1. Cabot’S Candy
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-3550
Address: 276 Commercial St.
Description: The Cicero clan began making fudge and saltwater taffy on the premises in 1969. Stand inside or in front of the huge picture window and watch as a massive spool of taffy is tamed into individually wrapped bite-size pieces. (Ask for a free sample.) The flavors sometimes change, but you can be sure of finding cranberry, grape, chocolate, cherry, piña colada, licorice, orange-pineapple, and their signature flavor, molasses peanut butter. Cabot’s also sells sugar-free taffy, but sweet tooths may prefer options including fudge (made in 16 flavors), peanut brittle, and caramel honey crunch popcorn. It’s open only holidays and weekends in the off-season.
2. Exuma Fine Jewelry
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-2746
Address: 283 Commercial St.
Description: Exuma specializes in custom jewelry, creating classic and modern designs in 14- and 18-karat gold and platinum. Rings are big here—gorgeous settings of sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and diamonds glitter in the cases. Jeweler and craftsman Gunter Hanelt, originally from Germany, favors clean, uncomplicated designs that never go out of style. The showroom, located diagonally across from Town Hall, is open year-round, daily in summer, six days a week (closed Wed) through Christmas, and on weekends only from Jan through Mar.
3. Good Scents
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-3393
Address: 351 Commercial St.
Description: This small store is filled with all you need to pamper yourself (or someone else)—lovely scented soaps, shampoos, and lotions, along with bath brushes, luxurious robes, and massage oils. Choose from a variety of skin-care products, and lotions, shampoos, and bath gels custom-scented with essential or perfume oils. The shop happily makes up gift baskets and does mail order. It’s open daily in season and weekends during the off-season.
4. Mad As A Hatter
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-4063
Address: 360 Commercial St.
Description: Though Mad Hatter sells jackets, shirts, and scarves, people head here for the crowning touch. Choose from zany headgear, such as a multicolored beanie with a propeller, or more traditional, classic designs. You can also get custom-made hats here. The shop is open year-round.
5. Northern Lights Hammocks
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-2385
Address: 361 Commercial St.
Description: The friendly staff at Northern Lights Hammocks will try to get you to sample the swinging, swaying merchandise, whether it is made of rope, cotton, hemp, silk, Textilene, or canvas. Some of the hammocks here are true works of art. One award-winning Danish model features a teak and stainless steel stand that could harmonize with the decor of even the chicest home. The shop is open daily in season and weekends only off-season.
6. Now Voyager Bookstore & Gallery
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-0848
Address: 357 Commercial St.
Description: Best known for its collection of gay and lesbian books, Now Voyager also has the latest in fiction and nonfiction and a large mystery section. It has a sampling of CDs, cassettes, and videos as well as used books and has expanded to include a gallery featuring works by international artists. The shop closes for the month of Jan.
7. Provincetown Bookshop
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-0964
Address: 246 Commercial St.
Description: Open since 1964, this year-round shop is filled floor-to-ceiling with hardcover and paperback books, everything from poetry and plays to best sellers, with a good selection of Cape Cod books. It’s open daily.
8. Provincetown Repertory Theatre
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-7487, (800) 791-7487
Address: 238 Bradford St.
Description: This group stages performances of American plays and music May through early Nov. In partnership with the Provincetown Theatre Company, the Provincetown Repertory Theatre recently completed construction of a new 180-seat building with state-of-the-art staging, audio and lighting systems. Here you will find fare ranging from Eugene O’Neill (Long Day’s Journey into Night) to Streakin’ A Musical Flashback to the 1970s (or Revue produced by the new Provincetown Players). They also host a Fall Playwright’s Festival in mid-Sept and a Woman’s Week New Play Festival in Oct.
9. Great Music Series On Sundays At 5
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-9344
Address: 236 Commercial St.
Description: Nearly 10 years old, this series is organized by the Meeting House Instrument Trust, a group working toward restoring the historic Universalist Meeting House organ housed in this 1851 Greek Revival gem. Concerts are varied programs of classical music and Broadway show tunes, featuring virtuoso vocalists and talented local musicians. Concerts are held from late June through mid-Oct on Sun at 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 (free for kids 12 and under); the group also welcomes donations.
10. Dna Gallery
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-7700
Address: 288 Bradford St.
Description: Ever since the DNA (for Definitive New Art) opened in 1994, it has been a welcome artistic refuge for those seeking the leading-edge exhibitions in a wide range of media. DNA, which represents some 30 emerging and established artists, also morphs its openings into “happenings,” merging them with dance pieces, theatrical readings, films, and musical events, usually held on weekends. It’s open daily May through Oct.
11. Rice/Polak Gallery
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-1052
Address: 430 Commercial St.
Description: Also in the East End is the Rice/Polak Gallery, where you’ll find contemporary artworks in various media by local and other artists. It’s open May through Dec, daily from May through Sept and weekends from Oct through Dec.
12. Wohlfarth Galleries
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-6569
Address: 432 Commercial St.
Description: Wohlfarth Galleries features both photography and fine art, and represents past and present students of the Cape Cod School of Arts established by Charles Hawthorne. The gallery is open May through Dec.
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Address: 460 Commercial St.
14. Marine Specialties
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-1730
Address: 235 Commercial St.
Description: In keeping with P-town’s quirky individuality, nothing is off limits at Marine Specialties. The warehouse-size space is filled to the rafters with nautical surplus, gas masks, lobster pots, combat boots, and feather boas. In the summer the store stays open until 1 a.m.—it’s a scene.
15. Shell Shop
City: Provincetown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 487-1763
Address: 276 Commercial St.
Description: Sought out by both local interior designers and lovers of kitsch, this shop is a treasure trove of seashell art and loose shells from tasteful to delightfully tacky. It’s also a great choice for inexpensive souvenir sea trinkets for the kids.