New and Noteworthy - Annual 2008

The Wequassett Resort and Golf Club has been named one of the top 100 mainland hotels in the U.S. by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. Courtesy of The Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

Lodge-istics

Darling Development of Seekonk, Mass., has purchased the Americana Holiday Motel and Suites on Route 28 in Yarmouth for $3.5 million. Plans to replace the old motel with a newer, larger Hampton Inn are currently in the works. Scheduled to open in the spring of 2009, the new hotel would have 136 rooms, ample meeting space, indoor and outdoor pool and a continental coffee shop, according to the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce. If the deal goes forward, this would be the first hotel to be built on Cape Cod in 20 years…Four Points by Sheraton Hyannis Resort Cape Cod has been purchased by the Finch Group, a company that owns and manages Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort in Falmouth and the Nantucket Inn and Conference Center. The Sheraton has been renamed the Resort & Conference Center at Hyannis and will cater to groups looking for meeting space for business and social functions. Extensive renovations to the guest rooms, conference area, restaurants and lobby are expected to be completed by May...After three phases of renovations between now and spring of 2009, the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis will boast even more amenities. Phase one will produce 15 fractional residences. The two- and three-bedroom units will each be shared by 10 owners, but will be furnished, decorated and managed by the Cape Codder Resort. Along with the privilege of using all of the hotel’s amenities, owners of the fractional residences will be supplied concierge services and access to a chauffeured shuttle van. Phase two consists of building a 15,000-square-foot, full-destination spa, replete with steam showers, saunas, fitness center, celebratory bridal-party room, nail and hair salon and 15 treatment rooms, offering traditional spa services as well as medi-spa services, which include everything from botox to laser treatments. The former spa area will be converted into a children’s spa. During the third and final phase of renovations, the wildly popular wave pool will receive three times more space and include a retractable roof overhead, “lazy river,” and taller, wider water slides. An outdoor pool will also be added…The Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Pleasant Bay in Chatham has been named one of the top 100 mainland hotels in the U.S. by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. In other news, the Wequassett is planning to open this spring 23 new luxury rooms with views of Round Cove and Pleasant Bay. These rooms will include private balconies or patios, gas-burning fireplaces, air-jet soaking tubs, 40-inch flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations.

Tidbits

Chef Heather Allen, well known for her work at the Regatta of Cotuit, now brings her talents to the table nightly at her own restaurant, Heather, Mashpee’s newest upscale dining spot. The restaurant is located at 20 Joy St. in South Cape Village . 

Enjoy orange crème brulée with fresh fruit, mint and almond cookie at Mashpee’s newest upscale dining spot, Heather. Courtesy of Cape Cod Chefs

A taste of Europe has imported to a new, sweet spot just off the West End Rotary in Hyannis. Amandine Patiserrie Café French bakery creates mouthwatering desserts, as well as muffins, croissants, salads and sandwiches to eat in or take out . . . La dolce vita comes to Brewster. Agro Dolce Bar & Ristorante, located on Main Street in the space formerly occupied by Sparkfish, serves authentic Italian cuisine in a casual yet upscale Mediterranean atmosphere…Because of “political reasons” stemming from perceived conflicts with Mario Batali’s New York restaurant Babbo, Art Duquette has changed the name of his seasonal Harwich Port restaurant from Casa di Babbo to Bank St. Grille. Duquette notes the new name should end the confusion that the restaurant serves solely Italian food. For that, you can visit his Nauset Beach Club restaurant in Orleans…The Mills Restaurant on Route 149 in Marstons Mills is serving breakfast and lunch again, but under new ownership. The eatery with small-town flavor and big-time charm is open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends…Several Provincetown restaurants have changed addresses, acquired new owners or undergone an expansion of services. The Szechuan restaurant at 179 Commercial St. is now Jimmy’s Hideaway. The 50-seat restaurant has a full bar and views of Provincetown Harbor, offering a place for locals and visitors to enjoy a combination of upscale tavern food and fine cuisine...The Outer Crèpe has moved to the space previously occupied by Tofu A-Go-Go at 336 Commercial St…Chef Steven Frappoli’s self-described “modern cafeteria” replaces the Outer Crepe at 214 Commercial...Take out, eat in or have Frappo 66’s high-end, gourmet “fast food” delivered. The menu includes such dishes as tuna-avocado tartar and curried chicken and snow peas over greens with almonds, scallions and cilantro…Clem and Ursie’s Restaurant is adding to its market a doughnut shop with full breakfast menu. And the deli menu will be expanded to include rotisserie chickens, ducks and turkeys, as well as Boar’s Head products…Hyannis’ hottest new hangout derives its name from owner Micah Power’s favorite novel, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. The Black Spot sells fresh brew, organic coffee, sandwiches, pastries and muffins at 10 Ocean St.—the Island Merchant’s former pad. The quirky and creative new coffee shop is a relaxing place to enjoy a hot or cold beverage, surf the Web or listen to regularly scheduled live musical entertainment...The delicious smell of pizza permeates Windmill Plaza in East Orleans, thanks to the arrival of Zia Pizzeria & Café. Customers can choose their own toppings for an inspired artisan pizza, build their own sandwich or sub, or order one of the specialty sandwiches off the menu. Open year round, with delivery available from October to May…The popular Jamaican restaurant Iriecorna in Falmouth just got bigger. The old dining room is now a lounge area with easy chairs that reflect the laid-back atmosphere. And the new dining room is more than twice its former size, allowing patrons more space to dance to the beat of live reggae or sit back and enjoy the sound of steel drums…Marshside Restaurant in Dennis has been leveled. A new building with more seating and better views of the marsh should be completed by late spring . . . The new companion restaurant to the Ebb Tide in Dennisport is the Sea View, where the views of Nantucket Sound provide the perfect accompaniment to the eclectic menu of New England seaside fare. The restaurant includes an outside deck for open-air dining.

What’s in store

Main Street in Chatham received a new gift store last Memorial Day. Variado, “variety” in Spanish, is open year round and carries an eclectic mix of gifts, from linens, candles and frames to Italian pottery, seasonal items and coastal-themed treasures….A new gallery has opened in Sandwich at 23 Newton Rd., featuring hand-painted custom tiles by owner/artist Susan Davies…Breakdown Lane at 26 Pearl St. in Hyannis is another new and notable gallery, owned by artist Meaghann Kenney…Far Land Provisions in Provincetown now offers food delivery in addition to supplying customers with prepared meals and a market full of organic produce, fine cuts of meats, artisan cheeses and baked goods…On the other side of the bridge, Wareham’s new shopping mall, Wareham Crossing, on Cranberry Highway at the intersection of routes 495 and 195, is expected to be completed by summer. Some 45 stores, including Target, an L.L. Bean outlet, Lowe’s, Old Navy and more, will populate the site.

Culture club

The historic Dreamland Theatre on South Water Street in Nantucket was purchased in October, after being boarded up for more than two years. The 150-year-old, three-story building was bought by the Dreamland Foundation, a group interested in preserving the structure and possibly restoring it to its former glory as a movie house or a performing arts center…Italian artisans recently completed a floor mosaic at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans. Alessandra Caprara and her team of mosaicists in Ravenna, Italy fabricated the sanctuary floor mosaic, assisted by members of the Community of Jesus mosaic guild. The sanctuary floor mosaic was designed by Chris Kanaga and Soren Olsen, and is inspired by Revelation 22 — the new heaven and the new earth where peace reigns in creation. The Tree of Life bursts into flower and fruit as a flourishing Tree of Paradise, fed by the waters of the River of Life, and is surrounded by creatures of the past, present, and future.

Italian artisans recently completed a floor mosaic at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans, where Gloriae Dei Cantores choir performs. Courtesy of the Church of the Transfiguration

Visitor info

Go green. Cape Cod National Seashore plans to purchase five bio-diesel mini-buses for $1.85 million for summer shuttle service between Eastham and Provincetown. The buses are expected to be delivered in 2009…The Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame has moved from Heritage Museums & Gardens to new digs in the lower level of the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum . . . Cape Cod Maritime Days has been selected as one of the Top 100 events in North America for 2008 by the American Bus Association. The 15th Annual Maritime Days will be held May 1 through 31. A full schedule of events can be viewed at capecodmaritimedays.com.