🐚 CranJam drums, Orleans bonfires, and Skaket sunsets (Sept 11–17)

From Harwich rhythms to Orleans skies — September feels alive again.

Author

Arthur Radtke
September 11, 2025

Together with

Neighbors Worth Celebrating

September always reminds us that the Cape isn’t just sand and sea — it’s the people who keep this place alive. This week, we’re shining a light on them.

👩‍🏫 Teachers and aides who start our mornings.
🚒 Firefighters, EMTs, and police who answer calls when we need them most.
🩺 Nurses, caregivers, and town staff who carry the everyday weight.

They are the quiet backbone of Brewster, Orleans, Chatham, and Harwich — and they deserve more than a thank-you. They deserve to stay.

From the Local Heroes who hold our towns together, to sunsets at Skaket, chowder steam at Land Ho!, and a weekend of music and memory across Harwich and Orleans — this edition is about belonging.

— Arthur
📬 Your newsletter guy first, Lower Cape neighbor always

One of these Orleans islands was private until recently — now you can paddle over and explore it.

Which one’s the “new kid” on the public map? 👉 Click for the answer — and find out why neighbors fought to make it open for everyone.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🌟 Local Heroes HomePort — A Path to Staying on the Cape

Helping teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, town staff, and more find homes right here on the Cape.

The Cape’s Real Paradox

We love to say the Lower Cape is “special.” But it isn’t just the beaches, bike paths, or fried clams that make it so. It’s the people who hold this place together.

The teachers who shape our kids’ mornings. The firefighters and EMTs who answer the call when the siren sounds. The nurses, hospital staff, and home health aides who carry this community on their shoulders. The police officers and dispatchers who keep us safe. The town employees and DPW crews who keep roads clear and services running. The library staff, childcare providers, and counselors who give our families roots.

They’re the ones holding the Cape’s daily life together — often quietly, without recognition. And yet, more and more of them are being pushed out of the very towns they serve.

The Wall They Hit

Scroll, sigh, shut the laptop. That’s the cycle — not because they don’t love the Cape, but because the numbers just don’t add up.

It’s not for lack of love or dedication. It’s because the math is brutal. Inventory is at record lows. Homes under $700,000 disappear in days. Salaries that keep a family afloat on the Cape don’t always match the price tags hanging on Cape houses.

So every season, another teacher, nurse, or first responder scrolls through the listings, sighs, and says: “Maybe next year.”

A Different Harbor

That’s why I built Local Heroes HomePort — A Path to Staying on the Cape.

It isn’t about gimmicks or shortcuts. It’s about anchoring the people who make the Lower Cape work — and giving them a way to put down roots here.

Instead of chasing bidding wars, I look where most don’t: probate sales and withdrawn listings, tired landlords ready for a quiet handoff, families who’d rather see their home go to someone who serves the community than the highest out-of-town bidder.

It’s slow, deliberate work. But it’s the kind that uncovers doors you didn’t know were there.

Why It Matters

Because when a teacher can actually buy in the town where she teaches, she invests in her students as much as her house.

Because when a firefighter or EMT can stay local, response time isn’t thirty minutes down Route 6 — it’s five streets away.

Because when our nurses, police officers, DPW crews, and town staff can afford to live here, the Cape doesn’t just function — it flourishes.

Let’s Talk Like Neighbors

If this sounds like you — or someone you know — let’s sit down over coffee and talk about what’s actually possible.

If you serve the Lower Cape — in our schools, hospitals, fire stations, police departments, town offices, libraries, or care facilities — this program was built for you.

And if you know someone who does, share this with them.

📞 (774) 209-6032
📧 [email protected]

Show Us Your Cape

Where the Bay Welcomes You Home

There’s a hush at Skaket when the sun leans low — the kind of quiet that makes you forget everything but the moment. You stand there, toes in the damp sand, and it feels like the day is speaking just to you: slow down, breathe, stay a little longer.

The water glows, the sky blushes, and suddenly it’s not just a sunset — it’s a conversation between you and the Cape itself. A reminder that even on the busiest days, peace is still here waiting.

Photo: Sunset at Skaket Beach — shared by neighbors Paul & Rhondalee Deschamps.

Every week, we’re gathering these Cape conversations — the ones that happen in small, ordinary, unforgettable ways. Share yours with us at [email protected] and help us build this gallery of real Cape life, one moment at a time.

Sunset at Skaket. Nothing so peaceful on the Cape. 📸 Paul & Rhondalee Deschamps

🍴 Land Ho! — Orleans’ Pub With a Pulse

You don’t walk into Land Ho! quietly. The door swings wide and suddenly you’re inside Orleans’ beating heart. The air smells like chowder steam and fryer oil, the scrape of chairs mixes with the clink of pint glasses, and laughter rises above it all. The ceiling is jammed with license plates, boat numbers, and hand-painted signs — a museum of Cape Cod life strung up in tin. Servers thread through the crowd, trays stacked with chowder bowls and fried clams, slipping through gaps no wider than a dory at low tide.

It’s warm, noisy, a little cramped — and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.

The Food That Built the Legend

At Land Ho!, you eat Cape Cod the way it was meant to be eaten. A bowl of Ho! Made Clam Chowder arrives hot enough to fog your glasses, thick and briny with clams and potatoes. Platters of fried whole belly clams or oysters land with a crunch, golden and generous, the kind you keep picking at even when you’re full.

The Cape Cod Reuben is part joke, part genius — fried fish, Swiss, tartar, and coleslaw on pumpernickel. One bite and you understand why locals defend it. The lobster roll is a small mountain of lobster on a toasted bun, fries spilling off the plate. And then come the curiosities: a bubbling clam pie, creamy and rich, and a jumbo stuffed clam so oversized it looks like it should come with a tide chart.

If seafood isn’t your night, the blackboard offers steak tips, roast beef with au jus, knockwurst with beans and brown bread, or chicken parm big enough to feed two. None of it fussy, all of it hearty.

The Room, the People, the Rhythm

Land Ho! doesn’t just serve food; it serves belonging. On trivia nights, half the bar shouts answers between sips, cheers erupting when someone nails a question. Off-season, the same fisherman might claim the same stool three nights a week. Families play I Spy with the signs overhead while kids wrestle fries off the plate. A Devil’s Purse Kölsch lands in front of one regular, a frosty bottle of Land Ho! Root Beer in front of a kid two tables over.

The room smells like fried clams and salt air carried in on jackets. A busser stacks plates, weaving through the chatter. Someone laughs too loud. The server balancing a chowder tray grins as she dodges a chair leg jutting into the aisle.

Parking can be a scavenger hunt in summer — locals know the overflow by the bank next door — and waits are almost guaranteed. But waiting for a table at Land Ho! feels less like a chore and more like standing in line for something worth it.

Why It Matters

Every Cape town has a pub. But Land Ho! is something more — Orleans’ living room. Tourists and townies end up shoulder-to-shoulder under that ceiling full of stories, stitched together by chowder steam, fried clams, and the buzz of a room that hasn’t slowed since 1961.

👉 Land Ho!
📍 38 Main Street (Route 6A), Orleans
🌐 land-ho.com | ☎ 508-255-5165
💲 $20–30 per person (seafood at market price)
⏰ Daily 11:30 AM–late (closed Tuesdays)

🌊 Harwich Becomes the Cape’s “What’s Next” Room

September 16–17 • Wychmere Beach Club, Harwich Port

Forget boardrooms in Boston. Next week, some of the most important conversations about Cape Cod’s future will happen right over Wychmere Harbor. Coffee in hand, neighbors and leaders will gather for the OneCape Summit — and while the name sounds buttoned-up, the ripple effects land in your backyard.

🏖 Will Our Ponds Still Be Swimmable?

No one wants another summer of algae closures. OneCape dives into practical fixes to keep our ponds safe and open — so your morning swim or kayak isn’t ruined by “No Swimming” signs.

🏠 Can Our Kids Afford to Live Here?

Housing isn’t an abstract policy — it’s whether your children, parents, or friends can actually call the Cape home year-round. This is where strategies to make that possible get debated.

🌪 What Do We Save from the Storms?

Road washouts, battered beaches, flooded basements — storms already shape Cape life. At OneCape, the big question is: which stretches of coastline do we defend, and where do we adapt?

🎭 How Do We Keep the Cape… the Cape?

From restoring historic buildings to funding arts and culture, it’s about holding on to what makes this place feel like home while still planning for the future.

✨ Why It Matters to You

The decisions that germinate here don’t gather dust — they show up in your town:

  • New pond restoration projects in Orleans.

  • Affordable housing in Brewster.

  • Cultural funding that keeps Harwich and Chatham theaters alive.

⚠️ Spots are full, but you can still grab a chance. OneCape has a waitlist, and if a seat opens you could be in the room where Cape Cod’s future is being shaped.

👉 Peek at the agenda or join the waitlist: onecape.capecodcommission.org

🍒 CranJam 2025: When Harwich Turns Up the Volume

September 13–14 · Harwich Community Center · Free Admission (Donations Keep It Alive)

The Weekend That Belongs to Harwich

Every September, Oak Street does something extraordinary. For two days, the quiet road outside the Harwich Community Center transforms into the Cape’s loudest, happiest living room. Neighbors lug folding chairs, blankets are staked out early, Devil’s Purse cans sweat in the late-summer sun — and then the music begins.

CranJam isn’t just another festival. It’s Harwich claiming its place on the cultural map, a celebration that’s been pulsing for more than forty years. Free for all, powered by donations and local brews, it’s the kind of weekend that makes you remember why live music feels like oxygen.

This year opens with a moment of history: the Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers take the stage for the very first time, their water drum and rattles carrying echoes of the People of the First Light who have lived on this land for over 10,000 years. It’s not performance as spectacle — it’s participation, an invitation to step into rhythm that’s older than the Cape itself.

From there, the tempo climbs. The Drumma Queens bring their all-women percussion storm, a cascade of beats that makes joy feel physical. Then comes Grace Morrison, Cape Cod’s own saltwater troubadour — cranberry farmer, accordion player, and the voice behind a genre she calls Saltwater Country, stitched with twang, grit, and coastal soul. As the afternoon peaks, the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble arrives: brass, costumes, and chaos, like a Mardi Gras parade dropped in the middle of Harwich Center.

By noon, the tent belongs to Entrain — the band most entwined with CranJam’s story. They’ve played here more than anyone else, and for good reason. Their sound is a kaleidoscope: funk, ska, blues, calypso, zydeco, all spinning around the thunder of drums. One moment you’re swaying, the next you’re stomping, and by the finale, you’re moving whether you meant to or not. Their mission says it all: peace, love, fun, and a ton of drums.

Why It Still Matters

CranJam’s magic isn’t just in the set list. It’s in the wooden dance floor that creaks under sneakers and sandals. It’s in kids weaving between craft booths, the smell of food trucks drifting across the lawn, and the hum of neighbors who haven’t seen each other since last year. It’s a festival that belongs to everyone — old traditions meeting new rhythms, stitched together by community.

Harwich doesn’t need fireworks in 2025. The spark is already here — in the laughter, the sweat, the drums, and the roar when the band hits its first note. CranJam is Cape Cod, set to music.

👉 Full schedule + details: Harwich Cranberry Festival

🏡 This Saturday, Orleans’ Quietest House Speaks

If you’ve ever driven Old State Highway in Orleans, you’ve seen it. A weathered compound tucked behind the trees — shingles faded to silver, windows holding back secrets, a place you catch in a glance and wonder about long after you’ve passed.

For generations, it has stood silent. Families came and went. Storms rattled its bones. Summers drifted by. Yet the house kept its stories locked inside, never inviting us closer.

Until now.

This Saturday, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, the doors of 150 Old State Highway will open. For just two hours, you’ll be welcomed into a world usually hidden — guided by Inga Walker and the preservationists at Protect Our Past (POP). Inside, the house doesn’t tell its story with brochures or speeches, but with the things that endure: hand-hewn beams, worn floorboards, walls that have soaked in centuries of life.

This isn’t a real estate open house. It’s something rarer: a walk inside memory. A Cape Cod home that rarely lets anyone in — and may not again for years.

You’ve driven past it a hundred times. This time, stop. Step inside. Let the house speak.

🌊 Celebrate Our Waters — Orleans’ Love Letter to the Blue Around Us

Every town has its heartbeat. In Orleans, it’s water.

The ponds we swam in as kids. The bays that fed us. The marshes that buffer our storms. They’ve always been more than backdrop. They’re memory. They’re survival. They’re joy.

And once a year, Orleans sets aside a weekend to celebrate them out loud.

That’s Celebrate Our Waters — happening September 13–14, 2025 — a festival where you don’t just watch from the sidelines. You sail. You paddle. You walk. You sing.

It’s Orleans at its most honest: a community moving with the tide.

The day begins on Pleasant Bay, sails snapping in the breeze, kayaks gliding past marsh grass and startled herons. Out here, silence is a kind of company — the slap of a paddle, the cry of a gull, the stillness that reminds you why these waters are worth protecting.

By afternoon, the tide of people shifts toward Nauset Beach. First, a cleanup — families combing the sand, kids racing to fill buckets before the ice cream truck pulls up. And then, as the sun lowers, the mood turns celebratory. Music drifts over the dunes as Mike Block’s Biriba Union Band takes the stage. A bonfire crackles to life, neighbors circle close, and the Atlantic throws back the glow.

Care first. Celebration after. That’s the Orleans way.

Sunday greets the early risers. Birders gather at Priscilla Landing, pointing out flashes of wings most of us would miss. A few dunes away, yoga mats unfurl across Nauset’s sand, every breath falling into rhythm with the surf.

Later, kayaks head toward Sipson Island — once private, now open to all thanks to neighbors who believed in both conservation and access. Landing there feels like stepping into a secret: raw, quiet, unpolished Cape.

Others lace up boots for the Pochet Island hike, a demanding trek across marsh and dune where the landscape presses its fingerprints into your muscles.

And at Putnam Farm, you walk through a story of renewal. Wetlands once drained and written off now pulse with life again. Every green shoot is proof that resilience is possible when neighbors decide it’s worth the work.

🌊 Why It Matters

Celebrate Our Waters isn’t about checking off a schedule. It’s about showing what twenty years of care has made possible.

  • Cyanobacteria monitoring: Orleans ponds are safer to swim because volunteers stepped in where no one else was testing.

  • Wastewater advocacy: While policies crawl through Town Hall, OPC has been translating science into plain talk for decades.

  • The H2Orleans pledge: Hundreds of homeowners now think twice before reaching for fertilizer, because stewardship was made simple — and neighborly.

This is the weekend where all of that comes alive. Where “water quality” stops being a phrase and becomes the sail above your head, the paddle in your hands, the breath that matches the surf, the green shoot rising from wetland mud.

✨ The Invitation

So come as you are. With binoculars. With boots. With paddles. With nothing more than a blanket for the bonfire.

This isn’t an event you watch. It’s one you join.

For two days in September, Orleans doesn’t just celebrate its waters. It remembers who it is.

👉 Full schedule & sign-ups: orleanspondcoalition.org

✨ Your Cape Week: Bonfires, Bird Walks & Everything Between

September’s the sweet spot, isn’t it? The air’s a little crisper, the crowds have thinned, and suddenly the Cape feels like it belongs to us again. This week, that magic shows up everywhere — in galleries, on stage, along the shoreline, even around bonfires at Nauset.

One night you’re laughing your way through a jukebox musical, the next morning you’re birding at Red River Beach or setting sail on Pleasant Bay. The kids can get their hands messy with shark science or art projects, while grown-ups dive into dahlias, oysters, and community talks. And when the sun goes down? Movies under the stars, CranJam drums echoing through Harwich, and a bonfire big enough to light the Orleans sky.

This isn’t just a list of events — it’s a whole Cape week waiting to be lived. Let’s make it one to remember.

Thursday, September 11

  • 🎨 American Dreams: Marieluise Hutchinson Solo Exhibition
    10:00 AM–5:30 PM • Tree’s Place, Orleans
    Step into Hutchinson’s evocative New England scenes in this solo showcase of contemporary paintings.

  • 🌿 Fall Bushel Basket Planting Class
    4:00 PM–6:00 PM • Eldredge Lawn, Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham
    Create your own seasonal arrangement with mums, kale, and more. Advance reservation required.

  • 🎭 The Marvelous Wonderettes
    7:00 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company / Harwich Junior Theatre, Harwich
    Laughs and nostalgia flow through this jukebox musical packed with ’50s and ’60s hits.

  • 🎥 76 Days Adrift
    7:00 PM • Chatham Orpheum Theater, Chatham
    The gripping survival tale of Steven Callahan, followed by Q&A with filmmakers.

Friday, September 12

  • 🐦 Red River Beach Birding Walk
    7:30 AM–9:00 AM • Red River Beach, Harwich
    Spot migratory birds with naturalist Peter Trull on this guided shoreline walk.

  • 🌸 The Art and Science of Dahlias
    10:00 AM • Brewster Book Store, Brewster
    Learn the secrets behind growing and arranging dahlias in this hands-on workshop.

  • 🌿 A Forest Bathing Meditation Walk & Writing Retreat
    10:00 AM–1:00 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Unplug with a guided walk blending mindfulness, forest bathing, and creative writing.

  • 🎬 Movie Matinée: Locked
    1:00 PM–2:45 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster
    A suspenseful thriller about a break-in gone wrong. Free, but registration required.

  • 🦈 Family Program: Sharks 101
    1:30 PM–2:30 PM • Shark Center, Chatham
    Hands-on fun for families while learning the basics of white shark biology.

  • 🌼 Fall Bushel Basket Planting Class
    4:00 PM–6:00 PM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham
    Design a seasonal basket with mums, kale, and more. Reservation required.

  • 🎭 The Marvelous Wonderettes
    7:00 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich
    A jukebox comedy packed with ’50s and ’60s hits, live on stage.

  • 💃 Chris Brown Dance Series
    7:00 PM–8:00 PM • The 204 Cultural Arts Building, Harwich
    High-energy choreography in this adult dance workshop inspired by Chris Brown’s style.

Saturday, September 13

  • 🦈 Story Hour at Shark Center Chatham
    9:00 AM–10:00 AM • Shark Center, Chatham
    Shark-themed storytime for kids ages 3–6 with books, songs, and a fun activity.

  • 🦈 Gills Club: Dogfish Shark Dissection
    9:00 AM–10:30 AM • Shark Center, Chatham
    Kids dive into shark science with this hands-on dissection workshop. Free program.

  • 🌿 Strong Island Nature & History Walk
    9:00 AM–12:00 PM • Strong Island, Chatham
    Explore Pleasant Bay’s gem with insights into history, wildlife, and conservation.

  • 🚢 Sail on Pleasant Bay
    9:30 AM–11:00 AM • Pleasant Bay Community Boating, Orleans
    A classic sail on Pleasant Bay as part of Celebrate Our Waters. Pre-registration required.

  • 🎨 Eastwind Gallery Presents Sallie Raymond
    10:00 AM • Orleans, MA
    A showcase of Sallie Raymond’s latest works at Eastwind Gallery.

  • 🎉 Celebrate Dot Day
    10:00 AM–2:30 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Hands-on art activities inspired by The Dot encourage kids and adults to get creative.

  • 🖼️ “The City & The Sand” at Naturescape Gallery
    10:00 AM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Photography and art capturing contrasts of urban and coastal landscapes.

  • 🌊 Eelgrass Restoration Talk
    10:00 AM–11:00 AM • CHO Meetinghouse, Orleans
    Dr. Alissa Novak discusses eelgrass resiliency in Pleasant Bay.

  • 🎶 CranJam: Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers
    11:00 AM–11:45 AM • Harwich Community Center, Harwich
    Traditional Eastern social songs and dances in full regalia with audience participation.

  • 🚢 Sail on Pleasant Bay
    11:30 AM–1:30 PM • Pleasant Bay Community Boating, Orleans
    Enjoy another classic sail as part of Celebrate Our Waters.

  • 🛶 Kayak to Sampson Island
    11:30 AM–1:30 PM • River Rd Launches, Orleans
    Paddle out with guides to explore Sampson Island estuary habitats. BYO kayak.

  • 🥁 CranJam: The Drumma Queens
    12:00 PM–12:45 PM • Harwich Community Center, Harwich
    All-women percussion ensemble blending joyful rhythms, dance, and storytelling.

  • 🛶🌲 Kayak & Hike Namequoit Woods
    12:30 PM–3:30 PM • Arey’s Pond Launch, Orleans
    A guided combo of paddling and hiking through scenic woods and waterways.

  • 🌱 Mini-Meadow on Main: Native Plantings
    1:00 PM–2:00 PM • Mayo House, Chatham
    Tour a thriving native plant meadow and learn pollinator-friendly gardening tips.

  • 🎨 Art Reception: Louise Couillard-Ziperman
    1:00 PM–3:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans
    Meet the artist at her exhibit opening in the Craine Gallery.

  • 🌸 Reception for Fall for Art with ArtSmart Cape Cod
    2:00 PM–4:00 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster
    Celebrate local artists with live painting and mixed-media works.

  • 🌊 Sail on Pleasant Bay
    1:30 PM–3:30 PM • Pleasant Bay Community Boating, Orleans
    Another chance to set sail on scenic Pleasant Bay.

  • 🎨 Addison Art Gallery Reception & Exhibition
    4:00 PM–6:00 PM • Addison Art Gallery, Orleans
    Live painting, music, and art celebrating Orleans’ creative spirit.

  • ♻️ Nauset Beach Clean-Up
    4:30 PM–5:30 PM • Nauset Beach, Orleans
    Volunteer for a shoreline clean-up — ice cream truck included!

  • 🎉 Celebrate Our Waters Block Party
    4:30 PM–Evening • Nauset Beach, Orleans
    Family activities, music, DJ, and bonfire at Orleans’ season-closing beach bash.

  • 🔥 Paul Fulcher Memorial Bonfire
    7:00 PM–8:30 PM • Nauset Beach, Orleans
    A beloved community bonfire honoring Paul Fulcher.

  • 🎬 Locals’ Summer Movie Night: Point Break
    7:00 PM–9:30 PM • Town Cove Tap House, Orleans
    Outdoor screening with fall brews, BBQ, and ice cream. Free, 18+.

  • 🎭 The Marvelous Wonderettes
    7:00 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich
    Nostalgia and laughs in this jukebox-style musical comedy.

Sunday, September 14

  • 🐦 Bird Walk: Shorebirds of Nauset Beach
    8:00 AM–10:00 AM • Priscilla Landing, Nauset Beach, Orleans
    Learn about shorebirds and their habitats on this guided morning walk.

  • 📚 Books & Big Ideas Guided Field Walk
    9:00 AM–10:30 AM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    A family-friendly walk that blends nature with storytelling from local books.

  • 🥾 Hike to Pochet Island
    9:00 AM–1:00 PM • Nauset Beach South Lot, Orleans
    A 5-mile trek across dunes and soft sand to reach the hidden gem of Pochet Island.

  • 🛶 Kayak & Hike Sipson Island
    9:00 AM–12:00 PM • Pleasant Bay, Orleans
    Paddle to Sipson Island and explore its unique habitats on foot. BYO kayak.

  • 🍄 Mushrooming: Beyond the Basics
    11:00 AM–2:00 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Go deeper into mushrooming with Rachel Goclawski — from medicinal fungi to wild foraging.

  • 🚗 Cruisin’ the Cape: Lemon Tree Village
    11:00 AM–2:00 PM • Lemon Tree Village, Brewster
    Classic cars, live radio, and free pizza at this Cape Cod Classics cruise-in.

  • 🥁 CranJam: Entrain
    12:00 PM–1:30 PM • Harwich Community Center, Harwich
    Award-winning band mixing drum-driven rock, blues, calypso, ska, and funk.

  • 🎭 The Marvelous Wonderettes
    2:00 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich
    A jukebox comedy filled with ’50s and ’60s classics and laughs.

  • 🌿 Putnam Farm Wetlands Restoration Tour
    2:00 PM–3:00 PM • Putnam Farm, Orleans
    See how restoration work is protecting Orleans’ wetlands and water quality.

Monday, September 15

  • 🐦 Bird Walk: Morris Island with Phil Kyle
    8:00 AM–10:00 AM • Wikis Way / Monomoy Refuge Parking Lot, Chatham
    Explore Morris Island on a 1–2 mile trek with naturalist Phil Kyle, spotting Cape birdlife.

  • 🎨 Michelle Dunaway: Alla Prima Portrait Workshop
    9:00 AM–4:00 PM • Creative Arts Center, Chatham
    Learn expressive portrait techniques in oils with daily demos and hands-on guidance.

  • 🎨 Eastwind Gallery Presents Laurel Wilson
    10:00 AM–5:00 PM • Eastwind Gallery, Orleans
    View prize-winning watercolors by Laurel Wilson in a special downtown Orleans show.

  • 🎾 Adult Tennis Camp
    10:00 AM–12:00 PM • Chatham Bars Inn Tennis Courts, Chatham
    Intensive training for 4.0+ players with Director Erik Pohls. Includes 10 hours of instruction and extras. 💲

  • 🚲 Bicycle Repair Workshop
    6:00 PM–8:00 PM • Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich
    Hands-on lessons in fixing tires, brakes, and gears — ending with a bike repair donation.

  • 🎱 Monday Night Pool Tournament
    7:00 PM–9:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham
    A weekly favorite — compete or cheer in a fun, casual atmosphere.

Tuesday, September 16

  • 🐦 Bell’s Neck Birding Walk
    8:00 AM–10:00 AM • Bell’s Neck Conservation Area, Harwich
    Naturalist Peter Trull leads a morning walk spotting migratory birds from songbirds to raptors.

  • 🤝 Orleans Merchants Group: End-of-Summer Recap
    8:30 AM–9:30 AM • The Barley Neck, Orleans
    Local business owners gather to reflect on the summer season and connect with neighbors.

  • 🦉 Bird Walk: Strong Island with James Junda
    2:00 PM–5:00 PM • Strong Island, Chatham
    Ornithologist James Junda guides a shoreline and woodland walk exploring Pleasant Bay birdlife. 💲

  • 🕺 Kids Beginner Hip Hop
    4:30 PM–5:30 PM • The 204 Cultural Arts Building, Harwich
    A fun intro to hip hop basics, rhythm, and creativity for young dancers.

  • 💃 Hip Hop Performance Crew
    5:30 PM–6:30 PM • The 204 Cultural Arts Building, Harwich
    Students train for performances, fundraisers, and flash mobs in this high-energy session.

  • ✨ You Might Be an Empath If… with Amy Marino
    5:30 PM–6:30 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster
    Psychic medium Amy Marino explores the gifts and challenges of being an empath.

  • ❓ Trivia Night at The Squire
    7:30 PM–9:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham
    A lively evening of questions, laughs, and bragging rights with friends and neighbors.

  • 🌎 OneCape Summit 2025
    All Day (Sept 16–17) • Wychmere Beach Club, Harwich
    Regional summit on climate, sustainability, and economic opportunity with workshops and networking.

Wednesday, September 17

🎶 This Week’s Soundtrack : September 11–September 17

September’s rhythm is here — and it’s everywhere. Think country storytelling on a library lawn, violin under museum rafters, brewery rock sets, and late-night karaoke at The Squire.

  • Thursday → Choral voices, lawn tunes, pub vibes, and karaoke energy.

  • Friday → Piano in a grand hall, brewery rock, soulful sets, and a midnight dance floor.

  • Saturday → CranJam takes over Harwich, Orleans pops with free concerts, and Nauset Beach turns into a stage at sunset.

  • Sunday → Drums, funk, and a soulful acoustic wind-down.

  • Monday → Cape favorite Sarah Burrill eases us into the week.

It’s not just music — it’s the Cape singing September back to us. Pick your night, bring a friend, and let the week play out.

Thursday, September 11

  • 🎶 Harwich Woman’s Chorus Rehearsal
    4:30 PM • First Church Sanctuary, Harwich
    Weekly choral gathering — open to members and newcomers interested in singing.

  • 🎵 Music on the Lawn: The Lariats
    5:00 PM–6:00 PM • Eldredge Public Library, Chatham
    Country classics and heartfelt storytelling with The Lariats on the library lawn.

  • 🎻 Music at the Atwood: Violinist Ilana Zaks
    6:00 PM • Atwood Museum – Mural Barn, Chatham
    An evening of classical brilliance closes the summer concert series. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

  • 🎶 Derek Dibbern Live
    8:00 PM–10:00 PM • Bayzo’s Pub, Brewster
    Cozy pub vibes with local favorite Derek Dibbern.

  • 🎤 Catie Flynn Solo
    9:00 PM–Late • The Squire, Chatham
    Grab the mic for a spirited night of karaoke and crowd energy.

Friday, September 12

  • 🍺 Darling Live at Hog Island Brewery
    6:00 PM–9:00 PM • Hog Island Beer Co., Orleans
    Rocked-up classics from James Brown to the Stones with local favorite Darling.

  • 🎹 Donny Nolan Piano
    6:00 PM–9:00 PM • The Mansion at Ocean Edge, Brewster
    Cocktails and piano in the Mansion’s Grand Hall — a classy Brewster evening.

  • 🎶 Catie Flynn Live
    8:30 PM–10:30 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans
    Cape Cod’s own Catie Flynn returns with soulful songs and a powerful voice.

  • 🎤 Karaoke Night at Jake’s!
    8:30 PM • Harwich Port, MA
    Bring your best vocals for a fun night of karaoke.

  • 🎵 Lynch Bros. Live
    8:00 PM–10:00 PM • Bayzo’s Pub, Brewster
    Brothers in harmony — catch the Lynch Bros. for an evening of live music.

  • 🎸 Straight Jacket Slumber Party
    10:00 PM–Late • The Squire, Chatham
    High-energy rock meets party anthems, with DJ PJ keeping the dance floor alive.

Saturday, September 13

Sunday, September 14

  • 🥁 CranJam: Entrain
    12:00 PM–1:30 PM • Harwich Community Center, Harwich
    Award-winning band mixing drum-driven rock, blues, calypso, ska, and funk.

  • 🎶 Earth Song: Giocosa Chamber Music
    3:00 PM–5:00 PM • First Congregational Church of Chatham, Chatham
    A multimedia concert featuring Haydn, Ravaei, and Shaw, reflecting on our role as Earth’s caretakers.

  • 🎸 George Spalt Solo
    5:00 PM–8:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham
    Wind down the weekend with acoustic tunes from local favorite George Spalt.

Monday, September 15

  • 🎶 Sarah Burrill Live
    3:00 PM–5:00 PM • Caroline’s Bar & Grill, Orleans
    An afternoon of soulful tunes from Cape favorite Sarah Burrill.

🌀 Cape Mood | Sept 11 – 17

And since no Cape week is complete without checking the sky, here’s the mood the weather is painting for us.

🌤️ Thu, Sept 11 — North Wind Clarity

High/Low: 71° / 60°
Wind: N 10–15 mph
Morning haze lifts into bright, steady skies.
👉 Art walks • quiet beaches • evening wine with that September breeze.

☀️ Fri, Sept 12 — Polished Blue

High/Low: 68° / 51°
Wind: NE 10–15 mph
Sun-drenched, cooler, and sharp.
👉 Brewery patios • flats walk • early sunset glow.

☀️ Sat, Sept 13 — Pure Ease

High/Low: 68° / 57°
Wind: E 5–10 mph
Golden, calm, nothing rushed.
👉 Farmers’ markets • lazy sail • backyard dinner rolling into night.

⛅ Sun, Sept 14 — Soft Drift

High/Low: 71° / 59°
Wind: SSW 5–10 mph
Partly cloudy, warm, with late-day texture.
👉 Street fairs • live music • Sunday drive with windows down.

⛅ Mon, Sept 15 — Cape Between

High/Low: 71° / 58°
Wind: NE 5–10 mph
Mostly fair, holding onto September’s warmth.
👉 Porch hangs • trivia night • chowder as town slows.

☀️ Tue, Sept 16 — Crystal Light

High/Low: 70° / 59°
Wind: E 5–10 mph
Bright and crisp, perfectly balanced.
👉 Rail Trail rides • book on the beach • backyard fire pit.

⛅ Wed, Sept 17 — Steady Rhythm

High/Low: 71° / 59°
Wind: ESE 5–10 mph
A gentle mix of clouds and sun.
👉 Farm dinner • harbor walk • twilight steel drums.

📍 Cape Lowdown

  • 🅿️ Crowds: Gone — roads & beaches breathe easy.

  • 🌸 Nature: Hydrangeas fading, limelights glowing strong.

  • 🌅 Sunset MVPs:

    • Thu → Skaket

    • Sat → Ridgevale

    • Tue → First Encounter

🌊 🌅 Wrapping Up the Week

The Cape’s magic isn’t only in its beaches or bonfires — it’s in the people who keep showing up. The heroes in uniform, the neighbors with folding chairs at CranJam, the families who clean up Nauset before the music starts.

That’s what this week is about: celebrating those who give, those who gather, and those who keep the Cape’s pulse steady.

Thanks for letting me share these stories with you. See you out there — maybe at a bonfire, a pub table, or just in line for chowder.

Until next week,
— Arthur
🏡 Helping Cape folks find the right place
Arthur Radtke
REALTOR®, eXp Realty
MA License# 9582725

P.S. About that trivia…

Yep — it’s Sipson Island.

For centuries, Sipson Island was privately owned — one of the largest family-owned islands in all of Cape Cod. Locals could only look across Pleasant Bay, never step foot.

That changed in 2019, when a group of neighbors and conservation organizations (including the Friends of Pleasant Bay and Mass Audubon) teamed up. They raised millions, bought the island from its longtime owners, and placed it under permanent conservation.

Now it’s not just “open” — it’s a living classroom. Kayakers and hikers can explore marked trails, see restored habitats, and even take guided tours that explain how land once locked away became part of the community again.

Think of it as Orleans’ newest old treasure — hidden in plain sight for 300 years, and finally ours to share. 🌿🛶

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