd, try to see Downtown Chatham [via] Pub Crawl!
Below is a suggested route:
Start
Red Run Bar and Grille bar. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Sure, the restaurant is technically on the outskirts of the rotary, the unofficial start of downtown. But in [summer] season, this place is buzzing with activity, especially during the 22 home games of the Chatham A’s.
The Red Nun porch has a peek-a-boo view of the baseball field. The view would be clear, if not for a row of long standing trees. And don’t get me started about the potential of building out a second floor deck to have an even better view of the field (even with the trees). That porch provides a few high tops, too.
Stop 2
The wall mural at the Chatham Orpheum Theater. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
One word: Nonprofit. Two words: Pizza Shark. Three words: Local Nonprofit Theater. More to the point, the cozy little bar and seating area is under the radar. First, the mural. I’ve starred in awe at that masterpiece for years and still see something new each time. With six beers on tap, decent wine list and plenty of cocktails to choose from, the Theater is a great second act [performance pun intended].
Pro Tip: Time your crawl so you can take a break and go see a show!
After undergoing an extensive renovation, the Goose bar is twice as big, so probably twice as fun? A few weeks back, I was late meeting friends, who were seated outside. The inside bartender told me I was not allowed to order a drink at the bar and bring it outside to join them, even though they had closed out their check and were mostly just enjoying the view.
Regardless, the Goose lives inside the Wayside Inn, an iconic hotel in downtown Chatham. Much of the Wayside Inn [rooms] have a view of Kate Gould Park, where band concerts are performed every Friday in the summer as well as Shakespeare in the Park and countless other festivals and events. The back building looks onto Chatham Seaside Links.
Stop 4
The bar at Bluefins Sushi and Sake Bar. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Yes, you read that address right [after re-reading the Wild Goose’s address]. The two restaurants face one another.
Bluefins vibe is way more energetic, though one could argue too much stimulus with the track lighting, techno music, big screen televisions and one of the biggest “U” shaped bars that’s not named The Chatham Squire [well get there in a moment].
Despite the addictive vibe, I still cannot fully forget the former life of the location, Celestino’s, which had a reputation for either over serving or staying open late, or both. For one fateful evening, a few of us popped in there, somewhat shocked it was still open. Almost immediately we watched a young woman drop a slice of pizza onto the floor, step on it, sort of slip on it, then pick it up and eat it. So many years later, I still cannot get that image out of my mind.
I wouldn’t expect anything like that to happen at Bluefins, but hey, “those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”
Author’s Note: I never miss an opportunity to tell that story because it was so ridiculous.
End
The fabled Chatham Squire. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
