One last post from Jason before he leaves Provincetown:
We've been praising P-town all week, announcing (usually after three martinis) that the peaceful coastal enclave is a little slice of heaven. A few months ago, paradise got a high-end kick in the pants when the Marc Jacobs pulled into town. Jacobs' longtime business partner, Robert Duffy, has been a habitué of the seaside resort for three decades, so he was stoked to open a charming little Marc by Marc Jacobs store on 184 Commercial Street.
Yes, the appearance of a brand name boutique was divisive to P-town denizens, who tend to shun commercial business in favor of privately owns shops and an artsy, more bohemian atmosphere. But the good news is that Duffy’s all about supporting the P-town cause: The tastemaker recently donated $340,000 to the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) and told the Provincetown Banner, "We are a brand. I don't know if it's the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do. If it opens the floodgates for stores to be open year-round, it's a good thing… I'm just proud of the heritage this town has."
The store may have caused a stir with residents, but, frankly, we're obsessed with Jacobs' exclusive P-town line, an inexpensive collection of mostly super-soft T-shirts boasting cheeky phrases and hip, abstract images of P-town monuments and scenes. [Ed: See below for one such shirt spread out in its proper place -- a bed.] The beach accessories -- yay for totes! -- are practical and addicting. And, yes, several of the designs will benefit the PAAM. We can’t say they benefited our wallets, unfortunately.
Added eye-candy bonus: The staff boys who sold us our goodies were shaggy, pouty-faced little hipsters, a rare breed among the many plucked and preened Adonis-like tourists strolling through the village. Cheers again to P-town's diversity!
Want to keep the summer lovin' alive? Mark Doty's feature on P-town in Out's July issue is up online.
Previously > Part IV
Don't!
Posted by: J | September 21, 2008 at 05:30 AM