Notes from Land's End: December 6

Awesome gifts for $20 or less in Provincetown
December 6th, 2011 

Being on a budget this holiday season will be easy if you do your gift shopping right here in Provincetown. This roving Christmas elf went out during the Holly Folly Shop Hop and found awesome presents for under a sawbuck. 


Joe & Chris @ 141 Market

Bradford Natural Market has hundreds of gift-worthy products for the gluten-free, organically inclined or health conscious on your list. The Green & Black Organic Chocolate Classic Collection is just $13.00 and Bloomin’ Flower Cards and Tags ($3.50 to $7.50) are a garden patch message for spring. Owners Joe and Chris are great holiday hosts, with a daily hot lunch that is sublimely good for you ($8.99/pound) by FarmMaid’s 141 Kitchen.


Scott Cunningham and his delicious "Scottcakes"

Next stop was to mail off some sensationally sugary “Scottcakes”, now available to ship for the Xmas Season. The iconic pink-frosted butter-cream cupcake became all the rage when actor Scott Cunningham was brought to court for selling these morsels on Commercial Street in 2010. Now, with his own location across from the Provincetown library, Scottcakes will send out a half dozen for $15.00 (plus shipping) with frosting instructions available on YouTube. Check this out: The ScottSwirl! Call 508-487-PINK to order.
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Happy as a Ptown Clam

I never thought I'd enjoy scratching for clams, but...well, I was wrong. I am in Cape Cod after all, and, when in Rome...


Nancyann


Scratching for clams
Halfway there




















Clamming is just one of the many winter activities in Provincetown if you're not too busy attending popular social events, catching up on your reading or lighting a bonfire on the beach. 


John and Nancyann
Low tide at Breakwater

Whether you're a visitor or a Provincetown resident you can easily acquire a shellfish license at Town Clerk's Office, which is good for the entire season (November through March that is). 


Low tide at Breakwater


A good friend of mine gave me some Clamming 101 lessons and I was ready to go. She was also kind enough to lend me the gear: a bucket, a rake with long prongs, rubber boots and advice on where "hotspots" might be. 


Sunshine over the Moors


This year clamming takes place near the Breakwater, right at the very West end of Commercial Street, and it is only allowed on Fridays and Sundays (for obvious reasons given the popularity of this activity) when tides are low. 


Beautiful day for clamming


"Why should I acquire a license and go clamming?" you may ask. Here are just a few good reasons: it is fun, you're spending time outdoors exercising (trust me, clamming is a good workout), you get to eat fresh clams for dinner, you get to see some of your friends who you haven't seen in months, and last but not least, the scenery is gorgeous. And I have pictures to prove it...


John and Nancyann


Two hours and a bucketful later I had met my daily quota and I was happy as a Ptown clam.