Back Again

Welcome! As I work on our 2008 Annual Guide Issue, which covers each town on the Cape plus Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Plymouth, and New Bedford, a flood of memories from the last few months urges me to share some of the highlights of my explorations:

In May I eagerly returned to the Nantucket Wine Festival, which exceeded my expectations once again. Like a champagne cork popping off a bottle of vintage Veuve Clicquot, the festivities begin with a gala at the White Elephant, where the well-dressed imbibers and nibblers descend politely on representatives of more than 30 fine wineries and an equal number of restaurants to taste their exquisite wares. This is the ultimate grazing experience. During the ensuing days (the festival lasts 5 glorious days)I attended a variety of seminars (pairing cheese and wine, tasting olive oils) cooking demonstrations (Barbara Lynch of No.9 Park in Boston), and even a screening of the Plum TV film "Harvest: Napa-Sonoma." And, of course, I always find time to run into town and shop! If this hasn't enticed you to sign of for next year's festival, visit www.nantucketwinefestival.com to learn more.

June found me day-tripping to Truro to meet Susan Kurtzman, a former NYC ad exec who, as new owner of Jobi Pottery, is breathing new life into a Cape cottage industry that started in 1951. See for yourself what all the fuss is about at www.retrotruro.com.

Late June found me back on Nantucket with my husband for a "Date Night" at the exclusive Wauwinet (www.wauwinet.com). This indulgent package included a lovely room facing the bay, a three-course dinner at Topper's—the resort's five-star restaurant—and, best of all, a couple's massage at The Wauwinet's brand-new Spa by the Sea. I never knew so much pampering could be had in a mere 24 hours, but then it is the island's only Relais & Chateaux property. That speaks volumes!

July was the month I discovered the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, a fabulous spot where the arts in all their diversity are made accessible to people of all ages. A smattering of what is offered includes music classes for kids, rotating art exhibits, poetry readings, dance performances, and even a Table Francaise, for those who parlent francais.

Our summer company outing was a Lobster Roll Cruise out of Sesuit Harbor in Dennis. We chartered the whole boat, which anyone can do, or you can purchase individual tickets to join a group at any given time. It's a fun and delicious way to get out on the water.

Vineyard Outing

January and February have gone by in a blur. From now on, you can look forward to weekly postings.

NEW FERRY: Last Saturday, a spectacular day, my daughter and I joined hundred of other guests to celebrate the commissioning of a brand-new ferry from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven. The M/V Island Home replaces the 57-year-old M/V Islander. The new vessel can carry 1,200 passengers and 76 vehicles, making the crossing in 32 minutes at its top speed of 16 knots. AND it has Wi-Fi access, YAHOO! It is quite spectacular, and should be put on your TO-DO lists this spring and summer.

GREAT OUTING: I often wonder why I don't do this more often: Get up early and head to Woods Hole. (Usually this means parking in one of the Steamship Authority lots in Falmouth and being bussed to Woods hole, but it's not a big deal at all.) Once in Woods Hole, stop at Pie in the Sky for coffee and some wonderful fresh-from-the-oven pastry or muffin. Walk a few hundred yards down the hill to the ferry, board, and half an hour later you're in Vineyard Haven. Need more breakfast? Walk out to the street and take a left. In about two minutes, on foot, you'll be at The Black Dog bakery, which also has all the Black Dog-logo clothing and paraphernalia you could ever want. Then head up the hill to Vineyard Haven's Main Street, and, if you like to poke around in eclectic shops, you'll be in heaven. One don't-miss spot if you have children in tow is Riley's Reads, just off the main drag. Owner Zoe Pechter is a bundle of energy and knows her kids lit, especially books with dogs as characters. If you're lucky cocker spaniels Riley and River will be there, but even if they're not kids will adore the cozy, colorful set-up. New this year will be a small selection of adult books, handpicked by Zoe.

Personally, I can find a reason to drop into just about every store on this stretch. For more books: Bunch of Grapes. For a fantastic selection of home stuff everyone can afford: Bowl and Board. For sunny-colored, Provencal-inspired table linens and tablewear: The Beach House. For a facial or other spa treatment: The Mansion House. For art: Belushi Pisano Gallery (yes, THAT Belushi). Two fun gift shops: Rainy Day and Mix Wonderful (but pricey) Clothes: The Green Room and Midnight Farm, and, truly, the list goes on and on.

BACK IN WOODS HOLE: Have dinner at the Fishmonger or Captain Kidd's, both longtime village eateries. Hop back on the bus and go retrieve your car.

Now wasn't that a nice way to spend a day?

Last-minute Holiday Ideas

STAY HAPPY WITH
MALL-FREE GIFT IDEAS:

Pain d'Avignon (conveniently located near the Cape Cod Life office) bakes the best bread we've found on the Cape. A basket of their loaves—Sourdough, Cranberry Pecan, Chocolate Hazelnut, Whole Wheat, etc.—makes a fabulous present. The bread freezes really well. If you're invited to a holiday brunch, consider bringing Pain d'Avignon croissants. They are better than many I've had in Paris (honest!). One caveat, though, get them just as they're pulled from the oven; the longer they sit, the less sublime they get. And, lastly, Pain d'Avignon sells "Salty Oats" cookies, made in small batches on the Cape, and stunningly packaged for holiday giving. If you like your cookies chubby, chewy, and not too sweet, these are for you.
Pain d'Avignon, 92 Airport Road, Hyannis MA 02601 · (508) 778-8588; www.french-bread.com

Peachtree Designs in Yarmouthport is a delightful home store, filled not only with furnishings, but also with the neatest little gift items. Instantly grabbed by the title, "101 Things You Gotta Do Before You're 12," I picked this one up for my daughter. Believe it or not, Disney World is NOT mentioned. Actually, no specific sights are included, just general categories like "A Second-Hand Store," "A Wind Farm," "A Pig Pen," and "An Ethnic Restaurant." #1 just happens to be "A Lighthouse." In this part of the world, that's an easy one to check off the list.
Peachtree Designs, 173 Main Street, Yarmouthport, MA, 02675 508.362.8317; www.peachtreedesigns.com

Here's one last no-brainer, and you don't even have to leave your easy chair to give it. Here's a hint: What does everyone who doesn't live on the Cape or Islands covet most? LOBSTER!!!! So pick up the phone, call the Lobster Trap and they'll ship those tasty critters off to all your landlocked friends. I do it every year, and it's the present that is most appreciated. Worth the extra $$. 508-759-7600; www.lobsters-online.com

Cape Cod Life Holiday Traditions

New Blog Title

I have decided to retitle my blog "More to Life". You will see that I transferred my posts from my first blog today...so please don't be confused by the dates on the first three postings...the original posting dates were 11/28 (Thanksgving Weekend) and 11/21 for the other two posts.

http://moretolife-capecodlife.blogspot.com

Janice
www.CapeCodLife.com

Thanksgiving Weekend

For the first time in several years, we left the Cape for Thanksgiving, driving my husband's "new" 25-year-old Mercedes "Grease Car" (runs on vegetable oil supplied by Stir Crazy and Krua Thai restaurants in Bourne) to New York City and back. The trip down was an easy four hours, the trip back took five. Yes, it rained on our parade, but it was exciting for my 8-year-old, Anna, to see the Macy's extravaganza up close. She also took in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (which you can also see in Boston) with her aunt.

CAPE THEATRE: Okay, so it's not Lincoln Center, but the theatre here on Cape Cod is wonderfully varied and usually extremely well performed. On Sunday, we treated ourselves to Hansel & Gretel, put on by the Cape Cod Opera in the unlikely setting of the auditorium of the Cape Cod Regional Technical School. Despite the uncomfortable chairs, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were impressed by the voices, costumes, and especially the antics of the child-eating witch (played by Selena Moretz).

CAPE FOOD: On our way home from the Opera, we sophisticates swung by Sweet Tomatoes pizza in Sandwich to pick up our favorite pie: White 3-cheese. Sweet Tomatoes is in a new location. The building was formerly a bank, and they've kept the drive up teller window, converting it to a take-out window for pizza. Rather unnecessary, but it works. Pie was as good as ever: thin, thin crust and generous amounts of ricotta, my favorite.

Another great take-out option is sushi (or anything else on the menu) from Inaho in Yarmouthport. Sashimi is my husband's favorite food, and he says this is the best on the Cape. Many others agree.

COMING UP: I head to Nantucket on Thursday for the opening party of the Festival of Trees.

Recent highlights of my Cape & Islands life

FOOD: dinner at HannaH’s (508-778-5565; www.hannahsbistro.com) in Hyannis. I first met chef/owner Bing Phu when he was the chef at the Roo Bar in Falmouth and knew then that his cooking was special. My meal at HannaH’s (named for his young daughter) confirms it. I don’t think anything on the menu will disappoint, but to start I highly recommend the Soy Ginger Salad ($7), with Baby Greens, Dried Cranberries, Daikon, Crispy Onion Hay, Tomato Fresca, and Orange Soy Ginger Vinaigrette. Wonderful! After that, you’re on your own; there are too many good dishes for me to recommend just one.

ENTERTAINMENT: I went to the Cape Repertory Theater in Brewster for the first time, and we saw an original play by Peter Sis, “Through the Red Box.” The small, no-bad-seat-in-the-house theater sits out in a field. On the way home, we passed El Guapo’s Taqueria, next door to the Brewster Store. Had it been mealtime, I would have stopped, since I’d just heard from a foodie friend of mine that it’s terrific.

Jennifer Madden, Director of Collections at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, recently gave me a grand tour of the grounds. It had been at least a year since my last visit, and boy was I impressed. New signage and rethinking of the displays has made the whole operation much more user-friendly and interesting for all ages. If you haven’t been lately, go! While you’re in town stop by The Weather Store, owned by Jennifer’s husband, Park Madden. It’s a little gem of a store, filled with lots of neat things like beautiful brass instruments that can tell you temperature, barometric pressure, phase of the moon, and wind speed.

Music lovers should check out the Web site of Tripping Lily (www.trippinglily.com to find out where and when they will perform next. I take piano lessons from the female vocalist and fiddle player, Monica Rizzio, so I’ve become something of a groupie of the quartet that recently performed at The Knitting Factory in New York City.

OUTDOORS: My local gym recently stopped offering exercise classes, so I was left high and dry without my Saturday- and Sunday-morning spinning classes. Bummer! Instead, I pulled my bike out of the garage and headed for the Cape Cod Canal, which is about a half-mile from my house. I hadn’t biked (outdoors) all summer, and this was a wake-up call to take advantage of the paved 7-mile path. It was also a reminder not to think that just because the trip down, from the railroad bridge to the Sagamore Bridge, is fairly easy going, that the return trip will be the same. It all depends on which way the wind is blowing!

MARTHA’S VINEYARD: Last summer, my family and I had a few occasions to get over to the Vineyard, one of our very favorite places. We always have a few rides on the Oak Bluffs carousel, trying to catch the brass ring, and we also discovered some new places. The FARM Institute (www.farminstitute.org) in Katama welcomes families to help out with Saturday-morning farm chores, like feeding the pigs, milking the goats, and picking vegetables. If you go, be sure to take a stab at navigating the corn maze—not easy! Keep small children close at hand.

Riley’s Reads (www.rileysreads.com) is an absolutely charming children’s bookstore in Vineyard Haven that, ostensibly, is owned and operated by Riley the cocker spaniel, who is often there to greet you. There are lots and lots of storybooks that feature dogs, plus a lot more that don’t. Kids love this place! (So did my husband and I.)

DAY TRIPS: Met my three best childhood friends in Boston for brunch at Stephanie’s on Newbury Street (www.stephaniesonnewbury.com), clearly THE place to be for Sunday brunch, judging by the crowd. Reservations are accepted only for parties of six or more, so I recommend going early (they open at 10 a.m.), unless you want a Bloody Mary or Mimosa—alcohol cannot be served before noon. I highly recommend the Tuna Salad Nicoise, and the French Toast stuffed with cream cheese and raspberry jam (not together, the portions are huge).

Why Blog?

As the editor in chief of Cape Cod Life Publications, every day I visit a place, talk to a person, read some mail, or hear something on the radio that I want to share with the readers of Cape Cod Life or one of our other magazines. The information I come across is all in some way related to living the good life on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and/or Nantucket, and, I feel, it is all of interest to you. It might be a new restaurant, an upcoming event, a personal achievement, business success story, or any number of other attention-grabbing occurrences. Cape Cod Life is published eight times a year, which doesn’t allow me to tell you about everything that I want to in the pages of the magazine. This blog will, I hope, do just that. Plus, you can share things with me. I can’t wait to get started!