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Renee Molinari of Beetlebung

A year-round Vineyard resident, Molinari is the co-owner (with her husband, John) of Beetlebung, a coffee shop and retail store with two locations that, this month, will expand to include a third, slightly more “adult” establishment in Oak Bluffs. The new Beetlebung will be a coffeehouse by day and a speakeasy of sorts by night, when they’ll open a “secret” side door and serve cocktails and gourmet small plates. We tapped Molinari for some other Vineyard secrets.

Favorite local shop? The Copperworks in Menemsha, where Scott, a local artisan and fisherman, hammers out original copper bluefish, stripers, whales and mermaids.

Where to take cranky kids? At Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs they can ride it out on the Mary Poppins-style merry-go-round. Plus, the loud music will cancel out any whining.

Scenic biking route? The many-miles-long biking path along Sengekontacket Pond. For the best scenic driving route: Middle Road, leading to Chilmark, where sheep farms, ancient stone walls and the wild Atlantic meet up.

Where to watch the sunset? Menemsha, a quaint fishing village with a western-facing beach along the Atlantic—by far the best sunset show on the Vineyard.

Touristy spot that’s worth seeing? Gay Head cliffs, for the long, seemingly never-ending beach lined by skyscraper-height red cliffs. Tip: Avoid the western end if you’re with children or if naked sunbathers—mostly middle-aged men—are not your thing.

Place to soak up the local flavor? A rickety old bench called “Squid Row” at the Menemsha Texaco station, overlooking docked fishing trawlers and the fuel pump for boats.

Quick! I’m only in town for a few hours: Where do I go? Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs.

What you love most about living here? I love what is not here. No McDonald’s. No Starbucks. No malls. No billboards. And I love what is here: simple beauty, lots of texture, an endearing quirkiness and people from all backgrounds.

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Melissa Murphy of the Dreamland Film and Performing Arts Center

A graduate of Nantucket High School, Murphy grew up on the island and returned in 2008 after a few years ashore. Now she’s the executive director of the Dreamland, which features comedy shows, live music, educational programs and movie screenings, including the Nantucket Film Festival (June 25-30), an annual event that draws stars such as Sarah Silverman, Brian Williams and Bill Hader.Melissa Murphy of the Dreamland Film and Performing Arts Center

Where to go for a big night out? To the Dreamland, of course! All joking aside, my husband Devon and I love a great dinner out—Oran Mor, American Seasons, the Pearl. We are so lucky to have such extraordinary culinary talent on Nantucket, along with great entertainment.

Best ice cream? The Juice Bar is a favorite, but the Nantucket Pharmacy on Main Street is a great runner-up.

Favorite dinner spot before a movie? Dinner at the bar at Town—their Brussels sprouts are amazing!

Favorite local performer? I love the wildly fun music of Coq au Vin or their close relative, Half Coq’d. I also love the bluegrass music of Chuck Colley and Erik Wendelken.

Must-see local theater company? I love the work of Theatre Workshop, which is the island’s oldest theater company, blending the talents of our community artists with talent from afar.

Local filmmaker to watch? John Shea and his film The Grey Lady. It’s been a long time since Nantucket was on the silver screen, and I know that John and his partner Army Bernstein will do the island’s magic justice.

Favorite local shop? Tracy Berry and her products at Hepburn—they are so beautiful and so stylish. Plus, a welcoming staff makes it fun to try clothes on.

Best sunset views? Madaket is where everyone goes, but my favorite is to watch at Cisco Beach.

What you love most about living here? I love this community—hands down the best people to live 30 miles out to sea with.

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Tracy Wilde Long of Cisco Brewers

Long knows where to have a good time on Nantucket—and where to grab a good beer. The daughter of Cisco Brewers’ co-founders, she’s now the general manager of the island’s only brewery, which operates a year-round brewpub and shares space with sister companies Triple Eight Distillery and Nantucket Vineyard.

Where to go for a big night out? When I’m heading downtown after work, I start and end at Straight Wharf, with a couple other spots in between. It’s right on the wharf, you can sit inside or outside, the staff is amazing, dance parties break out all the time, people from the dining room start partying in the bar, and sometimes the bargoers spill over into the dining room. Plus, the food is the best on the island—win, win.

Touristy spot that’s worth seeing? Both the Whaling Museum and the Lifesaving Museum are perfectly curated and offer insightful perspectives on Nantucket history. The island is very unique; she has seen a lot of things. It’s important to keep the collective history in mind.

Scenic bike path? I used to ride the Polpis Bike Path to work every morning, and I would see something different every single day. Animals, changes in the sky—you get a good feel for the different weather patterns on the island and the different scenery it has to offer.

Place to avoid tourists? If you are looking to avoid tourists…don’t come to Nantucket! Just go somewhere else. What makes it so fun is that you can sit down in any bar, or go anywhere every day of the week, and meet new people from all over the world.

Best part about living in Nantucket? Swimming every single day is the best part about living here, because it’s good for everything from clearing your head to curing a hangover, and the water is crisp and refreshing. I make a pact with myself to go to the beach every single day so I don’t get too wrapped up and lose track of the important things.

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Joseph Guglielmo of the Cape Playhouse

Growing up, Guglielmo spent summers on Cape Cod, where visits to the Cape Playhouse in Dennis fostered a love of theater that led to jobs at Broadway in Boston, ArtsEmerson and the Provincetown Theatre Foundation. Now, the Yarmouth resident is back as the new general manager of the storied stage, graced by legends like Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart and drawing several Broadway vets for its 88th summer season.Joseph Guglielmo of the Cape Playhouse

Favorite greasy spoon? The Pancake Man in South Yarmouth, for its quintessential Cape Cod kitsch.

Best ice cream? Sundae School in Dennisport. It’s the original location, and nothing says Cape Cod like listening to a piano player while waiting in line for a sundae.

Date night spot? Wellfleet’s PB Boulangerie Bistro. It’s a little piece of France on the Cape.

Can’t-miss event of the upcoming season? Christiane Noll in 1776 at the Cape Playhouse.

Arts happening? Provincetown gallery openings on Friday nights.

Favorite local shop? Parnassus Book Service in Yarmouth Port. You never know what you are going to find in a stack.

Where to take cranky kids? The Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich. They have a children’s area called “Hidden Hollow.”

Rainy-day activity? Visit the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis.

Best sunset views? The top of Scargo Tower in Dennis, on one of the tallest hills on the Cape.

Touristy spot that’s worth seeing? The Cape Cod Maritime Museum. It really gives you the sense of what life was like on Cape Cod years ago.

Where to go to avoid tourists? Truro Vineyards. It’s a great small vineyard with wine tastings. The word hasn’t gotten out quite yet.

Best insider tip? Drive on Route 6A rather than the Mid-Cape Highway.  It’s one of the most beautiful scenic routes, and you avoid a lot of traffic.

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Katy Weeks of Sugar Surf Cape Cod

Born and raised in Eastham, Weeks founded her surf school in Wellfleet five years ago. “[Sugar Surf] was created to teach people the proper rules of surfing as well as to get more females involved in the sport,” says Weeks, who offers one-on-one instruction, group lessons and a kids’ summer camp, plus custom packages for beach parties.

Favorite greasy spoon? The Homeport Restaurant in Orleans. The food is a perfect hangover cure and always consistent. Chances are you’ll see a few people that you saw the night before.

Best ice cream? If you’re not going for soft serve (which you can find on every corner), I would suggest going to Mac’s. They have every flavor you will want, and it’s located right on the Wellfleet Pier, so you can watch the fishing boats come in while you catch the sunset! Or try the Red Barn in Eastham if the kids want to hit up the arcade and mini golf.

Best spots to surf? Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet and Truro all tend to have the best sandbars. And if one is crowded, you can pick the next peak down. I always tell beginners to never surf with the crowd.

Bar for finding a summer fling? The Beachcomber in Wellfleet on Reggae Night.

Favorite local shop? Pump House in Orleans. It’s one of the local surf shops, and they can take care of you for any surfing or ocean-related needs. They also have a super-cute collection of clothing, shoes, bikinis, etc. Good people!

Favorite surfer hangout? The Beachcomber of course, Land Ho!, Guapo’s for Mexican and Margi’s or Mac’s Shack for bomb sushi and cocktails.

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Judy Walden Scarafile of the Cape Cod Baseball League

Scarafile describes her love for Cape Cod with a familiar refrain: “You get that sand in your shoes once, and you always want to come back.” The CCBL president moved full time to the Cape in 1975 and currently resides in Barnstable Village. She’s helped spearhead one of Cape Cod’s great summer traditions since 1991, earning a spot in a female pioneers exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Date night spot? Belfry Inn and Bistro in Sandwich. It’s a former church, and when you walk inside you can sense that. They have seven guest rooms, each designed by a different artist.

Where to take cranky kids? The wave pool at the Cape Codder in Hyannis.

Rainy-day activity? The Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame and the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum are under the same roof and have lots to see. Each one has an hourlong movie, too.

Best beach? LeCount Hollow in Wellfleet. My husband and I first discovered this in the 1970s. It had a steep sand dune that you could run over, and then you’d be right on the beach. Next stop, Portugal. Now, for environmental reasons, you can’t run on the dune anymore, and there’s not as much beach as there used to be because of the storms, but it’s still great.

Best ballpark for catching a Cape game? Doran Park at Upper Cape Tech in Bourne. Students from the Tech school built the field and the concession stands, and it’s a warm and friendly atmosphere, and a great place to watch a game. You can look over your shoulder and see the Bourne Bridge all lit up.

Favorite local shop? The Plum Porch in Marstons Mills. I actually detest shopping, but this place is great. You never see the same thing twice. They’ve got very unusual items to choose from for gifts, whether you need jewelry or a house-warming gift or something for the garden.

Scenic biking route? The Shining Sea in Falmouth takes you right to Captain Kidd Bar in Woods Hole.

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Loic Rossignon & Rob Anderson of the Canteen

Rossignon has called Provincetown home for more than a decade. An active member of the community, he’s done everything from real estate to designing parade floats; now he’s co-owner of the Canteen, a popular counter-service restaurant on bustling Commercial Street. Chef/co-owner Anderson, a former Boston Globe editorialist, visited Provincetown on vacation three years ago and, soon after, ditched journalism to pursue his passion for cooking. Both have insider knowledge to spare.

Where to go for a big night out? Loic: You can’t beat the Mews Restaurant’s famous hospitality and consistently excellent food. The Mews also has the largest vodka selection on the East Coast. It’s no secret I’ve tasted…almost…all of them.

Date night spot? Rob: On our second date, Loic took me biking through the Province Lands bike trails. About halfway through, we stopped at Race Point beach for a picnic from Connie’s Bakery and a dip in the ocean. That was four years ago, and we’re still together, so it seemed to work.

Bar for finding a summer fling? Rob: The best place to meet someone in Provincetown isn’t at a bar—it’s outside of Spiritus Pizza after the bars close. Everyone’s relaxed, happy and hungry. And maybe a little tipsy.  Loic: Earlier in the evening, the Shipwreck Lounge is a great, more subdued place to meet people and actually hold a conversation. But if you’re looking around last call, there’s always the Atlantic House. Younger straight guys and girls should try their luck at the Underground.

Place to hear live music? Rob: Anywhere Billy Hough is playing, which is usually the Porchside Bar or the Grotta Bar. They call it “Scream Along with Billy” for a reason, though. Be ready to belt one out.

Rainy-day activity? Rob: The Waters Edge Cinema always has a great mix of mainstream and arty films. Plus, it’s the only place in town where John Waters will threaten your life. (Go, and you’ll see what I mean.)

Best sunset views? Rob: Before I moved to Provincetown, I would end every visit by watching the sunset at Herring Cove. On the more vibrant nights, it’s like standing in the middle of a painting.

What you love most about living here? Rob: You can be whoever you want to be here. Of course, for gays and lesbians, that’s a powerful thing, because even if you grew up in an accepting environment, it’s still empowering to know everyone here just sees you as a guy or a girl, not that gay guy or girl. But it’s not limited to sexual orientation. When you wash ashore here in Provincetown, you get to leave anything you want behind you.

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Nicole Gelinas of Truro Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits

A year-round Truro resident, Gelinas is the events and brand manager for Truro Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits, whose new Twenty Boat spiced rum hits shelves and bars this month. The two family-owned businesses operate on a Cape estate that dates back nearly two centuries, and while Gelinas hasn’t called Truro home quite as long as that, she’s had time to become an expert on more than just wine .

Best cup of coffee? The Flying Fish Cafe on Briar Lane in Wellfleet. This little cafe, just off Main Street, is a great place where you can always run into friends in the summer. They serve locally roasted Beanstock Coffee Roasters coffee, and there’s a lovely deck to enjoy on nice days. They also serve the best pancakes I have ever tasted, hands down, no contest—get the blueberry.

Favorite local shop? Chequessett Chocolate, in North Truro, just opened this year and is a fair-trade bean-to-bar chocolate shop. Think 70 percent cacao rich dark chocolate, healthy shakes with organic cacao powder and delicious chocolate bon bons and desserts.

Where to go for a big night out? Blackfish restaurant sits in the little hamlet of Truro and is an amazing find, serving amazing dishes with local ingredients. Try the buttermilk fried oysters and the tuna Bolognese. Then, after dinner, you’ll be in time for a show at the Beachcomber.

Cheap night out? Provincetown is a great place to spend some money, but it is also possible to do some things on the cheap. All summer long, they open the art galleries for the gallery stroll on Friday nights. All the galleries are open, sometimes the artists are there and every place serves some type of snack and maybe some wine!

Best advice for blending in with the locals? Relax and slow the pace down. This isn’t the city, and that’s why you love it.

What you love most about living here? That I get to live less than a half mile from the beach, and my job is on a working farm. And the light—the light is beautiful.


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