Out & About Magazine April 2017 by Out & About Magazine

Restaurants Embrace Home Cooking

Newark Becoming A Dining Dynamo

Lisa Blunt Rochester's Victory for Diversity

G R E AT E R W I L M I N G T O N

Bring on Breakfast! 16 area places worth trying

APRIL 2017 COMPLIMENTARY

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PRESENTS:

A NIGHT OF

Music & Magic FRIDAY, APRIL 21 IN TROLLEY SQUARE Join Us In Trolley Square To Hear Great Live Music! And Enjoy Magic Hat Specials And WIN Cool Swag! ANEJO – Vigilantes Duo (9pm - midnight) CATHERINE ROONEY’S – Cherry Crush (10pm – 1am) GALLUCIO’S – Anthony Gallucio (6:30 - 9:30pm) HALLIGAN BAR – Special Delivery (9pm – midnight) KELLY’S LOGAN HOUSE – Poor Yorick (10pm – 1am) KID SHELLEEN’S – Davey Dickens Jr. (9:30pm – 1am) PICCOLINA TOSCANA - Alexa and Justin (8:30-11:30pm) TROLLEY SQUARE OYSTER HOUSE – Turner and Hooch (10pm – 1am) PLUS BE AMAZED BY TRAVELING STREET MAGICANS!

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D Ma

“Hammered” takes on a whole new meaning when you drink and drive. And the headache doesn’t stop there. You’ll get jail time, a suspended driver’s license and thousands of dollars in fines. A DUI will always cost you. It’s not worth it.

Don’t let a DUI redefine you. Make sure you have a safe ride. For a list of ride options near you, text SafeRide to 99000.

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Out & About Magazine Vol. 30 | No. 2

Published each month by TSN Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing & business address: 307 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 Publisher Gerald duPhily • jduphily@tsnpub.com Director of Publications Jim Hunter Miller • jmiller@tsnpub.com

Contributing Editor Bob Yearick • ryearick@comcast.net Associate Editor Krista Connor • kconnor@tsnpub.com Director of Digital Media & Distribution Marie Graham Poot • mgraham@tsnpub.com Creative Director & Production Manager Matthew Loeb, Catalyst Visuals, LLC. matt@catvis.biz Graphic Designer Tyler Mitchell, Catalyst Visuals, LLC. tyler@catvis.biz Contributing Designer Ryan Alexander, Catalyst Visuals, LLC

Contributing Writers JulieAnne Cross, Mark Fields, Pam George, Rob Kalesse, Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Leeann Wallett, Robert Lhulier, Mike Little, Allan McKinley, John Murray, Larry Nagengast, Kevin Noonan, Scott Pruden, Matt Sullivan Contributing Photographers Jim Coarse and Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography, Tim Hawk, Anthony Santoro, Matt Urban Special Projects Sarah Green, David Hallberg, John Holton Intern David Ferguson

71 START

WILMINGTON

9 From the Publisher 11 The War on Words 14 By the Numbers 15 F.Y.I. 19 What Readers Are Saying 21 A Victory for Diversity 27 Keep Delaware Beautiful

53 Art on the Town 58 On the Riverfront

LEARN

LISTEN

12 Up From the Streets

71 Go For A Ride 73 A Natural Connection 76 Tuned In

FOCUS 28 Bring on Breakfast! 33 City Restaurant Week 37 All In the Family 40 Small Town, Big Appetite

DRINK

FEATURES 21 A Victory for Diversity A Padua education helped Lisa Blunt Rochester become the first woman and the first African-American to represent Delaware in Congress.

65 Sips 66 The Perfect Pour 69 SweetWater in Delaware

WATCH 79 Reviews 83 Six-pack Cinema

EAT

PLAY

47 Area’s Thai Restaurants 51 Bites

85 Snap Shots 87 Three Times the Fun

By Kevin Noonan

28 Bring on Breakfast! Here are 16 of our favorite local go-to spots. O&A Staff

37 All In the Family It’s getting hard to tell restaurant fare from home cooking, and vice versa, says our food trends expert. By Matt Sullivan

40 Small Town, Big Appetite Newark is now a destination for even the most discerning diners.

On the cover: Monte Cristo sandwich and fruit at Lucky’s Coffee Shop. Photo by Jim Coarse/Moonloop Photography

By Pam George

Editorial & advertising info: 302.655.6483 • Fax 302.654.0569 Website: outandaboutnow.com Email: contact@tsnpub.com APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WONDER AND WHIMSY THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF W. HEATH ROBINSON MARCH 4 – MAY 21, 2017 Wonder and Whimsy: The Illustrations of W. Heath Robinson features over 65 illustrations, designs, and drawings created by Heath Robinson from the collection of the William Heath Robinson Trust (UK). This exhibition is made possible in Delaware by the Emily du Pont Memorial Exhibition Fund. Additional support was provided, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com. | Second Adventure – The Air-Ship. The Aeronaut, 1902, from The Adventures of Uncle Lubin (London: Grant Richards, 1902). Pen and ink, with watercolor, 9 13/16 × 7 11/16 inches.

2301 Kentmere Parkway Wilmington, DE 19806 302.571.9590 delart.org

The masterful comedy of deceit, dishonesty and a little holy terror.

A p r i l 2 0 to M ay 7 M ol i è r e ’s

Transl ated into English verse by Richard Wilbur

Directed by Maria Aitken ROSELLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | NEWARK, DE (302) 831-2204 | WWW.REP.UDEL.EDU

Sponsored in part by:

8 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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out and about

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START

Photo Butch Comegys

From The Publisher

Raul Gonzalez (#8) became part of Blue Rocks folklore when his single plated the winning run in the team's first home game—April 17, 1993.

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES

efore there was a Chase Center. Before there was Riverfront Market or the Delaware Children's Museum. Before there was Iron Hill Brewery, Big Fish Grill, Justison Landing, Penn Cinema, Russell Peterson Wildlife Center, Riverfront Mini Golf, Constitution Yards, the headquarters for AAA, Barclays and Navient… Before all of this, there was Frawley Stadium, home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Considering the many steps forward the Riverfront has taken over the past two decades, it's easy to lose sight of the first one. Let’s not. To me, the rebirth of the Riverfront began with the announcement in 1992 that through the efforts of visionaries such as Steve Taylor, Dan Frawley and Matt Minker, minor league baseball was returning to Wilmington. Furthermore, a first-class stadium would be built for the Blue Rocks on the site of the former Dravo Shipyard, a neglected part of the city’s riverfront. (Wilmington did have a minor-league baseball franchise named the Blue Rocks from 1940-52. In fact, Phillies legend Robin Roberts pitched for them.) I like baseball as much as our president likes to tweet, so upon the announcement, my business partner and I were like kids who had just learned the circus was coming to town. We're getting season tickets—immediately. For one time in our lives, we would have front-row seats. Every game! So, the day after the announcement, we began the quest to reserve those front-row seats. It wasn't easy. There was no Blue Rocks staff, no ticket office, no clear point of contact. We ended up discovering a Minker Construction trailer in Hockessin that was doubling as a makeshift Blue Rocks office. And when we showed

up announcing we were there to buy season tickets, we were greeted like guests who had showed up a week early for a dinner party. Come back next month; tickets aren’t available yet. We haven’t even broken ground on the stadium… was the response, as I recall. We refused to take no for an answer, however, and insisted they accept our deposit for eight front-row seats behind the dugout on the first-base line. Today, I still have four of those seats. And I remember opening day, April 17, 1993, as if it were yesterday. It was breezy and overcast, far from ideal baseball weather. It didn't matter. The atmosphere was electric. Robin Roberts had returned to throw out the first pitch, and professional baseball was happening in Wilmington—in a stadium that Minker, a diehard baseball fan operating on sheer willpower, miraculously built in just six months. When the Rocks’ Raul Gonzalez capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run single, a magical day came to a fitting conclusion. Blue Rocks history was reborn. And so was a long-ignored Wilmington Riverfront. This season, the Blue Rocks will be celebrating their 25th anniversary, and I encourage you to find the time to catch a game or two. The parking is free, a reserve box seat is only $10, and the dizzy bat race is as entertaining as ever. In retrospect, it’s not hyperbole to say Frawley Stadium was a field of dreams. The Riverfront area was an eyesore before then, far from the bustling destination it is today. In fact, for those of us who’ve been around a while, it’s rewarding to sit in the stands, do a panoramic survey of the setting, and marvel at all that has happened since that opening pitch. —Jerry duPhily

APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Celebrate the Maker movement at Hagley! You probably know a Maker. They are tech enthusiasts, crafters, metalworkers, woodworkers, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, authors, artists, educators, students, and entrepreneurs. They rejoice in creating gadgets as well as tinkering with existing ones. This will be a day to become inspired! Hagley’s Maker Fest will provide the opportunity to connect with these inventive folks and their projects through demonstrations, tastings, and hands-on activities. Strike up a conversation with a likeminded Maker, or just enjoy the atmosphere of invention and inspiration. Maker culture emphasizes learning-through-doing in a social environment that is informal and fun. Saturday, April 29 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Held at Hagley’s Soda House $ 10 for Adults • $5 for Hagley Members and Youth 6-18 • Free for children under 6.

BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE! Present this ad at Maker Fest for one free adult admission with the purchase of an admission of equal or greater value. (NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER DISCOUNT.)

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A writer/editor’s slightly snarky and relentless crusade to eliminate grammatical gaffes from our everyday communications

Compiled from the popular column in Out & About Magazine

THE WAR ON WORDS A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to defend the English language against misuse and abuse

Literally of the Month “Trump is literally shoring up his foreign affairs staff.” – Morning Joe’s Mika Brzezinski, who loves that word. Media Watch • A reader caught Monica Malpass of WPVI Channel 6 in a little subject/verb disagreement: “No one, including the driver, were hurt.” • Troy Aikman, Fox’s lead color man for NFL games, called a player “laxadaisical,” the default mispronunciation for most TV jocks. (It’s lackadaisical. But you knew that, right?) That mistake is second to peripheal vision (as opposed to the correct peripheral) in their misguided vocabulary. • WDEL committed the still/yet faux pas, reporting that “the Red Clay District has still yet to make a decision.” Still is superfluous in that sentence. • From The News Journal: “Bouchard sided with Elting’s claims that fighting between she and Shawe prevented the company from conducting important business.” Prepositions, such as between, require objective pronouns (her). • Five—count ‘em, five—readers sent me this from TNJ: “Inspectors from the division of Public Health issued a cease and desist immediately closing the restaurant, which has been a stable in Newark since 1971.” The word needed here, of course, is staple. • From a TNJ editorial (courtesy of a reader): “That jives with the national trend.” Jibe, or, more properly, gibe, is the word meant here. Jive is swing music, the dancing performed to it, or glib, deceptive talk. • Martin Rogers in USA Today reported that, before the Super Bowl, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick “was offering amusing anecdotes . . . and regaling memories of his job in a pub kitchen as a teen.” You can’t regale memories. You can regale (amuse, entertain) an audience by relating or recounting memories to them.

Word of the Month

◄ How Long, Oh Lord, How Long? (In which we chronicle the continuing abuse of that most misused punctuation mark —the apostrophe.) This sign on Augustine Cutoff contained an errant apostrophe and misplaced period (Dr.’s).

bovarism Pronounced BO-vuh-riz-em, it’s a noun meaning a romanticized, unrealistic view of oneself.

By Bob Yearick

• Bill Hader to Melissa McCarthy during a Saturday Night Live skit: “Have you ever sang in front of people before?” Many folks have trouble with the past participle of verbs. Sung is correct here. Department of Redundancies Dept. • Tim Furlong of NBC 10, adding emphasis to his Facebook request: “Hit me back right away asap OK?” • From The News Journal: “Malhotra could be seen visibly pressing the buzzer.” Courtesy of reader Sarah Hutchinson. • From The Philadelphia Inquirer, in a story on the Steelers-Chiefs playoff game: “Weather also could be a factor, too.” Miscellany Some media types use the term “flush out” when they mean “flesh out,” which refers to expanding or enlarging something, such as an argument or a resume. “Flush out” would mean almost the opposite. One More Time . . . In the 10-year history of this column, we have pointed out several times that begs the question does not mean to raise or bring up the question – the sense in which it is almost always used. Some readers have noted that our explanation of what the phrase does mean has been somewhat lacking. So, we’re going to take another (last?) stab at an explanation: Begs the question refers to a kind of circular argument, or tautology, in which a statement is assumed to be correct without evidence other than the statement itself. E.g., The reason there's such a big demand for tickets is because everyone wants them. This sentence has begged the question because it assumes the initial point. Used in this sense, the word beg means “to avoid,” not “ask” or “lead to.” So, think of the phrase as avoids the point—and avoid using it altogether.

Follow me on Twitter: @thewaronwords

NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION? Contact me for a fun PowerPoint presentation on grammar: ryearick@comcast.net.

Seen a good (bad) one lately? Send your candidates to ryearick@comcast.net

Buy The War on Words paperback at Ninth Street Books in Wilmington, the Hockessin Book Shelf, on Amazon, or by calling Out & About at 302-655-6483.

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LEARN

UP FROM THE STREETS Once homeless, this WilmU graduate is now a top detective in the Philadelphia D.A.’s office Dr. Claude Thomas rose from poverty to prosperity.

he subway. An abandoned car. The stairwell of a housing project building. Outside near Penn’s Landing. As a teenager, Claude Thomas slept in those places and many others. His mother’s death from breast and lung cancer in 1980 had thrust him into the streets of Philadelphia, and his refusal to sell drugs—his only option, according to “friends”—kept him there for three years. “God and my mother looked over me during those years,” Thomas says. He survived, just as he survived a childhood of poverty in a tough neighborhood, eventually fulfilling the potential he says he was not even aware he possessed back then. Today, Dr. Claude Thomas, who recently received his Ed.D. from Wilmington University, is the chief county detective for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. His appointment was announced by District Attorney R. Seth Williams, who noted that Thomas has “almost three decades of exemplary experience on the local, state and federal law enforcement levels.” Thomas paints the picture of a childhood straight out of Dickens: “My mother raised her nine children in a crime-infested community that was full of hopelessness, despair, illiteracy—and love. We got groceries from the local church and we went for prolonged periods without heat or electricity.” Education was not a priority. “Neither my mother nor father graduated high school—both dropped out in 11th grade,” Thomas says. And he admits that at first he had no interest in any aspect of school. Eventually, however, he found that he enjoyed learning. “I began to question why others didn’t see how liberating it made one

feel, and I questioned educators about a lack of interest or resolve to educate the uneducated in inner-city public schools. Then again, the challenge to do so is immense.” Despite his environment, he harbored a dream of becoming a police officer. “Police were not popular in my community,” he says. “But I always wanted to change those perceptions and right some of the wrongs that I witnessed as a child. I wanted to build bridges of mutual respect.” Thomas joined the Pennsylvania State Police, then moved on to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office in 1990. As a special agent, he conducted criminal investigations of secret and sensitive corruption cases, oversaw AG investigators and served as a resource for citizens, civic organizations, community groups, school districts and other organizations to help reduce drug abuse and crime in the state. He also went undercover as a narcotics agent, working cases involving fraud and organized crime. Throughout it all, Thomas continued his education during those years, receiving a B.A. in Organizational Management from Eastern University in 1999 and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from St. Joseph’s University in 2003 before receiving his doctorate from WilmU. “I am innately inspired to help others,” he says. “It’s our duty. It’s my duty.” WilmU applauds individuals like Dr. Thomas who persevere, achieve and give back to their communities. For more information about our 150+ programs (many with 100% online options), affordable tuition and supportive, studentcentered focus visit wilmu.edu.

Get to know WilmU at Spring Open House! Apply for FREE at this event.

May 3

Three Locations to choose from: New Castle • Dover • Georgetown

RSVP: wilmu.edu/OpenHouse

12 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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3/23/17 1:08 PM

11st nnuAl st A AnnuAl BB roomstick DerBy erByrr un roomstick H Horse orse D un Saturday May6th, 6th,2017 2017 ||The Starboard Beach Saturday May StarboardininDewey Dewey Beach Riders racearound aroundThe The Starboard Starboard on Horses Riders to to race onBrookstick Brookstick Horses Pre-party starts at 4pm featuring Makerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mark Pre-party starts at 4pm featuring Makerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mark Followed by:

Followed by: 143rd Running of the Kentucky Derby at 6:15pm 143rd Running of the Kentucky Derby at 6:15pm After Party at 9pm featuring:

After Party at 9pm featuring:

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3/24/17 3:36 PM

MOTHER'S DAY sunday may 14th

Reservations Strongly Suggested

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MOM 10

– 2pm

40 adults $ 20 kids (ages 4 – 10) free (3 & under) includes coffee/tea service $

START

by the numbers A few facts about April worth knowing

Degrees, in Fahrenheit, for the average high temperature in April for Wilmington.

dinner for

Number of years ago that the United States entered World War I (April 6).

MOM pm

5 –9 special a la carte menu just for MOM! 302.571.1492 www.ColumbusInn.net 2216 Pennsylvania Ave. Wilmington, DE 19806

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100

139 As of April 17, the number of Easter Egg Rolls that will have taken place at the White House. The tradition began with President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878.

The average number of rainy days in Delaware this month, holding true to the first part of the rhyme, “April showers bring May flowers.”

78 4.1 Number of years ago (April 14, 1939, to be exact) that Delaware adopted the Blue Hen as the state bird.

Number of meters in height for the world’s tallest chocolate bunny, constructed in Brazil in April of 2014.

14 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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START POETRY OUT LOUD STATE CHAMPION

F.Y.I. Things worth knowing Compiled by David Ferguson

HAGLEY MAKER FEST

n Saturday, April 29, Maker Fest, an event that is part science fair, part community fair, and part something entirely new, will debut at the Hagley Museum. Maker Fest is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, artists, authors, students, and anyone who has ever made something and wants to show others their work or share what they have learned. The event, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature local brewers, distillers, and other makers who specialize in alcoholic creations. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for Hagley members and youth 6-18. It’s free for kids under six. Attendees should arrive via Hagley’s 298 Buck Rd. entrance. For more information go to hagley.org/calendar/maker-fest.

U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS LECTURE AT UD

elaware Humanities and The University of Delaware will host a lecture and discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E. Hoffman on Thursday, April 13, at 7 p.m. The event will focus on America’s current relationship with Russia. The lecture will ask the question, “a generation after the Soviet collapse, what went wrong?” and will address how the Cold War formed the current relationship between the United States and Russia. The event is free, but registration is required to attend. Go to dehumanities. org/blog/2017/03/07/lecture-delawarepulitzer-winner-david-e-hoffman.

C A ROCKY HORROR APRIL FOOLS

heatre N, the 221-seat theater on the second floor of the Nemours building at 1007 N. Orange St. in Wilmington, is hosting a once-a-year fool’s show on Saturday, April 1, featuring the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. The show is going to be made even more fun this year by the cast of Frankie’s Midnight Runner, a local Rocky Horror performance group. There will be the usual participation by the crowd, including the use of props and throwing rice or toast at designated times. The show starts at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 17 or older or accompanied by a guardian. Tickets are $9 and may be purchased at the door starting at 11 p.m. or in advance from Theatre N’s website: theatren.com.

ecilia Ergueta, a junior from Wilmington Friends School, will represent Delaware in the 2017 Poetry Out Loud National Championships this month in Washington, D.C. She earned high scores from the judges at the state finals on Feb. 28 with her recitation of “The True-Blue American” by Delmore Schwartz. Ergueta will receive $200 and an all-expenses paid trip for her and a chaperone to the national championships on April 25-26. In addition to her winnings, Ergueta earned a $500 stipend for Wilmington Friends School to purchase materials related to poetry. The first runner-up in the state championships was Shayln Littlejohn from Hodgson Vo-Tech High School, followed by Sam McGarvey from Tall Oaks Classical High School. Poetry Out Loud is a state competition that encourages high school students to get involved with poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. For more information on Poetry Out Loud and Delaware Arts, visit outartsdel.org.

CELEBRATE INNOVATIVE WOMEN

reat Dames has announced a new series of events, “Celebrate Women Firsts,” that focuses on the accomplishments of women who did it first. On Monday, April 24, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Harry’s Savory Grill, 2020 Naamans Road, Julie Coker Graham, CEO & President of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Andrea Taylor, of Women’s Encore, will discuss the importance of women mentoring women. The evening will include a speed mentoring event for the attendees. Hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks will be served and a cash wine bar will be available. Another “Celebrate Women Firsts” event will take place on Monday, May 15, at the same location and time and will focus on the importance of first impressions. Great Dames hopes to find a great dame in every woman and create positive change through self-discovery, inspiration and action. For more information about the event and to register go to great-dames.com/events.

DELAWARE TOURISM INCREASING

ast month the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau (GWCVB) released a video featuring many of the attractions of New Castle County. The video, targeted at tourists, highlights the rich history, natural beauty, and diverse culture of the county. The video comes on the heels of a report by Delaware Tourism Director Linda Parkowksi that showed an increase in tourism for the entire state, not just New Castle County. Some 8.5 million tourists visited Delaware in 2015, accounting for $3.1 billion of the state’s GDP and $486 million in taxes for state and local government. Those numbers are huge increases and can be attributed in part to the state’s new tourism brand, “Delaware: Endless Discoveries.” For attractions here in your back yard, check out visitdelaware.com. APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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TROLLEY SQ. • BRANMAR PLAZA • MAIN ST. NEWARK

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3/24/17 9:03 AM

PRESENTS THE

C HA MPION OF THE

PERFE CT PO UR Catherine Rooney’s Newark

Catherine Rooney’s Wilmington

Greene Turtle Newark

Gallucio’s

Klondike Kate’s

Kid Shelleen’s

Division Winner

Kelly’s Logan House

Timothy’s of Newark

Kid Shelleen’s

S T. P AT R I C K ’ S DIVISION

DUBLIN DIVISION

6 Paupers

Dead Presidents

2 0 1 7 C H A M P ION

BBC Tavern 6 Paupers Division Winner

Buckley’s Tavern

Stanley’s Tavern S T. J A M E S ’ DIVISION

FireStone Dead Presidents

Runner Up:

Klondike Kate’s

Division Winner

DEAD PRESIDENTS

618 N. Union Street • Wilmington, DE • 302.652.7737

Stoney’s Pub Washington Street Ale House ARTHUR’S DIVISION

THANK YOU to all of the Participating Restaurants and Bars! And to Everyone Who Voted This Year including our Winning Voters: Rikki Loren, Lisa DiStefano, Heather Buckman, and Ray Mayo, who all won cool prizes! TM

SL AINTÉ!

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY • NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

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302. 239.2200

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302.439.3231

302.294.1890

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START

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING About The Calm Amid the Culinary Storm The Ashby family built a restaurant empire—and its patriarch, Bob, has retired (sort of) (By Pam George, March) What a fantastic article you wrote about our family and business. I cannot even tell you how many people said that you truly captured our history and family dynamic. That is no easy thing to do! I appreciate that you took the time to explain and highlight the ups and downs. And you were right. We had Bob's retirement party on Sunday and he went to work every day that following week. I am so very proud of him, all that he has accomplished and all of the times that he has affected the business in such positive ways. You touch so many with your words. That is something to be truly proud of. — Sandy Ashby, Wilmington Bob Ashby is truly wonderful, as is his entire family. Bob, along with his sidekick Sandy (perhaps the brain behind the operation) have made the Delaware community and the world a better place. — Jane Mayer Mangat, Delaware About The War On Words A monthly column that defends the English language (By Bob Yearick, March) I look forward to my monthly free copy of Out & About at the Kirkwood Fitness center on Naaman's Rd., and especially Bob Yearick’s column The War on Words. I read a complaining letter to the Editor of the Del Co Times today and it really bothered me. To quote: "As you say there are less buildings in the second phase. I don't know the exact numbers. This gives the impression that there will be less people and cars in the second phase, which is essentially untrue." The writer must be from the "Dan Patrick School of Grammar" Bob wrote about in his March column. — Dave Irving, Media, Pa. About Tiny House, Big Problems One man’s weekend experience in a 140-square-foot structure (By Mike Little, March) OMG this is too funny. You are one brave man to spend more than 24 hours in the tiny house. — Myra Alleva, West Grove, Pa. Try a travel trailer.

— Dave Ball, British Columbia, Canada

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? SEND US A MESSAGE! contact@tsnpub.com • OutAndAboutNow.com

APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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20 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Photo Joe del Tufo

START

The new Congresswoman at last year's Christmas parade, riding with her father (left), who, she says, "was a great influence on the campaign trail."

A Victory for Diversity A Padua education helped Lisa Blunt Rochester become the first woman and the first African-American to represent Delaware in Congress

By Kevin Noonan

ast year, when Lisa Blunt Rochester was campaigning to become Delaware’s only member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a constant theme of her crusade was that she had never run for office before, although she had spent years working behind the political scenes. That fact is even the first sentence of her LinkedIn biography: “I’ve never run for office before…” It wasn’t until recently that Blunt Rochester realized she had erred in claiming this was the first time her fate was decided by voters. She actually ran for office twice in the past—at Padua Academy. And, just as in her bid for the House seat, she was victorious. In January, Blunt Rochester was sworn in as the first woman and the first African-American to serve in Congress from the First State. That’s a dynamic one-two diversity achievement that she really started training for more than three decades ago at the allgirls Catholic school in Wilmington.

She laughed during a recent interview when she recalled her time at Padua and suddenly remembered her first forays into politics—running for student council during her freshman and senior years, and winning both times. “That school and those teachers had a great impact on me,” she says. “That was a very important time in my life.” But she readily admits that 14-year-old Lisa Blunt wasn’t looking forward to entering the Broom Street school. “I didn’t choose Padua—my parents chose Padua,” she says. “The thought of going to an all-girls school, I don’t think I knew what to expect. But I think that allowed me to be in an environment where I could just truly focus on developing me, the woman I am today.” In fact, Blunt Rochester says that even today, when she faces tough decisions in Congress, she frequently recalls the Padua motto: Suaviter Sed Fortiter, Latin for “Softly But Strongly.” ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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START A VICTORY FOR DIVERSITY continued from previous page

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“It’s an important concept, to realize that you don’t have to have a hammer to get things done and to be strong,” she says. “That’s just one of the basic, foundational things that I got from being in that school.” Her father, Ted Blunt, is an iconic figure in Delaware politics. He served for more than 30 years with various school districts, then became a member of Wilmington’s City Council for 16 years before rising to Council president for eight years. This gave him a myriad of experiences and personal interactions, and that’s what he and his wife, Alice, wanted for their three daughters, starting with Lisa. (Their other daughters, Thea and Marla, graduated from Brandywine High). “That’s the price you pay when you’re a child—parents make the decision,” Ted Blunt says with a laugh. “She was our first-born and we wanted her to have an experience around other girls, and not just be around the same kids in your neighborhood. So we decided on Padua for her to get that experience with other youngsters of different backgrounds, whether they be white, black or brown.” The decision proved to be a wise one. Ted Blunt got what he wanted for his daughter—life lessons as well as academic lessons. Lisa’s time at Padua developed her outlook on life and helped the girl become a woman and eventually a Congresswoman. When she entered Padua, the school’s total enrollment was only about four percent black, and she was the only African-American in the class of 1980. “That’s also one of the things that has shaped me,” she says. “It’s the ability to travel in diverse circles, but also to be strong in those times when you might feel challenged or feel as if you were the only one. “So a lot of things influenced me from that school. And I got a great education.”

Lifelong Friends

There’s something else Blunt Rochester got from Padua, something she still treasures. “Lifelong friends,” she says. “To have that kind of longevity with people also taught me the value of friendship and the value of loyalty and being there and having somebody’s back. That was really important.”

22 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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April 20, 2017

Dining Out For Life returns on 4/20. Make reservations @ a participating restaurant. Munch on some great food for an important cause. Visit AIDSDelaware.org AIDSDelaware.org Visit for Restaurants a complete list . agree torestaurant donate 33% of the Photo courtesy of Office of Rep. Blunt Rochester

days proceeds to AIDSDE client services.

2017 AIDS Delaware Restaurant List Blunt Rochester greets crowd watching the International Women's Day Press Conference on March 8 in Washington.

Karen Jablonski Black was a member of Padua’s Class of 1980, and she remembers Lisa Blunt as a bright, vivacious girl who was judged by her character and not by the color of her skin. “We had a real sisterhood and Lisa was a big part of that,” says Jablonski Black. “Even then she had a great way of connecting with people. You know how it is in high school, where everybody has their cliques and they sit at different tables and that sort of thing. Well, Lisa was one of those people who was friends with everybody, and it didn’t matter what their color was or their nationality or whether they were smart or popular.” “That’s why we’re not surprised that she’s in politics now and doing so well,” Jablonski Black adds. “Lisa was always the type of person you could approach and she was always friendly and outgoing. And nothing has changed—she’s still that sweet person everyone wants to be friends with.” Blunt Rochester keeps in touch with her Padua classmates, and a little over a year ago they got together to celebrate their 35th reunion. Blunt Rochester has lived in the Middle East, China and Paris, and she shared some of her new adventures with her old friends at the reunion. “We just picked up like we were in school together just yesterday,” says Dee Jacono Kelleher, another class of ’80 alumna. “Lisa certainly hasn’t changed. She still has a smile on her face all the time and the person we saw [at the reunion] was the same person we saw back in high school—very pleasant and very motivated. “And she was a leader even back then, even though she was a quiet kind of leader. People just gravitated to her and responded to her, and I think that’s the same reason why she’s been so successful in politics. She just knows how to connect to people on their level, no matter what it is.” But it wasn’t merely her experience at Padua that motivated Blunt Rochester to enter public service. It was in her blood.

BBC Tavern and Grill, The Bellefonte Cafe, Blue Moon, The Buttery Restaurant and Pub, Cromwell’s American Tavern and Taqueria, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House Dover, Eden Restaurant, El Dorado Mexican Restaurant, Jam Bistro By Eden, Mariachi Restaurant, OLDBANKS Craft Bistro, The Pig + Fish Restaurant Company, Timothy’s of Newark, Tutto Fresco, and Walter's Steakhouse.

In Her DNA

“I wasn’t just the daughter or someone who was in public service, but a granddaughter, too, because my grandparents were involved in their communities,” she says. “It’s sort of who we are. Some of it was by their examples, but you also feel like it’s in your DNA.” ► APRIL MAY 2017 2015 || OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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1947

2017

70 Years

Celebrate the beauty of Spring!

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There are hardships that go with being a public servant, as Blunt Rochester knows better than most. Those include time away from the family and the expense of campaigning, the factors Ted Blunt cited when he withdrew from the race for lieutenant governor in 2008. (Winning that election would have made him the first African-American to win a state-wide office in Delaware.) All of that was in the back of Blunt Rochester’s mind when she first considered running for Congress. She had been a behind-the-scenes politician for years, starting as an intern for thengovernor Tom Carper. Her impressive resume included serving in the cabinets of two Delaware governors as secretary of labor, deputy secretary of health and social services, and state personnel director. Slowly, steadily, she paid her dues and moved up the ranks in the Democratic Party, which has controlled Delaware politics for years. So, when John Carney decided not to run for re-election to the House so he could run for governor, Blunt Rochester was the Democrat’s overwhelming choice to succeed him. But this would be the first time she would expose herself to the slings and arrows of a political campaign—not counting Padua, of course. “There’s another side I saw with my father, and that was challenging,” she says. “When you put yourself on the line like that, sometimes there were criticisms, and as a child you care about your parents. It makes you think, ‘Do I want to do that myself?’” Blunt Rochester weighed the pros and cons and decided the rewards were worth the risks, even if her father still had some trepidations. “When it was time to decide to run, I remember going to Dad and telling him that I was considering doing this,” she says. “On one hand, he was like, ‘You can do anything and I’m proud of you.’ And on the other hand, I saw the concern that I used to have for him.” But once the decision was made, Ted Blunt jumped aboard and was a stabilizing force throughout the primary and general election. That shoulder to lean on was especially important to the candidate because she had lost her

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Photo courtesy of Office of Rep. Blunt Rochester

Plants Blunt Rochester and Vice President Biden greet supporters at her swearing-in reception.

husband, Charles Rochester, in 2014. He succumbed to blood clots after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Of her father, Blunt Rochester says, “He was a great influence on the campaign trail, just being there and going to events with me. It was great to have my dad there saying, ‘You can do it!’” Ted Blunt says he doesn’t try to control what his daughter thinks or does, but he also knows the profound impact he’s had on Lisa’s life and how much respect she holds for him and his opinions. “I told her that in politics there are two things that happen— you either vote yes or you vote no,” Blunt says. “Then you’re going to have people that like your vote and some people who are not going to like your vote. But if you did the right thing, then your vote will stand. And I just told her to do the right thing.” “What you hope for is that your child has learned from your experience and your mistakes and you’re always there to give them additional advice,” Blunt adds. “But you’re not there to push your opinion on them.” The new Congresswoman has been busy since the day she was sworn in. She’s already been appointed to the House Committee on Agriculture. When that posting was announced, she cited her commitment to Delaware agriculture in general and the poultry industry in particular. Blunt Rochester made education one of her legislative priorities, and she has been appointed to the House Committee on Education. That’s especially fitting in light of her father’s long history of working with Delaware school districts. So, Blunt Rochester is already making her presence felt in Congress, just as she did when she was part of Padua’s student council. Jacono Kelleher, her former classmate, looks at Blunt Rochester’s ascent to the national stage, then looks at her own daughter, now a student at Padua, and says that even though there is a big age gap, the message her old classmate delivers resonates with teen-age girls. “We’re all very proud of Lisa and what she’s accomplished and what she stands for,” Jacono Kelleher said. “She’s going to do a great job representing Delaware because you know that she will always follow her conscience and do the right thing. More than anything, it gives me hope for the future to know that my daughter has a role model like her to look up to.”

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26 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Find the

The First State is the newest branch of the national nonprofit

or more than six decades, the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful has served as the country’s steward of litter prevention. Now, this month, a Delaware chapter has been launched, joining the ranks of 600 community-based affiliates and 5 million volunteers in an effort to end littering, improve recycling and beautify America’s communities. KAB aims to inspire and educate people to take daily action by focusing on the convenience, communication and cause—that is, getting people to understand the benefits and relevancy of recycling. Nearly three years ago, discussions about a state-wide chapter began when the Delaware Food Industry Council (DFIC)—a non-profit corporation dedicated to the wellbeing of the food industry—began looking into the KAB model. Says Julie Miro Wenger, executive director of both Keep Delaware Beautiful and the DFIC: “We have been a proponent to bring a Keep Delaware Beautiful chapter to our state because we believe our retail companies are good corporate citizens and great stewards for the environment and the mission of Keep America Beautiful is in tune with our company and association mission.” “By educating and engaging individuals to recycle more of the right things the right way—at home, at work and on-the-go—we can help make recycling more economically viable, creating jobs and providing recyclables to manufacture new products and packaging, while continuing to reap greater environmental and community benefits.” She says the DFIC is thrilled to lead the charge with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) to make this statewide chapter a reality. Keep Delaware Beautiful has eight founding board member companies and invites others to join. Participants are: Wawa, Wakefern, DSWA, Delaware Beverage Association, DFIC, Shoprite, Waste Management and Waste Industries. For more information, email juliemirowenger@gmail.com.

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APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS

Bring on Breakfast! These 16 spots are worth trying PUREBREAD DELI Various locations This café—with locations in Wilmington, Greenville, Pike Creek, Christiana and Glenn Mills—is a step up from traditional fare but still maintains the informal atmosphere one may expect of a breakfast spot. You really won’t see anything fried or greasy here; think more cold sandwiches, freshly-baked muffins, grilled paninis. My go-to is the smoked salmon sandwich, the Doberman, a classic lox including, of course, cream cheese, red onion, capers and tomato on your choice of toasted bagel. — Krista Connor, Associate Editor

MEGHAN’S 1117 Smithbridge Rd., Glen Mills, Pa. It would be easy to miss this quaint little eatery situated just over the Pennsylvania line at Route 202 and Smithbridge Road; the place can’t be larger than 600 square feet. But if you have a small group looking for a consistent breakfast spot, pay Meghan’s a visit (the place isn’t conducive to parties of six or more). Be prepared to eat immediately after ordering; the service is that fast. Meghan’s delivers a solid performance on all the breakfast basics. Their western omelet is my go-to item. — Jerry duPhily, Publisher

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MARSH ROAD DINER 407 Marsh Rd. Wilmington A traditional diner, it’s open 24/7, with a huge menu featuring all-American staples like biscuits and gravy, chicken and dumplings and Belgian waffles, and breakfast all day. Prices are reasonable, service fast. Located just off Philadelphia Pike. Try the soup. Any soup. — Bob Yearick, Contributing Editor LUCKY’S COFFEE SHOP Rt. 202 near Silverside With a cool 1950s vibe, this spot offers all the amenities you would expect from a diner— with a spin. I recommend ordering from the “Way Cooler Breakfast Items” section of the menu. My menu items of choice are the eggs Benedict and a side of biscuits. With a Sputnik Chandelier in the entryway, the egg shell chair in the back corner, great tunes on the speakers, and a stocked liquor cabinet, this breakfast spot truly is a blast. — Ryan Alexander, Contributing Designer

LOMA COFFEE 3rd and Market, Wilmington This has become a popular destination for early business meetings and for those simply in need of a little jolt before work. For the most part, the breakfast offerings are standard yet satisfying and always served with a smile. But the standouts here are the selection of smoothies, each of which can be turbo-charged with a shot of protein. I recommend the Three Berry option as a quick, easy and healthy way to fuel up for the day. — Jim Miller, Director of Publications

CONTINUED ► Breakfast staples in the window ready to be served at Lucky's Coffee Shop. Photo Jim Coarse APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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ANGELO'S LUNCHEONETTE 1722 N. Scott St., Wilmington Dare I say Angelo’s hot (spicy) sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on wheat toast (to go) is my favorite breakfast sandwich so far? And I loved feeling as though I had walked into a 1960s’ neighborhood luncheonette. The atmosphere was welcoming and the staff was too. They added the perfect amount of hot sauce and I was on my way. I can't wait to go back. facebook.com/angelos. luncheonette. — Matt Loeb, Creative Director & Production Manager

KOZY KORNER 906 N. Union St., Wilmington Kozy Korner is an old-school diner. The food is straightforward, fresh, and very reasonably priced. It has a hometown feel in both appearance and service. If you’re looking for an omelet and a dose of nostalgia, then Kozy Korner is the place for you. And you may run into some of our political leaders. — Marie Graham Poot, Director of Digital Media & Distribution

FROM FINE FOOD TO FLOWERS, WE DO IT ALL. For your special day, let Janssen’s catering take care of you. From customized, full-service catering designed to fit your budget, to floral arrangements, china and linens, we can do it all. You deserve the best — contact us today.

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SINCLAIR’S CAFÉ 177 E. Main St., Newark This classic Main Street gathering place features staples like omelets, breakfast potatoes, and eggs Benedict. The simple and unpretentious atmosphere invites guests to take it easy and find time for one—or two—more rounds of coffee. Open Tuesdays-Sundays. — Krista Connor, Associate Editor

HOLLYWOOD GRILL 1811 Concord Pike, Wilmington Menus featuring Hollywood icons give it an old-timey feel, belying the fact that this spacious restaurant has been around only since 2002. In those 15 years, it has become a popular breakfast (and lunch) spot for politicians and leaders of all stripes in North Wilmington. Bill Clinton stopped by during the last presidential campaign, glad-handing staff and patrons. New Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester held a rally there. Breakfast, including cocktails, starts at 6 a.m. One caveat: avoid sitting in the northeast corner, which seems to trap the sounds of loud voices and clattering dishes, assaulting the ears. — Bob Yearick, Contributing Editor

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DRIP CAFÉ Lantana Square Shopping Center, Hockessin My wife and I love this place, and judging by the crowd on the weekends a lot of other people do as well. Since we're big fans of anything between two slices of bread, we naturally gravitate toward the breakfast sandwiches. The last time we went, my wife got the Power Sandwich —egg whites, turkey sausage, brie, spinach and housemade power jam on multigrain toast. I had the Scrapple Croque Madame, which has amazing fried scrapple, Swiss cheese and Dijon on grilled sourdough, topped with béchamel sauce and a sunny side up egg. We shared a side of ginger-sage pork sausage and a French press of the delicious coffee. If you go, also consider the caramel apple pancakes. They're simply amazing. — Tyler Mitchell, Graphic Designer

MAIALE The Cannery, Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington Need something to get you through a long day? I stopped into Maiale in The Cannery on Lancaster Avenue on a chilly Friday morning to try one of the famous breakfast sandwiches. I went with the sausage, egg and cheese (Maiale is known for its hand-crafted specialty sausages). It was not only delicious, but I didn't need to have another meal until dinner. — Matt Loeb, Creative Director & Production Manager

BREW HA HA! Greenville At most Brew Ha Ha! coffee shops, the breakfast menu features a wide range of serious coffee, morning pastries, and a choice of three breakfast sandwiches, each offered on a choice of bagel or delicious homemade biscuits. However, the Greenville location has three additional options (all vegetarian) while also offering loaded oatmeal bowls and avocado toast. The weekend menu includes masa pancakes, French toast and omelets joining brunchtype cocktails for some morning fun. — Jim Miller, Director of Publications DE LA COEUR CAFÉ ET PATISSERIE Lovering Avenue, Forty Acres, Wilmington I’m not sure why it took me so long to try De La Coeur . The cozy little café has a very inviting atmosphere, and more important, great coffee. We tried the breakfast sandwich (egg, arugula, bacon, and red pepper aioli on a fresh baguette) and the breakfast hash (home fries, chili, onions, aioli topped with a perfectly fried egg), and they were both delicious. I’m looking forward to returning soon for crepes. — Marie Graham Poot, Director of Digital Media & Distribution

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LOCALE BBQ POST 1014 N. Lincoln St. Wilmington Need a quick and delicious breakfast sandwich to-go, at any time of the day? Then this is your best option on the west side of the city. They'll cook your egg fresh while you wait, then top it with your preferred meat (bacon and sausage for us) and an amazing remoulade sauce on a fresh brioche bun. They also give you a great dipping sauce, which last time was pepper-vinegar, but this time was sweet honey. Either way, it's always worth the five minutes and five bucks. — Tyler Mitchell, Graphic Designer

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HANK’S PLACE 1625 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford, Pa. Drive by this Chadds Ford treasure on any weekend morning and you will see a line of people—even in the dead of winter—waiting for a seat. Hank’s Place is that good. Sure, it has the cachet of being a favorite breakfast spot of famed artists such as Andrew Wyeth and Rea Redifer, but that’s not why people flock to Hank’s. They go for the food. The menu offers all the traditional breakfast fare as well as Greek specialties, but do yourself a favor and order something from Hank’s Specialty Egg Dishes or the Frittatas sections of the menu. Voula’s Corned Beef Hash and Eggs is my personal favorite. A word of caution: Hank’s does not take credit cards and the breakfast selections are not inexpensive (though the portions are large). So, go prepared. —Jerry duPhily, Publisher

THE PERFECT BLEND 249 E. Main St., Newark This café is all about one thing: Belgian waffles. Hidden in a historic building on Main Street, The Perfect Blend is open Tuesdays-Sundays, and it’s packed on weekends with a lively atmosphere. It’s an informal, colorful place to go for that guilty-pleasure breakfast (note: more like dessert). The owner, Jeanne Kress, is gracious and welcoming. — Krista Connor, Associate Editor

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2017

APRIL 3-8

ilmington’s culinary rite of spring, City Restaurant Week, returns for its 13th year this month. This annual promotion provides great incentive to visit one of Wilmington’s destination restaurants. The 2017 lineup features 16 of Wilmington’s finest, each owner-operated. That’s one of the beauties of the city’s fine dining scene. Chain restaurants are not an option. “City Restaurant Week enables us to create fresh menus for the spring, plus it puts emphasis on trying new things and new restaurants within our community,” says Dan Butler, owner, of Piccolina Toscana. “It’s a reminder that this city has remarkable dining options in close proximity to one another.” Once again, diners will be treated to an array of menus, offering everything from Asian to French to Latin to Italian. Prix-fixe, two-course lunches are $15. Three-course dinners are $35. “City Restaurant Week is a culinary invitation to the people of our community to experience the special and talented offerings of this city’s great restaurants and chefs. It helps build community while showcasing the culinary talents and unique dining experiences in our town,” says Beth Ross, co-owner of Domaine Hudson. For an overview of this year’s participating restaurants, read on. ►

VIEW RESTAURANT MENUS AT

CityRestaurantWeek.com Make reservations directly with the restaurant

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CAFÉ MEZZANOTTE

CHELSEA TAVERN

1001 North Orange Street 658-7050

821 North Market St. 482-3333

Café Mezzanotte, located in Downtown, Wilmington, opened in 2003 and has since built a reputation as Delaware’s premier spot to enjoy classic Pan-Mediterranean cuisine. They offer an intimate atmosphere with servers who attend to each diner with exceptional care. Whether you are looking for a romantic evening for two, or hosting a large corporate gathering, Café Mezzanotte will cater to your needs!

COCINA LOLO 405 North King Street 384-6186

Creative and original food inspired from authentic Latin dishes and influences from Mexico. Lolo offers a diverse menu with favorites like pork carnitas tacos, ceviches, quesadillas and a creative tapas menu for those who want to try everything. The bar at Lolo aims to preserve classic Latin cocktails while also creating some original ones. They use only the highest quality ingredients, and hand squeeze the citrus daily. They make all of their own syrups and use only 100% Blue Agave Tequilas. They source many authentic Mexican ingredients for their recipes. You will also find some of your favorite Latin-inspired cocktails like the caipirinha.

DEL PEZ MEXICAN GASTROPUB - WILMINGTON 400 Justison St. 691-7974 Del Pez is one of the latest additions to Hakuna Hospitality Group. If you are you looking for an unforgettable dining experience, a fun night out on the town with your friends, or the perfect place to enjoy a beer then you’ve found what you’re looking for. Del Pez Mexican GastroPub fuses the warmth and friendliness of a traditional Pub with a diverse and delicious menu that celebrates the flavors of Latin America and Mexico. Del Pez carries a robust list of craft beers, and the area’s largest craft margarita menu, with over 60 craft beers and five house infused tequilas to choose from.

ERNEST & SCOTT TAPROOM 902 North Market St. 384-8113 The name Ernest & Scott is inspired by the fascinating relationship between writers and bon vivants Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, part of which actually took place here in Wilmington. The concept aims to capture the spirit of both writers. Whether you seek a local watering hole to saddle up to the bar for a hearty sandwich and a beer, or an elegant location for a magnificent dining event, guests at Ernest & Scott will find a warm, friendly environment where all are welcome.

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Chelsea Tavern has been a Delaware craft beer destination since 2010, pouring 31 rotating craft brews and offering another 300 malty and hoppy selections via cans and bottles. Chef Nuwan continues to wow Wilmington with his culinary flexibility, while continually adapting to the varied crowds of theatergoers in the city’s entertainment district. His beer-friendly menu of “from-scratch” comfort food pairs perfectly with the warm ambiance and urban surroundings. The location makes Chelsea Tavern the perfect venue for pre/post show dining and people watching.

COLUMBUS INN 2216 Pennsylvania Ave. 571-1492

Columbus Inn, a Wilmington tradition since 1849, is a premier American tavern and restaurant that seamlessly combines the best of “old and new,” serving seasonally inspired, market fresh, progressive yet playful modern cuisine paired with an amazing selection of old and new world wines, micro and macro brews, as well as traditional and new style spirits. The creative menus for dinner, brunch and private events feature new and classic dishes with an approachable, new age twist at an affordable value. From happy hour to special events, there is always a good reason to come “inn.”

DOMAINE HUDSON 1314 North Washington St. 655-9463

Named a “must-visit restaurant serving some of the best food in Wilmington, if not the entire state” by The News Journal and awarded “best restaurant in Wilmington” by TripAdvisor, Domaine Hudson is known for premium food, superb wine pairings and inventive cocktails. Zagat rates the food as “perfection” and service as “excellent.” A well-known wine tasting destination, Domaine Hudson offers more than 450 premium wines and 40 wines by the glass. A closed-door dining room is the perfect setting for your private party or business meeting.

THE GREEN ROOM 100 West 11th St. 594-3154

Enjoy French cuisine in the 100-year-old Green Room at the Hotel du Pont, an unforgettable setting of oak paneling, coffered oak beamed ceilings, gold chandeliers, and original oil paintings. The world-class Green Room has been a winner of the Four-Diamond AAA Award for 28 consecutive years. Featuring a colorful combination of shimmering draperies, wingback chairs, and Versace patterned china, the historic elegance of the Green Room is complemented by a fresh, seasonally-inspired menu under the direction of Executive Chef Keith Miller. An award-winning wine collection and impeccable service will further enhance your fine dining experience.

3/27/17 10:31 AM

HARRY’S SEAFOOD GRILL

LA FIA BAKERY + MARKET + BISTRO

101 South Market St. 777-1500

421 North Market St. 543-5574

The name Harry’s has always been recognized for its tradition of fresh ingredients, innovative cuisine and unsurpassed service. That tradition can be found on Wilmington’s Riverfront at Harry’s Seafood Grill. Adjacent to the Riverwalk, Harry’s Seafood Grill is the place for lunch, dinner, cocktails and a late night in Wilmington. A chic atmosphere, fresh raw bar, award-winning crab cakes, outstanding lobsters, imaginatively prepared seafood, great martinis and 50 wines by the glass are some of the keys to an exciting experience. Harry’s is a coveted spot for patio dining or cocktails on the waterfront.

The menu at La Fia has something for everyone. From handmade pasta, gnocchi and ravioli to the eclectic menu of small plates, each dish is carefully crafted by Chef Bryan Sikora. Chef Sikora finds inspiration in all types of European cuisine. The kitchen at La Fia prides itself in making everything in house. From the freshly baked bread to the desserts, La Fia is true artisan cooking. In 2014 Chef Sikora was nominated for Best Chef of the Mid-Atlantic and he continues to deliver outstanding food in Wilmington.

MIKIMOTOS MERCHANT BAR 426 North Market St. (302) 543-5574

Merchant Bar is an elevated gastrobar that infuses a chef-driven menu with an original hand-crafted cocktail menu focused on high-quality ingredients, aiming to bring you a unique bar and dining experience. Both for intimate dining or for a large group, Merchant Bar’s dynamic space is perfect for any occasion.

PICCOLINA TOSCANA 1412 N. DuPont St. 654-8001

Dan Butler opened Toscana upon returning home to Wilmington in 1990. His vision was a contemporary Italian restaurant with the big city feel of the places that he had seen in his travels and work experience in Europe, Washington, D.C and Florida. His education and the kitchens he has worked in since taught him to cook everything from scratch, using the best, freshest ingredients in a simple way that lets the natural goodness shine. Toscana has been renovated and updated several times over the years, and includes a to-go and catering shop adjacent to the restaurant, but the core concept of nice people serving “really good food” has never changed.

UBON THAI CUISINE 936 Justison St. 656-1706

Jeenwong Thai Cuisine has been in Wilmington for about 13 years now, and is proud to have chosen to stay here and present Ubon Thai Cuisine. Their goal is to bring exotic flavors to Wilmington, and that is evident in menu items like “Thai Guy’s Wings” and “Yai’s Rolls.” Their service makes customers feel like they’re with family. Ubon takes all the fresh ingredients that you would see in Thailand, along with local produce, to create family Thai dishes, including“Yai’s Rolls” and the “Momochas” —from scratch.

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1212 North Washington St. 656-8638

Darius Mansoory added a second restaurant to his portfolio in August 2000 when he opened Mikimotos Asian Grill & Sushi Bar. Like its older sister, Washington Street Ale House, Mikimotos continues to surpass the expectations of its guests. Mikimotos is a high-energy restaurant sheathed in contemporary urban décor. Walls and tables are dressed in bold reds and yellows with black accents. The half-moon bar, a Wilmington hotspot, delivers creative cocktails along with old favorites, and the unusual circleshaped 24-seat sushi bar serves the freshest fish in the city.

TONIC BAR & GRILLE 111 West 11th Street 777-2040

Located in Downtown, Wilmington, Tonic is the creation of well-known Wilmington restaurateur Dan Butler (Piccolina Toscana, Brandywine Prime) and longtime business partner Paul Bouchard. Tonic blends an urban sensibility with the classic American steakhouse to bring a warm and inviting dining experience. Tonic strives to leave a lasting impression with relaxing decor, hospitable service, delicious craft beers, plenty of big red wines, and, of course, the finest steaks available.

WASHINGTON STREET ALE HOUSE 1206 North Washington St. 658-2537 Opened in 1997 by Darius Mansoory, Washington Street Ale House specializes in great food and handcrafted beers. With an extensive selection of 24 beers on tap, this is a great place in the city to enjoy drinks with family and friends. Guests are able to relax and unwind in the inviting dining room, which is the perfect location for evening dates, family outings and friendly get-togethers. And the year-round deck offers a premier atmosphere to enjoy dinner and appetizers for any occasion.

3/27/17 10:32 AM

TASTY TACO THURSDAYs Thursday* 30% off Every 302.658.4600 *Dine In Only www.kidshelleens.com #HHGROUPIE

36 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS

Stir-fry options at honeygrow look more like home-cooked meals than chain-restaurant food. Photo Jason Varney

all in the family

It’s getting hard to tell restaurant fare from home cooking, and vice versa, says our food trends expert

By Matt Sullivan

f there’s one overarching trend in cooking this year, it’s this: Restaurants have embraced home cooking, and home cooks have never had such easy access to the tools and techniques of the professional kitchen. The newcomers in the fast-casual restaurant segment allow diners to personalize meals like they would at home, with options that go far beyond “wit or without,” while new devices that have come to market over the past few years have emboldened home chefs to create dishes they’ve only had in restaurants. But what’s really new is the speed of change. In the past, the restaurant industry simmered like a soup. You’d take a bunch of ingredients (a new idea, some fancy kitchen tools, a handful of early adopters, a pinch of social media, and celery, because there’s always celery), stir them together, add heat,

give it some time—everything good took time—and new concepts would emerge. But then came Instant Pot, and Instant Pot makes everything move faster. It’s usually hard to pinpoint the exact tipping point when a trend takes off, but that’s not the case with Instant Pot. It occurred on July 12, 2016, on the totally made-up corporate holiday known as Amazon Prime Day. During that hot Christmas in July, Amazon moved 215,000 Instant Pot electric pressure cookers in 24 hours, sending hundreds of thousands of people to YouTube in search of recipe videos and launching breathless news articles with headlines like “Why Is Everyone Obsessed with This Pot Thing?” (Confession: I got my first Instant Pot for Christmas, and the things it can do to short rib in 30 minutes are astonishing.) ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS ALL IN THE FAMILY continued from previous page

The reviews

say it all…

“Best Wine List, Philadelphia”

– Open Table

“Must Visit Restaurant”

– The News Journal

“Best Overall Restaurant in Philadelphia Suburbs”

– Open Table

“Best of Delaware”

– Delaware Today

“Extraordinary”

– Zagat

1314 N. Washington St., Wilmington, DE 19801 • 302.300.3723 DOMAINEHUDSON.COM

Quality Price Service

y to Read Eat! n - Heat

Since 1934

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Only $14.99 per person, Order by Thurs 4/13. Pickup Fri 4/14 through Sat 4/15.

Come in and explore our eclectic range of meats! We carry many items that are not commonly found in local supermarkets, like our traditional italian meats and game birds!

302.994.4467 | 4723 Kirkwood Hwy. Midway Plaza

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idiot-proof

There’s a simple reason why Instant Pot took off—the device seems to be idiot-proof. Home cooks who may have been intimidated by old-fashioned pressure cookers and their potential to explode pea soup all over the kitchen can find comfort in the sleek, pushbutton technology that allows you to set cooking times and styles to cook everything from beef stews to yogurts. (Those who might still need inspiration can find it among the many Instant Pot obsessives of Pinterest, or increasingly in New York Times recipes.) But pressure cookers aren’t the only restaurant tool that ambitious foodies found under the Christmas tree this year. Also popular: the as-seen-on-TV “Steakager.” “It was just a perfect example of Big Brother Facebook marketing,” says OperaDelaware General Manager (and accomplished home cook) Brendan Cooke. “Something came up on my Facebook feed —I guess my interests include meat—and in a weak moment in the middle of the night, I clicked on it. And then the ad starts following and following you." The Steakager, as seen on CNBC’s notquite-Shark-Tank Make Me a Millionaire Inventor, fits inside your fridge and works to replicate the walk-in dry aging facilities of major steakhouses. The website says you can “age your beef for a minimum of 12 days to however adventurous you are,” which sounds decidedly like a dare. "After you get 30 days in, it starts to develop a more beefy flavor,” Cooke says. “Longer than 40 days, it starts to take on the funk of a blue cheese, which is not really my thing. The sweet spot to me on the ribeye seems to be a 35-day age. You lose some moisture, it intensifies the flavor, and really changes the texture. What's normally pretty toothy in a fresh steak becomes like butter." Cooke also has been experimenting with his new sous vide device (technically, a Christmas gift for his wife). Sous vide is a method where food is vacuum-sealed and placed in a temperature-controlled water bath for long periods of time. It’s used by top chefs for uber-precise cooking of everything from steaks to eggs. "The device looks like a stick blender and it hangs on any vessel—I have a big plastic Rubbermaid container for it—and I can control it from my phone,” Cooke says. “The beautiful thing about that is that you literally can't overcook things."

38 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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HARRY’S SEAFOOD GRILL

LA FIA BAKERY + MARKET + BISTRO

101 South Market St. 777-1500

421 North Market St. 543-5574

MIKIMOTOS MERCHANT BAR 426 North Market St. (302) 543-5574

PICCOLINA TOSCANA 1412 N. DuPont St. 654-8001

UBON THAI CUISINE 936 Justison St. 656-1706

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1212 North Washington St. 656-8638

TONIC BAR & GRILLE 111 West 11th Street 777-2040

3/27/17 10:32 AM

FOCUS

SMALL TOWN,

BIG APPETITES Newark is now a destination for even the most discerning diners By Pam George

40 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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THE ICONS The Main Street area has long been the epicenter of Newark dining. Admittedly, it wasn’t as diverse in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when The Glass Mug, the Malt Shoppe, Sam’s, and Daffy Deli reigned. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant shook up the scene when it opened in 1996—before the craft beer craze took hold. Many wondered if a brewery could survive in a town where students quaffed cheap beer and counted pennies. Fortunately, area families and diners with bigger wallets were happy to belly up to a brewpub in their backyard.

▲ It's a packed house at Churrascaria Saudades. ◄ The "Alcatra" cut at Churrascaria Saudades: tender, juicy, full of flavor. Photos Jim Coarse

Photo Jim Coarse

hen the owners of Churrascaria Saudades decided to open a Brazilian steakhouse, they initially considered Middletown. Then they visited the Newark Shopping Center. “There was a new movie theater, the natural food store was opening—they felt it was a really good time to get into Newark,” says Jonathan Keegan, the restaurant’s assistant manager. “It was changing.” But was it changing enough for diners to plunk down $46 for 15 different kinds of all-you-can-eat cuts of meat? After all, Newark is traditionally known for pizza places and sub shops—the foods that college students crave after a night spent studying or partying. In a word, “yes.” Since opening last year, Churrascaria Saudades regularly serves up to 400 people on a Friday or Saturday night, says Keegan, who previously worked at Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse in Philly. And the guests aren’t all students, parents, and faculty. “You get the business professionals, the bankers,” he says. “We do a lot of medical parties. But then you get people coming in to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations— lots of celebrations going on.” To be sure, for Newark diners, there’s much to celebrate these days. The dining scene is diverse and concentrated, says Karen Stauffer, director of marketing for the Delaware Restaurant Association, which is near Main Street. “As an adventurous eater, that is something I appreciate.” Restaurant volume is a good thing for all, says Bobby Pancake, past chairman of the Delaware Restaurant Association and a partner in High5Hospitality, whose restaurants include Buffalo Wild Wings and the Stone Balloon Ale House. “The more restaurants you have, the more people come to Newark,” he says. But that does force businesses to up their game. “The more restaurants you have, the better you have to perform,” Pancake adds. And that’s good news for diners.

Asian cauliflower wings at Home Grown Café.

Home Grown Café and Caffé Gelato also brought fresh concepts to the scene when they opened in 2000. Home Grown Café was an offshoot of a retail store, Home Grown, which opened in 1998. By 2004, the restaurant consumed most of the retail space. Surrounded by sub shops, the kitchen turned out fresh food made from scratch and vegetarian options in the days before the glutenfree revolution. Caffé Gelato, which started as a gelato shop, has expanded to become a full-service restaurant with an award-winning wine list. The longtime businesses have built a loyal fan base. Home Grown serves food that’s “outside the box,” says Heather Hook, a Wilmington resident who heads to Newark for the restaurant scene. “I love their buffalo cauliflower florets and the crispy russet potato chips with yogurt aioli. I swooned when I had the avocado-carob mousse.” Two restaurants loved by generations of UD alums are still thriving, albeit with a more modern approach. The Deer Park underwent a total renovation when Bob Ashby’s company purchased it in 2001. Now it’s Klondike Kate’s turn. In November, Gilda and Gianmarco Martuscelli bought the restaurant, which opened in 1979 in a building that held a gas station, jail, post office, pool hall, skating rink and movie theater. The family also owns Chesapeake Inn and La Casa Pasta. Gianmarco Martuscelli saw Klondike Kate’s, which is busy during the school year, as a complement to the Chesapeake Inn, which is busy in the summer. Like Ashby, the Martuscellis have instituted some changes that initially led to pushback. Klondike Kate’s had been famous for its daily specials that extended to takeout. The UD football team would order half-priced burgers to go on Mondays, Gianmarco Martuscelli says. Offices would send someone to pick up half-priced salad and sandwiches for an entire department. Additional employees were needed just to fill the discounted takeout orders, but the dining room wasn’t full. Now only in-house guests can order the discounted specials. Martuscelli has also streamlined the menu, which had so many items that it was worthy of a diner. The kitchen spent too much time prepping before meal service, and the volume of options slowed down the meal service. There were also too many sides, which again led to time spent prepping. Martuscelli has cut the quantity for quality. Burger meat, for instance, is now fresh, not frozen. One addition to the menu is raising eyebrows. Klondike Kate’s offers 12 sushi rolls made by Sushi Sumo on Kirkwood Highway. “My staff had said there was no longer a sushi spot on Main Street,” Martuscelli explains. “It’s been really popular with the students.” And for nacho lovers, rest easy. They’re still on the menu. ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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MARTUSCELLI R E S TAU R A N T G R O U P

SERVING IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS FOR OVER 100 YEARS COMBINED

WWW.MARTUSCELLIANDSONS.COM 22 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS

Photo courtesy of Klondike Kate's

SMALL TOWN, BIG APPETITES continued from page 41

Back Creek Roll at Klondike Kate's made by Sushi Sumo.

THE MELTING POT

Sushi might be scarce on Main Street, but the surrounding area is a mecca for those who love ethnic cuisine. “There’s so much more variety in the Newark area than in Wilmington,” says Robbie Jester, executive chef of the Stone Balloon Ale House. Consider Chef Tan and Ramen Kumamoto, both on Main Street. Chef Tan has most of the Chinese staples, complete with little red peppers beside spicy menu options. Ramen Kumamoto has created diehard noodle addicts who rave about the “tan tan,” a spicy chicken broth with miso and sesame paste, topped with minced meat, bean sprouts, noodles, and chicken or pork. Sara Teixido, a Pike Creek resident, is such a fan of the ramen that she sent her fiancé for a takeout order of it when she was sick. She’s also a fan of Ali Baba on Main Street. “It's stayed the same for years, but their Ali Baba hummus, carrot salad, and spicy Moroccan chicken are crave-able,” she says. “You can feast with a group, have a fun time in a unique atmosphere, and not break the bank.” Robin Glanden, who lives within walking distance of Main Street, recommends Olive Tree Café, which also features Mediterranean food, in Chestnut Plaza. “It has a friendly owner and wait staff and absolutely delicious food—the mint tea is to die for.” The Mexican segment is oversaturated in Newark, acknowledges Pancake of Buffalo Wild Wings and the Stone Balloon Ale House. It is home to the most recent El Diablo Burritos location, Santa Fe Mexican Grill, Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, and Tex-Mex chains, including Chipotle Mexican Grill. “There are like five burrito places within two blocks,” Martuscelli says. For now, they’re holding their own.

GOOD FOOD TO GO

Along with competing for market share in a certain dining segment, many restaurants are vying for the lunch crowd, Martuscelli says. Klondike Kate’s in January added a lunch buffet on Fridays to tempt university staff interested in a quick bite. “It’s been popular,” Martuscelli says. The plentiful choices include chains that specialize in fast-casual fare. Roots Natural Kitchen, which offers rice bowls and salads, is a newcomer, as is honeygrow, a Philadelphia-based chain featuring salads and stir-fry. “We wanted to open in Newark because Main Street has always been a vibrant and bustling community, whether the university is in session or on break,” says Jen Denis, the chief branding officer for honeygrow and a 2000 graduate of the University of Delaware. “The community seems ready to welcome and embrace wholesome cuisine served up fresh, fast, and fully customized. Honeygrow thrives in locations with active, creative, and civic-minded populations, and the Newark area community fits that bill perfectly." APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS SMALL TOWN, BIG APPETITES continued from previous page

Bar Deals

Photo Danielle Quigley

Late Night

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Perhaps one of the most dramatic changes on the Newark dining scene has been the rise of restaurants like Churrascaria Saudades, which have a higher price point, and eateries that appeal to a variety of diners, including families. Since Taverna Rustic Italian opened in 2012, it’s consistently listed among local diners’ favorites. “My husband gets pretty bored with Italian, but he loves Taverna because it is so different and the food is often locally sourced,” Glanden says. Owned by the Platinum Dining Group, which also owns Eclipse and Capers & Lemons, Taverna has coal-fired pizzas, as well as entrees such as spinach ricotta with agnolotti, shiitake mushrooms, truffle butter, and lemon. “Taverna has been incredibly successful,” says Carl Georigi, the hospitality group’s founder, who had his eye on a Main Street location for years before the Taverna space became available. “It’s been well received by the entire community. We’re very happy we went there.” Pancake is a big fan. He eats there often—when he’s not eating at the Stone Balloon, which his company purchased in 2015. The Stone Balloon has gone through a few incarnations—from a wine house whose license prohibited children to an ale house concept with a celebrity chef. The most recent version gets help from Robbie Jester’s contributions. Since his appearances on Guy’s Grocery Games and Beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network, Jester has seen business soar. He began working at the restaurant when it was the 16 Mile Ale House—an interlude between the Stone Balloon Wine House and the Stone Balloon Ale House. Business had increased 200 to 300 percent, he says. “The Stone Balloon is a different animal on the street,” he says. ““It’s a higher-quality service experience.” He’s noticed that other restaurants have stepped up their game. Still, owners keep the college town in mind. There are a variety of price points on the menu for those who want the full dining experience or those who want a bite at the bar. Grain Craft Bar+Kitchen, which opened in 2015, also bridges the gap between the university population and the surrounding community. Lee Mikles and partner Jim O’Donoghue are both UD grads. “We were very familiar with Main Street,” Mikles says. “The vibrancy of being on a college campus, even though we aren’t a ‘college bar,’ was very appealing. Lots of people live and work around town, and we wanted to create something to appeal to them.”

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By most accounts, they’ve succeeded. “It has good food, but it’s also a bar, and it’s appropriate for families,” says Stauffer of the restaurant association, who wants to see more restaurants in the area like Grain.

A TWIST ON THE TRADITIONAL Longtime concepts have not gone away, but they have been reinvented. Take, for instance, Snap Custom Pizza, which lets customers choose their ingredients. Matthew Hans, the owner of Wood Fired Pizza, also bucked the pizza parlor norm. In January 2014, he moved his wood-fired pizza concept from food truck into a restaurant. But he kept the menu focused on artisan pizzas. It also includes salads, craft beers, cocktails and a few desserts. Wood Fired Pizza is near the intersection of East Cleveland Avenue and Paper Mill Road, a location he selected for economic reasons. But it’s turned out to be an advantage. Residents in the surrounding apartment buildings walk to the restaurant in good weather. There’s a 14-car parking lot, which may not seem like much until you realize there are only 35 seats in the restaurant. Wood Fired Pizza opens at 4 p.m. during the week, and there’s a breakfast pizza brunch menu on weekends. The restaurant does not offer slices, and there is no delivery service. The approach is working. “We stay busy,” Hans says. “The quality of our pizza helps us stand out in a town that’s pretty saturated with pizza places.” Buddy’s Burgers, Breasts and Fries, a local chain that recently opened a location on Main Street, turns the burger segment on its head by staying open until 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. What’s the drawback for these eateries? Parking concerns can scare some customers away, Jester says. It’s definitely an ongoing conversation between officials and businesses, Georigi says. The city promotes its municipal lots, and many businesses validate parking. “We manage, and we work around it,” Georigi says. Still, Delawareans like to park in front of their destination. Clearly, it’s not keeping new restaurants from opening their doors and diners from walking through them. “As far as Main Street and Collegeville USA goes, the dining scene is firing on all cylinders,” Georigi concludes.

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WWW.STONEBALLOON.COM APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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HELD AT THE

6th Annual

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Order online at www.rmhde.org/special-events Questions: 302-428-5330

46 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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EAT

Spicy chicken basil Shanghai baby bok choy with onions, basil, bell pepper, carrot at Southeast Kitchen in Trolley Square. Photo Anthony Santoro

Sweet, Sour, Salty, Spicy and Bitter Journey through the five flavors in all their combinations at Wilmington's Thai restaurants By Leeann Wallett

here’s comfort in a big bowl of rice. As one of the most widely consumed staples, rice provides sustenance for a large portion of the world’s population, especially in Asia, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the world’s production. Khao, or “rice” in Thai, is also the main ingredient in many Thai dishes and preparations, whether it’s pad Thai, curry or fried rice. I recently returned from a visit to Bangkok, where I grew fond of this simple ingredient in all its forms, like rice noodles and rice paper wrappers. That fondness brought me to three local restaurants that dish up some Thai favorites — Southeast Kitchen in Trolley Square, Soybean Asian Grille off Limestone Road in Pike Creek, and Ubon Thai Cuisine on the Wilmington Riverfront.

I was aware that Thai cuisine is one of the most difficult cuisines to replicate here. We simply lack ingredients like lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf, and tools such as a vegetable/papaya handheld grater. Many of the dishes I tried in Bangkok were not as recognizable or readily available in the U.S. That can’t be said for the ubiquitous pad Thai, of course. Don’t get me wrong, pad Thai is fantastic. The stirfried rice noodle dish is comforting, filling and flavorful, but far less technical and creative than what I savored in Thailand. The three local restaurants I visited not only highlight Thailand’s emphasis on the complexity of flavors, but also focus on one of this year’s hottest food trends: marrying disparate flavors—sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter—into a harmonious bowl of good food. ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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EAT

Photo Anthony Santoro

SWEET, SOUR, SALTY, SPICY AND BITTER continued from previous page

Chef Hung Le, co-owner of Southeast Kitchen.

Fresh, Not Frozen

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Southeast Kitchen occupies a space on the corner of Delaware Avenue and North Lincoln Street, just north of Trolley Square. It’s hard to spot, save for the distinct blackand-white-striped awning. The restaurant is a semi-open kitchen concept—you can hear and smell your meal being prepared before it reaches the table. Chef and co-owner Hung Le is busy behind the counter preparing his handmade dumplings, made every other day to keep them fresh, never frozen. They’re filled with tender ground white chicken meat, onions, ginger and scallions, then served with a side of soy sauce laced with cilantro, scallion and ginger. The dumplings come steamed or pan-fried, so prepare to make a difficult decision. I’d recommend the pan-fried for more texture and flavor, but you can’t go wrong either way. Le has been in the restaurant business for 29 years. He was born in Danang, Vietnam, and raised in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) until his family emigrated to the East Coast during the Vietnam War. As the eldest son, his responsibility was to support the family, who were on welfare. He worked part-time in a Philadelphia restaurant while earning his high school diploma, then attended Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia from 1993-95. Walnut Hill was one of the first colleges to focus on hospitality education. After graduation, he gained restaurant experience in both the kitchen and front-of-house. In 2015, the owner of Southeast Kitchen was ready to sell. The three-year-old restaurant focused on smaller dishes, specialty groceries and take-out. “I came to visit the restaurant,” says Le. “I liked the town and the area [Trolley Square], but I couldn’t do it myself, so I asked my co-worker, Liem Ngo, who knew about service [to join me].” Le has done extensive renovation work on Southeast Kitchen. The new seating area includes two handmade benches, the addition of more two- and four-person tables, and single seating at the windows to accommodate more people. This has allowed him to grow the business in the short time he has owned it. “I’m very lucky that people like my food,” he says. “Philly is too big, Wilmington too small. In Wilmington word-of-mouth travels very fast. In Philly, word of mouth takes years to travel. After the first couple of months, people knew that there was a new owner. They’d say, ‘I’ve been here before, but I didn’t come back. And now that I hear there’s new ownership, I’m happy to be back.’” As its name indicates, Southeast Kitchen specializes in cuisine from Southeast Asia, and the goal is to prepare a variety of dishes, such as Thai curry, from that diverse region. Thai curries come in various colors, including red, green and yellow. In Bangkok, curries are eaten at all times of the day and are available from street food stalls to shopping malls—yes, shopping malls. The city’s malls are legendary. For example, MBK in Bangkok has some 2,000 stalls that occupy seven floors, and it has two food courts. There, diners must electronically load money onto plastic cards—think Dave and Buster’s—to purchase food from the dozens of stalls.

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Fork and Spoon

In Thailand, I noticed that all restaurants had an assortment of tableside condiments, including fish sauce with chilies (prik nam pla), dried red chili peppers, sliced garlic, sugar and Thai chili sauce. These condiment sets come in many shapes and sizes, but their purpose is the same—to harmonize the aforementioned flavor profiles. Soybean Asian Grille doesn’t have the full condiment caddy, but if you ask your server for a side of “peppers,” he or she will bring a beautiful duo of dried red chili peppers and chili garlic sauce, the chunky version of Sriracha sauce. The peppers will add a new dimension to your noodle or curry dish and allow you to customize the spice level to your liking. For more information, see soybeanasiangrille.com. ►

Best Service. Best Selection. Best Price.

Bring on the Heat

KRESTONWINES.COM

Bring your appetite (and your patience) to the award-winning Soybean Asian Grille at the Pike Creek Shopping Center on Route 7. It serves lunch and dinner six days a week, and is closed on Sundays. The first time I went was on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed. Be ready to wait for your table, or order takeout in advance. Like Southeast Kitchen, this unassuming location also cranks out some of the most authentic Thai food in the region. Soybean Asian Grille prepares all its dishes with soybean oil, which it claims to be healthier than other vegetable oil due to its high concentration of healthy fats. The menu is extensive but manageable, enabling customers to choose their protein from a long list. Lunch is a great time to visit. It’s (slightly) less busy and the specials are affordable and quick. Dishes ranged from the colorful coconut curries to fried rice and noodle dishes. I tasted the pad prik khing, which is made with shrimp, chicken, string bean, kaffir lime leaves, and two varieties of bell pepper served with a healthy portion of jasmine rice. This surf ‘n’ turf-like dish is different from most familiar Thai curries; it’s slightly drier and does not contain coconut milk. The curry paste is made from dried Thai chilies, galangal, garlic, onion and small amounts of lemongrass, shrimp paste, and kaffir lime leaves. The amount of each ingredient is unique to every chef, but the result is the same: an aromatic dish that encompasses the five main flavors present in all Thai dishes—sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter. It’s a touch less spicy than its traditional Thai counterparts, but that doesn’t take away from the umami (the savory taste) created by the five requisite flavors.

MIDDLETOWN

Soybeans and More

WILMINGTON

It’s customary to eat most Thai dishes with a fork and spoon, a tradition that differs from the use of chopsticks that is embraced by the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. Chopsticks are available at Thai restaurants, but are mainly used when eating noodle soups —a dish brought to Thailand by Chinese immigrants. Embrace the culture and use your utensils the Thai way—spoon in your right hand, fork in your left. The fork is used to push food onto your spoon and then into your mouth. Southeast Kitchen caters to all eating customs, and will provide a spoon, fork, and chopsticks, depending on the dish ordered. I visited Southeast Kitchen at lunchtime on a Thursday and sampled the basil and Shanghai baby bok choy with chicken. This is a dish that may become your new favorite vegetable. Juicier and more tender than the bok choy with white stems, this dish is made with chicken, baby bok choy, carrots, red pepper, onions, basil and a smoky red broth. The smokiness comes from the wok preparation, when high heat from the gas range allows food to be lightly charred, but not burned. Served with a side of rice, it’s a comforting reminder of Thailand and its many curry preparations. For more information, see southeastkitchen.net.

APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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THAI SELECT 2016 & READERS CHOICE ‘16

EAT SWEET, SOUR, SALTY, SPICY AND BITTER continued from previous page

Photo Joe del Tufo

Serving the Good Heat Since 1982

Nikki Sritham of Ubon Thai holds at plate of shrimp pad Thai.

ENJOY OUR NEW SPRING MENU! Unique Dishes Representing Three Decades of Authentic & Traditional Family Recipes!

HAPPY HOUR Tue-Sun 4-7pm Bar Only Tapas & Daily Drink Specials

Live Music

Wed Nights (6-9m) & Sun Nights (5-8pm) Sun 2 – The Ace of Hearts

Sun 16 – Pristine Raeign

Wed 5 – Best Kept Soul

Wed 19 – Q & Sharon

Sun 9 – Rob Zinn Quartet

Sun 23 – Wendy Grantham

Wed 12 – Stacia LaChole

Wed 26 – Ebonie Paris

Sun 30 – Fostina Dixon Band

www.ubonthaicusine.com

302-656-1706 936 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Thai on the Riverfront Ubon Thai serves up comforting, homemade Thai dishes in an inviting atmosphere. The warmth in the dining room is only surpassed by the friendly wait staff. This family-owned and operated restaurant on the riverfront serves Thai dishes influenced by their homeland in Northeast Thailand. Recipes from this region, also known as Isan, have been passed down from generation to generation. Many of the dishes have been on the menu since the restaurant opened in 2011. Neua naam tok, for instance, is a spicy steak salad made with thinly sliced flank and doused with a mouth-watering combination of shallots, tomatoes, cilantro and chili lime dressing. The finishing touch is a sprinkling of toasted rice powder, a nutty, crunchy element that makes this dish a knockout. The fried rice is one of the most popular entrées at Ubon. “It is a great option for those looking for something familiar,” says Ubon Manager Lakia Ellerbe. “The rice is stir fried with mixed vegetables, basil, chilies, egg, and a protein. You have several options, including chicken, steak, shrimp, crab, duck, scallops and tofu for the vegetarians and vegans.” Despite that rave review, Ellerbe admits her go-to after work dish is pan seared king (and sometimes Norwegian) salmon—not a traditional Thai dish. The filet is lightly lacquered in a chili rub made with Thai spices and herbs, then served alongside a garlic or basil sauce with a medley of vegetables and a side of jasmine rice. Ubon presents live music on Wednesday and Sundays. Arrive early to enjoy happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., then sit back and listen to local and regional musicians play jazz, R&B and soul. For more information, visit ubonthaicuisine.com. All three of Wilmington’s Thai restaurants offer dishes for the daring. Some of the more adventurous treats include: pad kee mao or “drunken noodles”; Thai larb, laab, or larp (spicy ground chicken salad with chili-lime dressing); masaman curry (mild peanut curry); and tom kha gai soup (sweet and sour coconut soup).

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EAT MARCH FOR MEALS

BITES Tasty things worth knowing Compiled by David Ferguson

FLAMENCO NIGHTS

le Tapas Lounge and Restaurant at 1126 Capital Trail, Newark, hosts a Flamenco Night every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 7-10 p.m. as Flamenco dancers provide the evenings entertainment. On the fourth Saturday of the month, also from 7-10 p.m., you can relax around a table or bar with friends and enjoy the rhythmic sounds of a Flamenco guitarist. For more information and to make reservations, visit oletapaslounge.com.

FASHION TRUCK BRUNCH

ove over food trucks, fashion trucks are on their way. A fashion truck brunch will take place at Bellevue State Park in Wilmington on Sunday, May 21. The brunch will last from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Food will be provided by Outlandish Food Truck and will include house cured salmon Benedict and French toast with fresh cannoli cream rum soaked berries. There will also be a bloody mary, bellini, and mimosa bar on site with proceeds going to local non-profit organization, Friends of Bellevue, which focus on maintaining and enhancing the beauty of the park. Participating fashion trucks include Passionista Fashion Truck, Tin Lizzy Mobile Boutique, GrassRoots Mobile Boutique and Glamourholic Curbside Fashion Truck. Each will showcase its unique sense of fashion and clothing options. To RSVP and to be entered in a raffle for a gift certificate bundle, visit eventbrite.com/e/fashion-truck-brunch-tickets.

ast month a group of legislators from Delaware teamed up with Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to some of Delaware’s elderly residents. Meals on Wheels is a national organization with more than 5,000 community-based programs that provide nutritious meals, safety checks, and friendly visits to senior citizens to ensure that they live nourished lives of independence and dignity. On March 17 and March 20 legislators helped to deliver the meals. Volunteers included Sen. Tom Carper, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, and more. They covered territories in Wilmington, Lewes, Dover, Georgetown, and Newark and brought attention to the tremendous impact that MOW has on Delaware’s senior citizens. For more information on Meals on Wheels Delaware check out mealsonwheelsde.org.

WINE AND FOOD CELEBRATION

ocieta da Vinci is hosting its sixth annual Primavera da Vinci Wine and Food Celebration at the Christiana Hilton on Friday, April 28, from 7-10 p.m. Guests will be presented with a spectacular collection of dishes featuring veal, seafood, homemade pastas, steak and desserts—all prepared by four celebrity chefs from local restaurants. More than 20 wines will be available with at least one ready to complement each dish. Live entertainment will be provided by Philadelphia dance band BACK2Life and will continue throughout the evening. This is a 21 and older event with tickets costing $85 if purchased online or over the phone before the event. At the door price is $95. A hotel package is also available for $299 and includes two tickets to the event, overnight accommodations, and breakfast for two. For more information and to purchase tickets visit SocietaDaVinci.com or call 504-1364.

A BETTER DELAWARE FOOD BANK

he Food Bank of Delaware has a mission to provide nutritious foods to Delawareans in need and to facilitate long-term solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty through community education and advocacy. The FBD has two locations, in Milford and Newark. The Newark location, currently located at 14 Garfield Way, is up for sale, and the FBD has begun a campaign to relocate to a new location, which is more than two times the size of the current one. Located at 222 Lake Dr., Newark, the new site has an increased capacity for food and the capability to store more perishable foods thanks to larger refrigeration space. It will also offer the opportunity to provide training for unemployed members of the community to get back into the work force. For more information on the move or to volunteer or donate, visit aboldfutureforfbd.org.

DINING OUT FOR LIFE

IDS Delaware is bringing back its annual Dining Out for Life event on Thursday, April 20. DOFL is an all-day fundraising event that involves restaurants from throughout Delaware and the Delaware Valley. All participating establishments pledge to donate 33 percent of the day’s proceeds to AIDS Delaware’s comprehensive HIV and AIDS services. With more than a dozen restaurants participating, there definitely will be a meal to satisfy any appetite. For a list of participating restaurants check out www.facebook.com/AIDSDelaware or aidsdelaware.org. APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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April 2017 • #inWilm

Mt. Cuba Center Opening Day Saturday, April 1

City Restaurant Week Mon, April 3 - Sat, April 8

Blue Rocks Home Opener Thursday, April 6

DCAD’s Annual Egg Drop Thursday, April 6

Grilled Cheese & Craft Beer Saturday, April 15

Earth Day Celebration Saturday, April 22

Delaware Mead & Sweet Saturday, April 22

Noah & Abby Gunderson Thursday, April 27

Zachary Humenik Basil Restaurant Pre-School Prom 2 for specials Friday, April 28

Film Maker & Musician CoroAllegro (with Symphony) Saturday, April 29

OperaDelaware Festival Sat, April 29 - Sunday, May 7

Celebrity Chef’s Brunch Sunday, April 30

For details on these events & more visit:

inWilmingtonDE.com

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CITY OF WILMINGTON

Helena van Emmerik-Finn at The Station Gallery.

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE REFRESHMENTS

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

DOWNTOWN LOOP

WEST END LOOP

NORTH WILMINGTON LOOP

WEST SIDE GROWS LOOP

ART LOOP WILMINGTON FRIDAY, APRIL 7 5 - 9 p.m. artloopwilm.org

cityfest

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Downtown Loop

artloopwilm.org

ART LOOP WILMINGTON

FRIDAY, APRIL 7 5 - 9 p.m.

cityfestwilm.com/artloopwilmington cityfest STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE ART LOOP. STEP 1: Select exhibitions that interest you. STEP 2: Map out your choices and select transportation. You may want to walk, drive or take the downtown DART Trolley. A limited number of seats are available on the Art Loop shuttle. Please reserve your seat by calling 302.576.2100 or email artloop@WilmingtonDE.gov.

STEP 3: Meet local and regional artists while enjoying the newest exhibitions to open in Wilmington and the surrounding areas.

STEP 4: Enjoy one of Wilmington’s excellent restaraunt or nightlife locations. Please visit the food and drink section of inwilmingtonde.com.

STEP 5: Repeat the first Friday of every month!

FREQUENLTY ASKED QUESTIONS WHERE DOES THE ART LOOP START? The Art Loop is a self-guided, go-at-your-own pace tour that can start at any of the locations listed in this guide. There is no designated route for the Art Loop.

HOW DO I APPLY TO EXHIBIT ON THE ART LOOP? Participating galleries book and curate the exhi-

bitions and should be contacted directly at the contact information provided in this guide.

HOW DO I TAKE THE ART LOOP SHUTTLE? Reserve one of the limited number of seats by calling 302.576.2100 or email artloop@WilmingtonDE.gov. The bus will pick-up and drop-off at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts.

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The Delaware Contemporary 200 S. Madison Street Wilmington, DE www.decontemporary.org

Join us for our Spring Craft Show! Opening receptions for Kyle Bauer’s “cardinal,” new work by Seonglan Kim Boyce, and the video exhibition “Show the People What They’ve Won.” Also: Marilyn Holsing’s “The Pursuit of Love” and “Due South,” featuring work by 38 artists from the U.S. and Italy. Art loop reception 5 – 9 PM. On view Sun, Tue 12 – 5 PM; Wed 12 -7 PM; Thu, Fri, Sat 10 Am – 5 PM through April 30th.

2nd & LOMA 211 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.2ndandloma.com Using passion for color, Denise paints with bright acrylic medium. Many that she creates are realism with an abstract twist. Some are vistas, some are floral, and some simple a canvas of a color. Art loop reception 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM. On view Mon – Fri 9:00 – 5:00 PM through March 24.

LaFate Gallery 227 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.lafategallery.com Award-winning Folk Artist Eunice LaFate, is best known for her “folk people” images. This Exhibition will feature a range of LaFate’s beautiful Jamaican landscapes and foliage, rendered in vibrant Acrylic. Oil, and Watercolor paints. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. Tuesday – Saturday 11 AM - 4 PM through March 31st. LOMA Coffee 239 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.lomacoffee.com

A Couple of Artists - Natalie Embiscuso & Benjamin Fillion. Wilmington-based couple Natalie Embiscuso and Benjamin Fillion debut their collection of vivid acrylic ink paintings, captivating photographs, and hand-made jewelry that reflects inspiration from world culture, music, nature and their travels together. Art loop reception 5 – 9 PM. On view 6 AM – 5 PM. (Mon – Fri) 7 Am – 2 PM (Sat) through March 31st.

Toni & Stuart B. Young Gallery at the Delaware College of Art and Design 600 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.dcad.edu The Delaware College of Art and Design’s 19th annual Continuing Education Exhibition will feature works in a variety of media created in the courses offered by the CE Program at DCAD. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. On view 9 AM – 9 PM Monday through Friday; 9 AM to 3 PM through April 28th. A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

3/23/17 3:22 PM

Downtown Loop Jerry’s Artarama 704 North Market Street Wilmington, DE www.wilmingtonde-jerrys.com

The Fate of the Estate, Curated by Kelicia Pitts provides a platform for visitors to make a statement on a post it note of their idea for how the Deshong Building (formally known as the Alfred O Deshong Museum) can be repurposed. Art Loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Sat 9 AM – 6 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM through April 30th.

Christina Cultural Arts Center 705 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.ccacde.org Jux-T Autograph - Milton Downing. Exhibit features the art of jux-t using fact, fabric and fun to bring to life dynamic creations of sports icons signed by the athletes, including Alan Iverson, Pete Rose, Steve Carlton and Joel Embid. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8 PM. On view 9AM – 5 PM through April 30th.

Artist Ave Station 800 N. Tatnall Street Wilmington, DE www.artistavestation.com The Journey, Regina M. Katz Mixed Media artwork through reflection and meditation. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8:30 PM. On view through April 28th.

Grand Opera House – Baby Grand Gallery 818 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.thegrandwilmington.org/grand-galleries Lauren E. Peters is a studio artist at The Delaware Contemporary. Her paintings address the fluidity and multifaceted nature of identity through self-portraiture. Join her in taking the time to consider not only how you see the artist, but the way you see yourself. Art loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Fri 10 AM to 5 PM through May 2nd. Nights and weekends subject to staff availability. The Mill 1007 N. Orange Street Wilmington, DE www.themillspace.com Moving Parts is back at the Mill! 23 artists have joined forces in a 23-person art exhibit bringing you everything from sculpture to photography and EVERYTHING in between! On view 9 AM through 4 PM through July 31st.

Colourworks 1902 Superfine Lane Wilmington, DE www.colourworks.com

Sensational Mind/Sensacinal Mente Taini Hsu. A talented and versatile Taiwanese artist, Taini Hsu will share photos taken during her journey through Guatemala in 2015. Neither landscapes nor portraits, Hsu’s photography appears in both micro and macro perspectives, in a form that people may consider more painting than photography at first glance. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8:30 PM. On view 8:30 5:30 PM through May 29th.

Mezzanine Gallery 820 N. French Street Wilmington, DE www.artsdel.org

Howard Pyle Studio 1305 N. Franklin Street Wilmington, DE www.howardpylestudio.org

Caldera, Marcie I. Tauber, The Delaware Division of the Arts is pleased to present the intricate work of glassmaker, Marcie I. Tauber during the month of April in the Mezzanine Gallery. Art loop reception 5 – 7 PM. On view 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM through April 28th.

Featuring studio group members’ paintings in different mediums, including watercolor, oil and mixed media. Reception 5:30 – 8:00 PM. On view by appointment through April 30th. To schedule a private tour of the Studios, where Howard Pyle painted, wrote, and taught from 1883-1911, call 302.656.7304.

Grand Opera House – Mainstage Gallery 818 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.thegrandwilmington.org/grand-galleries Natural Beauty: Trees, Intimate Portraits and StoneSpeak - Jennifer Weigel has recently been focusing on photography that touches on beauty, details, patterns, and textures in nature. Weigel’s art has been exhibited nationally and has won numerous awards. Art loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Fri 10 AM to 5 PM through April 4, 2017. Nights and weekends subject to staff availability.

Halligan Bar 1701 Lovering Aveunue Wilmington, DE www.halliganbar17.com

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

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West End Loop

artloopwilm.org

Portraits While You Wait with our Artist-inResidence Josh Kenner. Enjoy happy hour with your friends while Josh completes an amazing art featuring you or your group. This casual, relaxed atmosphere is perfect to feed your creative side. Come watch these beautiful portraits come to life as you wait. Art loop reception 5-9 PM. On view through April 30th. APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

3/23/17 3:23 PM

North Wilmington Loop

artloopwilm.org Blue Streak Gallery 1721 Delaware Ave Wilmington, DE 302.429.0506 A LINE THROUGH SPACE - TORREY KIST and ABBY PATTERSON, Kist and Patterson come together to exhibit a selection of non-objective paintings and drawings which share similar formal characteristics of mark, line and spatial interest. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. On view Tues – Fri 10:00 – 5:00 PM; Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM through May 2nd. The Station Gallery 3922 Kennett Pike Greenville, DE www.stationgallery.net New Pastels ~ Around the Counrtyside, Helena van Emmerik-Finn. Helena paints a wide variety of subjects using vibrant colors and an impressionistic approach. Regional landscapes, interiors, animal paintings and local landmarks such as Winterthur, Hagley and Longwood Gardens. Art loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Fri 9 A – 5P; Sat 10 AM – 3 PM through March 31st. Hardcastle Gallery 5714 Kennett Pike Centreville, DE www.hardcastlegallery.com Join us for the Five Creative Women Exhibit at Hardcastle Gallery! Enjoy artwork by five local artists from Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Inspired by different life experiences, they have five different styles. The artists use different mediums including oil, acrylic, oil sticks and mixed media. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8:30 PM. On view Tues – Fri 10 AM – 5 PM; Sat 10 AM – 4 PM.

FOR THE MUSIC Julia Christie-Robin Brewer & Cat Lady

What’s #inTune •April 2017

Musikarmageddon Solo Saturday, April 1

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Sunday, April 9

Arden’s Buzz Ware Village Center 2119 the Highway Arden, DE www.ardenbuzz.com Intimate Flora - Jane Koester. In her Intimate Flora series, photographer Jane Koester takes an abstract approach to explore the deepest essence of flowers. Set aside your perceptions and experience the beauty of flowers from a different and distinct perspective. Art loop reception 6 – 9 PM. On view by appointment only Mon – Sat 8 AM – 8 PM through April 29th. Bellefonte Arts 803 Brandywine Blvd Bellefonte, DE www.bellefontearts.com

Ziggy Stardust Saturday, April 15

Drive-By Truckers Thursday, April 20

For more details visit:

inWilmingtonDE.com 56 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Midnight at the Beach - Jewelry by Dorothy Bobo of Bobeaux Designs (shown). Photography by Lois Johnson, Ann White and Larry Hinson, Watercolors by Valerie M. White. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. On view Tues – Fri 11 A – 5 PM, Sat 10 – 4 PM, Sunday 12 – 4 PM through March 31st.

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

3/24/17 1:01 PM

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1. Amtrak Station 2. Opera Delaware Studios/City Theater Co. 3. Wilmington Youth Rowing Assn., WYRA.ORG 4. Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park 5. Residences at Christina Landing 6. Harry’s Seafood Grill / Riverfront Market, HARRYS-SAVOY.COM 7. Delaware Theatre Co., DELAWARETHEATRE.ORG 8. FireStone Roasting House, FIRESTONERIVERFRONT.COM 9. Cosi at the Barclays Crescent Building, GETCOSI.COM 10. Hare Pavilion/Riverwalk 11. AAA Mid-Atlantic Travel Center, AAAMIDATLANTIC.COM 12. The Delaware Contemporary, THEDCCA.ORG

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13. Justison Landing, Currie Hair, Skin & Nails, CURRIEDAYSPA.COM Veritas Wine & Spirits, VERITASWINESHOP.COM Starbucks on the Riverfront 14. Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, DELPEZMEXICANPUB.COM Goju Training Center, GOJUROBICS.COM 15. Delaware Children’s Museum, DELAWARECHILDRENSMUSEUM.ORG Riverwalk Mini Golf, RIVERWALKMINIGOLF.COM 16. Joe’s Crab Shack, JOESCRABSHACK.COM 17. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, IRONHILLBREWERY.COM 18. Public Docks 19. Big Fish Grill, BIGFISHRIVERFRONT.COM

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Visit RiverfrontWilm.com for info on events happening at the Riverfront! 20. Frawley Stadium, BLUEROCKS.COM Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame 21. Chase Center on the Riverfront, CENTERONTHERIVERFRONT.COM 22. Dravo Plaza & Dock 23. Shipyard Center Planet Fitness, PLANETFITNESS.COM 24. Timothy’s Restaurant, TIMOTHYSONTHERIVERFRONT.COM Molly’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, MOLLYSICECREAM.COM Ubon Thai Restaurant 25. Wilmington Rowing Center, WILMINGTONROWING.ORG 26. Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge/ DuPont Environmental Education Center, DUPONTEEC.ORG

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27 Riverfront Commuter Lot, RIVERFRONTWILM.COM/PARKING 28. Penn Cinema Riverfront IMAX, PENNCINEMARIVERFRONT.COM 29. CrossFit Riverfront, CFRIVERFRONT.COM 30. The Residences at Harlan Flats, HARLANFLATS.THERESIDENCES.NET 31. Stratosphere Trampoline Park, WILMINGTONTRAMPOLINEPARK.COM 32. The Westin Wilmington, WESTINWILMINGTON.COM River Rock Kitchen, RIVERROCKKITCHEN.COM 33. Delaware Humane Association, DEHUMANE.ORG Photo by Joe del Tufo

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64 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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DRINK

SIPS

Here's what's pouring Compiled by David Ferguson

COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE

he Cancer Support Community Delaware has a mission to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. This month the CSCDE is hosting its 12th annual Red Balloon event, but with a twist. Cocktails for a Cause will take the place of the Red Balloon’s traditional brunch event and will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. The event will take place at the Greenville Country Club on Friday, April 7, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. A silent and live auction will also take place with a professional auctioneer. All proceeds from the event will go toward CSCDE programs for cancer patients and their families. Attire is business casual and tickets are $100. More information and ticket information can be found at cancersupportdelaware.org/cocktails.

SMOOTH SAIL SUMMER ALE RETURNS

altimore-based brewery Heavy Seas Beer is bringing back a fan favorite this summer—Smooth Sail. This re-commissioned version, a Heavy Seas classic summer ale, will be available in cans and on draft everywhere that Heavy Seas Beer is sold beginning in late March or early April. Smooth Sail is an American Wheat Ale that has been in development for some time. Brewed with dried orange and lemon peels for a citrusy kick, Smooth Sail is a refreshing summer drink with a 4.5 percent ABV. For more information and to check out the full portfolio of Heavy Seas Beer, go to hsbeer.com/brews.

R2HOP2 2017

he annual backyard beer and music festival hosted by Dover brewery Fordham and Dominion, R2Hop2, is back this month. On Saturday, April 22, from noon until 5 p.m., the backyard of the brewery will be the scene of live music, a plentiful amount of beer, and a variety of food options. With more than 10 beers on draft and samplings from Harvest Ridge Winery and Painted Stave Distilling, a good time is guaranteed for those 21 and older. The event also includes a kids’ zone with face paintings. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $50 for VIP (which offers a bottomless mug), or $20 for those who are taking on the role of designated drivers. DDs can expect an unlimited amount of house-made Dominion Soda. This event will sell out soon, so get your tickets at fordhamanddominion.com.

THE CREAMERY IN KENNETT

he popular Kennett Square beer garden and community gathering space, The Creamery, at 401 Birch St., is back for its second season this year. Starting on Memorial Day weekend, The Creamery will open its re-purposed industrial space to locals and tourists for weekends of fun. After last year’s successful summer debut full of local art, music, food, beer, and fun, The Creamery is aiming for a second fun-filled summer. Visitors can expect a relaxing environment with gorgeous surroundings, great food, and refreshing beers on tap. There will be shows from local musicians, artists and performers, including activities geared toward children. For more information and for hours, dates, and events, check out kennettcreamery.com.

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APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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DRINK

PRESENTS:

A NIGHT OF

Music& Magic

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 IN TROLLEY SQUARE

T H E P E R F E CT V ICTORY

Guinness lovers tasted, then voted, to decide the winner of The Perfect Pour 1709 Lovering Ave Wilmington (302) 655-3689 Gallucios-de.com

Final Four Specials

Party Trays Available for Your

$3.50 Miller Lite and Yuengling 23oz. Drafts During All the Games! NFL Draft Food & Drink Specials

NFL Draft Party!

Happy Hour

Monday- Friday 2pm-6pm $ 4 Craft Drafts $ 5 App and Munchie Menu

Bourbon Dinner April 24, 6:30pm Featuring Old Forester Bourbon $50/ person • $90/ couple

Four Courses of Fun and Good Spirit!

After months of research (read: drinking pints of delicious Irish stout) and casting hundreds of votes, the public has spoken: The area bar that pours the best pint of Guinness stout is Dead Presidents, the popular neighborhood spot on Wilmington’s West Side. Sixteen area bars and restaurants were chosen to participate in this year’s Guinness Perfect Pour competition, which started in February. In that month, Guinness fans voted to pare the field down to a final four: 6 Paupers, Kid Shelleen’s, Klondike Kate’s and Dead Presidents. “I’ve had perfectly poured pints at just about every bar in the contest,” says Dead Presidents owner Brian Raughley, “so I’m just thankful for our awesome customers and friends who voted and the staff for doing such a great job promoting it.” Guinness is perhaps the only brewery in the world that encourages a specific six-step procedure for pouring its product. All six steps were factors in the Perfect Pour competition. In addition to the honor and award that will be bestowed on the champion, Dead Presidents has earned the right to send two of its bartenders to a regional competition hosted by Guinness this summer in Atlantic City. Klondike Kate’s, which finished as a Runner-Up this year, will also send one bartender. “Now we get to compete in Atlantic City,” Raughley says, “and hang out with the good people of Guinness!” —O&A

The Deer Park Tavern Time To Break Out Those Sexy Sundresses!

sexy

Sun

TU APR ES. IL 18 th

dress PARTY!

With Jefe and DJ Andrew Hugh MONDAYS ½ Price Appetizers (5pm-12am)

TUESDAYS ½ Price Burgers ALL DAY! $4 Double LIT’s

WEDNESDAYS - MEXICAN NIGHT! ½ Price Nachos & Quesadillas ALL DAY! $3 Coronas & Margaritas • $2 Tacos $15.99 9oz NY Strip Steak All Day

APRIL

Entertainment Schedule

EVERY MONDAY: Showtime Trivia EVERY TUESDAY: Jefe & DJ Andrew Hugh EVERY WEDNESDAY: DJ Willoughby EVERY THURSDAY: Karaoke w/ The Vigilantes

FRIDAYS:

SATURDAYS:

4/7 Universal Funk Order

4/1 TBA 4/8 TBA 4/15 As If 4/22 Feeling Lucky 4/29 TBA

4/14 Cherry Crush 4/21 TBA 4/28 Red Hots

SUNDAY NIGHT: Chorduroy THURSDAYS ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Wings (5pm-Close) ½ Price Burgers (11:30am-3pm) • $2 Rail Drinks

Interested in holding a Guest Bartending Event? Give Us a Call at Ashby Hospitality (302)894-1200 302.369.9414 | 108 West Main Street, Newark | www.deerparktavern.com

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66 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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SINK YOUR

TEETH INTO THIS: The Cannibal is back. ™

THE BELGIAN WITH BITE IS BACK FOR A LIMITED TIME STARTING APRIL 6

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Your Neigbborhood Spot MeetAtGrain.com JANUARY APRIL 2017 2016 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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DRINK

Photo courtesy of SweetWater Brewing Co.

CATCHING THE CURRENT Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Co. comes to Delaware this month

tarting early this month, Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Co. beers will be available statewide. Brews include 420 Extra Pale Ale, an award-winning IPA, Hash Session, Goin’ Coastal IPA, and seasonals. They’ll be in area liquor stores, restaurants and bars. Seasonals and limited release styles include Dank Tanks, Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout and Pit & Pendulum. For the brewery, whose motto is “Don’t Float the Mainstream,” this has been a long time coming. Says Director of Sales Phil Gramaglia, “We’ve slowly flowed up the East Coast. We’ve wanted to pour our beers in Delaware for a while now. And it gives us a great reason to head up and hang out on the state’s incredible beaches.” Head Brewer Nick Nock, who spent part of his childhood living in the Delaware-Maryland area, shares his excitement about 420 coming to the state. “It is a perfect fit for Delaware, the beaches, the

Award-winning 420 Extra Pale Ale leads the SweetWater invasion.

water activities, the seafood, Nic-o-bolis and especially the Punkin Chunkin,” he says. The 420 and IPA also will be available in cans. According to Brewmaster Mark Medlin, the can-conditioning process increases shelf life and flavor stability without pasteurizing the beer. “In simplest terms, it maintains the tastiest aspects of the beer and keeps it fresher longer,” says Medlin. Says John Leyh, craft and specialty brand manager for distributor N.K.S.: “We are thrilled to bring SweetWater and its strong stable of brands to our consumers, and are looking forward to a strong partnership for years to come.” Follow SweetWater online at sweetwaterbrew.com, on Facebook and @sweetwaterbrew. — O&A

Designed Around Fresh, Local and Seasonal Ingredients.

Open for Lunch: 11am Tuesday-Saturday Open for Brunch: 10:30am on Sundays

Available for Meetings & Corporate Events! 423 Baltimore Pike | Chadds Ford, PA 19317 | 610.388.7700 | thegablesatchaddsford.com

APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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821 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 302.482.3333 • ChelseaTavern.com

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302.384.8113 • ErnestAndScott.com 902 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801

70 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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LISTEN

The cover for What If The Stars Are Satellites. Photo Stuart Duhadaway

GO FOR A RIDE Young and prolific Pat Kane is a growing presence on the local scene. His most recent EP, What If The Stars Are Satellites, was released in January. By David Ferguson

very second Wednesday of the month around 9 p.m., Pat Kane, guitar in hand, walks into Wilmington’s Nomad Bar, takes up a positon in the corner of the room, and begins playing his music. Regulars at The Nomad know Kane and his work, but so does almost everyone in the Wilmington music scene. At the tender age of 26, he has more than 50 songs and nine EPs to his credit, and having just wrapped up his second year in a row playing the Shine A Light On The Queen concert, his fame is sure to grow. But ask him what he thinks about playing music, and the first thing he will tell you is, “It should never be about getting famous.” As a teen growing up in Wilmington, Kane was inspired to pick up a guitar by a friend who had just started playing. At the time,

▲ Hot Breakfast! Photo Joe del Tufo

Kane liked heavy metal music, and the image associated with that genre. Metallica was his favorite band; he liked how aggressive they were. For him, they personified rock and roll. Then Eric Clapton changed his life. “I can remember going to a Clapton concert for the first time and just saying, ‘holy shit, this guy gets it!’ Clapton kind of got me to find more music, music with a soul,” says Kane, “I began to dive deep into blues and music associated with blues.” Since then, he has worked toward finding that sound and transforming it into his own. He started playing as much as possible and learning everything he could. He recalls being a freshman at Brandywine High School and playing gigs five nights a week. ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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LISTEN GO FOR A RIDE continued from previous page

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Spring wines are here including a great selection of Rosé Special Events and Tastings Visit us on the web for details

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“My music was young back then; I was young,” he says. “It’s changed a lot since I first started playing, since I released my first EP, and so have I.” As he grew older Kane traveled— as far as San Francisco and even Thailand—and played live gigs. As he did, his music evolved. He’s a musician who lives in the present through his music. “It reflects whatever I’m dealing with at the time that I write and record,” he says. “I draw from what I know and feel.” He describes his music as “psych, blues, and then folk, always in that order. That’s the kind of music that I love to make.” Since Kane is a solo act—most of the time—so he has complete control over the music he loves to make. But that also means when he’s recording he has to play all the instruments and record them separately for each song. He’s not shy about explaining why he doesn’t have a band behind him: “I love playing with other musicians, but I also love having creative control over my music and the more musicians you add the harder it is to keep that same style.” Kane has an unconventional way of marketing his work. He releases all his songs online via Bandcamp and has yet to ask for money for them. “I just want people to listen to my music,” he says, adding, “if they want to make a donation that’s cool, but just listening to my songs is enough.” His most recent EP, What If The Stars Are Satellites, was released online in January and beautifully complements his singing, song writing, and guitar playing abilities. The first track, “Be Here Now”, is insanely psychedelic and feels as if Kane is guiding you down the rabbit hole while The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane dance beside you. His albums are an experience, and Kane suggest a way to get the most out of that experience: “Put some headphones on, smoke some weed and relax,” he smiles. “Listen front to back. Go for a ride.” Pat Kane plays at The Nomad Bar, 905 N. Orange St. in Wilmington, every second Wednesday of the month. His music can be found at patkane.bandcamp.com.

72 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Photo ???

LISTEN

Sam Nobles and Katie Dill of Mean Lady and the cover of their most recent album, Nature.

A NATURAL

CONNECTION Sam Nobles and Katie Dill of Mean Lady, though busy with other projects at opposite sides of the country, find time for their new album By Krista Connor

andscapes, wildlife, human emotion: these were the inspiration for Mean Lady’s newest, aptly-named album, Nature. In February, duo Sam Nobles and Katie Dill released the nine-part album on Bandcamp, keeping pace with their previous pop/hip-hop/psychedelic-meets-rock-and-roll recordings. “I think Delaware has the most beautiful forests and creeks, and those ideas came through in all the songs, so the title seemed fitting. Don’t even get me started on the butterflies,” says vocalist and musician Dill. Nobles—keyboardist/bassist/producer—and Dill had been talking about releasing the album for a while, but Nobles says there were instrumentation and production elements that needed to be further developed—and they were on opposite sides of the country.

Dill has lived in Los Angeles since 2014, pursuing improv through comedy school Upright Citizens Brigade (think Kate McKinnon, Delaware’s own Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari, Amy Poehler). Nobles, back home in Delaware, performs with jazz artist Bruce Anthony every Wednesday at Home Grown Café in Newark and Sundays at Wilmington’s 8th & Union Kitchen, among other locations. He’s also composing for season two of truTV’s Adam Ruins Everything. So the pair has been occupied with other projects. But since the vocals and early versions of the tracks of what would become Nature had already been recorded before Dill left, in mid-2016 they decided to polish the album. What ensued was a six-month process, but Nobles says sending edited tracks back and forth from Delaware to California wasn’t as complicated as might be assumed. ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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LISTEN A NATURAL CONNECTION continued from previous page

“I think we both share such a similar music taste, from genres to melody in general, and so we’ve always been on the same page,” he says. “Sometimes when we’re writing, we’ll show each other a three- or four-chord progression and there’s just a mutual feeling and understanding of ‘yeah, that really triggers something,’ We’ve also just been super good buds for a long time.” They met at a party as teenagers, and began writing and performing together almost 10 years ago as members of folkrock-bossa—nova group Diego Paulo, which garnered a cult following in Newark. They also played together in the University of Delaware Big Band Jazz Ensemble for four years. “With both groups, we’d often stick around after rehearsal and share ideas with each other, writing snippets of songs, which eventually turned into Mean Lady,” says Nobles. The duo signed with Fat Possum Records in 2013 for a one-album stint with a recording of Love Now, and Mean Lady received positive reviews from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork Magazine. Any subsequent releases, such as Nature, are self-released. As of now, the duo doesn’t have any additional recordings in the works; they’re just hoping the new album serves as a soundtrack to a good time with friends and even a sense of nostalgia, says Nobles. When Nature’s songs were originally written, Dill still lived in Delaware, where she spent a “ton of time” in the woods. “I wrote ‘Walking Flower’ in the forest, and ‘The Woods’ came from the idea that a relationship or friendship isn’t solidified for me until we have gone on a nature walk,” she says. “I feel most myself in the woods and I want the people I love to experience the beauty of nature with me. It expanded into an idea about how all humans yearn for a connection to nature. I’ve had friends who said the album made them cry. Another said you should listen to it on a sunny day. Glean whatever you want; all art is meant for you to experience it and own it for yourself. I do hope you listen to it on a sunny day, though. I think that person was right,” Visit meanlady.bandcamp.com to listen to the album.

74 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Check Out Our Great Weekly Entertainment!

• Every Tuesday Karaoke at Dover Location

Come Try Our Seasonal Craft Beers Over 22 Beers on Tap at the Polly Drummond and Peoples Plaza Locations!

MONDAYS

½ Price Appetizers All Day

• Every Wednesday Epic Sound DJs Polly Drummond and Peoples Plaza Locations • Every Thursday Showtime Trivia Polly Drummond and Dover Locations • Every Friday DJ Dance Party All Locations TUESDAYS

½ Price Burgers All Day $1.50 Domestic Drafts after 7pm

WEDNESDAYS

All You Can Eat Wings $11.99 after 5pm

THURSDAYS

FRIDAYS

All You Can Eat Shrimp $12.99 after 5pm, Prime Rib $18.99

Prime Rib $22.99, $2.50 Taylor’s Grog 7pm-close DJ DANCE PARTY

SATURDAYS

$1.00 Off Craft Bottles All Day

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Beef and Beer $8.99, Steak Night $12.99

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APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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APRIL MUSIC at Kelly’s Logan House Look for these great bands upstairs!

FRIDAY, 4/07 Brixton Saint - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 4/08

Queen Green - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 4/14

Bullbuckers - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 4/15

Cherry Crush - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 4/21

Poor Yorick - 10 p.m. Magic Hat: A Night of Music & Magic - 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, 4/22

Element K - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 4/28

Spokey Speaky - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 4/29 Click - 10 p.m.

1701 Delaware Ave. Wilmington, DE 19806 (302) 652-9493 LOGANHOUSE.COM

LISTEN

TUNED IN Not-to-be-missed music news OPERADELAWARE FESTIVAL

Get ready to hit the high notes—the 2017 OperaDelaware Festival is celebrating the 225th anniversary of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini’s birth from April 29-May 7. The festival, with all performances held at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, will include La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and Rossini’s rarely-performed tragedy, Semiramide. The 2017 festival is expected to bring opera fans from near and far. Based on Voltaire’s tragedy Semiramis, Rossini’s final Italian opera (1823) about a power-hungry Babylonian queen who murdered her husband does not end happily. Semiramide will be performed on Saturday, April 29 (7:30 p.m.), and Sunday, May 7 (2 p.m.) On Sunday, April 30 (2 p.m.), and Saturday, May 6 (7:30 p.m.), it’s all wicked step-sisters and happily-ever-after with La Cenerentola, which was composed more than 200 years ago. Tickets range from $29-$95. Visit operade.org for more.

CLASSICAL GUITAR SOUNDS OF THIBAUT GARCIA

Wilmington Classical Guitar Society will present the final concert of the season on Saturday, April 22. The performance features 22-year-old Thibaut Garcia from Toulouse, France. Garcia is a classical guitarist and 2015 winner of the Guitar Foundation of America competition. The GFA competition is one of the most prestigious and respected events in the classical guitar world. Garcia will perform works by Weiss, Piazzola, Crockett, Rodrigo and Manjon. Tickets are $10-$20 at the door or online at wilmingtonguitar. org. The 7:30 p.m. performance is at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 503 Duncan Rd., Wilmington. Garcia also will teach a master class the following day, Sunday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m. in the West Room of the church. The master class is free to observe and open to the public, but registration is required. Register as an auditor to sit in and hear what Garcia has to teach, or register as a performer for your chance to perform and have him critique your performance. Visit wilmingtonguitar.org for more.

Bands and times subject to change.

76 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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SOUNDS OF A SAXOPHONE

Saxophonist Fostina Dixon, a life-long Delawarean, will perform at Ubon Thai Cuisine on Sunday, April 30. Dixon toured with Motown pioneer Marvin Gaye, and also has played with Abbey Lincoln, Sammy Davis Jr, Bobby Vinton, Gil Evans, Cab Calloway, Roy Ayers, Nancy Wilson and others. In 1987, she added background vocals to The Fat Boys’ Crushin’ record, which went platinum, peaking at no. 8 on Billboard. Dixon received a master’s in education from Wilmington University, which led to teaching tenures at various local schools like Pulaski Elementary, Eastside Charter School, Marion T. Academy, and Kuumba Academy Charter School. She also founded the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band (wyjb.org) and most recently joined trumpeter Arnold Hutt for a special celebration concert for former Vice President Joe Biden upon his return home to Delaware after he left office. The Ubon show is 5-8 p.m. Visit fostinadixon.com for more.

WILMINGTON BACH FESTIVAL

The Choir School of Delaware and the Delaware Historical Society are collaborating on the first Wilmington Bach Festival, on May 12-13 at the 1798 Old Town Hall on Market Street. A talk, “Advent of an Old Master: The (Very) Short History of Bach in Wilmington,” by Brenton Grom of the Delaware Historical Society will open the festival on Friday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. Musical performances include The Immanuel Bach Consort presenting Cantatas from Advent to Aster at 7 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, May 13, Dr. Lawrence Stomberg will play Suites for Unaccompanied Cello at 4 p.m. Michele Anstine, assistant CEO and chief program officer at the Delaware Historical Society, says, “This collaboration epitomizes our mission to bring history alive for all, especially for young students like the choristers and their colleagues in the Red Clay and Christina School Districts. The 1798 Old Town Hall and our classrooms will reverberate with music during the first Wilmington Bach Festival.” Tickets are now available at ccsde.org or by calling 543-8657. Tickets are $25 per individual event and $60 for all four programs. Tickets for the two Saturday, May 13, concerts are $45. Proceeds will support education programs for Red Clay and Christina students.

TRET FURE AT KENNETT FLASH

Singer-songwriter Tret Fure, a prominent figure in the folk music scene, will perform at Kennett Flash in Kennett Square, Pa., on Saturday, April 29. The show will feature her new release, Rembrandt Afternoons, along with a few old favorites. Fure’s 15th album, Rembrandt Afternoons (2015) has proven to be her best work yet. It has been chosen by the acclaimed folk music show Midnight Special as its album of the week and has been in heavy rotation on several folk shows around the country. Her song “Riverbank” was no. 2 on the Acoustic Outpost charts and the song “Rembrandt Afternoons” is quickly climbing the charts. The album showcases Fure’s songwriting and strong voice. Fure moves between musical styles, including folk, blues and even a bit of rock and roll. Though best known in the past few decades in the folk and women’s music world, she started her career at 16 performing in coffee houses and on college campuses, and spent the early ‘70s touring with Spencer Davis as his guitarist and vocalist, releasing a solo album produced by Lowell George of Little Feat, and opening for Yes, Poco and the J. Geils Band. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at kennettflash.org.

DON’T MISS THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS

COME & LISTEN: Weds: Bruce and Sam Thurs: DJ Andrew Hugh Live Music Fri & Sat

Book your spring catering! eat@homegrowncafe.com

The alternative country/Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers are pulling into World Cafe Live at The Queen on Thursday, April 20. Hailing from Athens, Ga., DBT released their critically-acclaimed new album American Band last fall. It’s rife with thoughts on America’s current state. Visit drivebytruckers.com for more.

(302)266-6993

126 E. Main St. - Newark, DE 19711

(302) 266-6993

APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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HAVE YOU HEARD OF SOMETHING?

3/24/17 8:52 AM

The Fate of the Furious

BUILD A BETTER YOU

OPENS APRIL 14

showtimes and tickets at

www.penncinema.com

Penn Cinema

2 5 1 8 We s t 4 t h S t . Wilmington, DE

(302) 658-5077

Escape to the movies 401 S. Madison Street Â· Wilmington, DE 19801

78 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WATCH

Gifted

STARS µµµµµ

McKrenna Grace plays a 7-year-old genius and Chris Evans her guardian uncle in Gifted. Photo Wilson Webb, courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

SIMPLE GIFTS Family drama delivers payoff By Mark Fields

omfort foods have that designation because they reward our occasional taste for the expected rather than the unexpected. No surprises in that meat loaf and mashed potatoes; and sometimes that’s just what we want. I think there are also comfort films—cinematic stories for which we could call out the plot points one after another that still deliver a predictable, even sought-after emotional reward at the end. Gifted, a new family drama from director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer), is such a movie. I felt like I had seen it before, multiple times, and yet I found it surprisingly satisfying.

Gifted tells the story of child genius 7-year-old Mary (Mckenna Grace) and her underachieving guardian uncle, Frank (Chris Evans). Mary appears to have the aptitude to follow in her mother’s mathematic prodigy footsteps, while Frank struggles to preserve some sort of normal kid life for her. When he declines to enroll her in a prestigious school for the gifted, his mother (Lindsay Duncan) emerges from a long estrangement to challenge his custody of Mary. What ensues is an unsurprising conflict between accomplished, lonely success and a thread-bare but loving home life. Of course, it’s not really a fair fight, despite the teasing twists and turns. ► APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WATCH SIMPLE GIFTS continued from previoius page

Join us for this FUN FILM SERIES that pairs LOCAL BREWERIES with CLASSIC CULT MOVIES!

Friday, April 21 6:30pm @ Penn Cinema with

$20 Tickets Include: Movie Admission, Beer Samples, Meet-and-Greet with the Brewer, and Popcorn! Proceeds to benefit Best Buddies. Presented by:

Penn Cinema - 401 S. Madison St., Wilmington LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: www.penncinema.com/moviesontap

Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate appear in minor roles as a caring neighbor and Mary’s supportive teacher, but the film really belongs to Evans and Grace as the family pairing at the core of the film. Evans, most familiar to contemporary audiences as Captain America in the Marvel Avengers films, demonstrates a quiet, charismatic authority as Frank. Grace, already a seasoned veteran of TV and film work, hits all the right notes as a clearly precocious child with an amazing gift for high-concept math. The two have a comfortable chemistry that sustains the central tension of the story. Director Webb caught Hollywood’s attention several years ago with the whimsical 500 Days, a remarkably distinctive romantic comedy. Exploring no new ground here, his direction, as well as Tom Flynn’s screenplay and other production aspects of Gifted, are all serviceably sturdy. A reader might think that this is a negative review, or at least one that gives the film no better than a passing grade. But, that’s the thing. Despite the faint praise, I really enjoyed the movie. It doesn’t have an OMG! moment at any point, but it still delivers a “comfort food” finale, just the way I sometimes like them. Please pass the gravy.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last six months, you know that Disney has created a new live-action version of its classic animated fairy tale, starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter) as Belle and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as the hirsute cursed prince. One might wonder why we need a live remake of one of the most perfect Disney films ever made, and of course, the answer is money. (And by the way, there are more live translations on the way—a lot of them.) Nevertheless, the movie has abundant charms, starting with the stellar song score by composer Alan Menken and the late lyricist Howard Ashman, with new lyrics by Tim Rice. Watson and Stevens are both appealing in the leads. And the numerous CGI characters—all bewitched housewares, if you remember—are exquisitely rendered, though maybe just a little creepy.

80 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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P L AYI N G THIS MONTH Nemours Building 1007 N. Orange Street Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Beauty and the Beast

STARS µµµµµ

March 31 - April 2

20th Century Women

Elle

Fri 2, 8:30 Sat 4 | Sun 12

Sat 11 pm

April 7 - 9

Emma Watson stars as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast.

The production numbers are so opulent and furiously edited that they can be overwhelming, but the overall look of the film (set and art direction, costumes and cinematography), are truly stunning. Any remake suffers by comparison with our cherished cinematic memories, but this new Beauty and the Beast is a worthy companion to its hand-drawn predecessor.

Fri 5:30 | Sat 1, 7:30 Sun 3, 6

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Personal Shopper

Wolves

Fri 2, 8:30 | Sat 4 | Sun 12, 6

Fri 5:30 | Sat 1, 7:30 | Sun 3

April 14 - 16

Frantz

Personal Shopper

Fri 2 & 8:30 Sat 4 | Sun 12, 6

Fri 5:30 Sat 1, 7:30 | Sun 3

Rocky Horror Picture Show Sat 11 pm

April 21 - 23

Toni Erdmann

God Knows Where I Am

Fri 2, 8:30 | Sat 4, 8 | Sun 11:30, 6

Fri 5:30 | Sat 1 | Sun 3:30

April 28 - 30

After The Storm

Julieta

Fri 2, 8:30 | Sat 4 | Sun 3

Fri 5:30 | Sat 1, 7:30 | Sun 12, 6

For more information and tickets, visit

TheatreN.com

APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FULL RACK or COMBO

ONLY

Tuesday Rib Special:

.99 In House Only

82 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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CINEMA SIX-PACK...

WATCH

and a shoT

THE KIDS ARE (MORE THAN) ALL RIGHT! Six films about special children and their families By Mark Fields

Akeelah and The Bee

(2006)

Akeelah, a bright but head-strong girl from South Central Los Angeles, enters her school’s spelling bee to avoid other punishment for her absences, and surprises everyone (including herself) by winning. To help her move on in the national competition, her principal recruits a demanding English professor (Laurence Fishburne) as her tutor, but first Akeelah (Keke Palmer) must overcome her own insecurities and troubled family. The plotting of this drama is predictable (like virtually all the films in this list), but the performances by Palmer, Angela Bassett, and Fishburne are nuanced and far-too-rare in Hollywood films.

Matilda (1996)

The irrepressibly winsome Mara Wilson (who stole the cinematic show throughout the ‘90s) stars as Roald Dahl’s title character in this heartwarming and funny family film. Matilda is not only a genius; she turns out to have telekinetic powers as well. Misunderstood by her boorish parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman) and much of her school, Matilda is inspired and, in fact, rescued by her sympathetic teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz). DeVito also directed the film. Despite the fantastical elements of the story, this version emphasizes sweetness at the expense of author Dahl’s more usual acerbic side.

Finding Forester (2000)

Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) directed this earnest drama about an inner-city youth given the opportunity to attend a prestigious prep school due to his combination of intelligence and skills on the basketball court. Displaced from his familiar surroundings, Jamal (Rob Brown) struggles to find his place until he befriends a reclusive author, William Forrester (Sean Connery). The tutelage of Forrester helps Jamal confront the classism and racism of his new school, while Jamal in turn helps the author out of his self-imposed exile.

Shine (1996)

Based on the biography of piano prodigy David Helfgott, Shine won an Oscar for Geoffrey Rush (who plays the artist as an adult), but the film also details his earlier years when the young Helfgott (Noah Taylor) strains under the tremendous expectations of his abusive father. His success leads him away from the pressures of his father, but the demands of a professional career trigger a complete mental breakdown. Will Helfgott be able to stage a comeback as an adult after years of institutionalization? It’s the movies…what do you think?

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Josh, a prepubescent chess prodigy (Max Pomeranc), is torn between the dueling influences of his two mentors, Bruce, a disciplined and methodical tutor, and Vinnie, a street hustler who holds court in NYC’s Washington Square. Fearful of becoming like the damaged soul of the American chess master of the film’s title, Josh rejects the disciplined education and seeks the enjoyable side of the game. Ben Kingsley and Laurence Fishburne play Josh’s rival coaches, and Joe Mantegna and Joan Allen are his protective yet awestruck parents. Steve Zaillian, more known as an ace screenwriter (Schindler’s List, Gangs of New York), makes a rare directing effort that is as sturdy and well-traveled as his own screenplay.

Midnight Special (2016)

Writer-director Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter, Loving) adds to his unconventional but compelling body of work with this strange tale of familial love amidst supernatural phenomena. Roy (Michael Shannon) and his strangely gifted son Alton (Jaeden Liberher) are on the run from the government and from a mysterious cult to which they once belonged. Both pursuers want to possess and possibly use Alton’s inexplicable abilities…which won’t be revealed here. As in his other films, Nichols displays in Midnight Special an uncanny ability to create a deeply disquieting yet fascinating mood that drives the film more than the actual elements of the story. I can’t wait to see his next effort. And a shot…

Personal Shopper (2016)

Screening April 7 – 9 at Theatre N.

From Olivier Assayas, the French writer-director of the ethereal Clouds of Sils Maria, comes this tense, introspective story of urban isolation and quiet yearning. Kristen Stewart plays Maureen, the personal buyer for a spoiled young starlet. She spends her days going around tony stores in search of the latest fashions. But Maureen, gifted with psychic abilities, spends her free time searching for an otherworldly sign from her recently deceased brother. Stewart, who won a Cesar (French Oscar) for her work in Sils Maria, continues to break free from her Twilight shackles with challenging roles such as this. For a full schedule and more information, go to theatren.com. APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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68 FEBRUARY 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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PLAY

SNAP SHOTS

2. 3. 4.

6. 5.

SHAMROCK SHUTTLE

Photos by Krista Connor

1. From left, Danny Callaghan, Jimmy Vachris, Max Gallo and Michael Freccia on the

patio at Kelly’s Logan House at the March 11 event.

4. Jerry Bak, Britney Mumford and Michael Smith feeling very Irish at Catherine Rooney’s.

2. John Barr and Rob Kalesse toast to the luck of the Irish at the Logan House – sláinte!

5. AJ Meany, Reddy Eddy and Craig Tunell at Rooney’s, staying warm with a couple of pints despite 30 degree temperatures.

3. Lorena Testardi, Shana Petruccelli and Elena Cruchley at the Logan House.

6. Dead Presidents is a go-to for revelers Jake Slocomb, Joe Pennington and Cory O’Neal. APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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3/27/17 11:11 AM

FOR THE ARTS What’s #inWilm • April 2017

Midsummer Night’s Dream Sat, April 8 & Sun, April 9

David Sedaris Wednesday, April 12

For more details visit:

Hetty Feather Wed, April 19 - Sun, May 14

Legally Blonde Fri, April 28 - Sun, May 7

Aafke Klara Photographer & Realtor

inWilmingtonDE.com

86 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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PLAY

THREE TIMES

THE FUN!

HOW MUCH EXTRA IS YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP COSTING YOU?

60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

n lieu of the Delaware Humane Association’s annual Muttini Mixer fundraiser, the nonprofit no-kill animal shelter will throw a Diamond Anniversary Gala to celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, April 29. The event will include live music by local party band The Funsters, food and drinks, dancing, and more. The event, at Vicmead Hunt Club in Wilmington, will run from 7-10 p.m. Tickets start at $160. The open bar will feature premium spirits. Cocktail attire/ black tie is optional. RSVP by April 25. For more, visit delawarehumane.org.

WILMINGTON MAGIC

ONLY 25/MO. $

PLUS ENROLLMENT FEE

All classes included, no additional fees.

1800 NAAMANS ROAD, WILMINGTON • 302-529-1865

KIRKWOODFITNESS.COM

n Friday, April 21, Magic Hat Brewing Company brings together three things that should appeal to both frequenters and occasional guests of Trolley Square: live music, Magic Hat beer specials, and actual magic. That’s right: In addition to showcasing local musical talent, “A Night of Music & Magic” will offer street magicians traveling from venue to venue. Locations are Anejo, Catherine Rooney’s, Gallucio’s, Halligan Bar, Kelly’s Logan House, Kid Shelleen’s, Piccolina Toscana, and Trolley Square Oyster House. More recently, Magic Hat has been reinforcing its connection to music with beers like their Low Key Session IPA, DEMO Black IPA and Electric Peel Grapefruit IPA.

MUSICIANS GO SOLO

he third annual Musikarmageddon Solo competition is back Saturday, April 1. The singer/songwriterfocused competition, an off-shoot of the annual summer Musikarmageddon battle of the bands in Wilmington, will be held at the baby grand. Perks include prizes and booking opportunities for the winner, who will be chosen from 16 contestants. Tickets are $5.

web / print / video

catalystvisuals.com APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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14068-PTP Out&About April 2017.qxp_Layout 1 3/13/17 2:19 PM Page 1

Sunday, May 7

Photos by Jim

Graham

njoy a glorious day of steeplechase racing at this year’s 39th Annual Winterthur Point-to-Point. Pack a festive tailgate spread and get ready to enjoy one of the Brandywine Valley’s most stylish sporting events!

There are many ways to enjoy Point-to-Point! • Plan a terrific tailgate party! Tailgate parking spaces and wristbands available online at ptptailgate.com or through the WINTERTHUR mobile app (find it on the app store or access it on our webpage). Or call 302.888.4994. • Be entertained at the Hunt Brunch Hospitality tent—watch the races from your seat at the finish line! For more information on all Point-to-Point activities and to purchase admission, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org/ptp. Sponsored by

Advance sales only. Rain-or-shine event. No refunds. All wristbands must be purchased by May 6. Adult general admission $30 (March 1–April 28), $50 (April 29–May 6). No wristbands will be mailed after April 28. Children under 12 free with wristbands. Discount for Winterthur Members. Proceeds benefit the continued maintenance and preservation of the garden and estate at Winterthur.

Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between I-95 and Route 1. 88 APRIL 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM 800.448.3883 • 302.888.4600 • winterthur.org

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Presents the Inaugural

FRI., MAY 5 • 8pm STarT 12 CLUBS • $5 COVER • FREE SHUTTLE 8 T H & U N I O N K I T C H E N • C AT H E R I N E R O O N E Y ’ S C H E L S E A TAV E R N • D E A D P R E S I D E N T S E R N E S T & S C O T T TA P R O O M • F I R E S T O N E • G A L L U C I O ’ S C A F E G R O T T O P I Z Z A • K E L LY ’ S L O G A N H O U S E • T I M O T H Y ’ S R I V E R F R O N T T R O L L E Y S Q U A R E OY S T E R H O U S E • T R O L L E Y TA P H O U S E

OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM • 302.655.6483

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WINE & SPIRITS

Kreston's - Wilmington 904 Concord Ave Wilmington, DE 19802

Kreston's - Middletown Middletown Crossing S/C Middletown, DE 19709

www.krestonwines.com

WIN a GoPro Hero 3 Enter to win in store Winner drawing held 5/1/2017

Coupon Valid Thru April 31, 2017

WINE & SPIRITS

1.00

OFF

Leinenkugelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Shandy Grapefruit Shady Watermelon Shandy

Not a Manufacturers Coupon - Only Valid at Kreston Wine & Spirits

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