🐚 Three Monomoy dads, one brilliant local fix | Oct 23 - Oct 29

_{Together with}

🚪 Hey Lower Cape — the doors we close, and the ones we leave open

Some weeks arrive like weather — soft, gray, familiar.
You walk through the house and realize you’ve started turning lights on earlier,
not because it’s dark, but because you miss the glow.

That’s October on the Cape.
The air smells of salt and woodsmoke,
and every old door — at home, at heart — seems to ask the same question: what stays, and what’s ready to go?

☕ What’s waiting in this week’s scroll:
A few pages from home, stitched with the rhythm of fall.

• 🚪 A house full of memory — and the question of what it means to finally let go.

• 🥩 Dinner at The Chatham Cut, where the season slows and locals reclaim their seats.

• 🍂 Walks through Bells Neck and Punkhorn — the Cape’s quiet gold.

• 🧰 Three Monomoy dads who built their own fix when garages gave up.

• 🏡 Orleans deciding how to grow without losing itself.

• ✨ The COA hum — coffee, cards, and community.

• 🎶 Nights that sound like jazz and smell like rain.

• 🌀 A Cape Mood that shifts, like us — gray to gold, then back again.

Some weeks, you don’t need big news.
Just a little truth, a good meal,
and the sound of the wind slipping through the marsh,
asking quietly: what door will you open next?

— Arthur ☕
Your neighbor who still believes every house on the Cape has something left to teach us

🚪 The Doors We Close — and the Ones We Leave Open

A Cape Cod story about family, attachment, and the courage to rewrite what “home” means

Some houses don’t need to be sold to break your heart.
Sometimes they just sit there — too full, too quiet — until the air itself feels heavy with everything left unsaid.

That’s when the debate begins.
Not at the kitchen table, but somewhere quieter — inside your chest.

🪞 The Unspoken Question

It isn’t “Should I sell?”
It’s the harder one:
If I let go of this house, do I lose the version of myself that built it?

For some, it’s the Cape childhood home where the porch light still flickers like 1979.
For others, it’s the summer cottage that quietly became the home.

Brothers argue over what Dad would’ve wanted.
Mothers linger in hallways, fingers resting on doorknobs like hands they’re not ready to release.
Someone quietly Googles property taxes while insisting it’s “just to get organized.”

But it’s never about the taxes.

🌬 When Home Becomes a Mirror

Every Cape family has that one house that holds everyone together — and keeps them from moving on.

You think you’re holding on for love.
Maybe it’s guilt.
Maybe control.
Maybe the illusion that if the house stays the same, nothing else will change.

The truth is, houses age just like people do —
one soft stair, one faded frame, one roof patch at a time —
until they start whispering, what happens next?

💭 What We Don’t Say Out Loud

Across Brewster, Harwich, and Chatham, the same story repeats:

Dad’s 88 and won’t leave.
My sister won’t talk about it.
We promised Mom we’d keep it, but none of us can afford it.

Those aren’t real-estate problems.
They’re grief rehearsals.

We say “the market’s not right,” but what we really mean is:
I don’t know how to let go without betraying my own story.

🧭 The Door We Leave Open

Wisdom isn’t a for-sale sign.
It’s honesty.

This house gave me everything it could. Now it’s time to find the next way to belong.

That might mean staying and reinventing — or finally fixing the roof because you want to, not because you must.
It might mean sharing the place for new memories instead of guarding the old.

Leaving a door open doesn’t mean walking out.
It means refusing to live trapped in yesterday.

☕ A Cape Morning Truth

You’ll hear it at Snowy Owl or Bonatt’s, said softly between sips:
I love my house… but it’s too much for me now.

And maybe that’s not weakness.
Maybe it’s wisdom — the kind that listens to the house, thanks it, and finally answers back.

Because the hardest door to close isn’t the front one.
It’s the one between who we were and who we’re becoming.

💬Thinking about your family’s next chapter?

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the paperwork — it’s the conversation.

Across the Cape, families are quietly facing the same questions — how to honor the past, care for one another, and still move toward what’s next.
And when that conversation begins, it helps to have someone nearby who understands both the homes and the hearts they hold.

Arthur Radtke · eXp Realty · [email protected] · 774-209-6032

🥩 The Chatham Cut — Where Chatham Goes Quiet

By the time the last tourists have left Main Street and the gulls have settled somewhere over Oyster Pond, Chatham feels like itself again — unhurried, a little untucked, breathing easy.
That’s when The Chatham Cut starts to glow.

Behind its black-painted façade, the restaurant doesn’t shout for attention. It glows from within — amber light spilling across the bar, the scent of seared ribeye drifting out the door like a whisper. Inside, it’s all dark wood, linen napkins folded with intent, and the low hum of locals reclaiming their town for the season.

🍽 The Food That Feels Like Home

The Cut doesn’t lean on novelty. Its confidence comes from doing the simple things perfectly — the kind of plates that don’t need a flourish because they taste like they’ve been cooked by someone who actually lives here.

The ribeye arrives with a caramelized crust that crackles slightly under the knife, a center blushing pink, and just enough horseradish to make your eyes water in the best way. The filet is a smaller triumph — truffle butter melting faster than the conversation you’re meant to be having.

The prime rib is old-school on purpose: thick, slow-roasted, generous, served beside spinach and mashed potatoes that feel like winter comfort done with grace.

And then there’s the seafood, a quiet nod to where we are — this is still Chatham, after all. The swordfish comes perfectly seared, no fancy garnish, just lemon and restraint. The crab cake tastes like the docks — firm, bright, all meat, no filler. It’s the kind of food that could only make sense on a peninsula that survives by salt and patience.

🍸 The Bar That Knows Its People

The bar glows in amber — polished bottles, hands steady, no rush.
The Banana Bread Old Fashioned has become something of a local secret: Penelope bourbon, black walnut bitters, a trace of sweetness that feels like the Cape in November — rich, familiar, and just a little indulgent.

Ask for something light, and they’ll pour you the South Shore Spritz, a bright mix of prosecco, basil, and lemon that somehow tastes like late August on the deck of a fishing boat.

Bartenders here don’t perform; they remember. They’ll nod when you walk in, know your pour before you ask, and know when to leave the check alone for one more conversation.

❤️ The People Who Fill the Room

By seven, the dining room has that Cape mix you can’t fake —
a retired teacher catching up with her neighbor, a builder in a clean sweatshirt unwinding at the bar, a couple celebrating 25 years quietly, not because it’s fancy, but because it’s theirs.

The staff moves like they’ve worked together long enough to finish each other’s steps. There’s no “How is everything tonight?” script. Just a kind of attentive calm that locals recognize as real hospitality — the kind that doesn’t need to be branded or explained.

By nine, the music softens, and dessert lands — key lime tart, bourbon bread pudding, maybe a dark chocolate mousse that turns out to be lighter than expected.
Nobody rushes you out. The check arrives when it should, not a minute sooner.

Outside, Main Street is mostly asleep. The streetlights flicker against the rain-wet pavement, and from the kitchen door, you catch a breath of rosemary and salt air.

That’s The Chatham Cut in its truest form — not a special-occasion restaurant, not a scene, but a place that has earned its way into the town’s rhythm.
A steakhouse that finally feels like it belongs here, on this stretch of Cape where the sea keeps its own quiet watch.

🍂 The Ground Beneath Us — October Walks for Locals Who Know Where to Look

Late October has its own rhythm here on the Lower Cape.
The mornings start sharp, the afternoons stretch gold, and the air smells faintly of pine needles and the bay. The crowds are gone, but the place isn’t empty — it’s just ours again.

This is when the trails mean the most. When every step feels like a quiet thank-you for still being here.

🪶 Bells Neck Conservation Lands — Harwich’s Tidal Heart

📍 Access from Great Western Rd or Bells Neck Rd, Harwich

If you’ve lived in Harwich long enough, you know Bells Neck isn’t just another conservation area — it’s a mood. The two reservoirs (Upper and Lower) straddle the Herring River, and right now the marsh is turning deep gold.

Walk the causeway from Great Western Road in the morning. The ospreys are gone for the season, but black ducks, buffleheads, and the first hooded mergansers have started arriving. The tide rushes through the sluiceway, fast and loud, carrying that briny smell you can’t mistake for anywhere else.

By late afternoon, the light drops low across the water, and the stillness makes you realize: this is what home sounds like when no one’s watching.

🌲 Punkhorn Parklands — The Woods That Raised Brewster

📍 Trailhead: Run Hill Rd, Brewster

Punkhorn isn’t for directions — it’s for getting a little lost on purpose. The 866-acre parkland stretches behind Run Hill Road, a patchwork of ponds, pine, and pitch-scented trails.

Start from the Run Hill Road trailhead and head toward Eagle Pond. The cranberry bogs nearby are still flooded from this month’s harvest — red carpets glowing under the afternoon sun.

By dusk, great horned owls start calling again, their echo rolling through the kettle hollows. It’s an old sound that never gets old.

You leave here calmer, grounded — reminded that Brewster has always been a place that guards its quiet well.

🌾 Eddy Bay Trail — Where Salt Meets Memory (Brewster)

📍 Trailhead: Lower Rd, Brewster

A small sign off Lower Road marks one of Brewster’s shortest and most overlooked walks. The Eddy Bay Trail slips between oaks and opens suddenly to a salt marsh that feels endless at low tide.

By late October, the spartina turns copper, and if you catch it around 3 p.m., the light off the flats looks like melted bronze. The only sounds are wind and the soft rustle of marsh grass.

Locals come here when they need a reset — not a workout. It’s a walk that asks nothing of you but attention.

🌿 Frost Fish Creek — Chatham’s Hidden Bend

📍 Trailhead: Old Queen Anne Rd, Chatham

You won’t find this one in travel guides.
The Frost Fish Creek Conservation Area, tucked off Old Queen Anne Road, is a short, flat loop overlooking a protected tidal estuary. The boardwalks are sturdy, the air still smells of salt, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot the resident great blue heron that neighbors have nicknamed “Old George.”

The Chatham Conservation Foundation maintains this spot quietly and beautifully. Walk mid-morning, when the dew lifts and the sunlight spills over the cattails — it’s pure serenity.

This isn’t a hike; it’s a deep breath.

🌅 What October Leaves Behind

Every one of these places — Bells Neck, Punkhorn, Eddy Bay, Frost Fish — tells the same story: that living here means living with the land, not on it.

We walk these trails not to explore but to remember — that someone protected this before us, that we belong to a place still generous enough to let us in.

So before November winds roll through, take one more walk.
Let the marshes whisper, the ponds mirror the sky, and the pines remind you: the Cape holds its own kind of memory — and we’re lucky enough to walk inside it.

💬 Neighbor’s Note:
Got a favorite fall path or a quiet corner of your own? Share it with us at — we’ll feature a few in next week’s edition.

When the Garage Isn’t Enough — Three Local Dads Fix a Problem Most of Us Didn’t Know We Had

Ask anyone on the Lower Cape where they stash their extra tools, kayaks, or half-finished projects — and you’ll usually get a sheepish grin.
Garages are full. Basements are damp. And those old sheds? They’ve seen better days.

That’s the gap three Monomoy dads — Stephan McMahon, Bill Gibson, and David Burnie Jr. — decided to fix when they built Monomoy Self Storage in North Chatham.

They weren’t trying to start a business empire. They were just tired of Cape-style “creative storage” — the ladders behind the deck, the paint cans under the stairs, the power tools in the living room.

“Each of our oldest kids were Monomoy classmates since kindergarten, so it was cool getting to know families at different stages of their lives,” Burnie said. “It was so neat then all coming together professionally. We all have various skill sets we bring to this project.”

🧰 Built by Neighbors, for Neighbors

This wasn’t a big-developer project. It started with school pick-ups and weekend chats — three Monomoy parents swapping stories about work, space, and the never-ending Cape clutter.
McMahon’s a CPA, Gibson works in the trades, and Burnie builds homes. Together, they created a ground-level, fully climate-controlled storage facility with 24/7 security, app-based locks, and backup power for when storms roll through.

“There’s two lock methods, either on the app or a manual keypad, which will give you entry if your phone is dead,” Burnie said. “The code is so simple. If you can use the garage door opener at your house, you can definitely use these locks.”

And because they live here, they built it for how we live here — no stairs, no elevators, no gimmicks. Just a safe, dry place to keep your stuff without driving to Hyannis.

🌊 More Than Storage — It’s Breathing Room

The truth is, this is about more than just boxes.
For local contractors, small businesses, and even teachers running side hustles out of their homes, space is part of survival.

Between tight zoning, small lots, and humidity that seems to have its own zip code, the Lower Cape has always been short on practical storage.
Now, there’s finally a fix — and it’s local.

“Given where we live and the weather patterns with the humidity and moisture, having the high-end HVAC system and air exchangers really gives people peace of mind that their stuff is safe,” Burnie said. “We also have a back up generator so if we ever lose power, it instantly turns on.”

And for McMahon, it’s been a family lesson too.

“All of our families get involved,” he said. “It was fun to teach the kids a little bit about entrepreneurial spirit and all of the hard work that goes into owning a business, like finance and customer relations.”

It’s catching on — not just because of the tech (though the app locks are slick), but because it feels like a Lower Cape solution: thoughtful, reliable, and born from the same problem most of us have.

❤️ Why This Story Hits Home

What started as three dads with full garages turned into something bigger — a model of how local people quietly fix local problems.
It’s what keeps the Cape working: neighbors who see a need and decide, well, we’ll just do it ourselves.

📍 Monomoy Self Storage
149 Enterprise Dr., North Chatham
Open daily, 6 a.m.–10 p.m. | 508-403-6069 | monomoyselfstorage.com

🏡 Orleans at the Tipping Point — Building Homes, Saving Land

Two different conversations are taking shape in Orleans this fall — one about how we live, the other about what we leave untouched.
Both come down to the same Cape question: How do we keep our small-town feel while making room for the people who keep it running?

🏠 Downtown Could Get Busier — But Will It Feel Like Orleans?

A new Downtown Housing Overlay District could reshape how Main Street looks and who can live there.
Planners say Orleans needs more year-round residents downtown to keep businesses open beyond summer. The proposal makes it easier for smaller developers to build apartments above shops or on empty lots — but with limits. Think peaked roofs, small footprints, and capped heights to keep the village scale intact.

“You need more people living in your village center for the business environment to be better,” said Planning Director George Meservey.

The plan also tries to lock in year-round housing, not just seasonal rentals, through deed restrictions. Still, some residents question whether private developers will deliver truly affordable homes or simply prettier price tags.
That debate continues as voters head toward a Nov. 17 Special Town Meeting — where this proposal will likely take center stage.

🌿 So Much Protected Land — And Yet, So Much Still at Risk

On the other side of town, conservation leaders are asking the opposite question: How much open space is enough?

More than 3,600 acres — roughly one-third of Orleans — is already protected, from wetlands to woodlands to the long stretches of beach that define the town. Yet the Orleans Conservation Trust and town planners say there’s more to do — and less time to do it.

The new Open Space & Recreation Plan sets a fresh goal: every resident within a 10-minute walk of nature. That means connecting smaller parcels to fill the gaps between existing trails and preserved areas.

“At any given time, we’re talking with landowners who want to protect their property,” said Stephen O’Grady, executive director of the Trust. “It’s personal — these parcels often go back generations.”

The Trust has added 73 acres across 15 projects in just seven years, backed by $4.8 million in state grants. The next challenge: keeping that momentum while development pressure keeps rising.

🤝 The Real Question: Can Orleans Grow Without Losing Its Ground?

What’s unfolding in Orleans isn’t a policy fight — it’s a community test.
The same town trying to spark new housing downtown is also fighting to protect what’s left of its wild corners.

Residents are starting to connect the dots:

• Maybe denser downtown housing helps protect outer woodlands.

• Maybe smarter zoning keeps future traffic and wastewater manageable.

• And maybe both conversations — housing and conservation — are really about the same thing: keeping Orleans livable for the long haul.

It’s a debate that won’t end with one Town Meeting vote, but it’s exactly the kind of local conversation that defines the Lower Cape — thoughtful, opinionated, and deeply rooted in place.

✨ The COA Buzz: Autumn Routines & Gentle Rhythms

Across the Lower Cape this week, the days hum with a familiar cadence — yoga mats unroll, cards shuffle, kettles whistle in kitchen corners.

From Chatham to Brewster, the Councils on Aging keep time with the quieter beat of Cape life — where friendship, movement, and small kindnesses fill the calendar as surely as the tide fills the bay.

🌸 Chatham COA — Heartbeats, Balance & Belonging

📍 193 Stony Hill Rd | 📞 (508) 945-5190 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–4 PM

At the Chatham COA, the week flows like an easy stretch — measured, mindful, and warm.

Thursday (Oct 23) opens early with the Blood Pressure Clinic (9–10 AM) and SHINE Open Enrollment (9 AM–3 PM @ SHINE Office) for those sorting through Medicare options.

Ryders Cove Respite (9:30 AM–2:30 PM @ RCR FLASH) offers caregivers a pause while familiar favorites — Strong at Heart (10:45–11:45 AM) and Indoor Walking Group (12–1:30 PM @ Community Center Gym) — keep hearts steady and steps in sync.

The afternoon hums with Busy Fingers (1–3 PM) and Chair Yoga (1–2 PM @ Community Center) — proof that strength can look like calm.

Friday (Oct 24) keeps the pace with Bridge, Cribbage, and a My Chart Info Session (1–3 PM) alongside ongoing SHINE appointments (9 AM–3 PM).

Monday (Oct 27) brings Reiki Healing Sessions (11 AM–1 PM) and Grocery & RX Delivery (10 AM–12 PM) — small helps that keep independence within reach.

By Tuesday (Oct 28), it’s Full Body Fitness (12–1 PM) and Rumikub (1–3 PM), while Wednesday (Oct 29) wraps the week with Wellness Warriors (10–11:30 AM @ Community Center), Sound Meditation (11 AM–12 PM), and Cribbage (1–3 PM).

🌊 Orleans COA — Grace, Grit & Good Company

📍 150 Rock Harbor Rd | 📞 (508) 255-6333 | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4 PM

In Orleans, wellness meets creativity in all its forms.

Serene Yoga (Tues 9:45 AM) sets the tone — long exhales and easy shoulders — followed by Sit Fit Yoga (11 AM) and midweek Qigong (Wed 9:45 AM) for that steady-as-the-tide calm.

The EngAGE Academy (Wed 1:30 PM) keeps minds curious, while NIA Fitness (Fri 9:45 AM) turns movement into joy — equal parts dance, martial art, and mindfulness.

Art Afternoon (Fri 1:30 PM) paints the perfect coda.

This week’s highlight: Ladies Lunch & Fall Origami Crafts (Wed Oct 22, 12:15 PM) — Creamy Tuscan Chicken, pumpkin-pie crisp, and laughter folded into every crane.

🪘 Brewster COA — The Beat of Friendship

📍 1673 Main St | 📞 (508) 896-2737 | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4 PM

Brewster’s COA moves to its own bright rhythm — half laughter, half routine, all heart.

Qi Gong (Tue 9 AM) continues under the guidance of longtime volunteer Ray DePietro, blending deep breathing, mindful motion, and easy smiles.

Walking Club (Thu 9 AM) keeps stride alongside Intermediate Tai Chi (9 AM) and Advanced Tai Chi (10:15 AM), followed by Meditation (10 AM) and Senior Dining (11:30 AM) — meals that nourish body and belonging alike.

Afternoons bring Bingo (12:15 PM) and Chair Yoga (2:30 PM), while Fridays call for Mah Jongg (1 PM) and Drumming for Fun & Wellness (1 PM @ Sea Camps Art Center) — pure joy disguised as rhythm therapy.

The week also offers gentle learning: Memory Screening by TLC Home Care (Mon 11:30 AM) and a language lift with Practice Your French (Wed 2:30 PM @ Brewster Ladies’ Library).

🍂 Harwich COA — Connection, Calm & Kind Conversation

📍 100 Oak St | 📞 (508) 430-7550 | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4 PM

Harwich fills its rooms with purpose and play.

Mindfulness Workshop (Thu Oct 23, 10–11:30 AM) invites residents to slow down, breathe, and find quiet even in the rush of daily care.

Next week brings Beyond the Book (Tue Oct 28, 1–2:30 PM) — a lively author talk with local writers Candace Hammond and Susan Blood.

Daily programs return in steady rhythm: Caregiver Connections (Mon 10–11 AM), Dementia Caregiver Support Group (Wed 2–3:30 PM), and the ever-popular Craft Workshop (Fri Oct 24, 1:30–3 PM) — this time featuring fall-themed garden-stake art.

Harwich proves again that friendship and laughter are as restorative as any medicine.

🌾 Cape Note

The COAs are more than gathering spots — they’re doorways into connection, learning, and laughter.

If you’ve been meaning to stop by, this is your sign.

Drop in for coffee, try a class, or join a game.

You’ll walk out lighter — and maybe with a new friend.

Because here on the Cape, community isn’t a program; it’s a habit of care.

✨ Thursday, October 23 – Stretch, Stroll & Soak in the Cape Vibes

• 🧘 Sunrise Stretch by the Sea at Chatham Bars Inn
  8:00 AM – 9:00 AM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free (for guests)

• 🌲 Morning QiGong Among the Harwich Pines
  10:00 AM – 11:00 AM • Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich • 💲18

• 🎭 O’Neill in Orleans — “Long Day’s Journey” Reimagined
  10:30 AM – 12:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free / Registration Required

• ⚾ Cape’s Wildest Sports Scandals — Ainsworth Spills All
  10:30 AM – 12:00 PM • Eldredge Public Library, Chatham • Donation ($10 suggested)

• 🦉 Snowy Owls Touch Down in Brewster!
  1:00 PM – 2:00 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster • 💲12

• 🤖 AI for Everyone — Smart Tools at Snow Library
  1:30 PM – 3:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free / Registration Required

• 💬 Government 101 — Disability Resources You Didn’t Know About
  2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • Brooks Free Library (Thornton Room), Harwich • Free

• 🌿 Stroll Kent’s Point & Spot the Bay’s Wild Crew
  2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • Orleans Conservation Trust, Orleans • Free

• 🧘 Brewster Library Yoga — Mid-Afternoon Calm
  3:30 PM – 4:30 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 🧒 Build It Big! Kids’ Engineering Showdown in Harwich
  3:30 PM – 4:30 PM • Brooks Free Library, Harwich • Free

• 📖 Storms, Shores & Survival — Brewster’s “High House” Book Chat
  5:30 PM – 6:30 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 💛 Dinner & Dialogues — Raising Healthy Cape Families
  5:30 PM – 7:30 PM • Brewster Baptist Church, Brewster • Free

• 🏡 How Orleans Grows — The New Town Plan Unveiled
  5:15 PM – 7:00 PM • Lower Cape TV, Orleans • Free

• 🎨 Sip, Paint & Pumpkin-Play at Wild Water Collective (21+)
  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Wild Water Collective, Orleans • 💲15

• 🎯 Pub Smarts in Orleans — Trivia at Jake Rooney’s
  6:30 PM – 8:30 PM • Jake Rooney’s, Orleans • Free / Teams Welcome

• 🎭 A Haunting Night at The 204: “Ghost Story” Takes the Stage
  7:00 PM • The 204, Harwich • 💲

• 🎭 Cape Cod’s Whodunit Returns — “CLUE” in Harwich
  7:00 PM – 8:20 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich • From 💲21

• 🪷 Evening Meditation by the Sea at Chatham Bars Inn
  5:30 PM – 6:30 PM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free (for guests)

✨ Friday, October 24 – Bright Starts, Creative Hands & Cape Nights in Full Swing

• 🏖️ Total Body Wake-Up by the Sea at Chatham Bars Inn
  8:00 AM – 9:00 AM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free (for guests)

• 🪶 Book Circle & Meditation: Finding Calm on Cape Time (Virtual)
  8:30 AM – 9:45 AM • Center for the Spiritual Journey (Zoom), Chatham • 💲45

• 🎨 Pastels & Waves: Full-Day Art Immersion in Chatham
  9:00 AM – 3:00 PM • Creative Arts Center, Chatham • Sold Out

• 🎨 Little Artists Take Over: Imagination Art Station
  9:30 AM – 10:30 AM • The Cordial Eye Gallery, Orleans • Free

• 👶 Toddler Town — Brewster’s Friday Morning Playdate
  9:30 AM – 10:30 AM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 🎭 Wee Read: Puppet Playgroup with Mary Wilson
  10:15 AM – 11:15 AM • Eldredge Public Library, Chatham • Free

• 🀄 Mah Jongg Friday Drop-In — Tiles & Tales in Brewster
  10:30 AM – 12:30 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🪡 Sew, Chat & Reuse: Brewster’s Boomerang Bags Bee
  1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 🎬 Matinee Magic: “Superman” Flies Again in Brewster
  1:00 PM – 3:15 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 📜 Revolution on the Cape — Dr. Martin’s History Hour
  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Brooks Free Library, Harwich • Free

• 🌿 Greenhouse Dinner: Farm-to-Fork Feast Under the Lights
  5:30 PM – 9:30 PM • The Farm at Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • 💲225 per person (incl. tax & gratuity)

• 🎭 A Haunting Night Returns: “Ghost Story” at The 204
  7:00 PM • The 204, Harwich • 💲

• 🎭 Cape Cod’s Whodunit: “CLUE” Cracks Up Harwich
  7:00 PM – 8:20 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich • From 💲21

• 🧘 Athlete’s Edge Yoga — Orleans Tweens Find Their Flow
  7:15 PM – 8:30 PM • Orleans Yoga, Orleans • 💲30 per session / 💲100 full series

• 🎤 Wabash Avenue After Dark — Ragtime Premier in Chatham
  8:00 PM • Chatham Drama Guild, Chatham • 💲20

• 🌊 The Generous Exchange Wellness Retreat (Oct 24–26)
  All Weekend • Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, Brewster • From 💲885

✨ Saturday, October 25 – Cape Cleanups, Pumpkin Parties & Music After Dark

• 🧘 Gentle Flow by the Sea — Morning Yoga at CBI
  8:00 AM – 9:00 AM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free (for guests)

• 🧘 Kripalu Yoga with Michele — Find Your Center in Chatham
  9:00 AM – 10:00 AM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham • 💲20 in person / 💲10 online

• 🐟 Spooktacular Story Time at the Shark Center
  9:00 AM – 10:00 AM • Shark Center Chatham, Chatham • Free

• 🌊 Eco Tour of Hinckleys Pond — Headwaters Come Alive
  9:00 AM – 10:00 AM • Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Preserve, Harwich • Free

• 🧹 Harwich COASTSWEEP — Shoreline Cleanup & Costume Fun
  9:00 AM – 11:00 AM • Harwich Community Center, Harwich • Free

• 🎃 Creatures of the Night Halloween Celebration
  9:30 AM – 12:00 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster • 💲10

• 🚗 Trunk or Treat — Brewster’s Candy-Packed Morning
  10:00 AM – 11:30 AM • Northside UMC & Brewster Baptist, Brewster • Free

• 🎞️ A Savage Art — The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant
  10:00 AM • Chatham Orpheum Theater, Chatham • 💲

• 🧘 Pilates with Sabrina — Strength & Stretch in Chatham
  10:30 AM – 11:30 AM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham • 💲20

• 🎨 Messy Art for Kids — Chatham Gets Creative
  11:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Eldredge Public Library, Chatham • Free

• 🎨 Adults & Crafts — Saturday Maker Hour in Brewster
  11:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🌽 The Big Toss — Harwich Cornhole Showdown for a Cause
  12:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Monomoy High School Athletic Turf Field, Harwich • 💲50 per person / 💲100 per team

• 🎃 Pumpkin Decorating Party — Brewster’s Spooky Little Hour
  1:00 PM – 1:45 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🪶 Toe Jam Puppet Band Halloween Show
  1:00 PM – 1:45 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free

• 🧵 Fix-It Clinic — Repair, Don’t Replace in Brewster
  1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 🃏 Pokémon & Magic — Card Battle Afternoon in Brewster
  1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 🦆 Heritage at the CHO — Bird Carving & Decoy Traditions
  1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Orleans Historical Society Meetinghouse, Orleans • 💲5

• 🚤 Chatham Lighthouse Tour with Captain John
  2:00 PM • Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Harwich • 💲55

• 💃 Capoeira for Kids — Rhythm & Motion in Chatham
  4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham • 💲15 per child / 💲30 family

• 🎃 Family Halloween Stroll & Backyard Market Bash
  4:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Sunset Leisure Gift Shop, Orleans • Donation

• 🕯️ Lantern Tours — Harwich Union Cemetery After Dark
  5:00 PM • 5:30 PM • 6:00 PM • East Harwich Union Cemetery, Harwich • 💲10 donation / Reservation required

• 🎭 A Haunting Night — “Ghost Story” at The 204
  7:00 PM • The 204, Harwich • 💲

• 😂 SpOoOoOoOoky! Improv Show — Laughs & Frights Collide
  7:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich • 💲10

• 🎭 Love Letters — A Tender Comedy at Chatham’s First Church
  7:00 PM – 9:00 PM • First Congregational Church, Chatham • 💲25

• 📚 The Generous Exchange Book Talk with Dr. Maria Sirois
  7:00 PM – 8:30 PM • Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, Brewster • 💲45+

• 🎷 Wabash Avenue After Dark — Ragtime Jazz in Chatham
  8:00 PM • Chatham Drama Guild, Chatham • 💲20

• 🎃 Kids’ Day at the CBI Farm Stand — Pumpkins & Play
  9:00 AM – 5:00 PM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free entry (pay for pumpkins)

✨ Sunday, October 26 – Cape Strolls, Matinee Music & Easy Evenings

• 🌿 Hikin’ for Lichens — Sandy Neck’s Hidden World
  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Harwich Conservation Trust (Field Walk), Harwich • 💲15

• 🎭 CLUE — The Classic Whodunit Takes the Stage
  2:00 PM – 3:20 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company | Harwich Junior Theatre, Harwich • From 💲21

• 🎷 Wabash Avenue After Dark — Sunday Ragtime Swing
  2:30 PM • Chatham Drama Guild, Chatham • 💲20

✨ Monday, October 27 – From Birdsong at Dawn to Pool Cues After Dark

• 🐦 Birds on the Move — Sunrise at Bell’s Neck
  8:00 AM – 10:00 AM • Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, Harwich • 💲20

• 📚 Autumn Adventures — Little Learners Welcome Fall
  9:00 AM – 9:30 AM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🎃 Tiny Tales in the Pumpkin Patch — Storytime for Littles
  10:00 AM – 10:30 AM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🏠 Ask Brianna — Harwich’s Housing Help Desk
  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Brooks Free Library (VITAL Room), Harwich • Free

• 🇺🇸 Standing at the Precipice — America’s Turning Point
  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • 💲10 suggested donation

• 💻 Zoom In: Standing at the Precipice (Virtual Edition)
  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM • Snow Library (Online via Zoom), Orleans • Free / Registration Required

• ✍️ Chatham Writers 02633 — Where Local Voices Gather
  10:30 AM • Eldredge Public Library, Chatham • Free

• 🌱 Seeds of the Future — Brewster’s Hands-On Wild Workshop
  2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • Brewster Conservation Trust Outdoor Classroom, Brewster • Donation

• 👜 Trick-or-Treat Bag Bash — Cape Kids Get Crafty
  3:30 PM – 4:30 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free / Registration Required

• 📖 Book Cave Pop-Up — Hidden Gems for Every Reader
  4:00 PM – 6:00 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🎃 Light Up the Night — DIY Halloween Glow Jars
  4:30 PM – 5:15 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🎨 Monster Mash Paint Splash — Mini Artists Take Over
  5:45 PM – 6:15 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🎭 Acting for Film — Lights, Camera, Cape Cod!
  6:30 PM – 8:30 PM • Cape Cod Theatre Company – The Arts Center, Harwich • 💲240 (8-week program)

• 🧠 Trivia by the Neck — Can You Outsmart Nic Chad?
  7:00 PM – 8:00 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans • Free

• 🎱 Cue the Fun — Monday Night Pool at The Squire
  7:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham • Free Entry

✨ Tuesday, October 28 — From Tiny Explorers to Tapas & Trivia Nights

• 🌿 Newbies in Nature — Sunrise Stroll for Parents & Babies
  8:00 AM – 9:00 AM • Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich • Free

• 🎨 Ron Dean’s Pottery Studio — Throw, Shape & Create
  9:30 AM • Creative Arts Center, Chatham • Fee not listed

• 🦋 Preschool Explorer Adventure — Morning in the Woods
  9:30 AM – 11:00 AM • Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich • Free

• 💻 Device Advice — Drop-In Tech Help with the Cape Cod Tech Squad
  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free

• 🧘 Circle of Soul Friends — Midmorning Mindfulness Gathering
  11:00 AM – 12:15 PM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham • 💲10 suggested

• 💪 Move to Live: Longer-Stronger-Younger (Online Fitness)
  11:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Brewster Public Library (Online) • Free

• 🌊 Clamming with Captain John — Family Tide Adventure
  2:00 PM • Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Harwich • 💲55 adults / 💲10 kids

• 🍂 Estate Planning 101 — Plan Smart, Live Confidently
  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Rosewood Manor, Harwich • Free

• 🌾 Preschool Explorer Adventure — Afternoon Nature Quest
  2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich • Free

• 📚 Tots & Tales — Creative Play with Miss Jill
  3:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Seaside Play, Harwich • Free

• 🌿 Newbies in Nature (Afternoon Edition) — Families & Fresh Air
  4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich • Free

• 🎃 Mummy Tales — Spooky Storytime & Craft for Kids
  4:30 PM – 5:15 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 🧘‍♀️ Mindful Yoga with Jenna — Flow into Calm
  4:30 PM – 5:30 PM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham • 💲20

• 🍽️ Tapas Tuesdays — A Taste of Spain at The Neck
  4:30 PM – 8:00 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans • Prices vary

• 🎨 Web It Up — Teen Art Night at Brewster Library
  5:30 PM – 6:15 PM • Brewster Public Library, Brewster • Free

• 📖 Cozy Murder Mystery Club — Brewster’s Whodunit Circle
  5:30 PM – 6:30 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 📘 Mark Kurlansky & Susanna Graham-Pye — The Boston Way Live Talk
  5:30 PM – 6:30 PM • Brewster Ladies’ Library, Brewster • Free

• 🧘‍♂️ Fall Beginners Yoga Series — Start Your Practice
  5:45 PM – 7:15 PM • Orleans Yoga, Orleans • 💲100 / 4 sessions

• 📚 4th Tuesday Book Klatch — Harwich’s Reading Circle
  6:30 PM – 7:30 PM • Brooks Free Library, Harwich • Free

• 🧘 Meditation by the Sea — Chatham Bars Inn’s Sunset Calm
  5:30 PM – 6:30 PM • Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free (for guests)

• 🧠 Trivia Night — Pint Glasses & Brain Battles
  7:30 PM • The Squire, Chatham • Free entry

✨ Wednesday, October 29 — Morning Wings, Midday Wisdom & Nighttime Tales

• 🐦 Birding Field Class — Harwich’s Midweek Migration Walk
  8:00 AM – 10:00 AM • Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, Harwich • 💲20

• 🧒 Preschool Explorer Adventure — Fall Colors & Critters with Ms. Andrea
  9:30 AM – 11:00 AM • Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich • Free

• 🎨 Georgia O’Keeffe Unveiled — Lecture with Beth Stein (Part 1 of 2)
  10:00 AM – 11:30 AM • Creative Arts Center, Chatham • From 💲10

• 💻 Device Advice — Drop-In Tech Help at Snow Library
  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free

• 🎭 Lifetime Learning: King Lear — The Ultimate Tragedy
  10:30 AM – 12:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free / Registration Recommended

• 💻 Tech Help Power Hours — Drop By for 1-on-1 Guidance
  1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Brooks Free Library (2nd Floor Reference Desk), Harwich • Free

• 👑 Philippa Gregory Live on Zoom — Courtly Intrigue & the Boleyn Legacy
  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Online (Virtual, Brewster) • Free

• 🕊️ Centering Prayer — Stillness with Ruah Bull
  4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Center for the Spiritual Journey, Chatham • 💲10 per session / 💲100 season pass suggested

• ✍️ Intuitive Writing Workshop — Unlock Your Stories
  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Eddy Elementary School (Science Room), Brewster • 💲100 / 2-session series

• 🕯️ Cape Noir Live — The Raven & The Untold Tell-Tale Heart
  6:30 PM – 7:30 PM • Snow Library, Orleans • Free / Seating Limited

✨ Thursday, October 23

• 🎶 Twist the Night Away — Harwich Sock Hop with The Sound Dunes
  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Harwich Community Center, Harwich • Donation

• 🎤 Karaoke Night at The Squire — Cape Voices Go All In!
  9:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham • Free

✨ Friday, October 24

• 🎹 Live Piano & Coastal Cocktails with Donny Nolan
  5:00 PM – 8:00 PM • The Mansion, Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster • Free

• 🎸 Boston Naturals Rock The Squire — Dinner & Dancing Start Here
  6:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham • Free

• 🎹 Rick Costa Live — Smooth Lounge Tunes by the Fire
  5:30 PM – 8:30 PM • South Lounge, Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham • Free (for guests)

• 🎸 Derek Dibbern Brings the Groove to Bayzo’s Pub
  8:00 PM – 11:00 PM • Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, Brewster • Free

• 🎤 The Monica Rizzio Duo — Outlaw Country Comes to Orleans
  8:30 PM – 10:30 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans • 💲

• 🎤 Friday Karaoke — Orleans Voices Unleashed at Jake Rooney’s
  8:00 PM – 10:30 PM • Jake Rooney’s, Orleans • Free / Open Mic

✨ Saturday, October 25

• 🎷 FUNK the Power! Live at Parish Park
  4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Orleans Cultural District – Parish Park, Orleans • Free

• 🍺 Sugar Bucket Live — Hog Island’s Saturday Soundtrack
  6:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Hog Island Beer Co., Orleans • Free

• 🎻 Gaudete Baroque Ensemble — “Tuned for Praise!”
  7:30 PM • Performing Arts Center, Brewster • From 💲25

• 🎸 Rose & the Thorns Rock Orleans
  7:00 PM – 10:00 PM • Jake Rooney’s, Orleans • Free / Live Music

• 🎸 Lynch Bros. Light Up Bayzo’s Pub
  8:00 PM – 11:00 PM • Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, Brewster • Free

• 🎤 Doreen & Les Bring Classic Rock to Orleans
  8:30 PM – 10:30 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans • 💲

• 🎤 Just Like That Band — Late Night at The Squire
  10:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham • Free

✨ Sunday, October 26

• 🎻 Gaudete Baroque Ensemble — “Tuned for Praise!” Afternoon Concert
  3:30 PM • Performing Arts Center, Brewster • From 💲25

• 🎤 Joe Merrick Live — Sunday Sounds at The Squire
  5:00 PM • The Squire, Chatham • Free

• 🎸 Don Barry — Sunset Sessions at Jake Rooney’s
  5:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Jake Rooney’s, Orleans • Free / Live Music

✨ Wednesday, October 29

• 🎶 Great American Composers with Joe Marchio — Jazz, Broadway & Beyond
  1:30 PM – 3:00 PM • Chatham Congregational Church – Fellowship Hall, Chatham • 💲10 suggested donation

🌦 Thu 23 — Rain, Then Radiance

High 60° | Low 45° | SW 11 mph | Rain 40% | Humidity 65% | UV 4
Rain in the morning, blue breaking through by lunch — a two-act play Cape Cod knows well.
Cape Move: Morning emails with the rain tapping the window • swing by Snowy Owl after the clouds lift • sunset stroll past Skaket just to smell the clean air.
Sunrise 7:01 | Sunset 5:46

⛅ Fri 24 — Polished and Peaceful

High 57° | Low 45° | W 6 mph | Humidity 69% | UV 3
A calm, classic October day — the kind where even Main Street feels slower.
Cape Move: Late breakfast at Hole in One • rake a little, read a little • toast the quiet with dinner out in Harwichport.
Sunrise 7:02 | Sunset 5:44

☀️ Sat 25 — Autumn at Its Best

High 54° | Low 45° | NW 8 mph | Humidity 70% | UV 3
Sunshine sharp enough to make the bay sparkle but soft enough for fleece.
Cape Move: Brewster Farmers Market linger • cider doughnuts at Chatham Bars Inn Market • evening firepit under a waxing crescent moon.
Sunrise 7:03 | Sunset 5:43

🌤 Sun 26 — Clouds Play Nice

High 52° | Low 44° | NNW 6 mph | Humidity 65% | UV 3
Gray morning, golden afternoon — a gentle reset before the wind turns again.
Cape Move: Lighthouse Beach walk • Sunday roast with family • porch blanket and cranberry seltzer at dusk.
Sunrise 7:05 | Sunset 5:42

🌥 Mon 27 — The Northeast Nudge

High 51° | Low 46° | NNE 11 mph | Humidity 67% | UV 3
A breeze from Maine whispers: “bundle up.” Melissa’s name drifts into conversation.
Cape Move: Soup and stories at Chatham Cookware • stack the porch chairs • watch the bay flatten out in the chill.
Sunrise 7:06 | Sunset 5:40

🌧 Tue 28 — First Hints of Trouble

High 52° | Low 49° | NE 16 mph | Rain 40% | Humidity 75% | UV 2
Showers flirt with the shoreline; the air thickens, gulls fly lower.
Cape Move: Check the sump pump • cancel nothing yet • sip chowder at Sir Cricket’s and swap storm theories.
Sunrise 7:07 | Sunset 5:39

🌫 Wed 29 — Gray and Gathering

High 55° | Low 51° | NE 16 mph | Rain 50% | Humidity 80% | UV 3
Rain bands roll through, the kind that make you pause mid-errand and look seaward.
Cape Move: Pull the pumpkins inside • warm cider, slow music • feel the Cape lean into whatever’s coming next.
Sunrise 7:08 | Sunset 5:38

🌾 Cape Lowdown

The Watch: Hurricane Melissa still spinning south — odds favor offshore, but the Cape will get the whisper: wind, high surf, and late-night window hums.

Nature: Cranberry bogs deep ruby now; ospreys mostly gone; that first whiff of woodsmoke everywhere.

Crowds: Locals reclaiming bar stools • contractors racing winter • tourists fading like daylight.

Sunset Picks: Fri → Rock Harbor • Sat → Hardings Beach • Mon → Nauset • Wed → Wind blown beauty at Chatham Fish Pier.

Before You Go

Some weeks end without fanfare — just a flicker of light through pine, a door closing softly, a promise to keep showing up.
That’s Cape life in October — humble, beautiful, and ours to notice.

See you next week between the bays,
— Arthur ☕
🏡 Helping neighbors find their place
Arthur Radtke • REALTOR®, eXp Realty
MA License #9582725