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  • 🐚 Last Swims, First Crisp Nights | Cape Stories This Week (Aug 28–Sept 3)

🐚 Last Swims, First Crisp Nights | Cape Stories This Week (Aug 28–Sept 3)

Labor Day shifts the Cape’s rhythm — fewer crowds, more neighbors, and stories that remind us why we live here.

Author

Arthur Radtke
August 28, 2025

Together with

🌊 Hey Cape Neighbors — Labor Day Is Here

It’s the weekend of last swims, smoky grills, and sunsets that hint at fall. The crowds thin, the lines fade, and suddenly the Cape feels like it’s ours again.

Inside: the folks who powered our summer, the music and plays lighting up our nights, pickleball mornings that never quit — plus a quick look at September closings and what they’re telling us.

A little slower, a little clearer, but every bit as alive.

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

🔥 Grill Wars: Lower Cape Edition

What’s the most hotly debated end-of-summer grill essential — the one Cape neighbors insist you can’t close the season without?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🍂 The Fall Market Snapshot: What September Closings Say About the Cape

September on the Lower Cape feels different. The Nauset lot isn’t filling at dawn, the line at Sundae School is shorter, and you can finally get a seat at Hot Chocolate Sparrow without a wait. The tourists may have packed up, but the hum of the market hasn’t quieted. If anything, it’s clearer now.

Chat with a neighbor at Snowy Owl or on the pickleball courts at Brooks Park and you’ll hear it: “That cottage by the pond? Gone in a weekend.” “Did you see what that Harwich Port place closed at?” Closings in August and September reveal something important: buyers aren’t waiting for spring, they’re acting on lifestyle right now.

🏠 Five Sales That Tell the Story

1. The New “Starter Home” — Brewster Condo Reality

101 Fletcher Lane K, Brewster | Sold $270,000 | 1 bed, 1 bath, 589 sq. ft. | 50 days on market
This one-bedroom Ocean Edge condo closed at $270,000 after 50 days. Not quick, but still one of the only ways to own under $300K. The message is clear: the affordable “starter cottage by the Bay” isn’t really here anymore. Entry-level buyers are turning to condos with shared pools, tennis courts, and bike trail access.

👉 Neighborly insight: If your cousin from Boston thinks they’ll find a little $250K Cape cottage, point them toward Ocean Edge — that’s the reality now.

2. When Lifestyle Beats Price — Sheep Pond Buyer Frenzy

19 Fishermans Landing Road, Brewster | Listed $799K → Sold $875,000 | 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,568 sq. ft. | 0 days on market
This house near Sheep Pond and the Rail Trail never made it to its first weekend showing. Buyers paid $76K over asking to lock it down. They weren’t buying drywall — they were buying mornings on the pond and afternoons on the bike trail.

👉 Neighborly insight: Pond access and trail proximity are the hottest tickets in town. If you’re near one, you’re sitting on gold.

3. Luxury With a Kayak Launch — Upper Mill Pond

31 Frank D Lawrence Road, Brewster | Sold $1,985,000 | Pondfront, 3,682 sq. ft. | 3 days on market
In Brewster, a contemporary pondfront with sweeping glass walls and a private kayak launch sold in three days for just under $2M — over asking. Buyers didn’t care it was late August. They cared about paddling at sunrise and family holidays with a view.

👉 Neighborly insight: Luxury isn’t seasonal anymore. If you’re thinking of selling waterfront, fall is as strong as spring.

4. Harwich Port’s Timeless Pull

55 Bank Street, Harwich Port | Sold $2,600,000 | 6 bed, 4 bath, 2,443 sq. ft. | 7 days on market
A 1920s Nantucket Sound home in Harwich Port lasted a week on the market and closed at $2.6M — well above asking. The Sound-side lifestyle — walk to the village, stroll to Bank Street Beach — still commands a premium, no matter the calendar.

👉 Neighborly insight: Harwich Port keeps proving what locals already know — village charm + Sound beaches = top dollar year-round.

5. Orleans, Where Two Coasts Meet

33 Beach Road, Orleans | Sold $816,000 | 2 bed, 1 bath, 878 sq. ft. | 47 days on market
In Orleans, a modest two-bedroom on Beach Road sold for just over $800K after a few weeks. Nothing flashy, but its location between Bay sunsets and Nauset surf sealed the deal. Buyers are still paying a premium for Orleans’s unique “two-coast lifestyle.”

👉 Neighborly insight: Orleans remains one of the only places where you can choose calm or surf on the same day — and that versatility is priceless.

✨ The Story Emerging

  • Entry-level buyers are funneled into condos, not cottages.

  • Mid-market buyers will pay over ask for built-in lifestyle.

  • Luxury buyers prove demand is year-round.

  • Orleans & Harwich Port continue to command premiums for their unique mix of coast and community.

📊 Bottom line: The Lower Cape market in September isn’t cooling — it’s clarifying. Buyers aren’t chasing square footage or waiting for spring. They’re chasing the Cape life they want now.

💬 Neighbor to neighbor: If someone asked you what your Cape lifestyle is worth — pond mornings, Bay sunsets, or Sound-side strolls — how would you answer?

🎬 Meet the Woman Fighting for Cape Cod’s Creaky Floors and Crooked Windows

When Inga Walker stepped into a timeworn 1928 cottage in Chatham, she didn’t see peeling paint or old wiring—she saw soul, craftsmanship, and a story waiting to be told. That cottage didn’t just steal her heart. It changed her life.

Today, Inga helps Cape Cod homeowners pause before the bulldozer. She’s part Realtor, part preservationist, and all-in on the belief that you can’t fake charm—or rebuild history once it’s gone.

This fall, she’s teaming up with Preserve Our Past to launch a five-minute film festival, spotlighting the homes that still have something to say—and the people who are listening.

📖 Read the full story
📩 Got one of your own? Send it to: [email protected]

When: Saturday, September 13
Time: 3:00–5:00 PM
Where: 150 Old State Highway, Orleans

Join Inga Walker and Protect Our Past (POP) for an exclusive tour of an incredible historic compound.
A rare chance to step inside Cape history with the resident specialist herself — and maybe pick up a story or two you’ll be telling for years.

👉 Not to be missed!

Show Us Your Cape

The Heart of Cape Life: Family

Some Cape moments are about the tides and the sunsets. Others are about the people who gather here, summer after summer, generation after generation.

This week’s photo captures one of those quiet treasures: Hap, a great-grandfather in Harwich Port, sharing a summer afternoon with little Harrison — the 5th generation to make memories at the family cottage. No filters, no stage lights. Just two Caps, side by side, reminding us what it means to belong here.

Every week, we’ll keep building a neighbor-made gallery of these real Cape moments — the funny, the tender, the wildly human.

Got a photo worth sharing? Send it to [email protected] and help us show the Cape as it really is — one story, one family, one moment at a time.

My dad (Hap) playing with his great-grandson last summer, 2024, at our family cottage in Harwich Port. The Cape is where families gather to make memories, and little Harrison is the 5th generation of our family to come to the Cape, to gather with our family. 📸 Patti Hermes Case

Two Faces of the Cape: Donuts at Dawn, Pasta After Dark

On the Lower Cape, meals mark the day as much as tides. Mornings begin at Hole In One in Orleans, where donuts vanish faster than they can be fried, and nights end at Buca’s Tuscan Roadhouse in Harwich, where a veal chop or a glass of Barolo can stretch an evening into memory. Both are old standbys for locals — the kind of places you recommend with a grin, because everyone already knows.

Locals will tell you: don’t wait until 9 a.m. The fritters will be gone, the line will be out the door, and you’ll be left arguing over whether to settle for a blueberry muffin (still excellent) or a sugar-raised donut (no shame in that). The hand-cut donuts are hefty, cake-like, and unapologetically old-school — no trendy toppings needed. Toasted coconut and Bavarian cream are the secret favorites, though the sour cream donut has a following all its own.

For the savory set, the menu runs deep. Corned Beef Hash & Eggs is practically a rite of passage, crisped just enough on the griddle. The California Benedict leans bright with avocado and tomato, while the Crab Cake Benedict — when it’s on special — might be the best-value seafood breakfast on the Cape. Those who know order the Loaded Home Fries (a mess of peppers, onions, and cheese) or the Potato Pancake Benedict, which eats like two meals in one.

Lunch here feels like an afterthought to outsiders, but locals know better. The Reuben, stacked messy and hot, is worth timing your visit for, as is the tuna melt — an endangered species at Cape diners but alive and well here. And don’t overlook the cold brew: strong enough to make you reconsider a second cup.

It’s not perfect — counter service means cardboard boxes instead of china, and on a July Saturday you’ll wait. But for $10–20, you’ll leave with a full stomach, a paper bag of donuts “for later,” and the comfort of a place that hasn’t forgotten what breakfast should taste like.

If Hole In One is the town square at dawn, Buca’s is the dining room where locals go to mark life’s big nights. Everyone has a favorite dish, and most won’t budge from it. The herb-crusted veal chop has its loyalists, arriving thick, juicy, and plated with just enough finesse to feel special without being fussy. Others swear by the gnocchi with gorgonzola cream, pillowy and rich enough to silence a table.

Seafood rotates with the market: scallops over fresh pappardelle, pistachio-crusted cod, or halibut with blistered tomatoes — always bright, always balanced. And then there are the nightly specials, whispered by servers who seem to know exactly which one will sway you. If wild boar ragù shows up, don’t think twice.

Salads here aren’t filler. The rocket salad with lemon-basil dressing has regulars addicted. The grilled romaine, smoky and dressed with parmesan, is another insiders-only order. And desserts? Locals argue between the raspberry soufflé (timed to the minute) and the chocolate Italian wedding cake — but most admit the only real mistake is skipping dessert altogether.

Ambience is part of the draw: Martin greeting you at the door, servers like Omari or Nina pacing your meal so just when you think you’re ready to linger, the next plate arrives. The six-seat bar is a legend in itself — half wine bar, half confessional — where anniversaries, engagements, and “just one drink” nights have stretched well past closing.

Yes, the parking lot is a squeeze and yes, reservations are essential. But locals know that’s part of the Buca’s ritual. At $50–100 per person, you’re not just paying for food — you’re paying for a night that feels like Harwich turned itself into Tuscany for a couple of hours.

Together

Between them, Hole In One and Buca’s aren’t just restaurants — they’re cornerstones. One runs on jelly-filled donuts, the other on Barolo and veal chops. One is where you run into neighbors in line at 7 a.m., the other where you toast milestones by candlelight. Together, they remind us that on the Lower Cape, food is less about novelty and more about tradition. And tradition — especially here — always tastes better shared.

Everyday Heroes of the Cape

Lobstermen Who Saved Two Teens in the North Inlet

CHATHAM — Dawn, August 20th. The North Inlet was in one of its moods—tide ripping out, swell pushing in, sandbars breaking without warning. For lobstermen Ray Joseph and Judd St. Albins, it was just another morning run out of Stage Harbor.

Trailing behind them: a 17-foot skiff with two local teens.

Then it happened. A rogue breaker caught the smaller boat, flipped it stern over bow. In seconds, the boys were in the water, clinging to their overturned hull as the current dragged them toward rocks.

Joseph didn’t hesitate.
“We’ve got to get them.”

The two lobstermen swung their boat back into the surf—knowing full well it could swamp them too. Timing the waves, they brought their working vessel alongside the capsized skiff. In spray and chaos, they hauled the teenagers aboard—soaked, shaken, but alive. Within minutes, the boys were wrapped in spare oilskins, sitting in silence on deck, breathing hard, but safe.

By the time the harbormaster patrol arrived, the rescue was done. The skiff drifted, battered and useless. The boys lived.

A week later, town officials honored Joseph and St. Albins with the Community Lifesaving Award. Harbormaster Jason Holm praised their “remarkable composure and expert boat-handling under extreme pressure.” Both men shrugged it off.
“We just did what had to be done.”

That’s the Cape way. Heroism here isn’t abstract. It’s a lobsterman turning his boat into a lifeline. It’s neighbors who act first, without fuss, when seconds matter.

Takeaway: Two teenagers will remember the sea’s power forever—and the fishermen who refused to let it take them. Joseph and St. Albins remind us that the Cape’s truest heroes don’t look for recognition. They’re already out there, watching the water.

Behind Every Cone and Quahog: J-1 Students & Seasonal Workers of the Lower Cape

BREWSTER – By late August, the neon lobster at JT’s Seafood still glows after dark, but the lines are shorter now. The tourists who crowded Route 6A a few weeks ago have thinned, and the pace feels almost manageable. Yet behind every soft-serve cone, every cleaned hotel room, and every plated lobster roll, a hidden workforce has been powering the season: J-1 student visa holders from abroad, H-2B seasonal staff, and local teens filling in the gaps.

From Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, where student housekeepers share dorm-style rooms in a converted motel, to Marion’s Pie Shop in Chatham, where South African bakers have become part of the summer ritual, the imprint of these workers is everywhere. They’re the faces you see at Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters at 6 a.m., or at Larry’s PX in Harwich flipping pancakes until noon, or behind the counter at Chatham Penny Candy Store helping a child decide between taffy flavors.

Three Streams of Summer Work

The Lower Cape’s workforce nearly doubles from June through Labor Day. That influx comes in three streams:

  • J-1 Visa Students – College students from places like Jamaica, Ireland, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, working June through September in ice cream shops, hotels, and gift stores. In 2024, their numbers rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with thousands spread across the Cape.

  • H-2B Seasonal Workers – Adults tied to a single employer for jobs locals often won’t fill — housekeeping at resorts like Wequassett in Harwich, banquet service at Wychmere Harbor Club, or landscaping crews keeping Chatham’s inns immaculate. Many return year after year.

  • Local Seasonal Hires – Cape teens, college students home for break, and retirees who take on summer shifts. They guard the beaches at Nauset, sell tickets at Wellfleet Drive-In, or ring up hardware at Snow’s in Orleans. But their numbers no longer come close to covering demand.

Life Beyond the Job

Finding housing is the biggest hurdle. In Harwich Port, it’s not uncommon for six J-1s to share a two-bedroom cottage, sleeping on couches and rotating shifts. Some churches — like Pilgrim Congregational in Harwich Port — run host-family programs, matching visiting students with spare rooms. Others find themselves in employer-arranged housing, with bunk beds stacked in motels-turned-dorms.

Transportation is the next challenge. Along Route 28 in Chatham and Harwich, groups of workers pedal home after night shifts, reflective vests catching headlights. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority’s “Flex” bus helps, but often a missed ride means a long walk or an expensive cab. In response, local councils and police have handed out free bike lights each June — a small but vital gesture.

Despite these hardships, these workers carve out their own community. At Nickerson State Park, Sundays often bring multinational barbecues — Jamaicans grilling jerk chicken beside Irish students singing with a borrowed guitar. Pickup soccer games break out on the fields behind Nauset Regional Middle School. And in Hyannis, a nonprofit hosts an annual J-1 talent night where Irish step dancers and Serbian folk singers share the stage.

Traditions That Stick

Some businesses fold these workers into their culture. Marion’s Pie Shop in Chatham has hosted South African students for more than 15 years — sending them home each September with recipes and stories of blueberry pies. At Wychmere Harbor Club, the kitchen crew has long included Jamaican H-2B cooks who host reggae cookouts on Bank Street Beach after marathon wedding weekends.

By now, many locals expect these familiar rhythms. The Irish students at Chatham Squire, the Bulgarian clerks at Orleans’ Christmas Tree Shop, the Jamaican landscapers trimming hedges at Harwich resorts. Their presence has become as much a part of summer as the traffic on 6A or the fireworks over Rock Harbor.

🌅 Farewell Notes: Where They’re Heading Next

  • J-1 Students – By early September, most are boarding flights back to Dublin, Kingston, Sofia, and Kyiv. They’ll swap their Cape Cod bike rides for university lecture halls, carrying stories of Nauset sunsets and double shifts at JT’s.

  • H-2B Workers – Many head home in late September or October. Jamaicans return to Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Antonio with enough saved to pay school fees or fix a roof. Eastern Europeans often go back to families, with plans already forming to return to Harwich, Chatham, or Orleans next summer.

  • Local Teens – They’re trading aprons for backpacks. Harwich High kids who worked at Snowy Owl are now back in the classroom. Orleans lifeguards who spent the summer at Nauset Beach are suiting up for fall sports.

  • Cape Retirees & Teachers – The seasonal help from Brewster retirees or teachers on break now winds down too — stepping back from cashier lines and ferry docks until next June.

The Thread That Stays: Whether they’re 3,000 miles away or just down the street, every one of them carries a piece of Cape Cod summer. And if you happen to bump into a student on their last week here — at Stop & Shop in Orleans, or grabbing one last cone at JT’s — a smile and “thank you” sends them home with exactly what the Cape is known for: neighborly kindness.

Pop, Shuffle, Laugh: Pickleball, Bridge, and the Joy of Aging on the Lower Cape

HARWICH – The first thing you notice at Brooks Park on a crisp fall morning isn’t the chill in the air — it’s the sound. Pop-pop-pop. That’s pickleball, echoing across all twelve courts. Sneakers squeak, paddles crack, and laughter rises above the chain-link fence. Just after sunrise, retirees are already lining up on the courtside whiteboard, eager for the next game. The tennis nets next door hang slack, waiting for a crowd that never comes.

By 9 a.m., the scene feels more like a block party than a workout. Coffee mugs perch on benches, neighbors call out greetings by first name, and newcomers are welcomed with a cheerful, “You’re up next!” On the Lower Cape, this is the morning rush hour.

The Pulse: A Region That Refuses to Slow Down

Orleans has one of the oldest populations in Massachusetts — nearly half of its residents are over 65 — but you wouldn’t know it watching the courts and community centers. Last year, Orleans’s Council on Aging (COA) served more than 1,100 residents and provided over 4,300 van rides for errands and social events.

Pickleball is the crown jewel. Brewster’s group has grown to more than 300 members, with ages spanning 18 to over 80. Harwich doubled down by building twelve outdoor courts at Brooks Park (eight with lights for evening matches) plus three indoor courts at 204 Sisson Road. Even so, summer mornings bring waitlists. That’s how strong the demand is.

Pro Tip: Bring a sweater in fall — Brooks Park catches the ocean breeze early. Evening play under the lights is quieter, perfect for beginners easing in.

The Web of Activities: Pancakes, Pages, and Playing Cards

Pickleball may grab headlines, but it’s just the start.

  • Chatham’s Center for Active Living hosts bridge and cribbage Fridays, yoga twice a week, and coffee hours where chatter runs long after the pot is empty.

  • Harwich COA draws twenty-plus locals for men’s breakfasts (second Wednesdays) and women’s breakfasts (fourth Wednesdays). Pancakes and sausage are the main attraction, but the real feast is in the conversation.

  • Brewster Ladies’ Library offers the “Bookworm” club on Thursday afternoons — often followed by strolls down Main Street for pastries at Snowy Owl or coffee at Brewster Coffee Shop.

  • Bridge clubs thrive at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Harwich, where Kathy’s Bridge Club and Monomoy Bridge Club host games four days a week. The shuffle of cards, the banter over tricks, and the occasional triumphant “gotcha!” make it feel like both a tournament and a family gathering.

Neighbor Story: One Orleans retiree jokes she’s busier now than when she was working full-time — pickleball Tuesdays, bridge Thursdays, and book club on Fridays. “The hardest part,” she says with a grin, “is remembering where I parked.”

The Lift: Body, Mind, and Spirit

The benefits go beyond fun. Pickleball builds stamina and balance, while Harwich’s Balance Boosters class focuses on stability to prevent falls. Bridge, cribbage, and mahjong keep minds nimble.

And then there’s the social medicine. The Cape VNA recently piloted an eight-week wellness program in Orleans that combined diet, stress management, and social support — underscoring how vital connection is for healthy aging.

Directors across the Cape describe seniors today as “multi-generational,” spanning 60 to 90+. Some train for 5Ks, others quilt or play ukulele. Either way, participation is climbing. Walk into any senior center and you’ll find more buzz than hush.

Did You Know? Harwich now has more pickleball courts than tennis courts — a local shift that mirrors the national boom.

How to Join the Fun

Getting started is easy:

  • Pickleball: Harwich offers free public play after noon; mornings require a $20–$30 seasonal tag. Brewster charges $50 for residents ($70 non-residents) for morning play. Over 80? You play free in Brewster. Nets and balls are provided — bring a paddle (your COA may have loaners).

  • Classes & Clubs: Yoga mats, Mahjong tiles, and cribbage boards are provided. Call ahead to save your spot — they fill quickly.

  • Transportation: Brewster, Harwich, Orleans, and Chatham COAs run van services with ramps, elevators, and hearing-assist devices.

Pro Tip: Don’t splurge on a fancy paddle until you’ve tried a few games. Most locals start with a $25 set — then upgrade once they’re hooked.

Where to Play & Gather

  • Orleans Senior Center (COA) – 150 Rock Harbor Rd, Orleans. 508-255-6333.

  • Harwich Community Center & COA – 100 Oak St, Harwich. 508-430-7550. Brooks Park courts; indoor play at 204 Sisson Rd.

  • Brewster Senior Center (COA) – 1673 Main St, Brewster. 508-896-2737. Brewster Pickleball at Jones Rd courts daily, 7–10 a.m.

  • Chatham Center for Active Living – 193 Stony Hill Rd, Chatham. 508-945-5190.

  • Bridge Clubs (Harwich) – Kathy’s Bridge Club (Wed 1 p.m.) & Monomoy Bridge Club (Mon/Tue/Fri 12:30 p.m.), St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 310 Rt. 137. Call 774-722-0105.

Takeaway: Seniors on the Lower Cape aren’t retiring quietly — they’re rewriting the script. From sunrise volleys at Brooks Park to late-afternoon book clubs and pancake breakfasts, they’re proving that community is the best medicine. Around here, age isn’t a slowing down; it’s a chance to play harder, laugh louder, and show up for each other.

✨ This Week on the Lower Cape: August 28–September 03

Plenty cooking around here, folks. Morning fitness in Harwich if you’re up early, a walk through Brewster’s old burying ground if you like a good story, and art popping up on lawns all over Chatham. Kids can whip up ice cream in a bag, pirates are taking over the library, and by night we’ve got plays, films, and music to keep things lively. It’s one of those weeks where you can’t swing by town without bumping into something fun.

Thursday, August 28

Friday, August 29

  • 🐦 Birding at Dawn: Cold Brook Field Class
    8:00 AM–10:22 AM • Cold Brook Preserve (Harwich Conservation Trust), Harwich
    Spot herons, warblers, and more while learning from local naturalists.

  • 🎨 Take Down: The Art of Milton Teichman
    10:00 AM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster
    Final chance to view Teichman’s thought-provoking works before they’re packed away.

  • 🎨 Labor Day Weekend Fine Art & Craft Show
    10:00 AM–4:00 PM • Drummer Boy Park, Brewster
    Browse handcrafted treasures at this beloved Cape Cod tradition.

  • 🦀 Mudflat Mania!
    10:00 AM–11:30 AM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Get your feet muddy and discover the teeming life of the flats.

  • 🎨 Children’s Craft: Sand Painting
    10:30 AM–11:15 AM • Brooks Free Library (Thornton Meeting Room), Harwich
    Kids create their own sandy masterpieces to take home.

  • 🐚 Ecosystem Explorers at the Shellfish Lab
    11:00 AM–12:00 PM • Town of Harwich Shellfish Lab, Harwich
    Hands-on science fun exploring shellfish and Cape ecology.

  • 🎭 Breaking the Shakespeare Code
    7:00 PM • Academy of Performing Arts, Orleans
    Two actors bare their souls in this intimate, intense drama.

  • 🎭 All Our Best
    7:30 PM • Cape Rep Theatre (Indoor Theater), Brewster
    Cape Rep celebrates the season with their finest performances.

  • 🎬 Moonlight & Magnolias: Comedy Behind the Curtain
    7:30 PM • Chatham Drama Guild, Chatham
    A whip-smart backstage romp about rewriting “Gone With the Wind.”

Saturday, August 30

Sunday, August 31

Monday, September 01

Tuesday, September 02

  • 🐦 Birding at Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands
    8:00 AM–10:00 AM • Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, Harwich
    Join naturalists for a morning walk through one of Harwich’s richest birding habitats.

  • 🧘 Empower Flow: New Class with Jill Abraham
    12:00 PM–1:00 PM • Power Yoga of Cape Cod, Harwich
    Build strength, balance, and focus in this energizing midday yoga session.

  • 🥥 Crazy for Coconuts!
    4:30 PM–5:00 PM • Brewster Public Library (Community Room), Brewster
    A fun, family-friendly workshop celebrating the many uses of coconuts.

Wednesday, September 03

🎶 Cape Cod Music This Week: Aug 28–September 3

If you’re hunting for a soundtrack to close out August, the Cape has you covered. Thursday kicks off with Mr. Gotcha rocking The Squire in Orleans and Palmer Egan keeping things mellow at Bayzo’s in Brewster. From there, it’s a long weekend of guitars, fiddles, jazz, and late-night DJ sets — bands in the parks, trios in the taverns, and dance floors that don’t quit. Whether you’re chasing soul at sunset, Celtic fiddles, or a night that ends at The Squire, there’s music around every corner this week.

Thursday, August 28

  • 🎤 Mr. Gotcha Live
    6:00 PM • The Squire, Orleans
    Classic Cape night out with great music, drinks, and a lively crowd.

  • 🎶 Palmer Egan Live at Bayzo’s Pub
    8:00 PM–11:00 PM • Bayzo’s Pub, Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster
    Unwind with live music in a cozy pub setting.

Friday, August 29

  • 🎸 The Joneses Live
    5:00 PM • Dogfish Taco Co., West Chatham
    Classic rock energy with tacos on the side.

  • 🎶 Jeff Thibodeau Acoustic Set
    5:00 PM–8:00 PM • Wild Goose Tavern, Chatham Wayside Inn, Chatham
    A mellow mix of folk and rock for your early evening.

  • 🍻 Summer Jazz at Devil’s Purse: Sara + the Blue Notes
    6:00 PM (approx.) • Devil’s Purse Brewing Company, Harwich
    Smooth jazz, cold brews, and warm summer vibes.

  • 🎸 Fred Clayton Band
    6:00 PM–9:00 PM • Hog Island Beer Co., Orleans
    Blues and rock that get the whole crowd moving.

  • 🎶 Curly Merzbacher & Rich Hunt Concert
    7:00 PM–8:00 PM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham
    Folk harmonies and heartfelt lyrics in an intimate setting.

  • 🎺 Chatham Band’s Final Summer Concert
    8:00 PM–9:30 PM • Whit Tileston Band Stand, Kate Gould Park, Chatham
    A Cape tradition — don’t miss the joyful finale of 2025.

  • 🎶 The Detours
    8:00 PM • The Lanyard, Harwich Port
    Rock the harbor with this high-energy local band.

  • 🎶 Dune Billy All-Stars
    9:00 PM • Alley Bowling BBQ, Orleans
    Party vibes meet live music at Orleans’ bowling-barbecue hotspot.

  • 🎸 The Richard Keith Band
    9:00 PM–11:00 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans
    Classic rock and Cape Cod energy in a neighborhood favorite.

  • 🎶 Adam Lufkin Trio
    10:00 PM • The Squire, Orleans
    Groove into the night with a mix of funk, soul, and rock.

  • 🎧 DJ Johnny Quest
    10:00 PM • The Squire, Orleans
    Spin, dance, repeat — late-night Squire energy at its peak.

Saturday, August 30

  • 🎶 Benjamin Quinn Live at Perks Beer Garden
    5:00 PM–9:00 PM • Perks Coffee Shop & Beer Garden, Harwich
    Unwind with live acoustic sounds as the sun sets.

  • 🎸 The Placeholders
    6:00 PM–9:00 PM • Hog Island Beer Co., Orleans
    Catch this high-energy band at one of Orleans’ favorite breweries.

  • 🎶 Rose and the Thorns
    8:00 PM–11:00 PM • Jake Rooney’s Restaurant, Orleans
    Danceable rock, blues, and soul from one of Cape Cod’s favorite bands.

  • 🎶 Jordan Renzi Trio
    9:00 PM–11:00 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans
    Smooth vocals and soulful tunes from this Cape-born artist.

  • 🎶 Adam Lufkin Trio
    10:00 PM • The Squire, Orleans
    A late-night mix of funk, soul, and rock to keep the energy going.

  • 🎧 DJ Johnny Quest
    10:00 PM • The Squire, Orleans
    Spin, dance, repeat — Orleans’ nightlife at full throttle.

Sunday, August 31

  • 🎶 Munk Duane Live
    4:00 PM–8:00 PM • Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Harwich
    Soulful piano-driven rock at one of Harwich’s most scenic venues.

  • 🎺 The Brewster Band
    6:00 PM • Drummer Boy Park, 773 Main Street, Brewster
    End your weekend with a community favorite — a full concert in the park.

  • 🎶 Pitchfork Live at Bayzo’s Pub
    8:00 PM–11:00 PM • Bayzo’s Pub, Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster
    High-energy live music in a cozy, lively pub setting.

  • 🎶 Maddi Ryan at The Woodshed
    9:30 PM–1:30 AM • The Woodshed, Brewster
    Cape’s own Maddi Ryan brings country-rock vocals to this late-night favorite.

  • 🎧 DJ PJ
    10:00 PM • The Squire, Orleans
    Close out the weekend dancing into the night at The Squire.

Monday, September 01

Tuesday, September 02

Wednesday, September 03

🌀 Cape Mood | Aug 28 – Sept 3

The Cape doesn’t have weather. It curates a scene, one day at a time.

🌤️ Thu, Aug 28 – Salt-Air Steady
74°/62° • SW breeze, mostly sunny with a few clouds. Porch flags snapping.
🎨 Good light for outdoor exhibits, cool enough to dance into the night.

⛅ Fri, Aug 29 – Cloud Tinker
72°/58° • Sun and clouds, slim chance of a shower. SSE breeze keeps it soft.
🎺 A perfect evening for music in the parks and breweries.

☀️ Sat, Aug 30 – Blue Sky Loyalist
72°/58° • Clear skies, a few puff clouds late. WNW winds keep it easy.
🎉 Sunshine to carry you through fairs, family fun, and late-night sets.

🌞 Sun, Aug 31 – Sun in the North Wind
70°/57° • Crisp, bright, northerly breeze. True late-August clarity.
🎶 An outdoor bandstand night tailor-made for lawn chairs and picnics.

🌤️ Mon, Sept 1 – Labor Day Light
71°/58° • Part sun, part clouds, NE breeze.
🍹 A send-off summer night for beach concerts and trivia indoors.

🌤️ Tue, Sept 2 – September Peeks In
71°/58° • Soft mix of clouds and sun, ENE whispers.
🎻 Gentle skies for lawn shows, fiddle tunes, and the season’s last gatherings.

⛅ Wed, Sept 3 – Atlantic Calm
71°/58° • Easy east wind, passing clouds, golden twilight.
🥁 From farm tables to steel drums, a sky that matches the music.

📍 Cape Lowdown
🅿️ Holiday crowds → beach lots full early. Bike in.
🌸 Hydrangeas: Limelights glow on, Endless Summer fading.
🌅 Sunset MVPs → Fri: Nauset • Sun: Drummer Boy • Wed: Rock Harbor.

🌊 🌅 Wrapping Up the Week

Labor Day may mark the season’s turn, but the Cape never really slows down — it just shifts gears. The fairs get cozier, the music feels sharper in the cool air, and the stories keep coming, whether it’s a neighbor saving lives on the water or a family gathering for their fifth generation at the cottage.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing your Cape with us. If you’ve got a photo, a story, or just a neighborly tip, send it our way — this newsletter works best when it’s built by the people who call this place home.

See you out there,
— Arthur
🏡 Helping Cape folks find the right place
Arthur Radtke
REALTOR®, eXp Realty
MA License# 9582725

P.S. Trivia Answer: D) 🦞 Lobsters steamed in seaweed

Sure, hot dogs and bluefish have their diehards (and we’ll never say no to a Wellfleet oyster fresh off the grill) — but ask around Harwich Port or Orleans and you’ll hear it loud: a true Lower Cape Labor Day feast means lobsters in seaweed, picnic tables covered in newspaper, and butter dishes passed around until the sun sets. That’s how summer says goodbye around here — butter dishes, newspapers on the table, and lobsters in seaweed.

👉 Did we get it right, or does your family swear by 🌭 or 🐟? Hit reply and let us know — this debate is as Cape as it gets.

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