Why Choose Holiday Gifts Made on Cape Cod?

After Thanksgiving, we turn our attention to holiday gifts. Many people come to Wellfleet during Oysterfest to go Christmas-shopping in mid-October. In December 2010, I suggested local businesses that are fairly well known. This year I decided to mention small businesses here on Cape Cod, perhaps a bit more obscure but all deserving our support. I discovered most of them at Oysterfest.

First off, how about some winter warmth from Sandspit Alpacas, located right here in Wellfleet? I admired adorable furry animals on their new Web site and learned Chez Sven shares an address with this fledgling farm at Old King’s Highway (494), a perfect summer destination for folks with kids. Think 100% yarns from local animals, rovings, hand-felted soaps, as well as warm socks, gloves, hats, etc. Nancy Flanagan will be at the Preservation Hall holiday bizarre on Dec. 10th or visit her farm store. (For more information, call 508 349 7585.)

Those of you who loved Jade Huber’s chocolate oysters should know that the chocolates are back, hand-crafted by a new owner in Marstons’ Mills and now available online at Wellfleet Candy Company. New this fall: the Dark Chocolate Oyster with banana rum caramel filling not only offers chocolate heaven but also sends one dollar to Horizon Relief, a fund to aid Gulf Coast oystermen.

Another local sweetie is Chris Kelley, who runs Sweet Baking on Old Chequessett Neck Road, pictured here with boy-friend Carleton. Sweet Baking has no Web site, but the chocolate bombes, sold at Chocolate Sparrow, win raves. Chris created the magnificent gingerbread house I photographed several years ago for this blog and is now "kicking into gingerbread-gear." Contact her at sweetbaking AT comcast.net. (Sweet Baking will be at the Prez. Hall holiday fair.)

Or, how about Summersoaps, in Barnstable? They are 100% natural with essential oils. A box of four, your choice of scents, costs $29.

Anya's Herbals are powerful blends of healing herbs and botanicals. Anya donates 10% of all profits to organizations that work to preserve the environment or on human justice issues. She sells herbal teas, amazing body lotion, and a full range of aromatic body care products, all created in S. Wellfleet.

For a present that lasts, choose a hand-crafted copper watering can for bonsai plants from Copper Craft of Wellfleet, a steal at $45.

Another artist whom I discovered recently, is lovely Nicole St. Pierre. I was not the only person at Oysterfest to fall for her work. Over the one October weekend in Wellfleet, Nicole sold a total of 29 hats! You can see her recycled wool creations at the Foundry Show in Pawtucket, RI. (See December dates listed on Web site). Sven bought me the blue beauty, to the left, second from the top.

A second millinery company present at Oysterfest was Look at Me Designs, which offers original texting gloves and scarves as well headgear. Tiffany Brown and Melanie Peddle use recycled materials. Again, each item is a one-of-kind creation. They are based in Plainville.

If you run a small business on the Outer Cape and would like to be included in this post, please let me know or share your products and Web site in Comments.

So, what are you waiting for? Time to Christmas-shop. It's hard to make a living off-season on Cape Cod. Please support the local small businesses mentioned above...

Oysterfest, 2011: Where Oysters Educate, As Well As Please the Palate

The 11th annual Wellfleet OysterFest opened under sunny skies. It was a breezy day, but the mood was joyous. Oysterfest marks the end of tourist season and everyone is ready to party. It is the chance to see old friends, and make new ones. Here shellfisher Barbara Austin exchanges a laugh with someone who approached the Pirate Shellfish stand. Sven and I walked down as soon as I had finished serving breakfast.

Oysterfest means fun for young and old alike. Daytrippers arrived on foot, by bike, by shuttle bus from the ocean beach parking lots, and by car. Below, Helen Purcell, in her 90s, makes her way up Main with a contribution for one of the church bake sales. We saw numerous families, out for a good time. The foot traffic along Main Street was intense. Of course, the early bird gets the worm, or, in this case, the unique oyster pendant or scarf, and those in the know do not want to miss out. I picked up a felted hat by textile artist Nicole St. Pierre that would probably have been gone by mid-afternoon. Oysters were already being swallowed by eager connoisseurs. Perhaps that’s what they were having for breakfast?

Among the products for sale: felted hats, environmentally friendly soaps and candles, local chocolate, jewelry, photography, paintings, pottery, eco-tiles, fleece scarves; many T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the familiar image of the Wellfleet oyster. The most unusual object I saw was surely this Wellfleet Oysterfest shot glass. There were wood-carving and glass-blowing specialists to watch. Sven liked the Harwich artist Geoff Semonian, much of whose work featured a whale motif. Children had their faces painted or bounced on the inflatable playground behind Prez. Hall.

A favorite stand of mine offered reusable tote bags, which are sorely needed here in town when so many people still accept single-use bags for groceries. These particular Hoistaway Bags are made of recycled sails.

We stopped at Wellfleet Waters and asked if I might take a photo for this blog. One of the vendors cried out, “Oh, my gosh! I read your blog. I love your blog!” So, of course, you get to see these two ladies, with Beth, the blog-reader, on the right. Check out the cheerful textiles they created, inspired by Wellfleet where they spend the summer.

Of course, Sven and I admired
the display of hand-painted oyster plates at Preservation Hall. The table arrangements were still up from the night before. Prez. Hall shirts were on sale out front.

I always get a kick out of the people posing in the oyster shell cutouts, don't you?

From Prez. Hall to the intersection with Briar Lane, education trumped the desire for sales. NOAA, MA Audubon, Friends of the Herring River, and half a dozen more non-profits were staging exhibitions and distributing literature. (Here a festival-goer enjoys roasted corn on the cob, an Oysterfest specialty.)

A major component of the 2011 Oysterfest was, in fact, education. Shellfish Constable Andy Koch led a tour called “Oysters = Clean Water” from 8 to 9 this morning. Attendees got to visit a real shellfish grant. From 9 to 10:30, at the pier, several scientists gave a talk to explain the two-acre Duck Creek propagation site, which will improve water quality. This is where the oyster shells are being recycled. (If you attended Oysterfest, 2011, you could not help but notice how dear this project is to festival organizers. A woman was even walking around, dressed in an oyster suit. Posted signs read, “Give ‘em back. Please recycle your shells here.”)

The Historical Society opened its new Lorenzo Dow Baker Room for Oysterfest. Sven and I were very impressed by the artifacts and furniture that had been assembled to recreate the life of a man who must surely have been Wellfleet’s most famous citizen, founder of the company that first imported bananas green, the one that became United Fruit. Sunshine streamed in the windows, making it possible to imagine a life back in another century, when town’s folk could never have believed something like Oysterfest might one day exist, not in their wildest dreams. 20,000 people, down for a weekend in mid-October? No way, the oldtimers would have said.Everywhere you looked, people were consuming oysters. If they were not consuming them, they were standing in line to buy them, or shucking them. The big event is the annual shucking contest that takes place Sunday afternoon.

If you missed Oysterfest this year, do plan to come in 2012. Plan on three days, to avoid sitting in traffic on Route 6.

An event like this takes many months of preparation, endless meetings, and incredible dedication from a handful of Wellfleetians, members of SPAT, a non-profit that fosters an understanding of the shellfish industry. To them, I say a hearty BRAVO!

The food stands, under the big tent, were better than ever. Check out this fried dough specialty from Pirate Shellfish, where the line was longer than any of the seafood restaurant booths. The live music from local bands had festival-goers dancing in the aisles. We picked up some paella for dinner and wondered if Mac's was selling yummy lobster tails on a stick, as it had for Wellfleet Boogey. I could not tell. The line was too long.

I bought a loaf of organic pumpkin bread at the Congregational Church. There was an apple pie on sale, made by my friend Denny O’Connell. Hurry on down. It may still be there.

Wellfleet Artists Prepare for Oysterfest at Prez. Hall

Preservation Hall was so quiet yesterday evening when I stopped by with my camera in search of artists in action that I wondered whether perhaps I had been mistaken on the date or time. I trotted downstairs anyway and found half a dozen Wellfleetians, poised over the works of art they were creating to benefit our community center: oyster plates! Make no mistake. These creations will turn up 100 years from now on a 2111 version of Antiques Roadshow as examples of the twenty-first century Cape Cod arts and crafts movement. (I’ve got the one I bought last year stashed away so it does not get broken.) Above right, "Raspberry Oysters," painted by Carol Ubriaco. On the left, note the marvelous design Ken Fishman is studiously applying. There was no conversation, so intent were the artists on their work. The plates will be available for viewing and sale during Oysterfest.

This year Preservation Hall is organizing, “Find a Place At the Table, An Elegant Evening of Wine, Art, Music & Food.” For only $50, you get to sample five appetizers and wine pairings, courtesy of Truro Vineyards, as well as first dibs on the hand-painted oyster plates. The table settings will also be works of art, created by a bevy of local flower arrangers. (I have admired their skills at other Prez. Hall events, like the wreath pageant, and can vouch for how awesome they will be.) The date: Friday, October 14, at 6 pm. Seating for this unique event is limited so make your reservations today.

Report on Oyster Recycling After Oysterfest

It is wise to collect and recycle oyster shells after Oysterfest, apparently. Know why? If all the shells from the 2010 festivities had been recycled back into the water, Wellfleet would have removed 10% of the nitrogen created by a segment of the winter population, numbering 300 residents. This act would also produce 300,000 to 1,500,000 "free" oysters and filter 22 million gallons of water. I got this information from a recent report submitted by Curt Felix and circulated by Paul Pilcher, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, which will become the game plan for next year. Sounds good to me ....

Oysterfest 2010: Oysters Galore, and Fun, Too

“Hurry up, slow pokes!” called out a small blond girl, holding on tight to her dad’s hand as they preceded other family members up Main Street yesterday. Sven and I were traveling in the opposite direction, on our way home. I gobbled up the last bit of a delicious falafel sandwich from Karoo Kafé. In my bag, two pints of paella from The Boathouse for tonight’s super. Ahead of me, Sven strode resolutely towards the Long Pond turn-off. A stream of cars drove past, towards the marina, one of several designated parking areas for out-of-town guests. I glanced at my watch. Not even 1 pm yet. I was realizing, belatedly, that Sven was not the ideal person with whom to do Oysterfest, although he loves oysters. My husband can’t stand crowds. Next year I think I’ll come by myself …

Imagine Main Street, chock a block with bodies, and that’s what Oysterfest is like. The center of the village is transformed, even more crowded than during summer. Apparently Saturday was worse, or better, from the merchants’ point of view. An estimated 10,000 people descended on Wellfleet Saturday, despite the dreary forecast. And Sunday, there were still oysters available everywhere. Real ones on the half shell, of course, but also fried buttermilk oysters, oyster stew, oyster jewelry, oyster motifs on T-shirts and sweatshirts, chocolate oysters, oyster bird baths, etc. etc.

Our first stop was the hula hoop stand, a big draw for the children. Sven chatted briefly with our friend Mara, who was selling the colorful toys. Then it was on to the food court. Revelers, already tired, lounged at picnic tables. Some clasped glasses of beer. On stage, a band played a raucous tune. It was not yet noon, and the lines had not formed under the tent, so it was possible to get a peek at all the food options. Sven had a clam fritter, washed down with a bowl of Wicked Oyster clam chowder. Thus fortified, we forged our way down Main Street, not an easy feat. The stalls were quite varied and different from past years. Merchants offered reasonable prices on objects that all seemed like the perfect homemade Christmas gift. Customers were filling up their totes faster than you can say Wellfleet’s-Tenth-Annual-Oysterfest-Is-A-Resounding-Success.

Our next stop was Preservation Hall. I admired some great painted oyster plates on sale to benefit the hall and snatched up the one decorated by Kristen Shantz, glancing behind me for Sven. Tours were underway, and I would have liked to have seen the completed renovations, but he was already heading for the door. In the back yard, kids bounced on a variety of inflatable forms.

I love to watch the talented lady from The Juice, with dreadlocks piled on her head, the one who paints faces, but I barely had time to snap a photo. There was quite a line of anxious children, eager to go under her paintbrush. (I noticed she took the time to ask each child what look he/she preferred. One young man in his twenties chose to be a pirate, so this activity captured the attention of the young-of-heart as well.) Nearby,two oyster forms proved quite popular with amateur photographers.

I did insist on walking all the way down Main to the non-profit area. A still life of oysters was one of the prizes at the Affordable Housing table. There were raffles and a superb kayak, surely first prize for some raffle or silent auction but Sven had already plunged back into the crowd, so I didn’t get time to read the small print and cannot report on which one. On our way up Main, we watched adults sipping Bloody Marys at Winslow Tavern and kids chomping down on roasted corn. We stopped to chat with David Wright, at the Historical Society, seated in front of an array of merchandise, including the new book by Irene Paine. David has become quite the fixture there. “Someone even asked me if I stayed put overnight,” he joked.

Oysterfest 2010 seemed to have a bit of something for everyone. There were even recycling bins for oyster shells. Congratulations to Alex Hay and his team for throwing our town such a marvelous end-of-tourist-season party.

Did you attend Oysterfest this year? If so, what did you like best? Is this an event that would make you want to visit Wellfleet next fall?

Who Is Really Celebrating this Oysterfest?

I know, I know. The photo above does not show crowds of revelers, but rather Long Pond in all its fall glory. Sven and I were not able to go to Oysterfest yesterday because we had guests arriving. That, too, is the life of the innkeeper. Let's hope we get down later today. The sun parted the clouds around noon for a couple hours of magnificent blue sky. No doubt many oysters were consumed as the town celebrated the end of tourist season. There was one person who much have been celebrating a bit more intensely than others: Jeff, yes, you! Congratulations to Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater on receiving an anonymous gift of one million dollars, divided into $250,000 for four separate years, which will allow Jeff's baby to grow and develop in marvelous new ways ...