To New Beginnings

The year has come to an end and what a year it has been. I’ve met so many new friends and incredible people this past year. I also experienced many new things. Most of which can be read right here. Trips to Atlanta, a small town in Tennessee, Savannah, New York City, Westhampton, MA, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Boston and Providence have truly been fun.

I start my 6th year, January 1st, on the sandbar that is Provincetown. How strange to think that it has been that long. In that time, I started a business and sold it, renovated a house, continued my real estate career in perhaps the worst market since the great depression, explored my creative side through writing and created and hosted radio and television programs. I even raised an Italian Greyhound I never anticipated having. Everything combined seems so unreal, yet a little too real.

The intense summers followed by equally vacant winters take their toll on a single guy out here. I even thought about leaving a few times. New York City has been a big draw, in fact, most people I know who live here are from the big apple.

But now, no matter where I visit, I realize that Provincetown is my home. I’ve come of age here.
I know I’m home when every other face I see on the street or in the store, says “hi.” It is comforting and I feel as if I‘m Jessica Fletcher walking the streets of Cabot Cove. I giggle to myself when I hear the grocery store still referred to as the A+P after years of being the Grand Union and is now a Stop and Shop. Change is not an easy thing here but it happens constantly. 

I smile when I see Ellie singing in her fur coat in front of a fenced off, vacant town hall in the dead of winter and says “hi mike.” I know I’m home when the clerk at the candy store knows my order as I’m walking in the door, or the post office clerk has the stamps ready for me because the only time I visit the counter is for postage.

I anticipate the arrival of my friends from off-cape on Friday the weekends they come out. And I watch their sad faces when I hug them goodbye on Sunday, knowing what they feel and knowing I will most likely not have to feel that again. Leaving this magical place is not easy.

Free movie nights at The Cape End Inn, Town Meetings, High Tide in the east end during storms, Taco Tuesday, Joe Coffee, Comfort Food Sunday at Bayside Betsy’s, Sunday brunch at Fanizzi’s, Coffee House at The Mews, Tea Dance, Drag Shows, Choral Concerts, dinner parties, great restaurants… my goodness the list goes on and on…and only here.

This New Years Eve, after being away for the past two, I will visit Herring Cove Beach to watch the sunset and say goodbye to a truly incredible, exciting, sad and happy year. 2008 brought much personal growth and was the start of a new chapter in my life. I learned to let go of the past and extend gratitude to what has been. I now look forward to what is yet to be.

I hope you have a happy and healthy new year! Thanks for reading my blog this past year and sharing in my experience. This blog will be dedicated mostly to Provincetown news in 2009.

Feel free to send me an email at mike.dubour@verizon.net and remember to play it safe!

High Tide, East End

Holly Folly, Holiday Parties and Linda Eder

This past weekend was Holly Folly in Provincetown and from what I hear, it was a success. I say from what I hear, because I wasn’t here.

There were many concerts, caroling and guesthouse tours. Retail businesses report to me that they did well.

The Art House is doing very well with Joe Mama pumping out sandwiches for dinner. It has become the hang out for many. Great atmosphere.

There is news that the young volunteer firefighter who flipped the ladder truck was OUI.

The Grand Union has closed and renovations for Stop and Shop have started.

The Lands End Inn in the West End opened its doors Friday for a townie party. Michael, the owner, served delicious food and beverages all night. It was packed with familiar faces and some peeps who I’ve never seen before. It was a good time.

On Saturday, I left town for a holiday party in Bolton at the very lovely home of my friends Jay and Jose. The atmosphere was festive, guests were friendly and good times were had by all. Plenty of folk from New York and Boston mixed it up in holiday flavor. There was a lot of tasty food…most of which was homemade.

On Sunday, Brian and I went to see Linda Eder at The Wilbur Theatre in Boston. She sang a mix of Christmas carols and songs off her new cd “The Other Side of Me.” The songs are fun and a bit country. She looked fantastic and sounded wonderful. The Wilbur was almost sold out. I must say, she is back!

That’s it for this week. I hope your holiday season is going nicely.

Please email me at mike.dubour@verizon.net and remember to play it safe.

Holidays Are Here

The holidays are officially upon us. Provincetown ushered in the season by the lighting of the monument Wednesday night. Bright white lights are hung down the sides of the Pilgrim Monument and make it appear is if it is a huge tree when viewed from afar.

I enjoyed a feast off cape for Thanksgiving with some friends who I had not seen in awhile. It was a treat.

I also viewed the movie “Milk” which is about the first openly gay elected official Harvey Milk. He was a city supervisor in San Francisco and assassinated in 1978.
This movie is a must see for everyone. Many don’t know who Harvey Milk was…and I must admit, knew briefly of him, but, now know more. I can’t speak enough about this movie. 

This past weekend was busy in town. Many visitors came down for the holiday.

Join the owner of The Lands End Inn this Friday in Provincetown for a holiday open house party. Let the parties begin!

Catch me next week and thanks for reading. Send me an email if you want mike.dubour@verizon.net.