February 2025 - Things We Love

YMarch 22,2025 DuPont Country Club 120 Year s and counting!

brandywinezoo.org/zoobilee

Come celebrate

The Brandywine Zoo’s 120 year Anniversar y.

A fun filled gala dinner-dance with live music, live-auction and silent-auction. Reception at 6:30 pm, sit-down dinner at 7:30 pm and entertainment throughout the evening.

Reser vations for this event are $125 per person with tables of 10 sitting together for $1500. RSVP by March 7, 2025

This event is in support of the Brandywine Zoo Capital Campaign.

Photo by Shannon Woodloe.

Published each month by TSN Media, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Contact@TSNPub.com Wilmington, DE 19801

PUBLISHER

Gerald duPhily • jduphily@tsnpub.com

DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

Jim Miller • jmiller@tsnpub.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Bob Yearick • ryearick@comcast.net

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION MANAGER

Matthew Loeb, Catalyst Visuals, LLC

DIGITAL SERVICES DIRECTOR Michael O’Brian

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Amy Watson Bish

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Adriana Camacho-Church, David Ferguson, Mark Fields, Pam George, Roger Hillis, Catherine Kempista, Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Larry Nagengast, Ken Mammarella, Mary Ellen Mitchell, Matt Morrissette, Kevin Noonan, Bob Yearick

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jim Coarse, Justin Heyes and Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography, Lindsay Rudney duPhily, Joe Hoddinott, Kevin Francis, Matthew Loeb,

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Paul Bauer, John D. Holton, Bev Zimmermann

THE WAR On Words

A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to defend the English language

WHERE ARE THE EDITORS?

• Rita Giordano, in e Philadelphia Inquirer: “He spent the next 10 days devising di erent methods to try to catch the fox and get it help for the tortuous condition caused by sarcoptic mites that had burrowed into its skin.” Rita was o by one r: Tortuous means twisting, meandering, as in “a tortuous path to the hidden treasure.” e word she wanted is torturous — agonizing, excruciating.

• Jordan Mendoza, in USA TODAY, writing of Penn State’s shot at the college football championship: “It’s right for the taking.” “Ripe for the taking” is the correct phrase. (And, alas, it was not to be.)

• Bryan Alexander, in a USA TODAY review of Original Sin, described Dexter Morgan as “the Miami Metro Police Department blood-spatter expert who moonlit as an avenging mass murderer .” e past tense of moonlight (to work a second job) is moonlighted. Moonlit is an adjective meaning — duh! — lit by the moon.

• Devin Jackson in e Inky, writing about SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings: “Teams have put one fewer player in coverage in an attempt to keep Jennings within the con nes of the pocket.” is is that rare instance where the writer uses fewer when he should have written less; usually it’s the reverse. Remember, less is for singular nouns (e.g., player), while fewer is for plurals.

• e News Journal’s Brandon Holveck did an incisive, entertaining review of Jason Kelce’s late-night talk show that unfortunately contained a couple of errors. About one of the show’s guests, Charles Barkley, Brandon wrote: “Barkley was directed to complement the looks of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.” Complement, as a verb, means to complete or enhance by providing something additional. e correct word: compliment.

• In the same review was this: “At times, the show felt like a podcast devoid of chemistry. At other points, you could see the outline of a made-for-YouTube clip. Both styles begged the question why.” Which brings us to . . .

Word Term of the Month

CANARY IN THE COAL MINE

By Bob Yearick

ONCE MORE INTO THE BREACH

I’ve addressed “begs the question” several times, but let’s tilt at this windmill once again with the help of Grammar Girl — Mignon Fogarty. She’s the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips network and creator of Grammar Girl, which has been named one of Writer's Digest’s 101 best websites for writers multiple times. Here, with permission, is her explanation:

“Begs the question” means a conclusion is based on a premise that lacks support. It does not mean “raises the question” or “begs that I ask the question.” For example, if Squiggly argues that chocolate is health food because it grows on trees, Aardvark could rightly say Squiggly’s argument begs the question because there’s no proof that something is good for you simply because it grows on trees. It’s a faulty premise.

Even though it’s rare to see “begs the question” used properly, there’s no reason to misuse the phrase. If you mean “raises the question,” say “raises the question.” (For more grammar tips, subscribe to the Grammar Girl podcast.)

CALLING A SPAYED A SPAYED

A female dog or cat that has had its ovaries and uterus removed has been spayed, not spaded, as some people on my neighborhood Facebook page seem to believe.

DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCIES DEPT.

Reader Dr. Neil Kaye caught this on CNN, in a report about tunnels in the Faroe Islands: “ ey’ve built 17 of them on land and four subsea — including the world’s only subsea tunnel with a roundabout that’s underwater.” Asks Neil: “Can you be subsea and not underwater?”

LITERALLY OF THE MONTH

Paul Finebaum, on ESPN, claimed that the loss to Michigan “literally blew the top o the Ohio State(football) program.” OSU is doing ne, Paul. ey just became National Champions.

This is an idiom that refers to something or someone that is an early warning of danger. It originated from the practice of taking caged canaries into coal mines; if the air became unsafe due to methane gas, the canaries would die, alerting miners to the danger (hey, coal mining is a tough gig). Example, from The Washington Post: “The stories of senior citizens in distressed economic conditions because of defaulted student loans are merely the canary in the coal mine.” NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP? Contact me at ryearick@comcast.net for a fun and informative discussion on grammar.

The War on Words book at the Hockessin BookShelf, at Huxley & Hiro Booksellers on

Understanding Your Pet’s Love Language

By Brianna Hansen

Have you ever wondered how your pet tells you they love you? Believe it or not, the languages used by our furry friends are quite similar to those we use as humans, and just like us, pets may prefer certain types of expression over others. Understanding your animal’s love language can help deepen your bond and ensure you’re reciprocating their devotion in a way they truly appreciate. Let’s take a look!

Acts of Service — For some pets, actions speak louder than words. Dogs may bring you their favorite toy or bark to warn you of a visitor while cats might lick you with their scratchy tongue, just as they would groom their young. Show love in return by meeting their needs with fervor: freshen their water bowl, keep their litter box spotless, or brush them to show your care.

Physical Touch — Does your pet lunge at your legs or lift your hand for pets? Physical touch might be their thing! Return the favor with plenty of pets, scratches, or even a massage for those tired paws.

Quality Time — Some pets crave undivided attention. These are the companions who light up during a long walk, play session, or even just snuggling on the couch. Whether it’s taking a hike, playing a game of fetch, or intriguing them with a laser pointer, devote some time to your pet’s favorite activity to show you care.

Gifts — Has your pet ever dropped a “gift” at your feet (even if it’s a less-than-welcome surprise)? Or does your pet get excited about new toys or treats? Gifts just might be their love language. Surprise them with a new squeaky toy, a bag of their favorite healthy snacks, or even a fresh bed. Keep their personality in mind — a puzzle toy might thrill a curious pup, while a catnip-filled mouse could delight your feline friend.

Words of Affirmation — Do you have a talkative pet? Dogs may tilt their heads when you speak, and cats might chirp or meow in response. If so, they probably respond well to verbal affection. Compliment their behavior, tell them how much you love them, and don’t be shy about using your “pet voice.” They’ll feel the love in every word.

This Valentine’s Day, discover your pet’s love language and celebrate the unique ways they make your life brighter. By speaking their language, you’re creating memories that last a lifetime.

FYI Things Worth Knowing

CITY THEATER COMPANY GETS WILD

CFEEL THE LOVE!

Our cover story is all about nding things to love about the Greater Wilmington area, so we’re hiding hearts for you to nd on four pages in this issue (this page doesn’t count). Tell us which four pages we’ve hidden a heart and you could win a cool prize. Email your answers to Contact@ TSNPub.com with the subject line: I Found e Hearts! ree winners will be selected from those who answer correctly by February 19. Congratulations to last month’s winners — Alexis Cammarata, Christine Stirparo, and Kathy Linsner — who found the burgers on pages 19, 26, 41, and 53.

TC chases away the winter blues with Wild Party Weekends, presenting two original works over two weekends. Diva Baby Delaware stars Addie Montgomery (Hedwig and e Angry Inch) as her alter ego Diva Baby alongside a bevy of beauties from the Philly drag scene for a cabaret-style show Feb. 7 & 8 at 8pm. at’s followed by Murder Manor, an improvised murdermystery experience inspired by the game Clue and led by Kristin Finger and performers from ComedySportz Philadelphia. Murder Manor runs Feb. 14 at 8pm and Feb. 15 at 1pm & 8pm. All shows perform at e Black Box in e Delaware Contemporary (200 S. Madison St., Wilm.). More at City- eater.org.

LOVE IN THE ‘90s FILM SERIES

DelArt Cinema celebrates Black History Month with a series of lms exploring various forms of love and highlighting black lmmaking in the ‘90s. Films include: Crooklyn (Feb. 1); House Party (Feb. 8); Good Burger (Feb. 9); Love Jones (Feb. 15); and Love & Basketball (Feb. 22). All screenings are at 1:30pm at the Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Pkwy., Wilm.). More at Delart.org/DelArtCinema.

NEW LIGHT THEATRE AWARDED NATIONAL GRANT

For the first time, Wilmington’s New Light Theatre (NLT) has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support its 2025 programming starting with its upcoming production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town (Feb. 28-Mar. 9). Honored to receive the support from the federal agency, Artistic Director Lena Mucchetti says it “affirms the importance of our mission and fortifies us to keep pushing forward, expanding our programming and deepening New Light Theatre’s roots as we continue to grow.” More at NewLightTheatre.com.

COOLEST THINGS MADE IN DELAWARE CONTEST

Delaware produces a variety of impactful products, from food safety instruments and mammography detectors to spacesuits and renowned beers. To bring attention to this, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (DSCC) and its a liate, the Delaware Manufacturing Association, are hosting the “Coolest ing Made in Delaware” contest to highlight the state’s $5.6 billion manufacturing industry, which employs 28,000 people. Nominations are open until Feb. 19, and the popular vote starts on Feb. 20. e top 16 products will compete in a bracket-style contest, with the winner revealed at the DSCC’s Spring Manufacturing & Policy Conference on Mar. 27. More at DSCC.com/MFG.

THREE BALLETS MAKE THEIR WORLD PREMIERE

First State Ballet Theatre, Delaware’s only professional ballet company, will present Triple Bill, an evening of new work with three world premiere ballets by choreographers Viktor Plotnikov, Blake Krapels, and Carlos Martinez. Says Artistic Director Pasha Kambalov, “It is hugely inspiring for our dancers to get to work with choreographers like Viktor, Blake, and Carlos. Creating new work extends our dancers’ creativity, and I am excited for audiences to see the range of their artistry.” Triple Bill performS Feb. 21 & 22 at 7pm and Feb. 23 at 2pm in the Baby Grand Theater at The Grand (818 N. Market St., Wilm.). More at FirstStateBallet.org.

MITCH ALBOM CLASSIC COMES TO DTC

From February 19 to March 9, Delaware Theatre Company (200 Water St. Wilm.) will present Tuesdays with Morrie. Based on the best-selling memoir, the play tells the uplifting story of professor Morrie Schwartz and former student Mitch Albom reuniting for a final, profound lesson on life, humanity and friendship. Directed by Matt Silva, the production stars DTC co-founder, and multiple Barrymore Award nominee, Peter DeLaurier as Morrie along with Adam Howard as Mitch. More at DelawareTheatre.org.

FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED: WilmU Can Help You Complete Your Degree

When it comes to pursuing dreams, Jessica Roberts doesn’t just tell her daughters, “It’s never too late,” she shows them — as an adult learner working toward her bachelor’s degree at Wilmington University.

“It’s OK if you do things out of order,” says Roberts, who started college after high school but “didn’t like the big class sizes.” “I got a taste for working and really liked that,” she adds. “I fell into a great opportunity at age 23 and stayed there for 16 years.”

Roberts, a human resources operations manager, joined ChristianaCare in 2021 and felt what she calls “a little bit of imposter syndrome” without a degree. “I had some college experience, but I had a lot of hands-on knowledge that couldn’t be taught in a classroom setting.”

Your Dream,

The first step on her path to degree completion was becoming a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional.

“I wasn’t aware that could even satisfy any credits at WilmU,” says Roberts. She was happily surprised when her SHRM Certification translated into nine WilmU academic credits she could apply to her degree program. The University also accepted 15 credits from her previous college courses.

“Everybody should be having these types of conversations to see if their work experience, their life experience is worth college credit,” says Dr. David Caffo, WilmU’s director of experiential learning. “(WilmU has) many, many different crosswalks that connect experience and academia.”

“Everybody should be having these types of conversations to see if their work experience, their life experience is worth college credit.”

–DR. DAVID CAFFO, DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

WilmU students can receive credit for prior learning and experience, including college-level coursework, certifications, training, licenses, military service, co-ops, internships, standardized tests and exams. A dedicated Credit Transfer Evaluation Team helps applicants maximize credit transfer so they can reach their educational goals faster.

“Did you start college but not finish a degree? Give us your transcripts. We’ll do an evaluation for you, and you might be closer to your bachelor’s degree than you thought,” says Lindsay Rice, senior director of academic partnerships. WilmU is “the institution where you’re going to be able to finish what you started, regardless of when you started.”

Approximately 70% of WilmU undergraduate students transfer credits from other schools. And Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society named Wilmington University one of America’s most transferfriendly colleges. With guaranteed admission to most programs, accelerated degree completion options, affordable tuition, flexible scheduling, streamlined articulation agreements, scholarships, tutoring and technology support, you can complete your degree on time and on budget while maintaining a work-life balance.

“I really like the flexibility of it,” says Roberts, who leveraged WilmU’s Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™ program to earn more credentials faster. By applying Dual-Credits, she completed a Certificate in Human Resource Management on her way to a degree in Human Resource Management . “It saves you time, and it saves you money.”

As for the future, “I would like to progress up and become a director here at ChristianaCare,” Roberts says. Her advice: “Go back (to school). If it’s something that you have thought about, do it.”

You can learn more about earning WilmU credit for prior coursework, professional experience, military experience and more at wilmu.edu/degree-completion

AMarshallton’s Ageless Center Fielder

Bill Bruton was a Major League star

By Chuck Durante

ve-tool player with graceful demeanor, work ethic and distinguished military record would seem a logical candidate for a baseball scout. Yet, the scouts had to lie about the player’s age to be certain that the Boston Braves would sign Bill Bruton.

Bruton, an Alabama native who settled in Delaware after World War II, would become the center elder of the Milwaukee Braves’ greatest teams. Yet, the sport would never have known him except that Negro League veteran Bill Yancey told Braves scout John Ogden that Bruton was 21, not 23, after they watched him dominate Florida exhibitions. By the time the contract was signed, Bruton was listed as 19. In his rst season, Bruton was the Northern League’s rookie of the year. Within three years, Bruton was leading o for Braves as they opened their new chapter in Milwaukee.

Over eight seasons, he led the National League twice in triples, three times in steals and often in elding categories. Flanked in the out eld by Hank Aaron and Wes Covington, he twice went to the World Series. Traded to Detroit, he joined Delaware State’s Jake Wood on a team that won 101 games and nearly overtook one of the Yankees’ greatest teams.

After homering in his nal week in 1964, when at age 38 he led the Tigers in stolen bases, he joined Chrysler. Bruton

17th Annual 20 25

worked in sales, customer service, promotion and nancing, while he and his wife,Loretta, raised their four children. He later owned a dealership and nished his career as a special assistant to Lee Iacocca.

After retiring in 1988, he returned to Delaware to live his nal years in the Marshallton home where Loretta, the daughter of Judy Johnson (Delaware’s Hall of Fame player), was raised. He was lauded in the baseball community and beyond, and would wear a Braves cap in the Jaycees anksgiving parade. Inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1991, Bruton died in 1995.

— Founded in 1976, the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is located on the Wilmington Riverfront at 801 Shipyard Drive on the rst base side of Frawley Stadium. Sports fans can tour the museum for free each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for two hours before every Blue Rocks home game.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 5pm Start

Next Art

Loop:

MARCH 7, 2025

DOWNTOWN

Chris White Gallery

701 N. Shipley Street 475-0998 • chriswhitegallery.com

Upstairs: yesterdaynite show

Downstairs: Disastrous Dinner Guest by A Smashed Label

Christina Cultural Arts Center 705 N. Market Street 652-0101 • ccacde.org

Artist: Painting Seldom Scene by Dane Tilghman

City of Wilmington’s

Redding Gallery

800 N. French Street 576-2100 cityfestwilm.com/redding-gallery

Artists: Togetherness by Cony Madariaga and Arts Work Fall Program Exhibition by Arts Work Fall Internship Cohort

Gallery at Grace Church 900 N. Washington Street 655-8847

Artist: Brighter Days by Sakanna Walls

Girard Craft & Cork

224 W. 9th Street (774) 292-1854

Exhibition: Tarot Series: The Lovers, feat. other Valentine’s Day themes

The Grand Opera House 818 N. Market Street 658-7897 • thegrandwilmington.org

Grand Gallery: In The Grand Scheme of Things by Brian Mills baby grand Gallery: Memory and Longing by Anna Kocher

Huxley and Hiro Booksellers

419 N. Market Street (971) 386-8294

Artist: BLAKK Art Series by Crystal Baynard Norman

John William Gallery 1313 N. Market Street 585-317-5409 • johnwilliamgallery.com

Artist: Between Boundaries by Oscar Eduardo de Paz

LaFate Gallery

227 N. Market Street 753-5789

Exhibition: Black History Diverse Perspectives - Celebrating the 80th Birthday of Reggae Superstar Bob Marley

Mezzanine Gallery

820 N. French Street 577-8278 • arts.delaware.gov

Artist: Walking in the City by Jennifer Small

MKT Place Gallery

200 N. 9th Street 289-6772

Artist: Queen of HeARTS by Irina Turner

The Queen

500 N. Market Street 981-9816 thequeenwilmington.com

Artist: Emma Winward: Surrealist Art

The Sold Firm

800-B N. Tatnall Street

Exhibition: Coming of Ages Group Artist Show

RIVERFRONT

The Delaware Contemporary 200 S. Madison Street 656-6466 • decontemporary.org

Exhibition: Winter/Spring Season

Opening: Dinner Table

WEST SIDE

Blue Streak Gallery 1721 Delaware Avenue 429-0506

Artist: Photography by Bruce Bailey

Delaware Center for Horticulture 1810 N. Dupont Street 658-6262 • thedch.org

Artist: Photography and artwork by Rachel Suga

Howard Pyle Studio 1305 N. Franklin Street 656-7304

Artists: Tamara Hutchinson and the members of the Studio Group

BEYOND THE CITY

Arden Buzz-Ware Gallery 2119 The Highway, Arden 981-4811

Exhibition: 2nd Annual Arden Young Artisans show

Bellefonte Arts

803-C Brandywine Blvd 547-2573 • bellefontearts.com

Exhibition: 3rd Annual Joy Littleton Art Student Exhibition

Finist & The Owl 811 Brandywine Boulevard 786-228-6638

Artist: Escape by Shantae Davis

Teens Give Voice To Verse

For the 20th year, Poetry Out Loud gives students a chance to shine in state and national competitions

Poetry, the oldest form of literary art, o ers an understanding of the human experience. When read aloud, the emotions, recollections and truths the reader conveys serve to capture the imagination and transport the listener to another place and time.

In keeping with this oral tradition, students representing 11 Delaware high schools will take part in the Delaware state nals of the national Poetry Out Loud (POL) program, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA). e winner of the state nals will represent Delaware at the national POL competition in early May.

Since POL began in 2005, this arts education program has helped promote poetry appreciation for more than 4 million young adults representing 17,000 high schools and organizations from 50 states and three U.S. territories.

Designed to meet the poetry requirement of high school English curriculum standards, POL is o ered through English class at some high schools and as a club activity or elective at others. Teachers and facilitators receive POL education materials at no cost.

At the start of the school year, participants select three previously published poems from a comprehensive online anthology of more than 1,200 works, ranging in style from classic to contemporary. Poems are searchable by any topic imaginable, such as “social justice,” “ re” or “clouds.”

Participants spend the next few months memorizing and reciting to POL teachers, mentors, facilitators and classmates, for feedback on their performance. As the state and national competitions draw nearer, POL teaching artists coach participants individually.

By Mary Ellen Mitchell >

Maiss Hussein, Delawware's 2024 Poetry Out Loud state champion. Photo courtesy Delaware Divsion of the Arts

Delaware’s three POL teaching artists, who serve under the leadership of DDOA Executive Director Jessica Ball, include Dr. Traci Currie (Poet-in-Residence for Poetry as Activism Project, University of Delaware), Dana Kinsey (Poet Laureate, City of Lancaster, Pa.) and Dr. JoAnn Balingit (Delaware’s 16th Poet Laureate). Together with Chief O cer Sheila Ross, these ambassadors of poetry travel statewide to participating high schools, providing education workshops for participants and teachers, as well as ongoing program recruitment and implementation support.

We & You! Unique Finds

“I nd it compelling when I hear from former POL participants who are surprised by how much they enjoyed the experience and how it led them to develop a love of poetry,” Balingit says.

After ne-tuning their delivery, participants perform their recitations, rst at school competitions. School competition winners advance to the Delaware State Finals. Contestants at all levels are evaluated based on stage presence, voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, interpretation, accuracy and overall performance. Judges have backgrounds in poetry, literature and theater.

Eleven winners will advance to the POL State Finals on ursday, Feb. 20, at e Smyrna Opera House, where they will each recite their poems before a live audience.

e POL Delaware State Finals champion will bring home $200, a proclamation from Gov. Matt Meyer, and a paid trip to the National Finals. e state champion’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials.

e runner-up will receive $100, with a $200 school stipend.

Delaware’s 2024 state champion, Maiss Hussein of Hodgson Vo-Tech, read the poem "If ey Should Come for Us" by Fatimah Asghar. “ is poem resonated with me,” Hussein says. “I dove into every line, examining the word choice and structure to uncover meaning.”

But like any art form, “poetry is interpreted through our individual sensibilities and perspectives,” she says. Hussein was also state champion in 2023.

One winner from each state will advance to the POL National Finals, which will be held in Washington, D.C. from May 5 to 7. First-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. e state champion will also take home the POL trophy for display at their school until the following year.

In addition, national winners from fourth to ninth place receive $1,000 each. e representative schools of each of the top nine nalists receive a $500 school stipend. Honorable mention cash prizes will also be awarded.

“As teens, we're just beginning to gure out who we are,” Hussein says. “ e POL experience has helped me understand myself better and connect with others on a deeper level. I’ve also gained self-con dence, communication skills and the ability to speak publicly without fear.”

— To learn how Delaware high school students can participate in POL, visit Arts.Delaware.Gov. For more information on the history and impact of POL, visit PoetryOutLoud.org.

Things We

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’ve asked 20 key contributors to the Greater Wilmington scene to share things they love about our area — in 100 words or less. Following are their bouquets to the local scene. We’ll leave the cards, candies and dinner reservations to you.

VINYL RECORD SCENE

With the resurgence of vinyl, I’ve found great joy in introducing my friends to the local haunts and where we go simply depends on what we seek. Endless flipping? Start at Squeezebox or Jupiter Records — ample space, great prices and constantly rotating selections. Contemporary your jam? Newark’s Rainbow Records is your starting note, always stocking the most sought-after releases. While you’re there, check out the eclectic Wonderland Records down the street — Delaware’s oldest vinyl shop, entirely alphabetically organized. Hunting for a classic? Give Grooves & Tubes in Centerville a try. Oh, and I’d be remiss to leave out the gem-packed Goodboy Vinyl in Elsmere!

— Brianna Hansen, Marketing & Development Manager, Humane Animal Partners

CHATEAU COUNTRY WANDERING

The outdoor spaces at Winterthur, Hagley Museum, and Nemours Estate are exceptional, and only a few minutes drive from Wilmington. We've been enjoying these treasures with our girls since before they were walking, and now they have their favorite spots to visit each return trip. A family membership usually pays for itself by the second visit and you have access to gardens and walking paths that offer beautiful views that change with the seasons.

— John Fusco, VP Creative & Brand Marketing, Wilmington Brew Works

DELAWARE IS MAGIC

WALK, RUN OR BIKE TO VISIT PUBLIC ART THROUGHOUT THE CITY

Second Street stretches westward through Wilmington, often seen through car windows as drivers rush home — at times dangerously speeding through the West Side. But if you take a moment to slow down, step out, and walk our city streets, you’ll notice a row of hidden gems: three large murals located between N. Broom Street and N. Scott Street.

These murals celebrate historical icons such as Judy Johnson and Roberto Clemente while showcasing the diverse culture of the West Side. Organized by neighbors, and painted by local artist Francesco Iacono, who grew up nearby, they reflect the community's pride and creativity.

One of the things I love most about living here is the local Magic: The Gathering scene. Through stores like 95 Game Center in Newport, Days of Knights in Newark, and Alternate Universes in Wilmington, I’ve rekindled my favorite childhood hobby. I’ve found a tight knit-community of friends to play with and I couldn’t be happier. They are like me, people who grew up loving this nerdy card game who have picked it back up after decades off. The best part is I can now afford all the expensive cards I could never attain as a 12-year-old!

During your walk, you must visit one of the great restaurants on Fourth Street! Carmen's Kitchen, located adjacent to Judy Johnson Park, has delicious empanadas.

— Sarah Lester, West Side Resident

FOR THOSE WHO BRUNCH

Wilmingtonians know our downtown dining-out scene rocks by night, but I’m here to sing the praises of two daytime spots near (not in!) Trolley Square. Highschool sweethearts eresa and August Muzzi have spent nearly 58 years at the helm of Angelo’s Luncheonette, serving up breakfast and lunch with a side of home-fried friendship to everyone who walks in their corner door on Angelo’s Way (Scott Street for neophytes.) Ciro 40 Acres on Lovering Avenue dishes out both the tried-and-true and elevated morning choices, courtesy of Chef Michael DiBianca — multiple James Beard Award semi nalist and the best chef in the City.

— Kerry Kristine McElrone, Artistic Director, City Theater Company

OUR PLAYGROUNDS ROCK!

As a parent of two daughters, I love our region's playgrounds. My girls love the Can-Do Playground for its diverse climbing equipment. Fox Point State Park is another favorite, where we enjoy watching cargo ships and tugboats on the Delaware River while playing. Bellevue State Park also offers a variety of playgrounds and areas to explore. All three locations have trails perfect for family biking, providing wonderful chances to unplug and explore together. These are just a few of the many awesome playgrounds of Wilmington — it's time to add them to the list of things we love about Northern Delaware!

— Jonathan W. Whitney, musician, owner Flux Creative Consulting, LLC

SERENE ESCAPE: WOODLAWN LIBRARY

Nestled on the West Side, Woodlawn Library offers more than just books — it’s a sanctuary. Surrounded by peaceful greenery and towering trees, this spot invites reflection and creativity. Its free office spaces are a hidden gem for those seeking a productive yet calming environment. Beyond the tranquility, the library is a hub for community resources and connections, making it a perfect blend of inspiration and support. Whether you’re leafing through a book or enjoying the serene surroundings, Woodlawn Library is a place to find peace and purpose.

— Vanity Constance, Community Development Manager, Cornerstone West CDC

IN JUNE, EVERYONE IS GREEK

Souvlaki, Gyro, Loukoumades, oh my! Pastitsio, Lamb Sandwich, Baklava — the apples of my non-Greek eyes! For five days every summer, I am transported by authentic Greek food, made by the dedicated parishioners of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. For five days, life gets a simpler, music gets Greek-er, and you can’t wipe the smile off my face from running into people from every facet of my life (the Greek wine helps). During the beginning of June in Wilmington, everyone is Greek, welcomed and fed — what’s not to love about that?

— Gaby Indellini, Director of Marketing & Communications, Johnson Commercial Real Estate/The Chancery Market

FIRST STATE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK TRAIL

I have a favorite walk, and it’s free. Parking across from Ramsey Farm, you head up the hill to the overlook, follow the main trail over to greet the horses, then up along the path over toward the Brandywine. Continue alongside the creek and carry on through the cornfield or up into the woods. It all connects nicely. I want to believe the bluebirds I’ve seen near the horses are the same two and therefore a local couple, but either way I look every time. Tell them I said hello if you see them.

— Lauren E. Peters, visual artist/arts professional

DON’T SLEEP ON THESE DONUTS

It was love at first bite back in 2021 when I first tried the donuts at Sleeping Bird Coffee Shop. Back then, they were only making a few batches, and I would stalk their Instagram to see what flavors they were baking. Fast forward to last year, my donut dreams came true — they opened their very own shop. These donuts are soft, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth flavor bombs! You can taste the quality of the freshest ingredients in every bite. And let me tell you, the Brown Butter Cream Cheese Donut is EVERYTHING! I’ve never even been a 'donut girlie,’ but this . . . ? This isn’t just a donut, it’s an experience.

— Thea Lopez, Community Organizer & Environmental Educator

FAVORITE LUNCH SPOT

As someone who is always on the go and loves to schedule lunch meetings and happy hour hangs, my favorite go to spot is The Chancery Market. It gives me a chance to slow down and enjoy some of the best vegan-conscious food in the state (and the Best Damn Empanadas) at Rooted AF. Vegan-conscious means that you can pick between mock-meat and plant-based options that everyone can enjoy. Owner and CEO Nikita Thomas is elevating vegan cuisine and sprinkling healing in every dish! I highly recommend stopping by for a fresh-squeezed juice or smoothie and the buffalo cauliflower tacos!

Kerriann Otaño, Vice President of Engagement, OperaDelaware

INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHY STORE

Cameras Etc. on Main St. in Newark (est. 1980) is a true gem. From digital to film cameras and everything in between, Dain Simons and his staff are there to help. It feels great walking into a specialty store like this — and always working with a knowledgeable person. Other services include new and used photography equipment, printing photos, passport photos, film developing, frames, camera bags, antique cameras on display, and more! Students in need of supplies, hobbyists, professionals, or anyone interested in starting out, should head there today. There is even free parking in the lot behind the shop.

— Sasha Aber, Founding Owner, Home Grown Café

BERNIE’S ESPRESSO

We are living during the renaissance for Delaware's third-wave coffee shops. You can find good vibes, great food, and damn fine cup of coffee at Drip Café Little Goat, Sleeping Bird, Faire Market ... even a Brew HaHa! or two. Now add to that list: Bernie's Espresso. Tucked inside the Riverfront Market, it's a quick in-and-out with always-available parking in the morning. Owner Heather is happy to chat as she makes your drink. (The first time, it's almost unnervingly intimate — we talk before the coffee now? Heather wins you over.) The pastries from Hell's Belles are a clear and present danger to my diet plans. It's a great coffee shop. I'm already annoyed more of you will be there now.

— Matt Sullivan, Chief Operator Officer, Spotlight Delaware

EATS, BEATS AND VIBES

You haven’t experienced Downtown Wilmington until you’ve dropped by Oath 84, a true gem in our community, bringing culture and connection to the heart of our neighborhood. Their menu is unforgettable, with standout appetizers. I love the jerk chicken eggrolls — a vegan delight and I can’t forget about the Lobster Crostini, they’re delish! The atmosphere is just as incredible, creating a warm vibe with great music. It’s the perfect spot for a night out. With top-tier service, unique offerings, and consistently amazing drinks and did I mention the MOST refreshing mint infused water you’ll ever taste! Oath 84 has become a staple, offering an experience we didn’t know we needed but now can’t imagine being without.

— Sara A. Crawford, Founder, Blondie Mansion

FREAKISHLY AWESOME BARBER SHOP

Getting a haircut at Freakishly Awesome Barber Shop is an experience as unique as its name. Nestled in the heart of downtown Wilmington, this barbershop blends topnotch craftsmanship with a vibe that feels both nostalgic and fresh. From the vintage decor to the playlist that keeps your head nodding, everything about it feels intentional and, well, freakishly awesome. The barbers are masters of their craft, offering precision cuts that have you walking out feeling like your best self. Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, this place ensures you leave looking sharp and feeling good.

— Jason Aviles, Owner, Green Box Kitchen & FLYOGI

SMALL WONDER, BIG ADVENTURES

Living in North Wilmington, I constantly find myself grateful that the entire state is accessible with a day trip (at most). My family can wake up and be at the beaches in just over an hour (unless we’re talking about summer traffic). But we can also be hiking through Brandywine State Park within five minutes of leaving our house. Or we can be on the water at Lum’s Pond in half an hour. The ease of seeing so much nature — and such a large variety of it — is something that should make us all thankful.

— Ben Muse, Co-Owner, Two Stones Pub | The 2SP Group

THE PERFECT INDULGENCE

Indulging in a seafood tower and a dirty martini at Harry’s Savoy Grill is one of my favorite local luxuries. They make my martini just the way I like it — extra dirty with plenty of olive brine — always accommodating my request with a smile. I love sitting in the bar area — it feels swanky, yet comfortable. There's something truly incredible about settling in with the perfect martini and the fresh, towering display of oysters, shrimp, and crab — it’s an experience that never gets old.

— Lauren Golt, Owner, Social Stylate

THE NEW WILMINGTON

Downtown Wilmington is getting its groove back — consider it a citywide makeover montage. New restaurants? Check. Buzzing art scenes? Double check. Vibrant streets filled with energy and ambition? You bet! It’s like Wilmington hit the gym, got a new wardrobe, and learned how to salsa all at once. Whether craving innovation, connection, or an excellent steak, downtown has you covered. Come for the charm, stay for the vibes. This isn’t just revitalization — it’s Wilmington reimagined.

— Ivan Thomas, Founder & Creator of Delaware Television (DETV)

ENJOYING A MOMENT OF PEACE

When I find myself with a moment of peace after a long week of organizing for arts and culture, I like to start my day with a breakfast sandwich full of flavor from PR Bakery on Lincon Street in Little Italy. The taste of Puerto Rico is authentic (PR also makes a great Cuban sandwich). I follow that visit with drives through route 100 towards Brandywine Creek State Park or a trip to Canby Park on Maryland Avenue to play disc golf among my brothers as nature will always bring you back where you need to be. The sound of the wind under the sun is a moment to reflect. And it recharges my soul to continue doing what I love — serving the community.

— Iz Balleto, Cultural Program Manager, Delaware Art Museum

Special Spots

Event rental spaces in the area that offer a unique experience

By Ken Mammarella

Looking to add some pizzazz to your baby shower, birthday celebration, anniversary dinner, retirement party, wedding, club meeting or similar gathering? Look beyond your favorite restaurants, go-to bars and nightclubs, and nearby re halls and country clubs. >

A couple enjoys the unique setting of the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science. Photo by Joe Mac

Unconventional venues can deliver glimpses of history, encounters with animals alive and preserved, appreciation of art, and Instagram-ready backdrops — often with stunning views of the adjacent landscape.

Here are quick looks at a dozen nontraditional locations in the Wilmington area. Make sure to right-size your choice of a space: The maximum number on the guest list for any space varies by use, say dining and dancing at a wedding; dining and schmoozing at a retirement; food and fun at a children’s birthday party; sitting and listening at a meeting.

Avoid booking a spot that’s too big: the emptiness can be a downer.

Reach out to the venues for costs (even base rates can vary by day and use, and there often many add-ons to consider), plus rules on catering, alcohol, decorations, insurance, permits, parking and equipment rentals.

ARDEN GILD HALL

2126 The Highway, Arden; ArdenClub.org

Ceiling beams with 1100 white lights, a huge stone fireplace, wooden walls and an oak floor give a magical ambiance to Upper Gild Hall, the main space in Gild Hall, built as a barn dating back to the 1850s. The Upper Gild Hall holds up to 120 for a seated dinner and dancing, plus a raised stage for a band or presentations. The hall is best known for shows by traveling musicians, organized by the Arden Concert Gild; theatrical performances by Ardensingers; and a variety of participatory dances by the Folk Gild. Downstairs, the Lower Hall and the Bratten Room are best for events where being seated is the primary activity (up to 40-45 people), but with games for a birthday party, the capacity is half that.

“I don’t know of another venue with the location, size, history and ambiance of Gild Hall that allows the renter to select and hire its own caterer, buy and bring alcohol to serve to guests, provide its own decorations and entertainment, and not have to clean up when the event is over,” says Janet Cosgrove, a veteran of scheduling Gild Hall for the Arden Club. “You want a food truck? Sure! Your caterer wants to barbecue outside? Sure! You want a live band on stage? Sure! You want your two dogs by your side during the ceremony? Of course it’s OK!”

1914 W. Park Drive, near Wilmington; DeStateParks.com

The dairy barn was built around 1914 by Alfred I. du Pont and named for a nearby tavern that raised a blue ball on a large pole to tell stagecoach drivers to pick up a passenger. The tavern building is long-gone, and the stateowned barn in Alapocas Run State Park was renovated in 2007 as a home for Delaware’s folk art collection and as an event space. Plus, there is an evergreen historical display and a rotating monthly local artist exhibition. The barn’s rough stone walls retain its historical charm, and the modernization made it Delaware’s first public building to be LEED-certified, for following stringent

environmentally friendly practices. The Hay and Straw rooms on the second floor hold up to 125, and the Calving Room on the first floor hosts up to 40.

“People select the Blue Ball Barn because of its unique, local vibe.” says Michael Globetti, media relations manager for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, also praising its “artfully integrated historical and modern aesthetic.”

BRANDYWINE ZOO

1001 N. Park Drive, Wilmington; BrandywineZoo.org

The whole 4.7-acre zoo can be rented in the evening, allowing up to 400 guests to mingle with people and the animals, mostly smaller ones from the tropical and temperate areas of North and South America, Asia and Africa. Other rental options include tents (up to 25 people) and the Education Building (up to 50). Meet-and-greets with ambassador animals are possible.

“I believe people view the zoo as a unique location, something different,” says Kate McMonagle, marketing and special events manager for the zoo, situated along the Brandywine in Brandywine Park.

THE DAHLIA

1601 Jessup St., Wilmington; TheDahliaDe.com

The Dahlia opened in 2023, with white brick walls, black beams and large windows overlooking the Brandywine, northeast of downtown Wilmington, making for “art deco industrial charm.” It seats up to 250.

DELAWARE CENTER FOR HORTICULTURE

1810 N. du Pont St., Wilmington; TheDCH.org

The Trolley Square nonprofit offers multiple rental spaces, with the Founders’ Room (exposed beams, wooden floors, oversized windows framing the mature landscape nearby and a green roof overlooking the demonstration garden) as the main draw. Also available: the demonstration garden itself (with a pavilion) and the

their venue is also supporting a mission they align with and making an impact for an organization and its programs,” says Communications Manager Caitlyn Ridgley. “The garden is a natural and beautiful backdrop for an event, limiting the need for decorations.”

THE DELAWARE CONTEMPORARY

200 S. Madison St., Wilmington; DeContemporary.org

Seven galleries showcasing lots of artistic variety are open for all rentals in the building, a former railroad car warehouse on the Wilmington Riverfront. Spaces also include the Atrium Lobby (“an intimate dinner event for 50 or gala affair for 250 guests”) and the Black Box Auditorium (up to 150) to watch the big event.

DELAWARE MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE

4840 Kennett Pike, Greenville; DelMNS.org

“People pick the museum for celebrations because of its uniqueness, flexibility and beautiful spaces,” says Communications Manager Johnny Garcia. “The line on our rentals page says it best, Where else can you dine amongst dinosaurs, dance across Delaware and have live animals entertain your guests?”

The three main galleries (one has a floor map of Delaware for dancers’ fancy footwork) fit 200 for a plated meal, 400 for cocktails. Add-ons include live animal ambassadors, experiences with free-flight birds, use of the outdoor patio and backyard space for a tent. Private rooms (promoted for birthday parties) hold up to 30 people on Saturdays and Sundays.

DELAWARE NATURE SOCIETY

Ashland Nature Center, 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin; DelawareNatureSociety.org

The Delaware Nature Society lists three indoor places available at its Ashland Nature Center. The most striking is the Ashland Overnight Lodge, sporting a “panoramic view of the Red Clay Valley,” accommodating 42 in bunk beds, and with a Great Room that has seating for 80. The Auditorium (wooden floor and beams, pale walls) is a larger space, and the Visitor Center’s Conference >

Guests gather in the gardens at the Delaware Center for Horticulture. The Kalmar Nyckel can be rented for private sails.

Photo by United Elite Photography

Photo courtsy Kalmar Nyckel Foundation

Room is smaller. Both sport those same idyllic views. DNS’ DuPont Environmental Education Center (1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington) and the its Coverdale Farm Preserve, (543 Way Road, near Greenville) also host indoor/outdoor birthdays with environmental, agricultural and culinary themes for up to 20 children (less for some programs). The DEEC center is on the edge of the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, and it also features a 10-acre ornamental garden, a quarter-mile handicap-accessible pond loop and one end of seven-mile Jack Markell Trail to New Castle.

“Our spaces are unique and nature-focused,” says Marketing Manager Stephanie Sturmfels. “When guests rent our facilities, they are supporting our mission. People are surrounded by beauty which also provides for an engaging environment.”

GREENBANK MILLS & PHILLIPS FARM

500 Greenbank Road, Wilm.; GreenbankMill.com

The rustic grain mill is “a DIY venue for up to 80,” and nearby are a wooded grove, catch-and-release fishing, trails to explore, sheep to watch and maybe touch. The mill dates to 1677 and was an early adopter of neighbor Oliver Evans’ innovative milling system, which in 1790 received America’s third patent.

KALMAR NYCKEL FOUNDATION

1124 E. Seventh St., Wilmington; KalmarNyckel.org

Starting in 1637, the original Kalmar Nyckel crossed the Atlantic eight times, the most of any ship of its time. The replica tall ship, launched in 1997, can be rented for dockside parties and for private sails. The cruises, out of Seventh Street or Old New Castle, host up to 49, while the parties can accommodate 90. The Copeland Maritime Center on Seventh Street can host receptions for up to 175 and table seating for up to 115. The center features a threequarter scale model of the ship’s main deck, an exhibit on the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley and the Forney collection of 73 model ships.

Outside the center is a new adventure course that can be used for team-building. Many groups rent both the ship and the center, says Jan Ross, director of marketing and public relations. She calls the ship “a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable venue” and praises the center for showcasing “the rich history of Wilmington’s founding by the Swedes and its industrial boat-building and train-car construction history.”

RAMSEY’S FARM

440 Ramsey Road, North Wilmington; RamseysFarm.com

Since 1860, the Ramseys have been farming along Ramsey Road, and the operation’s top product today is helping urban and suburban folks experience farming

Paradise Found

Longwood Gardens’ reincarnation of 1906 lets you eat with your eyes and mouth

BBy Pam George

arbara Cairns felt as though she was in a restaurant in another country. Italy, perhaps? Or maybe Portugal? She and two friends soaked in the cosmopolitan atmosphere while sharing a creamy pâté. And when Cairns finished her French omelet with Maine lobster and bearnaise sauce, she fought the urge to linger.

“I could have sat longer,” says the Kennett Square resident. “It was like being in good Parisian bistros.”

However, there were gardens to explore. The ladies dined in the recently relocated 1906 in Longwood Gardens, which has received positive reviews from many guests.

“I went with my husband in December, and it was delicious,” says Heather Cox of Newark. “The chef came out and sliced truffles onto the mushroom soup, which was excellent. The space is beautiful.”

February is an ideal time to taste the difference. For one, the highly anticipated 32,000-square-foot West Conservancy is a warm, colorful refuge in winter. For another, admission tickets for Longwood’s Winter Wonder season (Jan. 17-March 23) are discounted at $25 for adults (ages 19-64), $22 for seniors (ages 65+) and college students (with valid ID), and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).

The discount is welcome considering 1906 is not a cheap eat. You’ll pay $49 for halibut and $27 for a cheeseburger. But the view of the fountains and atmosphere are worth top dollar.

“It has a New York vibe,” says seasoned hospitality veteran Xavier Teixido of Harry’s Hospitality. Bill Irvin of Snuff Mill Restaurant, Butchery & Wine Bar praises the wine list, which you can peruse in the 40-seat lounge or at the 24-seat bar.

In short, there is nothing like 1906 in the Brandywine Valley — or the Greater Philadelphia area, for that matter.

An Integrated Work of Art

It’s not surprising that 1906 has a New York state of mind. New York-based Restaurant Associates manages Longwood’s food and beverage program, while New York-based Weiss/Manfredi designed Longwood Reimagined, which covers 17 acres and includes the new conservatory, the restaurant and an adjoining event space.

“We started this incredible adventure with Longwood over a decade ago,” says Weiss/Manfredi cofounder Marion Weiss. “At that time, we worked with Longwood to create a masterplan that would better illuminate the gifts of the cultural campus, bringing Longwood into the 21st century and expanding the visitor experience with a rejuvenated marriage of landscape and architecture.”

The project encompasses the Cascade Garden, Bonsai Courtyard, Waterlily Court, Orchid House and The Grove, a collection of art and learning studios, offices, and a library. When the designers pondered the relocation of 1906, they nixed the idea of a freestanding building that might block views. “We chose a more radical approach,” says Michael Manfredi.

Indeed, workers moved thousands of cubic yards of soil behind a retaining wall to a nearby meadow. In short, they carved out rooms under the conservatory terrace to accommodate the 6,100-square-foot restaurant and 5,184-square-foot event space.

The new rooms have arched windows floor-to-ceiling windows fronting the main fountains. (Those in the back can watch the waterspouts in the rear bronzeframed mirrors.)

Last fall, Longwood Gardens’ 1906 restaurant reopened in a new space overlooking the fountain display. Everything from the cocktails — there is now a bar — to the cuisine pays homage to the Brandywine Valley attraction. Photo by Evan Sung

Form and Function

e new 1906 has 240 seats — 100 more than in the previous location in the Terrace building, which still holds the café. e ne-dining section was renamed 1906 in 2009 to mark the year Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property. Without his intervention, rare tree species in the existing arboretum would have gone to a lumber mill.

Will Brown, the current culinary director, was 14 when he joined Longwood as a busser. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he elected to stay with

Restaurant Associates, which moved him to Atlanta before bringing him back to his hometown.

Brown has been present for several restaurant renovations, but relocating 1906 is by far the grandest. Tremendous thought — and dollars — went into the restaurant’s creation, and the proof is in the details. Simply step into the walnutlined reception area o a grand foyer, and you’re struck by a series of vaulted ceilings with a garden trellis pattern.

e vaults have a practical purpose: they distribute sound. “On the Friday after New Year’s, the place was packed, and the sound at our table was wonderful; we could hear each other well,” notes Cairns, who was seated in the middle of the dining room.

Shades of green are everywhere, from the uted oakbacked banquettes to the foliage that de nes the seating sections. Murals of the meadow reinforce the link to nature, and the throw rugs designed by Weiss/Manfredi resemble dappled light under tree canopies. Together, these elements produce a sense of ease and relaxation, even when the dining room is full of families.

e room could appear fussy between the murals, the velveteen pillows, and the growing case. Minimalistic Mid-Century Modern touches keep that from happening. Sleek wood tables were custom-made in cooperation with Delaware’s Challenge Program, a vocational training organization for youth. ( e wood came from fallen Longwood logs.) Meanwhile, the mix of neat upholstered and rounded wood-backed chairs with clean lines would look home on a Mad Men set.

Halibut in miso-beurre blanc sauce flecked with roe is under the Fauna/Ocean menu sections. Others include Flora and Funga (mushrooms and truffles).

Photo by Pam George

Flora, Funga and Fauna

Behind the scenes, famed designer Jimi Yui and Chef Ed Brown went to work on the kitchens. “Even in New York, it would be the greatest kitchen ever constructed for a restaurant — period,” says Gareth Tootell, regional director of operations at Restaurant Associates.

The 15,000-square-foot culinary space has dedicated places for production and finishing. For instance, halibut is butchered and portioned in the production area and cooked and sauced in the finishing kitchen. Broths, vinaigrettes and baked goods are all prepared in the production kitchen. Meanwhile, the expansive cooking line gives cooks plenty of elbow room.

Chefs and cooks use high-end Hestan pots and pans (a 10-piece set can retail for $2,670). “We have every bell and whistle you can imagine,” says Executive Chef George Murkowicz. “I’ve had creative freedom at other places, but this is the first time I feel like the sky is the limit. You can tell everyone is energized.”

He relishes ordering fish during peak season and serving it with fresh vegetables from the kitchen garden about 100 yards from the kitchen. In front of the restaurant and Fountain Room are 600 sage, rosemary and thyme plants for quick cuttings.

Not surprisingly, Longwood is a Certified Green Restaurant through the Green Restaurant Association. To become certified, a restaurant must earn points in several categories, including waste, energy, reusables and disposables and buildings/furnishings.

by

e food standards include points for food grown on site, items sourced from within 300 miles, vegan and vegetarian fare, and sustainable products, such as seafood. Longwood’s menu reinforces the brand, starting with the clever menu sections. Flora, for instance, includes must-try pull-apart brioche covered in garden seeds and sun ower seed “risotto” with ancient grains, blood orange and a poached egg.

Funga is all about mushrooms, and this season, winter black tru es have joined a mushroom Wellington and a bisque with hen of the woods, shiitake and black

The new 1906 at Longwood Gardens has a private table with a prix fixe menu. There is also space for a bar and lounge.

Photo

Becca Mathias

trumpet mushrooms. Fauna covers seafood and beef. Can’t decide? The $90 five-course chef’s tasting menu covers all three bases.

While the winter menu debuted last month, some items carried over. Take, for instance, halibut in a delicate miso-beurre blanc sauce topped with trout roe. However, the kitchen has a more restrained approach with the roe, and the sauce is flecked with fine herbs. Naturally, there is a crab cake.

Even the cocktail program changes throughout the year. “We really wanted to lean into the seasons, not just with fruits and vegetables, but also with color,” Tootell says. “Everything is intentional.”

An Evolution in Eden

When the restaurant opened in October, it served 300 guests a day. In short order, that number swelled to 700. Consequently, the staff has doubled. The more time spent in the expansive space, the more comfortable they get, says Murkowicz.

“We now have a better understanding of our business needs and how to prepare for them,” he says. For instance, the kitchen overestimates the amount of food needed on any given day to ensure there is enough.

the Idea Garden. Planters in front of the restaurant hold herbs.

Photo by Becca Mathias

The kitchen also handles an 18seat private table with a prix-fixe menu, and there are special events. Consider the Valentine’s Day prixfixe menu at $150 per person, which will be offered Feb. 14-16. Guests have course options. For instance, the main entrees are Wagyu strip loin and king crab, poached monk sh with scallop mousseline or tro e pasta with taleggio fondue. Hours will be extended during the weekend.

Dining at Longwood still includes e Café, where the traditional mushroom soup is served.

In warm weather, the Beer Garden is an extension of The Café dining rooms. During peak periods, there are concessions throughout the property, Brown notes.

Regardless of where you dine, you will experience the beauty that makes Longwood a destination. Winter Wonder, which runs until March 23, showcases the new West Conservatory. Additionally, Longwood features a roster of classes, seminars, and performances this month.

— More at LongwoodGardens.org.

Arched entrances and a series of vaulted ceilings help manage the sound in 1906’s dining room.

Photo by Holden Barnes

Bites

A PARTNERSHIP IN PIZZA HEAVEN

Nick’s Pizza, formerly located in Prices Corner, is set to reopen later this month as Nick’s Pizza Parlor & Bar in North Wilmington’s Shoppes of Graylyn, in a spot previously occupied by Ulysses American Gastropub. e new family-friendly restaurant is a collaboration between Nick Vouras (Nick’s Pizza) and David & Joanne Govatos (Swigg Wine). With a nostalgic atmosphere inspired by the classic ‘70s and ‘80s pizza joints, the space will feature plenty of seating for dining-in, a spacious bar at which to have a beer and watch the game, and o er both delivery and takeout.

— Follow @nickspizzaparlorandbar on Instagram for updates.

NEW AREA COOKING SHOW DEBUTS THIS MONTH

Having trouble nding a Valentine’s Day reservation at your favorite restaurant?

If so, the creators of a new area cooking show suggest staying home and cooking a fresh meal. In addition to learning something enlightening, they say, you might just win a cool prize.

e show, Plate at 8, is hosted by Chef Dana Herbert, who is certainly no stranger to cooking shows, having won season one of TLC’s Cake Boss: Next Great Baker back in 2011. Since then, Herbert has been featured on many other cooking shows such as e Cooking Channel’s Cake Hunters, WEtv’s Wedding Cake Wars, and TLC’s Ultimate Cake O . Plate at 8 co-creator Don McNeill describes the show as an “interactive culinary experience that delivers the country’s finest chefs and restaurants into viewers homes.”

e pilot episode sees Chef Herbert and Dan Bulter of Piccolina Toscana join forces to create a special Valentine’s meal. To sweeten the experience, the show creators are o ering one lucky viewer an “Ultimate Night Out” prize, which includes dinner for two at Piccolina Tocsana, a stay at the Hotel du Pont, and a limo ride.

—More at PlateAt8.com.

DOGFISH GOES LIGHT

For those still holding on to their New Year’s resolutions, Dog sh Head recently launched its new 30 Minute Light IPA (4.0% APV), a hoppy and crisp beer with just 95 calories and 3.6g carbs per 12oz serving. Part of the “Minute Series,” it’s continually hopped for 30 minutes, delivering a bold, easy-drinking, hop-forward avor. is marks the rst addition to the series since 2011, joining fan favorites such as 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute Imperial IPA. Available nationwide now.

DINE DOWNTOWN DEAL

Who doesn’t like a deal?

Get rewarded when you support Downtown Wilmington eateries by dining in or taking out ve times between now and March 31. Submit your receipts and you’ll receive a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased (before tip) to the Downtown business of your choice. To participate, take a photo of your receipt, and send it with your name, dining location and date to Downtown Visions via text message at 302.502.6003.

—Details at DowntownWilmingtonDE.com.

—More at Dog sh.com.

20TH ANNIVERSARY MARCH 31-APRIL 5 2025

Greater Wilmington Beer Week:

GSome background on the breweries and venues that have joined forces in the spirit of beer, food, and fun

reater Wilmington Beer Week is taking ight this year — literally.

Not only will this year’s participants have an intriguing assortment of beer ights to sample, Avelo Airlines is joining the party by o ering complimentary airfare bene ts to lucky winners in Beer Week’s Passport contest.

is year’s celebration features 16 venues — seven area breweries and nine restaurants that boast a top-shelf craft beer menu. e brewers are collaborating on a few beers brewed speci cally for Beer Week and all the venues will o er plenty of intriguing imbibements, fresh fare, and everything from tap takeovers to beer can art. For a full schedule of events, visit WilmingtonBeerWeek.com.

In the meantime, if you want the scoop on the participating places, read on…

Autumn Arch Beer Project

Bellefonte Brewing Company

Brewer: Mike Sobel

810 Pencader Dr, Suite C Newark, DE 19702 AutumnArch.com

Brewer: Joe Bob Jacobs

3605 Old Capitol Trail Wilmington, DE 19808 BellefonteBrewingCompany.com

Small-batch, experimental brewery and taproom specializing in deep-flavor profiles, edgy bitterness, and complex relationships. Wed, 6pm: Run Club. Thu, 7pm: Trivia. Fri, 6pm: Live Music. Sun, 10am: Yoga.

Featuring 16+ beers and seltzers plus regular events (indoor and outdoors) such as food truck festivals, music, video game competitions and corn hole tournaments. Family and dog friendly. Also offers pinball and arcade games.

>

Chelsea Tavern

Number of Beer on Tap: 33 821 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801

ChelseaTavern.com

Offering one of the largest beer selections — in draft , can, and bottle — in the area, Chelsea Tavern has been a longtime supporter of local craft. The tavern is open to 1am daily serving lunch and dinner, plus early happy hour specials (Mon-Fri, 3pm–6pm) and a late night happy hour (Mon-Fri, 11pm-1am). Brunch is served on the weekend, 10am-2pm.

Dew Point Brewing

Brewer: Cody Hoffman 2878 Creek Rd, Yorklyn, DE 19736

DewPointBrewing.com

Delaware’s only family-owned and operated micro-brewery brewing and serving up numerous styles of beers inspired from around the world. Located in the historic Garrett Snuff Mill on the Red Clay Valley Historic Byway, their tasting room and beer garden is the perfect place to enjoy a craft beer with friends or gather with the community during events.

Dorcea

Number of Beer on Tap: 14 1314 Washington St. Wilmington, DE 19801

Dorcea.com

Owned and operated by two longtime hospitality experts, the Bomba brothers, Dorcea combines friendly bar service and a cozy restaurant experience with a focus on comfort food. Draft selection often showcases local breweries, and their can-and-bottle menu is a deep-dive into hard-to-find favorites from near and far.

High Steaks Brewery at Delaware Park Casino

Brewer: Elliott Sidell

777 Delaware Park Blvd. Wilmington, DE 19804

DelawarePark.com/dining/brewing

Following a full renovation on the first floor, Delaware Park Casino not only offers the best slot product in the country, but is home to the reimagined High Steaks Brewery. Enjoy house brewed beers, perfectly grilled steaks, and an intriguing wine list. With over 14 beers on tap, they have something for everyone.

Iron Hill Brewery

Senior Head Brewer: Drew Rutherford

620 Justison St., Wilmington, DE 19801

147 E. Main St., Newark, DE 19711

IronHillBrewery.com

Nothing's more local than beer brewed 10 feet from your table and nothing is fresher than everything made from scratch every day. Iron Hill strives to have its craft beers and handcrafted foods inspire one another in unexpected ways. Now with 21 locations. Founded in 1996.

Kid Shelleen’s (Trolley Square)

Number of Beer on Tap: 13 14th and Scott Sts. Wilmington, DE 19806

HarrysHospitalityGroup.com

A neighborhood bar and restaurant renowned for is flamegrilled burgers and award-winning brunch (weekends 10am2:30pm), Kid Shelleen’s also offers Happy Hour from 4-6pm Mon-Fri. Featuring draft beer, wine, selected cocktail and food specials.

Kid Shelleen’s (Branmar Plaza)

Number of Beer on Tap: 16 1812 Marsh Road Wilmington, DE 19810

HarrysHospitalityGroup.com

Following in the tradition of the original Trolley Square location, Kid Shelleen’s Branmar is a fun, festive place to dine with family and friends. Featuring the same awardwinning brunch and burgers along with a friendly staff, outdoor patio, assortment of TVs and terrific menu. Brunch (weekends 10am-2:30pm); Happy Hour (Mon-Sat 4-6pm) Featuring draft beer, wine, selected cocktail and food specials.

The Chancery Market

Number of Beer on Tap: 6 1313 N. Market St. Wilmington, DE 19801

TheChanceryMarket.com

It’s a meeting place, it’s a bar, and it’s a food hall offering seven diverse options including Mexican, Indian, Hawaiian/ Japanese, burgers, chicken, vegan and café/coffee. The Chancery also features Quizzo from 6-8pm on Wednesdays, Music Bingo 6-8pm on Thursdays, and Free Yoga every Sunday, 10-11am.

TWISTED IRONSCBC GOLF SI MULATOR

Maker’s Alley

Number of Beer on Tap: 24

804 Orange St

Wilmington, DE 19801

MakersAlleyDE.com

Makers Alley is Wilmington's only indoor-outdoor beer garden. Enjoy a large selection of local craft beer complimented by delicious bar bites from their unique 1964 converted airstream kitchen, including our 2x award-winning Delaware Burger Battle specialty burgers. Open year-round, Makers Alley also offers guests 3-hours of free parking at the Mid-town Park Garage directly next door.

Trolley Tap House

Number of Beer on Tap: 31 1616 Delaware Ave.

Wilmington, DE 19806

TrolleyTapHouse.com

Open seven days a week from 3pm to 1am, Trolley Tap House boasts the largest craft selection in Trolley Square. Regular fun includes Music Video Bingo from 7-9pm on Tuesdays; Quizzo from 8-10pm on Wednesdays, and Live Band Karaoke from 9pm-1am on Sundays. Also featuring pool table, video games and a dog-friendly patio.

Twisted Irons Craft Brewing

Brewer: Matt Found 303 Ruthar Drive, Suites E-F Newark, DE 19711

TwistedIronsBrewery.com

Dedicated to creating a wide variety of diverse beer styles that are balanced, flavorful and second-to-none. They keep 16 beers on tap and offer several n/a options as well as wine, mead/cider and mixed drinks. Their family-and-dog friendly taproom hosts live music and events regularly, including their ever-popular open-mic night. They are Delaware's only brewery to house a full-featured golf simulator. Tee-times can be booked online.

Two Stones Pub (Wilm.)

Number of Beer on Tap: 20 2502 Foulk Rd.

Wilmington, DE 19810

TwoStonesPub.com

Part of a local restaurant chain that was the first in the area to serve a variety of craft beer from around the country with quality comfort food. Features a mug club, ever-changing Taco Tueday specials, and Sunday Brunch. Showcasing area craft favorites along with select brews from its sister company, 2SP Brewing Co. in Aston, Pa.

Washington Street Ale House

Number of Beer on Tap: 24 1206 Washington St. Wilmington, DE 19801

WSAleHouse.com

A Wilmington landmark since 1997, this ale house is open daily, offering Pasta Night (Mon), Burger Night (Tues), Wing Night (Wed) and Taco Thursdays. A recent winner of “Best Late Night Menu” in the Best of Delaware Awards. Offers 35 canned and bottled beers and a considerably large area-craft selection on draft.

Wilmington Brew Works

Brewer: Craig Wensell

3129 Miller Rd, Wilmington, DE 19802

WilmingtonBrewWorks.com

The only production brewery in Delaware’s largest city, housed in a 100-year-old former laboratory in the Ninth Ward. WBW is dedicated to keeping the spirit of the building’s origins alive with new and innovative ales, lagers, sours and ciders. Features a beer-hall style taproom with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, regular live music and special events.

Across the Askewniverse with Kevin Smith

By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald

Any Gen X-er worth their salt is likely both familiar with and a celebrant of the hilarious cinematic world that writer-director-actor Kevin Smith has toured us through over his now 30-year career. From his emergence in the ’90s with the smash cult classic Clerks, to his recent release, The 4:30 Movie, Smith has created iconic characters, massively quotable dialogue, and has held a mirror to collective experiences from the agony of dull jobs to pop culture nostalgia and even religion.

Now, Smith and his longtime co-star and “hetero lifemate” Jay Mewes, are back on the road talking about making movies, cracking dad jokes, and being middle-aged kids. Their Jay and Silent Bob: The Aural Sects Tour arrives at The Grand on February 8.

We caught up with Smith during the tour to get a peek into the world of Jay & Silent Bob’s creator and half of their alter ego.

Kevin Smith (l) with co-star Jay Mewes

Photo by Jessica Montgomery

O&A: You've worked with many beloved pop culture icons (Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, George Carlin). Who might you like to add to that list that you haven't yet?

Smith: I’d love to say Bill Murray, although I know it can be tough to nail him down for projects. Also, wow, would I love a chance to work with Harrison Ford. I’m so fortunate to work with people I adore. It’s not beneath me to ‘geek out’ on the chance to work with icons from my childhood.

O&A: Which character in the Kevin Smith Askewniverse is your favorite and why?

Smith: Well, you know that Dante is basically modeled after me and my experiences. But my favorite character’s journey is Randal. Randal is the epitope of a true manchild. Throughout the arc of the Clerks series, I got to grow him emotionally, which was a really fun thing to explore.

O&A: We’re excited about the “return” of Dogma*. Do you have plans for a re-release or a “celebration tour”?

Smith: You hit the nail on the head! [LAUGHS] Like any good religion or church, we’re gonna milk this for every penny it’s worth now that we have it back. We’ll take it out much like Clerks and the Jay & Silent Bob Reboot — probably a 50-60 city tour, showing the film with a Q&A.

I love taking the movies out on tour; it’s like going to a church where you’ve both the priest and Jesus. And with Dogma, it will feel even moreso. So, we’ll take it out next year, it will be available on streaming, and we’ve even

started talking about what a sequel might look like. But I’m being really careful about what a follow-up might look like. I don’t know that I could do a direct sequel, so to speak. The world can only end once.

*Until recently, the movie Dogma was unavailable to watch due to rights issues with the Weinstein brothers, who owned the film and prevented its widespread distribution on streaming platforms. Smith has recently regained control of the rights.

O&A: Your style elevating the cult film genre, relatable characters and plotlines, staying true to your artistic choices has had a real impact on emerging filmmakers. How do you feel about being an influencer in that way?

Smith: I absolutely adore it. It’s nothing I ever thought about at the beginning. You know, starting the journey it’s very selfish — “I want to make a movie!” — and I’m so lucky I’ve gotten to do it now for three decades.

Serving as inspiration for another artist is an honor that I’ll gleefully carry, because some other artist did it for me. (Smith has said that seeing Richard Linklater’s Slacker “…made all my [expletive] possible.”)

I know that Clerks has launched thousands of ‘artistic ships’ as well. I love that I’m part of the conversation, even if I’m not a current part of the conversation. Knowing that some of my art has made people start their own journeys, oh, that means everything to me. That means I was serious; I wasn't a fluke.

O&A: You’re a filmmaker who has a strong connection to your fans and an army of loyal followers. To what do you attribute that?

Smith: I really fostered that relationship. I have fans who might have liked my work, but I formed a relationship so they could reach beyond the work. e work can disappoint you, you know, but if [you’re] engaged [with the audience], you can’t let them down.

I'm still entranced by the notion of being able to talk to the people that buy tickets. at’s captured my imagination from Day One. I gotta know who that person is that picked us over this or that.

My audience has very much empowered me. For all I’ve given to them, they’ve given me back a thousandfold. ey’re this invisible army that’s always at my back when I go to pitch something. So, thank God for my audience!

O&A: Given that Clerks was loosely based on Beckett's Waiting for Godot, would you ever consider a project in theater?

Smith: Oh, yeah. God damn! In a heartbeat! I was a theater kid in high school. You're talking to the guy who played Kenickie in Grease and Rocky in Damn Yankees. Before we did Clerks 3, I was pitching it [to Clerks co-star Je Anderson] as a live show, where we would paint everybody monochromatically. And he was like, ‘I think you need to stop smoking weed.’ So, it became a movie instead.

I do feel one day I’ll wind up doing a theater thing. In America, I own the live theatrical rights of Clerks. I can do a Clerks musical or a Clerks Broadway show or, you know, just theatrical presentation. I will get Clerks on a stage sooner or later.

One of the things I'm most interested in lately — I'll be honest with you — is reminding Gen X of the fact that there are less years in front of us than behind us at this point. My job has always been to distract the audience from their imminent death. But as a member of that audience, I feel it's my duty to be like, hey, kids, get ready. Here's your [expletive] ve-minute warning.

O&A: What’s the most oft-quoted line from your movies that people throw at you?

Smith: e one that I get the most, hands down, is ‘What’s a Nubian?’ which is from Chasing Amy. I do a lot of Q&As, and invariably, somebody will raise their hand or be at the mic and they're like: ‘What's a Nubian?’ and then there's a polite chuckle.

O&A: So, let us ask you, Gen Xer. What three movies would you say define your childhood?

Smith: I would de nitely say the original Star Wars trilogy; they marked my entire childhood. I'm always looking for some kind of three-act structure to make sense of everything. Even in life. Star Wars emerged when I was 7 years old. e Empire Strikes Back comes out a couple of years later, when I'm 10 or 11. And then Return of the Jedi comes out, and I'm a teenager. After I saw Return of the

BLACK DOLLS ON EXHIBIT

Jedi, I was so depressed that the story was over, that it was the end. If I only knew then what we know now!

O&A: So let’s talk about the Aural Sects Tour. What can we expect?

Smith: Finally…you're the first one to say it out loud! [LAUGHS]. Yes, I should explain it. It means, like, a talking tribe, man. A bunch of people who talk. And that's all we do now. You know, you're just trying to make a dirty joke. And, if we can accomplish two things at once, the fun begins before the audience even gets into the theater. If we're telling you in the name of the tour to expect dad jokes, then there you go. You can’t show up and be shocked when we make a bunch of dad jokes.

For over a decade now, we ’ve been doing ‘Jay and Silent Bob Get Old’ like a live show, podcast, and whatnot. We kicked it off chiefly because [Jay] was getting sober, and it was a tool we were using for his sobriety.

We’re kind of building the show now. We do live readings of scenes — I’ll write new scenes or choose scenes that I pull out of a flick. Like, ‘this was going to be in the new Jay and Silent Bob movie, but it's not good enough.’ So, let’s do it here… And we bring up people from the audience, and they get to act as well.

When we first started doing live shows, it was me showing [Jay] the ropes. But for the last 5, 10 years when I couldn’t do a show, Jay would go on the road himself. Over that time, he’s become an excellent raconteur. It’s a joy to go out with him. We do a 90-minute to two-hour show, and everyone seems to have a good time. I think some people just show up to look at us and go, ‘I can't believe these [expletive] are still alive!’

O&A: Since this will run in February…What’s the most romantic thing you've ever done?

Smith: I mean, I’ve made whole-ass movies for people, that's for sure. [Smith’s wife, actress Jennifer Schwalbach] always complains, ‘…you never made a movie for me.’

But here’s the thing that she says, to this day, is the most romantic thing: We moved out of our house almost two years ago, and she loved that house. There was a chance for me to get us back into that house. I pulled it off, but that ain’t the romantic thing. The romantic thing is that when we returned, I said ‘hold on’ …and picked her up and carried her across the threshold. She still talks about that.

Kevin Smith

Photo by Allan Amato

ORIGINAL THINKING

Three prime movers of the Delaware music scene create the Original Music Association of Delaware

ABy Matt Morrissette

lthough over owing with talented musicians and passionate fans, the music scene in Delaware has always been haunted by a few head-scratching qualities and some cyclical hard luck.

For starters, there’s far greater interest in bands that for decades have played the cover scene at Delaware’s beach towns than bands that have put out acclaimed records or toured nationally or internationally.

Meanwhile, for musicians that choose to play mostly their own original music, the landscape of the scene has constantly shifted beneath their Chuck Taylor-ed feet. Periods of momentum powered by clubs specializing in local, original music with proper stages and sound equipment have been followed by periods of dwindling options for original music acts.

In an e ort to create more stability for original musicians in our area, three true believers in the power of local, original art — Pete Romano, Melissa Forsythe, and Julia Sipple — launched last year the Original Music Association of Delaware (OMAD), a non-pro t organization that seeks to uplift the scene its three cofounders hold so dear.

OMAD founders (l-r): Melissa Forsythe, Julia Sipple and Pete Romano. Photo by Mike Koh

“The catalyst to embark on this endeavor at this particular time was largely the closure of three cornerstone venues in Wilmington,” says Romano, OMAD’s board president. “This left a void in what was a thriving scene, just a few short years ago.

“Of course, the pandemic’s hand in all of this shouldn’t be understated. But seeing the ebb and flow in sustainability of places at which to play music is also a motivation. It’s very hard work and not necessarily one that pays huge dividends.”

Romano has been a fixture in local bands including The Cocks and Strawman for nearly three decades as both a drummer and guitarist. He was the catalyst in building the stage that created the postpandemic live music scene at the sadly defunct Jackson Inn, and he also helped return live, original music to the legendary Kelly’s Logan House in Trolley Square.

the Sarah Koon Band and the all-female punk band Butterscotch Grimm.

OMAD’s board secretary Sipple likewise is a longtime supporter of local music, both as a fan and a fundraiser, while also serving as an event planner for other local non-profits.

Sipple also works as a videographer and administrator for the Koh Show, a local-music streaming program that’s filmed by a who’s who of local musicians. She comes from a highly-musical, community-minded family that inspires her involvement in the scene.

Forsythe says it was Sipple who sparked the initial idea of joining forces.

“Julia came to me one day at Koh Show and said she wanted to do it, and I knew we had to make it happen,” Forsythe says. “That was about two years ago now at this point.

Romano’s OMAD partners and co-founders are no strangers to the scene. Serving as board treasurer, Forsythe is best known as the co-owner of the celebrated Rainbow Records in Newark as well as for booking the annual local music festival, Hot Jam, established in 2013. She also has played bass and keyboards in a host of bands, including

“When we were talking about who else we wanted to do this project with us, Pete was the obvious first choice because we knew he shared our vision for what we could accomplish if we just put our heads together.”

When the three co-founders first got together to discuss forming a larger organization, they reviewed the hard work they had been putting towards the local music scene over the years, and asked themselves what was missing.

“It became clear that while Koh Show does a fantastic job at promoting a wide net of artists directly to your device, more and different types of help are needed to support the original music scene in Delaware,” Sipple says. “We started having discussions on how we could best help fill this void, and ultimately decided on founding our own non-profit, filing our first round of paperwork with the State of Delaware in January of 2024.”

To all three board members, there is strong agreement that the “O” in the acronym OMAD is the very heart and soul of their organization. Without denying the entertainment and economic value of musicians that elect to focus on playing covers, those artists simply don’t incur the financial burdens of recording, pressing copies of albums, and creating and producing merchandise and promotional materials such as music videos.

Additionally, musicians producing original music face a harder path to sources of revenue to pay for these needed things.

“Original is indeed a key aspect of this organization,” Romano explains. “Our goal is to support the artists who create unique and innovative music, both stylistically and emotionally; artists who are sharing their love of music and, at times, expressing their personal experiences through songwriting. We feel this is paramount to a creative culture.

“This is not to denigrate or cast aspersions at musicians that do not create their own music, but that is not what we are about.”

With the tedious and time-consuming work of establishing their organization (and dealing with the IRS) taken care of by Sipple, the three board members are now ready to get to work. The shows that Romano has been booking for the past few years at Kelly’s Logan House and Squeezebox Records, as well as Forsythe’s shows at Rainbow Records, will now be united under the OMAD banner.

Membership and donation drives are soon to come, including Spring Jam at Rainbow Records in which the bar sales will go to OMAD.

There are also ambitious plans for local business partnerships, grants, fundraisers, and festivals. Their loftiest dream is to have an all-ages venue of their own to showcase the local talent they believe in and want to introduce to a wider audience.

The founding members do have complimentary skills — Romano’s experience and tenacity; Sipple’s selflessness and logistical prowess; Forsythe’s musical knowledge and hard-earned public trust — and they appear to have the backing of a tightknit musical community. That’s an important foundation for an organization taking bold first steps. — More at

AREA MUSICIANS PREPARE FOR 'PARTY BEYOND DESCRIPTION'

The setlist is a secret, but one mystery has been solved . . .

In a word, the annual Shine A Light concerts always guarantee variety. But in terms of showcasing songs from multiple eras, this year’s show promises more variety than any of the previous concerts, all of which typically have focused on songs from one specific year or band.

On Saturday, March 1 at The Queen, guests at Shine A Light: A to Z will get the chance to dance and party to hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s — with the setlist presented in alphabetic order (hence the “A to Z”).

“Shine A Light has been a highlight event, now going on its 13th year,” says musician Tony Cappella, who has directed the past five shows as the Musicians Committee Chair. “It’s a party beyond description featuring some of the best musicians in the area.

“This year will be no different with lots of surprises and great music — all supporting underserved children in our community.”

For the past 12 years, the Shine A Light concerts have raised money for youth music programs. In 2024, the event helped provide grants totaling more than $65,000 to seven area organizations that focus largely on Delaware’s underserved youth.

As the organizers write: “When we improve the outcomes for our young people, we uplift entire communities, creating a ripple effect of positive change.”

If you haven’t seen it for yourself, the annual Shine A Light concert is unlike most music fundraisers. Each song features an entirely new line-up of singers and backing musicians. In fact, with its wide variety of performances and wild reshuffling of players between songs, the show often feels like a live jukebox operating in Rubik’s Cube mode.

In 2019, Delaware Today honored Shine A Light with a “Best of Delaware” award in the annual fundraiser category. The concert has sold out every year.

— More at LightUpTheQueen.org.

DI RUSSO CONDUCTS DSO IN BRAHMS SHOW

Argentinian conductor Michelle Di Russo reprises a spot centerstage at The Grand when she leads Delaware Symphony Orchestra (DSO) in a performance of Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor on Friday, March 28.

Di Russo served as a guest conductor for DSO during its ¡Música Bravo! show in November 2023. The stint may have helped her get chosen as a finalist in DSO’s search for a new musical director — a process in which involved narrowing down 147 applicants from around the world to four finalists.

Di Russo and the orchestra will be joined by pianist Janice Carissa. A repeat performance will be held at Cape Henlopen High School on Sunday, March 30.

— More at DelawareSymphony.org.

MEGA RETURNS TO HEADLINE SPRING JAM

Rainbow Records brings back Spring Jam on Saturday, March 8, an event that heralds the long-awaited return of MEGA.

Starting at 1 p.m., the all-ages show will feature eight bands and six acoustic acts including Castle Atom, Flatwaves, Syd Lynrowe, Monopod, Lampstand, Disko, Donovan Burt and Francis Bleu.

Spring Jam is presented by Rainbow Records, Gingerfox Productions, and the Original Music Association of Delaware. Cover is $10. Rainbow Records is located at 218 E. Main Street, Suite 114 in Newark.

— Updates at @RainbowReccordsDE on Facebook and Instagram.

DISCO BISCUITS RETURN TO THE QUEEN

Purveyors in the art of jamtronica, Disco Biscuits head towards the end of an 18-date tour across the U.S. with a March 13 performance at The Queen. The tour comes following the band’s 2024 release of Revolution in Motion, which also involves a 23-minute short film by the same name.

Following their performance at The Queen, the Biscuits wrap up their tour with two consecutive nights at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey.

— More at TheQueenWilmington.com.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ENHANCES WILMINGTON’S CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY

by Wilmington Mayor John Carney

One of Joe Biden’s nal actions as President of the United States was to ensure that current and future generations have an expanded opportunity to learn about and appreciate Delaware’s involvement in the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision outlawing segregation in public schools. President Biden o cially added three historic sites in Delaware — Howard High School of Technology, Claymont Community Center and Hockessin Colored School #107C — to the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park.

My thanks to President Biden for taking this action because Black History is Delaware history and our nation’s history. Last month we celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and now we are commemorating Black History Month. is new national park designation will allow for a more complete story to be told of the pivotal role that Delaware played in the desegregation of our nation’s schools.

For example, while many people probably know generally about the Brown vs. Board of Education case, they may not know that a landmark case in Delaware — Belton (Bulah) v. Gebhart — was one of ve court cases from around the country that became part of the high court’s ruling in the Brown vs. Board of Education case. In the 1951 Belton (Bulah) v. Gebhart case, a group of African American parents sued the Delaware State Board of Education because they believed that racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

is case was decided in favor of the plainti s by Chancellor Collins J. Seitz, Sr., who ruled that the segregated schools in Delaware were inherently unequal. e Chancellor’s decision became one of the guiding principles for the U.S. Supreme Court in the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that followed. And the attorney who represented the Black parents in the Delaware case was Louis L. Redding, who, at the time, was Delaware’s only African American attorney. Chancellor Seitz and Attorney

Hockessin

School #107C Marker

Chancellor Collins J. Seitz, Sr. (l) and attorney Louis L. Redding

Redding were posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal last month by President Biden at a White House ceremony.

Today, my o ce as Mayor of Wilmington is in the Louis L. Redding Building on French Street, named in honor of a man who graduated from Howard High School which, at that time, was the only African American high school in the entire state of Delaware.

ere is great signi cance to history, even though it is painful at times to think about certain parts of history, and so too, there is signi cance to President Biden adding three Delaware sites to the National Historical Park program. Howard High School (known today as Howard High School of Technology) is already a National Historic Landmark. It is also the school to which the plainti s in the Belton v. Gebhart case had to travel to attend, because they were denied admission to the former Claymont High School, which is today the Claymont Community Center. Hockessin Colored School #107C was an all-Black school to which one of the plainti s, seven year-old Shirley Bulah in the case of Bulah v. Gebhart had to walk a mile and a half each way to attend 107C. Her parents sued the State Board of Education because she was denied the ability to have the school bus for white students pick her up and drop her o at the Colored School before taking the white students to Hockessin School #29. Chancellor Seitz on April 1, 1952 ordered the immediate desegregation of public schools in Delaware, two years before the Brown decision in 1954.

e City of Wilmington and my hometown of Claymont were part of a signi cant period in U.S civil rights history. I am proud to say Claymont school o cials responded appropriately even before the 1954 Supreme Court ruling when, in 1952, eleven African American students were admitted to Claymont High School which was the rst public school in Delaware to become desegregated.

When state o ce holders take the oath of o ce, we pledge to respect the right of future generations to share the rich, historic and natural heritage of Delaware. at’s why what President Biden did to help spread our history is so important. We have a duty to keep sharing our history so that we and future generations can continue to learn and grow.

The historic Hockessin Colored School #107C is now the Center for Diversity, Inclusion & Social Equity.

Howard High School was the first high school for African Americans in the state of Delaware.

Explore the Riverfront

Restaurants & More riverfront market

open

mon-fri: 9AM-6PM sat: 9AM-4PM

Stop in and enjoy fresh produce, salads, sandwiches, Mexican, Thai cuisine, Peruvian rotisserie, and much more!

Bernie’s Espresso is NOW OPEN!

MON-FRI: 7AM-5PM SAT: 8AM-4PM

Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar

Big Fish Grill

Ciro Food & Drink

Constitution Yards Beer Garden

Delaware Duck Café & Catering

Del Pez

01.

Docklands

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Riverfront Bakery

River Rock Kitchen

Starbucks

Taco Grande

The Riverfront Asian Cuisine & Bar

Timothy’s on the Riverfront

outdoor adventures in every season