Provincetown: The (Re) Birth of a Nation

Provincetown, Massachusetts, has been committed to freedom for over four centuries.

The New England town, located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod and where the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Compact, continues to be a safe harbor for immigrants, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

P-Town is delightfully eclectic, as evidenced by the juxtaposition of its quaint architecture and political activism.

Take a quick stroll through Commercial Street, and you’ll see charming cottages with signs that read “shoot loads, not guns” and “48 years grateful for my abortion.”

Passing lobster shacks and pedicabs on one’s way to the Pilgrim Monument is like stepping on a time machine.

Turn of the century writers and artists flocked to the town, paving the way for 1960s hippies and 1970s gays who keep it bright and colorful—even during the bitter winter months.

Going back in time, one can almost see the sailors from The Azores attracted by the fishing industry, which explains P-Town’s Portuguese influence—as seen in restaurants, bakeries and the ubiquitous flags.

As a bonafide gay Mecca, P-Town boasts a vibrant nightlife dating back to the 1950s. A-House, The Vault, The Monkey Bar and the iconic T Dance at The Boatslip are favorites among locals and visitors alike. 

Home to the late Anthony Bourdain, Provincetown is also one of America’s culinary capitals. The Mews Restaurant and Cafe, Strangers & Saints, The Lobster Pot, Governor Bradford and Joon Bar and Kitchen are some of the most famous eateries.

The area is also (in) famous for being the film location of the 1975 Steven Spielberg movie “Jaws.” In case you were skeptical of Hollywood “anti-shark propaganda” like me, a sobering sign will convince you. 

For those willing to enjoy safely, the Cape Cod National Sea Shore offers gorgeous landscapes, like its dunes: a perfect place for a beach hike.

P-Town was the last stop of a 3-week work/holiday trip before driving back home to New York City.

It was also the first time we reentered the United States after the Supreme Court reversed women’s rights and threatened to follow up with marriage equality.

Discussing with one of the P-Town shopkeepers, we agreed that perhaps there was a silver lining.

The grim prospect prevents us from becoming complacent and galvanizes us to keep fighting for our freedoms: as our forefathers (and mothers!) did all those years ago.