Happy New Year!

There's plenty of bands on the Cape to help bring in the New Year and many are just a mile away in downtown Hyannis. Chain Drive is playing at the British Beer Company on Main Street. The Incredible Casuals, the Greenheads and Sarah Swain will be the the Island Merchant also on Main St in Hyannis. Ricky King Russell Band will be at Harry's Blues Bar in Hyannis. Right down the street from the Tidewater, Nuthi Fancy and Mike Ardolino and Prism Rock 'n Dance Band will be at 4Bros Bistro which is located at the Cove Resort.

Those who want a quieter evening with dinner, most of the local restaurants including Yarmouth House, Alberto's, the Roadhouse are offering New Year's Eve special dinners. There's also comedy at the Comedy Lounge, inside the Radisson Hotel, with Iro Proctor & Friends.

So if you haven't made New Year's plans yet, come to the Cape, relax in our pool during the day and celebrate the New Year in the evening. However you choose to celebrate, my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2009.

Voula

New Year's Eve

The end of the year is already here and a great way to say goodbye to 2008 and usher in 2009 is at Chatham's First Night. The 18th annual First Night will get started around noon on Dec 31st with the town photo in front of Chatham Lighthouse. From there dozens of entertainment features, featuring music and culture from the 40's, will get started around town. The culmination will at midnight when Chatham's unique "Countdown Cod will be dropped from a bucket truck at Oyster Pond with fireworks erupting behind it. Countdown Cod is a giant aluminum creature designed and built by First Night committee vice chairman, Richard Clifford.

A big bonfire on the beach on the evening of the fireworks allows kids too young to stay up until midnight to enjoy the New Year's Eve celebrations. Buttons are still available for the events, although there are several events that do not need the button for participation. For a complete list of activities and merchants selling the buttons visit, www.firstnightchatham.com.

The Tidewater is offering a special rate of $59.99 on New Year's Eve and if you're staying for two nights, the rate goes down to $49.99 per night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Voula

It's Back!

In the beginning of 2008 I wrote a blog about the shipwreck that was uncovered after a storm in January. The storm revealed a skeleton of a shipwrecked schooner which became an attraction for locals and tourists alike. It was left on the beach so that nature could take its course.

Recent storms have again uncovered more of the shipwreck at Newcomb Hollow beach in Wellfleet, giving a fresh view of the old wooden vessel. With the wonderfully warm weather we've had recently, it's a good opportunity to take a ride to Wellfleet take advantage of this unique opportunity to and walk the beach and view the shipwreck.

Voula

Happy Holidays

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish those who celebrate Christmas a very merry Christmas and those who celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, happy holidays. I hope you can take some time from the craziness of the preparations to enjoy the day with family and friends. Sometimes we try so hard to make sure that everything is perfect that we loose sight of beauty of the season. Enjoy!

Voula

Christmas thoughts

As Christmas nears, I've run out of Cape Cod Christmas activities (or maybe burned out!) I've always loved Christmas,especially the decorating and cooking. I've always tried to make my home warm and cozy during Christmas with the trees, greens and holly, Santas, nutcrackers and the warm glow of lights at night. With our new house, I was again able to decorate after 3 years of not having our own home and it looks beautiful. My favorite time is in the evening, sitting in the family room with the fireplace and only the lights from the tree. If only life could be so simple!

My least favorite part is shopping and the whole present thing. We've shaved off our list so that we basically buy for only our girls, so that simplifies things. My girls started a tradition of making us gifts for Christmas when they were young and they still get together before Christmas and come up with unique handmade gifts. On Christmas morning, they are so excited for us to see them, that they make us open our gifts first. I look forward to this every year. They have become very talented and creative in their gifts and surprise us with something different every year. All those years of doing arts and crafts with them when they were young paid off!

Being Greek, cooking and pushing food on people is big in our family. The traditional desserts I make are baklava, kourabethes, koulouria, and yalaktobouriko (my favorite). This is certainly not the time to diet.

I hope you all enjoy your own traditions and take the time to enjoy friends and family.

Voula

Bass River Cookie Stroll

I found another wonderful Christmas activity for those who still need help getting into the spirit or those who love to take advantage of every opportunity to celebrate Christmas: the Historic Bass River Holiday Cookie Stroll. Anything with the word "cookie" in it is appealing to me. This benefits the South Yarmouth Library and is held Saturday from 10:30 to 3:00pm.

The "ticket" for the stroll is actually a cookbook with recipes of all cookies served on this walking tour through historic Bass River to 12 sites. The cookbook comes with a festive drawstring bag for collecting cookies along the way. My bag, of course, would be empty since I would be eating them along the way. Tickets are $12 from all Bank of America branches.

Voula

Osterville's Christmas Stroll

Most towns had their Christmas strolls last weekend, but Osterville's will be this evening. It is their 39th year! The downtown closes to traffic and is open to foot traffic only. From what I have heard it's like a big block party.

My husband and I discovered Osterville a few months ago when we were house hunting. We loved the town and the picturesque downtown with it's quaint village atmosphere. I think this is one of the least commercial strolls where one can imagine old fashioned Christmases where everyone walked downtown and met their neighbors.

The weather is actually great on the Cape. While many towns have had ice storms, the Cape just had rain and the sun actually came out today. If you want to get away from the ice and winter mess, come to the Cape and enjoy our manager's special of two nights for $99.99.

Voula

Christmas Classic Theater

What is more representative of Christmas than Dickens, "A Christmas Carol"? This classic story has become synonymous with Christmas. I read the book to my children when they were young and we watched the movie every Christmas.

Everybody is familiar with the Dickens story of miser Scrooge's redemption complete with flying ghosts, but there's a version playing on the Cape with a slightly different perspective. "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" written by Tom Mula and presented by The Academy of Performing Arts is playing through December 14th in Orleans. This version tells the story through the eyes of Scrooge's dead partner. The play, directed by Peter Earle, features just four actors costumed in black and simple staging. I haven't seen the play, but it sounds like an interesting take on a classic story.

For more information on the play call the Academy of Performing Arts at 508-255-1963.

Voula

Madeline's Christmas

I have two daughters who are now 27 and almost 29. When they were young, we had a ritual of cuddling up after their evening bath and I would read them wonderful children's books. After they started to read they would sometimes read their favorite books to me. When we were living in Mobile, Alabama, one of our neighbors gave them books on two charming, mischievous, and feisty young girls. One was Eloise who lived at the Park Plaza and the other was Madeline who was an orphan in Paris. Eloise was definitely the spoiled rich girl who put her nanny through hell at times, but what I liked about both girls was their independent and fearless spirit.

All these wonderful memories of snuggling together while enjoying books came back to me when I saw in the paper that Ludwing Bemelmans', Madeline's Christmas (the musical) is being presented by Harwich Winter Theatre from December 12-30th.

"In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived 12 little girls in two straight lines. They left the house at half past nine...the smallest one was Madeline." Thus begins the first Madeline book. These twelve little girls always dressed the same and wore flat sailor hats. Madeline always stood out because she was mischievous, courageous and fearless.

Seeing the play would be a fun evening for both parents and children and a great way to usher in Christmas. In addition to being a fun activity, it's also educational and introduces children to literature and the theatre. For more information on the play, call their box office at 508-432-2002.


Voula

Unique Gifts from Cape Cod

If you are like me and haven't started your Christmas shopping, or have a beach lover on your list, Cape Cod offers some unique choices. While you're shopping you can also enjoy the unique flavor of the small Cape villages and towns. The very popular Cape Cod bracelet with its classic double ball is now available in both earrings and necklaces. It's the one item that guest ask me about most often. The beauty is in its simplicity with just a narrow band terminating in two double balls. There's also nautical jewelry available in sterling or gold. Some of the most dramatic I've seen feature starfish, scallop shells, and sand dollars. Almost all Cape jewelers and gift shops offer these items. Of course, the best quality will be found at jewelry stores.

Cape Annie's Lighthouse, Mrs. Mitchell's Gifts, Linda's Originals, Dennisport General Store are some stores offering gifts with nautical themes such as lighthouses. There's also galleries with blown glass in Hyannis and Sandwich. This is just a short list. Every town has its own unique gift shops. The fun part is exploring the Cape towns and you are actually enjoying Holiday shopping instead of fighting the crowds.
Happy shopping!

Voula

Seaside Christmas

There's still time to come to the Cape and get into the Christmas Spirit. In most Cape towns, the holiday season really gets rolling this weekend. I've already mentioned Nantucket, Hyannis and Chatham Christmas celebrations, but there's also Provincetown, Harwich, Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich... You have your choice of towns and traditions.

We are also running a last minute special of 2 nights for $99.99 at the Tidewater.

Voula

Christmas by the Sea, Chatham

Chatham is one of the most picturesque towns on the Cape and only a twenty minute drive from the Tidewater. This weekend they also have a Christmas festival which is the 30th annual "Christmas by the Sea". Friday, Dec 5 at 4:30PM, Main Street will be brimming with locals and visitors for the annual tree trimming at Sears Park. Town officials will be flipping on the lights, but children decorate the tree with homemade ornaments. Bell ringers and hayrides from 4 to 7PM will set the mood.

The festivities continue on Saturday with more hay rides and people strolling down Main Street and into the shops for shopping specials and refreshments. Santa arrives on Sunday at 1:30PM at Fish Pier and then to the Community Center where he listens to children while The Chatham Town Band plays. The festivities continue the following weekend with all the stores staying open late for the stroll and offering cookies and hot drinks. Dec 13th is the 12th annual historic inn tour, featuring 10 inns decked out in all their holiday finery.

As I said, Chatham is only a short drive from the Tidewater and we continue to offer our weekend special price of $59.99 per night for Friday and Saturday and $49.99 for Sunday - Thursday. Come to the Cape where you can relax and enjoy small town Christmas traditions.

Voula
Facts borrowed from Community Newspaper Company

Voula

Hyannis Village Christmas Stroll

The Hyannis Village Christmas Stroll takes place this weekend, Saturday December 6th, on Main Street, Hyannis and the waterfront. Most of the restaurants are offering a 20% discount on meals. Many stores have an open house and are offering a discount and also cookies and hot mulled cider to warm up lookers and shoppers. The fun starts on Saturday morning with breakfast with Santa at the British Beer Company. Starting at 10AM there will be hayrides and train rides down Main Street, cookie decorating, and crafts. Of course there will be carolers, music, face painting, jewelry making...the list goes on and on.

Harbor Lighting and Boat Parade along with carols and crafts will be at Bismore Park from 4 - 7PM. Only on the Cape would Santa arrive by boat. Watch the Harbor lighting from the warmth and comfort of the Cape Cod Maritime Museum and enjoy cider and cookies. The Artist Shanties will be open for shopping and Santa's arrival. Hy-Line Cruises will provide a complimentary Harbor Tour. What fun! For more details on the activities visit www.hyannismainstreet.com/ChristmasStrollor click on the title above.

So pack your bags, bring the kids and enjoy some Christmas cheer on the Cape. Of course, we would like you to stay at the Tidewater where you can enjoy the pool before or after the activities, and our own breakfast diner, Helen's Diner. This weekend's special is $59.99 for Friday or Saturday night.

Voula