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Provincetown Attractions
Historic Houses
You can discover a lot of history in P-town just by reading plaques on buildings. Blue plaques contain the dates that historic homes were constructed, and some give the names of famous people who lived there. Look for the garage in the East End which sits on a site where playwright Eugene O'Neill once lived. Some plaques show a house on a raft. That indicates the house was floated over from Long Point, at the tip of P-town, where there was a tiny village before creeping erosion caused the populace to give up the site. A couple dozen of the Long Point houses can be found in the West End of town.
Kid Stuff
Kids love going out on whale-watching trips, where sightings are guaranteed. To really tire them out, climb the Provincetown Pilgrim Monument, which is located just a couple blocks from Commercial Street, just north of town hall, in the center of town. Toddlers will also enjoy the story hour held Saturday at 10:30am in the Provincetown Public Library (tel. 508/487-7094), at 356 Commercial St. (1 block east of Center St.). The library is open Monday and Friday 10am to 5pm, Wednesday 10am to 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday noon to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1 to 5pm.
8 Results
- Performing Arts Venue
Art House
Art house films are just the beginning of the programming at this centrally located modern movie palace on Commercial Street. The summer season is packed with a parade of well-known performers, be they drag legends, like Varla Jean Merman, nationally known comedians, like Andrea… - Tour
Art's Dune Tours
In 1946, Art Costa started driving sightseers out to ogle the decrepit "dune shacks," where such transient luminaries as Eugene O'Neill, Jack Kerouac, and Jackson Pollock found their respective muses; in one such hovel, Tennessee Williams cooked up the steamy A Streetcar Named… - Tour
Bay Lady II
In sightseeing aboard this 73-foot reproduction gaff-rigged Grand Banks schooner, you'll actually add to the scenery for onlookers on shore. The sunset trip is especially spectacular. - The Performing Arts
Meetinghouse Theatre and Concert Hall
In season this glorious space is given over to a wide range of performances, from plays to opera to cabaret. Upstairs is an acoustically superb concert hall with a restored 1929 Steinway concert grand piano. Downstairs is an intimate theater. The season is usually capped off by a… - Museum
Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
The tallest all-granite structure in the country, the 252-foot Pilgrim Monument was built to commemorate the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620—several weeks before they decamped for Plymouth. A climb to the top of the tower is a must; from that height, you can appreciate the… - Park/Garden
Province Lands Visitor Center of the Cape Cod National Seashore
Though much smaller than the Salt Pond Visitor Center, this satellite also does a good job of explicating this special environment, where plant life must fight a fierce battle to maintain its hold amid shifting sands buffeted by salty winds. After perusing the exhibits, be sure to… - Museum
Provincetown Art Association & Museum
In 1914, a group of Provincetown artists and businesspeople who supported the arts came together to build a collection of works by Outer Cape artists. Now, a century after that first group gathered, PAAM has collected 3,000 works and morphed into a pillar of the community, with… - The Performing Arts
The Provincetown Theater
The Provincetown Theater is considered the birthplace of modern American theater. Both Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams spent time here. O’Neill even lived in the old coast guard station and staged his first plays in a shack on a P’town wharf. New plays and revivals are staged…
Provincetown Shopping
Shopping Bargains
Provincetown's October sales are to die for. Discounts often range from 50% to 70% as merchants clear the shelves before closing for the winter. And remember, Provincetown is not just tacky T-shirt stores. There are excellent men's and women's clothing stores, as well as an abundance of fancy home-accessories stores.
Art Galleries
Showing the work of Provincetown's past and current luminaries, Albert Merola Gallery, 424 Commercial St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-4424; www.albertmerolagallery.com), is simply one of the best galleries in town. Each summer, such respected figures as Michael Mazur (Dante's Inferno) and Helen Miranda Wilson deliver their latest musings. Closed mid-October to March.
Berta Walker is a force to be reckoned with, having nurtured many top artists through her association with the Fine Arts Work Center before opening her own gallery in 1990. At Berta Walker Gallery, 208 Bradford St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-6411; www.bertawalker.com), the historic holdings span Charles Hawthorne, Milton Avery, and Robert Motherwell. Whoever has Berta's current attention, such as figurative sculptor Romolo Del Deo, warrants watching. Closed late October to late May.
Founded in 1994 by artist and publishing scion Nick Lawrence, DNA (Definitive New Art) Gallery, 288 Bradford St., above the Provincetown Tennis Club, in the East End (tel. 508/487-7700), has risen to the top tier. It has attracted such talents as photographer Joel Meyerowitz, Provincetown's favorite portraitist, known for such tomes as Cape Light; sculptor Conrad Malicoat, whose free-form brick chimneys and hearths can be seen and admired about town; and painter Tabitha Vevers, who devises woman-centered shrines and "shields" out of goatskin vellum and gold leaf. Another contributor is local conceptualist/provocateur Jay Critchley. It's a very lively bunch, appropriately grouped under the rubric "definitive new art," and readings by cutting-edge authors add to the buzz. Closed mid-October to late May.
The Fine Arts Works Center displays weekly shows that are always worth checking out in its Hudson D. Walker Gallery, 24 Pearl St., in the center of town (tel. 508/487-9960; www.fawc.org). The center is the heart of creativity in town, as it supports a crew of creative artists and writers on fellowships in residence every year.
Ehva Gallery, 74 Shank Painter Rd., in the west end between Bradford St. and Rte. 6 (tel. 508/487-0011; www.galleryehva.com), is way off the beaten track but worth a visit. Representing several dozen important Provincetown artists, the gallery is always on the cutting edge. The sculpture garden is also a treat. Closed January to mid-February.
Julie Heller started collecting early P-town paintings as a child -- and a tourist at that. She chose so incredibly well, her roster at Julie Heller Gallery, 2 Gosnold St., on the beach in the center of town (tel. 508/487-2166), and at 465 Commercial St., across from the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (tel. 508/487-2169; www.juliehellergallery.com), reads like a who's who of local art. Hawthorne, Avery, Hofmann, Lazzell, Hensche -- all the big names from Provincetown's past are here, as well as some contemporary artists. Closed weekdays January to April. Open winter weekends by chance or appointment.
The work of Anne Packard is displayed in the Packard Gallery, 418 Commercial St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-4690; www.packardgallery.com), a majestic former church. Anne Packard's large canvases tend to depict emotive land- and seascapes, with the horizon as a focus. Closed mid-October to mid-June. Cynthia's colorful figurative work, which has Fauvist elements, can be viewed at Cynthia Packard Gallery, a true studio/gallery, at 96 Bradford St., behind town hall (tel. 508/487-9696). Hours vary but tend to be 11am to 5pm in season.
At Rice/Polak Gallery, 430 Commercial St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-1052; www.ricepolakgallery.com), you'll find art with a decorative bent, which is not to say that it will match anyone's sofa, only that it has a certain stylish snap. Several gallery artists have fun with dimensions -- such as painter Tom Seghi with his mammoth pears, and sculptor Larry Calkins with his assemblages of undersize, antique-looking dresses. Peter Plamondon's oil paintings capture still lifes with exquisite clarity. Closed December to April.
At the far east end of town at the corner of Howland Street is a former church building that houses two galleries. Schoolhouse Gallery, 494 Commercial St. (tel. 508/487-4800; www.schoolhouseprovincetown.com), specializes in modern and contemporary painting, photography, and printmaking. The ArtStrand Gallery (tel. 508/487-1153; www.artstrand.com), in the back of the building, shows the work of nine of the town's most prominent artists.
Books
Now Voyager, 357 Commercial St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-0848; www.nowvoyagerbooks.com), offers both new and collectible gay and lesbian books and serves as an informal social center. There is also a large section of mystery and suspense books.
Provincetown Bookshop, 246 Commercial St. (tel. 508/487-0964), has the most complete selection in town. You'll find all the bestsellers, as well as books about the region and local lore.
Discount Shopping
Marine Specialties, 235 Commercial St., in the center of town (tel. 508/487-1730; www.marspec.net), is packed to the rafters with useful stuff, from discounted Doc Martens to Swiss Army knives and all sorts of odd nautical surplus whose uses will suggest themselves to you eventually. Be sure to look up: Hanging from the ceiling are some real antiques, including several carillons' worth of ships' bells.
Erotica
Shop Therapy, 346 Commercial St. (tel. 508/487-9387; www.shoptherapy.com), is a store with wild murals (or is it graffiti?), filled with all manner of erotica. You'll want to wander in just for the sheer outrageousness of it all. Tall people, beware: There's stuff hanging from the low ceiling that you might not want near your face.
Fashion
Giardelli/Antonelli Studio Showroom, 417 Commercial St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-3016), is filled with Jerry Giardelli's unstructured clothing elements -- shells, shifts, and palazzo pants -- in vibrant colors and inviting textures. They demand to be mixed, matched, and perhaps offset by Diana Antonelli's statement jewelry.
Want to try on new identities? Mad as a Hatter, 360 Commercial St. (tel. 508/487-4063), may be your best bet, with hats to suit every style and inclination, from folksy to downright divaesque. Closed January to mid-February.
Silk & Feathers, 377 Commercial St., in the East End (tel. 508/487-2057; www.silkandfeathers.com), has seasonal styles, and the lingerie they sell is almost too pretty to cover up. Other indulgences include seaweed soaps and statement jewelry.
Gifts/Home Decor
A lovely place to buy perfumes, soaps, and lotions is Good Scents for the Body, 351 Commercial St., in the center of town (tel. 508/487-3393; www.goodscentsptown.com), which also specializes in custom mixed fragrances and lotions.
A breath of fresh contemporary design, Utilities, 393 Commercial St., in the center of town (tel. 508/487-6800; www.utilitieshome.com), is a kitchenware/tabletop shop that features sleek and colorful essentials.
A study in beiges and blacks, Wa, 220 Commercial St., in the West End (tel. 508/487-6355; www.waharmony.com) -- its name means "harmony" in Japanese -- specializes in decorative home accessories that embrace a Zen aesthetic. This might mean a trickling stone fountain or Chinese calligraphy stones.
Toys
Take advantage of the Cape's strong winds and wide-open beaches by shopping at Outer Cape Kites, 277A Commercial St., at Ryder Street Extension, near MacMillan Wharf (tel. 508/487-6133). Closed mid-October to March.
Provincetown Nightlife
Cybercafe
To check your e-mail, surf online, or just hang out with techies, stop by Cyber Cove, an Internet lounge on the second floor of Whalers' Wharf at 237 Commercial St. (tel. 508/487-7778). It's open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm.
11 Results
- Bars & Pubs
1620 Brewhouse
One of the town’s newer hangouts, this bar/restaurant smartly occupies a central spot in time for the town’s 400th anniversary in 2020. A specially brewed beer made off-Cape for this establishment may be traded for a brewery in town sometime in the future. But for now, this is just a… - The Performing Arts
Art House
Art house films are just the beginning of the programming at this centrally located modern movie palace on Commercial Street. The summer season is packed with a parade of well-known performers, be they drag legends, like Varla Jean Merman, nationally known comedians, like Andrea… - Gay & Lesbian Bars
Crown & Anchor
The Crown & Anchor is the biggest and most varied entertainment venue in town—it even has hotel rooms and a restaurant, including an outdoor bar/patio area. The massive complex in the center of town has six separate gay bars including the largest nightclub (The Paramount); a… - Bars & Pubs
Governor Bradford
A good old bar with pool tables, drag karaoke (summer nights at 9:30pm), and disco. - Bars & Pubs
Harbor Lounge
Walk through a long courtyard and pass some stores to find this modern, minimalist bar overlooking the beach. It only serves drinks, no food. But what a terrific place to have a cocktail: You are essentially in a three-sided glass box (sliders that can open and let the breeze… - Bars & Pubs
Nor’East Beer Garden
This open-air bar also features good food. There are 16 craft beers on draft, like Founders Curmudgeon out of Grand Rapids, and 26 more in bottles. - Bars & Pubs
Patio
A large outdoor seating area on Commercial Street makes this a terrific place to sip summer cocktails and people-watch. Tasty appetizers, desserts, light fare, and even whole dinners are served until 11pm. The interior holds a sleek, attractive bar. - Gay & Lesbian Bars
Post Office Café and Cabaret
No nightclub listing is complete without the Post Office, a small club that tends to have the top acts in town, particularly in the realm of drag and comedy. - Dance Clubs
The Atlantic House
The “A-House” is the only year-round dance club in P-town. The three sections of the club are the Little Bar, which has a jukebox; the Macho Bar, a leather bar, and the Big Room, for dancing. The building is actually one of the oldest in town (1798) and some of the club’s history can… - The Performing Arts
The Provincetown Theater
Provincetown is considered the birthplace of modern American theater. Both Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams spent time here. O’Neill even lived in the old coast guard station and staged his first plays in a shack on a P-town wharf. New plays and revivals are staged here in the… - Bars & Pubs
The Squealing Pig
No, it’s not a gay bar, but there are usually gay people here. It’s not a sports bar either, but there is often sports on the TVs. It might be a pickup bar, but everyone seems to know everyone else. In a town of great bars, this is one of the best. Good food, too.
