Friday, July 17, 2009

Provincetown News for July 2009

This month's episode features an update of the sewer back up, events and how Provincetown did over the 4th of July weekend. Varla Jean, Miss Richfield, Dina Martina and more...also, other summer fun in Provincetown.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Provincetown News Bullets

  • Tourism is down in Provincetown. Over the Fourth of July Weekend, all sectors of business reported weak performance. Retail, restaurant, transportation (ferry, bus and plane), entertainment, art galleries and hotels overwhelmingly concur that the combination of the poor economy and rainy weather in June has impacted Provincetown.

  • The town sewer backed up over the Fourth of July weekend and created a mess along the entire length of Commercial Street. Homes and businesses were awash in raw sewage. It even seeped out of manhole covers. Beaches were closed, businesses impacted and some renters had to switch their accommodations at the expense of the owners. There has been a huge loss in revenue due to this incident. It is reported that a cell phone flushed down the toilet in the East end triggered a valve failure which caused the system to back up. The town has disinfected the streets with bleach.

  • 14 arrests were made over the 4th of July weekend. 12 males and two females were arrested for disorderly conduct and assaulting an office. One incident involved a knife attack in the Stop and Shop parking lot.

  • The Secret Garden Tour will take place this weekend from 10AM-3PM. The tour will guide walkers to 12 secret gardens in Provincetown. The cost is $30.

For questions please email Michael.dubour@century21.com

Friday, July 3, 2009

The Fourth in Provincetown to go off with a Bang!

Thanks to a combination of 124 businesses and individuals, the Independence Day pyrotechnics spectacular, will shoot off over the bay Saturday night.

Through a fundraising effort led by Rick Murray, co-owner of The Crown and Anchor Inn, close to $46,350, the cost of the fireworks was raised to pay for the display. In addition to the contributions from donors, the Visitor Services Board gave $5,000. Stop and Shop will provide food to feed the extra police officers needed to help keep order in the crowd that can blossom to over 50,000 sparkler gawkers.

The only thing that will stop the show is rain or fog. This was the case a few years ago when a rain storm threatened to cancel the celebration. The show started a few minutes before heavy rains and clouds moved in. The grand finale exploded through thick clouds giving the viewers an interesting perspective.

Have fun this weekend and please refer to last week’s entry or July’s video news (link on home page of http://www.mikedubour.com) for a list of events and parties.

Thanks for reading and email me at michael.dubour@century21.com if you have any questions.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Fourth of July is here

The Fourth of July is here! This week I provide a list of events for you to choose from in Provincetown for the festive weekend. In addition, I’ve included all events in June and July including The Portuguese Festival which starts today.
FOURTH OF JULY

The parade starts down Commercial Street around noon. You can get a pretty good view from almost anywhere along the parade route.

Fireworks start over the bay at dusk. The display is pretty good for our little seaside town so I hope you can make it.


The Art House Theatre

  • Varla Jean Merman and the Mushroomheads, Tuesday thru Friday at 8PM.. a special Varla film festival starts at 7:30 PM

  • Miss Richfield is Tuesday through Sunday at 10PM

  • Blanche Survives Katrina… Thursday-Sunday 8:30 PM

  • Suzanne Whang… Wednesday through Sunday 7PM, no show on the 4th.


The UU Meetinghouse

  • Hedda Lettuce with Eat Me at 10PM all weekend long

  • Mimi Gonzalez starts July 5th at 8:30 PM


The Crown and Anchor

  • Kate Clinton Thursday through Saturday at 7PM

  • Illusions Drag Spectacular is all weekend at 7:30 pm

  • Dina Martina is whacked all weekend at 9PM

  • Thirsty Burlington performs all weekend at 10:30 PM

  • Independence Day Dance Friday and Saturday at 9PM

  • On Tuesday, catch Ryan Landry’s Willie Wanker and the Hershey Highway.


The Boatslip

  • Special extended Tea Dance from 4-11PM on Saturday. This is also a great spot to watch the fireworks.


The Post Office Cabaret

  • James

  • Jackie Beat

  • Naked Boys Singing


The Vixen and AHOUSE

  • Dancing all weekend


David Flower’s features Summer Camp

  • Pier Dance Saturday from 3-8PM

  • Hangar Party at the airport Sunday from 8PM-1AM

  • Sunset cruise Monday 5-9PM


Remember to check your ferry or flight times and reserve your ticket if you haven’t yet. Allow for heavy traffic if you are driving here. For more information check mikedubour.com. Other events for the remainder of June and July include:

June 25-28th The Portuguese Festival and Blessing of the Fleet. This includes dancing, singing and food. There is also a parade!

The Art House

  • Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter’s Night, weekends in June

  • ANT June 26-28th

  • Jen Kober June 29-30th


July 11th there will be an auction to raise money to help renovate the library

July 11-18 is Bear Week

July 12th is the secret garden tour

June 20th its the 10K Dog Run Dog owner and pooch run

July 22-26 is Girl Splash

Please come to Provincetown and enjoy yourselves. Summer is fleeting. Email me at Michael.dubour@century21.com for more information.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Provincetown News Update

The summer rental season is upon us and so is a scam. If you are seeking to rent a vacation home here on the Cape, make sure you are renting directly from the owner or realtor representing the owner. Criminals looking to make quick cash have advertised homes for rent on Craigslist that they do not own. There are no reported victims as of yet. However, this could potentially cost vacationers thousands of dollars if they fall for it. Always try and validate the owner’s name by visiting the town website and checking the Assessor’s database.

A newly renovated town hall isn’t the only jewel Provincetown is seeing unfold. Recent work has uncovered numerous items from the past. A beer can from the 1950’s, a copy of a 1937 Cape Cod Colonial newspaper which headlined a story on Adolph Hitler’s actions and four signatures from workers who signed their names in the belfry in 1886.

The historic town hall which was built 123 years ago, is undergoing massive renovations after being deemed unsafe last year.

As a side note, there was an advertisement for a four bedroom summer cottage in the 1937 newspaper. The selling price…$2500.

The off road beach access to Race Point Beach South was temporarily closed due to the hatching of Plover chicks. Expected closures will also take place as eggs hatch along other ORV routes to Race Point Beach. If you use these roads, you may be able to use Race Point North roads most of the summer as nesting activity in this area is very minimal.

Piping plovers are on the endangered species list and the nests are monitored daily by the National Parks Service biologist. Once the chicks leave the nest, the roads are re-opened.

If there are unexpected closings, permit holders will be allowed to park for free at Herring Cove Beach, Race Point Beach and Head of the Meadow Beach. Recreational vehicles that are self contained will find parking accommodations at Race Point Beach and The Province Lands Visitor Center.

Provincetown residents have consistently used more water than the town’s allotted daily 850,000 gallons. This over usage may cause the state to enforce a water ration on the town.

Any rations would be a detriment to the hospitality industry which is a cornerstone of the economy. It will also impact homeowners and businesses seeking to expand their water capacity for additions or development. Provincetown gets its water from three wells in Truro. Alternative well fields are being sought out as a back-up water supply.

Remember the old saying… water is a precious resource here in Provincetown, please use what you need and waste none.

Austin Knight, a Provincetown Selectmen, broke his arm this past Tuesday as he was working on a home in the center of town. He was taken to Cape Cod hospital and is doing ok.

The class of 2009, the smallest graduating class in the state, marched through light rain to shake hands and grab diplomas last Friday. The ceremony took place at The Pilgrim Monument where the 23 graduates and over 400 attendees were sheltered under a large tent. The commencement address was delivered by State Representative Sarah Peake. Good luck to all graduates.

Thanks for reading and if you have any ideas, please email me at michael.dubour@century21.com.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Finback Whale on Provincetown Beach

This week, I posted pictures of the Finback Whale which washed ashore on Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown. Click over to michaeldubour.com to check them out