By Lynda Sturner****Holly Folly is one of my all-time best loved weekends in Ptown. Where else can La La do her three most favorite things, shop, eat and watch a show all on one street?
And La La loves to shop! Not only is Ptown the perfect place for all my holiday gifts, it’s also easier and much more fun than buying online or fighting the crowds in New York City. It’s like a fantasy of what it was like to shop in the “good old days,” where anything you wanted could be found on Main Street. Only in P-town, it’s called Commercial Street. When you walk into a store here, it’s like you’re being welcomed into someone’s home for a fabulous party.
From Friday, November 30, through Sunday, December 2, it’s the Holly Folly Shop, Hop and Punchbowl Stroll. It’s the place to be for Christmas and Chanukah gifts. The stores serve drinks, cookies and all kinds of goodies to enhance your shopping experience. Many have good sales, too.
Begin by stopping by at Holly Folly Headquarters at Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial Street) for schedules and updated events. La La is presenting you with highlights of this weekend.
Here are few of the places I love to shop:
D Flax at 214 Commercial Street is running a 50 % off sale. Their Ptown sweatshirts in all kinds of fabulous styles and colors, are perfect gifts for the whole family. I wear them when I travel and people come up to me and say, “Ptown, I love it or I live there” and inevitably, I run into old friends from town.
Costume designer Steve Cary’s store, Wardrobe at 213 Commercial Street, has the latest styles in chic and fun woman’s clothing. He loves working with customers to find the perfect piece for any occasion. It’s also the go-to place for visiting celebrities. He runs fashion shows twice a year and donates a portion of the proceeds to various groups including The Provincetown Theater. La La loves being in these shows along with the fabulous women of Ptown. Being dressed by Steve is to discover a new, previously unknown glamorous La La. Steve does a hilarious Phyllis Diller! Ask him to do one of her jokes.
For men’s fashion, my friends adore MAP at 220 Commercial Street, which bills itself as a quirky boutique for menswear and gifts. If you go there and you must if you are young or want to feel young and hip, tell owner Pauline Fisher that La La sent you.
For kitchen and bathroom delights, go to the annual sale at Utilities Home Store (393 Commercial Street). From stocking stuffers to large platters and soup tureens, it’s a cook’s and proud home makers’ dream. I still have and use a contemporary yellow drying rack I bought in the ’90’s.
Another not to be missed store is Marine Specialties at 235 Commercial Street. It’s one of those jam-packed discount surplus stores filled with clothing, boots, dishes, toys, nautical gear and lots and lots of surprises. La La’s son loves their navy-blue wool winter caps.
And for all things art, go to the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (460 Commercial Street). the Berta Walker Gallery (208
Bradford Street), AMP Gallery (432 Commercial Street), the Cortile Gallery (230 Commercial Street) and The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (1 High Pole Hill).
Be sure to check out Arcadia (131 Commercial Street), a something-for-everyone store at 141 Commercial Street and check out my next column introducing you to owner, Jay Gurewitsch.
After you shop, it’s show-time and once again, Ptown’s nite life comes alive and were it not for the wonderful Christmas lights decorating every house and building you could almost believe it is summer déjà vu all over again.
There are prizes for best Christmas Lights and it’s a visual wet dream all around you. Drink it in and feel lucky to be here. La La does. BIG TIME!
Here are some highlights of the evening activities:
Begin the weekend on Thursday, November 28, with supper and vintage jazz, holiday music and originals with Zoe Lewis at Pilgrim House (336 Commercial Street). Two prix-fixed dinners with shows at 6 and 8pm.
Friday and Saturday nights you have a choice of sing-along piano bars with Billy Hough at the Porchside Bar (9 Carver Street), Bobby Weatherbee at the Dive Bar at the Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial Street) and nightly at the Cabaret at Tin Pan Alley, (269 Commercial Street). La La plans to sing along with all of them.
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus plays Town Hall (260 Commercial Street) Saturday, December 1 at 8:30pm. They sell out fast, so get your tickets early here. On Friday, November 30, is a welcome party for the BGMC at the Shipwreck Lounge (10 Carver Street) from 9pm to 1am.
Saturday morning December 1 from 11am to 12 noon, is an opportunity to join the BGMC in a holiday sing-along at the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (1 High Pole Hill).
The Crown & Anchor (247) Commercial Street) is jam-packed with holiday events. Dance parties, ’tis the Season Annual Holiday Review, a benefit for the AIDS Support Group, the Annual Jungle Bell Run and Champagne Brunch, Holly Folly Drag Bingo and The Boy Band Project/Holiday Edition. Check the complete schedule here.
Exciting events at Pilgrim House (336 Commercial Street) include entertainment by Esera Tuaolo, author of Alone in the Trenches: My Life As a Gay Man in the NFL, the 2017 Bistro Award Winner, Lee Squared and the Pilgrim House Food and Crafts Bazaar. It’s also one of La La’s favorite restaurants for dinner.
You can dance all weekend at the A-House (4-6 Masonic Place), Club Purgatory at The Gifford House (9 Carver Street) and with Tom Yaz at Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial Street).
And finally, shop and eat on Saturdays and Sundays through December 31, at The Canteen’s Holiday Market (225 Commercial Street) with dozens of local vendors and food and drinks and be sure to see The Gingerbread Village at the Purple Feather Café and Treatery (334 Commercial Street).
But just don’t take my word for it. As they said in the Alka Seltzer ad, “Try It You’ll Like it!”
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