Author’s Note: While I don’t recall ever truly following through on a New Year’s resolution, my wife and I did create a “choose your own adventure” kind-of-game as a way of forcing us to try new things and bust out of the “routine cycle” that occurs every so often. We’ve made it a point to try “new to us” nearby and not so nearby restaurants, music venues, beaches, hiking trails, etc. The “how to” was quite simple; just write down random travel activities as they come to mind, fold-up the paper, mix it in a jar on the kitchen counter, and regularly pull “an adventure.” Though we never defined “regularly…”
The business community, specifically, the Chatham Merchants Association, created a “Where are the Whales?” Scavenger Hunt to find 35 decorated wood-shaped whales, spread across town – in stores, restaurants, theaters, even the airport. Participants (notice I didn’t say “Kids”) match the whale (number) to the listed locations, submit a completed log to the Chatham Chamber of Commerce Information Booth (and receive a prize) and, if the log book is 100% correct, are entered into a drawing for 1 of 5 grand prizes, to be announced…
All that walking left us parched so Ellen suggested being adults again by trying Devil’s Purse Brewing Company in South Dennis. My craft beer mentor “Jonesy” suggested visiting so we knew it was going to be good. The brewery set up a beer garden complete with cornhole pits, board games, picnic tables and Bob Marley on the speakers.
While Devil’s Purse does not do the traditional “flight”, we ordered 5 oz “samples” including: Shiso Berry Ale (delicious on a hot summer day), Skywave #7 Saison (light option), Stonehorse Citra IPA (great balance) and Table Beer #16 (for an experimental, very complete). They also had cans of a Double-IPA Hens and Chickens for sale (it was not on tap) so I grabbed a 4-pack, along with Citra and the Table Beer #16, as their cooler was looking sparse, meaning, this stuff goes fast. If you have never been, Devil’s Purse also does growler, howler and crowler fills. For such a small operation, the brewery has an impressive number and variety of beers on tap. Even better, their beers (especially the Handline Kolsch) can be found at most lower cape restaurants.
On the way back to Chatham, we “saw a sign,” checked out the neighborhood, then made a few more “whale stops” before calling off the hunt. A casual dinner at Kream N’ Kone (never disappointing) awaited us, and then, the ultimate first time experience of this summer, attending a show at the Monomoy Theatre in Chatham for the short-run of Little Shop of Horrors, one of Ellen’s favorite musicals. Once again, I was star-struck (pun intended as many of these young actors go on to Broadway), upon the realizeation that we had only just driven by this place for decades until now.
The Monomoy Theater is so Cape Cod, you can’t make it up. Like many of the seasonal workers throughout the Cape, the company is mostly college students (Univiersty of Hartford) on summer break seeking to re-fine, if not enhance, their craft. Theatre-goers park on the lawn. Some of the company is provided housing on-site. Cast members not in the current performance sell concessions in the patio area during intermission. By concessions, I mean $1 water, ice tea, lemonade and cookies. There is not a bad seat in the house. Even the special effects are impressive for a seasonal program. We were so delighted with the experience I’m pretty sure were going to become “Friends of the Monomoy Theater” in 2019. In the end, art wins.
The next day was a much anticipated beach day at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. The “usual beach crew,” had a strict agenda of bogey boarding, pro kadima, Kan Jam, and Waboba. Seemed another great time to be kids again!
Do you have any Cape Cod “firsts” this summer?