Cape Cod Marathon Weekend

Two runners on their way to the Cape Cod Marathon

On Saturday October 26, 2013 Falmouth hosted the third Nova Nordisk Cape Cod Marathon Half. On Sunday October 27, 2013 we hosted the 36th. Cape Cod Marathon and the 21st. Cape Cod Marathon Relay. In other words Falmouth is a runners kind of town. If you like to run and like being with other enthusiastic runners, this is the place to be.

Bill and I bought the Palmer house Inn nine years ago. At that time we had no idea that this community had such a love of running. The first few years we hosted a few very dedicated marathoners and a few relay teams. Then in 20o9 the half marathon was introduced. This year the inn was full for three days. It was great!

It was a wonderful weekend with lots of energetic folks enjoying our very special town. If you are a runner or a friend of a runner, and want to join us next year, it might be helpful to know that the staff at the Palmer House Inn will be up early to provide a pre-race breakfast to all of our guests. The dining room opens at 7:00 am, on race days and we serve buffet style. The offerings include: an assortment of juices and fruits (yes bananas too), scrambled eggs. corn pudding, bacon, assorted breads, bagels & cream cheese, cereals and piping hot muffins.

The Falmouth track club runs the events. There are hundreds of volunteers who are up and out in the wee hours of the mornings, setting up street barricades, signs, comfort stations to name just a few of the tasks that they accomplish. They are also working long past the end of the races dismantling and cleaning. The day after the races one would never know that there had been thousands of people attending a major event in this charming town.

Some Race Related Activities

The weekend begins with “The Coffee-O Friday Night Five”. It is a five-mile race for runners and their friends and family. Participants can tune-up with the locals at this weekly Falmouth event. The race begins at 5:30 pm in Town Hall Square off Main Street. It is located just across the street from the Quarterdeck Restaurant. The course is an accurate five miles and all turns and miles are marked on the road. There is no fee and you time yourself. In addition to the run, there is a 2.5 mile walk held simultaneously.

Cape Cod Marathon Behind the Line — Behind the finish line

On Saturday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm the Falmouth Track Club sold a variety of marathon related items, including t-shirts and sweatshirts. The National Running Center also had a large selection of running gear for sale. In addition, many other exhibitors were present.

If the runners were interested in “carbo loading” on Friday and Saturday evenings, they could do just that at a variety of restaurants on Main Street in Falmouth Village and in Woods Hole. The restaurants served up the runner’s favorite pasta dishes.

Cape Cod Marathon: teammates cross the finishline. — Teammates cross the finish line.

There are race lunches after each race. The post-race lunches were sponsored by Sabatino Scafuto a Mashpee restaurant, that is a member of the Mashpee Booster Club. The meals were served on the lower level of the Lawrence School in the cafeteria.The cafeteria is where runners picked up their Race Packets earlier in the day. The lunch for the half marathoners consisted of a bowel of clam chowder or minestrone soup, French bread, salad and fruit. The full marathon runners had the traditional post-race meal of clam chowder, pasta with tomato sauce, salad, French bread and fruit. The meals for the runners were complimentary. Family and friends were asked to contribute $5.00.

There was also a post race party for the runners at the Falmouth Inn where live music was provided by the BaHa Brothers. A good time was had by all.

Other Links

Cape Cod's Emily Dickinson Room Five — Cape Cod’s Emily Dickinson Room Five

The Palmer House Inn is located just a few yards from the finish line. While all of our rooms have their own individual charm suitable for relaxation after the most wonderful day of adventures, we recommend the Harriet Beecher Stowe room or the Emily Dickinson room. Both rooms feature comfortable king beds, fireplaces, jacuzzi-style tubs and a relaxing stay before and after your day.

October 16, 2013October 14, 2013

Bed and Breakfast Cooking Classes for 2014

The Palmer House Inn is pleased to announce that we will again be hosting Head Chef Fabio Pozzetti for three Saturday morning bed and breakfast cooking classes during the 2014 winter season.

Cape Cod Cooking Getaway Class: Chef prepares the dough. — Chef Pozzati prepares the dough.

His classes are a journey through the world of taste and genuine cuisine of the his native Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Students will discover or rediscover the cooking styles of traditional homemade Italian cuisine. The same preparation and cooking styles that were used by his mother, grandmothers going back for generations, will be taught in all three classes. The students will connect with the wonderful foods and time-honored traditions of his charming home region.

Cape Cod Cooking Getaway shaping the dough. — Shaping the dough.

The first class, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, will take place on the weekend of February 7th & 8th. Each cooking class weekend will begin on Friday at 5:00 to 6:00 pm with a wine and cheese reception by the fire in the lovely Palmer House parlor. We will be able to chat or you can relax by a romantic fire.

On Saturday morning from 8:00 to 9:30, you will be served one of the Palmer House Inn’s fine three course New England style breakfasts. At 11:00 AM the class will begin in the inn’s spacious kitchen. This class will feature the art of hand-made egg pasta. Chef Pozetti will demonstrate his time-honored mixing, cutting and stuffing techniques. He will also share with you the ingredients and products that go into achieving the authentic uniquely Italian flavors of his dishes. You will be able to try your hand at forming and stuffing the various raviolis. Chef Pozzati will also demonstrate and explain the secrets of his sumptuous bolognese sauce. To each of the classes, he will bring wines that compliment the dishes for you to enjoy as you sample the dishes.

The third part of our Italian cooking weekends will be a gift certificate for your Saturday evening meal at Ostreia la Civetta where the chef will visit you at your table.

Then back to your lovely room at the Palmer House Inn. The following morning you will enjoy another sumptuous New England style breakfast before you set out on your journey home.

Cape Cod Cooking Class: Italian Desert — Italian desert.

The second in our series of classes, Traditional Italian Deserts, will take place on the weekend of March 28th and 29th. Because March is National Chocolate month, we have chosen to feature some wonderful Italian chocolate deserts. The first will be Salame de Cioccolato. This is sliced soft cookies with bits of biscotti that is served over English cream. This desert is a chocolate liver’s delight. The second demonstration will be Tiramisu Estivo. This consists of tiramisu mousse with mascarpone, espresso, lady fingers and chocolate chips. Chef Pozzetti puts his own unique spin on this time-honored favorite.

Our third and final class, Traditional Italian Cooking Class, will be held on the weekend of April 11th and 12th. This class will highlight the many uses of pork in the cooking of the Emilia Romagna region. The class will feature roast pork with orange and lemon sauce and cotoletta alla bolognese.

Previous Bed and Breakfast Cooking Classes Include:

Cape Cod’s Italian Cooking Class Review, 2013
Cape Restaurant Review of Osteria la Civetta, 2013
Culinary experiences in New England, Cook and Stay, Boston Globe Review 2012
Tagliatelle alla Bolognese Class 2012

Classes will be held at the Palmer House Inn.

Bed and Breakfast Cooking Class Getaway Weekend Prices

The price of the weekend is $599.00. This includes: Friday evening wine and cheese reception, two new England style breakfasts. afternoon refreshments, the two to three-hour cooking class with Head Chef Pozzati, the $50.00 gift certificate to Osteria la Civetta and two nights stay in a queen sized bedroom at the Palmer House Inn. (Up grades are available if you prefer a larger king sized room).

To book this package call Bill at 508-548-1230, 800-472-2632 or send us an email at innkeepers@palmerhouseinn.com.

Cape Cod's Oliver Wendell Holmes Room 9 — Cape Cod’s Oliver Wendell Holmes Room 9

While all of our bedchambers have their own romantic charm, we recommend the Oliver Wendell Holmes room with its four-poster carved mahogany bed, the Edith Wharton room with its carved mahogany queen canopy and crocheted coverlet, or the Edna St. Vincent Millay room in the top of the Victorian tower. All three are wonderful choices for your Bed and Breakfast Cooking Class getaway weekend.

October 6, 2013October 14, 2013

Cape Cod Military Discount, Salute to the USMC

Cape Cod military discount USA USMC Flag Pin

We are celebrating the Marine Corps Birthday with a new Cape Cod military discount we are calling National Heros & Military Discount

It will be a ten percent discount for two or more night stays by active duty military, firefighters and police. A valid military, law enforcement or firefighter ID is required. This is our way of saying thank you to those who keep us safe.

Each year on November 10th, Falmouth’s Quarterdeck Restaurant celebrates the United States Marine Corps Birthday. There is good food and drink and all Marines both active duty and those who have transitioned to the private life are invited. A good time is had by all.

A Brief History of the Marine Corps

Captain Samuel Nicholas is credited with forming two battalions of Continental Marines on November 10, 1775, in Philadelphia. At that time it was known as “naval infantry”. It was founded to serve as an infantry unit aboard naval ships and was responsible for the security of the ship and its crew. One of their responsibilities was to protect the officers from mutiny. Therefore, the Marine Corps quarters are, to this day, strategically positioned between the officer’s quarters and the rest of the ship. The Continental Marines conducted raiding parties, both at sea and ashore. It was early in the Revolutionary War that the first American amphibious assault landing was conducted. It took place on March 3, 1776. The Marines gained control of Fort Montague and Fort Nassau. The forts were a British ammunition depot and naval port in New Providence the Bahamas. Since that initial attack the Corps mission has expanded and changed with the times. The Corps has served in our country’s every armed conflict. The Marines attained prominence during the Pacific campaign in World War II. The theories and practices that were applied during the amphibious warfare formed the linchpin of the campaign. By the middle of the twentieth century the US Marines had become the commanding theorists and users of amphibious warfare. The Corps ability to respond rapidly and effectively to a crisis situation has had a significant influence on American foreign policy. In September of 2001, I had an opportunity to witness, that rapid response, first hand. We were living in the Eastport section of Annapolis, Maryland. Our home was less than a mile from the US Naval Academy. During my morning walks, I enjoyed passing by the Academy’s Gate One. I would glance past the beautifully designed open iron gate at the magnificent granite buildings, the meticulously manicured lawns and flower beds. Frequently, I would see the midshipmen walking between classes. I took that walk on the morning of September 12, 2001. The gate was closed, as were all of the Academy’s gates. Jersey barriers lined the drive. About fifty yards up the drive was a large truck with, what looked to me, like a battering ram secured to the front. There were many armed Marines in full battle gear guarding the gates. The transformation had happened so fast. That experience was unsettling and comforting all at once. I was glad that they were there. The Marine Corps is the smallest member of the United States Armed Forces. In 2010 there were 203,000 active duty Marines and fewer than 40,000 reserves. Their duties include: During war-time, the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases. The development of tactics, techniques and equipment used by amphibious landing forces and one of the most important duties of the Corps is to support the White House and the State Department. If you are a Marine and you happen to be in Falmouth on November 10, be sure to stop by the Quarterdeck for some good camaraderie. www.quarterdeckfalmouth.com

Cape Cod Bedroom 12 Model Boat — Pride of Baltimore

While all of our rooms have their own historic charm, we recommend the Theodore Roosevelt Room for its Victorian flourishes, the Emily Dickinson Room for its New England charm, and the Richard Henry Dana Room for its nautical theme. All of three of these rooms feature king beds and jacuzzi-style tubs for complete relaxation after enjoying your days on Cape Cod.