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It took some finagling and convincing, plus $6 million, for Azar to purchase the place. When word got out that Foss was considering selling, others jumped into the fray. But, as Foss told the Provincetown Independent, he wanted to “keep the gay and lesbian and etcetera folk here.” On April 1, Azar became the new steward of the inn, maintaining a century-and-a-half tradition of independent ownership. Gifford house is steeped in rich history boasting from atop a high hill as Provincetown's oldest remaining hotel built in 1858. She is considered one of the region's arts and entertainment hubs. With Speakeasy vibes, you can stay among creatives and their enthusiasts in art-filled walls in Provincetown's downtown.
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The inn’s 73-year-old owner, Jim Foss, who still recorded reservations with pen and paper, was holding out for the right buyer, and for Foss, the right buyer was not a corporation or hotel chain. All of our art-filled guest accommodations are en-suite and come with air conditioning, a smart television, a stocked refrigerator for your convenience, free high-speed WIFI, closets outfitted with an iron and board, free access to Club Purgatory, and much more. Search for Inn at Gifford House discounts in Provincetown with KAYAK.
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“It’s like bringing back a tradition,” he said. He knows that running the Gifford is more than programming events and renovating. Of Provincetown’s four grand 19th-century inns, the Gifford House is the only one still standing in its original form. But by the summer of 2022, the grand 33-room inn appeared to be on life support. All reviews are collected from real users with a verified booking made with KAYAK or one of our trusted external partners. At Gifford House, it’s all about igniting some magic within or opening eyes to the magic around.
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There are a range of cafés and restaurants close to Gifford House Inn, and North Truro and Wellfleet are a short drive away. The Atlantic House is less than five minutes' walk away. The bed & breakfast offers comfortable accommodation and room service, as well as a continental breakfast every morning. Guests can take advantage of the recreational activities available, such as billiards and a dart board. Situated near local tourist attractions, Gifford House Inn is a short stroll from Pilgrim Monument.
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Club Purgatory, the basement nightclub that hosts several gay parties per week in the summer and formerly hosted experimental theater in the 1960s, should be open by the end of May, Azar said. Foss did not want to sell to a big company, he said, and he wanted to find a buyer who would “keep the gay and lesbian and et-cetera folk here.” He also said it was important to him to find a buyer who would respect the historical integrity of the building, parts of which date back to 1858. That townie, Steve Azar, a 42-year-old New Bedford native and former Somerville city planner, has lived in Provincetown for more than a decade.
Arts Briefs - The Provincetown Independent
Arts Briefs.
Posted: Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Gifford House Inn will remain a cornerstone of the town’s gay nightlife
The leather bar is well known for its Saturday underwear parties. Purgatory also hosts a weekly dance night called Fag Bash, a come-as-you-are gathering open to all who want to express themselves as unconventionally as they please. Gifford House is your one stop, does-it-all container for any retreat, wedding, corporate event or whatever else you can dream up.
Queen Rooms - Main Building
Your patronage contributes to the economic growth of the community as a whole and the ripple effect of your support reaches other local businesses, artists, non-profits and organizations, fostering a thriving ecosystem of diversity and creativity. In addition to the bars, Azar reopened the inn’s long-forgotten theater space, which was being used for storage. The results are outrageous and boisterous and harken back to Provincetown’s devil-may-care days. The transaction wasn’t all clovers and rainbows.
Provincetown, America’s oldest artist colony, is a lot more atypical than your average town. Here, the magic is everywhere - in its art, its people, within so many hidden treasures or adventure. Let Gifford House connect you to all of it, and if you have some talents needing a stage, let’s find a way to show them off during your stay. Available in any dollar amount starting at $100+. Each is good towards a stay for any room on any night, subject to availability and minimum night restrictions. Gift certificates are non-refundable, non-transferable, cannot be replaced if lost or stolen and are subject to our policies.
At the end of March, the historic hotel changed hands when Steven Azar bought the Gifford House from Jim Foss and Harvey Wilson, who had owned it for almost 30 years. As he settles onto a bar stool with a smile and sigh Azar shakes some saw dust from his hair and scratches at a bit of paint on his right hand. He looks around and sighs again before saying how there’s much still to be done, but that at its core the Gifford House is and will continue to be jewel in the crown of Provincetown’s independent culture and business community as well as an important part of its LGBTQ history and legacy. Gifford House has been “family”-owned in all senses for generations. Lately, just within the last few years, corporate ownership has begun buying up many of the businesses we know and love in town, the businesses that made this place unique because of their personal touches and direct touch points to community.
In addition to its guest rooms, the Gifford House’s three bars, long an essential part of Provincetown’s social ecosystem, had collapsed into a decaying and moribund state. PROVINCETOWN — The 165-year-old Gifford House has hosted four US presidents, housed an experimental theater company where a young Al Pacino launched his ascent to stardom, and, in more recent decades, been a staple of Provincetown’s raucous LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type.Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required room.
So, as you plan your visit to Provincetown, we urge you to consider the immeasurable impact of your choices. By choosing local, you help preserve the vibrant spirit of the Provincetown queer community and contribute to a brighter, more diverse future for all. Gifford House is a queer and diverse part of a very special old New England town in the Province Lands tucked into what feels like the very end of the world.
In 2022 he sold the inn to the Summer of Sass, the non-profit program founded by comedian and Jill-of-all-creative-trades Kristen Becker that houses young LGBTQ adults from oppressive parts of the United States to start anew in Provincetown. With the sale complete he was looking for a new project and made an offer to Foss and Wilson on a whim. And now the yellow beacon of Carver Street, and not only her legacy, but future is in his hands as he takes the reins to welcome thousands of visitors as the summer season approaches. “We’re calling it the playhouse, or the drag closet, but I would like it to be something flexible,” Azar said. “Events with food, or maybe it’s yoga in the morning, other events in the afternoon — I don’t think it really needs to be tables all the time.” The commercial kitchen could support a catering business, he said.
Make the most of your time at Gifford House by enjoying some play and rejuvenation in equal measures. Day and night time adventures await you in Provincetown, and we are here to balance you with wellness and spa treatments, and customizable hospitality services that make your stay a memory to last a lifetime. Last year, Azar sold the Stowaway Inn to comedian Kristen Becker’s nonprofit Summer of Sass to serve as an organizational headquarters and provide housing for marginalized LGBTQ+ youth. Azar sees running the Gifford more as a lifestyle than a job.
As he’s making improvements, he’s also thinking of ways to reach more people — he defines queer as a state of mind that can apply to both the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. He’s constantly thinking of activities and entertainment that appeal to both the community and day-trippers. He’s restoring the inn at a rapid clip, but for Provincetown’s residents, Azar’s efforts to turn the Gifford into a diverse, community-gathering spot seem most appreciated. Across the country, LGBTQ+ bars are in decline. A recent study found that there were 45 percent fewer gay bars in 2022 than in 2002.
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type.Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room. Provincetown has long been recognized as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community, offering a safe and welcoming space where people can express their authentic selves without fear of judgment or discrimination. This acceptance and sense of belonging are deeply rooted in the local establishments that have been nurtured and built by members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies here.
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