The last four days of Women’s Week, from Thursday, Oct. 17, to Sunday, Oct. 20, are jam-packed with events. We highlighted several venues last week, and there are some more on this page, but there are always a few events that defy categorization, so we’re breaking them out day by day, below.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, at 8 a.m., early risers can take part in Kay Halle’s Fun Run, a 3-kilometer run (or 1.5-kilometer walk) around Provincetown. It was begun more than 17 years ago by Halle, a woman innkeeper and avid runner. Start at the Veteran’s Memorial Community Center parking lot at 2 Mayflower St. (off Winslow Street), rain or shine, and when you’re done, be treated to breakfast at the Council on Aging in the VMCC building. At 2 p.m. on Thursday, catch the “sweet sixteen” anniversary screening of Andrea Myerson’s 2003 documentary “Laughing Matters,” about lesbian comics, at Pilgrim House at 336 Commercial St. Tickets are $20.
On Friday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., check out the tempting gifts and wares by local artisans at the 31st annual Women’s Week Arts & Crafts Show at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House at 236 Commercial St. At 3 p.m. on Friday, participate in the Provincetown Scavenger Hunt, meeting at the Harbor Lounge at 359 Commercial St. You’ll be challenged to drink, eat, and take pictures at bars, restaurants, and landmarks. Tickets are $20 a person in advance at Eventbrite.com, or call (508) 246-2082; $25 at the door; and $100 for a group of seven people. Then, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, step out to the Early Girls Night Out Dance Party at Velvet Lounge at 258 Commercial St. Later in the evening there’ll even be drumming with DJ Shelly Cullen. Admission is $10 at the door.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m., attend the Provincetown Film Society’s annual Women Filmmakers Residency Brunch, a barbecue in Truro, which was entitled “The Empowering Impact of Herstory” this year, and help fund a program to bring women filmmakers to Provincetown. Tickets are $50 at provincetownfilm.org. You can support another good cause at 4 p.m. on Saturday, when Melinda Buckley performs her one-woman show, “MOTHER (and me),” at Fishermen Hall, the auditorium of the Provincetown Schools, at the rear of 2 Winslow St. Your $20 donation goes to providing services for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.
People are packing up on Sunday, Oct. 20, but before you go, register at 10 a.m. for Cape Cod Walks the Walk for Alzheimer’s at Provincetown Town Hall at 260 Commercial St. The walk itself takes place at noon. It’s a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod. Sign up at AlzheimersWalkCapeCod.org or call (508) 896-5170. Before wishing Women’s Week farewell, enjoy a Solid Gold Tea Dance at 4 p.m. at the Boatslip Resort at 161 Commercial St. Celebrate 35 years of Women’s Week while listening (and dancing) to the oldies.
Betty Does the Art House
The New York City pop rock band Betty, featuring the talents of Alyson Palmer and sisters Elizabeth and Amy Ziff, will return to The Art House at 214 Commercial St. on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-$45 at provincetownarthouse.com.
The Melissa Ferrick Experience
Singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick has released 17 albums in 25 years of performing and is now a Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University. See her at The Art House at 214 Commercial St. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-$40 at provincetownarthouse.com.
The Crown & Anchor is Women’s Week Central
Located at 247 Commercial St., the Crown & Anchor is always the center of the action. During Women’s Week, a multitude of acts and events are booked. Tickets are available at onlyatthecrown.com. Here’s the lineup:
Parties and events: “Northern Sass vs. Southern Ass,” a “culinary throwdown” between Chef Michele Ragussis and comedian Vickie Shaw, Thursday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., $60 (Poolside); The Olivia Party, Thursday, Oct. 17, 4-7 p.m., $10 (Wave Bar); “Women’s Week Idol,” with celebrity judges, Thursday, Oct. 17, at 8:30 p.m., $29-$39 (Paramount); Lesbo Bingo, Friday, Oct. 18, 1-3:30 p.m., $29 (Paramount); The Cow Girl Party, with DJ Kim Dazy and mechanical bull, Friday, Oct. 18, 9 p.m., $10 (Paramount); Wonder Women: Women’s Week 35th Anniversary Party, with DJ Rockaway, Saturday, Oct. 19, at 9 p.m., $10 (Paramount).
The acts: singer-comedian Julie Wheeler, with Monica Falcone and Sylvie Richard, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 17-19, at 4 p.m., $24 (Cabaret); singer-comedian Lisa Koch, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 17-19, 6 p.m., $29 (Cabaret); comedian Vickie Shaw, Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at 5:30 p.m., $29 (Paramount); comedian Judy Gold, Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18, at 7:30 p.m., $29 (Cabaret); comedian Karen Williams, Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18, at 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m., $29; and jazz legend Suede, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at 7:30 p.m., $34-$54 (Paramount).
A Conclave of Lesbian Fiction Authors
Women’s Week in Provincetown has become a mecca for the lesbian fiction authors of Bold Strokes Books and Bywater Books, who do talks, readings, and book signings all day long. All events are free.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., bring your own breakfast and coffee to Napi’s Breakfast Club Reading, upstairs at 7 Freeman St., and meet authors from both Bold Strokes and Bywater imprints.
At Provincetown Library at 356 Commercial St. on Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 17-19, Bold Strokes Books will host a panel discussion at 10 a.m.; a Brown Bag (BYO lunch) Authors’ Chat at 11:30 a.m.; a reading/Q and A at 1 p.m.; a reading/Q and A at 2 p.m.; and an authors’ signing at 3 p.m. At the Harbor Lounge at 359 Commercial St., Meet ’n’ Greet with Bold Strokes authors on Thursday, Oct. 17, 5-7 p.m., no cover.
Bywater Books will present book signings by their authors at Womencrafts at 376 Commercial St. on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 11:30 a.m.; Friday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m., 1:30 & 2:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11:30 a.m. On Friday, Oct. 18, at noon at Harbor Lounge, at 359 Commercial St., Bywater will host a book launch for Rachel Spangler’s new release, Fire and Ice.
East End Books Ptown at 389 Commercial St. is hosting three author readings and book signings: Wiebke von Carolsfeld, Claremont, on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m.; Joanne Vannicola, All We Knew but Couldn’t Say, on Friday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m.; and Amy Hoffman, The Off Season, on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 5 p.m. Reserve your free ticket at eastendbooksptown.com.
Jamie Anderson will read from her book, An Army of Lovers: Women’s Music of the ’70s and ’80s, and perform songs from her new album, “The Truth Appears,” on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. at Provincetown Public Library at 356 Commercial St.
And finally, Shane Garrett will read and sign copies of Out of Service, her Vietnam Era true story about a woman jet-engine mechanic in the military who is arrested for being gay, on Saturday, Oct. 19, at noon at Anchor Inn at 175 Commercial St.
