👋 Hey Neighbor!
Back for edition two, huh?

Must mean you’re either Cape Cod curious or you just can’t resist a little local mischief.

Either way, you know the drill:

  • The hydrangeas are peacocking.

  • Someone’s double-parked at Kream ‘n Kone (again).

  • And there’s always a story wafting off a grill somewhere between Dennis and Yarmouth.

Pull up a chair—this scroll is packed with porch secrets, garden shortcuts, and all the good stuff your cousins from off-Cape never get to hear.

Here’s what’s really happening in the Mid Cape this week—straight from your neighbor who still remembers when the fried clams were a nickel (well, almost).

—Art

🏡 Mid Cape Real Estate Round-Up

Sponsored by Radtke and Associates

🏡 Who Bought Where? Mid Cape’s Real Estate Secrets This Month.

All of these sales happened in just the last 30 days.

Let’s set aside the PR gloss. If you live in Barnstable, Dennis, or Yarmouth, you want to know what’s really happening—who bought, who sold, what’s changing on your street, and what these sales mean for everyone else.

The Quick Sellers: Move-In-Ready Is King

  • 8 Maraspin Road, Barnstable Village ($600,000, closed July 8)

    • What worked: Classic ranch, 2BR/2BA, wood floors, a 14x17 enclosed porch, attached garage, and a private yard—just 1.2 miles from Millway Beach and close to Barnstable Village coffee shops. Kitchen was updated a while ago, but the bones were great and it was clean, lived-in, and easy for buyers to imagine themselves here. Sold in just 16 days at 95% of list.

    • Why it mattered: Turnkey but with room to add your own touch—a sweet spot for today’s buyers.

  • 3528 Main Street, Barnstable ($1,100,000, closed June 9)

    • What worked: A “hidden” Cape, tucked off a long drive with privacy, 3BR/2.5BA, 2,232 sqft, and wide pine floors. Granite kitchen, covered porch, big yard, first-floor primary suite, and an open plan—plus a walk to the village and harbor. Sold in ONE day at full asking.

    • Why it mattered: When a home is move-in ready, has the right look, and lands in the right spot, even $1M+ buyers jump. Speed here showed pent-up demand at the high end.

  • 42 Daybreak Lane, Barnstable (Cobblestone Landing, $780,000, closed June 27)

    • What worked: This updated 3BR Cape with vaulted ceilings, granite kitchen, new sunroom, central A/C, and a fresh look went $30K over ask after just five days. Perks: access to a private clubhouse with pool, gym, library, and more.

    • Why it mattered: People will pay more for extras—especially newer systems, community amenities, and a “ready now” feel.

The Fixer/Upside Opportunity

  • 296 Buckskin Path, Centerville ($525,000, closed June 11)

    • What worked: Three-bed ranch with good bones, hardwood, garage, on a generous lot—needed updating, but the neighborhood is close to Craigville Beach, shops, and schools. Sold in just 2 days, at asking.

    • Why it mattered: Investors and locals with vision are jumping on these. “Project” homes are still in demand if they’re priced right and close to the action.

Something for Everyone:

  • 52 Cap’n Jac’s Road, Centerville ($580,000, closed June 27)

    • 2BR/2BA, attached garage, modern updates (granite kitchen, new appliances), central A/C, new roof/windows. A bright, cheerful home with a deck and private yard, a mile to the beach. Sold above list.

    • Buyers liked: The combo of location, turnkey upgrades, and a price that felt fair—even with today’s rates.

  • 11 White Oak Trail, Centerville ($599,000, closed July 3)

    • A charmer: Two beds, two baths, bonus finished basement, near beaches and recreation, with a freshly updated look. Sold at asking in 9 days.

    • Takeaway: Well-presented, well-located, and priced right still draws quick, strong offers.

What’s the Lesson for Locals?

  • If you’re selling: Buyers are willing to pay a premium for move-in-ready or thoughtfully updated homes, but “as-is” homes with good bones and the right address will still go—fast—if the price is right.

  • If you’re buying: Don’t snooze on the new listing alert. Speed matters, and the “extras”—clubhouses, walk-to-village, private yard—often tip the balance.

  • For everyone: Every block is a story. Right now, the market is rewarding homes that make life easier today—and houses with potential for tomorrow.

Want more info about a sale in your neighborhood, or curious what’s quietly moving in Dennis or Yarmouth? Drop me a note, or swing by an open house—I’ll give you the inside scoop.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Tip:
Curious which streets are buzzing with new listings, or who’s actually getting offers? Want the inside scoop on what’s really selling in your part of the Mid Cape? Just email me at [email protected]—happy to share local insights, no strings attached.

“Inside the Gates: Mid Cape’s Secret Gardens Unlocked”

Every July, something quietly magical happens here in the Mid Cape. Our neighborhoods don’t just bloom—they come alive with stories, laughter, and the click of backyard gates swinging open for neighbors, friends, and anyone who loves a true Cape garden. The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival isn’t just a tradition, it’s the week we get to be nosy—in the best way possible.

Here’s your inside scoop (and, yes, go ahead and forward this to your gardening buddy down the street):

🌿 Garden Highlights — Just for Us Mid Capers

Joanne Robichaud’s Garden

27 Marble Road, Barnstable | July 16 & 17
You’ll feel the soul of Cape gardening here. Joanne’s garden is forty years in the making—tiny maples, towering hydrangeas, and gallon-sized rhododendrons that have witnessed family barbecues, summer storms, and the slow drift of Cape time. Rock walls—built by hand—hold back tough hills, turning what could be chaos into artful structure. As you walk, sun-loving daylilies and coneflowers burst in waves of color and texture, while heirloom hydrangeas—augmented year by year—are now joined by fresh new varieties. Look for the shady canopy of red maple, where hostas and astilbes make their own cool, secret world.

Patty Mullens’ Garden

156 Beech Leaf Island Rd., Centerville | July 17 & 18
Imagine moving to the Cape during the pandemic and rolling up your sleeves on a woodland lot—Patty did just that. Now, songbirds, hummingbirds, and the occasional owl are regulars. Every bed, every bloom, every stone patio was designed and dug by her own hands. The result? Hydrangeas, roses, astilbe, ferns, coneflowers, and the kind of perennials that prove you can have an oasis, even after a rough year. Pro-tip: find a spot on the backyard patio, breathe in, and enjoy the peace only a true local’s garden can offer.

Roger and Mary Bowker’s Garden

151 Old County Road, E. Sandwich | July 15
What happens when master gardeners take on a former dairy farm? Roger and Mary have spent 20 years taming 15 wild acres, turning them into serene “garden rooms” stitched together with statuary and hydrangeas around gazebos and pergolas. Their formal herb garden and orchard sit beside a vegetable plot that’s as much art as it is hard work—a place where green thumbs and Cape stubbornness go hand-in-hand. If you ever doubted the power of Cape land (or Cape gardeners), come see how invaders can be turned into an Eden with enough grit and vision.

Dan and C.L. Fornari’s Garden

2 Lawrence Pond Lane, Sandwich | July 16
Meet the ultimate “Cape DIY” garden. Two plant-lovers—one a marine geologist, the other a garden writer—let their imaginations (and shovels) run wild on this 2.5-acre pondside plot. There’s a grape arbor, an organic lawn that hasn’t been fertilized in over a decade, and beds overflowing with perennials, annuals in containers, and native plants. More than 35 hydrangea varieties jostle for your attention. Don’t miss the fragrance and bird garden, where the perfume is rivaled only by the busy motion of local songbirds.

Why This Festival Feels Like Ours

  • No tickets, no velvet ropes. It’s $5 cash at each garden, with every dollar supporting local nonprofits.

  • Dog-friendly and accessible: Many gardens are walker-friendly—ask about icons at the gate.

  • It’s all about community. Chances are, you’ll see someone you know, trade a plant cutting, or learn a new tip for keeping your mopheads blue through August.

  • Get advice from the best. Mal Condon (“The Hydrangea Guy”) will be on hand at select spots—his stories alone are worth the visit.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Tips

  • Bring small bills, a water bottle, and maybe a tote for any unexpected plant treasures.

  • Photos encouraged—but don’t forget to soak it all in.

  • Make it a walk, not a drive. These gardens are meant to be wandered, not rushed.

This is your invitation to step behind the hedges, share a story, and see the Cape through your neighbors’ eyes.
P.S. Forward this to your garden group, your curious neighbor, or anyone who’d love to see the Cape at its most beautiful and most local. Let’s keep these stories growing.

Neighbor Call: Pass It On!
Share your hacks, parade snaps, and summer stories with #MidCapeNeighbors—because around here, everyone’s part of the story. See you out there!

SPOTLIGHT: Bass River Golf Course—The Heartbeat of Yarmouth Summers for 125 Years

Step onto the greens at Bass River Golf Course and you’re joining more than a century of Yarmouth summer tradition. On July 2, the community gathered at the club for a milestone: 125 years since Bass River first opened its fairways in 1900. Locals, town officials, and a full field of 60 golfers marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting, a two-person scramble, and plenty of hometown pride.

Head Golf Pro Dennis Hoye reminded the crowd: “This place was redesigned by Donald Ross in 1914, and it’s still welcoming golfers of every generation.” Bass River’s legacy isn’t just about championships or famous architects—it’s about the stories shared by Cape families. Kids taking their first lessons at junior camp, parents catching up over burgers at the grill, and retirees chasing a personal best as the sun sets over the river.

Last year alone, more than 92,000 rounds were played on Yarmouth’s three public courses, with Bass River right at the center. The best-dressed contest, the DJ’s rendition of the national anthem, and the scramble teams built out of family, coworkers, and longtime friends: these moments are what keep the tradition alive, year after year.

Ask anyone who’s grown up in Yarmouth, and you’ll hear about Friday night sirloin specials, learning to golf on the waterfront holes, or the neighbor who still brags about winning their first tournament here back in the ‘80s. For generations, Bass River has been a place to gather, celebrate, and keep Yarmouth’s laid-back, outdoorsy spirit alive.

As the course heads into its next chapter, the fairways are still wide, the greens still sharp, and the doors open to every resident—golfer or not. In Yarmouth, summer memories start here, and after 125 years, Bass River remains the community’s favorite meeting place.

Why it matters:
Bass River isn’t just a golf course—it’s a cornerstone of Yarmouth’s story, from 1900 to now.

🍤 Mid Cape Bites: The Spots Locals Swear By

Here on the Mid Cape, everyone’s got a go-to—somewhere you don’t need to check reviews because your neighbor’s already vouched for it. It’s the place you tell your friends about, or maybe keep a secret (just so you can always get a table).

This week, we’re dishing up three true local legends from Dennis, Yarmouth, and Barnstable. Real stories, real Cape comfort food, and just enough insider details to make you feel right at home—even if you’ve lived here forever.

Hungry? You will be. Let’s dig in—Mid Cape style.

🍟 Dennis

Kream ‘n Kone — Where Fried Clams Mean You’re Home

You can spot a real Dennis local by their shortcut to Kream ‘n Kone.
Out front, the line’s always buzzing with families splitting a giant seafood platter and someone yelling, “Don’t forget the onion rings!”
The portions are legendary—crispy, piled high, and “big enough to share” (but no shame if you don’t).

“Get the onion rings, every time. Don’t sleep on the coleslaw, either. Goes with everything.”

Regulars stake out the picnic tables and tell stories between bites—kids munching tenders, friends arguing over which combo plate’s the best, grandfathers treating grandkids to their “first real fried clam.”
Staff here know you by face, not just your order. If something’s not right, they fix it fast—often with a smile, sometimes with a next-time gift card. That’s Cape Cod neighborly.

Kream ‘n Kone is more than a fried seafood shack. It’s where Dennis does summer, one crunchy onion ring at a time.

🥣 Yarmouth

Captain Parker’s Pub — Chowder Locals Defend

Even on a cold Tuesday, Captain Parker’s is hopping—locals at the bar, Sox on TV, and families splitting the Fisherman’s Platter while someone passes a bread bowl of the thickest chowder on the Cape.

“Get the bowl, not the cup. Trust me. It’s loaded.”

It’s not fancy, and that’s the point. Bartenders know your name by June; servers handle big tables and solo diners like old friends.
Old-timers argue at the bar about chowder rankings, and regulars always leave with an extra quart (or two) for home.

When things go sideways—a missed order, an overcooked dish—it gets fixed. Quickly. No drama, just Cape courtesy.

This isn’t just a seafood joint; it’s where Yarmouth keeps its soul warm, one ladle of chowder at a time.

🍳 Barnstable

The Daily Paper — Main Street’s Breakfast Story

Walk into The Daily Paper and you’re instantly part of the neighborhood.
Parents juggling toddlers and coffee to-go, night-shift nurses grabbing a “Double Trouble,” retirees catching up over eggs Benedict and the best home fries in town—this is how Hyannis wakes up.

“They remember your coffee order from last summer. The steak bomb burrito changed my mind about breakfast.”

If there’s a wait, locals just swap stories and people-watch from the counter.
Service is warm and quick—waitresses calling, “Here you go, hon!” and cooks working the open kitchen with a practiced rhythm.

From cinnamon toast to vegan burritos, everyone finds a favorite. The early bird specials are legendary, but don’t ask a regular to spill their secrets.

Want more local stories like these? Forward to a friend or reply with your own “only-on-Cape” food memory!

🕶️🌊 Cape Confidential: Cape Cod is Calling This Week

From blooming hydrangeas to pirate tours, steel drum brunches to Greek feasts – Cape Cod’s packed with stories waiting for you.

👣 Stroll farms, sip local brews, dance under the stars, or catch Broadway magic right here at home.

Dive in below and pick your Cape adventure this week – there’s something for every neighbor.

July 11, 2025

July 12, 2025

July 13, 2025

July 14, 2025

July 15, 2025

July 16, 2025

July 17, 2025

🎟️Cape Nights, Center Stage: This Week’s Live Music & More

July 11, 2025

July 12, 2025

July 13, 2025

July 14, 2025

July 15, 2025

July 16, 2025

July 17, 2025

⛱️🌬️ Sun, Mist & Cape Breezes: The Week’s Forecast

Get ready, Mid Cape—summer’s classic mix of sun, breeze, and the occasional mist is setting the perfect scene this week.

  • Fri 7/11:
    75°/65° | Clouds → sun, ESE 8 mph. Humid, but breeze keeps it comfy.
    Morning’s gray—afternoon’s beach-ready. Night: Cloudy, fog late.

  • Sat 7/12:
    72°/64° | AM fog, PM sun, SE 10 mph.
    Foggy start, clear by lunch—garden tours shine. Night: Overcast, mild.

  • Sun 7/13:
    75°/66° | Clouds → sun, SE 10 mph.
    Clouds break late—Cape League, harbor strolls. Night: Cloudy returns.

  • Mon 7/14:
    78°/70° | Partly cloudy, S 10 mph.
    Classic July—great for ice cream runs. Night: Clouds fill in, warm.

  • Tue 7/15:
    80°/70° | Partly cloudy, SW 11 mph.
    Beach day—breezy by afternoon. Night: Partly cloudy, 70°.

  • Wed 7/16:
    82°/72° | Mostly sunny, SW 12 mph.
    Patios and towels dry quick—Cape in full swing. Night: Few clouds, warm.

  • Thu 7/17:
    81°/72° | Partly → mostly cloudy, SW 15 mph.
    Windy—hold your hats, rain possible late. Night: Showers (40%), muggy.

    Got a Cape weather hack or summer ritual? Reply and share—it might make next week’s scroll!

🌊 That’s a Wrap for This Week, Neighbor

From hydrangea secrets to fried clam legends, Broadway hits to back porch jams—Mid Cape is buzzing.

👣 Now it’s your turn: pick a garden, a show, a walk, a meal—make this week yours.

Got a story, a tip, or a hidden local gem to share? Hit reply and let me know.
Until next time—see you out there.

—Art

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