🐚 Before It Melts: Sundaes, Soul, and Small Fixes That Matter

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This Week on the Lower Cape: Some Things Are Too Good to Change

Hey neighbor —

Funny how the smallest things hit the hardest.
A cone from Sundae School that tastes like summer used to.
A drawer that finally glides instead of sticking.
A slow Saturday that turns into music, laughter, and maybe a little magic.

There’s talk this might be Sundae School’s last season.
And whether you’ve gone every year or never made the time — now’s the moment.

This week is full of that same quiet beauty:

🎶 Jazz at sunset
🦙 Donkeys racing in Orleans (yep)
🧘 Rope-wall yoga
🎨 Local art
🔧 And a few smart, simple ways to fix what matters at home — not for resale, but for real life.

Let’s not wait for perfect.
Let’s savor what’s already good.

👇 Here's what’s happening — come find your moment.

🛠️ Cape Cod Buyers Aren’t Impressed by Your Wine Fridge (Here’s What They Do Want)

Sponsored by Radtke & Associates — where local meets legit

It usually starts small.
A cracked tile. A drawer that sticks.
Maybe a dreamy photo of a kitchen you’d never cook in.

Suddenly, you’re debating marble vs. quartz, wondering if a built-in coffee bar is self-care or just another Pinterest spiral.

But here on the Lower Cape, not every upgrade earns its keep.
We’ve seen neighbors pour thousands into the wrong things —
while what really sells is light, layout, and the feeling of “I could live here.”

📍 Cape-Smart Updates Start Here

National ROI lists? They don’t get us.
Here’s what actually works:

✅ In Brewster: Let the light in. Fix the flow. Add storage that makes sense.
✅ In Orleans: Preserve the charm. Don’t erase it. Buyers want soul, not sterile.
✅ In Harwich: Make everyday spaces (like a mudroom) do more heavy lifting.

Ask yourself: What feels right in this house, on this street, in this town?

🧭 Your 3-Step Fix-It Plan

1. Start with one problem. That drawer. That leaky faucet. That weird closet.

2. Choose projects that make daily life easier. You’ll thank yourself later — listing or not.

3. Keep it true to the house. Updates should feel seamless, not showy.

🚫 Avoid the Over-Fix Trap

• Don’t outprice the street

• Don’t gut the character

• Don’t wow in one room and underwhelm in another

• Don’t assume everyone wants your dream spa shower

Cape buyers want casual luxury — not overdone, not overbuilt.

🧠 Quick Gut Check Before You Upgrade:

Would I still do this if I wasn’t planning to sell?
If yes — do it.
If not — wait.

✨ Wondering what’s worth fixing and what can wait?

You’re not alone.
Every home has a story — and every update should make it better, not just newer.

If you ever want to talk it through — what fits your house, your neighborhood, your pace — I’m here.

📞 Text or call Arthur Radtke at (774) 209-6032
No pressure. Just a neighbor who knows the market and loves a good floorplan.

Because on the Lower Cape, the best homes aren’t the biggest or boldest.
They’re the ones that feel like home the moment you walk in.

🍦 Before It Melts: One Last Summer at Sundae School

The line moves slowly, but no one minds.

Somewhere in the air: the scent of cones just pulled from the press, sea salt in someone’s hair, and a voice deciding between hot fudge or butterscotch for the third time.

Kids lean on railings.
Someone in flip-flops tries to keep chocolate from dripping down their wrist.

It’s always been this way.

Sundae School on Route 28 doesn’t sell ice cream. It sells summer.

The kind that sticks to your fingers and lives in your camera roll.
The kind you try to find again years later and can’t — unless you come back here.

This weekend, Sundae School opens for the season.
But maybe not for many more.

A 28-unit housing development has been proposed for the site.
The building — this little timeworn temple of whipped cream and memory — may soon come down.

The Dennisport location stays.
But this one feels different.

This is the shop that held first jobs.
Post-beach cones.

Quiet milestones that tasted like maple walnut or Bass River Mud.
Conversations that lingered over slowly melting scoops.

There’s a kind of hush that happens when the first bite lands.

The hot fudge, still warm.
The cream — real, heavy, barely sweetened.
The peanut butter swirl. The sharp hit of ginger.
The surprise of a vegan scoop that tastes like someone cared.

People mention portion sizes.
The long lines.
The missing piano.

They say it’s changed.

And then they finish their cone — and come back the next night.

Some places don't need reinvention.
They just need room to stay exactly what they are.

This weekend, the window opens again.

Someone will order a sundae too big for one person.
Someone will get their usual.
Someone will try something new.

There will be music from a car stereo.
There will be laughter before the first bite.

And a few seconds — just a few — where everything feels exactly right.

Let that be enough.

From sunrise birding walks to moonlit poetry workshops, the Lower Cape is putting on a show — and you’re on the guest list.

We’re talking fly-casting clinics, soulful sketch sessions, nature walks that double as therapy, and yes... a 5K with actual donkeys. Chatham’s art scene is buzzing, Brewster’s got the tunes, and Orleans is bringing the energy.

If you needed a sign to step out and soak up the Cape’s charm — this is it.

Let’s get into it 👇

📅 Thursday, MAY 15

🐦 Birding Around Brewster: Spring Finale
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Crosby Landing Beach, Brewster
Explore peak spring migration with a guided birdwatching walk.

🖼 Monotype Printmaking with Joyce Zavorskas
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham
Create one-of-a-kind prints using acrylic monotype techniques.

🎨 Drawing with Michael Giaquinto
1:00 PM – 3:15 PM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham
Learn still-life drawing fundamentals with a local artist.

✍️ Poetry Workshop with Judith Partelow
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich
Relaxed and creative workshop with acclaimed Cape poet Judith Partelow.

📅 Friday, MAY 16

🎾 Senior Tennis Group
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Brewster Community Tennis Courts
Drop-in doubles for tennis lovers 60+ — mix, match, and enjoy a relaxed rally.

🎨 Watercolor Workshop with John Clayton
9:00 AM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham
Day 2 of this hands-on class on painting the impressionist landscape in watercolor.

🌲 Forest Bathing Meditation Walk
10:30 AM · Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
A quiet, guided walk to reconnect with nature and reset your week.

⚾ Coastal Cape Baseball Game
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Gage’s Baseball Field, Brewster
Evening community league baseball under the lights — bring your lawn chair!

📅 Saturday, MAY 17

🎣 Women’s Fly-Casting Clinic
9:00 AM · Chatham Community Center
Learn the art of fly fishing from expert Sue Daignault — no experience needed.

🚶 Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Tour
9:30 AM · Cold Brook Preserve, Harwich
A guided walk through one of Harwich’s most inspiring nature sites.

🌿 Designing Landscapes That Protect Ponds
10:00 AM · Terra Firma Permagardens, Orleans
Learn how thoughtful landscaping can help preserve Cape Cod's water.

🧘‍♀️ Ropes + Slings Yoga with Petra
12:00 PM · Orleans Yoga
Explore inversions and deeper postures with rope wall techniques.

🧪 Science Rocks! 2025
12:35 PM · Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
Hands-on STEM fun for all ages — discover, tinker, explore.

⚽ Soccer Academy (Ages 3–14)
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM · Brewster Bay Property
Brazilian United Soccer returns with age-specific coaching and fun drills.

📅 Sunday, MAY 18

🦙 Donkey Dash 5K + Party
9:30 AM · Hog Island Beer Co., Orleans
A 5K with donkeys (yes, really) — capped off with local brews and fun at Hog Island.

📅 Monday, MAY 19

🧵 Quilting with Adele
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM · Studio 211 @ The 204, Harwich
Come for a stitch or stay all day in this creative, open-format quilting group.

🎶 Music & Movement with Kerry Anne Lardner
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM · Snow Library, Orleans
Wiggle and sing with your little one in this joyful class for ages 1–5.

🧘‍♀️ Hatha Yoga with Jackie
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Chatham Community Center
Classic flow for all levels — stretch it out and settle your mind.

🖼️ Ribbon Cutting – The Nines Art Gallery
8:30 AM · 515 Main Street, Chatham
Stop in anytime to check out Chatham’s newest art destination — fresh energy, local artists.

📅 TUESDAY, MAY 20

🦜 Foss Woods Birding Field Class
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Chatham/Harwich
Fieldwork with naturalist Peter Trull — bring binoculars and curiosity.

🏹 Archery (Grades 3–5)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Eddy Elementary, Brewster
A fun after-school blend of balance, focus, and fun on the field.

🃏 Tarot Workshop with Amy Marino
5:30 PM · Brewster Ladies’ Library
Dive into the symbolism and insight of tarot in this accessible intro class.

🎨 DIY Affirmation Sticker Workshop
5:45 PM · Brewster Ladies’ Library
Create uplifting designs that stick — all materials provided, all ages welcome.

🧘‍♀️ Vinyasa Yoga with Jackie
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Chatham Community Center
A flowing yoga class to wind down the day and loosen up your week.

📅 WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

🍃 Nature Journaling Workshop
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM · Brewster Book Store
Draw, reflect, and observe the world around you with naturalist Mark Kesling.
🎟 $23.18 drop-in or season pass

🧶 Knit Lit at Brooks Free Library
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM · Harwich
Bring your yarn and current read — enjoy cozy stitching and conversation.

🎨 Handbuilding: Whimsical Moon Faces & Stars
12:30 PM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham
Craft a dreamy ceramic piece in this hands-on workshop with artist Katie Kendall.
🔗 Registration required

Salt in your hair. Tunes in the breeze. From flute solos to front-porch strumming, this week’s Lower Cape lineup hits every note. All killer, no filler — just pure coastal sound.

🎭 MRHS Annual Spring Concert
May 15 @ 7:00 PM · 75 Oak St, Harwich
Jazz Band, Concert Band, Combined Chorus, and Select Choir — a full night of student talent.

🎸 Live Music with Tim Sweeney
May 15 @ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans
A fun mix of ‘60s classics, yacht rock, and good Cape energy.

🎤 Pitchfork Live + Karaoke
May 15 @ 6:00 PM & 9:00 PM · Chatham Squire
Rock set followed by grab-the-mic karaoke.

🎷 Super Soulshine
May 16 · Hog Island, Orleans
Funky, feel-good sounds at Orleans' favorite brewery.

🎻 Grab Brothers Band + DJ Johnny Quest
May 16 @ 6:00 PM & 10:00 PM · Chatham Squire
Live rock set followed by late-night DJ vibes.

🎶 McKendry, Rountree, & Chrysler (Live)
May 16 @ 8:30 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans
A heartfelt tribute show honoring Bruce Maclean.

🎤 Karaoke Night
May 16 @ 8:00 PM · Jake Rooney’s, Harwichport
Bring friends and take the mic — Harwichport style.

🎶 Boston Naturals (Encore Set)
May 17 @ 6:00 PM · Hog Island Brewery
Big sound and beachy vibes — live and outdoors.

🎶 Monica Rizzio & The Round Up
May 17 @ 8:30 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans
Outlaw country with a Cape Cod twist.

🎤 Rose and Friends
May 17 @ 8:00 PM · Jake Rooney’s, Harwichport
Easygoing night of live vocals and stories.

🎼 Autumn Drive (Evening Set)
May 17 @ 9:30 PM · Chatham Squire
Nightcap tunes in the heart of town.

🎶 Bitter and Broken Men’s Chorus
May 17 @ Orleans Cultural District
A Cape Cod punk-Americana vocal group with wit, grit, and blue-collar bite.

🎷 Outer Cape Chorale – Into the Light
May 18 · Nauset Middle School, Orleans
Powerful, soaring voices in a heartful community performance.

🎶 Donkey Dash 5K Afterparty
May 18 @ 10:30 AM · Hog Island Brewery
Live music and donkey races? Yup — only in Orleans.

🎶 Rose Clancy Irish Sessions
May 18 @ 5:00 PM · Chatham Squire
Wrap the weekend with fiddles and friends.

🎷 Pro Jam ft. Funktapuss
May 21 @ 8:00 PM · Chatham Squire
Cape’s own funk legends host this open jam — sit in or just groove.

☀️ This Week’s Forecast: Feels, Not Just Fahrenheit

🌫 Thu, May 15 – Fog-Wrapped & Half-Awake

62° / 55°
Soft focus. Fog thickens, rain follows.
Good for quiet tasks, warm drinks, and not much else.

🌫 Fri, May 16 – Gauzy & Unbothered

66° / 55° · 85% humidity
Still. Misty. Light filters in.
Wander without needing to arrive.

⛈ Sat, May 17 – Storms with Mood

61° / 57° · 86% humidity
Rain builds slowly. Heavy, not loud.
Let the day fold in on itself.

🌤 Sun, May 18 – The Shift Arrives

67° / 54° · 66% humidity
Sun breaks through.
Start small — the day opens with you.

🌤 Mon, May 19 – Clean, Cool, Cape Perfect

61° / 50° · 63% humidity
Classic spring Sunday.
Crisp. Light. Good for everything — or nothing.

🌤 Tue, May 20 – Light & Moving

57° / 49° · 59% humidity
Clear, steady, no flash.
Feels like a fresh page.

☁️ Wed, May 21 – Cloud Cover & Clarity

55° / 48° · 64% humidity
Muted skies, calm energy.
Made for resets and quiet momentum.

🌿 Best Days For...

• ☁️ Slowing down:
   Thu & Sat – Fog and soft rain set the tone. Brew tea, skip the rush, enjoy the hush.

• 🛠 Getting things done:
   Mon & Tue – Crisp, clear, and steady. Perfect for small projects, clean slates, and open windows.

• 🌞 Being outside:
   Sun & Tue – Gentle sun, low humidity, light that lingers. Take the long way home.

• 🧘 Unplugging a little:
   Wed – Cloudy skies, calm air. A background kind of day — ideal for thinking, walking, or just being.

🎉 Know Someone Who’d Love This? Send it Their Way

That’s a wrap, neighbor.

This week reminded us: some things don’t need changing.
They just need noticing.

So if something felt right — a song, a cone, a breeze through the screened porch — hold onto it.

✨ Fix what matters.
🍦 Chase the ice cream before it melts.
🦙 Say yes to the donkeys.
📍 And keep showing up for this place we get to call home.

We’ll be back next week with more moments worth catching.

Until then —
stay curious, stay kind, and stay Cape cool.

— Arthur