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  • 🐚 July 17–23: What it means when your neighbor’s chairs face the street

🐚 July 17–23: What it means when your neighbor’s chairs face the street

Author

Arthur Radtke
July 17, 2025

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Good morning, Lower Cape—

You know that feeling when the day starts soft—the smell of coffee and salt air, the echo of gulls over the bay, a breeze that says “get outside, something’s about to happen”? That’s a Lower Cape morning, and it’s what we live for.

This week’s issue is all about those hidden rhythms that make summer real:

  • Stories you won’t find on TripAdvisor: The quiet rules that decide who’s got the dock, the paths down to the water, and which backyard shortcut leads to the best sunset—revealed by locals, not guidebooks.

  • Traditions you pass on: Cap’t Cass has swung open its old screen door again, bringing back Orleans’ favorite lobster roll and memories that taste like your first real summer. And Tides? It’s where locals swap taco orders and stories as the sun goes down.

  • Local hacks for every July mood: Want to hit the pond before the crowds, find out which shellfish flats are truly worth digging this week, or chase the week’s best porch concerts? We’ve got you covered, from the first whistle at the pond to the last encore under the stars.

So pour your coffee, crack a window, and give this a read—or better yet, forward it to someone who loves the Cape like you do.
Summer’s moving fast. Let’s make every tide count.

-Art

What’s the classic Lower Cape signal that your neighbor is welcoming a drop-in chat—no text, no invite, just old-school summer neighborliness?

Can You Decode the Cape’s Summer Neighbor Signal?

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Where Every Tide Tells a Story: The Hidden Rules of Cape Waterfront Living

Some Cape Cod moments are so vivid you can almost feel the sand underfoot—early mornings on the bay, the distant call of gulls, and the hush that settles in just after sunset as boats drift in for the night. Maybe you’ve stood at the edge of a weathered dock, toes curled over sun-bleached wood, and thought: This is it. This is the Cape I’ve always dreamed about.

But behind every postcard-perfect waterfront scene, there’s a little-known chapter: the story of who actually gets to enjoy that dock, who holds the keys to the boat ramp, and what rights come tucked inside the deed.

🚤 Docks: More Than a Place to Tie Up

On the Lower Cape, a dock isn’t just a backyard extra—it’s the heartbeat of summer memories. Some are handed down from one owner to the next, weathering generations of fishing trips and Fourth of July sparklers. Others are shared by a circle of neighbors, who gather at dusk for the impromptu “dock party” that’s a rite of passage in these parts.

But here’s the plot twist:

  • It might be yours—or shared by three families, with a schedule taped to the boathouse fridge.

  • It might have a 99-year permit—or just exist on tradition and hope.

  • In some coves, it’s understood: the neighbor with the kayak always goes first.

📜 Easements & Access: The Cape’s Invisible Tides

If you’ve ever heard a tale about a neighbor wandering across the lawn at dawn, coffee in hand, you’ve brushed up against the old Cape concept of easements.

  • Maybe it’s a path down to the water, trod smooth by a hundred summers’ worth of bare feet.

  • Maybe it’s a right-of-way for the community to launch skiffs at the break of day.

These “invisible rights” are part of the fabric here—sometimes written into deeds, sometimes whispered from neighbor to neighbor. Ignore them, and you might find yourself surprised when a friendly face appears on your beach with a lobster pot or a paddleboard.

🏡 How to Write Your Cape Story—With Eyes Wide Open

Every great Cape story starts with curiosity. Before you fall for that dock or dream beach path:

  • Ask for every document—deeds, permits, surveys, and association rules. Don’t settle for stories—get the script in writing.

  • Understand what’s legal, what’s custom, and what’s “just how we’ve always done it.”

  • Meet the neighbors. They’ll tell you about the Fourth of July flotilla, but they’ll also fill you in on who fixes the dock after a nor’easter.

Owning on the water is about more than just a pretty view—it’s about knowing how the tides of tradition and paperwork flow beneath your feet.

Take a stroll, listen for the call of the ospreys, and imagine your own Cape Cod story beginning with every tide. The waterfront’s magic is real—but the best stories always come with a little homework.

And if you're the kind of buyer who likes talking to someone who knows which beaches the locals actually swim at—call Arthur at (774) 209-6032. He'll tell you the real story behind the view.

Where Locals Really Eat: Cape Cod’s Table, July Edition

Every summer has its signature flavor—and this week, the Lower Cape is serving up both comeback legend and breakout buzz.

Maybe you want to taste the comeback—Cap’t Cass, resurrected with its creaky floors, guestbook confessions, and lobster rolls you can still brag about. Or maybe you’re ready for the new—Tides, where the pool breeze is cool, the tacos are hot, and the crowd is all locals who know how to claim the best seat after sunset.

One’s all roots, one’s all edge. Both remind you why Cape Cod dining is never just about the food—it’s the story you’ll tell when you get home.

Hungry? Pull up a chair. This is the week’s real Cape menu.

🌊 Tides Kitchen & Bar at The Pelham on Earle (West Harwich)

The Verdict:
Just Another Hotel Spot—Or a Real Local Find?

Let’s get this out of the way: hotel restaurants on Cape Cod rarely impress locals. Too many settle for safe, bland, and overpriced, aiming at summer crowds just passing through. So it’s fair to be suspicious of Tides Kitchen & Bar—tucked inside the Pelham on Earle, half a block from the beach, with a menu that reads like Cape meets SoCal taqueria.

But here’s the surprise: Tides isn’t just “good for a hotel restaurant.” It’s genuinely fun—in a way that feels like it could grow into a Lower Cape staple if the kitchen keeps dialing in its flavors and pacing.

First, the vibe:
A breezy, open room and a poolside lawn, with actual locals at the bar swapping notes on taco orders, kids darting between tables, and staff that seem to actually care what you think. Yes, it can get loud—no shock, given the echoes off the new floors and a crowd hungry after a day in the sun—but it’s a happy kind of noise.

The menu:
Short, leaning hard on tacos, ceviche, and a few “from the grill” plates. And, refreshingly, they’re not phoning it in. The carne asada tacos deliver: real marinated steak, grilled for flavor, a hit of salsa verde that’s bright and just spicy enough. A quibble? Some folks want the steak chopped finer—fair, since a chunk of asada can launch half your taco into your lap. But the taste is legit. Nachos here get their own fan club (“amazing!” raves one regular), and the corn “ribs” are a hit, especially when eaten outdoors, drink in hand, while kids run barefoot on the grass.

Cocktails:
Cape summer in a glass—try the Cucumber Cooler or Lavender Lux. You’ll find locals at the bar ordering another round, not just filling time before a wedding. And yes, the staff is eager (sometimes too eager) for feedback—so don’t be shy.

Of course, not everything is perfect. A few reviewers call out prices that are a bit ambitious for casual tacos and bar snacks. And, as with any new kitchen, a couple of menu misses (an overcooked plate here, a soggy nacho there) are bound to happen. But Tides is evolving, and they seem to want to get it right.

Bottom line:
If you’re after a quiet dinner, look elsewhere. If you want the kind of lively, sandy, post-beach meal that reminds you why you live on Cape Cod—or why you wish you did—Tides delivers. Skip the hotel breakfast, but come back for tacos, margs, and a little local color when the sun starts to dip.

🌊 Cap’t Cass Is Back—and So Are You: The Soul of Rock Harbor Returns 🦞

Some places on the Cape don’t just exist—they wait for you. Cap’t Cass Rock Harbor Seafood is one of those rare spots. Maybe you remember it: that shingled shack, tucked along the harbor, where the floors creak underfoot and the smell of frying clams hits you before the salt air does.

For you, Cap’t Cass might be childhood—bare feet slapping the hot pavement, eyes squinting into the late afternoon sun as you waited in line for a tray piled with golden clams or that legendary lobster roll. Maybe it’s your favorite post-beach ritual, the secret place you always brought out-of-town friends to prove the Cape’s best isn’t flashy or fussy, just real.

Then one summer, it was gone. The sign faded, the screen door stayed shut, and Rock Harbor felt emptier. Five years passed. You wondered if Cap’t Cass was gone for good, if the Cape you loved was quietly slipping away.

This July, you see the line again. You smell the fryer, hear the laughter, feel the pulse of Orleans coming back to life. Step inside, and you’ll meet Michelle Lamy—someone who knows how much this place means to you, because she grew up here too. She worked in the kitchen in the ‘80s, always dreaming about making the place shine again.

Michelle and her partner Tiago Batista bought the shack in 2022, and for three years, they rebuilt it with their own hands, keeping what you loved: the 105-year-old floors, the horseshoe bar, the original stools that hold a thousand stories. Everything you remember is back, and everything new is made for you to feel at home.

  • The Lobster Roll: Hot or cold, all meat, no filler—just like you always wanted. That’s the Cap’t Cass standard, and it hasn’t changed.

  • Clear Broth Chowder: If you’re a Cape codder, you know this is the real deal. Light, briny, impossible to find anywhere else.

  • She Crab Stew: Creamy and rich—if you haven’t tried it, let Michelle or the Town Hall regulars convince you.

  • Fried Clams, Burgers, Fries: Classics that taste like every best summer afternoon.

No alcohol for sale, but you can bring your own. Grab a table inside or out, and watch the harbor do its thing. It’s your summer, your pace.

The Details That Matter to You

The wall of buoys? Michelle put out the call, and neighbors just like you delivered—every buoy now signed, every color telling its own story. Maybe yours is there, waiting for you to find it and take a selfie. Rocky, the new 11-foot lobster sculpture, stands by the door like a Cape mascot. The blue heron and fiddler crab wait for the kids. The old guest book sits open in the entry, and your note would fit right in with the others: “Back for our 49th anniversary.” “First lobster roll since 2019.” “Home.”

Maybe you never noticed Betty’s family table against the back wall, but now you can sit there, where the heart of the place has always been.

Why You Come Back

Cap’t Cass isn’t just a restaurant—it’s where you anchor your summer. It’s a place that remembers you, holds your stories, and is always happy to see you again. After five years away, it’s back—because people like you made it matter.

So the next time you’re craving the real Cape, you know where to go. Line up early, bring a friend, bring a memory, and write the next chapter in a place that feels like it never left you.

Cap’t Cass Rock Harbor Seafood, Orleans

  • 🕚 Opens at 11am—don’t be surprised if you’re not the only one there early

  • 🍴 35 seats inside, picnic tables outside, always BYOB

  • 🦞 The best kind of Cape Cod tradition: yours

“The giving back is what it’s about. I’m just grateful to be a part of everyone’s memories.”
— Michelle Lamy

Share your Cap’t Cass stories with Celebrate Lower Cape—because your Cape Cod deserves to be celebrated.

Dive In, But Know Before: The Lower Cape’s Freshwater Pond Survival Guide (Summer 2025)

There’s a peculiar magic to Lower Cape ponds in July: the water feels like silk on sunburned shoulders, pine needles carpet the path to the shore, and somewhere, the shriek of a kid jumping off a floating dock slices through the heat. It’s the same scene replayed for generations—Cliff Pond’s turquoise bowl in Brewster, the twin sweep of Long Pond (Harwich/Brewster), Pilgrim Lake’s family beach in Orleans—but this summer, the “old swim hole” comes with new rules and old wisdom, if you want your dip to be the highlight, not the headline.

The First Rule: Read the Water Before You Swim

Cape ponds are as alive as any ocean beach—just a little sneakier. On July 9th, Brewster posted a cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) bloom advisory at Lower Mill Pond, the kind of headline that reminds you these waters aren’t just set dressing for a Cape Cod postcard. A few weeks earlier, Orleans quietly lifted its Pilgrim Lake algal bloom warning, but not before local health officers put out the reminder: “When in Doubt, Stay Out.” The telltale signs are subtle—water that looks a bit “scummy,” a strange sheen, a sharp smell that isn’t the usual earthy pond funk. Here, caution isn’t overkill; it’s neighborly. Updates go up quickly at the Barnstable County Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program (see here), and every town posts alerts. It’s a Cape ritual now: check the pond status before you pack the cooler.

Safety Isn’t Just About Water Quality—It’s Who’s Watching

On the Lower Cape, the best pond days come with the low thrum of lifeguard whistles. Nickerson State Park (Brewster) is the undisputed king here, with four pond beaches (Cliff, Flax, Higgins, Little Cliff) all watched by trained lifeguards in summer. Pilgrim Lake in Orleans runs a close second, its roped-off swim area, shaded picnic tables, and restrooms making it family central when the parking lot fills up by 10am. Don’t just show up and expect a spot: lifeguard coverage typically runs 9am–5pm, and when in doubt, ask at the gate or town website. If you’re eyeing a smaller, unguarded pond—there are dozens—follow the local code: never swim alone, and keep kids where you can count their heads above water.

Know Before You Go: The Locals’ Checklist

  • Parking is precious. Long Pond’s lot fills first on weekends; Nickerson’s gates often close midday until turnover.

  • Shade is not guaranteed. Pilgrim Lake has its classic oaks, but many ponds bake in full sun. Bring a pop-up tent or umbrella for comfort and skin safety.

  • Be gear smart. Water shoes = less yelping on rocky or mucky bottoms. Cheap snorkel masks turn any kid into a mini marine biologist.

  • Prep for change. One downpour can spike bacteria counts; routine testing means a pond might close for a day after storms. Always scan for updates (Orleans Pond Coalition).

  • Bring the right crew. Friends, floaties, sunscreen, bug spray—maybe a paperback you can afford to get wet.

What’s Changed in Summer 2025

Locals are savvier than ever. The era of “just jump in, it’ll be fine” is giving way to a Cape Cod that values information: quick phone checks for swim advisories, group texts about which pond’s in the clear, neighbors warning each other away from a “funky-looking” shoreline. There’s a comfort in that—community doesn’t just mean chatting at the water’s edge; it’s in the way we look out for each other’s kids, each other’s health.

And that’s the truth of the Lower Cape’s pond culture in 2025: nostalgia meets real-time vigilance. The ponds are still as inviting as ever—glass-smooth at sunrise, a jumble of laughter by noon—but the locals know that a safe swim is a shared responsibility. We check the water, we scan for flags, we keep an eye on the ones we love, and we leave only wet footprints behind.

Ready to swim? Check pond advisories here before you go:

Bottom line: Swim smart, stay connected, and let summer’s best moments happen—one safe, splashy cannonball at a time.

Clams, Tides & Community: Lower Cape Shellfishing, Summer 2025

Where Tides, Rules, and Rituals Meet

It’s 8:30 on a July morning, and there’s already a slow parade along Robbins Hill Road. Residents and out-of-towners—permits tucked in back pockets, baskets rattling, rakes slung over shoulders—stream down to Saints Landing in Brewster. It’s relay day, one of only two each week this summer when the town opens the flats for clamming. By the time low tide peels back the sand, the quahog beds are dotted with people knee-deep in the water, eyes on the mud, all following a set of traditions as old as the Cape itself.

Across the Lower Cape, shellfishing isn’t a free-for-all; it’s a carefully managed community affair. Every town does it their own way, but what they share is an obsession with the rules, the rhythms of the tides, and the shared trust that everyone’s working to keep these waters productive for the next season—and the next generation.

The Brewster Relay: A Scene Like No Other

On summer Thursdays and Sundays, Brewster’s Saints Landing turns into something between a town picnic and a treasure hunt. The town’s “quahog relay” means the beds are restocked with farm-raised littlenecks, and the flats are open only for a few tight hours—posted at the landing, updated every week. Early birds talk tide tables and gear while waiting for the harbormaster’s nod. There’s a social current to the crowd: advice swapped, tips on where the best digging was last week, and sometimes even shared rides home for newcomers with full baskets. By midday, the flats are empty, and signs go back up: closed until the next relay.

Orleans and Chatham: Watch the Boards, Read the Water

In Orleans, the shellfish beds at Nauset Harbor and Pleasant Bay reopened in late June after red tide lifted—but the “open/closed” board at the harbormaster’s office is gospel. If there’s a storm, a spike in bacteria, or a bad algae reading, closures go up fast. Locals are used to it: before grabbing a rake, they check town updates or call the shellfish hotline. You’ll see families with multi-generational digging crews, often with a grandparent pointing out the best soft-shell steamer mud to the youngest.

Chatham’s shellfishing scene is sprawling—dozens of tidal inlets, each with its own quirks. Ridgevale, Oyster River, Barn Hill: all open, except after big rains or for conservation closures, which are strictly enforced. The town keeps a live alert system, and the shellfish warden patrols the flats daily. Even seasoned diggers start their day checking the Chatham Shellfish Division alerts for the latest status.

The Tides: The Pulse of Every Dig

The real clock for Cape Cod shellfishing is the tide chart. The best action happens on the outgoing and low tide, with a three-hour window to work the sand. For July 19–20, Brewster Flats will see low tides around 10:30 AM and 11:20 AM, drawing a crowd precisely on cue. Many locals rely on CapeTides.com—its charts are pinned to refrigerator doors and dashboards all summer.

Miss your window and you’ll find nothing but sunbaked mud and a few stragglers packing up their buckets.

What Sets the Cape Apart

This is more than routine—it’s a living system. Shellfishing on the Lower Cape depends on permits (and woe to anyone who digs without one; town wardens are vigilant). Each town sets and enforces daily and weekly limits, and everyone uses the official gauge for size checks. Newcomers learn quickly: if the water looks wrong or a sign says closed, you walk away—no one wants unsafe shellfish on their table.

And every haul is a small story: the year Pleasant Bay opened late but produced big steamers, or when the Saints Landing relay filled everyone’s basket in under an hour. On a good day, it’s about more than the catch—it’s about tradition, neighborliness, and a local way of reading the land and water.

At the End of the Day

Whether you’re heading home with a cooler full of littlenecks or just enough for chowder, the Lower Cape’s shellfishing isn’t about luck. It’s a community system, run on stewardship, town rules, and a close reading of tides and weather. The rules aren’t red tape—they’re why this is still possible, season after season.

So check the tide, check the board, and step lightly. That’s the Cape Cod way.

Resources & Official Info:

⚰️ Spotlight: Lower Road Cemetery—A Walk Through Brewster’s Living History

Thursday, July 17 | 5:00–6:15 PM
Lower Road Cemetery, 465 Lower Road, Brewster

Where the Past Walks Beside You

Beyond the summer bustle of Route 6A, you’ll find a gathering unlike any other—a guided, factual, and neighborly stroll through Brewster’s oldest public cemetery. The “A Grave Situation” walking tour invites residents and visitors to step off the sidewalk and into the town’s living history.

The Experience

Led by historian and local author Sally Cabot Gunning, this 75-minute walking tour moves gently along shaded paths and grassy lanes—offering context, stories, and insights on the ordinary and extraordinary people at rest beneath your feet. The tour focuses on verified local facts, sharing the real lives, roles, and contributions of those interred since the cemetery’s founding in 1828.

What you’ll see and learn:

  • Notable gravestones and family plots: Discover the Foster, Freeman, Bangs, Snow, and Crosby families—cornerstones of Brewster’s civic and maritime past.

  • Unique funerary art: See the willow and urn carvings, common to Cape Cod in the 1800s, and learn what they signified to past generations.

  • Community service in action: Hear how Brewster scouts, cemetery commissioners, and volunteers care for veterans’ graves, keep records updated, and preserve the grounds as an open-air archive.

  • A sense of connection: The tour is interactive—attendees can ask questions, share their own Brewster connections, and reflect on how the stories of the past shape daily life.

Accessibility note: The cemetery has uneven ground and is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers; children under 8 are not admitted.

Why It Matters

In a place where street names match headstones, the cemetery tour is more than an outing. It’s an invitation to walk among the real people who built Brewster’s schools, sailed its ships, and called it home. This is community history, told where it happened, by those who know it best.

Event Details

  • Date & Time: Thursday, July 17, 5:00–6:15 PM

  • Location: Lower Road Cemetery, 465 Lower Road, Brewster

  • Cost: $18 adults; $15 Brewster Historical Society members; $10 for ages 8–12

  • Reservations required: Register here

All facts sourced from the Brewster Historical Society, town records, and the Cape Cod Commission. For further information: brewsterhistoricalsociety.org

Step into Brewster’s story—no costumes, no myths, just the real town, told in stone and memory. Spaces fill quickly; reserve yours now and experience the Lower Cape’s past as only Brewster can share it.

Summer hums on the Lower Cape, and every day this week offers a new way to slow down, explore, and connect. Wander through secret gardens in bloom, trace stories whispered in historic cemeteries, try your hand at craft fairs, or join a lively community chat. Whether you’re chasing moments of quiet magic or lively local tradition, these events bring the heart of the Cape right to your doorstep.

Pick your day, step outside, and let the week’s stories find you.

Thursday, July 17

Friday, July 18

  • 👧 Brewster Whitecaps Storytime & Craft!
    10:30 AM • Brewster Ladies Library, Brewster
    Kids create, listen, and meet the Whitecaps—perfect summer story hour with a sporty twist!

  • 🎸 Robert the Guitar Guy
    10:30 AM–11:30 AM • Eldredge Public Library, Chatham
    Guitar, sing-alongs, and silly fun—kids and grownups welcome!

  • 🧘 Prajna Yoga Summer Immersion with Tias & Surya Little
    2:00 PM–5:00 PM & 6:00 PM–8:00 PM • Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans
    Renowned yoga masters lead a transformative summer immersion—Friday sessions for all levels.

  • ⚾ Strikeout Pollution
    7:00 PM • Veterans Field, Chatham
    Join the Chatham Anglers and Take Care Cape Cod for a fun, green game night—let’s keep the Cape clean!

  • 🥁 Chara Percussion Ensemble in Concert: Creation
    7:30 PM • Performing Arts Center, Brewster
    Electrifying percussion performance—feel the rhythm and the energy!

Saturday, July 19

Sunday, July 20

  • 🧵 A Different Drummer Craft Fair
    10:00 AM–4:00 PM • Drummer Boy Park, Brewster
    Artisan treasures, handmade gifts, and classic Cape charm—shop, stroll, and support local makers!

  • 🍦 Make Your Own Sundae Sunday!
    1:00 PM–4:00 PM • Short 'N' Sweet Ice Cream, South Chatham
    Kids, families, and sweet tooths—build your dream sundae, pile on the toppings, and celebrate summer.

Monday, July 21

Tuesday, July 22

  • 🐦 Cold Brook Birding Field Class
    8:00 AM–10:00 AM • Cold Brook Preserve, Brewster
    Kickstart your morning spotting songbirds—beginner-friendly field class in Brewster’s wild heart.

  • ✂️ Ribbon Cutting: Cape Cod Charcuterie
    10:00 AM–10:30 AM • 96 MA-6A, Orleans
    Be the first to taste—new local charcuterie shop opens with samples, smiles, and community spirit.

  • 🧵 Puppets, Paul & Mary’s Summer Bucket List
    10:00 AM–11:00 AM • Cape Rep Theatre, Brewster
    A playful puppet adventure for families—songs, stories, and laughs for all ages

  • 🪡 Craft: Brazilian Embroidery
    10:30 AM • Snow Library, Orleans
    Stitch, chat, and create—explore Brazilian embroidery techniques with friendly guidance.

  • 🌲 Forest Bathing Meditation Walks
    12:30 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Slow down, breathe deep—guided meditation walk for calm and clarity.

  • 🐍 Amazing Animal Ambassadors in July & August
    1:30 PM–2:30 PM • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
    Meet rescued critters up close—great for kids and curious adults!

  • 🍹 Zero Gravity on the LAWN!
    4:30 PM–7:00 PM • The Barley Neck, Orleans
    Live music, lawn games, and summer cocktails—kick back with friends on the green.

  • 📚 Lecture: The Pendleton Rescue
    6:00 PM • Snow Library, Orleans
    Hear the true story of Cape Cod’s legendary Coast Guard rescue—local history comes alive.

  • 🤓 Trivia at The Squire
    7:30 PM • The Squire, Chatham
    Test your smarts, win prizes, and earn bragging rights—classic Cape Tuesday night.

Wednesday, July 23

🎶 Where Will You Hear Summer?

This week, the Lower Cape turns into one giant, sunlit stage. Drift from patio acoustics in Orleans to powerhouse bands in Chatham, gospel-worthy voices in historic churches, or all-out dance parties under Brewster stars. There’s a beat for every mood: laid-back beer gardens, lawn shows with your toes in the grass, jazz on the waterfront, even a classic Cape bandstand echoing with family traditions.

It’s July—peak music, peak summer, and every night, a chance to stumble into your next favorite act or local legend in the making. So grab a chair, rally your crew, or go solo and chase whatever sound feels right.

This week’s question isn’t if you’ll catch a show—it’s how many you’ll pack in before Sunday.

Thursday, July 17

Friday, July 18

Saturday, July 19

Sunday, July 20

Monday, July 21

Tuesday, July 22

Wednesday, July 23

Cape Mood: Lower Cape Weather, July 17–23

Thu 7/17:
Clouds and 79°. Morning fog hugs Brewster flats and Chatham harbor—delay shellfishing till late morning. Avoid Route 28 and backroads after 8 PM—fog rolls in fast.

Fri 7/18:
Sunny, 76°, UV 9. Beach parking fills by 9:15 AM in Orleans and Harwich. Hydrangeas peak all over Chatham and Brewster—drive Main Street for color.
Pro tip: Farmers markets open early, best seafood goes fast.

Sat 7/19:
Partly cloudy, 78°. Pond swimming is best—Long Pond and Pilgrim Lake are clearest after Friday’s sun.
Reminder: Bring gear in before dusk, rain likely overnight.

Sun 7/20:
Showers early, 78°. Perfect for bakery runs or new exhibits at local libraries and the Chatham Orpheum. Showers clear after 4—bike path dries out by sunset.

Mon 7/21:
Bright, 72°, low humidity. Hit Bell’s Neck, Monomoy trails, or Nickerson for mosquito-light walks.
UV 9—SPF up, even with clouds.

Tue 7/22:
Mild, 72°. Shellfishing likely reopens—check capetides.com. Picnic or kayak after 3 PM; crowds thin out at Skaket and Red River.
Look for ospreys at the Rock Harbor causeway.

Wed 7/23:
Partly cloudy, 74°. Best night for ice cream—lines shortest before 8 PM at Schoolhouse (Harwich), Short’n’Sweet (Chatham), and Ice Cream Café (Orleans).
Sunset at Rock Harbor: a few clouds make it epic.

Cape Lowdown for Locals:

  • Beach lots: Fill fast—aim for before 9:15 AM (Fri/Sat/Mon).

  • Shellfishing: Safer mid/late morning after foggy nights—always check advisories (link).

  • Mosquito watch: Best trail walks are the morning after rain or breezy afternoons.

  • Hydrangea Drive: Main Streets in all four towns—peak color this week.

  • Rain plan: Libraries, indie bakeries, and the Orpheum are locals’ secret.

  • Sunset moves: Rock Harbor, Bank Street Beach, Skaket—clouds only make it better.

Don’t just check the weather—live by it. Lower Cape knows how.
#CapeMood

🧭 Until Next Tide

Here’s the truth: nobody remembers the summer they spent scrolling.
So go chase the blue in the hydrangeas, dig your toes into the pond muck, and let the music from someone’s backyard carry over the marsh at dusk.

This is your Lower Cape—quirky, storied, and best experienced in flip-flops with a friend who knows all the shortcuts.
Cap’t Cass is waiting. The tide’s not going to wait for you.

Forward this to the one neighbor who always knows the best spot, or the newcomer who doesn’t (yet).
And if you find a story we missed? Send it our way. Around here, the best news always starts with, “You didn’t hear this from me, but…”

Same tide time, same tide place next week.

—Art

P.S. Did you crack this week’s Cape Code? If you guessed “Adirondack chairs turned toward the street,” you’re officially in the know. Next time you spot those chairs, don’t just wave—stop by and say hi (bonus points if you bring a local story or a cold lemonade). Forward this to a friend who needs a refresher on the real Lower Cape welcome—because summer’s too short to miss the good company.

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