Chatham Living by the Sea - 2024 Spring/Summer Issue

Beautiful Views

Here's one place where we don't discount quality and service. Getting value means more than low price. It means quality, service and confidence knowing your satisfaction is guaranteed. Find it all at our Hunter Douglas Gallery®, stop in and see us today!

AUTHORIZED HUNTER DOUGLAS REPAIR CENTER

Duette® Honeycomb Shades • Shutters • Blinds Silhouettes® • Luminettes® • Skylight Shades Draperies • Top Treatments • Upholstery

Chatham | 2504 Main Street | 508.432.0558 | windowtreatmentscapecod.com Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm • Saturday 9 am – 1 pm

CHATHAM Etc.

ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION. MASTERFULLY INTEGRATED.

PHOTO: BRIAN VANDEN BRINK

#1 Team by Sales Volume in New England

Unrivaled in the pursuit of Excellence

Pine Acres has been navigating the buying and selling of exceptional properties for over 75 years. We have helped Generations find their perfect place. We have been #1 in Chatham for 20 years. Still locally owned, Pine Acres has partnered with Compass to bring its vast resources to our clients. We are about long-term relationships. It’s about you.

Jacqueline Chanda

Lisa Kovvuri

Wanda Acosta

Barbara Berry

Scott Panuczak

Annie Doyle Sue DeStaebler

Nicholas Heaney

TOP TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

We won the Top Brokerage in the United States because we offer our Sales Associates the most innovative technology to market and accelerate your successful home sale!

Experience the William Raveis advantage with RAVAI:

•Local Housing Data, backed by real-time data and advanced analytics

• Predictive housing forecasting and neighborhood heat maps

• ChatGPT functionality and integration

• Sophisticated property promotion software tools

•Raveis365, our best-in-class customer management platform

Local Housing Data Forecasting Tool

Ryan Raveis leads our A.I. Initiative

RAVAI

Chatham, MA

150 It’s a Beautiful Day

105 Main Attractions

Three artists and one photographer who show in Chatham’s Main Street galleries share their art and processes.

124 Magical Monomoy

Monomoy Island may lie only eight nautical miles south of the elbow of the Cape, but it seems a world away—an untouched paradise.

140 Meet Me on Main

Siblings step out for a day of summer fun and hit all the hot spots: Art in the Park, Chatham Candy Manor, Buffy’s Ice Cream (home of Chatham Ice Cream Bars) and the Chatham Orpheum Theater.

From a stroll down Main Street to a walk on the beach and everything in between, you’ll look stylish in outfits accented with unique jewelry from local boutiques that will take you from day to night.

170 Modern Love

A dramatic, contemporary addition, connected to an updated Greek Revival house on Oyster Pond, successfully blends the historic and modern—and showcases stunning water views.

184 Vibrant Hues and Magical Views

A North Chatham homeowner cultivates an enchanting garden featuring a variety of beautiful blooms and a profusion of color from May to November.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: BETTY WILEY, DAN CUTRONA, CHRIS COOPER

236 Marriage Made in Chatham

194 A Home Away from Home

For the Wright family, hosting Chatham Anglers players every year is a chance to contribute to the team and provide good examples for their three young children.

202

The Sounds of Summer

Baseball interns sow seeds of success with the Anglers.

212 Drawn to the Ocean

Waterfront estate nods to coastal tradition while embracing the lightness of life by the sea.

224 Cultivating Community

The sun-filled Chatham Community Garden yields not only fresh organic produce and a thriving habitat for pollinators, but also lifelong friendships and a chance for gardening enthusiasts to share tips and ideas.

From intimate to grand, Chatham’s reputation as a storybook setting for weddings is well deserved. Plus, we highlight locally sourced items for welcome bags and bridal gifts.

248 Coastal Comfort

The interiors of this family home in Chatham reflect both the homeowner’s style and the designer’s detailed approach.

260 Battling Bluefins

Spend a day on the charter boat Shearwater with Capt. John Clothier of Fish Chatham Charters.

268 Fresh Catch of the Day

Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar provides tuna recipes to prepare at home—or at sea.

DEPARTMENTS

26 Editor’s Letter

30 Contributors

38 Around Town

The S hape of Success

Creativity in Bloom Road Trip

58 Faces of Chatham

The Fourth-Generation Face of Puritan

Ser ving Up a Side of Good Vibes

At Yo ur Service

Eye s on the Future

Artist Expands Her Palette

73 Book Nook

Historic Storms, Shipwrecks and Seaside Romance

Exuberant Homes, Playful Qualities

A Valentine to Chatham

82 Spotlight

Hookers Ball XXII

Taste of Chatham

An Evening to Remember Fashion Show

Sunshine Soirée

Celebrate the Arts

A Summer Evening

98 A Look Back

A Stor ied History

273 Calendar of Events

289 Food & Drink

304 Final Thought

Think You Know Chatham?

ON THE COVER

The boathouse on the south side of Champlain Road, overlooking Stage Harbor and Stage Harbor Lighthouse, is a familiar site on “the Loop” in Chatham.

Photograph by Betty Wiley

Ella

Leavitt, Realtor ABR, SRS, SRES, RSPS

Ella fell in love with Cape Cod during her years of sailing trips from Newport RI to the Cape and Islands. A consummate professional with a creative flair, Ella is committed to providing all of her clients, both Sellers and Buyers, with a high level of service. She offers knowledge of the local market and important real estate trends; strong negotiating skills; attention to detail; and honesty and integrity. Ella is known for her ability to make the process of buying and selling a home an exciting, happy experience.

The Power of Gratitude

Reaching for the Stars

Volume 2 • Issue 1 Annual 2020

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 1 SPRING/SUMMER 2024

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lisa Leigh Connors

As my oldest son says goodbye to Monomoy Regional High School and heads off to college, I am feeling especially nostalgic. Over the past few months, I have been thinking about annual traditions we enjoyed together—the Fourth of July parade, Chatham Turkey Trot and First Night Chatham.

s I scrolled through my Facebook page recently, an image by photographer Julia Cumes brought a smile to my face: Her dog, Ocho, was running on a beach with the word “Grateful” written in the sand. As I write this letter during a time of social distancing, we have so many reasons to be thankful for this beautiful sandbar—walks on nature trails, runs on the beach, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, witnessing acts of kindness, and reading stories about people giving back.

Fast-forward many years, and I find myself standing inside the Chatham Community Center lobby outside the gym—where he played basketball and dodgeball—hanging silver star garland, black streamers and strands of white lights for his after-prom party.

Along the theme of giving back, one of our stories in this issue features six young individuals who find ways to strengthen the town they love. A few of these familiar faces include Aaron Polhemus, owner and CEO of Polhemus Savery DaSilva; Emma Carroll, manager of Chatham Clothing Bar; and Wyatt Sullivan, a popular teacher at Monomoy Regional Middle School.

Throughout this issue, you’ll find an abundance of rich and interesting content. Learn about Chatham’s connection to the Mayflower in the story “The Turning Point,” discover different Chatham towns across America in “Chatham, U.S.A.” and step inside The Cape Cod Chronicle newsroom in “Read All About It.” Kick off summer with our “Ultimate Summer Bucket list,” which includes everything from sightseeing tours in a Cessna Skyhawk to dancing on the sidewalks at Mondays on Main. Looking for a good beach read? We’ve got that, too, with a list of recommended books, including Elin Hilderbrand’s new novel “28 Summers,” coming out in June.

For this year’s senior prom, themed “Under the Stars,” I joined a group of parent volunteers early in the evening to help decorate for the all-night extravaganza (10 p.m.–5 a.m.). The after-prom party started several years ago to make sure kids have a safe, memorable and entertaining experience. Local businesses and the community came together and donated cash, food and merchandise. Students enjoyed laser tag, bowling, arcade games, a DJ dance party and a photo booth. A candy bar, coffee bar and food truck provided plenty of sweet treats and delicious offerings. I wanted to stay for the actual party myself!

Like the after-prom party, we hope this issue will keep you engaged and entertained as we take you on a memorable journey through Chatham that celebrates the people, history and unique stories. In “Faces of Chatham,” meet vibrant and inspiring business owners as well as thoughtful leaders—including two new executive directors—who bring years of experience and fresh ideas to their roles.

Hop aboard a charter boat in the story “Battling Bluefins,” which highlights adrenalinecharged moments of catching bluefin tuna. We also serve up creative ways on how to enjoy your catch of the day with the help of Andy Baler, owner of Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar. He offers recipes for tuna poke, tuna nachos and tuna ceviche.

While you spend time reading this issue, pay close attention to all of the businesses advertising in this publication. We are incredibly grateful to every single one of them for staying behind us and supporting Chatham Living by the Sea during these unprecedented times. We couldn’t produce this magazine without them. So please support these amazing and wonderful businesses—buy a gift card, go out to dinner, treat yourself to a new outfit, follow them on their social media pages and like their posts. After every storm comes a rainbow. Cheers to brighter days ahead!

Get ready to be transported to another place and time with “Magical Monomoy.” This untouched island paradise is only eight nautical miles from the elbow of the Cape, but it seems a world away.

Think you know Chatham? We came up with 20 questions that will put your knowledge to the test. We know you’ll have some fun at family gatherings this summer with trivia questions that cover history, pop culture and everything in between.

Cheers to a summer filled with sunshine, great company, happy memories and plenty of beach time!

lisa@chathamlivingmag.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lisa Leigh Connors lisa@chathamlivingmag.com

PUBLISHER

Janice Rogers janice@chathamlivingmag.com

PUBLISHER

Janice Rogers janice@chathamlivingmag.com

ART DIRECTOR

ART DIRECTOR

Eric Brust-Akdemir

Alison Caron alison@chathamlivingmag.com

eric@chathamlivingmag.com

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

COPY EDITORS

Rachel Arroyo, Jennifer Sperry

Sonja Bartlett sonja@chathamlivingmag.com

COPY EDITOR

ADVERTISING

Nan Fornal

Janice Rogers

janice@chathamlivingmag.com 774-722-2515

ADVERTISING

Janice Rogers

janice@chathamlivingmag.com 774-722-2515

WRITERS

WRITERS

Rachel Arroyo, Lisa Cavanaugh, Kelly Chase, Carol K. Dumas, Bill Higgins, Laurel Kornhiser, Debra Lawless, Marjorie Naylor Pitts, Joseph Porcari

Sonja Bartlett, Lisa Cavanaugh, Carol K. Dumas, Joe Healy, Bill Higgins, Debra Lawless, Marjorie McDonald Pitts, Jennifer Sperry

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Susan Auriemma, Amber Jane Barricman, Brian Vanden Brink, Chris Cooper, Julia Cumes, Dan Cutrona, Kim Roderiques, Judith I. Selleck, Alison Shaw, Betty Wiley

Julia Cumes, Dan Cutrona, Michael and Suz Karchmer, Michael J. Lee, Kim Roderiques, Christine Walsh Sanders, Jen Stello, Judith I. Selleck, Brian Vanden Brink, Betty Wiley

Order copies online at chathamlivingmag.com @chathamlivingbythesea @chathamlivingmag

Lisa Leigh Connors Editor-in-Chief lisa@chathamlivingmag.com

Lisa Leigh Connors Editor-in-Chief lisa@chathamlivingmag.com

PHOTO: JULIA CUMES; EMBROIDERED TOP FROM IF THE SHOE FITS; EARRINGS FROM DE LA MER

Stage Harbor Media, LLC

Stage Harbor Media, LLC P.O. Box 5, Chatham, MA 02633

P.O. Box 5, Chatham, MA 02633 chathamlivingmag.com @chathamlivingbythesea @chathamlivingmag

Single copy price $8.95/$9.95 Canada. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher disclaims all responsibility for omissions, errors and unsolicited materials. Printed in the USA.

Spring/Summer $8.95 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher disclaims all responsibility for omissions, errors and unsolicited materials. Printed in the USA.

JULIA CUMES

SHOWING ON CAPE COD Munson Gallery (Chatham), Mark August (Chatham)

BOSTON Copley Society of Art PORTLAND, MAINE Portland Art Gallery

SUSAN AURIEMMA

is a food and interiors photographer from Newport, Rhode Island. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Hamptons Magazine and Newport Life. When Susan isn’t shooting elegant homes and beautiful cuisine, she enjoys honing her skills with her photography teacher in faraway places like Morocco and Namibia. Susan is a longtime visitor to Chatham and is thrilled that shooting for Chatham Living by the Sea magazine means she gets to return to this place she loves.

MARJORIE MCDONALD

PITTS grew up on Cape Cod and after college worked in the field of international education in the West, Midwest and abroad. She returned to the Cape to teach English at a local high school. Pitts is also a dedicated volunteer with Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary’s sea turtle and diamondback terrapin rescue efforts and recently had a thrilling swim with an Olive Ridley sea turtle off the coast of Cabo Pulmo National Park in Mexico.

DAN CUTRONA’s work has appeared in Chatham Living by the Sea, Gulfshore Life, House Beautiful and Better Homes & Gardens. Dan divides his time between Miami and Cotuit with his wife, Amy, three young children, and French bulldog, Remy.

JULIA CUMES is a South African–born photographer based on Cape Cod. She’s passionate about storytelling and capturing real moments of human connection as well as expressive portraits. Her favorite projects are focused on women and the struggles they face around the world—as well as wildlife conservation. Most recently, she was chosen as the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s “2024 Artist of the Year.”

Brewster resident DEBRA LAWLESS is a prolific freelance writer. She is the author of a two-volume history of Provincetown—Provincetown Since World War II: Carnival at Land’s End and Provincetown: A History of Artists and Renegades in a Fishing Village. Lawless is currently writing a mystery novel set in a seaside village.

LISA CAVANAUGH is a writer and editor who grew up in New England and worked for many years in the theater and film industries in New York and Los Angeles. Living full-time on the Cape since 2010, Lisa has focused on sharing stories about the region’s fascinating people, places and pursuits.

BETTY WILEY is a well-known photographer and instructor on Cape Cod who specializes in landscape and nature photography throughout New England and beyond. Her work appears in local magazines and guidebooks, including Chatham Living by the Sea, Cape Cod Guide, South Coast Almanac and Cape Cod & the Islands magazine. Betty, who took this issue’s cover photo, teaches classes on Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and other post-processing software applications, and she is also a licensed drone pilot both in the US and in Europe.

Growing up, JENNIFER SPERRY summered in Brewster, walking the flats and hunting for hermit crabs. Now, whenever possible, she takes her two young daughters to the Cape for ice cream, seafood, beach days and book shopping. At her desk, she works as a marketing director in the wedding industry and is also a veteran freelance writer. She specializes in home and garden topics and enjoys writing because she learns something new with every article.

Photographer KIM RODERIQUES, a longtime Chatham resident, is passionate about photographing people, places and dogs. Roderiques has published several books, including Dogs on Cape Cod and was the photographer for the coffee table book I Am of Chatham. This summer, she will debut two new books: Dogs in the Province Lands, to benefit The Animal Rescue League of Boston, and Chatham: A Cape Cod Village to benefit WE CAN. In addition, Roderiques has produced three documentary films for nonprofit organizations.

CAROL K. DUMAS, a longtime newspaper editor and writer, is enjoying a second chapter in her career as a freelance writer and editor. Her writing has appeared in At Home on Cape Cod, the Boston Globe, the Cape Cod Times, Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine, Chatham Living by the Sea, New England Living and South Shore Home & Garden, among other publications.

JOE HEALY lives with his family in northern Vermont and spends time at a family house in East Falmouth on Cape Cod. He’s a longtime magazine editor, writer and communications professional who works for Vail Resorts as communications manager for Vermont and New York.

Editor-at-Large SONJA BARTLETT is a writer and video producer whose passion for Chatham and its people has been a source of inspiration throughout her entire life. Before starting a career in TV news, Sonja spent summers in Chatham working for her family’s inn where she learned firsthand the joys of sharing with visitors all the town has to offer. In this issue, Sonja is especially excited to share a bucket-list assignment: a feature on Monomoy Island, possibly her favorite place on earth.

BILL HIGGINS is an award-winning former newspaper sports editor and writer who has covered everything from World Series and Super Bowls to the Masters golf tournament and Boston Marathons. He’s happily married to a Yankees fan and likes to remind her that the Red Sox have won four World Series since 2004.

ALISON SHAW has drawn her photographic inspiration from the island of Martha’s Vineyard for nearly 50 years, spanning a career that led her from iconic black-and-white photography gracing the pages of the Vineyard Gazette, to stunning color work with 20 published books, thousands of fine art prints and photography workshops here and abroad. Alison’s second favorite place to photograph happens to be the Cape, including the Brewster Flats, National Seashore and each and every Cape lighthouse.

JULIA CUMES

Photographer: Warren Jagger

Builder: Evergreen Building Systems

Chatham Real Estate Market Update

A LOT has changed since Covid, especially how and where people live. There has been an influx of residents to Cape Cod; new buyers along with existing vacation homeowners who sold their primary home elsewhere to relocate here full-time. Some already had a longterm retirement goal to settle here, but expedited their plan after experiencing the pandemic. Now, many neighborhoods that were formerly unoccupied during the

winter months enjoy year-round activity. Chatham in the “off-season” has become much more robust and alive. As a result, fewer homes have turned over since 2020 and a historically-low supply of listings continues into 2024. This has had a tremendous effect on the price of homes in the region; no more apparent than in Chatham. The chart below shows the sales progression of single family homes (SFH) in Chatham over the past 5 years:

Between 2019 and 2023, the average sale price rose 67 percent. I became a Chatham Realtor in 2004, when the average sale price was $846,045, with 206 sales totaling $174,285,355. The price per square foot averaged $385. The prices in Chatham appear to have leveled off. In my opinion they won’t ever drop; though overpriced listings

will be reduced. An experienced local Realtor knows what a property is worth and what is should sell for. I’ve been a full-time, year-round Chatham Realtor for 20 years, with dozens of online reviews from Buyers and Sellers. Combining extensive local market knowledge with an honest, direct approach is my hallmark.

The Shape of Success

As Art in the Park celebrates its 10th anniversary, we look back at its origins and look ahead to what’s making a comeback this year.

CHATHAM ART IN THE PARK , previously known as Sharks in the Park, was born in 2013 when the Chatham Merchants Association, a part of the Chatham Chamber of Commerce, was thinking up new ways to raise money to sustain its programs. That first year, 52 five-foot boards cut into the shape of sharks were displayed for two weeks before being

auctioned during a gala at Chatham Bars Inn. Each shark was sponsored by a business or organization and decorated by a local artist. That year, the most expensive shark sold for $3,000.

Through the years, organizers have tweaked the event, with the auction now conducted online during

BY DEBRA LAWLESS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM RODERIQUES

Jerry Evans, owner of Chatham Wind and Time, carved a whale with his trademark “welcome” signs.

the summer. In 2020, whale cutouts were introduced and they have outshone sharks in popularity.

Stello Construction, Inc., donates its time to cut the shapes out of Versatex, a material used for house trim.

The first year artists received 10 percent of the auction price. Now they are given 50 percent, says Janice Rogers, who chairs the annual event. The remaining 50 percent funds future Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association events as well as Chatham’s nonprofit organizations. Last year’s whales raised $137,171—a record. (The priciest

whale sold for $10,050, another record.)

A related summertime activity, a scavenger hunt Oars in the Stores, donates 50 percent of its profits to Monomoy Community Services, a nonprofit group supporting Chatham’s families.

Art in the Park’s 10th anniversary installation (there was no display in 2014) will feature 60 whales, along with 12 sharks, in Kate Gould Park on Main Street beginning in late June. Online bidding will run through mid-August. Visit chathaminfo.com for a bidding link.

Chatham artist Whitney Heavey’s shark reflects her favorite view of Lighthouse Beach.

Clara Clough created a colorful patchwork representing Chatham on her whale.

Nick Heaney painted his whale with the colors of Cape Cod’s sea and sky.

Cape Cod’s #2 agent in sales and transactions for 2023

Sandra’s achievements highlight her longstanding success as a top producing agent since 1985. As the sole Cape Cod agent to reach $1 billion in lifetime sales and over 1300 closed transactions, her track record of success and her commitment to her clients is unparalleled.

Call today to discuss your real estate goals.

Cape Cod • Martha’s Vineyard • Nantucket

Creativity in Bloom

Floral-arranging workshops at 7 Sisters Floral in North Chatham inspire colorful and stunning designs.

BY MARJORIE MCDONALD PITTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

ON A GORGEOUS AUGUST EVENING IN CHATHAM,

I joined several other women gathered in a bright, intimate studio setting for one of 7 Sisters Florals’ flower-arranging workshops. The seasonal boutique in North Chatham offers a range of stunning floral designs—from the unique to the traditional—that incorporate seasonal fresh flowers, most notably tulips, peonies, hydrangeas and dahlias, grown locally by owner and master designer Janet Sherin and her extensive family. “I have six sisters,” says Sherin with a laugh. “Hence, the name—all together, we are 7 Sisters.”

“My sister Sue and I love to grow flowers,” says Sherin, adding they grow about 50 percent of the flowers used in their arrangements and the rest are from wholesale.

The demand for Sherin’s unique floral designs keeps her 7 Sisters Florals business bustling with creative energy from late spring to early autumn. In addition to her retail and delivery services, Sherin shares her talent for elevated design and floral preservation through evening workshops in the studio workroom that is just down the hall from her charmingly

Janet Sherin and her daughter, Maggie, put the finishing touches on a dahlia-forward ikebana floral arrangement.

Marjorie McDonald Pitts selects a colorful variety of fresh blooms to add to her arrangement.

appointed front shop, where she also sells artwork and distinct creations, including funky animal prints and stone leaf bird baths, made by family and friends.

The scope of the workshops varies throughout the season, ranging from the basics to advanced, from how to transform grocery store flowers into exquisitely designed arrangements, to creating stunning handheld bouquets and floral head wreaths, as well as expert instruction in the use of Japanese techniques such as Ikebana, Sogetsu and Kokedama.

On the evening I attended, the workshop focused on Ikebana, the Japanese style of floral arranging that celebrates natural elements, shape and line with a minimalist aesthetic—taught with the genial fluidity of Sherin’s warm, lighthearted style.

The evening began as we gathered in the welcoming and cozy shop, where we enjoyed a glass of wine accompanied by convivial conversation and light nibbles before making our way back to the studio and settling at one of seven workstations set up around a large, counter-height table, each with a rustic black vase filled with green floral foam. As uplifting music played subtly in the background, Sherin introduced us to our tools and materials, which included floral wire, clippers

Janet Sherin, owner of 7 Sisters Floral, shares her love for flowers and often incorporates elements from her own gardens into her arrangements.

Sophia Guerrero, a regular participant at Sherin’s workshops, inserts a pop of color into her floral creation.

and other hand tools, and a host of brightly colored flowers of many varieties, as well as buckets of branches, sticks and twigs.

Sherin picked up a large, yellow-veined green leaf and adeptly demonstrated how to peel away part of its vein structure, insert and adhere a wire to its back, and then manipulate the leaf into an accordion shape.

7 Sisters Florals

216 Orleans Road, Unit 2B North Chatham 203-451-1487

7sistersflorals.com

“Now you know that you can pick up a Trader Joe’s bouquet, and you can do something fun with those leaves,” Sherin says with a smile. “Leaf manipulation.”

After manipulating our own leaves, my classmates and I followed Sherin’s lead as we chose and inserted sticks, twigs and small pine branches into our arrangements and added select pieces of greenery. With the structure of our individual arrangements complete, Sherin showed us how to incorporate pops of color with her gorgeous selection of fresh dahlias, orchids and numerous other varieties of stemmed flowers. In the end, each participant had created her own work of floral art, every arrangement as unique as the woman who designed it. We left that evening not only with our floral creations, but also with a new skill and treasured memory. A beautiful arrangement, indeed.

Participants show off their unique floral creations.

From left to right: Donna Krenicki, Maggie Sherin, Marjorie McDonald Pitts, Janet Sherin, Jean Glassman and Sofia Guerrero.

ROAD TRIP

A Chatham family’s love for Cape Cod drives them to take on a one-of-a-kind apparel business and celebrate nostalgia—one exit at a time.

IT WAS THE DOUGLASS FAMILY’S FIRSTEVER FOURTH OF JULY PARADE FLOAT, and the newly minted owners of the ExitMerch company were eager for their Main Street debut. Bill was at the wheel, his wife and business partner, Alison, was handing out hats, coozies and stickers to the crowds, and their sons, Roman and Pierson, were atop the trailer with cousins and friends waving to the crowds. The parade’s theme was “Timeless Chatham: Then, Now and

Beyond.” That also just happens to be a good description of the ExitMerch business model.

“That parade theme was just perfect for us. ExitMerch literally runs on nostalgia!” says Bill, who bought the company with Alison in 2023. They became the third owners of the business. “It felt like a full-circle moment when it came up for sale,” recalls Bill, a lifelong nostalgia entrepreneur, who, like his wife, grew up in Chatham.

BY SONJA BARTLETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

SONJA BARTLETT

“It’s a great, clean design for hats, stickers and T-shirts that appeals to a wide audience,” says Alison. “We also loved that it was built on a simple concept: nostalgia for the Cape landmarks we all grew up with. The idea of turning off that exit to see your favorite beach or restaurant really resonated with us. But we also loved the idea that it was a local, family-owned business. We felt we could keep both aspects of the brand alive.”

ExitMerch got its start after the state of Massachusetts in 2020 began renumbering all state highway exits, including those along the Mid-Cape Highway, a controversial move. Images of the beloved old Route 6 exit signs began to adorn T-shirts and hats sold by the company’s founder and creator, Kathleen Giorgio, and continue to be the bread and butter of the business today. The best-selling exit number? You guessed it: Exit 11.

“Oh, they feel very strongly about their exit number,” says Bill, who keeps in close touch with his followers and customers on social media and often makes personal deliveries. “The old signs are landmarks that trigger a happy memory of the start of someone’s summer vacation. Summer started at the exit sign.”

Unofficial brand ambassadors: Family friends Lauren, Maddie, Mia and Abby sport ExitMerch T-shirts in vintage, faded hues.

Local lore: New ExitMerch owners Alison and Bill Douglass both grew up in Chatham and want to take ExitMerch to the “next level” by introducing apparel featuring images of long-lost landmarks.

memories:

Family ties: New ExitMerch owners Alison and Bill Douglass with sons Roman, 18, and Pierson, 12.

ExitMerch’s new owners see an advantage to being a small-batch, on-demand apparel company, which handcrafts its products in Easton, Massachusetts, not overseas. The Douglasses want their company to be nimble and responsive to local trends, often opting for small runs of new merchandise to test demand. Recently a vandal with a sense of humor used spray paint to tweak the “Old Exit 10” sign that is below the new Exit 82 sign on Route 6, adding a “Ye” before Old, and the letter “e” to the word “Old.” The result? “Ye Olde Exit 10.” When Bill drove by it the first time, he burst out laughing and just knew that “Ye Olde Exit 10” had to go on his products right away.

Alison and Bill have dreams of building on the strong foundation laid by the previous owners and hope to take ExitMerch to the next level by introducing more nostalgia wear based on longlost local landmarks. A new T-shirt, a replica of the one Bill wore in PE class at Chatham Elementary School in the early 1970s, is already a hot seller. It features a hand-drawn devil

Cape

Roman Douglass, 18, plays cornhole wearing the newly recreated Chatham P.E. shirt. Douglass says he enjoys sending visiting friends home with ExitMerch hats and stickers.

mascot that would never gain school board approval today but adorned the original shirts. That shirt may have scared a lot of children back in the ’70s, but today the new replica is fast becoming a popular item.

“A lot of our stuff feels like an inside joke,” says Bill. “You understand it if you grew up here. It’s the lore and feelings and special details that bring it to life. And we want to share all that with a new generation as we grow the business.”

Next-level merch: Cousins and friends show off their favorite ExitMerch gear at a family beach gathering. The Douglass family wants to share that “back in the day” vibe with the next generation of customers.

Coozie power: Which exit number is the most popular? You guessed it: Exit 11.

It’s that “back in the day” feeling that their customers cannot seem to get enough of. Alison knows that even though this company runs on nostalgia, looking ahead is the key to success. “We will keep building on that core idea that our brand is for people who love the Cape, love living or visiting here and building memories, and cherish the nostalgia associated with the old exit numbers. Who knows, we may even start doing merch with the new Cape exit numbers as families start to associate those with making memories!”

The Fourth-Generation Face of Puritan

Chatham

store

manager Megan Penn Lyon wants to make you smile in 10 seconds flat.

BY SONJA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

MEGAN PENN LYON IS THE FRESH FACE OF THE FOURTH GENERATION

of the Penn family who founded—and still runs—Puritan Cape Cod. The nearly 100-year-old landmark downtown Chatham clothier is one of four locations on the Cape.

Penn Lyon jokes that as a teenager working in the store during school breaks, she “never in a million years” would have predicted she would one day wind up as the Chatham store manager.

Encouraged by her family to pursue her own passions, Penn Lyon landed in the fast-paced world of wedding and event planning after college. When Covid put weddings on ice in 2020, Penn Lyon says it was the shutdown time at home, her “radical sabbatical,” that gave her clarity and a new perspective on her career and life. She decided it was time to come home to Puritan, happily discovering that wedding planning had prepared her well for adventures in retail, where “always being on your toes” was job one. And making people happy meant success.

“The wedding industry could not have prepared me better for it,” says Penn Lyon. “Whatever you think is going to happen doesn’t, and the day just flies by. I love creating relationships with people and making an impact on people’s days.”

For Penn Lyon, being the bright spot in someone’s day is especially rewarding when that customer is part of the fabric of the store’s history in Chatham.

“The best part about Puritan is the relationships. It never ends. Generations. Almost every week, I meet customers who have great memories of shopping in my store for many, many years. I meet the parents, then the next thing I am shopping with their kids, and the next thing you know, their kids have kids. So I think it is fun to be in the fourth generation myself because I am now meeting the third and fourth generations of our customers.”

And when it comes to the summer staff, that is generational, too, with many being from families who grew up with their store. For Penn Lyon, the college “kids” who join the team during the busy summer months are the “bread and butter” of the business, and she wants them to leave with one very important skill above all the rest.

“We say to them that if you can create a smile on someone’s face in 10 seconds, and you can learn that here at Puritan, then you can take that anywhere,” says Penn Lyon. “And that is the best advice I give them. For any career or any industry.”

Puritan Cape Cod, 573 Main St., Chatham, puritancapecod.com

Serving Up a Side of Good Vibes

Orlando Hemmings, chef-owner of Chatham Moods Café & Grill, offers “clean eats” with a dash of Caribbean flavors.

BY SONJA BARTLETT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

AS A TEENAGER LIVING IN FLORIDA, ORLANDO

HEMMINGS was struck by something he noticed every time he traveled to Chatham with his family.

“The running joke was everywhere we went, everyone was in a good mood. Happy, bubbly. We started calling it the ‘Chatham Mood,’” recalls Hemmings. Two decades later, Hemmings is now calling Chatham home, and calls his new West Chatham restaurant “Chatham Moods” to keep that sentiment a guiding principle.

Chatham Moods aims to craft and serve healthy, locally sourced food, at an accessible price point, with some brave new twists on some old New England standards.

“We really bring something different to the table; do more than just the usual fried clams and oysters. We thought, let’s see what works here. I changed it up. I homed in on freshness that is local and affordable,” shares Hemmings, who developed his culinary craft at the Pearl in Wellfleet and the Local Break in Eastham before deciding to open his first restaurant in Chatham.

Hemmings’s signature “Clean Eats” cuisine is front and center on the menu. Influenced by his Jamaican heritage, Hemmings adds a Caribbean touch to several dishes, such as his popular chicken Caesar bowl, which features chipotle mayonnaise, mango salsa, corn and black beans for an extra burst of flavor. Instead of the tried-andtrue New England clam chowder, Hemmings created his own original crab and corn chowder, winning over even the pickiest of traditional chowder fans along the way.

“Food may be the essence of the entire service, but you have to incorporate so much more into that. The mood is very important. We focus on the experience, make people feel at home. The experience is the ultimate thing. When they feel good, they eat well and they leave happy,” says Hemmings. It turns out what is good for the customer is also what is good for the chef-owner, who often works 90-hour weeks.

“You have to love what you do. It is hard when you don’t love what you do. You are in a highstress environment all the time. You might have a customer who is irritated, and you have to figure out what they want and how to solve it. I would say it is always ‘Irie’ in here.” It’s a Caribbean term for a positive mindset and ambiance. “We try to bring that feeling to Chatham Moods. Always bring the good vibes! Good vibes are needed!”

Chatham Moods Café and Grill, 1617 Main St., West Chatham, chathammoods.com

At Your Service

Kristen Deem, owner of the Chatham Concierge, strives to help her clients “enjoy the moment.”

BY SONJA BARTLETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

CONCIERGES AREN’T JUST FOR HIGH-END HOTELS ANYMORE.

Kristen Deem is the “Chatham Concierge,” and her niche is cutting the hustle and bustle out of the vacation rental experience for her clients.

“It makes for a much nicer arrival experience when you come into a rental house where food is in the fridge, your beer and wine are chilling, your beds are made and your week’s plans are all set, including a family photo shoot and clambake,” explains the Chatham native.

Her highly personalized concierge service is in partnership with Pine Acres Realty, but it’s open to anyone who is either renting a vacation home or wants help with their summer guests and chores. Many who rent homes in Chatham do not realize that linens are often not included. That is where Deem often comes in first, offering luxury linen and towel delivery and bedmaking so that instead of sorting sheets upon arrival, her clients jump right to the fun. Add grocery and beverage delivery and a calendar of confirmed dinners and outings, and you have the recipe for a fantastic, well-organized vacation.

“That’s the whole idea, letting people enjoy the moment,” says Deem. “We strive to create a personal experience that is stress-free.”

Chatham hospitality is in the family DNA: Deem’s ancestors hailed from one of the oldest continuous Chatham families, including grandparents who were motel owners. She spent nine summers cooking chowder and shucking shellfish at the Fish Pier, a formative experience that yielded grit, people skills and relationships in the fishing community.

“It was a wonderful foundation. That’s how this has become a good fit for me and makes me a natural resource. I live and breathe Chatham. I grew up with almost all the people who are offering services to my clients from fishing charters to clambakes and restaurants.”

Deem is also a professional photographer. A family portrait on the beach is a popular request for visitors making memories in Chatham, sending Deem out on an average of 50 photo shoots every July and August.

“I wear a lot of hats,” says Deem. “My phone rings nonstop and I answer it 24/7. Everyone is trying to maximize their time here and enjoy the moment. We come in as an honest, hard-working service to provide that.” chathamconcierge.com

Eyes on the Future

Angela Bucar, the new executive director of the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association, brings years of management and marketing skills to leadership position.

BY CAROL K. DUMAS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

THE NEW LEADER OF THE CHATHAM CHAMBER of Commerce and Merchants Association brings to the job an impressive skill set in team building, data analysis and management.

Perhaps more significant is that Angela Bucar of Brewster is a local who understands the seasonal fluctuations of the small business community and issues facing year-round residents, such as affordable housing and year-round employment.

“I have a responsibility to the place I call home,” says Bucar, who was appointed executive director last fall after a nationwide search. The sudden loss of executive director Mary Cavanaugh, who was a beloved leader in Chatham, was felt deeply by the staff, says Bucar. “I bring her up often; I do still honor Mary and all the good work she did. Dealing with deep loss and grief is a process. I’m an active listener and empath.”

A native Cape Codder, and an avid birder and nature photographer in her spare time, Bucar (née Taber) spent her youth on the Cape. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biopsychology from Pine Manor College, which enables her to analyze the strengths of a team, how to motivate a team and how to look at a project from a different perspective, all of which ultimately led to a career in management.

Although she is a Brewster native, Bucar is no stranger to Chatham. “I’ve been going to the Squire for years and I love all the old murals. Larry’s PX hasn’t changed in a century!”

She has made it a point to immerse herself in the town’s unparalleled beauty and enjoys going to the beach to relax and unwind. “When I want to go and think, I park my car at Lighthouse parking lot and walk out onto the beach, to the ‘fishing shack,’ which is the image for our poster this year. The beach is magical.”

She brings to her new position more than 20 years of experience as a client liaison and in business management, business development, project leadership, staff recruiting, training and development, and digital marketing. Most recently Northeast regional director of promotions, ventures for Gannett/USA Today, Bucar has held positions at Cape Cod Media Group, Ethan Allen, DEI International, Boston Interiors and May Behavioral Health.

“Coming to Chatham is more than shopping and eating, but what is the chamber’s role in making the town more year-round? The chamber should be an advocacy organization with one big voice,” says Bucar.

Her immediate goals include increasing membership and perhaps redefining the categories of membership to make that happen. She would also like to revamp the chamber website.

“I have big goals, but it’s a marathon and it’s going to take a good six months to understand how the team works together and identify the synergies,” she says. “I am thrilled to be part of the community in Chatham and working with the members, residents and visitors to make Chatham a very special place for all.”

ArtistHerExpandsPalette

From the classroom to Creative Arts Center, new executive director Amy Middleton aims to build on the success of her predecessor.

BY CAROL K. DUMAS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

AMY MIDDLETON WAS JUST BEGINNING

her fourth year as art teacher at Chatham Elementary School when she learned that Angela Mault, longtime executive director of the Creative Arts Center, was retiring.

“I absolutely loved teaching. I love those children so much,” says Middleton, an artist who had taught an after-school art program at the elementary school for 20 years and is known for her colorful acrylics of seascapes and vibrant still lifes.

“But this position felt like an encapsulation of everything I’ve done in my life: artist, art teacher, manager, strategic planning and working for a nonprofit.”

In mid-February, Middleton officially stepped into her new role at the Creative Arts Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching and appreciation of the arts. Middleton, a local artist, was well acquainted with the arts center and just last year had taken her art students there on a field trip.

“Saying goodbye to the students was the hardest part,” she recalls. “But I told them I’d see them later this year, when they come to visit on their field trip!”

In addition to teaching and being a practicing artist, Middleton has valuable experience in the nonprofit world, working for 20 years as the Director of Christian Education and Family Ministry at the First Congregational Church of Chatham. There, she honed her skills in strategic planning, managing and working with the community. It was a broad role, she says, but Middleton feels her experience there is key to managing the CAC.

She feels it’s too early to set her goals for leading the organization, which was established in 1969 and led for the past 12 years by Mault. “I’m a firm believer that you have to sit there and get to know the organization,” says Middleton. But she would like to expand the terrific job Mault has done with community outreach by reaching out to non-artists who can often feel intimidated by an arts center or museum, feeling they need artistic training or specialized knowledge to visit and appreciate the exhibits.

“I’m not sure if people know it’s free to come in,” says the Chatham resident. “I’d love to see this as a place for families to visit.” Middleton says she would also like to explore adding evening classes for working folks. “I know it was always challenging for me to take day classes because they conflicted with my work schedule.”

Middleton shadowed her predecessor during her first few weeks on the job in mid-February and admits she has Mault on speed dial going forward. Middleton admits she has much to learn, but she’s enthusiastic about this new path in her career. She plans to continue exhibiting with the Guild of Chatham Painters on the lawn of the First United Methodist Church June through August and remain as youth director at the Congregational Church till June, but she has clearly embraced her new role and what the future may hold.

“There’s nothing more inspiring for an artist than to see what other artists are doing,” she said.

Creative Arts Center, 154 Crowell Road, 508-945-3583, capecodcreativearts.org

Historic Storms, Shipwrecks and Seaside Romance

Dive into six new books by local authors this summer.

BY DEBRA LAWLESS

Mother Nature is always busy on Cape Cod, wreaking havoc with both the shoreline and the lives of the residents. A new book tells the tale of many historic storms while a mystery novel deals with the murderous fallout from a shipwreck. If fiction is your fancy, murder can be found in two new mysteries set in Chatham. And if you’re looking for love in our little seaside town, we’ve got you covered there, too. And finally, a bestselling author offers the swan song to her long-running series.

The award-winning Cape Cod mystery writer Paul Kemprecos is back with the ninth installment of his suspenseful Aristotle “Soc” Socarides series, The God in the Sea, set largely in Provincetown. The novel opens in 1897, when a ship carrying a mysterious cargo sinks to the bottom of Cape Cod Bay. Fast-forward to the present day when Soc’s friend salvages a part of the cargo. Murder is his reward. But who is the guilty party? Fans of mysteries set on the Cape will delight in following Soc as he unravels the mystery. (Thalassa Imprints, 290 pages)

From shipwrecks to wild storms—if it happened on the coast of Cape Cod, prolific author Don Wilding has written about it. Wilding’s fifth book of Cape Cod history, due out in May, is Historic Storms of Cape Cod. This book tells the tales of the “Long Island Express” Hurricane of 1938, the “Great Atlantic” Hurricane of 1944, Hurricanes Carol and Edna in 1954, the Blizzard of 1978 and the notorious “Perfect Storm” of October 1991. These severe storms ravaged the Cape and destroyed many homes. (History Press, 160 pages)

Author Keith Yocum of Chatham, a retired journalist, is back with the second in his Cape Cod Mystery book series—Dead in the Water. The novel opens with two commercial fishermen coming upon a boat floating off the coast. It’s the Big Bite, a boat owned by a sport fisherman—and something is wrong. In fact, the Big Bite is empty and a trail of coagulated blood—fish or human?—runs along the deck. Its skipper is missing. A young reporter who comes to Chatham to investigate the ghost boat stirs up loads of trouble.

(Keith Yocum, 268 pages)

Never Fault a Creature may be set in the fictional town of “Chagport,” but “anyone familiar with the Cape in general and Chatham in particular will never doubt it’s Chatham,” says author W. Van Northcross. John Augustus believes the final stint of his career, police chief in sleepy Chagport, where the worst crimes are rowdy parties, will be easy—until a young man is gunned down on Main Street. Augustus has no clues to chase until a bloody shark attack offers the killer a chance to kill again. This is Northcross’s debut novel. (Decoy, 278 pages)

The cover of The Seaside Sisters shows an idyllic beach scene with two chairs set up near the water with an open book waiting on a towel in the sand. Author Pamela M. Kelley returns to a Chatham setting for this beach read, due out in June, about a bestselling author named Hannah who is struggling to write her second book in an ocean-front house after suffering personal losses. Hannah and her sister, Sara, grew up in Chatham, where Sara is an unemployed librarian. During the summer, Hannah and Sara make friends and rekindle romance while also learning to love the magic of books again.

(St. Martin’s Griffin, 320 pages)

Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand is wrapping up her Nantucket book series with Swan Song, to be released in June—or is she? As Hilderbrand writes in the acknowledgments, “there may very well be another one or two somewhere down the road!” The catalyst for the events involving Hilderbrand’s beloved characters is the arrival of a mysterious couple named Richardson who buy a summer home for $22 million. No one knows the source of the wealth funding the house, the two yachts, and the oh-so-lavish parties. The pot is stirred when the house burns to the ground and one of the Richardsons’ employees disappears. (Little, Brown and Company, 384 pages)

Gregory Lombardi Design | Neil Landino Photography

EXUBERANT HOMES, PLAYFUL QUALITIES

“The Art of Creating Houses” showcases Polhemus Savery DaSilva’s iconic homes and stunning, colorful photographs.

BY DEBRA LAWLESS

The Art of Creating Houses is the fourth book of lush images and text on the work of Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders. This handsome coffeetable book features images of 27 houses the team designed and built since 2016. Of the 27 houses across the Cape, Islands, and beyond, 16 are in Chatham.

The Art of Creating Houses

John R. DaSilva, the firm’s design principal who has been with PSD since 1998, wrote the book’s text, including an opening essay called “Lessons from Houses of the Past.” Victor Deupi, PhD, wrote the introductory essay, “Inspired by New England’s Coastal Vernacular,” which includes a reference to, and illustration of, the historic Chatham Train Depot.

Most of the gorgeous color photographs are by Brian Vanden Brink, who observes in the foreword he wrote that in photographing a PSD house, “artificial lighting is rarely needed.” This is due to the clever placement of windows that capture the light from as many directions as possible throughout the day, says DaSilva.

PSD’s houses are known for their exuberance and for what can be described as their wit, whimsy, fun and playfulness. These qualities are on display in this book: Here is an egg-shaped newel post, and there, small “dormers dance up the roof.” Structural elements are “like a sea creature gliding through the water.”

One of the featured houses is the Shore Road icon Riptide, which began its life in the early 20th century as a one-and-a-half-story bungalow. In the 1930s, it was completely remodeled into a Colonial Revival house. At that time, interiors—a fireplace, paneling

“Witty and playful details and spaces deformalize houses,” says John DaSilva, author and PSD’s design principal. It makes them more relaxed. It’s how most people want to live.”

and built-ins in the dining room—from an older, 19thcentury house were incorporated. A Colonial Revival trend was popular then as was the “myth of Old Cape Cod,” says DaSilva. He notes that that myth was in large part created by Riptide’s next-door neighbor on Shore Road, the author Joseph C. Lincoln.

In this, PSD’s second renovation of the house, one major change was creating a door facing Shore Road. And here is where that fun quality comes in. The entry offers a “playful take on a historic fanlight,” says DaSilva. The original side entry now has French doors that open to a terrace featuring a whimsical sculpture of a whale’s tail by sculptor Tim Dibble of Brewster.

“We’re very serious about not taking ourselves too seriously. That’s a nice way to go through life and a nice way to have your surroundings reflect your life,” says DaSilva. “Witty and playful details and spaces deformalize houses. It makes them more relaxed. It’s how most people want to live.”

DaSilva says that this book, which includes the floor plan of each house, will appeal to architects. And it will also appeal to people who love shingled houses, the architecture of coastal New England, which PSD specializes in, and interior design. (Images Publishing, 468 pages)

JULIA CUMES

A Valentine to Chatham

In a new coffee table book to benefit WE CAN, Kim Roderiques captures everything from the wonders of summer to the quietude of winter.

BY DEBRA LAWLESS

PHOTOGRAPHER KIM RODERIQUES

of Chatham asked herself how she could contribute to one of her “most beloved” nonprofits, WE CAN, when she hit on the idea of creating a book of photos of Chatham and donating all the proceeds to WE CAN.

“My love and passion is photography, so if I could do a beautiful coffee-table book about my town, knowing so many people integral to WE CAN live in Chatham” it would be ideal, says Roderiques.

Chatham

A Cape Cod Village

On a gorgeous summer day, Kim Roderiques focused her camera on a boardwalk and dock leading out to Crow’s Pond near the Eastward Ho! golf course.

WE CAN in Harwich Port and Hyannis, founded in 2001, “empowers and supports Cape Cod women to build pathways to self-sufficiency and stability,” according to its mission statement. Each year, it offers 2,000 women free legal services, employment support, mentoring and more.

WE CAN booster Sandra Wycoff, owner of Chatham Clothing Bar and Chatham Kids on Main Street, has underwritten the book.

Chatham: A Cape Cod Village, due out in July, is a valentine to Chatham and Roderiques’s ninth book. Roderiques photographed the town in every season, capturing the changing colors of autumn leaves reflected in Stage Harbor, the “quietude and splendor” of winter, historic houses in the springtime and then the Fourth of July parade and wonders of summer. The book features everything from Chatham Anglers’ games to fishing boats under a brooding sky. “A little bit of everything,” she says.

Author Anne LeClaire of Chatham and Stuart Varney, a part-time Chatham resident, wrote paeans to

Chatham while Kevin Wright, executive director of the Atwood Museum, home of the Chatham Historical Society, wrote about the town’s history. Author Bernard Cornwell, with his wife, Judy, “a huge supporter of WE CAN,” wrote about the nonprofit, says Roderiques.

The book describes “the spirit and sense of place that Chatham represents—not only to the summer residents but as much for the people who live here,” says Roderiques, who is a member of the third generation of her family to live in Chatham. She is a 1980 graduate of Chatham High and with her stepmother, Christine, runs the family business, The Trading Company on Main Street.

Roderiques is a well-known dog photographer, so naturally she included a few dogs in the book. And with the publication of her book, she says, “It’s an honor to bring even more awareness to an organization that helps countless women with a myriad of extreme life challenges.” (Hummingbird Books, 224 pages)

Kim Roderiques

HOOKERS BALL XXII

The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance welcomed 400 guests on Aug. 5, 2023, under the big white tent at the Harwich Community Center for Hookers Ball XXII, “Let’s Get Crackin’! The organization’s largest annual fundraiser raised more than $530,000 with $380,000 of the proceeds allocated for a new endowment capital campaign, Charting Our Course for the Future. The event brings together fishermen and the community to raise funds to help keep local seafood on dinner plates.

2. Chris and Leigh Cataldo

3. Steve Clayton, Barbara Matteson

4. John and Jennifer Pappalardo

5. Catherine and Dave Ferraresi

7.

8.

9.

Photography by Kim Roderiques

1. Molly Benson, Debbie Maguire

6. Brigid Krug, Holly Buddensee

Cheryl Bartlett, Bob Eckel

Erica DeZitter, Nancy and Bryan Ruez

Lori Smith, Andy Baler

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent, our trusted team of Realtors are ready to help. With over 40 years of experience, Ricotta Real Estate remains one of the few locally owned and operated real estate and rental agencies on Cape Cod.

JOHN C. RICOTTA & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE SALES & VACATION RENTALS

TASTE OF CHATHAM

Monomoy Community Services held its popular fundraiser, Taste of Chatham, on July 31, 2023, under a tent at Chase Park. Guests sampled a variety of appetizers, beverages and desserts from local food and dining establishments. Monomoy Community Services, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, provides family support services to Chatham’s working families and individuals.

by Kim Roderiques

4. Jennifer and Brianna Stello

5. Jill and Joel Goldsmith

6. Angie and Ben Porter

7. James

11.

Photography

1. Jodie and Steve Gennodie

2. Tanya Khalil, Luke Wonzy

3. Patrice Milley, Mandee Blair

Vath, Fitz Vath, Cam McCutcheon, Tamer Khalil

8. Jamie Nash, Pat Vreeland, Kathy Anderson

9. Corinna Malone, Michele Green

10. Catherine Martin, Julia Chittick

Karen Teller, Kevin Tubridy

1. Kimberly Summers, Bonnie Rosenthal, Baysie Wightman

The Chatham Historical Society hosted its annual summer fundraiser, An Evening to Remember, on July 15, 2023, at the Atwood Museum, home of the Chatham Historical Society. The signature benefit was extra special in 2023, as it also celebrated the Chatham Historical Society’s centennial year with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music.

Photography by Kim Roderiques

2. Thaddea Kuchera, Julie Donaldson, Dawn Boynton, Vicki Gold, Karen Koskur

3. Kevin Wright, Mary Bainbridge

4. Nina Gagarin, Ginny Nickerson

5.

6. Peter and Francie Polhemus, Linda and Brian Miner

7. Emma Carroll, Lori Gilmore

8. Daniel Gregory and Martha MacCallum

Hilary Hickok, Karen Lidbeck

FASHION SHOW

All Dressed Up and Ready to Go! Fashion Show and Luncheon featured the latest fashions from Chatham merchants on June 15, 2023, at Eastward Ho! Country Club. A portion of the proceeds benefited the Monomoy Community Services’ Community Meals Project. The event was organized by the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association.

Photography by Kim Roderiques

6.

7.

8. Ann

5.

1. Vasi Karova, Denise Butcher

2. Anita Drapeau, Lynn Stanne, Lee Scott, Sherrie Guyott

3. Isabelle Rishworth

4. Emily Cavanaugh, Kevin McLain, Caroline Townsend

Dede Kiely, Louise Montross

Ann Whitla, Robin Martin, Whitney Heavey

Betsy Sommer, Nancy Gardner

Carroll, Tricia Murray, Christine McCarthy, Karen Dillon, Mary Cornett Brown, Gina Kovach

SUNSHINE SOIRÉE

Chatham Bars Inn hosted the Sunshine Soirée on June 1, 2023, to benefit the Sunshine Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing activities, trips and events for children battling cancer. The evening’s highlights included special guest speakers who shared heartfelt stories about the positive impact the Sunshine Kids Foundation has had on their lives. The event raised more than $80,000 in donations to support the foundation’s mission.

7. Shannon Malone, Natalie McCastland, Kendall Ramos, Crystal Landgraf

8. Tony Guthrie, Mark Greel

9. Colette Cummings, Domonic Boreffi

10. Jeff Lang and Sandy Wycoff

Photography by Kim Roderiques

1. Patti and Peter Gibson

2. Sara Handler, Andrea Clark, Lisa Genova

3. Nancy Peterson, Mary McGreevy, Tricia Besse

4. Harvey Leonard

5. Matt Baran, Catherine Baran, Kelly Marie

6. Jill and Rich Tepper

CELEBRATE THE ARTS

The Creative Arts Center held its annual summer fundraiser, Celebrate the Arts, at the home of Madonna Hitchcock and Tom Hitchner, on July 26, 2023. Guests enjoyed live music, hors d’oeuvres, and silent and live auctions featuring arts and crafts, and community contributions. The Creative Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching and appreciation of the arts.

Photography by Judith I. Selleck

1. Kathryn Fagin and Mimi Jigarjian

2. Tom Carroll and Mimi Coxson

3. Nancy Ruez and Abbie Emery

4. Sally Stratman, Marie Williams and Bob Montbach

5. John and Tama Andres

6. Eric Riley and Jane Harris

7. Phil and RoseMarie McLoughlin, and Joe and Angela Mault

Artwork: Gallery Antonia | Photography: Dan Cutrona | M. Duffany Builders

A SUMMER EVENING

Wequassett Resort & Golf Club hosted Chatham Orpheum’s largest annual fundraiser, “A Summer Evening,” on July 13, 2023. The elegant event featured cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing to the Mark Greel Band overlooking Pleasant Bay. The event was even more magical since the Orpheum was celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Photography by Kim Roderiques

1. Kathryn and John Hamill, Connie and Peter Lacaillade

2. Kinzie and Doug Gensler

3. Christy and Tim Sheehan, Toni and Kim Doggett

4. Eunice (“Oonie”) Burley, Ed and Isabelle (“Obby”) Tapley

5. Geoffrey Bassett, Kevin McLain

6. Ella Leavitt, Judi Stella

7. Harry and Carol Salo

Where Chatham Begins

Keep Walking East!

Choosy rental bookings.

Detailed turnover inspections. Your

Luxury home sales.

Personalized construction.

Discerning estate care.

A STORIED HISTORY

The

one-room South Chatham Public Library turns the page on 150 years.

BY DEBRA LAWLESS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

IT’S A FEW MINUTES AFTER 1 P.M. on a Saturday when the South Chatham Public Library’s first patron of the afternoon comes in and greets librarian Jill Madigan.

“Are you going to get that book—” the woman starts to say.

“By Liz Cheney?” Madigan finishes her sentence. “Yes.”

That’s the kind of place this 18-by20-foot library is. Friendly. Familiar. Since she took the job in June 2023, Madigan has gotten to know not only the reading habits of her 300

or so patrons, but also about their families and lives. “They love asking me about my family, too,” she says.

This one-room library has a history extending back 150 years. It was established in 1874, on a shelf in a wharf at the end of Deep Hole Road, where Levi Eldridge ran a “fitting out store.” Levi’s daughter Mercelia tended the books, which she loaned out right from the wharf, says Pat McClure, a member of the library’s 10-member board. Those who wished to check out books had to buy $1 (later 50-cent) annual subscriptions to the library. Overdue fines were levied.

“Fishermen came in on big vessels,” adds board chair Peggy Holland. Once in port, the men checked out books. “I think that’s a great part of the story.”

When the tiny library outgrew its shelf, it moved around, including to Eldridge’s store in South Chatham. From 1884 to 1899, the library was called the “Pilgrim Library”; in 1885, a recording secretary began keeping handwritten records that are now archived at the Chatham Historical Society.

In 1934, the library came to roost here in its own brand-new building

LIBRARY CELEBRATIONS

The library may be small, but a mighty year of 150th birthday celebrations is planned.

A woodworking group is creating three “little free libraries” crafted to look like the library building. On Saturday, June 1, the little libraries will be dedicated at the Forest Beach, Pleasant Street and Cockle Cove Beach parking lots where they will remain for the summer.

Saturday, Aug. 3, the Annual Book, Bake and Plant Sale will be held next door at the South Chatham Village Hall.

Sunday, Oct. 6, an authors’ spotlight featuring Paul Kemprecos and Elaine Dimopoulos will be held at the Chatham Community Center

Saturday, Nov. 16, a community supper will honor patrons and families of past librarians. Ham and beans, chowder and fresh seafood will be served. Diners will be treated to a 1950s band and an “old-fashioned sock hop,” says Holland.

The South Chatham Public Library is open 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays. For more information on these and additional events, call the library at 508-430-7989.

Librarian Jill Madigan adds between 12 and 15 books to the library’s collection each month, keeping up with prize-winning authors, mystery fiction and her patrons’ favorites.

at 2559 Main St., on the corner of Main and Mill Creek Road. The building sits on land it rents from the South Chatham Community Church. While the library does not have running water, it does have a new heater and is airconditioned in the summer. There is no computer here—just an oldfashioned card catalog in drawers.

From the beginning, librarians selected the books, and they chose “books of upstanding moral character,” says McClure. Each month, Madigan orders 12 to 15 books. The library now boasts more than 4,000 volumes. It stocks fiction, mysteries and nonfiction, all arranged in Dewey Decimal order. Children have their own nook. A photocopied information sheet at the desk boasts that the library has “almost every winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction since 2000.”

Permission to check out books can be obtained by filling out an index card with basic information. Books are checked out for two-week periods. The library is not a part of the Cape-wide CLAMS system, and this creates a nice perk—patrons do not have to wait days or weeks for a popular book. “The rules of

most libraries don’t apply here,” the information sheet boasts. “Patrons are not asked to whisper.”

To commemorate the nonprofit library’s 150th anniversary, its board is researching and writing a brochure to celebrate the library’s 12 librarians, all women, one of whom worked here for 41 years. The brochure is financed by a $500 grant from the Women’s Club of Chatham.

Madigan’s predecessor, Elayne Perlstein, who served for 17 years, retiring at the age of 94, was so close to her patrons that when she learned a grandchild was expected, she would often knit an afghan for the newborn.

Madigan, who is a retired educator and a “voracious reader,” calls this her “dream job.” “I love the patrons here,” she says. In the last three months of 2023, 228 adults and one child visited the library during the six hours it’s open each week. That was down from the 474 adults and 50 children who came in during the three months of summer. And in the summer, it’s not uncommon for three generations of a family of library patrons to pose for a photo in front of the building.

The library found a permanent home here in this one-room building in South Chatham 90 years ago.

Trestle Table Made From Live Edge Curly Spalted Ambrosia Maple with a Cherry Base. 82" x 42" x 30"

Round Pedestal Table Made From Thick Antique Chestnut floor boards. 54" Round x 31" Tall

Quintessential Chatham Estates

Come join us on the Mill Pond at our historic boatyard located in Chatham’s Old Village. Moorings and slip rentals available.

Full service boatyard, indoor storage available. Specializing in the construction of classic wooden boats and exceptional custom woodworking projects for your seaside home.

Main Attractions

Chatham’s natural beauty, from lighthouses to seascapes and gardens, as well as its iconic architecture, are muses for the many artists and photographers who show in the town’s Main Street galleries. On the following pages, we talk to three artists and one photographer about their art and processes.

BY CAROL K. DUMAS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

Returning to Her Roots

After a life on the move, Kate Merrick has settled down to paint in Chatham and work alongside her son at Artnova Gallery.

RAISED IN FALMOUTH, THE ELDEST

OF EIGHT CHILDREN, Kate Merrick has led a life that reads like a nomadic travelogue: Colorado, New Mexico, New York, Marblehead, Maine, Haiti, Florida and Costa Rica.

At the age of 16, Merrick dove into sidewalk portraiture in downtown Dennis Port. After high school and some college, wanderlust sent her west

to Colorado and New Mexico to ski and find inspiration for her artwork. She offered portraits on the Town Plaza in Santa Fe, earning enough to eventually pay her way back home to the Cape.

By the early 1970s, Merrick leased a combination live/work space in the Brick Block building in Chatham where she opened her own gallery and studio. She and her sister and their two young

Merrick puts the finishing touches on a large work rendered in her exuberant Expressionist style. She often paints from her son’s photographs at Artnova Gallery on Main Street.

daughters lived together and shared duties tending to the gallery. Merrick would set up her easel daily on the busy sidewalks, attracting attention from the summer visitors. Business was brisk, and she often drew into the evening hours with her toddler nestled in a red wagon beside her.

One day, a young man chatted her up and bought her a cup of coffee just the way she preferred it. They soon began dating. They married in 1975 and held their wedding reception (one of the first ever) at the Chatham Squire.

The couple moved to Marblehead and then to Blue Hill, Maine. With its picturesque blueberry fields and rocky coastline, it provided the perfect backdrop for painting. The couple’s first son was born in Blue Hill and while the demands of motherhood grew, she still managed to participate in local art fairs and also taught adult education art classes.

warmth of the Haitian people, the music, the Creole language and the colors everywhere. Her third child, Gabriel, was born in a French Colonial guesthouse on a straw mat, tended by a midwife.

When Merrick’s sister-in-law asked her to accompany her to Haiti on a trip, Merrick jumped at the chance, even though she was pregnant. While there, she produced quite a few watercolors. She loved the

Some years later, Merrick and her family moved to Portland, Maine, into a waterview apartment with views of the harbor and its fishing fleet—more great material for the artist.

Mill Pond Path, 24" x 18", watercolor on aquabord

Fish Pier, 4:45pm, 12" x 16", oil on canvas

After her youngest child had grown, she moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where she remained for about 20 years. Then one day, she received a call from her son Gabriel. He was opening a gallery in downtown Chatham named Artnova and invited her to join the cadre of artists. After numerous extended visits, last March she stayed on for good and lived with Gabriel until obtaining an apartment in town.

Artnova Gallery 463 Main St. 508-469-9222 artnovagallery.com

Merrick’s colorful paintings, rendered in an impressionist/expressionist style in oil, watercolor and acrylic, are on display. Her portraiture now is mostly of pets and sometimes people, but she prefers landscape and still life.

Surely, her fond memories of a young single mom drawing portraits for tourists on sunny days in a lovely Cape Cod town are nourishing her art.

“I’m more prolific now than ever since my kids are grown and I have a gallery in which to display my work. Gabe and I have great fun collaborating creatively. I feel so fortunate.”

Gabriel Beaton happily welcomed his mom, Kate Merrick, to his new gallery, Artnova, in 2023.

Sleeping Bees at the Cow Yard, 30" x 48", acrylic on canvas.

‘Chatham Is Pure Magic’

Gabriel Beaton, co-owner of Artnova gallery, follows his passion one frame at a time.

THE CAPE IS GABRIEL BEATON’S MUSE.

The self-taught photographer is inspired by dramatic views of sky and shore, but also quiet scenes like an idle fishing boat at its mooring, the soft light of dawn or the contrasts of textures, such as scallop shells arranged on a teak deck.

“It’s all about the light,” says Beaton. “One recent evening, I was out with friends and happened to look out the window. The sky was gray and cold, and

suddenly a beam of sun broke through the clouds just before sunset and lit up North Beach—like it was on fire. I just gasped. ‘Do you see that?’ I said. ‘This is unbelievable.’”

The two places where he’s most inspired are Chatham and Provincetown.

“Chatham is pure magic,” says Beaton. “Pleasant Bay, Morris Island, Stage Harbor—it’s just insane how pretty it all is. And P’town is off-the-charts beautiful.

From Peaked Hill all the way to Long Point, it takes my breath away every time I go out there.”

While born in Haiti where his mother, artist Kate Merrick, was visiting and painting at the time, Beaton grew up in Blue Hill, Maine, the youngest of three siblings. When he was young, Beaton was given a camera.

“I took pictures of everything,” he recalls.

After high school, he headed to New York City for college and stayed, pursuing a career in the hospitality industry but always practicing photography whenever he could. After a few years of nonstop city living, he found a getaway in upstate New York, where he would spend his free time.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, life as he knew it ended. His workplace shut down, and he was without a job. “My career had basically evaporated, so I left my one-bedroom apartment in SoHo and went upstate,” he says. Beaton submerged himself in nature in a way he hadn’t since childhood—exploring, taking daily hikes to clear his head, and, of course, taking photographs everywhere he went. “For the first time, I was fully experiencing the transition from winter to spring, and time felt so slow. I saw the leaves open up bit by bit, day by day.”

Unclear about his professional future, he received a call from his friend, artist Steve Lyons, who offered him a management job at his gallery on Main Street. Lyons promised that beyond his duties as manager, he would have time and space to be creative.

Gabriel Beaton’s photograph “Three Amigos” captures boats moored off Chatham Fish Pier.

The magical golden hour is reflected in Beaton’s photograph “Lavender Haze,” featuring Stage Harbor Light.

Considering Beaton’s family history in Chatham (his parents met and married here) and the opportunity it offered to be near loved ones, it just felt right. He eventually bought a house in nearby Harwich.

Sadly, Lyons was diagnosed with cancer, ultimately leading to his death in early 2021. After some discussion with Beaton’s friend and colleague, Nicholas Heaney, the two decided to make a go at their own gallery. They took over the space on Main Street, named it Artnova and assembled a team of different artists.

Beaton says the story behind Artnova’s name is multifold. Nova in Latin means new, and Beaton says he was excited to bring something new to the art scene in Chatham.

“The artwork we show feels contemporary and fresh, while still often feeling like it is inspired by our beautiful corner of the world,” says Beaton, adding the variety of artwork is everchanging so people will see something different every time they visit.”

Artnova now represents more than 20 artists, including Beaton’s mother, Cape Cod native and seasoned artist Merrick, who moved back to the Cape full time from Florida last March.

Merrick’s current work is inspired by her son’s photographs.

“It’s great having her in Chatham,” says Beaton. “I wouldn’t have guessed that we would work together, but it’s super cool. Together, we are doing some really good work.

“I am constantly inspired by the natural landscape here,” he adds. Beaton loves shooting in black and white.

“I have my camera with me almost all the time,” he says. “My process isn’t that sophisticated; I try to pay attention and if something catches my eye, I capture it!”

Artnova Gallery 463 Main St. 508-469-9222

artnovagallery.com

“Chatham Courtesy Dinghy” was taken at the Little Mill Pond town landing.

Gabriel Beaton captures scenes that catch his eye, including “The Cottages on the Mill Pond.”

Being in the Moment

For artist Lyn Coffey, exploring and immersing herself in the outdoors is part of her plein air process.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING IS MORE THAN LUGGING A CANVAS and art supplies and setting up an easel outdoors to paint a scene. The light and the subject matter are key, but it’s also about the sounds: birds calling and chirping; boats humming; the snap of a sail when tacking; children laughing; the chatter of busy Main Street that’s enveloped by fog; the rustling of seagrass, the howling of the wind. It’s inhaling the salt air while barefoot in the sand, painting on the beach.

It’s that total sensory experience of being in the moment that appeals to artist Lyn Coffey, who can be found outdoors painting at various locations around the Cape—spring, summer and fall—capturing whatever narrative lies before her.

“I love going out and exploring,” she says.

Coffey is drawn to iconic scenes that color Cape Cod: boats (a favorite subject), busy piers and quiet harbors; quaint architecture, like the Chatham Candy Manor and Chatham Squire; the “Gaties” who staff the beach

entrances; ice cream trucks and antique cars; and the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

She describes her style as contemporary realism; it has the soft, impressionistic touch that reflects the gorgeous light of summer.

A native of Connecticut and the daughter of an artist, Coffey had a successful career as a graphic designer that brought her to New York City, Cape Cod and San Francisco, but she always had a hand in fine art wherever she landed and immersed herself in the local art scene. She’s been a full-time artist since moving back to Cape Cod in 2020.

“It was a dream, after all those years,” says Coffey. “I joined the Creative Arts Center when I arrived, as I like to consistently push myself and learn from other artists.”

She met gallery owner Barry Desilets by chance one day when she was painting at Stage Harbor. Desilets, a photographer, took her photo and later contacted her

Painting familiar Cape Cod landmarks like the Chatham Squire is one of Lyn Coffey’s favorite subjects as a plein air painter.

“Living in an art community has been wonderful,” says Coffey. “People here who don’t paint appreciate art because Cape Cod is such a beautiful place.”

to participate in the annual Art in the Park, which that year, was featuring cutouts of whales painted by various artists. She joined Desilets’ The Colors of Chatham gallery in 2023.

“Living in an art community has been wonderful,” says Coffey. “People here who don’t paint appreciate art because Cape Cod is such a beautiful place.”

Coffey rarely works from photos, but when a family visiting the Cape saw her painting of young sailors (part of an art auction

Lyn Coffey’s work is on display at The Colors of Chatham gallery

402 Main St., Chatham colorsofchatham.com

for the Cahoon Museum of American Art), they commissioned a specific scene of their son learning to sail an Opti (a small sailing dinghy).

“Two years later, the mom commissioned another painting, this time featuring their daughter (now a little older) with her grandparents, parents and brother, with colorful inner tubes included—all six having a fun-filled family summer vacation,” she recalls.

The scene was composed and created with images provided by each family member.

Outdoors, Coffey works primarily in oil on linen boards on a small scale. The process begins with a thin layer of paint in a warm color before she sketches in a few marks of the scene. Her favorite time to paint is late afternoon, when that golden light bathes a scene with its warm glow. It’s an intuitive process. Her studio work is typically more planned out.

“Going out and working from life is fundamental. I lose myself in painting,” she says. “There’s a different energy to plein air. Because there’s a shorter time available, there’s a freshness to it, an intimacy. I love being in the moment.”

Coffey submitted “Three Boats” for Art in the Park 2022, sponsored by The Colors of Chatham.

“Along Stage Harbor,” oil on linen.

“Chatham Anglers” are captured in this oil on linen painting.

“The Clammer,” oil on linen.

Cozy Chatham Cottage

Builder: McPhee Associates

Architect: Karen B. Kempton, AIA

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN CUTRONA

Seascapes, Still Lifes and Surf Scenes

Classical methods are a base for Susanne Taylor’s fresh contemporary paintings.

GROWING UP IN WORCESTER, SUSANNE TAYLOR REMEMBERS her parents’ art books around the house and a Frank Benson print that hung over the fireplace. She fondly recalls trips to the Worcester Art Museum, where she first glimpsed Benson’s “Portrait of My Daughters” (1907), an oil painting that would inspire her classical-realism artistic style.

Years later, she realized that the biggest influence on her paintings was Cape Cod—thanks to summers spent first in Eastham and then in Dennis. Her family belonged to Wychmere

Susanne Taylor works on a painting of a crashing wave, a frequent subject, in her studio.

Beach Club in Harwich Port where they spent many leisurely summer days. She loved exploring the Cape Cod National Seashore, excursions to Provincetown and frolicking on the bayside beaches of Eastham.

“Returning each summer to Cape Cod brought continuity—soaking up the environment and the lively arts scene,” she recalls.

Taylor studied art, with a focus on drawing, and art history at Emmanuel College in Boston. After graduation, she worked in account management for an advertising agency. She married and became busy raising a family. Her husband’s work required frequent moves around the country, but Taylor managed to find art classes and artistic communities wherever they landed. Her children also inspired her to tackle figurative work and she began painting them.

She studied the Old Masters’ methods and classical realism at workshops in New York City and Chicago. Under Judith Kudlow at the Harlem Studio of Art/ NYK Academy, she studied the Florence Academy of Art curriculum. Taylor was trained in the classical artistic tradition of the Boston School under Bruno Surdo and Mike Chelich in Chicago.

“This brought about an expression of painting where water, landscape and light become subjects in my still-life paintings,” says Taylor. “I had many wonderful teachers.”

The Florence Art Academy curriculum was rigorous: sketching from live models, entire afternoons painting. Learning to see a subject in terms of black and white to grasp values was particularly influential on her later work.

Teachers remarked at how skilled she was at realism, particularly in the style that recalled Rembrandt. But instead of the dark background, Taylor

“Josephine and Kelley,” oil on linen.

“Summer Rose,” oil on linen.

painted a blue sky as a backdrop that characterizes her still lifes today.

“My aesthetic was not the dark, and I transitioned to the light and morphed into the ocean and surf paintings,” she explains.

Aside from continuing to produce her elegant still-life paintings, Taylor has created a great body of work featuring waves and seascapes—a nod to her love for the Cape. She and her husband, Neill, have owned a house in town for 25 years, and naturally, that house includes an art studio. She’s embraced the Chatham arts scene and has participated in Art in the Park. In addition to Chatham Fine Art gallery, her work is also shown at Tree’s Place in Orleans.

Susanne Taylor’s work is shown at Chatham Fine Art 492 Main St., Chatham chathamart.com and Tree’s Place Gallery Route 6A at 28, Orleans treesplace.com

“I like to go to the beach and sketch there. I bring gouache paints and do studies,” says Taylor, who paints in oil on canvas. “I carry a notebook in my car—sketching is more effective for the wave paintings. Back in the studio, I start the painting, referring to my sketches and photo references. When it’s dry, I add details, achieving a lot of textures to the surface.”

For still lifes, objects and flowers are arranged into a composition and she paints the scene before her directly onto the canvas.

“I love painting. It’s really gratifying, and I never tire of it.”

Above: “Stage Harbor Sunset,” oil on linen.

Right: Taylor painted her trademark crashing wave for her 2023 Art in the Park entry.

Mark Beck, Island Home,

Sam Vokey, Golden Hours, oil on linen, 30" x 40"

Robert Bolster, Miss Tina’s World, oil on linen, 30" x 50"

Magical

MONOMOY ISLAND MAY LIE ONLY EIGHT NAUTICAL MILES

south of the elbow of the Cape, but it seems a world away—an untouched paradise. The island most folks visit is actually South Monomoy Island, which is one of three islands that make up Monomoy in its current configuration, a result of constantly shifting sands.

“Monomoy is what the Cape looked like after the glaciers left,” says Andrew Buckley, an 11th-generation Cape Codder and commercial boat captain, who has never lost his sheer awe of this expanse of undisturbed beaches, diverse bird populations, and rich, yet buried and almost forgotten, history.

“When friends come to visit, I always bring them to Monomoy and it blows their minds. It’s a great example of Cape Cod at its most wild incarnation,” says Buckley, whose new shuttle boat service out to the island is a game-changer for birders, sunbathers, fly fishers and history buffs who want to explore the eightmile-long island, which is a protected National Wildlife Refuge.

Monomoy

BY SONJA BARTLETT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETTY WILEY

New boat service to Monomoy

A typical journey aboard Captain Buckley’s Lucy Jane, a 19-foot Maritime skiff, starts with a relaxing nowake ride out of the Stage Harbor “cut,” passing the iconic Stage Harbor Lighthouse, heading south. In just 25 minutes, just enough time to disconnect from the world, you arrive at Lighthouse Landing on the island named after Chatham’s original native inhabitants, the Monomoyick tribe. Hop off the boat into shin-deep water and wade ashore and onto the path inland. It takes only a few steps to feel like you are walking back in time. On this gentle hike, you are embraced by nature: Tiny brown frogs dart in and out of the shrubs, wild flowers bloom by freshwater ponds, wild cranberries dot the perimeter, and, yes, that age-old Cape Cod scourge, poison ivy, taunts you from the sidelines. Do yourself a favor and wear long pants if you’re allergic. And while you’re at it, slather yourself in bug repellent. Perhaps this is Mother Nature’s price of admission to our local heaven on earth.

As you make your way down that verdant, half-milelong, twisting trail, you begin to see it unfold before your eyes: the deep-crimson lighthouse dating back

to 1823. Your next discovery is its whitewashed-brick oil house, where the kerosene for the light was stored. That’s all that’s left of manmade structures on the island, remnants of “Whitewash Village,” a fishing town of 200 residents at its peak. Many visitors are surprised to learn that this island once even boasted a hotel. Just beyond the lighthouse, you begin to see a series of dunes you can meander through for a quarter of a mile to reach the breathtaking Atlantic side of the island and its stunningly wide, empty beaches. Look as

Game changer: Captain Andrew Buckley’s new shuttle boat service, Stage Harbor Excursions and Launch, can get visitors out to Monomoy Island in about 25 minutes.

The Monomoy Lighthouse, circa 1823, will be open to visitors on weekends this summer, weather permitting.

Wildlife refuge: South Monomoy Island is home to the largest gray seal haul-out site on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Below: The Oil House, where the kerosene for the light was stored, is the only structure other than the lighthouse that remains of “Whitewash Village,” a fishing town of 200 residents at its peak in the mid 1800s.

far as you can to the right, and then to the left. Chances are good you will not see any footprints, or people, in either direction.

Open houses on weekends

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the island, is offering open houses at the Monomoy Lighthouse this summer. Standing at the door to welcome you is fifth-generation Monomoy-goer and volunteer Liz Stryjewski, who spends most summer weekends sleeping on the island. Stryjewski has spent countless volunteer hours helping to renovate the lighthouse-keeper’s quarters and creating the fascinating, detailed historical exhibits you’ll discover once inside. You could call her the unofficial “onewoman Monomoy Historical Society,” as she has made it her life’s work to collect and share the stories of the families who lived on the island, from the families who kept the light shining in the tower to the “surfmen” who manned the three lifesaving stations that once operated out here, saving people in shipwrecks. It is a rich and hero-filled history that even some of the island’s biggest fans do not know much about.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife volunteer Liz Stryjewski has made it her life’s work to unearth and document the history of Monomoy and its long-lost residents. Her extensive findings are on display in the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage, where she will welcome visitors this summer.

Top o’ the World: The views from the top of the 40-foot-tall Monomoy Lighthouse, 25 feet above sea level, are unrivaled with daytime views of the Chatham Lighthouse eight miles to the North, and nighttime flashes seen from Nantucket’s Great Point Lighthouse, 19 miles to the South.

Buried history: Beach buggies. In the 1940s and ’50s, people brought their cars out to Monomoy to their beach camps. The journey started with a barge ride over to Morris Island and then an over-sand, low-tide drive out to Monomoy, which was connected to Morris Island at the time. When the cars broke down, they were often abandoned, their remains buried in the shifting sands. You can still find them sticking out of the dunes behind the lighthouse today.

“I find it fascinating,” shares Stryjewski. “I started researching the history of the Monomoy Lighthouse and began to discover the richness of the island’s history. The more I read, the more captivated I became. I thoroughly enjoy discussing this incredible history with those who share my love of Monomoy. My family’s stories about the island have been passed down for nearly 100 years. I know other families have strong ties to the island and stories to tell, and I’m hoping to hear from them so these stories can be retold at the lighthouse.”

A hidden history

It was originally called “Malabar,” and referred to as the “Land of Evil Bars,” because of the horrible legacy of shipwrecks on its countless sandbars. Monomoy’s first Colonial activity dates to 1711 with the opening of (what else?) a tavern. And for 100 years, from 1823 to 1923, the Monomoy Lighthouse beacon shone.

A vibrant commercial fishing industry boomed from about 1830 to 1860, disappearing after a massive storm caused the harbor to fill with sand. Looking out at the expanse of the island from the top of the lighthouse today, it is hard to imagine that this was ever such an active place. It’s now pure nature as far as the eye can see. “I’m sure there is buried history here,” says Stryjewski. “I’ve even found articles that are 100 years old that say the site should be excavated. I have seen maps that refer to native settlements on the island. There are no physical reminders—all three lifesaving stations that were on Monomoy were either taken by the sea or destroyed—and once the people are no longer around to tell their stories, they are slowly lost. Now when you visit the island, you have no idea that anyone ever lived there, let alone the incredible feats of heroism that took place—all the more reason we need to retell their story.”

Bird lover’s paradise

Now, Monomoy’s only regular inhabitants are scientists and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interns who take turns camping and sleeping in the lighthousekeeper’s house while counting, banding and conducting research on the bird populations. Those same bird populations are a huge draw for amateur and expert birdwatchers and photographers alike. Rick Nye, refuge manager of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, says Monomoy’s ecosystem and wildlife are unique. “It’s the vastness of it all,” says Nye. “We have the volume. Big numbers of all the species. We’ve got it all. Here, you’re seeing a little bit more of a wildlife story that we might not get in a more popular or less remote location.”

Sadly, unless you have special permission from the government to spend the night here, your immersion in that wildlife story has to come to an end. As the passengers climb back onboard Captain Buckley’s Lucy Jane to head back to the mainland, Buckley notes that their demeanor is markedly different on the return trip.

“They just had an experience that few get today,” reflects Buckley. “To be in a wild place, and to feel how powerful nature is. And it’s right there, just at the edge of our horizon. Monomoy isn’t just a nature refuge. It is a refuge from all the problems of everyday life.”

GETTING TO MONOMOY ISLAND

Privately owned boats allowed Hop aboard Captain Buckley’s Lucy Jane, a 19-foot Maritime skiff, of Stage Harbor Excursions & Launch shuttle service. stageharbor.com

For more information about wildlife and lighthouse open houses: fws.gov/refuge/monomoy

* There are no restrooms on Monomoy or on the shuttle boat

* No dogs allowed

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Volunteer Liz Stryjewski is eager to hear from families with Monomoy roots and stories to share at: monomoylight@gmail.com.

Mystery and Intrigue

Current authors use Monomoy’s remote setting for crime, mayhem and quirky happenings.

BY DEBRA LAWLESS

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, writers have described Monomoy as a weird, almost otherworldly place.

Elizabeth Reynard of Chatham picked up on the island’s odd vibe in her 1934 book The Narrow Land: Folk Chronicles of Old Cape Cod Monomoy is “as eerie, isolated, gleaming a bar as ever shone back at the moon,” she wrote.

Clearly, these feelings remain as several current authors have used a Monomoy setting for crime, mayhem and just plain oddball happenings. The fact that no one lives on Monomoy, that it’s possible to look as far as you can without seeing signs of civilization, strikes just about every author. But that was not always the case.

In the 19th century, a year-round village called Whitewash thrived around Powder Hole, a deep natural harbor. Whitewash boasted about 200 residents—most engaged in fishing—a tavern inn and even a public school. Babies were born on

Monomoy, with the doctor traveling 10 miles down the sand spit from town. But in 1860, when a hurricane shifted the sands, life at Whitewash, which was already made tenuous by the motion of the sea, was just about over.

A painter named Giddings Ballou knew Monomoy well enough to publish an article on it in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in December 1863. (Ballou had taught the children of Monomoy for five years.) Ballou, too, emphasized the desolate locale’s peculiar traits. “The winter fires of Monomoy burn with strange hues from black wreck-wood seasoned in many climes,” he noted in his article.

Murder mystery set on Monomoy

Modern novelists are not immune to Monomoy’s quirks. Chatham author Keith Yocum’s seventh novel, A Whisper Came, published in 2021, is a murder mystery set largely in Chatham and on Monomoy.

Continued on page 136

PHOTO: BETTY WILEY

Mystery and Intrigue

Continued from page 134

“The island may be home to thousands of gray seals and terns, but it feels strangely remote and a century removed from the mainland,” says Yocum. “The lighthouse sticks up like an orange apparition, alone on a barren, windswept spit of sand and scrub brush.”

A Whisper Came opens with a charter captain and his client fly-fishing off the Nantucket Sound side of Monomoy. They soon find the body of a woman floating face-down in the water. She carries no identification and wears the clothing of yesteryear. Who is she, and what happened?

Yocum’s detective, Stacie, eventually travels out to Monomoy Light where her experiences enmesh her in a Hitchcock-style nightmare.

Yocum outlined the book after a June 2019 trip to the island, when he and his companions hiked for about a half-mile through rolling sand dunes and ponds to the keeper’s house and the lighthouse. Someone suggested that the keeper’s house was “haunted,” and Yocum was hooked.

He later visited the archives of the Chatham Historical Society, where he researched maritime legends revolving around Monomoy and Whitewash Village. Yocum has heard rumors that he is unable to verify that a series of murders took place in the village. Real or not, they provided fodder for a novelist’s imagination.

Fishing tips and adventures

If Yocum finds Monomoy “a century removed,”

bestselling author Michael J. Tougias says, “When I fish off Monomoy it sometimes feels

like I’m in a different country, maybe a different planet because of the dunes and lack of houses.” He adds that “the Monomoy Rip does have an ominous feel to it.”

Tougias teamed up with his frequent fishing partner Adam Gamble to write the 2023 book The Power of Positive Fishing: A Story of Friendship and the Quest for Happiness. One day, Tougias was fishing off the tip of Monomoy when he heard a boater tell the Coast Guard that a great white shark was circling his boat. Tougias watched the small boat “go screaming away,” but he was dubious that the boater had seen a great white. He soon learned that massive sharks are, indeed, cruising the waters off Chatham. “Boy, was I wrong!”

Sharks aside, the book also includes a few fishing tips.

Monomoy’s past and present

Author Lee Roscoe has spent a great deal of time on Monomoy, which she describes as “a mote in a sea and whirlpool of Cape Cod and of America.” Her 1993 book Dreaming Monomoy’s Past, Walking Its Present, with the subtitle The interacting nature and culture of a typical coastal area; a subjective and objective account, was revised and updated before being reissued in 2023. The fascinating book covers just about everything Monomoy from its geology, its early inhabitants, pirates and mooncussers, Whitewash Village, fishing camps, hunting and the lighthouse.

Roscoe poses the profound question: “How do we react to history, how is history created by nature?”

PHOTO: BETTY WILEY

Summer Stroll

Art in the Park

Sterling silver Cape Cod bracelet and hoop earrings from Chatham Jewelers

From left: Vineyard Vines classic pique polo in navy and Vineyard Vines whale swim trunks; Vineyard Vines pink polo dress; and Vineyard Vines classic pique polo in Jake blue and swim trunks from Puritan Cape Cod

Meet me on MAIN

Siblings step out for a day of summer fun and hit all the hot spots: Art in the Park, Chatham Candy Manor, Buffy’s Ice Cream (home of Chatham Ice Cream Bars) and the Chatham Orpheum Theater.

PHOTOGRAPHER: DAN CUTRONA

MODELS: BODE, PIPER AND LONDON

PRODUCED BY LISA CONNORS AND JANICE ROGERS

Above: Outfits from Chatham Kids and Birkenstocks from Canterbury Leather. Clothing details on page 145.

Sweet Traditions

Chatham Candy Manor

At left: O’Neill dress; Johnnie-O striped polo and Bailey boys’ shorts in white; and Johnnie-O striped polo paired with O’Neill hybrid shorts from Chatham Kids

Above: Lemon dress from Chatham Kids

Scoops

Above: Vignette pink tank and Area Code print shorts; fisherman T-shirt and O’Neill hybrid shorts; and sharkbite T-shirt in ombre and O’Neill hybrid shorts from Chatham Kids

At left: Sailboat hoodie from Chatham Kids. Sterling silver Cape Cod bracelet, hoop earrings, ring and Cape Cod map necklace from Chatham Jewelers

Buffy’s Ice Cream

Movie Magic

Chatham Orpheum Theater

Canterbury Leather 640 Main St., 508-945-3806

Chatham Kids New location! 584 Main St., 508-945-3051 chathamclothingbar.com

Puritan Cape Cod 573 Main St., 508-945-0326 puritancapecod.com

Chatham Jewelers 532 Main St., 508-945-0690 chathamjewelerscapecod.com

THANKS

Buffy’s Ice Cream, home of Chatham Ice Cream Bars 456 Main St., 508-348-5271 chathamicecreambars.com

Chatham sweatshirt and Mayoral shorts; Acvisa Cape Cod quarter-zip and shorts; Johnnie-O quarterzip and Bailey boys’ shorts in white. All available at Chatham Kids

Chatham Candy Manor 484 Main St., 508-945-0825 candymanor.com

Chatham Orpheum Theater 637 Main St., 508-945-0874 chathamorpheum.org

Michelle Wang, hairstylist and owner of Hairworxs 119 Route 137, #4 Harwich, 508-432-3900 hairworxs.com

Cape Photography by Jon Vaughan

It’s a Beautiful Day

From a stroll down Main Street to a walk on the beach and everything in between, you’ll look stylish in outfits accented with unique jewelry from local boutiques that will take you from day to night.

PHOTOGRAPHER: DAN CUTRONA

MODELS: ALLIE SULA AND CHRIS GARAFOLA, MAGGIE INC., BOSTON HAIR: MICHELLE WANG, HAIRWORXS

MAKEUP: EVA JOHNSON

PRODUCED BY LISA CONNORS

St. James navy full-zip sweater from Island Pursuit . Turtleson polo, O’Neill hybrid shorts and Cape Cod belt from Chatham Clothing Bar

Emery dress in blue daisies from Sara Campbell paired with handmade earrings from De La Mer

Brochu Walker Havana dress with Jack Rogers sandals.

Jack Victor blue travel blazer with Chatham Chino gingham check shirt and Peter Millar khaki five-pocket pant with navy belt.

All available at Puritan Cape Cod

Above: 18k pearls bracelet; South Sea pearls and diamonds ring; and pearls and diamonds drop earrings. Freshwater pearls necklace with 14k clasp from Chatham Jewelers

Right: 14k bracelet and signet ring from Chatham Jewelers

The Art of Fashion

ARTNOVA GALLERY

Latte Love

14k necklace with enhancer, hoop earrings, 14k and diamond ring. 14k charm bracelet shown with 14k charms, made on the premises in Chatham. All available at Chatham Jewelers

Opposite: Peter Millar men’s Cape Cod Custom quarter-zip (a Puritan exclusive) with Peter Millar gingham shorts and Olukai shoes. Jude Connolly dress paired with bright-blue medium Longchamp tote bag and Jack Rogers sandals. All available at Puritan Cape Cod

SNOWY OWL

ESPRESSO BAR

Pink zebra print woven linen, on- or off-the-shoulder blouse, stretchy five-pocket slim fit cropped jean with frayed hem detail in white, and textured platform sandal in fuchsia with a cushy insole. All available from Chatham Shoe Boutique

Sterling silver necklace with enhancer and bracelets. Sterling silver earrings made on the premises in Chatham. All available at Chatham Jewelers.

Cheers to a Night Out

APLAYA KITCHEN + TIKI BAR

XL Etruscan pendant with green tourmaline and chrome diopside druzy earrings, 14k with diamonds. All available at Forest-Beach Designer Goldsmiths

Opposite: Ulla Johnson Lila Dress in Calla Lily, available at Lola Mer Alan Paine button-down, O’Neill walk short and Turtleson belt, available at Chatham Clothing Bar

Sand,andSeaStyle

Sigrid Olsen Beach by Bistro tunic and NYDJ frayed ankle hem jean from Chatham Clothing Bar. Handmade earrings from De La Mer Sharkbite ombre shirt and O’Neill swim trunks from Chatham Clothing Bar.

Ready for the Elements

Helly Hansen crew hooded jacket and St. James Brehat III pink V-neck top from Island Pursuit

Opposite: Simply Mila dress available at If the Shoe Fits Shorts and polo shirt by Fish Hippie and needlepoint belt by Harding Lane, available at JAKS Chatham

Above: 14k jade pendant with pearl accent;14k circulus ring with chrysocolla; and sea life cuff made of Argentium silver, 22k gold, 18k gold, Australian opal and diamonds. All available at Forest-Beach Designer Goldsmiths

GET THE LOOK

Chatham Clothing Bar

534 Main St., 508-945-5292 chathamclothingbar.com

Chatham Dress Code

585 Main St., 508-332-9408 chathamdresscode.com

Chatham Jewelers

532 Main St., 508-332-9408 chathamjewelerscapecod.com

Chatham Kids, New location! 584 Main St., 508-945-3051 chathamclothingbar.com

Chatham Shoe Boutique 1715 Main St., 508-348-1659

Forest Beach Designer-Goldsmiths

436 Main St., 508-945-7334 capecodcharms.com

If the Shoe Fits

442 Main St., 508-348-1926 iftheshoefitscapecod.com

Island Pursuit

1238 Main St., 508-945-3525 islandpursuit.com

JAKS Chatham

505 Main St., 508-348-1193 jakschatham.com

Lola Mer

782 Main St., 774-801-9717 lolamer.com

Puritan Cape Cod 573 Main St., 508-945-0326 puritancapecod.com

Sara Campbell

578 Main St., 508-348-1702 saracampbell.com

SPECIAL THANKS

Aplaya Kitchen + Tiki Bar

483 Main St., 508-348-5132 aplayacapecod.com

Artnova Gallery 463 Main St., 508-469-9222 artnovagallery.com

Lynne O’Brien founder of Line in the Sand, for use of her property lineinthesand.com

Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters

Chatham Espresso Bar 483 Main St., 508-348-5321 socoffee.co

Eva Johnson, makeup artist evajohnsonmakeup.com

Michelle Wang, hairstylist and owner of Hairworxs

119 Route 137, #4, Harwich 508-432-3900, hairworxs.com

Liverpool jeans with Johnnie-O sport shirt from Island Pursuit . Riomar boat shoes from JAKS Chatham Hatley eyelet top and Lulu-B seersucker shorts from Chatham Dress Code Earrings, necklace and bracelet by Salty Cali. Ramon Tenza leather loafers. All available at JAKS

Backyard Bliss

Chatham

MODE

BY CAROL K. DUMAS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS COOPER

RN

Love

A dramatic, contemporary addition, connected to an updated Greek Revival house on Oyster Pond, successfully blends the historic and modern—and showcases stunning water views.

Upon the client’s purchase of the site, the home consisted of an original 19th-century farmhouse and 1950s addition. Hacin’s architecture practice guided the renovation of the existing structures and designed a complementary addition to expand the living space in the main house.

AN ORIGINAL 19TH-CENTURY FARMHOUSE overlooking Oyster Pond in Chatham needed updating, but the owners desired a renovation that maintained the historic character while seamlessly incorporating a contemporary addition and sustainable building practices.

The homeowners had previously worked with Hacin, a Boston architectural and design firm, on their primary home in the Boston suburbs, and tapped the company to tackle their second home project. In addition to

updating the old house, they also sought to maximize the water views from inside the house. They sought connected spaces to accommodate their family of four grown children and two dogs.

The project, completed in 2021, successfully melds the historic and modern into a total 5,900-square-foot residence that brings in the water views that were lacking in the old house. A dramatic contemporary addition was built on the site of the former driveway, connecting to the historic Greek Revival house, with

construction by Sea-Dar Construction of Sandwich.

“The home is uniquely located on an elevated site that evokes a feeling of seclusion while also sitting steps away from both the heart of the town and the beach,” says project architect David Tabenken.

Those elevations made the construction “a little dramatic,” says Sea-Dar Construction supervisor Dan Zani. The biggest challenge was building during the height of COVID-19, which required the site to offer

additional health and safety regulations for the large crew, including washing stations, implementing mask wearing and making hand sanitizer readily available.

Most of Sea-Dar’s projects had shut down during the pandemic, and the Chatham project was initially one of the only active building sites in 2020, says vice president John Kruse.

Kruse admired the detail work required in the addition, such as the wood ceiling in the family room

The home’s main entry is located in Hacin’s new addition, taking advantage of the high view of Oyster Pond. A custom Lumifer suspension light was chosen for its smoky amethyst color, evoking the color of scattered mussel shells that are prevalent on the beach nearby.

and the unusual paint finish (kalei) that gave a unique, English cottage–style look to the walls and interior brickwork.

“This project took a lot of work, but it was a great project, a unique project on an amazing site that had a commanding view of the water,” says Zani.

DESIGNING A DREAM HOME

The expanded home respects the vernacular of its neighbors, says Tabenken, “with an architectural language and massing that ensures the addition complements without overwhelming the original structure.”

The homeowners had specific ideas about what they envisioned their Cape Cod home to be and they—and their family—were closely involved in the project from start to finish. Some of the family’s members who work in the design industry collaborated with the Hacin designers to ensure that the furnishings, color palette and materials were unique and outside the typical beach house aesthetic.

Every piece in the living room was produced by an American maker, including an Egg Collective coffee table with custom concrete top by Concrete Collective. The team chose a pink accent color inspired by the interior of seashells, shown here with Zak + Fox fabric on lounge chairs by Nickey Kehoe.

The team designed a deep blue island, specifying stain on white oak to enhance the wood’s natural grain. Tumbled limestone flooring welcomes sandy feet and wet dogs, while character-grade oak pops around the perimeter.

“Our client was really enthusiastic about supporting small makers, discovering interesting materials and investing in pieces crafted in America with a focus on East Coast companies,” says interior designer Jennifer Clapp.

The Cape house was initially inspired by the husband’s fond memories of spending summers at his family’s New Jersey beach cottage, nicknamed “The Shack.”

The architectural concept for the addition, explains Tabenken, was inspired by its views to the horizon across Oyster Pond. Inside, Clapp chose a palette based on the subtle colors of the coastal landscape, inspired by the area’s common shells (mussels, quahogs and scallops) and employing hues of soft pinks, smoky lavenders and straw throughout.

The addition has expansive windows that bring in the view; a wood ceiling and limestone flooring that create warmth; and brick piers to anchor the space. A custom corner fireplace extends above the roof of the addition,

relating to the home’s two historic chimneys and taking inspiration from the various chimneys and church steeples that dot the landscape of Chatham, which make an appearance in a custom puzzle art piece in the dining room.

The kitchen in the original house was updated with a mix of carefully curated materials.

There are oak pendants above the center island, and the custom white oak cabinets by Downsview Kitchens feature white bronze pulls and cast glass knobs. The backsplash with blue-and-white tile made by Philadelphia craftsman Tyler Hayes gives a pop of color. Countertops are stainless steel and London Grey honed quartz. The flooring is tumbled limestone. A window seat with tufted cushions adds to the ambiance of the space.

The dining area is a separate room adjacent to the kitchen, in what was formerly a three-season porch. The floor is 10-inch solid white oak plank by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors.

Upstairs are three guest bedrooms, a primary bedroom and a “flex room” that allows an additional gathering space with a game table, a large sectional to accommodate the unexpected overnight guest or two, a terrace with ocean views and a powder room.

A freestanding building next to the pool has a twocar garage on the lower level, a pool house at the main level and a bunk room on the second floor. This structure replaced a larger pre-existing outbuilding that was originally on this portion of the site.

OUTDOOR LIVING

The landscaping goal for the property, which is perched on the edge of Oyster Pond, was to create a spacious and comfortable area with seating, a pool and a hot tub set around bluestone patio pavers and gardens. A microclover lawn, which requires no fertilizer and minimal irrigation, was installed by Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design.

“It is a very exposed site with strong winds, so we worked carefully to create a series of spaces to retreat

Located next to the home is a new pool house, which provides additional sleeping space on the top floor and an outdoor shower.

from the elements,” says Jen Stephens, principal of Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design.

For example, drought-tolerant, native shrubs were planted along the perimeter of the site to create windbreaks while also preserving framed vignettes of Oyster Pond from inside the home.

“The owner requested an ‘enchanted garden,’ a place that felt cozy and magical,” says Stephens. “We utilized the canopy of an existing cherry tree and created a flush wood deck enclosed by new flowering trees and hydrangeas. They furnished the space around a fire pit, and it feels nestled in the context.”

An herb garden, elevated above the lawn with reclaimed granite stairs, is accented by a lavender border.

With the owners’ appreciation for texture and craft, paving materials were carefully curated, including reclaimed granite and fabricated granite with a custom antique finish, and salvaged and repurposed bluestone.

A flush wood deck at the pool house provides a stage for al fresco table tennis, and a bespoke outdoor

shower has a seating niche with a custom foot-wash station. A lush pollinator garden slopes down to the pool, forming a backdrop to the newly elevated spa.

PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Many of the existing building structure, cladding and interior elements needed to be preserved, and the design team worked closely with the Chatham Historical Commission.

“With input from a local zoning attorney who advised the owners and design team about what level of renovation of the existing house would likely be approved by the Chatham Historical Commission, we essentially preserved the existing house in its entirety, with only modern modifications to the exterior,” explains Tabenken. “These changes included adding a dormer, relocating a chimney and reconfiguring a side-door entry and adjacent windows. Much of the interior floor plan was reconfigured while retaining character-defining elements, such as wide-plank pine floors, original doors and brick fireplaces. Significant structural work was required to preserve the original house as much as possible, and extra effort was taken by the general contractor to ensure the historic house remained intact

The library is in the oldest part of the house, featuring an original fireplace with exposed brick and a comfortable sofa from Lekker in Boston, which invites guests to read and put their feet up.

Elevated

Whimsical

Carefully

Custom Linens and Bedding

Located on the corner of Seaview and Main Street in historic downtown Chatham.

tokyo milk

nest NEw york

Dea Fine Linens haute home fazeek

yves delorme alexandre turpault Petite Plume

stamatina laurence tavernier

to the fullest extent possible, rather than removing and replacing existing framing to save time and money.”

In terms of sustainability, the thermal performance of the original house was improved by fully insulating the roof and basement and selectively insulating the existing exterior walls. High-efficiency HVAC and water-heating systems were implemented, with zones created to conserve energy when the entire house is not fully in use, and the new addition was designed to exceed current building codes. The design also takes advantage of natural light throughout and includes automated window shades.

RESOURCES

Architect: Hacin

Boston

Interior Design: Jennifer Clapp, Hacin Boston Construction: Sea-Dar Construction

Sandwich

Landscape Design: Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design Stoneham

Landscape Construction: R. P. Marzilli & Company Medway

Kitchen: Downsview Kitchen Boston

Both exterior and interior brick was treated with a highly resistant kalei finish, which softens brick textures in support of the historic aesthetic and is water-based, solvent-free and naturally pigmented. Benjamin Moore Aura paint, a low-VOC option, was utilized throughout the interiors.

“In addition to the preservation of the original structure and its inherent sustainability, care was taken to keep environmentally friendly finishes and materials front of mind,” says Tabenken.

Millwork: Nine Points Woodworking Worcester

Custom Stairs: Modern Metal Solutions Hudson, N.H.

Stone Fabricators: United Marble Fabricators Watertown

Ceiling, Finish Work, Oak Walls, Stairs: Redfoot Custom Woodworking (install) Centerville Premier Woodcrafting (supply), Plaistow, N.H.

Embrace all of the activities you love from sunrise to sunset in Line in the Sand waterwear.

50+ UPF & quick-drying

Made from recycled plastic

Conceived in Chatham, made to empower 100% of profits go to ocean & cancer organizations

Vibrant Hues and Magical Views

A North Chatham homeowner cultivates an enchanting garden featuring a variety of beautiful blooms and a profusion of color from May to November.

BY DEBRA LAWLESS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETTY WILEY

THE GORGEOUS, SHOWY DAHLIAS AND peonies that her maternal grandmother grew in her garden in Maine made a strong impression on Theresa Harriman at an early age. Today, she cultivates enormous dinnerplate dahlias in an explosion of colors—vibrant purple, pink, a peach mix, burgundy, bright red and white. And her heirloom Sarah Bernhardt peonies remind her of her father and his mother. Harriman is a potter, and color is vital to both her pottery and her gardens.

“I’ve always been really intensive with colors,” says Harriman. “I like all colors.”

A narrow, curving dirt lane leads to Harriman’s North Chatham house, making a visitor feel she is entering an enchanted space. Harriman’s colorful gardens beckon from the base of the drive. Surrounding the lamppost are blue and pink hydrangeas, purple Russian sage and white and yellow daisies against a backdrop of Kousa dogwoods and evergreens. When Harriman moved here, the lamppost was surrounded by “junk”—pines, poison ivy.

“It looked like kind of a mess,” she recalls. Her new plantings “made more of a presence.”

Opposite: Allium, peonies, daisies and irises in a range of vibrant colors pop out against a background of green in the sheltered garden just below the pool.

Allium along the walkway, pansies in the window boxes and a seafoam-colored door augment the enchanted feeling of Theresa Harriman’s pottery studio. Below: Blue mophead hydrangeas bloom as a Kousa dogwood tree fades.

The magical feeling is enhanced when you view, on the left, Harriman’s charming pottery studio in a gray-shingled cottage sited so it overlooks some of the gardens on her nearly one-acre property.

“My garden is a big part of my studio,” she says. Glance at the lovely floral plates and trays that she fashions, and you’ll see what she means.

Hydrangeas create ‘Cape Coddy’ look

The studio was once a two-story cottage used as a boathouse. Harriman, an architect trained at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., drew up the conversion plans herself in 2019. Once the renovation was complete, she created the gardens around the studio. Seven window boxes decorate the studio’s exterior walls. Each year, Harriman plants a different variety of annual. Last summer, she favored coleus for the north-facing boxes. She also planted Johnny-jump-ups, pansies and petunias. Dark purple allium pops up from the ground, guiding a visitor toward the studio’s doors, which are painted a pastel seafoam teal. A profusion of color leads the eye up the driveway toward the south side of the main house.

Deep pink honeysuckle and a lighter pink peony add splashes of color.

When Harriman bought this property in 2005, an interesting challenge faced her—how to convert someone else’s taste in landscaping into her own. As well as adding color, Harriman’s goal was to create a more “Cape Coddy” look to the grounds.

And what could say “Cape Cod” better than hydrangeas? Oddly, the previous owner had not liked hydrangeas—there was not a one. Harriman has planted an assortment of varieties. Her favorite? Perhaps the hydrangea macrophylla, which blooms on old wood and in gorgeous colors, such as magenta and deep blue. You can dry the big blossoms that reach 8 to 10 inches in diameter.

Hydrangeas dot the property—down by the lane, in the border gardens cut in sinuous shapes along the edges of the rolling lawn, at the base of the rock garden by the north porch, and both inside and outside the white fence surrounding the pool

and

lawn. Below: A wide variety of plantings in subtle

Deep purple catmint creates a delightful contrast to the green of the shrubs

sinuous

colors softens the hardscape leading past the porch and up to the pool.

area. Here, their beautiful pale yellow blooms contrast with the sparkling blue of the pool. Along a white picket fence hydrangeas, astilbes and daylilies add more color.

Open areas, intimate gathering spots

As in any successful landscape, this yard on all four sides of the house has intimate gathering spots—a sheltered patio with its dining table and clay planters of flowers—and open areas, such as the wide rolling lawn to the north of the house. The lawn slopes dramatically, and in her early days here Harriman mowed that area

herself using a self-propelled push mower. The task took about three hours, and “you got to know your yard very well,” she says. While she no longer mows the lawn, “I like to do most everything” by the back patio, up the driveway and in the rock garden where nepeta, blue hydrangeas, lilies, lavender, sage, hostas and irises cluster beneath a cherry tree.

In 2022, a late frost killed off many hydrangea buds. And here, as in many Cape Cod gardens, wind poses a challenge. The wind blows in off the water—Pleasant

A side porch hideaway is decorated with Harriman’s ceramic plates that reflect the inspiration of her flowers. Below: Harriman’s ceramic dragonfly and a blue hydrangea say “summer on Cape Cod.”

Allium planted next to a bed of catmint will turn into decorative pods when they finish blooming. Below: Harriman planted loads of hydrangeas to enhance the “Cape Coddy” feeling of the property. Here, irregular flagstones lead down a slope flanked by hydrangeas and Russian sage.

Bay is about 1,000 feet directly north, out of sight but close enough that you can hear the sound of waves and, in the past, seals barking. The bay’s mist, too, can be too wet for some plants, and feed funguses. In fact, Harriman had to relocate her peonies because their initial spot proved to be too moist. And while rabbits are a problem in Cape Cod gardens, Harriman is fortunate. The rabbits love the lawn so much that they stay away from the gardens, she says.

The color begins in these gardens in the spring with daffodil and narcissus bulbs blooming down by the lane. In May and June comes the allium, and following this are the roses and the first hydrangeas. By July, the rest of the flowers—the many hydrangeas, lilies and astilbes—are in full bloom. On a summer morning the deep, vibrant colors draw the eye around the gardens. The dahlias are the last to bloom, and, if there is no frost, they continue right into November.

As the blooming season comes to an end, the many evergreens and blue spruce offer privacy.

“It’s nice to be in a little oasis here,” says Harriman, “and feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere.”

All in the family: Steve and Jen Wright hosted Chatham Anglers pitcher Ryan Verdugo, left, and infielder Kyson Donahue during the summer of 2023. The Wrights, who have hosted players in their home since 2018, say the experience provides good examples for their young children Wallace, Maisie and Roy.

For the Wright family, hosting Chatham Anglers players every year is a chance to contribute to the team and provide good examples for their three young children.

“A house is made of bricks and beams. A home is made of hopes and dreams.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is no indication that the philosopher and poet Mr. Emerson was much of an athlete growing up in Boston in the 1800s. Poor eyesight and rheumatism bothered him throughout his life. But he knew of what he wrote, and in Chatham, more than a dozen families make their houses summer homes for young men with hopes and dreams of major league baseball.

The Chatham Anglers are one of 10 teams in the Cape Cod Baseball League, widely recognized as the best collegiate league in the nation. Every June, many of the finest amateur players in the country arrive in town and become summer sons of host families.

The franchises are responsible for providing accommodations for the players. Sue Thomas,

a member of the Chatham Athletic Association, coordinates housing for the Anglers and relies on local networking to secure at least 15 homes.

“It’s basically word of mouth,” says Thomas of finding hosts. “We’re a close-knit town. Someone tells someone and they get in touch. We always have 30 active players, and usually more, and most families take two players. The Anglers wouldn’t exist without the continued generosity of so many. Most of our hosts are repeats and have been doing this for years. We are immensely grateful.”

Host families receive $100 per week per player. In return, they provide a bedroom with air-conditioning, access to a bathroom and shower, washer and dryer for laundry and internet. And food, of course. Young men like to eat.

BY BILL HIGGINS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA CUMES

The Chatham organization arranges post-game meals for the players, but the host families help with breakfast, lunch and snacks.

A full house is a happy house

Jen and Steve Wright have hosted players in their South Chatham home since 2018. Last summer, infielder Kyson Donahue from the University of Hawaii stayed with them for the entire season. Pitcher Miles Langhorne from the University of North CarolinaCharlotte was here until mid-July, and then pitcher Ryan Verdugo from California-Bakersfield moved in for the final two weeks.

The Wrights have three children: Roy, 11, Maisie, 9, and Wallace, 7, plus Stewart the dog. Steve is co-owner and general manager of Chatham Shellfish Company, and Jen works for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Summer is hectic, and adding strapping athletes (Donahue is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds; Langhorne 6-foot-4, 200 pounds) ratchets up the commotion around the house. That’s the way they like it.

“For me,” says Steve, “it’s a neat opportunity to contribute to the team and give our young kids a little

extra exposure to others who are standouts at what they do. The players are good examples for them.”

“The kids were really little when we first did this,” says Jen. “Wallace was only 1, so it’s kind of all we’ve known every summer. Plus, we love baseball. I grew up with a dad who is the biggest Red Sox fan. We probably wouldn’t do this if it was a sport we weren’t interested in.”

Donahue was the first to arrive last June, followed a couple days later by Langhorne. The Wrights said the adjustment was quick.

“The kids help make the transition easy,” says Jen. “If it was only us and the guys, it might be a little awkward at first, but Kyson came down from his room and they were like, ‘Hey, wanna play bingo with us?’ That was it.”

“It happens fast,” says Steve. “Maybe an afternoon to get acquainted and then everyone settles in and is sharing. No one’s timid. For the kids, it’s like having big brothers around. The guys are great.”

Chatham was Donahue’s third summer of baseball, having played in Anchorage in the Alaska League and

Making memories: Players Kyson Donahue and Ryan Verdugo enjoy some lighthearted moments with the Wright children during a game of Monopoly.

California State University in Bakersfield and Donahue

from the University of Hawaii.

Dynamic duo: Ryan Verdugo and Kyson Donahue stayed with the Wright family during the summer of 2023. Verdugo is from

is

La Crosse, Wisconsin, in the Northwoods League, so he was comfortable living with a host family.

“The first time when I was coming right out of high school it was nerve-racking,” says Donahue. “Now knowing what to expect, it’s easier. We can concentrate on baseball, which is why we’re here.”

For Langhorne, last summer was his first experience in a host home, and he was nervous.

“The Wrights made me feel welcome right away. I loved playing with the kids. The Cape League is an awesome opportunity and experience.”

House rules and hectic schedules

Housing director Thomas recommends host families establish house rules at the outset. “These are 20-yearolds who haven’t lived at home for the last nine months

Backyard fun: When not playing for the Anglers, Ryan and Kyson enjoy tossing the ball with their host family and giving piggyback rides.

they’ve been in college,” she said, “so sometimes they need reminders.”

“Actually, I don’t think we had any rules,” says Steve. “Just common sense things. The guys were always respectful and courteous. They’re young adults, and they appreciate what we’re providing.”

Said Jen: “All I told them was I’m not going into your room. I don’t want to see it. Keep it clean, pick up wet towels and please turn off the air-conditioner when you’re not there.”

The Wrights said their players were mostly selfsufficient, often doing laundry and taking care of themselves in the kitchen.

“I tried to make sure we had the food they wanted,” says Jen. “They liked those protein shakes. We filled up the freezer with microwavable meals, and they were welcome to help themselves.”

“Our schedules were much different,” says Steve. “I was up and out in the morning while they were sleeping, and when I got home, they were gone to their games. Maybe if there was a rainout or fog-out, they’d be home early and we’d have some down time at night.”

“It’s great what they do for us,” says Donahue.

Host a Player

Opening your home as a host family for the Chatham Anglers is an opportunity to create special memories and lifelong friends. The season runs from early June to mid-August. For more information, contact housing director Sue Thomas at 774-836-0112 or email madison.2@comcast.net.

The Wrights are looking forward to hosting Chatham Anglers again in 2024 and

Life lessons: Ryan Verdugo gives a few pitching lessons to Roy Wright. The Wright family is looking forward to hosting Chatham Anglers players again in 2024.

THE SOUNDS

Baseball interns sow seeds of success with Anglers.

BY BILL HIGGINS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIA

CUMES

IT’S A PLEASANT EVENING IN CHATHAM as a fiery sunset begins to appear over Veterans Field. The Anglers are playing the Orleans Firebirds in a Cape Cod Baseball League game, and Dan D’Uva is relaxing at a picnic table, reflecting on his recent whirlwind schedule.

This is where the seeds of D’Uva’s career as a budding broadcaster were planted two decades earlier when he was a teenager from Ridgewood, N.J. He and his high school buddy, Guy Benson, were the radio play-byplay intern team for Chatham, calling games from the wooden press box behind the bleachers.

OF SUMMER

Now D’Uva has returned to his roots. More than 20 summers ago, he was a fresh-faced 18-year-old with dreams and a passion for broadcasting. Two decades later, he’s at the top of his profession, the radio voice of the NHL champion Vegas Golden Knights. He delivered the memorable call—“A devotion to destiny. Misfits to champions”—when Vegas won the 2023 Stanley Cup.

But D’Uva hasn’t forgotten where it all began, and that’s why he comes back to Chatham every summer to mentor the next generation of college interns who aspire to follow in his footsteps. D’Uva is the media coordinator for the Anglers, responsible for selecting the team’s broadcasters, website reporters, photographer, videographer and producer.

D’Uva, center, media coordinator for the Anglers,

Syracuse University. D’Uva worked as a radio play-by-play intern for the Anglers two decades ago and returns to his roots every summer to coach and critique the next generation of broadcasters.

“So many people in Chatham were so good to me when I was just a kid,” said the 39-year-old D’Uva. “I can’t thank them enough. But what I can do is to pay it forward by helping the young people coming along who care the way Guy and I cared.”

In addition to the media team, the Anglers also have about a dozen volunteer interns, under the direction of Brian Voelkel. They assist with game-day operations such as concessions, merchandise, 50-50 raffle fundraising and other duties as ambassadors at Veterans Field.

Voelkel and his wife, Becky, own Mahi Gold Outfitters, an apparel store on Main Street. He is the former general manager of the Brockton Rox minor league baseball team and understands the importance of the fans’ experience at games.

“I look for young men and women with different strengths who can work together,” says Brian. “The goal is to ensure an enjoyable night at the ballpark.”

Fast track to the big leagues

Greer Cohen, a finance major at the University of Georgia, was an Angler intern for Voelkel and said the experience will be beneficial no matter what career path she pursues.

“You meet a lot of great people,” says Cohen. “I love being around sports, and if I stay in finance in some way, it would be cool if I could tie that in with a team or maybe as an advisor to players.”

Team general manager Mike Geylin has two volunteer interns, including one designated as a Major League Baseball liaison who provides assistance to scouts at Veterans Field. In recent seasons, Geylin’s interns have also helped Chatham’s on-field staff with statistical data, in keeping with the trend of analytics in the game.

Like the highly recruited players who will sign pro contracts, many of the interns—especially the broadcasters—are on a fast track to the big leagues.

Dan

mentors college broadcasting interns Andrew Selover and Joe Puccio, both from

D’Uva and Benson were the franchise’s first in 2003. D’Uva was behind the microphone through 2008 while attending Syracuse and Fordham, and Benson, who attended Northwestern University, was alongside until 2006. D’Uva is now in his sixth season in the NHL. Benson is a national talk radio host, Fox News contributor, political pundit and columnist.

An Anglers’ broadcast internship is coveted. D’Uva receives upward of 100 inquiries for two positions, and the experience of calling 44 games over two months pays off. Several recent Chatham interns have landed top jobs. Drew Carter, formerly at ESPN, is the play-by-play voice for the Boston Celtics on NBC Boston. Jake Eisenberg does radio for the Kansas City Royals. Josh Schaefer does play-by-play in the American Hockey League and fills in for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

“What Dan did for me in Chatham, how much he pushed me to get better, was instrumental and definitely a launching point to where I am now,” says Schaefer. “I was just like the players who want to go pro. I knew I wanted broadcasting as a career. When I was a freshman (at Arizona State), Dominic Cotroneo was a senior, and he had been in Chatham. He told me this is where I needed to be.”

The Anglers have about a dozen volunteer interns who assist with gameday operations, such as concessions, merchandise, 50-50 raffle fundraising and other duties as ambassadors at Veterans Field.

Below: Amanda Tryder of Hofstra University works the raffle table at Veterans Field.

“You’ll get out of it what you put into it,” said Brian Voelkel, internship coordinator. “Chatham is a great place to be in the summer, and you never know who you might meet at the ballpark.” Below: Interns Greer Cohen from the University of Georgia and Anna Littleton of Rhodes College greet a young fan with high-fives.

Cotroneo is now in Milwaukee and a radio host for the Brewers.

‘Don’t be a pretender… You are a broadcaster’

The Anglers’ radio team last summer was Joe Puccio and Andrew Selover, both from Syracuse University. Puccio said he felt like he was on a parallel path with the Chatham players, who showcased their skills every night in front of MLB scouts.

“Dan is the most influential scout we could have,” said Puccio, who was in his second summer with the Anglers. “He knows what it takes, but he’s not just watching and listening: He’s teaching, too.”

D’Uva’s critiquing and coaching is hands-on. He’s always close by his students, taking notes and offering advice. After games, he meets with them to review their broadcasts.

His overriding message is always the same: “Don’t be a pretender. You’re not acting the part of a broadcaster. You are a broadcaster.”

Schaefer said D’Uva’s advice resonated with him when he was with the Anglers. “We all start out with this

idea of how we’re supposed to sound because of the influence of broadcasters we’ve heard. But Dan stays on you. ‘Don’t play a role. Be yourself.’”

As a first-year Angler intern broadcaster in 2023, Selover appreciated the opportunity to be in the Cape League and is looking forward to further polishing his skills—and resume—back in Chatham this summer.

“This league is the gold standard for players and it’s the same for us,” said Selover. “Dan is an incredible resource. The learning experiences we are provided prepare us for moving into the professional industry after graduation.”

In the end, all internships are opportunities.

“You’ll get out of it what you put into it,” said Voelkel. “Chatham is a great place to be in the summer, and you never know who you might meet at the ballpark.”

“Having the Cape League on your resume will always help,” said D’Uva. “And you never know who might be listening.”

Videographer Ayden Robinson, who graduated from Marymount Manhattan College, captures all the game-day action for YouTube and the Anglers social media outlets.

DRAWN TO

The screened-in porch and adjoining breakfast nook project out toward the ocean, giving them views and light from three directions.

BY JENNIFER SPERRY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN VANDEN BRINK

THE OCEAN

Waterfront estate nods to coastal tradition while embracing the lightness of life by the sea.

Multiple scales and vertical and horizontal directional shifts achieve an eclectic yet sophisticated exterior.

The property is, in a word, stunning, with wraparound views of Chatham’s coastline, interrupted only by the occasional tree, fishing boat or heeled sailboat passing by.

When they discovered Sandy Bluff, its new owners were already living in the village, just behind Chatham Bars Inn. “My wife and I both grew up in Massachusetts and have been going to the Cape our whole lives,” says the owner. “We’ve had a home on Cape Cod for almost 25 years now and had every intention of keeping that house in the village,” he continues. “But when this property came on the market, we felt the pull of being on the ocean.”

The couple tasked Polhemus Savery DaSilva (PSD) with upgrading both the existing home and landscape and bringing the combination up to par with the glittering waterfront site. “Sandy Bluff was about 20 or 30 years old. It must have been designed very specifically for the previous client as it presented as a mountain lodge with low-lying trusses, like something you’d see in Vermont or New Hampshire,” explains architect, lead designer and firm principal John DaSilva.

After an initial assessment, the PSD team decided that parts of the sprawling home—consisting of the foundation and two far wings—were salvageable. The central unit was removed, but the wings (with roof ridges perpendicular to the main house) were reused. As a result, the home’s location was predetermined, but not its character.

For the property’s next chapter, PSD followed a devised narrative that the house had been built over time. “The architecture communicates multiple stylistic eras,” explains DaSilva. The center portion evokes a Georgian Colonial with symmetrical dormers and chimneys and a traditional widow’s walk in between. Meanwhile, the front porch and bookend wings appear to have been added on during later decades.

Just inside the front door, an initial low ceiling gives way to a soaring space occupied by an elegant, sculptural stair. Its banisters (right) playfully evoke the Pilgrim Monument’s iconic form.

Complex and whimsical—inside and out

On this 6,800-square-foot home, the exterior and interior forms are purposefully complex and whimsical. “A lot of what you see is exaggerated based on traditional historic precedent,” says DaSilva. “The shutter louvre blades are big, the muntins are oversized and the columns and fan members are fat. Plus, everything is flat, which appears more contemporary,” he adds.

This riffing on classical forms is “more about representing the character of tradition as opposed to replicating it exactly. It’s a different, less formal point of view, and, I think, a more interesting one,” asserts DaSilva, adding that, on the back of the new house, the Georgian symmetry disappears, and the house displays as more typical Shingle Style.

In collaboration with interior designer Susanne Lichten Csonger of Boston-based SLC Interiors, PSD delivered a bright, light interior— elevated by furnishings in coastal

Two

blues—that defers to the arresting views. Upon entry, a low ceiling gives way to a soaring space, where a sculptural stair leads to an upper balcony with reverse-curve edge. Upon closer inspection, the stair banisters are a reference to the Pilgrim Monument’s iconic form.

Stretching along the property’s ocean axis, the main living areas flow easily into one another. The generous kitchen boasts a second island that doubles as a serving buffet for the adjoining dining room. On the kitchen’s other side, a breakfast nook and screened-in porch project out toward the ocean, receiving light from three directions. PSD tucked all service areas—including the mudroom, butler’s pantry, powder room, and laundry room—behind the kitchen.

A colonnade of flat Greek columns, transom windows, and interior windows creates a demarcation between the stair hall and family room. In the light-filled family room, the ceiling height soars in the center, is midlevel at the sides and low in cozy nooks. This variety of scale

islands in the kitchen (shown here and opposite) provide work, serving and dining space. Cozy nooks like this (left) contrast the soaring ceiling in the family room.

accommodates different social interactions, all with spectacular views.

A guest suite fills one of the existing, refreshed wings, while the second-floor primary suite (accessible only by its own private stair) occupies the other. In the primary bedroom, the fireplace surround includes abstracted Ionic columns, interrupted two-thirds of the way across by the marble surround. “We wanted to give the sense of a classical fireplace but without it reading as formal or stuffy,” says DaSilva.

“The client requested interesting and unexpected events in the architecture. Details that achieve this are important, especially in a large house where creating a variety of experiences is desirable,” says DaSilva of the project’s complexity. “That brings up a design idea that architecture with multiple scales, from small to large, is more relatable and just feels right.”

Oriented perpendicularly to the main house, this end wing contains a three-bay garage. Projecting out from the garage is the screened-in porch below and primary bedroom above.

Abstracted classical forms continue outside, where a fanciful arbor echoes the same arch pattern used in the front porch millwork and widow’s walk balustrade, among other places. This arbor represents a gateway into the private backyard oasis, where relaxing and entertaining are encouraged in equal parts.

Stepping into magical outdoor living spaces

Helmed by PSD’s senior landscape architect, Rob Calderaro, the rear garden takes full advantage of the length of the waterfront. “While respecting the Conservation Commission’s 100-foot buffer, we created multiple outdoor living spaces, from the pool to the outdoor kitchen to the large dining terrace,” says Calderaro. The fully equipped kitchen delivers a variety of features (pizza oven, grill, beverage fridges), and a comprehensive lighting program makes for magical evenings.

The second-floor primary bedroom is a light-filled space with private balcony and forever view. Its classical fireplace surround (left) incorporates “Ionic” columns in an abstracted way.

To avoid the property’s existing stand of white oaks, PSD placed the infinity-edge pool with inset spa just off the screened porch, in line with the entry arbor. With its edge hovering about 15 feet above the bluff, the pool visually blends with the ocean on the horizon.

“Our clients requested a traditional New England look, so the hardscape is primarily bluestone with block Adirondack stone on the verticals,” says Calderaro, who used grasses and hydrangeas to maintain a classic Cape Cod vibe. Stone walls offer a transition between the manicured landscape and the natural beauty of the bluff.

PSD’s thoughtful, amenity-rich landscape design resulted in two “Gold” awards: a 2023 BRICC award for “Excellence in Landscape/Garden Design” from the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod and a 2023 PRISM Award for “Best Landscaping Design” from the Builders & Remodelers Association of Greater Boston.

Owner & CEO Aaron Polhemus has been a driving force in PSD’s process-driven model, where architecture, landscape architecture, construction and property services are fully integrated under one roof, ensuring a seamless experience for busy clients. “We navigate the early permitting processes and handle every aspect, all the way through to off-season maintenance,” says Polhemus. “Our clients trust our ability to achieve dramatic transformations in coveted neighborhoods.”

On this bluff, with some of the East Coast’s most enviable views, PSD delivered a cohesive property with multiple scales, directional shifts and an intriguing assemblage of New England vernacular forms. “The goal was to build a classic Cape home with coastal touches and unique, custom details,” says Polhemus. “And I think that’s exactly what we’ve achieved.”

Stepping through this arbor’s parallel arches marks a transition from the public world into this private backyard oasis. At night, the outdoor and indoor living spaces glow with the eastern sky.

508.775.3075

Cultivating

BY MARJORIE MCDONALD PITTS

BY

PHOTOGRAPHY

BETTY WILEY

Community

The sun-filled Chatham Community Garden yields not only fresh organic produce and a thriving habitat for pollinators, but also lifelong friendships and a chance for gardening enthusiasts to share tips and ideas.

WHAT BEGAN AS AN IDEA

expressed by a few local women during an encounter in the produce aisle of the grocery store has since established deep roots at the Chatham Community Garden (CCG). Members spanning generations and walks of life dig each other’s company while working the soil to produce organic vegetables for themselves and Chatham’s food pantry clientele.

“It’s just amazing to see how this has evolved over the years,” says Heidi Quill, a master gardener who is referred to by her fellow gardeners as one of the OGs (Original Gardeners) responsible for spearheading the efforts to establish the community garden more than a decade ago. “When we started, we had this idea that there are probably lots of people who need fresh vegetables, but there was no place in Chatham for people to grow them.”

In partnership with the Lower Cape Outreach Council (LCOC), which oversees the operation of nine food pantries serving the Lower and Outer Cape, Chatham Community Garden provides fresh organic produce to the Chatham Food Pantry located at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. The community garden also provides resident members with a protected, sun-filled space to grow their own vegetables while enjoying the camaraderie of gardeners with skills ranging from novice to master.

“This is my second year, but my first year was a total experiment,” says Anna Clark (above). “One of the greatest things about the garden is that there are a number of master gardeners who have been involved here at the community garden for 10-plus years, and they’re so knowledgeable—it’s a microcosm of Chatham in that it’s a very giving community, and everybody’s so helpful.”

Affectionately referred to as the “water master” and “hero of the garden,” Chatham native Jeff Hendel has been involved since the Chatham Community Garden’s inception and served as its manager for many years. “Vegetable gardening is therapeutic—it’s very relaxing coming here, focusing on growing things and keeping our gardens neat,” says Hendel. “It’s also incredibly rewarding to eat something that you grew.”

“It’s a wonderful combination of community and community service, both for the garden and for others,” says Quill. “Gardeners are such interesting people.”

Giving back to the community

While the Town of Chatham provides the water, the privately owned land where the community garden is located, on the corner of Main Street and Lime Hill Road, has been generously leased for a nominal fee to the Lower Cape Outreach Council for the Chatham Community Garden by Sam Streibert in memory of his late wife, Barbara, who was an avid gardener and nature enthusiast. The site now hosts 26 plots, 13 of which are divided in half for those who want a smaller garden, and two raised beds to allow mobilitychallenged members to tend to their crops more easily.

One of the plots is dedicated to growing produce for the food pantry, and many members often contribute parts of their own harvests to the effort as well. “I go down to the food pantry to drop off vegetables several times a week,” says Bob Nelson, who currently oversees the garden plot designated for the Chatham Food Pantry. “I just dropped off two dozen cucumbers and a big bag of green beans there yesterday—and every time I go

A plaque honors the late Barbara Streibert, an avid gardener and nature enthusiast.

Ready to dig in?

The fee for a full plot is $30 per year, and half plots are $15 per year.

Interested Chatham residents can apply at chathamcommunitygarden.org.

Master gardener Louise Wasley (below) and her husband, Keith (opposite page), have been members of the Chatham Community Garden for nearly a decade, starting with a half plot before moving on to a full plot several years ago. “I’ve always liked to garden since I was a little girl, and this has been terrific because we can amend the soil the way we want and get a lot of vegetables—onions, garlic, lots of tomatoes, zucchini, beans, lots of lettuce,” explains Wasley. “We’ve really enjoyed it because we’ve also met a lot of wonderful people—it’s been such a pleasure.”

back, the veggies have been taken by their clients, so we’re doing something right.”

The entire property is enclosed by a fence, which aids in protecting the plants from foraging deer and creates a clear boundary for the community garden. A quaint garden shed serves as storage for members’ tools and supplies, and a plaque affixed to the shed honors the late Barbara Streibert. The sign also acknowledges the generosity of the individuals and businesses that donated time and resources to ensure the successful establishment of the Chatham Community Garden.

“One of the other nice things is that there are some people in the community who don’t have plots here who still donate their time to help with the food pantry garden,” adds Nelson. “That’s another great way of giving back.”

Environmentally friendly gardening

In addition to its mission to provide fresh produce and opportunities for social interaction and exercise for community members, the CCG is committed to adhering to environmentally friendly gardening techniques. Its members use only organic materials— no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are permitted within the boundaries of the community garden.

“This is an organic garden,” explains Stephen Williams, currently serving as secretary for the CCG. “To enrich

Kathi Rogers, who volunteers her time to maintain the garden plot for the Chatham Food Pantry, shows off a zucchini destined for the food pantry.

Organic gardening practices create a thriving habitat for pollinators that are critical to the vitality and productivity of the garden.

The Need for Seeds

At Eldredge Public Library, patrons dig the Seed Library

BY MARJORIE MCDONALD PITTS

CHATHAM’S ELDREDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY has added to its catalog a Seed Library, offering patrons free access to a variety of vegetable, herb and flower seeds to encourage thumbs of every shade of green to enjoy the benefits of gardening.

“Last year was our first year,” says Lauren Shea, who oversees employee and community relations at Eldredge Public Library and spearheaded the establishment of the Seed Library. “We’ve had some really great feedback from people, and it has inspired many of them to get into gardening.”

Seeds are acquired through donations from patrons, as well as Agway of Cape Cod and Vermont-based High Mowing Organic Seeds, along with programming funding from the Friends of Eldredge Public Library.

Shea ingeniously repurposed an old wooden card catalog from the library’s basement and placed it on a table opposite the main check-out desk, allowing patrons easy access to the meticulously filed seed packets.

“The most popular have been veggie seeds, like cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as greens like arugula,” says Shea. “Herb seeds go fast, too, because people feel very comfortable with herb gardens.”

Wildflower seeds have also been a big hit with patrons seeking the ease of a scatter garden. “We choose seeds that grow well within the Cape Cod zone,” says Shea. “We have also hosted several programs around gardening in honor of the Seed Library, including Gardening Ergonomics and Gardening for Wildlife.”

New this spring was a Seed Swap Soirée, with Chatham Garden Club volunteers on hand to offer their expertise while participants exchanged and checked out seeds. “The excitement and interest that is piquing people has just been really heartwarming, and we’re hoping to do even more, turning it into more of a year-round thing to keep people motivated and inspired.”

Eldredge Public Library, 564 Main St., 508-945-5170, eldredgelibrary.org

The Seed Library, housed in a repurposed card catalog, provides Eldredge Public Library patrons free access to a variety of flower, herb and vegetable seeds.

the soil and control weeds, we can use seaweed, compost and grass clippings—as long as none of them contains any nonorganic material or fertilizers.”

This adherence to sustainable practices not only ensures soil health, but also creates a thriving habitat for pollinators that are critical to the vitality and productivity of the garden. “Bees are here all summer long because of it,” Williams adds with a smile.

Strolling through the rows of carefully tended plots, a visitor can see a diverse array of vegetables, fruits and flowers—from juicy tomatoes, leafy greens and shiny squash to stunning dahlias, hearty marigolds and towering sunflowers.

“This place is truly magical,” says master gardener Kathy Doyle, who has long been an active member

at the CCG. “I’ve met so many wonderful people here.” One of the newest—and youngest—Chatham residents to join the CCG is Kiele Portelinha, who lives across the street from the property. “I’m so new to gardening, but it’s really cool because everyone here is so knowledgeable,” shares Portelinha. “I learn so much just walking around looking at what other gardeners are doing.”

Members of the garden also commit to putting in a set number of volunteer hours to maintain the property, participating in scheduled community work sessions—and getting to know each other better in the process. True to its mission, the Chatham Community Garden demonstrates the lifechanging potential of cultivating not only the land but also the human connections that make living in Chatham so special.

Left to right: Louise Wasley, Anna Clark, Keith Wasley, Jeff Hendel, Heidi Quill, Bob Nelson and Steve Williams

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Additions, Renovations,

Custom Homes

Additions, Renovations, Custom Homes

No Job Too Small

No Job Too Small

Stello Construction, located on Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts, takes pride in its quality work and attention to detail. Whether you are in need of a small repair, remodeling an existing home, planning an addition or wish to design/build a new home, you can be confident that Stello Construction will work closely with you to bring your ideas to life.

Stello Construction, located on Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts, takes pride in its quality work and attention to detail. Whether you are in need of a small repair, remodeling an existing home, planning an addition or wish to design/build a new home, you can be confident that Stello Construction will work closely with you to bring your ideas to life.

Stello Construction Ent. Inc.

Stello Construction Ent. Inc.

www.stelloconstruction.com

www.stelloconstruction.com • 310 Commerce Park N, South Chatham, MA 02659 • 508.432.2218

Stello Construction, located on Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts, takes pride in its quality work and attention to detail. Whether you are in need of a small repair, remodeling an existing home, custom woodworking including cabinets, stairs, decks, and windows, planning an addition or wish to design/build a new home, you can be confident that Stello Construction will work closely with you to bring your ideas to life.

www.elizabethwilliamsdesign.com • 45 Main Street, West Harwich, MA 02671 • 508.432.7900

Cape Cod's premier installer of

CHATHAM Marriage Made in

The enduring allure of the quintessential Chatham wedding

BY SONJA BARTLETT

For some couples, Chatham might be where the bride grew up, the groom vacationed or they spent summers waiting tables in college. For others, it is a glorious destination that they discovered by accident and cannot wait to share with family and friends. Whether this is your hometown, your happy place or just a spot you stumbled upon along the way, Chatham’s reputation as a storybook setting for weddings—from intimate to grand—is well deserved.

“Almost all our clients who get married in Chatham feel a deep connection to the town,” says Jamie Bohlin, owner and event planner of Cape Cod Celebrations.

“They want to bring people here to show them this magical place. They want to bring them in to fall in love with this place they love.”

For bride McKenna Wilbur, it just had to be Chatham. Wilbur was raised in Austin, Texas, but had spent every childhood summer in Chatham

and jokes that she started asking her dad if she could have a Chatham wedding when she was about five.

“My maid of honor’s toast retold a favorite family story that I always knew it was going to be a Chatham Bars Inn wedding; I just had to find the guy. There was no other place I ever wanted to get married. I knew it had to be in Chatham.”

Planning the perfect proposal

It’s not just the location. Elements of Chatham, its landmarks, businesses and people, are woven into every aspect of the celebrations, which often begin with the perfectly planned surprise Chatham proposal, a feat that is not so easy to pull off.

Billy McGovern, who grew up visiting his grandparents on Morris Island, shared his love for Chatham with his girlfriend, Tessa Iglesias, soon after they met. Orchestrating the perfect Chatham engagement meant employing a favorite Chatham tradition as a ruse

True blue: Troy Brown and Kristin Ryan exchange wedding vows amongst a sea of hydrangeas and delphiniums in September 2021 at Chatham Bars Inn. Hydrangeas remain the top floral pick for Chatham weddings.

ALLAN ZEPEDA

for a proposal: the family beach portrait. McGovern’s extended family and two visiting friends were also in on the plan, barely able to contain themselves as it unfolded at Lighthouse Beach. Chatham photographer and coconspirator Kristen Deem, trying to keep a poker face, was ready for the shot.

“When I got down on one knee our friends could be heard celebrating from the top of the Lighthouse Beach stairs along with strangers who captured the moment. We enjoyed a party at the house later that evening with friends and more family,” says McGovern who knew he wanted the whole family assembled in a place he loves for this milestone.

If not by land, why not by sea? Popping the question while under full sail with the sun setting is something Captain Chris Sammartino loves witnessing on his Stage Harbor–based charter yacht, Hannah. “Every year, we are fortunate enough to be the backdrop for marriage proposals aboard our sailboat. It’s really wonderful to be part of a couple’s engagement in this small way,” says Captain Sammartino, owner of Cape Sailing Charters. “And we’ve seen, and sometimes participated in, everything from elaborately planned surprises with family and friends involved to simple, quiet affairs with just the couple up on the bow sharing their special moment together. It’s pretty cool to be the very first people to congratulate a couple on their engagement.”

Windblown proposal: Juliet Gore and Josh Aufrichtig got engaged aboard Hannah, the Stage Harbor–based sailboat charter.

MICHAEL FREYBERG

Clambakes, beach barbecues and Chatham treasures

When that big wedding weekend approaches, couples are increasingly creative about venues for welcome parties and rehearsal dinners, Chatham-style. Casual clambakes or beach barbecues by a boathouse or even food trucks on Stage Harbor are an instant introduction to the Chatham vibe.

Since so many guests travel from afar to celebrate, locally sourced welcome bags, filled with made-inChatham treasures, are a perfect way to introduce guests to the community. Couples can dazzle their guests with Cape Cod Sea Salt featuring custom labels; unique Candy Manor chocolate creations; custom iced sugar cookies from local small batch baker Kim Jerauld; handcrafted soy candles from Chatham Candle; and

even hand-etched glassware from local artist Rachel Cook. And when it comes to locally crafted bridal party gifts, Chatham Threadworks’ new online shop offers endless options for custom monogramed items. Top picks include personalized waffle robes for the groomsmen, makeup bags for the bridesmaids and wedding collars for the dogs, who are an increasingly big part of the wedding day.

Chatham baker Kim Jerauld, whose sweet creations have graced many weddings, says sourcing these items locally is a true act of love for Chatham that elevates the experience. “Knowing that the pieces you choose were crafted right here by locals, brings a higher level of meaning, love and authenticity to your special day.” Even the flowers in the celebration are homegrown in Chatham. North Chatham’s 7 Sisters Floral, which grows

From top, clockwise: Bride McKenna Wilbur and groom Will DiSenso shared their vows beachside at the Chatham Bars Inn on a crystal-clear September day in 2023; 7 Sisters Florals grows their bespoke creations right here in Chatham; and the classic clambake sets the mood for a Chatham-themed weekend at a local rehearsal dinner.

ALEX

PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY

many of its own flowers, offers tabletop arrangements and bouquets with a stylish twist. Fancy some unique blooms on a wedding cake baked right here? Confections by the Sea specializes in stunningly realistic sugar flowers atop its Chatham-inspired wedding cakes.

When guests walk into some of the most Chathaminspired nuptial celebrations, they might be greeted with a sail stretched from a tree with the word “Welcome” sewn onto it or a handmade pennant saying, “Match Made in Chatham.” Some local versions of a guestbook have included a surfboard, a custommade wooden Cape Cod map jigsaw puzzle and a bride’s childhood sail, all for guests to sign before taking their seats. And when it comes to finding their tables, one local bride found a clever way to weave a local tradition into her seating chart at her wedding overlooking Oyster River and Hardings Beach.

“We love the local tradition of naming houses and this was part of the inspiration for naming each of the tables

after a place in Chatham that holds special meaning for us,” says Trude Goodman Tiesi. “When we visited the property that we rented for the wedding, we realized that one of the homes was named ‘About Time,’ which couldn’t be more perfect for our sweetheart table. My husband, John, and I didn’t meet each other until we were in our mid-30s and felt so lucky when we found each other—we both thought it was about time!”

Other table names included The Chatham Bandstand, The Squire, The Loop and Stage Harbor.

Saying ‘I do’ in any kind of

weather

Planning for that quintessential Chatham wedding also requires planning for quintessential Chatham weather. That includes fog, high winds and, yes, even hurricanes during the popular wedding months. And that means not just having Plan A and Plan B but also a Plan C. Just ask Kelsey and Jonathan Cahoon, who tied the knot outdoors on the driving range at Eastward Ho! Golf Club in the middle of a nasty Nor’easter last

From top left, clockwise: Hydrangea blue linens topped with local oyster shells set the tone for tabletop while shoes and guestbooks are optional at local beach ceremonies; wedding cake creation with edible icing flowers by Chatham’s own Confections by the Sea; and guests sign a keepsake wooden surfboard for the bride and groom to display at home.

JAMES HARDMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

With love, from Chatham

Locally sourced items for welcome bags and bridal party gifts say a lot about a couple’s love for Chatham. Here are a few of our favorites ...

Hand-etched personalized glassware by Rachel Cook, Needle and Glass Co.

Hand-crafted soy candles by Will Treese, Chatham Candle

Baked with love, custom iced cookies by Kim Jerauld, Seaside Cookies

PHOTOS BY JULIA

Cape Cod Saltworks minis

Monogrammed toiletry totes by Jen Falvey, Chatham Threadworks

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst: Kelsey and Jonathan Cahoon said “I do” outdoors during a Nor’easter with winds gusting upward of 30 mph at Eastward Ho! Golf Club in June of 2023.

June. Having met at Eastward Ho! at a golf tournament, and then getting engaged on the seventh green, they were determined to say their vows no matter what the Chatham weather would bring. It had been raining all day, but they held fast to their decision not to move the service inside despite the 48-degree weather and winds gusting above 30 mph. Right before the appointed time, the rain briefly stopped and they exchanged vows with a reinforced bridal veil aloft in the gale force winds.

“Chatham, and more specifically Eastward Ho! is where our story begins, having met there. The only thing crazier than the weather that day is our love for each other,” says Kelsey Cahoon.

Memorable after-parties and departures

When it’s time to depart, local brides and grooms often opt for boats of all shapes and sizes, including kayaks. One local couple motored up the Mitchell River and into Mill Pond, walking to the Squire for their afterparty, another beloved Chatham wedding tradition. Other couples have converted indoor spaces to look like beach bars for that late-night bash. And don’t forget the sweets. One local after-party recreated the façade of the Chatham Penny Candy Store on Main Street for a penny candy buffet with to-go bags for guests.

Longtime Chatham summer resident Joanne Goodman has helped two of her children plan “quintessential

Love letter to Chatham: Trude Goodman and John Tiesi made a splash departing their ceremony aboard her family’s motorboat, The Careless Navigator. The couple’s tables were named after their favorite Chatham traditions and landmarks.

LAUREN DOBISH

PHOTOS: JULIA CUMES

Favorite things: Main Street Chatham becomes a photo backdrop for an after-party candy buffet.

Chatham Weddings,” working with both couples to weave highly personalized Chatham touches into every part of the weekend. Goodman says our community is a natural for weddings.

“Chatham is such an easy location for a wedding because there is so much local talent in areas such as music, cuisine, photography and florists,” says Goodman. “And there is natural beauty, charm, an array of lovely churches and gorgeous spots for photos, a variety of wonderful, convenient accommodations and venue choices. But the best part is introducing your friends from all over to this unique and authentically welcoming place that we love.”

Resource Guide

Sailing Charter Hannah capesailingcharters.com

Wedding Cake by Confections by the Sea shopconfectionsbythesea.com

Flowers by 7 Sisters Florals 7sistersflorals.com

Candles by Chatham Candle chatham-candle.com

Cookies by Kim Jerauld Facebook @SeasideCookies

Etched glass by Rachel Cook Instagram @needleandglassco

Monogrammed gifts chathamthreadworks.com

Cape Cod Saltworks 1830seasalt.com

Special Thanks

Wedding planner Jamie Bohlin capecodcelebrations.com

Navigating signage: A homemade pennant banner says it all. Signal flag place cards help add a pop of color to a beachy, neutral palette in tent décor.

Intangible Assets, Tangible Results

Our time-tested process, driven by the expert team at W.D. PRICE, ensures successful navigation through the landscape of civil/environmental/structural engineering, architectural design, estimating, complex permitting, construction, and project delivery.

COASTAL

The interiors of this family home in Chatham reflect both the homeowner’s style and the designer’s detailed approach.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN CUTRONA AND AMBER JANE BARRICMAN

COMFORT

“I

LIKE TO WORK VERY HOLISTICALLY,”

says Melinda L. Headrick, owner and principal designer of Chatham Interiors, Inc. “I’m passionate about how rooms will work for my clients’ lifestyle, and this house is a perfect example of that process.” Headrick is referring to a stunning Rick Roy Construction LLC–built home in Chatham whose owner’s personality shines through in every interior detail.

A custom table and white wicker chairs create a casual dining experience.

With a large family of five growing children, the homeowners were looking for an expansive yet comfortable house for multigenerational vacations, says Headrick. “We knew they planned for the extended family and older relatives to come visit,” she says. “I designed one bedroom in sophisticated tones of white specifically for the owner’s mother, but the rest of the house is filled with color.”

The homeowners are a large family, so the house features five bedrooms plus a charming bunk room that can sleep 12 additional guests.

Headrick says the homeowner asked for a light pastel palette. “She wanted playful and relaxing, but each room also needed specificity.” Headrick spent time working with her client to map out the rooms’ functionality. “I learned who would be in the house, which room they would stay in,” she says. “I took my inspiration from those conversations to develop the scheme for each room.”

Media/game room transformation

One of the biggest parts of the project was transforming the basement into a media/game room enjoyed by the entire family and creating a bunk room out of a cinder block space. “It can sleep 12 people, so I used cream on white for a really peaceful atmosphere,” she says. “I knew it needed a visual counterpoint to the activity.”

Elsewhere in the house, Headrick used both furniture and textiles as inspirations. In the bedroom used by the family’s three daughters, she found an anchor fabric and worked from there. “I used a Rebecca Atwood wallpaper that looks like watercolor raindrops,” she says. “Then we chose a soft blue for the ceiling to draw the eye upward and created a window seat to

Left: One bedroom was specifically designed for the homeowner’s mother and is decorated in sophisticated shades of white, cream and tan.

Below left: A major project included transforming a cinder block basement into the bunk room and media/game center, which features a built-in bar and beverage center plus plenty of room for fun and relaxation.

PHOTOS: AMBER

JANE BARRICMAN

complement it as well.” She added light aqua lamps on the bedside tables, soft grey-blue blankets and woven natural fiber headboards to further give the room a serene and feminine vibe.

Black spool beds spark ideas

In the boys’ room, the existing black spool beds, one twin and one queen, gave her the spark for the rest of the space. “My own grandmother had a similar bed,” says Headrick, who is a fourth-generation Chatham resident. “When I saw those, I felt that same warm, hospitable feeling, and I knew I wanted to connect to that.” Headrick sourced hanging sconces made of baskets, used a vintage oversized Ralph Lauren lamp and chose more masculine tones of gray/ taupe for the walls.

“Another detail I love in that room is the photo print on the wall,” says Headrick. Entitled “Geronimo,” it shows a dog jumping into the water off a dock, chased by other dogs. “That was so ‘boy’ to me, with that sense of humor.”

The girls’ room showcases textiles in soft tones, including the Rebecca Atwood Petals wallpaper in Cloud Blue. Below: The boys’ room has deeper tones to complement the dark wood of the antique spool beds.

Headrick often uses an anchor fabric, such as the wavy pattern of these throw pillows, to launch a room’s design scheme

Generous-sized wing chairs offset the large adjunct dining table and blue fabric storage ottoman in the small sitting room, which serves as a relaxed gathering spot for the family.

Puzzles, tea and pops of color

For the dining room, she knew the family was seeking a casual and relaxing experience. “Nothing says relaxing to me like a piece of wicker furniture in a coastal design,” says Headrick. “So I had a custom table made to fit 12 people and surrounded it with white wicker armchairs.” She added a linen Lowcountry chandelier and an oriental rug in blues and creams with a touch of muted orange.

Nearby is the sitting room, which the homeowner said is most often used to gather in small groups. “She told me they like to have tea, do puzzles and hang out and

talk there,” says Headrick. “So I put in two wing chairs and a gorgeous piece of art, which dictated the theory for this room.” With walls and trim in a beautiful, tranquil blue, Headrick says it almost feels as if you are taking a swim in the space.

For the family room, the client requested white furniture with bright pops of color, so Headrick found pieces of modern art and yellow-striped fabric for pillows to create the desired effect. “I had custom storage ottomans made as well because I’m very intentional about how rooms can function for the people who use them.”

“My client is soft and colorful, so I designed a living room that expresses her personality,” says Headrick, describing the pink and peach-toned feminine space.

Living room: pretty in pink

The pink-toned living room most specifically mirrors the homeowner’s personality. “My client is a wonderful mom who is devoted to her five children,” says Headrick. “She raised them beautifully, and she inspires me through her kindness. When I found that drapery fabric in the patterned peachy color, I just fell in love with it.” She says the rest of the room flowed from those drapes, with white and pink side-by-side armchairs, a bisque fireplace surround and a beachy landscape featuring rose-hued sand along an undulating creek.

“The color scheme is not for everybody’s taste,” admits Headrick. “But I design for the longevity of people being really happy in their space.” She says that when she revealed the room to her client, there was instant appreciation. “I told her, ‘You feel like this to me,’ says Headrick, “and she said, ‘You captured me perfectly.’”

RESOURCES

Chatham Interiors, Inc.

Melinda Headrick

owner and principal designer 515 Main Street

Chatham

508-348-1450

chathaminteriorsinc.com

Rick Roy Construction

123A Queen Anne Road

Harwich

508-432-6840

rickroyconstruction.com

PHOTO: DAN CUTRONA

North Chatham Outfitters has everything you need to fish, paddle, and hunt on Cape Cod.

Try something new! Rent a paddleboard or kayak for a day, week, or month. Or let us connect you with our trusted fishing charter partners or waterfowl hunting guides.

Check out our extensive selection of gear and clothing and our great prices. Our knowledgeable staff is always ready to help you.

HOURS 8:00 am–5:30 pm, Mon–Sat ♦ 8:00 am–4:00 pm, Sun

For a list of local fishing charters: northchathamoutfitters.com INSTAGRAM @northchatham_outfitters ♦ #northchatham_outfitters

North Chatham Outfitters ♦ 300 Orleans Road, North Chatham ♦ 508-348-1638

Longtime Boston area bluefin angler Peter Martin, who has fished with Capt. John Clothier of Fish Chatham Charters for years, demonstrates the proper boat-rod technique hooked up to a bluefin tuna.

Spending a day on the charter boat Shearwater with Capt. John Clothier of Fish Chatham Charters brings adrenaline-charged moments of fighting Atlantic bluefin tuna and enjoying the company of the captain, mate and several other anglers onboard.

BY JOE HEALY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON SHAW

BATTLING BLUEFINS

AS A LONGTIME SALTWATER FLY-FISHER,

I am happy as a clamworm casting all night under a full moon and past the break of dawn, when striped bass often feed most actively during the swollen tides and heavy currents.

I’ve caught some big striped bass on these wellilluminated nights. The shush of waves breaking in the shallows as I’m wade-fishing and casting a fly rod are interrupted by the slurping and splashing of striped bass or bluefish swiping bait from the water’s surface.

Although I have spent quality days catching striped bass in the shallows of Cape Cod, I finally had an opportunity last September to enter an entirely new angling realm—or weight class: I accepted the challenge of heavyweight rod-and-reel fishing for bluefin tuna off the Outer Cape with one of the best in the business: Capt. John Clothier of Fish Chatham Charters on his charter boat, Shearwater

We targeted two stocks of Atlantic bluefin tuna caught off the Outer Cape: Western and Eastern bluefin. Both are prized as sushi-grade fish. “We catch both—it’s about a 50-50 ratio, and they aren’t really distinguishable,” says Captain John, who began guiding charter trips in 2006. His boat, Shearwater, is a comfortable Northern Bay 38 that cuts through the ocean surface like a compact ocean-liner.

The calm before the controlled tuna chaos: Capt. John Clothier and anglers aboard Shearwater, a Northern Bay 38 with a smooth ride, idle in Chatham Harbor, preparing for their ocean-going charter.

Captain John keeps a relaxed but steady hand at the helm while piloting the Shearwater. He’s guided tuna sport fishing since 2006.

Bluefin Tuna Technique

A lot about catching bluefin tuna comes down to technique. Certainly, having strength in both of your arms is helpful. But really, it’s about the technique being correct. If you’re using a rod in the gunwale rod holder, like we did on our trip, you pull on the heavy line with your left hand (to retrieve the fishing line) and then crank the reel handle with your right hand to bring the line back on the reel spool. Using a stand-up rod is a different deal, where you would have the rod in a fighting harness that you wear like a belt. Either way, this sport does require a level of physical fitness for an angler to successfully fight and land these fish. Capt. John Clothier

Watching, waiting—then intense action

The ride from Chatham Harbor to the fishing grounds was about 2½ hours each way, and the boat’s 610-horsepower Cummins kept a steady pace. My fellow anglers and I napped in the cockpit till the sun came up and we could appreciate our oceanic surroundings.

That’s when I joined Captain John and angler Dan Foley fore in the pilothouse. Turns out that Dan, a Boston-area business executive, owns a house near mine in northern Vermont. We became fast friends—a bonus to the fishing we enjoyed throughout the day because tuna fishing is like big-game hunting: There are long periods of watching, waiting and wondering, and then intense moments of adrenaline-fueled action.

As we motored through the light ocean swells, I learned that we’d be targeting bluefins in the recreational size range of 27 to 73 inches—

Above: Shearwater mate Mike Whitney prepares a boat rod seated in the gunwale holder for the next angler. Bringing an Atlantic tuna to the boat, at left, requires strength, endurance and the right technique.

fish that are legal to take home, if you’d like, said Captain John. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also has a commercial bluefin season in Massachusetts ocean fisheries, and when giant tuna are the targets, the whopper tuna in the commercial category run larger than 73 inches and weigh into the hundreds of pounds or more.

We eventually stopped at Peaked Hill Bar, a submerged sandbar where the shallower depths create ocean rip currents in which bait are trapped, attracting larger oceanic predators, such as bluefins (and whales and sharks) to feed. We were southeast of Race Point, just past Truro but not far enough north to make the turn toward Provincetown.

Bonding with dedicated anglers

One of the hallmarks of fishing offshore for bluefin tuna is bonding with a team of dedicated anglers for a day yet also facing many variables. For example, charter captains can’t control the weather; they can predict but can’t be sure about tide and currents; and they are usually mum about where they caught previous tuna, but word gets out. This could result in a cluster of boats appearing on the productive fishing grounds and competition can inhibit angling success. What’s more, the anglers might not be prepared or experienced, so the captain or mate has to work with that. Many influences and many factors affect bluefin fishing outcomes.

But one constant with bluefin-tuna fishing is the social aspect: You share a boat with dedicated anglers you booked the trip with or, as in my case, might be meeting for the first time. I learned that Dan Foley and Peter Martin are friends and have fished for years on Shearwater. I then met Dan’s son Coleman, a recent college grad who was working at the time with Freedom Boat Club on the Cape; mate Mike Whitney (in

Captain John and mate Mike Whitney know the drill when landing a 120-pound tuna. The fish is then secured on ice in a cooler. Back in Chatham at the end of the day, Captain John made quick work of dressing out the tuna— providing steaks for a tuna or sushi feast!

his third season last fall working with Captain John); and our pro photographer Alison Shaw from Martha’s Vineyard. Dan had brought enough food for all of us, which he stored in the boat’s galley fridge with drinks in a cooler. (Anglers booking trips with Fish Chatham Charters can do the same.)

Captain John and Mate Mike set up the tuna rods with dead-rigged ballyhoo as bait, and we started trolling. Soon, Captain John heard from a contact who had a supply of fresh-caught mackerel and then arranged for a boatside drop-off. Switching to that bait, he secured a balloon to each line, like a bobber, which would signal when a fish ate, and the lines were cast out. When a balloon went down, Peter stepped up to fight the fish and, before long, handed the rod to the young gun Coleman. Both used the tuna-fighting technique of waiting for the fish to pause its run to pull in lengths of 200-pound-test fishing line with the left hand and reeling in furiously with the right. (See sidebar on tuna technique.)

Because the rod is secured in the gunwale rod holder, the fight is really a matter of bringing in line when the tuna allows and getting any slack line back on the reel. The fight lasted about 45 minutes, and Captain John and Mate Mike sprang into action and gaffed and boated the fish. It was about 62 inches and weighed an estimated 120 pounds.

Using live mackerel as bait, we caught two other bluefin that day. We released them, keeping only the one fish allowed by recreational regulations (which provided tuna steaks for all). But I can attest that fighting the fish—the one I fought later that day came unhooked at the boat, though we would have released it, anyway—is a knock-down, dragout effort unlike any other fishing I’ve done. It was an experience of a lifetime, shared among new friends with whom I bonded on this special trip.

To book a trip with Fish Chatham Charters, go to fishchatham.com, call 508- 237-7210, or email fishchatham@gmail.com.

Picture of bluefin success: (From left) Coleman Foley, Mike Whitney, Dan Foley and Peter Martin celebrate a 120-pound tuna that was later brought to the dock and divided up for all aboard. A fish this size produces an incredible amount of sushi-grade tuna.

Fresh Catch of the Day

Recipes using local tuna can be prepared at home—or at sea.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUSAN AURIEMMA

Tuna tip: For each recipe, use any local bluefin, yellowfin or bigeye tuna

Tuna Poke

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup tuna, cubed

• 1½ cups sushi rice, cooked

• ½ cup avocado, sliced

• ½ cucumber, finely chopped

• ¾ cup green onion, finely chopped

• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon Korean chili paste (Gochujang)

• Wonton chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Gently mix tuna with sesame oil and Korean chili paste.

2. Fill bottom of large bowl with 1½ cups rice. Add tuna, cucumber and avocado. Top with green onions.

3. Serve with wonton chips (see recipe, opposite page)

Yield: 4 servings

Recipe courtesy of Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar

INGREDIENTS

• Square wonton wrappers

• Canola, vegetable or peanut oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut the wonton wrappers diagonally into triangles

2. Heat 1 to 2 inches of oil in a pan over medium heat (to reach 360 degrees F.) Use a candy thermometer to maintain the heat while frying. Adjust flame/burner to maintain heat between 350 and 360 degrees.

3. Place 6 to 8 wontons in the oil. Watch carefully as they brown quickly. Turn and cook a few more seconds.

4. Once they are golden brown, remove with a slotted spoon. Place on a plate, rack or tray lined with paper towels to drain.

5. Store in an airtight container.

Spicy Tuna Nachos

INGREDIENTS

Sriracha Mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

Tuna Nachos

• 1½ cups fresh tuna, cubed

• 1 avocado, cubed

• 1 plum tomato, diced

• 2 tablespoons green onions, diced

• ½ to 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

• 1 tablespoon chives, chopped

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

• Wonton chips (or substitute tortilla chips)

• Pea shoots, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Sriracha Mayo

1. In a small bowl, combine sriracha sauce and mayonnaise. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Cover with plastic and chill until ready to use.

Tuna Nachos

1. Make a bed of wonton chips on a serving plate.

2. Top with tuna, avocado, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños and cilantro, set aside.

3. Mix chives into sour cream.

4. Squeeze fresh lime juice onto nacho platter and drizzle with spicy mayo and chive sour cream. Garnish with pea shoots, if desired. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Recipe courtesy of Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar

Tuna Ceviche

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup raw sushi-grade tuna, diced into small cubes

• 1/3 cup red onion, finely sliced or diced

• 1/3 cup roma tomatoes, diced

• ½ green pepper, chopped

• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

• 1/3 cup cucumber, chopped

• 3 limes

• Wonton or tortilla chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine first six ingredients in a bowl. Squeeze juice from three whole limes. Gently mix.

2. Taste to adjust flavoring, adding more lime and cilantro if needed.

3. Enjoy with wonton or tortilla chips. Serve immediately.

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

Chef’s tip: Don’t add lime juice until ready to serve.

Recipe Courtesy of Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar

Special Thanks Andy Baler, owner of Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar, and his team for preparing tuna dishes and providing recipes.

CHATHAM

TOP PHOTO: BETTY WILEY

JUNE 15–AUG. 4

CHATHAM ANGLERS 2024 SEASON

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY 8 FOREVER YOUNG, FOREVER FABULOUS FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON The latest fashions from Chatham merchants are featured in this fun fashion show and luncheon beginning at noon. Chatham Wayside Inn, 512 Main St., Chatham. Tickets are $75 and available at participating merchants: Chatham Clothing Bar, Puritan Cape Cod in Chatham and Fisherman’s Daughter. A portion of the proceeds will benefit WE CAN. chathaminfo.com

MAY 12 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AT CHATHAM BARS INN Treat the moms in your life to a special brunch! Experience Mother’s Day in the luxury of Chatham Bars Inn at STARS restaurant with a festive brunch buffet, featuring seafood and smoked fish displays; imported and domestic cheeses; an omelet and waffle station; prime rib with lobster and spring pea risotto; and a dessert buffet. Cost

is $150 per adult and $70 per child ages 5–12. Scheduled seatings throughout the day from 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. For reservations, call the dining concierge at 508-945-6732. chathambarsinn.com

MAY 14 LECTURE WITH GARY CHILDS: RACE POINT LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION As part of the Atwood Museum’s Tuesday Talks series, Gary Childs, president of the Cape Cod Chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, will discuss the history and evolution of Race Point Lighthouse in Provincetown from its inception in 1816 to now. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

MAY 24–SEPT. 2 OARS IN THE STORES Local artists have turned oars into works of art. Pick up an

Please check each organization’s website and social media pages for updated information.

JUNE 8

CHATHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT OPEN HOUSE

oar scavenger hunt booklet at the Chamber of Commerce booth at 533 Main St. and see how many oars you can locate in the shops. Complete a booklet and win a prize! Booklets will be available at Kate Gould Park, Downtown Chamber Visitor Information Booth and the Captain Bassett House Visitor Center in South Chatham. The oars will be auctioned to benefit Monomoy Community Services (50 percent of the money goes to artists and 50 percent to Monomoy Community Services). chathaminfo.com

JUNE 8 CHATHAM MUNICIPAL

AIRPORT OPEN HOUSE Enjoy a day of planes, trains and automobiles, as well as live music, food trucks and face painting at this family-friendly event. Chatham Municipal Airport, 240 George Ryder Road. chatham-ma.gov.

JUNE 13 MUSIC AT THE ATWOOD FEATURING CLA DA BOSSA

NOVA Enjoy Brazilian-style band music as part of the Atwood Museum’s ongoing concert series. Concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JUNE 14–16 HISTORIC CHATHAM

WEEKEND Sponsored by Historic Chatham. The purpose of this special weekend is to raise awareness of Chatham’s rich historic past and its organizations. Historic Chatham venues may be open for at least one day during the weekend. historicchatham.org or chathaminfo.com

JUNE 15–AUG. 4 CHATHAM

ANGLERS 2024 SEASON The Anglers kick off the Cape Cod Baseball League season with an away game on June 15 against Wareham. Catch their home opener at Veterans Field at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. Chatham’s regular season wraps up with an away game on Aug. 4 against the Orleans Firebirds. chathamanglers.com

JUNE 19–NOV. 1 FARM-TO-TABLE DINNERS Enjoy outdoor dining at Chatham Bars Inn Farm in Brewster, where executive chef Andrew Chadwick and his culinary team design themed menus for each of the 20 dinners offered this season. Each week’s menu highlights the farm’s current seasonal

offerings, accompanied by locally sourced meats and fish, creating the quintessential farm-to-table experience. Dining moves indoors to the farm’s glass greenhouse during cooler fall months. The four-course dinner will be held Wednesdays from June 19 to Sept. 4 and Fridays from Sept. 13 to Nov. 1. Reservations recommended. Chatham Bars Inn Farm, 3034 Main St., Brewster. chathambarsinn.com

JUNE 23 THE ELDREDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY’S BOOKS IN BLOOM

Don’t miss Eldredge Public Library’s annual fundraiser. Flower arrangements based on well-known book titles will be raffled off to raise funds for the library. 4–6 p.m. For ticket information, visit eldredgelibrary.org.

JUNE

22–AUG. 16 ART IN THE PARK Colorful whales and sharks designed by local artists are on display on the front lawn of Kate Gould Park. The whales will be auctioned to benefit Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association. chathaminfo.com

JUNE 22–AUG. 16 ART IN THE PARK

KIM RODERIQUES

HOW YOUR SYMPHONY DOES Summer

SUMMER OF STARS

JOY4JULY

Thursday, July 4 | 7:30 PM

FREE concert at Aselton Park

STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK IN CONCERT

Saturday, July 27 | 7:30 PM

Sunday, July 28 | 3:00 PM

Barnstable Performing Arts Center

AN EVENING WITH CAPE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FEATURING LIVINGSTON TAYLOR

Sunday, August 18 | 7:00 PM

Cape Cod Melody Tent

C APE SYMPHONY PRESENTS ART S EDUCATION

DEVIL’S PURSE

SUMMER JAZZ SERIES

June 28–August 20

Fridays | 5:00 PM–8:00 PM

Devil’s Purse Brewery, Dennis Open to the Public

6/28: Julian Loida

7/5: Ken Field / Blake Newman Duo

7/12: RhythmRyder

7/19: Bongogenesis

7/26: RhythmRyder

8/2: Mozelle Andrulot

8/9: Eleanor & Dario

8/16: The Art Ensemble of Cape Cod

8/23: The Olivia Yingling Quartet

8/30: Tish Adams & Evening Sky

SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH & ADULTS

June–August

West Barnstable & Falmouth Campuses

Piano Explorers

Intro to Piano for Adults

Intro to Ukulele

Summer Strings Fun

Seaside Strings Ensemble

Preschool Art Program

Visual Arts Classes

Private Lessons on all major instruments & voice

JUNE 23 HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR

FUNDRAISER Join the Chatham Historical Society for an exciting tour of several beautiful and historic homes across Chatham. Funds from the annual fundraiser benefit the Chatham Historical Society and help maintain the Atwood Museum. Event details and reservations at chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JUNE 23 CHATHAM HARBOR

RUN Celebrate summer by running along the shore in Chatham! Sponsored by the Cape Cod Athletic Club, the annual Chatham Harbor Run is a 6.2-mile run or 3.1-mile walk that starts at Stepping Stones Road near Monomoy Regional Middle School. Scenic highlights include the Chatham Lighthouse, beautiful Shore Road and Chatham Bars Inn. Expect a hot course in June! capecodathleticclub.org

JULY

JUNE 28–AUG. 30

CHATHAM BAND CONCERTS

JUNE 28–AUG. 30 CHATHAM

BAND CONCERTS Every Friday night, all roads on the Cape lead to the Chatham Band performance. Concerts start at 8 p.m. and may be canceled due to inclement weather. Whit Tileston Bandstand in Kate Gould Park, Main Street. chathamband.com

4 – INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY

PARADE Chatham’s parade, which started in 1908, steps off at 9:30 a.m. This year’s theme: “Chatham It’s a Shore Thing.” chathamparade.com

JULY 5 & 6 43RD ANNUAL SACRIFICE ART SALE A fantastic opportunity to purchase original artwork from Creative Arts Center members, including oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, photography, pottery, jewelry, art supplies and frames at low prices. Stop by early for the best selection! 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Friday; 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on Saturday. Creative Arts Center, 154 Crowell Road, 508-945-3583. capecodcreativearts.org

JULY 5–14 CAPE COD HYDRANGEA FESTIVAL Annual

Cape-wide celebration of the region’s blue, pink and white signature flowers and everything gardens on Cape Cod! This 10-day festival’s main attractions are the daily tours of private gardens, each designed and maintained by the individual homeowners. Private garden tours are $5 per person per garden. Each garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless otherwise specified. Schedules and locations will be posted in June. capecodchamber.org/ hydrangea-fest

JANICE

JULIA CUMES

SMALL FLORAL

JULY 9 LECTURE WITH RAILROAD ENTHUSIAST GIL

SPARKS As part of the Atwood Museum’s Tuesday Talks series, lifelong railroad enthusiast Gil Sparks will present an engaging lecture on the 50-year history of the Chatham Railroad, which was instrumental for the mobility of Chatham’s residents and for the advancement of the town’s economy, from 1887–1937. Visit the website for event details and reservations. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JULY 9 MEET THE ARTIST Visit with Art in the Park artists along with members of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and Center for Coastal Studies. 5:30 p.m.–7 p.m. at Kate Gould Park. chathaminfo.com

JULY 11 MUSIC AT THE ATWOOD FEATURING MONICA RIZZO AND THE TOM HAGERTY BAND

Enjoy live bluegrass music as part of the Atwood Museum’s ongoing concert series. Concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JULY 11 A SUMMER EVENING

Attend Chatham Orpheum’s largest annual fundraiser at Wychmere Beach Club, 23 Snow Inn Road, Harwich Port, featuring the Mark Greel Band. The event is always a magical night of celebration with friends. 6 p.m.–10 p.m. chathamorpheum.org

JULY 13 AN EVENING TO REMEMBER Mark your calendar for the Chatham Historical Society/Atwood House’s signature summer benefit and auction. The annual gala features music, refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and auction. 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m. For

JULY 22–AUG. 1

details, tickets and online auction, visit chathamhistoricalsociety.org

MONDAYS JULY 15–29 SUMMER

CAMP AT THE ATWOOD MUSEUM Looking for a fun and educational activity for your kids or grandkids? Look no further than the Atwood Museum’s Summer Camp! Your child will get the chance to explore a perfectly preserved North Beach camp, a sea captain’s home from the 1750s and countless other treasures through activities chosen for their enjoyment and education. Whether your child can attend one Monday or all three, there will be plenty to learn and experience at this summer day camp. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JULY 18 AN EVENING OF JAZZ OUTDOOR CONCERT The Atwood Museum hosts two musical acts for its first “Evening of Jazz” featuring Jason Anick & the Henry Acker Quartet with Summer Camargo for an outdoor concert. Concert begins at 6 p.m. Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JULY 18 GREAT WHITE GALA

A benefit for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a three-course dinner, an open bar, silent and live auctions and lively music to dance the night away. 6–10 p.m., Wychmere Beach Club, 23 Snow Inn Road, Harwich Port. For tickets and information, visit atlanticwhiteshark.org

JULY 22–AUG. 1 CAPE COD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

The stage is merrily set for the third season of the Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival, with 90-minute productions of “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Tempest.” The two shows run on alternate evenings, Mondays through Thursdays in front of the iconic Chatham Bandstand at Kate Gould Park on Main Street. The performers and production staff are actors and designers from university theater programs, local talent and some professional actors. Bring folding chairs or blankets. Free. 7 p.m. ccsfc.org

JULY 25 MUSIC AT THE ATWOOD FEATURING FOLK VOCALIST AND GUITARIST JOE JENKS

Enjoy live folk music as part of the Atwood Museum’s ongoing concert series. Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

MICHAEL AND SUZ KARCHMER

CAPE COD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

JULY 28 CELEBRATE THE ARTS

The Creative Arts Center’s annual summer fundraiser held at the home of Madonna Hitchcock and Tom Hitchner, will feature silent with arts and crafts and community contributions. Live music, hors d’oeuvres. 6–8:30 p.m. capecodcreativearts.org

JULY 29 TASTE OF CHATHAM

An evening of delicious food, drink and great company in Chase Park. Chatham’s premier dining event supports local families through Monomoy Community Services. Tickets will be available online at monomoy.org

JULY

29

AUG. 3 HOOKERS BALL XXIII

The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance annual fundraiser is a gala not to be missed. Eat locally caught fresh seafood, dance to live music and bid on auction items. Information and online ticket purchase: capecodfishermen.org/events

AUG. 8

MUSIC

AT THE ATWOOD FEATURING PIANIST JOY CLINE PHINNEY AND CELLIST

EMMANUEL FELDMAN Enjoy live music as part of the Atwood Museum’s ongoing concert series. Concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. For event details and reservations, visit the website. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

KIM

TASTE OF CHATHAM

PHOTO BY JULIA CUMES

AUG. 16–18 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

The premier summer arts event, sponsored by the Creative Arts Center, boasts 120 juried local and national artisans and craftsmen selling pottery, jewelry, photography, fabric, metal, stone, wood, and fine art at Chase Park on Cross Street. Family-friendly event also features a children’s tent with face painting and art activities. Food and refreshments served by gourmet food trucks. Free admission. capecodcreativearts.org/festivals

AUG. 22 MUSIC AT THE ATWOOD FEATURING PIANO MEN, BILLY JOEL AND ELTON JOHN TRIBUTE

BAND Enjoy live music as part of the Atwood Museum’s ongoing concert series. Concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

AUG. 24: TOMATO FESTIVAL AT CHATHAM BARS INN FARM This fun family event will highlight the farm’s beloved crop—the tomato! Enjoy small plates, tomato-inspired cocktails, lawn games and live music. Meet the farm crew and learn more about tomatoes—a perfect way to spend the afternoon with family and friends. Chatham Bars Inn Farm, 3034 Main St., Brewster. chathambarsinn.com

AUG. 29 MUSIC AT THE ATWOOD FEATURING PIANIST ANA

GLIG Enjoy live music as part of the Atwood Museum’s ongoing concert series. Concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Beer, wine and other beverages available for purchase. Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. chathamhistoricalsociety.org

SEPT. 14 & 15 CHATHAM ARTISAN FAIR Support local artisans and find your next one-

of-a-kind treasure. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street. supremefairs.com/ chatham-artisans-fair.html

OCT. 5 WITCHES WALK ON THE WATER FUNDRAISING COSTUME PADDLE Witches on the Water, Inc., is holding its fourth annual fundraising costume walk around Oyster Pond to benefit this year’s recipient, Dream Day on Cape Cod. Whether you register and join us on the water on a stand-up paddle board—decked in your best witch attire—or enjoy the spectacle from the shore, fun will be had by all as we “make waves.” Registration opens this summer and is required for all paddlers. Oyster Pond Beach, 80 Stage Harbor Road. Rain date for paddle: Oct. 6. witchesonthewater.org

OCT. 12 OKTOBERFEST Live music, kids’ games, vendors and Cape Cod Beer. All these events are just a small part of Chatham’s Oktoberfest in Kate Gould Park, Main Street, and Chatham Town Hall, 549 Main St. 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. chathaminfo.com

OCT. 13 FALL FROLIC & PUMPKIN PATCH AT CHATHAM BARS INN FARM A celebration of the fall season and a day of family fun on the farm! Enjoy hot apple cider,

OCT. 12

OKTOBERFEST

select your perfect pumpkin, indulge in seasonal favorites and spend time with family and friends while walking the eight beautiful acres of the farm. Chatham Bars Inn Farm, 3034 Main St., Brewster. chathambarsinn.com

OCT. 19–31 PUMPKIN PEOPLE

IN THE PARK The creative and innovative Pumpkin People are fashioned by local businesses, organizations and residents. Thousands of spectators pose with the unique “people” every year. Sponsored by Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association. Kate Gould Park, Main Street. chathaminfo.com.

OCT. 5 WITCHES WALK ON THE WATER

CAROL H. PERRY KIM

NOV. 22–DEC. 10 HOLIDAY & SMALL WORKS SALE Looking for a unique, affordable gift? Shop at the Creative Arts Center and peruse its huge selection of small original art, sterling silver jewelry, pottery, knitted and fabric items and cards, all made locally by members. Creative Arts Center, 54 Crowell Road, 508-9453583. capecodcreativearts.org

NOV. 24 CHATHAM IN THE FALL 10K Enjoy the same vista-filled course as the Chatham Harbor Run in June, only in cooler temperatures! Sponsored by local businesses and the Cape Cod Athletic Club. capecodathleticclub.org

NOV. 28 CHATHAM TURKEY

TROT Fun run or walk over 3.1 miles of winding and rolling paved

NOV. 28

roads and beautiful scenery. The trot benefits the Lower Cape Outreach Council. The race starts at 8 a.m. at the Oyster Pond Parking lot. chathamturkeytrot.com

DEC. 13–15 CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA STROLL Celebrate the season with a tree-lighting ceremony at Sears Park in downtown Chatham, horse and carriage rides and carolers along festive Main

Street. It’s the perfect weekend to kick off your holiday shopping and find special gifts for everyone on your list. chathammerchants.com/ christmasbythesea

DEC. 31 FIRST NIGHT CHATHAM 2023–2024 A town-wide festival of visual and performing arts on Cape Cod. Family-friendly and alcoholfree. More details later in the year. firstnightchatham.com

CHATHAM TURKEY TROT KIM

Cod & Haddock

Bluefin Tuna Seasonal

Swordfish

FOOD DRINK

Please check each establishment’s website and social media pages for updated information on operating hours, takeout options and indoor/outdoor dining details.

APLAYA KITCHEN + TIKI BAR

A vibrant Filipino-inspired menu with classic tiki cocktails in a casual, outdoor setting in downtown Chatham. 483 Main Street, aplayacapecod.com

FILIPINO SEASONAL

ASIAN PARADISE Authentic Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine cooked in an open kitchen. Takeout. 1587 Main St., Shop Ahoy Plaza, 508-945-7788 asianparadisechatham.com ASIAN

BACKSIDE BAKES Specializes in Cape Cod clambakes and Cape Cod catering. 508-360-8399, backsidebakes.com CATERING

SEASONAL

BAYVIEW TERRACE See expanded listing on page 296. Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Road, 508-945-6732, chathambarsinn.com SEASONAL

BEACH HOUSE GRILL See expanded listing on page 296. Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Road, 508-945-6871, chathambarsinn.com

SEASONAL

BLUEFINS SUSHI & SAKE BAR

See expanded listing on page 290. 513 Main St., 508-348-1573, bluefinschatham.com

SUSHI & SEAFOOD

BRANCHES GRILL AND CAFÉ

A mix of Caribbean and American fare. 155 Crowell Road, 508-3481716, branchesgrillandcafe.com

CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN

BUFFY’S ICE CREAM SHOP

A Chatham landmark and now home to Chatham Ice Cream Bars. It’s not a trip to Chatham without a visit to Buffy’s. 456 Main St., 508-945-5990, chathamicecreambars.com

ICE CREAM

CAPTAIN’S TABLE Family

owned and operated, a favorite destination for 75 years. Serving Sunday brunch, breakfast, lunch and dinner. 576 Main St., 508-945-1961, captainstablechatham.com AMERICAN SEASONAL

CARMINE’S PIZZA Specialty pizzas and more in a retro-inspired setting. 595 Main St., 508-945-5300, carminescapecod.com PIZZA

CHATHAM COOKWARE Home

to the famous French breakfast muffins, “the Cookware” serves up breakfast and lunch daily. In addition to bakery items, the Cookware offers hot breakfast sandwiches, homemade soups and delicious sandwich board selections such as the Salty Llama (tarragon chicken salad, grapes, apples, swiss, honey mustard and lettuce on a wheat wrap). 524 Main St., 508-945-1250, chathamcookware.com BREAKFAST & LUNCH SEASONAL

CHATHAM BARS INN Multiple restaurants. See expanded listing on page 296. 297 Shore Road, 508-945-6732, chathambarsinn.com

CHATHAM CANDY MANOR

Founded in 1955, the beloved candy shop on Main Street offers handmade fudge, delicious chocolates and special holiday assortments.

A must-stop when you’re in town! 484 Main St., 508-945-0825, candymanor.com CANDY

THE CHATHAM CHEESE

COMPANY A gourmet food shop featuring artisanal cheeses from around the world. The shop also carries a selection of wines, cured meats and pâtés, and specialty items such as crackers, pasta, vinegars and jams. 902 Main St., 508-945-1605, chathamcheese.com GOURMET FOOD SEASONAL

CHATHAM COOKWARE See expanded listing on this page. 524 Main St., 508-945-1250, chathamcookware.com BREAKFAST & LUNCH SEASONAL

THE CHATHAM CUT Steakhouse with an Italian influence. Open April 1 – January 15, 4:30 p.m. – closing.

BLUEFINS SUSHI & SAKE

BAR Asian-infused dinners with sushi and martini bar. Set in an upscale atmosphere, Bluefins creates dishes with locally sourced seafood and farm fresh produce. NEW on the menu this year: Coriander-crusted tuna, prime culotte steak and panko-crusted haddock. There’s something for everyone, even for non-sushi lovers. Bluefins also crafts fully cooked sushi rolls. Both indoor dining and takeout available. 513 Main St., 508348-1573, bluefinschatham.com

SUSHI & SEAFOOD

1200 Main St., 508-348-5686, thechathamcut.com STEAKHOUSE SEASONAL

CHATHAM FILLING STATION

Brunch all day! An American roadside diner in the heart of historic Chatham Village. Carefully crafted food in an entertaining setting. Catering, private parties. 75 Old Harbor Road, 508945-4380, chathamfillingstation.com BREAKFAST & LUNCH

CHATHAM HARVESTERS

Crowd-pleasers like scallops directly off the boat. Fresh and freshly frozen, local seafood are for sale online through the organization’s popular fish share program, as well as at Chatham Farmers Market every Tuesday afternoon on Rte. 137 in South Chatham. 95 Commerce Park, Bays 7-8, chathamharversters.com SEAFOOD

CHATHAM MOODS Fresh food prepared every day from scratch. With a variety of sandwiches, juices, smoothies, and bowls, Chatham Moods aims to put you in a good mood with every bite. This clean eatery will “food your mood.”1617 Main Street, 508-3481355, chathammoods.com CAFÉ

CHATHAM PENNY CANDY

An old-fashioned penny candy store with a great selection of ice cream, fudge and saltwater taffy. 6 Seaview St., 508-945-3518, chathampennycandy.com CANDY SEASONAL

CHATHAM PERK See expanded listing above. 307 Orleans Road; 477 Main St.; 508-945-5005, chathamperk.com BREAKFAST & LUNCH 2ND LOCATION IS SEASONAL

CHATHAM PIER FISH MARKET

See expanded listing on page 294. 45 Barcliff Ave. Ext. (at Shore Road), 508945-3474, chathampierfishmkt.com

SEAFOOD SEASONAL

CHATHAM SHELLFISH

COMPANY Retail oysters harvested daily from the farm on Oyster Pond.

CHATHAM PERK This coffee bar and café features specialty sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Customer favorites include breakfast sandwiches served on a Portuguese muffin or bagel. The Perk also offers smoothies, a juice bar, and sandwich platters. Indoor and outside seating. Catering, too! 307 Orleans Road; Second location: 477 Main St.; 508-945-5005, chathamperk.com BREAKFAST & LUNCH 2ND LOCATION IS SEASONAL

Scenic and interactive farm tours, tastings and shanty raw bar for small groups. 393 Barn Hill Road, 508-2417503, sales@chathamshellfish.com, chathamoysters.com CATERING SEASONAL

CHATHAM SQUIRE See expanded listing below. 487 Main St., 508-9450945, thesquire.com AMERICAN

CHATHAM SUNRISE Breakfast and brunch made from scratch with fresh local ingredients. 247 Orleans Road, 508-237-2528 BREAKFAST

CHATHAM VILLAGE MARKET

See expanded listing on page 294. 20 Queen Anne Road, 508-945-9783, chathamvillagemarket.com

GROCERY STORE

CHILLER’S HAWAIIAN ICE

Authentic Hawaiian shaved ice, plus ice cream and frozen yogurt. 22 Barn Hill Road, 508-524-9166, facebook.com/chillerschatham

FROZEN TREATS SEASONAL

CORNER STORE See expanded listing on page 294. 1403 Old Queen Anne Road, 508-432-1077, freshfastfun.com BURRITOS, COOKIES + WHOOPIES

CUVÉE AT CHATHAM INN

Embark on a refined dining journey with our new 4 and 7-course menus. Choose from over 300 wines by the bottle and 20+ by the glass, handpicked by our sommelier. Indulge in artful entrées indoors or sip cocktails by the fire pit in our expanded outdoor area. 359 Main St., 508-945-1468, cuveechatham.com AMERICAN

CHATHAM SQUIRE A staple along Chatham’s wonderful Main Street, The Chatham Squire offers three unique dining experiences: The Tavern, the Dining Room with a Raw Bar, and an outdoor patio. The menu showcases items such as the Seafood Stuffed Lobster: A steamed lobster, packed with seafood stuffing made from local shellfish and local white fish. The French Dip is a staple, featuring shaved in-house prime rib on ciabatta with natural au jus. The Crab Cake sandwich with a Sriracha remoulade on a brioche bun is a summer staple. Look for new items on our menu this coming season! Make sure to check out The Chatham Squire Shop directly across the street. @thechathamsquire, 487 Main St., 508-945-0945, thesquire.com AMERICAN

DEL

MAR BAR & BISTRO

See expanded listing on page 296. 907 Main St., 508-945-9988, delmarbistro.com AMERICAN

DOGFISH TACO CO. & CANTINA

Opening in late May with fresh, healthy tacos and bowls—available to go or in our renovated Cantina. An extensive tequila selection and specialty cocktails. Call for weekly entertainment schedule or check out our Instagram for updates. 22 Barn Hill Rd., dogfishtacoco022@gmail.com

TACOS SEASONAL

DRIFTERS Locally owned Drifters serves up a fresh take on New England coastal cuisine in South Chatham. Menu includes a full raw bar, tapas and plates inspired by new American and Spanish cuisine served till 10:30 pm. Cocktails, local beers, and natural wine till midnight. 2642 Main St., 774-209-3687, drifterscapecod.com SEAFOOD

CHATHAM PIER FISH MARKET

Come for the food. Stay for the view. Our classic New England menu is as authentic as it gets. Watch fishermen unload the daily catch while you eat at one of our picnic tables, or order online for takeout! 45 Barcliff Ave. Ext. (at Shore Road), 508-945-3474, chathampierfishmkt.com SEAFOOD SEASONAL

ELWOOD’S RAW BARS Authentic Cape Cod raw bar experience brought to you. From 5 – 500 people. Visit us at our new location: 309 Orleans Rd., N. Chatham. Sit down or takeout, 508-241-1533, elwoodsrawbars.com

CATERING SEASONAL

EMACK & BOLIO’S Home to the original Oreo ice cream. Emack & Bolio’s offers creative flavors like Cosmic Crunch and specialty items like ice cream pizza. 37 Kent Place, 508-9455506, emackandbolioscapecod.com

ICE CREAM SEASONAL

400 EAST RESTAURANT & BAR

See expanded listing on page 298. 1421 Orleans Road, East Harwich, 508-432-1800, the400east.com AMERICAN

GUSTARE GOURMET See expanded listing on page 298. 400 Main St., 508-945-4505, gustareoliveoil.com GOURMET FOOD

CHATHAM VILLAGE MARKET A grocery store featuring full-service butcher shop, seafood and sushi. Fresh produce and bakery sections, prepared foods available year-round and full selection of beer and wine. Known for outstanding customer service. Curbside pickup available. 20 Queen Anne Road, 508-945-9783, chathamvillagemarket.com GROCERY STORE

CORNER STORE Burritos, salads and whoopie pies are just some of the temptations at the Corner Store. Feeding Cape Cod’s locals since 2005. Order online and build your custom burritos. 1403 Old Queen Anne Road, 508-432-1077, freshfastfun.com BURRITOS, COOKIES + WHOOPIES

HANGAR B EATERY Offering classic and creative breakfasts and lunches, including gluten-free options. Chatham Municipal Airport, 240 George Ryder Road, 508-593-3655, hangarbchatham.com

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

IMPUDENT OYSTER Upscale eatery in a former church featuring a fresh take on seafood plus a bustling bar scene. 15 Chatham Bars Ave., 508945-3545, theimpudentoyster.com SEAFOOD

KNOTS LANDING BAR & GRILL/ NEW ENGLAND PIZZA Classic pizza, subs and salads with a Greek flair. 1077 Main St., 508-945-9070, knotslandingchatham.com PIZZA

DEL MAR BAR & BISTRO One of Chatham’s most popular night spots for eating, drinking and socializing inside the inviting dining room, at the expansive bar, or out on the open-air patio. Del Mar’s seasoned and loyal staff add to the positive dining experience, and Chef Maria Pollio delights the palate with her creativity and consistency in the kitchen. You will always find something new on the menu! Native seafood and wood-fired thin crust pizzas are the specialties along with an impressive wine list. Visit Del Mar’s website for daily menu updates and summer hours. 907 Main St., 508-945-9988, delmarbistro.com AMERICAN BISTRO

KREAM N’ KONE This family-owned landmark has served award-winning fried seafood and soft ice cream for more than 30 years. 1653 Main St., 508-945-3308, kreamnkonechatham. com SEAFOOD SEASONAL

LARRY’S PX Serving breakfast and lunch since 1955, this unassuming eatery offers classic American fare. 1591 Main St., 508-945-3964, find us on Facebook BREAKFAST & LUNCH

LIBAYTION See expanded listing on page 300. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 2173 Head of the Bay Road, 508-432-5400, wequassett. com/dining BAR AND GRILL SEASONAL

LIBERTY ARTISANAL BAKERY

Offering hand-crafted sourdough breads, seasonally inspired pastries, and fine coffee/espresso drinks. Opening by June 2024. Visit the website for the latest information for days and times open. 1223 Main St., libertyartisanalbreads.com BAKERY

LILY’S DINER Located in the former Sandi’s Diner. Fresh baked goods and breakfast served daily. Takeout available. 643 Main St., 508-9450631, lilysdiner.wordpress.com BREAKFAST

BAYVIEW TERRACE The best seats on Cape Cod. Fresh summer cocktails, ocean breezes and lite fare. The perfect place for summer afternoon and evening rendezvous.

SEASONAL

BEACH HOUSE GRILL “Coastally inspired” dining with fresh, local “just caught” seafood, classic seaside clambake favorites, seasonally inspired cocktails and local beer served in an unforgettable oceanfront setting. Featuring fantastic views and attentive, upbeat service.

AMERICAN SEASONAL

CHATHAM BARS INN

THE SACRED COD The best of Northeast ingredients are blended with the flavors of the world in this lively, upscale tavern. The innovative menu is highlighted by individual

“bites,” shared plates and more while the bar showcases the Inn’s custom beverage program. AMERICAN

STARS Enjoy stunning panoramic views of Chatham Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. Seasonal cuisine is inspired by our heritage, natural surroundings and the bounty of The Chatham Bars Inn Farm, creating Cape Cod’s premier dining experience. Advanced reservations recommended for dinner.

AMERICAN

THE VERANDA Diners have enjoyed spectacular sunrises and picture-perfect ocean views from the Veranda since 1914. Today, guests can enjoy cocktails and delicious meals while marveling at the sweeping views of Chatham Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. AMERICAN SEASONAL

Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Road, 508-945-6732, chathambarsinn.com

GUSTARE GOURMET On Main Street since 2009, this popular shopping experience offers the highest quality artisanal extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, gourmet pantry and gift items. In Italian, Gustare means “to taste, to enjoy, to savour,” so join them and discover your favorite flavorful selections. 400 Main St., 508-945-4505, gustareoliveoil.com

GOURMET FOOD

MAC’S CHATHAM FISH & LOBSTER

Featuring a full raw bar, indoor seating and an outdoor patio. A classic yet creative menu with delicious food to satisfy every palate. Daily specials, gluten-free fried food and a great selection of beer and wine. Offering the highest quality seafood caught daily from Cape Cod waters. 1291 Main St., 508-945-1173, chathamfish.com SEAFOOD

MARION’S PIE SHOP Established in 1947, this specialty bakeshop offers sweet and savory pies, homemade comfort food (lasagna and meatballs), soups, quiche and sweet treats (walnut brownies and chocolate chip cookies). Offerings vary throughout the year. 2022 Main St., 508-432-9439, marionspieshopofchatham.com PIES

MARY’S FINE PROVISIONS

Serving unforgettable food made with local ingredients, Mary’s Fine

Provisions provides dining experiences of all kinds for customers all over Cape Cod. 33 Cross St., 774-216-9530, marysfineprovisions.com CATERING

MOM & POPS BURGERS

A vibrant, chef-driven fast casual restuarant that emphasizes high-quality, delicious food. Voted Best Burger on Cape Cod; other standout items include the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, Mom’s homemade lumpia (Filipino pork eggrolls), local seafood offerings and a world class craft beer selection. Beef butchered and ground in-house daily. 1603 Main St., 774-840-4144, momandpopschatham.com BURGERS

OUTER BAR & GRILLE See expanded listing on page 300. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 2173 Head of the Bay Road, 508430-3000, wequassett.com/dining SEASONAL

PATE’S An iconic Chatham

neighborhood restaurant. Great food, good people, and lifelong memories. 1260 Main St., 508-945-9777, patesrestaurant.com AMERICAN

PISCES Coastal cooking with styles and flavors from around the world. Offering a full dinner menu, nightly menu additions featuring native seafood, craft cocktails, wine list with more than 20 wines. 2653 Main St., South Chatham, 508-432-4600, piscesofchatham.com AMERICAN/ SEAFOOD SEASONAL

PIZZA SHARK Inside the Chatham Orpheum Theater lobby (for dinein & takeout) and around back with expanded seating, 8 TVs & full bar. Open every day from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Order online: pleasantlakepizzashark. com , 637 Main St. at Chatham Orpheum Theater, 508-945-0874 LUNCH OR DINNER

400 EAST RESTAURANT & BAR Your Chatham neighbor in Harwich since 1989. Referred to by locals and tourists as “Cheers,” the 400 East serves the food you crave by the staff you love. Enjoy creative daily specials along with customer favorites such as fresh-ground angus burgers, grilled pizzas, pasta and seafood inside the restaurant or at home via takeout. Serving lunch and dinner year-round. Call-ahead seating and function rooms are available. 1421 Orleans Road, East Harwich, 508-432-1800, the400east.com AMERICAN

THE SILL Tucked into a quaint nook alongside twenty-eight Atlantic restaurant and Thoreau’s, this artisanal grab-and-go bakery and espresso bar focuses on quality craftsmanship and fresh ingredients. The picturesque outlet serves breakfast and beverages such as coffee, tea, draft cold brews and juices. COFFEE

TWENTY-EIGHT ATLANTIC

WEQUASSETT RESORT AND GOLF CLUB

Chef James Hackney’s menu at Cape Cod’s first and only Forbes Five-star signature restaurant celebrates native and seasonal ingredients with creative, award-winning flair. Waterfront location. The Verandahs at Twenty-Eight Atlantic offer a spectacular alfresco setting for breakfast and dinner. AMERICAN

PUBLIC CAFÉ Locally roasted organic coffees, breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring ethnic cuisine and glutenfree options. Located next to Lily’s Diner. 641 Main St., 508-444-8833, publiccafecapecod.com

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

QUEEN ANNE INN Restaurant for in-house guests only this season, accepting bookings for private events such as cocktail parties, clambakes and brunches. 70 Queen Anne Road, 508-945-0394, queenanneinn.com AMERICAN SEASONAL

RED NUN BAR & GRILL Sports pub tavern features top-rated burgers on the Cape. 746 Main St., 508-348-

SNOWY OWL COFFEE ROASTERS CHATHAM

ESPRESSO BAR Located in a quiet courtyard off Main Street, Snowy Owl offers high-quality espresso and brewed beverages. With year-round, full-service cafés in Sandwich and in Brewster; the Chatham location also offers freshly baked pastries and locally made food items with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. 483 Main St., socoffee.co/ espresso-bar-in-chatham COFFEE SEASONAL

THOREAU’S A club-like bar adjacent to Twenty-Eight Atlantic, Thoreau’s offers a unique menu, an extensive wine list and a wide selection of martinis and specialty cocktails. AMERICAN

OUTER BAR & GRILLE The place to see and be seen. Waterfront dining in an open-air setting with a spacious deck overlooking Pleasant Bay and Round Cove. BAR AND GRILL SEASONAL

LIBAYTION Beachfront bar offers the best water views on Cape Cod. Guests will enjoy the diverse menu featured at the Outer Bar & Grille. Open during summer months for lunch and dinner—weather permitting. BAR AND GRILL SEASONAL

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 2173 Head of the Bay Road, 508 432-5400, wequassett.com/dining

BEACH SNACK

BAR The perfect spot for a casual beachside lunch. Enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio, which overlooks the picturesque creek and Nantucket Sound. 434 Ridgevale Road, 508-432-4339, chathamsail.com/ snack-bar AMERICAN SEASONAL

THE SACRED COD See expanded listing on page 296. Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Road, 508-945-6732, chathambarsinn.com

THE SILL See expanded listing above. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 2173 Head of the Bay Road, 508-4303000, wequassett.com/dining

SWEET TOMATOES PIZZA Celebrating 30 years on Cape Cod, Sweet Tomatoes is proud to serve New Haven’s Wooster Street style pizza. Ours is a thin crust with chunky tomato sauce. We offer both classic pizzas and some with a creative twist. Salads are large and sandwiches are made on our own bread. Offering take out, or enjoy beer and wine on our the patio. Sweet Tomatoes is happy for your patronage and grateful to serve. On summer nights, please order early as wait times can be long. 790 Main St., 508-348-0200, sweettomatoescapecod.com PIZZA SEASONAL

SHORT ‘N’ SWEET With many ice cream flavors and a friendly staff, Short ‘n’ Sweet is a Chatham icon in the Old Schoolhouse building. 2334 Main St., 508-432-7464, facebook.com/ shortnsweetchatham

ICE CREAM SEASONAL

SNOWY OWL COFFEE ROASTERS

CHATHAM ESPRESSO BAR See expanded listing below. 483 Main St., socoffee.co/espresso-bar-in-chatham COFFEE SEASONAL

STARS See expanded listing on page 296. Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Road, 508-945-6732, chathambarsinn.com AMERICAN

SWEET DREAMS ICE CREAM

Ice Cream, sundaes, frappes, ice cream cookie sandwiches and an assortment of candies, chocolates and salt water taffy from our other shop, Chatham Penny Candy. Located in the Shop Ahoy Plaza. 1579 Main St., sweetdreamschatham.com

ICE CREAM SEASONAL

SWEET TOMATOES PIZZA

See expanded listing above. 790 Main St., 508-348-0200, sweettomatoescapecod.com

PIZZA SEASONAL

THOREAU’S See expanded listing on page 300. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 2173 Head of the Bay Road, 508-430-3000, wequassett. com/dining

THREE

FINS

COFFEE ROASTERS

& CACAO FACTORY Opening late summer. Combining a coffeehouse and new Cacao Factory under one roof, Three Fins offers bean to bar craft chocolate, high-quality coffee, espresso drinks, freshly baked pastries, desserts & gluten free options. Their main coffeehouse & roastery is in West Dennis. Visit website for updates. 251 Crowell Road, threefinscoffee.com

TWENTY-EIGHT ATLANTIC

See expanded listing on page 300. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 2173 Head of the Bay Road, 508430-3000, wequassett.com/dining AMERICAN

THE VERANDA See expanded listing on page 296. Chatham Bars Inn, 97 Shore Road, 508-945-6732, chathambarsinn.com AMERICAN SEASONAL

VIERA ON MAIN Locally inspired coastal cuisine. Viera on Main features fresh ingredients, a curated wine list, locally sourced raw bar and spacious outdoor patio all in the heart of downtown Chatham. Open for Finest Hour, Dinner, and Private Events. 593 Main St., 508-945-5033, vieraonmain.com AMERICAN SEASONAL

WILD GOOSE TAVERN Locally sourced sustainable offerings, gluten-free and vegan options, curated cocktails and lighter fare. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in the various indoor and outdoor dining areas. Chatham Wayside Inn, 512 Main St., 508-945-5590, wildgoosetavern.com AMERICAN • BURRITOS • SALADS • COFFEE • COOKIES • WHOOPIES

CHATHAM ORLEANS

FRESH FAST FUN

Think You Know CHATHAM ?

20 trivia questions will put your knowledge to the test

BY DEBRA LAWLESS

1 What famous Native American who aided the Pilgrims is buried in an unmarked grave in Chatham?

2 What war does the monument in Sears Park at the intersection of Main and Seaview Streets commemorate?

3 What is the old cement structure with a red pump on the corner of Main and Cross Streets?

4 What 2016 movie filmed in Chatham told the story of the Pendleton ship rescue of 1952?

5 What Netflix series, based on an Elin Hilderbrand novel set on Nantucket, was filmed in Chatham in 2023?

6 Which two famous, award-winning actresses retired to Chatham?

7 What famous singer/actor has a summer house in Chatham?

8 How many Cape Cod Baseball League Championships have the Chatham Anglers won since 1963?

9 What was banned at Chatham Band concerts in 2018?

10 At what time of year are the most sharks seen in the waters off Chatham?

11 What shellfish are found in Chatham waters?

12

Cape Cod has 890 freshwater ponds. How many are in Chatham?

13 Where in Chatham can you visit New York Central caboose car #18452?

14 Which of Main Street’s four churches has a clock in its steeple?

15 Who painted the mural “The After Party” inside the Chatham Orpheum Theater, and how many actors and actresses are depicted in it?

16 Where in Chatham can you learn about maritime wireless communication?

17 Thoreau called Cape Cod “the bared and bended arm of Massachusetts.” Where did he place the elbow?

18 How many steps does it take to reach the top of Chatham Light?

Name Chatham’s three lighthouses.

How many square miles does Chatham cover?

PHOTO: BETTY WILEY