Halloween Fun

Halloween is being celebrated throughout Cape Cod this weekend. For theatre buffs, the "Invisible Man", an H.G. Wells thriller, adapted by J. Hagenbuckle is playing at Harwich Junior Theatre in West Harwich. If anyone has seen the 1933 film, you'll remember the frightening invisible man with his head wrapped in bandages and wearing googles and gloves to cover his invisibility. According to Hagenbuckle, he followed the book as to the idea of the mad scientist and the invisibility formula and his madness, but "wrote him as a complete, sympathetic heroic figure, someone to root for and care about". For more information, visit www.hjtcapecod.or or www.capetix.com.

For those of you who prefer to party on Halloween, there are Halloween parties at many bars and restaurants. The British Bear Company and the Roo Bar on Main Street in Hyannis are both offering live music and a Halloween party. For the more sedate crowd, Oliver's Restaurant on 6A is also featuring good food and live music. Of course there's much more going on, so come on down!

Voula

Plymouth

My husband and I just purchased a home in Plymouth, where we will be residing when I am not on property at the Tidewater. After traveling back and forth several times a week to clean and prepare our home before we move, I've come to realize that Plymouth is actually closer than many towns on the Cape. Before the Cape Cod Canal, Plymouth was actually considered part of the Cape.

For visitors to the Cape, Plymouth only half an hour away, makes for a wonderful day trip or a stop on the way to or from the Cape. Of course, everyone knows about Plymouth Plantation, which is a step back in time to see how the Pilgrims lived, but there is much more to Plymouth. I enjoy visiting downtown Plymouth and the waterfront with its many shops, restaurants, attractions and snack bars. It's a great place to walk around, sit on a bench and watch the boats, visit Pilgrim museum, Plymouth Rock and, of course, one of my favorite activities, people watching.

While I'll be spending most of my time at the Tidewater, where I presently live, tending to the hotel and customers' needs, I'll now have a peaceful retreat away from work and a lovely town to explore. Living where I work definitely has its advantages, but there's one negative: there's never getting away from work! Hope to see you in Plymouth!

Voula

Cape Cod Marathon

The 31st running of the Cape Cod Marathon will be Sunday morning, October 26th, at 8:30 AM on the village green in downtown Falmouth. This race has been saluted by Runner's World as one of the 10 most scenic marathon courses in America. It starts at a typical New England village green, through rolling farmland and around cranberry bogs, to the Nobska Light and along Vineyard Sound. The race will include 1270 entrants competing for the full marathon and 800 runners running in a relay team.

This marathon also marks the 100th 26.2 mile road race for a Vineyard Haven "legend", Bill Brown. Bill began running marathons in 1989 and along the way has become a role model to many. He used to be overweight and smoked 3 pack of cigarettes a day! More than 100 of his friends will be there for support and to help him celebrate his 100th marathon.

If you're not a runner, this still sounds like a fun way to spend Sunday morning.

Voula

Information obtained from Cape Cod Times.

Prime Dining at Moderate Prices

As I mentioned before, Cape Cod has some of the finest restaurants and eating on the Cape is much more pleasurable and economical during the off season. First, there's no long lines and to entice the customer on slow days, many of the best restaurants are offering special pricing during the off peak hours or days. One of my favorite, the Ocean House, which has exquisite cuisine and breathe taking views offers a three course prix fixed menu of $25 all night. This price includes appetizer, entree, and dessert and is a fraction of the regular cost. The only blackout days are on Saturday and holidays.

Many other restaurants also offer early bird specials if you eat between 5pm and 6pm. The Yarmouth House, down the street from the Tidewater, offers this special. If you have a favorite restaurant, call and ask for off season specials. You'd be surprised how many restaurants are participating. Bon appetit!

Voula

Wellfleet Oysterfest

Another festival on Cape Cod! This weekend, October 18 & 19, marks the 8th annual Wellfleet Oysterfest. This festival, as its name indicates, celebrates the town's famous oysters and shell fish traditions. Highlights of the festival include a taste of local cuisine, New England beers and ales, and arts and crafts. Of course there's no festival without competitive fun: kayaking challenge, 5K road race, marine-themed spelling bee, games for kids, and the most popular of all, the Oyster Shuck-Off. For more details and to visit their website, www.wellfleetoysterfest.org, click on the title of this blog or call 508-349-3499.

Wellfleet is only half an hour away from the Tidewater and you can take advantage of our Manager's Special price of $69.99 for Friday and Saturday night.

Voula

Sad News

We were all sad to hear that Dennis, the manatee that had strayed into Sesuit Harbor, died in Orlando yesterday after a 27 hour trip. He had suffered from being in the cold water and his temperature had dropped to 73 degrees which is 24 degrees below normal. Every effort was made to bring him to his native surroundings, but unfortunately, the stress was too much for him. He definitely wouldn't have made it if he was left in the north, so many agencies and individuals coordinated their efforts to give him a chance. Cape Cod residents fell in love with him during his short stay and we are all saddened to hear he didn't make it after such a long journey.

Voula

Manatee Mania

The Cape has had an unusual visitor who arrived Tuesday and has become quite a celebrity in Dennis. The southern guest has somehow come further north than any of his relatives. This guest, affectionately called Dennis, is a manatee. Never before has a manatee been reported this far north in the Atlantic Ocean. When the water temperature drops below 60 degrees, manatees are unlikely to survive. Therefore, wildlife groups are orchestrating a rescue this weekend for "Dennis". If the rescuers succeed , the manatee will be transported to Sea World in Orlando, where it will be rehabilitated and then released. The plan is to lure the manatee to shore with lettuce, envelop it in a net and lift the 600 to 800 pound manatee out of the water with a crane. They hope to load it into a cargo plane, where veterinarians will shower the manatee with water until it arrives to Orlando.

In the meantime, Sesuit Harbor in Dennis has become a tourist destination. Hordes of visitors have descended on the town and what is usually a very quiet time of the year, has turned into a carnival atmosphere with an environmental police officer working crown control over the past two days. I hope he makes it to Florida safely.
(Some information courtesy of Boston Globe.)
Voula

Columbus Day Weekend

Columbus Day Weekend, the last holiday weekend of the season, is here and the weather is beautiful! The leaves have started to turn and there's even some foliage on the Cape. There's also a lot going on. The Seaside Festival in Yarmouth, mentioned in an earlier blog, is the perfect place to spend the day with rides, parade, arts & crafts and Fireworks.

Don't forget walks on the beach and this time of year there are no parking fees. The National Seashore with its scenic hiking and bike trails is also a great place to visit. And for boat lovers, the schooner "Alabama" will be at Hyannis Marina for the weekend and open to the public.

Voula

Costume Exhibit

This the last weekend for the Historical Costume Exhibit at the Captain Bangs Hallet House in Yarmouthport. Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum is the only captain's house regularly open to the public. This sea captain's home provides an intimate glance into 19th century family life. The parlors are arranged as if the captain was just returning from his voyage to China, likely 16 to 18 months duration. His gifts of silk fabric, toys, porcelain, lacquered pieces and tea are on display as well as costumes of the period. Currently there is an exhibit of more than two dozen costumes and accessories from 1825 to 1925. These costumes will be on display until October 5th. For more info visit hsoy.org.

Voula

Annual Yarmouth Seaside Festival

Columbus Day weekend is the last of the very busy weekends on the Cape. The Yarmouth Seaside Festival (30th year!)is held every year on Columbus Day weekend and is a great place to bring the family. It takes place on Route 28 in South Yarmouth and features activities such as kid's rides, log rolling, arts & crafts, moonwalk, face painting, pumpkin decorating contests, greased pole contest...the list goes on and on. There's also a 5K road race, canoe & kayak race, and sand sculpture contest on Bass River Beach. Sunday night fireworks on Seagull beach top off the activities.

There's enough to keep even the most active kids busy and happy. And of course, there's no festival without good food. Sample local restaurant food like Captain Parker's clam chowder. If you need an excuse to come to the Cape, the Seaside Festival is definitely one. For more information, visit www.yarmouthseasidefestival.com or call 508-778-1008.

The Tidewater is offering a manager's special for this weekend: stay two nights at $99.99 or stay three nights at $89.99 per night.

Voula
Voula