This is my “What I did on my summer vacation column. ” A week’s getaway to P-Town aka Provincetown. P-town is to New England what Fire Island is to the New York City LGBT crowd and Rehoboth is to the Philly-D.C. crowd, but P-Town serves New England from its perch on the tip of Cape Cod.
P-Town has the distinction of being one of the earliest of gay resort towns. It was — and still is — a picturesque Portuguese fishing village. No McDonalds here. But what distinguishes this town from other gay-friendly resorts is the enormity of what it offers the LGBT vacationer.
Of course it has what every Cape Cod town should have: Beaches, hiking and biking trails, forest and beach reserves, sailing, fishing, whale watching and tours of almost every description and, of course, fresh seafood.
How about a Sunday Drag brunch with Lobster benedict after your night out partying at scores of watering holes, each in a friendly competition to get you in their door? This is a town that lives on tourism and they’ve banded together to make it happen. What really sets this town apart is the enormity of entertainment choices you have on any given night. Here’s an example from last Wednesday:
Wine Lovers Wednesdays At Shipwreck Lounge, 5-11:59 p.m. Poppy Champlin: How Do You Like Me Now?, 7-8 p.m. Provincetown International Film Festival Presents “The Kids Are All Right,” 7-8:45 p.m. Jennie McNulty @ the Madeira Room/Vixen, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Cashetta’s Comedy and Magic Show!, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Seth Rudetsky’s Deconstructing Broadway, 8:30-9:30 p.m. The Atomic Bombshells Burlesque, 9-10 p.m. Hump Day Karaoke in The Wave Bar with Thirsty Burlington, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Kate Clinton presents her “Lady HaHa” Tour, 9-10 p.m. That’s What She Said, Madeira Room/Vixen, 9 p.m. Provincetown International Film Festival Presents “The Kids Are All Right,” 9:15-10:55 p.m. Debra & Patrick perform in the Central House Piano Bar, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. A** Wednesday At The A-House Hosted by Shady Pines, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Miss Richfield 1981: Bingo Bonanza!, 10-11 p.m. Hedda Lettuce: Gives Great Hedda, 10:30-11:30 p.m. *Latin Fever* @ Club Purgatory, 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Drag-In at the Madeira Room/Vixen, 10:30 p.m.
Other nights might offer a film screening, sunset kayak sailing or a comedy and magic show in drag imported from Las Vegas. The point is, there is never a loss for some form of entertainment if you choose — or you could simply walk around the town and take it all in. Or, just sit on the beach at night and take in the stars and lose yourself in reflection.
Commercial Street is the main street and you can take a stroll and see many gay couples making their way along it, holding hands. Or, like the week I was there, which was family week, many gay couples and their children. A delight to see! The other surprise for me was the youth of the crowd. And this LGBT resort knows how to keep it current, including gay activism: It even has an HRC store on its main street. And the “no vacancy” signs you see all over town prove its success.
Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at [email protected].